Assignment 11

1. I think that theme is extremely important in what you write. I don't necessarily think that before you write you need to sit down, establish a clear theme and take it from there, but the end product should convey a message. If a story is without theme, it seems relatively pointless. This doesn't mean that the theme has to be anything poignant or ground-breaking, just some sort of idea is relayed in the writing. As a writer, I don't think that you are writing to the best of your ability if your voice does not convey a theme. How clear this theme needs to be is up for debate. Books like The Great Gatsby have relatively clear and distinct themes. This book has stood the test of time because it's theme is relatable year after year. On the other hand, Tortilla Flat by John Steinbeck does not have as clear of a theme. It does however, still have ingrained messages and is a very good read.

2. I think that two important elements must exist in order for a work of literature to stand the test of time. The first, I touched upon in the first question. This is a message that is clear and connects with people. The message itself must still connect to people years later, not just relate to a specific time period. I used the example of the Great Gatsby for this. The idea that wealth does not equate happiness weighs on people's minds today, just as much as it did when the book was written. Second. I think that the book must appeal to a wide range of people. This is not only thematically, but it must also be entertaining. Topics that appeal to many are love, romance, tragedy, war, deceit, murder etc.

3.This is a tough question that I can't say I ever thought about before. The idea of writing something that impacts people carries alot of pressure. I really like to write about love, not just romantically, but with friends, family etc. and I think that my ideas on love could connect with people. I would like to take a stab at a common idea in literature, movies etc. that love has to be over the top, fairy tale seeming, and overall, unrealistic, like some romantic comedy. Finding love in people can be through simple, everyday experiances, and this is what I would want to show. A movie that is a great example of this is Garden State. The two characters fall in love under rather dreary circumstances. Zach Braff's character returns home to attend his mother's funeral and falls in love with an oddball from a strange family. This is hardly a story book romance, but it touched alot of people. I would like to do something like this with my writing.

Assignment 10

1. Something in this world that truly concerns me is the issue of poverty. Money is just thrown around in many parts of the world, especially Edina where we live. People turn the other cheek to the terrible poverty around the world when it would be so easy to help. If people were to give a dollar a day, even less, poverty could see an end. In Ap econ, Mr. Szporn made an interesting point. People might say that the value of a life is priceless, that you couldn't pay them any amount of money to take a life. However, if this was true poverty and starvation wouldn't be such an issue because people would be doing more to help save countless lives lost. I think that poverty is so depressing and often seems far removed from every day life. If it were brought more to the forefront people might pay more attention, but it seems almost less painful to ignore it.

2. My mom's friend Trudey is a dynamic personality. She is practically part of the family. Some people might say that she is a little loopy. She talks to much, sometimes too blatantly, and tells crazy stories. Despite being a little odd, she is hilarious and well- rounded. She is full of random facts about a range of topics. She can rattle off information about horoscopes which, whether you buy into them or not, is fascinating to listen to. She can almost always guess what sign someone is based off of their personality. She is also really caring and genuinely nice. I have never met anyone quite like Trudey.

3. Alot of pieces of art inspire me. One that comes to mind right away is the song "One" by U2. People tease me for listening to U2, but I absolutely love their music and the messages that they carry. "One" is a particularly powerful song, and music video. Some lyrics include:
Did I ask too much
More than a lot
You gave me nothing
Now it's all I got
We're one
But we're not the same
Well we Hurt each other
Then we do it again
You say Love is a temple
Love a higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I can't be holding on
To what you got
When all you got is hurt
One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should
One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers
One life
But we're not the same
We get to Carry each other
Carry each other

The song has really serious and all-encompassing implications. Looked at on a small scale, Bono sings of the impacts that relationships can have on happiness and life. On a global scale, there is the extremely valuable message of peace and love in the world. Everyday in the world, there is death, heartbreak, deceit, racism, prejudice etc. This song stresses that everyone benefits from love and appreciation of everyone. It would bring a better world. This powerful message moves me every time, and has brought me to tears. It inspires me to treat others well, be filled with love, live judgement free, and pray for a better, more cohesive world in the future.