I Was

     So as some of you may or may not know, I like to keep lists. They help me feel like I'm somewhat of an organized person. Grocery lists, lists of songs to download, lists of my favorite quotes.  The list of the different lists I keep goes on and on (I thought this sentence was funny, so feel free to chuckle).  As I was brainstorming ideas for this blog post, I found myself looking back on a few of these lists, two in particular titled, "These are the Moments" and "The Things I've Learned." Whenever I experience something fun or an event worth remembering 20 years from now, I write down a few phrases about it in "These are the Moments."  Whenever I experience something stressful or an event that has made me grow in some way, I write a few phrases in "The Things I've Learned."

     Reading the things I've written during my past four years of high school has definitely made me a little emotional.  The family vacation out West, the bonfires, the afternoons spent on the tennis courts, the relationships that probably shouldn't have happened in the first place.  Looking back on these memories has made me realize just how much I have changed.  All the experiences have made me into the person that I am today.  Freshman year I was this timid and awkward person who was always looking for approval from other people.  I was lost in a sea of people trying to find my place and new friends.  I felt especially lost because all of my close friends from middle school had classes and lunch without me.  They were all together and I felt extremely left out.  Now, as a senior, I am much more confident and can comfortably be myself.  I have also made the most amazing friends who have greatly impacted my life for the better (huge s/o to you guys!!!)(Especially Melanie because she read this and made me edit it).

      I feel like when we reflect on the past, we too often look back on our regrets.  The opportunities we missed, the chances we weren't brave enough to take, and all the little dumb decisions we made along the way.  I think that it is important to think about these things, but not to dwell on them too much.  You should always learn and grow from what you have experienced.  I hope to continue to learn and grow as I embark on the new adventures that life places in front of me.  I hope to appreciate every moment, every laugh, every late night study session.  I hope to be ambitious and achieve all of my dreams and the dreams that I haven't even dreamt of yet.  I hope to love and be loved. Most importantly, I hope to be to be happy and positive at all times, even in times of trial when life just isn't going the way I planned.

     On that note, I'm going to peace out.  Much love to the IB fam.  You guys certainly played a large role in my life over the last 2 years.  Can't wait to see all of the awesome things you guys accomplish!

Walt Whitman: Inside the Journal

Step One:

"President-elect"
"I shall know if there is anything in you, liberated"
"Does the Queen of England represent a thousand years? And the Queen of Spain a thousand years?"
"Ships of liberate, blow mad winds!"
"Come show we wide sea what you are made of"
"Ship of the world- ship of humanity"
"Ship of the hope of the world"
"The Bohemian"
Several sketches- heart with knife, old man, etc.
Lots of lines crossed out or have question marks next to them

Whitman's journal tells us a lot about his thought process when he was creating his poems.  He was very careful and deliberate with the words he chose.  From the words I could identify I can tell that he really wrote to encourage the people and give them hope.  He's urging them to show the world exactly who they are.  The quote "Come show we wide sea what you are made of" seems to encourage the people and tries to build up their confidence a little bit it.  When I read the quote about the Queens I wonder if he has something against some forms of authority.  Maybe not necessarily against them, but I definitely feel like he is writing more for the common man.  Through the quote " I shall know if there is anything in you" I can tell that  he is a very careful observer of people and his surroundings.  He wants to write about life in the way that he sees it.  He wants to make an impact on his readers and provoke an emotion.

Step Two:
-Whitman wrote just little notes to himself (addresses, etc.)
-worked as a nurse
-"deep latent sadness"
-Created conversation between himself and Abraham Lincoln
-Library of Congress stamp. Enhances the fabricated conversation.  Plays into the fantasy/story
-Four sided God- Includes Satan and God. Good and Evil. Related to Civil War?
-lots of poems took real dedication. Several years it seems.
-wrote about slavery
-"libertad
-"is all lost?" Whitman responds to this question.
-Portrays Lincoln as a captain of a ship
-"Why now I shall see what the old ship is made of. Any body can sail with a fair wind, or a smooth sea"
-Change from calm to dangerous sea
-"hovering “black clouds … of death”
-"I welcome the menace – I welcome thee with joy"
-Whitman didn't draw pics
-Sketch of Whitman
-harp picture
-"The last war"

I definitely wasn't getting everything when I read the original text.  The transcriptions really helped to provide some context.  I think the topics that Whitman talk about are extremely significant.  He talks about politics, slavery, and religion.  All subjects that are quite controversial.  Whitman cares a lot about America and the people of America.  He isn't afraid to make his opinion know.  He believes that there can be a better version of America possible in the future, but hardships must be encountered first.  I think Whitman likes to be challenged.  He welcomes a looming storm.  He says "I welcome the menace- I welcome thee with joy".  Storms enhance weaknesses that need to be improved.  Storms can lead to new beginnings.  Whitman wants peace and equality.  I think the conversation he creates with Abraham Lincoln is also interesting.  It reminds me of the question "If you could invite anyone you wanted to dinner, who would you chose?" question.  His choice of creating the conversation between himself and Abraham Lincoln reveals that he cares about his country and wants the oppurtunity to impact/better it in some way.

American Dream

                                         

 

     The American Dream.  Something that many strive for and many fail to be satisfied by.  America is a nation that has a foundation of freedom and opportunity.  I would describe the stereotypical American Dream as having a successful job with a good salary, nice house, and a happy family.  My description of the American Dream has been changing as of recent.  I used to think that my description was fairly similar to the stereotypical definition, but now my perspective is slightly different.  I still believe in the happy family and the nice house in the suburbs, but I don't think that's the only definition of the American Dream.  Maybe it's because I'm young and I'm not quite sure what direction I want my life to go, but I think the real American Dream is the possibility that America has to offer.  The possibilities are endless.  If I want to live in New York City and have a fast-paced life in the city, I can.  If I want to live in the suburbs with my husband, dog, and 2.5 kids, I can.  If I want to live in the middle of the Rocky Mountains and spend my days skiing and hiking in the wilderness, I can.  If I want to do a combination of any of these future scenarios, I can.  I guess I don't really have a clear description of my personal American Dream, but I do know that the American Dream consists of the opportunity to be happy with which ever possible dream a person decides to pursue.  

     My definition of wealth has also changed.  I'm not going to lie, I like to spend money.  I like to buy clothes, shoes, makeup, hair products, etc.  I like to travel and go on expensive trips.  In the end though, you can't take any of the material stuff with you.  When you're reflecting back on the life you've lived,  you're probably not going to remember the prom dress you bought or the new watch you wanted for your birthday.  You're going to remember the memories you've made and your connections with other people.  The smiles, the laughs, the tears, everything.  I think today, a lot of people often forget to really cherish their social connections.  It seems that the majority of Americans are too concerned with money and making money to remember the value of social interactions.  Do I want a job that will financially support me and allow me to live a "wealthy" lifestyle? Yes. But what matters more to me is that I am rich with love and friendship. 

     I think America's attitude towards wealth is satisfaction.  If someone is wealthy, it is usually assumed that they are satisfied and happy.  I think American's attitudes towards poverty differs.  I believe some Americans feel hostile towards other Americans who live in poverty, but when it comes to those living in poverty in other countries they feel sympathetic.  My attitude towards wealth and poverty don't exactly line up with America's.  I don't think that being wealthy necessarily makes one happy or satisfied.  I know many wealthy people who are not happy at all. Wealthy people always seem to be greedy and want more.  I know it is bad to generalise and that this does not include every wealthy person.  This is just an observation and general trend I have noticed.  My attitude towards poverty isn't necessarily sympathetic.  I've been on several mission trips and I think that people living in poverty can be some of the happiest people.  They are surrounded by crime, dirty surroundings, and fear of where their next meal is coming from.  Even with all of these things, people living in poverty still are able to find such a pure happiness and reasons to be thankful.  

     I think that people in America like to separate wealth and poverty.  This separation is not a good thing.  America is a melting pot full of different people with different backgrounds.  We all need to come together and learn from each other.  There doesn't need to be hostilities between wealth and nonwealth.  We all live in America, the land of the free and the home of the brave, trying to achieve our own American Dreams.  

Importance of Translation

Giant Bug. Ahhhh! So gross.

Translation One: 
-Structure: "As Gregor" makes the process sound like a transition. AS he did this, HE FOUND he was an insect.
-Diction: "uneasy dreams." Makes me think of an uneasy stomach.  This phrasing makes me think the dreams weren't necessarily bad, but they weren't normal or pleasant either.

-Syntax: "in his bed" seems to force itself into the sentence.  Doesn't flow as well. Separates "Transformed" and "into a gigantic insect."
-Imagery/Details: "Gigantic insect." Use of the word insect makes it sound more scientific. Gigantic makes the insect appear to be very large. Does sound a little exaggerated though.  This phrase makes me picture a very large and insect.  

Translation Two:

-Syntax: The shortest of the three translations.  
-Structure (and an effect of the shorter syntax): more direct. Doesn't beat around the bush.
-Diction: Only translation to say "Changed." Changed sounds less impactful than transformed.
-Imagery/Details: "Giant bug." Sounds a little elementary to me. By using the phrase giant bug, I don't think of this exotic human/man bug.  I think more of an unwanted cockroach that one might find in their bathroom.
-Structure: Leaves out the "in his bed" part completely 

Translation Three:

-Structure: States condition of the character first. "When Gregor Samsa awoke."
-Diction: Only translation to say "Troubled Dreams." Troubled dreams sound more intense than uneasy dreams or agitated. More negative.
-Imagery/Details: "enormous bug" like translation two, I believe that the word bug sounds more elementary.  Makes me picture a really large and creepy crawly bug. Gross.
-Syntax: Not a lot of punctuation. Just a period at the end.  

Translation Four:

-More formal than the others

-syntax is unique. Stands out from the rest. 

-Lots of commas. Breaks the sentence up.

-"monstrous vermin" doesn't clarify he is a bug. Makes it sound like he's a giant rat. 

-only translation that says "agitated dreams."Makes the dreams sound more annoying than disturbing.
-States setting first. "One morning." Then states condition of the character."Gregor Samsa found himself."

     Translations of texts offer many benefits.  Through translations, people from all over the world and who speak different languages can read the (essentially) same text!  Without translations, many people would not be able to read influential texts, like the Bible.  The problem with translations though is that sometimes the original meaning of the texts can become altered.

     There are many differences in the four translations above that affect the meaning of the sentence. The word choice has a big impact on a sentence.  For example, there is a big difference between "gigantic insect" and "monstrous vermin." "Monstrous vermin" has a very negative connotation, much more negative than the other translations.  The use of the phrase "monstrous vermin" also does not clarify whether the man transformed into a bug or some other horrid creature.  Syntax can also change the meaning of a sentence.  For example, some of the translation gets lost in Translation Two.  All of the other translations tell us that the man is in his bed when he discovers the transformation.  In Translation Two, there is no mention of a bed.  Punctuation has a large impact on how a sentence flows.  If a translation does not flow coherently then the meaning of the sentence could be altered or misinterpreted.  Translation Four contains many commas and clearly separates the setting and the transformation.  Translation One and Translation Three are very long sentences with no punctuation. Imagery shift also plays a large role in portraying the meaning of the sentence.  The imagery of a sentence affects how the reader visualises certain images.  "Gigantic insect" makes me visual something different than "monstrous vermin" or "giant bug."

      I believe that the most effective translations are Translation Three and Translation Four.  Translation Four does a good job of clarifying and separating the sentence.  I like Translation Three a little bit better though  because it clarifies that Gregor turned into a bug.  In this case, I don't think any translation does a terrible job of portraying the events that have occurred, but there are some difficulties.  Each translation is a little different.  If you read these translations individually you would develop a different interpretation of each.  This brings up the primary difficulty of translations.  Translations can be mistranslated and end up portraying a completely different message than the original.  The tone of the sentence can also change depending on the translation.  Sarcasm and irony are often mistranslated.  If the tone of the text is mistranslated then some readers may become confused or offended by the translation.
   

Practice IOC

Freebie. So sorry. I plan on doing this eventually within the next week. I just don't have time tonight. Really poor planning on my part. Whoops.

Blog Post #10

Dunsinane!!!

Secrets and Humanity

https://www.ted.com/talks/frank_warren_half_a_million_secrets

              The speaker in this TED talk, Frank Warren, created a community mail art project called PostSecret. People from different areas of the world with many different experiences send Mr.Warren their secrets on the backs of postcards.  Once he receives the secrets, he publishes them in books or online for the public to see.  In the TED talk, Mr.Warren shares some of these secrets with the audience.   The secrets that Mr.Warren shares range from a comical confession, "I give decaf to customers who are rude to me," to a more serious confession,"Inside this envelope is the ripped up remains of a suicide note I didn't use. I feel like the happiest person on Earth (now.)" Mr.Warren argues that these secrets connect us with our humanity.  He argues that these stories reveal who we are as humans and what we have overcome.  Mr.Warren also emphasizes how these secrets have the potential to connect people with one another.  He offers the example of a postcard with a picture and the message "I found your camera at Lollapalooza this summer. I finally got the pictures developed and I'd love to give them to you." The person who found the camera was connected with the person who lost their camera.  Unfortuately that picture was never claimed, but it inspired another man, Matty, to form his own organization IFoundYourCamera.  Through IFoundYourCamera, many people have reconnected with lost photos that strangers have kindly returned to them.
               Mr.Warren persuades people to believe his arguments by using ethos, logos, and pathos throughout his presentation.  He uses ethos by emphasizing the success of PostSecret. He includes a photo in his presentation of his wife stacking a large "brick" of secrets onto an even larger "pyramid" of secrets.  This photo shows the numerous amount of postcards that people have sent into Mr.Warren.  By highlighting the success of PostSecret, Mr.Warren is also highlighting his success.  We should put stock into what he is saying because he obviously has had a large amount of experience analyzing the secrets that people have sent him.
               Not much logos is used in this presentation.  He doesn't use any logical facts to support his argument.  He does openly admit a personal bias in the TED talk.  He says that he believes that he created PostSecret because, at the time, he was dealing with secrets of his own at the time.  With the help of the kind strangers who were writing to him, he was able to get past these dark secrets.  This bias shows us that his personal interactions with PostSecret impacted him in a significant and positive way.  The positive view of PostSecret that Mr.Warren has may make him believe that all of the experiences people have with PostSecret are positive and life changing.
               Mr.Warren uses a very large amount of pathos. He is definitely playing towards people's emotions.  He tells funny stories to make the audience laugh and touching stories to make them a little teary eyed.  He goes into in-depth descriptions of two stories, in particular.  The first is a funny and lighthearted story of a man who proposed to his fiance through the website.  The story had a happy ending and made the audience laugh.  This positive emotion helped convince people that PostSecret had a large and positive impact on that particular human experience.  The second story is of a woman who posted "When people I love leave voicemails on my phone I always save them in case they die tomorrow and I have no other way of hearing their voice ever again." A voicemail recording was then sent in which included a grandmother, who we assume is now deceased, singing happy birthday to her grandchild. He went on to add that many similar voicemail recordings were sent in as a response to this postcard. He was obviously using pathos here to emotionally touch the audience.  This use of pathos was used to further Mr.Warren's argument because it supported his argument that PostSecret and experiences can connect people to one another.Pathos, in this case, is extremely effective.
               When I first chose this TED talk, I didn't think that I would be connected to it in any way.  I really just chose it because it was short in length and had a high amount of views. When I first started watching the TED talk I didn't really fully understand the significance of PostSecret.  Then I heard the story of the grandma's voice recorded on the voicemail.  When I was 8 years old, my grandfather passed away from lung cancer.  It hit me really hard because we were really close and he was the first grandparent that I had lost.  Shortly after his death, my mom discovered a voicemail on our home phone of my papa and I talking.  It was one of those situations where you can't get to the phone in time and the answering machine picks up but then you pick up the phone to answer and start talking with the answering machine still recording kind of thing.  Anyway, the conversation wasn't anything special.  It was mostly him prompting conversation and myself responding, as a shy little kid who hated talking on the phone, "Yeah".  My mom saved the message though, and to this day it still means so much to me because it gives me an opportunity to hear his voice and hear him say that he loves me.  When I heard the voicemail story in the TED talk, I felt a strong connection with the person who sent that postcard into Mr.Warren, even though I don't know them.  This personal connection I felt also made me realize just how real the stories on postcards truly are for the people who send them into PostSecret.  These experiences, our reactions to these experiences, and the emotions that result from the experiences are what make us human and make humanity such a special thing.  

Darkness in Double Indemnity

Response to Question 2

   Double Indemnity is full of shadows, darkness, and depressing themes.  The main characters Walter and Phyllis, seem to be trapped in a downhill spiral of darkness.  Phyllis is a greedy and manipulative adulterer who is only looking out for her own interests.  She plans the death of her husband for his money, uses Walter to help carry out her plan, and then attempts to murder Walter.  To add to her long list of charming qualities, she also cheats on her husband with Walter, makes him believe that she loves him, and then admits that she never actually loved him.  She's a lying, murderous, narcissistic, crazy person who makes several bad choices that lead her to being shot and killed by a man who previously loved her.  A very dark character.  Now let's talk about Walter.  Walter is a respectable man at first who has a comfortable job as an insurance salesman.  His downfall begins when he meets Phyllis.  He knows that she is married yet still flirts with her.  Then he goes on with her plan and kills her husband.  He barely knows the man and decides to kill him only because of money and because Phyllis told him too.  These are not qualities of a respectable man.  Walter does a lot of evil actions out of "love." When he finds out that this love was fake and that he really didn't mean anything to Phyllis at all he goes to her house to murder her.
   The setting in the movie and the way the setting is portrayed also adds the darkness of the movie.  In the literal sense of the word, the setting is, well, dark. The movie is portrayed in black and white.  Much of the setting consists of blacks and dark grays whereas the characters are portrayed in lighter tones.  As far as the setting as a plot device, it is also quite dark and depressing.  Walter works at an insurance firm.  Insurance is typically viewed as being a very depressing line of work (if you disagree please watch The Incredibles and see how miserable Mr.Incredible was as an Insurance worker).  This time period setting is also a quite depressing one for women.  Women do not really have any power in society and are forced to rely on men to provide for them. This leads many to marry for money instead of love. A marriage without love is a very depressing marriage. I also find the fact that almost ever scene in the movie includes either smoking or drinking to add to the darkness of the setting.  I think the idea that the need for additional substances to improve the quality of life to be a very dark concept.  I know these habits were common in this time period but it seems to be a very excessive amount in this movie.