Golden Compass (12)

For some, the Golden Compass is merely a child's fantasy film with witches, "dust", daemons, and talking bears, but it has been rumored that it has a much more complex purpose among the fantasy figures.

Of course if you actually analyze the film, religious references can be seen. Prime Example: The Magisterium. The Magisterium is also known as the Authority and keeps the people in check. The Magisterium wants a pure society, no dirty thoughts, no dirty actions, etc. Sound familiar? It almost directly represents the Christian religion, perhaps the Catholic Church. However in order to relate the people to this symbology, Pullman uses other characters such as the daemons. The daemons represent the souls of the people, for example Pan is daemon of Lyra and also her soul. Children's daemons shifts from animal to animal, and when the childrenare grown up, the daemon settles to one animal. This shape shifting can represent the many stages that children go through until their true selves are discovered.

Was it Pullman's intention to antagonize Christianity with this film. Several critiques of the trilogy claim that Pullman's intention was to encourage children to somewhat rebel. But maybe Pullman had an entirely different purpose that is not as evil some make it out to be.

"Sometimes people think that if something is done in the name of faith or religion, it must be good. Unfortunately, that isn’t true; some things done in the name of religion are very bad. That was what I was trying to describe in my story."

Perhaps it was Pullman's primary goal to suggest that religion is not always the right thing, not that religion is an entirely bad thing.

Personally, when I see these types of movies, I don't automatically jump to conclusions that the film has some underlying message. In fact, I highly doubt that several of the children that see this film or read the books interpret this as being an attack against their religion. If anything, the complaining that the parents do only influences the child to think such things. So it is out in the open that Pullman's trilogy does refer to Christianity, but do the fantasy-craving 10 year old readers see this when reading it, or do they just see a giant, cuddly, heroic bear and small child on an adventure?

Despues mi graduacion (11)

Go big or go home.... my philosophy on life, and that's the way I'm gonna live it.

As soon as I get out of this prison, also known as school, I plan on moving far, far, far, away...... like Texas. =]
I'll apply for 2 universities, Texas A&M and University of Texas. Hopefully i'll get into one of them. I lean more towards A&M because it has a better veterinarian program and also has branches in Corpus Christi and Galveston, which are primarily marine biology programs. I have always had an interest in sea animals, mostly sea mammals including dolphins and whales. I've even had this obsession with working at Sea World for the longest time. It was my dream to be the girl running the shows with Shamu. I've also always dreamed of caretaking for exotic animals. Either way, I WILL be working with animals. While I'm in school, I'll be working as a zookeeper. If I am to be admitted to A&M, I will start off at the main campus and complete all my core courses. After I do this, I will either go to A&M Vet school or one of the branches in Galveston or Corpus Christi. I've always wanted to live on the beach. Corpus Christi is perfect for a start in marine biology. Eventually I'd love to travel all over the world, studying marine mammals or just animals in general.

As far as where I'll be living, I have no clue. I may stay in on-campus rooming, or my own apartment, depending on how far I will be money-wise. School will be my main focus, partying won't be much of my schedule. In fact, I'd rather stay home studying animals all night, rather than going to some sorority/frat party. It never really was my thing.

Free (9)

We all have influences on how to lead our lives. Friends influence the way you dress, the way you talk. Family influences your mannerisms, your decisions. But does it really have to be that way? Do they even have a say in how I should live my life? I’ve been through the phases that everyone goes through. I let my mother feed me, change me and pick out my clothes for the day. I’ve let my friends talk me into doing something unethical for the sake of being accepted. For a while, I lived my life a certain way just so I would be accepted by everyone. I’ve had beliefs that I didn’t know how to fight for [perhaps because they were not my true beliefs to begin with]. I would say things only because I knew it would please others. And yes, I’ve even been in that stage where I claim to be an “individual” only because it was the cool thing to do at the time. Why do we feel the need to conform to what others want us to be? Why is it so wrong to truly be different?

This is a pledge to myself. An oath in which I promise to be precisely what I want to be and not what everyone else wants me to be. I want to make my own decisions and reach my own sense of happiness. I want to grow up and life the life that I know will make me happy, not the life that everyone expects me to live. “She’s gonna be a doctor, someday,” “She’s gonna have the perfect family.” What if I don’t want to have some high-paying career? What if I don’t even want to have a family? Is it so wrong to seek what I truly want? If I want to have blue hair, I’m gonna have blue hair. If I want to be a tattoo artist someday, then by god, I’m gonna be a tattoo artist. This is my philosophy, now, and I plan to live by it, whether others think it is wrong or not.

Argumentative Essay (8)

Drugs are thought to be immoral and have consequently been deemed illegal. Cocaine, LSD, crystal meth, marijuana and ecstasy are just the few drugs that have been banned in the past century. However, one drug remains an exception and is openly sold on America’s market. Alcohol has remained alive and well on the market, taking just as many lives as the illegal drugs.

Drugs have remained illegal for various reasons. They alter the mindset, speeding up or slowing down the brain depending on which drug has been consumed. Several die from excessive consumption. Many will risk their lives to obtain a small portion of their addiction. Addiction is the most difficult aspect of drugs to overcome, and it can happen even to those with the best intentions. The argument that drugs--specifically marijuana--should be legalized continues to surface in even the most heated debates of our society. America will often be compared to Amsterdam when attempting to support the legalization of marijuana and will retort with, “Amsterdam does fine with legal marijuana, why can’t we?” In reality, this is America. This is the country most infamous for gluttony and greed, a horrible combination when in possession of drugs. This is a country that cannot afford another addiction.

So many people forget that alcohol, too, is a drug, however, it is still legally available to the public. Alcohol poisons families whether it is a direct or indirect connection. Drunken fathers break their family bonds; partying students throw away their future; selfish drivers wreak havoc on the streets. Alcohol is no different from any other depressant drug, other than the fact that anyone can get their hands on it. Compare it to marijuana or pain killers and the physical affect is painfully similar. Alcohol is more harmful, if anything. On average per year, alcohol takes about 80,000 lives, while marijuana has never in US history been responsible for a death; and all illicit drugs combined kill under 20,000 people per year.

The country makes hundreds of advertisements a year promoting safe drinking, as if there is such a thing. America is proud to say that drugs are not tolerated among the streets, yet the most deadliest drug is sold in nearly every corner store.



1.) 7 Apr. 2008. http://www.a1b2c3.com/drugs/gen008.htm




Mr. Hughes,

this was the only site I used for reference, however, it gave me zero information on who created the page, the page's name, or when it was made. I put as much information as I could gather...which was unfortunately only 2 items. =/

sorry.

Down in a Hole (7)

“Down in a Hole” could be interpreted several different ways. Some have interpreted it as being Layne Staley’s longtime heroin addiction while others believe it is about Cantrell’s relationship, who is actually the writer of the song. I honestly don’t believe anyone can possibly decipher the song all the way down to the specific purpose. Only one aspect appeals to me. The speaker is defeated, one way or another, whether it be to an addiction or a woman. He has given up and in a sense, buried himself symbolically.

“Bury me softly in this womb.” This statement could be a beginning/end relationship of life. New life comes from a womb, but in this case, he is leaving life in a completely different womb, perhaps a grave or a casket? He indicates that he is giving up by constantly referring to a grave or burial. “Sand rains down and here I sit,” a first person view point of what is going on in the first verse. Imagine a corpse “holding rare flowers”, sand beating down onto the one who occupies the grave. The speaker address his audience, “I give this part of me for you.” This particular line supports the theory that the song is based on a lover of the speaker, however it still supports that he has surrendered or has given up a part of himself. The first verse is ended with an assonance using the “ooh” sound in the words tomb and bloom.

The first line of the second verse hints at a possible topic of the song. He questions whether it is possible or impossible for him to be saved from the hole that he has dug for himself. Another device is used comparing his heart with a grave using a simile. The device gave me a visual comparison. A grave is sometimes decorated with possessions that were dear to the deceased, for example, flowers, toys, pictures, or statues. He may keep whatever is dear to him close to his heart. Once again the audience is addressed by the speaker. A whole new possible scenario is introduced. It is possible that the speaker was split between two decisions on who he should be. Another party was expecting one thing from him, while the other was expecting the opposite, and somewhere in the process of trying to please both sides, he had lost himself. “A man who won’t let himself be. The speaker uses this last line of the verse to expose who or what he truly is.

The chorus identifies the tone as defeated or hopeless and even states what it is that he is losing--his soul and his control. His intentions are clear. He wants to fly, but has obviously been denied.
When a person dies, it’s almost a symbol of closure when the headstone is put upon the grave, making it seem as if it is the final resting place of the soul. This could be a way of expressing that there is no way out of his current situation, and this is where he gives up all hope.

The addiction theory is supported by the third and fourth line of the third verse. A metaphor is used to possibly compare the sun to whatever drug he has submitted himself to. The speaker has gotten to a point where perhaps he has had so much of this drug to where he has developed and addiction and tolerance at the same time to the point where he can no longer “taste.” The speaker expresses his guilt and blames himself for allowing it to go this far and for the last time surrenders by no longer speaking of his feelings.

The primary argument was to state that there is no longer hope, and that his cards have been dealt. There is no turning back. His argument appeals to spirituality using words such as soul, feelings, heart, and describes himself as feeling small.

Some can be put into the most difficult of situations, but for the most part, they put themselves there. I agree that some are pushed to an extent so deep that there is no way of reversing what they have done. Drug addiction is a difficult thing to overcome, and most eventually die because of it. Perhaps this is the reason that some may relate this song to drug addiction, but I personally don’t believe there is enough evidence to support that argument. Not everyone can be saved from their mistakes, and most have to live with their mistakes forever.

Dear Mr. Hughes,

I can't get the hang of writing a thesis statement. Truth is... i don't think i even know what it is.
oops. help me?

"Jeremy" (6)

In "an affluent suburb" at "3:30 in the afternoon", something changed the lives of an entire classroom.

A young boy was pushed too far.

Throughout the song, one of Jeremy's peers tells his story of remorse. One can sense guilt and regret in verse 2 of the song determing who the actual speaker is, although Jeremy did indeed "speak" in class that day.

The first verse was meant to inform and perhaps establish authority by giving Jeremy the title, "King Jeremy." The speaker also uses Pathos to describe Jeremy's upbringing. Jeremy received no attention from his father, and his mommy didn't care. This could have been a factor behind Jeremy's "wicked" decision. The speaker also evaluates Jeremy's family life, maybe even blaming them directly.

A forensic argument is introduced in the second verse with a remorseful tone. The speaker clearly remember's picking on him. In the video, Eddie Vedder has a painful expression on his face when singing this particular verse. Anyone watching the video can relate to the speaker as he appeals to the audience's emotions... Pathos.

A means to an end is finally introduced at the end of the second chorus.

"Try to forget this... try to forget this. Try to erase this... try to erase this."

He's trying to erase the tragedy from his mind.

Jeremy's peer is quite aware that he was a major factor for what Jeremy had done, and now he must suffer the consequences.

Reflect your own writing (5)

It's always been a problem for me, as far as writing, to keep clear from rigidity. I can have a fluid essay for the most part, but it's so hard for me to stay away from using actual text from the "prompt" to answer questions in my essay. I tend to use keywords straight from the prompt to prove my point in my writing, and as I write more and more essays, I learn that we're pretty much supposed to use our own words. I need help discovering what is acceptable in writing as far as straying away from rigidity.

Another MAJOR problem that I have getting off topic. So many ideas flow once I get started that it gets difficult to keep them in order. Even now, I'm attempting to answer only what we were assigned to answer, but there is just so much going on in this little brain of mine, I lose track of what i'm trying to say.

Mr. Hughes, you know what i'm talking about. As many times as we get off topic in our discussions in class. How can I keep my thoughts together without taking 15 minutes of brainstorming before I actually get my thoughts down in an orderly fashion?

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