There seems to be quite a few differences between the story Bram Stoker writes and the production of Dracula that Coppola presents. One thing I really noticed was the difference on how the count is portrayed.  I think Stoker puts a lot of emphasis on describing Dracula as a sort of wolf in sheep’s clothing.  He’s portrayed as this well read, courteous and insightful old man that in my head I imagined would be a mix of  Dumbledoor and  Hannibal Lecter. In the movie, however, at the beginning he’s portrayed as almost insane, highly volatile and not so very courteous to the frightened Keanu Reeves.

As well, the plot is shown to really differ when looking at the character Mina. In the book Mina seems to be portrayed as the essence of virtue for a woman of the Victorian era.  She doesn’t fall for the count like in the movie but is described as a “pearl among woman” (XVII) and insinuated by the way Jonathan describes her as almost helpless, “Mina is sleeping now, calmly and sweetly like a little child. Her lips are curved and her face beams with happiness. Thank God, there are such moments still for her”(XXV). As well, when Mina begins her changes into a vampire she is described quite sexually by Stoker, perhaps even further insinuating the sexual appeal of women is evil as those that are more beautiful, such as Lucy, tend to also be vampiric. Over all, the movie also differs in its target audience. The obvious difference between a modern 20th century audience and a Victorian one is perhaps one of the reasons for the character and plot differences.

CORK- a Drimalegue parish is shrouded in mystery as local woman finds fortune of gold buried in local field. The woman in question, known only as Mary, has reported finding the gold after an estranged lover asked Mary to retrieve a blackthorn cane from the grave of a recently deceased man. Even stranger, Mary reports having come in contact with a resurrected corpse that she claims told her to enter the house of her current husband’s family home.

The family, asleep at the time of Mary’s entry, claim  to hear no noise during the night as Mary says she entered the house upon orders of the dead man and proceeded to drain the blood of the family’s three young sons. In effectively killing the boys and returning the dead man’s body to the cemetery, Mary claims the man then told her the location of multiple sites in which gold was buried. Witnesses at the time of the young men’s deaths report overhearing Mary arrange the promise of land, which would later prove to be filled with gold, in exchange for returning the life of the farmer’s three sons. Locals are baffled that the young men since then have managed a full recovery, and in a bizarre turn of events the oldest of the three had  even agreed to wed the would be murderer.

Only a month after the discovery of the three pots of gold Mary and her newlywed husband, who claims to harbor no ill will towards his wife, discovered even more gold located to the south of the previous three. The couple say they plan on using the money towards the future in purchasing multiple farms and fine houses. They hope to pass on this good fortune to future children.

In Richard van Camp’s Angel Wing Splash Pattern the chapter “Sky Burial” uses the mall similarly to how  Tomson Highway portrays it in Kiss of the Fur Queen. In van Camps work he uses the space of the mall to refer to a place of entrapment and ruin. His allusion of the macaw in the cage chained to its post seems to refer to the main character Icabus. It’s Icabus who seems to relate to the macaw, perhaps which is why when van Camp alludes to him dying he’s described as flying, “Icabus flew with an explosion of white feathers and was swallowed by the hottest lake …and there was peace” (47). As well, van Camp uses Icabus’ daughter and the people surrounding him to make note of the ruin people in the mall seem to be. Icabus describes his late wife as having grace and elegance (43) while insinuating his daughter is the opposite and the Indigenous people he sees as ruined, “a table away, sat a family of ruined Indians. They had all let themselves go.”(41). On the other hand, in Kiss of the Fur Queen Highway uses the mall in similar ways. Highway portrays the mall almost as a separate entity with a vast hunger for consumption, “Grey and soulless, the mall loomed behind them, the rear end of a beast that, having gorged itself, expels its detritus” (121). The mall is both a heaven for its variety of resources, as well as a place of evils. As an extension of urbanization, the mall as a space holds a sense of evil. This is perhaps most exemplified when Jeremiah tells Gabrielle, while browsing the goods in the mall, that even women can also be sold, ”In cities…it’s done all the time, all the time. It’s like selling meat” (116). Over all, these authors paint the space of the mall to be a rather devoid place despite the abundance  of material goods. They both seems to describe the mall as a place lacking for meaningful interactions and a general sense of well-being.

I’ve come across Joseph Boyden’s works before, his book Three Day Road  was the first  book I’ve ever read with aboriginal protagonists. In fact, Boyden’s books have been the only I’ve come across to specifically incorporate the history and culture of the James Bay Cree into a fictional narrative. From further research Boyden’s works seem to focus on the issues revolving around indigenous communities from past and present as they face an imperialized future. As Three Day Road told the story of two James Bay Cree boys faced with cultural assimilation amongst the chaos of  World War I, similarly, the short story “Painted Tongue” tells the modern story of a homeless indigenous man  surviving on the streets of Toronto . From what I know about the author Boyden comes from my home province of Ontario with  European and  Métis decent. It’s clear to see the history of his province and heritage as factors influencing in his work. For example, both Three Day Road and “Painted Tongue” take place in Ontario,  and both draw upon the experiences of residential school -Painted Tongue refers to residential school a couple times with the phrase, “Repeat one hundred times. Write it out on the blackboard five hundred times, then sit in the corner facing away from the class…”.  In all, I suppose it would be accurate to say everyone’s history whether it be tribal or not makes an impact and shapes our views. Joseph Boyden could then be said to be impacted by his  tribal history by articulating it into fictional novels and short stories that do a great deal in in turn by expanding our own histories.

Hiromi Goto’s The Kappa Child depicts the story of an unnamed narrator as she dreams her way through the hardships of domestic violence, racism, and sexual orientation while growing up in a homogenous prairie society. Japanese folklore influences the narrator deeply to the point in which she believes she has immaculately conceived a Kappa despite medical authority telling her otherwise, “But there’s this sensation of not being alone in my body…And not only that, it kicks and prods and pushes from the inside” (104). Perhaps the kappa the narrator feels is meant to represent an intuitive feeling of disconnect between body and mind. Throughout the chapters the narrator often feels the Kappa’s presences the most when experiencing hunger, she seems to associate her growling stomach as separate from her own body. This idea of disconnect is a reoccurring theme. At the beginning of the novel the narrator comments on her reflection noting the detachment between self and appearance, “The odd thing about your looks is that you never see your own face. Funny how that works. How your reflection isn’t really who you are, just an image of your real self contained in glass” (14). Indeed, Goto creates a character that seems to see herself as an anomaly, a presence outside the confines of what her family and society want and expect her to be. From a readers perspective the fantasy enthralled plot seems to be a device for underlining discord between the narrator and her environment. In all, The Kappa Child’s depiction of childhood and adult life steaming from a place of mystery and hardships give the reader an option to read between the lines and decide between what is said and what is meant.

Mootoo’s style of writing in Out on Main Street does a good job of putting the narrator’s voice in your head. It’s hard to read it without imagining an accent, but it also takes a little getting used to as the meaning can get lost. Throughout the pages, the narrator appears to be preoccupied with how others view her and her girlfriend. On a casual outing with her girlfriend the narrator, as if used to negative responses, feels the need to constantly keep an eye out for others who might challenge the legitimacy of her relationship going as far as threatening violence, “I tell she not to pay de brothers no attention, because if any a dem flirt with she I could start a fight right dere and den” (50).The narrator seems to make quick judgments on people based on glances and gestures, determining that the men she passes on the street want to “fix” her and the women are afraid of any sexual advances on her part. It seems like the narrator is in constant battle with a populace that doesn’t respect her way of life. Mootoo really makes this clear when the one person outside of her private sphere whom she responds positively with, the giraffe lady, looks at her with disgust upon realizing she is a lesbian. Over all, Mootoo’s writing conveys the struggle of a homosexual couple in a heterosexual society rather well, although making it a little difficult with the lack of correct grammar and spelling.

Margret Atwood’s, “The Handmaids tale” is an accurate depiction of a dystopian world.  Women are the predominate target  in Gilead, the theocratic society under the dictatorship of a male regime stripes the rights and liberties  women previously held  and  treat them  more like appliances rather than people. Much like a machine prized for its function,  Offred as a fertile woman is forced to engage in bizarre mating rituals to counter the drop in birth rate. This depiction of a world in which women no longer have the right to reside over their bodies is a large contrast to the movie Juno.

The movie, in turn,  portrays  pregnancy in a positive light and even  as a better alternative to abortion.  Perhaps, the most contrasting point between “The Handmaids Tale” and Juno is this question of choice. Where Offred is horribly forced into becoming a dehumanized vessel for child birth, Juno decides against abortion by choice. Though, Juno’s actions seem a bit arbitrary, in that she decides against an abortion based on a last minute decision, she none the less was not coerced into her choice.  Moreover, it seems  these stories create opposing  effects. Where “The Handmaid’s Tale”  emphasizes the importance of choice, Juno advocates a more pro-life approach.  As Dr. Heather Latimer writes in her article, “Popular culture and reproductive politics”  popular media seems to make abortion a ‘dirty word’. Indeed, it can be said that ‘juno’ has an anti-abortion feel- as when Juno’s class mate protests in front of the abortion clinic. Yet, this is  perhaps for comic effect rather than a serious stance on abortion. Overall, if one can take anything from these narratives it might be the knowledge that  pregnancy and the right to one’s own body continues to be an issue reflected  in literacy and popular media.

At first glance Rose Kushner’s “If you’ve thought about breast cancer…” is extensively detailed. Upon further inspection it’s safe to conclude that the book has indeed what seems to be everything one might want to know on the topic of breast cancer. With a table of contents that covers the first steps of identifying lumps to detailed content on surgical procedures and stages of breast cancer (32-41). I especially like how Kushner reminds the reader not to panic. With the fright of finding a lump or bump on breast tissue one’s first reaction might be to be to jump conclusions of facing imminent death from cancer. This statement, “If you find something you’re worried about DON’T PANIC!” (2) reminds me of friends and family that have stressed over the possibility of cancer before seeing a medically trained professional with experiences eyes and hands. Taking precautions is important, but from my understanding stressing over the possibility of a serious illness only increases fear and panic that might delay someone from initially going to see a doctor. As well, what I find to be important in Kushner’s book are the sub-sections for the procedures, whether they are safe and what exactly they do- for procedures such as mammograms Kushner even estimates the cost (6). It’s hard to find something negative to say about “If you’ve ever thought about breast cancer…”. Perhaps, it could use an expanded section for the risks and procedures for men developing breast cancer, however, as Kushner writes, “men get breast cancer…but very rarely compared to women’ (18). Thus, is if the overwhelming majority of those targeted by the disease are women it makes sense to write mainly for those most at risk. Over all, Rose Kushner’s extensive knowledgeable guide through breast cancer is an avid tool for any woman who has ever wondered about breast cancer.

Over the years it seems like Rose Kushner’s strife for widespread information on breast cancer treatment options has developed into a lucrative businesses selling items like pink ribbon bumper stickers and mugs. Which is not to say is entirely a bad thing. The commercialization of breast cancer seems like a strange thing, yet it also seems to be effective in promoting the disease in terms of funding and individual awareness.

One of the first things that stands out to me when accessing Susan G. Komen’s for the Cure website is the well tailored structure of the site. In the background a touching picture makes you want to press the shopkomen.com button placed strategically first on the tool bar. It’s the sweetness of children mixed in with the feel of a loving mother that this site really takes advantage of. In this sense, the Breast Cancer Action website is the opposite. Instead, the sites layout directs you to a list on the side with options such a ‘take action’ and ‘ volunteer’. This site takes a much more individualistic and proactive approach with an abundance of information on how you, the visitor of the site, can do the most to help. This approach of providing a variety of options for the viewer to be an active participant instead of a consumer appeals the most to me. I also noticed bcaction.org to have a large blog page with  an assortment of information ranging from mammograms and early detection to environmental chemicals as possible cancer agents. Over all, the spread of information and proactive nature of  Breast Cancer Action brings about a more practical feel than Komen’s over commercialized and narrowed view on a multifaceted issue.

I’ve never been so ill that I’ve needed hospitalization. I’ve gone as far as breaking both my ankles (on separate occasions) but so far my health has been pretty good despite the occasional cold -which is unavoidable despite how many vitamin C tablets you take. It seems illness is one of the few guarantees about living in a society in which you are forced to come in contact with large amounts of people whether it be at school, transit or work.

At some point in your life you will become ill, and how you react to your illness can be a reflection of multiple aspects of society.  For instance, buying cold medication and staying home from work or school to rest is a pretty regular response to catching a cold. Yet, depending on a persons economic situation this experience of rest and medication might not be an option. Thus, in a way two people with the same illness might have completely opposite experiences. As a reflection on society how  many sick days  a person takes can be an indication of the well being of a population.  As Brown notes in ‘Naming and Framing: The Social Construction of Diagnosis and Illness’ how we experience illness in turn defines it. Yet, this approach of looking at the societal construction of illness seems to complicate the approach of diagnosing and in turn curing . Namely, what role, if any, do doctors need to adopt to become all encompassing to the needs of their patients?