Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Week 7A Reading

Week 7A Reading will be from the Notes on the Folklore of the Fjort were collected in the late 19th century by R. E. Dennett

1. How the Wives Restored Their Husband To Life -
The women were starving until the men brought them food to eat after a long hunt. The women imagined that the men were dead and brought them back to life and they made them food. 

2. How Gazelle Got Married -
Nsassi claimed two women as his wives. There was a war but Nsassi won and got to marry the women.

3. The Vanishing Wife -
A weird section about a parrot showing a fish to woman and making everything vanish into thin air.

4. Another Vanishing Wife -
Instead of the woman leaving it was the other way around. The men left the woman because she treated him badly.

5. The Jealous Wife -
The wife was jealous of the other wife due to her having a more brighter and more intelligent child.

6. Ngomba's Balloon -
While fishing she lets our her frustrations over her mothers' neglect.

7. The Wicked Husband -
They killed husband by burning him alive while he was tied up and they made the wife smoke and dry the body.

8. How Kengi Lost Her Child -
Gunga stole Kengi's new born child and Kengi cried as she demanded that Gunga give her the kid.

9. The Twin Brothers -
Not a very good relationship between the two brothers as Luemba hunted his brother down and killed him.

10. The Younger Brother Who Knew More Than The Elder -
They went out and discovered that one of their wives was in a trap. The brother ultimately tricked the man and returned home with the wife.

World's Deepest River

Friday, February 21, 2020

Week 6 Story: The Life and Death of Buddha

THE LIFE AND DEATH OF BUDDHA

Author's Note: For this story we'll be taking original elements from Part One of The Life of Buddha by Andre Ferdinand Herold. Instead of starting from birth to becoming the Buddha, we will start in the middle of Siddhartha's story as he becomes the Buddha and finish with his death/rebirth with more of a humble origin story rather than being a Prince. 


STORY

A depressed Siddhartha looks out upon the world.
He’s shut himself and has isolated himself.
His father does not like the state of mind in which his son is in.
The father decides to throw a party.
Everyone is laughing and happy.
Everyone except Siddhartha.
He doesn’t want any of this.
He thinks there is more purpose to his life than being a farmer boy.
After the party Siddhartha decides.
He decides he’s going to leave home and never look back on his past.
On his journey to find himself he runs into an old man.
The old man handed him an old robe and other clothes to guard his skin from the natural elements.
Siddhartha journey continues up a mountain.
Siddhartha reaches the top of the mountain.
In his new robe Siddhartha feels like he is king of all.
Siddhartha ultimately changes his mind and chooses to return home to his mother and father.
On his way back he encounters invaders from distant lands.
The name of this foe is Mara.
Mara’s army has never lost.
They have a reputation of being butchers to populations that do not surrender.
Siddhartha approaches Mara.
Mara orders Siddhartha to remove himself from the path.
Siddhartha refuses to do so.
Mara orders the army to open fire on Siddhartha.
Before Mara’s army could get of an arrow.
Mother Earth emerged and swallowed Mara’s army whole into the ground.
Mara surrenders to Siddhartha, the new Buddha.
Siddhartha journeys home.
He finds his mother and father.
Tells them of his adventure.
He tells them that he believes his journey in this life is complete.
It was at this moment that his parents finally feared death.
They knew their son was about to part from their world.
They thought it would be a bloody exit.
But Buddha simply disappears into the sunset.

Officially reincarnated into a god.

Siddhartha Gautama

Thursday, February 20, 2020

Week 6B Reading

Week 6B Reading will be from Part One of The Life of Buddha by Andre Ferdinand Herold

Siddhartha Leaves -
Siddhartha leaves his family and has zero regrets!?!?!

Siddhartha the Hermit -
He is presented with robes and he's ecstatic about it. He felt like he was the king of the mountain because of it.

Gopa and Suddhodana Grieve -
Chandaka says he will not return until he's conquered old age and death. And his father loses it when he leaves the city.

Arata Kalama
The most interesting part about this section is when it talks about or rather lack of is the lack of fear of death even though it talks about death three times in a short span of time.

Siddhartha and King Vimbasara -
Rudraka's disciples join Siddhartha at the end of the section.

Siddhartha Deserted by His First Disciples -
They weren't loyal to him so they left him to join or go to Benares. Moral of the story is not to trust anyone that joined you recently.

The Tree of Knowledge -
There is great depiction in the section. Particularly the description leading to the tree of life:

The road was sprinkled with gold-dust; rare palms, covered with precious stones, lined the way. He skirted the edge of a pool whose blessed waters exhaled an intoxicating perfume. White, yellow, blue and red lotuses spread their massive petals over the surface, and the air rang with the clear songs of the swans. Near the pool, under the palms, Apsarases were dancing, while in the sky the Gods were admiring the hero.

Mara's Defeat -
Mara had an army that commanded respect and fear of their opponents. This did not matter as the mother of the Earth came and won the day. Mara broke down because they had lost.

Siddhartha Becomes the Buddha -
There is a new Buddha!

He has come, he who brings light into the world; he has come, he who protects the world! Long blinded, the eye of the world has opened, and the eye of the world is dazzled by the light. O conqueror, you will give all beings that which they hunger after. Guided by the sublime light of the law, all creatures will reach the shores of deliverance. You hold the lamp; go now and dispel the darkness!

Baby Buddha

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Week 6A Reading

Week 6A Reading will be from Part One of The Life of Buddha by Andre Ferdinand Herold

Maya's Dream -
There is a lot dialogue between Maya and Suddhodana in this first of the story. I liked the part where she basically became a god and let the blind see, the deaf hear, the dumb speak, and the dying actually die.

Birth of Siddhartha -
This part covers the birth of the son of Maya and Suddhodana. Suddhodana as any parent would, is full of joy and happiness. He led a caravan of people to his sons birthplace.

Asita's Prediction -
Asita is a hermit and he broke down into tears when he saw baby Buddha.

Siddhartha at the Temple -
Maya's sister basically becomes a babysitter for the young Buddha. She mentored him a lot in this section.

Siddhartha's First Mediation -
In this part of the story Buddha begins to age. He begins to learn how to write and other necessary traits he needs to become a king.

First Encounter -
The Prince stumbles upon someone and appears that he is cursed as all the joy and happiness he had leaves his soul and becomes depressed speaking about nothing else other than old age.

Two More Encounters -
The King notices his son is now depressed but the child has already shut himself off from the rest of the world. Now the King does not want his son to ever leave the palace as he worries something awful will happen to him.

The Fair Maidens and Gopa's Dream -
The King heard that his son wasn't the only one acting weirdly so he went to investigate. Something weird happened as Gopa was stripped naked with her hair cut.

The Great Truths -
The Prince is still in a depressed state at the end of the first part of the story. While everyone was having fun and laughing he didn't care and he went to palace stables. We'll find out what happens next tomorrow!


Queen Maya - Mother of Buddha


Sunday, February 16, 2020

Childhood BFF, Biography - EC

Ashley...

When I first moved to El Paso from Oklahoma she was the first person in head start to befriend me. We became the best of friends. Did everything together. From sitting together in class, to playing together on the playground, and watching our parents watch sports while we played Uno.

Usually if you hit someone with a draw four card in Uno they will hate your guts. But for us it was a laugh. 

The friendship developed into a relationship soon after that.

While we are no longer dating we are still best friends that can go to each other at anytime. Some friendships only last a few years but ours has lasted decades and will likely last a lifetime because of our strong bond that we established as kids. 

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Week 5B Reading

Bibliography:
Egyptian Myth and Legend by Donald Mackenzie

NOTES FOR MIDDLE EAST WEEK:

The Two Brothers: Part One
First of part of four parts. Most interesting part of this portion is when Anpu burst in ready to kill his younger brother, Bata, with a dagger. There is intensity between the two characters in this part of the story that allows me to picture the build up to this moment as Bata doing wrong to Anpu to get him so angry that was not told in the 800 words of this story.

The Two Brothers: Part Two
Bata sensed Anpu's desire to kill him immediately and basically taunted him at the door telling him that he knew what he was doing. Ra came to Bata and gave him a wife. One that Bata said he'd die for. As a result his heart became hers and revealed his secrets.

The Two Brothers: Part Three
The King of Egypt takes (?) the wife of Bata while he's away on a hunt. 

The Two Brothers: Part Four
Bata ultimately becomes King. He makes his brother, Anpu, his heir. He ruled for 30 years until he died and his older brother took the mantle of King. 

The Book of Thoth: Part One
A feast honoring Nefer-ka-ptah and Ahura was made by the priests of Isis.

The Book of Thoth: Part Two
We finally find the Book of Thoth hidden inside multiple boxed.
He opened the iron box and found a bronze box,
He opened the bronze box and found a keté-wood box,
He opened the keté-wood box and found an ivory-and-ebony box,
He opened the ivory-and-ebony box and found a silver box,
He opened the silver box and found a gold box,
He opened the gold box and found the Book of Thoth.

A giant scavenger hunt for part two.

The Book of Thoth: Part Three
Ra lets them do whatever they want with the wife and child. In the end vengence was the results but Nefer-ka-ptah was still in possession of the book. 

The Tale of King Rhampsinitus
The line of Pharaohs crosses borders. A rich ring that made his subjects construct grand structures and palaces for him. He was strict yet fair. Harsh yet nice. 

Ra


Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Week 5A Reading

Bibliography:
Egyptian Myth and Legend by Donald Mackenzie

NOTES FOR MIDDLE EAST WEEK:

Creation - 
Ra created the world by just thinking it into existence. When he created man he took the form of man so he could live with them and among them.

The Secret Name of Ra - 
What Ra wants, Ra gets. His secret name is Khepera at dawn, Ra at high noon, and Tum at eventide.

Ra and Hathor - 
Men rebel. Nu tells Ra about this. Ra says they are scared because of the rebellion and what he could do to them. All of the gods said to destroy those who rebel against the kingdom.

The Sun's Journey - 
The god of the sun dies and is reborn every 12 hours. He also happens to watch over the souls of the dead.

Osiris - 
Ra leaves. Isis rules Egypt until he comes back.

The Death of Osiris - 
Returning from the war, Osiris is hailed as a hero. In a ritual that got hijacked, hey killed Osiris by sealing him in a coffin like object for a long enough period of time.

The Journey of Isis - 
Isis is distraught and scared over the death of Osiris. She takes his body to bring him back to life.

The King of the Dead - 
A short section of how the King of Dead was born. Isis brought Osiris back to life but he had to become the King of the Dead.

The Wax Crocodile - 
The crocodile can be commanded by the Pharaoh. It's wax but still amazing. Just a command of "get him/her" the croc awakens and grabs them.

The Green Jewel - 
The King was out on the water body near his palace. When he was pleased and had enough fun they returned to the palace and gave the scribe gifts.


Ra




Sunday, February 9, 2020

Storybook Plan

THEME:
The central focus in this three or four part arc story would be;
PART ONE: This part of the story would start with Paris seducing Helen of Sparta, follow the Trojans sailing back to Troy, the Greeks learning and planning the invasion of Troy, overall this part of the arc would end with a Greek victory on the beaches of Troy. 
PART TWO: We cover the first major battle that features the full strength and force of each army. The end result is a decisive Trojan victory that sends the Greek army into full retreat. Rather than have Hector kill Patroclus in the ensuing battle on the beaches there would be no third battle until the Myrmidons leave the beaches of Troy.
PART THREE: After the greatest Greek warriors leave the Trojans mount the final offensive that leaves the Greek army defeated in its entirety with no survivors. A complete reversal of what happened in Homer's Iliad of when Troy was sacked and the men, women, and children being slaughtered. 
Potential Part Four: A naval Trojan offensive against a weakened Greece that results in Troy controlling the Aegean.

Bibliography:
The Silmarillion - J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien
Homer's The Iliad
Troy - 2004 film distributed by Warner Bros.

Stories:
Homer's Illiad, Kline version
Minoan Crete
Mycenaean Crete

Story Style:
Screenplay for a movie
Style of a book 

Comment Wall for A Story of Troy

Thank you in advance for your feedback!


The Burning of Troy

Friday, February 7, 2020

Week 4 Lab

Disguising my characters
The advice giver, Anne Bernays, gives you the advice of disguising the people you know in your writings. Don't make it obvious to them that they are in your story because you may so happen to write a story that would hurt them. Writing reveals your inner thoughts and if they were to catch on that they are the character then they would potentially be alarmed by it.

Write Dangerously
The title itself give you the impression that you should take risks in your writings.The actual post indeed says that modern writers should take an adventure in their works that would allow them to take risks. I'm going take the advice of writing dangerously as I don't know yet where the story I'm writing for the term project will take me but taking risks should give it awesome twists and turns in the story and the plot.

ATW Interview - Jasper Fforde
The biggest part that I take from the interview of Jasper Fforde is suffering from writer's block. We're going to hit a wall eventually trying make something new that has never been told before. The interview itself was a bit of a roller coaster ride. Specifically when he says that he's in a Brazilian prison writing a book. The advice of doing your own thing is a fantastic message to new writers. Being bold and find new ways of telling the story.

ADVICE

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Week 4B Reading

Bibliography
Adam and Eve

The Forgotten Books of Eden, edited by Rutherford H. Platt, Jr.

Leaving the Garden - 
Adam and Eve were distraught when God cast them out of the garden. This section shows that God can show you mercy and pity as he did not forsake them entirely. He helped them and elevated them by leading them to the cave of treasures.

Entering the Cave of Treasures - 
God again shows them mercy and pity as he led them into the cave of treasures showing them two routes, one for 5,000 and the other for 500 years. And that one would protect Adam's descendants.

They Die a First Time - 
Adam and Eve kill themselves out of grief, but again God shows mercy and raises them from the dead through comfort. He tells them that they brought this upon themselves. He ends by saying that he does not nor did ever intend to destroy them because they are his children, his creations.

The Beasts of the Creation - 
Adam and Eve emerge from the cave to the entrance of the garden and weep as they are no longer allowed into it. They see the river that waters the garden split into four to water the earth. At the end they look up on the area one last time, never to return.

Want of Water and Light - 
One of humanities basic needs in life is water. Adam and Eve are trying to find it as they can never return to the garden. With light comes darkness. With the dark comes the brightness. 

The Darkness - 
The never to return to the garden part from the last two sections is amended here at the end when they would be allowed to return when the fulfillment of the days are upon them.

The Sunrise and the Serpent - 
The callback to when they were deceived by the serpent to eat from the forbidden tree. The part that stands out the most is when it is said the serpent was the fairest of all beasts but it was changed into making it the ugliest of them all. And instead of having the first pick of food, they now eat the dirt and dust of the ground.

Suicide and Salvation - 
Adam realizes what has happened to them. He finally sees that Satan had deceived them. God in turns saves them.

Worship and Blessing - 
Since no religion is established, no one knows how to honor God. Specifically Adam. Throughout the story Adam basically has suicidal thoughts to make himself an offering to God because God is merciful and pitiful towards them. At the end God tells him not to kill himself again and at the end it was said to Adam that it would be God that would save him.

Adam and Eve - Edvard Munch



Wednesday, February 5, 2020

Week 4A Reading


Bibliography

The Creation – King James Bible (1611): Genesis 1-2
God created man in his own image. Taken from the Book of Genesis, this portion of the tale is an exact retelling of the tale from the Bible. From breathing into the nostrils of a mold that looked like a man from dust to Adam and Eve still having their innocence and not being ashamed that they were naked.

The Fall – King James Bible (1611): Genesis 3
In this part of the story, the serpent tempts Eve to eat from the forbidden tree in the garden. When she ate from the tree, she became ashamed that she was naked and had Adam eat from the tree. Both ashamed they made themselves aprons to cover themselves. As a result, God made them leave the garden forever.

The Ideal Man – The Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg
Adam was the perfect man due to being in the image of God. As generations passed, those who resembled Adam were few in numbers. Adam was shown the whole of Earth and Adam designated what places were to be settled later by men, and what places were to remain waste.

The Fall of Satan – The Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg
Satan was the petty child, always wanting the undivided attention from God. Satan became flamboyant and started to test the patience of God, daring him to cast him out. And so God flung Satan out of heaven down to earth.

Lilith – The Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg
Lilith was Adam’s first wife but insisted on being his equal, so they only lasted for a short period of time. She ultimately left Adam and so Adam complained to God that she left him. He sent angels to capture her. They threatened her, but she preferred it to being with Adam.

Eve – The Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg
Because of the Lilith fiasco, God did not want to make another woman that was the same as a man. So he made the woman from a man.

Paradise – The Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg
In this section, the prelude to the Ten Commandments was put forth through; man should not worship idols; nor blaspheme God; nor commit murder, nor incest, nor theft and robbery; and all generations have the duty of instituting measures of law and order.

The Fall of Man – The Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg
Eve gave the forbidden fruit to all beings so that they would also know death. As a result they all became naked and horny. Because of this they were ashamed.

The Punishment – The Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg
When God came down from the heavens, both Adam and Eve hid in shame. When confronted they ratted out the serpent as the one who deceived them. He made the snake and all his descendants eat dirt as a result.

The Punishment, Part 2 – The Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg
God made the entire world and the moon suffer from Adam and Eve’s disobedience. God cast them out of the garden permanently.


Adam and Eve - Edvard Munch

Sunday, February 2, 2020

Feedback Strategies

Be a Mirror: Give Readers Feedback That Fosters a Growth Mindset
This article highlights the importance of letting something develop through feedback and having the mindset to grow from the feedback, whether it'd be positive or negative. We must elevate our final product to a high standard with feedback that not only makes the writer better but also feedback that makes you, the person giving the feedback, better.

Why Do So Many Managers Avoid Giving Praise?
Number one reason people leave their jobs is because they feel unappreciated. Managers feel stressed themselves and undervalued that they simply just don't find the time to give their employees feedback or praise. I haven't run into this issue since I work at a small company with 39 other people and our higher ups always praise us when we do outstanding work.

Manager Stress


Topic Research

I've somewhat settled on telling a story relating to the Trojan War.

Classical
The War with Troy has been told through a variety of different mediums. I want to do a new version of the story where the Trojans don't have to flee to Italy but rather beat the Greeks at the Gates of Troy and launched a counter attack on the city states of Greece as a result of a petty new king. An entirely new story, no one wants to be told the same story twice (cc: Sony with Spider-Man and killing Uncle Ben twice, we wanted a new take, thank you Marvel Studios)

Original Source
Original source material as well as the original story is here. I can use a multitude of things here to be relevant to my own telling of the story. I want to be original so things such as characters and locations will be borrowed from here.

The Iliad of Homer
Samuel Butler's translation of the core story of the Trojan War.

Myths of Crete & Pre-Hellenic Europe
This source there is a trade deal between Crete and Troy. I can build something into an outline that would include Crete.

Trojan War