So for this blog I’m looking at just the plain preface to the second edition. I must say that I thought perhaps we would be looking at more than the preface but it suits me to write 100 words about 100 words. What was highlighted in the preface was the techniques that are being taught in the book are actually being used by the authors themselves. While mostly used to emphasise why they feel that their book is the best it also reflects the purpose behind compiling a resource that teaches student to understand the concepts of reading and writing analytically.
So for my university course I am told that I have to write a series of blogs based on the readings from the writing resource: “They Say / I Say” by Graff and Birkenstein. Apparently these blogs also have to be around 100 words, which for those of you that know me and my previous blogs, 100 words is kind of difficult, because I am definitely not a man of few words. So hopefully my determination of keeping these blogs short will help me to achieve a shorter end result for my assessment. So this page will be devoted to my in class related blogs.
One of the downfalls of sharing a house with your family is that you don’t always get control of what television show is on the TV, what food is for breakfast, lunch or dinner and even the genre of music that is blaring from the computer speakers what seems like 24/7. Yet recently my brothers’ obsession for r’n’b and rap music has meant i have been listening to a lot of songs i generally don’t get much exposure to and so very hard hitting messages when you reach past all the swearing. One song in particular that has interested me is Eminem’s latest single featuring Rhianna “Love the Way You Lie”.
It has become more of a trend in the past few years for artists and musicians to incorporate ideas and and issues that are seen as taboo into the media. From Lady Gaga and Christina Aguliera’s open portrayal of BDSM in their film clips to a blatant advocacy of alcohol and drug misuse – as in the case of Ke$ha – but definitely one issue that is time and time again swept under the rug is the issue of domestic violence. That domestic violence has become a widely untalked about issue makes Eminem’s latest single even more powerful in its honesty and powerfully set out lyrics.
I guess one thing that depicts the honesty of this song is that the two collaborating artists, Eminem and Rhianna, have both been the centre of domestic violence incidents in the recent past and for that their words speak much louder than a simple listing of stats. The film clip for this song stars Megan Gale and Dominic Monaghan as a couple caught up in a cycle of aggressive domestic violence and intense romance. The clip favours neither one as being the aggressor but reflect a clash of two tempers that create disharmony but also intensity.
It is interesting to point out that this song doesn’t set itself up to prevent or promote domestic violence, but rather it recounts from the perspective of a person caught up in a relationship that does have its periods of violence, but also includes times of great love and romance. While domestic violence is something society abhors, not much effort has ever gone into how people in these relationships feel. While in no way am i advocating a domestic violence relationship, it is interesting to use the lyrics to empathise with a couple that feel so intensely about each other that their lives spiral out of control. The lyrics
“Cause when it’s going good
It’s going great
I’m Superman
With the wind in his bag
She’s Lois Lane
But when it’s bad
It’s awful
I feel so ashamed
I snap
Who’s that dude
I don’t even know his name
I laid hands on her
I’ll never stoop so low again
I guess I don’t know my own strength”
reflect the extremes of emotion. It is something to consider the message portrayed here is the same expression society uses when it comes to change and decision, “as long as the good out weigh the bad”. Yet again society is challenged to examine the way it views itself when it comes to an actual understanding of a domestic violence situation.
Another thing that struck me while listening to the lyrics was the tone of the verses where the persona is so disgusted with his actions and swears he doesn’t want to do it at all. This depiction of an inner battle reflects and image of humanity and personality to what society would condemn as a monster yet also reflects the brutality and vicious nature of the beast within.
The film clip complements the lyrics perfectly in a display of inner confusion and extremes between romance and violence with some moving scenes like the image of peace and love as the couple trace “I love you’s” in the sunlight contrasted with images of punch holes in the wall and black eyes.
All in all i find that this song has much to say to today’s society about domestic violence and its repetitive cycle and challenges us to examine how we look and condemn people who refuse to leave abusive relationships and deny any ability to love beyond abusive treatment. If you haven’t seen the video for this song i recommend you check it out and think about your opinion of domestic violence and whether today’s society has taken a strong enough stand to care for those people ho are suffering and work at stamping it out all together and not just sweeping it under the rug.
Thats all from me, sorry if it ran round in circles several times there, i apologise, im still getting used to this blogging thing.
For an adamant 90’s boy, Toy Story was my life when i was a kid and this final part of the trilogy wraps it up quite nicely. The thing that i enjoyed most about this movie was the fact that it isn’t intended to be a child’s movie, but rather a movie that reaches out the the 90’s kids who are reaching the late teens early twenties and are starting to forget the good times they have had with their toys. The movie reminds us that there will always be room for our past in our future and that sometimes we need to use our experiences from the past shape the future and lives of those younger than us in a positive way.
This movie really reminded me of the carefree nature of my childhood and was full of hidden adult humor that makes it so much more of a funny movie for adults, not just a kid pleaser.
I must say that i was very excited for the release of this movie although i took my sweet time before finally going to see it with my beautiful Sunshine. I must say, after the previous Toy story related disaster where we went to a 1&2 marathon in 3d and were kicked out half way through #2 due to the fire alarm i definitely had my fingers crossed that things would be different this time and we would get to see the whole thing.
Needless to say we did and how much i loved it i cannot physically put it into words. From the return of all the original voices to the introduction of some rather humerous characters ie. Ken and Barbie!!!
Anywho, the day was amazing, the company and the movie even more so to the extent that i would probably play it on repeat one for a week if i had it on itunes… hmm… if only.
But its definitely a must see for anyone who has seen 1&2 but also for those who can still remember the toys they used to play with when they were younger and those who occasionally still do play with their childhood toys.
Nothing can beat those carefree days and it takes a really moving movie to drag you back in reflection to the days where the only evil in the world was “The Evil Dr. Pork Chop” and “To Infinity and Beyond” stretched only so far as you could reach in the air.
But the message that i felt came across strongly throughout the whole movie was that you cant hold onto that past to the exclusion of all else, but rather let those memories be part of what shapes you today and for the rest of your life.
Well that’s it from me for now. Now go check it out if you haven’t already!!!
Good morning blogging world, or evening or even just a hello,
Welcome to what is going to be a very active blog for the next 10 weeks and hopefully continues to stay active for a while longer.
This blog, while in essence a university assignment, is hopefully something that will kick start me into a routine that will help me to continue to put into text my rantings and ravings.
This blog will seem like a mixed bag… mainly because it is and you and i will never know where it is going until it gets there. But hopefully any of you who stumble across this will enjoy its spontaneity and somewhat social commentary.
So welcome again, and i hope that this will be a blog that you enjoy to read and a perspective that will make you think or give you something to google or wiki when you have gotten sick of refreshing your facebook page!
Macanuts's Miscellaneous Musings 