English Lang/Lit LPs

LP 14 How is the cultural context of a work/text relevant to an interpretation of it? The cultural context of a text is very important for its interpretation. Authors are shaped by the society they live in and by their own culture. Additionally, an author's text says a lot about the author, in the process of creation, an author leaves an imprint of themselves on their work, and by extension their cultural context and society as well. To understand the preconceptions, biases, and insights of a text it's important to understand the cultural context in which it was written. Are established interpretations superior to those created by individual readers? The way we interpret a text establishes what the text means to us personally, I'd argue that there can be interpretations that are more valid, Top Girls is not about the Apollo 11 Space Mission, for instance, but in the realm of reasonable connection, I see no reason why an established interpretation would be superior to an in...

  LP 13 The overlapping dialog took a little getting used to, but I got accustomed to it rather quickly. Due to a slight misunderstanding regarding the lesson plan I ended up reading Act 1 before the first lesson. I found that keeping track of one speaker's lines in my head and mouthing out the other speaker's lines while reading helped me keep track of the dialog, by the end of Act 1 I was able to keep track of it in my head. My guess would be that the audience wasn't keen on the overlapping text initially. I read in my book, which has a preface, that many older folk walk out on the production within the first few minutes and the play was initially panned by critics. Eventually, that changed and I understand that Top Girls is well received these days. This is honestly not that unique of a trend for a piece of literature trying to do something new. I think the main question this authorial choice raises is what this manner of speaking says about the speakers and the discussi...

Watch the TED talk, and then browse his photographs. Select one photograph that particularly appeals to you and write an LP entry in which you consider what Huey is exploring with that photo and how the authorial choices in the photo contribute to this. This photo from the Pine Ridge Reservation project, photographed by Aaron Huey is in my opinion among the most interesting photographs in the gallery. The photo encapsulates many of the main themes of the project. The photo is very forward with the poverty of the community it is displaying, like most of the photographs in the collection the poverty of the Pine Ridge Reservation is always in the backdrop, even if the photograph highlights other parts of the community. This photo shows the way in which the identity of the indigenous people in the Pine Ridge Reservation has survived and the pride that the community takes in their heritage. Additionally, I think this image also addresses the bias that exists in our history. Cowboys are ofte...

Independent Lesson 11: Guiding questions How is the imagination of the reader important in creating meaning?  Jeanette Winterson's work plays with the reader's imagination intentionally leaving things for the reader to latch on to without having a definitive purpose for them. You could say that it makes some point about the reader, but I'd argue that it mainly just makes the story's message more subjective and personal, allowing for people to take away what they will from a work. Can texts be influenced by the identity of the reader? And can the identity of the reader be influenced by texts? Absolutely, Deuteronomy in Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit is all about how stories are incredibly subjective, I agree, who the reader is influences what they take away from a work. To the second point, I agree again, if we engage with the ideas in work it can influence us very easily. Whatever we learn from any media changes us and our ideas, exposure to any idea does the same. How ...

  INDEPENDENT LESSON 10: EXODUS QUESTIONS What are the similarities between the events of this chapter and the book of the Bible with the same name? Jeanette is an orphan, like Moses, but more importantly, there is a reference to the children of Israel leaving Egypt in Exodus. Jeanette contrasts her own feeling of being out of her comfort zone with the Israelis leaving Egypt. Jeanette frames her own life experiences through what she knows and her world up and till then, i.e. religion and the bible. Elsie Norris is an important character in the novel, what impression do you get of her on her first introduction? (p23) A bit odd, but friendly and generally a nice person. Differs from the church on a few things and tends to have her own opinions even if she is a very religious person. What does the episode with Jeanette's temporary deafness reveal about her mother and the church in general? Which members of the church are exceptions? Jeanette's mother and the church are too zealous...

 AFTER ACTION REPORT MINISTRY FOR NATIONAL LIBERATION PEOPLE'S ARMY OF VIETNAM CENTRAL HIGHLANDS PUBLIC INFORMATION DEPARTMENT MEMORANDUM FOR THE GLORIOUS BATTALION 27'S SACRIFICE TO THE REVOLUTION FROM: February 1969, Central Highlands SUBJECT: After Action Report 1) American Napalm strikes split up and disorganized the men of the battalion. Afterward, American helicopters rushed in to wipe out the men. Only the professionalism of the soldiers and their loyalty to the glorious revolution let them keep a cool head under all of this. 2) Soon American troops started advancing armed with submachine guns and helicopter support. The men of the Glorious 27 showed that determination and resolve beat any so-called superior equipment as the men undoubtedly inflicted heavy casualties on the approaching Americans. Only through sheer numbers did the Americans eventually overwhelm the battalion's last stand.  3) In the final stretch of the battle our men fought fiercely. It is said that...

  Section 5: chapters XXV - XXX How does chapter 26 illustrate the dilemma facing a slave who wanted dreamed of freedom? Does it suggest the correct solution to this dilemma? Many slaveowners see themselves as "nice slaveowners", thinking that as long as they treat their slaves right and free them eventually their hands are clean. Chapter 26 is a nice illustration of how this is a deluded notion. Linda's brother sees freedom as something that can't be bargained for and can't wait. He leaves when he can no matter how nice his slaveowner is, who believes that his slave will return in good time. The struggle for freedom and dignity is a conquering force in the human psyche. Chapter 26 very clearly states that slaves have no obligations to their "masters" in matters of freedom, no matter how kind or how sadistic that slaveowner may be. Comment on the effect of this quote from chapter 27: “I had no trust in thee, O Slavery!” Chapter 27 outlines, among other ...