Lord of the Flies vs. Lord of the Flies vs. Lord of the Flies

As I understand, most of you have read Lord of the Flies as freshman, and most of you are surprisingly unaware that it has been adapted twice - once by British producers in 1963, and more recently by Hollywood in 1990.  The British version has a much higher rating and is considered to be faithful to the novel.  The Hollywood version less so,with most reviewers claiming to be deeply disappointed.   Hopefully as a group you will have more to say about this, as it seems you've all read it.  Cuckoos and Shawshank... I'm not sure.

With those stories in mind, there are some themes we can examine here again - a setting being more than just a simple place.  The island, like Shawshank and the mental hospital, plays a big role in confining our ensemble cast of characters to a world that immediately challenges them.  We also have the problem of escape, the problems of hierarchy and control of power, and ultimately - another story without much help from women.  The only woman on this island, if I remember, connects with the title "Lord of the Flies" - a female pig, which is discussed here. 

So for today's class let's watch one of these (you can vote), and I'd like you to compare the journeys of the book and film.

Cuckoo's Nest Resources

Judging from yesterday's general lack of comment on Cuckoo's Nest, it seems like most of you need more time to read at least some of the book.  For those of you watching the film ahead of time - it won't help you.  Very different.  READ THE DAMN BOOK! : )  Here are some reasons:

•   SAT fodder.  AP fodder.  General knowledge fodder. This book is taught in universities and high schools all across the world.  It's a good discussion.
•   It's pretty good once you get into it, and it has A LOT going on in terms of social commentary.  
•   Cultural and historical relevance in terms of "mental health" and how our attitudes are constantly shifting. 

So, if you don't have the book, or want to listen instead of read, you can DL an audio version here:

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - Audio

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest - PDF


Keep in mind that you need at least one written response on the book before we watch the film.  Some things you could comment on:

•  Evaluate Bromden as a narrator.  Why might Kesey choose this patient over Bibbit or Harding to witness McMurphy?   Why not simply McMurphy or a third person omniscient?  
• Who is helping the patients more?  McMurphy or Nurse Ratched?  What do both characters want/need?  How are they going to get it?
• Copy and paste a particular passage you find particularly poignant, and discuss it.  Options might include: the combine, the fog, the cotton factory (page 40). 
• Discuss how Kesey's social attitudes might be reflected in the book.  Consider racism, sexism, sanity, and government control. 

I expect to see everyone write something about Shawshank before next class.  BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING!

Who was Ken Kesey?

To understand the book, we have to dig into Kesey as a writer and as a symbol of his era.  Here's a documentary that we might watch in class. Wikipedia has a lot of good background and links to follow: Ken Kesey

Aliases, Group Work Scores, Critical Response Scores, Class Performance

I've spent most of this evening catching up on work I've been putting off for this class.  To be honest, I'm inundated with essays from freshman and juniors, and am actually kind of thankful most of you haven't done anything on your blogs.  In the future, however....

Below you will see some of my impressions.  I know the class is huge with 29 students, but what I want to convey with "participation" is that you really have to find ways to make an impression.  As opposed to sleeping, looking at your computers, or chatting during the films or discussions, I would much rather see attentiveness, involvement, and desire to add something to a discussion.  So definitely, while reading or watching, try to take notes of things you want to write about or discuss.  You guys are headed to university in the very near future, and will have to earn your A's by making an impression on your professors.  I didn't say anything in class during my first year of university, but forced myself to in my second, and I noticed a BIG increase in my grades.  

As for Critical Responses, I think you should have at least two per unit - one for the book and one for the film.  But for a work like Cuckoo's, I'd like to see maybe two for the book. Naturally, the first one you are limited to talking about the book and the writer, and perhaps can discuss what you hope to see in the film.  In the follow up response, you'll basically review the movie and what you liked, didn't like, or found intriguing.  The more context you add for both (links, pics, outside info), the better. Very happy to see at least some of you getting in the groove.

ALIAS		GW#1	CR #1	CR#2	Blog Activity	Participation
Amelie		9.2	9.3	9.4	Excellent	Good
Casablanca		9.1	9.3	9.4	Excellent	Good
Godfather		9.2	9.3	9.4	Excellent	Good
Matrix		9.1	0.0	9.2	Good	Very Good
Inception		9.0	0.0	8.9	Need More	Good
Memento		9.2	9.1		Good	Good
Vertigo		9.2	0.0		Average	Average
Chinatown		9.0	9.1		Good	Good
Braveheart		9.2	9.2	9.4	Very Good	Excellent
Scarface		9.2	9.3	9.4	Excellent	Very Good
Rocky		9.0	9.3		Excellent	Good
Avatar		9.0	0.0	9.2	Average	Good
Samurai		9.0	0.0	9.3	Need More	Need More
Graduate		9.2	0.0		Average	Need More
Terminator		9.0	0.0		Average	Need More
Notorious		9.2	0.0		Average	Good
Jaws		9.1	0.0		Okay	Need More
Snatch		9.0	0.0	9.1	Okay	Need More
E.T.		9.0	0.0	9.2	Okay	Average
Rambo		9.2	0.0	9.1	Average	Need More
Gladiator		9.2	0.0		Average	Need More
Nemo		9.0	0.0		Average	Average
Twilight		9.2	9.1		Good	Need More
Slumdog		9.2	0.0		Average	Need More
Fargo		9.0	0.0		Need More	Need More
Jane		9.0	0.0		Need More	Need More
Nemo		9.0	0.0		Need More	Excellent
Shrek		9.0	0.0		Need More	Need More
Truman		9.2	0.0		Average	Good

Below are some Interesting insights I came across in your blogs.  In the future, I would like to use this method to generate discussion in class.

Fear can hold you prisoner

Hope can set you free – from the movie poster

Andy became free when he was in prison. As ironical as it may sound, Andy realized how to be free in the place where freedom exist the least, what it meant to be institutionalized. As the warden told Andy. “Perhaps the whole society is institutionalized, yes, but that how you run the society” is what we hear all the time. Perhaps it is time we get some Rita Hayworth on our high wall. – Eunyoung

 In conclusion, Stephen King cleverly manipulated the character named Red telling the story in first-person, and his attempt succeeded in conveying plausibility, authenticity, and deep contemplation about imprisonment and hope. That’s probably why I was utterly thrilled after having finished the book.-Jesik

Andy and his prison story are simply manifestations of real life that allows the readers to see themselves through the character and the story. Second of all, we are not so different from Andy. Andy may be a successful banker and all, but at fundamental, he is not too different in that he was powerless to the rules and regulations of this society. Nonetheless, he stood up. Nonetheless, he fought back. There is no reason why another cannot do it, just in a more peaceful manner (other than breaking free from a prison cell). -Junho

“You choose the lesser of two evils and try to keep your good intentions in front of you. And I guess you judge how well you’re doing by how well you sleep at night … and what your dreams are like.” - Andy
     However, after reading this part of the book the question of whether Andy was really choosing the lesser of two evils remained in my mind. Although Andy justifies his action by saying that taking care of the dirty money of the warden was the best thing he could do since remaining saintly pure would be detrimental for the well-being of his prison life and also because he wasn’t actually taking part in the illegal money making process anyway. However, it is doubtful whether he did those actions with real good intentions or rather for his self-interest such as his own private headquarters and good treatment from the wardens. Thus at first glance, these words of Andy seemed hypocritical.  – Seunghyun

After reading until the end, my chest filled with a feeling of hope. I forgot for a while that Red was actually a convict, a cold blooded murderer who was guilty of murdering his wife and killing a bystander in the process. I could only feel sympathy and empathy for the young man who had been robbed of his youth and his freedom, and had been tormented by the enclosed society of prison and had become an “institutionalized man”. This is the magic of Stephen King’s narratives, I feel. It is so easy to project yourself onto the characters and find yourself among them as they undergo the flow of the story’s plot.- Minsoo

Since I completely forgot about keeping the journal in pace with the reading, it seems to me decidedly inconvenient that I finished reading the book. So I must start from the last impression I felt as I closed the book and work my way up from there…. So, first things first (or last things first, actually). I felt like crying when I closed the book. Or actually the pdf file. And that was in the middle of the Vector Calculus class, which was also a bit inconvenient, because looking slightly down at your screen is nothing to attract attention. Anyway, I am not a very emotional person. It takes a pretty impressive story to put water in my eyes. And the book did it. I'm not saying that this is any big deal, numerous movies and books have done it in the whole eighteen years of my life. But the real thing is, the book made me realize what crying about a story is all about. – Sanghun

I especially liked the music part in which everyone stands in awe as a beautiful song fills the whole prison, and Andy leisurely listens while the warden is infuriated. Though a minor event, I think it was an interesting mixture of tension and peace; while Andy and the prisoners are peacefully appreciating the music, the audience cannot resist feeling worried lest Andy be harshly punished. At the same time, however, the audience can still laugh because of Andy’s reaction, which effectively reveals his character. – Heejae

Another reason that I preferred the movie was that I like happy endings rather than open or vague endings. The book ends with the scene in which Red displays his hope to go find Red, which may be seen as a happy ending. Though such ending was also favorable in that it showed Andy’s positive influence to Red by providing him with hope, I liked the ending of the movie more, because it more clearly showed that Red and Andy were finally compensated for what they had gone through in Shawshank.- Wonji

"Fear can hold you prisoner. Hope can set you free." The movie’s stark contrast between Andy’s hope and the surrounding environment makes this message stronger.  First, the wardens are much crueler in the movie than in the book. While Tommy is sent to a better penitentiary (to prevent him from giving help to Andy) in the book, he is ruthlessly shot and killed by Norton in the film. Further, the film provides much more detailed and realistic scene of the inhumane environment of the shawshank – with emphasis on inhumanness of the wardens and the ‘sisters.’  However, while the’ dark’ is portrayed much darker in the film, the ‘bright’ is filled with more hope. A scene in which Andy turns on a classical music and let everyone in the prison listen to it was certainly a part that could not be found in the book. - Seewan

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As an added bonus, here is a list of words, phrases and terms I've harvested from the book which you may want to review.  Hopefully you follow up on these kinds of things as you read in order to expand your vocabulary:

Shawshank Word List

Reefer, parole, own up, town common, saw to it, rehabilitated, cons, sulky, housebroken, parlor, escapade, gratis, Neiman-Marcus, scripture, crackerjack, Reno divorce, bungalow, militated, turnout, swapped, bottled up, surcharge, limelight, jurors, hangover, hammered, airdance, clockwork, turd, gild the lily, kowtowing, hunkered, fatigues, twister, infirmary, rockhound, pressure-cooker, brigading, pestering, hamstring, simon-pure, lesser of two evils, pole-axed, arthritic, turpentine, warden, screws, nest-feathering, rackets, harelip, cleft-palate, Marilyn Monroe and The Seven Year Itch, road-gangling, Inside-Out program, culvert, daze, clam up, high-strung, penology, sodomites, furlough, brooding, tit for tat, fish hooked, crackpot, cellblock, solitary, foulness, railroaded,  dumb luck, windfall, high stakes, institutionalized, peanut-gallery, paroled, disoriented, fool’s errand, hitchhike.