Brave New World (Part 3)

1. What is Huxley saying about humanity when John won't relinquish his religion and freedom for happiness?
2. Would our society have made a spectacle out of John just as theirs did?
3. Do Brave New World and 1984 both represent a possible future? What aspects of our society might lead us in these directions?

Brave New World (Part 2)

1. Why does Linda still seem so disgusted and confused by the culture of the Indians?
   I think that this is because of the intense conditioning of the society she was raised in. Her entire life leading up to her living on the reservation consisted of a culture and ideals that were asserted as true and morally correct. The practice of promiscuity seems completely moral to Linda because she grew up being told that anything else was immoral and unacceptable. Even after being in this society for quite some time, she is unable to overcome the strong influence her native culture had over her. The conditioning and hypnopædia have rendered her very absolute in her beliefs.
2. Why does Huxley create a society where everyone is controlled but still happy?
   I think that Huxley used this to effectively show that the obsession with pleasure and overindulgence of society can end up controlling it and restricting it. Huxley shows that, with no limit to pleasure, we become devoid of all other intense feelings. "I want to know what passion is. I want to feel something strongly" (Huxley 103). Through the character of Bernard, Huxley demonstrates that we need to have these emotions to feel fulfilled and complete, even if we aren't happy all of the time. This idea is a very stark contrast from the ideas of 1984 because in Oceania, fear was the method used to rob people of their freedoms. Orwell wrote about the dangers of fearing our government, while Huxley is writing about the danger of pursuing pleasure. Our humanity lies in our suffering - our struggle.
3. Why does Huxley include a character in the position of Linda?
   I believe that Huxley uses Linda's position in the story as a way to illustrate the interaction between the peoples of these dramatically different cultures. The Indians practice monogamy, have religious beliefs, and birth children in the traditional sense. This is the opposite of the culture Linda was raised in, and the fact that she becomes forced into this Indian culture creates a strong contrast between the lives of those in the "utopia" and those in the reservation. This contrast can be a means of pointing out the flaws in this utopian society because the Indians share many ideals and beliefs of our culture, allowing us to identify. This identification makes us sympathize for the reservation culture and hate Linda for being so careless and arrogant in her actions.

Brave New World (Part 1)

In Brave New World, they haven't created absolute equality, but they have made everyone conform into their strict caste system. From the time the cells of each embryo form, they are conditioned to be in the caste that was determined for them and to enjoy it. Heavy conditioning and hypnopædia are used to decide what the person will like and dislike in life, and when performed correctly, this permits absolute conformity. They have reduced conflict about religion by removing the idea entirely. Relationships are no longer committed, passionate affairs, but strings of promiscuous encounters. An individual's rights depend on one's caste, and since they are all conditioned to love their caste and all aspects of it, there aren't disputes about rights. They have created happiness by allowing free sexuality, a "perfect" drug called "soma", and the conditioning to make each person love their place in life. From all aspects, this seems like a utopia, and in some respects, it is. However, from the perspective of someone who understands life without all of these regulations, I can't say that this is preferable. When someone defective such as Bernard exists, he is able to see the true injustice of his society: they have abolished true feeling. "I want to know what passion is," Bernard says. "I want to feel something strongly." When Bernard tries to get Lenina to understand his desire for true life, she says, "I don't understand anything." With all of the conditioning the people have been subjected to, they can't understand the true purpose of life.

"This Land is Your Land" // Woody Guthrie

• I think that the message of the song included both collectivist and individualist overtones. He repeatedly mentions that the land was made for "you and me", and he often refers to his people. These details show a certain collectivist perspective. However, when he says "you and me", he is referring to his people as individuals not as "us". Furthermore, his verses describe the personal journey and adventures he makes in this land on his own. These details show that he sees us as a collective nation but as individual people with individual rights.
• The message of the song seems to be anti-government. This is revealed when he indicates that the people are hungry and that the government isn't providing for its people. He even questions at one point whether this land truly was made for you and me.

The Mark of an Educated Mind

I think that this idea rings very true. One who doesn't consider other thoughts and ideas before dismissing them is narrow-minded, but those who accept the ideas of others without any critical thinking of their own are also unwise. It is truly educated to be able to think for oneself without being too sure of one's own ideas.

American Friendships

Americans have a very different concept of a "friend" from other cultures. We see friends as people that we have casual relationships with but not people we reveal our personal or emotional details to. Americans also pride themselves on their independence and don't want to reveal their weaknesses to their friends. This independence causes an appearance of distance from one's friends even though it is simply a facet of our culture.

1984 (Part 2)

Winston is having a difficult time buying what Big Brother and the Party are selling because of his job in the Records Department of the "Department of Truth". His job requires that he go into previous records and change the information to satisfy the Party. This position gives him a clear view of the deception that the Party commits each day. Given time to think, Winston has realized that the Party has created a world in which the past no longer exists as it truly was; the only records display the perpetually changing truth that the Party decides is correct. Winston's questioning of the government may be discreet, but it is still a form of protest. Verbal objections to government actions and ideals are not the only things that constitute protest; objections in any form (including mental objections) are protest. Winston is protesting in the only way he feels remotely safe doing so; he is committing his own personal protest. Compared to modern protests such as the Occupy Wall Street movement, Winston's protests are on a very small scale. The Occupy Wall Street protesters are very open and insistent about what they are speaking out for. They have their expressive signs and their demonstrations in public, and this is how they protest. However, this isn't a practical option for Winston because he would be vaporized for such an act. Winston and the Occupy protesters are both protesting against a force that they see as oppressive in some way. However, the reception of protesting is very different in the two societies. In our society, protesting is allowed by our constitution - though that right has been infringed. The protests are viewed very differently by many parts of of our society; many people in the government are against it, but others agree with the protesters. Unfortunately, this isn't the same in Oceania. The government is completely against any form of protest, and there are no laws protecting anyone who protests. Though we may have many differences from Orwellian society, we are moving fearfully closer towards such a society.

"2 + 2 = 5" // Radiohead

• The lyrics seem to be describing a society in which the accepted truth isn't necessarily what is actually true. The speaker is very frustrated with this and wants the audience - or the rest of his society - to stop allowing this injustice; he wants them to "pay attention".
• The music sounds somewhat menacing and angry, and that helps to push the lyrical themes.
• This song is a reference to 1984 in that the citizens of Oceania are forced to believe whatever they are told by the authoritarian government even if they are told that "2 + 2 = 5". The government in 1984 decides the truth just as the speaker describes in the song.

Cultural Conflict

• The conflict is that globalization isn't well received in other cultures, and this is external.
• Globalization causes conflict by the way our western culture goes about it. We force our culture upon others without any regard for their culture. The speaker means that our western culture tries to assimilate other cultures without taking any influence from or having any respect for their cultures.
• The benefit of this globalization allows the Muslim women to have these strong female role-models from western culture to look up to, which can inspire hope.
• She mentions that Muslims are obligated to the Quran while westerners are obligated to the U.S. Constitution.

1984 (Part 1)

In George Orwell's 1984, the society of Oceania attempts to achieve the status of "utopia". To do so, the government must create equality, eliminate conflict, and force happiness.

To create equality, "The Party" institutes a series of restrictions that force a certain conformity upon the citizens. This conformity is used to create a sense of equality. The Party does so with the use of constant monitoring and the lingering threat of such a thing as the "Thought Police". The oft quoted poster that is featured everywhere in this world reads, "BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU". All of these threats of "retribution" force the people of Oceania to think and act as the totalitarian government wants them to. This coerced conformity puts everyone on an even ground.

The elimination of conflict goes hand-in-hand with the forced equality. The constant threat of death and elimination of basic human rights keeps conflict to a minimum. The limiting of thought stops the citizens from delving into religious thought, and without any outside confirmation of religious beliefs, religion has been eliminated. Relationships are perceived as something far from what we perceive them as, and the people are heavily sexually repressed.

This conformity and lack of conflict create an environment that might lead people to believe that they are happy, but that happiness is only a fabrication of The Party. They are able to control what people think and believe, and with that kind of power, it is simple to contrive a universal "happiness". However, it is important to note that they haven't created true happiness.

This fact allows me to discern that this society of Oceania is in fact a dystopia. It may have the recipe for a utopian society, but the execution is malevolent and unfair. The Party may have initially had good intentions, but they have tightened their grip too far.

"You Were Right" // Built to Spill

• The lyrical content is trying to express a feeling of depression and hopelessness that the singer is feeling. The singer says "You were wrong when you said, 'Everything's gonna be alright'"; this shows that for him, everything is not alright.
• The guitar is loud and distorted in the chorus to express a certain anger that he feel after wrongly being told that everything will be alright.
• Built to Spill effectively communicates the anger and depression that the singer is feeling through the combination of the angry, loud instrumentation and the depressing lyrics.

"Young Life"

1. Claim: The family in the painting cut down the entire forest to kill the single deer.
   Facts: The man is holding a gun, there is a single dead deer on the roof of the truck, and there are no trees, only stumps.
2. Claim: The son has a deep desire to be like his father.
   Facts: He is holding a stick to imitate his father's gun, and he is standing apart from them to show that he is  independent.
3. Claim: This is a family of 1960s America.
   Facts: The truck is an American built model circa the 1950s, and they are dressed in a fashion that is characteristically 1960s.

In Bo Bartlett's "Young Life", Bartlett chose to place the subject's in a barren scene littered with tree stumps to imply that the subjects cut down the entire forest to kill a single deer. The fact that they have a deer on top of their truck and a gun shows that the people have been hunting. They are in a treeless area which is a very bad place to find deer. Deer live in places populated with trees such as a forest, so the tree stumps imply that there was once a forest here. I think the farcical nature of this scene has a deeper meaning possibly about the wasteful tendencies of 1950s and 1960s Americans.

"Shame" // The Avett Brothers

• The song is about ending a relationship.
• The song's tone is remorseful and ashamed.
• Words that helped the tone:
  1. lift - implies that the shame was a heavy burden
  2. untender - shows a contrast between how he was and what he wants to be
  3. overwhelming - shows the vast amounts of shame that he can't handle

Reading Critically

Critical thinking involves a significant number of steps. Even before reading, one should examine and analyze the title. This can provide insight as to what the essay may be about. Examining the author and context (when and where) of the essay also allow the reader to draw a basic understanding of what to expect. On the first read through, one should not analyze the small details. It is best to get a first read-through and then go back and analyze further. Annotating is an essential part of understanding an essay and making connection; summarizing these essays can also provide additional opportunity for analysis. The three big steps of critical reading are analysis, inference, and synthesis. These steps allow one to break an essay down, make assumptions, and then build it back up into an understanding. More extensive understanding of an essay comes through analyzing an author's purpose and reasons for his or her decisions.

"Eleanor Rigby"

• The version I prefer would be the original by far. The dubstep version was bearable, but the stereotypical "wobble bass" sounded a bit cheesy. However, the metal version takes the cake for creating the cheesiest cover.
• The most pleasing version would definitely be the original. This is because it is devoid of the harsh sounds that the other two add to the song. It sounds the most pleasant and well-crafted.

Kandinsky vs. Pollock

• I like the Jackson Pollock painting much better because of its use of rich earth tones. The Kandinsky painting is too busy and uses to many colors, lines, and shapes. The Pollock has a sense of unity and cohesiveness that the Kandinsky doesn't have.
• Despite my preference, the Kandinsky would be more of a pleasing painting. The mixture of multiple bright colors and different shapes make it more appealing to most people.

“Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out”

                The subject of Dave Barry’s “Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out” is that men and women are very different in their priorities and what they find important. This difference between the sexes is illustrated with his anecdote about his wife noticing dirt better than him and him caring more about sports than her. These stories allow Barry to illustrate the differences in the sexes by having his wife represent women as a whole and having himself represent men as a whole. The contrast the stories create makes a statement of the difference in priorities of men and women.

                “Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out” was written during 1988. The essay’s time of creation is conveyed by the use of relatively contemporary elements (e.g. the obsession with the World Series, Windex) and the late twentieth century husband-wife dynamic that he and his wife display. The husband-wife dynamic especially enforces this time period because the playfully combative natures of he and his wife are a relatively new development. The probable place of the essay’s creation is America. This is because he is concerned with the World Series, an important American baseball event. The time and place of the essay’s creation influence the essay by creating the correct occasion for this gender difference to make sense. The disagreements he has with his wife only make sense in the context of the time period and place.

                Dave Barry’s specific audience for “Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out” is married men and women in America. The author’s target audience is exhibited by his direct commentary on these married couples and the nature of their differences. This commentary creates a message that would be most well received by married couples who can relate to his anecdotes. The author’s general audience for the essay is Americans in general. The author’s general audience is shown by his description of a marriage dynamic that is very well-known by Americans.

                Dave Barry’s purpose in “Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out” is to entertain the audience by presenting two comical stories. His intent to entertain is manifested by his opening: “The primary between men and women is that women can see extremely small quantities of dirt.” The apparent sarcasm of this statement immediately makes it clear to the audience that he intends to entertain them. The purpose is further revealed by the humorous statement about Pompeii: “[The men] never even noticed the ash until it had for the most part covered the children.” Barry’s obvious lack of factual representation of the story shows that he is merely joking.

                Dave Barry, Pulitzer Prize winner, believes in the importance of a sense of humor. This value is illustrated by his teasing of the differences between men and women. The fact that he pokes fun at such an everyday dynamic helps to show the audience that Barry feels the need to present information in a comical and satirical way. Dave Barry’s use of imagery is evident in the prior quote about Pompeii. The imagery allows the audience to picture this comical scene of Roman children covered in ash.

                Dave Barry articulates a sarcastic and playful attitude about the husband-wife dynamic in “Batting Clean-Up and Striking Out”. These attitudes are expressed with his use of gross exaggerations that mock the situation he is talking about. When he is describing how his wife pays more attention to detail when it concerns cleaning, he uses a hyperbole that equates her attentiveness to an ability to see dirt molecules. This treatment of his subject allows his tone to shine through.


Thank you to Mogwai for creating an album that made writing this essay go by quickly.

"Sign Language"

The single effect: An optimistic feeling. The idea that you can find happiness no matter what your circumstances may be.

Details that help create the effect:
     1. Music (soft, sweet, acoustic)
     2. Camera work (unsteady, close, intimate, personal)
     3. Setting (bustling city on a rainy day)

If you were to make the music more upbeat and poppy, the short film would lose the aspect of optimism and would become a bit too excited and inappropriately fun.

"Good Old Desk" // Harry Nilsson

Subject: His desk (God)
Occasion: The '70s
Audience: People in general
Purpose: To convey his love for his desk (God)
Speaker: Someone who has a reliable god
Tone: Happy, thankful, appreciative

Nilsson is talking about how wonderful and reliable his god is. He uses the desk as a symbol for his relationship to his god. (Good Old Desk)

Quotes to support the symbol of the desk as God:
     1. "To keep my hopes alive"
     2. "It's always there"
     3. "We never say a word"

"Shooting an Elephant"

            The subject of George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” is the influence that group pressures have on behavior. This influence is illustrated by Orwell’s descriptions of a crowd of Burmans pressuring a police officer to kill a loose elephant, which he was only supposed to control. In this situation, the officer did not truly want to shoot the animal because it seemed peaceable and was a valuable working elephant. However, the crowd behind him saw his gun and could only think of him killing the elephant giving them the parts; the pressure they created overwhelmed the officer, forcing him to kill the creature.

            “Shooting an Elephant” was written during the 1920s or the 1930’s. The essay’s time of creation is conveyed by the fact that Burma had previously been conquered by Britain and the effects of imperialism were still strong. It is often noted that the Burmans hated the Europeans, and the speaker is a European working as a police officer in Burma, so we can assume that this must be a time when Burma was still under Britain’s imperial rule. The probable place of the essay’s creation is Burma. Orwell specifically states in the first sentence that he was in Moulmein in lower Burma. The time and place of the essay’s creation influence the essay by shaping the speaker’s views of the government and imperialism. Orwell claims, “In a job like that you see the dirty work of Empire at close quarters.” This shows that his location strongly influenced his views of the government of the time.

            George Orwell’s specific audience for “Shooting an Elephant” is the British imperialists. The author’s target audience is exhibited by his anti-imperialist statements. This shows that he wanted his message to reach those who disagreed with him so that he could convince them of the dangers of imperialism. The author’s general audience for the essay is the British in general. The author’s general audience is communicated by his explanation of his views towards the British rule at the time. All of the British people could learn from his expression of opinion, and the British rule is relevant to them.

            George Orwell’s purpose in “Shooting an Elephant” is to explain the fundamental problems that imperialism encounters. These obstacles are revealed with this statement: “…when the white man turns tyrant it is his own freedom that he destroys… For it is the condition of his rule that he shall spend his life in trying to impress the ‘native’.” This quote demonstrates the meaning of this whole metaphor about the officer being pressured into shooting the elephant. The purpose is further articulated by the ultimate killing of the elephant. This act was one of great sorrow for the officer, but he had to do it because it was the will of the Burmans.

            George Orwell, a famous 20^th century author, believes that imperialism was a horrendous thing. This value is illustrated by his multiple explicit statements about his distaste for the British Empire. These outright professions of his views prove his hatred. This value definitely influenced the purpose of the piece because the purpose is to convince others that imperialism is wrong. George Orwell’s use of imagery is evident in the eleventh paragraph when he mentions the crowd’s “devilish roar of glee” because he shot the elephant. 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.

            George Orwell exhibits a sorrowful and hateful attitude about imperialism in “Shooting an Elephant”. These attitudes are expressed by his sadness about the death of the elephant and his anger at the tyranny of British. His anger and sadness strongly express a sorrowful and hateful attitude. This tone helps to solidify his opinions towards the subject and show that he strongly opposes imperialism. The audience feels Orwell’s pain, and, through this, we are able to understand what he truly wants.

"The Runaway" (Intro)

The counterculture is a group that opposes the established views or values of mainstream society. Often times, a counterculture emerges when society fails to adapt to the changing world, but many refuse to acknowledge this movement. The middle of the twentieth century came as no exception. Rockwell's "The Runaway" overlooks the fundamental rift that was rising in America throughout the 1950's - an emerging counterculture that was not concerned with how things were but rather how they are.

"Across the Universe" // The Beatles

Three images featured in the song:
     1. "...like endless rain into a paper cup."
     2. "Pools of sorrow, waves of joy..."

     3. "...like a million suns."

I don't think that any of these images are symbols in context. Two of them are just similes, and the image of "pools of sorrow, waves of joy" could just be interpreted as intense emotions which isn't a symbol.

A symbol that is widely recognizable is the bald eagle which represents America, justice, and freedom.

"Inspiration Information" // Shuggie Otis

• The song feels very sunny, upbeat, and funky.
• The use of organ and the classic funk-style guitar helps to create a very happy feeling. The rhythm of the drums adds the upbeat feeling.
• The musician chose to play a distinct style of guitar to achieve the essential funk sound. If he had chosen to play the guitar using constant down-strokes or distortion, the overall feeling the song produced would be much different.

"Semeadores"

Subject: Labor

Occasion: Early 20th century Mexico

Audience: Laborers or Mexicans

Purpose: To convey the plight of the Mexican workers

Speaker: Someone who understands the hardships of these laborers

Tone: Sympathetic

The idea that Rivera is trying to get across is that the laborers of Mexico are bound to their work, and they unable to rise above their class level. He emphasizes the fact that they're bound to the work by using the same organic lines of the hills to shape the workers. The fact that they are faceless helps to show that this is the plight of many people, not just a couple.

Creative Process

Wilco's process for writing a song consisted of coming up with the ideas for a song as a group and then deconstructing that into something completely different. My creative process for writing involves brainstorming ideas on the topic and forming a mental outline. I then use these ideas to write my piece.

Nostalgia

• Nostalgia is a sense of fond remembrance of a time that you enjoyed.
• The first song that played, "(We're Gonna) Rock Around the Clock", gives me a mental image of men in quintessential 60's suits and women wearing nice dresses all dancing together. The next one, "Sixteen Candles", makes me picture a scene with a romantic dinner between a young couple on the girl's birthday.
• My childhood is filled with images of countless cartoons, video games, and junk food. I can vividly taste the Oreos that I so desperately devoured. I can still smell the distinct aroma of my grandparents' house. I can practically see the screen while playing Chip's Challenge or a round of JezzBall. I also still remember the tunes to every hit The Cars put out.

"The Pinch of Poverty"

• Poverty can be caused by many of the following situations: lack of job opportunities, being born into poverty, only one source of income, being unemployed, etc.
• The artist portrays poverty in a negative light by using dull, gloomy neutral colors and solemn looks on the faces of the family members.
• The message may be that poverty is bondage, but that optimism can help one to become liberated.
• One element that backs this message up is the contrast between the dull colors and the bright yellow of the flowers. The little girl holding the flowers - presumably to sell them - appears more hopeful about the family's current predicament. The placement of the bars behind the rest of the family seems to display that these people will remain imprisoned by poverty, but the girl has no bars behind her and appears to be stepping out of the situation, out of the poverty.

Reading Response 1

"Live Free and Starve"
In this article, Chitra Divakaruni makes the assertion that the bill to stop the import of goods into the U.S. produced by child labor is a bad thing. She makes the argument that this will cause many child laborers to lose their only source of income. Even though she understands that the life of a child laborer is less than favorable, she strongly believes that child labor is necessary for these children to survive. She states, "It seems conceivable to us that someone could actually prefer bread to freedom." Although I do see her point, I still strongly support the passing of this bill. As Americans, our ethics dictate that freedom is important over all. If we were to suppress our own moral beliefs when dealing with child labor, we would lose what little integrity we still cling to. I am biased, however, because I can only see this situation from the perspective of an American, having never actually witnessed child labor.

"The Singer Solution to World Poverty"
In this article, Peter Singer explains his reasoning about the morality of donations to charities, and he makes many harsh accusations. His stance is that when we spend money on luxuries, we are using money that could be used to save suffering children, and this is morally wrong. Singer uses many examples that display his ideals concerning charitable donations. Though he makes a few strong arguments, Singer's evaluation of the similarities between the film Central Station and neglecting to donate to charities is questionable to say the least. He even compares those who believe in "follow-the-crowd ethics" to Nazis. Personally, I strongly believe that many of his comparisons and convictions were in bad taste. I would agree that it is important for those of us who are fortunate to help those in need, but he believes that there is an absolute moral obligation to do so. He disagrees that the impersonal nature of donating to charities makes a difference. Even though he is only trying to explain his point, Singer comes off as aggressive and narrow-minded, and I'm confident that this will limit the persuasive effect of the article.

Déjà Entendu ("Round and Round" // Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti)

Today, we listened to the track "Round and Round" by Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, one that I had already heard a while back, and it is still on my iPod. As far as my personal opinion is concerned, I really enjoy this song because of the poppy hooks and the acknowledgement of aspects from multiple decades of music. The sounds meld together so well with the smooth keyboards and the reverb-laden vocals. I like the balance of the different instruments because it creates a very full sounding song.

Musical facts about the song:

1. There are harmonized vocals.
2. It features the use of synthesizers.

These musical facts I just listed definitely influence my opinion on the song. Though I may listen to a wide variety of genres, I admit that I am partial to the use of synthesizers if done correctly. I also really like when an artist or band chooses to layer multiple vocal tracks into a song. My opinion and what I picked out are related in the way that they were both decided by what I immediately noticed about the song. The most obvious parts of a song are usually what determine my opinion. When I am presented with certain musical facts, I form an opinion based on how I feel about these facts, and this is often different that the opinions of others. Because of all of this, I would say that I do have a bias.