Genre: Musical Theater
Musical theater combines dialogue, music and dance on the stage, and more recently, on the screen. This combination dates back to the ancient Greeks in the 5th century B.C. The art form gained more popularity during the Renaissance and opera was born around 1600. Operas, however, are performed exclusively in song and it wasn't until the 1800's that operettas, smaller comedic operas that included dialogue, became popular. Musicals were not born until the 20th century, however, in America. Many of the earlier musicals were very similar to operas. Oklahoma! (1943), written by Richard Rogers and Oscar Hammerstein II, is considered the first musical play. Some other famous musicals written in the 20th century are Mary Poppins, My Fair Lady, Singin' in the Rain, The Sound of Music, West Side Story, The Wizard of Oz, The Fantasticks, Les Miserables, and Rent.
Cover song: Think of Me from The Phantom of the Opera
I chose this song because, one, I am already familiar with it and love it, but it is also a solo song that would be great for me (cello) and Jill (voice) to perform! The song is sung by Christine, a chorus girl, during her first opera performance as a main character on the stage. This song is significant because that character in the opera in the musical was going to be sung by a famous singer, but the Phantom of the opera house makes sure that Christine, whom he has fallen in love with, gets the part instead. The words "Think of me, think of me fondly when we've said good-bye. Remember me, once in a while, please promise me you'll try" are actually what the Phantom wants to say to Christine (he is the one that worte that opera).
Original Composition: A Dark Side
The musical I thought up to back up my song is a variation of the story of Beauty and the Beast. The main character is a girl who meets a young man in her town. At the point this song is sung, they have only spoken a few times, but she already likes him. The twist is that she just discovered that he is a demon creature who spends most of his time in human form. In A Dark Side, she is reflecting on the discovery as well as addressing her own dark past and the way people judge others by their faults.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
Honors Book Report
Funke, Cornelia. Inkspell. Scholastic, Inc. New York, NY. 2005.
I chose to read Inkspell for three reasons. First, I have read Inkheart, to which Inkspell is the sequel, and it is coming out as a movie! Also, one of my friends, who is a really big bookworm said I should read it. It is a 635 page fantasy book that revolves around the ability of the main character, Meggie, a few others in the story to read characters off the pages of books and into being. The story takes place in two worlds, ours and the Inkworld, but it is not clear where in our world, or what the time period is. (I would guess that it is current.)
Where as Inkheart takes place in our world, the characters in Inkspell dive into the Inkworld, inside the pages of Inkheart, a book written by talented author, Fenoglio. When Meggie's mother, Resa, was rescued from Inkworld in Inkheart, Meggie began asking her everything about the world inside Inkheart. Her obsession became so great that when Farid, a boy out of Tales of the Arabian Nights, asks her to read him into Inkworld to follow Dustfinger, a fire-eater from Inkworld and a hero in Inkheart, she agrees to read herself there too, something no one had accomplished before. What they find, however, is a world on the verge of being taken over by the villan of the story.
I chose to read Inkspell for three reasons. First, I have read Inkheart, to which Inkspell is the sequel, and it is coming out as a movie! Also, one of my friends, who is a really big bookworm said I should read it. It is a 635 page fantasy book that revolves around the ability of the main character, Meggie, a few others in the story to read characters off the pages of books and into being. The story takes place in two worlds, ours and the Inkworld, but it is not clear where in our world, or what the time period is. (I would guess that it is current.)
Where as Inkheart takes place in our world, the characters in Inkspell dive into the Inkworld, inside the pages of Inkheart, a book written by talented author, Fenoglio. When Meggie's mother, Resa, was rescued from Inkworld in Inkheart, Meggie began asking her everything about the world inside Inkheart. Her obsession became so great that when Farid, a boy out of Tales of the Arabian Nights, asks her to read him into Inkworld to follow Dustfinger, a fire-eater from Inkworld and a hero in Inkheart, she agrees to read herself there too, something no one had accomplished before. What they find, however, is a world on the verge of being taken over by the villan of the story.
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
What Happened to Ethics?
To read the original article, click here: http://encarta.msn.com/encnet/Departments/eLearning/Default.aspx?article=WhatHappenedEthics>1=27001
Everyone has the ability to be ethical and truthful. Whether it is something we are born with, or something we are taught to recognize, I am not sure. Either way, I think the reason that people behave unethically is partly because they have not been shown the necessity of ethics, and therefore do not understand the difference. However, I do think that everyone has a conscience. By that, I mean that everyone recognizes, even if only subconsciously, that they are doing something wrong. Therefore, I do believe that ethics should be taught in school, but really, school is only one means of instilling the understanding of the importance of doing the right thing. Everyone is teaching everyone else about what is acceptable and how important or not important it is to do the right thing everyday by our actions. This is especially true for adults' actions around youth.
Ultimately, it necessary to be truthful for two main reasons. First, people operate based on what they are told and what they perceive. If you show people something that is false, then you not be treated as you wish to be treated, as who you really are. Second, the truth seems to always come out anyway. When someone discovers information that is conflicting, they are likely to speak up, to try o understand. This is particularly apparent in the national news. What goes around, comes around.
Everyone has the ability to be ethical and truthful. Whether it is something we are born with, or something we are taught to recognize, I am not sure. Either way, I think the reason that people behave unethically is partly because they have not been shown the necessity of ethics, and therefore do not understand the difference. However, I do think that everyone has a conscience. By that, I mean that everyone recognizes, even if only subconsciously, that they are doing something wrong. Therefore, I do believe that ethics should be taught in school, but really, school is only one means of instilling the understanding of the importance of doing the right thing. Everyone is teaching everyone else about what is acceptable and how important or not important it is to do the right thing everyday by our actions. This is especially true for adults' actions around youth.
Ultimately, it necessary to be truthful for two main reasons. First, people operate based on what they are told and what they perceive. If you show people something that is false, then you not be treated as you wish to be treated, as who you really are. Second, the truth seems to always come out anyway. When someone discovers information that is conflicting, they are likely to speak up, to try o understand. This is particularly apparent in the national news. What goes around, comes around.
Friday, May 23, 2008
What Do You Hear?
Distant noises, then foot steps.
Hey, someone is talking in Spanish!
More foot steps doors shutting.
I think that last one was the Men's bathroom door.
"Aooooo...," someone yelled.
"Aachuu!" Oops, I sneezed!
Ow, there is a loud screetching and thud of the door next to me.
Now it's the Women's bathroom door opening.
And a very different sound:
The squeaking of someone's shoes as they head for the stairs.
Bang! A door in the distance, followed by loud talking.
Now this musical piece turns to the accompaniment, and away from the melody.
Now I hear all of the sounds of the school at work.
It is alive, and changing. But even that fades, and there is a moment of relative silence.
Some soft footsteps come near me, but i was enough to break the moment.
Doors begin banging again,
Providing the percussion.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak,"
A high piteched noise about the rest.
"Click, click, click, click,"
The rhythmic click of heels, off set but the shuffling of sneakers.
"Bang, ca-ching, cough, blah-balh."
"Bang, bang, step, step, step."
Hey, someone is talking in Spanish!
More foot steps doors shutting.
I think that last one was the Men's bathroom door.
"Aooooo...," someone yelled.
"Aachuu!" Oops, I sneezed!
Ow, there is a loud screetching and thud of the door next to me.
Now it's the Women's bathroom door opening.
And a very different sound:
The squeaking of someone's shoes as they head for the stairs.
Bang! A door in the distance, followed by loud talking.
Now this musical piece turns to the accompaniment, and away from the melody.
Now I hear all of the sounds of the school at work.
It is alive, and changing. But even that fades, and there is a moment of relative silence.
Some soft footsteps come near me, but i was enough to break the moment.
Doors begin banging again,
Providing the percussion.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak,"
A high piteched noise about the rest.
"Click, click, click, click,"
The rhythmic click of heels, off set but the shuffling of sneakers.
"Bang, ca-ching, cough, blah-balh."
"Bang, bang, step, step, step."
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Current Event
Skyrocketing Oil Prices Stump Experts
Wahingtonpost.com
Steve Mufson
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Subject: The article discusses the cause for the abrupt rise in oil prices.
Summary:
Everyone is pointing fingers, but no one is exaclty sure why the oil prices have recently skyrocketted. Several factors include the declining dollar, the rise in Chinese oil imports, and the effect of investment bank forecasts. The reason, according to Jeffery Rubin, that oil has gone from $20 a barrelto $130 a barrelis that the demand has grown substantially, but the supply has not. This change, however, has not stopped consumers from buying, partly because machines and cars are becoming more fuel efficient and partly because many consumers are not seeing the market price. Edward Morse, an energy economist, explains that the signs indicate that this is just another 'bubble', albeit a large one. The prices will eventually coem down, but the drop will be proportional to the rise.
Significance:
Just like global warming, the alarming rate that humans are using up oil, and the skyrocketting prices (just 40 years ago, you could get gas for $.25 per gallon), have become a huge concern. The newest jump in gas prices has only increased that concern. Just a few weeks ago, I didn't worry too much about how much I was spending on gas when I would stop at a gas station. Now, however, I've started thinking about riding my bike more often, and I wish there was a way to take a cello on a bike.
Change?
For the most part, I understood the article, but some of the concepts specific to oil and gas exchange (imports and exports, etc.) were not quite clear to me. I believe that most people who read it are familiar with the language, but I'm not, and I'm actually interested in the topic.
Prediction:
Well, the experts are predicting a huge drop in oil prices. I think that is possible, but at the same time, the drop can't be that big, because we are using up Earth's supply of oil. It seems like prices can really only go up from here...
URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/21/AR2008052100386.html?wpisrc=newsletter
Wahingtonpost.com
Steve Mufson
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Subject: The article discusses the cause for the abrupt rise in oil prices.
Summary:
Everyone is pointing fingers, but no one is exaclty sure why the oil prices have recently skyrocketted. Several factors include the declining dollar, the rise in Chinese oil imports, and the effect of investment bank forecasts. The reason, according to Jeffery Rubin, that oil has gone from $20 a barrelto $130 a barrelis that the demand has grown substantially, but the supply has not. This change, however, has not stopped consumers from buying, partly because machines and cars are becoming more fuel efficient and partly because many consumers are not seeing the market price. Edward Morse, an energy economist, explains that the signs indicate that this is just another 'bubble', albeit a large one. The prices will eventually coem down, but the drop will be proportional to the rise.
Significance:
Just like global warming, the alarming rate that humans are using up oil, and the skyrocketting prices (just 40 years ago, you could get gas for $.25 per gallon), have become a huge concern. The newest jump in gas prices has only increased that concern. Just a few weeks ago, I didn't worry too much about how much I was spending on gas when I would stop at a gas station. Now, however, I've started thinking about riding my bike more often, and I wish there was a way to take a cello on a bike.
Change?
For the most part, I understood the article, but some of the concepts specific to oil and gas exchange (imports and exports, etc.) were not quite clear to me. I believe that most people who read it are familiar with the language, but I'm not, and I'm actually interested in the topic.
Prediction:
Well, the experts are predicting a huge drop in oil prices. I think that is possible, but at the same time, the drop can't be that big, because we are using up Earth's supply of oil. It seems like prices can really only go up from here...
URL: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/21/AR2008052100386.html?wpisrc=newsletter
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Vocabulary Week 17
A circle can be described as interminable, because it has no ending. This circular pattern in particular gives the circle a feeling of motion, if you stare at the dot in the center.
This picture shows the crew of a ship in Antactica working laboriously to cut a channel for the ship through the ice. Ice can be such a hard substance, and I can imagine that it would be very tiring to break that much of it.
This girl's eyes, and hold on the tulips have a reticence quality. It looks like she is afraid the viewer will throw the flowers on the ground if she hands them over, and she doesn't want to hand them over, or consent.
This turtle's shell looks senescent with all of its dirt and scratches. Also, the word seems to apply to the natural world and is used more in science and research than as an everyday meaning of old.
The left side of this picture shows a very famous shroud that is supposedly the one Jesus' body was wrapped in after he was taken down from the cross.
This tortuous road almost looks like a purposeful design on the hill, or maybe even a strange scar. I think it would be really cool to drive up it, though I don't think my mom could handle all of the turns.
I took this picture last summer at my family's camp site near Mono Lake. This creek runs right by our tents, and I often sit on one of the rocks and just listen to the water. It gives me an amazing sense of tranquility and calmness, especially if we just came back from a hike.1.interminable-adj.--incapable of being terminated; unending.
2.intuit-v.-- to know or recieve by intuition.
3.laboriously-adv.-- requiring much work, exertion, or perserverence.
4.proximity-n.-- nearness in place, time, order, occurance or relation.
5.reticence-adj.-- disposed to be silent, or not speak freely; reserved.
6.senescent-adj.-- growing old; aging.
7.shroud-n.-- a cloth or sheet in which a corpse is wrapped for burial; something that covers or conceals like a garment.
2.intuit-v.-- to know or recieve by intuition.
3.laboriously-adv.-- requiring much work, exertion, or perserverence.
4.proximity-n.-- nearness in place, time, order, occurance or relation.
5.reticence-adj.-- disposed to be silent, or not speak freely; reserved.
6.senescent-adj.-- growing old; aging.
7.shroud-n.-- a cloth or sheet in which a corpse is wrapped for burial; something that covers or conceals like a garment.
-v.-- to cover, hide from view.
8.situation-n.-- condition; case; plight; state of affairs.
9.synchronously-adv.-- occuring at the same time; coinciding in time; simultaneous.
10.tortuous-adj.-- full of twists, turns or bends.
11.tranquility-n.-- calmness; peacefulness; serenity.
8.situation-n.-- condition; case; plight; state of affairs.
9.synchronously-adv.-- occuring at the same time; coinciding in time; simultaneous.
10.tortuous-adj.-- full of twists, turns or bends.
11.tranquility-n.-- calmness; peacefulness; serenity.
In Response To "Classrooms Have Become Unnecessarily High Tech"
Link to orignial article: http://www.mercurynews.com/community/ci_9034769?nclick_check=1&forced=true
Yes, I very much agree with Matt Baxter!! It is completely unnecesary for elementary school students to be taught how to use computers. The school I attended from kindergarten through 8th grade does not allow the use of computers in school or, ideally, at home. As a result, I did not touch a computer until the summer after I graduated 8th grade. I do not have much knowledge about programs like Adobe PhotoShop, or Fireworks, but Iam proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. In short, I don’t feel at all cheated, now that I’m in high school. I spent my childhood learning other valuable things.
Baxter also makes an excellnt point about the amount of money and effort we put into keeping schools up to date with technology. I can see where it is nice to use the new materials out there to help a teacher teach a concept, but teachers have been teaching the same subjects for hundreds of years without needing the help of technology. I would go as far as to say that many of the teachers teaching today are less knowledgeable about their topics because of new technologies. It is easy to let the internet and videos do the teaching.
Yes, I very much agree with Matt Baxter!! It is completely unnecesary for elementary school students to be taught how to use computers. The school I attended from kindergarten through 8th grade does not allow the use of computers in school or, ideally, at home. As a result, I did not touch a computer until the summer after I graduated 8th grade. I do not have much knowledge about programs like Adobe PhotoShop, or Fireworks, but Iam proficient in Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. In short, I don’t feel at all cheated, now that I’m in high school. I spent my childhood learning other valuable things.
Baxter also makes an excellnt point about the amount of money and effort we put into keeping schools up to date with technology. I can see where it is nice to use the new materials out there to help a teacher teach a concept, but teachers have been teaching the same subjects for hundreds of years without needing the help of technology. I would go as far as to say that many of the teachers teaching today are less knowledgeable about their topics because of new technologies. It is easy to let the internet and videos do the teaching.
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