Sunday, March 21, 2004

Quarter 2: Final Blog

Well, this is the day before my english 1B FINAL... and the plast time I intend on writing in the blog.... although, i have a suspiscion that since i am planning on english 1C with Mr. Lovas i will probably be back here writing pretty soon. i emailed the honors group to ask if we need to blog for last week, but no reply... so, better safe than sorry, and since i don't really know what material i would blog on.. i'll combine the two, unless i hear otherwise from peers. last week we formulated the finals questions and watched "Much Ado" (both finished the BBC version and watched the Emma Thompson version). The finals questions were kind of fun to come up with. We all wrote down a question having to do with the material we've covered this quarter. after that, there was a narrow-down process, and now we have about 5 questions to choose from for our lovely final-- which takes place in about 13 hours!!! ahhh!!! i've already prepared for this final, and actually my BIGGEST concern right now is the International Relations final with Dr. Druehl on Wednesday... i hope it goes well. So, the Emme Thompson version was stellar-- i mean it-- i really like her. and keanu didn't completely ruin it, and kenneth b., while super obviously narcisctic, didn't get to me too much. umm.... the beginning sequence was particularly interesting-- with all the naked boys and girls screaming and bathing. an interesting interpretation, kenneth. okay, i need to study, so i'm saying SO LONG BLOG!!!! and may i AT LEAST get a good long break from doing these. latah. Posted by Beth Williams on 3/21/04; 10:54:57 PM from the dept. Discuss

Monday, March 15, 2004

Beginning of Act 2, Sc. 3 book vs. film

I am, once again, discussing the play in book form vs the BBC film version: Benedick: Boy! [ENTER BOY] Boy: Yes Signior? Benedick: In my chamber window lies a book. Bring it hither to me in the orchard. --from Shakespeare's "Much Ado About Nothing" Tthe way the BBC did this, and the way I envisioned it was completely different. I loved the humor in the BBC version. When the boy returns with the book, he does not know of Claudio, Prince, and Leonato talking. But Benedick wants to hear all they have to say about Beatrice loving Benedick. So, when the boy runs over with the book, Benedick worries that he'll be spotted (although, of course, the men know he's there) and so he grabs the boy, and covers his mouth to hide. I didn't picture so much humor in the acting out of the scene. Both in this situation, and the one I discussed in my last entry, it seems really interesting the way a play can change-- when read to when preformed. THis seems to be something that sets plays apart from other literature entirely. Interesting. Posted by Beth Williams on 3/15/04; 9:48:40 AM from the dept. Discuss

Much Ado .... book vs. film #1

Benedick: Ha! "Against my will I am sent to bid you come in to dinner." There's a double meaning in that. "I took no more pains for those thanks than you took pains to thank me." That's as much as to say "Any pains that I take for you is as easy as thanks." If I do not take pity in her, I am a villain; if I do not love her, I am a Jew. I will go get her picture. --from Shakespeare's, "Much Ado About Nothing" This soliloquy stood out in particular as one that I envisioned completely differently from how the BBC version of "Much Ado" was preformed. I thought that Benedick was angry, and amused that the men had said Beatrice loved him, because she had not acted like it when she evnvited him to dinner. But the BBC actor said his lines directly to the camera, and very humerously.... and as though he SUDDENLY loved Beatrice. I'm not sure which way is what Shakespeare intended... probably more like the way the BBC did it, because there IS so much humor in his plays. However, its interesting to realize how different interpretations can be done. I thought the BBC version was okay, but I didn't love it... hopefully this coming week we'll watch some great versions. I love Emma Thompson, so thhat version sounds great. Posted by Beth Williams on 3/15/04; 9:41:55 AM from the dept. Discuss

Wednesday, March 3, 2004

commenting on 2 students' blogs

How Hemingway Edits "I've seen every sunrise in my life, " he (Heimingway) said. "I rise at first light, and I start by reading and editing everything I have written to the print where I left off. That way I go through a book several hundred times in manuscript and worked it over thirty times in prof, trying to get it right." this is from jane's blog, and i chose to write about it, because i am doing hemingway for my research paper, so any quote about him sticks out as valuable and interesting.... yes... i also just really love this quote, because it sounds so romantic... it makes the professional happs on writers, like a great (HEMINGWAY), seem so amazing. how peaceful, to wake up every morning, and get right to work on writing, and enjoy to sunrise at the same time. GOOD QUOTE JANE!!! i love seeing that other people in the class comment on things outside of class... christine, for example, writes about "the art of motercycle maitenence," which, of course was a text of the day, so i wrote on it too, and its interesting to see varied opinions. when christina mentions, "All my life I have had teachers that made their students do it the teacher's way." i TOTALLY sympathize... i think i mention this too in my response to the text 4. christina must have gone to a school like LGAC! Posted by Beth Williams on 3/3/04; 2:35:38 PM from the dept. Discuss

my back is KILLING me!

well, we went on a fieldtrip to the library, and it was EXCITING. not only did i find "muscle and fitness" magazine dating back to 2000!, but I also got 5 great books on hemingway... which i get to kep until march 24th, which is 7 whole days after the paper is due- wee hoo. so, the library is really a great source for looking for books. i have to admitt that i enjoy "browsing" at border's better, but thats just me....? it was great looking in the 1977 edition of "la voz" and finding mr. Lovas looking quite dapper in his disco-wear! what else.... oh! i enjoyed looking at the shelf's of newpapers written in chinese! i never knew we had enough demand for that at de anza to do such a thing! thats great... well, hemingway is great.. i found a book directly relating to his career as a journalist... which may come in handy when i discuss his prose style. oh! and i never knew there was an extending room on the top floor. i thought it was taht one "quad" area, with discussion rooms and thats it.... boy was i wrong!!! the "a. robert deheart (spelling...) learning center" is an abundant hotbed for literaary aids and services. Posted by Beth Williams on 3/3/04; 2:21:29 PM from the dept. Discuss