I was naive. When it all started, oh about two years ago I had no idea what I was getting into. I didn't know how to "time management", how to spend more than thirty minutes doing homework, or even do an IA in two hours. I currently only know how to do two of the above, I'll let you figure out which two ;). One thing I was sure about though, was being the best and I thought that joining IB would help me to be the best. The best me I could be. So I did.
It was worth it. Junior year was kind of a blur because I never really understood why I was doing what I was doing. I had no idea the terrible oral commentaries I gave in English actually counted for something, or that the mediocre written tasks I wrote would come back to haunt me. It wasn't until this year that I understood why everything I was doing mattered, and how it would help me. I can now take new perspectives on situations and better understand people. I'm thankful for the countless hours I spent (thinking about) doing homework/IAs/Extended Essay are all hours that will pay off one day. I'm also thankful for the community that has evolved throughout my two years in IB. I spend every class period this year (yes that is eight IB classes) surrounded by people who are striving to be better, conquering their goals, and setting the bar higher for everyone around them. They're also people that I can talk to whenever, and people I'll remember forever. (S/O YLT)
I am grown. I am ready to take on the future. I feel thoroughly prepared and hope that my freshman year of college will be easier than this year (otherwise I might drop out). I've learned many things at Millbrook, met many people, and begun to understand who I want to be. High school being almost over is bittersweet; sure it was hard, but that didn't matter when I could come to school everyday and be surrounded by my friends. Thanks for the ride IB, this is me signing off for the last time.
"When we are children we seldom think of the future. This innocence leaves us free to enjoy ourselves as few adults can. The day we fret about the future is the day we leave our childhood behind." - Patrick Rothfuss
Sunday, April 26, 2015
Sunday, April 12, 2015
W.W. (Walter White)
At first glance I notice how worn out Whitman's notebook is. I can only imagine that he used it quite often and had it with him at all times. Based on the scribbles, random phrases and sentences I feel like this was something that Whitman used to keep his ideas in. Something that I noticed on many pages of this book was a red circular stamp, so I googled "walt whitman stamp on journal" and found an annotated version of his notebook. It turns out the stamp is just a Library of Congress collection mark. After scrolling through the notebook more, it is reinforced to me that this was an idea book. Although I can't really make out anything Whitman has written, I came to this conclusion based on his formatting, use of question marks, and crossing out sentences. I doubt that Whitman actually spend significant amounts of time at once in this notebook because of the quality of his drawings. They are quick sketches that seem to represent ideas, not necessarily be perfect pieces of art. Based on what I can make out, I think that these idea's were for future or current poems because of the way they were worded.
So when I clicked on the second link it brought me to the annotated version of Whitman's notebook that I had previously used. At first I thought I had accidentally reloaded the page I was previously using, but after a second I realized that I accidentally looked at the link I wasn't supposed to until the end. Oops :). Anyways, one thing I learned from the annotations is that Whitman was trying to come up with an idea for a title of a book that he never ended up publishing. I was right about the notebook being a place for ideas and quick notes. Something that I didn't pick up on was Whitman's writings about religion, probably because I couldn't read most of what he wrote. Another thing that Whitman did was write poetry that was related to current events of his time. "Libertad" is a poem from the 1860s about the problems that the Union was facing. Something that this notebook reveals about Whitman himself is his immediate reaction to things. It seems that most of what he wrote was about events that had just happened, like with the problems going on in the nation or just with day to day life. Something that surprised me was the fact that Whitman shared this notebook with others. The annotated sketches in the back of the book reveal that the pictures were likely drawn by one of Whtiman's drinking buddies. If Whitman gave this notebook to someone else, he either trusted them very well or was intoxicated. Overall, this notebook reveals that Whitman liked to keep his ideas organized in one place and was always scribbling his things down so he wouldn't forget them.
So when I clicked on the second link it brought me to the annotated version of Whitman's notebook that I had previously used. At first I thought I had accidentally reloaded the page I was previously using, but after a second I realized that I accidentally looked at the link I wasn't supposed to until the end. Oops :). Anyways, one thing I learned from the annotations is that Whitman was trying to come up with an idea for a title of a book that he never ended up publishing. I was right about the notebook being a place for ideas and quick notes. Something that I didn't pick up on was Whitman's writings about religion, probably because I couldn't read most of what he wrote. Another thing that Whitman did was write poetry that was related to current events of his time. "Libertad" is a poem from the 1860s about the problems that the Union was facing. Something that this notebook reveals about Whitman himself is his immediate reaction to things. It seems that most of what he wrote was about events that had just happened, like with the problems going on in the nation or just with day to day life. Something that surprised me was the fact that Whitman shared this notebook with others. The annotated sketches in the back of the book reveal that the pictures were likely drawn by one of Whtiman's drinking buddies. If Whitman gave this notebook to someone else, he either trusted them very well or was intoxicated. Overall, this notebook reveals that Whitman liked to keep his ideas organized in one place and was always scribbling his things down so he wouldn't forget them.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
The American Dream
The American Dream is quite a complex idea with many definitions, and I believe that an individual's definition derives from their place of origin. For a person born or raised in America, I think the American Dream is really about lifestyle. It is relaxed, but generally requires hard work to achieve. People who are living the American Dream aren't filthy rich, but have enough money to live without worrying about money. There is also an element of being around family and friends that contributes to the idea of the American Dream, maybe even living in a suburban neighborhood. For someone who was raised in a country other than America, I think the American Dream is more about opportunities and personally becoming better. People who immigrate to America to find the American Dream are seeking something they couldn't find in the country they were previously in. It is really all about freedom to do what they want.
In terms of money, wealth is having enough money to do whatever you want. This includes but is not limited to: having a car collection with whatever cars you want, being able to live wherever you want, vacationing when and where you want and buying SeaWorld just to shut it down (I just watched Blackfish). Wealth isn't something that is usually acquired over one generation, but takes many generations to acquire. Wealth is usually inherited and people who are wealthy generally have "old money".
I think that in general Americans' have a jealous attitude towards wealth and a confused attitude towards the poor. Wealthy Americans are envied upon all the time, especially when considering famous Americans. I think that when you have as much money as someone like Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, people envy you without despise and they think positively of your good fortune. Oddly enough, I think that if you have a rich neighbor or friend who just bought a cool new car that you can't afford, you envy that person, but with hatred. Personally, my attitude towards wealth is mostly based on how it was acquired. If you worked hard to become wealthy then I approve, if it was inherited then there might be a little bit of hate. In terms of the poor, most Americans are sympathetic, sometimes even empathetic, but aren't sure how they can help. Usually the best way to help is by donating to reputable charities or working with nonprofit organizations like the Food Bank. For me problems arise when I see a homeless person on the side of the road. My first instinct is to help by giving them money, but then I think that giving money to this person isn't going to help them cause they could just blow it all something they don't need. Usually I just try to give them food or water to avoid that problem.
Currently I consider myself in a pretty good position to have a successful life. I've worked hard in school and in other activities and have learned many life lessons, which have helped me get into college. I'm going to Virginia Tech next fall to study computer engineering and ultimately want to be an engineer that helps to better the world. I'm not really sure how I'm going to do that, but I'll figure that out later. I'd also like to retire early and open a restaurant on the beach on Marco Island, but who knows if I'll want to do that in 40 years. I guess my American Dream is to be remembered as someone that had a positive influence on the lives of many people.
In terms of money, wealth is having enough money to do whatever you want. This includes but is not limited to: having a car collection with whatever cars you want, being able to live wherever you want, vacationing when and where you want and buying SeaWorld just to shut it down (I just watched Blackfish). Wealth isn't something that is usually acquired over one generation, but takes many generations to acquire. Wealth is usually inherited and people who are wealthy generally have "old money".
I think that in general Americans' have a jealous attitude towards wealth and a confused attitude towards the poor. Wealthy Americans are envied upon all the time, especially when considering famous Americans. I think that when you have as much money as someone like Bill Gates or Warren Buffett, people envy you without despise and they think positively of your good fortune. Oddly enough, I think that if you have a rich neighbor or friend who just bought a cool new car that you can't afford, you envy that person, but with hatred. Personally, my attitude towards wealth is mostly based on how it was acquired. If you worked hard to become wealthy then I approve, if it was inherited then there might be a little bit of hate. In terms of the poor, most Americans are sympathetic, sometimes even empathetic, but aren't sure how they can help. Usually the best way to help is by donating to reputable charities or working with nonprofit organizations like the Food Bank. For me problems arise when I see a homeless person on the side of the road. My first instinct is to help by giving them money, but then I think that giving money to this person isn't going to help them cause they could just blow it all something they don't need. Usually I just try to give them food or water to avoid that problem.
Currently I consider myself in a pretty good position to have a successful life. I've worked hard in school and in other activities and have learned many life lessons, which have helped me get into college. I'm going to Virginia Tech next fall to study computer engineering and ultimately want to be an engineer that helps to better the world. I'm not really sure how I'm going to do that, but I'll figure that out later. I'd also like to retire early and open a restaurant on the beach on Marco Island, but who knows if I'll want to do that in 40 years. I guess my American Dream is to be remembered as someone that had a positive influence on the lives of many people.
Sunday, March 8, 2015
Translation Mutation
The four translations of Als Gregor Samsa eines Morgens aus unruhigen Träumen erwachte, fand er sich in seinem Bett zu einem ungeheuren Ungeziefer verwandelt.
Translation 1: As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.
Of all of the translations, this one seems the most 'incorrect'. It is odd to say out loud because the syntax is rather unusual. This translation could use a few commas or have the sentence split into two. The language here is rather childish and seems as if it were to be said by a middle school student. The use of "gigantic insect" seems immature and is something my little sister would say.
Translation 2: Gregory Samsa woke from uneasy dreams one morning to find himself changed into a giant bug.
This translation seems like it would be from a doctor's notebook because the sentence is simple and to the point. There is not a lot of detail included here, just enough to describe the necessary points and it is easy to say out loud. This sentence is recalling an event rather than telling it as it happened.
Translation 3: When Gregor Samsa awoke from troubled dreams one morning he found he had been transformed in his bed into an enormous bug.
This translation is like the first in that it is very long and awkward to say aloud. It seems like it could have been split into two sentences after "one morning". This translation is quite descriptive and has a word choice that is more descriptive than the second translation. This translation seems like something you would find from a young adult or youth chapter book because it is complex, but not over the top.
Translation 4: One morning, upon awakening from agitated dreams, Gregor Samsa found himself, in his bed, transformed into a monstrous vermin.
Of all the translations, this is my favorite because I think it sounds the best. The use of commas help for the reader to make sense of this translation because it breaks of all of the ideas. The vocabulary here is the best of all the translations and the sentence is very descriptive. I also think the sentence sounds better when Gregor Samsa's name is mentioned in the middle of the sentence and not in the beginning.
Word choice, syntax, punctuation, and imagery shift in each translation affects the meaning quite a lot. From all four translations we get the basic message that Gregor woke up and found that he was a bug. But by using different words and different syntax each translation has it's own effect, giving the reader a different image about what is going on with Gregor. I think that syntax is the most effective at changing meaning of a sentence. At first I thought it would be word choice, but word choice only really changes context surrounding the sentence. Changing the format of a sentence is the most effective because it can change the sequence of events and how things happen.
This exercise brings up a few very important points about the difficulty of reading translated texts. For one, the word choice of the author cannot be analyzed as much and an English text because one word can be translated many different ways. Another point is that reading one translation of a text can have a completely different effect on a reader compared to another translation. Different translations effect the tone of a sentence by either changing it or enforcing it. If the translator does not understand the tone of the author, they could change the tone which ultimately effects how a reader interprets a text. Translation is very important especially in The Stranger because the first sentence, which is often argued about, has a big effect on the entire text. The first sentence of a text layouts a tone for the whole work, so it is important to get it right.
Translation 1: As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.
Of all of the translations, this one seems the most 'incorrect'. It is odd to say out loud because the syntax is rather unusual. This translation could use a few commas or have the sentence split into two. The language here is rather childish and seems as if it were to be said by a middle school student. The use of "gigantic insect" seems immature and is something my little sister would say.
Translation 2: Gregory Samsa woke from uneasy dreams one morning to find himself changed into a giant bug.
This translation seems like it would be from a doctor's notebook because the sentence is simple and to the point. There is not a lot of detail included here, just enough to describe the necessary points and it is easy to say out loud. This sentence is recalling an event rather than telling it as it happened.
Translation 3: When Gregor Samsa awoke from troubled dreams one morning he found he had been transformed in his bed into an enormous bug.
This translation is like the first in that it is very long and awkward to say aloud. It seems like it could have been split into two sentences after "one morning". This translation is quite descriptive and has a word choice that is more descriptive than the second translation. This translation seems like something you would find from a young adult or youth chapter book because it is complex, but not over the top.
Translation 4: One morning, upon awakening from agitated dreams, Gregor Samsa found himself, in his bed, transformed into a monstrous vermin.
Of all the translations, this is my favorite because I think it sounds the best. The use of commas help for the reader to make sense of this translation because it breaks of all of the ideas. The vocabulary here is the best of all the translations and the sentence is very descriptive. I also think the sentence sounds better when Gregor Samsa's name is mentioned in the middle of the sentence and not in the beginning.
Word choice, syntax, punctuation, and imagery shift in each translation affects the meaning quite a lot. From all four translations we get the basic message that Gregor woke up and found that he was a bug. But by using different words and different syntax each translation has it's own effect, giving the reader a different image about what is going on with Gregor. I think that syntax is the most effective at changing meaning of a sentence. At first I thought it would be word choice, but word choice only really changes context surrounding the sentence. Changing the format of a sentence is the most effective because it can change the sequence of events and how things happen.
This exercise brings up a few very important points about the difficulty of reading translated texts. For one, the word choice of the author cannot be analyzed as much and an English text because one word can be translated many different ways. Another point is that reading one translation of a text can have a completely different effect on a reader compared to another translation. Different translations effect the tone of a sentence by either changing it or enforcing it. If the translator does not understand the tone of the author, they could change the tone which ultimately effects how a reader interprets a text. Translation is very important especially in The Stranger because the first sentence, which is often argued about, has a big effect on the entire text. The first sentence of a text layouts a tone for the whole work, so it is important to get it right.
Sunday, February 22, 2015
IOC (I Often Cried)
My passage:
Self Grading:
A: Knowledge and understanding of the text or extract
5 - The majority of what I claimed was supported by the text, although sometimes what I was saying was a bit of a stretch. I believe my understanding of this excerpt in relation to the text as a whole was okay.
B: Understanding the use and effects of literary features
4 - I believe that I talked a lot about the use of literary features in this text, but I did not speak as often about the effects of the literary features. My analysis of literary features overall was average.
C: Organization
3 - I think that my presentation was decently organized and it made logical sense when I listened to it. I adhered to the plan I had set out for myself when I said my thesis statement.
D: Language
4 - My language in this presentation was pretty casual and I did pause and misspeak a few times. I may or may not have deserved a 3, but I gave myself a 4 with the assumption that casual language was okay.
**Although this practice IOC was nowhere near exemplary, it was very helpful for me because I now have a better understanding of what I struggle with and need to improve on.**
Self Grading:
A: Knowledge and understanding of the text or extract
5 - The majority of what I claimed was supported by the text, although sometimes what I was saying was a bit of a stretch. I believe my understanding of this excerpt in relation to the text as a whole was okay.
B: Understanding the use and effects of literary features
4 - I believe that I talked a lot about the use of literary features in this text, but I did not speak as often about the effects of the literary features. My analysis of literary features overall was average.
C: Organization
3 - I think that my presentation was decently organized and it made logical sense when I listened to it. I adhered to the plan I had set out for myself when I said my thesis statement.
D: Language
4 - My language in this presentation was pretty casual and I did pause and misspeak a few times. I may or may not have deserved a 3, but I gave myself a 4 with the assumption that casual language was okay.
**Although this practice IOC was nowhere near exemplary, it was very helpful for me because I now have a better understanding of what I struggle with and need to improve on.**
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Freebie
Although I watched a TED talk and I will likely regret this, I am taking my freebie! I got a new puppy and he's more fun to play with than writing.
Sunday, January 11, 2015
More Noir
Film noir literally means "black film." As you are watching the film, keep track of all the elements in the picture that seem dark or depressing. Thinking about the characters, the setting, and the storyline.
As you may know, IB Film 2 has previously studied Double Indemnity and analyzed it for its film noir characteristics, so if you consider this post anything other than perfect you're wrong. I'm kind of an expert in this subject.
So film noir is a basically a style of black and white film that includes characteristics like low-key lighting, a crime, and ultimately a main character that has a downfall. It was heavily influenced by a filmic genre from the 20s called German expressionism.
One dark/depressing element of the film was the use of lighting to create shadows. Throughout the entire movie there were shadows displayed from characters which gave me sort of an eerie feeling. A specific shadow that was used in this movie and was commonly used in film noir is venetian blinds. Light from outside would protrude through the window and the blinds, which in turn left a creepy shadow in the room. This was often displayed on the faces of the characters. Lighting in this movie was also used to send messages and communicate. An example of this is when Phyllis flashed the lights on her car to let Walter know where she was.
Another dark/depressing element of this film is the fact that a large amount of the events take place at night. First off, Walter Neff is telling the whole story at night which makes the whole story seem dark. Also, a lot of sneaking around is done at night, plus the actually murder takes place at night. The use of the night time makes the movie seem dark because you can't necessarily see everything in the camera's frame.
The storyline in this movie is quite depressing, but the fact of the matter is that all film noir movies are like this. This movie fits the film noir genre quite well in terms of plot because a seductive woman convinces a man to commit a crime, a crime that is violent. The ending enforces the film noir genre because the man is ultimately betrayed by the woman that promised him so many things. This depressing yet thrilling storyline was quite popular during the 40s around the time of film noir because it was new and never done before.
Overall this movie is very dark and depressing because of the adultery and corruption in the plot which is expressed through the main characters. Film noir was popular because of it contained elements like the ones in Double Indemnity and it grasped the viewer with a suspenseful thriller that was new to the film world.
As you may know, IB Film 2 has previously studied Double Indemnity and analyzed it for its film noir characteristics, so if you consider this post anything other than perfect you're wrong. I'm kind of an expert in this subject.
So film noir is a basically a style of black and white film that includes characteristics like low-key lighting, a crime, and ultimately a main character that has a downfall. It was heavily influenced by a filmic genre from the 20s called German expressionism.
One dark/depressing element of the film was the use of lighting to create shadows. Throughout the entire movie there were shadows displayed from characters which gave me sort of an eerie feeling. A specific shadow that was used in this movie and was commonly used in film noir is venetian blinds. Light from outside would protrude through the window and the blinds, which in turn left a creepy shadow in the room. This was often displayed on the faces of the characters. Lighting in this movie was also used to send messages and communicate. An example of this is when Phyllis flashed the lights on her car to let Walter know where she was.
Another dark/depressing element of this film is the fact that a large amount of the events take place at night. First off, Walter Neff is telling the whole story at night which makes the whole story seem dark. Also, a lot of sneaking around is done at night, plus the actually murder takes place at night. The use of the night time makes the movie seem dark because you can't necessarily see everything in the camera's frame.
The storyline in this movie is quite depressing, but the fact of the matter is that all film noir movies are like this. This movie fits the film noir genre quite well in terms of plot because a seductive woman convinces a man to commit a crime, a crime that is violent. The ending enforces the film noir genre because the man is ultimately betrayed by the woman that promised him so many things. This depressing yet thrilling storyline was quite popular during the 40s around the time of film noir because it was new and never done before.
Overall this movie is very dark and depressing because of the adultery and corruption in the plot which is expressed through the main characters. Film noir was popular because of it contained elements like the ones in Double Indemnity and it grasped the viewer with a suspenseful thriller that was new to the film world.
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