This may be late, but it's gonna be great.
The story of George Washington and the Cherry Tree is one that will never be forgotten. If you're unaware, the story goes as follows: George was granted a brand new hatchet and was anxious to use it. When walking around, he stumbled upon his father's cherry tree. Even though George knew how much the tree meant to his father, he chopped it down. Later, when George's father asks him what happened to the tree, George responds, "I cannot tell a lie. I cut it!" This story carries the virtue of honesty, which is an ideal that America's beginning was based on. We're not a country based on rulers that earn power through inheritance, but rather through skill and honesty, which is a reason why we're a democracy. We can all benefit and learn from the story of George Washington and the Cherry Tree. And while America was founded on such a virtue, it seems to be one that we may have forgotten lately. Maybe this is a story that should be re-read to the world.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Revolutionary Road & Toni Morrison
"Don't you know? You're the most valuable and wonderful thing in the world. You're a man," says April to her husband Frank.
This idea of the greatness of man is a constant theme in Revolutionary Road. Frank is the dominant white male, which, in the book is seen as the only opinion that matters and everything about him is about being a man. However, his wife, April, in comparison is meek and only used to make him look manlier. April's role of the helpless female is similar to how African Americans are portrayed in books-- mere helpless slaves. Toni Morrison declares that, "America means white, and Africanist people struggle to make the term applicable to themselves..." This is similar to how America perceives males, and Africanist people are similar to a female's role in society, especially in the 1950s which is when Revolutionary Road takes place. In the 1950s, men were given all of the opportunities, similar to how today whites are given opportunities over African Americans.
Frank also declares this dominance of manhood when describing his inner thoughts: "The way for a man to ride was erect and out in the open, out in the loud iron passageway where the wind whipped his necktie, standing with his feet set wide apart on the shuddering...." He also proved this in the way he spoke about his wife: "And it seemed to him now that no single moment of his life had ever contained a better proof of manhood than that, if any proof were needed: holding that tamed submissive girl and saying, "Oh my lovely; oh my lovely," while she promised she would bear his child. Frank's perspective toward his wife described through Yates' novel is precisely how Morrison illustrates American literature looking down on African Americans. How Yates writes Frank's actions toward his wife is also similar to how Morrison describes "the need to portray the faithful slave" in literature. Frank must be seen as above his wife-- similar to the dominance of white over black.
Morrison concludes in "Romancing the Shadow," that "If we follow through on the self-reflexive nature of these encounters with Africanism, it falls clear: images of blackness can be evil and protective, rebellious and forgiving, fearful and desirable-- all of the self-contradictory features of the self. Whiteness, alone, is mute, meaningless, unfathomable..." This nature of writers stays true in Yates' novel, Revolutionary Road. Sure, male is seen as the power, but Frank's character, in the end, is meaningless, and has little to learn from. April's character however, conveys a number of emotions that are intense and true to the common "self." While the difference between man and woman is not as dominant today, especially compared to the contrast of African versus white, it's a contrast in literature that must be brought to attention. Revolutionary Road's portrayal of man versus woman was very similar to Morrison's portrayal of black versus white in her book, "Playing in the dark."
This idea of the greatness of man is a constant theme in Revolutionary Road. Frank is the dominant white male, which, in the book is seen as the only opinion that matters and everything about him is about being a man. However, his wife, April, in comparison is meek and only used to make him look manlier. April's role of the helpless female is similar to how African Americans are portrayed in books-- mere helpless slaves. Toni Morrison declares that, "America means white, and Africanist people struggle to make the term applicable to themselves..." This is similar to how America perceives males, and Africanist people are similar to a female's role in society, especially in the 1950s which is when Revolutionary Road takes place. In the 1950s, men were given all of the opportunities, similar to how today whites are given opportunities over African Americans.
Frank also declares this dominance of manhood when describing his inner thoughts: "The way for a man to ride was erect and out in the open, out in the loud iron passageway where the wind whipped his necktie, standing with his feet set wide apart on the shuddering...." He also proved this in the way he spoke about his wife: "And it seemed to him now that no single moment of his life had ever contained a better proof of manhood than that, if any proof were needed: holding that tamed submissive girl and saying, "Oh my lovely; oh my lovely," while she promised she would bear his child. Frank's perspective toward his wife described through Yates' novel is precisely how Morrison illustrates American literature looking down on African Americans. How Yates writes Frank's actions toward his wife is also similar to how Morrison describes "the need to portray the faithful slave" in literature. Frank must be seen as above his wife-- similar to the dominance of white over black.
Morrison concludes in "Romancing the Shadow," that "If we follow through on the self-reflexive nature of these encounters with Africanism, it falls clear: images of blackness can be evil and protective, rebellious and forgiving, fearful and desirable-- all of the self-contradictory features of the self. Whiteness, alone, is mute, meaningless, unfathomable..." This nature of writers stays true in Yates' novel, Revolutionary Road. Sure, male is seen as the power, but Frank's character, in the end, is meaningless, and has little to learn from. April's character however, conveys a number of emotions that are intense and true to the common "self." While the difference between man and woman is not as dominant today, especially compared to the contrast of African versus white, it's a contrast in literature that must be brought to attention. Revolutionary Road's portrayal of man versus woman was very similar to Morrison's portrayal of black versus white in her book, "Playing in the dark."
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Criticism: Pankaj Mishra
Pankaj Mishra is a critic, but does not consider himself to be one. He instead declares that he "engages with the author’s worldview" and with the location of the author's history. History is a very large theme that he belives should be heavily in literary critics' minds. He has a similar view to Kavin when he declares that literature was the "primary means of clarifying a bewilderingly large universe of meaning and contexts." Whether it was philosophy or science, Mishra believed that we used literature to explain the world. Similar to Kavin, he also describes literature as being based on a conflict brought up by current events. But what I think Mishra aims to achieve in writing this essay is that we can learn from literature from everywhere and every part of the world, and we should be able to use literary criticism as a means to reveal the imagination and meaning behind the writing. In order for readers to take this away from criticism, Mishra believes that critics must stay close to the texture of social history, while also focusing on aesthetics.
I do agree that literature is a means of understanding the universe we live in from a million different perspectives. I think it's imporant that we read literature from different parts of the world because that it how we achieve an even broader and indepth understanding. If literary critics were to bring these elements into their critiques I think that it would certainly help readers take second looks at the books they're reading and take their reading to another level of understanding. I do, however, somewhat disagree with his statement that the majority of modern literature is based on a social conflict. It's true that we can trace the roots of many books to a social problem, especially most of the books written in Russia during the Cold War (Animal Farm?). But it seems that in literature today, a new level of imagination is being achieved, and its sole purpose is to not represent a conflict in history.
This is extremely important because we can all learn to look into literature as a way to understand the world we live in, and Mishra and Kavin's essay especially help us understand this. Modern literature should represent not simple critiques of the writing but instead focus on the larger theme of the writing and what we can take away from it. I've never read one of Mishra's reviews, but through this essay I imagine that they reveal a complex understanding.
I do agree that literature is a means of understanding the universe we live in from a million different perspectives. I think it's imporant that we read literature from different parts of the world because that it how we achieve an even broader and indepth understanding. If literary critics were to bring these elements into their critiques I think that it would certainly help readers take second looks at the books they're reading and take their reading to another level of understanding. I do, however, somewhat disagree with his statement that the majority of modern literature is based on a social conflict. It's true that we can trace the roots of many books to a social problem, especially most of the books written in Russia during the Cold War (Animal Farm?). But it seems that in literature today, a new level of imagination is being achieved, and its sole purpose is to not represent a conflict in history.
This is extremely important because we can all learn to look into literature as a way to understand the world we live in, and Mishra and Kavin's essay especially help us understand this. Modern literature should represent not simple critiques of the writing but instead focus on the larger theme of the writing and what we can take away from it. I've never read one of Mishra's reviews, but through this essay I imagine that they reveal a complex understanding.
Monday, January 3, 2011
Reflections on Gatsby
I can not get enough of Jordan Baker, and I can't necessarily put my finger on why. She's mysterious in what I perceive to be a unique and alluring way. From her first introduction-- "Jordan Baker came out of the house and stood at the head of the marble steps, leaning a little backward and looking with contemptuous interest down into the garden" (42) -- she casually drew me in. I immediately began asking myself questions about her. Why didn't she end her sentence when saying " I remembered you lived next door to--?" Is she interested in Nick? Is Nick interested in her? Why does she seem so confident? Why does she seem to be so different from everyone else, yet so included in the events and clearly pretty popular herself? But what is most intriguing about her is her dishonesty.
"The bored haughty face that she turned to the world concealed something-- most affectations conceal something eventually, even though they don't in the beginning-- and one day I found what it was." (58) This is describing the "incurable dishonesty" surroundingJordan
"The bored haughty face that she turned to the world concealed something-- most affectations conceal something eventually, even though they don't in the beginning-- and one day I found what it was." (58) This is describing the "incurable dishonesty" surrounding
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Where have all the classics gone?!
Entering into the holiday season, it's a wonderful time full of candy canes and presents. But what makes the holiday season for every boy and girl? It's the songs and movies that emulate the season. However, we've moved past Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer and replaced it with Lady Gaga's "Christmas Tree." They're taking the joy of christmas and turning it into sex...yay our generation!
If you haven't heard Lady Gaga's Christmas Tree, you can find the lyrics here:
http://www.metrolyrics.com/christmas-tree-lyrics-lady-gaga.html
And as far has Christmas films go, they aren't even Christmas films anymore! They're all about romance. If you search "Modern Christmas Films" on Google the first link that comes up is "Top 5 Christmas Romances." http://hubpages.com/hub/Top-5-Modern-Christmas-Romance-Movies. This seems absurd. Has Christmas become just romance and sex? (I don't think so) But it seems as though culture is destroying it...
So I ask you, how do you feel about this?
If you haven't heard Lady Gaga's Christmas Tree, you can find the lyrics here:
http://www.metrolyrics.com/christmas-tree-lyrics-lady-gaga.html
And as far has Christmas films go, they aren't even Christmas films anymore! They're all about romance. If you search "Modern Christmas Films" on Google the first link that comes up is "Top 5 Christmas Romances." http://hubpages.com/hub/Top-5-Modern-Christmas-Romance-Movies. This seems absurd. Has Christmas become just romance and sex? (I don't think so) But it seems as though culture is destroying it...
So I ask you, how do you feel about this?
Friday, December 3, 2010
I declare My Independence from a Malicious Cult of Skinny People
In the course of human events, we must all gain weight. However, through expectations of evil choreographers and the American Ballet Company, we should all have 1% body fat and a uniform look—long legs, small feet, curved feet, long neck, perfect buns (hair style that is), and many more perfected features. In order to break forth through the gates of justice, toward an enlightened future of food, a healthy self-image, a sense of one’s self at all, and enter into a world where good dancers come from a strong heart, knowledge of logistics, and a unique style, we must first receive a decent amount of respect for ourselves, our abilities, and our genetics.
As people, we are all created differently, by a Creator, who granted us with different genetics that compose our bodies in different ways; among these are wide hips, large feet, and broad shoulders. To secure that these so called obstructions are eliminated, an academy for the dancer must be created, in which principles will be formed on the basis that Swan Lake
Dance has created a world of insecure dancers.
Dance has created an unhealthy addiction to slimness.
Dance is no longer just a hobby.
Dance has created a large portion of girls to become anorexic.
For depriving us, in many cases, of food.
In every state of this absurdity, We have petitioned for a prestigious academy that accepts. We believe that we can be average, big, or any size and be talented. We believe that we are talented. We believe that we have a passion that overcomes any physical drawback that you may believe is true. We must, therefore, live with our broad shoulders and our tiny necks, and dance on.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Americae Nova Tabula
http://www.libs.uga.edu/darchive/hargrett/maps/1665b5.jpg
Holy wow! This is an incredibly descriptive map. The fact that it is covered in texts and pictures shows that it's a map drawn later (like in 1665..). The pictures that surround the map are also very interesting. There are illustrations of towns and also the natives. Many drawings of ships are also drawn in the seas where I assume the ships were. There's also some really interesting text at the top of the map, which I have no idea what it means.
The map narrates a story especially starting with the ships. The ships show where the colonists entered from and where they sought out for. The actions of the natives in the drawings bordering the map show how the map drawer perceived them. They also show the context in which the map drawer saw them in, which leads to the drawings of the towns on top of the map. Babb insisted that "maps are material artifacts that represent cultural perceptions during particular periods of history," and Americae Nova Tabula is a perfect example of that. While being a directional guide, it's illustrations also showcase the lives of natives and the towns they lived in. These drawings act as artifacts to look back on. Babb also discusses the parts of maps that look like "a modern comic strip." The Americae Nova Tabula certainly as the modern comic strip going on. The entire border works as "a series of pictures that relate Smith's North American escapades."
http://www.libs.uga.edu/darchive/hargrett/maps/1640h6.jpg
My biggest observation for this map is the animals. Animals are everywhere. Also, the illustrations in the top left and bottom left are where the eye is immediately drawn to when looking at his map, so I'm curious what the significance of that is. It's also interesting that the lines are very definite on the right side of America, but they are rather ambiguous on the left side. The map is a clear illustration that "the land is an area upon which a European presence is becoming situated." This is made clear through the animals and the ships. What's insane is that the great lakes are missing. There's also no dividing line between Canada and North America. Also, California is completely cut off.
What this map narrates is that there are still many unknowns with this land. That at this point they haven't discovered that much and there are still "unknown elements." But as Babb says there is "a growing sense of European entitlement to the Americas." The lines are becoming more evident and so is the detail in the map.
Holy wow! This is an incredibly descriptive map. The fact that it is covered in texts and pictures shows that it's a map drawn later (like in 1665..). The pictures that surround the map are also very interesting. There are illustrations of towns and also the natives. Many drawings of ships are also drawn in the seas where I assume the ships were. There's also some really interesting text at the top of the map, which I have no idea what it means.
The map narrates a story especially starting with the ships. The ships show where the colonists entered from and where they sought out for. The actions of the natives in the drawings bordering the map show how the map drawer perceived them. They also show the context in which the map drawer saw them in, which leads to the drawings of the towns on top of the map. Babb insisted that "maps are material artifacts that represent cultural perceptions during particular periods of history," and Americae Nova Tabula is a perfect example of that. While being a directional guide, it's illustrations also showcase the lives of natives and the towns they lived in. These drawings act as artifacts to look back on. Babb also discusses the parts of maps that look like "a modern comic strip." The Americae Nova Tabula certainly as the modern comic strip going on. The entire border works as "a series of pictures that relate Smith's North American escapades."
http://www.libs.uga.edu/darchive/hargrett/maps/1640h6.jpg
My biggest observation for this map is the animals. Animals are everywhere. Also, the illustrations in the top left and bottom left are where the eye is immediately drawn to when looking at his map, so I'm curious what the significance of that is. It's also interesting that the lines are very definite on the right side of America, but they are rather ambiguous on the left side. The map is a clear illustration that "the land is an area upon which a European presence is becoming situated." This is made clear through the animals and the ships. What's insane is that the great lakes are missing. There's also no dividing line between Canada and North America. Also, California is completely cut off.
What this map narrates is that there are still many unknowns with this land. That at this point they haven't discovered that much and there are still "unknown elements." But as Babb says there is "a growing sense of European entitlement to the Americas." The lines are becoming more evident and so is the detail in the map.
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