Monday, December 19, 2022
Saturday, December 17, 2022
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer ORIGINS
Gene Autry sang about Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer as “the most famous reindeer of all” — and there are numbers to back him up. The “Rudolph” song topped the charts in 1949; the stop-motion animated version of his story, which premiered in 1964, is known as the longest-running Christmas TV special; and a recent Hollywood Reporter/Morning Consult poll declared it the “most beloved holiday film,” picked by 83% of respondents.
But in recent years, Rudolph has become famous for a less happy reason.
In 2018, for instance, some viewers of the 1964 TV special observed what the Huffington Post called, semi-jokingly, “seriously problematic” behavior in certain scenes in which Rudolph is bullied because of his nose; the Huffington Post video montage of these comments has racked up nearly 6 million views in a little over two weeks. The View also debated the issue — though it’s exactly not a new “issue.” In 2013, The New Republic described the story as depicting “a dystopia where affection is based on economic worth” and “a fairly grim, Hobbesian vision of society.”
“Give me a break,” Barbara May Lewis, the daughter of Rudolph creator Robert L. May, recently told TIME when asked what she thought of the critiques. “The controversy makes no sense to me. The book itself had very little to do with it [the TV special], and it wasn’t lauding bullying.”
In fact, she says, the story of Rudolph is sad, but for a different reason — because her father was “a sad guy” when the Chicago copywriter was asked by the retail and catalog company Montgomery Ward to create a brand-new character for its annual promotional coloring booklet for Christmas. He came up with the story of a reindeer with an abnormally large, shiny, red nose who gets teased by the other black-nosed reindeer. But on a foggy Christmas Eve, Santa realizes Rudolph’s glowing snout is the beacon he needs so that he can deliver presents to children on time.
Despite its fantastical holiday elements, the story was partly based on some of May’s past experiences. The character of Rudolph who is “shunned by others but vindicated some way in a happy ending” was inspired by the story of the Ugly Duckling, which May later wrote had always appealed to him as someone who, growing up, was a “shy” and “small” boy, and who “had known what it was like to be an underdog.”
May was feeling downtrodden about his present life, too. “‘And how are you starting the new year?’ I glumly asked myself,'” he later recalled, describing his mindset in early 1939 when he first received the assignment. “Here I was, heavily in debt at [nearly] 35, still grinding out catalogue copy. Instead of writing the great American novel, as I’d once hoped, I was describing men’s white shirts.
He was also feeling “glum” in 1939 for a more serious reason. He was writing the descriptions of a weeping, “lonesome” reindeer as his wife was dying. In a 1975 article for the Gettysburg Times, he described going to work on a windy, icy-cold January day and feeling “relieved” that holiday street decorations by Montgomery Ward had been taken down. “My wife was suffering from a long illness and I didn’t feel very festive,” he recalled.
Meanwhile, May kept working. He figured the story should be about a reindeer because images of Santa’s reindeer already everywhere during the Christmas season, and his toddler daughter was obsessed with the deer at Lincoln Park Zoo. Though Santa’s reindeer already had names — Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner and Blitzen, thanks to the 1820s poem “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” — May came up with a ninth for the list. He brainstormed a list of names that began with the letter “R” for “alliterative purposes,” such as Rollo, Rodney, Roland, Roderick and Reggy. (That list is now held at May’s alma mater Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., with the rest of his papers.) In a 1963 interview, he said he thought Rollo sounded “too happy for a reindeer with an unhappy problem” and Reginald “seemed too sophisticated,” but Rudolph “rolled off the tongue nicely.” As for the idea of a glowing nose apt for navigating, that light-bulb moment came from looking out his office window in the middle of one of Chicago’s infamous winter days, seeing the fog from Lake Michigan and thinking of Santa trying to do his work on such a night. (The idea almost got shelved, May would note, after focus group participants said they thought a red nose had “connotations of alcoholism.”)
As the pages were coming along, his wife’s condition worsened.
“Spring slipped into summer. My wife’s parents came to stay with us to help,” he later wrote. In July, she passed away. His boss gently offered to pass the assignment off to someone else. “But I needed Rudolph now more than ever. Gratefully I buried myself in the writing.”
About a month later, before submitting the draft, he read it to his daughter Barbara and his in-laws in the living room. “In their eyes I could see that the story accomplished what I had hoped,” he said in 1975.
Montgomery Ward printed the story as a soft-covered booklet in 1939 and distributed 2.4 million copies for free. Then, the small publishing house Maxton Publishing Co. offered to print it in hardcover. It became a best-seller, but Rudolph’s story didn’t really become world-famous until May’s brother-in-law Johnny Marks wrote the musical version that Gene Autry sang. The tune topped the charts in 1949. “I don’t think it ever would have had the coverage if it weren’t for the song,” Lewis says.
And, just as Rudolph helps families have a happy Christmas in May’s story, Rudolph the brand helped the May family get through a tough time.
When May died in 1976 at the age of 71, TIME’s obituary noted that he had received royalties on more than 100 Red-Nosed products, as well as the song, since Ward let him have the copyright in 1947. By 1985, the song had sold 150 million records and 8 million sheet music copies worldwide, and when the puppets in the 1964 TV special were up for sale last year, bids went as high as $10 million. The song was also a favorite in the Nixon White House, as the first Christmas song that first daughters Tricia and Julie learned to sing.
Lewis, 84, who would become a copy editor, says the story influenced her own career path, as she remembers suggesting her father describe Santa’s stomach as a “tummy” because it sounded better in the following line: “This fog, [Santa] complained, will be hard to get through / He shook his round head. (And his tummy shook too.)”
While the story certainly made May a lot of money, “enough to get me out of debt” and put his own children through college, he later said, it also provided a valuable lesson for all children as a “story of acceptance,” the moral of which was that “tolerance and perseverance can overcome adversity.”
Nearly 80 Christmases after he was first introduced, Lewis thinks the story of Rudolph can still inspire people who don’t feel like they fit in. “Rudolph was made fun of, but he took his difference and made good use of it,” she tells TIME. “He didn’t let it get him down. It didn’t get in the way when it came time to shine.”
source of this article: https://time.com/5479322/rudolph-the-red-nosed-reindeer-history-origins/
lagniappe: https://www.npr.org/2013/12/25/256579598/writing-rudolph-the-original-red-nosed-manuscript
Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Christmas Lesson 1
(1823) A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore
The historical timeframe of the poem, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas (1823) and its connection to The Nutcracker Ballet is fascinating! "While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads."
THE SANTA CLAUSE
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
(1823) A Visit from St. Nicholas by Clement Clarke Moore
(1) Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse;
The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there;
(2) The children were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads;
And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap,
Had just settled down for a long winter's nap,
(3) Then out on the lawn there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash.
(4) The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow
Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below,
When, what to my wondering eyes should appear,
But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer,
(5) With a little old driver, so lively and quick,
I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick.
More rapid than eagles his coursers they came,
And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name:
(6) Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen!
On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!"
(7) As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly,
When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky;
So up to the house-top the coursers they flew,
With the sleigh full of Toys, and St. Nicholas too.
(8) And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof
The prancing and pawing of each little hoof.
As I drew in my head, and was turning around,
Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound.
(9) He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot,
And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot;
A bundle of Toys he had flung on his back,
And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack.
(10) His eyes—how they twinkled! his dimples how merry!
His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry!
His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow,
And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow;
(11) The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth,
And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath;
He had a broad face and a little round belly,
That shook when he laughed, like a bowlful of jelly.
(12) He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf,
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself;
A wink of his eye and a twist of his head,
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread;
(13) He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work,
And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk,
And laying his finger aside of his nose,
And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose;
(14) He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle,
And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight,
"Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night."
∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞ ∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞
EXAMPLE: 20 MINUTE TIMED STUDENT ESSAY
Name: Kitty (slightly edited by Mrs. Cortez)
Date: 2022/12/18（China Time)
Class: PENN CLASS
CLASSWORK
Human beings love stories. There are some stories that stand the test of time, and they inspire more stories. One such story is the poem, ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas.
This is a magnificent poem about Santa Claus, and it was written in 1823. Although we call him Santa Claus, he was called Saint Nicholas when this was poem was written. Giving money, especially to poor people on Christmas day, St. Nick. usually wore red, similar to our modern day Santa Claus.
This poem is about a dad waking up to find Santa Claus landing on the roof, delivering presents, and then flying away in his sleigh pulled by eight reindeer. The description was absolutely astonishing and amazing! The author used a lot of similes to describe Santa Claus, like his "bowlike smile." After Clement Clarke Moore wrote this poem, it inspired a ballet and a popular song.
That ballet inspired by Moore's poem is The Nutcracker. In 1891 The Nutcracker premiered in Russia. Although it did not became popular worldwide until the mid to late 1900s, today it is the most popular Christmas ballet. The line of Moore's poem that is most obviously connected to The Nutcracker is: ". . . visions of sugarplums danced in their heads." There is even a solo in The Nutcracker called, the "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy."
Can you believe that the song, The Red Nosed Reindeer, was also inspired by ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas? “Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! on, Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!” The beginning of this song uses these very names and in this exact order. Today most children in America know this song, add fun echoes to this song, and smile when it plays. Who knew this would happen?
Clement Clarke Moore's ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas is an absolutely fabulous poem! It has also worked its way into dance and music. Because of this poem, the world has many additional creative classics! This is what happens when a good story inspires the imagination.
Sunday, December 11, 2022
Christmas Vocab y Baby Shark (12-12-22)
Practice the conjugations of HABLAR (the AR verb endings)
Practice vocabulary . . . especially the Christmas Words!
Practice the Christmas song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QV3RbiAk8ms
Practice the BABY SHARK song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlBoBGAJqkA
Saturday, December 10, 2022
Character Traits
How well do you understand the different character traits people exhibit in their day-to-day lives?
Questions and Answers
- 1.Jimmy was very busy last night playing soccer and taking care of his little sister. In fact, he was so busy that he forgot to do his homework. The next day, Jimmy told his teacher that he did his homework, but that his little sister threw it away. What character trait is Jimmy showing?
- A.
Dishonest
- B.
Honest
- C.
Smart
- D.
Nice
- 2.Michelle's mother was very sick, so Michelle decided to make warm chicken soup for her mother. She also made sure that her mother went to the doctor's office, and that she stayed in bed. Michelle is showing which character trait?
- A.
Nice
- B.
Caring
- C.
Mean
- D.
Selfish
- 3."Can I borrow your crayons please?" asked Karen. "No!" screamed Kim, "These are my crayons, get your own!" What character trait is Kim showing?
- A.
Cruel
- B.
Trusting
- C.
Selfish
- D.
Happy
- 4.A group of kids was playing in the backyard and pretending that they were all pirates on a pirate ship. They created a game that had pirates, robbers, and princesses. The kids were showing what character trait?
- A.
Silly
- B.
Creative
- C.
Loyal
- D.
Kind
- 5.Mrs. Rose told her students that one day when they all grew up, they would wish that they were ten years old all again. She told them all of these important life stories and gave them advice. Mrs. Rose was displaying what character trait?
- A.
Happy
- B.
Smart
- C.
Wise
- D.
Energetic
- 6.Toby and Scarlett have known each other for so long and they work in the same company. Lately, Toby has been dropping Scarlett at her place from the office before going home even though Scarlett lives close enough to walk. He often thinks about her and smiles to himself. Last weekend Toby asked Scarlett out for a candlelight dinner.What character trait is Toby showing here?
- A.
Active
- B.
Caring
- C.
Smart
- D.
Romantic
- 7.Sticking with routines that are difficult but worthwhile is known as what?
- A.
Courage
- B.
Integrity
- C.
Respect
- D.
Self-discipline
- 8.'May I borrow your phone please?' asked Jessica. 'No!' screamed Yvonne. 'It is my phone, get your own!' Which character trait should be used to describe Yvonne here?
- A.
Dishonest
- B.
Happy
- C.
Cruel
- D.
Selfish
- 9.Which of these is NOT a positive character trait?
- A.
Happy
- B.
Cheerful
- C.
Loyal
- D.
Pessimistic
- 10.Angela was jumping up and down and watching out the window. She could not wait for her mother to get home as she was bringing her new baby sister home for the first time. She wanted to see her and play with her for the first time. What character trait does Angela show here?
- A.
Excitement
- B.
Compassion
- C.
Humility
- D.
Arrogance
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)