Movie Review

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obSjR0tD_8g

Vocab Story #8

Now, we've all heard the story. Hey diddle diddle, the cat and the fiddle, the cow jumped over the moon... But how in the world did a cow manage to jump over the moon? Cows stand in fields of grass and make weird noises, which is not the proper criterion for moon-jumping. Humans took their entire route of evolution to come close, and didn't even reach the moon until 1969, a mere 45 years ago.
        I think we can all rationalize that cows do not come equipped with rockets. We are all cognizant of the fact that the human brain is much more advanced than that of a cow. Humans are notorious for being the most advanced species, whereas all we impute cows for is their ability to chew abnormally loudly.
        Maybe this story is supposed to be a presage, warning us of the future, when cows take over the human race. Perhaps one day a brave cow will venture to jump over the moon. Hopefully, if this time comes, cows will also become conscientious of the fact that they can't breathe in space. It seems reasonable to make a prognosis that this is how the cow population will be wiped out. One day they'll be grazing peacefully, the next a rebel among them will doom the entire species.
        Maybe, though, the cows are already the dominant species, and are simply too smart to reveal their hypocrisy. They could be planning to overtake the human race in time, and we would never know. Perhaps every night after the human farmers go to bed, they have frenetic meetings about the date of this event.
        It is most likely that cows are the same animals we see in fields next to roads, lazing in the sun and grazing near streams. They probably don't run secret cow covens or rebel armies. But the story is always told a certain way, with the cow jumping over the moon. Perhaps only the author knows the cows' secret. There's something to think about.

The Right Stuff

So this story is incredibly realistic. I know that these are real people and such, but the author just brings the story to life. I can't imagine living in a state of constant fear of my husband dying. Especially not in the fifties and sixties where technology was. to very advanced, but the author can. This is only chapter one and I'm already attached to the characters. I don't want Jane to be alone. I want the wives to stop calling, and I want Pete to continue his lucky streak. I'm scared that on each page Pete will come plummeting down to his death. And again this is only chapter one.

Beat the Devil Review

Beat the Devil is a witty depiction of a classic story, an attempt at eternal life. A life full of fortune and fame, everything thing you could ever ask for. But this famous life is on a timer and everyone wants more. Everyone is greedy. This includes the character James Brown, played by himself. He is unable to give up his star life even though the contract is running out and approaches the Devil (Gary Oldman) to renegotiate. The director, Tony Scott, uses editing techniques to make this film all the more dramatic. With the use of color editing and still frames the drama is more intensified. The Driver (Clive Owens) stays remarkably calm even when his life is put on the line for Brown's fortune and fame. Driver against driver, lives are gambled in a drag race. Throughout the race Brown and his driver stay calm and determined. They Devil starts off mocking the race with a joking manner, but when he realizes he may lose, his attitude quickly changes to rage and fear. The Devil ends up losing in a firery car crash, but you can't kill the devil. A theme throughout this film is one of greed. Greed controls humans. brown put his driver on the line, as did the Devil just to keep what they wanted. The song Crossroads really explains Brown out there in the desert. It talks of the sun coming down and begging for mercy from the Lord. And then the hotel is also called Crossroads. You must make a choice, left or right. And thats exactly what Brown and the Devil must do. The cameo at the end featuring Marilyn Manson is brilliant and adds another humorous element to the film.

Harlem Renaissance Response

So I weirdly like the Harlem poem by Langston Hughes. I think it was because it was short and had rhyme scheme. I love poems that rhyme for some reason, I don't know why but I do. If a poem rhymes then I like it way more. Same reason that I liked the Cullen piece. It rhymes to a point and makes it more enjoyable to read for me. But my favorite piece was the Storm Ending by Jean Toomer.   It's short and to the point with beautiful imagery. It doesn't rhyme but it weirdly doesn't matter. I love this poem. It just draws me in with the personified imagery, which is why this poem is my favorite :)

Factoid Friday #8

The Bell Jar was first published in 1963 by Sylvia Plath under the pseudonym Victoria Lucas. 

Sylvia Plath-The Bell Jar. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.sylviaplath.de/plath/belljar.html

Factoid Friday #7

Schizophrenia has 5 sub categories.
Paranoid Type
Disorganized Type
Catatonic Type
Undifferentiated Type
Residual Type

Association, A. P. (1994). Quick Reference to the Diagnostic Criteria from DSM-IV. Washington D. C. : American Psychiatric Association.

Infomercial #2

Infomercial :)

Blood Moon Reflection

So the biggest  motif in this story was the moon. It was always there, always looming and there. Also the  song  that opened and closed the story was a motif. As for the story itself it was hard to read. I know it was probably common talk back when it was written but the grammar just drove me up a wall. And then the story itself  was Romeo and Juliet to a point. Two people fall in love who aren't supposed to and ends in death. I didn't really like the story but can understand why it's significant.

FTA: Quotes 120-200

"Life isn't hard to manage when you've nothing to lose." Page 137
There is no reason to not do something, be adventurous, this falls under love and war.

"I never think. No, by God, I don't think; I operate." Page 167 This also falls under the theme of war. War can turn you into a robot, mindlessly just trying to survive "[Many of the soldiers] were beaten to start with. They were beaten when they took them from their farms and put them in the army. That is why the peasant has wisdom, because he is defeated from the start. Put him in power and see how wise he is." Page 179This under the theme of war. War destroys people. Put someone who isn't destroyed into power and see what good can come.

"The killing came suddenly and unreasonably."

 Page 218

Shockingly this fall under the war theme again. War waits for no one. 

Factoid Friday #6

"In the episode “Born this Way,” character Emma Pillsbury’s OCD is brought to the limelight when each character is asked to reveal a trait that he or she often perceives as a flaw. At first Emma hides that her OCD affects her deeply, but over the course of the episode, the once laugh-worthy quirks are replaced by portrayals of how her need for cleanliness affects many of her daily functions. The show also advocates both medication and counseling."

Quote from  http://psychcentral.com/lib/changing-media-depictions-of-mental-illness/0008213

This is a positive way that media is trying to deal with mental illness.

APA Reference
Holliday, R. (2011). Changing Media Depictions of Mental Illness. Psych Central. Retrieved on March 21, 2014, from http://psychcentral.com/lib/changing-media-depictions-of-mental-illness/0008213

Vocab Story

        Stars are a divine sanctuary. They drip from nighttime clouds like water droplets, free-falling through space, never able to land. Maybe they can see us, down here on Earth. Perhaps they realize that we are all credulous and sanctimonious creatures, drunk on fake ideas of love and life.
        "Silly humans," I'm sure they'd say, "Can't you see how small you and your problems are?" They are only a pittance of the universe, and we are simply specks of dust, sizzling on the surface of their shine. The stars cannot expiate our flaws, no matter how guilty we make them feel with our constant stories of their inevitability.
        Or perhaps they are deities, keeping us under sanction for our mistakes. They shine brightest on the darkest nights. Sometimes, even though they're gazing upon us, we cannot see them at all. This must be when they're angry at us for our sacrilege.
        Who consecrated these floating fire-orbs anyway? They're tragically beautiful. You can never get close to them, or they'll scorch you alive. You can never hide from them all, either. No matter where you go in the universe, they will follow. Whether it be in the Milky Way, or on a small planet in a galaxy not yet discovered, stars will always be around. Is that why they've received apotheosis? "God is always watching," is a common phrase within theology.

        Whatever they are: chaotic gods or peaceful demons, stars will be above us until we run out of time for existence. No one can deny that, atheists or pantheists, monotheists or polytheists. Maybe we'll never know why they hide in the heavens, but if we don't, it's probably for the best. The hierarchy of universal enlightenment keeps humans secure in the last rung. For now, we'll have to keep our feelings of star-induced insignificance close, for that's all we are able to understand.

FTA: 80-120 Quotes

"I want what you want. There isn't any me any more. Just what you want." Page 106
So this is a classic love and war. He is torn between Catherine and serving his country

"You'll never get married. . . . You'll fight before you'll marry. . . . Fight or die. That's what people do. They don't marry." Page 108
I don't think it could get any more reality of war than this. You're going to die, you can't have love forever, soon it'll be all over.

"Life isn't hard to manage when you've nothing to lose." Page 137
Reality of war and loneliness. If you don't have anything to live for, why not take the risk?

"Perhaps wars weren't won anymore. Maybe they went on forever." Page 118
Grim reality of war, it never truly ends until one side stops and leaves. Even then, the effects last forever.

Factoid Friday #5

One in four adults suffer from a mental disease or illness in the United States.

Health , N. I. O. (2014). The Numbers Count: Mental Disease in America. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml

FTA: 80 Pages Quotes

Pages 1-30

"All thinking men are atheists." Page 8
This gives us insight into his religion and government were affecting people at this time.

"Evidently it did not matter whether I was there or not." Page 16
This is the reality of war. People are gonna die even if you're there to protect them.

Catherine: "I didn't know about anything then. I thought it would be worse for him. I thought perhaps he couldn't stand it and then of course he was killed and that was the end of it."
Henry: "I don't know."Catherine: "Oh, yes," she said. "That's the end of it" Page 19

So this is love and war. Catherine lost in war, but is ready to love again.

"I did not care what I was getting into. . . . I did not love Catherine Barkley nor had any idea of loving her. This was a game, like bridge, in which you said things instead of playing cards. Like bridge you had to pretend you were playing for money or playing for some stakes. Nobody had mentioned what the stakes were." Page 31
This is also love in war. Henry is toying with his feeling but letting a war front stop him.


Pages 31-80

"It doesn't finish. There is no finish to war. . . . War is not won by victory. . . . One side must stop fighting. Why don't we stop fighting?" Page 50-51
This is the reality of war. It's never going to end

"I was blown up while we were eating cheese." Page 63
This is also war reality, war waits for no one.

"What you tell me about in the nights. That is not love. That is only passion and lust. When you love you wish to do things for. You wish to sacrifice for. You wish to serve." Page 63
This is love and war. Henry loves Catherine, but he has a war duty.

"You cannot know about [happiness] unless you have it" Page 72
I think this falls into love. Love makes you happy, and they are hinting that henry is not happy until he is in love.

FTA: 1st 40 Pages

So far I like this book. Lt. Henry seems like an interesting character. I like that he's in the Italian army. I went to Italy this summer and loved it so having an Italy connection is nice. Now I'm not sure where I stand on Catherine yet. She seems a little too dramatic and girly for me. I don't know, I just get a vibe from her telling me not to like her, but we'll see. I'm excited to continue on.

Lost Generation

Lost Generation refers to the time between the end of World War I and the Great Depression. The literature that falls into this category tell coming of age stories during and after WWI.  Ernest Hemingway was the one to popularize the term in works such as The Sun Also Rises and A Moveable Feast. But it is Gertrude Stein who gets credit for the term. Authors of this era included  F. Scott Fitzgerald,T. S. Eliot, John Dos Passos, Waldo Peirce, Isadora Duncan, Abraham Walkowitz, Alan Seeger, and Erich Maria Remarque. 

There are novels. paintings, dance, poetry within this genre. Including All Quiet on the Western Front

Farewell to Arms: 1st 10 Pages

So I think that I'm going to enjoy this book. I'm not sure how much I will like the characters because I tend to get picky about things, but overall it seems interesting. So far it reminds me of "A Separate Peace" and I really enjoyed that book so I hope I enjoy this one as well!

The Color Purple: 1st Ten Pages

So I read this book as a freshman. And I probably wasn't old enough and mature enough to read it then. I remember liking it, I remember being horrified at the graphic descriptions and beauty. Now reading the first ten pages is a bit different. It is graphic, violent and actually awful. But I think I can appreciate it better now. My mind is better able to process what's happening instead of just being horrified at the violence going on. I think I'd really enjoy this book now because I'm older

Factoid Friday #4

When John Steinbeck wrote "Of Mice and Men" he intended it to be both a novella and a play. The story has been adapted for film and theatre nine times since then.

Of Mice and Men. (2014, February 20). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 16:35,   March 7, 2014.

Vocab Story 7-8

        My newest mix blares out through my car speakers as I accelerate on the empty road. There's no one around, and I have no idea what the speed limit is, but I see very minimal danger in speeding along a flat, straight, desolate road. I'm still two states away from my domicile. The clock in my car tells me the time: 2:32pm. I haven't eaten since this morning. My stomach remembers and alerts me of it's voraciousness loudly.
        I don't have any food left over from my trip. There's half a pack of bottled water in the back seat, but I don't need to imbibe. I expected to be back home by now. Of course, a fine cuisine isn't going to just appear. I'll have to keep driving. Maybe soon I'll find a town.
        Ten minutes pass, then thirty. Before long, it's been 45 minutes and I'm still on the desolate road. I don't even see any animals around. But wait- there's something up there! Maybe it's a road sign or something. Hopefully it'll show an upcoming Safeway or Subway. As I get closer, however, the black blur seems to take the shape of something much more domestic. A person? No way. There is no way someone could walk along this whole road. It must be a delusion.
        I pull over as I approach the strange maybe-man. He looks like he could use a long ablution, but he doesn't stop walking at the sight of my car. In fact, he seems completely unaware of anything going on around him, in a dormant state. He's tall, much taller than me. His clothing is completely black and covered in dirt. He smells atrocious. Maybe he's a somnambulist.
        "Sir? Are you okay?" I don't get out of my car, but roll along slowly behind him. The man keeps walking. "Hey," I try again, louder. "Do you need some help?" I honk my horn quickly. The man still doesn't move. My stomach growls again, and I remember that I have to be at work tomorrow. It's 3:17 now, and I have a very long way to go. I turn around in my seat and grab three bottles of water. I don't know how I'll get them to the man if he refuses to talk, so I just open my door and place them on the ground. I feel bad for abandoning the man, but I remind myself that I really don't have time for him right now. At least I gave him something potable to drink. 
        I don't look back until I'm about thirty feet in front of where I left the man. I swerve by accident- where did he go? He was right there thirty seconds ago. Maybe I am hallucinating. I have to eat something.
        I finally roll into my driveway, 1am on the clock. I go to open the door, but I'm stopped by something on my doormat. Three empty bottles and a note: "Thanks for the water".

Factoid Friday #3

This essay talks about Plato's ideas about mental illness. Plato' believes that there are two claims. "One is that psychic illness--taken to include moral and mental failings--is the outcome of bodily defectiveness." One of the earliest record of mental instability. 

Gill, C. (2008). The Body's Fault? Plato's Timaeus on Psychic Illness. In Classical and Medieval               Literature Criticism (Vol. 98). Detroit: Gale. (Reprinted from Reason and Necessity: Essays on Plato's Timaeus, pp. 59-84, by M. R. Wright, Ed., 2000, London, England: Duckworth)

Vocab Story

I glance over at my iPod dock. It's 8:34, and I promised myself I'd start my pile of homework an hour ago. My music is blaring through the house. It's okay though, because I'm the only one home. 
After a few more minutes of coaxing myself off my bed, I join my schoolbooks next to my desk. I sigh as I open my psychology textbook. I read a few sentences about inimical diseases to the mind before deciding the only pathology I need to know is that too much homework is mind-numbing. I don't understand any of it. Maybe I could call my friend, Charlotte, and ask, in the most amicable way possible, for every answer we've ever had to know for that class. She'd be enamored if I ran to her for help. Charlotte is a total bibliophile. She reads nonstop and gets every answer right when the teacher calls on her. 
No way will I allow her that complacence. She'd never be able to be pacified. I decide to wait on the psychology and odiously switch over to trigonometry. My antipathy to all things math-related is immeasurable. I don't know why I have to keep up with it. I don't think classifying triangles will get me anywhere in my future line of work: writing. After another few minutes of pretending to work out an answer, it becomes clear that my apathy toward the subject will not allow any work to be finished. 
I decide to pick up To Kill a Mockingbird instead. It's the book my English III class is reading. I'm about 50 pages behind already, and we started it last week. The word on the page appease me more than the numbers in my textbook, so I allow myself to read the fifty pages and crawl into bed. 
I fall asleep remembering that it's Friday and I have the whole weekend to finish everything else. Who am I kidding? That's not getting finished.   

Realism in Paintings

Robert Henri's strong sense of self is portrayed through Portrait of Carl Gustav Waldeck, 1896 as the man stands in a position of power while not being glorified, he gruff facial expression shows his true emotion which was captured by Henri.

Henri's elegant style is shown in The Dancer, 1910, with out exaggerating, an overwhelming amount of class and respect is shown because of her dress and beauty. 

Henri captures pure innocence in his painting The Beach Hat, 1914, a young woman ready to see the world is innocently portrayed with a beach hat on in this oil masterpiece by Robert Henri.

Factoid Friday #2

In 1999, Bill Clinton gave a radio address expressing his concerns with the mental health stigma in America and announced that on the following Monday a new plan to better the lives of the mentally ill would be brought into light. Citation: William J. Clinton: "The President's Radio Address," June 5, 1999. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project. http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=57689.

Critics Project: Week Four

Disclaimer: There were no new pieces this week so this critic is of an older piece. I will include the link below.

The world is full of technology; from phones to internet and computers to television to cars and tablets. Our society is constantly glued to a screen in order to be in the know. But what if we became glued to our screens for another reason? For love? This is the idea behind the movie Her, or as Edelstein calls it "the best movie of the year."
I've never seen or I guess read Edelstein while in such a happy mood. His critics are positive, he's funny and appreciative and genuinely likes the movie. There isn't a large amount of sass and sarcasm like his usual work which tells me that he actually enjoyed the film. Interestingly enough Edelstein calls the film director, Spike Jonze, a "romantic transcendentalist" which just so happens to relate back to class. Edelstein is also a large fan of the star actor, Joaquin Phoenix, someone that I've never heard of. But its refreshing and exciting to see Edelstein praise someone so now I want to see more movies with our star in them.
I'm glad there is a movie that David likes, it's a genuine piece and I'm willing to give this movie a chance now.

Movie review

Edelstein, David. "A Man And His Machine, Finding Out What Love Is." NPR. NPR, 19 Dec.         2013. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.

(Edelstein, A Man and His Machine, Finding Out What Love Is)

Factoid Friday #1

Bethlem Royal Hospital (Bedlam) is the oldest existing psychiatric hospital in the world, first opening it's doors to the mentally ill in 1337.

The London Citizen Exceedingly Injured, 1739 Alexander Cruden

Bethlem Royal Hospital. (2014, February 7). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 20:33, February 10, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bethlem_Royal_Hospital&oldid=594434196

Critics Project: Week Three

War movies have been on screens for a majority of time since cinema began. They are nothing new and cannot bring a unique storyline to the table. War movies are classics but according to Edelstein, Monument Men doesn't make the cut. This movie attempts to put a spin on the war movie theme by having the goal be to protect art, however attempting to protect art from both side may have been to big of a goal. The snarky commentary gives credit to the cast but having Clooney make art seem important to America was a mistake. Edelstein feels there are better actors out there for this role. The movie line has some holes, and the characters should have been developed better. The article attacks the movie for these things, in a bit of a rude manner. But Edelstein is just trying to get a point across, the movie is alright, not great. Maybe we should just wait for Redbox on this one.

Edelstein, David. "Masterpieces In Peril, 'Monuments Men' Protects, But Also Panders."NPR. NPR, 07 Feb. 2014. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.

(Edelstein, Masterpieces In Peril, 'Monuments Men' Protects, But Also Panders)

Link

Genre Project

For my project it's more of a theme and a motif instead of a genre. I'm going to be researching the use of mental illness and mental handicap in American literature. The main differences between these two is that mental handicap is referring to the ability to function that is below average that generally occurs at birth or during early development. Mental illnesses are medical conditions that affect the mood, feeling and thinking. Anyone can be affected with mental illness and these illnesses are treatable.

Mental Retardation is Different From Mental Illness. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.progress-inc.org/mrvsmi.html

Critics Project: Week Two

Foreign films are nothing new to American screens, some have even made it big here in the States. In fact, "Slumdog Millionaire" won eight Academy Awards in 2008. Not all films are this successful but Edelstein brings a new film to light, that just may have what it takes.  "Gloria" is a film out of Chile that focuses in on an older divorced woman. Edelstein is able to take a step back from his usual sassy self and was one over by the acting of  Paulina Garcia who plays Gloria. This movie keeping Gloria constantly changing her attitudes and opinions, something that's not always seen on screen. I believe that it was Garcia's acting that made this film successful and won the approval of Edelstein over the actual context. Her abilities are what' have transformed Edelstein from his sarcastic tone to someone truly endorsing a movie. "Gloria" is set to open in select theaters across the country soon. 

 "Gloria"

Edelstein, David. "Middle-Aged And Divorced, 'Gloria' Takes On Life's Uncertainties."NPR. NPR, 24 Jan. 2014. Web. 19 Feb. 2014.

(Edelstein, 'Gloria' Takes On Life's Uncertainties)

Last of the Mohicans: End Comparison

So the movie and the book end completely differently. In the book Uncas is deemed godly because of a small tattooed tortoise on his chest, which gives him power. Uncas is able to free Hawkeye and spare some prisoners but Magua would not compromise and ends up keeping Cora prisoner even after Hawkeye offers himself and his rifle. The Hurons hurry off  across a mountain, and when Cora refuses to continue and impatient Huron kills her. The Mohicans and Munro bury Cora and mourn all the dead. Pretty much none of that happens in the movie. The council splits up Cora and Alice (who by the way, is not mentioned in the last 3 chapters), Hawkeye gets Cora and keeps her safe. Uncas is killed by the Huron and in response Alice throws herself off a cliff instead of enduring the Indian torture. So basically a completely different ending.

Vocab Story: Juniors 3-4

My alarm clock blares out a repetitive scream for the fifth time this morning, and I have to stop myself from hitting the snooze button once again. I roll easily to the ground, remembering that my mattress is currently missing a frame. Looking around, I see avuncular paintings on the walls all around me and my little sister, still sound asleep, next to me in her own mattress. My only patrimony, a small, slightly singed, photograph of my parents at their wedding, is in it's frame next to me. All of my other belongings are still packed.
   Unwillingly, I find myself drifting through the path that has led me to the floor of the guest bedroom in my uncle's house. Well, luckily for you, unlikely happenings are a familial experience. We all have at least one to tell. This is mine.
   My parents were wed through a bigamous ceremony. Both of them were already married, and legally, they were never married to each other because their past marriage licenses still stood. Of course, this immediately brought up some difficulties for their relationship. Monogamy was the style of their relationship, though legally they had two partners. However, they only had eyes for each other. My father was utterly uxorious, and my mother was smitten. So when they decided to split last year, it was a disastrous affair. My mother tried to run from her feelings and somehow ended up serving a matriarchy in Guatemala. This left my little sister and I with my father, who wanted to keep our names patronymic to his.
   Of course my sister and I were upset about the breakup, but everything wasn't as rocky as it felt like it should have been for a few months after it happened. About two months ago, my father started spending copious amounts of time at the Chinese restaurant downtown. He seemed to be fraternizing with someone, and he became distant.
   Last Wednesday, my father called my fraternal uncle and told him of his plans to run away with the fortune cookie lady. When my uncle begged him to step down, my dad accused my uncle of patronizing him and stormed off. In some sort of rage, my dad's truck was set on fire, and my childhood home was consumed in a matter of minutes.
   My uncle was the only person able enough to pick up my sister and I.
   I sigh and put my hand out to shake my sister into consciousness. I guess we all have at least one crazy story to tell. 

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.