Sunday, November 1, 2009

JOAN STUDENT CONTEST: EXTENDED DEADLINE


HAPPY ALL SAINTS DAY AND END-OF-HURRICANE SEASON!

WE ARE EXTENDING THE STUDENT JEANNE D'ARC CONTEST UNTIL ONE MONTH FROM THE PARADE, DECEMBER 6TH.

What young female leader in New Orleans do you know ages 16-19 who could be our "Maid of Honor" this year? Caveat: She has to speak some French!

Visit http://www.joanofarcproject.org/ for application and info.

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Next book club November 18..time to get reading!

If you're like me, squeezing in my reading time before bed is about the only way I can get through a book or novel or magazine these days. So this weekend I started reading our next book for our November 18th discussion, JOAN OF ARC: HER STORY by Regine Pernoud. I would encourage you to get it soon because it's our most in-depth so far and the one that makes you want to read more and other books about the times in which Joan lived...that's likely because its author was a medievalist, and you can feel it..she's tenacious about the details. It's also of course wonderful to read a book (albeit translated) by a French historian about Joan of Arc, compared to the first book we read by an American Catholic feminist (Mary Gordon) and the second by an Irish socialist (George Bernard Shaw)!

http://www.librarything.com/author/pernoudrgine

What makes Pernoud's research and presentation all the more credible is that in the introduction Pernoud admits to having been a Joan skeptic and completely indifferent to Joan for years. Her attitude reminds me of the kind of adolescent disdain I've had for people that "everyone" seems to be interested in...if she's so popular, I'm going to ignore her...I am not going to fall for it!

But when she comes across Joan's trial notes she finds herself undeniably astounded and cannot resist the pull to find out more. What results is several books about Joan, a testament to her sincere fascination in someone she'd written off originally as no more than an overused symbol of nationalism (as Joan was so used during Pernoud's lifetime in France) and a possible myth.

Indeed, this change of heart and attention to documentation is what makes this book so satisfying. It's not a traditional biography, as Kirkus Reviews explains:

Kirkus Reviews
A useful and innovative documentary history of the15th-century French insurrectionist. Pernoud, who died in April, has supplemented her previous biography, Joan of Arc (1966), by offering readers this annotated explanation of the controversial saint's historical record. It isn't a biography per se and doesn't follow the standard biographical format of piecing together the available sources to present readers with a chronological narrative. Rather, Pernoud and Clin introduce readers to Joan as she has appeared in various documents, such as the one, contemporary with her lifetime, referring to her as a French peasant girl gathering armed forces to augment the beleaguered ranks of the dauphin's regiment. Information about her birth and childhood is unveiled only in chapter nine, since Joan rose from relative obscurity, and since no one cared enough to inquire formally into her origins until almost three decades after her death. The approach of Pernoud and Clin, both independent scholars in France, thus offers valuable insight into the nature of history and its practices; documents, as their book demonstrates, should always be weighed carefully against one another when any past event is being interpreted. The authors note that while many legends have emerged about Joan (the third section delves into some of these), more verifiable factual information exists about her than about Plato, Julius Caesar, or Jesus.

Remember that Garden District Book Shop, who hosts our discussions, also offers Joan of Arc Book Club members a discount. Deborah McDonald, store manager, is well-read about Joan and much much more...stop in and visit..and come back Wednesday November 18th if you can for our conversation about Joan.

http://www.gardendistrictbookshop.com



Sunday, September 20, 2009

Joan on Facebook!


JOAN GOES MODERN AND CREATES A FACEBOOK PAGE! YOU KNOW SHE WOULD IF SHE COULD...OR SOMEONE ELSE WOULD HAVE FOR HER...


JOIN US FOR UPDATES ON EVENTS, CONTESTS, AND PARADE DETAILS..AND CONNECT WITH JOAN FANS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.


Thursday, September 17, 2009

Thank you NOCCA students!


Last night, New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts student performers Victoria Summrall, Dean Wray, Dominique Dixon, Sean O’Brien, and Stephen Bertucci presented excerpts from George Bernard Shaw's SAINT JOAN as a prelude to the open discussion of the full-length play at the St. Joan of Arc Book Club. The student presentation was directed and arranged by their teacher, Assistant Department Chair Theatre Arts and local actress Janet Shea.


It was truly amazing and inspiring (as well as educational) to see these young people embody Joan, the Dauphin, and the Bastard of Orleans. The two scenes they presented were excellent examples of Joan's ability to persuade, coax, and bully these very different men (an ineffectual Dauphin and an accomplished soldier) into doing what she wanted and needed! Or, rather, what her Voices told her to do!!

It was especially cool to see youth portray youth...so often it's actors a decade older than Joan who take on Shaw's work and other plays about Joan. Their vitality and earnestness made the pieces seem particularly authentic.


The students and book club members had a lively discussion after the presentation, made so by the variety in ages and perspectives. Thanks to NOCCA for this special experience. We can't wait to find additional ways to partner and showcase your talented students' work!!!


Friday, September 11, 2009

ANNOUNCING: Joan of Arc Student Contest!

JOAN OF ARC STUDENT CONTEST RULES
ENTRY DEADLINE: NOVEMBER 1ST, 2009

The Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc announces its first annual student Joan of Arc competition for French-speaking young women in New Orleans. The winner will be chosen to lead the second annual New Orleans St. Joan of Arc parade on January 6, 2010 in the French Quarter. This contest is modeled after the contest held annually in Orléans, France, when they select a local girl to lead their military parade celebrating Joan’s victorious lifting of the siege of Orléans from the British in 1428.


There is no fee to enter the contest. The Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc will provide the costume and horse and parade training/riding lessons for the selected Joan. If applicants do have previous riding experience, please let us know.
You can either ask to receive an application form via email or use the information below to create your own application. As long as all the information required is clearly included, we will gladly accept it.

Eligibility: This contest is open to young women, 16-19 years old (the ages of Joan’s most notable feats and trial), who have shown unique leadership abilities and are currently or have recently studied French in high school, college, or at home. (The candidate must be able to speak some French in conversation and be able to represent Joan for media opportunities, public presentations, and at the parade). This contest does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, ancestry or creed. The three top candidates will receive a brief phone interview to assess French fluency and confidence so we may choose the best possible candidate.

Criteria:
1. Completed entry form (see below) including evidence of community involvement and proven leadership abilities.
2. In 250 words or less, describe a time that you, like Joan, believed in yourself and became a leader. How did you inspire others to action? What did you accomplish? Explain both your successes and failures in this leadership endeavor.
3. In 100 words or less, explain how Joan’s story has inspired you and why she is an important symbol for New Orleans.
4. Submit one letter of recommendation from someone (any age) who has witnessed your unique leadership abilities.

All entries must be submitted no later than November 1, 2009
to stjoankrewe@yahoo.com or by mail to
THE JOAN OF ARC PROJECT
P.O. BOX 56815 NEW ORLEANS LA 70156-6815

· Winners will be announced on December 6, 2009
· Winner must be available to lead the Krewe of Saint Joan of Arc procession at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, January 6th 2010
· Winner must be available (pending school and other obligations) for t.v. and radio appearances.
PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION (aka "entry form") WITH YOUR COMPLETED ESSAYS and RECOMMENDATION LETTER:

Name (Last, First, Middle Initial):
High School
Grade
French Teacher
Street address
Phone number
E-mail
Age
Birthday

(If under 18 – Include parents’ name and phone number)


Leadership and Community Service:

Please list your experience performing volunteer and community service work. Include name of organization, a brief description of your duties, dates and number of hours you performed the work.

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Joan for Mayor T-Shirts are a reality!


Look for these tshirts to be on sale exclusively at POP CITY across from the Joan of Arc statue at St. Phillip and Decatur Streets. Partial proceeds benefit The Joan of Arc Project and krewe members will receive a discount. These will be on sale by Labor Day weekend. Email any special orders to me at stjoankrewe@yahoo.com

I really have Brad Pitt to thank for this..if a well-meaning Hollywood actor can be nominated for New Orleans mayor and have a tshirt made for him, why can't we run our unofficial patron saint of the City? After all, she's got a statue. Brad just has tshirts.

(Who knows, it's possible that in the end Joan endorses Brad...we'll have to wait and see what her Voices say..she had the power to get the Dauphin crowned, remember? Behind every good male candidate is...)

Thank you Tom Harvey for the awesome design! And thank you Rhonda at Pop City for being our tshirt goddess!


Tuesday, August 18, 2009

The French Embassy loves us!


For the second time this year, the French Embassy in Washington, D.C. has covered our Joan of Arc activities in their monthly newsletter, News from France.