Feedback Thoughts: Giving and Receiving Feedback

When reading about giving and receiving feedback, the article that I most related to was “5 Tips for Taking Feedback like a Champ" by Megan Bruneau. I am not very good at receiving criticism and I often take it very personally. One tip Bruneau mentions is to separate “state” and “trait.” Most of the time, criticism is not an attack on myself, but simply on how well or not so well I did a job. I know that if I keep this in mind, I will be less likely to be so hurt by criticism, although it may never stop hurting. Another tip Bruneau offers is to look at criticism as a good thing, as it means you have growing to do. Growth is always a positive thing, and should be look at as such. I also enjoyed Guy Winch’s article, “Why Rejection Hurts so Much—and What to do About it.” I felt this was a good article because it reiterates again and again to not let rejection form your self-worth, which I let happen a lot. So I am not so good at receiving feedback, and can definitely improve. On the flip side, I am good at giving positive feedback, but not negative feedback. Gravity Goldberg gave some good advice in his article, “Be a Mirror: Give Readers Feedback That Fosters a Growth Mindset.” He treats feedback as something that should always help the one receiving feedback grow. It should focus on hard work and encouragement, while still helping to improve the individual. This is something I can work on. Poncie Rutsch’s article, “The Difference Between Praise That Promotes Narcissism vs. Healthy Self-Esteem,” was really good in that it showed how focusing on hard work instead of intelligence or skill can help a child succeed. I know that when someone notices how hard I am working, it makes me feel good and causes me to want to keep working hard. Feedback, whether it comes from school, work, or friends, can always help me grow and is not something I should shrink away from.

Image information: Posted by Anouk Janssens-Bevernage on her blog, The eLearning Nomad. Web source: Dynamind-eLearning 

Storytelling Week 2: The Tragedy of Medusa

He's coming to kill me.

She sees him, still a distance away, approaching her cave, sneering in disgust as he walks past the figures outside the cave, the ones she has tried so hard to forget, but ones which she cannot bring herself to destroy.

I never wanted anyone to die.

A memory sparks in her mind, distracting her from her present situation. A memory of the time before she was a hideous monster. She was so beautiful, and she knew it. But so did everyone else, which was the problem. So many men tried to seduce her. She was of course not interested in any of those oafs. She had pledged herself to the virgin goddess, Minerva. With a lump in her throat she recalls the many times men tried to force themselves on her, but by the gods she managed to survive.

Until it was then a god who forced himself on her.

Neptune.

She was such a loyal servant to Minerva. Even in her vanity, all she wished for was to please her goddess. And Minerva had been so kind to her, blessing her when men would try to violate her, or when women would bully her out of jealousy. When she was in Minerva's temple, she felt peace and love.

Until that scoundrel Neptune shattered those feelings.

He's getting closer.

She remembers the day so vividly, for it was the day her life changed completely. Serving Minerva was her life, and for the goddess she remained chaste. But Neptune cared little for her vow. He is a god, he takes what he craves, and he craved her. Despite her numerous attempts at warding him away, telling him she belonged to Minerva, he would not listen.

She closes her eyes, not wanted to relive the shame, the disgrace. He had violated her, in a holy temple. Her screams were not heard, not even by the goddess herself, not until it was too late. Once he had finished with her, he left her on the hard floor of the temple, stained.

He's so close now.

There is nothing to be done. She can only run farther into her cave. She doesn't want to hurt another human, but it is her only way of survival. Minerva had made sure of that.

Minerva.

She was so kind. As soon as Neptune had vanished, she appeared, tears in her own eyes. "Oh my poor child. You were not meant for such degradation. I am so sorry. There is nothing that can be done. My uncle cannot be contended with. However, I can make certain this never happens to you again." Minerva waved her hand, and Medusa felt her head being contorted. As quickly as it began, it stopped, and Medusa could hear hissing noises in her ears. She touched her hair, and flinched back to feel the scaly skin of a snake.

"Why-?"

"I have changed your appearance. No longer are you a beautiful maiden, but now your face is as hideous as a monster's, and your eyes now have the power to change men and beast to stone. No man will ever harm you again, my child. You will live a life of isolation, but you will be safe."

She was wrong.
Medusa was never safe. Great "heroes" from all over the world came to her dwelling, looking for glory by slaying the mighty Medusa. So far, no one had succeeded.

He's different, though. He has more motivation than the others.

He struts in proudly behind her, sword in hand, eager for bloodshed. She hides behind the wall, but he is coming for her.

All I have to do is turn. He will be stone and I will be safe.

But for how much longer? One day a hero will succeed in his quest. Why not him?

I'm so tired of hiding. I don't want to be a monster. I want to be free.

With a breath, she closes her eyes and steps out from behind the wall. With her back facing the man, she finally feels a peace which she had not felt since before she had changed. She opens her eyes to find Minerva standing in front of her, arms open.

"Time to rest, my child."

Medusa lifts her arms as well and embraces death as the man swings his sword towards her neck. There is no pain, only peace. 

Finally.

Author's Notes: The story of Medusa is one that has been retold in art, film, and literature for years. Most retellings depict Medusa as the villain and monster of the story. However, when you really read the story, Medusa is anything but a villain. She was put in a situation which she could not escape from, and is in reality the victim. I was inspired to see her this way a few years ago, when I saw this piece of art by Matt Rhodes. I wanted to take it further by rewriting her "punishment" as Minerva's way of saving her from more harm. I also chose to refrain from using her name until almost the end, so that she would not be connected with the image of the terrifying "Medusa." By looking at the story this way, Medusa's fate is a tragic and unfair one. 

Bibliography: This is a retelling of the story of Perseus and Medusa in Ovid's Metamorphoses.

Image information: Medusa by Riccardo Rullo, 2014. Web source: Deviant Art

Reading Notes: Ovid's Metamorphoses Books 1-4, Part B

Part B consists of books 3 and 4 of Ovid's Metamorphoses. 

The story of Echo is such an odd story. Roman mythology is so fascinating because it reaches out of the norm and tells stories that are weird and sometimes head-scratching. Another creation story, this one so creative because it uses a girl to explain how a repetition of sound came to be. It would be really interesting to write a creation story like this in order to explain some other phenomenon. 

Much of Roman love stories seem to begin with lust, and then they usually end there, like Narcissus. Where's the love story where the characters are attracted to more than each other's faces? 

Pyramus and Thisbe are that love story. This is actually really touching, because even without looking at each other, they are still in love and still want to be together. This is the story that began it all. It is so much like Romeo and Juliet that I think Ovid should be more known for being the inspiration. These stories are always so popular, most likely because they are so "hopelessly romantic." I like the stories where they have a happy ending, though, not where they all die. However, I am always a fan of a romance that is made difficult because of some kind of difference. 

Vulcan is a much underrated god. More stories should be made of him, besides him simply creating a shield for a hero. 

Perseus is an extremely interesting character. He accomplishes so many incredible feats, and he does so with no power other than his ability to fight. 

I'm actually really interested in the character of Medusa. Like most of the women, she is lusted after for her beauty, but this time by Neptune. She had no choice in the matter, however Minerva still punished her. But what if it wasn't punishment, but salvation? Perhaps Medusa despised being chased, and so Minerva helped her by making her ugly and threatening. And then Perseus, for no reason other than to boast, kills her. It would be interesting to write a story from her side of the story.

Ovid's Metamorphoses. Source link: Part B

Image information: Meme Generator: Roman Babe

Reading Notes: Ovid's Metamorphoses Books 1-4, Part A

For this week, I read books 1 and 2 of Ovid's Metamorphoses. 
Ovid is creative in the way he deals with the ancient old flood story. It focuses on the love of the two and their piety towards the gods. It also shows the gods and vengeful and cruel. The description is vivid and imaginative, and one of my favorite aspects of this story. 
In the story of Io, even though this is serious, there is some humor. Ovid does something interesting in that even though Jupiter is a horrible rapist, the reader hates Juno more and doesn't want her to find out about Jupiter's infidelity because she will be unjust. There is much sympathy for Io, who brought none of this on herself. It is always good to make the reader upset because of injustice, as it means the writing and plot are good. 
In the story of Phaethon, already it is made apparent that Phaethon is arrogant and prideful. Ovid sets it up so that Phaethon is doomed to fail because of this. He do so in a beautiful way, though. He gets what he deserves. I like the way he not only describes what is happening to Phaethon, but also the damage he is causing around him. His description is beautiful: "the meadows turn white, the trees are consumed with all their leaves, and the scorched corn makes its own destruction." His death is sad, but it seems deserved. It doesn't seem fair that a mother should lose all of her children within the same period. 
In the next story, Callisto seems like an awesome character, and Jupiter just has to rape her. This may be more tragic that Io, as Callisto is so strong before Jupiter rapes her, and after she is shamed. Once again, Juno is made to look worse than Jupiter, although she is as much innocent of her husband's infidelity as Callisto is. If one were to look at how unjust her situation is with an unfaithful, yet all-powerful husband, it makes sense that she takes her anger out on innocent women, even if it unfair. This is a very interesting creation story of the constellations. It would be interesting to write a constellation creation story. 
With the story of Semele, another rape, another fury. It seems apparent that neither Jupiter not Juno evolve in any way a part from this. It is unique that Jupiter gives birth, as that is not a common theme. All in all, there are some great stories ideas, as the characters are very deep and rich and the plot is unique.

Ovid. Metamorphoses. Source link: Part A

Image Information: "Garfield Meets Zeus" by Colin Foster, 2005. Source: Sromg Explained