Hey Holden!
Its me again. I really hope you got to read my letter about MKA. After writing that letter to you, I spent some more time thinking about how you would like the real world. I decided its not fair to just write a letter on something you would hate, so I decided I would write a letter on something you would love as well, summer camp. I think you would love summer camp for a variety of different reasons. First of all, most have traditions that are very important to the camp lifestyle. I think you would like this concept of tradition because it never changes. You say you hate change. For instance, that time at the museum when you said you like the art because it never changes. I am pretty sure you would like camp traditions for the same reason. I also think you would like the sense of community that summer camps have. Especially because you are clearly not close with your family, and you do not have a strong support system. I think a support system is crucial for a young boy. I think camp would offer that to you. I also think you would like the fact that at camp people tend to really be themselves. You would get a chance to really know the real personalities of people, not fake or phony ones. I also think you would like the fact that camps tend to stay in one location. You have talked a great deal about how much you have to move. I think you would really like a place where you could be sure that you will be coming back to summer after summer. I think the fact that camp and its location are for the most part permanent would be something you would like. Holden, I think you would enjoy the playfulness and child-like memories you would form at camp. Summer camp is place where your never forced to grow old. Even as a soon-to-be adult, you still get the chance to eat kids food, play games, watch movies, and just hang out all summer. It is a place where u don't need to accept responsibility. Summer camp is also completely separate from the adult world, which you seam to hate. You say that you hate the phoniness of the adult world. At summer camp, there are very few adults to influence your time. For the most part, its just kids and young consolers. Also, if you went to a boys camp you would not need to face the pressure of sex. Which seamed to be a big theme in your story. So, since I had some spare time on my hands, I decided i would research some camps for you. Out of all the boys camps I looked at this one was my favorite. Its called Brant Lake. Here is the link if you want to look around the website a little. Brant Lake Camp". Ok well i hope you take my advice. Look into some summer camps, I think you would really enjoy it. Nice to write to you again.
Always,
Alexa
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Holden, You Would Hate...
Hey Holden!
So I know you don't exactly know me, but I know you pretty well. I've heard all about your story of your trip to New York. Don't worry I'm not some creeper. See, I had to read your book for English class. I've kept you on my mind a lot after reading your story. Again, don't worry, I am NOT a creeper. So, I have decided that you would absolutely, without a doubt, hate the Montclair Kimberley Academy. First of all, you would consider it the epitome of phoniness. No joke. You would despise this place. If the Pency School advertisement bothered you, I can't even imagine how much you would be bothered by multiple things at MKA (Montclair Kimberley Academy). First of all, MKA has a pretty good reputation for being phony. Also, i've heard what you think of Ackley. If you hate people who are unhygienic, you would not enjoy being around the many of the people at MKA. For instance, the freshman boys had to have a meeting on how to be clean. You might also have a problem with people's expectations. You do not seam to like when teachers push you to do well in class. You also don't seam to care about your school-work, a requirement at MKA. I have a feeling you would have a problem with everyone's constant complaining. The students tend to complain frequently about the work- load. Knowing you, you would probably get annoyed with this. You might even want to tell them to stop complaining, that it doesn't really matter, or that if they don't want to do it, they shouldn't. I could definitely see you saying that. I also think you would hate the Montclair Kimberley Academy, because they expect their students to act very maturely. I can tell you are refusing to grow up and I think that would cause you many problems at MKA. I can also see you having a problem with the work load at MKA. You don't seam to manage stress well and you clearly do not have a strong support system to guide you. I think you would emotionally collapse under a lot of stress from work. You might not like the diverse atmosphere MKA offers because you tend to judge people. You seam to be a very judgmental person and do not like to connect with others. Because everyone at MKA is so different from each other, you might have a problem making friends. Because you said you find teachers phony because they have multiple personalities, one in class and one outside of class, you might have trouble connecting with the MKA faculty. Overall, I think you would absolutely hate MKA, something from my life in the real world. So, if you ever get out of the book. Come visit me. I would love to get to meet you. You sound like such a fascinating person.
Always,
Alexa
So I know you don't exactly know me, but I know you pretty well. I've heard all about your story of your trip to New York. Don't worry I'm not some creeper. See, I had to read your book for English class. I've kept you on my mind a lot after reading your story. Again, don't worry, I am NOT a creeper. So, I have decided that you would absolutely, without a doubt, hate the Montclair Kimberley Academy. First of all, you would consider it the epitome of phoniness. No joke. You would despise this place. If the Pency School advertisement bothered you, I can't even imagine how much you would be bothered by multiple things at MKA (Montclair Kimberley Academy). First of all, MKA has a pretty good reputation for being phony. Also, i've heard what you think of Ackley. If you hate people who are unhygienic, you would not enjoy being around the many of the people at MKA. For instance, the freshman boys had to have a meeting on how to be clean. You might also have a problem with people's expectations. You do not seam to like when teachers push you to do well in class. You also don't seam to care about your school-work, a requirement at MKA. I have a feeling you would have a problem with everyone's constant complaining. The students tend to complain frequently about the work- load. Knowing you, you would probably get annoyed with this. You might even want to tell them to stop complaining, that it doesn't really matter, or that if they don't want to do it, they shouldn't. I could definitely see you saying that. I also think you would hate the Montclair Kimberley Academy, because they expect their students to act very maturely. I can tell you are refusing to grow up and I think that would cause you many problems at MKA. I can also see you having a problem with the work load at MKA. You don't seam to manage stress well and you clearly do not have a strong support system to guide you. I think you would emotionally collapse under a lot of stress from work. You might not like the diverse atmosphere MKA offers because you tend to judge people. You seam to be a very judgmental person and do not like to connect with others. Because everyone at MKA is so different from each other, you might have a problem making friends. Because you said you find teachers phony because they have multiple personalities, one in class and one outside of class, you might have trouble connecting with the MKA faculty. Overall, I think you would absolutely hate MKA, something from my life in the real world. So, if you ever get out of the book. Come visit me. I would love to get to meet you. You sound like such a fascinating person.
Always,
Alexa
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
CD soundtrack to the "Catcher in the Rye movie that never was"
I Don't Want To Grow Up- The Ramones
Click Here to Listen to "I Don’t Wanna Grow Up"
Click Here to View Lyrics for "I Don’t Wanna Grow Up"
This song represents Holden's resistnace to maturity. Not only does he try to resist growing up himself. He doesn't want his younger sister to face the adult world either. This song would fit in perfectly in the scene where Holden says, "While I was sitting down, I saw something that drove me crazy. Somebody'd written 'Fuck you' on the wall. It drove me damn near crazy. I thought how Phoebe and all the other little kids would see it, and how they'd wonder what the hell it meant, and then finally some dirty kid would tell them- all cockeyed, naturally- what it meant, and how they'd all think about it and maybe even worry about it for a couple of days. I kept wanting to kill whoever'd written it. I figured it was some perverty bum that'd sneaked in the school late at night to take a leak or something and then wrote it on the wall. I kept picturing myself catching him at it, and how I'd smash his head on the stone steps till hew as good and goddam dead and bloody." (201). This shows how Holden refuses to accept the fact that his sister, as well as him, is entering the adult world. I think the title and the chorus of the song represent that theme very well.
Lyin' Eyes- The Eagles
Click Here to Listen to "Lyin' Eyes"
Click Here to View Lyrics for "Lyin' Eyes"
This song represents the constant theme of lying throughout the book. It would go very well around the scene in chapter three where Holden says, "I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It's awful. If I'm on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera. It's terrible." (16). This song would go well here because it covers the common theme of lying. For instance, some lyrics of the song say, " You can't hide your lyin' eyes. And your smile is a thin disguise." This shows the idea of a liar, which is a good adjective to portrait the character of Holden. This song could also be placed in the scene where Holden lies to a mother about her son at school because it is also a good representation of Holden's inability to tell the truth.
Afraid To Change- David Celia
Click Here to Listen to "Afraid To Change"
Click Here to View Lyrics for "Afraid To Change"
This song by David Celia represents Holden's resistance to change. This song would fit perfectly during the scene in the Museum of Natural History. During this scene, Holden says, "The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody’d move. Nobody’d be different. The only thing that would be different would be you." (118). This quote expresses Holden's fear of change. which is adressed in Celia's song lyrics. Celia wrote, " Don't be agraid to change. Afraid to change. Don't be afraid to change". This song expresses important ideas that Holden needs to learn. He needs to be able to overcome his fear of change.
Click Here to Listen to "I Don’t Wanna Grow Up"
Click Here to View Lyrics for "I Don’t Wanna Grow Up"
This song represents Holden's resistnace to maturity. Not only does he try to resist growing up himself. He doesn't want his younger sister to face the adult world either. This song would fit in perfectly in the scene where Holden says, "While I was sitting down, I saw something that drove me crazy. Somebody'd written 'Fuck you' on the wall. It drove me damn near crazy. I thought how Phoebe and all the other little kids would see it, and how they'd wonder what the hell it meant, and then finally some dirty kid would tell them- all cockeyed, naturally- what it meant, and how they'd all think about it and maybe even worry about it for a couple of days. I kept wanting to kill whoever'd written it. I figured it was some perverty bum that'd sneaked in the school late at night to take a leak or something and then wrote it on the wall. I kept picturing myself catching him at it, and how I'd smash his head on the stone steps till hew as good and goddam dead and bloody." (201). This shows how Holden refuses to accept the fact that his sister, as well as him, is entering the adult world. I think the title and the chorus of the song represent that theme very well.
Lyin' Eyes- The Eagles
Click Here to Listen to "Lyin' Eyes"
Click Here to View Lyrics for "Lyin' Eyes"
This song represents the constant theme of lying throughout the book. It would go very well around the scene in chapter three where Holden says, "I'm the most terrific liar you ever saw in your life. It's awful. If I'm on my way to the store to buy a magazine, even, and somebody asks me where I'm going, I'm liable to say I'm going to the opera. It's terrible." (16). This song would go well here because it covers the common theme of lying. For instance, some lyrics of the song say, " You can't hide your lyin' eyes. And your smile is a thin disguise." This shows the idea of a liar, which is a good adjective to portrait the character of Holden. This song could also be placed in the scene where Holden lies to a mother about her son at school because it is also a good representation of Holden's inability to tell the truth.
Afraid To Change- David Celia
Click Here to Listen to "Afraid To Change"
Click Here to View Lyrics for "Afraid To Change"
This song by David Celia represents Holden's resistance to change. This song would fit perfectly during the scene in the Museum of Natural History. During this scene, Holden says, "The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody’d move. Nobody’d be different. The only thing that would be different would be you." (118). This quote expresses Holden's fear of change. which is adressed in Celia's song lyrics. Celia wrote, " Don't be agraid to change. Afraid to change. Don't be afraid to change". This song expresses important ideas that Holden needs to learn. He needs to be able to overcome his fear of change.
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
The Image Montage
The Boy In The Red Hat
This painting represents the symbol known as Holden's red hunting hat. His hat symbolizes his individuality. Like the hat, Holden is different and unique. The hat also resembels Holden's self conflict. He is not sure of who he is. This trait of Holden is shown when he chooses not to wear the hat around people he feels may judge him. He shows this when he says, "I took my old hunting hat out of my pocket while I walked, and put it on. I knew I wouldn't meet anyone who knew me." (122). In this quote Holden shows he is only willing to wear the hat when he knows he will not run into someone he knows. Because the red hat is such an important symbol for Holden's individuality and insecurity, I chose to include a painting representing it in the image montage.
The Museum of Natural History
This photograph represents Holden's feelings on art from The Museum of Natural History. The art in the museum represents Holden's idea of never growing up. Holden is afraid of change and maturity. He fears the fact that every time he visits the art, he has changed. He likes the art because it is never changing and it will never show signs of growing older. He says, "The best thing, though, in that museum was that everything always stayed right where it was. Nobody’d move. Nobody’d be different. The only thing that would be different would be you." (118). Since the Museum of Natural History is representative of Holden's fear of growing old, an important theme in Salinger's Catcher In The Rye , I decided it is necessary to include a photograph of The Museum of Natural History.
The Ducks
This photo collage of ducks represents the ducks in central park. The ducks in central park symbolize Holden's childlike innocence. When Holden is speaking of the ducks, he seams to be happier and more carefree. Holden tends to focus a lot on the ducks in central park. For instance he says, “I live in New York, and I was thinking about the lagoon in Central Park, down near Central Park South. I was wondering if it would be frozen over when I got home, and if it was, where did the duck go” (13). The ducks also symbolize change in Holden's life. Holden is afraid of change and the fact that the ducks migrate but always return represent that things will leave but in some way will always return.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)