Science Fiction Films of the 1950s: Them

I wanted to revisit some of the posts from this series on science-fiction films.

charles french words reading and writing

Them02

(https://en.wikipedia.org)

One of the main themes that ran through many science fiction films of the 1950s was the combined fear of nuclear war, nuclear explosions, and fallout. This atomic fear is one large terror that haunted the Cold War world and was developed in many ways in science fiction films.

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One such expression was in the advent of the giant bug movies, which addressed the question of what might happen to the world after radiation had somehow been released either through detonation of weapons or by accident. In Japan, the consequences of having been the only nation to have suffered the devastation of nuclear bombs, saw the emergence of giant monsters like Godzilla, often seen destroying Japanese cities–a very direct metaphor for nuclear explosions. In America, a similar motif was seen in the proliferation of Giant Bug movies. This might be considered an early example of ecological concern in…

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How to Teach a Child to Become a Superhero

Jennie, this is wonderful!!!

A Teacher's Reflections

Superheroes. Every child wants to be a Superhero. Ask a child, “What does a Superhero do?” and you will hear everything from “save the day” to “help people” to “get the bad guys.” These are good things, and Superheros are icons of goodness.

In a child’s eyes, that means doing the right thing.

The problem is, their whole life–all four years–has stressed “Do the right thing!” A constant reminder of what to do, and what not to do, can often make children feel frustrated. Even worse, feelings of not measuring up creep in.

I assume, right off the bat, that a child is filled with goodness. And much more:

Kindness, check.

Helpfulness, check.

Bravery, check.

The check list goes on and on.

Whether or not these are true, a child lives up to our expectations. Knowing that a teacher thinks they measure up with all the “right stuff” is nothing…

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Quotations on Censorship

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“There is more than one way to burn a book. And the world is full of people running about with lit matches.”

Ray Bradbury

“Censorship is to art as lynching is to justice.”

Henry Louis Gates Jr.

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“If this nation is to be wise as well as strong, if we are to achieve our destiny, then we need more new ideas for more wise men reading more good books in more public libraries. These libraries should be open to all—except the censor. We must know all the facts and hear all the alternatives and listen to all the criticisms. Let us welcome controversial books and controversial authors. For the Bill of Rights is the guardian of our security as well as our liberty.”

John F. Kennedy

The execution

Here is another of my students’ blogposts.

Stephanie’s Blog

For our English class, our professor set up the Underground Library Society. In order to become part of the society, we needed to put up a poster around campus about the book we are becoming. I chose The Book Thief by Markus Zusak. My poster consisted of the front cover of the book, which is a picture of dominos in a line. I decided to not add color to the poster on purpose, because the book is so full of intense imagery, but it also includes lots of bleak moments. The black and white of the poster is supposed to symbolize the life and death that is a common theme of the book, the light and the dark. Trying to find a spot for my poster was relatively simple. I went to a very popular location on campus and pinned it in the middle of the mess that was already…

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Meet Guest Author, K.D. Dowdall…

Here is a wonderful biography of a very talented writer!

Chris The Story Reading Ape's Blog

The Journey

Hello, everyone. My name is Karen Anna DeMers Dowdall and as an author, K. D. Dowdall. I am delighted to have been asked to be a part of Chris Graham’s, Author Hall of Fame!

My journey to become a writer and author begins early in my life, in a roundabout way.

I was born in Hartford, Connecticut. I was disappointed though, because I always wanted to be born Chinese. So, I pretended I was Chinese until I was nine. I demanded to eat with Chinese chopsticks at every meal (Try eating oatmeal porridge with chopsticks).

At nine-years-old, my hero author was Pearl S. Buck, The Good Earth, although a close second was Hans Christian Andersen’s Classic Fairy Tales. My mother, always an avid reader, introduced us to books at an early age. I still envision her sitting in her English wingback upholstered chair, with a book, reading. She…

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What Book Would You Read? — Revisited

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One of my best memories from summers when I was a child was of those days when I didn’t have to do anything. Work had not yet reared its head, chores were finished, and the weather was just right. It wasn’t too hot, and the humidity was low. The sky was filled with imagination-inducing legions of clouds. On such days, I remember sitting under a tree, leaning back against it and reading a book—all day, with the exception of going in for lunch and supper. They were perfect days.

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Now, imagine something like that. For one day, you have no responsibilities, the weather is nice—75 degrees, almost no humidity, and a sky of bright blue and cumulus clouds like scattered cotton candy—and you have the time to indulge in reading a book. At your side is a container of coffee, iced tea, or whatever you like. You also have snacks with you. Remember, for this day, you are free to relax and read, as if you were a child again.

If I were to do this right now, I think I would begin to reread The Lord of the Rings.

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