Saturday, December 29, 2007
Analysis
While reading through the article, "The Importance of the Work" I agreed mostly with what was being said. The part that stuck out most to me was about the banning of the book. Now after reading the novel I can see the importance of the "graphic realism" found many times throughout. It not only plays an important role of representing Holden who he is as a character but it creates a sense of reality. Such as with the profanities on the wall that Holden was trying to cover up. You can easily walk down the street and spot numerous profanities on walls, sidewalks, side of buildings, street signs, almost anywhere. Now it was not like Salinger decided to throw in these instances of profanity randomly, it meant something. It showed how Holden wanted to protect his little sister, Phoebe, from the evils of the world and try to still preserve that innocence that she has as a child or what is left of it. Yes Salinger was bold with including such words but the concept was for the greater well-being of the reader. I don't believe though that the novel promoted a poor role model for young readers. The partial reason why the book was banned. I believe that it didn't promote a role model at all but in fact showed us through Holden's story what we can learn not to do. We see the bad in him such as the drinking, smoking, and behavioral issues. And through this, this gets him no where in life, he is practically homeless, thrown out of school, confused about life, and no set plan at all. And by reading about his instances we know what to do and not what to do because as he learned what was right and wrong we learned along with him. Overall I found that the article was meaningful, it touched upon a lot of ideas in which can be very argument able and made a lot of key points.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
The Color Black!!!
Colors give off different emotions for everyone for we are all unique and different in many ways. For one person the color yellow might bring a joyful thought to their mind. But another person may view the color as ill and cowardly. From colors you can relate yourself and your emotions. For me that color happens to be "black." Now the color black to somebody may be viewed with negative emotions. Black can represent evil, fear, and morning. But I have not chosen the color black because of the negative aspects that the color gives off. My reasons for doing so is I believe the color’s positive vibes represent me well.
First to start off the color black represents elegance and class. For me this is important, I feel that it separates myself from the rest of the usual colors. It sets a higher standard for myself and shows wealth either in the form of a suit or a sweatshirt. A true gentleman looks exquisite in the fascinating color of black. Recently I bought a Lacoste sweatshirt and was undecided on what color to buy. The black or the grey one? I went into the changing room and tried on the grey one first, and wasn’t to pleased with how it looked. Then I tried on the black one and right away I knew it was perfect for myself. The color just allows other items to shine such as a watch. It makes those elegant items glisten and stand out.
I also admire the color black because it is mysterious. I like to be mysterious at times and not always let people know everything. Just let them draw their own conclusions and see what stories they come up with or ideas. The color also represents authority, it makes a bold statement. I do not like when people question my authority and my opinions. The color black has great benefits in my opinion.
Black can go both ways, it could represent evil, fear, and morning. But for me it’s a positive color of elegance, class, wealth, mystery, and authority. This is why the color black suits me well, better than any other color.
First to start off the color black represents elegance and class. For me this is important, I feel that it separates myself from the rest of the usual colors. It sets a higher standard for myself and shows wealth either in the form of a suit or a sweatshirt. A true gentleman looks exquisite in the fascinating color of black. Recently I bought a Lacoste sweatshirt and was undecided on what color to buy. The black or the grey one? I went into the changing room and tried on the grey one first, and wasn’t to pleased with how it looked. Then I tried on the black one and right away I knew it was perfect for myself. The color just allows other items to shine such as a watch. It makes those elegant items glisten and stand out.
I also admire the color black because it is mysterious. I like to be mysterious at times and not always let people know everything. Just let them draw their own conclusions and see what stories they come up with or ideas. The color also represents authority, it makes a bold statement. I do not like when people question my authority and my opinions. The color black has great benefits in my opinion.
Black can go both ways, it could represent evil, fear, and morning. But for me it’s a positive color of elegance, class, wealth, mystery, and authority. This is why the color black suits me well, better than any other color.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Object Paper!
As you walk into the bedrooms of young-adults my age you find them to be dirtied in the sense of unorganized. Clothes are thrown wherever they please, hanging on the bed rail. Piles on the floor. Items are scattered everywhere on top of their dressers, placed randomly. Closets are piled high to where the door won't even close. Now these people may dress well, look neat with their everyday appearance, hair styled, and clothes pressed. An overall clean look. But you don't truly know how a person is until you've been in their house. These people create a disguise for who they truly are when at home and away from society. For me though, I don't put on a disguise.
My room can be compared to a museum. It is one of the cleanest rooms you'll ever walk into. First off, all of the furniture in my room including my ceiling fan, night stand, table lamp, and any accessories is all black. Every item has a modern, clean, new look to it. Through the door you come upon a bed in which the comforter is perfectly flat. The hangover material on the sides is exactly the same length on each side. The pillows are perfectly aligned and straight across horizontally. The dresser in which houses my television sits exactly between my entrance door and closet door. The stereo on top has speakers in which are aligned at the same angle. The dresser that sits in front of my bed includes my summer clothes. Each of the six drawers are assigned for a different type of clothing such as shorts and shirts. The items are then neatly placed in the drawer, folded and by color. For example all white shirts are placed in a pile separate from grey shirts. My closet holds the clothes for the winter months. All items of clothing are hung on hangers in order by color and brand. I find this makes life easier in order to find a certain sweatshirt. Valuables of mine are kept in boxes that are stacked precisely on top of one another. My five pairs of shoes line of the floor of my closest in a horizontal line. An outer shelving around my entire room includes large hand made chess pieces. These like all other items in my room are placed equally apart from one another. Above the chess pieces is three more wall shelves that contain three ornaments each. Between by bed and my dressers are area rugs that are strategically placed in the middle of the floor.
Now one maybe wondering how is it that this represents who I am. Well my everyday appearance includes a wardrobe in which is pressed everyday. No wrinkles are to be found on my clothing. My dress is appropriate and nice. My shoes must be whiten to the max, no marks to be found on them. My hair is styled for perfection and I shave approximately every two days. I can not stand the look of facial hair, it has a dirty appearance in my eyes. My hair never gets longer than two inches, I get a hair cut every two weeks. I am true to myself with how I am in public to how I am in relation at home. Cleanliness is one of my values in which I live by day to day. Other people may appear clean but deep down inside, at home, they are truly a dirty, unorganized person. Looks are deceiving but my looks relate to my lifestyle at home in my bedroom.
My room can be compared to a museum. It is one of the cleanest rooms you'll ever walk into. First off, all of the furniture in my room including my ceiling fan, night stand, table lamp, and any accessories is all black. Every item has a modern, clean, new look to it. Through the door you come upon a bed in which the comforter is perfectly flat. The hangover material on the sides is exactly the same length on each side. The pillows are perfectly aligned and straight across horizontally. The dresser in which houses my television sits exactly between my entrance door and closet door. The stereo on top has speakers in which are aligned at the same angle. The dresser that sits in front of my bed includes my summer clothes. Each of the six drawers are assigned for a different type of clothing such as shorts and shirts. The items are then neatly placed in the drawer, folded and by color. For example all white shirts are placed in a pile separate from grey shirts. My closet holds the clothes for the winter months. All items of clothing are hung on hangers in order by color and brand. I find this makes life easier in order to find a certain sweatshirt. Valuables of mine are kept in boxes that are stacked precisely on top of one another. My five pairs of shoes line of the floor of my closest in a horizontal line. An outer shelving around my entire room includes large hand made chess pieces. These like all other items in my room are placed equally apart from one another. Above the chess pieces is three more wall shelves that contain three ornaments each. Between by bed and my dressers are area rugs that are strategically placed in the middle of the floor.
Now one maybe wondering how is it that this represents who I am. Well my everyday appearance includes a wardrobe in which is pressed everyday. No wrinkles are to be found on my clothing. My dress is appropriate and nice. My shoes must be whiten to the max, no marks to be found on them. My hair is styled for perfection and I shave approximately every two days. I can not stand the look of facial hair, it has a dirty appearance in my eyes. My hair never gets longer than two inches, I get a hair cut every two weeks. I am true to myself with how I am in public to how I am in relation at home. Cleanliness is one of my values in which I live by day to day. Other people may appear clean but deep down inside, at home, they are truly a dirty, unorganized person. Looks are deceiving but my looks relate to my lifestyle at home in my bedroom.
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Book Review
Published: November 22, 2007
Angela’s Ashes
A Memoir
By Frank McCourt
363 Pages. Simon & Schuster. $14.00
After numerous years of teaching creative writing to young students, Frank McCourt wrote a masterpiece of art in the Literature world. A memoir by the name, Angela’s Ashes. A childhood experience through the eyes of an Irish Catholic and a dedication to his beloved brothers, Malachy, Michael, and Alphonous. Written in the voice of a child, this award winning piece of art has sold over 4 million copies, has been published in 27 countries and translated into 17 different languages.
No ordinary memoir at all, Frank McCourt took his story to the limits and broke all literature boundaries. His writing alone is unique. The only punctuation that you will find through the 363 pages of reading is a period. Though this may seem strange it actually keeps the reader tuned in on the story. It gives you the sense that the story is alive all around you, that you are at the very moment in which the events are unfolding. The Irish accents truly top off the memoir by adding more visualization to every scene. It is truly a learning experience of the Irish culture from customs to techniques. Medicinal tales such as milk and onions help cure a cold. Being of Irish descent myself, this book captured me whole. I was able to comprehend and at the same time made me curious. I pondered on the thought of my ancestors possibly struggling as the McCourts had done so.
The time period was around World War II and a Irish potato famine had struck a blow to the country and its fellow citizens. The McCourts were devastated and a bounty was on Frank’s father’s head for association with the IRA. These two difficulties lead the McCourts to the wonderful land of opportunity, America. America faced its own problems though while they endured the Great Depression. Times were rough in America but even worse for an immigrant who was Irish and Catholic. Placed at the bottom of the social status, life was far worse in America than Ireland. A loss of their only female child, Margaret, sealed the deal and sent the McCourts back to their native land, Ireland.
Life in Ireland was extremely painful on the McCourts. The father, Malachy, a drunkard, worthless man does little to help the situation. The mother turns to begging, an all time low status in the community but it was necessary in order to survive. She must put aside all her desires and remember that, "...beggars can’t be choosers"(pg. 92). This leaves Frank the oldest brother to fend for the family and himself. His maturity influences his actions and he finds work by carrying coal bags. He thrives to become a man, "...I feel like a man, a man with a shilling in his pocket, a man who had a lemonade in a pub...I’m not a child anymore..." (Pg. 261). Frank begins to steadily earn a large sum of currency, providing food for his family and being able to see a film in the local theater. As he begins to become a man he begins to dream. He dreams about having enough money to buy himself a ticket to go back to that land of America. The land that he believes is great in so many ways. That no one is poor, no one begs, and everyone has food to thrive upon. But his desire would be at the cost of his family, they would be left behind. His escape though would be another life not wasted in the slums of Ireland.
Angela’s Ashes
A Memoir
By Frank McCourt
363 Pages. Simon & Schuster. $14.00
After numerous years of teaching creative writing to young students, Frank McCourt wrote a masterpiece of art in the Literature world. A memoir by the name, Angela’s Ashes. A childhood experience through the eyes of an Irish Catholic and a dedication to his beloved brothers, Malachy, Michael, and Alphonous. Written in the voice of a child, this award winning piece of art has sold over 4 million copies, has been published in 27 countries and translated into 17 different languages.
No ordinary memoir at all, Frank McCourt took his story to the limits and broke all literature boundaries. His writing alone is unique. The only punctuation that you will find through the 363 pages of reading is a period. Though this may seem strange it actually keeps the reader tuned in on the story. It gives you the sense that the story is alive all around you, that you are at the very moment in which the events are unfolding. The Irish accents truly top off the memoir by adding more visualization to every scene. It is truly a learning experience of the Irish culture from customs to techniques. Medicinal tales such as milk and onions help cure a cold. Being of Irish descent myself, this book captured me whole. I was able to comprehend and at the same time made me curious. I pondered on the thought of my ancestors possibly struggling as the McCourts had done so.
The time period was around World War II and a Irish potato famine had struck a blow to the country and its fellow citizens. The McCourts were devastated and a bounty was on Frank’s father’s head for association with the IRA. These two difficulties lead the McCourts to the wonderful land of opportunity, America. America faced its own problems though while they endured the Great Depression. Times were rough in America but even worse for an immigrant who was Irish and Catholic. Placed at the bottom of the social status, life was far worse in America than Ireland. A loss of their only female child, Margaret, sealed the deal and sent the McCourts back to their native land, Ireland.
Life in Ireland was extremely painful on the McCourts. The father, Malachy, a drunkard, worthless man does little to help the situation. The mother turns to begging, an all time low status in the community but it was necessary in order to survive. She must put aside all her desires and remember that, "...beggars can’t be choosers"(pg. 92). This leaves Frank the oldest brother to fend for the family and himself. His maturity influences his actions and he finds work by carrying coal bags. He thrives to become a man, "...I feel like a man, a man with a shilling in his pocket, a man who had a lemonade in a pub...I’m not a child anymore..." (Pg. 261). Frank begins to steadily earn a large sum of currency, providing food for his family and being able to see a film in the local theater. As he begins to become a man he begins to dream. He dreams about having enough money to buy himself a ticket to go back to that land of America. The land that he believes is great in so many ways. That no one is poor, no one begs, and everyone has food to thrive upon. But his desire would be at the cost of his family, they would be left behind. His escape though would be another life not wasted in the slums of Ireland.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Angela's Ashes
"Through our sunless lanes creeps Poverty with her hungry eyes, and Sin with his sodden face follows close behind her. Misery wakes us in the morning and Shame sits with us at night."
- Oscar Wilde
- Oscar Wilde
This quote can be applied to Angela's Ashes for it represents the every day life that the McCourt family faces. The days are sunless, rain always seems to make life miserable. With this comes the feeling of being wet, never able to keep dry. Poverty burdens the family greatly and hits them at their weak points. They have to move from place to place just to try and survive. They must rely on themselves for their family is not reliable. The mother begs with the children for food from local grocery stores. They walk along the streets in hope to find coal to burn and keep warm. Salvage any material that maybe flammable such as cardboard and paper. Also receive welfare from the Labour exchange. The father has to much pride though and won't sink that low. He would rather watch his children starve than beg for food. He has no morals and no sympathy for his family as he drinks away his weekly wages. Downing himself with alcohol, the "black stuff" only to make matters worse. A sin, a drunkard, a waste, a man who engulfs himself with selfish drinks. The family awakes every morning to the voice of their father. Singing songs about Kevin Barry and other rebel fighters. Life is miserable and the mother has to fear everyday for her children's safety. She wonders will they starve today? Will her husband become a man today and bring home the wages? Or will he waste the money in alcohol? Once again the days are damp and the father places all the blame on the River Shannon. He claims it is not his fault that they suffer, that their children are being killed one by one becuase of the river. He is embarrassed of their situation though but does little to fix it. The mother brings home a pig's head on Christmas because that was all they could afford. They are beggars and can't be choosers. But he is shameful that they must eat the pig's head and that they did not have a goose or a ham. This quote represented the aspects of the McCourt's daily lives. They suffered in poverty as the father sinfully wasted the money away. Misery and shame was to be found everywhere.
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