Creative Blog #2

My second creative blog is discussing the issue involved with the change of freedom that is accessible in college but not accessible in high school. I think that students who are able to get in and experience college, are students who allow themselves the change from their conformist high school to a college that allows them the freedom to explore new possibilities and opportunities that they would never be able to experience in high school. I think that it is necessary for students to go to college so they can experience the power that freedom actually holds and how that freedom can drive them to be able to better their experience in life. I believe that students are not allowed this freedom in high school because high schools have much stricter environments and do not allow their students to be extremely open minded like colleges allow them to. Overall, college really allows students the freedom to explore their world and become more independent which is necessary for every individual.

Creative Blog #1

So for my first creative blog, I'd like to discuss the importance of enjoying and going to basic movies played at different movie theaters. The idea of a movie is a basic art and the idea of seeing basically every movie that comes out is a hobby that I enjoy taking part in. I'd say that seeing movies is a basic way for a ordinary person to conform with society because almost every single person sees movies that come out in theaters because it is a basic fun, social event that every person enjoys. Seeing movies has a huge connection with the idea of conformity that is discussed in Kafka's "Metamorphosis" with the idea that seeing a movie is a way to conform with family members just like how Gregor Samsa's family had to conform due to Gregor's transformation. Seeing a movie with family and friends is a basic conformity that everyone becomes accustomed to. I think it is important for people to go out and enjoy movies because conformity in this way is good for people to interact and connect with others.

Conformity is Apparent Intro

Conformity is apparent in any situation in which an over-ruling body sets laws in which a group or society must follow. This use of law-setting is visible in any system of ruling whether it be in schools, work environments, or basic state governments. The feeling of conformity is most apparent in everyday school systems even at a young age and how both parents and teachers influence their young students and children  on how to conform to societal standards at a young age. Some argue that children in elementary schools have the opportunity for social freedom and the freedom to explore their surroundings without being tied down by conformity. However, it is the total opposite in which schools have all the influence and that schools basically try to conform their students in the way that they want to. In two works; "Metamorphosis" by Kafka and "Power in the Classroom," they discuss the issue of conformity and how students automatically conform to the classroom's conformist mentality as well as conform by obeying the rules/principles of the school.

2 Kafka Questions #1 and #4

#1 pg. 1014) I believe that these illustrations are extremely frightening but also exaggerated at the same time because I feel that in every single photo or expression on any person's face in these illustrations, there is some type of worried or frustrated facial expression. The depictions of the family members and the director in these illustrations almost show an extremely exaggerated but frightened emotion in their faces almost as if it were the end of the world. The illustrations depict so much confusion and scared attitudes that they seem like they are living through an end-of-the-world scenario. However, it is not an end of the world scenario but its just a guy who turned into a bug.

#4 pg.1018) I think Kafka is more sympathetic toward Gregor because I feel that the other author's illustrations that show Gregor's confusion and frustration provide a much worse scenario for Gregor than does Kafka's writing. Kafka uses slight words with out much exaggeration and it acts more sympathetic to Gregor's incident. Gregor doesn't want to be depicted as this confused, scary insect like all of the illustrations of Mairowitz, Crumb, and Kuper depict him as. Kafka is the only one who describes Gregor in a description in writing that doesn't give too much detail on how much he is scaring his family and the people around him.

Leaderless discussion

I believe that the leaderless discussion that we had in class on monday was very productive because I believe that the group dynamics of each group were very unique and were able to function well. I think that each student's ability to add their comment when necessary will help the leaderless discussion and will make it necessary to have a leader.

Intro paragraph for essay

In "A Psychoanalytic Critic at Work," Frederick R. Karl analyzes the ambiguity as well as the intensive detail of Conrad's Heart of Darkness which clearly discusses Marlow's nightmares that reveal his inner darkness throughout his journey. Karl discusses Marlow's nightmare that changes Marlow into a different man; "Marlow, in his trip up the Congo, has suffered throuh a nightmare, an experience that sends him back a different man, now aware of depths in himself that he cannot hide." Karl exemplifies Conrad's descriptions of Marlow discovering his inner darkness through Marlow's nightmares as he progresses through his journey and how his ego tries to stay balanced through out his expedition. However, Karl also discusses how Marlow's nightmares do not destroy his ego and allow him to become an id, which Kurtz has slowly become over time in the jungle. Karl's psychoanalytic criticism of Conrad's Heart of Darkness discusses Karl's attempt to unravel Marlow's inner darkness and predicts his slow revelation of an inner darkness that overcomes him.

Blog on Items on Worksheet

On the Worksheet, I chose the first question which discusses symbols at first on the surface, and then the symbol with a deeper, secondary meaning: The Jungle in Marlow's description at first is symbolized just as a jungle in Africa that contains all of the basic items one would find in a jungle with animals and natural environments. However, the symbol of the Jungle I believe has a deeper, secondary meaning especially to Marlow because I believe the jungle is an escape from civilization for Marlow and a sense of voyage and discovery for Marlow. But, I also think that the jungle is an entrance or pathway to Marlow's heart of darkness that has not been expressed but is slowly expressed as the story progresses. Marlow's heart of darkness is a huge theme in the novel because Conrad believes it is necessary for this part of Marlow to be slowly expressed.