10th Post

Myths are the topic focused on, in my classical cultures class, and we compare them to todays society. The myth that caught my attention the most, and I will be focusing on in this blogpost, is a translated version of, The Illiad, by Homer. It is an epic poem, with a dactylic hexameter which means that is has a beat, and it explains the Greek Trojan war. Honor is emphasized in many Greek myths. This is called the Homeric code, and it can be done in four different ways. The first way is by winning an argument. The second way is by killing the enemy in the battlefield. The third way is by an exchange of gifts. The fourth way is by stripping the armor off of a dead warrior and ransoming the family for the body. The final way is be selling someone as a slave. 

This myth is encountered in many different aspects of life, one specifically being in war. Whenever there is a war, in any part of the world, the main goal is to gain honor in defending the nations viewpoints. The country who wins is considered the stronger nation, at the end of the day, by accomplishing whatever goals they had. The significance of this myth is, to show the reason behind war. The Greek war happened many decades, but not much has changed throughout time. History repeats itself, but why does todays society accept this and lets this continue to occur? When will we learn to create peace? I am aware that war is a very controversial issue, but it is not ok to accept it. In my opinion, no mature adult should have to experience deaths, destruction, and economic instability in order to feel like they have "honor." 

Are todays world leaders immature? This is a question I will leave here, and am looking forward to reading others perspectives about this issue. 

9th Post- "The Female Individual and the Empire", by Feng Lan

In the critical essay, "The Female Individual and the Empire", by Feng Lan, the writers research approach reminded me of the final research paper my classmates, and I, are writing in our English 1012 class. Lan focuses on different interpretations of the poem, Mulan, with two different claims. "First, initially a hybrid product of multicultural... Second, Kingston's English rendition is a "reconstruction" of Chinese history..." (Lan, 230) According to Lan, throughout the many years different aspects in each version were altered, one influence being political influence. Many writers write stories according to what is historically happening in their society. This is one suggestion as to why, Mulan, has been altered. Being a female myself, this essay caught my attention because it explains the different viewpoints the Chinese society had for women.

8th Post- Makeup post

In the graphic novel, Tales from Outer Suburbia, by Shaun Tan, a majestic world is found hidden inside of the new home of an immigrant family. This new world reminded them a lot of where they originally came. It created a source of comfort for them in a country they were brand new to, and this influenced them to not question its existence. This also influenced the family to keep it a secret. The mother later overheard the neighbors conversing about something that sounded familiar. She eventually found out that many other homes had this majestic world. This section of the graphic novel lead me to believe that it was an immigrant community because several homes had this majestic world, which was considered their safe haven. "...they would come to soak up the summer sun during the coldest, wettest part of the year." (Tan, 60) The weather is only part of the process in becoming accustomed to the American lifestyle. This family could have possibly been from a European country.
After reading the graphic novel I read the essay, "Graphic Journeys: Graphic Novel' Representations of Immigrant Experiences", by Michael D. Boartright. This essay helped me realize why graphic novels, specifically about the immigrant experience, are assigned to students. "...English language arts teachers in the United States have a unique opportunity to seize upon this highly political and fiercely challenged..." (Boatright, 468) This controversial issue sparks up conversations in class. Those who are immigrants themselves are able to make a connection and have something to relate to during stressful situations. Those who are American citizens are given the opportunity to understand the immigrant experience, and the legal aspects of it. This ongoing controversial issue is constantly found on newspaper articles, so including these graphic novels in the classroom help inform students of what is currently happening in their country.