What causes human beings to change their behavior? The most considerable influence comes from our environment.  Our society depends on structure and governing rules; however, when in isolation of civilization, human beings will change their behavior to fit their circumstances. In Lord of the Flies by William Golding, the author tells a story of a group of schoolboys stranded on an island, isolated from their society, who must learn to survive in an environment to which they are unaccustomed to. Though they try to bring order and rules to their isolated world, they are unable to obey them and, consequently, the boys change from rigid schoolboys who follow orders to savages. Human beings will revert to an uncouth state of being when isolated from rule and order.

In chapter 10 of the book, Jack and Piggy are trying to get a grip of themselves over the killing of Simon, who was mistaken to be the beast (the “monster” the schoolboys began to fear) by Jack and his tribe. Also after the murder of Simon, the tribe gathers around Jack. It reads, “The chief was sitting there, naked to the waist, his face blocked out in white and red.” (160) Before, Jack was only the leader of the choir, which can only be assumed that this means they grew up the Christian way, which in society, is seen as a civilized organization to take part in. This includes believing that God is a spirit creature that can’t be seen and to be modest in clothing. Here, this quote shows quite the opposite. Instead, Jack and the tribe are naked, not even thinking of what they are displaying to each other. Also, in this chapter, they talk about satisfying the “beast” by giving a head of the pig on a stake to it and have a dance to keep the beast away from them. Throughout history, rituals and sacrificing food are ways to worship a god. God cannot be seen as an image. This and the clothing can only be possible because of the isolation from civilization and its rules and order.

An example of this behavior is seen in prisons today. As of today, many prisons are looking into isolations as the answer to rehabilitation for a criminal. However, according to Sadie Dingfelder’s article about the risks prisons take on the prisoners’ mental health with solitary confinement entitled Psychologist Testifies on the Risks of Solitary Confinement, it shows how it “renders many people incapable of living anywhere else.” With this, it shows how many of them aren’t able to act as society orders to. In fact, one prisoner named Anthony Graves recalled how one inmate "would go out into the recreation yard, get naked, lie down and urinate all over himself. He would take his feces and smear it all over his face." This is not civilized behavior at all. As inmates are isolated from the real world, their minds “don't live in the real world anymore.” (Anthony Graves.) Meaning, all rules and orders of society that are meant to be kept up are long gone. They do what they wish to do, despite what their society says. Just as Jack and his tribes (really all the boys) have done when they were on the island.

In chapter 12 of the book, Ralph is trying to get Sam and Eric’s attention without being caught by the tribe. When he did get their attention, the twins warned him, “They hate you, Ralph. They’re going to do you.” (188) As known in civilization, when having an argument, they are to be civilized with this. This includes no exploding anger nor acting out in anger. Instead, society puts show to that they must communicate and be mature with the situation at hand. In the novel, their situation is having people help in surviving on the island and getting the fire going to be rescued. In the beginning, though there were tensions and anger from arguments from Jack and Ralph about the situation, they’ve been as respectful as they can be to each other, with no sudden lashing out of anger. However, as time goes on through the novel and the boys decides to separate themselves, more of their anger and hostility begins to show as the situation is brung to the surface again and again. Up to this point in time, where the only solution to Jack and his tribe to solve the situation is to kill out of anger. This is not what society promotes.

This scene is similar to many prisons today. Many prisons struggle to keep down the violence within them. An article from BBC News states “For months there has been huge concern about conditions in prisons, escalating levels of violence, self-harm and suicide.” Many come into prison with violence a part of them. To tone it down, in the US, many prisons are turning to solitary confinement as a way to solve the problem. According to the article Alone, in ‘the Hole’ by Kirsten Weir, the segregation from human contact “has never been proven to make prisons safer.” Many are in constant fear of each other hurting them. So, to protect themselves and survive from  the violence, they act out violently, instead of seeking help or talk things out civilly. Whether it be instrumental violence, expressive violence, or self-harm. They need to eliminate the situation with violence, just as Jack and his tribes tries to do in the novel.

As shown, whether through the real world or through books, rule and order is needed in order for people to never revert back into an uncivilized state of being. What if everyone had a sense of mind where they think through a situation? What would happen if the logical part of us would take over, as it seems to have done with Piggy? Instead of having emotions take control of our actions, our actions can be justified with logic. As a result, even in isolation, human beings will be able to have order and civilized manners within themselves and situations can be handled properly. Just as it should be.

Bibliography

• Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. New York: Penguin, 2006.

• Dingfelder, Sadie. Psychologist testifies on the risks of solitary confinement. APA. October 2012. <http://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/10/solitary.aspx>

• Weir, Kristen. Alone, in ‘the hole’. APA. May 2012. <http://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/05/solitary.aspx>

• Prison staff shortages leave jails facing 'bloodbaths' - union. BBC News. November 2, 2016. <http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-37842500>
  

(Sighs)“It’s good to see you too, Em. But I’m not Hope. I’m Faith.” (Turns to audience) But am I? At least I think I am. I mean, I’ve been around to see 15 years of my life. I should know. Sadly Emily still doesn’t know.

I wish I can accept it and push it of, but Em, I can’t. Like really, like, you’ve been friends with my big sis for like 18 years and me for like 15 of them. That should be enough time to see the differences between us, right? YES, I look like Hope. I get it. But we are different. Different people, different names, just … different. I mean yeah, we do similar stuff from time to time. How was I supposed to know a handful of that will turn into a lifetime of confusion with telling the difference between two people? I mean like, you even got the twins’ names right but you can’t get my name right. You can’t identify me? Seriously?

Do you see this? Are you kidding me! My friend? My own friend? (Calms herself. Looks to the roof) You know what … I don’t even know if you’re my friend. I don’t even  know if anyone is my friend. Like, the first thought that comes to y’all head when you see me is Hope? Hope, that one girl whom I’m related to. The one girl that’s like an itch that can’t be relieved, no matter what you try to do. That ONE GIRL where I, me, Faith Patterson, is forced to live in her shadows. Just sitting there, never to be truly seen.

I mean, yeah she’s a good person ‘n’ all. S-she’s a people’s person just like mom. People love people’s person that can talk clear. She’s not awkward socially. She’s unique. People like unique people. Not me. I’m just the opposite. Just last Saturday she was invited to three parties. She’s the life of the party. I wanted to say “Is she the life of us all too?” That’s not even the worst part. I was right next to them when they invited her. They turn their backs towards me. They didn’t- They didn’t want me there, but I can’t blame them. Who would want a socially awkward person who tries to be her best to not be at their party? But I just don’t understand. Am I wearing a mask with her face or something?

Why? Why are the people so confused? We’re different. I try to make that clear. I dress different from her, no matter how uncomfortable. If she looks casual, I look professional. Elegant. If she wears jewelry, I don’t. If she wants to wear make-up, I don’t want it. I mean, I’ll probably look like a clown … or pretty for John. I did tell you- Did I tell you he was at the party with Hope too? I heard that they were dancing together at the parties. Whatever, off topic. If I wear make-up, maybe I can attract people. Or maybe- you know what, forget it. It’s a hope. A dream. I’ll never get noticed. Not if I keep being myself … right? I mean, like, I’ve won many rewards and went to places. But everyone else at school has done that countless times. Even my sister Hope. It’s nothing special. I’m not special. Not like them. What if I can’t be like them? Or like Hope? Or like anyone? Who am I supposed to be?  So I have a question. When will you people notice me? Not the mask I put up for you, a smile that can fool obviously the average person for 15 years. Look closely. I’m the one who’s deprived of a-affection. I’m the one who has a humor and snorts when laughing. The one that’s in the background, chained down by the ignorance of you  people and forced to watch everyone else in the sun. Will you notice me when if I was as skinny as my sister? Will you notice me if I was as pretty as Alana? Will you notice me if I showed the cuts that litter my skin?

I wish Layla was here. It’ll be nice to be seen right about now. Now she’s gone. I lost her to a drunk driver. He survived. Only a few scratches. Not her though. One minute she’s here, the next, she’s in a funeral bed. And I didn’t have enough strength to even go to say my last word to her. I guess why people also like Hope. She knows what to say to others while I can’t say anything to myself…

Layla, if you hear me, I … I’m sorry. For not going to your funeral. For not saying what I wanted to say to you as your spirit was alive there at the time, before I had to adjust life without you. You’ll always be my best friend. I’m glad I have you for a best friend. Because I don’t know who is. Everyone moved on. I’m stuck in one place. I just want to ask you if God tells you if I’ll have a miracle soon. A person like you anytime soon perhaps? A person who’ll notice that I’m in pain. Just let me know in any way you can, ok? Knowing you, you’ll go overboard. Anyway, I’ll listening out for you.

“Zoe or Chloe?” Tia says.

         That’s the million dollar question. Who am I? Am I my sister? Or am I me? We both sigh. We both laugh. We both sag our shoulders. How was I supposed to know that a few shared gestures will cause a conflict of telling the difference between two people?

          I want to blame my mother for dressing us up alike as kids. I want to accuse my former self of letting it happen. I wish to blame the people who started the conflict. I blame myself for getting conflicted of who I am.

          Zoe’s tall. I’m taller. I have hazel eyes. She has brown eyes. She’s a brown girl. I’m a light skin. I have lighter hair than her. I’m quiet. She’s outgoing. Zoe has her style. I have my own.

     “I’m Chloe,” I reply. She expression shows defeat. I show an understanding. I feel disappointed.

For all my life I have to bear through the persistence of people thinking we are alike. We “look the same.” I should dismiss it off nor shouldn’t let it get to me. But that is being said about all black people. We all look alike. We’re black. Big lips. Everything. How am I supposed to ignore a stereotype? Why should I?

I always try to dress differently from my sister, even if I have to express contrastingly or to move from my comfort zone to be noticed. To not be put in the same category as her. My personality is different from her. Everything I do is to get away from the ignorance of people. I’m afraid  I’ll be so consumed into standing out in the crowd, that I will lose the qualities that make me.

There are those few miracles that came to my life where we were separate people. They did not let the words of ignorance devour their ways of greeting. They were able to notice me. The person who I am.

Thursday evening or Sunday meeting, at the end of the meetings, Brother Carter always told us “It’s the Zoe and Chloe Show!” At a young age, I appreciated it. Loved to be part of my sister. Call me selfish, but I want my space; to be separated. I’ve gained my own electronics, school, and even my own room. It’s bad enough that we must share the suffering of ignorance from people.

When I was 10, I remember on a Sunday morning, there was a special meeting in my congregation. The circuit overseer was there. We were going over the Watchtower. I was going to raise my hand for the next question. He looked around the room until he met my eyes. I smiled. I was ready. At least for the Watchtower.

“Zoe please.” He said. I was confused. Zoe was home, sick. I didn’t register at the moment that he was talking about me. Another brother came with the microphone. I took the microphone and gave a deep breath.

“It’s Chloe,” I replied. He gave a look of shock. I felt my mother’s disappointment. I wasn’t sure then why there was such a reaction. I didn’t realize then the hardened gaze I gave nor the venom in my voice. It was little, but enough for it to be known.

Even to this day, I can’t get past the guilt. The fact that I let such emotions escape from the facilities of the mouth and my eyes. The truth many knows, but don’t wish to meet, was the anger I felt of someone who knew me for years to still mistake me for my sister. I took my time into getting to know people, and yet in return, I “influenced” the ongoing struggle to a separate individual. A slap in the face they say.

I sometimes wish I was the only girl, but I know I don’t want it. I love my sister. I just wish we weren’t forced to be tied to the hip bone. I do hope and know there are people that will take the time and see we are two different people. I do wish they find me. The ones of the constant persistence of merging us together. They can stay a distance from me. As long as I know who I am, I should be good.

So the purpose of this assignment was to create a stamp that represents you. So the way to start the process was to think of ten words that describes me and pick three of those words (My three words being intelligent, simplistic, and distinguish). So after the three words are chosen, I started sketching some ideas for stamps (glasses, an owl, and a peace sign). After that, I decided to do the glasses. So the hardest part for me was to make sure I was able to get the image in my mind out without using so much detail. For example, I used many small lines to create a cracked glass, but they were too small to really cut out. So what I had to do was get rid of the cracked glass idea and drew it in a way so it looked like a piece of the glass is missing. I wouldn’t have never payed attention to that if it wasn’t for negative and positive spacing. Negative and positive spacing helps define a subject and bring balance to the composition. So I had to think if the cracks will do or not. After a while, I decided that it will not and it will be disturbing to the eyes. So to understand negative and positive spacing, I had to read A LOT about it. What really confused me was which was positive spacing and which was negative spacing, so I had to ask others about it and read a bit more. After I got some practice with it, I realized that it depends on how you see it and what the subject is. What I learned from negative and positive spacing was negative and positive spacing helps you figure out if the image has a balanced composition. This stamp is supposed to represent three traits that people described me with, which are intelligent, simplistic, and distinguish. The way my rubber stamp represent my intelligence is by being glasses, since most nerd stereotype is a person wearing glasses. The way my rubber stamp represent simplistic is by the shape of the glasses, since many glasses comes in different shapes and forms and rectangular glasses seems to be the simplistic design of glasses. The way my rubber stamp represent me being distinguished is by half of the glasses being in good shape and the other half in bad condition, since you mostly see either glasses in bad conditions and glasses in good conditions. So I think seeing half of the glasses (or anything in general) is in good condition while the other half hasn't been something different from what it’s usually seen.

A. What is negative space (explain this concept to a fourth grader that has never heard of it)

Negative space is the space around and between an object in a image. It’s like the breathing room around the object that determines how alluring it looks. Negative space helps define itself and bring balance to composition(Composition is used to describe the arrangement of visual elements in an artwork.). Usually negative spacing will be object itself. Just as you see on the left side of this picture.

B. Explain how you found negative space in your cut out?

The first thing I did was cut out the pieces of the picture, since negative spacing is usually cut up in pieces. So in the artwork I did, I cut out the outer part of the tree(the tree bark and grass) and the inner parts of the tree(middle tree, middle tree holes, and bottom holes). After I cut out my pieces, I flipped the cut out pieces over and lined them up to make a whole tree. After that, I glued them to the paper. Finally, I was able to identify my negative spacing is the left half of the tree and my positive spacing is the right half of the tree.

C. Why does it help an artist to see in negative space?

One reason why it helps an artist to see in negative spacing is because it allows them to see if the image is too crowded or not. Also, it gives the artist a new perspective on the artwork. For example, Rubin’s Vase image. Without the negative spacing, it looks like a vase. With negative and positive spacing, you can see the vase and two faces facing each other.

D. Does seeing in negative space enhance drawings, why or why not

This artwork is a form of printmaking called linocut created by Pablo Picasso in 1959. This printmaking, it shows two workings that seems to be taking a break from something. In the left corner, you can see a bag of grapes. You can also notice that the landscape are hills. There’s also a lizard there.

The print definitely shows a contrast between the darker colors and the lighter color. You can see the different textures from looking between the sky, land, and people so they don’t blend in fully. There are lines that seems to have a roughness to it as you can see it through the sky and lines that have a softness as you can see that through the land and people.

I think this print is trying to show two hard-working people on a break from harvesting. For the title, it seems they were harvesting grapes. It also might infer that the bag is filled with grapes. The person on the right looks like they’re eating grapes while the person on the left look like they’re just relaxing. Based on the colors in the background, it seems to be evening.

Chloe Simmons.

Eso es me.

Padres, tíos y tías, primos, hermanos.

No clandestinos. No en mi época.

Nosotros volamos alto

Como un ave.

Veo temer de gente incolor.

Oigo estereotipos implícito a me.

Huelo la innecesaria químicas en mi aire.

Saboreo el sangre esa haber mudar

Toco el piel de un de negro chica.

Necesito obtener mi vida junto.

Hablo feliz mentiras.

Pienso de el hiriente verdad.

Juego mi baraja de cartas con cuidado.

Somos nacer en el USA.

Somos descendientes de perdido hijos de África.

Hablamos ingles,

La lengua de maíz.

No somos completamente Americanos.

No somos completamente Africanos.

Solo pieza de su comparido historia…

SLA: Única y Diferente

¡Hola! Somos Samera Baksh, Chloe Simmons, Assirem Hosni, y Mia Concepcion. Somos del primer año de Science Leadership Academy. SLA está en Filadelfia. Está cerca del Ayuntamiento, unos parques, y unos restaurantes. Es diversa, única, exigente, y loca. ¡Es una broma! Hay 500 estudiantes, veinte profesores, y cinco pisos. Nosotros tenemos tecnología basado aprendizaje, individualizado aprendizaje los miércoles, y no tenemos exámenes. Pero, tenemos proyectos. Además, nosotros tenemos una asociación con The Franklin Institute. Ofrecemos Club de Poesía, Unión Estudiante Negra, Unión Estudiante, Club de Tejer, Club de Arte, Club de Debate, Club de Arábica, baloncesto, fútbol, último frisbee, voleibol, pista, y kickboxing. Participamos en Club de Robótica, Club de Poesía, y correr. Mia participa en el Club de Poesía porque le gusta escribir, y porque es muy divertido. Chloe participa en el Club de Robótica porque es muy interesante, y ella aprende nuevas habilidades. Assirem participa en pista porque es competitiva and porque no hay educación física. Al final de cuentas, en SLA ofrecemos muchas cosas divertida!

Nosotros tenemos clases de geometría, bioquímica, inglés, español, ingeniería, historia y tecnología. Nuestras clases favoritas son matemáticas, inglés, y ingeniería. Es fáciles, interesantes y divertida. En la clase de matemáticas necesitamos calculadora, un lápiz, y carpeta. En la clase de inglés necesitamos cuaderno y una pluma o lápiz. En la clase de ingeniería necesitamos un lápiz y cuaderno. En la clase de historia necesitamos cuaderno, libro y lápiz. En la clase de tecnología necesitamos computadora. En la clase de bioquímica, necesitamos hacemos disecciones. Leemos libros y los discutimos en la clase de inglés. En la clase de historia hablamos sobre la esclavitud. En la clase de ingeniería construimos carro de globos. Escuchamos canciones en la clase de español. Hablamos acerca de novelas en la clase de historia.  Para tener éxito en esta clase participamos en clases. Necesitamos sacar buenas notas. Es importante ayudar a los otros. Sacamos buenas notas en nuestras pruebas y proyectos.

Nuestras profesoras favoritas son la Señorita Hull y la Señorita Jonas. La Señorita Hull enseña tecnología y la Señora Jonas enseña historia. Nos encanta la Señorita Hull y la Señorita Jonas porque son simpáticas y cómicas. Sus clases son muy divertida, un poco aburrida, y interesantes. Nuestros compañeros son un poco extraños, pero muy simpáticos y inteligentes.

To start off, I will talk about what I mean with this quote, as many of you may wonder. What I am  trying to say is while I accept you are you, accept that I am me. The reason why I say this is because in the past, people always have question what I do and who I am. Before I enlighten on it, let me tell you about myself, you can look at the three  pictures that describes me as I speak. First one, I am a JW. The people who be knocking on your door. I don’t celebrate any holidays...at all. I love art. And I don’t mean by just painting I also mean the art of literature, music, writing, etc. Also, I’m a geek/nerd. I LOVE transformers, marvel, dc, etc. I can talk to you it about it all day with someone and I don’t mind learning anything new from it. Also, I can either dress like...this or nice and formal. Depends on the day. Finally, I would love to travel the whole world one day, just to see how the beauty of it. Now that you know a little about me, let me talk about the slide. When I was doing my research, I notice that I had to have a theme. I thought about it for awhile, what will be my theme. I’d tried multiple websites to find one just for me. But then, I had to stop… the themes weren’t what I created, that they’re not mine. So I made my own, evolve around the quote you see up on the board. I said this quote because throughout life, I’ve been question in what I like to do, or what I like to wear, or who I am in general. Moving on, you might notice the different font and pattern of color for the letters. The reason for that is to show you that this is what I am or what someone else could be. For example, imagine someone typing like this all the time. It regular font but the color of the text is blue. From that person’s point of view, it’s their things, it’s what normal to them. But to another person's point of view, it will be a bit weird. They would either see you differently from afar or try to change you, peer pressure. Either way, whether they meant to or not, they’re judging. Now let's look into the background I pick, which is a variety of colors. This shows that even though all my traits are good and bad, they all are what I see me. Just like you  have good and bad traits, it’s what you identify yourself as. Few things I would've done differently was getting rid of ‘Geeky Girl’, being it was too much. Also, make the text colors of the letters match up with the background a bit, since, to me, I did give the message, but I could’ve made them fit with it and also show the message I’d gave. So this was my presentation, I hope you all liked it, and thank you for your time.