End of Semester Reflections

     I find it incredibly difficult to comprehend that the end of the semester is fast approaching and final examinations are right around the corner. Over the past few days I have given a vast amount of thought to how my semester was and if my expectations were met in my experiences and courses. For English 1080, my expectation was heavily exceeded. In the past English was that one subject I dreaded to attend and I was never intrigued with the topics that were discussed. However, this semester of English was a completely different situation. 

     First of all the material discussed in this course was so much more interesting and relatable than the material in previous courses I have done. My personal favourite section of the course was the short fiction section, mainly because I have always adored short fiction. Each story takes you on a journey of vast exploration, full of varying ideas, themes, and perspectives. Furthermore the essay topics on short fiction were more straight forward to write about than other topics I had to unfortunately write about. The stories were interesting, inviting, and dynamic, the selections pushed boundaries and weren't the traditional bounded down and tamed pieces of work that school boards forced us to learn about. Honestly, I enjoyed short fiction before this course but now I love it.

     Along with this, the blogging component was amazing! It got me to write something each week and because of it I really feel as though I have improved and grown as a writer. Again the topics were interesting and relatable, making them much easier to write and elaborate upon and allowed us to be creative and explore our own personalities further. Sincerely I want to thank my professor Jonathan Parsons for letting me be creative and have freedom in the classroom setting and especially in English because in the past in seems that this was greatly frowned upon.

     Finally I would like to touch on the fact that I gained an extreme amount of insight on how to properly write essays not just for English but for any situation in life where good writing techniques are needed. My essay writing, I know, has greatly improved and I feel much more prepared for the future now when I need to write an essay for an application or assignment. So, to conclude, I want to thank my professor for an awesome semester and for his insight on writing techniques and the literary selections we studied. It made me understand literature and the writing process much better and at a much higher level.

How to Properly Watch a Movie

     Ok it's safe to say that we have all been there. Trying to watch a movie where your fellow colleagues are so annoying that you can't even focus on what you're watching. So I have decided to go over a few basic steps to ensure that you aren't the annoying friend nobody wants to watch movies with.

1. Food. I mean I'm not trying to say that you shouldn't have snacks for a movie but logically choose what you have. Simply because there is nothing worse than hearing the piercing sound of chips crunching when you are trying to focus on a movie. Chewing loud is just not pleasant during any occasion especially when watching a movie. So stay away from Doritos, Ringlos, or anything overwhelmingly crunching. 
2. So I mean it may be annoying to watch a movie more than once especially within a short period of time. Still that doesn't mean that you are entailed to be a commentator during the plot procession. For example, the whole point in watching a thriller film is the suspense and tension you gain when observing the plot of a killer on a spree or a paranormal invasion. Then you always have that one friend that has seen the movie before and ruins every climatic suspense moment by explaining what is about to happen. Then on the other side of things, with any movie genre, an ending spoiler is the lowest level someone can reach, I mean the whole point in watching a movie is to have an unexpected ending or the ultimate plot twister. So essentially don't be that person.
3. Comedies are a classic favourite amongst most movie viewers, but no matter how hilarious a scene is in a comedy please do not break out in a hyena laugh. Yes there may be a funny joke or classic comedy actor present but please contain yourself. Laughing for over 5 minutes on one joke is a bit much and will for sure annoy any other movie watchers. Let's face it the joke probably wasn't that funny after all. 
4. Now we come to my personal view on the lowest of lows. The people who are always on their phones during a movie. Like seriously, why would you bother coming to watch a movie when all you were going to do was immerse yourself into Facebook or Twitter. Put your phone down and watch the movie, trust me I'm sure you can survive 90 minutes without your phone. Plus the glowing aura coming from your screen is very distracting to my peripheral vision that's trying to concentrate on the movie.

     So there you have it. Follow these 4 simple steps and I can promise that the next time you go to a movie viewing you won't be that annoying friend who is unlikely to get invited again.

Memes

Quotable

Quote #1

"Which of my photographs is my favourite? The one I'm going to take tomorrow."-Imogen Cunningham

     Photography has always been a valued past-time for me being an effective medium of self-expression and one of my favourite art forms. Whenever I venture on a photography spree, which can include anything from taking a still life of the trees in my backyard to an editorial motion grab of a bustling city street, I am filled with contentment. Photography is a great source of meditation and relaxation, but with each spree I go on I always leave with great anxiety for the oncoming spree in the near future. Just like the quote states my favourite photographs are the ones of the future, where not knowing what endeavour will face you the next time is the greatest rush of euphoria you can experience. It also projects to me that I should never be fully satisfied with the art I capture as there is always a vast area of growth I can experience in photography. I ultimately chose this quote because it emphasizes my main moral in photography in that I keep taking pictures in vast amounts as my best photographs may not have been captured yet.

Quote #2

"You can fake your way to the table, but ultimately you have to learn how to eat."-Kelly Cutrone

     Kelly Cutrone is one of my main inspirations to achieve great success in life as she herself has proven to be a major mogul. Kelly Cutrone is a well known PR maven extraordinaire, and the above is one of my favourite quotes from her. Its importance relates to real life and how it is a fast paced environment where if you don't keep up you will get lost. I greatly feel it relates to my current situation in transitioning from high school to university. In high school you could study the night before a test and pass in assignments late and do basically whatever you wanted. You made it appear as if you were weeks on end studying for a test when it reality you were a major procrastinator who studied the night before the exam. Literally you could fake your way up the ladder of high school and its so called challenges. Now in university the work load has massively increased and the amount of study time is in dire need. You need to learn how to properly study, you need to conduct independent learning, and you actually have to pass things in on time. There is no more faking it, because if you want success and to be big in the world you need to learn how to work with the environment that surrounds you. Just because you may make yourself appear as something doesn't mean this is who you really are as a person. It can greatly relate to the cliche, you can walk the walk but can you talk the talk.

Quote #3

"A dog doesn't care if you're rich or poor, educated or illiterate, clever or dull. Give him your heart and he will give you his."-John Grogan

     One of my favourite works of literature is the novel Marley & Me, quite simply because of its amazing ability to evoke such emotion in the audience it appeals to and also it isn't overwhelmed with complex devices that most authors overuse. The message of the book is simple relateable and very important, where the above quote effectively coveys the meaning of the work. We should never get caught up in materialistic things because in the end we only have the ones we love and the energies of the people and other animals around us. We should stop with this notion that we need to be rich, well educated, and academically intelligent to make it anywhere in life. When we get older we are left with our memories of times gone past and who we met over the years, not what we made in salary or what we obtained on a exam. If the world came to realize that what we really have to give is ourselves and our emotions, then we would be in a much better state and realization of ourselves. Animals of the wild and domestic world like dogs I believe have figured it out. We are going to give respect and love to those who show the similar emotion to us. Keep those who love you close because they are what you will be left with in the end, and those are the things that will always be there whether you pass or fail.

Flash Fiction-Losing Comfort

     "Fly away, leave what you know and go on to explore a new world," the thought relayed in a continuous cycle, rewind and play, rewind and play. Her mind flooded with a rush of emotions that contemplated her every action as she gather her belongings in hopes of attaining a new life. She didn't belong here, in this tiny ignorant community filled with all too familiar faces. The bright lights and the euphoria of the city life called her name, as she pictured herself walking down a street filled with a million strangers. None of which knew her every move, and entire background story, as in this new world she can reinvent herself and become her greatest desire. She gathered her belongings and step by step, breath by breath, left the close confinement of her home and set out on this new life. 

     Out of his element, vulnerable and tamed, a once beautiful and glowing tiger exits his cage. Held there night in night out, with an engineered square footage that trainers said would keep him calm, keep him healthy, with the underlying objective of keeping him miserable and angered. A wild beast built by the hands of God to be strong and mighty leaves this confinement only to be humiliated and put under extensive abuse. He exits his cage now without command as a recurring religious ritual, same time same place same circumstance. 

     A body made of over a hundred muscles lingers down the street towards a bright array of circus lights. The sound of cheering fans greatly contrasts the moan of a worn body that has experienced a lifetime of heavy labour. These lights glow with cheer and glee of the upcoming show, while the deep black spheres of despair stare onward.

     "Move faster, you're so stupid, move, MOVE!" The command from a sleek trainer dressed in harsh red attire, cracks with equal intensity of the whip he uses to provoke the tiger to continue its excruciating journey. 

     A pitiful growl of annoyance is all the energy of the once powerful animal can generate. As he enters the ring of the circus a crowd cheers to enjoyment of watching a "wild" beast be beaten to the breaking point. They watch this tiger lose bit by bit every ounce of natural character it had, be oozed out by the enforced westernization of the circus. Seeing this animal who has been taken from his jungle, his kingdom where he could explore and be free seems to be of amusement to the intrigued crowd.

     The show concludes and the stereotyped ferocious beast is led back to his confinement. The whole way the only thought of the animal is, "Why me, and why here?" Why is he here? He was taken from the only thing he knew and was expected to adapt perfectly to this sharply contrasting environment nothing like he has ever seen before. It holds extremely true here that you can take the tiger out of the wild but you can't take the wild out of the tiger.

     She leaves her home, Taking herself on a journey she will never forget. Led by an attendant down a long narrowing hall that leads to the loading plane, she anticipates the best for herself as this new endeavour will be exciting for sure she reminds herself. She enters the ring of uncertainty, ticket in hand ready for this new life to begin, scanned and told, "Seat G27 please, enjoy your flight." All the while a tiger of great strength contained in set square footage is told, "Off to the next destination, enjoy your ride." 

Open Letter

Dear Future Self,

            Well where to begin. I guess I could bog you down with typical questions like what's the future like, do you have a good job, and what new technology has been brought forth? I could ask any of these but I still would not receive the answers I really want. I mean the future, isn't it scary and out of your comfort zone? Isn't it overwhelming being out on your own having to fend for yourself? Isn't it weird to no longer have that comfort of knowing that you can call your parents, and everything can be fixed in a flash? Well really it wouldn't be a surprise, of course you're scared, worried, overwhelmed, and just a plethora of emotions. I guess I'll be waiting a long time for a response to the questions but for now I do have a few inquiries.
            To start off the biggest thing is did I achieve everything I wanted to accomplish in my younger years. Did I travel the world from pole to pole? Seeing the pyramids, Venice Beach, Eiffel Tower, and Dubai sands. Fulfilling that life long dream of world travel would make me very content, to be able to see the multiculturalism and diverse life this great planet has to offer. Furthermore, did I have the upmost privilege of attaining my dream career? Working in medical sciences whether it was pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, or global health was a massive dream of mine. I had always wanted to be able to explore the way that our bodies work and to help those who need medical care. Even more important did I preserve my well developed friendships and family ties? Staying connected to people we have met over the years and even our own parents can be difficult, with the ebbs and flows of life's never ending tide. I just want to ensure that I wasn't the one that drifted apart form others, I want to be positive that I kept my moral that family and friends are number one no matter what. I have hundreds of questions but these will satisfy for the time being.
            I have just one more question. Sorry but it is very important and in dire need. Was I simply alive all these years or was I living? There is a difference you know. For me at this moment I want to be sure that I am living. It sounds pretty dumb but I want to enjoy life, investigate its uncertainties, become intrigued by the world's vast spectrum of diversity. As I mentioned earlier it will be a while before I get a letter in return, but it would extremely appreciated.
           
Sincerely,
Present Self

In the News: Shakespeare Found to Be the Root of Teen Conflict

   The constant question that bubbles from teachers and parents is, why are our adolescents so out of control and rebellious? We are quick to blame social media, peer pressure or a lack of respect in our young generation. Yet, psychologists and head administration with school boards across the country feel very strongly that the have the answer as to what is to blame. So you may ask yourself what is this horrible and malicious force behind such teen conflicts? The answer my friends is Shakespeare! The evidence backs it up very well, from Macbeth, Othello, Julius Caesar, and Romeo and Juliet. Each dramatic piece prompts some form of rebellion in our teens, like running off with a new found love, reaching for ultimate power killing everyone in your way, or betraying your main colleague. Shakespeare had his mysterious way of writing with his fluent diction and excessive stylistic elements, but little did we know that he had an influential force through his way with words.
   This all began when teachers and parents were growing more concerned with our teen generation and their out of control actions. It was almost suggested as a joke when one teacher suggested, "Maybe our choice in literature such as Shakespeare is promoting disobedience." But as we know everything must be considered as a possible threat to our school systems So private investigators and psychologists were hired to interview students and found out the answer to if Shakespeare was causing the problem. Sure enough, students said that they were inspired by the characters in Shakespearian plays to break the mould and act out against society. They want to live off of impulse like Romeo & Juliet, they want to reach the highest authority possible like Macbeth. Shakespeare's words are providing more evil than good and action must be undertook to put a stop to the spread of his malicious ways.
   Once hard evidence surfaced, the school board undertook serious action. Recently they have eliminated all Shakespeare from the high school English curriculum, and also they have prompted parents to keep a watchful eye on their children as they may fall into the trap of Shakespeare's words. It's safe to say that through everyday life we will be seeing a lot less Shakespeare and a lot more math or science textbooks. If literature wishes to see a bright future, book stores and coffee shops should begin a serious crack down on banning Shakespearian works, or else they will have a bad rep with the public eye. We can all sleep safe and sound knowing that our teens and children are kept from the effects of malicious Shakespeare.