class evaluation

Which texts had the most relevance to me? The "Maus" series was incredible in the way that it told a horrific story, but was readable because of the carefree illustrations. Everyone knows basic facts about the holocaust, but these two stories, told from the survivor's son, was a different perspective and worth contemplating.
I don't know that I made personal connections with any of the texts. That's not to say that I couldn't appreciate the stories, but most were so dark....
I was probably most impacted by the books on the holocaust. I don't think it's possible to become desensitized to that horror. It was disturbing to realize the evil that we humans are capable of, but rewarding to see, in the face of that horror, what we can overcome.

I am not a fan of graphic novels, but can certainly appreciate the creativity and brilliance of the author/illustrator. My issue with this particular class was that this genre was overused. I would have appreciated a broader range of literature. It was worthwhile to have it introduced, and to learn how to study the visuals as well as the text, but over half of the books we read were graphic novels! Enough already!

I feel the primary way that I grew as a reader and interpreter of literature was learning to close read. This idea was somewhat new to me because I have a habit of reading very fast and "skimming" the text. I actually enjoyed the process of slowing down and discovering the meaning of each individual word. I will use this technique, not only in other classes, but for personal reading as well.

The text that I found to be most challenging personally was "Blankets". I think there was a combination of reasons: I don't enjoy graphic novels, reading about winter in the dark of winter, and especially the way it brought back memories of my own adolescence. Also, having teenagers of my own, It made me want to protect them from certain hurts.
Ironically, the paper that I am most proud of writing centered around this novel. Perhaps because it was a cathartic measure and brought closure to my issues with this book.

Titania and Oberon

Titania and Oberon are a unique pair in the play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream".  They seem to have a love relationship, and yet bicker at the same time.

Titania's language seems dreamy and flowery, some of the most beautiful in the play:

 "Sleep thou, and I will wind thee in my arms.  O, how I love thee!  How I dote on thee!"

Oberon's language, too, seems that of a lovesick boy are times:

"Now my Titania, wake you, my sweet queen."

graphic novel - Romeo and Juliet

I've chosen "No Fear Shakespeare" to explore the Romeo and Juliet story.  Page 43 details the meeting of the two young lovers at a masquerade ball.  The illustrations are black, white and gray and the characters are drawn as homely people, not beautiful as one would envision teens in love.

The focal point on this page is the large drawing of Juliet outside of any panel.  Her face has a sweet expression, and yet the pen and ink illustrations give a rough edge to the drawing.  Romeo is illustrated with a mask, and is made to look more like Pinnochio with his long nose.  The text is completely edited from the original work.

As a whole, I found it to barely resemble Shakespeare.  The illustrations and text did nothing to draw me in or make me want to explore Shakespeare further.  In my opinion, the name of Shakespeare shouldn't even be in on the cover.

"playing" with Shakespeare

I would argue that it is ok to revise and edit traditional works of Shakespeare for the purpose of gaining an understanding, and also for pure entertainment.  Since his work can be difficult to decipher, contemporary versions make it relatable and relevant.  Also, his plays were originally meant to entertain an audience, so if "remakes" of his work do the same, then the spirit of Shakespeare isn't lost.

Contemporary versions of Shakespeare find an audience that the traditional works might not.

Fun Facts

research paper supports

"Through his 'artistic creativity' man appears more than ever 'in the image of God,' and he accomplishes this task above all in shaping the wondrous 'material' of his own humanity and then exercising creative dominion over the universe which surrounds him.  With loving regard, the divine artist passes on to the human artist a spark of his own surpassing wisdom, calling him to share in his creative power"  (John Paul II qtd. in Art, wonder and the Religious Dimension of the Child 1).

I will be using the above quote to give another perspective to Thompson's  perceived lack of support from his church for his artistic endeavors.  I would like to show that, while he certainly encountered people who were obstacles to his creativity, they don't necessarily represent the church, and  certainly not God Himself, the ultimate creator. 

"...religious adolescents report consistently higher numbers of developmental assets associated with increased restraint and decreased risk behavior. Furrow and Wagener join a long list of scholars who have found an association between religious perception and religious participation and reduced engagement in risk behaviors ranging from drug and alcohol abuse to juvenile delinquency." 

I will probably use the above quote when presenting Thompson's experience at church camp when many of his peers were participating in drug use.  Again, certainly adolescents participate in risky behaviors, but statistics show that religious involvement lowers this risk dramatically. 

I think "Blankets" did a great job of showing the negative outcomes of feeling oppressed by religion, but it is certainly not the whole picture.  Thompson may not even be aware of the positive effects his Christianity has had on his life.

"Disengagement does not imply conflict with the family, but a normal process of developmental growth and response to opportunities and "pulls" for adolescent experiences outside the family.  This is an age of testing one's identity  and experimenting with boundaries.  Yet, many young adults have and probably will continue to come back to religion."

I will use parts or all of this quote when addressing the end of Thompson's book, when he reaches young adulthood and decides that he can no longer embrace his parent's religion.  I will present that this "distancing" yourself from your parents is a normal process of growing up.  Also, most people brought up religiously return to some sort of spirituality as adults.

Notes to self:

**Include interesting information from Wiki on the term "coming of age".  (define the age, and the process)

discuss risk factors:  smoking, alcohol use, truancy, sexual activity, depression.

Maus II

In "Maus II", Spiegelman makes it apparent that his father, Vladek, has trouble dealing with even the smallest issues of life.  On page 90, the second panel shows Art and his wife discussing Vladek's survival of the Holocaust:  "It's a miracle he survived.....In some ways he didn't survive."  The author almost questions the purposefulness of living through the Holocaust if your life is hell afterwards.

I find it also interesting that the first panel on page 90 has Lucia saying "I'd rather kill myself than live through all that".  When in fact, Art's mother DID kill herself!  She physically survived the Holocaust, but mentally, died in the concentration camps.  Is the author questioning what it means to "survive"?