January 2006 Archives
In his essay, "Why I Write," George Orwell says that whenever he lacked political purpose, his writing was lifeless and flashy, but without substance. Yet he also says, "All writers are vain, selfish and lazy," and describes writing a book as "a horrible exhausting struggle, like a long bout of some painful illness."
In this essay, Orwell offers quite a few statements that seem contradictory on the surface, yet he synthesizes them into a coherent vision.
What's your answer? Why do you write?
The basis of our governments being the opinion of the people, the very first object should be to keep that right; and were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers or newspapers without a government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. -- Thomas Jefferson, letter to Edward Carrington, 1787.
Inside Higher Ed :: Quick TakesThere but for the grace of proofreaders go all of us.A typo on materials sent by Seton Hall University to tens of thousands of foreign applicants gave -- as a phone number to call for matters related to high school transcripts -- the number of a phone sex line promising "hot, horny girls,"ť The Star-Ledger reported. Officials of the Roman Catholic institution in New Jersey said that it appears that the error was in place for more than one year.
Here's a funny (if not a little creepy) example of a creative new media project, related to the current Super Bowl frenzy.
GREATER LATROBE
The Greater Latrobe World Language Department is hosting a series of foreign films this school year. All films will be shown in the Senior High’s Center for Student Creativity starting at 6:00 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.
January 11: El Mar Adentro (The Sea Inside) PG-13
“The Sea Inside”, winner of the 2005 Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, is a biography of the life of Spaniard Ramón Sampedro, a paraplegic who fought for the right to choose death over life. Set in the region of Galicia, the story revolves around the relationship Sampedro has with family, the clergy, and especially two women: one a euthanasia advocate who helps Sampedro campaign and petition for his own death, and the other, a neighbor who challenges his choice yet ultimately is blamed for his death. The film raises many questions, not the least of which is the curiously ironic effects Sampedro’s decision and attitude has on those around him.
January 25: German – Das Wunder von Bern (The Miracle of Bern) PG
“The Miracle of Bern” portrays both the reunion of a family separated by World War II when the POW father returns from Russia after thirteen years, and the struggle of the West German soccer team to overcome obstacles. Set in 1954 against the background of the World Cup, the comedy/drama illustrates Richard Lubinski’s struggle to integrate back into his son Matthias’ life and the way in which soccer plays a healing role for them, as well as for the nation.
February 8: French – Trois Hommes et un Couffin (Three Men and a Cradle) PG-13
The original “Three Men and a Baby”, this 1985 French comedy was nominated for an Oscar in the US, and won France’s equivalent, the Cesar, in three categories: Best Film, Screenplay, and Supporting Actor. As the now familiar plot goes, three men’s lives are turned upside-down when a baby girl is left on their doorstep. See the original and decide which version is your favorite.
February 22: Farsi (Iran) – Bacheha-Ya Aseman (Children of Heaven) PG
In 1998, this film from Iran directed by Majid Majidi, received an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Film. Classified as a comedy/drama, it is the tale of two children trying to disguise the loss of a pair of swiped shoes. Ali and his sister Zhara, fearing punishment for the missing shoes, work out a system whereby one wears the shoes to school in the morning and the other to school in the afternoon. Needless to say, the plan begins to backfire when the swap makes Ali arrive late to school and he faces being expelled. Ali decides to enter a race to win first prize – a new pair of shoes! This film is a fine example of a trend in Iranian filmmaking of using children as the central characters in order to avoid censorship.
March 8: Japanese – Dare mo shiranai (Nobody Knows) PG-13
Based on a true story, this Japanese drama centers around the lives of 4 siblings whose mother gradually abandons them, leaving them to the care of the eldest child, 12-year old Akira. Although Akira tries valiantly to care for and educate Kyoko, Shigeri, and Yuki (who have never been to school), times get tough as their money begins to run out and tragedy is just around the corner. Yuya Yagira (Akira) was named the 2004 Cannes Festival Best Actor for this film which was also nominated for the Palm d’Or and was Japan’s entry for the Academy Awards.
March 22: Italian – La Vita e Bella (Life is Beautiful) PG-13
Roberto Begnini begins his film with the comical courtship and eventual romance of Guido and Dora in 1940’s Fascist Italy. Partway through, however, the comedy turns to drama as Jewish-Italian families like Guido’s fall victim to the ugliness of World War II. Sadly, our protagonists and their son are sent off to a concentration camp. Guido, in an attempt to shield his 5 year-old from the horrors, concocts an elaborate tale about how life at the camp is a game in which the winner get his own real armored tank. He uses humor to make life a bit more bearable. This poignant film was the Grand Prix winner at the Cannes Festival in 1998.
To learn more about the Foreign Film Series and other programs of the Center for Student Creativity - please call (724) 539 – 4225 x5206 or email: jgolden@wiu.k12.pa.us
Passing along a link that's about a week old.
Francis Hwang: Looking for nine fiction writersI'm looking for nine fiction writers who want to collaborate with me on an artwork that has been commissioned by Turbulence.org. I don't want to give too much away, but I can say that the work will involve writing collaborative, improvisational fiction online. I can't honestly say how good the final product will be, but I think it'll make a fascinating experiment--provided, of course, I'm lucky enough to have good writers to work with.
Looking for a publications-related internship? This announcement just landed in my in box.
Children's Defense FundScholastic CDF Fellows are introduced to the publishing world through an intensive internship that allows them to become fully contributing members of the Scholastic Trade Publishing teams. Fellows work under the direction of staff from the company's publishing division. During the summer, Fellows gain valuable, hands-on editorial, marketing, design and promotion experience. In addition to the work experience, the program immerses students in a rigorous preprofessional curriculum specifically designed to hone business leadership skills.
Scholastic CDF Fellows also will engage in meaningful educational programs sponsored by the Children's Defense Fund. These programs seek to equip the Fellows with knowledge of the broader child advocacy field, and CDF's role in it, and empower them to make a difference for children as they embark on a career in publishing or in whatever they do during and after college.
Julie Young, a recent SHU English graduate who blogged at Work in Progress while she was here, sends this message:
I have a program note for you...on Wednesday night, January 18 and 25 on your local PBS, you can watch The War That Made America....a fantastic dramatic documentary that explores The French and Indian War.It's really quite interesting -- though weird at first, as it does not have the same boring quality as a Ken Burns documentary. Har har. It's live action, meticulously reenacted, and yes, George Washington is played by an actor and actually has lines. It is also historically accurate to the nth degree, and mostly filmed in southwest PA.
Why am I sharing? Funny you should ask. For work, I was the copywriter and content manager for their promotional website, www.TheWarThatMadeAmerica.com. So, I wrote a goodly bit of copy you'll see there, as well as the historical timeline. So, visit the website, watch the show, and learn about a lesser known, but very important conflict!
The deadline is approaching for the Billboard magazine and mtvU's writing contest called "The Student Voice Contest," which not only encourages students to express their views, feelings, and passions about music but also gives students a chance to be published in Billboard magazine, as well as on mtvU.com and Billboard.com.
If you or anyone at your school is interested in participating, please feel free to pass on the attached contest description. Students and faculty can also find all the contest details at our website, at http://www.mtvu.com/contests/student_eye/2005/.
Entries must be received by January 30th.
Seton Hill's regular semester hasn't started yet, but there are plans to celebrate Martin Luther King's legacy in upcoming events.
Martin Luther King Education Program
Thursday, 26 January 2006 11:00 a.m.–12:15 p.m. Cecilian Hall
Theme: What If One Person Didn’t Take a Stand
Theatre Presentation, Reflection, and Alumni Panel
Community Service
Saturday, 4 February 2006 8:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m. Lowe Dining Hall
Theme: Take the Day On
Volunteer Service
Can you survive...
the Tetris Chainsaw Massacre?
Preface
Everytime I go to New York (NY), I feel like I've travelled around the world without leaving the country.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Gateway to the World
On Friday January 6, I went to NY for my first self-planned and self-financed trip. I did the planning, the research, and I didn't rely on my parents or older relatives for transportation (to get around Manhattan). I was pretty much on my own (of course I was accompanied by my cousin/friend because I'm not that insane to go by myself).
Part I: Getting to NY (I want to be a part of it, New York, New York...)
Ch 1: Planning and the Budget
Ch 2: Putting together the Itinerary
Ch 3: Guidebook and Mastering the MTA New York City Subway
Ch 4: Asking Around/Talking to Friendly Strangers
Part 2: the NY Adventure (it's not possible to see everything ... in one trip)
Ch 5: Chinatown
Ch 6: The Empire State Building
Ch 7: The Metropolitan Art Museum
Ch 8: Lounging in Times Square and Pictures
Scotland is in jeopardy. Not the country, but the trip. If only 2 more people would sign up...
I'd heard about the trip and course, Political Song as Public Voice- CA 410, throughout the semester from the jolly professor, Dr. Frank Klapak.
However, initially I did not think I could swing the tuition and traveling funds ($2,050), but surprisingly, with some (rather simple) maneuverings in the Financial Aid Office, I secured them for the May Term extravaganza.
You see, the financial aid is attached to the Spring semester, so I do not have to pay for the trip out of pocket. It joins the rest of my loans on their wonderful trip to the subsidized pile I pay after graduation.
Though paying for this trip is a sometimes depressing thought, I realized that taking trips after I have a career will be more difficult. This is the time to invest in traveling. I'm young, I'm single without children, and I'm living with my parents (no plants that will not be watered while I'm gone).
The course sounds fantastic, and it's definitely not for music majors only. Political Song as Public Voice CA 410 (from the catalog):
"is designed to introduce the student to Political Song (folk, campaign, protest, union, war, nationalistic, patriotic, contemporary, etc.) as a viable and chronological reflection of the cultural and social circumstance during social/political conflict. Students will participate in online learning, conduct investigation on individual thesis topics at the Center, and explore the social, cultural, and political institutions at Glasgow and Edinburgh."
The best part is that it works for any major. It is tailored to you.
"Each student, regardless of her/his major, will work within the design of the course and the focus of Political Song as Public Voice. But each student will adapt this design to incoporate the principles, tenets, and foundations of their major when examining how Public Voice is represented within their discipline."
So what does all that mean for a journalism, English lit, or creative writing major? You can assess the voices in the songs according to the various forms of literary criticism, practice looking behind the scenes into the lives of the composers and writers, and permit yourself, above all, to actually stand in and see the places that inspire so much literary beauty.
The trip is scheduled for May 16-24, 2006. The class begins on May 12 and does not conclude until the 31st.
The course evaluation includes
"attending workshops, lectures, presentations, discussions, activities, experiential learning events; and online presentations. Final assessment will include a personal journal, and a scholarly paper that reflects the accomplishment of each student's learning objectives determined during the first online meeting.
The class is three credits, so if you're needing them, this would be a wonderful opportunity. Not to mention the great time, wonderful real-life experience, a chance to go to another school--Glasgow Caledonian University, and an amazing recommendation of travel abroad on your transcript.
So, if you are even tinkering with the idea of Scotland, don't hesitate to e-mail me. (This was, after all, a grand advertisement to get two more people to come on the trip, :-)) I'm sure I could answer some questions for you, and get you in contact with Dr. Klapak for more information.
I hope this works out. I'm so excited to get my passport!
Picturesque , sublime, SCOTLAND!!!
