I read the book "The Neverending Story" by Michael Ende. The story is all about long and meaningful journeys, which take place in a fictional "real-life" and a world called "Fantastica" in a book in the story. There are two main characters, both of them experience physical and mental journey throughout the book. The "fictional" character, Atreyu, is asked to stop the "Nothing" that is slowly destroying Fantastica. The other main character, Bastian, who lives in the "real-life", is escaping from his troubles by reading a book called "The Neverending Story." And as the story goes Bastian becomes part of the book without realizing it.
As confusing as it sounds, Atreyu and Bastian travel in Fantastica and encounter numerous whimsical things and people (or creatures). They learn many things along the way. By the end of the book, both Atreyu and Bastian find what they want and grow to be more mature. But since it's "the neverending story," the story never ends.
One of my own journeys, I think it's when I went to the US during the summer of 2010. I went to New York City and Madison, Wisconsin. In NYC, I've been to the museums and watched the Broadway musical "Lion King." I guess my mind just blew up when I saw the skyscrapers and the museums, and my heart exploded from the musical. It was amazing. In general, this trip to the US opened my mind and expanded my views.
Friday, September 23, 2011
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Entry 4: Time
In the story "Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket," Tom realized that he had been out there on the ledge for only eight minutes. Jack Finney made time move slowly by throwing every detail into the story. He described Tom's thoughts, feelings, and all the little actions he did to show how he felt. The author also avoided mentioning time before page 29. Therefore, when the readers went along with Tom's flashbacks and decisions, we assume that a long time must have passed for these events to happen. It turned out the opposite.
When I struggle to keep myself awake in class, the time always seems to freeze. I'd be in the state of being half conscious and half unconscious, and every time I check the clock it would be in almost the same position as before. The attempt to stay awake in boring classes is just painful.
When time seems to move incredibly fast, it's usually when I'm doing something I like to do. For example, time just lapses so fast every time I start drawing.
Sometimes, though, time can be slow and then fast, or fast then slow. Like, during the week, I would be on Tuesday and I'd think that the week takes a long time to pass. But when it's Thursday, I'd feel like, "Wow it's already Thursday!"
When I struggle to keep myself awake in class, the time always seems to freeze. I'd be in the state of being half conscious and half unconscious, and every time I check the clock it would be in almost the same position as before. The attempt to stay awake in boring classes is just painful.
When time seems to move incredibly fast, it's usually when I'm doing something I like to do. For example, time just lapses so fast every time I start drawing.
Sometimes, though, time can be slow and then fast, or fast then slow. Like, during the week, I would be on Tuesday and I'd think that the week takes a long time to pass. But when it's Thursday, I'd feel like, "Wow it's already Thursday!"
Monday, September 19, 2011
Entry 3: Values
I think the most important value in people's lives should be living
at the moment. It's not like playing and having fun all the time, but
just being responsible and making your life worthwhile. A good amount of
both fun and work, I would say.
Tom Benecke in "Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket" first valued his promotion. He wanted money and power. Later, however, his values changed because of the terrifying experience. When he climbed out of the window to get the yellow paper essential for his proposal, he realized that his life would not get any better if he went on like this after he survived. That made him decide to change his values. He gave up the chance of promotion and went to the movie with his wife instead. Now he placed a higher value on living his life, pleasantly.
My values in life include, like I said before, living at the moment. I don't want my life to be wasted, and it's not a good thing to be suffering all the time. I want to live my life as fully as I can. I place my health as second, because I can't do anything with a sick or tired body. Sleep is always important to me. "Love" is also a valuable thing. Here I mean love in general, love from parents, friendship, love for a pet, etc. I can't decide between "fun" and "achievement" for the next one. They are both important and sometimes they can overlap. Then, I'd say I value money. If I say I don't then I'm lying.
Tom Benecke in "Contents of the Dead Man's Pocket" first valued his promotion. He wanted money and power. Later, however, his values changed because of the terrifying experience. When he climbed out of the window to get the yellow paper essential for his proposal, he realized that his life would not get any better if he went on like this after he survived. That made him decide to change his values. He gave up the chance of promotion and went to the movie with his wife instead. Now he placed a higher value on living his life, pleasantly.
My values in life include, like I said before, living at the moment. I don't want my life to be wasted, and it's not a good thing to be suffering all the time. I want to live my life as fully as I can. I place my health as second, because I can't do anything with a sick or tired body. Sleep is always important to me. "Love" is also a valuable thing. Here I mean love in general, love from parents, friendship, love for a pet, etc. I can't decide between "fun" and "achievement" for the next one. They are both important and sometimes they can overlap. Then, I'd say I value money. If I say I don't then I'm lying.
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Entry 2: Describe Setting
Pg. 7 House of Flying Daggers:
1). Focal Point - the focal point of this picture is the person in the middle.
2). Time & Place - the scene sets in a bamboo forest in ancient China.
3). Action - the person in the middle fights with four other people with a long bamboo stick. The action makes the scene very intense and exciting.
4). Elements - the bamboos stand sharply out and resemble bars, which contributes to the intense and dangerous mood. The background is misty and white, creating a uncertainty and a mysterious mood. The greenish hue of the scene makes everything strange and a little unhealthy.
5). Perspective - we look at the scene from a almost parallel level, which enables us to see the four attackers and feel threatened.
My desktop in Taichung:
1). Focal Point - my laptop, placed in the center of the desk.
2). Time & Place - it's late afternoon, around 5 pm, on a Saturday. The desk is located near a open window in the living room.
3). Action - I am sitting in front of the laptop and typing my homework. There is little movement in the scene except my hands. It is almost to the point of boring.
4). Elements - the yellow light of the lamp is warm and relaxing. At about 2/3 to the left the yellow light blends into the more whitish light coming in from the window. This makes the scene very natural and smooth. The different objects on the desk, while placed a bit messily, makes it very much at ease. Due to the lamp, everything seems yellowish and friendly.
5). Perspective - looking from a 45 degree above the desk, down at the computer screen. We're able to see a little bit of the open window and all the stuff on the desk.
1). Focal Point - the focal point of this picture is the person in the middle.
2). Time & Place - the scene sets in a bamboo forest in ancient China.
3). Action - the person in the middle fights with four other people with a long bamboo stick. The action makes the scene very intense and exciting.
4). Elements - the bamboos stand sharply out and resemble bars, which contributes to the intense and dangerous mood. The background is misty and white, creating a uncertainty and a mysterious mood. The greenish hue of the scene makes everything strange and a little unhealthy.
5). Perspective - we look at the scene from a almost parallel level, which enables us to see the four attackers and feel threatened.
My desktop in Taichung:
1). Focal Point - my laptop, placed in the center of the desk.
2). Time & Place - it's late afternoon, around 5 pm, on a Saturday. The desk is located near a open window in the living room.
3). Action - I am sitting in front of the laptop and typing my homework. There is little movement in the scene except my hands. It is almost to the point of boring.
4). Elements - the yellow light of the lamp is warm and relaxing. At about 2/3 to the left the yellow light blends into the more whitish light coming in from the window. This makes the scene very natural and smooth. The different objects on the desk, while placed a bit messily, makes it very much at ease. Due to the lamp, everything seems yellowish and friendly.
5). Perspective - looking from a 45 degree above the desk, down at the computer screen. We're able to see a little bit of the open window and all the stuff on the desk.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Entry 1: Common Experiences
I agree with Willa Cather on the idea of repeating stories. However, I think that a lot of authors, when they are writing a story, they are aware that the same thing happens to other people. And it is their goal to make readers feel connected to the story. And even if the bases of the stories are the same, there would always be variations in every story. It's inevitable that human stories repeat over and over. After all, we all belong to the same species.
An example of a common experience shared by all of us would be yearning for something we can't get. The more impossible getting the thing is, the more we want it. That is human nature. Characters in stories often have the same problem, and most of the time that could lead to a series of conflicts and struggles.
When I first came to PAS, I had to learn English and get used to the environment here. I believe a lot of people have similar experiences; to fit into a new environment, or to acculturate. The meeting of two cultures is also a very common theme. The whole process of growing up is common to everyone, anyway. We all have to learn, discover new things, get along with our parents, go to school, and etc. Then we all grow old and eventually die. The end.
An example of a common experience shared by all of us would be yearning for something we can't get. The more impossible getting the thing is, the more we want it. That is human nature. Characters in stories often have the same problem, and most of the time that could lead to a series of conflicts and struggles.
When I first came to PAS, I had to learn English and get used to the environment here. I believe a lot of people have similar experiences; to fit into a new environment, or to acculturate. The meeting of two cultures is also a very common theme. The whole process of growing up is common to everyone, anyway. We all have to learn, discover new things, get along with our parents, go to school, and etc. Then we all grow old and eventually die. The end.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)