Final Brave New World Post

For the final Brave New World journal. I would  like you to create three questions: two related solely to BNW that pose open-ended questions about the text as a whole that are not definititvely answered in the text (think theme, why the author did something a specific way, purpose of the ending or the fate of different characters, what he is saying overall about this kind of society, etc.). The final question should be about both 1984 and Brave New World as a whole dealing with similarities/differences in the approaches to the utopian idea, the possibility of these state coming to be, the choice of protagonists, the fears of the authors, etc.

Please don't pose a questions straight from the prompt. For example, "What are the similarities and differences between Orwell's utopian ideal and Huxley's?" Instead, use those as a jumping off point to give me something more specific and creative.

Enjoy some Sigur Ros http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xow2gnVTUjs . I always imagine this music to be playing in Brave New World. It is sung in a made up version of Icelandic that is both beautiful and perplexing at the same time. The video is fantastic, with the music over top of a special needs theatre group performing a play about the elements with the music as the backdrop. If your immaturity will not allow you to watch the video without laughing turn it off (and I feel sorry for you).

Brave New World Blog #2 (Ch. 7-13)

As you read through Brave New World there should be questions that you pose to yourself about how their society works, what possible conflicts may arise, the motivations of a character or characters, the purpose of the novel (what the author wants you to think about), etc. Write out three thought provoking questions that you posed while reading. Then, hypothesize the answer based on what you have read. That means you should have some citations. These answers are not proven yet, but they are not unsubstantiated either, meaning you can't fully prove them, but your answer is based on something specific that you have read. The answer to each question should be at least six sentences...or enough fully discuss, support, and explain your idea.

First Brave New World Reading Entry

Answer the following questions from the first 6 chapters of Brave New World: how have they created equality or conformity? How have they reduced conflict, specifically in regards to religion, relationships, and individual rights? How have they created or forced happiness/conformity? Make a claim about this society as either a utopia or a dystopia based the rest of your blog entry. Please be specific and remember that all answers to these questions should be claims, those claims should be backed by support, and that support should come from textual evidence (quotes).

This is due by midnight on Sunday 11/20. If you are going to KYA be sure to post before you leave.

While writing check out the song "Soma" by the Strokes...an obvious reference to the book if you listen to the lyrics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsbBH93Grp0

Or check out the Smashing Pumpkins' "Soma" about not feeling, but not necessarily an overt reference to the novel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OFIF6X4S-w

Final 1984 Blog

For your final 1984 blog you need to assess the ending of the book. Has Big Brother won? Why/Why not? Propose a way that the One State can be brought down. What do you think happens to Winston Smith at the end of the novel? Support your answer with analysis of specific quotes from the text.

This final post is due before midnight on Tuesday.

1984 Blog #2

In "Book Two," Winston Smith is torn between his personal guilt over commitment to his job and his traditional trust/belief in the One State, and his overwhelming curiosity which is fueled by other relationships and a yearning for something more/better. In  your opinion, why is Winston having a difficult time buying in to what Big Brother and the State are selling? Explain and support. Are his small acts of defiance (questioning) a form of protest? Why/Why not? Compare/contrast Winston's small rebellion to a more current act of rebellion within the United States (think Tea Party Movement, Occupy Wall Street, Anti-War Protests, etc.) in all facets - what they are fighting for, who they are rebelling against, the way their protests seen by the government, the way their protests are seen by the masses.  Ultimately, the purpose of this blog is to examine how Orwellian we have become.

It was not Galileo, or Thoreau, or Joyce, or even Lady Gaga that made the ultimate statement about non-conformity. Check out Pink Floyd's "Another Brick in the Wall" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4SKL7f9n58 . The video is pretty creepy too.

Unit Two: Cultural Conflict - Introduction Blog

Video Selection:  Video clip on Globalization and Conflict http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kniiNvoC0EY ; Identify the conflict. Is this an internal or external conclict? How/Why does globalization create conflict? In the speaker's opinion, globalization has flown in only one direction what does she mean by this? Although the speaker feels globalization has been one-sided, she notes there has been one benefit related to the process. What benefit dies she mention? The speaker says muslims and westerners live by/are obligated to two different sources of truth. What two sources (two texts) does she mention?

First 1984 Reading Journal

The first 1984 reading journal should deal with the structure of the society by specifically addressing the last slide of the power point (what utopias have in common). It should thoroughly (in multiple sentences and with evidence from the text) address the following: how have they created equality or conformity? How have they reduced conflict, specifically in regards to religion, relationships, and individual rights? How have they created or forced happiness/conformity? Make a claim about this society as either a utopia or a dystopia based the rest of your blog entry.

Listen to some atmospheric electronic pop (like Royksopp's "Poor Leno" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJjhagh8dk4) to put you in a utopian state of mind.

A Boy Namd Sue

Listen to the Johnny Cash rendition of the Shel Silverstein poem.
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=-1BJfDvSITY

First Listening Blog

Forgot to post this yesterday. Thank you Michael Kamer for reminding me. It is also on the website as is a link to the song on youtube.

How do your musical facts influence your opinion? What is the correlation between what you picked out from the song and your opinion? Do you have bias? If so explain.

First Reading Response Blog - Poverty

Read "Live Free and Starve" and "The Singer Solution to World Poverty" for 8/17. Write a blog contrasting the authors' opinions. Address your possible reader bias, and analyze each argument, ultimately agreeing or disagreeing with each argument or parts of each argument. Don't forget to use specific quotes to support your opinion and your analysis of each article. This is due to be posted by 11:59 pm on Tuesday 8/16.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2E_kIN2Z4Lo - "Mr. Wendel" by Arrested Development (1992)

Used to rap and dance to this song in sixth without even a hint of what the song was about. The "pop" hits you first and the "song" hits you later...sometimes much later. "Go ahead, Mr. Wendel." Don't blog about it, just enjoy if you can.

Greetings & Salutations

Welcome! Your first assignment once you have created a gmail account and your own blog is to become a follower and a member of this blog. You are also encouraged to follow the other students in your class, so you can view and post on their blogs. Remember: I will be checking all blogs, so make comments appropriate. Have fun making your blog a reflection of you! And remember this is the computer age, and technology is our friend.

- "Getting information off the internet is like taking a drink from a fire hydrant." Mitchell Kapor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhS5WG9QbLM