9.15.16+and+9.16.16

Small group discussion around culminating questions for "Dark They Were, and Golden Eyed": Write, discuss, record

1) Why does Bradbury choose to set this story in Mars? How is it also about Earth? 2) What issues around colonialism does this story make us analyze? colonialism (noun): the policy or practice of acquiring full or partial political control over another country, occupying it with settlers, and exploiting it economically. 3) What is Bradbury warning us about, or what is he trying to teach us? 4) How does this story relate to the ideas about identity/culture we’ve discussed? 5) What does this story reveal about the process of cultural assimilation? 6) How does it relate to the notion of “us and them” or what it means to be an outsider/alien or an insider?

Discussion groups took notes on big ideas, developed two themes around these big ideas, and then found evidence to support these themes. If you missed class, please complete this in your google folder.

Here's a list of the themes that we compiled from each group. These haven't been polished/edited, but it's a place to begin. Themes: Period 2 Themes: Period 5 and 6 > Your environment will change you no matter how much you don’t accept the change because everybody’s body adapts to survive. > Thesis Brainstorm worksheet--pick a theme that you want to write about as we move to our first analytical paragraph of the year. Next you'll be selecting evidence to support it, and discussing how the quotes you've selected will help prove your theme to be true. Feel free to use one of the themes groups developed (listed above), or create a new one. Here's the worksheet:
 * No matter how much you reject and try to stay away from assimilation, you are always in some small or big way or form you are going to adapt/assimilate to the culture you are living in or around, so you should be open minded to others differences and cultures and stay away from sing stories.
 * Even though accumulating can feel like you're losing part of your identity when you embrace assimilation you find a sort of peace in a new perspective, so losing a part of your identity or giving up part of you culture to let in a little change can be a great thing.
 * When one lives in a culture for long enough, they start to become submerged in it and eventually it becomes a part of them
 * No matter how strange or different a place or person may seem, it’s always important to keep an open mind about it, or else opportunities and experience will be limited.
 * People colonizing a new land while bringing their culture and belongings with them will end up adapting to the new culture.
 * It's better to accept change than deny it.
 * Subconsciously or consciously, assimilation is hard to escape, but it can be done. When one is exposed to change all around him or her, they can fight it or give in. Through fighting it, they can become more of an outsider, but when they give in, they can lose all sense of their previous identity. It is unfair, because one is given little choice, and although it may be good for other people to see one being “normal”, it can be bad to give up who you are to fit in. (This could be a few themes).
 * The more willing you are to assimilation, the faster it will occur.
 * Belief that one is different than others who are extremely similar often leads to conflict.
 * The events in this story can be seen as a metaphor about culture and assimilation. Upon their arrival, the Earth people renamed many of the places in Mars, therefore imparting a part of their Earth identities onto the land. However, when they stopped using these names and following their habits and routines from back home, they eventually completely lost all traces of their Earth identities and culture. Through these events, the author is trying to show us a theme about the danger of losing one’s own culture, upon being exposed to another.
 * Fear of adjusting to new places will only make you fall behind from the rest, causing isolation and unhappiness within oneself. The actions of Bittering are a good example of this theme. While the rest of his companions from Earth are gradually adjusting to their new home, Bittering is reluctant to do the same. His insistent and stubborn attitude only isolates him from the rest, making him unhappy and uncomfortable. However, after overcoming his stubborn attitude, he was able to adjust just like the rest.
 * Being isolated makes one seem more unwilling to adapt and that forcing oneself to be away from the change doesn’t help the change stop.
 * Bradbury is warning to not fear change and to not assume the worst out of something.
 * When you move to a new environment, even if your are unwilling to change or assimilate, eventually you will unknowingly or against your will, as shown by Harry Bittering throughout the whole story. ¨My eyes? They are blue of course.¨ He doesn’t want to change but eventually falls through.
 * When you assimilate to a new area, you’re identity changes in unexpected ways.
 * Assimilation into “Mars” could correlate to our assimilation into Lincoln High School.
 * Not understanding the new community or surroundings can make one feel lonely and isolated.
 * Sometimes assimilating to a new place can have advantages, but other times it doesn’t work out as you thought it would.
 * The feeling of isolation can impact your outlook on change in positive/negative ways.
 * Being scared to embrace new cultures and surroundings will lead to isolation, which leads to even more fear.
 * Bradbury is warning us that no matter how hard you try, your body and personality is going to assimilate to your surroundings.
 * When you can’t change something, you can always try to fight back and take control, but most rarely does that work. Accept the change and continue to live your life.
 * Bradbury is also warning us that if you change your personality to a certain point, then you end up completely forgetting where you have come from and how you have grown up.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1oOysxKMj_xH7nBW6XWGdbTxKs5X9M8XvDEslR-464IE/edit?usp=sharing

Here's a compiled list of the devices you tracked as you were reading. Feel free to pull from it if it helps: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1EQQKVpJFayXmzQHMf1f9q8JPKaQ-yXjH7kEAmobtWGk/edit?usp=sharing

Here's a copy of "Dark They Were, and Golden Eyed":

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B270PU2LFF7bcWhHUVg1d1ZsMVk/view?usp=sharing

HW: Finish Thesis Brainstorm Worksheet