Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Fun Home on Broadway!
Friday, April 24, 2015
Final thoughts
I want to start my post by saying thanks guys. The content of this class was not something I thought that I would enjoy. In the end, though, it was one of my favorites!
I would have to say that Trifles was, by far, my favorite piece that we have read. I have read the play in other classes and have acted out a modern interpretation in a theater class. Every time that I have looked at the story in the past it has just looked at the story as a whole. It really interested me that the women were, arguably, the smartest characters in the whole story. The men assume the women are focused on 'trifles.'
I also really like the bird symbols that we discussed in class. We talked about how the caged bird represented Mrs. Wright, who was held back by her husband. The women even reflect that she was happier before she was married. An interesting idea that occurred to me about the bird is that, in its death, it was representative of Mrs. and Mr. Wright. Through death, the bird gained its freedom. Through Mr. Wright's death, Mrs. Wright gained her freedom.
I had a great semester with all of you and I want to wish you the best with the rest of your semesters!
I would have to say that Trifles was, by far, my favorite piece that we have read. I have read the play in other classes and have acted out a modern interpretation in a theater class. Every time that I have looked at the story in the past it has just looked at the story as a whole. It really interested me that the women were, arguably, the smartest characters in the whole story. The men assume the women are focused on 'trifles.'
I also really like the bird symbols that we discussed in class. We talked about how the caged bird represented Mrs. Wright, who was held back by her husband. The women even reflect that she was happier before she was married. An interesting idea that occurred to me about the bird is that, in its death, it was representative of Mrs. and Mr. Wright. Through death, the bird gained its freedom. Through Mr. Wright's death, Mrs. Wright gained her freedom.
I had a great semester with all of you and I want to wish you the best with the rest of your semesters!
The End :(
Looking back through this semester I realize how much fun this class has been. We have had some amazing discussions, and Dr. Hanrahan has introduced us to some wonderful literature. I am being totally honest in saying that this course was by far the class I looked forward to most this semester, so thank you all for making it such a great experience.
Mainly because I just wrote my paper on it, one of the two texts that really stuck with me this semester is Pride and Prejudice (the other being The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao). I am sure I have mentioned before that my introduction to Austen was bred from the movie version of Pride and Prejudice which I absolutely adore, and so I expected to be a bit biased in my preference for the novel. I was a bit worried going into the reading that either the movie was going to be better, or the novel would be completely different that my preconceived notions about the text. If anything I learned that there are three worlds that can exist in the realm of literature: personal interpretation, written perception, and the literal translation through film. While no three of these realms were the same for my experience with Pride and Prejudice they were all similar enough that I was able to enjoy the text and our class discussions even more so.
The one character I find myself not doing justice towards is Charlotte Lucas, Lizzy's best friend. I am extremely sympathetic towards Charlotte, especially for the way in which she defends herself against her best friend's judgmental nature. She is not a particularly lucky character in the sense that she does not get to marry for love, however she is worthy of Elizabeth because she is a strong woman in her own sense. I find myself having to reserve my opinion on Charlotte's not getting to marry whom she pleases, especially because she says, "I am not romantic you know. I never was. I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins’s character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state"(Austen 85). Charlotte knew what she was doing and I think both Austen's readers and Elizabeth will do best not to underestimate her!
Fun Home & Fun Class
This class was definitely one of the more interesting classes I have taken at Shepherd. I loved the material and I found myself relating to the material a lot more than I usually am able to. As a non-English major, I always worry about struggling in the classes but I found this class made it easy to participate in discussions and follow along with the readings.
I think my favorite piece that we read was Fun Home just because it was so unlike anything I had ever read before. I love that it flipped tradition on its head and focused on the relationship between a father and daughter instead of a mother and daughter. A lot of times that relationship is never really focused on but I like that they found a sense of security in each other that is usually reserved for mothers and daughters. Of course, big kid picture books are always cool. I would definitely read Fun Home again just for fun.
Good luck to everyone in your future studies and thank you for making my final semester at Shepherd so special. Study hard and don't give up!
You got this!
I think my favorite piece that we read was Fun Home just because it was so unlike anything I had ever read before. I love that it flipped tradition on its head and focused on the relationship between a father and daughter instead of a mother and daughter. A lot of times that relationship is never really focused on but I like that they found a sense of security in each other that is usually reserved for mothers and daughters. Of course, big kid picture books are always cool. I would definitely read Fun Home again just for fun.
Good luck to everyone in your future studies and thank you for making my final semester at Shepherd so special. Study hard and don't give up!
You got this!
Moral Magoun
Reflecting on all of the great things we read this semester, my mind keeps returning to Freeman's "Old Woman Magoun." I noticed a theme of morally conscious short stories throughout the semester with, "Mrs. Spring Fragrance," "No Name Woman," "New England Nun," etc. However, this one seemed to have so many different ways it could have went, but Old Woman Magoun's choice ending in her granddaughter's death raises a moral question to the reader. As a woman I somehow felt sympathetic towards the Old Woman. I am not sure I would have made the same choice, but what other option during the time did she have? Freeman has created a situation much like Chopin in The Awakening, where death seems to be the only answer or escape from the problem. The Old Woman tried to get the Lawyer Mason and his wife to adopt Lily, but was turned down. So for Old Woman Magoun, at a religious standpoint she believes is making a good moral decision for Lily. As a child Lily is still innocent, and will obtain a better life in heaven, than if Nelson pawned her off to his dirty old friend. Freeman is tricky in playing the devils advocate because she never has Magoun actually kill Lily. She simply does not stop her when Lily says, "Why they are real sweet," Magoun replies "They are nice," then hurries Lily along. So I am just wondering what you guys think. Does Freeman create a story in which the only outlet is death and the audience must sympathize with it? Is Magoun morally wrong for turning her cheek to those "deadly nightshade berries?" Or does anyone think there was an alternate solution to save Lily?
Just to Reiterate . . .
As the semester comes to a close I just want to revisit some of my favorite topics of discussion that we have had throughout the semester; particularly the discussions on The Sun Also Rises as well as Pride and Prejudice.
Hemingway's novel has so many elements that I wish we had more time to discuss: Brett's complex character in more detail, the elements and issue of violence within the domesticity of the novel, the relationships between the characters, the affect of the war on the characters etc. I had never read, or even heard of, this novel and allow me to say that I am so glad I have now. I wold like to, in the future, examine the elements within the novel more deeply, and even examine them in relations to other novels or compare and contrast other characters in similar literature.
Of course, among all of the Austen I have read this semester,the one novel that has become very dear to me is Pride and Prejudice. I know that the novel is Austen's most well known and it may not seem very original of me to love it so much, but I really do. I am completely enraptured by the characters that she has created within it, especially Lizzy, and I feel that there are so many more layers to be dug up on this novel. I also am fascinated by the novel because it is very different from her other novels, yet, it also possesses an air of sameness with them.
Both of these novels will be ones that I revisit both for pleasure and for academics. Their ability to be so interesting and easy to read, yet be so complex and academically applicable is very exciting and interesting to me.
Hemingway's novel has so many elements that I wish we had more time to discuss: Brett's complex character in more detail, the elements and issue of violence within the domesticity of the novel, the relationships between the characters, the affect of the war on the characters etc. I had never read, or even heard of, this novel and allow me to say that I am so glad I have now. I wold like to, in the future, examine the elements within the novel more deeply, and even examine them in relations to other novels or compare and contrast other characters in similar literature.
Of course, among all of the Austen I have read this semester,the one novel that has become very dear to me is Pride and Prejudice. I know that the novel is Austen's most well known and it may not seem very original of me to love it so much, but I really do. I am completely enraptured by the characters that she has created within it, especially Lizzy, and I feel that there are so many more layers to be dug up on this novel. I also am fascinated by the novel because it is very different from her other novels, yet, it also possesses an air of sameness with them.
Both of these novels will be ones that I revisit both for pleasure and for academics. Their ability to be so interesting and easy to read, yet be so complex and academically applicable is very exciting and interesting to me.
Farewell.
I really enjoyed this course. It was nice to get away from the traditional lectures, and even the traditional seminars that we English students are accustomed to. I felt that the leniency and lax environment made this class all the more exciting. I was super enthused to attend each and every class that I did. It of course, would not have been the same without all of my awesome colleagues that were in the course as well. I felt that you all had wonderful contributions to the readings.
One aspect of this course that I am still weighing on is the fact or fiction of Fuku and Zafa within Oscar Wao. Like Morgan has said before, these characters could believe in the curse simply because they are utilizing it as a scapegoat for their personal laziness of making a better life for themselves. I would also argue, though, that the curse and its characteristics only seem to pop up within the text whenever the Dominican Republic political system (Trujillo and Captian, years later) are tampered with. It seems as though, that Junot Diaz is trying to expose the stereotype of Dominican Republic people and illustrate how this stereotype is often a misconception. I also feel that Diaz is trying to show that Trujillo was a real person, like Hitler, and did a great deal of damage to this culture. Many of us were never exposed to Trujillo and his torturous ways until this novel. I, personally, had never heard of him. I never knew that the Dominican Republic was bound by such a monarchist environment. I feel that in a way, Diaz is trying to let other cultures read about this isolated culture and understand that the Dominican Republic has went through much of the same turmoil that other nations have experienced.
Again, I really enjoyed this class with each and every one of you, and I wish you all the best in you finishing semesters.
-Brittany
One aspect of this course that I am still weighing on is the fact or fiction of Fuku and Zafa within Oscar Wao. Like Morgan has said before, these characters could believe in the curse simply because they are utilizing it as a scapegoat for their personal laziness of making a better life for themselves. I would also argue, though, that the curse and its characteristics only seem to pop up within the text whenever the Dominican Republic political system (Trujillo and Captian, years later) are tampered with. It seems as though, that Junot Diaz is trying to expose the stereotype of Dominican Republic people and illustrate how this stereotype is often a misconception. I also feel that Diaz is trying to show that Trujillo was a real person, like Hitler, and did a great deal of damage to this culture. Many of us were never exposed to Trujillo and his torturous ways until this novel. I, personally, had never heard of him. I never knew that the Dominican Republic was bound by such a monarchist environment. I feel that in a way, Diaz is trying to let other cultures read about this isolated culture and understand that the Dominican Republic has went through much of the same turmoil that other nations have experienced.
Again, I really enjoyed this class with each and every one of you, and I wish you all the best in you finishing semesters.
-Brittany
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)