Ted Talk Response (10)

The Ted Talk feature that we watched in class was a good supplement to what we have been learning all semester regarding folk tales and their retellings, in my opinion. Granted, it was difficult to make out what the speaker was saying at times, which in turn detracted a little from the presentation, but at the same time this proved to be a strong example of just how prevalent folk tales are in other countries and nations across the Globe. I especially liked when the speaker performed the mythical chant and had the audience repeat it back to him. I felt like this gave viewers a small taste of the folktales and legends present in this particular culture, almost making them feel as if they too are a member of this nation. As for the story itself, from what I was able to make out it features a lot of the same components found in folk tales here in America; namely that of animals/nature providing symbolic significance and a powerful lessons learned upon conclusion of the respective tale. All semester we have discussed the importance of legends and myths in everyday society, and I truly feel that this presentation proved that exact point: that folk tales are and will continue to be a significant part of not only our American culture, but a piece of various countries across the world.

"Sandman" Response (9)

While reading through Neil Gaiman's work "Sandman," I constantly found myself rereading each paper after I would get through it, which I think speaks volumes to the masterful way in which this graphic novel is designed. By taking a second look at each page, I was able to connect the character's dialogue with the various detailed pictures, therefore helping me to better understand the author's work in this case. One thing that I especially liked about this piece was the plot structure and storyline. Reading like a comic book but possessing the depth found in some novels, "Sandman" certainly had a strong story told in a simplistic and easy to grasp manner. Another aspect of this work that I especially enjoyed is that of the illustrations. This piece is really not complete without the vivid and descriptive images of the various characters present in the graphic novel, and the illustrator does a great job of coordinating with the author and using the pictures to enhance the story. Personally, I came out expecting a well written and composed piece considering its author, Neil Gaiman, is one of my favorite writers, with his work "Coraline," holding true as my favorite story of all time. I can safely say that after reading this excerpt, I definitely wasn't let down, and I look forward to reading the rest of the piece in the future.