English Final

Thalia Schmid English Final

My Masterpiece

My Masterpiece- Film

Masterpiece Update

So for my masterpiece I was going to make a 'documentary,' basically, about me. I talked to my flimmaker friend about helping me out, and he said he'd be more than happy to. I asked him to help because I know he's very fast and efficient with working and I didn't want to do it alone. I still need to clarify some of the things my doc should entail with Dr. Preston, and I need to get started with my friend. But I'm excited!

Modernist Author Project

              I am Ernest Hemingway.
                                                                  I am a novelist.
                                                                  I am a recipient of the Nobel Prize in literature.
                                                                  I am a key part in the time period known as the "Lost                                                                               Generation."
                                                                  I am an alcoholic and suffer from depression.


These "I am" statements are significant because it's what Mr. Hemingway is most known for, but they just scratch the surface of the very diverse man Ernest Hemingway was. It's important to state that he won a very credible and prestigious award and it's a great accomplishment for him. He was very influential with the group of surrealist artists and modernist writers that were very successful during the time of the "Lost Generation." Even though being an alcoholic and suffering from depression are known as negative traits, they still make Ernest Hemingway who he is.

I believe that Ernest Hemingway's military experience greatly influenced his writing style and what he wrote about in general. I also think that suffering with a mental disease greatly had a big impact on him; even though it was mainly towards the end of his life, I think that shows more of a person he is.

"There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed."
"They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one's country. But in modern war, there is nothing sweet nor fitting in your dying. You will die like a dog for no good reason."
"Courage is grace under pressure."

Fallacies: Examples & Corrections

American History X Debate

In this clip Edward Norton's character, Derek, used many fallacies in this argument about Rodney King. He used ad numerum, statistics, when he referenced how many black people were incarcerated. Derek used straw man when talking about Rodney King himself by calling him a felon and talking about his past. He also used ad hominem when he was calling Rodney King a "monkey." Derek's sister was using (I think) the circular argument when she talked about social injustices in the justice system and how that relates to black people are treated and how many are incarcerated. She also used ad hominem when she attacked Derek by saying he was in the KKK. I think that might be red herring too, because that distracted Derek and he then had to defend himself about not being in the KKK. The man Derek was arguing with used "you too" / slippery slope when he brought up Jewish persecution and antisemitism.

What Jiro Means to Me

Jiro's passion can inspire and teach others by creating a dream inside everyone. Jiro's career is successful because he encompasses all aspects of what a sushi chef should be. Passionate and dedicated. That's how Jiro is important to me. He has inspired me to go after my dreams and everything will fall into place. If I am passionate I will be successful.

In the Jiro movie, Jiro's tactics may seem a bit extreme to the average Joe, but how dedicated he is is on his own terms. I know that when I fulfill my dreams I will be as dedicated as he is. And I would love it. I wouldn't complain. I couldn't because I would love what I do that much. His dedication shows how much he loves what he does and how he wants other people to enjoy it too. I want to make other people happy. I want to make people laugh. I want to entertain people. I want to make people feel something. I want to inspire people.

The part of the Jiro movie that really stood out to me was in the beginning when they said that Jiro would wake up and have new ideas of sushi. I mean the title is literally Jiro Dreams Of Sushi. They open up with that to show how much he loves what he does. And how passionate he is. I totally connect with how he wakes up with new ideas of sushi and has to write them down. I mean I don't wake up with new ideas of sushi but I wake up with new ideas of things that have to do with my topic. Film. I always have new ideas of shots I want to film and I always think of new things that would look pretty on a film screen. I'm always thinking of story lines and intricate dialogue. I see myself acting, too. I want to be in front of the screen but behind it as well.

Jiro inspires me. Look at what he's done. He is so successful and praised for what he's accomplished. And he's accomplished so much because he puts in an effort and is passionate about what he creates. People, obviously, respond greatly to that. They know he is passionate and flock to that. They can taste it in his food. It is obvious he loves what he does. That's what I want to do. I want people to know that I poured my heart and soul into what I create or do.

Jiro

I relate to Jiro in the fact that he's passionate about what he does. When he was talking about waking up in the middle of the night and thinking about sushi I thought that was cool. Because I get like that too. Sometimes I have ideas of shots that would look SO cool and I write them down. I think of plot ideas and dialogue that would be good so I write them down. I appreciate Jiro's dedication and commitment and I hope to be as praised and admired, for his love and passion, as he has.