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.

The Hyphen: A hyphen is a single - mark on the keyboard. It is located between to the 0 and the = key. The hyphen is used to join two words together and to sep-ar-ate syllables in a single word. Hyphenated words can be tricky in English, so look up a word if you aren't sure it should be hyphenated. Do NOT USE hyphens as DASHES (see below). When to use it?: Compound verbs are either hyphenated or appear as one word. If you do not find the verb in the dictionary, hyphenate it. Example: To air-condition the school will be expensive. Usually (not always), we hyphenate when two or more adjectives are used in a sentence when they come before a noun and act as a single idea. Example: friendly-looking woman, grumpy-sounding teacher. When adverbs not ending in -ly are used as compound words in front of a noun, hyphenate. If the combination is used after the noun, do not hyphenate. Example: The well-known poet accepted his award. Most of the time we use a comma, not a hyp...

llamas overlooking Machu Picchu Work on the lab this morning (40 minutes) to continue writing your Magical Realist story. For those of you who need a deadline, please write your story draft (1st draft, etc.) by Monday, Feb. 4. A short story does not have to be long. In fact as long as the story is compelling, it can be as short as a page. Many magical realist stories are longer due to the establishment of setting and character. But if you recall the works of Julio Cortazar or Borges or any of the short stories we have read for South America, you might get the right kind of length for your draft. Don't sweat it. A good story is a good story--no matter the length. At the end of period one, please read the following about Peru and the Incas . As you read, open another tab and listen to some Peruvian pan flutes ... Then we will pick up The Royal Hunt of the Sun by Peter Shaffer and return to room 238 to begin reading it together in class.  HOMEWORK: More information ...

During period one, you will take a test on 100 Years of Solitude. Those of you finishing before the end of period one, should read the Peruvian story "Los Papas" and complete the questions (HOMEWORK). After our test and discussion on 100 Years of Solitude , please go to the lab and begin writing your own magical realist story draft. (Some of you have started this already.) Use the setting exercise we did last marking period and establish a story that has a specific magical realist setting. Use details and description to present the reader with "real" settings and characters. Start out your story with one of the graphic organizers, if you need one. Consider the major plot events that will occur over the course of your story. Plan as much as you can, knowing that you can always change your mind or redirect your focus as you are writing. Obviously, you will want to play around with some of the techniques common to magical realist stories. Having trouble? 1. M...

Chile & Peru Cesar Vallejo : Peru Poems: Masa (Mass) Black Stone on Top of a White Stone Black Messengers Under the Poplars Tiempo, Tiempo (spanish) Pablo Neruda : Chile Tonight I Can Write the Saddest Lines morning And Now You're Mine Bird Lemon Ode to the Onion Pablo Neruda documentary (part one, you can find the other parts online)

Other South American countries: Please use the fact and opinion sheet to research the culture of any TWO countries below. Hand this in when we are done with the assignment (TBA). 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 documentary film) Miss Universe 2012: Irene Esser Paraguay Uraguay Bolivia Suriname French Guiana The Falkland Islands

Today, please use the time given to you to prepare and work on your portfolio. Portfolios are due Friday. No late portfolios will be accepted. Remember that you will need a reflection, your comic-book script (and at least 1 page illustration), and a revision in your portfolio. You may begin working on any of the assignments/prompts we've been working on. A magical-realist story WILL be due in the next portfolio, so if you have the time and inclination, please work on that as well. HOMEWORK: Please continue to read 100 Years of Solitude . Black History poem drafts are due by Friday as well. These assignments are extra credit. There is no mid-term in this class.

Concrete poetry (also called shape or visual poetry)uses the typographical arrangement of words to convey an effect. Here are a few examples in English: Noigandres : a group of Brazilian writers/artists Augusto & Haroldo de Campos , Décio Pignatari , Ronaldo Azeredo, Ferreira Gullar and Wlademir Dias Pino who used words as part of a visual work to allow the words and arrangement of the letters to become part of the poetry, rather than just unseen signifiers for the abstract idea. Augusto de Campos: Manifesto on Concrete Poetry  (several examples of de Campos' concrete poems ) HOMEWORK: Please continue to read 100 Years of Solitude. Work on your portfolio. Complete your comic book scripts. Use your setting exercise to write a magical realist story (due next portfolio, but you can start a draft--over mid-term week, you will be writing a draft anyway). Extra Credit: write an inspiring poem for Black History. More poems: Name Calling  The Gospel of B...

1st Period: The Lab 2nd Period: Brazil Use your time wisely and effectively. Work on your portfolio during 1st period. You may also spend your time reading 100 Years of Solitude . By the end of this week (Friday), please read up through pages: 289 or 313. You should aim to complete the novel by Wednesday of next week, January 16.  Please read a little about Brazil (see links below). Take notes about some of the details you find so that you can share your thoughts with the class next period. Portfolios are due January 18. No late portfolios will be accepted this marking period. Your portfolio should include a reflection, at least one revision of a previous work, and a comic book script & 1 illustrated page in addition to other exercises and work we have completed.  Brazil Brazil : has a long and interesting history and culture. Information about Brazil can be found here . And this clip shows you a bit of what it looks like. Please read about the following ...

Setting exercise:  When you juxtapose the various pictures into a common culture, you may wish to remember that when we talk about culture we are talking about: behavior traits, etiquette, food habits, as well as refined arts of a particular society.  Habits or behavior 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 down upon in a culture (usually sexual)  Regardless of culture, all cultures include: a primary means of subsistence a primary family a system of kinship a set of rules of social conduct religion (belief) material culture (tools, weapons, clothing)  forms of art When you design your setting, please keep these elements in m...

Today, after our setting exercise and discussing the first part of the novel 100 Years of Solitude , please make your way to the lab to work on portfolio items and/or your setting magical realism story. HOMEWORK: Please continue to read 100 Years of Solitude . If you did not make it through the first 131 pages, please begin again on page 132 and continue. Please read up to page 153 for next class.

When we write we should be trying to make a point or explain an observation about the human condition as it relates to ourselves and our characters or fictional world. In 100 Years of Solitude the themes of time and solitude (isolation) (see previous posts) are central to understanding the point of this book. By considering these themes, we, as readers and students, can at least try to grasp what Marquez is trying to teach or tell us about ourselves as human beings. Ah, the power of literature! The novel's central theme is solitude or human isolation. The Buendia Family, as our protagonists, represent the human condition. Protagonists usually represent the common man or woman (Everyman). Critics have noted that the Beundias "are solitary individuals living together as strangers in the same house. As such, they personify the predicament of the human race." Other themes include fate . An individual in this book is not free to control his/her own destiny....

Please use your time in the lab today to read about Colombia (from the previous posts), as well as the material posted below. It is important to actually read this information concerning the book, as it will help clarify some key problems students often have when approaching this text. After reading and checking out these links, you may spend your lab time reading, working on your comic book script or completing some work for your portfolio. Use your time in the lab effectively. Authors often use a well designed or imagined fictional setting for many of their stories. A writer who writes a series of work in a specific place is called a "regional writer." Stephen King's Castlerock, Ray Bradbury's Green Bluff, Illinois, and Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha county are examples. Like Dorothy, you don't need to look beyond your back door for an interesting setting--but you may want to. Macondo is draws from García Márquez's childhood town, Aracataca . Aracata...

Today, let's examine and chat about Borges' work, do a few quick writing exercises, pick up our next novel from the library, and go up to the lab to research and take notes on Colombia & Argentina, and write creatively in our portfolios. Colombia (basic information) A unique culture of Spanish culture and other mixed cultures, Colombia is bordered by the Pacific Ocean were their traditions are diverse, with a broad group that have unique customs, accents, social patterns, and cultural adaptations. These groups are classified into three cultures: those in the interior, the countryside, and the coastal regions. Modern Colombian music is a mixture of African, native Indigenous and European (Spanish) influences, as well as more modern American and Caribbean musical forms, such as Trinidadian, Cuban, and Jamaican. The official language is Spanish, which was imposed during the colonial period. All Colombians speak it except some of the indigenous populations ...