The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn: Images of Jim

By today you have read through chapter 23 of Twain's novel.  Yesterday in class we explored the nature of the relationship between Huck and Jim.  We wrote about the ways in which it did / didn't change after the events of chapters 14 and 15.

What are your thoughts about Jim at this point in the novel?  What kind of character is he?  How are you picturing him?

In a new post, respond to the following prompts:

1. Generate a list of 7-9 words you would use to describe Jim in terms of his beliefs, actions, and feelings.
2. Generate a list of 3-5 words you would use to describe Jim in terms of his physical appearance.

Next, go to this gallery of images (you might need to use this one).  These come from a variety of sources but are all illustrations of Jim.  Some of them were images included within the text; others were covers or promotional posters.  Browse through the gallery slowly, spending time looking at each image.  Be aware of these issues (take some notes in your notebook - no need to write anything yet):

• Which characters other than Jim appear in the illustration?
• What are they doing?  What is their physical relationship with each other?
• What is Jim doing? 
• Examine the physical details of Jim - his face, especially eyes and mouth; his expression; his arms; his body - what is the image conveying about him?
• Who holds power in this image?  How is it conveyed?
• Is Jim shown through stereotypes?  Which ones?

Now, select one or two of the images that most closely illustrates the words you used in your post.  Cut and paste that image from the "Images of Jim" post above into your blog post and add a short comment explaining the connection.
Then, select one or two of the images that is least similar to your description - the one furthest from your impression of him.  Again, cut and past them into your post and add a commentary.

Lastly, write a response to these questions:

• Which image most faithfully illustrates the novel's text?  How do Mark Twain's words represent Jim - as more of a character, or a caricature?

Occupy Wall Street and Thoreau's "Civil Disobedience"

What would Thoreau think of the "Occupy Wall Street" movement?

We will explore that hypothetical possibility on our discussions later today.  For now, you will take some time to familiarize yourself with this month-old movement that continues to gain more participants, attention, and analysis.  Browse through some of these sites first, then search for recent stories.  Take notes in your journal to help you to participate in the discussion next period.

http://occupywallst.org/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/news/occupy-wall-street
http://www.cnn.com/
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/o/occupy_wall_street/index.html

and here's a great collection of photos to browse through:
http://70.32.78.35/symu/lee/2011/10/12/ows-new-photos-oct-12/

Emerson's "Self-Reliance"

Today we will work with Emerson's "Self-Reliance" essay.  Read through these instructions - we will be looking to make connections between Emerson's essay and photos we find.

Start by going to this document and selecting one of the quotations from the essay.  Once you have selected the one you want to work with today, come and tell Mr. Rigler or Mr. Kramer.  Each one will be used only once on a first-come, first served basis (per computer lab).

Next, spend some time brainstorming ideas that will become the basis of your search for a photograph / image that expresses something about what the quote means.  You should have several words / phrases as a starting point.

Then, you will work to find a collection of photographs that somehow express the ideas in the quotation.  You can look anywhere on the web, but these are good places to start:
NYPL Digial Gallery
Alamy
FotoSearch
Worlds Famous Photos
ScribD Famous Photos

Create a post using at least three images and your chosen quotation.  You do not need to type anything else.

Go to the class blog.  Look at the three names above yours (starting from the bottom of the list if necessary).  Go to that person's blog and look at their Emerson quote / picture post.  Add a comment to it, saying something about how the image affects your thinking about the quotation.  What do you now understand about it?