TKAM Setting Blog

Prompt: You will be selecting a photograph that represents your idea of Maycomb, AL based on Harper Lee’s description.

Incorporating the different criteria from the Visual Literacy Guide, write a thoughtful, thorough, and well constructed response relating the photograph to Maycomb, AL.

In the photo I chose I can observe a number of different things that remind me of the books description of Maycomb. One of the things that I observe from the photo is a damaged building. This reminds me of the town Maycomb because in the book it says "Maycomb was an old town, but it was a tired old town when I knew it." (P.6). I believe that this quote helps represents Maycomb because this town in the photo looks a bit old in my opinion.! I belong eve this because on the side of the building you can see like warn out stains etc. In the picture I can also see a Coca-Cola sign in the back so by seeing this I can infer that this is almost like downtown. In the book it says "Go and eat downtown today" (P.25) based on this quote I can almost picture Walter running down this place to eat where the Coca-Cola sign is.

I think that this photo was made possibly for advertisement. I think this because in the photo they are taking pictures of possibly "main attractions" or the local areas to eat at. I believe that the audience that this photo was mainly targeted for is basically everyone because anyone can move anywhere if they really need to. If someone were to recreate this photo today I feel like there will obviously much more color in the photo. I think that there would also be new cars and people dressed in more modern clothing.

One question that I had from looking at the photo was what is Grady Lawless and Co. I think that this could be where Atticus might have worked at. I believe this because from our previous knowledge we know how Scout's father was a lawyer. This was one of the reasons why I picked this location. Another question that I also have is why is everyone in the photo African American. I understand how this was in the south however why aren't their any caucasian people in the photo.

Jack, and Delano. Main Street of Greensboro, Alabama. 1931. Farm Security Administration - Office of War Information Photograph Collection (Library of Congress), Greensboro. 

Theme Development Blog...

Theme Blog- Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie 
Propmt:Your blog for your 40 Book Challenge this week will focus on theme. You will need to determine a theme and analyze its development throughout the novel. By looking closely at character's actions, the setting, plot events, and/or the conflict, you can identify clues that are written by the author to help teach you (the reader) a message about life or human nature. Start first by looking at your 'Universal Theme' sheet to help you get started.

          The book Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie, by Jordan Sonnenblick is a book that conveys many themes throughout the book however one that is major is family comes first. I believe that this is one of the themes in the book because in the book Steven (the main character) is faced to deal with his brothers medical issue (leukemia). In the book Steven now has his brother in the back of his mind because he feels like it's his fault however Jeffery his brother has been diagnosed with this disease before hand. In conclusion Steven actually helped because if it wasn't for him his parents wouldn't have known about it. There are many ways that the author tells this theme to us, "The longer I pretended like everything was normal at school, the more I believed everything was normal." (P.52).  I believe that this quote helps represent how family always comes first is because he was constantly worried on how his brother Jeffery was/is doing. 

          Another theme that I find important in the book is neglect. I find this quote important because in the book the parents seem to be in their own world. In the book the mother says, how could she not realize her poor baby was limping all this time. I also believe this is important because in the book the character Steven is longing for contact with his father. His mother has now left with Jeffery to go see a doctor leaving Steven and his father in a house alone. Steven says in the book "Dad, how about sometime this week, just for kicks, you try making eye contact with me." (P. 58). I find this important because in the book Steven has no way to let out his emotions besides drumming and because of this thats the only way he can vent. I think that this is sort of unhealthy because Steven and his father should be able to talk about important things like his brother having Leukemia and reassuring Steven that it will all be okay.