Literary Analysis:
For the next few weeks we will read and interpret literature. Momentarily we will get away from the daily cycle of blogs to focus on other important aspects of writing and expression. Short stories will be our main source of inspiration. Some of these stories will be strange or unorthodox to you; however, that is what makes them fun and interesting to interpret. Below is a video of Neil Gaiman, acclaimed science fiction author, reading one of his short stories. Follow along as he reads the story, Babycakes, aloud.
Oct 18, 2010
Oct 12, 2010
DAY 1: MUSIC
"There's Always Someone Cooler Than You", Ben Folds
At some point in your life you have probably come across an individual who acts like he/she is better than everyone around him/her and is rude towards basically everyone. In many cases this individual is very concerned about their appearance and their social status. In the following song Ben Folds addresses these ideas in a candid and direct way. Please focus on the core message within the song. Think about anything else that Ben Folds may be trying to say? Then write about a time when you felt persecuted by someone like this or when you yourself acted in such a way towards another person. How did this make you feel? What did you learn from this experience. Write a narrative that outlines this situation. 250-500 words.
As always the lyrics can be found below. Please excuse the vulgar language.
WRITING PROMPT
Once you come to a conclusion about the song's overall message, write a 125-250 word Journal Entry that explains the possible reasons for why some people are so concerned with how others view them. Then, continue the Journal Entry by writing about the following: In your opinion, why are people that fit into this category often rude to their peers as well? If possible, provide an example of when you were criticized by a peer for how you looked or acted and briefly explain why you believe this person treated you in this way. HAVE FUN!
"There's Always Someone Cooler Than You", Ben Folds
Smile
Like you've got nothing to prove
No matter what you might do
There's always someone out there cooler than you
I know that's hard to believe
But there are people you meet
They're into something that is too big to be
Expressed
Through their clothes
And they'll put up with all the poses you'll throw
And you won't
Even know
that they're not sizing you up
They know your mom f***ed you up
Or maybe let you watch too much TV
But they'll still look in your eyes
To find the human inside
You know there's always something in there to see
Beneath
The veneer
Not everybody made the list this year
Have a beer (not literally, he just means relax)
Make me feel tiny if it makes you feel tall
But there's always someone cooler than you
Yeah, you're the sh*t but you won't be here for long
Oh, there's always someone cooler than you
Yeah, there's always someone cooler than you
Now that I've got the disease
In a way I'm relieved
'Cause I don't have to stress about it like you do
I might just get up and dance
Or buy some acid-wash pants
When you don't care then you got nothing to lose
And I won't
Hesitate
'Cause every moment life is slipping away
It's ok
Make me feel tiny if it makes you feel tall
But there's always someone cooler than you
Yeah, you're the sh*t but you won't be it for long
Oh, there's always someone cooler than you
Yeah, there's always someone cooler than you
Oh, there's always someone cooler than...
Life is wonderful
Life is beautiful
We're all children of
One big universe
So you don't have to be a chump
And you know (you know)
That I won't (I won't)
Hesitate (hesitate)
'Cause every moment life is slipping away (away)
It's ok (it's ok)
Make me feel tiny if it makes you feel tall
Oh, 'cause there's always someone cooler than you
Yeah, you're the sh*t but you won't be it for long
But there's always someone cooler than you
Oh yeah, there's always someone cooler than you
Because there's always someone cooler than you
Cooler than you (boy)
Cooler than you (girl)
Cooler than you (sir)
Cooler than you (my lady)
Oh
Nerds go wild
Yeah Yeah
"There's Always Someone Cooler Than You", Ben Folds
At some point in your life you have probably come across an individual who acts like he/she is better than everyone around him/her and is rude towards basically everyone. In many cases this individual is very concerned about their appearance and their social status. In the following song Ben Folds addresses these ideas in a candid and direct way. Please focus on the core message within the song. Think about anything else that Ben Folds may be trying to say? Then write about a time when you felt persecuted by someone like this or when you yourself acted in such a way towards another person. How did this make you feel? What did you learn from this experience. Write a narrative that outlines this situation. 250-500 words.
As always the lyrics can be found below. Please excuse the vulgar language.
WRITING PROMPT
Once you come to a conclusion about the song's overall message, write a 125-250 word Journal Entry that explains the possible reasons for why some people are so concerned with how others view them. Then, continue the Journal Entry by writing about the following: In your opinion, why are people that fit into this category often rude to their peers as well? If possible, provide an example of when you were criticized by a peer for how you looked or acted and briefly explain why you believe this person treated you in this way. HAVE FUN!
"There's Always Someone Cooler Than You", Ben Folds
Smile
Like you've got nothing to prove
No matter what you might do
There's always someone out there cooler than you
I know that's hard to believe
But there are people you meet
They're into something that is too big to be
Expressed
Through their clothes
And they'll put up with all the poses you'll throw
And you won't
Even know
that they're not sizing you up
They know your mom f***ed you up
Or maybe let you watch too much TV
But they'll still look in your eyes
To find the human inside
You know there's always something in there to see
Beneath
The veneer
Not everybody made the list this year
Have a beer (not literally, he just means relax)
Make me feel tiny if it makes you feel tall
But there's always someone cooler than you
Yeah, you're the sh*t but you won't be here for long
Oh, there's always someone cooler than you
Yeah, there's always someone cooler than you
Now that I've got the disease
In a way I'm relieved
'Cause I don't have to stress about it like you do
I might just get up and dance
Or buy some acid-wash pants
When you don't care then you got nothing to lose
And I won't
Hesitate
'Cause every moment life is slipping away
It's ok
Make me feel tiny if it makes you feel tall
But there's always someone cooler than you
Yeah, you're the sh*t but you won't be it for long
Oh, there's always someone cooler than you
Yeah, there's always someone cooler than you
Oh, there's always someone cooler than...
Life is wonderful
Life is beautiful
We're all children of
One big universe
So you don't have to be a chump
And you know (you know)
That I won't (I won't)
Hesitate (hesitate)
'Cause every moment life is slipping away (away)
It's ok (it's ok)
Make me feel tiny if it makes you feel tall
Oh, 'cause there's always someone cooler than you
Yeah, you're the sh*t but you won't be it for long
But there's always someone cooler than you
Oh yeah, there's always someone cooler than you
Because there's always someone cooler than you
Cooler than you (boy)
Cooler than you (girl)
Cooler than you (sir)
Cooler than you (my lady)
Oh
Nerds go wild
Yeah Yeah
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