in class newsworld

1. Are there any prominent symbols in the story that you read? If so, what are they and how are they used?

         In Newsworld there are a few 'symbols' being used here. Im going to refer to the term 'symbol' here loosely, based on that most of this story was a first person perspective constantly making reference to a past even, or relating a current event to something in the past.
         One of the looser 'symbols' would be the symbol of fleeting youth. The narrator makes constant reference about things going back to how they were, The narrator makes a point that "...how easy our childhoods can be turned off..." when they visit the theme-park after hours. This symbol is being used to show what its like to look back on fond past memories without the nostalgia goggles on and see the reality of the memory rather then the way you remember it. A more literal, and obvious, symbol talked about in the story, is the San Francisco earthquake being used as a visual representation on the 9/11 twin tower attacks.

2.What connections did you make with the story? Discuss the elements of the work with which you were able to connect.

         One connection I made with this story is the connection of looking at a current event or situation and finding some way that, that event connects with a former past memory or event.
         In the story where the kids start to feel nostalgic about something that happened only a year ago. I think everyone can connect to a current situation feeling like a former situation. The deja vu of nostalgia is a totally different feeling after you hit 15 though. I remember being nostalgic over cartoons i would watch when i was ~8, but that feeling of nostalgia is completely different then being a college senior reflecting on you first day of high school.

3.What changes would you make to adapt this story to another medium? What medium would you use? What changes would you make?

          If I was to make any changes to this story to adapt this to another medium, I would replace the first person perspective thoughts, into some minimal character dialogue. Other then some dialogue tweaks, I would merge the group of kids, into maybe one or two characters that to flesh them out a bit more, add some depth to the characters.
          I would change this story from a written text, into a short length animated film. Aside from the changes listed above, I would reformat the story into a script, and simplify the scenes into a high school classroom scene, a day scene of the theme park, and a night scene of the theme park.