Class Improvements

Change Review Weeks to Planning Weeks: I really like this idea because I wish I would have taken more time to plan out my schedule. At the beginning of the semester, I set a schedule, but I definitely did not follow it. I hadn't had the chance to get a feel for my semester, so I found myself motivated by deadlines more than anything. By having built in planning time, I think students will be benefited.

Expand the Story Planning Option: I loved being able to plan my stories. It is really hard to sit down and write a story that I am immediately happy with, so being able to plan actually made me enjoy the writing process more. As for the storybook, it would be nice if we could do planning assignments and get feedback from other students. I got feedback after writing a story, but by then, my main story elements were in place and the feedback really couldn't help shape or influence the story as much.

Create more audio recordings: This would be a really great idea for this class. It is sometimes hard to find time sit down and read, but there are plenty of times I could be listening to something (like while driving). I also think having it as an extra credit assignment would save you from recording so much. My only concern with this idea is that it would be much harder to take notes over the reading. I don't know if I would look for storytelling ideas while listening to a story.

Create writing tutorial videos: I think my students would appreciate these kinds of videos. It has been a while since I've taken any grammar/writing classes, so sometimes I find myself making mistakes, too. I also think it would be really helpful for less common types of writing like dialogue. I, for one, had done very little dialogue writing prior to this class, so it would be nice to have a reference when doing it.

Create thematic reading units: I really like this idea! I'm just not sure what themes you should do since many common themes are present across the different cultures the reading materials come from.


One suggestion I have would be to push the storytelling assignment back to Thursday. If the story is based on a reading done on Tuesday, it can really be hard to turn around and have a nice story within a day. Although the story planning option is helpful in this regard, I still think even the planning process can be hard when I've not had much time to think about it. Most of my a-ha moments for the storybook came after I thought about it for a couple of days. I also think the extra day would be helpful if a student were trying out a new way of telling a story. 

Tech Tip: Weather Widget

I decided to add a weather widget to my site after seeing another classmate with it on his. I want to know the weather at any given time so I can be prepared. With Oklahoma's weather, you can never be too sure what's going on in the sky.

Week 14 Storytelling: The Lonely Mermaid

"Grandma said I could start looking for a man when I turn 15," Ariel reminded herself as she counted down the second left until her 15th birthday. "Three, two, o--" Ariel was interrupted by a loud crack of thunder coming from far above her underwater abode. "That was unusually loud. Might my father be scaring off a surface-dwelling traveler again?"

Quickly swimming to peak her head out of the ocean, Ariel heard another loud crash. Only this time, it didn't sound like thunder. With her mermaid tail moving faster and faster, she soon made it to the top of the ocean to find a wooden vessel stranded on a rocky beach in the midst of a storm. "Surely they are seeking shelter," Ariel wondered to herself. She quietly swam closer, continuing to hide from view. She saw a few men carrying supplies ashore at a fast pace. The storm seemed to be picking up.

"Oh, my!" Ariel spotted the most handsome man she had ever encountered. She watched as he commanded his group of men to build an awning-like covering near a small cave. His skin seemed to glow. "He must be a prince!" Suddenly, another burst of lightning tore through the sky. That was Ariel's sign that it would be in her best interest to return to the depths of the ocean.

The next morning, Ariel's curiosity got the best of her. She got up extra early, before any of her sisters, to go take a look at that island. When she reached the outer edge of the rocky beach, she noticed the men still remained even after the storm blew over. It looked as if they intended to take residence on the island rather than simply take shelter. She desperately wanted to call out and make her presence known. She wanted to introduce herself to the man, and maybe he would be the one she marries. But she was too afraid to speak, so she silently watched. Soon, they had several maps flattened on wooden tables, being used in conjunction with sextants and telescopes. "What might they be up to?" Ariel pondered. She decided she would keep track of their work.

For weeks, Ariel would surface the waters early in the morning only to find the men doing the exact same tasks each day.  She felt like all of the work was meaningless. She wanted to know what was so important. But as each day passed, she became more and more disinterested in the men. She decided she would check on them one last time, but come morning, the men and ship had completely vanished. She circumnavigated the island looking for any sign of life. Once she returned to the point where she started, she decided she would never know. However, as she swam away from the island, she spotted something glimmering atop the water.

She quickly made her way to the object, to find a business card with the handsome man's image along with contact details printed with a metallic finish.  Hurrying back home, she looked the man up online. The first search result was for a blog about exploring. "Surely this is it," Ariel spoke to herself. The side of the web page confirmed her suspicions. There was the man -- a prince!

I, Prince Martin, have been out on the ocean for the past few months. As you know, it was prophecized that my soul mate would be a mermaid! I traveled to the only known location of mermaids, and I did the only thing I could do -- I waited! Yet, no mermaid came to me. I guess this is a cruel fate I must come to terms with.

Horrified at her decision to remain silent, Ariel began to post a comment. I was there! I watched you from afar, but I didn't know why you were there. Surely I am the mermaid foretold in your prophecy! she typed. But before she could hit send, she decided it was too late. He was long gone, and what are the odds he would actually believe her? Ariel turned off the computer and went to play with her sisters. She knew he was the man her grandma told her she would fine -- but he was gone.

~ ~ ~

Author's Note: For this retelling of The Little Mermaid, I focused solely on the part where the mermaid, who I name Ariel after the Disney version of the story, sees the man at the surface of the water. I extend the time she watches him to create an apparent timidness in Ariel. In the original story, she eventually meets the prince after trading her voice for human legs, but I decided that I wanted her shyness to represent her lost voice. I use her inability to speak as the way to the tragic ending of loneliness. Since this is a story I will be using for my storybook, I touched on a bit of social media -- a blog in this case -- just as a basis for when I write the full story.

Bibliography: Fairy Tales and Stories, by Hans Christian Andersen

Image:  Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen

Week 14 Reading Notes: Hans Christian Andersen, Part B

For this assignment, I chose to read the story of the Little Mermaid since that is the story I am adapting for my storybook. In my notes, I recorded things that stood out to me -- anything I might try to incorporate into my storybook entry.

The first character introduce is not the Little Mermaid, but instead the Sea King. Obviously, he must be included in my story. I also might want to include the marble statue the Little Mermaid adored. The story mentions she is 15. I think my story would have her at an older age, but I might start it at 15, progressing through her years to show how long she did not reach to the handsome prince (as I plan to do in my story). She also has a noticeable disconnect from all of her sisters. I would probably use this for conflict in my story.

The Little Mermaid has a notably beautiful voice -- which she later loses -- so I might use this as a feature of her. Since all the other stories I have written for my storybook maintain the original nature of characters (i.e. the wolf remained a wolf in my telling of Little Red Riding Hood), I have to figure out how to keep a mermaid a mermaid. I might need to expand on the side of the prince. He may have been in search of a mermaid to be his bride. I think the best bet is to give him motivation. I might even do one of those cheesy "find local singles in your area" type apps for a touch of humor.

A major piece of the original story is the loss of voice. I originally considered just having her too afraid to send a message to the prince. My intro mentions that this story was a blunder of Social Media's so I will need to find a way for him to screw up. I also might have his character act like she died to cover up his screw up.

~  ~  ~

Bibliography: Fairy Tales and Stories, by Hans Christian Andersen

Image:  Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen

Wikipedia Trail: From International Romani Day to Czechoslovakia

 

Flag of the Romani People, via Wikipedia

International Romani Day: I first began with this article due to noticing it in the class announcements (and subsequently writing a blog post about it and how I studied the people in a world music class). I was mainly interested in knowing when it began, which was in 1990.

14th Dalai Lama: I then moved on to the Dalai Lama because I saw he lit a candle to commemorate International Romani Day in 2003. That seemed pretty significant to me, so I thought this would be the right direction to move down the rabbit hole.

Refugee: I then moved on to refugee because of a parallel I thought of. The Romani people were and are often thought of in the same way as many people in the US view refugees -- terrible people. They both are despised by many, even when there is nothing despicable about them.

Czechoslovakia: I ended my journey with Czechoslovakia because of my bloodline. There were many Czechoslovakian refugees during the Nazi era, so that tied well with the previous article. I am also 25% Czechoslovakian, so I thought it was cool to see how my ancestors are just a few jumps away from a holiday that celebrates a group of people that I have been studying in my world music class.

Growth Mindset: Growth Beyond School

This year school year, I have served as a program director for the Union Programming Board, and I can say with 100% confidence that it has been the single most challenging thing I have done in college. It has pushed me in so many ways, and I have seen growth in myself that I would have never imagined. Being able to call me a leader is something I never thought I would be able to do. Yet, here I am, two events down. I have seen growth in time-management skills, growth in empathy, and growth in self-confidence. My own mother was telling me today that it astounded her, and many others from my hometown, to see me flourishing the way I am. This was simply something so out of character for incoming freshman Todd.

Next year, I see even more growth for myself due to UPB. I will be taking on a new role on the executive board -- public relations director. Now, I get to learn a whole lot of new stuff. How to brand an organization, how to effectively use social media, how to market an organization so that we can attract more members, and so on. This is new territory for me, but I believe the growth will be worth the effort.

Image: plant, via Pexels

Learning Challenge: Sharing a Happiness Tip

One tip I've taken and applied to my life is keeping a journal. I've found that since I've started, my overall happiness has increased. I just write down things about my day, whether good or bad, and then I reflect on them. I write how I think it applies to my life and how I should react to those things. I have learned that there are a couple of things to keep in mind when journaling.

First, don't write down only the bad stuff. If you only write down bad stuff, you start to think that your life never has good stuff. Likewise, don't only write down the good stuff. I find it hard to be reflective and self-critical if I don't acknowledge what I don't like.

Next, don't make it easy to journal. By this, I mean you shouldn't have an always-accessible journal. Don't do it on your phone. If you can write something in an instant, you won't give yourself the time to think about the thing. You won't think about how it actually affects your life. You won't be able to realize you overreacted.

 Writing it down makes you acknowledge it's real and that it matters to you. It may not work for you, but it has definitely made me a happier person. I've been able to recognize and work on the aspects of my life that I want to change. But I think self-reflection, in general, can make anyone happier.

Image: journal, via Pixabay

Famous Last Words: Almost Over

It feels weird because this is the first time in a while that I was able to get both reading assignments finished. But that is probably because I finally am finished with most of my extracurricular stuff. I actually enjoyed the challenge of retelling a nursery rhyme. I think it was really good that I challenged myself to take so little content and flesh it out into a story. I also had fun trying to imagine what the mind of a seven-year-old would be like.

I am really happy with where my storybook is going. At first, I was worried that my idea would be great in theory but garbage in execution, but I have pleasantly surprised myself. Now I just have one more story to write, so, hopefully, it turns out as well as the last two have. I am also excited to write it because it will be the first non-"happily-ever-after" story I write. I actually can't wait to have this project entirely finished; it seems like something cool I can look back on in the future.

I wish my other classes were winding down, but most of them are ramping up in the amount of work to do. In contrast, I feel my motivation is quickly diminishing. All I can look forward to is summer at this point. I would like to get the class over as soon as possible, not because I do not enjoy it, but because it would be convenient. I am almost there, but part of me wants to just put a bare amount of effort in each week and not finish early.

My plan is to do all of the extra credit assignments for this week. That is why I'm writing this. If I do, then I think I can get myself enough points next week so that I can coast the rest of the semester in this course. Wow, that sounds bad and lazy.

Image: tired dog, via Flikr

Week 11 Review: International Romani Day

 This week, one of my favorite topics included in the course announcements was about International Romani Day. The reason this one stood out to me is because of the world music class I am currently taking. In it, we spent a couple of days watching a movie called "Latcho Drom" which documents the travels of a Romani group from India to Spain. It focuses primarily on the music of the people, and the music is rather depressing. They have a tragic backstory, and they all just wish to be accepted bu the world.

Image: Roma woman and daughter, source

Week 11 Storytelling: The Last Bird

. . . 

ONCE I saw a little bird
Come hop, hop, hop;

. . .

For several months, I have waited for you to appear. You are the last one on my list -- the blue jay. I can't wait to meet you. Are you a boy or a girl? My grandma and I have tried to meet every bird that lives in my area, and we have been working on it for as long as I can remember. I am now seven years old, but in just a few weeks I will be eight. My goal is to finish this list before I am eight so that we can start on a new list. I think I want to try butterflies next! Oh, no! This is my chance!

. . .
So I cried, "Little bird,
Will you stop, stop, stop?"

. . .

Please stop! I must meet you. Surely you understand how important this is. I am almost eight! I've met your friend the red robin -- she was really pretty. I wonder if you are friends with that woodpecker. He got on my nerves. I am so glad I do not need to meet him again. Oh, and the hummingbird! I do not understand how something so small can fly. I, too, am small, but sadly I cannot fly. My grandma says this is normal, but I think I could make wings for myself to try. Imagine where I would go. Maybe I could go and meet your grandma. We could have fun parties and be best friends. I must come and meet you!

. . .
And was going to the window,
To say, "How do you do?"

. . .

What do you do every day? Do you have a job? Where do you live? I wish to know these things. My dad is a lawyer. I am not sure what that means, but he does know some really big words. He tells me that I know some big words for my age, so maybe I'll be a lawyer, too. My mom is a school teacher. She does not work at the school I go to, but I think that is for the best. I get into trouble. My teacher tells me to wear my jacket so I don't get wet, but getting soaked from rain is like swimming on land. I bet you do not like the rain because of what it does to your feathers. I bet your home is somewhere that is always dry. Do you have children? What about grandchildren? Would you take them to meet every kind of people? I am almost there so that I can ask you all of these things!

. . .
But he shook his little tail,
And far away he flew.

. . .

Wait! Where are you going?! I had so many questions! And I am almost eight! How will I complete my list? I do not want to wait several months more just to try and see you again! I was almost to the window where you perched. Is something wrong? Did your family call you away? Sometimes I am having fun but my mom calls for me to leave. I do not like to leave, but I guess I have to if she needs me. Well, I hope we soon meet again. I cannot meet the butterflies until I have met you.

 ~ ~ ~ 

Author's Note: I based this story on a nursery rhyme about someone trying to meet a bird that ends up flying away before he or she can. The italicized words are the actual nursery rhyme, taken directly from the source. All of the other text is what I have added. In my case, it was the internal dialogue of a child. For my retelling, I imagined the person meeting the bird to be a young child, about seven years old as indicated in the story. The most important thing I strived to do was to try and recreate the mind of a young child. Children often talk to things that aren't human as if they were, and I wanted to replicate that. I also let the thought of the child go down long tangents because children's minds will run wild. 

Bibliography: Nursery Rhymes: Natural History, Part 1 from The Nursery Rhyme Book by Andrew Lang

Image: Blue Jay with peanut, via Wikimedia Commons

Week 11 Reading Notes: Nursery Rhymes, Part B

Since so many of the nursery rhymes have no meaning, it has been hard to find areas to be creative. However, I did find one in the Natural History (Part 1) section about a little bird. In it, a person wishes to know how a bird was doing. But as the person neared the window, the bird flew away. This makes me think of a very young child enamored by a bird, curious at how it flies. So if I were to write a story, I would focus on a small child who has a love for birds.

Then there is a story about a little boy going to take hay to a barn, only to be scared by the owl that resides there. If I were to write a story, I could see the boy having a fear of the barn because of the owl. Eventually, he would try to conquer his fear of the owl and see that it is harmless. But in the end, the owl would become scared by the human, fly away, and scare the child. 

Those are really the only two stories I see room for being creative. I figured doing the nursery rhyme section would be difficult anyways. 

~ ~ ~

Bibliography: The Nursery Rhyme Book by Andrew Lang

Image: Humpty Dumpy statue, photo via Pixabay

Tech Tip: Editing Pins

After adding a Twitter widget to a blog post, I have now added it to the sidebar. I chose to use the professor's Twitter stream because my fellow classmates might notice something of interest or relevance as they read my blog.

Tech Tip: Sidebar Box

I have added an HTML sidebar box to my blog. In fact, it was really easy. Yes, I really have eaten tons of Jolly Ranchers while writing for this course. And yes, you are wrong if you don't think the blue raspberry ones are the best. Because they definitely are.

Tech Tip: Twitter Widget in Post

Tweets by OnlineMythIndia

Week 11 Reading Notes: Nursery Rhymes, Part A

I chose to read Nursery Rhymes this week because they are often very short. I feel like that gives me a plethora of opportunities to expand on them.

One story that stick out from the section "Tales", is Robin the Bobbin. Robin eats many things, but he is never full. In a retelling, I could make each thing a metaphor for something rather than a straightforward, hyperbole that it is in the nursery rhyme.

Reading from the "Proverbs" section, I could see myself taking "For Want of a Nail" and making it a longer story. It provides key details, but how those details come about would be completely up to me.

I really don't know how to take notes over nursery rhymes, to be honest. They are often childish, nonsensical rhymes. Sometimes they may have a moral behind them, but that is not always the case. A huge part is just making the stories flow well. I think between the two nursery rhymes I took notes of, I will have a good basis for my story come Wednesday.

~ ~ ~

Bibliography: The Nursery Rhyme Book by Andrew Lang

Image: The Nursery Rhyme Book, cover illustrated by L Leslie Brooke, source

Week 10 Review

This week, my favorite piece from an announcement was about punctuation. In the picture, it showed various punctuation that aren't often used. In fact, I was only familiar with one of them -- the interrobang. Something I like about the different punctuation marks is that it allows for greater nuance in meaning. Sometimes a question mark just won't do. Here's the picture:

Class Announcement: http://ouclassannouncements.blogspot.com/2017/03/friday-march-31.html
Image Source: http://writingwithaesop.blogspot.com/2016/01/little-known-punctuation-marks.html

Storytelling Week 10: Stay Afloat

I thought I should probably start chronicling my life. Today, my dog began to speak to me. We were down by the river when it foretold of an oncoming wave that would wash away all people. I didn't believe it, but the dog had the sign. It had a barren neck, and I could see the bones. This is a sign to my people that there is divine intervention. I must take its warning and begin constructing a great raft and save my family.

. . .

I began drafting my plans for the raft. I worry that I will not have enough money to cover the costs. We barely can afford anything. And if the dog is wrong, I will have nothing left for sure. But I must trust the sign. 

. . . 

Today, I went and hired help to acquire lumber. I do not think they would have believed me if I told them the reason behind it all, so I fed them a story about building a great home for my family. I guess I was not lying. I am building the a home -- a future in which they may live. 

. . .

Getting the wood has been very hard lately. I am not resting at night because I am constantly worrying about the waters. When will they come? I do not know. It could be tomorrow. It could be in a month.  And the longer we go, the more tired I grow. Hopefully, we will be done soon.

. . .

We are finally done, and I can begin building the raft. The skies grow dark, so I believe it is almost time. The locals think that the gods will descend from the sky to greet us. But they do not know what will really happen. I am almost there.

. . .

My wife is beginning to question the validity of all of this. I try to make her remember the sign of the gods. But we are barely scraping by, and she grows frustrated at how long this is taking. Even the others are beginning to mock me. They think I have gone insane. Maybe I have.

. . .

I now have but one reason to continue -- to save myself. My wife took the children and left me. She said this was all a scam. I thought about stopping. She would surely return if I stopped. But if the flood were truly on its way, then what good would stopping be? I can only hope that she returns in time.

. . .

I am almost done. I am alone, and I am hungry. But I only have a couple days' work to go. The skies grow evermore darker. The winds have been angry, and I swear I hear low rumbles from the skies. I tried to mend fences with my wife. She is still in doubt. But I see the worry in her face. Hopefully I have not lost her for good.

. . . 

It is done. A heavy drizzle began last night. The rivers are flooding. Most others seem worried, but they are too proud to admit I was right. I now am taking shelter on the raft in case the rain picks up while I sleep. I hope they come back.

. . .

I guess today is not the day. Though there is flooding, it is not yet severe enough to change the mindset of the others. I went out looking for my wife and children. I could not find them, and other have not seen them for a week. I hope she has not killed her self and the children out of fear. I would always take her back.

. . . 

It will be tomorrow. I can feel it. The dog is much more restless. She isn't back. Maybe I should leave the raft so that I won't have to live without her.

. . .

Today is a good day. Well, it is bad, but there is good in it. With a loud crack a lightning, the waters began to rise with urgency. The others retreated to the mountains, but they will surely drown even on the highest peaks. They were warned. My wife and children. On the peaks, even they would drown. But they will not drown for they have returned! I asked my wife where she had been the past week. She had been out collecting food to survive for three weeks of time afloat. I knew she would come back. I knew her doubt would recede just as these waters will, too.

~ ~ ~

Author's Note: I based this story on a Cherokee myth known as The Deluge. In it, a dog warns a man of an impending flood and instructs him to build a raft. The man does not believe the dog at first, but the dog instructs the man to look at its neck. The man see bare skin and bones and believes the dog. So the man builds a raft and is able to live while everything and everyone else drowns. For my story, I decide to chronicle the process of building the raft in a journal entry format. I wanted to dive into the mind of the man and his reactions to everything.

Image: photo by Mike Baird

Week 10 Reading Notes: Cherokee Myths, Part A

The first story in this section is a creation story. This one is really different from most creation stories I've ever read. It is really neat to see the differences between cultures.

The next story is about fire. In it, many creatures attempt to retrieve fire from an island, and most of them fail to do so. I might be able to take the essence of this story -- many animals, or people, not being well equipped to accomplish a task -- and make a new story.

The next story is about finding the sunrise. One thing that really caught my attention is that they came across a tribe with odd death-related rituals. If a husband dies before his wife, then she is buried alive with his corpse. I could maybe expand upon this part. Even though it is not about the Cherokee people, it still is an interesting place I could explore as a writer.

The next story is about the formation of a constellation. 6 boys use a Feather-dance and begin to ascend to the sky. Eventually, they become a constellation. I figure that their mothers would be in great mourning so I might want to write a story about some rituals that may have developed as a result. I would want to probably include the pine tree since it was of great significance in the story as well.

Reading the Moon and the Thunders, I was first surprised that the Sun was female. Usually, the sun is a male figure. The Moon courts a man while the Sun is away. Maybe this would be a good spot to write a story about their time together.

The Deluge immediately reminded my of the common "Great Flood" story present in many cultures. However, this one is interesting to me because many of the cultures with a Great Flood were once located in the Fertile Crescent. Maybe I could do a journal entry story about the process of building a big raft. This would also give me the chance to employ a new writing technique that I've yet to do.

I read the remaining stories, but I really like the idea of retelling the Deluge in a journal storytelling frame. So this is what I plan to write tomorrow.


~ ~ ~

Bibliography: Myths of the Cherokee, by James Mooney

Image: photo by Mike Baird

Week 9 Reading Notes: Alaskan Legends, Part A

I've never read enough Native American literature to remember anything from it. Furthermore, Native American literature encompasses a huge range of cultures and stories. So I went with the one I figured I'd be least familiar with -- Alaskan myths and legends. Opening the unit, I was actually very happy to see it include a story of Creation. I always love reading different explanations for the same concept.

Reading about the Raven, my biggest question comes from wondering how the backstory of the Raven. I definitely the see parallels to other religions with a god who creates everything. But very little is revealed of the Raven.

I also find it really interesting how many of these stories are so similar to other religious stories. Even the Alaskans had a Great Flood myth. One story that caught me off guard after all of the parallels was the story about the Raven's mother dying. The Creator had a creator? That might be an interesting area to spin off my own story from. The Creation of the creator of the Creator, I might call it.

Something I really appreciate about the myths and legends is that they are openly tailored to the area of the time of writing. The Flood might have had something to do with polar icecap melting. There are stories about seals and sea lions. It makes me stop for a moment to consider the fact that the Alaskan native probably knew little of other civilization. For they may have known, they were the entire world.

The biggest idea that I took away from reading about the Alaskans is that they directly took their environment when writing their stories. What was important to the Alaskan natives was important to the story. So if I am to retell one of these stories, I would want to utilize the environment of where the narrator of my story is located.


~ ~ ~

Bibliography: Myths and Legends of Alaska, edited by Katharine Berry Judson

Image: illustration fro Judson's book

Week 13 Reading Notes: Brothers Grimm (Ashliman), Part A

For Part A, I mainly focused on Little Red Cap since it would be featured in my storybook. With it in mind that I would be retelling this story to be a date between the wolf and Little Red, I wanted to find elements that could be worked into my rendition.

It is obvious that I have to keep the titular red cap; it is essentially Little Red's identity. It came from her grandma, so I don't think that will have to change in my story.

On a side note: I wish my mom sent me cake and wine when I'm sick! I'm really not sure where I'll work in the mother since the story really doesn't involve her much, but I might be able to keep her as someone who helps catalyze Little Red's usage of Tinder.

When Little Red first meets the wolf, she is unfamiliar with what creature the wolf is. That kinda reminds me of social media, Tinder specifically. You meet someone new, and you really know nothing besides the superficial, surface details. 

The story also spends quite a bit of time talking about the flowers, so I probably should include the flowers. Since Little Red collects them before going to see her grandmother, maybe I can find a way to swap it where it is actually the wolf collecting them. Maybe he will get them before a date with Little Red.

Another classic part of the story is Little Red describing the wolf's features. So since Little Red is going on a date, maybe she describes what the wolf looks like to a friend -- maybe her mother. Since my story is about the two dating, I do not think it would make sense if the wolf was a threat. So I definitely plan to take out that aspect of the story. I'm not sure what to do with the huntsman in that case, but maybe I can make another character te huntsman too. Maybe the wolf is the huntsman. Or maybe her grandfather (which is a character I could always add since he is not in the original story).
Since I've already established that the "original" version is a lie spread by the wolf's ex, this one will need to probably end on a happy note. So no murder will be needed.

~ ~ ~

Bibliography: The Grimm Brothers' Children's and Household Tales as translated by D. L. Ashliman

Image: Little Red Riding Hood 1881, via Wikimedia Commons

Week 8 Growth Mindset

This class has really been beneficial in allowing me to have the growth mindset. Without a course like this, I would never even dream of taking a creative writing class. I like to stick to what I know and what I've experienced before. However, with the freedom this class offers, I actually can focus on growth rather than trying to reach performance-based standards. I actually find myself wanting to challenge myself because I know that if I do poorly, there aren't many repercussions. I can just try again the next week; there's nothing in place to discourage challenge. One weakness I'm trying to better overcome with this class is putting off assignments until the last minute. So far, that's not really worked. But my goal for the second half of the semester is to start working ahead. This class allows for that to happen, I just need to take advantage of it. Another thing that I like about this class is that I don't feel like I need to perfect each assignment. Usually, I try to make my work flawless. But with this class, I can build upon my skills each week, over and over. If I don't get how I like it the first week, I can try again the following week. Or I can try something new and see if I like the new way better. Next semester, I hope to also experiment in my writing more than I already am. I've tried new things. But I want to never settle for what's comfortable. And again, this class is perfect for that. Concerning the readings, I've exposed myself to a lot of different cultures and their stories simply because there was nothing to worry about by choosing something unfamiliar. I've read stories I'd never imagine reading in a class, and I have actually rather enjoyed many of them.

~ ~ ~

Image: Old-Growth Forest, via Flikr

Week 8 Reflections

Reading: Concerning my reading choices, I feel like I'm making good choices. I've read stories that I probably would have never read if I were not in this class. I really enjoyed the Japanese and Chinese stories I've read. I feel this is probably because it's a type of literature I've never exposed myself to. I've still not found a great schedule to do the readings. I've found that I put off the reading assignments until the hour before they're due. It's just really convenient when we have so much leeway. I'm hoping that next semester I get on top of it all.

I don't feel that my reading notes were good at the beginning of the course. I feel like I took notes as if I was going to be tested over the material. It's been a struggle to adjust to a different kind of note taking, but I think I've recently found that right balance.

For my upcoming readings, I definitely want to check out the Inuit stories, the marriage tales, and then the stories that contain the stories my storybook will be based on.

Writing: I've definitely been please with my writing. I've surprised myself with how creative I've been. I expected to be pretty dry and unimaginative, but I've pleasantly surprised. When I encounter an issue writing, I've found that taking a break tends to help the most. I feel confident in the storybook I've decided to go with. I think it's completely doable. I just need to make sure I dedicated enough time towards it. It will need solid planning.

Connecting:I really like reading others' stories simply to see the wide array of storytelling techniques and styles people have. I hope I've been helpful with my feedback; the feedback I get has been very helpful. I feel like giving specific examples from their stories the most helpful way to get good feedback.

~ ~ ~

Image: Machine Writing, via Pixabay

Week 7 Storytelling: The Castle of the Moon

Once upon a time, there was a young child who was infatuated with the moon. When he wasn't at school, he was either learning about the moon from the local scholar or telling his widowed mother about the moon. At night, he spent hours gazing through the telescope, hoping one day he might visit the spectacle. One night as counted the number of craters he could discern, he noticed a rather odd thing. At the bottom of the wall of a crater, a small tree was blossoming.

Running to his mom, he found her quietly reading a book. Before he could announce his findings, he noticed the book his mom was reading was about the moon. "Mother, have you become as curious as I am about the moon?"

"No, not as quite. I know how bad you would like to visit the moon, and I heard from a soothsayer that it was possible! She handed me this book and told me the way to the moon was inside. I figured I entertain her folly. Maybe you'd like to explore the book yourself?"

"I would love to, mother!" And with that, the child grabbed the book and ran into his room.

For years, he poured over every line of the book, holding on the hope that he might visit the moon. His mother soon had gotten over the childishness of his interest and began to push his to find a wife. Resisting, he would leave the house with the book hidden in his satchel so that his mother would think he was socializing with the women of the town.

One day, he passed a small shop hidden between imposing building. "This must be the soothsayer my mother saw years ago!" Entering the shop, he made his way towards the back where he heard some noise. Passing through a curtain, he found a small chamber where an old woman was studying ancient books and scrolls.

"Hello, I believe my mother visited you years ago about visiting the moon!"

"Why yes, I remember her. Did she ever make it?"

"Well, no. But she was actually inquiring for me. Every since I was tiny, I all ever wanted to do was visit the moon."

"And why haven't you? I told her the way was in the book."

"Well, I wasn't sure what that meant. Regardless, I've recently been pressured by my mother to find a mate, so my attention hasn't been fully on the book in quite a while."

 "If the moon is what you still seek, wait until the next full moon, and gaze upon the cover in an open field."

"But I don't want to disappoint my mother by being alone the rest of my life!"

"If you make it to the moon, build a castle of unparalleled beauty. Then you must wait, and a woman will come to you. She will live in the castle and be yours for as long as you live."

. . .

The full moon had finally arrived. The man now sat alone in the field miles away from home. Gazing at the cover, he soon grew tired. He began to nod off, only to jolt himself awake. Looking around, he was unsure of his location. "Have I been kidnapped," he wondered. Glancing up, he immediately knew where he was. Earth rested above him. He had made it to the moon!

Traversing the surface of the rocky body, he wondered where he was going to build his grandiose castle. He journeyed for a week before deciding he had found the place. Down the side of the crater, he saw the very tree from when he was little. And just like him, it had grown much larger. "What a beautiful tree," he clamored. He then worried that it might rival the appearance of the castle he was ready to build. "I will chop this down immediately so that my wife will come!"

He began building. Years passed, and soon, centuries. As he built, he would rest under the shade of the tree that had been regrowing. At the make of a thousand years, he decided the tree was back to the beauty before he chopped it down. So again, he chopped it down. A further two-hundred years later, the castle was complete. So under the tree, he sat and waited until the day his wife would arrive.

 ~ ~ ~

Author's Note: In the original story of The Lady of the Moon, a prince named Hou was given the herb of immortality, which he hid in his home. Later, his wife ate of the herb, and she floated through the clouds all the way to the moon. Here, she found a castle built by the man in the moon and lived there. I wondered why there was already a man there, and why he built a castle. This story served as a backstory to man and castle on the moon.

Bibliography: The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921) 

Image: Illustration from the book

Reading Notes: Chinese Fairy Tales, Part A

(Twin Dragons, Luck)

Reading the first story The Favorite of Fortune and the Child of Ill Luck, I first found it weird that it described the beggar as having dragons crawling through his ears and nostrils. Maybe this is another way of saying something like "a fly"? Or maybe the dragons were a sign of his good fortune. Interesting description nonetheless. I also wonder how the merciless father reacted to the fact that his daughter was now an empress and that the beggar was now an emperor. For him to have such strong feelings towards his daughter's actions, it seems odd that it doesn't touch on him later. This would be a good place to expand the story.

For Cave of the Beasts, I found it odd that the father suffered no consequences of his action. The whole time I expected the daughters to get revenge on him for abandoning them. When he was reunited with them, I also expected for him to have been divorced. Throwing in a divorce to the fold would be a good way to expand on the story.

The Panther reminded me of the story of Little Red Riding Hood. It does make me wonder how a Little Red Riding Hood story would play out if it were the grandma visiting the granddaughter, like the mother visiting the daughters in The Panther.

Reading The Lady of the Moon, I wonder who built the castle on the moon. It seems weird for it to already exist, unless it was the man on the moon who built it. But then I wonder what the purpose of the project was. This could be a good way to expand the story.

I also noticed that many of the stories began with the common "Once upon a time." In addition, many stories seem to be about luck and fortune. These Chinese fairy tales have really strange ways of "explaining" nature, like in The Girl with the Horse’s Head or the Silkworm Goddess. Overall, I find the Chinese fairy tales to be very imaginative and exactly something I would expect to hear as a child.

~ ~ ~ 

The Chinese Fairy Book, ed. by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921) 

Famous Last Words: Finding Normal Again

What a week it has been. Life decided to throw another curveball, and yet again, I wasn't prepared. I barely squeezed in one of the reading assignments. Maybe I'll find time over this weekend to get that extra credit assignment. Then I couldn't even do the story writing assignment. Pretty weird to say that my best writing was in accounting. My team had a case study to write up, and then we had to present it in class Thursday. I missed that. Sorry, Team Joe.

I was just finally getting back in the groove of things after the death of my grandma on my mom's side at the end of January. I had finally cleared up all of the homework I was behind on and was able to attend the Pink and Black Ball. I even finished up a club application. Then I got a call that my other grandma had died. And there went this past week. I've put so many miles on my car driving back and forth to home this past month. But it was worth it so that I could pay my final respects. Now we're terrified that the "bad news comes in threes" superstition might be true, at least true for our family. At least I've gotten to see a lot of family members I've not seen in a while.

Now I'm trying to save myself from drowning in homework once again. Hopefully, this will be the last time for a while. Thank God for this class and the ability to just skip assignments and still be fine. Really glad I got ahead earlier this semester, and now I think I'm going to devote Spring Break to getting ahead again. I also hope I finish my UPB exec application that is due Wednesday. I've enjoyed this year so much, and I'd love to do it again!

Speaking of UPB, our annual CollegeCon is happening! It ran fro 7-10 PM today, and it will run from 10 AM - 10 PM tomorrow at the student union. We're giving away a lot of cool prizes!

So now I'm just finding my way back to normal.

~ ~ ~

Image: Baseball Pitching Motion, via Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: The Monkey King, Part A

I've never spent much time reading Eastern literature before. I'm not sure why, but I've not. Something that jumps out at me as I read the Monkey King (couple with what little else I've read from the East) is that it seems like Eastern tales and folklore often feature animals in deity-like roles. In this particular story, the writing is very direct, lacking much exploration in each setting.

It's odd to think about a monkey living in the world of man, so I think a story about a man learning to live among monkeys could be interesting. Or it could be exactly like Tarzan. Maybe that's where the idea came from, ha ha.

Sun Wu Kung learns how to perform other abilities throughout the story. In a different story, maybe man learns different abilities that end up helping him defeat something. I would just have to figure out what he would defeat.

One note that I found interesting is the fact that the dragon-devil's name is Triton -- a name from Greek mythology. I find it fascinating how words and names can flow through different cultures.

Sun Wu Kung also becomes a bit of a menace to those he visits, so having a man become the menace would probably translate well into a modern world.

 ~ ~ ~

Bibliography: The Monkey King, edited by R. Wilhelm and translated by Frederick H. Martens (1921)

Image: Sun Wukong at Beijing Opera, via Wikimedia Commons

Week 5 Storytelling: The Name and the Daughter

Ra was known to man by many names, but many more names he did have. Alongside Ra were many other gods, each with their own names. A goddess who lived alongside man, Isis, grew tired of the circumstances of her life. She was no longer wished to subject to the rule of the gods. Instead, she wished to stand as equals, as a fellow ruler.  However, while mingling among the lesser gods such as she, she heard a humor that told of the existence of a particular secretive name of Ra.

"It is said that the name alone could command even Ra himself," whispered one goddess to another.

"Only he knows the name, and surely he knows the power it holds," chimed a third goddess.

Isis, overhearing the private conversation, couldn't help but keep listening. "If only we could trick him into revealing it. Then we could ascend to an equal status of Ra." Isis immediately knew this was her chance to claim what she believed to be hers. Beginning to devise her plan, Isis first wondered how she could possibly get Ra to reveal his name. So day after day, she observed Ra, noting everyone he encountered. It was only but a month's time before she knew who her target was.

Tefnut, daughter of Ra and goddess of rain, was highly revered by the common man. She brought man rain so that they may have bountiful crops. This delighted Ra, as it kept man happy, and in return, they continued to give bountiful offerings. Each day, Tefnut would go at night and bathe in the rivers of Egypt. She would drink of the waters, and just before dawn, she would walk the land, leaving dew in her path. "Surely if Tefnut were to die, man would become enraged and stop their offerings to Ra. And surely Ra, coupled with the rage from the death of his own offspring, would do anything to bring Tefnut back, including revealing his name," reasoned Isis.

Isis began to associate with Tefnut. She joined Tefnut on walks, as well as going with her to bathe in the rivers. Tefnut quickly found a friend in Isis and began entrusting Isis with her secrets. One night, before they both were expected to go bathe, Isis enchanted a river snake. Isis led Tefnut near the location of the snake and asked if they could take their bath there. As Tefnut began to wash her hair, the river snake made its way to her. In a quick bolt, it struck out and bit Tefnut. Tefnut yelled for her father, but he was nowhere near to hear her calls. Isis then moved the now paralyzed Tefnut to a hidden location.

Isis then rushed to find Ra so that she could enact the second part of her plan. "Ra, it is your daughter! She was bitten by a snake, and then kidnapped! I could not stop the kidnapper, but I did manage to find out how to get her back!"

Ra, very attentive, yelled out, "Who dare take my daughter! Surely they know of the power I hold! I will seek out her captive and give him an eternal punishment so bad that he will beg for death!"

"I wish it were possible! But I tried to find them to no avail! But I think I know what we can do."

"And what would that be?" Ra demanded to know.

"If the river snake bit her, then surely I could enchant it to seek out its own venom that resides in her blood."

"Excellent," Ra decided. "Then set forth and find the same snake, and then return with my daughter once you find her."

"I may be an enchantress, but I am not sure I am powerful enough to do such a thing!"

"Then how might you become powerful enough?"

"I have mingled for millennia with many lesser gods and goddesses, among the very men who worship you. There is a rumor out there that, if true, would surely solve our crisis."

"And what might that rumor be?" Ra asked, nervous as if he could anticipate what Isis would say.

"You secret name. The name so powerful that it could command even you! Surely with its power, I could do as you ask!"

"It is true that I have a secret name, hidden from all, but I could never reveal such a thing!"

"Then your daughter is surely gone forever! And then who would bring the rain to your people? Who will provide the sustenance their crops require?"

Aware of the necessity to reveal his name, Ra decided he would investigate the matters by himself first. "Give me three days to ponder."

So three days later, Isis returned to Ra, ready to receive his hidden name. "And your decision?"

"Go forth with my secret name and retrieve my daughter!" Ra then revealed his secret name, and Isis set forth to bring back his daughter. A few days later, and Tefnut found herself in the presence of her father. But Ra seemed rather intrigued.

"How is it that you were able to bring back my daughter when I had not given you my actual secret name?" clamored Ra.

"Whatever could you mean?" Isis asked hesitantly. "I took your name and enchanted the snake. It led me to her holding, and I rescued her."

"But alas you did not! And for tricking me, I banish you to an eternal punishment so great, you will wish for death instead! For you did not know during those three days I pondered whether or not to reveal my name, that I set out and found the snake. And I commanded the snake to reveal why it bit my daughter. And it revealed that you had actually enchanted it!"


And with that, Ra banished Isis to live as far away from the heavens as possible. She was sent to live in the realm of the dead, never able to be an equal to Ra himself.

~ ~ ~

Author's Note: I took the story The Secret Name of Ra and imagined it slightly different. The original story sees Ra become ill due to Isis' actions that were motivated by her desire to know Ra's secret name. Ultimately, Ra revealed the name to Isis and became whole again. For my version, I wondered if Ra would reveal his name if it were instead another god or goddess in great pain. Would he be selfish and keep his name to himself, thus dooming the ill god to death? I decided to utilize his daughter Tefnut since involving family often changes the dynamic of consequences.

Bibliography: The Secret Name of Ra, by Donald Mackenzie

Image: The Egyptian Goddess Isis, via Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: Arabian Nights, Part A

 

I really like this nested storytelling style. In regards to the story itself, I think it's a clever way of delaying time. I also like how each story would jump back a layer to give context to the current layer of the nested story. I also like how they aren't necessarily just stories. They could be real-life accounts. This makes me think of more of a circular story-telling technique. So while it's still nested stories, the last one flow into the first one. I think this is cool because then the reader could start at any story and still get all of it the same way from someone who started elsewhere. There's really not much more to write about Part A, since it's really only showcasing the nested storytelling technique. This is definitely something I'd like to try.

~ ~ ~

Bibliography: Arabian Nights by Andrew Lang

Image: Russian Nesting Dolls, via Flikr

Week 4 Review: Mindset

via TinyBuddha.com

One item from the class announcement for February 11 that caught my attention was advice about mindset. I think this caught my attention because of how often we forget the truth of it. You always have yourself to talk to, and your own mind isn't going to stop itself. It is so easy to become critical of yourself or to constantly think negative thoughts. But soon, you accept the critiques as being indicative of yourself, and that's when self-confidence, self-image, and mental health begin to decline. Negative thoughts breed negative perspectives. But if you can remember to be kind to yourself, you can create a positive self-image. Dr. Gottman says healthy relationships need 5 positive comments for every negative one. If a relationship needs this ratio, then surely your internal thoughts needs this too.

Feedback Focus

Of the three strategies I practiced, I had only ever tried the reading out-loud strategy prior. I typically would only employ it when there was an interruptive noise nearby. I hadn't ever really tried it to keep focus in any other situation. However, after using it for the sake of paying attention, I easily found it to be my favorite strategy of the three. It requires more active brain usage, so I didn't ever find myself distracted at all. One downside, though, is that it's much harder to use when in public or around others. Frankly, I think it would be obnoxious to use in public. But for me personally, I rarely read in public places anyways. This method also is a double-edged sword. I definitely read at a slower rate through this technique, but I did find it easier to catch and retain most, if not all, of the details.

My next favorite tip was the copy-and-delete technique. This is something completely new to me. I sometimes will annotate my readings, but I really liked the concept of getting rid of the original material in the process. I think it forces me to better flesh out my ideas because the references are no longer there to provide context. I also see this much more beneficial with longer passages.  It's definitely a technique I could see myself using with material I'm not too interested in. But to be honest, it would take a lot of training to get myself to use this.

And that brings me to the timer method (aka my least favorite of the three). Why do I dislike this method of reading? I don't read. I focus way too much on how much time is left. It puts an unnecessary pressure on me, and as a result, I read (and retain) a significantly less amount of the material. I've never set a timer, per se, but I have given myself a specific amount of time to read. And just like I did with the timer, I kept looking at my phone to see how much time I had left to read. I could see this working for some people. Maybe if they don't like reading, a timer can give the perspective of how little time they are actually dedicating. I don't know, but I do know this is not a method I could use.

The best way I've found that makes me focus on reading is utilizing in-text benchmarks, such as the beginning of a new chapter. I should make a note, however. I do not mean giving myself a select number of pages to read. Then I'm busy thinking about how many pages are left (similar to the timer issue). I mean using those visual benchmarks. So I tell myself that I'll check my phone or get a snack when I hit the next chapter. It gives me a motivation that doesn't really provide anything that could distract me. It has nothing to do with time, so I don't care about a clock. I can use this method anywhere around anyone. It acts as a reward system that I react positively to.

~ ~ ~

Image: Cactus Reading, via Pixabay

Week 4 Story Planning: The Healing Name of Ra

Most of my story will follow the original story. I will begin the story by establishing the fact that Ra has more than one name. Then I will introduce the antagonist of the story, Isis. I think I want to expand a bit on her backstory other than wanting to hold power equal to that of Ra's. Older stories sometimes lack character motivation, so I think this would be a great opportunity to add to the story. 

Next, I will want to introduce the character who will become ill due to Isis. I will want to establish a daily routine for this character and show how Isis will interfere with that routine. Do I want to keep a serpent? I could change it up a bit as it doesn't really matter. Maybe I'll choose whatever animal the god I end up using is most associated with. This could help me because that god would then probably trust that animal, and it would provide a reason that god would interact with the animal. This will allow me to change up how the attack plays out and not rely on an invisible creature.

Ra had company at the time of the attack, so I probably want to keep this aspect to provide writer's convenience. From here, I will need to decide who the chosen god will ask for. Ra called upon his children. Maybe I will use one of Ra's children, and then I can have the offspring call upon Ra in my story. This also might give a bit of an emotional tie to provide the motivation to Ra to reveal his name. 

However, as I type this, I question to myself why Ra wouldn't be able to heal his child. So maybe the selected god asks for Ra, but his company is Isis who then takes the god hostage. I could set up some reason Isis is aware and can help (with Ra's name revealed), but write it so that it doesn't seem like Isis is behind everything (though she is).

From here, I would then deal with the struggle of Ra keeping or revealing his name. Maybe he will try lesser things to see if it satisfies the unknown perpetrator. Now I need to decide if he will succeed through a clever idea that doesn't require his hidden name, if he will give up his name to save his child, or if he will forgo revealing his name and let his child perish. I think I should sleep on this decision and see what seems like the best direction after reflection.

~ ~ ~

Author's Note: I took the story The Secret Name of Ra and imagined it slightly different. The original story sees Ra become ill due to Isis' actions that were motivated by her desire to know the secret name. Ultimately, Ra revealed the name to Isis and became whole again. For my version, I wondered if Ra would reveal his name if it were instead another god in great pain. Would he be selfish and keep his name to himself, thus dooming the ill god to death? Or would Ra act out of mercy? I also changed the name of the story to better reflect the power of Ra's name.

Bibliography: The Secret Name of Ra, by Donald Mackenzie

Image: The Egyptian Goddess Isis, via Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: Ancient Egypt, Part B

Something I like about the stories of part B is that it contains longer stories broken up into parts. As a writing strategy, I might want to tell one story separated into different parts. This kind of storytelling is very common in tales of great heroes who have to complete tasks so I might choose a hero and chronicle his journey of tasks.

Another story writing technique that is used, and is used in other stories, is essentially pitting two people (frequently, siblings in more ancient stories) against each other. There's something gripping about seeing a family working against each other. Obviously, the conflict must be strong and warranted. And just because the story is told from the perspective of one particular person doesn't mean the other is without justification. Ultimately, the conflict is resolved, and the family is at peace again.

In the Book of Thoth, it seems like Nefer-ka-ptah became possessed by the Book. These are usually fun stories because the character doesn't really have ultimate control over his being, though it is as a result of his own will. In addition, the knowledge imparted was ultimately regretted by the maker of said knowledge. Maybe a story I write could include the downfall of Thoth due to the book he wrote getting in the hands of Nefer-ka-ptah.

~ ~ ~ 

Bibliography: Egyptian Myth and Legend, by Donald Mackenzie

Image: Thoth, via Wikimedia Commons

Reading Notes: Ancient Egypt, Part A

Like most creation stories I've read, this reading begins by going explaining how every being comes into existence. I also note the similarities between various religious stories. The story "The Secret Name of Ra" speaks of a great flood. The Egyptian mythology, as well as the Bible both, were created in the roughly the same region. This makes me wonder if both accounts were inspired by the same event, just with different explanations.

A storytelling technique I noticed in "The Secret Name of Ra" is that the focus of the story is never revealed. Isis persues Ra's secret name, and she does find out what it is. However, it is never stated. This exact scenario actually reminds me of the show Doctor Who. Only the Doctor knows his true name, and like Ra's, his name is thought to hold great power in and of itself.

Overall, these stories follow the same formula as most other religions. I do, however, like to look at the contrast between polytheistic religions, such as this one, and monotheistic religions. It seems monotheistic religions focus heavily on the inhabitants of the creation, most likely because there aren't other deities from which stories may arise.

~ ~ ~

Bibliography: Egyptian Myth and Legend, by Donald Mackenzie

Image: Sun God Ra, via Wikimedia Commons

Famous Last Words: Week Three, the Week of Stress

Week three proved to be an incredibly stressful week. Life happened. There was nothing I could've done to make the week a bit easier. But I survived; I didn't shut down. Finishing the readings was difficult, but luckily I had the extra credit assignment to make up for the missed reading on Monday.

I feel like I wrote to get by, not to improve. Sometimes that's what it takes to keep going, but I can't allow myself to continue to just "get by". I did, however, read a great story this week. It was about Jupiter (the Roman god), and it was really fun to read. The writer gave Jupiter a playboy persona, and it worked incredibly well.

As far as my other classes, there's a really weird contrast between this one and all of the others. Being in the college of business, most of my writing is business-like: short, to-the-point, succinct. This class makes me want to make all of my writing creative and fun; all of my other classes make me want to make all of my writing direct and unimaginative. I think, however, that working with both styles will really help me, both in technique and in being able to switch back-and-forth between the two styles as needed.

On campus, UPB is having its first ever UPB Week. Each day, there will be an event with prizes and free food. It's really exciting, and there is even a hella-hype promotional video.

For this class, I'm hoping to get ahead. If life decides to suck again, I'd like to be in a position where I have one less class to worry about. Luckily that's possible. Now I just need to motivate myself to do it. Also, hopefully, I survive my world music class. I just found the syllabus (it was oddly placed), and there's a 7-9 page essay due at the end. Help.

~ ~ ~

Image: Don't Panic Button, via Pixabay

Reading Notes: Cupid and Psyche, Part B

My first thing I noticed in reading Part B of this selection is how vengeful Venus is portrayed. It reminds me of many classic fairy tales; they all share one thing in common -- a mean-spirited mother. I wonder where and why this tradition started. Even men today are known for hating their stepmother, though maybe for different reasons. As I continue to read, I keep getting classic fairy tale vibes from the story. However, the one big difference from many of the more modern fairy tales is that in Cupid and Psyche, it's the man in trouble. 

Overall, the story feels very formulaic, though that's not necessarily a bad thing. Psyche has hardships to overcome. There are some tasks in her way. Obviously, this storytelling technique has survived ages, so maybe formulaic is good.

 ~ ~ ~

 Bibliography: Cupid and Psyche by Apuleius and translated by Tony Kline, source
Image: Psyche in the Underworld, by Hillemacher

Tech Tip: Hashtags and Retweets

One post I retweeted was about PBS Idea Channel's video on Westworld. I chose this particular tweet for a couple of reasons. Firstly, Westworld is one of my favorite shows to watch. It weaves thought-provoking questions about consciousness and what it means to be human represented by The Maze within the show. Link: https://twitter.com/OnlineMythIndia/status/820003746306543617

One hashtag that caught my attention was #DressLikeAWoman. Not surprisingly, there's another controversy with President Trump. Reportedly, the president has made claims that suggest that he expects women to comply with gender roles. By that, I mean that he expects women to wear dresses because that's what a "real woman" would wear. In response, people are tweeting photos of women in different kinds of outfits -- from jeans and a t-shirt to astronaut suits -- in defiance of his comments to show that an outfit does define the "real"-ness of a woman.