Blog #10 Final Blog!

In your final blog for this class, reflect on the collective themes and ideas we have considered through our reading and discussion as a whole.

Looking back, consider what you have really learned in this class. What ideas helped to activate or motivate or inspire or anger or move you in some way? In what new ways have you found yourself responding to "literature"? How have the issues we've encountered and discussed in class helped you to solidify your own personal opinions or beliefs? Feel free to address these questions in any way that makes sense to you.

Here is some of what we've attempted to accomplish this semester:

Nonfiction: Culture Jam, "The Dumbest Generation" Bauerlein,"You Have Insulted Me" by Vonnegut
Fiction: Feed, 1984, Hunger Games, Fahrenheit 451, "The Lottery," "The Most Dangerous Game," "Harrison Bergeron," etc.
Essays: from Walden by Henry David Thoreau, "Self-Reliance" by Ralph Waldo Emerson
Poetry: "America, It's Gotta be the Cheese" by Aton Kadosh, "Dover Beach" by Arnold
Video documentary: Second Skin, The Most Hated Family in America, Super-Size Me
Movies and movie clips: Gladiator, Into the Wild, 1984, Dead Poet's Society, Equilibrium
Television: Jersey Shore, Teen Mom, Survivor, UFC, Real Housewives, advertising
Because it's good for you: Verdi, Mozart, Warhol, VanGogh, Nietzsche,
Issues: Consumerism, "Plentitude", "Virtual" Reality, American excess, the "Thoreau Challenge," the "spectacle" of television, voyeurism--who's watching whom? Privacy, our Constitutional Freedoms, National security, Reality TV, Censorship, Book Burning, and more...

Looking back, I'm really proud of all that we were able to achieve together! You've been a great class, and you have taught me, your professor, just as much (if not more) as I hope I have taught you.

I look forward to your reflections.

FINAL BLOG DUE: SAT. 12/3 by MIDNIGHT, COMMENTS TUES. BY NOON.

Blog #8: Hunger Games Connections

In your blogs this week, discuss any of the reading, media, and/or themes we have discussed related to the Hunger Games.

I want you to feel free to approach this blog from any angle or perspective that interests you. If you're stuck, you might try expanding on one of the discussion questions from class. You might, for example, attempt to answer the question, "Are we not yet entertained?" You might speculate on what it is about our human nature that craves violence and "drama." You might write about how American Idol is a type of Hunger Games, or comment on the "inspirations" that our author, Collins, discusses in her interview. Maybe you're interested in thinking about our society's constant quest for "15 minutes of fame." You might consider "who is playing who" in both the Hunger Games and in our own "Games" today.

There are many paths and approaches to choose from....

BLOG DUE SUN MIDNIGHT, COMMENTS TUES. NOON.

"May the odds be ever in your favor..."

Let the "Games" Begin!

In his article written in 2000, Gabler asks, "What makes reality so darn entertaining?" And, arguably, this is a question yet worthy of our examination today. Perhaps most notable--or provocative--about Gabler's assertions, however, is that reality television has resulted in a culture of voyeurs. What part do we play as "viewers" and "fans" in the "reality" of these programs? In what way do we (as the audience of these "games") influence the "games" themselves?

Watch an hour of reality television – let’s just say it’s for "educational purposes." :) Provide a brief synopsis of the episode and, if possible, a small video clip from the episode. Who are the characters (or what Gabler would call the "hostages") that you responded to? Did you enjoy watching the show? What makes the show alluring? Most importantly, what is your role as the viewer (dare I say voyeur) of this show?--don't pretend that your role doesn't matter! Reality TV wouldn't work if you didn't choose to watch it!

I look forward to reading your creative and thought-provoking responses!

BLOG #7 DUE: Sunday 11/5 MIDNIGHT Comments: Monday NOON

Blog #6: Big Brother

It is not uncommon to hear our present culture and society described as "Orwellian." Who is "Big Brother" in the novel? How/Where does "Big Brother" exist today? Have we lost our right to privacy? Does privacy still exist? Are we willing to give up our basic freedoms in order to feel "safe"? Feel free to write any thoughts you have on the novel 1984 and consider contemporary connections to the themes in this novel.

Blog #5: "I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately..."

Could you live here?

For this week's blog, feel free to focus on or extend any of the conversations we engaged in together on Tuesday or Thursday. You might consider, for example, how Emerson and Thoreau's words resonate with your own beliefs and values. You might speculate about whether or not you--like Thoreau--could give up all of your worldly possessions (and technology) and live a life of solitude (for one year) in a secluded wood. Could you? What might you learn about yourself if you did?

You might instead make further connections between Thoreau, Emerson, Lasn, and Anderson's texts. What conversation do they create as a whole?

What "verse" will you "contribute"?

Blog #4 Are you the Dumbest Generation?

So, are you?

Use your blog this week to discuss the readings and viewing associated with Bauerlein's book The Dumbest Generation. What were your reactions to this media? What did you discuss in your groups that's worth considering in more depth in your blogs? Is there any merit to what Bauerlein says regarding your generation? why/why not. Remember to think and write critically. While I am encouraging your "reactions" to this material, I am also looking for how you think through these ideas in meaningful ways!

P.S. You might find this Chat with Mark Bauerlein of interest to you.

Blog #3 Cyberspace vs. Face to Face

In Culture Jam, Lasn argues that our emotions have become "emoticons." He wonders whether our authenticity has become fractured into a "multitude" of identities. In Second Skin, we are asked to consider if "synthetic worlds" are "real" worlds. Do the identities we occupy "virtually" have real significance, value, and meaning? Is cyberspace the "new frontier" or is it a vast, and endless, wasteland?

Using both the assigned reading and your response to the video documentary, demonstrate your ability to think critically about these ideas. Feel free to use the questions posted here as a starting point. You might also reference quotes you felt were in some way provocative or compelling. Questions on the viewing sheet would also be appropriate for extended response in your blogs.

Remember, it's important to move beyond "first impressions." If the media caused a "knee-jerk" reaction, pause for a moment and consider why. Investigate the rationale behind your reactions. Construct a thoughtful, academic response--that references the texts of study--in your blog.

Your third blog is due Friday Sept. 16. Comments are due on Monday Sept. 19 by noon.

Blog #2

Your second blog should be dedicated to discussing the literature and media we covered this week: Culture Jam, "It's Gotta be the Cheese," and/or any related media clips. In each of your blogs, you should strive to discuss the materials as specifically as possible. For example, you might discuss a quote in the reading or segment in the media that sparked your interest or evoked some kind of emotional response (laughter, disbelief, anger, amusement, etc.) You might also consider how the texts work together to create a common "conversation" about American consumer culture. What's the bigger picture? What are the over-arching implications of these ideas? Good blogs often have links to outside connections as well. Maybe the materials this week made you think of a commercial, an advertisement, a video clip, a work of art, a poem, etc. Think of your blog as a way to continue the conversation we began together in class.

Remember, that "A" bloggers demonstrate their knowledge of the ideas in the reading and their ability to analyze texts critically and thoughtfully. Avoid generalizing (For example: "The reading was pretty good. I disagreed with a few things though, but I enjoyed it overall...") This really tells your reader nothing about your engagement in the texts.

Your voice as a blogger will emerge the more you begin to write and participate in the blogs of others. I look forward to reading your blogs and engaging each of you to think *critically* about the texts we read together in our class.

Creating a Blog

Welcome to English 250 and to the blogging experience!

To get started, open a new browsing window and type in: www.blogger.com
To set up your own blog, you will be prompted to register an account. Choose an email account and work through the registration prompts. During registration you will be asked to create a web address. BE SURE TO RECORD YOUR WEB ADDRESS and PASSWORD on a separate sheet of paper. I will need to collect your web addresses in our first class meeting in order to link our blogs together.

Once you have worked through the registration process, you will be asked to choose a template for your blog. This is where you have the opportunity to "style" your blog. I will show you how to add links, pictures, etc. in a future class. For now, choose a template that you like. Once you have chosen your template, you are ready to go! To begin blogging, log on to your blog. This should open your "Dashboard." Under the dashboard you should see your blog listed. You can click "New Post" to start writing your first blog. A window will pop up that allows you to title your post and type in your responses. When you are ready to post your response, click "Publish Post." Another window will come up that allows you to "View" your blog.

You can always change the content of your posts or the "look" of your blog. Nothing is permanent. If you make a mistake and you are unsure of how to fix it, don't worry at this point. You can always go back and edit your posts. A quick way to do this is by going back to your "Dashboard" and clicking on "Edit posts"--you should see a list of all of the posts you have written. Here you can select a post to edit, and the same data entry window will pop up.

The best advice I can give you is to spend some time browsing around the features offered by the blog. The program is pretty user-friendly. You can click around and generally find your own way by reading the options that come up after each click.

I will be happy to answer any questions you have regarding your blog in our next meeting. If you absolutely cannot figure out how to create your own blog, type your introduction, print it, and bring it to class with you. You should have very few problems, however.

See you all soon!
Dr. Mortimore-Smith

Welcome to English 250!

Welcome to English 250! I'm excited to read and engage in each of your personal blogs. In your blog, you will be asked to write on any topic/issue/idea that captured your attention or interest in the reading or in-class discussion. Each week, I will ask you to review the ideas shared in class and in your reading and post a blog of your ideas and perspectives. You will also be required to post a comment on each of your response group member's blogs. Your blog is due on Friday of each week and your comments are due by the following Monday, unless otherwise stated. Please refer to your syllabus for specific blog expectations. Blog record sheets will be collected and graded sporadically throughout the semester.

For your first (test) blog, please introduce yourself to your peers. What are your interests/hobbies? What is your major/minor? What interested you in this class? What was the last book you read? What type of popular culture are you interested in? Music, movies, television, video games, art, etc. What are your past experiences reading "literature"? What is literature, in your opinion?

In addition, you should be personalizing your blog with biographical info, pictures, videos, your blog lists, etc. Setting up your blog is your first assignment in this class. Please ask your peers for help, ask a computer attendant on campus, or ask me if you are having difficulty setting up or designing your blog. Don't wait until the last minute, or you will fall behind in your weekly blogging. One class period will be spent on setting up and personalizing your blogs.

In each of your blogs, I am looking for honesty, evidence of critical thinking, knowledge of the texts assigned for reading, thoughtfulness, and originality. Stretch yourself. This blog represents the major written component of this class, and as such, I expect it to be carefully composed and prepared.

By Friday of the first week, you should have your blog set up and "styled." You should also have your personal "introduction" posted. Be sure to answer each of the questions posted here in your first blog. Check Desire2Learn for copies of any course materials you may need: Syllabus, schedule, blog record sheets, etc. Return to class ready to discuss any assigned reading with both your peer groups and in whole-class discussion.

I'm looking forward to reading each of your blogs and engaging in your ideas throughout the semester! Happy blogging!