Tuesday, June 7, 2022

Cesar Velez, Period 8, 3/28/22

 Cesar Velez, Period 8, 3/28/22

Creativity and Fiction

When we were given the task of creating a short film depictnig a monster we tough it would be easy. Creative people creating a world in which something or someone terrorizes our other charaters. Turns out, We were wrong. Creating this film would be much harder than initially though. To begin, we needed a monster. This turned out to be harder than initially imaged. The process began with deciding whether we wanted a physical or mental monster. The Idea of a phycological thriller really excited the team do in the end, we went down that path. Furthermore, we wanted out monster to mean something. We wanted to be able to send a message trough the film, something to cause people to reflect on their own lives or acknowledge the difficulties that others face. At first we landed on the idea that our monster would be the inoersonation of depression. It would be a debilitating cast that took over the host killing it from the inside. This was gong well for a bit but we soon ran into several issues. One of teh main issues was that it was unclear for he audience what the monster was, and we were afraid we were misrepresenting the disease. As we began from scratch again, we pivoted and angle for something more specific. In the end we decided that our monster should represent Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. With this new monster we were able to arrive at our final image for the monster. Instead of the monster being an embodiment that take over tha characters lives, we tried to stay more true to the actual effects of PTSD as the monster ended being a kind of ghost that haunted out main character.

After we finalized the vision for the project, we began the concrete planning. This would include the writing of teh script and the scene mapping. These would be the two most important aspects of the film because they laided out our plan for the film. The script took the longest time to complete as it no only had to allow for the plot to develop, but also because we had to develop te characters throughout. This part of the project also began the specialization of the team as we had to break into groups to the work flow more efficiently. My group was in charge of the scene mapping. This process, while slightly tedious, was exxtremey important to the final product. We would confer wth the script and try and create shot that emphisized a certain mood. Or we would isolate the main character beause it was a defining moment for his development. After all the planing tok place, it was time to finally film.

The main issues we ran into while filming was our ability to shoot the scenes in the manne that we planned. Frthermore, the acting portion was slightly mor difficult than we imagined. There would be slight variations that we would make throughout the filming made the process even longer. While it seemed tedious at times, the slight change of camera angle or the delivery of a line was crucial to being able to get the exact feel that we wanted for each scene of he film. Filming also took a large amount of cooperation between all team members. We had to be able to work off eachotheres dialoague as a lot of acting was non-verbal. All-in-all, we all had to work together and do our part for the film to come out the way it did, and I’m glad I had the opportunity to create this film.

Jason Huang, Period 8, 5/6/22

 Jason Huang

Period 8

5/6/2022

Modern Mythology 2022


Creativity & Fiction


Down in the depths of the jungle, there was a Lion, Leopard and Tiger. The Tiger has been comfortably sitting on its throne for most of its entire life. Every day, the Tiger would sit on its throne while the Leopard would be feeding him grapes and the Lion would be fanning him. One day the Lion told the Leopard, "I'm sick and tired of this Tiger. How and why is he in charge of us? He is definitely too weak to control us". The Leopard agreed and after a long and hard day of working and pleasing the Tiger, he followed the Lion to his den. Inside the den, the Leopard devised a plan to dethrone the Tiger. 


At the end of the next day, the Lion and Leopard nervously confronted the Tiger and said, "We are sick and tired of how you treat us everyday. We are worked to the ground and given no respect. So we challenge you in a competition for the throne”! The Tiger confidently accepted and then laughed hysterically. He exclaimed, "Don't you guys know how and why I'm on the throne. I am stronger and better than all you animals." With that being said, the Lion went back to his den and shortly after, the Leopard shaikly retreated back to the Lion’s den worried and scared of the Tiger. As the Leopard entered the Lion’s den, he said, “Don’t worry about the competition tomorrow. You’ll be fine. Remember, the Tiger sits around on his throne every day. Surely he has nothing on us.”


The day of the competition had arrived and the Tiger was as confident as ever. The Tiger exclaimed to the other animals, "Stop wasting your time. You all know why I'm the king of the jungle." As the competition started with the speed race, the Tiger surprised the Lion and started out strong. But it was evident that being on the throne all day caused the Tiger to be a shell of his former self. At the end of the competition with the strength test, the lion dominated and was the clear cut favorite to be the new king of the jungle. While, the Tiger was clearly out of his league and utterly disgraceful to be named the king.

Andrew Rubinsteyn, Period 8, 5/20/22

 Andrew Rubinshteyn Period 8

6/6/22

1) Currently, I’m feeling pretty good about everything coming up for me. I got into university where I wanted to and started dieting recently to try and lose weight, and so in turn my goal may seem pretty underwhelming, but it’s important to me.. My biggest goal right now is to try to secure a job for summer. For the past couple of years I’ve wanted to try to get a counselor job at a summer camp, and this year I got to know a tennis coach who wants to run one on the island and is hiring a couple of counselors. It’s a dream position for me as far as camp counselors go, because it’s at a tennis camp, and I’ve been playing for a while and think I’d be pretty good at coaching kids who are starting to learn it in a camp. On top of that, my sister might be part of the camp, as she has lessons with the coach running it, so I’d get to hold a counselor job, and also spend the day with my sister. I think that would be the best way to have a productive summer before leaving for university. However, a supplemental goal is to not gain weight this summer, and more specifically to start exercising more often than how sporadically I do right now, strengthen my diet in the form of cutting out processed carbs for the most part, which I haven’t been able to do completely so far, and generally get into better shape for health and just for myself to look better.

2) I don’t really think there’s a way to show resilience for the first goal, other than being proactive in trying to get the job. I have been doing that, but it’s been fairly difficult to get in touch with the coach. I’m keeping at it though. For the other goal, since my last blog, I’ve had a hard time getting healthier because a few other stressors entered my life shortly after that lost blog, and I kind of lost focus on my diet and exercising. Now that that stuff is over with, over the last couple of weeks there’s been less work, and I’ve had more free time, so I’ve been getting back into it. Over the past few weeks, aside from one day when I was at a get together with old friends at an italian restaurant, I’ve completely cut out pasta, which I used to eat virtually every single day. I’ve also started going to the gym every other day, to make up for the tennis season being virtually over, in order to get in the exercise. I’m also hoping that the job at the camp will help too, what with it being a sports camp, although I’m not sure.

3) I don’t really talk to people around me about how I want to look or why I want to lose weight, but within my family, my grandfather has always been the one who’s been pushing me to start losing weight for years now. He’s definitely the most encouraging one of the endeavor, because he thinks it’ll only get more difficult as I get older, and that I’ll feel better about myself in terms of how I look, and just feel better during things such as physical activity. As far as trying to find work, my parents think it’s a great idea for me to have one last busy summer before going to college, where they think I might not even have time for work and be swamped in the workload. I see a lot of my friends securing jobs for summer too, so that reinforces my idea of wanting to work for summer as well.

Sofia Sabah, Period 8, 5/23/22

Sofia Sabah, P8, June 6, 2022

Modern Mythology 2022

Literacy and Learning: Blog #4

As we wrap up the end of the school year, one of the many life lessons that stuck out to me the most was our discussions regarding legacy. For example, in Beowulf, many of the actions taken by Beowulf himself are done in retrospect to how he will be seen in the future. Beowulf, who made himself out to seem like a selfless brave hero who wanted to die to save everyone, really did it to be remembered when he’s dead. This lesson, like many others, sparked an important question on what life means to us. Is it about the many good deeds we performed for others? Or is it the little things like eating a nice meal that makes life worth living? Does it really matter how future generations perceive you? In my opinion, I don’t care for being remembered for something great. As long as the people I liked in life have fond thoughts of me, I consider that a successful life. Anyways, something I loved about this English class is how it really brought alive ideas from literature and into our daily lives. Questions and discussions from class are ideas that I will always keep in the back of my mind.

Annie Jiang, Period 7, 5/5/22

 Annie Jiang

Period 7

5/5/2022

Modern Mythology 2022


Goal Setting & Growth

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


Since the school year is coming to a close soon, I have several goals in mind for keeping myself busy this summer, before I’m off to college. One goal of mine is to build up my resume by taking online courses and getting certifications through a site called Coursera. I figured this would be a good way to dip my toes into a career field that I might potentially want to pursue in the future while also receiving the credentials for it. I would be balancing this while working an internship over the summer with Mr. Buro, where I would be developing my Blender skills. Speaking of, another goal I have is to save money so that I can spend more on things I enjoy and also hopefully pay for any college expenses, and my internship, being a paid one, will help me towards this goal. Though, overall, I just want to have a relaxing and peaceful summer before I’m swept into the whirlwind that is college. I plan to do so by spending a lot of time with friends before we go off onto our different paths.


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


When I enjoy doing something, I often get really engrossed in it and lose track of time. Me working on my Blender projects is something that I already do at home for hours on end, even when it frustrates me to my core. Doing it as part of an internship that I can use to strengthen my resume and while getting paid just excites me even more.


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


I feel that everyone around me is supportive of my goals, which in turn makes me feel that my goals are achievable. Even if my mental health might not be the greatest on certain days, my friends and family understand and support me if I need to take a break. This sort of support system helps me work towards my goals.


Annie Jiang, Period 7, 3/3/22

 Annie Jiang

Period 7

3/3/2022

Modern Mythology 2022


Socio-political Consciousness


What are your thoughts and feelings about issues of inequity, oppression, and/or power?


My heart breaks for those who witnessed the school shooting that happened in Uvalde, Texas on May 24, 2022. 19 elementary age students and 2 teachers unfortunately died that day, and I can’t even imagine the distress that their friends and families have been going through.


It angers me that people like the involved shooter are able to roam freely with guns in this country. Not even children dying at the hands of these people is even enough for a reform in gun control. Instead of relying on the law to keep us safe, we have to teach young, naive children lockdown drills in case of a situation like this and explain to them why we have these procedures in place. It also becomes the teacher’s job to protect the children in times like these. I saw a video where a teacher tried propping up a chair against a door handle to jam it and gleefully shouted “success!” when it worked.  In the case of Uvalde, a mom ran into the school to save her sons despite being stopped by the police there. Meanwhile, the police there had waited before going inside for unknown reasons, putting children’s lives at risk for much longer than needed. Why are we letting this happen instead of trying to solve the problem at its roots? 


There’s also been several other shootings happening throughout the country lately–so many that it’s been hard to keep up. There’s been shootings in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Clarendon County, South Carolina; Phoenix, Arizona; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and so many more. It’s such a shame that this is the reality in this country, and I hope there can be changes to gun control in the near future.


How do you reflect critically on your own beliefs, assumptions, values, and experiences, and how these can influence your perception of self and others?


I’ve felt so fortunate that I live and go to school in an area where things like this don’t happen as much, but due to these recent events, I still feel like I have to look over my shoulder or think twice before taking the subway or even staying out past 5. Sometimes the worry of something happening to me or my close ones lingers in my mind, because those who experienced a shooting didn’t know they were going to be part of something so traumatic, or even breathe their last breath, that day. From now on, I will try to become more active in fighting for a safer country to live in, whether that means signing petitions or going to protests.

Kevin Zou, Period 7, 6/6/22

 Dear Diary, 


My parents were appalled that I had gotten into the drums. Music was never their forte, but I had never expected that they would turn on me like this. 


“You should focus on your studies,” my mom said; her eyebrows twitched whenever she was about to get angry. 


“Music is a waste of time,” my dad sighed. He was a wealthy businessman who worked in the oil industry. He would rather have me date another human being than have me “fooling around on those cylindrical pieces of junk.” 


What a great way to start the morning. 


I threw on my Canada goose jacket, nudged my Vans sneakers on, and headed out the door. The October air greeted me with its nostalgic presence. It had only been a month of school, and teachers were already piling up the workload with prep. 


I snuck out my CD player and turned on “The Seasons” by Given, a popular indie band who recently debuted in Japan. I turned around the corner and waited for the streetlights. There were more people around now; I took off my headset and strolled past the bustling streets of Tokyo, Japan. 


Oh, I haven’t introduced myself yet, have I? My name is Suzuki Yua; the Yua in my name means “one thousand flowers.” You could probably tell I don’t have the best relationships with my parents. I attend an international school here in Tokyo. 


“Hey! Watch where you’re going!” An irate man yelled at me as my headset crashed into the ground. He walked past me with a furious look in his eyes. 


I bent down to pick up the headset. A noticeable crack imprinted on the edge of the device. 


Just when I thought my morning couldn’t get any better. I don’t have time for this. I need to get to school. 


I glanced at my watch. 7:45am. Shoot, I am going to be late. I bolted across the street and past the gate into school grounds. Huffing, I ran into room 317, just in time for Modern Mythology. 


The teacher, Ms. Futon, shot me a judgemental look as I plumped myself in the back of the room. For the record, I don’t have the best attendance. Before I knew it, forty minutes passed, and I was onto my next class, Calculus I. I tried my best to keep my eyes open, but they were heavy as boulders. The content of the lesson did not help either. 


When it was time for lunch, I bolted out of the classroom and to the tree in the school playground. There were ample clouds in the sky, with the sun peeking through just barely. Finally, peace to myself. 


I suddenly heard a voice singing a familiar tune. There was no doubt about it. It was “The Seasons.” Though “The Seasons” was an uplifting song, this version was melancholy, like a baby bird crying out for its parents. I stood up, trying to locate where the sad tune was coming from. 


I ran past the bushes to see a boy in white cardigan pants and a white tee standing in an open field. I hesitated, thought better of it, and stayed to listen to the remainder of the song. 


Immediately after the last note, I let out a voluminous applause. His singing was soft, yet powerful; it had touched my heartstrings with incredible resonance. 


Startled, the boy looked back and gave a “I thought I was alone” look. Realizing what was going on, he shot me a smile and walked towards me. 


“Hi.” 


That was the beginning of an October winter story, the prologue of an indie band’s formation. A year later, the group “One Thousand Flowers” was born. I, Suzuki Yua, was the drummist, and Sato Haruto, the boy I met on the school grounds, was the vocalist. 


Though my parents have never gotten around with me playing the drums and being in a band, I have learned to follow my own path and not let others drown out the calling of my heartstrings. A big monster in society is the disharmony that comes with having your own voice drowned out by the expectations of others. Music will be my creative expression, and will always be. No one can take that away from me. 


Sincerely, 

Suzuki Yua 

Kevin Zou, Period 7, 4/1/22

 I aspire to be comfortable with not everything I do being one hundred percent. For example, it took me a long time to write this blog because I was afraid that it wasn’t going to be of standard. For the past two blogs, I have stuck with the same prompt of reflecting on class discussions because it was within my comfort zone. Goal setting is also something I do not do much. By picking this goal setting prompt, I would like to be more bold in experimentation. Though I might not always know how I feel about trying something new, I want to remind myself that it is okay to feel inadequate. Making decisions is also something that is hard for me. As of the time of writing this blog, I was torn between having to choose between a campus tour and going to a dance practice, plus staying home and completing work. Though seemingly minute, this issue of making decisions seems to be amplified for me. 


I get easily swayed by others’ opinions. To show resilience towards my goal, I can make decisions by listing out the pros and cons of a situation before making a decision. On a more serious note, others’ opinions are not absolute, though hard for me to understand sometimes. I need to take responsibility for my actions, and rely less on others to influence my decisions. Understanding that I will not always be at my one hundred percent is crucial for me to be comfortable with decision making. My family and friends can affect my perception of my goals. I recently had a talk with my aunt, and she gave me a lot of insight on what I could improve on: decision making. Though I understand that it is hypocritical to base your own weaknesses based on someone else's comment about you, when an aspect of my goal is to rely less on others’ opinions, I found that getting rid of your pride and considering the input of those around you is important to growth. 


**2nd part of blog** (06/05/22)


With the multicultural show over, I had a lot to reflect on. After the show, I felt exhilarated; performing on stage with my fellow club members after months of practice was worth the effort. The outcome of it was not perfect, but we still had a lot to be proud of. Coming to practice every week was not easy, and we had put together two dances last minute a week before the show. 


This whole experience has led me to become a more involved leader; not that my position in the club meant anything. Last year, I wavered when offered the president position of the Korean Culture Club, fearing that my dance ability was not on par. In front of the mirror and on stage, the club members and I are equals. No matter where you are on your dance journey, there can always be improvement.  Progress over perfection. 


Looking forward, I hope that the Korean Culture Club can continue to grow and attract members who would develop a passion for dance. Though I won’t be here next year, I know that our performance will be a legacy of the Korean Culture Club. In the meantime, I would hone my dance craft with a few goals in mind. Technically, to become a more vigorous dancer, I can start stretching on a daily basis. This would improve my mobility and reduce my risk for major injuries. To strengthen my mentality as a dancer, I can start to post dance covers on Instagram. This can connect me to a community of aspiring dancers and give me a platform to reach an audience with dance.

Shirley Mei, Period 7, 5/18/22

 Shirley Mei

Period 7

5/18/2022

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

    At this point in time, my specific goal is to reorganize my time again. As my original goal was the same to organize my schedule in the beginning of the year to be able to work while keeping up in school alongside my college applications. Currently, as the school year approaches the end my goal is to maintain my work schedule while also priortizing my physical health. I joined the gym earlier on but was inconsistent and was not performing my workout routine properly. Over the course of the last few months I was able to make tremendous progress but also lost track of my work schedule and schoolwork leading my grades to drop. I want to maintain a healthy balance between my physical health alongisde my responsibilties. I enjoy working out but I do not want it to cause me to prioritize it over my schoolwork and job. I hope to find a healthy scheudle where I am able to workout while also working and spending time with my friends. I also want to start watching what goes into my body by avoiding junk food and cooking more meals myself which would give me more energy. 

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

    At times where I feel lazy, I still push myself to make one balanced meal for myself on the weekend. Despite delivery or takeout being easier, I wanted to get into the routine of cooking meals myself rather than relying on takeout. I also wanted to become more physically active so I signed up for the gym and started to go routinely. There are days where I feel unmotivated and lethargic and try to excuse myself to not go but I remind myself that I can just do something light. I also try to dedicate a specific schedule to myself focusing on my work schedule. Ive allocated my time to fit work and working out as well as my schoolwork. Sometimes I feel unmotivated and try to skip out on one or the other but I remind myself that I need to keep a balance between all my responsibilities. 

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

    The world around me affects my perception of this goal as I view on social media of influencers and individuals who can manage school, work and physical health. I find it very encouraging and motivating as they are productive throughout their whole day and manage to still find time to relax. Influencers also show that not everyday is perfect and somedays they may fall behind in schoolwork or skip their workout for the day. It shows that I don’t have to be so hard on myself sometimes and it’s ok if I cant finish everything all at once. 

Rachel Yang, Period 7, 6/2/22

 Rachel Yang Period 7 6/2/22

Goal Setting and Growth 

    The end of high school is approaching a lot quicker than I thought it would be. At this time, I’m filled with mixed emotions. Feelings of happiness arise from the fact that I’ll be moving into the bigger world, full of more opportunities for exploration. However, feelings of sentiment also arise as reality hits that each one of my friends will soon be leaving for their own adventures miles away. Though this moment is bittersweet, I’ve decided to focus on the positives by setting goals that I’ve always wanted to achieve. Specifically, my biggest goal is to become more independent and live a healthier lifestyle than I’ve lived during the past 4 years.

    I’ve always had an interest in living a healthy, productive lifestyle (though it may not seem like it due to my terrible habits while in high school). As I move forward with more free time, I aim to exercise daily, eat healthier meals, and most importantly - sleep a lot earlier than usual. As for why this is a goal, we can say that the reason is simply because I’ve noticed that these activities make me feel much happier and motivated throughout the day. It is also better for my physical health in general. As I can now say “I ran track in high school” rather than “I run high school track”, I hope to keep my daily exercise routine without having other people holding me accountable. In fact, one of my goals is to run a half marathon one day. Obviously this cannot be achieved without a healthy routine. I’m also aiming to become more independent so that I can pursue more of my own passions and interests. 

    Like most goals, this is easier said than done. One of my biggest challenges with this goal is that I’ll be staying at home rathering than dorming in college. In my opinion, dorming pushes students to become less dependent on their caregivers, which would be really beneficial. However, since I am staying at home, I can subconsciously be dependent on my family with small tasks. Coming from an Asian household, my grandma loves to do things for me. For instance, she often does my laundry, cooks meals for me, or even cleans my room out of  love because she notices how busy I tend to be. Even if  I had planned to cook myself breakfast sometimes, I would wake up to breakfast already made for me. Though I am definitely extremely grateful for my grandma, it tends to be very challenging to do these chores on my own. In an effort to combat this, I have started to let my family know in advance that I plan on cooking a meal for myself  or doing xyz chore later on in the day so that they’ll know to leave everything for me to do. 

    Living at home has also been a plus for my journey as I aim to achieve my goal. Living at home means I have the constant support from my family to guide me through adulthood. For instance, since senior year had started, my mom has constantly promoted the idea of me moving out for college so that I can learn to become less dependent on my family. Though that idea is not coming true next year, she has continued to support me as I find other ways to become independent. Wether it’s by giving me tips or just supporting me as I try to find a part time job to start financially supporting myself, my family has motivated me to continue to achieve a more independent, healthy lifestyle as I leave highschool.

Stella Vayner, Period 7, 6/1/22

Stella Vayner
Period 7
6/1/22
Modern Mythology 2022
Goal Setting & Growth

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

At this point in time, as high school is winding down and summer is beginning, I find myself excited to start this new chapter in my life. For the past four years, I have been going to school in the same place with the same people, and it has been great. I love Tech and have loved it since I stepped through its doors as a freshman. However, now that I’m 18 and can do things like drive and vote (which were the goals I wanted to accomplish for my very first blog), I feel like it is time for me to move on. My goal for the end of the school year is to graduate successfully while also having fun attending events such as prom and awards night. I am proud of the work I have put in for four full years, from days spent in classrooms studying for hours at a time to long nights preparing for exams and writing essays. I am ready to celebrate my accomplishments and take a breath before beginning my college journey. 

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

Since my current goals are things that are mostly inevitable, it is partially a waiting game. I am still going to school, but mostly to enjoy these last few days with my friends and teachers. I am excited for the end of the year because it is when the reins loosen slightly and we are able to be more open with each other. I am especially excited to show off the projects I have been working on for the past semester. For example, in Ms. Fusaro's mythology class, my group and I wrote, filmed, and edited a short movie in which we showcased a modern day monster. It was a colossal, collaborative project that we completed over many months.  It was an effort to brainstorm an idea that everyone was happy with and shoot a film that we were all proud of. However, now that it is finally complete, I am looking forward to showing my class what we have been working on. 

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

When I look around the school, I see faces similar to mine. All the seniors have contracted a bad case of senioritis and are ready to celebrate their work and move on to college. It is a shared atmosphere of bittersweet nostalgia and excitement and nervousness for the future. However, when I look across the hall, I see the equally nervous and excited freshman and recognize my own experience among them. Every student is eager for the beginning of summer and the end of a successful school year. However, seniors around the world are preparing to leave their homes this August and go to college for the first time. It is a common experience, but one that is unique to everyone. It feels comfortable knowing that I will not be embarking on this journey alone, but will be accompanied by my peers throughout the country and the world. Additionally, being able to go to college and receive an extended education is a privilege and even in some cases an expected part of life. Thus, the world’s perception of my goal of graduation and college acceptance is encouraged because continued education is viewed positively. 

Thomas Sfraga, Period 7, 6/7/2022

 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?)


At this current point in time, I truly only have 3 specific goals. Those are, to continue in my weight loss journey, to dedicate more time to finding sources of passive income so that I can lessen my work hours, and to pursue one of my talents in entertainment. 

The truth is, I genuinely haven’t been in the gym in over 2 months. This is catastrophic to my progress and definitely has even set me back quite a bit. However, I’ve somehow managed to finish out all my classes and pass them by some divine work of grace; so I now get to enjoy my summer and peacefully prepare for college. Amongst this peaceful preparation will be getting back to my daily schedule of: morning run, go to the gym, play basketball. I’m blessed to have a network of people around me that are for the most part fit, and who always encourage me to strive for excellence. My best friend Adam, who is literally my brother at this point, has been my rock. Him and I are gym partners and basketball teammates so this summer is ours! 

Secondly, I would love to cut down my work hours so that my schedule doesn’t remain as hectic as it is right now. I have been researching multiple forms of passive income in the cryptocurrency realm and I think I’m getting close to something that should be a low risk medium return investment. This will help me fund my lifestyle, save, and invest more for my future. I’m fortunate enough to have gotten nearly a full scholarship to my college, so student loans aren’t even a worry. All of the money I make is mine, and I get to use it to set myself up in the future. My uncle and my father are actually two of the earliest crypto investors. Prying their knowledge, retaining it, and using it while I invest will definitely be crucial for my own success. 

My third and final goal is to pursue something in the entertainment space. Whether it be freelance youtubing, tiktoking, acting, singing, vlogging; I am all about it! I’ve had a passion for entertainment ever since I was a kid. Growing up I was in a chorus, multiple plays, and played multiple instruments. I truly want to start a vlog channel and create something out of it that people will enjoy. I don’t even think about becoming famous or obtaining a lot of money, to me it’s creating something out of nothing and jumping on an opportunity to publish something that will literally be mine forever. Not to mention the countless amount of editing skills that I will develop from doing this! My father started out in the entertainment industry, he has a full recording studio, producer connections, professional equipment, and extensive production knowledge. He has been begging me to open up my creative side for the longest time, and I think I’m ready to do so. 

Hopefully things go smoothly this summer and I am able to accomplish all that I set out for! I am so incredibly blessed to be in the position that I am in and I surely will not take it for granted.

Jacqueline Ramirez, Period 1, 3/18/22

Modern Mythology 2022

Jacqueline Ramirez, Period 1, 3/18/22


  • 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?

While mental health awareness has definitely increased, there are still so many people around this world who suffer from lack of acceptance and solutions in their communities. My personal experiences with mental health struggles have shown me that mental health can affect every aspect of a person’s life, from friends to family to physical health to work and more. Therefore, mental health is just as important as physical health and every other aspect of health. 


There are so many refugees in this world whose mental health is suffering and receiving little to no attention. Most of the big humanitarian organizations in this world are focused on physical health and while it is understandable that providing for basic physiological needs is a priority, addressing the various mental health issues that exist among the refugee population is also very important. Article 25.1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that “everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family, including food, clothing, housing and medical care and necessary social services, and the right to security in the event of unemployment, sickness, disability, widowhood, old age or other lack of livelihood in circumstances beyond his control.” Basic survival isn’t all there is to life and it wouldn’t be fair if refugees weren’t given the tools and aid necessary to help them achieve the standard of life they aspire for. As student mental health advocate Hailey Hardcastle so logically puts it in her TED talk, “All of us have a brain that needs to be cared for in similar ways that we care for our physical well-being. Our head and our body are connected by much more than just our neck after all… since mental health affects all of us, shouldn't we be coming up with solutions that are accessible to all of us?”


Refugee children in particular are in need of positive attention, nurturing, creative outlets, and educational opportunities. There are a multitude of issues that these children, whether infants, toddlers, and teens face that will affect them for life and that they most likely will never forget. So many of these kids have had to grow up faster than they should when really, children should just be allowed to be children. Roughly a fourth of the nearly 33 million refugee children in this world have lost their family and friends and are travelling alone with just the clothing on their backs. These children have had their homes destroyed and witnessed much violence including the deaths of family and friends. To reach refugee shelters, they have to undergo unsafe journeys. Many don’t feel comfortable and safe in their new homes and have a hard time adjusting to different cultures, peoples, and languages. These kids are too young to work or take care of themselves which leaves them at risk to dangerous situations like trafficking and manipulative people. These children experience many difficulties and are therefore vulnerable to mental illnesses like post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, depression, and more that could influence their whole lives. Living in unstable environments, children are restless, and they need extra attention to grow. Someday, I hope to help improve this situation even just a bit by creating a non-governmental organization of my own or working for the UN or another IGO/NGO to address these issues. 

 

Jacqueline Ramirez, Period 1, 5/20/22

 Jacqueline Ramirez, Period 1, 5/20/22


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?)


Back in January, before the start of the second semester, I made two goals: 1) manage assignments step by step instead of getting overwhelmed and letting them pile up and 2) start my Youtube channel. Now it’s June, the end of the second semester, and I’m cramming to graduate and am definitely not starting a Youtube channel anytime soon. As I sit and reflect on this, a torrent of thoughts threatens to overwhelm me, however, for some reason, I also don’t know what to type. Where do I start? Technically, I’ve failed in both of my goals. Is there anything adequate I can say? 


So much has happened and I’ve learned so much in these last 5 months, that girl I was in January seems so distant. While the resilience methods I put in place (using accountability tactics and believing in myself) didn’t help me accomplish my initial goals, they helped me with an unforeseen, more broad goal: continuously taking more ownership of my life by experiencing as much of what brings me joy as possible before graduating. I joined SING band as a keyboardist and became one of the four band directors when my friend had to drop the position for another commitment. I brought a dying Korean Culture Club back to life and led 12 members to perform 3 dances at Tech’s multicultural show. I took on a 5th grader under my musical wing and began teaching him music history, music theory, and piano over Zoom on Sunday’s. I got my official diagnosis of narcolepsy with cataplexy and proved to my parents that my hunch back in August was right. Through all these experiences, I’ve gained confidence in my abilities and am improving at using perfectionism to help rather than hurt me. Taking all of this into account plus an unimproved home situation, I would say I did pretty decent for the second half of my senior year. I just need to keep working at improving my life balance.


At this current point in time, my main goals are to graduate from high school, set up for an enriching summer and fall, and wrap up my music school years with a senior recital I’m proud of. Each goal has individual concrete resilience methods with some overarching ideas. For the first goal, I have all my assignments, tests, and senior dates in my calendar so I don’t miss anything major and am going to the library afterschool to finish all my work. For the second, resilience is putting in plans now so that I have things to focus on. So far, I’m set to work in SYEP and hold a July senior piano recital. I still need to sign up for Fordham summer orientation, a scholars program, and choose courses for the fall. For the third, I already put my three collaboration pieces together with friends and will focus on mastering 3 my solo pieces after my school assignments are over. To prepare for performing my recital repertoire, I will play and sing Moon River at my jazz teacher’s studio recital and hold rehearsals for my collaboration pieces at my house. As always, my biggest resilience factor will be believing in myself. I will put up positive posters to remind myself to keep trying and share my goals in a general sense with people I know can encourage me to meet them.


Once again, the last question of the prompt, how does the world around me affect my perception of my goals, feels most difficult to answer. While this goal setting response is going to be on a public forum, I know that mostly only I will be aware of my goals so unless I share my goals verbally, there will really be no one who can affect my goals intentionally. I will get to be the one to hold myself responsible and I will get to be the one with the flexibility to change any or add any goals when I see fit. I have become much more independent and strong over the past year so I’m more confident in my goals and my ability to succeed in some way or form in my future. Something I’ve realized over the past half year with my therapist is that I have many unhelpful thought patterns and confusion about myself that stem from many years of hearing negative words at home and that in order to get more of what I want done, I need to work on gaining ownership over my thoughts, actions, and life and work to change the rhetoric in my immediate environment.


Monday, June 6, 2022

Isabella Ng, Period 1, 06/06/2022

Isabella Ng, Period 1, 06/06/2022


Review of Zeitoun by Dave Eggers


The end of the world starts with rain. Or-- in Zeitoun’s case-- a canoe. In the bestseller Zeitoun, Dave Eggers narrates the true and tumultuous account of Syrian immigrant Abdulrahman Zeitoun as he lives through Hurricane Katrina. Zeitoun-- stubbornly faithful to his work as a painter and contractor-- remains in New Orleans to watch over his clients’ property while Kathy and their four children evacuate the city. But it is only after the destruction passes that Zeitoun’s story accelerates into something like dystopia. After reading World War Z, I found Egger’s account of Zeitoun’s spirit and character to be incredibly profound. It was difficult to keep reminding myself that this story was not fiction but indeed someone’s reality. 


The pull of Zeitoun extends far beyond its riveting subject matter. Perhaps the most compelling aspect of this biography resides within Eggers’s writing. For example, Eggers creates suspense by regularly switching between the limited perspectives of Zeitoun and Kathy. Eggers reconstructs scenes from Zeitoun’s life with a balance of flashbacks, description, and dialogue. This reminded me a lot of how Max Brooks crafted storylines in World War Z by first developing intriguing characters first-- which hooked the reader. Similarly, Eggers’s compassionate narration draws the reader deep into the lives of Zeitoun and Kathy, making readers fall in love with the Zeitoun family over and over again. 


Zeitoun’s story is undoubtedly tangled in the political consequences of the United States’s “War on Terror”-- an unprecedented campaign against terrorism following the tragedy of September 11. Zeitoun’s unjust arrest paves the path for a conversation about the systemic wounds in many American institutions. Following Zeitoun’s traumatic accounts of his incarcerated life, Eggers’s “hands-off” narration style fades; the book reads less like a biography and more like a piece of literary journalism. Eggers writes, “... quite clearly, this wasn’t a case of a bad apple or two in the barrel. The barrel itself was rotten.” Eggers is forthright in his analysis of Zeitoun’s experience, skillfully weaving issues of social injustice into a compelling biography. Furthermore, Eggers builds upon this critique through the poetic and complex nature of Zeitoun’s story. Zeitoun’s family is not only devastated by the natural wrath of mother nature-- they are failed by America’s federal institutions, too. This quiet commentary was probably my favorite part about reading Zeitoun. Similarly, in World War Z, I found myself most interested in Max Brooks’s careful creation of the geopolitics in a zombie-infested world. Despite being written years ago, these books feel entirely "new," demonstrating how social awareness and critical analysis should always find a place in our conversations about both literature and life.


But the book is not entirely dark. Even in the flooded mess of his neighborhood, Zeitoun’s unyielding sense of hope prevails. Through Zeitoun’s eyes, readers meet the resolute residents of New Orleans as Zeitoun ventures into the city, rescuing civilians and animals. A practical man, Zeitoun braves the worst of the storm with an attitude that is unmistakably promising. Furthermore, Eggers cuts the dramatic nature of the memoir by describing seemingly insignificant activities (Kathy running her hands through her daughter’s hair, Zeitoun lying down to smell the strawberry shampoo on his daughter’s pillowcase). Although these details seem mundane, they add a relatable and humane third dimension to these characters. Above all, family and religion are the ultimate forces that propel Zeitoun through the events in this book. While Kathy and the kids bounce between neighbor and friend to find comfort, Zeitoun nestles himself deeper into his community. In their most desperate and overwhelming moments, Zeitoun and Kathy pray. Eggers perfectly weaves these threads of faith and love into every corner of Zeitoun, reminding the reader that this is not a story about destruction, but a story about restoration. “Yes, a dark time passed over this land,” Eggers writes, “but now there is something like light.”


Zeitoun is an exceptionally crafted biography. This family’s story is searing, and their love is deafening. I find myself forgetting that this is a work of non-fiction-- that these stories belong to real people-- and that Zeitoun is still out there: rebuilding and rebuilding and rebuilding.

Alice Wei, Period 1, 6/2/22

 Alice Wei, Period 1, 6/2/22

Modern Mythology 2022

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?

World War Z. Going into this book, I had no idea how much of an impact it would have on me

because it didn’t catch my interest at first, since zombies aren’t my thing. As we read more, there

were clear parallels to the pandemic, which made the text more relatable. Similar to Interview

with a Vampire, World War Z was told in an interview format, so it felt like the characters were

telling me a story rather than having a narrator explain their accounts. The wide breadth of

experiences was also very refreshing to see, because normally, we would only follow a group of

people through such a story. Through this, we were able to see outsiders like Kondo Tatsumi and

Sensei Tomonaga Ijiro find their purpose and dogs teaching people to be human again. Yet, my

favorite one had to have been Jesika’s story, where she and her parents went through extreme

measures (cannibalism) to survive. Their family dynamic reminds me of my own, and I found

myself thinking of my own parents when I read through this section. This was what actually

opened my eyes to the realism of the book, rather than the previous accounts that I wasn’t really

able to connect with. It was shocking, but not surprising, when the parents resorted to

cannibalism to ensure Jesika’s survival.

I’ve come to realize that the human factor is a huge variable when it comes to situations like

these. Our unpredictableness can change the outcome; Drawing a parallel between our own

pandemic, who knew we would end up fighting for toilet paper out of all things when quarantine

first went into effect? Rather, I would’ve expected items like hand sanitizer and soap to go out of

stock first, but that’s the human factor. Taking this into account, we learn that there are many

aspects of life that are out of our control. The best thing to do is to focus on ourselves.

Annie Liang, Period 1, 5/11/22

 Annie Liang

Modern Mythology 

PD. 1


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?)


At this point in time, my current goal is to try to pursue some of my interests that I’ve never gotten around to doing. The monster creation project has shown me that I never got to learning more about editing beyond the beginner level form Introduction to Audio and Visual Engineering from freshman year. This project started out rough with my group members as we were quite indecisive about what our project should be about and how we should portray these messages and morals. In fact, it didn’t get much better even as the weeks had gone on as we ended up having three different project proposals and no working script. Amazingly, we managed to pull it off as we spent every possible moment filming and trying to come up with ideas on the spot. It was hectic and stressful but the majority of our group came together to get things going as well as they possibly could. 

I had taken on the role of editor from the get go but I still very much wanted to have a role in developing the plot, especially when everyone had to chip in beyond their assigned role. Selina, Sarah, and George all had great ideas that we attempted to turn into different scenes, but it became really apparent that our largest shortcoming was not taking the time to come up with a solid script before rushing to write. So, Selina and I spent Sunday night, before Memorial Day, to rearrange the entire plotline to make sense chronologically, while still keeping the audience engaged. We ended up realizing that there were a lot of filler scenes that needed to be filmed to transition some of our major plot points. That night we walked away with a long list of about 8-10 scenes that we had to film and edit in the span of one day. It was stress-inducing to say the least.

Truly, the way our group had pulled together this project was nothing short of incredible and I’m so thankful for them: Sarah never stopped trying to contribute new ideas, George embarrassed himself for the sake of our film as he played our protagonist, and Selina who was the very backbone of our entire project and kept everyone moving and on track. This project has led me to re-realize the interest I had with editing clips together to tell a story no matter how small or mundane it may seem. I'm excited to see where this interest takes me as I’ve started doing small tutorials from Adobe and watching Youtube videos. I supposed that branches out to how my goal would be affected by the world around me as telling the story of people that aren't typically heard in mainstream media is a passion of mine. I love hearing about minorities breaking out into industries that most wouldn’t think they’d be in as it breaks stereotypes and brings forth a more inclusive world for all of us to live in.

Ivan Ng, Period, 7 5/23/22

 Creativity & Fiction 


    “Hello, Junghoon here.” I say to myself while staring into the mirror. Every morning, for past two years, I’ve followed this routine. I wake up and address myself as if I was calling out to fans. Every day I work myself to the bone singing, dancing, and learning foreign languages in hopes of debuting. I remember my past dreams and ambitions, looking at this kind of life through rose-tinted glasses. So I carry on, clawing my way out of the life of a trainee. I danced until the skin of my feet tore off, sang until I couldn’t speak, and ate less every assessment period to be ranked high. 

    One day, my company placed me in an elimination-styled audition show where the last members remaining can choose which company groups to debut in. I saw this as the golden opportunity I’d been waiting for. I knew everyone else just like me was waiting for this chance so I became even stricter on myself. I went through boxes of bandages a day and sometimes ate only an apple to get me through the day. Often times I would wake up in a hospital. Apparently I was sent there by other trainees after collapsing in the studio. I hated the fact that my body couldn’t keep up with the effort I was putting out. Anxiety attacks accompanied by the fear of failure crept behind me every time I had to visit the hospital. I kept telling myself I had to be perfect in order to make it. Yet I started having fits of frustration while practicing well into the night. There just didn’t seem to be enough time. Sleep and food became objects of little concern with the show creeping around the corner.

    I began to spiral out of control. Somedays I spent the entire day locked in the dance studio. Countless hours were spent filling that room with sweat and tears. Devoid of human interaction, I was obsessed with working hard regardless of what it was doing to me. I started to cut unhealthy amounts of weight in a short period of time. I would puke out whatever little meals I had. Every family or friend was pushed away in my attempt to solely focus on practicing.

“Fifty seven kg” I whispered to myself while weighing myself the day before the show. I had lost four kg in preparation for the big performance. My clothes had to fit perfectly in order to attract the attention of the audience. I had to nail everything immaculately if I wanted  to achieve all my hopes and dreams. Sweat beading down my face I poured my heart and soul into that performance. Those three minutes felt like an eternity of pain. Every muscle in my body was screaming for help. By the end, my vision was blurry from the blinding lights and I fell when I thought I heard the announcer mention my name.

“He’s gonna crash!” That was the last thing I heard while slowly opening my eyes to a blurry ceiling rushing by. All my dreams were just about to come true and yet I paid the price for it. Days, weeks of accumulated exhaustion and starvation ended up killing me. That gold-framed picture I had of stardom never portrayed the hardship, depression, and self-inflicted harm that came along with it. So was it worth it? 

Nicole Samoylovich, Period 7, 5/27/22

 Blog #4: 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.


*Note: This isn't directly autobiographical; the protagonist is telling the story in first person*


~


          I woke up today at midnight and could not go back to sleep. The moonlight peaked through my curtains and landed on my eyes, and I just lied there staring at that tiny little crescent in the sky for hours and hours and hours. The rest of my room was pitch black; anything the moonlight did not touch wasn’t visible. Wasn't real. There was only me, unwilling or unable to move - I don't know which one - hypnotized by the enchanting spell which that beautiful floating rock cast on my racing mind. I thought about so many things as the night flowed on. The moon pervaded all these thoughts. I thought about how powerful it was, how mysterious, how feminine. How it's managed to hold humanity's unwavering attention across bounds of time, bounds of different cultures, even bounds of science. I thought about how, even though we have scientific explanations for what the moon is and why it's there and how old it is, none of it has made it any less beautiful. I find it sort of similar to looking into a fire. Mesmerizing, in a very timelessly primitive way. I've been called a night owl before. It's the only time of day I feel calm. It allows me to feel comfortable with silence, with darkness, with my own thoughts. The day is hectic and irritating and monotonous, but the night is spiritual and liberating and exciting. 


          Before I knew it, the sun was beginning to rise. Now, although I prefer the nighttime, I can definitely still appreciate a good sunrise. That was what finally stirred me out of bed. I shuffled into my slippers, put on a cup of tea, and quietly snuck downstairs, slipping outside to sit on my front steps and watch the bright hues of orange and yellow gradually peak over the horizon. I actually quite enjoy this part of the night: the ending. It’s still so quiet. Still so tranquil. Still so beautiful. And everyone's still asleep and I can still feel comfortable alone. But when it ends, I just spend the next 16 hours waiting for the next sunset. To me, everything that occurs between dawn and dusk is boring, but everything that occurs from dusk till dawn is simply wonderful. If I could, I would choose to spend forever watching a sunset on a beach.


          It makes sense to me, how ancient civilizations thought up all their gods and monsters and tales and legends of the universe. If I was an ancient human looking up at the sky and seeing the stars and moon every night, I would assume that some higher power was at work too. Because the world is truly unbelievably beautiful and it doesn't make any sense at all that we're lucky enough to be alive to witness it.


          It's summer right now. I don't have school. I have an opportunity to actually relax for some time. So, once I realized the sun was now fully hanging in the sky, and the day had begun, I decided to do something relaxing and take a walk on the beach. The sand scraped against my feet, the smell of salt flooded my nostrils. I spontaneously entered the water, wearing a tank top and some loose jogging shorts. I just floated there, suspended in the softly beating waves, hearing nothing but the ocean as I stared up at the now blue sky. I had never felt more humbled and at peace. To me, moments like that are the peak of the human experience, and I wished I had had more moments like that. 


          I'm going to start college in a month. That's going to introduce a lot of new changes to my life: lots of stress and problems, but also hopefully lots of fun and excitement. But still, this summer is my last one as a child. It's like a skipping stone. This time next year, I’ll be living on my own, working on my own, getting to know what actual independence is like. I’ll still get to watch the sunrise and go swimming, but I think it will feel different because I'll be a different person. My life will be different. I'll miss this summer because I don't think my head will ever be as clear as it is now, as free as it is now. I'm done with high school and now I'm starting a new chapter, but I'm not dreading it. I'm not holding onto any of my problems from the past 4 years, because I made it. I'm looking forward to college and I'm just going to enjoy this transitional period while it lasts.  I'm going to let go of my childhood and walk forward. And I'm going to appreciate the world around me each step of the way.

Selina Zheng, Period 1, 6/6/22



Modern art is often quite contentious, drawing both great acclaim and criticism. I was raised on a strict diet of traditional art only: Degas, Monet, and the occasional Gentileschi. It was chiaroscuro, not drip technique; pointillism, not silkscreen printing. My teachers justified their parochial mindset with haughty elitism, calling modern art nothing more than a con.




A common theme in my blog posts is my love of the underdog. I find value and significance in that which is usually overlooked or even intentionally ignored. Modern art, too, falls in this category, a perhaps controversial take. After all, it’s difficult to view an industry worth enough that a single painting, “Black Square” by Kazimir Malevich, could cost $60 million as anything resembling the sentiments we associate with an underdog (Floyd). But, although I wish to avoid humanizing an inanimate concept, modern art truly embodies an underdog. It came from humble beginnings that it still struggles against to this day. People have always ridiculed daring art and novel techniques. The name for pointillism was originally coined from the derisive comments of art critics in the 1800s, although now it is a respected technique bolstered by the legacy of legendary artists like Georges Seurat and Camille Pissarro. Modern art, one of the latest in a long line of expanding creative freedoms, still faces that challenge. 83% of the public do not see modern art as valid (Floyd).




Although I now chafe at these preconceived prejudices, I understand. As a young art student, I shared many of these same sentiments. I turned my nose up at Picasso (which I still do now, for other reasons concerning his moral character), Warhol, and Haring. Art should have a soul, carry a piece of the artist within. It should be beautiful, and I did not consider screen prints of cans of Campbell soup beautiful. Of course, that was only my own self-important sensibilities talking. I was a 10-year-old. What did I know of beauty? My dull senses could only recognize the simplest of the beauties: colorful flowers, sweet perfume, glazed pastries. I had not developed the taste or the abilities to appreciate that which was harder to grasp immediately.




My favorite pieces now would baffle the self I was then, though I’m fonder of contemporary art than modern. One of the works I enjoy the most, Untitled (Portrait of Ross in L.A.) by Felix Gonzalez Torres, is nothing more than a pile of the candy in the corner of the museum floor. Nothing more - that gives too little credit to the immense symbolism and interpretation this piece requires. It comprises 175 lbs of candy, representing the healthy weight of Felix’s partner, Ross Laycock, who died from AIDS at the height of the crisis in America. Viewers are invited to take a piece of candy, a metaphorical communion that alludes both to Ross’ physical deterioration due to his illness and to the public’s complacency towards the epidemic, condemning hundreds of queer victims to painful, quiet deaths. Most of all, unlike art that is trapped behind glass frames and dimmed lights to prevent fading, Portrait of Ross in L.A. is as alive as its namesake. It asks us to engage with it. This heartbreaking piece is intended to enlighten people as to the true political undertones present in LGBT artwork.




However, though Felix’s work is a passionate condemnation of the world’s treatment of queer people, righteously so, it is also a tender testament to the enduring nature of love. Felix asked that museum curators replenish the candy at points, allowing Ross to metaphorically live forever in his memories. Personally, Portrait of Ross helped me recover from my grandmother’s death. Like Ross, she lost an extreme amount of weight in the last days of her life, although her chronic illness was cancer. While I appreciate Torres’ work for all of the deeper meaning that can be analyzed in a historical or personal context, I also appreciate it most simply for what it is: a monument to the life of someone who was dearly beloved. It is a reminder for me that mourning my grandmother is also an act of love, not just grief.




Another of my favorites, Can’t Help Myself by Sun Yuan and Peng Yu, devastates me. It has little of that which naturally shakes the human heart. It’s not cute or charming, and lacks all the lighthearted joy or sublime darkness of the works that normally have a deep impact on their viewers. The most beautiful thing about it is its robotic shape, its sleek lines, clean and sterile as a machine should be. This sort of thing repulses the human senses. We naturally find our own creations unnerving. Yet Can’t Help Myself, an installation composed of a industrial robot that uses sensors to detect when a deep-red fluid similar in appearance to blood has escaped a predetermined area and works to contain it within the walls of it’s clear acrylic enclosure, draws my pity, as if I was looking at a puppy in the rain, and not a massive, hulking pile of metal. It desperately attempts to clean up a growing mess that will never be truly clean, only dirtying itself and its home further in the process. As it attempts to corral the fluid, ‘blood’ splashes up the walls and onto the machine. Its mechanical movements and the grind of its gears are reminiscent of screaming, as if the machine is panicking. Sometimes, it stops attempting to contain the blood altogether and simply swings around helplessly, as if frustrated and throwing a fit.




It’s programmed to do all these things as a commentary on borders. The software that went into it symbolizes the surveillance of border zones and the bloodstains around it, unable to be cleaned off and only worsening with continued action is representative of the violence that environment fosters. It is the consequences of authoritarianism, and the audience that watches on, protected behind clear walls, are the public, voyeurs to a tragedy. Returning to the name - this robot simply can’t help itself but continue on, even when it knows it’s task is hopeless, similar to the sisyphean concepts we considered in Grendel and World War Z. It’s just a robot, a pile of metal and pistons and motor, but it’s struggling through life, trapped in a monotonous cycle that it can’t break free of, finding no satisfaction in its daily existence, and yet unable to ever choose to do something else. How human for a pre-programmed machine, to be as absurd as its creators.




Still, when I consider art, I also find it impossible to ignore the glaring and obvious darkness that accompanies it. Pablo Picasso casts a large shadow on the art world. His contribution is uncontested, and yet, it is this contribution that allows his legacy to supersede that of his victims. His art is built on sacrifice, not of his own, but of women. He was an abusive man who tormented his female muses. Fernande Olivier was the inspiration for Picasso’s “Tête de Femme”, yet, when she attempted to create her own self portrait as well as publish memoirs which included their time together , Picasso, now both famous and wealthy from the artwork she contributed to, silenced her with lawyers (Millington). These memoirs would eventually reveal the truth behind their relationship. They were not equals by any means: Picasso saw her as neither artist nor human, neither of these identities held value to him. He would place her on house arrest, locked behind when he went out, and believed that women had no place in men’s areas.




After Olivier came a long line of women: used and then traded for a newer, younger toy. Picasso said, “Every time I change wives I should burn the last one…You kill the woman and you wipe out the past she represents.” Then was Olga Khokhlova, a ballerina who gave up her career for his and bore him a child, only to be cheated on for Marie-Thérèse Walter, just 17, beautiful in her submission and innocence, then Dora Maar, who he pitted against young Walter. Once, when Walter confronted Maar in his studio, demanding Picasso choose between them, he made them wrestle because he himself was too weak to decide which would stay and which would go. Each one of these women were his muses, each one of them, his victims. Behind great men are often the discarded bodies of the women they exploited.




Beauty is something that humanity seeks, often at any cost - and yet that cost is rarely something that those who desire it, must pay, resulting in collateral damage, fall out that falls upon others to shoulder the burden of. The Most Beautiful Suicide is iconic in pop culture. It’s appeared in Warhol’s works, Bowie’s single “Jump They Say”, and the movie Stranger Than Fiction. Most recently, kpop girl group sensation Le Sserafim have utilized it in their music video, continuing a long tradition of sensationalizing and glamorizing tragedy, at the expense of the victim, although just as tragic, it would be difficult to understand the inappropriateness of referencing this image, as McHale’s story has been lost to time in the eyes of the general public.




Evelyn McHale died when she was just 23 from leaping off the Empire State Building and falling onto a car parked below. Somehow her body survived the fall, as if it were cushioned by the steel, creating “The Most Beautiful Suicide”, artistically pleasing in composition - if you ignore the fact that the subject has no say in her depiction. Her autonomy has been completely stripped from her in death, and like vultures to a carcass, people swarmed to take advantage of this. LIFE magazine devoted a full page spread to this picture taken by Robert Wiles, a photography student. After this, McHale’s image was romanticized. Attempts were made to dig up the lurid details of her life. Her resting body was described as peaceful, her face as calm as if she were daydreaming of her beau. McHale herself had only one wish - that her family not see her dead body. In her suicide note, she begged to cremated. Instead, the desires of one photography student were more important than her last wishes.




There’s no beauty in the exploitation of a young woman’s body after death. Art comes from the beauty of connection, not the abuse of those with little ability to defend themselves, like Picasso’s muses, or McHale.




Sources:

Floyd, C. Why is Modern Art So Expensive? 11, December 2019. https://www.businessinsider.com/what-makes-modern-art-is-so-expensive-2019-12

Benjamin Cavallaro, Period 6, 03/25/24

  Benjamin Cavallaro, Period 6, 3/25/24 Modern Mythology 2024 Blog #3      Something that’s stuck with me since the start of the school year...