Final paper, Inside Lacrosse, Not Just A Magazine.

Matt Miller

Professor Meehan

Literature And Composition

May 3, 2010

Inside Lacrosse, Not Just A Magazine

Inside Lacrosse is a prominent company providing the best coverage for anything and everything involving lacrosse. The company publishes a magazine each month which entails various lacrosse information for players and fans around the country to enjoy. There is also an official Inside Lacrosse website that is updated on a daily basis to keep people interested about the sport. The website is exceptionally informative. Though there are plenty of lacrosse websites one could visit, Inside Lacrosse takes you farther into the sport than anyone could even imagine. Inside Lacrosse involves every aspect of lacrosse ranging from high school teams to professional teams.

The website not only delivers updated and fully detailed news and information but it also features photos, videos, blogs, and even podcasts. All of the these commodities, are what makes the website more informative. Because the site is comprised of every component concerning lacrosse, it allows the viewer to remain informed at all times. Prior to the turn of the millennium, numerous amounts of people would typically refer to books, articles and magazines. Now living in a world full of technology, the internet has become the number one research tool to people across the entire globe. Adding a unique stance and outlook is precisely what makes the website more appealing to the viewer’s attention than the magazine.

A good number of people believe websites are not legitimate forms of writing, which is evidently not true. If those people took the time to look through and observe the website as a whole, they would see differently. Inside Lacrosse’s writing form is just like any newspaper or magazine article would be. The difference between the two is that on their website they can update the public quicker with live and on the spot footage. However, newspapers and magazines do not have this capability because they go through vigorous steps in order to just pass through publishing stage. This aspect of a website is why websites are taking over.

The views of Hayles and Birkets are vastly different from each other. Hayles has a passion towards the new age of technology, making her book “Writing Machines”, seem like computer screens, is why hayles is seen as more technologicak, Birkets however, believes in writing and reading rather than reviewing anything electronically. His view of a more modern day society is taking his ideas back to the old age, where ones reading and writings were essential. Birkets says, “[w]here did he get the idea that he wanted to write. Why that, and not filmmaking, professing law, or doing psychotherapy…Why words on a page, why the desire to write fiction. There is one obvious reason, the urge that was a direct outgrowth of my love of reading.” This quotation from Birkets clearly states his opinion, that he would rather read and write, than do anything that deals with electronics. Birkets would see the website as a distraction, because there are so many options on the website.  Blogging and forums for example, are technologies that Birkets dislikes.

Birkets would see this as a distraction to look at other things, and not focus on the real reason of what Inside Lacrosse is, a magazine. Birkets would see all the articles, blogs, and videos on this website as downfalls of the company, taking the reader away from their original tasks. Birkets view on the new millennium, and how technology is taking over is very skewed. His whole life he has had a passion towards reading, and never has taken a liking towards any electronic text. Birkets would rather have a book, a magazine, or an article in front of him, rather than on a computer screen. In the new age of technology, websites are beginning to take over with their own form of articles.

Unlike Birkets, Hayles has a completely different view on electronics. Hayles would see websites as more informative than a magazine. Hayles views about technology strengthens the idea that technology is just as informative as novels. Hayles would say that technology has the ability to give everything to you at that moment, unlike a magazine, an article or a journal, which are written, and cannot be changed. This view has been taken over by most of the younger generation over the last decade.

Inside Lacrosse is just one of many websites that has taken over as the main focus of the company. Inside Lacrosse magazine comes out every month, whereas the website is updated every day. This new wave of technology is shaping the way the younger generation acts. Younger Kids today would see a website much more appealing than a magazine, because it is easier to access. People are beginning to rely more on technology, because the internet can be updated on a daily basis. This new idea of how people are starting to rely on the internet for entertainment on a regular basis is why Birkets believes it is taking over our younger generation. However, it is the new way kids are starting to think.

Inside Lacrosse, the Magazine, or the Website?

Matt Miller

Professor Meehan

Literature and Composition

Inside Lacrosse, the Source of the Sport

Inside Lacrosse is a prominent company providing the best coverage for anything and everything involving lacrosse. The company publishes a magazine each month which entails various lacrosse information for players and fans around the country to enjoy. There is also an official Inside Lacrosse website that is updated on a daily basis to keep people interested about the sport. The website is exceptionally informative. Though there are plenty of lacrosse websites one could visit, Inside Lacrosse takes you farther into the sport than anyone could even imagine. It is original because it literally involves every aspect of lacrosse ranging from high school teams to professional teams.

The website not only delivers updated and fully detailed news and information but it also features photos, videos, blogs, and even podcasts. Because the site is comprised of every component concerning lacrosse, it allows the viewer to remain informed at all times. Prior to the turn of the millennium, numerous amounts of people would typically refer to books, articles and magazines. Now living in a world full of technology, the internet has become the number one research tool to people across the entire globe. Adding a unique stance and outlook is precisely what makes the website more appealing to the viewer’s attention than the magazine.

A good number of people believe websites are not legitimate forms of writing, which is evidently not true. If those people took the time to look through and observe the website as a whole, they would see differently. Inside Lacrosse’s writing form is just like any newspaper or magazine article would be. The difference between the two is that on their website they can update the public quicker with live and on the spot footage. However, newspapers and magazines do not have this capability because they go through vigorous steps in order to just pass through publishing stage. Some people believe that websites are not a legitimate form of writing, which is not true in this case. Most people wouldn’t take time to look through every part of a website, and that is why most websites are not seen as important as real text, such as a magazine. The views of Hayles and Birkets are vastly different from each other. Hayles has a passion towards anything regarding technology, whereas Birkets believes in writing and reading rather than reviewing anything electronically. 

Birkets says, “[w]here did he get the idea that he wanted to write. Why that, and not filmmaking, professing law, or doing psychotherapy…Why words on a page, why the desire to write fiction. There is one obvious reason, the urge that was a direct outgrowth of my love of reading. “This quotation from Birkets clearly states his opinion, that he would rather read and write, than do anything that deals with electronics. Birkets would see the website as a distraction, because there are so many options on the website.  Blogging and forums for discussion are major aspects of the website, allowing everyone to state their own opinion at their own time.

Birkets would see this as a distraction to look at other things, and not focus on the real reason of what Inside Lacrosse is, a magazine. Birkets would see all the articles, blogs, and videos on this website as downfalls of the company, taking the reader away from their original tasks. Birkets view on the new millennium, and how technology is taking over is very skewed. His whole life he has had a passion towards reading, and never has taken a liking towards any electronic text. Birkets would rather have a book, a magazine, or an article in front of him, rather than on a computer screen. In the new age of technology, websites are beginning to take over with their own form of articles.

Unlike Birkets, Hayles has a completely different view on electronics. Hayles would see websites as more informative than a magazine. Hayles views about technology strengthens the idea that technology is just as informative as novels. Hayles would say that technology has the ability to give everything to you at that moment, unlike a magazine, an article or a journal, which are written, and cannot be changed. This view has been taken over by most of the younger generation over the last decade.

Inside Lacrosse is just one of many websites that has taken over as the main focus of the company. Inside Lacrosse magazine comes out every month, whereas the website is updated every day. This new wave of technology is shaping the way the younger generation acts. People are beginning to rely more on technology, because the internet can be updated on a daily basis. This new idea of how people read will start to become more and more popular in the upcoming years.

Inside Lacrosse, The Source of the Sport

Inside Lacrosse is known as the source of the sport for all of your lacrosse needs. The website give you coverage of college, high school as well as women’s and major league lacrosse. Most sport specific websites only include college and pro, where this website includes every facit of the game. This website is one of the most well put together and informative website. The website is based off of a magazine which comes out every month. The magazine was the beginnings of Inside Lacrosse, and it has grown immensly over the years.

Inside Lacrosse website gives the best of every aspect of every level of lacrosse through videos, blogs and scores. The website adds a different dimension to the company, which makes it more infomative than its magazine.i

        Birktets and Hayles would have extrememly different views about the website. Birket’s read first, use electronics next mentality wouldnt take this website serioulsly in my opinion. Birkets would view this website as unessecary, and would enjoy the magazine more than the website.  Birkets says “Where did he get the idea that he wanted to write. Why that, and not filmaking or professing law or practicing psyhotherapy…..why words on a page, why the desire to write fiction. there is one obvious reason, the urge that was a direct outgrowth of my love of reading.”

         Hayles view is different than Birkets. Hayles view of programming and electronic is vastly different that birkets. Hayles would see the website as very imformative.

A counter arguement would come from Birkets in regards to the website and not the magazine. He would see the magazine as original and the more important “text”. Birkets would see the website as a reason to not focus on the main idea of the magazine.

STORYLAND

Throughout the years, electronic texts have become more and more prevalent. Every electronic text is a different story, and is different from a regular novel. The electronic text I chose is Storyland. This text story is one of the oldest forms of digital writing.

Storyland is a very interesting electronic text because every story is filled with random sentences that flow with each other. when the electronic text is first brought up, there is a circus theme that catches the eye of the reader. Everytime the reader clicks the begin button, a new story is created. This scheme seems to catch the eye of the reader, which is important for an electronic text. An electronic text is different from a regular text, because the reader is more open to a novel than to something on the internet.

In the eyes of Birkets, an electronic text is not as informative as a novel. Being in a world that now offers electronic texts is a downfall to reading, at least from Birkets standpoint. Birkets has a very strong opinion about this subject. He strongly believes in a society where reading and writing is very important, and an electronic text is straying away from that.

Hayles however, enjoys the idea of an electronic text. Her novel Writing Machines, is portrayed as an electronic text, having underlined and capitalized words. Hayles ideals are why there is so many electronic texts available. Some people believe that electronic texts are more helpful and informative than novels. This is why there are different arguments between people like Hayles, and people like Birkets.

Avatar, A Mythical Frankenstein

Matt Miller

Professor Meehan

English 101

March 26, 2010

Avatar, a Mythical Frankenstein

In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein, there are many aspects that deal with the theatrical, as well as the written meaning. Each detail in this novel can relate to many aspects of movies. Many movies in modern day have somewhat of a hidden meaning behind Frankenstein. The Movie based off of Shelley’s novel gives us a better idea of the impact that the creature has on Victor, and vice-versa. In many different movies, we can draw resemblences to a Victor Frankenstein, and to a creature. One movie, Avatar, draws very close similarities to both.

James Cameron’s movie Avatar, delves deep into the meaning of Frankenstein. In the movie Avatar, Americans are sent to the earth like moon of Pandora to retrieve rare rock substances worth large sums of wealth. It just so happens that the largest amount of this rock is under the main living tree of the native Na’vi people. Jake Sully, the main character, who is handicapped in real life, molds his DNA with the native Naïve people, creating an avatar of himself.

This is the first time that we see a comparison between the creature in Frankenstein and Sully. Sully goes deep into the forests of Pandora and gets lost from his group of Avatars. He decides goes undercover with the Na’vi tribe to find out who and what this species is, what they like, dislike, and how they act. He becomes one with the tribe after completing their tests that are given to him, and decides to live there. He helps the Na’vi people save their world, and keep most of them safe.

            This plot is very similar to the plot of Frankenstein, because of the fact that each individual is recreated into a new world. In Frankenstein, he is created into the real world world, having to fend for himself, with no friends. In Avatar, Sully is created into the Na’vi’s world, but like Frankenstein, he knows nothing of the surroundings and the culture of the world.

            The two plot lines are somewhat similar. Jake Sully and Frankenstein are very compatible. They are similar in that the mind of the creature doesn’t correlate to the body of the monster, because the monster doesn’t think and act the way his body type appears. Sully is the same way. Sully adapts to his new avatar body, and is able to adapt to a new world, just like the creature.

            In both movies, there is a “Victor” as well. In Frankenstein, it is of course Victor Frankenstein himself. Victor is seen as a protagonist, as well as an antagonist. The character that resembles Victor in Avatar is Colonel Miles Quaritch. He is seen as the good guy in the beginning, convincing Jake that if he gains intelligence on the Na’vi tribe, he would fix his paraplegia, which is not the case. This is similar to Victor and the creature when the Victor says he will create a mate for the monster if he leaves him alone. We later find out that Quaritch only wants to drive out the tribe in order to get to the mass sum of rock underneath the Hometree, which holds the whole Na’vi tribe. Quaritch has almost the exact persona of Victor, Dealing with some sort of a creature the whole movie, each of them, losing their mind by the end of the novel.

            The movie Frankenstein, and James Cameron’s film Avatar, are very different, but also similar in specific parts. One part that is similar is when sully is put into the converter tube, which allows him to morph into the avatar. When Sully takes him first steps as an Avatar, it is just like when the creature is put to life. Both struggle with their first steps of “life”, and both seem to adjust somewhat quickly to the surroundings.

            Both Frankenstein and Avatar are unique in their own right. Both have a plot in which the main character is seen as good and evil. This is why these two films can relate to each other. Jake Sully and the creature and closely related in different ways, each of them having to adapt to different climates, surroundings, people and cultures.

Scenes from the past

Many movies show its own theatrical story, as well as a written story. Many movies in the earlier years make the real world seem twisted. For example, in the movie The Wizard of Oz, the effect of color in that movie is that makes it so theatrical.

The part of the movie where the theatrical aspect comes into play is during the twister scene. objects and trees are flying around Dorothy, but somehow she manages to get inside the house. Another theatrical aspect is the window pane, it is very big, symbolizing a movie screen. When Dorothy looks out of the window, she sees different people who she will encounter during her time in Oz, which is seen as foreshadowing.

Another movie where the theatrical and the written intertwine is in Avatar. This movies inner meaning brings the extreme theatrical, with a hidden meaning that you don’t see on the outside. The theatrical definitely overpowers the meaning that the director is trying to portray. This movie has to do with the Americans invading Pandora, a country filled with mysterious individuals and rocks that are very rare. The hidden meaning behind this movie has to do with the human race being very aggressive towards people not related to them.

In almost every movie, the main thing that people pay attention to is the Theatrical aspect of the movie. People tend to overlook the hidden meanings that are portrayed through the movie.

Tintern Abbey And Victor Frankenstein

Matt Miller

English 101

Professor Meehan

Februrary 24, 2010

Intertextuality in Frankenstein

             In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, her use of intertextuality is very important for the flow of the novel. Of all the different texts that are incorporated in the novel such as, rhyme of the ancient mariner, paradise lost and her introduction. The text that intertwines with the novel best is Wordsworth’s, Tintern Abbey. Tintern Abbey is a poem about a man who has been away from this certain place or object for five years, and he is reminiscing on his past.  He wishes and thinks about the cliffs, the cottage, the trees, and wishes he could leave the city to go back to that certain place in nature. Tintern Abbey’s seven lines that are incorporated in the novel, have a hidden meaning behind them, that somehow relate to Victor, and his emotions throughout the novel.

             The way that Shelley incorporates Tintern Abbey makes the reader think that Wordsworth’s poem relates to Victor. Throughout the novel, there are different times when Victor shows the same symptoms as the character described in Tintern Abbey. The first time Victor leaves home to go study in Geneva, he misses Elizabeth and his father, and becomes ill because of it. This particular moment in the novel is very similar to Wordsworth’s character, both of them living in a place where they feel uncomfortable. In Victor’s case, he wants to go back home, and becomes ill because of it. This is similar to the character in Tintern Abbey, who sees the sublime in his place in nature, not in the big city, and he wants to go back to it. This feeling that Victor has is seen as foreshadowing, and happens multiple times throughout the novel.

In Wordsworth’s Tintern Abbey, the character misses the sublime parts in nature. The “sublime” in nature is the serene and surreal, and I believe this is seen during the creation of the monster. During the creation of the monster, Victor is so infatuated with it, with every little detail. His mood is suddenly changed when the monster comes to life.  When the monster comes to life, victor suddenly becomes disgusted and wishes he never had completed something like this. This is similar to Tintern because he thinks about and wishes he was still in his sublime place.

Shelley picks an interesting piece of Wordsworth’s poem to use in her novel.

“The sounding cataract/ haunted him like a passion: the tall rock,/ the mountain, and the deep and gloomy wood,/ their colours and their forms, were then to him/ an appetite, a feeling, and a love,/ that had no need of a remoter charm,/ By thought supplied, or any interest/ unborrow’d from the eye.”

This quote is hard to comprehend for most readers, having multiple different ways of interpretation. This quote can be meant for victor, or the monster. The first sentence, the sounding cataract haunted him like a passion, makes the reader believe that Shelley included this to describe Victors feelings after his creation.  Every line from tintern abbey that is used in Frankenstein has a hidden meaning behind it. Every line seems to describe a feeling from Victor or the creature during the novel.

In Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the use of intertextuality is very important. The use of Wordsworth’s poem Tintern Abbey in the novel is an interesting choice. The lines from the Tintern Abbey in the novel relate to both Victor and the Creature, each line being able to describe how Victor and the Creature fell during different times in the novel.

Frankenstein, not the monster

            In Mary Shelley’s Frakenstein, there are different aspects of the novel that intruige me. The relationship and the way that Victor and the monster act is something that is not seen in any other novel, and that  specifically, is ws hy this novel has such interest to me.

             There are different parts of the novel in which Frankenstein and the Monster are interacted. The first one is the creation of the Monster by Victor. This relationship is very different than most relationships in novels. This is a man, creater relationship. This is why Victor is seen as a modern day Promethius by most. The relationship that Victor created when he made the Monster is something that he could never change, and that is why I think he was afraid in chapter 5 after the creation.

            After the monster was created Victor tried to flee from the monster, but always seemed to run into him. The first encounter is when he sees him in the woods, after the monster had killed William. This is foreshadowing for the rest of the novel. Victor ecounters the monster while climbing to the top of a mountain, which is when the monster starts to tell him his whole story.

              Finally the last time that Victor and the creatue meet is on Victors wedding night. Victor had the misconception that the monster was going to kill him, but he ends up killing Elizabeth, just the way the victor killed Frankensteins companion. I think that Victor could also be thought as the Modern Day Oedipus as well. His pride and hubris, ultimately led to his downfall from his own creation.

Frankenstein glog

Most people when asked about Frankenstein, concieve a completley different outlook on what Frankenstein is actually about. Most peoples first thought about Frankenstein is a big green monster, but that is not the case.

Chapter 1 starts out as somewhat of a mystery. There is a stranger and you soon find out that it is Victor Frankenstein. He starts to tell us of hi childhood and about his mother and father. When Elizabeth becomes apart of Victors family, they fall in love. I enjoy this kind of love story because it is abstract and different than the usual love stories.

In chapter 2 Henry Clerval comes into the novel. he has been a childhood friend of victors and Victor Elizabeth and Henry became veryclose. Victor stumbles upon a book and becomes facinated on Philosophy. Victor discovers the power of nature when lightning strikes a tree near his house. This happening paves the way to his next experiments. The way that Shelley incorporates this aspect of nature, with the forming of the creature is very important for the novel.

Shelley does a very good job of foreshadowing throughout the novel. Things like the lightning bolt hitting the tree, and him learning about different kind of sciences makes the reader think about future events that will happen in the novel. Before I had read this novel, and after reading this novel, Who I thought Frankstein was is a complete blur. This novel opens the readers eyes to the misconceptions of who and what Frankenstein is.

Matt Miller

English 101

Professor Meehan

February  3, 2010

Previous writing and reading experiences

In my life, I have had many memorable experiences with reading and writing. From elementary school and all the way to high school I have had writing and reading experiences that today help me and give me motivation. Every paper I write, and every book I read becomes a part of who I am. Before I got to high school, my view on reading and writing was like Birkets, because I wasn’t quite in a technological age. Looking back, life with less technology wasn’t the worst thing. The days when technology weren’t important is when I believed to be a strong and interested reader.

In elementary school the most memorable experience I had was when I was in fifth grade. The whole class had to write a memoir of our years in elementary school. Five were picked out of the class to present in front of the school and parents, and I was one of the presenters. This experience gave me confidence about my writing, even today. I still remember to this day what I wrote in that memoir.

The most memorable reading experience I had in elementary school was captain underpants. I know that it sounds silly know, but then I would read the entire series in one day. It was something about the books that really intrigued me. I stumbled upon one of the books in the series the other day and I actually read a little bit. It made me think about my childhood. I feel as a younger child what you read is still important to you even when you get older.

In middle school, I didn’t have any particularly memorable writing experiences, but I had a lot of reading experiences. One was the catcher and the rye. I loved that book, and I thought the plot and the climax of the novel were very moving. This was read by my whole class along with my teacher as well. It was great to have everyone’s perspective of the book in their own way.

My favorite book series during this time was the Lemony Snickett, a series of unfortunate events series. I read all seven books in the series when I was in 7^th grade, and I read the whole series 3 times during middle school. I remember reading this series every night before I would retire to bed. It was something about the books that made me feel like I was a character in the novel.  I read the first four books of the harry potter series in middle school as well. I remember going to see the movies in theatre and being so excited to watch them. Little memories like these are what are carried with me throughout my life.

Over the next four years, reading and writing became a very intricate part of my life. Reading and writing during high school is what allows you to succeed, and in my life became more important than technology.  How you read and write during high school almost indicates your future. I remember dreading to do term papers, but by the end of writing them enjoying the fact of reading the newfound novel. Like how Woolf looks back in Birkets novel on her college writing experiences, my experiences in high school are one in the same.

My senior year Term paper was on a novel called Robinson Crusoe. I was skeptical about choosing this novel but I thought I would just do it. As I got deeper and deeper into my paper I became deeper and deeper into the novel. When I would read I would drift away from all of reality and become apart of the novel, thinking about sitting on a deserted island with no one to talk to besides a native who cannot speak your language. This made me think about how deep one has to think to write novels of such great magnitude. Because of my dedication to my paper and this novel, I was able to receive a good grade for working hard on my paper.

It was during my high school years that I read my favorite novel to date, When I picked up Mitch Albom’s the Five People You Meet in Heaven. When the man in the novel was going through the five stages, I was with him. When I find a novel that excites and intrigues like this did, I would lose all concept of time and reality. Being able to read and write so easily will help me now and in the future.

Most people in the world don’t know the power of reading and writing, which is disappointing. I agree with Birkets when he says technology is taking over, and eventually it will be in complete control, but reading and writing are solid foundations to life, and they will never go away.