The Fortune Cookie Chronicle FINAL Blog Post

Looking at one main element of the writing, (structure, style, tone, texture, theme) create a blog post. This post should highlight one writerly technique, and make a statement about the function it has in the novel.

You should incorporate three quotes from FCC to back up your ideas about this writerly technique. Use the quotes as proof for your argument, and remember to analyze extensively. How does this element in the book strengthen it? Why do you think Jennifer 8. Lee presents her thoughts in this way?

Also, in you blog post's thesis identify one meaningful discovery you have made while reading the book, or identify one meaning realization that Jennifer 8. Lee has in the novel.

Example of thesis:

In the novel, The Fortune Cookie Chronicles, Jennifer 8. Lee uses an informative, yet comedic tone to introduce her readers to the hidden traits of, and unknown facts regarding, Chinese American culture. 

** Remember to put the Chapter you are analyzing in the "subject line" of your post.

Analysis of an MCA piece

After your visit to the MCA and experience with the Paul Sietsema exhibition and the Theaster Gates: 13^th Ballad installation, and the Alexander Calder, think about your favorite piece. How does a work change when you spend more time with it? What else do you notice? How do you change?

Select a work – any work in the Museum – and spend a full 20 minutes just looking at the work. Why did it capture your attention? Why do you suppose it is being presented in a Chicago museum – or why do you think it shouldn’t be here? What is the deeper meaning? (i.e. thesis) What bigger picture does it connect to?  Analyze and try to formulate your ideas in a thesis that you will use to direct your blog post. 

Please write a review of the work. Consider it in context of the artist’s other work – which means you’ll have to do some research, in the museum (read the plaques), handouts? Consider it in context of the rest of the work in the exhibition.

This painting by Jean-Baptiste Oudry, called “Still Life With Monkey, Fruits and Flowers” was painted in 1724. King Louis the 15^th admired Oudry’s skill at painting still lifes and animals. He asked him to create a work showing both of these subjects. When this painting was created, the monkey symbolized, “mischievous and lustful character” and the fruit was meant to show, “French Rococo taste for the sensual” through the ripe quality of the fruit and flowers.

This picture caught my eyes because it reminded me of where I used to live in Africa. At the center for adoption called All As one, they had a pet monkey, and the monkey would sometimes steal food from the kitchen. Sometimes we would peek into the kitchen hoping to find some extra food and we’d see a banana peel or an empty bag lying out and we knew the monkey had been in the kitchen. It was horrible because there was not enough food to begin with!

I don’t believe that this painting has a deeper meaning that you are supposed to see, however, it does remind me of the bible story of Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit. The way the monkey is stealing the grapes made me think of Adam taking the apple.

I feel that “Still Life With Monkey, Fruits and Flowers” is at The Art Institute because it is extremely beautiful and uses oil paint to create a realistic but exotic scene. The use of light in this painting is also incredible.