response to The School

I think The School is a good work that could be called as literature.

My definition of literature is very simple and broad. If someone tells a story that she makes originally, then the story can be called as a literature. If the author uses writing skills properly, then her work can be called as a good literature. In my opinion, there are three main characteristics of a good literature. Firstly, it needs adequate dramatic conflicts. In The School, the conflicts between students and living thing they killed, between students and the teacher, and between the teacher and the assistant, are very attractive. And conflicts are also used to develop plots. Secondly, the author would hide something she thinks below the conflicts. In The School, Barthelme put a heavy problem that maybe also happens in other schools through those conflicts, and makes it dramatic and exaggerated. By this characteristic, good literatures are no longer just telling a story, but also lead readers to think more about the problem in society and life. Thirdly, a good literature work would describe one or more impressed characters. In The school, Barthelme makes a group of crazy students, and a helpless teacher.

outline

Here is my outline.

Literature Review

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uNubLe8LGK3A8wq-0BUYRRxD-fwp14ucxOpkUNDvOe8/edit#

Bibliography Project Part 2

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1l4AkTDAmSevQE_SFEoWQJUU49eo-0Yk44BX0fTAXh44/edit

Bibliography Project Part 1

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Jeny_as1nIcRoNkL3smosiZaQ1VQG0Xwi_8Tv03rVqY/edit

10 synonyms

vampire, bloodsucker, Dracula,

bloody, gory, sanguinary, red, sanguinary

vampire films, Gothic films, horror films, thriller,

Research Plan

Vampire is a famous and popular image in west culture. Usually, vampire is regarded as an element of evil, bloody and violence. Through analysis of vampire the symbol in film about vampire, I intend to explore how the symbol of vampire changed with time goes by. In this research, I will focus on some typical films such as Nosferatu, Bram Stoker's Dracula, and Interview with the Vampire. From these films, I will explore the meaning of vampire the symbol and make audiences have better understanding of complicated history of vampire.

Vampire is an attractive element in novels and films, but the image of vampire have always been changed. Many audiences are confused when they watch films about vampire because the vampires in different films have different images. Sometimes they are ugly and violence, while sometime they are elegant and beautiful. This research will provide a completed history of the change of vampire’s image in films to discuss how vampires’ images have been changed.

This research will use some films about vampire as example to explore different vampires in different periods. The main method I choose is textual analysis. Other author’s point of view will be referred, and the research will be objective and factual.

Purpose statement

Purpose statement:

The purpose of this study is to explore the change of images of vampire in film.

Central question:

How are the images of vampire changed in film?

Sub-question:

How is the image of vampire in Nosferatu, A Symphony Of horror?

How are the images of vampire in Bram Stoker's Dracula and Interview with the Vampire?

How are the images of vampire in True Blood and Twilight?

final draft

https://docs.google.com/a/kean.edu/document/d/1k95OAzQxK8IhaYn8D9aUbhhjJ7lEzCwPfrADYfDovU0/edit?usp=sharing

UPenn CPF

CFP

1.      Gothic and Horror Studies

The collection is seeking submissions of articles and reviews that deal with any aspect of Gothic and horror studies, including (but not limited to) literature, film, television and new media.

2.      Gothic Performances and the Literary Audience

The collection is interested in the way Gothic influence society. Gothic texts capitalize on terrorizing beings, hauntings, or psychological torment as a means to confront repressed ideas or emotions. From a variety of mediums, including literary texts, films, graphic novels, and TV shows, finding the effect of the socio-historical performances within the gothic text have on the public's perception of society and cultures.

3.      Gothic Tourism

The collection seeks abstracts for a book proposal on 'Gothic Tourism: New International Perspectives' (working title), to be submitted to a high-profile academic publisher.

Topics of particular interest include, but are not limited to:

•Definitions, histories, and/or taxonomies of Gothic tourism

•Gothic tourism and specific places – nations, regions, localities

•Experiences and examples of Gothic tourism – specific sites (such as castles, houses, crime sites and other locations)

•Gothic tourism in literature, film, television, music and other popular culture

•Gothic tourism in art and advertising

•Gothic tourism and food

•Digital Gothic tourism

•Gothic tourism and technology

•Gendered dimensions of Gothic tourism

•Queer Gothic tourism

•Gothic tourism and Indigenous peoples

•Gothic tourism, writing and publishing

•Gothic tourism, the souvenir industry and commerce

•Globalisation and Gothic tourism

•Combinations of the above, and/or other relevant topics

Text/subjects

1.      Edward Scissorhands (X)

The Gothic style without religion, vampire or witchcraft; Gothic style hides in soft plot; lonely and scared of the main character (Y)

2.      Dracula(X)

The change of protagonist, Dracula; love between Dracula and his wife compare with his loyalty to the god; the meaning of true love (Y)

3.      Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles (X)

The life of vampire; the emotion of vampire; how vampire influence normal people (Y)

4.      Wolf (X)

The change of protagonist: from normal to a werewolf; the difference experience between two different lives; whether the change is good or not (Y)

5.      Queen of the Damned (X)

Vampire lives in modern society; love between vampire and normal people; the change of vampire’s attitude to attack human (Y)

Ye Weili.SA1.doc

https://docs.google.com/a/kean.edu/document/d/14lYGh_gXCmRtSNTUhYQI_-WhcYi-WYwBOkHrTvLoLcQ/edit

Response to Dearth from Willful Creatures

This short story is about a lonely woman gets rid of her knot in her mind. She lives alone and no friend in her life. Although she has a lover, she doesn’t ask his help when she meets trouble. She has no relative, her parents and brother all died.

In this story, the subject “bathroom” catches my eyes. It appears several times.

1.      “On the first day of spring, the bountiful neighbor came over with lilies woven into her hair, asking to borrow some matches. The woman had the four hide in the bathroom.” The woman accepts the fact that those potatoes will never leave and allows them live with her. From the description of those days they live together, I feel that, at least, the woman doesn’t hate potatoes. She even doesn’t go to her lover’s house during those days. It means something between she and potatoes. But once other people may find out them, she is afraid and tries to hide them.

2.      “When the neighbor left, the woman’s ears were ringing. She went into the bathroom to pee and was somehow startled to see the four still in there, blinking beneath the silver towel rack. ‘Get,’ she said, brushing them off. ‘Get away from me. Go!’” It is the first and the only time she yells at potatoes. Because in her deep mind, she still can’t let other break into her life. She is looked by potatoes when she is peeing, then she bursts out.

3.      “‘How’s that broken bathroom?’ she yelled.

‘Oh,’ said the woman. ‘Well. There never was any broken bathroom.’” After our women thinks about her former life, she find there are something wrong in her life. She never faces her lonely straight. Even when she has a chance to get along with “something”, she is afraid of it and refuses. But now, she forgives her weakness and accepts potatoes and her new life.

I think the broken bathroom represents the women’s knot in her mind. She doesn’t want other see it and try to protect herself. After she get rid of her knot in mind, after she can bravely says “There never was any broken bathroom.”, she begins a new life. 

Response to the Forest

Response to the Forest

This short story is mainly about the change of the relationship between an American girl Bianca and old famous scientist Krzysztof. It tells a story about how two people who probably will never make friends with each other find same interests finally and understand the other.

Bianca looks like a sensitive, irritability and rude girl when Krzysztof first see her. And Krzysztof also be judged by Bianca because he mistakes her as her sister. It seems that there will never be any friendship between them. But after a bottle of special vodka, there are something changed. They begin to know and try to understand each other’ past.

The story’s title, the Forest, is an important symbol. Bianca and Krzysztof meet each other in the forest and in the end, they make a big decision of their life in the same forest. The forest represents the power of pouring out, listening and communication. It is the power which can lead you find the deepest in your mind. Like Bianca and Krzysztof, both of them are not satisfied with their life. But they didn’t try anything to change it because they hide their thought. The fact is they can do something to change. They even needn’t other’s help. Pouring out let them know how ridiculous they were in the past; listening to other let them get ideas. Once they get support or sympathy, they have strength to change their life. Human is kind of strange creature: they have enough power, but they need others’ help, no matter it is important or not.

Response to “Designing Gamification in Right Way”

When I wrote the title of this response, there appeared a red wavy line after I finished typing “gamification”. At first, I thought I made a mistake. But after I checked again, I found that it was Microsoft office’s mistake. This mistake proved that at least before 2010, “gamification” is not a popular word because I am using Microsoft office 2010.

So gamification is a new word to many people and the author tries to introduce how to design gamification in right way. He uses five parts to finish his work. Firstly, he point out that gamification needs a clear goal. Then, he states the importance of knowing target group and user type. In addition, he expends the rage of variables. The most important part is learning content. In this part, he explains how to design gamification depends on many variables. Last but not least, he raises a question about the harm of gamification.

I focus on the last two parts of this article. In the learning content part, he explains deeply how to design gamification. He emphasizes again that educator should pay attention to many different variables and use game mechanics, dynamics, and aesthetics flexibly. In the last part, he raises a question about the harm of gamification. Sometimes gamification is useless and even harmful because the goal of game is not the goal of education. The solution goes back to the first part, clear goals.

In this article, I find that the author make use of his materials. Every part relates to others. This article is like a circle. The problem and question risen up in the last two parts, their solutions are hidden in the first three parts. This strategy makes whole article clear and impressive.

Merge, again, the typical housewife of American sitcoms

Unlike other classical American sitcoms, The Simpsons looks different. It has no strong, intelligent, responsible husband but a boorish, greedy, lazy and clumsy Homer, a husband who is useless in his family. The only function he has may be pacifying Merge’s frustration at the end of every episodes. Meanwhile, Merge is the backbone of the family, said by Homer when he comforted Merge. It seems like The Simpsons has broken with tradition and satirized American dream. But in fact, Merge is still a traditional housewife. Although she has some other interests or talents, she is supposed to be in house, otherwise Homer will be unhappy. And the family also needs her. Without Merge, Children will be killed by the stupid father. For Merge herself, she pretty enjoys his role in family most time. She loves her husband and thinks he is not a disappointing guy as he was young. You can see in a unrealistic world, in an opposite family of American dream, the women is still a typical housewife.

“Core value” is a word mentioned many times by Jessamyn Neuhaus in her article. It is kind of affirmation of “tradition”. No matter what happened, arguments, conflicts, and even physical violence toward one another, in the end, the family would always be reconciled. And it likes to emphasize the love between Homer and Merge, the love of parents to children, and the children’s loyalty to Marge and Homer. The “core value” is including the role of women in a family.

So why does Merge take this role? As Steven Keslowitz said, she is happy with the way things are. In Merge’s mind, Homer is not a loud, crude, and piggish man because she has changed him. The fact is Homer is a loud, crude, and piggish man, and even their daughter believe it deeply. Sometimes Homer does act as a loving husband when he can makes up Merge’s frustration. Homer is not a fool in relationship and marriage, he gets the point of how to catch women’s heart. I don’t know if it is a right word to describe, but I still want to use. I think Merge is fooled by Homer in their relationship. However, Merge likes this way. It is hard to say who is wrong. But through the Simpsons family, maybe we can see a epitome of the role of women in family. Women are encouraged to act as Merge.

For example, in “A Streetcar Named Marge”, Merge lands the leading role in musical adaptation, Homer at first is oblivious to Marge’s undertaking and then actively resents her absence from the home. He argues with Merge about Merge left dinner for working. And his point is that he can not pull the lid off his own can of pudding. After Homer notices his fault, he expresses his love and devotion, he books a night out on the town for Marge—and Marge rushes into his arms, with a loving look and an ‘‘Aw, Homie.’’ Homer did a right thing in the end, but we should notice that it is Merge made a compromise. Maybe she didn’t think it is a compromise. She loves Homer so much. She can easily be moved by Homer’s expression of love and go back to be a typical housewife. 

Summary and response of “she used to be my girl”, an episode of The Simpsons

Chloe is a famous journalist who covers Mayor’s scandal instead of being cheated by a puppy like other newsmen in Springfield. Actually she was Marge’s partner in high school journalism and both of them had potential. But they made different choice: Chloe chose to go off to journalism school while Marge stayed in Springfield with Homer because she was pregnant at that time. Marge feels jealous of Chloe because her husband looks stupid and her daughter Lisa is fascinated by Chloe. One night, after drinking half glass of wine, Marge can’t hold her emotion anymore and fights with Chloe. Although she explains to Lisa later, she won’t let Lisa go with Chloe to women’s conference. So Lisa escapes from house and hides in Chloe’s car to go to conference. In the half way to women’s conference, Chloe is asked to cover Mount Springfield eruption. Lisa and Chloe get trouble. They are trapped in lava. At that time, Marge saves Lisa using mother love and Chloe is saved by her ex-boyfriend.

There are several symbols in this episode and I would pick some of them to interpret.

1.      Puppy: The Mayor uses puppy to placate local newsmen. It represents some politicians use sensational stuff to gain sympathy and transfer public attention from their scandal to other harmless thing.

2.      Evergreen Terrace and Chloe’ single life: When Marge is asked where she lives, when Chloe is asked her special someone, they both pretend coughing because they are not satisfied with current situation and do not want others know. These represent the flaws in their life.

3.      Chloe’s bowl: It represents Chloe’s fascination. Not only Lisa is attracted by Chloe, but also Marge can’t deny it. It is the reason why Marge fights with Chloe later.

4.      Women conference: In the women conference, no matter what Homer says, he is hissed by other women. So Homer is very confused what women want. It is a satire to some feminism.

5.      The strange dance: In this episode, Chloe talks about a dance the Chinese government makes dissidents perform before they shot them. It represents misunderstanding of American to China.

This episode mainly discusses women’s role in society and their choice. Marge and Chloe represent two types of women. One is housewife, who takes care of family, chose her sweetheart and children rather than career, like Marge. The other is Independent female, like Chloe, who chooses her professional career. The episode does not make a judgment about which one is better. Marge has many unsatisfactory staff in her life so does Chloe. And in the end both of them seem to find something important. It is hard to say Marge made a bad decision because she has a happy family but Chloe doesn’t, although Marge herself feels jealous of Chloe. So what the role women play in society? I think no one can answer this question. Only every individual woman know what she wants.