Writing Across Cultures

If you completed your test questions for Fun Home , please submit these now. Open book exam questions are due today. No late work accepted after announcements. Please upload your files to our Google Classroom or turn in by hand/or printed in the in-box today. Before our discussion on the novel (look! a synthesis!), please take 15 minutes to read the following short articles on the book and note your reaction/thoughts about the articles: Freshmen Skipping Fun Home for Religious Reasons  in  The Chronicle  by Claire Ballentine Duke Freshmen Boycott Acclaimed Graphic Novel:  in  The Daily Dot , written by Aja Romano The Duke Freshmen  by Jacob Brogan Listen Up Duke Freshmen  by Emily Shire for T he Daily Beast At 7:50, we will discuss  Fun Home . Here are the discussion questions: Were the Duke freshmen justified in refusing to read  Fun Home ? Discuss. Consider "safe spaces" on college campuses...you'll be there soon. Share y...

Today, please watch the following videos at the links. Then, post a COMMENT in the COMMENT section of this blog (below) about a film, novel, or tv show that does not pass the Bechdel test. Explain why this may be an issue of concern or problem. If it's not, why not? Then explain what the Bechdel test is (what are its rules, for example) and why it might be important when examining pop culture, media, or literature? Feel free to comment on the linked videos. The Bechdel Test Analyzing the Bechdel Test in 21st Century Narratives The Bechdel Test vs. The Mako Mori Test Female Characters in Games (video game writing)  &  Race in Games LGBT Cartoon Character Analysis (video) With the rest of the class period today, please continue reading Fun Home and use the book to answer the following questions as a "take-home" quiz (due Thursday, see homework). Fun Home : discussion questions: An "artificer" is a skilled craftsman/craftsperson or inventor...

Period 1: After attendance, please go to the library this morning to pick up our next graphic novel: Fun Home by Alison Bechdel. Then attend the assembly for Black Lives Matter. Have a good Feb. break! Race Unit Preview:  My Descent into America's Neo-Nazi Movement - And How I Got Out - TedX, by Christian Picciolini. Read  Fun Home  for next Tuesday, Feb. 26 .  As you read, consider the hegemonic group or classification of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, et al. Queer : the quality or trait marked as odd or strange; also any expression that can be labeled as contra (against), non (not), or anti (against) straight, heterosexual images, representation, etc. As you read, consider how the book represents LGBTQ identity, and how the author's "memoir" is an effective "queer" (see definition above) representation. Check out the link below as well and read about queer critical theory and the author. Practice this critical lens as you read Bechdel...

Today, we will continue reading the short story "Wilderness Tips". Margaret Atwood's Poetry: You Fit Into Me... You fit into me like a hook into an eye  a fish hook an open eye This is a Photograph of Me The Animals in that Country Habitation Spelling Poetry Prompt:   Please read Andrew Varnon's poem: "Be My Sherpa", Then, write your own love (or anti-love) poem as your post assignment on your blog. You might find it helpful for your brainstorming to: List objects, ideas, associative words on a page Find random words in a dictionary or thesaurus and write them down (the more random the better) Find a random article from the internet and select a variety of words and include them on your list Listen to snippets of conversation and select random words from what you hear and write them down Then use a stem prompt like: Be my... I love you like... You're my... You're not my... Don't be my... Use any time left in ...

Use period one to continue the story draft you started last class. Use your time to develop your ideas, theme, work on plot, character development, setting, and other aspects of your fiction writing. Remember, your story should include the following: Write a draft that includes a flashback . Consider an urban setting, but at some point in your story, move to a more natural setting. The setting should reflect the inner conflicts of your protagonist if possible. Avoid character cliches: surprise your reader (and possibly yourself or even your character) Include a secondary character who should act as a foil to the protagonist. Write in present tense ; (flashbacks can be written in past tense); Use 3rd person POV (limited, omniscient, objective). See the previous post for more details. Period 2: Let's discuss what we've read so far in the collection. Wilderness Tips is   Margaret Atwood’s second volume of short stories ( Bluebeard’s Egg and Other Stories (198...

Period 1: Please read the rest of the article "How to Look At Women" starting with the end of the first section. Afterward, please read "Hairball" together in your Wilderness Tips collection. Atwood's style generally takes a character's past issues (used often through flashback sequences), problems, situations and details them. This is then juxtaposed with the present. Present scenes are written in present tense. Try this style in your own story. 1. Choose a protagonist. Get to know your protagonist by taking this quiz . Write your answers in your notes/journal. Use the details here in places in your story to allow your reader time to get to know the character better. 2. Use at least two flashbacks to examine backstory and character development. Each time you flashback, we should go further in-depth about what we find out about that character. Often this can be a secret or some deeply hidden desire, dream, or wish. Each flashback should complicate ...

Period 1: Misogyny in Video Games.  Please watch the following videos and read the article "Your Princess Is In Another Castle". Use the source material to write a reflective essay/article on your position regarding this important issue about the misogyny of video games & digital media. You may, like Anita Sarkeesian, film a vlog post or create a Podcast and upload on your blog your own critical review on the topic. [You may work collaboratively on this project!] Your Princess is in Another Castle  (article) - Arthur Chu Damsel in Distress, Part 1  (video; parts 2 & 3 can be viewed as well...) - Anita Sarkeesian Women As Reward - Feminist Frequency  (video) - Anita Sarkeesian Not Your Exotic Fantasy - Feminist Frequency  (Sexist, Racist Tropes in Video Games, video) - Anita Sarkeesian Writing Ideas: Choose a video game you have played and examine the roles of male and female characters. Write an essay in which you reflect on the issue (use g...