Fun Home 1-2

Fun Home's first two chapters really got me interested in reading the whole story. The art used goes along with the tone of the story really well, I feel that it enhances the story tremendously. The way the artist drew the characters gave them an almost, depressed feeling. I'd like to describe the overall panels as looking "scratchy" rather than having rigid lines or very curvy childish lines. The different shades of blues that are given as color also make it feel even more depressed. With the addition of the characters almost never smiling it makes for a rather gloomy setting and plot, visually.

Understanding Comics 5-9

These chapters really showed me a different perspective to comics. Like I stated before I've always enjoyed them, however I can't really say that I have ever viewed them as "art". The author did a terrific job of relaying all the different effects that have been tried throughout the history of comics. With these effects came an evolution of the "art". The simple addition of a line to show movement, smell, or even smoke really do make all the difference. Then he showed how just a simple background or lines can relay emotions to the reader. This was probably one of the more interesting aspects that were mentioned in my opinion. All in all this book turned out to interest me quite a bit, as well as teach me a tremendous deal about how words and pictures can be used to convey messages as well as show them.

Understanding Comics 1-4

I have always been a tremendously huge fan of comics, ever since I was about 6 years old. I still enjoy talking about them with some of my friends and we debate stories and characters. These chapters really brought a lot about comics that I had no idea about. Like the different kind of transitions I didn't even know existed. Also because this portion of the reading explained how a comic book works with the use of panels really made me think that any kind of comic book writer actually has to work on his piece if it was like art. I really enjoyed this reading and I can't wait to read some more.

Gopnik

This essay really intrigued me. I have never heard of anything remotely like a child with an imaginary friend who is always too busy to play with them. It actually is quite odd and funny at the same time. Then to go on and say that, the imaginary friend has an assistant who takes his calls is almost absurd. Ah, but the wonders of a child's imagination. The intensity is actually quite astounding if a child really can create a whole imaginative society in which she and her "friend" lives. All this coming from a child who is just interpreting the world around her as she sees it. Like I said, intriguing.

Richards

This story was actually enjoyable. The use of the monitor interrupting throughout the essay, really made me as a reader feel like one existed. Also the use of it repeatedly even at the end gave the story more of a picture by reiterating it's existence so many times. One problem I would have had in the narrator's place is the constant need to repeat everything you say. I have problems with most people who ask me to repeat myself once, let alone have to deal with that kind of questioning every few minutes. I am also a tad curious about one of the jokes in the essay. "'No flies on you, baby' 'No ma'am, they done shit and flew.'" I don't get it. Someone please explain this it's starting to irk me.

Orlean

For the first time since we've begun this class, I am officially bored with the reading. This piece was horrifically bland, but not in the sense of lacking detail. There are plenty of very descriptive phrases. It is bland because for the most part, it lacks the feeling that all the other essays we have read thus far have had so much of. Though, I am probably being a tad biased, since I was expecting a piece of writing that was more "in your face" for lack of better words. Decently written, however, I didn't appreciate it.

Sedaris

Though an interesting story, it didn't hold my attention quite like Strayed's essay did. It seems like a rather odd idea to me, having your siblings sign a contract saying they'll never get married. I really had to stop for a second and think whether or not this piece was about the sister breaking her contractual duties by getting married or if it was about the mother's cancer. One thing that really made me interested was how horribly negative and sarcastic the mother is in this story. To a point it's actually pretty obnoxious. At the same time though the father is almost compulsive by wanting to eat at only fast food restaurants. He's also overbearing because he always feels like everyone around him doesn't know what they want for themselves, and only he knows what they want. I don't think I would have been able to deal with a father like that. Some couple these truly are.

Stratyed

It may just be me but from the very first line of this essay to the very last, I was hooked. Such a radical way to start an essay. The author actually made me feel disgust with her. To hear the things that some people do is quite sickening. I do not understand how some one, who claims to love another so much, do the vile things she did. I'm curious and I don't exactly get what the man from the cafe had meant by mature. Also, her almost obsessive grievance over the loss of her mother was truly weird. Though I do find her to be quite the disgusting person, she is an amazing writer, and I thoroughly enjoyed the vile plot of this particular piece.

Cooper Response

I didn't enjoy this essay quite as much as Beard's but it still made for an interesting read. I have to admit, I felt like I was looking into someone's life who didn't really know who they were yet. That kind of reminded me of my high school years when I was still trying to figure out who I was. The idea that brought up the most common memory for me in this essay was the narrator's regret of not telling Theresa who he was when he had the chance. I know what it's like to regret and sometimes it isn't easy to forget things but the best thing you can do is move on with life just as the narrator of the essay did.

Beard Response

The ending to this particular essay is not at all what I would have guessed. Jo Ann is this lonely character who's husband is currently trying to divorce her but at the same time is constantly asking her if he's doing the right thing. That alone is enough to make someone depressed but on top of that one of her dogs is dieing and seems to be in a tremendous amount of pain throughout the essay. She can't stand on her own accord, she urinates on a blanket which Jo must constantly wash over and over just for the dog to do it again, and to top it all off, Jo's friends want her to euthanize the dog so it's pain may cease. All of this is enough to make anyone depressed. How could things possibly get worse? Well, Jo finds out just how they can when Gang Lu, her co-worker, goes on a massacre. Totally not what I had originally expected from the author, but that was one hell of a way to grab someone's attention, and fast. I enjoyed this piece quite a bit.

Intro

Hey I'm Shawn. I was born in Arlington, Texas and currently reside in New Britain, Connecticut. I'm a pre-law major here at the University of Hartford and am looking forward to a very productive first year of studies. I thoroughly enjoy music, soccer, wrestling, and many films.