Outside Project- Favorite Book

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Outside Project-Favorite Book

This is a link that will open up my presentation. I couldn't figure out how to upload it directly so here it is in hyperlink form. Give it a minute to load and double click on the little speaker in the corner of the slide for the sound...

https://mail.yc.edu/owa/attachment.ashx?attach=1&id=RgAAAADGAMYfc34ORpSruBwipo4mBwD7COGqMdTVSIsTM9Wjm%2bYZAAACzuMtAADPpkkyYaXTR7SjaOfPYZV%2bAAAuV3grAAAJ&attid0=EABt5yQCfpaHQ5wP4MTKY0vw&attcnt=1

Source Evaluation

Gaustad, Edwin S. "The Free-Exercise Clause: Religious Liberty." Church and State in America. 01 Dec 2003: n.p. SIRS Researcher. Web. 23 Jul 2010.
This source was an article about the Free Exercise Clause in the U.S. Constitution and what it meant for religious freedom. There was a lot about law suits that were filed concerning religious liberties. I plan on using it as a cite for the Free Exercise Clause and information on how people won religious freedoms.
I used Dictionary.com-Dictionary.com. Ask.com, 2010. Web. 23 July 2010.- an online dictionary cite, for my paper just to define a word or phrase here or there. This cite was last copywrited in 2010 and the information seems to be acurate when I cross refferenced with other cites that all had a variation of the same definition. I don't think this web site is bias in any way and the information available is pretty straight forward.

Comparing The Handmaid's Tale, Book vs. Movie

Comparing a book and the movie that is a product of that book is always a difficult thing to do, but with The Handmaid’s Tale the screenplay was actually pretty close to the movie. The movie was able to keep the general feel of the book, that dry, satirical humor that permeated through the text. The cast was amazing; Natasha Richardson, Faye Dunaway, Robert Duvall and Aidan Quinn did a wonderful job of portraying the main characters. There was little that changed in the plot, but what they did change was pretty major.
The plot and setting in the movie was the same as in the book. It took place in a futuristic, dystopian United States in a time of war. Women are oppressed and religion is being used as a tool of the government. One of the minor changes from the book to the movie is that there are no white wing hats only red veils. One of the more crucial changes in the film adaptation is that here are more names thrown around. For example, both the main character, known only by Offred her handmaid’s title in the book, is given an actual name, Kate. Also, they gave the daughter a name as well, Jill. The giving of actual names in the movie takes away the sense of ambiguity that is in the book. These names are a way of asserting an actual identity. The whole reason for not giving a definitive identity in the book is to give the appearance of having no freedom or individuality left. Having an identity gives the appearance of the characters having hope in who they are, and in the book that is something that is really challenged.
Another big difference from the book to the movie is that Offred kills the Commander at the end of the movie and in the book, she doesn’t. In the book the Commander is seen as almost self incriminating himself once Offred is taken away. I think this was another mistake on the screenwriter’s behalf because in the book Offred can’t even truly consider killing herself, let alone killing another person. Also, in the book towards the end she has almost given up and accepted her role in this new society so she doesn’t get into trouble. Having her go to the Commander asking for help, let alone killing him, I feel, takes away from her sense of naïve innocence. Killing him is a way for her showing that, yes she is desperate, but it shows that she has some gumption left. With the book there is a sense of complete vulnerability, that is why when she is taken into the custody of the resistance there is a greater sense of relief, because she has finally her hope back.
Though these changes are pretty significant there wasn’t much else that changed from the book to the movie. The overall feeling or tone of the book was transferred to the movie beautifully. The sense of total disheartenment by, and for, the people of this dystopian society is just as evident in both the book and the movie. The sense of betrayal and loss felt by the women, being denounced and devoid of all civil liberties is just as keen in the movie. Capturing the essence of the Red Center, I thought, would have been very difficult because it is where the women are taken to be programmed not to think or feel or trust or, truly be alive, but the movie did an excellent job of conveying that idea as well. Another aspect that I think was portrayed very well was the relationships between the wives and the handmaids. The sense of resentment along with the complete need that the wives have for the handmaids is a key point in the book that I wasn’t sure would be able to be fully conveyed through the screenplay, but again, I was wrong. Overall, I think this was a beautifully shot movie, adapted from one of the most compelling novels that I have ever had the privilege of reading.

Topic Proposal-The Handmaid's Tale

Question: Why is does it seem the women are blamed for everything? Why is the government acting like it’s the Middle Ages? What’s up with everything being the women’s fault, and why if the birth rate is down are the women not allowed to hook up with any guy they want to try to get pregnant? If babies are in such high demand shouldn’t people be copulating all the time to see if they can get pregnant, and for that matter, why are all the guys who are allowed to have sex old? Why not try using young men since they have a better chance of actually fertilizing an egg? I don’t get it, but I promise I will narrow down my questions for the essay; I just had too many questions floating around in my head about the text to just choose one…
I was planning on researching Margaret Atwood herself to try and get a better understanding of her mindset when she wrote this and her inspirations for this book, along with other books by her to see if there are any plot similarities between them. I thought I would research our government and the government of those during WWII since it seems that there are a few references to communism and dictatorships and tyrannical rules. And if I go with the other questions about the birth rates and the women being blamed and all of that, I’ll still research Atwood herself but I’ll research countries where women are still oppressed and the oppression of women in the U.S. too, along with their struggles to get ahead in the world. I chose these topics, the government and the women’s struggles in this world, because they are both interesting to me. The government is something that I want to always learn about, how a place is run can tell you about life, and when it comes down to it we are all just trying to figure life out. And being a woman, women’s studies have always fascinated me; I was raised independent so to see or read about a place, even make believe, is interesting. This will tell me a lot about Atwood and how she was raised and what her beliefs in the government and social systems are.

"Handmaid's" Thesis

Thesis Question: Why is it all of the Handmaids have to wear a floor length, red dress that covers every inch of them, along with white “wings” or white hats?

In “The Handmaid’s Tale” the government seems like a tyranny and to stop the men from being tempted by the women they are forced to wear concealing clothing.
This is definitely an arguable statement because there are two other reasons that came to mind when I was answering this question. It is specific because it states clearly one narrowed opinion that I have, instead of broadening it to “the government says so…” The part about being in a tyrannical rule comes from this passage, “Government issue? Think of it as being in the army, said Aunt Lydia… Like other things now, thought must be rationed… Thinking can hurt your chances…” (8). This passage suggests that there is little to no choice left to the individual anymore. The other part of the thesis is supported by the last paragraph on page22, “As we walk away I know they’re watching, these two men who aren’t yet allowed to touch women. They touch with their eyes instead… I hope they get hard at the sight of us… they have no outlets now except themselves… There are no more magazines, no more films, no more substitutes…”

Mid Session Letter

July 9, 2010
Dear Ms. Awesome Teacher, Laura Darrow,
You told us to write as though this was a portfolio letter and that is how I addressed the graders. Well not that same exact heading but something just as ridiculous and fun! My biggest challenge in the class so far has been trying to keep up with all the reading. I am taking a comparative religions class right now that I not only have to read the text book for but two other books on different religions and then I have to write a five to eight page paper, so I’m bogged down with reading and writing in this eight week process. My biggest success I think would have to be my blog. I really like having a blog, I didn’t think I would but I like maintaining it and being creative with the art and videos and everything else. The reading material for this class has had a major impact on me. I think what got to me the most was “The Sand Storm” just because I am a drama geek and the raw emotions I felt from the play really moved me. The literary analysis of the readings weren’t really a stretch for me, I analyze everything. I have to analyze even the most simple of assignments in order to really understand what I’m doing. And really the only writing that I’ve had to do is in my English 102 and my Creative Writing class.
In the second half of the semester I just hope that I’ll be able to keep up with everything. My goal is to pass this class with as little problems as possible. I am looking forward to finishing “The Handmaid’s Tale” it is an interesting book. And, no offense to you Laura Darrow because you’re awesome, I’m just really looking forward to the end of this semester so I can finally have a life again!
Sincerely,
L