Over the course of this year, I've done a lot of blogging. In AP Composition we blogged regularly for both quarters and continued to do so in College Literature. And now that I'm composing my last blog post for a Mr. Kunkle class, I can't help but miss it. These are the last few days of high school for us seniors, and it's funny how you start to miss things in advance.
I'm sure Rachel Stetenfeld and Sarah Berger feel the same way. We've done a lot of blogging together, and it's coming to a rapid and sad conclusion. I'm going to miss AP Comp and College Lit, but we will always have the old blog posts to look back on. Maybe Kunkle had that in mind: a way of preserving the past, remembering the good times we had in his class...
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Monday, June 6, 2011
Soul Sonic Force
So for the past two years, there's been a band associated with Driftwood known as the Nathan Hughes Band or Soul Sonic Force. While I wasn't a part of this band during its creation, I have played in it off and on over the past two years.
This year the band consisted of Johnny Mitchell, Leif Larson, Mikey Juszczyk, Ross Voelker, James Hickey, Kevin Wendt, Steven Jordan, Tanner Rasmussen, Michael Gray, and me. We played at a couple of Driftwood concerts and as of late a bunch of the guys have been talking about playing more shows. The whole thing's starting to get more serious--for better or for worse.
I guess the whole point of this blog post is to advertise for the band, but more importantly to take song recommendations to help bolster our short supply of jazz/funk numbers. So if anyone has any tune that you would think would work for us, please leave it as a comment. Thanks.
This year the band consisted of Johnny Mitchell, Leif Larson, Mikey Juszczyk, Ross Voelker, James Hickey, Kevin Wendt, Steven Jordan, Tanner Rasmussen, Michael Gray, and me. We played at a couple of Driftwood concerts and as of late a bunch of the guys have been talking about playing more shows. The whole thing's starting to get more serious--for better or for worse.
I guess the whole point of this blog post is to advertise for the band, but more importantly to take song recommendations to help bolster our short supply of jazz/funk numbers. So if anyone has any tune that you would think would work for us, please leave it as a comment. Thanks.
Driftwood!
I'm going to use this blog post to make a sales pitch for Driftwood. First I would like to encourage everyone to buy a copy of the Driftwood anthology. Your fellow McFarland high schoolers put a lot of energy into their contributions to the anthology and if they're going to put their voice out there, it should most certainly be heard.
Secondly, I would like to advocate for submission to next years Driftwood anthology for those Juniors out there. It's a great chance to be published and to gain some community recognition for your literary and artistic talents. Plus it looks good on college applications and scholarships. I recommend it for anyone serious about the craft of writing.
And lastly, I would like to make a case to join the Driftwood committee. It really impacted my senior year. I was able to read other authors and be inspired by their work and creativity. I gained a much better appreciation for the process of editing and revision. And it made me feel a part of a tight-knit literary community. Any involvement with Driftwood will prove to be positive experience.
Secondly, I would like to advocate for submission to next years Driftwood anthology for those Juniors out there. It's a great chance to be published and to gain some community recognition for your literary and artistic talents. Plus it looks good on college applications and scholarships. I recommend it for anyone serious about the craft of writing.
And lastly, I would like to make a case to join the Driftwood committee. It really impacted my senior year. I was able to read other authors and be inspired by their work and creativity. I gained a much better appreciation for the process of editing and revision. And it made me feel a part of a tight-knit literary community. Any involvement with Driftwood will prove to be positive experience.
Pixton Remix
I remixed Brian's comic.
Brian's:
http://Pixton.com/ic:uhoutceb
Remix:
http://Pixton.com/ic:rb6533jy
Brian's:
http://Pixton.com/ic:uhoutceb
Remix:
http://Pixton.com/ic:rb6533jy
True West
After filming our trailer for True West as our final project, I realized how much I liked that play. Kunkle said right before he popped the tape into the VHS that this could be the definitive text of our high school career--it had been for some of his students in the past. And looking back on that play, it wasp probably my favorite text of this quarter.
First of all, it is incredibly entertaining. Lee and Austin's shouting matches are as comical and absurd as they are fierce. I loved Malkovich's lisp and Sinise's whiny shrieks. Even with such an emphasis on chaos, though, Shepard was able to lace a couple of themes in between bouts of drunken rage. True West can be seen as a dialogue on what it means to be brothers, what it means to be "stable" in society, and what it means to be desperate. I guess I didn't appreciate how good of a play that True West was in the moment, but now thinking back, Shepard's play was one of my favorite works we studied.
First of all, it is incredibly entertaining. Lee and Austin's shouting matches are as comical and absurd as they are fierce. I loved Malkovich's lisp and Sinise's whiny shrieks. Even with such an emphasis on chaos, though, Shepard was able to lace a couple of themes in between bouts of drunken rage. True West can be seen as a dialogue on what it means to be brothers, what it means to be "stable" in society, and what it means to be desperate. I guess I didn't appreciate how good of a play that True West was in the moment, but now thinking back, Shepard's play was one of my favorite works we studied.
Persepolis Reflection
Persepolis was my first step into the world of graphic novels (aside from The Arrival which was composed of only images), and I'm still undecided about whether or not I'm a fan of the genre. There are parts in Persepolis that are gripping and interesting, but it also gets trivial at times. I'm not sure whether that is a reflection on the genre as a whole or just this work.
I mean, I like the parts in Persepolis that are concerned with history and regional conflict and Marji's characterization. But the parts that deal with Marji's boyfriends and first kisses seem unimportant to the overall narrative. Perhaps the graphic novel plays into the teenage gossip feel of Marji's social life, making it seem childish. However when the comic deals with big ideas like war and cultural identity, the comic format really adds a lot in my opinion. I guess it all really depends on the content within the graphic novel.
I mean, I like the parts in Persepolis that are concerned with history and regional conflict and Marji's characterization. But the parts that deal with Marji's boyfriends and first kisses seem unimportant to the overall narrative. Perhaps the graphic novel plays into the teenage gossip feel of Marji's social life, making it seem childish. However when the comic deals with big ideas like war and cultural identity, the comic format really adds a lot in my opinion. I guess it all really depends on the content within the graphic novel.
Pixton Comic
Here's the link to my comic: http://Pixton.com/ic:keucbo17. You have to read it clockwise. Enjoy!
Part of a Group
This is a required post that I was absent for and am making up now. This whole quarter we've been discussing works related to the theme of being alone or "the other." For this post though, I looked at the opposite: what it means to be part of a group or team.
Last night was our baseball banquet and with thirteen seniors, it was definitely a tight-knit team. This year was the most positive experience I've ever had on a baseball team. Everyone was willing to make sacrifices for the good of the team. I guess I hadn't really noticed until everyone kept refering to our season in the past tense at the banquet that my time with these guys was really over. I'm going to miss playing with that team a lot.
Last night was our baseball banquet and with thirteen seniors, it was definitely a tight-knit team. This year was the most positive experience I've ever had on a baseball team. Everyone was willing to make sacrifices for the good of the team. I guess I hadn't really noticed until everyone kept refering to our season in the past tense at the banquet that my time with these guys was really over. I'm going to miss playing with that team a lot.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Patton
I will have to follow in Mr. O'Malley's footsteps and choose my favorite war movie, Patton. It is the story of General George S. Patton and his conquest through Africa and Sicily and his leadership of the Third Army in Europe. In many ways, Patton was a divisive character in American history, but Francis Ford Coppolla, who wrote the screen play, does an uncanny job at portraying a Patton that liberals and conservatives alike can relate to.
The movie starts with an incredibly famous image: Patton lecturing in front of an enormous American flag, but I chose a more subtle image to blog about. A side of Patton that Coppolla really exploits is his historic and romantic approach to warfare. This is exemplified in a few scenes that show Patton on an ancient battlefield, incredibly absorbed by the memories of past soldiers and warfare.
The film does more to glorify war than detract from it. Curiously, however, the movie presents some feelings of resentment toward the technological advancement of war. Toward the end of the film, Patton says that he is glad that he will never see the day when war is fought without troops, soldiers, advancements, and retreats. "When compared to war, all other forms of human endeavor shrink to insignificance," Patton proclaims. The movie certainly glorifies the pure, historical nature of war.
This is completely different from Vonnegut's goals in Slaughterhouse-Five. Vonnegut exposes the destructive nature of war where Patton celebrates the old battlefield. Because of this vital difference in authorial intention, Mary O'Hare would undoubtedly hate Patton.
The movie starts with an incredibly famous image: Patton lecturing in front of an enormous American flag, but I chose a more subtle image to blog about. A side of Patton that Coppolla really exploits is his historic and romantic approach to warfare. This is exemplified in a few scenes that show Patton on an ancient battlefield, incredibly absorbed by the memories of past soldiers and warfare.
The film does more to glorify war than detract from it. Curiously, however, the movie presents some feelings of resentment toward the technological advancement of war. Toward the end of the film, Patton says that he is glad that he will never see the day when war is fought without troops, soldiers, advancements, and retreats. "When compared to war, all other forms of human endeavor shrink to insignificance," Patton proclaims. The movie certainly glorifies the pure, historical nature of war.
This is completely different from Vonnegut's goals in Slaughterhouse-Five. Vonnegut exposes the destructive nature of war where Patton celebrates the old battlefield. Because of this vital difference in authorial intention, Mary O'Hare would undoubtedly hate Patton.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
A-llusions...not Illusions! A-llusions!
So Mark O'Malley was over at my house this past weekend, and we decided to watch the classic film, One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, which Mark had never seen. I had seen the movie about five times or so, but when I went to bed later that night, I thought more about what the movie meant. We had just wrapped up our reading of The Metamorphosis and discussion of biblical allusion, and I began to explore what biblical themes were present in Cuckoo's Nest:
McMurphy seems to play the role of Jesus and the other mental patients are his disciples. They follow him in opposition to Nurse Ratchet who seems to play the devil (quiet, sinister, and with hair rolled up to actually look like devil horns). The next part of the analysis will spoil the end of the movie so here is a warning to stop reading if you do not want the movie ruined for you.
At the end of the movie, McMurphy leads his "disciples" in a night of alcohol and sex which may be seen as a sort of last supper. In the penultimate scene, Nurse Ratchet finds the mess and a naked Billy (one of the "disciples") in bed with a woman. When Nurse Ratchet questions Billy as to who put him up to it, Billy takes on the role of Judas and betrays McMurphy by ratting him out to the nurse before being hauled away. In the confusion, McMurphy begins to escape from the hospital when he hears a scream from the next room. At this point he has a clear choice: he could escape out the window or go to see what happened to his friend Billy. He choses the latter, sacrificing himself. When McMurphy finds that Billy has killed himself (just as Judas did), he begins to choke Nurse Ratchet until he is knocked out by the guards.
McMurphy is then lobotomized for his efforts, and the sacrifice is complete. In the final scene, Chief kills McMurphy, not wanting to see him live as a vegetable, and escapes out of the hospital. McMurphy is thus resurrected in the form of Chief.
This seems to fit really well. It's an interesting move comparing McMurphy, a man of multiple vices, to Jesus, the Western symbol of innocence. By the same token, Nurse Ratchet, a "respectable" mental therapist, is portrayed as the devil. This allusion added a whole other component to the movie that I was previously not privy to.
(P.S. for those true Cuckoo's Nest fans out there: the title of this blog is actually a line said by Mr. Harding in the movie. Give yourself a pat on the back if you noticed that before reading this line!)
McMurphy seems to play the role of Jesus and the other mental patients are his disciples. They follow him in opposition to Nurse Ratchet who seems to play the devil (quiet, sinister, and with hair rolled up to actually look like devil horns). The next part of the analysis will spoil the end of the movie so here is a warning to stop reading if you do not want the movie ruined for you.
At the end of the movie, McMurphy leads his "disciples" in a night of alcohol and sex which may be seen as a sort of last supper. In the penultimate scene, Nurse Ratchet finds the mess and a naked Billy (one of the "disciples") in bed with a woman. When Nurse Ratchet questions Billy as to who put him up to it, Billy takes on the role of Judas and betrays McMurphy by ratting him out to the nurse before being hauled away. In the confusion, McMurphy begins to escape from the hospital when he hears a scream from the next room. At this point he has a clear choice: he could escape out the window or go to see what happened to his friend Billy. He choses the latter, sacrificing himself. When McMurphy finds that Billy has killed himself (just as Judas did), he begins to choke Nurse Ratchet until he is knocked out by the guards.
McMurphy is then lobotomized for his efforts, and the sacrifice is complete. In the final scene, Chief kills McMurphy, not wanting to see him live as a vegetable, and escapes out of the hospital. McMurphy is thus resurrected in the form of Chief.
This seems to fit really well. It's an interesting move comparing McMurphy, a man of multiple vices, to Jesus, the Western symbol of innocence. By the same token, Nurse Ratchet, a "respectable" mental therapist, is portrayed as the devil. This allusion added a whole other component to the movie that I was previously not privy to.
(P.S. for those true Cuckoo's Nest fans out there: the title of this blog is actually a line said by Mr. Harding in the movie. Give yourself a pat on the back if you noticed that before reading this line!)
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
True West and Plays as a Genre
We recently watched True West. Although we haven't finished the whole play, I've found it really interesting for two reasons: 1) it's just an intense and intriguing story and 2) it was written as a play. I never had really encountered a play as a text before, and although we aren't actually reading it, I'm curious about the genre.
I guess I'm wondering if anyone else has ever read a play (other than Shakespeare and Fences) before. What is your favorite one? This quarter I've come into contact with graphic novels for the first time and learned its advantages, so I guess I'd like to explore drama as well. Any comments would be appreciated (including recommendations).
I guess I'm wondering if anyone else has ever read a play (other than Shakespeare and Fences) before. What is your favorite one? This quarter I've come into contact with graphic novels for the first time and learned its advantages, so I guess I'd like to explore drama as well. Any comments would be appreciated (including recommendations).
Monday, April 18, 2011
Existentialism
I'll start with the disclaimer that this blog post is actually intended for last week. Please still feel free to comment though: I'm sure you could count it as one of your two comments for this week.
This year, for me at least, Existentialism has been everywhere. I first dealt with it in AP Euro, came across it again in AP Composition, had a unit on it in Philosophy, and now am reading Kafka's Metamorphosis in College Lit. What interests me most about Existentialism is how loosely defined it is.
From what I've gathered, Existentialism is concerned with human anxiety, angst, and worry. It can take many forms--from plays to novels to poetry--but it's primary focus is a somehow corrupted human existence.
With that all in mind, and given the context of Metamorphosis (which explicitly deals with all of the above), the purpose of this blog is to share any thoughts--relating to Kafka's novella or otherwise--dealing with Existentialism. This could possibly be a personal story of an experience with anxiety or inadequacy, a response to Metamorphosis, an opinion of Existentialism, something to add to the definition I provided, or any other thoughts on the topic.
I hope someone reads this.
This year, for me at least, Existentialism has been everywhere. I first dealt with it in AP Euro, came across it again in AP Composition, had a unit on it in Philosophy, and now am reading Kafka's Metamorphosis in College Lit. What interests me most about Existentialism is how loosely defined it is.
From what I've gathered, Existentialism is concerned with human anxiety, angst, and worry. It can take many forms--from plays to novels to poetry--but it's primary focus is a somehow corrupted human existence.
With that all in mind, and given the context of Metamorphosis (which explicitly deals with all of the above), the purpose of this blog is to share any thoughts--relating to Kafka's novella or otherwise--dealing with Existentialism. This could possibly be a personal story of an experience with anxiety or inadequacy, a response to Metamorphosis, an opinion of Existentialism, something to add to the definition I provided, or any other thoughts on the topic.
I hope someone reads this.
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Intro
Currently, my time is divided up between school, sports, and work, so it's hard to find time to dedicate to my other interests which include painting, disc golfing, and listening to/finding music. After high school, I plan to attend a four-year university--not sure which one yet. My musicians are Van Morrison, Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Simon and Garfunkel, and many more.
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