Writing Across Cultures

As we prepare for our trip around the world, there are a few issues to discuss. I'll be lumping these things together in class. 1. Technology (we've discussed this a bit, but here's the rest of it) 2. Gender (we'll continue to discuss this throughout the world) 3. Race (Race is really part of a larger idea concerning culture...that's what this course is about.) HOMEWORK: Please read Song of Solomon . Prepare to complete this novel by the time you return from the winter break. Take one of the ideas you wrote about today and flesh it out into an essay, poem, short story, play, comic strip, graphic-design poster, memoir, film, zine, etc.

Please consider the influence of Nietzsche's theories on "Jennifer Government" and your superhero comic books. More Nietzche to follow. Keep working on portfolio material and reading, research, etc. Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900) Some basic beliefs: The individual is important and can develop into something "super". The person able to reach this superior position is a " Superman "(ubermensche) The purpose of thinking is so that we can get along in the world. Nothing is objective. All is subjective. "There are no facts, only interpretations" Nietzsche created the concept of " transvaluation ": giving an old idea new significance. Most people belong to " the herd "; the herd mentality prevents people from creating new ways of thinking and acting. Being part of the herd makes for a dull life. The superman can resist the herd mentality and take control of his/her life; The superman is able to live for himself on his own ...

Please work on: 1. Portfolio 2. Research comic book culture/prepare speech 3. Read Jennifer Government

Please begin reading Jennifer Government . To start off, check out Max Barry's website here . To start off, please take the first 5 minutes of class to read the article: "Snap! Crackle! Plot!" by Roy Rivenburg. After reading, please respond in writing. Then, let's take a look at some advertising techniques. As you watch the slide show, please take notes about advertising strategies. Creative Advertising Techniques . What do you think? Then check out the 2010 Oscar award winning animated short film: Logorama . I think it captures the events in Jennifer Government pretty well. After viewing, let's respond. Please make a list of things you'd like to buy if you were given a blank check and the sky was the limit. Now annotate the list with brief explanations for why you want each item. --How much of what we buy is who we are? --How does what we buy help us connect, compare, or create homogeneous groups (hegemonies). --America: why are we ...

Work on your portfolio and comic book informational speech. The portfolio , like last time, should include a variety of class projects in various genres. Required pieces include: Trekkies film review, the television writing piece (see oct. 21 post) and the 1984/V for Vendetta piece (see Nov. 5 post). All other pieces and revisions or drafts of earlier portfolio work can be included in the portfolio as well. For a rubric check out the September 7 post. Also, begin researching your comic book subject. As stated below, you should find out a variety of information about your topic. The list is NOT limited to: The original author/artist The history of the comic The origin of the character The popularity of the comic The influence the comic had on society Major events and issues going on in society that might have affected how the comic was received or imagined Ideas for visual aides: Brochure Newsletter Flyer Powerpoint presentation Remember that visual aides are NOT your speech. They are u...

Please research any one of the following to give a short presentation (informational speech) to the class: Early comic book history & the Golden Age: 1. Comic books: "Famous Funnies" & Harry Wildenberg 2. Comic books/serials/tv/movies/lunchboxes: "Buck Rogers" 3. Comic books/serials/movies/lunchboxes: "Dick Tracy" 4. Comic books/serials/t.v/lunchboxes: "The Lone Ranger" 5. Comic books/serials/t.v./lunchboxes: "Flash Gordon" 6. Comic books: "Detective Comics" 7. Comic books: "Action Comics" 8. Comic books: "Marvel Comics" 9. Comic books: "Captain Marvel" 10. Comic books/animation/t.v./movies/lunchboxes: "Superman" 11. Comic books/animation/t.v./movies/lunchboxes: "Spiderman" 12. Comic books: Jack Kirby "King of Comics" 13. Comic books/animation/t.v./lunchboxes: "Archie" comics 14. Comic books: "Samuel Maxwell Iger" or "Jerry Iger" ...

Writing idea: using the packet handed to you last class, create a script for a graphic "novel" or "short story". Panels: Unless you are using a splash page (to include the title and writing/illustrating credits), most graphic novels use approximately 5-6 panels per page. When you set your script up, note that you should keep track of which panels (and how many) should be included on a page. The bigger the picture (more important the panel) the fewer panels you will likely have on the scripted page. After our test today, you will have some time to write and plan a script, if you'd like.

Below, please find various examples of how to interact with Orwell's novel. Examining some of this will also prepare you for the test on 1984 on Monday. Use any of the following genres to write: short story, poem cycle (at least 3 connected thematically poems or a poem in at least 3 parts), creative non-fiction, script, graphic novel script, or other. Use a quote from the book to write about our own situation/culture, etc. "People shouldn't be afraid of their governments; governments should be afraid of their people." -- V for Vendetta "Nearly all children nowadays were horrible. What was the worst of all was that by means of such organizations as the Spies they were systematically turned into ungovernable little savages, and yet this produced in them no tendency whatever to rebel agains tht ehdiscipline of the Party. On the contrary, they adored the Party and everything connected with it...it was a sort of glorious game to them." - 1984 , pg. 24. "You ...

Please check out and begin reading the novel: 1984. As you read, please take a look at any of these links: Having trouble understanding the book or you are lazy and cannot read the entire book and need to know what happens in a certain chapter? Look here . You have lost or forgotten your book and you want to read the text. Look here . An animated discussion (with George Orwell's voice, talking about his book). You'd like to see part of the film adaptation of the book with actor John Hurt as Winston. Look here for: Just the trailer . Part 1 of the film . Part II of the film . Part III of the film. Part IV of the film . Part V of the film . Part VI . You can find the other sections from Youtube. Some of the sections of the film have been deleted because of "copyright" -- or perhaps because the government doesn't want you to see them. Creative student films using 1984 as starting material. 1984 Postmodernism in 1984 (lecture). Famous essay: Shooting an Elephant (in...

Take one of your favorite shows and write about it. Your "writing" can be any of the following, the point is that the piece examine various issues and reflect a bit about how TV (this show in particular) influences our culture. 1. Create a documentary! With a camera or microphone, record peers and teachers attitudes about your show! 2. Non-fiction essay: you know how these things work now. Write one and reflect! 3. Poem 4. Short story 5. Play/movie/tv script (for TV script format look here .) Draft 1 due by the end of the week (no later than Monday, Oct. 26)

Love it or turn it off, TV has changed us. Look here for information about the history of TV. Take a few notes about TV history. Examine how TV has insinuated itself into American culture. Television Without Pity is a website that provides detailed recaps of select television dramas, situation comedies and reality TV shows, often by mocking them. In 2007 the site was purchased by the Bravo unit of NBC Universal. The site is notable for its wide usage of the word "snark" to describe its typical style of sarcastic review. The site's mascot is Tubeelzebub (a portmanteau of tube and Beelzebub - "Tubey" for short), a demonic television set replete with horns and a pointed tail. Please view the site: Television Without Pity . Read a few critiques. Try writing a critique of your own based on your favorite TV show list. Also take a look here. Greatest T.V. Controversies . Review these sites and make notes or brainstorm ideas for fiction/poetry, TV scripts, or non-ficti...

The original Star Trek, created by Gene Roddenberry, debuted in 1966 and ran for three seasons, following the interstellar adventures of Captain James T. Kirk and the crew of the Federation Starship Enterprise. These adventures were continued in an animated television series and six feature films. Four more television series were produced, based in the same universe but following other characters: Star Trek: The Next Generation, following the crew of a new Starship Enterprise set several decades after the original series; Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager set contemporaneously with The Next Generation; and Star Trek: Enterprise, set in the early days of human interstellar travel. Four additional feature films were produced, following the crew of The Next Generation, and most recently a 2009 movie reboot of the series featuring a young crew of the original Enterprise set in a parallel universe. Check here for the "official" Star Trek website. Some fans hav...

The portfolio is due today (Thursday, Oct. 8). While in the lab, please finish any last minute touches on your work. Proofread and prepare a 1-2 page reflection on your writing. Discuss each piece you select for the portfolio and explain what you feel still needs to be worked on, what you found to be working in the piece, and where you might want to take the project given a second or third draft and more time. If you turn in the portfolio early, check this blog--make sure you have read the appropriate articles, completed homework, etc. Continue reading and completing your non-fiction book. Finish this over the long weekend. Check out these clips. Use any of these ideas to create a poem, short story, non-fiction narrative, film, play/script, comic strip, etc. of your own: Captain Capitalism cartoon In Debt We Trust Maxed Out (2006) What Would Jesus Buy? - clip #1 What Would Jesus Buy - clip #2 Consumer Island (short) Consumerism - the musical Embodiment of the American Way (satire)...

You know it. You love it. It's the right thing to buy and will make your life complete. Welcome consumerism. Consumerism can be defined as the theory that a progressively greater consumption of goods is economically beneficial. We use the term also to refer to an attachment to materialistic values or possessions. Recently, it also refers to a movement seeking to protect and inform consumers by enacting laws that affect honest packaging, advertising, and safety and quality issues. Culturally, America is often blamed for rampant consumerism. Recently, the government encouraged Americans to "go out and buy" stuff to help the economy. But does this really help? And what is it doing to us as a hegemonic group of people and our culture? Please read the following articles and view the clips. For each article, jot down a brief summary of the article. Prepare to discuss the articles on Tuesday, Oct. 6. To hand in: write a question you want to ask about the points made by these au...

Your portfolio for WXC is due Oct. 8. Today, work on finishing your 2 (or more)drafts of writing. If you finish early you have various options. 1. Workshop with another friend who is also finished. 2. Revise and create a second draft of one or both of your 1st drafts. 3. Read your pop-culture book. 4. Take an idea from your pop-culture book and write a poem, creative essay, script, or short story involving the topic. 5. Work on your evaluation for this marking period. The Evaluation should be a 1-2 page (double spaced, 12 point font) discussion about what you did this marking period. It is SELF reflective. You do not need to whine, but examine what you surprised yourself with, what you liked about your writing, what you think you need more assistance on, etc. Talk about each piece of writing in specific terms (use literary language and vocabulary).

Earlier this past week, you were asked to respond to the question: "why did you choose the popular culture topic you did for your project?" this assignment should have been written down, typed preferably, and composed as a first draft. Thursday, you were asked to go through your journal and examine the various writing responses we have made regarding the reading assignments in class. Choose one of these journal entries and expand the article to create a first draft. Monday, we will be visiting the lab to do any of the following: 1. Finish your work. 2. Edit, strengthen, rewrite or revise these two pieces. 3. Read your pop culture book. 4. Research your pop culture topic. Please collect and record sites you use on your works cited page. 5. Complete the fictional letter exercise started in class. All your writing and research at this point should be kept in your portfolio. The portfolio will be collected and graded next week. In it you should have a variety of writing pieces. T...

For our course (and to prepare you for college), we will be conducting MLA/APA format and collecting resources and recording the sites and material that helps us conduct the appropriate research needed for a variety of writing assignments. To start us off, today in the library we will show you how to do this. With time remaining, please begin reading and researching your chosen book. Please keep the handout about responding as a personal/critical film analysis/and an open-ended analytic assignment. This is a sample and model for your own writing. Please read and keep this packet, as you will be able to refer to it later when you write your own creative work. Homework : Read your book. As you read, list questions, comments, or relevant information about topics that need to be examined further regarding your topic. This will prove helpful as you continue the writing exercises to come. Please bring your book with you to next class.

Link to the Pop culture webzine "Pop Matters." Read 1 FEATURE article, read 1 COLUMN article, and read 1 other article of your choice from music, to blogs, to books, to movies, to television, to any other article posted on the zine. For each article (3 total): 1 FEATURE, 1 COLUMN, 1 Personal Choice, please prepare the following: 1. Summarize the article. Be prepared to summarize the gist of the article to the rest of the class. Please make sure you note the author and title of the article. 2. Analyze the article. In your opinion is the article well written, correct, insightful, relevant, important, etc.? Then answer WHY? 3. Explain what drew you to read and analyze this article. Choose 1 of your three articles and prepare a "writing exercise" for it. 4. Suggest what might a writer do with this article. Why would the topic make a good subject, story, character, plot, setting, theme, genre, poem, non-fiction essay, play, film, editorial, performance art piece? How mig...

4 = Exemplary 3= Accomplished 2= Promising 1=Beginning/developing 0=Failed Exemplary: Thoroughly developed characters, plot, structure, conflict, theme, and setting. Uses vivid description, effective diction and word choice, tone or voice, POV, imagery, and compelling dialogue throughout portfolio. Uses a variety of effective literary devices. Writing can be considered “art,” effectively communicating issues central to the human condition. Has few errors in spelling punctuation, syntax, and usage. Work includes evidence of several revised drafts. Work included in portfolio reflects a wide range of styles and genres. There is more than ten full typed pages of new work. Uses lab and class time to full extent. Participates consistently and insightfully in class discussions. Accomplished: Well developed characters, plot, conflict, theme, and setting. Uses good description, diction, dialogue, voice, POV, imagery, etc. but work may not be as insightful or artfully constructed. Uses some lite...

Culture Scientists and Anthropologists define culture as learned behavior acquired by individuals as members of a social group. According to Edward Tyler in 1871: culture includes knowledge, belief, art, morals, law, custom and other capabilities or habits acquired by a group. Culture is a learned behavior. Culture is also used to refer to a highly cultivated person versed in art, philosophy, etc. Culture includes insignificant behavior such as behavior traits, etiquette, food habits, as well as refined arts of a society. Culture can also be considered as the sum total of human knowledge and acquired behavior of humankind. Habits or behavior is generally transmitted from members to the young or outsiders until the outsider is also an insider, part of the group. Language : common way of communication. Language is a system of verbal and nonverbal symbols used to communicate ideas. The study of these symbols is what is known as semiotics . Taboos : strict mores or behavior that is looked...