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MONSTER
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From: bji <ihlen>
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 07:08:46 -0600
I think Steve's guilty of complicity--of going along and then realizing, later, of the consequences. And I think this is a profoundly teachable book which I am going to promote as soon as school starts again...thanks for this one, ccbc-net, from this high school English teacher!
I loved being bounced around in Steve's thoughts-?out appearances and about the deeper realities. MONSTER is a beauty for teaching--and the students will take sides with and against Steve Harmon as I have--with delight in the issues. We have the "media in process" idea. Since Steve is constantly editing, we get to do that too. ("But I don't want to think about decisions, just my case...I keep editing the movies, making the scenes right. Sharpening the dialog..." p. 271)
We have the differing people who "see" Steve: His film teacher who sees a "deep character" (I too think Steve is a developing soul, a human in process). His defense attorney who looks away from him as they win his freedom. His parents' views.
I don't think this book is about race but is instead about a still?veloping-his-soul boy/man/human who sees/edits responsibility and consequences and about his wanting to LOOK good. And we get to see/hear each revision after the facts. What those facts were we get to guess at.
Steve wanted to be "tough like them" (p. 130) He saw a jail fight and thought no one cared--as if only other people's opinions counted, not Steve's own. "I think I finally understand why there are so many fights. In here all you have going for you is the little surface stuff, how people look at you and what they say. And if that's all you have, then you have to protect that. Maybe that's right."
The concentration camp guards on trial in WWII told the court that they were "nice" as they stood to keep prisoners in line --but each thus made the lack of right their monster selves. Steve for me didn't do the actual killing but he was there and that makes him a monster too for me there.
I think he's protecting his image and I think he says/lies about his being involved because this "monster" evaluation Steve so feels is inharmonious. His last name is HARMON. The lack of harmony inside him is stirring him to learn more. And that gives me hope. I think it will be a great "read" and discussion stirrer, one of the best I've encountered in a while.
Betty Ihlenfeldt, Instructor, English, De Forest High School, De Forest, WI
*******************************************************************
"Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living." (Mary "Mother" Harris Jones from the web site info bout her)
*******************************************************************
Received on Wed 28 Jul 1999 08:08:46 AM CDT
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 1999 07:08:46 -0600
I think Steve's guilty of complicity--of going along and then realizing, later, of the consequences. And I think this is a profoundly teachable book which I am going to promote as soon as school starts again...thanks for this one, ccbc-net, from this high school English teacher!
I loved being bounced around in Steve's thoughts-?out appearances and about the deeper realities. MONSTER is a beauty for teaching--and the students will take sides with and against Steve Harmon as I have--with delight in the issues. We have the "media in process" idea. Since Steve is constantly editing, we get to do that too. ("But I don't want to think about decisions, just my case...I keep editing the movies, making the scenes right. Sharpening the dialog..." p. 271)
We have the differing people who "see" Steve: His film teacher who sees a "deep character" (I too think Steve is a developing soul, a human in process). His defense attorney who looks away from him as they win his freedom. His parents' views.
I don't think this book is about race but is instead about a still?veloping-his-soul boy/man/human who sees/edits responsibility and consequences and about his wanting to LOOK good. And we get to see/hear each revision after the facts. What those facts were we get to guess at.
Steve wanted to be "tough like them" (p. 130) He saw a jail fight and thought no one cared--as if only other people's opinions counted, not Steve's own. "I think I finally understand why there are so many fights. In here all you have going for you is the little surface stuff, how people look at you and what they say. And if that's all you have, then you have to protect that. Maybe that's right."
The concentration camp guards on trial in WWII told the court that they were "nice" as they stood to keep prisoners in line --but each thus made the lack of right their monster selves. Steve for me didn't do the actual killing but he was there and that makes him a monster too for me there.
I think he's protecting his image and I think he says/lies about his being involved because this "monster" evaluation Steve so feels is inharmonious. His last name is HARMON. The lack of harmony inside him is stirring him to learn more. And that gives me hope. I think it will be a great "read" and discussion stirrer, one of the best I've encountered in a while.
Betty Ihlenfeldt, Instructor, English, De Forest High School, De Forest, WI
*******************************************************************
"Pray for the dead and fight like hell for the living." (Mary "Mother" Harris Jones from the web site info bout her)
*******************************************************************
Received on Wed 28 Jul 1999 08:08:46 AM CDT
