Best of Week: Finding a Character's Mind Through Language

In writing, language is paramount. The ideas in an author's head cannot be expressed without carefully selected words to craft an idea into a story. As discussed in class this week, language can also lead the author to discover a character's mind. 

Instead of figuring out a character and then using language to describe it, the language is played around with until the character is discovered. Relating to the question, "Can something come from nothing?" this idea takes small words on paper and webs them together to create a character. 

With this technique, I could learn to write from a different angle. Traditionally, I would try and come up with the perfect character in my mind and then form the language around that. Instead, starting with a few adjectives or thinking about what vocabulary my character would have gives insight into the character's mind. From this approach, I can begin to see inside the mind of an imaginary person. The way language is used in context of the character to show situation, setting, and thought process puts the character in relation to surroundings. The way the sky is viewed by the character shows how the character thinks. An emotional reaction or sparked memory from the sky could lead to insight and wondering about the character's past. 

Outside of writing, looking at a person through their language can reveal more than just what that person is saying. I now know to really focus in on a person's language while they are talking. Speech patterns, vocabulary, tone, and word choice can show what that person is thinking. For example, a stutter and nervous laughs may show a person is uncomfortable, while overuse of fancy words and awkward sentence structure may show a person trying to appear smarter than they really are. 

Language is such a necessary and amazing scope into cognition. This seemingly simple act communicates much more than just words out of mouths or read sentences on white sheets. This form of expression can be used to find out what makes and affects gears turning inside minds. It's even powerful enough to cross reality and be applied to fictional characters (almost with minds of their own).

Change of Mind: Heart of Darkness

I've always understood the concept of uniqueness and individuality, but now, Heart of Darkness flipped a switch in my brain to wrap around just how individual we are. From reading this quote, I had to pause and think.
 

""it is impossible to convey the life sensation of any given epoch of one's existence--- that which makes its truth, its meaning--- its subtle and penetrating essence. It is impossible, We live, as we dream--- alone.""
 

I became hyper-aware about everything that I was doing. With the first breath I took, I realized that everyone will experience the rush of air into lungs, but I am the only one who will experience the feeling of air through my lungs. Every breath I take is completely unique and unrepeatable. More complex, every thought I have, through winding paths of nerves and stimulants, can never be replicated in anyone else.
 

This opens my eyes to how important expression is. In order to share unique thoughts and feelings, we turn to speech, writing, and arts. With each melodic line played, an invisible string works its way into the listener, pulling and triggering a similar path the player is expressing. From the main river of core understanding in the listener, it can bend and branch out into different interpretations and ideas.
 

Without expression, our lives would be extremely lonely. We can only hope to share emotions and thoughts with other people to connect and weave relationships with. Even the simplest expression of eye contact can fire strong emotions and connections.
 

The essence of moments; that original spark of emotion and thought are something to be cherished as unique in ourselves and to sometimes be shared with others through expression. My mind is opened up to the complexity of simple emotions and the importance of communication from reading Heart of Darkness.

Metacognition: Thinking and Learning During 1st Semester

When I started first semester, I was happy to start out fresh. I wanted to do my best in school. I finished all of my homework as soon as possible and studied hard for tests. But, after a while the rigorous pace of trying to learn everything possible; I got burned out. My life outside of school was too busy for me to do every assignment perfectly. I realize now that I have to accept imperfection. All that I can do is give every assignment my best effort and complete them on time. 

Another thing that I have realized in the course of first semester is that, when reading a book for English, reading it closely and being focused the first time pays off. When looking back in the book to refresh for a paper, I don't see any information as brand new. Learning something right before a paper or test is not a good thing. This is especially true with social studies; I find that now I don't have to re-read everything to understand concepts. What really benefits is trying to explain the concepts in my own words to see if I understand them. 

During first semester; I found about halfway into October that I was feeling tired most of the time. I was staying up late into the night doing homework and studying for tests. I would come home from school, take a fifteen minute break, practice until dinner, eat, do homework, and then eventually go to sleep. I still keep this same schedule now; but I try and divide my homework up so that I am not overloaded on any given day (although this still seems to happen on Thursdays for some reason). What I have also realized is that if I pay close attention in class; the homework and preparing for exams are easier and take up less time to complete. This gives me a little extra sleep; which then helps me focus during the day. 

In the past, I tended to see English as an easy and light-loaded class. I was hoping that this year's work load would be similar to last year, but I was a bit nervous too. I was wondering how grading would work, whether I would get high grades, and how the entire class' attitude would be. The very beginning of first semester, there was a general sense of unsureness. That is normal, though; every year starts with the unknowns. I was happy to find myself looking forward to when I would finish all of my homework and leave English for last (mostly with the blogs). Now that I know how to deal with the work load; I know how to structure my time effectively. I've settled into a comfortable routine with my classes and I am glad that I had first semester to figure it all out.

Blogging Around

Nicole,

I was very intrigued with your observations about Dali's "The Persistence of Memory". This painting has been a favorite of mine ever since 3rd or 4th grade. I love the general strangeness of it, but never really thought there was an underlying meaning. I also never noticed the bugs on the clocks; this could also explain how just because time goes on, it doesn't mean that all life will. It almost looks as if the human-esque shape is being pinned down by the melting clock. In the end, time catches up to us. No matter how fast we think time is going by, we cannot escape it.

You pointing out the shadows made me look at the specific directions of them. The shadows are pointing east; but there's a large black spot in the bottom right corner (where the light source should be coming from.) This is very interesting to me. How could light come from dark? Maybe this could also relate to dreams; how things that make sense in the dream don't have to when you wake up.

Erika,

hearing about the Hands of Peace program and what the participants walk away with is truly amazing. I admire your choice to stay neutral while listening to both sides of the conflict. Because you didn't become biased, you saw all of both sides. Nothing was blinding or clouding your judgment. If all conflicts were looked upon by neutral people, then I'm sure that both sides of the conflict would also start to lean towards that neutrality and actually understand the other. Biases seem to be playing too big of roles in any sort of conflict or even discussion in current times.

Metacognition: Get Organized/my Room

I looked at my disorganized room with dread. I knew I had a big job ahead of me, but I also  knew I had to clean it soon before it just kept getting worse. My room accumulates more and more mess as the weeks progress. I usually try to clean a little bit on Sundays, but sometimes I just get too busy. 

When I actually got around to cleaning, I put on some music and got right to work. I decided to go around and do the easiest first. I collected and threw out all garbage. Then I tackled specific areas. I organized all of my school books/papers/notebooks and backpack first. That cleared enough room so I could gather up my scattered music folders and put them onto a shelf. I then went around and gathered all writing utensils and put them in my pencil cup or art drawer. I cleared random papers off my desk and put my necklaces back on hooks. I made a stack of items that belonged somewhere else in the house and put them downstairs. My mind went on a bit of autopilot; I just kept cleaning and cleaning until I was finished. 

I stepped back to look at my room once I was done and felt refreshed. I could walk easily around my room without the fear of breaking something or making a bigger mess. Now that everything was in its place, I was more willing to keep it clean. It's easy to put away things as you use them, not all of them at once. I'm glad I chose to organize my room because now my room is less cluttered and my mind is less cluttered as well. I know where everything goes and I can be at peace not having to worry about a looming mess. 

I didn't know that I could clean as fast as I did. I thought I would have to meticulously put items into categorical piles and then find a place for them, but it turned out that just by doing a few small tasks at a time got my room to clean. Having a deadline also helped my pace quicken. I wanted to finish with enough time to pack up my things and head over to see Harry Potter 7 pt.1, so my excitement carried me forward. Seeing the movie became a sort of reward for my hard work. I found by cleaning my room that incentives, time limits, and taking small steps help me to tackle larger projects.

iMedia: Strauss' Ein Heldenleben

Music that tells a story or goes with a story amplifies the experience of that story. The melodies become representative of specific events, characters, or moods. Even if there aren't words or a movie in front of you while listening to the music, a story is still played out. When I listen to Ein Heldenleben, I don't even see an actual picture of people and events taking place. I just have a feel for what's happening. For example, I can tell that the repeating and heroic melody represents the hero and how it's played and in what context shows the mood and events taking place at that point of the music. 

I find this fascinating. Without being told that a rising melody links to rising action, heavier orchestra means something more serious, or that tempos show a pace; my brain can still understand the flow and events of the story. Is there an archetypal application to music where different aspects of the music evoke different emotions? I can conclude that with many  pieces, a major key, fast tempo, and light articulation is more on the bright side than a minor key, slow tempo, and winding melodies. There are of course some exceptions, but certain things in music tend to be archetypal. 

Much like authors use word choice, structure, and organization to shape their writing; composers and musicians carefully pick out a key signature, articulation, dynamics, and instruments to provoke different listening experiences from the audience. Not only musicians and music theorists enjoy music. Even people who have no idea how musical notation and keys work can get the same emotional experiences from music.

What I'm finding with Ein Heldenleben is that the music not only shapes the story, it is the story. The very specific choices of the musical aspects in this piece show the parts of the story. It's a musical equivalent of a book or movie. I feel like this piece of music would be too complete to go along with a movie. The music takes care of all the action and emotion. The movie would be accompanying the music; not the other around. 

I am very excited to play this piece in the spring. Every person in each section matters in the story; it can not be complete while missing any piece of the orchestra because everything is so intertwined and connected. Strauss has composed a truly fantastic and brilliant example of how music is the story.

 This is a good interpretation (the best I could find on Youtube). I recommend the recording of Fritz Reiner conducting the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (I own this one and I love it).

Connection: Edmund (from Shakespeare's King Lear) and Voldemort

Voldemort is the ultimate villain throughout the Harry Potter series. His brutal quest to ultimate power was not meant to be stopped. He connived and killed his way to the title of the "Dark Lord" and didn't stop at that. He wanted to become the most powerful, feared, and unstoppable wizard. His quest would end with him obtaining the Elder wand. 

Like Voldemort, Edmund is on a quest for power. He wants to inherit/ take control of his father's land even though he is a bastard and his younger (legitimate) brother is in line to inherit. He gets rid of his brother Edmund by framing him in plotting his father Gloucester's death. He even betrays his father by telling Cornwall that Gloucester was on his way to help Lear against Cornwall's wishes. This gets Gloucester the punishment of being blinded by Cornwall. 

Voldemort also had family problems when he was younger. he was conceived under a love potion, his dad left before his birth, and his mom died soon after. After growing up in an orphanage and later going to Hogwarts, he later goes on to murdering his father and grandparents for never wanting to care for him. 

This connection between Edmund and Voldemort being ruthless (even to family) in their climb for ultimate power shows how issues with family at a young age can lead to serious problems growing up. Edmund and Voldemort were never loved by their family. Edmund was cast off as the bastard and had to watch Edgar get most of the attention and chance for inheritance, while Voldemort was tortured by the knowledge that his family abandoned him. The power they both search for could be to fill the void left by the lack of love from their parents.