Text Response 3 – Uzumaki by Junji Ito

  1. The manga Uzumaki by Junji Ito takes place in a town by the name of Kurōzu-cho where strange things start to begin to both the residents and the city itself. A spiral obsession starts to consume the town and the only people who can try stop it are Kirie Goshima a high school student and her boy friend Shuichi Saito.
  2. One aspect of the book I quite liked was the use of spirals as an antagonist. It’s new and unique and much different than usual antagonists. It’s something that is portrayed perfectly through Junji Ito’s art style. The subtle use of the spiral in the very beginning of the text sets the unsettling tone for the rest of the text. It can be seen in the very first page of the text in both the foreground and the background with the ferns in the grass and the swirling clouds over the town. It doesn’t take long for the Idea of the spiral to be more in the face of the reader though. It happens on page 19 when Suichi’s father asks Kirie’s father to make a pot in the shape of a spiral. His face seems like that of a crazy person as he asks for it to be made. He talks constantly about “The art of the spiral”.
  3. A second aspect that I really enjoyed was the artwork of Junji Ito. He is  incredibly creative when it comes to crafting things in the name of horror. Whether it’s creepy cats or something as extreme as a shark with legs growing out of it’s stomach.

Text Response 2 – Sticky Notes by Amanda Sharp

The film is about Athena (Rose Leslie) as she puts her failing dancing career on hold as she returns home to take care of her dead beat father who has been diagnosed with cancer.

The first aspect I liked about the film is  was Athena’s father Jack (Ray Liotta) as a character. He is the opposite of his daughter. Jack decides to not take his cancer seriously  and make jokes about his situation and not take any of the steps needed to try stop his cancer. he does things like continue to smoke and eat unhealthily. He does this because he doesn’t want to accept that he’s dying. He wants to act like everything will be fine and that his cancer will go away.

Another aspect I really enjoyed in this movie was the reveal towards the end that Honey Bunny is actually Athena as a child. It shows us what Athena used to be like around her father whilst showing us what she is like now at the same time. I also feel that it shows how she has grown to be quite a sad and serious person. This can be seen when Athena and Honey Bunny see each other for the first time at the Airport. Athena is wearing mostly black to show her serious and depressive tone and Honey Bunny is wearing bright colours to show her innocent and care free life style. It’s as if Athena is returning to her childhood innocence by getting into the car with her father. She is taking a break from her serious and failing career to take care of her fruity and care free father.

In the end this is a movie that I highly recommend. It’s an emotionally moving film with amazing ideas and aspects. With great acting and interesting and unique characters..

The Book Thief – Characterization of Death.

The quote “I’m haunted by humans.” was used by death in the text to show us how death still doesn’t understand the human nature even after spending so much time around them.  It shows us how he struggles to understand why we do some of the things we do.

Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino – Text Response 1

Pulp Fiction tells the tale of how two hitmen. Vincent Vega (John Travolta) and  Jules  Winnfield (Samuel L. Jackson) and how the came to be intertwined with random people around them. The film jumps from person to person constantly so you can see what they’re currently going through.

An aspect that I really found interesting in the film is when Jules quotes the verse Ezekiel 25:17 from the Bible before he executes someone. His use of this verse gives us the impression that he sees no wrong in the act he is about to commit. that he believes that he is doing not only the right thing but possibly the work of god by executing the men that have not paid back his boss Marselllus Wallace. This is apparent in the verse where it says “And I will strike down upon thee with great vengeance and furious anger those who would attempt to poison and destroy my brothers. And you will know my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon thee.” I think that this verse was also chosen because it shows who Jules is as a person. Someone who is very devoted to his work. The use of the verse tells us that he is more than willing to seek vengeance upon those who selfishly take from his god (His boss) and would try to poison (Not repay and lie to) his brothers (Vincent). It let’s us know that he is a loyal man who has no problem doing his boss’ dirty work.

 

Another aspect of the film I enjoyed was the use of the brief case.  The option to not show what was in it and leave it up to the viewers interpretation was an interesting choice. Making the viewer guess what was in the case that was making those who looked in speechless. Was it money? Was it gold? This is something we will never know. It’s something people have been theorizing about for years. From things like the brief case being the one filled with diamonds from reservoir dogs to  the brief case containing Jules’ soul since the combination to the case is 666. The case let’s us see the true nature of the characters that look within the case. How they second guess their position in life. Picturing where they could be if they took the case and ran. We first see it with Vincent at the start of the film when he stares in to the case for a long time while Jules tries to get his attention. The second time we see this is when Pumpkin and Honey Bunny are robbing the restaurant that Jules and Vincent are eating at. Pumpkin forces Jules to open the case and says “Is that what I think it is?” upon seeing it.

Overall I personally I feel that everyone should see this film at least once. It’s truly a great film and all round masterpiece. Even if they aren’t the biggest fan of Quentin Tarantino’s violent art style it’s still an amazing piece of media that will have bits that will stick with people and change the way they think. It’s a movie that I adore and watch time and time again and will love every time. So yes I would recommend this film. In fact I’d highly recommend it as well as Tarantino’s other films.

Reading response 1 example

P.1 plot outline – who, what where, when… (basic details)

P.2 first aspect of text that I found interesting or shocking or challenging or should be changed or inspiring……(aspects include: a character, a place/setting, an event, an idea, moral or message, the style of the author/director, a symbol….)

State the aspect

Explain where this was shown

Give specific quotations as examples

Respond with what I have learned about the director/author, the world, people, the characters…..

P.3 choose second aspect (from list above etc.)

(Same formula)

P.4. recommendation: who should read/view this text and why? what overall ideas message does this present etc.

“Exposure” by Wilfred Owen.

How is the idea of “exposure” (being dangerously exposed to the natural elements/ weather) represented in the poem?

The idea of exposure is represented at the very beginning of the poem with the title being “exposure”.  It’s then represented in the first line where it says “Our brains ache, in the merciless iced east winds the knife us…” Showing us not only that they are exposed to the cold but that it is so severe that it is physically hurting them.

How is the weather presented as an enemy?

Year 12 : “Exposure” – Wilfred Owen

The idea of “Exposure” exposed to extreme Weather conditions, is a reoccurring There in this Poem. List all of the references to “exposure” that are included in the Poem. Explain what these references specifically tell you about the environment and conditions the men experience. How is the Weather Presented as an enemy?

In the text weather is given life through personification. Doing this makes the cold seem as if it is sentient. Makes it seem like it has a goal to take the soldiers out.

 

Speech draft

Speech Ideas:

How the earth is flat/ how people believe it

How the show Preacher portrays our unknowing of religion and the reason we exist

Quotes:
Tulip: The way I hear it, there’s two good places you can look for God: in church, or at the bottom of a bottle.
Jesse: Maybe I’ll go find a liquor store, then…’cause lemme tell you: it sure as hell ain’t the church.

Draft:
Hook
There’s a quote from the show Preacher that goes Tulip: The way I hear it, there’s two good places you can look for God: in church, or at the bottom of a bottle. To which the main character Jesse replies
Jesse: Maybe I’ll go find a liquor store, then…’cause lemme tell you: it sure as hell ain’t the church.

Intro
I should probably point out now that I’m not telling you what to believe in. If you want to believe in religion then go ahead. Today with the help of the TV show Preacher I’m going to be talking about how religion is an illusion. Not the whole thing just how we interpret it.

 

Gatsby Practice Essay

Introduction:“I was within and without, simultaneously enchanted and repelled by the inexhaustible variety of life.” The novel “The Great Gatsby” is a book written by F. Scott Fitzgerald which takes place in 1925 and follows the character Nick (who also acts as the narrator) as he moves to New York and befriends a man by the name of Jay Gatsby. We learn about Jay Gatsby intentions and wants and that he lives a lie that not only the people around him believe but that also he believes. We learn how he built up an image and wealth for the soul purpose of being with Daisy Buchanan (Nick’s cousin) and how this image that he has built for himself falls apart.

Paragraph one:

Paragraph two: When we’re first introduced to Daisy she is in a white room and is wearing a white dress that is flowing in the wind. ”

Paragraph three:

Conclusion:

Creative Writing.

A bright blinding beam slowly shines through the windows. It moves from room to room scanning slowly to make sure it doesn’t miss anything or anyone. I crawl up in a ball behind the teacher’s desk as the light slowly starts scanning past. It stops as it reaches me, In a panic, I hold my breath and hope that the light leaves, That it goes away, That this is just a dream. Suddenly there’s a loud crash as one of the windows are broken in. One of them crawls in and steps cautiously towards me. I hear it coming closer, It stopped in front of the desk. After staring at it for a while it kicks it, sending it flying and hitting the wall. It sees me, It raises its mysterious gun and aims it straight at my forehead. everything is silent apart from one thing. The charging of its weapon. It’s gun glowed bright. Then it pulled the trigger, A bright ball of energy came flying straight at my head.

I hear the same horrendous beeping that I hear every morning. The beeping that signifies the beginning of another boring day in this boring town going to my boring school. Rolling out of bed in a lazy, uncaring state I slip on my clothes and grab my bag and head downstairs. I throw my bag onto the couch and turn on the T.V. and head into the kitchen. Rummaging through the cupboards to find some cereal I hear the breaking news on the T.V., “At twelve thirty last night chunks of a meteor landed in the ocean off the coast of Whitecliff Bay, A recording of the incident shows the three glowing meteor pieces falling through the atmosphere and slamming into the ocean.” “Finally, something interesting happened in this town” I mumble to myself as I fill a bowl full of cereal. I spent the rest of the morning eating my cereal and scrolling through the channels on the T.V. I only just made it to class before the bell rang and sat in my seat in the corner of the room and hid from the world per usual. The reason why I always sit in the corner is because being social with my own species is overrated. And plus I can sleep through every class without anyone realising. The reason I don’t like socialising with people is because they’re all the same boring fake characters. You know the ones I’m talking about, the jocks, the cheerleaders, the nerds, the emos. All of them just a common teenager, talk about boring. I spend the day the same way I do with the rest, by either sleeping or thinking about when I don’t have to come to school anymore. But luckily I’m saved by the bell that frees me and sends me back home. I get up and pack my books into my bag and start heading towards the door. Suddenly there’s a bright flash in the corner of my eye. I turn to face the window to see something out of a sci-fi film. The three meteor pieces lifted out of the ocean and were floating, glowing and turning to face in my direction. The building starts rumbling as a herd of tanks comes around the corner and aim straight at the meteors. A voice echoes through the school. “This is corporal Jason Sweetwater, please exiting the school in an orderly fashion and return to your homes.” “This can’t be, How can this be happening?” One of the students screams out in a panic. One of the monstrous meteors started glowing brighter, pulsing like they were about to fire. A bright beam flies out of the meteor and hits the tanks guarding the school, blowing up instantly. The beam continues up the building and makes the roof collapse, A piece of debris fall and knocks me out.

When I awake everything is black, I reach into my pocket and pull out my phone to check if it has any charge left. Luckily it’s on 46%, I turn on its torch and scan around. I’m still in class but everyone is gone. I check the time, 12:24. It’s midnight? Why am I still here? Where is everyone? I ran to the window to see if the destructive meteors are still there. they’re gone, all that’s left is my town. But there’s something wrong with it. Streets ripped in half like sheets of paper, Lamp posts broken in half like twigs, Buildings caved in with some on fire. The town looks like a toddler with anger management issues destroyed its Lego world. I stumble my way to the door to the school hallway and take in a deep breath. “He.. hello? Anyone there?” I shout with hesitation. “HEY, SOMEONE, ANYONE. SOMEONE YELL BACK. PLEASE… Please.” There’s a loud crash a few classes down. I stumble to the class, Trying my hardest to run. I get to the door way and swing my self around it only to be greeted by a blinding, white light. I stand there staring, to scared to move. It starts to rise. There’s foot steps behind me trotting down the hall. I hear a mans voice yell out “GET DOWN!” I fall to the ground and curl up in a ball. There’s a loud bang, a gun shot. Bang, another one. I look up and the lights gone, The man reaches out his hand. “Get up” he said in a stern voice “we need to get going right now.” He helps me up and starts heading for the door. “Wait, What’s going on?” I demanded from him. “Do I really have to explain right now? Huh… fine, You know those meteors that landed off the coast? well big surprise they’re actually alien ship. Now hurry up we have to go before that light comes shining through the window again.” He leads me out to the hallway and we start heading towards the entrance. I point my light at the man to see that he’s wearing a military uniform. “Who are you?” I ask him “I’m lieutenant Ford, I’m part of that tank squadron that got whipped out. From what I know I’m the last one.” We were near the entrance now when there was a sudden burst of light through the windows. “RUN, GO HIDE IN ONE OF THE CLASSROOMS!” Ford screamed out. I turn and start sprinting, throwing myself into the nearest classroom. I hear gunfire behind me, But not just from Ford. There were loud pitched swooshes that sounded like something from a sci-fi movie.A bright blinding beam slowly shines through the windows. It moves from room to room scanning slowly to make sure it doesn’t miss anything or anyone. I crawl up in a ball behind the teacher’s desk as the light slowly starts scanning past. It stops as it reaches me, In a panic, I hold my breath and hope that the light leaves, That it goes away, That this is just a dream. Suddenly there’s a loud crash as one of the windows are broken in. One of them crawls in and steps cautiously towards me. I hear it coming closer, It stopped in front of the desk. After staring at it for a while it kicks it, sending it flying and hitting the wall. It sees me, It raises its mysterious gun and aims it straight at my forehead. everything is silent apart from one thing. The charging of its weapon. It’s gun glowed bright. Then it pulled the trigger, A bright ball of energy came flying straight at my head. Ford jumps in and pushes me out of the way just in time. He pulls out a pistol and shoots the alien straight in the head. “Don’t worry they’ll be here soon.” The sun started to rise over the ocean. “Look there they are.” We stare at the horizon as multiple helicopters come flying in. Some of them started firing rockets at the meteors while some landed on the roof. “Come with us, Where taking you away from here” It was one of the soldiers from the helicopter. We follow him back to the roof. We hop in and it takes off. I look down to see the raging battle happening in my boring town as we fly off into the horizon.