Walter Lee Younger- Point of View

March 18, 1948

Today. Today is the day. Today is the day that I break free from the shackles of poverty; today is the day that Benny, and Mama, and Travis, and Ruth and I say goodbye to the life we live.  The feeling of coming back, smile on my face, liquor license in my hand is going to be sweeter than never holding the car door for a white man again!  Hot dog, I can't wait to "change our lives" (108).  But now I got this money I can.  Today is our day. Today is my day. Today...

March 19, 1948

'How' is the only question I have to ask.  How can God be so cruel? How can Willy do that when "I put my life in [his] hands" (128)?  How can I ever look into the eyes of Mama again?  How can I ever look at the tombstone of my dad again?  How can I look at Beneatha knowing that I'm the reason she can't be a doctor? I don't know what to do anymore.  I tried my best and I messed everything up so much more.  Yesterday may have been my day, but today--the day that really mattered-- wasn't.

While others might say ; outer space Jimi Hendrix however -- -- the fates Jeanette Walls fire

       "The Weary Blues" explores the dark side of the blues, one of the building blocks of modern music.  Langston Hughes writes about something that seems as far away as outer space, however the nature of the topics relevance can be seen.  Music ranging from the Hip-Hop of Kanye West to the psychedelic rock of Jimi Hendrix can all be traced back to these lyrics, melodies, and chord progressions.  Hughes's description of the man on "Lenox Avenue" "crooning" the tune offers a different point of view; instead of the fast-paced, euphoric music it has evolved into, the lonely man sits at his piano.  While others might say that music has has evolved so far that the blues is unidentifiable --they are not completely incorrect-- the melodies of jazz greats will never be lost.  Both forms of musical expression follow many of the same rules of melody, just as Jeanette Walls uses many of the same words that Shakespeare did.   Motifs, snippets of recognizable melody fragment in music, are no different than Walls's motifs of fire.  As if the Fates control the course of time, the blues will continue to influence music.

One of the greatest Blues standards off of one of the greatest records.  Miles Davis --"So What"

The great Gatsby-- What is it to be successful in America?

Success in America and success are not the same thing.  Not at all.  Individual success comes from an individual perspective--ones goals and desires from themselves, for themselves-- while American success is rooted in societal expectations.  To succeed in America and to succeed are completely different destinations, and with that in mind, American success can be explored.  

In The Great Gatsby, many of the characters are successful based upon American standards (wealth, power and popularity).   Gatspy may be rich enough to throw elaborate parties with full orchestras that are "no thin five-piece affair" (40), yet lacks happiness.  The girl he always loved married Tom, leaving him alone in his "mansion" (5).  In fact, Gatsby may be the most successful person met thus far in the novel-- according to America-- yet is lonely and lacks personal success.

Tom and Daisy are also successful. Tom is born into a family of old wealth and Daisy is his lovely wife.  This is American success. But what isn't taken into account is the empty hateful marriage; the unfaithful husband with the self-hating wife; the massive house in West Egg that will never be a home; the gray midst all of the color.

No matter how wealthy you are, no matter how successful you are, no matter how large you party is, real, deeply rooted-- maybe the most American success of all-- is not bought.  Maybe this success that everyone truly desires isn't in "shirts with stripes and scrolls and plaids in coral and apple-green and lavender and faint orange" (92) but in your own and others' happiness.

Growing Up: Fear and Excitement

David Foster Wallace addressed the graduating class of Kenyon College in 2005.  These students were no longer students; they were graduates; they were adults; they were real people; they are what we all have to face someday.  This honestly terrifies me. The idea that someday I will wake up in the morning, alone but maybe with a dog, make a cup of tea (because no matter how much I mature I won't grow into coffee) and look out the window into a mysterious city knowing that I could do anything I choose to, yet going to a job to waste my life terrifies me. Maybe it's the idea of living a life of regret, knowing that I did not, could not, or would not do what I really desire is what makes me anxious.  Wallace paints this picture of a life of mediocrity with "long checkout lines","traffic jams", and "meaningless routines"; all of the things that I and many others do not want to become. Part of my fear is drawn from the notion that I will probably end up in these situations and accept and perhaps even enjoy it.  I do not want to become satisfied with a life not worthy of satisfaction. But maybe it's not as bad as it seems. Because when Wallace goes on to talk about the life of those who want to LIVE not just live, and those who want the "capital-T Truth" he focuses on the mental decision to become this.  "You consciously decide what has meaning and what doesn't" and if in the bright store aisle I choose to think about the upcoming snow storm that will cover the mountains with snow instead of thinking about the idicoracy of the "lane-blocking SUV's" and planning to "hit the sack early" for work the next day.  I just hope that I and many others have a reason to live.

David Foster Wallace

Punctuation

In the English language, precision of meaning is important, and punctuation is necessary to do this.  As Henry Hitchings says, a simplification of punctuation "appears to reflect wider social decline"; changing language to conveniently meet standards of social networks and other modern additions to communication will destroy the foundation information is spread upon.  Lewis Thomas details the specific uses and meanings for the different punctuation marks-- parenthesis, commas, colons, semicolons, explanation marks, question marks, and the dash-- highlighting the seemingly insignificant differences.  He says that colons are "a lot less attractive", and that explanation points are "irritating", but does so in a way that demonstrates their effect on the language; adding an explanation point can "destroy the whole work [of literature]".  Each of these punctuation marks changes the mood and meaning of the work and having strict guidelines of use will promote clarity to the reader. When there is a strict set of rules to adhere by, creativity can seem to be hindered.  Elizabeth Austin states "not for me the dogma of the period" and demonstrates a poem that does not follow grammar.  In certain cases, this is true, yet in the ever-changing world creativity can expressed with proper grammar.  Literary devices such as similes, personification, and metaphors all follow the rules of grammar, allow creativity, and remain clear to the reader. The standards of punctuation are not necessarily hindering.  Specific meanings also becomes extraordinarily important in writing that should not be left up to the reader to interpret; scientific journals and news articles are written to convey a certain message.

Sherman Alexie uses twitter, completes a thought, and uses proper punctuation.  It is possible!

Purple, Yellow and Green

"When I first seed Cholly, I want you to know it was like all the bits of color from that time down home when all us chil'ren went berry picking after a funeral and I put some in the pocket of my Sunday dress, and they mashed up and stained my hips. My whole dress was messed with purple, and it never did wash out. Not the dress nor me. I could feel that purple deep inside me. And that lemonade Mama used to make when Pap came in out the fields. It be cool and yellowish, with seeds floating near the bottom. And that streak of green them june bugs made on the trees the night we left from down home. All of them colors was in me. Just sitting there. So when Cholly come up and tickled my foot, it was like them berries, that lemonade, them streaks of green the june bugs made, all come together. Cholly was thin then, with real light eyes. He used to whistle, and when I heerd him, shivers come on my skin." (Morrison 115)

      Toni Morrison creates an undeniable sense of beauty and wonder in Pauline's recount of her first time seeing Cholly. Her entire life she "never felt at home" (111), in a constant state of feeling left out and isolated.  Cholly comes into her life and not only fills the role of a lover she never had, but welcomes her insecurity: the foot.  Her crippled foot created and held the isolation she felt, and by him being welcoming of, even treasuring of the injury, she finds the person she always wanted.  Pauline associates Cholly with vivid memories of color, and when he meets her, they all come together.  He made her happy-- a feeling foreign to her. Throughout the novel, colors are associated with happiness, and this stream of shades shows her unmistakable glee.  Eventually, the reader knows that this fades to the "peeling gray" (34) found in the "cell" (34); colors of her old life turning to black and white and eventually to a shade exactly between them. Her happiness, her fulfilled self, her new lover, her hope for her future, her memories of "purple","yellow" and "green"(115) are the "paints and crayons" (111) that she missed without knowing.  Pauline missed this memory.

Here, the three colors: lemonade yellow, June Bug green, and berry purple, are mixed together; this is what Cholly did to her--made her associate all of the colors together.  I used a website to show the shade left after combing the three.  Mixing them leaves an undeniable gray. (http://trycolors.com/)

The Spectrum of Race

This week in class we briefly discussed the idea of a spectrum of race.  This is the idea that two Whites, Blacks, Asians, South Americans, or Australians are not equal just because their skin color says so.  Often, this is found between "light-skin" and "dark-skin" blacks where the former find themselves as the oppressor; I find this interesting, yet messed up.  It seems that as an attempt to gain power lost to stereotypes placed by whites, these blacks, instead of unifying against this, have turned to oppress themselves.  The group that sees themselves are being superior tries to fight their own pain by causing pain to others; by doing this they are giving in to the white beauty standards we discussed where woman "worry about the edges of their hair" (Morrison 83) rather than embrace the features that make themselves beautiful. The "light-skins" are giving whites the satisfaction of conformation to their set standards.  What if these were reversed though? What if whites strove to be like blacks in their looks?  Those that are naturally pale, those with blue eyes, those with blond hair, would all suddenly become ugly.  "Dark-skin" whites with brown hair and eyes would become the sexual and beauty goal for the whole race.  If this seems disturbing, then imagine this being reality.

Oprah discuses the issues dark skin girls face.

good kid, m.A.A.d City

     Kendrick Lamar is a popular rapper who is vocal about his childhood in Compton, a gang infested neighborhood in Los Angeles.  Although he is similar to other hip-hop artists in origin, his lyricism and view of his life is much different.  It is common for rappers to almost brag about their violent tendencies and drug filled past; Lamar does not censor out this in his music, but rather looks backs with regret and pain.  By using the N-word and other powerful words, he provides a brutally honest look into the lives of poor intercity areas. In the song m.A.A.d City, a fast moving beat gives the song a pump-up type feel, with violent vulgar language to fuel the fire.  The powerful slave related connotations of the N-word help to prove his point that blacks are given no opportunity to succeed.  When he says "and its safe to say that the next generation maybe can sleep/with dreams of being a lawyer or doctor,"  he refers to his success and a chance for his children to live a real life, by luck of their father rather than luck of their race.  He also refers to his violent past of being "a boy with a chopper," (a chopper is a street name for an AK-47) without shame, as a matter of fact.  True to his brutally honest tone, the chorus repeats the N-word in a low angry manner.  Near the end of the song, Kendrick refers to the kids of Compton as "the Children of the Corn," alluding to the story from horror story of kids worshiping an imaginary being.  The kids from LA worship the idea of a life of violence and wealth--unrealistic and terrible.  

     Like Toni Morrison said about the harsh words in Huckleberry Finn, the amazing part of the language is "the argument it raises".  Using racist, terrible words should make the reader uncomfortable and address something that no one else wants to address. In no way am I saying that Huck Finn and m.A.A.d City are even close to being equal in importance, but that smaller pieces of art can in everyday life can cause a questioning society.  In the end Kendrick Lamar wants the listener to hear the murder he witnessed and feel horrified; he wants the audience to see the lased drugs he tried that led him to never using drugs again; he wants the listener to understand why he refers to himself as "Compton's human sacrifice", and, by making a violent, racist, vulgar song, he wants the audience to want to change this.

Explicit Link (Listen with caution)

Clean Link

The Land of the Free and the Home of the Opressed

America.  The country founded upon freedom*

(*for white landowning men)

It is interesting that when establishing a new nation, the founders did not want to save everyone from the lack of freedom they faced.  America was founded by white men, for white men.  It took individuals from every other group to stand and demand the rights that the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence did not declare for them.  Blacks had to fight for their own freedom; woman had to demand equal rights that their male counterparts already possessed; Native Americans had to regain land and respect in their own country; LGBT people had to rally and parade for their own marriage right.  Individuals had to speak until enough others listened and spoke with them.  Even 200 years after the founding of the United States, not everyone is truly free. Harriet Jacobs remembers her life as a slave in the South, and the sexual abuse she faced from her white male owner--the free abusing their freedom.  Jacobs was at the bottom of Americas social ladder as a black female, but by fighting for herself, escaped.  Knowing she was "[risking] everything on the throw of a die" (Jacobs) she continues, striving for the freedom that she was never guaranteed.  Similar to Fredrick Douglas, she becomes a catalyst for change in the social norm of oppression. These were two people who stood up and eventually convinced others, including non blacks, to stand with them. Freedom from oppression takes the bravery of few, with the following of many.

The two activists.

Rebelling Against a Society and the Lovely Carolyn Gearig

      

     There seems to come a point in everyone’s life where they have to make a decision: follow the socially normal path, or create a new one.  Carolyn, my beautiful sister, and Pearl Prynne both choose –or maybe ended up with—the latter.  Not listening to the Puritan Society, she lived a life individual to her; free and different from anyone else.  She connected to nature because she loved to be surrounded by the “forest gloom” (Hawthorne 204).  Carolyn was also determined to live her own life; using journalism as a trail, she made herself different from those around her. My sister immersed herself in writing and reading, trying to make her life more than just a cookie cutter of school and work.  Restarting the Troy High Newspaper, and ultimately earning an editing role in the University of Michigan Student Run School Paper (the Michigan Daily) made her stand out from every person I have ever met.  Attending journalism conferences in Nashville, Chicago, and maybe –if my parents will allow this—Israel this winter as well as travels across Europe, California, Alaska, and so many more amazing places demonstrate her amazing determination to live a life fulfilled.   Just like Pearl, her life may result in a way that is unimaginable: living a civil life married to a man of a social class that seems foreign.  In the end, both of these people have taught me that different isn’t worse; individuals have individual dreams. 

us <3 (notice the Michigan Daily sweatshirt)

Femanism

I am a feminist.  There: I said it.  Despite the negative connotations of the word, I still consider myself one.  In fact, I bet that if everyone knew the real definition then they would also realize that they are one.

The true meaning of feminism is about EQUALITY, not man-hating; this seems to be unknown by so many.  Too many associate this word with the idea that crazy power hungry woman are trying to make woman the dominant gender, and this is ignorant.  Language is not defined by its most extreme use just as all Christians are not the same as Westboro Baptist Church-goers.  Many sophisticated and well thought out arguments suddenly become personal attacks to men when they are the target, and maybe they--myself included-- need to learn that not every question towards social and gender norms is a crazy estrogen-fueled onslaught.  Just as Deborah Tannen did not want to be a "male-basher" (392), most feminists also do not want this. What also needs to be understood is that equality has gone a long way.  Although a true balance has not been achieved, the world is getting closer by the day, and maybe it is time to address the other part of equality: the man. In no way am I trying to say that men are worse off than woman, but simply because someone has it worse does not cancel out another problem.  Both sides of gender should be equal, just as the definition says.

Religion and Sex

Religion seems to be obsessed with two things: God and sex.  God is the very basis of religion and that is what its teachings should deal with.  Instead, religion seems to control the lives of its followers and is especially involved in sex.  Catholic priests cannot be married and have sex; sex must only be had in a married couple; sex should only be used to reproduce; contraceptives are against God's will; sex between people of the same gender is sin.  Religion seems to have made sex a taboo topic and shamed the participants.  This sex-shaming society--a majority of the prejudice against females--has created more evil than good.  Girls that choose to have sex at a young age are considered whores and are given less of a social worth than others.  Hester Prynne has sex outside of marriage and faces punishment greater than could be imagined.  When she tries to attend church to pray and forgive her sin, she becomes "the text of the discourse," (Hawthorne 82).  Her self--and societal--worth has dropped because religion is obsessed with sex.  This problem is mostly suffered by women, a double standard that is unacceptable; people should have the freedom to make choices that have no negative effects on others without judgement.  Woman face being a prude or being a slut: two demeaning names for free sexual choice.  Religion should stay out of the personal lives of its followers and those that happen to fall under the umbrella of its power.  Separation of church and state already exists, so there might as well be a separation of church and bedroom.

Art and the Connection

     On Friday, we discussed the article "Black Men and Public Spaces", analyzing the techniques the author used to help create a message.  In fourth hour the same day, the whole Jazz Band listened to three pieces of music and made a similar analyzation.  The way we discussed the message and the ways it was conveyed was alike; transitions, effects in sound,  overall mood all were considered in both discussions. What does this mean? Varying forms of art are connected.
    At 11:45 Thursday night, I looked up the week two vocab words and found that many of the definitions-- surrealism for example-- applied much beyond literature; a couple seemed to have the literary use as the second definition. Merriam-Webster defines it as "a 20th-century art form in which an artist or writer combines unrelated images or events in a very strange and dreamlike way," (merriam-webster.com).  This, at least to mean, implies painting and sculpting.  Even the example used on the vocab quiz was an example of a painting instead of an example found in writing. What does this mean? Varying forms of art are connected.
     Right now, I am listening to Shofukan by Snarky Puppy.  This song has many different parts, causing split up sections with different ways of portraying the same feeling.  The way that these musicians chose to make this piece of music is similar to how I choose to write this; sections leading to a main point. What does this mean? Varying forms of art are connected.
    Similar to a musical chorus, literature can have a repeated lines, and paintings may have a specific color scheme and details. The entire concept of all relation in art seems simple but many don't seem to see this; in fact, this realization struck me when I had two discussions on art work in two completely different classes Friday. "Something can be perfectly simple without being perfectly obvious" Mr. Aldinger says, and this is true for not only economics. What does this mean? Varying forms of art are connected.

Perspective of Happiness and the Age Old Question: Is Ignorance Bliss?

     Happiness is an individual achievement.  Whatever makes one person happy may not do the same to another, and the reality of the situation is: that is okay.  I enjoy skating, running, and playing music.  Does that mean that everyone should enjoy those activities? Of course not.  Does that mean that others should empathize and respect my right to self achievement and my pursuit of happiness? Yes.  Even though someone may look at running and decide that it is a miserable activity and no one should ever run, realizing that differences exist in personality can help to understand the differences in lifestyle.
      These same principles applies to sadness.  Many would look into the life of Jeannette Walls and decide that her childhood was miserable and dark, and it may seem that way.  But if instead we look at her own feelings toward her life, she was not sad at all.  Walls "was happy in Battle Mountain" (50) even though the life she lived may seem to be miserable.  This is where the book is realized to be not a sad story at all; the reader may see what happens and immediately decide that there is no way that anyone could still be cheerful in a situation like Walls faces.  They are simply wrong.  If Jeannette found happiness-- at least for the first years of her life-- in the crazy lifestyle she lived, then no one may say otherwise.  In this way of thinking, happiness and sorrow are linked.  As one looks deeper into the life of Walls, it is realized she is happy for two main reasons: ignorance of her abnormal life, and a positive outlook to outshine any outside influence.  Her own ignorance causes her happiness and until Welch, she stays this way.  Walls begins to understand the reality of her life as she sees "cute brick houses" (120) and other luxuries of the wealthy.  She no longer has the veil of innocence to hide her happy, giddy child self behind and now strives for change.  Ignorance is bliss and breeds happiness; the concept seems so backwards but is still true.  But is ignorance still bad if it can make others happy? Even though Plato said "Ignorance, the root and stem of all evil," this may not always be true... A high schooler questioning a famous philosopher? Yup
     In theme with individuality of happiness and sadness, the following video addresses two men who follow their dreams to ride-- on motorcycle-- from California to the Arctic Circle.  Their own strive for self fulfillment may seem terrifying to others but still demands respect with the magnitude of their adventure.