Shay Hemp
1. Blogging was very interesting to me, because I have never done it before. I’ve heard of other teachers using blogs in college, so I wasn’t shocked. I enjoyed doing it though because sometimes my printer tends to not work, so it was easy for me not to have to worry about making sure to print out my assignments. It is also a lot easier and faster for me to type assignments than to write them out. It was also helpful that we could read other student’s blogs, because sometimes when I got confused about an assignment, I would look at someone else’s to give me an idea of what you wanted. Overall, I enjoyed it.
2. I definitely did think a lot more about who my audience was, and that more people than just you were going to read it. It didn’t make me self-conscious, but I think it did help me to pick my words out more carefully. But sometimes I did wish that it was private.
3. I believe that editing a written paper is easier in the overall way. You can easily point out what and where needs help, where in the blog you would have to copy the section you are referring to in order to have it make sense. The simple assignments that we did on our blogs that didn’t require a bunch of editing was easier.
4. I did read students’ blogs without commenting them at times. I found it was very easy to look at students who have done the assignment when I was confused about what to do. It was a helpful push to get going when I wasn’t quite sure what to do. It also helped to get a different view point on it.
5. I didn’t really use any features that would make blogging fun for me. I did get to choose out my blog layout which is fun because you can choose whichever one you want. Other than that, there was nothing else that I did.
6. I would suggest that on all the bigger essays like, Red Shoes, My Year of Meats, A Month in the Country etc. we should print them out and traditionally peer-edit them. I find it easier to write on the paper. This is about the only suggestion I have. I thought it was a fun and different way to approach class.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Thursday, February 15, 2007
MYOM Question 8 pg. 15
In the beginning of the novel, Jane says, "All over the world, native species are migrating, if not disappearing, and in the next millennium the idea of an indigenous person or plant or culture will just seem quaint." I do believe that this could possibly be true. When deciding if it would be a step to a more peaceful, accepting world, or a step away from a diverse, well-textured world, is more of a difficult question.
For me, I love the diversity of the world. There are so many different kinds of people, with different cultures and religions that are so interesting to learn about. I think that with the native species slowly disappearing, is more of a step away from the diverse world that we live in now. Many people would argue that we would all get along better if we were all the same, that it would become an accepting and more peaceful world. I believe that the more diverse of a world we are, the more we all will learn, whether we want to or not.
It is possible that some day we could be able to maintain a diverse world without the prejudice, but that does not necessarily mean it will happen. I wish it would happen, and I will do my part, but the next step is for everyone else to do their part as well.
For me, I love the diversity of the world. There are so many different kinds of people, with different cultures and religions that are so interesting to learn about. I think that with the native species slowly disappearing, is more of a step away from the diverse world that we live in now. Many people would argue that we would all get along better if we were all the same, that it would become an accepting and more peaceful world. I believe that the more diverse of a world we are, the more we all will learn, whether we want to or not.
It is possible that some day we could be able to maintain a diverse world without the prejudice, but that does not necessarily mean it will happen. I wish it would happen, and I will do my part, but the next step is for everyone else to do their part as well.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
MYOM Ch. 5-8 question 1
How do the families selected by Jane for the television series round out, challenge, or reinforce the stereotypes about the American family?
So far in My Year of Meats, Jane has been picking families of all different types for the television production My American Wife! America is known for being the home of a variety of people, with different views, ideas, ethnicity's, race, sexuality, personalities etc. Jane only feels that it is right to express to the Japanese who are watching this that America is open and sharing to all cultures and types of people and families.
The first family that Jane considers using in My American Wife! is Miss Helen and Mr. Purcell. The reason she decides to investigate this family is because of the difference of them compared to the previous families, like the Flowers. The Flowers family was the type of family that is the stereotype of America. Good, wholesome, happy white family. That family tended to reinforce the stereotype that all families are that way. Whereas Miss Helen and Mr. Purcell are completely opposite.
Miss Helen and Mr. Purcell is a poor, African American family with a different culture background. This tends to challenge the stereotype of American families. Jane was hoping that this family would be able to be used in the series to help the Japanese understand the differences all throughout America, and not judge. Unfortunately, "John" would not allow that kind of family, with the wrong kind of meat, to be in the series.
Another family that Jane decides to shoot is the Bukowsky's. The Bukowsky's are a wholesome family who tries hard. The daughter of the family got into a terrible accident, which left the family struggling to support their crippled child. Mrs. Bukowsky losing her job, while her husband did not have one to begin with, really made them suffer. Incredibly the young girl begins to recover and come back to life, with the help of the community. The reason Jane chose this family was to give the audience a positive outlook on life. Terrible things may happen, but if you have a positive outlook on things, something is bound to come together for you. That is just what happened with the Bukowsky's, which eventually led them to be stars on My American Wife!
It shows that Jane is not afraid of what could happen to her. She is willing to sacrifice a show that is against the TV productions rules, to show Japan a different side of America.
So far in My Year of Meats, Jane has been picking families of all different types for the television production My American Wife! America is known for being the home of a variety of people, with different views, ideas, ethnicity's, race, sexuality, personalities etc. Jane only feels that it is right to express to the Japanese who are watching this that America is open and sharing to all cultures and types of people and families.
The first family that Jane considers using in My American Wife! is Miss Helen and Mr. Purcell. The reason she decides to investigate this family is because of the difference of them compared to the previous families, like the Flowers. The Flowers family was the type of family that is the stereotype of America. Good, wholesome, happy white family. That family tended to reinforce the stereotype that all families are that way. Whereas Miss Helen and Mr. Purcell are completely opposite.
Miss Helen and Mr. Purcell is a poor, African American family with a different culture background. This tends to challenge the stereotype of American families. Jane was hoping that this family would be able to be used in the series to help the Japanese understand the differences all throughout America, and not judge. Unfortunately, "John" would not allow that kind of family, with the wrong kind of meat, to be in the series.
Another family that Jane decides to shoot is the Bukowsky's. The Bukowsky's are a wholesome family who tries hard. The daughter of the family got into a terrible accident, which left the family struggling to support their crippled child. Mrs. Bukowsky losing her job, while her husband did not have one to begin with, really made them suffer. Incredibly the young girl begins to recover and come back to life, with the help of the community. The reason Jane chose this family was to give the audience a positive outlook on life. Terrible things may happen, but if you have a positive outlook on things, something is bound to come together for you. That is just what happened with the Bukowsky's, which eventually led them to be stars on My American Wife!
It shows that Jane is not afraid of what could happen to her. She is willing to sacrifice a show that is against the TV productions rules, to show Japan a different side of America.
Monday, February 12, 2007
MYOM Ch.1-4 question
Question One: The novel employs the voices of 3 main women: Jane, Akiko, Sei. What are some of the similarities and dissimilarities between the 3 characters? Are they fundamentally alike or unlike?
After reading the first four chapters, Jane, Akiko, and Sei Shonagon all seem to be similar women in different ways. This observation may not be very apparent from the beginning though. It only came across that way after reading more into the novel. Looking at these people, or the pictures of them you may have in your head, does not help with the similarities. They are all three very different women, but once delving deeper into each persons individual life story, it becomes aware what the similarities between these three women are.
Sei Shonagon is a Japanese writer who writes lists of things. For example, "Things that are Splendid", and "Things that Give a Clean Feeling." These lists help the reader understand Shonagon as a writer and a person. Especially the kind of person she was living in the time that she was. The lists were her way of rebelling in a way, letting people know much about her just by the short lists that do not take much space or time to write.
Jane is a documentary filmmaker who finally landed herself a job with the TV production My American Wife!, as the coordinator. Jane is inspired by Shonagon's work, and it helps her with her own field of work.
Akiko is a Japanese housewife who relates to Shonagon and her writing. Not only because they are both Japanese women, and have both experienced the life as a Japanese woman, but because Akiko feels Shonagon's writings help her. Akiko tries to make her own lists of things, but she finds it to be difficult and frustrating and looks down on herself.
The three women are not only alike and relate to each other because of Shonagon's writing, but they also similar in their own personal lives. Sei Shonagon was married and divorced by the time she was only twenty-four. Jane was also in a situation similar to Shonagon, where she was also married and divorced at a young age. Akiko is now three years into her own marriage with her husband "John", but things do not seem to be looking very well for them. So far, it seems as if Akiko's marriage could only result in divorce, just like Shonagon and Jane's.
After reading the first four chapters, Jane, Akiko, and Sei Shonagon all seem to be similar women in different ways. This observation may not be very apparent from the beginning though. It only came across that way after reading more into the novel. Looking at these people, or the pictures of them you may have in your head, does not help with the similarities. They are all three very different women, but once delving deeper into each persons individual life story, it becomes aware what the similarities between these three women are.
Sei Shonagon is a Japanese writer who writes lists of things. For example, "Things that are Splendid", and "Things that Give a Clean Feeling." These lists help the reader understand Shonagon as a writer and a person. Especially the kind of person she was living in the time that she was. The lists were her way of rebelling in a way, letting people know much about her just by the short lists that do not take much space or time to write.
Jane is a documentary filmmaker who finally landed herself a job with the TV production My American Wife!, as the coordinator. Jane is inspired by Shonagon's work, and it helps her with her own field of work.
Akiko is a Japanese housewife who relates to Shonagon and her writing. Not only because they are both Japanese women, and have both experienced the life as a Japanese woman, but because Akiko feels Shonagon's writings help her. Akiko tries to make her own lists of things, but she finds it to be difficult and frustrating and looks down on herself.
The three women are not only alike and relate to each other because of Shonagon's writing, but they also similar in their own personal lives. Sei Shonagon was married and divorced by the time she was only twenty-four. Jane was also in a situation similar to Shonagon, where she was also married and divorced at a young age. Akiko is now three years into her own marriage with her husband "John", but things do not seem to be looking very well for them. So far, it seems as if Akiko's marriage could only result in divorce, just like Shonagon and Jane's.
Epigraph and Context-Shay Hemp, Julanne Payton
Chapter One-The Sprouting Month
Shonagon "Pleasing Things"
"Someone has torn up a letter and thrown it away. Picking up the pieces, one finds that many of them can be fitted."
In the beginning of the chapter, Jane is just getting into bed, giving up yet another day of not finding a job. She is in the "starving artist" state of mind. She feels like she will never find a documentary filmmaking position in a climate like the one she is in. It is as if everything is falling apart right now, just as if a letter were to be torn up into pieces. She then gets a phone call, one she chooses to ignore. Then hearing the voice on the answering machine, she runs to pick it up. It was a call from her previous boss, Kato in Tokyo. He was selling her on the idea of a documentary TV series My American Wife! Kato wanted her to be the coordinator for the series. Hearing this was great news for Jane. She felt as if she could now "pick up the pieces of her life" that was seeming to fall apart.
Shonagon "Pleasing Things"
"Someone has torn up a letter and thrown it away. Picking up the pieces, one finds that many of them can be fitted."
In the beginning of the chapter, Jane is just getting into bed, giving up yet another day of not finding a job. She is in the "starving artist" state of mind. She feels like she will never find a documentary filmmaking position in a climate like the one she is in. It is as if everything is falling apart right now, just as if a letter were to be torn up into pieces. She then gets a phone call, one she chooses to ignore. Then hearing the voice on the answering machine, she runs to pick it up. It was a call from her previous boss, Kato in Tokyo. He was selling her on the idea of a documentary TV series My American Wife! Kato wanted her to be the coordinator for the series. Hearing this was great news for Jane. She felt as if she could now "pick up the pieces of her life" that was seeming to fall apart.
Shonagon's Lists
Splendid Things
- Getting a first kiss from your lover
- Snowboarding down a beautiful mountain
- Eating a fresh baked cookie
- Working hard and getting a good paycheck for it
- Meeting new friends
- Reading a good book
- Getting an A+ on a paper you worked hard on
- Buying your first car
- Becoming an adult
- Sitting on the beach and watching a sunset
Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Non-Traditional Rhetorical Analysis of "Red Shoes"
Dear Susan Griffin,
Your essay "Red Shoes" was fascinating! The way you wrote it very much directed toward women, in my point of view, was what attracted me to it the most, being a woman and all. Your essay really helped me to delve deeper into the issue of privacy, publicity, and the female world. The way you first started talking about the red shoes that you wore as a little girl helped me, along with many others I am sure, relate to you and your essay right off the bat.
I found your style of writing very interesting. The way you split up your essay into two different fonts, roman and italic, and two different stories, was great. After reading the first page or two I ended up getting the hang of the style that you chose to write in. At the end of the essay, it all came together very nicely.
I believe that the italicized sections of your essay were not necessarily needed to make the essay work. You could have written it with only the roman sections and still gotten something out of it. Although, I do believe that it is much more interesting and creative the way you did add in the italicized sections. This aspect of your essay also helped me feel closer to you, because those sections were much more personal to you being stories of your childhood with your grandparents. This helped me as a reader and audience to understand a little bit more about you as an author, and just as a human being. Your choice in doing so is what made all the difference, to me, in this essay.
You choosing the title of "Red Shoes", which is a title of a fairy tale many people may have read already before reading your essay, was also very interesting to me. I have not read the fairy tale, but I do believe that if I have, it would have helped me a lot more to understand your essay better. Right from the beginning some people were able to relate to you and your essay in some way, just by reading the title. I think that is a very interesting way to grab the audiences’ attention.
I feel you posing the question about why a novel can enter a private sphere where the essay cannot, was based on confusion. It made me feel that you as a writer writing an essay, felt some sort of exclusion. It gave me the vibe that you are affected by the exclusion of essays to novels.
Overall, I think you did a great job portraying what you needed to portray in your essay. It was informative, yet creative and personal all at the same time. Informative in the sense that you let the audience think deeper about the issue of this essay. Creative in the sense that you decided to break up the essay with roman and italic fonts, both with different stories, but winding up together in the end and creative with your use of title. Personal in the sense that you put in some of your own personal experiences as a woman, and let us into your world.
Your essay "Red Shoes" was fascinating! The way you wrote it very much directed toward women, in my point of view, was what attracted me to it the most, being a woman and all. Your essay really helped me to delve deeper into the issue of privacy, publicity, and the female world. The way you first started talking about the red shoes that you wore as a little girl helped me, along with many others I am sure, relate to you and your essay right off the bat.
I found your style of writing very interesting. The way you split up your essay into two different fonts, roman and italic, and two different stories, was great. After reading the first page or two I ended up getting the hang of the style that you chose to write in. At the end of the essay, it all came together very nicely.
I believe that the italicized sections of your essay were not necessarily needed to make the essay work. You could have written it with only the roman sections and still gotten something out of it. Although, I do believe that it is much more interesting and creative the way you did add in the italicized sections. This aspect of your essay also helped me feel closer to you, because those sections were much more personal to you being stories of your childhood with your grandparents. This helped me as a reader and audience to understand a little bit more about you as an author, and just as a human being. Your choice in doing so is what made all the difference, to me, in this essay.
You choosing the title of "Red Shoes", which is a title of a fairy tale many people may have read already before reading your essay, was also very interesting to me. I have not read the fairy tale, but I do believe that if I have, it would have helped me a lot more to understand your essay better. Right from the beginning some people were able to relate to you and your essay in some way, just by reading the title. I think that is a very interesting way to grab the audiences’ attention.
I feel you posing the question about why a novel can enter a private sphere where the essay cannot, was based on confusion. It made me feel that you as a writer writing an essay, felt some sort of exclusion. It gave me the vibe that you are affected by the exclusion of essays to novels.
Overall, I think you did a great job portraying what you needed to portray in your essay. It was informative, yet creative and personal all at the same time. Informative in the sense that you let the audience think deeper about the issue of this essay. Creative in the sense that you decided to break up the essay with roman and italic fonts, both with different stories, but winding up together in the end and creative with your use of title. Personal in the sense that you put in some of your own personal experiences as a woman, and let us into your world.
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