I am a die-hard fan of Gavin DeGraw. Die-hard? Let me explain:
1- His homepage is the first on my list of 'favorite websites.'
2- I have a shirt with his name and logo on it.
3- I can sing along with EVERY one of his songs.
4- Second row at his concert in Columbus!
5-My English 251 notebook has two lines of lyrics from various Gavin DeGraw songs on the bottom of all the pages.
6- My background picture on my phone is a picture I took of him singing-- and has not changed for almost a whole year.
It is a great feeling to find a singer out there that you really connect with. I love how he writes his own music, because that passion comes through as he sings. Singers should write their own lyrics, just as a President should write their own inaugural address. Obviously, it is not as serious, but how can you put as much emotion into something that someone made up for you? Music is very important to me, and I am excited that we get to learn about Hymns in class this week. =)
I just want to suggest that everyone listens to Lover Be Strong, the best song ever.
that's all.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Birth & Death
"The birth of the reader must be at the cost of the death of the author." -Roland Barthes.
I am not sure how I feel about this quote.
On the one hand:
When people spend all their effort in researching about the life of the author, and WHY they wrote what they did, it may take out the creativity of a reader. They will just willingly and effortlessly agree on what the author says. Readers may use knowledge and experiences of the author to excuse, or validate what the author says. If the author is unknown, no feelings are superficial or completely biased.
On the other hand:
Working on my author spotlight project had me become more interested in authors. Nathaniel Hawthorne was a great guy from what I have read, and not only that, and there is so much purpose in his writing. Learning about his life helped me read and understand his statements better. Even if writing is fictional, or about someone completely random, I believe that the author is somehow strongly related to their characters in most cases.
I am not sure how I feel about this quote.
On the one hand:
When people spend all their effort in researching about the life of the author, and WHY they wrote what they did, it may take out the creativity of a reader. They will just willingly and effortlessly agree on what the author says. Readers may use knowledge and experiences of the author to excuse, or validate what the author says. If the author is unknown, no feelings are superficial or completely biased.
On the other hand:
Working on my author spotlight project had me become more interested in authors. Nathaniel Hawthorne was a great guy from what I have read, and not only that, and there is so much purpose in his writing. Learning about his life helped me read and understand his statements better. Even if writing is fictional, or about someone completely random, I believe that the author is somehow strongly related to their characters in most cases.
Poetry?
"How to Recognize a Poem When You See One" by Stanley Kish was very interesting to read, amusing even. He described how one day, he put the following on the board:
Jacobs-Rosenbaum
Levin
Thorne
Hayes
Ohman (?)
Then, he had his classes explain what it was. The more technical class recognized right away that they are all names of linguists, but his poetry class came up with a pretty deep interpretation. The class was explaining the symbolism to Christ.... Jacob is in the Bible, thorns pierced Christ's head, and one boy even pointed out that the most prominent letters are S O and N, as in Son of God. Imagine their reactions as they all realized that they are all names of linguists, rather than a symbolic poem.
Stanley Kish said that "Poems are an ongoing accomplishment," which I agree with. Poems mean different things to different people, and I love hearing the views and ideas of others. Sometimes I pick apart the ideas to enhance what I think, and sometimes I disagree with other stances completely.
There is a point where poems become over-analyzed, but for the most part, I think poems are a form of expression. Once the words/expressions are out there, readers are entitled to make their own assumptions of the poem, and allow it to influence them how they wish. Poems are not written to satisfy others, rather to lay out feelings, and hopefully touch another life in the process. I love how William Wordsworth says "Fill the paper with the breathings of your heart." That is how I recognize poems; when it is genuine, when the words are real and they make me feel. Some may read it as a list of names, but others may read it as a poem that helps them come closer to Christ.
Jacobs-Rosenbaum
Levin
Thorne
Hayes
Ohman (?)
Then, he had his classes explain what it was. The more technical class recognized right away that they are all names of linguists, but his poetry class came up with a pretty deep interpretation. The class was explaining the symbolism to Christ.... Jacob is in the Bible, thorns pierced Christ's head, and one boy even pointed out that the most prominent letters are S O and N, as in Son of God. Imagine their reactions as they all realized that they are all names of linguists, rather than a symbolic poem.
Stanley Kish said that "Poems are an ongoing accomplishment," which I agree with. Poems mean different things to different people, and I love hearing the views and ideas of others. Sometimes I pick apart the ideas to enhance what I think, and sometimes I disagree with other stances completely.
There is a point where poems become over-analyzed, but for the most part, I think poems are a form of expression. Once the words/expressions are out there, readers are entitled to make their own assumptions of the poem, and allow it to influence them how they wish. Poems are not written to satisfy others, rather to lay out feelings, and hopefully touch another life in the process. I love how William Wordsworth says "Fill the paper with the breathings of your heart." That is how I recognize poems; when it is genuine, when the words are real and they make me feel. Some may read it as a list of names, but others may read it as a poem that helps them come closer to Christ.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Holding out for a hero
On February 18, we talked about heros in class.
What does it take to be a hero? "He's gotta be soon and he's gotta be strong and he's gotta be larger than life...." not necessarily. =)
There are three sections to a hero's journey-- departure, initiation, and return.
I had never formally classified a hero's journey that way, but it is true. Everyone has different heros, but they all have to depart to chase after their dreams, save a life, etc. Initiation is the most essential part of becoming a hero, and then return was questionable to me. Some heros will die on a journey whether they have accomplished their goals or not.
Then, I decided to not take 'return' so literally. Returning does not have to be in a physical sense, heros can return in memories or stories to help others. Heros are not fleeting champions, rather, they make legendary impacts.
What does it take to be a hero? "He's gotta be soon and he's gotta be strong and he's gotta be larger than life...." not necessarily. =)
There are three sections to a hero's journey-- departure, initiation, and return.
I had never formally classified a hero's journey that way, but it is true. Everyone has different heros, but they all have to depart to chase after their dreams, save a life, etc. Initiation is the most essential part of becoming a hero, and then return was questionable to me. Some heros will die on a journey whether they have accomplished their goals or not.
Then, I decided to not take 'return' so literally. Returning does not have to be in a physical sense, heros can return in memories or stories to help others. Heros are not fleeting champions, rather, they make legendary impacts.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
