The Whole story: SoCal

Even though this video is a commercial for a tourism website, I believe that it paints a more complete picture of what everyone else sees and thinks of about SoCal and California in general. In my mind the best part about this video is that it shows that some of surf and go to the beach but it also shows that we do a lot of other things as well. I think this is how Achebe portrays Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart. Throughout the story Achebe shows us how Okonkwo is the ideal child in the Ibo peoples eyes. But Achebe also shows us that Okonkwo often loses his temper and beats up his wives and children. Although that is not a good characterization of Okonkwo Achebe still includes in the story because that gives the whole story.

"To This Day"- Shane Koyczan

          The first thing that I really like about this Ted talk is the use of rhyme. The rhyme and music behind the talk gives so much more power than without. Another thing that I really like about this is when Koyczan talks about how we are forced to know who we want to be before we know who we are. Like when you are taking tests in 6th, 7th, 8th grade and it asks you what job you want. When I was young I always had trouble with knowing who I wanted to be. When Koyczan gets into the actual poem he talks about one of the most common issues in today's schools, which is bullying. The reason why I think I found this talk so much more interesting than any other anti-bullying lecture is because of the pain and pure power in his voice.