“All of the arts, poetry, music, ritual, the visible arts, the theater, must singly and together create the most comprehensive art of all, a humanized society, and its masterpiece, free man” --Bernard Berenson
I believe that Berenson speaks truely of what the theatre and by extension musicals are all about. I believe as Berenson does that the arts are very beneficial not only to society as a whole, but to each individual, and their soul. In my mind I see the arts as an imprisioned meleody, that soars upwards towards the roofs of our souls, only to be silenced by the cold reality of logic. In the world there must be people that are willing to protect that meleody from the stark reality that surrounds them. Musicals are a good example of that beautifully artistic meleody. I have always been able to connect with A West Side Story by Ernest Lehman and Arthur Laurents in a very personal way.
Westside story is the award winning production of the classic and famous romantic tragedy, Romeo and Juliette. The feuding families in Shakespears play become two warring New York City gangs- the white Jets led by Riff and the Puerto Rican Sharks, led by Bernardo. The gangs hatred escalates to a point where neither can coexist with any form of peace or understanding. But when Riff's best friend and former Jet Tony, and Bernardo's younger sister Maria meet at a dance, no one can do anything to stop their love. The attraction to each other is undeniable and fully embodies "love at first sight". With opposition from both sides, Tony and Maria begin meeting secretly and their love grows deeper. The two star crossed lovers plan to run away together. Then the Skarks and Jets plan a rumble under the highway - whoever wins gets control of the streets. Maria begs Tony to go and try to stop it, hoping he can end the violence. The rumble goes terribly wrong, and before the lovers know what's happened, tragedy strikes. Bernardo kills Riff, and in a fit of grief, Tony kills Bernardo. Blissfully unaware of what has happened, Maria waits for Tony after the fight. Another Shark, Chino, who loves her, appears, worn out from the fight. Without thinking, Maria desperately demands to know what has happened to Tony, accidently betraying her feelings. An enraged Chino tells Maria that Tony killed her brother, then storms off. Tony arrives as the reality of what has happened sinks in for Maria. She lashes out at Tony, who desperately tells her what happened, and begs her to forgive him before he goes to the police. Maria knows that in spite of everything, she still loves Tony and begs him to stay with her. With their reafirmed love, Tony and Maria make hurried plans to meet at Doc's store, and run away together. Maria's best friend Anita walks in as Tony is leaving. Anita begs Maria to think logically, to see reason. When Maria refuses to change her choice, Anita tells Maria about Chino searching for Tony with a gun. A policeman come to ask about the rumble and with Maria detained, she sends Anita to go to Doc's store and tell Tony she has been detained from meeting him. When Anita
arrives at Doc's, the Jets jump her. In anger, Anita delivers the wrong message. She says Maria is dead, shot by Chino for loving Tony. When Doc breaks the news to Tony, he leaves the shop in despair. Tony then runs through the streets shouting for Chino and begging him to kill him too. Later, Tony meets Maria on her way to Doc's. As he is running towards her, Chino come out from the shadows and shoots Tony. Tony dies in Marias arms. The Jets and Sharks hear the gun shot and come running. After everyone arrives and sees what has happened, Maria blames them all for Tony's death. The musical ends with the Jets and Sharks working together to carry Tony's body out.
Since the first time I saw West Side Story, I saw a dirrect connection to the musical The Sound of Music. I saw this because both musicals are centered around to people who arent "ment" to be together. Just as in West Side Story, Maria and Captain Vontrap are star-crossed lovers, their relationship looked down upon by society. In both musicals the lovers come from very different backgrounds and have to fight against their worlds and their very natures to be together. Both musicals also have great tragedies that are tinged with small rays of hope. In the Sound of Music the Natzis are invading Austria and Captain Vontrap has been ordered to join Hitlers navy. But in the end, the Captain, Maria and the Captains seven children escape over the mountains. The viewers are left with hope that the Captain, Maria, and the children will have a better future and that Austria will be free again someday.
I love the dianamic plot of the West Side Story musical. Its twist and turns keep the audience guessing. I also love all of Shakespears work and am up for anything mirroring that mirrors his great masterpieces. I also love that no matter the impossible odds or terrible tragedies, love always endures in the end. Some aspects that I dislike are for one the ending. It always breaks my heart that Tony and Maria build up this beautiful love for each other, and then it is ripped from them. I want so badly for them to have each other to hold in the end. Even though I know what is coming, I always find myself hoping that Tony and Maria will have a happy ever after.
In conclusion, West Side Story is an epic rendition of Shakespears most beloved romance. I absolutely love the music, choriography, costumes, and characters. I believe that the underling lesson from this musical is that we should follow and trust our hearts, no matter what. That love is never easy, but is worth more than the world in the end. That we should look for that person that completes our picture, that lights up our skies,and proves that God gives true gifts. I will end with this quote: “Find a guy who calls you beautiful instead of hot, who calls you back when you hang up on him, who will lie under the stars and listen to your heartbeat, or will stay awake just to watch you sleep... wait for the boy who kisses your forehead, who wants to show you off to the world when you are in sweats, who holds your hand in front of his friends, who thinks you're just as pretty without makeup on. One who is constantly reminding you of how much he cares and how lucky his is to have you.... The one who turns to his friends and says, 'that's her.'”
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Nobel Prize in Literature Acceptance Speech
Albert Einstein once said that “Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death”. His words speak volumes to me because knowledge is such a tantalizing aspect for me. I crave to know, to understand, and to discover the secrets that life has to offer.
Even as I child I have always loved the written word. I love the compostition and the melody that a string of words can become. It is like music to me. I remember waking up at night with a story on the tip of my tongue. I would jot down notes but when the morning light came I could never truely remember and my notes were always a crazed and jumbled mess. But one night three years ago I woke up with a story that haunted me. I couldnt sleep so I got up and began to write. The words poured out of me and took shape. At the time I thought it would be just another one of my half remembered stories that lost their lure with the dawn.
I did not realize what an incredible journey it would become. My book grew and took on an entirely new personality; it became this incredible world of people and lives that I wished I was apart of. I wrote my book in the prospective of how I as a left-brained artistic individual saw the world around me. Consequently, it became much more than just a book to me...it became a self discovery. A soul searching experience that has impacted the rest of my life.
My sincerest wish is that as you read it you discovered more about yourself, that you could identify with the characters, and that you found a new way to look at the world. A way that was completely your own. I hope and pray that you will take something valuable from its pages, that you will find yourself in the text, and that you will walk away somehow a stronger person. I ask you to not ask what the world needs, but ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world truely needs is people who have come alive.
When I was told that I had recieved the Nobel Prize in Literature, I could only stand and stare as a million different emotions flew through me. I am so humbled and honored to recieve this award. There are truely no words to discribe the depths of my gratitude. I am in awe and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Even as I child I have always loved the written word. I love the compostition and the melody that a string of words can become. It is like music to me. I remember waking up at night with a story on the tip of my tongue. I would jot down notes but when the morning light came I could never truely remember and my notes were always a crazed and jumbled mess. But one night three years ago I woke up with a story that haunted me. I couldnt sleep so I got up and began to write. The words poured out of me and took shape. At the time I thought it would be just another one of my half remembered stories that lost their lure with the dawn.
I did not realize what an incredible journey it would become. My book grew and took on an entirely new personality; it became this incredible world of people and lives that I wished I was apart of. I wrote my book in the prospective of how I as a left-brained artistic individual saw the world around me. Consequently, it became much more than just a book to me...it became a self discovery. A soul searching experience that has impacted the rest of my life.
My sincerest wish is that as you read it you discovered more about yourself, that you could identify with the characters, and that you found a new way to look at the world. A way that was completely your own. I hope and pray that you will take something valuable from its pages, that you will find yourself in the text, and that you will walk away somehow a stronger person. I ask you to not ask what the world needs, but ask what makes you come alive and go do it. Because what the world truely needs is people who have come alive.
When I was told that I had recieved the Nobel Prize in Literature, I could only stand and stare as a million different emotions flew through me. I am so humbled and honored to recieve this award. There are truely no words to discribe the depths of my gratitude. I am in awe and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
What Next?
It is always bittersweet when a chapter of your life comes to an end. You are sad to see it go, but excited for what the future might bring. Although, even with all of the bittersweet moments, life is a journey. A spectacular adventure into the unknown. The true goal of life is embodied in this quote. “To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.”
When I started this school year I didnt know what to expect. A persons Junior year is always a hazy uncertainty, for it is not that persons first year of highschool nor is it their last. What I didnt expect was how much time has flown by! I feel as if I blinked and suddenly the year is over and college is staring me in the face with all of its pressures and demands. With only one class at the highschool next year and fifteen credit hours for the fall semester alone at UACCB,I have reached a crossroads. So, although I will not be walking this spring to recieve my deploma, I have also come to the end of the chapter in my life that is highschool.
The second thing that took me by surprise this year is just how much college has dominated every second of my existence since the very first day of my Junior year. It is everywhere I look! In posters on the wall, in the faces of the seniors, and the countless emails and letters I have recieved from different colleges from around the United States. It is also in the way I have approached my grades, my plans for next year, the money I make from my job, and the looming responsibility to make a good ACT score. I cannot escape nor find refuge from the stressful demands of my future.
Lastly, I was surprised by the friends I have made and lost. While friends I thought I would always have have faded away; new people I have never expected to befriend now occupy my days. I have let go of the insistancy to fit in and know the right people, and found a place with people that are like me, a place where I truely belong. Friendship is a strange thing. With all of the people in the world, it is a wonder how a person finds someone who completes their picture. A brilliant soul who lights up their sky and proves that God gives true gifts. When that person touches your heart, you package them away and keep them close.
And so, with time flinging itself by, college blotting out the horizon, and the everchanging cycle of friendship; it is no wonder that this year became a blur. Though the future seems so far away, time appears as if it cant be any shorter...and at this moment with the clock spinning, my world stands still.
When I started this school year I didnt know what to expect. A persons Junior year is always a hazy uncertainty, for it is not that persons first year of highschool nor is it their last. What I didnt expect was how much time has flown by! I feel as if I blinked and suddenly the year is over and college is staring me in the face with all of its pressures and demands. With only one class at the highschool next year and fifteen credit hours for the fall semester alone at UACCB,I have reached a crossroads. So, although I will not be walking this spring to recieve my deploma, I have also come to the end of the chapter in my life that is highschool.
The second thing that took me by surprise this year is just how much college has dominated every second of my existence since the very first day of my Junior year. It is everywhere I look! In posters on the wall, in the faces of the seniors, and the countless emails and letters I have recieved from different colleges from around the United States. It is also in the way I have approached my grades, my plans for next year, the money I make from my job, and the looming responsibility to make a good ACT score. I cannot escape nor find refuge from the stressful demands of my future.
Lastly, I was surprised by the friends I have made and lost. While friends I thought I would always have have faded away; new people I have never expected to befriend now occupy my days. I have let go of the insistancy to fit in and know the right people, and found a place with people that are like me, a place where I truely belong. Friendship is a strange thing. With all of the people in the world, it is a wonder how a person finds someone who completes their picture. A brilliant soul who lights up their sky and proves that God gives true gifts. When that person touches your heart, you package them away and keep them close.
And so, with time flinging itself by, college blotting out the horizon, and the everchanging cycle of friendship; it is no wonder that this year became a blur. Though the future seems so far away, time appears as if it cant be any shorter...and at this moment with the clock spinning, my world stands still.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Westside Story
Westside story is the award winning adaptation of the classic romantic tragedy, Romeo and Juliet. The fueding families are represented by two warring New York City gangs-the white Jets led by Riff and the Puerto Rican Sharks, led by Bernardo. The gangs hatred for each other rises until neither can coexist with any kind of understanding. When Riffs best friend (and former Jet) Tony and Bernardos younger sister Maria meet at a dance, no one can do anything to stop their love.
Maria and Tony begin meeting in secret, planning to run away together. Then the Sharks and Jets have a war concil where they plan a rumble under the highway-whoever wins gains control of the streets. The rumble goes horribly wrong and Bernardo and Riff get killed. Bernardo is killed by Tony on accident.
Lieutenant Shrank arrives and questions Maria about the events leading up to the Rumble. He knows about the argument, and Maria lies that the boy she danced with was another Puerto Rican. She sends Anita to Docs under the pretense that she is sending her to fetch a medicine for her "headache"--she asks Anita to say she has been detained, explaining she would have gone herself otherwise. Truely she sends Anita to tell Tony (who has taken refuge in the cellar of Docs drugstore) that Maria is detained from meeting him.
But when Anita enters Docs, the Jets attack her, simulating a gang rape. In a horrible rage, Anita delivers the wrong message--she says Maria is dead, shot by Chino for loving Tony. When Doc breaks the news to Tony, Tony leaves the shop in desperate grief, running through the streets shouting for chino and begging him to kill him too.
While Tony is wandering through the playground, he sees Maria. As they run towards each other, Chino appears out of the shadows and shoots Tony. The Jets and Sharks arrive Tony dies in Marias arms. Maria accuses everybody in sight for the deaths of Tony, Bernardo, and Riff. The police arrive. The Jets and Sharks both work together to carry Tonys body while Chino is taken away by the police. Just like in Romeo and Juliet, tragedy has brought the warring gangs to an end.
Maria and Tony begin meeting in secret, planning to run away together. Then the Sharks and Jets have a war concil where they plan a rumble under the highway-whoever wins gains control of the streets. The rumble goes horribly wrong and Bernardo and Riff get killed. Bernardo is killed by Tony on accident.
Lieutenant Shrank arrives and questions Maria about the events leading up to the Rumble. He knows about the argument, and Maria lies that the boy she danced with was another Puerto Rican. She sends Anita to Docs under the pretense that she is sending her to fetch a medicine for her "headache"--she asks Anita to say she has been detained, explaining she would have gone herself otherwise. Truely she sends Anita to tell Tony (who has taken refuge in the cellar of Docs drugstore) that Maria is detained from meeting him.
But when Anita enters Docs, the Jets attack her, simulating a gang rape. In a horrible rage, Anita delivers the wrong message--she says Maria is dead, shot by Chino for loving Tony. When Doc breaks the news to Tony, Tony leaves the shop in desperate grief, running through the streets shouting for chino and begging him to kill him too.
While Tony is wandering through the playground, he sees Maria. As they run towards each other, Chino appears out of the shadows and shoots Tony. The Jets and Sharks arrive Tony dies in Marias arms. Maria accuses everybody in sight for the deaths of Tony, Bernardo, and Riff. The police arrive. The Jets and Sharks both work together to carry Tonys body while Chino is taken away by the police. Just like in Romeo and Juliet, tragedy has brought the warring gangs to an end.
Monday, April 19, 2010
Fiddler on the Roof Notes
Based in a small Jewish village in Russia called Anatefca where tradition is everything. Tradition is the way they keep order and balance in their daily lives. They all keep their heads covered and all of the men wear prayer shawls. They look up to a rabbi for all advice, the proper way to pray, and all ways of living in their traditions. The village also has an old match maker named Yenta. Tevia is one of the main characters and he is a rather poor man with five daughters. Tevia is the village milk man. His daughters are poor girls without dowerys and their only chance at a good life is to marry well. Unfortunately the other girls cannot get married until the oldest daughter does. The oldest, Sital, has not had a match thus far, but the matchmaker just founder her one. He is the town butcher; he is old and over-weight but wealthy. The town has been recieving news about jewish villages being evicted. during the sabbath Tevia's family is joined by the town tailor who wants to marry Sital and a teacher from a town called Kiev. The sabbath for jews is somewhat how sunday is for christians. On sabbath no work can be done and a special meal is prepared. They even have special prayers and clothing for sabbath. After sabbath Tevia goes to talk to the butcher, but he doesnt know that the talk is suppose to be about Tevia's oldest daughter. Tevia thinks that the butcher wants to by his new milk cow. Tevia says yes to the match for Sital with the butcher. Sital begs her father to not force her to marry the butcher, and he says he wont. then the tailor comes and asks for Sital's hand in marriage without first arraging it with the matchmaker and now Tevia has a problem because he has promised his daughter to a man she isnt going to marry. That night in bed with Golde, Tevye has an inspiration: he tells Golde that he has had a nightmare. She offers to interpret his dream, and Tevye "describes" it. Golde's grandmother Tzeitel (for whom their daughter is named) returned from the grave to bless the marriage of her namesake, but to Motel, not to Lazar Wolf. Lazar's formidable wife, Fruma Sarah, also rises from her grave to warn, in graphic terms, of severe retribution if Tzeitel marries Lazar. Tevye's superstitious wife is terrified, and she quickly agrees that Tzeitel must marry Motel, much to Tevye's secret relief.
Later on Tevye's middle daughter, the bookish Chava, is teased and intimidated by some Russian youths, but one of them, Fyedka, protects her, dismissing the others. He offers Chava the loan of a book, and a secret relationship begins.
The wedding day of Tzeitel and Motel arrives, and all the Jews join the ceremony and the celebration. Lazar gives a fine gift, but an argument arises with Tevye over the broken agreement. Perchik ends the tiff by breaking another tradition: he crosses the barrier between the men and women to dance with Tevye's daughter Hodel. The celebration ends abruptly when a group of Russians rides into the village to perform the "demonstration." They disrupt the party, damaging the wedding gifts and wounding Perchik, who attempts to fight back, and wreaking more destruction in the village. Ever practical, Tevye advises everyone to clean up the mess.
Months later, Perchik tells Hodel he must return to Kiev to work for the revolution. He proposes marriage, admitting that he loves her, and says that he will send for her. She agrees. They tell Tevye that they are engaged, and he is appalled that they are flouting tradition by making their own match, especially as Perchik is leaving. When he forbids the marriage, Perchik and Hodel inform him that they do not seek his permission, only his blessing. After some soul searching, Tevye finally relents; the world is changing, and he must change with it.
Tevye explains these events to an astonished Golde. "Love," he says, "it's the new style." Tevye asks Golde, "Do You Love Me?" She admits that after 25 years of living and struggling together and raising five daughters, she does. Other events are moving apace. Yente tells Tzeitel that she saw Chava with Fyedka. News spreads quickly in Anatevka. Perchik has been arrested and exiled to Siberia, and Hodel is determined to join him there. At the railway station, she explains to her father that her home is with her beloved wherever he may be, yet she will always love her family.
Weeks pass, and Chava finally gathers the courage to ask Tevye to allow her marriage to Fyedka. Again Tevye reaches deep into his soul, but marriage outside the Jewish faith is a line that he cannot cross. He forbids Chava ever to speak to Fyedka again. When Golde brings the news that Chava has eloped with Fyedka, Tevye wonders where he went wrong. Chava returns and tries to reason with him, but he refuses to speak to her and tells the rest of the family to consider her dead. Meanwhile, rumors are spreading of the Russians forcing Jewish villagers to leave their villages. While the villagers are gathered, the Constable arrives to tell everyone that they have three days to pack up and leave the town.
As the Jews leave Anatevka, Chava and Fyedka stop to tell her family that they too are leaving. Her mother and sisters are afraid to talk to her with Tevye present. Although Tevye does not speak directly to Chava, he mutters, "God be with you." As Tevye and his family leave the village for America, the fiddler begins to play. Tevye beckons with a nod, and the fiddler follows them out of the village.
Later on Tevye's middle daughter, the bookish Chava, is teased and intimidated by some Russian youths, but one of them, Fyedka, protects her, dismissing the others. He offers Chava the loan of a book, and a secret relationship begins.
The wedding day of Tzeitel and Motel arrives, and all the Jews join the ceremony and the celebration. Lazar gives a fine gift, but an argument arises with Tevye over the broken agreement. Perchik ends the tiff by breaking another tradition: he crosses the barrier between the men and women to dance with Tevye's daughter Hodel. The celebration ends abruptly when a group of Russians rides into the village to perform the "demonstration." They disrupt the party, damaging the wedding gifts and wounding Perchik, who attempts to fight back, and wreaking more destruction in the village. Ever practical, Tevye advises everyone to clean up the mess.
Months later, Perchik tells Hodel he must return to Kiev to work for the revolution. He proposes marriage, admitting that he loves her, and says that he will send for her. She agrees. They tell Tevye that they are engaged, and he is appalled that they are flouting tradition by making their own match, especially as Perchik is leaving. When he forbids the marriage, Perchik and Hodel inform him that they do not seek his permission, only his blessing. After some soul searching, Tevye finally relents; the world is changing, and he must change with it.
Tevye explains these events to an astonished Golde. "Love," he says, "it's the new style." Tevye asks Golde, "Do You Love Me?" She admits that after 25 years of living and struggling together and raising five daughters, she does. Other events are moving apace. Yente tells Tzeitel that she saw Chava with Fyedka. News spreads quickly in Anatevka. Perchik has been arrested and exiled to Siberia, and Hodel is determined to join him there. At the railway station, she explains to her father that her home is with her beloved wherever he may be, yet she will always love her family.
Weeks pass, and Chava finally gathers the courage to ask Tevye to allow her marriage to Fyedka. Again Tevye reaches deep into his soul, but marriage outside the Jewish faith is a line that he cannot cross. He forbids Chava ever to speak to Fyedka again. When Golde brings the news that Chava has eloped with Fyedka, Tevye wonders where he went wrong. Chava returns and tries to reason with him, but he refuses to speak to her and tells the rest of the family to consider her dead. Meanwhile, rumors are spreading of the Russians forcing Jewish villagers to leave their villages. While the villagers are gathered, the Constable arrives to tell everyone that they have three days to pack up and leave the town.
As the Jews leave Anatevka, Chava and Fyedka stop to tell her family that they too are leaving. Her mother and sisters are afraid to talk to her with Tevye present. Although Tevye does not speak directly to Chava, he mutters, "God be with you." As Tevye and his family leave the village for America, the fiddler begins to play. Tevye beckons with a nod, and the fiddler follows them out of the village.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Nonverbal Communication
Mr. Bean (vol. 1)
Starts with mr. bean driving rather absent-mindedly and nocking over signs and running other cars off of the road. Then because mr. bean is unsure what to do during an exam, he just copies everything the man beside him...all while giving the man a challenging "lets see you do better" look. Mr. bean then begins the exam...giving the information on the paper a horrifed look showing that he has no idea how to answer....he takes his time choosing a writing utincil, and then glaces at the man beside him, only to see that the man beside him is writing furiously, obviously knowing what he is suppose to do. Mr. Bean then proceeds to try and copy off of the man beside him using various methods...such as scooting closer.....trying to steal the mans paper, "accidently" dropping his paper, etc. Then, with two minutes left on the test, he finds out that he has been answering the wrong paper. After the test he goes down to the beach and streches his arms in a way of showing his disire to go swimming. He then begins to undress and change into his bathing suit, only to realize that there is man sitting in a chair beside him.....he then trys to put on his bathing suit without exposing himself....he finally succeeds....only to discover that the man beside him is blind. He parks in a church parking lot and accidently nockes the car infront of him out into the road, therefore he runs away casting nervous glances over his shoulder. He sneaks into the church late. He has to sneeze and tries to hide it....finally he does sneeze but accidently makes a mess.....but he doesnt have a hankerchief....so he blows his nose on his jacket....then trys to hide the evidence by stealthily wiping the snot on the man beside him. Afterwards, he begins to get sleepy. he beings to slide out of his seat, falling all over the man beside him in his decent to the floor. He snaps awake and jumps back into his seat, trying to stay awake by peeling and holding his eyes open. Later he is digging in his pockets and fiinds a hankerchief. music starts to play and he jumps to his feet, only to find it is not time to stand yet. he doesnt have a hymn book so he begins loudly only the parts he knows...he also begins dancing and miming like he is playing the guitar.
(the return of mr. bean):
As mr. bean is walking by he see a man on the corner playing the saxiphone... he likes the mans playing so he searches for some change....all he has is dollar bills so he searchs through the mans open instrument case for exchange change. When he cant find what he needs he places a hankerchief on the ground and begins to dance...an elderly woman comes by and puts some change on the napkin....he then takes the change and gives it to the man playing the sax. Then he goes to a department store that is having a sell. He "trys on" the towels by modeling one like a dress, tests a potato peeler out by pulling an actual potato out of his pocket and peeling the potato with various peelers until he finds one he likes, test a frying pan by seeing if a fish he is carrying in his pocket will fit. He goes to a nice resturant and writes himself a birthday card...puts it on the edge of the table and then pretends to "accidently" find it. he plays music with the utincils on the table and, after ordering the cheapest thing on the menu he finds out the hard way that it is raw hamburger delicacy. He trys to make it look like he ate it by hiding the meat in various places, such as in the cups, under a plate, inside a roll, and inside the coffee pot. Then a violin player comes by and and he is forced to eat some of the hamburger...as soon as the violin player turns around the spits the meat into the players pants...then a waiter dumps a tray of food on his table. they move mr. bean to a clean table...and then give him a new tray of food, only it is the same dish! He gets a chance to meet the queen and then finds out he forgot to brush his teeth. He trys to remidy this by flossing his teeth with a string from the woman beside him's dress. then his hand gets stuck in his pants in his efforts to clean his finger nails on his zipper....when he finally yanks his hand out he accidently head butts the queen.
(the curse of mr. bean):
he trys to pull into a parking garage, but he pull to far away and cant reach the button to open the gate. when he finally gets inside to the pool, he trys to slide down the kiddy slide and gets stuck. Then when he trys to jump off of the high dive, he realizes that his is afraid of the height, therefore he clings to the rail in fright. Then some children climb up and want to jump off, but mr. bean is in the way so mr. bean is forced to jump off...only he cant make himself do it...the trys crouching down...sliding off on his stomach...all to no avail...then finally, he is hanging by his fingers and falls off...when he comes up out of the water sputtering...he sees his swiming shorts foating by the side of the pool...as he is furiously swiming towards them a little girl picks them up and walkes away with them. He gets caught trying to sneak out of the pool by a girl swim team...
When he is trying to get out of the parking garage, he realizes the doesnt have enough money to pay the toll charge. He then trys to find ways to get out without paying the charge like trying to sneak out behind another car, and tryinig to push the gate up....then he backs up and waits for someone to pay the toll, then races out behind them...nocking their car over in the process. he sits down by a man in the park to eat lunch. while the man beside him is eating neat little sandwiches, mr. bean proceeds to pull all of the makings for a sandwich out of his pocket....he has onconventional ways of doing things such as puting the spread on with a credit card, washing the lettus in a near by water fountain and then drying it with his dirty sock....at the end of this process...as the his trying to make hot tea...he sneezes and nocks his sandwich to the ground...the man beside him hands mr. bean a sandwich. Later he goes on a date, wont share is popcorn and proceeds to try and scare his date before the movie even starts. but with the opening scene of the movie, mr. bean starts screaming. He is terrified and trys to get his date to move but she is in to the movie. he then dumps his popcorn and uses the bowl to cover his eyes....when the movie is over and there are getting ready to leave, mr. bean is acting all tough but when he goes to hold his date's hand, he doesnt know that she only draped her coat over her shoulders and the just grabs the empty sleeve of her coat, thinks her hand is missing and screams.
Starts with mr. bean driving rather absent-mindedly and nocking over signs and running other cars off of the road. Then because mr. bean is unsure what to do during an exam, he just copies everything the man beside him...all while giving the man a challenging "lets see you do better" look. Mr. bean then begins the exam...giving the information on the paper a horrifed look showing that he has no idea how to answer....he takes his time choosing a writing utincil, and then glaces at the man beside him, only to see that the man beside him is writing furiously, obviously knowing what he is suppose to do. Mr. Bean then proceeds to try and copy off of the man beside him using various methods...such as scooting closer.....trying to steal the mans paper, "accidently" dropping his paper, etc. Then, with two minutes left on the test, he finds out that he has been answering the wrong paper. After the test he goes down to the beach and streches his arms in a way of showing his disire to go swimming. He then begins to undress and change into his bathing suit, only to realize that there is man sitting in a chair beside him.....he then trys to put on his bathing suit without exposing himself....he finally succeeds....only to discover that the man beside him is blind. He parks in a church parking lot and accidently nockes the car infront of him out into the road, therefore he runs away casting nervous glances over his shoulder. He sneaks into the church late. He has to sneeze and tries to hide it....finally he does sneeze but accidently makes a mess.....but he doesnt have a hankerchief....so he blows his nose on his jacket....then trys to hide the evidence by stealthily wiping the snot on the man beside him. Afterwards, he begins to get sleepy. he beings to slide out of his seat, falling all over the man beside him in his decent to the floor. He snaps awake and jumps back into his seat, trying to stay awake by peeling and holding his eyes open. Later he is digging in his pockets and fiinds a hankerchief. music starts to play and he jumps to his feet, only to find it is not time to stand yet. he doesnt have a hymn book so he begins loudly only the parts he knows...he also begins dancing and miming like he is playing the guitar.
(the return of mr. bean):
As mr. bean is walking by he see a man on the corner playing the saxiphone... he likes the mans playing so he searches for some change....all he has is dollar bills so he searchs through the mans open instrument case for exchange change. When he cant find what he needs he places a hankerchief on the ground and begins to dance...an elderly woman comes by and puts some change on the napkin....he then takes the change and gives it to the man playing the sax. Then he goes to a department store that is having a sell. He "trys on" the towels by modeling one like a dress, tests a potato peeler out by pulling an actual potato out of his pocket and peeling the potato with various peelers until he finds one he likes, test a frying pan by seeing if a fish he is carrying in his pocket will fit. He goes to a nice resturant and writes himself a birthday card...puts it on the edge of the table and then pretends to "accidently" find it. he plays music with the utincils on the table and, after ordering the cheapest thing on the menu he finds out the hard way that it is raw hamburger delicacy. He trys to make it look like he ate it by hiding the meat in various places, such as in the cups, under a plate, inside a roll, and inside the coffee pot. Then a violin player comes by and and he is forced to eat some of the hamburger...as soon as the violin player turns around the spits the meat into the players pants...then a waiter dumps a tray of food on his table. they move mr. bean to a clean table...and then give him a new tray of food, only it is the same dish! He gets a chance to meet the queen and then finds out he forgot to brush his teeth. He trys to remidy this by flossing his teeth with a string from the woman beside him's dress. then his hand gets stuck in his pants in his efforts to clean his finger nails on his zipper....when he finally yanks his hand out he accidently head butts the queen.
(the curse of mr. bean):
he trys to pull into a parking garage, but he pull to far away and cant reach the button to open the gate. when he finally gets inside to the pool, he trys to slide down the kiddy slide and gets stuck. Then when he trys to jump off of the high dive, he realizes that his is afraid of the height, therefore he clings to the rail in fright. Then some children climb up and want to jump off, but mr. bean is in the way so mr. bean is forced to jump off...only he cant make himself do it...the trys crouching down...sliding off on his stomach...all to no avail...then finally, he is hanging by his fingers and falls off...when he comes up out of the water sputtering...he sees his swiming shorts foating by the side of the pool...as he is furiously swiming towards them a little girl picks them up and walkes away with them. He gets caught trying to sneak out of the pool by a girl swim team...
When he is trying to get out of the parking garage, he realizes the doesnt have enough money to pay the toll charge. He then trys to find ways to get out without paying the charge like trying to sneak out behind another car, and tryinig to push the gate up....then he backs up and waits for someone to pay the toll, then races out behind them...nocking their car over in the process. he sits down by a man in the park to eat lunch. while the man beside him is eating neat little sandwiches, mr. bean proceeds to pull all of the makings for a sandwich out of his pocket....he has onconventional ways of doing things such as puting the spread on with a credit card, washing the lettus in a near by water fountain and then drying it with his dirty sock....at the end of this process...as the his trying to make hot tea...he sneezes and nocks his sandwich to the ground...the man beside him hands mr. bean a sandwich. Later he goes on a date, wont share is popcorn and proceeds to try and scare his date before the movie even starts. but with the opening scene of the movie, mr. bean starts screaming. He is terrified and trys to get his date to move but she is in to the movie. he then dumps his popcorn and uses the bowl to cover his eyes....when the movie is over and there are getting ready to leave, mr. bean is acting all tough but when he goes to hold his date's hand, he doesnt know that she only draped her coat over her shoulders and the just grabs the empty sleeve of her coat, thinks her hand is missing and screams.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Too Much Homework?
Men for the sake of getting a living forget to live. ~Margaret Fuller
How many hours do you spend on homework each night? Three? Four? The average American student spends spends 3-5 hours on homework every weekend and 2-3 hours on the weekdays. So how much homework is TO MUCH? Has homework just become a time consuming, stressful, and life monopolizing task? Everyone has those lovely memories of staying up late,watching the hours tick by, cramming as much information into your exhausted cranium as you can, and generally not truly containing or recalling any of it the next day.
In today's educational world students are spending an alarming amount of time on homework; and, according to some, it's way too much. With the current emphasis on state test scores, teachers everywhere are trying to do more in less time. This technique can result in an overabundance of homework outside of school. Critics say there is no evidence to suggest that homework is helpful to student achievement; on the contrary, too much can overwhelm students and cause them to disengage from their surroundings. Others, however, claim that homework is necessary and helpful, designed so students can practice the concepts taught in class, build good study habits, and reflect on their own learning. While I do understand the necessity of homework, I think that there should be some kind of limit to how much is given out.
Another damaging effect of this over assignment of homework issue is stress. While stress is now nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness, homework is now contributing to over half of teenage intrapersonal communinication levels. High stress teens are twice as likely as low stress teens to smoke, drink, get drunk and use illegal drugs. So now, not only is an overabundance of homework a stress risk, but it is also becoming a possibly fatal risk to students lives. With school stressing students out, they are twice as likely to turn to damaging avenues to relax and find release. Not only is drugs and alcohol a rising problem, but teen pregnancy is increased to shockingly high statistics...all related to stress.
Another negative side effect of excessive homework is the monopolizing of students interpersonal communication time out of school. Firstly, in this era most students have jobs after schools. This means that students are getting home at midnight, but instead of getting some much needed sleep, students are having to turn to piles of homework. Secondly, homework takes away a students much needed social peer interaction. Without time to relax and use the communication process, students are turning to less healthy means of distractions. Lastly, homework's is a huge aspect of today's students inability to give proper feedback to the people in their daily lives.
In short, homework's stressful, time consuming, and monopolizing patterns are dominating students time, raising health risks, and generally causing ONLY negative side effects. Truly, homework is just un-needed noise in students already stressful and busy lives. The few meager reasons that have been argued for the use of homework so not suffice to combat all of the negative outcomes of TOO MUCH HOMEWORK. To maintain a healthy balance in students lives, the issues of the overabundance of homework must be addressed.
Work Cited:
http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/teens/a/blcasa030819.htm
http://www.xmediapartners.com/How_much_time_do_high_school_students_spend_on_doin_there_homework-qna32247.html
http://www.teenink.com/opinion/school_college/article/78584/Too-Much-Homework-Too-Little-Time/
How many hours do you spend on homework each night? Three? Four? The average American student spends spends 3-5 hours on homework every weekend and 2-3 hours on the weekdays. So how much homework is TO MUCH? Has homework just become a time consuming, stressful, and life monopolizing task? Everyone has those lovely memories of staying up late,watching the hours tick by, cramming as much information into your exhausted cranium as you can, and generally not truly containing or recalling any of it the next day.
In today's educational world students are spending an alarming amount of time on homework; and, according to some, it's way too much. With the current emphasis on state test scores, teachers everywhere are trying to do more in less time. This technique can result in an overabundance of homework outside of school. Critics say there is no evidence to suggest that homework is helpful to student achievement; on the contrary, too much can overwhelm students and cause them to disengage from their surroundings. Others, however, claim that homework is necessary and helpful, designed so students can practice the concepts taught in class, build good study habits, and reflect on their own learning. While I do understand the necessity of homework, I think that there should be some kind of limit to how much is given out.
Another damaging effect of this over assignment of homework issue is stress. While stress is now nothing more than a socially acceptable form of mental illness, homework is now contributing to over half of teenage intrapersonal communinication levels. High stress teens are twice as likely as low stress teens to smoke, drink, get drunk and use illegal drugs. So now, not only is an overabundance of homework a stress risk, but it is also becoming a possibly fatal risk to students lives. With school stressing students out, they are twice as likely to turn to damaging avenues to relax and find release. Not only is drugs and alcohol a rising problem, but teen pregnancy is increased to shockingly high statistics...all related to stress.
Another negative side effect of excessive homework is the monopolizing of students interpersonal communication time out of school. Firstly, in this era most students have jobs after schools. This means that students are getting home at midnight, but instead of getting some much needed sleep, students are having to turn to piles of homework. Secondly, homework takes away a students much needed social peer interaction. Without time to relax and use the communication process, students are turning to less healthy means of distractions. Lastly, homework's is a huge aspect of today's students inability to give proper feedback to the people in their daily lives.
In short, homework's stressful, time consuming, and monopolizing patterns are dominating students time, raising health risks, and generally causing ONLY negative side effects. Truly, homework is just un-needed noise in students already stressful and busy lives. The few meager reasons that have been argued for the use of homework so not suffice to combat all of the negative outcomes of TOO MUCH HOMEWORK. To maintain a healthy balance in students lives, the issues of the overabundance of homework must be addressed.
Work Cited:
http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/teens/a/blcasa030819.htm
http://www.xmediapartners.com/How_much_time_do_high_school_students_spend_on_doin_there_homework-qna32247.html
http://www.teenink.com/opinion/school_college/article/78584/Too-Much-Homework-Too-Little-Time/
Monday, March 8, 2010
Should Ipods be Banned in Schools
In this ever progressing age of technological advances; the schools of america began to notice an arising trend. As the invention of cell phones became the forfront of this technological era, so did the negitive use of cell phones to increase a students grade point average. The use of texting to send classmates the answers to a test, quiz, or assignment in general became a raging trend amoung american teenagers. After the banning of the use of cell phones during school hours was passed, a new trend arose. Multimedia players and ipods were created for entertainment, relaxation, and freedom of expression through music. Consequently the average american teen found a different use. Just like the cell phones, these musically inclinde devices have become the object of school board speculation as teachers and professors began to notice that students had found a way to cheat on classroom assignments with their ipods. Now the question arises; should the use of ipods and multimedia player devices be banned during school hours as well?
I think not. No matter how many new technologies are created, there will always be a student that finds a way to use that invention for negative uses such as cheating. Since the beginning of public school education there has been a student that is willing to excert the effort to find a way around the school system and cheat. Every person learns differently and by banning the use of ipods the schools could be hendering a students process of learning and by extention harming that students academic chances. Many students today use their ipods as a way to relax and focus on the task at hand. I am one such student. Ban the ipod or not, a student is still either going to find a way around the ban or find a different way to cheat. If that student is bent on the idea of cheating, they are going to no matter what "laws" are placed before them.
http://kyle-bandy.newsvine.com/_news/2006/02/06/85458-should-ipods-be-allowed-at-school
I think not. No matter how many new technologies are created, there will always be a student that finds a way to use that invention for negative uses such as cheating. Since the beginning of public school education there has been a student that is willing to excert the effort to find a way around the school system and cheat. Every person learns differently and by banning the use of ipods the schools could be hendering a students process of learning and by extention harming that students academic chances. Many students today use their ipods as a way to relax and focus on the task at hand. I am one such student. Ban the ipod or not, a student is still either going to find a way around the ban or find a different way to cheat. If that student is bent on the idea of cheating, they are going to no matter what "laws" are placed before them.
http://kyle-bandy.newsvine.com/_news/2006/02/06/85458-should-ipods-be-allowed-at-school
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