Thursday, October 13, 2011
Postmodern Gothic: "The Company of Wolves" by Angela Carter
After reading Perrault's traditional fairy tale, "Little Red Riding Hood" we can see Angela Carter changes the story to make it more exciting and interesting for a contemporary audience. Some readers are surprised at >>TB continued....
Thursday, September 29, 2011
"Ant & Grasshopper"
I think Grosshans' modern version of Aesop's "Ant & Grasshopper" really does update the story and reflects today's values. Or the limits of two opposing value systems: the traditional "work ethic" and modern "hedonism." It's pretty clear which value system has won out today: and yet we all know how destructive and utterly meaningless such a value system - or lifestyle - is. But most of us still admire it -- fantasizing that kind of life even though our reality is much closer to the eternal drudgery of Ant. Perhaps that is why we need all these stories of Boring Rich People (BRPs, for short) frantically luxuriating -- as an escape from our grim reality. One thing is for sure, as Grosshans points out in his story, at some point they too will drop dead just like the rest of us. Nothing terribly comforting there - but it does make you think, which is exactly what good stories should do.
For your first Blog entry, you will write a critical response as explained in the Blog #1 assignment. Be sure to include the stories' titles, authors' names (correctly spelled), character names, and quotes from the story to help support your opinion.
Also, be sure to proper punctuation and spelling. You will probably want to draft the entry in Word and use a spell and grammar check and then paste into Blogger. Blogger does have a spell checker, but no grammar checker. You might also need to use some other tools such as a good Spanish-English dictionary or translator such as http://www.translate.google.com/. Remember the most important thing is to THINK for yourself and think critically -- don't try to write what you think I want you to say about the stories. For me the beauty and the joy of reading and talking about literature is the very different interpretations we all have. Just be sure you provide support (evidence) for your position (opinion). And then we will have some juicy material to argue over!
I look forward to reading your blogs. Also, become a follower of some (if not all) of your classmates' blogs. Make comments that are genuine. PLease, feel free to comment on this blog, as I will be commenting on yours.
For your first Blog entry, you will write a critical response as explained in the Blog #1 assignment. Be sure to include the stories' titles, authors' names (correctly spelled), character names, and quotes from the story to help support your opinion.
Also, be sure to proper punctuation and spelling. You will probably want to draft the entry in Word and use a spell and grammar check and then paste into Blogger. Blogger does have a spell checker, but no grammar checker. You might also need to use some other tools such as a good Spanish-English dictionary or translator such as http://www.translate.google.com/. Remember the most important thing is to THINK for yourself and think critically -- don't try to write what you think I want you to say about the stories. For me the beauty and the joy of reading and talking about literature is the very different interpretations we all have. Just be sure you provide support (evidence) for your position (opinion). And then we will have some juicy material to argue over!
I look forward to reading your blogs. Also, become a follower of some (if not all) of your classmates' blogs. Make comments that are genuine. PLease, feel free to comment on this blog, as I will be commenting on yours.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
21 st century learner vide response
I found this video more interesting than the one in class:
The 3 things that I learned in this video are:
1.
2.
3.
I found the part confusing where they say that ...
I don't agree with the part that says ...
The 3 things that I learned in this video are:
1.
2.
3.
I found the part confusing where they say that ...
I don't agree with the part that says ...
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Comments on the Singularly Strange Story of English ...
Once again I enjoyed reading this article -- I think it has a lot of information! I like the historical approach and I like learning about history so that could be why. One of the most important points I think Dr. Alicia Pousada makes is how in general Puerto Ricans are both interested in leanring English and yet resistant to doing it too well -- to protect the Spanish language and culture. And how this is tied to Puerto Rican identity. I see this all the time in my classes where some students don't want to be seen speaking English too well or to seem too interested in learning it. And I can understand that feeling -- so much of who we are is in our language! My daughter says I sound like a different person in Spanish and I sure feel like a different -- and definitely a less intelligent person.
Yet Pousada's article also points out the long history of contact and relations with the US before the invasion and take-over in 1898. I think that is interesting to me especially in terms of English-speaking migrants (Puerto Ricans moving back and forth). For example, we know many escaped enslaved Africans from English islands came to Puerto Rico -- and may have spoken any number of languages incuding English, English-Creole, French, French-Creole, or various African languages. Even after slavery ended in the English islands and intensified in Puerto Rico, there was movement of people from areas like the Virgin Islands over to Culebra and Vieques, and then to the big island. And she did not talk very much about a very important movement -- which is Puerto Ricans from the States to the island who are English dominant. That is very common and causes its own issues in terms of Puerto Rican identity as we have heard students in this class testify to. There has been a lot of mixing too - like in my family - where one parent is English dominant and another is Spanish -- and kids get both at home -- though Spanish has tended to dominate.
At the end she talks about the invasion of the Puerto Rican home with Cable TV in English and I too wonder how that will work out. Somedays I think it is shifting young people to English - yet other days I see that Spanish popular culture is so much stronger and vibrant and relevant to young people -- like with reggeaton music.
I would like to find out what young Puerto Ricans think about this, and to hear what they found out what is going on in different communities. I would also like to look to hear what everyone thought of the Singularly Strange Story of English in PR.
Yet Pousada's article also points out the long history of contact and relations with the US before the invasion and take-over in 1898. I think that is interesting to me especially in terms of English-speaking migrants (Puerto Ricans moving back and forth). For example, we know many escaped enslaved Africans from English islands came to Puerto Rico -- and may have spoken any number of languages incuding English, English-Creole, French, French-Creole, or various African languages. Even after slavery ended in the English islands and intensified in Puerto Rico, there was movement of people from areas like the Virgin Islands over to Culebra and Vieques, and then to the big island. And she did not talk very much about a very important movement -- which is Puerto Ricans from the States to the island who are English dominant. That is very common and causes its own issues in terms of Puerto Rican identity as we have heard students in this class testify to. There has been a lot of mixing too - like in my family - where one parent is English dominant and another is Spanish -- and kids get both at home -- though Spanish has tended to dominate.
At the end she talks about the invasion of the Puerto Rican home with Cable TV in English and I too wonder how that will work out. Somedays I think it is shifting young people to English - yet other days I see that Spanish popular culture is so much stronger and vibrant and relevant to young people -- like with reggeaton music.
I would like to find out what young Puerto Ricans think about this, and to hear what they found out what is going on in different communities. I would also like to look to hear what everyone thought of the Singularly Strange Story of English in PR.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Engaging Digital Media What is it good for?
I think we all engage more digital media than we think.
Sorry it took me a while to get back into this posting. After discussing the class posts about engaging or using digital media -- I realize I really haven't defined what I meant by "engage" and why I chose that particular word. I use "engage" rather than "use" because it gives a better sense to me of how interactive digital media is today -- especially the stuff on-line. But how "interactive" it is all depends on the user and the particular digital media or product. We know that social netowrking sites are fairly interactive -- you have to input information or do things -- to really make them work. Many digital (video or on-line) games are also interactive in the sense that you have to react to whatever is there, and you can react in different ways, which changes what happens in the game. Other simulation games are highly interactive where you actually help create the game or the world in which things happen. And then there is the bulk of the stuff that is low-engagement -- like surfing YouTube for videos -- usually clicking on ones that are "most popular" or related to your interests do not take much thinking or reflection.
Over the past year or so I have noticed I definitley am searching more for videos on-line - though I tend to go to YouTube as a last resort. I usuallyy look for educational material or material prepared by non-profit organizations or government or international agencies. Of course I also spend a lot of time reading articles accessed through expensive academic databases for my literary research (on 19th century Caribbean literature and culture especially regarding critical race theory, imperialism, and the African diaspora). I have also taken a few free on-line classes on the "Open University Consortium" to learn more about science and technology. I feel there is so much stuff to learn that can be useful for my life and for my work -- but cannot dedicate as much time as I would like. I probably use the internet for personal and professional education more than the average person.
I very rarely (never?) go on-line for pure entertainment -- though I feel pretty entertained by learning new things, and I suppose Face Book is somewhat entertaining (it can be time consuming though and overwhelming). I also read the NY TImes headlines everyday, and sometimes articles to keep up with what is going on in the world --though I go through periods of media black out when it gets to be too depressing.
Usually I use "google.com" or "yahoo.com" or "ask.com" to find out what students or the general public knows about a given topic. I always check out wikipedia to see what they have posted on a given topic so I know what is there -- since that is the first place many students go for information. I have never edited a wikipedia page though I have thought about it -- someday I think I will - but for now I have little time for such activities.
I also spend a lot of time now making wiki pages, blog posts, and preparing PowerPoint slides and learning how to integrate multimedia into all these formats. I feel a need to get up to speed on new apps that can be used -- but again, little time to do so. So while I feel that Digital Media is crucial for my teaching and has a huge potential to better engage and interest students -- I am also limited by the amount of time I can dedicate to truly mastering them. So I hope to intgaret it little by little with the help of students. For the past year I have been working mostly with class wikis and blogs, and now this year I want to learn the basics of video editing, maybe even flash player, and at least one animated presentation app.
As a professional writer and editor I also see that we are in a moment of transition and that presenting and accessing information through printed text will become obsolete fairly soon. I think the capabilities of using images and video will outsrip textual presentation -- though text will not disappear - just how we present and access it. I mostly worry about issues of accessibility, accuracy, and complexity in the digital information -- too much commercialization can water down or simplify what is accessible -- and the good stuff will be either too expensive or too hard to get to for the majority of people. In terms of language - with digital translation so widely available - I wonder about the accuracy of the translation -- and also how the apprent ease of translation will affect language learning. Digital media sure poses more questions than answers for me at this point in my life!
Sorry it took me a while to get back into this posting. After discussing the class posts about engaging or using digital media -- I realize I really haven't defined what I meant by "engage" and why I chose that particular word. I use "engage" rather than "use" because it gives a better sense to me of how interactive digital media is today -- especially the stuff on-line. But how "interactive" it is all depends on the user and the particular digital media or product. We know that social netowrking sites are fairly interactive -- you have to input information or do things -- to really make them work. Many digital (video or on-line) games are also interactive in the sense that you have to react to whatever is there, and you can react in different ways, which changes what happens in the game. Other simulation games are highly interactive where you actually help create the game or the world in which things happen. And then there is the bulk of the stuff that is low-engagement -- like surfing YouTube for videos -- usually clicking on ones that are "most popular" or related to your interests do not take much thinking or reflection.
Over the past year or so I have noticed I definitley am searching more for videos on-line - though I tend to go to YouTube as a last resort. I usuallyy look for educational material or material prepared by non-profit organizations or government or international agencies. Of course I also spend a lot of time reading articles accessed through expensive academic databases for my literary research (on 19th century Caribbean literature and culture especially regarding critical race theory, imperialism, and the African diaspora). I have also taken a few free on-line classes on the "Open University Consortium" to learn more about science and technology. I feel there is so much stuff to learn that can be useful for my life and for my work -- but cannot dedicate as much time as I would like. I probably use the internet for personal and professional education more than the average person.
I very rarely (never?) go on-line for pure entertainment -- though I feel pretty entertained by learning new things, and I suppose Face Book is somewhat entertaining (it can be time consuming though and overwhelming). I also read the NY TImes headlines everyday, and sometimes articles to keep up with what is going on in the world --though I go through periods of media black out when it gets to be too depressing.
Usually I use "google.com" or "yahoo.com" or "ask.com" to find out what students or the general public knows about a given topic. I always check out wikipedia to see what they have posted on a given topic so I know what is there -- since that is the first place many students go for information. I have never edited a wikipedia page though I have thought about it -- someday I think I will - but for now I have little time for such activities.
I also spend a lot of time now making wiki pages, blog posts, and preparing PowerPoint slides and learning how to integrate multimedia into all these formats. I feel a need to get up to speed on new apps that can be used -- but again, little time to do so. So while I feel that Digital Media is crucial for my teaching and has a huge potential to better engage and interest students -- I am also limited by the amount of time I can dedicate to truly mastering them. So I hope to intgaret it little by little with the help of students. For the past year I have been working mostly with class wikis and blogs, and now this year I want to learn the basics of video editing, maybe even flash player, and at least one animated presentation app.
As a professional writer and editor I also see that we are in a moment of transition and that presenting and accessing information through printed text will become obsolete fairly soon. I think the capabilities of using images and video will outsrip textual presentation -- though text will not disappear - just how we present and access it. I mostly worry about issues of accessibility, accuracy, and complexity in the digital information -- too much commercialization can water down or simplify what is accessible -- and the good stuff will be either too expensive or too hard to get to for the majority of people. In terms of language - with digital translation so widely available - I wonder about the accuracy of the translation -- and also how the apprent ease of translation will affect language learning. Digital media sure poses more questions than answers for me at this point in my life!
Monday, September 13, 2010
Reflecting on Digital Products
As I mentioned to you all in class today, on Saturday I attended the Ana G Mendez Congreso Educativo held at the Convention Center Sheraton, and the main presentation was by Ignacio Pen~a from the Berklee School of Music in Boston (a very prestigious music school). The presentation was called El Gran Debate del Planeta Tierra (see their website at http://www.elgrandebatedelplanteatierra.com/ .
The group performed their music live (and it was really good) with three giant video screens behind them -- all showing different images at times -- and many times each screen had many images. It also presented scientific information about global warming and what needs to be done. So in this hyper-multimedia format they presented well-researched scientific information. They said it took them 3 years to research, create and edit the content. I do not know what app they made it in -- but they embedded video, music, graphics, and texts from many published sources like documentary films such as An Inconvenient Truth.
In any case -- I found the presentation very relevant to our class project - and felt inspired by their work.
I found this clip on the group on YouTube -- check it out:
The group performed their music live (and it was really good) with three giant video screens behind them -- all showing different images at times -- and many times each screen had many images. It also presented scientific information about global warming and what needs to be done. So in this hyper-multimedia format they presented well-researched scientific information. They said it took them 3 years to research, create and edit the content. I do not know what app they made it in -- but they embedded video, music, graphics, and texts from many published sources like documentary films such as An Inconvenient Truth.
In any case -- I found the presentation very relevant to our class project - and felt inspired by their work.
I found this clip on the group on YouTube -- check it out:
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