Reading Notes: Voyages of Sinbad, Part B

5th Voyage
The old man that Sinbad meets is Death, he is trying to judge 1. if Sinbad should die 2. where should he go if he does die. 1st task is he kind, 2nd is he strong, 3rd is he clever, 4th making up for past wrongs. Sinbad failed or passes? Pass goes on to live a long life. Fail-rest of his life is a dream that h never got to have.
I would have to change the story to make it more of a challenge then a inflicted pain. Change perceptions and reasons behind character actions and remove Sinbad's bad attitude.

6th Voyage
Sinbad is addicted to danger and is greedy for wealth. He cannot resist a new challenge. This one would be Sinbad thoughts as he embarks on a new adventure. His fears and desires. Brief backstories on previous adventures and the glories they have brought him followed by his wishes for a new quest. Does Sinbad have family? Why did he choose this new destination rather then familiar seas? Does he know those who he is about to travel with? Is it the adventure, the adrenaline, the discovery, the death that draw him back to danger? How long has it been since his last voyage?

Pile of Elephant Tusks
Opinion Sharing Blog

Bibliography- Voyages of Sindbad by Andrew Lang, Online Reading

Reading Notes:Voyages of Sindbad, Part A

1st Voyage
What woke up this sleeping whale? How long had it been there? Why was there a forest growing on the back of it? Could I turn this whale into some sort of sea deity who gives refuge to lost sailors but this particular batch did something to anger him so he decided to drown them? Whale point of view or Sindbad, or perhaps some trusting sailor who drowns.
If from the whales perspective it would be fascinating to hear its story, from it young life to its long slumber, the why and hows to how it got to be where it was.
If from the poor unfortunate sailor. Definitely show that Sinbad refuses to give him a hand. Describe the other worldliness of the "island", its enchanting feel.

2nd Voyage
Perhaps the crew left Sinbad on purpose, putting sleeping drugs in his drink-would have to explain how and why they did so. Sinbad is a braggart and thinks of himself to highly? Ending would be leaving Sinbad on the island.
 For ironies sake - the Roc eats Sinbad. So the story would be from his perspective tied to the meat. We would here how he arrived, and lived the day in the valley hiding from the snakes, how he plotted to take the diamonds and get a ride to freedom. Then just as he is about to be free-plot twist. One of the birds eats him thus ending his journeys.

4th Voyage
It would be so interesting to document Sinbad decent into insanity. Starting from the death of his friend -he gets increasingly paranoid. To the death of his wife-frantic,tries to run and is caught. To witnessing  his own funeral-tied down,guards. To the macabre cavern- conversations with the dead talking to a wall, the smell. To complete inhumanity- killing other people(maybe eating them to).

Mother Island by Thiago Neumann
Behance

Bibliography- Voyages of Sindbad by Andrew Lang, Online Reading

Reading Notes: Aesop's Fables (Jacobs) Part A

The Sick Lion
I would be interested to see what the lion did to deserve such dislike. Was it simply that he was unfair, or was he a cruel leader? I would be interested in this story being turned into a human version, perhaps subjects find the king injured on the side of the road?
What happens to the animals afterward, do the heirs get revenge for their fallen father?

The Lion and the Statue
oh, I would love to write a story where we get to see the world from the eyes of a lion, specifically a circus or a hunting trip. With the circus it would be interesting to see why the lion behaves, maybe free food or he is scared to retaliate. With the hunting trip it would be interesting to see the lion mocking the hunter and making fun of him.

Fox and the Mask
So for this one it would be interesting to create a universe where everyone wears a mask all the time until two people have fallen in love, then those two people can take off their masks, but only in the presence of one another. So masks are generally looked upon as physical representations of a persons personality or dreams. In this world a girl would fall in love because of the mask, but when it is taken off she shuns her mate because of his physical appearance and is unable to think beyond that. The man is angered, he had fallen in love with the girl not her mask, and is upset that she was so shallow. Then he says, Outside show is poor substitute for inner  worth , and leaves her there- aware that everybody will know his true appearance but also that everybody will see her true self.

Dog and the Shadow
I can just picture a cat sitting in the tree and watching this foolish dog loose his food. Perhaps the cat is sneaky and retrieves it or maybe he lies in wait for the next time a foolish dog comes by. It would be interesting to see the cat rebuke the dog and explaining that it was a reflection rather then another animal traveling near by with food and the dog rewards/thanks the cat.

Bibliography- The Fables of Aesop by Joseph Jacobs, online source

Venice Carnival by Frank Kovalcheck
Wikimedia Commons

Famous Last Words: Honest Obsession

So, all week I have been obsessed with a particular YouTube artist, Nerdwriter1, who puts out analytical videos on a variety of subjects. Most notable are his two playlists Essays About Art and Understanding Art (Case Studies) where he goes though different medians of art, form traditional art to video games to movies, and uses them to discuss different issues, from peculiarities of  an individual piece to the larger implications surrounding them. He draws from authoritative sources, of which he provides, and supports all of his conclusions. But most importantly, he does not make absolutes. His main goal is to make the viewer think. He has opinions, certainly, but he is not forcing them on the viewer, rather he is a guiding hand, one who encourages further discovery. There are two videos I think apply to this class.

I feel like this video explains what we are doing in class. Taking stories that have backgrounds, stories that have been built upon and have cultural significance beyond their original roots, and remaking them into something new. We are the next generation of storytellers. The people who will make the fairy tales of the future and the ones who will remember the past. This video reminds me of the Cheshire Cat and Alice and Wonderland, a story that has far outshone it humble beginnings in Lewis Carroll. The wonderland that modern culture adores is far different then Carroll's original satire on the British government and economy. It has taken a life of its own, but it still is thanks to its origin that it is so beloved. 

One again, this video embodies what this class is about. Putting one's own spin on stories, making connections. Where we take a familiar story or writing type, like fairy tales, and making it our own. To me, it shows just how influential stories can be, even if accidentally, or as a story that has only grown in strength the more we here it. One thing I have learned from my lovely obsession is, never underestimate the power of a story, it has the potential to change the world. 

Story Time by AlectorFencer
DeviantArt

Tech Tip: Canvas App

This has got to be the most useful thing I have on my phone at the moment, aside form my music that is. It is so much more convenient to go onto the app to check what I assignments I need to do for the day.  It is a whole lot easier then carrying around my computer or rushing to write down assignments in a planner. On the app, I have it set to take me directly to the To-Do List and I have it directly linked to my calendar with my phone programmed to remind me. It is so convenient, especially  as all may classes this semester are using canvas and have daily assignments uploaded to the site. It is also easier to access teacher notifications in the app then the online version. I am looking forward to what else this app can do!

Storytelling Week 3: Hagar's Plight

In the desert of Beer-Sheba, wonders a woman torn from the comfort of her tent out of jealous strife and sent into infertile lands with little but an old wine-skin and stale bread as compensation. Poor woe-begone Hagar, left to traverse the desolate sands with her young child clinging to the hems of her tattered skirts. Barley a day had passed before the sun had alight upon her skin, searing her to the bones, branding her, no longer as a woman but a waif. The sand tore into her, seeping into to the blisters and cracks in her flesh, chafing what little skin was spared from the sun, and making her all the more miserable for it. The wind stole the breath from her chest as it gabbed the sand to make punishing whips across her body. Her cloak long given to the child for its protection from the punishing element, forsaking her own in the process.

What despair she felt as the last drop fell from the wine-skin, it was as if the gods themselves had poured all their lamentations into her body. Agonizing, all-consuming, such a soul wrenching desolation. The desperate crystalline understanding that the inevitable was upon her was like searing hell-fire upon her soul. She had no tears give, all the water in her had left long before that earth shattering moment, but the agony was wrote plain across her face. Desperately, she plucked the child from the sands, frightened that he would turn into a mirage and be lost to her forever. Already, the child was but a memory of his former self, now wisp of a boy, barely clinging to the desperate call of all men, to live. It was as if he was fading before her very eyes, like he was being ground into dust by the torrid desert winds.

But wretched Hagar struggled onwards, desperate for some glimmer of hope. Over dunes of forsaken sands, where not even the bravest of caravans traverse. Across the sea of burning rocks she wondered. She saw no beauty there. Not in the ember lit sunset upon the sands. To her, it was a sea of promised blood, a reminder of the trickling blood from her sores. Nor did she the exquisite star captured sea of ice reflecting the stars and moon in the night. The night only held the promise of inescapable sleep to her. Then she stumbled across a mockery of an oasis, the promise of water was shown in the shrubbery, but not a drop was in the rocks around her feet. Suddenly, she shattered, all hope left her, snatched away by the forlorn sight before her. There, she decided the child would die, at least some shade could cover his fevered head. She, herself, would travel onwards, grasping a thin stand of possibility that she could live on, and the child through her.

As she turned away from that shadow of a child, laid under a palm tree, she felt an even greater agony then before. Her whole self was tearing itself apart, trying to wrench itself from her body. All her previous woes where but a nick in her finger compared to this new anguish. Still, she continued to depart holding her agony within her beaten body, but as she took her next step her foot went into the earth. Pushing past the crust of the world to its depths. As she lifted her foot, she heard the sound of water rushing underneath the craggy surface from the cavity. Desperately she seized a nearby stone and brought it down upon the ground, fracturing it and revealing the stream hidden beneath its facade. To her this was more than water, it was life. It was more valuable then ambrosia, then any precious gem. It was the promise of life, of the future, for joyful Hagar now had the blood of the world in her hands.

Wadi Shab Oasis in Oman
Wikimedia Commons

Authors Note- I took inspiration from the story of Hagar in the Bible. There she is a slave girl, who got pregnant on behalf of Sara, Abraham’s wife. But then Sara got jealous of Hagar and Ishmael, the child, and asked Abraham to send her away. Abraham did so, giving Hagar only water and bread for her journey. Hagar then wondered the dessert before giving up. She did indeed set Ishmael under some brush to die as she wondered off, but in that story God interfered and showed her water. Hagar is often overlooked in the bible, she is almost shunted aside in preference of Sara and Isaac. Even in other traditions the focus is more on Ishmael then Hagar. I really wanted to write about how strong Hagar was despite of her miserable circumstances, to demonstrate just how much she suffered and overcame. She is probably one of the most powerful women in the bible, because there was no man for her to rely on, she did it by herself. When I was writing this I listened to Fever Ray’s “Keep the Street Empty for Me” for inspiration on how Hagar must have felt, wondering all alone in the desert and to help set the general atmosphere for the story.

Bibliography-- Kings James Bible- Specifics Compiled by Laura Gibbs, Online Source

Reading Notes: Bible Women,Part B

Ester
I know that Ester is not underrated, quite the opposite in fact, but I think it would be interesting to feel the dread creep into her as she walked to her potential death.
I would focus on a particular scene where she preps for three days before going before the king.
I think it would be awesome to highlight how her beauty contrasts with her inner turmoil. By describing her beauty, the wealth she wears and the splendor in which she lives. I wold zoom in on the particular instance as she walks toward the doors of the kings throne room, contrasting all the wealth and beauty, perhaps throw some mirrors in for fun, and contrast it with how each step leads her closer to doom, the growing dread in her stomach, and the fear she has to feel and how she fights to keep the tremble out of her hands. Then I would cut the scene right as she opens the door and steps in.

Ester by eikonik
DeviantArt

Herodias 
What could I do with this story...Maybe she was a priestess? who was attempting to end Christianity-seeing it as a threat to the empire, but misjudged the time period? Or perhaps John had done something along the lines of Joseph and she condemned him further out of spite? I could add the fine details make it more mystical. Definitely make her arrogant but also don't make the others innocent of the crime.

Lazarus
Technically this one is not about the women, but I can definitely spin it from their perspective, probably Martha's.
I really want to add emphasis on that this guy had been rotting for three days, and had been decidedly ill a while before that. I want to point out the sheer misery and mourning these girls would have been, turn Lazarus into the only man, the one who gave them a good life. What incredulity they must have felt when Jesus showed up demanding to see a the body and the (not relief, fear maybe) desperation they felt when Lazarus walked, what was going through their mind, certainly not that this was an act of God at first. I think it would be interesting to see just how panicked and confused they would have been.

Bibliography- Kings James Bible- Specifics Compiled by Laura Gibbs, Online Source

Reading Notes: Bible Women, Part A

Hagar
I would love to get into Hagar's head, show just how much mental agony she is in as she wondered Beer-Sheba. The desolation and misery she must have felt first when she was sent away then again as she leaves her child to die then the sheer elation that she must have felt when she saw the well.
I would love to highlight just how special Hagar is, from her survival to her direct communication with God especially in contrast to how wild and hospitable the land she was in.
Definitely want to bring the reader into the world, not as an observer but submerged in the world as if he/she was walking beside Hagar or was Hagar herself. Definitely have the feel of scorching heat and chafing of sandstorms on skin. I could see myself adding music to heighten the atmosphere.

Leah
Once again I want to shine light on an underappreciated woman. In this case I would love to highlight how secondary, shunned, and jealous she must feel. It would be interesting to see Leah's interaction with her sister and husband as an outsider.
Perhaps a story about how she was so isolated and had been slowly growing more and more aggrieved until she did something about it, plotting the death of Rachel, or how she plots to get Jacobs attention away from Rachel
Highlight how useless or desperate she feels, make atmosphere desolate-plot inspired by a song

Jephthah's Daughter
This would be a sad one to write, as morbid as it sounds it would be interesting to put the reader in the shoes of the daughter as she walks to her death.
In my mind I don't think she would be scared, or resigned, simply content? I would love to split it into two parts. The first as she walks to her death, possible sacrificial alter? and maybe she takes the dagger herself -highlighting her bravery and nobility. Then into the death itself as everything fades to gray.  For the second part I want to see her heaven, walking down a road to the gates or something along those lines, something pretty and calming.
The biggest thing I want this to be is that is a sacrifice but that it is not a tragedy, like the story presents it.

All of these stories are more about the atmosphere then the plot and putting the reader in the event rather then a listener

You Don't Know Me by blueboy777
DeviantArt

Bibliography- Kings James Bible- Specifics Compiled by Laura Gibbs, Online Source

Reading Notes:Ovid's Metamorphoses

ECHO
I would love to see the Judgment of Tiresias have more depth.
Perhaps, instead of striking to ordinary snakes he had come upon two Gods who were simply in the form of snakes, and as punishment/reward? they turned him into a woman either to learn or at his request depending.
Possibly they overheard him complaining how easy women had life, or bragging over how something along the way that were better and these gods wanted to show him how wrong he was.
Then 8 years later he has learned his lesson/regrets his choice and has been searching for the gods for several years before he finds them, and begs them to turn him back, even at the risk of his future offspring.

Mars and Venus
It would be interesting to see why mars and Venus ended up in bed together.
Maybe the gods are forced to do things because that is what the humans believe, in this case life imitates art. So because the humans believe Venus and mars are together they are forced to be? or perhaps an act of passion on earth caused a war and Venus and mars' actions simply reflect that? or lastly it was all a misunderstanding?

Perseus and Andromeda
Oh, gender-bend/role-reversal or maybe Andromeda refuses help and beats the kraken herself?

Tiresias Striking The Snakes by Johann Ulrich Krauss
Wikimedia Commons

Wikipedia Trail: From Poe to Assassination

1.  Poor Edger Allen Poe, he is one of the most influential writers in american literature. He was orphaned by age 2 and died by age 40. He was one of the first writers in america to earn his income thought writing alone, this caused significant financial stress as copy-write laws were not yet enforced. Though he was mostly known for his Gothic literature, he also wrote romances, since fiction, satires, and comedic pieces. His works have influenced millions of people across the world, especially those in cryptography, and has become a cultural icon. He claimed that one of his poems was written according to "The Philosophy of Composition," which leads to the next link.

2.  The Philosophy of Composition is an essay written by Edger Allen Poe wherein he outlines how a writer should write. He emphasis length, mood, and a logical method as the most important tools/rules for a writer to follow. For Poe, it was all about short and sweet, thematic sense, and planning rather then spontaneity. These are topics that he stresses repeatedly in his essay. Upon reflecting most literary critics doubt that Poe actually used this method when constructing his poem "The Raven" as he claimed.

3.  From here I was lead to one of  Poe's publishers, George Rex Graham. At the age of 26, Graham had become the co-owner of the Saturday Evening Post, by 28 he owned Burton's Gentleman Magazine and had become increasing successful. Graham was known for hiring freelance writers, such as Edger Allen Poe, who was hired as a writer and editor in 1841,  Rufus Wilmot Griswold, and Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Graham was the publisher who released "The Philosophy of Composition," although he had previously refused to publish "The Raven." After Poe's death, Graham was the strongest opponent against his character assassination from Griswold, a rival of Poe.

4. Character assassination  "a deliberate and sustained process that aims to destroy the credibility and reputation of a person." Usually done by means of rumors, false accusations and manipulations to make the target be rejected by either family, society, or the work community. It is pretty much like bulling, except on a much larger scale, and the effects can be a whole lot worse. The biggest difference is that character assassination is 1) always deliberate, 2) extremely public, and 3) the twisting of public perception, which negates truth. Take Nixon for example, wonderful president, did a lot for our country , but all people remember him for is Watergate. Or think about Martin Luther, by the catholic church during reformation.

Nevermore by mynameistran
DeviantArt

Review: didaskaleinophobia

It's hard to believe that an entire  movement has been made out of this song. I love how this program is aiming to bring learning into the 21st century by going beyond basic comprehension and encouraging critical thinking and curiosity. This new system looks like it will work better because it caters more to a child's individual strength, encourages free thinking, and acknowledges that there are different kinds of intelligence. After reading articles on how State Testing and the current school system may be hindering innovation I am surprised that more systems like this one are not being implemented.

Feedback Thoughts

I will be the first person to admit that accepting 'negative' feedback is difficult. Or, at least, it was until I started going out of my way to get it for my projects, whether that be writing or painting. Once I started looking for feedback that was not positive, I began to realize just how much further I could go and how much I was holding myself back by ignoring the negative stuff. Sure it still stings a little when I am told that it is not good enough, but I can take that negative and make the overall project better by fixing those problems. That is the main point in Megan Bruneau's article 5 tips for Taking Feedback like a Champ. Basically, she states that being challenged is a good thing, it helps you grow in new ways. Room for improvement just means that you can always get better. William Treseder's article Using Harsh Feedback to Fuel Your Career explains how to take those suggestions and not feel like its a personal attack. For him, it is all about reminding yourself that it is not about you. Most feedback is not meant to be a personal attack and it is important to step back from initial reactions and emotional responses to understand that the commenter is simply trying to help improve your weakness not to insult you as a person. I say this, and while I can take feedback about the aforementioned projects, personal issues, like appearance or work ethic, still can not take a hit.

I really liked Gravity Goldberg's article, Be a Mirror: Give Readers Feedback That Fosters a Growth Mindset. I love how she encourages people to step away from giving feedback as solely an opinion. For the most part, Goldberg is saying do not make judgment on what you personally feel is missing, just on what is available from the author. That is not to say, do not make parallel or connections to other works, in fact she encourages it, just understand that the author is his or her own person with a specific agenda in mind. She also mentions how it is important to specific, rather then making generalizations or broad statements . Narrow down what specifically needs improvement, inconsistencies or things that do not make sense. Grant Wiggins article, 7 Key Characteristics of Better Learning Feedback explains how a commenter should give this feedback. The most important part of this article for me was, do not be afraid to give negative feedback, this feed back is what helps people improve. At the same time, do not be a critic, meaning do not be a troll. When giving feedback it is important to be upfront without being cruel. Think of the feedback more like a conversation then a one way enterprise. You need to be clear and concise in you commentary but also leave space for the author to reply without feeling judged.

Leonardo Dicaprio Cheers
imgflip

Storytelling Week 2: A Day in the Life of Gods

Hera and Jupiter from Farnese Gallery, Rome
Wikimedia Common

“I’m bored, entertain me.” Demanded Hera as she lay on Zeus lap.

“I’m busy, go entertain yourself”

“But there is nothing in the scrying pool to watch. Ares is playing with his knives and Hephaestus won’t come out of his room. Athena hates me and everyone else is busy!”

“Then go play with those mud monkeys you so adore, they are always entertaining. Go torment another hero. Start a few wars for all I care. Just go away.”

“Hump, fine then. I’ll just…”

A thought suddenly occurred to Hera as she slunk away. Why not do exactly what Zeus suggested? After all, what could it hurt? It’s not like wars were uncommon among humans. Fights between humans was always entertaining. Hera could turn it into a grand event. An epic battle for the ages, the best of this century. A showdown between the two greatest powers the humans had at moment-Greece verses Troy. Yes. That sounded perfect, but how to start it all off? Maybe a broken promise? No that would be forgettable. Maybe an insult of lineage? No those are to common, it wouldn’t be bold enough for something of this scale. What about love, nothing makes a better story then a slighted lover. Now to start off this party.

Hera wondered off to find Aphrodite and Ares to help her in her quest to make a war that captivate everyone on Olympus.


Hera’s Diary- Several weeks later

Well, that went well. Even better than I thought it would. Let me lay it out for you.

Aphrodite got Paris (a visiting dignitary form Troy to Greece) to fall in love with Helen (who was the wife of Agamemnon, a powerful Greek king. Then they ran off together. Then Ares, the clever boy that is, incited Agamemnon to go after her and bring her back. It gets even better, even Ares and I did not predict this. Agamemnon got all the other Greeks kings to follow him to Troy. Then, when Paris leaned of his pursuers, he fled to his family near Troy and begged for help and they accepted. Now, instead of two small city-states duking it out, there are two entire regions battling on the shores of Asia minor. Even better, it’s not a bunch of small fodder men battling, it’s the greatest heroes of this age: Achilles and Odysseys, Hector and Deiphobus. It is going to be epic


Hera’s Diary- Year 9 of the Trojan war

The past few years have been great. Epic battles and romances, violence galore. There has always been something exiting in the scrying pool to watch. It’s been great family time. I think this is the longest time I have spent with my siblings since Father ate us. Everybody’s been having a great time. Olympus has turned into an eternal party. There is betting pool, everyone is drunk and having a good time. This has got to be the best idea that I have ever had.

However, Thestis got all upset that her son, Achilles, was not getting enough pool time. It’s not like it’s my fault that Achilles got all upset over Agamemnon taking away his slave girl. It’s his own fault. He should not have gotten into a fight and then proceed to pout when he lost. He was wrong anyway. Agamemnon won that girl fair and square. Why should he have to give the girl back simply because her father was a priest? I digress. Thestis went and complained to Zeus. Forgetting that Achilles was not getting view time because he was not fighting. After all, who wants to watch a spoilt brat play harp and get drunk all day? Anyway, Zeus listened to the bint. Probably because they are sleeping together.

The problem is that Zeus is interfering with my project. The one he told me to do! What, is he now all out of work to do? Back to the point, he ‘somehow’ got the Greeks to charge Troy. He probably hoped that if the Greeks went to fight, Achilles would be too much of a war-hawk to resist following. Whatever, the brat was too busy pouting to notice, either that or he was passed out dunk, one of the two. That’s not the problem. The problem is that because the Greeks were losing, Patroclus, Achilles lover, got involved. You see, he stole Achilles’ armor and pretended to be him. Then, when he got found out someone killed him. I LIKED Patroclus! He was the only reason I ever paid attention to Achilles. Deep Breaths.


Hera’s Diary-The next day

Huh, that turned out well. I guess even Achilles has his redeeming features. I may owe Zeus an apology. His idiocy may have made things more entertaining. Achilles got so mad that Patroclus died, that he finally dragged his head out of the wineskin and did something productive. He went out to the battle field and scared away all the Trojans just by yelling at them. It was HILARIOUS. Then, the next morning he went out clad in new armor to face the Trojans in battle. Every. Single. One of them fled to the city, I bet the laundry is going to be cleaned tonight.

All but one that is, poor brave foolish Hector. I had thought he was intelligent. Hector waited at the gates to battle Achilles. Then, when Achilles approached, Hector was so afraid he ran. It would have been funny if it weren’t so pathetic. Eventually, Achilles caught up to Hector and slew him. Then he tied Hector to his chariot and dragged the body around the city. The body is fine, after all, that is the wrong type of gore for my audience, wouldn’t want to lose viewers.

Anyway, all this excitement has made me think that maybe its time to start winding up, nine years is enough, and Poseidon has approached me about plans for a new show. After all it's not like this war is going to change history.

Hera b Soa Lee
CGSocity

Authors Note- The original story concept came from Homer's Illid. My story starts off differently then Homers. Rather then jealously of several goddess over who is the most beautiful goddess, it was simply the boredom of one.  There are still aspects that are the same, like the involvement of Hera and Aphrodite and the 'theft' of Helen by Paris. Overall, I did not change the original story that much aside from the opening. The biggest change is that rather then being serious, I took a more light-hearted take. Rather then a clashing of family, where the Gods are incredibly divided. I thought it would be nice if the atmosphere was more like a Superbowl party, where there are sides but overall everyone is having fun. I came up with this during the scene where Thesits was asking Zeus to give the Greeks a reason to need Achilles. It stuck me during the scene that 1) Hera was a bit of a winy brat and 2) the gods were partying. I kinda wanted to see what the war was like from the perspective of these immortal beings, where 10 years is nothing. I know there is a lot missing, but I included what I felt like were key scenes, such as the beginning of the war, the fight between Achilles and Agamemnon, the death of Patroculus its results. While everything else is important to humans, it would not be to the Gods.  Originally, I had planned to write this more like a reality show, but I fell in love with this valley girl Hera and had to continue her story. I feel like this captures the essence of the Gods more then the other format would have. It showed just how trivial humans were to them. The pictures were easier to select. The first fit too well with the opening scene to discard, it gave the perfect scene to set up the story. The second was slightly harder. I wanted something that would show Hera, not as a vengeful goddess, but as someone who wanted to have a good time, who was so privileged that lives meant noting to her. I think the last pic true captures that, she seems to have a slight glint in her eye that screams bad news for us puny mortals.

Bibliography -Homer's Iliad (retold by A. J. Church) link to the reading

Reading Notes: Homer's Iliad, part B

Rousing of Achilles
Hector brags "offstage" about his new armor

Tides of war change because it looks like the Trojans are about to win and then the entertainment would be over

Achilles acts like a small child whose favorite toy was taken away--not a devastated lover

Rather then running away from Achilles the Trojans retreat to rest-laughing at him like he is an infant

Slaying of Hector
 The gods decide they want a one on one fight so they lure away Achilles so the Trojans can retreat fully leaving only Hector behind

Hector has a big ego- ignores good advice-blinded by the gods

I would rather have a fight then a race to the death between hector and Achilles
with the gods betting in the background

fighting for three days rather then running three times around the city

Ransoming of Hector
parading of Hectors body at first brings amusement but as it drags on ratings begin to go down

plans were made by the gods to bring back the entertainment factor and dispose of the unsavory deeds of Achilles

Priam's plea was to be a redemptive moment given by the gods to restore Achilles ratings

Achilles keeps asking for more retribution/ransom

End Goal
show more of the triviality of the war from the Gods perspective

reorient Achilles from a noble warrior into a petty spoilt brat who succeeded by luck rather then talent

Achilles slays Hector
Wikimedia Commons

Bibliography- Homer's Iliad (retold by A. J. Church) link to the reading

Reading Notes: Homer's Iliad, Part A

How the War Began
Its not that Helen is the most beautiful woman that all the men want her, but because she has had relationships with each one and each man thinks he is her true love-regardless of her "marriage"

Every king goes to fight at Troy to go claim back 'his true love' despite the fact that she ran away with Paris of her free will

The Quarrel
Perhaps Agamemnon was influenced by the gods to be overly selfish just so the story could be more interesting

The only reason Achilles seems so noble is because he is acting that was to maintain a good rap-really he is just jealous that Agamemnon got the pretty girl

Augment between Agamemnon and Achilles--I'm the best, no! I am the best...

Achilles is just pouting-upset that he did not get his way

What Thestis Did for Her Son
The war is really just a reality TV show for the Gods

The Gods (Zeus) is board so he decides to spice up the show..as a favor for his latest tryst

Gods are betting on either side and their favorite warrior-sort of like fantasy football

Zeus and Hera prefer opposite teams- the atmosphere is like an OU OSU household

Entire atmosphere is like an eternal  Superbowl party

Hector and Andromache
Athena revives a call during the party and rejects it

paid programming brought to the gods by sacrifice

more of a soap-opera feel

Embassy to Achilles
less of a friendly meeting more like drunk frat boys razing

Deeds and Death of Patroclus
change to a conversation in bed- and a sleepy punch drunk Achilles agrees to request then goes to sleep

Sarpedon was already down and Patroculus stabbed him- taking a false claim of victory-Gods decided to do something about it

Apollo pushes down on Patroculus' shield to make him aggravated and quick tempered and makes him so hot-headed that he pays no attention to his surrounding

Hector stabs him facing him, not a sneak attack- and mocks the Greeks for being gullible

Overall goal 
Make the story sound more like a overly acted television show-daytime entertainment or like a sports show

make the entire plot seem more petty and trivial then it really was

more perspective from the gods point of view then personal vendettas

liad: Patroklus' Death by RikaNeko

DeviantArt

Bibliography- Homer's Iliad (retold by A. J. Church) link to the reading

Tech Tip: Blogger Templates

I changed my blog design from the simple dark template to the dark themed picture window template. I then customized it by changing the themes color scheme from orange to a light blue. From there, I changed the background image from the provided blurry mountains to a someone kayaking on rough waters. I chose the kayaking picture because it reminded me of an adventure of Odysseus, where he sailed between Scylla and Charabdis, and thought it would be fitting for this class.

Growth Mindset

I had never heard of Carol Dweck 's growth mindset before, but after hearing about it I can see how it plays a major role in today education system. So much of education today is geared towards the final results and not on learning or enjoying the process. Personally, I fall somewhere in the middle of her scale, somewhere in between fixed and growth mindset. When a class challenges me, I am definitely growth. For me it is all about learning, not a grade. Rather it is about the sheer enjoyment of learning something new. I will go out of my way to acquire new and interesting information, because that information may a missing puzzle piece that will start to complete my picture. In reverse, if a class is easy I will do just barely enough to get an A , and that is it. I will not try. Everything seems gray and drab in comparison to a challenging course.

I agree with Dweck that the end result should not matter as much as contemporary education thinks it should. The process, how and why the knowledge was acquired should matter. Knowledge should be gathered for the should for the sake of leaning new things, not to satisfy some far off end-game requirement.

I would love to learn about how how growth mindset could be applied to daily life. I think it would be interesting to see how it could be applied to overcoming personal goals outside of school. Perhaps, in pursuing competency with technology or personal health goals, like healthy eating or exercise. I can definitely see growth mindset or a similar program helping me overcoming my shyness and getting me to go beyond my introvert safe comfort zone. Hopefully I will not need to use these strategies in class, if they are challenging enough on their own I can rely on my previous habits of going above and beyond out of enjoyment. However, growth mindset could certainty encourage me to challenge myself regardless of the difficulty of my classes.

Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
issue 5/22/1992: Go Comics

Time Strategies

I think Caroline Web's article on How to Beat Procrastination is a good article for those who struggle with procrastination. I know that I am one of them. I love how she explains that it is not a fault in character that causes procrastination, rather it is a in the overall physiological program of our brains thorough out  history. It is important to keep that in mind when tackling the problem of procrastination. These are some important tip that Web outlined in her article.

• Commit Publicly- peoples expectations of you will cause you to take action sooner-probably because you do not want to disappoint those that hold you in regard
• Think about consequences of inaction- the longer you wait the less time is left to fix a problem that may show up
• Tie first actions to a reward-no matter how you go about it people will always want immediate reward, promise something immediate then immediate action gets done

Pavlov's dog: source

Jory Mackay's article The Important Habit of Just Starting follows up on the importance of starting a task. Mackay's main point is that the most difficult thing about doing anything is starting. It is the work itself that is daunting but rather the trial of first singing. The hardest thing to do is not write a story, its knowing where to begin. These are the most important points I got out of Mackay's article

• delayed gratification is very difficult to follow
• importance of environment- a clean an organized environment and a clear idea of actions improves working ability 
• do not worry about perfection or the end goal- just 

The one one thing I noticed when reading these articles was that I already did most of what they recommended. There are several other strategies I use that I have found useful.

• Give yourself time to relax- if you feel wound up do not do something that might stress you out more, do something that relaxes you then work on the stressful stuff
• If you can double up on tasks do so- that is not saying do two assignments at once, rather if you have to do laundry do that at the same time as reading a book for class, or get an audio-book and listen to it as you go shopping/work out
• Get started early-you will be surprised how fun it can be to do a project if you give yourself room to breath and explore, rather then waiting until the last moment and freaking out. This tactic also gives you time to go get help if you are stuck and to fix any mistakes you might find as you look over your project at a later date
• Take breaks every once in a while-even if it is just getting up to stretch for a bit or go to the restroom, getting better circulation through moving will make you feel more alert and prepared then sitting and trying to cram all the work in at once

Reading Options- A Difficult Choice

This was a very difficult choice to make. There were too many options that all sounded great. Why must I choose!? Unfortunately, choose I did.

Indiana Jones Knight
Source

Week 2 Choices

Bible Women

I felt this unit would be a great choice to fuhrer my understanding of the Bible and its underlying message. I have been studying the Bible on and off for over five years. While I know a lot about the history and culture behind the stories, it is difficult for me to find specific stories about the women of the Bible and keep them straight. I expect some of these stories to be familiar but I also think that many of them will be completely new.

Homer's Illid
I have read the Oddessy many time but I have yet to touch the Illid. Mythology has always a passion of mine, I fell like one learns more about people through stories, then through their recorded history. Though I know the basic story in the Illid many of the details are foreign. I am definitely interested in its connections to the Oddessy and other tales from that region.

Further in Semester Possibilities
Voyages of Sinbad
I have heard about Sinbad before. I watch an animated feature about it several years ago, but I am almost completely sure that the movie was inaccurate, and I am curious to see how much of the move stayed true to the original story. Also when I was reading the overview it mentioned similarity to the Oddessy and I think a story about those two people meeting would be a rather entertaining tale, but I need understand Sinbad first to do so.

Sinbad:Legend of the Seven Seas
Movie Poster (2003)
Source: IMBD

Brothers Grimm (Ashliman)
I love Grimm's Fairy tales. I grew up reading them, the true ones not the watered down versions. I think it is important to know these tales because they play a huge role in today's world, even if no one reads them any more. Grimm's tales teach lessons and give warnings that have not been invalidated by a modern world. It is important to understand where these tales came from and why they exist. I wold love to compare how some of my favorite stories have evolved and how they could be re-imagined in a modern setting while still maintaining their dark lessons.

Fairy Tales That Will Never Be in Disney Movies
Scource

Storybook Favorites - Behind the Stories

Alice's Journey...Through Social Media?

Whoever wrote this spin on Lewis Carol's classic was a genies. The author took a story that has become one of the most popular classics and completely revamped it while maintaining the original story plot. He/she takes our beloved Alice and turns her into a modern, media addicted, self-obsessed teenager. Overall this was my favorite story to look though. Everything was clean and precise, there was no excess or distracting backgrounds. Each part of the story was easy to locate and navigate. The story itself was a seamless blend, it flowed form words to images and from topic to topic without taking away form the story itself. I love how the author incorporated the notes at the bottom of each page explaining how and why he/she chose that particular scene. For my own project I may use a similar layout for my stories, but the writing style itself, while interesting, is not for me. 

Example of incorporated image
"Was it Really a Dream"
Source

Greek Goddesses on Trial 

I loved Amber McKnight's storybook. Straight from the introduction it hooked me and I had to read every trial to sate my curiosity. I love how she took the most popular goddesses and made them defend themselves against their most famous actions. Although it was slightly difficult to navigate from trial to trial, the individual ascetic of each trial was incredibly reminiscent of true trial records, a fine balance of irritating and fascinating. I can see myself using a similar style on popular fairy-tale characters. I think it could have been better, if McKnight had used more artistic photos rather than pictures of statues, just to bring more life to the story.

Nursery Rhymes Gone Wrong

The stories that this storybook was based off of were slightly less familiar then the previous two. The premise given in the introduction was great,  what happened to nursery rhyme characters. It provided a good hook to catch the readers attention and explained clearly what the rest of the stories are going to be like and what they are about. However, it was extremely difficult to read the navigation icon, and the entire layout of the pages was to bland that it took away form the story itself. It felt rushed and somewhat incomplete. The use of images was phenomenal, perfect images that helped the stories along and gave them a new dimension. There is not a whole lot that I would take from the overall design if I were to do my own project.

Introduction to a History Nerd

Myself  Personal photo taken by my mother

My name is Carol Brockmann. I am a junior, that is hoping for a classics major when I graduate. I love classics. It gives me an opportunity to go back into the past and see just how much history and the beliefs of others have impacted our world today. For me, it is important to remember what came before, because it those beliefs and cultures that shape modern society. Too many people forget just how important understanding history is. It is more than just stories of a time long ago, it is the modern world’s bloodline. The classic major allows me to go back and understand the roots of the western world.

Last semester was my first semester at OU, I had transferred from a smaller college in Kansas. I have to say, OU knows how to bring out the welcome mat. I cannot chose a single class from last semester that was the best, simply because I enjoyed them all. However, there were two classes that had a major impact on me. The first was Death, Dying and Religion taught by Marie Dallam. This was a class that truly challenged me to think outside the norm. Though the class got a little morbid at times, it was fascinating to look at the different ways death was thought about and the variety of different ways across the world of respecting the dead. It was a class that forced me to have an opinion about death and all that surrounds it while also upholding my own beliefs in the face of others disagreements. The other class I loved was Introduction to Latin, taught by John Hansen. This was the first class in many years that challenged me. It forced me to apply myself, by making me go beyond simple compression and recollection. It did not help that I am terrible with languages. On the upside now I a much better speller (I was horrible before).

 A little more about myself. I am one of the few people my age (that I know personally) that can remember 9/11. It was my fifth birthday and I remember watching it live on the television with my brothers just after I had unwrapped presents. I have two brothers, no sisters sadly. My older brother, Chalres,  is currently in the Navy, stationed at Charleston, South Carolina. I spent most of my winter break with him, enjoying his company (I had not seen him in almost two years) and sightseeing the beautiful city.

Charles Brockmann Personal Photo by me

My “younger” brother, Brice, is currently attending West Texas A&M. I say younger because I am only older by a few minutes. We are fraternal twins, born September 11, 1996- which makes us 20 now. I will be glad to get away from him when school starts.

Brice Brockmann Personal Photo by me

My mother’s greatest goals when raising my brothers and me was to make us avid readers and not to make us food snobs. To the former she succeeded. As evidenced by our many books and that whenever we go shopping there is always a bookstore to visit. To the later, she failed spectacularly. Home cooked meals have solidified my expectation of wonderful food. Nothing prefab is particularly appetizing, there must be flavor, and now I am very particular about how any form of meat should be cooked. Both my brothers and me are food snobs, and proud of it. I cannot say I have any favorite genre of music. I love anything from classical to rock, with the exception of most rap and all of county music. Though at the moment I do have a delightful ear worm. Same goes for books, I read far too many to narrow it down enough. There are two authors that have influenced me in how I write, Jack London and Edger Allen Poe.

                       

Edger Allen Poe Daguerreotype
by Edwin H Manchester
Wikimedia Commons

Young Jack London
Wikimedia Commons

I probably grew up reading these authors alongside Grimm’s Fairy Tales. IT is from them that I draw my inspiration for both topics and writing style. In my free time I love to read. Nine times out of ten when people see me around my noise is either suck in a book or I am listing to an audio book. Most recently, I have been stuck on a series introduced to me by my mother called Outlander. Unfortunately, I have not had much time to read them, as they are very long books. 

Cover of the first book in the series
more information here

When I am not reading I love to paint. Not on canvas but on glass jars. My typical project will take over 5 hours to finish, at the very least.

Personal photo

painted mason jar

taken by me

Personal photo

painted Kracken Bottle

taken by me

When I graduate from OU, I hope to go back to school and eventually get my Ph.D. Mostly though, I want to research, studying and learning is my lifetime goal. I want to be able to teach people about the worlds that made the one we have today. Not just history lessons about events, but who those people were, what they believed, how they acted. I want to know just how much a system of belief, like those of the Romans or Nordic, impacted and remain active in today’s culture. My biggest goal is to prove history is still important because of its continuing influence in contemporary beliefs.

I am looking forward to this class for that very reason. So far, it seems like the perfect combination of mythology and fairy-tales, those stores that help make up the past, and modern thought processes.

Week 1 Story:The Doubting Shade

As was the custom of my people, I was to go out into the forest on the eve of my birthday. One night alone, with no supplies and no food or drink, from dusk until the first glimmer of light at dawn. When I returned I would be different, in more ways than one. Not only would I now be an adult in the eyes of those around me, my spirit would be tempered, my resolve tested. There would be something different about me then when had I left. No one who succeed in this trial remained the same. Those who came back successful where changed irrevocably, like they knew some great secret, a burden that was accepted with defiant grace. Those who came back in failure were broken and though they lived among us, they drifted though the village like wraiths. Then of course, there were those who never came back at all.

Before tonight, I had never entered the forest alone, it was forbidden, and doing so would call for my immediate exile from the only home I had ever known. Better not risk it. However, I had been in the forest before, walking with my friends, gathering and hunting with my parents and siblings. I knew how to survive, I knew every trail like the back of my hand. The forest was not a scary place to me, it was home. As I stood at the edge of the village, waiting for the horizon to engulf the sun, it was not fear that caused my body to tremble, rather it was a strange mix of apprehension and anticipation that held me suspended in my body. What would happen tonight, what I would learn that I had not already known,. As the final rays of light faded, my grandmother hugged me, she was the only one allowed to wait by my side as the time approached, kissed my forehead and left without a world. As I watched her silver head vanish I knew this was it. I turned and took my first step onto the shrouded path.

I cannot say how long I walked until something changed. Before, the trees had been comforting, whispers of reassurance trickled from branch to branch. The undergrowth a blanket over the cold grown, capturing the moonlight like droplets of liquid silver. The air pressed upon me, not oppressive but gentle. The new sensation of silence was peaceful. I felt like was floating. As if I were walking on paths made of gossamer. I was aware of everything about myself. The way my golden was caught up by the breeze, a stay lock trailing down my neck and tickled my skin. I could feel the rocks beneath my shoes, small pebbles turning over as I trod along the path. Every breath seemed to be too loud, too foreign, and too human to belong in this tranquil forest. Every sensation amplified. I could feel everything, hear the smallest noise, see every subtle movement of the world around me.

Then, suddenly, I was not alone. Standing in my path was not some frightening entity. Rather, it was me. Those were my own eyes staring back at me, piercing blue, calculating. Suddenly, I was afraid and as she opened her mouth to speak, I wanted to run, to flee from this specter, but I was frozen, caught like a petrified mouse in a cats gaze.

“Why do you try so hard? What is it about yourself that you think is so special that you are worthy of anything? There is nothing about you remotely good or useful. That’s why the sent you out here, you know, to be disposed of. Forgotten. You are a drain of resources, you have no skills to call your own, and no one will ever want you. It would be better if you never went back, that way you will not be a disappointment.”

That drew me up. I began to think about all the things I hated about myself. The scars on my face and back from a hunt gone wrong. That my eyes were slightly too small or my nose to big for my face. That I was I was too tall, and no male would want to be dwarfed his bride. That I was nosy, and insensitive. Or how I would rather hunt then mend clothing. All my doubts and self-loathing came to forward, and I was drowning in it. I was caught in a tide of reservations and repugnance that was drawing me out to sea. But then I had a thought, one small glimmer caught my mind’s eye and I spoke back to my mirrored image.

“It does not matter. Even if I am unable at the moment I will learn. If I am not worthy in the eyes of others at the very least I will be worthy in the eyes of myself. I will turn my flaws into strength and beauty I will make myself invaluable others. I will never give up. I will try and try again. If I cannot do it by myself yet then my mother will teach me, my father will guide me, my brothers will push me, and my friends will support me until I can. Either way, I will succeed. So it does not matter at the moment, the future is open.”

My specter smiled at me, a secretive smirk, both bitter and hopeful. Then she disappeared fading into the morning mist. Dawn had arrived. As I wondered towards home, I thought about what I had seen and done. I had not gained some great secret like I had thought I would. There was no great mystery I had uncovered. I had simply realized what was already there.

~ ~ ~ ~

As I walked by myself,

And talked to myself,

Myself said unto me,

Look to thyself,

Take care of thyself,

For nobody cares for thee.

I answered myself,

And said to myself,

In the self-same repartee,

Look to thyself,

Or not to thyself,

The self-same thing will be.

~ ~ ~ ~

Author's Note- While the original poem from Andrew Lang is simply about someone alone having a conversation with himself or herself it reminded several sayings. 1) Man is his own worst enemy. by Marcus Tullius Cicero. 2) You are your worst critic. Which both helped to inspire the specter. Also I was somewhat inspired by Nathaniel Hawthorne's story Young Goodman Brown where an unsuspecting puritan man goes out into the forest at night, where he meets other people along the way, and when he eventfully returns home his is no longer the same man who left. This story clearly inspired the setting of my tale but the plot is taken from the poem.

Bibliography- "As I Walked by Myself" from The Nursery Rhyme Book by Andrew Lang. Web Source

"Young Goodman Brown" from Mosses from an Old Manse by Nathaniel Hawthorne. Web Source.

Image:"girl person walking footbridge" by Unsplash at Pixabay

Estes Park, Colorado- My Favorite Place

When I lived in Colorado, I went on yearly trips to Estes Park, Colorado. It is a small town just outside of Denver that functions the primary base camp for people going up into Rocky Mountain National Park. Many of my fondest memories are found in the mountains, hiking its trails and discovering its captivating scenery. Estes Park itself, reminds me of when I was young and a cup of hot chocolate, a warm fire, and enjoying myself with my friends was the greatest possible thing in the universe. Though I have not been back to the mountains in years, I look forward to a time that I can once again scale its awe-inspiring peaks.

(Estes Park Welcome sign: Wikimedia commons)

(Rock Mountains National Park, Photo by Jim Williams: Wikimedia Commons)

(Photo of a camp counselor (left) and myself (right) age 13 at Estes Park Resort)

(photo taken by me of the Rocky Mountains)