GRAPES OF WRATH

Journal: Select one quote from the movie The Grapes of Wrath and explain to me the point Steinbeck is making.  What does the quote reveal about the character who says it?  In what ways does it tie in with one of the themes of the book?
1/2 page+

February 15

Vocabulary for Friday: The Grapes of WRATH

Today we will do a close reading of a passage from Of Mice and Men. It is the passage wherein Curley's wife menacingly asks Crooks, "You know what I could do to you?"
Color mark the passage and we will discuss it as a class.

Remember, your essay (see last post) is due Tuesday at the beginning of class.  Before you hand it in, check for five things:
1. Make sure that it is grammatically perfect.  Have someone proofread it.  Watch commas.
2. The first sentence needs to be engaging.  Be sure that we feel compelled to keep reading.
3. You need to have an interesting, insightful, and specific thesis concerning the point that the artist is making about the subject. If you can't come up with something interesting to say, choose another photo. }:-{ 
4. Be sure to find very specific examples to discuss. At least two of these examples need to deal with the artist's use of the elements of visual art.
5. Be sure that you discuss these examples, showing how they support your thesis.
Note: about half of the papers I receive are lacking in every single one of these points.  And typically only 2-5 papers excel at points  3 and 5.

You might want to do Tuesday night's homework this weekend.  It is to read the ending of The Grapes of Wrath. That's chapter 28 to the end.  According to my best calculations, chapter 28 starts 1/7th of the way up from the bottom of the online text found at the following link: The Grapes of Wrath

February 11, 2013

Dorothea Lange photographs

Here's a link to her photos of migrant works, all taken the same year that John Steinbeck toured the West doing groundwork for his novel The Grapes of Wrath.

Migrant Workers

Essay due Tuesday (20 points)
Analysis of photo or painting
What idea is the artist trying to convey, and how is the message conveyed through artistic devises? 
Be sure to analyze at least two of the following elements of visual art:

• line
• shape
• form (think of chiaroscurro lighting, which gives the face a human look)
• space (including cropping)
• color
• value (light and dark)
• texture 

Remember that artists chose to emphasis certain elements within their work, often for symbollic purposes

As homework tonight, read the following expanation of the elements of art:
Getty Museum--Elements of Art

Simplified example:
Remember the shot in the film The Grapes of Wrath taken at the point when Muley Graves' home is destroyed by the caterpillar tractor?  We see the shadows (value) of the devastated people, the texture of the scarred earth, the harsh tracks of the tractor in a diagonal line, etc.  The artist emphasizes the injustice of it all through use of strong diagonal lines, powerful triangles, texture, extreme light and shadow, and lack of color.

Here's a site that shows Van Gogh paintings and the actual locations where they were painted.  You'll see that he decided to exaggerate certain elements of art to make his point.
Van Gogh Painting Locations

February 11

Today we will read Robert Burns' poem "To a Mouse"

Make sure you understand why, based on the poem, Steinbeck might have given the novella the title Of Mice and Men.  
You should also understand how the following lines fit with Steinbeck's philosophy:

• "The things of mice and men/go often awry."
• "you are blest, compared with me!"
• "An odd ear in twenty-four sheaves Is a small request;/I will get a blessing with what is left,"
• "I'm truly sorry man's dominion/Has broken Nature's social union"

We will also watch The Grapes of Wrath up the point where the family goes to pick peaches.

February 8th

We will watch the film Grapes of Wrath.
We're looking for two things: 1, ideas (continue 15 quotes), and 2, the cinematography.

Your homework assignment is to find a photo or painting and explain to me the ways that the artist has used the elements of visual art to express an idea in the work.  This assignment isn't actually due until next  Friday, but some students will want to get a start on it.  The assignment is challenging because you not only have to find a picture that actually says something (not just a "happy snap"), but you've got to be able to explain how the artist makes the statement.  2 pages, typed, MLA.  Proofread this one!  Check "Resources" tab for example essay illustrating MLA format.  For quick reference, here's an example essay, complete with cover page, which you need to have   MLA Essay

Oh, and remember to finish Of Mice and Men.  You might have a reading quiz on Monday.  (Heh, heh)
We will start discussing the book on Monday and will compare and contrast it with The Grapes of WRATH

Here's a YouTube video illustrating good analysis of art
Analyzing Art

February 4th

Hello, kiddies!

Vocab quiz Friday: Of Mice and Men vocab

January 24, 2013

Finally, another blog post!

Homework: Read Whitman's "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloomed" (pages 408-418)
Be ready for a quiz (which may or may not happen   :-}