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September 29, 2005
Comments - Traction by Erik Ramsey
Comments - Traction by Erik Ramsey
Comments - Traction by Erik Ramsey
I was also wondering why they saw their old cars, maybe because they were looking into a wheel, and that they also re tread tires. But if this is religious, why would they see their old cars instead of God or something?
Posted by: Denamarie at August 31, 2005 10:58 PM
I have the same question as Kayla, Why did they all see their old cars when they looked into the wheel? There were a bucnh of possibilities that I came up with but the reason that I think most is because the story's setting was in a factory and "seeing a car" would be what related to every charcter in the play. I also want to know what Elmore's promise was that he said he had to keep. I see that Katie and David had posted comments saying that they could realte the play to religion, and in a way I could too because of the many references to Elmore and the four way tire iron that is present both at the beginning and end of the play. And if you want to put a religious twist on the story you could say that Brandon was like Jesus and Elmore and Mikey were his followers? I do not know...!!! The play also had many references of how Brandon and Elmore were in war together. Elmore:"You kept my shit straight in the gulf." Brandon: Many now believe in me because you have believed in me. So maybe the story's meaning was just about the two men staying friends and trying to make something out of their life once they got out of the service? Another line in the play that I didn't understand was when Elmore said to Mikey: Holiness? He's doing that routine for ya? Which makes me think that towards the end of the play Elmore just went along with what Mikey and Brandon were saying so he could get them off of his back and clean up the shop for the inspectors? Overall, even if I never find out what this story was supposed to mean it was still a great, entertaining play to read.
Posted by: Gina Burgese at September 1, 2005 12:31 PM
Kayla - that's a curious thought about what did they see when they looked into the cars. Any ideas? I wondered about that, too. I still don't know....
Posted by: Katie Aikins at September 1, 2005 04:08 PM
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 11:32 PM | Comments (0)
Traction by Erik Ramsey
Traction by Erik Ramsey
"MIKEY: [Pause.] I talked to Eddie and Dallas and Roger. They all seen their old cars."
I'm wondering why all the other Brandon-followers saw their old cars when they looked into the wheel...
Posted by: Kayla Sawyer at August 31, 2005 10:07 PM
I'm thinking they saw whatever they have fond memories of and have been involved in. For the other co-workers, they saw their old cars because they work at a tire factory and because they have a passion and appriciation of cars.
Elmore saw images of death, war, and people he used to know. I'm thinking that maybe Elmore got up to some mischief when he was stationed in the Gulf. Perhaps he even committed some crimes:
"ELMORE: ...The few times me and him got leave over in Saudi and got our hands on beers, 'cause them Moslem-ites don't drink, even the good ones..."
Posted by: Kayla Sawyer at September 1, 2005 04:39 PM
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 11:27 PM | Comments (0)
Comments - Trifles by Susan Glaspell 2
Comments - Trifles by Susan Glaspell
Part 2
Comments - Trifles by Susan Glaspell
Part 2
I found it intriguing, in my perspective, that throughout a majority of the play, they talk about Mrs. Wright but yet she wasn't a main character. It seemed to me that the attorney was content with convicting her on the spot without seeing her and getting her side of the story.
I also agree with Kayla about how the women were better investigators than the men. The men did not look carefully though every room. They did a basic investigation.
Posted by: Danielle at August 30, 2005 03:22 PM
Yeah that is a good point, Kayla. The women actually did some investigating by probing around Mrs. Wright's kitchen, what most investigators do without hesitation. The men in this story seem to care little about finding hard evidence.
Posted by: Amanda at August 30, 2005 03:46 PM
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 11:25 PM | Comments (0)
Comments - Trifles by Susan Glaspell 1
Comments - Trifles by Susan Glaspell
Part 1
Comments - Trifles by Susan Glaspell
Part 1
I see now what Kayla was noticing in the sherriff. He did seem to be dwelling on the little things Mrs. Wright did and did not do. As if to be purposely putting her in the hotseat.
Posted by: Rachel Prichard at August 30, 2005 02:22 PM
I agree with Kayla as well. To me it looks like the County Attorney is dead set on convicting Mrs. Wright for unrealistic evidence.
"COUNTY ATTORNEY. I'm going to stay here awhile by myself (To the Sheriff). You can send Frank out for me, can't you? I want to go over everything. I'm not satisfied that we can't do better."
In another perspective I feel that Mrs. Peters and Mrs. Hale have an unbearable feeling about what is goin on in the the Wright's house. The two ladies seem to be terrified of what they're perceiving but are appearing to speak nicely of the couple. I also think that the incident with the bird is an undiscovered clue to what happened to her murdered husband.
"MRS. PETERS. Somebody--wrung--its neck."
Maybe the bird was used as a voodoo to killing her husband?
Posted by: Jessica at August 30, 2005 02:49 PM
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 11:22 PM | Comments (0)
Trifles by Susan Glaspell
Trifles by Susan Glaspell
The county attorney seems set against convicting Mrs. Wright. He keeps avoiding discussing any topic that shows John Wright in an unfavorable light:
“COUNTY ATTORNEY. Let's talk about that later, Mr. Hale. I do want to talk about that, but tell now just what happened when you got to the house.”
“COUNTY ATTORNEY. I'd like to talk more of that a little later. I want to get the lay of things upstairs now.”
When the county attorney asks the sheriff if he’s found any sort of motive, the sheriff informs him that he hasn’t, the attorney then changes tactics starts to nitpick the housekeeping skills of Mrs. Wright as if that was evidence enough.
Despite the lack of motive, the county attorney seems to be dead set on Mrs. Wright’s conviction:
“COUNTY ATTORNEY. I guess before we're through she may have something more serious than preserves to worry about.”
Posted by: Kayla Sawyer at August 30, 2005 01:12 PM
I think the women were better investigators than the men. The men seemed to just being going through the motions. Their method is just about finding evidence for a motive, as oppose to trying to understand the situation from alterative points-of-view. Mrs. Hale discovers an irregular and seemingly agitated sewing pattern:
“MRS. HALE: (examining another block.) Mrs. Peters, look at this one. Here, this is the one she was working on, and look at the sewing! All the rest of it has been so nice and even. And look at this! It's all over the place! Why, it looks as if she didn't know what she was about!”
She is also able to look beyond it and see it as an odd behavior:
“MRS. HALE: What do you suppose she was so nervous about?”
Mrs. Peters finds the birdcage and questions what happens to it. She and Mrs. Hale make further clever observations:
“MRS. PETERS: (examining the cage). Why, look at this door. It's broke. One hinge is pulled apart.MRS. HALE: (looking, too.) Looks as if someone must have been rough with it.”
The distressing part is that I don’t even think the women were really aware of their superior investigating skills. They just saw it as simple curiosity.
Posted by: Kayla Sawyer at August 30, 2005 02:52 PM
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 11:16 PM | Comments (0)
Heart in the Ground by Douglas Hill
Heart in the Ground by Douglas Hill
Heart in the Ground by Douglas Hill
I wish we could have found out why Lee went to prison. He didn’t seem to be overly aggressive or exhibit any anti-social tendencies. I am curious why Karen, a clever young woman with great determination, who knows how to farm and is the legal owner of a farm, would be keen to marry a man who went to prison. Or did he go to prison for Karen the first time she committed grave robbery? That could be another reason why he wants her to stop so badly:
“LEE: …And I don't have the law in my hands—he does. Hell, I don't even have it on my side right now, thanks to you!”
Karen also seems to allude to past instances where Lee has been rather cowed and eager to please Bill:
“KAREN: …You think that what I'm doing is wrong because Bill says it is. You think that everything that comes out of his mouth is gospel law.”
Posted by: Kayla Sawyer at August 29, 2005 05:20 PM
Do you think that Bill was really out to take the farm or was he just, as Lee pointed out, trying to do his job? Could his attempts to send Karen to Marshall Valley just be out of brotherly concern?
Does Bill even truly want the farm or is this just a conspiracy that was created by a hysterical mother? There is never much exploration of Bill being a terrible brother or just a generally greedy and vengeful person. Maybe Karen was just using it as an excuse to get Lee riled up enough to support her cause.
Since Bill is the sheriff he could probably just take the farm if he really wanted it. Who could stop him? They seem to be living in a very rural area.
Posted by: Kayla Sawyer at August 29, 2005 10:47 PM
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 11:07 PM | Comments (1)
Puppet & Puppet Master
Rix, ''Was Oedipus Framed?'' -- Drama as Literature (EL 250)
Was Oedipus Framed? By Robert W. Rex
I think the servant just thought that Oedipus knew whom he had killed and would kill him if he told anyone. He probably thought that Oedipus killed King Lauis on purpose so he could take the throne. He insisted that there were more than one and that alone is the only detail he could remember.
However, if anyone did frame Oedipus – it was the gods, who apparently aren’t the nicest folks in the world. I don’t know what Oedipus did to deserve that kind of sick, twisted, and very elaborate smiting but the gods obviously don’t like him much.
So – the lesson is that no one is in control of his or her own life and that the gods will punish you for your sins? When I read Oedipus, I didn’t know that we were suppose to learn a lesson from it. First of all, the whole incest thing isn’t really Oedipus’s fault. He’s blameless. The gods, on the other hand, have some explaining to do.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 8:03 PM | Comments (0)
Oral Presentation Paper
Compassionate Characters and Remorse: Poncelet vs. Young Woman
Compassionate Characters and Remorse: Poncelet vs. Young Woman
Young Woman and Poncelet are both main characters that are executed for murder. However, despite that one simple similarity their situations and the characters that surround them are very different. Young Woman murders her husband. Poncelet murders a young, random, naive couple and he’s been harassing others for over a month. Young Woman may have had less family and friends than Poncelet, but it’s much easier to sympathize with her crimes than it is Poncelet’s. How does he get so much support? How does Poncelet have so many people trying to help his case and generally make him feel more comfortable while Young Woman dies alone?
Poncelet has Helen, who gets him a lie detector test despite knowing it wouldn’t do any good, and tries to get the warden to allow her to play music for him. Helen also convinces his mother to become more involved. With the mother, come three brothers who encourage and look up to Poncelet. Helen also finds Poncelet a lawyer, Hilton Barber, and with him comes his assistant Henry. They are both remarkably kind and loyal to Poncelet:
“HILTON: Don’t lose hope, Matt. We’ve still got a judge in the fifth circuit federal court that can stop it and beyond that there’s the U.S. Supreme Court and the governor. I’ll get a private meeting with him if it’s the last thing I do. Don’t lose hope.”
Helen involves other nuns in her campaign who grow to support Poncelet as well. The nuns find him a funeral, donate a burial spot, and even buy him a suit:
“COLEEN: Got this at Goodwill. I talked to Bishop Norwich. He said he would say the funeral mass. The leaders of the congregation have met and we can use one of our own burial plots. I also found a funeral home willing to donate their services.”
There’s also Neal Trapp and the other security guards, who don’t exactly support Poncelet personally, but they don’t treat him poorly either. They’re very kind to him: they give him coffee, and a jacket when he’s cold. They’re not your stereotypically sadistic prison guards:
“PREJEAN: Can somebody get him a shirt? He’s cold. The guard gets a blue denim shirt and puts it around Matt’s shoulders.”
Although the protestors don’t necessarily get any one-on-one time with Poncelet, they support his case and don’t want him to die a painful death. It has to be inspiring to know that there are a group of strangers standing outside the building supporting your case. Poncelet is even given the chance to talk with reporters and tell his side of the story – an option that is never granted to Young Woman.
Young Woman’s prison stay is short and there isn’t any waiting around or talk of a retrial. She’s executed in same scene as we first see her in prison. With Poncelet the other characters are campaigning for him and pleading with the governor. There are also weeks of preparation before his execution. This long build-up toward the inevitable allows the reader to become more emotionally evolved.
Before his execution, Poncelet is given a chance to say some last words. He gives a heart-warming apology, which allows the reader to say good-bye and feel that he’s had a nice conclusion. After Poncelet is executed, the reader is left with a feeling that a great injustice has been committed. Young Woman, on the other hand, is frog-marched into the execution room and only gets to shout a few words before they zap her.
“YOUNG WOMAN: Wait! Wait! Tell her! Wait! Just a minute more! There’s so much I want to tell her – Wait – The JAILER takes the MOTHER off. The TWO GUARDS take the YOUNG WOMAN by the arms, and start through the door in the bars and down the passage, across stage and off.”
At one point, Poncelet asks Helen why she became a nun and she replies that she had a lot of support and a loving family. I believe that it is that same support that leads Poncelet to confess his crimes before his death and feel remorse for what he did. It is that same support (or lack thereof) that leads Young Woman to die without ever repenting. I believe that if Young Woman had more friends and family around before her execution, she too would have been moved to repent.
However, it could be argued that she was just too mentally ill to understand regret. After all, it was said that her mother rarely let her out of the house, which only contributed to her sense of alienation and therefore, to her mental illness. There is also evidence of insanity in her stream of consciousness (AKA: odd, creepy monologues). Finally, there’s the fact that she thought her husband would rather be murdered than get a divorce – that doesn’t exactly scream “sanity.”
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 12:04 AM | Comments (0)
September 27, 2005
B1-1: Blogging Portfolio – Newswriting
B1-1: Blogging Portfolio – Newswriting
B1-1: Blogging Portfolio – Newswriting
Texts
- Coverage, Interaction: Although recording my ideas in the Reporter’s Notebook isn’t quite my style, the useful checklists on interview and editing have been very helpful to me. I commented on Johanna Dreyfuss’s blog entry about the story ideas that the Reporters Notebook offers.
- Interaction: The AP Guide to Newswriting (Ch. 8) taught me about that profanity could be used to show someone’s personality. I also found out that putting someone’s opinion in quotation marks is only necessary if it is very unusual. I could relate to Michael Diezmos’s feeling about the abundance of examples in The AP Guide to Newswriting.
- Timeliness, Coverage: In Elements of Journalism (Ch. 3 - 5) I was able to identify with the feeling of a lack of control that journalists have with quotes. I was also able to identify with the idea that reporting on the personal matters of public officials is harmful to citizens because it’s more internally focused.
Media
- Interaction: I watched the WTAE-Pittsburgh Channel 4 newscast and compared it to the Tribune Review and The Pittsburgh Channel.com for my Media Analysis assignment. I commented on Elyse Branam's opinion on the benefits of television news. I felt that television news was more visually engaging than print news. However, The Pittsburgh Channel.com and the television news both had very short reports and like I mentioned in Chera Pupi’s blog, with television news you have less control because of all the waiting around.
- In the September 20th issue of the Tribune Review I noticed the layout of the paper more than I ever had before. I had never paid much attention to the lines that separate the articles or how the front-page images are always the most shocking. I had also never noticed how great subheadings are for grabbing the reader’s interest.
Articles
- Coverage: I interviewed Lorin Schumacher for my Peer Profile Article. As I noted in my reflection, she had the flu all week and was unable to be verbally interviewed. This made me realize the benefits of e-mail interviewing and not having to be verbally interviewed by her.
- Timeliness: My Spot News Article covered Opening Liturgy and the student’s reactions to the Catholic influence of Seton Hill. I chose to focus more on their reactions after hearing a lot of confusion from some of my classmates. All in all, it left much to be desired. As I mentioned in my reflection: I didn’t have enough positive quotes so the article was bias – which is very bad indeed. From then on I decided to count my quotes to make sure my articles wouldn’t be more objective.
- Here is a list of news story ideas for Homecoming. I have four ideas because numbers two and four are rather weak and I’m hoping that when combined, they’ll be worth one. Wishful thinking, I suppose…
- Timeliness: Comparing my spot news article on Opening Liturgy to the Communicator’s showed me how nicely a quote from one of the chaplains would have improved my article and helped make it less one-sided. However, one of the reasons I decided not to was because, like I mentioned in Johanna Dreyfuss’s entry, it’s easier to interview students.
Xenoblogging:
- I commented on Elyse Branam's opinion on the benefits of television news.
- I could relate to Michael Diezmos’s feeling about the abundance of examples in The AP Guide to Newswriting.
- I commented on Johanna Dreyfuss’s blog entry about the story ideas offered by the Reporters Notebook.
- I related to Johanna Dreyfuss’s entry "Quotes, Quotes, Quotes" about how it’s easier to interview students.
- I commented on Chera Pupi’s blog and said that although television news is universal, it does not give you more control.
The Comment Primo:
- Chera Pupi “Intro of Elements”
- Elyse Branam “Media Analysis”
- Michael Diezmos “AP guide to News Writing”
Wildcard:
- For lack of a better idea, I’ve decided to blog my “goals statement” essay as my Wildcard.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 9:45 PM | Comments (0)
Wildcard
Wildcard (AKA: Goals Statement essay)
How to Avoid Becoming a Shady Hustler and Volcano Insurance Saleswoman
After four years of copying answers out of textbooks and mirroring the opinions of my instructors, I am in dire need of critical thinking skills. There have been very few times when I was given the opportunity to think critically on an assignment. I’ve been intellectually squashed by the constrains of standardized testing and forced into becoming a student who can no longer see, feel, and think for herself. I’ve been conditioned to read my teachers and give them what they want. In short, I’ve learned to sell myself. Critical thinking skills will help me with writing, language, reading, cultural studies, politics, media studies, and social issues so that I may develop a deeper understanding of life.
Critical thinkers are more succinct and can dissect literature and devour words as opposed to simply reading. They can develop more persuasive arguments and back them up with textual evidence. They’re more secure in their political opinions and can appreciate the beauty in other cultures. They’re also more outwardly focused, which enables them to think about more than their own narrow world-view. As a citizen I feel it’s my duty to think critically, especially in our confusing time of violence and anger and untrustworthy leaders. A career in the field of journalism, or perhaps more specifically – a career as a book editor, travel columnist, informal essayist, or book reviewer, will surely benefit from an ability to think critically. After all, what’s writing without thought? One cannot be a good writer without first being a good thinker.
By thinking critically I will gain experience and develop a language of reading. I will master the codes and patterns of literature, which will allow me to be able to see all the angles when I read a story. I’ll be able to experiment with the points-of-view of every character, regardless of importance. How will I achieve all this? By trying my best not take what I’m presented with at face value, but to dive deeper. Also, by gaining self-confidence, learning from my professors, learning from my peers, working on the Setonian and Campus Life Resolution Board, and taking advantage of the excellent classes Seton Hill has to offer.
Getting over my insecurities might be a bit more complicated than my other techniques. I'm so paranoid about my writing. I feel pretentious even saying I want to be a writer. I don't want to label myself a writer until I am a writer. I don't think I will ever be good enough. There are just so many things I still need to learn. I think what I want is to one day wake up and go - bang - I'm brilliant and smart and I'm a writer!
Does that ever happen? Did Hemingway ever wrestle with insecurities (you know, the few times he was sober)? Did Poe ever leave off on cutting his wrists to evaluate whether or not his work was any good? Was Tolkien ever assured beyond a doubt that his trilogy would become one of the greatest series of all time? There's so many people I want to emulate - so many writers I look up to and feel absolutely hopeless in comparison. They've written the most amazing books ever.
One of the steps to improving my self-confidence will be achieved by proving to myself that I can do well on my assignments, despite not having come from a private school or have taken all, or any, AP classes. If I pass my classes, and especially if I pass them with a respectable score, I’m sure I’ll start feeling less anxious. Or perhaps I should just start every morning by listening to Survivor's "Eye of the Tiger" and strapping on a pair of psychological Doc Martins. Confidence is such an obscure goal and not something I can learn from a textbook or in a few months’ time. I will have to learn to squash the nasty, little internal critic in my head that counters any praise I receive with a novel-sized list of all the things I can’t do properly. I will refuse to accept the grading system as a measure of my self-worth. During these past twelve years I have entered into a self-destructive process that makes me willing to accept not my own, but an array of other standards, for measuring myself (naturally the educational system would fall apart if it did not bring about these feelings of inferiority and worthlessness).
The class discussions in Thinking/Writing will give me an excellent opportunity to interact and learn from my classmates. The blogging required by my journalism classes are an excellent opportunity to observe the conclusions of my peers, which enables me to take my own textual evaluations further. Representing my class on the Campus Life Resolution Board will also require me to think critically. When my peers are written up by residence life for any kind of offense and choose not to accept responsibility, I will help review the incident and make a ruling. It will reflect well on me when I am considered as a Resident Assistant in my junior or senior year. Working on the Setonian will help me utilize my critical thinking skills on current events. If working on the Setonian is an agreeable experience for me, I may continue to be involved every year. If I am permitted, I may even try the job of book reviewer.
The other classes that I hope to take during the next four years are sure to develop my critical thinking skills as well: The Writing of Fiction, The Writing of Poetry, Major Writers and Genres, Introduction to Poetry, Topics in Women in Literature, European Literature, Topics in World Literature, Advanced Study in Literature, Literary Criticism, Publication Workshop, Topics in Media Aesthetics, Topics in Media and Culture, and the American Literature classes. They’ll teach me about voice and style in today’s writing and literature. They also promise a good deal of in-depth study, which is basically a synonym for critical thinking. I think those classes will help me develop a personal writing style as well as show me how to make it interesting. They’ll give me the advantage of having an array of different professors. I’ll make use of this opportunity by participating and paying attention in class. I can ask them questions and bug them incessantly to make absolutely certain that I understand the material (this is especially crucial in my algebra course, which I consider to be an invention of Satan). By using the feedback I receive on my papers I can improve the mistakes I often obsess over. The graded papers can be used as a guide when I begin similar assignments.
At the moment, I’ll concentrate on the classes I’m currently taking. There’s nothing wrong with gazing into the future, but at the moment, there’s more than enough of my plate. I’d like nothing more than to proclaim that by 2009 I will have become a magnificent writer and savant litterateur and but who knows? I could end up being hit by a bus and spending the rest of my life in a full-body cast completely illiterate. When my four years at Seton Hill are complete, I hope to have mastered the written word and at the same time, learned to reject modern ideas about brevity of thought and language. I hope I learned how to let my words stretch and breathe and roll off the tongue and/or onto the page. I hope every word I write from that day forward will have meaning.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 9:40 PM | Comments (0)
Oedipus the King by Sophocles
Part Two
Oedipus the King by Sophocles
“OEDIPUS: Apollo said through his prophet that I was the man Who should marry his own mother, shed his father’s blood With his own hands. And so, for all these years I have kept clear of Corinth, and no harm has come – Though it would have been sweet to see my parents again.”
Since there’s a lot of talk about how Oedipus is an arrogant guy, I’d like to try to prove that for a king – he was pretty decent. He loved his adopted parents so much that he was willing to give up his money, power, and inheritance to the throne to save his father from a death that he didn’t even have any real evidence for.
“OEPIDUS: Thus I associate myself with the oracle And take the side of the murdered king. As for the criminal, I pray to God – Whether it be a lurking thief, or one of a number – I pray that that man’s life be consumed in evil and wretchedness. And as for me, this curse applies no less If it should turn out that the culprit is my guest here, Sharing my hearth. You have heard the penalty.”
After he hears of the plague that’s hurting his city he vows to do whatever he must to end it. He even promises to punish himself if it ends up being a guest of his. He’s indignant that no one had made an investigation into King Laius’s death before. Truth means a great deal to Oedipus. When he hears of Teiresias’s prophecy, he embarks on his own personal and passionate quest for truth.
“IOCASTE: Listen to me, I beg you: do not do this thing! OEDIPUS: I will not listen; the truth must be made known.”
When his wife demands that he not investigate Teiresias’s prophecy, he mistakes her pleading as a fear of discovering that he isn’t of noble birth. He replies that he doesn’t care if his mother is a slave and to not worry about it affecting her. He doesn’t care if he discovers that he’s of inferior birth. Truth matters more to him than disgrace or nobility. Oedipus is just a desperate man who wants to develop a better understanding of himself.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 9:17 PM | Comments (0)
Homecoming Story Pitches
Homecoming Story Pitches
1. Silent Auction in Lowe Dining Hall: I could find out what items were donated and who donated them. Also – how many people participated, how much money was raised, and what improvements might be made to the “student-used facilities” with the money. It’s on-campus, so I won’t have to get lost in Greensburg. But best of all – it’s not a sports event.
2. The Harry Potter Brunch: Although it isn’t at all newsworthy, it sounds absolutely fantastic and is a combination of two of my favorite things – brunch and Harry Potter. My Harry Potter knowledge is unsurpassed and my love is long-standing. I would interview whoever organized the event (this could be done before) and find out why it’s held. I could also interview those who win the contests.
3. Concert: Neon Swing Xperience: It seems newsworthy because the band is fairly well known and has won contests. Also, some SHU students are members, so that may appeal to other students.
4. Carnival on Sullivan Lawn: Although there isn’t much information about this, I assume it’ll be great because carnivals are always fun. I could summarize the activities and see what everyone thought of them.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 9:16 PM | Comments (3)
Media Analysis
My observation was that the WTAE Channel Four television news channel was more engaging and dynamic than the news website for WTAE Channel Four, The Pittsburgh Channel.com, and The Tribune-Review newspaper. Television involves more of your senses and therefore helps you to get involved with the story. It’s more thought provoking and can give people a wider perception.
Television has so much more imagery and which enables the reader to evoke more emotions. A picture is worth a thousand words and I think print just doesn’t stir up as many feelings in people. It’s also just generally more entertaining and pleasing to the eye. It has fancy graphics and music that grabs your attention. It’s impossible to look away when you hear the alarming tones of their official and important sounding music.
I noticed that for the smaller news stories like “Man Crawls Through Take-Out Window, Robs McDonald's At Gunpoint” the television report was exactly the same as the internet version. There wasn’t a single word that was different. This is also true for the news story “'Wizard Of Oz' Ruby Slippers Stolen.” I suppose their lack of length is mostly due to proportionality.
For the larger stories, the television news seemed more inclined to give more personal details about people. The newspaper and online news seemed more short and concise. Internet news is often too fragmented as well. The television news also uses more adjectives. The newspaper seemed to be less concerned with the intimate, personal details that are used to help people identify with others. Especially with tragedies and victim’s stories, there is far more interactivity because it’s much easier to feel involved when you can hear their solemn tone of voice and even tears.
However, television news also gives you the misfortune of hearing the news people make little chatty remarks to each other about some stories. Thankfully, in newspapers and online you don’t have that problem. Another negative with television news is that it has less independence, and are often more concerned with ratings, which brings them to rely on shock-value.
I don’t think that newspapers and internet news can demonstrate the scope of things like television can. Television news has the ability to show a larger overview and also focus a single aspect of a story. You can gain more comprehensiveness from it. It sends a stronger message and gives a lot more information in a shorter time.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 3:29 PM | Comments (1)
The AP Guide to Newswriting (Ch. 8)
The AP Guide to Newswriting (Ch. 8)
The AP Guide to Newswriting (Ch. 8) by Rene J. Cappon
I learned that profanity should never be used to condescend, but to give someone flavor. I never thought of quotation marks as being a “human voice,” but I really like the idea. I also learned that when someone uses common words to give their opinion on something, it doesn’t need quotation marks, only unusual words do:
“The critic called it a “wonderful” movie.
Had our critic called it “incandescent,” however, quotation marks would be proper.” (pg. 72)
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 3:26 PM | Comments (0)
September 26, 2005
Communicator/Opening Liturgy
The Communicator's article on Opening Liturgy in comparison to mine.
Communicator/Opening Liturgy
The Communicator’s article on the Opening Liturgy was more relevant because it focused more on the Liturgy itself while my article focused more on the reactions. The Communicator wrote about the crowd and the fact that class was cancelled so everyone could have the opportunity to attend. It also had a quote from Chaplain Fr. Stephen Honeygosky, while my article just had quotes from students (which made it more subjective).
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 9:53 PM | Comments (2)
Reporter’s Notebook
Reporter’s Notebook by Mark Levin
I’m not overly fond of writing my article ideas in the notebook. I prefer Microsoft Word, because it’s easier to make adjustments. And I prefer my calendar as opposed to the using their deadline dates and interview reminders. The large print is nice on my tired eyes though.
It has some really helpful hints about writer’s block and the interview and editing checklists have been useful. The interviewing checklist keeps me prepared. The editing checklist reminds me to think more about my headlines and leads. Even the basic journalism vocabulary was helpful - especially to someone who had never been involved with the newspaper in high school.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 9:22 PM | Comments (0)
Oral Presentation Reflection
Oral Presentation Reflection
It was a more comfortable environment. Everyone finished in the perfect amount of time, which allowed us to discuss each other’s presentations and agree or disagree with their observations.
I gained a better understanding of Catholic Social Teaching through Chera Pupi’s presentation. She applied the principles to both Machinal and Dead Man Walking. Amanda Nichol’s presentation was about the influence of love for the characters in The Jeweller’s Shop. Gina Burgese’s presentation was about the level of control male and female characters have in their households. Joshua Gogolsky gave a presentation about how deceit complicates the situation in The Importance of Being Earnest. Katie Aikins’s presentation taught me about static characters and their development. Denamarie Ercolani’s presentation was about the impact that a loveless marriage can have on a character.
I enjoyed hearing the observations made by my peers. It was better than the class discussions because they had time to prepare more thorough responses. The handouts were helpful because they showed the lines that supported our claims. It made it easier to follow along and clearly see the evidence. Also, since we all weren’t talking about the same play, there were more diverse topics. No one had the same subject and everyone had a lot of interesting things to say.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 9:12 PM | Comments (0)
Peer Profile: Lorin Schumacher
Peer Profile: Lorin Schumacher
Peer Profile: Lorin Schumacher
CNN reports that an estimated 36,000 Americans are killed by influenza in an average year. In Greensburg, Pennsylvania 18 year-old Seton Hill University (SHU) student Lorin Schumacher has currently quarantined herself in her dorm room because she, like so many others, has come down with the flu. 185 million Americans should get a flu shot every year but fewer than half that number do, states the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Though she’s never received a flu shot, she’s not about to become another statistic for CNN. She’s managing fine with lots of orange juice and plenty of sleep. Like most cases of the flu, hers is mild and will pass in a few days.
Lorin Schumacher graduated from high school in Middlebury, Indiana in the top 10% of her class, captain of the volleyball team, president of the National Honor Society, and earning Girl Scout gold and silver community service awards. “Her school achievements outnumbered any other person's I know. She was actively involved in her community; never turning down an opportunity to gain service hours,” said her friend Jason Simpson.
Lorin has a 20 year-old brother who attends Creighton University in Nebraska and a 15 year-old sister in high school. Lorin’s hobbies include volleyball and photography. She enjoys listening to bands like Oasis, Train, and Maroon 5 and her favorite movie is When Harry Met Sally.
She spent her summer working at the local bed and breakfast ran and owned by her mother. Her father recently retired from a career in command and control in the Air Force. Her family has lived on military bases in several different locations – Nebraska, D.C., New Jersey, and England, where she’s lived the last eight years. “Living overseas for so long played a large role in shaping who I am. I learned a lot about other cultures and I think that has made me more a tolerant American,” Lorin said.
Lorin has currently made SHU her new home. Her walls are covered in pictures of family and friends, postcards from places in Europe she’s visited, and Mickey Mouse memorabilia. On her desk are several glass coke bottles from France and Germany as well as a hailstorm of yellow sticky notes. She’s adjusting well to her new life and is quickly making friends. “Her willingness to always try hard will definitely prove to be a valuable asset, as well as her ability to adapt to new situations and people,” stated Jessica Armour, another hometown friend.
Lorin is now a hard-working freshmen majoring is English education with aspirations to one day teach English to high school students. "I really want to be able to affect the future generations and help students realize their dreams,” said Lorin. Her long-term aspirations are to become eligible for Alpha Lambda Delta and graduate with honors.
“She has a determination and drive to complete everything that will ensure she is successful in college,” said Marshall Mattingly, Lorin’s boyfriend of two years.
“She will somehow, beyond my comprehension, manage to go to classes, complete her homework, and participate in many activities. She'll have her spells where it will seem like she's doing too much, and she'll snap sometimes, but she always manages to hold it together when it comes to crunch time,” he said.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 9:03 PM | Comments (1)
Spot News Reflection
Spot News Reflection
For my spot news article, I wanted to have a quote of someone saying how they’d be much more interested in going to mass after they took a religion class and understood what everything meant. Sadly, no one felt that way. The general opinion was that they still wouldn’t be interested because it’s just not how they like it.
I needed more positive opinions to even it out. It was difficult to find Catholic students (which is rather puzzling) or students willing to talk about religion at all. Getting some quotes from one of the chaplains would have been best.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 8:50 PM | Comments (0)
Peer Profile Reflection
Peer Profile Reflection
The interview had to be done entirely through e-mail since Lorin had the flu and did not have the ability to speak. I think that actually made things easier (not Lorin’s lack of voice – that would be cruel, but the e-mailing). Whenever we had follow-up questions we would just send over another e-mail, as opposed to having to plan a time and place to meet or use the telephone (which is a bothersome invention and can often be difficult to hear the person on the other line). We had better access to each other by using e-mail.
We didn’t have to worry about misquoting each other either. However, it was more difficult to understand whether we were being sarcastic or were completely serious.
It was also easier to give her information about myself through e-mail. I imagine if we had done the interview in person there would have been a good deal of mumbling and awkward silences on my part. It was much easier to put my thoughts together and come up with thorough, specifc answers (as well as not say anything too stupid) through e-mail.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 8:40 PM | Comments (0)
Tribune Review 09/20/2005
Tribune-Review - Sept. 20
I had never given the layout of a newspaper much thought. I just knew that the most important articles went on the front page. It makes sense that they’d put the most alluring image on the front page as well. I never noticed the lines that separate the articles either.
I enjoyed the “Man found not guilty in death at Derry bar” headline. The subheading actually grabbed my attention first: “He was accused of kicking the victim repeatedly in the head.” How could anyone not want to read more? I think those subheadings really grab the reader’s interest.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 8:37 PM | Comments (0)
September 25, 2005
Irony
Sophocles, Oedipus the King (Up to Scene III) -- Drama as Literature (EL 250)
You know the drill: go read and comment. Imagine I'm a sad, forlorn puppy with only one leg that derives my only joy from your comments. You wouldn't want to make a crippled puppy sad now, would you?
Oedipus the King by Sophocles
“OEPIDUS: I say I take the son’s part, just as though I were his son, to press the fight for him And see it won!”
Irony is the foundation of Oedipus the King. Without it, there would be no plot. It involves the audience and shows foreshadowing.
“OEPIDUS: Thus I associate myself with the oracle And take the side of the murdered king. As for the criminal, I pray to God – Whether it be a lurking thief, or one of a number – I pray that that man’s life be consumed in evil and wretchedness. And as for me, this curse applies no less If it should turn out that the culprit is my guest here, Sharing my hearth. You have heard the penalty.”
Oedipus knows, or thinks he knows, that he didn’t kill King Laius. When he makes this proclamation, he’s really addressing the “marauders” that everyone thinks are responsible for the murder. He doesn’t know that he’s just convicted himself (I think his only real crime is having been born, poor guy).
“TEIRESIAS: Listen to me. You mock my blindness, do you? But I say that you, with both your eyes, are blind: You can not see the wretchedness of your life, Nor in whose house you live, no, nor with whom.”
There are several references to sight, which is ironic because Oedipus is both blind to his odd inbreed situation, and will soon be blind – literally.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 4:32 PM | Comments (3)
September 20, 2005
Supportive Characters
Robbins and Prejean, Dead Man Walking: The Shooting Script -- Drama as Literature (EL 250)
Dead Man Walking by Tim Robbins, Sister Helen Prejean
“MITCH: See ya, man. Stay strong.There is a crack in his voice when he says “strong.” Jim and Troy are beginning to walk out. Troy’s face is beginning to crumble into tears. Mitch and Lucille are moving toward the foyer. Lucille keeps jabbing a Kleenex to her eyes.”
Dead Man Walking is similar to Machinal because they both address the issue of capital punishment, but very different when it comes to character response. There isn’t as strong of a reaction to Young Woman’s death as there is to Poncelet’s (which is funny since his crimes were much more brutal).
Poncelet has a team of loving, supportive characters, which is different from Machinal, where no one is really affected from Young Woman’s death. Sure, Young Woman’s mother feels bad for her, but no one else really cares too much. There are no protestors, no gloomy guards, or sympathetic lawyers. No last meals, last words, or retrials. There’s not even much waiting around before her execution.
“CLYDE: Poncelet should be stabbed seventeen times then shot in the back of the head, that’s what we oughta do to him.”
George H. Jones’s father doesn’t show up and furiously wish for a more appropriate “eye for an eye” death sentence and demand that Young Woman get hit over the head with a bottle full of pebbles (which would have been hilarious, btw). Maybe his parents weren’t alive and he didn’t have any siblings to come to Young Woman’s execution. It would have been interesting to see if any of them would have grudgingly forgiven her.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 3:38 PM | Comments (0)
September 19, 2005
Elements of Journalism (Ch. 3 - 5)
Elements of Journalism (Ch. 3 - 5)
The Elements of Journalism (Ch. 3 - 5) by Bill Kovach and Tom Rosenstiel
“A key part of the problem...is the growing journalistic focus on the motives of public officials rather than their actions. By shifting from the "what" of public life to the "why," they argued, journalists "interiorized" public life, making it about the psyche and self of politicians and also making it less about the outcomes of public policy that actually affected citizens. This cynical focus, however, tended to further disconnect journalists from citizens.” (pg. 57, ch. 3)
I can remember hearing my parents complain about this as well (especially during the months before the presidential elections). We hear so much about the promises of politicians and very little about the actions they actually take. It’s always more focused on their personal lives and who the politician is as a person.
“The nonfiction writer is communicating with the reader about real people in real places. So if those people talk, you say what those people said. You don’t say what the writer decides they said…You don’t make up dialogue. You don’t make a composite character…And you don’t get inside their [characters’] heads and think for them.” (pg. 78, ch. 4)
Whenever I get quotes from people I’m always wishing they had said things in a different way. I wish I could tell them what to say. I want more control, as if I were writing a story.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 12:09 PM | Comments (1)
September 17, 2005
The Puritan Jeweller with two "L"s
Wojtyla, The Jeweller's Shop -- Drama as Literature (EL 250)
The Jeweller's Shop by Karol Wojtyla
“The jeweller examined the workmanship, weighed the ring
for a long time in his fingers and looked
into my eyes. For awhile he was reading
the date of our wedding
engraved inside the ring.
Again he looked into my eyes, put the ring on the sales…
then said: ‘this ring does not weigh anything,
the needle does not move from zero
and I cannot make it show
even a milligramme.
Your husband must be alive –
in which case neither of your rings, taken separately,
will weigh anything – only both together will register.”
My jeweller’s scales have this peculiarity
that they weigh not the metal
but man’s entire being and fate.’
Ashamed I took the ring back
And left the shop without a word
- I think, though, that he followed me with his eyes.”
What a way to run a business! I guess he thinks only widowers are allowed to sell their rings. That’s really terrible customer support. That self-righteous jeweller doesn’t have the right to judge Anna and make her feel guilty just because he doesn’t believe in divorce. He has no idea what their marriage is like and has no right to deny her the opportunity to sell the ring. She shouldn’t feel ashamed, she should feel annoyed, and then go and tell all her friends to boycott the place.
I just get an image of this uppity old man looking down his nose and waging his finger at those who are brave enough to end a loveless marriage, while giving nice, shiny rings to the ethnically homogeneous couples.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 3:09 PM | Comments (1)
September 16, 2005
Spot News Article
Catholicism Confounds New SHU Students
Seton Hill University (SHU) had its first church service of the semester, Opening Liturgy, in St. Joseph’s Chapel, Thursday Sept. 9. To some students, Catholic mass can be unfamiliar if they’re used to a free-form worship style. Much of their wariness comes from a lack of understanding.
“I just don’t get the rituals. I don’t understand why they pray to Mary either,” freshmen Daryle Gracey said.
“I felt extremely uncomfortable at the liturgy. It’s just not what I’m used to. I mean, what’s the deal with Mary’s birthday?” asked freshmen Brittney Shunk.
When asked if they would return for other services they declined saying they would feel “left out” during communion. They plan to find answers to their questions in the required religion class, which is opposed by some students.
“If Seton Hill "welcomes and respects the faith traditions of all students and provides faith-sharing opportunities" then why am I, as an agnostic, required to take a religious studies class? I am basically being forced, against my own beliefs to take this class, or not graduate. Yeah, that's really welcoming and respecting my beliefs,” wrote Louis Gagliardi on his blog.
"You have to keep in mind that this is a private, Catholic university. They have every right to ask every student to take a religion course, because all of the students who attend this school understand that this isn't a state institution,” said Michael Rubino.
SHU prides itself on its Judeo-Christian traditions and Catholic heritage. The principles of the Sisters of Charity are part of the academic curriculum (or Catholic Social Teaching).
Campus Ministry, which gives students the chance to participate in worship and community service, is another part of the religious atmosphere.
“I think campus ministry presents a good body of Christians on campus. It makes them visible, and provides an outlet for those who feel sort of cornered to shy about their religious beliefs. Without campus ministry, I don't think people would make the time to participate in such activities away from home,” said Rubino.
“It's a good influence on the campus. I like the fact that they are approachable, not too distant from the student population, and open to suggestions,” said freshmen Mary Tietjen.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 3:21 PM | Comments (2)
September 15, 2005
...
"With all the sadness and trauma going on in the world at the moment, it's worth reflecting on the death of a very important person, which almost went unnoticed last week.
Larry LaPrise, the man who wrote "The Hokey Pokey," died peacefully at age 93. The most traumatic part for his family was getting him into the coffin. They put his left leg in... and then the trouble started."
Shut up, you know it's funny.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 9:21 PM | Comments (3)
inner monologue
Currently reading Lost In A Good Book. It's the second novel to Eyre Affair. So funny. You know the wacky humor of Harry Potter? The irreverent descriptions of Diagon Alley and the Burrow? Yeah, this whole book is like that, only better. It's amazing, nearly every single sentence is some subtle jab at Shakespeare or Jane Austen or any book you can think of. It's the perfect book for a bibliophile. Especially if you like Austen or Shakespeare. There's also none of those unnecessary descriptions that authors like to waste their times on. It has the snappy dialogue and paragraphs similar to Artemis Fowl (but minus the stupid plots and the idiotic mind-numbing "Hi, I'm dumbed down for kids" feel). This book is almost in the league of Terry Pratchett. Helloooo, new favorite obsession.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 12:03 AM | Comments (0)
September 14, 2005
Name Change
Treadwell, Machinal (Finish) -- Drama as Literature (EL 250)
Machinal by Sophie Treadwell
Why does Young Woman’s name change to just "Woman" in Episode Six: Intimate and the back to Young Woman in Episode Seven: Domestic? She acted completely different in episode six. Is that relevant to the change in name? I guess it just represents how small her husband makes her feel? Or perhaps how alive her lover makes her feel?
She still seems to carry her insecurities with her, regardless of who she's with:
“WOMAN. You’ve had a lot of women, haven’t you?”
“WOMAN. Did you – like any of ‘em – better than me?”
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 9:17 PM | Comments (4)
September 13, 2005
The Other Tables
Treadwell, Machinal (Scenes 1-5) -- Drama as Literature (EL 250)
I encourage you to comment because it will be lots of fun. And if there's one thing better than Dr. Pepper, zombies, the Finn Brothers, and Harry Potter - it's fun.
Machinal by Sophie Treadwell
At table three, I think a man is trying to convince a woman to get an abortion.
"MAN. Well, are you going through with it, or ain't you?"
"MAN. ...Bert told me a doctor to go to - gave me the address -"
"WOMAN. I'm not scared. I want it - I want to have it..."
At table two, a man seems to be trying to convince a boy to try his first alcoholic beverage. I think the man is trying to get the boy drunk because he’s a pedophile.
“MAN. I brought you here to give you pleasure – let you taste pleasure.”
“MAN. Have you ever been in love?BOY. No.
MAN. Never in love with – a woman?
BOY. No – not really.
MAN. What do you mean really?
BOY. Just – that.
MAN. Ah!”
I really hope that I haven't just completely misinterpreted that. That would be awkward.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 5:10 PM | Comments (4)
September 10, 2005
Algernon the Wise
Wilde, The Importance of Being Earnest -- Drama as Literature (EL 250)
"ALGERNON. My dear boy, I love hearing my relations abused. It is the only thing that makes me put up with them at all. Relations are simply a tedious pack of people, who haven't got the remotest knowledge of how to live, nor the smallest instinct about when to die."
Like, Amanda Nichols, I too can relate to Algernon’s harsh observations about family members. Spending time with my cousins, in particular, is rather like repeatedly slamming your fingers in a car door: you should've learned better the first time, because it only gets more painful after that.
Algernon makes so many wise and clever statements (but of coarse, "everybody is clever now-a-days," as Jack says). He seems to have an opinion on every thing, and never holds back.
I don't see the appeal in cucumber sandwiches, however.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 9:45 PM | Comments (3)
September 8, 2005
lol of the day
"The life and times of Jesus were recorded in fanfic form by his four biggest fanboys — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John — shortly after his death. Later, their works were compiled by a basement-dweller nerd named Peter into the "New Testament." Initial sales were stagnant, however, and so after conducting numerous focus groups and hiring many expensive consultants, the title was changed to "Jesus: The Reckoning." Subsequent sales skyrocketed, thereby propelling the publisher — Catholic Church, Inc. — into global prominence.
Today, with Jesus fandom on the wane, "The Reckoning" is typically published as an anthology in conjunction with the so-called "Old Testament." This saves on printing costs, and has served to bolster sales, though one may still need to order the book at Amazon since many bookstores are stopped carrying it. Incidentally, another Jesus fanboy, Paul, invented the blog."
(from Encyclopedia Dramatica)
Heh. Fanboys. Heh. Blogs."
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 8:21 PM | Comments (3)
September 7, 2005
Krogstad the Vampire
Foster, How to Read Literature Like a Professor Intro through p. 22 -- Drama as Literature (EL 250)
“Krogstad. Well, in any case, it would have been of no use to you now. If you stood there with ever so much money in your hand, I would never part with your bond.Nora. Tell me what purpose you mean to put it to.
Krogstad. I shall only preserve it--keep it in my possession…“
Krogstad displays the characteristic of a vampire in his abuse of Nora’s bond. He not only wants a position in the bank, but he also wants Helmer’s job.
"A nasty old man, attractive but evil, violates young women, leaves his mark on them, steals their innocence – and coincidentally their “usefulness” (if you think “marriageability” you’ll be about right) to young men – and leaves them helpless followers in sin."
He even puts her in a position where she is desperate enough to ask her husband to put an unworthy man in a position of authority:
“Nora. I couldn't prevent it, Mr. Krogstad. I fought as hard as I could on your side, but it was no good."
He has made her useless in the “disagreeable position” he’s made between her husband and herself. He has stolen her innocence in the sense that she no longer has the same simple worries and cares that she had before. However, the lost of innocence is also beneficial in the sense that it has made her realize the pretend marriage she had with Helmer and give up her façade of taking Helmer’s and her father’s opinions as her own.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 4:47 PM | Comments (3)
September 5, 2005
Ten Building Blocks of Catholic Social Teaching by William Byron
Ten Building Blocks of Catholic Social Teaching by William Byron
Ten Building Blocks of Catholic Social Teaching by William Byron
I think the general message is one of tolerance and unity. It’s impossible to decipher which political party they lean toward because they have such clever wording and a nice balance of both (The Principle of Respect for Human Life – pro-life, The Principle of Participation – pro-union).
I’m confused about the principle of subsidiarity (spell check doesn’t seem to like the word one tiny bit, by the way – I think it prefers “subsidiary”).
“The principle of subsidiarity puts a proper limit on government by insisting that no higher level of organization should perform any function that can be handled efficiently and effectively at a lower level of organization by human persons...”Can they really do anything about it though? They’re a church. If they feel the government is getting too powerful, what could they do about it?
Well, to sum up: Catholic Social Teaching = common courtesy and not hating people because they exist. Or, that’s what I got out of it anyway. I’m sure there’s something more profound that I’m missing entirely.
“Human Person Human Life Association Participation Preference for the Poor Solidarity Stewardship Subsidiarity Equality Common GoodPeople who enjoy coming up with acronyms could rearrange the order to construct an easily remembered set of capital letters.”
(I tried, but couldn’t come up with anything.)
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 6:36 PM | Comments (3)
A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
A Doll’s House by Henrik Ibsen
Part 1
A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen
Part 1
“Mrs Linde. Yes, anyhow I think it would be delightful to have what one needs.Nora. No, not only what one needs, but heaps and heaps of money.”
Their house is described as comfortably and tastefully furnished but Nora doesn’t want to just live comfortably, she wants to be filthy rich. She's greedy and has a long history of going through money like water.
She also wants to be treated like an equal. She wants to make big, important business dealings like a man. This is a mistake because she has absolutely no concept of money:
“Nora. It cost about two hundred and fifty pounds. That's a lot, isn't it?”
Nora doesn't understand how society works. She thinks that Krogstad will show her mercy simply because her motives were supposedly altruistic.
She prides herself way too much on how well she’s fooled her husband:
“Nora [smiling]. Yes, that is what Torvald and all the others think, but—“
Her sneaky borrowing of money and lying has made her arrogant:
“Nora [tossing her head]. Oh, if it is a wife who has any head for business--a wife who has the wit to be a little bit clever—“
Now she's in way over her head. I think it will be a while before Nora can swallow her pride and ask Helmer for help.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 2:49 PM | Comments (3)
September 3, 2005
...
Everyone on my floor has gone off to the foam dance. I didn't even know what a foam dance was and figured that "foam" must be slang for something. Surely they couldn't mean actual foam... then I did a google image search and yes, yes they do. Dancing in foam: sounds like a recipe for unpleasantness.
- - - - -
I'm reading this... book (I don't dare call it a novel). It's horrid and vile and disgusting and I'm half way through it and despise it beyond all means. I hate chick lit and I hate the whole "omgosh I'm so awesome and clever and cute but dammit I just can't get that guy, but everything falls in place by the end". It's about a girl who is forced to star in a play version of Pride and Prejudice and obviously - she gets the part of Elizabeth. Incredibly, a famously wealthy annoying actor is cast as Darcy. Can you see what direction this is going? Oh, and her sister is cast as Jane and she falls in love with the guy playing Bingley. There's also a smarmy news reporter who keeps trying to get in bed with our heroine but instead gets in with her roommate who is desperate for anything male. Wow. So original. There's more and it's basically exactly like Pride and Prejudice, but contemporary and lacking in the hotness of Darcy and minus the lovely, snarky humor of Austen.
I think that there is a definite decline in today's literature and it's due to lowered standards of publication. Ex: Danielle Steele, Dave Eggers, and whoever wrote that tripe Confessions of a Shopaholic, where just the glaring cover makes me want to beat it to a pulp* with Beowulf.
*Pun intended.
Posted by Kayla Sawyer at 9:47 PM | Comments (3)