To begin with, I don’t like to write, and I don’t like to read classic literature. So, when I had to register for Eng 102 (it is the last general education class that I needed to take, therefore I had no choice) the first thing I did was to find out what textbook is required. Most students choose classes according to schedule or professors. But not me, I choose a class according to the textbook. For instance, when I saw “Coraline” by Neil Gaiman, on the bookstore website for an English 102 class; I registered, and then I worked my other classes around that class. I am glad I did, because Professor Smith’s class is a unique experience.
For instance, the English class is themed around the supernatural, which is one of my favorite genres of novels and films. Also the class is taught on a microcomputer, the main form of writing in this class is blogging; which allowed me to go in depth with my writing, because I had the World Wide Web at my fingertips, and besides blogging made the class fun. In addition, blogging brings us into the future of learning and most important it helps us save the planet by not handing in hard copies of essays and buying a bulky textbook. But it was not all fun and games, it was just well disguised.
The many assigned essays was to identify various themes onarchetypes, tones, symbolism, literacy theory and monomyth; I, analyzed literary works ranging from narrative poems such as, “Goblin Market” to lyric poems such as, “Orchard Pit” Also I analyzed lyrics from the song “The Stairway to Heaven”we even watched the film “Spirited Away”. Furthermore, for my final research project I learned how to use Xtranormal text-to-movie program. I created a short film based on the “The Tale-Tell Heart”. Also, I took a heroic myth self-test, my results was the archetype altruist, which I had the opportunity to further research and to post numerous blogs entries on my findings.
In addition, Professor Smith’s lovely wife, Dr. Ximena Gallardo C. graced us for a guest lecture on the one thing that I dreaded the most and something I had no desire to read, Shakespeare. However, her enthusiasm for Shakespeare’s “Macbeth” rubbed off on me and I learned that I enjoyed reading the classic literature. Like the old saying goes, “Ignorance is Bliss”, but willful ignorance is just plain dumb. So, the one thing I was trying to avoid is the one thing I enjoyed most. I might even take an English (ENG266) course which examines Shakespeare’s writings.
Secondly, before this class I never heard of Joseph Campbell or “The Power of the Myth" and “The Hero’s Journey”. Campbell’s theories are that we have a“Hero’s Quest” in our life that we have to complete. Also, he claims that most “heroes” do not know the purpose of their journey, so, they go through life searching for clues of their fate and the “Call to Adventure”. The monomyth makes perfect sense when applied to our life, many books and films. For example, just the other day I watched a Disney movie and I found myself listing all the elements of the hero journey. I will never watch a film or read a book without thinking about the Monomyth.
Third, I learned many new things in this English class. For instance, the final project from Joseph Moneymaker was interesting because it included a look in different cultures and customs from around the world. Joseph did a good job explaining about the roots of the rebellious movement called Capoeira. I find out that the dance originated in Brazil as entertainment then evolved into a form of self-defense against the slave masters. Also, Capoeira is seen as a multicultural dance that was adapted by many tribes in Africa. Besides, I was most impressed by his presentation, because he showed his passion for the martial arts dance of Capoeira by doing some somersaults in such a small area.
Lastly, all things must come to an end, everyone loves the end of the semester and I'm certainly no exception. However, this is one of the few classes I actually enjoyed and didn't mind doing the many assignments. It might have been because I was blogging all my essays and it did not seem like a chore. Or maybe was it the supernatural theme? Or maybe was it the Professor?
As a final point, I think that teaching is a noble calling, and is something that has lasting value beyond one semester. Thank you, Professor. C. Jason Smith. I enjoyed your class; and also I had the benefit of learning many new things that I will take on my very own “Hero’s Journey”.
Edgar Allan Poe (January 19, 1809 – October 7, 1849) was born in Massachusetts, but was orphaned young when his mother died and his father abandoned him, he was adopted by John and Frances Allan, of Richmond, Virginia. His career of storytelling began with an anonymous collection of poems. He was part of the American Romantic Movement as a writer and poet; most of his tales was of mystery and had many symbols of death. Most of his work is dark macabre horror stories and brooding poems. And in my opinion his horror stories are some of the best ever written, his writing is imaginative and unforgettable; he will remain as a master of suspense for centuries to come. Poe's stories and poems, tap on the window of your conscious and unconscious thoughts with symbolism and archetypes. He was the first to create the detective story and the psychological thriller. In addition, if you never read any of his work, do so. But, be warned; make sure you have enough time to read the entire story at one sitting, because you will not be able to put it down.
The short story from Edgar Allan Poe "The Tell-Tale Heart" was first published in 1843. The story is a horror and psychological thriller told from a first-person perspective. The main plot of the story is a psychological portrait of a "mad" narrator who insists he is sane but suffering from a disease (nervousness) which causes "over-acuteness of the senses". Then he kills the old man and afterwards hears his victim's relentless heartbeat. (The classic version is at the end of this entry).
My adaptation is based on the 1843 classic by Edgar Allan Poe "The Tell-Tale Heart" and was created using Xtranormal text-to-movie online program. I typed the script and used the drag and drop animation system; which brings my characters to life. In addition, I had a choice of movie sets, characters and camera angles.
PART 1
PART 2
THE TELL-TALE HEART by Edgar Allan Poe
True! --nervous --very, very dreadfully nervous I had been and am; but why will you say that I am mad? The disease had sharpened my senses --not destroyed --not dulled them. Above all was the sense of hearing acute. I heard all things in the heaven and in the earth. I heard many things in hell. How, then, am I mad? Hearken! and observe how healthily --how calmly I can tell you the whole story.
It is impossible to say how first the idea entered my brain; but once conceived, it haunted me day and night. Object there was none. Passion there was none. I loved the old man. He had never wronged me. He had never given me insult. For his gold I had no desire. I think it was his eye! yes, it was this! He had the eye of a vulture --a pale blue eye, with a film over it. Whenever it fell upon me, my blood ran cold; and so by degrees --very gradually --I made up my mind to take the life of the old man, and thus rid myself of the eye forever.
Now this is the point. You fancy me mad. Madmen know nothing. But you should have seen me. You should have seen how wisely I proceeded --with what caution --with what foresight --with what dissimulation I went to work! I was never kinder to the old man than during the whole week before I killed him. And every night, about midnight, I turned the latch of his door and opened it --oh so gently! And then, when I had made an opening sufficient for my head, I put in a dark lantern, all closed, closed, that no light shone out, and then I thrust in my head. Oh, you would have laughed to see how cunningly I thrust it in! I moved it slowly --very, very slowly, so that I might not disturb the old man's sleep. It took me an hour to place my whole head within the opening so far that I could see him as he lay upon his bed. Ha! would a madman have been so wise as this, And then, when my head was well in the room, I undid the lantern cautiously-oh, so cautiously --cautiously (for the hinges creaked) --I undid it just so much that a single thin ray fell upon the vulture eye. And this I did for seven long nights --every night just at midnight --but I found the eye always closed; and so it was impossible to do the work; for it was not the old man who vexed me, but his Evil Eye. And every morning, when the day broke, I went boldly into the chamber, and spoke courageously to him, calling him by name in a hearty tone, and inquiring how he has passed the night. So you see he would have been a very profound old man, indeed, to suspect that every night, just at twelve, I looked in upon him while he slept.
Upon the eighth night I was more than usually cautious in opening the door. A watch's minute hand moves more quickly than did mine. Never before that night had I felt the extent of my own powers --of my sagacity. I could scarcely contain my feelings of triumph. To think that there I was, opening the door, little by little, and he not even to dream of my secret deeds or thoughts. I fairly chuckled at the idea; and perhaps he heard me; for he moved on the bed suddenly, as if startled. Now you may think that I drew back --but no. His room was as black as pitch with the thick darkness, (for the shutters were close fastened, through fear of robbers,) and so I knew that he could not see the opening of the door, and I kept pushing it on steadily, steadily. I had my head in, and was about to open the lantern, when my thumb slipped upon the tin fastening, and the old man sprang up in bed, crying out --"Who's there?" I kept quite still and said nothing. For a whole hour I did not move a muscle, and in the meantime I did not hear him lie down. He was still sitting up in the bed listening; --just as I have done, night after night, hearkening to the death watches in the wall.
Presently I heard a slight groan, and I knew it was the groan of mortal terror. It was not a groan of pain or of grief --oh, no! --it was the low stifled sound that arises from the bottom of the soul when overcharged with awe. I knew the sound well. Many a night, just at midnight, when all the world slept, it has welled up from my own bosom, deepening, with its dreadful echo, the terrors that distracted me. I say I knew it well. I knew what the old man felt, and pitied him, although I chuckled at heart. I knew that he had been lying awake ever since the first slight noise, when he had turned in the bed. His fears had been ever since growing upon him. He had been trying to fancy them causeless, but could not. He had been saying to himself --"It is nothing but the wind in the chimney --it is only a mouse crossing the floor," or "It is merely a cricket which has made a single chirp." Yes, he had been trying to comfort himself with these suppositions: but he had found all in vain. All in vain; because Death, in approaching him had stalked with his black shadow before him, and enveloped the victim. And it was the mournful influence of the unperceived shadow that caused him to feel --although he neither saw nor heard --to feel the presence of my head within the room.
When I had waited a long time, very patiently, without hearing him lie down, I resolved to open a little --a very, very little crevice in the lantern. So I opened it --you cannot imagine how stealthily, stealthily --until, at length a simple dim ray, like the thread of the spider, shot from out the crevice and fell full upon the vulture eye. It was open --wide, wide open --and I grew furious as I gazed upon it. I saw it with perfect distinctness --all a dull blue, with a hideous veil over it that chilled the very marrow in my bones; but I could see nothing else of the old man's face or person: for I had directed the ray as if by instinct, precisely upon the damned spot. And have I not told you that what you mistake for madness is but over-acuteness of the sense? --now, I say, there came to my ears a low, dull, quick sound, such as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I knew that sound well, too. It was the beating of the old man's heart. It increased my fury, as the beating of a drum stimulates the soldier into courage.
But even yet I refrained and kept still. I scarcely breathed. I held the lantern motionless. I tried how steadily I could maintain the ray upon the eve. Meantime the hellish tattoo of the heart increased. It grew quicker and quicker, and louder and louder every instant. The old man's terror must have been extreme! It grew louder, I say, louder every moment! --do you mark me well I have told you that I am nervous: so I am. And now at the dead hour of the night, amid the dreadful silence of that old house, so strange a noise as this excited me to uncontrollable terror. Yet, for some minutes longer I refrained and stood still. But the beating grew louder, louder! I thought the heart must burst. And now a new anxiety seized me --the sound would be heard by a neighbour! The old man's hour had come! With a loud yell, I threw open the lantern and leaped into the room. He shrieked once --once only. In an instant I dragged him to the floor, and pulled the heavy bed over him. I then smiled gaily, to find the deed so far done. But, for many minutes, the heart beat on with a muffled sound. This, however, did not vex me; it would not be heard through the wall. At length it ceased. The old man was dead. I removed the bed and examined the corpse. Yes, he was stone, stone dead. I placed my hand upon the heart and held it there many minutes. There was no pulsation. He was stone dead. His eve would trouble me no more.
If still you think me mad, you will think so no longer when I describe the wise precautions I took for the concealment of the body. The night waned, and I worked hastily, but in silence. First of all I dismembered the corpse. I cut off the head and the arms and the legs. I then took up three planks from the flooring of the chamber, and deposited all between the scantlings. I then replaced the boards so cleverly, so cunningly, that no human eye --not even his --could have detected any thing wrong. There was nothing to wash out --no stain of any kind --no blood-spot whatever. I had been too wary for that. A tub had caught all --ha! ha! When I had made an end of these labors, it was four o'clock --still dark as midnight. As the bell sounded the hour, there came a knocking at the street door. I went down to open it with a light heart, --for what had I now to fear? There entered three men, who introduced themselves, with perfect suavity, as officers of the police. A shriek had been heard by a neighbour during the night; suspicion of foul play had been aroused; information had been lodged at the police office, and they (the officers) had been deputed to search the premises. I smiled, --for what had I to fear? I bade the gentlemen welcome. The shriek, I said, was my own in a dream. The old man, I mentioned, was absent in the country. I took my visitors all over the house. I bade them search --search well. I led them, at length, to his chamber. I showed them his treasures, secure, undisturbed. In the enthusiasm of my confidence, I brought chairs into the room, and desired them here to rest from their fatigues, while I myself, in the wild audacity of my perfect triumph, placed my own seat upon the very spot beneath which reposed the corpse of the victim.
The officers were satisfied. My manner had convinced them. I was singularly at ease. They sat, and while I answered cheerily, they chatted of familiar things. But, ere long, I felt myself getting pale and wished them gone. My head ached, and I fancied a ringing in my ears: but still they sat and still chatted. The ringing became more distinct: --It continued and became more distinct: I talked more freely to get rid of the feeling: but it continued and gained definiteness --until, at length, I found that the noise was not within my ears. No doubt I now grew very pale; --but I talked more fluently, and with a heightened voice. Yet the sound increased --and what could I do? It was a low, dull, quick sound --much such a sound as a watch makes when enveloped in cotton. I gasped for breath --and yet the officers heard it not. I talked more quickly --more vehemently; but the noise steadily increased. I arose and argued about trifles, in a high key and with violent gesticulations; but the noise steadily increased. Why would they not be gone? I paced the floor to and fro with heavy strides, as if excited to fury by the observations of the men --but the noise steadily increased. Oh God! what could I do? I foamed --I raved --I swore! I swung the chair upon which I had been sitting, and grated it upon the boards, but the noise arose over all and continually increased. It grew louder --louder --louder! And still the men chatted pleasantly, and smiled. Was it possible they heard not? Almighty God! --no, no! They heard! --they suspected! --they knew! --they were making a mockery of my horror!-this I thought, and this I think. But anything was better than this agony! Anything was more tolerable than this derision! I could bear those hypocritical smiles no longer! I felt that I must scream or die! and now --again! --hark! louder! louder! louder! louder!
"Villains!" I shrieked, "dissemble no more! I admit the deed! --tear up the planks! here, here! --It is the beating of his hideous heart!"
After hours upon hours of editing and creating; and also a few mishaps, such as, my Xtranormal video processing for hours and making my computer freeze, as a result I had to reboot my laptop a few times! I had this problem for days (and also many hives) until I realized the file was to big for my computer's RAM of 2 GB. So, to solve the problem I divided my video into 2 parts. IT WORKED. I am finally done with the Xtranormal mini movie of the Tell-Tale Heart. I am now in the process of unloading to my Blog. My blog should be ready for viewing in a couple of days.
As a final note: I should have done a research essay instead!! Live and Learn!
I Watched an adaptation of "The Tell-Tale Heart"; 1991 version of Edgar Allan Poe's tale about an evil eye, madness and murder starring Michael Sollazzo and Robert E. Reynolds.
In addition, I watched a 2008 modern day version inspired by Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart", the title of the movie is "Tell-Tale", starring Josh Lucas. The movie was a pretty good spin-off of the original story by Poe, new plot, and a few good twists throughout the movie, the story line is different, but, has the same feel. Good movie if you like stories and poems from Poe.
When you think of a hero, what do you picture? Do you have an image of a muscular man in a spandex suit with a cape, fighting crime with his trusty sidekick? Well, that is what I always pictured. However, the hero in the book is Coraline; she is a scrawny ten year old girl with a black sarcastic cat as her helper and sidekick.”Coraline” by Neil Gaiman is a story that includes a definite hero’s journey with all elements, such as the call to adventure, departure, initiation and return. The story helps us understand the archetypal guest, and gives us a look into our own hero’s journey.
To begin with, Joseph Campbell was the first to breakdown and give names to the elements of the hero’s journey. However, the hero’s journey is an ageless story that has been around since the beginning of time. The hero’s story has been told and retold in different cultures and in countless ways. The hero’s journey started first with drawings and oral storytelling, and eventually modified and incorporated into books, films and even was adapted into “over the top” amusement parks, such as Disneyworld and Universal Studio theme parks, where the mythic elements of the hero’s journey surround you in 3-D.
Furthermore, you may ask why should we care about the hero’s journey. Monomyth does not always mean a falsehood. The hero quest is a very real representation of reality. “The Hero’s Journey,” is a pattern of birth, death, and rebirth or in other words departure, initiation and return. The elements in “The Hero Jouney” define the process and the purpose of our lives; it is your life story, your neighbors’s and even your mother’s. The story starts at birth and continues with many elements of the Hero’s quest. Such as, sometimes in our lives we are not sure which path to take or we are in the “belly of the whale” especially when we are experiencing stress, conflict with ourselves or with others. Sometimes we are the hero and other times we may be the helper in another person’s life. Many times in our life, the hero's journey reset to the beginning, and as a result we are given second chances in our journey of life (rebirth). However, in the end we all die and for those who believe, we are reincarnated (rebirth) which makes the hero's journey continue...
In addition, through literature the universal story of “The Hero Journey” lives on for us and for the next generations. For example, the monomythic stories connects us not only to those we know directly but also to all those throughout history, because we can relate to similar experiences and the power of “The Hero Journey”
One of the first elements that I have identified in “Coraline” is the call to adventure. For example, coraline is faced with the situation of her parents being kidnapped by the “other mother”. The words “help me” (53)from her trapped parents was the call and the beginning to her hero’s journey.
Moreover, in her departure, she also had the supernatural aid of the small stone with a hole. The stone came with advice from Miss Spink, she said “and be very, very careful, and don’t wear green in your dressing room (20, 21), so, Coraline took the stone and she wandered what does miss Spink mean by “danger”.
Secondly, the Initiation, 2nd movement is the descent and crossing of the threshold. Coraline enters a portal between her flat and the other world, one of the threshold guardians is the brick wall behind the locked door, but magically the wall disappears so Coraline can enter the dark version of reality, there she meets her “other mother” which is a woman as the temptress. For instance, the other mother tempts her to stay forever; she promises coraline, that she will never be bored and will never have to eat “recipe” food. Also, coraline would have all the delicious food, colorful clothes and magical toys that she could ever wish for. However, Coraline is tough minded and not a fool. So, she gathers her courage and continues to move forward on her quest.
Additionally, Coraline has to overcome the road of trail before she can continue on her hero’s journey. For example, she offers the “button eyed” mother a challenge, “an exploring game, a finding things game” (92). The gamble was her love in exchange for her real parents and the three lost souls of the children. The other mother agrees on the game.
However, the “beldam” does not play fair. For instance, she conjured up a sand storm ,dog-bats, jelly-like creatures and of course a dough faced, “grublike”(111) thing with button eyes that whispered “coralline”. All the evil things try to stop Coraline in her quest.
Lastly, Coraline overcame the obstacles, she received the ultimate boon, and she saved the three souls and her real parents and crossed the threshold for her final return. In addition, she also became the master of two worlds when she tricked the other mother’s spider-like hand into the old well which gave her the freedom to live. Most importantly, she received the well deserved attention and love from her parents. Also, Mr. Bobo had a new found respect for her, he told her that the mice said “all is good, they say that you are a savoir” (160). He even called her by her real name.
That night Coraline drifted off to sleep while being serenaded by little circus mice playing sweet music. Her hero’s journey is complete.
As a final point, we all have “The Hero’s Journey”, we might have our inner demons to fight and sometimes dreams are hard to follow. But if you look inside yourself, you will found the strength to carry on and overcome the fears of the unknown. The real hero is you, and only you can complete your personal hero’s journey.Coraline did!
Unfortunately my first ideas of creating a YouTube video of spirits or the paranormal can’t be done, because of technical problems. Such as, my Canon digital camera only shoots 30 second video clips. Also, the software I have on my PC is Roxio Creator Premier from Sonic solutions, which only creates DVDs and slideshows; therefore, videos cannot be uploaded on the internet. So, that being said, I go to my plan “B”.
I have always been a fan of anything supernatural, and thanks to Prof. Smith's embedded YouTube video on the “The Raven” by Poe. I realized my first love of stories inmysteryandhorror was back in grade school when my English teacher introduced me to the American writer, and poet EdgarAllan Poe, the rest is history.
I will create an adaptation of "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allen Poe; I will use Xtranormal , which is a text-to-movie online module that will bring the short tale to life. I will edit and crop the story to a modified 3 or 4 minutes video, which I will post on YouTube.
So far, I have created an account with Xtranormal; and, over the weekend I have made a few free test movies, so I can practice using the many tools and features. Also, I have read and reread “The Tell-Tale Heart”
The steps that I will take to complete my research project before the deadline are: preform research on Edger Allen Poe and the genre of gothic fiction. Also I will research mental diseases that cause "over-acuteness of the senses”. In addition, I will watch many videos; rent two or three of the many film adaptations of "The Tell-Tale Heart", and maybe watch a few Alfred Hitchcock classics so I can get ideas on camera shots, angles and direction.
Also, I have to decide on which parts of the story that have to be deleted in order to fit the time length of my project and to do it in such a manner, so I will not jeopardize the significance of the tale. Furthermore, the most time consuming and tedious probably will be creating the mini- movie; because, I am a perfectionist I will edit, edit and then edit again until I feel that it is done or I just ran out of time and have to meet the deadline.
The only problem I anticipate is being unable to upload the completed Xtranormal production of “The Tell-Tale Heart” on YouTube or my computer gets a virus and crashes.
I have always been interested in ghost, spirits and paranormal activity. Even though, I don't want to believe that they exist , however for some strange reason I am always pulled to the mystery of the unknown. For example, every new place I travel to, I will always arrange a ghost walking tour; I have photos of orbs from many places, such as, a Chinese cemetery in Hawaii, the haunted canals of Venice and the streets of Salem Mass. I even stayed in a haunted hotel (Hotel del Coronado in San Diego). Spooky.
In addition, my husband is the manager of a cemetery in Queens and the perks are a company car and the house. Yes, I live in a cemetery. I have never seen a ghost, but my family claim that they have seen spirits in the dark of the night. For instance, my daughter has seen a man in a fedora hat that whispers her name, my son claims that his blankets are pulled off when he is in bed. And my husband is the worst, he claims that the spirits stand over our bed or are floating in from the wall that faces the dead, and the ghostly figures are striking at him ( he strikes back ). I think my family are in a dream-like state and they are dreaming.
Also, I am a fan of the shows "Ghost Adventures" and "Ghost Hunters", and of course the movie "Paranormal Activity". So, because of my weird interest on anything spooky it makes perfect sense that I do research on ghost,spirits and the paranormal. I would like to produce a mini-movie on youtube or maybe write a haunted tale.................... I am open to any ideas on how to get started.
