Today Samara Learned... [Day 31]

that while its so exciting to have her own place and live on her own... it is ten times better to have guests* come visit!!

Cami and Beks are here for the weekend and I'M. SO. HAPPY!!  Off to the weekend festivities!

Today Samara Learned... [Day 30]

that her curious tendencies can get her in trouble.  Like how stumbling across this article and then deciding to pull up a clip or two from The Shining - on the night before Halloween - was maybe not a good idea.

Today Samara Learned... [Day 29]

more about the Marvel Universe - and finds it fascinating!!  Between the new Avengers: Age of Ultron trailer(s) [here, in case you're not one of the 50 million viewers thus far], yesterday's Marvel event,  more rumors of Cumberbatch playing Dr. Strange [he was a rumored choice even before Joaquin was selected], and getting to know comic-obsessed MA students [one fellow student is even doing his Thesis project on the rhetoric of the comic format]... she has been learning a lot more!  Her most recent exciting discovery is learning a bit about the new pair of faces in the upcoming Avengers sequel: Quicksilver (Aaron Taylor Johnson) and Scarlet Witch (Elizabeth Olsen).  They're the twin children of Magneto (from X-men), though both casting and creative decisions have all but ruled out a MCU / X-men crossover.  In the comics, Scarlet Witch marries Vision, who will played by the brilliant Paul Bettany in Ultron even though he heretofore has voiced JARVIS for the IronMan suit.  Annnyway... she's really enjoying making these connections and getting super stoked for the next Avengers film.

Also, based on a conversation she had with a fellow student today, it is safe to say that after Lana Del Rey's "Once Upon A Dream" and Marvel's eerie adaptation of Pinocchio's "I've Got No Strings" - the film industry (which seems to now be half owned by Disney) is moving to re-examine the darker, ironic side of our childhood experiences.  Just wait till you hear a dark rendition of "The Circle of Life" on Disney's Star Wars: Episode VII.

Today Samara Learned... [Day 28]

how strangely fun it is to review some of her older work. To gather examples for her students, she decided to go through a few pieces to glean the nuggets that will help her students. In doing so, she recalled the lightbulb moments that led to some of her favorite pieces from undergrad. Despite noticing the errors, it was as much fun as catching up with old friends. 

Today Samara Learned... [Day 27]

that Taylor Swift is even more impressive than she had thought previously. Seriously - wow! #1989

Today Samara Learned... [Day 26]

(actually bonus fact from yesterday during the zoo visit), that a penguins mating process begins with side long glances.  The female responds by shuffling sideways over to the male, who then flaps his wings really fast.  Doesn't that sound way better than "facebook official"?  Yah, penguins are just the funnest.

Today Samara Learned... [Day 25]

that zoos don't lose their charm once you're an adult.  In fact, accompanied by a sweet boyfriend who gets excited over all types of animals, they're even more fun!!

Today Samara Learned... [Day 24]

all about rhetoric & composition studies.  Her MA is another track (Literature & Culture), but she got to attend a conference celebrating the current movements in the field.  It was fascinating!  Shout out especially to Aspasia, one of the first, prominent, female rhetoricians.

Today Samara Learned... [Day 23]

that black eyeliner may actually work on her.  She's avoided black for 5+ years, preferring dark brown or bronze.  But today she decided to play with some makeup (full disclosure: it was to practice some techniques for Halloween ;) and came across a black eye-liner pencil that came with one of those gift bags full of samples.  So, she gave it a whirl and what do you know?  Not too shabby.

Today Samara Learned... [Day 22]

that Annie's white-cheddar mac-n-cheese is good... but with parmesan sprinkled on top it's extra good!  This is as foodie as she gets haha :)

Today Samara Learned... [Day 21]

all about paratexts!  She was aware of them before, but today afforded a field trip to Special Collections at the Library, where her class got to examine the paratexts of early 19th C books.  Incredibly nerdy and wonderful :)

Today Samara Learned... [Day 20]

that her boss still hasn't found a replacement...and that's a bit sad.

Today Samara Learned... [Day 19]

that if you miss the exit for Corvallis, it is 11 miles until the next exit off I-5! #mistakesyouonlymakeonce

Today Samara Learned... [Day 18]

to be more comfortable on her knees.

Today Samara Learned... [Day 17]

How to incorporate the Lizzie Bennet Diaries into class more. Today, she had to present on research methods & resources. What example did she use? The LBD - combining teaching goals with personal research. Two birds, meet her one stone.

Today Samara Learned... [Day 16]

that she wouldn't necessarily die if she rode her bicycle to class with the basket laden with heavy books.  Heretofore, she had ridden her bike when only bearing smaller burdens, but today she ventured to make the journey with her full satchel.  And she survived.

And she doesn't know why this post came out so archaic-sounding.

Today Samara Learned... [Day 15]

how to embrace the "I have a massive run in my tights, but it's totally cool and intentional" Oregonian thing.  At least, she took her first step.

Today Samara Learned... [Day 14]

that Heart of Darkness is even more intertextual than she had previously imagined.  Whether intentional or not, Conrad includes some references that heightens his own brilliant writing.  His famous novella - seriously, he packs the punch in just 77 pages - is a frame narrative, with the life of one central character relayed by a sailor named Marlowe to a group, including an unnamed narrator who is relaying it all to the audience.  This layered narrative creates a powerful sense of uncertainty and ambiguity that is as central to this book as its plot - perhaps even more so.
Anyway, that's not what she learned, what she discovered today is the book's possible connection to another famed, framed-narrative.  The first line, the first two words of the novella, indicate the ship on which the story is being relayed is called "[t]he Nellie."  Nelly just happens to be the name of one of the main narrators in Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights, and, infamously, one of the most unreliable narrators in pre-1900 English literature.  Coincidence? She likes to think in literature, there is no such thing.*


* See "Tradition and the Individual Talent" by TS Eliot.  [I think, to an extant, the literary tradition bleeds into each new generation of authors.]

Today Samara Learned... [Day 13]

all about the "Paramount Decision" and Hollywood history at a lecture she attended at the Humanities Center.  To sum up, a US Supreme Court Decision in 1941 ruled to end Studio monopolies, which had multiple consequences.  Due to this decision, in conjunction with the rise of television in the post-war era, movie sales slumped dramatically, starting in 1941 and lasting all the way till 1972 when "The Godfather" single-handedly saved Hollywood.  But that time of transition just after the war was a dark and fascinating time for the film industry and the lecturer illuminated it's history in an enticing way.  She can't wait to learn more!

Today Samara Learned... [Day 12]

that the local Episcopalian "Contemporary Service" ... didn't have the demographic she was expecting.  But, that's ok, because there were led breathing exercises based of a meditation on Psalm 23.