MichelleKoss

Cover Entry Portfolio 3

MichelleKoss — 2005-12-07T16:39:44-05:00

Well there wasn't much to go on for this portfolio, but I think that I held up my end of the work pretty good.

I liked my blog for The Girl of the Golden West the best out of all my entries for this round. It showed timeliness, depth, coverage, and discussions.

I also liked my blog for DuBois's thoughts. Alhtough nobody commented on my blog it was done in timeliness and I questioned his ideas about getting over racism.

On Stacy's blog I asked her to clarify her ideas and argue her point.

I always keep my mind rolling when I read Erin's blog and this was an example when she got me thinking.

Started the conversation rolling on Valerie's blog for Girl of the Golden West.

I linked Stacy to another blog for some interesting thoughts from another student.

Girl of the Golden West

MichelleKoss — 2005-12-03T16:01:32-05:00

This was quite a different read than usual and I enjoyed it...surprisingly since I am not much for romance stories.

Thing first interesting thing that I found was the final ending of starting over and beggining a new life. "A new day...trust me. Trust me...A new life!" Both Johnson and Minnie were living lives of the unpure. There was drinking, gambeling, and robing. Even though Minnie seemed like a good girl she was still a participant in the bad deeds. The ending was one of hope. Since they were leaving the west and heading towards the east I wonder if this is some kind of message that the only people out west are ones of sinful living? I don't know....when I think of the west back then I think of shootings, robing, ect ect...What do you guys think?

Also the role of being a female and male was shown throughout the story. Even though Minnie was a strong woman she still showed signs of the way a typical woman should act. The scenes where she tears up, says she will wait for her man, and strong religious beliefs to stay pure show this type of sterotyping women. This can be compared to the men in the story who are shown jealous, tempermental, and hard-workers. Although Johnson is still shown emotional sometimes.

I also enjoyed the scene when Johnson first comes to the cabin and it is storming greatly outside and all the sudden when they finally get together the scene is filled with drama. The wind is knocking stuff all around and Johnson and Minnie are completely involved with each other that they don't notice. It is a great scene with a build up of emotions and then everything does wild. It made me laugh when I read it because it is so melodramtic. But I enjoyed it...don't get me wrong!

W.E.B. Du Bois

MichelleKoss — 2005-11-16T16:04:49-05:00

Well I understand the excellent points that Bois was making, but I think he might be going a little overboard. His pushy way of getting his point across is a little annoying to me. I like Washington's approach much better in that he was not negative. There is no need to be negative. There is already so much of it in America that one more person complaining and criticizing is not mch help. There were some great points made in these readings; for example; "Mr. Washington represents in Negro thought the old attitudeof adjustment and submission" (Ch III par 15). But I did not read, although I may be mistaken, any concrete thing that Bois wanted America to do. All I read was criticism and telling black people to rebell. I don't know, maybe another reading would do me good. What do you guys think?

Walden, Huck Finn, Emily Dickinson

MichelleKoss — 2005-11-15T14:54:18-05:00

I have often been reminded while reading the pieces of literature from this time period of this song: (It's my anthem)

Kenny Chesney - Back Where I Come From

In the town where I was raised
The clock ticks and the cattle graze
Time passed with Amazing Grace
Back where I come from
Now you can lie on a riverbank
Paint your name on a water tank
Or miscount all the beers you drank
Back where I come from

Back where I come from
Where I'll be when it's said and done
I'm proud as anyone
Back where I come from

We learned in Sunday school
Who made the sun shine through
I know who made the moonshine, too
Back where I come from
Blue eyes on a Saturday night
Tan legs in the broad day light
TV's, they were black and white
Back where I come from

Back where I come from
Where I'll be when it's said and done
I'm proud as anyone
Back where I come from

Some say it's a backward place
Narrow minds on a narrow way
I make it a point to say
That that's where I come from

That's where I come from
Where I'll be when it's said and done
I'm proud as anyone
That's where I come from
Back where I come from
I'm an old Tennessean
And I'm proud as anyone
That's where I come from

Booker T. Washington

MichelleKoss — 2005-11-14T19:26:36-05:00

Wow this guy is amazing! He is a genious. He can speak to every auidence and get through to every person. His stance to only promote instead of negate is the greatest approach to any situation. I wish I could have been there to hear the speech. The best part of the speech to me was in "The Atlanta Exposition Address" paragraph 10. It states:
"Nearly sixteen millions of hands will aid you in pulling the load upward, or they will pull against you the load downward. We shall constitute one-third and more of the ignorance and crime of the South, or one-third its intelligence and progress; we shall contribute one-third to the business and industrial prosperity of the South, or we shall prove a veritable body of death, stagnating, depressing, retarding every effort to advance the body politic."
A nation should understand that we need every single person to be a thriving community. A country whose people are separted is not going to accomplish what it could. In the end we all have the same fate and if we could all work together we could make this place on Earth a little better to live in. If we would just stop being so selfish than maybe things would be just a little easier. Especially in this country where the individual is of higher priority than family.

Cover Entry - Portfolio 2

MichelleKoss — 2005-11-14T14:34:30-05:00

Well this blogging thing got a lot more interesting since the first portfolio. It has helped me to think deeper into literature....and I am not just saying that. I have really changed my thoughts just because I was able to read other's opinions on here. Also just writing about a piece of literature helps me to further understand my own point of view.

This entry is a great example of multiple accomplishments: Huck finn. It demonstrates coverage, depth, disscussions, and timeliness.

Another entry that is a good example of my blogging is the Uncle Remus blog. In this entry I did a little research so I added a link. It was also in good time and I recieved a comment and commented back.

The poetry slam was my favorite entry because I had a lot of fun writing it. I am not sure why. It was just a neat assignment.

I often visit Erin's blog, because she usually has the same sort of ideas that I do. But there are other times when I have found I disagree with her. I believe I helped her out on the poem Fairyland in this blog entry.

Here is a blog from Leah's site that I have contributed to: Adveture of Huck Finn

Ashley always is blogging something interesting and her blog on Tar baby was pretty interesting, so I had to comment.

This entry for Walden is a pretty good example of my blogging.

John Henry

MichelleKoss — 2005-11-10T23:30:39-05:00

This was an interesting read for me in that I had no idea that John Henry was black. In all the stories that I have heard nobody seemed to mention that he was black. So I never thought of race while reading these songs. After being asked to inquire about race I can see how John Henry would have been a great hero in that he was black. This story might have been more about race back when it was first invented and told, but now I think that it has more to do with technology. John Henry to me represents the hard workin' blue collar citizen. As "Office Space" has been mentioned before in this class I think that movie represents a lot of the blue collar vs white collar world that we live in. It is still very much alive today as it was 200 years ago. The main character is almost the exact opposite of John Henry in that he wanted to do no work at all. John Henry on the other hand wanted to be the best that he could be. Funny how they are both heros, but have very different characteristics.

Uncle Remus short stories

MichelleKoss — 2005-11-06T19:37:41-05:00

These were interesting reads in that I got better at translating as I went along. The first one I read I had to read it twice to understand, but by the last one I was pretty good at translating.
If I was to read this without the information that these have something to do with Racial issues I would not see it in the stories. And this is exactly how it was supposed to be. After reading the Virginia State site posted by Jerz I understood that the people who told these stories were black and they needed to get their messages spread quickly and secretly. What better way to do it than tell simple stories about animals?
"The Wonderful Tar-Baby" really stuck out to me compared to the others. Although "Why the Negro is black" was entertaining "The Wonderful Tar-Baby" was a story that stuck out to me as a representation of what the black people were to do. The message is: "lay low" and deal with all the stuff that white people put us through and then one day when the time is right; overcome. This story kinda reminded me of when the slaves were running to the north for freedom and people put certain patterns on quilts to show that they were there to help them.

Scott - "There's more honor"

MichelleKoss — 2005-11-02T15:27:54-05:00

As of right now I am only halfway through this reading. But I would like to share my opinion as of so far.

This article has shown me something that I kinda thought of in the back of my mind, but didn't really realize the importance of it. First off Tom comes off to me as a very racist person, but he is going through all the hard work to make Jim look like some kind of criminal master mind. The article states, "In both cases, Tom, the author or American Translator, places Jim in the role of hero, one of royal blodd, in this case- an "unnatural" son of a king." I haven't changed my thoughts of Tom. I still think he is a jerk, but I liked the way that the author used Tom to try and make Jim look like an intelligent person. Even though it makes Jim look like he is just crazy...in reality...but Tom tries his best to make it work. What was Tom's motivation? He was not going to get any credit for his work.

Mailloux - The Bad-Boy Boom

MichelleKoss — 2005-11-02T15:14:49-05:00

I can't believe that Huckleberry Finn was actually thought to be the cause of young boys acting up. First I think who are these bad boys that are sitting around reading Huck Finn. Most bad boys I know aren't going to be reading a book to get ideas. It kinda makes me laugh.
But I do completley understand where these people that banned the book are coming from. The book is filled with violet things and so many lies I wouldn't even like to think about counting them. I think the issue is that boys should not really be reading this book, although I really don't think a book would effect them so much as to do serious bad things. I think that lies in in their heart of knowing what is right. As the article states, "It is not adapted to Sunday school libraries, and should perhaps be left unread by growing boys; but the mature in mind may read it" I believe that only a person that has the capabillities of understanding what the book is about should be reading it. It is not an adventure story for kids. There are serious issues in this book that the author shows in different ways throughout the book. Most young boys and really not going to understand symbolism.

Smith - Huck, Jim, and American Racial Discourse

MichelleKoss — 2005-11-02T15:02:47-05:00

I loved this article because it really sticks up for this book not being racist. Any reader coming into this book can easily pick up that there are serious racial discriminations, but this does not mean that Mark Twain was supporting racial discrimination in any way. He was actually doing the opposite and anyone that does a close, clear reading of Huck Finn will understand.
Mark Twain shows this in one way by Jim. "Indeed, his portrayal of Jim contradicts every claim presented in Jefferson's description of "the Negro." Jim is cautious, he gives excellent advice, he suffers anguish over separation from his wife and children, and he even sacrifices his own sleep so that Huck may rest. Jim, in short, exhibits all the qualities that "the Negro" supposedly lacks." I think that it comes off first like there is some racism, but then if we really look how Jim is presented we see that the author is trying to warm us up to Jim. Mark Twain is trying to get the reader to leave their discriminations and start to open people up. It is also comical to think that they treated black people as if they weren'y people. Or at least I find it funny because it is like the people were so blind.

Smith - Introduction to Adv of Huck Finn

MichelleKoss — 2005-11-02T15:02:24-05:00

There were many good points and interesting facts in this article. One theme that I personally liked was what society places on us. How we should lives our lives in every respect. There is a certain way to do things and Huck certainly isn't doing them. He is free...as free as one can really be. It states, "The middle section of Huckleberry Finn, with its superb series of little towns along the river, Is rich passages illustrating the thematic opposition between the bondage imposed by society and the freedom of the raft." It also talks about the town people as being like "Soldiers obeying the commands of a drill master" and also compares the mob to "animals in a herd" (p 331).
Another interesting point in this article is that the author gets to become another person. He becomes Huckleberry Finn. He doesn't have to talk fancy, act smart, or be anything like himself. He gets to step into another person's shoes while writing this book. It states, "For it means that the author has put on a mask, surrendering the right to express, except indirectly by means of irony, any ideas or emotions beyond Huck's range�.

Huckleberry Finn 24-finish

MichelleKoss — 2005-10-31T15:39:07-05:00

Throughout Huckleberry Finn I have been noticing the references to religion. Huck seems to be developing his religious beliefs. At the begining Huck was practically completly unlearned of religion. Throughout the book he has come into more and more contact with Christianity. There have been many people that have influenced him, starting with Miss Watson. He is coming to a much better understanding of this Christianity.
In the chapter, "You Can't Pray a Lie" Huck makes his biggest progress so far that I have read. He is having troubling praying and he says, "I felt good and all washed clean of sin for the first time I had ever felt so in my life, and I knowed I could pray now." I am very interested to see what happens until the end of the novel and I will blog my later thoughts when I finish.
I would also like to thank all you people out there that have been putting some effort into their blogs. You gave me a deeper insight into this book. I was having a lot of difficulty getting anything out of it. So, THANK YOU!

I am a poet for a day!

MichelleKoss — 2005-10-26T14:16:43-05:00

I chose two Emily Dickinson's poems that deal with nature. I have a natural inclination to be drawn to nature, so these two poems fit me well. I am not a tree hugger Meredith! hahahh. I can't be because I fish and I am practicing shooting a bow to hunt. I guess I like to think of myself as someone who is one with the woods.....I take and give. hahaha. Anyway here are the poems that I chose.

II. MAY-FLOWER.

Pink, small, and punctual,
Aromatic, low,
Covert in April,
Candid in May,

Dear to the moss,
Known by the knoll,
Next to the robin
In every human soul.

Bold little beauty,
Bedecked with thee,
Nature forswears
Antiquity.

Here are some words that I looked up:

Antiquity - being ancient or old
Punctual - arriving at the time appointed;prompt
Aromatic - sweet smelling
Candid - not posed or rehearsed
(latin) candididus - glowing, white, pure
Knoll - small rounded hill or mound
Bedecked - to adorn or ornament in a showy fashion
Forswears - swear fasely

My interpertation:

The beautiful, loved flower springs up out of nowhere in May. It is loved by all humans and nature and it only lasts for a short amount of time.

IX. THE GRASS.

The grass so little has to do, --
A sphere of simple green,
With only butterflies to brood,
And bees to entertain,

And stir all day to pretty tunes
The breezes fetch along,
And hold the sunshine in its lap
And bow to everything;

And thread the dews all night, like pearls,
And make itself so fine, --
A duchess were too common
For such a noticing.

And even when it dies, to pass
In odors so divine,
As lowly spices gone to sleep,
Or amulets of pine.

And then to dwell in sovereign barns,
And dream the days away, --
The grass so little has to do,
I wish I were the hay!

Words I looked up:

Brood - to protect by or as if covering with the wing
Duchess - noblewoman
Divine - Sacred
Amulets - Object worn against evil
Lowly - humble or meek, plain
Sovereign - rank or power

My interpretation:

She has great envy towards the grass. It does nothing all day, relaxes, no worries and it also does many jobs. It holds lots of insects, animals, feeds animals, and gives a pleasant smell.

My presentation:

I think I did fairly well at pausing and giving emphasis where the poems needed. Everyone in the class seemed to like the idea of my theme of nature. I could have got a little more emotional, but that is kinda hard for me to do...I am little quiet. I also should have digested the poems longer and picked it apart. What does each line mean ect ect. Overall it was a good break from the usual class.

Huckleberry Finn 1-24

MichelleKoss — 2005-10-25T21:05:32-05:00

The language that Mark Twain uses in this book cracks me up. The language used is just like someone that has not been educated. It sounds pretty hick...trust me I know....I am from a rural area haha. In chapter 5 it says, "Yo' ole father doan' know yit what he's a-gwyne to do." What kind of correct english is that. I think his choice to write just like a person in his position would have really talked brings this story to life. Although sometimes I get kinda annoyed reading it....I just want to be able to read it fast, but I have to concentrate. Another thing about the language is the treatment of the slaves. This also brings the story to a harsh reality that once was.
This really isn't the type of book that I would like to read. It's almost kinda boring. I know it is full of adventure, but it just doesn't seem like there is much depth. I guess I am more of a Scarlet Letter person. Although it is interesting to me to see how people lived back then. For example, the clothes they wore, the town-life, and how people were in such class brackets. I just hope this story gives me some kind of a moral at the end.