1) So far, I have decided to collaborate with other students in class to form a college blog. I have started an outline of what I'd like mine to look like.
2) I need to get to work on this blog and start coming up with posts as well as a tab for my own individual college. (University of Oregon)
3) My work will benefit other people by allowing them to access valuable information about college.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Monday, March 5, 2012
Literature Analysis #2
Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
1) George and Lennie are two migrant workers looking for work. They find a job and at first are reluctant because Lennie was turned off by the bosses mean son, Curley. They end up staying and liking it quite a bit, but Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife. He flees and runs to the spot George told him about and George lets Lennie die peacefully by shooting him while calming him down.
2) The theme is the importance of friendship. It is demonstrated throughout the story by George. No matter how frustrated he would get, he was always there for Lennie.
3) The tone is sad and depressing. Two best friends are separated forever because of one simple mistake.
4) Symbolism - Lennie and George's farm.
Foreshadowing - Lennie petting the dead mouse.
Theme - The importance of friendship
Tone - Sad and depressing
Point of View - Third person
1) George and Lennie are two migrant workers looking for work. They find a job and at first are reluctant because Lennie was turned off by the bosses mean son, Curley. They end up staying and liking it quite a bit, but Lennie accidentally kills Curley's wife. He flees and runs to the spot George told him about and George lets Lennie die peacefully by shooting him while calming him down.
2) The theme is the importance of friendship. It is demonstrated throughout the story by George. No matter how frustrated he would get, he was always there for Lennie.
3) The tone is sad and depressing. Two best friends are separated forever because of one simple mistake.
4) Symbolism - Lennie and George's farm.
Foreshadowing - Lennie petting the dead mouse.
Theme - The importance of friendship
Tone - Sad and depressing
Point of View - Third person
Thursday, February 2, 2012
First 100 Pages: Notes
Juxtaposition: used to relate Paris and London as the two separate settings throughout the novel. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."
Symbolism: display the darkness of the era and a foreshadowing of the lives of the characters using shadows
Diction: very descriptive and wordy.
Syntax: sentences are all lengthy in order to describe or set up the scene taking place.
Tone: Gloomy to illustrate the view of the story's time period.
Mood: ominous and creepy. It lurks throughout the novel to create a not so happy picture for the places that the characters live in.
Conflict (inner): Lorry's dreams worry him about what's coming.
Imagery: Dickens uses his diction and syntax to paint a perfect picture of what he's describing.
Colloquialism: The dialogue is key to noticing how the characters don't use proper grammar. They skip to business and just talk like any other person would.
Foreshadow: The wine cask falling symbolizes blood spilling which foreshadows the Revolution coming.
10 Questions: A Tale of Two Cities
Questions
1) What are the "Two Cities" being referred to in the title?
2) What were England's problems?
3) What were France's problems?
4) What did the passengers do when the carriage couldn't take them up the hill?
5) What is the news about Lucie's father?
6) What does the wine cask falling foreshadow?
7) What is Tellson's Bank like?
8) What is Charles Darnay in trial for?
9) What does Jerry wonder as he sits alone?
10) How does Lucie's dad react when Lucie shows up?
Answers
1) England and France.
2) The public worries about many things including religious prophecies and the messages to King George III.
3) France is in a state of extreme violence which eventually causes the creation of the guillotine.
4) The passengers hiked up the hill alongside the carriage.
5) He is actually alive.
6) It foreshadows the start of the Revolution. It symbolizes blood spilling.
7) “very small, very dark, very ugly, very incommodious.”
8) He was accused of committing treason.
9) He wonders why his father always has rust on his fingers.
10) He mistakes her for his wife at first, then he realizes its daughter which brings him much shock and joy.
A Tale of Two Cities
The first 15 pages establish a lot in this novel. It takes place in England and France in 1775. England and France are both described very negatively, stating many problems both countries are having. The main characters, Lorry and Lucie come to discover on their journey to France that Lucie's father is not actually dead. When Lucie hears this news she goes into shock and Miss Pross helps her.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Big Question Intro.
Seidenberg 1
Nathan Seidenberg
Dr. Preston
AP English P.4
What are the Qualities of Non-Mainstream Art
That Fail to Resonate with a Wide Audience?
When I think of non-mainstream art, I think of graffiti, tattoos, and my favorite music Indie Rock and Underground Hip-Hop. I wonder if the quality of non-mainstream art that keeps it from becoming mainstream is lack of exposure or is it is too extreme in some respect. In the case of graffiti and tattoos, it is the canvas itself that is too extreme be mainstream. In the case of Indie and Underground Hip-Hop, it is to some degree exposure, but most importantly it is just too intense and real for the general public to appreciate.
Today, graffiti is thought of as unsolicited spraying of paint in a public place, it is considered an act of rebellion and not always art, but the origins of graffiti go back to the beginnings of human society. Graffiti has been found on ancient Egyptian monuments, and was preserved on walls in Pompeii
In the 1960’s, graffiti resurfaced as “tagging” in the New York
Seidenberg 2
artists started painting subway trains; thus the name, subway art. The high visibility of the train and the potential audience encouraged more artists to participate in this new form of art. Despite New York City
In the past, those that were tattooed were gang members, rock n' rollers, or others going through rough times perhaps feeling a need to fit in such as sailors or soldiers. This gave people with tattoos the image of being rough or rebellious. In the 1960’s body decorating with Japanese tattoos became popular but only in certain subcultures. Anyone who sees these intricate designs could not deny they were art but the canvas of the human body would always prevent them from being mainstream. Today the small inconspicuous tattoo is actually more common than you would think for both men and women, but it is hard to believe it would ever be a mainstream art form, inking ones body is too extreme.
So what about non-mainstream music as an art form? Two forms of related music come to mind as non-mainstream, Indie rock and Underground Hip-Hop. Indie (independent) rock is a genre that originated in the United Kingdom United States
To become mainstream and appeal to a wider audience does Indie and underground Hip-Hop need to be “watered down” with a repetitive catchy verse? These musicians write with more passion than most do, influenced not by a label, but they pull everything from their lives. They write about their honest dreams and hopes, instead of writing about something a big label has
Seidenberg 3
told them to write about. They have a sense of respect for their music, and are not interested in financially capitalizing off it. They just want their music and lyrics to influence others the way that their life experiences have influenced them. Although it is not mainstream fame, Indie and underground musicians become famous not because a label had a deal with a radio station, but because their music is truly appreciated.
It is not unexpected to conclude that the qualities of non-mainstream art that fail to resonate with a wide audience are not their lack of exposure but their extremism. In the case of Indie and Underground Hip-Hop, it is that they are extremely honest and might be uncomfortable for mainstream listening.
Seidenberg 4
Works Cited
George, Nelson. Hip Hop America London
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Independent_music
Wickipedia, the free encyclopedia. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Underground_music
Enjoy Indie. 26 Jan. 2012 http://enjoyindie.com/?p=2834
Art Crimes. 28 Jan. 2012 http://www.graffiti.org/
Dictionary.com. 28 Jan. 2012 http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Graffiti
Buzzle.com. 28 Jan. 2012 http://www.buzzle.com/articles/japanese-tattoos-and-their-meanings.html
Knocksteady.com. 28 Jan. 2012 http://www.knocksteady.com/
Underground Art. 28 Jan. 2012 http://makingmommaproud.com/
Copious Magazine. 28 Jan. 2012 http://copiousmagazine.com/08_summer/
Meaning of A Tale of Two Cities
The "Two Cities" being referred to are London and Paris. It is somewhat of a comparison between the two cities.
Sunday, January 22, 2012
A Dream Within a Dream By Edgar Allan Poe
Take this kiss upon the brow!
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow-
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand-
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep- while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
I love this poem because it makes you think. Its a puzzle, but you can come up with your own way to put it together. Its just however you interpret it and I think that set it apart from other poems in my mind.
And, in parting from you now,
Thus much let me avow-
You are not wrong, who deem
That my days have been a dream;
Yet if hope has flown away
In a night, or in a day,
In a vision, or in none,
Is it therefore the less gone?
All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
I stand amid the roar
Of a surf-tormented shore,
And I hold within my hand
Grains of the golden sand-
How few! yet how they creep
Through my fingers to the deep,
While I weep- while I weep!
O God! can I not grasp
Them with a tighter clasp?
O God! can I not save
One from the pitiless wave?
Is all that we see or seem
But a dream within a dream?
I love this poem because it makes you think. Its a puzzle, but you can come up with your own way to put it together. Its just however you interpret it and I think that set it apart from other poems in my mind.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Abstract
I have a history with music and I've been interested in Hip-Hop since I was little. I know hundreds of Hip-Hop artists both Underground and Mainstream. I'm doing this study because I want to be knowledgable on the subject. This research is also so I can start winning my arguments. I'm going to keep organized and stay efficient.
The Open Question
Nathan Seidenberg
P. 3
The Open Question
Typically, I do not like the characters in Shakespeare’s plays. I cannot relate to them and they seem far too dramatic. Hamlet was different. I could see something in him that was different, I was genuinely interested. He had some bad qualities, he rambled and appeared dramatic, and he was even a murderer. What made me interested was no matter how insane Hamlet started to seem, I always felt like he had it together, like he knew what he was doing.
Shakespeare has never interested me. Sure, I always respected what he did as an author, but his material just wasn’t for me. Hamlet was just the opposite. It was like William Shakespeare found a way to get in my head and whisper “Hamlet has it all under control.” It was like he was sending me subliminal messages. Shakespeare went from an author who I hated reading to one of my favorites just by the creation of Hamlet.
Hamlet always seemed to be one step ahead. I liked the way he always came through when you thought he was done or he would get caught. He made it seem like he didn’t have it under control so once it was obvious that he did, it made it that much better. I turned into a fan of Hamlet. I wanted to see him prove people wrong and show that he was smarter than he appeared.
Hamlet finally killed his step father and I felt like the Clippers had just won the championship. I was ecstatic and it felt like a win for me. Surprisingly, I wasn’t upset with Hamlet’s death. It was very predictable but I think that’s the only way it should have ended.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Literature Analysis #4 (Extra Credit)
Invisble Man by Ralph Ellison
1. The story is written in first person. The narrator is an African American man who thinks of himself as invisible. He reflects on his past and describes to the audience why he is living underground stealing electricity. He lives during the Great Depression so there is still segregation. He goes to Harlem where he finds a job at a paint company. On the job, he passes out and loses his memory. Once it is regained, he is offered to be a spokesman for the Brotherhood and quickly moves up and becomes in charge of all Brotherhood interests. The Brotherhood members send out people to beat him up and soon after all his running the threaten to have him lynched. While running from these men he falls down a manhole. He has been there ever since and is telling the story from that very spot. He then talks about how he wants to come out of the hole and back into the real world.
2. The theme is not to let racism hold you down.
3. The tone is up and down. It can go from very depressing to extremely optimistic.
"I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me"
"I am not ashamed of my grandparents for having been slaves. I am only ashamed of myself for having at one time been ashamed"
"That invisibility to which I refer occurs because of a peculiar disposition of the eyes of those with whom I come in contact. A matter of the construction of their inner eyes, those eyes with which they look through their physical eyes upon reality."
4.
Point of View: The story is written in first person told by the narrator.
Symbols: The Sambo doll represents degrading black stereotypes.
Tone: Up and down; positive then negative
Theme: Don't let racism hold you down.
Metaphor: Live with your head in the lion's mouth.
1. The story is written in first person. The narrator is an African American man who thinks of himself as invisible. He reflects on his past and describes to the audience why he is living underground stealing electricity. He lives during the Great Depression so there is still segregation. He goes to Harlem where he finds a job at a paint company. On the job, he passes out and loses his memory. Once it is regained, he is offered to be a spokesman for the Brotherhood and quickly moves up and becomes in charge of all Brotherhood interests. The Brotherhood members send out people to beat him up and soon after all his running the threaten to have him lynched. While running from these men he falls down a manhole. He has been there ever since and is telling the story from that very spot. He then talks about how he wants to come out of the hole and back into the real world.
2. The theme is not to let racism hold you down.
3. The tone is up and down. It can go from very depressing to extremely optimistic.
"I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me"
"I am not ashamed of my grandparents for having been slaves. I am only ashamed of myself for having at one time been ashamed"
"That invisibility to which I refer occurs because of a peculiar disposition of the eyes of those with whom I come in contact. A matter of the construction of their inner eyes, those eyes with which they look through their physical eyes upon reality."
4.
Point of View: The story is written in first person told by the narrator.
Symbols: The Sambo doll represents degrading black stereotypes.
Tone: Up and down; positive then negative
Theme: Don't let racism hold you down.
Metaphor: Live with your head in the lion's mouth.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Self Search
When searching my name, I found my Facebook and Myspace were the easiest to come across. Those and my Maxpreps stats from when I played basketball were the only sites that actually were referring to me. I found plenty other Nathan Seidenbergs which was suprising because that is not a very common name. I found a police officer, a history teacher, and many Nathan Seidenbergs who have already passed away.
Thinking Outside the Box
In Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" and in Sartre's "No Exit" they explain the limitations of the human mind. They have different ways of showing it, but both demonstrate that being closed-minded can limit you in ways you don't realize. (Because you're closed-minded)
In Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" he decribes people being chained up in a cave. He compares those people to people in his own culture. They are close minded, but it's not their fault because they don't know any better. They don't know whats out there. I think the only solution to this is to spread the word that there is always more out there that we don't know of.
In Sartre's "No Exit" there are 3 people in there own little hell together. They realize they're dead. but they lie to eachother as to why they are in hell. We are limited to what we know about other people because other people aren't always honest. The hell they are in doesn't cause physical pain and torture, just mental. The only solution is to open up their minds and be honest with eachother.
In both stories, their inability to think outside the box and get away from personal limitations keeps them trapped in there own ways. In order for them to be free from these limitations they must realize and accept their flaws, (No Exit) or think outside the box and expand your mind to what else is out there. (Allegory of the Cave)
In Plato's "Allegory of the Cave" he decribes people being chained up in a cave. He compares those people to people in his own culture. They are close minded, but it's not their fault because they don't know any better. They don't know whats out there. I think the only solution to this is to spread the word that there is always more out there that we don't know of.
In Sartre's "No Exit" there are 3 people in there own little hell together. They realize they're dead. but they lie to eachother as to why they are in hell. We are limited to what we know about other people because other people aren't always honest. The hell they are in doesn't cause physical pain and torture, just mental. The only solution is to open up their minds and be honest with eachother.
In both stories, their inability to think outside the box and get away from personal limitations keeps them trapped in there own ways. In order for them to be free from these limitations they must realize and accept their flaws, (No Exit) or think outside the box and expand your mind to what else is out there. (Allegory of the Cave)
Ap Term
Irony
Irony is the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, usually for a humorous effect.
Earlier today I was playing basketball with my friend and he slips and falls. I start laughing at him and making fun of him. 5 seconds later I drive to the basket and slip in the same spot. That's irony.
Irony is the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, usually for a humorous effect.
Earlier today I was playing basketball with my friend and he slips and falls. I start laughing at him and making fun of him. 5 seconds later I drive to the basket and slip in the same spot. That's irony.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
Literature Analysis #3
Lord of the Flies by William Golding
1. Lord of the Flies begins with a plane full of young boys crashing on an uninhabited island. Only the kids survived and they are forced to live on the island until they can figure out how to get home. They select Ralph as the chief and everything seems fine to start out. The boys start to separate and Jack becomes the chief of his own tribe called “the pig hunters.” After a while Ralph and Piggy realize more and more boys are going to Jack’s side and they are becoming the hunted rather than the hunters. The boys start acting more and more like animals and even Piggy is killed. Ralph becomes the pig hunters’ only target and just as they are going to kill him, they are rescued by a naval officer.
2. The main theme in this novel is a loss of innocence. At the beginning of the story, the boys play games and have fun because they don't have any parents to tell them what to do or how to live. Eventually, they start developing a savage lifestyle. They begin to plot and kill each other and almost become animals. The fact that they put a pig head on a stick and worshipped it like a “God” showed their transformation. It shows their change in attitude and their loss of innocence.
3. Golding’s tone is very dark. He has a very negative view on the plot. He is also very violent describing the actions between the boys.
1. Lord of the Flies begins with a plane full of young boys crashing on an uninhabited island. Only the kids survived and they are forced to live on the island until they can figure out how to get home. They select Ralph as the chief and everything seems fine to start out. The boys start to separate and Jack becomes the chief of his own tribe called “the pig hunters.” After a while Ralph and Piggy realize more and more boys are going to Jack’s side and they are becoming the hunted rather than the hunters. The boys start acting more and more like animals and even Piggy is killed. Ralph becomes the pig hunters’ only target and just as they are going to kill him, they are rescued by a naval officer.
2. The main theme in this novel is a loss of innocence. At the beginning of the story, the boys play games and have fun because they don't have any parents to tell them what to do or how to live. Eventually, they start developing a savage lifestyle. They begin to plot and kill each other and almost become animals. The fact that they put a pig head on a stick and worshipped it like a “God” showed their transformation. It shows their change in attitude and their loss of innocence.
3. Golding’s tone is very dark. He has a very negative view on the plot. He is also very violent describing the actions between the boys.
- "Kill the pig! Cut his throat! Kill the pig! Bash him in!"
- "Kill the beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!"
- “There isn’t anyone to help you. Only me. And I’m the Beast. . . . Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt and kill!
4. Symbolism
- "The conch glimmered … a white blob against the place where the sun would rise. He pushed back his mop."
Foreshadowing
- "There was no light left save that of the stars."
Diction
- "The crowd surged after it, poured down the rock, leapt onto the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore. There were no words … but the tearing of teeth and claws."
- "The crowd surged after it, poured down the rock, leapt onto the beast, screamed, struck, bit, tore. There were no words … but the tearing of teeth and claws."
Imagery
- "The water rose farther and dressed Simon's coarse hair with brightness. The line of his cheek silvered and the turn of his shoulder became sculptured marble."
Characterization
- "He was shorter than the fair boy and very fat…looked up through thick spectacles."
- "The water rose farther and dressed Simon's coarse hair with brightness. The line of his cheek silvered and the turn of his shoulder became sculptured marble."
Characterization
- "He was shorter than the fair boy and very fat…looked up through thick spectacles."
Thursday, November 17, 2011
The Big Question
What are the qualities of nonmainstream art that fail to resonate with a wide audience?
Monday, November 14, 2011
Performative Utterance in Hamlet
Hamlet is a man of indecision; he can’t make out what is going on in his thoughts. His problem is thinking too much. If he said everything he thought he would be considered mad, which he is. He has good ideas he just can’t put the proper thoughts to words, instead he just goes on and on about stupid things going on in his head. The way Hamlet speaks influences the reader as well as all the characters in the story. He comes across as a crazy man that really has no plan and just acts off of his emotion. He just makes it seem that way. His performative utterance is what makes him so smart. By rambling on and acting like he is stressing over little things he makes his opponents under estimate him when really he has a plan all along.
Hamlet has some anxiety, I can relate to how Hamlet is because I have similar thoughts. Not that I want to kill my uncle, just that I over think things. The only difference is my thoughts actually stay in my head. I don’t actually say them out loud like Hamlet does. When I reflect on my thoughts, I try not dwell on what came to mind. I usually realize it was irrational and it wasn’t important. If I get excited about something in my thoughts, I give it huge expectations and if whatever I was excited about doesn’t end up happening, I’ll be devastated.
One example of performative utterance in my life is memorizing Hamlets soliloquy. That was a huge struggle mentally. It was very hard to stay confident that I could do it, because as I was memorizing I caught my self thinking, “this will never work, I’ll never be able to memorize this.” Obviously those are not good thoughts to have when you are trying to memorize a soliloquy like “To be or not to be.”
I think it’s ironic that I experienced performative utterance while reading an article about performative utterance. It was a very long article and I had just gotten out of surgery, so I was tired and every part of me was telling me to stop reading and go to sleep, but I couldn’t let my self do that. I was fighting my thoughts just so I could finish the article and catch up with the rest of the class.
I don’t think Hamlet and I share much in common, but I know we share the traits of anxiety and over thinking. I’m just glad I can handle my sanity better than he can. He is very dramatic with his thoughts and it causes him to get in a lot of trouble. I just hope I never end up plotting to kill my uncle, he’s quite a nice man.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Hamlet and Beowulf Essay
There are many differences between Hamlet and Beowulf. Some people may say physical strength is the main difference, but their uses of language stick out as the major difference to me. Hamlet tends to talk to himself rather than other people. He just goes over things in his head again and again and then recites them in a ridiculous speech. He thinks about both the good and bad sides of his actions. Beowulf doesn't think through his actions or his thoughts out loud. He just tells us what he is going to do without any delay. He doesn’t debate on what to do he just goes out and does it.
Hamlet uses language mainly to think about, well just about everything, out loud. Hamlet overhears himself giving him a better understanding of his own thoughts. He has a little debate with himself as if he has multiple personalities talking to one another. I think of him as a walking panic attack. "To sleep--perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub, For in that sleep of death what dreams may come When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause." This is an example of self overhearing. Hamlet uses this tool to gain a deeper understanding of how he is thinking. This information also helps us readers understand Hamlet better because we get to take a trip into his (extremely) active mind.
On the other hand, Beowulf uses his language to tell us what he is going to do. He describes his plans briefly, but doesn't use his language to talk things through. "This fiend is a bold and famous fighter, but his claws and teeth... beating at my sword blade, would be helpless. I will meet him with my hands empty--unless his heart fails him, seeing a soldier waiting weaponless, unafraid. Let God in His wisdom extend His hand where He wills, reward whom he chooses!" Unlike Hamlet, Beowulf uses his language for the benefit of others rather then his own. He uses his words to motivate others and encourage them. Beowulf is also very wise and inspirational with his words "Often, for undaunted courage fate spares the man it has not already marked." Hamlet would just use words to beat him self up or debate about his own thoughts.
Hamlet and Beowulf are characters that use language in very different ways. Hamlet uses language to deeply think things through and analyze them. Beowulf uses language to encourage others and state his plan without hesitation or fear. Language is the reason that two heroically similar characters are so drastically different.
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