Eddie Chi, Period 2, 9/30/20, Day A

 Eddie Chi

9/30/20

Period 2

Modern Mythology 2021

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

I do have goals. For me, goals aren't just one achievement, they are processes that involve checkpoints. These checkpoints can be anything like a certain time I have to wake up at or finishing a college supplement on time. Once I pass one checkpoint, I'm on to the next, and eventually, I will reach my goal. Currently, the goal I'm most focused on right now is trying to adjust to the world at this point. Covid-19 has been going on for a while, and it was expected to end much sooner. Yet, now it seems likely it's going to last until 2021 keeping me home even longer.  Despite all the time I spent at home already, this time it's different. 

Most of my time in quarantine was spent at either at the end of the school year and in the summer so I wasn't expected to focus on responsibilities in school. Even though I did do some work, the introduction of college apps does add some weight. It's a struggle even if Covid-19 wasn't happening. But on top of that, I have to keep up my responsibilities at home. Before school, I had a problem trying to feel productive. So every day I would try to achieve some little goal to make it seem like I'm moving forward. I would exercise, read a book, and do chores. It made me feel productive and it put a smile on my face. So now I feel obligated to keep these little checkpoints in mind: daily exercising, laundry, and cooking. The reason why this its such a huge goal is that I can't overwork myself. This time makes it especially difficult because I will have to put maximum effort into every writing piece, daily chore, and math problem for me to become successful. The key is to find the balance and I'll take it one step at a time to achieve this goal.

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

Right now, I'm making little Post-it notes to stick on my wall for To-Do lists. They have every single assignment, essay, and reminder that I have to do. It makes me satisfied when I complete one but the main reason they are there is so I can plan every day out. I'm trying not to overwork myself but at the same time create very productive strides. Currently, on my wall, I have this blog, University of Michigan supplements, FAFSA, and my English fairytale paper. I planned it so I can do them all on a weekend while completing all my homework during the week. 

During the day, I try to wake up earlier so I can get the day started. I like to dedicate up to 4 hours of work a day to not overwork myself. Most importantly, I'd like to spread it out because this would give me the time to enjoy my day. One way of doing this is after lunch. Usually, I would eat lunch at 1-2 and since I can't exercise an hour after lunch (because of cramps), I can do work during that time. And at night, I can write essays or I can enjoy my time playing games or just relaxing. Take today, for example, it's my break day so I am writing this blog when I should be exercising because I plan to write my UMich supplements at night. And yesterday, I worked assignments in the morning and afternoon because I knew at night, I would be distracted from the NBA Finals.

These checkpoints are realistic but the main goal only comes through time. I don't expect to achieve it instantly but I know I will adjust to it eventually. The addition of college apps does pose a challenge but it was originally a challenge handling extracurriculars as well. I'm confident that if I work hard enough and keep my priorities straight, my goal will eventually be in reach.

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

The world right now is in a hectic time. It definitely adds to the difficulties of my goal. One is that it poses a huge distraction. My parents are super worried about the pandemic so the only time I can go out is when I want to go on a walk (I went on one today!). Yet, when I look around, I see all my friends from school going out to hang out and play volleyball. It definitely adds to my fear of missing out. It makes me feel like I can do so much more on my downtime. Yet the only thing that is keeping me focused is that I have to be patient so I can complete all my responsibilities while staying safe. Another difficulty is the pressure, especially for college. Many people are working hard, not just me, and they all want to get into good schools. It makes me nervous about the competition and how others can balance out their time and simultaneously work hard on their applications. It also makes me worry if I can be successful and if what I'm doing is right. 

If looking through a global lens, I'm only one person out of billions. I have to work hard to make a difference but no matter how small the lens is, I'm still going to be comparable to others. It adds distractions, pressures, and unexpected outcomes to my goals. The world just makes it harder.

Jenny Cheung, PD2, 9/30/20, Day A

 Write about your thoughts regarding the most current reading.

    Our most current reading was the myth of Icarus and Daedalus. Any current teenager worth their salt probably knows the story from Percy Jackson in The Battle of the Labyrinth as Daedalus was a prominent character who was technically neither living nor dead. It was interesting to read the original story and compare it with my prior knowledge because of the contrast between the different tones and storytelling. Rick Riordan had included some of the original myth and spun a new tale with the more supernatural aspects and giving a new identity to Daedalus. The original myth was very short as it strove to tell a moral that you shouldn’t indulge in hubris (a word created by ancient Greeks that was a flaw that caused the downfall of many heroes; meaning excessive pride) or greedy. Depending on how you look at the myth, Icarus’s death could be the cause of many factors. Since he was trapped, he spread his wings, literally, and did not heed his father’s warnings to not fly too high. It could be that because he was simply too curious of the outside world, the new experience of flying was too exhilarating and he forgot to watch himself, or did not think he would fall because of his faith in his father. 

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

    Learning about the critical theory itself has really opened my eyes to critical perception itself. While I knew that people criticized many classical works like fairy tales or Shakespeare’s works, I never knew that there was a movement of looking at these stories through different lenses like feminism, moral criticism, Marxist criticism, etc. These movements have existed for decades also means that scholars have always been looking at stories at different perspectives to challenge society’s perceptions of classic tales. We also learned about archetypes and axes of transformation to be able to recognize stories that share similarities with plot or characters that share similar traits. Through this new information, it influences how I read stories now because I can now recognize archetypes with the knowledge that through deconstruction, characters or new stories have been influenced by old stories directly or indirectly, showing how influential they are to society. 

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

    The critical theory is used to criticize literature but it can also teach us about how to deconstruct any piece of media and look at it objectively. Right now, there is a lot of discourse relating to politics and there are many articles and news shows that are documenting events about the election. Each of these are narrated or written by humans and although some try to be as objective as possible, humans have biases and those biases may influence how the information is conveyed. We also learn how to critisize versus being critical which is extremely important because through criticism, we address an author's bias but through being critical, we remove our own biases and the author's biases as well. By using critical theory, we learn how to look at them objectively and how to overlook bias to correctly inform ourselves. 

Melanie Choe, PD8, 9/29/20, Day C

 

• 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?

Melanie Choe

Modern Mythology 

Ms. Fusaro

9/29/2020

Issues of inequity and oppression span across multiple generations, various demographics, and are a part of many different histories. Our current political and social climate, however, draws attention to the years of systemic racism and police brutality the African American community has faced. Systemic racism refers to the systems in place that serve to place a certain social or ethnic group in a better position to succeed, while simultaneously placing other groups at a disadvantage, resulting in these issues of inequity and oppression. Systems such as the stop and frisk program allow police officers to detain someone for questioning with the belief that the person is involved in a crime, only to lead to innocent black and Latino people being targeted. Another system is the school to prison pipeline, in which black and brown students from disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to become incarcerated because of the harsh punishments they are more likely to receive than their white peers, especially if there is a police presence in the school. Despite systems such as these examples, there are those who believe that systemic racism is purely just a myth, but the  murders of innocent African Americans such as George Floyd and Breonna Taylor cannot be simply justified. These past few months, we have witnessed a shift in awareness and the shouting of hundreds of names whose deaths cannot be simply justified. It is truly heartbreaking to read the stories behind those names, and the pain their close ones have endured must have been unimaginable. 

Throughout this blog, I have been very wary of using personal pronouns because I did not want to add on to the problem of thinking that I am helping as an ally, but in reality I am actually causing more harm than good. I had a recent conversation with my sister who told me, “You think those who don’t believe in what you believe in are crazy, but they think the same about you and their own morals.” And her words made me realize that it is so difficult to change someone’s beliefs, especially if they have had them for such a long time. And of course there are people who are open to change, but it is not my place to be accepting any apology. I am just grateful that I have the opportunity to educate myself for the better and have the chance to witness the beautiful culture of the African American community, whether it is through the

Bella Chen, PD8, 9/29/20, Day C

Bella Chen
09/29/20
Period 8
Modern Mythology

Write about your thoughts regarding the most current reading.

I’ll admit, when I applied to Modern Mythology, I didn’t expect to be covering fairy tales. I have never really given too much consideration to the stories I was told as a child, but over the course of these last few weeks, I have learned more about the significance of fairy tales and the complexity behind some of the classic tales of my childhood. Something I realized about the different renditions of Cinderella that we read over the summer and at the beginning of the year is that certain themes of the classic story I remember aren’t as permanent or central to the story as I previously thought. During the readings, I noticed that aspects of the story were constantly changing from the version that I grew up with. From Cinderella having a father or step mother, to even one version where Cinderella was a boy! It’s interesting seeing what themes change and what remains the same throughout the stories.

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

In this English class I learned what folklore really means and how social media has contributed to the documentation of folklore today. Folklore has always been something I associated with wisdom, stories passed around campfires, and old traditions. And while this may have been what folklore was in the past, today folklore is jokes, memes, and opinions that pass through the world wide web. This has affected my critical perception by changing the way I think about the internet and social media. I may not be Aristotle dropping life-changing critical theories in Tumblr, but that doesn’t mean that the cat video I’m reposting at 3 in the morning isn’t a contribution to our society. It’s ironic because my friends and I are always joking that if a historian 100 years from now looks at us today, they could devote their whole lives to analysing memes. And in reality, they most likely will.

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

I feel like skills in critical thinking that I learn in English can be readily applied to history and, in my case, government and politics. To think critically is a massive skill and English class, no matter what selective class you choose, is constantly developing and promoting us to instinctively think about what we see around us and the truth and meaning behind it. Government and politics is constantly filled with half-truths, lies, misdirection, and murky information. Critical thinking is so important in this field there’s no wonder why social studies goes hand in hand with English class.

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

Ian Clarke

9/25/20

Period 5

Modern Mythology 2021

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

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

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

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

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


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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ashwin Anil
Modern Mythology
9/23/20
Period 8




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


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



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



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



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


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