Because Presidents Are Human Too

With a high rank in society such as government officials or the president comes a perception of superiority and stiffness. We fail to realize that they're human just like us: we make mistakes, we crack jokes and we're just plain dorks sometimes. Here's a reminder that even president Obama isn't always serious. Kudos to the president for having fun with his job.

Not Your Average Lit Anal

Recently my brother gave me a book he said I'd enjoy reading. Since I'm not the greatest at picking books myself I eagerly reached for the book and read the title, "Annual Editions Anthropology: Thirty-Seventh Edition." To my surprise he handed me an Anthropology text. I gave him a puzzled looked, but still grabbed it knowing I would still read it being the low key nerd I am. He explained that it was pretty interesting and said to just read it cause I'm "into that kinda stuff." At the moment I had no idea what he meant because I knew as much about Anthropology as a biochem major knew, but I trusted him because if my brother, who absolutely hated everything about school said a book was interesting, it must have been really interesting. So I went to my room and began reading this text that might have just added another possibility to my career paths.

With that said I decided to adopt the literature analysis assignment and remix it as my own. I was originally going to use the Poisonwood Bible because I actually read (and enjoyed) that book over summer, but I really didn't feel like BSing another assignment and I wanted to actually learn something in the process like we're "supposed" to. And personally, I learn more about a book if I can read it fully through then write down my own thoughts without having to stop every few pages to "briefly summarize blah blah blah." It's like switching from my applied brain to my school brain, which should be the same but is unfortunately not. Therefore, for my literature analysis I'm not going to "analyze" the book, but I will explain why I was interested in this book, what I learned from it and what it's about in general.

"Anthropology: Thirty-Seventh Edition"

What's An Anthropologist and their role:

According to the text, an anthropologists "studies in a variety of settings and situations, ranging from small hamlets and villages to neighborhoods and corporate offices of major urban centers throughout the world." One of the many goals strived for is the ability to describe and compare/contrast the many diverse societies across the world. Research includes living among each society for a period of time, taking in the life of the people and observing the roles each person plays and their behavior towards everything around them. The anthropologists serve as a "participant observer" gaining an insider perspective while being cautious as to not compromise their scientist objective.

What Is It About:

This text contains 7 units explaining how anthropologists learn to keep an unbiased perspective, cultures, communication skills, gender/status, religion, etc.. Each unit contains a series of different accounts by anthropologists while in the field studying a wide variety of cultures. The stories range from a Christmas dinner in the Kalahari to walking the streets with prostitutes in order to attain real, raw truths of individuals themselves not the stereotypical views. Each anthropologists are different in their ways of thinking, but the same in their research techniques. This allows for each story to be told through different perspectives only they are more in-depth and unbiased when it comes to analyzing the societies from their anthropological perspective.

What I learned:

While reading this text, I learned how anthropologists acquire an unbiased view in different situations and absorb different personalities without becoming too attach to personal affairs. It's important for anthropologists to connect with the people, but maintain their scientific objective. This has been a shared conflict among many researchers; over time they learn a better understanding of why societies behave the way they do creating a more compassionate character out of the researcher. I've also learned that this profession requires physical and mental stamina to endure the hardships of the societies researched. For example, in the story "Tricking and Trapping" the author, Claire. E Sterk, describes situations in which she found herself struggling to gain trust with the prostitutes, pimps and neighborhood in general. She also dealt with violence and disrespect as she walked the streets with these women. On the other hand, she acquired a level of respect as she became knowledgable as to who she could trust and who to not associate with. One pimp in particular came to respect Sterk enough to protect her from the harassments of other pimps and prostitutes. Compassion played a role in the interview process. Since many women weren't comfortable enough to speak intimately about their lives in their streets, Sterk found her most in-depth interviews while buying groceries, dining at a restaurant or just sitting in her office or car with the women. As the reader can conclude, Sterk had to create those close connections but put the emotional toll aside when conducting an unbiased written work.

Why I enjoyed it:

The reasons behind each society's beliefs, way of life, behavior and actions are all revealed to the reader through the stories, making learning a more interesting and quite retainable way of acquiring knowledge. It's like reading a story for pleasure and something all of a sudden clicking in your brain because a character or scene helped you realize reasons for things you didn't previously understand. It's easier to come to the realization of solutions when it occurs spontaneously without even trying to look for the tone or mood of the story; rather it just occurs as you imagine the events in your head like a movie rather than a text book. Overall, it helps mesh your school and applied brains into one making it easier for "school work" to be applied in our daily routines and conversations.

"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock" by T.S. Eliot

In this poem, time is described to be limited. Contradictorily, the poem describes the unlimited possibilities we can do with time. In the limited time given we feel, experience and witness several different elements that create our life and who we are. What we do with our time reflects directly on who we are as a person whether it's used "talking of Michelangelo" or contemplating "a hundred indecisions." Overall, the real conflict is derived from whether we're going to regret what we do with life whether the regret comes from doing everything or doing nothing. The poem speaks a lot about pondering decisions in life and wondering "would it have been worth it, after all." The lines stating "To wonder, Do I dare? and Do I dare?/ Time to turn back and descend the stair/ With a bald spot in the middle of my hair-" represents an individual contemplating the effects of their choices so excessively that it causes them to become bald from stressing about the decision or thinking of it so long as to letting life pass them by and accomplishing nothing. 

T.S. Eliot's allusion to Hamlet parallels with the message of the poem. Just as the narrator struggles with their decisions and the consequences of those decisions, Hamlet struggled with the responsibility of avenging his father's death. Thinking of the consequences caused Hamlet to second guess his confidence as he realized he was compromising his morals and values. Throughout the play tentativeness was acquired by Hamlet as he thought of whether all the chaos to occur after the murder would be worth it.

"I have seen the moment of my greatness flicker

And I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat, and snicker

And in short, I was afraid"

T.S. Eliot utilizes figurative language in these lines to paint an image that can be interpreted as a bump in the road that's quickly approaching its end. The narrator realizes that he never accomplished the greatness he could have achieved for fear of being judged, but (ironically) as his life is coming to an end he becomes afraid that he'll regret never doing anything for fear of regretting those actions.

Poetry Remixed

"The Place Where We Are Right" by Yehuda Amichai

From the place where we are right

Flowers will never grow

In the Spring.

The place where we are right

Is hard and trampled

Like a yard.

But doubts and loves

Dig up the world

Like a mole, a plow.

And a whisper will be heard in the place

Where the ruined

House once stood.

"The Place Where We Are Right" Remixed by Bree, Bianca, Cameron, Aaron & Matthew

From the place where we are right

Flowers will always grow

In the Spring

The place where we are right

Is inferior and controlled

Like servants.

But hope and revolution

Dig up the world

Like a convolution

And a shout will be heard in the place

Where the silenced

Society once stood.

W.A.R. (We Are the Revival)

Ignorance is not bliss in our current world today. The unbelievable amount of negativity drowning our social medias, news and life in general is shocking. But there's also a spark of hope within the chaos. Hope that maybe the people are becoming more aware of the seriousness of situations hidden from the world's eye, which is not entirely the "government's" fault like citizens claim. Part of the blame can be casted on the government but the control they have upon the people is caused by the people themselves; submitting to the government's laws and systems and rules and regulations and police forces. People believing they can't do anything. Recent news reports have given hope that citizens can overcome anything if we really tried and supported one another against a common cause.

Acts of police brutality have circulated the country and the world and american citizens have created protests events. This happens all of the time; some act of inequality occurs, some people protest, then it gets shut down. The only difference this time: it's no where near dying out with the amount of people protesting not only within America's walls but counties all over the world.  "Wake up America" isn't just applying to the police force or the individuals holding an office in the government or the picket sign holders crowding the streets. Lawyers, teachers, librarians, stay-at-home moms, retail employees, delivery men: this is America. We are America. The most vital citizens of America are the students because we are the next generation. The protesters have set up the stage for a movement, it's up to us to continue that revolution. How can we sit and do nothing about the chaos happening in our own country, while foreigners across the world protest with picket signs saying "America, the world is watching" and protesting against our own police and government. Get up and educate yourself, then you can complain about how the government has failed us. Don't trust what the news and others tell you, figure it out for yourself then stand up and make a difference. This generation is full of great leaders, educated or not. We just need a boost of self-confidence and motivation to get this world changing train going.

 I believe the world is changing and there's going to be a movement in this lifetime and I can't stress enough the importance of becoming aware of what's going on around you. Even though it doesn't affect you directly right now, I promise you it will in the coming years. These protests have become too numerous and strong for it to die out without a change in the system. In fact, the people have become stronger while the top leaders (more like dictators) have become weaker. Think about it: the true colors of the police force have been revealed and American's trust in them have taken a deep dive. Citizens have began to rebel because they've finally realized the security we've been trusting in is actually a twisted pawn to the game the system's been playing. The government trusts police to contain the people, but without the people's trusts the police have no power. We are the ones who give the government power and authority, not the other way around. We have the authority to make a change if we wanted because citizens outnumber the government officials by a significant amount. Security is dwindling and things are starting to get out of hand sooner or later the government is going to drown in it's own sea of power without Americans submissiveness keeping them afloat.

It's also important to remember that violence is not the answer, its the problem. Violence is what started this all in the first place. Just like you wouldn't answer a problem with a problem, you wouldn't "fight for peace" which has irony written all over it. Instead we need to revive peace. It's time to break the stereotype that our generation is "lazy and apathetic." Our generation just doesn't take anyones bull shit therefore we do what we want despite what adults think we should do or how we should act. But that's what makes us great leaders, the fact that we can stand up against what we don't like and create our own persona whether it's created through tattoos, Miss Me jeans, a loud mouth or a blunt personality. The people need to trust in us to mold a new world but most importantly we need to trust in ourselves and one another that we won't allow each other to fall without a fight. So don't just join the movement. Be the movement. We are the revival.

The Movement

Some quotes I found interesting ..

"If we are too tired, unhealthy or weak we will miss being a part of the movement."

"We don't need facts, we can get that in a matter of seconds from Google. What we need is a new way of thinking." (Preston)

"Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you." (Steve Jobs)

Poem Comparison Essay

Where The Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein & Summons by Robert Francis

Poem is a literary form of expression where the author utilizes words to evoke certain feelings and attitudes towards the audience. In the poems "Where The Sidewalk Ends" by Shel Silverstein and "Summons" by Robert Francis, the reader feels similar emotions, but those emotions are instilled in different ways by the diverse use of literary techniques. Imagery and symbolism are two key techniques that distinguish these poem's similar messages. Both poems contain a peaceful tone speaking of an uplifting force. The first poem, "Where the Sidewalk Ends" connects to "Summons" by the extensive imagery the author uses to depict images of a motivational scene. 

"Where the Sidewalk Ends" portrays an image of a place the narrator describes "where the grass grows soft and white" leaving behind a "place where the smoke blows black." The narrator serves as the motivational force, leading the audience to a favorable destination. Symbolically, this represents the same place where one chapter in an individual's life ends and another begins. This new chapter is approached by a life altering event experienced by the person. The motivation that aided in the overcoming of that event is represented by the narrator.

On the other hand, the narrator in the poem "Summons" plays the role as the person in need of the motivation. The narrator speaks to the audience with a desirous tone almost beseeching to "keep [them] from going to sleep too soon" and make them wonder why they ever went to sleep at all. The imagery described can be interpreted as the narrator's desire to be educated on seeing the value in life. The title "Summons" exemplifies the narrator asking the force to call upon them to continue their life on a higher path than they've been traveling on. Summon represents the idea better than any other word because it has a more authoritative connotation. Symbolically, this means the narrator needs to be called upon in order to reach its full potential. Once summoned, the narrator is able to start a new path in their journey of life, more meaningful and valuable.

Despite the fact that each poem symbolizes a motivational message, they are different in their uses of symbolism and imagery. Achieved through imagery, "Where the Sidewalk Ends" symbolizes the uplifting force calling upon the audience to a greater place. Whereas "Summons" utilizes imagery to relate to the audience on a personal level by symbolizing the audience themselves when in need of a summoner to a higher purpose. The diverse techniques used to evoke emotions succeeded in the similar motivational tone and message.

Senior Year Highlight: Senior Panorama

Of course I would be the one running to my senior panorama picture from across the football field last minute. The funny thing is that I was the one to remind our senior class president to post about it so nobody would forget, but of course I would and not go to school that same day! It was definitely a record getting ready and mobbing to school in under 20 minutes after receiving a text reminding me. I loved the fact that half the senior class started chanting "Bree! Bree!" as I hopped the back fence and ran around the football field just to stall the cameraman from taking the picture without me. Even the cameraman said "we're all waiting on you." Never will I forget that memorable moment of realizing "I made it" every time I look at that picture. I'm glad a gave everyone something to laugh about today! That was definitely one for the books.

Poetry Lecture NOTES

POETRY: the art of rhythmic composition, written or spoken for exciting pleasure by beautiful, imaginative or elevated thoughts; literary work in metrical verse; AKA inner monologue; stanza.
     -structure matters (example: Preston's tweet)
     -captures what we perceive intuitively
     -one of those concepts we appreciate but can't wrap our heads around

IAMBIC PENTAMETER: a common meter in poetry consisting of an unrhymed line with five feet or accents, each foot containing an unaccented syllable and an accented syllable; AKA 5 words, 2 syllables
     -mimics heart beat

"To Be or Not To Be" NOTES

Performative Utterances In-Class NOTES

Hamlet NOTES

Don't You Quit

It's amazing how often you spend in your restroom. When I was in elementary school we had this poem hanging on our bathroom wall and it has always stuck to me because I realized how many times we use the bathroom when I read this poem in my head without even looking at the silver boarded picture. I guess the key to memorizing something is to post it in a bathroom. 

"When things go wrong as they sometimes will,


When the road you're trudging seems all up hill,


When the funds are low and the debts are high


And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,


When care is pressing you down a bit,


Rest if you must, but don't you quit.


Life is queer with its twists and turns


As everyone of us sometimes learns


And many a failure comes about


When he might have won had he stuck it out;


Don't give up though the pace seems slow -

You may succeed with another blow.


Success is failure turned inside out -


The silver tint of the clouds of doubt,


And you never can tell just how close you are,


It may be near when it seems so far;


So stick to the fight when you're hardest hit -


It's when things seem worst that you must not quit.”

-Author Unknown

Intro to Poetry

SUMMONS by Robert Francis:
I rated this poem a 9 because I really enjoyed the imagery of an easy going character speaking to a force to inspire them to get up and do something adventurous rather than sleeping all day long or just living life with no significant purpose. The diction of the poem serves the imagery of a spirit needing motivation to get up and do something knowing they won't regret it.

THE PLACE WHERE WE ARE RIGHT by Yehuda Amichai:
I rated this poem a 5 because the emotions it made me feel felt rather gloomy and uninspiring. The message I received from the poem talked of a symbolic place where we are right and paralleling it with a doubtful, unattractive destination forcing the reader to conclude that the place where we are right isn't as beautiful as the place where we are wrong.

EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ALRIGHT by Derek Mahon:
I rated this poem an 8 because I like how it didn't just mention the beauty in life as if there were no turmoil. I enjoyed the acknowledgment of negativity but rebutted with an attitude to always look on the bright side.

WORKING TOGETHER by David Whyte:
I rated this poem a 7 because it talks of the narrators thoughts of the impact the planes he's building will have on its passengers. Giving them the realization of the influence of the world on ourselves and ourselves on the world and the intangibleness of physical and mental objects on earth as one flies in a plane witnessing the miraculous view from the rounded window.

WHERE THE SIDEWALK ENDS by Shel Silverstein:
I rated this poem an 8 because I enjoyed the contradiction of a negative connotation of a sidewalk ending and transforming it to a positive destination where all worries and negativity is left behind and  the slow pace to a new road beginning a new path.

OUT BEYOND IDEAS by Mewlana Jalaluddin Rumi:
I rated this poem a 8 because it talks of a safe place from societal cliches and judgements against others actions. A place where a "soul lies down in that grass" and feels a disconnection from the bashes of society.

"Hamlet" Essay (quote analysis)

"To thine own self be true" - Polonius (ACT 1 SCENE 3)

In Act 1, scene 3 of Hamlet, Polonius polishes off his list of advice given to Laertes with the quote "to thine own self be true" which basically sums up the detailed advice. In order to truly understand the significance of this quote within the rest of the play's literary techniques, one must understand the context in which it was spoken. Polonius advises his son how to behave when he embarks on his trip to France, as he recognizes the difference between their homeland and the foreign land. The advice given to his son can also relate to the play as a whole affecting the literary techniques utilized by the author from the tone, theme and characterization to the understanding by inside and outside spectators. The quote also portrays the power of speech as a transformative action to different situations.

As Hamlet steps into the foreign land of crime brought on by the responsibility to avenge his father''s death, he soon realizes it's much more complex than just performing the crime making him second guess his morals and values. He must build up the mental and physical courage to act on the words given to him. Polonius's advice relates to the thoughts Hamlet troubled himself with as he grasped the fact that he had no idea what he was up against and he would have to either stay true to himself or stay true to his father. Throughout the play Hamlet's actions altered from involuntary actions to self-conscious actions as his scheme began to build illustrating Polonius's advise to Laertes to always keep an open ear and closed mouth. The instructions given in the stanza relate to Hamlet's own thoughts of self-contradiction and awareness in the presents of an unfamiliar state.

Each character in the play was identified through their somewhat contradicting actions and words building up the central message of the play. Actions of violence, ignorance and sneakiness all contributed to the fact that no matter what situations took place each character kept their secrets true to themselves and portrayed a different character on the surface. Despite the tried attempts, truths were always revealed whether it was to an audience or one individual shattering the persona portrayed and altering the perspectives of the audience. This brings up the idea that staying true to oneself really means staying true to the outside spectators because in the end true colors are always revealed.

The quote also coneys performative utterances as Polonius's words become actions throughout the play indirectly. Although Polonius was only speaking to Laertes, Shakespeare used the quote to further the audience's understanding of actions played out from King Claudius hiding his crime to Hamlet hiding his scheme and all of the sneakiness of the characters. The transformative speech comes from several characters committing mischievous behavior such as spying, lying and putting others dirty laundry out to dry, but all in all the method behind the madness originated from characters looking after themselves realizing the false truths circling the air.

Polonius's advice turning into action encompassed the whole point of the play; staying true to oneself meant compromising morals for values like Hamlet did by taking on the vengeance of his father's death or other characters deceiving for their own welfare. The quote demonstrated that actions can be louder than words, but words can be more powerful from setting up techniques to attract an audience and aid in the true understanding of the plot and characters to portraying the message hidden within the content.