In the last post we discussed how a community of readers gives new life to a blog. The great thing about blogs is that they can be about anything and it is a fresh perspective from outside the mainstream. Do you love to travel? Start a travel blog and it becomes your unique view on the topic. For this post I want you to pretend this is your blog. Write a post about a recent experience you had with something you have a strong opinion about. It can be negative or positive. Your post should be 6-10 sentences at a minimum. Compare and contrast what you are writing about with other things similar to your topic. For example: If you are writing about a record from a particular artist, compare it to similar artists or the artists earlier work. Same for restaurants, etc. See examples for ideas. The key is to be passionate
Ideas:
- Movie review
- Music review
- Travel experience
- Restaurant review
- Fashion review
- Technology
Examples:
Travel blog: http://roam-magazine.co
Food blog: http://culinarybackstreets.com
More travel blogs: http://petitepassport.com, http://ourwildabandon.com
Fashion: http://whatiwore.tumblr.com
Tech: https://techcrunch.com
First catching viewer's attention last March, the popular Netflix show "Thirteen Reasons Why" just released its second season on May 18th, 2018. The show is centered around the suicide of a teenage girl named Hannah Baker. The first season of the show received insane amounts of criticism and moral outrage for its graphic content, including Hannah's own suicide and much more. As a follower of "13 Reasons Why" since the book was written, I believe that the television series has taught me so much more about things I knew existed but never really understood before simply because of how they were silenced by the adults in our society. However, I do feel as though the level of graphic content viewer's experience in season two compared to season one has definitely taken the show's message to a more advanced, mature, and sensitive level. The show is no longer just about suicide and how much it can ruin someone’s life and the lives of the people who loved them. It is about so much more; the sexual assaults of women and men that occur far too often, the unbelievably traumatizing culture of bullying that reigns supreme in most high schools, and finally, the power of the human voice once it is not only heard, but believed. Most importantly, this series is about how teenagers, like myself, feel about the world around us and how we choose to cope with these feelings in ways that adults don't really understand. As a teenager myself, everything I have seen in both seasons of 13 Reasons Why has not shocked me nearly as much as I wish it had. For starters, most adults are completely outraged, and have been since the start of the show, because they do not want their children being exposed to these kinds of disturbing trauma on TV. But what they forget is that we HAVE seen kids, sometimes even our friends and classmates, like the ones in 13 Reasons Why, go through such similar traumas in their own lives. Personally, I believe that if 13 Reasons Why wants to continue showing viewer's the effects of suicide, mental health issues, drugs, substance abuse, and sexual assault, they have to make sure that their audience is not only aware of these issues in the first place, but that they can be mature and stable enough to try to understand and think about them in ways that will change them into becoming educated and kinder people because of this.
ReplyDeleteI have been a fan of One Direction or a Directioner for years. Many people think that they are just another manufactured boy band but they do not even come close to that. They are all very talented singers and songwriters. They actually wrote a lot of their own songs, unlike many people today who have songs written for them all the time. Two of its members Zayn and Harry can actually hit some of the highest and hardest notes of male singers today! One Direction also has a lot of variation in the kinds of songs that are on their albums. For example, their song “Act My Age”, which is on their album “Four”, is an Irish song because a member of One Direction named Niall is from Mullingar, Ireland. Their song “Midnight Memories”, which is on their “Midnight Memories” album, is a rock kind of song. It was written together by the final two members Liam and Louis, Louis being a person who was heavily influenced by rock from a young age. Their song “Everything About You”, from their “Up All Night” album is more of a techno song. “Up All Night” was their first album and it started what would become years of One Direction constantly having songs at the top of the charts. They’ve also got a lot of pop songs and so many more differing songs that I could talk about all day because I love them all so much. As the years went on their music really evolved into something really, really, beautiful with the very best songs being the ones that were not singles. This meaning the ones that are not played on the radio, I strongly suggest looking them up because One Direction has done so much that there’s something for everyone.
ReplyDeleteI'm a person who loves to read a lot. There is barely ever a book I don't like, not including Lord of the Flies. I have just finished re-reading a cheesy teen-fic called Kiss my Book. I've read some bad reviews about this book probably because how cheesy it is but I still like. I've reread this book so many times because I've loved it so much. It's about a young teen named Ruby who is accused of plagiarism. Before she was accused she was getting famous and all because of the book she wrote. When she was accused her life changed completely. In my opinion it changed for the better since she went to Whispering Oaks, a quiet town home to her fun and eccentric Aunt Fin. Ruby completely changes her identity to live a new life and start over. There she got to meet people her age who are kind and friendly, unlike the ones back home. There she learned who she really was all the way to the point where she was capable of facing her past.
ReplyDeleteOne reason why I love this book is because it's not boring. It has parts that are sarcastic and funny. The characters have so much life and they seem so real. Another reason I love this book is because of how relatable Ruby is. We all make mistakes that we sometimes try to run from. The important part is that we learn from them and face them rather then pitying oneself and hiding from those errors. I've honestly adored this book and I recommend it to everyone who adores reading and sees the power in words.
This year’s MET Gala was held on the first Monday of May, the seventh, at the Metropolitan Museum of New York with the theme of “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.” Many celebrities gathered in Manhattan to show off their amazing costumes along with the hosts of the event, Anna Wintour, Amal Clooney, and Rihanna. The Vogue Editor-in-Chief wore a simple yet angelic gown by Chanel that had faded blue studs, a clashing high neck, and a bedazzled silver and diamond cross necklace. Amal Clooney’s Richard Quinn ensamble did disappoint, though. I did not like the silver tube top-like top with the indigo satin pants and the Cinderella gown back. A positive aspect was that it did fit with the theme, because of it’s stained glass-like design. Rihanna was found in a custom Maison Margiela by John Galliano jeweled mini-dress with a matching coat and a faux papal tiara. Her costume did not disappoint; it fit with the theme, it was appropriate for the event, and it exemplified the modern era of fashion. One of my personal favorite looks of the night was Sarah Jessica Parker’s costume by Dolce & Gabbana. The actress strutted a golden gown assembled with red hearts and a heavy train; the best part about the look was the gold and red nativity scene on her head. She was the epitome of this year’s MET Gala, being “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination.”
ReplyDeleteEvery year for a family vacation my family and I go to myrtle beach. Every year I make new memories that I love. Some would think that if you went every year it would become boring but in my experience, it has only gotten better. My family and I go the last week of August, we will drive to South Carolina, myrtle beach. Once we get to the hotel, in which we stay at every year, there are plenty of things to do such as go to the beach, pool, or arcade/ sports area. If you would like to leave the hotel and have some fun experiences there are many options. My personal favorite is the boardwalk. The boardwalk has fun this to do such as a rope course, zip lining, shopping, the upside-down museum and more. The upside-down museum is filled with different rides, arcade games, laser tags, bubble stations, and more. The mini golf in myrtle beach is fun too. There are so many options and different themes.
ReplyDeleteIf you steal my phone and scroll to pictures taken last summer, you’re going to see a lot of old city streets, breathtaking churches, and plates upon plates of FOOD. That’s because in August 2017, my family and I went to Quebec City and Montreal, Canada. After driving for 12 hours past the New York City landscape and Canada’s rolling fields, with a stop by Lake George in upstate New York, we finally reached the quaint, historic town of Quebec. By the time we reached the city, the buzz of night life had already died down, so we quietly drove through cobbled streets and admired the old townhouses. Originally a fortified city, one of Quebec’s main features is the walled Citadelle of Quebec, which offers stunning views of the city. Next to this citadel stands the Chateau Frontenac, a grand castle-like hotel. Vieux Quebec, French for “Old Quebec,” a historic neighborhood in Quebec, is not level with the rest of the city so you have to walk down several flights of stairs to get to it. The stone buildings and bustling of people resembled the French village from the opening scene of “Beauty and the Beast.” And, or course, what else could complete our adventure into the French scene rather than food. One of my favorite foods from the trip was poutine, the national dish of Quebec, which consists of french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy. Nights we spent in Quebec were full of life; people filled the closed streets, some playing, others strolling down with shopping bags. Quebec City is a very charming city where you could spend hours upon days walking down the streets, enchanted by the old-fashioned buildings. Our next destination, Montreal, is like the Manhattan of the region of Quebec. While areas of Montreal still have cobblestone streets, it features a much more urban feeling, with towering skyscrapers and diverse sites. One of the most magnificent destinations of Montreal is the Notre-Dame Basilica, a Gothic-revived cathedral. Its interior, which mainly features the color blue, contains massive gold pillars and a gorgeous altar that would leave anyone breathless. Another one of my favorite foods from Canada is a dipped ice cream from the cafe Chocolats Favoris, a chain found all throughout the city. In this cafe, you select an ice cream flavor, which is heavily covered with a sweet coating. In the course of my one week trip, I probably had 4 of these dipped ice creams. Both cities, despite their contrasts, provide rich learning experiences, amazing sights, and incredible cuisine. Overall, I feel the trip to these Canadian cities is definitely worth taking.
ReplyDeleteGrowing up, my taste in pretty much everything, especially cinema, was insanely out of date. From the time I was two, I had always had a soft spot for old movies. And I don’t mean “old” like as in John Hughes or the original Willy Wonka movie, I mean “old” as James Cagney and Bette Davis (you’re probably thinking “who the heck is that”). In my opinion, everyone should try to watch one or two classic films. They make good conversation topics and make you seem well-rounded.
ReplyDeleteI think my love for classic films can be traced back to my first favorite movie, the Wizard of Oz. I broke both my mother’s DvD and VHS copies of that movie because I used watch it over and over and over again. One of my mom’s favorite stories to tell is how I sang “If I Only Had a Brain” for my doctor. The point is, that I was obsessed with it; it never even bothered me that the beginning had no color. I think the next movies I watch came in sets. I remember my dad having a box set of Marx Brothers movies and one that had every installment of the Frankenstein, Dracula, and Wolfman classic Universal Monster movies. I also had a movie set of my own, Shirley Temple, and I was so proud of it, I used to show it to everyone that walked into my house. My grandmother also played a key role in my movie taste. She used to watch me a lot when I was little and my mom was pregnant with my younger sister. My grandma had no idea how to work the T.V., so my mom would put on one channel and it would stay on until my mom came home, and more often than not, it was Turner Classic Movies (TCM), which is now my favorite channel. The time spent with my grandmother introduced me to some of my favorite classic movies. She had a VHS tape of Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein, and she used to put it on for me me all the time because I never got tired of it. The other movie she used to make me watch was Yankee Doodle Dandy. My relationship with this movie is a complicated one. I used to HATE it. For starters, it’s a bio-pic; the story of George M. Cohan. I would have to watch it EVERY. SINGLE. FOURTH OF JULY. Whenever it was/is on, my grandmother would give the same exact speech about how the main actor, James Cagney never had a formal dancing lesson, and that he never once had “a bad thing written about him.” But as time went on, I came to appreciate it and I value the special screenings of it my grandmother and I have of it. Another movie I remember watching with her is Signing in the Rain. That movie never gets old (and I will fight anyone that says otherwise). I remember I broke my mother’s floor lamp trying to recreate the infamous lamppost scene, which is something my grandmother found very funny.
But that’s enough of my backstory, let’s talk about my blog. This blog is going to a summer thing based on my New Year’s Revolution, which was to watch every movie on the the American Film Institute’s list of the One-Hundred Greatest Movies of all time. Each week I’ll try to watch five movies on the list and I then I’ll honestly review each and rank them based on how much I liked them. I'll try to include reasons why viewers should or shouldn’t watch the film, and what kind of audience it will appeal to, as well as suggestions for other movies.
On May 15, War Storm, the last book in the Red Queen series came out. I had been waiting expectantly for War Storm, since I finished King’s Cage last year, but I’ll admit i was quite nervous to buy it. So for some backstory, in this world, people have two types of blood-red or silver. Silvers have special powers and rule over the elite, who are red-blooded and normal. Mare is a Red, yet, after a series of events lands her at a silver competition, Mare falls into the arena. There she discovers that she, too, has powers...but her blood is Red. Meanwhile at the same time, and organization known as the Scarlet Guard is stirring trouble for the Silvers. The book goes on an she meets the princes, Cal and Maven, as well as Queen Elara and Farley, a Scarlet Guard member. Mare faces deep betrayals and heartbreaking moments. Anyway, the main reason for why I was nervous was because of one character, Maven. Maven is a very conflicting character, and honestly he was my favorite. Cal, his brother in my opinion was too perfect, and he was everyone’s favorite (at least in the book). Maven, on the other hand, had so much depth to him, he had experienced many things and people who made him to the person he is. Victoria Aveyard (the author) had made it clear in interviews that Maven wouldn’t necessarily be redeemed. This fact made me reluctant to read War Storm, even now I can’t bring myself to finish it. This all got me thinking, often, in books the villain’s motives are superficial and they seem to have no real reason to go against the protagonist. This annoys me as human nature does not work that way, people aren’t necessary good or evil. Everyone is defined by experiences and it makes us who we are. I really enjoy reading (and watching) the backstories of villains, their backstories give them a deeper purpose, makes them easier to understand, and shows a more of their human nature. For example, with her backstory movie Maleficent went from being the fairy who was so determined on destroying Aurora over a forgotten invitation to a fairy who had been so deeply betrayed by King Stefan and simply wanted revenge. However, this doesn't just happen it books, it also occurs in society. We very often label people as being cruel and selfish, or kind and generous without knowing all the details. Human nature and human emotions are far too complex to be labeled, just as good or evil. No one is truly evil or good, instead, we are all in between, and we will continue to be. I think that as a society we need to realize that one bad deed (or one good one) doesn’t define a person. Many times people need someone to hear them and truly deserve a chance at redemption.
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ReplyDeleteAt least every two or three months, I go to theaters with my mother and we see plays or musicals. I have seen a number of shows on and off Broadway. The most recent show I saw is entitled "Carousel." It tells the emotional but comical story of a relationship between a millworker and a carousel barker. They have an extremely complicated relationship because Billy Bigelow, the carousel barker, has never been completely dedicated to a person before. Through out the musical the audience learns that the couple is having financial problems. Once Julie, the millworker, tells Billy that she is pregnant he realizes he has to do something so he can get money to support his family. He gets offered a job by his mischievous friend which involves them killing a man and stealing his money. Right before they commit the crime, their plan backfires and the police arrive which causes Billy to stab himself in order to not go to jail. Billy ends up dying which devastates his newly pregnant wife. Later in the second act, we see Billy in a lit up place surrounded by angels and stars. The angels tell Billy that he is in the "waiting room" to get to heaven. The man who is assumed to be a god, tells Billy that he can either accept everything he did while on Earth or go back to Earth and change his family's life. Billy also learns that he has had a daughter who is now 16 and is dealing with being bullied by kids for not having a father, which makes him even more eager to go to Earth and meet her. A long with granting him a chance back to Earth, the god also gives Billy a star to gift his daughter once he sees her. When he gets there he gets frustrated that his daughter doesn't want to communicate with him, so he slaps her. Upon doing that, his wife comes out to see what's happening but he runs away. His wife realizes that it was him who was there and the god scolds him for running away every time he encounters a problem. Billy returns once again to attend his daughter's graduation but no one there can see him. During this scene, everyone in the cast sings a beautiful song together which talks about never walking alone in life because you'll always have someone by your side, living or dead. The musical ends with Billy being content with his life and Julie and her daughter living their lives knowing that Billy is looking over them and wishing them the best. This musical was beautiful and brought tears to my eyes several times. The dancers were phenomenal and the overall feeling inside the theater was of pure astonishment and happiness. I have never seen a show like this before but I hope I get to see many more in the future that exceed my expectations and blow me away just like this one.
ReplyDeleteA few weeks ago, the marvel movie, Infinity War, came out. It was an amazing movie, with phenomenal graphics and fighting scenes. After watching these movies with my father from the age of three, and getting so attached to the characters because of the actors and actresses' acting, it was hard to see some of them go.I don't want to be that person who spoils a movie for you, so I am trying not to put a lot of spoilers into this post. Although I find it hard to watch any movie twice(it leaves me feeling bored because I already know what is going to happen) the Marvel franchise knows how to make a masterpiece that has me going back to the cinema to watch it again.
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