Writer's Week

Writer’s Week this year was overall an amazing experience. I was able to learn and enjoy the performances of a diverse group of talented writers, including novelists, poets, screenwriters, playwriters, songwriters and student writers. This year I was able to view the performances of Regie Gibson, Bill Kelly, Billy Lombardo, Scott Woldman & Company, Laura Van Prooyen, Daphne Willis & Company, Marc Smith and some of our very own Fremd students. Each writer brought something unique to the stage and was entertaining.

I really enjoyed the poetry of Marc Smith. While I never found the opportunity to see him perform during the past years he appeared at Fremd, I was delighted to be able to see him perform this year. For a man of his age, I admire his courage to be able to walk up the wall, while concentrating on his poetry as well. The fact that he also has about 350 poems memorized as of now and that his goal is to memorize about 1000 poems before he dies, astonishes me. It is hard to see him as a shy person, because on stage his outgoing personality radiates. I also thought the way in which he got his audience involved in the poems, such as the El Train Poem, in which he has audience members act on stage and make sound effects, made his poem more interesting. I learned more about the poetry slam itself. For instance, I learned that if a poet makes a sexist comment, that gender hisses at the poet. Marc Smith performed with attitude and enthusiasm, in which you could tell he was enjoying what he was doing.

I also enjoyed the performances by Scott Woldman & Company and Daphne Willis & Company. They were both interesting and enjoyable to watch. I thought that Scott Woldman’s play was hilarious, yet realistic. The song I found the most hilarious, was the song in which all the women were asking important questions about the future and the men asked only one question-Will you sleep with me? All nine actors were both musically talented and talented actors. I think that their three and a half hour rehearsals and practices five days a week really showed on the stage. Each performer played their character well and kept the performance lively. Daphne Willis and Company was also musically talented. Each member of the band brought the best in the band. I find it very hard to be able to compose music and lyrics. It always astonishes me how people can produce such good lyrics and be able to share it with the world. Both of these performances kept me interested.

I was glad that Bill Kelly was able to come to Writer’s Week. I have seen both Enchanted and Premonition and thought they were fantastic movies. Kelly stated, “ It doesn’t matter who you are or where you are from, try what you want to do even if it seems impossible.” I agree with this statement. I believe that if you want to do something, you should at least try to achieve it. Bill Kelly said that it wasn’t about how many people watched the move or the money he receives, but the fact that he wrote it and enjoyed writing it. I think this is great. He has a job which he loves to do. I found it interesting to learn about screenplay, since it was a topic I knew little about. I learned how they must sell copyrights of their movie and how a writer can be hired to rewrite other writer’s stories. Bill Kelly was enjoyable to listen to, especially with his constant “Hiya” when responding to a question.

While some students take advantage of Writer’s Week as a week of not having to attend English classes, I find that there is much more to Writer’s Week. We have a great opportunity here at Fremd to experience the writing of many talented writers. Not only did I enjoy their performances, but was astonished by their commitment to writing and fascinated by what inspired them to write what they wrote and pursue a career in it. Writer’s Week this year was phenomenal and truly a great experience.

Writers Week XII

I love Writer’s Week. Although I didn’t get to go as many times as I would have wished this year, I still went at least twice a day and witnessed some very memorable performances, from Marc Smith climbing on the banisters to an enthusiastic young girl run up to Patrick Kennedy and ask him to sign her shirt.

My Writer’s Week began with the 8^th period performance of Hollywood screenwriter Bill Kelly. In most cases one would think that I would dislike Kelly—due to his unprepared-ness, standard question and answer format, and unenthusiastic, dry, performance. However, I thought his subject matter was captivating and I actually enjoyed his bland sarcasm. I thought his personality was very ironic because he reminded me of a television or movie character that would be purposely written as over-the-top subdued and apathetic. I loved how he showed indifference when people asked questions concerning his obviously awful screenplay for “Premonition,” as if he already knows how bad the movie is and doesn’t really care. When asked why he loves his job, his honesty struck me as amusing when he described his love for the “God complex.” My sister and entire extended family lives and works in Hollywood and Kelly often reminded me of my uncle and stories he tells me about his dorky screenwriters. I know not everyone may have enjoyed his performance, I don’t even know if he was really technically that good, but I liked hearing about another side of writing careers.

I also liked listening to Billy Lombardo. His stories were very captivating and honest. I found it interesting how well he wrote stories about conflicts that never happened to him (“The First Time I Got Punched”), yet still managed to make them realistic and entrancing. He seemed to be able to have a very strong grasp on human behavior and emotion and be able to capture that in his writing, especially noticeable in “How I Knew You Were Mad at Me.” Lombardo also inspired me to possibly try writing in 2^nd person, the format two of his stories were in. He suggested when writing in second person to use the second person format to present, “an author that is distancing himself from the situation. Use the second person as a stand in for another, deeper conflict.” I may try out this style on my Writers Week shareable draft.

Seeing Scott Woldman & Co. and Daphne Willis & Co. was very refreshing. I liked seeing performances that strayed from the usual presentation that traditional authors and poets seem to fall into. However, I didn’t necessarily love “Speed Dating: The Musical.” I wasn’t bored and I did find some parts funny, but overall I didn’t think it was that good and I didn’t like the majority of the jokes or actors. I did like seeing Daphne Willis, though. The 50 minute period went by very fast because I felt like I was at a concert. I loved her voice and her perseverance to stick to her musical style even when Hollywood may not be advertising for someone like her right now.

Although I like seeing professional writers discuss their work, my favorite periods are ones when students present. I liked the variety of pieces that were read. I heard things such as college essays, pointless fictional excerpts, musical compositions, emotional poems and everything in between. Hearing the audience’s positive response to each student made me excited and proud of that person, even if I didn’t know them. Sadly, I wasn’t able to see anyone from our class perform, although I heard many good reviews from friends who did see them and made me wish I had gone. I guess this just teaches me to skip gym a few more times next year.

Writer's Week

The main thing that I liked about Writer’s Week was the fact that the speakers really showed that writing does not just mean writing criticisms or novels but could take someone down many different paths. My favorite writer to listen to was Bill Kelly. Although he was admittedly unprepared for the presentation, I believed that he had the most interesting career and expressed to us best how the life of a writer works. I was impressed with the fact that he had the courage to simply pack up on New Year’s Day and leave his home to become a film writer. I was also shocked to learn that he learned to write in his twenties, something that inspires me to practice more now because I know that if I do, I can also become as good as him.
I enjoyed the clips from the play Speed Dating. Although they were not fully rehearsed for the play and still had to use their scripts, I thought that the play was extremely funny and outlined the nuances and stereotypes of the dating world quite well. The first song about all the questions men and women would ask their potential dates was hilarious. I also liked how they selected people from the crowd to join in certain parts of the play, and I wonder if they are planning on doing that for the real play or if there were simply two people missing.
I also enjoyed hearing the poems of Marc Smith. The amount of poetry that he had committed to memory along with his more entertaining way of promoting poetry makes him in my eyes a phenomenal poet. I was surprised when he said that he had long been afraid of speaking in front of people and that inspires me to want to become a better performer. He also showed a deep understanding of what reading poetry for people means when he said that he tries to put on a show rather than focusing only on his one poem.
The work of Billy Lombardo was interesting. The most fascinating part was that he said he writes about the things that he doesn’t have in his life like violence and hatred, and that the part of his story about almost attacking his son was inspired by a dream. His stories seemed to show a darker side of the mind that counters happiness by providing a melancholy view of things, as shown most clearly in his piece about the White Sox victory. The piece The First Time You Were Punched is one of the few that I have seen written in second person, and I found it to be a very creative way of expressing the story taking place.
I also saw the writer and poet Reggie Gibson. He seemed to be extremely experienced with speaking in front of many people, and although he was sometimes hard to understand, his performance poetry was breathtaking, especially the piece exposing the prejudices in today’s society and criticizing politics. The presentation by Daphne Willis & Co. was amazing, but although it was a great musical performance, this presentation did not go deep into what being a writer means. I was impressed that someone from Fremd High School went on to become a successful musician with people she had met at open microphones and through other friends.
In my opinion, all the examples highlight the diversity of the writing world and the fact that, no matter where you are, you will probably have to write in some way. Writer’s Week was inspirational in that it caused me to realize that writing can be a crucial instrument of success. I really enjoyed seeing all the writers and I thank all the people that contributed to the event.

Writers Week XIV: Going for an A?

Writers Week XIV was truly one of the greatest in school experiences that I have ever had. Previously, I rarely had the opportunity to attend the full writers week schedule in my english classes, and never looked forward much to the writers that were to come. I found myself getting lost in the words coming out of the speaker's mouths, but this year everything changed with a new perspective that I had in mind. With returning writers week legends such as Billy Lombardo and Marc Kelly, I knew we had something special in store during the great week. The first day of writers week--friday wasn't what i call spectacular. Upon looking at the writers week pamphlet, i expected to see Bill Kelly present to us a movie script in progress, or even read to us a piece from enchanted (since some us had not seen it). I was disappointed with the presentation this hollywood movie script writer gave us. With the writer of "premonition," "blast from the past," and "enchanted" in front of me just conducting a Q and A session, I dozed off to the "hiya" he gave with each raised hand. I will admit that it was an honor to have the writer of an acclaimed movie in front of me, someone who grew up in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. He also gave off quite a few memorable zingers or answers to the various questions. For example, "Yes, Patrick Dempsey is as sexy as they say he is in person." This quote gave quite a few laughs. Also, he gave us an inspiration message. "IT doesnt matter who you are, where youre from, you can do anything if you want to make it happen....Dont wait for permission...JUST DO IT" He made his dream happen, and thats what inspired me.

Monday was another great day for me as Billy Lombardo was to appear in front of us. His poems included a myriad of deep thoughts, enough to make a person come to tears, and remain awestruck by the true meaning behind the text. The poems involved a variety of everyday life situations, and it made me wonder how a person who claimed, "I love violent movies, but i find no sadness in my life" would have the ability to come up with the successful pieces that he had written. The first couple stories such as "The logic of a rose," "my first punch", and "how to remember a day with your son" was extremely sad and touching. The lines i remember from "my first punch" is "you will feel the blackness....and as you wonder how long it takes for a black eye to go away...shed a tear." The story held a cold, but deep meaning as it introduced the idea that such events can happen, and do happen, even to the children. Continuing on with the child related pieces, I found "how to remember a day with your son" very lifelike and enjoyable. The scene i remember most from this piece was the child standing in front of the father about to come to tears after the father rose a fist to almost punch the child after he had lost the father's keys. That scene really stuck to me. THe white sox excerpt was just as great, as a lighter mood was created. I believe that Billy Lombardo has the amazing skills of both writing and reading, as he never made me doze off or daydream.

Definitely one of the best performances of the week in my opinions was "Speed Dating" the musical presented by Mr.Scott Woldman and Co. I simply could not stop laughing, and was in a frenzy to get down the memorable quotes. I noticed that they were continuing on from where they left of from period 7, which was just as hilarious. Through the depiction of a speed dating scenario, with the highly trained metropolis actors taking up a character that anyone could fall in love with, a wonderful play was made. From the scared-of-girls guy, sci-fi girl, insecure guy, overconfident jerk, "fat problem," comic guy" and the teacher, each depicted their character oh too well. "oh my...thats an aqkward question to ask Eric...I like it in the butt!!!!" Definitely the highlight of the play. Some more zingers i recall included "will you will you will you will you sleep with me??" and "I have red licorice.....oh be still my heart!" I hope that Mr. Woldman returns next year with another amazing musical.

Daphne Willis and Co. was another great part of the week. Through her band's musical talent and catchy songs such as "pull tight," I thought it was a memorable experience. Although personally the style of music isnt what i would typically listen to, i could see without a doubt that the group had talent and was capable of hitting it big. The fact that Daphne Willis came out of Fremd and followed her dream was inspirational. I will always welcome them for future writer's weeks. "We keep it light and friendly"

Last but not least, the incredible Marc Smith gave his classic and legendary performance to conclude Writer's Week. I looked forward to him like none other as i recalled him walking up the banister, singing "money makes the world go round", memorizing over 350 poems, founding Poetry Slam, and going from shy man to incredible entertainer. He told us that "performing is just a craft" and that"if you feel like there is destiny within you...there is." I did not think that he was the shy boy he said he used to be, but then again, he is Marc Smith. Pretty much everything he said was an inspiration to me, and i cannot help but to look up at him as a great person. I recall him saying in a poem, "I wear my fathers coat...and it seems to me this is how we make our acquaintances." Although i didnt clearly understand this quotation, i think that it only makes him greater to see that he can memorize poems we have never really seen. "Im a socialist!" Upon going up to him afterwords, I was met with a smile and a "hello young man, what is your name?" When i asked him for an autograph and a message, he wrote this, "Here's a message for you Justin...So What???"

In conclusion, this years Writer's Week was incredible. Although i didnt have the courage to read in front of the congregation this year, I feel a growing courage to present my writings in the future. I wasnt able to see anyone from my classes, but just hearing their appraisals made me feel happy for them. I am really glad that fremd high school offers such a great week, and I cant wait for next years.

Writers Week!!!

Writers Week is my favorite week of the school year. We are so privileged to learn from other writer's insightful voices. I am glad I had the opportunity to share my piece at writers week (although I was incredibly nervous). 

I really enjoyed the Speed Dating musical performed by Scott Woldman & Co. Mr. Woldman was my 8th grade English teacher and I really enjoyed the humor in his writing then and still now.  This segment was from a different category than any of the other writers. Rather than hear about some one else's life stories, it was fun to see a theatrical entertainment piece. I know that there was a lot of exaggeration but truth was evident in that piece as well and that made it truly hilarious.

Daphne Willis & Co. developed a music style unique in it's own melody. I love the way they seemed to step out of the basic box the music industry hands out. I am currently learning how to play guitar so it was inspiring to know that she taught herself guitar as well and became successful in her efforts. Students thrive for music and I am really glad that this segment was at writers week to meet the tastes of most teenagers. 

Marc Smith also was one of my favorites. I learned that a poem doesn't have to hold a deep meaning of love, hope, and failure but can be fun just to describe an idea.  I loved the energy her brought to the stage and I hope that one day I will be able to express myself with the confidence he has. 

I saw Lauren and Rosie perform and they both did an excellent job. Lauren slid quite a few laughs into her pocket throughout the piece. Rosie captured everyone's attention and heart with his moving piece.

I am already looking forward to listening to the encouraging, insightful, and hilarious words next year's writers week will hold.

Writers Week XIV

Another year at Fremd and another Writers Week. While I personally feel that this year was really just more of the same, the pleasure of attending such an even has certainly not been diminished. One guest that I've had the good luck of seeing every year so far is Marc Smith. To me, he doesn't just represent writers as a whole, but a role model; a source of real human genius and emotion. His often humorous poems almost always include some sort of underlying message that makes you think long after you've attended his performance. One good example would be the poem with the "money makes the world go 'round" song. As I fervent capitalist, I cannot agree with his political views, but it does bring to light the evils of such a system; one where people will do close to anything for material gains. But even if his poems meant nothing to me, I will try to remember his words, "Now is all there ever was and all there ever will be."

One other individual that has made me reconsider my views was Scott Woldman of Scott Woldman and Co. While he himself didn't talk very much (I think the director took all the questions), his story for Speed Dating: The Musical has made me rethink the way I approach new music and moreover, musical theater. The appeal of this specific piece was the way he decided to approach one of the all important questions of all of our lives: what is love? While we weren't given an answer in our session, I don't doubt that the audience members will have dazzling revelations during the premier. Just because of the nature of certain popular musicals that were in circulation (particularly RENT and Wicked), I didn't pay much attention to them. But after sitting through what I thought was going to be a boring musical (something silly based upon a silly concept could only mean more silly-ness) turned out to be quite entertaining, though I don't think singing, "Will you will you will you will you sleep with me?" is gonna get me any closer to a girlfriend.

Finally, the most exciting part of Writers Week (for me anyway): the student writers! While I wasn't able to make any of the performances of my classmates (sincere apologies, guys) I was able to catch a few good friends and cheer them on. Wednesday heard the struggle in Sarah Glazer's short story and saw Steph Tham's interesting relationship with college as well as Greggy-T's lament of bygone days and Rita Pello's hyperactive, winking dog. Thursday was an even better treat with Sheades and Mealy. It seems like every year our own writers get better and better and maybe one day, I'll have the courage to stand up there with them, complaining about my dead-end job, speaking my heart, or making light of a disastrous situation. Writers Week forever!

Writer's Week 2008

Writer's Week 2008 I thought was a truly great experience. And I'm not just saying that either. I look forward to Writer's Week and this year was a great example of why. With amazing people like Billy Lombardo, and Marc Smith, how could Writer's Week be something one would not enjoy? Starting off with Bill Kelly, the screenplay writer of movies such as "Enchanted" and "Premonition", Writer's Week kept getting better and better. Although Bill Kelly just answered questions, I still found it amazing that I was there in the room and listening to the author of a movie which is up for academy awards! I also thought that his story was quite interesting-the fact that he lived in Elk Grove and had this dream of becoming a screenplay writer--then moved to LA and made it happen is absolutely astonishing and quite amazing. I found his own story to be inspiring; he showed that if you have a dream, you can't let anyone stand in your way and you don't need permission from anyone to achieve that dream.

Another person whom I admired was Billy Lombardo. I thought his poems were really sad, but extremely good as well. His poems were so descriptive and described really interesting situations. I thought the one happy poem his said, about the Sox winning the world series, and him sharing that moment with his son was really touching. From that, his piece, "First Time you are Punched", although extremely sad, it shows the audience the realization that this actually does happen to some kids. The title of the poem is very literal, however the poem has a much deeper meaning. The line that I thought was especially touching, was when he was describing the boy in the corner with his black eye, and his parents fighting in the background, and he is trying to "butterfly kiss the wall...to make the black eye go away." His other piece, "How to Remember a Day with your Son" was also sad but I thought that it was very powerful at the same time. I think the way he reads the poems also add to the effect, because he can read it in the way that he planned it to be read. His final piece, "How I Knew you were Mad at Me" also had some sad parts, but also had some funny parts as well, such as "I knew you were mad at me when...you set the wipers too slow." Overall, Billy Lombardo was very powerful author that I extremely admire.

Moving from the sadder pieces, Scott Woldman's "Speed Dating- the Musical" was absolutely hilarious! Depicting the situations many people go through, this musical seems like it would be extremely entertaining to go see! I thought the song where the boys sang "will you sleep with me" over and over, with the girls singing "boys suck" was so funny! The one girl that sang was also hilarious. I will definitely remember them! As for Daphne Willis and Company, their talent was amazing. I thought her singing was really, really good...I actually did look her up on iTunes!

Finally, but definitely not least, was Marc Smith, perhaps the most memorable of all. I remembered him from last year because he was my favorite, and of coarse, he walked up the banisters. I admire him so much, having memorized over 200 songs, along with being the founder of slam poetry and a great entertainer, he is really someone to remember. I was surprised to find out that he was really shy when he was younger, but I think he would be an inspiration to those who are really shy. One thing he said to the audience that stuck with me was he said, "If you feel there is a destiny in you, there is." I found this line to be inspirational personally. As for the poems he performed, they can't be beat. The one poem about the rainbow and it being a person who is bowlegged, with one foot in the heart of a woman, and one in the heart of a man was one of my favorites. I thought that all the poems he performed were really powerful and I would have to say Marc is definitely my favorite person who came to writer's week. The poem that I remembered him saying last year, and I always will remember him performing is the poem where he walks around the whole auditorium, saying there is a different animal "in him."

Overall, Writer's Week 2008 was an extremely inspirational, entertaining, and memorable experience. It makes me sad that I could not see anyone that was in our class, but I'm sure all of them did an awesome job. All the people who came to Writer's Week were so talented and I really enjoyed seeing them all. I feel so privledged to be a Fremd student that is able to have this experience. Let's just say that Writer's Week 2008 will be hard to beat!

Writers Week Blog

And thus, My junior year's writer's week is over.

Callous as it may seem, I felt writers week began poorly (although it ended on a high note) with Screenwriter Bill Kelly's somewhat dry humor and basic Q&A. His relatively bleak visions of Hollywood, his reasoning for being a movie writer (as opposed to a television writer, which he wished to be), his depictions of a writer's place in Hollywood, and his general attitude seemed almost misplaced in a week made to celebrate the successes and greatness of writing, rather than it's shortcomings. His saving grace, however, came as he explained that the reason he, or any other writer, stays in Hollywood is devotion to his (or their) work, rather than money. This sentiment stood in stark contrast to the schema of his responses.

The end of the weekend, though, saw a dramatic turn for writers week, as we saw Billy Lombardo speak about a fictional bakery fire in "The Pilgrim Virgin" where a supposed "punk" saved not only his life, but his family's lives, or his "First Punch" at the hands of his own father in the midst of terrible family issues. Very moving. Scott Woldman's "Speed Dating: The musical" in turn turned the mood of writer's week upside down again with incredible, often inappropriate humor. Chorus quotes such as "Will you will you will you will you sleep with me" will be remembered for years to come, not to mention his impecible style and awesome timing in showing portions of different conversations summing up with "Thats an unusual question. I suppose I would take it in the butt." Truly Hilarious.

Daphne Willis just rocked. Not much more to say. A Fremd Graduate with a semi-successful band living independantly the way they want to. Nothing more respectable. And, of course, Marc Smith, my ~60 year old socialist slammin' poetry hero. Climbing the banister twice while yelling "bankers lend it, women spend it" introducing himself as "the guy who drops the F-Bomb" and myriad other out-of-bounds-yet-creatively-relevant poems, in addition to the more acceptable "My father's coat" poem. And, of course, talking to him after he finished showed how deep he really was, and how encouraging he tries to be to aspiring writers.

PS: He liked my hat. Take that, you nay-sayers!

Writer's Week XIV

Writer's week is so awesome. Many of the writers that attended this years event were just great. Mary Fons is and has always been my personal favorite since freshmen year. I really enjoy listening to hear poems because they are just so real. There was one instance in one of her pieces where she said, " Prisoners die for things they won't admit" that really got me. I will also admit that i really do not understand what she meant by this but all I know is that this line kept on repeating itself in my head for the rest of the day. By the way if anyone wants to comment of their ideas of what this passage might have meant or what it means to you, then please post a comment on this post. I must say though that Bill Kelly was more or less pathetic. I think that others in our class will back me up on this because the guy did not really do anything. Besides the fact that all he did was answer questions he really didn't present us with anything. I was really looking forward to him possibly reading a piece from his script that is in progress or something to that effect. On anther note, Billy Lombardo is amazing! I was flattened by how dark and dismal his pieces were because he mentioned multiple times that his life was very happy and nothing like this. I really wanted to know where he got his inspiration from. I know that someone asked him and he said that it was because he doesn't have to deal with this stuff in real life so he writes about it but for some reason I don't believe him. To inspire a person to write such dark and depressing stories, one would think that something happened to them earlier on in life that they have since carried with them. In the story about the boy who lost his father's keys he said, " If a dad could choose which memory a boy could keep''. This made me think a lot about how even though many of us have a good stock of happy memories with which we can keep our minds occupied, our thought seem to still dwell on the bad memories of something that may not be so significant, but the fact of the matter i that those small moments in time seem to always linger in our thoughts. I had the pleasure to see Mr. Tony Romano also. He's just great, although I haven't had the opportunity to read his book yet, the second i get some free time I plan on picking up a copy. Seeing as Tennis season has just started I seriously doubt that I will get a chance until summer vacation to read a good book on my own free time. Last but certainly not least Marc Smith, the greatest of them all. Right off the bat he said something that inspired me. " Don't wait until you are old, if you feel something inside of you that you have to do, your not making it up". This quote really impacted me because basically I feel that Marc is saying if you want something and it is in your heart, even if in your mind you doubt yourself, it is what you truly want and your not simply cheating your mind to make you think that you want it. Marc's presentation this year was by far the most intriguing and involving of the bunch. There were many memorable quotes such as "I am for the little guy" and others that I have yet to contemplate in my mind. Overall writer's week is great and at the same time we juniors face a very dismal prospect of only having one W.W. left to go. Great now I'm becoming depressed, time to go work on other homework. Anyway these guys that present their stuff to us and pour out their inner selves, I just can't fathom what it must be like. I am already looking forward to next year, let us hope that Writer's Week of 2009 will blow all of the others out of the water!!!

WW XIV

Writers week was truly a great experience for me, not just because I actually participated in it, but also because the writers instilled a new passion in me. The first day, we started out with Bill Kelly. I enjoyed him a lot, even though he didn't give much presence while speaking, because I really enjoyed the movies he wrote, especially Enchanted. I loved how he told us to follow our passion, no matter who people think you are. He said something like, "It doesn't matter who you are or where you're from. Try your hardest to be what you can." This really reached out to me because for my entire life, I've always had a doubt about myself. Hearing someone who successfully followed his dream say this inspired me to keep trying my best to become what I want to be.

After Kelly, we saw Billy Lombardo. Although he was a great writer, his pieces scared me a little. They were really dark and violent, two characteristics I'm not very fond of.
I really loved Scott Woldman and Co. not just because they were hilarious, but also because they're so good at singing and the plot is so well thought out. It was such an interesting plot and really unique. However, their jokes were repetitive and very scandelous. It felt uncomfortable hearing those crude remarks because I don't support them, but also because there were so many teachers around. Daphne Willis was also a great group to listen to because she showed us that writing's not all about the essays and research papers, but it can inspire people in other forms. She had an amazing voice, and I was so jealous she could sing like that.

This year, I was so glad we got to wrap up Writer's Week with the legendary Marc Smith. Although I saw him last year, his poems still leave me in awe and inspiration. He is such an amazing poet, and it always amazes me how a man of that age can climb a railing and memorize over 200 poems. I always hated writing because I felt it was just an obligation; just another essay for just another English class. However, after this week, everything my friends said would be a brainstorm for a story or a poem in my head. For example, I was in gym class, and we were "supposed" to be running laps on the shelf, but the narrow lanes were congested so my friends and I opted to go behind the bleachers and go around to the other side. My friend simply commented on how quiet it was, and I thought about what she said; how just that single wall of bleachers could separate the loud from the soft, the noisy from the quiet, the vigorous from the still.

My writing experience was also so amazing. I wasn't nervous at all until I woke up Thursday morning and remembered that I was speaking first period. I thought I was prepared, but as I sat on the couches on the stage, I couldn't remember any motions I was supposed to do, or whether or not my accents would turn out to be funny. I started to get nervous about whether or not the students would really like what I wrote, but after being so generously supported by the other writers on stage as well as the audience, my fears dissipated and now all I remember is a good experience. Thank you Writers Week!

WW RESPONSES

Ah, Writers Week. Take a few moments to blog about your experience. Who did you love? What What did you learn? What will you write? Did you see your classmates --Jill, Rosey, Gina, Jennifer, Lauren-- read?




Don't forget: Reading notes due Monday
WW assignment(s) due Wednesday

"Luke, I am your FATHER!"

The role of Pap can (and should) be broken down into two separate categories: as a character and as Twain's commentary on the society of his time. As a character he is purely antagonistic; Pap pulls Huck away from good living conditions, causes physical and mental harm to our young hero, and sets a bad example for Huck to follow. He's just not a good guy. Thankfully, our protagonist is rather independent. Instead of listening to his father, Huck does all he can to do just the opposite just to spite Pap. While most of us "rebel" for the same reason, Huck actually stands to gain a lot from this little display of teen angst and the decisions he bases on it. This is where we begin to see more of what Pap represents than what he actually is. The most memorable Pap "scene" would have to be in chapter five, where he rants about the government, the man of mixed race, and doing some terrible things all while getting more drunk and almost attacking his son. In Pap we can see Twain's criticism of the society he had to live in that mistreated blacks, Twain's criticism of the lack of action on the government's part (although presented from the opposite side), and most importantly, the catalyst for the beginnings of Huck's moral development. As stated before, Huck chooses to do things in spite of his father, but he ends up learning valuable life lessons; to be able to make your own decisions, to see with eyes unclouded, and to give a chance to those that are most deserving. While Huck could never appreciate (nor understand if we're to take it that far) what Pap has unknowingly done for him, we as readers can say that Pap, he wasn't that bad after all.

Ch 6: Pap's Rant

By this point in the novel Twain has already depicted Pap as a negative character. He is unrefined, stubborn, and ignorant. Having the prior notion that Pap is no good and can't be trusted helps bring out what Twain was really trying to convey during the drunken rant that Pap goes on about a rich black man he ran into which turns into a rant about the flaws in government in regards to racial issues. "Here's a government that calls itself a govment, and lets on to be a govment, and thinks it is a govment, and lets on to be a govment, and thinks it is a govment, and yet's got to set stock-still for six months before it can take a-hold of a prowling, thieving, infernal, shite-shirted free "n"'(Twain 26). Pap becomes infuriated as he goes on about this black man that cannot be touched because he had not been in the state for six months. While this expresses the views of the people of the time, Twain uses to desciption of Pap's movements to help add to the display of the stupidity and ignorance of society. Pap gets so hotheaded that he starts stumbling around and hurts his leg, and while he is spastically acting out injures his toe in the process. The way that Twain depicts these scene is somewhat humorous to the reader. Shedding this light on humor and such an ignorant speech adds to the view that society and its views together are down right stupid and inhumane, for we see Pap jumping around like an animal. All the while Twain is creating irony because as Pap compares black people to animals and lower than dirt, he himself is acting like a foos, and displaying a dispicable sight.

3 Important Things that Happen in Chapter 15 :D

One of the most important events we see in this chapter occurs when Huck apologizes to Jim for lying to him, "It was fifteen minutes before I could work myself up to go and humble myself to a nigger; but I done it, and I warn't ever sorry for it afterward, neither" (Twain 86). Prior to Huck's apology, Huck had pulled a prank on Jim by blatantly lying to a worried Jim. When Jim realizes Huck's elaborate story is a lie, Huck feels guilty for his actions. This passage first demonstrates a precipitation of Huck's compassion for Jim, as well as a turning point in Huck's struggle between his heart and his social conscience, due to the fact that Huck is willing to apologize to a runaway slave for his misbehavior even though this would be deemed as "socially inappropriate."
Another important detail occurred on page 83 when Jim called Huck "boss." Although we know that Huck is a person of no account, Jim still refers to Huck as his boss. This is important to the story so that audiences are reminded of the social relationship between Huck and Jim: white boy and runaway slave, respectively. Although Twain makes efforts to humanize Jim, audiences must remember that Jim is still a slave and thus still inferior to Huck, however "worthless" he may be. Moreover, by clearly establishing this relationship, we, as the readers, are more aware of the times when Huck is following his heart and/or growing in maturity.
Finally, the third detail take us back to the beginning of the chapter when Jim and Huck have been separated on the river. They send each other "whoops" in hopes of finding the other. However, they fail to find the other until the morning after. But the result is irrelevant when considering the why of the actions and behaviors of Jim and Huck. Throughout the night, Jim and Huck are persistent in their whooping until they can not hear each other any longer. This determination demonstrates and foreshadows signs of a growing relationship between the two characters. Instead of showing repugnance or disgust, they share a compassion and care enough about each other to arduously try to locate the other's whoops.

What aspects of Huck Finn could be considered offensive?

Twain uses satire and questionable diction that may appear offensive to his audience throughout Huck Finn.  Through the voices and actions of different characters, Twain portrays his views to the reader. Religion and hypocrisy are satirized often, but the church scene between the Grangerfords and Shepherdsons appears most significant, " The men took their guns along with them, so did Buck, and kept them between their knees or stood them handy at the wall (Twain 109). The sermon delivered that day consisted of the importance of brotherly love, therefore criticizing the apparently "pious" nature of these families. Religion was taken more seriously at the time this novel was published and those who were strongly religious could take great offense.

Romanticism became very popular in Twain's era and even before. Tom represents a boy with a romantic spirit whom thrives for adventure. Tom desires to expand each simple idea to parallel with a romantic based novel.  Twain continues to satirize romanticism through the providing Tom's "innovative" ideas as a hinderance to the mission rather than a benefit. Crazed romantics would find the portrayal and representation of Tom as an offensive piece of Twain's message. 

Twain continues to view slavery negatively, but more importantly the slave owners. The Solomon chapter provides a closer view of how each race sees the value of freedom and justice. American citizens may take offense to the apathy Twain adds to the white man's character in their view of a slave, "We blowed out a cylinder head. 'Good gracious! Anybody hurt?' 'No just a slave' 'well it's lucky because sometimes people do get hurt'" (Twain 221). Twain portrays the white man to lack compassion and justice in many parts of his book, therefore potentially making his intended audience angry with his choices.

Twain satirizes different topics to not only make his audience think but to strengthen the lovableness and credibility of Huck that blossoms throughout Huck Finn.

Do Huck's purpose for lying change?

Throughout the book, Huck experiences emotional change and maturity, and along with it, his bad habit of lying for pleasure changes for the better. In chapter 11, Huck becomes bored with staying on the raft all the time and wants to go into town. He thus dresses up as a girl and attempts to fool Judith Loftus. Huck said, "Next morning I said it was getting slow and dull, and I wanted to get a stirring-up some way... he [Jim] studied it over and said... dress up like a girl... that was a good notion, too" (Twain 54). In this early scene, Huck's sole purpose for lying and dressing up as a girl was for entertainment. Not much later on, Huck and Jim get stuck in the middle of a thunderstorm and become separated. After the river calmed, Huck finds Jim asleep on the raft and Huck quietly slips onto the raft; when Jim wakes up to find Huck next to him, Huck tricks him into thinking that Jim was dreaming everything. "[Jim] Didn't you tote out de line in de canoe fer to make fas' to de towhead? [Huck] No, I didn't. What towhead? I hain't seen no towhead... [Jim] Dad fetch it, how is I gwyne to dream all dat in ten minutes? [Huck] Well, hang it all, you did dream it, because there didn't any of it happen" (Twain 84). Huck's early purpose for lying also represents his emotional immaturity. He didn't care how his lies affected the people he told them to, but instead, he just enjoyed the pleasure he received from telling the lies.

As the adventure progresses and as he matures emotionally, his purpose for his lies also change. They are not for his own enjoyment anymore, but instead only a necessary precaution that is used when he thought he absolutely needed it. Although not too far towards the end of the book, Huck can be seen to responding to his emotional growth when he lies to the slave-hunters in chapter 16. Huck decides that he can't take the social pressure that's going through his mind between what his heart believes as right and what he's been grown up with in his society - Jim. "I was paddling off, all in a sweat to tell on him; but when he says this, it seemed to kind of take the tuck all out of me... Do you belong on it [raft]?... I reckon we'll go adn see for ourselves. [Huck] 'I wish you would,' says I, 'because it's pap that's there... he's sick'" (Twain 89). As he feels the constant guilt about helping Jim run away, he finds slave-hunters and is about to turn Jim in, but at the last minute, decides not to because Jim has been so kind to him and left an impact on Huck. He lies in order to save Jim's life, a sure sign of his emotional maturity.

In the end, Huck resorts to lying when he needed it. Instead, Huck began to tell the truth because he knew that it was right, even though it was harder and riskier. "Well, I says to myself at last, I'm a-going to chance it; I'll up and tell the truth this time, though it does seem most like setting down on a kag of powder and touching it off just to see where you'll go to" (Twain 186). When Huck told the truth to Mary Jane, it was an important turning point in his life because he constantly leaned closer towards his heart in the battle between his heart and his social conscience. He knew it wouldn't be easy, but because Huck knew that what the Duke and the King were doing was wrong, he told the truth since it was right. Although at first Huck starts off as an immature boy that lied because it provided excitement and laughter inside, he grows and changes into a more mature person, and all this is shown through his developing use of lies.

Pap's Role in Huck's Life

Pap represents an inferiority complex for Huck Finn. Unlike Tom Sawyer, Huck was never complimented and convinced of his own worth while he was growing up. Instead, his father abused him and dragged him to the lowest tiers of society. Huck was not allowed to be educated, nor was he loved and cared for by his father. He grew up in an environment in which it was impossible for him to be proud of himself. This negative self-image is evident from the very beginning of the book, when Huck says, "... seeing as I was so ignorant, and so kind of low-down and ornery," (Twain 11). Pap has ruined religion and manners for Huck, so that he believes he cannot fit into higher levels of society.

This poor opinion Huck holds of himself leads to his idolization of Tom Sawyer. He always comments that Tom does things with more "style," and that Tom is more adventurous and intelligent that he is. Pap has instilled this submissive attitude in his son by years of abuse and neglect. Since Huck does not believe his opinion has worth, he is willing to follow Tom's foolish plans and ignore his own good judgment.

Huck is finally freed from his father's clutches when Jim informs him Pap was the dead man in the house they saw floating on the river. Without a tangible object to fear, Huck can begin to come into his own person and realize his own self-worth. Pap symbolized Huck's insecurities, and his death becomes Huck's release from his self-imposed inferiority to Tom and other members of high society.

What is Pap's role in Huck's journey?

In providing motivation for Huck to fake his own death and escape from society, Pap is indispensible as a plot device who drives Huck onto the river. However, Twain's characterization of Pap makes him much more than just a one dimensional alcoholic used only as a plot device. Because of the complex motives behind his abusive but sometimes clever actions, Pap is a fringe character in society that represents the negative rebelliousness existing in America and the ideas and lessons from Pap continue to drive Huck throughout the book.
Twain introduces Pap at the beginning of chapter 5, painting an already grisly picture of a character whose morals match his appearance. "His hair was long and tangled and greasy, and hung down, and you could see his eyes shining though as if he were behind vines" (Twain, 19). This description is meant to show that Pap has little regard for what society thinks of him and acts based on that. Later, Twain insinuates that Pap is motivated mainly by two things: his desire for alcohol and his warped southern sense of honor. This "honor" comes into play almost right after Huck is reunited with his father, manifesting itself in the form of Pap's rage over Huck having learned to read and therefore feeling "inferior" to his son. A caring father would typically be overjoyed to see his son rise up in society, but Pap has other, more restricting plans for Huck.
Pap's big rant comes in chapter 6. He begins by complaining about his belief that the government has robbed him of his rightful spot as one of the richest men in town and forced him to live out in the woods. The truth is that the government actually tried to act in the best interest of Huck, but Pap fails to see that and this part of his speech shows that even white people often fail in getting along, and suffer delusions and prejudice about the government and each other. The next part of the rant is somewhat paradoxical. Pap states that he would never vote again due to the fact that there were places where black people could vote. He also presents a great example of a very intelligent black man who can obviously contribute a lot to society, but nonetheless opposes him. Here Twain not only satirizes the foolishness of Pap but also the foolishness of every American that maintains a racist viewpoint despite the huge amount of evidence to the contrary.
As Huck travels down the river, the racist values that Pap and society have ingrained in his mind slowly begin to peel away. Despite the similarities in outdoor and practical capabilities and, in the beginning, ideology, Huck drifts further and further away from his father as he comes to know Jim better. However, Huck's attitide towards his father resurfaces in how he sees the duke and king, showing that experience with Pap has also given Huck some important abilities.
Despite being a highly illogical person, Pap shows his capability in dealing wih people when he tricks the judge into letting him escape. This ability is shared not only by Huck but also by Tom Sawyer, who in the end of the book hinders Jim's bid for freedom with his imagination and influence over Huck. The ability to make people believe a lie is shown in this book by the many evil characters that hinder the plot. From Huck's perspective, people who hindered him in happiness include not only Pap and the duke and king who directly put Huck into danger, but also the Widow who tried to civilize him,Tom who polluted his mind with outlandish ideas, and his own conscience that tried to make him do the "correct thing". Seen in this light, Pap is an extreme example of the many forces in the story that hold Huck back from his self realization in religion, morals, and freedom that even he is forced to pursue.

Is Jim Intelligent?

Before someone can answer the question, “Is Jim Intelligent?” one needs to determine what their definition of intelligence is. Recently, in psychology class, we had a unit on the different theories behind intelligence and what most individuals believe being “smart,” is defined as. Most psychologists believe in different facets to intellect. According to Robert Sternberg, the three forms of intelligence are analytic, creative, and practical.

Analytic intelligence is defined as “problem-solving” intelligence. Jim demonstrates analytic intelligence when, as Reena pointed out, reasoning his escape from Miss Watson’s house. Jim is presented with a problem of when and how to escape, and he successfully solves his problem by analyzing his situation (“I knowed ole missus en de widder wuz goin' to start to de camp-meet'n' right arter breakfas' en be gone all day.”) and coming up with a winning solution (Well, when it come dark I tuck out up de river road, en went 'bout two mile er more…”) (Twain 44).

Creative intelligence is defined as the ability to deal with new situations by drawing on old knowledge. Jim uses creative intelligence when persuading the Grangerford servants not to steal his raft. Jim says, “En I ast ‘m if dey gwyne to grab a young white genlman’s propaty” (Twain 112). Jim knows about the fear black slaves have of punishment by white men and of their power of them, and Jim uses this to his advantage.

Practical intelligence is better known as “street smarts,” and the way you are able to adapt to your environment. Jim demonstrates this best when quickly learning how to cover his tracks, travel safely during night, catch (or steal) food, live on the river, and disguise himself when necessary. Although Jim may not possess obvious intelligence in educational areas and “book smarts,” Jim’s instinctual knowledge proves his high aptitude.

Pap's Role in Huck's Journey

The character Pap in Huck Finn servers several roles in creating, foreshadowing, and representing various struggles in Huck's life. First and foremost, Pap's role was as a way to facilitate a journey in the first place. As a rampaging abusive drunk, Pap has already set Huck up to be in a downtrodden position, outcast from society by birth. This is arguable what allows Huck to relate with Jim, and the reason he is friends with Tom Sawer, in addition to posessing and/or inheriting his street smarts. Pap's character does more than just facilitate the possibility for Huck to make this adventure as he does, but facilitates the need for this adventure by returning from his absence, demanding Huck's money, and abusing Huck, forcing him to run away, setting everything into motion.
More than just a plot device, however, Pap is our first representation of opposition, specifically, actively harmful behavior stemming from society. Pap is a greedy, unfeeling, immoral, outcast, displaying a pertinent fact that needed to be said before the adventure could begin - that not everyone who lives outside the boundaries of social norms is good or even capable.
This brief encounter with Pap sets us up for Jim shortly thereafter, as Jim seems to have all of the important characteristics that Pap does not. Pap is abusive while Jim is kind and even afraid for himself; Pap wants Huck for his money while Jim wants Huck for companionship; Pap abuses and belittles Huck while Jim encourages Huck and does what he can to help him (taking his shift watching the raft, etc.)

PS: Stretchy Cat, gogogo!

Do Huck's purposes for lying change throughout the story?

I think that, throughout, the story, Huck's purposes to lie to others change from enjoyment to only when absolutely needed, like when he lies to the Phelps' to save Jim's life and freedom. Towards the beginning of the novel, Huck states, "Next morning I said it was getting slow and dull, and I wanted to get a stirring-up some way. I said I reckoned I would slip over the river and find out what was going on." (Twain 54). Here, Huck lies to a women in St. Petersburg by pretending to be a girl so he can get some gossip about the town and their thoughts about the murder that he faked. This lie has no other purpose rather than to bring some interest to Jim and his life, which has become monotonous on the island. By sheer luck, he finds out some information that saves Jim's life, but which was not the maint intent of Huck travelling to a strangers house. This also shows Huck's immaturity and close attachment to society in the beginning. By lying without thinking of the consequences(like him almost getting caught because he wanted a little adventure) and trying to remain a part of society and it's beliefs, he demonstrates that he has not yet learned his lesson about society's corruption.

I think the major turning point for Huck away from society and his lying habits is after the duke and the king lie to the town about being dead Peter's brothers to steal money from orphan girls, whom he feels badly about. Says Huck, "...and the king, he told it all over again on his hands to the duke, and both of them took on about that dead tanner like they'd lost twelve disciples. Well, if ever I struck anything like it, I'm a n-word. It was enough to make a body ashamed of the human race." (Twain 162). Before this time, Huck went along with anything anyone told him to, even for the enjoyment and stealing reasons that the duke and the king displayed. Up until this point, Huck has gradually been growing farther away from society, no longer needing to know the going-ons like he did previously and was perfectly content living on the river with Jim. After the duke and king try to destroy an innocent family for their money, Huck becomes ashamed of what society(represented by the king and duke) and ultimately, what he has become. The next time Mary Jane questions him about something, he decides to tell her the truth, an important step for Huck, demonstrating his maturity growth and his complete break from society's ways. "...though I can't say for certain; but it looks so to me, anyway; and yet here's a case where I'm blest if it don't look to me like the truth is better and actuly safer than a lie." (Twain 186). By telling Mary Jane the truth, he shows a realization of lying and it's effects, also showing is want to change and become a better person, away from the rest of the "human race". He eventually uses lying only when trying to save Jim's life, like lying to the Phelp's to get Jim back, and tries to tell the truth more often than habitually lying to everyone, which usually gets him into trouble. Huck's use of lying shows Huck's growth throughout the story as he changes the purposes in which he uses it.