Journal 2- Pathway from Slavery to Freedom
The road from slavery to freedom is a road that has
been traveled by many, but survived by few. Slavery isn’t always
physical, it can be mental as well. Neo is enslaved to the matrix, and
is struggling to gain his freedom, and though it is not easy, no one said
that it would be.
Neo and
everyone else seem to have been deprived of reality. It’s odd to think
that what they considered truth, was really
not the truth at all. Neo was enslaved to the matrix, and felt that freedom
was left in his hands. In his quest for freedom he was face with obstacles
that could have gotten the best of him, but his determination saved him
and other at times. I am reminded of the time when Cypher turned on the
shipmates and became an enemy. Neo could have been killed just like some
of the others that were lost on his ship but the difference is that Neo
knew that the pathway from slavery to freedom rested upon his shoulders.
Sometimes when traveling along life's road we face things such as Neo did,
but I think that the way we come out at the end of the road is what matters.
I am sure that Neo probably felt that there was something that he didn’t
do that he could have done or there is probably something that he did do
that maybe he shouldn’t have done but that the way things go sometimes.
Slavery and freedom are on direct opposite ends
of the spectrum, with a lot of things in between. To get from one
end to the other is no piece of cake, but it’s a person with real heart
that can make the transition, and live to tell the tale.
Journal 3- Dr. Zeltser
On Thursday September 5, Hurley
Auditorium was filled with the sounds of Dr. Mark Zeltser. Dr. Zelter’s
job was to help FYE students tie together Dionysians and Apollonians
through music. These two groups are very different, but by using
his talent, he opened my eyes to the differences.
Sometimes difference such as this
aren't always the ones that jump right out and grab you, but this concert
was a definite eye opener. In the given text, “The Bacchae” there
were two groups of people who served two different people. First
you have the Appolonians. Dr. Zeltser played some music that was
composed Appolonian style, and this was predictable music. This music
was the kind that we have all heard. The kind of music that you hear
and it’s almost like you can predict the next chord. During the concert
I caught myself observing my peers who were also there. During the
Appolonian section I noticed people nodding, or whispering to their neighbors,
but it wasn’t like that for long. Next came the Dionysian music.
This music was some of the most interesting music that I have ever heard.
This music would be going a certain way and just when you thought that
you had caught the pattern it became something totally different.
This was the section of the concert where everyone came alive, and suddenly
no one had time nor the urge to do anything that would have been disruptive
to the concert.
The mark of a great performer is
when he/she can keep the audience into the show, and when they can make
points without saying words. I will admit that I was totally in the
dark when I read the text, but Dr. Zeltser was a great interpreter as well
as a great musician.
In all honesty I don’t really know what this debate left me with as a whole. For clarifications sake there were very good points that were brought out , but in my opinion there seemed to be some gray areas left also. The main question seemed to be “ what is in the best interest of the students?”Journal 4- Alcohol
Journal 5- Oh the Drama!!!
After having to watch a soap opera
today for this journal assignment, I realized why I don’t watch them in
the first place. I can’t believe some of the things that they actually
come up with and of you are not careful, they will pull you down baby!
Although I am not a fan of the soaps, I can see how easily people are captured
for life, by daylight dramas.
On Wednesday, September 19th I
sat down in front of my television, with a chicken wrap, fries and a coke
from Randall’s Place, and tuned into The Young and the Restless or Y &
R to all you avid soapers In this episode, Nikki, wife of the big
and bad Victor Nueman has decided that she wants to become a business woman
instead of the house wife that she has always been. So I am thinking,
how good, she is finding something that makes her happy, but now the Drama!
Instead of her working at her husbands company, she decided that she will
work for her husband’s rival company Gibaud. So now you may
be wondering how all this is connected to Electra? In Electra she
feels that she has been betrayed by her mother because she murdered her
father. Well don’t you think that for one minute that Victor doesn’t’
feel betrayed by his wife. Electra also plots behind her mother’s
back to get what she wants, just a Nikki plots behind Victor’s back.
After all, business is business and drama will still remain drama.
It amazes me that the Greek tragedies
that were written way back then still hold true today. I guess that
in my case it is easier to read than to watch, and I think that I will
keep it that way. But to all you regular, keep me posted!!!!
Journal 6- Prof. S. Giora Shoham
I never know what to expect when I got to hear
people such as Prof Shoham speak. You know that they
are going be very intelligent but sensible…..you never know.
Educated, Prof. Shoham was. He knows 12
different languages. Pretty impressive. I couldn’t really understand
a whole lot of what he said but I do know that he made many
bold statements that pertained to mythology. To be completely
honest I wasn’t all that impressed with his speaking method because I wasn’t
able to follow him because there seemed to be no apparent pattern.
He kind of got under my skin when he made a random comment about
the Lord’s Supper being like Agave ripping Pentheus to pieces.
That is really all that I can say about Prof
Shoham. Due to my not being able to hear him and his speaking
technique I couldn’t really expound on this event a lot.
Journal 8- Henry and Me
When I saw this journal assignment
I pondered what I could have possibly done over fall break that would remotely
compare to Henry V. I am not engaged in war, nor do I plan on being
that was soon. Unfortunately I didn’t find a rich princess
to marry, so what could I have done to be anything like Henry.
The more that I thought,
the more I was puzzled, then I thought, in Henry V he motivated people
to exercise their potential to the fullest by being a motivator.
So here it is, over break I did motivatate someone. One of my friends
went off to Texas A & M, one of Texas’ largest universities.
Just by estimating, I would say that they have at least 25,000 students
and approximately 100 in some or most classes. He has decided that
A&M was too big and that he would drop out. We are talking about
one of the most popular people that I know, an all-american football player,
and # 1 in his high school graduating class. As his friend I felt
that it was my job to motivate him just as King Henry motivated his soldiers.
In these types of situations I learned that you have to be delicate in
the way that you present things to the other party. The more I think
the more I notice that King Henry didn’t just say anything while he was
playing the role of motivator. He was very careful about the way
he worded things and so was I. To make a long story short I was able
to encourage my friend to give A& M one more semester and if by then
he still was unhappy to transfer to a smaller school but NEVER to quit.
I guess just as King Henry, you have to know who you are dealing with and
what exactly you have to say and do to motivate them.
I guess when I think about
it, I was a lot like King Henry over break. I used something that
I have learned and unconsciously used it in my “off time.” Sometimes
the hardest things to connect are already fussed together, but in order
to see the connection you have to be made to.
Journal 9- Shanendoah Shakespeare Express
I attended SSE’s production of Henry V. This production was a great
production, and great in the fact that it allowed me to understand Henry
V a lot better. This production was from the original Henry V text,
but it came across in a modern way.
This was a production that was quite different from any other that I have
seen before. SSE encourages that their show be performed with the
house lights fully up. This was you can see them, they can see you
and the audience can be involved. The actors and actress were very
polished and ready for this performance. They were able to take the
audience back to the medevial period. I would have to say that Henry
was the character that stood out to me. He was a really good portrayer
of the part. He was a great motivator for his soldiers and he made
them all feel the same. Just to watch his performance was a thrill
within itself. After I left this performance I understood so much
more about Henry V than I ever knew before I walked in the door.
I am very thankful that SSE got a chance to stop by and visit Centenary.
There couldn’t have been a better way to help the FYEers understand Henry
V. SSE helped us to see it live and in color.
Journal 10- Corrington Award
This FYE event was a very
special one because CK Williams , the man that we had discussed in class
so many times was here alive and in color. Ck William attended
the Corrington Awards at our campus and he was definitely all that
I expected him to be and more.
I think the most interesting
poem that he recited was “War.” I guess this really seemed odd to
me because when you think of war, you think of soldiers going to war or
something to that affect, but Williams was actually talking
about his son and a friend. These two children are playing
like they are enemies, just as any other children would do. Williams
describes how one shoots the other, and how he takes the shot and over
exaggerate his death and plunge to the ground. I couldn’t help but
think of the significance of this. Even though these children are playing
as if they are enemies, when all is over they really aren’t that at all.
I thought this poem was one of a kind, but it turns out that Williams after
forgetting that he had previously titled this poem “war” titled another
poem “war.”
I think the nicest thing
about Williams’ is the fact that we finally got to put a face with
the name that is so many of out text books. It was also nice
to get to hear what people really mean when they write. So
many times we speculate what people mean because that’s all we can
do sometimes, but it’s always good when an interpretation comes to life.
Journal 11- gods and Monsters
During this week I watched Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein and gods and monsters.
Before I continue writing this journal entry I would like you to make note
that I didn’t capitalize gods. This is because…….well let’s just
say if you have watched the movie you undertstand.
gods and monsters was like Frankenstein in the fact that it was about
the same person, but they were like night and day. gods and monsters
was about the director of Frankenstein series. In his prime he was
one of Hollywoods ‘s most talented directors around. Now that he
is old is his not that same person that he once was. I found this
movie disgusting because he was a homosexual who always had these vivid
dreams of the guys with whom he “associated” with. I was not grossed
out because of his sexual preference, I was grossed out because the movie
was so graphic in that aspect. Once I finished watching the movie,
I knew nothing more about Frankenstein. However, when I finished
Frankenstein I knew more details that I had missed in the book.
I know this journal entry sort of got off subject, but I can’t dismiss
the fact that I watched such a movie that seemed so off text. I guess all
I can say is that next time I should be a little more selective in the
movies that I pick to watch, especially when I am expected to gain something
from them.
Journal 12- Electa
MLP’s
version of Electra was definitely a lot better than I expected it to be.
There were things that I questioned but the play overall was very good,
and very thought provoking.
When
I entered the theatre I couldn’t believe the set design. I never
would have guessed that the theatre department right here at Centenary
College would have such an illustrious set. The woodwork and fine
details of the set was definitely time consuming. I guess one of
the things that I questioned most was Electra herself. When reading
the book I never imagined her being so depressing. I picture her
to be more bitter and less emotional. She cried and screamed the
whole play which was definitely not what I expected. She seemed so
revengeful in the book but in the play she seemed to feel more sorry for
herself than anything. When Electra’s mother came out in that big
red evening gown the question marks really flew up. I just thought
that the dress was a little too modern for the setting. Who wore an evening
gown that was designed like that back in those days. Most formal
wear during that time were full ball gowns not skin tight dresses.
I just don’t know if that was appropriate for a mother. She was a
murdered, yes, but not tasteless. ( at least the text doesn’t say so) Besides
that I thought that the performance was very good and matched up to the
text very well.
Bravo
to MLP for their great work in this performance. As much as I hate
FYE at times I am really glad that we have to see things like this.
These things always seem to bring so much clarity to the texts.
Journal 13-Rose Van Thyn
AWESOME!!! That is the only word that I
can think of that would remotely describe this experience. Listening
to a Holocaust survivor is definitely a first for me, but I hope it isn’t
a last. The thrill that I got from listening to Mrs. Van Thyn is
one that I hope to never forget.
Listening to her narrative was like being there,
but not being there. She spoke in such a way that made you feel present
there, but from a far away place if that makes any sense. I just
could not imagine someone going through the things that she did and being
able to tell the story so powerfully. I thought that the stage set
up was really nice and simple. This was you weren’t distracted by a whole
lot of other things, you were focused on the important thing, and that
was her. If I were in her shoes I don’t honestly think that I would
have been able to speak of such a horrific event if I had gone through
such an event. I have such a respect for Van Thyn because of what
she survived and because of her ability to not hold a grudge towards these
people .
I thoroughly enjoyed this convocation and wish
that I had gotten an opportunity to speak with her in person and hopefully
some day I will. But I know that if there were ever a wise person
upon the earth Rose Van Thyn is defintely her.
Journal 14- Museum
I chose to visit an exhibit at Meadows Museum.
I was very surprised at the facility since it was my first visit there.
Very professional and very informative. I visit the exhibit
on Elvis and although I am not an Elvis fan, I did enjoy the
exhibit.
This exhibit featured pictures from one
of Elvis’ tours. Elvis was describes as being a natural
guy who just happened to be famous. It was amazing to see the
crowds of thousands that flocked out to see the young man and the
women who through themselves on him. These pictures were taken because
he was one of the most popular singers around at the time and the photographer
felt that his fans would like to see him as a normal person and not
just as someone on stage. Elvis is such a huge part of music’s
history even today because there are people who still choose to believe
that he is still alive. The best connection that I can make
between the two is this: Elvis was “THE KING” so some thought, and
it was almost like a fantasy life that he lived. At that was
captured in these photos, where the women were fainting in his presence.
But on the contrary, during the Holocaust people were living a live that
was so real and so intense that a cartoon was the easiest way to take it.
I don’t know that I could handle seeing real life pictures of the Holocaust.
It puzzles me to know that some people are living
“the life” and there are others are who are just trying to live.
A picture is worth a thousand words, but I have come to realize that a
cartoon can be priceless.
Journal 15- Music and Magic
Even though I am a few hours late, tonight I
attended Music and Magic. This was a production from
MLP and the John Rabenhorst. It was nice to actually go to a performance
and just enjoy it and not have to take notes or something to that
affect. Even though I am not a huge fan of magic shows, I enjoyed John
a lot.
The first half was basically a talent
show which included ladies who were all dressed in black. Some even
called themselves the “ladies of the night.” These musical selections
varied from Christian to comical selections. Either
way they were all entertaining. The second half was an awesome
magic show. Headed by Centenary student John Rabenhorst. For
John to be a non-professional magician he has his act
down.. He varies his illusions from the typical to very
odd. They were all great illusions and he was a great magician.
I think one of the things that I liked most was that John was a very
comical narrator which is a good attention getter. John
was also very good about getting the audience involves in his show. He
pick volunteers from the audience and always attempted
to show us how he made the illusion work, Of course he didn’t really want
us to know, but it was funny knowing that he actually tried.
Although I am a little disappointed because
I wasn’t called as a volunteer I really did enjoy the show.
Despite what others may think , a Friday night filled with music and
magic isn’t half bad.
Journal 16-Final Thoughts..
I have almost made it through my first college
semester. I have learned so much and there are still some things
that I haven’t learned, but through it all this is an experience that I
wouldn’t trade for the world.
Well I have learned through this FYE course
to look more analytically at things. I can honestly say that before
this class I never really scratched below the surface in many things, but
now I catch myself always thinking deeper and deeper into things.
As much as I hated to make myself go to some of the FYE events there is
nothing that I regret about this course. Everything that I attended
or wrote or thought about when it comes to this class has definitely
been a help to me. Because of FYE I feel that I have become
a more well rounded person. I have realized that I was closed
minded to some things, but I feel that I am slowly becoming more
open to new things. This class hasn’t taught me how to budget money
because I am spending money as fast as I can make it but I don’t know that
that was one of the goals of this class.
As frustrated as FYE can become
I found out that it has been worth it. The things that I have learned
in FYE have really grounded me for a great 4 years here. All of you
have taught me something in one way or another, whether you know it or
not, and for that I am grateful. I couldn’t have asked for a better
Prof.. After all you were officially my first prof because you were
my first class here. During the rest of my years at Centenary
I will never forget my experiences with FYE.
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