Luis Vargas

Ms. Peifer

English 10Ib

5/28/12

                                    Drinking Alone beneath the Moon commentary

            Drinking Alone Beneath the Moon, by Li Po Poems demonstrates a overall dominate effect that everything in nature is alive. The author also incorporates the principles of Taoism which make the poem very lively. The author also uses a lot of imagery and personifies many things in nature to establish the overall message that everything in the nature is alive. The author uses very descriptive imagery to make the reader understand that everything around the narrator is alive in a way.

The moon is the very first thing that Li Po gives life to in the poem. Li Po makes the moon seem very alive when the narrator wants invite the moon to join him in his drinking. “I raise my cup to invite the moon to join me “(3). These lines make the reader comprehend how alive the moon is; if the moon can take a drink with the narrator it clearly demonstrates the moon has been personified and been given life to making the moon alive. Li Lo personifies the moon to make the moon have a feeling about the idea of drinking with the narrator “Alas the moon is unconcerned about drinking” (5). If the moon is unconcern about drinking it demonstrates that the moon has feeling. Another great example of how the moon is personified is when they narrator starts singing to eat and the moon starts rocking back and forth. “ I sing and the moon goes back and forth”( 9). If the moon can rock back and forth it clearly demonstrates once again that the moon is very alive. This line is also a great example of image that is expressed through the poem. The reader can achieve an image of the moon rocking back and forth happily, making the reader believe that the moon is very alive.

Another great example on how things are given life and personified is when the narrator starts dancing with its shadow. “Briefly I cavort with the moon and my shadow” (7). If the narrator can covert with his shadow the shadow is one again given life to prove the dominate effect that everything is given life.

This poem and Taoism are being compared together because everything revolves around nature in both of them. Taoism is a nature based philosophy and the poem is also based on the bond between nature and mankind. They are both compared to be alike in a way as whole rather than individual parts of the poem and life. This comparison is achieved by boning nature and mankind through the poem. For example, the moon, the shadow, and the narrator are bonded together to drink together through the poem. Mankind is expressed to be lonely but nature creates a strong bond between them since the narrator only friend is nature.

Li Po used very well personified imagery to demonstrate the dominant effect the everything in the world is alive. Li Po also compares this poem to Taoism and how nature revolves around it to give nature a very lively spirit.

           

  

Luis Vargas

Ms.Peifer

English 10 IB

5/28/12

                                                The Minneapolis Institute of Arts

            The Minneapolis Institute of Arts is a very inspiring art exhibit that displays many types of arts from many parts of the world. One of the most inspiring things that inspired me throughout the museum was a piece of art called Ni-o. This statue was a guardian of the Buddhist temple. The statue is placed at the entrances of Buddhist temples to protect the temple. The statue impacted me as soon as the image hit my eyes because of the pose of the statue.  The statue seem like it was ready to fight anyone was tempted it.   

            The statue made me realize how peaceful Buddha’s are.  Instead of placing soldiers with weapons to protect the temple they place an image of a guardian to protect their temple. The statue inspired me because it made me realize how we should not use violence at all even if we are trying to protect our territory or property. It inspired me to be more like them. Our society needs to be more like Buddha’s who protect their territory and property in a peaceful way in life even if someone tempts us to go against them. The statue made me realize that I should be emotionally strong in life but at the same time peaceful when someone tries to push the limits.I was really inspired by this statue because it has shown me how to be a guardian of my own territory; a guardian who does not use violence against others even if one pushes the limits.I will be like this statue like for now and on; Strong and peaceful.

            In the picture in the top I am standing by the statue that  has really inspired my life. 

Luis Vargas
Ms.Peifer
English 10 IB
4/28/2012
            In the poem Suffering from the Heat, the author Wang Wei overall expresses the suffering of life and demonstrates that at the end there is always hope. Wang Wei also gives a message of enlightenment throughout the poem.  Wang Wei demonstrates this effect by using imagery and by comparing many things in life to establish the dominate effect of the poem Suffering from the Heat.
            Wang Wei uses imagery in the first couple of lines to demonstrate the suffering. He describes trees shivering to demonstrate this effect, “Grasses and tress are all parched and shriveled: rivers and swamps, all utterly dry” (4).  If trees shriveled, and if rivers and swamps are being dry it clearly demonstrates that these things in nature are suffering. Another example that Wang Wei uses to demonstrate suffering is when he says “In light white silks I feel that my clothes are heavy” (6-7). If a person is in light clothes and feels like their clothes are heavy it clearly states that they have suffered to an extent that a small thing can cause so much pain.These images are great because it gives the reader a image to compare the suffering of the narrator of the poem.

            Wang Wei expresses how badly he wants the torment to be over when he says “I long to escape beyond space and time” (11). Wang Wei expresses the desire to be done with the torment which is the heat and to reach his final destination. His destination is the Gate of pleasant due which is glory for him.. This clearly compares the thinking of a Buddhist who thinks life is suffering and that enlightenment is reached by suffering in life. The battle against the sun is compared to the battle and suffering of life. The reaching of glory in the poem is compared to reaching enlightenment in a Buddhist life. With these comparisons Wang Wei demonstrates the suffering of life and how at the end there is always hope.

At the end of the poem Wang Wei compares the destination reached as the glory for him. After suffering so much many through the torment at the end there was hope after at all at the end when they reached glory.

Luis Vargas
Ms.Peifer
English 10 IB
5/6/12               
As you like it Critical Review Analysis
   
The movie As you like it  starring Bryce Dallas Howard as Rosalind and David Oyelowo as Orlando is a well represent version of  the play As you like it. The director Kenneth Branagh has chosen a very well suited setting in Japan. The setting takes  place in the forest of Arden, a very magical and beautiful forest. The setting in the forest creates very unique visual effects and sounds to enhance the dramatic scenes.  
    Bryce Dallas Howard and David Oyelowo are perfect fitted for the characters Rosalind and Orlando. Their facial expressions that they display when talking to each other makes it seem like the relationship between them is very romantic.  The costumes that both characters wear  are very suitable for each character. Rosalind's costume is very suited for her because it shows and visualizes the class of family she comes from, a noble family. The cloths that she wears at the beginning of the movie makes her seem that she comes from higher class family which is very accurate because she does come from a noble family. Orlando’s costumes is also very suitable for him because it makes him seem like a warrior or a wrestler. Orlando is always carrying his  sword making him seem like a man that knows how to defend himself which is also very accurate to the play. The sword of Orlando makes a visual of the warrior or wrestler he is.

The sound effects of the movie are very astonishing. For example, in the forest of Arden the chirping of the birds in the forest is very magical and makes the forest seem very magical and peaceful. This effect of the birds causes the viewer to really feel the intensity of the magic in the forest. The author not only uses sound effects to display the art of Shakespeare but also uses many great visual effects to create the astonishing feel of intensity. A great example of this is at the fighting scene between Orlando and Oliver at the beginning of the play.  The fighting scene takes place outside in during a thunderstorm. The thunderstorm is a great way to visualize the hate between the brothers. The thunder makes the scene very dramatic making it into an intense fight between them.  The drama in the fight increases due the thunderstorm making the fight seem more scary and intense.

This movie is sometimes confusing at points when  Bryce Dallas Howard is dressed as Ganymede.  Bryce Dallas Howard does not act as masculine as she should act which makes it hard to tell when she is Ganymede or when she is Rosalind. The director may have done this so the audience would be aware that it is the same character disguised as another. This is the only down side of the movie but beside this the movie is worth watching. This movie is  a fairly accurate movie  that is worth watching.

Macbeth PBS REVIEW

Macbeth PBS Movie Critical Review Analysis

The movie Macbeth starring Sir Patrick Stewart and Kate Fleetwood is a spectacular modern version of the movie Macbeth by William Shakespeare. The version of the movie is not stage filmed which makes it very unique when presenting the visual effects, sounds, and lighting that the producer  Rupert Goold used to enhance the dramatic sequences in the play . The visual effects of the movie add more life, making each scene more vivid.

Sir Patrick Stewart and Kate Fleetwood do a terrific job acting as Macbeth and Lady Macbeth. The costumes that are worn by the characters are very well suited for each character in the movie, they are not over dramatized they are just perfect for each character. The costumes used demonstrate the social class of the characters of that era. These two actors seem perfect for each other, Sir Patrick Stewart and Kate Fleetwood, deploy very powerful facial expressions making the relationship between them seem so realistic and passionate. Lady Macbeth’s makeup in the movie makes her seem like a very mature, cruel, cold and chilling, women like the one she is supposed to be since the spirits unsex her to make her seem more like a man with a cruel character.

The visual effects shown in this movie are fantastic.  The best visual effects are shown in the murder scenes caused by the three weird sisters (the witches) who, in this version are depicted as nurses. The blood seems very realistic in the movie, making the viewer feel a chill when viewing the bloody scenes, which is very impressive aspect of the visual effects. This movie can cause the viewer nightmares since the blood is very shocking and realistic. The sounds produced in the movie are fabulous. The producers use technology to change the voices of the nurses to make them sound bone chilling and cruel, which is a very dramatic effect that is part of the movie. These voices make the nurses seem quite terrifying adding to the dramatic effect that Shakespeare intended.

The dramatic lighting of each scene fits perfectly to each setting. One of the best examples of this is at the beginning of the play when the nurses (the witches) murder a soldier. The lights of the room start flickering in a very dramatic way making the  visualization perfect for the scene.

The movie Macbeth is movie that will take your breath away, and it is a movie that is worth watching no matter what. Macbeth is one of the best modern film there is that interprets the play as it should be.

The chorus

Luis Vargas

Ms. Peifer
English 10 IB
February 10-2012

    In the play Doctor Faustus by Christopher Marlowe  their is a important role for the chorus. The chorus in Greek plays were usually provided background information for the viewers or reader in a play. In Greek plays the chorus mostly sang, while singing the chorus usually over reacted and over spoke about information that needed to distributed to the viewer.    The chorus has the role to comment on the theme that is happening during the play  and to provide and establish the plot or  background information.The function of the chorus is Doctor Faustus is to say what the major characters cant say.
    In the begging of Doctor Faustus, Doctor Faustus is being described by the chorus. “ He surfeits upon cursed necromancy. Nothing so sweet as magic is to him Which he prefers before his chiefest bliss- And this is the man that in his study sits” (Marlowe1.1.24-260). Describing Doctor Faustus at the begging of the play is a good example of the role of the chorus; by providing background information for the reader. When Marlowe uses the chorus is demonstrates that the sate of Marlowe’s dramatic skill to write poems within the chorus.
     Today modern movie producers  use flashbacks  to provide the same information. Flashbacks are more easy to understand in modern movies instead of using a chorus. A flashback in a movie can distribute information that he or she does not know. Using a chorus in common day movies would effect how the viewer perspective view. Many people would not accept the idea of using the chorus in common day movies, it would have a dramatic affect.

Knowledge

Luis Vargas
Ms.Peifer
English 10 IB
February 12-2011

    In the play Doctor Faustus   by Christopher Marlowe knowledge is the most important thing for Doctor Faustus. Doctor Faustus wants to more then he already does. Doctor Faustus  believes that he that will gain more knowledge through dark magic. Knowledge is the ability to learn something through the experience of life. Knowledge comes from the experience of doing things. The knowledge someone gain may be used  for variety of things; it could be used for good and evil. Doctor Faustus first intended to use his knowledge for good, but through out the book he used it for unnecessary  things. A example of a unnecessary thing Faustus did with his knowledge is when he tricked the Horse courser that he had pulled off Faustus’s leg “ O help help! The villain hath murdered me!”( Marlowe 4.5.43.). In this line we see that Faustus had used his knowledge of dark magic to trick the horse courser
     Knowledge is something that is out their to waiting to be found by someone, but the only way to obtain it is by creating it ourself. Doctor Faustus knew that their was more knowledge out their that could obtained, but the only way to obtain , a good comparison to this is the way that  money is obtained. Their is plenty of money out their but the only way to obtain it is by working hard. Doctor Faustus did this at first but then he wanted to obtain more knowledge by using dark magic; this could be the same as robbing a bank to obtain money which is against the law.
    The curiosity to learn something new establishes and motivates  research in a person. The ethical questions arise when a person has mastered everything and their curiosity awakes the ethical question.  Faustus had already mastered everything but his curiosity was the one the made the ethical question arise. He can see the ethical question arises when he is questioning himself when saying “ The end of physic is our body’s health. Why Faustus hast thou not attained that end? Are not thy bills hung up as monuments whereby whole cities have escaped the plague And thousand desperate maladies been cured?” ( Marlowe 1.1.16-20).
     The dark magic Faustus uses in the book can connect to the issues like splitting atoms to genetic cloning since it is curiosity and  knowledge mixed together. People may used the genetic cloning for good reasoning  other may used it for evil, which is the same as using the powers of dark  magic. This is the relationship between them.