Mona Lisa by Joseph A. Hariss
Message Prompt:


Over time, Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa has received many different explanations of what the smile represents. Critics all seem to believe that the smile contains a deep or hidden meaning. In my opinion, I think they believe there is a hidden meaning because it is too simple without the meaning. Critics may think that the most famous painting of all time cannot simply be a woman smiling. They may think that if it is so famous, there has to be a deeper meaning, as most works of art contain.

I believe that any interpretation can be correct. There is not enough detail given in the picture to ensure that only one explanation is correct. A painting is like poetry. There can be many different interpretations that make sense – there is no single, right answer. If one person believes Mona Lisa is a self-portrait of da Vinci, who is to say that answer is wrong? The only one who knew da Vinci’s exact intention of the painting is da Vinci himself. Now the painting remains open to question and interpretation. I think all theories within the essay by Harris make sense. They are all possibilities.

The example of Camille Paglia’s view makes sense. She states, “What Mona Lisa is ultimately saying is that males are unnecessary.” Like every other interpretation in the essay, this is understandable. Paglia most likely got the theory from what is described as a “enigmatic, tight-lipped smile.” Her smile is not too jubilant or pleasant. Rather it is confident and comfortable. The same goes for her stature. Her posture is very strong and relaxed. She appears content, but not ecstatic. Paglia may have gotten her theory because Mona Lisa looks strong on her own. She does not need a male to appear relaxed or content. Rather, she manages that on her own. Yet this is only one interpretation that works well. We will never know da Vinci’s true meaning he intended behind the painting. We can only continue to contribute more ideas and possibilities.

Candy Cigarette, 1989 by Sally Mann
Message Prompt:

One of Sally Mann’s most famous photos is entitled Candy Cigarette, 1989. The photo displays her daughter, Jessie Mann, holding a candy cigarette as though it were a real cigarette. In my opinion, I think this photo is attempting to convey a message on the innocence of childhood. Jessie Mann seems to hold her cigarette while thinking nothing of it. As a child, one does not know about the dangerous effects smoking can have on one’s body. Jessie most likely does not understand how dangerous smoking can be. She probably thinks it is “cool” that she is mocking the behavior of adults.

The photo is attempting to say that childhood is innocence, and that innocence is lost through adulthood. Children do not understand the consequences of smoking, and so Jessie pretends to smoke the candy cigarette just like an adult would. She does not yet know that smoking brings small outcomes like yellow teeth, and more severe ones like lung cancer. Jessie is inexperienced and unknowledgeable about the adult world. The photo seems to be mixing innocence with reality, or youth with age. A blameless girl is playing with something dangerous. A young girl is playing with something from the adult world.

If I were to write a caption for this photo, I would write “Innocence is threatened”. The girl is bringing a threatening thing into her life without realizing it. As a child, one should not be concerned with smoking. However, she thinks that mocking an adult’s bad behavior is fun, or cool. The photo is mixing an adult’s world with a child’s world, innocence with danger. She has purity now, but it will be lost once adulthood comes to her.

"Résumé" by Anne Sexton
Method Prompt

Based on her résumé, it is clear that fairy tales had a large role in Anne Sexton’s life. As a child, Sexton was not content. She was detached from everyone around her, including her own family. Thus, she hid in her room and read fairy tales. She felt that the fairy tales were her way of escaping the world she lived in. In a fairy tale, the characters could change their world and live happily ever after. Since she disliked her surroundings, she wished she could live blissfully in a fairy tale. Fairy tales were her means of escaping reality and finding comfort.

The final line of her résumé is “But poetry is my love, my postmark, my hands, my kitchen, my face.” I interpret this sentence as her no longer needing fairy tales as her comfort. As she grew up, she began writing poetry. Poetry then became her new source of escape from the world. Through writing poetry, she was releasing her innermost thoughts and emotions. Instead of wishing she lived blissfully in a fairy tale, she released her feelings through poetry. Poetry became her passion, her mark in time, and who she is.

There are a few other references to “face” in the résumé. The first is when she says she used to step on dolls faces because they resembled her. Another is when she explains her method of writing poetry. She writes down whatever comes to her freely, and does not choose her projects. She can’t give her poems “someone’s face-lifting-job.” The last reference is when she says it may take years for a poem to have its own face. Poetry possesses a face in the sense that it possesses its author. Poetry is representative of who the author is, as is a face. Thus, poems have a face because they stand for the author. They are similar to fairy tales because they are a form of escape. However, they are always much more personal and realistic than a typical, “happily ever after” fairy tale.

"What Did You Expect?" by Dorothy Allison
Medium Prompt:

Dorothy Allison is an author that grew up in a southern, poor neighborhood. Her first novel, “Bastard Out of Carolina”, became a success and was eventually made into a film for Showtime. Though her successful novel came out first, her family only paid attention to the movie. While it may seem odd that her family only appears to appreciate one form of “Bastard Out of Carolina”, it is understandable. It requires a lot talent to write a novel – one must create a plot, develop characters, elaborate on the setting, and so forth. However, it is much more interesting and exciting when a work of art is made into a film. A novel is always a big deal; yet, a film is bigger. While the audience is left to imagine the setting on their own while reading a novel, the setting is always prepared for the audience in a film. On top of setting, costumes and props are added to make the scene more realistic. A movie brings a story to life. Films are also much more costly than books, they sometimes include well-known actors, and often attract a larger audience. Finally, while writing a novel is impressive, it is more impressive to have a studio create a film based on a novel. The novel must have been something extraordinary for a studio make a film on it. It is likely that her family was more interested in the film rather than the book because it was more exciting, it set up the scenery for the audience, and it is highly impressive for a studio to make a movie based on her novel.

To most people, a film is more impressive than a novel. However, in my opinion, Allison’s novel is much more remarkable than the film version. In writing the book, Allison was required to explicitly describe the characters, the setting, and the emotions. The studio, however, only had to follow Allison’s novel in order to prepare the film. The movie did not come up with any new material; rather, it was simply based off of “Bastard Out of Carolina.” Because it required deeper thinking to form the novel, I find it more impressive to write a book than to create a film based on an already existing novel.

If someone could play me in the story of my life, I would pick Kate Hudson. My personality is often described by others as silly, quirky, or cheerful. Based on the characters she plays in films, I would say that Kate Hudson could easily fit into my personality. She always characters who are not the most fashionable or beautiful girls, but always have fun in life. Also, in Almost Famous, she plays a woman obsessed with music, and in real life, she married a musician. Music in my greatest passion, and I think Kate Hudson is very suitable to portray that aspect of me. However, if the story of my life is ever told, hopefully it will be in the form of a novel first. Portraying my life in a novel would definitely be much more of a feat than just creating a movie based on it.

“All My Life For Sale” by John Freyer
Method Prompt:

Often, objects can represent someone’s personality and identity. In Freyer’s case, the items he placed on eBay for sale stand for who he is. They are not simply items he has acquired during his lifetime – they lead him to much more. Through his possessions placed on eBay, he has done things such as travel the world, see new places, and meet people, that he would not have had it not been for his sales on eBay. Yet not only have they led him to new experiences, but the items represent Freyer’s character and personality.

First, one item he places on sale is his D&D Auto Body Nylon Winter Jacket. In his description, he explains that he bought the jacket at a Salvation Army. From this, the reader already knows a little bit about Freyer. He does not have a snobbish or conceited attitude, as he is shopping in a place where a large majority of the items have already been used. He is clearly not concerned with materialistic things. Later on in the description, he says that he once wore the jacket in an ice storm in Saratoga Springs, New York. This leads to the reader to think that Freyer has lived through some interesting experiences. It makes the reader feel as if he or she sat down for lunch with Freyer, he would have many fascinating and exciting stories to share. The item lets on that his personality is much more captivating than the average person. Finally, the description mentions that in the ice storm, the nylon of his jacket became so slippery he could slide down an entire street on his stomach. This proves that he has a fun personality. A stiff, uptight person would not be willing to slide down a street on his stomach. Overall, the jacket proves that Freyer is not arrogant, but fun and exciting.

Second, Freyer places his Hamilton College Thesis on sale. The account of this specific item includes a connection he made from his thesis to his real life. In the paper, he discusses how information technology is used to gather personal information in order to control people. He then makes a connection to that in real life by questioning if he no longer owns the things that define the type of consumer he is, will he continue to consume the same things? The question he raises leads the reader to believe that maybe his life-selling project really had more of a purpose than one would imagine. It also leads the reader to believe that he is an insightful person with plenty of ideas in his head. His possession for sale and its description lead the reader to view him as a thoughtful person.

Third, another item for sale is his fly-fishing patch. In his description, he explains how he used to go fishing with his father and brothers. He talks about how, as a kid, he found fishing dull and pointless. He also mentions how his father used to have his own special bait to use. This item shows that Freyer holds onto his memories. The item can also reveal that Freyer had a good relationship with his family. If he did not get along well with his father, he most likely would not hold onto an item that brings back so many memories of fishing with him. The item shows that he has a strong family bond, and that he is not quick to let go of his past.

Finally, Freyer places his Iranian Bowling Shirt up for sale. The shirt is from a thrift store, which illustrates the same thing about his personality as the Nylon Winter Jacket did. It shows he is not conceited and concerned with materialistic items; he would rather just get things cheaper at a thrift store, even if they are secondary items. In the description, he also writes about the dance he created while wearing this shirt, “The Butt Dance.” Through his dance he invented while wearing the possession, the reader can tell that he has a silly sense of humor. He does not take himself too seriously, but has fun. The item for sale shows that Freyer is not an uptight person. The shirt, like all of his other possessions for sale, is not simply an item. Rather, they represent who he is and how he lives his life.

"Silent Dancing" by Judith Ortiz Cofer
Message Prompt:

Sometimes silence conveys a message much more meaningful than spoken words. This is proven in Judith Ortiz Cofer's essay "Silent Dancing". In her work, she explains her childhood. Around the age of three, Cofer, along with her mother and younger brother, moved from Puerto Rico to America to join her father. “Silent Dancing” describes what it was like growing up in a community within America with other Spanish natives, and how her family reacted to the transition. Amongst her account of her life in America, she includes a description of a silent film she made. The film includes the Spanish men and women found in her home during a gathering. It ends with a five minute clip of the guests dancing, but in total silence. Yet though there is no sound, the film still contains a deep meaning. The silence reveals a truth about Cofer.

In the essay, Cofer writes of an aunt, and her father’s uncle. These are the only two people that Cofer writes about their speaking. The uncle is an alcoholic, and is shriveling away due to his drinking habits. In a dream she has, the uncle is dancing silently, but comes to talk to her. She then responds with, “Move back, Tio. I don’t want to hear what you have to say.” Also in a dream, the aunt tells Cofer that she was right in thinking that her cousin had an abortion. These are the only spoken lines from other relatives of Cofer in her essay.

The silence in the film and essay seem to represent a sense of peacefulness for Cofer. When lines are spoken, they are of unpleasant topics. The aunt speaks bitterly of one of her own family members. Though the uncle’s words are never revealed in the essay, it is clear Cofer does not want to hear what her alcoholic uncle has to say. It is unclear that his words will be unpleasant. Thus, the silence seems to represent happiness for Cofer. The silent film shows a gathering at her home. In the description of the film, she writes kindly of her cousin, whom the aunt has verbally insulted. She writes of the men playing dominoes. She writes of the silent, but comical dancing. There is nothing unpleasant in the film. The silence is never about bad topics. Yet the speaking always seems to bring about negative feelings, which is why she tells her uncle in the dream that she does not want to hear him.

Sound is often referred to in the essay. She writes of the heat pipes banging, the Spanish voices within her complex, the Salsa music playing, and the clacking of the dominoes. All of these sounds represent her childhood on America, which she seemed content with. Her family was well off, and she seemed to enjoy the gathering described in the film. The sounds represent happiness with her childhood, unlike the actual speaking. The connection she establishes between seeing and hearing is that what she really sees, she does not really hear. This is proven through the film. By watching the film, she is actually viewing clips. Yet there is no actual sound she hears from it. Overall, visuals seem to represent happiness in her life, while vocals represent bitterness.