Ian Clarke, Period 5, 9/25/20, Day B

Ian Clarke

9/25/20

Period 5

Modern Mythology 2021

    I've always seen fairy tales as a genre meant for entertainment rather than education. After reading several renditions of Cinderella, as well as Maria Tatar’s introduction and Neil Gaiman’s article on the Guardian, I realize now that fairy tales can do both.  Upon reading each rendition of Cinderella, I felt as if i was living in the protagonist's shoes and could easily imagine their world in my mind. Maria Tatar's introduction backs this up with the claim that each story "promises escape to a better and more colorful Elsewhere." Additionally, Gaiman states that fairy tales stimulate the imagination. But, I began to wonder, was I really living through the shoes of a fictional character? Tatar also states that before the publishing of fairy tales, people simply told these stories through speech. This made me realize that the renditions i was reading had been passed through so many people, who undoubtedly added their own personal contribution to the story, that Cinderella was no longer entirely fictional, but made up of the real people who added on to her story, and onto the rendition i was reading. Hence, I now realize that while i was being entertained by the Cinderella renditions, I also was learning about the people who kept the story alive and added their own touch to it.

    Recently, I learned about perception in reading. We were asked to revisit Shakespeare's Macbeth and look at the story from multiple perspectives. When looking at Macbeth from a feminist viewpoint, my entire outlook on the play changed. While I knew that it was born out of a patriarchal society, I never realized that it made an attempt to challenge the gender roles of its time. When reading elements of the story such as Lady Macbeth's pleas to the spirits to "unsex her" so that she may have the strength to achieve her goals, it is easy to dismiss this play as absolutely sexist. However, with a new outlook, I realized that the inclusion of the character of Lady Macbeth, despite her evil ambitions, was quite forward thinking of Shakespeare. Such a confident and strong-willed character, who had complete control of her husband, was something unheard of in entertainment at the time, and was most likely shunned by supporters of patriarchy. While the play still has sexist parts to it, I can commend Macbeth for being so progressive for its time after analyzing it through a feminist viewpoint.

    The idea of multiple viewpoints is something that extends far beyond literature only. Knowing what someone from each perspective would think is key to being unbiased and fair, which is a trait that is essential to becoming a leader. For example, one must consider multiple viewpoints with politics, a field that is hard for many to remain unbiased in. Regardless of your emotions, you can show maturity and leadership skills by remaining level-headed towards everyone. In conclusion, the lessons learned from literature extend far beyond the subject, and in the words of Neil Gaiman, "allow us to function as more than self-obsessed individuals."

Willie Chen, Period 5, 9/25/20, Day B

Willie Chen
9/25/20
Period 5
Modern Mythology 2021


    Maria Tatar’s introduction and Neil Gaiman’s article on the Guardian changed my perception of fairy tales, elevating the importance behind the stories that I once saw as meaningless. Tatar’s description of the gradual evolution of fairy tales and the mediums by which they are told gave me insight into the rich history that stood behind each story, as well as the innumerable variations they could have. I found it interesting that the invention of the printing press, and the ensuing wide availability of books restricted a key aspect of fairy tales up until that point: they had always been passed by word of mouth. It is the slight exaggerations and extraneous details that each storyteller adds to a fairy tale each time it is told that it to flourish, gradually evolving over time into many different variations. A modern limitation on this oral tradition can be seen in Disney’s retelling of classic fairy tales. It is wonderful that Disney has been able to spread the magic and wonder of fairy tales by making them accessible and child-friendly, but in doing so, they have effectively eradicated the other variants of such stories. The seemingly obsolete versions of fairy tales are now relegated to shelves and literature classes, replaced from the hearth by giant screens. I see this as tragic in a way because of the importance of fairy tales in preserving the culture and values of common people throughout history. However, it is equally inevitable that stories with elements of incest, abuse, and mutilation have become less commonplace in modern society.

    Gaiman’s article gave me a greater appreciation for fiction and fantasy books because of their role in fostering a love for reading among children. I can relate to his message because all my life I’ve been told that reading comics, Geronimo Stilton, or any book that has “too many pictures” is detrimental to my reading skills. He makes the point that it is crucial to allow children to learn to enjoy reading by letting them read what they want to read. This changes my perspective of reading fiction because all the fantasy books I’ve read about magic, dragons, and cunning thieves have not been pointless. Sometimes, to simply enjoy reading for pleasure is important, and the vast worlds we can visit through books provide us with more than what we can acquire in the real world.

    Today’s class consisted of three lessons: an examination of the common structures behind fairy tales, an introduction to critical theory, and a reflection on how fairy tales have influenced modern society. The first lesson described the axes of transformation and archetypes that defined the Cinderella story, revealing the common aspects that its variations share. Angel, one of my group members, compared the axes of transformation to Campbell’s hero’s journey, as they provide an outline for what happens to the main character in a fairy tale. However, a key difference between the two is that the hero’s journey aims to describe a common plot line, while the axes of transformation are more focused on changes in character. By finding the patterns that define the Cinderella story, we are able to categorize stories from different parts of the world as variants of Cinderella.

    The second lesson introduced critical theory and had us analyze Cinderella and Macbeth using a school of critical theory. Critical theory holds the idea that literary works can be viewed through many different perspectives, and they can therefore be interpreted in several different ways. When Ms. Fusaro entered my group, she clarified the difference between structuralism and post structuralism, two opposing schools of critical theory: structuralism contains the idea that literature has a fixed meaning, as intended by the author, while post structuralism rejects structuralism and states that the meaning of a text can vary by the interpreter. An example of these ideas being applied to Macbeth is Lady Macbeth’s actions and characteristics. Lady Macbeth manipulates and belittles Macbeth to convince him of killing Duncan for power, masterminding the scheme that began Macbeth’s decline. Lady Macbeth is bold, ambitious, and cunning, characteristics that would have been abhorred by the audience during the Elizabethan era, considering the roles of women at the time. Whereas Shakespeare intended to portray Lady Macbeth as diabolical, post structuralism allows the audience to decide that for themselves. This school of thought accepts that a reader of modern times may see Lady Macbeth in a more positive light, as she is willing to defy the gender roles and expectations of her time to achieve a greater standing.

    The third lesson had us take a look at the influence of fairy tales on our culture and societal norms today. This lesson asks us to reflect on how the evolution of Cinderella reflects how our culture has evolved over time. In modern times, fairy tales are generally associated to childrens’ stories, which has drastically altered aspects of stories that used to be commonplace. Incest is a common aspect of Cinderella stories, in which the father attempts to marry his daughter after his wife dies. This was particularly striking to read, as society is very intolerant of incest today, driving such variations of Cinderella out of popular culture. Another common plot point in Cinderella stories is the mutilation or death of the evil stepmother and stepsisters, which is considered too excessive for children nowadays. Considering the audience of fairy tales, parents today are more inclined to shelter their children from anything they consider inappropriate. The rise of content ratings and their importance to parents are an indicator of their intolerance for such inappropriate content. Although they have never been accepted by society, incest and mutilation are considered more taboo in modern culture, as reflected by changes in fairy tales.

    Critical theory and the analysis of text through different perspectives can relate to central concepts that are taught in history class. A major aspect of our history classes has always been to examine history from multiple perspectives, as issues are never only black and white. Critical theory expands such ideas to literature, with each school of critical theory also being influenced by its political and social context. Feminist criticism came about along with or as a result of the Second-wave feminist movement in the United States, which aimed to expand equality for women from beyond enfranchisement. The Civil Rights movement, which expanded the rights and equality of African Americans also contributed to the rise of critical race theory. It is clear that shifts in society’s culture are reflected in new schools of thought in critical theory.

    After thinking about how changes in fairy tales have reflected changes in modern culture, I am now eager to see how stories in all their various media will evolve from now into the future. Whether it will be by legendary memes or by record-breaking Disney movies, fairy tales will always continue to change with society.  It is worth paying attention to these changes because they reflect shifts in our culture and values. Fairy tales and the ways that we enjoy them have drastically changed over time, but it is undeniable that they have had a significant impact on our culture.

Ashwin Anil, PD8, 9/23/20, Day C

Ashwin Anil
Modern Mythology
9/23/20
Period 8




At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?


At this point in my life, one of the most important goals I have for myself is being productive and increasing my time management skills. Being a senior in high school is all about deadlines. We have to stay on top of our college and career choices as well as the current classes we are taking. I always tend to procrastinate and wait for deadlines. Achieving a productive lifestyle is the best way in improving my life because most of the issues that I currently have right now are because I haven't used my time wisely.



How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)



I have tried to create a productive lifestyle by getting rid of parts of my life that drastically stop me from using my time effectively. I deleted apps on my phone that tend to waste a lot of time and get rid of completely unnecessary rituals. One of these rituals is my decision to have a snack or watch an episode of tv every time I work for about 10 minutes. I also try to improve my ability to stay on task even when the work I'm doing is too confusing or difficult. Another major part of being more productive is prioritizing the time you spend. I created a list where I would put the most important task to complete over minor ones. This has helped me clear my mind and focus on one assignment rather than worrying about another.



How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)


The world is made up of distractions that can easily cloud you from completing your goals. One major obstacle is my phone. Although my phone has a lot of access to resources that can greatly benefit my progression through my schedule it also holds access to a lot of time-wasting apps like games or youtube rabbit holes. my phone is a double-edged sword. I tackle this issue by giving it to my sister or placing it somewhere where it is hard to reach. My parents also rely on me to help them or do some favors for them. At face value, some of these jobs seem to be easy but can end up wasting more time than I expect. These daily distractions make me think that attaining a goal of optimal productivity is near impossible and it often makes me quit trying.

Stanley Chen, Period 2, 09/24/2020, Day A

Stanley Chen

Modern Mythology 2021

09/24/2020

Period 2

At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?

As a senior in high school, I have to set goals for myself so when I graduate high school, I would be prepared for college. As of right now, my current goal for school is to complete my college application. This is the main thing that has been on my mind since school started. Because I’m the oldest sibling, I’m the first person in my family to go through college applications and it has been stressful and confusing. My current goals for myself is to stop procrastinating and to fix my sleep schedule. If I stopped procrastinating, I would get much more work done and have more time to enjoy myself. Fixing my sleep schedule would better my physical and mental health. By accomplishing these two goals for myself, I think I would be prepared for college.

How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

I think my goals overlap each other. If I work on my college applications, I can stop my procrastination. I think the only goal I struggle with is fixing my sleep schedule. I know it is important to my growth to get enough sleep. Sleeping early and waking up early can make someone feel more productive. However, I like to stay up during the night to make the most of my day. I think that once I head off to college, I wouldn’t have much free time to play video games or watch random videos. I try to enjoy these times now but my sleep schedule suffers as a result. 

How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

With the pandemic going on right now, everyone has been quarantined. I haven’t been allowed to leave my house since March and I feel like I have to make the most out of my time home. This pandemic has changed the college application process. Due to being home for a long time, there wasn’t any reason to wake up because every day was basically the same. This has allowed me to get enough sleep and I feel somewhat healthier. By the end of this year, I believe that I will be able to accomplish my goals. 

Sophia Bejar, PD8, 9/23/20, Day C

Sophia Bejar

Modern Mythology

9/23/20

Period 8

At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?



Right now we live in strange times, where this pandemic has left us in uncharted territory breaking us out of our usual work routines. It’s left us with a lot more time than we previously had before at home, and since the start of this opportunity I’ve taken this time to develop and improve more skills. Specifically, by the end of this quarantine is to improve my art, and to have decent experience in skills like baking from scratch, and playing piano. While being in quarantine has us away from our friends much to my detriment, I’m going to try and make the most of it and come out of it a better version of myself.




How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

Recently, besides attempting to make art pieces at least once a week, I’ve gotten into animation. I’ve started creating small gifs with my art which takes a lot more time and effort, as instead of a still image it’s creating multiple frames to cycle through and form a moving image. It’s been harder but way more rewarding when it’s finished. Through just trying to work at these skills, like starting to improvise with the piano, creating small tunes instead of just learning a song I’ve been learning and getting more comfortable with the fields I aim to improve in.




How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

A lot of the times it feels as though accomplishments in art and music aren’t seen with as much value compared to science and math, so sometimes I feel strange for spending more time cultivating these skills versus the latter. However I’ve been truly enjoying creating and it’s been a way for me to express myself during a time where we’ve been stuck indoors with just ourselves. As a result I’ve also been on the internet a lot more because of the connections to others it provides, and there I can see that there are others like me who also like to create that I can talk with. Through this I’ve felt more confidence in improving the skills that I’m passionate about, and leads me to work harder to achieve my goals.

Bao Bao Chen, Period 2, 9/24/2020, Day A

Bao Bao Chen

Modern Mythology 2021

09/24/2020

Period 2

Regardless of age, fairy tales have always been a genre close to my heart. In the words of Neil Gaiman, they were my "gateway drug to reading." While I enjoyed watching Disney's depictions of these stories on screen, it could not match the sheer joy of reading fairy tales on paper. Eventually, as I read more and more, these stories became repetitive. It was always the same ending: and they lived happily ever after. After a while, the images of Disney's depictions were stuck in my mind and I began to lose interest in its all too predictable plot. 

When assigned to read the various versions of Cinderella in "The Classic Fairy Tales," I was amused because it meant revisiting my childhood joys but at the same time, I also didn't hold many expectations. I was not wrong when many of these stories shared similar characteristics: conflicts with parent roles, external figures offering help, unrivaled beauty that attracted royalty, and of course, a happily ever after. However, one could argue that these characteristics are what make Cinderella "Cinderella." After all, even if the names changed or the settings were different, the formula of the plot was fundamentally the same. 

Of all the fairy tales, the plot of Cinderella is one that I typically dislike. The girl is almost always abused or mistreated by her a higher figure and always silently endures it. The story always ends with Cinderella finding happiness with her prince but why is that so? It's because she is beautiful that she will always be the belle of the ball. Along with her beauty, she always seems to possess features that can be found on nobody else but herself (small feet or delicate hands). After realizing this, it made me wonder how the story would change if Cinderella were ugly or simply average looking. In variations like "Donkeyskin" or "Catskin," the girl would don a hideous cloak that would mask her beauty. 

While feminists have always argued that fairy tales (especially Disney's depictions) were harming to the psyche of young children, fairy tales often reflect the ideals and beliefs of  society at the time. Cinderella is a tragic character who suffers a great deal before she finds happiness. But what does she find happiness in the form of? Marriage. To a prince no less. Immediately after falling in love and marrying her prince charming, all her troubles are gone. 

In the past, this idea was more commonly accepted. Society has been patriarchal for most of history and as a woman, the best you could do for your family was to marry into a better family. While today, we are long past this point of view, it is simply frustrating to see how Cinderella's abusers go unpunished. In the Brothers Grimm's recollection of the story, the two stepsisters were blinded in the end as punishment. Despite the goriness and harsher nature of the classic fairy tale, it was the piece that made the story all the more satisfying. Rather than reinforcing the idea that there will always be a happily ever after, the stepsisters' punishment drove home a much more realistic lesson: evil will not go unpunished.

Stacey Cajita, PD8, 9/23/20, Day C

Stacey Cajita
09/21/20
Period 8
Modern Mythology 21



At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?

I feel like the pandemic has made me rethink what my goals really were - when before I lived more-or-less carefree, with very long-term goals that I wouldn’t have to work forwards for until college, now I feel as if the world is reminding me that sometimes we won’t have the opportunity to live without worries. My specific goals for myself have humbled, at least short-term-wise - I’m focusing more on bettering myself and fixing my perception on myself and others around me, as well as sorting out what long-term priorities would be most important to me. In addition, I’m focusing on honing in on my specific hobbies and abilities that would come in useful in the future due to my career path.


How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

It’s very hard to try to work on yourself when none of your support group is around you because they’re all self isolated. I feel like the best thing I can do as of now is to try to be kinder to myself and hold a more forgiving mental attitude, and take quarantine day by day. Additionally, when it comes to my hobbies, I tend to avoid listening to non-constructive criticism from the people that surround me, and focus on learning more about how to do better on my own.


How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

The pandemic and general chaos of the current world has made me realize that I need to prioritize certain goals now, and cannot wait any longer to work towards them. I’ve realized that life is too short and unpredictable to spend your time dreaming about what you could do and how you could better yourself instead of actually doing those things and working towards those goals. Self-isolation has forced many of us to self-reflect about ourselves, our surroundings, and the world, and for me it’s taught me I need to work harder.

George Baslous, Pd 5, 9/22/2020, Day B

George Baslous
9/22/20
Period 5
Modern Mythology 2021

Before reading different versions of the Cinderella story from Maria Tatar's 1st and 2nd editions of "The Classic Fairytales," I thought to myself that it would be very repetitive as I would be reading the same story over and over. Although the stories were conceptually the same, each one had a different cultural aspect to it which made it interesting to read. Take for instance the Chinese version of Cinderella called "Yeh-hsien." At first I thought it was funny how Yeh-hsien was praying to fish bones in order to get her dress and shoes, but then I had to remind myself that not only was it the Chinese version, but it was also written in 1697. At the same time, most other countries may find it confusing that a fairy Godmother appeared in the Cinderella story. Although it didn't make sense to me, it most likely made sense to people living in China during the time it was written. Reading this story as well as others such as "Donkeyskin," and "Catskin" helped me realize that each story has its own cultural background and each story brought a new aspect to the table.

By reading these Cinderella stories, I realized how each one described the characters very differently, especially in the way women are perceived in different cultures as well as time periods. In most, if not all of the stories, the mother and sisters take advantage of 'Cinderella' and she doesn't argue back, but instead stays speechless. Back then, it was more stereotypical for women to be submissive and act in a 'lady-like' fashion rather than going out and getting into trouble. I feel that if someone were to rewrite a new 'Cinderella' nowadays, you wouldn't see the same storyline of Cinderella being submissive to her mother. I think that although there is still much more room for improvement, women nowadays are not afraid to argue and stand up for themselves. Reading all of the Cinderella stories allowed me to realize how much more confident women are today compared to the times when all of the stories were written. I remember learning about lotus feet APWH freshman year which existed in China and forced women to disfigure their feet to they like more 'appealing.' Nobody was willing to speak up and defend themselves for a while even though they knew how wrong the foot binding was. Nowadays however, you see women out in the streets protesting and standing up for what they think is right which is a great thing. In the end, all of the Cinderella stories were able to, in the words of Tatar, "recharge the narrative and make it crackle with cultural energy," which is perhaps the most important aspect of fairytales in my opinion.

Marvin Alhaddad, Period 5, 9/22/20, Day B

Marvin Alhaddad
9/22/20
Period 5
Modern Mythology 2021

After seeing the summer reading for this class was to read the variations of the Cinderella fairy tale in Maria Tatar's "The Classic Fairy Tales", I wasn't entirely sure what to make of it. I knew that the fairy tales I was told as a child weren't the same ones told all around the world, but until I picked up the book, or in this case my phone, and started actually reading them, I was unaware of just how different they could be. Of course, each story has a generally similar story being told, but the journey in each tale was unique to each culture. Some tales were more similar than others, while some ventured far from what seemed like the norm in most places. Many were akin to Cinderella, featuring a poor daughter who is tormented by her step-mother and sisters, until one day, a ball is held by the prince to find him the perfect girl to marry. Be it through the help of a fairy godmother or mother nature, the girl finds herself able to surpass the obstacles set in place by her tormentors and fully capable of going to the ball in disguise, where she catches the prince's eye who then seeks her out in the following days. After finally finding the girl, she becomes his wife and the step-mother and sisters are left to succumb to their own bad karma.

Even the seemingly minor differences in each tale tell a story of their own, however. When reading Yeh-Hsien and The Story of the Black Cow, I noticed that there was a large emphasis on animals possessing supernatural powers to help free the main character from their suffering. Yeh-Hsien features a fish that grows larger and larger, until the step-mother tricks it into coming out of the river by dressing like the girl and then kills it. Similarly, in The Story of the Black Cow, there is a black cow that tends to the boy by feeding him, as the step-mother barely gives him anything to eat. When she realizes this, she pleads for her husband to sell the cow, claiming she will not eat or sleep until he does. Reading these stories gives insight into the culture of the region from which each originates from, depicting how fish and cows might be considered almost holy by people from each of the respective cultures.

A very common variation that I was completely unaware existed was one where the husband, not a step-mother, is the antagonist. This is the case for stories like Donkeyskin and Catskin, where the mother dies and forces a promise onto her husband that if he were to remarry, it can only be someone who is better than her. The husband eventually looks for someone to marry and decides that only his own daughter fits the criteria his now-dead wife gave him. The daughter doesn't want to marry her father, however, and tries to stall the wedding by requesting seemingly impossible to make dresses. In the end, she runs away under the guise of donkeyskin or catskin, and nobody realizes because they think she is too ugly. Like all the other variations, the main character finds herself in the presence of a prince who sees her without the donkeyskin or catskin and is convinced that she is beautiful and they end up marrying, and after the father sees his daughter married to this prince he is filled with joy.

These tales have taught me a lot about the world and how important fairy tales are, not just for the lessons they provide, but for what they reveal about the people that passed them down. Tales of cruel step-mothers who love to watch others suffer, powerful creatures who are able to grant wishes, fathers who are "faithful" to their wives, even if it means marrying their own daughters (which they were never obligated to do). In fact, The Story of the Black Cow has yet another defining detail that sets it apart from all the other variations, as it has a male main character rather than a female one. I found it interesting that even when the antagonist varied between a male or female, the protagonist subject to oppression was a female. What this shows me is that the culture that would pass down The Story of the Black Cow didn't face the same issues of gender inequality that was seen throughout much of the world, and it's also one way that what I've learned from these stories can apply to real life. Many of the issues that fairy tales exaggerate can still be seen in some form in many areas, and these stories show us that even through all of these problems, there are still ways to triumph and fight back.

Angelica Baburova, Pd 5, 9/22/2020, Day B

Angelica Baburova

Modern Mythology

Ms. Fusaro

9/22/2020

        At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why

Many seniors in 2020, I  am facing college applications. Hundreds of thousands of students are applying without standardized test scores, or without ones that truly reflect their strengths, In addition, most of us haven't been able to effectively use our time starting in March as many things were shut down for public health reasons. In addition to this race to finish a holistic application in time, especially without key elements in our applications, I am no longer sure how I should approach higher education as a whole. Currently, my goals are revolving around making decisions regarding my future, from deciding whether or not to submit test scores to what I should even apply as. I want to be able to determine what I want to study and invest my time in. Recently, with my being at home significantly more than before, as well as the amount of internship/work/volunteer opportunities in decline, I have been able to really analyze my thoughts and think about -- what are my goals in life? 

Not only am I currently focusing on strengthing my application as quickly as possible as there is only a month left to do so, but I am also making sure that I am applying to something I have a chance to be successful in and enjoy. My eyes have been set on engineering, which means that no matter which specialty within it I would have had the opportunity to switch majors within it at my leisure fo the first two years. Now though, I have realized I have no exposure in anything else-- will I truly enjoy this specialty?

        How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

    To tackle these goals I remind myself that decisions made today are not the end all be all.  In addition, I know that I have to just focus on strengthening my applications as much as possible right now and to put all of my hindrances behind me. I know that people grow and change throughout their lives, and what I need to focus on at the moment is just starting myself on the path towards a successful and fulfilling career. Instead of worrying about my transcript, or my test scores, or specifically, which major I want to choose, I need to work to secure acceptances by focusing on my essays. Taking things one step at a time, rather than trying to solve every problem at once, is not only the most reasonable plan but the one that will keep me grounded in my work. 

        How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

    The world has two different sides to how it leads its newest generation into the workforce. While telling students to apply to schools with a specialty, major, goals in mind... it also tells us that we are free to change our minds whenever necessary. Isn't that what the American dream is? Everyone is free to work towards any job, degree, diploma-- no matter their age. Still, the pressure is put on us to success buy those surrounding us. The meaning of success varies from person to person-- but the central idea of obtaining a higher education and being at the top of your field remains constant. Even in the current uncertain circumstances, everyone is excepted to make do... I am just interested in seeing how this years acceptances works out in the end.

Felicia Chan, Period 2, 9/21/20, Day A

Felicia Chan
9/21/20
Period 2
Modern Mythology 2021


Truth holds in the words of Maria Tatar when she says, “Fairy tales are always more interesting when something is added to them. Each new telling recharges the narrative, making it crackle and hiss with cultural energy.”

Through reading the versions of Cinderella in her 1st and 2nd Editions of, “The Classic Fairy Tales,” I began to become tired of reading them as most told the same traditional, classic storyline where Cinderella’s beauty, grace, and fairness awards her a happy ending with her Prince Charming. Though there were details that were added that made each story a bit different from one another, I was seeking for more flavor, perhaps suspense. I found myself coming across Cinderella being portrayed as a fragile woman who flees when distress comes her way. Her appearance is only of importance as it saves her from the crisis she is facing. I wasn’t fond of how Cinderella was depicted as a petite figure and where her beauty exceeds all standards. But as long as the shoe fits, she is granted happily ever after filled with royalty and wealth.

The reason I was finding myself to be so disturbed by these details of the storyline is that it relates to the continuation of these stereotypes of women that are still relevant today. Through the billboards we see as we drive by the highways, ads we pass in the subway stations, and social media posts we scroll upon, they are always surrounded by this pressure to be this ideal person the public makes them desire to become. Many women, especially teen girls, are becoming sub-conscious about themselves because of the expectations portrayed though these high beauty standards. With these stereotypes prevalent, many look down upon them and believe they aren’t fit to be granted a certain position or be involved in situations that are too “challenging” for them to handle.

However, I was excited to come across the version called, “The Story of the Black Cow.” Finally, I have come upon a story with a change to the characters from the typical Cinderella stories. The traditional female-gender Cinderella is now represented as a boy, who at the end marries a princess. Through the discussion I had with my group during our Zoom breakout rooms, my groupmate, Theresa Luo, brought up how this addition to the plot shows the cultural background of the Himalayas, where this version was written. She stated how the people of the Himalayas believed in gender equality which explains why the main character was depicted as a guy rather than a girl.

This huge change in the classical storyline of Cinderella brings back to the point of what Maria Tatar says about how twists in fairytales can “recharge the narrative and make it crackle with cultural energy.” I learned that people have the power to change and create their own story that doesn’t follow the traditional guidelines of the fairytale. This can be seen in modern Disney princess movies where they are moving away from the traditional female stereotypes. They are creating female protagonists who look and portray the realistic modern independent woman who comes in all shapes and sizes.

Lauren Blanchard, Period 2, 9/21/20, Day A

 

Lauren Blanchard
Modern Mythology
Ms. Fusaro
9/21/2020


As students in a STEM school, we are taught to think logically about everything. The world abides by a set of predictable laws. If we follow a specific process or solve a particular math equation, we get a definitive answer to our question. Reading, especially fairy tales, does not have one answer. I did not realize that until this year. 

In our most recent reading, Maria Tatar makes an interesting point. Fairy tales are not supposed to have one answer. They are a symbol of real life, which is often complicated and confusing. By extension, fairy tales are also complicated and confusing, despite appearing simple at first glance. 

Cinderella's story is one of the most basic fairy tales to ever exist. (At this point, I have read almost a dozen versions of it.) Most start and end the same way. The main character begins in a perfect family or kingdom, only to have it be ripped away from her by the stereotypical evil stepmother or the father that lusts after her. She undergoes a long journey, eventually finding her way back into high society by marrying a prince, lord, or scholar. Those who wronged Cinderella usually suffer some form of brutal punishment. But does that reflect real life? I don't plan on marrying a prince, or going anywhere besides college in the near future.

As I've learned, there is no singular answer. Fairy tales showcase our inability to predict what will happen next. We might not be forced to flee from our homes or become royalty, but we could have an inopportune sports injury or be gifted a surprise present. Fairy tales encourage us to be prepared for anything. We take a journey with its characters through the best and worst times of their imaginary lives. Cinderella, in her various forms, might not have much of a personality, yet we feel what she feels. We are excited when she gets to go to the ball. We are saddened by the way she is treated. We empathize with her. This is the true magic of fairy tales: emotions.

Cognitive criticism focuses on the emotions in fairy tales' impact on its readers. It is a critical perception that puts a aside the single answer formula, and wonders about the connection between readers and what they are reading. It has softened my formerly harsh feminist perception of fairy tales to an appreciation. Fairy tales have a purpose other than to entourage little girls to be princesses. 

Understanding the inner turmoil of Cinderella's step mother might not seem necessary; however, understanding those we do not agree with is a useful social skill. We need it in group work for school and, eventually, to get us out of the unpredictable thing fairy tales have prepared us for since we were children. Author Neil Gaiman agrees. We need empathy to stop us from being "self-obsessed individuals." If we can do that, we can try to have empathy for the real people fairy tale characters symbolize. Then, maybe,  there is hope for a kinder school, a kinder city, a kinder country, and a kinder world, with the complicated lessons of fairy tales leading the way.  

Connor Campbell, Period 2, 9/21/20, Day A

 Connor Campbell

Modern Mythology

Ms. Fusaro

9/21/2020

At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why?

As a senior (which is so weird to say as I still feel like a freshman), I think the main goal on everyone’s mind is getting through what seems to be one of the most peculiar college processes in history. I remember back in January having this set plan on exactly how I was going to navigate the college process: first SAT in March, second in August, subject tests in June, possibly an ACT in October. I was going to start asking teachers for letters of recommendation after school and start drafting my common application essay in the summer. I was going to take a road trip to the south to see all the schools that are hours and hours away. All those plans came crashing down on March 15th, when the mayor announced that all New York City schools would be closed until April 20th. April 20th turned into the end of June, The end of June turned into September 10th, then September 21st, and now the first date of in-person learning stands on October 1st. Between March and the present day, countless SAT and ACT tests have been canceled, with some students having only taken one, some have no score to their name at all. I've watched two of my own tests take the ax and with them, months of hard work seemingly wasted for nothing. Most colleges have gone test-optional, but with that comes even more uncertainty. What do these colleges want to see from us now? Countless magazines have written countless articles, each with their own claim of “How You Can Get into the College of Your Choice!” I’ve read a bunch of these articles myself, and I’ve left them even more confused about the current college process than I was before I clicked that link. My goal at this point is simple, do the best that I possibly can with what I’m given and continue to look forward. I can’t change the fact that I spent hours and hours each day prepping for a test I don’t get to take but I can write the best essay I’ve ever written. I can write a supplement that displays my extreme passion for the schools I’m applying to. I can ensure that I’m a standout without a score that stands out for me. I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure I do all of that, and hopefully, my payoff is a seat in one of my top schools... hopefully. 

How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)

I believe my first step is to make up for lost time. At this point, I might have to stay on my computer that extra hour to read through my essay or visit an extra school website to look up specific courses and traditions I want to present back to them in a supplement. My first deadline is slightly over a month away, I don’t want to be in on Halloween with the common application site crashing on me (if there even is a Halloween this year). Very early in my athletic career, I learned that every extra second counts, whether it’s during the last moments of a game, or getting extra shots up during practice, or extra swings in the cage, all of that extra time will be effective in the end. I just have to understand that I have to put the time in now so that I don’t struggle to find time later. Being home is a blessing because I have all this extra time on my hands. No longer am I in school for 12 hours, getting home at seven, and starting my work at eight. Now, class ends at two, homework ends at five, now I have all this time to prepare for my deadlines, as long as I stay efficient. I also believe another sign of resilience is being able to control my emotions. Because everything has been so uncertain, everything can change in a matter of minutes. Both my tests got canceled while I was studying for them. If something like that happens again, I just have to stay calm and brainstorm plans of action for the coming days and get myself back on track. I wouldn’t say I’ve mastered those two actions yet, but I’m working very hard at making them second nature, as I know it’ll help me out in a big way come November and January. 

How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)

The one thing I’ve been telling myself over and over again is that this same stuff is happening to everyone. Everyone’s tests are getting canceled and everyone is in this same sense of uncertainty about how they’re supposed to go about this process. Telling myself that calms me down a lot to know that I have people in the same situation as me. The hardest part of the college process is the fact that I’m competing with a bunch of other people, that my success is being compared to the success of someone completely different from me. The fact that everyone is struggling just as much as I am gives me a lot of hope for the result of the college process, that I may be able to receive a “congratulations” in my email from a school I thought I had no shot of making. I have a lot of confidence in myself and my abilities and I pride myself on my optimism. Having the confidence to make the top schools even without my best scores might be that little push I need to work a little harder and make my application a little better. Overall, I just hope that the rest of the college process can function smoothly for myself and any other seniors that have been affected by the whirlwind of “what’s going on?” that’s taken over the last 6 months. I’m hoping for the best and preparing for the worst, that’s all we can do at this point. 

Welcome to Ms. Fusaro's Class Blogging in 2021!

Dear Students and Families,

I am so excited to welcome you to my 2021 classroom blogging initiative! Student blogging has an important role in our classroom because each student will function as a "scribe" and be responsible for group learning.

We had a great deal of success with posting blogs in 2019 and 2020. 

Goals:

• To become effective global communicators.
• To have every voice speak with the same volume.
• To summarize and reflect upon each day's lesson.
• To become responsible digital citizens.
• To become creators of information.

Technical Requirements of the Blog

• THREE students per class, per cycle will be responsible for blogging. Blogs will be checked on the next cycle. (For example: John Doe is in Period 5, Day B. If Day B is September 17th and that is his turn to blog, his blog is due by September 22nd - the NEXT Day B.]
• Title of the blog should include:
• Student's full name, class period, date, and cycle letter. (For example: John Doe, Period 5, 9/17/20, Day B).
• Please use the date assigned, not date due.
• Students MUST LABEL their blog with “Modern Mythology 2021.”
• Students are responsible for keeping track of when it is their time to blog by completing the Blogger Sheet.
• Students are to comment and respond to one another, including asking questions or asking for clarification.
• Blogs will be published on the world wide web, so we must practice digital citizenship and remember that our audience is GLOBAL, so our tone is FORMAL.
• How to make sure your blog is formatted correctly.

What should the blog content include?

Pick ONE category and respond to all of the questions related to that category.

• Literacy & Learning
• Write about your thoughts regarding any of the fiction or non-fiction covered in class.
• Reflect on any new information you have learned in English class by considering how that learning influences your critical perception.
• How is what you’re learning applied to any other classes/the world around you?
• Goal Setting & Growth
• At this current point in time, what specific goal(s) do you have for yourself? Why
• How do you demonstrate resilience towards achieving this goal? (or these goals?)
• How does the world around you affect your perception of this goal? (or these goals?)
• Socio-political Consciousness
• What are your thoughts and feelings about issues of inequity, oppression, and/or power?
• How do you reflect critically on your own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences, and how these can influence your perception of self and others?
• Creativity & Fiction
• Craft a piece of fiction that addresses one or more of the following: 
• Literary elements (i.e. structure, tone, diction, mood, irony, and figurative language) to craft a narrative and/or poetry.
• Structural features of drama (stage directions, character attributions/tags, dialogue, monologues, and/or soliloquies) to craft a script.
• Multidimensional characters to develop themes and create socio-political metaphors.

When Do I Blog?
Please refer to the Google Sheets Blog Date List.

Sample of Excellent Blogs (They had different requirements)

• http://msfusarosblog.blogspot.com/2019/11/sabrina-zhou-112719-period-2-blog-1.html
• http://msfusarosblog.blogspot.com/2019/11/112719-edmund-yuen-pd-7.html
• http://msfusarosblog.blogspot.com/2019/11/david-gao112619-macbeth-and-his.html
• http://msfusarosblog.blogspot.com/2019/11/selena-zhong-112619-period-2-blog-1.html
• http://msfusarosblog.blogspot.com/2019/11/112619-alicia-yu-32-period-7-modern.html

What does your blog grade mean?

• MASTERY (MAX): Great work, you nailed it! You covered an amazing multimedia summary of what happened in class using a clear, easy-to-read format. Most importantly, you absolutely included fantastic reflection which addresses all three main questions with depth beyond the classroom.
• APPROACHING (APP): Your summary got the general gist of what happened in class, but could definitely use some elaboration OR your formatting is not aesthetic OR your reflection may be basic (such as just reflecting on how it can be applied in your schooling instead of the real world).
• DEVELOPING (DEV): You probably didn’t include a reflective aspect at all or your summary was so minimal it was hard to have any idea what happened in class.
• NOT YET (NY): Incredibly basic and/or the tone was rude, offensive, or inappropriate for a school, public blog.
• M: No blog written on your assignment day.

Blog Revisions and Reflections

• Blogs will receive a mastery grade within 7 days of publication based on the rubric above.
• Blogs may be revised, edited, and updated if the student would like an opportunity to improve his/her grade. IF the student does opt for a revision, he/she MUST EMAIL ME with a direct link to the published blog to inform and notify me to check the blog again.

How to Blog