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Blog post #7

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 19:33:16 -0400

Langston Hughes “Dreams Deferred” contemplates the effects of postponing your dreams. The possible outcomes he’s inferring are all negative, showing he does not think one should postpone their dreams.

A Raisin in the Sun relates to this poem because both show all the negative effects of postponing your dreams. Almost every character in A Raisin in the Sun had a dream. Bennie dreamed to be a doctor, Mama wanted a house, and Ruth hoped to rekindle the love with her husband and move out of their apartment. Lastly the protagonist, Walter, dreamed to be rich and successful, provide for his son, and start a liquor business. The poem relates to Walters’s character the most because he was affected most by not being able to pursue his dreams. This tore him apart physically because he became a drunk and mentally because of his several breakdowns. When his mother finally gives him the money to start his liquor business he foolishly gives it all away to an untrustworthy business partner and he loses it all. I also thought it was interesting how Joseph Asagai explained that their dreams depended on something that they might not have never even had, the money.

I don’t think Clybourne Park relates as much to the poem because I do not think dreams in the novel were deferred. The dreams in Clybourne Park for example leaving a home with haunting memories, or moving into a new home, were all accomplished. They might have not turned out the way they thought they would, with the neighborhood changing so predominately; but I do not think dreams were postponed.

I think Bruce Norris wanted to write an update to A Raisin in the Sun because it shows 1959 as well as 2009 and how things have changed. Clybourne Park also focuses more on the fault line between race and property. It shows more of the problem once the family has actually moved into the neighborhood, and how the neighborhood has changed. Because of this, I think Bruce Norris is making a different point that compliments A Raisin in the Sun as well.

I think that A Raisin in the Sun had a very strong ending with Walter completely breaking down from losing the money and almost giving in to the Clybourne Park welcoming society’s offer. In the end he declines and the family decides to move into the house. Seeing the change in Walter was very powerful. I think Clybourne Park had a stronger ending with the large fight that occurred over race and property. Just showing that still in 2009 or even now in 2013, there are still problems with race discrimination. I also enjoyed how Kenneth’s story was included in the end of the play, it made for a powerful ending.

I chose this image because it shows the feud between the white and black, which was an important part of both of these stories, without telling making the actual story obvious. There is a struggle, and you have to read to find out more.

Blog post #6

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 23:24:26 -0400

The book my group chose to read is And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. I enjoyed the book very much. The author wrote it with the idea of a murder mystery where the murderer was not known or obvious. That made it so interesting because I go to go through the whole book not knowing who was doing the killings. I was able to make assumptions and talk about it with my group.

Our book club did not have a very strict set schedule, we just read what we could and each time we met we would catch each other up and share our thoughts. Our discussions ranged from who we thought the murderer was to Christie’s writing style and more.

What I liked best about my book club was the group of people I got to work with. All four of us got along so well and understood each others ideas and point of view. I felt so comfortable talking to them and sharing my ideas.

Something challenging came along with us not having a set reading schedule. Sometimes we couldn’t talk about as much because one group member didn’t read as far as the rest of us. That’s not their fault though because we did not have a set amount of chapters to read. So if I would change anything, it would be that. There is nothing I would say for you to do differently, I thought book club worked out awesome and it was without a doubt one of my favorite things we did in this class this semester.

I chose this image because Ten Little Indians was the original books title and also the poem by Frank Green that the book was based on.

Blog post #3

Sun, 03 Mar 2013 21:18:11 -0500

When I was reading the assigned passages on American myths I was not too surprised or shocked about the working conditions as the waiter for example, or the classroom analysis. I knew people lived like this, and I knew some schools worked unfairly, but because that’s not the situation I live in or am surrounded by, I just forget and not think about it again until it is brought to my attention. Often you forget again and the process is just repeated.

They don’t really change the way I see America, I know its all not fair but it doesn’t change the way I see it. I see myself just as a normal, middle class, working, college student.

The image reminded me of the perfect white picket fence family, it goes along with my point that you only see what you are exposed to and want to see and believe. A lot of people just ignore problems going on in society because they don’t want to believe people are living in a way lesser than their own.

Blog post #2

Wed, 06 Feb 2013 19:31:59 -0500

BecauseI am a commuter and have no dorm to stay in between classes, I often find myself in the library. If I just need to pass time I will sit on the first floor in the set of cubicles to the right, in front of the stairwell. When I’m going to complete homework I go to the second floor because of the quieter and focused atmosphere. I find the library relaxing and very useful.

I’ve only ever needed one text from the library but I was so surprised at the amount of information and texts available to us; stored in the computers that are in labs, and spaced around each floor, to the 9ft tall bookshelves full of novels and encyclopedias.

I’ve learned online there are articles and write ups I can use for textual support and citing my papers, I can even go to a librarian, or a student working there and they will help me find books at different libraries if they are not offered at our own!

What I found most surprising and beneficial to me was the whole bookshelf full of sheet music on the second floor! I always need sheet music for auditions and recitals and some of it is almost impossible to track down, then you have to even go through the hassle of paying for it. I can now check that section and see if the sheet music I need is there.

I will be using our library very much this semester and I’ll continue to explore it and find what else it has to offer.

When times get rough, whether its with life, or just school even, I like to think back at happy...

Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:00:15 -0500

When times get rough, whether its with life, or just school even, I like to think back at happy times. I then I remember how truly blessed I am, and that’s it is just another bump in the road that I will overcome. I have my friends to thank for this. They’ve shown and taught me so much over the years, they’ve boosted my confidence, and made me an overall better person. They are the most beautiful hearted, smart, talented, kind, and loving women. Though they will be graduating high school this year and starting their life paths as I already have, we will still always be there for each other. I can’t wait to see where life takes them and I hope they always know how proud I am to call them truly, my best friends.