Chrissie's Blog for English 212

Finished

2005-12-13T14:53:00.000-08:00

After reading chapter 12 of Calasso, I have come up with several ties to finish up this class. First of all it was very interesting to finish off with Europa when we started with that story. I also found a parallel of sorts in the story of Harmony following her husband around. It reminds me a lot of the story of Ruth and Naomi, how Ruth said my God will be your God and I will follow you wherever you go. This class was really interesting and I enjoyed it a lot. I have learned quite a bit and I am really glad that I got to take this class. I hope everyone has a wonderful break!

Displacement of Esther

2005-12-12T16:56:00.000-08:00

Here is my displacement of Esther...hope you enjoy it....this is a picture of Esther that I found on the internet.
The music was tinkling in the background as dancers wove elegantly around the ballroom floor. Xavier sipped his wine and surveyed the partiers while sitting on the balcony overlooking the ballroom. He was very pleased with how well the party was progressing. His campaign was an excellent success and the party was to celebrate his new office as mayor of Susa, the largest city in the year 2053.

As perfect as the party was, the mayor felt that there was something missing. Xavier frowned. He contemplated his life as he sipped his wine. Ever since Vicky turned up missing, he felt empty. Even though he had everything at his grasp, power, money, and popularity, he missed having someone stand by his side. Vicky was his wife of three years and suddenly, one day four months ago, she disappeared. No one knew what happened to her, but Xavier’s advisors felt that it was good for his image. The group of advisors felt that Vicky was a bad influence on the mayor’s campaign and that she was too unconventional to be a suitable wife for a popular mayor.

“Why the frown, Mayor?” Myles clapped Xavier on the back. Myles was the closest person to the mayor, one of his most trusted friends and advisors.

Xavier tried to smile, but it never really reached his eyes.

“Myles, isn’t this party excellent?” Xavier stood and leaned over the balcony trying to change the subject and not make eye contact with Myles.

Myles sighed, “Xavier, it’s been four months you know,” he said gently. “I think it may be time for you to look for another wife.” He tried to gauge Xavier’s reaction. He knew that this was a very touchy subject, but he thought that people would like Xavier more and think that he is more human if he had a wife and family. Not to mention ratings would go up if Xavier had a female partner throughout his time in office.

Xavier took a deep breath. He knew that this would come up again. He understood the logical reasons behind finding a new wife and couldn’t deny that he would look better to the working class with a family.

He shook his head, “I know Myles, but it’s so hard!” Xavier turned to look at Myles. “I understand all of the good reasons why I should remarry, but for one, I don’t know how to go about it!”

Myles smiled, “It’ll be simple. We’ll just hold some sort of pageant and we’ll invite all the eligible girls from around the city.” Myles got more excited as he went on. “Yeah, that should work, and you can pick whomever you want. You can invite them to dances, or dinners, or movies. You could even treat them to spa days, you know, girly stuff.”

Xavier watched Myles pace around. Myles rambled on, listing off all kinds of dates and girls who should be put on the list. Xavier considered all of the ideas that Myles was listing off and wondered if he would be able to pull it off. He knew that he should listen to Myles’s advice, so he took a deep breath.

“Myles, stop.” Myles turned on his heel and waited for Xavier to go on. Xavier stood for a moment, all of his last minute doubts and what ifs running through his mind like escapees from a prison. “Your right. I need to do this, so I’ll let you be in charge of this.” Myles smiled victoriously and shook Xavier’s hand.

“But you have to listen to me right now. The girls have to be good girls, and I have to be the one to judge, ok?” Xavier couldn’t believe what he was saying.

“Yeah you bet! You know that I have your best intentions in mind!” Myles smiled and hurried off to find the group of advisors.

Several weeks later Xavier sat hunched over, exhausted from work. He sighed. He still had some meetings left in the day, not to mention a date. Who was the date with tonight? Enya, no that wasn’t it. Erin. Nope that wasn’t it either. He couldn’t keep track of them. They all blurred together and it seemed like he was getting nowhere fast. Either the women were trying to get rich and become famous by dating him or they were dumb, naïve, and not to mention ugly.

Estelle. That was her name. From what Xavier had heard she was beautiful. Xavier sighed heavily again. He knew that outward beauty didn’t mean anything. He needed a woman who was smart, loyal, kind, and generous. Most of the beautiful women he met were conniving and manipulative.

Myles knocked on the office door, “Mayor, your date is waiting for you, and you’d better get in the limo.”

“What’s the plan for tonight? Dinner and then what?” Xavier was tired of this. He was impatient and wanted to move on.

“Yes, you’ll have dinner and then you’ll head back to your place for the ‘interview session’ as you like to call it,” Myles said checking his notes.

“Alright then, here goes nothing.” Xavier pulled on his dinner jacket and tried to have a positive attitude.

The meal was going well so far. Estelle definitely was gorgeous with dark hair and mysterious dark eyes. She was intelligent, kind, and seemed liked she truly was interested in Xavier as a person, not just the mayor. Xavier was trying to find out what the catch was, there had to be something. Maybe she had an extra toe or hair growing in really weird places.

“Tell me about your family,” Xavier leaned in to listen closely.

“Well actually I’m an orphan. I was raised by my uncle Magnus.” She glanced away and watched the candle flicker. “He is such a wonderful person, and I love him like I would my father.” Her eyes filled with feeling. “He does such awesome things for people. He even helps people that he doesn’t know.”

Xavier was taken with how earnest and beautiful Estelle was. After the first date there were several more, and Myles was sure that Xavier had made his choice. Estelle was perfect for the job, not only was she beautiful, but she respected Xavier and he respected her. The people loved Estelle and it was easy to see that she enjoyed her position as helper to the mayor.

Soon they were married and there were large parties, grand banquets, and people celebrated all over the place. Magnus was very proud of his adopted daughter Estelle and tried to keep in contact with her.

Magnus was an old man but he kept his ears open and heard just about everything. One day he was working in his diner when a group of men tromped through the front door.

“I don’t want him in office anymore! He is ruining everything for me.” A man in an official looking suit said as he sat down at one of the booths toward the back of the diner. He grabbed the jacket of a timid looking fellow.

“Take care of Xavier correctly or else I will have to take care of you.” He shoved the man away and straightened his jacket.

“Listen to me, on the suicide note that you write for Xavier, put down my name in code, so that people who will know, know.” He smiled maliciously and Magnus was shaken to the core.

After the men had left the diner Magnus called Estelle. “Estelle listen closely to me. There was a man in here plotting to kill Xavier. He said that Xavier was ruining his plans.” As Magnus described what the man looked like Estelle realized that the man was one of Xavier’s advisors.

Hours later, after Xavier’s body guards found the criminal, the mayor thanked Magnus sincerely. “Magnus, thank you for telling us about the conspiracy,” Xavier said as he shook Magnus’s hand. “You have served your city well, and you will be rewarded.”

After the conspirator was put in prison, Henry another one of Xavier’s officials, was elevated to a much more powerful position. Henry’s job was just below the mayor’s and he made just about as many decisions as did Xavier. However, Henry was given the job to improve the slums of Susa, on the other side of the river.

Henry became a powerful man in the slums and gained a lot of support in the better part of Susa. However, he did this through manipulative ways, throwing people out of their apartment buildings, demolishing them, and building offices there. Henry was by no means helping the living situation in the slums, and Magnus was sick of it.

Magnus reported regularly to Estelle about what immoral things Henry was doing in the slums. Estelle was appalled and shaken, after all, she had grown up in the slums, and her friends and family were greatly affected by Henry. Many of her people were thrown out of their houses and were living on the street, trying to survive.

“Mayor, our support has gone up since the renovation has started in the slums. Everything is going as planned, except for one hitch.” Henry rubbed his chin. He had found out that Magnus was helping members of the community in the slums, by feeding them at the diner without payment, and letting them sleep in the booths during the night.

Xavier considered Henry. He didn’t know exactly what to make of him but thought that he was doing a respectable job. Henry was right, their support had gone up but not by very much.

“What’s the hitch?” Xavier asked skeptically.

“Well, there’s a man who owns a diner in the slums. He hasn’t been very cooperative to your cause and I think that we should throw him in jail for a few days, buy his diner, and build a parking complex where the diner originally stood.” Henry smiled inwardly as he thought of all the people Magnus was helping. Without Magnus’s diner he would be able to move the slum’s people out of where the new office buildings were going up and the place would look like new.

“As long as the people will be moved to a clean and inhabitable place, I suppose that will be alright.” Xavier offered his hand to shake.

“It’s a deal, thank you very much Mayor,” Henry said as he pumped Xavier’s hand. “Let’s celebrate. A toast, to your term, may it be long and profitable!” he sipped his wine and smiled victoriously.

The next day postings went up all over the slums about what was going to happen to Magnus’s diner. Magnus called Estelle in a panic.

“Can’t you do anything? He might as well hang me and all of these people here. If I can’t help them by feeding and housing them, they will die on the streets!” Magnus hands shook as he spoke to Estelle.

Estelle told herself that she needed to stay calm. “Yes, I know. Just let me talk with Xavier. He hasn’t really liked Henry and after I tell him that I grew up in the slums and that you are the man with the diner, I think I will be able to persuade him to stop Henry’s plans.”

“Alright Estelle, but hurry, Henry’s men are already here pulling people in to vehicles and taking them to the island!”

After Estelle hung up the phone she said a little prayer and went in search of Xavier. The island that Henry was going to throw the people was desolate and deserted. There was not way that they could survive, and Estelle just wouldn’t be able to live with herself if her friends and family were taken there.

“Let me in to speak with him!” Estelle practically shouted at his secretary.

“I’m sorry but he said no interruptions. You know he is a very busy man.” The huffy little lady behind the desk didn’t pay any mind to Estelle.

Estelle boiled with anger. She made a deal with the secretary. “How about you do this, IM him and tell him that his wife would like him to come to a very special dinner for Henry. If he would like, tell him to meet me and Henry in our dining room and tell him that I have a very important request.”

Estelle tapped her foot as the secretary typed slowly on the computer. Time ticked slowly by and Estelle started to pace restlessly around the room. The tinkle of the computer made her stop in her tracks.

The secretary cleared her throat, “Well this says that he would be more than happy to have dinner with you and Henry.” Estelle felt relieved as she rushed from the office to change into some dress clothes. She hoped that she would be able to pull her plan off.

As time approached seven o’clock, Estelle’s stomach clenched. Doubts swirled about her mind and she chewed at her nails. It seemed that Henry and Xavier were in high spirits. This was Estelle’s last chance.

She cleared her throat, “Um, Honey,” she said slowly. “I need to ask you a favor.”

“Yes my darling, I will do anything for you, you know that. As they say, if Susa were my kingdom, I would offer you half of it,” Xavier said with a doting smile.

“Please help my friends and family. They are in grave danger. They have been betrayed and are practically dying on the streets as we speak.” Estelle was almost was on her knees with desperation.

Xavier’s heart wrenched as he watched his wife’s eyes fill with tears.

“Estelle, what’s wrong! What’s happened?”

“Magnus, my uncle, owns a diner in the slums and he has been thrown in jail and the people he was housing have been taken to the island. They are starving and have no shelter other than some dilapidated shacks.” Estelle’s voice shook. “The man who has put them there is Henry, and although he promised you that the people were being taken care of, they aren’t!”

The color drained from Henry’s face as he watched Xavier turn his gaze to him.

“You!” Xavier pointed his finger at Henry. “You put my wife’s uncle in jail! Magnus saved my life and you go and betray me!” Xavier stood, knocking the table as glasses and dishes went flying.

“I will have you arrested and put in jail for as long as you live!” Xavier called over his guards.

Weeks later, Magnus was honored at a special banquet put on by Xavier. Estelle was also honored by Xavier, and had as much power as the mayor. Magnus became the mayor’s most trusted advisor and closest relative. The slums became the mayor’s main concern and in just a few short years became as beautiful and profitable as the rest of Susa.

Group Projects

2005-12-04T14:05:00.000-08:00

Group 1 (Exodus 69-80, Ruth 170-174, Luke 248-252, Judith 234)
* We did a mock Jerry Springer Show - Jheri Springer
---We featured guests with many troubling issues. These guests were Boaz and Ruth, Mary and Joseph, Miriam and Moses, and Judith and Holofernes.
-Boaz complained about Ruths inablility to make up her own mind. She followed her mother in law Naomi around and did whatever she said. Ruth countered that she was just honoring her mother in-law and that she loved Boaz and wanted what was best for him.
-Miriam and Moses complained about which one was the more loved child. The siblings bickered back and forth as all siblings do.
- Mary and Joseph were arguing about who the father of Jesus was. Mary claimed that she visited her cousin Elizabeth and came back pregnant. Joseph was angry and they had a paternity test done. They found out that the father was God...who knew?!?
-Judith visited us and told us about how she solved her man problems. The story is that Judith murdered Holofernes by cutting off his head. She did this to help her people during the time of war.

Group 2 (Entire Song of Solomon, Luke 253-262, Susanna 233)
*Group 2 graced us with some really great displacements of the Story of Lot, Story of Ruth, abd the Story of David and Goliath. One of the key points that this group came up with is the fact that all Bible stories are intertwined with one another. The members of this group should be posting their displacements and pictures on their blogs.

Group 3 (Samuel 1 and 2 130-157, Luke 263-269, Proverbs 201-203)
*Group 3 did a great presentation of a courtroom TV show. The show featured Judge Debbie (Deborah), the trial of David and Goliath, the trial of Judas, and very nice puppets reenacting the scenes.
-Judge Debbie found David guilty of murdering Goliath and Judas guilty of slander.

Group 4 (Judges 107-168, Luke 270-274, Jonah 229-231)
*Group 4 tied things together connecting The Rolling Stones song "Sympathy for the Devil" and the Bible together. They retold the story of Jonah and Sampsons Riddle. In the story of Jonah there are several key words; love, submission, forgiveness, resurrection, betrayal.

This was supposed to post on Monday...arg!

2005-11-16T05:56:00.000-08:00

So I actually did this post on Monday but my computer kind of got all messed up and I lost all my work...So here are some notes from last week...yay!
November 9th:
Colosso page numbers too read: 243, 273, 337, 359, 383, 387
Pg 383 says: Myth is the precedent behind every action. Action=the stuff that we do. Myth=the story dimension of everything we do.
Wisdom deals largely with the issue of pain and suffering.
Helen of Troy says we suffer so someone may sing about us - pg 359
The reason why we suffer is to be remembered - it provides the literature we read
Each bad day we have is the displacement of the worst day.
Deus ex machina = the god from the machine
Ecclesiastes
-the writer says there is nothing better than "eat drink and be merry"
-ch. 7 says Sorrow is better than laughter
-Carpe Diem - enjoy what you can while you can
November 7th:
Theocracy = government based on a god
Democracy= governement based on people
1st influential person in history = Shakespeare, 2nd = Jesus
The wisdom literatures:
-can be found all over the world and are not necessarily the Bible
-wisdom=experience
-knowledge=putting experience to use (I don't think this is right...I might have heard wrong in class but I think knowledge is really just the fact that one knows)
Book of Proverbs, 1st wisdom literature:
-divides people into 2 groups, the righteous and wicket
-simple, black and white, makes life simplistic
Doctrine of Retributive Justice - people have all done something wrong and recieve correct punishment
Book of Ecclesiastes, 2nd wisdom literature:
-the teacher is Qoheleth
-the tone is much more speculative even pessimistic, although I would disagree with this, I think that it may be a little more realistic and the author is being extreme to make a point
-"vanity" = fog, mist, breath, wind = it passes quickly and is futile
-Ecc. 12:18 - Knowledge can only bring you pain
Book of Job, 3rd wisdom literature

Its taken some time. . .

2005-11-06T21:47:00.000-08:00

Well it has been a very very very long time since I have posted anything, and I thought that I probably should get on it.
Proverb
[Etymology: from Latin] Pro (forward) + verb (word)
Evidently, a proverb is collection of words (i.e. a phrase or sentence) that has been disseminated forth, and has become a common saying. It generally elucidates some truth
Some that we know...

Knowledge is power.
Classification: proverb/maxim
Meaning: the more one knows, the more one can manipulate one's environment to get what one wants.
Rome wasn't built in a day.
A penny saved is a penny earned.
Classification: proverb
Meaning: by putting a penny in a savings account, you can earn a penny after many years
All work and no play, makes Johnny a dull boy.
Classification: Proverb
Meaning: The meaning is fairly straight-forward. One must find a balance between work and play.
Love is blind.
Classification: Proverb/adage
Meaning: Love is a metonymy for the person in love. It means that a person in love, is blind to the faults of the object of his/her love.
Curiosity killed the cat.
Classification: proverb
Meaning: One can get into trouble and possibly die by giving in to curiosity.
Don't count your chicks before they hatch.
Classification: proverb
Meaning: Don't "count on" something to happen before it actually happens.

These proverbs and meanings were provided by http://efl.htmlplanet.com/proverbs.htm.

The following links are some pictures of the Furies, Gorgons, Harpies, The Maenads
WARNING SOME OF THE PICTURES MAY BE GRAPHIC, CLICK AT YOUR OWN RISK!
Furies:
http://www.semsk.kz/entert/vallejo/images/1991/furies.jpg
http://www.semsk.kz/entert/vallejo/images/1991/furies.jpg

http://blogsimages.skynet.be/images/000/287/402_furies2.JPG

Gorgons

http://www.eselkunst.com/images/0704/gorgons.jpg

http://members.tripod.com/gustav_klimt/clsup21b.jpg

http://mnlg.com/ah/images/drawings_greece/gorgons.jpg

http://www.eaudrey.com/myth/images/medusa.jpg

Harpies:

http://www.creatures-imaginaires.com/02_creatures/harpies/harpies_89.jpg

http://www.arcanefractals.com/images/mythology/harpies.jpg
http://www.a-graph.net/stefcollages/images/harpies%20.jpg
http://www.archangelcastle.com/h4/preview/creatures/harpy.jpg
http://home.earthlink.net/~monsterbox/newsite/Images/jpgs/harpies.jpg

The Maenads:
http://www.cabrillo.edu/~tsourisseau/trips/Libya/images/Maenads%20Cyrene_JPG.jpg
http://www.nouspace.net/dene/2013/bad_girls/maenads.jpg
http://www.uwm.edu/Course/mythology/0800/1023.jpg
http://www.widdershins.org/vol5iss4/Maenads.jpg

Oh Frye. . .

2005-09-15T22:05:00.000-07:00

Well I'm not gonna lie, I haven't made it through much of Frye. . .I have a very hard time with it. Just about every time I pick up the book, my eyes start to droop, my brain waves slow down, and yes. . . I fall asleep. It is probably a combination of me not getting enough sleep and Frye, well when his sentences are longer than 8 words, he definetly loses me. However one sentece I did pick up on is on page 7 (I told you I didnt make it far.) " In the descriptive mode. . . in which perception leads to reflection, perception here including the pre-arranged perception of experiment. It is in the reflection stage that one normally begins writing, and the word contains the metaphor of the mirror, what is reflected in thought being the wordless data of sense perception." I don't know that this is really a lightbulb time for me, but it struck me as interesting. I never really thought of a word as a mirror, but I guess it works. When a though strikes, it does not just sprout into a something that one can understand. . .but when using the word as a mirror to reflect the thought one understands the word, or series of words. . .or something. . . thats my attempt at understanding Frye. . .good job me.

Some more class notes. . .

2005-09-14T14:18:00.000-07:00

Wednesday September 7, 2005

Stages of Words used. . .(I think that is what its supposed to mean)
4. Speculative/ romantic/ KERGMATIC/ imaginative
3. ideological/rhetorical
2. conceptual
1. descriptive

Vico - Philosopher - says:

"That which is true is that which is made."
Things are not sacred but they are made sacred by people.
Frye suggests that the Bible is just made up stories and is not sacred.

Language we use:

1. Hieroglyphics

These were used in the age of the gods. HIERO = sacred, GLYPHICS = pictures

2. Austocratic language

The language of heroes, poetic,
"Jacob is a fruitful vine" or Shakespearian speak

3. Practical Language

Age of "men', an economic language

4. Chaotic Language

This language does not have the diginity of being called descriptive. . .could be called jibberish

I guess I'd better start. . .

2005-09-14T13:14:00.000-07:00

Well I feel like I really should get going on this blog thing. I have been a slacker and haven't posted anything since I built my blog. So I guess I could start of with what notes I have. . .which are thin and scarce:

Monday August 29, 2005 First day of class

Repetition is good. . . good. . .good
Originary - original mode or "in illo tempore" which translated from Latin means in the beginning. . .or Genesis
Please do not use the term "old testament" instead use "The Hebrew Bible"

Thats pretty much it from the first class. . .I think other people caught more than I did. . .

Wednesday August 31, 2005

Some key points to remember which may prove useful. . .

All blessings are mixed. . . or you may say . . . Beware of getting what you want

Frye's 1st Chapter. . .or something

Centripal = the reader is trying to make sense of the words themselves and what the word exactly means
Centifugal = this is when the reader starts to bring other things outside the text into it and associating them and considering these outside sources to make sense of the text. ie. texts affect other texts, a discourse between books or text. Take the Grapes of Wrath for another example. . . Where does this term originate from? Revelation 14ish. . .Not only is it mentioned in Revelation but also the Battle Hymn of the Republic

Perfunctory: per·func·to·ry

Done routinely and with little interest or care
Acting with indifference; showing little interest or care

Friday September 2, 2005

Theodicy: the·od·i·cy

A vindication of God's goodness and justice in the face of the existence of evil
The actions of God that don't make sense to man kind EX: the hurricane of New Orleans - why do innocent people suffer?

2 different kinds of views:

Religious - Theocentric = God centered
Secular - Anthropomorphic = human motivated

Grapes of Wrath . . . REVISITED. . .

Revelation. . . what do grapes have to do with it? When stomped on to make wine they squish and liquid runs from them, does this mean when God is mad he squishes us and blood runs from humans. . .maybe. . . His wine is blood.
Isaiah 63:3-4,6 "I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. . .And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth."

Blog?

2005-08-31T14:29:00.000-07:00

This is my first post on my first blog...hope it works.