Brave New World Third Reading Entry

1. What is Huxley's intention in using the outcast in the society as the protagonist?

2. If the world Huxley tries to create is a utopia, why would he choose to show the readers a viewpoint that sees it as a dystopia? What does this allow the readers to infer and what was his intention?

3. Why did Huxley and Orwell both choose to end their stories with the opposite of what we, as readers, would naturally expect to happen? Does this have an impact on the readers and if so, was this impact intentional by the authors?

"Communist Utopia" by Thomas Hornung

The eyes in the painting indicate communism, like the government is always watching the people. This shows how the people of the society are being oppressed and controlled. The whole society is gray, symbolizing that it has no life because the freedoms of the people are all taken away. The artist's view on communism is that it is controlling. He feels that the people are oppressed to the point that they can't even walk down a street by themselves because the government is always watching. The people associated with communism are constantly being controlled by the government. The title is an oxymoron in itself. It means that communism and a utopia can not coexist because they are complete opposites of one another, except for the fact they are both controlling. It's almost ironic to see that the communism and the utopia are working together because it controls the people to do what they want. However, in this painting it does not seem like a utopia because the people do not look happy, which is the main priority of a utopia.

Brave New World Second Reading Entry

-What is the significance of bringing Shakespeare into the plot?
-Why is it that the One State is fascinated with John when they are so repulsed by anything else that is different?
-What impact does letting the higher people see the Indian Reservation have on the One State? Is it good or bad and could it be potentially dangerous?


It is said that when Popé brings the works of Shakespeare to Linda's house, John reads it until he has it memorized. This is significant because within the works of Shakespeare, the plays were able to give voice to all of John's repressed emotions. With John's cultural gaps, being part of the World State culture from his mother, yet also part of the Reservation by living there, it almost appears as if he is internally conflicted. This cultural gap also causes him to be isolated. In these hard times, he turns to Shakespeare to absorb almost a third cultural value system. Shakespeare to John is like his outlet. Whenever he is frustrated, he reads through the "magic" words. "The strange words rolled through his mind; rumbled, like the drums at the summer dances, if the drums could have spoken; like the men singing the Corn Song, beautiful, beautiful, so that you cried...but better than Mitsima's magic, because it meant more, because it talked to him..." (Huxley 140). He loves reading the Shakespeare and it was his way to feel free from his isolation.

The people are fascinated with the idea of a “savage” from a different place. Bernard tries to show him off, in a way, and writes about him when publicized. The people learn about how John reads Shakespeare, likes spending time alone, etc. They are always excited to hear about him and are extremely disappointed when he did not show up to the party. “The men were furious at having been tricked into behaving politely to this insignificant fellow with the unsavoury reputation and the heretical opinions. The higher their position in the hierarchy, the deeper their resentment” (Huxley 179). This shows how disappointed the people are that they do not get to see the Savage, but also proves that it is good to remain true to their own ways and that life in the World State is perfect, unlike the Savage who is not dependable. It is a let down to the higher people because they were trying to show off the ways of the Savage, but failed.

Allowing the higher-class people to see the Indian Reservation creates a comparison between their utopian world and the un-colonized, filthy reservation. When seeing how disorganized everything is and all of the responsibilities the people at the Reservation have, they are more likely to be content with their lifestyle and be pleased to live a simple life. Huxley explains this comparison when he uses two quotes. “Old men in the bad old days used to renounce, retire, take to religion, spend their time reading, thinking—thinking!” (68). This represents the Reservation and how they have more responsibilities and have to do more work whereas the utopia is perfect. “…the old men work, the old men copulate, the old men have no time, no leisure form pleasure, not a moment to sit down and think—or if ever by some unlucky chance such a crevice of time should yawn in the solid substance of their distractions, there is always soma” (Huxley 68). The comparison between the two allows the readers to see that the people would prefer not having to think as compared to a society where freedom of thinking and making decisions exists.

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

This is about how a boy has lost a girl even though he's done so much for her and he knows he could change how good her life is. He wants her back, but she says she needs time off and to be independent even though they have had good times together. The difference in the two sides of the story are that he sees is that she couldn't have become so successful without him and he turned her life around, while she sees it that she would have gotten better with or without him and she needs to live her own life. I side with the guy because they had such good times together, so I see no point in trying to throw that away. If he helped her and they had a good relationship, then why end it?

Dress

I dress casually and comfortably. It allows me to be more focused on other things rather than what I am wearing. I usually don't copy other people's styles and I like to be independent with my dressing. Most days I either dress in jeans and a shirt or sweatshirt, or sweats and a jacket. I don't care what I look like because that shouldn't be what school is about anyway. As long as I'm comfortable and able to do my work, I am fine. The  only time I dress up is for special events like concerts or ceremonies.
It's an important aspect of my life because it represents who I am. It shows that I have individuality and people should like me for who I am, not the way I dress.
My culture is reflected in my dressing because a lot of people I hang out with are relaxed as well. My personality is reflected in my clothing because it shows I'm laid back and am not a "looks" type of person.

Emic/Etic perspective

Benefits from the emic perspective allows you to have insight on the concepts of their beliefs. They have more familiarity with the subject and already know many things about it.
Benefits of the eitc perspective is good for people who want to learn and grow more. It's a good way for one to expand their horizons and views. They'll then have more insight about other cultures, rather than just their own.
I don't think one perspective is better than the other because they both have benefits to them and there really isn't a clear cut "better" perspective.

These rules are applied because you must be open to new ideas, you need someone informing you so you know what is okay and what isn't in that culture to prevent slip-ups, and you have to be very interactive with the culture you're studying.

"Rain on the Scarecrow" by John Mellencamp

This song is about a farmer who has lost his land to the bank because the farmer couldn't pay the loans, even though it has been in his family for generations and generations. Now the farmer's son can't have the joy from the farm that he had, nor will he have the heritage from the family farm. Some conflicts are that the farmer can't pay his loans, but he wants his son to have the land. However, this causes a family situation since the farm has been in the family for generations. Now because the payments can't be paid, the farm is being taken away from the family. The imagery and symbolism used is death for the family's farm. Blood usually symbolizes death or pain, which represents the loss of the farm to the family. The word choices are strong and all have to do with the past of the family on the farm. This shows how much the farm meant to the family. The narrator clearly favors the family because it has been in the family for so long, it's almost not fair for the bank to take it away because the loans can't be paid. He presents the family sympathetically, using himself as the protagonist. He creates the situation to pity his son, who will never get the "legacy" he had.

Brave New World First Reading Entry

In Brave New World, equality and conformity is created by the social structure that the World State creates. This system works to place people in certain castes, either Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, or Epsilon, that will exclude them from all other castes. Gamma, Delta, and Epsilon undergo the Bokanovsky Process according to their class and develops 96 identical human beings. This cloning process facilitates social stability in the way that the clones produced are predestined to perform identical tasks at identical machines. The guiding motto of the World State is "Community, Identity, Stability." The point in the social castes are to exclude them from all other castes and to have them thinking all uniformly about who they are, what they do, and how they live. Conflict is completely eliminated because people are put in a social status that they are accustomed to being content with. There is no reason for any conflict because their independence has been taken away without them being aware of it. Happiness is created by putting things into the peoples minds and using a drug called Soma. "Till at last the child's mind is these suggestions, and the sum of these suggestions is the child's mind. And not the child's mind only. The adult's mind too-all his life long" (41). The morals of the society are put into the minds of the children as they sleep and it makes them think they are right. Soma is a drug that creates the feeling of  relaxation and allows the people to be content with their way of life. This creates the society to maintain conformity and the people within it to be happy. I would see this government as a utopia for the majority of the people. Because everything is right and things run smoothly, it seems as if the government has created a perfect world. The people are "happy" and content, everything is under control, and there is no conflict. However, I see that the flaws within the government will lead to a dystopian society as the book continues on.

Claims about George Orwell

George Orwell is strongly against a government-controlling society and believes we all need to stay independent.
George Orwell believes the only way to show our society how bad things could be with the government ruling is to take real situations and take them to extremes.

Western Society

The narrator has a dark and mysterious tone. Some examples are barbarous and growled from the first document, grotesque and intense from the second, and toiling and iron collar from the third. The other has a very matter-of-fact tone. A western country would manufacture another enemy because it's all about superiority and making the others look bad. It makes the country unified to stand against someone else.

Third 1984 Reading Journal

As we read the final part of 1984, we come to realize that Big Brother has both succeeded and failed. His overall intention was a failure, but the outcome of his ideas and processes was a success. Big Brother and the Party are trying to gain and access complete control people's minds. However, they do not succeed in this with the fact that Winston and Julia (as well as others, I would assume) had thoughts to rebel and go against the Party's wishes. This shows acts of defiance, thus proving that the government was not able to control the thoughts going through their minds. Even with thoughtcrimes, the telescreens, the 2 minute hate, etc., the government was unable to completely corrupt the minds of the people. However, at the end of the book, the government succeeds to break Julia and Winston through the torture they are put through. The government gains access to all of Julia and Winston's secrets and actions and proceeds to corrupt their minds to the point that they will not rebel or act against the government in any way. The way a One State could be brought down is displayed by Orwell when it is said, "If there was hope, it must lie in the proles, because only there in those swarming disregarded masses, 85 percent of the population of Oceania, could the force to destroy the Party ever be generated" (40). This is the only way One State could be brought down because it is explained throughout the book that all hope lies with the proles. I believe that Winston Smith has truly been brainwashed. This was a surprising twist because the first two parts of the book set the plot up so that we think Winston will beat Big Brother, but in fact he is eventually corrupted by the Party. Reading Part 3 showed us the torturous events Winston was put through, and his final test in Room 101 was the one that finally broke him. When Winston says, "Do it to Julia! Do it to Julia! Not me! Julia! I don't care what you do to her. Tear her face off, strip her to the bones. Not me! Julia! Not me!" (Orwell 242), we see that he finally betrayed the one thing he loved and cared about. The last four words of the book end with "He loved Big Brother" (Orwell 265). This proves that Winston has been broken, he has been brainwashed, and he finally believes what he is being told by the government.

Love Language

At first, I was able to make the assumption that the boy liked the girl and that he wouldn't give up on her. I also assumed that she would end up falling for him and they would get together, despite their differences. I also made the assumption that she was deaf because normally, someone would have taken their earpiece out instead of just motioning they couldn't hear. She is deaf and he isn't; therefore, he probably doesn't know sign language, which would cause a barrier between the two. At first, there's a problem with communication. However, you can tell he wants to be with her, even though it seems as if she's ignoring him. But he keeps talking to her and doesn't give up.

"This Land Is Your Land" Woodie Guthrie

His message is collectivist because the society created is benefiting all people. It isn't centered around the individuals prospering, but rather the group of people as a whole. the land was made for "you and me", proving that we should all be together and this nation is made to be united. this song is anti-government because government is trying to take control, but this song is talking about freedom and liberty. Because the government can rule over people's freedom, this song talks about how we should be free and we can be together without someone telling us what to do.

The Egg

Before he got married, he was kind and cheerful, but after the marriage, he became ambitious along with his wife. The narrator sees chickens as an obstacle and an ugly aspect of life. It goes through stages that are predetermined and aren't special in any way. The narrator almost seems to see them as a disappointment. The narrator claims to have had a bad childhood because they lived on a farm and it was headed for disaster. We can take from this that the narrator is cautious against optimism so that we don't get our hopes up, then be let down. The father's collection of "grotesques" plays a role of symbolism. it symbolizes gloominess and being contained. It also is a way of showing that he doesn't know what others want and he's blind to what they think. He then decides he will be happy, but since it is forced and not real, it doesn't work and is only an illusion. When the narrator talks about the final draw of the egg, it means he is done and is finished with the egg. He has given up on eggs as a whole.

Second 1984 Reading Journal

Winston is having a difficult time believing in what Big Brother and the State are selling because he is not only miserable living the life he's living because of Big Brother, but also because everything is senseless and illogical. Winston is smarter than the usual and he lets his mind wander, unlike others who keep theirs on lock-down, almost acting as robots. He can see past the lies, and he knows that the government is only trying to corrupt the people so that whatever the government says is right. He remembers things others don't and can see that history wasn't really the way Big Brother depicts it in the present days. I would say that yes, Winston's small acts of defiance are a form of protest, because it shows how he is pulling away from the rules that are set by the government. By disregarding the rules and the ways of Big Brother, he is more or less "rebelling" because he doesn't like the way life is. He attempts to find every way he can to get away with things that are illegal and unapproved by the Party. This proves he is, in a way, protesting against the Party. His actions are not as substantial as Wall Street or protests seen in society today, but they are rather small and modest. He keeps them to himself. It isn't what would be defined as a protest because it is not outspoken and directly against something, but it is more inside him that he is becoming a rebel. He has started to become someone else who doesn't follow the ways of the government. He begins to take actions that question the government and he takes on some risky behavior, but it isn't as prominent. Where today's protests are direct and very prominent within the society, o one can see that Winston is "protesting". However, it is still an act of protest because he is against Big Brother and the State; he just doesn't tell or show everyone how he is doing this. Comparing Orwell's society to America's society today would be the mere difference in freedom and liberty. Today we have freedom of speech; we are allowed to think for ourselves, unlike Orwell's depiction of the society. While there are protests in both societies, we as Americans are allowed to speak against and for the things we want, whereas Orwell's society is conformed to certain way of thinking and doing.

American Language

Americans tend to be independent and keep things from one another. There are rarely relationships in which one person (or friend) knows every single thing about another. Americans are quick to push people away by either being too clingy or too distant. We struggle to find a middle ground, which is what we all desperately need. "Friends" are sometimes seen as just someone one has had a conversation with once or twice. This lowers the standard and expectations of true, close friends because there is nothing to distinguish someone you spend every day with and give everything to, as opposed to someone you vaguely know.

Individualists vs. Collectivists

Good qualities of an individualist requires self-reliance, self-control, time management, and extreme focus on one's self and goals. A collectivist would have to be able to take care of a large amount of people, good at managing more than one task at a time, able to work well with other people, outgoing, loyal, and friendly.
Regarding the excerpt, I think it's more individualism because it focuses on accomplishments (i.e. PhD, oldest) and determines an individual with their experience as oneself, rather than as a group.
A conflict that might occur were a collectivist teacher to teach a class of individualist students would be if a few kids in the class were the top speakers for the group, yet she called on people that relied more on the leaders of the class rather than being independent like the teacher.
An acquaintance is someone you associate yourself with, but don't have a close or emotional attachment to or relationship with. It could be both a positive and negative connotation because while one person wanting to be friends it could be negative, another might just want to be co-workers or merely acquaintances, which would have a positive connotation rather than just "a random person" you know.

"2+2=5" by Radiohead

Lyrically, the song is talking about how he has no control and is always being watched. The government has stolen his authority and they are always "paying attention" to him, which is repeated throughout the song. Also, he talks about how things aren't right like the way they should be. However, it seems as if the world he's living in is trying to be a utopia, but has been created to be a dystopia instead. This relates back to 1984 because this is portrayed in the book as well. Towards the end when he starts to talk more about his authority has been questioned and how he's always wrong, the music gets crazy and it is easy to see how the mood seems almost angry sounding. 2+2=5 is not true, but the government is changing history by creating lies that will be passed down as truth. Therefore in the dystopia created in 1984, 2+2=5 will be the new truth if the government says it is so.

Response to Video

The conflict was about the head scarf and what it symbolizes. Over the years, it has been manipulated and is considered a form of oppression to westerners. It's an internal conflict because it is mostly between women and whether or not they should wear it to sacrifice their independence. Globalization creates conflict because of diversity. There are opposing beliefs and ideas, creating conflict over just about everything. Western culture isn't changing; people are just assimilating into it, rather than creating more culture. Thus, globalization is only flowing in one direction. The benefit related in this process is role models. Looking at strong women to see what it really means to be ea woman and to be independent is important and is shown throughout our culture.

First 1984 Reading Journal

In the book 1984 by George Orwell, equality is created by the government, known as the "Party". The Party controls and supervises everyone in a very careful and detailed manner. While the Party tries to create equality throughout the society by making people think they are happy and content under their rule, they are really manipulating the people of their thoughts and ideas by using the idea of Thoughtcrimes. With the consequences of a so-called thoughtcrime, people learn to control their thoughts, their ways of thinking, and their actions. Religion, relationships, and individual rights are abolished altogether. The idea of becoming distant with human relationships is one of the main themes of the book. Individual rights have been taken away. The telescreens are ways of keeping the people under close watch, their every move seen, allowing no room for mistakes or self-control. Everything is controlled by the government, specifically Big Brother. This reduces the conflict in seeing things differently. Since everyone is required to think and act the same way, there is no reason for there to be any conflict. Conformity is forced within the society by manipulation in the government.With the Party always watching and the rules set up in the society, people are forced into believing whatever they are told. Clearly, the government has attempted to make a utopian world, yet it can not exist. With the oppression and forced conformity throughout the society, it creates a dystopia. Though the people are told that they live in a perfect world, it can not be. Everyone is happy enough to live on and not think differently about where they live; however, they are unable to think for themselves and live in fear of their lives, concluding a dystopia has been created, rather than a utopia.

What is a Utopia?

A utopia is an alternate world, one that is ideal and contains a perfect society. My ideal world would be drama-free. Everything would be simple and there wouldn't be any disorganization. No disturbances would be made and everything would flow together, resulting in no conflict. The soundtrack to my utopia would be happy, upbeat music, but also calming music so everyone is content and relaxed at the same time.

October 6, Painting Analysis

The author's voice is detailed and focuses on simple things. The first painting had different colors with paintbrushes, pencils, and paper flying around. A bright light coming from behind hands light up the details around it. The second painting focused on specific features of the face and mouth, and the third painting had an intricate background with very detailed hands. The artist does this to focus attention on things he sees as simple, yet important in the painting; he uses details to make the simple things stand out. The culture portrayed in this painting is the deaf, or people with hearing disabilities, because of the sign language used, the focus on the mouth, and the hearing aid shown in the third painting. This culture focuses on and pays attention to the small things. Since they have a hearing disability, they use their eyes to get more out of whatever they are involving themselves in so they can see and appreciate the simple, intricate details in life.

"You Were Right" Built To Spill

The lyrics suggest someone is going through pain and has experienced loss at some point. Illustrated by the lyrics, "You were wrong when you said everything's gonna be alright...you were right when you said we're all just bricks in the wall and when you said manic depression's a frustrating mess," we can see that the person is going through a rough time and is reflecting on what is right and wrong.
The guitar and drums were fast, but didn't seem to have a set rhythm or beat. Throughout the song, there was a lot going on and the noise was, one could say, messy. The guitar and drum seemed to overpower the singer and it felt like they were fighting against each other to be superior.
The overall effectiveness and support of the song was lost in the busy sound. There was too much going on at one time and created distractions, thus losing its main point.

"Young Life"

The artist's intention in the painting "Young Life" was to show that in 1996, when it was painted, life was simple and content. The title indicates the man and woman are young adults, and of course the little boy is young. The painting doesn't have many details and uses few colors, which are dull and blend together. This shows simplicity throughout the painting, acting as a symbol for aspects of their lives. The woman is holding herself close to the man, and the little boy is positioned off to the side by himself.  While they are all together, they are also somewhat independent. The little boy looks content being by himself, like he is older and proud of being strong. The man is holding a gun, proving he can take care of himself and the people around him, and the woman has no ring, suggesting that she is not married and is independent. They all seem content with their life, and like the simplicity.

"Reading Critically" Summary

"Reading Critically" explained how to read materials closely and to not only understand them, but to also comprehend and apply the materials to other things. The first paragraph introduced the idea of reading critically. It then proceeded in sections to outline each different idea. They were all written in an informational tone to allow the reader to understand and make inferences about the different ideas while reading. All the sections were titled such as "The Title" "When the Work was Published", etc. to give the readers an idea of what to expect. Within the reading was an essay titled "The Broken Chain" by M.F.K. Fisher that was used as an example for the subjects outlined. It was used as an example in sections such as "Summarizing", "Thinking Critically" and others to show how certain actions should be carried out. The author's intention was to teach and inform the readers on how to read critically and get the most out of the reading as possible.

"Shame" Avett Brothers

The subject in this song is shame. The tone is focused on how shame is overpowering and creates weight on his shoulders. Three words I saw in the song that demonstrated the tone were overwhelming, fall apart, and lift. Overwhelming displays how things are hard to handle and there is a lot of weight being placed on his shoulders due to the "boatloads" of shame he is experiencing. Fall apart merely exhibits how things aren't going right and how they are falling apart around him; it shows how hard it is to maintain control. Lift is a unique and important word in the song because it's demonstrating how he is begging to have the weight taken off his shoulders. Lift is a word that demonstrates a physical action, yet "weight on someone's shoulders" is simply figurative, rather than literal. This exhibits how severe the situation is and how desperate he is to get rid of the pain and shame.

Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out by Dave Barry

Subject-The subject of Dave Barry’s “Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out” is the difference between men and women’s priorities. The contrast between the two sexes is illustrated through Barry’s use of examples. He uses dirt and cleaning to portray what women notice, and he uses sports as an example of what men’s priorities are. He explains how women are sensitive to things like dirt and cleaning, whereas men are sensitive to sports through stories he tells.

Occasion- “Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out” was written during the 1980’s. The essay’s time of creation is exhibited in the introduction to the essay where it is conveyed that this essay is from the collection of essays in the book Dave Barry’s Greatest Hits, written in 1988. The probable place of the essay’s creation is in America-more specifically in Miami, Florida. He started working as a humor columnist for The Miami Herald in 1983 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary, thus proving he was writing in 1988 when he wrote Dave Barry’s Greatest Hits in Miami.

The time and place of the essay’s creation influenced the essay through the stories he told and how they related to his life. Barry uses the story of how his wife still notices dirt in the bathroom after he has just cleaned it, and he also uses the story of a dinner he and his wife were invited to on the night of a World Series Game. These stories pertain to the time setting being fairly modern and the location being in America.

Audience- Dave Barry’s specific audience for “Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out” is married couples. The author’s target audience is exhibited by the stories he tells. These stories involve him and his wife and how their differences affect their lives. These stories are attracting couples because these stories are most likely to resemble married couples’ past experiences to some extent.

The author’s general audience for the essay is young Americans. The author’s general audience is expressed through his somewhat adult humor and the way he perceives American men and women in their relationships.

Purpose- Dave Barry’s purpose in “Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out” is to show the differences in the priorities men and women have. The message he wanted to convey to the audience is that both women and men have things that are sensitive about-they just aren’t about the same things. The different priorities men and women have are revealed when he says, “She is there looking at the very walls I just Windexed, and she is seeing dirt!” This shows that women are very sensitive to cleaning, whereas men are clearly not. He then goes on to say, “The opposite side of the dirt coin, of course, is sports. This is an area where men tend to feel very sensitive and women tend to be extremely callous.” This is what men are sensitive about, thus proving that while priorities for the different sexes alter, those sensitivities still exist.

Speaker- Dave Barry, Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist, believes that women and men differ in their preferences. This value is illustrated by his use of “coin”, meaning that it’s two-sided, one being men and one being women. They have different preferences, yet are one.

Dave Barry, columnist for the Miami Herald, also believes that women and men should stick to their own “thing”. He uses the example of Pompeii where men didn’t notice things that women did, ending in disaster. He mentions that from then on, men have never done housework because they don’t notice the little details. This proves that certain people are meant for different things and they should stick to what they know.

Dave Barry’s use of phrasing is evident throughout the essay by using the beginning paragraph to talk about the difference of men and women, the next few paragraphs to talk about women’s priority, and the last paragraphs to talk about men’s preferences. It is structured well to allow organization to take place.

Dave Barry’s use of diction is evident throughout the essay through his humor. He uses his humor to keep the essay flowing and to create a light mood. This is seen when he talks about the Windex incident and the World Series Game. He uses italics to emphasize his humor through his sarcasm towards the subject.

Tone-Dave Barry exhibits a humorous and discerning attitude about the differences in priorities between men and women in “Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out”. These attitudes are expressed by amusement and an understanding seen throughout the piece. He uses jokes throughout the essay to keep the mood lively, but also creates a very understanding tone that shows he knows what he is talking about in relationship to the differences between men and women. His tone serves the purpose of keeping the readers interested and to have an understanding of the realization he has come to. When he claims that “…I always get irate letters from women who say they are the heavyweight racquetball champion…and are sensitive to sports to the point where they could crush my skull like a rip grape, but I feel these women are the exception.” Here, he creates humor, but also knows that there always exception. This proves that he is understanding, but can also have fun with it.

"American Tongues"

Voice in literature is how the writer connects with the audience. The writer creates a voice by using a certain tone, attitude, and syntax. I think that it's originally unintentional; however, once the voice is discovered, it can be altered in whatever way the writer wants it to be. People in Eastern Kentucky tend to talk around the subject to create a comfortable setting so there is a connection beforehand. They see that it's better to become social before asking for something. By seeing the way a writer approaches a topic, we can see what their feelings are toward it and what tone they are taking on. Voice is important in writing because you learn what message the writer is trying to make and their attitude towards the topic.

Eleanor Rigby- PAIN vs. Beatles

I like the Beatles version of "Eleanor Rigby" more than PAIN's cover of it. I have listened to the Beatles all my life, and this song is a classic to me. Not only have I grown up listening to it, but it's also very calming and it allows me to listen to the lyrics and the music more. However, since it's familiar to me it gives me bias, and I also tend to like original songs more than covers of songs. I think that the Beatles version is more pleasing to listen to because it was soothing rather than loud and harsh. In the PAIN version, the singer appeared to be "screaming" at us rather than actually singing, whereas in the Beatles version the singer has a soft and quiet voice that is pleasing to listen to.

Kandinsky vs. Pollack

I like the Pollack painting more because I like the use of his colors. They go well with each other and complement each other. I also am a fan of splatter pain, which is what the painting is. It has no definite shapes; therefore, it makes it seem as though it has a sense of freedom to it. While I like the Pollack painting more than Kandinsky's, I'd have to say that Kandinsky's painting is more pleasing to the eye. It has definite shapes, mostly geometric ones, and uses pastel colors. There is more to look at and there are different aspects of the painting one can look at, whereas Pollack's is the splatter paint-the same throughout.

"Sign Language"

The single effect I got from this short film was hope. At the beginning he mentions that he is being promoted, which indicates he will be moving up in life; this provides a sense of hope for him to have a better life. The way he describes the community and life-that its beauty is all around us-shows the audience that he has hope in life altogether because of the way he sees the world. His friends also tell him to go talk to the girl he likes by using signs. They motivate him to talk to her; this shows that he has hope and that it could work out. If I were to take out the background music in the film, it would lose that feeling and sense of community. The music provided almost a calm feeling, and it created a nice contrast from the busy and hectic hustle and bustle of the city streets. The music made the film flow well, and it gave the audience a sense of belonging in the community he was trying to explain.

Harry Nilsson "Good Old Desk"

S- The subject in this song is God.
O- The recording was published in 1968.
A- The audience Nilsson is trying to target are people in need of comforting advice.
P- The purpose of the song is to prove that God is always there for him to rely on and lean back on when needed.
S- The speaker is someone who loves to be with and near God.
T- The tone throughout the song is happy, comforting, and has a very content feeling to it.

Nilsson is talking about God and what a comfort it is to have someone who is always there for him and remain stable in his life. He talks about how God is there " to keep[s] [his] hopes alive." He also says He's "the one friend I've got, a giant of all times," indicating that God will never let him down. Overall, Nilsson is trying to prove the point that no matter what happens, God is always there to catch him when he falls and that it's "such a comfort to know, it's got no place to go, it's always there."

Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell

Subject- The subject of George Orwell's "Shooting an Elephant" is imperialism that the author wished to convey to the audience. British imperialism is illustrated through his decision to kill an elephant that has broken loose and caused damage to the villages only for the purpose of not being seen as a fool. Here, the author implies that his intended purpose of using the rifle merely as a defense mechanism was overridden by the pressure the British government created.
Occasion- "Shooting an Elephant" was written during the early 1900s. The essay's time of creation is displayed by stating that Burma was where the story took place, which is now present day Myanmar. We know that it was the early 1900s because the British were still controlling Myanmar at that time, which was still Burma- a province of India. The probable place of the essay's creation is Moulmein, Burma. We know this because the narrator states it at the beginning.
The time and place of the essay's creation influenced the essay by illustrating how government was enforced under British imperialism at this time. This claim is illustrated when Orwell says, "For at that time I had already made up my mind that imperialism was an evil thing....I was all for the Burmese and all against their oppressors, the British." This shows how he was against imperialism, and that while he was not friendly with the Burmese, he knew they were being oppressed by the British and he did hate the type of rule they were being governed under.
Audience- George Orwell's specific audience for "Shooting an Elephant" are the English people, specifically ones under imperial rule.The author's target audience is revealed by his aggressive attacks on the idea of imperialism. He blatantly states that his decision of killing the elephant was on behalf of the government pressure when he says "Here was I, the white man with his gun, standing in front of the unarmed native crowd — seemingly the leading actor of the piece; but in reality I was only an absurd puppet pushed to and fro by the will of those yellow faces behind. ...He wears a mask, and his face grows to fit it." This proves that he has been forced to give up his freedom and followed what he is expected to do.
The author's general audience are people lacking knowledge of imperial rule. The author's general audience is shown how imperialistic rule has negative affects and can lead to unfortunate events to educate the people lacking this information. The knowledge he is providing is illustrated with his statement, "And it was at this moment, as I stood there with the rifle in my hands, that I first grasped the hollowness, the futility of the white man's dominion in the East." He proves that a white man, even one who can have complete dominion over others, is still useless and is being pressured into doing something he knows isn't right when it comes to terms of the government.
Purpose- George Orwell's purpose in "Shooting an Elephant" is to create awareness of self-destruction caused by imperialism. He wants to let the audience know what imperialism can do and tries to create or support repulsion towards this type of government. Creating a negative outlook on imperialism is revealed with, "I perceived in this moment that when the white man turns tyrant it is his own freedom that he destroys.” He says this, trying to show that harm will come to people who follow imperialism and it will destroy their freedom. The purpose is further revealed by "There was only one alternative." He is stating here how he must kill the elephant- he has no other choice anymore and his freedom is now gone.
Speaker- George Orwell, a writer opposed to totalitarianism and aware of social injustice, believes in freedom rather than being under government rule. This value is illustrated by "...secretly, of course — I was all for the Burmese and all against their oppressors, the British." This proves how he was for the Burmese, even given the fact that he was not liked by them. His values of freedom are illustrated by his desire to be against the oppressing British.
George Orwell's use of irony is evident in his last sentence, "I often wondered whether any of the others grasped that I had done it solely to avoid looking a fool." Irony presents the anecdote and helps the readers understand how imperialistic power limits freedom. Ironically, the natives control the executioner instead of the executioner controlling the natives. The execution of the elephant presented makes him feel important because he only cared of not being seen as a fool, even though he lost his freedom and did what he was expected to do.
George Orwell's use of imagery is evident when he describes the elephant saying that "peacefully eating, the elephant looked no more dangerous than a cow...with that preoccupied grandmotherly air that elephants have." This is used to create a more sympathetic feeling towards the elephant, as it is doing no harm. This allows for a bigger reaction when he kills the elephant due to the feelings the audience now has towards the elephant.
Tone- George Orwell exhibits a bitter and critical attitude about the idea of imperialism in "Shooting an Elephant". These attitudes are expressed with seriousness and attacks. The seriousness created throughout the story implements a critical tone where there is no room for "dilly-dallying". He is straight and to the point and very straightforward with his remarks. His attacks used on imperialism create a bitter tone that he uses to show his negative attitude toward imperialism as a whole.

"The Runaway"

"The Runaway" is a picture of a little boy around the age of 7 on a bar stool in what would appear as a diner. The boy is turned looking at a policeman who is also looking at him from his place on the bar stool next to him. A stick with a small bundle at the end tied with a bandanna is sitting on the ground next to the little boy. Artist Norman Rockwell provides a new way to look at the 1950's in this painting. The 1950's were the years following World War II and new families were being started as servicemen returned home. This started a new, fresh beginning for everyone. Here, we see how this little boy has attempted to "run away", most likely just to have fun and play what he thought was a game. Not knowing and not caring about the bigger aspects of life happening around him, the boy was simply living his childhood. This shows how carefree and innocent the little boy is. With the turn around from the war, this painting overlooks the issues of America and focuses on something more or less bittersweet for the audience- creating almost a nostalgic longing for that innocent childhood we all once had. "The Runaway" overlooks the fundamental rift that was rising in America throughout the 1950's- an emerging counter culture that was not concerned with how things were in America but rather how they are.

"Across the Universe" the Beatles

In the song, images I saw were "...endless rain in a paper cup" where I saw a paper cup on a sidewalk continuously overflowing with every drop of rain, "images of broken light" which I envisioned as light darting in from the window, making specks of light on the wall, and "...like a restless wind inside a letter box" where I saw a small wooden box sitting on a table shaking and rattling as if something were inside trying to get out. I saw the "images of broken light" standing as a symbol. I thought the light represented good times and the broken part being the amounts of "dark" time between those good times. My favorite symbol that has remained with me throughout all my life is the dove, the symbol of peace.

"Inspiration Information" by Shuggie Otis

This song had an lighthearted, happy, and "chill" feel to it. It's the kind of music that I would listen to if I wanted to just relax. It has a loose feel to it with no strict pattern. I think the synthesizer that gave the song a wavering sound to it set off the vibe. It makes the song not only unique, but also flow well. This song definitely gave us a view of something different. The synthesizer was the main part of what the musician chose to make the song feel this way. The simple drum beat was also a nice touch that added a slow, but steady rhythm throughout the song. It wasn't rushed, but it wasn't incredibly slow either. The bass guitar also added a relaxing, "groovy" feel with it's low bending notes. It had a very relaxing, calming feel to it that made an overall nice, unique song.

"Semeadores" by Diego Rivera

Subject: The workers.
Occasion: Work being done in a field (most likely planting seeds).
Audience: The working class.
Purpose: To make the audience think about the work and situations certain people (in Mexico, specifically) were put in
Speaker: Mexicans in the working labor.
Tone: Sad, negative mood, miserable to work.

I think that the meaning and the theme of the painting has to do with what people went through in Mexico and how hard they worked. I think the artist wanted us to see what certain people (Mexicans in specific) had to go through to get money to survive. The dark colors and negative light indicates a negative mood. The work shown in the painting is a continuous cycle and process, which the artist showed by using wavy, curvy lines that seem to make everything flow together.The characters in the painting seem to blend into the background so that no distinct features or characteristics are portrayed. I think the point of this was to show the unhappiness and how unimportant they seem in their position and what the workers have been put through.  This is obviously something that the artist is unhappy with. With the light, lines, and colors, he is trying to show us how he does not agree with the type of work these people had to do and what we should be aware of.

Wilco's Approach

Wilco explains that there are many different options to choose from when creating a song. It depends on what style and type of music one is looking for. When attempting to build a certain type of style or sound, one must take it apart and go into depth about it. Exploring the subject and idea is the way it is brought together. By taking a certain idea and picking it apart, it eventually leads to a very good, developed piece and continues to build up. For my own personal writing, I always have a general idea of what I'm looking for and create a theme to go by. Then I go more into depth about the subjects I want to talk about. I decide what I want to be specific about and what aspects I can be broader about. I usually look for everyday objects to incorporate in a unique way. I set up my writing like an outline first with my ideas and then start to add the details. I then piece it together to make it all flow. At the end, I go back and check over it. If certain things don't go together, I change it or correct it to make it sound better. Re-reading it a lot and allowing others to examine it and give feedback is also important because it helps me to be able to hear other ideas that can help my piece get better.

Nostalgia

I would define nostalgia as a sentimental desire for something in the past that one misses or wants back. One image that came to mind when I heard the song "Rock Around The Clock" was a black and white scene. In the scene there was a dance floor with lots of different people, the girls with their puffy skirts and dresses and boys with plaid shirts, dancing and laughing together as a band played and sang the song. There was one main singer who was in the center of the scene playing guitar and everyone was dancing in front of him, all in sync. The scene was happy and upbeat, like the song. When I think of my childhood certain images, smells, memories, and sounds pop into my head. Going to Graeter's with my dad, running through sprinklers with friends, playing kickball in my next door neighbor's backyard, watching movies and playing dolls with the girls next door, going fishing with Granddaddy, and going to the golf course with my dad are all images of my childhood. The smell of clean cut grass on our front lawn, the smell of cookies baking at Grandmother's house, the sound of the "I Love Lucy" theme, and the sound of Christmas music are all sounds and smells that remind me of the days from the past. These all have a nostalgic affect on me and will continue to do so as I remember my sweet childhood that is now behind me.

A Pinch of Poverty

The main contributing factors to poverty are unemployment, little/no income, inflation, scarce food supply, and being in poverty itself. The picture has a negative light because of the dark colors throughout the painting and the background seems to be in a mist or fog. The colors seem to be washed out and the main focus is on the people because they are the darkest in the picture with the exception of their faces, which are very pale. Poverty is an awful and stressful situation that creates an unhealthy environment. With it being such a terrible situation to put in, it seems as if the artist was trying to communicate that it wasn't their fault; rather it was a situation brought upon them. Two elements that enhance the message are the dark colors and the facial expressions on the people. Only dark and bland colors are used throughout the painting. The only bright colors are yellow flowers to create a contrast between the brightness of the flowers and the darkness of being in poverty. The background as well as their clothes, along with the black streets all come together to show the extreme stress of poverty. The facial expressions on the people are solemn and look as if they are lonely and hurt. It almost seems as if they don't know what to do and have nothing to look forward to, enhancing how truly bad poverty is.

Poverty

World Poverty is obviously a huge issue in the world. Chitra Divakaruni, author of Live Free and Starve, writes from the perspective that sometimes things that appear to right are not always for the best. For example, the bill no longer permitting “the import of goods from factories where forced or indentured child labor was used,” seems to be the right thing to do. However, when looking at it in broad perspective, it would actually cause the situation in third world countries to become worse. Divakaruni states, “If the children themselves were asked whether they would rather work under such harsh conditions or enjoy a leisure that comes without the benefit of food or clothing or shelter, I wonder what their response would be.” Divakaruni uses the example of Nimai, a boy that came to work in her household when she grew up in Calcutta.  On the surface, it might seem wrong that a child would be exploited in this manner; however, she described Nimai as feeling pride in the fact that he was a responsible member of his family.

However, Peter Singer, author of The Singer Solution to World Poverty, looks at it from a different angle. He believes giving as much as possible to support and save lives of children is the right thing to do. “An American household with an income of $50,000 spends around $30,000 annually on necessities…Therefore, for a household bringing in $50,000 a year, donations to help the world’s poor should be as close as possible to $20,000.” He uses the example of “Bob” to describe how, to put it bluntly, selfish we Americans are. He uses Bob to show how he is confronted with the dilemma of whether to save an unknown homeless child or his uninsured vintage car, representing his life’s savings, as a runaway train races out of control. He then goes on to explain how if we were to give up dining out for a month, we could save enough to save a child. However true this may be, we also must look at how realistic it is- not very. While some may give already a lot of money to organizations like UNICEF, there are so many more that don’t.

Though Divakaruni’s article isn’t ending world poverty, it is more realistic. I agree that the conditions in which the children in third world countries is awful and should not be accepted. However, Divakaruni makes a valid point and a good argument that by taking away the children’s employment, it would leave them without money to support their family and they would most likely die of starvation. Possible bias may come from the fact that I happened to read Live Free and Starve first; therefore, I may have already had an opinion about it. However, I do somewhat agree with Singer with the fact that we as Americans should give more to stop world poverty. It’s just difficult to concur with his argument due to the extreme measures he goes to and the fact that it, all in all, is just completely unrealistic.

I do agree that world poverty is an issue that needs to be addressed, but not in such a forceful and extreme manner to where it is almost impossible. We must all be aware of what decisions we make that could affect other people, like Divakaruni states, but also aware of what harsh conditions others are living in and how we are able to help.

Ariel Pink's Haunted Grafitti "Round and Round"

Knowing a broad range of music, I have heard a different variety of music. I have been accustomed to listening to different genres as well as different types of music. I've heard songs like "Round and Round" before; therefore, nothing affected my opinion because of difference. I do, however, have a keen ear due to having so much experience with music. The correlation between my opinion, being that I liked the different qualities of sound, dynamics, and tempo used, and my facts- it had a slow beat and transitioned from soft and quite to loud and upbeat- both have to do with beat and dynamics. Those were the two things I saw and recognized most prominently throughout the song. I do not have bias because I listen to all different music and I am open to all of them.