Floyd Skloot's Interview

Tuesday in class we went to see Floyd Skloot get interviewed by two English majors from the University of Memphis. I was excited to see this interview since I had heard Skloot read and speak the night before. The whole interview was really interesting. One guy interviewing Skloot asked most questions pertaining to Skloot’s mix of writing. Skloot writes in many different genres including poems, memoirs, and essays. The guy asked Skloot if he wrote each of the different genres differently since he had the brain damage. Skloot explained that he had to do everything the same. He has to take bits and pieces as they come to him and then put them together later on. The only difference was that due to the length of novels and essays they did take longer than poems. He said before he caught the virus that he was very structured in his writing and would know exactly where he was going before he began. Skloot said he thinks he has grown in his writing because he now has to take time to write his work when before he was mostly about getting his work published. It was really neat to hear how he worked through his illness and gained his art back. He defiantly has a strong will and it showed through his interview.

Floyd Skloot

Monday night I went downtown to Jay Etkin Gallery for the reading of Floyd Skloot. This was part of the River City Writers Series. To tell you the truth I was not looking forward to sitting and listening to a guy that I had no clue was read his work. I got to the place a little late and was worried I would be interrupting since it would only be an hour long, or so I thought. To my surprise everyone was standing around eating and people were still coming in. I soon found out that I was wrong and the reading would be three hours long. So I was not too happy after this and was really dreading the reading. I sat down with a few other people who were there from the class and waited for it to begin. It began with Rebekah Skloot introducing the speaker. Right away I began to become interested because she introduced the speaker as her father. I thought that was really cool and made the man more interesting. Skloot finally came up and began by reading some of his poems. He also read a memoir and an essay. All were really captivating. I liked how he wrote about every day things. He could take any event and elaborate on it so much. During his presentation, Skloot explained how he had caught a virus that took over his brain and caused great brain damage. I would have never guessed that he had anything wrong with his brain. He seemed to have no difficultly talking to us. This detail only made Skloot even more intriguing. I really enjoyed hearing how he lived with his disability and worked through it. It was a great experience to hear Skloot speak and I only hope I can read more of his work.

Time to Relax

This past week has been pretty hectic for me. I had my paper to do in English, which of course I procrastinated on yet again, I had to decide if I wanted to stay in one of my classes, and I helped my boyfriend move out. Of course I constantly wanted to help my boyfriend but I knew I had school work to do. I finally made myself get to my paper and just do it with the incentive of getting to see my boyfriend once I was done. That actually got me through the stress of my paper but only to find out we could turn the paper in on Thursday. The good thing though, that I got my paper out of the way. Now this class that I mentioned is my honors class and I have been debating for the past week or so if I should stay in it. It really was frustrating me because we had a lot of readings and my teacher graded hard. I do not need this class and I did not want it to hurt me if I ended up getting a bad grade. I decided to drop it. I think it was one of my best decisions ever. I feel so much less stressed and can give more attention to my other classes. Since I had these two big things taken off of my shoulders I was able to help my boyfriend move out the rest of the week. It has been a lot of fun but now I am ready to relax and enjoy having all these things checked off my list of things to do.

The Arts

I cannot say I am one who is much into art but it is sad to think it is going to waste. I do not have any kind of hobby or talent such as singing or painting but either would be amazing. It is so cool how people can put their feelings into such creative pieces of work. I really wish it was appreciated more. It sucks that now a day people cannot create and do the things they love as a career. People are so talented and technology is really taking it away from them. I think it is probably because kids are brought up watching TV and playing video games. People are too lazy to go and enjoy true art. Technology takes away experiences. There really is not much a painter can do with technology except put a picture or video up of their work and that is not the same as seeing and experiencing the piece in real life. I hate that America has become the way it is. It might be easier using technology but I don’t know if it is bettering society. It defiantly is taking away something as we are shown from this video. The arts do need to be saved. I would hate for future society to not be able to enjoy past arts as we have been able to do.

Propaganda Analysis

David Horsey drew a cartoon of President Bush dressed as a young child holding a report card with Ds and an F. Horsey is trying to make a point that he thinks “No Child Left Behind” is not working. He was very creative to show it through depicting President Bush as a Kid and him getting upset to see his report card since NCLB is all about schools’ report cards and how well each school is doing. Horsey makes it obvious that the cartoon is of President Bush. He exaggerates on all of President Bush’s most known features, like his ears, nose and squinty eyes. One can also tell that President Bush is supposed to be seen as a kid because of the hat and stripped shirt. He is obviously holding a report card since it says “report card” on top and it is showing how “No Child Left Behind” is doing. Horsey even went as far as to put the categories he feels NCLB should be graded on and how each scored. Federal intrusion is given a D showing that federal government is having too much power over the state education programs. Constitutionality is given an F showing that the law is unconstitutional by giving the federal government more power when it says in the Constitution that it is the states right. Education for disabled is given a D because those with disabilities are measured as equal with everyone else and lowers standards. Flexibility is given a D to show that each program cannot fit the specific population but have to follow guidelines set for the whole. I think he did not do it in color because the picture makes enough of a statement. Horsey is most likely against the law from what is seen from his cartoon. He gives it a D- which is only points away from failing. Horsey is giving President Bush some of his own medicine by drawing this cartoon. He is showing Bush that his plan is not working. The statement coming from Bush’s mouth is “They say I shoulda done my homework”. It is showing that Bush should have looked at unwanted consequences before signing No Child Left Behind into law. Him looking into it would be like doing homework.

Education in America

The Federal Government has been involved in education for years and is obviously going to remain to have a leading role in Tennessee and other states. There have been many laws over the past 40 years trying to better education. America has been operating under No Child Left Behind the past five years and is now up for reauthorization. Memphis City Schools are directly impacted and are seeing the affects from the recent law. People have seen some negative effects of this law and are trying to figure out changes that would make the law more beneficial. Throughout recent history Federal Government has seen a need to become involved in education in order to ensure that all students receive an adequate education. Since No Child Left Behind has been enacted, Tennessee has been discovering exactly how the law affects the quality of education for their students. Tennessee now has found the negative aspects and is now able to make constructive suggestions on changes. Now states need to give their input to Congress on ways to better the law so that it can truly help students and provide the resources needed. Education is an important issue and effects many areas of life. It is important to look at the youth who will be making up our society in the future. Education prepares these young people for their future and gives them a sense of hope.

Spring Break

Spring Break is often times associated with Florida and partying. Neither of these was involved in my break. I stayed home and most days stayed in my pajamas until noon. Although my break may appear as though it would be awful, I actually really enjoyed it. It was great to be away from all the stress of school. I planned on getting some work done that I knew would soon be due when I return back to school but I just couldn’t push myself to do it. Most my time was spent with my family and boyfriend. During my break an interpreter from a past mission trip came to visit and stay with my family. We had dinner one night with our neighbors who also went on the mission trip so they could visit with him as well. After dinner that night we went to see The Passion Play at Bellevue Baptist Church. It was awesome. I am constantly forgetting what Jesus really went through for me on the cross. The presentation made the stories I have read and heard for years come to life. You realize just how much Jesus went through and how bad it really was. Going to The Passion Play was probably the highlight of my week. The rest of the week was pretty much the same every day. I am really glad to have had this break. It gave me time to catch up on sleep and remember the important things in life.