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Response to Clarissa Ceglia

When the tale of Makoons by Louise Erdrich begins, the character Gichi Noodin, or Big Wind, is introduced as the only follower of Chief Little Shell that Makoons and Chickadee, our main characters and twins in the series, agree to dislike. Gichi Noodin is portrayed in the beginning as a very prideful boy, “always puffing out his chest and bragging of his exploits to anyone who would listen.” (Erdrich, 27) Gichi is prideful, selfish, and flashy, which is shown through a series of events in which Gichi Noodin loses control of his horse due to a lack of consideration of its needs, claims to have shot buffalo that he clearly did not shoot in order to obtain glory, and wears a flashy jacket with sleeve garters for which he is berated by the others of his tribe.

When Gichi Noodin is met again, this time, he seeks the affection of a girl, Zozie, and has once again not changed his prideful ways. Through a series of events and some trickery on the part of Makoons, Gichi Noodin is convinced to relinquish a red sash that is of great importance to him so that Makoons and Chickadee may blindfold their buffalo during a buffalo hunt. In the first buffalo hunt in the book, Gichi Noodin nearly ruins the hunt by charging ahead of the group in order to kill the greatest number of buffalo. The second time, he accomplishes the same task, only to be thrown atop a buffalo after being brutally knocked from his horse, and fleeing back to his tent. This costs Gichi Noodin everything he owns, his dignity, and causes him to be banished.

Then, as a result of his banishment, Gichi Noodin turns over a new leaf. He returns to the village with scars on his face with the tale of how he had single-handedly trekked through the snow in order to save Opichi when her parents had died. His journey to save her had humbled him greatly. Gichi Noodin evolved into a more respectable, humbler, kinder man than when he was first banished, much like the model of the Developing Child. -Stephanie Cregier

[stephaniekreg-blog]

When the tale of Makoons by (insert name) begins, the character Gichi Noodin, or Big Wind, is introduced as the only follower of Chief Little Shell that Makoons and Chickadee, our main characters and twins in the series, agree to dislike. Gichi Noodin is portrayed in the beginning as a very prideful boy, “always puffing out his chest and bragging of his exploits to anyone who would listen.” (Erdrich, 27) Gichi is prideful, selfish, and flashy, which is shown through a series of events in which Gichi Noodin loses control of his horse due to a lack of consideration of its needs, claims to have shot buffalo that he clearly did not shoot in order to obtain glory, and wears a flashy jacket with sleeve garters for which he is berated by the others of his tribe. When Gichi Noodin is met again, this time, he seeks the affection of a girl, Zozie, and has once again not changed his prideful ways. Through a series of events and some trickery on the part of Makoons, Gichi Noodin is convinced to relinquish a red sash that is of great importance to him so that Makoons and Chickadee may blindfold their buffalo during a buffalo hunt. In the first buffalo hunt in the book, Gichi Noodin nearly ruins the hunt by charging ahead of the group in order to kill the greatest number of buffalo. The second time, he accomplishes the same task, only to be thrown atop a buffalo after being brutally knocked from his horse, and fleeing back to his tent. This costs Gichi Noodin everything he owns, his dignity, and causes him to be banished. Then, as a result of his banishment, Gichi Noodin turns over a new leaf. He returns to the village with scars on his face with the tale of how he had single-handedly trekked through the snow in order to save Opichi when her parents had died. His journey to save her had humbled him greatly. Gichi Noodin evolved into a more respectable, humbler, kinder man than when he was first banished, much like the model of the Developing Child. -Stephanie Cregier

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Harry Potter and the Image of Young People (Repost)

Within the first chapter of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling, the audience meets the protagonist, Harry Potter, and learns of his tumultuous life with the Dursley’s: his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and cousin, Dudley. Throughout the first two chapters of the book, there is strong focus on the contrasts between Harry, and his cousin, Dudley; it is quite apparent that Dudley is intended to be Harry’s foil.

From the beginning, the author makes it apparent that Dudley and Harry have an opposite upbringing. Harry grew up without his biological parents, is not shown affection by those closest to him, and is used to do housework and seen as only good for housework, much like the “Working Child” model. Dudley grew up with both biological parents, is shown love and care even when he displays unfavorable behavior, and is seen as being precious and indispensable, much like the “Sacred Child” model. One of the greatest discrepancies between the two children is their physical description.

In the book, Harry and Dudley have not only very opposing attitude descriptions, they also have greatly opposing physical descriptions. Harry is described as having “a thin face, knobbly knees, black hair, and bright green eyes” (Rowling 14), whereas Dudely is described as being a “large blond boy” (Rowling 13) and “about four times bigger than [Harry] was” (Rowling 13). The main physical trait that seems to be represented in Dudley is that he is fat or heavy – and this translated to Uncle Vernon in the film adaptation.

In the film Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone directed by Chris Columbus, both of the Dursley males are portrayed as being overweight. However, in the book by J. K. Rowling, Mr. Dursley is never specifically written as being overweight - he is, simply, “big, beefy man with hardly any neck" (Rowling 1), which is not necessarily indicative of fat, but potentially stockiness. The question that opens up to the audience is, why are the Dursley men portrayed as overweight, and how does this potentially impact young children who participate as the audience of either the novel or the film?

Dudley is constantly berated in the text by the protagonist for their weight, and is often touted for his greed and spoilt ways. The implication is that Dudley’s weight is directly correlated to his greed and how his parents spoil him; the more greedy and spoilt, the greater the size. This could have grave consequences for young children who are heavier, and poses the question:

Does the book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone promote the othering of children who are overweight by implying that their weight makes them lazy as well as greedy and spoilt? -Stephanie C.

[stephaniekreg-blog]

Harry Potter and the Image of Young People

Within the first chapter of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone" by J.K. Rowling, the audience meets the protagonist, Harry Potter, and learns of his tumultuous life with the Dursley’s: his Aunt Petunia, Uncle Vernon, and cousin, Dudley. Throughout the first two chapters of the book, there is strong focus on the contrasts between Harry, and his cousin, Dudley; it is quite apparent that Dudley is intended to be Harry’s foil.

From the beginning, the author makes it apparent that Dudley and Harry have an opposite upbringing. Harry grew up without his biological parents, is not shown affection by those closest to him, and is used to do housework and seen as only good for housework, much like the “Working Child” model. Dudley grew up with both biological parents, is shown love and care even when he displays unfavorable behavior, and is seen as being precious and indispensable, much like the “Sacred Child” model. One of the greatest discrepancies between the two children is their physical description.

In the book, Harry and Dudley have not only very opposing attitude descriptions, they also have greatly opposing physical descriptions. Harry is described as having “a thin face, knobbly knees, black hair, and bright green eyes” (Rowling 14), whereas Dudely is described as being a “large blond boy” (Rowling 13) and “about four times bigger than [Harry] was” (Rowling). The main physical trait that seems to be represented in Dudley is that he is fat or heavy – and this translated to the rest of the Dursleys in the movie adaptation of the book.

In the film "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone" directed by Chris Columbus, all of the Dursleys are portrayed as being overweight. However, in the book by J. K. Rowling, Mrs. Dursley is specifically “thin and blonde and had nearly twice the usual amount of neck”, which is quite the opposite of the Mrs. Dursley portrayed in the film adaptation. The question that opens up to the audience is, why are the Dursleys all described as large, and how does this potentially impact young children who participate as the audience of either the novel or the film?

Dursley is constantly berated in the text by the protagonist for their weight, and is often touted for his greed and spoilt ways. The implication is that Dudley’s weight is directly correlated to his greed and how his parents spoil him; the more greedy and spoilt, the greater the size. This could have grave consequences for young children who are heavier, and poses the question:

Does the book Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone promote the othering of children who are overweight by implying that their weight makes them lazy as well as greedy and spoilt? -Stephanie C.