American Gothic?

Today we watched a video on all sorts of different types of art from the 1930s.
- Which was your piece of art work?
- Did you like a certain type (ex. Realism, Regionalists)?
- What characteristics of the artwork did you find appealing?
- What characteristics did you not like?
- Did you recognize any famous paintings like "American Gothic"?

John S.

Editor's Note: The following art pieces are from a website at Arkansas Tech University where students did their own version of a copy change using "American Gothic" but adapted other images, ideas or styles to the paintings to create Andy Warhol-like prints. Enjoy.

Technology will solve all our problems

As we al learned, The World's Fair in 1939 gave hope to Americans that technology would solve all of thier problems; but then the unexpected happened. Americans learned through the mass destruction of the atomic bomb that technology could help them improve their lives, but at the same time, it could turn on them and take their lives.

If you were living in this time and went to the World's Fair and the next thing you knew, an atomic bomb was launched and a war began, how do you think you would react? What would you do? How would you feel?

Kelsey

What would you do if you were Richard?

In Black Boy, Richard dreams of going to the North ever since he was a young boy. He says, “I dreamed of going north and writing books, novels. The North symbolized to me all that I had not felt and seen; it had no relation whatever to what actually existed” (Wright, 199). Richard’s dream of going North to write surprises me because he was so young when he decided to become a writer and grew up to be very independent. It seems hard to imagine that Richard knew what he wanted to do with his life when he was so young. He also baffles me because he just finished school and already wants to move out far away from his family.

If you were in Richard’s shoes, would you adamantly pursue going North? How did the Southern racism push Richard’s desires to move? How would you feel about living on your own as a young person, and leaving your family so far away?

Megan

What if you lived during the Depression?

As we have seen, the Great Depression has not only been a national slump in our country's history, but it has also been a pivotal point in many people's lives. Recall that many abandoned their families (ranging in age from child to adult) were gone for a long time finding work and some even committed suicide. Credit and buying on margin were two factors that fueled this downfall from a climax. But we can only read so much about this difficult 1930s "bear market."

If you lived as a mother or father of a family during this time, what would you do with your wealth when finding that the stock market was a bull market, and there is money to be had, with hopes to increase your state of living?
Also, once the stock market crashed, what would you do in an effort to keep both your family AND yourself going?
Why would you make these decisions? Reflect on how these decisions would impact your life.
Seth

Editor's note: Yes, the little boy in the picture above is standing there w/o his pants. Try not to freak, and please deal with this w/ a bit of maturity. I put this picture in here to show you the utter poverty some families had to undergo through the Great Depression (please notice the capital letters). Things we take for granted like pants for little kids might have been something in need for this family; either that or like other little kids his age, he liked to run around naked. Who knows?

First or Second?

Which semster do you like better: first or second and do you think you are going to take Excel next year?

I like second semester better becasue I like that fact that we see all of our teachers and we won't miss any assignments. I didn't like first semester because it was my first time and I felt that I was being left out because sometimes I didnt understand the material and didnt ask questions. I also felt like that because sometimes I wouldnt know what I had to do for homework.

But now I know the things to do better in class. Based on what people told me about next year's Excel, I'm not going to take it because I feel that I am not ready for it but I did have fun in Excel.

Anita H.

Choices, choices, choices

I have been going between so many classes for next year, and I can’t decide which ones to choose. There are so many choices which include:
Excel 11
World Lit. And Comp.
AP Language
AP Government and so on.
I hear good and bad information about every class. Teachers can help a lot, but we have the ultimate decision for our future. Are you overwhelmed with all the choices and decisions that have to be made by the end of next week? Do you know what classes you want to take next year? Do you have any suggestions for the rest of the class about things you have heard?
Michelle

Editor's Note: Please post positive comments about classes b/c nothing derogatory or negative will be posted.

One of my all time favorite quotes about American history

Great American writer James Baldwin wrote this about American history: "American history is longer, larger, more various, more beautiful, and more terrible than anything anyone has ever said about it."

Question: What do you think he means by this quote (besides restating the obvious -"American history is longer, more beautiful...etc. ")? Can you use an example from first semester American history (or one that you're familiar with) that best captures this quote and explain why your incident/person/event applies to the quote?

Things to think about when writing your response: try to go in depth by thinking about what has been taught or hasn't been taught about American minorities in the past. Consider how future Americans (your children and grandchildren) will look at today's history. What have you studied in the past that has really struck a nerve? Why?

Citation: James Baldwin (1924–1987), U.S. author. “A Talk To Teachers,” October 16, 1963, published in The Price of the Ticket (1985).

Gatsby and the American Dream?

In class, we discussed The Great Gatsby and how the American dream is tied in with his book. Do you think that Fitzgerald was trying to tie his own American dream in with what he was writing? How do you think that the Great Gatsby shows people living the American Dream? In your own opinion what do you think the stereotype of an “American Dream” is? Do you believe that everyone is capable of achieving their own American Dream?

Matt

Old Man / Open Boat Pictures

Just a smattering of the fabulous fun had on the Wednesday before break with the scurvy crew from the Old Man and the Sea / "The Open Boat" elective.