Great Gatsby

This past week in American Studies class we have been talking about the Great Gatsby. We have been focusing on certain ideas that have come up frequently while reading the book. My group was assigned eyes. The ideas of eyes are everywhere in Fitzgerald’s book. First, we noticed that mostly the eyes were used the cover or blind a character from someone or something. We also found that sometimes eyes were used to value material possessions and to prevent someone from seeing, like blinds. Not only were eyes used to blind characters, but also the eyes of doctor T.J. Eckelburg look down upon and protect the ashen valley in New York. The concept of eyes is very interesting in the Great Gatsby.

Marker Of Class

Yesterday in American Studies class we discussed markers of class while looking at different train stations on the west line for the Metra. Mr. O’Connor also brought up a great point about the bulletin board in our second floor rotunda by all of the administrative offices. This board talks about NT alum although only those who are famous and celebrities. This is definitely a marker of class because of its location. It is right by where all the parents come in to register and speak with administrators so they will walk past the board and see all of the famous people who have graduated from NT and how maybe their child will become famous someday, too. This board communicates the schools values as well. Instead of choosing to talk about a college professor or author who has graduated from NT they are choosing celebrities. This board is a marker of class and how NT view’s their graduates.

American Flag

The past couple days in class we have discussed the American flag. After asking my parents what the flag means to them, they responded by saying that the flag represents the pride and accomplishments of this country. I agree with this statement, however now that I have been looking around for flags, I have noticed many things. I have been noticing where flags are placed and on which houses. My house does not currently have a flag up however, it is not that my family isn’t patriotic, but we just don’t have a flag up. I decided to walk around my neighborhood and try to find an idea for which houses or schools have flags up and why. First I drove down the street to Faith, Hope and Charity church/school and found no flag insight, however when I continued to drive to North Shore Country Day School, they had three flags up, two school flags flying underneath the American Flag. Since both of these schools are private teaching institutions, I think that there is a religious component showed here. As I continued to drive along the back streets of Winnetka, I found many houses with and with out flags. I noticed on the more secluded, one-way streets almost no houses had flags, however on busy, cross town streets almost every other house had a flag. I think that houses on busy streets are viewed more often so homeowners feel a need to display their pride in their country through the flag and to be socially acceptable. Flags are not only used for houses, I have seen flags everywhere this week from trophies and billboards to plates and clothing.

This flag is front and center on this house on a busy street. It is larger than most other flags on the street.
This flag is the first thing that you see in this picture. It draws you in to look more deeply at the house.
This house has old-American architecture and shows the flag front and center.

This flag is right by the front door. This shows how the family wants freinds and others to view them as patriotic.

This house represents American values with the white picket fence and flag in the front of the house.

This house has the white-wash, blue shutters look along with flowering plants in the front year that goes with the American pride from the flag. This house could maybe be on a poster for how 'perfect' America is.

Final Junior Theme

The dreaded Junior Theme is coming to a close! Thank goodness! After many weeks of researching and writing I have finally finished my Junior Theme. I have written and re-written many aspects of my paper and I am finally happy with what I have. I will be editing the last part of my paper this weekend and then turning it in. I am so happy that we are finished and I am completely thrilled to be done with this assignment.