Writing Across Cultures

Today, we will continue watching Pan's Labyrinth . You should be prepared to write a response to the film, answering the question on the forum by March 1. Additionally, you should try to complete your reading of Into the Beautiful North by next week. We will conduct a discussion on key characters, motifs, themes, style, and so on Tuesday, March 5. As homework, please finish reading and answer questions on the handout given to you. HOMEWORK: Complete Into the Beautiful North ; Post a forum response to Pan's Labyrinth (due end of day on Friday).

Writers, directors, artists, etc. should be free to write about any time, culture, or subject. Part of our love for writing comes from the fact that we can write about anything. The more we utilize archetypal structures for plot, setting, and character, though, we can cross cultural boundaries and transform our own writing into something that resonates with the whole human race. For years, storytellers have used archetypes, just like the transformation archetype, to examine what it means to be human. As a writer you can utilize these archetypes when you write a story. The transformation or metamorphosis plot and character archetype can be summarized as follows: 1. The plot focuses on the protagonist's journey through a significant life-changing event or a change in one of the typical stages of human life. 2. The story concentrates on the nature of change and how it affects the protagonist. 3. The story starts with a transforming incident that propels the protagonist into a...

Please watch and take writer's notes on The Maya: Blood of Kings this morning. You may use what you learn to set a story, play, poem, fairy tale, film script, etc. in Mexican culture and history. After screening our documentary, please retire to the lab to learn about some Mexican actors/directors/screenwriters, read "Into the Beautiful North", or work on your portfolio projects. Mexican Film: 1. Go to Youtube and search for these directors/actors/screenwriters. Take a look at a few of their clips: • Gael García Bernal, actor/director The Motorcycle Diaries (2004, actor) Babel (2006, actor) The Science of Sleep (2006, actor) The Deficit (2007, director) Amores Perros (2000, actor) No (2012, actor) • Salma Hayek, actress Desperado (1995) Dogma (1999) Wild, Wild West (1999) Frida (2002, actress) Grown  Ups (2010) • Alfonso Cuarón A Little Princess (1995) Y Tu Mamá También (2001) Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004) Chil...

Please turn in your homework (see previous post for details). This morning please complete the following activities during period 1.  During period 2, please go to the lab to take notes on Mexican History.   Mexican History I. Two civilizations merge to form the Olmec civilization - 2000 b.c. Highlands: elaborate class structure, advanced architecture, settled Lowlands: primitive aboriginal group Social structure based on theocracy Priests acted as representatives of the gods; (distributed land, sponsored trade) The Olmec civilization settles in the Maya highland of southern Mexico (Mayans) Peaceful until about 750 A.D. Fall of capital city of Teotihuacan and other Mayan centers By 900, the golden age of pre-Columbian civilization ends II. Toltec Centered around the city of Tula People were more militaristic and warlike Society was organized around rigid government control and human sacrifice By the 13th century the Toltecs had dispersed. III....

Today we will end of tour of South America. Please slip down to the library to do the following: 1. During period 1, please pick up the book "Into the Beautiful North" and begin reading it either alone or in small reading groups. Please, please, please: if you are in a reading group, the purpose of this time in the library is to read. Please read with your partners, not discuss off-topic issues. Save that for lunch or other periods, like math or science. 2. Complete the handout questions to turn in by TUESDAY, Feb. 12. During period 2, please complete this assignment: Take a look at some of these links--the countries we did not cover in South America specifically. Other South American countries: Guyana is probably best known in our own popular culture as being the site of the Jonestown massacre. Here's a clip . A reminder that the profession of journalism carries with it a responsibility. Venezuela Popular culture: The Holy Thugs of Venezuela (short doc...

We will finish the play today. Please respond to the forum question by Friday. For those of you needing deadlines: By now you should have a draft (or at least by the end of this week) of your magical realist story. Our next writing project will have to do with South American culture as we conclude our unit and move to Central America (primarily Mexico). Please return any books we are no longer using or that you have borrowed to the library. For those of you curious, here is the entire film of Royal Hunt of the Sun (1969) with Christopher Plummer. HOMEWORK: Respond to the forum question by Friday.

Today we will read Shaffer's Royal Hunt of the Sun. Please select one of the roles to read as part of your class assignment. HOMEWORK: If we don't finish the play reading in class, please complete it for Wednesday. Respond to the play on the forum.