tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17036664624124630652024-03-21T22:29:59.740-07:00One Flew Over the Stork's NestFor my advanced students and any other guests, who find the texts interesting and inspiring:) Welcome!Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12963287538491850458noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703666462412463065.post-63131092652552563812014-05-04T08:09:00.000-07:002014-05-04T08:10:49.600-07:00FROM THREAT OF TEACHING TO PLEASURE OF LEARNING<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span class="talk-transcript__para__text"><span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="836721" id="t-836721">TED talks on education make me yearn for a brave new world, apparently the opposite of Huxley's negative utopia. I don't like the idea of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDonaldization">McDonaldized</a>, homogenized world with hedonistic materialism on top of all values, so I don't quite agree with nowadays educational systems which try to standardize absolutely everything, rising the level of bureaucracy and minimizing the creativeness.</span></span></div>
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<span class="talk-transcript__para__text"><span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="836721" id="t-836721">What is more, I feel simultaneously thrilled and horrified with the idea that kids don't even need the teacher to perform greatly with hard science, as you can watch in this TED video based on a simply yet perfidious experiment. It shows that all what kids need are free time, lack of threat, 'granny motivation' and broadband Internet... </span></span>
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<span class="talk-transcript__para__text"><span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="836721" id="t-836721">'There is evidence from neuroscience.</span>
<span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="839115" id="t-839115">The reptilian part of our brain, which sits in the center of our brain,</span>
<span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="842317" id="t-842317">when it's threatened, it shuts down everything else,</span>
<span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="846053" id="t-846053">it shuts down the prefrontal cortex, the parts which learn,</span>
<span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="849731" id="t-849731">it shuts all of that down.</span>
<b><span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="852475" id="t-852475">Punishment and examinations are seen as threats.</span></b>
<span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="856623" id="t-856623">We take our children, we make them shut their brains down,</span>
<span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="860248" id="t-860248">and then we say, "Perform."</span>
<span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="862944" id="t-862944">Why did they create a system like that?</span>
<span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="866425" id="t-866425">Because it was needed.</span>
<span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="868071" id="t-868071">There was an age in the Age of Empires</span>
<span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="870656" id="t-870656">when you needed those people who can survive under threat.</span>
<span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="874926" id="t-874926">When you're standing in a trench all alone,</span>
<span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="877193" id="t-877193">if you could have survived, you're okay, you've passed.</span>
<span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="881224" id="t-881224">If you didn't, you failed.</span>
<span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="884197" id="t-884197">But the Age of Empires is gone.</span>
<span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="886853" id="t-886853">What happens to creativity in our age?</span>
<b><span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="890491" id="t-890491">We need to shift that balance back</span>
</b><span class="talk-transcript__fragment" data-time="893506" id="t-893506"><b>from threat to pleasure</b>.'</span></span></div>
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</span>Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12963287538491850458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703666462412463065.post-36861222016153989602013-09-19T13:34:00.000-07:002013-09-19T13:35:18.793-07:00FLORENCE IN FLOWERS, Cracow 10.08.2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Flo – Fascinating Lovely Object</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> gave a unique and unusual concert in Cracow,
one summer Saturday. I won't forget being there! As well as other 40 000 people,
all ages, not only Polish, male and female – true fans what we proved by
singing along every song...</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>Florence became FLOWERence </b>after she
was surprised by Polish Fanclub action spread via Facebook: lots of participants
wore wreaths on their hair and when the vocalist ran from the stage to the
audience she collected many of them. Going back to the microphone she willingly
used the garlands to decorate herself and the stand...<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> That was touching and impressive</b>, exactly like her reaction some
minutes later – while Florence was singing <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6I4KvITlPE"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">What the Water Gave Me</i></a> first row of fans unfolded banner ‘What Florence Gave Me?’
and hundreds of people raised up slogans answering that question...</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We learnt that this beautiful and
phenomenal British singer is not ‘stiff upper lip’ at all but <b>very emotional,
rather spontaneous and even impulsive</b>. Some hours before, at the backstage, she
and the whole Machine met young Poles who had started the Fanclub and got a very
extraordinary present from them – a bag of glitter. Flo didn’t resist using
that during whole concert – on her skin, rest of her band or nearest
spectators... Unfortunately I wasn’t close enough but somehow after the
concert, emerging from the mass of audience I did catch a grain of this
‘stardust’ on my clothes</span>:)<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">18 days after the gig FLOWrence celebrated
her birthday and from Polish fans she received this enormous poster – I really
<b>appreciate imagination, organisational skills and creativity of young
organizers </b>responsible for the event:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>What Florence and the Machine gave
me?</b> Well, I'd say mental freedom when I hear <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCWnVznnWcs"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Shake It Out </i></a>and feeling of psychic unity with my best friend while sharing emotions,
admiration, ecstasy coming to us with that music...</span></div>
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In
<i>Galaxy of the Lost</i> I wish you <i>Cosmic Love</i>, which gives you <i>Breath of Life
Between Two Lungs, All This and Heaven Too</i>... I wish you <i>Bird Song</i> about
<i>Bedroom Hymns</i>... I wish you <i>Gravity of Love</i> so <i>Heavy in Your Arms</i>, that <i>Never
Lets You Go</i>... I wish you <i>Lover to Lover</i> in <i>No Light</i> at night... I wish you
<i>Addiction to Love</i> in Your <i>Best Dress, Pearls and Roses</i>...I wish you <i>Falling and
Swimming</i> and <i>Howl</i>...</div>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12963287538491850458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703666462412463065.post-23927827087918797422013-06-28T15:27:00.004-07:002013-09-19T10:13:09.739-07:00HOW TO BECOME A TEACHER IN ONE MONTH and survive…;)<div style="text-align: justify;">
We
have been warned that <span style="color: blue;"><b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CELTA">the CELTA course</a></b></span> is intensive. We have been supplied with pre-course information about
timetables and requirements. We have <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">researched</span> it's <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">‘</span>a
level 5 qualification<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>equivalent
to the beginning of the second year on a university first degree course<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span> based on <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">the </span>Cambridge franchise and <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">compressed</span> into 20 days.<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>Yet we didn't believe <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">it all </span>until <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">the </span>very first days<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">...</span> I personally planned a lot of
appointments for evenings; one coursemate from abroad wanted to learn Polish in
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">the </span>meantime; another
one chose couchsurfing as the free of charge accommodation and had to
move every couple of days.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">But there was
no meantime. There was no spare time. In fact there was too little time for </b><span class="hps"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">maintenance of</span></b></span><span class="shorttext"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;"> </span></b></span><span class="hps"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">vital functions</span></b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
like sleeping or eating. </b>Some of us slept 2<span lang="PL" style="mso-ansi-language: PL;">-4</span> hours per night. Some of us lived mostly on coffee and
cigarettes. <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Agreed:</span> it
is <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">NOT</span> possible to
imagine the CELTA course until it becomes your reality<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">! But what a satisfaction you get when it’s
over! And... somehow right after the last day you start missing it... That’s why
I decided to press on a slow release button in my memory and write down these:</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span><span style="color: #134f5c;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">CELTA survival
know-<span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span>how </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">tips </span>from </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">a </span>May-June
</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">2013 </span>participant:</b></span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Choose the right place</b> – I<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>don't know how many British<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>Council institutions around the world
are located like the one in Cracow, Poland<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">. It’s situated </span>in <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">the </span>Main Market Square, facing Adam Mickiewicz's monument, in the
middle of Royal Way from Matejki Square to Wawel Castle, literally in the heart
of Old Town. The building itself is magnificent, historical and antique with
spectacular wooden ceiling and opera-style chandelier. As a Pole I was proud to
present the best of Cracow to foreign colleagues (sometimes probably to bore
them with bits of history and architecture<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">;</span>) every day just while stepping out from the shadow of BC gate
to <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">the </span>sunny square
full of life and music<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Choose the right time</b> – we<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>were this lucky <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">group </span>which had one additional free day
on 30th of May <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">as it was
the </span>Corpus Christi<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
holiday</span>. <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I</span>t gave
us some <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">extra </span>time
to catch <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">‘</span>a breath of
life<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’ and overcome the
workload shock at</span> the <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">pretty
</span>beginning<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">...</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 9.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prepare for challenging weather – </b>due<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>to worldwide climate change it's not
foreseeable anymore. We had two weeks of very <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">‘</span>English<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span> weather with cold showers or niggling
drizzle all days and nights. Then tropical sun started shining <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">and </span>burning so that all
non-residents experienced the full amplitude between 5 and 35 degrees Celcius<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 9.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 9.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If you are a teacher in service </b>–
prepare<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>for elimination of your <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">worst</span> habits <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">and <i>‘throwing some of your sacred
cows out of the window’</i>. To me it was one of the most valuable teaching
experiences: interiorizing that freer practice (fluency</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">) is just as important as restricted practice
(accuracy</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"></span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">); that echoing is no good at all
and that IWB is soooooooo useful!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">If you are a native speaker</b> – you<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>may feel pressure that you should
know your mother tongue<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> better...
prepare to</span> hear from your Tutor<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> statements like this</span>: <i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">‘</span>sometimes you think you know something but in fact you don't
know. Don't use your brains – use<span style="mso-ansi-language: PL;"> </span>a
dictionary instead<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span></i>;) </div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 9.0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0cm; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span>Decide
in advance if you want to <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">sacrifice some
of your healthy lifestyle for fun and socializing</b>. I stayed in a
place with no Internet access <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">thus</span>
I managed to sleep 6-8 hours per night, completing all my coursework in British
Council's computer room. But I missed a lot of night chats, f.ex. when at 4 am
one of the trainees posted a question <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">‘</span><i>where is word stress in this sentence?</i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span> and received four totally different
answers<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">… I also <u>almost</u>
regretted my non-smoking when during last week it occured to me how much relieve a
quick ‘group cigarette ritual’ can give...</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcT7za6CJh0fe1Akfd71f4XJo_6-89sX_gJH0lwcG-56uek0iwhf9mgFZ2KVH3CvRzQpj38tXPfb67e0J01EOzbHGl7XJqTxgKZEYw8s23kNLjuCdfOajl3CXI2Z1S64bn9bMZlrV0uw/s199/zmysly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="115" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYcT7za6CJh0fe1Akfd71f4XJo_6-89sX_gJH0lwcG-56uek0iwhf9mgFZ2KVH3CvRzQpj38tXPfb67e0J01EOzbHGl7XJqTxgKZEYw8s23kNLjuCdfOajl3CXI2Z1S64bn9bMZlrV0uw/s200/zmysly.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cooperate, not compete</b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span lang="EN-US">–</span></span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I got
the </span>impression<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>of a <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">very </span>unique group<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span lang="EN-US">which every single member
enriched so much! I felt the support and inspiration at all times: lessons,
sessions, inputs, lunch breaks, evenings, mornings... On the last day we all
managed to have farewell dinner together; then we all met in a night club again
– even people leaving on Saturday morning! It was a special</span></span> night<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> of</span> summer solstice<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, at which we gained our post-course
</span>catharsis<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> by</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span>reliev<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">ing</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">all </span>stress<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> and pressure..</span>. I'll
remember forever <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">the moment </span>when
T. chested, mapped out and did demo of pole dancing or, after we drilled, backchained and
practiced club's name (quite difficult to pronounce for non-Polish), A. asked
me if the two <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">‘</span>apostrophes<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span> indicated word stress. The
answer was: <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">‘</span><i>Yeah<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">,</span> and th<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">is</span> line below shows intonation pattern!</i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’ </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Trust your </span>Tutors</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> – </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">all of Cracow Celta Trainers are simultaneously
</span>charming<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>while requiring <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">the highest </span>quality<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> – and that’s what I call teaching
mastership.</span> I <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">entirely </span>admire
their ability to follow <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">every
single</span> lesson minute by minute while taking accurate notes and not only
skimming but also reading the lesson plan for detailed comprehension<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">..</span>. That's not only
multitasking, that's extreme long and divided attention span! <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">‘Verba docent, exempla trahunt’ – I experienced
plenty of good examples</span> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">in this theory-practice-reflection CELTA cycle thanks to them.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Wake me at midnight and I’ll tell
you with no hesitation what </span><b>PPP<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>TTT<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>TBL <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">or ‘</span>thru-text</b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><b>’
</b>mean. I feel I got it all: self-awareness, firmness and flexibility. Now I know: no
pain = no gain; no suffering = no satisfaction! CELTA was worth it!</span></div>
Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12963287538491850458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703666462412463065.post-32283551488654192022013-04-30T14:58:00.001-07:002013-09-19T10:13:53.186-07:00SHAKESPEARE SHAKES IN HIS GRAVE...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I’m a faithful fan, huge admirer and loyal lover of British and American method ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">how to make high literature more teenager-friendly</b>’. This trick is
easy, simple & plain: films, movies, TV versions, adaptations. With very
significant ending ‘S’ emphasising plurality, yes, especially for title <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_William_Shakespeare_screen_adaptations"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">Shakespeare</span></b></a>.
According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_William_Shakespeare_screen_adaptations"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">Wikipedia source</span></b></a> this England-born king of tragedy is ‘</span>the most filmed
author ever in any language<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’
with around 500 film versions of his plays produced until today.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/gjxHdNxvySU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Dramas are meant to be watched not read</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">. Mostly by adults not adolescents. Yet the
obligation of school is to introduce classic belles-lettres to underaged,
usually by teachers of mother tongue. As a schoolmistress of Polish I do know
something about it... Since the moment I saw Romeo/Leo di Caprio and
Juliet/Claire Danes in 1996 I’ve felt jealous of this wide range of screenings to
which my English or American analogues can refer during their lessons. Not only
the eternal author of Hamlet is honored this way. At least every decade new
versions of evergreens by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charlotte_Bront%C3%AB">Charlotte Brontë</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Austen">Jane Austen</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Dickens">Charles Dickens</a></span></b> are
made. There are 15 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Jane Eyres</i> (I
watched 5), 10 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Pride and Prejudices</i>
(I saw 3), 5 <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Emmas</i> (I viewed 2) but
the absolute record-breakers are <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Oliver
Twists</i> in the number of 20, including also musicals, cartoons, miniseries
and animated films.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/jKvO2TYPuTw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">My first and beloved <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre_%281996_film%29"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">Jane Eyre</span></b></a>
was Charlotte Gainsbourg, again in 1996, happy time of my Cracow studies:) I
found everything so ideal and perfect in this movie that I completely couldn’t
understand why on earth some other director attempted to create <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre_%281997_film%29"><b>another one</b></a> only
a year later? Now I know: it’s a constant challenge for crew and cast; it’s a
good way to make the drama or novel everlasting for younger and younger
audience; finally it’s looking for – finding – presenting <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">universal content in contemporary form</b>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Back to title William, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">prince of comedy</b>. It’s such a pity that
most Polish students connect him only with bloody <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Macbeth</i>, a must read at their age of 16! OK, maybe also with <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Romeo & Juliet</i>, an all-time archetype
of unrequited love... Why not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Midsummer’s
Night Dream</i> with the conventionality of marriage discussion? Why not <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Taming of the Shrew </i>with the possibility
of feminist discourse? Why not </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><i>Twelfth Night, or What You Will </i>with timeless qui-pro-quo theme?<i> </i> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Why death and
murder instead of fun and laughter?</b> Especially since there are
teenage-targeted adaptations which I recommend all language-learners, both
before and after 18<sup>th</sup> birthday.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQ3k_joroMwJpVRESuE850Aw4htZq4B3Gs3AaNT1ka2Td5l2PHTrLKDmjIpwdT50X8Kj2yQPkJkWIvLzTU0Zxtihuo8DuBfLgm9Jwy2sDze4MRG0t78AzFyz69DNdWYrZMs6kcLJZjwo/s1600/220px-She's_the_man_poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQ3k_joroMwJpVRESuE850Aw4htZq4B3Gs3AaNT1ka2Td5l2PHTrLKDmjIpwdT50X8Kj2yQPkJkWIvLzTU0Zxtihuo8DuBfLgm9Jwy2sDze4MRG0t78AzFyz69DNdWYrZMs6kcLJZjwo/s320/220px-She's_the_man_poster.jpg" width="216" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/AWmjzCZr0Jw?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">If you never heard of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">She’s the Man</i> or <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">10 Things I Hate About You</i>, just read the poster and watch the
trailer. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Long-lasting but also
life-teaching laughter is guaranteed! </b>I wish we had similar screenings of
Polish classics too...</span></div>
Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12963287538491850458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703666462412463065.post-8147512750675092912013-04-16T13:59:00.003-07:002013-04-24T12:37:24.798-07:00SMART IS SEXY! SEXY. SEXY.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVu8fz2lDqyPeMTjzktQD57hBGxIJBRYCi00JfMWBTdqGTPmAFAkFo3O8BvNrow1e3SAaOrVIbw3nNLbk_WSHhYJiyuE_WJNzmOPgLcsbLJk3rbPVhyI0kmA3o8JHo8jeLbTAr0snrTo/s1600/bigbangtheory.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZVu8fz2lDqyPeMTjzktQD57hBGxIJBRYCi00JfMWBTdqGTPmAFAkFo3O8BvNrow1e3SAaOrVIbw3nNLbk_WSHhYJiyuE_WJNzmOPgLcsbLJk3rbPVhyI0kmA3o8JHo8jeLbTAr0snrTo/s320/bigbangtheory.jpg" width="265" /></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Brainiac, nerd, geek, freak, oaf, awkward</span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> – these words are no more insulting in the
global universe of mass culture and entertainment. How did it happen? Who
caused that? Well, that would be producers of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Big_Bang_Theory"><span style="color: blue;">The Big Bang Theory</span></a> </b>TV series, as
they created six former victims of school bullying, characters now-aged-around-30
and made them <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">most popular sitcom
protagonists in this century</b>. Plus one former female bully, who very
quickly felt the need to adjust to the genius of her neighbours. Highest intelligence
versus common sense; gender, racial and scientist </span>stereotype<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">s</span> taken to <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">their</span> extreme<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">s; warm caricature of</span><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: SimSun; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN;"> <b><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Y">Generation Y</a></b></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Generation_Y"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></a>connected with osmotic<span style="color: blue;"> </span></span>integrat<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">ion of</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">its</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">values</span> into modern society<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span lang="EN-US">– these are my reasons to
watch and adore ‘Big Bang’.</span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Not only mine! Adolescenting
teenagers and philosophy doctors, feminists and conservatives, middle-level
educated housewives and busy computer specialists – around 20 mln people worldwide
watch new parts of 6<sup>th</sup> season week by week. At present at least some
percentage of this six zeros number can’t wait to a 134<sup>th</sup> (!) episode.
I’ve done some research on that matter and found out three most popular
adjectives used in description of the series.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">HILARIOUS</span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What exactly does ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">bazinga</b>’ mean? Urban online dictionary
explains: </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A catchy phrase to
accompany your clever pranks</i>.<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span lang="EN-US">This word belongs to Sheldon, the funniest character in all
ratings/surveys of both viewers and critics. Perfidiously, he’s the one who
doesn’t understand sarcasm and is totally unable to laugh wholeheartedly.
That’s the contrast effect! On YouTube there are tens of ‘Sheldon’s Best’ shots
as well as Penny’s, Leonard’s, Howard’s, Raj’s and so on. Honestly, each
particular scene which I had remembered as tremendously entertaining, I could find cut
and uploaded there. For instance that one. Only a minute short but provides you
with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">full-health portion of laughter</b>:</span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">SO TRUE</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Whether we call them </span><span class="hps"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">theoreticians or practitioners,
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Big Bang characters </b></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">are just who they are, not pretending to be someone else</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, someone better. Self-assured as
scientists, lacking some social skills in outside world but also trying to find
solutions in harmony with themselves. That way they also popularize mental
self-knowledge about sources of various psychical problems. Wide audience learn
about </span><span class="hps"><span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">Oedipus
complex, selective mutism and Asperger's syndrome thanks to these ‘role
models’. Thinking about it I paid attention to their m</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">others and fathers’ figures – yes,
loads of food for thoughts...</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">What else? Fascinating fact that <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">the<b> </b></span>actress playing Amy in real
life </span>holds a Ph.D. in neuroscience<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> too. She truly is a woman with big brains! Thanks to her ‘serial
colleagues’ I discovered I’m sapiosexual and that’s a nice feeling</span>;)<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <a href="http://www.unwords.com/unword/sapiosexuality.html"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">S</span></b></a></span><a href="http://www.unwords.com/unword/sapiosexuality.html"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">apiosexuality</span></b></a> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">is<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> a</i></span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> behavior of becoming attracted to or
aroused by intelligence and its use.</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span><b><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Example:</span></b><i> Me? I don’t care too much about the looks.
I want an incisive, inquisitive, insightful, irreverent mind. I want someone
for whom philosophical discussion is foreplay. I want someone who sometimes
makes me go ouch due to their wit and evil sense of humor. </i></i><i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(…) </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="font-style: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">All the ‘i’ words from that definition greatly correspond with ‘Shamy’
& ‘Lenny’, don’t they? One small flaw: a</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">s a female I just pity the directors present
mostly girl-hunting... Where could I find any clues how to pick up a male nerd, if
not there?</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">TRENDSETTING </span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">OK, I don’t insist that this sudden,
inexplicable fashion for thick rimmed glasses had its beginning in ‘Big Bang’.
Still, I believe the series helped to popularize some games: floor, board, RPG
or computer and also created new ones: 3D chess, ‘paper scissors stone spock
lizard’, ‘element quiz’. I’ve also read that more and more students choose to
study Physics in the USA nowadays with Pasadena and California Institute of
Technology on their minds. Therefore I feel entitled to make the statement: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">as Big Beat changed the music world once
and forever, such is the current influence of Big Bang on western population.</b>
Authentic and jolly when describes reality, inventive when creates new trends
for both VL and RL. So... It’s all FYI, KMN, I’m AFK!</span></div>
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Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12963287538491850458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703666462412463065.post-31015825910501090402013-03-31T12:12:00.002-07:002013-03-31T12:17:13.115-07:00AMOR OMNIA VINCIT? ARS OMNIA VINCIT!<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orpheus"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">Or</span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: blue; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">ph</span><span style="color: blue;">eus</span></b></a> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">was</span> a gifted musician and singer<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span lang="EN-US">(I believe he was a <a href="http://top7.com/top/3376/Male-Singers-Of-2012"><span style="color: blue;">Justin Bieber</span></a> of his times;)). As Apollo’s apprentice</span></span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">he </span>play<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">ed</span> lyre and s<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">a</span>ng beautifully<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> – louder and better than the
infamous Sirens, what he proved during Argonauts’ Quest. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">He also </b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">love</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">d</span> his wife</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">-to-be the nymph Eurydice</span>
like mad</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">…</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> Unfortunately</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">at their wedding something very bad happened:
the bride</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">was</span> chased by a brute rapist<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> satyr</span>, <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">in her attempt
to escape she </span>fell into a nest of vipers, g<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">o</span>t bitten and die<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">d. A</span>fter death <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">– like all ancient Greeks – </span>she<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span lang="EN-US">disappeared in</span></span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">this </span>mythical<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> underworld</span> abyss, kingdom of
black go<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">d</span>, Hades<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And</span> her loving husband went after her!<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span lang="EN-US">And he performed the deed
that occured never before! </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The minstrel charmed with his supreme musical
art not only fearsome hellhound Cerberus, but also King Hades and Queen
Persephone – so touched they were that they allowed Orpheus to take Eurydice
back to life. (Yes, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">we can call this
resurrection...) </b>Although there was one simple condition – </span>he<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>had to <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">walk</span> first and play and sing but <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">couldn’t look back... He had to believe that
his sweetheart was following him as in the land of dead she was mute and rather
not very lively... S</span>o he went first and played and sang, she was behind
him<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">.</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">T</span>hrough the <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">black</span> kingdom they went<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">… </span>across the river they went<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">… over</span> the forest they went<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">… </span>yet at the moment they
reached the border between <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">under-
and upper</span>world Or<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">ph</span>eus<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>looked back<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And </span>that was the moment Eurydic<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">e</span> was taken from him for the <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">seco</span>nd time and forever!<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span lang="EN-US">Oh, so disconsolate and
somber he became!</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2dC46HsIX_g05n64dD8MfcyNXhkcLH3ad1MFA606-Zph4M10wwlZLFZh4dpm68xVgNYzO5QOyRfF2qQPizr0izc6eahrhtDvSQQLnTZ2DDryStnUUGMXvk379SzkhQcdAgW3KqVGWW8/s1600/Jean-Baptiste-Camille_Corot_-_Orph%C3%A9e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV2dC46HsIX_g05n64dD8MfcyNXhkcLH3ad1MFA606-Zph4M10wwlZLFZh4dpm68xVgNYzO5QOyRfF2qQPizr0izc6eahrhtDvSQQLnTZ2DDryStnUUGMXvk379SzkhQcdAgW3KqVGWW8/s320/Jean-Baptiste-Camille_Corot_-_Orph%C3%A9e.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span lang="EN-US"> </span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The myth doesn’t explain why this poor
lyre-player fell behind. He just looked, risked, failed. What for? We may try
to</span> interpret that by <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">ourselves.
To me one of the best artistic translation of the story is a painting by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Baptiste-Camille_Corot"><span style="color: blue;">Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot</span></a>. To me this picture clearly
shows that <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">death is</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> always problem of the alive</b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> – </span>these<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>who suffer because <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">their beloved </span>died. To me Eurydice here doesn’t show great
willingness to re-live, she looks rather passive. Orpheus is strong and active
for both of them, tightly holding his wife’s wrist, maybe afraid of losing her
again. Yet it didn’t work, he lost her again... Too impatient? Too
self-confident? Or on the contrary too insecure?</div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Whatever the reason, in my opinion this story
tells us that love doesn’t prevail all. We have </span>to accept death and <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">even the greatest affection</span>
cannot change that<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">. However
art can. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Orpheus lost as a lover but won
</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">as an artist</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">. </span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Until
today he’s widely recognized as a powerful archetype of divine, cosmic
artistry, stronger than time.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Did antique people believe in Resurrection like
we catholic believe? I doubt that. In their world it was more like general
reincarnation, circle of life, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">spring –
summer – autumn – winter – and spring again attitude.</b> For them Easter was a
festival of fertility</span><span class="st"> and the rebirth of vegetation</span><span class="st"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">. More to do with
Persephone than Eurydice... Honestly, if I was given a choice between
resurrection and reincarnation, I wouldn’t know what to choose...</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12963287538491850458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703666462412463065.post-66558312583984306982013-03-10T16:33:00.000-07:002013-03-12T02:57:28.427-07:00THE VOICE OF COLOURSIn 2012 I was particularly fascinated by three songs which were released independently to each other yet according to me they have something in common: truly artistic videoclips connected with <b>body painting on vision</b>.
When I realized that, I conducted a small 'experiment': watched them all one by one with no sound, trying to forget the lyrics. They say "A picture is worth a thousand words" so what exactly did I see?<br />
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<br />
<b>Symbolic Polica</b> – in searching of its sense I imagined four elements dancing around the old lady: alight air, fascinating fire, solid soil, wild water. Another words sources of our nature, human and animal shapes in one being... Also the visualisation of fact that every meeting leaves a trace - outside, inside... The most mysterious moment to me is this 'star circle' of girls in white costumes. Perhaps they symbolize innocent life, getting more and more colours of existence, until black death comes? They are mixing, exchanging, united in one dance, making the same yet different movements on and on... The video is touching and impressive, I'm not ashamed to admit it makes my eyes wet and gives me shiver-fever – that eventual esthetic thrill...<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Sad story of Gotye and Kimbra</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> – starts
with dull, pale colours; geometrical shapes, sharp lines. The only strong
colour – green – seems to be connected with a woman; the way they stand
suggests total lack of communication; at the end she clears herself of any
paint and goes away. Maybe she gives up on hope... As for him wearing colours
of the background in a cameleon way is safe but also imprisoning, according to me it makes him stiff, not flexible, so closed in his sadness, so impenetrable to her point of view... And somehow the way they stand: man en face, woman
side-face, corresponds with that facebook’s drawing, which I found thanks to
Kasia J., a teacher of German:</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qtgBGGaQVyRwHaBbil4R7c8hFDlUQU8vi7s8cT6_IuWnjiHMoW6aEpmkP3iS9mVLgsU1WP77LX9Z_dz7ooOuAYOUzh2j8kadR39wLgD-X8S-4gRptesBWGeNHf7KoJrSQo2el1WMuhM/s1600/men-women.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qtgBGGaQVyRwHaBbil4R7c8hFDlUQU8vi7s8cT6_IuWnjiHMoW6aEpmkP3iS9mVLgsU1WP77LX9Z_dz7ooOuAYOUzh2j8kadR39wLgD-X8S-4gRptesBWGeNHf7KoJrSQo2el1WMuhM/s320/men-women.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b>Conclusion</b>: at some point male-female communication is not only impossible, but also impracticable and unbelievable... You just have to give it up...</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Dancing with colours</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"> – are
they antagonists or counterparts? I don’t like the idea that love is continuous
fight full of frustration but they both seem to be equal in this struggle and that's what appeals
to me. The man is like chiseled, I do agree, but somehow mostly P!nk attracts my attention: she seems to be ready for rivalry, then down to her feet, then up in a 'champion pose'... Kind of sporty behaviour? But is it a fair play or rather a dirty dance? Still, all the time they stay close to each other and exchange body colours - that appears optimistic...
Although if they were a true couple in a real relationship, I would advise them non-violent communication training;)</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/yTCDVfMz15M?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<br />
All in all <b>I simply love these videos. </b>People, who created them, firmly succeeded in harmonious combination of lyrics, tunes, movements and colours. I wish that to be a new trend in show business! I wish to see more and more clips following this path of creative expression. I hope I will:)</div>
Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12963287538491850458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703666462412463065.post-89415794629612613992013-02-19T15:57:00.000-08:002016-07-27T08:23:00.850-07:00Little Red KILLING Hood...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Warning:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
this post contains details about plot events of “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hard_Candy_%28film%29"><span style="color: blue;">HardCandy</span></a>” – a 2005 psychological thriller movie. I rather recommend you not
reading it before watching the film as even the smallest piece of information concerning
twists or climaxes (yes, more than one!) will spoil bewilderment /
shock / confusion / uniqueness (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">altogether
let’s call it ‘pleasure’</b>) of experiencing that independent production on
your own...</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">It lasts 100 minutes. 99% of the
time is led by two main characters, 14-year-old Hayley (perfect <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellen_Page"><span style="color: blue;">Ellen Page</span></a>) and 18 years older Jeff (genuine <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Wilson_%28actor%29"><span style="color: blue;">Patrick Wilson</span></a>). There are only 9 minutes of music. Rest
is dialogues, speeches (but not preaches!) and silence...</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><br /></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Opening scene:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
as I am following the online chat between <i>Thongrrrl14</i> and <i>Lensman319</i>, the
picture which comes to my mind is of a bad-looking, sinister deceiver – exactly
like from this social advert ‘<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xZHq4CQekTY"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: blue;">you never know who’s on the other side</span></b></a>’.</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">First twist:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
the moment Jeff the photographer meets Hayley the teenager at a public cafe, he
turns out to be very nice, charismatic and likeable, so positive and sensitive
– not dangerous at all. When the girl comments: </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You just don't look like the kind of guy</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>who has to meet girls
over the internet</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">he simply answers: </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">I think
it's better to meet people</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>online first sometimes.</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>You
get to know</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>what they're like inside.</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>When you work as a photographer</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>you
find out real quick, people's faces lie. </i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But so instantly they both behave more
and more flirtatious and teasing – the teenager in a such sweet, naive way – I
feel <b>the tension grows</b>. He invites her to his home and she agrees – yep! Gotcha! In a while I expect the horror to begin...</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Second twist:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
...but surprisingly at man’s house the young guest takes the initiative. With some
intoxicant in the alcoholic screwdriver she poisons the adult, ties him to the
chair, prepares some torture instruments. Woo hoo! Wait a minute! <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Who’s the villan, who’s the victim</b>??
Hayley accuses Jeff of being a pedophile but he pleads himself unguilty. Quite
convincing and empathic he is, isn’t he? And she... still intelligent, but more
and more diabolic, scurvy, spiteful... <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">That's
that whole nature versus nurture question, isn't it? Was I born a cute, vindictive,
little bitch or... did society make me that way?</i> – hearing these words from
her mouth I started asking myself: what the hell? Perhaps it truly is an act
of blind revenge towards an innocent person?? </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">First climax:</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
here comes the time when tiny 14-year-old puts on a doctor’s apron and very
seriously gets herself and her ‘patient’ ready for performing a... castration.
I am uneasy. Even though I agree with what she says in general, I can’t help
feeling sympathy to the exposed, helpless guy. But maybe <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">it seems a kind of ‘catharsis’ for all underage rape sufferers</b>,
when they listen to arguments like this: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">"She
was so sexy. She was asking for it." "She was only technically a
girl. She acted like a woman." It's just so easy to blame a kid, isn't it?
Just because a girl knows how to imitate a woman does not mean she's ready to
do what a woman does. I mean, you're the grown-up here. If a kid is<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>experimenting and says something flirtatious,
you ignore it. You don't encourage it. If a kid says, "Hey, let's make
screwdrivers," you take the alcohol away and you don't race them to the
next drink!</i></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Jeff, horrified and sweating, tries
his best negotiating skills: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You're
getting yourself in terrible trouble. If you cut me in any way, you won't
forget it. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It changes you when you hurt
somebody.</b> The things you do wrong... They haunt you. You wanna remember
this day when you're with a guy on a date? Or on your wedding night? 'Cause I
promise you, you will. Don't do that to yourself.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycz5AF69R9M5yzOOH1zYxq3etH1fugxBD4OS39qtEOjBs_pM2t0dBmOlvJkZ4OZhXCe2h9jFHSyau92wAmDI7XAkHvwZRoVzkODI5oBKtbfMIfzq9tm6GavJPAjHxxTVPZxtkxs2ZTH0/s1600/220px-HardCandy_movieposter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhycz5AF69R9M5yzOOH1zYxq3etH1fugxBD4OS39qtEOjBs_pM2t0dBmOlvJkZ4OZhXCe2h9jFHSyau92wAmDI7XAkHvwZRoVzkODI5oBKtbfMIfzq9tm6GavJPAjHxxTVPZxtkxs2ZTH0/s200/220px-HardCandy_movieposter.jpg" width="135" /></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Hayley reacts with nasty laughter: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">You know, that is so thoughtful. You are
speaking to me so selflessly. I mean, you just don't want me to castrate you for
my own benefit?</i> But then, when she says:<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
I am every little girl you ever watched... touched, hurt, screwed, killed – </i>it
does sound <b>painful and heartbreaking...</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">OK, I depicted like half of the
film. I assure you, watching the second part is sitting on the edge too. I’m
also leaving you with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">questions, doubts
and enigmas</b>: is Jeff a pedophile or not? Who’s Hayley for real? Why is she
wearing a red, hooded sweatshirt at the very beginning and ending? What does
the title mean? Final death is a suicide or murder? Eventually, how do you find the whole movie?... Cause I personally
admire totally everything in it. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">After
seeing numerous times it still is my favourite </b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">cinematographic</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> masterpiece ever.</span></b></div>
<br />Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12963287538491850458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703666462412463065.post-5004719762483046752013-01-20T12:51:00.001-08:002013-02-05T13:33:23.358-08:00MIDDLE-EARTH – MIRACLE OF CREATION<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcQ4xJqnKhuPWlFGpD4dLsOZX27APApW8Qm7IT0koVU8i4f-lw191F8AgBMoJDhom6CsCOWdx2SNcsG339_oYdEYljD3axUybHjwzEovDWMkouzpcRSgN9NL-AT7bjPDnl6Y_LfZoaks/s1600/Elven_Forest_by_lionknight.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpcQ4xJqnKhuPWlFGpD4dLsOZX27APApW8Qm7IT0koVU8i4f-lw191F8AgBMoJDhom6CsCOWdx2SNcsG339_oYdEYljD3axUybHjwzEovDWMkouzpcRSgN9NL-AT7bjPDnl6Y_LfZoaks/s320/Elven_Forest_by_lionknight.jpg" width="320" /></a><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN-US">Release of ‘<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hobbit:_An_Unexpected_Journey"><span style="color: blue;">The Hobbit</span></a>’ in cinemas coincided in time with our talks
about Bible at Petrycy High School. Therefore we discussed
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tolkien"><span style="color: blue;">Tolkien</span></a>’s fantasy masterpiece – the unexpected
journey and also <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings"><span style="color: blue;">the sequel trilogy</span></a> – as a </span></span><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN-US">deep-levelled
reference to the Book</span></span><span class="mw-headline"><span lang="EN-US">. Some
people may consider this tale about wizards, dwarves and magic to be pagan but
author negated that by himself:</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i>The Lord of the Rings</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> is of course a fundamentally religious and Catholic work;
unconsciously so at first, but consciously in the revision. That is why I have
not put in, or have cut out, practically all references to anything like
'religion', to cults or practices, in the imaginary world. For the religious
element is absorbed into <b>the story </b>and<b> the symbolism</b>.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">The
story</span></b></div>
<h4>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Although first Bilbo then Frodo happily live in idyllic,
paradise-like Shire, in some point of their existence they both need to make a
choice: either stay in their solid, stabile, peaceful place or leave for precarious,
perilous, insecure adventure... Isn’t that an alternative we all face while growing
up? Less or more voluntarily we have to quit our safe world of childhood and
begin the never-ending travel to find ourselves again – </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">to prove what we are, to test what
we can become, to try what we can change around us</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">. Life
is quest, to live means to look for the meaning of life and once you found it,
you fulfil the task, carry your burden until the end <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>– that’s what the nation of Israel taught us
thanks to their linear concept of time.</span></h4>
<h4>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
</h4>
<div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;"></span></div>
<h4>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;">Each of us has a share, everybody has a talent to
use in this journey. Sometimes ‘bigger’ and more exposed, like Gandalf’s sorcery
or Aragorn’s royalty; sometimes hidden as hobbits’ pure hearts. Finally it’s
their ‘</span><span lang="EN-US">small hands which
did great things</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;">’ by destroying fatal power of
Sauron, comparable to David against Goliath or Moses against Pharaoh. So it’s
us who decide whether to bury God’s gifts underground or risk using them interpersonally
(inter-speci-fically in case of hobbits dealing with men, elves, trolls and so
on). Not to risk at all is the biggest mistake – according to <span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_talents_or_minas">the Parable of the Talents</a> </span>– when you risk for a good
cause, you can make mistakes too, but they all will be forgiven. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;">Tolkien’s epic novel is full of </span><span style="font-weight: normal;">confession</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;">, mercy</span><span style="font-weight: normal;"> and forgiveness</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;"> acts</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;">,
not only Boromir’s yet also Bilbo’s, Sam’s, Frodo’s... Beside we remember numerous
moments when these last three characters together with Gandalf have mercy on
Gollum and how this disgusting creature saves them all at the very end...</span></h4>
<h4>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;"> </span></h4>
<h4>
</h4>
<div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">‘</span>What a tale we have been in, Mr. Frodo,
haven't we?</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span></b>reflects
Sam<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">wise Gamgee on the slope of
fiery cascading Mount Doom, caressing his friend’s four-fingered hand.</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span>‘I wish I could hear it told!<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Yes, that is my wish too, living the
life of which I am not ashamed or afraid to tell...</span><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: #6aa84f;">The
symbolism</span></b></div>
<h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span style="font-weight: normal; text-align: start;">There is a wide multitude of various texts revealing themes, motifs, symbols in 'The Lord of the Rings' and its prequel. I just want to summarise few of them:</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFcHzcREMg3c2Ydo1QN_QpJAJEHdXwoMmKk4pBM_yfkrOpdqmLttN2LDwEKb5UO3IQT8FHDqFVn3zrpYE8_adWuEQTjJgLFlrQNI5x1aFGlXjZjR74xcVzw497ubPpJ7wBKXa1ZY2wQY/s1600/middle-erath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggFcHzcREMg3c2Ydo1QN_QpJAJEHdXwoMmKk4pBM_yfkrOpdqmLttN2LDwEKb5UO3IQT8FHDqFVn3zrpYE8_adWuEQTjJgLFlrQNI5x1aFGlXjZjR74xcVzw497ubPpJ7wBKXa1ZY2wQY/s1600/middle-erath.jpg" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal; text-align: start;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: start;">Ring of Power <span style="font-weight: normal;">– gives you virtual freedom of being invisible but at the same time enslaves you, exactly as a sin does with human free will; it destroys relationships and ability to make independent choices</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Smeagol and Deagol<span style="font-weight: normal;"> – Kain and Abel, offence of jealousy between brothers - every sibling knows that feeling...; ring is the tempter here</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">Sauron<span style="font-weight: normal;"> - </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal; text-align: start;">tormenting, tyrannizing evil without any real form or shape; its eye opens into nothing</span><br />
Saruman<span style="font-weight: normal;"> – fallen angel, serf of satan</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<span lang="EN-US">Elves<span style="font-weight: normal;"> – angels, who are physically perfect, essentially immortal, unreachable beautiful, marvelous and mysterious</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Hobbits<span style="font-weight: normal;"> – children, innocent and
small yet living their own fabulous lives in </span></span><span style="font-weight: normal;">Shire, which is an example of ideal, rural community</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US">Aragorn and Arwen<span style="font-weight: normal;"> - models of liege lord and lady, sublime monarchs loved by their people</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US">Gandalf </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-weight: normal;">– sign of Jesus Christ, as his return is similar to resurrection; but also acts as a pope in Middle Ages, when crowns the king</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Battles and conflicts<span style="font-weight: normal;"> are images of the spiritual war - the struggle against evil we all fight every day</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Undying Lands<span style="font-weight: normal;"> - afterlife, eternal happiness</span></div>
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="text-align: start;">Dear Readers, feel invited to search for other meanings connected with Bible and cultural traditions. Don't hesitate to share them with me, cause I find this topic very intriguing. </span><span style="text-align: start;">Many thanks in anticipation!</span></span></div>
</h4>
Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12963287538491850458noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703666462412463065.post-1769780706917723162012-12-23T14:10:00.001-08:002013-03-31T12:15:03.985-07:00ABOUT EVE ON CHRISTMAS EVE…<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvoa2lo0XjU-PHC7gx3cTWY3jo7nG6GcwsWqyrUmUn93uy6HTUs7HHBNDg8KAb9z6zgVEd73NjI8chPHUyvskat1pGXeUNy0M3P5e54wPACbea6bQJAXhlHYNpEZ5aNHv6ovlI72TBKeE/s1600/JTM-AdamEve.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvoa2lo0XjU-PHC7gx3cTWY3jo7nG6GcwsWqyrUmUn93uy6HTUs7HHBNDg8KAb9z6zgVEd73NjI8chPHUyvskat1pGXeUNy0M3P5e54wPACbea6bQJAXhlHYNpEZ5aNHv6ovlI72TBKeE/s200/JTM-AdamEve.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The word ‘<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eve"><span style="color: blue;">eve</span></a>’
in English indicates two things alike: the name of first woman in the world and
the vigil of some important day. In Poland both these meanings meet on 24<sup>th</sup>
December, as it’s <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Christmas Eve</b> rich
in traditions (f. ex. non-meat dinner consisting of 12 dishes and ‘shepherds’
mass service at midnight), among them also <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">‘name
day’ of all people’s parents, Adam and Eve</b>.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
Th<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">is</span> custom <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">of celebrating ‘name day’ as particular saint
patron’s feast day comes from Roman Catholic and Greek Orthodox calendars of
saints. ‘Saint’ is the key word here but <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Adam
with Eve aren’t saints</b>! Hardly could they be, considering their
disobedience to God’s injunction... He forbade them </span>to eat from the tree
of knowledge of good and evil<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">
but our furthest ancestors broke the Creator’s command and as a result were
expelled from the paradisiac <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garden_of_Eden"><span style="color: blue;">Garden of Eden</span></a>...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">There were other consequences of
‘the first fall’ too: Adam, Eve and all their descendants became mortal, born
in original sin, in need of baptism to erase it, guilty of actual trespasses,
hardworking to stay alive. Moreover the entire natural world was corrupted as
animals divided into prey or predators with all the effects of pain and
death... <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">What a crude punisment for eating
one small apple</b>!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">When I heard this story as a child I
felt fury: how could the first human couple be so careless and reckless? Then I
read for numerous times it was only Eve’s guilt and that’s why all women should
be duteous and obedient to men – as it has been (and still is) in patriarchal societies.
That made me even more furious, cause in my opinion <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">if Adam hadn’t wanted the prohibited fruit, he wouldn’t have taken it</b>
and males shifting whole responsibility to females on that basis are simply
immature. Until now this narration from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Genesis"><span style="color: blue;">Book of Genesis</span></a> constantly gives me food for thoughts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Today I agree more with <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/beliefs/originalsin_1.shtml"><span style="color: blue;">psychological explanation</span></a>: paradise is our childhood,
blissful and serene under parental supervision, while expulsion from this
heavenly garden begins with </span>s<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">mall</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span>naughtiness<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">es against them. In teenage years it continues
with bigger insubordinations and – I believe – finishes with</span><span lang="EN-US"> </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">first s</span>exual intercourse</b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> (forbidden fruit!)</span></b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> as a symbol of total disconnection from ones’ mother and father cause
it means possibility of conceiving a new human being. In ideal world it should
be an act of the biggest maturity...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In this context ‘first sin’ understood
as becoming independent and fully grown is just the evidence of adolescence and
should be perceived as a positive phenomenom! <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Without rebellion against authorities there’s no psychical progress! </b>According
to psychology each natural crisis in human life is the occasion to development.
</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Life is a series of lessons and
challenges which help us to grow</i><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></i><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erikson%27s_stages_of_psychosocial_development"><span style="color: blue;">Erikson</span></a>); <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity</i> (Einstein).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So... let’s not blame Eva or Adam
for evil’s existence in universe especially on their name day... I personally
choose to accept my human nature with tendency to making mistakes but also
ability to improve. I believe <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">we are all
light’n’shadow, black’n’white, angel’n’serpent</b>...</span></div>
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<![endif]-->Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12963287538491850458noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703666462412463065.post-86879843704905602752012-12-10T15:32:00.001-08:002013-02-05T12:34:05.407-08:00"WHAT IS LEFT WHEN THE PASSION HAS GONE"<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I probably
wouldn’t have watched that film if it hadn’t been the 2<sup>nd</sup> class
students’ suggestion for the Teachers’ Day. And I need to say I would have been
poorer of some warm-hearted feelings and discerning thoughts – so let me thank
you, my 18-year-olds, for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Captain_Corelli%27s_Mandolin_%28film%29"><span style="color: blue;">‘Captain Corelli’s Mandolin’</span></a>!</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">We could
say it’s another <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">tale of love and war</b>,
based on the award-winning book by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_de_Berni%C3%A8res"><span style="color: blue;">Louis de Berni</span></a></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_de_Berni%C3%A8res"><span style="color: blue;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">è<span style="color: blue;">res</span></span></span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">, but as simple as it sounds, the story is truly
unconventional. Situated on a small Greek island called Cephallonia, begins
with depiction of everyday life of dr. Iannis, respected though unofficial
doctor of medicine. He lives with his only daughter Pelagia, beloved and
educated by him, preparing to be his work-successor. When Pelagia (authentic
role of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pen%C3%A9lope_Cruz"><span style="color: blue;">Penelope Cruz</span></a>) falls in love with a local
fisherman Mandras, her father warns it’s only lust but anyway accepts her
choice. The young couple engages and that’s the moment when <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the Second World War breaks out</b>.
Mandras decides to go fighting despite his </span>fiancée<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">’s will and disappears for a long time, never
answering Pelagia’s numerous letters. When he finally comes back he confesses
his illiteracy and behaves wildly. The woman tries her best but she cannot
respect him anymore.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">In the
meantime Cephallonia is being occupied by quite unordinary conscript soldiers –
</span>the<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span>Italian Acqui Division<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> entirely consisting of opera
singers and musicians. They’re not interested in warfare at all, instead fond
of wine, good food and willing women. They wholly fullfil stereotype of Apennine
Peninsula’s inhabitants and the biggest ‘Italiano vero’ of them all is their captain
Antonio Corelli. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas_Cage"><span style="color: blue;">Nicholas Cage</span></a> is not my
favourite actor but I cannot imagine anyone else playing this character. He is
so brisk & vigorous and has so stunning accent! Yes, he's got Italian
background, Aunt Wiki just showed me he’s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_Ford_Coppola"><span style="color: blue;">Francis Ford<span style="color: black;"><b> </b></span>Coppola</span></a>’s nephew..<b>.</b></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">OK
– you could comment – we already know where it leads to – Pelagia and Antonio fall
for each other, war ends, they live happily ever after... Well, not that quick!
There are other protagonists in this movie too! Firstly, the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">historical links between two great ancient
civilisations</b>, Grecian and Roman. Even when Italian soldiers are allies of
Nazis they tend to get on better with their Greek enemies than Aryan friends.
Music, dance and plain lifejoy unite them so much that in September 1943 it
becomes rather easy for whole division to </span>refuse to surrender and f<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">ight</span> the Germans for nine
days before running out of ammunition.<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span lang="EN-US">I had no idea that almost 10 000 of Italian soldiers died there
– either in the combat or after it, massacred and drowned in the sea by former
fascist partners... Secondly, there are also amazing <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">shots of nature</b>, beautiful, spectacular as well as powerful...</span></span><br />
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<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The
writer himself descibed his novel to be about<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">"what happens
to the little people when megalomaniacs get busy."</b><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span lang="EN-US">To me these ‘little people’
grow bigger and bigger as they prove devotion, sacrifice, self-restraint... And
no, I’m not going to reveal the story ending here! Curious? Find it out for
yourself! I wish you a nice watch</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span></span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">.</span></div>
Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12963287538491850458noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703666462412463065.post-81143144619705252942012-09-23T13:46:00.000-07:002013-02-05T12:38:00.624-08:00ONCE UPON A SEPTEMBER...<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<![endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Raise your
hands if you can’t help looking forward to next Sunday, 8 pm, premiere of the
most fabulous <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Once_Upon_a_Time_%28season_1%29">ABC fairytale’s</a> second season! I am counting down days and
minutes, at the same time asking myself: ‘Why is that? What’s so addictive in
this story? Am I insane or do I really want to believe in the magic of powerful
feelings?’</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8oCmiRcRF9AI5q_Mq6zHKeav4XPE0rgKSQTOp11ogyU0GVNZLD5F4El_TErsjIjyc5vxcb36UG7MQjIX5PshCqrX5kE-zpeMG_lu27sXm9mpkDj_FMbYjdesagW6L_-5bpLOTPpRej0/s1600/tv-once-upon-a-time08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8oCmiRcRF9AI5q_Mq6zHKeav4XPE0rgKSQTOp11ogyU0GVNZLD5F4El_TErsjIjyc5vxcb36UG7MQjIX5PshCqrX5kE-zpeMG_lu27sXm9mpkDj_FMbYjdesagW6L_-5bpLOTPpRej0/s320/tv-once-upon-a-time08.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Well,
let’s try answering: as for me the greatest value of this show are <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">strong women</b>: not only the Evil Queen
bending whole universe to her will but also Snow White with surprising
underactions as a rogue bandit and Gretel the older sister winning over </span>cannibalistic
Blind Witch<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">. </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Equally
strong in both real and magical worlds are Cinderella bravely defending her
new-born child, beautiful Belle deciding to live with the beast to save her
father’s kingdom, as well as Ruby the not-Little very-Red Wolfing Hood... and
even Abigail the princess generously releasing her ‘husband-to-be’ after she
discovered he was in love with other – to me she counts as an independent,
positive personality too.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">But obviously
‘<b>the strongest of them all</b>’ is a female leading character, Emma Swan, mother
fighting for her child so many times in so many ways stereotypically believed
to be ‘male roles’: in the mine after earthquake, against the dragon monster, against
the city mayor... She’s a butt-kicker, intelligent detective, courageous feminine
taking all the neccessary actions. Smart, professional and lonely. So realistic
even in the very middle of fantasy world.</span></div>
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<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Anyway
all the women in season one are totally anti-Disney creations. They make their
own choices, live with consequences, try to change unbearable – with or without
men’s help... Yeah, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">what about male
characters</b>? Is it just my impression or do they really seem braver, bolder,
more valiant in the fairy world than in reality?? Then what happens to boys in
our 21<sup>st</sup> century globalised civilisation, the example of which is
Storybrooke? Why Pinocchio abandons small Emma? Why David Nolan doesn’t defend
Mary Margaret as she defended him? Why sheriff Graham is Regina’s puppet?...</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;">
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">And
the magic... This TV series helped me understand that magic does exist in our world
– that our <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">human emotions </b>are magic,
for some of us entirely mysterious, for others recognizable by intuition. Once
I’ve read so true sentence: ‘you can’t control your feelings, only what you do
about them’ – and the most omnipotent people are these who can take this
control in their own hands.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Last but
not least: I personally adore the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">episodes’
titles </b>with double and sometimes triple meaning! “The Price of Gold” is a
great example – in a fairy world that’s the price Cinderella must pay for </span>Rumplestiltskin<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> <span lang="EN-US">financial help while in a
real life that’s the deal Emma makes with Mr. Gold. The same about “Skin Deep”
or “Red-Handed”.</span> </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">I must
admit I’m also a little bit afraid if season two will fulfil my both feministic
and child-like expectations for true values shown in a unique way. Still I have
seven days to wait. Are you counting them down with me or not?:)</span></div>
Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12963287538491850458noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703666462412463065.post-90041511513172522322012-07-23T11:53:00.000-07:002013-06-12T06:06:20.519-07:00IRELAND AFTER ELEVEN years<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;">I’ve been to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/%C3%89ire">Eire</a> for one month in 2001, mostly in western part but also in Dublin for a couple of days. At present I’m spending the same amount of time mainly in the capital city. How much can a place be changed during such a period? Which changes seem visible and important for a foreign observer like me? What things didn’t change and seem to be constant in this most western European country?</span> <br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #00b050;">THE SAME</span></b> </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;">First of all – <b>Irish people</b>. As friendly, open, positive and kind-hearted as I remembered. Whether you ask the way, do shopping, go to any institution or even cross the road not exactly on the pedestrian passage, the reaction is always polite, patient, relaxed and still effective. Honestly, I haven’t met any nervous drivers, any rude officials, any complaining or negative attitudes at all!</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;">Next – <b>the Emerald Island</b>, as green and beautiful from the plane’s window as for the eye of a walker. Dublin – huge, international city, which looks like a nice, lovely town (apart from the crowded centre and industrial areas), thanks to omnipresent parks, meadows, pleasure grounds, grasslands, trees and bushes and these fabulous <a href="http://www.geolocation.ws/v/W/File:Dublin%20-%20Merrion%20Square%20-%20Georgian%20Terraced%20Houses%20-%20geograph.org.uk%20-%201616469.jpg/-/en">terraced houses</a> with gorgeous gardens. From what I’ve seen their style is typical for each district. Very few blocks or skyscrapers don’t ruin the landscape. This place is a dream for everybody tired with hustle and bustle of urban agglomerations.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><b>Weather</b> </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">– yeah, that’s something you can rely on in Ireland. Changeable all the time but no extremes, almost always mild and temperate</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">. And I’ve heard that the best Irish weather forecaster is simply a <a href="http://fineartamerica.com/featured/irish-stone-wall-near-the-hill-fort-keenpress.html">stone</a>. Why? Well, when you observe the nearest stone and it’s wet, that definitely means rain. Stone is dry – it doesn’t rain. You can see stone’s shadow on the ground – it’s sunny. Stone’s white on top – it must be snowing. What if you can’t see the stone? It’s foggy. Stone’s swinging – windy day. Stone jumps up and down – earthquake, watch out! Stone’s gone and your house too – tornado…</span><br />
<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #00b050;">DIFFERENT</span></b> </span><br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;">Main difference I’ve noticed is connected with my homeland: in 2001 I was a scout volunteer in Killaloe Water Activity Centre near Limerick and I was the first Polish person the local people have ever met. Poland wasn’t a member of the EU at that time or didn’t have direct flights to Dublin, so I had to travel via Frankfurt and London, at the airports talk to the immigrant officers, go through detailed passport and luggage controls, wait for the permission to stay. After 2004 things really changed. Now there are <b>plenty of Polish people</b> everywhere in Ireland: living, working, staying, sightseeing. There wasn’t a day out during which I didn’t hear my mother tongue somewhere: at a shop, in the bank, on a bus, in the concert hall, while walking around <a href="https://www.google.com/search?oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&ie=UTF-8&q=wicklow+mountains&fb=1&hl=pl&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=li&biw=1008&bih=409&sei=f5gNUKLfM4bd0QHDp4HRAw">Wicklow mountains</a> and so on...</span></div>
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<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;">Secondly – O’Connell street. At first sight it looked exactly the same – multicultural, busy, colourful. Oh, but right in the middle there is this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spire_of_Dublin"><b>Spire of Dublin</b></a>, over 120 metres high steel and shiny, pin-like Monument of Light. Installed in 2003, it’s the world’s tallest sculpture and immediately became the most popular meeting point both for residents and visitors. It is amazing, gleaming at dusk, and even the annual cleaning with an enormous crane seems to be a great tourist attraction, considering<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=cleaning+the+spire&hl=pl&client=firefox-a&hs=auO&rls=org.mozilla:pl:official&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=lZwNUKKOKcnW2gW28IGwDw&ved=0CGsQsAQ&biw=1008&bih=409"> amount of photos</a> and YT films showing that ‘event’.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;">Finally, it was very impressive to find out that </span><span lang="UK" style="font-size: small;">Ireland became the <b>first country in the world</b> to introduce an environmental levy for <span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">plastic shopping bags</span> in 2002 and a public <span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none;">smoking ban</span> in 2004</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;">. Added to all advantages of recycling it makes the country rather clean and tidy, with fresh air inside buildings and also outside.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;">All in all - Eire is a fantastic land worth visiting and coming back...</span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: small;"></span></div>
Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12963287538491850458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703666462412463065.post-301755920671916552012-04-30T14:53:00.000-07:002013-02-05T12:45:12.302-08:00THAT BLOODY GAME OF THRONES!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Song_of_Ice_and_Fire"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: green;">Book</span></b></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">Fantastic, thrilling and breath-taking – yes, I
couldn’t stop reading, totally unable to take my eyes of the pages until I
finished each of<span style="color: red;"> </span>five parts, one by one, night
by night. But “<b>A Song of Ice and Fire</b>” is also full of violence, brutal
sexuality, moral ambiguity. As is the real world in which we live – you may
say. That’s why I love fantasy: the better it is, the more complicated and
altogether integrated world it creates<span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US">After Narnia and Harry Potter we are used to
fantasy in which good wins over evil, heroes do have their bad qualities but
are unable to commit serious crimes, villains have hearts as black as the heart
of darkness. However, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GRR_Martin">Martin</a> mercilessly breaks this convention. He starts with
all range of people’s characters but when the whole Westeros is at war, they
behave as if their only choice is ‘<b>change for the worse or die</b>’. Noble Edward
Stark? Dead. Smart boyish Arya? Killing machine. Tender barbarian Khal Drogo?
Dead. Friendly Theon Greyjoy? Traitor. Victorious Robb Stark? Dead. Brave
Catelyn his mother? Monster. Jovial Renly Baratheon? Dead. Cunning Tyrion
Lannister? Father-slayer. Handsome Jon Snow? Dead. Cute baby dragons born in
fire? Deadly even for their mother Daenerys. She herself becomes cruel too… No
angels at all, only outlaws and devils in those books of G.R.R. Martin.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US">Maybe that’s the saga’s most important message
given to us: during the war noone can stay positive and survive, because war is
as night: dark and full of terrors...<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>I keep telling myself that <b>fantasy shows us what
we want to be like, how we shouldn’t be and makes us believe in happy endings</b>. Is
it possible with that gamebook?...</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Game_of_Thrones_%28TV_series%29"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: green;">TV series</span></b></a><span lang="EN-US"> </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ydGtM_baD3UYkVA_DShyXBtYfYqgriROJZ-hLs5AXsG_2KR8e6vXhHu9dcjcLycsvOj7cTnPJs1spPTo3PecAVXULXZZGKYK_2HAWvkIMyOhc19N5txIKeVdg8MRCqiKNQr1qhObHcQ/s1600/game+of+thrones,+dwarf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ydGtM_baD3UYkVA_DShyXBtYfYqgriROJZ-hLs5AXsG_2KR8e6vXhHu9dcjcLycsvOj7cTnPJs1spPTo3PecAVXULXZZGKYK_2HAWvkIMyOhc19N5txIKeVdg8MRCqiKNQr1qhObHcQ/s200/game+of+thrones,+dwarf.jpg" width="200" /></a><span lang="EN-US">American author, American screenwriters and
directors – mind you, it’s HBO production. But <b>only one American actor</b>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Dinklage">Peter Dinklage</a>! Rest of cast is European, mostly English, Scottish and Irish. Good
choice, they totally prove their superiority – not superbeauties or superstars,
ordinary people by appearance, we could meet them on the street and not notice.
But in the series they glisten and make the story come true in every second –
thanks to their accents too. I love listening to all of them: queens and kings,
knights and peasants, adults and kids.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US">Back to the brilliant American exception among
actors, ‘halfman’. He plays my favourite character and I’m looking forward to
his show up in each new episode. The most intelligent but physically the
weakest, as powerless in this violent world as a child. He’s almost always
endangered, with life at risk, but able to remain sensitive and fair. Totally
opposite of ancient Plato’s values: beauty = good = truth. <b>Don’t judge the book
by the cover</b>, when lovely Cersei is the most wicked of them all…</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US">It seems that Peter Dinklage is literally tied
to roles of dwarves. But I’ve seen him as a ‘Little Pocket Friend’ in
Chronicles of Narnia and a train chaser in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Station_Agent">The Station Agent</a>. This last title is
not fantasy and still fantastic. Shows that the biggest problem of the hero is
not having a short stature but simply being human. </span><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12pt;">Cause all the people suffer
from something that may be not as visible as dwarfism and still destroys their
psyche. </span><span lang="EN-US">It may be terminal illness of a relative, death of a child, unwanted
pregnancy and so on.</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US">As for now The Station Agent gives more positive message than Game of
Thrones, season 2, episode 5. But – is it optimism or naivety? – both the book
and the series are to be continued…</span></div>
Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12963287538491850458noreply@blogger.com1Pilzno, Polska49.97976 21.2949249.9389165 21.215956000000002 50.0206035 21.373884tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703666462412463065.post-32917432011937957082012-04-07T14:06:00.002-07:002013-03-31T12:14:39.536-07:00DOES EASTER BUNNY LAY CHOCOLATE EGGS?<span lang="EN-US">In the mythical years of my childhood I didn’t know <b>‘Easter rabbit’ tradition</b>. We had <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P%C4%85czki">doughnuts</a> on Fat Thursday, three lenten meals on Ash Wednesday, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Palm_Sunday_in_Poland.PNG">dried flowers bouquets</a> on Palm Sunday and – the most important of all – <a href="http://www.shutterstock.com/pic-26273785/stock-photo-easter-lamb-figurine-on-painted-easter-eggs-put-in-wicker-basket-and-bunch-of-pussy-willow-branches.html">Easter Lamb</a> with colourful eggs and plenty of different food products in a basket for blessing on Holy Saturday.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">In these magical times I had no idea that there are other countries; not to indicate other customs. Like <a href="http://bernews.com/2012/04/bermudas-easter-kite-flying-tradition/">flying home-made kites</a> in Bermuda, <a href="http://festivals.iloveindia.com/easter/traditions/easter-in-norway.html">reading detective stories</a> in Norway, ornamenting trees with Easter eggs (specially red </span><span lang="EN-US">and green) in Germany. Or decorating wells with spring flowers in Switzerland, <a href="http://www.evergreenexpress.sg/make-colorful-diy-easter-egg-planter">growing wheat</a> in pots on windowsills in the USA and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Easter_egg">Easter egg hunt</a> in the UK. As for this last convention, I was shocked to find out that children of the British Isles often think <a href="http://www.weirdomatic.com/weird-easter-traditions.html">eggs come from rabbits</a>, not hens – ‘cause that’s Easter bunny hiding tasty eggs for them in March or April every year!</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US">Worth mentioning fact about Australia: fertile bunnies brought from Europe have rather ‘black PR’ down under so that’s not them who provide children with new-life-eggs but the <a href="http://www.easterbilby.com/">Easter Bilby</a> (an endangered species of Australia).</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US">On the whole I recognize <b>cultural diversity as a great value in our globalized world</b>; yet it was very nice to read that in ‘brother-like’ Hungary they <a href="http://www.womansday.com/life/easter-traditions-from-around-the-world-105074">throw water</a> on each other – exactly as our ‘shower pour’ on Holy Monday. Even if I personally hate this idea and hide myself at home on this very day!</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"><br style="mso-special-character: line-break;" /> </span>Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12963287538491850458noreply@blogger.com2Pilzno, Polska49.97976 21.2949249.9389165 21.215956000000002 50.0206035 21.373884tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703666462412463065.post-31849426152013422712012-03-29T14:10:00.002-07:002013-02-05T12:49:45.432-08:00THEY GOT TALENT!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZli-BCeI5jMozwKDAoVZQEv4Y9fpuYWJP2lqSKV607FegV0clhSsGRlrMzPjmdd0BMNZ22QqBjT3k0zly8IXUXGfIPWYWTh8EwOgU6N0aGqtz8CZ_bLsLzsJYeTXD___fdpORyCyL44k/s1600/music.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZli-BCeI5jMozwKDAoVZQEv4Y9fpuYWJP2lqSKV607FegV0clhSsGRlrMzPjmdd0BMNZ22QqBjT3k0zly8IXUXGfIPWYWTh8EwOgU6N0aGqtz8CZ_bLsLzsJYeTXD___fdpORyCyL44k/s200/music.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:hyphenationzone>21</w:HyphenationZone> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> <w:usefelayout/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:Standardowy; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">This morning our students have taken part in <b>10<sup>th</sup> Regional Festival of Young Talents</b> – the number means it started being organized before all these ‘Got talent’ shows! And in 2002 nobody heard of YouTube – do we even remember the world without YT?? Hardly so...</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Back to the festival: ‘The Petrycy Band’ played one Polish song (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUXeBfkvXmc&feature=relmfu">Kiss Me</a>) then one in English (<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUbdoymkV9Y&feature=relmfu">Highway to Hell</a>) and one vocalist succeeded. But as for whole bands jury preferred lighter repertoire, not so rocky or metallic... Thinking that <b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">de gustibus non est disputandum</i></b> I’ve come back home, connected the net and (as on every other day since February) played <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8UVNT4wvIGY">‘Somebody That I Used to Know’</a> by Gotye and Kimbra. Sudden shock hit me as I realized that never before shared I my music taste with millions! For weeks and weeks <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLQl3WQQoQ0">Adele</a> plus Gotye & Kimbra stay on top of charts almost everywhere with their thrilling lyrics, unusual tunes and maximally magical videos. I totally admire living at this point in time and space than living in times when L.Gaga or other J.Lo held first positions; hard to listen to and even worse to watch. As my scoutmate once said: “Plenty of popular music videos look like promotion of<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>escort agency”. Yuk!</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">So, is it <b>a change for better in global culture </b>(cool-ture;) or just one insigificant incident that such artistic, metaphoric and sophisticated records beat all the ‘madonas’ with their nakedness? Should it be a hint to our young musicians and singers or not?</span><br />
<br />
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Finally, I don’t understand why so many internauts try to pay compliments to Kimbra commenting that she sings exactly like Katy Perry. But she doesn’t – she’s got her own, original, smooth but strong voice with soft south accent and I love it!</span>Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12963287538491850458noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1703666462412463065.post-27590234438794702322012-03-26T13:01:00.003-07:002013-02-05T12:55:23.508-08:00STORK OR STORKESS?<span lang="EN-US">Last week one of my students asked me<b> if I was a feminist</b>. The whole thing came into view as I was explaining why men do have one honorary title ‘Mr’ but for women we need to choose out of three: ‘Miss’, ‘Mrs’ or ‘Ms’.</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span>
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<span lang="EN-US">I must admit I didn’t give a straight answer, just brought back the time, many years ago, when I had conducted workshops about feminism for students in Cracow. Yep, all I had known then was from books or magazines; in books I had read about this very wide variety of movements called ‘feministic’. Now I just have to type the F word in Google’s search box and voila, here it is<span style="font-size: small;">:</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US"> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism"> </a></span><b><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism">Feminism</a></span></i></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt;">is a collection of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminist_movement" title="Feminist movement"><span style="background: white;">movements</span></a><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span style="background: white;">aimed at defining, establishing, and defending<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminism_and_equality" title="Feminism and equality"><span style="background: white;">equal</span></a></span></i><i><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></i><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt;">political, economic, and social rights for women.</span></i><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></i><span class="apple-converted-space"><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt;"> </span></i></span><i><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt;">In addition, feminism seeks to establish equal opportunities for women in education and employment. A<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><b>feminist</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>is a "person whose beliefs and behavior are based on feminism."</span></i><i><sup><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> </span></sup></i><sup><span style="background: white; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"></span></sup><span lang="EN-US"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Yeah, according to this simply definition I am a feminist. I am definitely and totally for equal political (voting!), economic (earning!) and social (no more double standards!) rights for women. But when I go deeper into the topic, from catholic and conservative feminism on the right wing, through black and postcolonial, lipstick and third-wave, ecofeminism, socialist on the left wing, but also riot grrrl and anarchafeminism to radical, separatists or lesbian one – <b>I find some issues I do agree on and some I disagree about</b>. <o:p></o:p> </span><br />
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<span lang="EN-US">Generally speaking:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Division of labour within households</b> – I’m completely for it;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Reproductive rights</b> – mostly for, especially education and healthcare, but absolutely against abortion;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><b>Gender-neutral language</b> – nice idea, possible in English but not in Polish, no way...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">P</span></b><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><b>atriarchal concept of masculinity</b><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">– entirely against!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><b>Pornography or prostitution</b> – honestly I can’t believe they may be mature and valid choices of any women, can I??</span></span><br />
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
<span class="apple-converted-space"><span lang="EN-US" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">All in all I reminded myself of battle for ideals. <a href="http://journeymanphilosopher.blogspot.com/2012/01/battle-for-ideals-is-battle-for-future.html">Paul P. Mealing</a>, Australian blogger, wrote that this kind of battle is the battle for the future. So, my students, are you feminists?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Barbarahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12963287538491850458noreply@blogger.com1