Dreams:
In dreams Langston Hughes compares letting dreams go to different things; “For if dreams die Life is a broken-winged bird”. I find the theme for this poem more of a warning than a statement. He’s telling the reader if dreams are let go this is what will happen and he’s telling us to be careful and follow through with whatever we promise ourselves to do. This poem influences me the most because I feel like it’s directed towards me and that I should get my act together and hold on to my goals.
We Real Cool:
In this poem Brooks also warns the reader, but for different reasons. In this poem there is a setting in which there are kids hanging in the wrong area. In this poem seven kids at a pool hall. Around that time I'm assuming that was thought as a negative thing at the time but I think that Brooks set the pool hall as a metaphor for anything "bad". Brook's theme is a warning as well; getting in to negative situations eventually leads to trouble.... For example: "We real cool we left school...we thin gin...etc". This poem affects me as well because I've seen many kids go through this in my neighborhood and throughout school over the years. For example my little sister told me once that she went to the movies and the kids wanted to sneek into a movie. She told me she didnt want to but since she was with them she went along. She told me security went after them and she's never been scared in her life since that day. I laughed and told her thats what she gets for hanging out with stupid people. This poem reminds me of her. Hanging out with the wrong people.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Andre's Mother
1. The genre of the play is tragicomedy because the play is based around Cal and his relationship with Andre. Also the rest of Cal's family had some sort of relationship as well. Along with the tragedy of Andre dying from AIDS there is comic relief from the rest of the family. "...you can buy your little girl a Good Humor" "They still make Good Humor?"
2.The significant spectacle may have to be the white ballons which symbolizes the purity and letting go. White symbolizes purity and once the balloon was let go by someone, each of them took a moment and said something that they remembered of Andre then let the balloon go.
3. Andre's mother never speaking may mean many things. It can mean she was very upset with Andre's death, the way he died, how he lived his life etc. Either way it made the story even more tragic than it had to be, knowing that he wasn't accepted by his mother (because she didn't know about him) in my opinion makes the play a tad bit more sad. So that may change the theme of the play significantly.
2.The significant spectacle may have to be the white ballons which symbolizes the purity and letting go. White symbolizes purity and once the balloon was let go by someone, each of them took a moment and said something that they remembered of Andre then let the balloon go.
3. Andre's mother never speaking may mean many things. It can mean she was very upset with Andre's death, the way he died, how he lived his life etc. Either way it made the story even more tragic than it had to be, knowing that he wasn't accepted by his mother (because she didn't know about him) in my opinion makes the play a tad bit more sad. So that may change the theme of the play significantly.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Music Poetry
Amos Lee- Dreamin'
My soul is as open as the sky
Often time it’s just as blue
People tell me to keep on dreaming
That’s just what I’m gonna do
Now everybody want to treat me like a house fly
Turn me around and tell me to shoo
They want to tell me to keep on dreaming
That’s just what I’m gonna do
Every moral has a story
Every hand needs a glove
Sometime it’s for the glory
Ah, but mostly, it’s for the love
It’s the love
It’s the love
It’s the love that pulls me through
So when they tell me to keep on dreaming
That’s just what I’m gonna do
That’s just what I’m gonna do
New Boyz- You're A Jerk
Jeeerkk
I'm so cocky with it got my iced out clubs like rocky hit
Got your girl on my swagg she lovin them jerkin songs
Like the new ipod just touch it and turn her on
And when the bass start beatin and the waist I'm beatin
Done I got on my way I'm leavin she like where your goin I ain't got my shoes and purse
I said it's none of your concern and she yelled (your a jerk!)
So I walked out the door, called Ben J. told him it's a function he said I'm on my way
We pulled up to the party ices on my shirt and got geeked up everybody jerkin
We was jerkin to the right jerkin to the left then she popped out of nowhere she was still half dressed
She like fareal jerk you love it but it's sumthin the whole party heard her but all I could hear was
Amos Lee's Dreamin is a poetic song because his lyrics are meaningful and not written to catch someone's attention like New Boyz's You're a Jerk. Besides being really annoying the song was basically written by teenagers who wanted a hit that got them famous fast. I'm not saying they aren't talented but just the song isn't meant for a poetic purpose but for entertainment.
1. I think certain kind of Rap/ Hip-Hop songs are considered poetic expression. As with any other genre of music it depends on the artist. Many people find Tupac's really poetic, and LL Cool J just a guy who thought he had a good flow, or it can be vice versa.
2. Rap and Hip Hop music has many literary characteristics such metaphors, rhythym, rhyme,tone,denotation,connotation,,symbolism,alliteration, etc.
3. I think I'm a pretty fair critic because I like all types of music. I think I can differentiate what meaningful songs are, and the songs that are created to get money or an audience. Even though I may not agree to some of the lyrics some artists may say it is their way of releasing their creative juices, and yeah sometimes I like the stupid songs and even the ones that mean something, but in the end it is the artist who the song is meant for.
My soul is as open as the sky
Often time it’s just as blue
People tell me to keep on dreaming
That’s just what I’m gonna do
Now everybody want to treat me like a house fly
Turn me around and tell me to shoo
They want to tell me to keep on dreaming
That’s just what I’m gonna do
Every moral has a story
Every hand needs a glove
Sometime it’s for the glory
Ah, but mostly, it’s for the love
It’s the love
It’s the love
It’s the love that pulls me through
So when they tell me to keep on dreaming
That’s just what I’m gonna do
That’s just what I’m gonna do
New Boyz- You're A Jerk
Jeeerkk
I'm so cocky with it got my iced out clubs like rocky hit
Got your girl on my swagg she lovin them jerkin songs
Like the new ipod just touch it and turn her on
And when the bass start beatin and the waist I'm beatin
Done I got on my way I'm leavin she like where your goin I ain't got my shoes and purse
I said it's none of your concern and she yelled (your a jerk!)
So I walked out the door, called Ben J. told him it's a function he said I'm on my way
We pulled up to the party ices on my shirt and got geeked up everybody jerkin
We was jerkin to the right jerkin to the left then she popped out of nowhere she was still half dressed
She like fareal jerk you love it but it's sumthin the whole party heard her but all I could hear was
Amos Lee's Dreamin is a poetic song because his lyrics are meaningful and not written to catch someone's attention like New Boyz's You're a Jerk. Besides being really annoying the song was basically written by teenagers who wanted a hit that got them famous fast. I'm not saying they aren't talented but just the song isn't meant for a poetic purpose but for entertainment.
1. I think certain kind of Rap/ Hip-Hop songs are considered poetic expression. As with any other genre of music it depends on the artist. Many people find Tupac's really poetic, and LL Cool J just a guy who thought he had a good flow, or it can be vice versa.
2. Rap and Hip Hop music has many literary characteristics such metaphors, rhythym, rhyme,tone,denotation,connotation,,symbolism,alliteration, etc.
3. I think I'm a pretty fair critic because I like all types of music. I think I can differentiate what meaningful songs are, and the songs that are created to get money or an audience. Even though I may not agree to some of the lyrics some artists may say it is their way of releasing their creative juices, and yeah sometimes I like the stupid songs and even the ones that mean something, but in the end it is the artist who the song is meant for.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Poems
1. After reading Dylan Thomas's Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night I got a sense of heroism in it, also a bit of violence. I suppose that the poem was reflecting something of war. The war must have been in the ocean because it reveals that there are waaves. You could feel the passion that the heroism and violence brought on. I chose a photo of a gun because that is what war and violence represent.
2. Gwendylon Brook's We Real Cool is making fun of people who pretend to be cool. I get more of a sarcastic feel and maybe a hint of anger. It's a simple poem but it's straight to the point, whomever "we" is they are cool because of the things they do. I assume Brooks isn't talking about himself, but about people who act a certain way believe they are cool. At the end I can imagine that is where the anger part comes in. I chose a picture of a saxophone player because it reminds me of the time period where jazz was popular. This poem may be in the wrong time period, but it's what I imagine; a kid rebelling going to a jazz club.
3. In I Felt A Funeral in My Brain there was an obvious sense of sadness. The narrator or whomever was at a funeral and she/he was so sad that she/he felt numb. I also felt some kind of inner body feeling where I can relate because I've experienced with a death. When Dickinson writes "... and I dropped down and down..." I understand the lost feeling of one might go through. I chose a picture of someon having no emotion. You can't see the girls face because it would show how she felt and in the poem she/he was numb.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Ernest Hemingway
Part 1
1.The setting is a small town in a Spanish speaking country, in a café. The idea of a well – lighted place is significant to the story because representation of “light” in the café. Light in the story in my opinion represents life or something positive for the older man. It also sets the tone for the short story allowing the story to be somewhat ominous. Rather than light being one definite answer light is more abstract and subjective. Light in the story for me represents to the older waiter represents familiarity.
2.The characters are nameless because Hemingway like the light wanted it to be subjective. Who are you in the story? the alcoholic man, the young waiter or the one who rather stay in a clean, well lighted café, not a bar. If names were added it would have taken away from the story and Hemingway didn’t want the characters to define the story but the moral of the story to.
3.The young man wants to go home and doesn’t want to give the old man anymore brandy. Whereas the other waiter doesn’t mind giving the older man more, and doesn’t mind going home at three in the morning. According to the older waiter he didn’t have confidence or wasn’t young. He also liked the well-lighted café. The purposed of the younger waiter is to contrast with the old man and the older waiter.
4.Plot: The plot is a series of events in a story.
a.Conflict: The old man continuing to drink and not leaving the café.
b.Rising Action: The younger waiter went to the old man to see what he wanted and the old man asked for more brandy. The younger waiter denied him. The older waiter gives him more, and if falls over the cup into the saucer.
c.Complications: The old man asks for more but is denied then he leaves and gives a tip.
d.Climax: The older waiter tells the younger waiter he likes to stay at the café because it is a clean, pleasant café. The younger waiter leaves.
e.Falling Action: The older man continues to talk to himself while shutting the café down, and then says he will sleep when it is daylight.
5.The theme in the story is you finding what you feel most comfortable in.
Part 2
Ernest Hemingway born on July 21, 1899 to Dr. Clarence and Grace Hall Hemingway. After graduating high school in 1917 he got a job as a cub reporter given to him by his uncle. When World War I took over Hemingway was willing to go; however could not due to poor vision. So instead he volunteered with the Red Cross to drive ambulances. He was given many awards through the Italian military for his good deeds. He later went in to reporting and did very well; he then produced many short stories which include; In Our Time, and The Sun Also Rises. Throughout his life he lived in various places which include, Paris, Spain, Cuba, and Key West, which can relate to the story because it mentions the military man and the language spoken in the story.
http://www.lostgeneration.com/keywest.htm
1.The setting is a small town in a Spanish speaking country, in a café. The idea of a well – lighted place is significant to the story because representation of “light” in the café. Light in the story in my opinion represents life or something positive for the older man. It also sets the tone for the short story allowing the story to be somewhat ominous. Rather than light being one definite answer light is more abstract and subjective. Light in the story for me represents to the older waiter represents familiarity.
2.The characters are nameless because Hemingway like the light wanted it to be subjective. Who are you in the story? the alcoholic man, the young waiter or the one who rather stay in a clean, well lighted café, not a bar. If names were added it would have taken away from the story and Hemingway didn’t want the characters to define the story but the moral of the story to.
3.The young man wants to go home and doesn’t want to give the old man anymore brandy. Whereas the other waiter doesn’t mind giving the older man more, and doesn’t mind going home at three in the morning. According to the older waiter he didn’t have confidence or wasn’t young. He also liked the well-lighted café. The purposed of the younger waiter is to contrast with the old man and the older waiter.
4.Plot: The plot is a series of events in a story.
a.Conflict: The old man continuing to drink and not leaving the café.
b.Rising Action: The younger waiter went to the old man to see what he wanted and the old man asked for more brandy. The younger waiter denied him. The older waiter gives him more, and if falls over the cup into the saucer.
c.Complications: The old man asks for more but is denied then he leaves and gives a tip.
d.Climax: The older waiter tells the younger waiter he likes to stay at the café because it is a clean, pleasant café. The younger waiter leaves.
e.Falling Action: The older man continues to talk to himself while shutting the café down, and then says he will sleep when it is daylight.
5.The theme in the story is you finding what you feel most comfortable in.
Part 2
Ernest Hemingway born on July 21, 1899 to Dr. Clarence and Grace Hall Hemingway. After graduating high school in 1917 he got a job as a cub reporter given to him by his uncle. When World War I took over Hemingway was willing to go; however could not due to poor vision. So instead he volunteered with the Red Cross to drive ambulances. He was given many awards through the Italian military for his good deeds. He later went in to reporting and did very well; he then produced many short stories which include; In Our Time, and The Sun Also Rises. Throughout his life he lived in various places which include, Paris, Spain, Cuba, and Key West, which can relate to the story because it mentions the military man and the language spoken in the story.
http://www.lostgeneration.com/keywest.htm
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Sonny's Blues
#1 Harlem- Harlem NY is African American cultural and business center (http://www.knowledgerush.com/kr/encyclopedia/Harlem,_New_York_City/) However, over the past years other cultures are integrated in the city such Asian, Europeans, and straight and gay (http://nymag.com/realestate/articles/neighborhoods/harlem.htm)
According to the story children growing up in Harlem eventually lead them to do negative things such as drugs or gangs. Thought it does not say that specifically it is in context. “…And he'd always been a good boy, he hadn't ever turned hard or evil or disrespectful, the way kids can, so quick, so quick, especially in Harlem.”
#2 African-American soldiers and sailors had two formidable obstacles to deal with: discrimination and segregation. Yet, black servicemen in both world wars repeatedly demonstrated their bravery, loyalty, and ability in combat or in support of frontline troops. Oftentimes, they accomplished these tasks without proper training or adequate equipment. Poor communications and a lack of rapport with their white officers were two additional burdens hampering the effectiveness and efficiency of African Americans in the military. Too frequently, there was little or no recognition or gratitude for their accomplishments. One of the worst slights of both wars was the willingness of the white establishment to allow racism to influence the award of the prestigious Medal of Honor. (http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/integrate/CHRON3.html)
Sonny Enlisting- It was ironic that Sonny wanted to enlist in the military because at that time many people didn’t want to go into the military. He was also running away from his drug addiction and rather facing his issues he ran away from them. However, running away from them didn’t solve it hr eventually came back.
#3 Gloomy Sunday- Billie Holiday I chose this song particularly of its depressing tone. The song essentially says there is nothing that can brighten the day. The song is referring to love but her reasons to live can be easily related to Sonny and his outlook on life. He feels numb and he doesn’t want to live.
Billie Holiday - Gloomy Sunday lyrics | LyricsMode.com
#4 Bebop borrows elements from both blues and swing music and blends those styles with its own unique sound. Bebop musicians place emphasis on the role of the rhythm section. Complex melodies and chord progressions, experimenting with the placement of accents of melodies, discordant sounds, use of the flatted fifth note, fast tempos, and unconventional chromaticism are all characteristics of this genre. Irregular phrasing and use of the walking bass are other common elements of this type of jazz. (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-bebop-music.htm)
Bebop represents a fast paced life but without the worries of getting hooked. For Sonny’s brother bebop represented something different, and something negative. However, at the end he realized how Sonny felt about himself through the passion of the music. So in the end the music was an outlook for him.
According to the story children growing up in Harlem eventually lead them to do negative things such as drugs or gangs. Thought it does not say that specifically it is in context. “…And he'd always been a good boy, he hadn't ever turned hard or evil or disrespectful, the way kids can, so quick, so quick, especially in Harlem.”
#2 African-American soldiers and sailors had two formidable obstacles to deal with: discrimination and segregation. Yet, black servicemen in both world wars repeatedly demonstrated their bravery, loyalty, and ability in combat or in support of frontline troops. Oftentimes, they accomplished these tasks without proper training or adequate equipment. Poor communications and a lack of rapport with their white officers were two additional burdens hampering the effectiveness and efficiency of African Americans in the military. Too frequently, there was little or no recognition or gratitude for their accomplishments. One of the worst slights of both wars was the willingness of the white establishment to allow racism to influence the award of the prestigious Medal of Honor. (http://www.redstone.army.mil/history/integrate/CHRON3.html)
Sonny Enlisting- It was ironic that Sonny wanted to enlist in the military because at that time many people didn’t want to go into the military. He was also running away from his drug addiction and rather facing his issues he ran away from them. However, running away from them didn’t solve it hr eventually came back.
#3 Gloomy Sunday- Billie Holiday I chose this song particularly of its depressing tone. The song essentially says there is nothing that can brighten the day. The song is referring to love but her reasons to live can be easily related to Sonny and his outlook on life. He feels numb and he doesn’t want to live.
Billie Holiday - Gloomy Sunday lyrics | LyricsMode.com
#4 Bebop borrows elements from both blues and swing music and blends those styles with its own unique sound. Bebop musicians place emphasis on the role of the rhythm section. Complex melodies and chord progressions, experimenting with the placement of accents of melodies, discordant sounds, use of the flatted fifth note, fast tempos, and unconventional chromaticism are all characteristics of this genre. Irregular phrasing and use of the walking bass are other common elements of this type of jazz. (http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-bebop-music.htm)
Bebop represents a fast paced life but without the worries of getting hooked. For Sonny’s brother bebop represented something different, and something negative. However, at the end he realized how Sonny felt about himself through the passion of the music. So in the end the music was an outlook for him.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
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