Journal # 19 : Reaction - Baraka

The movie title, Baraka is the word that means blessing, but in this film people are depicted as the unblessed existence. The view of the director is negative to the people as compared with the beautiful nature. This film doesn't show the people smiling and communicating. The people always have no expression, therefore they seem to have no feeling. Especially, busy people in highly industrialized Japan are described like chicks. There are different cultures and the conflicts among the people. However, I don't think that civilized Japanese are so unhappy and busy.
Highly industrialized Japan is very affluent. Japanese afford to enjoy a life. Japan has a lot of museums and parks. These places make people have the beautiful imagines. Also, in Japan, there are many hospitals and restaurants. Japanese live longer and healthier. I think the directors view on japan is very partial.
Also, this film almost shows slow shots except the scene of industrialised Japan. Fast and busy Japan is expressed in a negative view. However, even though Japan has the fast and busy aspect, all Japanese is always not busy. They have time to enjoy their life. Although they are quiet in the public area, they can smile and talk to each other.
Therefore, I think this film is partial. People is beautiful as much as nature does. Especially, highly civilized people are happy and comfort, because they have time to enjoy a life physically and mentally.

Journal #18 Reaction - Writing

Edgar Allan Poe, who was known as an author of horror genre, wrote this poem The Raven in 1845. Although there were not yet horror movies at that time, this poem expressed well grotesque atmosphere just like Tim Burton’s film. This poem, which is composed of 18 paragraph, effectively conveyed the sound and image of a raven. The repetition of the words such as napping, tapping, and rapping, was weird like a raven’s cry. The adjectives like dreary, weary, and ghastly help easily imagine a black raven. As a result, this poem’s sounds and images made me feel fear of death.
A raven’s sound made me imagine death. The repetition of the word, “nevermore”, seemed like that the raven said it was dead. Also, the words like beating, repeating, and entreating made me feel nervous. It seemed like that this poem said we had to hurry because the death was the end. In conclusion, this poem was using strong internal rhymes, so I could feel different when I read aloud. When I read with an eye, I could feel not nervous but fearful. However, if I hear someone read aloud, I felt not only horrible but also tense.
A black raven was a symbol of scary and fearful death. This poem‘s atmosphere was dark, so it made angel shown as a ghost. The angel’s name was Lenore, and the repetition of Lenore made this poem’s atmosphere felt more and more weary. The death usually imagined the grief, but this poem made me know that the fear was more glamorous than the grief. After I read this poem, I thought fear feeling might be simpler and cleaner than sad feeling. Thus, this poem made me think the death was a very significant and elegant.

Journal #17 Anticipating Your Parents' Objections

Persuasive letter for buying a new car



I understand mom's objections for me to buy a new car. As you said, a new car was expensive, so we would have to spend considerable money to buy it. I concede it is a economically grand burden for us. However, mom, if I buy a used car, I might spend not so much money as time. A used car mostly could require a lot of money and time to fix it. Moreover, a new car might be a valuable property. In the future, when I resell the car, I could get back the big portion of paid money. After I buy a used car, if I have to go to the auto care service center to fix the car, I will regret. Do you agree with me?

Journal # 16: Confucius Quote

'Find a job that you love doing and you will never have to work a day in your life."-Confucius

I don't agree Confucius. Although I always think I should live following his thoughts, he is unrealistic. Mostly his teaching ignores reality, so it makes people frustrate.
Making money is a very hard job. Confucius' saying means money is valueless. How can we be happy without money! If someones have gifted talent, they can easily find their profession. However, most common people have to find a job to make money. If we want to find a job that we love doing, we may have no job. We can do something that we love doing as a hobby, after we work hard.

Journal #15: Analyzing Arguments

God at school. (2008, September 7). Los Angeles Times, p.A33.

According to this edditorials, it is not good for public schools to prevent stdent religious clubs. This article argues that although the U.S. Supreme Court prohibit to pray officially in the classroom, it doesn't mean a voluntary student bible club should be barred from meeting on school property outside of class. The argument opposed discrimination against the bibke club at a public school is a claim of policy which appeals to reason. To rreach the conclusion that Anaheim's Esperanza High School have to allow the bible club to meet on school property like other student clubs, this editorial suggests the Equal Access Act passed by Congress in 1981 and upheld by the Supreme Court in 1990.

Journal #14 My First Source

Paletz, D. (2002). The media American Politics: contents and consequences. second edition. Addison-Wesley Educational Publishers.

David L. Paletz is a professor of Political Science. He studied about the relations of mass media and politics. Mass medias which he dealt with were various from television to internet. Also, he talked about people influenced by mass media and government which had influence on media. In this book, he suggested lots of information about the interaction of mass media, people, the intermediaries like interest groups and elections, and the government. America is a free democratic society, and has a open culture that direct speaking is preferred. Especially, debate and interview are considererd as important factors when Americans make a political judgement. I am interested with speech communication which help people to make a political decision. Speech communication has a controversial effect on political judgement. I gained my research topic from this book, so I will do research for speech communication's role for political impact.

Journal #13 Summary/Paraphrase Practice

In October 14, 2008, Claudia Eller, LA Times staff writer, reported that Steven Spielberg's funding plans are dragged because of the global credit crisis. Now, DreamWorks needs to fund-raise $700 million to $750 million for debt, even though it is invested $ 500 million to $ 550 million by India’s Reliance ADA Group for a 50% equity stake. Recently, Spielberg, who wants to independently reconstitute DreamWorks, chose Universal for distributing his movies after breaking up Paramount Pictures. Interviewing with Stacey Snider who is a partner of DreamWorks since 2006, Claudia says that Spielberg is ultimately satisfied with Universal Pictures. Universal and DreamWorks approve that Universal get an 8% fee for distributing about six films a year during seven year, and also DreamWorks will receive over $150 million loans for new studio and advertising costs.

Eller,C.(2008,October 14)Universal Pictures to DreamWorks films.Los Angeles Times,from http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-dreamworks14-2008oct14,0,4451902.story

Journal #12 Research Topic

My research topic is speech communication, and I try to study about freedom of speech and expression. My major was Political Science, and especially I was interested with Modern Korean Political History. In 1970's and 1980's Korean Government had limited freedom of speech and expression, because most korean politicians thought free speech would be a severe threat to social statibility for Korea which was a divided country. At that time, most mass media such as TV, newspaper, and radio was controlled free expression, and nobody could express their critical thinking. Any opposite opinion wasn't allowed. Therefore, government became more and more dictatorial, and people were resented.
Now, Koreans have enjoyed complete freedom of speech since 1988 held Seoul Olympic Games, but Korea has had another problem about free speech. Nowadays, the impact of free speech is great because of the development of various mass media, like especially internet. Now koreans are concerned with the right of free speech, not the limitations of free speech. A few days ago, a famous Korean actress killed herself. One of her suicide causes was blogger's bad comments about her. Her friens told that she felt very sad when she read the comments about her. People seem to have unreponsibility for free speech; however, it is dangerous government limit free speech because a mature society can be accomplshed by free communication. Therefore, I'd like to learn more about freedom of speech and expression.

Journal #11 Advice

I had advised my first daughter, Rachel, to read Little Women when she was 10 years old. This book, which was written by Louisa M. Alcott, 1868, was very interesting for her, and also helped her to grow mentally. At that time, I thought Little Women would be a helpful book for Rachel. I and my husband had told her she would be our only one child, so we all were confused when I had a second baby. Especially, 10 year old Rachel wondered if she lost our love. Little Women taught her what is family and how to love family. Rachel still sometimes doubts her younger sister win more parental affection. If she had not read Little Women, she would hate her sister. Even though Rachel envies her cute sister, she extremely loves her sister. I thank to the book, and I think my advice for Rachel was very appropriate.

Journal #10 American Food

America is bigger in size and drier in weather than my country, Korea. This difference may be the cause of the food's difference. When Americans appreciate a dish, they frequently use the expression, "juicy". Koreans don't need the expression, "juicy", because most Korean dishes is very moist. Americans and Koreans have quite different cooking ways especially for meats, vegetables, and fruits.
First, Americans mostly cook a thick sliced meat; on the contrary, Koreans like to cook a thinner sliced meat except boiling meat. A thick sliced meat sometimes isn't cooked thoroughly, but Americans express it as "juicy". Also, Americans use the dressing for cooked meat, but Koreans don't need the dressing for meat on the dining table because of using sauce before cooking.
For vegetable, Americans like to eat raw one, and Koreans steamed one. Koreans cook steamed vegetable using a various kind of seasons, or saute shredded vegetable with oil. American cooking ways for vegetable are simple, while there are a variety of seasonings for salad.
On the other hand, Americans probably like cooking fruit. Caramel coated apples, chocolate coated strawberries, and a various smoothies are very popular in America. In Korea, cooking fruits are notpopular, and Koreans love a neatly sliced fruit.
Therefore, American cooks possibly don't need to use more expertly kitchen knives than Korean cooks.

Journal #9: Optimistic Quote

I have great respect for Winston Churchill, and I love his saying "A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty". For me, although I met the difficulty, I didn't consider it as mine, and although I met the opportunity, I didn't have the ability to use it. I was so egocentric that I always had made a decision according to my own taste. I didn't care whether the glass is half empty or half full, but I was concerned about whether I was thirsty or not.
Now, I try to change myself. I should have taken a active attitude changing my status in the past. I should have been concerned about the neighbor, society, world affairs. I regret that I had thought about me, no matter how pessimistic or optimistic. However, I am sure I can be an active optimist like Winston Churchill, who changed the difficulty the opportunity. Also, I know it needs toil and tears to change the difficulty the opportunity. Since I know this truth as well as Winston Churchill, I have no doubt I will an active optimist. If I use my ability, I will hold the opportunity. The opportunity will improve my ability, and I will be happier than now.

Journal #8 My Best Friend & Me

My best friend Hanseon and I had been in the same university. She majored in French Literature, and my major was Political Science, so we hadn't met until we became sophomores. When we were sophomores, she and I met Eadae Hakbo , our university newspaper, office. Both of us wanted to be student reporters, so we had worked together as reporters. In 1986, Korea's political situation was very unstability, and many students frequently used to take part in demonstrations. Even though student reporters at that time excessively felt stressed, she and I always had bright expressions. We had many points of likeliness. Both of us studied moderately and liked watching romantic movies, but we dreamed our wonderful future. Also, we were lazy girls and poor singers, but we liked meeting with a lot of various people.
After we graduated, she got her boyfriend. My friend Hanseon felt sad because I had no boyfriend, so she help me make boyfriend. Both of us have had a very happy marry-life since we married 2 years after graduation. My friend Hanseon had gone France to study with her husband and baby, and she took a master degree in Architecture changing her major. Now she has been taking a ph.D course in Korea. I am sure we are perfect friends with similar tastes.

Journal #7 Heroes

I wish I can cure somebody with a illess. If I can cure the patients, and so if patients become healthy, I make feel happy. I won't tell anybody about my special ability, because a lot of patients maybe come to me. Although I have the secrets, if I have ability, I will frequently use my ability. I know I am really happy when somebody need me. I will travel, and meet the patients. I won't tell loudly. Maybe somebody envy me, so I will act secretely. Neverthless the rich or the poor, I will cure the good people especially with their families in the first place. People in the world will become more and more happier.
I really want people wouldn't suffer pain. Therefore, I will never cure the people who make other people suffer pain such as Kim Jung-Il. I won't make money using this ability, because I don't acquire it from my efforts.

Journal #6 Doctor Dolittle

Although I can talk with animals, I am not sure I would make friends with them. I am afraid to touch animals, and I hate their smells. If I can talk with animal, maybe I speak to them you have to take a shower.
Provided I can talk with animal, I will keep in touch with a bird. A bird can fly. Highly flying birds can see a lot of things. I want to ask many questions to them about their experience. They can see far away. If we came into close association, I can ask to them about street situations before I go out.

journal #5 My favorite song

My favorite song is “Edelweiss”. I heard this song for the first time on the movie “The Sound of Music”. The sound of Music was the first foreign movie I had watched. At that time I was thirteen years old and that movie impressed me with beautiful songs and scenes. The main character, Captain von Trapp sang this song in the movie with his own lips. After I watched “The sound of Music”, I became to know the flower, edelweiss. Edelweiss is a white flower found high in the Alpine hills and usually grows inaccessible places. I hoped that someone gave it to me. My father bought it for me, but I disappointed that edelweiss was a tiny and ugly flower. I am not sure what Captain von Trapp meant by edelweiss. Maybe it is his country or his lover. What I mean by edelweiss is my own happiness which nobody has. I usually sing this song at the happy morning.

Journal #4 weather

When I was in Korea, I always used to complain the weather. "Today is so hot! Why does it wind, today? It is too cold. I can't go out because of heavy rain. Because of snow traffic is so terrible. etc." Now, I missed my country. California's weather is mostly consistent all around year,so I feel so boring. In Korea, sunny weekends made me feel so exciting. However, I don't need to enjoy going outside even though on the beautiful sunny weekends. The people having everything may be not happier than the people having anything. The comparison of Korea's and California's helps me to learn the wisdom of life.

Journal#3 Old Fears

Dogs are a very cute and lovely animal. I think so. I usually buy a doggy doll and I love to collect puppy pictures, but I am so scared of dogs. Even though very pretty puppies, I became nervous whenever I meet them. I hate their fur and teeth. I feel sorry for dog raisers. Especially my heart beat fast in case of riding an elevator with dogs and I loudly scream when a dog is next to me. I still don't overcome a fear of dogs; but fortunately most Americans think all dogs must be kept on a leash at all times outside home. Therefore now I don't need to be nervous in the U.S. such as in a few other countris.

Journal #2 Getting Around

Laguna Beach provides a lot of events during summer. Art festivals and street musicians pull more and more visitors in the beautiful beach. As today was the last day of August and Festival, roads near Laguna Beach, streets and parking lots were crowded all day long. When I was in Korea, I thought that America wouldn’t suffer from a traffic jam and parking trouble. Certainly these cases do not happen so frequently in America as in Korea: on the contrary high speed driving and too much spacious parking lot make me feel fear. I don’t like to travel by car, but I occasionally drive to go shopping or to dine out. Especially on and around Laguna Beach are so many shopping districts and fancy restaurants. I had twice gotten a ticket on the number 133 freeway near Laguna Beach, although most domestic roads have a convenient network and are mostly free of charge. In Korea, toll roads have gates for collecting money instead of cameras for catching a illegal pass. The gate of Korean toll roads doesn't allow the car to pass through unless the driver pays a toll charge as in a parking lot. My car was pictured because of having no pass and I was fined 60 dollars, but I still don’t know where to purchase a pass for toll roads. There are a lot of luxurious cars on Laguna Beach. In Korea, especially conspicuous is the difference from expensive cars and cheap ones. Korean roads are very well paved like the number 5 freeway passing by Irvine and have so bright street lights. Therefore, luxurious cars in Korea give more comfortability to drivers owning to nicer pavement and the drivers can boast of their proud vehicles even in the dark night.

Journal #1 My Introduction

It is a hard job to introduce a 42 year old housewife. My name is Ahn Young Ok, but I am strange to my name. In Korea, married women have few opportunities to be called by their name. Most Koreans don’t call a woman with husband and children by her name and even her parents call her by the name of her children. Since ALP, I became to know people who were trying to call my name, so I picked out my nick name Leslie for their convenience. My new name makes me feel confident. I like to be called by my name I chose. When I graduated the university, I wished I would be a journalist. During my student days, I worked as a student reporter and was acted in the play, but I have no careers since I was married. Now I have my own dream again. My major was Political Science, but I will first challenge M.A in Communications at CSUF and then want to attend doctorial course in Political Science at UC Irvine and concentrate on studying ecopolitics. My future school career will give me another opportunity. One of Korean popular poems sings that the flower has been only a little motion until I call it flower. I want my name is called by many people.

My new challenge

At last, I got it. I am a blogger, too.