Why Would I Do This?
Welcome to my site for my final project for AP Literature and Composition, as well as West Genesee High School. We were assigned to pick a novel of literary merit that interested us. From there we read it on our own, which allowed us to create our own interpretations and ideas about the text. The lack of influence from outside sources and other minds, in my mind, was beneficial because it gave us the challenge and freedom to think on our own. We put our ideas in a weekly blog that was only difficult because there is always so much to talk about with a novel. You can take it a thousand different directions and still be right because there is no concrete way to interpret something. After completing several blogs and the novel, we had to choose a movie that shared a common theme or characteristic with our novel and analyze the different cinematic techniques used in it. From there we had to develop a thesis that we could prove using information from our novel and film. Overall I thought that the project was an appropriate way to end the year in AP English, combining all of the skills we had learned and polished throughout our time with Mr. Newvine. It was challenging, yes, but a good type of challenging and very fitting to end our long, studious english careers at West Genesee.
Welcome to my site for my final project for AP Literature and Composition, as well as West Genesee High School. We were assigned to pick a novel of literary merit that interested us. From there we read it on our own, which allowed us to create our own interpretations and ideas about the text. The lack of influence from outside sources and other minds, in my mind, was beneficial because it gave us the challenge and freedom to think on our own. We put our ideas in a weekly blog that was only difficult because there is always so much to talk about with a novel. You can take it a thousand different directions and still be right because there is no concrete way to interpret something. After completing several blogs and the novel, we had to choose a movie that shared a common theme or characteristic with our novel and analyze the different cinematic techniques used in it. From there we had to develop a thesis that we could prove using information from our novel and film. Overall I thought that the project was an appropriate way to end the year in AP English, combining all of the skills we had learned and polished throughout our time with Mr. Newvine. It was challenging, yes, but a good type of challenging and very fitting to end our long, studious english careers at West Genesee.
About The Devil in the White City and Author Erik Larson
The Devil in the White City is a historical fiction novel that vividly retells the story of the 1983 World's Columbian Exposition and the circumstances surrounding it with incredible detail. Larson's countless hours of research on the time period, the Fair, and countless key characters, namely Daniel Hudson Burnham and Dr. H.H. Holmes, makes all the difference and shines through in his masterpiece. The linking of Daniel Burnham and H.H. Holmes in the blackest, yet whitest city in America, Chicago, is one that is not to be missed. While based in history, Larson's novel reads like a piece of fiction and keeps you interested the entire way through. Combining the elements of a great historical piece about one of America's proudest events with the elements of a murder mystery with the story of Holmes luring victims to his castle creates a novel unlike any other I have ever read. It is truly a standout work in my mind, one well deserving of all the praise is has garnered. Below check out some of the few actual images of the grand exposition that were taken.
The Devil in the White City is a historical fiction novel that vividly retells the story of the 1983 World's Columbian Exposition and the circumstances surrounding it with incredible detail. Larson's countless hours of research on the time period, the Fair, and countless key characters, namely Daniel Hudson Burnham and Dr. H.H. Holmes, makes all the difference and shines through in his masterpiece. The linking of Daniel Burnham and H.H. Holmes in the blackest, yet whitest city in America, Chicago, is one that is not to be missed. While based in history, Larson's novel reads like a piece of fiction and keeps you interested the entire way through. Combining the elements of a great historical piece about one of America's proudest events with the elements of a murder mystery with the story of Holmes luring victims to his castle creates a novel unlike any other I have ever read. It is truly a standout work in my mind, one well deserving of all the praise is has garnered. Below check out some of the few actual images of the grand exposition that were taken.
Erik Larson is also the author of international bestseller Isaac's Storm, as well as In the Garden of Beasts, a #1 best-seller based on the rise of Hitler in Nazi Germany. Well versed in history, Larson has taught non-fiction writing at San Francisco State, the Johns Hopkins Writing Seminars, and the University of Oregon, as well as having spoken publicly to audiences around the country. For The Devil in the White City, Larson was nominated for a National Book Award, and won an Edgar Award for nonfiction crime writing. As his website says, "Larson lives in Seattle with his wife and three daughters. Numerous beloved rodents are buried in his back yard." Larson's craft for combining history and fiction has quickly made him one of my personal favorite authors and I intend to read In the Garden of Beasts in the very near future. Also be sure to check out the movie version of The Devil in the White City, the rights to which were purchased by Leonardo DiCaprio in 2010. He himself plans to play the demon doctor H.H. Holmes in what will certainly be a chilling production.
Citation:
"About the Author." Erik Larson Books. Web. 10 June 2015. <http://eriklarsonbooks.com/about-the-author/>
McCarthy, Erin. "11 Vintage Photos from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition." Mental_floss. Web. 10 June 2015. <http://mentalfloss.com/article/51562/11-vintage-photos-1893-worlds-columbian-exposition>
"About the Author." Erik Larson Books. Web. 10 June 2015. <http://eriklarsonbooks.com/about-the-author/>
McCarthy, Erin. "11 Vintage Photos from the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition." Mental_floss. Web. 10 June 2015. <http://mentalfloss.com/article/51562/11-vintage-photos-1893-worlds-columbian-exposition>
Concerning The Silence of the Lambs
Jonathan Demme's creation, based off of the novel written by Thomas Harris, is a movie that will leave you with chills. It is truly disturbing, from the devilish yet likable Dr. Hannibal Lecter to the creepy Buffalo Bill. Young FBI trainee Clarice Starling must confide in and put her faith in the most dangerous man on Earth, Hannibal Lecter, in order to gain information on another serial killer who skins his victims. Combining both crime and horror genres, Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins deliver unforgettable performances on what has been hailed as one of the best movies ever made. It was only the third film, along with It Happened One Night and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, to win Academy Awards in all top five categories: Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Adapted Screenplay. It was also the first Best Picture winner widely considered to be a horror film, and it certainly earns all of the praise it has garnered. Personally, it quickly became one of the best movies I have ever seen. While I am not usually a fan of horror movies, Silence manages to combine a dark sense of humor with very likable characters in a way that makes it unlike anything else I have ever seen, all the while it is truly disturbing. Dr. Hannibal Lecter is clearly the smartest individual in the film, and he knows it, but he appears to have a soft spot for Agent Starling and these two characteristics make him very likable in my eyes. He is truly one of the greatest movie characters ever created. Not only did I enjoy watching Silence, but I also enjoyed analyzing it as we learned to do in class. Picking apart why things were done and how they furthered Demme's dark message was intriguing to me and it was my favorite part of the final project.
Citation:
"Film site Movie Review: The Silence of the Lambs (1991)." AMC Filmsite. Web. 10 June 2015. <http://www.filmsite.org/sile.html>
One Last Note:
To Mr. Newvine,
I want to thank you for what has truly been a spectacular year. While the novels we read may not have always peaked my interests and we were often given a fair amount of work to do, I never did not want to come to English class. Somehow you always managed to make class interesting and keep me wanting to come back each and every day because I never knew what nonsense you were going to do. You never failed to make me laugh and whenever I had an issue you were the first person I wanted to talk to. You definitely made this a memorable year and gave me my favorite English class I have ever taken (maybe you should rub that in Decesare's face). I have countless memories of our times this year and you have become my favorite teacher at West Genesee. The lessons you have taught me, both about English and about life (Life Lesson #13) will stay with me forever. I hope I can stay in touch and get to come back and visit next year, even if you have discouraged me from it, and you will be someone that I remember forever.
Aaron Jones
To Mr. Newvine,
I want to thank you for what has truly been a spectacular year. While the novels we read may not have always peaked my interests and we were often given a fair amount of work to do, I never did not want to come to English class. Somehow you always managed to make class interesting and keep me wanting to come back each and every day because I never knew what nonsense you were going to do. You never failed to make me laugh and whenever I had an issue you were the first person I wanted to talk to. You definitely made this a memorable year and gave me my favorite English class I have ever taken (maybe you should rub that in Decesare's face). I have countless memories of our times this year and you have become my favorite teacher at West Genesee. The lessons you have taught me, both about English and about life (Life Lesson #13) will stay with me forever. I hope I can stay in touch and get to come back and visit next year, even if you have discouraged me from it, and you will be someone that I remember forever.
Aaron Jones