"Future Literate Me" (Entry #8)

Oprah's Book Club: a rather good source for new book suggestions

When I think about the future of my literacy, I imagine the long list of books I want to read. My first thought, of course, goes to my monthly ritual of browsing the “Book Club” section of the Oprah magazine in hopes of finding new novels that have been reviewed by one of my idols (or perhaps her trusty associates). So far this practice has yielded good results, and I plan on keeping it that way. Although I always make hollow promises to myself that I will read books frequently, I consistently let myself down. To be honest, I don’t think that I will ever read as often as I want to, even when I have the time and resources… The best I can do however, is maintain the small daily rituals that contribute to my literacy, for instance, checking the news every morning or staying up to date with new television shows and movies. As long as I am an academic student, this will probably be the extent of my literacy with the rare exception of reading a good old-fashioned book if I am truly inspired to do so by someone or perhaps by divine intervention. I do look forward to continue reading in English classes I will take in the future, because even if I don’t like the book at first, I always find a way to give it meaning in my life, whether it is through morals or finding references to it in other places, the experience is rather rewarding. Although I may not be the avid reader I aspire to become, I know that I will continue to have an increasing cultural literacy through books, because the feeling of enlightenment that I get after reading a book will help maintain my zeal for literature of all sorts. 

Literacy Through Film (Entry #7)

The “cult classic” movies of the nineties and early two thousands reflect very important aspects of the American culture that all “literate” people should see. Allow me to talk about movies such as Clueless, Pulp Fiction, Donnie Darko, and Forrest Gump, as they explore different characteristics of American culture revealing the stigmas and beliefs of the time. Many of these aspects of American culture are revealed through humor in comedies such as Clueless convey the “stereotypical” setting of high school and social dynamics of the era, setting a reference point for many future movies to either pay homage to or make reference about. One of my absolute favorite movies – Pulp Fiction – is a hyper stylized view into the drug culture incorporating several different stories that are masterfully intertwined in a brilliant composition of 1990's (directed by the one and only Quentin Tarantino -- of course).  

The great Mr. Tarantino himself in Pulp Fiction

Movies like Donnie Darko pioneered new combinations of horror, thriller, sci-fi, and drama to create a confusing yet remarkable film that deals with teenage adolescence, mental illness, and of course, time travel. I really appreciated how these movies really stood out from each other, because in the modern day, I’m constantly disappointed by movies that’s seem hollow or pointless. The ever-so-classic movie Forrest Gump is truly innovative in how it weaves in both fiction and real-life historical events into one story of a mentally challenged man with so much motivation. These kinds of culturally intelligent films are hard to find nowadays. Movies with uneducated and dumb humor are now made so ubiquitously, and it is a shame to see, as I believe it may be reflecting the descent of literacy in adults. Many people are suffering from a laziness that if enforced by the increasing availability of mindless television. In a time when it seems like companies such as Disney are just churning out mediocre films one after another for the sheer sake of it, I believe that these movies from the past few decades must be appreciated by those who wish to be literate, since they have, in my opinion, better plot lines and cultural references to begin with.

Changing the System (Entry #6)

My favorite books, most of which I have chosen to read independently - I recommend them all!

While having had the privilege of experiencing both private and public schools, I can honestly say that there are several changes that I would make to the public school curriculums regarding literacy. I believe many students suffer from a general distaste for the literature they are forced to read in school from an inherently early grade. It would be most imperative to rectify the malaise that surrounds reading in English classes by providing more opportunities for choice. While it is important to read and analyze books as a class in a structured manner, I think that it is structured to a fault. Instead of feeling like a prisoner to certain novels, students should be allowed to at the very least, have choices of certain books that may be offered within a certain topic of study. This could, in turn, allow them to feel like they have more control over their learning experience. I know personally, I would always dread reading school-assigned books. I would doom myself to a poor experience, regardless of whether or not I would have enjoyed the book on my own, simply because I knew I was forced to read and internalize it without a say in the matter. The day I was able to independently choose a book for a school assignment, the stars aligned, and my zeal for literature was revived. Students in the public high school (or at the very least, those in higher level English classes) should have the ability to frequently choose their own novels for independent assignments so they can have a more self-guided and motivated experience.

Classic (Entry #5)

In seventh and eighth grade (no, not at New Paltz Middle School), I and the other students in my grade were assigned a project that involved picking a book of our own, and completing several writing and artistically-based assignments. The first time doing this project, I chose to read Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, having heard that it was a novel similar in effect to the classic television show “The Twilight Zone,” which I was a huge fan of at the time. At that point I had yet to ever read a novel that was not categorized as “teen” or “young adult,” and was daunted by the prospect of reading a novel of shall I say, “literary merit.” The fact that this assignment forced me to interact with a higher-level novel was the inception of my love for “classic” novels. Since the assignment called for other small projects such as creating artwork based off the interpretation of the novel, and other forms of written analysis (sometimes even in blog form!), I was able to open my mind to new and more advanced themes encountered in the text. From that book forward, I have been on a kick of reading books that are considered “classic” (or at least those labeled as such at the book store), and even proceeded to read Lord of The Flies by William Golding the following year for the same project. After having completed these individual novel projects, I can definitely say that my literacy has been positively impacted, since some of the novels I was inspired to read are now my favorite books (Frankenstein, 1984, The Strange Case of Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde… etc.) 

Side note: I highly recommend all the novels mentioned in this entry

The Persistence of Memory (Entry #4)

The Persistence of Memory - Salvador Dali

The first impression I had from looking at this image was complete and utter confusion. What I believe the artist was trying to accomplish here (in their most-famous painting), was to render the unedited subconscious, as most “surrealist” artists did in their time. However, having looked back on it again, several years later and (hypothetically), much wiser than I was when I first viewed it, I can honestly say that it is now my favorite painting. The color scheme creates a mood of uncertainty, since there is a great amount of atmospheric perspective, and an even balance of contrasting warm and cool tones. This kind of perspective creates a vastness within the painting that is both frightening and thought provoking. I perceive the imagery of the clocks as a metaphor, for the transient and effervescent nature of time, reminding me that clocks – the method of time keeping – are just simply manmade creations, and that time may not follow the linear line we think we perceive it as. The incorporation of a small, cluster of ants and a singular fly as visual elements within the painting freak me out, since they are invasive, gross little nuisances in real life. Lastly, the white blob that is the visual center of the painting is the most haunting aspect. Seemingly composed of only a nose, and eyelashes, I think it is a strange distortion of the human visage (perhaps the author represented himself within the image?), yet it is eerie in the sense that it could represent the general disorganization of the subconscious. I truly do love this image, because every time I look at it, I feel a need to attempt to derive meaning from its madness.

The Prince of Tides (Entry #3)

While I had already come to understand that a book recommended by Mr. Neden would surely have a lot to offer, I underestimated the powerful experience of reading Pat Conroy’s The Prince of Tides. From the strikingly profound and succinct opening line, “My wound is geography,” I was spellbound by the blunt yet poetic voice of narrator, Tom Wingo, a middle-aged man reflecting on his life experiences growing up in South Carolina alongside his brother and sister. While I was skeptical that a fictional autobiography would yield much entertainment and enlightenment, I was pleasantly surprised by the refreshingly honest tone of the novel. Within the book itself, the retrospective anecdotes – ranging from seemingly minute or unimportant stories to recollections of life-altering events –have such shockingly powerful and thought-provoking concepts that I had to sit back in awe after finishing each chapter. Even though the plot of the novel itself was riveting, I think the most salient impression I received from this book was that I truly resonated with the narrator’s poetic opinions about life experiences. The narrative voice weaves in all kinds of astute logic that is the combined result of driving emotion and harrowing life experiences. I believe this is a book that will have new meanings and messages for me every time I read it, and I am so grateful to have read it for the first time last fall. Since this book pretty much exposes a reader to all kinds of family situations, political views, hardship, and humor in such a cohesive manner, in order to become more informed “citizens” of the world, or maybe even just better people, no teenager should graduate high school without reading this book.

It's Mr. Neden approved √√√√

Here are some (of my favorite) samples of the poetic narrative:

-  “But even her demons she invested with inordinate beauty, consecrated them with the dignity of her attention.”

- “Violence send deep roots into the heart, it has no seasons, it is always ripe, evergreen.” 

- “I was delighted I had offended her upholstered sensibilities.” 

- “These are the quicksilver moments of my childhood I cannot remember entirely. Irresistible and emblematic, I can recall them only in fragments and shivers of the heart.” 

- “The desolate narrowness, the definitive thinness of experience is both the vainglory and the dead giveaway of a provincial man.”

- “She understood the nature of sin and knew that its most volatile form was the kind that did not recognize itself."

- "She saw the world through a dazzling prism of authentic imagination." 

*** Yes, there is a movie version. No, I do not personally recommend it, as it is a little heavy on the Barbra Streisand. 

The Transition (Entry #2)

Everyone assumed I came from what is called a "nuts-and-berries" school. My transition to the world of public high school was one of the most profound and drastic changes that I've ever experienced, and was in essence, the event that marked my transition from childhood to adulthood. Having just left a school where there were 13 people in my grade, I had grown accustomed to close-knit family relationships with all of my classmates. However, being thrown in to a class of over 200 students, I was out of my element to say the least. I had to re-learn how to develop friendships and relationships with students and teachers whom I had never met before, which was in a strange sense, a rebirth. In a way i could embody Locke's "tabula rasa" principal to my introduction into the high school, because I could reinvent myself without the weight of my awkward-middle-schooler past. The public school system really allowed me to learn how to "play the game" so to speak, of taking copious amounts of tests, and really find the motivation to make the most out of my high school experience. I am most content when I am in the throes of the school week, constantly pushing myself to maximize my potential to learn new things, since I believe the knowledge empowers me. This transition also forced me into what I'd like to call "subsidized independence" in my family, while they still supported me, I was truly left to my own devices when it came to finding my way in the high school. The transition from the small, progressive school where everyone knew each other so in depth it drove us crazy, to the large high school where I found true friends and academic motivation was point at which I felt like both a young child in the infancy of socialization, and a wise, experienced entity, who had just entered the adult world.

Many Moons Ago (Entry #1)

The wise court jester offers advice to the distressed king.

It is hard to pinpoint how old I was exactly when I first interacted with the written word, however I can recall that there is one book that represents the inception of my literacy. The children's book Many Moons written by James Thurbur (and delightfully illustrated by Louis Slobodkin), was perhaps my favorite book to read with my parents as a young child. Since it was a relatively long story, they would read it to me less often than other, shorter stories, and thus, always made me look forward to hearing it even more. The story itself revolves around the woes of a young, "sick" princess, who believes the only remedy to her illness is receiving the actual, physical moon. The tale chronicles the efforts of a worried king who consults a mathematician, a wizard, and a court jester in desperate attempts to assuage his daughter's distress. As a child, this story was the initial nexus point of many interests I still have today. The tale of the wizard introduced me to an interest in sci-fi, and fantastical genres of literature, while the mathematician inspired an appreciation for the role math plays in our daily existence. I, however, believed the court jester was a true role model, and contrary to his role in the court, he stood out as the wisest character of them all. I would always attempt to emulate his kind actions and abilities to solve problems through effective deductive reasoning. It was around this time that I remember condemning the general stupidity of royalty (which I have learned generally held true regarding most monarchs of european history), and also the beginning of the desire to continue reading, longer, more complex stories. As a young child, this book was the initial inspiration for my growing passion for finding the whimsey in both life, and other works of literature.