#6: Self Evaluation

1.

I cannot believe my first semester of freshman year of college is coming to an end. After deciding to come to Penn State, people warned me college flies by and boy were they right. I was also warned about how teaching and learning techniques were different compared to what I was used to in high school. Again, they were right. I definitely had to adjust after my first few weeks of classes, but now I feel more acquainted with the academic environment.

Coming into English 15S, I guess I was expecting something similar to my senior year AP English Literature course in high school. AP classes are supposed to be just like college courses, right? Not exactly. The only aspect that was similar when comparing the two is the fact that my high school teacher and my college professor are both published writers and quirky and unique (in a complementary way of course). I certainly had to become accustomed to the amount of freedom given in class and on the assignments. In high school I was given an outline and specific directions for everything and it felt liberating having a little more space to get creative with. Instead of choosing from a specific list of topics to write about, I essentially was able to create my own for assignments like the memoir and Curated Art Exhibit.

As a writer, I feel my skills without a doubt became more mature and refined. I gained tools to condense my writing and make it clear. I found in high school I would use phrases and words to “fluff” up my essays, but now I’ve learned to cut those out. My writing has also become stronger because I now know how to make a compelling argument with the use of ethos, pathos, and logos. Since we spent a good amount of time going over how to make an argument, rhetorical devices, and other writing techniques, I understand these completely.

Aside from obtaining more knowledge on writing, I’ve also learned a lot more on what Penn State has to offer me, other than academics and football. I didn’t even know Penn State had an arboretum until our trip to it. This was one of my favorite activities of the class and I even brought my parents to it when they visited. Seeing the purest form of art, nature, was awesome along with attending the play, In the Red and Brown Water. This not only opened my eyes up to Penn State’s theater program, but to nontraditional forms of theater. I was so used to the “Disney-esque” musicals my high school put on, that I had lost sight of the more serious, intense side of theater. Through this course, I truly did discover that Penn State was not only a football school, but also a school of the arts.

I can confidently say that this course, along with just being away from home has changed me as a person.  English 15S has made me push myself to think and write to the best of my abilities. I had to really learn how to think outside of the box instead of sticking to the safe, old habits. This class and college in general gave me the chance to act like an adult and take matters into my own hands. I learned that I was the sole person responsible for my actions and this definitely made me grow up a little bit. Aside from that, I gained maturity and confidence that I desperately needed. Being away from my small town and close group of friends from home forced me to put myself out there and meet new people. I’m grateful for the friends I’ve made in and outside of class. English 15S not only gave me the necessary tools to write at the college level, but it also gave me the gift of friendship. 

2. Blog Responses

1. http://abbyejackson.blogspot.com/2012/09/spilling-on-blog.html?showComment=1349109144001#c1212346943977606584

2. http://marisacutillo.blogspot.com/2012/09/palmer-museum-blog-post-2.html?showComment=1349109496861#c9055269611817479524

3. http://bblissfullyblogging.blogspot.com/2012/09/walkin-in-floral-wonderland.html?showComment=1349109854498#c4434871291838911368

4. http://kaylaswritten.blogspot.com/2012/09/hour-at-arboretum.html?showComment=1349668449999#c3222382813454401640

5. http://scribblesndsuch.blogspot.com/2012/12/urban-outfitters-not-just-store.html?showComment=1354486254219#c4927979142461295949

6. http://elysamkolvek.blogspot.com/2012/11/carrie-underwood-concert.html

7. http://abbyejackson.blogspot.com/2012/12/spilling-on-one-direction.html?showComment=1355100571080#c2434352554169332534

8.http://showmetheartspa.blogspot.com/2012/09/photos.html?showComment=1355101359093#c481467593535919922

9. http://kristinajoelle.blogspot.com/2012/12/university-choir-fall-concert.html?showComment=1355102746938#c2329810692603105092

10. http://tarasaverageblog.blogspot.com/2012/11/7-peanut-butter-disaster.html?showComment=1355197475435#c7482033003911283046

3. SRTE Evaluations

Hi Ms. S--I completed my SRTEs!!

Classic Rock: Art for the Ears

Music is a big part of my life. Even though I don’t play an instrument, music consumes every minute of every single day for me. I listen to it walking to class, when I’m studying, falling asleep, and everything else in between. I’ll probably have significant hearing loss in the future due to my headphones being constantly in my ears. My iTunes library has a wide a range of genres, my favorite of which would be classic rock.

            

My love for classic rock was passed onto me from my father. As a child, I would never turn down an opportunity to go on a car ride with him because he would quiz me on every song that came on XM Radio’s classic rock station. My love of Led Zeppelin, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Fleetwood Mac, and an abundance of other bands bloomed from this one simple game. To me, this one particular genre alone is an art form. You can argue that any type of music is an art form but to me, classic rock is timeless, it will never fade out. Other genres, especially hip-hop and pop, go through fads and phases. While listening to a hit song from just last year, people already think it’s old and overplayed. Classic rock songs can’t get overplayed; they’re everlasting. 

           

In today’s world you don’t come across truly personal and creative lyrics as often as you did in say the ‘60s or ‘70s.  The lyrics from Crosby, Stills, Nash, & Young’s Find the Cost of Freedom is a prime example of meaningful lyrics. “Find the cost of freedom, buried in the ground. Mother earth will swallow you, lay your body down.” In a time of war and confusion, bands like this had a lot to write about and express. You can have a whole history lesson by just listening to a couple of songs. The wide variety of stories classic rock songs contain and people’s interpretations of them make this genre so unique. The lyrics combined with the pure, raw sound of classic rock is what made me fall in love with it in the first place. There’s no auto-tuning or computerized sound. Every one of those groups in the classic rock category had natural talent for songwriting and sound. To me, that is pure art. 

Arts/Cultural Event: Wiz Khalifa

           The weather in the beginning of October is supposed to be mild and pleasant to go out in, right? Wrong (for State College, PA at least). I could not believe my friends managed to convince me to trek over to the Bruce Jordan Center to see Wiz Khalifa on the bitterly cold night of October 12^th. In the end, I was extremely grateful for their persuasive ways.

           I’ve never been the biggest Wiz Khalifa fan. I have a collection of his more popular songs on my iTunes library but that’s about it, so going into the concert I really didn’t know what to expect. I was pretty excited because this was also my first time attending a rap concert. We got there right when Wiz’s opening acts were starting. Out of Chevy Woods, Juicy J, Lola Monroe, Berner and Tuki Carter, Juicy J was the only one I had heard of before arriving at the BJC and I have to say he was by far my favorite. The other opening acts were just shouting lyrics out that I couldn’t even comprehend, whereas Juicy J really sounded clear and lively. Everyone on the floor just bobbed along with the music, waiting for Wiz to come out. Eventually the crowd became antsy and you’d hear random shouts of “where’s Wiz” and “we want Wiz.”

Finally the moment everyone had been waiting for came; Wiz walked to the top center of the stage and started to perform. The first thought that popped into my mind when I saw him was “oh my god he’s like a twig!” Wiz was emaciated. I know, weird first thought, but once I focused on his music I got really into it. Before attending the concert, people had warned me he wasn’t the best live performer, but I got the opposite impression. Wiz was fun to watch and sing along with. Being on the ground floor made the experience even better because my friends and I were jumping up and down with the whole crowd. The most surprising aspect of the whole night however, was the fact that people were openly smoking marijuana in the crowd and it seemed completely ordinary. I guess the huge bong on stage that puffed out smoke was a sign that it was acceptable. Wiz is widely known to be a big “pot head” so I probably shouldn’t have been surprised that he attracted such a large crowd of smokers.

We didn’t stay for the last few songs, but of the songs I did hear, “Work Hard Play Hard” was definitely the best. Deciding to go to the concert was so spur of the moment, making the experience even more exciting for me. I can confidently say my first rap concert was a success and I look forward to attending another one of Wiz Khalifa’s concerts in the future. 

#5: In the Red and Brown Water

In the projects of Bayou, Lousisiana, Oya, the main character of In the Red and Brown Water is a track crazed teen-aged girl. The plot of the play follows her transformation from girl to woman. Oya deals with the death of her mother, missing her chance at running track, and a rocky relationship with Shango. While dealing with all of this, she also has to deal with the fact that she can’t have a baby, something that she truly wanted. Her hardships finally overcome her and she cuts off her ear at a moment of insanity, killing herself, and ending the play. What struck me as the most important thing about the story for Oya was choosing between what her heart told her and what her mind told her. She wasn’t happy with Ogun Size, but he was the safe, reliable man in her life. Meanwhile her heart led her to loving Shango, the unreliable, rocky man in her life.  Her happiness and sanity were at stake for her here and even though she listened to her heart and chose Shango, she was too late and it resulted in her demise.

Throughout the performance Elegba, the maturing delinquent, captivated my attention. I loved watching his sass and immature moments while also seeing him transition into a man. He made some mistakes along the way, like getting a girl pregnant, but it ended up making him a better person. He loved having something to call his own. I was also caught off guard when I revealed that he was not only interested in women, but in men too. His comedic relief was essential to the plot and I found myself bursting out in laughter throughout the play. At first I thought I would find myself hating how the actors say their stage cues but I actually really enjoyed that aspect of the play. What I did not like as much was how I couldn’t keep up with some of the slang and language the actors used. I know it was part of the script, but at points they would be speaking too fast and I found myself getting lost.

Other than that, I surprisingly enjoyed all the other aspects of the game. This was not my first time seeing a live theater performance, but it was my first time seeing one at Penn State. I was pleasantly surprised the students acting in the play were so passionate and real. This definitely exceeded my expectations because I did not expect much going into the performance. The only other live theater performances I have seen have been big, overdone musicals on Broadway. Compared to those, this was more real and raw. I loved how the set was simple so the only thing you really focused on was the individual actors. Overall, I came out of this experience impressed and intrigued. 

#4: Good Will Hunting

Director: Gus Van Sant 

Writers: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck

Starring: Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver, Stellan Skarsgard

Length: 126 min.

Released: 1997

Rather than being your typical college film of binge drinking, sex, and drugs, Good Will Hunting captures the essence of a uplifting, heartfelt drama. 

Set in Boston and Cambridge Massachusetts, the film follows Will Hunting (Matt Damon), a janitor at the prestigious Massachusetts Institution of Technology. Hunting is a defiant, troublesome 20-year-old who, is gifted with a photographic memory. After MIT professor Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard) challenges his students with an extremely complex math problem, Will solves it in a day, leaving the answer on the hallway blackboard, while simultaneously leaving everyone else anxious to find out who actually solved it. Lambeau finally discovers Will and as an alternative to going to jail, offers him an out with two conditions: weekly math and therapy sessions. Will refuses to cooperate with the therapy sessions and after driving away five other therapists, he finally gets sent to Sean McGuire (Robin Williams), Lambeau's former classmate. This is where the real journey begins as you watch Will and Sean deal with Will's past, present, and future together.

Directed by Gus Van Sant, Good Will Hunting easily combines a heavy story with comedic undertones. This film toyed with my emotions, compelling me to be sad in one scene and burst out with laughter in another. Though the plot line is pretty predictable, there are enough twists and turns to keep you alert and focused. Will's relationship with the equally damaged Sean McGuire is the core to this film. Viewers witness Will transforming from a troubled boy to a driven man. With Harvard girl, Skylar (Minnie Driver) as his love interest, this throws even more curve balls into the plot. 

Keep in mind, despite the fact this is an inspiring story, the film is rated R for good reason. A chunk of the movie contains foul language and sexual content not suitable for younger viewers. As an adult, the word choices of the writers only made the film better. Seeing as Will Hunting is a working class guy, he hangs out with his bar-hopping South Boston pals, who are more like brothers to him. Their foul mouths and crude jokes only make their characters more genuine. Lines like, "Morgan! If you're watching pornos in my mom's room again, I'm gonna give you a f***ing beating!" add a great deal of comedy into the film. Will's best friend Chuckie (Ben Affleck) and the rest of the crew set Good Will Hunting apart from all the other sappy films about kids from bad areas overcoming their hardships. They make the film more relatable, real, and light. 

Nominated for nine oscars, winning two, Good Will Hunting is clearly a must see. Between romance, drama, and comedy, there's something in there for everyone. I also have to mention that it didn't hurt staring at Matt Damon for about 126 min. either. I would definitely recommend this triumphant film to anyone and I plan on seeing it again in the future. 

#3: A Flower Filled Excursion

I wasn't expecting much when I heard our class on Monday would be at Penn State's very own arboretum. Thankfully I was pleasantly surprised. The fact that it was a bit chilly out didn't affect the beauty of the serene place at all. Standing under the white tent portion of the building itself made me think that this would be the perfect spot for a wedding. The scenery would be breathtaking in spring with all the flowers in bloom. The stone path that maps out the region around Penn State was a unique aspect of the area. I loved tracing my foot along the crevices engraved in the stone. I've never seen anything like it before.

I thought the arboretum was just the few planted areas surrounding the main building, but boy was I wrong. Paths led me to places I didn't expect to exist. My favorite spot was where all the sunflowers were where there were also gourds hanging on the trellise right in front of them. This reminded me of home because my neighbors down the street always plant sunflowers that always seem to grow taller than me. The gourds also reminded me of my parents since they use dried out gourds to decorate for the fall season. The bench under the trellise seemed like the ideal place to sit and slowly drink a warm cup of tea in the morning. Every part of this place compelled me to feel relaxed. 

Now, I'm normally never a nature lover. I hate creepy, crawly insects and things that slither, but I do have a soft spot for the beauty of plants and landscape. This reminded me that surrounding the bubble of happy valley is pure country. I loved all the vivid, bright colors engulfed in the arboretum. I was happily surprised to see peppers growing right next to big, bodacious flowers. I was so tempted to pluck one of the peppers off its stem. 

Another thing I was surprised at discovering was a small pond with many different types of lilly pads and flowers. I even caught a glimpse of a fish swimming around in there. It looked like I could sit on one of the pads because of its huge size, but after contemplating it, I would most definitely sink it. For some odd reason, the first memory that popped into my mind while looking at these floating plants, was of a frog jumper game I played as a child. Frogs would have to hop over a river on lily pads or they would drown. I half expected to see a frog hanging out on one of the lilly pads in the pond. Frogs and lily pads seem to be synonymous. 

On a broader note, everywhere I turned in the arboretum, I discovered something even more beautiful than the last. Looking back through the many pictures I took, I couldn't believe I actually took the pictures there. Most of them look like they came out of a magazine because the colors are so vibrant and lively. Seeing as the arboretum is right in my back yard, I would love to go back there when it's warmer out. It seems like the ideal place to layout with my books and have a nice long study session. Who knew Penn State would have such a beautiful haven!?

Here are some pictures I took while at the arboretum:

#2: Visit to the Palmer

Julie Heffernan's

Self-Portrait as Woman Recovering from Effects of Male Gaze (What's Underneath), 1992
Oil on canvas

The full piece. 

Scene of a woman and child being abandoned by a man. 

Scene of Adam and Eve.

At first glance, the piece of art just appears to be yet another plain portrait of an assortment of fruit, a common scene artists have been painting for centuries. Heffernan used a variety of dull colors; deep red is the only hue that sufficiently sticks out. An array of apples and pears painted in reds, browns, and yellows surround the deep purple, almost black, grapes that are centered towards the back of the portrait. Shades of black surround the fruit, which is reflected in the very front of the portrait, thus creating a mirror effect. At the very bottom of the piece, the words "Self Portrait as Woman Recovering from Effects of Male Gaze" is painted in white script. Upon taking a second glance, the eyes begin to focus on the true meaning of this painting. It is not just fruit painted on this canvas, but there are images painted within the fruit. There are several scenes that illustrate Heffernan's attitude towards the harsh roles men have placed women in throughout history. 

This piece of art was created in what people call the "Year of the Women" because a number of female Senators were elected in the United States. This is extremely important in relation to the rhetorical situation of the piece. This was created in a time where substantial progress had been made for women with even more to come. This piece seems to map out the struggles women endured since the creation of human beings, starting with Adam and Eve, who are illustrated in the painting. In another scene, a robust woman gazes at herself in a mirror. I interpreted this as the effects of the expectations men hold women to, both physical and mental. Additionally, a woman and child stare off into the distance at what looks like a man as he floats off into the distance on a ship, suggesting how men have deserted women in the past. The other scenes in the portrait depict themes concerning social norms, the female anatomy, and love. 

While gazing at this piece of art, I did not experience any strong emotions, but I did feel intrigued to examine each small scene more carefully. It made me consider other examples of people objectifying women. I thought to myself how lucky I am to be living in a society today where women play a greater role in the government and the community and how women in other countries across the world are still being scrutinized and held back like the women in this painting. 

This particular artists holds credibility because she is a respected member of the art world. Heffernan achieved a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Masters of Fine Arts degree in painting at Yale School of Art. She is now a professor of fine arts at Montclair State University in New Jersey. She has received many awards and distinctions including the E.H. Schless Prize for Highest Achievement in Painting and even a College Faculty Research Grant from the Pennsylvania State University. 

Personally, I believe the claim this piece is making is that men throughout history, starting with Adam and Eve, have objectified women. This claim is very persuasive because the painting is not just one scene, it's multiple scenes, all providing evidence of this one claim. They all show the inferiority women have dealt with since the start of humankind. 

Overall, I enjoyed my visit to the Palmer. I am not a frequent museum-goer, but usually take pleasure in the experience when I do go. I did not necessarily like the artwork on the first floor. I found it a little mundane, but I was fascinated by the artwork on the second floor, especially in the first room. I loved all the colors and different styles of artwork up there. I would like to go back and spend some more time exploring the museum. I could see myself discovering something I quickly passed over upon my first visit.