Please leave your comments below....
https://soundcloud.com/rhit-1/ioc-3
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Does the analysis of literature actually help people become more emotionally intelligent and empathetic?
David Foster Wallace explores how education leads to a better adult life due to the added benefits of having the ability to be adjusted, conscious, and sympathetic. He validates this by going into the intricate details of the essence of life, to know what to pay attention to and to know how to use experiences to your advantage by seeing the meaning in each and every one of them. He argues that everyone knows all the information they see around them already and that its "codified as myths, proverbs, clichés, bromides,
epigrams, parables" and to acquire true "freedom" it is important to see the truth up front in your daily conscious mind. Wallace unravels the truth behind how our minds work, how we have default settings that stop us from seeing the things that are important. He talks about a really important form of freedom where you truly care about other people and sacrifice for them and this kind of awareness is what is very essential to keep us going. He also reminds us that we have constantly remind ourselves of the present and the experiences within life.
David Foster Wallace uses examples of people around us, examples which can be relatable to an adult. He takes specific examples such as getting frustrated because a man dangerously overtakes you with a Hummer and makes us realise that there might be factors that are causing the man in the Hummer to do that. Maybe he has a sick child and is rushing her to the hospital? Who knows. He argues that if we think about every experience through a different perspective, not our own we might be able to become more happy, more adjusted, conscious and sympathetic. He also uses the example where a mother shouts at a child at the paying counter and tells us how people having boring, routine oriented lives get irritated quickly and do not understand that maybe that very same mother might have had a bad day at the office or he husband might be in the hospital. So it is important to see everything from a different perspective an it is absolutely essential to push ourselves to do it.
What David Foster Wallace talks about has great significance and connection to Part 3 of the English Language and Literature course as one fo the main things literature allows students to do is see different lives and experiences and makes connection their own lives and their societies and culture. One of the key inquiry questions in this part of the course is 'How can literature develop empathy and emotional intelligence?' The Wikipedia definition for Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognise one's own and other people's emotions, to discriminate between different feelings and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behaviour.
Through critically analysing literature we can understand what it is to be a character within each story and we naturally empathise with them even though they might just be fictional. Alice Munro's stories gives a different perspective on life, a realist one. Through stories like 'Runaway', 'Passion', 'Boys and Girls', etc., we get to know what it was like to be a woman or just a normal poor or middle classed human back in her time and it is amazing that we can still relate to some of things she says. So, I believe that analysing literature is extremely important to understand people, to care for them and most importantly to make us better, more understanding human beings.
David Foster Wallace uses examples of people around us, examples which can be relatable to an adult. He takes specific examples such as getting frustrated because a man dangerously overtakes you with a Hummer and makes us realise that there might be factors that are causing the man in the Hummer to do that. Maybe he has a sick child and is rushing her to the hospital? Who knows. He argues that if we think about every experience through a different perspective, not our own we might be able to become more happy, more adjusted, conscious and sympathetic. He also uses the example where a mother shouts at a child at the paying counter and tells us how people having boring, routine oriented lives get irritated quickly and do not understand that maybe that very same mother might have had a bad day at the office or he husband might be in the hospital. So it is important to see everything from a different perspective an it is absolutely essential to push ourselves to do it.
What David Foster Wallace talks about has great significance and connection to Part 3 of the English Language and Literature course as one fo the main things literature allows students to do is see different lives and experiences and makes connection their own lives and their societies and culture. One of the key inquiry questions in this part of the course is 'How can literature develop empathy and emotional intelligence?' The Wikipedia definition for Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognise one's own and other people's emotions, to discriminate between different feelings and label them appropriately, and to use emotional information to guide thinking and behaviour.
Through critically analysing literature we can understand what it is to be a character within each story and we naturally empathise with them even though they might just be fictional. Alice Munro's stories gives a different perspective on life, a realist one. Through stories like 'Runaway', 'Passion', 'Boys and Girls', etc., we get to know what it was like to be a woman or just a normal poor or middle classed human back in her time and it is amazing that we can still relate to some of things she says. So, I believe that analysing literature is extremely important to understand people, to care for them and most importantly to make us better, more understanding human beings.
Friday, October 2, 2015
Royal Beatings- Excerpt IOC
Good Luck!
https://soundcloud.com/rhit-1/royal-beatings-excerpt-ioc
your comments and feedback are much appreciated!! :)))
https://soundcloud.com/rhit-1/royal-beatings-excerpt-ioc
your comments and feedback are much appreciated!! :)))
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Excerpt from 'Boys and Girls' - Practice IOC
Hello! Try not to laugh.... :)))
https://soundcloud.com/rhit-1/excerpt-from-boys-and-girls-practice-ioc
Comments and feedback will be greatly appreciated!
https://soundcloud.com/rhit-1/excerpt-from-boys-and-girls-practice-ioc
Comments and feedback will be greatly appreciated!
Sunday, September 6, 2015
Literature Reflection
Literature is a means through which we can understand different cultural perspectives. I believe that literature also teaches us life lessons as embracing each story will help us understand what is right and what is wrong. This will then help us(if we are smart) to not repeat it in our own lives. The topic of women's literature based on the notion that the experience of women, historically, has been shaped by their gender, and so women writers are known as group worthy of separate study. Women's literature enlightens the society about the difficulties women face around the world. It provides a perspective of women in order to let people understand the oppression that women have faced over the centuries.
During the 1950s-1980s the second wave of feminism had started and Munro's themes of social realism really stood out as it represented what the feminists were fighting against. Munro's depictions of what it was like to be a housewife in southern Ontario probably came out as being a way in which she was using the short stories as a resistance. Short stories like 'Boys and Girls' shows the real divide in how people were expected to do jobs that 'fit' their gender.
What I enjoy most about Munro's stories is the flow and character development in them. She creates very complex characters like Clara in 'Runaway' in 35 pages and this makes her stories a delightful read as she jumps right into the heart of the plot. Her stories have made me realise the gender differences in society and how the first wave of feminism might have been based on. her narrative of each scene is very enjoyable and I like her use of language. All the short tories that i have read were an easy read and therefore it was far less time consuming and boring.
To be honest, I am neither a fan of literature, nor am I a fan of fictional novels or short stories. But something about Alice Munro's stories makes me want to think about which otherwise would be waste according to me. I can relate a lot of her short stories to my mother as she has her own perspective on what a 'woman's job' is and what a 'man's job' is. For example, whenever I over-indulge in some work in the kitchen, she yells at me and tells me to just do a man's job. What she meant by that is that its a woman's job to clean the dishes and not mine. So I guess, literature is not all bad...
During the 1950s-1980s the second wave of feminism had started and Munro's themes of social realism really stood out as it represented what the feminists were fighting against. Munro's depictions of what it was like to be a housewife in southern Ontario probably came out as being a way in which she was using the short stories as a resistance. Short stories like 'Boys and Girls' shows the real divide in how people were expected to do jobs that 'fit' their gender.
What I enjoy most about Munro's stories is the flow and character development in them. She creates very complex characters like Clara in 'Runaway' in 35 pages and this makes her stories a delightful read as she jumps right into the heart of the plot. Her stories have made me realise the gender differences in society and how the first wave of feminism might have been based on. her narrative of each scene is very enjoyable and I like her use of language. All the short tories that i have read were an easy read and therefore it was far less time consuming and boring.
To be honest, I am neither a fan of literature, nor am I a fan of fictional novels or short stories. But something about Alice Munro's stories makes me want to think about which otherwise would be waste according to me. I can relate a lot of her short stories to my mother as she has her own perspective on what a 'woman's job' is and what a 'man's job' is. For example, whenever I over-indulge in some work in the kitchen, she yells at me and tells me to just do a man's job. What she meant by that is that its a woman's job to clean the dishes and not mine. So I guess, literature is not all bad...
Friday, September 4, 2015
Why 'Changes' by Tupac Shakur has the greatest lyrics of the past century
‘Changes’ by Tupac Shakur has one of the greatest lyrics of
the past century because it echoes the discrimination the African-American
community used to face back in the 1990’s in the midst of the drug war in
America. It got to the point where every African American on the street was checked
for drugs. But Tupac does not only complain about the system but blames his
community as well for the situation they put themselves in. He discusses how
there is a lot of hate among the blacks, probably referring to the East Coast
and West Coast hip-hop rivalry and about adults introducing drugs to the
youngsters within the community itself.
In the first verse, Tupac voices discloses that nobody cares
about the black community and he does so by questioning if life is worth living
in poverty, especially when one is African American. He takes the perspective
of an underprivileged black person who because of his circumstances has to do
things he doesn’t like such as stealing a purse or dealing and selling drugs.
He also makes reference to Huey Newton and quotes him to spread the message
that the black community must fight this inequality together and treat each
other like ‘brothers’. He also voices his opinion that the community have to
start making changes rather than hate on each other.
In the second verse, Pac articulates his feelings about the
rivalry between white people and black people and he does so by using tough
language. He pronounces that there’s an evident evil that needs to be taken out
of people that will help them think straight.
He disputes that neither sides is better than the other as both black
and white people smoke crack and get wasted. There is an authentic profound
meaning in this, as Tupac understands that it is all a matter of
misunderstanding. He moreover describes to what extent this evil has taken over
people’s lives saying that the “only time we chill is when we kill each other” in reference to elevated crime
rates in his area. He also argues that the penitentiaries are ‘filled with
blacks’ because the norms for arrests are highly racist, thus voicing his views
about the police and the judiciary system. Despite this he wonders why some
things will never change like why black people in the drug game don’t want to
be helped, which shows a greater understanding of two sides of the coin. Tupac
believes that his ‘brothers’ are not being ‘real’ by ignoring the advice of people
who cares about them.
In the 3rd verse, he tells the people of
America to change their lifestyle by treating each other better and he argues
that the old system wasn’t working and it is the whole of America’s
responsibility to change for the better to avoid conflicts.
In the 4th verse, Tupac claims that the government
has a war on drugs instead of poverty just to bother the African-American
community who have people dealing drugs because of their deprived circumstances
and not because they are born to be criminals. Tupac warns everyone to be
independent and look after themselves as the white people will try to get them
to deal drugs and frame them as criminals. He declares that he was not raised
as a fool to lay victim to this prejudice. He moreover describes everyday life
of an African-American in rough neighborhoods by saying that he always has to
stay armed to save himself from the wrong doings of his past.
I believe that this song has one of the greatest lyrics of
the last century, as it describes the harsh realities that society, especially
the African –American community used to experience back in the 1990s. Tupac
sees the bigger picture and gives advice to his brothers and sisters on how to
live properly and explains why it is also his society’s responsibility that
they are in the situation they are in. He criticizes the judiciary system and
tries to correct the whole structure and erase abhorrence within four minutes
of his song. Individually, this song is one of my favorites not because I associate
with it because I don’t have the right to say that; I can never know what it
was like in the 1990s in America. However, it does portray the life and the
struggles faced by both communities in the midst of the drug war and therefore
I respect and admire this song and Tupac Shakur.
Monday, August 17, 2015
Lessons i have learnt this summer....
Well this summer has been one of the most reflective i have ever had. I was certainly not reflecting on how good I did last year because I did not. When i look back there are so many things i could have done better. I could have done better in French, Chemistry, Biology, Economics, and definitely English. I could have been more concentrated in class, I could have shown more seriousness to my studies and I definitely could have cut down on my over-confidence. I don't know what drove me to be like what I was last year.
Maybe it was my ignorance, maybe it was my pride, maybe it was my reputation, or maybe it was just my immaturity. I made a lot of mistakes last year, like not studying French, not revising English, not studying well for my Chemistry test, not taking Economics seriously throughout the year and most of all being disrespectful to the teachers who have taught me so well. I would correct all of it if I could go back but all I can do now is move on and correct it in 12th grade.
Going back to India, has made me realize my mistakes more than anything. My ignorance last year made me feel like a complete jerk when I saw my old school and all that i had left behind here. I am so fortunate to have ended up in an IB school, which was never part of the plan when I came to study in Abu Dhabi in 10th grade. I was going to join a GCSE school like Yasmina. My luck turned around at the right time, I guess. Don't get me wrong, I did work in 10th grade but like always I lost my motivation to carry that on in 11th grade.
Why me? Why couldn't I just stay my 10th grade self: Studious, nice to everyone, and serious about my assignments. I think I know the answer to that. When i was in 10th grade, I wanted to get a medical degree because I thought that my caring attitude was a sign that i was passionate about being a doctor. That did motivate me to work hard, especially when i didn't have any experience with the IB. But towards the end of 10th grade i changed my decision to pursue hotel management because I wanted to work in the hospitality industry in which i found my passion. My caring attitude was just part of my character that stemmed from this passion.
This decision did change a lot of things for me. The main one being that if you want to get into any good university for medicine,the minimum IB score is 38 and even then the chances of getting in is very minimal. As for hotel management, I just have to pass the IB diploma and I'm set. All the universities which provide the degree want students with real passion for the hospitality industry, not to forget good interpersonal skills. So that brought my target IB score way down and that resulted in me working with no dedication at all. Now that seemed like a reasonable argument at the time, but now I realize the mistake which resulted in the 34 I got as my final grade in 11th grade. Its not a bad score by any means, but i know i can do way better and hence I have decided to raise the bars and strive to reach my full potential. The last thing i want is to look back on my IB diploma score after 12th grade and tell myself that I could have done better.
Redeeming is part of our lives and from what I remember OSHO said, without change, there is no life, I have decided to redeem myself, take control of the opportunity i have and erase the bad aspects of last year. I am hoping to do great this year and to my friends, hears to our school and our teachers who have set us up for great things and hears to our 2016 batch which I believe is going to yield Raha International School's highest IB diploma scores!
PEACE OUT
Maybe it was my ignorance, maybe it was my pride, maybe it was my reputation, or maybe it was just my immaturity. I made a lot of mistakes last year, like not studying French, not revising English, not studying well for my Chemistry test, not taking Economics seriously throughout the year and most of all being disrespectful to the teachers who have taught me so well. I would correct all of it if I could go back but all I can do now is move on and correct it in 12th grade.
Going back to India, has made me realize my mistakes more than anything. My ignorance last year made me feel like a complete jerk when I saw my old school and all that i had left behind here. I am so fortunate to have ended up in an IB school, which was never part of the plan when I came to study in Abu Dhabi in 10th grade. I was going to join a GCSE school like Yasmina. My luck turned around at the right time, I guess. Don't get me wrong, I did work in 10th grade but like always I lost my motivation to carry that on in 11th grade.
Why me? Why couldn't I just stay my 10th grade self: Studious, nice to everyone, and serious about my assignments. I think I know the answer to that. When i was in 10th grade, I wanted to get a medical degree because I thought that my caring attitude was a sign that i was passionate about being a doctor. That did motivate me to work hard, especially when i didn't have any experience with the IB. But towards the end of 10th grade i changed my decision to pursue hotel management because I wanted to work in the hospitality industry in which i found my passion. My caring attitude was just part of my character that stemmed from this passion.
This decision did change a lot of things for me. The main one being that if you want to get into any good university for medicine,the minimum IB score is 38 and even then the chances of getting in is very minimal. As for hotel management, I just have to pass the IB diploma and I'm set. All the universities which provide the degree want students with real passion for the hospitality industry, not to forget good interpersonal skills. So that brought my target IB score way down and that resulted in me working with no dedication at all. Now that seemed like a reasonable argument at the time, but now I realize the mistake which resulted in the 34 I got as my final grade in 11th grade. Its not a bad score by any means, but i know i can do way better and hence I have decided to raise the bars and strive to reach my full potential. The last thing i want is to look back on my IB diploma score after 12th grade and tell myself that I could have done better.
Redeeming is part of our lives and from what I remember OSHO said, without change, there is no life, I have decided to redeem myself, take control of the opportunity i have and erase the bad aspects of last year. I am hoping to do great this year and to my friends, hears to our school and our teachers who have set us up for great things and hears to our 2016 batch which I believe is going to yield Raha International School's highest IB diploma scores!
PEACE OUT
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