SPEAK OUT LOUD

Speak Out Loud


Blogging. Before entering this class it was just a word used by the “colorful” Perez Hilton as a way for him to out celebrity gossip. Now seen as a form of expression and communication on any given topic for the world to see! Blogging gives individuals the freedom to speak out on how he or she feel about government, media, or a mad scientist teaching a 21st Century Literature class. With the use of today’ technology Blogging seems to be the best way to express our freedom to speech and act on a greater spectrum.

At the beginning of class I saw Blogging as another tedious task set forth by the Professor to for fill the expectation of college not being an easy ride or it was Professor Lennon’ way to give us something to do to ensure that we were reading through out the week. Being that it was a once a week class three blogs does not sound impossible but to many, like me, it wasn’t easy. I mean it’s one thing to read 200 pages in a week but getting the time to sit, organize ones thoughts into three sections while having a million other things going on is by no mean opening a book on the way to work, its just not that simple. After forcing myself to write these blogs I got to a point where I wanted to just give up! I remembering thinking who is actually going to sit down and read my piece of shit blog posting other than the Professor? It had gotten me to the point where I wanted to just drop the class, not just because of his hard to understand, where are you going with this, what’s your point war stories, but because I could not stand looking like a fool who could not write a simple blog!

Then I met Rich, Terrence, Jamie, and Jessica! After a night of drinking and loud slurred sports speak, I went home and started to read their blogs. There I was upset because I could write a blog when all it is, are your thoughts! I know, professor said that these blogs were out “online journals” in the first class but who really listens in the first class? Reading through each blog I got a sense of who each of these individuals were, and changed the way I saw what this really was, a way to get it all out. Professors words started to play over and over in my head, “If you like it, Fine! If you don’t like it, Fine! But why?” There is was the question on why the reason for blogs, no one thinks the same and that is what makes life so interesting. One person’ thoughts or ideas can help educate millions, the Bible, the Koran are, to me, peoples thoughts or memories on history. This is our way to speak out loud and give our option and maybe educate one another!

Is it needed in a 21st Century Literature class? I would have to answer this question with my head hung low, and say yes. The blogs, if used correctly, can help student discover new ideas on a given text and give insight to the way others are thinking. I believe that blogging is very important in the 21st Century! We all live on computers and technology, instead of us waiting to go home and play that record we all love so much, it is now at the tip of our fingers on our iPods! Even waiting to get home to download a song is now easier than ever all you need is your Apple ID and internet access and there it is on you iPod without even touching a computer. All I am saying is that maybe blogging is what is need to get our point across! That was the something I found surprising while writing my blogs this semester.

In conclusion if there were something I were able to do differently with my blogs it would be to look at them as expression and art rather than homework. I know in saying so I am putting myself in jeopardy of getting what might be a low grade, but I can see what Professor Lennon attempting to accomplish.

The demond child. . .

OK, say what you want about me but I loved what went on in Ch 13. I could just picture it, a classroom filled with little boys and girls sitting drawing colorful pictures and off to the side
is little Chad only using the black crayola crayon! All ask to draw a picture of home, Chad is draws a square, with no windows or doors!
This is what I love about this book, its Dark its goes outside the box and scares people! I know I'm not much of a writer but by next week i will have full reviews on this book as I go along.

To be honest!

I am really trying to read this book, but to be honest I've been cutting coroners. Now, I know this sounds bad, but I've been reading the summaries online to get a better understanding of what is going on! But, from reading the summaries this book is amazing. Suspense, drug use, death, man, this is my nightmare in book form! If we easier to understand I wouldn't be able to put it down! Maybe one should try to read this book intoxicated! 

Moving forward. . .

Reading Terrence' Blog I got a better understanding of Johnny Truant. He is a helpless individual trying to better himself. Not many people can stop or give up something he or she has become dependant on just to see life for what is worth, and to remember and notice the small things as to what makes something beautiful. As hard as it is to read this book if we almost get ourselves in the mind of a person "high" it could help us better understand the individuals and as to where the story is going!

VIDEO

My Video of Choice

Yeah. . . so did anyone see that Giants game on Sunday?! I'm sorry but if I don't laugh I will cry! i am confused as all hell right now this video is the best representation for the book, pure and otter madness! The book tosses us in all different directions as does the video, it keeps views going back looking for a difference or a change in what they have just seen! Is that really Jesus under water, or was it a statue of another man!? Weird, sure but interesting as hell!

HOUSE

Why does this remind me of the house?! Come on! This is a house that expands and contracts what better than a house that come to life! To whom is reading this blog, close your eyes, and picture a house, yeah that's right think about a house on your block, that you grew up in, or one on t.v. Seems normal right?! Danielewski did not want the house to be seen as that house on the hill, straight out of Casper, thunder and night fall surrounded on a sunny day house. He wanted his reader to see the house as a home that goes wrong. At the beginning of the book the house was seen as plesant, "His five year old daughter Daisy approves of their new house. "It's nicw here," she giggles shyly. . ." There is it! It was nice!

Black Watch

What!? The language in this play is starting to confuse me, I started reading "Black Watch", a play by Gregory Burke, this week and besides confusing language it began to remind me of Jarhead. As the play started we met Cammy, an arrogant proud to be solider. He began to tell readers how he is not what people believe other soliders to be, he wanted to be in the army it wasn't his last choice. He receives word that a female writer would like to interview him and the other soilders, he and the other begin to clean up and plot how they would get free drinks and their "cocks sucked". To their surprise a male writer shows up and their fantasies were crushed! 

Are all these book going to be the same? Angry solider tells his life story and nasty sex stories!? I mean I'm a guy I think like this at least 120 times a day! What makes these so different, them going to war? I'm beginning to think that hip-hop isn't the only thing that died. Maybe 21st Century Lit needs a boost! Maybe it pick up like Jarhead did for me, I will finish the book for class but I hope there are better works to be read.

Ever since I've seen that clip in class. . .

A lot seems to happen when you’re bored. at times being bored can lead up to a hit t.v. show, staring you, your close buddies brutally beating the shit out of one another, and attempting jaw dropping stunts. Yes, I am talking about that hit MTV show, “Jackass”. Being a jackass, like the now famous Johnny Knockville, has entertained millions across the world, but what drives one to be this brave, carefree, risk junkie fool know as a jackass? Maybe it was the idea of making a few dollars as a human pin cushion! Or was it just a grand scheme by the marketing staff at MTV to widen its audience, instead of your average teeny boppers, let’s get the dark kids to tune in! Hum. . . all great answers but i believe it is pure unrated boredom. I mean think about it, your home alone with a group of friends doing completely nothing, suddenly someone throws a pillow. . .what happens?! If you guessed pillow fight you’ve hit the nail on the head, a “fuck you”, get smacked across your face pillow fight!

The mind works in a mysterious way, soldiers are trained to kill, raid and pillage so why wouldn’t one expect a “bored soldier” not to be a jerk! Many view American soldiers teaching Iraqi children American profanity and having them speak ill of both their country and themselves is where these human killing machine go their “sick kicks”. But one can argue that after intensive training brutal weather conditions and days with out sleep can change a person. Sure it is not the nicest thing in the world but no one is to know for sure how they would have fun being in the same situation. Just a thought!

A pretty damn good weekend!

Things never go the way you plan it. This weekend was suppose to be my time away from it all, the annoying parents, neglectful ex-girlfriend, and a change of scenery. It was suppose to be my "out of town" weekend but at the last min things changed and plans had to be canceled.  S0 there I was home alone on a Friday night, that was until I got a text from a fellow Lit classmate. As we texted about how "whack" our day was going she invited me to come over to blow off some steam and have a few drinks with her family and friends. 

Now, I'm not going to lie I've been around Italian my whole life, from little league baseball to having my first beer, so I figured I would go and have a good time. As my friend pulled we were greeted with smiles and friendly smoke offering. After grabbing a bunch of junk food we sat on the stoop and began to speak and laugh about our literature class discussions, our high school days, and what we both seem to do best get drunk.

While having my crouch being constantly sniffed by her mammoth sized pouch, my Friday turned out to be a pretty good night thanks to my Lit class and a new friend.

I should of been a Jarhead!. . 2 of 3

OK, so I am almost done with the first half of the book "Jarhead" by Anthony Swofford, and it is not as bad as I thought it would be. When I herd military history I began to cringe, and think another "in my day" novel of hardships, war, and a good old fashion whippin'. I mean come on, read one read em' all, but not so with this one it was raw, to the point, a true depiction of what happens when real men are sent away endure heat, hunger, and sexless nights to fight for a country that has given them oh so much.

Swofford starts off beautifully allowing the reading to almost hear the sand fall to the ground from the old map of Kuwait found in his ruck. We can almost smell the liquor on his breath as he goes through his old military equipment remembering each man one by one and the events of the gulf war. As I continued reading it gave me a new view on America, the land of the "free", a term that shouldn't of been used so freely when it came to the Jarheads. Swofford goes on to tell his readers the truth behind the TV interviews and what these men of war were really thinking.

Jarhead is starting to grow on me, not only for the raw speech and vivd war discriptions, but more because of who it is written by, someone I could relate to, an average fuck up!

1 of 3. . . Not A Bad Monday

So we're asked to write three blogs a week and I have no clue what to write. I was never very big on writing, it was something I had to do as a student but never really enjoyed. I often needed a interesting subject to grab me and give me that "kick" to start a paper or article. It wasn't until I met professor Quinn, I guess he was that professor that people talk about. The one that makes a "huge impact" on your college life. He took me out of my element and forced me to do something I have not done in a while, think. The feeling of being in a class that challenged helped me to understand the purpose of college.

After Prof. Quinn' writing class I felt it was the first and last class I would enjoy at St. Francis, til that Wednesday in 21st century literature. There we were sitting in groups of two, getting ready to read parts from the play "The Mercy Seat". Thoughts ran through my head none of which good! I began to think, "why am I here?, I don't act!, what the hell is this, drama club?!" thoughts that quickly changed after the first group' performance. After each group we would have a class discussion  of who was right, the oh so goodie goodie Abby, or the heartless son of a bitch, Ben. Then it happened, I found my next big class. As the students began to point out their points of who was ultimately the better person, arguments began to break out. Always being a fan of debating I stop looking at my watch and began to pay attention waiting to get my chance to get my point across.

Now on this Monday night I'm here with my copy of Jarhead, which sadly, I just received today, ready for the next classroom debate.

Another Day at Work

I don't know why I even bother to think that today will be different. My life has sadly become a routine, even as a busy Dj there hasn't been anything that grabbed me as "amazing" during the summer. I guess it wasn't such a bad thing, this summer gave the the drive to go back to school and complete my year and a half, if not two year stay a St. Francis.

I would wake up every morning drag my self to the shower, get dressed, pack my self into a jam packed subway cart and go to work. Get to work do deposit after deposit, eat lunch, do more deposits go home and stuff my face yet again. My life of a champ turned into that of a chump. I started to make more money that I did at my other jobs, but after gaining 20 lbs I also saw a change in who I was. I was no longer the happy and upbeat a person I use to be, I lived to work. After a while I began to notice young business men, some of which, a couple years older than me depositing six-figure checks into their personal account. My initial reaction was anger and jealousy, I found myself asking "why do they have it so easy? why do they have more than I do?". It wasn't until my pain in the ass assistant manger borough it all to the light. Being the perfect example those who got under my skin. This no personality, untalented female doing a job I should be doing. Now, don't get me wrong ladies the reason that she is female has nothing to do with my dislike for her, rather that she is a lazy, rude undermining manger. She received her position through a program offered to "College Graduates", no grades needed just apply. I was tired of doing something I hated and not getting paid for my hard work. It was then I set my focus to, not only go to school but finish.

As I entered class the first thing we started to get into was the events on Sept. 11 2001, fucking great here we go again, a cloud of anger came over me all I could think of was being ridiculed for something I had nothing to do with and hearing the ignorant voices of these ass hole as I was being jumped after school. It was then I remembered, that day changed my life. As a Stag I started to hang with the people that protected me, going to an all boy school isn't as easy as some may think. If you don't come in strong you sure as hell will leave a lot stronger.

Class is about to start . . .til next topic fokes!

Finally. . . time in the hot seat!

"The Mercy Seat", gave me a whole new look on the events that took place on 9/11. It was almost comical how the couple used the tragic events to escape their everyday life and be with one another. It was a perfect example of what us as, Americans do through out history, use a disaster to build something new and exciting, gain access to"bigger" and/or, what we feel to be, better things. To a point the play reminded me of the movie "Titanic", the 1997 blockbuster which captivated the rise and fall of what at the time was the biggest ship in the world. The enormous ship had hundreds of stories but we focused on one, the love between two individuals (Jack and Rose) both of different classes.

The play is a raw reminder that through tragedy, human behavior does not change. As the towers fell and countless individuals perished Abby's mind is stuck on Ben, her married office fling, and the obsession of his favorite sexual position when it comes to being with her. Neil LaBute was brutally honest during their conversations poking fun at the planes being flown into the two towers. So far the play has me hooked. Sure, LaBute's use of strong language and raw sexual play is what initially, of couse, grabbed me. Reading further along I have an idea of what he wanted to convey to his readers, that human beings, while good-natured, are generally concerned with themselves and their desires.