Tuesday, June 5, 2007

Final Blog Reflection

I think posting on the blog was cool for the first couple of times. Up until the time where I didn't check my blog everyday, and then checked it after a couple of weeks, seeing that I was missing work that wasnt completed. It has its perks though, such as organization, I can see all the work we have posted, clearly and legibly. I dont think i will be continuing to post on blogs though, simply for the fact that i keep a sketchbook. If we were made to keep a sketchbook, it would have been a little bit more interesting, and a little less time consuming, computer F***-ups wise.

Other than that, I have completed a majority of my assignments on this blog, and I chose to give myself a 72. I guess I missed the class where we learned how to make our blogs pretty. I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed this years English class, Ms. Bova, you are such a wonderful person, full of life, and you crack me the hell up! 12 grade english wouldnt have been the same if I had stayed in that other class!

Independent Reading Assignment [essay]

Harms Way: Examining Reality Through Fiction


As quoted by, Robert Louis Stevenson, “The difficulty of literature is not to write, but to write what you mean; not to affect your reader, but to affect him precisely as you wish.” This statement proves true when considering works from the author Stephen White, in particular, to his work, Harms Way. This novel is a demonstration of the human will to survive. As a human, one is considered sane, when one values his/her life, and insane, when one chooses to end that life. It is somewhere in the middle where serial killers lie. For they wish to take life, but not of their own, instead, they value life, and cling to it. It is human, to want to live. It is un-human, to want to suffer another, so as to not have to suffer yourself.

This novel evocates the will to survive as a human, the desire to exist, to postpone death and demise. The main character Alan Gregory is a clinical psychologist that is called onto a murder investigation by friend, Detective Sam Purdy. His job is to create a psychological profile of the perpetrator, to assist an arrest of unnamed suspects. Along with a team of FBI agents in Boulder, Colorado, these two figures, represent the will to expose and expulse the “inhuman” trait of the novel, the murderer. This trait transforms into the conflict of the novel by forcing Man vs. Man conflict. In one case, Man, Alan Gregory, could be versus, Man, the suspect. But, in another way, Man could represent good, versus, Man, that could represent evil. Within this constantly shifting world of good vs. evil, Gregory starts to doubt his concrete analysis’s; “my job was clear. It just wasn’t easy. How was I going to profile this killer? How would I explain this murderer, one who grew less rather than more impassioned? Because his passion should evolve. How would I explain this killer, one who grew more rather than less controlled? because his control should decay” (White, 129). This states, that although partially, Dr. Gregory is unsure of his outright duties, he knows that it is his obligation to prevent the murderer from gaining such a stronghold over the investigation. This foreshadows the authors intentions to set up Alan in predicaments, where his life may be endangered or on the verge there of.

One of the major literary elements used in this novel was, as previously stated, foreshadowing. The details, affirming the reader, that something bad is going to happen to a character. Like, “As I approached the stage, a door slammed shut somewhere in the building. My ability to exhale was immediately compromised” (White, 407). This small, seemingly inconsistent detail, illustrates the fact that the character may be in some grave danger. In Alan Gregory’s case, this proves true, when someone comes from behind and strikes him over the head with the sound of a “ping”, thud. Symbolism was also used in a wide variety of ways, such as the 2nd murder victim’s feelings about a flash fire that caused pain to him. This fire represented to the victim, a beacon of the past, and of a mistake, hate, and regret. “Pete didn’t talk much about what happened out there” (White, 267). Also based on ones opinion, conflict, in this case, can be symbolic of the will of good, versus the will of evil. These elements cause the plot to transition and branch out into more complicated sub-categories of conflict within conflict to create a theme.

The messages of the book, can be referred to as a theme, or a motif, or genre of book. In this case, the theme of Harms way, is good guy vs. bad guy, set in the genre of murder/mystery. But the motif is different from the two. The motif ties in with Robert Louis Stevenson’s quote, in that it shows clearly, there was wrongdoing, but Alan Gregory, nor Purdy, nor the FBI know where to look for suspects. Stephen White, in these moments, is then “affecting” us, the readers, “…precisely as he wishes”, by confronting this issue, but not giving the reader a clear cut pathway to the solution. This approach allows for the literary elements stated previously, to trick and flow the movement of the plot, in a way White sees fit. Though Stephen White is not the only one shaping the story from a fictional piece of literature, to a conceivably factual part of life. The reader has a part to play in molding this work into reality. It is possible to have serial murders like that of this novel, be it the Manson Family Murders, etc. What gives the book a sense of reality though, is that, the positions these people hold, Alan Gregory, a psychotherapist, and Sam Purdy, a detective, are jobs based is the realms of reality. So, although, the reader knows, and is familiarized by occurrences in this novel, White chooses to blur out the ending with vague foresight from the reader.

This literary novel reflects the very life we all live in today. It brings to it, things that ordinary people can look back and acknowledge what has happened in real life, and what could very well happen in the future. The novel is intended to show this reality, because it has to show the reader that there are people out there in this world who believe that lives other than their own should be sacrificed. And to show, that when serial killings, or murders of any kind occur, there is always going to be a group of people who will try to neutralize situations similar. This work should be commended for its level of realism, and its information parallels to the modern ages of today. Every human has the right to live but, not every human chooses to live the right way.

In this constant state of fear for ones life, humans find a new interest in life. That is to protect at all costs, the quality and worth of a life. But then there are those who take life away from others, as a gesture to avoid taking their own lives, or pleasures. There will always be conflict between Man, that is good, and, Man, that is evil. And as put by Robert Louis Stevenson, “difficulty of literature is not to write, but to write what you mean; not to affect your reader, but to affect him precisely as you wish.” Stephen White draws emotions already existent in reality, and bends them to his wishes to take the reader on a good vs. evil tale of self exploration.

Solve The Crime: The Cleveland Torso Murderer

After a few days of investigation, the police summed up their theories: (1) the murders were crimes of passion, not racket related, (2) a woman will be found to have played some part in the case, (3) the victims were taken to Kingsbury Run after their deaths, (4) the two victims knew each other and were killed by the same person, (5) the unidentified man was killed first, his body immersed in some sort of fluid until the killer could trap and murder Andrassy, (6) each victim, after his hands were tied, was executed by some sharp instrument, like a butcher knife. Police were quite sure that each victim would have had to be carried, probably at night, down the steep embankment of Jackass Hill. Automobiles and trucks couldn't get any closer to the ravine than 100 feet from Praha Avenue.

Police reconstructed the timing of events leading up to Andrassy's murder. He left home on the Thursday evening, September 19, 1935, not telling his family where he was going. From Coroner Pearse's report, he was killed Friday night. On Monday afternoon his body was found. No one was ever found that had seen him after he left his home on Thursday.
It was stated by police reports that after Andrassy was "murdered", the killings had stopped. It then brings me to the conclusions of the murderer being Andrassy. Though, he had, had a family, and a seemingly normal life, evidence was found in his soda shop, The Parlor, in the basement, with plans for the murders, and body parts in an old hatch refrigerator. This case can be closed, because Andrassy was murdered by one of his own proteges. And it is within considerable mention, that this culprit was responsible for the killing of Elizabeth Short, known as the Black Dahlia Murder in 1947.



Citations:
1. http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/unsolved/kingsbury/1d.html
2. http://www.prairieghosts.com/torso.html
3. http://www.francesfarmersrevenge.com/stuff/serialkillers/cleveland.htm
4. http://www.answers.com/topic/cleveland-torso-murderer
5. http://www.fortunecity.com/roswell/streiber/273/clevtorso_mo.htm
6. http://www.deadohio.com/Kinsbury.htm
7. http://www.bethshort.com/dahhome.htm
8. http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/famous/dahlia/index_1.html

Flash Fiction assignments

Phil Gardner - Bringing Home The Bacon

This story has one central theme: Sheila, the main character, trying to convince herself that she is not a loser for writing a paper on the importance of pigs in the bacon industry to win a prize.

citation: http://www.philgardner.net/mfBacon.html



Craig Schlechter - The Midnight Oil

The story starts out with main character Carl, in his warehouse cubicle job. Its late at night, almost midnight, all but 2 janitors are present. The author uses forehadowing to lead the reader into treacherous spots of this plot. Lightning strikes the building, flames erupt, Carl gets out with the help of phantoms.

citation: http://www.ligoniervalleywriters.org/catalog5.1.html



Renee Fisher - Beach House

The author of this work uses irony. Dawn, and Adam are main characters walking on the beach, stumble across an abandoned beach house. They go in, to their surprise are greeted by a womans voice, asking to dispose of a gun. Come to find out, the womans voice was that of a ghost who was killed by that very gun by her husband 45 years ago.

citation: http://www.ligoniervalleywriters.org/catalog5.6.html



Bruce Holland Rogers - "Periwinkles"

Two individuals, gender unassigned, one discussing parables, convincing the other. The parable is of two men, one good, one evil. But it doesnt matter, good or evil, because if both die alone in the woods, they will rot, turn to soil, and sprout Periwinkles. Nature, then, knows no human plights. Thats the parable.

citation: http://www.shortshortshort.com/

God & Goddesses (task # 2)


Kinich Ahau:
The Sun God (Mayan)

Kinich Ahau was the patron god of the city Itzamal,
and routinely descended every day at noon in the guise
of a Macaw. During these visits, the Sun God would
have consumed the city offerings to him. This god has
some attributes to help someone point him out, such as:
his jaguar-esque features, like filed teeth, and the Mayan
symbol of Kin, a Mayan day. Ah Xoc Kin was another
name for Kinich Ahau, associating himself with music, and
poetry.




Quan Yin:
The Goddess of Mercy (Hindu)

Quan Yin is the embodiment of compassionate
loving kindness, like that of the Bodhisattva of
Compassion, she answers all cries of help, from
every being. In almost all instances, Quan Yin is
seen wearing, shrouded about her wrists, and elbow
bends, the Pearls of Illumination. Quan Yin, in
her true enlightened state, or Bodhisattva, vowed
to exist only in the earthly realms and not enter
the heavenly worlds until all other living things
have completed their own enlightenment and thus
become liberated from the pain-filled cycle of birth,
death, and rebirth. She is also the Virign Goddess,
who helps protectwomen, believes that a strong
religious life instead of a marital life, and grants
children to those who want, and deserve them. Quan
Yin, as The Goddess of Mercy is forgiving and
understanding, thus free from pride or vengefulness
that She remains reluctant to punish even those who
break the laws of the country. Leniency is a trait also associated with Quan Yin, those of
whom are shun, and are sentenced to un-humanly pennance,may be "renewed" of their
atrocities, to be reborn to a clean slate.




Ganesha:
The God of the people (hindu)

Ganesha, the Lord of Categories: All that can be counted or comprehended is a category, or gana. The principle of all the classifications through which the relations between different orders of things, between the macrocosm and the microcosm, can be understood is called the lord-of-categories, or Ganapati. Ganesha is this lord, and takes into consideration that calculations that balance macrocosm and the microcosm. Among his vast astrological phenomena, and philosophies about the cosmos, Ganesha is also known as the God of the people, and is closely associated with the lives of millions of Hindus. The lord is a role model as, Buddhi, meaning wisdom, an influence to the people of whom worship him. It is also said that the reason that Ganesha has an elephant head is because of his jealous uncle Sani, who with a look, lopped off Ganesha's head. The beautiful child at birth would then die, if Vishnu had not set off too Mt. Kailash to come across and elephant. Vishnu then cuts the head off of the sleeping elephant, and bring it back to the party held by Ganesha's mother. This elephants head was then transplanted onto Ganesha's body, and the boy was saved.




Athena Parthenos:
The Goddess of War & Wisdom (Greek)

Athena is the goddess of skill, craft, justice, and industry. Being the favorite daughter of Zeus, she was also born from Zeus' head, fully grown. Her mother was Metis, swallowed up by Zeus, fearing her creation of a more powerful son. Athena and Poseidon, her uncle, mounted the top of the Acropolis, where she gave to the people, an olive tree, which spawned many resources, such as oil, wood, and food. She set up this new city and called it
Athens, after herself.




Poseidon:
The God of the sea (Greek)

Poseidon is often seen holding a trident, surrounding with under the sea motifs of fish and or waves. He is by far one of the most famous of the gods that are from Polythestic ancient Greece. He is also the son of Cronus and Rhea, and is one of six sibling who ends up dividing the power of the world. Upon important trips by sea ships, the crews would sacrifice horses in the sea for Poseidon. Poseidon means husband, and with his most notorious of relations, his sister Demeter (goddess of wheat), they were to become the god and goddess of fertility, birthing a son, as a horse, Arion. Also, Poseidon and Athena fought for domination over the city of Athens. It is said that he threw down a mighty spear that hit the side of the Acropolis, causing a stream of water, but it had high levels of salt in it. Due to this Athena won, furious by this, Poseidon sends a flood to the Attic Plain.




Isis:
Goddess of magic & immortality (Egyptian)

All of the following are names associated with Isis: The great lady, the God-mother, lady of Re-a-nefer; Isis-Nebuut, lady of Sekhet; lady of Besitet; Isis in Per Pakht, the queen of Mesen; Isis of Ta-at-nehepet; Isis, dweller in Netru; Isis, lady of Hebet; Isis in P-she-Hert; Isis, lady of Khebt; Usert-Isis, giver of life, lady of Abaton, lady of Philae, lady of the countries of the south," etc. Isis possessed great skill in the working of magic, and several examples of the manner in which she employed it are well known. One of these magical feats was when she made Ra tell her his most secret of all names, she made a venemous asp appear from the dust to sink its teeth into him as he passed. When she was told by Ra, his most secret of names, she chanted it into a spell, and gave him a full recovery from the poison. She also is well versed in the art of tonal presentation, which was as important as the meaning of the words themselves. She has her own chapter in the Book of The Dead, that demonstrates how to honor her, as she would have honored her husband, Osiris. Isis is almost always portrayed with an 'amulet' atop her headdress, and flanked with wings.




Amen Ra, or Ra:
The Sun God (Egyptian)

Ra is the Sun god of Heliopolis in ancient Egypt. Heliopolis actually means "city of the sun". It is stated in the scripts of the city, that Ra in later Egyptian dynastic times, was subsumed or taken in, to the god Horus. The attribute, the sun, either depicts an interpretation of Ra, or his entire being, or just his eye. Which is the most recognized attribute of Ra. Also Ra had symbolic symbols, like the solar symbol of the disk on top of his head. He is also associated with the Phoenix, for rising again each morning. Ra also is coined as the One god of monotheism, with all the other polythesitic gods serving as subserviants to his superiority.




Ixchel:
Moon Goddess of Pregnant Women (Mayan)

Ixchel invented the use of weaving, whilst being mostly made up waterfall, she takes charge of downpours on the people she charges. Her hair is said to be made up of real snakes, seen in most depictions, as well as the vase or chalice she holds upside, reinforcing her waterfall powers of downpours. If she is angered, Ixchel can be merciless and cruel, but then has another side as the Rainbow Goddess of childbirth. These two personalities switch and counter-act with eachother to create a balance.




Kukailimoku:
The God of War (Hawaiian)

Ku or Kukailimoku reigned over crops and woodlands, and was worshipped in many forms by craftsmen of the forrest. Ku is often represented with a helmet flanked with feathers topped with the blood of 1000 of his enemies. Ku is depicted as an angry god, with large intimidating eyes, and severe facial features, causes enemies to be enveloped with fear. It was believed to be a tactic for war with Ku. Statuettes of Kukailimoku were placed in the tomb of King Kamehameha I for protection in the after-life.




Kali:
Goddess of Time & Death (Hindu)

Kali takes the guise of many forms, such as the Divine Mother who sent the Mother Gauri, Shakti to free the gods from the demonic altercations of Shumbh and NiShumbh, who through their wickedness, conquered the celestial plane and the astral plane of all three of the worlds of earth. Kali is the Kundalini, or the energy that paralyes the tentacles of the solar and lunar currents created by the above mentioned demons. These tentacles, to humans, causes fear of death. Kali removes the ignorance associated with the demonic tentacles of persuasion.




Lugh:
God of all skills (Celtic)

Lugh is the ideal God, he can do anything, and help any man in need of it. He is also bound to his nature goddess Rosemerta, and the two are worshipped on the 30 day Lugnasad midsummer feast in Ireland. Magic that emanated from this festival contained fertile aspects that the people believed would help crops grow, and good harvest. He was called Lamfhada or 'of the long arm' in Gaelic, because of his hand-made sling, and the long great spear, he would carry to show his authority. Lugh is represented with some attributes like the sling and the spear, but also the pressence of the raven and the lynx. "Tain Bo Cuailnge", the Cattle-raid of Cooley, is a book that has the adventures and a running list of his daring exploits as the God of all skills.




Morrigan:
The Goddess of Cons(Celtic)

She had a habit of appearing to the great heroes when their life was in danger. She can change her shape at will, to fool her opponents into thinking they would be rewarded with the pleasures of her body. She dwelled in the North which was considered the 'Land of the dead', justice and the element of Earth. She is known as the Triple Goddess, and the Great Goddess. She was the transporter from life to death.

What is Mythology? (task #1)

Mythology is a kaleidoscope of any one culture, exploring stories of the trials and tribulations that are faced by larger than life heroines. These stories are adopted by the people who have faith in, and/ or worship the personifications depicted in the stories. Most mythological pretense is in relevance to the creation of the people it governs, and is affecting them only, shaping the way these peoples live out their lives.

Absinthe and Cocaine [sonnet]

"Absinthe and Cocaine"

Her lips ooze with poison when she vomits,
Stark as the dim green glow upon her nose,
Debauchery, indulgence she will omit.
Great pools of blood will drip from the green rose.

Height, not in kilometers strafe her grace,
Groping, fighting, billowing her with smoke,
Reducing presence, the fate of her face.
Striving the wilding huntress, she chokes.

No turning back, coldness is seeping in,
Her face begins to pale, thinning to bone,
None of her culture, no one of her kin,
She is now alone, she is now far gone.

Now the world has turned from a shell of bliss,
To punish those who tempt that sinful kiss.

Art [sonnet]

"Art"

My expression to influence your thoughts,
Based on my passion to drift out of time,
I care about you enough to have taught,
You the viewer, some meaning of this rhyme.

Mixing colors, opinions, to make themes,
In order to show what’s in my brain case,
Tell you, never as easy as it seems,
Keep close attention, or loosen your pace.

There’s no way to tell, it will pass or fail,
Its not about limits, its more of faith,
Don’t lose your idea, becoming stale,
There’s no avail, you just slip into wraith.

Art can’t be right, and art cannot be wrong,
Again, about expression, so, so long.