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October 27, 2005
Ding! Change of Thought
Ives, "Sure Thing" -- Drama as Literature (EL 250)
This reminds me of the show "Who's Line Is It Anyway". When improv ruled the stage. The bell changes the mood,thoughts, and feelings of both characters like a drop of a hat. For example:
Betty: I guess we must be on different schedules.
Bill: Missed connections.
Betty: Yes. Different time zones.
Bill: Amazing how you can live right next door to somebody in this town and never even know it.
Betty: I know.
Bill: City life.
Betty: It's crazy.
Bill: You weren't waiting for somebody when I came in, were you?
Betty: Actually, I was.
Bill: Oh. Boyfriend?
Betty: Sort of.
Bill: What's a sort-of boyfriend?
Betty: My husband.
Bill: Ah-ha. (Bell)
Bill: You weren't waiting for somebody when I came in, were you?
Betty: Actually, I was.
Bill: Oh. Boyfriend?
Betty: Sort of.
Bill: What's a sort-of boyfriend?
Betty: We were meeting here to break up.
Bill: Mm-hm ... (Bell)
Bill: What's a sort-of boyfriend?
Betty: My lover. Here she comes right now! (Bell)
This just shows that the bell...not the characters control the atmosphere of this play. By the end of this play, Bill and Betty have been molded (or if I was Pavlov...trained) to be completely different people. I'm pretty sure you felt the tension when they first met each other. I believe that a playwright can indeed make the character whole being rely on an outside source, something that has nothing to do with the play to make the characters react and act. Or maybe it's just me?
Posted by KevinHinton at 6:48 PM | Comments (2)
October 26, 2005
It's Like Looking at a 3-D Picture
It Ain't Necessarily So (Ch 4 & 5) -- News Writing (EL 227)
You know those 3-D pictures that show a picture within a picture that you won't be able too tell if not looked carefully? Well some news stories are like that. Like this story on Yahoo news, about Evangilical Christains take over of the Republican Party. Some say it would be something that the country needed, while others (including fellow Christians)says just the opposite. It is the way we are raised and taught that make us able to see things in different light. No matter what no two people will think alike, so no two people should have the same interpretations of a new article. So, what do you think?
Posted by KevinHinton at 11:50 PM | Comments (2)
Proxies...Everbody uses them.
It Ain't Necessarily So (Ch 4 & 5) -- News Writing (EL 227)
This book describes proxies as unresearchable information. Journalist rely more on what people said than what is really factual. I think the authors say it better when they say:
"Doctors have agreed upon diagnostic definitions and widely used medical equipment that enable them to say 'she's got the measles, he doesn't' but there is nothing like a definitional consenus of a "hungerometer" or "poverty measures"... "
Is that all of the proxies that researchers produce and reporters report. Is it all governmental or social. Of course not. I'm speaking from experience when I share this story. So take a second to get some popcorn and a soda....ready? :
When I was going to George Wythe High School in Richmond,VA we had to take a standardized test called the Standards of Learning (SOL). Funding for each school required that we passed the test with an average schoolwide score of 80%. But the test was unpopular and students (who weren't dumb)didn't even want to take the test. Since few people took the test we have gotten a low score. But because of the fact we have gotten a low score(and not the reason, why), people thought that we wern't able to do "basic skills" in our core classes. And to top it all off the VA Secretary of Education had said to the Richmond Times-Dispatch that "These students doesn't have the capablity to even read or write". Yet, I was able to read that article!
So what's the moral of that lesson, even though a subject like reading scores is researchable, saying that a student can't read or write at all isn't measurable either. That student just could have had a bad day or didn't study. But proxies are a two edged sword, we get negative backlash over these "facts" but when people find out about them they want to make things better. So, can you find another thing that can possibly be a proxy?
Posted by KevinHinton at 11:22 PM | Comments (1)
October 23, 2005
Why be so Obvious?
Shakespheare, Hamlet (Act 3-5) Drama as Literature (EL 250)
When Hamlet's plan to reveal the guilt of Claudius being the murderer of the king, every thing fell into place. Claudius watched the play as it re-enacted what he had done with King Hamlet. His only reaction was this quote:
CLAUDIUS: Give me some light: away!
That's the power of drama for you! Maybe this outburst by Claudius was in fact him being sorry for want he done. But it's extremely clear that it doesn't last long because he tries so hard to get rid of Hamlet. Maybe if Claudius would have repented and stepped down from the throne he would have been all right (Hamlet wouldn't have killed him when he repented becuase he would have gone to Heaven). Do you think that Claudius regret killing the king or just regret get caught by Hamlet.
Posted by KevinHinton at 1:10 PM | Comments (4)
October 20, 2005
Libel or Slander in Opinion
AP Stylebook (p. 338-68) -- News Writing (EL 227)
Libel and slander in some states are one in the same. But we are taught that libel is written and slander is spoken. But both of the do the same thing... defromation of character of using untrue facts. But what if someone does it in a opinion piece is it fair to sat that it is libel or slander.
Posted by KevinHinton at 8:48 PM | Comments (1)
October 19, 2005
Sense of a Problem
Shakespeare, Hamlet (Acts 1 & 2) -- Drama as Literature (EL 250)
Hamlet relized that the nightgaurds have seen a ghost walking around the platform before the castle. At first he wanted to know who this ghost was:
HAMLET:... That I will speak to thee: I'll call thee Hamlet,
King, father, royal Dane: O, answer me!...
Then, when Hamlet realizes that it was his father he sense that there was a problem. The ghost need to reveal something to Hamlet. Of course you know what it is(if you read). But think about the reason why the ghost was there in the first place.It something like a revelation...that the ghost of Hamlet's father endures the most painful expierience a soul could go through...Hell to tell what happened to him and what Hamlet should do.It seems like some of the plays performed in Elizabethan era always have a divulgence of something. Do you think it is necessary to reveal a secret through supernatural means? If Shakespeare wanted Hamlet to find out about his father, he could have just written in the play a witness who saw the king's murder. Do you think that it the only way to get the point across in a play during this time?
Posted by KevinHinton at 11:42 PM | Comments (4)
October 18, 2005
A Lucritive Business
When I read the "Covering Crime and Justice" piece I made a startling realization. That crime reporters are the busiest! That shows how low our standards are as a society. But what if crime goes dramiticallty down, since crime reporting is the best source of news according to the piece would the editors of the newspapers or the producers of the newscasts would allow business to drop. If actual crime goes down, do you think the coverage of it will go up to keep the public interested?
Posted by KevinHinton at 8:53 PM | Comments (2)
October 14, 2005
NewsWriting Portfolio
Posted by KevinHinton at 3:34 PM | Comments (0)
October 13, 2005
Ethics...It's All Relative
Elements of Journalism--Newswriting 227
In Chapter 10 in Elements of Journalism, it could be said that there are no rules in journalism only ethics. Like the story in the beginning of the chapter about the columnist for the Boston Globe. Could good ethics on her part would have stop her from making up those columns...of course. What I want to understand is this, since there are no rules in journalism, some reporters are being fired by ethics or lack of them. I belive it is a good thing to put ethics in the forefront of this proffesion. So do you think that without them, journalism will be a seispool of corruption?
Posted by KevinHinton at 5:00 PM | Comments (0)
October 12, 2005
Letters to the editor are good
When I was reading the letters to the editor for Richmond-Times Dispatch, I've noticed a letter that really got to me. After reading this letter, I understand now that all of them are as crazy or as dumb as it seems. Well I'll let you read it for yourselves. The title is Recent Events Humbled The American People
Understand that this person must've read a good editorial.
Posted by KevinHinton at 9:54 PM | Comments (2)
Halfway through MWG
Midterms
Do you like the plays we have been reading so far? I think that the plays show us to look at different points of our life very differently. Like the York Corpus Christi plays talking about all points of life in a Christain point of view (Of course) and Dr. Faustus teaching us about the flaw of having too much pride. When we watch a play or movie or read a script, we become in tuned with the plot. We feel that we are a part of the story, I think the same way about the plays we are reading in MWG...but it is just the extremely fast pace. I feel that I don't have a chance to absorb the messages of the plays. And when I do get the message, we on another play.I not complaining (hey it's college), but I just want to get this off my chest before break. We are already in mid-terms! I feel confident about the test and I will try to buckle down more for the rest of the semester. How have this half of the semester been for you?
Posted by KevinHinton at 8:39 PM | Comments (1)
October 11, 2005
What the Pope Do to them?
Marlowe, Faustus (Finish) -- Drama as Literature (EL 250)
When I blogged about this play before, I explained how power can corrupt people. I think that the theory is coming together in Act 3. We see Faustus just blantenly disrespects the pope. Check out this conversation:
FAUSTUS
Fall to, the Devil choke you an you spare.
POPE
Who's that spoke? Friars, look about.
Lord Raymond, pray fall to; I am beholding
to the Bishop of Milan, for this so rare a present.
FAUSTUS
I thank you sir. (Snatches it)
POPE.
How now! Who snatched the meat from me?
Villains, why speak you not?
Now is this what he sold his soul for? Just to do small kids games to the pope. Maybe he have done this so he can feel superior over the most religious figure he could possibly come across. I think Marlowe may not like the pope, and uses Faustus to show everyone else how musch he does. You can look at Gothic architecture and see the popularity of the pope. When builder was constructing the Notre Dame Cathedrel in France, they depicted the pope as one of the gargoyle s on the ledges of the buildings. Maybe that either Marlowe himself or Faustus feels about the pope that what it to be know to the audience. Which one do you think have problems with him? Marlowe or Faustus.
Posted by KevinHinton at 12:44 AM | Comments (1)
October 9, 2005
The Corruption Of Power
Marlowe, Faustus (to end of Act II)--Drama as Literature (EL 250)
No matter who or what we get power from it seems to change us some sort of way. Dr. Faustus is an extremely good example. He was willing to give up one thing that makes him human... his soul. And by giving up his soul, basically he lost all of his sense of morality. Here an example:
FAUSTUS: To him [Lucifer], I'll build an alter and a church,
And offer lukewarm blood, of new-born babes.
Not a good role model is he? He gave up God, humanity, and sanity for power. The funny thing is all he has to do is repent and he could get all of those things back.
Good Angel: Faustus, repent yet God will pity thee
Evil Angel: Thou art a spirit; God cannot pity thee
We are taught that God will forgive as long as we repent, so what's stopping the doctor? Maybe it's pride due to the powers he recieved through Lucifer. Don't forget it was pride that made Lucifer fall and most likely it will happen to Dr. Faustus. We also see that every thing he recieves from his newly aquired servant, Mephistophilis, he feels guilty and doesn't takes it. So, do you think that Faustus has a chance to turn back or do you think it's too late?
Posted by KevinHinton at 11:50 AM | Comments (4)
October 6, 2005
A Christain Carnivale
Various, York Corpus Christi Background -- Drama as Literature (EL 250)
York Corpus Christi plays reminds me of a carnival. Move to different places to entertain a new set of people every day (In their case every hour or two). But instead of the old tricks and games, they spread the most important stories in the Bible. It is amazing how they had 12 stations and act out 48 plays back to back. Since most people in the Middle Ages can't read, it the only way the can get the lessons. I think these plays abd the way the produced it is extremely clever and unforgettable. Do you think that the way the people of York produce this plays worked or are there other ways that they are learning the Bible?
Posted by KevinHinton at 1:58 PM | Comments (0)
Fall from Grace
Anonymous, York Corpus Christi Plays -- Drama as Literature (EL 250)
For anybody who went to Sunday School before they should know about Lucifer. An angel who was the right hand of God and know the leader of Hell. There is a simple reason why a fall from grace happened to him...pride. Lucifer thought that he was the brightest and the boldest entity in Heaven. He was so arrogant that he decides to climb to the throne of God:
LUCIFER: There shall I set me, sublimely in sight, To recieve my due reverence, my rightful renown. I shall be the One who is highest on height.
Talk about having a big head. Even though a lot of people know this story , a lot of people are being taught that ALL pride is a good thing, which to me isn't true at all. When certain people have pride they choose to look down on others who are less fortunate than themselves. This should be used as a lesson to think about people that may need help. What do you think about pride?
Posted by KevinHinton at 12:39 AM | Comments (5)
October 4, 2005
A Daily Struggle
Lindsay-Abaire, Fuddy Meers -- Drama as Literature (EL 250)
This must be a very confusing situation for Claire. Imagine your in a completely strange environment and a man sliding from under your bed tells you that you are in danger.This play starts off extremely well, it kind of reminds me of The Matrix , how Neo's life will never be the same after meeting Morphous. But here, all of the exciting things that see when through that day she won't remember. Just think about all the things she was exposed to: Her pot smoking kid, Her strange second husband, Her ex-con first husband, and a mother who almost speaks in a whole other language.This must be a daily struggle for her everyday that she wakes up. I like this change in the play, This is the Limping Man talking to Claire:
LIMPING MAN: ...But now I'm glad you poured that bacon grease down my ear. You know why? Becauthe it burned the bad part out of me.
Now not only is that going to get Heidi upset, but it show "remorse" in his character. Even though in a few seconds he's ready to hit her. I think it a good thing that Claire took her amnesia really positive in throughout the play. It shows the strength that she has even though she doesn't even though were she is sometimes. How do you think Claire's state of strength is throughout Fuddy Meers?
Posted by KevinHinton at 8:50 PM | Comments (0)
October 2, 2005
Portfolio Collection
Posted by KevinHinton at 10:14 PM | Comments (0)
No Man Spareth
Anonymous, ''Everyman'' -- Drama as Literature (EL 250)
There is one thing everyone in the world has in common...death. This play describes it as a "pilgrimage" to Heaven or Hell and "no man is spareth". Check this qoute out:
MESSENGER: Both Strength, Pleasure and Beauty,
Will fade from thee as flower in May.
It is what we do in life to determine where we will go. But is good deeds enough. A person could be a good person but not exactly a person of faith.We know in order to be in a state of grace you need to have faith, but do you believe that a person can be in good graces with God with only good deeds?
Posted by KevinHinton at 4:24 PM | Comments (1)