4/24 - 4/29

This week in English class I have been working to finish up my inquiry project. I conducted both of my interviews this week. One with Ross Roemer, and the other with Steven Cassedy, the head of Russian and Soviet Studies at UCSD. I also finished reading my third book, The Stranger, which I actually really enjoyed. I'm happy switched from reading Master and Margarita and changed the direction of my project a little bit. Other than that I worked on my abstract which I almost have finished. Tis all.

Week of 4/18-4/22

This week in English class I have continued to work on my abstract and inquiry project. One note of luck I had this week was I finally found my 2nd interview for my project. It looks like I'm going to be interviewing a literature professor at UCSD, Steven Cassidy, who actually just recently taught his students Notes from Underground.
I also decided that I was going to change around my inquiry project around a little bit and instead of reading Master and Margarita for my third book I will read The Stranger by Albert Camus. I determined that Master and Margarita wasn't as dark or existentialist as my other novels and that the stranger would better relate to my topic. 

Week of 4/12 - 4/15

We have been spending this whole week working of our adaptations of Twelfth Night. My group, made of me, Adam, Stefan, and Logan, decided to reenact act one scene five of the play. Stefan and I decided to take the lead on writing the script and Adam and Logan are the actors. We adapted the play so that it is set in early colonial America. Orsino is now Orson, the leader of the colony, Olivia is now the owner of a large estate in America due to her dad's death, and Viola became Soaring Dove, a native American woman who's village was wiped out by smallpox. However, she can speak English and is posing as Iron Bear, a strong male scout, to find work under Orson. Overall I really like the script and think that we made a great adaptation.

Week 3/14-3/18

This week in literature class we have continued to work on our adapted versions of Twelfth Night and we had our in class essay for our second inquiry books. My group has decided to preform Act 4 Scene 3 (I think). It also seems that I will either be writing or co-writing the screenplay. I am trying to think of an original spin to put on the scene so that we could make it more unique and also to modernize it a little bit. I plan to spend many of my spring break days pondering in the mountains of how I should adapt the scene.
Furthermore, I completed Notes from Underground and really enjoyed the novella. I feel like I learned a lot about human nature from reading the novel. One concept I thought was interesting that I didn't get to mention in my essay was how spiteful humans often are, especially in situations where it would appear that they are lacking free. For example, the author talks about how he refuses to say sorry because it's too easy. He also mentions how once someone proves to you that two time two is four or that you are descended from a monkey then all you can do is accept it (paraphrasing). From this I developed the theory that if humans are told that they don't have free will they will act spitefully, even if it is bad for them, just to show that they have free will. I even came to this realization while acting the very same way myself. While I was taking a break from writing my essay I was making myself a cup of tea and poured out the old water in the teapot rather than just reheating it. I realized that I had no reason to through the water away, but because people would say "Oh its good for the environment you have to reuse it" then I just had to show that I had the free will to through it away, even if it is illogic . But what do I care for just a little water? I'd rather throw it away and have to pay for more just for spite.

Week of 3/7 - 3/11

This week we wrapped up 12th night and have started our project related to the play. We also spent the week watching film adaptions of the play. I thought the film that we watched the last scene really captured the play well and helped me appreciate the scenes better. I think in the future that you should have the class read a scene and then watch the corresponding section of the movie.
I am also continuing to read my next book for my inquiry project, Notes From Underground. The novel is far harder to read that I had expected but I understand it pretty well and am thoroughly enjoying it.
Tis all.

Week of 2/28 - 3/4

This week we have continued to read Twelfth Night and have started having conversations about things like love and comedy. On my own I have been reading my second book, Notes From Underground, and am having some difficulty with reading it. Usually I am able to easily understand a book or novel however I am finding Notes to be very hard to comprehend because much of the early part of the book is the protagonist rambling about all of his hatred for society. It's not only difficult to understand the point the protagonist is trying to make but it's also hard to follow his logic. I'm not saying that I dislike the book by any means. I just have to put in far more mental thought whilst reading than I had previously anticipated.

Week of 2/21 - 2/25

This week in class we have continued reading and preforming Twelfth Night. So far I am enjoying the play very much. However, my goal I made last week of being able to understand Shakespeare being read aloud is now seeing impractical. Throughout this week I have been relying on the translated version in order to completely understand whats happening. It's just that Shakespeare uses so many metaphors and words that we never use today.I also realized that I need to secure my second interviewer for the inquiry project. I have email people at SDSU and have gotten no successful replies. I am thinking that I'll try emailing psychology professors at UCSD and USD. Tis all.