Tragedy Project

A rough draft of the paper in correlation with our tragedy project is due this coming Wednesday, along with a rough sketch of our creation. I am not sure exactly what my 'creation' is going to look like. I'm stuck between a few types of media - music, theatre and film. The aforementioned topics are all things that I am very passionate about. I think I will try and possibly group up with some other people in my class and see what we can create together - that is, if we have similar interests. It could really go any direction at this point in time.

I was absent today (Fri.), but this week we did get a chance to read and analyze a poem entitled Patty's Charcoal Drive-In. This poem reminded me of a sort of hybrid restaurant - a combination between In-N-Out and Corvette Diner. I enjoyed it very much. I feel that it brings back a lot of memories about how many people may feel about their first job experience.

Oedipus - finished: New tragedy project!

This week, we finished Oedipus and were introduced to a new project. The project is, essentially, our own concept of what a true tragedy is. Throughout this project, we are also going to be studying what we believe makes a tragedy most effective. I read a few articles during class today and decided that I thought theatre and film were the most effective mediums when it comes to the realistic portrayal of tragedy. In my own experience, watching a well performed live theatrical piece is the closest thing to real life. You are there as an audience member, in 3d, watching another human being portray something - emotion comes through fantastically on the stage.

Another one of my classmates (Leigh) pointed out that film can capture very subtle details, which I agree with.

I look forward to delving into this project and thought process more deeply!

Oedipus

This week we began reading Oedipus Rex by Sophocles. We learned that the story of Oedipus Rex is that of a 'tragic hero' and what Aristotle deemed the 'perfect tragedy'. It takes place in Greece and details the story of a man who could not escape his fate - he was destined to kill his father and marry and beget children by his mother. His mother and father, after finding this out, sent him away to be killed by a shepherd. The shepherd could not bring himself to do it, so Oedipus was brought before the king and queen of Thebes (who could not have children) to be taken in as an adopted son.

He ends up moving back to his hometown after hearing of his prophecy and thinking that his adopted parents were his real ones. This is when the madness starts.

I find the fact that we know Oedipus's destiny at the beginning and we just have to wait for things to unfold to be very compelling and interesting. I enjoy reading it so far. We have to read more over the weekend and I'll update when I'm finished with my reading.

Developments in English Class

So far this semester, we have begun a reading project for which we examine an essential question that we ourselves create whilst reading a set of books. The first of these books for me is Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. So far, I'm enjoying it very much.

What I find most fascinating is how during the time this was written, Brave New World would be considered an extremely EXTREMELY controversial work. Even now it is a little odd and the thoughts behind it and manifested throughout it are a little strange and 'out there'. I am enjoying it as of yet though and cannot wait to finish it. I'm about half way through and I'll give a little more info about it in a future post.