Evan Lu, Period 1, 12/06/2023

 Evan Lu Period 1

12/6/23

Modern Mythology 2024

Japanese mythology and celtic mythology have a lot in common Japanese mythology 

In the beginning, there was nothing except the sea and the land, not even gods or people or time. A white mare named Eiocha was born from the sea foam. She eats seeds from a tree. The seeds grew into a child inside her, which she gave birth to. This child was the god Cernunnos. To cope with the pain giving birth, Eiocha ripped a piece of bark from the tree and threw it into the ocean. Thus, the deep-sea giants were created. Cernunnos is lonely so Eiocha makes more gods Maponos, the God of Youth Tauranis, the God of Thunder. Teutates, the Protector Epona, the Goddess of Fertility. Eiocha renames herself Tethra, the Goddess of the Deep. The gods and goddesses made the first man and the first woman from the tree. They also made animals and ordered the tree to grow into a forest. Epona makes horses in honor of her mother. Teutates creates bow and arrows and clubs from the bark of the tree because he is the protector. Tauranis the God of Thunder creates a thunderbolt. Maponos God of Youth, I create a harp. Deep sea giants are jealous of the gods and goddesses because the gods and goddesses live on land while the deep sea giants are stuck in the water so they attack the gods and goddesses. War began  and during the battle, the oak tree protected the deities. Eventually, the gods and goddesses won. Everything is destroyed but Epona saves one man and woman who procreated and made the world as it is today.

The deities called upon two divine beings, Izanagi no Mikoto(He who invites) and Izanami no Mikoto(She Who Invites) to terraform Earth They bestowed Izanagi with a spear called Ama-no-Nuboko. This spear was decorated with costly gems and when Izanagi descended onto Earth he dipped his spear in the muddy water and drew out droplets. These droplets coagulated and formed the island of Onokoro Delighted, the two made it their goal to create a country The two deities then descended upon Onokoro and created a great palace called the “Hall of Eight Fathoms”. They then erected a pillar called “The Heavenly August Pillar” The two would go around this pillar and every time they met, they will procreate. During their first encounter, Izanami greeted Izanagi first, which was deemed improper as it was believed females should not take precedence over males. As a result, their first child Hiruko was born weak and boneless like a leech. Disgusted with this child, they abandoned it and started the ritual over again. First, the island of Awaji was born, next, Shikoku, then, the island of Oki, followed by Kyushu; after that, the island Tsushima came into being, and lastly, Honshu, the main island of Japan. The name of Oyashimakuni (the Country of the Eight Great Islands) was given to these eight islands. They also gave birth to numerous other smaller islands. After creating a country, the two went on to create deities to inhabit it, some notable ones are: The Sea God, Owatatsumi no Kami Wind deity, Kami-Shinatsuhiko-no-Mikoto Kukunochi-no-Kami, the deity of trees Oyamatsumi-no-Kami, the deity of mountains Kayanu Hime-no-Kami, the goddess of the plains Kagutsuchi-no-Kami, the deity of fire. Misfortune struck when Izanami was giving birth to Kagutsuchi-no-Kami, she was fatally burned. Izanagi did everything in his power to resuscitate her but to no avail Before Izanami passed away, Izanami created other deities: Kanayama- biko and Kanayama-hime, respectively the god and goddess of metals, sprang forth from her mouth Other parts of her body issued forth Haniyasu-hiko and Haniyasu-hime, respectively the god and goddess of earth. And finally, Mizuhame-no-Mikoto, the Kami of Water The death of Izanami marks the intrusion of death into the world. Unable to accept her death, Izanagi went to Yomi, the land of darkness, to bring her back Unfortunately having eaten the food of the land of the dead, Izanami cannot return After lighting a fire, Izanagi saw Izanami decomposing which enraged her Horrified, Izanagi started to flee. But Izanami pursued him. Upon reaching the entrance to Yomi, Izanagi blocked the entrance with stone and sealed Izanami Izanagi bathed in the sea to purify himself from contact with the dead. As he bathed, he created even more deities. The sun goddess Amaterasu was born from his left eye, the moon god Tsukuyomi was born from his right eye, and the storm god Susanoo was born from his nose.

One modern discovery of Japanese folklore is that there were written accounts of a red light in the shape of a pheasant's tail in the sky. Scientists believe this red aurora was produced during magnetic storms. Our study of folklore tries to explain things that we don’t understand.The ancient Japanese could not understand why they saw a red light in the shape of a pheasant's tail so they tried to explain it using mythology. They thought it was a god trying to communicate a message but in reality it was just a red aurora. 

The Greek creation story had some similarities and differences compared to the Japanese creation story . In both the universe started with nothing and gods created the world. In the Greek creation story Gaia gave birth to Uranus asexually and then he fertilized her. She gave birth to 12 titans, 6 males and 6 females. In the Japanese creation story, 2 gods created the entire world while in the Greek creation story, the world just came out of nothing. In the Japanese creation story, Izanami and Izanagi proceeded to create many other gods while in the Greek creation story, Gaia gave birth to 12 titans and Cronus was the father of all the gods. Cronus castrated his father and threw his genitals into the ocean which created Aphrodite. Cronus became the ruler of gods with Rhea and then he ate every child that Rhea gave birth to because he was scared his children were going to overthrow him like he overthrew Uranus. Rhea hide Zeus after he was born and then Zeus drugged his father and caused Cronus to throw up all the other gods he devoured and there was a war for rulership of the gods and the Olympians won. In Japanese mythology there is no fighting and the creation of gods and the world was peaceful. In Greek mythology the humans were created by prometheus and he gave them fire and to punish him Zeus created a human named Pandora and gave her a box she was told not to open. Inside the box was evil and misfortune and plagues but there was also hope. While in the Japanese creation story it does not say how humans were created. In the Japanese creation story Izanami also dies after giving birth to the fire god, while in the Greek creation story no one died giving birth. Izanagi goes to the underworld and tries to bring Izanami back but sees her rotting face and runs away. He then baths after contact with the dead and births more gods. The Japanese creation story also only talks about how Japan was created and the Greek creation story talks about the entire world. Although the beginning of the world was nothingness in both stories, the way the gods created the world and the gods were different.

Matthew Shi - Period 6 - 12/04/2023

 Matthew Shi - Period 6 - 12/04/2023

Modern Mythology 2024

Socio-Political Consciousness

The government is the overarching authority that governs the entire nation. We rely on them as a source of security and as a way to represent ourselves. It’s no surprise that seeing the expulsion of our leaders has caused a stir within the government. George Santos was a United States Representative who had recently been expelled from the House of Representatives. Within the history of the United States, there have only been 5 members throughout history that have been expelled. Three of the members were expelled for fighting for the Confederacy in the Civil War. Michael J. “Ozzie” Myers was the fourth member to be expelled in 1980 after conviction of bribery and corruption. James Traficant was the fifth, being convicted of tax evasion, obstruction of justice, bribery, and racketeering. Santos had become the sixth member, being expelled for 13 federal charges including false statements to Congress and money laundering. 

Power. The double edged sword that has thousands of meanings. One meaning can be to have power essentially makes someone the person they want to be. The common media may be seen as lacking power due to their incapacity to change and influence, yet they themselves retain the most power. They have the power to choose their leaders. In turn, leaders follow the will of the people. Or rather, they are supposed to. Self interest can corrupt power into a way that was never intended by the people. Santos is a prime example of someone who had used his power for his own gains. As people began to dig deeper, they began to uncover his lies, contradictions, and deceit. He lied about his education, against Congress, prior work history, towards donors, and the list goes on. After his expulsion, he retains an arrogant attitude upon his dismissal. It truly makes me wonder how someone like Santos was able to end up in a position of power with an entire background of lies.

Leaders are typically well educated and respected people who want to bring change. They are role models and aspirations as they have the courage to stand for not only themselves but for the people. They are trustworthy and people support them in the hope for a better future in their leadership. Yet these traits are not generally retained throughout all leaders. Despite our support for them, leaders are still humans. They are not omniscient beings that are looking or capable of satisfying everyone. Just like everyone else, they have flaws. It’s only a matter of what they chose to do with their flaws, to overcome them or become corrupted.

As I continue to grow older, the reality becomes that one day, I have to vote for one of these leaders. I used to dissuade from politics as the media itself tends to sway people towards a certain direction. They broadcast and focus on certain events in order to push a certain viewpoint towards their own personal goals. While not all media is intended to pursue an ulterior motive, there’s no way of telling whether or not what we see is what is really happening. However, I am under the government, whether I like it or not. While I could always refuse to vote, I am essentially giving my voice away and more corrupt leaders may appear within the government. Slowly, I have tried to become more involved within the modern conflicts. Rather than looking at it through a single news source, I look at the topics and what people have to say from multiple sources. While Santos may have lied about his career, he had still managed to gain enough support to become part of the House of Representatives briefly. Media can be a dangerous tool. 

To become more involved in politics, I want to retain an unbiased attitude of judgment. While I am prone to sway towards one opinion very quickly and remain stubborn to change, such an attitude could cause a huge mistake to be made. Remaining an unbiased attitude also allows me to see people for what they truly are. If people were more careful and actually checked Santos, the entire situation could have been avoided. Others are swayed more easily without giving a second thought within it. These events are the perfect example of what people shouldn’t be doing. While the temptation of power is great and others have abused it, it’s something that we shouldn’t be. We don’t want to become corrupt and end up being expelled as well. The future generation is what makes the future and perhaps one day, we will be able to make a great change.

Edward Novodvorsky, Period 1, 12/11/23

Edward Novodvorsky
Period #1
12/11/23
Modern Mythology 2024

Literacy and Learning - Takeaways from Stone Blind

Over the past few months or so, we have read and analyzed Natalie Haynes’s Stone Blind, a novel which offered a different perspective on a myth I thought I was familiar with prior to reading. Throughout October, November, and into December, we spent lessons in which we analyzed the way Haynes looked at Greek mythology through a different perspective, focusing on the intrinsic motivations of certain characters, as well as the intended message Stone Blind meant to convey. In the end, I felt that Stone Blind attempted to tear down some of the preconceived notions we had not only about Greek mythology, but about society as a whole. Throughout it all, there remains one key ideal, best summed up by a quote written on the outer cover of the hard copy of Stone Blind - “They will fear you and flee you and call you a monster.”

Prior to beginning Stone Blind, we watched Clash of the Titans, a film from 1981 which showed the myth of Perseus. I enjoyed the movie, even though the special effects made it cartoonish at times. Knowing that we were about to start reading a book which attempted to look at the story of Medusa through a different lens, I attempted to focus on the scene when she appeared and fought Perseus. The truth is, in Clash of the Titans, Medusa looked like a monster. The snakes were terrifying, her face looked hideous, and she showed no signs of being anything but a creature out to kill. This was the version of Medusa that was pushed out in pop culture, both through films like Clash of the Titans, as well as through the Percy Jackson series.

From the first page of Stone Blind, I could tell that this was going to be a completely different interpretation of the tale of Medusa. Haynes showed Medusa as a victim of a multitude of crimes. Medusa was a victim of Poseidon’s hunger, a victim of Perseus’s immaturity and arrogance, a victim of the collaboration of gods and goddesses. Medusa had control of nothing, including the supposed “power” which made her a “monster” in the first place. Stone Blind showed that Medusa wasn’t a monster by any means, and that there were other characters which showed monstrosity far more than she did.

In Lesson 1, we read the primary source of the story of Medusa - Hesiod’s Theogony. In that text, the role of Medusa was very minor. All that is mentioned is that Medusa was a mortal Gorgon, she suffered a woeful fate, and that Pegasus and Chryasor sprang out of her head when Perseus beheaded her. The primary sources write that Medusa was raped by Poseidon in the temple of Athena, and that Athena, as a form of retribution, cursed Medusa. When connecting the primary sources to what we read in Stone Blind, one question came to mind - why did so many choose to depict Medusa as a monster when she clearly wasn’t one? This was a question of critical perception that I thought about for a good twenty to thirty minutes after finishing the book last Saturday. Then, it hit me - we see this all the time.

People have been wrongfully accused of actions for millenia, whether it be false accusations of sexual assault or someone being convicted of a crime they didn’t commit. This was Medusa in Stone Blind - although Medusa was raped by Poseidon, instead of helping the victim and focusing her anger on the god who committed this abhorrent act, Athene instead punishes the one who was attacked. Medusa is created into someone who can’t even look at her own sisters due to the fear of potentially turning them into stone, all for something which wasn’t her own fault, and all while the actual convict gets away with his actions. This isn’t just about Medusa, however. Throughout all of history, people have been molded into monsters, even when they did not do anything wrong. When I look at Medusa, I think of all of the marginalized communities, both in the United States and around the world, that have been villainized and created into monsters all because certain groups decided to spread fear about other groups. Medusa wasn’t a monster. She was made into one, and people, whether it be Perseus in Stone Blind or us as young children reading Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, started to fear her.

And yet, the question still remains - why Medusa? After all, from what we read in Stone Blind, it’s quite clear that Perseus, a character who has so often been portrayed as a noble hero, is far more of a monster than Medusa is. Perseus leaves the Graiai sisters blind and hungry, beheads Medusa in her sleep, uses the gorgoneion to turn a shepherd into stone, uses the same gorgoneion to kill Medusa’s mother using her own head, and then kills dozens of people at a wedding after Phineus attempts to fight Cepheus, Cassiope, and Andromeda for not going through with the planned wedding. Perseus could easily be described as a mass murderer. However, through the lens he has been viewed in our times, Perseus is a hero, and we seldom question it. The fact that Stone Blind does so, however, makes it powerful.

In our lesson on Greek theatre, we discussed the idea of catharsis, which is a purification of emotions like fear and pity from the audience of a Greek tragedy. In a way, I feel like this reading was cathartic. The more I thought about the characters of Medusa and Perseus in Stone Blind, the more I realized that there are plenty of people on Earth who are just like them. Whether it be celebrities like Harvey Weinstein who seemed normal in the public eye but were vicious monsters on the inside, or those like Peng Shuai, a Chinese tennis player who went missing after accusing a retired Chinese official of rape, there are plenty of people in modern society that depict the characteristics of Medusa and Perseus. As such, those characters, especially after the numerous discussions we had in class on the portrayal of Medusa and her connections to the idea of monstrosity, have become symbolic.

Perhaps it is no surprise that Medusa has become a symbol of the #MeToo movement. Not only was Medusa a victim of rape, her abuser got away scot-free, while she bore all of the punishment. Although Luciano Garbati’s “Medusa With The Head of Perseus” was not originally intended to become a symbol of the movement, it's quite clear that the sculpture itself shows a change in the perspective of mythology. Prior to analyzing the story of Medusa in the way we did while reading Stone Blind, I thought Medusa was a monster. In fact, Natalie Haynes herself thought Medusa was a monster prior to doing her own research on the book. However, times are changing, and novels like Stone Blind allow us to view common stories in different ways, potentially forming different opinions.

To end off, I do have to say that I truly enjoyed reading Stone Blind. It was a novel which provoked many questions, as well as covered different myths outside of the story of Perseus, Andromeda, and Medusa. However, the main takeaway I will never forget from Stone Blind is that you can never identify a monster simply by looking at them. Whether it be by their thoughts or their actions, characters may not always be what they seem, even if preconceived notions support it. There’s always a different angle, even if it takes a little digging to get to it, and it’s important to adjust critical perception to recognize it. In the end, Medusa wasn’t a monster, that I am sure of. I’m also sure that there are many more like her.

Eric Jiang, Period 7, 12/5/23

Eric Jiang Pd 7 12/5/2023

Modern Mythology

Literature circle

Circe by Madeline Miller

Circe by Madeline Miller is a retelling of the Greek story of the witch Circe from
Homer's Odyssey, which offers a lot of different themes to talk about. We can use the
feminist critical theory lens to Circe can give us insight into the novel's exploration of
gender dynamics and the freedom of women living in a patriarchal society. Circe was
initially played as a minor character in Greek mythology but in this book she emerged as
a more developed character, challenging traditional gender roles. Miller does a good job
of re-imagining Circe's story, allowing her to have more freedom from the limits of her
original myth and depicting her course toward self-discovery and autonomy.
In Circe's original myth, she is depicted traditionally as a female minor character in
Greek mythology but in the story she challenges the historical limits of female figures in
ancient stories or myths. In the story, it says “It is a common saying that women are
delicate creatures, flowers, eggs, anything that may be crushed in a moment's
carelessness. If I had ever believed it, I no longer did” The author depicts how others try
to put women down and put constraints on them but Circe no longer believes it to be true
and also sees it as a constraint and not believing is to try and break free from the
constraint placed on women. Another quote that shows how the author subverts
traditional women's roles is “Only that: we are here. This is what it means to swim in the
tide, to walk the earth and feel it touch your feet. This is what it means to be alive.” This
shows that to be free is to be truly alive and women deserve this too and should not be so
constrained by others. But the author also depicts oppression as well. In the text, it says
“In the feasting hall, gods still drank and laughed and lay across each other’s laps. I
watched them. I waited for someone to remark on my absence, but no one did, for no one
had noticed. Why would they? I was nothing, a stone. One more nymph child among the
thousand thousand.” The author does a good job showing that at the beginning of the
story, Crice was not special and only after the journey did she turn into a powerful
sorcerer.

The novel subverts traditional gender roles, presenting Circe's evolution from a normal,
overlooked nymph into a powerful sorceress who takes control of her destiny by creating
things like sorcery. An aspect of the feminist lens in Circe is the consequences of defying
society’s expectations. In the story, Circe always struggled with being alone even when
her family was around since she refused to follow expectations and even said that they
might as well not count her when counting their children. Miller emphasized the want
that Circe wants to be free and the many things she does and the struggles that Circe
faces within a patriarchal society to try and be free. Miller also emphasizes the
importance of people such as women supporting each other in a world where their voices
are often suppressed and to break through you need lots of people like you. By writing
the novel from Circe's point of view and her course to agency and relationships with
others, the feminist lens shows the novel's broader commentary on the strength and
resilience of female characters within the constraints of mythology and society. Circe through a feminist lens becomes a strong story that challenges traditional gender stories
which merely makes females a supporting character or something to save or desired,
offering readers a new perspective on myths. Madeline Miller's re-imagining of Circe's
story is a testament to the enduring relevance of feminist discourse, both in literature and
in our broader understanding of gender dynamics.

Sachi Robinson Period 6 12.5.2023

 Sachi Robinson Period 6 12.5.2023

“Circe” for me so far has been a very relatable coming-of-age book. Throughout the first seven chapters, I felt as if I were growing up alongside Circe, despite the over a thousand-year difference. Madeline Miller captures all of the insecurities of a teenage girl navigating love, abuse, and insecurity. Prior to reading this novel, I had never given Circe much thought, as she acts as a plot device half of the time, assisting gods and heroes on their quests with her magic and knowledge. As I read, though, I find that, similar to "StoneBlind," it brings a voice to yet another woman who was drowned out by warcries. This was a phrase emphasized by Haynes in her interviews: the way a woman could be loud and it’s called a screech or unnecessary, but the second a man does it, it’s something macho and meaningful.

Madeline Miller is an author who works to modernize Greek stories by taking their themes and reimagining them. Most Greek stories hold heavy themes that are still applicable today and are just separated by the generations of language evolution; she dissects them and makes them palatable for the larger audience. Miller has stated that she writes for her interest in the story and passion for having a deeper understanding of it. This, to me, was similar to the motivation of Natalie Haynes that we learned about in class. Haynes works to reimagine the story in a way that changes minds and forces readers to question the origins of their perspectives. Both have an inspiring passion for history and language and bring a different, more sympathetic approach to the study of ancient mythology. The book also passed the Bechdel test, which is a trivial media test that doesn't mean much in the grand scheme of things. It consists of three rules: women must be in the story; they must speak to each other; and the conversation must not be about a man. I can appreciate Circe’s level-headed approach to relationships and how, after some time alone, she is able to navigate them in a way that doesn’t sacrifice her character. She is her own person, and she can love without giving herself up. I feel this is very respectable, and I strive to reach it in all forms of relationships.

It is very satisfying to see the development of a girl who craves validation and love from those around her blossom into a woman who has honed her skills and harnessed them for herself. This change really occurs for Circe in Chapter 14. It seemed like the whole time I was reading, I was continually gasping and clutching the book. It begins with Circe receiving her first servant, a lesser nymph whose father banished her to Circe's island. Despite taking up her space and resources, she really doesn’t respect Circe, which is frustrating because it’s a common troupe among women. In the media, women are pitted against each other and portrayed as catty and petty. Most of the time, it's situations where they are neither at fault, and an outside hand holds a large part in them (usually a man or patriarchal structure), and yet they often turn on each other. There is a clear enemy, and Circe didn’t deserve any backlash or disrespect. As more and more nymphs show up, they encroach on her personal space and, therefore, her growth as she navigates her motives and place in the world. They were forced upon her, and she did not have a say in the matter. As a reader, I was compelled to sympathize with her, despite the fact that she would snap at the girls and neglect them. She had initially been neglected by her father, yet she was expected to uphold certain expectations and responsibilities. This resonated with me to some extent. After the birth of my siblings, I was unsure about my role in the household. I felt the pressure of caring for siblings while still trying to figure out who I was. All of a sudden I was a role model, a babysitter, and someone who had to be very mindful of my words, as you never know what’ll be a core memory or what will shape their personality. I never really felt connected to my father as a child, as I didn’t see him as very present. There are countless memories of me setting the table only to eat dinner next to an empty plate. In reality, my contributions were most likely not to any crazy extent, but it was very daunting for me at the time.

At the end of the chapter, Circe welcomes a large group of men into her home. She paid no heed to the dangers of that and, in fact, dismissed the other girls to relish in the men’s praise. I felt very connected to this because I would classify myself as a people-pleaser. I could easily see myself getting caught up in a whirlwind of praise and serving others and ending up in a similar situation. It's a really scary world out there, and I appreciate Miller's commitment to telling it as it is, and her writing was so intricately captivating that I got choked up. She got her revenge, and it serves as almost a turning point in the story. I expect her to be more guarded and in tune with her needs from here on out.

Lily Januszka, Period 7, 12/5/23

Lily Januszka, Period 7, 12/5/23
Modern Mythology

Literacy & Learning

    After over a month of reading and lessons, we finally completed Stone Blind. We’ve learned about the different perspectives shown in the book, how they differ from traditional mythology, and how those beliefs affected society then and today. However, I believe one of the most important topics that Natalie Haynes shed light on was the question of what makes a monster.

    In modern culture, a monster is a creature that is frightening and dangerous, often inhuman and ugly. Children are told to beware of monsters if they don’t behave, or beasts in nature might be called monsters for the danger they pose to others. Sometimes, monsters are humans that hurt and threaten defenseless people. Monsters in Ancient Greece were creatures that terrorized men, causing destruction and death. However, it is widely agreed that monsters hurt, and therefore need to be stopped.

    In Stone Blind, Perseus originally seeks to take the head of a Gorgon in order to protect his mother, but quickly loses sight of his goal with the prospect of heroism and glory on his horizon. When Medusa was described to him by Athene and Hermes, he was terrified of such a dangerous monster, and found it his duty as a son of Zeus and a hero to slay the terrible beast. He believed that because Medusa and her Gorgon sisters were strong and did not look like him, they were monsters that did not deserve to live like he did. He felt no sense of shame or guilt when he murdered a beloved sister. Medusa, on the other hand, had never harmed anyone, especially not intentionally, but had been quite intrigued and sympathetic of mortals, as she was one herself. When her gaze became lethal, she blindfolded herself and hid in her cave to prevent turning others to stone. Medusa, by all accounts except her appearance, which could also be considered insignificant, was not a monster.

    However, she suffered a monster’s death. She was decapitated by a young demi-god in search of glory, brutally murdered in her sleep when she posed no threat. Perseus snuck up on her, hidden by Hades’ cap and Athene’s powers, and beheaded her while she rested. She was always seen as the monster until the end. She, who had suffered one horrible fate after another, faced endless pain. Her crime was simply being in the wrong place at the wrong time, a slave to the will of the gods. Her head, which Medusa had tried so hard to prevent from harming others, was used by a selfish person to slaughter many. Perseus had killed more through his carelessness and shortsightedness than Medusa ever had, even in the original myths.

    There are many in today’s society that can relate with Medusa’s story. Whether from suffering due to other’s actions or being judged because of prejudice and false assumptions, the Gorgon’s story is one that rings true today, despite the myth being distorted and reshaped throughout time. Cruel people manipulate others for their own benefit, while those at the bottom continue to face hardships at every turn.

    What makes a monster? Is it tusks, wings, or a horrible scream? Is a person who looks normal, but commits heinous crimes, a monster? Medusa was always seen as the monster, the ugly creature that held the power to kill thousands. But who in the story is the real monster? Is it Poseidon for raping Medusa? Is it Athene for cursing her and aiding in her murder? Is it Perseus for selfishly stealing her life and the lives of many other mortals for his own whims? There are many monsters today, from serial killers to greedy business-people to rapists that prey on the weak. Sometimes, victims are unjustly punished for the actions of others, showing that our society is no more perfect than it was all those millennia ago.

    It was quite enjoyable to read Stone Blind and view a story I’ve known since I was young from a perspective I’ve never explored before. Through these lens, I want to be able to view the world with multiple perspectives and narratives, and know that there is never one side to a story.

Christian Fletcher, Period 1, 11/13/2023

Christian Fletcher


Period 1, Blog #2


11/4/23


Socio-political consciousness


CHOOSE a topic below and discuss your thoughts and feelings: Current events that incite strong feelings in you.


A topic that has incited very strong feelings within me recently is the media. I find it insane how you can pay the media to advertise any perspective of which you want. Specifically I am talking about the Palestinian - Israeli conflict. It takes a good amount of digging to see both sides of the story, but on the main media you only see the Israeli perspective. Once you do your research you can find that the conquering of Palestine by Israel started in 1917 when the British established a national home for Jewish people in Palestine. Followed by policies like the British Mandate allowing more Jews to immigrate to Palestine increasing tensions between them and the Arabs. Back to current times though, if we can see all this history and how Palestine has been taken over by the Jewish why is it that only the conquerors side is being pushed to the main media. It almost reminds me of the documents we looked at in APUSH where Native Americans were depicted as animals and savages to garner support for Europeans trying to excuse their displacement of Native Americans into reservations. I see almost a similar situation in Palestine where the Jewish have been displaced palestinian families for years and now they get to bomb and attack those areas in which they were sent while still being able to play victim. I am not condoning either side as I do not support war because only the innocent get hurt anyway, but what I see is an attacker and a victim and while the victim gets no support the attacker gets huge police backed protests all over the city. I am now seeing more of a change as protesters have almost forced the media to publicize both sides of the story. At the end of the day I wish there was a way to end it all because of innocent people and children becoming hostages, being murdered, and losing family members.


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

When I was younger I always believed the media. As I have gotten older I have learned to do my own research on topics that I am actually interested in before I make assumptions about a situation strictly on what the news is feeding me. Simply because despite the fact that even though the news is supposed to be unbiased the media is very biased and portray whatever perspective they want to. If you watch multiple news channels you can almost see the difference between how they tell news. I think that a lot of people nowadays have nothing to go off of except for what they see on social media or on the news depending on what generation they are in. Which makes a lot of individual sheep almost. You can and can't blame people at the same time, the Palestinian vs Israeli situation definitely made that clear to me as some people would state an opinion than when I asked them to back it up they had nothing then I took my time out to educate them on the situation and their entire opinion changed. At the same time you really don't know what sources to believe, maybe I could have the wrong opinion even though I checked multiple sources. I’ve learned to always listen to both sides no matter the situation before formulating an opinion.