The chronicles of a death foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (chapter 3, 4 and 5)

Summary:

    After Angela Vicario reveals Santiago's name to her brothers, they immediately go to the store, and pick out two of the best knives, and have them sharpened later on at the meat market. Pablo declared that they were going to kill Santiago Nasar. Because the twins brothers are known to be good people, nobody payed any attention to them, and never took them seriously. Although Pedro made the decision to kill Santiago, Pablo still insists on following through with the plan. The twins go to the milk shop, their knives wrapped in newspaper. Clothilde Armenta, the owner of the shop; knowing their plans, gives them rum, hoping to make them so drunk that they won't be able to do anything. In chapter 4, after murdering Santiago, both Vicario brothers' can't get Santiago's smell off them, nor can they sleep at night. They both go to prison, and the rest of the Vicario family moves away. In the last chapter of the book, the narrator explained that Santiago died without understanding why. This chapter also demonstrates the complicity of the town in the murder of Santiago Nasar, and shows how they saw themselves as spectators rather than actors.

Quote:

    "The truth is I didn't know what to do,' he told me. 'My first thought was that it wasn't any business of mine but something for the civil authorities, but then I made up my mind to say something in passing to Placida Linero.' Yet when he crossed the square, he'd forgotten completely. 'You have to understand,' he told me, "that the bishop was coming that day." (marquez, 150)

Reaction:

    The speaker of this quote is Father Amador. Father Amador is an authority figures who had the power to stop the crime, but ended up being completely ineffective in preventing it. The bishop, the priest, a police officer, and the Colonel had all been warned that Santiago Nasar was going to be murdered by the Vicario twins, but none of them took this news seriously enough to take effective to prevent this murder from happening.

The chronicles of a death foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez (chapter 1 and 2)

Summary:

    On the day Santiago was eventually killed, he woke up at 5:30 a.m. to wait for the boat that was bringing the bishop. The night before he died, he dreamed about trees. Some people remember that the weather to be cloudy that morning, others say that it was fine, but all recall that Santiago was in a very good mood that day.In chapter 1, Nasar is described as slim and pale with Arab eyes, and curly hair. He is an only child. He inherited his sixth senses from his mother;s side, and he learned his love of horses, and falconry, from his father, Ibrahim. After the death of his father, Santiago quit his secondary school, and took over his families ranch. There were many rumors going around that Santiago Nasar was going to get killed, but no one knew if the rumors were true, or when his death was going to occur. Santiago's murderers were Pedro Vicario and Pablo Vicario.

    In chapter 2, the narrator tells the story of Bayardo San Roman. He is the groom of Angela Vicario. Bayardo looks young because he has a slim waist and golden eyes. He wanted to marry Angela Vicario at first sight. The Vicario family is described as "scant resources". The Vicario brothers murdered Santiago because he took away the virginity of their sister, Angela Vicario.

Quote:

    "Pedro Vicario, the more forceful of the brothers, picked her up by the waist and sat her on the dining room table. 'All right, girl,' he said to her, trembling with rage, 'tell us who it was.' She only took the time necessary to say the name. She looked for it in the shadows, she found it at first sight among the many, many easily confused names from this world and the other, and she nailed it to the wall with her well-aimed dart, like a butterfly with no will whose sentence has always been written. 'Santiago Nasar,' she said." (Marquez,)

Reaction:

      This quote is from the end of chapter 2.this scene is when Angela tells her brothers who took away her virginity. The image of the butterfly pinned to a wall is symbolic of both Santiago Nasar's situation and of Angela Vicario's. Once she has said that Santiago is the one who took away her virginity, his fate, like her own, becomes bounded by cultural morals. If Angela did not give her brothers the name of the person, they would have became furious at her for protecting the man who had dishonored her. She "pins" Santiago with her words, but she herself is "pinned" by the sexism of the culture. Its like following the rules of decorum.

History of Dance: an Interactive Arts Approach by Gayle Kassing (260-328)

Summary:

    This last chapters of the book features a series of learning activities that help students dig deeper into the history of dance, dancers, and significant dance works and literature. These activities are presented as reproducible templates that include perceiving, creating, performing, writing, and presenting oral activities infused with technology. Teachers also can use this book, and use the activities inside as optional assignments or as projects to help apply the information and to use technology and other integrated arts sources to make the history of dance more meaningful. The History of Dance is an indispensable text for dance students who want to learn the history of dance and its relationship to other arts of the times using today's interactive technology.

Quote:

     "Dance takes further research. You must find dance and the music that accompanied it, and learn and practice the dance so that you can perform it" (Kassing, 315)

Reaction:

     You have to practice a dance routine before performing it; Its common sense. If you don't know a routine, why would you perform it? well, unless you want to embarrass yourself of course. You have to find a song that fits your choreography. if its a slow dance, find a slow song. If its a fast dance, find an up beat dance. Overall, I enjoyed reading this book :). Dance is my passion. So, learning more about the history of it was very interesting to me.

History of Dance: an Interactive Arts Approach by Gayle Kassing (195-260)

Summary:

     This second to last section of the book also covers dance from the 20th century, including dance at court, dance from court to theater, romantic to classical ballet, and dance in the United States. It also focuses on 20th-century American dance; highlighting influences on American ballet and modern dance as it emerged, matured, and evolved during that century. This chapter also focuses on major dancers, and as well as, choreographers.

Quote:

    "How people danced are linked to society and the historical period" (Kassing, 255)

Reaction:

      This statement is indeed definitely true. We have different kinds of dance every year, or so. They're all different styles. For example, in 2007 we had a dance called "crank dat". 2008 we changed to "stanky leg". In 2009, the popular one was "your a jerk". 2010, the new dance was "Dougie" And last but not least 2011, "catdaddy". Every year or every generation, the dance styles/dance moves changes, and becomes more and more popular, until a new one comes out.

History of Dance: an Interactive Arts Approach by Gayle Kassing (130-195)

Summary:

    This section of the book looks at dance throughout the 20th century. This section presents the main points. It presents the who, what, when, where, why, and how of dance history in relation to other arts and to historical, political, and social events. This section of the book provides way to create, perceive, and respond to the history of dance through integrated arts and also technology. The studies of dancers, dances, and dance works within an interactive arts, culture, and technology environment is supported by the National Standards in dance, arts education, social studies, and technology education.

Quote:

     "The quality of a dancers' technique is the effectiveness of the dancer's relation to the choreography" (Kassing,193)

Reaction:

     I love this quote. And I agree with it 100%. The effectiveness of the dancer's relation to the choreography is the dancer's technique. Without any technique, the choreography would be very messy. And also, its not just having technique. It's adding a certain type of quality to your technique so that your choreography matches what you want.

History of Dance: an Interactive Arts Approach by Gayle Kassing (65-130)

Summary:

     Social studies expert believe that in order to understand a historical era, one must immerse themselves in it. Capturing dance through its history takes a variety of tools and resources. Some dance choreographers keep a choreographic journal where they record movements, ideas, steps, floor patterns, dance positions, music count, phrasing, costumes and design. Dancers throughout history has a devise way to capture dancing by recording dance movements so that it could be shared with others. Dance iconography is a visual tool that captures a moment or the essence of a dance. 

Quote:

    "Dance does not appear in a vacuum. It exists as part of the tapestry of arts, culture, society and history." (Kassing, 125)

Reaction:

    I love this quote. It tells the audience that dance is a mixture of everything. Dance incorporates art, and culture in some dance choreography. Dance also has many connections to society and history. The choreography is created/design to reflect and mirror the real society. It also incorporates history to keep the plot develop, and to keep the audience members entertained.

   

History of Dance: an Interactive Arts Approach by Gayle Kassing (1-65)

Summary:

     Dance is a moving art that exist for a short period of time, then it disappear; only to exist in the mind of the dancers and the audience members. The major focus of the history of dance is the dancer, the dance work, choreography, and the literature within that period of time. The understanding if each of those concepts and components, and how they interrelate with other arts in a historical and cultural time frame. In history, "people drive the event." The dancers, the dance creators, the choreographers, and the directors. Dance is often called a mirror of society. A response to historical events, and also religious movement. It is also a social statement, no matter where its performed, nor by whom. How people danced and the types of dances they performed are connected to society and the historical time period.

Quote:

    "The dance is the mother of the arts. Music and poetry exist in time; painting and architecture in space. But the dance lives at once in time and space." (Kassing, 3)

Reaction:

    Dance is used as an active imagination. Its the mother of all other art, meaning its the leader/top chief of other arts. Dance consist if music, poetry, painting, and also architecture. It doesn't only exist in "time", but it also exist in space, meaning that it exists everywhere. Its another way to express others emotions and interior/exterior feelings. Dance lives both in time and in space.

The Lovely Bones (Film Adaptation)

Lovely Bones:

    The Film starts with a deep focus on the snow globe with a penguin trap in what is known as a "perfect world". Then the scene fades from the past, when Susie was younger, to the present time. Something important that I noticed was the high camera angle over the sink whole, its an important scene because that's where Susie's body got dumped. when Susie saved her brother's life I noticed that the music was first slow when Buckley was first hurt but, after when Susie started driving the car it became much more faster and it built more tension. During that part where she saved her brother. her grandmother said that she would live a long and happy life because she had saved her brother. I find this part as a dramatic irony, because the audience watching the movie knows that Susie will not live a long and happy life. This scene dissolved into a white light, and that's when Susie starts telling her story about how she got murdered. While Susie was in the mall, there was a shot when Susie was reading a magazine and she peeped up to look at her secret crush, while she was looking, Mr. Harvey, her murderer walked by, and was watching her. While Susie was walking home from school,there was a long shot to show  the audience what the surroundings looked like right before she encounters Mr.Harvey. The entire film was diegesis, because it every scene had a narrator. There was a dolley shot after Susie's murder, when she was trying to run away from her murder. That was before she was able to grasp the fact that she was dead. Another scene was when the Camera zoomed in on Buckley's drawing of where Susie is, "her heaven". 

Review on "The Lovely Bones" (Film)

Review:

    Peter Bradshaw, says that "The Lovely Bones" a startling story. "Its a mix of horrible and sickly-sweet in a ratio of one to eight". The lovely bones gives a pretty accurate picture of the afterlife. Bradshaw talks about the use of the term "my heaven" by Susie during the film. "Her spirit lives on, running desperately through the streets after the initial ­assault, ­unable at first to grasp that she is dead". This is a true statement. As you watch the film, it feels as though Susie is confused about her murder. She doesn't want to believe the fact that she is dead. When she focuses strongly enough, those who once knew her will feel her present. One example is her father and her little brother Buckley manage to see her just for a moment or feel her presents. Since Susie is in heaven, she is trapped in what she calls a "perfect world" just like the snow globe penguin that fascinated her as a baby in the beginning of the film. Peter Bradshaw says that it feels as though Jackson, the director of The Lovely Bones, has taken the meaning of heaven and "turned it inside out". In the film, ­instead creating a nightmare, he created a bland of "girly-sparkly" dream. I would definitely recommend this film to everyone. If you love suspend and tension, then The Lovely Bones is the right movie for you.  

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (pg 174-328)

Summary:
    For weeks Lindsey, Susie's younger sister, cased Susie's killer's house. She agreed to train with the soccer team throughout the year. She took on the challenging: qualifying to play in the all male high school soccer league. Each time the team runs around the neighborhood, Lindsey looks towards Mr. Harvey's green house. Inside that green house, Mr. Harvey was looking out. He was her watching and he began to itch. Its been almost a year now, but the Salmons remained bent on crowding him.
    Mr. Harvey would leave his house everyday for an hour or two. Well, On November 26, 1974, Lindsey saw Mr. Harvey leaving his house, and she begin to hang back from the team running. At the edge of Mr. Harvey's property was a row of tall, thick pines that had been left untrimmed. She smashed Mr. Harvey's basement window, then went inside. She searched around his house, and she found his sketch book.

Quote:
    "I wish you all a long and happy life" (Sebold, 328)

Reaction:
    This quote actually was pretty sad to me. She told us the story of her death, and how her family struggled. Susie herself, didn't live long and happy life. She died young at the age 14. Her wishing us a "long and happy life" is kind and sweet. She is hoping that we can enjoy our lives, and live as long as possible happily and after. Usually books have what you would call a "happy ending", well this is Susie's Happy Ending.

The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold (pg 7-174)

 Summary:         
    In the beginning of this novel, the protagonist of the story, Susie Salmon, tells the reader about her rape and death. She was murdered on December 6, 1973. She explains the day she was killed. She was walking back home after school. Since it was snowing, she decided to take a short cut through the cornfield. While walking she sees Mr. Harvey. Mr. Harvey was a man from Susie's neighborhood. Her mother liked his border flowers. He was also Susie's murderer.
    As I continue to read the book, Susie tells us her journey in heaven. She remembers her death like it was yesterday. She met a new friend, Holly. She's been in heaven for three days now, just like Susie. She watchs what her family is going through after her death.
    Susie's father, Mr. Salmon, had a second tought about Mr. Harvey. He started to get more suspicious about him.

Quote:
    "I heard about the horrible, horrible tragedy....I hope they get the bastard. I'm sorry for your lost" (Sebold, 8)

Reaction:
    This quote is like a "HAHA, UHH" momment. This man has absolutely no shame. Its funny because he is susie's muderer.His the one that created the "horrible, horrible tragedy" that occured. I feel like his making fun of the family and the cops, or insult them by saying "I Hope they get that bastard", and "I'm sorry for your lost". Its like his trying to say, that he will never get caught, and goodluck trying to find him, althought his right their standing infront of them.
   

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (pg 424-529)

Summary:

    In these last couple of chapters, the narrator talks about how she has a too much male hormone. She inherited a very rare genetic condition, where the mutation express itself. The treatment that was recommended for her is twofold. First, a hormone injections. Seconds, cosmetic surgery. This treatment will initiate breast development and enhance her female secondary sex characteristic. The surgery will make Callie look like the girl she feels inside of her. Callie will never menstruate. So, she will never be able to have children. Callie doesn't agree with the surgery. So, she decides to go away, and write a letter to her parents. In her letter, She states that Dr. Luce, the surgeon, is a big liar. She said that she is not a girl. She is a boy, and that is what she found out. When Callie ran away to California, He went to jail. His brother, Chapter Eleven, had to fly to California in order for him to get custody of his brother, and released him.

Quote:

"My own medical story was only a reflection of what was happening psychologically to everyone" (Eugenides, 478)

Reaction:

    Callie is saying that what she went threw, everyone is going threw it now. Women were becoming more and more like men. And men were also become more and more like women. For a little while, sexual difference might pass away. But another thing seems to happen. This was called evolutionary biology. Were the sexes were separated by men being hunters, and women being gatherers.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides by (pg 319-423)

Summary:

    The narrator talks about her college years. She had a girlfriend named Olivia, how ironic. She said that they were joined together by their common woundedness. Olivia was brutally attacked and almost raped when she was simply thirteen. Thankfully, the police caught the person, and Olivia had to go to court to testify several times. After finishing college, Calliope took a trip around the world. When She went to Brussels, she fell in love with a bartender there, and she asked her to marry her. The bartender refused her proposal and ran off with somebody else instead.
    In the chapter called "Tiresias in love", Callie is forced to go to the doctor for her check-up. She pretended like she didn't understand why she needs to see a "ladies doctor", because she had already seen her regular physician for her physical.
Quote:
"When girls get a certain age, Callie, they have to go get checked" -said her mother
"why" -said Calliope
(Eugenides, 340)
Reaction:
    This is a pretty interesting quote. When your young, you barely understand what happens to your body when you grow. But, Callie a grown lady. She knows why a "lady doctor" has to check a girls body. She was pretending like she did not understand situation. She played it cool, and followed her mother's lead.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Euginedes (pg 215-318)

Summary:
    In this chapter, Stephanides tells us a description of her birth. She compares her mother's triumphant face to the Mount Rushmore. She mentions the nurse that took care of her. She said she was pretty, had a long face and was from Tennessee. Her name was Rosalee. Dr. Nishan Philobosian his doctor. After being born, she began checking Calliope's neck, then counted her fingers and toes. She inspected her palate, and noted Stephanides Mora reflex. 
    When the colored people started to riot, everyone in the neighborhood were scared. People started sleeping in their basement, and didn't leave their housings if it wasn't important. Death toll raised and raised. On day one, 15 people died. On day two, 27 people died. And on day three, 36 people died. There was many injuries, stores looted, and fires. For three days, Calliopes and his family didn't bathe nor brush their teeth. 

Quote:
"We hope for better things; it will rise from the ashes" (Euginedes, 251)

Reaction: 
    I love this quote because it represents Phoenix's people, and the situations they overcome. Example: When there was a riots, and no one left their housing. This event was very difficult to overcome, especially with death tolls increasing everyday. After this event, the people of Phoenix rose from their ashes.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (106-215)

Summary:
    Calliope can't have children, which was one of the reasons why she never got married. She said that its one of the reasons aside from shame. So, that's why she decided to join the Foreign Service. Stephanides is also a member of the Intersex Society of North America, which is pretty funny because she says that she doesn't like groups. So, its Ironic because she is part of one. The way she lives, is by living her own life. She is her own nurse and take cares of her own wounds. Calliope knows that its not the best way to live one's life, but its the way she is.

Quote:
"Why did my father marry a caucasian devil?" (Eugenides, 152)

Reaction:
    This quote was said when the unknown voice was talking to Desdemona.
    He knew that his son was destined to spread the word of the lost potion of the tribe. Meaning, He felt that him, his son, should have a skin color that would help him deal with Black and White people equally, and righteously. So, that's why the unknown voice is mulatto.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides (pg 3-105)

summary:
    The narrator, Calliope Stephanides, introduces herself, and her birth. She is a field hockey goalie. She gives the reader a brief description of her past life, school, work, love life, family, and his struggles. She also introduces her brother, Chapter Eleven, and his grandmother, Desdemona Stephanides. His mother didn't want a boy, she wanted a girl, that's why she was named "Calliope". Stephanides compares herself with Si Ling-Chi, she was a chinese Princess, whose discovery gave Desdemona her livelihood. She unraveled her story to pass, where her grandparents are making preparation to another voyage to Giulia.

Quote:
    "I was born twice: first, as a baby.....and then again, as a teenage boy" (Eugenides, 3)

Reaction:
    This quote is the first thing that stood out to me when I started reading this book. At first I didn't understand it, but as I kept reading, I started to look back at this statement. Being a teenager is like being born again, everything is different, its like a new life. You over come school, love life, and family situation. But, when your a baby, you don't really understand anything happening around you.

Forever by Judy Blume (pg 183-220)

Summary:
    In chapter twenty-three, Katherine narrates a typical day at camp. Readers can tell that she is becoming somewhat attracted to Theo. She describes in detail what he looks like. Katherine cries because she does not understand her mixed emotions.

    In the beginning of chapter twenty-four, Katherine's grandfather dies. In this chapter, Katherine also stops writing to Michael, as she needs time to think. Later on, Michael surprises Katherine with a visit at the camp she works at. He catches Katherine holding hands with Theo. So, Michael guesses that there is another guy in her life than him. Then he refers to the necklace that he gave katherine and the word "Forever" on it. He wants to know what that means now to her and their relationship. Michael decides that their relationship can never be the same again, although Katherine holds onto the hope that it can be. Michael tells Katherine that he doesn't want to share her with another guy. Katherine asks if that means it is all over between them. Michael says that he thinks it is. Katherine takes off the necklace and gives it to Michael. But, Michael puts it in her purse.

    The book ends with Katherine at home. She has just been told that Theo has called.

Quote:
"Have you thought about how this relationship will end?" (Blume, 216)

Reaction:
    When Katherine asked Michael that question, I was surprise because I thought there relationship would last for ever. This phrase foreshadows what will happen to their relationship by the end of the book. Throughout the book the book, Katherine has grown from her experiences. She learned that you can't love a person forever just to make love. She realized that the word "forever" is a long, complicated, and strong word. Thus, it can brake ones heart.  

Forever by Judy Blume (pg 141-183)

Summary:
    Both Michael and Katherine has the flu. They must stay apart from each other for several days, until they feel somewhat better. When Michael takes Katherine out on her birthday, he gives her a present. It is a necklace that holds a small silver disk with "Katherine" engraved on one side and "Forever … Michael" on the other.

    In this chapter, Katherine also mentions that her sister, Jamie, is going back to a summer camp in New Hampshire.Later, Katherine tells Michael that she has to go to New Hampshire for the summer, where jamie goes to camp. Michael announces then that he has accepted a summer job in North Carolina. Both of their parents wanted them to take the jobs. Katherine and Michael resolve not to let the separation change their relationship.

    Katherine attends Michael's graduation. Katherine's graduation is held next. Four days after that, Katherine and her sister, Jamie, are at the New Hampshire camp.

Quote:
"It makes me wish I could share every day with him- forever" (Blume, 151)

Reaction:
    In this passage, Kathrine's relationship with Michael has grown. Besides everything else, the author considers Michael as her best friend. Its a different kind of friendship from the one she has with Erica. She is starting to get closer to Michael, and knowing him not only from the outside, but also from the inside.

Forever by Judy Blume (107-141)

summary:
    Katherine receives a package from her grandmother. It is filled with Planned Parenthood pamphlets. Katherine then telephones Planned Parenthood and makes an appointment with them. In chapter fifteen, one of the clinicians at Planned Parenthood asks Katherine several personal questions about her relationship with Michael. They then discuss various birth control devices. Katherine is also tested for gonorrhea, a sexually transmitted disease. By the end of the chapter, Katherine has chosen a birth control pill to use. Katherine tells Michael that she has a surprise for him. She tells him that she is now on the pill.

Quote:
   "Like my mother said, you can't go back to holding hands and anyway, I don't want to" (Blume, 125)

Reaction:
    Katherine's mother wants her daughter to grow up, and Kath also realizes that she is growing. "you can't go back to holding hands", to me, this quote means to think ahead. thinking ahead meaning, planning ahead. Kath's mother wants kath to think/plan ahead before reacting to a situation. That shows the coming of age of katherine.

Forever by Judy Blume (pg 60-107)

Summary:
    The setting of chapter 8 and 9 is in Vermont, where Katherine, Michael, Sharon, and her husband went skiing. Sharon tells Katherine that Michael is a great guy and is also very vulnerable; and that she does not want to see him get hurt at all. This comment made by Sharon concerns Katherine, who wonders if Michael’s sister thinks that she is just using Michael.

    Michael goes away for ten days with his sister. It is another ski trip, but one that will help Michael get his instructor's certificate. Katherine stays busy, but she misses him a lot. Once again, Katherine's father makes the statement that he wishes Katherine would see someone else in addition to seeing Michael. Katherine's mother makes the point that Katherine will have to learn to live without Michael when she goes away to college in the fall. This comment made by her mother, makes Katherine go to her counselor to try to apply to the University of Vermont. She wants to go to school wherever Michael goes, because she loves him. When Katherine is told that she will need her parents' permission to apply, she assumes that they will support her change of mind. But instead,they do not.

Quote:
"I love you, Michael Wagner.”
“Forever?” he asked.
“Forever,” I said."
(Blume, 87)

Reaction:
    This quote stood out to me the most while reading. There were no hesitations in Katherine's voice, neither in Michael's voice. The word "Forever" is use twice. It’s Ironic because the name of the book is "Forever...” "Forever" is a strong word, alone, and using it to show someone that you love them makes it even more powerful, especially when used twice.