Looking back on APLAC

It's finally May! School will be over in a couple of days, and I want to (have to) take the time to reflect on all that I've learned (and not). Well, at least in English Class.

This year has been an interesting journey. I had the chance to see what's offered outside the walls of Houston, had an emotional relationship with APUSH and Physics, and even made some new friends along the way. Of all the ups and downs I've had with grades, and life in general, I can honestly say that my experience in Mr. Thomas' AP Lang class has been the most enjoyable; everyday I look forward to going to his class. I've grown more as a person this year, and my eyes have been permanently opened to things I thought impossible. I feel that I've grown-at least somewhat- as a student. Over the course of my (almost) 10 months in Mr. Thomas' class, I've learned new and exciting ways to think outside the box. This course, to me, will be beneficial in the years I have to come because it has engaged me in rigorous coursework, and books that I'll admit I might not have just picked up and read on my own. Each book was filled with lessons and stories that has given me a different look on life and people in general. Every class discussion has brought new thoughts to my mind that may have never been there if it wasn't for my peers. The feel of the class, in general, is kind of like a very comical, very nerdy family (literally the best part!).

The most difficult essay for me to write was the Argumentation Essay. I just wasn't sure how to approach the essay, being that I am not one to argue myself. Don't get me wrong, we practiced them often, the process was solid, but I never truly grasped each prompt the way I wanted. To me, it seemed like all of my Argumentation Essays were more Expository than argumentative. The easiest essay for me, on the other hand, was the Synthesis Essay. It was the most simplistic because it gave all the information needed to write the essay, and as a writer, your only job is to put all the pieces together. What can be easier than that?

The novel choices were insane! In Cold Blood was by far my favorite. I'm not a secret murderer or anything, but the suspense of the story even with the criminal perspective was enticing to me. It was like being in their minds every step of the way, but still having no real idea about what was going on. Crazy! In my mind, it was like the ultimate Criminal Minds episode (which are amazing if you didn't know). It was kind of strange being apart of the murders' minds, but at the same time, kind of liberating. The worst part about that though, was also having the victims perspective, because it made me want to yell out warnings to them and give the detectives all the answers (like a bad scary movie). My least favorite book was..........I actually don't have a least favorite. I just happen to like In Cold Blood the most. They were each a good read individually.

The last thing on my to-do list is to tell Mr. Thomas how awesome he is. I'm sure he knows, but it feels good for other people to know it too. I really enjoyed 4th period this year as a whole; each day something new and always hilarious. That was my favorite class because of all the laughter! Never did a dull day come along, and AP Lang couldn't make it better.

Well, that's all folks! #LBJ

Who is Marah...?

When I think of Marah,
I envision a leader.
A quiet one,
but a leader none the less.
She's outspoken in her mind,
but keeps mostly everything to herself.
She is not loud.
She is "funny" and kind.
She is not a walking
time bomb.
She is appearingly nonchalant
although she cares deeply
about everything.
She is soft-spoken,
and everything she does,
she does with a purpose.
With her always,
she carries five things.

A lyrical device filled
with words and emotions
only few can understand.
A simple piece of technology
disguised as pleasure,
holding each and every one
of her most truest thoughts.
It is more than one of
her most treasured.
Rarely ever is she
seen without;
it accompanies her every
journey.

If you asked her where she
wanted to end up,
she'd tell you about college and
her basketball team of sons
and of a husband only imagination
can dream of.
Her dreams are few,
but soar high in the sky.
A successful living
made by professional
Athletic Training or even
Physical Therapy.
All in all, never ever
would their lives
be weary.

A relationship with
another person that
only the two of them
understand.
Through the best
of times, and the
worst of times,
always being there
until the end.
She doesn't make
sense, but he
doesn't mind.
He believes her
"weirdness" is a
one of a kind.
Never fret over
small things,
that's all for
the birds.
Listen to what I'm
saying; embrace
my words.

If we ask someone
about Marah,
we'll always get
similar replies.
"She's responsible"
"Dependable"
"Oh how time flies!"
They knew her once,
and their opinions
haven't changed.
Each trait
improved upon
every year
with age.
Her motherly nature
deems her most
trustworthy of all
the children's lives.
Who better to keep
the little ones from
breaking out in hives?

With light, there's
always a streak
of darkness.
Someone behind
closed doors:
maybe heartless.
Knocked down
and pushed away.
No where to hide.
No where to stay.
Where can we go?
We'll figure it out soon.
For now, we'll make it work.
We'll find home soon.

I am what I am what I am.

Is there really an in between when dealing with your background? You’re categorized by either following in prior generations past's footsteps, or completely straying away. As we grow to develop our own personal views and interests, we try and balance what we've learned and what we think for ourselves. The best way to keep up family “tradition” is to keep the values and morals instilled in us while acting on what will help us get to where we want in the long run.

I come from a separated household with parents who were both raised in two parent homes. My mother’s family wasn’t wealthy, but stable. The hard work and dedication of my mother’s parents bred her to be the respectable, intelligent, and independent woman she is today. I do not know much about where their roots have come from because the generation filled with knowledge has slowly passed on while I was still a young child. My mother has taken the values she was raised with, and passed down these same family values to her children.

My father’s family comes from a multi-ethnic background including Native American, White, and French. My grandmother’s family was Cherokee Native American and my grandfather’s French, hence the name Portier. My grandfather’s first language was French when he lived in Louisiana, but was bullied as a child after moving to Texas which made him ashamed of his heritage. Once he learned English, he vowed never to speak French again nor teach his children. The only thing about his family that has been shared is that our name was spelled Poitier (like Sidney) and changed on my grandfather’s birth certificate to its current spelling. This unfortunate happening has influenced the trace of my family’s background until modern day technology was developed. Although my grandparents are still together, they really aren't “together”.  They have lived completely separate lives for as long as I can remember. This lifestyle choice seems to have rubbed off on my father which ultimately caused the split of my household.

As I get older, I constantly think of the ways I want to raise my own family. I will take all the things I've seen and learned from my parents, positive and negative, and use them as a basis for my own family. When I begin to develop my family, I have plans to be successful enough so that we are better off. Not necessarily extremely wealthy, but in a good living situation. My family will all be raised in the same household, and have many opportunities to travel and expand their cultural knowledge. I want my children to have exposure to as many languages and cultures as possible. I feel that a positive environment and ample opportunity exposure will encourage my children to want success for themselves. Not only will their experiences expand their knowledge, but it may also help them get bigger and better opportunities presented to them in the long run.

Marah Jālan Porie: Writing like Edgar.

Edgar Allan Poe was a great poet and writer who reigned in the writing world in the 1800s (waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay before any of us were even thought of). He must have not only been a phenomenal writer, but a pretty awesome guy too. Why else would he get a football team named after him? Well, either that, or the people in Baltimore REAAAAALLLLYYY liked "The Raven". Poe also passed in Baltimore, so I guess that's part of the reason too.

Although personally I do not partake in the "entertainment" of scary movies/stories-on account of the fact that I like to sleep at night-if I were to take my pick at any of the techniques used throughout "The Fall of the House of Usher", I would begin first with Poe's extensive use of diction and figurative language. Each word is chosen carefully. Every simile and metaphor is used to allude to an idea of darkness. Poe begins the story by describing the evening as "dull, dark, and soundless". I don't know about you, but if I were the narrator and a day in AUTUMN looked that bad, I would take it as God's way of saying "it's a good day to stay home". The story continues by telling the reader that at "first glimpse of the building, a sense of insufferable gloom..." was felt in his spirit. Why did he continue to venture into the yard and house, I will never understand. I would use the elements of diction and figurative language to get the reader to shudder even before the good stuff happens.

Second I would use Poe's use of an uncanny background story. After meeting the reason the narrator is at this house of gloom, we soon find that he has a sister, and their entire family is a rooted tree without branches. Which is the biggest hint at incest. If you didn't already know that, well........SPOILER ALERT! What's a good scary story without an awesomely creepy back story? Back story is everything, so the incest just added to the overall understanding of the unsettling feelings in the house. I would come up with the most ridiculous story I could think of (outside of incest because that's the lowest of the low) and use it to continually blow the readers' minds.



The third technique I would  mimic is the use of continuous imagery. Poe's use of imagery also goes along with his use of diction; every word is very precise. The most important part of the story being scary, is what the reader is able to picture while the story plays in their minds. Without an imagination connection with the words, they are useless and not entertaining. I would use his approach to imagery in my story in order to connect my words with the readers' minds without them even being aware of the amazing movie that is playing at the Cranium Theater.


The fourth technique I would use is personification of the setting. Giving his surroundings human-like characteristics plays a role in the underlying creepiness of the story. I would not only set the story in the most haunting place I could think of, I would also add to it by giving the walls eyes. They know all, and see all. Nothing ever has, nor ever will get past them.


Lastly, I would finish off the story without really finishing it off. I would deliberately cliff hanger the ending and leave the final decision making up to the reader. What happened with Ben and Beverly? Were there any survivors? Maybe, maybe not. The reader will be left to write their own ending.


















Photo Creds:

Baltimore Ravens; http://www.aniceticket.com/Baltimore-Ravens
The Fall of the House of Usher; http://underdogs16.blogspot.com/2012/11/the-fall-of-house-of-usher.html

The Supernatural: Unnatural Obsession or Awesome Entertainment?

Throughout American Literature, and other forms of the arts, authors have produced many tales and fables surrounding the unknown. Where does our infatuation with the supernatural stem from? We've taken our greatest fears-what we don't know- and have turned them into an unusual form of entertainment. Why scare yourself because you're bored? You can literally always just read a good book.

The earliest forms of fascination with the supernatural can be seen in Young Goodman Brown by Nathaniel Hawthorne. In this story, Brown is going to the forest for a suspicious meeting only to come in contact with the devil himself. There is a meeting of his followers being held, and Brown notices that most, if not all, trusted members of the community are in attendance to the meeting, including his beloved wife, Faith. Young Goodman Brown wakes up in the forest and doesn't know for sure if his encounter was a dream, or actually happened. He lives the rest of his life unhappy and trusts no one.

A more modern example of our compelling interests in the supernatural are evident in the work of Paranormal Activity. This movie is set in a house full of suspicious haunting activities. The creator of the film, Oren Peli, based the movie on personal interests in what goes on in his home right under his nose. Are the creepy sounds and creaks really caused by the settling of the house? Or is there more to the story...

Although personally I do not understand our interest in the supernatural, it is possible that we try to embrace it because we truly don't understand it. We don't have any credible evidence of unnatural occurrences, yet they scare the life out of people due to their mystery. Which I believe is the main reason for all of the books, movies, and so on.Will we always be obsessed with the supernatural? Probably. That is, until something that affects everyone's life at once happens. After that, we'll leave it alone forever.

Photo Credits:

Supernatural; http://disinfo.com/2012/11/the-supernatural-world/

Young Goodman Brown; http://sarahgrepo.blogspot.com/

Paranormal Activity; http://geeknewsnetwork.net/2013/08/09/no-paranormal-activity-film-coming-this-year-two-films-coming-2014/

Gone with the Anti-Hero

First. Blog. Ever. Or attempt at one I should say. I'm finally typing this just hours before it's due. Crazy isn't it? What's really crazy is the fact that I have bits and pieces of my thoughts for this blog all over the place. Some here, a little there."Organized chaos" as I like to call it. But enough with all the rambling. The main purpose of this blog is to compare anti heroes, so let's begin shall we?

An anti-hero, by definition, is a central character in a story, movie, or drama who lacks conventional heroic attributes. We hate them. We love them. Sometimes, we don't know exactly how to feel about them. Despite their sometimes arrogant defects, it's safe to say we hate to love them.

 

The classic anti-hero can be seen in the earliest works of American Literature. From Ichabod Crane in the 1820's Legend of Sleepy Hollow, to 1939's Scarlett O'Hara in Gone with the Wind. We find many similarities between our protagonists. Each of them, though dealing with different situations and different lifestyles, are very intelligent in nature. Ichabod is the schoolmaster in Sleepy Hollow, and is responsible for passing on education to the youth in the community. Scarlett is just as intelligent, but not in a schoolmaster type of way. She's more business savvy. When her father's plantation is left decimated after the war, she works to recover it and runs a successful saw mill.

Ichabod and Scarlett are also similar in that they both act without regards to other people. They simply just DON'T CARE. You want to marry a girl for what she has and not who she is? Sure go ahead! No one's going to get hurt in the process, right? Or even better, you're determined to make a "love" interest jealous so you steal your sister's would be husband and take him as your own? Who cares! She didn't really NEED him anyway. That's right, these are real life events that these two protagonists have gone through. Do they have any remorse for the things they've done? Of course not because who cares, remember?

The last not so admirable characteristic these two lovely's share is that they both make decisions based solely on their own wants and needs. Remember the girl Ichabod wanted to marry because of her wealth? Yeah, he doesn't care much about her father's farmland. A.K.A his actual wealth. His main objective is to win her over to gain her wealth, and abandon the farm so he can live in the lap of luxury. Oh and we mustn't forget sweet, lovable Scarlett. She marries, kills, deceives, and home wrecks any and everybody in order to fulfill her personal agenda. Very commendable people huh?

Pictures cited: 

Love Hate; http://najacmovies.blogspot.com/2013/11/i-don-luv-u.html

Ichabod Crane; http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Ichabod_Crane/Gallery

Scarlett O'Hara; http://fyeahscarlettohara.tumblr.com/

Who cares; http://juniorhighministry.org/junior-high-ministry-who-cares/