great works ii – 2850 jta 12:25-2:05: love letters from the world

Looking back on this course, I definitely feel like I’ve improved on many different things, specifically, the way that I interpret texts and my ability to analyze stories from many different perspectives instead of just one. Whether it was our face to face discussions, or our online work, I realized just how many different perspectives there can be to a story. Certain viewpoints that I had never considered all of a sudden became so much clear after hearing from my classmates and listening to their point of view on stories that we read. Furthermore, I think that the free writings that we would do during class helped me improve my writing skills. It taught me that sometimes it is better not to overthink too much and really just focus in on a particular topic and write about it. I think that one aspect that I still need to improve on is my communication skills. I don’t think I was as active in our class discussions as I should’ve been so that is something I’m looking to improve upon in the future.

-Muneeb Khan

Aura- pg.851

First Person:

“My head is spinning, overcome by the rhythms of that distant waltz, by the odor of damp, fragrant plants: I fall exhausted on the bed, touching my cheeks, my eyes, my nose, as if I were afraid that some invisible hand had ripped off the mask I’ve been wearing for twenty-seven years, the cardboard features that hid my true face, my real appearance, the appearance I once had but then forgot. I bury my face in the pillow, trying to keep the wind of the past from tearing away my own features, because I don’t want to lose them. I lie there with my face in the pillow, waiting for what has to come, for what I can’t prevent.”  (pg. 851)

Third Person:

“His head is spinning, overcome by the rhythms of that distant waltz, by the odor of damp, fragrant plants: He fall exhausted on the bed, touching his cheeks, his eyes, his nose, as if he were afraid that some invisible hand had ripped off the mask he’s been wearing for twenty-seven years, the cardboard features that hid his true face, his real appearance, the appearance he once had but then forgot. He bury his face in the pillow, trying to keep the wind of the past from tearing away his own features, because he doesn’t want to lose them. He lie there with his face in the pillow, waiting for what has to come, for what he can’t prevent.” (pg. 851)

This passage was interesting because it was very descriptive and vivid. By using the second person point of view, it made me as a reader feel like I was directly involved in the story. It was more difficult for me to translate this passage into the third person point of view because just by switching the words “you” and “your” with “he” and “his”, it changed the entire structure of the sentence.

-Muneeb Khan

Something that is evident in both Endgame, by Samuel Beckett and the short film “Breathe” is the theme of isolation. In Endgame, the idea of isolation is something that is expressed throughout the play. Hamm was so attached to Clove in large part due to his fear of being alone or isolated. He even tells Clov that if he leaves, it will be far worse for Hamm because he will no longer have a servant looking after him. Furthermore, the play ends with the threat of Hamm being isolated forever after Clov finally decides to leave. The theme of isolation is also prevalent in “Breathe” because in the film, it is just heavy breathing throughout. There is really no other sound coming from the film besides the sound of isolated breathing.

-Muneeb

We chose to look at the last 20-30 minutes of the movie End Game. I focused on the acting during the final scene and how it compared to the writing in the book. One thing that stood out to me right away was the emotion and anger between Hamm and Clov in the production. It was hard to sense that emotion while reading the book. Although I could tell that they weren’t happy with each other while reading the book, I wasn’t able to get a full grasp of their emotions. It almost seemed like a regular conversation in the book. However once I watched the production, I was able to see that there was more anger and animosity between them than what was portrayed in the book. This difference is what stood out most to me while watching the production of End Game.

-Muneeb Khan

1. In The Metamorphosis, Kafka chose to have Gregor transform into a cockroach. What is the significance of Gregor turning into a cockroach of all things? What does the cockroach symbolize?
2. Compare and contrast the journey to enlightenment for both Monkey, from Journey to the West, and the woman from Life of a Sensuous Woman. How were the journeys similar and how were they different? Were they both able to find their “bliss”? Why or why not?

Plato’s “Allegory of the Cave” and Kafka’s “The Metamorphosis” are connected in that both stories have this theme of being trapped. In “Allegory of the Cave”, the prisoners have been trapped in this cave for so long that it is literally the only thing in the world that is real to them. They have no conception of the outside world. Even when one of the prisoners escaped and saw what the world really looked like, the rest of the prisoners didn’t believe him because they have been trapped in this cave so long. This compares well to Gregor’s situation because toward the end of “The Metamorphosis”, Gregor accepts the fact that he is trapped in a roach’s body and there isn’t anything that he can do about it at that point. ” ‘What now?’ wondered Gregor, and looked around in the dark. He soon made the discovery he could no longer move. It seemed inexplicable that he had been able to get as far as he had on his frail little legs. Otherwise, he felt as well as could be expected.” (pg.239). It is clear that Gregor has accepted the reality that he will be trapped as a cockroach forever.

-Muneeb Khan

One thing I’ve improved on so far this semester is I’ve begun to analyze more in my responses to our readings. Earlier in the semester I would summarize the readings instead of analyzing. Now I think I am doing a better job of analyzing the text. One area of improvement for me would be to participate more in our group discussions. Having a dialogue with the class is very important, especially since we only meet once a week, so participation is definitely something I am hoping to improve upon throughout the rest of the semester.

-Muneeb

The narrator from Bartleby, the Scrivener, and Monkey from Journey to the West, can both be viewed as traditional heroes. Discuss the qualities that both characters display that would put them in the category of “traditional hero”. What evidence from the text suggests that these two characters can be viewed as traditional heroes?

-Muneeb Khan

De Wallen is the largest and most well known red light district in Amsterdam. It consists of a network of about three hundred cabins that are rented out by prostitutes. Prostitution is allowed in Amsterdam, but it must take place in a legal and transparent manner; which means no street prostitution. While health and social services are readily available, sex workers are required to undergo regular health checks at the government’s expense. Brothel owners and room operators often require health certificates before employing or leasing rooms. De Wallen also has a number of sex shops, sex theatres, sex museums, cannabis museums and coffee shops that sell marijuana. De Wallen is the oldest red light district in Amsterdam and therefore has a very large tourist attraction.

Group: Muneeb, Jorge and Jamie.

Monkey’s story fits very well into the Heroic Journey Model. From the beginning it was easy to tell that Monkey wasn’t satisfied with his current life. He was in search for something more to reach his “bliss”, which is what the HJ Model is based on. Monkey reaches stage one of the HJ Model right away. All of the other monkeys were happy and satisfied with the way they were living but Monkey didn’t feel the same way. There was something missing for him. Monkey got to the point where he couldn’t contain his dissatisfaction. “One day he suddenly felt depressed during a banquet with his monkey host, and he started to weep. The startled monkeys crowded round, bowed to him and asked, ‘What’s the matter, Your Majesty?'”   “I’m worried about the future. That’s what’s getting me down”, he said. Monkey’s realization that something is missing from his life marks the beginning of his heroic journey. From this point on, he devotes himself to finding whatever is missing in his life in order to reach his “bliss”.

Group: Muneeb, Jamie, Jorge