Below are the 19 most recent journal entries recorded in joker223's LiveJournal:

Sunday, April 9th, 2006
8:16 pm	Reaction to irisgal's entry You made several illuminating remarks in your journal entry surrounding the difference between disability and freak-dom. I agree with you 100% when you say that just because a person is different doesn't mean they are disabled and just because a person is disabled doesn't mean they are different in a negative way. This point has been so explicitly exhibited in both "Geek Love" and "Freaks." I've noticed that while the alleged 'freaks' have a great deal of personal issues, these particular problems are not very much different from the problems faced everyday by the alleged 'normal' people. Numerous characters in 'Freaks" had relationship problems and lacked self-confidence; this is of course an obstacle that everyone faces at some point or another. What's more is that these 'freaks' don't notice anything wrong with themselves until the people that are not physically disabled begin to instill thoughts of negative self-image. One of the things I enjoyed greatly about your group's presentation on Thursday is that all of you emphasized the fact that just because a person is physically disabled does not mean that they couldn't make a successful living for themselves. In many cases, people with physical disabilities don't make excuses about their conditions and they don't want sympathy from 'normal' people. Instead, they direct their best efforts into compensating for their disabilities. I agree with you when you say that no one has the right to criticize someone with a disability of some sort. People never think before they open their mouths and that is why this world is filled with so much turmoil and negativity. If people would take the feelings of others into consideration, maybe this would be a better world. (Comment on this)
Sunday, April 2nd, 2006
6:27 pm	Reaction to Freaks I watched this film with an open mind and wild imagination and was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the film. While a good portion of the story reflects the traditional melodrama of 1930s films, the audience is presented with a twisted scenario. Instead of the fearing the 'freaks' the audience sympathizes with them while we instead despise the 'normal' people who it turns out are nothing but manipulative snakes interested in exploitation and profit. While I was at first taken aback by the physical appearances of the 'freaks' I quickly grew accustomed to their disfigurements. Hans, in particular, was abused in some many ways throughout the course of the film. If I were in his position I don't know if I would've had the strength to endure the same amount of torture to which he was subjected. I will admit that after watching Freaks I have gained a renewed sense of determination in reading "Geek Love." The two stories have much in common and I'm sure that I will be able to draw remarkable parallels between them. In regards to Freaks, I found the climax of the film to be particularly interesting. Hans, by nature, was a gentle and caring individual but he showed no compassion when it came to exacting revenge upon his devious wife, Cleo. If you were in his shoes, would you not at least be tempted to do the same thing? I love the fact that they did not kill her but instead turned her into a freak of sorts. In my opinion, it showed that even in their anger, they still believed in concepts such as mercy. Cleo and the strongman did not believe in such ideals despite being 'normal humans.' Cleo and the strongman were the real freaks of the story. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
5:54 pm	V for Vendetta movie Well, this past Friday, I finally went to see "V for Vendetta" and I have to say it was fantastic, especially as its own stand-alone cinematic piece. I felt as an adaptation of the graphic novel, it was able to capture most of the essential elements of the plots as well as the major themes which were addressed. Certain characters such as Conrad's wife were omitted completely while characters like Gordon were significantly altered. Changes such as these did not hurt but rather enhanced the quality of the film. The romance between V and Evey worked nicely. I, for one, actually thought it played out better than their relationship in the novel, although at times it was a little distracting. I also liked the fact that V had more of a sense of humor in the film than the novel, as this served as a way to lighten the mood of an otherwise dark film. To me, V was more of a modern representation of Guy Fawkes than just an ordinary freedom fighter. There was less emphasis on the ideal and more on the man but this still worked well enough. Despite my enthusiasm after viewing this brilliant film, I did have a few issues with it. I did not appreciate the fact that leader's role was considerably more one dimensional in the film than the novel. He came across as nothing more than a second-rate Hitler. While the climactic shoot-out between V and Creedy's men was indeed enthralling, it felt like something I'd already seen in a dozen other superhero films. V's death in the novel was far more shocking. I missed the sequence where Finch experienced intense hallucinations when he visited Larkhill's ruins. I also disliked the fact that the scenes where V took vengeance upon his adversaries were unnecessarily abridged. I could name several other components which were sadly missed but I don't have the time or space to do that. I will conclude by saying that I recommend this film to anyway who enjoys a good action/thriller with a sharp political edge. Fans of the novel be warned, it takes many liberties with the story. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, March 26th, 2006
3:56 pm	Reaction to "Geek Love" I am going to be painfully truthful and blunt when describing my reaction to "Geek Love." First of all, I have only read about thirty pages or so and I must say that I am experiencing a variety of emotions including but not limited to: 1. Anger 2. Revulsion 3. Apathy 4. Disgust 5. Boredom...etc. I'm sure it is now obvious that I absolutely 'abhor' this mediocre piece of literature. In fact, to even call this book a piece of literature is an insult to the literary genuises of time's past. Thus far, the only thing I have learned is that the main characters in this story are scarred/deformed in more than ways than one. I have been trying to convince myself to press on but I find this task to be almost impossible at this point and time. If someone were to tell me that "Geek Love" is a phenomenal piece of literature, I would say in response that they are entitled to their opinion, but from my point of view their belief would be nothing more than their attempt at grotesque humor. I hope this entry doesn't offend anyone personally. I especially hope that I am not insulting our esteemed professor, Julie, who is by the way a very knowledgeable and gifted teacher. I appreciate the fact that we are being exposed to different forms of literature; I would not have it any other way. I am also hoping that our class discussions this week will shed some light on the meaning of this incomprehensible mess of a story. In the meantime, I will attempt to continue reading "Geek Love" but I do not predict that I will read more than a couple of additional chapters before Tuesday's class. (Comment on this)
Thursday, March 23rd, 2006
10:56 pm	Assignment #3: V for Vendetta (Symbolism and Imagery) 3/20/06 Don Manigly Intro. to Fiction Assignment #3- V for Vendetta Symbolism and Imagery: Significance of V 1. How does the use of this symbol complicate the story? Can it be interpreted in multiple ways? The symbol, V, complicates the story in the following ways: -The protagonist, V, at first, comes across as a type of serial killer who methodically slaughters his enemies and leaves his mark at the scene of a crime. Readers don’t know whether to sympathize with or despise him at first. -The symbol when flipped upside-down is actually the anarchist symbol. Massive anarchy in England is something V hopes to achieve throughout the story, yet he is viewed by the general public as a liberator rather than an anarchist. -“The symbol represents a man who is above justice. He is freedom, and only with freedom comes justice. Through V’s constant destruction of justice buildings the author is trying to get across that freedom cannot exist in a world judged by injustice”(http://www.shadowgallery.net). -“The symbol represents a terrorist. He blows up populated buildings, undoubtedly killing dozens if not hundreds of civilians. He refuses to accept anyone else’s point of view. He deliberately tortures people to insanity and death. He manipulates people to be his unwitting accomplices, regardless of their feelings”(http://www.shadowgallery.net). -The symbol represents disregard for one’s own life so that his or her sacrifice will be a benefit for the people of a nation. -The symbol represents hope for the next generation so that the people will once again be free from tyranny’s grip. Contrast this with the N symbol present on the uniforms of soldiers which represents imprisonment and restriction. -The symbol represents devotion to a cause beyond the personal needs of an individual. Yet, since V is a character that takes revenge upon those who wronged him, the symbol also represents selfishness. -The symbol represents democracy to a certain extent just as the N for Norsefire represents totalitarianism and fascism. -The symbol represents a willingness to act although it takes until the climax of the story before the public follows V’s example and rebels against the government. -The symbol represents the destruction of one regime and the creation of another. -The symbol represents responsibility, as V never denies the fact that he murders members of the Norsefire party. The symbol, V, can be interpreted in the following ways in the context of the story: -V obviously stands for vendetta. -V stands for victory. -V stands for violence. -V stands for vindication. -V stands for vision. -V stands for visage. -V stands for vengeance. -V stands for vermin. -V stands for verity. -V stands for vanity. -V stands for virtue. -V stands for vigor. -V stands for vigilance. -V stands for villainy. -V stands for virus. -V stands for vitality. -V stands for validity. -V stands for vaccine. -V stands for valor. -V stands for variable. -V stands for verge. -V stands for vibrancy. -V stands for vow. -V stands for vouch. -V stands for veil. -V stands for value. 2. Is the author using the symbol in a new or original way? The author is using the symbol, V in the following new/original ways: -“Every chapter heading, about thirty in all, begins with the letter V, for example—Virtue Victorious, Video, Vox Populi”(http://www.ninthart.com/display.php?article=5). -“V for Vendetta uses the letter V as a sort of literary touchstone. This symbol frequently reappears amidst the everyday language of the dialogue” (http://www.ninthart.com/display.php?article=5. -The V symbol is used almost as a warning sign to those who are on the killer’s hit list; remember V stands for violence and vengeance. -The symbol has made the protagonist more than just a man. He has dedicated himself to an ideal and ideals, according to the author, are bulletproof. -In traditional stories, both heroes and villains leave markings of some sort at the scene of the crime. The author alternates between portraying V as an antagonist and a protagonist. -The symbol is also a warning sign to government officials citing that V is preparing to bring the fight against tyranny to their doorsteps. -The symbol implies that V’s wrath will extend far beyond a few elaborate murders. 3. Does the meaning of the symbol change in the reader’s eyes from the beginning to the end of its appearance? The meaning of the symbol changes considerably from the beginning to the end of its appearance. In the beginning the symbol evokes the following concepts: -Death -Fear -Chaos -Terrorism -Vengeance -Political unrest -Oppression -Bloodshed -Mystery -Hostility In the end the symbol evokes: -Life -Rebellion -Anarchy -Contentment -Liberty -Justice -Unity -Equality -Suppression -Evolution Thomas Foster is known for saying that symbols and images do not have one specific meaning but a multitude of interpretations. When one is reading a story they should not be under the impression that there are a limited number of possibilities. Every symbol from a country’s national flag to a Roman Catholic crucifix has a different meaning to each individual. V for Vendetta can be interpreted as a revenge tale or a thought-provoking anti-Fascist piece of propaganda, depending on one’s point of view. The main character, like the symbol which ‘he’ represents can be viewed as a terrorist or a martyr depending on a certain perspective. (Comment on this)
Wednesday, March 22nd, 2006
9:50 pm	Reaction to comments about portrayal of females in "V for Vendetta" I heartily agree with in_reverie_39's comments about the stereotypical and rather offensive treatment of women in "V for Vendetta." The women in the story are primarily portrayed as either sex objects, victims, conniving maniacs, or clueless types. In addition to these intolerable cruelties, the women are constantly criticized for not looking beautiful enough; they are also beaten, threaten, tortured, and killed at various points. I will have to say that a few of the women are portrayed as independent and strong-minded. The female doctor from the concentration camp was certainly not characterized as a victim from the very beginning; she was depicted as an intelligent and apologetic woman who was willing to except the consequences of her more questionable actions. Valerie, at least according to her letters, was also a female character with a stout heart. While she was indeed a victim, she chose to write about her ordeal so that no one who read her diary would have to endure the pain to which she was subjected. In my opinion, Evey's was clearly the story's most fragile and mature woman who made the most dramatic transformation, both physically and psychologically. She was just a frail, broken down prostitute during the exposition but by the climax she took up V's mantle and continued to pursue a path of freedom for the citizens of England. Just for the sheer fact that she did not crack during the 'mock' torture session is a reminder of just how much of an impact her character makes over the course of the story. (Comment on this)
8:47 pm	V for Vendetta: Supporting characters I have noticed that in each of the class discussions revolving around "V for Vendetta" we seem to focus all of our time on V. Now, don't misunderstand me. V is a very intriguing character with a great deal of depth and mystery, but at the same time there are other characters in this complex story. We began to briefly discuss the characters of Finch and Evey, the other day, but I think our discussion can go even further. Perhaps we can discuss Evey's transformation from a timid little girl to a strong-willed woman a bit more or Finch's experience in the concentration camp. I found the concentration camp chapter to be both poignant and disorienting. And the ending...well let's just say that after V died, I was lost in the ensuing madness. I would also like to debate about V's motives and whether his acts of vengeance were just or not. Would any of you take revenge as he did or think of other ways in which to get even with those who wronged you? I was also a bit thrown off by the causes of death for each of V's victims during the story, so maybe we can further clarify those segments of the story in class tomorrow. And last but not least, we should discuss the Leader's strange love for fate which he treated almost like his begotten love. I was greatly confused by this part of "V for Vendetta." (Comment on this)
Sunday, March 12th, 2006
9:26 pm	Reaction to comments surrounding the writings of Foster This journal entry is being written as a response to the disparaging comments made in one live journal entry about Thomas Foster. While I will say that comments were a bit 'vulgar' the composer of that particular journal entry does make some valid points. First of all, Foster's commentary is rather jumbled at times. For instance, as mentioned earlier, Foster never clearly defines geography. Everyone knows that geography directly relates to setting, but Foster then goes into this lengthy explanation about how geography can be a psychology, attitude, finance, etc. Let me just say for the record that these implications make no sense to me. Perhaps I'm crazy, but I'm willing to bet that Foster is actually the one who lost some control over his sanity. His comments about introducing concepts early on as to not confuse the reader were insightful, but they were of course negated by contradictory remarks in the same passage. There you have it. I have said my peace. I would also like to make note of the fact that I am not a big fan of the readings of from "The Best American Short Stories" but after reading V for Vendetta, I have developed a greater appreciation for each of them. (Comment on this)
9:06 pm	V for Vendetta Well, I spent roughly the entire day reading V for Vendetta in its entirety and I only have one word to describe the content of this graphic novel: WOW! It is without a doubt the most confusing but at the same time one of the most endearing tales I've ever read. Alan Moore succeeds on all levels, except for the fact that the dialogue is occasionally underwhelming. The primary themes of this story include: corruption, the loss of innocence, betrayal, murder, revenge, and most importantly, justice. In my opinion, the character of V was a representation of a character who not only believed in certain ideals but believed in enforcing them. Perhaps that is the problem with the world we live in: no one is willing to act. I am not suggesting that cold-blooded murder is an ethically sound solution to one's problems, but I am suggesting that people should not always give into conformity, especially conformity of an authoritarian nature. What stood out most for me was the notion of ideals being bullet-proof as V proclaimed them to be. His death was not in vain as long as his legacy lived on. In this case, Evey put on his costume and continued his work. In some ways, it can be argued that V may have been a figment of Evey's imagination as he seemed to defy the laws of physics. He had a seemingly genius level intellect and superhuman strength, although these theories were falsified during the climax of the story. In my opinion, the character of V is a symbol of ultimate freedom. While he wanted to exact vengeance upon those who wronged him, he wanted England to be free more than anything else in the world. He sacrificed his life to see that this dream became a reality. I cannot wait for the premier of the motion picture adaptation of V for Vendetta. (Comment on this)
Sunday, March 5th, 2006
11:50 pm	This week's readings for Foster My live journal entry for this week will be written in response to chapter 22 in Foster's book. While the chapter itself was very short, I thought it conveyed some very potent messages about literature. First and foremost, the title, "He's Blind for a Reason, You Know" is eye-catching, capturing a reader's interest from the get go. The first story featuring a blind protagonist which Foster mentions, is the infamous Oedipus Rex. When I first read this story in his high school, I was greatly disturbed by it. Not only did the main character kill his own father, marry his own mother, and go into exile, but rather than commit suicide as many characters would do, he chose to poke out his own eyes and live with his intense guilt. As Foster mentions, Oedipus was not literally blind until the end of the story, he was figuratively blind throughout the majority of the story. Foster is trying to point out the obvious; a good author will strive to make their protagonist blind in some manner in order to create tension and excitement in a literary piece. Foster's most significant point in the chapter was made when he discussed how a character's blindness can not just come out of the clear blue; there must be hints of it throughout the story. As Foster mentions when describing Indy's fear of snakes in Raiders of the Lost Ark, if you want your audience to know something about your character or the work at large, introduce it early, before you need it. I believe that a great piece of literature features exemplary surprises, but the reader should always be able to identify certain clues throughout a story which will prove to be invaluable when analyzing climaxes which tend to be confusing. For example, I was initially confused by the ending to the Sixth Sense, but fortunately there was a recap of numerous events which happened to Bruce Willis' character earlier in the film, hence the shocking 'twist' in the story made sense after careful consideration. (1 Comment |Comment on this)
Sunday, February 26th, 2006
10:36 pm	Response to Geography Matters I am writing this entry in response to Glossie1205's comments on the Chapter 19 of Foster's book entitled "Geography Matters." I, too, am essentially a type of reader who prefers to skim through passages describing the setting in excruciating detail. These passages tend to drag on tediously. I agree that geography helps set the mood of the story. The Death Defier, for example, was set in the arid deserts of Afghanistan where feelings of isolation and paranoia ran ramped. The setting is a prime indicator which tells the reader which direction a character's life may take. If a portion of a story is set in the mountains, their life may be at an optimistic all-time high. On the other hand, if a story is set in the depths of sea, their life may be taking a turn for the worse. This is not always the case however; it is one of many possibilities. Unfortunately, I do still believe that overlong setting descriptions can ruin an otherwise spell-binding tale. As a reader, I want to know about the mindsets of the characters, not about the beautiful hills where the character is dwelling. This is perhaps why I'm more of a movie fan than a book enthusiast. Don't misunderstand me; in many cases, books are far superior to movies. But, there are other times when you want to get right to the meat of the plot, and spending too much time analyzing the importance of geography can be somewhat distracting. (Comment on this)
8:52 pm	This week's readings in "How to Read Literature..." After reading the assigned chapters in "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" I've decided to analyze the chapter entitled "He's Blind for a Reason, You Know." What caught my attention the most in this chapter, was the section where Foster mentions that when a blind character is introduced, the author wants to emphasize other levels of sight and blindness beyond the physical. A character who is blind is never just blind in a literal sense, there has to be a deeper meaning to this simple fact beneath the surface. The author uses Oedipus Rex as an example citing that he was initially blind to the truth about his life and he eventually cut out his own eyes making himself therefore blind. I concur with the author when he says that there are always obscure references to seeing throughout a literary piece, which imply that a character, in many cases the protagonist, is being kept in the dark about something pertinent. Often an important revelation does not occur until the climax. Director M. Night Shymalan often uses surprise twists at the end of his films which leave the protagonist of his films in complete shock, but if the viewer carefully analyzes clues scattered throughout the film, they can begin to understand why the protagonist was blinded in the first place. I was greatly intrigued by Foster's paragraph which stated the following: If writers want us--all of us-- to notice something, they'd better put it out there where we'll find it. Please observe that in most works where blindness is manifest, the writer brings it up pretty early. He refers to this as the Indiana Jones principle. I remember laughing with joy after reading this analogy. Not only is Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark one of my favorite films, but I love each of the scenes which reference Indy's morbid fear of snakes. I completely agree that elements such as fear have to be at least briefly touched upon in an early work of literature. Otherwise, readers will be left scratching their heads in disbelief. This would indicate that the 'revelation' is unrealistic. (Comment on this)
Thursday, February 23rd, 2006
11:29 am	Assignment #2 for Intro. to Fiction Don Manigly 2/21/06 Intro. To Fiction- Assignment #2 “Death Defier” by Tom Bissell 3. Find every place in a chosen story where setting is mentioned and analyze its purpose in the story. Assuming that no information in a short fiction is extraneous or unimportant, guess as to why you think the author mentions it in each place. You need to address the following questions at the very least: a. What relationship does setting have with the conflict of the story? How does it enhance the conflict? How would a different location impact the story? b. What is the connection between the setting and the main character? How is the internal landscape of the main character related to the physical landscape of the setting? c. Do some research on the history of the setting in the story. How does this complicate your original assessment of the story? History of Afghanistan (The Setting) -Ahmad Shah Durrani unified the Pashtun tribes and founded Afghanistan in 1747. The country served as a buffer between the British and Russian empires until it won independence from British control in 1919. The Soviet Union invaded in 1979 to support the tottering Afghan Communist regime, but withdrew 10 years later under relentless pressure by internationally supported anti-Communist mujahedin rebels. A civil war between mujahedin factions erupted in 1992. The Taliban, a hard-line Pakistani-sponsored movement, seized Kabul in 1996 and most of the country outside of opposition Northern Alliance strongholds by 1998. Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, a US, Allied, and Northern Alliance military action toppled the Taliban for sheltering Osama Bin Laden. In late 2001, a process was established for political reconstruction that included the adoption of a new constitution in 2003, a presidential election in 2004, and National Assembly elections in 2005. On October 9, 2004, Hamid Karzai became the first democratically elected president of Afghanistan. The National Assembly was inaugurated on December 19, 2005. -Geography: Southern Asia, north and west of Pakistan, east of Iran -Geographic coordinates: 33 00 N, 65 00 E -Land area: 647,500 sq km; water area: 647,500 sq km -Slightly smaller than the US state of Texas -Border countries: China, Iran, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan -Coastline: 0 km (landlocked) -Climate: Arid to semi-arid; cold winters and hot summers -Terrain: Mostly rugged mountains; plains in north and southwest -Natural resources: Natural gas, petroleum, coal, cooper, chromite, talc, sulfur, lead, zinc, iron ore, salt, precious and semi-precious stones -Land use: Arable land= 12.13%; permanent crops: 0.22% -Natural hazards: Damaging earthquakes occur in Hindu Kush mountains; flooding; droughts -Environment- current issues: limited natural fresh water resources; inadequate supplies of potable water; soil degradation; overgrazing; deforestation; desertification; air and water pollution -Population: 29,928,987 (as of July 2005) -Population growth rate: 4.77% -Infectious diseases: Food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoa diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever. Vector-borne disease: malaria is a high risk countrywide below 2,000 meters from March through November. Animal contact disease: rabies. -Ethnic groups: Pashtun 42%, Tajik 27%, Hazara 9%, Uzbek 9%, Aimak 4%, Turkmen 3%, Baloch 2%, other 4%. -Religions: Sunni Muslim 80%, Shi’a Muslim 19%, other 1%. -Languages: Afghan Persian or Dari (official) 50%, Pashtu (official) 35%, Turkic languages (primarily Uzbek and Turkmen) 11%, 30 minor languages (primarily Balochi and Pashai) 4%, much bilingualism -Literacy: Definition: Age 15 and over can read and write; total population: 36%; male: 51%; female: 21% (as of 1999) -Country name: conventional long form: Islamic Republic of Afghanistan conventional short form: Afghanistan local long form: Jomhuri-ye Eslami-ye Afghanestan former: Republic of Afghanistan -Government type: Islamic Republic -Capital: Kabul -Administrative divisions: 34 provinces- Badakhshan, Badghis, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamian, Daykondi, Farah, Faryab, Ghazni, Ghowr, Helmand, Herat, Jowzjan, Kabul, Kandahar, Kapisa, Khowst, Konar, Kondoz, Laghman, Lowgar, Nangarhar, Nimruz, Nurestan, Oruzgan, Paktia, Paktika, Panjshir, Parvan, Samangan, Sar-e Pol, Takhar, Vardak, and Zabol After reading about the history of Afghanistan, I would not say that my original assessment of the story was so much complicated, as it was marginally altered. Prior to conducting extensive research, I was not very familiar with the history of Afghanistan. I knew, for example, about the Soviet invasion of 1979 and the Taliban takeover in the 1990s, but the rest of the country’s history was unknown to me. Unlike the United States, Afghanistan is divided into provinces rather than states and cities. They have two official languages, as well as, a variety of languages spoken by minorities. My biggest complaint about the story is that while the author mentions the landscape of the story on a regular basis, he only seems to relate it to the internal conflicts of one character, Donk. Herein lies yet another problem: We learn about Donk’s life experiences, but I, for one, did not know what to make of his personality. I can speculate that he is generous, somewhat affable, and misunderstood. I do not get the sense that he is a racist, especially in the final paragraph of the story. I know for a fact that initially he was gravely fearful of death, but in his last few moments of life he seemed to make peace with himself and the mistakes he had made in life. Unfortunately, the connection between Donk and Afghanistan, seems rather disjointed. However, there are a few traits that both Donk and the country of Afghanistan share: They are both filled with grief and despair; they have both gone through extended periods of mourning; they both have experienced periods of incomparable suffering and trauma. Connection between the Setting and Main Character of the Story Main character: Donk is an American combat photographer. He is a short, overweight Midwesterner with frizzy black hair and childishly small hands. His nickname, Donkey, dated back to his annual boyhood camping trips he would take with his father and older brother, Jason in the Porcupine Mountains of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. A decade before the events of the story, he worked as a staff photographer for a dozen family newspapers peppered throughout central Wisconsin, all somehow owned by the same unmarried man. His life included sitting through school board meetings and upping the wattage of the smiles of local luminaries, drinking three-dollar pitchers of Bud after work and suffering polite rejection from strangers he misjudged as unattractive enough to want to speak to him. That life began to end when the last of five sudden strokes stripped Donk’s father of his mind and sent him off into dementia. After the death of his father, Donk went into a deep state of depression. He subsequently quit his job and invested his small inheritance. He developed a peculiar obsession with death and became estranged from the rest of his surviving family. He was eventually hired by the Tajikistan embassy to work as a combat photographer in Dushanbe. It was in Tajikistan that he saw his first gunshot wound, his first dead baby. He quickly learned that combat photographers either “spooked” or did not. The photo of a gunned-down old woman, taken after five months and $3,000 of squandered savings led to Donk’s covering the reconciliation trials in Rwanda for one of India’s biggest dailies. He later spent time in Jerusalem, where he learned of the subterranean connections world media outlets had expertly tunneled beneath continents of human misery, and how often you passed the same faces when traveling through them. Donk learned that of all the countries in the world, America was most hesitant to publish graphic “bang-bang” photos. He learned that arms and cocaine were the world’s second and third most profitable exports, after human sex slaves. He learned that the worse and more ugly the reality around him, the more impervious to it and better he felt, the more he could forget his father. The only thing that truly frightened him was quiet, because he knew death was quiet, the longest quiet known to mankind. -Prominent themes relating to the primary conflicts of the story: alternative medicine, communication, death and dying, dementia, depression, developing countries, father-son relationship, freedom, grief, human worth, infectious diseases, memory, mourning, power relations, suffering, survival, trauma, and war. -Afghanistan is a country plagued by a variety of infectious diseases -Graves, a British journalist and friend of Donk’s, is stricken with malaria throughout the course of the story -Afghanistan is in the midst of violent warfare due to the lack of communication amongst its people -Donk has been estranged from his surviving family members ever since the death of his father signifying his disinterest in associating himself with the people closest to him -The people of Afghanistan are haunted by images of graphic deaths that occur on a daily basis, but are so accustomed to witnessing such events that many have become desensitized -Donk has not only taken photos of dead bodies but also had to witness the harrowing death of his father, first-hand, yet he seems unaffected by the sights of blood-stained corpses -Afghanistan is a country filled with emotions bordering on madness and insanity due to the outset of centuries of violence in and around the Middle East -Donk’s father suffered through a bout with dementia as he laid on his deathbed -The mood in Afghanistan has been one of despair and loss rather than one of optimism with formation of a democratic government; the people of this country still starve to death and fear for their lives -Donk fell into a deep state of depression after the death of his father and even though he has more or less turned his life around, it is still the memory of his father that periodically puts him in a pessimistic mood -Afghanistan is one of the many developing countries of the Middle East that is in need of a proper education system, medical care, electricity, improved access to housing, etc. -Afghanistan citizens are overcome by grief on a daily basis each time a loved one is taken from them by the horrors of war -Donk has been ravaged by grief over the death of his father, an event that still continues to inhabit his mind -Human worth means everything to the people of Afghanistan, since even during times of war they still choose to mourn the loss of both their enemies and friends -Donk witnesses two of his Afghan escorts reciting prayers for the souls of their deceased enemies -Donk, upon viewing blood-littered corpses, remembers his time spent with his girlfriend, Tina with whom he had sex with while she was menstruating. He finds the blood-stained footprints and handprints they left all over the bathroom to be disturbingly beautiful -Afghanistan is a country built on the foundation of survival. Its people have survived wars with Alexander the Great, Great Britain, and the USSR and yet it lives on. -Donk’s car is damaged and he and his friends must journey on foot to a nearby village in order to ensure the survival of the British journalist, Graves. Connection between the Setting and the Conflict of the Story -The landscape of the story is desert and gunfire, which could be symbolic of feelings of misery and hopelessness. -Chaos appears inescapable -Human conflict is viewed not only as inevitable but also enduring -The constant sight of dead corpses and Donk’s unconventional interest in death and dying, indicate that death may in fact be a magnificent event to behold, one which resonates on a completely different level with the human mind than birth and the beginning of life -Donk dies while trying to retrieve an herbal remedy that will possibly cure Graves’s malaria infection. Even though he failed to obtain the medicine, it was essentially the thought that counted. Donk died while trying to commit a selfless act to assist a friend and for that he is ensured a place in paradise one day -Afghanistan is a barren wasteland; in a way, Donk’s internal landscape is barren and empty due to the fact that he is not currently in contact with family and friends. All he has is his profession, which is not a very pleasant one from the perspective of the average human being (Comment on this)
Sunday, February 19th, 2006
6:36 pm	Reaction to "The Girls" After twice reading through "The Girls" I found myself faced with a number of questions, all of which were related to my analysis of the story's content. Like many of the readings throughout the book, I found "The Girls" to be very confusing. I initially thought that the main theme of the story would be, an invasion of privacy, considering that the girls take it upon themselves to read Arleen's notebook at their leisure without her permission. I got the impression that Arleen had memorized her journal entries word for word, but I don't quite understand the significance of this element of the story. As the story reached its climax, I believe it was implied that Arleen seemed to know more about Clarissa than the girls did especially since Clarissa was their mother. I am convinced that Arleen was meant to be some sort of foreseer or oracle of sorts because immediately after stating that Clarissa's health was failing her, Clarissa collapsed. I am having difficulty understanding the roles which the cats play within the story. Perhaps they represent the girls' natures since cats are animals which are known for being cunning and sleek. In addition, what was the purpose of Clarissa's attempt at repentance? It is unclear as to what sin she's committed that has caused her so much emotional stress and trauma. The ending is also debatable in the sense that it makes the reader believe that the girls may not be as close to their mother as was originally perceived. Both they and their father thought the mother was in excellent health while Arleen was aware of the truth. Perhaps Arleen is the embodiment of forthcoming death and the girls could represent the rift that exists within their family. (Comment on this)
Sunday, February 12th, 2006
7:01 pm	Readings for the week of February 13th My comments for this week's reading will be in response to chapters 12 and 14 in "How to Read Literature Like a Professor." In Chapter 12, the main topic deals with symbolism. The very first sentence of the second paragraph makes a groundbreaking claim: "People expect symbols to mean something. Not just any something, but one something in particular." A white flag, for example, according to the book can mean: "I give up, don't shoot" or it can mean: "We come in peace." Symbolism is often a very confusing aspect of works of literature and cinema. The important thing to remember is that everyone is going to have a different opinion about what a symbol means. Every individual reader is going to engage in analyzing a text in varying ways. "We bring an individual history to our reading, a mix of previous readings, to be sure, but also a history that includes, but is not limited to, educational attainment, gender, race, class, faith, social involvement, and philosophical inclination." The author is pointing out that every element of a story can be viewed as symbolism but no two people will ever have identical opinions regarding the relevance of a symbol. Chapter 14 relates to Christ-like figures which are present in literary works. According to the author there are about 18 commonly accepted beliefs surrounding the character of Jesus Christ: 1. Crucified, wounds in the hands, feet, side, and head 2. In agony 3. Self-sacrificing 4. Good with children 5. Good with loaves, fishes, water, wine 6. Thirty-three years of age when last seen 7. Employed as carpenter 8. Known to use humble modes of transportation, feet, or donkeys preferred 9. Believed to have walked on water 10. Often portrayed with arms outstretched 11. Known to have spent time alone in the wilderness 12. Believed to have had a confrontation with the devil, possibly tempted 13. Last seen in the company of thieves 14. Creator of many aphorisms and parables 15. Buried, but arose on the third day 16. Had disciples, twelve at first, although not all equally devoted 17. Very forgiving 18. Came to redeem an unworthy world. According to the author, Christ-like characters do not have to necessarily be male or Christian. In addition, no literary Christ figure can ever be as pure, as perfect, or as divine as Jesus Christ. In most cases, there are no direct references to Christ but it is in many cases the types of actions that various characters take which hearken back to the Christian Messiah. (Comment on this)
Thursday, February 9th, 2006
8:38 pm	Intro. to Fiction Assignment #1- Re-telling of "The Zebra Storyteller" Don Manigly 2/6/06 Intro. To Fiction- Assignment #1 A Re-telling of“The Zebra Storyteller” by Spencer Holst I was just your average Siamese cat living in the wilderness of Africa. I was without a family, without friends, and without a hobby. I would go on for days at a time scouring the land for edible foods but all I would find were the fly-littered carcasses of dead gazelles and elephants. I was unlike any other Siamese cat in the sense that I spoke fluent Zebraic, a language I’ve spoken since I was old enough to count the number of claws on my paws. Because of my ‘hidden’ talent, I was ridiculed and teased constantly by the other felines of the jungle. So, I decided to mimic the behavior of the lions figuring that it was only a matter of time before they welcomed me into their pack. But, as fate would have it, no one wanted to bother with a Siamese cat who spoke in the language of the zebras. I needed to make an impression and prove once and for all that my peers should respect me. One day, I was taking my daily walk through the jungle when I came across a lone zebra. “Good morning! It’s a beautiful day in the jungle, isn’t it?” I said in perfectly pronounced Zebraic. The zebra stared at me as if I had three heads and his expression of astonishment quickly changed to one of rage. “Look, you Zebraic spouting Siamese schmuck cat, go back to whatever litter box you crawled out of.” He replied in a nasty tone. It’s safe to say, he was fit to be tied. Without warning, I hastily grabbed some loose vine from a nearby tree, crept up, and tied him up before he could call for help. By this point I was getting really hungry, so I tore into the helpless bastard with my bare teeth and claws, and when all was said and done I dragged the remains of his body back to my pad and prepared to have a feast fit for feline kings. Over the next couple of months, I began to develop a national reputation as a premier hunter. All of the felines knew that ‘I’ was the king of the jungle. I never went hungry. Every night I feasted on a delicious meal of zebra filet mignon. With the better hides of the zebras I made bow neckties and wide belts after the fashion of the princes of the Old Siamese court. My various peers were so amazed by my hunting skills that they came to believe that ‘I’ was a lion. I had never received such a compliment in any of my previous eight lives, so I chose not to reveal the truth behind the belief. I decided to embrace my newfound popularity in all its glory. Meanwhile, as my fame rose amongst the ranks of the predators of the jungle, the zebras feared for their lives. While their delicate noses told them there was no ‘lion’ in the neighborhood, many chose to avoid the region, just to play it safe. There was a rumor that the zebras believed the jungle was haunted by the ‘ghost’ of a lion. “Let them believe whatever they want to believe.” I thought. My reputation as the greatest hunter in the history of the feline kingdom was secure. Unfortunately for me, my life was destined to take a turn…for the worse. One day, I was searching for food when I came across a small group of zebras that were deeply immersed in conversation. At the center of the group was this tall, middle-aged zebra that was relating some type of story to his friends. I couldn’t quite make out what he was saying, but whatever it was, it had all of the zebras doubling over in laughter. They were clearly distracted so I decided to approach them slowly and attempt to strike up a conversation before going in for the kill. “Hello there! Pleasant day today, isn’t it?” I said in a cheerful tone. The zebras slowly turned around to face me. The head zebra, at the center of the group, looked me over carefully. I could tell by his expression that he was not fit to be tied. The head zebra continued to examine me, but it was obvious that he had something personal against Siamese cats. In the blink of an eye, he kicked me with a stiff hoof and seconds later everything around me began to fade to black. The last words I remember hearing were: “That’s the function of the Zebra Storyteller…bitch.” Thus, marked the end of my ninth and final life. DAMN those ZEBRAS! DAMN them all to HELL!! Concluding Statements Does a changed point-of-view change the flow of events in the story? Why? If not, why not? A changed P.O.V. changes the flow of events considerably. In the original version of the story, it is implied that the narrator of the story is a zebra hence the title “The Zebra Storyteller.” By changing the narrator to the Siamese cat, the reader is given a fresh perspective of the main sequence of events. The story now features a strong build-up from the beginning to the end. There is a clear exposition, conflict, climax, and even brief falling action. You are also given a chance to both loathe and sympathize with the Siamese cat, who in the re-telling becomes more or less the main character. Is the ending the same? Is information missing? Do you leave the story with a changed emotional response with the new narration? In the re-telling of the story, the outcome is the same as in the original version. The zebra storyteller kicks the Siamese cat with a hoof, killing him instantly. The ending, however, is different in a few ways. For instance, the zebra storyteller’s monologue about a Siamese cat posing as a lion is omitted. No other information of great relevance is missing in the re-telling of the story. However, the ending has been slightly extended. After the Siamese cat is swiftly kicked by the zebra storyteller, he reflects on the fact that his ninth and final life has been used up. He also condemns the entire Zebraic race for their alleged cruelty. This alternate ending adds a pinch of emotional depth that was missing from the original version of the story. Does this character see the events in the same way as the original narrator? Does he or she perceive relationships in the same way? In the re-telling of the story, the Siamese cat sees events from an entirely different viewpoint than the original narrator. Although it is implied that the zebra storyteller may be the original narrator, the truth is never explicitly stated. Hence, the original version of the story is told from a neutral third-person perspective. In terms of relationships, the Siamese cat sees himself as being naturally superior to the other felines of the jungle. He describes zebras as filet mignon feasts, thus revealing that he has a very low opinion of them. The Siamese cat is under the impression that zebras despise him based on his encounter with the profanity-spouting zebra towards the beginning of the story. Why do you suppose the author chose the original character to narrate the story? Is your changed narrator a better or worse choice in terms of impact on the reader? If the zebra storyteller is indeed the original narrator of the story, I believe the author’s intent was to make readers sympathize with the zebras. The Siamese cat, in contrast, was to be viewed as the cold-hearted, boastful villain of the story. I believe the Siamese cat is a better choice for narrator of the story because upon first reading “The Zebra Storyteller” I was not affected on any emotional level by the story. Now that there is a character whose thoughts and concerns are well known to the audience I believe there is a greater chance for emotional investment in the story. What new information would we learn from the new perspective? How might this change our thoughts about the story? By telling the story from the point of view of the Siamese cat we would learn about the character’s motivation for killing zebras and masquerading as a lion. We can learn about what lurks beneath the cat’s surface; this way we’ll learn specific details about his personality. In the original version of the story, there was absolutely no character development. In the re-telling of the story, there is at least one character that is given a healthy dose of life. (Comment on this)
Sunday, February 5th, 2006
9:48 pm	Response to this week's readings This week's readings in "How to Read Literature Like a Professor" proved to be some of the most insightful passages I've read in quite some time. Chapter 5, which was entitled, "Now Where Have I Seen This Before?" touched upon the fact that there no longer is such a thing as a wholly original piece of literature. Think about it. How many times have you read elaborate tales about damsels in distress, adventures to mysterious lands, and psychopathic killers who meticulously conceal their identities? These themes sound all to familiar. So, what makes these types of stories so intriguing? I have always believed that it's not the content of a story which makes it interesting, it's the presentation. All it takes for a story to be considered 'original' is a new perspective or vantage point from which it can be told and low and behold, an author publishes a best seller. Chapter 6, which was entitled, "When in Doubt, It's from Shakespeare" is also a compelling read regarding the nature of storytelling. Off the top of my head, I can think of several films which make open references to Shakespeare including: Underworld, Romeo Must Die, and The Lion King. Underworld and Romeo Must Die are prime examples of films with classic Shakespeare story lines. In both films, the two protagonists, a man and a woman, who come from different upbringings fall in love and are eventually subjected to intense ridicule from family and friends. Sound familiar? Remember a little story called Romeo and Juliet; a tale about star-crossed lovers whose compassion for one another ultimately leads to their downfall? On the other hand, The Lion King bears many resemblances to Shakespeare's Hamlet. For example, the main plot centers around the rightful heir to the throne looking to exact revenge upon his uncle who in turn murdered his father. Chapter 6, was by far, the most engaging literary piece I have read in Intro. to Fiction thus far. (Comment on this)
Monday, January 30th, 2006
10:29 pm	Reactions to Intro. to Fiction readings due Jan. 31 After completing the readings in "How to Read Literature Like a Professor", I have come to the conclusion that not everything in a piece of literature is what it seems to be at first glance. Foster clearly identifies the importance of a quest from the very beginning of chapter 1. Foster says: "Every trip is a quest, except when it's not." Unfortunately, this statement sounded like complete nonsense at first glance. As I began to read page 3 of the chapter, I soon discovered that there were five essential elements which define a quest in not just literature, but life as well. Personal quests must always have: "1. A quester 2. A place to go 3. A stated reason to go there 4. Challenges and trials en route 5. A real reason to go there." According to Foster, "the real reason for a quest is always self-knowledge." If you think of any popular piece of literature, such as Hamlet, Red Dragon, or Frankenstein, doesn't the protagonist(s) always learn something about themselves by the end of the tail? Foster's readings shed vibrant light on this notion of self-knowledge. In reaction to chapter 2, "Nice to Eat with You: Acts of Communion" my primary comments relate to Foster's suggestion that a meal can have sexual connotations and that mundane scenes centered around the dinner table can be tedious. I definitely concur with this statement. If I were to read a book or watch a film, where the main characters were just sitting around the dinner table and having a conversation about the quality of their day, I, the viewer/reader, would be hard-pressed to continue watching it. Something else has to happen. Chapter 3 in Foster's book proved to be the most enthralling segment of the readings. I especially love the title of the chapter, "Nice to Eat You." Foster's commentary on vampires in literature is truly remarkable. Have you ever noticed how in movies, when a woman is bitten n the neck, that in many cases, she seems to give a mixed reaction, one of both excruciating pain and erotic pleasure? It happens frequently. Comparing vampirism to selfishness, exploitation, etc. is a brilliant analogy, one supported by evidence in books like "Bram Stoker's Dracula." He goes on to mention that ghost and vampire stories are never just about ghost and vampires. His concluding sentence states that : As long as people act toward their fellows in exploitative and selfish ways, the vampire will be with us. I think that in the present day, more than ever, this implication has turned out to be exceedingly true. To be quite honest, I found both of the readings in "The Best American Short Stories" to be well-written featuring strong characterization and plot development, but the endings to both left a lot to be desired. I felt as if the authors just spontaneously decided to end their stories without bringing all the plot points to a solid close. There is a big difference between stories with open-ended conclusions and no conclusions and I felt that both of these stories had the latter of the two. (Comment on this)
Wednesday, January 25th, 2006
6:43 pm	Introductory message This is Don Manigly and I have just finished setting up my livejournal blog. I just wanted to say that Intro. to Fiction has been a very interesting class thus far and I am looking forward to a class discussion on "The Zebra Storyteller." This short story is by far the most bizarre tale I've ever read, in fact the first words to come out of my mouth after reading it were: "What the hell?" So, I hope our discussion will shed some light onto the true nature and message of the story. (Comment on this)