OR Final Discussion

We will have a Socratic Seminar next week. We are going to have some practice discussion here. Feel free to respond to the below questions. You may also pose questions (not simple plot based questions) or thoughtful ponderings here as well.

1) Many of us adhere to the belief that if we work hard and put forth a good effort we will be rewarded. How does the outcome of Oedipus Rex contradict or support that? You may want to rethink the word “reward” for this one.  2) How is Oedipus like an archetypal hero? To what extent is like or unlike a modern day hero? What fine distinctions can you draw between our modern day heroes (Superman, Spiderman, Hancock) and Oedipus Rex? 3) Remember when I told you the archetypal hero was “dumb”–clueless to the collective unconscious—in what ways is Oedipus totally unaware of his self and his true identity? 4) Normally, when I teach this play we go through the ways that Oedipus is like a detective and how the clues he seeks are the clues to his life,  trace how this happens in the play.  Why do you think it takes Oedipus so long to put these clues together–he’s no dumbie, so why the drawn out process?

Please respond by Friday, 1/22/10 at 3:30 p.m.  Remember, grammar, punctuation, and spelling always count. Be clear, concise and insightful. Use examples from the play to PROVE your points.

Question “Reality” TV

This week I admit I did succumb to watching Jersey Shore—okay and I watched Real World Washington, D.C. and Frank the Entertainer A Basement Affair-–shh!, and although, I find these shows entertaining (acutually I find them absolutely hillarious), I also realize that reality TV  programming is alarming and, truthfully indicative of a much larger trend. However, much like a lone swimmer in the ocean, the cultural currents we are swimming in are not always evident (‘course, if you are on the shore or in a helicopter, you can easily see the ocean and it’s encompassing patterns). So here’s what I want you to respond to, feel free to nuance, refute or support any of what I pose here.

What larger lesson can we glean from the meglomania and absurdity of reality TV?

Need help coming up with a lesson….here are some ideas: Is it that it is human nature for us to “enjoy” watching a train wreck and if so why has reality tv proliferated in the past eight years and not before? Could it be that our society accepts impropriety as entertainment? Are we just fascinated with voyeurism? Perhaps it is the idea that we are all “stars” in our own “reality;” thus we unconsciously identify with the “stars” of these “reality” shows (for further evidence of this check your Facebook or myspace–who is the “star” of this site?).  If this is your take on the trend, make sure you define “star” and “reality.”  Perhaps since reality tv is actually scripted (see me if you want more info. on this) you could argue that “reality” tv presents a “reality” that is stereotypical and full of social and cultural stereotypes that are 1) simple to understand, 2)  easy to digest, and 3) basically set up so that the populace with the least intelligence (and most intolerance) can process it, which thus serves to further “dumb” down our nation,while simultaneously reinforcing social stereotypes and in return offering a certain amount of comfort (“Yes, your sterotypical notions are indeed right”)  to the audience. (OUCH! Vitriolic, I know!)

OR maybe there is nothing to our reality tv obsession, it is a fad, like any other fad, and it will fade into random obscurity only to be showcased twenty years from now in a V-H1 countdown show. There is a larger lesson to be learned, whatever you argue, back it up with a clear example that supports your ideas.

One thing you may want to do is  check the TV listings to see how much Reality TV dominates our viewing. Please respond before Friday, 1/22/2010 by 3:30 pm. Remember grammar, spelling,  punctuation counts–so proof before you post. Be clear, use solid examples to prove your point and be concise.  This is a dialogue so check back and read others’ responses and feel free to post multiple times.

Star Wars Mythology Video

Please respond to this post by Monday Dec. 7, 2009 by 11:00 p.m. It would be great if you checked this post multiple times and responded more to others after your initial post. You may respond to any of the prompts or you can add any insightful comment or observation that made as well.

Here are some of your choices: 1) Moyers says to Lucas that the conflict between Darth Vader and Luke is reminiscent of Lucas and his dad–does this seem true (based on what Lucas said about his dad and the idea that kid should redeem their parents)? What would Karl Jung say about this moment (the moment when Luke confronts Darth Vader and Darth Vader begins to turn away from the dark side)? 2) Lucas says that some stories need to told again and again? To what stories is he referring? Hint: he says that the “hero has to find his place and figure out where he belongs”? Is it true that some stories need to be told again and again? Why?3) Do our heroes need to be complex since our modern lives are much more complex? Explain and give examples that illustrate your argument for simple heroes or complex heroes. 4) A particularly poignant moment is when Lucas pauses and ponders the evil that humanity is capable of. What do you think about Lucas’  comment that evil and greed fills all of us and we have to find a balance with this? Is this an archetype? If so, which one. 5) Star Wars is the re-telling of old stories. Should we re-tell stories so they are more “modern” and easily understoood? What are the benefits or disadvantages of this? And can or should archetypes evolve? How is Star Wars a product of our culture and our values (vs. the cultural values of someone from the last century)? 6) Why would religious figures be able to easily trace or connect aspects of Star Wars to different religious tales? 7) I love Lucas’ commentary on being a hero everyday and that we make small choices everyday to choose the right path or the wrong path. Comment on this or any other archetypal choice/theme/character that we make or deal with everyday. No, I’m not the shadow guarding Room 101 who you have to daily battle every 5th or 7th bell. Oh! Don’t forget! Grammar, spelling, coherency always counts…so proof before you post!

Literature Circles First Book Review

A few of you have finished your first novel, for this post I’d like for you to give a review of the first novel you read in lit. circles. If you have finished it, please no spoilers. Not sure how to review  it…say what you liked, comment on the plot, characters, genre (type of book), and/or what kind of person would like this book. You may also mention books that are similar to (or in some cases totally different from) your lit. circle novel. You may mention if you liked/or didn’t and your opinion was different from your lit. circle members.  If you want you can rate it, using the Shuja 6  star rating system…. (6 stars: awesome, you couldn’t put it down and was amazing in every way; 5 stars: excellent, some minor flaws, plot, character development, but excellent read; 4 stars: better than a “school book,” but not something you couldn’t put down; 3 stars: I read it, but didn’t love it, flaws in plot, characters, just OKAY!, a little boring/mediocre, rather predictable; 2 stars: it was gross to read, rather boring, lame characters, lame plot, forced myself to finish; 1 star: YUCK! never read this book, I wasted (insert time..six hours?) of my life reading this vapid and inane novel). Of course, feel free to elaborate on your rating.

Remember, no spoilers! You may post multiple times if you want to respond to a review you concur with or have a dissenting opinion and feel it must be heard.  Please post even if you haven’t finished the novel. Please respond by Friday, November 20, 2009 by 10:30 p.m. This may bear repeating…use correct grammar, spelling and punctuation always. Be concise and practice good writing techniques!

We All Fall Down Final Discussion

I enjoyed listening to your Socratic Seminars today. I heard many insightful comments and questions; your discussions were intriguing. Are there any comments or questions that you would like to add? Please feel free to post them here. You may also discuss: any comments about the various motifs in the novel, the significance of the title, any of the articles, the poem, “The Cord,” or the song, “The Scientist,  or any possible essay topics.

This post is extra credit, but based on merit (you aren’t guaranteed points, but will earn points based on the quality of your responses). Please respond by Monday, October 5, 2009 by 3:00 p.m. If you come back and read others’ responses and post again, you may recieve more points. Total extra credit possible….18 points!

To comment to this post, CLICK ON THE COMMENTS LINK RIGHT BELOW THIS. If you add a post I will delete it and not give you points.

Please ask me for help (you can email me) if you need help, blogging. There is a link on this site to ProgressBook, you can login from here and then link to my email from ProgressBook….nifty, huh?

We All Fall Down 1-93

A past 10-3 student mentioned We All Fall Down to me the other day after school. Sara said that she and another Sarah (coincidental, huh?)  were “extolling the virtues”–if you know Sara Swartout you know this was her exact word choice–of We All Fall Down.  Although We All Fall Down is classified as young adult literature, falls in the thriller novel genre and is relatively simple and easy to read–i.e. “it ain’t Shakespeare folks!”– what virtues does it have that is worthy of extolling? Why is this an excellent book for you to read as young adults? Feel free to disagree. If you disagree, tell me why this book has no virtues and is worthy of condemnation? Briefly support your response. Please respond by 10:30 pm Wednesday, September 30, 2009. Check out the Blogging Expectations before you post. Feel free to post multiple times, especially in response to other students’ post.

If you aren’t sure how to post to this prompt….all you have to do is click on the comments link below. Please do not create another post. I’ll delete it.

The Kite Runner up to Ch. 24

Please comment on any aspect of the novel so far: plot, characters, theme, or any interesting or poignant quotes by May 15, 2009 by 10:30 p.m.

The Kite Runner 16-17

You can discuss any aspect of the plot, characters or themes that have developed since your last posting (during Ch. 16-17). You may want to discuss the bombshell Rahim Khan drops on Amir. Think back to some to the not-so-curious things Baba did earlier in the book, how do they make sense now. Please respond by 10:30 pm on May 6, 2009. 

The Kite Runner 14-15

Please respond to the following prompt of your choice by 10:30 pm on Monday May 4, 2009.  1) There are many memorable characters in this book. I love Baba, depite his foibles, I think he is a great character. When he dies, I cried. I loved (and love) the scene in the bar and I love this quote ” ‘Explective ‘the Russia;” Baba is an Afghani made a honkey tonk come alive with his sheer will and charisma–he is a well drawn character. Pick a character in this novel that is well drawn, you don’t have to “love” the character and discuss why you cherish (or abhor) that character. Please be aware of the characterization methods you are using.

2) If another senior asked you what The Kite Runner was about, what would you say? Would you say “It’s a book about Afghanistan” or would you say  it is quintessentially about something else?

3) Again with the quotes, here is a collection of some of the quotes I have collected so far in the novel: “But better to get hurt by the truth than comforted by a lie” (58); “Something my teacher had said that summer about Iranians, that they were grinning smooth talkers who patted you on the back with one hand and picked your pocket with the other” (57); “That’s the thing about people who mean everything they say. They think everyone else does too” (55); ”America was a river, roaring along, unmindful of the past” (136); “America the brash savior, Britain, and Israel. ‘The rest of them–…’they’re like gossiping old women.” (125). Tell me some quotes that resonate with you and say why or pick one of my quotes and say what you think it means.

4) Discuss any aspect of this novel. Try to keep it current. If you want to talk about Hassan and the alleyway tragedy go back to the posts that concern that part of the book and write away….I’ll read it; I get emails everytime you blog, sillies!

The Kite Runner 11-13

Please post by 10:30 pm May 1, 2009. For this post you must interact with another member so respond to the prompt and then come back and respond again to anyone who has posted to the blog. You may have to check back a few times. The questions are rather open. Some of our blogs I will “baby step you” and others you will have to do some independent analysis and discussion. For this post here are your options: 1)Discuss the plot in these chapters. You may comment on any plot surprises. 2) Is there any symbolism that you notice? 3) How have any of the characters changed, evolved or stayed the same? 4) Any ironies that stand out? 5) Did you notice that there are some parallel characters and parallel events (kind of like foil characters)? Explain them.