Technology

http://libguides.newcastle.edu.au/education

Online learning is a challenge, especially if you do not have much experience with computers. However, it can be helpful because you must learn to navigate and play around with technology to complete assighnments. In the world today technology is everywhere and has advanced so much that it is a necessety to know how to use it. There are positives and negatives to online learning and in class learning. As I have learned from this class writtings can be interperted diffrently and since we must interprt assignments and such, some student may have difficulties with assignments because they are not sure what the teacher is requiring, recieving feedback for any questions we may have takes some time to get back. If you were in class you can see examples and may have a better understanding on what is required from an assighnment and if anytime you feel "stuck" you can ask and get help form your teacher right there and then. I felt the most challenging task on taking an English class online was the revising papers and correcting what the teacher feels needs improvement. I need to speak directly with the teacher and see exactly what it is I am doing wrong. For example with my first essay I had fragment sentences through my paper. I was told to fix them. I did not see where I was using fragment sentences. I had to ask a friend (who is taking english as well) where I was using fragment sentences, my friend read the paper to me and pointed out where I needed to fix and what I can do to avoid doing senteces like that in the future. I needed to be shown in person where I was making those mistakes.
I think the blog was benificial because Its great to get feedback and here ideas of your classmates.
Link

reflection

I had a video but for some reason it would not upload. :(

I have to admit this class was very challenging for me, I spent a lot of time and effort into these assignments, but I feel it was worth it. I feel that I have improved a lot since the beginning of this course. I think I am definitely going to utilize my skills I have learned and apply them in future classes. I have a critical thinking course here soon that has to do with analyzing and I feel this class has prepared me and I hope to do well.

I think the readings that were chosen where interesting and very different then what I expected. I felt Frankenstein was an unusual story to be reading but I can understand why it was chosen and I feel that after reading and critiquing the book myself I got a chance to see a little of the author in the book which I enjoyed.

I think I have met most of the requirements Mrs.. Cline set out for us this semester and feel that my writing process has changed along the way with each essay. I have worked on sentence structure, how to make my voice clear in my writings and have worked on my organization.

The biggest challenge that I feel was of course the first essay and reading poetry but I think sharing on this blog and being able to read my classmates thoughts helped me see what I needed to look for. It was a great experience!

Final Project

Final presentation

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Critiquing a critic

This article was interesting and I can see why Mrs. Cline chose this to help us with the revising of our final project. This article written by Kyle Bishop showed how a professional literary criticism paper presents their argument, how presenting the right sources and articles can truly make a difference in supporting your argument. After reading this I can see why Kyle Bishop felt zombies represented the social and cultural tragedies of the times that zombie films were on the rise. The article was well written and it flowed perfectly to illustrate the popularity of zombie films when the world is facing events such as wars, natural disasters, or even financial crisis. I had written my final paper on Aliens and I had similar feelings associated with aliens. I felt aliens were used as a manifestation of the fears and anxieties that people were having at the time with events such as war and invasion of other countries. I felt this because the way the films portrayed aliens, the scenes of war between the human race and alien invaders. I honestly never imagined how zombies related to events such as natural disaster or even financial crisis as Bishop states in his article. I felt zombies could represent the fears of the spread of deadly diseases, or infections. An example the black plague event in 1348, a disease that spread through Europe. The swine flu or even the Nile virus can be used to describe the fears associated with the spread of deadly diseases. I feel these can be related to zombies, because the way the films portray the reasons for zombies. Most of the zombie films begin with the outbreak of an infection that causes the rise of the undead that just spreads until everyone is infected.

Bishop took a deep look into every detail that revolve around zombies, such as the way they are described and what they represent. They are dismembered figures, in a state of decay and represent death. Bishop used the dismemberment and related it to a scene from the Vietnam War. He used zombies to be the end of social order. Bishop states, the end of the world means the end of capitalism, everything is up for the taking.Law enforcment is no longer in command, I  can see how financial crisis can relate to this as well.  This is an image in many zombie films that I have never paid much attention to.He gave me a lot to think about.  This is a link to an article I found intresting. http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/05/19/zombie.warning/index.html

Aliens

Zareth Martinez

Laura Cline

English 102

October 4 2011

Aliens

One of the earliest and most influential science fiction writers of the twentieth century was Herbert George Wells, and he paved the way to the alien genre with his novel War of the Worlds in 1898. H.G. Wells was born and raised in London. “Wells taught biology until 1893 when he began his career as a novelist (Columbia Encyclopedia 2008). He used his science fiction novels to disguise his own political and social views through entertainment, “In his science fiction, he took the ideas and fears that haunted the mind of his age” (Encyclopedia Britannica).With War of the Worlds, H.G Wells accomplished just that and made in impact in the way aliens are represented. Wells created a tale that portrayed alien monsters to mankind to show how mankind uses their knowledge of technology to create weapons of mass destruction to dominate society; thus begins the fear of aliens. Aliens can be seen as the physical manifestation of our fears of war, nuclear weapons, invasion and now terrorism.

H.G. Wells utilized the setting, time and characters in War of the Worlds to give it a realistic ambiance. His novel entails unfamiliar creatures that land on earth in a three legged mechanical armor to dominate our planet; fighting man with chemical and heat-ray weapons. These weapons where far superior to mans own weapon technology. The alien’s intent was the extermination of the human race to extend their own survival. In the end the Aliens are defeated by disease, what could be perceived as a “common cold,” stopping the terror of the monstrous creatures.

The aliens are described in this novel as monsters hiding behind their mechanical armor. H.G. Wells intended to display how mankind poses themselves as astute masterminds hiding behind their armored tanks to dominant others during battle. He acknowledges how mans knowledge of technology has been utilized in war to gain terror over their enemies. The Alien invasion and attack among the human race is meant to be seen as a ruthlessness act to annihilate and kill with no purpose or mercy to their victims, but only to display their supreme power.

H.G. Wells describes these similarities of behaviors between alien and man in the opening of his story.

“And before we judge them too harshly we must remember what ruthless and utter our own was wrought, not only upon animals, such as the vanished bison and the dodo, but upon its inferior races. The Tasmanian, in spite of their human likeness, were entirely swept out of existence in a war of extermination waged by European immigrants, in space of fifty years. Are we such apostles of mercy as to complain if the Martians warred in the same spirit?” (Wells pg 2).

H.G. Wells summarized his views by regarding mans actions of the past. He showed how man has been the cause of the extinction of precious animals such as the bison-buffalos, and the dodo birds that once dominated our lands. Both were killed for food to maintain humans own survival, but these species also were nearly exterminated for the joy of hunting. The Tasmanians were killed for their land. The quote ends with H.G. Wells pondering his thoughts by thinking if humans have any right to judge others when we have acted like these unknown beasts; planning our extinction for their own survival, just like humans nearly eradicated the bison and dodo birds for our own. The symbolism can be seen on how man and alien are similar. Through war and the use of advance weapons man can prove its dominance over others with far less access of machines.

On October 31 1938, years later after the release of H.G. Wells infamous novel War of the Worlds, The Mercury Theater radio program played what is known as “the greatest Halloween trick of all time” (Marrow 2004). Orson Wells intent was to attract listeners to gain popularity. Orson Wells construed a fake news broadcast using H.G. Wells War of the Worlds novel. Orson Wells used the realism that H.G. Wells created with his story of alien invasion to bring chills among his readers.

Orson Wells created his setting of alien invasion in New Jersey and New York City. He terrified millions of American, and millions across the world. “In Newark, it was reported that twenty families in a single block had rushed into the street with wet towels over their faces to flee the Martians' poison gas. Responding to reports of the gas, police dispatched an ambulance, three police cars, and an emergency squad equipped with special equipment for reviving gas victims” (Marrow 2004). The broadcast was said to have made claims of notifying the National Guard, many soldiers were said to have shown up in their tanks prepared for battle.

“Stories about looming war in Europe had been in the news, and many panicked listeners thought the Martians were actually German military forces mistaken for alien invaders” (Marrow 2004). Marrows article displays the true fear that came along with that broadcast and it was the thought of a war breakout. Ed Marrow comments in his article his thoughts that H.G Wells War of the World provides the issues of how technology was “improving life, but also heightened social conflict and created more powerful weapons of war” (Morrow 2004). This is another issue associated with Aliens, which are often seen as advance intellectual beings.

History proves that the use of technological weapons to dominate is a reality. This illuminates the fear that brings H.G. Wells’ novel to life. In 1988 Saddam attacked using chemical weapon known as mustard gas; he massacred many innocent people in the town of Halabja Iraq, because the town rebelled against his oppression. This event is known as one of the most gruesome crimes in recent history. Adolf Hitler was another one of histories monsters who invaded many countries and was trying to obtain world domination through the use of advanced technological weaponry. He attempted to exterminate the entire Jewish race through the use of gas chambers and other atrocities, in which people were lead to their untimely deaths.

In recent years, after the terrorist attack of 9/11, Aliens have once again reappeared into the spotlight with films such as the remake of War of the Worlds starring Tom Cruise and child star Dakota Fanning. In this 2005 film, the aliens are portrayed as terrorists. This movie captures similar images of that of 9/11, with the invasion of aliens causing terror and world panic; planes can be seen crashing into buildings. In this film, the fear is representative of the 9/11terrorist attack.

Another Alien movie, such as The Day the Earth Stood Still, 2008 version, starring Keanu Reeves, the movie portrays nuclear warfare. The aliens, in this case, are trying to warn humanity to change their ways so they may prevent their own self destruction. Both films display similar concepts, one using terrorist attacks and another using technology; such as nuclear weapons.

In a 2005 article published in the Arizona Republic, headlined under Undercurrent of ‘War’: Wells ‘World,’ other Sci-Fi Confront fears of the Times. Richard Nelson writes of alien films being released stating “Films mirrored the unspoken anxiety of our times” (Nelson 2005). The 1953 film version of War of the Worlds was used to explore his ideas of the movie carrying a Cold War message. “We were at risk of invasions from aliens, and whether they were from Mars or the Soviet Union hardly mattered” (Nelson 2005). In many regard humans are aliens. Man have associated Illegal immigrants from foreign countries entering territories that man feels they are not welcome and given them the title of “illegal aliens”. Man uses this term to represent outsiders or invaders. The treatment of outsiders can be seen as inhuman.

It has been over one hundred years since H.G. Wells’ War of the World was released, and the terrifying events that played out in his stories which frighten us to this day. As our world evolves, our technology advances. The creations of dangerous weapons, such as nuclear weapons are possessed by many countries. This technology is foreign to many on Earth; therefore it is alien in nature to the average person. H.G. Wells’ captures the common mans fear, and exploits it by using the unknown to drive his literature. His use of aliens from a foreign realm seems to be a realistic affirmation of what fears we have already developed without an actual alien invasion. Wells appeared to know that people would fear the unknown, and he seems to use symbolism by exploiting their fears which would either lead us to war, or stray us from it.

　

Work Cited

Britannica Concise Encyclopedia Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica 2009.Credo Reference. Web. 04 Nov. 2001

Nilsen, Richard “UNDERCURRENTS OF ‘WAR’: WELLS’ ‘WORLD,’ OTHER SCI-FI CONFRONT FEARS OF THE TIMES” Arizona Republic Newspaper. 1 July 2005: 1. Proquest Research Library. ProQuest Company. Yavapai College. 4 Nov 2011.

Morrow, ED “He Dreamed the Future” The world & I. 19.1 2004: 244-255. Proquest Research Library. Proquest Company. Yavapai College. 4 Nov 2011.

The Day the Earth Stood Still. Dir. Scott Dickerson 20^th Century Fox. 2008. DVD.

The Columbia Encyclopedia. Columbia University Press 2008. Credo Reference. Web. 04 Nov. 2011

War of the World. Dir. Steven Spielberg. Paramount Pictures. 2005. DVD.

Wells, H.G. War of the Worlds. South Bend, IN. Infomotions, Inc. 200. Ebray. WEB. 31 Oct. 2011

Annotated Bibliography

Nilsen, Richard “Undercurrents of 'War': Wells’ ‘World,’ Other SCI-FI

Confronts Fears of Times "Arizona Republic Newspaper. 1 July 2005: 1.

Proquest Research Library. ProQuest Company. Yavapai College. 4 Nov 2011.

 Http://searchProquest.comproxy.yc.edu/docveiws/238640321?accountid=31701

This source provides information and supports my thesis behind Alien monsters. This article published in the Arizona republic reports after the 2001 terrorist attacks of the world trade center, the popularity of Alien invasion films are on a rise. Films such as the remake of H.G. Wells War of the Worlds, (A story I used for my Primary Source.) Invaders on Mars ect. are the images that play out of our current fears.

Morrow, ED “He Dreamed the Future” The world & I. 19.1 2004: 244-255. Proquest Research

Library. ProQuest Company. Yavapai College. 4 Nov 2011.

Http://searchProquest.comproxy.yc.edu/docveiws/235875109?accountid=31701

This source recounts the 1938 fake radio broadcast Orson Wells played on Halloween night that sent the world into a hysteria. Orson broadcasted that we were being attacked by aliens. Orson Wells used H.G. Wells' novel War of the World, but modernized it. Setting the Invasion in New York and New
Jersey. This Souce included the accounts that came along with this "joke" and the thought of aliens actually being millitary invasions and thought of a war outbreak.


The War of the Worlds. Dir. Steven Spielberg. Paramount Pictures.2005. DVD.

This is a film I used as a source. This film is the remake of H.G. Wells novel. This movie potrays the similar fears of alien invaders Wells' wrote about in his novel, only in this film it shows images that can be compared to the 9/11 attack. I use this source to illistrate how Wells' novel and veiw of aliens impact our world today in regard to war and technology and unkown.

Final project proposal

I have decided to use option 2 for my final project. I choose Aliens as the source for my research. I chose this option because I feel I would find this topic fascinating. Aliens is a topic that has been around for a long time. Aliens, questions our existence, intelligence etc. There are countless of stories, movies, documentaries regarding this subject. So I have yet to decide on what texts I want to use, but there are a few I have looked into. I hope to accomplish a well thought out paper that displays aliens to be a physical metaphor that represents humanity’s fear of our own, the unknown (could be the way we think of other countries who are different). Battling invasion such as war with advance technology such as nuclear weapons. I hope I can find sources that will help display a better view on my thesis.
Here is a link that shares views on many metaphors that can be related to aliens.