Saturday, December 19, 2009
Short Story
The short story is now finished! Please leave your suggestions for a title in the comments below this post. I will then tidy it up and submit to the university magazine.
Essay titles
Hi All –
Don’t forget to comment on the Princess Daisy essays!
Now, here are your research essay titles. If any of you are unhappy with your title, or want to discuss any other aspects of your essay, email me.
Elena N – “Vladimir Nabokov said of ‘Lady with a Lapdog’ that ‘All the traditional rules of story-telling have been broken.’ But are traditional views of gender relations broken or reinforced in this story?”
Xenia – “In making her assassin anonymous and his employers unknown, Doris Lessing seems to be aiming for a statement about the modern world. What do you see the Homage of the story as saying about modern political struggles?”
Alexandra – “What does the elephant symbolize in Orwell’s story? You may wish to compare with his essay ‘The Lion and the Unicorn’ and examine the idea of a just war in Orwell’s thought.”
Nicos – “How does Edgar Allen Poe achieve the ‘Gothic’ feel of his story? What stylistic tricks does he employ, and to what purpose?”
Vasia – “Explore the relationships between the characters in the story ‘A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,’ particularly that between the older waiter and the old man. Do you think that these relationships affirm or deny the nihilism expressed towards the end of the story?”
Froso – “Do you see Kafka as being sympathetic to the Hunger Artist’s plight? How does this affect an allegorical reading of the story?”
Dora – “What is the significance of the fur in Mansfield’s story “Miss Brill”? How does this prop reveal contemporary ideas of the correct narrative function of elderly women?”
Don’t forget to comment on the Princess Daisy essays!
Now, here are your research essay titles. If any of you are unhappy with your title, or want to discuss any other aspects of your essay, email me.
Elena N – “Vladimir Nabokov said of ‘Lady with a Lapdog’ that ‘All the traditional rules of story-telling have been broken.’ But are traditional views of gender relations broken or reinforced in this story?”
Xenia – “In making her assassin anonymous and his employers unknown, Doris Lessing seems to be aiming for a statement about the modern world. What do you see the Homage of the story as saying about modern political struggles?”
Alexandra – “What does the elephant symbolize in Orwell’s story? You may wish to compare with his essay ‘The Lion and the Unicorn’ and examine the idea of a just war in Orwell’s thought.”
Nicos – “How does Edgar Allen Poe achieve the ‘Gothic’ feel of his story? What stylistic tricks does he employ, and to what purpose?”
Vasia – “Explore the relationships between the characters in the story ‘A Clean, Well-Lighted Place,’ particularly that between the older waiter and the old man. Do you think that these relationships affirm or deny the nihilism expressed towards the end of the story?”
Froso – “Do you see Kafka as being sympathetic to the Hunger Artist’s plight? How does this affect an allegorical reading of the story?”
Dora – “What is the significance of the fur in Mansfield’s story “Miss Brill”? How does this prop reveal contemporary ideas of the correct narrative function of elderly women?”
Fotinie – “Consider the way Shirley Jackson describes the people of the village in her story The Lottery. What is her vision of community? Might this account for the strong reaction to the story’s first publication?”
Elena S – “Discuss the short story ‘Sredni Vashtar’ by Saki, paying particular attention to the relationship between Conradin’s health, his feelings towards his aunt, and the actions of the polecat-ferret. Does this story seem like concealed autobiography?”
Alexia – “How is the relationship between the mother and daughter in “The Joy Luck Club” constructed? What elements are concealed? Is there any relationship between the events of this story and the wider history of Chinese-Americans?”
Tamara – “How does Borges describe ideas of infinity and eternity in his story ‘The Garden of Forking Paths’? What is his purpose in introducing these concepts into what seems to be a thriller narrative?”
Evanthia – “How does E. Annie Proulx alter common understandings of gender roles in the Western in her story ‘Brokeback Mountain’?
Marilyn – “Rachel Cusk describes ‘To Room Nineteen’ as being an allegory for women’s struggle to express themselves. Do you agree with her bleak pictures of this story’s understanding of women’s struggles for self-expression?”
Elena S – “Discuss the short story ‘Sredni Vashtar’ by Saki, paying particular attention to the relationship between Conradin’s health, his feelings towards his aunt, and the actions of the polecat-ferret. Does this story seem like concealed autobiography?”
Alexia – “How is the relationship between the mother and daughter in “The Joy Luck Club” constructed? What elements are concealed? Is there any relationship between the events of this story and the wider history of Chinese-Americans?”
Tamara – “How does Borges describe ideas of infinity and eternity in his story ‘The Garden of Forking Paths’? What is his purpose in introducing these concepts into what seems to be a thriller narrative?”
Evanthia – “How does E. Annie Proulx alter common understandings of gender roles in the Western in her story ‘Brokeback Mountain’?
Marilyn – “Rachel Cusk describes ‘To Room Nineteen’ as being an allegory for women’s struggle to express themselves. Do you agree with her bleak pictures of this story’s understanding of women’s struggles for self-expression?”
Melina - "That DH Lawrence's short story 'Tickets, Please!' is loosely based on Euripides' The Bacchae is widely acknowledged. What use does Lawrence make of the original Dionysian myth, and effect do the changes he introduces have on our understanding of character?"
Friday, December 18, 2009
Response Essay "Princess Daisy"
Is anyone who has not been dreaming to belong to the high life of glamor and luxury? Of course everyone has been day-dreamer to this fancy world. Nowadays, it is generally admitted that a person who has plenty money can achieve his social classification and give precedence to dominate in society. Although, to reach on the top and succeed in life is necessary to look elegant and beautiful. Does really matter?
According with Judith Krantz in her text book “Princess Daisy” she believes that “being young, beautiful and rich is more desirable than being old, ugly and destitute”. She matches together the money and beauty necessarily of woman’s succeeding in life. Obviously, to be a beautiful woman with attractive appearance you can gain the attention of men. She concern that only beautiful woman deserves the high social class instead of ugly woman. Therefore, she mention about Princess Daisy of her text to point out the importance of the appearance of such a person who deserve to belong to the high class. Additionally, Krantz expresses her admiration in the high social life since her whole story is associated with capitalistic elements. She referred to the particular polo sport which is symbolizes the aristocratic status; because only the people who belong to high class can have the opportunity to play this sport. In addition, she give emphasizes in details while she describe that the menu has a brown and gold border in order to underline of the first class restaurant. She shows that she admire that she belong to the exclusiveness circle of plentitude materials.
All the above, Krantz declared her admiration to the capitalistic system as many people of the high social life do. This system is encourages private investment and includes integral part to thrive the economic growth.
On the contrary, Clive James through his book “A Blizzard of Tiny Kisses” is virtual judge her book in ironic manner because she show off the aristocracy life. Hence, in the beginning of his judgment, he said that “she deserves her high place in the best-seller lists” although he characterize that is “a terrible book and totally inept.” Clive raises his contradiction towards Krantz due to the fact that she gets enthusiasm with the exclusiveness of the upper class. Over his judgment he point out that the people should not show their intimacy because is concern with the aristocracy and glamor. Furthermore, Clive said that “Mrs Krantz has not enough humour to write tongue-in-check, but other people are perfectly capable of reading that way”; he emphasize that the particular book you might look at it with two perspectives. Therefore, the readers’ who are membership of the aristocracy life they will not look at it in ironic manner as she presents the glorious life. However, the readers who are not possessed to the high class they probably read the book in ironic way and despise it while are not familiar with this flashy world. Krantz’s literary writing has luck of humor as long as she describes the high class with not ironic consideration. Clive judge Krantz book with this manner because he represents the leftism doctrine. He regards the social change to become equal in terms of wealthy distribution rather than rule with the private property. Besides, he correlated his self feminist because he stands as woman’s defender. Despite the fact, a woman with not good looking is also deserved to belong to the high class. He totally disagrees with Krantz because she creates a snob image of the high social class. He believed that the intelligent people who are dreamers for this life should not obstruct them.
I agree at some extend with Clive that she spoil the ambition to the ordinary people into vague image for those who want to keep dreaming of this kind of life. On the other hand, I believe that a woman should be have a good looking but not necessarily beautiful. It’s a woman’s nature to care about she’s appearance. It is well known fact that many women who are celebrities such as singers, models, politician and journalists own to care and keep their selves appearances well. Many times I heard about that celebrities have made plastic surgery in order to look youngest and keep fit their selves. Although, Clive does not agree that women should do this things because the ordinary people may want to imitate them; because they represent their idol.
Ultimately, to be a wealthy or not is not really matter; but what is really essential is woman’s appearance because is integral part in their life. As Judith Krantz said “Every woman knows that a good clothes fantasy is the only thing to rival a good sexy fantasy”.
According with Judith Krantz in her text book “Princess Daisy” she believes that “being young, beautiful and rich is more desirable than being old, ugly and destitute”. She matches together the money and beauty necessarily of woman’s succeeding in life. Obviously, to be a beautiful woman with attractive appearance you can gain the attention of men. She concern that only beautiful woman deserves the high social class instead of ugly woman. Therefore, she mention about Princess Daisy of her text to point out the importance of the appearance of such a person who deserve to belong to the high class. Additionally, Krantz expresses her admiration in the high social life since her whole story is associated with capitalistic elements. She referred to the particular polo sport which is symbolizes the aristocratic status; because only the people who belong to high class can have the opportunity to play this sport. In addition, she give emphasizes in details while she describe that the menu has a brown and gold border in order to underline of the first class restaurant. She shows that she admire that she belong to the exclusiveness circle of plentitude materials.
All the above, Krantz declared her admiration to the capitalistic system as many people of the high social life do. This system is encourages private investment and includes integral part to thrive the economic growth.
On the contrary, Clive James through his book “A Blizzard of Tiny Kisses” is virtual judge her book in ironic manner because she show off the aristocracy life. Hence, in the beginning of his judgment, he said that “she deserves her high place in the best-seller lists” although he characterize that is “a terrible book and totally inept.” Clive raises his contradiction towards Krantz due to the fact that she gets enthusiasm with the exclusiveness of the upper class. Over his judgment he point out that the people should not show their intimacy because is concern with the aristocracy and glamor. Furthermore, Clive said that “Mrs Krantz has not enough humour to write tongue-in-check, but other people are perfectly capable of reading that way”; he emphasize that the particular book you might look at it with two perspectives. Therefore, the readers’ who are membership of the aristocracy life they will not look at it in ironic manner as she presents the glorious life. However, the readers who are not possessed to the high class they probably read the book in ironic way and despise it while are not familiar with this flashy world. Krantz’s literary writing has luck of humor as long as she describes the high class with not ironic consideration. Clive judge Krantz book with this manner because he represents the leftism doctrine. He regards the social change to become equal in terms of wealthy distribution rather than rule with the private property. Besides, he correlated his self feminist because he stands as woman’s defender. Despite the fact, a woman with not good looking is also deserved to belong to the high class. He totally disagrees with Krantz because she creates a snob image of the high social class. He believed that the intelligent people who are dreamers for this life should not obstruct them.
I agree at some extend with Clive that she spoil the ambition to the ordinary people into vague image for those who want to keep dreaming of this kind of life. On the other hand, I believe that a woman should be have a good looking but not necessarily beautiful. It’s a woman’s nature to care about she’s appearance. It is well known fact that many women who are celebrities such as singers, models, politician and journalists own to care and keep their selves appearances well. Many times I heard about that celebrities have made plastic surgery in order to look youngest and keep fit their selves. Although, Clive does not agree that women should do this things because the ordinary people may want to imitate them; because they represent their idol.
Ultimately, to be a wealthy or not is not really matter; but what is really essential is woman’s appearance because is integral part in their life. As Judith Krantz said “Every woman knows that a good clothes fantasy is the only thing to rival a good sexy fantasy”.
Response Essay Princess Daizy
A Blizzard of tiny kisses
Princess Daizy by Judith Krantz
Have you ever imagined living to high society’s world? If yes, would you prefer to have such an opulence in your life? Well, this is according to each person, his overview in life. To choose if he desires to deal with aristocratic life or just having a normal life. For some people there is a lot of dreaming and for others not. Through the high social class everything consider to be changeable, but first of all the appearance and the good - looking.
To begin with, Judith Krantz, the famous author of Princess Daizy book supports every department of the high - life. She is a capitalist lady that believes on aristocracy, especially having a lot of money. She deems that a young, beautiful and rich woman is more desirable rather being old, ugly and without money. She considers the female model, a woman that has money through her life, it is always appropriate to keep her own beauty. With her book ‘ Princess Daizy’ wants to bring out issues dealing with aristocracy, glamour , status and success. That every woman should keep this order in her life, to look for the bourgeois fancies of aristocracy. Through her work estimates the important issue of art. As Alex Witchel says , “ every woman knows that a good clothes fantasy is the only thing to rival a good sex fantasy.” For her, art is a good instrument for women. This art can give to her a nice appearance so that her beauty revealed. That’s why she gives so attention to her hero’s hair. This sounds ironic for someone who might read the book for a first time especially if he belongs to the low social class. But , people like Mrs. Krantz take it without this irony because they think with the mind of being in high social class. For Krantz, if you have the money, you can develop in such a situation.
In contrast with Cline James, who criticizes such an idea. From the beginning, he explores his ironic tone through Krantz’s book, Princess Daizy. He is a socialist man, who supports the other side that Krantz does. He criticizes her lack of literary weight by saying that there isn’t any sense through her book. He leaves his ironic tone to touch the entire book. That lower people will not think the life of high status in such a way.
He argues that all should be equal in life. Not only women who have the money deserve to have such a good appearance in society. To look always on their beauty. James, denies this idea by the view of a man. He identifies that women of high society give a fortune in order to engage an attractive appearance. For him, this is unacceptable. Aristocratic women may have the money but this does not mean that they put on surgeries, for instance to look younger.
However, considering the world today, it is appropriate for a woman to be herself in society. Every woman wants to keep her beauty in any way so that she will be attracted by men. By caring herself, it wins a lot of confidence and looks comfortable through her appearance. She wants to adapt her own image in society. Living in the modern world, in the world where everything happened. Specifically, in the latest sector of technology which has it’s own miracles through. For those who have the money and really want to change something for their appearance, technology is a solution. Concentrating on woman’s world , her appearance take the most important role in society. In Cyprus, there are such instances. Especially, important women who belong to the department of high social class, such as women in politics or even women who their husbands have an authority position in society. These women should always look nice and still remain their beauty even though they may interest on having a surgery. The world of media is so strong today and is more attracted when it shows a world of that kind of women. Obviously, woman’s popularity has as a prototype her appearance.
On the other, men’s world is completely different. Men might not attach so the idea that women have for their appearance. Having money or not, men do not develop so much on their looking. The only reason is that men get always attracted by women. They want women to have an attractive appearance, to expand their beauty. According to nature, women should look for themselves with money or not having as an expectation their own beauty and appearance. With that image men then will not look for attractiveness. So, men could understand that it’s woman’s nature to built on such an idea.
To conclude, women’s appearance seems to be a valuable jeweler for them. It might be acoustic as ironic, but it is not. Showing of their beauty, it is the reason to represent as women. Even if they are rich or not, they only know why they devote so much on their beauties. If someone wonders, why women pick up their own interest on having a finery appearance? A woman could answer “ that is woman’s world” so you should accept that “a woman cannot live without all these pleasure things that gives her life.”
Princess Daizy by Judith Krantz
Have you ever imagined living to high society’s world? If yes, would you prefer to have such an opulence in your life? Well, this is according to each person, his overview in life. To choose if he desires to deal with aristocratic life or just having a normal life. For some people there is a lot of dreaming and for others not. Through the high social class everything consider to be changeable, but first of all the appearance and the good - looking.
To begin with, Judith Krantz, the famous author of Princess Daizy book supports every department of the high - life. She is a capitalist lady that believes on aristocracy, especially having a lot of money. She deems that a young, beautiful and rich woman is more desirable rather being old, ugly and without money. She considers the female model, a woman that has money through her life, it is always appropriate to keep her own beauty. With her book ‘ Princess Daizy’ wants to bring out issues dealing with aristocracy, glamour , status and success. That every woman should keep this order in her life, to look for the bourgeois fancies of aristocracy. Through her work estimates the important issue of art. As Alex Witchel says , “ every woman knows that a good clothes fantasy is the only thing to rival a good sex fantasy.” For her, art is a good instrument for women. This art can give to her a nice appearance so that her beauty revealed. That’s why she gives so attention to her hero’s hair. This sounds ironic for someone who might read the book for a first time especially if he belongs to the low social class. But , people like Mrs. Krantz take it without this irony because they think with the mind of being in high social class. For Krantz, if you have the money, you can develop in such a situation.
In contrast with Cline James, who criticizes such an idea. From the beginning, he explores his ironic tone through Krantz’s book, Princess Daizy. He is a socialist man, who supports the other side that Krantz does. He criticizes her lack of literary weight by saying that there isn’t any sense through her book. He leaves his ironic tone to touch the entire book. That lower people will not think the life of high status in such a way.
He argues that all should be equal in life. Not only women who have the money deserve to have such a good appearance in society. To look always on their beauty. James, denies this idea by the view of a man. He identifies that women of high society give a fortune in order to engage an attractive appearance. For him, this is unacceptable. Aristocratic women may have the money but this does not mean that they put on surgeries, for instance to look younger.
However, considering the world today, it is appropriate for a woman to be herself in society. Every woman wants to keep her beauty in any way so that she will be attracted by men. By caring herself, it wins a lot of confidence and looks comfortable through her appearance. She wants to adapt her own image in society. Living in the modern world, in the world where everything happened. Specifically, in the latest sector of technology which has it’s own miracles through. For those who have the money and really want to change something for their appearance, technology is a solution. Concentrating on woman’s world , her appearance take the most important role in society. In Cyprus, there are such instances. Especially, important women who belong to the department of high social class, such as women in politics or even women who their husbands have an authority position in society. These women should always look nice and still remain their beauty even though they may interest on having a surgery. The world of media is so strong today and is more attracted when it shows a world of that kind of women. Obviously, woman’s popularity has as a prototype her appearance.
On the other, men’s world is completely different. Men might not attach so the idea that women have for their appearance. Having money or not, men do not develop so much on their looking. The only reason is that men get always attracted by women. They want women to have an attractive appearance, to expand their beauty. According to nature, women should look for themselves with money or not having as an expectation their own beauty and appearance. With that image men then will not look for attractiveness. So, men could understand that it’s woman’s nature to built on such an idea.
To conclude, women’s appearance seems to be a valuable jeweler for them. It might be acoustic as ironic, but it is not. Showing of their beauty, it is the reason to represent as women. Even if they are rich or not, they only know why they devote so much on their beauties. If someone wonders, why women pick up their own interest on having a finery appearance? A woman could answer “ that is woman’s world” so you should accept that “a woman cannot live without all these pleasure things that gives her life.”
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Sorry all
Something else came up and ended up not being able to do the bibliography marks as planned. Will post with the essay questions tomorrow afternoon instead.
Best,
James
Best,
James
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Response Essay: “Gretchen the Squid"
Every person in this world is born to do something with their lives, to have goals and dreams and try hard in order to be able to achieve them. Could you ever imagine how life would be without goals, if everybody lives their lives without a purpose? In the short-short story of Dave Eggers, “Gretchen the Squid”, dreams and goals are the main topic. Gretchen who is an enormous squid wants more than anything in the world to be an accountant. She lives in the Caspian Sea with her family. Even though her parents are being supportive so far for all of her dreams, she knows that they will never approve this one, her dream of being an accountant.
With this short-short story, Egger’s efforts for presenting a letter of appeal are obvious. He chooses to use an enormous squid in the place of a person; a squid with goals, dreams, and hopes. In real life this can easily be taken as a surreal joke, for the obvious reason of course that an enormous squid can never be taken as an accountant. He uses third person in the whole story and also the tone of voice is serious and sympathetic (deadpan humor). The writer uses a very smart way to capture the reader’s attention by using the serious tone of voice, and the not too serious context. There is a contrast between the tone of voice and the context because the tone as I said is serious but the context is ridiculous and funny. The implied reader of the story is a well educated accountant who most probably wears a “smartly tailored suit, black pumps and glasses, prepares annual returns for a Fortune 500 company, finds tax loopholes in unexplored places,” and of course the drinks afterwards at a downtown TGI Friday's.
The fact that in his short-short story, Egger describes an enormous squid, that also has a name, Gretchen, makes the story more personal. He concentrates on her one and only dream, to be an accountant and study at the best university for accountants, the University of Illinois. Gretchen is an ambitious, very confident squid, but most importantly she is a dreamer. She’s also afraid of letting herself down and she wants to change her image, to make it fit similar to that of a perfect accountant. What is more important to this short-story is the fact that the writer uses an enormous squid in the place of what could have been an overweight, ugly woman who is going after her dream and goals. In this way the writer shows the unfairness, the racism, and the stereotyping of people, that exists is in the world. Gretchen is embarrassed of her appearance and sad because she cannot do what she most wants in the world; some people feel like this every day. They are afraid of the misunderstanding that their appearance would cause and the discrimination they are going to deal with. Gretchen wants to do what she is best at, but she cannot do it; this is very unfair for her.
Furthermore, Gretchen wants to go to the United States and live the American dream. Many people from Eastern Europe and Asia go to the United States, full with ambitions, dreams and goals to achieve a better and a happier life. They seek for an opportunity to live the American dream which they consider it to be the ideal way of living. It is worth mentioning that Gretchen, a squid of the salt water lives in the Caspian Sea, a sweet water lake. Similar to those people who are captured by their own system, cultures or religions. Also the writer mentions T.G.I Fridays which is a chain restaurant, very typical in America for young business people. The reason that it mentions this is to shows us that Gretchen wants to be like them, to go there after work and have a drink with her colleagues.
In conclusion in this short-short story the issues of discrimination, racism and stereotyping are being raised. Gretchen the enormous squid who dreams of becoming an accountant and work in a big firm, and study in the University of Illinois, is being held back by her appearance, her location and her parents not approval. The unfair judgment that some people go through their lives, because of their names and ids, is a way of isolating people among us. Everybody should chase their dreams, goals and ambitions, and try their best to achieve them. All people no matter, color, race, religion, or political believes, should have equal opportunities, equal chances, to be who they want to be in their lives. They should not be limited nor by the Caspian Sea, nor by their size, nor by their environment; they should be accepted and valued for what they are.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Response essay: "Gretchen the Squid" by Dave Eggers
Dave Eggers introduces a gigantic squid who wants more than anything to have a good education and to follow the American dream. At a first glance, the author is narrating a humorous fiction story. Taking it further and deeper away, what he really does -is using a fiction story as his weapon to speak out to the world.
He becomes the voice among the voiceless people,who always point out the several problems and big dilemmas of society, but do not have the will to fix the broken parts.Through his leading fictional character, the author touches the heart of reality.
Gretchen, is the symbolic figure of a child who needs support by his parents, acceptance by his enviroment and wants to follow his dreams. Living at a time were the American ideals consider being the ultimate and greatest achievement that man could have -she seeks her piece of the american pie.
She wants to go to university, to be a great accountant, to join a large corporation, to wear the fancy and classy suit and to hung out in well-know bars and restaurants. Althought, she is very good with numbers, confident and competent, she is facing dissappointment and rejection from her surroundings.
It will always be the "Us versus them", the insignificant other. Gretchen is fully aware, that species of her kind can not have the same opportunities as humans- but yet, that does not stop her of dreaming the impossible.
The writer, from the begging until the end of the letter argues the fictional reality of the world we live in. Turning back the clock, we come across to all the struggles of people who fought for their rights- their different skin color, race, gender and religion beliefs.
Utopia does not exist.The key for a better world is respect and accept "the other". If we were all the same and had the same ideologies, cultural and religion beliefs- then life would have no greater meaning, since we would not have any sign of progress.
Gretchen is searching for her oasis- what humans search for? We struggle and fight, some more and some less,to reach our goals and dreams. We all want a piece of that happiness, regardless of what that is, for each and everyone of us. Our biggest fear is failure. But, what we all really desire, is to belong in a world that accepts " us and the different other". We can not be the same, we must not wish to be the same. We must maintain our own identity and culture and accept the " interesting other", which nevertheless redefines our own unique identity.
I
He becomes the voice among the voiceless people,who always point out the several problems and big dilemmas of society, but do not have the will to fix the broken parts.Through his leading fictional character, the author touches the heart of reality.
Gretchen, is the symbolic figure of a child who needs support by his parents, acceptance by his enviroment and wants to follow his dreams. Living at a time were the American ideals consider being the ultimate and greatest achievement that man could have -she seeks her piece of the american pie.
She wants to go to university, to be a great accountant, to join a large corporation, to wear the fancy and classy suit and to hung out in well-know bars and restaurants. Althought, she is very good with numbers, confident and competent, she is facing dissappointment and rejection from her surroundings.
It will always be the "Us versus them", the insignificant other. Gretchen is fully aware, that species of her kind can not have the same opportunities as humans- but yet, that does not stop her of dreaming the impossible.
The writer, from the begging until the end of the letter argues the fictional reality of the world we live in. Turning back the clock, we come across to all the struggles of people who fought for their rights- their different skin color, race, gender and religion beliefs.
Utopia does not exist.The key for a better world is respect and accept "the other". If we were all the same and had the same ideologies, cultural and religion beliefs- then life would have no greater meaning, since we would not have any sign of progress.
Gretchen is searching for her oasis- what humans search for? We struggle and fight, some more and some less,to reach our goals and dreams. We all want a piece of that happiness, regardless of what that is, for each and everyone of us. Our biggest fear is failure. But, what we all really desire, is to belong in a world that accepts " us and the different other". We can not be the same, we must not wish to be the same. We must maintain our own identity and culture and accept the " interesting other", which nevertheless redefines our own unique identity.
I
Friday, December 4, 2009
Response essay "Gretchen the squid:"
Is there any person on earth who doesn't have goals? or is there anybody which wouldn't try everything to make his dreams come true? Of course everybody would try but not all of them will succeed and each one of them for different reasons. Dave Eggers, in his short-short story " Gretchen the squid" introduces us to an enormous squid who lives in the Caspian sea and has the dream to become an accountant and be accepted to the University of Illinois (one of the best in accounting). Her parents, were always supporting to her but they do not agree with her decision because even if Gretchen could get in the university, for sure she will face discrimination since she is very different from others.
The writer with this story, aims with an interesting way to make us understand, that in fact what he does, is writing a letter of appeal. He uses a humoristic way by mentioning the squid but in reality he does not descibe the squid but every person which is ambitious and has it's goals high but it is very difficult to achieve them. In the whole story Eggers, make use of the 3rd person and uses a serious tone in most of the story. Despite the fact that the context is ridiculous, the tone he uses is serious rather than sympathetic and he is trying to pass the message of the story through feelings and while we read the story we put ourselves in Gretchen's position and we can understand how it is to feel like that. Moreover, most of us see this in every day life.
Furthermore, Dave Eggers is raising the issue of discrimination. He wants to make us realize that he is using the squid which is enormous and different while this happens to people too. If a person is very fat for example or has a health problem, most of us wouldn't see this person in a good way and this is wrong. This happens also with people with different nationalities. If someone is from China for example and goes to another country the people there will see him very differently. Gretchen's character in the story shows us that she is ambitious, not only wants to go to university but in one of the best universities, she is afraid of letting herself down and also shows us that she is embarrassed because she is different. Many people think the same way as her and as we see in every day life most of us we are afraid of disappointing ourselves, either in college, work or even in our social life, so here we come back to the point that the writer by using a squid is actually talking about people. He also refers to the unfair situation of being very good at something ( e.g. Gretchen with numbers) but cannot succeed because someone is different.
Gretchen as it is mentioned in the story, lives in the Caspian sea and wants very much to go in America. America which is a superpower, attracts many people especially for jobs because America offers many opportunities for employment and this is one of the reasons that many people go there. Gretchen what wanted most was to wear a suit, glasses and have an office such as everybody else. In the story Dave Eggers, also refers to T.G.I Fridays which is one of the most famous restaurant in America and the kind of people which goes there is mostly young businessman.
In conclusion, Dave Egger's short story passes several messages to its readers. Talking about discrimination which is also a contemporary phenomenon and in one point of view it shows how unfair our society can be sometimes. However my opinion is that each person which wants something very much must try hard to make it through and believe in himself no matter what other people are saying.
The writer with this story, aims with an interesting way to make us understand, that in fact what he does, is writing a letter of appeal. He uses a humoristic way by mentioning the squid but in reality he does not descibe the squid but every person which is ambitious and has it's goals high but it is very difficult to achieve them. In the whole story Eggers, make use of the 3rd person and uses a serious tone in most of the story. Despite the fact that the context is ridiculous, the tone he uses is serious rather than sympathetic and he is trying to pass the message of the story through feelings and while we read the story we put ourselves in Gretchen's position and we can understand how it is to feel like that. Moreover, most of us see this in every day life.
Furthermore, Dave Eggers is raising the issue of discrimination. He wants to make us realize that he is using the squid which is enormous and different while this happens to people too. If a person is very fat for example or has a health problem, most of us wouldn't see this person in a good way and this is wrong. This happens also with people with different nationalities. If someone is from China for example and goes to another country the people there will see him very differently. Gretchen's character in the story shows us that she is ambitious, not only wants to go to university but in one of the best universities, she is afraid of letting herself down and also shows us that she is embarrassed because she is different. Many people think the same way as her and as we see in every day life most of us we are afraid of disappointing ourselves, either in college, work or even in our social life, so here we come back to the point that the writer by using a squid is actually talking about people. He also refers to the unfair situation of being very good at something ( e.g. Gretchen with numbers) but cannot succeed because someone is different.
Gretchen as it is mentioned in the story, lives in the Caspian sea and wants very much to go in America. America which is a superpower, attracts many people especially for jobs because America offers many opportunities for employment and this is one of the reasons that many people go there. Gretchen what wanted most was to wear a suit, glasses and have an office such as everybody else. In the story Dave Eggers, also refers to T.G.I Fridays which is one of the most famous restaurant in America and the kind of people which goes there is mostly young businessman.
In conclusion, Dave Egger's short story passes several messages to its readers. Talking about discrimination which is also a contemporary phenomenon and in one point of view it shows how unfair our society can be sometimes. However my opinion is that each person which wants something very much must try hard to make it through and believe in himself no matter what other people are saying.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Favourite Song?
Hi All - Please post a comment below with the name of your favourite English-language pop song (preferably recent). I'll tell you why next week.
J
J
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Reading
Hi -
These are the short stories available online (click the name to see the story), together with the person who has chosen them:
George Orwell, Shooting An Elephant. Alexandra Charalambous
Edgar Allen Poe, The Fall of the House of Usher. Nicos Kozakos.
Ernest Hemingway, A Clean Well-Lighted Place. Vasia Savva.
Franz Kafka, A Hunger Artist. Froso Genethliou.
Roald Dahl, Beware of the Dog. Evanthia Aristodemou.
Katherine Mansfield, Miss Brill. Dora Diomedous.
Jorge Luis Borges, The Garden of Forking Paths. Tamara Yeshurun.
Shirley Jackson, The Lottery. Fotinie Kavazi.
DH Lawrence, Tickets, Please. Melina Iordanou.
Kate Chopin, "The Story of an Hour." Elena Stylianou.
The following stories are not online - I will photocopy them and leave them in my departmental pigeonhole tomorrow afternoon.
Doris Lessing, "To Room Nineteen." Marilyn Hadjistylli.
Amy Tan, "The Joy Luck Club." Alexia Papakyriacou.
E. Annie Proulx, "Brokeback Mountain." Elena Nicolaidou.
Nadine Gordimer, "Homage." Xenia Sergiou.
Hanif Kureishi, "My Son The Fanatic." Farahnaz Saleki.
FILMS
Please note that these are all well-known short stories, and some of them have been made into films (e.g. The Joy Luck Club, A Hunger Artist, My Son The Fanatic, The Fall of the House of Usher, A Clean Well-Lighted Place, Brokeback Mountain, The Lottery: also the Dahl and the DH Lawrence stories have been filmed for TV). If you can obtain these films they may well feed into your analysis, BUT you must be aware that films often make very big changes, including the ending, so make sure you know the story well before watching the film!
If your name does not appear above, please email me urgently.
More at the weekend.
J
These are the short stories available online (click the name to see the story), together with the person who has chosen them:
George Orwell, Shooting An Elephant. Alexandra Charalambous
Edgar Allen Poe, The Fall of the House of Usher. Nicos Kozakos.
Ernest Hemingway, A Clean Well-Lighted Place. Vasia Savva.
Franz Kafka, A Hunger Artist. Froso Genethliou.
Roald Dahl, Beware of the Dog. Evanthia Aristodemou.
Katherine Mansfield, Miss Brill. Dora Diomedous.
Jorge Luis Borges, The Garden of Forking Paths. Tamara Yeshurun.
Shirley Jackson, The Lottery. Fotinie Kavazi.
DH Lawrence, Tickets, Please. Melina Iordanou.
Kate Chopin, "The Story of an Hour." Elena Stylianou.
The following stories are not online - I will photocopy them and leave them in my departmental pigeonhole tomorrow afternoon.
Doris Lessing, "To Room Nineteen." Marilyn Hadjistylli.
Amy Tan, "The Joy Luck Club." Alexia Papakyriacou.
E. Annie Proulx, "Brokeback Mountain." Elena Nicolaidou.
Nadine Gordimer, "Homage." Xenia Sergiou.
Hanif Kureishi, "My Son The Fanatic." Farahnaz Saleki.
FILMS
Please note that these are all well-known short stories, and some of them have been made into films (e.g. The Joy Luck Club, A Hunger Artist, My Son The Fanatic, The Fall of the House of Usher, A Clean Well-Lighted Place, Brokeback Mountain, The Lottery: also the Dahl and the DH Lawrence stories have been filmed for TV). If you can obtain these films they may well feed into your analysis, BUT you must be aware that films often make very big changes, including the ending, so make sure you know the story well before watching the film!
If your name does not appear above, please email me urgently.
More at the weekend.
J
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
RESPONSE ESSAY ON "THE CRISPS AT THE CROSSROADS"
Who did never eat at least one packet of crisps? Obviously noone, because the way they are cooked seems to be tasty. Reyner Banham on "The Crisps at the Crossroads", analysed the sensibility that usefulness of crisps have in our lifes, but mostly in older centuries.
As I mentioned above, crisps were started to be created in 19th and 20th century. Industries were trying to investigate those tasty flavors as the meal in our everyday life. Of course, this investigation was under some appropriate rules, which governed according to crisps's production. Industrial people used a released way to encourage people to eat those unhealthy potatoes.
Although, crisps begun to be inside of our our drawer in the kitchen since they are created. This propably is the worst thing because those potatoes are cooked so delicious, but instead of their good taste they are formed into oil. Especially young children who finishes from scholl in the afternoon or watching tv and have their oily potatoes in front of them because they don't have anything to do. Also another example is when adults watching a football match or going to night clubs have the chance to eat them.
Flavors-crisps have the ability to taste nice, but also to smell nice. Some names of crisps are barbecue-bacon with sauce, cheese-onion, sault, Doritos and many other names. The big fact here is taht there is a huge number of crisps's names all over the world. In Cyprus there are industries who are cooking crisps such as LAYS.
Another point to add, is that each packet of crisps have colories, the weight and date. There is a small possibility those colories the wrote to be true but we don't have to trust them because the aim for industries is to sell their product. Moreover, we have to be aware of the day crisps were published and the day we will buy it. Maybe in each packet to write the date which is appropriate to eat it, but they are closed in this oily packet for so many days, so who knows what we are eating.
Finally, all consumers must be so careful of what they are eating, because those flavors are delecious, but with lot of oil and preservations inside them, which means bad health. These products are tend to be serious problem for the overweight people and this is dangerous for them. Don't waste your time at home but go to the supermarket and buy some fruits and fish, but if you want to buy the oily potatoes then think about it 3,4,5 times before.
As I mentioned above, crisps were started to be created in 19th and 20th century. Industries were trying to investigate those tasty flavors as the meal in our everyday life. Of course, this investigation was under some appropriate rules, which governed according to crisps's production. Industrial people used a released way to encourage people to eat those unhealthy potatoes.
Although, crisps begun to be inside of our our drawer in the kitchen since they are created. This propably is the worst thing because those potatoes are cooked so delicious, but instead of their good taste they are formed into oil. Especially young children who finishes from scholl in the afternoon or watching tv and have their oily potatoes in front of them because they don't have anything to do. Also another example is when adults watching a football match or going to night clubs have the chance to eat them.
Flavors-crisps have the ability to taste nice, but also to smell nice. Some names of crisps are barbecue-bacon with sauce, cheese-onion, sault, Doritos and many other names. The big fact here is taht there is a huge number of crisps's names all over the world. In Cyprus there are industries who are cooking crisps such as LAYS.
Another point to add, is that each packet of crisps have colories, the weight and date. There is a small possibility those colories the wrote to be true but we don't have to trust them because the aim for industries is to sell their product. Moreover, we have to be aware of the day crisps were published and the day we will buy it. Maybe in each packet to write the date which is appropriate to eat it, but they are closed in this oily packet for so many days, so who knows what we are eating.
Finally, all consumers must be so careful of what they are eating, because those flavors are delecious, but with lot of oil and preservations inside them, which means bad health. These products are tend to be serious problem for the overweight people and this is dangerous for them. Don't waste your time at home but go to the supermarket and buy some fruits and fish, but if you want to buy the oily potatoes then think about it 3,4,5 times before.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Response essay for "The Crisp at the Crossroads"
As Reyner Banham refers in his essay “The Crisp at the Crossroads”, crisps are among the triumphs of progressive technology. When George Crum in 1853 invented them for a customer of his that kept sending his crisps back because they were soft and not crunchy enough; he never imagined that crisps would become an everyday habit of people around the world.
Later on when airtight bags were invented, crisps started being mass produced by factories and were sent for consuming around the world. They started off by Crum in 1853 being thin slices of potatoes that were fried and served with salt as their topping and are now two centuries later served with – only God knows how many flavors and toppings exist.
Nowadays the crisp companies of each country produce their own special flavors that have to do with the countries region and popularity of a certain flavor or ingredient. For example in Cyprus and Greece oregano is a very popular ingredient that is being used a lot and so crisps were made in Cyprus and Greece with oregano flavor and in Italy with pizza flavor. Flavors keep on expanding dramatically and there doesn’t seem to be a stop in this whole process because it is profitable.
The last few years advertising means helped a lot to their promoting and got crisps into our houses literary. The fact that they have an attractive packaging, there are so many flavors, come in “light” packages and are probably the cheapest snack in the market that can be served for any occasion helped to their promotion.
The sense that a small synthetic appetizer, side dish or snack can really be bad for our health never crosses our minds until we give it a good thinking. Even if it does cross our minds crisps can also be found in “light” packages with less fat, energy, proteins and so on. But for a potato to become a crisp means that it goes through a non-natural process which is frying in oil. Each packet of crisps contains at least one to one and a half table spoons cooking oil which is bad for our health if we consume it in large quantities every day and most of the times more than once per day.
Crisps can become a bad habit for ones health and especially in the times that we live now. Many people spend most of their time sitting on a couch basically doing nothing special, just watching TV and eating junk food because they can’t be bothered to get up and make a decent meal to eat. Crisps have made things even worse for “couch potatoes” health. They can be found in either small convenient packages or big family packs and are easy to carry around with you and that the reason why people eat them as a part of their daily fast food meals.
Crisps are “synthetic” potatoes, which can be a bad habit for ones health if they are consumed on a daily basis; but on the other hand they are a convenient snack, side dish or appetizer that can be served for many occasions. Next time we are all faced with a packet of crisps in a supermarket we should think twice before buying them.
Later on when airtight bags were invented, crisps started being mass produced by factories and were sent for consuming around the world. They started off by Crum in 1853 being thin slices of potatoes that were fried and served with salt as their topping and are now two centuries later served with – only God knows how many flavors and toppings exist.
Nowadays the crisp companies of each country produce their own special flavors that have to do with the countries region and popularity of a certain flavor or ingredient. For example in Cyprus and Greece oregano is a very popular ingredient that is being used a lot and so crisps were made in Cyprus and Greece with oregano flavor and in Italy with pizza flavor. Flavors keep on expanding dramatically and there doesn’t seem to be a stop in this whole process because it is profitable.
The last few years advertising means helped a lot to their promoting and got crisps into our houses literary. The fact that they have an attractive packaging, there are so many flavors, come in “light” packages and are probably the cheapest snack in the market that can be served for any occasion helped to their promotion.
The sense that a small synthetic appetizer, side dish or snack can really be bad for our health never crosses our minds until we give it a good thinking. Even if it does cross our minds crisps can also be found in “light” packages with less fat, energy, proteins and so on. But for a potato to become a crisp means that it goes through a non-natural process which is frying in oil. Each packet of crisps contains at least one to one and a half table spoons cooking oil which is bad for our health if we consume it in large quantities every day and most of the times more than once per day.
Crisps can become a bad habit for ones health and especially in the times that we live now. Many people spend most of their time sitting on a couch basically doing nothing special, just watching TV and eating junk food because they can’t be bothered to get up and make a decent meal to eat. Crisps have made things even worse for “couch potatoes” health. They can be found in either small convenient packages or big family packs and are easy to carry around with you and that the reason why people eat them as a part of their daily fast food meals.
Crisps are “synthetic” potatoes, which can be a bad habit for ones health if they are consumed on a daily basis; but on the other hand they are a convenient snack, side dish or appetizer that can be served for many occasions. Next time we are all faced with a packet of crisps in a supermarket we should think twice before buying them.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Site feed
I have enabled a feed from this blog. This should allow you to get an email each time a new post is created. You will also be able to subscribe to a comments feed on your individual posts, sending you an update each time somebody comments on something you've said.
If you are using Microsoft Outlook, you can right-click on "RSS Feeds", then choose "Add a New RSS Feed," and then paste in the following address: http://eng203coursework.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default
For other email types, you will need to follow the instructions for RSS from your email provider (or ask in the Computer Centre for help).
Best
James
(Incidentally, Tamara's post is now the second highest Google result for the Rose Macauley essay!)
If you are using Microsoft Outlook, you can right-click on "RSS Feeds", then choose "Add a New RSS Feed," and then paste in the following address: http://eng203coursework.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default
For other email types, you will need to follow the instructions for RSS from your email provider (or ask in the Computer Centre for help).
Best
James
(Incidentally, Tamara's post is now the second highest Google result for the Rose Macauley essay!)
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
CYPRUS MAIL & Event Response-essay
It was a crisp evening on the fourth day of November, when the official car of the Swedish ambassador strolled down the cosy street facing the new building of the EUC [European University Cyprus] campus. As I hustled up the numerous steps to make my way up to Auditorium A, I saw people from the island’s literary community (both familiar and unfamiliar faces that is), greet one another. This to me, symbolized the inauguration of ‘Cadences,’ the finest poetic event to take place this year.
The auditorium was jam-packed, since it seems that intellectuals and university students alike, took an avid interest in either presenting or listening to, the inspirational poems and assorted prose comprising the multilingual (i.e. Greek, Turkish and English-written) Cadences journal. Mr. Karayiannis (head of the EUC’s Literature department), was donned in his immaculate black suit and flashy gold tie ; and welcomed all the lovers of the genre, with his subtle charm and distinctly caustic humour. He then invited Mr. B. to the podium, who updated the eager audience about the sponsoring (EUR 400 million) but also the cultural importance of literary translation, which is at the forefront of the EU’s efforts to overcome linguistic and ethnic discord among the member states, under the motto “ unity and diversity. ”
The auditorium was jam-packed, since it seems that intellectuals and university students alike, took an avid interest in either presenting or listening to, the inspirational poems and assorted prose comprising the multilingual (i.e. Greek, Turkish and English-written) Cadences journal. Mr. Karayiannis (head of the EUC’s Literature department), was donned in his immaculate black suit and flashy gold tie ; and welcomed all the lovers of the genre, with his subtle charm and distinctly caustic humour. He then invited Mr. B. to the podium, who updated the eager audience about the sponsoring (EUR 400 million) but also the cultural importance of literary translation, which is at the forefront of the EU’s efforts to overcome linguistic and ethnic discord among the member states, under the motto “ unity and diversity. ”
The aesthetic event, was an excuse for socialization between academics from different educational and literary backgrounds, despite the fact that the tasty, traditional snippets were to be served at the end of the poetry readings. The evening kicked off with two poems, recited by the erudite and soft-spoken Swedish ambassador. Ingemar Lindahl admitted that Cyprus is indeed a fascinating place and emphasized the special relations that (‘un-split’ by political conflict) Cyprus and Sweden have shared since pre-industrial times, due to our combined achievements in the field of archeology. Other foreign poets (from Europe and the States), were immediately invited to instill the public with the unique spirit of poetry and appreciation of the arts. Philosophical interpretations on various aspects of life were reflected in their poems, as in those presented by Greek-Cypriot poets in the English language.
I suddenly felt a tingling sensation of pride run down my spine, as I concentrated on the alluring words, woven into many a writer’s interesting literary or poetic style. I deemed myself as being privileged, to live in a society where intellectually-orientated events such as this one, comprised a significant part of our small nation’s earnest aspiration to promote ethical values through a critique of the society that we live in (i.e. as perceived from the prosaic passages and poems that the speakers acquainted us with). The poet David Porter, provided his literary audience with a means of coming to terms with issues of contemporary worth, for in stance in the form of globalisation (the American perspective on tourism in cosmopolitan New York was compared with the quiet and secluded atmosphere of Nicosia. In due turn, such outlooks could undeniably help us search for deeper meaning in our day to day lives.
Nearly every single performing poet, read their masterpieces in English ; including the Turkish-Cypriots. I became aware of the mutual sense of nostalgia felt by Greek and Turkish-Cypriots, as they recounted milestones from Cyprus’ recent past and provided colorful, multicultural imagery as regards the island’s present character, in poetic verse and prosaic discourse. One ought to keep in that a poetry movement or interest group of this calibre, regardless of whether Cyprus doesn’t really have a tradition of poetic rhetoric, is in actual fact the main driving force behind Greek and Turkish Cypriot literary and simultaneously social creativity, since in essence it explores the mores and attitudes of the locals and confronts these precise real life aspects in an unbiased way. I noticed that one of the poems presented by Mrs Aydin Mehmet Ali, brought to the surface the sensitive issue of ‘missing’ people, whilst another of her writings discussed the demographic changes to Nicosia, which seemed to highlight the contrast between conventional / traditional and contemporary culture. I suddenly felt a tingling sensation of pride run down my spine, as I concentrated on the alluring words, woven into many a writer’s interesting literary or poetic style. I deemed myself as being privileged, to live in a society where intellectually-orientated events such as this one, comprised a significant part of our small nation’s earnest aspiration to promote ethical values through a critique of the society that we live in (i.e. as perceived from the prosaic passages and poems that the speakers acquainted us with). The poet David Porter, provided his literary audience with a means of coming to terms with issues of contemporary worth, for in stance in the form of globalisation (the American perspective on tourism in cosmopolitan New York was compared with the quiet and secluded atmosphere of Nicosia. In due turn, such outlooks could undeniably help us search for deeper meaning in our day to day lives.
These learned scholars have made it their mission to enlighten us about social and possibly even political issues that affect the common man, woman and child within the greater realms of Cypriot society, and this led to a newborn sense of optimism springing from within me. My intense feelings of hope were provoked by the fact that I was convinced that Greek and Turkish Cypriots could merge their voices and face the issues that in modern times are often a source of common hatred as a solid and strong entity. That is to say, that literature as a whole, has the power to break barriers and make people view the world that they cohabit, in a more rational and open-minded manner. I am under the impression that these bi-communal literary representatives have encouraged people, either old or young to celebrate the richness of their shared heritage, by evoking feelings of national or moral harmony amongst their audience and by granting students and seniors with priceless insight about times which will never be able to come back or be changed. The new generation of youngsters in Cyprus will therefore be able to interact with one another, by showing a greater degree of integrity. They will be able to learn from the good and bad experiences of those who lived at a momentous period of Cyprus’ socio-political history, and promote these crucial lessons to people in a similar situation. In this light, I tend to think that we should not be hindered from expressing our perceptions of the society which has raised, irrelevant of whether other social or ethnic groups agree with us or not us. Trying to show understanding towards one another by promoting and accepting our so-called differences is one of the challenges which young Cypriots must aim to fulfil. It will then be much easier for us to mould our dual identity based on respect of both community’s common and uncommon beliefs and principles, such as those of religious faith, educational priorities, cultural norms and customs / rituals etc, all of which influence the social trends of our ethnically mixed nation.
I would like to note that this year’s poetry performance coincided with the centenary of Yiannis Ritsos’ birth. The acclaimed Armenian-Cypriot poet, Mrs Nora Nadjarian, explained how she had been motivated by the poetic construction of Ritsos’ literary work to write her own poem (“Moon,”), which she narrated in a truly expressive and poignant voice. Mrs. Evidiki Perikleous Papadopoulou stunned the event’s spectators with her original and bilingual poem “A Variation of Moonlight Serenade,” which she delivered in Greek with a parallel translation into English. It was finally the turn of the Cypriot students from private Greek and English schools, to prove their innate poetic talent to us. Each and every poem recited by these young, award-winning poets, were uniquely mesmerizing and equally impressive ; both in terms of its content and the empathetic way in which it was articulated. Overall I must say, that Cadences was an event not to be missed, especially since it marks a sensational transition and is a chief contributor, to Cyprus’ cultural scene.
I would like to note that this year’s poetry performance coincided with the centenary of Yiannis Ritsos’ birth. The acclaimed Armenian-Cypriot poet, Mrs Nora Nadjarian, explained how she had been motivated by the poetic construction of Ritsos’ literary work to write her own poem (“Moon,”), which she narrated in a truly expressive and poignant voice. Mrs. Evidiki Perikleous Papadopoulou stunned the event’s spectators with her original and bilingual poem “A Variation of Moonlight Serenade,” which she delivered in Greek with a parallel translation into English. It was finally the turn of the Cypriot students from private Greek and English schools, to prove their innate poetic talent to us. Each and every poem recited by these young, award-winning poets, were uniquely mesmerizing and equally impressive ; both in terms of its content and the empathetic way in which it was articulated. Overall I must say, that Cadences was an event not to be missed, especially since it marks a sensational transition and is a chief contributor, to Cyprus’ cultural scene.
P.S. Sorry for being a tad late to post this blog. I'm afraid that my laptop was experiencing some problems today.
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