Slumdog Fairytale

Slumdog Millionaire is my favorite film, so I especially enjoyed watching this movie as a class assignment. I loved the idea that life became the teacher for two young boys whose life's went in total opposite directions. It is ironic that all the strife Jamal had faced was the reason that he ended up winning India's version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. While Jamal tried to do the best he could growing up, while helping others, and trying to do the right thing, Salim on the other hand does as he pleases. Salim was a leader and made a way whether it was a moral action or not. Salim stole, tricked and clawed his way to a temporary success that he cold not keep hold of. Over all the movie is amazing and now looking at it as a global text give a new perspective.

Post Presentation

I was very please with the group presentation in class, which turned out be informational as well as short and to the point. It is often hard to find the balance between enough information to satisfy requirements of an assignment and too much for the class to intake at one class sitting. Often I find as college students we tend to include information that walks the borderline of slightly needed to common sense. College students include every detail and waste time discussing information that is well know and does not need mentioning. I found this issue in my group. I felt as during the developmental stages of our presentation, as a group we tried to include information that either was not needed or was common sense foe the many students in our class.  Fortunately, my group and I were able to cut out the irrelevant information and get straight to the point on the topic. However we must remember that in the college setting this is a not a valued trait, however in the secondary education arena, when introducing students to a new topic, the delivery should be detail oriented down to the smallest unit.

Grouping in Context

It is ironic that change is the only thing constant in our live yet it is one of the most feared aspects of life as well. We take the same route to work, have favorite foods at restaurants, and shop at the same stores. Often many will say this is for comfort, however I feel this is due to fear of change. In class Professor Wexler unfortunately pushed me out of our comfort zone, however the it is for the best. For the past 4 years at CSUN I have taken the same classes and created bonds with specific people in my cohort, particularly Ellen Moreh, and Ariana Arestigui. No one approaches us because they already know we are a group both inside and outside of the classroom and often when people do approach us unknowingly we shun them, like children on the school yard. Luckily this cliche teenage bond would be broken and despite the fears that came with the change it wad pleasant. I am now in a group with Ali and Emelia whom I found both have children the same age as I do and they are all girls. Sometimes you need a push to move in another direction and when you receive that push it changes you for the better. I am excited and can not wait for our presentation.

The Male in Divine Context

In preparation for Monday's presentation it was very interesting to see the parallels in the archetypes of the male divine and the way culture is structured even today. One aspect that I found very interesting of the concept of the authoritative father and the fearful son. In the Father and Son archetype the father often is distant from the son and has very little attachment to the son after conception. This is believe to be due to the mother carrying the child and creating a connection that no other being can.  The father then as the son grows becomes a fearful figure in which you would like to make proud, but have very little connection. This is so interesting to see because in society and portrayed in the media, sons often want to be a man and make their fathers proud but complain that they do not have a relationship, or that the two are very distant and the son is fearful that he will disappoint the father. The archetypes are seen through out literature as well as in film, art and life. It is interesting to connect the two ideal that were foreign before this presentation.

Poetry Panic

During our class meeting it was interesting to see the lack of participation for the poetry reading, seeing that "stereotypically" poetry is something that excites students especially those who are afflicted with the love of words. However after looking back I realized that when the poet is not an unfamiliar face, but your own, the vulnerability that is involved can be overwhelming. As I was reading my poem I realized what I felt was impersonal had an underlying meaning that make me feel as if I was removing my clothing with each word. At the end of my poem I felt uncomfortably naked, and relieved that I finally got it off my chest.

Pipe Dreams by Sherece Usher

all under the upper hand
pinching pennies no dreams afloat
nothing left to the Poor and Damned
but faith and hope

come to Me all my lost
by the river lay your troubles down
your tears will not burn and no longer cost
for you are covered in the blood stitched gown

how does one live day to day
red yellow urgent calls
bills to pay
notices stuck on walls

crushed in the pipe is green
when life steals joy puff
here you are permitted to dream
the world is now kush

under the Upper Hand all will fail
faith in God and Drug induced tales
There is no escape none prevail
In an alternate universe we will sail
Hopes and Dreams entail

Cold Harsh Cash By Sherece Usher

It's too cold outside
Boots crushing the heads of man
To squeeze a dollar.