Writing Across Cultures

100 Years of Solitude: Characters! The complexity of this book lies within its characters. If you are having trouble keeping them all separated and distinct while you are reading, take a look at some of these details to help you: Third Genertion: Arcadio  is José Arcadio's illegitimate son by Pilar Ternera.   He is a schoolteacher who assumes leadership of Macondo after Colonel Aureliano Buendía leaves and becomes a tyrannical dictator. When the Liberal forces in Macondo fall, Arcadio is shot by a Conservative firing squad. Aureliano José  is the illegitimate son of Colonel Aureliano Buendía and Pilar Ternera.  He joins his father in several wars before deserting to return to Macondo. He deserted because he is obsessed with his aunt, Amaranta, who raised him since birth. The theme of incest is a motif in the book. We might consider "incest" insolation from outside or marginal cultures. Aurenliano Jose is eventually shot to death by a Conservative captain mid...

Period 1: we will complete The   Royal Hunt of the Sun by Peter Shaffer. Period 2 (ish): We will give our presentations (speeches first...) Ecuador: Jesziah Venezuela: Jenna Suriname: Akhiyar Bolivia: Pahz Paraguay: Kyla Panama: Alquasia Honduras: Joshua Guatemala: Isobel Costa Rica: Kemani Trinadad & Tobago (islands): Raeona Belize: Turon HOMEWORK: Complete your reading of 100 Years of Solitude . Take notes! There will be a test and discussion on the book when we return. See posts for details and help with the book if you need it. Post Colonialism Criticism Audiobook, Part 2 Crash Course: 100 Years of Solitude, Part 1 (with John Green) Crash Course: 100 Years of Solitude, Part 2 Have a nice winter break! Rest, read, repeat...

Period 1: We will continue to read  Royal Hunt of the Sun. Period 2ish: Please work on your South and Central American Culture documentary projects/research or your writing/workshops with time remaining in class. 100 Years of Solitude Notes: Macondo is drawn from García Márquez's childhood town,  Aracataca . Aracataca is located near the north (Caribbean) coast of  Colombia , 80 km South of  Santa Marta . Macondo was originally the name of banana plantation and literally means "banana" in the  Bantu  language. In June 2006, the people of Aracataca organized a referendum to change the name of the town to Aracataca Macondo. Although the  yes  vote won, the referendum failed because of lack of voters and Aracataca kept its traditional name. The town first appears in García Márquez's short story "Leaf Storm" but he uses the setting in many of his works. An author that uses the same setting for his/her stories is a regional writer ....

Period 1: Please work on your South and Central American Culture documentary projects/research or your writing/workshops this morning. Your rubric: A: You present your work in a creative way, perhaps even in an entertaining but informative manner. Your research clearly informs your work with significant and interesting details about your culture. Your presentation is polished, well-delivered, and you appear knowledgeable about your topic, going above the typical research of your peer group in thoroughness or creativity. You are able to answer questions posed by your classmates to enhance their learning. Overall, an excellent/exemplary job! B: You present your work, allowing the digital or visual elements and speech you wrote to carry the meaning of your presentation. Your research is accurate and significant in teaching us about your researched culture. Some gaps in your research or speech weaken your presentation. You may be able to answer some/basic questions about your resea...

This morning, complete the material on Jeremy Benthem's philosophy. Please take a quick look at Nicaragua and the short story. Guyana and the Jonestown Massacre . Then use the time until 8:30 to continue your country research and presentation project. Aim to complete this project and deliver your presentation by Thursday, Dec. 19. You may also use this time to write and respond to peers in your writing workshops. At 8:30, we'll pick up the play The Royal Hunt of the Sun by Peter Shaffer concerning the Spanish invasion of Peru and the Incas. HOMEWORK: Keep reading 100 Years of Solitude . (Aim for pg. 262 by end of the week) Bring your play scripts back with you to our next class.

Magical Realism: After taking notes, pair up and examine the first 131 pages for examples of magical realism. Turn in your notes at the end of period 1.  When you are done with your analysis, you may work on your research or writing for your portfolio/workshop. For those who would like or need it: Audiobook: 100 Years of Solitude Period 2: We'll read the rest of the Brazil lit from the packet. Then use the remaining time to work on our projects/writing, etc. HOMEWORK: Keep reading 100 Years of Solitude .

Workshop/Research: Period 1: This morning, please continue your workshopping (or writing drafts--see previous posts for ideas/prompts) or research your chosen country: Ecuador: Jesziah Venezuela: Jenna Guyana & French Guiana Suriname: Akhiyar Bolivia: Pahz Paraguay: Kyla Uruguay Panama: Alquasia Costa Rica Nicaragua Honduras: Joshua Guatemala: Isobel Trinadad & Tobago (islands): Raeona Belize: Turon Use your research notes to create a voice-over script for a film project (documentary), podcast, or use the notes to write your speech for your live presentation (like a TedX talk) Misha Glenny Ted Talk Presentation Example/Model: Brazil (14 min.) Period 2: (25 min.) Reading/Writing: Brazil short stories. From 8:20-8:45: Moacyr Scliar's "Agenda of Executive Jorge T. Flacks for Judgment Day" Prompt: create a "schedule" or "agenda" for an important event in the lives of your protagonist or for an entire nation/culture, ...

Period 1: (30 min.) This morning, please select one of the following countries to study (see handout to sign up for a country): Ecuador Venezuela Guyana & French Guiana Suriname Bolivia Paraguay Uruguay Panama Costa Rica Nicaragua Honduras Guatemala Trinadad & Tobago (islands) Belize Research your chosen country and examine its culture to present a short presentation to the class. Your presentation may be a documentary (short film), podcast, or speech/presentation. More details will follow, but you want to research and find out about the culture of your chosen place. This information may lead you to find an appropriate setting for your magical realist story draft (details will be discussed soon).  Culture may include: technology, economics, music, visual art, dance, theater or film, writers, leisure/sports, games, media, architecture, traditions, myths, beliefs, government, education, popular culture of the country, food, fashion, and so on. As yo...