Title: This might be a bit of a stretch, but the word stampede carries with it a connotation of activity and energy—life. Krakauer is using sarcasm because, obviously, Chris is dead. Also, stampede means a sort of flow of creatures or beings, and because the trail is called Stampede Trail, it makes it sounds as if stampedes through these parts are frequent. The creatures stampeding are humans and they come through those parts a lot, so Chris was bound to be found.
Word Choice: "At eight-thirty the next morning, a police helicopter touched down noisily beside the bus in a blizzard of dust and swirling aspen leaves. The troopers made a cursory examination of the vehicle and its environs for signs of foul play and then departed" (13).
Imagery: "On the northern margin of the Alaska Range, just before the hulking ramparts of Mt. McKinley and its satellites surrender to the low Kantishna plain, a series of lesser ridges, known as the Outer Range, sprawls across the flats like a rumpled blanket on an unmade bed" (9).
Symbolism: Because this is the chapter that describes Chris's body being discovered, there isn't a lot of action from him. One thing that is a bit symbolic is that Chris's signature is at the bottom of all the pictures, paintings, and the SOS note. Chris wasn't out there to be crazy. He was out there to be himself and he still had the human necessity for acknowledgment of his skills from others. He knew that someday someone would find his art and he wanted people to know it was him. A good symbol for the chapter would be a hand holding on to a note that has a big SOS on it.
Tone: For me, the first parts of the chapter that contained the history of Stampede Trail has a relatively light and pleasantly informative feeling about it. Krakauer's sparkling word choice makes things a bit more upbeat. Later on in the chapter when things turn to Chris, the tone gets a little darker. The discovery of what was in the bus and the SOS note is a bit depressive. Krakauer's writing became a little less fun and little more serious and straight forward.
Theme: One theme that I can see in this chapter is that one cannot survive completely on his or her own. One can be unsocial and be just fine, but to bar one's self completely from other human contact is unsafe due to the vicissitudes of fate.
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
INTO THE WILD
1. I enjoy the style of Krakauer's chapters. Each chapter feels a bit like a different story completely, but then in the end you see that everyone is talking about the same thing. I can't decide if I like that the reader learns so early on that Chris dies. I think I would prefer that to be an emotional blow that comes in the end.
2. Alone. I don't mean it in a sad way necessarily. He is alone in his ideas about life. He has friends that try to steer him in the right direction and many people that he meets along the way, but he is alone in his mission to live a life of adventure.
3. I see, from this book, that life isn't the same for everyone. Life carries with it whatever meaning you choose it to carry because your life is only lived by you. There isn't a book or person that can tell you what will make your life complete because you are the one that has to complete it.
4. There is a book called The Alchemist and it's one of my favorites. The narrator of this novel has devoted his life to the finding of his "Personal Legend," which is different for every person, and it is, in a sense, one's true calling. The narrator sells all of his sheep and channels all efforts to his new goal, and that is very similar to what Chris does.
5. Whenever I travel to a new destination, I too like to keep track of happenings with a camera. There is no better way to recreate the sense of being there than to look at a photograph.
6. The expected life of people in this world, or at least parts of it, are so intense and methodical. Chris's life is the nomadic existence that he wants, and the fact that he wants it should be enough for him to be able to live his life in that way without judgment. Unfortunately, Chris has people looking for him because his life isn't of the expected style. Your life is just that: your life. That should give you the right to squander it or grasp it or whatever one might prefer.
1. I enjoy the style of Krakauer's chapters. Each chapter feels a bit like a different story completely, but then in the end you see that everyone is talking about the same thing. I can't decide if I like that the reader learns so early on that Chris dies. I think I would prefer that to be an emotional blow that comes in the end.
2. Alone. I don't mean it in a sad way necessarily. He is alone in his ideas about life. He has friends that try to steer him in the right direction and many people that he meets along the way, but he is alone in his mission to live a life of adventure.
3. I see, from this book, that life isn't the same for everyone. Life carries with it whatever meaning you choose it to carry because your life is only lived by you. There isn't a book or person that can tell you what will make your life complete because you are the one that has to complete it.
4. There is a book called The Alchemist and it's one of my favorites. The narrator of this novel has devoted his life to the finding of his "Personal Legend," which is different for every person, and it is, in a sense, one's true calling. The narrator sells all of his sheep and channels all efforts to his new goal, and that is very similar to what Chris does.
5. Whenever I travel to a new destination, I too like to keep track of happenings with a camera. There is no better way to recreate the sense of being there than to look at a photograph.
6. The expected life of people in this world, or at least parts of it, are so intense and methodical. Chris's life is the nomadic existence that he wants, and the fact that he wants it should be enough for him to be able to live his life in that way without judgment. Unfortunately, Chris has people looking for him because his life isn't of the expected style. Your life is just that: your life. That should give you the right to squander it or grasp it or whatever one might prefer.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Review
Changeling
Released into to US theaters on October 31, 2008, Changeling is a Clint Eastwood directed film about the true story of Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie), a Los Angelan mother whose son disappeared. It takes place in Los Angeles during the late 1930s into the early 40s. After much sadness, Ms. Collins is told by the LAPD in all of its corruption that they have found her son, only to learn that the "son" that they said was found, she knw instantly, was someone else's. Through attempting to deal with unwavering officials in the LAPD that hold to their identification of the boy, Christine Collins begins to get some support from some of those that have heard of her plight and believe what she says. I thought it was a great film. Though up until the end it resembles a film that will reach the top of the mountain—the trip up being depressing and heart-cooling—and seeing the sunset in all of its beauty, and all previous sadness is turned into sunshine, this film never really reaches that complete and resolute warmth. Throughout the film, Christine gets help from those around her, but with each helping hand, a different hand slaps her down with greater force. There's a constant up and down fluctuation of triumph and defeat throughout. Christine Collins is a polite woman that knows what's right. She stays to raise her son when his father left, and her undaunting spirit in retrieving her son proves her to be a hero to many. Clint Eastwood is a brilliant director and he utilizes Jolie's talents to their perfection. One thing that stood out to me was the range of her eyes. She could tell the entire story with her eyes. A small detail that I loved, because I love little stuff like this, was Christine Collins's hats. Throughout the entire movie her hats are all brown or drab colors, but in the very last shot, her hat is white and it symbolizes the hope that she feels in the end.
High School Musical
After meeting for a brief romantic moment during their summer breaks, Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) are reunited at their high school. It's love at first sight and they toy nervously but passionately with each other before making it official that they care for each other's company. Naturally, there is a mishap, and there early connections are tested. In most recently published dictionaries, if one were to reference garbage, they would be redirected to High School Musical. This film is the epitome of cliché and the spit-up from the child of A Walk to Remember and Siterhood of the Traveling Pants. In other words, it's complete rubbish. Troy is just a stupid kid with an ego bigger than his brain and Gabriella is a little perfect fairy princess. The movie failed at its pitiful attempts at being funny as well. Because it's a musical, it's even cheesier. One of the lines from a song goes "Getcha getcha getcha getcha head the game now!" I mean, COME ON! So cheesy. One theme from the movie is that the main way in which Troy and Gabriella communicate is through the gossip grapevine. This causes problems because true feelings are mismatched in the process. I have to hand it to the filmmakers though. They definitely captured their target audience: little girls. With such a fairy tale love, teen girls and younger just can't wait to marry Troy and live the same story. The sappy, romantic vibe is existent throughout to say the least.
Released into to US theaters on October 31, 2008, Changeling is a Clint Eastwood directed film about the true story of Christine Collins (Angelina Jolie), a Los Angelan mother whose son disappeared. It takes place in Los Angeles during the late 1930s into the early 40s. After much sadness, Ms. Collins is told by the LAPD in all of its corruption that they have found her son, only to learn that the "son" that they said was found, she knw instantly, was someone else's. Through attempting to deal with unwavering officials in the LAPD that hold to their identification of the boy, Christine Collins begins to get some support from some of those that have heard of her plight and believe what she says. I thought it was a great film. Though up until the end it resembles a film that will reach the top of the mountain—the trip up being depressing and heart-cooling—and seeing the sunset in all of its beauty, and all previous sadness is turned into sunshine, this film never really reaches that complete and resolute warmth. Throughout the film, Christine gets help from those around her, but with each helping hand, a different hand slaps her down with greater force. There's a constant up and down fluctuation of triumph and defeat throughout. Christine Collins is a polite woman that knows what's right. She stays to raise her son when his father left, and her undaunting spirit in retrieving her son proves her to be a hero to many. Clint Eastwood is a brilliant director and he utilizes Jolie's talents to their perfection. One thing that stood out to me was the range of her eyes. She could tell the entire story with her eyes. A small detail that I loved, because I love little stuff like this, was Christine Collins's hats. Throughout the entire movie her hats are all brown or drab colors, but in the very last shot, her hat is white and it symbolizes the hope that she feels in the end.
High School Musical
After meeting for a brief romantic moment during their summer breaks, Troy (Zac Efron) and Gabriella (Vanessa Hudgens) are reunited at their high school. It's love at first sight and they toy nervously but passionately with each other before making it official that they care for each other's company. Naturally, there is a mishap, and there early connections are tested. In most recently published dictionaries, if one were to reference garbage, they would be redirected to High School Musical. This film is the epitome of cliché and the spit-up from the child of A Walk to Remember and Siterhood of the Traveling Pants. In other words, it's complete rubbish. Troy is just a stupid kid with an ego bigger than his brain and Gabriella is a little perfect fairy princess. The movie failed at its pitiful attempts at being funny as well. Because it's a musical, it's even cheesier. One of the lines from a song goes "Getcha getcha getcha getcha head the game now!" I mean, COME ON! So cheesy. One theme from the movie is that the main way in which Troy and Gabriella communicate is through the gossip grapevine. This causes problems because true feelings are mismatched in the process. I have to hand it to the filmmakers though. They definitely captured their target audience: little girls. With such a fairy tale love, teen girls and younger just can't wait to marry Troy and live the same story. The sappy, romantic vibe is existent throughout to say the least.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
20 Minutes with the President
Well if I had the opportunity to talk with Barack Obama for twenty minutes, I wouldn't waste it talking about politics, but for the sake of this assignment, I would. The first thing I would ask him is what his plans are for the economy. It's no mystery that we are in a economical crisis right now. Next I would ask him about what his plans are to lower college prices. Being a near future college student, this is a very interesting topic. I say that I would ask him about his "plans" for these things because I just don't know. Some people have all of this information on each candidate and what not beforehand but I just don't care enough about politics to take the time to study each candidate. That's why I would prefer to talk to him about more enjoyable things such as his favorite movie what he does for recreation. I love discussing movies and I can't think of a more interesting person at this point in my life that I would want to talk to about such a passion of mine.
Well, two obvious possibilities for change are the economy and racial prejudices. As I watched CNN minutes after Barack's presidential victory, all of the analysts were talking about how race has changed and how many doors this SHOULD open for African Americans. One would think that this is equilize things even more, but then again, 30 years ago things were supposed to change as well, but we still see prejudice today. The economy is the biggest topic of discussion for everyone, but I have no idea what we can do to fix it. I'd like to think that it will be booming in four years but I don't think such a wound can heal in such a short amount of time. It's odd that I say such a short period of time because four years is almost a fourth of my life... interesting.
I hate predicting anything in a fashion as definite as your questions ask for. I have things that I want to do: I want to be a screenwriter; I want to live on the beach in California; I want to be married; I want to have two kids (possibly a boy and a girl); I want to be financially sound; etc. All of these things are what I dream for myself, but who knows. I also hope that the economy is secure by then because a shifty economy hurts the entire world. I also hope for a world where everyone is who they are because what they do, not because what they look like. That, I fear, will never happen, but the future is there to hope for the best.
Well, two obvious possibilities for change are the economy and racial prejudices. As I watched CNN minutes after Barack's presidential victory, all of the analysts were talking about how race has changed and how many doors this SHOULD open for African Americans. One would think that this is equilize things even more, but then again, 30 years ago things were supposed to change as well, but we still see prejudice today. The economy is the biggest topic of discussion for everyone, but I have no idea what we can do to fix it. I'd like to think that it will be booming in four years but I don't think such a wound can heal in such a short amount of time. It's odd that I say such a short period of time because four years is almost a fourth of my life... interesting.
I hate predicting anything in a fashion as definite as your questions ask for. I have things that I want to do: I want to be a screenwriter; I want to live on the beach in California; I want to be married; I want to have two kids (possibly a boy and a girl); I want to be financially sound; etc. All of these things are what I dream for myself, but who knows. I also hope that the economy is secure by then because a shifty economy hurts the entire world. I also hope for a world where everyone is who they are because what they do, not because what they look like. That, I fear, will never happen, but the future is there to hope for the best.
Thursday, October 30, 2008
A Film of Lesser Quality
Die Hard 4... What a waste of life. The only thing that kept my eyes squinting at this film and all of its horridity was the damsel. She is uncommonly attractive to say the least. But she is not enough for me to call this film anything more than terrible. John McClane (Bruce Willis) is even more stereotypical than in his first three films and he has also become rather invincible. He beats out James Bond by far in terms of bullet dodging and liveliness after a merciless beating. This fakey as ever character isn't so much dying hard as never dying. If you want to watch a movie that is full of angering unrealism with a protagonist that has a knack for coming up with the dumbest and cockiest one-liners, indulge.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Playing with Poetry
Rhythm - the recurrence of stressed and unstressed syllables
Rhyme - the pattern of rhymes used in a poem, usually marked by letters to symbolize correspondences, as rhyme royal
Alliteration - the repetition of identical or similar consonant sounds, normally at the beginnings of words
Anaphora - repetition of a word or words at the beginning of two or more successive verses, clauses, or sentences
Consonance - the repetition of similar consonant sounds in a group of words
Assonance - the repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds
On The Road Again
Traveling in this box of titanium
With gases shifting in my cranium
Alone with old tunes and a broken pedal
I sit and steer, it's nothing special
I swerve to miss as I'm lost in moments passed
As the wipers clear tears from such sad glass
Upon the roads ahead these lights shine so bright
When my mind wants to relive the night
While you left this place to a noiseless uproar
My heart is on the dashboard, sore for more
Rhyme - the pattern of rhymes used in a poem, usually marked by letters to symbolize correspondences, as rhyme royal
Alliteration - the repetition of identical or similar consonant sounds, normally at the beginnings of words
Anaphora - repetition of a word or words at the beginning of two or more successive verses, clauses, or sentences
Consonance - the repetition of similar consonant sounds in a group of words
Assonance - the repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds
On The Road Again
Traveling in this box of titanium
With gases shifting in my cranium
Alone with old tunes and a broken pedal
I sit and steer, it's nothing special
I swerve to miss as I'm lost in moments passed
As the wipers clear tears from such sad glass
Upon the roads ahead these lights shine so bright
When my mind wants to relive the night
While you left this place to a noiseless uproar
My heart is on the dashboard, sore for more
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
October 7th Blog
The Gateways
My eyes meet themselves in the shimmer
They don't dance,
They don't mingle,
They stand motionless
Each one is waiting for the others,
For them to step out of respective sockets
To show something unseen
They've been acquainted before,
For seldom one is unacquainted with oneself,
But they stare as if at a stranger
As if the life is not in the ear, or
The nose, or
The lips, or
The fingertips,
But instead in the inside of eyes,
The sights with which we try to glance
In which we question
For the truth,
The belief,
Is only a rock
If they see its texture as white and black
But what knowledge does a rock contain?
None but what lies beneath it.
My eyes meet themselves in the shimmer
They don't dance,
They don't mingle,
They stand motionless
Each one is waiting for the others,
For them to step out of respective sockets
To show something unseen
They've been acquainted before,
For seldom one is unacquainted with oneself,
But they stare as if at a stranger
As if the life is not in the ear, or
The nose, or
The lips, or
The fingertips,
But instead in the inside of eyes,
The sights with which we try to glance
In which we question
For the truth,
The belief,
Is only a rock
If they see its texture as white and black
But what knowledge does a rock contain?
None but what lies beneath it.
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