Watch Macbeth on PBS. See more from Great Performances.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Monday, January 10, 2011
Essay
Savages dancing in the wind: A look at Aboriginal portrayals, stereotypes and general racism in movies.
Written by: Kaylee Deline
Gr.10
The movie Pocahontas is believed by many, to be a racist movie, where as the movie Smoke signals is believed to be a comedy. Is it because smoke signals in a genuinely funnier movie? Or does it have to do with the writers of the movie. Disney’s Pocahontas was written by white men and women. Smoke signals was written by a well known aboriginal writer- Sherman Alexie. At what point does a movie stop being funny, and become racist, and at what point does racism become funny?
Many don't believe it is racist at all. It is just a romanticized and partially fictionalized true story, told in true Disney form talking trees, friendly raccoons and hummingbirds? - come on. The truth in the matter is, there really was a Native princess called Pocahontas, she really did save and befriend John Smith - as far as being lovers...she was the favorite daughter of Powhatan, John Smith was this strange person that was adopted into the tribe only because Pocahontas saved him, but Powhatan didn't trust the other white men, and wouldn't like his daughter harmed by them whom John Smith still associated himself with. Natives really did whoop, yell, caw, war cry, etc. Maybe not as much as in the movie, but different hand/body motions and sounds besides spoken language meant different things.
Smoke Signals, is based on something written by Sherman Alexie. It has real perspective, and insight into life on a reservation in the United States. Many of the aspects in the movie, are common on reservations, like fires, abuse, alcohol abuse, hit and runs- etc. Smoke signals is believed to be non-offensive. The movie was credited greatly for the capturing of Native life.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Stars in the sky
The moonlight is a sacred time,
the moonlit skies are a deep black,
with bright stars seen by the hundred thousand.
The sky, like dead hope,
the symbol of hope, nestled against the blackness.
The stars like dancing
children dreaming only of a world filled with peace and love.
The moon, the only symbol of anything
in the blackness of a silent
night,
the blackness a stain on the Universe,
each star a super nova ready to explode
and consume the blackness that is the sky,
and leave us in the light.
Look at the perfect image you see.
Look at the stars, and watch them dance.
the moonlit skies are a deep black,
with bright stars seen by the hundred thousand.
The sky, like dead hope,
the symbol of hope, nestled against the blackness.
The stars like dancing
children dreaming only of a world filled with peace and love.
The moon, the only symbol of anything
in the blackness of a silent
night,
the blackness a stain on the Universe,
each star a super nova ready to explode
and consume the blackness that is the sky,
and leave us in the light.
Look at the perfect image you see.
Look at the stars, and watch them dance.
Monday, November 22, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
MY FREE VERSE....POEM
Battlin' me again
I think your delirious
You suck so bad
I can't even take you serious
You rap
worse than Miley Cyrus
now your gonna lose
to a kid that Irish
We're the whitest country
the world's ever had
losing to one of us
That's just sad
You only talk sh*t when
you'r safe at your computer
I think its time for T-dog
to get neutered
I use rhymes every time
according to you
you might wanna check your facts
all my rhymes are brand new
you don't know
what you'r talking bout
you don't have a clue
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Beyond the Red Velvet Shield
There is a faint noise
beyond the red velvet shield
my name is called
and I glide along
my feet stumble
and change the noise
infront of me ivory keys
unlock my fingers.
The crowd crescendo
as the strong, shiny black beast
rumbles to a musical
stop
Thunder Power
Glance up at the score
bored out of her mind
my little sister watches
the team dig and dive
Coach freaks
when the ball hits the floor
and no one reacts.
The thunder power
blows the serve out the back
makes the team cringe
The roof could get much higher
but it wouldn't help much
especially since the game is done
the home team lost
but the courage never went anywhere
bored out of her mind
my little sister watches
the team dig and dive
Coach freaks
when the ball hits the floor
and no one reacts.
The thunder power
blows the serve out the back
makes the team cringe
The roof could get much higher
but it wouldn't help much
especially since the game is done
the home team lost
but the courage never went anywhere
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Jabberwocky thing.
There was a witch and a Jurcal living in a stogh house that disappeared. when the sun came up the house vanished. It was eracs. There was kids crumching, when they saw it happen, the house was retym. The house was a lacitsym that couldnt be solved.
The kids came to see the retym and would chort quickly crumching.
Dead -- broober
Mysterious -- retym
mystical --lacitsym
magic -- thort
wizard --jurcal
ghost -- stogh
scream -- crumching
run -- chort
scare --eracs
Monday, November 8, 2010
There was a crack of far of thunder, above the old McKinney house. The rocking chair on the porch creaked loudly, even though the house hit wad been vacant for over 20 years, according to my mother's friend Jenny Holmes. The farm house, although it was old looked strangely beautiful; as if were just built.. In the gray house, there was one light flipped on, which was strange for the place, even if it were haunted, which everyone believed. I was going to go prove them all wrong.
I went home quickly after that, because I planned to come back after dark. When I stepped inside I heard my mothers frantic voice, and Jenny Holmes calm quiet one. " Yes.Mrs. McKinney and their two children Jacob and Annie, got murdered, by Mr.McKinney. And weeks later, Mr.McKinney took his own life, out of despair and guilt.. It's rumoured to be haunted espiecally after Finnick Mason, died last year, after vandalizing the wall behind the house, In a tragic car crash. I don't believe it, but it could be true." She finished, and I smiled. Perfect, everyone belives it..
After dark, I slipped out of the open window, and walked toward the old farm house. I took a sharpie, and wrote the names "Rose" on the gray wall. Smiling I turned back toward my house, and went back into my bed, and let myself sleep. The next day at school everyone patted me on the back, and talked and talked to me. Until this one girl Deliah told me I would die in 7 days. I rolled my eyes at her, and ignored her comment. A week later, I skipped home, and lived happily ever after.
If only eh? I died later in on the 7th day, but I still don't believe in ghosts.
I went home quickly after that, because I planned to come back after dark. When I stepped inside I heard my mothers frantic voice, and Jenny Holmes calm quiet one. " Yes.Mrs. McKinney and their two children Jacob and Annie, got murdered, by Mr.McKinney. And weeks later, Mr.McKinney took his own life, out of despair and guilt.. It's rumoured to be haunted espiecally after Finnick Mason, died last year, after vandalizing the wall behind the house, In a tragic car crash. I don't believe it, but it could be true." She finished, and I smiled. Perfect, everyone belives it..
After dark, I slipped out of the open window, and walked toward the old farm house. I took a sharpie, and wrote the names "Rose" on the gray wall. Smiling I turned back toward my house, and went back into my bed, and let myself sleep. The next day at school everyone patted me on the back, and talked and talked to me. Until this one girl Deliah told me I would die in 7 days. I rolled my eyes at her, and ignored her comment. A week later, I skipped home, and lived happily ever after.
If only eh? I died later in on the 7th day, but I still don't believe in ghosts.
"One eyed, no horned flying yellow people eater..." That was the strangest name Id ever heard! He was a monster that lived around Saskatoon.. He was a wierd guy, not only in apperences -although he was quite handsome; he was the strangest guy anyone would ever meet! He could read your mind and control you like a puppet!! He could mezmerize you, with his one green eye, and his sparkling black that falls over his forehead. If you walk alone at night-time be prepared to be snatched.. He flies out of no-where, and then he scoops you up into his arms and flies off into the night with you. I know, it sounds romantic. Until you remember he eats people and you're his victim, to him, you're nothing more than dinner...
The monster doesn't much like his name, he prefers to be called "Jo". We townsfolk prefer to call him, "One eyed no horned flying yellow people eater." When he isn't around. When he comes around we all snap into normality and call him "Sir Jo". Although he hates being called sir, we don't change, not out of fear. He desispes respect and would rather be feared, but what he fails to take into account, is that we do fear him. We are TERRIFIED of him, for our sake, and for the sake of our children. I've only seen him once, and at first I thought it was my brother dressing up to scare me. I mean my Nana and Papa, told me the stories. I thought they were crazy old bats! I mean, how likely is it that there is a person out there with one eye, yellow skin and can fly?? NOT FREAKING LIKELY! But if you ever see him, please for the sake of your children, your friends children. Call him Jo!
The monster doesn't much like his name, he prefers to be called "Jo". We townsfolk prefer to call him, "One eyed no horned flying yellow people eater." When he isn't around. When he comes around we all snap into normality and call him "Sir Jo". Although he hates being called sir, we don't change, not out of fear. He desispes respect and would rather be feared, but what he fails to take into account, is that we do fear him. We are TERRIFIED of him, for our sake, and for the sake of our children. I've only seen him once, and at first I thought it was my brother dressing up to scare me. I mean my Nana and Papa, told me the stories. I thought they were crazy old bats! I mean, how likely is it that there is a person out there with one eye, yellow skin and can fly?? NOT FREAKING LIKELY! But if you ever see him, please for the sake of your children, your friends children. Call him Jo!
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Etch-a-Sketch
As you follow the rough abandoned road you will find a creaky redish-brown barn, drive further. You will see a circle of trees. Old, crooked and winding tree stumps, beside beautiful oaks. In that circle of nature there is a house. It is small, interesting looking house.
Do you remember drawing pictures as children? The perfect house with the perfect triangle roof? A beautiful garden of rose pedals sat on the bright green ground, with that one single flourished tree that your father promised to build you a treehouse? Take that picture now and erase it from your mind. Erase it as you would erase an Etch-a-Sketch. Take this perfect picture and run a red and black crayon all across it! This house in the bush is a horrible place to be. Once you’re in, you can never escape.
As you pull into the drive way, you get the sense of illusions, as if people are watching you from near and afar. The house is over 100 years old, covered in brown shingles that are each covered delicately with green moss. The windows are brown and leaky looking. As you enter the house you have to walk onto the creaky and dead wood set of steps. Open the door now, Jiggle the door handle and watch as it falls out of its socket. You must push the old, heavy door open. As you walk through this abandoned home that used to be an elegant home, 100 years ago. You will see a lonely kitchen table with a few chairs. The wallpaper is old, very old. It is painted with sunflowers, and bright yellow curtains. Beside the kitchen table is a fire stove. Thinking back, you realize a family lived here before you came and invaded this antique home. But there is a reason you are here.
You heard rumors, gossip, and theories of this house. The little boy who lived here with his family went on a mass murder and killed his family with a hatchet. It is rumored that the boy still sits in his bedroom waiting for another person to come in contact with him. This is your chance to find some answers.
You head upstairs now, snapping shots of the creepy home, Old couch, mice roaming, and the smell of cat urine covers any normal existing scent inside. Upstairs consists of three bedrooms, (no bathrooms) because each room has a feces bucket. It reeks of death and makes you hold your breath as if you were going to be sick. You head to the little boys bedroom, passing the girls room that lays old dolls with X’s on the eyes and dirt smeared all over the faces. In the boys room you see slacks spread out on the floor, as if homeless people were bunking here, but they were boys’ slacks. You turn around in shock and then something terrifies you that you drop your camera to the bloody covered floor.
You wake up. Seeing red. You try to sit up, but feel excruciating pain in your stomach. Trying to run away and go home to safety you look down to your legs. There missing! You’re losing consciousness, as you start feeling cold and sleepy; you see a hatchet in bloody hands standing above you. It’ll all be over soon. Close your eyes now. Ignore your numb feelings; ignore the feeling of losing everything you had for this investigation. It’s all over.
The boy got what he wanted. Another human contact. He puts the hatchet to rest… until next time.
Do you remember drawing pictures as children? The perfect house with the perfect triangle roof? A beautiful garden of rose pedals sat on the bright green ground, with that one single flourished tree that your father promised to build you a treehouse? Take that picture now and erase it from your mind. Erase it as you would erase an Etch-a-Sketch. Take this perfect picture and run a red and black crayon all across it! This house in the bush is a horrible place to be. Once you’re in, you can never escape.
As you pull into the drive way, you get the sense of illusions, as if people are watching you from near and afar. The house is over 100 years old, covered in brown shingles that are each covered delicately with green moss. The windows are brown and leaky looking. As you enter the house you have to walk onto the creaky and dead wood set of steps. Open the door now, Jiggle the door handle and watch as it falls out of its socket. You must push the old, heavy door open. As you walk through this abandoned home that used to be an elegant home, 100 years ago. You will see a lonely kitchen table with a few chairs. The wallpaper is old, very old. It is painted with sunflowers, and bright yellow curtains. Beside the kitchen table is a fire stove. Thinking back, you realize a family lived here before you came and invaded this antique home. But there is a reason you are here.
You heard rumors, gossip, and theories of this house. The little boy who lived here with his family went on a mass murder and killed his family with a hatchet. It is rumored that the boy still sits in his bedroom waiting for another person to come in contact with him. This is your chance to find some answers.
You head upstairs now, snapping shots of the creepy home, Old couch, mice roaming, and the smell of cat urine covers any normal existing scent inside. Upstairs consists of three bedrooms, (no bathrooms) because each room has a feces bucket. It reeks of death and makes you hold your breath as if you were going to be sick. You head to the little boys bedroom, passing the girls room that lays old dolls with X’s on the eyes and dirt smeared all over the faces. In the boys room you see slacks spread out on the floor, as if homeless people were bunking here, but they were boys’ slacks. You turn around in shock and then something terrifies you that you drop your camera to the bloody covered floor.
You wake up. Seeing red. You try to sit up, but feel excruciating pain in your stomach. Trying to run away and go home to safety you look down to your legs. There missing! You’re losing consciousness, as you start feeling cold and sleepy; you see a hatchet in bloody hands standing above you. It’ll all be over soon. Close your eyes now. Ignore your numb feelings; ignore the feeling of losing everything you had for this investigation. It’s all over.
The boy got what he wanted. Another human contact. He puts the hatchet to rest… until next time.
Friday, October 29, 2010
The Fiery Pink Ninja of Death
In the depths of the sea, in the driest parts of the world, and even in the coldest places on Earth, there lives one thing that will change the history of the world. It is called the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death. The Fiery Pink Ninja of Death looks sort of like a penguin but smaller, fatter and way cuter. It is, in fact, so cute that anyone with a heart would want it as a pet, but, you better be careful because it is as fierce as a ninja dragon. You may ask why does it have such a long name, or why is it called the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death? It is long because Fiery Pink Ninja of Death sounds really cool and it is called Fiery Pink Ninja of Death because it breathes fire, is pink, fights like a ninja, and will kill anything in its path to get the one thing it loves – Chocolate cake. Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting is the only thing it loves and the only weakness the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death has.
No one really knows why the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death is so cute, were it came from, or what its purpose is. All we know is extremely cute and loves chocolate cake. But if you do find out more about the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death don’t be afraid to tell the world more about the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death.
The Fiery Pink Ninja of Death was first spotted at the bakery looking so cute that the owner of the bakery fed the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death its’ first piece of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Ever since that fateful day the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death started to kill for the chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Not many people have seen, heard of, or even believe in the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death. That's because nobody have ever gotten a picture or a video of the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death, but, the few people who have seen the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death each have a different account of the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death except for one thing- what it looks like. So remember next time you make a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting you might meet or see the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death.
No one really knows why the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death is so cute, were it came from, or what its purpose is. All we know is extremely cute and loves chocolate cake. But if you do find out more about the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death don’t be afraid to tell the world more about the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death.
The Fiery Pink Ninja of Death was first spotted at the bakery looking so cute that the owner of the bakery fed the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death its’ first piece of chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Ever since that fateful day the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death started to kill for the chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. Not many people have seen, heard of, or even believe in the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death. That's because nobody have ever gotten a picture or a video of the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death, but, the few people who have seen the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death each have a different account of the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death except for one thing- what it looks like. So remember next time you make a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting you might meet or see the Fiery Pink Ninja of Death.
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