Visual Rhetoric and Gazes

     Disclaimer: I don't know the artist or name of this painting. I found it in the Huntsman Cancer Institute a few years ago.
     I have learned how to tell a story. I understand the basic narrative tools. It would appear that we are now going to use those tools to describe something visual. That does not sound difficult, except that, how do I describe to you this painting? I can tell you size, shape, colors, and subject. I want you to see this painting the way I see it. I want to describe in detail so that if you ever saw it in a museum some where you would Know it. There are many different "Gazes" to describe something visual in writing. For example are we viewing an intimate moment between lovers or is she playing for us? Is she writing a song or just picking? I am excited to learn this style of writing.

I didn't score high enough on the Accuplcr for English so.......

     I have have to take ENG 1010 from Dr. R. Marchant. Cause and Effect at its best. Cause and Effect is used in text to illustrate examples and to imply action. It is a rhetoric tool to show relationship between events or ideas. I have often used the cause and effect narrative tool to explain to my daughter what will happen when she makes a choice. I help her to see possible outcomes. This type of illustration helps her to make thoughtful informed decisions. Sometimes, in spite of my best efforts to influence her thinking, she still makes decisions with negative effects. Six year olds! What can you do?
     Cause explains how different events or ideas come to fruition and analyzes why the Effect happens. I did not score high enough on my Accuplcr test so I have to take Dr. Marchants 1010 class.  What caused me to take Eng 1010 (effect)?

Peer Reveiw and self-esteem

     Thick skin is needed for this class. Seriously, I write a story, and pour out my soul, then let someone else tell me how to fix it? Peer Review. The purpose of a peer review is simple. I allow others, who's opinion I trust, to tell me what is good and bad with my text. I appreciated the comments I received today. I was happy to hear that my story made sense. I was told that it flowed well and it seemed easy to follow chronologically. I also learned, that when I write something it doesn't necessarily translate well to paper. I found that I need to be better at relaying my thoughts and feelings better.
    The real trick is how to comment on another persons' paper. I wanted to get involved in the story. I wanted to tell the other author how to fix his paper. I need to remember that, it is not my story, or my voice. I also learned that I don't know anything about punctuation. Word to the wise, take your paper early and often to the English tutors. Chad was awesome and he took time to explain several concepts to me. Remember this, it is not your story or belief's that are being reviewed, it is your mechanics.

Retorical tools and the narrative

     The essay discussed today was about Arthurian Legends and their prevalence in today's modern media. I found myself thinking of my favorite movies again. I immediately thought of Disney's "The Sword In The Stone." Mary Zembreno discusses four main reasons why she believes that modern story telling follows the romantic Arthurian legend are:

1. Mutability or Plasticity which means the ways in which the source material can be and has been reshaped for new audiences.
2. Piecemeal is the way in which narratives have been assembled from various sources that encourages later adaptations.
3. Windows of Opportunity are undeveloped interludes between events. They are blank spots open to interpretation and imagination.
4. Open-Ended Closures are episodes puposfully ommitted that are contained in sources that are deliberately called attention to allowing for a "To Be Continued"

      Disney studio uses A Window of Opportunity, Arthur's childhood, to tell the story of his youth up until just after he pulls the sword. We can easily see how Mutable the story of King Arthur is, as it allows for authors to fill in the gaps in time. The Arthur legend itself, is built upon a Piecemeal collection of historical accounts and old stories, and is an Open-Ended Closure. We are always left awaiting the return of the king.

The Who, What, Where and Why

      There are four main parts to the narrative structure. First is the Setting, or where. Second is the Characters or the who. Third is the Plot or the what. Lastly comes the Theme or the why. Just as I learned story arc's in elementary school I also learned about writing paragraphs that thell the Who, What, Where, and Why. Usually the first paragraph answers these question. Star Wars starts with a long title "A long time ago in a Galaxy far, far away...civil war..rebels...victory against the evil Galactic Empire."
       The setting plays an inportant role in story telling, it sets the context in which the narrative is taking place. For example, back to Star Wars, the ultimate space fairy tale doesn't quite work if it is set in Ogden, Utah. The story would not have any credibility.  The Characters, who the story is about. Why do I like them or hate them? What do they do? Based on the setting what are the characters likely to be involved in? What is the story about? very simply taht is the definition of Plot. Space fairy tales with cool characters have to be doing something if not there is no story, no point. with these three components of narrative structure in place we now need a Why or Theme. What is the moral of our story? What should I learn from this? What was the author trying to tell me? The theme give the story meaning. In another Galaxy good beat evil, freedom beat tyranny and everyone was left to pursue their own happiness. If it can happen there maybe it can happen here. Theme

Narrative Structures?

        Narrative structures is another term for a story arc. I didn't understand this while reading the assignment until I saw the graphs in the essay. I remembered learning about story arc's in elementery school. Basically, what we are discussing are the parts of the story. In all stories or narratives the author is trying to convey an idea. The author does this in a way that can actually be visually graphed. For me visually seeing a story arc helps me understand the overall theme of a story. It helps me stay out of the details so I can understand the the authors meaning.
      To help explain this observation lets look at my favorite story, The Star Wars Trilogy. Overall the trilogy is set in "A Galaxy Far, Far away" Space. The characters, an unlikely hero,a Princess, a pirate, wise wizards and evil, tyranycal dictators bent on galaxy wide domination. There are several tension elements building to climax then, a set back for the good guys, then a build up again, set back and finally our heroes, against all odds beat the bad guys. The theme of Star Wars is good triumphing over evil. Simple easily graphed. Easy to define. Easy for me to understand.

I can speak the language.....

           I suck at English! I barely passed high school english. I would have failed were it not for the special attention I received from Mrs. Lespade in 11th grade. She made me sit by her all year. I actually earned a B+. Love her! I find myself hoping that this Professor can help me write better. I am not scared or nervous, just cautiously hopeful. I found myself thinking of all the thing I want to write about while he was talking today. Possibly as much as a good teacher can help a student, a humbled student can soak up the knowledge.               
 Too pious? Too sentimental? To much ego stroking? Let me know.

Set up of my ENG1010 blog

This is all a bit odd for me. I have spent the last ten years trying not to have a presence on the internet. I prided my self that my name never came up in a Google search. This is one instance where I wish I was a few years younger.