One historical fiction novel, ‘Catherine Called Birdy’ by Karen Cushman, explores a knight’s daughter who battled through gender equality, powerlessness, ambitions and family restrictions, problems that is set in Medieval Times. Catherine or also called Little Bird, endured problems like gender equality that is mostly one of the main struggles in medieval time. “Instead I thought to make a list of all the things girls are not allowed to do: Go on crusades, be horse trainers, be monks, laugh very loud, wear breeches, drink in ale houses, cut their hair, piss in the fire to make it hiss, wear nothing, be alone..” -pg 66, this quote shows that Catherine wrote about having no justice and equality as a girl. This was written in many parts of the book, to emphasize the lack of gender equality during medieval times. “I have noticed lately how many male saints were bishops, popes, missionaries, great scholars and teachers while female saints get to be saints mostly by being someone’s mother...” –pg 144, This quote reveals the fact that even in religion there was a lack of gender equality. Catherine must also abide the fact that since there’s gender equality, then there must be the powerlessness for just being a woman. In medieval times there was also a caste system, which is a system of where people belong in different levels in society and where Catherine’s family is at the middle of the caste. One main problems of being a woman, in the middle caste system, is that the father arranges who the woman should marry with. “I must make a plan for I will not, of course, wed the pig…”-98, this quote shows that Catherine would always avoid being paired up with no choices or so. “I am left with a beastly father, a life of chores, no hope, no friends; no escape…is there justice in the world.” -pg 22, this quote explains how Catherine is complaining about the lack of freedom and power to do what she wants. Ambitions and Family Restrictions were also a problem that was faced by Catherine during medieval times. “Why must I learnt to walk with a lady’s…” and “…travel with them and have and experience. Mayhap…never return to old spinning and sewing manor.” These quotes represent Catherine’s family restrictions that she has to spin and sew and be a proper lady. “How I would rather go crusading like Uncle George or live with...” -pg 13 and “My mother gave me a gentle but stern lecture about behaving like a lady.”-pg 54, these quotes explains of Catherine’s ambition to go crusading rather than having to sew and spin, the second quote explains of how she always have to be taught how to be a well-mannered lady. Long ago, life in medieval time was extremely frustrating especially for a knight’s daughter that battled these challenges like gender equality, powerlessness, ambitions and family restrictions. The facts that Catherine is human and since humans grow and learn from their past mistakes, made her open her eyes and accepts her environment.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
'Catherine Called Birdy' by Karen Cushman.
One historical fiction novel, ‘Catherine Called Birdy’ by Karen Cushman, explores a knight’s daughter who battled through gender equality, powerlessness, ambitions and family restrictions, problems that is set in Medieval Times. Catherine or also called Little Bird, endured problems like gender equality that is mostly one of the main struggles in medieval time. “Instead I thought to make a list of all the things girls are not allowed to do: Go on crusades, be horse trainers, be monks, laugh very loud, wear breeches, drink in ale houses, cut their hair, piss in the fire to make it hiss, wear nothing, be alone..” -pg 66, this quote shows that Catherine wrote about having no justice and equality as a girl. This was written in many parts of the book, to emphasize the lack of gender equality during medieval times. “I have noticed lately how many male saints were bishops, popes, missionaries, great scholars and teachers while female saints get to be saints mostly by being someone’s mother...” –pg 144, This quote reveals the fact that even in religion there was a lack of gender equality. Catherine must also abide the fact that since there’s gender equality, then there must be the powerlessness for just being a woman. In medieval times there was also a caste system, which is a system of where people belong in different levels in society and where Catherine’s family is at the middle of the caste. One main problems of being a woman, in the middle caste system, is that the father arranges who the woman should marry with. “I must make a plan for I will not, of course, wed the pig…”-98, this quote shows that Catherine would always avoid being paired up with no choices or so. “I am left with a beastly father, a life of chores, no hope, no friends; no escape…is there justice in the world.” -pg 22, this quote explains how Catherine is complaining about the lack of freedom and power to do what she wants. Ambitions and Family Restrictions were also a problem that was faced by Catherine during medieval times. “Why must I learnt to walk with a lady’s…” and “…travel with them and have and experience. Mayhap…never return to old spinning and sewing manor.” These quotes represent Catherine’s family restrictions that she has to spin and sew and be a proper lady. “How I would rather go crusading like Uncle George or live with...” -pg 13 and “My mother gave me a gentle but stern lecture about behaving like a lady.”-pg 54, these quotes explains of Catherine’s ambition to go crusading rather than having to sew and spin, the second quote explains of how she always have to be taught how to be a well-mannered lady. Long ago, life in medieval time was extremely frustrating especially for a knight’s daughter that battled these challenges like gender equality, powerlessness, ambitions and family restrictions. The facts that Catherine is human and since humans grow and learn from their past mistakes, made her open her eyes and accepts her environment.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Answers to the Webquest.
1. Which country did Germany invaded first?
Germany invaded Poland in September 1, 1939.
2. Why did Hitler and Stalin able to share the Poland at first?
10. Give two reasons that Hitler hated the Soviets..
I couldn’t find this answer too.
Germany invaded Poland in September 1, 1939.
2. Why did Hitler and Stalin able to share the Poland at first?
They were able to share Poland at first because of the non
3. When was the exact day when World War 2 was started?
The exact day when World War 2 started was September 1, 1939.
4. Was Hitler successful invading France?
Hitler was indeed successful invading plans with his smart leadership and plans.
5. How did Hitler led Germany to become the strongest country?
Hitler led Germany by rebuilding the German military and going against the treaty of Versailles. He built a new airforce, tanks, submarines and ships. Basically, Hitler try to regain Germany back into power and scheming his way to greater power that led the Germany to become the strongest country during World War 2.
6. Was Switzerland able to survive in World War 2?
Since Switzerland did not participate in World War 2, it did survive.
7. Did Soviet hated the Jews?
The Soviets did not hate the Jews although it allied with Germany.
8. Is the former Germany the same size of the modern Germany?
Germany invaded and conquered other countries in Europe and so the size of it must have changed. But the Soviets fought back and so did other countries, this resulted that the size of Germany changed again.
9. Why did Hitler told the Germans that Arians are the most superior race?
I couldn’t find this answer.
aggression pact.
3. When was the exact day when World War 2 was started?
The exact day when World War 2 started was September 1, 1939.
4. Was Hitler successful invading France?
Hitler was indeed successful invading plans with his smart leadership and plans.
5. How did Hitler led Germany to become the strongest country?
Hitler led Germany by rebuilding the German military and going against the treaty of Versailles. He built a new airforce, tanks, submarines and ships. Basically, Hitler try to regain Germany back into power and scheming his way to greater power that led the Germany to become the strongest country during World War 2.
6. Was Switzerland able to survive in World War 2?
Since Switzerland did not participate in World War 2, it did survive.
7. Did Soviet hated the Jews?
The Soviets did not hate the Jews although it allied with Germany.
8. Is the former Germany the same size of the modern Germany?
Germany invaded and conquered other countries in Europe and so the size of it must have changed. But the Soviets fought back and so did other countries, this resulted that the size of Germany changed again.
9. Why did Hitler told the Germans that Arians are the most superior race?
I couldn’t find this answer.
10. Give two reasons that Hitler hated the Soviets..
I couldn’t find this answer too.
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Webquest, Questions, Holocaust.
Begin the web quest by opening this website: http://www.ushmm.org/education/forstudents/
Click on Introduction to the Holocaust and start reading on this article.
1. Explain what the holocaust is.
The Germans decides who’s in and who’s out. Why did they decide this? Who were in and who were out? What happens to those who are out?
2. Read paragraph 3 and 4. What were the Nazis plan to take out the Jewish population?
3. What happens in the aftermath?
Click on antisemitism and read this article.
4. Explain the term ‘propaganda’ and ‘genocide’.
5. The Nazi party that was led by Adolf Hitler gained popularity for their theories of racism? How did they do it?
6. In the illustration drawn by anti-Semitic children, why were the people (Jewish) drawn strangely and looked dumb while the people that past the post, were looking lively and rich?
7. “Millions bought Hitler's book Mein Kampf (My Struggle), which called for the removal of Jews from Germany.”
What does this text from paragraph 4, says?
Next go to "Jewish life in Europe before the Holocaust"
8. Before the Holocaust happen, Europe is a vastly wide populated with Jewish people and culture. Why would the Nazis want to take the Jewish population and cultures away?
Go to "Nazi rise to power"
9. Read the article and explain how Hitler came into power. Was this the start of Hitler’s power?
10. Hitler was obviously a smart leader. How did he manipulate the public’s minds and brainwashed them into thinking that eliminating the Jews was a “good” idea?
Click on Introduction to the Holocaust and start reading on this article.
1. Explain what the holocaust is.
The Germans decides who’s in and who’s out. Why did they decide this? Who were in and who were out? What happens to those who are out?
2. Read paragraph 3 and 4. What were the Nazis plan to take out the Jewish population?
3. What happens in the aftermath?
Click on antisemitism and read this article.
4. Explain the term ‘propaganda’ and ‘genocide’.
5. The Nazi party that was led by Adolf Hitler gained popularity for their theories of racism? How did they do it?
6. In the illustration drawn by anti-Semitic children, why were the people (Jewish) drawn strangely and looked dumb while the people that past the post, were looking lively and rich?
7. “Millions bought Hitler's book Mein Kampf (My Struggle), which called for the removal of Jews from Germany.”
What does this text from paragraph 4, says?
Next go to "Jewish life in Europe before the Holocaust"
8. Before the Holocaust happen, Europe is a vastly wide populated with Jewish people and culture. Why would the Nazis want to take the Jewish population and cultures away?
Go to "Nazi rise to power"
9. Read the article and explain how Hitler came into power. Was this the start of Hitler’s power?
10. Hitler was obviously a smart leader. How did he manipulate the public’s minds and brainwashed them into thinking that eliminating the Jews was a “good” idea?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Band Blog Post.
Part Onee.
ISKL misson statement: The International School of Kuala Lumpur provides an exceptional education that [SILENCE] challenges each student to develop the attitudes,
ISKL misson statement: The International School of Kuala Lumpur provides an exceptional education that [SILENCE] challenges each student to develop the attitudes,
skills, knowledge and understanding to become a highly successful, spirited,
socially responsible global citizen.
In this ISKL mission statement, adding the silence after "that" creates the tension and curiosity. When a reader reads this out-loud to a bunch of people, the effect of the silence adds the tension and curiosity. The people would start to ask questions to what the reader is about to say next and what is the ISKL mission statement is. The curiosity in this would come from the people asking the questions. The tension would be from the atmosphere that forms when the reader uses the silence.
Part Two.
Composers can create tension in their music by using an unexpected silence (void). Also by taking elements of music to create the silence. When composers takes away elements of music and add silence (void), this makes people start to ask questions. The release is when the composer gives back the elements of music that was taken away and stops the silence. This would give the people the answer and the release they needed.
The Black Spot
The Power of the Void- Band Assignment
I would call the title of the story “The Black Spot”. It gives an insight to the story and it creates tension and questions on people’s minds. This is like the beginning of the suspense and tension as well as the start to the story. “Bill Hutchinson went over to his wife and forced the slip of paper out of her hand. It had a black spot on it, the black spot…” this quote from the text is when the Hutchinson family opened up their papers to see if any of them has the black dot on their papers. I taste that everyone of the villagers was curious of who got the black spot; this was the moment when the intensity of the villagers was high. But after the villagers found out that Tessie got the black spot, a release occurred. There was no more suspense or curiosity and it turned into a relief. When I found out the end of the story was not given, questions starts to twirl in my head. Questions to what the ending could be. The mystery paper made me curious but since there was no ending to the story, I predicted that the mystery paper holds the ending. “Do not open until 5p.m and follow the instructions” I did not open the mystery paper at 5 because of the curiosity that makes me open it afterschool. By writing this, I am following the instructions on the mystery paper.
THE BLACK BOX. THE BLACK SPOT. THE BLANK PAPER.
The black box is the key to the ritual/lottery. This ritual or “lottery” is done every year by Mr. Graves and Mr. Summers. They made the papers and placed a black dot, then stuffed them in the black box. Whoever receives the paper with the black spot will receive the consequences.
The black ‘deadly’ spot sits on a paper and the unlucky villager that takes this paper will receive consequences. That unlucky villager happens to be Tessie Hutchinson. As a result of this, the villagers threw stones at her. This was the ritual/lottery that takes place every year as a tradition to this village.
The blank paper shows the other villagers luck of receiving a blank paper instead of the paper with the black spot. I predicted that nothing happens to those villagers and that they are safe.
After reading the ending to the story, there was still some tension and curiosity because the ending still seems mysterious and left unexplained. Instead of having the release of tension and curiosity, the author ends the story unexplained. My predictions were somewhat correct and somewhat wrong. 50-50. I feel the need to re-read parts of the story to get the mood of the story and try predicting something with that. Knowing other information’s about the story would have helped me make better predictions. Leaving voids in the story and exaggerating it makes the story mysterious and readers would ask more questions because of the unexplained voids. No title or author leaves the reader wondering more of what the author did to the story. His or her flavors and writing choices is unknown which gives the readers no information on what the author’s impact on the story. No ending cause a greater tension and curiosity as people are predicting that they would know the whole story. Text clues and foreshadowing gives excellent small voids that add up to the whole void of the story. The mystery paper that contains the ending made the final touches to this whole void assignment.
I would call the title of the story “The Black Spot”. It gives an insight to the story and it creates tension and questions on people’s minds. This is like the beginning of the suspense and tension as well as the start to the story. “Bill Hutchinson went over to his wife and forced the slip of paper out of her hand. It had a black spot on it, the black spot…” this quote from the text is when the Hutchinson family opened up their papers to see if any of them has the black dot on their papers. I taste that everyone of the villagers was curious of who got the black spot; this was the moment when the intensity of the villagers was high. But after the villagers found out that Tessie got the black spot, a release occurred. There was no more suspense or curiosity and it turned into a relief. When I found out the end of the story was not given, questions starts to twirl in my head. Questions to what the ending could be. The mystery paper made me curious but since there was no ending to the story, I predicted that the mystery paper holds the ending. “Do not open until 5p.m and follow the instructions” I did not open the mystery paper at 5 because of the curiosity that makes me open it afterschool. By writing this, I am following the instructions on the mystery paper.
THE BLACK BOX. THE BLACK SPOT. THE BLANK PAPER.
The black box is the key to the ritual/lottery. This ritual or “lottery” is done every year by Mr. Graves and Mr. Summers. They made the papers and placed a black dot, then stuffed them in the black box. Whoever receives the paper with the black spot will receive the consequences.
The black ‘deadly’ spot sits on a paper and the unlucky villager that takes this paper will receive consequences. That unlucky villager happens to be Tessie Hutchinson. As a result of this, the villagers threw stones at her. This was the ritual/lottery that takes place every year as a tradition to this village.
The blank paper shows the other villagers luck of receiving a blank paper instead of the paper with the black spot. I predicted that nothing happens to those villagers and that they are safe.
After reading the ending to the story, there was still some tension and curiosity because the ending still seems mysterious and left unexplained. Instead of having the release of tension and curiosity, the author ends the story unexplained. My predictions were somewhat correct and somewhat wrong. 50-50. I feel the need to re-read parts of the story to get the mood of the story and try predicting something with that. Knowing other information’s about the story would have helped me make better predictions. Leaving voids in the story and exaggerating it makes the story mysterious and readers would ask more questions because of the unexplained voids. No title or author leaves the reader wondering more of what the author did to the story. His or her flavors and writing choices is unknown which gives the readers no information on what the author’s impact on the story. No ending cause a greater tension and curiosity as people are predicting that they would know the whole story. Text clues and foreshadowing gives excellent small voids that add up to the whole void of the story. The mystery paper that contains the ending made the final touches to this whole void assignment.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
"A good picture makes us curious and makes us want to know more”
“If we look at the photographers whose work we admire, we see that they’ve found a particular place, theme, or subject, dug deep into it, and carved out something that’s become special. That takes a lot of time and a lot of work; it’s not for everyone. A great photograph really needs to say something about a person or give some insight into their life or how their life is different than yours and mine. A good picture makes us curious and makes us want to know more.” -Steve McCurry,
Steve McCurry is a photographer regignized worldwide from Philadelphia. He kick started his career in photography while working for a newspaper, then moved on to freelancing. Not only is McCurry a freelancing photographer, but a traveler as well. India was the country that touched McCurry’s heart. "If you wait," he realized, "people will forget your camera and the soul will drift up into view."- Steve McCurry. McCurry’s photos are famous for having connections with the chosen subjects and the people viewing the photos. Through his photos, I could see that McCurry has a passion of capturing the human nature as well as having connections. Human nature like the struggles, pain, joy and more that would appear in his photos. The connection of his subject’s eyes attracts people’s attention to look deep within the surface. A good example of this is the photo of the green-eyed Afghan Girl that stood out from all of his photos, and most likely one of the causes of his great success. What makes this photo so breath taking is the simplicity of the image. There isnt much of an expression on her face, so the viewer's attention is automatically drawn to her eyes.
On the photo:
Steve McCurry shoots such abrupt photos that leave viewers hanging around to dig into the meaning of the photos. When you first look at photo that there’s a young boy, holding a gun that is pointing at him. This would be the surface of this photo but there are lots of hidden things that I have to dig in order to read what’s hidden. The young boy’s face is the first step to find what’s hidden. Tears pouring out of the young boy’s eyes made me feel the need to comfort him and rub his tears away. The tears and the crying, for me, symbolize a lost hope. The gun in his hand captures my eyes and it is the second step towards finding the hidden meaning. This made me think that the young boy is having a hard time and this photo capture the moment when he’s about to give up on life. The gun symbolizes of losing faith. The young boy in this photo symbolize of all human beings (humanity). All these three things, the gun, tears and the young boy add up and equals to the bigger picture. The bigger picture is that all human beings (the young boy) have moments when their eyes would be pouring out with tears and a gun would stand along beside them. This type of moments is when human beings lose hope and faith in their lives and that the gun is the key to end the painful moment. I think McCurry wants people to look at this photo so that when this type of moments comes along, they shouldn’t lose their hope and faith. And that people should continue on their life rather than ending it and having regrets. After all we as human beings have one life to live.
Understanding McCurry’s works; travels, photography and personal life gives me an insight of digging beneath the surface to find the other side of life that hasn’t been noticed or touched. His photography made me connect with that other side of life of people whom I have never noticed. I learned that his photos make people around the world connect with each other and learn to understand of the difference and similarities with people living in different cultures. From learning this, I gained an understanding of how a great photograph tells a story of the people living in different cultures. It’s difficult to find that story as it is hidden beneath the photo. That is what a great photograph should be; digging up the surface to find the hidden meaning/story. A great photograph also attracts people’s curiosity to look for that too. These are some of the factors that makes great photos endure and last for decades.
Steve McCurry is a photographer regignized worldwide from Philadelphia. He kick started his career in photography while working for a newspaper, then moved on to freelancing. Not only is McCurry a freelancing photographer, but a traveler as well. India was the country that touched McCurry’s heart. "If you wait," he realized, "people will forget your camera and the soul will drift up into view."- Steve McCurry. McCurry’s photos are famous for having connections with the chosen subjects and the people viewing the photos. Through his photos, I could see that McCurry has a passion of capturing the human nature as well as having connections. Human nature like the struggles, pain, joy and more that would appear in his photos. The connection of his subject’s eyes attracts people’s attention to look deep within the surface. A good example of this is the photo of the green-eyed Afghan Girl that stood out from all of his photos, and most likely one of the causes of his great success. What makes this photo so breath taking is the simplicity of the image. There isnt much of an expression on her face, so the viewer's attention is automatically drawn to her eyes.
On the photo:
Steve McCurry shoots such abrupt photos that leave viewers hanging around to dig into the meaning of the photos. When you first look at photo that there’s a young boy, holding a gun that is pointing at him. This would be the surface of this photo but there are lots of hidden things that I have to dig in order to read what’s hidden. The young boy’s face is the first step to find what’s hidden. Tears pouring out of the young boy’s eyes made me feel the need to comfort him and rub his tears away. The tears and the crying, for me, symbolize a lost hope. The gun in his hand captures my eyes and it is the second step towards finding the hidden meaning. This made me think that the young boy is having a hard time and this photo capture the moment when he’s about to give up on life. The gun symbolizes of losing faith. The young boy in this photo symbolize of all human beings (humanity). All these three things, the gun, tears and the young boy add up and equals to the bigger picture. The bigger picture is that all human beings (the young boy) have moments when their eyes would be pouring out with tears and a gun would stand along beside them. This type of moments is when human beings lose hope and faith in their lives and that the gun is the key to end the painful moment. I think McCurry wants people to look at this photo so that when this type of moments comes along, they shouldn’t lose their hope and faith. And that people should continue on their life rather than ending it and having regrets. After all we as human beings have one life to live.
Understanding McCurry’s works; travels, photography and personal life gives me an insight of digging beneath the surface to find the other side of life that hasn’t been noticed or touched. His photography made me connect with that other side of life of people whom I have never noticed. I learned that his photos make people around the world connect with each other and learn to understand of the difference and similarities with people living in different cultures. From learning this, I gained an understanding of how a great photograph tells a story of the people living in different cultures. It’s difficult to find that story as it is hidden beneath the photo. That is what a great photograph should be; digging up the surface to find the hidden meaning/story. A great photograph also attracts people’s curiosity to look for that too. These are some of the factors that makes great photos endure and last for decades.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Jason and The Argonauts
Many heroes from Ancient Greece fits well with the ‘cycle of the hero’ as developed by Joseph Campbell. The aspects of the cycle show the elements of the journey that the heroes embark on. Jason and the Golden Fleece matched the cycle of the hero and these are the evidences;
Birth/Home: Jason was formerly born from a royal family as his dad was the rightful king of Iolcus. His malicious uncle, Pelias stole his father’s throne and claimed himself King. Pelias would have killed Jason when he was a baby but Jason’s mother saved him and sent him to live with Chiron, the Centaur. There Jason learnt to fight and hunt.
Call to Adventure: Jason grew to be a strong and brave man from Chiron care. When he learned of his past, he decided to go up to his uncle, King Pelias and demands back his rightful throne. King Pelias decided that Jason journey to find the Golden Fleece and only then he would give his throne back to Jason. This was the start of the adventure/journey.
Elixir: The elixir of Jason’s journey was the Golden Fleece. He had to find the Golden Fleece in order to retrieve his rightful kingdom. The whole myth and journey was finding the Golden Fleece and this is what kept him alive.
Helpers: After Jason received the challenge, he searched for other heroes to accompany him as he embarks on the journey. Many heroes were ready to risk their lives but Jason had chosen his crew, they were called ‘the Argonauts’. And so they set off in search of the Golden Fleece.
Helpers/ Amulet: In the videos, not only the Argonauts were the helpers but Chiron, the Centaur also contributes to Jason’s journey. Chiron had brought up Jason and teaches him to fight and hunt. As a result Jason relies on Chiron to make his decisions and to encourage him when he gets stuck during the journey. Chiron’s sword was the ‘amulet’ of Jason’s adventure and it was a lesson for Jason to trust himself and not rely on black magic.
Crossing the Threshold: When heroes embark on a journey, there would always be obstacles that stand in their way. The same goes for Jason and the Argonauts, they had to sail the ocean and had to search for the kingdom of King Aeetes. Crossing the ocean is difficult because there would be storms and unpredicted weather. In the videos, it shows that the waves were pulling Jason’s ship to the ocean. Also the clashing rocks from one interpretation of the myth were one of the obstacles.
Tests: Jason and the Argonauts had series of tests that keeps on coming. Not only was sailing the ocean was hard enough but there was many conflicts such as Jason versus himself. Jason didn’t trust and believe in himself instead he trust the potion which was given by the malevolent sorcerer, Medea . As a result, his crew was taken by Medea and was going to put them in the underworld. There was also the fight against the fire breathing bulls and the dragons that guarded the Golden Fleece. Every time the Argonauts faced and deal with these obstacles, they gained knowledge to complete the journey.
Climax/final battle: In the videos, the final battle was against Medea while Jason had to save the Argonauts from going in the underworld. He believed in himself and trust in Chiron’s sword, as a result he won the battle and Medea was perished. And because medea was perished, the Argonauts was saved.
The Return: After Jason defeated Medea and retrieves the Golden Fleece, he and the Argonauts sailed back to Iolcus and take back the rightful throne.
The characters in the videos and the characters in the myth are quite different in some parts and alike in others. The difference was the character “Medea”. In the videos, Medea was shown as the malicious sorcerer that provides as an obstacle to Jason’s journey. In the myth Aphrodite, the goddess, made Medea fell in love with Jason. As a result Medea helped Jason to retrieve the Golden Fleece and in return Jason had to love and honor Medea. I think that Jason was weak in both the videos and the myth. From what I see in the videos, without the Argonauts and Chiron, Jason couldn’t complete the journey. Also it seems like Jason was only the leader of the Argonauts that ask them to do things for him. Although in my opinion that Jason was the weak one, I could see the change after he completed the journey. During the journey, Jason asked Chiron for help and made the wrong decision in to trust the potion, Medea gave him. Jason didn’t believe or trust himself that he could do it without the black magic but after he completes the journey, he learnt to trust in himself that he could do it. There’s many interpretation of the myth Jason and the Argonauts or they’re sometimes called Jason and the Golden Fleece. But which myths interpretations are right? Well people don’t know which one is right since the people who wrote down the myths were told by the storytellers who change the stories to make it more interesting and juicy.
What events in the story of Jason and the Argonauts do you believe to be factual?
There are many events in the story of Jason and the Argonauts that was believed to be factual. The geographical setting of the myths could be real. One of the geographical places like Mt.Pillion from the myth is in Greece. The palace of Iolcus was found in Greece in which Jason went to the King to retrieve his royal throne from his uncle. The caves and islands was real, this adds more evidence that the myth could have possibly occurred. From the myths, one of the obstacles was the rock clashing. It could be possible that it was just the harsh waves with rocks that made Jason and the Argonauts struggled. I think that the storytellers was changing the story to make it juicy, because in the myths, it was told that the rocks crushed boats that passed by. But in real life rocks don’t move yet crushed boats but as I said it could be possible that it was just harsh waves and rocks. In the movies that we watch in humanities, the people in Greece was building the ‘Argo’. The ‘Argo’ was a type of boat that Jason and the Argonauts sailed in search of the Golden Fleece. This means that the boat could have been used to sail. There’s maybe more evidence of this myth to be true, like the Trojan War, Jason and the Argonauts could have actually occurred.
Birth/Home: Jason was formerly born from a royal family as his dad was the rightful king of Iolcus. His malicious uncle, Pelias stole his father’s throne and claimed himself King. Pelias would have killed Jason when he was a baby but Jason’s mother saved him and sent him to live with Chiron, the Centaur. There Jason learnt to fight and hunt.
Call to Adventure: Jason grew to be a strong and brave man from Chiron care. When he learned of his past, he decided to go up to his uncle, King Pelias and demands back his rightful throne. King Pelias decided that Jason journey to find the Golden Fleece and only then he would give his throne back to Jason. This was the start of the adventure/journey.
Elixir: The elixir of Jason’s journey was the Golden Fleece. He had to find the Golden Fleece in order to retrieve his rightful kingdom. The whole myth and journey was finding the Golden Fleece and this is what kept him alive.
Helpers: After Jason received the challenge, he searched for other heroes to accompany him as he embarks on the journey. Many heroes were ready to risk their lives but Jason had chosen his crew, they were called ‘the Argonauts’. And so they set off in search of the Golden Fleece.
Helpers/ Amulet: In the videos, not only the Argonauts were the helpers but Chiron, the Centaur also contributes to Jason’s journey. Chiron had brought up Jason and teaches him to fight and hunt. As a result Jason relies on Chiron to make his decisions and to encourage him when he gets stuck during the journey. Chiron’s sword was the ‘amulet’ of Jason’s adventure and it was a lesson for Jason to trust himself and not rely on black magic.
Crossing the Threshold: When heroes embark on a journey, there would always be obstacles that stand in their way. The same goes for Jason and the Argonauts, they had to sail the ocean and had to search for the kingdom of King Aeetes. Crossing the ocean is difficult because there would be storms and unpredicted weather. In the videos, it shows that the waves were pulling Jason’s ship to the ocean. Also the clashing rocks from one interpretation of the myth were one of the obstacles.
Tests: Jason and the Argonauts had series of tests that keeps on coming. Not only was sailing the ocean was hard enough but there was many conflicts such as Jason versus himself. Jason didn’t trust and believe in himself instead he trust the potion which was given by the malevolent sorcerer, Medea . As a result, his crew was taken by Medea and was going to put them in the underworld. There was also the fight against the fire breathing bulls and the dragons that guarded the Golden Fleece. Every time the Argonauts faced and deal with these obstacles, they gained knowledge to complete the journey.
Climax/final battle: In the videos, the final battle was against Medea while Jason had to save the Argonauts from going in the underworld. He believed in himself and trust in Chiron’s sword, as a result he won the battle and Medea was perished. And because medea was perished, the Argonauts was saved.
The Return: After Jason defeated Medea and retrieves the Golden Fleece, he and the Argonauts sailed back to Iolcus and take back the rightful throne.
The characters in the videos and the characters in the myth are quite different in some parts and alike in others. The difference was the character “Medea”. In the videos, Medea was shown as the malicious sorcerer that provides as an obstacle to Jason’s journey. In the myth Aphrodite, the goddess, made Medea fell in love with Jason. As a result Medea helped Jason to retrieve the Golden Fleece and in return Jason had to love and honor Medea. I think that Jason was weak in both the videos and the myth. From what I see in the videos, without the Argonauts and Chiron, Jason couldn’t complete the journey. Also it seems like Jason was only the leader of the Argonauts that ask them to do things for him. Although in my opinion that Jason was the weak one, I could see the change after he completed the journey. During the journey, Jason asked Chiron for help and made the wrong decision in to trust the potion, Medea gave him. Jason didn’t believe or trust himself that he could do it without the black magic but after he completes the journey, he learnt to trust in himself that he could do it. There’s many interpretation of the myth Jason and the Argonauts or they’re sometimes called Jason and the Golden Fleece. But which myths interpretations are right? Well people don’t know which one is right since the people who wrote down the myths were told by the storytellers who change the stories to make it more interesting and juicy.
What events in the story of Jason and the Argonauts do you believe to be factual?
There are many events in the story of Jason and the Argonauts that was believed to be factual. The geographical setting of the myths could be real. One of the geographical places like Mt.Pillion from the myth is in Greece. The palace of Iolcus was found in Greece in which Jason went to the King to retrieve his royal throne from his uncle. The caves and islands was real, this adds more evidence that the myth could have possibly occurred. From the myths, one of the obstacles was the rock clashing. It could be possible that it was just the harsh waves with rocks that made Jason and the Argonauts struggled. I think that the storytellers was changing the story to make it juicy, because in the myths, it was told that the rocks crushed boats that passed by. But in real life rocks don’t move yet crushed boats but as I said it could be possible that it was just harsh waves and rocks. In the movies that we watch in humanities, the people in Greece was building the ‘Argo’. The ‘Argo’ was a type of boat that Jason and the Argonauts sailed in search of the Golden Fleece. This means that the boat could have been used to sail. There’s maybe more evidence of this myth to be true, like the Trojan War, Jason and the Argonauts could have actually occurred.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)