Video Reflection 5

     This time I am going to talk about a subject  that I really love.It is Sign Language.I watch the tv serial Switched at Birth,so this topic appeals to me very much.I chose this video because my favourite actor,Sean Berdy interprets the song for us.First of all,I would like to have a short chat about Sean Berdy.

Sean Lance Berdy was born in Boca Raton, Florida; June, 3, 1993, better known by his screen name of "Sean Berdy". He is a deaf film actor, comedian and live performer. He has enjoyed success in film. He was born deaf, he started acting when he was a little boy giving shows.

He  is my favorite because he is the most special of all actors.He holds an important place in the film industry.He can’t hear or speak,but he can feel the love all around him.Also,he reflects the light inside of him.In this video Seal can not hear the song,but he feels it.As I was searching through the internet,I came across a few sites that is based on his life.I learned that he is also in a dance group which consists of all deaf people.They just turn up the volume,and dance with their instincts.It really caught my interest.

As for the song,I can say that it is amazing.Oh my God! This song is beautiful,and Sean’s signing makes it more dramatic.I have already listened to this song many times.However,I will never be sick of it..

Lastly,If you let me, I will show you a few words from the sign language and the sign language alphabet.

FOR READİNG MY REFLECTION :)

Song Reflection 4

Now I would like to share a song related to my topic. Its name is My Baby Shot Me Down. "Bang Bang (My Baby Shot Me Down)" is the second single by singer-actress Cher from her second studio album The Sonny Side of Chér. The song was written by Sonny Bono and released in 1966. The song reached number three in the UK Singles Chart and number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Also, Turkish singer Ajda Pekkan covered the song in 1967 as a B-side on her single.Here is its lyrics:

I was five and he was six

We rode on horses made of sticks

He wore black and I wore white

He would always win the fight

Bang bang, he shot me down

Bang bang, I hit the ground

Bang bang, that awful sound

Bang bang, my baby shot me down.

Seasons came and changed the time

When I grew up, I called him mine

He would always laugh and say

"Remember when we used to play?"

Bang bang, I shot you down

Bang bang, you hit the ground

Bang bang, that awful sound

Bang bang, I used to shoot you down.

Music played, and people sang

Just for me, the church bells rang.

Now he's gone, I don't know why

And till this day, sometimes I cry

He didn't even say goodbye

He didn't take the time to lie.

Bang bang, he shot me down

Bang bang, I hit the ground

Bang bang, that awful sound

Bang bang, my baby shot me down...

The second song I would like to share with you is The Lonely Shepherd. It was recorded with the James Last Orchestra.It is featured in Quentin Tarantino's film Kill Bill Vol. 1. The melody "The lonely shepherd" was written by James Last and first released on his album "Memories from Russia", released 1977.The panflute was played by Gheorghe Zamfir.

     The Kill Bill movies introduced me to these songs,and I really liked them. In the first Kill Bill, right after it shows Bill shooting the bride in the head, My Baby Shot Me Down starts, and it makes  the movie infinitly more powerful. This song fits perfectly for Kill Bill. Through the end of the film this song makes sense more.I mean that when the Bride goes to Bill’s house to shoot him down,she is confronted by a surprise.Her daughter is alive,and she waits for her mom with his father, Bill. They play a game together.Her daughter shoots her with a toy gun,and she pretends to be dead. This song can also be related to this film in the way that the Bride has loved Bill since her childhood.Nevertheless,Bill  requested for her death.I think that this can be a sign of unrequited love somehow.

JOURNAL 5

                                                            Kill Bill: Vol. 1

Deadly Viper Assassination Squad

The lead character, called 'The Bride,' is a member of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad, lead by her lover 'Bill.' Upon realizing she is pregnant with Bill's child, 'The Bride' decides to escape her life as a killer. She flees to Texas,and she meets a young man here. However, their wedding rehearsal is gunned down by an angry and jealous Bill with the assistance of the Deadly Viper Assassination Squad. 
 
 Four years later, 'The Bride' wakes from a coma, and discovers her baby is gone. She, then, decides to seek revenge upon the five people who destroyed her life and killed her baby. The Deadly Viper Assassination Squad consists of five most deadly killers, led by Bill. There is O'Ren-Ishii as Cottonmouth, Elle Driver as California Mountain Snake, Vernita Green as Copperhead, Budd as Sidewinder. And there is The Bride, whose name is not spoken, who wanted to quit because she was pregnant. . First on her death list is Cottonmouth, who has become the yakuza boss of Tokyo, Japan, second in line is Copperhead, who chose a more decent life as well. The Bride sets out to take back what was once hers: Her life.

Cottonmouth(on the left)and the Bride (Beatrix Kiddo)  are fighting.

BILL

                                             

                                            

 CALIFORNIA MOUNTAIN SNAKE                                                          COPPERHEAD

 Kill Bill: Vol. 2 

The murderous Bride is back and she is still continuing her vengeance quest against her ex-boss, Bill, and taking aim at Bill's younger brother Budd and Elle Driver, the only survivors from the squad of assassins who betrayed her four years earlier. It's all leading up to the ultimate confrontation with Bill, the Bride's former master and the man who ordered her execution. However, Bill does possess one thing that keeps the ball in his court: B.B., the daughter the Bride thought she had lost in her coma. And now, at this point, the Bride knows only one thing: in the end, she will kill Bill.In the last scene the bride takes her revenge.She kills Bill with a five-point heart attact technique.They are even now.

PAI MEI

BUDD

JOURNAL 4

                             TWO PLACES TO WATCH MOVIES

     

      While some people prefer to go to the cinema,others like to watch movies at home.How often do you go to the cinema?If you’re a fan of watching movies at the cinema,your answer to this question is probably two or three times a month.I think watching movies at the cinema and watching movies at home have more differences than similarities.

      
     One difference is that comfort level is different in both places.At home you are more relaxed.To illustrate,at home you can lie on your sofa while watching your favorite movie.However,at the movie theater you have to sit up.Whereas at home you can comment on the actions of the characters,at the cinema you can’t comment on anything loudly.If you do so,someone is likely to warn you.

      
     Another difference lies in the price.If you want to watch movies at the cinema,you have to pay a certain amount of money.For instance,you must buy movie tickets.Also,you buy popcorn and drinks for a very high price at the cinema.In contrast,you can make your own popcorn at home.Watching movies at home is cheaper than watching movies at the cinema.

     
      Watching movies at home and watching movies at the cinema can make a difference in technical properties.While at the cinema the images are very clear,at home they are not.At the cinema you watch movies on a vast screen.Conversely,at home the size of the screen is not so huge.Unlike home,cinema offers us a good and loud sound.Also,at home you can pause the movie whenever you want.In contrast,at the cinema you don’t have such a chance.

      
     Both watching movies at the cinema and watching at home give us pleasure.If we watch a movie that we are interested in,we can take pleasure from the movie in both places.The place doesn’t make much difference.Whereas at home you laugh at the actions with your family,at the cinema you laugh together with your friends.

      
     Watching movies at the cinema and watching movies at home have much more differences than similarities.Watching films is more comfortable at home.The price you pay for the cinema is a lot higher.Technical properties are better at the cinema.However,both places give a certain amount of pleasure.When I look at these aspects ,watching movies at the cinema appeals more to me.

Video Reflection 3

This is the film version of  The Kite Runner.It says in the video that ‘There is a way to be good again..’In this trailer of the Kite Runner there is a perfect message to all of us.Whoever you are or whatever you do ,you always have a second chance.People can make terrible things,but they should always seek a way to correct them.It is true that Amir made a really bad mistake.He escaped from reality.He refused to help Hassan when he was in danger.

However,he is a changed man now.He sets out to his homeland to find Hassan’s son.The boy lost his parents in war ,and he lives under a very bad condition now.Maybe Amir can get rid of his bad characteristics by helping the boy.It is a good chance for him to purify his soul from his sins.He hadn’t helped Hassan before,but there is always an opportunity to be good again…

JOURNAL 3

                              THE KITE RUNNER by Khaled Hosseini 

      Now is the time of  my third journal.If you want to learn about one of the best books ever written by men,you must read this journal. I hope you take pleasure from it.However,I warn you beforehand that this book has a saddening effect.

      I would like to start my words with a few lines from The Kite Runner.This lines were at the beginning part.It gives us clues about the overall story.While Hassan is loyal to Amir,Amir’s only purpose is to earn his father’s love..

Amir : Hassan and I fed from the same breasts. We took our first steps on the same lawn in the same yard. And, under the same roof, we spoke our first words. Mine was Baba. His was Amir. My name. Looking back on it now, I think the foundations for what happened in the winters of 1975 – and all that followed – was already laid in those first words. -From The Kite Runner, page 11-

The story takes place in  Afghanistan.There are two friends:  Amir and Hassan. Amir is the main character.Hassan is the servant of Amir.He is also the best friend of Amir.They spend most of their time together.Hassan is a perfect kite runner.They participate in kite tournaments. Amir drops the kites from the sky,and Hassan runs after the kites to catch them .At first,there is a warm atmosphere of friendship in the story.However,one day everything chances.Hassan is raped by Assef,and the only thing Amir does is watching.

After that day , Amir is troubled by his feelings of regret.He decides to end this,so he accuses Hassan of stealing his money.After that event ,Hassan and his father leaves.A couple of years later ,Amir and his father moves to California because there is an invade in Afghanistan.He starts a new life here.His father dies,but he marries to a woman he loves.He thinks that his past is far away from him .However,his past doesn’t leave him alone.He learn tragic facts from an acquitance.He learns that Hassan is actually his brother,and that he is dead. He returns to Kabul.He finds an orphaned boy here.He is the Hassan’s boy.More tragically the boy, Sohrab was raped by the same man who had raped his father years ago.This time Amir takes revenge.He beats Assef,the raper,to death.He adopts Sohrab,yet the boy will never be happy.He even commits suicide at the end.

      When I finished reading this book ,I couldn’t help feeling sorry for Hassan.He was such a faithful friend to Amir.Nevertheless,Amir betrayed him by watching him being abused .I think that Amir has a really big problem.To illustrate,he lacks confidence in himself.He is even unable to defend himself.The only thing that he is capable of is escaping.He escaped the day when Hassan was abused.He also escaped when they moved to United States.However,his feeling of guilt never left him.Every single day was like a hell to him.I think he deserved  much worse.Betraying a friend who truly loves you is unacceptable…

                                           

REVISED VERSION OF MY FIRST JOURNAL

                                                                Being a METU student

       I am studying at my dream university now. I studied so much to come to it. I spent my days and nights to reach it. Now that I am here I can reflect my first impressions on  METU…

      When I first entered the campus , I thought that this was a nice place. The campus is covered with trees.When you look at any spot,you are likely to find yourself in a nice area of METU. Besides the natural beauty ,METU  offers ring busses to the students. Although I don’t like the dogs walking around I like the nature surrounding us. Whenever I am bored I go for a walk.There are fitness centers for us too.

      Before coming to this university I had talked to two people who graduated from my department. They said that they liked the education and the teachers at this university. Now I can say the same things they said. I think the lessons are effective and informative,and  I like the listening parts of lessons most.

      In addition to good education , there are student clubs which appeal to every interest. We can join these  clubs. Thus we can develop our abilities and enjoy ourselves.I haven’t had a chance to join in these clubs yet.However,I am planning to participate in education club and book club.These two clubs’ activities are suitable for me.For example,education club makes visits to schools which have poor conditions,and they help the students there.

      As for the adaptation process ,  I can say that I am not having difficult times while getting used to living here. This is because of two things . Firstly ,  my family live in Konya and I go there nearly every weekend. If I said I miss them ,it would be unjust for my friends. Secondly , my aunt lives in Ankara ,and sometimes I go to her house. I am content with my dormitory too. My roommates are fine. We have a kitchen here. I cook everything I want there. We have access to internet. I watch tv serials. It’s fun.

      However,  sometimes I face challenges. As a quality of my personality I can’t socialize very easily. I am unable to find intimate friends.Nowadays it is getting better. I make new friends.I am trying to talk with everyone,and find the most suitable ones for me. Another challenge is that from time to time the lessons are not so interesting and they seem difficult too,yet I do not exaggerate this issue so much.I just study as much as I can,and wait for the feedbacks.

      Despite some challenges I think being a METU student has its own credit. We learn many things that are not properly taught by other universities. To illustrate,my friends studying at other universities say that their lessons are too superficial.In addition,teachers are knowledgeable at METU. In the lessons we learn a lot. After the graduation I hope I will be able to speak English fluently, learn a second language properly ,and go to different parts of the world. My biggest dream is to be a good academician. This university is a step for my goals and ambitions. I hope METU will help realize them.