Creativity Is Key

  An Essential Aspect Of Creativity Is Not Being Afraid To Fail -Edwin Land 

[artislifeslr261-blog]

Playing with watercolor

[artislifeslr261-blog]

It’s been a great birthday! I found the painting I’ve been searching for for two years! I first saw it at the cummer art museum in Jacksonville and fell in love with it! Took Google search but I found it!

[artislifeslr261-blog]

I should work on this more 😬

More detail. I’m adding my own chocolate and refuse to do the stripes cause I’m a perfectionist and they weren’t happening. It’s getting difficult making the right colors for those darn pretzels 😡 #drawing #Wip #prismacolorpencils

[ahouse1010-blog]

Well, this is my final post! So much has happened this semester. I got to meet my gorgeous baby boy but also learned a lot. From motherhood to school to work, it’s not easy. Actually, I couldn’t wait to have some quiet time to read the books assigned for class. So to me reading the book meant that I had some time for me. Overall, I liked the books we read for class. Most of them are horrendous, but interesting. Especially with having a baby during this time. It was the worst time to read about baby eating in multiple stories. What is everybody doing for the summer? I’m going to take 2 classes and be a full time mommy! I’m taking scuba, which sounds pretty awesome. And I’m taking a social problems class. Any comments on those classes? It was great to meet all of you, and I wish you the best!

[kplace100-blog]

What a semester! I am so happy for you! I’m with you on the books they were probably not books I would have picked for myself but it was nice to read something different I guess. Also, are you talking about scuba as in scuba diving? If so that’s a pretty awesome class. I scuba dive and I love it so I’m a little jealous I don’t have college credit for it. Good luck to summer and congrats on your baby boy!!

[artislifeslr261-blog]

Yeah, reading those while pregnant would have made me very uncomfortable. I will hopefully spend my summer with loved ones and using my time from work to do my hobbies rather than watch tv and be on my phone. That is my challenge for myself. Be productive! I never congratulated you and I give you major props for going to school and being a mom. It's not easy. My sister has three, she tried to go to school but she didn't have the time. I've always wondered about scuba. But I'm not brave enough to try it lol. I should finish my AA in the fall. 5 classes though. I'm only used to 4. The extra is an elective but I wanted to just work and have fun in the summer. 4-29-16

[artislifeslr261-blog]

Overall

Overall this class has helped me think more critically and analytically on literature. It really was like an escalated book club. Had it been your average book club I don't think I would have learned as much as I have. I'm thinking of taking and another lit class as an elective in the fall because I really enjoyed it. It got me to see a different side in the creative world and in a more structured way. When I just read something from home I just read it. Moments happen that are interesting and cause me to question what is happening but in terms of fiction analysis and plot I don't think that much. Over the summer I am going to have to give myself time to sit down and read some more classics and explore genres. Speaking of allowing more time I should also take time to actually do productive things like paint/draw, write and plant my fruits and veggies rather than spend time inside doing nothing lol. I am going to miss this class. The semester went by fast. Not going to lie though, at one point I did hit that snooze button where school was getting dull to me ahaha. But towards the end it's invigorating and kind of bittersweet. Oh my gosh tomorrow I'm 21 ahhhh 4-29-2016

[juliestudent0809-blog]

The Road

I enjoyed the book better than the movie (like most people when it comes to books vs. movies) The reason why the movie bothered me is because the boy acted way to young for the way he looked. Now I understand that he had no other children to base it off of and this was all he knew growing up. But the boy looked like a preteen or a young teenager and acted like he was four or five. It didn’t match up. I also understand that it was a director decision because of the audience’s reason if a four or five year old were to be left alone to fend off the world. But at least make him act the age he looks. 

Also in the movie the man never lost the lighter, in the book he did. I feel as though that took out a large emotion piece to the story. In the book it was a symbol as a loss of hope for a moment. The boy became so scared and there was no fire. They had to search for flint to start a fire. In the movie the lighter was there the whole time. I feel that took out something that would have made the movie better. 

However i did like the voice-over done by the man the express the thoughts he had in the book. That was clever. 

[artislifeslr261-blog]

I enjoyed the voice over as well. It brought the book into the film without actually doing it. I agree with the lighter issue. It makes no sense to bring in the lighter all the time because that was a big part of their survival. The boy did bug me too. He spoke so young but looked older. He was also blonde in the book. I'm big when it comes to character description matching or not so I was bothered by this in my own obsessive way. I don't think his hair was very long either. The movie did great at providing some suspense that the book lacked. Plus, I enjoyed the mother in the movie. (Enjoyed might be a poor choice of words but anyways) she had so much power when she was on screen. I was drawn to her and I could feel everything. When she was just numb and done with it all I could really feel it. The father was a great choice as well. I enjoyed the bunker scene when he dressed up and smoked and such. The boys face was priceless. The book worked on the personal level whereas the movie provided the suspense. 4/21/16

[artislifeslr261-blog]

Thoughts for tomorrow

I will not be in class tomorrow but in order to make this post relative for the week I am going to discuss the movie vs the book. the father son relationship corresponds to the books in the same manner. His fight to keep his son safe and away from the people. The sons morality is pretty present in the film as well. The overall characters are relatively similar. The mother was intense to watch. Her just leaving. The blank stare on her face. She really made herself numb to it all.I preferred her scenes In the film than the part in the book. Visualizing it wasn't enough for me and Theron (I can't remember how to spell her name) did it so well. The overall plot seems to be moving like the book does although I don't remember him throwing his wallet and giving up his wedding ring. The piano was unfamiliar to me as well. It could just be my memory betraying me. The grand house was changed some in minor details. there was a driveway with posts along the sides (if I remember it correctly) a pot in the fireplace, mattresses on the floor and I remember they found it from the road itself not through the woods. I found the scene with the people in the floor just as uncomfortable as the book. The director captured that moment perfectly. He changed it up and added intensity by making the people come to the house with the father and son still inside and I found that much more thrilling. I can see why he did that, the book lacked a lot of action and this gave it some immediacy. The discussion about carrying the fire was a bit cheesy in the film. In the book it felt like it had more meaning to it. the movie still managed captured that short conversation-esque style the boy and father have. I enjoyed the scene with the father drinking and smoking in the bunker. It added some comedic relief and pushed the idea of the son knowing only fighting to survive. Symbols captured on film The piano- love, companionship, intimacy and bonding The idea of marriage and family- ties that cannot be broken and loss Father and child bond- protector/moral compass The fire people carry- drive to survive and keep sane and humane 4/19/16

[notericclapton-blog]

“The Road”, a tale of gray ash.

I really enjoyed this book. Now, it may be because I watched the movie a few years back and always wondered what the movie left out. I have to admit, the book was anticlimactic in the traditional sense, but I think it was intentional. The way I like to look at the book is the climax happened before the book starts. So, whatever cataclysm that brought on the ash and set the world in peril and destruction was the climax of the book. The rest of the book is falling action and the resolution. Like Professor Clark stated in class, the apocalypse or whatever you would call it, was left out so that way it would not be the main focus of the book. The story was written so the questions of humanity would be the main focus and not the environmental factors. I believe McCarthy wanted us to ponder things like how there could still be “good guys”, the lengths at which someone would go to protect someone they love, or even how someone being raised in a world where compassion and empathy will almost certainly get you killed and yet compassion is the only thing they know. It doesn’t matter whether it was nuclear fallout, volcanic eruptions, or a comet striking the Earth, McCarthy wanted the reader to focus on humans and their interactions with one another after such an event. 

[juliestudent0809-blog]

It is very interesting how this literature class correlates with my western civilization conversations so much. In my western civ. class we were asked what percent of people we thought would go out stealing, raping, killing, etc if there were no laws or forces to keep people from doing it. Based on the class’ answers it ranged from 15%-90%. It really does make you think though. How many people would/could do whatever means are necessary to keep themselves and their loved ones alive? But like we discussed in class sure it would be easy to say we would not eat a person now but what would we say when we are starving, cold, and delusional? I hope I will never be in a situation where I have to find out because I could assure you, I would be the first to die. No survival skills here what so ever. 

[kplace100-blog]

As soon as we began our discussion of this book I immediately thought of The Walking Dead.  They are trying to survive in a post apocalyptic world where other humans are their worst enemies.  McCarthy’s word choices also play a strong role in setting the stage for the dreary world the father and boy are living in.  She uses the color “gray” in nearly every form possible to convey her idea that there is no “light” or “color” to be found anywhere.  Her style is very interesting and I like to look for the little meanings she incorporates throughout.

[artislifeslr261-blog]

Growing up and seeing the post apocalyptic movies and tv shows that we have today, I have always thought about how life would be like for my family. Would we decide to make a suicide pact? Would we scavenge for shelter and food all the time and keep out of danger as much as possible? Or would we become maniacs and kill anything and anyone that crossed our paths and used that as food? In the present time because my life doesn't just revolve around food and shelter it involves me using technology to provide myself a means of breaking down the food I eat or else I will die, I am certain that I wouldn't last. I most likely would choose an easy way out such as suicide because I'd rather not let my family deal with this overhanging threat of my survival. I could die an even worse death due to starvation and lack of insulin. Sure we could rob a bunch of pharmacies but how long would that last? To keep my family from seeing me suffer would be better than suffering worse off than them and leaving that burden on them. If I weren't diabetic I would most likely hang on for however long I can with my family. Like the father does with his son. I wouldn't think of leaving them unless as a group, we all decided to do it. I'm sure it sounds easy as pie now because we're not in the situation but thinking about it kinda helps in a sense. It's like preparation. Like discussing making a will and what would you do if your family member were in a coma? Wait to pull the plug or do it at the accountable time? Unless we're in the situation we won't know for sure. These books get me thinking about this stuff. Not necessarily a good thing but at least I can think. 4-15-16

[artislifeslr261-blog]

Paper.

Started writing my Mishnah today. I realized that creating a story from the handmaids tale was very difficult to construct because I had so many situations that involved the character I had chosen that I had to mention. So I began to feel overwhelmed. And I realized that the road was slipping into my head like crazy while I was trying to write. And so...my Mishnah for the road was born. I'm already halfway through writing the 2,000 words! It just flowed out of me! There was so much I could develop! I'm not even using a main character. I'm writing like a separate type of story that somehow connects to the main one (and yet not really. I can't call it a prequel or a sequel) Not telling cause I don't want to jinx myself on the rest of it but I must say, I really like it. My creative brain is booming. It's literally all I can think about and yet, I have a test tomorrow. 4-13-16

[juliestudent0809-blog]

Death is not a lover

I don’t tend to speak up much to anyone about my past, but this book as made me think about it again. The scene where the mother is talking to the father about dying instead of facing the world broke my heart. I understand that. I understand the grief and the low that she had to have been feeling. As a person who deals with borderline personality disorder and anxiety and depression, ii personally KNOW this feeling all to well. But what really got to me is what the father said to the mother. “Death is not a lover.” I wish someone had told that to me a few years ago when I continuously tried to end it all. When you feel so unwanted and so unloved that death is appealing as a lover. Because death would take the pain away and would not ignore you. But death is not a lover, because it kills the people you leave behind. It kills the ones who loves you and chances the lives of everyone you know. I know it is a different situation in the book (i mean its post apocalyptic for goodness sake) but that single line hit me so hard. In the past two years I have changed so much and overcame so many of my problems. But the phrase “Death is not a lover” will stick with me in a positive way probably for the rest of my life. 

[artislifeslr261-blog]

This. Needs a repost. People see death as an escape to a paradise from the evils of the world when in reality, it gives that to everyone one leaves behind. That feeling of loss, not knowing why, not understanding what they could have done to prevent it from happening. The heavy burden they hold. I never thought of it in this way before. I probably would have just said "death is not a friend" but to say "lover" holds so much more meaning. It brings about the thought of passion being missed, suffering pain, and betrayal. #4/8/2015

[artislifeslr261-blog]

Pain

The boy wanted to save the other child and the dog, he questioned if they would eat people too because of how hungry they are, he lost an innocence after digging up the large box (I'm just calling it a box). He is cold, hungry, scared. A world like this is no world for a child to endure. To hand him a pistol and say "make it quick" to imagine taking his life in case the bad people found them. I feel so much pain for this child. Enduring the cold and the brutality of the environment, I know I wouldn't have lasted. To see the people in that room would have made me sick to my stomach (luckily he didn't see). To lose your mother because she couldn't handle this life. I would have held the lantern instead of the gun myself. That house was a savior to them (I think it was a house? He said store a lot too) I like to imagine that they get to stay there for a long period of time without interruption. #4-5-16

[gayliegirlfempower-blog]

My Most Shocking/Realism Moment and Afterthoughts

There is a point in The Handmaid’s Tale when it was no longer just this little book about a fantasy, made-up dystopian story.  It was on page 174 and goes like this “It was after the catastrophe, when they shot the president and machine-gunned the Congress and the army declared a state of emergency. They blamed it on Islamic fanatics, at the time.” (ATWOOD, PG 174)

The Brussels Airport and Metro had just been bombed by terrorists a day before I read that passage.  I could see it all happening so real.  Add the rantings of a mad-man (D. Trump) and it all fit so neatly.  It made it very real. Before the context of today’s politics and Atwood’s written word - I would not have believed it possible.  

THT (The Handmaid’s Tale) became a very heavy read for me after the details of how things came about to bring her to Gilead.  Added were the moments she shared about her daughter and her grief surrounding that loss. It felt very sad and hopeless.  I wonder if I felt that way because Offred’s rebellion was so very passive and subtle?  I don’t know.  I wish she could have done something BOLD.  I think Nick was the bold one.  I think to stick his neck out like he did - he had to care an awful lot about what happened to women.  I think he had to care an awful lot about a lot of things.  Nick, he’s the man - the REAL man (whatever that means).   

[artislifeslr261-blog]

He wants abortion doctors to be punished if it were illegal! I'm freaking out. This is too much. Literature really does speak volumes and its sad that more than half the people alive today don't read these kinds of stories. I see so much of our reality in the handmaids tale as you have pointed out. I too got very emotional reading this story. It was heartbreaking. The pain she endured and having no outlet to release any of it. Not being able to speak out about her issues. I don't know what I feel about nick, I wish the book went into different perspectives. I think that would have been interesting. Who knows what was going on in any of their heads. I wouldn't mind hearing Janine's perspective lol she went nuts towards the end. #4-1-16

[artislifeslr261-blog]

Creating a story.

I finished my writing assignment late last night. I chose to write a story. I envy the authors we have read so far, the develop plot, character, symbolism and dialogue so well. I am knew to this but they think of things that I wouldn't have ever thought of to write about. That historical context at the end of Handmaids tale was dry but it still had my interest. Because it made the story feel real. It made it seem like everything had really happened (despite the timeline) because of how the historians discussed their findings. The emotion and physical descriptions of actions within the story felt relatable. I cried a few times while reading the book. It's things like this as a writer (should I continue writing) I want to build myself in. To make a story feel real and bring in emotion and interest from the reader. As a side note: I woke up this morning and realized I had left a situation out of my story that at 1am, while editing and meaning to go back in and fix, I forgot😑 so, in the story a character of mine says he will go and do something but you never hear from him again and what he had went to go do lol my bad. I was tired 🙆🏻 #4-1-16

[jeffery-williams]

Just why?

We spoke in class about how in the book the “Handmaids Tale” how the women are not allowed anything during child birth because they are supposed to suffer.  Why is this such a common theme?  Thinking about it I guess it all stems from religion, from Adam and Eve?  Anyways, this is not the first time I’ve heard the idea that Women are meant to suffer, but I just cannot understand why.  I believe women have it rough, having to go through their womanly cycles, the judgement of society, child baring, and you want to deny them pain medication during child birth? As a guy, which it is funny to me that most of the time whole idea of women suffering being a good thing stems from men, we have it easy. All we have to do is provide, care, and not be a jerk….. I just cannot imagine why anyone would deny a woman anything to ease pain when they already go through so much, but then again I guess it comes down to blindly following traditions without question.

[artislifeslr261-blog]

Within religion the men are given hard labor and women pain during child birth and mensus. Women were meant to suffer more due to Eve biting the apple and persuading Adam into temptation. I agree, it isn't right and I'm not just saying that since I am female. If roles were reversed, I would feel like it were unfair to prevent the easing of pain. No one deserves to be inflicted on pain, natural pain or not. Yes there's that whole issue with the risks of using medication but at the same time, child birth leads to death as well. Blindly following tradition is what it is I am sure of it. I catch myself often doing things because it's what I have always seen or known. It's sad but true. It takes yourself to notice in order to change it. I don't think men have it so easy though. Anyone can walk away from responsibility no matter their sex and pain comes in different variations for everyone. For instance if someone kicks me in that zone it doesn't do much to me. Lol. Had to go there sorry but it's true. Honestly I have been working all day and I am very tired so I hope this made some sense. #3-26-16

[artislifeslr261-blog]

Some in the moment thoughts

I can't imagine coming home from work after being fired for being a woman and on top of that I am not allowed to have my own finances. The feeling of complete loss of partnership due to the forced dependency to my significant other is almost impossible to attempt. To feel like I am not in control of my life and someone else is, to be of value to someone and forced to live a certain way that I do not wish to live. To be forbidden from looking someone in the eye and to live with people I do not know and be forced to conceive their child. Offred is much stronger than I am. I don't know if I would have lasted as long as she has. I would have had an emotional breakdown and would have probably been sent away to a mental institution. In the center, I would have kept my mouth shut or contradicted everything the aunts would have said and been beaten. I would have run off the day I lost my job to somewhere else. Living in a world like that would be unbearable. When Luke had to kill the cat I cried. I am a pet lover especially cats. Just putting them down when they're so I'll they cannot even eat tears me apart. I know, because I went through that last November. The sacrifices she made. Moira is so strong and courageous. She would have been my hope, too. #3-23-16

[artislifeslr261-blog]

We are more.

To live in a world where women are under oppression. We have come a long way to get to where we are now. Other countries are having their own battle within on this same matter. To be free of being someone’s property, to be free to say, act and be who you wish without the fear of the society around you putting you to shame. We are blessed for living the way we do. We still have our battles. What with the nudity uprisings, the never ending job equality issue and the way we dress as a means of blame for assault. It’s ridiculous. But it’s happening. I feel for offred. She has so much potential to just be who she wants but the world around her prevents it. Using interpretations of the written word to toy with someone’s purpose. It’s sickening. It makes me wonder what our society would be like if everyone read this book. Maybe people would realize that a woman’s body is just that. A body. A vessel for someone’s soul. Maybe people would realize that we are more than what we wear and our natural purpose (birth). There is now a social media uprising for posting a nude photo to show your own self confidence. Of course it's by someone who has spotlight upon them often but I agree. If I want to show off my body I have a right to do so. It's not sexualized unless someone makes it that way. We are individuals too. #3-11-2016

[juliestudent0809-blog]

Hey now

Spoiler if you haven’t gotten to chapter 18.

So what is up with this Nick guy? He was mentioned a few times in the beginning chapters (he is an angel isn’t he? I honestly have a difficult time keeping up with the caste system in this book.) Well in the beginning of the book he winks at the main character. That act within itself is forbidden and deserving of hell right? No man should ever look at a women with interest other than to procreate am I right? Well at least that is how it is in this book. But now Nick is making out with her in the sitting room!!!??!! “I’ve come looking for you” he says, “the Commander wants to see you tomorrow” he says. But I’m pretty sure that the commander didn’t ask for Nick to make out and lust for his Handmaid,…. that is, unless he did…. Im kind of catching a soap opera vibe from this book every now and then. Obviously this Nick guy, and what about the lustful Doctor? He offered to impregnate her!!! I can’t even wrap my head around this society. This book is suppose to be written based off events that have already happened…. I think I’ve been overlooking some things…. 

[artislifeslr261-blog]

Exactly! I don't understand him. I get the feeling like its foreshadowing something else. Like, as if he's an undercover person trying to break offred. You know... Get her to crack and then she will get sent away or worse. The doctor freaked me out. How can you stay calm with someone acting the way he was. The urgency in his dialogue and the creepy, secretive way of it all. How does he manage to get away with it? You would think they would have a nurse or something in the room to act as a mediator to spy on any strange activity. I feel for offred. She doesn't even know what happened to her own child. I'm not happy about the affair think with Luke (I'm extremely against any sort of cheating) but at the same time i hope she gets to see him again. Love is love. #3-8-16