Writing Across Cultures

This morning in our lab, continue your cultural settings narrative. Review the last few class agendas for links, advice, and prompting questions that you may have ignored. When you get stuck in your narrative, go back to brainstorming and work your way out. We will be returning to the classroom for a little while, so copy your file, print it, etc. and finish it on your own time. It is not due until you turn in your marking period 1 portfolio (likely October 11). If you don't want to write this morning, read The Stone Gods . This Sunday at 3:00 is the BOA reading with Li Young Lee. Read some of his poetry as an introduction. More can be found here . If you are attending, please arrive by 2:45. During period 2, return to the classroom 238. We will conduct a discussion and analysis of the first part of The Stone Gods . Get into discussion groups, talk, and complete the analysis questions. Hand the notesheet in by the end of period 2. HOMEWORK: Please read The Stone Gods (par...

To begin class today, please gather your notes for your setting project and look through them. If you need to, share your notes with another willing writer and respond to each other's setting or ideas. Brainstorm possible stories that could take place in the setting you have created. As a partner, try to ask some questions that do not seem clear to you as a listener or reader. Then exchange places with your partner and share again. If you feel you are not yet ready for this step, look through your own notes alone. Spend the first half of the first period in this activity. After 15-20 minutes, begin fleshing out a story or narrative. Consider: Who will be my protagonist? What does my protagonist wish to accomplish? Name a few goals my protagonist might need to meet. What makes my protagonist unique or likable?  What flaws or mistakes or bad decisions has my protagonist made in the past? How have these mistakes or decisions affected his/her life in the present? Who or ...

This morning, after reading the article, please review the class's  Cultural Padlet . You may use any of these ideas as minor or major conflicts in any story or poem you write this marking period. Yes, you can even use this for your poetry class, if you are in need of a cultural conflict. This morning during 2nd period you will be taking the timed test on 1984 . During period 1, please begin brainstorming or fleshing out a plot, character list, or coming up with an idea for a story, play scene, poetry cycle, or script in which you use your cultural setting as a backdrop for the plot and character action. Refer to previous posts to flesh out your cultural setting. If you get stuck, go back to brainstorming and developing. Once you have an idea how to move forward, begin your project using the setting you created to complete a narrative draft. A few of you have asked about comic book scripts. Here's a helpful site to help you with that format.  And another one . We will b...

After our morning reflection/article, please attend to the following cooperative task. There are a variety of cultural problems that you can imbed into your stories, poems, or scripts (or essays) to build conflict. If we start with the basic types of conflict in literature, they include: Human versus Human Human versus Nature Human versus self Human versus the Divine Taken in a cultural context, gather in groups of 2-3 this morning and discuss the various ways in which conflict rises from culture. You may consider such broad areas as economics, health, religion, government, laws, taboos, education, art, entertainment, technology, geography, social institutions, trade and commerce, cuisine, or any other topic you think relevant. Make sure members of your group contribute to your list. Then create a graphic depiction of your brainstorming list. Use padlet as a way of gathering/presenting your ideas. The link is here: http://padlet.com/wall/wtt5hxsn33 Read the article: Diff...

Use the lab this morning to work on your original cultural setting. Your task, again, is to create an unique setting in which to set a story, much in the same manner as George Orwell or other science fiction/fantasy, historical fiction, etc. authors do. Keep your notes, not only for your story, but also to turn in with the completed project. Use your class notes to help you brainstorm ideas. Your setting will require you to consider key cultural aspects such as traditions, history, art or artifacts, religion, government, economics, cuisine, entertainment, language, and a whole host of other ideas. Apart from Patricia Wrede's world building questions , take some time in the lab to look for more ideas for world building, take a look at World Building from Television Tropes . For fantasy, this article may help ( Creating a Realistic Fantasy World ), and advice from writer Victoria Strauss . If you are having trouble coming up with an idea, try an alternate history . Here's...

This morning, please gather in the small groups where you share the same cultural topic on 1984. You will discuss your notes and examples, then wait for further instructions on how to share this information with the rest of the class. After our activity, we will be moving up to the lab to complete the following tasks: 1.  let's try some of our own planning to create our own culture.  Science Fiction and Fantasy writers often have to create a culture that is at once creative and original, and also cohesive. A reader of sci-fi/fantasy needs to feel as though the author has created a unique world in which to set a story. Even if you aren't interested in writing sci-fi/fantasy, other forms of writing demand this sort of skill. Historical fiction, magical realism, and satire, for example, are just a few popular choices. So, too, is the genre of horror and, or course, dystopian fiction. Even realist writers (any novelist really) needs to be able to balance a fictional world s...

This morning we will attend the Rights & Responsibilities assembly. If we have any time after this event, we will come back to the room and begin discussing 1984. HOMEWORK: Continue reading Part 2 of 1984. Pg. 104-179 for Friday. Complete the "note" section for your handout (1984, Cultural Elements)

Coming Attractions: Wednesday we will be attending a Rights/Responsibilities assembly. Please be on time. Class starts at 8:05. Bell Work: We will begin class reading a short article and responding to the essay in our journals. Throughout this course, we will encounter various texts and use a response technique such as brainstorming, freewriting, cave drawing, or mind mapping. Our goal is to strike something that causes us to create a written response in any genre of creative writing: a short story, a poem, a poem cycle, an essay, a memoir, a song, a film, a script, a comic, or any other written form. Let's cover some of the important culture vocabulary we missed Thursday. See post and handout below for details. What hegemonic groups can we use to our advantage when selecting an audience for our writing? Let's discuss. Group Work/Collaboration: After discussing and learning key vocabulary, each of you please take one of the 1984 questionnaire sheets. Spend 10-15 minute...

Let's define  culture . What is culture? In your own words, describe this term. Share your response with a partner. Now, let's read about "Cultural Studies." What sticks out for you as important or interesting in this article? Much of our class will use this technique to brainstorm ideas for stories, poems, plays, films, non-fiction and other writing projects. The fundamental idea of this course is to use our research and responses to a variety of topics to inspire our artistic impulses. Secondly, it is a course that urges the artist to depict him or herself in relation to or as the other. We will be examining power structures and hegemonic cultural groups in relation to each other, using this topic to reach a more universal and engaged POV about our own selves, our own cultures, and the world audience itself. This course is a literature course, a course in ideas, as well as a practice from which to write and capture authentic voices. You will be allowed in man...

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 mo...

Welcome class of 2014 to our classroom blog. Check here each class period for agendas, deadlines, educational information, advice, and a whole lot of links to enhance your education. All you have to do is read and click. Any material and links or articles posted here are fair game when it comes to unit tests. You will be using this blog throughout this course. If you're absent or missed something in class, please check the blog to get caught up. As stated above, each new class period includes a new post. If you have a question about an assignment and are too embarrassed to speak to me in public (or you have a question that you think you will forget to ask), feel free to use the comment section. On our link page is a link to our  Creative Writing Forum . You will be expected to use the forum to discuss the major reading and thematic topics in this course. Electronic forums save paper. You are keeping the world green by posting responses and reflections there.

Before you graduate, please make sure all your work in turned in. All written projects and assignments are due by the end of the day. Good luck to all of you during finals and into graduation. Have a great summer! It's been a pleasure. I came across this video the other day and since we discussed the generation gap in class, thought it might be a good ending to the class: Millennials in the Workplace .

Located at the southern tip of Africa's great continent, South Africa, originally a Dutch colony (an important harbor--the Cape of Good Hope, later Cape Town). Later the discovery of diamonds ultimately lead to the Boer wars (as the Dutch, French, English, German, etc. battled over control of the area). White minority privilege caused strife as only about 4.5% of the rich, white ruling class had control of government policy. This lead to Apartheid (see below) which you have probably studied in Global. Here is some brief information about South Africa: South Africa Government Site and key issues the government is dealing with (a good place to look for ideas for conflict!) South African History: The Apartheid South African writers: Lionel Abrahams Peter Abrahams Nadine Gordimer Music of South Africa South African Arts Cinema of South Africa

China Tour (video) Information about China This is China (promotional documentary) Government The Ka-Cing Dynasty (Documentary) CrossTalk: China's Century (economics documentary) Religion Confucianism (The Analects) Literature The Misty Poets ( Bei Dao ) Chinese American poet: Li-Young Lee ( "Eating Alone" ) Contemporary Chinese Poets Film: Sixth Generation Jackie Chan Jackie Chan from Mulan Theatre: Cao Yu (play Thunderstorm , adapted into the film Curse of the Golden Flower ) Music: Harlem Yu Chinese Hip-Hop: Yin T'sang Don't Worry (hip hop video) Big Bird in China & Rubber Ducky Chinese food in America versus Chinese food in China

After our quiz, let's chat about Japan. Japanese News Traditional Japanese "Noh" Theater Hiroshi Kawasaki (poet) Japanese Pop Music Sumo: cultural pastime Japanese literature and history is divided into various periods (based largely on who was controlling the country): Nara Period (710-794 A.D. or C.E.) Japanese literature traces its beginnings from an oral tradition that later used a writing system introduced from China. Most of this literature from the eighth century was created as governmental projects. The Kojiki ( Record of Ancient Matters ) and Nihon shoki (Chronicle of Japan) are really an anthology of myths, legends, stories, and history (much like the Western Bible, but without the religious significance). The most brilliant literary product of this period was the Man'yoshu (Collection of Ten Thousand Leaves), an anthology of 4,500 poems written by a variety of people ranging from peasants and commoners to emperors and nobility (c...

Okay. So some of you have been bugging me about commas. While you should have learned this by now (or looked it up) sometimes it takes a little more practice. So: Commas are used to separate a series of words or phrases. In writing (as in comedy) we usually adhere to the rule of three. Three objects or examples are separated by commas and a conjunction. You may use more in a series, but three is usually the best number: Birds, bees, and trees.  Actors, dancers, and creative writing majors.  She danced a jig, made a macaroni necklace, and ran a marathon all in one day! Commas are used for coordinating adjectives . If you use two adjectives to describe a noun (and if a conjunction fits nicely between the words), you use a comma between them: He was a tired, weary man. (He was a tired AND weary man.) She was a nice, courteous teacher. (She was a nice AND courteous teacher.) Use a comma to join two or more independent clauses (sentences that can stand on their own ...

Well, here we are running around the world in a frenzy. Our last few classes will be devoted to covering as much of the globe as possible. As such, there are some prompts and poets and authors that we will read. There's really nothing we need to do with this material other than enjoy it. There comes a time in education and learning that it does a world of good to simply go back to enjoying something without having to build a lesson from reading or analyzing it. With that said, there's a wealth of knowledge at your fingertips here. I cannot make you care about the world you live in, but it is my hope that you spend some time reading, watching the videos, clicking the links, and thinking about the art and culture posted below and above. If you happen to not be here next class, please note the following: 1. I will be posting information about China, Korea, and Japan between today's class and next. Please review the material and read the packets given to you in class on ...

India Rich vs. Poor (documentary) India's Caste System (student project) Mahatma Ghandi: God is Life speech Ghandi (trailer) India & Pakistan Gain Independence: Short Documentary (real footage) Indian Independence: 1947, August 15, midnight ( Midnight's Children ). Bollywood: Nightline documentary Bollywood: best song/dance of 2005 Bollywood: best song of 2009 Hinduism (documentary), part one A scene from Peter Brooks' film: The Mahabharata ( The Bhaghavad Gita ), 1989 The very excellent (and funny) animated film (entire film): Sita Sings the Blues , 2009 Vegetable Biryani: Cooking Show Sample Indian Hip Hop George Harrison's sitar lesson with legendary musician Ravi Shankar

Eastern and Western traditions of thought have intersected throughout the ages, yet these cultures continue to influence each other. What is Western Thought and what is Eastern Thought? There are differences between the East and the West in the approach to answer the question: what is the meaning of life? Eastern religion would include the following types: • Hinduism • Buddhism • Taoism • Confucianism • Sikhism • Jainism • Islam (“near East”) • Ba’hai While philosophy differs from China to Japan to India to Tibet to Afghanistan, (etc.), there are some similarities that Eastern Philosophy shares. They are: 1. Generally, Eastern philosophy is more concerned with the whole and the cosmic than Western philosophy, while still being concerned with everyday life. Eastern philosophy tends to look “inward” as opposed to the West looking “outward.” 2. The West over emphasizes the individual, the East emphasizes the whole or group. The East tends to see the “interconn...

We will complete the writing assignment posted from last class. See writing assignment on the previous post for directions. Use the first period to complete this exercise. If you finish early, please go on to the other tasks in this post. Also today, your mystery stories drafts are due. If you are not done, please turn in what you have as a place holder and complete the story over the weekend. You need to prepare your chosen reading for the Coffeehouse. Print out copies of your chosen piece(s) and begin scoring and preparing them. Underline important lines or words, make notes in the margins about the TONE and volume you might choose to use in the performance, note gestures and staging you might like to use, etc. Then find a partner and practice. While you are doing that, please copy your electronic file of your chosen submission to the literary magazine LAMBENT. Save your file on the portable drive as your last name. If you have more than one piece, copy and paste the pieces to...