How we doing?

Hello my fellow blogroll group. I hope this semester is treating you well so far and that you are enjoying your time in Marlen’s class writing a bunch! I just wanted to see if there was anything that you guys would like to see me do that I’m not already doing? I try to comment on almost all of your posts and I’m more than willing to help with any inquiries on your writing so don’t be afraid to ask!

So far all of your writing is really impressive and I can see that you are all growing as writers which is AWESOME. Keep up the good work, I know it seems like a lot but it will be so worth it in the end!!!

 

So if you would like me to do anything just please comment to this posts and I will see what I can do 🙂

Just a reminder!

Hello Students! I just want to say how happy and thrilled I am with your writings so far! I have enjoyed reading them and can’t wait to see what else you will write about! My blog group in particular really excites me since many of you have traveled outside the US and have been reflecting on your experiences abroad. AWESOME! This is just a quick reminder that…

1. I can help you brainstorm ideas for papers/entries as well as help you to expand more on your thoughts and ideas. I however cannot proofread your blog entries or papers. If you need help with that kind of thing (which I do as well, I suck at grammar) I would suggest going to your universities writing center. As lame as you may think it is they can actually help you out a tremendous amount. After having Marlen I started going to the writing center to get my papers proofread, it made a huge difference between getting a B and an A on a paper. Also, don’t be afraid to ask Dr. Harrison for help!

2. You each will have to get in touch with me twice throughout the semester so I can consult you on assignments or anything regarding the course. If you would like to get in touch with me you can email me or just comment on my blog. I have to keep record so be sure you do this! I’m a busy girl and cannot track everyone down!

 

Other than that, really good job. I must say I’m impressed with all of you thus far. Keep up the good work!

Welcome 101 Students!!!

Hello! My name is Kirsten Wallace and I am one of the course assistants for English 101. I’m very excited to participate as a course assistant and will help out as much as I can! I took 101 with Dr. Harrison when he taught at IUP (Indiana University of Pennsylvania) which is where I currently go to school (one semester left woo hooo!). I absolutely loved his class and I’m sure you will too!! Upon starting college I always considered myself to be a mediocre writer. Where I went to high school we didn’t really focus on creative writing or all the different genres of writing out there. Most of the writing that was done was to prepare us for research or the SAT’s. So, coming into class I thought this is going to be so difficult! “How am I going to write all this stuff?!”.  But, let me reassure you it’s not as difficult as it looks. This class is going to open up your world to all the various types of writing genres and styles out there. Through your blog and other writing assignments you are going to be so surprised at how easy and…. dare I say it FUN writing can be. Think of this blog as your little outlet to the world where you can write about anything… and I mean ANYTHING you want! This is your chance to let that voice inside your head be heard (corny I know but true!). I quickly starting writing some of the best work I have ever written and I think it was because Dr. Harrison pushed me and our entire class to do our very best and be creative.

That being said, if I can offer up any words of advice they would be TO DO YOUR WORK! Even if english isn’t your strong point make sure you do all your assignments. Dr. Harrison is really easy going but he will know if you are slacking and that is unacceptable. Try your best and you shall succeed. Also, make sure you become friendly with the other members of your blog group, they are going to be reading your work and leaving comments so if you become friendly with them it will be good for peer editing and other assignments. Also it never hurts to make new friends. Don’t be afraid to try new things and experiment with writing. You are in college now, not high school which means that you can write about anything you want. Don’t be afraid to push boundaries. I loved writing about sex and drugs and things that were deemed “bad” because my whole life I was never allowed to write about those things. Also, if you need  help ask for it! there is nothing to be ashamed of if you need help or have writers block. Dr. Harrison, your classmates and the other course assistants are here to help so if you need anything just let us know!

I can be reached on my blog, through my emails which is kirstenwallace0319@gmail.com or in some cases my telephone.. if you would like my number please email me and I will give it to you! I will try my best to help you with whatever you need. I’m especially good at coming up with concepts and materials for upcoming writing projects!

If taken seriously this class can be one of the most rewarding and fun classes you will ever take in college! And you will be able to use the writing tools in the rest of your academic career!

Quiz- Calliope vs. Anais Nin

When comparing and contrasting the character of Calliope in Middlesex, and Anais Nin, the famous writer and star in the movie Henry and June, I can think of many similarities. First of all, they both represent the Feminist theory that we discussed in class. Anais Nin is a sort of the role model for feminist theory because a). She is a writer in a time where woman were strongly discouraged from doing anything other than get married and pop out children. b). She was writing erotica, writing about sex in a very explicit way which was new and different, especially from a woman’s stand point c) She herself was engaging in sexual activity with MANY people, because she figured if men can do it, why can’t a woman. All these things sort of define the feminist theory that woman try to break down social norms and rewrite rules. Anais Nin did just this, because of her books she opened the door for many other woman writers of her time, and helped open the door for woman in sexuality.

Calliope from Middlesex can arguable be considered the role model for queer theory and also feminist theory. Queer theory, obviously Calliope is not “normal” by the worlds view, she is both man and woman and eventually chooses to become a man, even after being raised a girl for the majority of her life. Her entire family history (desdemona and lefty being siblings) down to even her own parents, who were cousins, is all explained by queer theory. She is also considered a femminist because although she was raised a woman, she always thought like a man and even engaged in some relationships with woman, she even became a hooker at one point, which socially is looked down upon but she did it anyways. Even down to the act of her getting a sex change is sort of femmist because she broke the rules of being a woman, period.

In conclusion, I can see how they are similar for these reasons, I think I covered them all?

Henry and June… so far

So were are almost done watching the film Henry and June, and so far I have mixed reviews. First of all, the acting is not really strong. The only person throughout the entire movie I’m convinced of is Uma Thurman, as June. The two main characters, Henry and Anais aren’t really convincing, it’s like there saying the actions but not. The woman who plays Anais has good body language, and you can tell how she is feeling, but the delievery of her lines are weak. The man who plays Henry Miller is supposed to be this “bad ass” american writer, and other than sleeping around with Anais, I don’t get that vibe.

With that being said, the movie is supposed to be about Henry Miller and His wife, and their relationship with Anais. I don’t understand the complexity of their relationship, how they met etc. It’s explained but I’m still confused. Also, I don’t understand how Anais really fits into this, is she a friend, is he using her? I don’t know. Maybe if I researched a bit on Henry Miller I would understand, but just based on watching the movie I’m clueless.

What I like about the movie, well the sex scenes are all throughout the entire film. I wouldn’t say there neccesarily good ones, but they def. push buttons and I’m sure most people watching will continue to watch the film purely because of the sex. Also, I like Kevin Spacey’s character, even though he is only in the movie for a short period of time. I think they did a great job with set designs and costumes, while watching I felt like I was living in the 1930’s in France.

In all I don’t really understand how this movie is a representation of the monomyth of Anais, of her sexual awakening. I think the movie is just purely about relationships and affairs.

Poem-Middlesex

This is a limrick about Cal’s family

 

There once was a family with troubles

Brother and sister soon be lovers

They ran away from home

And came to this country all alone

But their secret stayed under the covers.

Poem-Color Purple

This is about Celie’s transformation from the begining of the novel until the end.

 

There once was a girl who thought

She was nothing, and people told her she was nothing

She was always left alone, abandoned

Left to discover this world on her own

A world where a man hits a woman

A world where father’s sleep with their daughters

A horrible world

She accepted it

“This is life”

But it wasn’t

Finally she met a woman

Who cared and loved her more than anyone

She showed her love was possible

And now she has faith, she feels love

And the color purple

Thoughts on Middlesex

So, we were asked to start reading middlesex the other day, and I am proud to announce that I am almost done with the book. I picked it up on a saturday and thought that the book was going to be well.. not interesting. To be quite honest I haven’t really liked any of the books we have read so far this semster, with the exception on the color purple. I picked it up and thought ok.. lets see how this goes. And I must say this book is SOO GOOD. Probably because it is a real messed up story, involves a lot of “queer theory” and just is written in a way where you wanna keep on reading.

The first chapter didn’t hook me in, but the second one did. From the begining talking about Desdemona and Lefty.. I was hooked. When they are introduced as siblings I think nothing of it.. but when the writer starts to mention how they have these “feelings” they cannot express I knew the book was getting good. Who ever call write a book about incest and do it well has my aproval. It is really interesting.

I like the whole story of the Stephandies.. cal not so much. I’m just at the part where she starts to assume she isn’t a girl… or has male traits. But the whole story of Desdemona and Lefty immigrating to Detroit, meeting Somurlina and Jimmy that whole story is so interesting I can’t put the book down. Really good so far, I can’t wait to finish it.

Color Purple

So for this blog entry I am going to do a mini movie review on the film thus far. We pretty much finished the film today but I still want to see the last few minutes. Basically I like the film. There were several points where I wanted to cry but I didn’t cause that would have been embarassing. I like how the movie transitions, in the begining its celie and nettie as children playing in the field. I didn’t expect to be total overwhelmed within the first few minutes of the film, but the most striken moment was when celie comes from behind the fields and you see that she is pregnant. At that point I knew that this movie was NOT going to sugar coat things. Although they did down play alot, but still from the very begining it sets the tone to celies horrible life.

I like all the characters, Whoppie Goldberg does a great job, although compared to her other work I was suprised. I always think Whoppie Goldberg=Sister act but in this movie she played a serious, physically and emotional tormented woman. I loved the actress who played Shug Avery, she fit the part so well. Also I was suprised to see Danny Glover, lets be honest I can’t remember the last movie he was in. In all I liked the choice of actors.

The song that Shug Plays for celie is stuck in my head after watching the movie! and woah! Oprah was in the film? if I’m not mistaking didn’t she go through the same things as a young woman just a different time period? idk. Also real clever the ending, that song made me wanna praise jesus, which I hardly ever want to do.

Blog #22

For my final project I intitally wanted to do a power point by myself, not that I wouldn’t want to work with anyone just I really don’t like group work, there is always someone who ends up doing most of the work(which is me) which makes me mad. Anyways, I also wanted to do my presentation in front of the entire class cause I took public speaking in high school and talking in front of people doesn’t phase me at all. I wanted to do my project probably on archetypes in fairy tales cause from all we learned that seemed to interest me the most… in the power point I kinda wanted to make a guess what archetype game out of famous movies, books etc. I thought it would be interesting. Now, I’m not entirely sure what I want to do. I didn’t like watership down at all so I have no interest doing something about that, nor do I have interest in doing anything with the color purple because that presenation the other day basically was amazing and really hit the nail on the head.

I’m open to working with people though who are actually going to do work!!! haha this sounds like an ad.