Letter to the Editor

Jami Compton

Letter to the Article-

I think this article is a great argument against the stereotype that this generation Y or X is lazy and up to “no good”. This article names many good reasons to take a second look at these generations and question the stereotypes made about it. I agree with many of your statements made about these generations and I wish more people could see the way you do. “Members of the Y generation have seen their parents working long and hard hours, they know about the collapse of pension funds and banks and they do not trust the institutions built by the two previous generations. They are extremely doubtful about our political leaders, and who can blame them when you look around the table of G8 leaders feasting on an absurd banquet?” This quote from the article just shows how this generation views their world today and what should be expected from them because of the economy and politics today.
This article helped me see the other side of the argument considering most of the articles i did read all had the same mental image of thiese generations being lethargic and unable to surpass the standards set in front of it. I’m glad you wrote this article, because it shows that there is more people that believe that this generation has more to offer than lazy and less educated.

An Issue

-An issue I think that is bothering me, is a dorm mate who is not responsible enough to pick up after herself.

-A room mate

-Everyone should pick up after themselves. If you are living with someone and sharing a space you should respect that other people live there too. I also think that this person should not have to be told to clean up, the other room mates are not the parents of this room mate and shouldn't have to be telling another person their responsibilities. Living together is a lot about communication and team work. If you can't work as a team or communicate then there will be some issues between the people living there.

Poem

Looking at us with disgust in their eyes.
Older generations thinking we're full of lies.
Sleeping around, drinking and smoking,
Has been the stereotype of us.
We're desperately trying to prove them wrong.

Cultural Artifact/Media and Risky Behaviors

The article about video games, and how they could be referred to as cultural artifacts, relates video games that have developed throughout the years to things that have happened during those years. Deciding on the ten most important video games of all time, Mr. Lowood and four of his committee submit these to be added to the National Film Registry, which is part of the National Film Preservation Board. Spacewar!, for example, is the first multi-player, competitive, and first action game. This game should be remembered because of how much technology has changed since then.
The other article is about how media effects the youth today. How much watching T.V. can effect the amount of youth today to be violent, to have premarital sex, to become overweight, to drink alcohol, or to smoke. This article provided statistics from experiments with students or certain ages and ethnicity. These statistics helped scientist provide answers as to the main reasons why the youth today smoke, drink, have premarital sex, and become overweight.
I think that these articles were very interesting and provided a lot of answers on why this generation acts the way they do. Being exposed to media that includes all these things seem to have a negative impact on many students. I think that I have been able to experience these statistics by viewing my classmates and friends in their day to day lives personally. I think that this article was very informative and provided a lot of good information even though I think that alot of these statistics could be somewhat off, due to how some of our youth today are raised and the families they live in.

1. Why would they think that these are the only influences of this generation?

2. What is the author of the first shorter article trying to get across to the reader?

3. What made the author of the second longer article seem so determined to think that our generation is the one most influenced by these media images?

A.D.

I think the graphic novel by Josh Neufeld had a vey dramatic effect on people who hadn't known the real truth about Katrina and what went on in New Orleans. Not only did he let you in on the inside stories of the families who experience Katrina firsthand that he writes about, but you seem to have a connection with them. You feel like you know them personally. This graphic novel is about several families who experience the during and aftermath of Katrina. The trauma of not knowing if your family who had stayed is okay or not. Not knowing if you will have a place to live, if your house is still there, where you will be about to stay meanwhile, and if you will have enough money to live off of. Families were in complete panic, living on the street or on the top of their roofs, seeing people die right next them, living without water and fighting over the little someone did happen to have.
I think this novel was a great interpretation of what REALLY happened during Katrina. I was startled by the graphics and how well the author displayed the scenes. I hope people who weren't exposed to the reality of Katrina have a chance to read this so they really understand what happened. This author did an excellent job in writing and drawing this graphic novel, I would hope to read more of his work.

YOUTUBE vidoes reflecting memoir

A Canoe Portage...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=aprskYGAnwQ&feature=related

A daily struggle we encountered...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=2rGQIWeQZiE

The camp I attended...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=JJsJIbY8KFI

Persepolis

Marjane's graphic novel struck great interest with Hillary Chute. Chute took this very unique graphic novel and dissected it into as many pieces as she could, searching for whatever she could find. She questioned why Marjane used only the colors black and white, why she used boarders on some of her frames, and none in others. She discovers that Marjane uses distinct words and/or phrases to get a point across or to help the reader feel a certain way about the piece. Chute also discusses the reason that Marjane did not use color in her graphic drawings was because by making it realistic would reduce it. Chute realizes that Marjane uses childish and simple drawings to reflect the torture and grotesque scenes to keep the reader in the mind frame of the story teller. At the end, she speaks about the moment Marjane talks about the first time Marji smokes a cigarette and takes it as her transition from being a child to becoming an adult.
I think this explanation of the graphic novel is very accurate and Chute did very well uncovering the truth behind all the little detail that Marjane uses in her work. I would like to have read more of her graphic novel to learn more about how growing up in that time was. Chute went into great detail about every aspect of Marjane’s “comic”. The gore and the innocent moment all meant something more and Chute was able to find it. I think it was a great graphic novel and very informative.
1. Why did Marjane draw these graphic novels?
2. What audience was Marjane targeting?
3. Why did Hillary Chute find such great interest in Marjane’s graphic novels?

Writing a Memoir by Frank Mathias

Jami Compton
July 6, 2008

Frank Mathias dabated for a while on the idea of writing a memoir about his experience of being a World War II veteran living in the Pacific. Now, 40 years later, he was concerned about remembering the facts of this lifestyle he lived. He managed to find letters that he had sent back home during the war. Using his fading memory of the moments and finding and asking the soldiers who fought by his side to help assist his memory, Mathias created his own memoir in his free time. The story flowed easily once he stopped trying to force it. Turning from the rigid historical style of writing memoirs and relying on his own personal history and honesty to create this piece proved to be very helpful. Remembering his mental place at the time of the war, he chose his words carefully to display this teenage attitude in his writing.

In this story by Nicole Filmore, she shows the frusteration in dealing with a pregnant sister. She deals with taking up more responsibilities as her sister is expected to do less. She admits to being selfish, but still can't get her mind around the idea that she's expected to do more when she's done mothing wrong. She wasn't the one who get pregnant and she wasn't the one sneaking out at night, but she's the one who's ended up with all the chores. During the birth, she first promises to herself that she will never have children, but this negative view changes completely when she hears the perfect cry of her niece.

Growing up with three older sisters was something that had a lifelong effect on the life of Alison Slusarzyk. Called the baby, she ends up having this need to take care of her older sisters. Looking up to her sisters was a major part in her life, she learned from their mistakes but never stopped looking up to them. She always had a need for them, to take care of her, to hug her, and to be with her. She cared about them greatly even after major events that could've put an end to that. Music and her piano played a large role in her life and her connection with the people around her.

I think this was a great display of Mathias own personal history and I'm glad he went through with the idea of writing it. Not only will he have this book as a later reference for himself when he is much older, but his children and his grandchildren will have it too. They will be able to read all the things their grandfather went through during the war, without just relying on stories told at dinner-time over the table. Writing this memoir of very personal and sometimes tragic events most likely helped him deal with the emotional side of it too. Getting all the weight of remembering these events off his chest and onto paper must have been relieving. Both stories written my FSU students were on a very personal level. I was suprised by how blunt they were about their feelings considering that these emotions changed completely.

1. What intrigued him to continue with writing it even though he never recieved word back fromt he department chairman?

2. What made Nicole Filmore completely change her mind about having children?

3. What made music and songs such an important role in Alisons relationship with her sisters?

Jerry Waxler

Looking inside yourself is one of the best medicines for therapy. Being able to collect all your momeories and piece them together helps you understand who you are today. Jerry Waxler discovered this and used it to his advantage and learned how his hopes and discoveries throughout his life have led him to where he is now. Coming to peace with his past has helped him realize who have been the big influences on his life and to make sense of his own mind. He discovered that writing and the mind have some unique simiarities. He realizes that when you write you reach inside yourself for inspiration and find things that you wouldn't have found otherwise. The two women who spoke about their experience dealing with the tragedy of hurricane Kartrina were experiencing the same insight that Mr. Waxler did. Talking about their past and how they got through it helped them come to terms with that major tragedy.
I think the fact that people are able to look inside to find themselves instead of turning to other things that could harm you is a more productive way of dealing with issues in your life. These people who have discovered this possibility have an advantage when dealing with either stressful situations or understanding life lessons. I think if people learn that they can change the way they feel by adjusting their thoughts, then we would have a lot more positive world.

1. Why was Jerry Waxler specifically chosen to share his memoir?

2. What caused this sudden inspiration by Jerry Waxler?

3. Why was only the niece and aunt chosen to speak about their experiences?