Este clip está en el principio de la película. La gente en El Salvador quiso un elección justo con más de uno candidato. La comunidad tuvo una protesta en el capital. Fue una protesta en paz, No fue violencia de los protestas pero, el gobierno no le gusta porque la mayoría de la gente fue pobres. El gobierno no quiso escuchar o reconocer que las personas necesité. Aunque es la verdad, las personas tuvo el derecho a la libertad de reunión y de asociación pacíficas.

Blinding Silence is a series of scenes connected by the paradox that is America's media reflection. Audience members are first introduced to an attention deprived remote reminiscing about how her owner used to fondle her backside and her best friend, an authoritative remote tired of listening to futile conversation about last night's episode of the Bachelor. The audience is then taken on a journey behind the screen, led by the remote, cell phone, and other unconventional characters. 

The entire cast of this play were students from Science Leadership Academy, most of them with little to no acting experience. Through a variety of theater games, I was able to help them feel more comfortable on stage and with each other. From the beginning of the project, I made it very clear that they were a creative team and were instrumental in creating the final product that took the stage. I took in their thoughts, feedback, and ideas fleshed out in theater games and used them to create the play. Their collaboration was essential for devising this type of work.

Ubicado en: 2829 N 7th St (El Norte de Filadelfia)

3 cosas que este mural revela sobre la comunidad

• Esta comunidad es de Puerto Rico inmigrantes
• La comida es importante para la cultura del pueblo
• Esta comunidad trabajan juntos para apoyar el uno al otro

2 objectos, imagenes, frases o palabras encontrados en el mural 

• Un campo de granja con los trabajadores y los cultivos.
• Un hombre mayor de pie con una herramienta de jardín y campo despejado.

1 razón que es significativo para esta comunidad

Este mural representa los pasos que algunos inmigrantes tenían que tomar para llegar a vivir en esta parte de la ciudad y convertirse en miembro de la comunidad de apoyo.

Although I enjoy the range of approaches a creative project allows, when assigned to me I tend to stick with what I know best. Usually, that results in a written and performed monologue or some other type of theatrical piece. Two themes that I found to be particularly interesting throughout this unit were the confines of religion and culture and and fear of the "other". I noticed that these two themes can not exist without the other. Religion and culture create the "others" that are feared and that fear is then multiplied as the number of "others" increases. This became the foundation for my project.

Initially,  I was working alone. Because of that, I struggled to create a single character that embodied both themes. After some soul searching, I combined forces with Aja to create a dual monologue. Our first idea was to have one character who was a recovering drug addict, meet a woman who was struggling to find herself within the Baptist church, but that idea fell through when we began to loose sight of the themes. 

Figuring out how the characters would interact on stage was difficult;  considering that the two characters were the same person and at no point would be directly talking to each other.To close the gap, I decided that we would use space to show the progression of time and when a character required a physical being for communicate with, they would talk to the other actor who would be still and silent. Also we played around with the use of tense in the piece. As the characters shifted into their final positions in time, the tense of their dialogue changed as well.  Throughout the process of writing the dual monologue, I think that it shifted from being a story-like piece to one that was more technical and more interesting. 

In the past I had the opportunity to work with Aja, but never on this type of project. The two of us have completely opposite writing styles and there were quite a few discrepancies about the tonality and overall structure of the piece. Along with those discrepancies came busy schedules, confusion about what we were doing and why, and a bit of negative feelings toward each other. Despite that, I trusted Aja's ability to create and perform our  project. I think that it was the disagreements that we had that helped flesh out the ideas that were at the forefront and create something of which we were both ultimately proud.

If I could do this project over and was working alone, I would have used the technique of breaking the fourth wall as I had planned when writing a monologue. This technique makes the audience feel uncomfortable and I think that when dealing with a topic such as drug addiction, it is necessary for the audience to feel what the characters are feeling through dialogue, movement, or their place  in the room.  However if I were to redo the project with Aja, I think I would  add more lines for Past Emily, because her story about bullying and what lead her to using drugs. 

Overall, I think that I created a thoughtful, creative piece of which I am truly proud. I enjoyed the writing process, but the performance is what I am looking forward to most. 

Click here to read Silence.

• Who did I speak with and why did I choose that person?

  I spoke with man from Mexico named Vidal. He actually messaged me first and I decided to continue the conversation.

• What did you learn about them? What did you learn from them?

  I learned that he like sci-fi, mystery, romance, and just about every other kind of movies except for cartoons.We also talked about areas where I thought I needed work in Spanish. He gave me examples of times when certain tenses are used in everyday conversation. I also learned that he nearly perfected his English accent by listening to music.
  
  

• How did this interaction help you move towards achieving your personal goal?

  My goal was to find examples of when the subjunctive and imperfect tenses are used in everyday conversation. This conversation was some what helpful in meeting that goal. Vidal had some difficulty thinking of specific examples, but was able to give me a few that helped me get the general idea.
  

• What specifically did you do well according to your goals/expectations?

  I did well with being able to reply in Spanish and not pausing to ask what he meant or use the dictionary for every word I did not know. I was able to use context clues to get the general idea of what he was saying and respond. 
  

• What specifically do you need to improve on? (Quote specific things you said or did and what you would have done or said if you could do it again)

  I still need to work on not using WordRefrence as much. I also need to solidify my understanding of ser v. estar. There was a  point in the conversation where I was confusing the two verbs.
  
  "Soy en colegio..."

• Who did I speak with and why did I choose that person?

  I spoke with man from Mexico named Vidal. He actually messaged me first and I decided to continue the conversation.

• What did you learn about them? What did you learn from them?

  I learned that he like sci-fi, mystery, romance, and just about every other kind of movies except for cartoons.We also talked about areas where I thought I needed work in Spanish. He gave me examples of times when certain tenses are used in everyday conversation. I also learned that he nearly perfected his English accent by listening to music.
  
  

• How did this interaction help you move towards achieving your personal goal?

  My goal was to find examples of when the subjunctive and imperfect tenses are used in everyday conversation. This conversation was some what helpful in meeting that goal. Vidal had some difficulty thinking of specific examples, but was able to give me a few that helped me get the general idea.
  

• What specifically did you do well according to your goals/expectations?

  I did well with being able to reply in Spanish and not pausing to ask what he meant or use the dictionary for every word I did not know. I was able to use context clues to get the general idea of what he was saying and respond. 
  

• What specifically do you need to improve on? (Quote specific things you said or did and what you would have done or said if you could do it again)

  I still need to work on not using WordRefrence as much. I also need to solidify my understanding of ser v. estar. There was a  point in the conversation where I was confusing the two verbs.
  
  "Soy en colegio..."
  
  

• Who did I speak with and why did I choose that person?

  I spoke with girl from Barcelona, Spain. I chose to speak with her at random. She was the first name to appear on the list when I logged onto SharedTalk.

• What did you learn about them? What did you learn from them?

  In this conversation I learned that she enjoys the same type of music as me and she also likes to vist the tourist locations in Barcelona.
  
  

• How did this interaction help you move towards achieving your personal goal?

  My goal was to improve my ability to respond quickly and maintain the flow of conversation. Talking with Kathlyn, I found it easy to keep up with what she was saying. She spoke in a way that felt normal for me.
  

• What specifically did you do well according to your goals/expectations?

  I did well with being able to reply without hesitation and finding things to talk about . 
  

• What specifically do you need to improve on? (Quote specific things you said or did and what you would have done or said if you could do it again)

  
  I think I need to work on not relying so much on WordRefrence. I used it a lot and it slowed the conversation at times.

Explain your choice of presentation format:

Answer your chosen Essential Question in two sentences:

No human experiences anything identical to another. We may search the ends of the earth attempting to make my experience your own. It is as if to make you see what I see through my eyes is some unwritten obligation of the human way. Nevertheless, it is impossible. We are too individual as a people. Progression of ones’ self no matter how we try to deny it, is at the forefront of human focus in life. And this so called life is nothing but a collection of decisions made in an allotted time by people who choose to live.

Life day #25185 Events:

• Completed daily morning routine
• Wake
• Fulfill standard hygienic requirements
• Eat breakfast of 1 multi-vitamin tablet, oatmeal topped with rehydrated assorted fruits, and 2 liters of water, and 1 protein supplement.
• Left home and traveled to the university
• Conducted three lectures and lessons on Time Travel 101, Future Time, and Human Time
• Left lecture hall for the Rhoneart’s Sciences Auditorium and accepted the Stielgermier’s Award for Advancement of the Human Race Award
• Returned home and consumed an evening meal and medications intravenously 
• Journal until overcome by sleep

This schedule is my fathers life and he follows it too the letter. When a new event is introduced to the entire schedule it is documented for future research purposes. My father was was a man that lived through his work. As a child I begged for his attention, cried even. I remember at my most desperate moments, I would hold my breath and threaten suicide. Even when I was on the verge of death, his work was his priority.  It was my hope that uniting them change that. I am still hoping. 

Skhi-Lee walked into the doors of her mentor’s office expecting the worse. She was late and knowing his obsession with time, he was bound to scold her. 

“Time, Ms. Smith,” he said as he briefly peered above the pages hiding his face, “ May occur different to you than it does for me. In order for this relationship to work, you must learn to operate on my time. One o’clock means one o’clock. I operate on the time that humans have universally agreed upon. Normal time. One-fifteen is not one o’clock. Your time with me has passed. You are dismissed.”

“Mr. Smith, I”

“ You mean Dr. Smith,” he corrected, “Again, if you are expecting this relationship to be beneficial, things must be done in order.”

“Dr. Smith, my mother is extremely ill and I was on the phone with her doctor in Sacramento. Her kidneys are failing and they are looking at me as a donor. I apologize for being late for our first meeting but you must understand. She is the only...”

“Quite frankly Ms. Smith, Aarina’s health is no longer my concern.”

  “How did you know her...”

“You are dismissed Ms. Smith,” he said sternly

As she walked out of his office she could not help but think that he did not like her. The semester had not even officially started and her mentor and professor already did not like her. Great start to the school year, don’t you think?

“Time, class as you will learn is relative to the human who is experiencing time,” Professor Smith said at the lecture hall podium. “You all  are here because you have demonstrated an accelerated understanding of physics and shown promise,” he continued, “ on your applications that you are the best the world could offer. In this class you will be experimenting with my discovery of high speed time travel. Unfortunately, because I have simply proved its existence, it now becomes time to prove its applications for the human race.”

A student rose his hand. “So basically what you are saying is that we are igors for your scientific endeavors. And hear I was thinking that is would be an honor to learn from Father Time.”

“Your insubordination will not be tolerated in this class!” he said as he slammed the podium with a fist. “If igors are what you would like to consider yourselves, then so be it. I have no time for human emotions. Time is science. Humans have carelessly muddied the waters between science and emotion.”

Skhi-Lee attempted to sneak to her seat.

“A prime example of this is your fellow igor, Skhi-Lee. She again is late to an event where she is to be engaged with me because her mother’s time on Earth is coming to an end. Look at her class. She is in tears. Take Ms. Smith as an example, if you are late or insubordinate in any way you will be dismissed and this opportunity to work alongside the award winning Jarold Smith,” he briefly paused to scan the room of students. “ Ms. Smith this is your last opportunity. If you are late again you will be dismissed from my company.”

As a girl Skhi-Lee was the happiest of people. She was funny to. When ever someone was down or she saw the need for a smile, she would be right there with one of the jokes she found on a popsicle stick. My daughter was the light was the light of my life. 

“One day when I get real big and go to college, I am going to invent a money tree and I will wrap it up and give it to you for Christmas Mommy,” she’d say. “But, only you and me would know I invented it. So, then only us would have money forever and ever.” Money was the least of our problems. When I got sick the light drained from her eyes. She became remote from all things joyous. I wished there was something I could do, but my illness had made me weak and all I could do was try to stay alive. The only thing she seemed to find purpose and remnants of happiness was in her work. She and I used to do mini science experiments. The last one we worked on awarded her the Young Physicists of America award and a full ride Umkington University. UU was all she talked about. I was her dream school and now we didn’t have to worry about student loans and scholarship hunting. She was set. 

In the following weeks of class Skhi-Lee was on time and on point. She lived right under Professor Smith’s wing and for that, other students seemed to resent her. They would often go out to eat.

“Well that was exhausting, come on everyone. How’s Thai sound tonight?” one of the students said.

“I love Thai,” Skhi-Lee said. 

The other students turned to her and sighed. She understood. Her only friend was her work and I was no longer there to cheer her up. My baby was on her own. Life can be a scary place when you have no one. It can change a person, force them to do things that contradict who they are.

“Today we will be transporting small invertebrates with timers,” Prof. Smith announced.

Students immediately went to their assigned stations. Skhi-Lee worked alone.

“You will need to make sure that both the timer at your station and the one being transported transported are started at the same time,” he continued, “You will do this nine time and record all data. I will need all quantitative and qualitative data for my records. I will return in one hour, twelve minutes, and twenty-four seconds. Begin.”

Time travel had become common knowledge to the students, it was the speed at which an  object could travel that would set one students findings apart from another.  Skhi-Lee was the only student who was seeming to show progress. The rate at which her invertebrates were traveling doubled every other trail and her invertebrates were demonstrating less abnormalities. The worked diligently for one hour, eleven minutes, and  twelve seconds. At that time Skhi-Lee’s phone rang. It was the hospital calling about me. The nurse told her to come immediately. They needed to talk about other donor options. Immediately, she broke into tears and darted to the door. By this time, one hour, twelve minutes, and twenty-four seconds had passed and Prof. Smith was walking in. He grabbed her by the arm.

“Where do you think you are going Ms. Smith?”

“The hospital called. I have to go. It’s an emergency.”

“Our time is not finished here. You will stay,” he replied.

“ All you talk about is time!” she nearly shouted. “  Time this and time that. Sir, my mother is very low on time and I am all she has left. Her time is my time and because of that, today my time is finished here.” She walked around him and out the door.

“Your time with me is finished Ms. Smith.”

At the hospital the nurse explained that Skhi-Lee was not match and could not donate her kidney. Without a donor, I had only three days left to live. Time was not on our side. 

“Are you sure that there is no other family?” the nurse asked.

“No,” I replied “The last of my family abandoned me a long time ago.”

“Mom , they died.They didn’t abandon you. It was just their time.
My medications got the best of me. “No Skhi! Yo don’t understand. He turned his back on us. His work was his life not his wife and daughter.” By now i was sitting straight up, my eyes blood shot red. “ He is alive and doesn’t even care that I am on the verge of death!”

“I don’t understand. What do you mean?”

“That man is horrible. Every time I hear you on the phone nearly in tears because of him. it brings back the nightmare that was my childhood. I can’t bare it.”

“Who are you talking about. Nurse can you come in here please.”

I was panting like a dog, gasping for air. “Your professor...”

“ Step back ma’am. we are going to have to sedate her. Don’t want her to go into shock,” the nurse said.

“... is your grandfather,” I whispered as I slipped into a medically induced sleep.”

Through her tears, Skhi-Lee some how found her way back to campus. For a day and a half she did nothing but cry. Her body was heavy with the weight of what now lay before her.  Should she ask the callous man that turned his back on his family for science for a kidney to save his daughter’s life, or live not knowing his response, without a mother.

Covered in tears, but dressed as if she were about to be interviewed, she dragged herself to Prof. Smith’s office.

“I can’t believe that in all this time, you knew and still you punished me,” she started.

“I am not sure why you are here Ms. Smith. I dismissed you all of two days ago. Why are you in my company?” He never removed his eyes from the documents before him.

“My mother lies on her death bed and the only one who can save her is you, her father.”

“My daughter has run her course and her time is coming to an end. That is something that I can not avoid. Something I will not avoid.”

“You can not possibly be that heartless she is your daughter! I am begging you.”

“I chose a life, Ms. Smith, that was detached from emotion. That means that I have no family. Those ties were slashed at my discovery of high speed time travel, at my success as a professor, at my superiority in the scientific community. I have no family. You have no grandfather. And my daughter has no father.”

Within an hour of that conversation I was dead. My funeral was brief, Skhi-Lee my only attendee other then the minister. Her life went to a dark place after that. Prof. Smith let her back on is team of igors and she began to excel even beyond her master. But, the dark of my death clouded her mind. She blamed  my father for my death and dreamed in revenge.

He claimed to have removed all human emotion from his life. To him sadness, regret, and true loneliness were irrelevant human creations. To make him feel this things would cripple him. But, how do you make a man with no heart feel? You attack the one thing that he does love. His work. With the research that she was already breaking into, Skhi was already ahead of Prof. Smith’s research. High Speed time travel would soon be a thing of the past.

To whom it may concern:

      Unfortunately, the weather is one of the few forces of which humans have not yet mastered control. Because of this, on a daily basis we are forced to cope and plan our lives around the will of the weather. This applies most importantly for individuals who choose to drive carelessly in adverse weather conditions. The focus of this information packet is to warn the drivers of Pennsylvania of the dangers that lurk in adverse weather conditions and how they can be avoided with consideration of simple things Usually, our organization focuses more so on speeding issues in this state, but it has come to out attention that the drivers of Pennsylvania are lacking a consideration of the basics of driving. Most of what is to be read in the following pages seems like it is common sense, but if you take the time to actually pay attention to what happens on the highways, roads, and streets of Pennsylvania you will see that this “sense” is not common among Pennsylvanians. We encourage you to view the corresponding public service announcement below.

Thank you,

CUASP

(Citizens United Against Speeding in Pennsylvania)

The write-up to accompany the PSA can be viewed here.

• How did you group go about making a decision for what to focus on for the project?
  -Our group began with a ton of ideas that covered multiple ways of addressing the voter turn out problem in the United States. We debated for almost two day about the direction that we wanted to move forward in and ultimately it was out slogan that helped us finally decide what we wanted to do. Our slogan, "got democracy?...Be YOUr Government" lead us to the decision of combining National Popular Vote with Instant Run-off Vote to provide more of an incentive for voting and create a more educated or aware voter. 
  
  
• 11th grade Essential Question - What is the role of the individual in creating and sustaining change? 
  - I believe that the role of an individual in creating and sustaining change is fully understand the change that is occurring and be active in its continued existence. In order change to be instituted, it must have support from the individuals that it will be effecting. If not then the change will be challenged and sustainability decreases. Change also requires supporting individuals to be active because if/when the change is challenged or active support decreases, the effectiveness of the change falls.
  
  
• How has your understanding of the electoral process and whether or not the US is a democracy evolved during this unit?
  -Prior to this unit, it was my understanding that the because it is the international symbol of democracy, we must be pretty well off as a democratic nation. After the unit i have come to understand that although we are the international symbol of democracy, we do not live up to that international standard. I have also learned and formed my own opinons about the electoral system based on the research done during this project. Through research I learned the original reasons behind created the electoral system and that the US was created to be a republic not a democracy. I found this to be quite interesting because democracy is something that most if not all Americans value most.
  
  
• How did you decide to best relay a message to a national audience with your marketing campaign?
  - Our group chose to target three specific groups at the national level. We chose to target youth, older Americans, and minorities. To do this we created a slogan that could be used three different ways. Each element of the slogan would appear in different forms of communication. For example the "got democracy?" portion of the slogan stood for the print add so that it would be mor accessible to an older audience and because older voters were more likely to correlate this ad with the successful "got milk" campaign. The "Be YOUr Government!" portion of the slogan targeted youth an minorities in the audio ad because it put the individuals at the center of attention and used music from an artist popular amongst youth and minorities. The combined elements of the slogan were used in the video ad. They were intended to be create a universal and unifying campaign.
  
  My individual work can be viewed here.
  Our group's final product can be viewed here.

The piece that I created was a representation of the story Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by, Joyce Carol Oates. My initial thought was to create a trailer, but that idea was taken by another student so I was forced to think outside my usual idea box. I then remembered that in literature, one of the most powerful tools is one'e lens. I decided that I would do a charcoal drawing of an eye, and surrounding the eye would be the quote that I felt would provoke thought and interest. That quote was,"Her name was Connie." To accompany the image, I went back to one of my earlier ideas of creating a soundtrack. I combined quotes from the story with different songs that fit the tone of the story at different moments. To listen to audio, the viewer would simply put on the headphones that were coming through the pupil of the drawing and push play.

I could this project be a bit challenging because it called for me to step out of my usual box of ideas. I spent hours combining through songs and riding and emotional roller coaster with Garageband. At  the end I was able create a multimedia product that was interesting, provocative, and stood different from the rest.

Vengo de donde sonrisas, comida de la alma, y risa

Los árboles altos en el cielo tiene ramas brazos abiertos

Siempre buscando

Basta con buscar

El futuro y el pasado están en mi presente

No sé donde mis ancestros, pero yo entiendo mi familia presente

Ellos dijeron mis ancestros de África

Ellos son esclavos

No tuvieron una vida para ustedes

Supieron vida en los hijos de futuro

En una día brillante

El día es ahorita

Vengo de donde sonrisas, comida de la alma, y risa

Los árboles altos en el cielo tiene ramas brazos abiertos

Siempre buscando

Basta con buscar

El futuro y el pasado están en mi presente

Soy de los forestales pino de Nueva Jersey

Tiene muchas aventuras y misterios

Estoy perdido en la belleza los misterios, en la transparencia 

Yo sueño

Soy una árbol fuerte con ramas crece rápido

Vengo de donde sonrisas, comida de la alma, y risa

Los árboles altos en el cielo tiene ramas brazos abiertos

Siempre buscando

Basta con buscar

El futuro y el pasado están en mi presente

I am proud of myself for simply completing this song, because I initially saw it as a challenge.  I am also prod of my interpretation of answering the question. I think that I answered the question in a less physical way. Prior to recording this song, I think that I may need to find synonyms for some of the words so that they flow better. In my song I talk about how I don't know  much about my families history, but I know who they are now and the pieces of stories I've heard. I also talk about being from nature and my place in my world. My life began in the pine lands of New and what I experienced there lives on through me. I'm thinking about using a negro spiritual for music.

from manners and smack talk.

I am from the slap in the face

(Swollen, throbbing, it tasted like freedom)

I am from blueberry bushes 

the Cranberry bog 

whose waters disrupted my reflection I remember

as if my own image of me was unsure.

I'm from 5- Flavor Pound Cake and casted broken limbs

From Heffas and Booty Scratchers.

I'm from the get it dones 

 and shoulda-woulda-couldas 

from Fake it! and Own it!

I'm from let the church say……Aaaamen

with a sip of blood wine 

and holy ghost dances or preaching fits reenacted for fun.

I am from Sweet Cheeks and Hot Fudge sundae

From candy, diabetic sweet potato pie and flavorless soul food.

From the buds my grandmother lost 

to the hunger,

the freckles misplaced located on legs.

I dream of the world in a box

chaotic organization,

confused orientation

suspend themselves.

I am from a time--

lost in time--

searching for past, future, and present reality

        In this year’s humanities courses, I feel that my mind and perspectives as a student have been opened beyond my own comprehension. The different activities and assignments that were completed have grown me to a place where I can see and think outside of what is directly in front of me. I have learned that things truly are not always what they seem. Every person has a story and a place in the system that is the world we operate in today. It is my opinion that if I had not been able to experience humanities in the way that I did this year, my thinking and perspectives would be completely different.

In the majority of my writings this year I formed my theses and general ideas around topics that at fist glance I did not agree with, but during the process of writing the papers and research the ideas became true beliefs. For example in my Lord of the Flies thesis paper I state, “ Although savagery is a state of being that is frowned upon in society it is one that is necessary in some cases to promote progress.” Just the thought of humans, the kings of all beasts, having to reduce themselves to the savage state of animals to accomplish a goal is strike to the human ego. This idea is one that I did not agree with until during my research when I found clear examples of this idea in play about sixty-five years ago during WWII.  The United States bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki along with the Japanese Kamikaze flights were acts of savagery that were ultimately needed to end the Second World War.

As part of the Monologue Project, I wrote a play set in an American owned textile factory in Sri Lanka.  I view this project as one my greatest accomplishments and learning times of this year. This project allowed me to step into the shoes of every individual that played a role in the function and corruption of sweatshops.  I was taken out of my comfort zone and dropped into an unfamiliar place, where it was my responsibility to tell the stories of those who could not speak. I felt as though I was their only advocate. This assignment enhanced not only my writing skills but also my skills in research and its interpretation. Hours were spent revising and quoting- trying to make sure that the story told was one that was accurate and displayed the message and story that was to be told. The final product was But I’ve Got My Fingers and These Ashes.  The product was truly something that highlighted many of the skills that I gained and possessed already.

In our study of poetry I found myself to be particularly struggling because I already had a slight displeasure with the topic. Personally, I am not very fond of poetry because its meanings can be so vast and open to interpretation that it is difficult to find just one clear meaning. Because of this I tend to stay as far away from poetry as possible and did not at all consider myself to be the slightest of a poet. My poems created on the Poetry Wiki are my attempt at being a poet. The quote heading the page tells us that at one point we were all poets and can loose our poetry sense. In experiencing this project I found an inner poet that I thought did not exist and never would. This poet was able to grasp the elements of poetry that I was not to fond of and turn them into something that I feel, demonstrate my struggle with poetry and newfound appreciation for its existence.

            I am the type of person who needs explanation for almost all that I come in contact with.  In my mind, the idea of always having a black and white answer is slowly fading. Because of interpretation and idea such as “justice” can have one meaning for one set of people and another meaning for a different set of people. In the final thesis paper of this year I stated, “It is the responsibility of both parties during times of war, to seek justice.” by Art Spieglman’s The Complete Maus , Night by Eilie Wiesel and the Nuremburg Trails were the basis of this paper. I explored the effects of environment and experience on one’s interpretation of the definition of justice. Environment and experience are the true definers of what justice is to a person.

            The above is also true when considering the lasting footprint that colonialism has left on nations that were colonized by the previously dominant European rule. Often possessing a negative connotation,  colonialism in the case the Republic of the Philippines, possessed both negative and positive qualities. As part of the Colonialism Exhibit Project, I created and interactive museum exhibit that illustrated the footprint colonialism left in that nation. I focused experience of that the people had under Spanish rule and under United States rule. The result ultimately was a nation that still struggles today to find itself in the Global Economy and system. This assignment took an idea that I had set in mind and gave it a new definition.

             From this year's humanities courses I can walk away a better learner, thinker, and student. The activities and assignments of this year's courses opened my eyes and broadened my perspectives. I feel as though prior to participating in these year’s courses I have been taken out of the box that I kept myself in freshman year. I can only look forward and hope that the years to come in my educational career can offer what I have gained this year.

Exploration of a Renaissance Artist: Focus on Benozzo Gozzoli

Online link for paintings: http://www.wga.hu/framese.html?/html/g/gozzoli/1early/index.html

Trial by Fire Before Sultan description:

            Behind the small crowd of people is an old stonewall corner. Each individual crack on the wall is highlighted on the seam of the wall. On the left side of the wall the cracks become smooth and less visible. On the right side the cracks are faintly visible. The darkness of the space near the right side of the wall shields the cracks. The side of the darkness lies behind the sultan.

            From the bottom right hand corner to almost the top right hand corner, stretches the seated body of a man who is assumed to be a sultan. His robe is golden yellow with a vague pattern of blue trimming the bottom. Each wrinkle that accompanies sitting is visible. The robe gathers in the lap of the sultan. He wears sleeved shirt underneath the rode, but only the left arm is visible. In the center of the shirt, along the sultans chest are eleven gold buttons. On his head is a hat in the shape of a round pointed triangle. There are lines that run from the furry white rim of the hat to the gold button on top.

            The sultan’s eyes are looking down upon the crowd that is implied to be before him. His lips are thin and almost covered by the thick rust colored beard that he wears. To the left of the sultan is a man covered from head to toe in a red robe. The man’s head is covered also by a hijab. Behind the man is a knight fully dressed in metal, but his head gear is not pointed. It is rounded to his head. Beyond and in between the knight and man are the heads of three more crowd members.

Death and Ascention of St. Francis description:

            Under the arch of a bright rainstorm lies a town square. The sky behind the storm is light blue, almost the color of crystal water. Directly under the arch but still above the town, five angles float on a wisp like cloud. The angels almost appear as the morning sun. Under the angles is a yellow stone house. At the top is a section with three triangular windows in a row and a circular one above the middle window. Under the top section is a layer of red shingles coming out in to the crown that is gathered in the town square. To left of the house is a old, gray church-like building and to the right is a pale, red rectangular building.

            A large mass of people stand gathered between the buildings. For the ones closes to the rear of the crowd only the shapes and colors of their heads are visible. In the front of the crowd are men in white robes, the y hold long wooden poles above their head.  In the center of these men is another man, but he holds a book opened toward his face. One man kneels with his hands in the prayer position at the head of a dead body. Another man leans over the dead body that is raised on a high blue table. This man wears a red robe that is trimmed with white at the top. One the table lays a man that is covered from head to toe in a yellow robe. His head rests on a red pillow.

Argument:

             Artists of the Renaissance were considered to be people of the future. Their art possessed certain qualities that distinguished the transition from medieval to present day art. Many artist abandoned arts connection to the church and went off in a separate direction to find the beauty of the world. However, in the majority of Benozzo Gozzoli’s work there is a clear connection to the church. Although his work was connected to the church, it still possessed the qualities of the “new” art that was introduced during this time.

            One characteristic that was introduced during the Renaissance was the idea of focusing on realism. The artwork was meant to look as if it were real people and real objects. In all of Gozzoli’s pieces the people are painted as if they were and individual. The people have features unique to them, making them look more life like or real.

            Artists of the Renaissance also adopted the idea of perspective. Artists made objects that were further back in space appear to be far off in the distance of the artwork. Techniques of using a vanishing point assisted artists when painting. Art was no longer 2-demensional. Figures were shown in their true form. Gozzoli demonstrates this in his painting Death and Ascention of St. Francis. He shows the 3-dimensional figures f buildings and people.

                        The only argument that would exclude Gozzoli from the artists of the Renaissance is his high focus on the church. Other then that he met all of the other characteristics of the Renaissance.

Works Cited:

"Italian Renaissance Art." Carrie Text Electronic Library. European University Institute, 2006. Web. 3 Dec 2010. <http://vlib.iue.it/carrie/texts/carrie_books/gilbert/07.html>.

Nicolas, Poich. "La Renaissance ." Web Museam. BMW Foundation, 2006. Web. 4 Dec 2010. <http://www.ibiblio.org/wm/paint/glo/renaissance/>.

 In every human being lies the animal like need to be controlled. Lions in a pride that are unsatisfied with or feel as though they can do a better job then the king, attempt to put him out of power. But, they soon figure out that the role they are not ready to take on the role they are fighting for. The Arab nations are going through a very similar situation. The eruption of civil war in the Arab nations is a war between the experienced and those who want new experience.

Tensions between citizens and their governments reached their boiling point when Mohammed Bouazizi lit himself on fire to express his oppression to inaudible government and nation. This eruption flowed into the already boiling surrounding nations and ignited the flame.  At this point there have been multiple protest, riots, and battles between citizens and their own government. War has erupted.  Revolutions have begun.

The youth of these nations have begun to speak up and out. Now that their voices are no longer silenced by repression, the thought would be that there would be widespread rejoicing. This is not the case. In interviews done by the New York Times, citizens spoke their feelings towards the revolutions and events that have been occurring. They spoke on democracy in nations where democracy is not apart of memories. It does not exist in the minds of the people. The rebels are fighting for something the majority of the population they are fighting for does not fully understand. This fight is one that citizens are entering blindly, fighting for a vague idea of freedom. They are fighting in incomplete contemplation.

Essentially, everyone is entitled to certain rights, especially those stated by John Locke in his work, A Letter Concerning Toleration.  This idea is not shared among all.  All people are entitled to the rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But, to pursue these rights the totality of the circumstances and full understanding must be made. Blindly fighting for things not completely understood, is beginning defeated.

“Historically an Arab has always lived in a tribal system…When you come up with the idea of a self-governing people, it’s a bit absurd.”

                                                -Ghassan el-Hakim, 26, director, Rabat, Morocco

Across the Atlantic and in Europe nations have been trying to decide whether or not it is in their interest to assist the coalitions in the feuding countries. Selfishness. In the U.S President Barack Obama ordered a bombing in Libya.

“Where ever people long to be free, they will find a friend in the United States”

-President Barack Obama

These words spoken on behalf of the same country that fought for the “no-fly” zone to be issued over Libya, and then detonated a bomb post the issuing. Obama also states that when assisting other countries we must always measure our interest over the need for action. Who are we to determine when some one seriously needs our assistance? Do we wait for our “friends” to be in the most destitute position? Or do we step in regardless of our interest? Selfishness.

I chose to draw a tornado in the middle of a grass field because tornadoes are some of the most destructive natural disasters. The rip up and destroy everything in their path. They leave every thing out of place, and yet they make a new landscape,  one where beauty must be found in the midst of disaster.

This is the first drawing. It was done with oil pastel and in color.

This was the second drawing. It was done  in black charcoal.

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The final image was done as a pencil sketch. 

In the first quarter we focused on recycling and the human impact on the environment. We collected bottle caps. The collection of the bottle caps was to help inspire the pieces created by the students during that quarter and to remove them from the environment.

My sketch is of a hand reaching back toward the earth.  There is a  small recycle symbol in the top right had corner. The hand is pure. It is white, but surrounding it are the negative energies that accompany pollution. The earth matches its environment. Polluted. As the hand reaches back to support the earth, the negative energies fade away. 

 Even I cannot begin to understand how and why I ended up here. Honestly, it makes absolutely no sense. I acted on pure impulse, not even thinking.  The voice of an actor on my favorite television show quick flashes through my mind, “No repercussions! No repercussions!”. In a way those words comforted me. I was here now; there was now way of getting out until the end. What happens happens. It is as simple as that.

I had gotten into large storage bin. The lid was sealed with duck tape to relieve me of any hopes of getting out. Inside the container, it was darker than the oubliette under a castle. My surrounding air was hot, heavy, and scarce. Could this be the end of me? The container was dragged to the middle of a very large outdoor trampoline. Snickers of my surrounding siblings echoed through the empty yard. “Are you ready?” he said.  Ready for what, I thought. At that very moment, someone on the outside of the container jumped. As the two feet that were once in the air landed back on the trampoline, the container and I went flying.Maybe this was not such a good idea.

I never fail to find myself in the middle of a situation that could have been completely prevented. My better judgment and common sense always seem to show their faces in the midst of my latest mishap.  It almost seems like the direct intention of my common sense and better judgment is to teach me a lesson. By waiting until I am in the middle of a situation to show up, they allow me to experience my mistake and visualize how it could have been better handled or even prevented.

“Just get in. Stop being so chicken. You are such a scaredy cat,” he said. “ Yeah Manna, stop being such a chicken. Just do it.” she echoed. Their voices bounced around in my empty mind for a moment. My brief moment of considering what they wanted me to do only came from my fear of their request. In that brief moment, never did the thought of how this would affect me, cross my mind. I simply heard them mocking me, telling me that I was too scared and a chicken. They began to beg. I gave in.

Their request was simple. All I had to do was climb into the seventy-four gallon storage container waiting for me in the backyard on the trampoline. Our backyard was about half an acre large. In the yard there were oak trees that stretched so high, their branches tickled the sky in the wind. The ground was carpeted with sporadic patches of grass, fallen acorns, and beautiful leaves in all the colors of autumn. At the rear of the yard sat our do and his house. He sat and watched our every move, curiously trying to figure out what was going on. Right in the center of the yard was the largest outdoor trampoline money could buy.

One foot at a time, I stepped into the prepared container. It was laced with small blankets and stuffed animals for cushion. Once I was in the container the lid was slapped on and sealed with and immensely thick wrap of duck tape. Any hope of second thought was now gone. “I can not breath!” I screamed. “Oh, I almost forgot.” With in five seconds a small silver point pierced the lid of the container stopping before it reached my face. Why had I let the talk me into doing this?

On any given day it is clear that I can speak for myself and make my own decisions, for some reason this day turned out to be no ordinary day. My decision-making skills were null and void to the begging and mockery of my siblings. I knew that I would be putting myself some sort of direct danger, and yet I succumb to their pleas. The simplest definition for this would be peer pressure.  Yes, it is true that I did succumb to the begging of my siblings, but this event is the effect of my poor decision-making and judgment. In fact no one is to blame but myself. I chose to do what I did and must accept the consequences, whether they are good or bad. Out our mishaps and choices come the lessons that shape who we are.

“Let’s all jump at the same time,” he suggested. “Alright let’s do it!” they responded. “ 1, 2, 3, jump!”  As all six feet that were once in the air landed back on the trampoline, the container and I were catapulted off. Our land in was not soft. We hit the ground with the force of and asteroid impact on earth. We lied there on our sides, waiting to see what was to come next.

Squ-eak. Squeak. Squ-eak. They were off he trampoline.  Vibrations from a blend of soft and heavy footsteps could be felt approaching us. Small snickers turned in to an uproar of laughter. It really is not that funny, I thought. The tape used to prevent my escape was cut. Cautiously, I opened the container, unaware of what was to meet me at my exit. That first breath of fresh air, felt like I was a newborn taking my first breath of life. Yet, my now surrounding air was being sucked up by the laughter of my siblings. I stared at them in contemplation, attempting to figure out what was so funny about what had just happened. Immediately, I burst out laughing. I realized that laughing was the best medicine for what happened. This had become a lesson learned. Besides, if I were on the other side of the container I would be laughing too.

Since the beginning of civilization people have used language to their advantage. When invading or taking over a new land, the invaders had the upper hand because the others could not understand their words.  The invaders saw them as inferior. Language is still used in this same way today, but instead of individualizing and using their own language to an advantage, people find it necessary to change their language to match the power of the invader.

 Those who have power in language are the people who speak the standard form of the language. These people speak in a way that is accepted and understood by all who listen. They remove all traces of accent or dialect. No trace of individuality can be heard. These people give up their identity and individuality to become successful. From their actions one can assume that, to be a powerful and successful member of society, they have to speak in the standard and universally acceptable form of language.  All other ways of speaking and their speakers are inferior. 

My young mind could not begin to comprehend why they thought I was being disrespectful. I simply said, “Can I go to the park with Lucia, please?” How could a simple question be considered as disrespect? I hadn’t asked for anything inappropriate or unusual. So I stood there unsure of what to say, awaiting their next response.

On the heated porch of a small country house in Mississippi sat the children of my now late grandfather Green. Their faces were sent on content and laughter. The daughters all three of them raged in shades of skin color, or chocolate as my grandfather called it. The three girls sat in their rocking chair, rocking at a steady pace so that a light breeze would move synchronized with their motion. On the left was Christine. She was the milk chocolate of the three. Her clothing clung tight to her body, using the sweat that was pouring from her as an adhesive. In the middle was Joyce. She was the white chocolate. She too was sweating, but she made it a frequent habit to dab herself dry. To the right of Joyce, was Deloris. She was the dark chocolate and the heat was doing quite a number on her. Her skin seemed to be melting away from the skeleton it was molded on. The two sons sat on both sides of the group of women looking like dry skeletons.

I stood behind the rickety green screen door watching them. They were fascinating. Never in my entire life had I heard such a “twang” or essence of country in a person’s voice. They took what seem to be hours to me to breath in between words and years to breath between sentences. “Did yall heah wat they says bout Normajean, round down in Winona?” Her voice echoed in my head. My brain being wired by my mother to fix all grammatical errors that are spoken, rephrased the question the way it should have been said. Did you all hear about Normajean in Winona? I was only ten and I was speaking correctly. Why couldn’t she? Or was it me that was speaking in correctly?

I was still standing with my face plastered to the screen door, when Lucia stepped to the children. “ I’ms goin to the river yonder bhinde Ole Duncan’s.” Her words burned themselves in my mind.  Mentally, sparks were flying trying to reconnect find the socket where grammar and articulation were correct. I burst out the door and asked my question. Maybe, if they heard me speak they could see the right way to speak. “Can I go with Lucia, please?” 

It was a simple question. The question only required a simple yes or no, but that is not what happened. Their words came slow, strong, and countrified. “How dares you gon speeak toos us lak dhat. Didn’t yo mama rise you bedder. We’s elder dhan you.” Her voice was over powered by one that was heavier and owned by a man,“I’s kno yo mama teached you sum spect’. Youse a youngin. Can’t be commin round heah an talking like yous bettah dhan us. Talk rhight an doos it nhow. We’s ain’t gon take no despect from no youngin!” His voice faded into the now thick air. 

I stood there frozen. My mouth was open to speak, but not a word could bring itself to existence. I didn’t know how to speak without disrespect. I didn’t know how to abandon the way I had been wired to speak to satisfy another. My mind remained in contemplation and my body stood frozen.

My speech was not disrespect; it was demeaning. The words and the way that they were said, threatened the children. My actions were not intentional, but they were taken as so. A simple question had been blown out of proportion. I could not understand why it was that they saw my speech as disrespectful, but I did know that I did not approve. At that very moment I decided that my way of speaking had power and that because I, and others that primarily surround me approve, it was the right way to speak and I would use it.

The faces of the children were of belittlement and disgust.  I looked into their eyes and regained my innocence. They still stared at me. All of us, dumbfounded. I murmured a soft apology, “Sorry”. All eyes immediately met mine. I stood there unsure of what to say, awaiting their next response.

Standard language leaves people with accents and dialects dumb. Words that once had a specific definition in one dialect are now adopted and added to the standard language and their definitions are changed. The definitions are adjusted to fit the standard. In his essay “If Black English Isn't a Language, then Tell Me What It.”  James Baldwin highlights words such as “Jazz” that once carried a sexual meaning and was primarily used by African Americans, but now means fancy or expensive. The language conformed. It’s meaning changed along with those who used the words. This is an example of how language almost forces conformity upon us. It is not done in a harsh violent matter, but by changing the meaning of a word and its speakers others have to adopt this new way to continue usage. Their ideas about their language have to change to meet the norm, to fit in.

Language has power only because humans have given power to it. We fuel language and in doing that we also promote language inequality and conformity. We strip ourselves of individuality and make a system of superiority. Because we have done this people live their lives trying to reach the status of the invaders.