Just a Thought....

Hello All!

I hope you are enjoying your holiday break! I'm not sure if any of you will be reading this at all during our time off, but I got to thinking about our next book choice. I've been trying to teach Revolutionary Road for a LONG time at MHS. It is a great novel about the breakdown of 1950's America, and could be a GREAT companion to OTR. Is anyone interested in reading this one? Maybe then we can go and see the film? Do some research and let me know! We would probably have to go out and buy the books- or you could give me money and I will buy them at a 20% discount.

Ms. Siegel

The End

My internet is spotty, so I'll do a post now.  Ms. Siegel- if you make a post that we're supposed to comment, on, I'm apologizing in advance if I don't get to it.

This kind of relates to Clayton's last post, but as I read the assigned chapters, i felt that the end wouldn't happen with Dean doing something bad, but Dean not doing something or neglecting to do something for Sal.  I feel like their bond is too strong for Dean to actually betray Sal, as was evidenced on page 227, when Sal and Dean pick up the kids from St. Bonnaventure, and when asked if Dean was his brother, Sal said yes...thoughts/comments?

Hello everyone....As I was reading tonight's assignment, I noticed that there was a lot of ridicule toward Dean by almost all of the people he knew. Camille kicked him out, and later all of his friends treated him awfully. There are obviously some things that Dean does that does not appeal to anybody that he is involved with, except Sal. It is even mentioned several times, especially in chapter 4. Do you think that Dean will do something detrimental to Sal's future? Will it affect any relationships in the book?

Only Time Will Tell

In the chapters we read tonight, Kerouac constantly refers to time or how characters "know time". If I remember correctly, he previously mentioned that God exists, because "we know time". It seems as if Sal is impatient with time, but has no trouble moving on. I was wondering if anyone has any thoughts on how the theme of change and time affect this novel and these characters. 

Friendship?

Throughout the book, Kerouac seems to be trying to convey some theme about friendship.  he often has these corny lines about the importance of friendship or he'd discreetly show this theme with scenes.  What do you think that Kerouac sees friendship as?

      Kerouac seems to be arguing that friendship is a loyalty.  Its not necessarily a loyalty that makes someone follow orders blindly, but a loyalty that refuses to tarnish a friend's pride or happiness.  Sal seems to be that sort of person, like when he politely refuses to sleep with Marylou, but Dean seems to be the very opposite.  Dean strongly thinks about letting his friends stay in jail so that he can save 25 dollars and move on the with the roadtrip smoothly.  I also just realized that Dean and Sal are foils!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Anyways, so what do you think that Kerouac is trying to convey about this friendship?

Sal's Weakness

Despite his intellect and his self-confidence (or sticking to his gut-ness), I find it very weird that Sal can't seem to keep a girl.  First there were all the women in New York, the people across the country, then Rita, then more women, then Terry, more women, and now Lucille.  I don't know if he's every going to marry one of them like he says he will, but I have a feeling that this indecisiveness is going to lead to something bad (maybe a bad decision) down the road that he'll wish he never made.

The FUN in FUNCTION

Hi Everyone!

In your opinion, what is the function of the chapters you read? What literary devices did you notice while reading?

Beat Generation

I don't actually know. If I had to guess though, I was probably say it most likely involves music. This is because rhythm and beat are very similar things. Music in this time period was most likely diverse and had a great impact on culture.

Beat Generation

When I hear the Beat Generation, a few things come to mind. First, it might have something to do with expression without words, by using some sort of other method to get the point across. Second, some images that come to mind are for some reason a huge boom box, and also just someone keeping a beat. Third, Beat Generation was probably a style used by people in America over time because it was what was popular at the time. People probably caught on with the idea, and kept using it, therefore making it more and more well known. Beat Generation seems like a time-period to describe the style of writing in America at one point in time.

Beat Generation

I am actually not very familiar with the Beat Generation – I was not alive in the 1950s. I believe that it was, as the name somewhat suggests, a nonconformist movement that effectively preceded the hippies of the 60s.

I know that drugs are strongly linked with this generation, so they come to mind when I think of “beat generation”. The “Beat” also immediately brings to the mind “offbeat” (going along with the nonconformity), “upbeat”, and of course, “beatnik” – words which I bet characterized the time. Perhaps music – or other forms of expression – was closely tied to the Beat Generation.

Finally, I can’t help think of Jack Kerouac when I hear “Beat Generation”. He was a great man.

When I hear beat generation, I think of a group of people who are independent, free- thinkers who march to the beat of their own drum and don't really care what others think of them. I also think that there was a lot of drugs and alcohol involved.

Beat Generation

I think Beat Generation can have various interpretations but in my opinion it means to be relaxed and to let go on things that may seem important. I feel it was used during a time of hippies and it conveys an emphasis on freedom.

When I hear the words "beat generation," I think of a group of people who lived in a time where pop/rock/poprock (or any other kind of smooth, rhythmic-type) music was prominent, such as the seventies or even today, or something. Everyone can relate to some type of music, and these people especially so. These people seem relaxed too and like to take things easy, one step at a time.

Anyone wanna elaborate on this quote?

"The thicker your makeup gets, the more you accept your emotions" (Translated from an MV called Crazy Love Song)

You can watch the song on http://www.viikii.net/videos/watch/983/0/crazy-love-song-part-1.html

Beat Generation response

When I hear the words, Beat Generation, I think of rhythm, beat boxing, rap and music in general. Beat Generation probably describes our generation because our generation was the generation that changed the whole music industry. For example, instead of buying cds of an artist, we can buy single songs through itunes and even download songs (illigally) through the internet.

When I hear 'beat generation', I think of kind of a bohemian culture- lots of percussion, a sense of laid-back togetherness, and an 'in touch with nature' mentality.

Beat Generation

When I think of the term "beat generation," I think of a period of time in which people walked to their own beat. They ignored what was expected and followed their dreams. Beat could also imply a connection to music. During this time, people must have been greatly influenced by music. Additionally, they probably expressed their ideas and feelings in their own music. More specifically, the images that come to mind are diverse, happy people, similar to hippies, just loving life. 

"beat generation"

I'm not sure what the beat generation is but my guess is that it was a time in American history when music was highly associated with society. Also, because I know the author was from the beat generation and he was high when he wrote On the Road, maybe people were commonly involved with drugs in this generation - thats a big assumption.

Beat Generation

When I hear the term "beat generation", I think about people who are independent and free and go off on their own, as in the term "beat it."  The "beat generation" may be the generation of people who left the environment in which they were comfortable, and traveled to different places to gain new experiences.  These people left behind all of their worries and anxieties, in search of making new discoveries.

Beat Generation

All I know about the beat generation is that it was a movement in the 1950s that basically coincided with the hippie movement... before there were hippies. It included all aspects of the arts, including writing, music, visual arts, and film. I believe that this movement was primarily a New York movement, and was carried out by many Columbia University students, but I'm not sure. 

As far as its practice goes, it was really a time where young people wanted to escape society and find themselves in special endeavors alone or with their friends, and it involved using a lot of drugs in the process. All in all, it was a very invigorating and exciting time, and it planted the seeds for some of the trends that existed in the 1960s hippie era.

***BSed part that is randomly guessed

The Beat Generation is a term given to the generation when cars began to become incorporated into American livelihood.  When cars became a part of industrial life, people took advantage of its discovery by driving around freely, like our lovely man in his bicycle.

***

The first thing that comes into mind when I think of Beat Generation would obviously be the word beat.  Beat could imply that people moved at a certain tempo or that they were a very musical group, loving the blues or whatever music was huge at that time.

The word generation implies that it is about a 20 year era, which is also what I think of when I see the word.

"Beat Generation" Assignment

When I hear the phrase "beat generation", I think of a generation influenced mainly by music, hence the word beat, and art. Yet, it could also signify a generation defined by their "off-beat" thinking and nonconformist ideals. 

Beat generation

When I hear beat generation, I think of a bunch of hippies who do drugs and dont follow laws, and believe that everyone should be individuals.

Beat Generation

I don't know much about the Beat Generation other than that it was rooted in the culture of the 50's and was influenced greatly by music. I'm also pretty sure that the term "beatnik" came from it. In terms of images, I guess what I see when hearing the words is... a road.

I'm assuming roads are pretty important here. (And this has all to do with my incredible deductive skills, not the fact that we are reading a book from this generation that is coincidentally called On the Road).

The Journey Begins!

Hello everyone!

As you know, for tonight's homework, I'd like you to get acquainted with using the blog and begin to think about Kerouac's generation. As such, here are your instructions....

1. Create a "new post" answering the following question- What images come to mind when you hear the words Beat Generation? No wikipedia or online help!

2. Post a comment to this post (meaning the one you are reading right now) stating the name of a famous American street and write a sentence explaining why you feel it deserves acclaim.

Thanks!

On The Road with Period One

Hello everyone!

Be sure to check this blog each evening! I will pose questions for your homework and update you on other things! Let's begin our journey, shall we?