Clip Art: A Boy Akimbo Pondering Dasein

A portrait of an adolescent boy looking askance at the camera, discussing the beauty of wonder and being against the backdrop of dasein.

Source: Created by Stones of Erasmus, claymation (with digital elements added by open-source artificial intelligence). This image is created and made with love by Stones of Erasmus (stonesoferasmus.com).

Update: I created a remix.

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The Ineluctable Bond of Two Boys Broken: Movie Review of Close (2022)

In this post, I write a spoiler-y review of the 2022 Belgian film Close. This review is meant for after viewing the film.

Image Credit: Diaphana Films

Close Garners Accolades on the Film Prize Circuit

Have you recently watched the Belgian film Close (2022), directed by Lukas Dhont and starring two incredible young actors, Eden Dambrine and Gustav De Waele? The movie was highly acclaimed, nominated for an Academy Award, and won the prestigious Grand Prix at the Cannes film festival. The story is a tragic one about two boys. Having read multiple stories of queer, questioning, and gay young people killed or dying of unsuspecting causes, I went into the film with skepticism. For example, I loved the novel Absolute Brightness by James Lecesne — but, again, it is a story of a young, bright, young person who dies because of hatred and homophobia. But I digress — in this story of two young boys who live in a small Flemish town near the flower fields of Brabant, the story is more about adolescent male friendship than anything else. 

I Did Harbor Some Assumptions (I Confess)

        After watching the trailer, I confess I assumed that the blonde-haired boy, Leo (played by Dambrine), was the more fragile of the two. He appears smaller, in contrast, to Remi (played by De Wael), even though in real life, the former is several years older than the latter, and during filming, De Wael had to wear platform shoes to appear taller than Dambrine. And in an interesting backstory, Lukas Dhont discovered Dambrine on a train, conversing with friends, and asked him to audition for the part — which he did. All of this to say, while my original assumption was wrong, the film is very much about the character of Leo, both in his friendship with Remi, which only takes up less than half the film, and the micro-steps that follow the boys' breakup.

The Exposition of a Boys' Friendship 

       The movie portrays two thirteen-year-old boys with an unbreakable bond. They are kindred spirits, and their connection is unexplainable. A beautiful scene sets up the friends' bond where Leo, as they both cannot sleep on a summer evening, tells Remi a story about a gecko and its colors. Remi lights up as Leo tells the story, and the camera is positioned intimately close to the two. Film trumps other forms of narrative works where the body, the face, can tell a story, and I was drawn into the ease of their facial expressions and how comfortable the two adolescents are in each other's presence. Leo, in this scene, is portrayed as a poetic and sensitive soul, and his monologue foreshadows what will come. I thought Remi would reject Leo, but it was the reverse. 

        Their friendship is exposed to the public eye of their peers. Once they start going to a new school, the other kids make note of the boys' friendship and ask if they are a couple. Despite their kindred and beautiful connection, the question "Are you together?" is enough to put a blunt edge between the two kids' bond. In my head, I thought Leo took it to heart and had a more difficult time dealing with that. But actually, in the movie, Leo is more riled up about the accusation and pushes Remi, the other boy, away. The two boys detonate internally, each in their own unique way, and a gulf begins to split between them. It is in this splitting apart that the film attempts to explore.

An Inexplicable Event Happens. 

         There is a field trip, and Remi is not there. The kids go to the ocean and return, and Leo discovers that Remi has committed suicide. Leo runs frantically, heaving, and arrives at Remi's house, but no one is home, and he sees the door to the bathroom has been busted open. And he knows. In a scene earlier in the movie, Remi was in the bathroom and wouldn't come out, and the mother kept banging on the door. It was after Leo and Remi had a fight. It is evident now. As Leo stares into the window of the empty house, Remi is no longer here. And this is where the story becomes not one of a beautiful friendship but a story of a piece missing, of Leo's tortured journey. And Remi's mother — it was the mother who discovered her son. And when Leo discovers that Remi was in the bathroom when he committed suicide, he internalizes it as his fault.

         Leo goes through the motions. He silently attends his friend's funeral. Leo's emotional journey is acute and raw as he tries to find solace in his older brother and silently deals with his feelings at hockey practice and in class. Leo's guilt and sense of responsibility for Remi's death are palpable, and it is painful to watch a child suffer in such a way. He has to listen as other kids talk superficially about Remi. One boy mentions that Remi seemed happy, but Leo breaks the silence and questions whether the boy really knew. "Was he happy? did you know?" Leo asks and storms out of the room. A counselor comes to talk to the middle school class, but the guilt on Leo takes a toll on him. He befriends another boy on his hockey team, but their friendship differs from his friendship with Remi. Leo finds ways to confront or be with Remi's mother, who is also obviously dealing with her grief. And in this part, the story feels fragile and raw — because, as a viewer, I did not know who would break first, Leo or the mother.

The Question of "Why?"

        The film raises several questions, such as why Leo was not kinder to Remi, why Remi did not seek help from his loving parents, and why it all ended horrifically. Leo is so shaken by it viscerally, but he is still so young that he cannot verbalize his feelings. Remi is dead, and that reality is painful enough, but Leo also holds on to this feeling that he is responsible for his friend's death. A child should not have to go through this type of suffering, right? However, the director slowly turns the viewer's attention to Leo and his struggle to deal with his friend's death without providing easy answers to the "why" of it. The film culminates in an inevitable confrontation between Remi's mother and Leo, which provides a sense of closure, but not resolution. The scene is in the woods, the trees serving as a backdrop of both characters' pain — a place set away from the real world of school, family, and home. Without giving away too many details, this is how the film ends.

Closing Remarks

        The movie's personal and emotional performance from the cast is remarkable, and the actors spent a lot of time together processing the story's magnitude. The film's title, "Close," hits home, portraying the story of two boys who cling to each other. I could identify with the boys — as I, too, had close friendships growing up, and I think this is a phenomenon that many young men experience. Leo and Remi express their feelings about society's bias about close male friendships when girls at lunch call out the boys' friendship, but they first retort, "Well, what about girls? You can have a girly friendship," and no one says anything. The worst crime a society can commit is snuffing out love between two people. I felt like Leo and Remi hold an ineluctable bond that is intense, loving, and special. It is not a gay story, specifically, but one of love, friendship, and the dissolution of those bonds. And it is that dissolution that cries out to heaven for justice.

       I finished the movie visibly shaken. I had not felt this emotionally challenged by a movie about love and connections lost since the 2017 film Call Me By Your Name. As a viewer, one can bring their own emotions and experiences to the film, and "Close" explores the complexities of friendship, guilt, and grief, especially among young boys. It sheds light on toxic masculinity, its impact on society, and the intensity of friendships at a young age. Overall, "Close" is a poignant film that leaves a lasting impact and is a deserving nominee for an Academy Award.

Stray Observations

• The film boasts the debut of the two actors Eden Dambrine and Gustav De Waele.
• The working title was "We Two Boys Together Clinging," which is the title of a poem by Walt Whitman, which inspired the work of artist David Hockney.
• The film reflects Belgium's linguistic diversity, with French and Flemish spoken due to the country's small size and the presence of Dutch, Flemish, French, English, and German in daily conversation.
• The small Flemish town where the film is shot is called Wetteren in East Flanders.
• I lived in Belgium for over a year as a student at K.U.L. in Leuven.

Close (2022)

Diaphana Distribution

Directed by Lukas Dhont

Starring Eden Dambrine, Gustav De Waele, Léa Drucker, and Émilie Dequenne

Original Screenplay by Lukas Dhont and Angelo Tijssens.

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Creation Myths of Ancient India: World Mythology Series for the Middle and High School Humanities Classroom

Teaching creation myths from ancient India can be an exciting way to engage middle and high school students in the Humanities or English Language Arts classroom. It provides an opportunity to explore different cultures, beliefs, and worldviews. In this post, we will delve into the significance of creation myths and explore some examples of creation myths from ancient India.

I discuss how to teach creation myths from ancient India to middle and high school students in a Humanities or English Language Arts classroom.

From the soaring Himalayas to the tropical coastline,
the Indian subcontinent's diverse geography
has shaped India's rich and complex history.

Creation myths are an integral part of human history and culture. They are stories that explain how the world came into being and how humans, gods, and other beings came to exist. Ancient India is rich in mythology and has a plethora of creation myths that provide a unique perspective on the universe's origin.

What is a Creation Myth?

A creation myth is a traditional story that explains how the universe, Earth, and all living things came into existence. These myths are often considered sacred and passed down through generations. Creation myths vary across cultures, but they all share a common thread: they attempt to answer fundamental questions about the nature of existence and our place in the world.

Creation Myths from Ancient India

India has a rich and diverse tradition of creation myths. These myths are drawn from Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and other religions that originated in India. Here are a few examples of creation myths from ancient India:

The Rig Veda Creation Myth: This is one of the oldest creation myths in India, dating back to around 1500 BCE. It tells the story of the god Prajapati, who creates the world by sacrificing himself.

The Puranas Creation Myth: The Puranas are a collection of ancient Hindu texts that describe the creation of the universe. They tell the story of the god Brahma, who creates the world by meditating on the lotus flower that grows from the navel of the god Vishnu.

The Buddhist Creation Myth: In Buddhist mythology, the universe goes through

Ancient India boasts a host of creation myth traditions.

cycles of creation and destruction. The creation of the universe is said to begin when the Buddha Amitabha creates a pure land, a perfect world where beings can attain enlightenment.

The Jain Creation Myth: In Jainism, the universe is eternal and has no beginning or end. However, it constantly changes, and beings are reborn in different forms. The universe is divided into six realms, including the human realm, the animal realm, and the realm of the gods.

Teaching Creation Myths from Ancient India

Teaching creation myths from ancient India can be a fun and interactive experience for students. Here are a few tips for incorporating these myths into your Humanities or English Language Arts curriculum:

1. Provide Context: Before diving into the creation myths, provide students with some background on ancient India, its religions, and its culture. This will help students understand the significance of these myths and appreciate their cultural and historical context.
2. Engage in Close Reading: Read the creation myths with your students and encourage them to analyze the language, themes, and symbols used in the text. This can be a great way to build critical thinking and analysis skills.
3. Compare and Contrast: Compare and contrast the creation myths from ancient India with creation myths from other cultures. This can help students see the similarities and differences between different worldviews and gain a broader perspective on human history and culture.
4. Explore Art and Literature: Creation myths from ancient India have inspired a wealth of art and literature. Encourage students to explore visual art, literature, and music that are inspired by these myths. This can be a great way to connect with the myths on a deeper level and explore their cultural significance.

Conclusion

Teaching creation myths from ancient India can be an enriching and enlightening experience for middle and high school students. It provides an opportunity to explore different cultures, beliefs, and worldviews and to build critical thinking and analysis skills. 

Feel free to check out my store, where you can purchase my unique lesson plan on teaching creation myths from ancient India!

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Gego — Gertrud Goldschmidt — Retrospective at the Guggenheim Museum in New York to Open on March 31, 2023

In this post, I write about going to the opening night of the Gego: Measuring Infinity exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum in New York City.

On Thursday night, I saw a new retrospective exhibition at the Guggenheim, the iconic Frank Lloyd Wright-designed museum building on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Two artists' had openings — Sarah Sze and the German-Venezuelan artist, Gego (Gertrud Goldschmidt).

Do you see it? I was drawn in by the small square

dangling in the left corner of one of Gego's

trippy geometrical pieces — on view at 

the Guggenheim Museum.

       Another example of Gego's geodistic fever dream —
       can you imagine being shrunk and navigating
       you way through this three-dimensional maze?

Gego's work spans decades and includes small-scale paintings from the '50s to trippy geometric mobiles from the '70s. I particularly liked her drawings without paper — such as a wire mashup that appears to be graph paper 📝 and a series of interconnected wires that, when you step back, look like spherical shapes strung together. Thanks to @rguimaraes100 for letting me know about his wife’s associate curatorial work — brava to Geaninne Gutiérrez-Guimarães. You curators do amazingly awesome work: e.g., putting together such an impressive exhibit that spans the Guggenheim's spiral.

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#exhibit #guggenheim #art #show #gegomeasuringinfinity #guggenheim #curator

First image: Sphere; Second Image: Sphere; Third Image: From left, “Sin Título” (“Untitled”), 1977, bronze; “Siete Icosidodecaedros” (“Seven Icosidodecahedra”), 1977, steel and copper; “Sin Título,” 1977, bronze; and “Reticulárea Individual Nº 2” (“Individual Reticulárea No. 2”), 1969, steel, aluminum and iron. Credit...Karsten Moran for The New York Times

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Griffins & Mythological Creatures: Architectural Motifs in the Jackson Heights Neighborhood of Queens

New York City neighborhoods are rich in history, and Jackson Heights is no exception. Situated in a rectangular swath of Queens, with Northern Boulevard, the expressway, Roosevelt Avenue, and Junction Boulevard as its perimeter borders, this neighborhood boasts a charming collection of beautiful pre-war residential buildings, many of which feature intriguing architectural adornments, including the presence of mythological creatures like Griffins.

     Griffins, fascinating creatures that are half-lion and half-eagle amalgams, grace the façades of numerous buildings in Jackson Heights. These majestic beings typically possess bird-of-prey talons for feet and lion-like tails. Although occasionally depicted without wings, or even as wingless eagle-headed lions, these figures bear a striking resemblance to Griffins. Interestingly, even the neighborhood's local school, Garden School, an independent nursery through twelfth grade, has adopted the Griffin as its mascot.

While some of the statues in Jackson Heights may resemble guarding lions more than take-flight griffins, there is undoubtedly a family resemblance. However, I must confess that I am not a pedant when it comes to classifying mythological creatures, and their presence in the neighborhood adds to their unique character and charm.

The abundance of griffins in Jackson Heights has a historical significance that traces back to the neighborhood's early days. When the Inter-Borough Rapid Transit company constructed the 7 elevated line that runs over Roosevelt Avenue, Jackson Heights and much of Queens were mostly undeveloped farmland, with only a few notable features such as the waterfront natural harbors in Flushing and Long Island City. However, the arrival of the elevated subway sparked a wave of housing development. The Queensborough corporation, whose remnants can still be seen, particularly at the corner of 79th Street and 37th Avenue, decided to build "garden apartments," forever altering the area's landscape. The apartment buildings were billed as convenient upper-middle class residences for the white, non-Jewish, non-Catholic, white-collar set. One brochure for one of the apartment buildings, The Towers, reads, "The people you find at Jackson Heights are only those people you want to associate with." Anyway, after the Second World War — with the advent of white flight in the 1960s and 1970s, the demographics of the neighborhood shifted — but the garden apartments remain — in their unsullied glory. And the griffins. Talons out! 

If you take a stroll through Jackson Heights, you can spot various griffins and griffin-like statues in specific locations. Here are some approximate locations where you can find these captivating figures:

• 72nd Street and 35th Avenue - Griffin
• 75th Street and 35th Avenue - Griffin
• 81st Street and 37th Avenue - Griffin
• 81st Street between Northern Boulevard and 34th Avenue
• 34-48 81st Street (between 35th and 34th Avenues) - Stone carving of two Griffins above the doorway
• 80th Street between 37th and 35th Avenue

If you happen to discover any additional griffins or statues not listed here, please let me know in the comments. Jackson Heights continues to be a treasure trove of fascinating historical and architectural delights, and the presence of these mythical creatures only adds to its allure.

Works Cited

Antos, Jason D., and Theodosiou, Constantine E. Jackson Heights. United States, 

    Arcadia Publishing, 2013.

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Clip Art: School-Aged Girl with Glasses and Braces

The school-aged girl with glasses and braces is studious and determined yet often self-conscious despite her intelligence and kind-hearted nature.

Source: Created by Stones of Erasmus, coloring page (with digital elements added by open-source artificial intelligence). This image is created and made with love by Stones of Erasmus (stonesoferasmus.com).

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Clip Art: Surprised Teen Boy Close-Up

Caught in amazement — digital art of a surprised teen boy: looks directly at the viewer.

Image source: Created by Stones of Erasmus (with digital elements added by open-source artificial intelligence). This image is created and made with love by Stones of Erasmus (stonesoferasmus.com).

Find more of my clip art on TpT!

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Yellow Day: A Series of Portraits in Yellow and Pink (Plucked from the Multiverse)

Today is Yellow Day, a day to celebrate optimism, happiness, and warmth. In honor of the occasion, I used DALL-E-2 to create several versions of myself in yellow and pink, embodying the spirit of the day. 

Which version of me plucked from the multi-verse do you like the best? Let me know with a like and a comment.

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Clip Art: Endymion Sleeping on Mount Latmos

Endymion (some say it's Adonis) wears a hat, a Roman tunic, and sandals and naps on Mount Latmos. The original marble Roman sculpture dates from the 2nd Century C.E., where the drawing is based and is located in the British Museum in London. 

Source: The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Picture Collection, The New York Public Library. "Ancient styles of hats" The New York Public Library Digital Collections. 1845. This image is in the public domain. 

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Clip Art: A Winged Griffin About to Take Flight

This public domain image depicts the mythological creature the griffin — part lion and part eagle. A griffin is a legendary creature with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion. It is said to be a powerful and majestic beast, capable of flying great distances and possessing great strength. In many myths and legends, griffins are depicted as guardians of treasure or protectors of sacred places. 

This particular image is in the public domain, which means it can be used for any purpose, including commercial use, without restriction. This is because the image's copyright has either expired or was never copyrighted in the first place.

Find more of creations on TpT!

Find more of my clip art on TpT!

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Organizing Main Ideas: Basic Skills Practice in a Writing Workshop for Middle and High School Students in the English Language Arts Classroom

In this post, I discuss how I teach organizing as a writing skill in an English Language Arts writing class.

Hey there, writing enthusiasts! As an English teacher, I often ask this question - "How do you teach writing?" And the answer is more complex than you might think. However, I teach concrete skills that can help you improve your writing. Writing is like any other skill, it gets better with practice, and with the right approach, you can attenuate the slog of the work and create something beautiful.

Good writing is more than crossing your t's and correctly placing your commas. It's about being well-organized, and that's where I start with my students. I often notice students struggle with organizing their writing, so I created a simple worksheet to help them.

It's similar to following a recipe when cooking. You need to follow the steps in the right sequence, or else you won't be able to bake a cake. I've had my share of experience with this, so trust me when I say that mixing up the order of adding wet and dry ingredients can ruin a perfectly good cake.

Writing, however, is more complex than following a sequence of events. Sometimes, what happens last is written first, and what happens first is written last. You'll know what I mean if you've seen the movie Memento. However, with practice and guidance, you can learn to organize your writing in a way that makes sense and is enjoyable to read.

The key to good writing is practicing good habits. When I teach writing, I focus on these habits that can help students develop their writing skills and make their work stand out:

1. Start with a plan: Before you start writing, it's essential to have a plan. Think about what you want to say, and organize your thoughts into a clear structure.
2. Be clear and concise: Good writing is not about using complicated language. It's about being clear and concise. Choose your words carefully and avoid unnecessary details.
3. Edit and revise: It has yet to get it right the first time. Editing and revising are essential steps in the writing process. Take the time to review your work and make changes where necessary.
4. Practice, practice, practice: Writing is a skill that gets better with practice. Set aside time daily to write, whether in a journal or a blog post. The more you write, the better you'll get.
5. Read and learn from others: Reading is one of the best ways to improve your writing. Read widely and learn from the work of others. Pay attention to how they structure their writing and use language.
6. By practicing these habits, you can develop your writing skills and create well-organized and enjoyable work to read. Remember, good writing takes time and effort, but you can achieve great things with the right approach.

In conclusion, writing is a skill that can be learned and improved with practice. Good writing requires concrete skills and good habits, like being organized, clear and concise, and practicing regularly. By following these tips, you'll be on your way to creating writing that stands out and gets noticed. So, keep at it, and happy writing!

Here's a straightforward worksheet for sale on my TpT store that I designed to help students think about how ideas are organized in a piece of writing. Use it today as an enrichment part of your middle or high school English Language Arts and Writing class!

A satisfied teacher writes about using the organizing main idea and supporting details resource with his high school students: "Great exercise to gear students up for opinionated essays."

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Meme: Ross Matthews and Otho Share an Uncanny Resemblance

Do Ross Matthews of Ru Paul’s Drag Race fame and the character Otho from the 1988 movie Beetlejuice (played by Glenn Shadix) share an uncanny resemblance? I think so. Share if you agree. 

Memes We'd Love to See: © 2023 Stones of Erasmus

If we take a closer look at Ross Matthews and Otho's appearance, it's hard not to see the resemblance. Both have a similar facial structure, a prominent chin, and an expressive gaze that instantly draws you in. Ross Matthews is famous for his role as a judge on Ru Paul's Drag Race, where he has become a fan favorite for his endearing personality and quick wit. Meanwhile, Otho, portrayed by the late Glenn Shadix, is a character in the 1988 Tim Burton-directed film Beetlejuice. Otho is an interior designer who helps the ghostly couple who haunts a house to scare off the new living inhabitants.

While Ross Matthews is a real person and Otho is a fictional character, the idea that they could exist in the same movie universe is more plausible than it seems. Both Tim Burton-directed movies and Ru Paul's Drag Race are known for their campy, colorful, and often outrageous aesthetics. In fact, the idea of a drag queen and a flamboyantly styled interior designer crossing paths in a fantastical cinematic universe would make for an entertaining and hilarious movie.

Whether or not Ross Matthews' and Otho's similarities are intentional or coincidental, it's still fun to imagine the two coexisting in a shared universe. As pop culture enthusiasts, we can't help but look for hidden connections between our favorite shows and movies. And who knows, maybe we'll see Ross Matthews and Otho team up for an unforgettable adventure that will leave us laughing and cheering from start to finish.

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