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Click the plus sign button at the top of the Activities column to which you are responding.

REMINDER: be sure to include your name with all posts to receive credit and allow others to respond.

OPTION: IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO RECORD A VIDEO OR AUDIO response instead of writing for these Activities assignments (with the exception of image Activities), go to the end of the column to which you are responding. Click the plus sign to create a new post.  Click the ellipsis  (...) next to the camera icon, and it will give you a list of options. You can, for instance, film a video, record your voice, or capture your screen.

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Instructions: 10 Activity points
Write your own creation myth! Think about the elements of a good creation myth as we have talked about them in class and as you have read in your readings. Then pick "something" (person, place, thing, emotion, world, new universe, etc.) and create a myth explaining its creation. (Examples from past classes: coffee, sunglasses, love, hatred, etc.) Add your creation myth by clicking the + sign above.

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Instructions: 10 Activity points
List at least 5 characters we have read about so far who would qualify as "The Other" and provide a reason why.
Definition of "The Other"

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Instructions: 10 Activity points
Respond to “Writing Expectations”  - On what do you need to focus the most in order to improve your writing for this course?

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Instructions: 10 Activity points
List of the parallels between The Classic of Mountain and Seas AND the clip from Shang-Chi

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Instructions: 10 Activity points

Reflection Post (especially identifying any questions relevant to Source Scavenger Hunt assignment) responding to Library Research Tutorials (YouTube videos to watch this week):

“How to use FalconSearch for your research”

”Find scholarly articles using FalconSearch”

“How to do an Advanced Search”

“Using Google Scholar to Locate Cited Sources”

“How to use interlibrary loan”

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Instructions: 10 Activity points

What primary, literary text did you select for the focus of your Expanded Mini-Essay? Why did you select it?

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Response to “Why Domestic Violence Victims Don’t Leave”

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Response to “Why Domestic Violence Victims Don’t Leave”

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Instructions: 10 Activity points
Respond to how we might apply the video “Why Domestic Violence Victims Don’t Leave” to the readings this week.

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Instructions: 10 Activity points

Keep a list of all terms that stand out to you as you do the readings (text and links) about the Crusades.  You will also note how many times that word is mentioned. You will then create a word cloud.

Link for word cloud: Word It Out

Click Create at the top.

Type or paste in your words from class. You should repeat the words as many times as you heard them (for instance, if you heard "Christian" five times, you will write the word "Christian" five separate times).

When you are done, click Generate in the lower right-hand corner.

You may then either manually change settings like font, etc., on the left-hand side OR click Regenerate in the upper left-hand corner until you like the look of your word cloud.

Save a copy of your word cloud or take a screenshot of it.

Upload it the image to this thread (click the plus sign below and then the up-pointing arrow on the box that shows up).

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Instructions: 10 Activity points

Which Mini-Essay did you select to expand? Why did you select it?

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Instructions: 10 Activity points

How did you search for your academic secondary sources for your Expanded Mini-Essay? Why did you select the sources that you did?

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Instructions: 10 Activity points

Reflect on each of the course learning outcomes listed below. Then write a paragraph for a potential cover letter for future job applications about what you gained from this course and what skills you are better able to do.

At the end of this course, successful students will be able to:

identify and analyze the textual, historical, and cultural contexts of works of literature through literary analysis and critical evaluation;

read works of literature closely and thoroughly;

develop their insights effectively through oral and written communication, particularly via essay, images, and collaborative classroom site; and

identify the steps of the research process and apply information literacy skills in a variety of contexts.

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In the late 13th century, there was a simple physician named Amos. Amos traveled the world helping people where he could and doing his best to make the world a better place. Unfortunately, Amos wasn't a very skilled physician and was often ignored and chased out of town. The problem with Amos was that his vision was so poor he stumbled around, bumbling into objects, and mixing vials up. Despite his best intentions, he usually ended up just making a mess. It was rare when someone ended up better off after than before they came to him. It was around this time Amos had word of the Battle of Tagliacozzo and decided to make his way towards Italy to see if his efforts could help. When Amos got to Tagliacozzo, he was walking through the town when he stumbled and fell. Cursing his vision, he sat up, squinting at what caused him to fall. It was two panes of broken glass that were resting on a piece of timber. Looking through the glass panes, he noticed what looked to be a massive four-leaf clover. Muttering to himself, he picked the glass panes up and reached for the clover. In his blurry vision, he couldn’t find where the clover was. Looking at the glass panes again, he moved them in front of his face, and there, poking up through the soil, was the four-leaf clover that showed clearly. Amos laughed to himself, thinking of what he must look like holding the panes of glass before himself and how ridiculous he must look. But he knew that the answer to his vision lay with these panes of glass. Thus, was the start of eyeglasses

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Regina McGahee

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Subject: Written Languages

In aeons past, when the lands stretched on with lush valleys and sandy deserts, much was known among the cities that held humanity. Tales of heroes and monsters, legends of creation and nature and time, wisdom on animals and weather and oceans. Such knowledge was spread from mind to mind, across distances and time, by way of speech, of sound, of tongue. Such knowledge was fragile, and much was lost. As people faded into death, the wisdom once held in their minds vanished into aether. As time marched on, the stories once held changed again and again, until they became unrecognizable. And yet, humanity continued to march on, learning and forgetting and learning again. This was fascinating to many, to the monsters that lurked in the shadows, to the spirits that listened in the wind, and most of all to the gods that watched from realms beyond. But among the gods was once most curious. Syneillse had always found humanity fascinating, and in her many centuries in existence, the so-called Goddess of Words had found herself listening more and more. And as she listened, her mind grew, and she began to construct her own stories, to seek out her own wisdom. In a way, she began to act more and more like the mortals she valued. But she could never be like them. She could never share her stories, the knowledge she accumulated. Syneillse was born without mouth, without tongue, her face smooth and textureless beyond the many eyes concealed by her great bronze helm. She was forever doomed to learn and create, without ever having the chance to share, to inform. She was in agony, watching as she learned more and more, and as the wisdom of humans' past fell from the grasp of their descendents. But then, after years and years, she realized something among the endless stories and facts and sayings archived in her endless mind. If one could create a story, could one not create a way to remember a story? Words were her domain, but why did words need to be forged of sound and wind and life? Could she not form them from earth and blood and bone? So she began her work, listening to all the tongues of the world. She undid her helm and let her hair, long and pale and stiff as stone, flow down to sprawl across clouds and mountains and the expanses of realms beyond. Then, with her finger, she pierced her divine skin, drawing blood across the splintering fingers, and began to carve symbols into the hair. Lines and curves and dots became letters and then words. And as many moons passed by, she carved story after story. And as she crafted ways of remembrance, her written languages, her fellow gods took notice. They turned the light her way, and let the blood-stained markings shine down into the minds of the mortals. And the humans took the skin of the beasts and the leaves of the trees and the blood of the plants and fruits and carved that which they thought. And soon memories grew strong, permanent, carved into shapes immune to death, and Syneillse was finally able to embrace that which inspired her, and share her stories through the mortals below.

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Long ago, before there were radios, guitars, pianos, anything to do with making music, there was hands, and there was voice. Maybe the occasional jar or table to hit to make some sort of beat. Now, there is only so much someone can do with their hands to make some form of music without an instrument, and only so much a voice can do without knowing keys, or harmonies. Well, way further back, there was a god named Apollo. The god of music. He played an instrument known as the lyre. This instrument was played to calm people down. It was seen as a gift. Music was not just sound; it was a magical force used to calm and give happiness. In today's time, instruments are used in the same way.

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The creation of birds.

Long ago, after the creation of the earth, humans began inhabiting the lands along with other animals. These humans made farms, built homes and other structures, and reproduced until the earth’s land was full of humans spreading out and settling down all over the world. This made the gods very pleased. Soon after this period of time in history, the humans searched for a new adventure. They wanted more places to explore and so they built boats and took to the seas. This, again, was very enjoyable to watch to the gods who had created this whole world. At the sight of the humans taking their adventures into the oceans, the gods created new organisms for the humans to interact with. In the ocean, the humans found an unbelievable amount of new sea creatures to discover and study. There was only one thing missing. The humans had conquered the land and the sea but they had yet to take to the skies. To entice the humans to explore the skies, the gods created birds. As birds soared through the air so gracefully, they caught the eyes of the people below them. The humans soon learned to construct aircrafts and fly like the birds. This is the creation of birds.

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Oscar Wyspianski

When music was first created.

When the world was still young which was a long time ago, there was never any music. People would just speak to each other and go through their days just talking. There weren't any instruments or songs to sing. Celebrations were quiet, all you could hear is people talk as background noise. When people were sad, there was no sound to comfort them so the sadness would be heavier. There was a small boy named Nicholas who always wondered why the world was so sad. He always loved sitting down and hearing the wind move through the branches of the trees. One night, he asked the spirit of the wind to give people a sound that could express feelings words could not. The wind spirit then made sounds through the branches and vines. Nicholas then combined these items like the branches, vines, etc. and created an instrument where he could play any note he wanted to. This would calm him down when he felt sad and then others asked for him to play it when they felt down as well. Once more people started to catch onto this, more and more instruments were created and different sounds were played to create joy for people.

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Liandra Boddie- The creation of Procrastination

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Liandra Boddie- The creation of Procrastination

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Long ago, in the age before time was worried about, the world was run by two divine siblings. Astrea the Goddess of light, ambition, and action and her twin brother Morrow the God of the unknown and patience. Astrea was made of pure fire and lived with the stars that always would shine bright. Her hands could go faster than shooting stars and she believed that every idea, dream, or task should be started at that very second it was thought of. Morrow was the complete opposite of his twin sister. He was calm and patient. He lived near the far edge of the sky where the day would end and begin. His calm voice would remind the rivers of the world to slow their flow and the mountains of the heavens to not grow too high. For many eons, they have balanced each other perfectly in harmony. Astrea would start the spark of a new project and Morrow would give it space and time to be able to grow. Morrows' no sense of urgency or time made Astrea impatient. One day she thought to herself, why wait until tomorrow when everything could be done today? as these thoughts grew she became more frustrated waiting for her brother, Astrea secretly made a net out of starlight and called it The Promise. This net would catch all of the mortals' goals and tasks in order for them to be completed right away, as she thought should happen. Astrea’s decisions made the mortals somewhat superhuman. They were able to do tasks that would take years, overnight. When making this net, Astrea made a huge mistake. This net had no limit to what mortals were able to do, which put the world into anxious state of always being busy with no rest. Mortals started to become overwhelmed with everything they had promised to do. Watching this from afar, Morrow saw that his sister's creation did not help the mortals, but put them in a prison of overwhelming overcommitment. So he decided to step in and help balance the world once more. Morrow went to the world of mortals and touched all those who were the most overwhelmed. He whispered a single quiet word into their mind, his own name “Morrow”. In an instant, relief would wash over the mortal and their endless tasks that they had would fade away and they would breathe a sigh of relief and whisper back “yes… tomorrow”. When Astrea found out about her brother interfering with her creation she was angry, shouting that he had doomed mankind into a forever haze of laziness. He then said “ I did not doom them, without the promise of ‘tomorrow’ they would not have time to dream of the stars while they rested after a long day of work”. And this is how the origin of procrastination started. Whenever a task is put in front of you, Astrea’s starlight pushes the fire of “do it now” into your mind. But before that fire can ever reach you, Morrow's quiet whisper reaches your mind. Morrow does not make you forget about the task all together, but he just moves it into the future. He takes away the overwhelming feeling of having to do the task right now and pushes it to the promise of tomorrow.

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Dreams

In times past, not long after the conception of humans, and the earth beneath them that they had inhabited, the gods were pleased with what they had created, populated world with inhabitants living their lives as they see fit. Though before long, the gods had become displeased with how these humans were living. While they were certainly alive in flesh in blood, the events of their lives had stagnated, going through the same motions everyday without much of a change in though or ambition. The gods thought long and hard of a solution to this problem, wondering how they could influence their creations in a way to do something new, without directly making them do so. In the gods thinking, they found an idea, the idea to allow humans to dream, to imagine possibilities they could reach if they tried hard enough. They granted this ability to all humans on the earth, all being able to witness these dreams by sleeping or their own imagination. In turn, this led to life out of stagnating, and wave of ambitious actions followed, pleasing the gods once more, seeing them truly living life with purpose.

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Long ago, humans were made with hearts capable of affection, companionship, and kindness. Despite their affection for one another, their feelings were consistently in balance. No one could ever fully absorb the thoughts of another,  but they had never felt anything strong enough to take over their thoughts.

Deep within the universe, further than light could reach lived the creator of emotions,  Enia. She felt as if humans were missing a powerful connection, a bond so strong that they would respect and admire one another. So she created a new feeling, devotion.

In the beginning, it started out as an exciting gift. People utilized it to show deep empathy for their loved ones and loyalty was established. Yet, one human became fascinated with the feeling. He met someone who made him happy but feared losing that bond. His devotion became intense, consuming his thoughts and feelings. Enia observed that the intense devotion became a shadow in that once- bright feeling, which she labeled obsession.

From that day on, humans carried that sense to become obsessed with others, experiencing joy in caring for them but wanting someone so completely that they lost themselves, which brought pain. One thing she left with humans was the message,  “ Love was created to unite souls, not imprison them.”

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A long time ago the mountains stood bare. The path between the spirit world and the human world was in sight; spirits would wander freely, confusing travelers and leading them far out from home.

Seeing this, the ancestors in the sky would call upon a white dragon, guardian of the mountains. Each morning, the dragon breathed a soft cloud across the valleys. The cloud became mist, gently covering land until the sun rose high enough to guide people safely on their way.

Even today, when mountains are covered by the morning mist, it is said that the White Dragon are the ones guarding the land and reminding the people to respect nature, honor their ancestors, and to never forget where they came from.

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Regina McGahee

There are a lot of characters and groups thus far that could be considered “The Other.” Prose Edda makes mention of the Frost Giants, talking about how they’re different from the gods, and how they’re all monstrous. Metamorphoses has Daphne, and women in general, who are objectified and pursued by gods. The Exodus story from The Bible has the Hebrew people, who have a different faith and culture. New World makes mention of all the real events with Columbus and other explorers with their treatment of the indigenous people of the Americas. In that, we see how these people were “othered” for looking different and having different cultures, which led to the explorers seeing them as lesser. And then there’s “Of Cannibals,” which more or less explains that all groups outside one’s own could be considered “The Other” for their differences, making note of Romans and Hungarians, among others.

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5 characters that I can think of to be considered "the Other" are Eve, Cain, and the Serpent in Genesis, and Seth and Osiris from the Egyptian creation myth. Eve is considered "the other" because she ate the forbidden fruit after the serpent tempted her, and after that she was blamed for bringing sin into the world and had to leave the Garden of Eden. After killing his brother, Cain turned into "the other." God punished him by making him leave his home and wander the earth, so he became an outsider. The serpent tricked Eve into eating the forbidden fruit, and because of what it did, God cursed the serpent and made it different from other animals. Seth brings chaos and violence. He killed his brother because he wanted power, which made him different from other gods. Osiris became the other after he died and became the ruler of the underworld. He was cut off from both the other gods and the world of the living.

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5 Characters that could be seen as “the Other”

1. Adam and Eve could be seen as “the Other” because they were sent out of the garden of Eden, away from God, after eating the fruit against God’s wishes.

2. The Israelites who lived in Egypt from the book of Exodus can be seen as “the Other” because they were enslaved by the Pharaoh in Egypt.

3. Moses himself can be seen as “the Other” because he could not enter the tabernacle to be with God after the Israelites broke two of the Ten Commandments.

4. The indigenous Americans from the essays “Of Others” can be seen as “the Other” because Montaigne uses the word “they” when he describes the people he encounters.

5. The native people of the Bahamas from the diary of Christopher Columbus can be seen as “the Other” because he makes assumptions and generalizations about the people he met.

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5 characters I would describe as "The Others" are:

The Romans in the reading: "OF CANNIBALS" because, according to the Greeks, all other people were considered barbarians. So, from their viewpoint, the Romans would be considered another nation with different beliefs and systems of rule.

The Indigenous peoples of the Americas were considered "others" when Christopher Columbus "explored" the Americas. He viewed the Indigenous people as a different group of people and, unfortunately, ones who were not equal and able to be enslaved.

The Hebrews could be viewed as "Others" because, as a traveling group of people, they passed through many nations. As a group of people of a different nationality and belief system, those whose countries they passed through could view them as "Others". They themselves could've viewed the other nations as others due to their different belief systems.

The Prophet Muhammad could consider those whom he fought as others and those who fought Muhammad as the Other. Those he fought had a different set of beliefs than he did, and sought to kill him, so Muhammad fought for his life and for the expansion of Islam.

Lastly, Socrates was considered an Other. His belief system was different than those who led Athens, and because his beliefs were different and potentially dangerous to the government. So, because of his beliefs and because he was considered an Other, he was sentenced to execution.

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When it comes down to deciding whether someone is qualified as “The Other” we have to see that they are viewed as different from what society says is normal and doesn't fit into the social standards.They are frequently viewed as outcasts or as less significant than the dominant group. Although they were different from the prevailing society, Moses, Muhammad, the Israelites, Iddhartha Gautama, and Saint Margaret fall under this category. In addition to offering fresh viewpoints or questioning preexisting views, it causes exclusion and conflict. As a Hebrew living under Egyptian royalty, Moses is torn between two cultures and challenges authority as an outsider. Since they are foreigners, the enslaved Israelites face oppression. Due to his monotheistic views,  his belief in one God, Muhammad is persecuted in Mecca. By giving up wealth, the Buddha separates himself from the expectations of society. As of her steadfast Christian beliefs, Saint Margaret faces persecution. An extra person who could also qualify for this is Eve. In Genesis, Eve is expelled from the Garden of Eden and alienated from both God and her previous condition of innocence after consuming the forbidden fruit. Given that she is no longer a member of the ideal environment she once lived in, her exile makes her an example.

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Moses – Moses is "The Other" because he was born a Hebrew but grew up in an Egyptian palace. He didn't fully fit in with either the Egyptians or the Hebrews. And because he didn’t fully fit into either groups, he was an outsider.

Muhammad – Muhammad is "The Other" because he taught a new religion that many people didn't believe in. Because of this, people treated him badly and wanted him to stop.

Saint Margaret – Saint Margaret is "The Other" because she refused to give up her Christian faith. People punished her because she believed something different from them.

Socrates – Socrates is considered "The Other" because he asked a lot of questions and challenged what people believed. Many people didn't like that, so they put him on trial and sentenced him to death.

Buddha – Buddha would also be "The Other" because he left his rich life behind to find the meaning of life. His ideas were different from what many people believed, so he stood out from everyone else.

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5 Characters I think could qualify as "The other"

1. Socrates, as he ended up being seen as dangerous due to his beliefs, and ended up having been executed.

2. Saint Margaret, as she had also been executed for her belief, having not believed in Olibrius' idols.

3. The Israelites and Moses, as they as a group had under the slavery of Egypt before Moses encounter with God.

4. The indigenous people, from the Americas, having not been seen equally as people by Christopher Columbus and were enslaved.

5. Prophet Muhammad, as he had to actively fight for his beliefs against those who opposed them and set out to persecute him.

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Jason Jalbert

The five people we read about that I would consider others are

1. Native American Indians Because they were thought to be less than human.

2. The Israelis because Pharaoh ordered to kill the male babies and making slaves of the others

3. The Cannibals because They also were considered subhuman like and they had no tolerance for anyone who had cultures outside their own.

4. Saint Margaret because she was outsider that had different religious beliefs than the rest of the Roman people

5. The Carthaginians that left to the fruitful island who were threatened by death because they were afraid they would multiple and they would come back and wage war.

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There are many characters that we have read that could be classified as the other.

1. Christopher Columbus- I see him as the other. I know in most historical findings the “savages” of the new world are considered “the other”, but Chistopher Colombus embarked on a new journey to another part of the world that he did not know. He inserted himself into the natives' world bringing death and disease. He thought that forcing them out of their own rituals would make them want to convert to Christianity. The act of him thinking he was superior to another group of people that he injected himself into makes him the other.

2. Ymir- He was a threat and an ogre from an outsider race that did not belong in the Norse Gods world. Ymir was considered the creator of the forest Ogres that are the eternal enemies of the Gods. The Ogres lived on the outer part of the world that is excluded from the divine community. He is then exploited by the Gods, in order for them to make midgard.

3. The Europeans- in the essay The Cannibals, the other in my opinion is the Europeans who try to take the natives' rituals and practices away from them because they are different from them. Montaigne explains that the natives are more in tune with the earth and other living things. He explains that the “barbaric” ritual of eating the enemies of their battles is something in tune with their spirituality and honor. What makes the Europeans the other is that they kill and take land not for the right reasons but because they are greedy savages.

4. Yugao- would be considered the other. She is running away from her former husband. She hides in a poor place in town so no one can find her. She is also the mistress of Genji, they are always hiding with each other and not able to be seen by other people together. He is of royal blood and is not able to be with her fully, making her the other.

5. Women- In the article that we read, it is seen throughout history that women need to hide their abilities because they are women. They have always been looked at as inferior to men and what they are able to do. This makes all women in history and now the other.

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Writing Expectations Activity

There are many things I believe I need to work on in my writing. When I came to college, I found that I did not know a lot of the basic information of college writing and lacked many of the skills to write in an academic setting. One thing I need to work on is my ability to find reputable sources. I didn’t have an understanding of this until college and even today I still struggle with figuring out if the source is credible for an academic setting. The second thing I need to work on is having a proper thesis. I think I understand how to have an acceptable thesis statement but I always tend to get stuck in my introductions and lose this important element in my writing. Something I realize I am guilty of in this very assignment is using weak transition words. What are strong transition words? I don’t really know the difference between the two or how to change this in my writing going forward. I always thought that transition words like “second” and “finally” made me feel more organized so this is actually the first time I am hearing that they are not sufficient.

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To be honest, I don't see any major issues with my writing. I suppose if anything, I might have some very slight issues with formality, and almost certainly my citing. I still have a weaker than preferred understanding of how to put The Bible in my Works Cited page given it's such an old text without a proper known author. Other than those, most of the issues one might perceive I struggle to see as issues, especially given my personal disagreements with the statements in the document about using one as a pronoun or transition words.

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While writing is a skill I need to improve on overall, a there's few points in the list that stood out to me as needing to improve the most. The first are the points about having a proper thesis and having it specific as possible, as while I usually try to usually have a thesis, I tend to fall into the trap of making them too broad, which hurts the focus of the rest of my writing. Transition words are a point I've been actively trying to improve on during this course, though I find myself sometimes using different singular words that serve the same purpose and meaning that don't improve the transition much. One more point that I need to improve on is the usage of quotes in my sentences, as I am prone to trying to make the quote the main point of the sentence, which ends up with a very awkward transition to the quote, or making the quote nearly the entire sentence.

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I feel like my transition into the essay is not always as smooth as I want it to be. I feel like I lack in my thesis. I also feel like when I am answering a question, I tend to overexplain in a way that isn’t always smooth. Sometimes it feels like the idea bounces around, jumping from one angle of thinking to another. So I believe that I need to work on sentence flow. Lastly, I feel like my citations aren’t as good as they should be. In my opinion, I need to do a better job of doing my in-text citations. I think that I just input the thought, the idea, or the quote from the text without using a proper in-text citation.

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For this course, I need to focus on making my writing more fluent and getting to the point. Sometimes I include unnecessary details or take too long to explain my ideas. I want to improve by organizing my thoughts more clearly, using smoother transitions between sentences, and writing in a more concise way. My goal is to communicate my ideas effectively while staying focused on the main point of the assignment. Citing resources is possibly a struggle sometimes as well.

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”Why Domestic Violence Victims Don’t Leave” Response

The video “Why Domestic Violence Victims Don’t Leave” can be connected to this week’s readings in many ways. The first way is through a fear that Leslie Morgan Steiner talks about in this video. She says that people don’t leave because of a fear that they will be stalked or killed after leaving, which statistically happens to many victims. The article What Sansa Stark’s Rape Tells Us About Our Culture teaches us that “No matter how frequently rape occurs, rapists are not normally now and never have been convicted and legally punished.” This adds to the fear of being harmed after leaving because the rapists are often still out on the streets and have the means of finding you again and again.

This same principle can also be tied to the article 800 Years Of Rape Culture. This is an example of another article that speaks to the legal side of leaving an abusive relationship. Harris writes, “Legal records repeatedly feature women who bring charges of rape and are subsequently charged with false reporting after the jury concludes that the accused is not guilty or that the victim didn’t properly report her assault.” This is yet another injustice done unto victims of domestic violence and a reason for the women involved to be fearful of speaking out.

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Regina McGahee - Domestic Violence Video

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Regina McGahee - Domestic Violence Video

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The contents of the video align more or less with some of what a few of the readings were saying about the reasons why victims stay in abusive relationships, and you can use these reasons as explanations for why the victims in the readings stay with their abusers. For example, the video and the readings mention reasons like how victims often have emotional investment in the relationship, or have few people to turn to due to the societal expectations in place. You can use that reasoning to explain why the wife in “Yonec” stayed, as her being arranged to her husband left her without anyone to turn to. Nobody would support her leaving. And akin to how one final beating led Steiner to leave her abusive ex-fiance, the wife in “Yonec” also didn’t leave her abusive relationship until one particular incident that they perceived as too much. And of course, the video supports the idea of fear being a potential reason for staying, which ties into the readings. In Metamorphoses for example, the various women that are victims of abuse go as far as to sacrifice their very lives to escape, as any other option could lead to yet again being abused.

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When it comes to my writing, I know there are areas where I need to improve. Writing has never been one of my strongest skills, and I have always struggled with putting my ideas into  complete sentences. I can usually start a paper with a strong idea, but organizing my thoughts into a well-structured piece that flows smoothly is much more challenging. Although I have improved over time, the writing process still takes me longer and usually requires a great deal of editing. I also find that creating an outline beforehand helps me stay organized and keeps my ideas on track because I can tend to get out of the idea and go somewhere else or put too much detail that's not needed.

Another area I need to improve is my ability to identify reliable academic sources. I still have difficulty determining whether a source is credible enough to use in academic writing, so I know I need more practice evaluating sources. Finally, spelling and vocabulary are areas where I can continue to grow.  I'm not a very strong speller and need to expand my word version more. Expanding my vocabulary and becoming a stronger speller will help communicate my ideas more clearly.

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I learned more about the experiences of a number of the women in this week's readings thanks to the "Why Domestic Violence Victims Don't Leave" video. One of the main points of the video is that victims often stay because of fear, emotional manipulation, the belief that the abuse will eventually stop and change, and financial dependence. Domestic abuse is somewhat like an addiction in certain ways in my opinion . People may grow so accustomed to the cycle of violence and reconciliation that it begins to seem normal, not because they seek the abuse. Violence has become the norm, healthy relationships may even seem strange and something they can never accept due to the ptsd caused from the abuse. Even when they are aware that the connection is detrimental, this conditioning can make it extremely difficult for them to end it and in some cases end up going back. This concept can be used to Yonec by Marie de France, in which the woman becomes stuck in an abusive marriage with an elderly husband who rules and isolates her. She has very little freedom or authority to get out of her predicament, just like many other victims highlighted in the film. Sappho's "Lament for a Maidenhead" and Ovid's tales of "Pluto and Proserpine" and "Daphne and Phoebus," which depict women whose bodies and decisions are dominated by men, are also related to the video. Though they are not solely about domestic abuse in the modern sense, these works demonstrate how women have historically faced force and intimidation.

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Why domestic violence victims don't leave - Nathan Rider

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Why domestic violence victims don't leave - Nathan Rider

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Watching this video was interesting because I’ve honestly never thought about how victims might not actually know that they are being abused. I’ve always thought you know why victims don’t just leave if they are abused, but why would you leave if you don’t realize that you are being abused. This video ties into this week's reading because the wives stay because they feel they have nowhere to go and that the abuser hides the victim away. In the reading about Yonec, the lady is imprisoned in the tower for 7 years, hidden away because her husband is jealous. In the reading about the werewolf, the wife feels like she is in or about to be in an abusive relationship because werewolves were a metaphor for evil men. So, to answer the question, why don’t domestic violence victims leave? It is because the victims feel like they cannot, because they are trapped, feeling like they cannot leave because they will be mortally harmed, or they do not realize that they are in an abusive relationship because of the cycle of abuse.

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"Why Domestic Violence Victims Don't Leave" Response

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"Why Domestic Violence Victims Don't Leave" Response

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The video “Why Domestic Violence Victims Don't Leave" helped me understand the readings because it explains that leaving an abusive relationship is not as easy as people think. The speaker talks about how abuse usually starts small and gets worse over time. The abuser also tries to control the other person by making them scared, alone, or feel like they have no other choice. That made me think about the women in the readings because many of them were stuck in situations where they had very little power. The readings about rape culture and domestic violence in the Middle Ages show that women were often expected to obey men, even when they were being treated badly. The article about Sansa from Game of Thrones also shows how people sometimes blame victims instead of understanding what they are going through. The video explains that victims don't stay because they want to. They stay because they are scared, being controlled, or think things will get better. I also thought about Yonec and the werewolf reading. Both stories have women who are trapped in unhealthy relationships and have very little control over their own lives. The video helped me see that these stories are not just about violence. They are also about fear, control, and how hard it can be for someone to leave. After watching the video, I understood the readings in a different way and felt more sympathy for the women instead of wondering why they stayed.

-Destiny Gaughan

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Chiali Moua- Response to “Why Domestic Violence Victims Don’t Leave

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Chiali Moua- Response to “Why Domestic Violence Victims Don’t Leave

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The video was heartbreaking of course, but it made me understand that leaving an abusive relationship is more complicated that it seems. I do understand the fear that can come with it: their safety, lack of independence, or if they have children. It can be very difficult.

This can connect to this weeks readings because many of the women we read about face systems of power and oppression that limit their choices. Like the victims in the video, these women often have to find ways to survive within situations where they have little control. Both the video and the readings remind us that we should not judge the victims for staying in the relationship but instead understand the many barriers they face and support them with compassion and resources.

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When I write I tend to find trouble in smoothly going into what I am going to say next. It kind of just goes right into the next thing I am saying, and it makes my writing hard to read. So, I need to focus more on making sure my writing makes more sense and is easier to read.

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Madison Bouchard - Why domestic violence victims don't leave

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Madison Bouchard - Why domestic violence victims don't leave

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Death and manipulation are why women do not leave. In domestic violence relationships, the first thing the abuser does after they hit you is apologize and promise it will not happen again. They treat you amazing, until they do it again. It is a method to pull you in. To make you wait around again for them to love you for that little time, because in that moment in your life, all you want is to feel the love they gave you in the beginning. So, they wait, and wait, and wait. Until it becomes too much where they are left to almost die or start fearing that they are going to be killed by their abuser. Which at that point, the woman cannot leave, because her life will be ended.

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"Why Domestic Violence Victims Don't Leave" Response - Peyton McGrath

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"Why Domestic Violence Victims Don't Leave" Response - Peyton McGrath

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Peyton McGrath

This weeks video, "Why Domestic Violence Victims Don't Leave" gave me a deeper understanding of the question stated in the title. From the video, Leslie tells that the victims of abuse and domestic violence is that they can be unaware of that they're in the cycle of abuse, or are afraid to try freeing themselves from the situation, in fear of retaliation or harm, and have no choice in in what to do. This can be applied to our readings with texts such as Yonec, where after being locked in a tower for several years by her husband, a lord who wanted a heir, the maid witnesses the knight she loved having been murdered. In which she chooses to die with him by jumping from the tower, fearing what would come next.

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Liandra Boddie- Reasons why domestic violence victims don't come forward

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Liandra Boddie- Reasons why domestic violence victims don't come forward

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While reading the chosen literature and watching the video, I took a particular look at Calliope Sings of Ceres, Pluto and Proserpine and the article 800 Years of Rape Culture. They both point out the hypocrisy that can directly explain why domestic violence victims refuse to leave or come forward. History of not believed allegations and the refusal to proceed with prosecution is one of the examples of why it is so hard for victims today to come forward. Carissa Harris argues that Medieval law condemns rape yet continuosly excused it by finding “loopholes” that blame the victims who come forward, while Kathleen Kennedy breaks down the “reality of times” defense, showing that medieval culture criminalizes and romanticizes sexual violence, this is also seen in Calliope Sings of Ceres, Pluto and Proserpine when Ovid romanticsizes Proserpine’s abduction as “sudden love” while her cries for help go unheard. This double standard mirrors Steiner's insight that abusers who thrive when society gives them an alibi. Harris’s medieval loopholes are like an ancestor to today’s victim blaming questions about what a woman was wearing or how they were presenting themselves. Kennedy’s critique on The Game of Thrones shows that presence is mistaken for consent is mirrored in how Proserpine’s beauty is read as an invitation and how Steiners are judged because they did not resist violently enough. Both of these readings show that their were and still are laws against rape, but culture normalizes victim blaming. This makes victims internalize the shame they feel instead of speaking out

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Both are secret worlds hidden by a cave and are filled with musical creatures. Both stories involve a journey to reach the hidden worlds. In both stories, the creatures have magical powers that help people. In regard to the creature, in both stories there is a fox-like creature that has multiple tails. Both stories are similar in their fantastical creatures and mystical beings.

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Parallels and Influences- Julianna Mehigan

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Parallels and Influences- Julianna Mehigan

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The Shang-Chi clip and The Classic of Mountains and Seas share a lot of similarities. Both depict a world in which supernatural powers and legendary animals coexist with mankind. In both pieces the environments like forest, mountains and other natural features play a significant role.While Ta Lo features fantastical creatures like dragons and other magical animals, the Classic covers a variety of odd animals and creatures with unique talents. For instance, Ta Lo is guarded by the Great Protector, who resembles a typical Chinese dragon. Additionally, both pieces blend imagination and actual natural elements to create recognizable yet enigmatic realms. To  illustrate, the Poison-eagle is similar to a typical eagle but has a horn and a baby-like sound, transforming a familiar animal into something weird and enigmatic.They also depict locations that are cut off from the everyday human world, which is another resemblance.For instance, Mount Monkeywing is said to be unclimbable, and the surrounding area is home to animals with peculiar characteristics, such an animal that resembles a long-tailed ape but runs like a person and has white ears. In comparison , Shang-Chi portrays Ta Lo as a secret realm that is challenging for outsiders to access. Before arriving at the remote settlement, the protagonists must follow an enigmatic route through the forest, where they come with legendary animals like the Great Protector. In general, both create a world where mythology and reality coexist by utilizing nature, strange creatures, and supernatural elements.

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Parallels between The Classic of Mountains & Seas and Shang-Chi Clip

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Parallels between The Classic of Mountains & Seas and Shang-Chi Clip

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There are a few similarities between The Classic of Mountains and Sea and the clip from Shang-Chi. Both include mythical creatures that are different from normal animals and have special abilities. The creatures in both are also connected to nature, especially mountains, forests, and other places in nature. Another similarity is that both have mysterious places that are separated from the normal world. In Shang-Chi, Ta Lo is a hidden place where people live with magical creatures, which is similar to how the Classic of Mountains and Seas describes weird places and creatures together. They both show how humans, nature, and creatures can exist together. - Destiny Gaughan

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Regina McGahee - Parallels and Influences

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Regina McGahee - Parallels and Influences

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The most obvious parallel is the fact that both take place on forested mountains with mythical creatures and magic. These also happen to be lands beyond a country’s borders, as Ta Lo is a weird alternate dimension, and the various mountains aren’t all in China. The Dijiang happens to be one of these creatures mentioned in Classic of Mountains and Seas, which also appears in Shang-Chi with the entity known as Morris. Likewise, the nine-tailed foxes and flaming birds we see in Shang-Chi are also in Classic of Mountains and Seas. And although not in this clip, the movie has The Great Protector, which is an eastern dragon.

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The Classic Of Mountain And Seas and the clip from Shang-Chi are similar in many ways. Both have what could be considered as fantasy or mythical creatures existing in a hidden location. In both works, these creatures live amongst humans in a world that holds the abilities of supernatural powers. These powers are used to help the people living there. These worlds that are depicted are full of nature like forests and mountains. The flaming birds and multi-tailed foxes are a common thread in both of these works.

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Parallels and Influences - Peyton McGrath

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Parallels and Influences - Peyton McGrath

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There are a notable amount of similarities and parallels between the clip from Shang-Chi and the text of The Classic of Mountain. One of these is the involvement of a journey into a land among forests within mountains beyond the borders of another land. These lands also include various mystical fantasy animals, in which both of them also share a few similar animals, such as the nine-tailed fox.

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Both the Shang Chi clip and The Classic of Mountain and Seas in a very mountainous area. Also, it seemed that they both have changing plants/trees as you travel up the mountains in elevation. Both examples have vast flowing rivers that separate the vast mountain ranges. Both examples have an abundance of lush, vibrant vegetation that at times is unnatural Also, both examples of animals that were made up from multiple species combined into one. Both stories also had animals that had extra tails or feet. Also, some animals in both stories had supernatural powers.

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Both The Classic of Mountains and Seas and the Shang-Chi clip have many similarities, such as mythical creatures, hidden worlds, sacred mountains, and powerful beings that protect others. Both also show a strong connection between people and nature. The land of Ta Lo in Shang-Chi seems to be inspired by the myths and magical places described in The Classic of Mountains and Seas.

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word it out

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Liandra Boddie- Parallels of  the clip from Shang-Chi and The Classics of Mountains and Seas

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Liandra Boddie- Parallels of  the clip from Shang-Chi and The Classics of Mountains and Seas

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There are a few similarities that are depicted in the clip from Shang-Chi and The Classics of Mountains and Seas. The tales in the pilgrimage talks about a pilgrimage in a strange and different world, just like in the clip of the movie. In the clip you see them in the beginning going through a maze of trees that move. When they get through the trees, they go through a portal that transports them to a different world. In this world there are strange creatures (like Morris, the faceless, hairy, winged creature with them)  that are not seen in our world. In the tales on each mountain there is something that either helps or warns humans. On Mount Raiseshake there is a plant called the “praymore” that can prevent someone from starving. On Mount Grandblossom it talks about the “plump-remains” that is a creature with six feet and four wings, if seen it will cause a major drought. The tales serve as a warning system for humans, some things can help and others can be viewed as signals for disaster trying to help humans keep the cosmic balance. In the same manner, in the film, the conflict over the ten rings and the barrier that is protecting the world shows a connection with cosmic balance and the relationship that humanity has with nature itself.

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The Classic Of Mountain And Seas shares many similarities with the clip from Shang-Chi, which shows interesting connections between the two works. Both feature beings that could be described as mythical or fantastical creatures, dwelling in concealed realms hidden away from the ordinary world. These hidden locations serve as sanctuaries where the extraordinary becomes possible and the boundaries between the natural and the supernatural world blur together.

In each of these, fantastic creatures coexist alongside humans in a setting where supernatural abilities are not only present but woven into the fabric of everyday life. Rather than existing as separate or threatening forces, these powers often serve a greater purpose, aiding and protecting the inhabitants of these lands. This shared theme suggests a worldview in which magic and mysticism are integral to survival and harmony within the community.

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Having access to these tools makes finding credible sources so much easier. Just using Google, you will find 6 different articles, each saying something different. A couple will turn out to be opinions; some will use evidence that might be easily misinterpreted, and so on. Using the Fitchburg Library and the accessible filter tools helps clear the clutter and chaos, making it so much easier to find sources. I have used the Fitchburg Library to find sources for my own major's classes and have already learned how to utilize the library, but since learning how to find articles, I have used it many times for my own personal interest. Like, if I am curious about something, I use it to look up credible sources instead of just going off of what Google's AI states. I haven't really used Google Scholar, so it was really interesting to see how to use it, and it seems very easy and straightforward.

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After watching the library research videos, I learned some new ways to find good sources for my research. I learned how to use FalconSearch to find books, articles, and other information that can help with my assignments. I also learned that using the Advanced Search can make it easier to find sources because I can use specific keywords and narrow down my results.

The video about Google Scholar was helpful because it showed how I can find other sources that have cited an article. Which was nice to learn about. It can help me find more information about my topic. I also learned about Interlibrary Loan, which can help me get an article or book if the Fitchburg State library does not have it.

One question I still have for the Source Scavenger Hunt is how to know which keywords I should use to find the best sources. I also want to make sure I know how to tell if a source is scholarly and reliable. But overall, the videos were helpful and made me to understand how to do research better. It showed me that there are more ways to find sources besides just using Google.

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This class has given me a deeper appreciation for the tools available to me for finding credible sources, and I feel more confident in my ability to expand on one of the mini essays I have written this semester. Before learning about these resources, I normally relied on basic Google searches, which can lead to mixed opinions and unreliable information. Learning how to use Google Scholar, FalconSearch, and the Fitchburg State Library databases has really changed how I will approach my research. One of the most valuable takeaways for me has been learning how to use Google Scholar. I appreciate how straightforward it is, and I really like that I can click on articles that have cited an original search result to uncover additional relevant literature. This will be incredibly useful as I build on my mini essay, because it allows me to create a stronger, more well-rounded argument. Linking Google Scholar to the Fitchburg State Library through the settings was another helpful tip, as it filters out articles I cannot access and saves time. FalconSearch was also really useful. Using the Advanced Search function to plug in specific keywords and narrow down results makes finding credible sources less of a hassle. As I prepare to expand one of my mini essays, I feel equipped to research strategically rather than just searching randomly, and that growth is something I am proud of.