The Full Story

The quote "How (stories) are told, who tells them, when they're told, how many stories are told are really dependent on power" by Chimamanda Adiche showcases how the theme in which we have been discussing over this year, the danger of the single story is derived. By only giving a voice to the victors in society, creates gaps and bias' in stories. Going back to the theme we  have talked about this year, blocking out the voice from the marginalized people in society sets up for incomplete stories only giving one perspective. As shown in Adichie's novel, The Thing Around Your Neck, diving into the first story we read, "The Headstrong Historian" the storytelling is told by the people in society holding the up most power and knowledge. Ayaju, a friend of the protagonist, and also a slave descendant, possesses the power bringing the most experience beyond the villages boarders holds the position of the main storyteller. By submitting our attention to the victors which hold the power to tell the stories, there is easily room for the story tellers to reshape a story to their own benefit. In my opinion, outside knowledge is always notable, however by only hearing the voice of the victors and most knowledgeable in society, we don't make room to finish the story from the common perspective. 

A Vivid Understanding

Sijie's novel, Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, allows it's readers to truly engage themselves into the history when learning about the re-education system. Learning about the time of Mao's Cultural Revolution in the form on a fictional book provides a more personal feel making the history behind it more alluring to the reader. What appeals to me most about learning the history within this novel, is the idea that we our following the journey of the two boys who are going through this process themselves. These everyday encounters that the two boys go through, helped me understand what it was like living within the re-education system in a more vivid way. It entices me how we get to witness the true atmosphere what it was truly like living in this time period on a more personal account rather than reading a textbook with strait facts. I am excited to learn more and continue to follow the journey of these two village boys to see what happens next!

Self Reflection

English II has definitely been more challenging than last year, however I believe I have grown a lot from the beginning of the year. I do my best participating in class and also working hard outside of class to improve my reading and writing abilities. Although I do believe that I have grown as a writer these past few months, there is a lot of room for improvement within my writing. I have trouble with the habit I have formed, telling not showing. I struggle juxtaposing the two as I always have but this year I hope to come to an epiphany. Something that I have increasingly picked up from this year, is understanding the deeper meaning behind text rather than taking the literally meaning. In regards the quizzes, I seem to be doing well in vocabulary, however slack in reading comprehension. Nonetheless, I can already see improvement from the beginning of the year and hopefully continue to progress with my new routine of thoroughly reading and annotating, rather than leaving it to the last minute. Overall English II has been successful and I am confident to grow into a more avid reader and writer throughout the year.

Banned Books

For this weeks journal entry we were assigned to write about our views on the governments right to ban books. It came to my surprise to just how many books have been banned over the years. A few of my favorite books such as The Complete Persepolis and The Perks of Being a Wallflower have been banned due to their excessive use of alcohol and other drugs, only representing the imperfection of reality. It was truly bewildering to see how much  power the government holds, especially in what we expose ourself's to. Enforcing the restriction of the books we read, in my opinion, is something the government does not have the right to do. It is understandable how the government censors and challenges the books we read, in order to shelter their power. However, this idea of censorship does not hold me back into something I am willing to divulge myself into, for it sounds like a personal rather than political ideal.

I believe competition pushes us to our limits. With complete equality, comes mediocrity. If everyone is a winner no one will push them selves to reach their maximum potential or even know what potential they carry.  Similar to Harrison in the short story "Harrison Burgeron" by Kurt Vonnegut, I am opposed of living in a society with complete equality, because it takes away from individuality and allows everyone to live life giving their bare minimum.  It is important for children to compete with each other to prepare for he real world. I believe in rather praising children for all being equally "perfect", we need them to be exposed to failure in order to survive in the real world. Without failure, their is no strife to be the winner. Shielding children from this matter in today's society gears kids away from the feeling of winning by making everyone the winner. So how will we really push ourselves to victory if we don't know what it feels like?

There are two choices to every scenario, to stay or to walk away. But will either of the options really make a difference? Everyday I come across that one fork in the road asking myself what I should do and does it really matter.

Blindsided by my ignorance I took the choice to "stand" like the Omelas in Ursula K. Le Guin's book, in a situation where my favor was held higher than the effects that it had on others. For years I have been painting my face with cosmetic brands such as L’Oreal and Lancôme, making myself look better without having consideration of how they make these products. The mascara and powder I wore everyday that was supposed to make me look and feel better about myself, ironically me feel even worse after reading about it. After coming across an article discussing the cruelty of animal testing used to produce these cosmetics I choose to "walk away" making the simple decisions in picking out a new set of makeup from brands that do not test on animals such as Benefit and Urban Decay. Knowing that walking away will not stop the current issue, I still believe not promoting materials that were tested on animals as cruelly as they do means something in the long run.

What Media Potrays

Watch enough brutality on TV and you come to believe you are living in a cruel and gloomy world in which you feel vulnerable and insecure. In his research over three decades Gerbner found that people who watch a lot of TV are more likely than others to believe their neighborhoods are unsafe, to assume that crime rates are rising, and to overestimate their own odds of becoming a victim. They also buy more locks, alarms, and- you guessed it- guns, in hopes of protecting themselves. 'They may accept and even welcome,' Gerbner reports, 'repressive measures such as more jails, capital punishment, harsher sentences- measures that have never reduced crime but never fail to get votes- if that promises to relieve their anxieties. That is the deeper dilemma of violence-laden television.'"

In the exert from the book The Culture of Fear, author Barry Glassner compares the fear spread by media to how it affects us in how we live our everyday lives. Media portraying the dark side of communities around us make us question our safety and our will to walk around without having a constant reminder in the back of our mind bringing up all the stories we have heard and watched on television. Similar to carrying a weight on your back, this constant thought of fear drags us down, rethinking our security. Not only does this mentally corrupt us, but also financially. Those who are contaminated with the over violent scenes which are spread throughout the news, influence the need for reassurance. Media through television is a powerful thing; causing people to be more than willing to spend everything they have on guns, locks, alarm systems, and etc.… Gordimer's short story, “Once Upon a Time” represents ironic ways how people are willing to go out on a limb for security systems in  time of feeling unsafe in there own home, which eventually bites them in the end.

To me this picture represents more power than a thousand words. I choose this image because it is one that speaks to me, demonstrating equality, unity, and a sense of warmth simply reaching out and giving someone a hand to hold. This picture demonstrates the hardships that a child in Africa goes through living with a constant hunger inside them, reaching out to someone and soon feeling a sense and love and relief knowing someone cares.Conveying such a powerful message, this image finally gives me hope. Hope that knowing there are people out there simply help each other regardless of what gender, race, or culture, leaving one hand out to hold onto,  giving one faith that days will be brighter, instantly overpowering all the bad ones.

This word clouds represents me as a person, demonstrating the power of words. Simply in one word cloud you all know everything about who I am and what is important and special too me. A few words I used on my word cloud included; family, friends, and community. These are just a few of the things I value most in the world.

http://worditout.com/word-cloud/1033811/private/b6237fb1d91fb04be411782e0ad0a476

Hello readers, welcome to my blog. In this I will be sharing with you a little about myself and my inside scoop on literature pieces and other writings. I am currently attending Sage Hill School as a high school student hopefully writing this blog to influence others and share my thoughts as well as who I am, not only as a reader of writer, but as a person. Living in Newport never fails to disappoint considering the year round spring type weather and crystal blue waters. You can often spot me at the beach or mall with a smile on my face, soaking up the sun or simply enjoying life. A few of things that are really important to me are my family, friends, and culture. Coming from an Iranian background, I am fortunate enough to have such a big family, living in an environment with as much loved ones around me as I do. My family are the ones that motivate me to do my best and never fail to support me throughout my life. My friends make me the person I am today, constantly making me laugh, to giving me a shoulder to lean on when in need. Overall, I am excited about starting my first blog and sharing with you all, my inside scoop.

Thank you, Sarah