The Love of My Life- Quiz

Gladys Ledesma

06/28/18

The Love of My Life Quiz

     In my opinion, China’s head is in the clouds. She love’s Jeremy. She is dedicated to her studies. But, she doesn’t have a real life. China is very unhappy about her pregnancy. Her fear of having a baby is running her life. She doesn’t want anyone to know about her pregnancy. China doesn’t go to a doctor to get examined. When she gave birth to her baby, she doesn’t go to a hospital. China rejects her pregnancy. China and her boyfriend decided to eliminate the pregnancy. They go to a motel so China can give birth to her baby. After the birth the baby get’s thrown in a trash can. For two young people who are so smart to do such a desperate and horrible thing, it must mean they were delusional. They didn’t know what they were doing.  Clearly, they didn’t have the maturity to become parents. I think China was not smart to act in this way. Now, in days there is a lot of teenagers who get pregnant. They might have a poor communication with an adult to educate them about sex protection. Also, the young girl might be naïve about getting pregnant. Here in the Imperial County, there is a high percentage of girls that are between the ages of 15-19 who give birth to a baby. The rates are 55 out of 1000 girls giving birth. These girls miss out on their education. They lose the opportunity to achieve their goals. China rejected to become a young mom.  

Self Reflection

Gladys Ledesma

English 201

Professor Lewenstein

15 July 2018

Film History Research Paper- Self Reflection Assignment

     Two months ago, I was not familiar with this historical film The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. History and English is a subject that I avoided, however this summer I had to take my English class in order for me to continue with my education. I had to create an assignment which is a film historical research paper, so this film was recommended from a classmate. I took her advised and I went home to see the film The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. So, why did I decide to write about it? Because this film is about the Holocaust or the Nazis’ time and now that I am older, I realize that it is interesting to learn about the Holocaust time. This period of the Holocaust is never to be forgotten. Millions of lives were lost. 

     This English class was a refresher class for me from my previous English classes, because it has been over eleven years ago that I took my last English class. It seems to me that all the strategies use to create my film history research paper were new to me. The quote sandwich technique was good method to write a quote paragraph. This helped me to write a quote paper with the correct information on who express this information. Also, I learned to read my books carefully so I could get statements for my quotes. The other procedure that I enjoy was the character analysis for the reason that I was able to describe a person who I was interested. I use my own descript words to describe this person. The character analysis paper will be great in my research paper considering it will contain a specific person that I focused. Now, the paraphrasing technique was a challenge for me, but it is a good source to summarizing a paragraph. This technique made me read my information twice in order for me to be able to write my paraphrasing. I certainly was able to appreciate the information I read because I am trying to improve my writing skills. I definitely, change my thought of my English subject because I see how important it is to communicate in writing. I found every method useful for me to create my rough draft paper. At the end of all these methods, I will have a good research paper. These methods will assist me for the rest of my career and I am going to practice them so I don’t forget.    

You Don't Own Me- Go Wild

“You Don’t Own Me”- Go Wild

Song analysis- author’s intentions

The song “You Don't Own Me” refers to I’m no one’s property or I don’t belong to anyone, and I do everything I desire. Two Philadelphia songwriters, John Madara and David White compose this song to advocate for “Women Liberation Movement,” despite the fact that women were not being considered for many years (www.songfacts.com). The writers' intentions were about the woman confronting a man without fear. The song tells how a woman could have freedom and not depend on a man. It says that women are not toys, they are human beings that have their own personalities and don’t try to change them. Let them be free and don’t tie them down because it will not happen they are going to wonder if they desire. The writers offer Lesley Gore, the signer, to sign this song, she was only seventeen years old; when the writers approach her to ask her, to sign the song. She was having a relaxing day sitting in front of a pool before a performs. When she heard the lyrics she was delighted because she agreed with what the writers were trying to get across the audience. Lesley begins to sing the song in her performs and the song was a fantastic hit.     

Summary of M Butterfly

Gladys Ledesma

          Professor Lewenstein

          English 201

          24 July 2018

M Butterfly

M Butterfly is a book that I recently started reading. It is based on a true story and written by David H Hwang. I started reading this book because it was assigned by my professor Lewenstein from my English class. We started reading this book in class, and I continued to read the book at home because I had assignments that relate to the book. Reading the book was heartbroken because of M Butterfly. This book is about: politicians, sexual, different personalities, the difference between men, and women, and the differences between Eastern and Western. Also, it contains a horrible story M Butterfly of a young Japanese lady who falls in love with a Western man. The main characters are Rene and Song who have a relationship with each other. The book starts with the terrible story and ends with a crucial ending. My favorite part of the books was the beginning. It’s about M Butterfly Cho-Cho-San a young girl who falls in love at the first site with Pinkerton. Pinkerton is a Western U.S Navy who wants to buy a house in Japan. He is aware of the deal with buying a house with a wife included. Cho-Cho-San was the lady that came along with his house. They married and Cho-Cho-San gives up religion and family. He stays for a short period, and then he leaves her behind to return to his country. Three years went by, and she never lost the faith to see him again, however, during that time he remarries an American girl. During the time he was gone Cho-Cho-San had their baby. His return to Japan was tragic for Cho-Cho-San. She lost her life. This was tragic.

I would recommend this book because it had different topics and it was a sad story.

Pinkerton Vanishes in Madame Butterfly by Alma Estrada and Gladys Ledesm

You Don’t Own Me

Lesley Gore’s “You Don’t Own Me” is about a woman demanding her independence from her man. Gore doesn’t want any guy to possess her because she is worthier than that. Some men expect women to obey them. They feel superior and treat women like an object. Just like Cho-Cho-san women are being degraded all the time. In Madame Butterfly, Cio-Cio-San is sold in marriage to Pinkerton, an American Navy Lieutenant. Part of the song says “Don’t tie me down cause I’d never stay” which reflects Pinkerton's actions because he abandoned his wife for three years. In the song, it also says “To live the life the way I want” which is how Pinkerton lives. He bought a house that came with a geisha wife and three servants. He didn’t express any intention of fulfilling his role as husband. Pinkerton views his as a marriage of convenience, he intends to abandon her as soon as he encounters an American woman to marry. One day he decided to completely leave his wife and marry another person. This song could have been written for Pinkerton and Cio-Cio-San because she does not possess him and he is a free man. 

Unreal Love

“Madame Butterfly” depicts a disastrous unreal marriage between an American male and a Japanese female. Self-deception is shown throughout the story because Cio-Cio-San’s Uncle and Sharpless try to talk sense into Butterfly. This story also shows culture clash because young and innocent Butterfly couldn’t tell the difference between unethical behavior from a foreigner and typical foreigner behavior. Butterfly interprets Pinkerton's actions wrong, he had dishonorable intentions of being a legitimate marriage offer. Pinkerton said, “And to the day when I’ll wed a real wife in America.”Another theme also portrayed is honor. Madame Butterfly shows that Japanese and American cultures have completely contradictory ideas of honor. Cio-Cio-San’s family disowns her primarily because she married an American. That was a "dishonorable" thing to do and she disowned her ancestral gods. On the other hand, she regards marriage as a quite honorable and appropriate thing. She also believes that Americanizing herself from a religious and cultural perspective is the only ethical and proper thing to do. She also does what she thinks is honorable which is for her husband to return. (Example:) Cio-Cio-San waits for her husband instead of remarrying and providing for her son, even if her money is running out. Pinkerton shows how an uncultured American is. He believes that he is not really bound by laws, morality or anything else except in America, his own country.

Song’s Message
The song “You Don't Own Me” refers to being free and able to do as you wish. For example, saying that I’m no one’s property, or I don’t belong to anyone, and I accomplish everything I desire. Two Philadelphia songwriters, John Madara and David White compose this song to advocate for “Women Liberation Movement,” although women were not considered for many years. The writer's intentions were about the woman confronting a man without fear. The song informs how a woman could have freedom and not depend on a man. It mentions that women are not toys, they are human beings that have their own personalities and don’t try to modify them. Let them be free and don’t tie them down because it will not happen they are going to wonder if they desire. The writers offer Lesley Gore, the signer, to sign this song, she was only seventeen years old; when the writers approached her to ask her, to sign the song. She was having a relaxing day sitting in front of a pool before a performance when she heard the lyrics. She was delighted because she agreed with what the writers were trying to get across the audience. Lesley began singing the song in her performances, and the song was a fantastic hit. 


Scene Analysis


My favorite Lesley line is “And don’t tell me what to do.”I chose this line because these words perfectly describe Pinkerton in the story M Butterfly. The story starts with an exciting beginning Cho-Cho-San and Pinkerton joined their lives together; then the story ends with an atrocious and mournful ending. Pinkerton marries Ch-Cho-San who is a Japanese girl; he is a US navy lieutenant (Hwang.) They live happily for some time when Pinkerton decides to abandon her to return to his country, and he doesn’t consider her opinion. He escapes her for three years and marries again to an American lady during the time he was gone. He decides to return to Cho-Cho-San with an intention and take their son back to his country. Cho- Cho-San is devastated because she has Pinkerton never took her seriously. He only saw her as something temporary to entertain himself. Pinkerton is a greedy man and accomplishes anything he wants. 


“I Could Do This”
“So just let me be myself,” these two artists John Madara and David White dreamed of been signers. These two artists set off their journeys at an adolescent age; John Madara developed a vocal practice at age seventeen and David White started singing at age fourteen. Madara decided he wanted to sign and quit school at an adolescent age. He wanted to be himself. Madara knew he was passionate about music, regardless of the effort he was going to suffer(forgottenhits60s.blogspot.com). On the other hand, White started at an adolescent age too, and he had the opportunity to develop a singing group (Mindstorm Interactive, Inc). Both artists begin working together around 1957. They create a fantastic dual: songs writers and producers. After a while, they decided to go their own ways because of the differences between them. They wanted to be themselves. 


Comparison Chart


Lesley Gore - “You Don’t Own Me” David Hwang - “Madame Butterfly”

You don’t own me  Don’t try to change me anyway You don’t own me Don’t tie me down cause I’d never stay	Butterfly didn’t own Gallimard, he doesn’t love or care about her  He abandoned her for 3 years and when he returns he isn’t planning to stay He replaced her for an American wife  “She came with me, she’s my wife” (7).
I’m young and I love to be free I’m free and I love to be free To live the way I want	Pinkerton doesn’t want a real relationship with Butterfly He just sees her as something temporary to entertain himself  His dream is to marry an American women  “And to the day when I’ll wed a real wife in American” (1).
So let me just be myself That’s all I ask of you  Oh, don’t tell me what to say	Pinkerton tells Butterfly to just let him leave He simply wants to run away like he always does because he is a coward  He is embarrassed by his actions  “I cannot bear to stay another moment like a coward let me flee” (7)

Music Video

This I Believe Statement

This I Believe: What I understand is that there are many men like Gallimard just identify women as an object to entertain themselves. In reality, they don’t have good intentions. Some men see women less because they are feminine but are not masculine. They feel powerful and expect women to obey them. A personal connection I have to the song “You Don’t Own Me” by Lesley Gore is from a previous relationship. In my last relationship, my boyfriend always tried controlling me. He would try telling me who to be around, and he would try telling me what to wear. I didn’t think his actions were appropriate; therefore, I decided to end the relationship and only remain his friend. When I heard the lyrics, it was extremely emotional to me because men have treated me as less simply because I’m a female. What I can learn from the artist that you must always stand up for yourself. Women and men should be treated equally. It can happen to any of us. Primarily young female teenagers, people try taking advantage of us. It’s a cruel world. I merely wish Song would realize how wrong she is to wait for someone who doesn’t care about her. Just like Song, many young females are trapped in unhealthy relationships, they are frightened to stand up for themselves. I learned you should never let someone control you and if someone doesn’t appreciate you they don’t truly love you. 



Works Cited


Garcia, Robert. “Theme of Deception Flutters throughout 'M. Butterfly'.” Tribunedigital-Baltimoresun, 6 Dec. 1990. Web. 07 July 2018. 


Medina, Victoria. “Lesley Gore.” Biography.com, A&E Networks Television, 28 Apr. 2017. Web. 07 July 2018. 


Rodriguez, James. “M. Butterfly Essential Quotes by Theme: Stereotypes.” Enotes.com, Enotes.com, 4 May 2014. Web. 07 July 2018. 


Soriano, Iliana. “‘You Don't Own Me’ – Iliana Soriano – Medium.” Medium, Augmenting Humanity, 25 May 2016. Web. 07 July 2018. 

Movie Poster Analysis - The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

Gladys Ledesma

Movie Poster Analysis

06/21/18

This movie image draws my attention because regardless of a fence separating the two little boys they were sharing something. The two boys are facing each other with a barbed wire between them. These wires are going horizontal, and vertical creating small rectangles. The metal wires are twisted around with short, sharp spikes. This barbed wire helps to prevent from trespassing to the other side. Also, since the fence is wire electricity can be used to shock those that touch this fence. However, if that was the case the boys Bruno and Shmuel were at risk but it didn’t stop them from reaching out to each other. This picture doesn’t have colorful colors. The colors are pale. The clothes Bruno is wearing is conservative. The dark navy blue sweater is boring and the pale yellow shirt too. Shmuel, on the other hand, is wearing a striped shirt which looks dirt. This shirt is usual for a prisoner's uniform, but under the circumstances Shmuel was it did fit him. He was in a concentration camp. Everyone in that camp had the same striped pajamas. The hairstyle for Shmuel was the same as everyone in the camp. Short and bald heads. Bruno's hairstyle was different it was styled. Seeing this picture tells me the different people.

This picture gives me a sad feeling. Maybe, the creator of this picture wanted people to feel empathy for the two boys. Why not? The time of this film was in War World 11. So, It was a devastating time. I see sadness because Bruno who is facing forward does not have a smile on his face. This makes me wonder why can people have consideration for children. Children are vulnerable and defenseless. Children need love and care from us adults. The time to think about children was not the time. It was wartime.  

This poster is sad like the movie. It makes me think why things happen? Why can't we have peace in this world instead of war?  This picture reminds me of the children that are being separated from their parents. I guess it is a never ending situation.       

Edited by Gladys Ledesma-Pinto on Jun 21 at 10:04pm