Molly

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

It’s funny that Harry Potter was marketed at little boys bc I’m pretty sure that’s why I didn’t read it as a kid. I exclusively read books written by women about little girl protagonists now that I look back on it. I wonder if this marketing alienated any other children? #ECL501

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

Of course the Harry Potter film couldn’t just let Hermione be awkward and not traditionally pretty. It’s like the same thing with Bridge to Terabithia where they couldn’t let her actually challenge gender norms. #ECL501

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

Im not going to lie sometimes looking at things like the ABZ book I wonder how Shel got this shit published. Not just the content but I felt like the drawings were kind of… bad? Now that I’m trying to copy his art style I take it all back. #shel22

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

Im glad I chose to do a newspaper for my final project bc it allows me explore a lot of different genres of Shel’s stuff. I just wrote up a movie review on masculinity in Things Change and as I wrote it I started to appreciate how well done the movie really is. #shel22

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

It’s crazy how much work creative projects are. I have my presentation Monday and I feel like this is taking forever. I’m excited to see what everyone’s been working on though. #shel22

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

Here’s my cento from class: Screech, scream, hollar, and yell- But not too happy it really drives me out of my mind. Whenever it comes then it’s time I must go. All the woulda-coulda-shouldas. I guess it’s safe but it didn’t quite connect. #shel22

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

I can’t believe I’ve never heard of a child surrogate in literature before. This made me think about a video I just watched about Frog and Toad. Arnold Lobel said that his characters get to have the freedom of adults with the sensibilities of children bc they’re animals. #ECL501

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

The fact that J.R.R. Tolkien felt the need to claim The Hobbit wasn’t written children is telling of how our culture sees children’s literature. Even more, I would argue the fact that we don’t respect children’s literature is telling of how we see and treat children. #ECL501

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

I love how child centered Walk Two Moons is. Something that stuck out to me was the moral ambiguity of Sal- wanting to throw Phoebe’s cholesterol free ass out the window, driving herself to Lewiston, and her cruelty toward Mrs. Cadaver #ECL501

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

I just have to say Mr. Birkway is truly the villain of Walk Two Moons for reading those kids journals aloud. This really is the worst nightmare of a thirteen year old girl- I certainly would have been running for the door. #ECL501

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

SMART reminds me of my dad and aunt. My dad used to convince my aunt to trade her dimes for his nickels because nickels are bigger. This is actually kid logic #shel22

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

Something adult centered about Esperanza Rising is that her mom seems to have no issue adapting to the culture of the working class despite having also led a privileged life. She navigates it gracefully but I feel she would be just as ignorant as her daughter, right? #ECL501

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

I really liked Esperanza Rising back in 4th grade. Reading it again, I can’t believe I didn’t catch that Esperanza’s uncles orchestrated her dad’s death. He’s obviously a little to prepared- practically ready to use the leftovers from the funeral for the wedding. #ECL501

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

I work in an 8th grade classroom and the other day the teacher told a student Shel Silverstein is too easy for 8th grade. I had to bite my tongue so hard not to say ACTUALLY I’m studying his work at university level. #shel22

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

I thought It was so cool learning about unmarked signifiers because it was finally putting a term to the concept. I love that in Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry its assumed that everyone is black until they are specified as white. #ECL501

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

So strange that Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry is banned in Burbank. It’s a book that challenges white supremacy written by a black woman centering a black family. Seems odd ppl don’t want kids to read or learn about race yet they’re enculturated into a racist society. #ECL501

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

The Missing Piece meets the big O is very poignant. We can’t expect other people to complete or fix us. The idea of finding your “other half” is nice but we are all individual whole people. Love can help us to heal ourselves but love doesn’t heal us. #shel22

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

For the final I want to do something with the women of Silverstein. I want to do some sort of interaction between them. Can you see a conversation between the mermaid and the Giving tree? Slightly concerned any convo I write between them won’t pass the Bechdel test though #shel22

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

Its sad yet unsurprising Disney made Leslie more traditionally feminine for the movie adaptation of Bridge to Terabithia. I think some meaning is lost here because Leslie’s gender nonconformity is part of the way she as a character challenges social norms. #ECL501

[Molly @Molly_RF1]

Things change was surprisingly heartwarming. Its a very masculine film but it sort of rejects the reputation concerned, strong silence, every man for himself kind of masculinity, advocating or a more genuine, honor base masculinity. #shel22