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.