Jacob Berger, Period 7, 9/18/2023

Jacob Berger
Period 7
Literacy and Learning
9/18/2023

The contrast between the different versions of Cinderella from different cultures has influenced my perception of fairy tales. A factor like culture makes a big difference in the way a fairy tale is told. We can see this in the different tellings of Cinderella. Each story has something different about it that was influenced by the culture, such as the themes and character identities and traits.

For example, in Yeh-Hsien, a Chinese Cinderella story, Yeh-Hsien’s father was a cave chief of Southern China, in Cinderella by the Grimm Brothers he was a rich man, and in Donkey Skin by Charles Perault he was the king. Seeing how each story has different ways of telling the same moral has helped me learn more about fairy tales and what they represent. Some cultural differences found in the different versions of Cinderella are the darker themes in Cinderella by the Grimm brothers, and the themes of family and respect for ancestors representing Confucian values in Yeh-Hsien. Another cultural factor in these stories is the character's motivation. In some stories, Cinderella takes charge of the situation and changes her destiny, while in others she is helped by some magical figure such as the fairy godmother. The type of magical item is another representation of culture in these stories. Most stories have some form of shoe that is the equivalent of the glass slipper in the Western Cinderella stories. Some examples are the Golden Shoe which is found most commonly in Middle Eastern Cinderella stories, while a Russian telling has a Fur Slipper, reflecting the cold environment, since fur is an effective clothing against the cold.

From all these differences, we can see that culture has a significant impact on how fairy tales are told, the unique elements and cultural diversity shown through the writing of these stories.

Andy Lin, Period 7, 12/12/23

In one of our various classes, we touched upon the story of Job. It was the tale of a blameless and upright man, who followed the ways of God but was still forced to suffer extreme hardships. Although he was a righteous man, he lost all of his property, his children died, and he was cursed with leprosy. Looking online to see how the masses viewed the Book of Job, there was a plethora of varied responses. Christians saw it as how God could help one overcome any adversity. They saw it as a reason to trust in God under any circumstance, no matter how unfair life was. Essentially, they believed good faith would be rewarded in the end. Atheists, however, considered it to be a story that painted God in a bad light, to say the least. It was brought up how Job’s children were killed nonsensically, and it was considered to be alright because of the new children he received. God seemed almost unconcerned with the suffering he caused. There was a lot of upset with how God, an omnipotent being, could permit such suffering so callously. Neither of these interpretations satisfied me.

I consider myself somewhat of a Christian, partly due to my mother being one and also the fact that it was the very first faith introduced to me. Yet, I still held onto a few aspects of atheism. Very frequently, the question “Why do bad things happen to good people?” is asked. This question was a little unusual to me. For one, what if you aren’t as good of a person as you think you are? However, I felt as if I understood the premise behind it and rephrased it. “What did I do to deserve the misfortune that befalls me?” The answer to that question is easy. Simply nothing. You don’t deserve the bad things that happen to you. Mrs. Fusaro said something that piqued my interest, something that tied it all together. Bad things don’t happen because you’re being punished, the same way good things don’t happen because you’re being rewarded. The second part of the statement was remarkably vital to my newfound understanding. I’ve been told adversity occurs just for the sake of adversity occurring, yet good things are always a blessing. This disconnect was something that had unsettled me. When both sides were laid bare, it made me understand that good events and bad events were two sides of the same coin. If there is a God, he’s neither blessing you nor spurning you. Things occur, whether it be a cog in God’s plan or a stroke of complete randomness, things simply occur.

Elizabeth Fleyshmakher, Period 6,11/16/23

Elizabeth Fleyshmakher
Literature Circle - Ariadne by Jennifer Saint (Parts 1 & 2)
11/16/23


Going into this novel I only had some baseline knowledge of Ariadne, primarily as a background character in Theseus's myth. I was aware that thanks to the ball of yarn Ariadne gave him,Theseus was able to navigate the labyrinth and slay the Minotaur.


Foreword: “ But helping Theseus defeat the monster means betraying her family, and Ariadne knows that in a world ruled by mercurial gods, drawing their attention can cost you everything.”

This section of the foreword reminded me of the enchantress Medea whose story parallels Ariadne’s. Infatuated with her love for Jason, Medea aids in stealing the Golden Fleece and flees her home. In doing so she broke Aeetes trust.

• Poor Scylla, drowned and then transformed into seabird to be endlessly preyed upon. I wonder if this is the same sea-monster Scylla. If so, I want to know how she became this creature?

*I noticed it’s a trend in Greek mythology of monsters who were originally entirely different beings* (Ex: Medusa, Arachne, Lamia)

• When Daedalus claims that Ariadne “can soften anyone’s will to hers”, he is probably foreshadowing future events

• I found it interesting how varied coping-mechanisms are, both within the context of this plot and in real life. Ariadne tunes out the outside world through her dancing. This form of expression possibly allows her to feel closer to her mother as this was a shared passion. Alternatively, Pasiphae’s means of dealing with her trauma involve sinking into herself, losing touch with reality. Medusa, on the other hand, is fueled by her experiences. I myself disappear into music, whether it be through playing instruments or listening to songs.

• Slight deviations from “Stone Blind” in Eirene’s recounting of Medusa; In this version Medusa rampages, leaving statues left and right, while in “Stone Blind” by Natalie Haynes, she refrains from killing anybody.

• “A truth of womanhood: however blameless a life we led, the passions and the greed of men could bring us to ruin, and there was nothing we could do” -  I thought this was a beautiful quote. Captures the epitome of Feminist Critical Theory.

• Asterion could be seen as a victim of circumstance. An abomination spawned from an unnatural coupling, shunned and feared by society, rejected by relatives, entrapped in a labyrinth, forced into isolation, exploited by Minos.
• Minotaur is a “Categorical Interstitiality” monster seeing as he is a human bull hybrid.
• Originally named “star” only to be branded “Bull of Minos”. I feel that the name-change was representative of when Asterion changed from being Pasiphae’s babe to Minos’s monster.

• Ariadne’s stream of thoughts in regards to her baby brother remind me of the The New York Times Magazine poll: “If you could go back and kill Hitler as a baby, would you do it?”

• Coexistence of love and hatred. The royal family is both despised and admired by the Cretians.

• Fascinating how powerful a mother’s love is. Pasiphae harbors a fondness for Asterion regardless of his monstrousness. Pasiphae only places a fidelity curse on Minos, preventing him from laying with any concubines, after he claims ownership over Asterion.

• Minos has no affection towards his family, treating them like tools. Ariadne - sold off to Cinyras, King of Cyprus, in exchange for copper. Androgeos - reason to wage war against Athens. Pasiphae - initially a prized possession Minotaur- means of strengthening his status and garnering respect.

• The bull is a recurrent symbol throughout the novel. The Cretan Bull is sent to Minos by Poseidon to be sacrificed, Androgeos is killed by a wild bull on an Athenian hillside, seven Athenian young men and women would be murdered in the same fashion by the Minotaur, Taurus, the name of Minos’s general, comes from the Latin word for “bull”.

• I wonder if the Labyrinth is where ideas such as the Hunger Games and Battle Royale spawned and why audiences continue to be fascinated by demonstrations of such barbarism centuries forward. *Following this stream of thought, Katniss and Theseus both volunteered for the games for the sake of others. And the “Tribute Parade” in THG mirrors the Funeral Games.*

• I wasn't expecting Minos to grant Theseus freedom due to his performance in the Funeral Games.

• Sadly ironic how both Ariadne and Daedalus manage to escape Crete only to be met with devastating loss. Daedalus with his son and Ariadne faced total abandonment.

• “And back then, I did not know how wings could melt and peel away from your body; how someone could plunge so unexpectedly from their soaring ascent to freedom and be swallowed by the ravenous waves below” - reference to Icarus story.

• I didn’t make the connection that Hercules killed the Cretan Bull as one of his twelve labors. It’s bizarre thinking about the interconnectedness of Greek lore. How Theseus and Hercules were acquaintances. How Medea was Aegus’s wife and cousin to Ariadne.

• “Until, abruptly, I felt gritty sand beneath me and I knew I was on a beach. But it was not one I knew, and I was alone – so alone that it tore a ragged gap”.

 Is this a precognitive dream of sorts? In Ancient Greek culture dreams were typically perceived as revelations.

• Does the Dionysus statue on the island of Naxos hold significance in the context of this story?

• Are Theseus's interactions with Ariadne fully fabricated or did he genuinely love her. Whether all the sweet-talking, heartfelt conversations, and displays of affection were part of an elaborate plan. If not, then what prompted him to suddenly abandon his wife. 

• Ariadne could be observed undergoing the stages of grief on the island. She is first overcome with grief, even contemplating suicide, which then transforms into a boiling rage targeted towards Theseus.

• It’s an interesting choice to switch perspectives from Ariadne’s POV to Phaedra’s in Chapter 13.

Oluwabiyi Shittu, Period 1, 12/18/23

Oluwabiyi Shittu
Period 1
Literacy and Learning
1/15/2024

When I first learned about the Hamas attacks I was horrified just like anyone else. I was saddened by the loss of life and that was it, just another tragedy in the news that has become commonplace. However, this was not the end of this particular tragedy. As the story gained traction and began popping up on social media, it even became a talking point between my peers. This discourse spurred me to educate myself on the situation so I could participate in these conversations. As I began to educate myself however I began to feel a different feeling that differed from my earlier feeling of horror. A feeling of sadness welled up in me for the jewish people who were stricken with terror after the attacks and also sadness for the Palestinian people who have been suffering.

While the terror attacks are indefensible and Hamas is undoubtedly a terrorist organization, this cannot blind us from the atrocities that have been committed against the Palestinian people. For 50+ years the palestinian people have suffered atrocities levied against them time after time. The media coverage of the situation only started once Israel was attacked and was blind to all the sufferings of the Palestinians. I feel as if this situation is especially relevant to our coursework as many of the justifications I see on the part of Israel are from the bible and their status as chosen people of the lord. This relates back to what we are learning in class, where religion is used as justification as is so integral to many cultures. I dont think that religion can be used in modern times as a justification for genocide and atrocity. I think religion is one of the best and worst things humanity has ever created.

Brian Zheng, Period 7, 1/8/24

Brian Zheng Period 7 Modern Mythology 2024 1/8/24 Research Paper - The Human Obsession with Apocalypse For centuries, humans have pondered over the topic of “The Apocalypse”. The Norse’s Ragnarok, Bible’s Book of Revelation, or the story of Noah’s Ark, it seems the idea of the end of the world looms throughout history. With increasing new technology, contemporary media, and global catastrophes, apocalypticism remains relevant to the modern world. In 1947, after nuclear weapons were revealed to the public, the prospect of the arms race from the Soviet Union against the United States led the Bulletin to create the Doomsday clock, a design which warns the public on how imminent the end is. In recent years, COVID-19, the Ukraine humanitarian crisis, the Palestinian-Israeli humanitarian crisis, wildfires, earthquakes, and many other disasters have edged the clock closer to midnight. Within 2023, the Doomsday clock had ticked to 90 seconds to midnight, unprecedented in the 76 years from when the clock was created. Interest over the apocalypse has only amplified over the last few years. According to studyfinds.org, 71.2% of Americans surveyed said that they had no faith in the U.S. government in preventing doomsday and that the end may even happen within their lifetime. Around a third of Americans surveyed from Finder.com, have prepared for a doomsday event. The dystopian genre in literature and media has risen over the years, depicting a pessimistic view of the future, warning about the many possible outcomes of the world. Though the end of the world may see like such a dark and bleak notion, it can also be seen as a device of catharsis. Through the class study over Bible stories and Norse’s myths, we find these stories to be inspired by the hardships the creators of these stories faced. In turn these stories inspire modern depictions of the apocalypse. However, we also notice a pattern emerges among these stories, where upon the vast destruction alway lead to a rebirth, or a rejuvenation of the world, borne back to a paradise. Life being a cycle, where one end creates a beginning.

Kayla Pollio, Period 7, 1/14/23

Kayla Pollio, Period 7, 1/14/24
Modern Mythology 2024
Research Paper

Water is seen as a prerequisite for life. There is no life without water—water cleanses and preserves and constantly, steadily flows. It feeds Yggdrasil, the world-tree of Norse mythology; it is humanity’s driving force. And wherever there’s water, there’s a possibility of life.

There was once water on Mars. In December 2013, NASA’s Curiosity rover helped discover that nearly a third of the planet’s surface had been previously covered in a large freshwater lake: a hospitable environment for microbial life. Nowadays, the moisture has either frozen or evaporated (or, very rarely, remained liquid)—but the massive Martian ice caps are solid proof that there were once equally massive bodies of liquid water.

In Norse mythology, the wise god Mimir guards the well of knowledge, the water from which feeds Yggdrasil. Odin, his nephew, was determined to drink from this well, but awareness always comes with a sacrifice. Mimir said he would allow Odin a drink if he cut out his eye and placed it in the well. Odin had gone on a long and arduous journey for a chance to drink this water and would stop at nothing in the name of knowledge, so he did what he had to do, and soon “saw farther and more clearly with his one eye than he ever had with two” (Gaiman, 2017). But after drinking, he saw the end: he learned of Ragnarok, the violent apocalypse of Norse myth.

Along with the existence of Ragnarok came a valuable lesson to Odin: that ignorance is bliss. The terrible knowledge of Ragnarok consumes him—he tries to warn the other gods and change their fate, but there’s no delaying the end. Knowledge is like water: it nourishes us and changes shape as we discover more; it is eternal, it drives humans to do anything and everything. But if we’re not careful, we can drown in it. By choosing to drink from the well, Odin gains knowledge, but loses innocence; he gains farther sight, but loses perspective.

What would we do if we finally confirmed the existence of extraterrestrial life? Would we try to communicate with them? Assistant Principal Dr. Davis discussed this idea among other cosmology-related subjects with our class earlier this year. Our first thought would be, of course, to try to contact them—it’s the first time we’ve ever had this opportunity after hundreds of thousands of years of living alone in the universe! Humanity is obsessed with the possibility of an alien encounter: it’s the topic of countless pieces of media, and some people have even dedicated their whole lives to the pursuit of aliens. We have been working toward this opportunity for millenia; we have gone on a long and arduous journey and will stop at nothing in the name of knowledge. We are Odin, staring into the well of knowledge, wondering whether we should drink from it or not.

But, as Dr. Davis pointed out, looking at how the people of Earth’s different continents first interacted thousands of years ago, fear of the unfamiliar soon turns into hostility. What we envision as a peaceful and mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources has the potential to turn into something uglier, and there’s no going back once we make that sacrifice.

Discovering intelligent life in the universe will change humanity forever. But we must be careful not to lose an eye.

Works Cited: - “Extraterrestrial Liquid Water.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 2 Jan. 2024, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extraterrestrial_liquid_water.
- Gaiman, Neil. “Mimir’s Head and Odin’s Eye.” Norse Mythology, W.W. Norton & Company, 2017, pp. 28.
- “NASA Mars Spacecraft Reveals a More Dynamic Red Planet.” NASA, NASA, 10 Dec. 2013, www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/nasa-mars-spacecraft-reveals-a-more-dynamic-red-planet#1.

Joy Li, Period 1, 11/30/2023

Joy Li, Pd 1

11/30/2023

Blog #2 - Socio-political Consciousness

Child labor is horrible. Especially when children are forced to work for little to no payment at all. Yet, as I type this, children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are mining away in cobalt mines. Not just the children, but mothers too. Mothers with their baby strapped to their back, breathing in and touching the toxicity of cobalt. Millions of trees have been cut down, the air around mines is hazy with dust and grit, and the water has been contaminated with toxic effluents from the mining process. Children are working in these mines just to make up to $2.50 USD per day to support their families and give the money to their mother for basic necessities to survive. These kids are missing out on their education just because they can’t pay for the teacher or school, so their parents resort to these mines. But, what is cobalt? Cobalt is an element that powers our rechargeable batteries in our smartphones, computers, and electric vehicles.There is more cobalt reserved in the DRC than the rest of the world combined, and they are being mined by artisanal miners.

I didn’t even know about this situation until a month ago when I came across a TikTok about this. Upon further research, I realized how this has been an issue way before December 2023 and I didn’t even know. So many people are so unaware of the atrocities happening in the world while they cozy up in their homes and I’m one of those people. Seeing and hearing about the conflict between Israel and Palestine and how Palestine is fighting a losing battle, with so many deaths that couldn't compare to the little amount Israel has. Seeing and hearing about these young children who can’t even afford to get an education and works in subhuman, grinding, degrading situations, while using pickaxes, shovels, stretches of rebar to hack and scrounge at the earth in trenches and pits and tunnels to gather cobalt and feed it up the formal supply chain just to survive. I never realized how grateful I should be for everything I have and the life I live, that I don’t live an unfortunate life of extreme poverty and suffering. How cruel this world is to the less fortunate and how the more fortunate, especially the wealthy, should be more of a help to these people.


Sources

Gross, Terry. “How ‘modern-Day Slavery’ in the Congo Powers the Rechargeable Battery Economy.” NPR, NPR, 1 Feb. 2023, www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2023/02/01/1152893248/red-cobalt-congo-drc-mining-siddharth-kara


Zuzia. “Families Depend on Income from Child Labour in Congo’s Cobalt Mines to Stave Off Hunger.” IMPACT, 13 July 2023, https://impacttransform.org/en/families-income-child-labour-cobalt/

Ethan Sadykhov, Period 1, 12/14/23

Ethan Sadykhov, Period 1, 1/15/2024
Modern Mythology 2024
Topic: Socio-political Consciousness

When I first learned about the attack on Israel by the organization known as Hamas I was in shock, disbelief, and worry. I have family and friends who currently live in Israel. After hearing that they were mostly alright and that people were being enlisted. I realized just how bad this situation would spiral out of control. This attack killed hundreds and this was just the beginning. This later turned into a still ongoing war.

I remember when I came back to school after the weekend it was a very hot topic with many different perspectives and opinions. These differing opinions actually reminded me of a lesson in mythology class. This lesson in particular was about Medusa and how she was cursed by Athena. There were two main perspectives about why Medusa was cursed. The first was because Athena felt jealous of Medusa’s beauty and deemed that she violated her sacred temple. The second was that Athena felt pity for Medusa and chose to curse her in such a way that no man may be able to take advantage of her beauty again.

These two scenarios are very different yet in a case such as varying perspectives they are incredibly similar in that they teach the same lesson. It is important to learn about and see others perspectives as their maybe merit and truth to them. However, you must always stay true to yourself and believe in what you think is right. Looking for the most reliable and truthful resources to obtain your information is the best way to meet that standard.

Anton Yanaky, Period 6, 1/4/24

Anton Yanaky
Period 6
1/4/24
Modern Mythology 2024
Literacy & Learning


I’m interested in observing and learning how our environment influences our cultures and affects our collective consciousness. Recently, we started our unit on Norse mythology and I can’t help but compare it to Greek mythology, specifically how the climate where they originated from may have shaped them.

Winter and the cold were the bane of ancient societies, there was no technology available to stay warm and food was more difficult to come by. This was less of an issue in Ancient Greece, the mild Mediterranean climate staved off any fear of the winter seasons. Greek art, such as vases and statues, are numerous, suggesting that the absence of harsh weather allowed for a culture that could worry less about death and could afford to pursue intellectual and artistic endeavors. In tandem with that, Greek myth mostly focused on heroics and the exploits of man. A prominent example is Odysseus’ journey and trials on his way from Troy back to his home. In addition, there was also an absence of an apocalypse myth.

In comparison, the Vikings were situated in the far North, where winter was not only crueler but also lasted longer, in addition, that that, being so far north meant that there was less sun throughout the year and in some places, the sun never rose. I believe that these factors shaped Norse mythology to be darker and somber. In contrast to the Greeks, the Norse did have an apocalypse myth, Ragnarok, in which an eternal winter befalls Earth and all of humanity dies. This myth reveals the prevailing anxiousness and uncertainty that the Vikings held during winter, a particular harsh cold spell could have prompted the Norse to think, “What if it won’t ever end?”. The cruel environment that the Vikings endured was reflected in their myths and culture.

To conclude, our environment not only shapes who we are but our culture as a whole. Shared experiences and fears are embedded within our collective consciousnesses.

Kevin Zheng, Period 6, 01/09/2024

Kevin Zheng, Period 6, 01/09/2024
Modern Mythology 2024
Literacy and Learning


After exploring mythology for the previous few months, I was surprised to discover that mythology had a lot more connection to the contemporary world. Now after learning of Greek mythology, the class moved on and was introduced to Norse mythology. I learned that in the world of Norse mythology, both men and women are chosen and fated to meet their end in battle. The Gods were no different as even they were not exempt from Ragnarok, a catastrophic series of events that would bring about the destruction of the world and the demise of most of the Gods.

In the beginning, I disliked the concept of Ragnarok. To resist Ragnarok, Odin sought wisdom and knowledge. He also sent the Valkyries to select brave and skilled warriors from the mortal realm who would die in battle and be taken to Valhalla in the afterlife to assemble an army that would fight along in the final battle. Even so, the world and the Gods would ultimately meet their demise. In the end, there is no purpose in struggling when the outcome is the same, so what was the point of Odin’s resistance? There is no meaning behind it. While I continuously questioned these notions within Norse mythology, I slowly came to realize that our world was no different.

With our world undergoing pollution, global warming, climate change, and other environmental pollution, it is also on the path of destruction. At the same time, we too are struggling and attempting to find a solution to avoid the destruction of humanity. We established and enforced environmental laws and regulations. We tried to encourage alternatives. We had our voice and goal heard. However, all that did not make it any better for the world. Despite that, we continued.

We knew that Earth was limited in resources and space. Therefore, we sought beyond the planet, venturing into the vast reaches of outer space. One of the possibilities was Mars. With the billions of humans on the planet consuming up not only resources but also land, projects have been launched in the hope of uncovering more secrets about Mars and its past as well as the possibility that it could be a second habitable home for humanity. Even so, there are still disasters ahead in the distant future, with one of them being the Sun.

In about five billion years from now, the Sun, like any other star, will meet its fate and exhaust all its hydrogen fuel. As it undergoes the phases of star death, the Sun will slowly expand into a red giant. With its expansion, the temperature on Earth will increase and kill off all organisms. Even organisms living in the deep abyss of the ocean will not escape due to the heat evaporating the water on Earth. If by any miracle, any organism survives, the Sun will eventually expand and reach Earth, therefore consuming the entire planet. The further we look into the future, the results are still the same. Even if we succeed in escaping before the Sun reaches the end of its life cycle, the end of the universe is ahead, awaiting the ceaseless advance of time.

The study of Norse mythology has significantly influenced my perception of the concept of fate. The connection between Ragnarok, fate, and the real world has also led me to question further about walking a predetermined path. Why do the warriors seek glory through death in battle? Why does Odin walk the path of resisting Ragnarok? Likewise, why do we continue in search of a new possibility? Why do we persist in seeking ways to escape destruction, even when we exist within the boundaries of the universe fated to die? Why do I ask these questions? Because now, I believe I was mistaken. Maybe there was a purpose to challenging the destination of a predestined path of destruction, and there was a meaning behind everything.





Source:




Wendel, JoAnna. “Will the Sun Ever Burn Out?” Space.com, Mar. 2012, www.space.com/14732-sun-burns-star-death.html.



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Jayden Zhou, PD 6, 1/7/23

Blog #2
Jayden Zhou, PD 6, 1/7/23
Modern Mythology 2024
Topic: Research Paper



The Story of Narcissus and Echo in the Modern World


Most mythology-related tales (if not all) can connect to our modern world. This can be whether the myth explains why something happens (ex: thunder and lightning strikes because of the god Zues in Greek mythology), or why we name or associate a word to something else. One such example can be found in the Greek myth of Narcissus and Echo.

Why is a flower named after someone? Or even, what does it mean for someone to be a narcissus? To start, the first mention of the word “Narcissus” comes from the Metamorphoses by Ovid (a famous poet). Before his birth, his mother went to the blind prophet, Tiresias, who warned her about his prophecy. He said that Narcissus would live a happy and long life as long as he did not recognize who he was. Nevertheless, Narcissus was born. He was stunningly handsome and pretty much everyone that saw him fell in love with him. However, Narcissus ignored everyone and pushed them away, which brutally crushed their hearts. One of these people was Echo, who was a nymph. Echo was punished by Juno (Hera) for interfering with her and Jupiter (Zues). Echo’s curse was that she can never talk first and can only repeat the last words of someone else. In the scenario with Narcissus, she could not express her love towards him, due to the fact that she can repeat only what he says. Like the others, Narcissus pushed her away and broke her heart too. However on one day, he knelt to drink at a nearby pond, in which he fell in love with his own reflection. He spent many days constantly looking at his own reflection, and when he passed away, a flower was left near the pond in which he died.

This myth has many modern connections to our modern world. On the surface level, it explains why we relate certain words to explain something else. For example, the word “echo” is a sound caused by a reflection from a surface. It always comes last, similarly to how Echo could only repeat what others say. Another example is the word “narcissus”, which describes a flower as well as someone that is egocentric. In context of the myth, the flower describes the beauty of Narcissus, while his personality is also captured with the word. On a deeper level, a theme that emerges from the myth is love and obsession. Both of these terms go hand in hand, and too much of this can lead to one’s downfall.





References:

Kline, A.S, director. Ovid (43 BC–17) - The Metamorphoses: Book 3, 2000, https://www.poetryintranslation.com/PITBR/Latin/Metamorph3.php. Accessed 7 Jan. 2024.

Lawrence Li Period 6 11/29/23

 Lawrence Li

Period 6

11/29/23

Modern Mythology 2024

Literacy and Learning

In lesson 24, the aim of the lesson — How does Haynes build reflection into the text to develop character depth? — help guided us to look for ways the characters in Stone Blind have been reflective and how it showed growth and development. 

We were first asked to identify our core values and narrow them down to our top three and my top three values that I strive for and look for in a person are honesty, compassion, and personal growth.  I found these core values hard to narrow down as it’s hard to compare which values overpower others and was ultimately decided based on preference.

We transitioned into the lesson’s activity where we were to pick two characters and assign them the top three core values we think they would have with evidence from the text.  For example, my group and I discussed how Sthenno’s top three core values would be affection, caring, and unity as she deeply cares for her sister Medusa and believes that they were meant to be together all along representing unity.

At the end of the lesson, we had a class discussion where we discussed what ways the characters had been reflective.  Bringing back what we said in the group work, Sthenno was reflective when she admitted how much they had changed in a good way by raising Medusa and just enjoying the little things in life like a mortal.  Her reflection was really touching as she finally realized how much she had changed from taking in Medusa which leads back to the aim of the lesson we’re trying to answer where she develops character growth by enjoying the little things in their daily lives and reflecting on their time watching Medusa grow.

This lesson taught us how reflection builds character development which can also influence our critical perception by reflecting on our beliefs, biases, and past experiences to consider alternative perspectives when reading texts.  This can also be transferred to the world around us by looking at situations in a different light where we’re more understanding, challenging our own assumptions, and taking into account diverse viewpoints and cultural contexts.

Mina Zheng, Period 7, 1/4/2024

Mina Zheng Ms. Fusaro Modern Mythology Period 7 January 4 2024 The coming of the Apocalypse as described in the Bible seemed impossible to me at first impression, but Mr. Misciagna’s presentation, especially concerning the crossroads between religion and science, inspired me to research the connections that they may have. According to the research, many people believe that current events support the coming of the Apocalypse. Firstly, the “famines and pestilences” that Christ warns of in Luke 21:11 and Revelation 6:5-5 is a very relevant issue right now. Statistics from the World Bank predicts that in 2030, over 600 million people will experience famine. In addition, the U.N. states that the global population is projected to reach 12.3 billion by 2100, while only 9-10 billion people can be supported by Earth’s food resources. In Revelation 8:8-11, it states that the ending of the world includes the poisoning of oceans, and a widespread plague. The “poisoned oceans” can easily refer to pollution, which the world is struggling with right now. Research shows that more than 8 million tons of plastic are polluting the ocean every year, killing humans and animals alike. Some claim that the aforementioned plague may refer to the recent Covid-19 pandemic, which killed approximately 7 million people around the world. Finally, many predict an inevitable nuclear war, which might be the darkening of the sky, the burning of nature, and the “wars and rumors of wars” in Revelation and Mathew. Right now, tensions in Eastern Europe, Middle East, and Africa may point to a future global war that will bring about the end of the world. Many more connections can be drawn between the Biblical Apocalypse and science, though it is up to personal interpretation to decide if religious scriptures are true, or if they are simply coincidence. “Food Security: Rising Food Insecurity in 2023.” World Bank, World Bank Group, 16 Dec. 2023, www.worldbank.org/en/topic/agriculture/brief/food-security-update#:~:text=Up%20to%20783%20million%20people,in%20the%20most%20vulnerable%20regions%3F. Kneller, Sam. “The Book of Job Reveals Details of Big Bang and Formation of the Universe.” Medium, The Explanation, 30 Aug. 2023, medium.com/the-explanation/the-book-of-job-reveals-details-of-big-bang-and-formation-of-the-universe-224473f457a9.

Annie Zhao, PD 6, 1/4/24

Annie Zhao, PD 6, 1/4/24
Modern Mythology
Topic: Socio-political Consciousness

I think I can say for everyone that Covid messed us up in ways that we could never fix easily. Even if your family wasn’t affected by the pandemic as much as others were, there were still too many variables changed to truly remain the same as you were before 2020. Personally, I struggled with mental and physical health during the prolonged period of quarantine with lasting effects. Of course, I wasn’t alone as many others seemed to deal with the same issues, especially those my age.


Even before the pandemic, mental health issues have been rising significantly in young adults with a high relation to the increased use of technology and social media. In a study done by Jean Twenge, a psychology professor at San Diego State University, and her fellow co-authors, data from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health was analyzed, resulting in the conclusion that “...rates of recent serious psychological distress, past-year MDE [or Major Depressive Episodes], and past-year suicide-related outcomes (suicidal ideation, plans, attempts, and deaths by suicide) increased among adolescents aged 12 to 17 and young adults ages 18 to 25 between the mid-2000s and 2017, with smaller and less consistent increases among adults ages 26 and over.” Twenge believes that the changes in social interaction and lack of sleep due to the use of “electronic communication and digital media” may have been the reason behind the differences between teens and older adults.


Now, if the mental health issues of adolescents are increasing due to the frequent use of technology and cultural trends of social media, Covid-19 was bound to cause an even larger spike of mental health dilemmas with how we handled it. With everyone being confined in their homes for months beyond end, using electronics and digital devices was the only way to interact with people and create a false sense of normalcy in our daily lives. Researchers came to the conclusion that even three years after the onset of the pandemic, there are rising concerns that the US is experiencing a mental health crisis across more age cohorts. The viral disease, coupled with increased use of digital communication and socio-political disparity, led to an even higher rise in mental health and substance abuse issues. The rate of symptoms of anxiety and depressive disorders increased with young adults and adolescent females experiencing the largest uptakes. In a survey conducted by KFF/CNN, around half of parents reported that the pandemic had negatively impacted their children’s mental health and the gap in female adolescents reporting feelings indicative of depressive disorders increased from 47% in 2019 to 57% in 2021.


Now, years have passed since the start of Covid and life is seemingly back to normal, but I wonder what the true impact of the pandemic has had on teenagers and young adults. For us, it had appeared right at the onslaught of a huge transition in our lives. Even if we’re no longer experiencing the same emotions we felt during the first year, the changes we’ve experienced have no doubt have had lasting effects and will continue to do so for years to come. Fundamentally, our generation is a little messed up now and I’m curious as to how that will affect society as a whole. Obviously, everyone was affected by Covid but many of the older generations continue on with life with no qualms. These days, our generation is entering or has recently entered adult life and there already seems to be differences in the general ways of cultural trends and lifestyles. I’m intrigued to see how society will evolve.


In a worrying vein though, technology has been advancing at an exponential rate. The negative effects have already been showing in the younger generations with iPad kids and younger lax parents. Covid didn’t affect kids in the same way that teens and young adults were but the use of electronics and digital entertainment was definitely enforced, possibly too early in their stage of development. Chromebooks were free and readily available for those who didn’t have devices so most kids had easy access to the internet. There’s definitely been a rise in concern about the negative effects of technology for developing children these past few years and considering how my generation was affected, I’m not exactly optimistic about the younger generations. There’s a theory called Technological Singularity, where scientists believe that at a certain point, we’ll reach a level of technology that surpasses human ability. And that point in time is actually pretty close as evidenced by the new AI technology that’s become popularized. Futurist Ray Kurzweil, who has a prediction accuracy rate of 86%, even set the date we reach Singularity to be 2045. So with these new terrifying revelations, the lasting effects of recent world-wide issues and events, and the instability of the socio-political climate across the world, the future seems to be a scary place, a thought that further deters us from becoming adults with our difficult experiences.




Twenge, J. M., Cooper, A. B., Joiner, T. E., Duffy, M. E., & Binau, S. G. (2019). Age, period, and cohort trends in mood disorder indicators and suicide-related outcomes in a nationally representative dataset, 2005–2017. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 128(3), 185–199. https://doi.org/10.1037/abn0000410

Panchal N., Saunders H., Rudowitz R., & Cox C. (2023), The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use, KFF. https://www.kff.org/mental-health/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-substance-use/

Becher B. (2023), What is Technological Singularity?, Artificial Intelligence, Built In, https://builtin.com/artificial-intelligence/technological-singularity

Czeisler MÉ , Lane RI, Petrosky E, et al. Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, June 24–30, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69:1049–1057. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6932a1

Cye Zhang, Period 6, 01/05/2024

Cye Zhang, Period 6, 01/05

When I first came out as trans, my mom remarked, “But you were such a girly-girl as a child.” Chimamanda Adichie coined the idea of the trap of a single story in 2009 and it’s even more relevant in our current day where media plays an unprecedented role in shaping cultural norms and perceptions. I don’t know if you’ve seen the TedTalk I’m referring to but I have many many times, and while it might feel annoying and redundant at first, its significance and impact remains unwavering. Mainstream media favors binary and stereotypical portrayals of gender, reinforcing the idea that one's identity is fixed and should conform to society’s standards. Limited representation fails to capture the diverse experiences of queer individuals and contributes to the persistence of harmful stereotypes.

While the idea that trans people know they are trans from a young age may be true for certain people, this was not the case for me and many others. Growing up my favorite color was pink and I wanted to be a princess. All my friends were girls and I loved dressing up. I was met with a lot of apprehension and judgment when I told this to both people around me and medical professionals as I seeked gender affirming care; Many of them interpreted my feelings as confusion and just “a phase.” When the media chooses to portray transgender individuals, it is often chock full with misinformation. Such portrayals can result in misconceptions and contribute to the difficulties that trans individuals face when seeking understanding from others.

As I’ve begun to explore my identity more, I’ve come to recognize the numerous facets of social factors I am characterized as from society’s perspective. Whether it be ethnic congruence, gender identity, or my family’s socioeconomic status I’ve become aware of the impact of such factors and how they play a significant role in my life both as separate entities and overlapping systems of intersectionality. The concept of intersectionality was developed around the peak of feminist and critical race theory— its relevance indicative then and even more so now; Recognizing the idea that individuals have multiple social identities that intersect and interact to shape their experiences is important when analyzing and addressing social injustices. Highlighting the idea minorities are often complex and have diverse experiences aids in our ability to better understand and aid them efficiently. Systems of oppression are interconnected and mutually reinforcing, trapping individuals in uncomfortable situations where they might face double marginalization of interwoven complexity.

As an Asian trans minor I am more than familiar with these struggles, these are fundamental aspects of my identity that impacts my livelihood every single day. The marginalization of queer youth of color is profoundly important to highlight as a person part of the demographic. Queer Asian-Americans are very stigmatized and are often targeted from multiple faucets whether it be xenophobia towards our cultural background or queerphobia from the ways we identify and choose to express ourselves. This leaves us incredibly vulnerable to violence and discrimination from those around us.

I am so grateful to have grown up in NYC however this has also led to some ignorance on my end. For example, I tend to forget that I’m a person of color and a minority because of how diverse my school is. Researching colleges was a very sobering experience for me as I looked at the ethnic demographics of my “dream schools.” On the other hand, I’m very lucky to have grown up here– most people have been open minded and respectful about my identity. I still feel so powerless watching as Anti-Trans bills are passed restricting gender affirming care and banning books in other parts of the country.

Moreover, from 2021 to 2022 Asian hate crime went up three hundred thirty nine percent nationwide (Yam). In Chinese culture the idea of altering your body in any way is very frowned upon as it's considered disrespectful to one’s family and ancestors. Anything from dyed hair to piercings beyond the lobe to tattoos are deeply frowned upon. You can imagine the horror of my parents and extended family when I came out and eventually went on to seek hormone replacement therapy and medically transition. They had a lot of trouble understanding how I felt and why it was so important to me that I was willing to put foreign substances in my body. The ingrained belief that an individual's body belongs to their ancestors was a significant obstacle; however patience allowed for eventual compromise. Despite their acceptance, visiting family for holidays is still an ordeal. They no longer shame me for my identity, but they continue to call me my deadname regardless of my demonstrated discomfort. I find myself in an exhausting battle, choosing between preserving my personal peace and further invoking strain to familial relationships. While they might not fully understand, I am still very privileged to have an environment I feel safe enough in to come out which is not the case for many other queer individuals.

In this day and age the media is everywhere, holding great power over our perspectives and opinions. It’s important to keep an open mind and strive to be more inclusive by recognizing that personal experiences are complex and differ from one another. Being educated and educating others is essential as is compassion and support to those who are impacted.

“Anti-Asian Hate Crimes Increased 339 Percent Nationwide Last Year, Report Says.” NBCNews.Com, NBCUniversal News Group, 14 Feb. 2022, www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/anti-asian-hate-crimes-increased-339-percent-nationwide-last-year-repo-rcna14282

Andrew Neria, Period 1, 12/8/23

Andrew Neria, Period 1, 12/7/23

LITERACY AND LEARNING

• Write about your thoughts/feelings regarding any of the fiction or nonfiction 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?

I really enjoy the idea of taking de facto, classical ideas and flipping them on their heads by reimagining them in a more openminded fashion.  Natalie Haynes rewriting of Medusa’s story brings a fresh perspective on the classic tale.  It reminded me of our reading of The Great Gatsby from junior year.  Daisy has long been criticized for the actions of Jay and Tom, yet we took a step back and thought about the choices that they gave her, the mould that women at the time were expected to fit, and the circumstances beyond her control.  It was refreshing to look beyond the analyses on SparkNotes or even those championed by seasoned readers and challenge old-fashioned ideas with a contemporary take.  In the same way, Medusa was originally a footnote in someone else’s story, and has assumed a menacing identity with her rise of popularity in pop culture.  Haynes studied Medusa’s story and challenged the modern perception of what a monster truly is.

I also thought it was interesting how this researching the original story of Medusa made me more mindful of my subconscious use of critical theory lenses.  I didn’t realize the prevalence of the new historicism lens until I read Medusa and other tales concerning rape and thought to myself: Why are the victims of rape being punished?  Why does almost every Greek god commit/suffer from sexual immorality?  I was pulling from values and ideas in the 21st century, but I failed to take the social norms of ancient Greek society into account.  It was generally frowned upon, but treated as an act of adultery.  I also thought that the commentary on power and humanity that is prevalent in Greek mythology was very interesting.  Why were the Greek gods rape-y?  I drew back on our reading of The Lord of the Flies from sophomore year and how the author argued that sexual immorality is engrained in human nature and prevented by civilization.  It was interesting to see how having power could drive these divine beings to become self-indulgent monsters.  If you looked around at the rich and powerful during the time of the ancient Greece or during modern-day, it really brings into question the truth behind the visions of those years before us.

The symbolic nature of Medusa’s character intrigues me as well.  Her snakes, her tusks, even her name are meant to strike fear into people.  She represents a fear of the natural world.  And yet, she represents more than that.  On one end is poison and the other is medicine.  What is meant to terrify is also meant to protect.  The duality of this character reminded me of Frankenstein’s monster from Frankenstein.  Frankenstein’s monster is a freak of nature: a blue, veiny, towering patchwork of festering flesh.  Yet, he is more human than most of the characters in the entire story.  He starts life almost as a newborn and is cast into the world to fend for himself.  Dispute this, he makes an amazing connection with nature: he appreciates the birds, the trees, the wind, and the water.  Frankenstein’s monster is a result of humanity’s audacity to defy the natural order, yet he himself is the embodiment of the beauty of the natural world.  He is a failure of human creation, yet is failed by humanity itself.  Similarly, Medusa is a product of her twisted society and yet she represents strength and resilience in the face of the world’s injustice.

These usage of analysis in English class help me understand the more subliminal elements of characterization and how it can affect bias.  It teaches me to be more mindful of how I approach dogma that has become so prevalent that many take them as fact.  I know that the perspectives I take will be my own and not the product of regurgitated opinions because of the skill I have developed, which helps me look beyond a given viewpoint and foster new and original ones.

Christopher Salguero, Period 7, 1/3/2024

Love in our Lives and Greek Mythology From a young age we are taught that love is how one person shares their happiness with another and that the only people we should love are those worth loving. It may be easier for us to tell someone we love them when we are younger and our souls are innocent, but this can change over time as we begin to meet new people that affect the way we look at things. Throughout our lives, we all experience love whether it be with a significant other or someone that we have known our entire lives. We can also find love in various ways, such as a platonic love for someone we are close friends with or an intimate love for someone that we have grown a strong romantic bond with. Our perspective on love changes as we grow older; our younger selves are much more lenient on choosing who to love than our older selves are. Children are born with untainted souls that slowly grow tainted as they are exposed to new situations that can change their views on certain topics. This refers to the well-known concept of nature versus nurture, the idea that we are born with a pure heart, and the development of our personality depends on the environment that we are raised in. When we are younger, we are oblivious to the idea that others might cause us harm, so the worry about the people that we express our love for does not exist. When I was about nine or ten years old, I remember visiting my family in Colombia and meeting my youngest cousin for the first time. She told me that she loved me with the biggest smile on her face. This goes to show the mindset of children when speaking of loving someone; they aren’t serious when it comes to determining who these words are meant for. These words are more of a way to show that they care for a person and to show their gratitude for someone. As we grow older the strength of the word love multiplies, and we only use it when speaking about or to someone that we are extremely fond of. There are three types of people in our lives that we would consider to love: friends , family, and romantic partners. Friendly love is the affection that we show for our friends whom we have grown strong bonds with. Despite the conflicts that we might have with our friends, with a strong enough bond that friendship is unbreakable no matter what may happen. Love for our family is one that we are born with, and only grows stronger as we realize how much our family members have done for us. Though we may not like our family members, we are obliged to love them for what they have done for us, and the blood that we share. Romantic love may be one of the strongest types of love we can show for another human being. It is the love that we share with our significant others; the people that we show our affection for, and those that we genuinely love with all of our hearts. It is through the relationships that we develop over time in which we are able to express our love for one another. These relationships can also be found in many pieces of literature, even one of the oldest like the bible. Our most recent Ancient World unit taught us more about religious texts such as the bible, and many stories in the bible also teach us concepts of love. One biblical love story I read about was the story of Jacob and Rachel (Genesis 29:14-30). In this story, Jacob offers to work for Laban for seven years in return for his daughter Rachel’s hand in marriage. Laban tricks him however, and makes him marry his elder daughter Leah. Despite being tricked, Jacob’s love for Rachel makes him offer another seven years of labor in order to be able to finally marry her. This story displays a concept of undying loyalty and willingness to make sacrifices for true love. From the youngest points in our lives to the day we die, different forms of love are seen all throughout the world. Whether it be the love we share for others or the love we find in our favorite stories, the concept of love is everlasting. Love always prevails.