Author: Alicea Ulmer

12/8/15

Extra Credit: Boys will be girls…

In Rollo at Play,the  “Trouble in the Woods” depicts bad children as liars as if they are the only people that lie. One line in the section reads “Bad boys like Jim will always life when they have something to gain by it.” So it is saying they only lie for personal gain.

In comparison, the book Ella Enchanted touches on little girls and how they should behave. The main character Ella, cried a lot when she was born. Her fairy god mother decided to cast a spell of obediance on her. Her reasoning Ella cried too much and she’d be happier if she’s obediant. She also justified it saying, “little girls are supposed to obey their elders.”

“Forgotten Chapters of Boston’s Literary History.” JACOB ABBOTT, Rollo at Play, Or, Safe Amusements, Boston: Thomas H. Webb & Co., 1838. N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2015.

“Ella Enchanted – Chapters 1-3 Summary & Analysis.” BookRags. BookRags, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2015.

12/8/15

Racial Innocence (The Wiz)

With The Wiz recently airing live as a play, it began to stir up some controversy. The question being raised the most was “Why is there an all black cast?” The wiz stems from The Wizard of Oz (1939). The movie features a girl (Dorothy) on a journey to meet the wiz for help after a storm causes her and her dog to be displaced. Along the way she meets characters (scarecrow, lion and tin man) who also seek help from the wiz. During the time this was filmed, African Americans were still fighting for rights. There was no controversy surrounding the making of this movie. It is child friendly with catchy songs for children to sing along to. In 1978, The Wiz was created as an adaptation to the Wizard of Oz capturing the essence of African American experience. It retold the Wizard of Oz in context of African American Culture. It hides that it is relatable for all races. Children aren’t born with black vs white and racist thoughts. It is something learned. The films depict happy groups of friends on a journey.

 

“The Civil Rights Act of 1964: A Long Struggle for FreedomThe Segregation Era (1900–1939).” The Segregation Era (1900–1939). N.p., n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2015.

“The Wiz.” IMDb. IMDb.com, n.d. Web. 08 Dec. 2015.

 

10/21/15

Binary: Calm vs Aggressive

Aunt Polly’s attitude shifts toward how she addresses Tom. She doesn’t see sure of how to punish him. It almost seems like she feels burdened because that’s her sister, who passed son.

“Well. I know it’s jam — that’s what it is. Forty times I’ve said if you didn’t let that jam alone I’d skin you. Hand me that switch.”

“He’s full of old scratch, but laws-a-me! he’s my own dead sisters boy, poor thing and I ain’t got the heart to lash him somehow. Every time I let him off, my conscience does hurt me so, and every time I hit him my old heart most breaks.”

She’s struggling with the idea of disciplining Tom although she knows she needs to. Her initial tone was aggressive. But then, she’s calm and trying to rationalize.

 

Twain, Mark. “Tom Plays, Fights and Hides.” The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. N.p.: n.p., 1876. N. pag. Web. <http://pinkmonkey.com/dl/library1/tomsawyr.pdf>.

10/19/15

Lucy’s Visit / High School Musical 2

Summary:

I chose Lucy’s Visit in the Rollo at Play section. The text talks about the day Rollo and Lucy spent together. In it Rollo learns various lessons about complaining. Due to bad weather, the trip up the mountain to get blueberries was cancelled. Rollo refused to believe it was going to rain and still insisted on going. He constantly complained about the rain and not being able to go out. His father opted to teach him a lesson because him sulking about things out of their control, was ruining the mood of the others. After his punishment and apologizing Rollo goes back to play with Lucy. This time they’ve both become bored with the ideas they came up with for fun. Rollo’s mom suggest doing something as a duty that will in tame cause the disappointment about the pleasure they seek to fade. Initially they struggled to do this, not being able to read properly because they weren’t enjoying what they were doing.

Comparison:

This reminds me of a scene from the Disney Movie Highschool Musical 2. Troy, one of the main characters got all of the wildcats a summer job. They all agreed thinking it would be a fun summer together. Once there, they began getting a bunch of orders, and getting in trouble for minor things. The job is not as fun as they expected, they all began to complain. But Troy, convinces them that working will be fun and they’re all in it together. Here’s a link to a clip below:

High School Musical 2 Work This Out Scene
In both cases, the characters are struggling with the idea of duty and pleasure. They change their attitudes to suit their circumstances and make the best of it.

 

High School Musical 2. Dir. Kenny Ortega. Perf. Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, Corbin Bleu. 2007. Web.

Abbott, Jacob. “JACOB ABBOTT, Rollo at Play, Or, Safe Amusements, Boston: Thomas H. Webb & Co., 1838.” N.p.: n.p., n.d. 66-95. Web. 19 Oct. 2015. <http://www.bostonliteraryhistory.com/chapter-4/jacob-abbott-rollo-play-or-safe-amusements-boston-thomas-h-webb-co-1838>.

10/6/15

Mess Post (right vs wrong)

I’ve chosen to mess with the right versus wrong binary as it is compelling to me. It was said that usually in right vs wrong situations that the “right” behavior is usually associated with winning and rewards. In the case of right vs wrong that would indicate that there is a loser. In the situation I am presenting from the Rollo at Play: Into The Woods, there was no winner and loser. Both boys took the high road so I would say they were both winners. On page 29, the boys are discussing the situation with one of the boys missing half dollar.

“James stood still a minute, thinking; presently he said ‘well Rollo, I my half dollar is lost, but I am glad yours is safe, any rate.'”

“I am sorry yours is lost,” said Rollo, “But then I can give you half of what I buy with mine.”

 

Abbott, Jacobb. “Rollo At Play: Into the Woods.” Lydia Maria Child and the Development of Children’s Literature. N.p.: n.p., n.d. N. pag. Web. 6 Oct. 2015. <http://www.bostonliteraryhistory.com/chapter-4/jacob-abbott-rollo-play-or-safe-amusements-boston-thomas-h-webb-co-1838>.

09/15/15

Child as a site of adult desire: Macarena

The ’90s song Macarena has been looked at as an innocent feel-good dance song over the years. I’m not sure most people really understood or knew the lyrics. It was just a catchy beat and rhythm with a dance to match.

Recently articles have surfaced ridding listeners of that innocent experience. The song is not really a feel-good dance song; it’s real meaning describes a girl named Macarena cheating on her boyfriend with two friends while he is getting drafted into the army.

These lyrics are oblivious to listeners just looking to have fun and dance. The text sheds light on what goes unnoticed, it acts on that and strips the reader of that innocent experience. Now it may seem inappropriate to play at family functions or schools for children to dance to.

 

 

 

Moreno, Carolina. “The Real Meaning Behind The ‘Macarena’ Will Crush Your ’90s Soul.” Editorial. The Huffington Post. N.p., 2 Sept. 2015. Web. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/the-macarena-meaning-crush-90-soul_55e738c9e4b0b7a9633b491d>.

 

 

09/8/15

How to read children’s lit: The Lion and the Mouse

What a Reader is asked to know:

  1. About life:

What a lion is, what a mouse is

The relationship or lack of between a mouse and lion

How a lion can help a mouse

  1. About language:

The tone of the story

The voice in which the story is told

The perspective of the mouse and lion

What timid means

What roused means

What is means to spear someone or something?

  1. About literature:

What it means to use personification

What the theme of the fable is

 

What a reader is asked to do:

Using their imagination figure out how a mouse can help a lion.

Understand the theme once finding out how the mouse actually did help

Implied reader:

The implied reader of this text are children who are on a mature reading level with the ability to identify the theme among fables and the use of personification. Also those who associate themselves as an unlikely source to help in a major way in the case of the mouse.