One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

The book has received much criticism  for its apparent misogyny (the female characters are either castrating nurses or prostitutes) and racism (the African American orderlies are charicatured as cartoonishly sadistic "black boys"). Do you think such criticisms are fair? What challenges does having a narrator who is a paranoid schizophrenic, often divorced from reality, present for the reader?

iPhone 5 Commerical Parody

This is a comical parody about a giant iPhone 5. Aside from the humor, how does this parody illustrate the great extents companies go to in order to make their products different? Do you feel that some ads exaggerate the features of a product just to attract more buyers?

Dolls and Body Image

Many writers and filmmakers who address gender issues cite dolls, specifically Barbie, as a significant influence on female body image.  In Tough Guise, Jackson Katz implies that the increased musculature of action figures leads boys to feel inadequate and overcompensate with violent behavior.  But how much of an influence on gender-related body image can a toy really exert?  The Onion mocks such concerns with its piece about Bratz dolls with enormous heads.  The Simpsons playfully grapples with the issue in "Lisa vs. Malibu Stacy."  To what extent has your body image been influenced by dolls and action figures?

What Influences Gender Identity?

Are gender stereotypes defined by popular culture, or do they derive from innate biological differences between males and females?
What role does popular culture play in influencing our gender identities?
Should gender stereotypes be taken as a dangerous issue, or as a playful mockery?
What gender issues are explored in the Movie Mean Girls?

What are your thoughts on the fahrenheit video? Do you think its a little bias?

College Essays

Senior year is a special time; it's our last year to participate in highschool events such as prom, homecoming, football games, and spirit weeks. In addition to all the fun activities, there's another component that makes our senior year distinct: applying for college. Although applying for college can be an exciting experience, it can also be stressful when it comes to writing essays. What do you think are some pros and cons to writing a college essay? What kinds of subjects do you think would help your essay stand out?

Since most colleges give a word limitation to the essays you submit, I think the length could possibly be a con. If your subject requires more description to inform the reader, that could leave less space for explaining the purpose of your essay. Balancing out details while answering the prompt could be difficult. It's clear that quality is more important that quantity with the college essays.

Furthermore, choosing the right topic could lead to some problems. It's helpful to think about the number of people that are applying to college and how often the situation you're considering writing about happens to other people. How many other people could possibly write about a hardworking and successful family member or friend that inspires them? Unique stories and situations are ideal for these essays.

Whats your reaction and thought from the video?

                                         

                                                   102 Minutes That Changed America.