Now that we've read "Harrison Bergeron," let's take a look at a recent film adaptation. I think they did a pretty good job, but there are several key differences. After viewing, I want you to respond to the following questions in your notebook:
1. What are 3 similarities between the story and the film?
2. What are 3 differences between the story and the film?
3. Which do you think makes its point more clearly? Why?
Here is the film:
If you miss the viewing in class, it is your responsibility to watch it on your own, as it is part of the curriculum.
As we shift gears to our next dystopian short story, we will be discussing weather and seasons, particularly summer and the sun. To get the ball rolling, here is a humorous clip from Portlandia which demonstrates the desire for the sun, particularly when its presence is erratic:
Before we begin "By the Waters of Babylon," we need to investigate the hero's journey. Now, I'm sure you're all familiar with (super)heroes from popular books, movies, and television shows, but what you might not know is that you don't have to defeat literal dragons, villains, or demons to have a hero's journey. In fact, your hero's journey might involve a quest that seems trivial or mundane, but if you encounter the situations outlined in this video and experience some form of personal growth, odds are you have undertaken a hero's journey.
Fahrenheit 451
Here is John Green again to introduce us to Fahrenheit 451 (and dash our hopes of him volunteering as tribute on our behalf):
And Ray Bradbury discusses his career and writing the novel:
So, what's the big deal about burning books? German author Heinrich Heine notes the connection over a hundred years before the Nazi Party begins doing both in his homeland:
