Last of the Mohicans: Chapters 20-25

I found a lot of weird quirks and holes in logic in these chapters. First of all I think it's very odd and moderately hilarious that Hawkeye named his rifle. That's cute, I mean I named my car but I don't go around killing people with Reba. Then the whole thing with Hawkeye disguised as a bear made absolutely no sense. Have these people seen a bear before? I feel like native living in the woods would know what a bear looks like. And could clearly identify a fake bear. I just felt like it was a ridiculous plan that would not have worked in real life. I like that Alice has been saved but kind of confused as to why the girls were even split up. I don't know, these chapters didn't seem to make that much real world sense to me.

Critics Project: Step 2, Week 1

In Edelstein's review of  Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit he sarcastically mocks the movie throughout the entire piece. Struggling with the use of the word "franchise" Edelstein is quick to judge the movie and lack of appeal it has. There seems to be almost no positive feedback about this movie, with the exception of one scene, which is towards the end of the column. Edelstein seems bored of this movie franchise and it lacks a new sense of drama. I haven't seen this movie so I am unable to give my opinion but from this review I don't want to see it. It sounds boring and a typical spy movie. The entire piece is sarcastic and humorous but not to the point where I am overly intrigued.
Here's his review.

Edelstein, David. "Jack Ryan Gets A Makeover, And A Quick Trip To Moscow." NPR. NPR, 16 Jan. 2014. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.

(Edelstein, Jack Ryan Gets A Makeover)

Critics Project: Step One

SO for this project I picked Davis Edelstein and his work is focused on movie reviews of popular movies. I like this one because it's about movies that I have either seen or at least heard of so it's more relatable. I don't have any previous experience with this author other than clicking his link in class. I picked him because it was first, and it talks about movies I know.

Here's his latest printed work.

Gothic Movie Example

So for this assignment I picked the movie Sweeney Todd (2007). Here's a link to a clip from the movie.
My Friends

Last of the Mohicans: Chapters 16-19

Okay wow, these chapters got intense. I still didn't love them because of all the violence but at least something dramatic and exciting happened. I was really and that the French and the Indians betrayed the English like that. England was surrendering and not putting up a fight, just trying to keep the clothes in their back, and boom! In come the French and Indians with a suprise attack. Great but evil move by them. I can't see the English being dumb enough to fall for their tricks again. I'm a little worried about Cora and Alice, hopefully they are with Magua and Gamut as the others think. I don't want them to get hurt. So yeah I liked this chunk a lot better even with the violence because this is the first giant act of betrayal and those are always complicated and fun.

Last of the Mohicans: Chapters 11-15

These chapters were alright I guess. There was more fighting and bloodshed but that seems to be a common occurrence so I guess I'll have to get used to it. The girls getting kidnapped stressed me out a bit but I was glad that Hawkeye decided to save them no matter the cost. The scalping thing grossed me out, I know it's a Native American thing but it is not a practice that I condone. I liked that even at war, Indians can respect  memorial sites, I thought that that was a nice touch. Finally the group makes it to the fort and that exciting because I still don't really understand why the girls were ever out of the forgot begin with. The flirtation ship with Heyward is a nice sideline that distracts from all the warfare.  I just can't seem to really get into this book yet, maybe it's coming.

Grand is the Seen: Walt Whitman

Grand is the seen, the light, to me--grand are the sky and stars,
Grand is the earth, and grand are lasting time and space,
And grand their laws, so multiform, puzzling, evolutionary;
But grander far the unseen soul of me, comprehending, endowing all those,
Lighting the light, the sky and stars, delving the earth, sailing the sea,
(What were all those, indeed, without thee, unseen soul? of what amount without thee?)
More evolutionary, vast, puzzling, O my soul!
More multiform far--more lasting thou than they. 

I like this poem because it celebrates the human soul. It first talks about nature and how sometimes its glory is forgotten but then moves into the richness of soul. And this big wide world can sometimes be frightening and intimidating, but everyone can overcome it because everyone is grand. 

I've been having a pretty rough week so I just liked this poem because it reminded me that I do matter and am a part of this big wide world.

Vocab Story

Leaves swirl around my boots as I stand in the ruins of a world now lost. Nothing moves without wind power. No automatons hurry around completing a mundane task. Sites meant for praising the gods are everywhere. You could call me a misanthrope, for my feelings toward the human race for allowing this wondrous, virile place to be destroyed are contemptuous.
My tracking watch beeps. I wish beyond anything that I could ignore the summoning and continuing viewing the immaculateness of destruction. I glance down. Through the glare on the tiny screen, I am able to understand the gist of the message: Where are you? Get back here. I sigh and trudge back toward my world of distrust and feigned power.
Within minutes, I'm standing upon the Autocrat's palace stairs. My head is down. Everyone who visits the palace is required to take this stance as they await a response. The Autocrat does not handle disobedience.
"Put your arm on the table." A harsh whisper surrounds me as a metallic surface slides out of the wall. I inevitably obey, and restraints latch around me as a smaller automaton rolls onto the surface to perform an autopsy-like task on my watch. My personal information, recent places, and identification card are pulled up holographically. I reminisce the days when such security measures weren't installed. Eventually, I am released, and the doors open.
The Autocrat is waiting for me on the stairs with a genteel smile. "Visiting the autonomy, are we? I hope you have been reminded that people cannot be trusted without a ruler."
I sigh and say, "Of course." One day, I am supposed to graduate from apprentice to autocrat. I'm not sure if I even wish for that future anymore. I dream of a world where feminists are allowed to walk free. I start up the stairs toward my quarters, but apparently the Autocrat has other ideas.
"Not so fast. I found this in your quarters." A rather small book is held up. I recognize it immediately. It's the book I stole from a burning four weeks ago; it's a book from the genre of ancient mythology. I search my mind for a lie to tell. What could save me from this? I find nothing, and simply stare stupidly at the Autocrat.
"Do you not support humanism? Do you believe in this rubbish?" As his voice gets louder, the book begins to shake. When he finishes speaking, he throws the book toward the ground and looks at me again.
"It's a shame. I'll have to find a new apprentice, and that sounds incredibly difficult." With that, I find him pushing me down the stairs. He is aided by two larger automatons, and within the minute, I find myself outside the only home I've ever known. Strangely unaffected, my feet immediately turn and lead me away. As I realize where I'm going, I find myself jubilant. I see the ruins once again in the distance, and I know this is what I've wanted since my first sight of them. I will find the autonomy. I will recreate the immaculate. 

Last of the Mohicans: Chapters 7-10

I liked these chapters much more than the last set. I was sad that Hawkeye and Gamut got injured because I feel like that is going to become a bigger problem later, but I'm glad no one dies. I thought that it was very brave and very stupid of Cora to suggest they be bait. On the one hand I love it, because it allows everyone else to escape. She is essentially sacrificing herself for the others in a selfless bravery. But on the other hand I want to smack her because its a crazy plan that could get the girls killed.  Then after they are actually captured Alice is nearly killed and Magua is leading them to a cliff where they will probably die. I just think this book has too much conflict. It's constant warfare between parties, I don't really like it that much.

Romanticism in Painting: Bio and Sentences

Edward Moran was born in Lancashire, England in 1829 and moved to Maryland with his family when he was 15 and then Philadelphia a year later. He apprenticed under James Hamilton and Paul Weber when he was 16, and eventually worked in the same studio as his younger brother, Thomas Moran.  The height of his career was a set of 13 paintings depicting the Marine History of the US.  He died in 1901. 

Moran's heroic painting emphasizes the beauty of nature and hope of America in the painting "Bright Lights" specifically throughout the image of the lighthouse, guiding people people back to the land of the free from the raging ocean and the people who are alone, attempting to build a better life.

Moran's epic painting reveals the romantic element of wild energy in the painting "Burning of the Philadelphia" (1804) specifically through the image of the burning ship which captures a historic event during the Barbary War and the wild pride and energy Americans had at that time, the ship was too great to be held by the enemy so it had to be sacrificed.

Romanticism in Paintings

Last of the Mohicans: Chapters 4-6

I didn't really like these chapters, there was too much death violence and attempted murder.  I don't like conflict, so the showdown between Magua and Hawkeye stressed me out. I don't want any human to ever kill another. I was glad Magua escaped. Then there was more death, the killing of Gamut's horse. I understand that they didn't want to get caught but I felt like death was extreme. I just don't like it when things die. Maybe that makes me impractical, but I don't care, it makes me sad. I also don't trust Hawkeye yet. I feel like he can contradict himself. Being upset he may have wounded an Indian but then being fine with killing a horse. He seems a little shifty. I guess we'll see.

Last of the Mohicans: Chapter 3 Reflection

Cooper opens chapter three with a quote from a William Cullen Bryant poem. It's an American work and it projects the idea the this book is of a high statute and respect. I think that readers (especially back then) could interpret that quote to reflect the tensions between the expand white culture and the shrinking Native American one. The country was divided on the removal polices in the early 1800s. So I liked that this spoke of the Native American spirit. I think this book is unique because it changes the idea of the wild savage in the minds of Americans.
As to the conversation between Hawkeye and the old man, I found it very interesting. Hawkeye talks of how he is white and yet kind of an Indian. His part kind of confused me to be honest. He would talk about how he is like an Indian and repects them and then feels like Indians are inferior to whites. But then he goes on to talk about how skilled Indians are at making weapons. It was just kind of contradictory I felt like. Maybe these contradictions are an example of tolerance of racism in a way. I liked the part that talked about genetics. When Chingachgook asks about how white men know of Indians, Hawkeye has this genetic speech thing that illustrates he has struggles with racism. He threatens any man who would challenge his pure whiteness. I think Hawkeye is trying to evolve a little bit here but its a struggle. He is more open minded than most I'll give him that.