Little Child piece by Franchesca Bartos

     Franchesca Bartos, a well-endowed and talented artist created a piece called “Little Child”, the drawing done with the medium of pencil and ebony pencil. The artwork depicts a small child sleeping snuggly in his bed, with this ominous lighting, created with the strokes of her line work. There is a lot of hard work and dedication put into this drawing, which shows not only the artist’s dedication but the quality of work that she can produce.

     Little Timmy sleeping in his warm bed, after a long day of hard work and mischievous wrong doings, he just lay their without a worry in the world. That is because little Timmy had done things that day, that no other kid would ever do in his life. Because that warm bed that he was sleeping on had originally been owned by a homeless man. So Timmy had stolen private property that was from the poor man who lived across the street, near the alley on the left side of his neighbor’s house. Even though, the homeless man didn’t take that armed robbery so kindly, the homeless man had no choice in the first place.

     Because Little Timmy enjoyed the process of robbing the homeless man, it was almost quite entertaining to watch actually. As little Timmy had crossed the street, in front of his house, he had begun pulling and attacking the vulnerable homeless man for that warm and soft mattress. Timmy soon snapped, and out of nowhere, pulled out a knife half the size of Timmy himself. And began to strangle and stab the old man at such a horrendous, yet rhythmic pace, all which occurred at the same time. In which Timmy began to slowly take away the poor man’s mattress, but also the man’s last struggling breath of life.

 

 

 

After the murder had taken place, Timmy could not just simply dispose of the body, he had to get

rid of it. So he had to get crafty and creative, then all of a sudden he came up with such a scheme,

that no eight year old would ever come up with. So he said to himself “What better place to hide

the body than in the same mattress I’ve originally stolen from my victim”. Soon the night grew long,

and as the hours passed by, Timmy lay there all warm and cozy on his new acquired mattress. Little

Timmy not only had the best sleep of his life, but also managed to get away with murder. But hey

that was a pretty comfortable mattress.

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When in Doubt, Stuff and Things about Shakespeare...

     In chapter 5, When in Doubt, It's from Shakespeare..., Thomas C. Foster goes into depth, of how much William Shakespeare has influenced the English language throughout history. But Shakespeare has not only left an imprint on both reading and writing, but many movies and any other forms of entertainment. Many adaptions have been created from many of William Shakespeare's works. from Romeo and Juliet to Hamlet, many have parodied or have tried to create something to that of the original. So Thomas C. Foster goes into depth of how many artists and writers have been influenced by Shakespeare's works, and even if they haven't read his works, many well known to the everyday common man quote any of Shakespeare's creations. Shakespeare has influenced many throughout the years and for years to come, and many have tried to reach his level as a writer, but we all have failed because whenever we see outstanding writing and story telling, we all know it must be from Shakespeare.
     Such as the examples given by Foster in this chapter, many writers have quoted Shakespeare without even knowing, or they did, yet it doesn't sound as good as Shakespeare. Many famous writers such as Charles Dickens, Thomas Hardy, Somerset Maugham, Tom Stoppard, John Steinbeck, Aldous Huxley, William Faulkner, Pearl S Buck, Agatha Christie and many other famous writers have used phrases from Shakespeare as titles for their works. So just to name a few, they have not only quoted Shakespeare for inspiration, but to also create better forms of art in their writing. But why Shakespeare, and why not only one but all of his works have been overused either in a good or bad way. Just like Foster made the example of Rocky and Bullwinkle, how people don't occasionally or rarely quote them. But the reason for that matter is how many know that Shakespeare's works are very sophisticated and complex because of the Elizabethan English. And for many, if they know they are quoting Shakespeare they feel much smarter yet they end up looking dumber if they unquote it un properly. So the sole reason writers reuse his works, over, and over again is solely because his stories are great, the characters are compelling, and the language fabulous, as explained by foster. But still writers may be influenced by other writers from the past and present but less frequently, yet writers are not the only human beings being influenced by William Shakespeare.
     After the rise of his popularity and as his plays entertained the millions, and after Shakespeare's death, many have tried to copy or modify his works but yet many have failed to do so. Even up to this date their have been many adaptations and changes done in Shakespeare's stories. Such as the movie Romeo and Juliette starring Leonardo Dicaprio, is the modern telling of one of the most over quoted stories of all time. Then live plays such as the retelling of Julius Caesar at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in 2012, which not only was a modern twist on the story but was transposed into action to modern Africa. Both Romeo and Juliet and Julius Caesar have added to Shakespeare's fame but to the list of the many who have been influenced by his works. Even this year there was a movie that somewhat quoted Shakespeare, which was the LEGO movie. In which there was literally a Shakespeare figure that said "To build, or not to build", which simply quoted one of Shakespeare's works in a comedic yet educational way. Which not only was an intentional allusion to Shakespeare, but that the audience may reference back to one of his works and to influence the younger audience also. Shakespeare's stories can be seen everywhere today and many have either created good or bad adaptations from it, in the end it was originally created by Shakespeare himself.
     Mostly everyday I hear people quoting or attempting to retell any of his plays or stories, yet they will never reach his status as a writer or storyteller. From writers, to poets, and directors all have contributed to William Shakespeare's popularity and legacy. Each day people become aware of who he was and what he did either it be for good or bad. Because in the end "the writer we know better than any other, the one whose language and whose plays we "know" even if we haven't read him, is Shakespeare. For he has left an imprint on our lives for many years to come either if we are reading or seeing, Shakespeare will most of the time be the one influencing it.

Eating Stuff and Things

     In chapter 2, Nice to Eat with You: Acts of Communion, Thomas C. Foster goes into depth of the importance and role a meal plays in a story. It does not matter if it is portrayed in a movie, play, or literature, the meal has a great impact on how the characters interact with each other and grow throughout their stories. Yes, food can just be food, but the way the characters interact and are affected by the experience of the meal can have a great impact on the direction a story is going, either it be good or bad. So the point that foster makes throughout this chapter is, "I want to be with you, you want to be with me, let us share the experience". Which overall is his definition of what communion truly is, the act of eating with others is so intimate and sacred it can only be done with the people we have accepted into our lives and truly trust. But at times the meal can go south and end up being a big mess.
     For example Disney has created many memorable meal scenes, one of them, such as Alice in Wonderland. Although the scene might be very goofy in which Alice and friends, not only partake in drinking tea and other treats, it still has the same qualities to that of communion. They might not be seen up front do to the crazy and fun animation, which clearly doesn't have any religious similarities. But a communion does not have to be religious, the characters themselves act in such a way it feels like they are a family and have created a bond with one another. With that trust they've accepted Alice into their wacky dinner party, and they act so foolish because there is trust. So by being a family and having trust with one another, the dinner party has become an act of communion. Or another example like the spaghetti scene in Lady and the Tramp, the two dogs are eating a meal, which them dramatically turns intimate when both end up eating the same single strand of  spaghetti. "The act of taking food into our bodies is so personal that we really only want to do it with people we're very comfortable with". Just like the Lady and the Tramp, not only have they grown closer as a unity, but have become more open minded through this simple common bond. Both Alice and friends, and Lady and the Tramp have been part of a communion, and have gained new perspective just by having a meal.
     A very obvious form of communion is, The Last supper, in which Jesus has a last meal with his fellow disciples. Which he shares his last moments of life with the people he cares about and trusts. Although he already knows there is fowl play at hand, they all eat there meal in unity and communion. That brings back the idea mentioned before, when a meal can go south and become the opposite of holly. Just like mentioned by Foster, a meal can not always be good, there can always be betrayal and hatred in communion, there is a variety of ways it can go. Just like the last supper all are open minded, but some are blinded by betrayal. Then another example, such as Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, first of the meal doesn't even takes place because of so much tension that arose between Han, Vader, and Boba. But yet this helps emphasize that the meal itself was bad from the beginning, but yet helped open new perspectives of one another, which overall helps the story as a whole. If either communion took place or it barely happened, both emphasize that it is more than just the food, it is the people who create such communion.
     Whether it be religious, fiction, or non fiction, the meal is the most vital part in any story. It is When it reveals our true intentions and feelings towards one another, either if it be loving and caring, or down right hating one anther. The meal can bring out our morality and can show all of us that we are all equal when we realize we are in communion. I myself feel more comfortable eating with the people I care about the most, a place where I or anyone can be themselves. Either if you are eating in a magical world, in outer space, or with Jesus Christ, the meal when in unity might have its ups and downs, but in the end we all eat in communion.

The Quest for Stuff and Things

     In the first chapter of Thomas C. Foster's book, How To Read Literature Like A Professor, he clearly explains what is considered a quest and what is not. Foster helps the reader understand the true meaning of what defines a quest. Simply by providing examples to that of different stories, some made up, and goes through and provides a list of characteristics that are needed, so a story may be considered a quest. First it needs a quester, then a place to go, followed by a stated reason to go there, then he, she, or it must face some form of challenges or trials en route, and finally a real reason to go there. This can be seen not only in the examples provided by Mr. Foster, but throughout history, literature, and existing TV shows and movies.
     For instance in ancient quest tales, Homer's Odyssey, tells of Odysseus whom the gods have cursed to wander and suffer for many years before Athena persuades the Olympians to allow him to return home. Odysseus is indeed a quester for he is unknowing of the trials he will face, he is lost in a distant world, his reason of being there is because of the god's doings, he faces many challenges and trials (such as the Cyclops), and finally he realizes why he was set there in the first place. Just as the first example Foster made of Kip, a young boy living in 1968 and his encounter with a German shepherd, Tony his enemy and the girl of his dreams, all happening as a quest, to get a loaf of wonder bread for his mother. A quest in short terms can be either complex like the Odyssey, or to the simplicity that is the made up story of Kip.
     Other forms of quests can be seen in well known modern literature which is, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, where Dorothy, the Scarecrow, the Tin man, and the Cowardly Lion go on a quest to find a way back to Kansas, brains, a heart, and courage respectively. Which Foster explains is the true meaning of questers quest, is not the mission at hand, but to find ones true meaning in life or as a person. Just like the example of Kip who goes to the store for bread, but in the end is motivated to lie and get drafted for the war in Vietnam, as Odysseus finds his true purpose in life, to once again Dorothy and the gang in the end realize what they wanted all along was inside of tem, and not some form of tangible thing. Like the other example Foster provides of, The Crying  of Lot 49, Oedipa a young woman who drives to and from San Francisco  to Southern California. Facing many strange, scary, and dangerous people, for in the end only to realize, that she does not need a man in her life and can just become an independent woman of self knowledge. Which brings me to another book that has a similar quest process that Oedipa went through in her story, which is, The Catcher in the Rye. It is often thought of as a quest plot, detailing Holden's search not for a tangible object but for a sense of purpose and reason in life. In general all these questers go through the same process for finding something bigger or different, from originally planned at the beginning of his or her journey.
     But quests not only exists in things such as history or books, but revolve around our everyday television and movie experiences. Such as the example given by Foster like The Lord of the Rings or Star Wars, either its about Frodo's or Luke Skywalker's quest both face the same set of rules they must follow, but face forces they are far from controlling. As explained by foster himself, someone going somewhere and doing something, especially if the going and the doing wasn't his idea in the first place. The Walking Dead for example, if it is either the show or comic, the group of survivors must face many perils and dangers to stay safe, but in true reality must grow as a character, and understand ones true meaning in their new  post apocalyptic world. Their fate and being is imminent and their outcome in such quest for survival is unknown. For in the end they have no choice in what to do but to obtain knowledge and understanding of this new world they live in, as either Kip or Oedipa, all questers are alike in such process, but with  different journeys of course.
     Either if your reading a book or watching a movie all quests follow the same patterns as explained by Foster. Foster Begins to help the reader or audience question the fact if what your reading or seeing is truly a quest. It is then put into your own hands to analyze and then either accept or decline what can be accepted as a long or arduous search for something. For in the end the quester, if it is either a warrior, a teenage girl or boy, a fantasy hero, or a group of survivors. All must realize what they truly are trying to look for or achieve is solely knowledge of oneself, and a bigger meaning than planned before at the beginning of the quest.