For those of you that may be a bit short in your requisite blog posts, here is an extra post:
We have now gone through our six art presentations, learning about photographers, conceptual artists, and glass blowers. Of the six, which artist did you find most compelling? Whose work grabbed you the most? What did you find inspiring or challenging or engaging about the artist and his or her work? On the opposite side, which artist could you not relate to? Why, in your opinion, was this artist not as engaging?
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Into the Wild, through page 171. Due Thursday, April 30 by 9AM
Please respond to one of the following questions:
1. Chapter 14 and 15 are devoted to Krakauer's own experience on the Stikine Ice Cap. What is the purpose of this extended story in Into the Wild? Do you think Krakauer's decision to insert himself into the narrative added to our detracted from Chris's story? Did it help you to understand how Krakauer came to interpret Chris's motives?
2. Let's think about gender roles: how are females portrayed in the book? Is it different than how men are portrayed? What does the book say about men, particularly young men?
3. We have noted that this story is about a real person, who lived, breathed, and died and this sense of knowing that Chris existed changes how we read, understand, and analyze the story. In what ways do you relate to Chris or to the idea of undertaking an adventure or odyssey?
1. Chapter 14 and 15 are devoted to Krakauer's own experience on the Stikine Ice Cap. What is the purpose of this extended story in Into the Wild? Do you think Krakauer's decision to insert himself into the narrative added to our detracted from Chris's story? Did it help you to understand how Krakauer came to interpret Chris's motives?
2. Let's think about gender roles: how are females portrayed in the book? Is it different than how men are portrayed? What does the book say about men, particularly young men?
3. We have noted that this story is about a real person, who lived, breathed, and died and this sense of knowing that Chris existed changes how we read, understand, and analyze the story. In what ways do you relate to Chris or to the idea of undertaking an adventure or odyssey?
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Into the Wild, through page 126. Due by Tuesday at 9:00AM
Please respond to one of the following questions:
1. In Chapter 11 "Chesapeake Bay" we finally meet Chris' parents and his sister and we learn about Chris as a child. What do we learn about Chris and his parents in the chapter?
2. Krakauer introduces Chapter 12, which includes Chris McCandless’s discovery of his father’s infidelity, with a quotation from GK Chesterton: “For children are innocent and love justice, while most of us are wicked and naturally prefer mercy.” Who is guilty in this story (e.g. the book), if anyone? Do they deserve justice or mercy?
3. Why do you think Krakauer spends a chapter in the book on Everettt Russ (chapter 9)? What role does this chapter play in the overall narrative of Into the Wild? What can we learn about Chris McCandless from the story/experience of Russ?
4. Why do you think that the bus has become such a tourist or pilgrimage site? What is the appeal? What are people looking for when they go there?
1. In Chapter 11 "Chesapeake Bay" we finally meet Chris' parents and his sister and we learn about Chris as a child. What do we learn about Chris and his parents in the chapter?
2. Krakauer introduces Chapter 12, which includes Chris McCandless’s discovery of his father’s infidelity, with a quotation from GK Chesterton: “For children are innocent and love justice, while most of us are wicked and naturally prefer mercy.” Who is guilty in this story (e.g. the book), if anyone? Do they deserve justice or mercy?
3. Why do you think Krakauer spends a chapter in the book on Everettt Russ (chapter 9)? What role does this chapter play in the overall narrative of Into the Wild? What can we learn about Chris McCandless from the story/experience of Russ?
4. Why do you think that the bus has become such a tourist or pilgrimage site? What is the appeal? What are people looking for when they go there?
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Into the Wild, through page 85. Due Thursday, April 23 by 9:00AM
Please respond to one of the following questions:
1. Chapter 7 opens with an epigraph excerpted from Solitude: A Return to the Self by Anthony Storr. What does this quote suggest about Chris? Why is this quote placed at the beginning of this chapter? How does it frame our reading of Chapter 7?
2. Chapter 8 focuses on other "Alaska Types" (71) such as Rosselli the Mayor of Hippie Cove and Waterman. What does it mean to be an "Alaska Type?" In what ways did Chris fit this mold? In what ways was Chris different than the other adventurers discussed in the chapter?
3. Chapter 6 is devoted to the friendship between Ronald Franz and Chris McCandless. Why do you think the connected like they did? Why do you think was able to develop such strong relationships with other tramps or other "outsiders" such as Jan Burres and Wayne Westerberg? What do you these friendships or bonds tell you about Chris? What does Chris’ relationship with Ronald Franz let us know about Chris? What was Chris (Alexander) seeking/needing from Ron and from Wayne?
1. Chapter 7 opens with an epigraph excerpted from Solitude: A Return to the Self by Anthony Storr. What does this quote suggest about Chris? Why is this quote placed at the beginning of this chapter? How does it frame our reading of Chapter 7?
2. Chapter 8 focuses on other "Alaska Types" (71) such as Rosselli the Mayor of Hippie Cove and Waterman. What does it mean to be an "Alaska Type?" In what ways did Chris fit this mold? In what ways was Chris different than the other adventurers discussed in the chapter?
3. Chapter 6 is devoted to the friendship between Ronald Franz and Chris McCandless. Why do you think the connected like they did? Why do you think was able to develop such strong relationships with other tramps or other "outsiders" such as Jan Burres and Wayne Westerberg? What do you these friendships or bonds tell you about Chris? What does Chris’ relationship with Ronald Franz let us know about Chris? What was Chris (Alexander) seeking/needing from Ron and from Wayne?
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Into the Wild, through page 46. Due Tuesday, April 21 by 9:00AM
Please respond to one of the following questions:
1. Why does Chris change his name to Alexander Supertramp? What does the name change signify?
2. How is your reading of the story affected knowing that Krakauer is writing about a real person who died? And who was close to your age? Krakauer also makes it a point to share his own biases throughout the book and not hide is authorial presence. He writes in the Author’s Note: “I won’t claim to be an impartial biographer. McCandless’s strange tale struck a personal note that made a dispassionate rendering of the tragedy impossible” (ii). In the opening pages how is Krakauer’s bias emerging? How does his obvious presence change your reading or does it?
3. The opening chapter, “The Stampede Trail” is only 5 pages long, but is our first introduction to Alex/Chris. What do we learn about him in these opening pages? Does he come across as a likable character, someone you can identify with? We, as readers, are also presented with his final postcard. Why? What does that postcard tell us about McCandless? What does chapter 4 (in which we learn about Alex’s tramping, including his canoe trip) tell us about Alex?
4. Why do you think Alex “found a surrogate family in Westerberg” (18)? In chapter 3 what do we learn about Alex’s own biological family and his relationship with them?
1. Why does Chris change his name to Alexander Supertramp? What does the name change signify?
2. How is your reading of the story affected knowing that Krakauer is writing about a real person who died? And who was close to your age? Krakauer also makes it a point to share his own biases throughout the book and not hide is authorial presence. He writes in the Author’s Note: “I won’t claim to be an impartial biographer. McCandless’s strange tale struck a personal note that made a dispassionate rendering of the tragedy impossible” (ii). In the opening pages how is Krakauer’s bias emerging? How does his obvious presence change your reading or does it?
3. The opening chapter, “The Stampede Trail” is only 5 pages long, but is our first introduction to Alex/Chris. What do we learn about him in these opening pages? Does he come across as a likable character, someone you can identify with? We, as readers, are also presented with his final postcard. Why? What does that postcard tell us about McCandless? What does chapter 4 (in which we learn about Alex’s tramping, including his canoe trip) tell us about Alex?
4. Why do you think Alex “found a surrogate family in Westerberg” (18)? In chapter 3 what do we learn about Alex’s own biological family and his relationship with them?
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Nature at the Mall, due Thursday, April 16 by 9:00 AM
Please respond to one of the following questions using the comment link:
In "Nature at the Mall" Jennifer Price asks: "Is it possible that people in our culture have become so estranged from nature that their only avenue to it is consumerism?" (195). This is a pretty dire statement--do you agree? Are we too estranged or segregated from nature? How can we overcome that division? Are nature stores a cause of our estrangement from nature or are they a cure? In other words, are these stores a good thing?
What version of nature do these stores sell? Or, to put it another way, how do they write the environment? Or, do you think they sell “nature” or do they sell something else? What does Price suggest? What does it mean to be a “nature lover” at the Nature Company or other similar store?
What does Price mean when she says “The Nature Company has attracted nature lovers precisely by inhabiting a notoriously placeless site” (191)?
In "Nature at the Mall" Jennifer Price asks: "Is it possible that people in our culture have become so estranged from nature that their only avenue to it is consumerism?" (195). This is a pretty dire statement--do you agree? Are we too estranged or segregated from nature? How can we overcome that division? Are nature stores a cause of our estrangement from nature or are they a cure? In other words, are these stores a good thing?
What version of nature do these stores sell? Or, to put it another way, how do they write the environment? Or, do you think they sell “nature” or do they sell something else? What does Price suggest? What does it mean to be a “nature lover” at the Nature Company or other similar store?
What does Price mean when she says “The Nature Company has attracted nature lovers precisely by inhabiting a notoriously placeless site” (191)?
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Native American Readings, due Tuesday Morning by 9:00
Please respond to one of the following questions, using the comment function.
A. How do the two authors represent or discuss the natural world? What is the relationship between humans and the natural world?
B. Both stories have a historical element to them. How has past experience shaped or effected the stories?
C. There is also a spiritual element to the stories. What is the relationship between the spirit world (the Creating Power, perhaps) and the natural world? Where do humans fit?
D. The first story is a creation myth. What connections do you see with creation myths from other religions or cultures?
A. How do the two authors represent or discuss the natural world? What is the relationship between humans and the natural world?
B. Both stories have a historical element to them. How has past experience shaped or effected the stories?
C. There is also a spiritual element to the stories. What is the relationship between the spirit world (the Creating Power, perhaps) and the natural world? Where do humans fit?
D. The first story is a creation myth. What connections do you see with creation myths from other religions or cultures?
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Botany of Desire, Marijuana Chapter, pages 146-179, due Tuesday, April 7 by 9:00 AM
Please respond to one of the following questions:
A.
More so than the other chapters in Botany of Desire, Pollan references scientific, literary and historic sources. Why do you think he relies on such a variety of sources in the chapter? What role do they play? How do these sources help his argument regarding marijuana?
B.
Explore/analyze the second full paragraph on page 162 (that begins with "this is no small thing indeed") and then look at the paragraphs on pages 167-8 (beginning with "nothing is easier..." and ending at the section break). One area focuses on forgetting and one on being hyper-aware of reality, how do these two sections relate? How do they tie into the argument of the book and into the argument of this chapter?
C.
Your choice: create a question for yourself related to this chapter and answer it. Or, if someone else has asked a question you like, feel free to answer that one--just indicate which question you are responding to.
A.
More so than the other chapters in Botany of Desire, Pollan references scientific, literary and historic sources. Why do you think he relies on such a variety of sources in the chapter? What role do they play? How do these sources help his argument regarding marijuana?
B.
Explore/analyze the second full paragraph on page 162 (that begins with "this is no small thing indeed") and then look at the paragraphs on pages 167-8 (beginning with "nothing is easier..." and ending at the section break). One area focuses on forgetting and one on being hyper-aware of reality, how do these two sections relate? How do they tie into the argument of the book and into the argument of this chapter?
C.
Your choice: create a question for yourself related to this chapter and answer it. Or, if someone else has asked a question you like, feel free to answer that one--just indicate which question you are responding to.
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