To Poetry and Beyond

March 23, 2015 by Claire the Awesome

INSPIRATIONAL POEM

You are as smart as scientist
you have logic, skill, and common sense
but what is the use of having all that
if no one notices what you could be?
if you never let your colours show
you will never be unique, never be noticed
people notice the ones you’ve shunned
the show-off with pi memorized to infinity
the know-it-all with a talking textbook for a head
but you, you never get attention
because you’ve never stood out from the crowd
Click! The front row smiles bright, but you try to hide

HOPE POEM

My hope looks like the ground, so small during flight
My hope feels like sunshine, at the dead of night
My hope smells like cookies, in a cold dark dungeon
My hope tastes like ice cream, freezed in the oven
My hope sounds like an apology, after thinking it were impossible
My hope is for something unachievable, to become possible

TIEA PARAGRAPH AND ANALYSIS

Inspiring poems can inspire and change other people. In a poem called Better Than Before, it says, “From a small puddle, rebirth of motivation, better than before.” After reading this poem, people who feel like they don’t have any ideas at the moment, will still be confident that they can think of ideas. Also, they will start to believe that their ideas will be better than before. They can also rest assured that they could get motivation at any time. In a rhyming poem called You Will Never See Me Fall, in line 16 to 17, it says, “You may see me struggle…but you will NEVER see me fall.” This will make reader realize that struggling and falling are not the same thing. This can make people be less afraid of facing difficulties, because making mistakes doesn’t mean it’s the end, and that struggling isn’t something to be ashamed of. In a poem called You Will Never See Me Fall, Joyce uses metaphors many examples of struggling, but not falling. The lines in the poem are also real things people could go through. Line 10 and 11 say, “I’m going to wear the biggest smile, even though I want to cry.” A lot of people are like this, they pretend they are fine when they are not. Then they can relate to the poem. The author is trying to get people to stay strong no matter what, and you can’t give up.

In Better Than Before, the author makes the poem simple but meaningful. The author uses a metaphor, comparing a state of nothing happening to a small puddle. The author doesn’t explain much either, even in the description of the poem. So you have to use your imagination to think of what it means. The metaphor might not be what I think it is either, making it so simple, Jeremy made this poem be able to apply to many things.

In the poem Strength and Courage, it follows the order of “It takes strength to…” then “it takes courage to…” there’s not a lot of words after each of those, so it’s quite simple, but has a lot of good examples of strength and courage being different. The author uses things that can happen in real life into his poem. David wrote in two lines, “It takes strength to stand alone, it takes courage to lean on another.” This can totally apply to a war. It takes a lot of strength for you to take care of yourself in battle. But you need to get the courage to help yourself by letting another help you.

All three of these poems use situations that happen in real life, and reassure people that it’s okay. You Will Never See Me Fall uses the idea of people making mistakes and going through lots of difficulties. Strength and Courage uses the idea of people being strong, and people having courage. Better Than Before uses the idea that you can always make it better if you have some motivation. One difference is that what the message is in You Will Never See Me Fall is pretty clear. Better Than Before, however, can apply to many situations and can have different meanings. Strength and Courage’s message is more clear, but the poem doesn’t directly say it. Instead, the audience has to figure it out themselves.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Joyce Alcantara. April, 2008. You Will Never See Me Fall. Retrieved March 24, 2015, from http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/you-will-never-see-me-fall

Jeremy J. (n.d.) Better Than Before. Retrieved March 24, 2015, from http://www.fatchomper.com/2012/10/inspirational-haiku-8-better-than-before.html#.UsHef2RDtZ0

David L. Griffith. (n.d.) Strength and Courage. Retrieved March 24, 2015, from http://www.wow4u.com/takescourage/index.html

Where I’m From Poem

March 18, 2015 by Claire the Awesome

I am from tomes, dictionaries, and paperbacks
from plants, instruments, and unhealthy snacks
I am from a house full of fun
Where there’s laundry that’s just never done
Where toys are scattered all around the floor
and a single dart board hangs on my door
I am from the flowers my mom planted outside our home
so bright and beautiful countless bugs roam

I’m from the fireworks that light the sky on New Year’s Day
and all the joss paper we burn away
I am from the hard-working and intelligent
from the irritating and the lazy
From kind and generous Ya-Li
to hard-worker Chung-Yi
From be yourself both night and day
to work so you can play

From my mom’s side they have Taoism
and for my dad’s there’s no religion
I’m from Richmond and the island surrounded by sea
From cheeseburgers, milk, and oolong tea
I’m from the time my brother got lost in the mall
from the finger he broke in a painful fall
I’m from the thick glasses my father wears
and the food he brings that he always shares

TWO New Songs!

March 15, 2015 by Claire the Awesome

On February 18 I went to Teresa’s house to film Somebody To You by the Vamps. We had split the parts before then, so we were ready to begin filming. We used this karaoke. We managed our time really well and managed to finish in less than 30 minutes. So we had loads of time to choose our next song and practice that one. We chose Teardrops on My Guitar by Taylor Swift. We split the parts on this document.

Then on February 23 I went to Teresa’s house again in the morning to do our Teardrops on My Guitar cover. I could only stay for one hour this time, since I had to go to Tainan, so we had to finish fast. We finished our video, and after that, we went and searched a few more songs to add to our songs list.

On March 13, for Valiant Ventures I listened to the songs that Teresa had put on the songs list. The one I liked the best was Demons by The Wanted. I told her that between classes, and Teresa split the parts, seeing who would be best for which part.

On March 15, I went to Teresa’s house to practice Demons. We are going to use this karaoke for the video. We plan to do our cover next Sunday (March 22).

Bias Awareness Post

March 14, 2015 by Claire the Awesome

On a website called Wattpad, I posted a chapter on the story that has been the most read recently, which is called Demigods At Hogwarts. The chapter is here (I’ve already deleted the chapter on May 13). I told my readers about the English assignment and posted my poster in it. I asked 6 questions for them to answer, and a lot of them did answer them and some replied to other comments.

In the discussion, people agreed that bias really needs to be noticed and stopped. They agreed that there is still a lot of bias in the world, such as gender stereotypes. They talked about how bias probably started because a group of people are just this way, then people start assuming that they’re all like that. People said that the poster I made was great, meaningful, truthful, attractive, and amazing. They explained how stereotypes must have started, and how it still exists. @paigeanne0 talked about how bias makes people agree with things they don’t. The one bad thing about it was that people said they didn’t know what the poster really represented until I told them. @Camo_Percabeth also mentioned that companies use bias in commercials because they want people to buy them. And that buying them would make them “normal.”

@Cadence1o1 said, “I think stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason. I do think that media influences the way everyone thinks, and we can’t see how people who grew up somewhere else think.” I never thought of it this way, and that’s something I learned. Because people don’t know what other people are like, so they have a general description of what they’re like. @PJOandHOO_fan also brought up a good point, “I agree with this. If enough people around you agree with a certain stereotype, you won’t be free to express your own thoughts.” @TheCatPersonYay replied to that comment about how peer pressure can make you go along with what they say, including bias.

Here are all of the comments.

Also, the opinions I got were from many different kinds of people.
For the gender, pink is girls, green is boys, and purple means their gender is private.
For the ages, blue is 13-18, brown is private, green is 18-25, red is 25-35, light blue is 35-45, and pink is 45+

This is a map that shows where my readers are from. Dark blue is the most popular.

Made Like No Other

March 12, 2015 by Claire the Awesome

For our assignment, we took slogans from companies and put them together into a poem. We had to put them in an order so that they made sense and sounded good. Then we read it out loud to the class with our partner.

MADE LIKE NO OTHER

You aren’t you when you’re hungry
Where the clothes last for 21 hours
When there is no tomorrow
Look, smell, listen, feel and taste, that’s what Godiva chocolate is all about
As safe as in mother’s hands
You don’t just eat ‘em
Buy it, sell it, love it
Buy it, make it, mix it, rock it
Made like no other
See the world, feed the world, share with the world

©Snickers – You aren’t you when you’re hungry
©FOREVER 21 – Where the clothes last for 21 hours
©FedEx – When there is no tomorrow
©Godiva – Look, smell, listen, feel and taste, that’s what Godiva chocolate is all about
©FedEx – As safe as in mother’s hands
©Pringles – You don’t just eat ‘em
©eBay – Buy it, sell it, love it
©FOREVER 21 – Buy it, make it, mix it, rock it
©Häagen-Dazs – Made like no other
©Pringles – See the world, feed the world, share with the world

Figurative Language Video

March 11, 2015 by Claire the Awesome

Here is our Figurative Language Video. 🙂

I’ve learned about how poetic devices such as similes and metaphors make the song much more fun and cool to listen or sing to. It also makes it sound better. It shows instead of tells, which makes it much more enjoyable and less boring. Music isn’t all about the melody, the lyrics are supposed to say something too, and poetic devices helps make music have a secret meaning.

Bias in Media BLINDS You

March 1, 2015 by Claire the Awesome

Short Books
The San Francisco Earthquake, 1906
This book is kind of saying how girls don’t have what it takes to survive, even back then. There were absolutely no girls mentioned in the entire book except for that weeping mother with ten thousand kids. That was a bit of gender stereotyping since the mom is taking care of the kids and the dad isn’t. But this story takes place in 1906 and the author was probably just trying to be realistic.
Also, the soldier didn’t help the mom, didn’t even comfort her, just patted her back and left. That’s stereotyping that soldiers back then didn’t care much about someone not in immediate danger.
There is a stereotype that little boys can’t keep secrets. Morris blurted out Leo’s secret about Leo’s gold nugget just so that he could make friends.
Propaganda that you can survive earthquakes if you’re smart. You can’t only have intelligence, sometimes you do need some strength, help, and luck.
Propaganda that there is only one bully that’s truly bad. A lot of books and movies are like that. The leader is the one that’s truly evil. Like Zira from the Lion King, Regina from Mean Girls, and like Fletch from this book.

Ms. Krup Cracks Me Up
There is a stereotype that girls are scared of bugs and dead things. There are a ton of boys who are scared of those things and girls who aren’t in the world, but in the book all the boys wanted to kill the cockroach, and all the girls were screaming and trying to get away from it.
Stereotype that kids like to eat candy. AJ and all his classmates went crazy when they found the boxes of candy beside the candy machine.
Stereotype that boys like Batman and dinosaurs. They boys got really excited when they found out there was a missing T. Rex in the museum, and AJ had a Batman sleeping bag.
Stereotype that adults snore loud. Adults the only one that snore loud. You should hear my younger brother snore, it’s almost like he’s a human tuba.
A stereotype that girls who are smart are nosy, follow rules, and like impressing people. Not all smart people are like Andrea Young in this book or Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series.
Gender stereotype that girls cry a lot and are easily scared. Emily totally freaked out when she was pinned to the ground by a dead bear.
Stereotype that boys hate school and museums, and like field trips.
Stereotype that everyone thinks Monday is the worst day.
Stereotype that adults like to drink coffee and talk about the weather.

Songs
Aqua – Barbie Girl
“Life in plastic, it’s fantastic!” Since this song is comparing girls to the toy Barbie, “life in plastic,” can also refer to plastic surgery. This is saying that girls like doing plastic surgery and think it’s fantastic. I’m sure not all people think that.
“I’m a blond, bimbo girl.” This is supporting the dumb blonde stereotype, since bimbo means pretty but unintelligent.
“Dress me up, make it tight.” This is saying that girls like wearing clothes that a very tight and fit perfectly.
“You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere.” This part of the song is saying that girls like making their hair look nice and change clothes a lot
“Make me walk, make me talk, do whatever you please, I can act like a star, I can beg on my knees.” I’m not really sure about this one, but I’m pretty sure it’s saying that boys are the ones who are in control and can manipulate the girl a lot.

Demi Lovato – Heart Attack
“Putting my defenses up, ‘Cause I don’t wanna fall in love. If I ever did that, I think I’d have a heart attack.” This is saying that when people are hurt, they never want to fall in love again out of fear of being hurt another time.
“But when it comes to you, I’m never good enough.” In relationships, it’s saying that girls always want to impress the guys, and never think they’re good enough for them, and always try to be better and better.
“When I don’t care, I can play ‘em like a Ken doll” This is saying that when girls don’t care about a guy, she manipulates him for fun.
“Won’t wash my hair, then make ’em bounce like a basketball.” “Bounce like a basketball,” can mean going away. Like how people say, “I gotta bounce.” Demi Lovato means that if she doesn’t wash her hair, the guy won’t be interested in her anymore. This is a gender stereotype because it’s saying guys are only interested in looks and not anything else.
“But you make me wanna act like a girl, paint my nails and wear high heels.” Demi Lovato is saying that there’s a boy that makes her so nervous she wants to look good. But, she says, “make me wanna act like a girl,” which makes it a gender stereotype because not all girls paint their nails and wear high heels.
“You make me glow, but I cover up. Won’t let it show.” I think this is saying that when girls who don’t want to fall in love “glow,” as in “blushing.” It can be referring to how she feels when she is around him. But she says she, “covers up,” which is saying she doesn’t let them show because she is afraid to. But that can also mean using makeup to hide her true self. That’s stereotyping that girls use a lot of makeup, and end up hiding who they really are.

Commercials
Walt Disney World Resort – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPYUo0awFOc
Propaganda that Disney World is a place where people of all ages can have fun, relax, and be happy. Disney World is more like a place for kids and teenagers than adults, but they always show adults laughing with their kids. When I go to an amusement park it’s always only my brother and I going on rides, since my mom’s too scared of everything and my dad gets sick easily.
There is also a stereotype that everyone likes fireworks. Everyone in the commercial was cheering and smiling while watching the fireworks.
Stereotype that boys like Buzz Lightyear and Star Wars
Stereotype that girls like princesses and dressing up like them.

Car Commercial – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYWHsOeDf3M
Saying that boys care more about cars than girls
Propaganda that the car is so good it can get you a lot of attention and that the car has a ton of energy. Made it look like it was made by super smart scientists.
Since all of the hamsters who made the car were male, it’s a gender stereotype that only boys can be smart like those hamsters and make that car.
Also stereotyping that females dress in heels and designer clothes
Stereotyping that smart people dress with suspenders and round glasses.

Similarities
There are a lot of gender stereotypes and age stereotypes in all of these bias examples. They all portray girls as weak beings that are afraid of both tangible things and being themselves. They all portray girls as girls that are pretty or want to be pretty. But they all depict boys as people who are capable of doing a lot of cool things, like making a car or surviving earthquakes. I’ve noticed that whether it’s a boy or girl singing the song, writing the book, or appearing in a commercial, it seems to portray girls in a negative way, even though it’s a little bit. All the examples I have don’t have any kind of black vs white prejudice, just the fact that there aren’t any black people in any of the examples. That’s implying that black people can’t survive fires or don’t go to elementary. Even though they don’t really say anything bad about black people, not saying anything about them could also be and example of bias.

Differences
There are also examples that say boys as bad people to be around, since they break people’s hearts and don’t care about girls. I think songs are the ones that usually show this, since a lot of singers are girls and singer usually sing out their thoughts. Commercials and books tend to have much more stereotypes in them than the songs. Commercials always use stereotypes or other bias because they think the audience believes in those biases and will agree with them. Books also shouldn’t have so many unpopular opinions readers won’t even read them. Songs are usually just liked because of the melody, and you can’t fit so much bias in a song anyway. For the bias in books, I don’t think most of them are really intentional. Lots of authors just write and provide small details that just happen to have stereotypes in them. When they do have a lot and really big ones, most of the time it’s just being realistic.

Product
This is my product to make people aware of the bias in the world around them. For my product, I made a poster. This poster contains an outline of a man wearing headphones and having a phone, a book, a newspaper, and a print ad across his eyes, like a blindfold. This represents how bias can lead you on blindly, making you deaf and blind to the real world.

Claire & Square

Monthly Archives: March 2015