ReFrame: Change

This week in class we made posters in groups and developed themes for the book “All Quiet on the Western Front”. One of the themes was “time in war affects people in negative ways”. In other words, war changes the view soldiers have on life. When Paul Baumer returned home while on leave, he wanted to be back on the front with his friends. He didn’t see the world as he used to. An example of being changed for the worse is the negative affect fame has on celebrities. Many celebrities use drugs because they’re able to, they have the money, and because of the overwhelming pressure from the media. Miley Cyrus was an innocent Disney Channel star with the show Hannah Montana, positively influencing young girls and boys with her catchy songs and life lessons in the show. She soon turned to twerking on teddy Bears on stage and trying drugs. Although some people don’t think this was exactly negative, she turned this way because of the attention she recieved, and because she wanted to darken her lifestyle. She is a strong example of this topic, as well as Amanda Bynes, Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse.

ReFrame: Losing Control

This week in class we watched a video about a man while, in the army, shot and killed a young boy for coming too close to him after being warned to stand back. It was on the man’s mind day and night, and at 90 years old he’s stilll thinking about it. He often wakes up crying in the middle of the night thinking about it.

Singers often write about girls and how they’re always on their minds. The band Panic! at the Disco perfectly displays that emotion in their song “Nicotine”. The lead singer Brendon Urie wrote this song about how sometimes you just can’t stop thinking about a girl/boy, and they’re constantly on your mind, no matter the time or place. Some nights you stay up thinking about them; they drive you crazy. Youre so addicted to them they’re “worse than nicotine”. Its a bit of a long shot, but these two both have something constantly on their minds day and night, killing them (one worse than the other, obviously). Attached is the song (clean version so the cuts are a little weird), and you can hear the desperation in the lyrics being sung.

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ReFrame: Surviving Difficult Times

On Wednesday of this week, our class took a field trip down to the Museum of the Holocaust where we took a tour of the giant building and even spoke to a survivor of the holocaust. It was amazing to be able to listen to how strong of a woman this person was, and how she didn’t give up on herself, even after losing her brother and many of her family members. This is kind of a far stretch, but this reminds us of Taylor Swift, in her current situation. Her mom was diagnosed with cancer, and with the weight of that on her shoulders, she isn’t giving up, breaking down, and stopping her world tour. She will continue to watch out for her mother while also keeping herself and her fans happy. These two can go through tough times and at the end of the day, remind themselves that the road ahead will be amazing. They just have to wait and see what it will be like! 

ReFrame: Isn’t It Ironic?

This week in class, we’ve been discussing irony and the three different types you can use: situational, verbal, and dramatic. Irony was also used outside of the classroom as well as inside, while I (Taylor) was having a conversation with Cami on Thursday. We discussed that we were upset we both weren’t able to go to Coachella Music Festival because Cami had volleyball all weekend and I had APA play rehearsals, but there was a feeling of contention amongst us because one of our favorite bands, 5 Seconds of Summer, were in Australia with their families and not partying it up an hour away from us. Sunday rolled around and turns out, the drummer of the band, Ashton Irwin, stayed behind and joined all of the Coachella goers while we stayed home and all of our friends met him. Situational irony is used and now we are sad. Thanks Coachella.

ReFrame: A Helping Hand

On Friday, multiple schools in the Huntington Beach school district came together at HBHS and watched the author of “Until Tuesday”, Luis Carlos Montalvan, talk about his book and various other subjects. Personally, we were intrigued with what he had to say about his life and about Tuesday. He stated that every day for the past couple of years, Tuesday has saved his life by sleeping with him, letting Luis balance on his back, and for just being able to have a best friend around. He began to explain how Tuesday saved his life, and has helped him through years and years of his PTSD. He stated that every day for the past couple of years, Tuesday has saved his life by sleeping with him, letting Luis balance on his back, and for just being able to have a best friend around. It reminded us a lot about when One Direction member Harry Styles bought pizza for the homeless on his day off in Los Angeles a while back. In a way, he could potentially be saving many of those peoples’ lives just by giving them something we can get that’s a phone call away.

In the video linked, fast forward to 1:00 and one of his best friends explains the story.

ReFrame: 6 Word Stories

In class on Thursday, we learned about an author named Ernest Hemingway who was challenged to write a story with only 6 words, and won that bet. Every story must have a plot, and hopefully a climax, to make it successful. The conclusion-also a big part in a story-answers all the readers questions and sums up the main bullets. A good challenge would be to write a 6 worded story about your own life, and see what you come up with. Some are sad, some are happy, but they all have one thing in common: they tell a tale worth reading.

ReFrame: Speeches are cool, MLK Jr. is Cooler

In class we’ve been learning the elements of what makes a good speech. Persuading your audience, connecting to everyday occurrences,and throwing in a few rhetorical devices can all help you on your road to a successful speech, no matter what you’re talking about. At the end of the day, we all have different opinions on topics; not everyone is going to agree with your argument, and that’s fine, but you want to try and change every persons mind. Be believable and find evidence you can back up as well! Speeches are exciting because you never know what your opinion will be when the speaker is done talking.
Linked to this we have Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech, “I have a dream”. I feel it connects well with this subject considering if Mr. King did not plan, practice, and set this up perfectly, it would not have as big of an effect on us today. This speech is still talked about, which is amazing, and something we all should hope for when we give speeches, even if it’s just in a classroom with 30+ students.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=z_ZgSK9yIbk

ReFrame: A Helping Paw

Tuesday is a well-trained dog that can help his owner through multiple situations. Just a simple nudge can help dark memories fade away. Just as the young, talented singer Shawn Mendes says in his new song, “take a piece of my heart and make it all your own, so when we are apart, you’ll never be alone”, which reminds us of how Luis Carlos Montalvan states he always has Tuesday with him, insinuating that he is apart of him now. So even if they were to part, Luis would feel that Tuesday never left his side. Obviously the whole song doesn’t relate to this book because the songwriter probably didn’t have a dog pictured in his mind when he wrote it. There was obviously a different approach trying to be made, but the chorus can speak for any situation.

ReFrame: Love/hate relationships

In the play Julius Caesar written by William Shakespeare, many of the townspeople worshipped Caesar for returning from Pompey and defeating their enemies. Flavius and Murellus on the other hand, are trying to get people to go home and forget about it. Later Brutus and Cassius talk poorly about him as well, saying how they do not want Caesar to rise as a king, as he could become mad with power. This is a reminder of how teenage girls and boys all around the world obsess over artists such as Justin Bieber, but their parents think he’s a terrible influence and could make young kids think it’s okay to do bad things. Just think about it; he started as an innocent little kid with big dreams, now he’s getting himself into trouble with the law. Fame changes people!