English Symposium

The presentation that I attended was entitled ““A Revolutionary Act”: Investigating the Draw of Dystopia in Young Adult Literature”, and was given by Rachel Pullan.  In this presentation, she centered her main points on “Catching Fire”, written by Suzanne Collins.  Pullan talked about how the Hunger Games series is based in a dystopian society; one in which none of the adults seem willing to do anything to overcome the problems which plague them.  In the end, it is a young woman who sparks rebellion to change the path of this society.  This topic of literature can be found interesting to younger people because it is a relatable younger individual in the novel who is having a magnificent sociopolitical effect upon her entire country.  Also, the main character is not complacent, but is willing to go against common beliefs to help build a new world. Suzanne Collins

This definitely convinced me that I should buy this product! A beautiful display of Pathos and Logos in such a way that it captivates the soul! I could not have asked for a better way to enlighten my mind!

Connecting in the wrong places

   In our current times, a major shift has taken place; indeed, a cultural shift which affects you, me, and everyone in our country.  At a distressingly increasing rate, young people are setting their hearts on the secular things of the world, and abandoning their churches in numbers that have never before been seen.  As this trend continues to grow, it has been statistically seen that three in every four churchgoing youth are likely to leave their congregation and choose a life where they are no longer religiously obligated.  Young people receive the majority of their religious beliefs, as well as their religious motivation for church attendance, from their parents.  So, as one can accurately assume, these changes in attendance and devotion to their denominations most commonly occur in the late years of high school and the early years of college when the young people leave home for the first time.  Parents grow increasingly alarmed as the children who they have raised to hold benign values and continue to be gospel-loving individuals turn to new ways which embody unrighteousness (Nielson).  This growing issue which encompasses the hearts of many church goers with fear is being caused by a number of modern external and internal influences; namely influences from peers, a growing world of media, and a natural desire for rebellion.

Issues paper topic

For my issues paper I selected topic #1.  My current intention is to make the claim that youth are leaving the church in such great numbers because of negative social influences in their lives.  These influences come mainly from media, but also through their friends around them (who are also greatly affected by the media).  Ultimately, I will argue that it was after these new "controversial" themes in movies became introduced that young people began to become less inclined to attend church services.