Monday, September 26, 2011

American Tongues

In your opinion, what is voice in literature?
Voice in literature is the tone and the way the writer speaks within their own writing or composition.

 How does a person create his voice when writing? Is creating voice an intentional/unintentional act? Is it both? Explain,
Voice is an intentional act that is created through sentence structure, synthax, word choice and the connotation towards each individual word - with all that effort that must me put into each part of the piece the voice must be intentional.

Many people in Eastern Kentucky talk around a subject according to the speaker, why do they do this? What can we learn about a writer from the way they approach/handle a topic?
Many people in Eastern Kentucky may talk around a subject because that was how they've always spoken. It is used to 'beat around the bush.' From the way a writer beats around the bush we may see what he tries to add to the piece - suspensem deciet, etc. We can learn their feelings towards the subject.

Whether it's fiction/nonfiction, why is voice important in writing?
It's important in writing because it helps get your purpose across, is entertaining,  helps make the piece be momorable, and helps to better understand the writer.

Eleanor Rigby - Pain /Vs/ Beatles

 


Which of these do you like better?I enjoy the orinignal the best because it is the artist's interpretation of the song with his own feelings and emotions added in. The second one seems like it justs adds angry emotions for the sake of heavy metal. The cover doesnt seem to truly represent any set feelings that would make sense with the song either.

Which of these is more pleasing to listen to? Why?
The orginally is more asthetically pleasing because of its haromy, vocal range, and more soothing instruments.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Kandinsky Vs. Pollack


Which of These Do You Like Better? Why?
I like pollacks paintings better simply because it allows more room for imagination with the overlapping through dull-colors, while Kandinsky's painting is simply geometric concrete shapes which leaves little room for visual perception. Also I have always favored splatter paint so my views may be slightly biased.

Which of These is More Pleasing to Look At? Why?
Kandinsky is more pleasing to look at because it is more aesthetically appealing through its use of vibrant colors.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

"Sign Language" - A Short Film

What Single Effect Did You Get From this Short Film?
Sentimentality and Appreciation Towards the Little Things 

Give Three Specific Things that Led You to that Single Effect?

  • His realistic acting/optimism
  • The camera effects on the background/setting
  • The main character and Anya wearing the same gloves


If You Could Change One Aspect, What Would it Be and How Would it Affect the Film's Single Effect?
The mans acting and the camera effects/editing to focus on the background of the film which showed the relationship between himself and his community. If this was taken out it would break the entire feeling of his sentimentality towards the community. The camera effects and editing expounded upon this by adding the effect of appreciation of the little things of the community by zooming into the small trinkets provided by the community and flashing to different clips of film that focus on seemingly unnoticeable things within the community. 

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

George Orwell - Shooting an Elephant

Subject 
The subject of George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” is the influence that social pressure and conformity on people. This is illustrated by Orwell’s description of the crowd of Burmans pressuring a police officer into killing an elephant simply to uphold his societital role, Throughough the situation the officer tried to withold on shooting the elephant due to the innocence of the animal at the time and its cost. However, the crowd of some two thousand people was too much for this English police officer to handle, causing him to give into the societal pressures and kill the creature.


Occasion 
 “Shooting an Elephant” was written during 1963 and it told Orwell’s encounters during his visit in Burma. The essays time of creation is conveyed by Orwell's hatred of Britain and moreover Imperialism, but with good reason considering that during the 1930's Britain controlled many countries and shortly after the Labour Party, a socialist party, gained control in Britain furthering the Imperialist movement. The place of George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” is most likely India, being the central place of ruling by the British during that time and through the use of the term "Coolie". Burma is assumed to be the birthplace of the essay because it is illustrated very vividly in the essay. Orwell uses  precise detail such as "Squalid bamboo huts, thatched with palm leaf, winding all over a steep hillside.” This suggests that he had a vivid memory of the location of the story and quite possibly wrote it at the time of his inhabitance of the place. 


Audience- George Orwell's specific audience for this piece was the British Empire. George Orwell was trying to illustrate the dangers of conformity through the mind of a British officer. George Orwell's choice of a British Officer validates that his audience is the British Empire, as they were also the ones with the best connection with the Burmans at the time. 


Purpose  
The purpose of this story is to alert people of the dangers of social pressure and conformity. Orwell explains throughout the piece that he killed the elephant because "The people expected it of [him]." Through understanding the article one may rule out that the Officer may have killed the elephant out of fear of its potential danger is saying that it was "peacefully eating, [and that] the elephant looked no more dangerous than a cow." It was not a question of the danger of the elephant at all but rather the danger of the social conformity that the police officer underwent. The officer states that he did not want to do it, but he "Could feel [the natives] two thousand wills pressing [him] forward, irresistibly" He finishes off the piece by making sure that the reader understands that he did not want to do it, he even goes so far as to say that " [He]often wondered whether any of the others grasped that [He] had done it solely to avoid looking a fool"


Speaker  
George Orwell, an English author, was abhorrent towards imperialism. Not only did he literally state in the piece that 'Imperialism was an evil thing,' but also he made several specific statements of his hatred for the British Empire.  He used his writing skills with his story telling expertise to exhibit the evils of Imperialism and Conformity as he did in this piece. George Orwell’s use of imagery is evident as he illustrates why he shot the evident  as he "Could feel [the natives] two thousand wills pressing [him] forward, irresistibly". This imagery helps to influence the audience’s perception of the crowd, and it promotes the idea that these natives were strongly pressuring him to shoot.


Tone -  The tone of this article is admonitory, This is exemplified at the very end of the piece after the speaker identifies that he did not want to kill the elephant and that he simply did it to conform to the expectations of the society.  The author describes the horrific situation he was in, killing such a noble beast who was seemingly harmless at the time "Solely to avoid looking a fool." Through his use of tone, the speaker admonishes the reader on the dangers of social conformity. 

Harry Nilsson "Good Old Desk"

S - God
O - 1972/973
A - Listeners/ Those who had/oppressed/wanted a concept of religion
P - Talk about his appreciation of God
S - Writer
T - Appreciative


What is Nilsson Talking About?
Nilsson is talking about God as exemplified through the piece in instances such as:
  • "It's always there"
  • "Such a comfort to know its got no place to go"
  • "We never say a word"

Rockwell's "The Runaway"


During the 1950's, as the Cold War dragged on and the women's movement became apparent, America became a country of progress and achievement. Rockwell's picture illustrates America's counter culture - the youth - face to face with the foundation of American culture during the 1950's (lawfulness and order). In depicting a child who was running away sitting down with a policeman eating lunch, Rockwell is illustrating how Americans unruly counter culture is suppressed by the American norm of lawfulness and order.

Saturday, September 3, 2011

"Across the Universe" by the Beatles



Every time I listen to this track, it automatically triggers so inborn sense of bliss and nostalgia.


 Identify Three Images in this Song:
Space and the World
Climbing Trees and Watching the Sky
Light


Are Any of These Images Symbols in Context?
Space and the World: This image becomes apparent in the line "Nothing's going to change my world."This image assumes the standpoint of the 'big picture' and grand scheme of things, as assumed by 'nothing's going to change.' As a result this image may symbolize being at peace with yourself and be calm, collected, and relaxed.


Explain One Symbol That You Know is a Symbol. What Makes it More Than an Image?
Though Light is an image that automatically pops into my head when i hear this song, it is more than just that. Light symbolizes the content and warmth that this song radiates, as well as the happiness and bliss that this piece allows the viewer to carry with himself/herself.