Frankenstein: Compare and Contrast

After watching Frankenstein the movie, I found some comparisons and a lot of differences. Overall, the book and novel began and ended the same. Victor is found by Captain Walton’s crew, which leads to Victor’s demise in pursuit of the monster. In the beginning Victor creates a creature out of corpse and the creature escapes. In comparison, at first the monster is a kind and calm being, but once he is neglected continuously it comes to the point in where he realizes that he will never be loved or accepted by humans. People run from the sight of the hideous creature or try to kill him.

There may be some identical similarities in the book and the movie, but there are a significant amount of differences. Those differences include how Elizabeth is killed and brought back to life for Victor in the movie and in the novel the monster rips her heart out. Another difference in the book than the movie is Justine’s death. In the novel, Justine has a fair trial before being hung for the death of Victors brother, William. In the movie, as soon as she is accused of the murder of William she is hung with no trial. One other difference in the book and the movie is in the book, Victor uses the dead corpse of Justine to create a wife for the monster. Unlike in the movie, Victor uses Elizabeth’s dead body to bring back to life.

The purpose of the book and the movie are each completely different. The book’s purpose was to leave the readers enlightened, contemplating  their feelings and views, and to question societal norms in their life. The movie on the other hand gave the viewers a visual of something they’ve never witnessed. In conclusion, I believe that the book portrayed a better story for readers than what the movie depicts.

Frankenstein Blog

 

 

 

Frankenstein begins with Captain Robert Walton and his crew on a voyage to the North Pole. Discovering the near death Victor Frankenstein on ice. In the beginning of the story, Victor started off as an innocent child willing to learn many subjects. Once he got to college, he studies natural philosophy and gains an interest in alchemy and chemistry. He creates a creature that learns to read and understand language. The monster endures rejection from mankind, which leads to the murders of  the ones closest to Victors heart. Victor knows that what he has created was a result of his madness, and the deaths of the ones closest to him are ultimately his fault. This guilt consumes Victor leading to his death, and the death of Victor brings sorrow to the monster resulting in his demise. The real monster in the book isn’t the creature that Victor creates, the real monster was created inside of Victor the day he learned that he could bring a corpse to life.

The real monster is Victor because he created a creature who didn’t have the same benefits as a normal human being. The monster missed out on having a family or someone to show him love and compassion. Victor immediately rejected him at first, leading to the neglect the monster has to deal with from humans. “The innocent and helpless creature bestowed on them by heaven, whom to bring up to good, and whose future lot it was in their hands to direct to happiness or misery, according as they fulfilled their duties towards me. (1.6)” Victor had a family growing up, parents who played a major role in his life. Unlike the monster, Victor’s parents showed him love and what happiness is. The monster only felt misery, the misery of being rejected from the day he was created.

Victor’s obsession with creating life is why he kept secrets from his family and friends, they would think he was mad. “Who shall conceive the horrors of my secret toil as I dabbled among the unhallowed damps of the grave or tortured the living animal to animate the lifeless clay? (4.9) ” Victor’s obsessive drive to create life forces him into secret horrors. “I saw plainly that he was surprised, but he never attempted to draw my secret from me; and although I loved him with a mixture of affection and reverence that knew no bounds, yet I could never persuade myself to confide in him that event which was so often present to my recollection, but which I feared the detail to another would only impress more deeply. (6.12)” Victor couldn’t  reveal the secret of the monster he created to his closest friend Henry Clerval. The secrets and lies he kept from loved ones, like Henry, led to their demise.

In conclusion, the monster in Frankenstein is Victor Frankenstein. Victor didn’t consider that the creature he had created, may appear as non-human, but can portray the same emotions as humans. All the monster wanted was to be accepted for who he was inside, not what he was on the outside. Victor’s rejection of the creature and release of the creature into a cruel world shows how Victor only cares about the accomplishment of what he has created. Victor’s obsession over being the first to bring a corpse back to life resulted in the numerous lies and secrets kept from his family and friends. He is responsible for the deaths of Henry, Justine, William, and Elizabeth.

 

Valentine’s Day

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Every February 14, people around the world celebrate Valentine’s Day. It is named after St. Valentine, through a Christian and ancient Roman tradition. “During the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds’ mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of Valentine’s Day should be a day for romance.” It became a day where loved ones show the love they have for another through flowers, chocolates and gifts. What people might not know about Valentine’s Day is that 1 billion cards are exchanged each year, making the holiday the second most popular card-sending holiday behind Christmas. Valentine’s Day has become a controversial holiday over the years because, some may think it’s an excuse to get something nice for their loved ones. When in reality, we should be gifting and showing our appreciation on any or every day. For some people the thought of showing love occasionally can be recondite and hard to aggregate. The thought of spreading love can seem egregious to people who’ve never been given the gift of love.

Video (Intro)http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day/videos/bet-you-didnt-know-valentines-day 

There are many reasons why Valentine’s Day shouldn’t be a holiday. Valentine’s Day doesn’t have to be the day where a person must spend money on materialistic things, it can be idyllic. If a person really wants to go above and beyond to show a loved one how much they are appreciated, they should do it frequently, not annually on February 14. It’s good to spread love everyday not just for one day. “To save their classmate Rodrigo Guzman, 10, who was deported to Mexico, a group of fourth-graders devised a grand plan. They started an online petition that got 2,788 signatures, created a Facebook page and posted videos to YouTube.” Showing love and appreciation can be on any day of the year, to anyone. “The students have continued to explore “Rodrigo’s World” in smaller groups, sometimes logging on from home by themselves, sometimes chatting with Rodrigo at the same time on Skype.” The fourth graders showed how much they loved and cared about Rodrigo and his family. The pretext of this story is how Rodrigo’s classmates made an attempt to bring back Rodrigo, showing how vehement they were about their distant friend. This is the love that people in the world should have for each other everyday, spending money on monetary items isn’t what Valentine’s Day should be about.

Valentine’s Day can represent all of the love in the world, and its mascot, Cupid. The myth of Cupid begins with how he represents the holiday. “Over the years, he’s developed into an icon because of how unpredictable love can be. You’ll see him wear a blindfold, because love is blind…” Cupid is a cognate symbol of Valentine’s Day today, even though he was emblematic during the Greek and Roman times, more so than what he represents today. Valentine’s Day can also be an opportunity for couples to explore on a peregrination to bars and restaurants serving repast. Supporters of Valentine’s Day argue that it is all about spending time with your significant other. To many, the holiday represents love in every way, all shapes and sizes.  The world would be a better place however, if we practiced love everyday like Rodrigo Guzman’s classmates.

Video (Counter) : http://www.history.com/topics/valentines-day/history-of-valentines-day/videos/cupid?m=528e394da93ae&s=undefined&f=1&free=false

 

HISTORY OF VALENTINE’S DAY  – History.com Staff  (Intro)

Fourth-graders use a video game to stay in touch with their deported friend – Los Angeles Times, Newsela Staff (Argument) 

Valentine’s Day 2017: What has it got to do with love? And who was St Valentine? – Cameron MacPhail and Saffron Alexander

Scientific Revolutions

Scholars once believed that people, animals and other organisms remained the same, and never changed. In the 19th century a man named Charles Darwin destroyed the idea. He showed how organisms do change over time in a process called natural selection. By age 30, Darwin had already come to fruition with his idea. His idea was that when creatures reproduce they go through small changes, those creatures reproduce and their offspring will pass on innate characteristics. “Darwin presented three kinds of evidence in support of his theory of “natural selection.”First, fossils showed that species have changed over time. Second, geographical distribution showed that species are descended from local ancestors. Third, he found unexpected similarities between species.” In finger bones, humans and animals may look different but are related. Darwin’s book created mostly idyllic but also fruitless ideas to scientists in the world. “Biologists have been able to watch species change in relation to their environment. Scientists have discovered the structure of DNA, and understood how it passes down traits with occasional errors, or “mutations.” Genetic and fossil evidence has proved that the human species emerged in Africa and is most closely related to chimpanzees.” Through Darwin’s theory on evolution, scientists have now accepted his theory as a fact. His ideas, which were once egregious, are what have laid the foundation of modern biology.

Caricature of Charles Darwin

In 1835, Charles Darwin went on a 5-week trip at the Galapagos Island. While there, Darwin studied finches, tortoises and mockingbirds. He didn’t discover anything aggregate that would’ve revolutionized his theory. Although the trip was somewhat fruitless, his observations accumulated over time. “…we seem to be brought somewhat near to that great fact — that mystery of mysteries — the first appearance of new beings on this Earth.” The author likely used this quote by Darwin to show that the peregrinate Darwin took through the Galapagos was productive.

Video: (Part 2) http://www.sciencechannel.com/video-topics/earth-science/galapagos-beyond-darwin-charles-darwin/

In this situation I wouldn’t immediately reject Darwin’s theory of natural selection. It would most likely open my eyes to the possibility that humans emerged from apes and that Darwin’s theory is a fact. Peregrination’s to the Galapagos Islands didn’t bring great discoveries but, he brought back more knowledge to further his theory. He brought back finches and showed them to ornithologist. He had actually brought back 12 different species of finches, each had adapted beaks to the seeds on their native islands. The discovery after leaving the Galapagos Islands in my opinion was more proof to propel his theory of natural selection.

 

Citations:

Inventors and Scientists: Charles Darwin – Newsela Staff  

https://newsela.com/articles/BHP-U5-7-darwin-bio/id/3742/ 

(Part 1 Video) https://unctv.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/tdc02.sci.life.evo.dar/evolving-ideas-who-was-charles-darwin/na/

Charles Darwin: Evolution and the story of our species – iWonder

http://www.bbc.co.uk/timelines/zq8gcdm

 

Teen Challenges

Teens face many challenges in their lives. Those challenges include grades, sleep, social life, bullying and stress.  Sleep is a key factor because it can affect what grades they make and how much energy they have. Sleep deprivation can result in students not being able to learn and grow. Getting the right amount of sleep can strengthen their nascent minds. “Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics called on schools to start later so students can get more sleep. The group, made up of doctors who treat children and young adults, called students’ lack of sleep “a national public health crisis.” The idea of schools starting later could help get teens the 8+ hours of sleep that they need. Doctors at the American Academy of Pediatrics are calling the lack of sleep  “a national public health crisis.” The statement should hopefully engender change for the well being of students worldwide. Stress has also been a factor in day-to-day challenges that teenagers face. It could be mental stress or emotional stress. “What’s behind the increase in mental illness is uncertain. Theories include economic hardship, dysfunctional families, absent and preoccupied parents, also obsession with technology, social media like Facebook, and the extraordinary pressure on kids to excel.” Many kids are pressured by their parents to get outstanding grades so they can get into the top colleges; balancing school and a social life can be very stressful for a teen.

“Students may need more sleep, but school administrators say there are many reasons changing school start times is difficult, from bus schedules to parents’ commutes.” The change in bus schedules and parents’ commutes can possibly have a positive affect for the students but a negative affect for their parents. This change could also affect after school activities like sports, which contribute to a students mental well-being and success. “Data from the National Institute of Mental Health indicate that teen mental illness was stable for a decade through the early 2000’s, according to the latest numbers available. Those surveys show that 25 percent of teens have suffered anxiety at some time in their lives…But mental health professionals and educators say those figures are not in line with what they observe today.” Students in the early 2000’s are said to not have as much stress as students have nowadays. Students are pressured by their parents to be the best in their class which can cause stress.

I can relate to having sleep deprivation and mental stress. On average I get from 6.5 to 7.5 hours of sleep on weeknights, and I usually get more than 8 on the weekends. In my opinion I would consider having school at least an hour later because it feels better getting up at 8 instead of 6 or 7 in the morning. Even though the schedule change can have some negative affects, it is about the students reaching their full potential. In some situation’s I do feel stress, and my parents sometimes believe that the thought of a teenager having stress is fictive. I am constantly pressured to maintain good grades and for some students it’s innate for them to balance school and their social life. At times my mind is turbid from consuming too much information, and the key for me is to listen to music. My parents think I’m intransigent when I decide to listen to music instead of doing work, and I tell them I listen to music to help with sleep deprivation or stress. I encourage students to find a way to resuscitate and reengage in class, whether its eating candy or getting Starbucks coffee in the mornings.

 

Video:

Stress in America survey says teens feel more pressure than adults

Teens and Sleep

 

Citations:

https://newsela.com/articles/anxiety-teens/id/2771/ –

Mental stresses rise among students, educators say”

https://newsela.com/articles/sleepy-students/id/5124/  – 

“It’s back to class, and less sleep, for many high schoolers” 

Fake News

People want to believe anything they see on an article about a public figure they like or dislike. It could be very misleading and could negatively effect the way the public figure is portrayed in the public eye. The author, or journalist who writes these “fake news” articles can be cogent to the viewers. “Edgar Maddison Welch told police he had traveled from his home in Salisbury, N.C. to the nation’s capital to investigate a pre-election conspiracy theory, wherein Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton allegedly led a child-trafficking ring out of Comet Ping Pong.” An example of fake news is the “Pizza Gate”, where people actually believed that Hillary Clinton led child-trafficking ring out of a pizzeria in Washington. The fake news incited  North Carolina resident, Edgar Maddison Welch to travel to D.C with a gun to investigate Comet Ping Pong. This incident proves that fake news articles provoke people to act unethical and hostile. Another example of fake news is, “Fake news: Thousands of people at a Donald Trump rally in Manhattan chanted, “We hate Muslims, we hate blacks, we want our great country back.” Fake news articles like this can incite people and make people turbid about what actually happened at the rally. Most people who believe that Trump supporters are racist would believe that the chants they made were actually true.

 

“False stories on National Report like “Texas Town Quarantined After Family Of Five Test Positive For The Ebola Virus” …. But the Texas story, which lacks a disclaimer in the body of the text that clearly identifies it as satire, was shared more than 330,000 times on Facebook according to Muck Rack’s Who Shared algorithm.” This false story about how a family was quarantined for supposedly testing positive for Ebola, was shared almost half a million times. People in the U.S. are already perturbed by the Ebola virus possibly being in the country, and this fake news article is cogent to people who fear that the virus could spread across the nation. “Creators of fake news found that they could capture so much interest that they could make money off fake news through automated advertising that rewards high traffic to their sites. A man running a string of fake news sites from the Los Angeles suburbs told NPR he made between $10,000 and $30,000 a month.” Creators of fake news articles don’t care about spreading fake news to the public, as long as they get paid well. Another example of how many people view fake news articles, “With Donald Trump behind in the polls in early fall, Harris sat down at the kitchen table in his apartment and created a fake story that was eventually shared with 6 million people. BREAKING: ‘Tens of thousands’ of fraudulent Clinton votes found in Ohio warehouse,” according to The New York Times, which broke the story on Wednesday about what Harris had done.” Harris, a Davidson College graduate decided to create a fake story about how Hillary Clinton used fake votes to help her in the polls. The article was shared by 6 million people, claiming that Clinton used thousands of fraudulent votes. Harris knew that Donald Trump was falling behind in the poles, and people already suspect that Hillary Clinton would cheat, so with great celerity, Harris decided to help Trump by posting this fake story.

 

The article about “Pizza Gate” a fake news story about how former democratic presidential nominee, Hillary Clinton made me feel turbulent. A child-trafficking ring out of a pizzeria, doesn’t make any sense. It incited one man to travel over 5 hours, equipped with an AR-15 to “investigate.” The point is, is that people need to know the truth and it is exigent for people to only listen to the facts, not something that looks “legit”.

Video: Politifact Lie of The Year: Fake News

 

 

2016 Lie of the Year: Fake news – Angie Drobnic Holan

The very real consequences of fake news stories and why your brain can’t ignore them – Nsikan Akpan

Fake news author is fired; apologizes to those ‘disappointed’ by his actions – Joe Marusak