Alex Li, Period 1, 5/10/2022

Literacy & Learning

Write about your thoughts regarding any of the fiction or nonfiction covered in class.

One thing that I found super engaging in class was when we spent a couple of days watching Train to Busan. I like how the movie made me care so much about characters that I barely knew. This human vs. supernatural dynamic got me thinking about how I would deal with the situation if I was in the character’s shoes. Would I be able to kill a zombie or would I just run away from them? The movie also showed the idea of teamwork and trust. In order to survive the people had to work with one another whether it be fighting off the zombies or closing the train door so the zombies don’t get through. This mob mentality shown in the film where everyone is so scared and gives in to that fear just feels so terrifying yet realistic. One particular scene I remember was when the main characters fought their way through the train to get to the other uninfected people but when they got there the people kicked them into another train cart to “quarantine”.

Reflect on any new information you have learned in English class by considering how that learning influences your critical perception.

One thing I’ve learned a lot about is the dangers of hysteria. This is prevalent in both Train to Busan and the recent novel we are reading in class World War Z. In Train to Busan, the hysteria was at an all-time high and the people were lost. This made them easily succumb to the fear of the zombies and do things for self-preservation. Although one can argue that there is no fault in their decisions, their decisions were definitely illogical at times. This includes segregating, diminishing, or even sacrificing other human beings for one’s own sake. This is seen in a multitude of situations including “quarantining” the people in the train carts, pushing others to death to save yourself, and even voting to leave other people behind. The characters do what is “comfortable” to themselves without thinking about the group as a whole unit. Similarly, in World War Z, a new virus was spreading like wildfire. The lack of information and preventative measures breed a terrifying zombie apocalypse. The people are confused and do illogical things due to that hysteria. Some try to fight the zombies, others try to run away with almost no resources and most of the people just die. Of course, the story takes a turn for the better when we hear about all these plans and how the humans are trying to adapt. The key here is to think logically and not follow the masses or do anything without a plan. I’ve learned a lot from this because at times my emotions can run high. Although I tell myself how foolish some of the character’s actions may seem, I don’t know if I would’ve taken a different route if the situation sprang up on me this instant. Although individual needs are important, I think it is also essential to take the bigger picture into account. 

How is what you’re learning applied to any other classes/the world around you?

Going back to the topic of high emotion of hysteria, I realize that at times, people, myself included, can be very unreasonable. This can be due to AP exams week or regents week but I must not let all that cloud my judgment. I want to be able to focus on the things that I can control and work through my problems. One class that is super difficult for me is AP Macro. I regret taking the class so much but I’m dragging myself through it. I’m so close to the finish line and I just need to take it one step at a time. I need to have a clear plan of how I’m going to tackle my projects and my final so I can get through this class. I think it would be so easy to just not do any work and give up, but I need to keep that side of me in check. It’s dangerous for me to succumb to those emotions. I want to cross the finish line giving it all my effort.