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1A. What does the literature/media I consume say about me?

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1A. What does the literature/media I consume say about me?

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1B. How might the literature/media I consume be influencing my thoughts, views, values, or actions?

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1B. How might the literature/media I consume be influencing my thoughts, views, values, or actions?

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1C. How might the literature/media I consume reflect my thoughts, views, values, or experiences?

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1C. How might the literature/media I consume reflect my thoughts, views, values, or experiences?

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1D. What are the patterns and gaps I notice in the literature/media that I consume?

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1D. What are the patterns and gaps I notice in the literature/media that I consume?

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1E. What, if anything am I going to do about it?

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1E. What, if anything am I going to do about it?

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One thing I have noticed in both reading, and media that I consume, is that I tend to gravitate towards content I am familiar with and is within the genres I am used to. In reflecting on my To Be Read list and comparing it to my list of books I have recently read, I see a lot of "safe" choices in my read list. Many of the books in my upcoming reads are non-fiction or memoirs, which in contrast to books such as "Verity" and "Looking for Alaska" are very different. Recognizing this gives me motivation to push myself outside of my reading comfort zone and test out new genres to expand my reading but also expose myself to other perspectives, values, and authors.

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Personal Reflection One - March 25th, 2024

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Personal Reflection One - March 25th, 2024

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In reflecting on the literature and media I consume on a regular basis, I've realized how certain binge-worthy TV shows I watch such as "13 Reasons Why" and "Riverdale" have influenced my thoughts and actions in varying ways. Watching "13 Reasons Why" prompted me to reflect deeply on mental health issues that I myself struggle with similarly to characters such as Hannah Baker in the show. In relating to these characters I can often empathize towards their struggles. However, I also understood the potential harm in its portrayal of sensitive topics like suicide, and depression whcih led me to engage in discussions about media representation and mental health awareness.

Similarly, indulging in the binge-watching urges of "Riverdale" provided an escape from reality, but it also made me aware of the glamorization of certain behaviours and unrealistic depictions of high school life. This awareness encouraged me to the critically analyze media messages and question the impact they might have on shaping societal norms and expectations.

By analyzing these impacts of my go-to TV shows, I am reminded of the dual nature of my media consumption — while these shows can be enjoyable and engaging, it is essential that I remain vigilant about the influence it has on my perceptions and behaviours. Through evaluating the content I consume, I can navigate my media choices more consciously and contribute to a healthier media environment.

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2A. How have you/could you read one/some of the texts like an ENG professor? How did/could this deeper your understanding or interpretation of the text?

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2A. How have you/could you read one/some of the texts like an ENG professor? How did/could this deeper your understanding or interpretation of the text?

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2B. How can you speak to the intertextuality of these texts? Are there any texts or genres that you feel "speak to each other" or are connected in some way? Does reading/watching one help you to understand another?

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2B. How can you speak to the intertextuality of these texts? Are there any texts or genres that you feel "speak to each other" or are connected in some way? Does reading/watching one help you to understand another?

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As I reflect on the unintended allusions and intertextuality among my collection of texts and media, I can see clear connections that exist between them, furthering my understanding of identity, oppression, and resilience in numerous ways.

Margaret Atwood's "The Handmaid's Tale" and the series "Euphoria" offer a intriguing parallel perspective. "The Handmaid's Tale" tells the story of a dystopian society where women are stripped of their autonomy and reduced to reproduction "machines". This theme resonates deeply with the struggles depicted in "Euphoria" where teenage girls navigate social pressures and expectation that seek to control and regulate their bodies and identities. Analyzing these two texts/medias side by each I can draw connections between the oppression of Gilead and the subtler forms of social control present in the modern high school setting of "Euphoria", allowing me to reflect on the ways in which power structures and hierarchies shape individual identity.

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Personal Reflection Two - April 9th, 2024

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Personal Reflection Two - April 9th, 2024

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Although very different, movies such as "Dead Poets Society" and books like "The Midnight Library" and "The Great Gatsby" all delve into humans universal desire to belong and how we all seek acceptance. In "Dead Poets Society" students yearn for acceptance within their school, while also seeking individual expression and belonging of their own. "The Midnight Library" and "The Great Gatsby" share this teem through the lenses of regret as they face the consequences of their actions. In both texts, characters grapple with the question of where they truly belong and what it is that gives their lives meaning. Despite their differences in settings and narratives, these works are all connected by their view into the human desire to belong and connect with others. As a reader, this challenges me to reflect on the deeper definition of belonging, and emphasize the importance of authenticity and meaningful connections that challenges societal expectations.

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2C. Based on your answer(s) for question 2A and/or 2B...what do the texts in your collection reveal about what it means to be human?

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2C. Based on your answer(s) for question 2A and/or 2B...what do the texts in your collection reveal about what it means to be human?

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Both "Milk and Honey" by Rupi Kaur and "The Midnight Lubrary" by Matt Haig are books that really stuck with me and changed my perspective on my own life and society. Each of the texts delve into aspects of humanity and human desures, though they approach these themes in distinct ways.

"Milk and Honey" explores human experience with rawness and vulnerability, focusing on universal themes of loss, love, trauma, healing, and empowerment. Through poetry, the author examines human emotions, revealing the complexities of our relationships and our joyney toward self-acceptance. The book reflects on the desire for love, connection, and healing, as well as the pain and resilience inherent in the human experience.

"The Midnight Library" on the other hand, tells a fictional narrative that explores the concepts of regret and desire to feel fulfilled in live. Though Nora Seed, the protagonist, the story uncovers the idea of alternate realities and the opportunity to explore different lives and choice. It examines the desire to find purpose, meaning and happiness, as well as the complexities of decision making and the consequences of our choices as humans. Ultimately, it suggests that human desires are complex and often interconnected with our perceptions of success, regret, and fulfillment.

Both texts reveal that being human entails feeling a range of emotions, desires, and experiences. They highlight our collective human longing for love, connection, purpose, as well as the challenges that come with navigating these.

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3A. How have you / could you interpret one/some of these texts using one of the literary lenses? What are some of the potential messages or significant themes that emerge through the piece with this lens?

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3A. How have you / could you interpret one/some of these texts using one of the literary lenses? What are some of the potential messages or significant themes that emerge through the piece with this lens?

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3B. How can you speak to the INTERSECTIONALITY of your collection? Are you seeing multiple lenses that impact certain pieces in different ways? How does knowing about literary lenses help you understand the COMPLEXITY of the text?

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3B. How can you speak to the INTERSECTIONALITY of your collection? Are you seeing multiple lenses that impact certain pieces in different ways? How does knowing about literary lenses help you understand the COMPLEXITY of the text?

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3C. Based on your answer(s) for question 3A and/or 3B... what do the texts in your collection reveal about what it means to be human, and to be and live in the world?

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3C. Based on your answer(s) for question 3A and/or 3B... what do the texts in your collection reveal about what it means to be human, and to be and live in the world?

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Interpreting "To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee and the series "Bridgerton" through a feminist lens reveals significant themes about gender roles, power dynamics, and social constructs.

In "To Kill a Mockingbird," Scout Finch challenges traditional gender norms with her tomboyish behaviour and resistance to fit into to societal expectations of femininity, highlighting the struggle against gender roles and the desire for personal freedom. Atticus Finch, as a single father, raises Scout and her brother Jem with an emphasis on moral integrity and equality, challenging the conventional male role of the time.

In "Bridgerton," the female characters live in a patriarchal society where their value is often tied to marriage and social status. Characters like Lady Danbury display strength, challenging the constraints placed upon her by a male-dominated society.

Both works, through their exploration of women's experiences and resistance to societal pressures, reveal deeper truths about the human desire for autonomy and equality, shedding light on the struggle against oppressive norms and what it means to find identity and justice in a world often resistant to change.