Presentation Post

This project on the Hero's journey was, for me, quite enjoyable. We got to apply an idea to a movie, which made the process go smoothly and without much stress. My group decided to do our project on The Life of Pi. The process of getting everything done was somewhat hectic, because two of the four in my group had sports, including myself. This meant we would miss work-time in class on multiple occasions. Because we could only work in class on our posters, this added some stress. But I think we handled it well. We came in during tutor time and we talked out of school to correlate our thoughts even though some of us wouldn't be present.

I thought a lot of posters in our 7th period class turned out wonderfully. I, having spent a lot of time with it, especially liked my group's poster. I was very proud of my group and how we quickly agreed on a layout and got to the decorating swiftly. We added tiger stripes in the background to represent Richard Parker, the tiger, and then in the middle added an iconic scene with the glowing algae. As I viewed other groups' presentations I noticed very good things about their posters, as well. For example, one group displayed significant artistic ability, depicting the cartoon characters as if I were watching the movie. Another had creativity, and added yarn to represent the flowing locks of Rapunzel. Overall, I thought the class did very well on this project and I enjoyed viewing the works of my classmates.

Week 4 Post: Hero's Journey Movie Suggestions

Journal 5: Sept. 19, 2013

Write about the film you think works the best for the hero’s journey.

I think most Pixar movies would work for the hero’s journey, and also this project. These movies are all pretty well-done and all (excluding recent films) have a good story with a hero that follows the hero’s journey. I think the best options, would be either Toy Story or A Bug’s Life. 

Toy Story follows Woody as the main, central hero, and his task is to get back to his owner when he and his family moves. The toys, obviously, have huge obstacles to face being so small, and they are tested often. There is also an abyss when it looks like Woody has given up his quest when Buzz Lightyear and he don;’t get along. But then, the transformation occurs, they get out of their abyss, and become great friends in the end and for the sequels.

A Bug’s Life also works fairly well, and follows Flick, a “loser” ant who no one believes in. He goes on his adventure all alone, which is a little more true to the hero’s journey than Toy Story, just because Woody has all his friends come with him. Flick also has to face challenges with  predators like the grasshoppers, and berating from his own colony. He also faces an abyss when it looks like there is no hope and he gives up altogether, deciding he would never return to his colony. This might not be his only abyss, though, because when the colony finds out that the circus bugs are not heroes, they give up on Flick and he again gives up. But he conquers this as well and comes up with the plan to dispel the grasshoppers.

Flood Post- Slaying the Dragon

Journal 4: Sept. 10, 2013

An abyss is the lowest part of a person/hero’s journey. It is the place of darkness and a place to face monsters (often metaphorical). Once the “dragon” is slain, transformation can occur. Explain an abyss in your life, small or big.

As a teenager, and therefore not far along my journey of life, I have never been plunged into a large, life-changing abyss, but I have experienced small ones. One of these dips occurred when I was playing little league football for the Superior Mustangs when I was 10. I started the season determined to win the championship at the end of the season, having come so close the last time I had played when I was 8. Midway through the season, though, I got a stomach virus and a knee injury directly following. The time I was out got me down into my abyss. For two weeks I couldn’t practice or play games, which, reasonably, made me feel useless, obsolete, and lost in total darkness. I was doing physical therapy and taking my medicine, but I never felt any better, and I felt like I would never get out of the abyss, or slay my monster. But I knew I had to get better sometime, as long as I kept taking medicine and, getting off my hurt knee. When I finally did get better, having faced and slain my monster, I came back to my team with an even greater ambition, and this passed to my team, as they also wanted to see me come back and succeed as a team. With our new-found drive, we got to and won the Championships of our league. Getting out of my abyss, conquering my monster, and gaining something great out of my hard work was so fulfilling and elating, and I am very glad I had the will to achieve my final goal.

Journal Post: Joseph Campbell Passage

Journal 3: Sept. 9, 2013

Analyze a passage from the reading

“The moral objective is that of saving a people, or saving a person, or supporting an idea. The hero sacrifices himself for something-- that’s the morality of it. Now, from another position, or course, you might say that the idea for which he sacrificed himself was something that should not have been respected. That’s a judgment from the other side, but it doesn’t destroy the intrinsic heroism of the deed performed. (Campbell, p.127) 

This passage describes how a hero can come about. Campbell says that the hero must sacrifice himself for something other than himself, therefore proving he is selfless, and that he has gone through a transformation of his mythology, a death and resurrection, if you will. He also says  that these transformations or sacrifices occur with a moral goal or objective in mind. The act has to be worthy of a hero, and not just some random everyday occurrence. He also says that the moral objective is relative. Someone outside the world of the hero might  look upon the act and disrespect it, but this still doesn’t discredit or disvalue what the hero did. He still sacrificed himself for a cause and proved himself as a hero. Campbell goes on to use examples of this, talking about how Napoleon ravaged Europe during his conquests, killing many people. Yet he was a hero in France; he was risking his life for the betterment of his country. The same can be said about Christopher Columbus traveling to the New World and both unintentionally and intentionally killing Native Americans. He was a hero for Portugal and Spain, conquering these savages somewhat unknowingly, as biological warfare transpired with great ignorance on the Europeans’ part. Now we can look back on this and say he committed genocide and mass murder, which is true by today’s standards, but back then he was a hero to his country and all of Europe.

First Post: Favorites

I have read many books throughout my scholastic career. Starting with children's books with pop-out pictures and crudely drawn characters, I have slowly but surely advanced to intricate novels with specialized character development and deeply inlaid themes and morals. Up to this point, my favorite of all the books I have immersed myself in is 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea, by Jules Verne. I love this particular author, because of his writing style, his great stories, his delightful characters, and his unnerving plot twists and cliff-hangers. The mystery that comes with every one of his novels, and especially in this one, is intoxicating and addictive. I can't help but read one more page, and then one more. I have read 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea multiple times now and frankly, it never gets old. Even though I know the plot line, i still thoroughly enjoy the prowess and literary mastery that Jules Verne puts into all his works.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=2abtTgAPnsU

My favorite dinner has long been spaghetti and garlic bread. This has been a staple meal in my family for most of my life. It has become a part of my family's culture, and everyone gets excited when it is on the menu. The hot noodles with parmesan and spaghetti sauce explode in our mouths, and the soft, starchy supplement  of the bread makes it all the better. We love it with a burning passion and have preached its tastiness to most of the people we know. Through our recommendations, we have assimilated countless people to our way of food-religion.

Video:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rszu3-NsLc4