A Fitting Ending

I have recently reread one of my favorite books of all-time, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. It is a timeless classic and often considered the greatest American novel. The story is a sequel to an earlier work by Twain, The Adventures of Tome Sawyer. The novel begins with  Huck and his best friend, Tom Sawyer, just getting back from their own adventure and now returning to a boring, humdrum lifestyle. Huck lives with Widow Douglas and her sister, Miss Watson, who are taking care of him, and cannot stand all of their rules and cleanliness. However, Huck's birth-father soon comes into the picture and gains custody of Huck. His father is abusive and Huck runs away the first chance he gets. When he escapes from his father, Huck meets Jim, a runaway slave, and they head down the Mississippi together. Huck meets people along the way and, while he was just on a search for another adventure, ends having many possible life-changing experiences.

It was published in the United States in 1885 and received controversy from the very start. Most of the criticism revolves around the harsh language used in the book, but there is also a lot of arguing over the ending of the novel as well. Be advised there may be some spoilers in the following paragraphs, so please stop here if you have not read the story or do not want to know the ending.

Many found that the ending of the novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, was inapt and unsatisfactory. The build-up and suspense created throughout the novel may have led them astray. For example, most people were upset by the way in which Jim was set free. It appeared that Jim was freed due to Huck and Tom’s courageous actions, when in reality Jim was freed from slavery due to the death of his owner. Her will stated that Jim should be set free when she dies. Most believe that this negated many of the heroic deeds performed by Huck and Tom to free Jim. I did not mind how Jim was freed. It did not refute Huck and Jim’s actions in any way. It simply showed that some things in life do not happen exactly how one plans. Regardless of the outcome, Huck and Tom sacrificed their health and their livelihood all for Jim’s well-being.

Another reason for the dislike of the conclusion of the novel was the lack of development shown by Huck Finn as a person. Throughout the story, he went through many emotional and difficult situations. However, Huck failed to understand multiple mature concepts. For example, Huck does not understand the difference between want and need, which is shown when Tom attempts to lecture Huck about stealing a watermelon for his own desire. Although Huck showed a great change in his view of Jim and other black people, he never felt regret for leaving Miss Watson. Therefore Huck staying with Aunt Sally in the end would have contradicted Huck’s behavior and beliefs and resulted in a far too dramatic change in Huck’s character. This result allowed the mood to remain consistent and resulted in an appropriate ending.

Gingerbread-Time of Year

Last week on Friday night I attended a gingerbread house competition and holiday lights display at Sigma Nu Fraternity House. Sigma Nu is located on University Park campus at three hundred forty North Burrowes Street. It is one of four fraternities, others being Fiji, Alpha Zeta, and Beta Theta Pi, located on campus. There are currently sixty-one fraternities at this college. Sigma Nu was chartered in 1908 and was the second fraternity at Penn State, behind Fiji.

The gingerbread house competition takes place every year. Its location rotates annually between the four on campus fraternity houses. How the competition works is that every fraternity that has a house makes a replica of it in gingerbread form. The houses typically create the pieces about a week in advance and bring them to the hosting house the night before the competition. The event was open to all Penn State students and faculty as well as the local community. Beta Theta Pi won the gingerbread house competition and Sigma Nu came in second place.

 Front-view of Sigma Nu gingerbread house

Back-view of Sigma Nu gingerbread house

 Front-view of winning Beta Theta Pi gingerbread house

In addition to the gingerbread houses on the inside, Sigma Nu was also showcasing their holiday lights on the outside. At Christmastime, every fraternity decorates their house with lights and other decorations. Sigma Nu had just completed their decorations when the competition started to begin.

 Straight-on view of Sigma Nu house

 Angle-view of Sigma Nu house

 Angle-view of Sigma Nu house

What I Learned

1)

About This Class:

In taking English 15S I learned how different a college course is from a high school course. Especially in an English class, the differences were very noticeable. On the very first day I realized how much more relaxed and laidback this class was compared to my English class last year. This was my first ever college class and it helped me to get used to the classroom atmosphere in a university. I found out that you did not have to raise your hand to go to the bathroom and that you can eat in class. This was completely foreign to me at the time. Another big difference was how understanding Ms. Squillante was as a professor and even granted us with three “sick” days to use as we pleased. Class-wise, the biggest thing that I learned that was relevant to English was about ethos, pathos, and logos. I have never studied these terms in the past. I do not know how I was able to understand an argument being made before I knew of these.

About Writing:

Another big difference between high school and college was the type of work. In the past, all my work was done out of workbooks or textbooks. Exercises would be assigned and need to be completed for the next day. In class this year just about all of the assignments were done electronically and there was much more writing assignments. I learned to write in this class by reading from our textbook, Everything’s an Argument. This was helpful in explaining step by step how to improve your writing. It also helped when Ms. Squillante read excerpts from other works aloud and explained what was good and what was bad. Reading books was also incorporated in past classes, but not in this one. I liked this way better because reading novels never helped my own writing ability. Instead, my writing was improved through help from Ms. Squillante and my fellow classmates.

About Penn State:

I found out a lot of helpful information about Penn State University through taking this course. I found out how we were voted the number one party school a couple years ago. I discovered a lot about the atmosphere inside a class at Penn State and how other students felt about the scandal from last year. Most importantly, I learned about the campus in general. History of the campus, great places to visit, and what to do were all revealed to me in taking this class.

About Myself:

Throughout the course of the semester, taking English 15S, I discovered a few things about myself. One of the most important things that I found out was how much more enjoyable it is to write about things that I find interesting. I have written about my favorite television shows, movies, and sports. In doing this the assignments felt so much less like assignments and more like I just wanted to write about them.

About Arts:

I did not learn as much about the arts as I did in the other categories but there were definitely some aspects. Going to the Palmer Museum was definitely worth my while and an enjoyable experience. I got to see still art which I have not seen in a little while. Seeing the play was also interesting. Although I did not enjoy the plot of the play that much I still found it entertaining with the live music and dancing. 

2)

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http://thebodaciousblogger9.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-social-network.html?showComment=1355199418972#c9160251816285233505

http://mopbtcb.blogspot.com/2012/11/spoken-art.html#comment-form

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http://austinluboff.blogspot.com/2012/10/artscultural-blog-post-4-movie-review.html#comment-form

http://kristinajoelle.blogspot.com/2012/12/university-choir-fall-concert.html#comment-form

http://cuesandcommissions.blogspot.com/2012/09/plants-and-benches.html#comment-form

http://emmatabacchi.blogspot.com/2012/09/emma-goes-to-museum.html#comment-form

3)

Hi, Ms. S--I completed my SRTEs!

Good, Not Great

The whole story revolves around a girl name Oya and her journey of becoming a woman. She is a very gifted runner. However, she is also young and has trouble setting her priorities. When she is presented with an offer to run in college, she declines in order to take care of her ailing mother, Mama Moja. Mama Moja is important to Oya and protects her from all dangers including a boy named Shango. When Mama Moja dies, Shango is able to gain the favor of Oya's godmother, Elegua, and soon of Oya and they begin a relationship. Soon Shango leaves to enlist in the military and Oya is left alone. Another boy, Ogun, notices Oya being left alone and swoops in with promises of his love and one day a family.

Oya and Ogun are married now but Oya is not happy. She hears a baby shower going on next door and sees that her old friend, Elegba, has gotten a girl pregnant and is going to have a baby. Oya desperately wants a child of her own and is beginning to realize that this will not happen with her and Ogun. Shango comes back on leave from the military and is shocked to find out that Oya is not pregnant yet. He and Oya have an affair in attempts to get Oya pregnant, but they fail. Later on, Oya finds out that Shanga is having a baby with another woman, Shun. When Shanga comes by to tell Oya the news, Oya gives him a congratulatory present, her ear. She bleeds out and dies. The epilogue makes it clear that Oya was not crazy. She was just depressed.

The most important aspect of the play was Oya's longing for a child of her own. Through the play, Oya's maturing as a woman is displayed clearly. She starts out just wanting to do what she loves and enjoys doing, running. When her mother becomes ill she makes the mature decision of putting family first and taking care of her. After her mother's passing, Oya begins to develop relationships with men and this leads to the final stage of womanhood, having a child and becoming a mother. The entire second half of the play is dedicated Oya's desire to have a child. Her future happiness and well-being is at stake for her. Unfortunately she does not achieve her goal and kills herself out of sadness of not getting her true desire.

The most compelling part of the play was shown through the relationship between Oya and her mother, Mama Moja. This relationship shows how absolutely crucial a mother is in a young woman’s life. Before she died, Mama Moja was able to protect Oya from the dangers of the world, specifically Shango. When she passes, Oya is left alone to fend for herself and easily falls for the misleading Shango, which ultimately resultss with her committing suicide because she cannot have him in the end.

Although the show was performed terrifically and with seemingly zero faults, I did have a critique. Throughout the play the stage directions were said by the actors and actresses. This was very interesting and added some humor to the play, but it just did not allow me to become part of the play and have the feeling that all of this was actually happening. I feel the point of plays and live theatre is to draw the audience into the performance. I have been to a live theatre performance before and I feel that those previous shows were better for that reason. I was able to become part of the play and it was much more enjoyable. However, in this case, I was very aware I was watching a play.

THE College Movie

For all of those who think of college as a never ending party of fun and carefree spirits, Animal House will do nothing but support this view on the collegiate experience. Animal House, starring John Belushi as John Blutarsky, Karen Allen as Katy, and Tom Hulce as Larry Kroger, is fantastic and grotesquely hilarious and will remind the older generations of the good old times and the younger generations of the great times to come. It reminds everyone that, in addition to classwork and getting involved in activities, college is a time to just have fun.

Directed by John Landis and written by Harold Ramis and Douglas Kenney is a movie about a rowdy fraternity in a 1960s college that played by their own rules and existed to have fun. When the dean of the college decides he’s just about had enough, he makes it his mission to expel all of them. But the members of this fraternity don’t intend to go away without a fight. This movie set a precedent not yet exceeded and is the cornerstone for all great college movies to be compared to. A great college movie has to be accurate, relatable, and entertaining. Animal House just about excels in all these areas.

Accuracy and relating are necessary in just about any film. It is vital for all elements of the film to be credible and easy to believe. In the case of a college movie, it is very important that the characters are of appropriate age and have realistic problems. In Animal House, all of the college students could easily be anywhere from eighteen to twenty-two, with the exception of John Belushi who looked to be in his thirties. However, I do not think anyone seemed to mind given the hilarious job he did in the movie. Also, the problem of the movie must be possible for a college student to face.  Animal House, although slightly exaggerated, explores problems that just about all college students face. In the film, the main characters are struggling with grades and putting real work ahead of having fun. Just about every college student has problems with time management and understanding priorities. It is very possible for anybody to put extracurriculars ahead of schoolwork and suffer the consequences.

In the end, a college movie should be meant to entertain the audience and bring back memories of the best times of most people’s lives. Animal House hands-down delivers in this department. I don’t care how old you are or what entertains you, but I can just about guarantee that there will be something in Animal House that will make you laugh until it hurts. Whether it be the classic food fight scene or students hitting golf balls at the other fraternities, not laughing isn’t an option when this movie is on.

A Peaceful Escape

On Monday September twenty-fourth, I made my first trip to the Penn State Arboretum. For those of you who do not know what an arboretum is, it is a collection of trees, in short. Before Monday, I did not know what an arboretum was, but a quick trip to Wikipedia fixed that in a matter of seconds. After knowing what an arboretum was I still did not know exactly what to expect from the one on campus. I clearly have never been to one before but was interested in the new experience.  When I arrived at Penn State’s I was impressed even overwhelmed a bit.

I have always had a tremendous appreciation of nature. However, I do not think I would refer to myself as a nature-lover. I have never really gone out of my way to truly observe nature and give it the respect it deserves, although, I have in fact given small bits of my time here and there to nature. In general, whenever the opportunity to go on a hike or sit along a creek presented itself I would accept. I have always found nature very much relaxing and a great way to clear my head. By going to the arboretum I knew I would at least be able to get this much out of it.

As I was walking to the arboretum I continued to conjure up images of what it might be like. When I actually got there it exceeded all my expectations and amazed me. The peace and tranquility presented by the enormous garden overwhelmed me. There were many others there but as I walking throughout it felt as if I were the only one in the massive area. The interlocking and circular pathways seemed to come out of nowhere and were so inviting that one has to venture down them. These pathways scattered throughout made the whole garden almost endless and eternal. This greatly added to the feeling of being in and of oneself and had an incredible calming effect that took over and intoxicated me.

In the future I can definitely imagine myself coming here again. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit and honestly cannot find any negatives to the entire experience. I was able to clear my head of all troubles that developed throughout the previous week. While in the process I also got a lot of fresh air and some exercise from the rather lengthy walk. The whole “field trip” was a huge positive and gave my day a great start (yes, my days typically start around noon). I now have a very accessible and reasonable place to go to whenever I need an on-campus escape.

During my voyage to the arboretum, I found myself wondering if I would in fact bring a friend or two to this wonderful place. The answer is a yes with a few exceptions. I would without a doubt take someone here if I thought they would appreciate its beauty and tranquility. However, I would probably not bring someone along with me if I were looking to get away for a little bit. That escape time is for me and I do not think I would be able to feel free while having to entertain a guest.

The arboretum was a great place to venture to and a would definitely recommend it to all those, nature-lovers or not, to explore and experience for themselves.

An Appealing Image

The piece of art that I decided to investigate and write about was a painting entitled Boulder Crossing created by German-born painter Paul Weber. The painting depicts a beautiful nineteenth century New Hampshire landscape at the bottom of a fairly steep mountain. There are plenty of tall and flourishing trees alongside of the mountain. It appears to be right in the midst of springtime. Almost directly centered in the picture is a group of travelers. They appear to be following a trail through a forest and around the mountain. This trail has them cross a sort of makeshift bridge which seems to be constructed awhile back. This bridge stretches over a calm and quiet creek running through the landscape.

This piece was created in 1855 in New Hampshire. A significant historical moment that was quite prevalent in this time period and location was the Industrial Revolution. The Industrial Revolution brought many drastic changes to the United States. Many changes were great and helpful to the country as a whole. However, many changes were not well received and not encouraged. Among these changes were the loss of many forests and other beautiful features of nature. Because of these unwanted changes, artists began to travel around from place to place and paint all the beautiful landscapes that they came around. Included in these artists was Weber. He loved nature and wanted to capture every second of it.

Weber had traveled on this path many times. Because of this, a spiritual connection most likely developed between the landscape and him. This connection must have caused him to want to capture it and its beauty before it was touched by the rapidly changing outside world. In the painting, the sun is also shone shining through the trees and highlighting the bridge and the travelers crossing it. This could be a comment being made by Weber saying that nature should be used by people but not destroyed or altered. People should appreciate it for what it is in and of itself.

This piece of art works on my emotions in a very positive way. It reminds me that there is and always will be beauty in the world. No matter how ugly something can look there will always be something equally as majestic. This painting makes me feel like time has stopped in this one perfect moment and that it will forever live on through this painting. It connects to my values because I also am strongly against the destruction of natural beauty. It can often be so rare to come by and when one does come across it, it needs to be preserved and protected.

Weber creates credibility by doing this painting for everyone. He wants to share the beauty that he has discovered and experienced with the rest of the world. Weber was believed to be associated with the Hudson River School. This was a group of artists whose objective was to paint the American Wilderness before it was utterly ruined through the Industrial Revolution. Being a part of this group makes Weber very credible in his effort to help and be a part of the greater good. The claim being made by Weber, along with this group of artists, was that the new and changing world is coming at the cost of natural beauty. Also that nature is meant to be observed and appreciated for what it is, not destroyed for what it could be. This claim is persuasive because it proved to be true in many aspects including the destruction of forests throughout the United States during the Industrial Revolution.

This was my first time visiting the Palmer Museum of Art. I am traditionally not a museum-goer, although I did enjoy myself. I can imagine going back but not for any planned reason. It would be nice to go sometime to just enjoy the quiet and the peace and the art.

Boulder Crossing by Paul Weber