Thursday, December 8, 2011
vlog
Ok, I got it to upload finally. Also, sorry about the sound. It turned out a little quiet... enjoy.
Non-Classical music
<div style="padding: 3px; width: 400px; text-align: center;"><object width="400" height="334"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/2LoYM5OWIqI?fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/2LoYM5OWIqI?fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="400" height="334"></embed></object></div><a href="http://www.lyricsfreak.com">Lyrics</a> | <a href="http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/beatles/">Beatles lyrics</a> - <a href="http://www.lyricsfreak.com/b/beatles/cant+buy+me+love_10026466.html">Can't Buy Me Love lyrics</a>
For this I chose a song by one of my favorite artists, the Beatles. This is one of their more lighthearted songs, but the themes coincide a lot with the character of Gatsby. Gatsby has all the possessions in the world, but the one thing in the world he desires most is Daisy's love. He spends all his days and nights waiting for her, not being truly happy even though he has everything in the world. This goes to show that there is deeper meaning to life than what you can physically touch. The singer shared the same sentiment as Gatsby when he says "I'll give you all I've got to give if you say you"ll love me too" and "I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love." He shares the same plight as Gatsby, and for that I pity him. Both these men have everything but the one thing that matters; love.
For this I chose a song by one of my favorite artists, the Beatles. This is one of their more lighthearted songs, but the themes coincide a lot with the character of Gatsby. Gatsby has all the possessions in the world, but the one thing in the world he desires most is Daisy's love. He spends all his days and nights waiting for her, not being truly happy even though he has everything in the world. This goes to show that there is deeper meaning to life than what you can physically touch. The singer shared the same sentiment as Gatsby when he says "I'll give you all I've got to give if you say you"ll love me too" and "I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love." He shares the same plight as Gatsby, and for that I pity him. Both these men have everything but the one thing that matters; love.
Letter to Scotty
Letter About Literature
Dear Mr. Fitzgerald,
It is an honor to be writing to an author of such legendary caliber, however deceased you may be. For that I shed a single tear, however you most certainly live on through your writing. Personally, The Great Gatsby is one of the best if not the best book I’ve read. All the layers beyond the text really give the book a deeper meaning that what can be seen on the surface, and I think I could read it multiple times and still be amazed at your use of symbolism, themes, mood, motifs, conflict, and all the other literary tools that make “Gatsby” so much more than a story. It is a work of art.
The themes are so transcendant and deep, yet the characters are still relatable. I think everyone knows a few Tom Buchanans, who have all the looks and money, but without the substance. On the same note, we all know a few Gatsbys as well. The dreamers, who put on a phasad of tranquility when deep down inside there’s a storm of emotions they can’t share with the world. When Gatsby finally gets what he wants, however, his dream is shattered by a reality of the corrupt world we live in. It really is touching stuff. I was able to relate to all the great characters at different parts of the book, and I think that’s one of the best parts about this book. The characters might demonstrate different flaws of the human race, but they are still very relatable. Gatsby’s past is sure shady, and some people would condemn him for his alleged illegal fortune, but he’s still an extremely likeable character, someone I would be happy to know in real life. It’s impossible not to care when he meets his fate. It’s the unshakable passion and hopefulness that makes Gatsby such a likable character. I was able to relate to his dreamer attitude and his tenacity to never give up. I guess what I’m trying to say is that the character of Gatsby really affected me. I think we all want to have his hopefulness and that’s why it’s so sould shatteringly sad to see his spirit crushed when Daisy refuses to leave Tom. It’s depressing to see how dreams don’t always live up to the buildup we give them. And in Gatsby’s case, even with all his earthly possessions, he still dies alone, without the one thing he truly needed in life; love.
All that being said, another aspect of the book I truly enjoyed, second to only Gatsby, was your use of Nick Carraway in telling the story. I think in the same way that we’ve all been Gatasby at some point or another, we’ve also been Nick. The logical onlooker. The realist to Gatsby’s dreamer. In a way, Nick is the foil to Gatsby; sensible and down to earth. That’s why he’s so drawn to Gatsby. He’s never known someone so conflicted and with so much zeal. Anyway, I don’t want to ramble so I’ll close this. Those are just a few of my thoughts on the book, and a few of the things I particularly enjoyed about the book. It was truly an enlightening experience reading your work, Mr. Fitzgerald, and I hope to find more books that can enthrall me as much as The Great Gatsby.
Sincerely,
Brandon Blewett
Monday, November 14, 2011
Analytical Correctness
Well, this week I'm in a bind for time, so I decided to do a quick analytical essay to get it over with. Everyone loves a good analytical essay, right? Talking about themes and symbols just makes me feel warm and fuzzy inside. I know a special somebody who also likes to discuss the themes and symbols in The Great Gatsby, and that someone is Jacob Garwin! This one goes out to you buddy, I'll keep our conversation in mind while writing this and make sure to include lots of original ideas.
As I pointed out in the picture blog, The Great Gatsby is a novel that can be analyzed on many different levels. It contains all of the literary elements; characterization, theme, mood, symbol, conflict, irony, style, suspense, and allusion. I could go on and on about all the elements, but for the sake of brevity, I can't discuss them all. I've already talked about themes and symbols in the picture blog, so to add something new that hasn't been discussed as of now, I'll talk briefly about the conflict and suspense towards the end of the book, and how Fitzgerald chooses to portray those elements
Apart from using symbols in The Great Gatsby to get across the themes, Fitzgerald uses motifs to help get across the mood of a scene. His use of the symbols and motifs together can demonstrate much more than what the text says outright. For example, midway through the book, Gatsby arranges to be reunited with Daisy. The scene takes place amid the pouring rain. Gatsby comes over wearing a white suit, one of Fitzgerald's symbols in this case demonstrating feigned purity. The reunion proves to be awkward and dreary, and the rain provides a dark and uncomfortable mood to the whole thing. Later on however, they head over to Gatsby's house and rekindle that old flame right as the sun comes out. Poetic.
Later in the book, the motif of weather arises again to set the mood for a pivotal scene. It is the hottest day of the summer and the tempers are flaring. Tom Buchanan finds out about Gatsby's affair with his wife and confronts them about it. This is when the tension of the book comes to a boil, which is enhanced by the fact that the temperature is literally "boiling."
So there's that; just a couple more examples of the many tools used by Fitzgerald to provide "Gatsby" with a deeper meaning and make it that much more interesting.
As I pointed out in the picture blog, The Great Gatsby is a novel that can be analyzed on many different levels. It contains all of the literary elements; characterization, theme, mood, symbol, conflict, irony, style, suspense, and allusion. I could go on and on about all the elements, but for the sake of brevity, I can't discuss them all. I've already talked about themes and symbols in the picture blog, so to add something new that hasn't been discussed as of now, I'll talk briefly about the conflict and suspense towards the end of the book, and how Fitzgerald chooses to portray those elements
Apart from using symbols in The Great Gatsby to get across the themes, Fitzgerald uses motifs to help get across the mood of a scene. His use of the symbols and motifs together can demonstrate much more than what the text says outright. For example, midway through the book, Gatsby arranges to be reunited with Daisy. The scene takes place amid the pouring rain. Gatsby comes over wearing a white suit, one of Fitzgerald's symbols in this case demonstrating feigned purity. The reunion proves to be awkward and dreary, and the rain provides a dark and uncomfortable mood to the whole thing. Later on however, they head over to Gatsby's house and rekindle that old flame right as the sun comes out. Poetic.
Later in the book, the motif of weather arises again to set the mood for a pivotal scene. It is the hottest day of the summer and the tempers are flaring. Tom Buchanan finds out about Gatsby's affair with his wife and confronts them about it. This is when the tension of the book comes to a boil, which is enhanced by the fact that the temperature is literally "boiling."
So there's that; just a couple more examples of the many tools used by Fitzgerald to provide "Gatsby" with a deeper meaning and make it that much more interesting.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Picture Blog
I'm really excited about the rest of the blog posts this year. Right now, I'm going to work on the picture blog and later I plan to do the partner blog, music blog, and literary analysis. These should be incredibly easy, because the symbolism in Gatsby is such a central part of the book, I could write a ten page essay about it (side note, please don't make me write a ten page essay about it). Add the themes to that and this blog basically writes itself. I'm so glad I chose Gatsby because it lends itself to these blog posts so well. That being said, on to the picture blog.
The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
Jay Gatsby, centerpiece of the story and model of the decay of the American Dream
Nick Carraway, Narrator and everyman thrown into moral dilemmas at a young age.
The Great Gatsby is built around strong themes. They are:
The American Dream (or its decline)
Gatsby has everything, but his reality can never live up to his dreams.
The Hollowness of the upper class
Young Money; vulgar, gaudy.
Established Aristocracy; tasteful, but superficial. Lacks the heart of the new generation of rich.
The Great Gatsby also has strong recurring symbols, such as:
The Green Light symbolizes hopes and dreams. Gatsby clings to it.
The Valley of Ashes signifies the degradation of American morals and society.
The Eyes of Dr. Eckleberg symbolize God looking down over the valley of ashes and the degradation that it stands for.
Yellow stands for corruption. Gatsby's car is an example.
White stands for purity; some of the characters dress in white to seem pure and hide their immoral nature.
Eggs have special significance.
East egg, where the old money families live, represents the false purity of the rich with the inner corruption (yellow) concealed in a white shell.
West egg is where the new money lives. They are more brash and the aura of purity is thinner.
I could go on for ages, but this covers the main literary elements that transcend the book. Once you understand these symbols and themes, the book becomes so much more than just a story about rich people. It is definitely one of the great works of American literature, with all its depth and complexity held within such a few pages.
follow and respond
Time to Follow and Respond again. Here's where I lost the big points last quarter. Length and critique were issues, so I look to fix that this quarter. I think I'm already showing improvement, as I just left quite the lengthy and constructively critical comment on my good friend Abbie's blog. Well, here it is:
:) Well, hi there Abbie! :) It's your buddy, Brandon! :) I noticed that you got an 89. Or was it a 78? That's right, it was a 98. How could I forget, you mentioned that about eight times. Silly me! :) Anywho, even though you got such a good score, you still fell short of perfect. And you know that 2% wasn't taken off for no reason. There has to be something wrong with your blog, and being such a good buddy, I went through and found some things that you can improve and turn that 98 into a 100! Don't worry, you can thank me later. :)
Well, to start, the first thing I noticed was the I's not being capitalized. That was something you pointed out in your reflection as well (good lookin' out). In order to get those 2 points back you're gonna have to fix that. What that shows me is that you just went willy nilly and didn't proof-read before you posted. That would seriously help you with any project, not just blogging. Another thing I noticed was your comments. They were quite short, weren't they? And lacking in criticism, too. :( Your new ones seem to have more criticism, though, so I can already see an improvement from last quarter. I noticed that in your new comments, you pointed out that Stevie and Zach didn't receive 95's like you.. Or was it a 97 that you got? Oh right, 98. How do I keep forgetting? Anyway, my point was that you told them what they could do to get as good a grade as you, and that was very nice of you. :) This comes from the heart, because I lost a ton of points because my comments weren't long and critical enough. This one should be plenty of both, so it looks like we're both improving together. And that's just swell.. :) Look at me rambling, I must be finishing soon. Before I go though, I have one more observation to make.
I noticed that your picture blog was a strict summary of the plot. Mine was like that too, and I lost quite a few points for that. So maybe if you do another picture blog this quarter, you could talk about themes and symbols. If you want an example of a good picture blog, all you have to do is look at mine for this quarter. I think it's pretty snazzy. Not to be precocious, of course.
Well it was a pleasure having this chat with you, Abbie, and I hope you'll leave me a comment to help me fix some of the flaws with my blog too (God knows there are many). Until next time, keep up the good work. I bid you adieu :)
My next comment was in regards to Angel's vlog:
Hi Angel, or should I say, "Priest of Pain." I was drawn in by the fancy colors and flashing lights of your vlog. Why you chose to film at an arcade baffles me, but I know it's some subtle form of genius that is beyond my comprehension. Your overall charm is undeniable in this vlog. You have great potential for a good blog here. However, the rest of your blog looks unfinished. The comments section especially looks like you didn't put much work into it. I say this because I see your potential for a good blog based on this vlog. Maybe put a little more time into it and you could have a pretty snappy blog here.
Finally, I commented on one of my own posts (Is that allowed? If not, I'll do something different). It was in response to a comment left on my picture blog by Jacob Garwin regarding the philosophy behind The Great Gatsby. Here was his comment:
"My dear Brandon.. I fear that you are looking far too in depth into these stories. Why can't a good story just be a good story? Complicating it with hidden messages is just uneccessary. I also believe that none of these pictures above are Brandon Blewett original ideas. If you had read the book with out using the crutch of Google search engine would the above subliminal connections have been made? Doubtful. Not trying to be harsh, I just want to see your develope into your own being. Not a shallow representation of the World Wide Web. This book is not intended to be Inception in book form, it's intended to be a good relaxing read. Something that you truly enjoy. Hope you really take these words of advice to heart. Until next time..."
Here is my response:
Jacob, I truly appreciate the advice. Your sentiment is truly felt, and although you came off as a bit arrogant; some might even say.. dense, I forgive you. I know you mean well. Just as Gatsby in the end, means well. But I'm looking too much into this aren't I? On the contrary, I'm afraid I'm not looking too much into it. You say, "This book is not intended to be Inception in book form, it's intended to be a good relaxing read." I agree with you for two reasons. One, because Fitzgerald wrote this book long before the movie Inception was even an idea; and two, because this book is a relaxing, enjoyable read. However, I'm afraid you're missing the point of Gatsby if you don't take the time to look deeper into the themes and symbols that Fitzgerald worked so hard to intricately weave into his masterpiece. While you argue that I have looked too far into this, and you urge me to take the book at face value, I simply cannot. That, sir, would be a crime against literature. While you may choose to bathe in your ignorance and drool as you read a dry story about rich people, I will see a story not to be taken literally, but to be digested for what it truly is. Fitzgerald's intent was not simply to tell a story. He wanted to display the themes and symbols that I talked about. And ignoring this deeper meaning will cause you to waste a truly invigorating reading experience. Take these words to heart, my friend. When you find yourself content with the shallow film of reality that is around you, take to heart the words Leo says in your favorite movie, Inception. "We have to go deeper."
:) Well, hi there Abbie! :) It's your buddy, Brandon! :) I noticed that you got an 89. Or was it a 78? That's right, it was a 98. How could I forget, you mentioned that about eight times. Silly me! :) Anywho, even though you got such a good score, you still fell short of perfect. And you know that 2% wasn't taken off for no reason. There has to be something wrong with your blog, and being such a good buddy, I went through and found some things that you can improve and turn that 98 into a 100! Don't worry, you can thank me later. :)
Well, to start, the first thing I noticed was the I's not being capitalized. That was something you pointed out in your reflection as well (good lookin' out). In order to get those 2 points back you're gonna have to fix that. What that shows me is that you just went willy nilly and didn't proof-read before you posted. That would seriously help you with any project, not just blogging. Another thing I noticed was your comments. They were quite short, weren't they? And lacking in criticism, too. :( Your new ones seem to have more criticism, though, so I can already see an improvement from last quarter. I noticed that in your new comments, you pointed out that Stevie and Zach didn't receive 95's like you.. Or was it a 97 that you got? Oh right, 98. How do I keep forgetting? Anyway, my point was that you told them what they could do to get as good a grade as you, and that was very nice of you. :) This comes from the heart, because I lost a ton of points because my comments weren't long and critical enough. This one should be plenty of both, so it looks like we're both improving together. And that's just swell.. :) Look at me rambling, I must be finishing soon. Before I go though, I have one more observation to make.
I noticed that your picture blog was a strict summary of the plot. Mine was like that too, and I lost quite a few points for that. So maybe if you do another picture blog this quarter, you could talk about themes and symbols. If you want an example of a good picture blog, all you have to do is look at mine for this quarter. I think it's pretty snazzy. Not to be precocious, of course.
Well it was a pleasure having this chat with you, Abbie, and I hope you'll leave me a comment to help me fix some of the flaws with my blog too (God knows there are many). Until next time, keep up the good work. I bid you adieu :)
My next comment was in regards to Angel's vlog:
Hi Angel, or should I say, "Priest of Pain." I was drawn in by the fancy colors and flashing lights of your vlog. Why you chose to film at an arcade baffles me, but I know it's some subtle form of genius that is beyond my comprehension. Your overall charm is undeniable in this vlog. You have great potential for a good blog here. However, the rest of your blog looks unfinished. The comments section especially looks like you didn't put much work into it. I say this because I see your potential for a good blog based on this vlog. Maybe put a little more time into it and you could have a pretty snappy blog here.
Finally, I commented on one of my own posts (Is that allowed? If not, I'll do something different). It was in response to a comment left on my picture blog by Jacob Garwin regarding the philosophy behind The Great Gatsby. Here was his comment:
"My dear Brandon.. I fear that you are looking far too in depth into these stories. Why can't a good story just be a good story? Complicating it with hidden messages is just uneccessary. I also believe that none of these pictures above are Brandon Blewett original ideas. If you had read the book with out using the crutch of Google search engine would the above subliminal connections have been made? Doubtful. Not trying to be harsh, I just want to see your develope into your own being. Not a shallow representation of the World Wide Web. This book is not intended to be Inception in book form, it's intended to be a good relaxing read. Something that you truly enjoy. Hope you really take these words of advice to heart. Until next time..."
Here is my response:
Jacob, I truly appreciate the advice. Your sentiment is truly felt, and although you came off as a bit arrogant; some might even say.. dense, I forgive you. I know you mean well. Just as Gatsby in the end, means well. But I'm looking too much into this aren't I? On the contrary, I'm afraid I'm not looking too much into it. You say, "This book is not intended to be Inception in book form, it's intended to be a good relaxing read." I agree with you for two reasons. One, because Fitzgerald wrote this book long before the movie Inception was even an idea; and two, because this book is a relaxing, enjoyable read. However, I'm afraid you're missing the point of Gatsby if you don't take the time to look deeper into the themes and symbols that Fitzgerald worked so hard to intricately weave into his masterpiece. While you argue that I have looked too far into this, and you urge me to take the book at face value, I simply cannot. That, sir, would be a crime against literature. While you may choose to bathe in your ignorance and drool as you read a dry story about rich people, I will see a story not to be taken literally, but to be digested for what it truly is. Fitzgerald's intent was not simply to tell a story. He wanted to display the themes and symbols that I talked about. And ignoring this deeper meaning will cause you to waste a truly invigorating reading experience. Take these words to heart, my friend. When you find yourself content with the shallow film of reality that is around you, take to heart the words Leo says in your favorite movie, Inception. "We have to go deeper."
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Blog Reflection
Dear Readers (Mrs. Hayes),
The first quarter blog is finally finished, and I can't say I was overjoyed about my grade. The Amimoto grade was good, but I would have liked to have done better on the blog grade. I believe I received a 78% overall on the blog and a 100% on the Amimoto. Although I don't have the final graded project in front of me at the moment, if I remember correctly I lost points mostly based on the brevity and lack of critical thought in my follow and respond segment. I believe I also lost a couple points for my picture blog, based on the fact that I recreated the plot of the first chapter through pictures instead of sticking to the prompt and using pictures of the overall themes and moods of the book. I was surprised to see points deducted from my picture blog, as I thought it was my strongest overall post, but I did stray a small bit from the given directions, so I'll have to make sure not to do that again. As for the follow and respond, I agree that the comments were too short, and had even thought about revising it, but didn't know it would end up being as big of a point deduction as it was. Although I wasn't quite sure how these flaws translated into a 78, I could see the overall reasoning behind the deduction of points for those two things, and the number of those points is an issue of the past.
Now on to the future; I can already see my blog for this quarter being much better than the first. For one, the book I chose for this quarter is much more relatable than my book for the first quarter. It was a bit of a problem trying to come up with topics of discussions in my blog posts when I couldn't really relate or get into the book, but I'll get into more depth about that momentarily. Things I plan to improve upon are the length of my posts (seeing as how I lost points for the comments being too short) and stricter interpretation of the directions (based on my feedback for the picture blog). Speaking of feedback, I also plan to consult my teacher, Mrs. Hayes about each week's blog post, that way I'll know more of what I need to change and have an opportunity to get it fixed, so the final grade won't come as as much of a shock.
Back to the book for this quarter; I chose The Great Gatsby, another classic. This book is a bit more modern than my previous book, Around the World in 80 Days, which I found to be a bit dry. I believe that "Gatsby" has aged a bit better than "Around the World" has, and only 20 pages in, I already look forward to reading more. I feel like I can really get into this book, so hopefully my blog posts of the future will demonstrate that.
Regards,
Brandon Blewett
The first quarter blog is finally finished, and I can't say I was overjoyed about my grade. The Amimoto grade was good, but I would have liked to have done better on the blog grade. I believe I received a 78% overall on the blog and a 100% on the Amimoto. Although I don't have the final graded project in front of me at the moment, if I remember correctly I lost points mostly based on the brevity and lack of critical thought in my follow and respond segment. I believe I also lost a couple points for my picture blog, based on the fact that I recreated the plot of the first chapter through pictures instead of sticking to the prompt and using pictures of the overall themes and moods of the book. I was surprised to see points deducted from my picture blog, as I thought it was my strongest overall post, but I did stray a small bit from the given directions, so I'll have to make sure not to do that again. As for the follow and respond, I agree that the comments were too short, and had even thought about revising it, but didn't know it would end up being as big of a point deduction as it was. Although I wasn't quite sure how these flaws translated into a 78, I could see the overall reasoning behind the deduction of points for those two things, and the number of those points is an issue of the past.
Now on to the future; I can already see my blog for this quarter being much better than the first. For one, the book I chose for this quarter is much more relatable than my book for the first quarter. It was a bit of a problem trying to come up with topics of discussions in my blog posts when I couldn't really relate or get into the book, but I'll get into more depth about that momentarily. Things I plan to improve upon are the length of my posts (seeing as how I lost points for the comments being too short) and stricter interpretation of the directions (based on my feedback for the picture blog). Speaking of feedback, I also plan to consult my teacher, Mrs. Hayes about each week's blog post, that way I'll know more of what I need to change and have an opportunity to get it fixed, so the final grade won't come as as much of a shock.
Back to the book for this quarter; I chose The Great Gatsby, another classic. This book is a bit more modern than my previous book, Around the World in 80 Days, which I found to be a bit dry. I believe that "Gatsby" has aged a bit better than "Around the World" has, and only 20 pages in, I already look forward to reading more. I feel like I can really get into this book, so hopefully my blog posts of the future will demonstrate that.
Regards,
Brandon Blewett
Thursday, October 6, 2011
World's Greatest Preview
Here is a wonderful little preview of what you will experience if you choose to read this book. Just a taste, but a tasty taste.
Vlog Schmog
Right, so here is my Vlog... apologies for it being above the links, but I finished the links first and can't figure out how to switch them, so please do excuse the minor formatting error.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
The weakest links (side note: these links are not necessarily all weak, that was just an attempt at a witty title. And now here I am rambling on just to defend my dumb title. In fact, this is definitely the weakest part of this blog post, therefore the links themselves are not truly weak at all).
1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jules_Verne
Jules Verne is the author of the book. He is a highly well known author, and this gives plenty of information about his life and famous works.
2) http://www.online-literature.com/verne/
Wikipedia is a great source, but it's not for everyone. If you're a Wikipedia skeptic, here's an article about Verne's life and works from a different website.
3) http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/02/pictures/110208-jules-verne-google-doodle-183rd-birthday-anniversary/#/jules-verne-inventions-nautilus-submarine_32040_600x450.jpg
This is just awesome. Jules Verne was primarily a science fiction writer, and here's an article about the "crazy future inventions" he predicted that actually came true. Maybe someday there will be an article like this for George Lucas.. dear god I hope so..
4) http://epguides.com/djk/JulesVerne/works.shtml
This is a list of most of the works of Jules Verne. It contains the famous ones as well as the less known of his works.
5) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0327437/
Here's a link to the most recent movie depiction of Around the World in 80 Days. I really have no idea how they decided to cast Jackie Chan as Passepartout, Fogg's friendly French follower (a little alliteration to brighten your day, you are welcome).
6) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048960/
Although the newer adaptation is entertaining, I personally prefer the classic (with Mexican actor, Cantinflas playing Passepartout; marginally more believable). Apparently the critics would agree, as you can see if you click the links and check the ratings.
7) http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2RkRwF/www.youtube.com/watch%253Fv%253DfEqkeNTLrcM
Pretty self explanatory. Here's a trailer for the original movie adaptation of the book.
8) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Around_the_World_in_Eighty_Days
Wikipedia page of the book. Gives a good plot summary as well as background and other interesting information.
9) http://www.teachushistory.org/detocqueville-visit-united-states/articles/historical-background-traveling-early-19th-century
This article explains the methods of transportation that were available in the time of the book being written. In the book, Fogg mainly uses steamers and trains to make his journey around the world.
10) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Around_the_World_in_Eighty_Days_map.png
This link contains a map of Phileas Fogg's journey around the world. Below I've posted links with more information on all the locations visited in the book, along with brief summaries of their importance in the story.
11) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London
London is the home of the protagonist, Phileas Fogg. It is also the beginning and end of his trip around the world.
12) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez
The next destination on Fogg's agenda is Suez. He takes trains to Suez and then proceeds by steamer. Here's some background into this location.
13) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai
Next, Fogg's journey takes him to Bombay, India. If you want to know more about this location, the link above should be more than proficient.
14) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sati_%28practice%29
On the next leg of Fogg's journey, the train runs out of track, and the hero is forced to hire a guide and ride an elephant through the wilderness. The group comes across a procession of priests attempting to perform the practice of sati on an unwilling widow. They decide to save her, and thanks to Passepartout's heroics, they succeed.
15) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong
After the detours in India, Fogg and his companions arrive in Hong Kong. They actually miss their steamer and have to take a different boat. Information about Hong Kong is found in the link above.
16) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yokohama
After the hangup in Hong Kong, Fogg manages to reach his next destination, Yokohama. Yokohama is located in Japan and today is the second largest city in the country behind Tokyo.
17) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco
After taking a steamer from Yokohama, Fogg and friends finally reach America. San Francisco, to be exact. More information about SF is just a click away.
18) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City
Next, Fogg takes a train from San Francisco to New York, encountering several hangups along the way, including a herd of Buffalo blocking the tracks and the train being overrun by a tribe of Sioux Indians. He eventually reaches New York, however, and from there proceeds back to London to narrowly meet his quota. Everyone knows all about New York, but if you're looking for more information about this destination there is a link above.
19) http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1Yu7i8/www.luminous-lint.com/app/vexhibit/_LOCATION_Around_The_World_in_Eighty_Days_01/5/0/0/
I found this source very interesting. It shows pictures from around the world in the time period of the book, so these are authentic sights the characters would have experienced. It really helps in visualizing the scenes of the book.
20) http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2Q20qX/laughingsquid.com/royal-de-luxe-parade-in-nantes/
Article about a parade in France commemorating the 100th anniversary of the book. There are some pretty cool pictures, especially of the mechanical elephant.
There you have it. 20 links for better understanding of the book, Around the World in 80 Days. Hours of reading. Hours of fun. Enjoy.
Jules Verne is the author of the book. He is a highly well known author, and this gives plenty of information about his life and famous works.
2) http://www.online-literature.com/verne/
Wikipedia is a great source, but it's not for everyone. If you're a Wikipedia skeptic, here's an article about Verne's life and works from a different website.
3) http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2011/02/pictures/110208-jules-verne-google-doodle-183rd-birthday-anniversary/#/jules-verne-inventions-nautilus-submarine_32040_600x450.jpg
This is just awesome. Jules Verne was primarily a science fiction writer, and here's an article about the "crazy future inventions" he predicted that actually came true. Maybe someday there will be an article like this for George Lucas.. dear god I hope so..
4) http://epguides.com/djk/JulesVerne/works.shtml
This is a list of most of the works of Jules Verne. It contains the famous ones as well as the less known of his works.
5) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0327437/
Here's a link to the most recent movie depiction of Around the World in 80 Days. I really have no idea how they decided to cast Jackie Chan as Passepartout, Fogg's friendly French follower (a little alliteration to brighten your day, you are welcome).
6) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048960/
Although the newer adaptation is entertaining, I personally prefer the classic (with Mexican actor, Cantinflas playing Passepartout; marginally more believable). Apparently the critics would agree, as you can see if you click the links and check the ratings.
7) http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2RkRwF/www.youtube.com/watch%253Fv%253DfEqkeNTLrcM
Pretty self explanatory. Here's a trailer for the original movie adaptation of the book.
8) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Around_the_World_in_Eighty_Days
Wikipedia page of the book. Gives a good plot summary as well as background and other interesting information.
9) http://www.teachushistory.org/detocqueville-visit-united-states/articles/historical-background-traveling-early-19th-century
This article explains the methods of transportation that were available in the time of the book being written. In the book, Fogg mainly uses steamers and trains to make his journey around the world.
10) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Around_the_World_in_Eighty_Days_map.png
This link contains a map of Phileas Fogg's journey around the world. Below I've posted links with more information on all the locations visited in the book, along with brief summaries of their importance in the story.
11) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London
London is the home of the protagonist, Phileas Fogg. It is also the beginning and end of his trip around the world.
12) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suez
The next destination on Fogg's agenda is Suez. He takes trains to Suez and then proceeds by steamer. Here's some background into this location.
13) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mumbai
Next, Fogg's journey takes him to Bombay, India. If you want to know more about this location, the link above should be more than proficient.
14) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sati_%28practice%29
On the next leg of Fogg's journey, the train runs out of track, and the hero is forced to hire a guide and ride an elephant through the wilderness. The group comes across a procession of priests attempting to perform the practice of sati on an unwilling widow. They decide to save her, and thanks to Passepartout's heroics, they succeed.
15) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hong_Kong
After the detours in India, Fogg and his companions arrive in Hong Kong. They actually miss their steamer and have to take a different boat. Information about Hong Kong is found in the link above.
16) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yokohama
After the hangup in Hong Kong, Fogg manages to reach his next destination, Yokohama. Yokohama is located in Japan and today is the second largest city in the country behind Tokyo.
17) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco
After taking a steamer from Yokohama, Fogg and friends finally reach America. San Francisco, to be exact. More information about SF is just a click away.
18) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York_City
Next, Fogg takes a train from San Francisco to New York, encountering several hangups along the way, including a herd of Buffalo blocking the tracks and the train being overrun by a tribe of Sioux Indians. He eventually reaches New York, however, and from there proceeds back to London to narrowly meet his quota. Everyone knows all about New York, but if you're looking for more information about this destination there is a link above.
19) http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/1Yu7i8/www.luminous-lint.com/app/vexhibit/_LOCATION_Around_The_World_in_Eighty_Days_01/5/0/0/
I found this source very interesting. It shows pictures from around the world in the time period of the book, so these are authentic sights the characters would have experienced. It really helps in visualizing the scenes of the book.
20) http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2Q20qX/laughingsquid.com/royal-de-luxe-parade-in-nantes/
Article about a parade in France commemorating the 100th anniversary of the book. There are some pretty cool pictures, especially of the mechanical elephant.
There you have it. 20 links for better understanding of the book, Around the World in 80 Days. Hours of reading. Hours of fun. Enjoy.
Sunday, September 18, 2011
A plethora of comments...
1) To my dearest friend, Mister Michael "Black Mike" Wilkison:
"This post is just so snazzy! I really liked the way you apologized for your pictures in the first paragraph. That made me laugh too hard! The song was also really jazzy. So jazzy, in fact, that I'm gonna go download it as soon as I get home. Your description of the book and characters made it sound like an all around fun read! I'm going to read The Great Gatsby for my next read for a lifetime book for sure"
2) To the artist formerly known as Richard Ketter. You, sir, are a true doctor of literature indeed.
"Richard, yours and your fellow pudding enthusiast's blogs really display the pure.. dapper essence that your book, The Great Gatsby, is dripping with.This post as well as your classical music post just exude class of the most perpetual level. I especially liked the picture of the nice shirtless fellow with the red car and the jewelry. He sure does look like a fine young citizen. Based on your blog I sincerely can't wait to read this book during the second quarter.
Stay classy,
Brandon Blewett"
3) To the eternally beautiful and eloquent Stevie Dailey:
"[starts slow clap] Stevie, this is just pure genius. The way you articulated what the main character was going through; gold. The song, after listening to it, was just how you described it, so kudos for that too. All in all, just a fantastic and thought provoking entry. Bravo, Bravo."
Three thought provoking comments were requested, three comments were given. Were they interesting, inquisitive or insightful, per-say? Well, dear friends, that is up to you to decide. So comment if you please, criticize if you must, and please do donate to charity. That is all.
Happy Sunday,
The proprietor of this fine blog, Brandon Blewett
"This post is just so snazzy! I really liked the way you apologized for your pictures in the first paragraph. That made me laugh too hard! The song was also really jazzy. So jazzy, in fact, that I'm gonna go download it as soon as I get home. Your description of the book and characters made it sound like an all around fun read! I'm going to read The Great Gatsby for my next read for a lifetime book for sure"
2) To the artist formerly known as Richard Ketter. You, sir, are a true doctor of literature indeed.
"Richard, yours and your fellow pudding enthusiast's blogs really display the pure.. dapper essence that your book, The Great Gatsby, is dripping with.This post as well as your classical music post just exude class of the most perpetual level. I especially liked the picture of the nice shirtless fellow with the red car and the jewelry. He sure does look like a fine young citizen. Based on your blog I sincerely can't wait to read this book during the second quarter.
Stay classy,
Brandon Blewett"
3) To the eternally beautiful and eloquent Stevie Dailey:
"[starts slow clap] Stevie, this is just pure genius. The way you articulated what the main character was going through; gold. The song, after listening to it, was just how you described it, so kudos for that too. All in all, just a fantastic and thought provoking entry. Bravo, Bravo."
Three thought provoking comments were requested, three comments were given. Were they interesting, inquisitive or insightful, per-say? Well, dear friends, that is up to you to decide. So comment if you please, criticize if you must, and please do donate to charity. That is all.
Happy Sunday,
The proprietor of this fine blog, Brandon Blewett
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Classical Connection
http://www.classicalconnect.com/Piano_Music/Sviridov/Valse/2653
Valse, by Mikayel Gabrielyan is a good accompanying piece to the book, Around the World in 80 Days. It gives a sense of an old time nickelodeon, which is something the book makes me think of. The tone of the song lends itself to Verne's writing in this sense. The song sounds adventuresome, which goes well with the frantic rush around the world depicted in the book. However, parts of the song such as the beginning, are very measured and calm. This relates to the nature of the main character, Phileas Fogg, who keeps his cold composure despite the stressful challenges of navigating around the world.
Valse, by Mikayel Gabrielyan is a good accompanying piece to the book, Around the World in 80 Days. It gives a sense of an old time nickelodeon, which is something the book makes me think of. The tone of the song lends itself to Verne's writing in this sense. The song sounds adventuresome, which goes well with the frantic rush around the world depicted in the book. However, parts of the song such as the beginning, are very measured and calm. This relates to the nature of the main character, Phileas Fogg, who keeps his cold composure despite the stressful challenges of navigating around the world.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Around the World in 20 pictures.. get it? HaHa
Around the World in 80 Days Book Cover
Phileas Fogg is the main character.
He lives in London...
...and is pretty rich.
Also, he is super OCD.
Seriously, he fired his servant...for bringing him his water two degrees too cold.
Pictured: Who Hollywood cast as the French servant.
Monday, August 29, 2011
(Insert Creative Title Here)
Hello, my name is Brandon Blewett. Honestly, I have never been a blogger and never really thought I would, however, here I am. Last year I had a psuedo-blog experience on moodle in Mr. Dunn's English class, but have never formally blogged before. If nothing else, this should be an educational experience, but hopefully I will end up enjoying it a little bit too. Now for reading, I wouldn't call myself an avid reader, but I did read all the books that were assigned for class last year, so there's that. I used to read a lot more out of class before high school, but things get too busy as high school progresses. The read for a lifetime program actually contains a few classic books I wouldn't mind reading, so hopefully it will not be too much of a chore and the reading and blogging could quite possibly be an enjoyable experience. Here's hoping for that.
This brings me to the book I chose for my first read for a lifetime book, which is Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. I chose this book because it is a well known classic, and it seemed like it would be beneficial to read it. For this same reason, I will probably also read The Great Gatsby as one of my later read for a lifetime books. This blog's purpose will be for me to have a space to address my thoughts and observations about the book and future read for a lifetime books as well as responding to questions and topics that are posted as part of the English 3 curriculum.
Well, having not gotten far into the book, I can't really say what blog topics might be very interesting and appropriate. However, from what I have read and already know, the book seems to be driven primarily by character developement and description of places (seeing as how it is about a travel around the world and the first chapter is dedicated to characterizing the protagonist of the book). Based on this, I would say that a blog addressing different characters and their traits that make them interesting or relatable would be an interesting blog topic. Another possible topic would be something relating to the places the characters travel in the book. Other than that, I really have no other recommendations for posts thus far, although I'm sure there will be plenty to blog about.
This brings me to the book I chose for my first read for a lifetime book, which is Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne. I chose this book because it is a well known classic, and it seemed like it would be beneficial to read it. For this same reason, I will probably also read The Great Gatsby as one of my later read for a lifetime books. This blog's purpose will be for me to have a space to address my thoughts and observations about the book and future read for a lifetime books as well as responding to questions and topics that are posted as part of the English 3 curriculum.
Well, having not gotten far into the book, I can't really say what blog topics might be very interesting and appropriate. However, from what I have read and already know, the book seems to be driven primarily by character developement and description of places (seeing as how it is about a travel around the world and the first chapter is dedicated to characterizing the protagonist of the book). Based on this, I would say that a blog addressing different characters and their traits that make them interesting or relatable would be an interesting blog topic. Another possible topic would be something relating to the places the characters travel in the book. Other than that, I really have no other recommendations for posts thus far, although I'm sure there will be plenty to blog about.
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