Music

My daughter is doing research on The Beatles and will give a book speech on them this week for her English class. It made me think about how often music creeps into our lives. So often when we read a book, we forget to think about how music sits perched in the background. Our story takes place during WWII. Listen to this song played by Glenn Miller, "In the Mood." (Click the song title. It is the link.)

This song was released in the late 30's and early 40's. People in the states danced and listened to this type of music finding solace from what was going on in the world. Music is often what we turn to in moments when times are tough, when we need inspiration, or when we need to understand.

After you listen to the music, think about what modern music would capture the mood or energy of this song? What music do we turn to in our most recent war that helps us to understand, try to understand, honor, or try to honor those who have and are fighting for us.

Write about one song and in what way it impacts those who turn to it in times of conflict. Many many songs have been written. You may go back to the Vietnam war to find even more songs. Incorporate the lyrics, song title, and artist in your explanation. Feel free to listen to many different songs before you find the one you wish to write about. Happy listening!

I watched the movie Soul Surfer with my youngest the other evening. For those of you who have not seen it, it is about inspiration, hope, and perseverance. We watched not knowing what to expect. But in watching, we saw how being indifferent impacts others. Elie Wiesel talked about this in his speech that we listened to last week. He discussed and explained how indifference is about inaction. Doing nothing. Watching. In the movie Soul Surfer, indifference would have cost Bethany her life. If her friends stood by doing nothing she would have bled to death. Had she herself been indifferent to the needs of those affected by the Tsunami, she would have lost hope and denied hope to those who knew and met her.

Indifference is the friend of the enemy as Wiesel explains. It permits the enemy to have power. Undeserved. I want you to look around you. Where do you see indifference? Describe a time you watched indifference occur.

When I was eleven, I was riding with my grandmother in her car. We were on our way to breakfast. This was my favorite part of spending time with my grandparents. Going out to dinner was not something my family did often. We did not have an abundance of money and for seven people to go out was costly. So this was something special my grandmother and I did. On our way to breakfast, we saw an elderly woman fall forward and face plant on the concrete. People did not stop. My grandmother, stopped her car in the middle of the road and told me to get out. I was to go to the woman's side and help her. I was eleven and clueless. I jumped from the car and ran to her side. I helped her turn over and her face was covered in blood. As I sat there helping her, a man came over and said he called the police. I held this woman's head on my lap while we waited. Once she was taken by ambulance to the hospital, my grandmother and I headed to breakfast.

My grandmother was a woman who took action. It would have been easy for her to keep driving. People were waiting for us. But, she was not like that. It was something she taught me. She refused to be indifferent to the fallen woman's pain.

This is what I want you to do. Describe a time where you chose to not be indifferent or a time when you witnessed indifference win. (Please protect the identities of those you describe. Do not include names in your answer.) What were you thinking in the moment?

Loss

In my family, we enjoy asking moral dilemma questions and psychology questions that ask those who are playing to make choices. You are now part of the discussion. I want you to think about what you have that is important to you. What defines you? What could you not live without? What would you give up and what would you keep?

Now, pretend that you are being taken from your home and you can only take what you can physically carry for long periods of time. You may or may not be able to plug in and whatever you choose eliminates something else from being chosen. What would you choose?

Think about the above questions. Answer carefully. Explain the significance/importance of each item to you. List each item and explain why it was chosen.

Darkness

We have been looking at the different Archetypes that exist in literature. These archetypes are one way that we may read and analyze a text. As individuals living in a world where we are bombarded by visual icons, and by visual interpretations of our words by way of texting emoticons, "sign language,"[the signs we see everyday either billboards, spam across the screen, advertisements, etc...] We are reading and interpreting all of the time. Sometimes, we do not even realize how much or how quickly we do this.

I am asking you to please watch this video and listen to the song. It is entitled, "Head full of doubt and road full of promises" by the Avett brothers. (click on the title. It is a link.) This brings in the idea of our archetypes, while asking us to think about what we know and who we are. Listen twice. Listen once to hear the lyrics and then listen while viewing to understand the video.

Listening without viewing: What is the artist trying to say in the song? What lyrics get to the heart of the meaning? What lines really jump out at you and make you think?

Listening while viewing: What is the video about? Do the video and the song match up? How does the video change your thoughts on the song? In the end, what is the artist trying to say?

Use your archetype notes to help you answer the above questions. As we go through the notes this week, you may add to your response through an additional response or you may wait until Wednesday to post once the notes are complete.

Tragedy

Look at your notes and the definition of tragedy. We use this word often. People will often say "It is such a tragedy" or "tragedy has struck again." Yet, Romeo and Juliet is considered a tragedy.

How does a story that is about true love get titled, The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet? In looking at the definition from our notes, argue why the play is considered a tragedy. You must have quotes to support your answer to get all of the points.

Once you have made your argument, go back and comment on a peer's argument. You may discuss their points, ideas, but do not be nasty. If I find your response to be rude or nasty, I will remove it and take points off. This blog is also worth 25 points.

Fate

One of our big ideas is the idea of Fate. It is often said by many that fate is the reason they were in a particular moment at a prticular time, or that it was fated they would meet their spouse at a party they never intended to go to but decided to at the last minute. Fate is blamed and given credit for many events and meetings.

Look through the book, and think about the importance of the role of fate. Does it exist? Are the events in Romeo and Juliet guided by fate? Is fate an excuse?

Argue for or against the role of fate thus far in the play. Use the text to support your answer. Your points this week will also be dependent on you commenting on one other person's blog. Be sure to blog twice--once for yourself and once on another's argument. This week's blog will be worth 25 points.

Love

Yes, I am going to talk about this topic this week. Our second Act deals with the result of Romeo and Juliet seeing each other for the first time and kissing at the ball. Here, is the idea of love at first sight.

This idea has always been touted as a "romantic" idea only to be seen in Disney movies or romantic comedies. We see it in "Cinderella," "Snow White," "Little Mermaid," and many others.

I think there is a part of all of us that wants to believe that this type of relationship exists. We hope that we will see our dream across the room and our hearts will know before our minds that true love exists. However, love is more than this.

Yes, a spark may be ignited in an instant. This spark may burn us from the inside out with a desire to be with, dream of, and connect with our dream. But what is it that keeps the love glowing?

In looking at our play, love will show itself beyond the characters of Romeo and Juliet. Think about love. We know that love between man and woman involves many things. We are going to stick to the brain, heart, and soul components for this blog. (no physical discussion will be held.) Where does it come from? How do you know that you love? Is romantic love the only type of love? How does it evolve? Ultimately, how does it dissipate?