Final Blog Assignment

Select at least 2 literary pieces we read and discussed in the course and explore how the author's theme affects and influences you.

I have chosen:
"A Clean Well-Lighted Place"
"Poem 280"


A Clean Well Lighted Place by Ernest Hemmingway

This short story takes place in a Spanish cafe, late in the night, after its closing time. There are two waiters and an old man in the cafe. The old man is delaying the closing of the restaurant because he is constantly ordering drinks. The younger of the two waiters gets impatient and refuses to serve him any more alcohol and hurries him on home. As the waiters lock up they discuss the elements of life and why the old man stays so late.

The theme for this short story is "Nothingness - How far one goes to escape from the nothingness of what life has become." The old man spends his nights at the cafe because he does not want to go home to his empty house which represents the nothingness of his life. The older waiter expresses the same feeling. He tells the younger waiter "You have youth confidence, and a job. You have everything" . The older waiter feels old and does not see life as he used to. This waiter did not go home after the cafe closed. He did like the old man and went to a bar to drink; hence, he did not want to go home either - "It was all a nothing he knew too well".

There is also an entire paragraph that rephrases the 'Lord's prayer' and replaces every other word with nada [i.e. nothing] . This shows that what he believed in [God, religion] has become nothing.

In addition, the characters of the story remain nameless. This in return shows that the names of the characters were not significant or held no importance to the story [this contributed to the feeling of nothingness].

The theme of 'A Clean Well-Lighted Place' has made me to view older individuals in a new light. Many times young people get impatient with old folks and don't understand or stop to consider what they might be going through. Also, it makes me want to spend time with the older generations of my family in hopes that, if their lives have become nothingness, maybe I can help change that.


'Poem 28' 'I felt a funeral in my brain' by Emily Dickenson.

This poem describes the feeling Emily Dickenson is experiencing mentally. She describes different elements of a funeral - the people ['the mourners'], the sound of the opening cuffin, the music [the drums beating, beating], etc.

The common theme is 'a struggle to bear life as it is- living feels like death'.

When I read this poem, I got the feeling that she was dying internally (mentally). She was giving up hope and letting nature take its course, as if all that was left was for family to bury her. What is a body without a soul?
In a literal sense, I was able to relate how she felt with the pain I experience in a headache, as I mourn the state of my 'health' and well-being. However, in the sense Emily portrayed, I felt that she was struggling to get a grip of life as it was. She was clearly extremely sad and depressed and did not want to be alive anymore.

Drama - Andre's Mother

What is the genre? How do you know?

I believe the genre is a tragic comedy with a touch of melodrama. I believe this because, it focuses on the characters' relationships and ends with no absolutes. The main focus is the conversation between Cal and Andre's mother, and in the end - regardless of what Cal said - there is no happy ending between the two [like they become friends], the audience is left hanging almost.

I don't agree that it has comedy and tradegy occuring along side but, I can see the 'light-hearted' moments - I would not classify this as comedy or comedic, however.

I say there is a touch of melodrama because the atmosphere created makes the audience dislike Andre's mother slightly; hence, she is then thought to be the 'bad guy'


2. Identify the specific, significant spectacle used in the play. What does it symbolize? How do you know?

The significant spectacles are the white balloons. They symbolize "letting go" or "accepting who [Andre] is gone and moving on". Cal says this when he says "They represent the soul, when you let go, it means you are letting the soul ascend to heaven"


3. The title of the play is 'Andre's Mother'; however she is the only character that does not speak. How does this affect the meaning, theme and plot of the play.

This affects the plot because there would be less 'conflict' in the story if she answered when spoken to. It affects the meaning because, if she was known to speak, the other characters would have probably NOT spoken up the way they did - and therefore, would not have expressed certain emotions and feelings. Cal's father said that Andre helped him get to know his son better, Cal may have never known this if Arthur did not mention it to Andre's mother. Also, if Andre's mother spoke throughout the play, it may have intimidated Cal more and then he would not have 'gotten what he had on his chest off'. The fact that Andre's mother did not speak built up frustration and anger with Cal. When he sought it was the right time to express his thoughts and feelings towards her, he did, and she did not interrupt him.

I believe the theme reflects 'acceptance and letting go' and how different people grieve. If Andre's mother spoke, the conflict may have increased. She would have probably told him that he was wrong or rude, or agreed with him that she was disappointed, etc. The fact that she doesn't speak leaves the audience to focus on Cal's emotion and Andre's mother emotion. Cal could not accept Andre was gone yet and could not let go, until he got fed up with Andre's mother and let go the balloon [let go Andre's soul]. If Andre's mother spoke, it may have delayed Cal's acceptance to let go.

Assignment 4 - Is Music Poetry?

1) Select 2 musical selections – one you consider to be poetry and one you do not. Please include a link to the song or a print sample of the lyrics.

2) Convince your audience that your opinion is valid. Why is one song a poem and the other is not?

I have selected "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap as my poet song and "My Money Ha Ha" by Merytal and Vybz Kartel for my non-poet song.

Hide and Seek by Imogen Heap
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4OLQB7ON9w

My Money Ha Ha by Vybz Kartel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBU14YzCsdk

The song Hide and Seek is an extremely deep song. Listening to it once, you are able to identify the tone and possible situation as well as imagery through the descriptive lyrics; however, you cannot idenitfy its entire meaning until you dissect it line by line, word by word. There are several poetic lines that make you think long after you've heard the song "what could the song writer be saying or going through?" For example, "Oily marks appear on walls - Where pleasure moments hung before" and "The dust has only just begun to fall - Crop circles in the carpet - Sinking, Feeling" .

Now "My Money Ha Ha" on the other hand, consists of the same lyrics repeated over and over. The chorus is "My Money Ha ha, Mhmmmm , my money ha ha" . A little child with no education what so ever could have probably written something with more meaning. The song only talks about how much money he has and sharing it about. It is catchy and rhymes; however, you are not left wondering what the songwriter was talking about but more asking yourself "did someone really write a song about this?".


1) Is Rap/Hip-Hop music poetic expression? Why or Why not?

I believe Rap is poetic expression as rappers usually make comparisons with how they are feeling to other things. Also the rhythm that is brought about rapping is artistic.
Hip Hop on the other hand, is not entirely poetic expression, it has poetic elements but sometimes Hip Hop is just for entertainment and does not necessarily have expression or meaning.

2) What literary characteristics or poetic terms does this music express?

Rap and Hip Hop has tones - sometimes slow, long beats to express serious moods or fast, short lines to express 'surface feelings'. Metaphors and Similes are used for comparisons. A song is not a song without rhythm, which rap and hip hop definitely has.

3) What type of critic are you? Explain why.

I believe I am a Thematic critic because after listening to a song, I like to dissect each line so capture and identify its real meaning. Once, I think I've found the meaning, the song means something totally different from when I first heard it.


What poetic elements do you find in the lyrics below?
"Throwing out the wicked like God did the devil,/ funky like your grandpa's drawers, don't test me,/we're in like that, you're dead like Presley." - Q-Tip on “Steve Biko”, Midnight Marauders - Similes and rhymes are in these lyrics

"Like Slick Rick the Ruler I'm cooler than a ice brick,/ got soul like those afro picks, with the black fist, and leave a crowd dripping like John the Baptist," - Black Thought on “Mellow My Man”, Do You Want More?!??!!!
- Slick Rick is asonance and consonance (rhymes).

“See, I drop the greats like clumsy waiters drop plates." - Mr. Man on “Fortified Live”, Fortified Live
- Similes


"RRRRROAW RRRROAW like a dungeon dragon,/ change your little drawers because your pants are saggin'." - Busta Rhymes on “Scenario”, Low End Theory
- This lyric has alliteration [Roaw Roaw]

“I treat this like my thesis/ well-written conflict broken down in to pieces. I introduce and produce words so confused.” – Lauryn Hill on “Final Hour”, Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

- Introduce and produce are consonance.

Assignment 3 - Poetry - Image Writing Exercise

Good Day Reader(s)

Today's blog post is about 3 different poems by 3 different poets.

Poems (located in textbook):

1 – Dylan Thomas – "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night"

2 – Gwendolyn Brooks – "We Real Cool"

3 – Emily Dickinson – "I felt a Funeral, in my Brain"

1) What emotions/feelings do you have after reading the poem?

2) How does your chosen image reflect the emotions conjured by the poem? Compose a one paragraph response for each poem.

1 - "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night" - Dylan Thomas

Photo from: http://www.adobenerds.com/tutorial/photoshop-animated-moon-light-sky-tree/Animeted-Moon-Light.gif

After reading "Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night", I felt a sense of warning or caution. The 'speaker' in the poem sounded like he feared something in the night and was warning someone to be careful and telling why the night or darkness is not good. Therefore the emotions I feel are 'fear','cautious' and 'hatred' towards the night. The picture I chose looks like a sun in the night, as the moon is so bright. The clouds in the background adds a sense of 'eerie-ness' which brings a sense of fear because it looks spooky.

2- "We Real Cool" - Gwendolyn Brooks

Photo from: http://cdn.costumesupercenter.com/csc_inc/images/items/343x432/CC01002.jpg

"We Real Cool", despite its length, compelled a sense of rebellion. To me, it sounds like girls at a strict school are rebelling against uniformity and the system. It also made me feel fearless and free. "We Jazz June" makes me think of swing dancing or a laid back club scene, and "We Die Soon" sounded fearless as they knew they would die soon maybe because of their lifestyle, but they accepted that and didn't care. I chose the image of the school girl wearing a leather jacket and boots, etc. because I think it is an accurate example of the 'rebel school girl' look, she put her spin on the school uniform which is probably prohibited and wore something a 'biker chick' would wear, which shows she has no concern to abide by the rules.

3- "I Felt a Funeral in my Brain" - Emily Dickenson

Photo from: http://www.indianetzone.com/photos_gallery/1/120_Migraine_Headache.jpg

When I read this poem, it makes me feel that Emily Dickenson had a terrible headache or migrane. When I get a headache, it feels like there is constant throbbing - kind of like the beating of a drum. And when I feel like that, its as if I cannot think or do anything "My Mind was going numb" (line 8). Also it was as if this pain was taking over her whole body, like the headache brought on other bodily aches "And I dropped down, and down" (line 18) - the pain was so bad she could not walk. Usually when I get a headache, I feel disabled and paralized as I cannot think straight or do anything that involves any concentrating, even driving is a struggle. A feeling of mourning my health comes to mind when I think of funeral in my brain.

From another view, it sounded like she had multiple personalities -schezophrenic- and that one of them 'died' for some reason. In this case, "mental case" or "psyco" comes to mind.

I chose the image of a woman rubbing her temples because it represent both someone having a terrible headache or someone trying to understand what was going on in their head.

- The End -

Good Day.

Today's blog is on "Sonny's Blues"

#1 1 - Research the setting of “Sonny’s Blues” – Harlem, NYC.

- "Sonny's Blues" is based in Harlem, NYC which is in the borough of Manhanttan. Harlem is known to be a "black neighborhood" and somewhat of a ghetto. At that period , Harlem was going through a "face-lift" in terms of a economic developement and cultural preservation.
http://www.harlemheritage.com/harlem_history.shtml

2 – How does the setting affect/shape Sonny’s character and create
conflict/complications in the story?

- Well, Sonny seems to be a bit of a rebel. He wasn't a fan of school, but, instead
preferred to laze around and play music. Harlem being the place it was, promoted 'dark' activity, for example, drugs, gangs and crimes. Sonny was at a very influencial age when he starting adopting such habits. He probably followed what he saw on the street corners. In addition to that, it caused conflict as what he was being taught at home (by his parents) did not co-relate with what was happening outside his home (negative influences, such as friends and people on the corner).


#2 1 – Research the history of African-American men in the military – Pre-Civil
Rights movement.

-

2 – Why is it ironic that Sonny wants to enlist?

- It is ironic that Sonny wants to enlist because he is such a rebel. He does not like school; therefore, how would he be able to cope with or like the uniformity of the military?


#3 1 – Research song lyrics by Billie Holiday. Find a song or verse that you feel best
represents the suffering of Sonny – his blues. Include song title and lyrics here.

- The Blues Are Brewin'

When the moon's kind of dreamy
Starry eyed and dreamy
And nights are luscious and long
If you're kind of lonely
And all by your only
Then nothin' but the blues are brewin
'The blues are brewin'
When the wind through the willow
Blows across your pillow
And tells you sleepin' is wrong
If love goes a thirsting
Till you feel like bursting
Then nothing but the blues are brewin
'The blues are brewin'
http://www.billieholidaysongs.com/lyrics_the_blues_are_brewin.htm

2 - Explain why.

- This song suits how Sonny is feeling because it talks about how 'lonely-ness' feels and how you feel when you are lonely and depressed. Sonny felt that he didn't belong anywhere and that he was in the way of other people. The song gives an incite of how Sonny felt through his struggles and suffering.

#4 1 – Research Bebop.

Bebop originated between the 1940s and the 1950s. It is a style of music that incoporates "fast tempos, complex harmonies, intricate melodies, and rhythm sections that laid down a steady beat only on the bass and the drummer's ride cymbal".

http://www.wnur.org/jazz/styles/bebop.html

2 – Bebop is the music that Sonny favors. What does the music represent
politically and socially to Sonny? What does the music represent to Sonny’s
brother?

- The Bebop music is fast paced and sporadic which fits Sonny's personality well as Sonny was one person this week and then was a totally different person the next ( for example, he was going to school consistently at one point and then starting skipping school so he could concentrate on playing the piano).
- The music, to Sonny's Brother, meant something that was different and new, which didn't represent stability. Sonny's brother wanted Sonny him to be persistent at something and stable in his life... in other words, he didn't want his brother to 'fall off the wagon' and get lost or caught up in something negative.