In "Book Two," Winston Smith is torn between his personal guilt over commitment to his job and his traditional trust/belief in the One State, and his overwhelming curiosity which is fueled by other relationships and a yearning for something more/better. In your opinion, why is Winston having a difficult time buying in to what Big Brother and the State are selling? Explain and support. Are his small acts of defiance (questioning) a form of protest? Why/Why not? Compare/contrast Winston's small rebellion to a more current act of rebellion within the United States (think Tea Party Movement, Occupy Wall Street, Anti-War Protests, etc.) in all facets - what they are fighting for, who they are rebelling against, the way their protests seen by the government, the way their protests are seen by the masses. Ultimately, the purpose of this blog is to examine how Orwellian we have become
He is having a hard time buying in to what the state is saying because of the nostalgia of his childhood and his memories from his childhood. He knows that things used to be different but he can't point out exactly what was different. His acts of questioning are an act of protest, if he has to think about it, he doesn't fully believe in it. If he fully believed what the state said, there would be no questioning. Both Smith's and the Tea Party are for freedom from some governing body where the government has said, there are no other options this is how it is. The British saw it as, we are overrun and there is no way to destroy them completely. The Party sees it as just get rid of them and no one will care. Smith's questioning isn't really seen by the masses so its hard to say.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Quote Response Blog #1
"I have heard many international newcomers say (in the US) that American friendships are superficial. They say Americans do not know what true friendship is; they seem very friendly at first, but the friendships do not grow." What could be some reasons why Americans are perceived this way?
Americans are perceived this way because with our busy lifestyles we don't have the time to have long deep conversations with our friends. There are so many things a friend may be someone you see one day a week at church, or an excerise class but you wouldn't hang with them after that. Facebook doesn't help. On facebook you have "friends" where you vaguely know someone but you know what they are doing all the time and their opinions on life. This is really an aquaintance but they are a facebook "friend".
Americans are perceived this way because with our busy lifestyles we don't have the time to have long deep conversations with our friends. There are so many things a friend may be someone you see one day a week at church, or an excerise class but you wouldn't hang with them after that. Facebook doesn't help. On facebook you have "friends" where you vaguely know someone but you know what they are doing all the time and their opinions on life. This is really an aquaintance but they are a facebook "friend".
Video Response Blog #5
"Me vs. We" ; answer the following questions: 1) In a collectivist culture, what personality traits are likely to be consideredideal? What about an individualist culture? 2) In what type of culture might elders or people who have professional distinction receive more respect and less challenge from people lower on their culture's/group's hierarchy? Explain your answer. 3) Create a specific problem a teacher may encounter when he/she moves from teaching in a collectivist culture to an individualist culture or vice versa. Explain the specific values/influences/obligations/desires caused by the clash. Propose a way for the conflict to be resovled. 4) What is an acquaintance? Does the word have a positive or negative connotation? Explain.
1. In a collectivist culture you are expected to be kind, assistful, and accepting of others. You need to be supportive of other people as well. In an individualist culture you need to be self-motivated and non-dependent on others for help.
2. In a independent culture people won't be dragging you down and so you can't be affected by them so they will be less important. In a collectivist culture elders will be more respected because they are the ones who will help everyone else contribute and will guide the way.
3. A teacher may have an issue moving from a collectivist culture to an individualistic one because at the past school is was all about the group as a whole but at the current school its all about the individual child, not how well the work with other kids.
4. Aquaintance has a negative connotation. It is generally used for when you have met someone and know of them and a little about them but don't talk to them regurarly and you don't rely on them for anything.
1. In a collectivist culture you are expected to be kind, assistful, and accepting of others. You need to be supportive of other people as well. In an individualist culture you need to be self-motivated and non-dependent on others for help.
2. In a independent culture people won't be dragging you down and so you can't be affected by them so they will be less important. In a collectivist culture elders will be more respected because they are the ones who will help everyone else contribute and will guide the way.
3. A teacher may have an issue moving from a collectivist culture to an individualistic one because at the past school is was all about the group as a whole but at the current school its all about the individual child, not how well the work with other kids.
4. Aquaintance has a negative connotation. It is generally used for when you have met someone and know of them and a little about them but don't talk to them regurarly and you don't rely on them for anything.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Music Response Blog #7
"2+2=5" by Radiohead ; What is this song talking about lyrically? How does the music mirror or help push the message of the lyrics? The title is an allusion to 1984...explain the connection.
Lyrically the song is talking about how things would be in an ideal world but how there is little chance they will happen because 2+2 will never equal five. The music helps push the message because it pushes and pulls showing how life can go either way. Its an allusion because its talking about how he wants to change, and he knows what he wants the outcome to be but hes pressured by both sides making it more difficult.
Lyrically the song is talking about how things would be in an ideal world but how there is little chance they will happen because 2+2 will never equal five. The music helps push the message because it pushes and pulls showing how life can go either way. Its an allusion because its talking about how he wants to change, and he knows what he wants the outcome to be but hes pressured by both sides making it more difficult.
Video Response Blog #4
Video clip on Globalization and Conflict http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kniiNvoC0EY ; Identify the conflict. Is this an internal or external conflict? How/Why does globalization create conflict? In the speaker's opinion, globalization has flown in only one direction what does she mean by this? Although the speaker feels globalization has been one-sided, she notes there has been one benefit related to the process. What benefit dies she mention? The speaker says Muslims and westerners live by/are obligated to two different sources of truth. What two sources (two texts) does she mention?
The conflict is how everyone does not equally respect other cultures (external). Globalization creates conflict because different cultures have different opinions, people don't want people trying to change their beliefs so they stick up for themselves, then conflict starts. She means that Westerners are impacting others and forcing them to change and accept what they believe but others are not impacting the Westerners. The one benefit is how the US role models have helped females in other countries to stand up for themselves. She mentions the Constitution and the Qu'ran. She wants to stick to her beliefs but the US is also impacting her so its a hard line to draw between the two cultures.
The conflict is how everyone does not equally respect other cultures (external). Globalization creates conflict because different cultures have different opinions, people don't want people trying to change their beliefs so they stick up for themselves, then conflict starts. She means that Westerners are impacting others and forcing them to change and accept what they believe but others are not impacting the Westerners. The one benefit is how the US role models have helped females in other countries to stand up for themselves. She mentions the Constitution and the Qu'ran. She wants to stick to her beliefs but the US is also impacting her so its a hard line to draw between the two cultures.
1984 Post #1
The first 1984 reading journal should deal with the structure of the society by specifically addressing the last slide of the power point (what utopias have in common). It should thoroughly (in multiple sentences and with evidence from the text) address the following: how have they created equality or conformity? How have they reduced conflict, specifically in regards to religion, relationships, and individual rights? How have they created or forced happiness/conformity? Make a claim about this society as either a utopia or a dystopia based the rest of your blog entry.
In the novel diversity is created through jobs and your lineage. You do what your parents did and you are born into this system, here the classes are divided between the thought police and the workers at the different ministries. They reduced conflict by not allowing options. There is no religion, relationships are not allowed other than to produce offspring and the Telescreens give you no privacy so you must follow the laws. Even all the food and drinks are of the same brand so there is no chosing with that. They have forced happiness because if people don't act a certain way at a certain time they are vaporized so you have to be happy. This society is a dystopia because limited choice causes a very dull and non-interesting society.
In the novel diversity is created through jobs and your lineage. You do what your parents did and you are born into this system, here the classes are divided between the thought police and the workers at the different ministries. They reduced conflict by not allowing options. There is no religion, relationships are not allowed other than to produce offspring and the Telescreens give you no privacy so you must follow the laws. Even all the food and drinks are of the same brand so there is no chosing with that. They have forced happiness because if people don't act a certain way at a certain time they are vaporized so you have to be happy. This society is a dystopia because limited choice causes a very dull and non-interesting society.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Art Response Blog #6
Bo Bartlett's Culture
C: He is very religious.
F: There is a cross made by the truck in "Young Life" and in the picture with the school bus the window makes a cross.
C: He comes from a very rural area.
F: There is a bonfire in "Homecoming" and there is a man holding a rifle in "Young Life".
C: His childhood was very important.
F: These pictures all show relationships and the facial expressions are very detailed so he wants you to get their expression.
C: He is very religious.
F: There is a cross made by the truck in "Young Life" and in the picture with the school bus the window makes a cross.
C: He comes from a very rural area.
F: There is a bonfire in "Homecoming" and there is a man holding a rifle in "Young Life".
C: His childhood was very important.
F: These pictures all show relationships and the facial expressions are very detailed so he wants you to get their expression.
Art Response Blog #5
"Young Life" by Bo Bartlett
Make three claims about this painting. Support each claim with one fact about the painting.
C: The boy is ashamed of the man and wants to be different but the connection is still there.
F: The boy is facing away from the man and is dressed more professional than the man but the color scheme is similair and they both have some sort of rod in their hand.
C: The man killed the deer and is proud of it.
F: The deer is sitting on top of the car and the light is behind it causing it to be emphasized.
C: The truck belongs to the man.
F: The trock is beaten up, the man is standing in front of it and the man has a rifle and a deer is on top of the truck.
Make three claims about this painting. Support each claim with one fact about the painting.
C: The boy is ashamed of the man and wants to be different but the connection is still there.
F: The boy is facing away from the man and is dressed more professional than the man but the color scheme is similair and they both have some sort of rod in their hand.
C: The man killed the deer and is proud of it.
F: The deer is sitting on top of the car and the light is behind it causing it to be emphasized.
C: The truck belongs to the man.
F: The trock is beaten up, the man is standing in front of it and the man has a rifle and a deer is on top of the truck.
Music Response Blog #6
"Shame"
The Avett Brothers
Look at the lyrics of this song, and decide what the subject and tone of the song are. Then, I want you to choose three words whose connotation affects the tone of the piece and explain how.
Subject: past relationship
Tone: apologetic
1) wrong: negative connotation showing the bad things the author did and how they impacted the other person.
2) undo: neutral showing that he wants it to change but he can't do anything about it now.
3) different: positive showing that he has grown and changed and is different because of that.
The Avett Brothers
Look at the lyrics of this song, and decide what the subject and tone of the song are. Then, I want you to choose three words whose connotation affects the tone of the piece and explain how.
Subject: past relationship
Tone: apologetic
1) wrong: negative connotation showing the bad things the author did and how they impacted the other person.
2) undo: neutral showing that he wants it to change but he can't do anything about it now.
3) different: positive showing that he has grown and changed and is different because of that.
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