The Case of the...

My paper is finally handed in! Almost done with the year. All that’s left is the final creative product and the presentation. For my creative piece, I am going to write a short detective story of my own. I plan on following the styles of various authors that I have done some research on as I attempt to develop a strong storyboard in which my fictional detective is thrown in the middle and must investigate the crime. Details are going to be a very important part of the story, so I will look to successful short detective fiction pieces for some guidance. As for the visual presentation… I might start it off by showing the class a clip of a movie/show, or I actually found an interactive crime scene in which the class might get involved. I will then share some of the background information I have found on all the parts of detective fiction: analysis of detectives, importance of setting, truthfulness of forensic details…etc. Then I will finish it off with a group assignment of some sort maybe on the clip I showed or finish up the interactive crime scene. Doesn’t seem like it’ll be that tough to do, I just got to buckle down and get to work!

4th Marking Period

For my 4th marking period project I plan on researching the background and basis of detective novels and stories. After that, I will be reading and analyzing a few different works about detective mysteries. I have always been interested in mystery novels, and a few of the best ones are the detective stories. The novels always keep you on the edge or your chair, waiting for new evidence or suspects to show up. The novels keep the reading involved, trying to process the evidence and figure out the details at the same time as the detective. I plan on working through the time line, starting with one of the earliest, written by Edgar Allen Poe... "The Murders in the Rue Morgue". After that I will move onto an Arthur Conan Doyle novel, as I follow Sherlock Holmes on his quests. Finally I will read a more recent adaptation of detective fiction. One of my new favorite authors, Michael Connelly, has a new book out in which detective Bosch is at it again, trying to find the killer in "The Overlook". My research paper is going to incorporate all the novels I have read and researched, along with criticism about each, as I pick apart what the necessary elements are in writing a full and enjoyable work of detective fiction. I will also research how to create a full and round detective, just like Dupin, Holmes, and Bosch.

For this week, I plan on continuing the novels and get a good jump in finding sources that outline the proper elements needed for the detective fiction. I will also try to find criticism on each author and novel.

Floggin' Bloggin'

Well, here I am sitting at the computer recollecting all the ups and downs I have had with my blogging experience- well I guess mainly the downs. Being sick with mono really killed my blogging momentum. It put me out of commission for a solid week and half, leaving me feeling weak and uninspired. So upon arrival at the heavy silver doors of Pascack Hills, it was time to buckle down and get back into the blogging game. My hiatus came to an end with my latest post about Chinua Achebe's novel, "Things Fall Apart." It was actually a very inspirational read; it reminded me of one of my top 10 favorite movies, "Blood Diamond". Focusing on the struggling society of the African culture, it makes a reader like me actually think about what life is like for those less fortunate, who must fight for survival each and every day. Just as Okonkwo, within "Things Fall Apart", experiences the impact of external forces fusing in their societal views, Solomon Vandy, within "Blood Diamond", gets a first hand account of rebels interfering with the functioning society of Sierra Leone. The reader gets the impression that both men are strong willed and will fight through the hardships. Trying not to give much away about the summary of either, Okonkwo lets the outside world catch up to him as he "hangs on by a rope". Solomon, on the other hand, is persistent along his journey and is rewarded with 3 F's... his family, fortune, and semi fame.
I realize that blogging wasn't necessarily at the top of my priority list, and that is one thing I have regretted the last few days. It is a great tool to voice one's opinions and thoughts about a recent read or really even anything of interest. As I continue on with the year, I plan on utilizing it as much as possible. I plan on living up to the name of this blog- it will not longer be the "Occasional Postings by the Squad". Look out Yo! JSpell is alive and well!

Getting back in the game

After missing what feels like an eternity of school, Jspell is back in action and ready to blog! I've spent a lot of time sitting at home on the couch watching the tele, but that gets nothing accomplished in the long run. Pops has been telling me to just pick up a book and read, because there are endless lessons to be learned just by reading the words of the respected authors who have put their ideas down on paper about an array of topics. Take Chinua Achebe for example with his novel “Things Fall Apart”. His overall intention was to depict the important of courage and nobility but also explores themes of ignorance and cruelty within a struggling society. The novel is set in the late 1800’s showing the growing rival between the white Nigerian government and the indigenous Igbo Africans. "Achebe illustrates that the two different cultures cannot communicate with each other through language, but only through violence" (Troyer, 2007) .
He focuses on the impact that white colonials make on tribal society. Achebe writes from the heart about the views of tribal life and the idea of change. He illustrates a very important message throughout the novel, one that cannot be ignored. Change is always going to occur no matter what the situation, good or bad. Those who can incorporate the change, will be the ones to come out on top .

Rappin' up A Clockwork...

As a new post idea of mine, I'm going to write a little rap about my impressions of A Clockwork Orange. It is a very unique story, so why not accompany it with a unique blog post...

Ite yo check it...
I finished up A Clockwork with thoughts in my head
From the characters to the themes, that's what I said.
Alex and his droogs, it's who the story is based
The slang's kinda confusing, lemme give you a lil' taste...

The malchick stook out his yahzick,
Feelin' like he's just a small lomtick.
Let 'um itty it up for some tastey moloko,
Here come the rozz, start runnin' and yellin' oh no!

A major issue is about the freedom of choice,
Being able to give opinions in your own distinct voice.
Society is crackin', the boys are all attackin', everyone is givin' up and slackin'.

Alex is out on the prowl for a good time,
Well, i guess so, if a good time is now called unorganized crime?

"What goes around comes around" is seen a little bit,
Going into prison instead of a receiving a ticket.
He needs to get out and continue living in the past,
The Ludovico, an opportunity, at last!

Strapped in for a fix, viewin' violent pics,
Soon to be normal thats what the gov. predicts.

Overall the story leaves you on cloud 9,
Oh, the deeper meanings and how they were intertwined.

So that was J-Spell just rappin' it up, see ya I'm out,
I'll be back in a bit to say what the next book's about!

PAAAYYYYYCE

Ludovico Technique

A Clockwork Orange is a very intriguing novel filled with many deep themes and messages that shed light on keeping society functioning in a controllable fashion. Within this work of art, there is one aspect that grabs my attention and deserves further analysis and research- the Ludovico Technique. It is the method used to try and fix Alex’s violent manner and rebellious nature. He becomes a test subject to the new treatment in an attempt to get out of prison as quickly as possible and return to the life he had previously lived. Alex becomes a guinea pig in the Government’s experiment to fix the minds of the young criminals in society.

Alex undergoes a process that makes him a victim of conditioning by society. He is injected with a serum that creates an extremely ill feeling. Before this actually kicks in, Alex is forced to watch numerous acts of violence and rowdiness along with the playing of the great composer Ludwig Van Beethoven in the background. (It doesn’t seem to be a coincidence that Beethoven is actually the one thing Alex finds peace and freedom in throughout the novel up until this point.) So during the sessions, Alex feels the effects of the drugs kick in while he watches the screen of violence, for the government has the hope of creating a “response” within his mind against the terrible things being shown. Session after session, Alex goes through the pain and sick feeling that is beginning to be associated with the rebellious acts.


"Being defeated is often a temporary condition. Giving up is what makes it permanent."

1st Peel of the Orange

Droogiess… malchicks … gulliver, according to Alex, Pete, Georgie, and Dim, it was just another day on the streets. But to me, the naïve adolescent from a sheltered Bergen County home, it was a test of trying to understand not only the literal meaning of author Anthony Burgess’ words, but also the analytical significance of this work of art. Throughout the novel, Burgess uses a very unique language in conjunction with slang terms to create a mood perfect for portraying a rebellious crew in this basic “crime dystopia”. At first it is surprisingly difficult to understand, but the more you read and see the words in context, the easier it is to comprehend. (Translator)
Alex and his group travel the streets looking to cause raucous and create problems for everyone around. There is no stopping them when they break into homes, steal items, and rape innocent women. There is just no way to control the droogs as they walk the streets on the prowl for a night of mischief and fun. It wasn’t until Pete, Georgie, and Dim decided they had enough of Alex’s controlling ways and basically got Alex caught. After he broke into a home and had some fun with the woman, the police caught him red handed standing over his victim. Seemingly thinking he was “invincible,” Alex was put in prison and could only think about getting back out on the streets as soon as possible. In an effort to get out before his time was up, he decided to become a subject of these new test the government would be running to try and fix the minds of the young criminals- The Ludovico Technique, it was called. (A Deeper Meaning) It was this part in the novel that grabbed much of my attention, and am going to look deeper into it with my first research paper for class. I will be posting interesting parts of it during my research on the topic.


"If a man cannot choose, he ceases to be a man."
~ A Clockwork Orange