She Walks in Beauty Like the Night

Humanitarians,

Take some notes from the Romantic poets. Is there a fine young lady or young man out there that you'd like to woo?! BYRON KNOW WHAT'S UP. Seriously. Works every time.

Romantic poetry is also what much of the movie Dead Poet's Society revolves around. This is an excellent film with Robin Williams that many of you will watch when you get to AMSTUD, and if you are anything like me, will cry for days at.

Tomorrow, we will continue our trek through Romanticism by discussing the art of the period. This will really be our only foray into the literature of the time period, but I super recommend some novels from the period too. The gothic is a subgenre of the Romantic and one of my favorite books OF ALL TIME, Frankenstein was written by Mary Shelley, wife of the poet you read today and "friend" of Lord Byron (told you that romantic poetry worked!) during this time. If you are in AP Euro, you will be lucky enough to read a section from the novel next semester. 

Some characteristics you should notice from the romantic period are emotionalism (sometimes actually romantic love, but not always), love of the exotic/supernatural, and an escapist trend toward nature. Basically all my favorite things. 

For tomorrow, make sure you have read all of your humanities reading over the movement (as well as a reminder on Rococo and Neoclassicism). We will be assigning another chapter from the WHAP book after this, so don't fall behind!

Again, no happy news, I'm over it. I want to hide under a rock or something. 

Here is a picture of all my animals hiding in our bathroom during the tornado sirens this morning. Sorry about the downed shower curtain, I think the cats are scared of it...

And for this day in history....

• 1558: Queen Elizabeth I became Queen of England, ending years (decades?!) of religious warfare. What a boss. 
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• 1917: Sculptor Auguste Rodin died in Paris, France. We will look at the art of the inter-war years next semester. Prepare yourselves! Rodin is most famous for his sculpture, The Thinker...
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• 1989: The beginning of the Velvet Revolution in Prague, which would lead to the end of Communism in Czechoslovakia, and marked the beginning of the fall of the Soviet Union, which would cease to exist a few years later. This was one of many revolutions/protests started by students. Y'all are far more powerful than you think!!!
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• 2003: Arnold Schwarzenegger was sworn in as governor of California. My favorite Schwarzenegger movie is the often under appreciated Jingle all the Way, a lovely holiday film about rampant consumerism. 
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Finally, in today's installment of social media accounts you should follow, I offer instagram.com/socalitybarbie. It has actually ended its run (sob), but I recommend looking through it. It's a satire account about the ridiculousness of our "social media" lives versus reality, through the eyes of a super hipster barbie. It's on point. Enjoy!

I hope your Tuesday is wonderful and that eventually good news happens!


Also, in these sad days, a reminder from the graffiti in downtown McKinney....

- cbg

T-minus 9 days until turkey.