FOR OCTOBER 2: "L'EMIGRANTE"

This is a hard one: what question, related to L'EMIGRANTE, would you ask your classmates to initiate a discussion on the film?

Add your question or topic in "comment". Also, REPLY to the comment left by a classmate that you liked the most.

FOR OCTOBER 2 "SON OF ITALY"

SON OF ITALY:  what is the moment or scene (not a major theme) that you remember most vividly? Why do you think it has made such an impact on you?

EXAMPLES:
the vampire;
the "commissary system," similar to the Gulag or indenture servitude (aka slightly less cruel than slavery);
the wheel barrow scene;
the flooded room;
the letter to the editor.

PART 2: choose one of your classmates choice and comment about it, either because you missed it or because it also made an impact.

Children of Immigrants

“I don’t always think of myself as Italian or American or Italian-American. Oddly enough, when I’m here in this country I think of myself as a little more Italian, but when I’m in Italy I think of myself as slightly more American. For me, being American has to do with a certain way of life. The New York lifestyle is much more frenetic than the laid-back Italian lifestyle. — Giorgio Ravalli, 22, Italian-American


Read more personal statements by young hyphenated Americans from all over the world.

CLICK HERE

Comments? 

Do you care to comment?

This cartoon appeared about a month ago in the New Yorker, one of the most sophisticated, most liberal and best written magazines in the U.S.

The reference is to a business dispute between Amazon and the publishing house Hachette that rejected Amazon's conditions for selling ebooks (low price etc.) Amazon, the 800-pound gorilla of everything on sale on the web was trying to strong-arm the publishers with threats and other unseemly tactics.

Bonus

I will grant an exemption from one assignment (either Sept 23, Sept 30 or Oct 2) to the first person who will detect a blatant "racist" stereotype on this page.

http://kitchenette.jezebel.com/a-restaurant-is-deliberately-trying-to-be-the-worst-rev-1636532498/+Ubertrout

I will also give a bonus (to be determined later) to all the students who will add their comment after the discovery.

FOR TUE 23 SEPTEMBER (OK if you are a little late)

Look at assignment n. 4 (due Sept 23).

In general do you find the guidelines helpful or overbearing? Do they help or hinder your spontaneity?

When you write your comment, please do not address me directly. Speak to your classmates, not to me.

1) Read your classmates comments first. If you find one that you agree with, write your comment mentioning the comment you liked. When you write yours, try to contribute with a different view point, or a differently-argued opinion. You can also mention a view point you disagree with and proceed with your opinion.

2) Leave a reply to the comment (if any) that inspired you to write your comment.

3) Return as often as you want and reply to other students' comments.

FOR THU SEPT 18

Which aspect of this week's assignments are worth mentioning here , either because you 'liked' them or because you 'disliked' them?

OPTIONAL: For TUE SEPT 16 : I FORGOT TO POST THIS TOPIC EARLIER -- MY APOLOGIES

For TUE SEPT 16

Who is the audience of the cartoons, videos and the movie?
Whom are these TEXTS produced for? What is their goal? To please? To indulge? To convince? To scare? To warn and alert? To hurt? To help? To make money?

1) YOUR OPINION, please, in your comment.

2) After at least 15 students left their comments, return to the blog and leave a reply to one or more comments YOU DISAGREE with. (I count on you being able to disagree in an intelligent, calm, respectful tone.)

For TUE SEPT 16

Screening THE ITALIAN :  Focus on one detail or aspect of the film that captured your attention. Example: quality of acting, representation of Italy at the beginning of the film, the "FRAME" (the movie begins with a well off gentleman opening a book), modernity of editing, police conduct, the ethnic origin of the political boss......

1) Leave a comment and reply to the comment immediately above yours.

2) After your classmates have left at least 15 comments, choose one or more that you found interesting and give them kudos (for their smart ideas, or their good writing, or interesting comments etc.)

3) COUNT how many replies you received and send me an email message (Subject: replies to my comment). Whoever gets the most replies will get special credit.

For Tuesday Sept. 16

We have established that the principle "Feel free to say (or write) anything you want" refers to content and not to form: i.e. it doesn't mean "say it any way you want."

Discussion: would you interpret the principle to mean: "Say (or write) the first thing that comes to mind?'

1) ADD YOUR COMMENT FIRST, THEN REPLY TO THE COMMENT POSTED IMMEDIATELY BEFORE YOURS. ("What should I do if I am the first person to comment" Then you are out of luck. No one to reply to.)

2) ADD ANOTER REPLY TO ANY COMMENT YOU WANT, BUT WAIT UNTIL AT LEAST 15 STUDENTS HAVE COMMENTED. (You, first person to comment: here is your chance.)

For THURSDAY SEPT 11 -- 3

Focus on your research on "ITALIAN AMERICANS, NEW ORLEANS 1891, LYNCHING" and on SALVETTI's article (on the course homepage.)

What kind of insight did you gain into the practice of lynching?

Were you aware that it was not just an act of revenge or brute rage, but a method of repression exercised by the dominant class on a subordinate class?

Is anything similar happening today?

 BE CONCISE: process your emotions and analyze your thoughts.
Then, give your answers. Handle with care.

For THURSDAY SEPT 11 -- 2

This time try to avoid the temptation to read your classmates' postings before you write your own.

 

1)  First, comment on any DETAIL (not the main topics) of last class that stuck with you. 

2) Wait until at least 15 students have left their comments: at this point read the comments and choose the one that made a particular impression on you and tell the author the reasons of your choice.

For THURSDAY Sept. 11 - 1

This has nothing to do with the class, but I want to bring your attention to the fact that you are probably among the youngest "eye witnesses" of the 9/11 attack that will be able to tell -- many years from now -- where you were and what you were doing when you heard of it (probably you were already in school or on your way to it.)

You will be asked by younger generations to tell your story as you remember it. It may be worth for you to write down your memories now that those events are still fresh in your mind. In the future you will be able to go back and re-visit details that inevitably will slip from memory.

NOT REQUIRED: use 'comment' to tell your classmates ONE LITTLE DETAIL that in your memory is associated with 9/11. EX: at that time I was living in SoHo and for a week or two that area was open only to residents. I remember having to show my driver's license in order to get back to my apt. To this day, whenever I see police barricades, those wooden, light blue barriers used to cordon off a street, my mind immediately brings back the images and sounds of those days.