Jane Eyre Reflection

After reading Jane Eyre, I have formulated multiple opinions about the 493 page beast. I really liked all the motifs in this book. I thought that this part of the book really worked. I enjoyed discussing the various motifs that appear throughout the book. I think that this book taught the reader a lot about Victorian women and society.There were many useful things in this book/ unit. I enjoyed learning about the Bronte sisters and how they lived in the Victorian Age. One thing I thought could be modified about this unit was the gender PowerPoint. I feel like most people just put down stereotypes without actually researching things. One think I didn't like about the actual book was too perfect ending. I it was too happy and perfect for me. I do think that this book should be retaught because it offers a great insight into the Victorian era. It is a classic work that many people will face at some point in there life anyway so why not in high school. The only thing negative is the length. It is tough to get through in such a short amount of time. Overall there were both positive and negative aspects to this unit but the book was enjoyable, in general.

Differing Points of View

When reading a story, we as readers tend to read from a biased view point. We consider the view point of the main character and that characteronly. A lot of times if we are told a story from a different point of view, our entire perception of the story changes. Jane Eyre is one example of this type of story. There have been many different retellings of this story from different view points. Adele: Jane Eyre's Hidden Story, The Story of Adele From Jane Eyre, and Rochester: A Novel Inspired by Jane Eyre  are all examples of this. I think that Catcher in the Rye would also be a great story told from a different point of view. There are so many minor characters in that story that would be great to hear from. Pheobe, his parents, and Stradlator would all make great stories of Holden. I think one interesting view point would be that of the various taxi drivers. Holden finds himself many times in the back seat of a taxi. Every time he seems to be a different person. I think if the various taxi drivers voiced their opinions of Holden, it would make a great book. Overall, both Catcher in the Rye and Jane Eyre have been great stories from Holden and Jane respectively, but may be they would be even better told from a different eye.

Jane Eyre Movies

Jane Eyre has long been considered a classic. So much so that it has been made into a movie multiple times. In fact, since the first one in 1910, over ten movies have been produced under the Jane Eyre title (countless more have similar archetypes inspired by Jane Eyre). It is quite surprising to me that this story has been made into a movie so many times. I guess directors think that since it was such a successful book that it would also make a successful movie. Why do you think they keep remaking this movie? You would think that one would realize that after the first few movies that the American public just wasn't going to get into the Jane Eyre story.

The latest release is set to come out in the spring of 2011 and it will star Mia Wasikowska and Michael Fassbender. This up coming movie looks actually promising considering its trailer. (http://www.focusfeatures.com/video/jane_eyre_the_trailer). Don't get me wrong, I don't dislike the previous versions of the movie but they just have never been hugely successful. In fact, if I hadn't read the book I would probably have very little interest in the movie. Do you think that people that have never read the book will buy into the Jane Eyre story? I think people are missing out to, by not seeing it. This story, although slow to get going, is full of twists and turns. It has been such a good book for a long time, but a lot of times that just doesn't carry over into the cinema (maybe that is why Salinger never let Catcher become a movie). Lets hope that the public finally gets some sense and latches on to the Jane Eyre bandwagon in 2011.

Ghost World Reaction

After watching Ghost World this week, I found it to, overall, be a pretty good movie. I had never heard of Ghost World before this week, much less seen it, and I thought the critics got it right. The girls' egotistical and almost Gothic approach to life, makes the viewer almost hate the two main characters at the beginning. This is one element of the movie that was extremely bold, but seemed to pay off at the end. Not many producers will create main charters that the viewer hates, but Zwigoff did it and did it well. I think that because we hate the Enid and Rebbecca at the start, we like them more at the end. The way Enid grows throughout the movie really reminds me of Holden's growth. They both start out as misguided teens that have very few positive things in life, but by the end of their stories they have grown up and started adulthood.

Like Catcher, Ghost World leaves many unanswered questions. Where does Enid go to on that bus? Do Enid and Seymour meet up again? Do Rebbecca and Enid ever meet back up? The viewer can't answer these answers. They can only speculate and I think that is what makes it so successful. As we saw in Catcher in the Rye, and open interpretation only enhances our opinions of the story because we can think what we want. In the end, Ghost World was a success to me because of its likability of its characters and its open ending.

Visions of Teenhood

I believe that these authors and directors do get the idea of teenhood correct. All of these characters try to fit in with the 'cool' kids. Because these works cover such a long time period, the characters are a bit different. As times change, so do the ways teens act. Holden and Jim are both rebels with the classic 40s and 50s style, but in more recent times the characters like Seth in Superbad act a bit different. But all three of these characters are trying to fit in with the times. I think that all of the producers and writers on the list got it right. Another show that I definitely think portrays teenhood is saved by the Bell. This TV show follows a gang of teenagers around in their everyday life. Despite its comedy genre, it contains many serious life situations that do accurately show how different people deal with teenhood problems. Although they are not quite as rebellious as the characters like Holden or Jim, they are very representative of the 80s and 90s American teen.

Mark Chapman Inspiration

Upon a deeper investigation of Mark Chapman's assassination of John Lennon, there are many references to The Catcher in the Rye throughout his life and the assassination. He was introduced to the book by a friend and since the first time he read it he took a strong interest in it. Chapman became obsessed with Holden and his ideas. At one point he even considered changing his name to Holden. After he shot John Lennon on December 6, 1980 he didn't act as many would expect. He sat down, pulled out his copy of Catcher and the Rye and read it until the police showed up. I think one of the most interesting connections to the book came in an interview with Chapman. Chapman said that  "He knew where the ducks went in winter, and I needed to know this." I made a connection to the repetition of this motif as well. I know this book has met severe opposition for a long time partly because of its seemingly bad influence on people. Although I haven't finished reading the book yet, I still disagree with those who are against this book. It may have a history of inspiring opposition to authority, but I believe that only already mentally unstable people would go as far as Chapman did and the book should never be banned.

Visions of Childhood

Among the many TV shows throughout history that depict childhood, one of my favorites is Everybody Hates Chris. This show ran from 2005 to 2008 and showed the everyday situations for a young, less fortunate, African American, boy with lots of enemies. Although it is a comedy, it has many serious messages about being a child. It speaks to the nature of being a kid by showing that being a kid is not as easy as some adults may think. There are many problems that kids face everyday and their naivety makes them even more difficult. It tells tells the story of Chris, who deals with enemies at home, school, and in the community.

In the stories we have read in the past week, there are many examples of childhood life. In Sutton pie safe and Every Little Hurricane, we see the main character being more mature than their age. I think Cates in Sutton Pie safe picks up on the awkwardness of the situation despite his his age. In Every Little hurricane the kid is extremely mature considering he sees such violence. In all the stories, I think the overall depiction of childhood is that kids are curious and a little naive but they are smarter than many think. They are capable of being mature and dealing with tough situations. Some differences are prevalent. In bottle caps and the Oates piece, the characters start out less mature and grow into adults, while the other two pieces contain a characters who is already grown up. I think the authors do get it right, in that, most children are capable of adapting to their environment and growing up when it matters most.

Childhood Memory

As a child I, like most little children, had a fear of older people. This goes along with not talking to strangers but I took it farther than just strangers. When I was 8, I was asked to be the bat boy of a collegiate baseball team. At first I was eager to jump at the opportunity. As time went on, my enthusiasm diminished because I realized that I would have to deal with older strangers without the assistance of my parents. For weeks I dreaded the first game because I was afraid of what the players would do to me. I had a plethora of false ideas about them that made the weeks leading up to that first game one of the hardest of my entire life. When I arrived at the first game I was shaking in my cleats. I had my baseball bag with me that contained all of my catchers gear. To my dismay, one player approached me only minutes after my arrival. He questioned me abut the size of my bag. After some contemplation, he emptied my bag and placed me in it. Scared of what was going to happen next, I sat in my zipped up bag. After a short trip around the locker room, I was let out into a room full of players falling out of their chairs with laughter. In that moment, I grew up. I realized that not all strangers were bad people. I grew out of my shyness and fear of people older than me all in one day the ballpark.

Introduction

My name is Ross Voelker and I am a senior at McFarland. Besides for blogging, I enjoy haning out with friends or playing baseball. Since my childhood, I have always loved playing baseball and hope to continue it in the future. In school, my favorite subjects are science and math, as well as playing the trumpet in band. After high school I plan on studying and playing baseball at a four year college in the midwest.