Tech Friday 2

Objective Summary: This Is Your Brain On Music Section Two

In section two of This Is Your Brain on Music, Daniel Levitin discusses the science behind foot tapping and the way our brain perceives music.  He describes how foot tapping is divided into synced pulses from the brain.  When a song is played, each person's 

                          This is a video of seals moving to the beat of music.

perception of the tune differs. If a song is catchy, people will tap their feet or hum to go along with the beat. The act of footapping and humming is automatic, though it is a voluntary response. Even though one might not be conscious if they are tapping their feet, they can  stop this action if desired. Humans are not the only creature that moves to a beat when a sound is heard. Primates, seals, and certain breads of birds also move to the rhythm of music. Levitin furthermore elucidates about the timber of a person's voice. Timber is the pitch of the vocal cords. When a person talks, the timber of their voice differs. The timber of someone’s voice can show a person's emotions, health, and more. If a person is sick their voice will be hoarse, or if they are happy at a higher timber then usual. Finally, Levitin emphasizes how the brain reacts to diffent sounds. Each brain is unique. A sound that one person may find soothing may be irritable to another. The way the brain reacts to noise is a vital factor to how sound is perceived. 

http://daniellevitin.com/publicpage/books/this-is-your-brain-on-music/

Tech Friday

Music

Beast Representation Lord Of the Flies

    In Lord Of the Flies by William Golding, the beast on the island represents the fear of the unknown, through never physically seeing the creature, and the existence of the beast is the savagery inside of us. During World War II, a group of boys survive after a plane crash, and are left stranded on an island. They are faced to fend for themselves, with no adults present. Ralph, an older boy is elected as leader. Jack another boy on the island is jealous of his power,and uses the made up creature, referenced as a beast to control the boys. Since the beast has not made an appearance, the boys do not rationalize the possibilities of what it can be. The boys unite as one, to gain confidence under Jack's control. They chant, "Kill the Beast! Cut his throat! Spill his blood!"(152). This chant is yelled by all boys, giving them something to have in common. The use of this chant is a slogan. Slogans are used today to insure certain statements are embedded in society. After hearing something for a certain amount of times, it is accepted by the masses.Jack uses the fear of the beast to contain the boys, making all of their attention on one subject. The fear of the unknown has powers unlike any other. One's imagination usually exaggerates reality. While Simon, a boy on the island is searching for the beast he comes across a figure ahead of him. "The life-like movement would scare them off for a moment so that they made a dark cloud round head. Then as the blue material of the parachute collapsed the corpulent figure would bow forward, sighing, and the flies settle once more"(146). Simon discovers the body. He realizes there was nothing to fear, that the beast did not exist. When he heads back to the camp to tell the boys about his discovery, he is welcomed by the chanting boys who end up killing him. They have mistaken him for the beast. The murder of Simon provides an understanding of humanity. The beast does exist. Instead,

The boys are chanting kill the beast, while doing the rain dance around the fire. 

of the beast being a creature it is the beast inside of us that cause's destruction. 

Lord of the Flies/Lost Discussion Question Writing Prompt

Evaluative Question: How could Piggy, from Lord of the Flies be a good leader if given the chance?

      People that have ideas that can benefit the rest do not always receive the respect they deserve; in Lord of the Flies by William Golding, Piggy a main character, lacks authority for his ideas to take effect. In Lord of the Flies a group of boys are stranded on an island after a plane crash during World War II. To stay alive, the boys must work together. To work sufficiently,  they decided to vote on a leader between two boys Ralph and Jack. Ralph and Jack are distinctly different in their nature, but both are confident with themselves. The presences of confidence provides a justification they will make a good leader. Ralph wins the vote and becomes the head boy.  He is down to earth and listens to others, but still would not be the best fit as a leader.  Piggy, another boy has attributes to help the stranded boys but lacks confidence and is more reserved to express his thoughts. When he does speak, his voice is quieter and does not use the same force as the others. Also, Piggy's appearance does not resemble the other boys. He is larger with adult like features that make him look different in comparison to the rest."He wiped his glasses and adjusted them on his button nose. The frame made a deep pink v on the bridge"(pg 11). How Piggy presents himself takes an effect on how the boys treat him. When someone is different from the rest, it becomes easier for people to blame their problems on them.  If he was able to relate to them he would be the leader of the boys. His ideas are some of the most thought out and best among them.  He would set rules that are fair and benefit all, but make decisions that will be best in the long run. He has a higher maturity than most of the boys, and see's the bigger picture of what will happen in the future. With this being said, there are a few negatives that would come with him being leader. Even though he is a person that thinks out their decisions ahead of time, he is scared easier then the rest. This would not benefit the boys, because when they are in a dangerous situation he would not be able to function. 

Lost

 Interprutive or Evalutive Question:  Describe how leadership helps in times of need, what makes a good leader?      

    The use of leadership can be described as a given trait that comes naturally to some, but not others. In the show Lost, a group of people are stranded on an island after a plane crash. Jack, a doctor, helps the injuired and becomes a leadership figure. When problems arise on the island, or someone needs

advice they turn to him for support. It is human nature to want someone or something to go to in times of need. In daily life, when children are scared they turn to their parents, and adults: friends, family or holy figures. A person that shows compassion and sympthy towards ones well being  creates a good leader. Shortly after the plane crash, the scene in Lost focuses on Jack. At first he is utterly confused, but instead of waiting in a daze he observe's his surrondings to see what is happening around him. He looks around and sees a pregant women having trouble after the crash. Being a doctor, he rushes over to help. While he is attending to her, he notices that there are others in need. Jack knows he needs to help the others, but also does not want to leave her alone. He finds a healthy passenger from the flight to stay with the pregant women, and tells him to yell for him if needed.  In a situation like the one Jack is put into, few would react the same way that he did.  Jack stays clam and uses the skills he has to attend to others around him. This portrays a person that puts others before himself or herself, and manages well under stress. A person like this is critical for being a leader. Most people would not have been able to act the way Jack did. Instead of staying clam, many would panic about being stranded, not knowing the future, and how to deal with their own injuries. Being a leader is about not always thinking about yourself, but the bigger picture. One might not benifit as greatly,but if the vast magority do isn't that what is important? 

The deserted house

The crisp air entered the cracked open window of the old abandoned house. It was midwinter of 1907 in rural Washington.  A blizzard overtook the small town and all where inside except for a small group of teenagers.  While walking home from one of their house's, they stopped in front of the large iron gate of the abandoned house.

    All where silent and peered through the iron gate.  One by one, each person whispered to each other what they thought existed in beyond it. Over the years they had heard many different stories of what took place there.  The oldest boy decided he wanted to find out the outcome for himself. He told the group he would be back in a few minutes and started to climb up the massive gate.  Each step he took his feet struggled to support him from going higher.  When he made it over, he realized he would not be able to get out since the back of the gate was a smooth piece of cement that was over twenty feet high.  Feeling uneasy, about his decision to enter the property, he continued on a windy forest trail to the abandoned house.  As he started up the trail he heard a high pitch scream in the distance.  It sounded like his younger sister as he called out her name. The girl responded with a weak cry, "get out while you can."

    The boy could feel his heart start to race and it became uneasy to breath. He ran to the house to save the girl. As he approached the front door, it was covered with blood. The girl was no where to be seen.  He tried to open the door and it would not budge. He looked up and saw an upstairs window open. After multiple attempts he made it into the house. 

     The house was empty filled with a heavy coating of dust. Down the hall, he saw a shadow.  He crept toward it hoping it was his sister. Instead he found a zombie covered in blood smeared across his front. He was in awe, and refused to except what stood before him. In a matter of seconds the zombie approached him. Not knowing what to do, the boy ran the opposite direction. Shortly after making it to the trail, he feel on a branch. The zombie gained speed and caught up to him. One short cry was all that was heard.  
    After an hour his friends became worried and decided to search for him.  Nothing was found but a trail of blood. To this day the story is still told. No one figured out the cause for his disappearance, but the small group that saw him climb over the fence.