There she is, actress Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss Everdeen in the super-popular movie adaptation of The Hunger Games, complete with weapon in hand. Perhaps a look at Katniss within Suzanne Collins' best-selling trilogy can shed some more light on today's Chalk Talk, discussing the nature of violence.
I really tried to avoid this conversation today. As I was planning my classes for you guys this summer, I looked at the texts I knew I would teach, over and over again, in order to find some other common strand. The prominence of violent acts, intentions, and motives were so overpowering that I couldn't really see anything else.
It all began with your summer reading assignment...
Yeah, that blasted thing you turned in today (and the blasted essay you will submit next Tuesday) shows a side of nature that we seem to be comfortable watching in others, but when we turn that reflection on ourselves, we begin to squirm a little. Sure, there are some of us who have fought with our brothers and sisters over petty effects, but how many of us can actually say we have committed an egregious act of violence? I'm not just talking about getting in a schoolyard fight... I'm talking more about something we read in our stories, but brought to life, like this kid from my former high school (I wish I was kidding)...
But I digress; let's get back to today. One of the most interesting discussions I read was about whether or not people are intrinsically violent, or if it is a learned behavior. This brings me to The Daily Rant's featured heroine, Katniss. From Collins' narrative, we know this: Katniss lived in a hostile environment. The government that ran her area of the world ruled from afar, keeping its people encased inside electric fences, patrolled by "peacekeepers" who flogged lawbreaking citizens as examples of potential punishment. Her mother was emotionally absent, leaving her alone to raise her sister and acquire food through any means possible (including hunting with her trusty and illegal bow). On top of all that, she was subject to a scene much like The Lottery, where (only) the kids of her district where herded once a year to pretty much decide who was going to die...because the district said so.
Now, nature or nurture: Which made Katniss a violent person?
Let's go into the arena. When Katniss has her bow in hand, she knows what to do with her enemy: pierce them through. Yet, when she approaches Peeta in the cave, or Rue in the forest, we see her slow down that rather automatic reaction to be...well...downright tender. But, we clearly read that Katniss has no problem making a split second reaction between saving her own life or letting someone else do the same. And, because the story ran three books, we know which way that went...
Many of you stated that we all harbor violent tendencies, but it is up to us to control them. Why, then, is it so fascinating to see when others choose not to do the same, via literature or otherwise? Is it because a character or persona refuses to hold back what we must in order to stay socially adept? Is it because we reason that violence is senseless, and that we are intelligent enough to override our primeval urges?
Or, do we even think about it that much? Food for thought, my children. We'll think about it plenty over the course of this school year.
Tomorrow, we have a review of story elements on deck. Essays are due on Tuesday. You should have begun your foray into your writing, especially since part of your short stories are now in my possession (ha).
Tomorrow is the sexiest day of the week: FRIDAY. Get ready, y'all. This week's been a doozy, but you all have made it so enjoyable. I am looking forward to this year, fo'real
I really tried to avoid this conversation today. As I was planning my classes for you guys this summer, I looked at the texts I knew I would teach, over and over again, in order to find some other common strand. The prominence of violent acts, intentions, and motives were so overpowering that I couldn't really see anything else.
It all began with your summer reading assignment...
Yeah, that blasted thing you turned in today (and the blasted essay you will submit next Tuesday) shows a side of nature that we seem to be comfortable watching in others, but when we turn that reflection on ourselves, we begin to squirm a little. Sure, there are some of us who have fought with our brothers and sisters over petty effects, but how many of us can actually say we have committed an egregious act of violence? I'm not just talking about getting in a schoolyard fight... I'm talking more about something we read in our stories, but brought to life, like this kid from my former high school (I wish I was kidding)...
But I digress; let's get back to today. One of the most interesting discussions I read was about whether or not people are intrinsically violent, or if it is a learned behavior. This brings me to The Daily Rant's featured heroine, Katniss. From Collins' narrative, we know this: Katniss lived in a hostile environment. The government that ran her area of the world ruled from afar, keeping its people encased inside electric fences, patrolled by "peacekeepers" who flogged lawbreaking citizens as examples of potential punishment. Her mother was emotionally absent, leaving her alone to raise her sister and acquire food through any means possible (including hunting with her trusty and illegal bow). On top of all that, she was subject to a scene much like The Lottery, where (only) the kids of her district where herded once a year to pretty much decide who was going to die...because the district said so.
Now, nature or nurture: Which made Katniss a violent person?
Let's go into the arena. When Katniss has her bow in hand, she knows what to do with her enemy: pierce them through. Yet, when she approaches Peeta in the cave, or Rue in the forest, we see her slow down that rather automatic reaction to be...well...downright tender. But, we clearly read that Katniss has no problem making a split second reaction between saving her own life or letting someone else do the same. And, because the story ran three books, we know which way that went...
Many of you stated that we all harbor violent tendencies, but it is up to us to control them. Why, then, is it so fascinating to see when others choose not to do the same, via literature or otherwise? Is it because a character or persona refuses to hold back what we must in order to stay socially adept? Is it because we reason that violence is senseless, and that we are intelligent enough to override our primeval urges?
Or, do we even think about it that much? Food for thought, my children. We'll think about it plenty over the course of this school year.
Tomorrow, we have a review of story elements on deck. Essays are due on Tuesday. You should have begun your foray into your writing, especially since part of your short stories are now in my possession (ha).
Tomorrow is the sexiest day of the week: FRIDAY. Get ready, y'all. This week's been a doozy, but you all have made it so enjoyable. I am looking forward to this year, fo'real
RSS Feed