" Was this a parody, as in the link golddust posted, is MC the voice of a generation ? " I honestly don't think that much thought went into it. I think it makes more sense that miley is trying to shed her good girl image just like britney and christina A did. from the link:" The thing is, Miley failed so spectacularly that it's almost easier to believe she screwed it up on purpose than to accept that she really thought she was being hot." she does the same things in her music videos, the tongue forever hanging out, the leotards, the hip hop gestures etc all designed to be cool and sexy. she wants to be perceived as a bad girl If MC wanted to save her image then she would tell everyone it was a parody, but that's not coming from her, it's coming from another source that hopes this is a parody. But, that don't make it so..... This post was edited by trancegemini_wa on Thu, Aug 29, 13 at 8:17

georgia peach, Thank you SO much for the link! By the way, how did you find this? I'd thought I'd Googled and Lex/Nexed every keyword combination possible. alicia7b, I know what you mean, but my class is coming to the conclusion that book awards actually do mean quite a lot; they just may not mean what we assume they are supposed to mean. Along with reading fiction, we're also reading articles about how major awards are run. And one of the most interesting twists came last week. While most of us felt that the judges were of primary importance (who they were and how they approached their job), how books get submitted to these awards turns out to be equally (if not more) significant. In the article I've linked below, the author tells us that most awards only allow books to be submitted by publishers, and they are usually only allowed two or three submissions. If you're a new author with Philip Roth's publishers and Roth's new book came out the same year your's did, that's one space gone, one less chance for you. Big name publishers can throw more money into promoting your book, but there's less chance of a new author being submitted for an award. Here is a link that might be useful: Making the Initial Cut

Graphic novels that I have read with varying levels of interest: Regifter - can't remember author/artist Goodbye Chunky Rice - Craig Thompson The Plain Janes - Cecil Castelluci Road Strips - ed. Pete Freidrich Persepolis I and II - Mary Ann Sodrape Maus - can't remember author but famous Carnet de Voyage - Craig Thompson (has quite a few GNs out) The Jungle - Joe Sacco Palestine - Joe Sacco To Afganistan and Back - Ted Rall Pride of Baghdad - Brian Vaughn and Niko Henrichon (very sad) The Arrival - Shawn Tan As I mentioned, I have had mixed results with these. There is also a graphic novel of the 9/11 Report which was well done. Quite a few of the NF GNs tend to be sad/angry/confused memoirs, but interesting mostly. But it seems to be very hit/miss with this genre.... I'll see if I can find my GN friend who reads a lot of these. Perhaps he can give us a list...

sheesh, sounds like your list was "free reading" for individuals. That is different than "teaching to" a certain story/book. Most English classes have one or more books the entire class "has to" read so the tests/projects/ assignments are centered around that read. I don't think a free reading list would be an issue. It is when an entire class is FORCED to read a book due to the agenda of the English curriculum. The dress code thing in public schools has me stymied. Schools seem to have given up. The "free expression" crowd used law suits to get schools to back off. FEW schools will go to the expense--even when in the "right" to fight this issue. IMHO schools are not the corner malt shop, the mall, the local hang out. High Schools are a place where we prepare young people for adulthood. Teachers should model professional behavior in their dress and actions so students know what is and will be expected of them in the adult work world. This is why we have "free" education, so these students can become TAX PAYING citizens. I think schools should expect students to follow the model. If it could not be worn in the world of work--it has no place at school. All the wrangling about dress codes being more pointed at girls than boys, who gets to say what is modest what is not, is CRAP. "Casual professional" should be the NORM. For all the feminist PC laws we have enacted we are allowing our girls to dress/act/ feel being a "slut" is the way to be. I agree a girl SHOULD be able to walk around naked and not get raped..but that is denying that humans are animals at their core and some of our proclivities need to be more respected. It is not respectful for a girl to dress in a way that would arouse a male. He often has no control over these arousals. Males need to LEARN to control themselves for sure, but how is it fair to have breasts and butts all but naked in your face all day long! That is asking a lot--for them to just not notice. What is a young man to do when there is non stop sexual arrousal just by walking down a school hallway?! How is that ok!? For all the health/sex education we fight about, no one is teaching these teens how boys work. They get arroused when they SEE certain things. It is automatic, some more easily than others. This is how they are wired, how they are born..they are in process of learning to deal with these situations they did not seek! How does a mom tell her son respect Susie when she passed him in the hall and her personal style aroused him like he has never been before? These things JUST HAPPEN to boys/men. The way we deny the biological FACTS is not fair. How is he supposed to feel he was respected? He got a "problem" he didn't seek or want in that time and space!! I guess I need to get off this soap box..sorry.