Thursday, October 28, 2010

IR Project #1- Digital Storytelling

Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston

http://voicethread.com/?#u1410288.b1471580.i7761389

1) I am doing a voice thread for the most important scenes. I talk about how Janine runs away with Logan Killicks hoping for a new and better life. After her mom ran away Janine's grandmother took her in to make sure that Janine was cared for. Other things included are how tension rises when Janine starts flirting with Joe Starks, she then leaves Logan to marry Joe. A major theme that I included was how everyone is treated and called "mules.

2) I liked doing the voice thread. I originally did a toondo but then voice thread seemed like a better option. It was easier to get the most important parts of the book where when I tried doing a toondo I couldn't find what was most important.

3) The book was fine to read but the language used was terrible. Since none of the people in the book were properly educated, the dialogue was very improper. Most of the people who talk were either former slaves or family of former slaves and since they were black they were never given a proper education. The rest of the text that was not spoken was written very well it was only when someone would talk that the dialogue became a type of southern accent. Next marking period I am going to scan through the book and see how most the dialogue is and if I don't like it I will get a better book.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Chapter 9- Gatsby Reflections

        "[We] were all Westerners, and perhaps we possessed some deficiency in common which made us subtly unadaptable to Eastern life"
        In the book most of the people that are mentioned come from somewhere in the mid-west to west coast and decided to come east to New York. In the 1920's, New York was big in the sense that people wanted to go there to start new lives and make a new name of themselves. Since prohibition was put into place many people, such as Gatsby, resorted to illegal means of getting rich just to live the good life, and since New York was one of the more popular cities doing illegal things could get you money fast. Nick went East in order to get into the bond business which was a well known business during this time period. Many people were not use to living in a city with such corruptness and illegal means going on that many did not know what to do because of the fact they were not used to seeing it occur. Many fell into this trap because they wanted to "fit" in with the rest of the crowd and tried to adapt to the Eastern way of living, but it was hard for mid-west/ west coasters to change. This quote sums up how many people felt in the 1920's because a lot of people went from the west to the east in hope for a better life.
        In my lifetime so far I have lived in the East but not for the same reasons as people before chose to. I did not pick this area because I knew I could get rich quick, or live the good life. The American Dream has long since changed and instead of it being get rich as quickly as possible, have a big house, and a fancy car, I believe we should live for a better reason. Living on the East or West does not make a big difference anymore since on either side you can find many of the same jobs, houses, and futures that once were never thought to be able to be sought after. Now the thought is go west to places like Hollywood, Las Vegas, and Las Angeles to make money quickly and in some cases illegally.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Gatsby- Chapter 3

I believe living the "good life" now is looked as having a very nice house, multiple cars that are very famous brands, wearing certain brands, and having lots of money. I don't believe this is the "good life" and that the good life is something better. I think if you can be happy doing what you are doing, happy with where you are living, and helping out others not just thinking about yourself is the "good life". In the 1920's the good life was somebody who had a ton of money, the newest cars, a big house, and had the biggest parties. Since the value of money has changed since the 20's I think so has the view of the good life. Many people could get bigger houses and do what they wanted with a lot less money then you need today. The "good life" isn't always about the best house, best cars, and best new items, it's about being happy and enjoying what you do with the time you have on Earth.