Spellbound Film Forum

Choose one subject (person). Describe how winning the spelling bee is important to that subject.
Angela from Peryton, Texas
Nupur from Tampa, Florida
Ted from Rolla, Missouri
Emily from New Haven, Connecticut
Ashley from Washington DC
Neil from San Clemente, California
April from Ambler, Pennsylvania
Harry from Glenrock, New Hampshire

2. Do homonyms get you down?  Pick some that you commonly mix up, and come up with a creative way to remember how to tell them apart in the future.
I sometimes confuse canon with cannon.
Canon: a principle or general rule.
Cannon: a fire weapon that shoots cannonballs.

Since a cannon shoots stuff then you must have an extra 'n' as ammunition for the cannon (a cannonball, or more like a cannon'n')

3. Write down five words that you did not know how to spell until seeing them in Spellbound.
Wheedle
Distractible
Cephalalgia
Encephalon
Quinquevir
Kookaburra

4. Do you have something in your life like the National Spelling Bee? Describe some of the pressure you feel.

5. Should we still have spelling bees? Why? Why not?

Of course we should still have spelling bees. They stimulate a young person's interest to spell correctly. Why should we not have spelling bees? Because they cause too much stress? But doesn't any type of tournament cause stress too? Also, it is a way of motivating people who are good at nothing but English, and hence, spelling. It is a way to encourage people to spell correctly, in a world where machines dominate our way of spelling. It is a way of telling people that spelling is important because machines are not always going to be there, and it is necessary to spell correctly to be able to communicate efficiently. I really do wish that the school creates a spelling bee contest that I could participate in, since it is something that I've been wanting all along.

Advertisements that use Rhetorical Devices

1. This image shows a 'damaged and ruined' child, as if were a 'car' and it was damaged. This uses pathos since it affects others' emotions, because most people cannot see a picture of a hurting child without being sentimentally moved by it.

2. This image shows a child holding hands with a male and female manikin, as if they were her parents. Again, the use of a child promotes pathos since everyone feels the innocence and vulnerability of a, preferably small, child. Ethos is also used as a rhetorical device in this campaign ad since at the bottom of the picture UNICEF 'signs' it. Since UNICEF is an international organization that helps children and is well recognized, we entrust ourselves into it.

3. This image shows a school of bluefin tuna, an endangered species, and one of them has a panda mask. This kind of shows pathos since it makes us feel stupid about ourselves and ridiculous. Ethos is also expressed since the WWF signs at the bottom. This makes us feel guilty for not paying attention to other non-beautiful species. The question at the bottom cooperates with the image to make us feel this way.



EXTRA:
Here are some pics that I found which I thought were pretty good too.

Opinion Response: Malala Yousafzai

It is really interesting how the media makes things more difficult for terrorists (or Talibans). For example, we are able to look at the case of Malala. I believe that it is unbelievable that an 11 year old was able to speak against the Taliban group and be heard, because anyone can oppose anything, but it is another thing that people all over the world hear and feel called upon for help. I think that this is what the media and Internet were initially made for, to inform people around the globe of what is happening and for people to express what they want other people to know. In this case, Malala is informing the world of her feelings of oppression and her voice against the Taliban. Without even knowing Gul Makai, her pen name, I immediately respect her and think of her as a heroine. I believe that her parents, and even Pakistan, should feel pride and honor in having such a wonderful daughter/citizen. There was something that I was unable to understand about one of the articles. I don't understand why was it prohibited to play music in your car, what's the difference of music in your car, or playing it at home. Does it affect the way you drive? If not, then why was it prohibited? This articles were really well written and they were based in an interesting topic, women oppression, but I would like to listen to the point of view of the Taliban, just to see what points they establish as proof of their religious extremism and fanaticism.

Reading Blog Persepolis: The Dowry

I think I could relate to this part of the book in which Marji says that her alerts might come visit but that they would not live together again. I think that this is probably how a teenager feels when he heads off to an overseas boarding school. I imagine that there are mixed feelings of happiness and sadness, since there will be more independence, yet you won't live with your parents. This is explicitly expressed in the book when Marji's parents recall the vacation Marji spent in France alone. When this occurred, Marji exclaimed: "It's true, that was great...real independence." The reason why there would be feelings of sadness is because of what I previously mentioned, Marji's parents not living with her. I suppose that I would not have these feelings until I head over to university, that is if I decide to study overseas. I am not planning on a boarding school so there is no opportunity to feel this is in the next three years. But I suppose that I will study overseas so the opportunity to feel this mixture of emotions will come in 4-5 years.

Reading Blog Persepolis: The Passport

I can connect the events that occurred in this chapter with what happened in WWII since many people were prosecuted because of their beliefs. This happens as well in this chapter, when it is mentioned that the 18 year old, Niloufar, was hiding in Khosro's house. She was a communist which is why the state searched for her. Since Khosro was hiding the communist he had to escape too, and ask for asylum in another country, in this case Sweden. You could say that the communist might be Anne Frank and Khosro was the one who hid her. This critical is also expressed through the closing of the boundaries so that no one can leave (it was the same in Nazi Germany). Another aspect that contributes to the situation is that some people created fake passports so that some people could leave illegally. Concluding, I see that this situation must occur in all of the countries who live a war, especially those in which there is some type of religious influence amongst it.

Reading Blog Persepolis: The Sheep

When it is announced that Mohsen was found dead, drowned I immediately believed that the murderers had wanted it to look as an accident (which did not really happen). Nevertheless, I connected this event with the book "Eagle Strike" by Anthony Horowitz which belongs to the Alex Rider series. In this book, the antagonist, Damian Cray, wants to destroy everything that has to do with drugs by sending a nuclear missile to each of these areas. Anyways, he does all of this by setting a cover of being in charge of the producing of a video game. When a journalist asked too many questions about his game, he arranged an accident for her, in which she got hit by a car and died. This is the part of the book that I was able to relate to 'Persepolis' since I initially believed that Mohsen's death would have looked like an accident. I find it interesting that his death was done so abruptly and possibly not even planned, therefore, I conclude that it must've been a gang (not the government) who ended with the life of this man.

Reading Blog Persepolis: Persepolis

I can relate with Marji's ignorance when her parents mention the story of the man who died of cancer but then was considered a martyr, just as an excuse to protest agaisnt the shah. This usually occurs to me when I am sitting at the dinner table on a Shabat dinner and my parents and grandparents begin speaking of recent events I had not heard of, especially when they are not important, but are merely a community rumor and gossip. For example, they might begin talking about how this young woman is going to marry this other guy. The annoying thing is that when I ask who they are, their answer is always: "You don't know who they are." I can understand her feelings of not knowing, since it has happened to me before and it does not feel good to be this way. One feels desperate and has that feeling that this conversation might've been important but it will only add to the list of 'Unfinished and Misunderstood Conversations'. It definitely is annoying to feel this way and I can almost feel her urge to read and understand what her parents were talking about.

Reading Blog Persepolis: The Veil

Questions:
What might the veil represent? Does it represent the submission of women?
Are bilingual schools really symbols of capitalism? Or of cultural acceptance/tolerance and cultural diffusion?
Why did Marji's mother need to dye her hair? Was she scared that they would prosecute her? Would it be the government or some gang?
Why is Marji so naïve and wants to be a prophet when she's already ten? Also, how come she doesn't see that you can't just forbid pain?
Why can't she see that the previous prohets were not declared prophets until they were over 30 years old? Why does she insist that she's a prophet?
Why does she believe that she's talking to G-d and not a product of her imagination, since there is no known definite shape of G-d?
Doesn't she realize that the last prophet (Mohammed) was told the same? (You are my choice, you are my last and my best choice, p. 8).
What do the change of clothes, specifically to that type of clothes, on page 9 mean?

Reading Blog Gilgamesh: Tablet XI

Connect
Through the first part of the tablet I connects the events of the flooding with the story of Noah and his arc. The city of Shuruppak was going to be flooded by the gods who believed people were behaving in a wrong way. But Utnapishtim was warned secretly by Ea about this flooding. He was told to build a huge boat, and he builds it, abandoning his house. Then the "world is flooded" by most of the gods, and some are even angry that Utnapishtim and his wife were able to survive. In the boat there were several birds, pigeons and ravens primarily according to the book. Utnapishtim would let these birds go, and if they came back it meant that there was no land near, but if they did not come back, land was close.

This compares to the story of Noah's arc, since he too was warned of a flooding and he builds an arc where he puts 2 of each species, which I believe also happened with Utnapishtim although it is not mentioned. His wife, sons, and himself are able to survive. G-d too floods the region because of wrong behavior, but he believes that the punishment fits the crime. Only those who committed offenses should pay (same as in Gilgamesh). Noah uses the same strategy Utnapishtim used, in which he released birds and saw if they came back or if they circled above any land.
The story of Noah might come out of this story as well as it might be vice-versa, the story of Utanpishtim growing out of Noah's. Personally, I think Noah's story grew out of Utnapishtim, since the civilization of Sumer was first than the Jews.

Gilgamesh's QUESTion: 'What happens when we die?"

If you are good,

 you'll go to heaven with your pets

If you are bad,

You'll have to go through reincarnation (human only)

Reading Blog Gilgamesh: Tablets VI & VII

Respond to the text personally
Although I've never had a brother or sibling die, I can feel the loss of Gilgamesh, like when my she-dog died 2 years ago. That night I was unable to sleep, I just couldn't imagine why they would take her away from me, I had several dreams in which she had come back, dreams so crisp and clear that I thought they were real, making waking up a real pain. I relate this loss to Gilgamesh's. Since he dreams (or more like nightmares) about the eventual loss of Enkidu, his faithful companion and loyal brother. I can feel the isolation he feels, his hatred for whoever controls death and life, his weepings for his brother.

Reading Blog Gilgamesh: Tablets IV & V

Connect to another piece:
I connected the part in which the g-d Shamash sends 12 storms agaisnt Huwawa to the book by Rick Riordan: "The Son of Neptune". In the novel, it is said that gods and demigods must work together to defeat the titans. In the epic, Shamash works together with Gilgamesh and Enkidu (both demigods) to kill the demon, Huwawa. I can also connect it to Men in Black III when K is supposed to kill Boris the Animal, and he is bribing him to be put in a prison instead of being killed. This connects to how Huwawa is trying to persuade Gilgamesh to spare his life, that he'll be his servant, cut down his trees. Although not as direct, there is a certain type of connection to the decapitation of Medusa, since both creatures (Huwawa and Medusa) were decapitated by heroes, in fact both were demigods (Perseus and Gilgamesh/Enkidu).

Reading Blog Gilgamesh: Tablets I, II, & III

Connect to another film:
I would describe the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu in this part of the book, as the relationship between Willis and Jerry in the movie "Enemy Mine". It is the same way in which two characters are fighting for power and the end they become friends. In "Enemy Mine" the Terrans (or people from Earth) and the Dracs (from Dracon) are fighting for more power over the universe, then Willis and Jerry are stranded on a planet and they have to live together in harmony or else they would go crazy for not seeing another face. They learn each others language and culture. This is similar to the relationship between Gilgamesh and Enkidu since they start fighting each other for control over Uruk and then they become almost brothers, since Gilgamesh's mother 'adopts' Enkidu. There is also a change in attitude in Gilgamesh since Enkidu makes him realize his mistakes.

ISHMAEL Questions

What does Quinn imply about "Takers"?
Quinn implies that Takers are the people that are destroying the world, not only for them, but for other species too. They have created a new civilization system that has never worked, but they thought it had, replacing the one that had worked for over 5,000 years. They have changed the way of life, calling themselves civilized and the ones who don't destroy the world: primitive. He implies that the Taker culture has spread over the world, and will eventually conquer the minuscule portion of Leaver culture that is still left here and there. That will be the final stand for humanity.
How has the relation between Ishmael and the protagonist changed?
The relationship between Ishmael and the protagonist has changed dramatically, you could say it has evolved. Ishmael is not thought of as a gorilla any more, but as a person, for he is as intelligent and wise as a person is, and I would even say even more. He is an outstanding mind and a philosophical teacher. Their new relationship is a friendship, a peer to peer, but also a teacher to student. This part of their relationship is shown through the protagonist's admiration for Ishmael.
Make 2 inferences regarding the "Leavers".
I infer that the Leavers are the people that we refer to as savages, indigenous, and primitive. These are the people that take what they need and LEAVE the rest, the people that control their population growth, and do not have surpluses. These are the people that are trying to save the world. I also infer that they were the creators of the civilization system that does work. I also infer that these are going to be the first people to evolve, since evolution only occurs when there is a need, when the fittest survive.
Define "Mother Culture".
Mother Culture is society. It is what tells you how to do things, why to do them. It suggests you to comply with her orders, follow her teachings. The reason why culture is put into a female role is because, since ancient history, women have taught children, passed on their knowledge, their way of living; they have passed on their culture. It is how the story we're enacting was formed, through the forming of our globalized society's culture.
Do you agree with Ishmael?
Yes I do agree with Ishmael, since reading the whole book persuaded me to think like him. Takers are destroying the world, and Taker culture is the destructive behavior we should refuse to obey, but Mother Culture's holds are too strong. We need to adopt Leaver culture and hope that we can strengthen their Mother Culture, because if we don't, we are doomed. Maybe we can create another civilizational system that grabs the good things from both systems (Taker and Leaver) and leaves the bad things out. The thing is, we might plunge back into icy waters, but we won't notice it, just like it happened when we first developed the Taker civilization system.

Three Inferences on Photograph

3 INFERENCES:
1. I infer that this photograph wants us to  see that there is no natural, born prejudice, it is taught.
2. I infer that personal, professional, business, and other relations should be color blind.
3. I infer that the photographer wants to emphasize on accepting differences and coexisting harmoniously with others.



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