Jenna's Blog

       A specific scene that really moved me was when Marla's Mom was discussing how her husband, Marla's father, loved the attention his daughter was getting and how he saw no negatives. She disagreed with him on this issue, and often questioned her decision to make Marla such a public figure. This scene perplexed me, because I can see both sides of the issue. On one hand, the exposure and money Marla was generating could pay for Marla's, and possibly her younger brother's, future in a way that the family wouldn't be able to supply without the additional income. On the other hand, Marla is seen numerous times throughout the documentary, seeming uncomfortable in her public appearances. She also is a minor and therefore cannot consent to the interviews, news coverage, or even this documentary. The documentary itself brings this issue to the forefront by covering the belief held by some that Marla's parents were fabricating her paintings and using her as a way to ...

 Visual literacy, as defined by The Allyn & Bacon Guide to Writing, is "your awareness of the importance of visual communication and your ability to interpret or make meaning out of images by examining their context and visual features". In simple terms, visual literacy is looking past the surface of an image in hopes to see what the creator wants viewers to feel when they look at an image. Something that struck me as they were discussing visual literacy in the textbook, was just how many  ways an image can be examined. Lighting, framing, focus, subject matter, context, and colors are only a few of the ways visuals can be examined. In our current world, visual literacy is critical to understanding the media that surrounds us on a daily basis. By looking at images as more than just pixels on a screen, we may be able to further our understanding of the issues being captured by artists around the world.

 So far, my college experience has been mixed. On one hand, I've loved my classes and have met some amazing people. On the other hand, I have a lot more on my plate. My classes are very different from high school. My hometown, Yorkville, didn't have midterms or finals, and every test could be retaken. Suffice to say, college classes function very differently. I talked to Reverend Eric at the involvement fair about a talk he's hosting this week about the psychological impacts of churches and am very excited to listen to it. Overall, it's been a hard adjustment, but I'm very excited for my fourth week of classes to start!

I struggled writing my microtheme rough draft. It was easy to slip into my high school writing style. Many times, I had to switch how I was approaching writing my rough draft. I chose to write about why people choose to continue smoking despite the increased susceptibility to develop lung cancer. This topic is something I feel very strongly about because my parents both smoke, and cancer has been very prominent in my family. It was difficult at first to think about it from the perspective of someone who smokes. After writing my rough draft, I feel like I can understand more about where my parents are coming from. I hope that by exploring this topic more, I can better support them.

  This is the view outside my window on an afternoon in early May of this year. The pink hues of the trees contrasting the bright green of the grass makes every aspect look more vibrant and lively.  I love how the light aligns with the trees and casts the deep shadows below them because it makes the blue of the sky pop. The proximity of the crabapple tree causes the buds to be more detailed, allowing viewer to see all the intricacies of the petals. It's also the focal point of the picture, and always reminds me of the large crabapple tree outside my childhood home.