1 a Magazine of Student Essays VOLUME 23 20010

VOLUME 23 A Magazine of Student Essays 20010 A Publication of San Joaquin A Raisin in the Sun: A Trinity of Adaptations—Comparisons in Contrast........... 2 Jenny Taylor provides a comprehensive analysis of three screen productions of Delta College an American classic. http://www.deltacollege.edu/org/deltawinds Gifts to an Infant.......................................................................................................... 12 Editors Kaneez Sayeed reflects on the lasting significance of a traditional set of golden William Agopsowicz earrings. Robert Bini Lack of Failure? ........................................................................................................... 14 Division Dean Javier A. Villalobos tracks the psychological consequences of childhood failure English Language Arts in sports and academics. Paul Kuehn Online Classes: Promoting Critical Thinking and Cooperation between the Graphic Design Sexes .............................................................................................................................. 17 Susan E. Lovotti Deanna L. Tocco explores the potential for non-discriminatory education in an alternative learning environment Cover photo Stan Rapada Running with the Team: An Examination of the Positive Effects of In-Group http://community.webshots.com/user/srapada Conformity ...................................................................................................................23 Nisa Shinagawa applies concepts of conformity to her personal experiences Delta Winds is a publication of student essays from with cross-country running. courses at San Joaquin Delta College. It is pub- lished each year by the English Department of San Working Mothers Are Benefiting the Family ..........................................................26 Joaquin Delta College, 5151 Pacific Avenue, Stock- Supreet Mann dissects common arguments against working mothers, believing ton, California 95207. The authors certify that their they should be commended and not criticized. writing is their own creation. The views expressed in these essays do not necessarily reflect the opinions My Family’s Black and I’m Proud: A story of how two small souls brought some of the faculty, the administration, or the trustees of color to our lives ..........................................................................................................30 Delta College. All rights reserved. No part of this Amanda Zimmerman discusses her family’s experiences with racial integration. publication may be reproduced for profit in any form or by any means without written permission. What Rock Music Means to Me ................................................................................32 Charles F. Ogren shares his experiences as a student, lyricist, musician and Letter from the Editors performer of rock ‘n’ roll. This year’s volume contains works of various size and shape: extended research on topics from classic American When Thin Stops Defining Beauty ...........................................................................35 literature to online education; analytical essays on the Alexandra Eriksen-Hisel views the inclusion of plus-sized models in popular common experiences shared by children and young adults media as a step in the right direction. faced with the challenges of society; explorations of women in roles as working mothers and fashion models; and personal reflections on subjects concerning racial tolerance, The Decomposition of Education ..............................................................................37 the passing on of ancestral traditions and values, and the An anonymous author blames teachers, parents, and students for the passionate sounds and significance of rock music. This year’s overwhelming number of students needing basic skills. volume also includes three essays concerning education and the recent administrative decision to cut basic skills courses Cutting Basic Skills Courses at Delta College ......................................................... 40 here at Delta College. In this set of essays on education, Cara Pellegri agrees with administrators’ cuts to basic reading, writing, math, students consider the state of education in their state and at and ESL classes. their college. The diversity of opinion and interest evident in all of these compositions reflects the commonality found Selective Education at Delta College .........................................................................43 at this community college. What we have in common is our Gabriel Haro-Acosta argues cutting ESL classes jeopardizes the future lives of own individuality. What our students at this college search for through writing is to express their own independent recent immigrants. voices—regardless of skill level, cultural background, and prior educational experience. 1 Jenny Taylor is thirty- A Raisin in the Sun: two, having returned to A Trinity of Adaptations—Comparisons school after a prolonged absence. She enjoys in Contrast studying literature, in by Jenny Taylor all of its various forms, and she appreciates the opportunity she has had to develop her writing skills through her courses at Delta. She is particularly Lorraine Hansberry’s 1959 version, was adapted from stage interested in playwriting, play A Raisin in the Sun was format to movie format (A Raisin which she plans to pursue groundbreaking as it was the first in the Sun 2008). in the future. play written by a black woman to be produced on Broadway, as Having three adaptations well as one of the first to depict of a single original work is the everyday struggles faced by a bound to lead to a number of black American Glover’s performance commonalities, family (Nemiroff creates an edgier and these are 6). The play has no exception. been adapted to Walter Lee, one who Similarities are the screen on is unpredictable, found in plot, three occasions. while Poitier’s range thematic issues, In 1961, a film is not as broad. characterization, version of the and symbolism; play was released however, each screen featuring the original Broadway version exhibits variances in the cast and a screenplay written by strength of its interpretations Hansberry herself (A Raisin in the of these four elements, as well Sun 1961). A second adaptation as the additional elements was made in 1989 in honor of the of performance, direction, play’s twenty-fifth anniversary. cinematography, setting, and This version differs greatly from sound. the 1961 adaptation in that it is a filmed version of the play and, As the play begins, the Younger therefore, adheres to Hansberry’s family, consisting of matriarch original work much more closely Lena, her two children Walter than the first adaptation. This Lee and Beneatha, Walter Lee’s American Playhouse production wife Ruth, and son Travis, await was made for television and based the arrival of a ten thousand dollar on the off-Broadway revival of check. This check, a payout from the play produced by Roundabout Lena’s deceased husband’s life Theatre (A Raisin in the Sun insurance policy, is the inciting 1989). In 2008, a third adaptation incident from which all conflicts was produced, also for television. emerge. This version offered a teleplay, written by Paris Qualles, based The play’s opening scene, on Hansberry’s original play, but depicting a morning in the again, like the previous 1961 Younger household, touches 2 upon a number of thematic issues as George says, he is “all whacked through character conflict. The up with bitterness” (Hansberry undercurrent of discontent existing 85). This bitterness is eating away between Walter Lee and Ruth at him, and he takes it out on is immediately evident by their those closest, particularly his wife passive aggressive behavior. Walter Ruth. Poitier does a great job Lee, aware the insurance check at capturing the despair of the will be arriving shortly, wants Ruth character, but the performance to speak to Lena about giving him lacks the internal conflict that the money to invest. At Ruth’s Glover’s displays. That said, both reluctance to do so, he declares performances are far superior to her unsupportive, an accusation he that of Sean Combs in the 2008 reiterates several times within the film adaptation. Combs does not scene (Hansberry 32). have the same acting ability as the two previous Hansberry Audra McDonald, in the actors, and his describes Walter 2008 adaptation, strikes portrayal of Lee as “…a lean, the best balance between Walter Lee lacks intense young Ruth’s underlying anger sharpness. He man in his middle and world-weariness. She displays little thirties, inclined of the intensity to quick nervous comes across with all the the other actors movements and tired disappointment life bring to the role, erratic speech has left her and a sense and, without habits—and of quiet desperation that intensity, always in his rivaling Walter Lee’s any edge the voice there is verbalized discontent in character has a quality of disappears. indictment” (25). magnitude. Combs creates Sidney Poitier, a soft-spoken who portrays the character, and character in the 1961 adaptation, while it works to show Walter embodies the physicality of this Lee’s disillusionment, it does not description well, in particular convey his anger as well. He does the “quick nervous movements” not bring the same range to the (25). Poitier, however, while role both of the previous actors still bringing an intensity to the display and the result is a largely role, does not capture Walter

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