So Long, Farwell.

Well this is it. This is my last post as i say goodbye to Intro to Literary Theory, as well as to my fellow bloggers. I cant not deny I am excited for this, who doesn't love summer? Haha but i must say I am sad too. I thoroughly enjoyed this class, and this has by far been my best class I have endured so far throughout my university studies. I found it super intimidating at first, but I'm glad I was up for the challenge. I must agree with todays discussion that theory can most definatly inhibit creativity. And that critical thinking can alter, and take away from our once blinded enjoyment. However, I must argue that I would not have it any other way...

This class has taught me so much, and has made me a better student. For once, I can actually notice such a change. My writing has improved so much, but most importantly my thinking. We tackled some very challenging theories, and had to apply them rather difficultly. I am ever so grateful that for once I am walking out of a class that I feel was worth being compulsory. It is a fantastic feeling. Further more, I think with being a developed ciritcal thinker, you learn to turn the theory on and off. Yes I know if I know if I want to I can tear something up, shred it to pieces and prove a theory (Thanks Pound! :)) But i also know that if I am simply sitting down to watch or read something for enjoyment, I turn it off and do so. For example, Gossip Girl.. da da dummm... haha has to be the worst entertainment ever for its social constructions, mass ideologies, use of media etc etc the list goes on with the flaws of it. However, as a drama on TV i love it. I dont apply its themes to my own life, but i allow myself to sit there and enjoy 60 minutes of gasping in shock, and laughing in humor. I think those who only can see things through theory are lacking critical thinking and being narrow-minded. That's just my own opinion, i think it is a skillful critical thinker to turn it on and off depending on study and entertainment- if not as a skill, then to keep us human and sane from tearing apart everything in our lives.

Thanks so much for a great year everyone!

Goodbye Sex, Hello Sexting?

It is absolutely amazing how networking and the new digital generation has changed the meaning of characteristics within our lives. From privacy, writing, literature, relationships and friendships. All the meanings have changes, to which what meanings are left? What is the meaning of sexting? Okay let me elaborate. My friend has been dating this guy for about a year, however she was "sexting" with her ex-boyfriend. Sexting? Hmm okay well i will try not to offened incase anyone else takes part, personally i dont understand haha. But i'm told its texting back and forth sexual comments or intentions? Okay so her boyfriend found them. And accused her of cheating. Where do we draw the line? It is actual cheating? What do we define as unfaithful now? Clearly it is not just physically touching one another anymore. Does that mean the meaning of adultry must be re-written?

It's Not A Game Anymore...

I admire Scott's efforts to bring excitment and interest into our classroom, really, I've never had a teacher who's done such a good job of it. Linking an Olympic hockey game into Literary Theory? Awesome! So on that note I'm going to run with this topic a little bit. First of all, ROCKS TO BE CANADIAN... now that that's out, what has hockey really become?

My grandfather and I had an interesting conversation about it the other night. It was once a "Canadian" game due to the cold weather in the North, ponds and lakes would freeze over and some dare devil tied metal to some shoes and BAM hockey was born. It was a community event, families and friends. Then it grew to townships. And all of a sudden countries were flying all over the world, being paid millions of dollars to skate with a stick. It's not a game, its an industry. Okay hockey fans, don't hate me too much.

I love sports just as much as the next person, but look around you!!! Look at any "sport". It is no longer a game. It is a huuuuuuge insittuion soaked in social constructions and ideologies! A hockey game= money. Everything from seat tickets, jerseys, hats, mitts, noise makers to the little team jersey's they make for babies! And wherever theres money, theres pride. This huge social construction of pride. Even my dad, loveeees Boston Bruins (has got a basement of items to prove it) and he'll pull pranks on my nieghbor (a Montreal fan) constantly and vice versa! He actually put a toliet seat on his front door! Hahah, its all in "good" fun I'm told, but still there are people who actually live by these games infront of their tv's. Live by something they've NEVER ACTUALLY SEEN yet they live by it? They live by an imaginative world that is not their reality. And its so far gone, so disconnected with reality that if i told my own father this, it would either be tramitizing to crush his so called "reality", or he simply wouldn't understand.

The All American Qauterback becomes the All American Girl!

I actually watch tv hardly ever, however I seem to turn it on at the right time! When I got home from school today, after having had our Boys Don't Cry workshop today I turned on the Oprah show to find the perfect episode! After doing our transgender study of Brandon, I was very excited for today's episode on Oprah. It was a story about a "boy" who was the ideal American son. He was the lead qauterback of a high school football time, and as described his fathers "dream son". However all through his teenage years he knew something wasn't right. Many years later, he made the long-desired decision to have a sex change to a female, now he is known as she, Kimberly. She talks about the hardships of making the decision, and how she felt about the world around her before and after it. Even her own father did not find out the news for atleast A YEAR later. The mother was very supportive, and Kimberly also has had a girlfriend for 10 years that was very supportive through the change. Her girlfriend brought up interesting views that we touched on today. She talked about how growing up she felt difficulties being a more "boyish" girl, and how she did certain things to fit her "gender role" in order to feel accepted. Both talked about gender roles and acceptance, although both talked about how they overcome these obstacles with time. Oprah replies with saying, its important that everyone finds the real them, like these individuals have.
Its truly an interesting interview I encourage any further interested in our transgender study to look up!! Have an awesome reading week!!!

"We" Can Colonize Anyone, Right?

Like many of you I'm sure, this past weekend I had the absolute joy of seeing Avatar. If you haven't had the chance to, I will join with the norm reaction YOU HAVE TO SEE IT!!! It is an amazing film. The colours, imagery and incrediable fantsy charcaters and creatures, remarkable! Even the 3D gives it more bonus points than it needs. But today in class during the discussion of colonialism and Pound's reading about Columbus in the Carribbean, I couldn't help but think of Avatar. For the plot line of the movie, is very much what we are talking about. Humans land on this unknown planet, and for resources, start destroying and killing. These "blue people" are seen as wild animals, savages, when really they have such a unique way of living as one with the forest and the animals. Yet, they are "other" they are "different"- clearly because they are big and blue. They still compose "human" traits like communicating, shelters, families, friends, religion, emotions etc. Yet, they are not like the humans, so its all irrelevant. When their main home is torn down, I won't lie that I shedded a tear. And today in class when Pound read the story about the tribe being slaughtered and wiped out, I felt that same feeling. That serve emotional sympathy, that is so impactual yet, no where near what it could feel to be that "other" and because you are different, you are destroyed. Because I'm a white female. I will never know anything close to what that feels like. To have your home ran sacked and ripped down. To have your children stolen, or murder. All because of your "Difference". These things may no happen today, but it is important to note that it did happen some time ago, when colonialism occured. When these violent, disgusting actions were seen as "control" and taming savages. Watching that movie, and listening to the reading today, made me so upset to picture everything in my life, the way I live day to day, being ripped away from me...

IPHONES SAVE LIVES? Which APP will save yours?

This post is definatly for the iphone fans, or for those who want to redeem themselves from feeling far too attached from their cell phone... because there is hope!!! It was a week or so ago from now, but I was driving to school listen to the radio when they told the story about an iphone saving the life of a man in Haiti!!! He was a reseacher staying in a hotel when the earth quake hit, and was buried beneath rumble. HOWEVER, he had his iphone in his pocket, and happened to have a First Aid app!!! He looked up what to do for his head gash and leg shatter, and followed the directions. The radio did not go into detail of this, however it did say that the app told him he needed to stay concious because of such large wounds. And he set an alarm on his iphone for every 20 minutes... 30 hours later (thanks to great battery power) he was found by rescurers since he was concious to shout out to them! Technology certainly is not always this realiable, but i must say, the iphone proved its loyalty to this man's life- I'm assuming he'll never leave home without it.

Gay is the New Black

After discussing whether or not American's were still racist even with Obama as president, I couldn't help but think of the Tyra show I watched this past Sunday. Now, I know Tyra is not the most academic source for this type of research, however it was a very interesting episode. She had representatives on stage, one side for gays, and once side pretty much homophobic. One of the women who was against homosexuality was actually an American campaigner. It was a servely interesting debates with a lot of tears, and a lot of yelling. The idea was that gays are now the states new target for discrimmination rather than blacks. One woman actually told one of the gay men, "I was born black, you weren't born gay! You can change that, I can't". It was awful how they spoke, "representing" Americans. Futhermore when I boy told his story about his homophobic father trying to BEAT the gay out of him using the Bible, these American representives showed no emotion. They replied, that instead of being gay, they could choose abstience?!?! It was such an eye opener to how narrow minded some people really are about things they do not understand, or are different from them. I know that again, it is the Tyra Show, but I strongly suggest those who are interested to look the episode up online!!!