Week 1 Response: Let you go

Using Elizabeth 1 as a starting point, write a short poem that captures the internal complexity of your own emotional state in a relationship. Try out the texture of inner conflict that Elizabeth uses to “nail” the shifts in her own feeling.

How am I supposed to cling on while letting you go?

How am I supposed to forget when it’s you I know?

How am I supposed to love when you cause me pain?

How am I supposed to stop this from happening again?

We are told to love.

We are told to care.

I will still do all of the above

Even with the caused pain you do or don’t spare.

Do I keep you in my world or do I start a new one?

How long do we keep going until one of us think it’s done?

I try to be the best person I can be.

But it’s you who brings out the worst in me.

I’m not even sure if I can find the strength to let you go

when I’ve been weakened by your emotional blow.

But I’ll do what I must before this worsens.

I would rather have no pain and be the better person.

Transmedia Vlog: George Orwell

Group 5: Emma, Celine, Jenny, Joshua, Maggie, Silvano and Sue

Week 10 Response: Reality VS Art

Select a single idea from Pinter’s Nobel Acceptance speech and comment on what you think is the value of its insight into the nature of language.

Writing is an incredible method for divulging reality that is veiled in our reality by society. Harold Pinter’s finishing up proclamation, talks about the lies that are sustained to the world by the legislature, and also the courses in  which they have conceal reality throughout the years. He means to outline how when a certain issue is tended to, we are persuaded that it is consequently reality in light of the fact that when we “investigate a mirror we think the picture that stands up to us is precise. The principal thing we listen, the first thing we see, is thought to be reality. In any case, the “ceaseless scope of reflections” outlines how people have the lost the genuine importance of reality. This is no more one truth, yet a scope of truths, and that is the reason in the matter of why our reality is without a doubt a misleading one. Stories and issues as far and wide as possible are continually changing and that is the reason it is tricky to accept what reality truly is. On the other hand, an author normally challenges these untruths (seen in Pinter’s discourse), in light of the fact that once an essayist crushes “the mirror”, the reality of the situation is situated free. That is the significance of writing. Writing paints a greater picture for the world to see. We live in a world brimming with falsehoods, and the fact of the matter is normally covered by the administration, including the media.

Pinter empowers his group of onlookers parts to take a minute and consider the issues that are introduced around the globe by the media, and by the administration. It is safe to say that it is reality? alternately have we been misdirect? He likewise means to outline the corruptness of the administration, who are not concerned with our helping our reality, yet all the more so concerned with their control over the world; and how they control this force for their own particular advantage.

Harold Pinter’s Nobel Prize discourse Art, Truth and Politics, is genuinely an exceptional discourse. He additionally a wonderful man, who has tested society and the administration, empowering people as far and wide as possible to be mindful of the lies that exist inside our reality. His uprightness and work, are the explanations for Pinter being one of the planets most famous writer.

Peer Review 9: Hayley’s ‘Week 9’

I completely agree with Hayley’s thoughts and views of D.H. Lawrence’s perspective of the snake within the self-titled poem. I like that you described the snake being viewed as “free, majestic, and peaceful” since it does seem to fit with the persona’s description of the snake being “like a king”. To be honest, I was a little lost on what you were saying about D.H. Lawrence respecting the snake. I understand that his choice of words and language give the snake a positive image and reputation but I do not really see the persona respecting the snake. I’m not saying that the persona does not respect the snake, it just doesn’t seem obvious enough to think that he does respect the snake especially that you linked it with the persona’s observation of the snakes actions.

I found your idea of Lawrence challenging society to remove the stereotype off of snakes, symbolising the fact that we should be a lot more independent with our views and attitudes. You point out the fact that the persona still has a desire to attack the snake even though he is interested in the snake itself. I can’t help but think: “well, it is still a snake!” Which definitely emphasises your point on our views. Just because the snake has a way to defend itself, it does not mean that it is dangerous. Still, I can’t help but link the snake to that one of the Garden of Eden.

Week 9 Response: List of useful films of D.H. Lawrence

Collect a short list of the best films on either Lawrence or Mansfield on Youtube and provide an edited list ranking them in order of usefulness.

1. A biography of D.H. Lawrence: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sorUz75FwKg

2. A documentary on D.H Lawrence:
– Part 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDmfCxDJiLc

– Part 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YrBRD1iIqc

– Part 3: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXHUV0ARals

– Part 4: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PO4Untu-4e8

3. Analysis of D.H. Lawrence’s works: http://www.biography.com/people/dh-lawrence-17175776#sons-and-lovers

Peer Review 8: Maggie’s “T.S. Eliot’s ‘The Journey of the Magi'”

I really enjoyed reading this as I found it really interesting. I knew that Eliot’s ‘The Journey of the Magi’ was based on the biblical story but I loved the further discoveries that you made with the poem. It is interesting that you link the white horse within the poem to the horse that Jesus rides on within the book of Revelations. That particular moment is Jesus’ second coming, when He will defeat the beast and bring Christians home to Heaven. By simply linking the two, the poem seems to become a lot more fierce, heightening the experience that the persona is voicing.

I love what you shared in your last paragraph, exploring the rebirth of humanity through Christianity. I never really thought of linking that idea to the Wise Man’s questioning of a birth or death, but it seems to make sense and even quite amazing. Your idea of the three Wise Men feeling out of place because of their faith that is separate to the one that is among the rest of their land is really interesting as well. As you said, Judaism was the common religion of that time, and the Bible explores many situations where someone is “different” because they have faith in God–a different god to those who surround them.

Your response reminds me of Matthew 5:13-16, where we are told to be “the salt of the earth” and that we are “the light of the world”. No matter what darkness surrounds us, our faith in God will outshine that darkness and flavour others’ unbelief, hopefully leading them to God. Well done Maggie!

Week 8 Response: We stop growing when we think it isn’t necessary

Respond briefly to the idea that opening our heart to some one outside our comfort zone can be a real catalyst for personal growth and awakening. Base this on your own experience.

Opening our heart to someone outside our comfort zone can definitely go any way in terms of results and personal growth, depending on the person as well as the matter being shared. Expanding our comfort zones is definitely one way to grow because, in order for us to grow, we need to make enough room for that growth and other people can help with that. But, as I said, people can also prevent and stop our personal growth due to their judgement, feedback and advice. Responding to this statement, I think, allows our experience with this situation to play a big part. For me, I have had quite a positive experience when it comes to opening my heart for the sake of personal growth. A few months ago, I was offered to become a Youth leader at my church. Receiving this offer, I was feeling so many emotions at the same time! I was excited but nervous, motivated but scared, ready but intimidated. Because I was able to test the waters at first, I accepted the offer. To be honest, I was not sure if I really was ready to lead others and become a Youth leader. So, i did what most people would do: I spoke to a good friend. But, even though I consider him a good friend, I have not really opened up to him much and especially about my walk with God. So, this was definitely something that is outside of my comfort zone. After speaking to him and sharing as much as what was needed, I felt a lot more better about both myself and the possibility of becoming a Youth leader. Talking to him allowed me to release what I needed to improve on and allowed me to realise where I exactly fit in all of this. Obviously, I’m not perfect, but I believe that admitting you need improvement is a way of growing and it definitely helps hearing it from someone else. If you were to open up to someone that you already knew very well and also knew you very well, the impact of personal growth or even awakening may not be that effective because you are already so comfortable with this person, you would find it acceptable to be comfortable with your faults. I’m not sure if that makes sense exactly. To me, that idea is quite complex to type out. Anyway, opening up to someone that is outside of your comfort zone is a great way for personal growth. Expanding your comfort zone means expanding the room you have for growth!

Peer Review 7: Vanessa’s ‘Blog Post 7’

Vanessa, you have definitely hit the nail on the head with rewording the passage into “beautiful, clear writing”. Reading the before passage is so confusing and sounds over-packed with too many words (even though your summary is longer). Your summary is definitely a lot more smoother and easier to understand compared to the first passage. Although you managed to make the summary longer than Orwell’s example, this is where quality over quantity is applied.

Here’s the link: http://xoxnessieyy.wordpress.com/2014/09/13/blog-post-7-topic-1/

Week 7: Psalm 51:10

Take a passage from the Bible that you really enjoy and try to turn it into a version full of modern jargon (Use Orwell’s example from Ecclesiastes as a guide).

Create in me a clean heart, O God, 

and renew a right spirit within me.

– Psalm 51:10 (NKJV)

Generate into the interior of my being an immaculate heart, O the Supreme Being,

and reinvigorate a steadfast soul within the bounds of myself.

– Psalm 51:10 (modernised jargon)

Peer Review 6: Hayley’s ‘Week 6: Modernism’

Hayley, I know I should probably start by talking about the beginning of your piece, but I love the way you ended it! It is supposed to be a horror piece after all and it should be so from start to finish, which you did quite well.

Your imagination is interesting and hilarious, but mainly interesting (I promise), coming up with a “horse man” to turn into. I’m assuming it’s the reversal of a centaur though which would be very interesting to see! I like that the atmosphere turns ominous from the use of onomatopoeia of “SCREECHING SCREECHING” since that type of sound–or word–is automatically irritating and fearful at the same time. I have to admit that the rhetorical questions did distract me from staying within the set world of the piece, only because I felt as if they weren’t questions that I would exactly ask–but that’s OK, obviously. I mean this in a positive way!

What I found interesting though was the use of the word “graciously”. In a way, it draws you out from the dark atmosphere, lightens it up, then sucks you back into the darkness with the next sentence, which is awesome!

I do wish you spent more time on the discovery of being turned into something else. I know that we all know how horses look like, but the reaction side of it would have been intriguing with your style of writing. Other than that, I enjoyed the piece greatly. Keep up the good work!

Here’s the link to the post: http://hayfields1994.wordpress.com/2014/09/11/week-7-modernism/