Unit 3 Intro/Conclusion Revison

The Deadly Dance of Neutrality

Inch’Allah 2012 by Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette is a powerful film which covers the topic of the Israeli Palestinian conflict with the use of a foreign character that dances between the lines of neutrality. Film directors and writers often make their work about modern day issues with storytelling and artistic symbolism. Inch’Allah is no different as a western, Canadian director shows the viewer both the hardships and how grey the lines truly are in this issue within the Middle East. With Another Voice, a blog written by Palestinian and Israeli women within the conflict give the viewer the opportunity to improve their perspective on such a faraway dispute. Both the film and text shows how convoluted the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is and how it snatches up all who live there into one side or the other with Chloe, an innocuous foreign doctor turning terrorist as the prime example.

With an improved education on the severity of issues within Israel there’s no surprise that a woman such as Chloe could get caught up in a series of terrible incidents. The film shows through this individual that there is no side without wrong doings. The Israeli faction seems to be lacking a proper screening process for their soldiers along with a lack of a mercy. The Palestinian side seems resort to organized violence when tragedy occurs instead of trying their few other alternatives. With the end result of the product of both of those sides being Chloe, a seemingly innocent woman becoming not only a terrorist but a deliverer of Rand’s tools for her own death; it is clear the movie calls for change to this conflict. As stated by the anonymous authors of Another Voice, a peaceful solution is the only way to avoid more of these real life Rands and Chloes from being swept up into this seemingly never ending conflict.

The old intro and conclusion:

Inch’Allah 2012 by Anaïs Barbeau-Lavalette is a powerful film which covers the topic of the Israeli Palestinian conflict with the use of a foreign character that dances between the lines of neutrality. Film directors and writers often make their work about modern day issues with storytelling and artistic symbolism. Inch’Allah is no different as a western, Canadian director shows the viewer the hardships and how grey the lines truly are in this unfortunate issue within the Middle East. With Another Voice, a blog written by Palestinian and Israeli women within the conflict give the viewer the opportunity to improve their perspective on such a faraway dispute.

Another Voice is a remarkable blog for understanding the film Inch’Allah mostly due to the fact they’re both about the ongoing conflict and issues in Israel and Palestine. As films stem from ideas and most ideas stem from a part of a reality somewhere, a non-fictional text can help us understand a reality we’re not part of. Not only does the text understand the reality of the situation, but the actual people within the conflict. A text, specifically a blog allows a greater deal of humanization along with a unique series of perspectives due to the multiple authors. With greater understanding of a subject through an outside source, especially a non-fictional one it allows our interpretation changes due to a higher education on the subject. Looking at something in a more three dimensional way allows a greater deal of content to be seen. With more perspectives and knowledge, one’s analysis and observations can become that much more astute and powerful.

Thesis Freewrite/Claim & Paraphrasing a Source

Inch'Allah was a rather impressive piece of cinematography which portrayed the Isrealian/Palestinian conflict. It added some more perspectives and ideas in regards to the issues on both sides and what these individuals live through. Using “Another Voice” it’s particularly relevant to the film as it’s from people that are literally within the zones of the conflict. Not only are these people within the conflict, but its people on both sides that are ‘speaking’ over the blog. Within the film Inch’Allah where Chloe is seeing both perspectives through Ava as a rather innocuous Palestinian woman and Rand who appears more as a direct victim of the situation, ‘hearing’ both perspectives from various women on differing ‘sides’ over a blog is very relevant.

“Another Voice” is a perfect example of using another source to understand Inch’Allah as it’s directly pertaining to the conflict and issues the film addresses. Our interpretation of a film can change greatly when taking an outside source into consideration as it adds different perspectives or in this case a greater reality to the situation.

The lenses that seems most useful to me for working on the paper would most likely be the lens of bordering cultures and political strife.

Group Presentation Blog Post

1) The group presented on the rather interesting series of blog post called Another Voice.

2) The main point to take away from the blog was how two very different but very close cultures come together in an anonymous blog while talking about daily life. It's remarkably humanizing on both sides as they discuss where these women should take their kids to school among various other things.

3) The group did explain how the blog could relate to Inch'Allah in a few ways. The most obvious factor is that it's about the conflict in Israel/Palestine but the key aspect is how it ties in with the humanity and issues on both sides. I'd use this text to explain some of the undertones and human element to the film along with some of the situations people have to go through on a daily basis.

4) The power point was well formatted and not cluttered. The only part of the presentation where improvement could be made was most likely just speaking without being nervous or decrease the amount of 'um's.

5) Everyone seemed to speak so I assume there was delegation across each member, but as I don't talk to many people within the group or saw how they react one another I couldn't make a fair judgement on delegated work.

6) As I couldn't find an actual issue with the presentation and it was rather interesting, I'd say a five is a fair statement on judging how good it was.

Film Post 2

When Faysal mentions the difference of living in both locations and feeling safe, it's the nail in the coffin that convinces Chloe to spend the night. Not only does this get her to spend the night, but it starts a domino effect of getting more and more involved. After this specific scene it begins to appear that she's starting to side more and more with the Palestinians versus being neutral. I'd definitely say this is the main shifting point when Chloe sides with Faysal and Rand's family along with their issues, which is essentially siding with the Palestinians.

Film Blog 3

Throughout the film there's plenty of mistakes and wrong doings on all sides regarding the bombing. Ava fails to do her duty as a soldier by not checking a bag, even if it's her friends. Chloe get's involved in a terrorist network along with a family that has connection to one, even when she had multiple situations to only act as a doctor versus a friend. The closest thing to a fatal error that Rand made (pre-bombing) was being around a dangerous group of people, other than that she was in a rather unfortunate position out of her control mostly. The biggest culprit I believe is the environment and situation that these people are living and growing up in.

Film Blog Post 1

The film displays a rather drastic difference in the living conditions of Israel and Palestine. We quickly see how Israel has a series of night life, markets and restaurants which is almost a cross of Western culture and their own. People are displayed as much more happier, care free and seem to be going about the lives as an ordinary individual. The Palestinian lifestyle is full of what looks to be poverty and constant danger. There's even blatant signs of oppression against them too as seen by the stories from Eva. The constant danger is shown rather bluntly by the fact there's often bullet holes in the households for that matter too. Then there's the filth and garbage which is strewn across the whole area. Israel has it's fair share of problems in their cities but it is significantly nicer than the literal garbage heaps in Palestine.

Blog Post #10

https://egkollie.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/verbal-abuse-most-interesting-and-creative-ads.jpg

The above ad holds the potency of metaphorically assaulting the viewer and their beliefs. It's a rather  rigid ad regarding social awareness of verbal abuse in relationships. The ad is displaying how such use of force in one's dialogue can essentially have a painful outcome for a victim. By using a symbolic use of a hand coming out of someone's mouth and hitting a woman is rather blatant evidence of the claim in regards to emotional, verbal violence. The ad acts generally as a campaign of awareness in regards to the damage one's words can do to someone.

Blog Post #9

http://ccp-emuseum.catnet.arizona.edu/view/objects/asitem/category@war/9/title-asc?t:state:flow=c63d679b-7c1e-4b92-b3cb-5a8bae448541

The link to picture because there's some very obnoxious html and css script that won't allow me to rip the picture from the website.

Lense: Political, Communism

Within the photo by David Seymour we have a soldier that's looking away from the rest of his fellow soldiers while under a communist flag. Due to the general idea of  Communism regarding all men being created equal and being the same, here we have one soldier looking away from the rest of the group. With a political lense of pro capitalism or anti communism it can be seen as an unhappy soldier stuck within the gears of the red tide known as Communism. He's suspected to act and be like everyone yet he's looking away from the rest of the group as if apathetically asking for help or yearning to be his own man. The background of the photo has an officer that's staring at the camera man too as if disgruntled that he's taking a photo of his group or that one of his soldiers isn't following everyone else. The picture overall almost looks like a man wanting out of the Communist regime and to be himself with his own freedom.

Analyzing Group Photos

The photograph gives an appearance to the viewer that of a deal freedom, adventure, easiness and childhood. Already at the start with the scenery and architecture it can be pin pointed that it's in New York back some time ago. Second of all there's two kids casually in the back of some wagon of sorts seeming to be playing and leaping around. This gives a sense of easiness or freedom as they have the time and ability to live carelessly at the time. Pherhaps the kids are pretending they're Indiana Jone's and are climbing up a series of ropes before leaping over a chasm or something of the sort. Either way, it shows what looks like a simple, old school time.

Revised Introduction and Conclusion

Rough Draft Intro

"Baca’s story Coming into Language right off the bat refers to how Baca had no real prior

experience with literature and how important it ended up being to him within his life. This

correlates to my life in the way that my Father and Mother made things very clear how important

reading should and would be for me throughout my life. I was always constantly told at any point

I could ask my Mom or Dad if they’d read a story with or for me.  When I began to actually be

able to read by myself and being in the position where I was at my Father’s house, I’d have two

to three mandatory thirty minute timed session worth of reading. Sometimes I’d turn the egg

timer down a few minutes, sometimes I read even after it went off. Although Baca unfortunately

never had such luxurious opportunities as he was resigned to a less enjoyable method of learning

about language which happened to be prison. Within his metaphorical and literal prison, he

learned the importance of writing and reading. Literature filled a void in his mind and his heart."


Intro Paragraph Revised

"Literature promotes a form of escapism and education that is essential to a reader or writer’s life. Baca’s story, Coming into Language is an example of this as at the start it refers to how Baca had no real prior experience with literature and how important it ended up being to him within his life. This correlates to myself in the way that my Father and Mother made things very clear how important reading should and would be for me throughout my life. I was always constantly told at any point I could ask my Mom or Dad if they’d read a story with or for me.  When I began to actually be able to read by myself and being in the position where I was at my Father’s house, I’d have two to three mandatory thirty minute timed session worth of reading. Sometimes I’d turn the egg timer down a few minutes, sometimes I read even after it went off. Although Baca unfortunately never had such luxurious opportunities as he was resigned to a less enjoyable method of learning about language which happened to be within the prison system. Within his metaphorical and literal prison, he learned the importance of writing and reading. Literature filled a void in his mind and his heart. "

Original Conclusion Paragraph

"Like Baca, language was something very important to me as it made me understand

myself better and those around me. Story telling from either media, poems or any form of

literature or language has the unique capability to make an individual think about multiple

aspects of their lives. One of the many gifts literature gave to me was the ability to understand

my own stories and how often they were relatable.  Due to either fun or unhappy experiences,

events throughout our lives allow us to appertain to others regarding their worries and joys. This

trait of literature also happens to work in both ways where the reader can relate to the text itself

allowing for a great deal of entertainment and escapism. Overall literature allows us to grow

ourselves and understand the perspectives of the many people around us and before us in an

educational and often fun way."


Revised Conclusion Paragraph

"Like Baca, language was something very important to me as it made me understand

myself better and those around me. Story telling from either media, poems or any form of

literature or language has the unique capability to make an individual think about multiple

aspects of their lives. One of the many gifts literature gave to me was the ability to understand

my own stories and how often they were relatable.  Due to either fun or unhappy experiences,

events throughout our lives allow us to appertain to others regarding their worries and joys. This

trait of literature also happens to work in both ways where the reader can relate to the text itself

allowing for a great deal of entertainment and escapism. Overall literature allows us to grow

ourselves and understand the perspectives of the many people around us and before us in an

educational and often fun way."

Visual Outline

Popplet Cluster Map

The link that hopefully works.

Just in case, here's this.

Type of Writer

Based off of the four particular kinds of writers, I fit the Sequential Composers. Without a doubt I go through each paragraph at a usually quick pace. After I produce a very rough draft, I'll go over it and edit it piece by piece. If I find the draft derails itself or goes off topic, I'll go back up to the start and edit it entirely or just rewrite whatever issues need to be addressed. I've tried organized writing before with outlines, but I find it constricting and much more forced versus something I'm indifferent towards.

When I incorporate Sequential Composing into my Unit One paper, it'll go the same way how it usually goes. If I take time to actually go over each paragraph, it'll represent my understanding of the subject properly. If I am rushed or distracted, I'll go over it vaguely once or twice and it will not be up to a proper standard. Since I am considering writing on O'Brien's work, I will most definitely have to go over his literature and stories along with analytical thinking before putting it down to metaphorical paper. As long as I take the time and write when I'm in a mood to express my thoughts, opinions and ideas I believe there will be no concern regarding the unit paper as long as I follow my guidelines to strive for success.

Response to 'On Ghosts'

Hunt's brief quote of dialogue, "How does a girl grow up without a race? White kids do it all the time” (536)." holds a great deal of meaning behind it. It's implications are rather potent due to the situation it was used and the severity of it. It holds the meaning that Caucasians seem to have less racial identity in compared someone with a different skin tone. The other implication is the aspect of someone feeling left out or almost segregated in a way. This girl feels different from the rest of everyone else due to a physical attribute out of her control. It comes off as if she feels like she's missing something, missing history and heritage. It's really an innocuous question with a greater deal of meaning that's terribly sad. Not only does the quote hold some darker meanings, it holds a deal of confusion and unhappiness. Even if it's slightly unusual for a child, it's an unfortunate undertone that still exist in our society today sadly. 

Where I write and read from.

I have had a rather unusual experience for writing for an average teenager to young adult. I've always enjoyed creating or coming up with stories and characters. Something I've done since the time of playing with action figures. I remember at the time I'd create a whole world of sorts and pretend that said action figures were in them. From these designed 'worlds' I'd make a story out of the environment (blocks of wood my father cut for me along with magnetic bars and ball bearings) and the action figures. I even remember getting emotionally attached to some of the differing 'characters' story arcs and characteristics. This theme of character design, world creation, progression of both stories and character continued to be of interest to me throughout my time with literature. I often did write out of the classroom, specifically around sixth to twelfth grade. It was something I did for fun because I enjoyed it, particularly the case of flawed, dynamic characters. As for where the writing comes from, it'd most likely come from story ideas derived digital entertainment, books and my state of mind throughout my life. Movies from Mad Max to Waterworld, authors like David Weber and Tolkien, my emotions throughout my life such as the joys of the world around us or the unfortunate loss of our loved ones.

My father gave me the promise of purchasing any car I want if I'd make a list of a hundred books I read with some of his suggestions in the list. Before that I'd be required to read at least thirty minutes a day within eye sight of my dad. Sometimes I'd turn the old kitchen timer early when my father was looking away, sometimes I'd let it ring and keep reading. I was brought up with reading, something that I think all parents should try with their children. My father couldn't go into college due to being from a family of ten that grew most of their own food. He taught himself with books and literature, something that clearly affected him as he had his company offices in Times Square and New Jersey. Clearly reading was important to him and thankfully it also became very important to me. Reading is something I enjoy. Something that is fun and entertainment, not a chore. Due to all of this, Jimmy Baca's story was fantastic in my eyes. A poor man with little education producing a great short auto-biography. Similar to him, but not to such an extent I too read for a desperation of escapism even though mine was on a much lesser level. I liked the idea of delving into a different universe, a different world or even a person's life. Sometimes it'd be to escape my own but usually it was just something I enjoyed.

Alexie and Baca are both two clearly talented writers. My reaction from both of them were remarkably different however. Baca's story held a great deal of emotion that ebbed onto his vary words and sentences. Alexie's story was more or so interesting as it gave insight to a writer's journey to being a writer. It held nowhere as much emotional impact as Baca's however, so my reaction was very minute to Alexie's story.  Even if they were both regarding how their respective authors got into reading, Baca's desperation resonated with me to some degree. He displayed how literature was a great beacon of light, something enjoyable and refreshing which is the exact way I see literature myself. Although of course, my life story was nowhere as miserable or unfortunate as what Baca wrote. Alexie's work didn't really relate to me at all as it felt dry and boring.

Observations and Inferences about Coming into Language

1. Jimmy Baca's story Coming into Language genre is that of an autobiography that appears as a tragedy that ends in some variation of a victory. 

2. My personal experience with autobiographies that share great hardship and result in great success has been rather good due to the following works of literature such as, Lone Survivor, 127 Hours, and Unbroken.

3. The title of Coming into Language in my personal opinion gave the information that it'd be someone entering the world of a new language or literature; which was something Jimmy Baca did do in a certain way.

4. At the beginning we know little about Jimmy Baca until we read through the short autobiography. Within his story, we learn of the struggles, hardships and abuse that he had to deal with while growing intellectually with his own and others works of writing.

5. Coming into Language looked like a story told through a sophisticated inmate going over his past times through his own version of hell. The author does dance around in an artistic way throughout the story at times as if his own were fluctuating with the story itself.

Coming into Language is a story of a man dealing with the hardships and abuse of his life through a seemingly terrible re-education system. It's clearly observed that Jimmy Baca, the story's protagonist and writer deals with the abuse of guards as they hit him in the back of the head or throw urine and hot water on him. At times he witnesses the sadism of guards as they chain an inmate on the ground and laugh at him. Later on in the story Baca is thrown in 23 hour a day isolation for refusing to work showing even more issues from the guards and leadership of the prison management.

From these horrid situations it can be easily inferred that Jimmy Baca is making a point against the US correctional system, possibly even privatized or contracted prisons due to the fact of required work. The events he endures are unfortunate and full of human right violations. It shows a great deal of corruption and wrong doings. However, there's a great deal of beauty that blossoms within the story for that matter too.

As the story goes on, Jimmy Baca delves into the greatness known as literature. Although there's a great under tone of darkness, corruption and brutality, the true point of this autobiography I believe is the greatness and power of the human mind's creative ability to produce great works of writing. It's even shown that other inmates would pay Jimmy in contraband or hard earned supplies, something of great luxury in the prison systems. The fact that the people considered the underbelly of society would sacrifice their luxuries for poems or letters to be sent to their loved ones is fantastic. The story held great tragedy but in reality it ended in triumph as Baca remains 'happy' and motivated through his and other's writings.