Creative Writing
originating from "The Catcher in The Rye" by J.D.Salinger. *explanation
included at the end as part of the task*
I'd thrown my gladwrap in the bin as I'd stood up to go. I'd forgotten t okeep an eye on the time and my wristwatch told me it was already past one. I'd been sitting in the university cafeteria attempting to enjoy my lunch, there'd been some massive crowds. I hate crowds, especially university crowds. I mean you couldn't even enjoy a mouthful without some prissy girl squealing with laughter, or exclaiming "I broke a nail", no doubt a perfectly manicured nail. Does it have to be so impossible to get some peace? Why does the whole cafeteria need to know how superb someone's baby spinach quiche is? Or exactly how hilarious that girl Sarah looks in her graduation dress? I couldn't stand it.
On the way to the car I'd passed a group of jocks obviously all on the way to the gym. They'd all been wearing their Nike trackies, and carrying Powerade bottles. They're all complete idiots, peas for brains, absolutely no chance in life. You could even tell just by the way they strut, as if they're pushing something forward with their shoulders, its ridiculous. One of them had wolf-whistled at me. As if I'd ever go wtih one of them! No thanks, I'd rather kiss a dung beetle. They'd all started cheering and I'd just walked past, blushing furiously...stupid idiots.
I'd wondered what work would be like. There would probably be a whole lot of oldies sitting around, planning to get stinking drunk. I was really looking forward to keeping all those old bastards cheery, I mean I wouldn't want any of them getting all aggressive and excited. If one of them had a heart attack I'd have no clue about what to do. I bet those medicine kids would jump at the chance to show everyone how clever they are. They're all so bloody perfect, like all those actors out of 'The Bold and The Beautiful'. I bet their parents spoil them constantlym being so proud of their little geniuses. I swear they all wear clothes from Country Road. It's as if they're trying to look like they live in a catalogue or something.
The couple I walked past at the library would've been outraged by the capitalism all those med kids are bathing in. They've always got huge opinions that take up the whole room. I heard them in passing today, discussing 'Work Choices' and that ignorant bastard John Howard. I couldn't help but agree, except that the guy-- I think his name's Gregorio or something like that-- kept slipping in the f-word every two seconds. I mean he could have at least cut back a little, being wtih his girlfriend and everything. It really got to me when they started waving their hands around and yelling all over the place. Its not like we have no clue they like politics. They don't need to go jumping up and down to show all their stupid passion for it.
That's what really gets to me about teh crowds at uni, everyone always has to have something to prove, how 'sexy' they are, or 'buff', or 'opinionated'. And they always shove it right up in your face, just to make sure that you have something to prove too. I don't think I ever remember having a genuine conversation with anyone about anything at uni, everyone's too preoccupied with their own future, or the latest party, or beign 'opinionated'. It's just stupid. I sort of wish I could just go on a road trip. I know it sounds like a loony idea, but I'd really love to just drive way out, up to the Wilson's prom and go on a hike someplace. There'd be no one yelling, or squealing with laughter, just peace. I'd maybe settle somewhere, somewhere with a little freshwater creek. I'd build a chimney and have an open fire in the wintertime, plant my own vegetable garden. It'd be peaceful.
I wouldn't stay there forever though, just until I felt like going somewhere else. I mean I'd probably start thinking about my younger brother and everything. About how awesome a kid he is. He really is. We use to muck around in our backyard, playing soccer, and run around on the street with water bombs, planning sieges on the other team. I remember whenever mum took us to the supermarket we'd pretend to be spies, hiding behind the isles, aiming to startle the other person wtihout being seen or caught. He'd always win, being so small and silent. Not like nowadays, he's really shot up. He's a sweet kid though. When my first boyfriend dumped me he went out and bought tissues and icecream for me, I remember I was weeping like a lonely dog.
First and last boyfriend. I'm not letting any other bastard near me after that stupid idiot. I really should have known, whenever I think about it I just get so bloody annoyed at myself. Its a bit depressing though, turning twenty-one and only having had one boyfriend. I suppose all the other girls lost theirs ages ago. Back in primary school probably. I kept touching the tiny gold heart on the chain around my neck.
I got it when I was born, from my dad's dead father. He was a really nice guy, always playing wtih the kids, joking around. It was so sad thinking about that old guy dying, when most of his friends had already died, except for his brother. Imagine being his brother, you'd be depressed as hell, having no friends, no group to belong to. Except that most people just screw you over, when you get too close. I was in such a horrible mood, feeling really down but bitter about everything too. You just can't trust most people, even if you try, they'll probably let you down.
I'd stomped on the breaks as I got to the lights a couple of blocks from work. I guessed the pub I worked at, 'The Rochester', wouldn't be busy, just a whole heap of old guys sitting around ,waiting to die. God, work could be depressing. I was really looking forward to the gorgeous six hour shift I had. I figured I'd go home to mum and dad's place for dinner afterwards, go see how my little brother was getting on.
EXPLANATION:
In this short story I specifically aimed to develop similar ideas to those Holden, the protagonist, deals with in the novel, "Catcher in The Rye". I incorporated ideas about perfection of childhood memories, people being genuine, pure motivations or ideas about one's future and identity, self-consciousness about class-differences, and virginity and loneliness because of not having a boyfriend or many close-friends the same age, and a dramatic self-pitying consideration of a lonely death.
I tried to assimilate the development of Holden as a protagonist when developing my own protagonist showing her dislike for people yelling and having opinions, when she does the same, so a sense of hypocritical behaviour.
I changed the gender of the protagonist to show that this type of character isn't restricted to one type of personality. I also shifted the time frame to modern day to show that the same ideas and problems applicable in 1950s America, carry similarities to those in modern day Australian society.
I adopted an informal tone, using contracted words to create a casual everyday type of language. As in the book words are repeated as if my protagonist is speaking, "I'd maybe settle somewhere, somewhere with a freshwater creek". Also the protagonist is continuously reflecting on past events as Holden does in the novel, so a recreated reflective tone is used.
The girls in teh cafeteria are meant to represent the 'popular and utterly morally ignorant group (who don't necessarily follow decorum), the 'med kids' are meant to represent the upper-class self-righteous group, and the opinionated couple are meant to symbolize rational, normal but activist university students with a clear current purpose for themselves in life. All of these symbols and representations serves to contrast with my protagonist's outlook. The tiny gold heart is meant to symbolize family love and acceptance, as Holden's hunting hat is a source of self-identity. The consequent ideas are meant to show how little true friends my protagonist has just like the old man who died with few friends left alive.
The readers are meant to have learnt about my protagonist's identity through the stereotypes she rejects, to be feeling sympathetic for her self-imposed loneliness, and to be hopeful for her reconnection with her younger brother. Thus the readers are left with her potential reconnection with a sense of belonging.
The prompt was: The groups we reject tell us as much about ourselves as those to which we choose to belong.
Now I made minor editing changes to certain words to clarify things a little.
further explanation on why this is now such a source of 'new perspective found'
I want to focus on the fact that this is fiction. All the hypocritical judgements that are connected to certain familiar names, places, and people, are not truths, they are exaggerations of a character in a novel, "Catcher in The Rye". These exaggerations of judgement were specifically formed, as a reverse psychology, to inspire correction from the people. Because the people are aware, if they are pushed far enough into the obviously wrong direction, they will begin to self-correct via common sense social knowledge.
However due to the fact that this information was imparted under test conditions and was received therefore as something to be corrected, the message wasn't clear. On top of this, my handwriting sucks ass! Just to be crude, a bit like Holden (: I'm being a cheeky monkey.
Anyhow, when similar information was imparted in the form of a 'blog' titled 'help yourself please, cos i know its all nice, but it'd lighten the load :)', the information was received in a way that was free from social regulations, rules, and the specific task to correct a piece of test work, the message was far clearer. to many more people.
does my uni media essay make more sense now? how reality is shaped by the surroundings. how understanding is shaped by a development of character (in a social sense-so real people), compared to how a protagonist(main character), is created (in a task based sense-creatively adhering to a set of origins).
hopefully the meaning of that essay will reach more people through this explanation. however, all the people who aren't 'culturally literate' and thus supposedly unintelligent, may feel left out and confused.
this is why we need to create a basis of understanding in society. global societal consensus is the goal. otherwise known as world peace. spread the right word in all the ways we know today, in every type of communication. teach nations about similarities between cultures. share education systems. social systems. as well as research. make as much positive information and direction possible available to the public.
i do realize there are many, many, many historical sources of bitterness. and they are not just theoretical. they are violent. horrific. terrifying. and extremely far away from reality. mateo taught me this. other people too, but they will remain under a vow of being told in confidence.
but as i once discussed with my boyfriend, hitler was no monster. he was no godzilla. he was just a common man trying to change the world in the best way he knew possible. his understanding, having developed from a lifetime (habitus), was never inspected. he spread the wrong word. this caused extremities of death. however if you read 'hitlers daughter' by jackie french (a novel i studied in yr 7/8) something different may occur to you. although we can't justify a historical action. what we can do, is to understand it. once something has been understood, it can be learnt from, and it can change the world.
this happened.
to america.
except everything was focussed on competition.
until someone came along and wrote a book called 1984.
now the world is a better place than it was back then, I AM SURE ABOUT THAT! just watch revolutionary road (it gives me shudders).
except now a new historical bitterness has sprouted. the competition between capitalism and communism in a place called the middle east.
an attempt to fix the german caused problem of escaping jews scattered globally, to come back together as a culture. but a separate culture. this fight didn't only happen in the middle east though. it was global.
remember the story of the tower of babel? the higher you build the tower, the more separated the people become as a punishment, through something as simple as language differences. (which links together all other differences). (illusio, capital)
english seems to have taken over the world.
but what about the language of the people?
the most fundamental of communications. visual. aural.
movements. sounds. take away the spoken word and you still have communication. its called charades! :D
no seriously, this is the consensus. the fundamental thing in common. the human species. the human factor.
forgiveness doesn't just appear out of thin air. it comes out of shared power. shared responsibility. at the same time as a balance of common consensus being made aware of.
this note was written between the hours of 11am and 2pm standard melbourne time.
I'd thrown my gladwrap in the bin as I'd stood up to go. I'd forgotten t okeep an eye on the time and my wristwatch told me it was already past one. I'd been sitting in the university cafeteria attempting to enjoy my lunch, there'd been some massive crowds. I hate crowds, especially university crowds. I mean you couldn't even enjoy a mouthful without some prissy girl squealing with laughter, or exclaiming "I broke a nail", no doubt a perfectly manicured nail. Does it have to be so impossible to get some peace? Why does the whole cafeteria need to know how superb someone's baby spinach quiche is? Or exactly how hilarious that girl Sarah looks in her graduation dress? I couldn't stand it.
On the way to the car I'd passed a group of jocks obviously all on the way to the gym. They'd all been wearing their Nike trackies, and carrying Powerade bottles. They're all complete idiots, peas for brains, absolutely no chance in life. You could even tell just by the way they strut, as if they're pushing something forward with their shoulders, its ridiculous. One of them had wolf-whistled at me. As if I'd ever go wtih one of them! No thanks, I'd rather kiss a dung beetle. They'd all started cheering and I'd just walked past, blushing furiously...stupid idiots.
I'd wondered what work would be like. There would probably be a whole lot of oldies sitting around, planning to get stinking drunk. I was really looking forward to keeping all those old bastards cheery, I mean I wouldn't want any of them getting all aggressive and excited. If one of them had a heart attack I'd have no clue about what to do. I bet those medicine kids would jump at the chance to show everyone how clever they are. They're all so bloody perfect, like all those actors out of 'The Bold and The Beautiful'. I bet their parents spoil them constantlym being so proud of their little geniuses. I swear they all wear clothes from Country Road. It's as if they're trying to look like they live in a catalogue or something.
The couple I walked past at the library would've been outraged by the capitalism all those med kids are bathing in. They've always got huge opinions that take up the whole room. I heard them in passing today, discussing 'Work Choices' and that ignorant bastard John Howard. I couldn't help but agree, except that the guy-- I think his name's Gregorio or something like that-- kept slipping in the f-word every two seconds. I mean he could have at least cut back a little, being wtih his girlfriend and everything. It really got to me when they started waving their hands around and yelling all over the place. Its not like we have no clue they like politics. They don't need to go jumping up and down to show all their stupid passion for it.
That's what really gets to me about teh crowds at uni, everyone always has to have something to prove, how 'sexy' they are, or 'buff', or 'opinionated'. And they always shove it right up in your face, just to make sure that you have something to prove too. I don't think I ever remember having a genuine conversation with anyone about anything at uni, everyone's too preoccupied with their own future, or the latest party, or beign 'opinionated'. It's just stupid. I sort of wish I could just go on a road trip. I know it sounds like a loony idea, but I'd really love to just drive way out, up to the Wilson's prom and go on a hike someplace. There'd be no one yelling, or squealing with laughter, just peace. I'd maybe settle somewhere, somewhere with a little freshwater creek. I'd build a chimney and have an open fire in the wintertime, plant my own vegetable garden. It'd be peaceful.
I wouldn't stay there forever though, just until I felt like going somewhere else. I mean I'd probably start thinking about my younger brother and everything. About how awesome a kid he is. He really is. We use to muck around in our backyard, playing soccer, and run around on the street with water bombs, planning sieges on the other team. I remember whenever mum took us to the supermarket we'd pretend to be spies, hiding behind the isles, aiming to startle the other person wtihout being seen or caught. He'd always win, being so small and silent. Not like nowadays, he's really shot up. He's a sweet kid though. When my first boyfriend dumped me he went out and bought tissues and icecream for me, I remember I was weeping like a lonely dog.
First and last boyfriend. I'm not letting any other bastard near me after that stupid idiot. I really should have known, whenever I think about it I just get so bloody annoyed at myself. Its a bit depressing though, turning twenty-one and only having had one boyfriend. I suppose all the other girls lost theirs ages ago. Back in primary school probably. I kept touching the tiny gold heart on the chain around my neck.
I got it when I was born, from my dad's dead father. He was a really nice guy, always playing wtih the kids, joking around. It was so sad thinking about that old guy dying, when most of his friends had already died, except for his brother. Imagine being his brother, you'd be depressed as hell, having no friends, no group to belong to. Except that most people just screw you over, when you get too close. I was in such a horrible mood, feeling really down but bitter about everything too. You just can't trust most people, even if you try, they'll probably let you down.
I'd stomped on the breaks as I got to the lights a couple of blocks from work. I guessed the pub I worked at, 'The Rochester', wouldn't be busy, just a whole heap of old guys sitting around ,waiting to die. God, work could be depressing. I was really looking forward to the gorgeous six hour shift I had. I figured I'd go home to mum and dad's place for dinner afterwards, go see how my little brother was getting on.
EXPLANATION:
In this short story I specifically aimed to develop similar ideas to those Holden, the protagonist, deals with in the novel, "Catcher in The Rye". I incorporated ideas about perfection of childhood memories, people being genuine, pure motivations or ideas about one's future and identity, self-consciousness about class-differences, and virginity and loneliness because of not having a boyfriend or many close-friends the same age, and a dramatic self-pitying consideration of a lonely death.
I tried to assimilate the development of Holden as a protagonist when developing my own protagonist showing her dislike for people yelling and having opinions, when she does the same, so a sense of hypocritical behaviour.
I changed the gender of the protagonist to show that this type of character isn't restricted to one type of personality. I also shifted the time frame to modern day to show that the same ideas and problems applicable in 1950s America, carry similarities to those in modern day Australian society.
I adopted an informal tone, using contracted words to create a casual everyday type of language. As in the book words are repeated as if my protagonist is speaking, "I'd maybe settle somewhere, somewhere with a freshwater creek". Also the protagonist is continuously reflecting on past events as Holden does in the novel, so a recreated reflective tone is used.
The girls in teh cafeteria are meant to represent the 'popular and utterly morally ignorant group (who don't necessarily follow decorum), the 'med kids' are meant to represent the upper-class self-righteous group, and the opinionated couple are meant to symbolize rational, normal but activist university students with a clear current purpose for themselves in life. All of these symbols and representations serves to contrast with my protagonist's outlook. The tiny gold heart is meant to symbolize family love and acceptance, as Holden's hunting hat is a source of self-identity. The consequent ideas are meant to show how little true friends my protagonist has just like the old man who died with few friends left alive.
The readers are meant to have learnt about my protagonist's identity through the stereotypes she rejects, to be feeling sympathetic for her self-imposed loneliness, and to be hopeful for her reconnection with her younger brother. Thus the readers are left with her potential reconnection with a sense of belonging.
The prompt was: The groups we reject tell us as much about ourselves as those to which we choose to belong.
Now I made minor editing changes to certain words to clarify things a little.
further explanation on why this is now such a source of 'new perspective found'
I want to focus on the fact that this is fiction. All the hypocritical judgements that are connected to certain familiar names, places, and people, are not truths, they are exaggerations of a character in a novel, "Catcher in The Rye". These exaggerations of judgement were specifically formed, as a reverse psychology, to inspire correction from the people. Because the people are aware, if they are pushed far enough into the obviously wrong direction, they will begin to self-correct via common sense social knowledge.
However due to the fact that this information was imparted under test conditions and was received therefore as something to be corrected, the message wasn't clear. On top of this, my handwriting sucks ass! Just to be crude, a bit like Holden (: I'm being a cheeky monkey.
Anyhow, when similar information was imparted in the form of a 'blog' titled 'help yourself please, cos i know its all nice, but it'd lighten the load :)', the information was received in a way that was free from social regulations, rules, and the specific task to correct a piece of test work, the message was far clearer. to many more people.
does my uni media essay make more sense now? how reality is shaped by the surroundings. how understanding is shaped by a development of character (in a social sense-so real people), compared to how a protagonist(main character), is created (in a task based sense-creatively adhering to a set of origins).
hopefully the meaning of that essay will reach more people through this explanation. however, all the people who aren't 'culturally literate' and thus supposedly unintelligent, may feel left out and confused.
this is why we need to create a basis of understanding in society. global societal consensus is the goal. otherwise known as world peace. spread the right word in all the ways we know today, in every type of communication. teach nations about similarities between cultures. share education systems. social systems. as well as research. make as much positive information and direction possible available to the public.
i do realize there are many, many, many historical sources of bitterness. and they are not just theoretical. they are violent. horrific. terrifying. and extremely far away from reality. mateo taught me this. other people too, but they will remain under a vow of being told in confidence.
but as i once discussed with my boyfriend, hitler was no monster. he was no godzilla. he was just a common man trying to change the world in the best way he knew possible. his understanding, having developed from a lifetime (habitus), was never inspected. he spread the wrong word. this caused extremities of death. however if you read 'hitlers daughter' by jackie french (a novel i studied in yr 7/8) something different may occur to you. although we can't justify a historical action. what we can do, is to understand it. once something has been understood, it can be learnt from, and it can change the world.
this happened.
to america.
except everything was focussed on competition.
until someone came along and wrote a book called 1984.
now the world is a better place than it was back then, I AM SURE ABOUT THAT! just watch revolutionary road (it gives me shudders).
except now a new historical bitterness has sprouted. the competition between capitalism and communism in a place called the middle east.
an attempt to fix the german caused problem of escaping jews scattered globally, to come back together as a culture. but a separate culture. this fight didn't only happen in the middle east though. it was global.
remember the story of the tower of babel? the higher you build the tower, the more separated the people become as a punishment, through something as simple as language differences. (which links together all other differences). (illusio, capital)
english seems to have taken over the world.
but what about the language of the people?
the most fundamental of communications. visual. aural.
movements. sounds. take away the spoken word and you still have communication. its called charades! :D
no seriously, this is the consensus. the fundamental thing in common. the human species. the human factor.
forgiveness doesn't just appear out of thin air. it comes out of shared power. shared responsibility. at the same time as a balance of common consensus being made aware of.
this note was written between the hours of 11am and 2pm standard melbourne time.
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