Brave New World III

Questions about Brave New World:

• Why does Huxley base his society around consumerism in place of real feeling?

         Huxley uses consumerism to show the hypnosis of the population as a result of manipulation by the government. Through mediums like soma and conditioning, the World State has ensured that the population will not rebel and not to try to show feeling for each other if they are distracted by other things like sex and having a good time.

• Technology plays a large role in Brave New World, why does Huxley use it as a way for the World State to contain its citizens instead of fear?

           The World State uses technology in place of fear to control their citizens because it seems more rational in their eyes. They see fear as an unjust way of controlling the people, however the use of in-vitro fertilization by the government supposedly eliminates the need to rebel.

Question about Brave New World and 1984:

• Orwell uses fear and Huxley uses technology to create their dystopias that are both supposedly "happy", so can a utopia ever be created with the natural fears and the technology that surround us in everyday life?

       A utopia can never be created as a result of a perfect humanity without flaws. Humans will naturally have flaws and a government will always exploit those flaws for their own gain. Technology is merely an advantage to dystopian government as a means to control the population.

"Communist Utopia" by Thomas Hornung

• The red in the brick immediately indicates communism because red is the color of the communist party as well as the faceless man representing the anonymous masses with no individualism expressed typically associated with communism's supposed equality.
• The artist's portrayal of communism shows his negative view of the economic system. Gray, crumbling buildings portray a negative atmosphere and evoke negative feelings and the constant, watchful eyes of the party are meant to scare the audience into believing that communism is evil. 
• The title, "Communist Utopia," is intentionally ironic because communism has been tarnished by despair in practice while in theory commmunism wishes to create a utopia for citizens.

Brave New World Blog #2 (Ch. 7-13)

1. Why is John motivated to use Shakespeare quotes in daily life while speaking with other characters?

In sharp contrast to those who have lived in the World State for their entire lives, John is obviously different not only in dress and actions, but most prominently through speech. When speaking he references a multitude of Shakespeare plays for reasons that are not apparent to the other characters, but after reflection become visible. Huxley shows the contrast between our world and the World State through primarily actions, but he uses John as his obvious indicator of difference. This difference become visible when John reads some lines from Romeo and Juliet to Bernard who responds by saying, "Orgy-porgy...It's just a Solidarity Service hymn" (Huxley 183).This shocking response to the audience from a character who some may identify with shows the conditioning that the population has received , so that they will not understand the brilliant playwright who understands the human soul. Huxley emphasises the distance between the two worlds.

2. Would we in our world treat John the same way as the citizens of the World State and are there possible future conflicts in the novel?

Difference in modern society stands out as John does in the World State. He becomes an instant society hit with all the important people wanting to meet him. When one reflects on the attraction he receives, I personally think about aliens arriving on Earth and the attention they would receive. To the World State, he is an alien. He represents the world that they have destroyed, yet they are still eager to meet him, so I was not surprised at the guest' response to John's lack of presence at the party. Huxley describes their anger, "As for the women, they indignantly felt that they had been had on false pretenses" (Huxley 173). Their anger didn't surprise me because of their fascination, but the question has not really been answered for me because I feel that a conflict is building between the citizens and John because of his behavior.

3. Why does John continually refute Lenin's sexual advances?

Though deeply in love with Lenina for unknown reasons John consistently refuses her sexual propositions. This refusal of sex on the part of John reveals a theme in the novel to me that society cannot live carefree and meaningful lives at the same time. He realizes that as much as he loves Lenina he can never have her because of the incompatibilty between them. A realtionship must be based on common values and love instead of just sexual desire, which is the only factor in World State realtionships. Huxley specifically describes this difference through a conversation between Lenina and John. "'But, John... I thought you were... I mean, aren't you?...' He shut the door..."(Huxley 171). Lenina is shocked by John's lack of desire because she doesn't understand his need for a 'normal' relationship and never will because of her conditioning. John realizes that they can never be together because Lenina will never leave her carefree livestyle for a real life without soma or an active sex life.

"Don't You Want Me?" by The Human League

1. A man has helped a woman to success and she leaves him behind without thanking him. His perspective of the story if reflected through the quote, "Turned you into someone new...But don't forget it's me who put you where you are now."

2. The man claims that he has been forsaken for no reason while the woman claims she just wanted to live life on her own without his influence, which can be noted through the quote, "...I think it's time I lived life on my own."

3. I side with the man because I feel that the woman left him without a cause sufficient enough to justify the rejection of the sacrifices he made for her. I feel that she has a haughty attitude about moving on and forgetting her past. The quote, "I knew I'd find a much better place either with or without you," exemplifies her negative attitude towards her past.

First Brave New World Reading Entry

In sharp contrast to the terrorized society of 1984, the World State of Brave New World creates forced happiness in their society through sexual pleasure. It seems that everything in their world revolves around sex: soma pills, multiple lovers, and the contraception-preception belt. Though each serves a different purpose in society, the message is clear: the population is too fascinated with their sex lives to care about real problems. In effect, the World State also stops conflict throught the retraction of monogamy as a life choice. Without monogamy, the population can have as much fun as possible and live a carefree life, so who would want to change things? Huxley reinforces his point through the voice of Mustapha Mond, "The urge has but a single outlet. My love, my baby. No wonder those poor pre-moderns were mad and wicked and miserable. Their world didn’t allow them to take things easily, didn’t allow them to be sane, virtuous, happy. What with mothers and lovers, what with the prohibitions they were not conditioned to obey, what with the temptations and the lonely remorses, what with all the diseases and the endless isolating pain, what with the uncertainties and the poverty—they were forced to feel strongly. And feeling strongly (and strongly, what was more, in solitude, in hopelessly individual isolation), how could they be stable?" This lack of stability caused the turmoil before the World State and the emotion caused the lack of stability. The World State is a utopia because even though the population may be superficial, the government has succeeded in it's job of ending conflict and making it's population happy.

Ethnography

1. One perspective approaches the topic with a scientific perspective while the other approaches the topic from the specific cultural perspective. Both perspectives are valid, but just approach the topic differently.

2. These rules exist because bias is evitable as some cultures may seem strange, an informant provides an inside view, and the subjects must know someone's purpose to completely show themselves.

Postcolonialism

1. The West views the East as inferior and fascinating, yet mystical.

2. The West often views people from the East homogeneously because of the anonymous masses they see instead of individuals.

3. Eastern people's actions are determined by instinctive emotions and their emotions are determined by racial considerations.

4. Viewing the East as inferior has benefited the West through colonialism because the West felt that they had a right to the East because of the inferiority. By creating a common enemy the persecutors feel justified in their actions.

5. This view of the East does not exist anymore because of the rise of new powerful nations that the West must respect now.

Final 1984 Blog

Sad as it may sound to the engrossed reader, Big Brother has won against Winston and Julia. Being the representation of the Party has empowered Big Brother to destroy dissent through places like Room 101. Julia notes how the Party can destroy passion for others and channel it to the Party by saying, "You think there’s no other way of saving yourself and you’re quite ready to save yourself that way. You want it to happen to the other person. You don’t give a damn what they suffer. All you care about is yourself." This statement strongly contrasts what she would have said before Room 101 during her affair with Winston and this contrast represents the power of the Party to break, to destroy, and to channel love unless for the Party. Winston and Julia have given in to Party and Big Brother has destroyed who the reader knows as Winston and Julia. Winston feels the same way as Julia by wishing that she would suffer more than he meaning both characters are just the shells of what they once were together. Sadly, I am certain that Winston will love the Party for the rest of his life because of Big Brother's success.  Oceania has ensured that any dissent will be crushed and there is no way to overthrow the state.

"Love Language"

1. I assumed that the girl wasn't interested in the guy because she didn't speak to him when he was making conversation.
2. This is a cultural conflict between the deaf population and the normal population because deaf people have different problems from normal people and the problems can interupt everyday life.
3. The external conflict was the fact that the girl couldn't understand what the man was saying causing confusion.
4. The internal conflict was the man's decision to date the girl or not to date the girl because she was deaf.
5. The conflict was resolved by the use of writing to communicate and the man's acceptance of the girl's handicap.

"This Land is Your Land" by Woodie Guthrie

• Guthrie's message is individualist and collectivist because he first references the land being made for "you and me" meaning everyone. This would imply that the land belongs to everyone, yet he also states that Americans are individualists at heart by saying that nothing can stop him.
• This song is anti-government because he references how "nothing" or "no one" can stop him or his actions. He is also trying to speak to the government and is telling them to stop their actions because the land is made for the people and the government has no right to interfere as indicated by the "No Trespassing" sign showing government interference with citizen's actions.

Second 1984 Reading Response

Winston is having trouble accepting the party line spewing from Big Brother and the State after he finds a like-minded soul in Julia.  It is easy for Winston to put aside the unexpressed doubts that were solely in his mind.  When Winston finally puts those thoughts in words and those feelings validated by another, he gains confidence in his convictions.  Winston’s next step is to take action in contravention of the Party’s edits but based upon his convictions.  The clandestine meetings with Julia place both their live at risk.  His internal questioning of the party is the first step in protesting.  In order to have the impetus to join an actual protest, an individual must first form the idea that society is out of order or simply wrong.  When Julia and Winston are invited into the highly secretive world of the Brotherhood, it does not provide Winston with the brotherhood that he envisioned.

            The Occupy Wall Street movement is similar to Winston’s rebellion in the sense that it is against a powerful societal member, the Wall Street financial institutions, which members of the movement believe have caused them some sort of harm.  However, Winston does not initially question the control that Big Brother and the party have over him the way these protestors do.  The motivation of the protestors is diverse.  Some hard core liberal members want to convert the US to essentially a socialist state with a redistribution of existing wealth; other members of the movement are simply frustrated that they have lost their jobs or that they have been unable to find gainful employment after obtaining an expensive education.  Winston’s struggle and that of the Occupy Wall Street are similar in that they both have the support of the unspoken masses. 

"The Egg"

1. The conflict in "The Egg" is the challenge of acting young or old faced by the father through the latter half of the story. The father wants to entertain the customers by acting young, but is torn by a sense of responsibility caused by his age. Anderson uses the quote, "From Father's words I gathered that something of the jolly innkeeper effect was to be sought," to reinforce his father's passion to act young again (Anderson 5).

2. The author uses the chickens to symbolize the adults who cannot make anything of themselves and the eggs to represent their offspring who are the hope, but are trapped because of their birth into the problem created by their parent's dilemma. According to Anderson the chickens constantly fail after succeeding temporarily similar to the boy's parents (Anderson 2).

3. Anderson would say that, " philosophers are raised on a chicken farm," because the cycle of life is repeated daily, so they become wiser. "...the dreadful cycle is then complete" (Anderson 2).

4. When I was a little child, I always wanted to help cook or bake different foods because I watned to feel helpful. The conflict was always external because my parents restricted my cooking because of my little size and that I would get hurt by the stove or oven. I must have overcome the conflict because my love of cooking never died.

Aristotle Quote

I agree with the quote because many educated people are not ignorant because of their exposure to other cultures and ideas through their studies in contrast to the lack of education received by the ignorant.

"American Friends"

Americans are sometimes perceived in a negative fashion because of their obliviousness to dislike by others, obsession with electronic devices in place of personal relationships, and perceived lack of in-depth conversation between besides the typical hello. We have a tendency in America to not know when we are not wanted by others for the most part partially because of our supposed elevated status over others. Electronic devices distract from personal relationship because one would rather text the person sitting next to them than actually talking. As a result of the hectic lifestyles that we live, we typically don't actually have in-depth discussion unless forced because of time constraints.

"me Vs. we"

1. In a collectivist culture, the traits of benevolence, shyness, or responsibility would be advantageous. Likewise in an individualist culture one values the traits of working hard, selfishness, and outspokenness.

2. This is true for both societies because of the importance of being "special" and different from the rest of the group in individualistic societies, but the importance of helping everyone in a collectivist society.

3. A teacher from China has recently arrived at an elite boarding school with many sharp students. The teacher was shocked at the fact that the students compete with one another or have different views. The conflict is external because the teacher ends up being affected by the student, moreover; the conflict was created by the difference between the behavior of Chinese and American students in relation to the teacher's expectations. This conflict may be resolved with the teacher embracing difference of opinion and the student's stop being so competitive.

4. An acquaintance is an individual who one vaguely knows and is not a close friend. The word has a negative connotation because of the lack of interaction between the parties involved.

"2+2=5" by Radiohead

The song is discussing the idea of a utopian government's idea that the government is always right and no one can question the authority. The music enhances the theme because of it's natural sound without synthesizers mirroring what the government says is truth and nothing the government says has been synthesized. The line, "January has April's showers," reflects the theme from 1984 that the government controls the knowledge and can change what has been previously thought.

Cultural Conflict- Faith and Globalization

1. The conflict of the hijab is an internal conflict because it is a personal decision to cover up, yet the wider issue of the legality of the garment is external because of the limitation of rights imposed by the government.

2. Globalization creates conflict through misunderstanding of another's culture. By saying that globalization has only been flown in one direction, she means that the flow of ideas between the United States and Middle East has not been reciprocated.

3. She mentions the benefit of western role models, which have been beneficial to the rise of powerful, Muslim women.

4. She mentions the Constitution as a true source because of it's symbolism for expression of personality and freedom to do so, and the Qu'ran is the other document mentioned because, in her opinion, it is the word of God and and an order to modesty.

First 1984 Reading Journal

Throughout Part One of 1984, Orwell reinforces that Winston's world is a dystopia because of its constant surveillance, its supposed equality, and the forced love shown for Big Brother or the Party.

By using telescreens, posters of Big Brother saying, " Big Brother is watching you!"or the Thought Police, Winston is constantly watched.The quote, "Any sound that Winston made...would be picked up by [the telescreen]; moreover, so long as he remained within the field of vision...he could be seen as well as heard,"not only encompasses the telescreens that watch Winston, but also the posters that he describes as constantly watching him and the girl from the fiction department who is supposedly following him as a member of the Thought Police. The three main forms of surveillance are actually, to a certain extent, one in the same because of their same purpose, to frighten the population into conformity.

The "equality" in 1984 is not actual equality in a normal sense. They see equality in a literal form; for example, the overalls, which all the Party members wear are seen as equality. However, there isn't equality in social class because there are the three main social classes: Inner Party, Outer Party, and the proles. Each social class lives a radically different lifestyles with the first two classes sacrificing their individual rights to privacy while the proles have relative freedom. Winston thinks he is followed by the Thought Police showing that Party members are held to a high standard and must sacrifice their rights for the good of the Party.

Before the Revolution and the Party, individuals in English society lived normal lives with relationship and religion with government interference. After, however, the ideals lost during the Revolution were channeled toward love for Big Brother. Orwell references this love indirectly through the two minutes hate. The quote, "At those moments his secret loathing of Big Brother turned into adoration, and Big Brother seemed to tower up...against the hordes of Asia..."reflects Winston's belief that the two minutes hate changes people's opinions of Big Brother into forced happiness and "adoration" for the man who has ruined their lives.

What is a Utopia?

A utopia is a place where everything is "perfect" and idealism rules the populace without problems such as crime or hunger. My utopia would be filled with classical music showing constant order and peace without chaos. The leaders of a utopia eliminate dissent and force everyone to treat each other "equally."I would make my utopia peaceful to eliminate unecessary deaths caused by conflict, but from our perspective it is hard to imagine a world lacking these problems.

"You Were Right"

• The quote, "You were right when you said...,"reflects the author's remorseful feelings toward the subject. He attempts to appease the subject who is upset because of his actions, yet the author is still upset even though he wishes forgiveness.
• The change of the tempo seems to reflect a spasm in the artist's life. By the changing of the tempo the music is unorganized caused by his frustration and fluctuating anger with the subject and situation.
• The song is effective because the artist's attitude towards the subject was anger, and after listening, the song made me, the listener, feel angry as well.

"Young Life" by Bo Bartlett

• The man in the picture is a hunter as evidenced by the dead deer atop the car and the gun in the man's hand.
• The artist, Bo Bartlett implies that men are meant to be strong and protective while women are meant to be weak and afraid. The woman is cowering next to her husband and son who both stand firm and tall each with weapons in hand ready to protect the woman.
• The little boy in the painting plans on living a different life from that of his parents. This is true because the little boy is not only physically distanced from his parents, but also his dress is unique because it's contrast to his parent's rural fashion.

Th young child in the painting "Young Life" ,by Bo Bartlett, will live a different life from that of his parents as evidenced by clothing and position. His parents, dressed in typical rural clothing with hunting gear, contrast the boy's starkly urban attire with a sweater and dress shirt, odd choices for a hunting trip. This difference in clothing style symbolizes the child's obvious difference from the other individuals in the piece. Considering the child's position in relation to the others as an important factor, Bartlett reflects the divide between the child and his parents with the long distance, moreover the child's back is turned away from them showing a new beginning and eventually life.

"Reading Critically"

The essay “Reading Critically” provides a great map for analyzing for school assignments.  While I knew that writing critically was important, it did not occur to me that reading critically was equally important.  I now understand that if I read critically, the critical writing will come much easier. 

           

            With respect to “the preliminaries” outlined in the essay, I already knew that it was important to understand the writer’s background, when the piece was written and for whom it was written, but I never gave much thought to analyzing the title of a piece to lead to a better understanding.  I admit that I am not always diligent in annotating what I read.  I know that I should use a pencil and highlighter more when I read.  The quote in the essay that “the more you write in an unstructured way, the more you’ll have to say when it’s time to write a structured essay” really is true.

            The first step to reading critically is to summarize the content of what you are reading.  This should be a two step procedure:  first, summarize each paragraph (or group of paragraphs if they are related); and two, summarize those sentences into two or three other that reflect the writing’s total meaning.  Next, you need to analyze which involves looking at the main idea of the writing, finding support for this idea, and identifying special writing strategies.  Third, you need to use inference to draw conclusions about the piece using your own knowledge and experience.  It is through inference that you are able to discern the writer’s assumptions that drive the piece.  Fourth, you need to synthesize the piece by taking “reconstituting” the original elements of the piece and relating them to the writer’s ultimate purpose. 

            The final stage in critical reading is to evaluate the quality of the piece.  This means that you will answer whether the writer has moved you as it was intended, whether the writer has proved a point or whether it was even worth the effort to make the argument in the first place.  In order to conduct an effective evaluation of a piece, you need to ask yourself, “What is the writer’s purpose?”  You can answer this question through the effective use of analysis, inference and synthesis.  An well written piece uses effective strategy in the writing such as narration and description. 

           

            The most crucial step in effective writing  is finding an appropriate structure.  Good writing has unity (everything relates to the main idea) and coherence (the relations between parts are clear).  Chronological sequence is common, but it is important to emphasis important events and minimize others.  Finally, the effective use of language is always found in a well written piece.  Language creates the tone of the piece.

"Shame"

This song is about a romantic breakup. The author's feeling toward the subject is remorseful, yet sincere. The adjectives and verbs that indicate this tone are: "Swear; "Lift"; "Different." These verbs/adjectives communicate his feelings by expressing specifically how he feels. "Different" shows how he regrets his old actions, but he is "different" now in comparison. Using the verb "swear" shows his sincerity by promising forever more to be a better person. "Lift" personifies the weight of the guilt and the shame as well as the pain he is feeling as a result.

''Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out''

The subject of Barry’s essay, “Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out” is his humorous take on the differences between the sexes and the value each places on cleanliness.  His references to “Standard Male Cleaning Implements”, essentially Windex with a wad of paper towels, make it clear that Barry believe the issue of cleanliness is of utmost importance in relationships.

            “Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out” was written during the last twenty years with its references to a male friend offering to change his baby’s diaper in an effort to avoid a discussion on relationships.  The esssay’s date of creation is conveyed with references to Barry’s female friend, Maddy.  It is doubtful that a man would refer to a female as friend any earlier than the middle of the 1970’s.  By providing contemporary examples to which they can relate, Barry is able to effectively get his readers to invest in his argument.

            The specific audience for Barry’s essay is young to middle-aged couples with children.  From watching adult couples, I know that every couple has flash points that lead to heated discussion even on such mundane topics as the cleanliness of a bathroom.  Barry references the “look that [his wife] has perfected” when she wants to convey that he is an idiot.  The general audience for Barry’s essay is men and women who interact on a regular basis, regardless of whether it is at school or work.  Barry’s reference in his essay to the importance that the men place on the World Series game is one to which almost all men can relate.

Barry’s purpose in writing this essay to demonstrate the men and women view life through very different lenses.  However, Barry is careful not to take a position on which view is the correct one.  What a man considers appropriate dress for his school age son, a pair of pajamas, does not pass muster when his mother catches him before he goes out the door.  Barry is self-deprecating when he states that the time he spends cleaning his son’s bathroom would be put to better use in constructing a drawing on his Etch-A-Sketch.  Barry knows by mocking his wife’s unattainable standard of cleanliness, he would be wise to offset such sarcasm by using the example of a mindless activity like the Etch-A-Sketch as his alternative.

            Women take life much more seriously than men if you are to believe Barry’s essay.  They are able to spot “molecules” of dirt, while men seemingly do not notice dirt until they are literally covered in it.  The Pompeii example used by Barry is extreme, but gets his point across that men are largely obvious to dirt.  The sexes should be allowed to pursue their separate interests and agendas unimpeded by the value placed on them by the opposite sex.  In the end, the men are thrilled to watch a World Series game, while the women are left to discuss relationships.  Forcing your spouse to do what makes you happy leads to misery on both sides.

           

            Barry demonstrates a self-effacing and slightly sarcastic attitude about the importance women place on cleanliness in the home.  His self-effacing statement that “men tend to do extremely little in the way of useful housework” is supported by his half-hearted attempt to clean his son’s bathroom at his wife’s request.  His sarcasm is evident where he references the “escape” of “second male” from the attempts of the women to direct the group discussion to one about relationships.

American Tongues

1. Voice in literature is the way an author addresses his/her audience and how they make their writing unique in comparison to other writers.
2. "Wait, what's the point of this exercise?' My tone is always hesitant because I try to question other people's reasoning. My parents are both attorneys, which has an effect on my tone because I emulate their behavior.
3. I would try not to directly address a personal issue like a parent's divorce or a fight with a friend. I would handle the topic this way because I would not want to upset someone for my own benefit.
4. Voice is important in non-fiction because genre would become just a listing of facts without personality being less interesting to the reader. In academic essays, writers attempt to avoid voice because it looks unprofessional as well as writing in the passive voice.
5. We can develop voice by adding specific characteristics to our writing, which makes the writing recognizable.

"Eleonore Rigby"-PAIN vs. The Beatles vs. Dubstep

I personally enjoyed the remix dubstep more than the other two versions because of the modern element incorporated into the original song. The new twist to the song makes the rythym much more upbeat and energized, which makes listeners like me that are not usually interested in music from the time-period to be interested and to like listening to the song. The original song would be more aestheticly pleasing though because of it's relaxed tone and audible singer in comparison to the screaming of the metal and the faint singer of the remix.

Kandinsky vs. Pollock

The Kandinsky work appeals more to me because of it's uniformity. Kandinsky uses geometric features such as triangles, lines, and squares while incorporating vibrant color into each aspect of the painting. On the other hand, the Pollock work is definately more visually pleasing with organic lines and rich colors creating the feeling of warmth as well as the thickness of the paint popping out at the audience.

"Sign Language"

The filmaker would like the audience to understand that there is more to menial work and the little things in life than meets the eye. He executes this single effect by using a personal narative, talking about the habits of each worker, and explaining the sense of community felt by the sign holders. If I could change one apect of the film, I would take out the personal narative aspect even though it would affect the film negatively.As mentioned before, it would ruin the single effect because it gives the menial job of being a sign holder a personality and a face.

Shooting An Elephant

The subject of George Orwell’s essay Shooting an Elephant is to discuss the injustice and brutality of a colonial occupation. The inequality and inhumane treatment of the Burmese natives is illustrated by Orwell’s graphic description of prison life and the analogy of the shooting of the elephant. By describing the gruesome conditions that were endured during the colonial era, Orwell can relate the injustice suffered by the natives at the hands of the British. Orwell’s act of the shooting of an elephant symbolic of the British harsh treatment of its subjects.  Orwell uses the obvious wrong of shooting an innocent elephant to portray his negative view of the colonial occupation in Burma.

Shooting an Elephant was written in 1936 during the waning years of global British imperialism. Orwell conveys the timing of his essay with references to the British “Empire” and “Raj” which essentially means colony.  Further details help to date the essay with references to “an old .44 Winchester and a cataloging of the atrocities committed against Indians by the British.

George Orwell’s specific audience for Shooting an Elephant was the British public. The author’s intended audience is revealed with the quote, “ I was all for the Burmese and all against their oppressors, the British…In a job like that you see the dirty work of the Empire at close quarters. The wretched prisoners huddling in the stinking cages of the lock-ups, the grey, cowed faces of the long-term convicts, the scarred buttocks of the men who had been flogged with bamboos.”  This quote would shock the British people because many of their Empire’s brutal practices were kept a secret from average British citizens. Orwell is trying to educate fellow citizens about the brutality of their government toward its conquered colonies.  The author’s wider audience is the “civilized” Western World where many countries similarly colonized countries whose resources they needed while committing unjustified atrocities against the local population .

Orwell’s purpose in Shooting an Elephant is to educate the British people about the atrocities committed against the Burmese people. Orwell wants his audience to realize that the British government is harming its colonial population and native British citizens need to stop the colonial brutality.  The injustice of imperialism is evidence by the quote, “One day something happened which in a roundabout way was enlightening. It was a tiny incident in itself, but it gave me a better glimpse than I had had before of the real nature of imperialism- the real motives for which despotic governments act.”  In this quote, Orwell is referencing the shooting of the elephant, which symbolizes the brutal acts committed against the Burmese and how these injustices shocked Orwell a British subject upon his arrival in Burma. This purpose is further revealed by, “With one part of my mind I thought of the British Raj as an unbreakable tyranny, as something clamped down, in saecula saeculorum, upon the will of prostate peoples…” In this situation, Orwell explains how the Raj is an unstoppable menace that can only be killed by the will of the British people if they act against the monster.

Orwell believes that colonialism with its inherent suppression of other human beings is wrong and he expresses revulsion at his own role in the process.  He states that “[he] was all for the Burmese and all against their oppressors, the British.”  The killing of the elephant, an obvious symbol for the vast British Empire, causes controversy in the town when it occurs, much like the idea of imperialism can divide the citizens of a nation.  The British living in Burma view the elephant’s death as a waste because the value of the “coolie” or native killed by the elephant was miniscule.  Of course, the Burmese natives viewed the elephant’s death as justified under local law.

George Orwell articulates a brutal and conflicted attitude about British imperialism and its treatment of the Burmese people. The attitude of brutality is expressed by his use of words such as “crucified” and “bayonet”, while the conflicted attitude is evidence by his use of words like “helpless” and “impress”.  The words “crucified” and “bayonet” are graphic words that shock the reader’s sensibility while the words “helpless” and “impress” convey the narrator’s inherent conflict over the role in which he finds himself.  Orwell’s tone serves the essay’s purpose of convincing his intended audience, the average British citizen, of the savagery found in imperialism, while recognizing the conflict in need to subjugating native peoples in order to gain control over necessary resources.

Harry Nilsson's "Good Old Desk"

S- God is the symbolic subject, but a desk is the literal subject of the song.
O- 1960's and 1970's United Kingdom
A- People who are experiencing hard times.
P- To inform the audience about how God can be a postitive influence in their lives.
S- Nilsson believes that God stands by him no matter what may happen and is always there.
Tone- Affectionate and appreciative

Harry Nilsson is discussing his personal relationship with God and uses the symbol of a "Good Old Desk." He solidifies his symbol through the quotes as follows: "My old desk never needs a rest, and I've never once heard it cry"; "Such a comfort to know, it's dependable and slow";"It's always there."

"The Runaway" Introduction

When thinking of the 1950's, many Americans think of pleasant, suburban families walking down tree-lined streets, however some Americans were disgruntled with this seemingly carefree lifestyle. The famed painter, Norman Rockwell, was not one of these individuals and he expressed his views of idealism through his popular work,"The Runaway." This 1950's counterculture, fighting idealists like Rockwell, strove to make America realise how things are and not how things were. Rockwell's,"The Runaway," overlooks the fundamental rift that was rising in America throughout the 1950's- an emerging counterculture that was not concerned with how things were in America, but how things are now.

"Across the Universe"

Images-
"Words are flying out like rain into a paper cup."
"Pools of sorrow and waves of joy"
"Limitless undying love, which shines like a million suns"

Possible Symbols-

The image of, "Pools of sorrow and waves of joy," represent the drastic emotions inside of one's head throughout their life.

The cross has always been a symbol to Christians. It symbolizes Christ's love for his people and his willingness to die for them.

"Inspiration Information"

The song has a very relaxed, but upbeat tone and it is the kind of song that would cheer me up on a sad day. The use of soft drums and the funky music of the electric guitar make the song sound the way it is, relaxed and enjoyable to listen to anytime of day. The artist, in my opinion, made many sacrifices in making this song. He had the choice of making the vocals louder and using harder drums, but he did not because he knew it would ruin the song's vibe of relaxation.

"Semeadores" by Diego Rivera

Subject- Planters on a farm
Occasion- 1910's-1920's during communist movements in Latin America.
Audience- Citizens of a Latin American nation.
Purpose- To educate citizens about the downsides of capitalism and to portray communism as the savior of the worker.
Speaker- Diego Rivera was an artist during this tumultuous time in Latin America who strongly endorsed communism.
Tone- Rivera is sympathetic towards the planters because he is trying to show their pain.

Diego Rivera portrays these planters as oppressed victims of capitalism amd wants his audience to believe that the planters are undervalued and work hard. He supports this idea by the color scheme and postition of the planters in the painting. The colors in the painting are bland showing the dullness of the planter's life, but specifically the lack of facial features shows the planters as workers, not people in the eyes of the capitalist government. The postition of the planter to the right shows how hard the man is working for such little pay.

Creative Process

When Wilco creates a song, they have three major steps in creating the final piece. Firstly, they get the general idea of how a song should sound. Secondly, they deconstruct the song and work on each individual section. Finallly, they bring all of the pieces of the song back together to see how it sounds. When I write anything, I have a specific process for creating my piece in the best possible manner. In order to make sure I address the prompt correctly, I create a thesis that incorporates relevant examples. How one uses vocabulary is important, so I make sure all my correctly and see if there is a more sophisticated word that works better for the sentence. At the end of drafting, revising, and editing I read through the final product many times to make sure it addresses the criteria of the assignment.

Soundtrack from American Grafitti

       Nostalgia is a yearning for the past and is typically associated with a good connotation.  When I first heard the song, I immediately thoughts of a dinner scene from the 1950s with clean cut kids and a mom with an apron on, all  living the American dream in the suburbs with primly trimmed lawns.  Images of stay at home moms loading kids into the large family station wagon all come to mind.  When I think of my own childhood, I remember all the family vacations that my parents have taken with us.  My whole family loves to travel and no historical site is too small for us to visit.  I associate one sound in particular with these images and that is the sound of a suitcase being zipped.

The Pinch of Poverty

Poverty is caused by many factors.  The major causes are substance abuse, corrupt governments, historical disadvantages, and the rising cost of living.  The artist portrays poverty in this painting as a depressing existence.  The artist’s message about poverty is that poverty can affect anyone, including women and young children instead of the typical stereotypes about the poor.  He uses color and background to reinforce his point.  The color of figures’ clothes is dark and they are standing in the rain which emphasizes the bleakness of the painting.  The little girl in the painting is wearing a white jacket which symbolizes hope.

Poverty-Reading Response

Peter Singer’s essay in which he provides us with his solution to ending world poverty poses some unique ethical dilemmas.  Singer’s perspective as an academic challenging his readers to think about the role their actions or inactions have on the world at large is different from Chitra Divakaruni who recounts her firsthand experience with child labor in India.  Singer gives us specific directives that we must implement in order to eliminate world poverty in the world.  He tells us that American households need only $30,000 annually for necessities, freeing many billions of dollars to solve global poverty.  I do not believe that Singer’s approach is feasible for several reasons.  First, the amount allotted for necessities would fluctuate depending upon the number of family members and the specific location where the family lives.  Raising a family in New York City is inherently more expensive than raising a family in Des Moines, Iowa.  Moreover, the definition of what is a necessity is open to ample interpretation.  Is providing a college education for your children a necessity or a luxury?  Singer himself seems to recognize this conflict where he challenges the readers “of this article with $200 to spare” to donate that money to an overseas aid agency.  Ask most Americans and I bet very few claim to have $200 to spare to give to charity.  Singer correctly points out that it is much easy to deny $200 to a child living in Bangladesh than the shoeless man panhandling in front of the bus station in your hometown.  “Out of sight, out of mind” is clearly alive and well in the United States.  Embarrassingly, Americans for all our wealth are hardly a generous nation.  Singer points out that we give less than .09% of our gross national product to charity, while Danes give almost 1% of their GNP.

            Chitra Divakaruni’s article “Live Free and Starve” provides a unique perspective of child labor in parts of the world that many Americans cannot even pronounce, much less locate on a map.  Divakaruni’s Indian family “employed” the services of Nimai, who started with her family at age 10, as a household servant because he was too sickly to work in the fields with the rest of his siblings.  Looking back from her current perspective in the United States, Divakaruni is somewhat embarrassed by her family relationship with Nimai as she recounts how Nimai “ate the same food that we children did and was given new cloths during Indian New Year, just as we     were.”  While I am sure that Divakaruni’s mother was kind to Nimai, it is disingenuous for Divakaruni to suggest that her mother lavished the same type of attention on him that she did on her own children.  However, she is correct that the type of legislation discussed in the article does anything more than make most Americans feel good about themselves.  The ultimate root of the problem, systemic poverty in some parts of the world, is not fixed simply by putting the children who labor out of work.  Then they are able to contribute to the basic food and shelter needs of their families.  Slavery and prostitution are real dangers for such children who cannot earn a “legitimate” wage.  Will Americans really pay the higher costs for goods coming from these impoverished nations that will be necessary to provide safe working environments with a living wage for these children?  I am not so sure.

Round and Round

Questions:  How do your musical facts influence your opinion?  What is the correlation between what you picked out and your opinion?  Do you have bias?  If so, explain.

Today in English we listened to the song," Round and Round," by Ariel Pink's haunted grafitti. To be perfectly honest I really disliked the song probably because of my own personal biases as well as one of the musical facts. The first musical fact I used was that there was a keyboard in the song, which would have no influence over my opinion. However, the second being that there were many vocalists in the piece really in my opinion did not work well for the song because of the many instuments being played already, which left me confused and feeling like I didn't want to listen to the song again. Nevertheless, the majority of why I dislike the song is because of my own personal bias. I don't listen to that type of music normally so I wouldn't really want to listen to it.