Scribe: 1.22.2009
Period 4
Hey guyssss!
So I had a couple minutes before I have to get ready for the opening night of our dance show (woohoo!) so I figured I could write the scribe notes while I’m waiting. Okay, so before the period began, I walk over to Eldridge’s desk because Jordan and I had just deciphered the extra credit puzzle and I see Eldridge is explaining Jet Streams and the reason Santa Barbara gets more rain than we do is because they get the brunt of the jet streams. Then, I see Steven pull out his York Peppermint Patty. The most amazing thing possible you can do with these (besides eating them of course) is to break it in half right next to your ear. It makes the craziest sound. Try it. But after that, I decide to walk around the room and visit Adam and Sean. So Sean is pretty good at raising one eyebrow and couldn’t believe that the only way I can manage to do that is to hold one side of my face down and raise my other eyebrow. Tis tragic. Then, Steven, Elysha, and I explain to Patrick the difference between a ballpoint pen and a fiber tip pen.
We continued with our imagery exercise, this from Leslie Marmon Silko’s Ceremony and decided that the author dwelt on all of the unkempt descriptions of the man. Then, we drew pictures of our bedrooms to “reveal our character”. That was pretty interesting. I like Ethan’s room…in a completely non-stalkerish way.
We continued to proceed with analyzing Jonathon Edward’s “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God.” The discussion was about the features in his sermon that are similar to the traditions of the other pieces we have been studying, as well as the differences (application-wise)
SIMILAR:
§ God has control
§ God uses nature
§ Metaphors
DIFFERENT:
§ Nature=enlightenment; nature is disgusted with humans
§ Damnation!
§ Relationship w/ God is happy; God is vengeful
§ Connected
Eldridge told us how we are so used to machine based operation; we want everything to work by pushing a button. He told us a story about one time, the power went out and it was actually calming and soothing to not have a T.V. running or a radio playing. No lights worked, no phones rang, and the food they ate was simple (cooked over a candle haha). Everything slowed down and was natural. We also found out that Nicolette is grounded…
Eldridge then asked us what changed socially in the 1750’s. Jordan’s response was “Hester Prynne…and free love” but actually, the colonies were becoming rebellious because they wanted money due to commercial success. The Puritan projects fell apart because of secularism in the colonies.
Random fact: The Japanese are the only people in the world that work more than Americans, as well as watch more T.V. than Americans. Apparently there is a direct proportion between work and T.V. consumption, and watching television is more relaxing than dreaming.
Alright kids. Be prepared for a discussion tomorrow about Jonathon Edward’s sermon and know these topics:
§ Know all major metaphors
§ How does Edward achieve his difference from the traditions through metaphors
§ Know Edward’s tone
**IMPORTANT Be sure to turn in your reading assignments BEFORE your conference**
***NEW RULE!! INCLUDE SOME TYPE OF PICTURE OR CLIP IN YOUR DAILY SCRIBE…OR ELSE***
Hehe okey dokey. bye guys.
Ps. Go see the dance show!
TLP
Period 5
Today was a day just like any other. We started class noisily working on our Imagery No. 16 worksheets, which contained an excerpt from William Carlos Williams’s, “The Last Words of my English Grandmother.” From this excerpt, we learned how to use words with negative connotations to convey negative attitudes and words with positive connotations to implicitly(Dr. Coriaty word!) illustrate positive attitudes/tones; this method is ultimately more effective, as the reader is able to feel the writers emotions, rather than reading them on a page. Then, the class became obsessed with the word, “bacchanal.” With the help of Dictionary.com, the greatest website known to mankind, I’ve discovered that this word means an occasion of drunken revelry or an orgy….ew. HOPEFULLY, I spelled that wrong and looked up the WRONG word, or maybe some people are just as weird as I thought. Anyways, Mr. E had us discuss with our groups the similarities and differences between “Sinners in the Hands of An Angry God” and all the other essays of our giant packets. All the groups collaborated to discover that all authors agreed…
death is translation and life is short (transient)
God’s creatures are beautiful & inherently good-an assertion which is altered by opinion
All the essays are related to God
All essays discuss the Power of God
They are all Christian and contain various metaphors & syllogisms?
everyone focused on earthly things (natural earth)
Differences, included:
The others are optimistic and discuss the possibility of salvation (light); whereas, Edwards advocates no forgiveness and has a darker tone.
Matthews writes of a loving God; Edwards writes of an Angry God
“All the other essays speak of nature’s beautiful side; this piece discusses the grotesque side of nature (i.e. spiders),”-Alex Kolkin’s ‘retake’
The day then concluded with one last question, “Why is Jonathan Edwards’s tone different than the other authors?” The class found that his tone was angry due to the occurrences of the time period. Having written this piece in 1741 (The Great Awakening), the colonists were deviating from the Church, which was frustrating for Edwards. People were becoming rich, and greedy…typical.
That’s basically it. Oh, and here’s an example of the beautiful side of nature….
Filed under: Daily Scribe and
I’m not quite sure I remeber drawing a ninja in my picture…
[Reply to comment]
Dannggg Ethan you’re an amazing artist i must say.
And if I’m not mistaken, I believe I was scribe today…
Tera-Lynne’s a scribe stealer.
Then again Jordan could have just slipped one of his pills into my water and I could have just been hallucinating the whole period. Who knows
[Reply to comment]
Last I heard you don’t see ninjas do things when they do them, hence the name ninja.
[Reply to comment]
Nadir, didn’t you draw in ninjas on everyone’s papers?
[Reply to comment]
I slipped pills in everyone’s water like two weeks ago man. It’s a slow release.
[Reply to comment]
I am a scribe stealer
I confess
[Reply to comment]
bacchanal is my new favorite word.
[Reply to comment]
ethan: thats a really good picture
jordan: your whole week has revolved around drugs/pills of some sort…thats a tad frightening!
[Reply to comment]
Dude, I wish I could draw as well as you. O well mine my drawing was awesome, it had my cats on it.
[Reply to comment]
So I have to give a shout out to Keith for doing the scribe not one day, but three days in a row! Haha anyways this day was interesting. The class wouldn’t be quiet. I really enjoyed the imagery for some reason I think its because we got to mix it up a bit with the application. I must say my drawing was very detailed. And in regards to the whole religious packet, I’m not really feeling it too much. I’m not know for my religiousbeliefs so analyzing it has been difficult, but in the end I’m learning new things from it which is always wonderful. Have a good weekend and study hard for finals!
[Reply to comment]
that’s a good picturee.. hahah
[Reply to comment]
“Sinner in the Hands of an Angry God”, I must say, is extremely gloomy and pitiful. Of course it is well written and send the grim message with unbelievable taste, but I find it extremely disheartening. I find it crazy that there these beliefs were even part of American history. Its spiteful metaphors of nature though do help in the understanding quite a bit.
[Reply to comment]
Yeah I have to agree with Gellan, Edwards really does seem like a very pitiful, demented person. He is definitely a great speaker and writer, but then again so was Hitler. It’s all propaganda and fear-mongering really. Trying to scare people into giving up their free thought and joining Edwards’ church, so he could have more followers and therefore more influence and more money in the collection plate. Plus, doesn’t it seem to be contrary to the basic tenets of Christianity? Just like we read in Matthew, isn’t it supposed to be about more than just belief, about love and charity and good deeds and all that stuff as well? Edwards is so certain he’s right too; it’s insulting to people’s independent thoughts and very anti-intellectual. He represents what I hate about organized religion. It just becomes about gaining converts and keeping people controlled and brainwashed at the expense of spiritual and intellectual value.
[Reply to comment]
Yes, @Zachglasser, you have a point, but remember that you are speaking from a secularized point of view that sees spiritual matters at best equal with all of the other concerns of life, but more likely second or even third tier. And I think you lump him in with those you generally don’t like a little too quickly.
Edwards was a theologian and spent sometimes 13 hours a day in study. His church eventually decided on another pastor because of his beliefs, since belief was more important than being in charge for him. Later he preached to the Indians (with his family traveling with him). He eventually took a position at Princeton, but died shortly thereafter. I cannot see in his career choices anything that would make him greedy for profit or craven. And at the same time, his work is praised for its rich intellectual texture. So much so that much of his work has been incorporated into New England Congregationalist theology, and Yale has a college named after him.
Christianity has a very complicated theology. Much more complicated than Judaism or Islam. In fact, its two thousand year history might be read as a series of competing theologies. You happened to get 40-50 sentences from a prolific American religious thinker in an intellectual tradition that stretches, at least, back to St. Augustine. (c. 400). That’s a lot of learning that must go in to even the most basic of theology degrees. He’s even cited in philosophical encyclopedias as one of the most original and important religious thinkers in America.
[Reply to comment]
ok ok, Mr. Eldridge, I understand that Edwards was a well-respected theologian and brilliant thinker, I just don’t like his methods. And sure, he was a leading American intellectual in his ideas, but his methods seemed to be decidedly anti-intellectual in that there is no room for debate and a lack of reason and rationality. And as far as his motivations in life, maybe he wasn’t greedy or power-hungry, I was just saying that based on how determined he seemed – so determined that he was willing to compromise much of Christian doctrine in favor of fear-mongering – I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a less than ethical motivation for his preaching, as so many religious leaders do have. Call me a cynic or a skeptic or whatever, that’s just what I got out of reading the passage.
[Reply to comment]
@ zach,”he was a leading American intellectual in his ideas, but his methods seemed to be decidedly anti-intellectual”
so you admit he was a leading intellectual but seem to think he’s anti-intellectual?
[Reply to comment]
Well yeah I can see where @zach contradicts himself, but if i’m interpreting it right he is plainly saying that edwards was a man of great intellect who just practiced methods that did not show it. His methods of thinking provided radical testaments, which, in it of itself, did not REFLECT sophistcated and intelligent thought.
That’s what @zach was trying to say I think.
But all criticisms aside, i think we should just give the man his props for his achievements. I mean no matter how Edwards got to them, he got to them.
[Reply to comment]