Witty Whitman

Having looked through the document of the scanned pages of Whitman's notebook, there were several different things that really stood out to me visually. The first was his handwriting. Being a master poet and one of the most famous writers in history, I expected his handwriting to be neat, if not flowy due to the time period that he was writing in. However, it was the exact opposite. He kind of wrote wherever on the page he felt like and it was quite messy (no wonder there have been translation and publication errors). I also noticed in his language that he seems to respect, have a desire to visit, or is fascinated with foreign countries, possibly seeing in them what he wants to become a reality in America. He incorporates throughout his poems many words from foreign languages, especially French, and also in his notebook references the "Queen of Spain." He also references some of his interactions with Abraham Lincoln, as well has having drawn him several times at the end of the document. He acknowledges some of the different emotions that arose within the conversation and from Lincoln himself on some topics, possibly reflecting his presidency or what was to come of it.

The yellow notes help clarify some of the different sections of his notebook by revealing different opinions, events, or dealings that occurred at the time. They reveal Whitman's personal political positions and his opinions on society as he saw how divided it was over the topic of slavery. They show that he hated slavery, which follows his other standpoints as he was for equal rights between men, women, and all people, which also showed how much he liked Abraham Lincoln and his ideas as they aligned with each other. The notes also help show Whitman's respect for Lincoln as he compares him to the captain as a ship. This shows respect to both his rank, that he will follow what he says to do, but also that he knows Lincoln will go through tough times but come through. Or, in a more grim view, that he will go down fighting what he believes for as a captain is said to always go down with their ship.

"Breathing dreams like air..."

I would describe the American Dream now as the image or vision to improve quality of life and become more prosperous, just the same as when it first came about. What has changed since then is mainly the details of the dream, such as what the job may include or what is being gained that is considered wealth. Today, the American Dream consists of holding a prestigious job or a profession of fame, possessing lots of monetary wealth and hanging out with A-listers. At least this is the impression I get. However, it is different for everyone based on what their upbringing is like. What they're exposed to. What their tastes or preferences are. 

Personally, I don't have a specific definition for wealth as it seems to change a lot, or be many factors that when put together form wealth for me. Obviously money is one of those factors because anyone who knows me knows that I love fancy sports cars and houses and suits. I'm not just materialistic though. One of the things that I consider to be the greatest form of wealth is experience through travel. I only know it to be wealth because I have had the opportunity to experience it, but the things you do and see and hear and learn are invaluable and could never be taught in a classroom. This is something not much considered in the American dream due to its materialistic nature. Largely a cultural thing, but poverty is often looked down upon and deemed the least desirable, while wealth is respectable and allows for upward movement in socio-economic class due to the cultural values in America. 

Nothing Really Mattress(?): Kafka, Camus, and the Importance of Translation

Translations:

1. As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.

• By choosing to start with the word "as," diction contributes to the sense that it is happening at that moment, working in conjunction with the syntax because without pauses from commas the sentence reads as an observer would see it happen. Structure aso contributes to this as the sentence leads up to a climax, the transformation. Imagery gives the reader an image of a giant, movie-like insect sitting on a small bed. Hyperbole may have been included through the use of the word "gigantic" because insects are typically small. 

2. Gregory Samsa woke from uneasy dreams one morning to find himself changed into a giant bug.

• By using "changed" instead of "transformed" it makes the event seem less meaningful or like such a big deal, this diction works with the syntax as it sounds matter of fact and nonchalant. The structure is not very significant because as with the previous translation it is simply chronological. Because the dreams are called uneasy they seem to be related to the change, however in this case the created image is not so drastic. 

3. When Gregor Samsa awoke from troubled dreams one morning he found he had been transformed in his bed into an enormous bug.

• Again, the use of the word enormous, such as with gigantic in the first translation, uses diction to create a hyperbole. Unlike the previous two translations, the syntax of this one is much longer, allowing for more detail to be included which adds to the descriptive writing so that a more vivid image may be created in the reader's mind. Also, it helps create more sympathy between the diction and imagery as his dreams are described as "troubled" and "he found he had been transformed" as if someone else did it to him. Structure contributes through syntax by adding to the build up to the climax as it is longer. 

4. One morning, upon awakening from agitated dreams, Gregor Samsa found himself, in his bed, transformed into a monstrous vermin.

• The most significant word choice in this translation was the use of "monstrous vermin" instead of bug or insect. Monstrous works with imagery to not only make it seem larger, but gross-like or unnatural, while vermin holds more the connotations of something like a rat than a bug. Structure and syntax, longer but with pauses, adds suspense as little details are each revealed before having a dramatic pause before the next. 

How does the word choice, syntax, punctuation, and imagery shift in each affect meaning? Is one more effective than another? Why? What does this exercise bring up about the difficulty of reading translated texts? How do different translations effect the tone of the sentence?

Word choice, syntax, punctuation, and imagery shift in each of the translations greatly contributed to the meaning. Sometimes the individual factor may have the larger affect on the meaning while in some cases it is the combination of two or more of them that creates a greater change in meaning. The greatest change that they create together is either the reader's perception of the severity or significance of the situation (his changing into an insect), and also the image that is created in the reader's mind. For example, word choice with imagery in each gave a different description of the creature that Samsa was turned into. In order of the translations, the different ways were as "a gigantic insect," "giant bug," "enormous bug," and "monstrous vermin." The first three all describe the same type of creature, with the difference being that bug sounds less scientific than insect, more like something a child would say or imagine. In contrast to this, the use of "monstrous vermin" creates a completely new image for the reader, a grotesque, giant rat or other sort of animal in place of an insect. This is the main factor that affects the actual meaning, while the other devices mostly affect how it is perceived. The reason for this is that not only did word choice contribute to the type of creature, but how the dreams were written to be, uneasy or troubled or agitated, while the other devices affected the pace at which it was read and how important it was, but had the same meaning. 

This exercise shows how the difficulty of reading translated texts is that each translator will either interpret the text differently, or consciously make the decision to change word choice with the intention of making it fit better to the audience they are writing for, or because they wish to influence the readers in a certain way. (Maybe they wanted to be writers but weren't good enough so they use other people's writing and change it to feel like they made a difference). For this reason, it is seen that you cannot simply read one translation of a text and take it as the true or only interpretation of the text, especially if it is a translation other than the native language in which the text was written. The biggest things that get changed or messed up in translation are word choice and tone due to language devices that cannot be translated properly. Different translations affect the tone of the sentence through punctuation choice to change the pace, along with word choice, that can make a particular event within a text seem more or less significant, or more or less severe than it really is. 

IOC Practice

Freebie

Judged by its Cover

The different cover images, for the novel Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro, each capture different themes or ideas that are presented in the novel. The two covers on the left, of the girl sitting alone outside in some grass and bushes and of the single boat moored on land with an empty dock on still water, both portray the theme of alienation. They respectively depict an isolated object in nature with no sense of anyone else being around. The cover in the top right of the four seems to more focus on the blurred line between Kathy's, the narrator's, life and reality. This is found from her seemingly great life at Hailsham in contrast to her sole purpose being to donate her vital organs. Lastly, the fourth cover, in the bottom right, is very different from the other three. Instead of leaning towards the ideas of alienation and the contrast between Hailsham and reality, the image of the organs is an explicit expression of the purpose of the lives of the characters at Hailsham.


When I first look at this cover, the words that immediately come to my mind are: loneliness, peaceful, ominous, and still. The reason for this is that there appears to be not a single break or ripple in the water, with only a single boat in the image. The image itself makes me think of a calm spring morning on a lake, when there is no wind and only the sounds of birds. Yet, the color selection for the cover gives it a more ominous sense than this peaceful image. Yellows and greens can be seen before the coming of a tornado, signifying chaos and disruption of the calm. If I had not read the novel but simply saw the cover with the title, I would most likely think that it was about a sailor who was going to be gone for awhile with predicted storms and his wife or lover was worried that he wouldn't return. However, now that I have read it has a very different connection to the novel. The solidarity of the boat is a good representation of not only the alienation of the students/children as they are being raised for the sole purpose of donating their vital organs, but of each of them as individuals as well. Although they form their cliques or friend groups, many of their relationships are artificial or forced as they attempt to imitate what they see on T.V. or read in books about real humans. This is what they do to try and feel more real or normal, showing their loneliness or alienation from the world and hence represented in this cover image. It is also connected to the text, mainly the later part when they have left Hailsham and are staying at the cottages. If the image were viewed as the boat waiting to be taken out, it is like Kathy and the others who have the freedom to leave the cottages and yet do not take this opportunity because they fear what may happen or simply the change of no longer having the security and structure of their lives. There are many ways in which this cover could be connected to the novel aside from the ways mentioned above. The boat could be seen as a symbol of their moving on from Hailsham to the donors and carers, or from life to completion (death) when their bodies can no longer survive the donations.

The words that first come to my mind when viewing this cover are much different than the previous one. They include ones such as life, death, health, tragedy. It makes me think of one of the movies or stories where an individual within a couple is either in a horrible car accident or develops cancer, either way receiving terminal sentences due to damage or disease affecting their vital organs and the other not wanting to lose them. These ideas came from the fact that the image appearing to be hand drawn gives it a more fragile sense, as if it could fall or be taken apart at any moment. As well as with the title being written different size font, spread around the cover, and not all in line with each other, it portrays the uncertainty or tragedy that has or will happen as those are generally associated with disorganization. If I hadn't read the novel it would make me think of one or more of the situations that I described at the beginning of the paragraph as not only do books and films of the sort become quite popular, but they are tragedies that happen all the time to people in life with no warning and with no sort of control over them. After reading the text it still reminds me of the situations I discussed, however it also makes me think more of the relationship between the novel and the film The Island, where clones are living in a compound and when selected by a lottery get to leave to live on this island. However, they discover that their fate isn't so great when selected because their purpose is to donate their vital organs to rich people in need, similar to the children in the novel. For this, the cover has a literal and direct relationship to the text as it depicts the main organs that are taken from the characters to be donated to the humans in need of them for survival. With this, it would seem that the image is viewed from the perspective of one of the doctors, looking at the body of Kathy or one of the other subjects as they remove an organ for donation.

Once Upon a Time...

Link to Talk:   https://www.ted.com/talks/christopher_emdin_teach_teachers_how_to_create_magic/transcript?language=en#t-396476

The point that the speaker is trying to convince the audience of is that we need to adjust our system of educating teachers so that they are better prepared and equipped to teach, and that those who currently possess these skills are not teachers. Christopher Emdin, the speaker, says that this ability is a sort of magic, but that it can be taught. Emdin began his talk by describing different techniques or methods employed by public education teachers today that are learned and taught in universities who follow a traditional curriculum for educating future teachers. Emdin explains that those he describes who already possess these skills are performers, preachers, and others who interact with people on a daily basis in a more relaxed form. He says it is from these people that future teachers should learn the skills of capturing an audience and storytelling, through immersion in the real world.

The main methods that Emdin uses in his talk to capture the audience are pathos and logos through both anecdotes and pre-existing data. By first appealing to the audience's emotions by describing different people in the world at that moment, such as the student who is trying to come up with a way to convince his parents that he's too sick to go to school and the educators who share their knowledge of the world, Emdin was able to capture their undivided attention because these were all people that the audience was able to relate to. Whether they had been in the situation of one of those people or had interacted with one of them at some point in their life, it was designed so that every individual would be attentive. This was effective in not only achieving its purpose, but also to support his argument as this was the magic that he was explaining and arguing that teachers need to be taught to hold their student's attention. He continues this line of thinking by explaining to the audience how those exceptional educators/storytellers, the performers, people who work in barbershops, the preachers, need to be observed by future educators. To learn the techniques that they use to be so successful in their professions. It is in this part of his talk that Emdin uses logos. Logically arguing that our future educators need to observe those who are best at their craft to be applied in the classroom as it will allow them to better teach and help their students if they are not only interested, but engaged and willing to learn.

The reason why I chose this talk is because I have experienced more types of education systems than the majority of people have, and within those have had both teachers that I have loved because they could get the whole class to pay attention without getting off task and have a good time while learning, as well as others who bore the class half to death and results in students not gaining anything constructive. The other reason is because I care a lot about the education system and how it is done here but believe that change needs to occur. Our education is a huge part of our lives and largely shapes who we become, making us the human that we are. It is for this reason that I believe it is so important and selected this TEDTalk to see what kind of ideas are being presented or examined to make change.

In summary, the purpose of this TEDTalk delivered by Christopher Emdin is to show the audience that change in our system is needed, not only for the young students but for how their educators are educated because that is the source of it all. Emdin was trying to communicate to the audience that although change needs to be made, the sources for this to happen are already present and just not being actively sought and used as we are currently studying theory with no application or experience of it before going into the professional world. Through his communication it seems Emdin is hoping that either someone in the audience, or someone who views the talk later on, may agree with him and make efforts to see these changes in the current systems.

Dual Nature of Humans

Excerpts:

Dr. Jekyll: Chapter 3 (pg.12)

Mr. Hyde: Chapter 2 (pg. 9-10)

Comparison:

The descriptions of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde both come from the perspective of Mr. Utterson, and are carried out quite differently. The description of their actions may be what holds the largest contrast between the two in how it was done. Mr. Utterson first encounters Mr. Hyde outside the door in chapter two, upon which it says that Mr. Hyde has a "hissing intake of breath," instead of simply describing it as a gasp. The reason why it is significant is the connotations of the word 'hissing' as it is generally associated with the sound that a snake makes. Shortly after, Mr. Hyde "snarled aloud into a savage laugh," another animalistic comparison through the description of his actions to create a negative or foul image in the reader's mind. All of this is greatly contrasted by the description of Dr. Jekyll's actions, who is said to be well put together and kind. The first is example is when he is simply looking at Mr. Utterson and "you could see by his looks that he cherished for Mr. Utterson a sincere and warm affection." Even when faced with a topic the Dr. did not wish to speak about, he was able to "carr(y) it off gaily."

The descriptions of the actions of the two characters, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde are written in very different voices to place them in different lights and set up complete opposite characters. The reason why they may have been so drastically set up is to show the duality of human nature, setting up a plot twist that would not be possible or as affective without the large contrast in character and idea development. Not only though, is the choice of voice used in each description setting up the plot twist, it is used to make the reader like Dr. Jekyll's character and further dislike Mr. Hyde. Although the descriptions of each character in these sections are focused around their appearance or actions, they develop the idea that people are able to have two polar opposite personalities, without others knowing. This allows for one of them to be the personality that people recognize and see in a positive light, with the other allowing them to perform unacceptable acts under the guise of it being another person. This is significant because it is a reflection of what goes on in the world today still, and could be used as a parallel to things such as personality disorder.

A Poem for Two 

(collabo-blog with Sydney Parker, we worked on both voices together to attempt to make the poem more cohesive and follow a smoother progression)

The purpose of this poem is to show how Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde each perceive Mr. Utterson as the novella's plot progresses, with the intended effect of portraying the duality of their personalities as they are interacting with the exact same person, but seeing him in different lights. Hyde's lack of conscience and morals, which leads to his dark acts, causes him to dislike Mr. Utterson due to the fact that he finds him intrusive and possibly with the aim to take everything in the will away from him. Dr. Jekyll, on the other hand, who is easy-going and light hearted, cares deeply for Mr. Utterson and finds him to be a genuine and caring person.