Is Guthrie's message individualist or collectivist? Explain.
This is an individualist message, as it focuses very much on the "you" and "me" part, and how the singer can do anything that he wants. It never mentions the group, only the him and the other person. It is "this land is made for you and me" not "this land was made for us."
Do you find this song to be pro-gov't or anti-gov't? Explain.
I don't think it's very obvious in the first few stanzas, but I think that it's anti-gov't. The last lines show that he feels that maybe there is something better, that he can make something better. I think that he is going against extreme governments in that he is the best leader for himself, not the government.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
"The Egg" by Sherwood Anderson
1. His father was a very simple man at first, and he did not really want for anything. He was a farmhand before he married his wife, who was a very ambitious teacher who had him undergo various changed so that he wanted more in the world, wanted to get further in the world.
2. The narrator hates chickens and eggs. Maybe not hates; he thinks of them as the source of displeasure in his life. The whole chicken and egg thing goes back to the fact that they symbolize how the family could not manage to get anywhere in life like his parents wanted. They put so much effort in the chicks only for them to die.
3. The grotesques are used to try to entice his customers to come into the store, so that they could see the gross little failures.
4. The egg brought about his failure; every time he tried to talk to the customer, her talked about eggs. This egg symbolized how difficult it was for him to actually succeed.
2. The narrator hates chickens and eggs. Maybe not hates; he thinks of them as the source of displeasure in his life. The whole chicken and egg thing goes back to the fact that they symbolize how the family could not manage to get anywhere in life like his parents wanted. They put so much effort in the chicks only for them to die.
3. The grotesques are used to try to entice his customers to come into the store, so that they could see the gross little failures.
4. The egg brought about his failure; every time he tried to talk to the customer, her talked about eggs. This egg symbolized how difficult it was for him to actually succeed.
Collectivism vs Individualism
In a collectivist culture, what personality traits are likely to be considered ideal? What about an individualist culture?
For individualistic cultures, ambition. drive and individuality would be considered good traits. Collectivist cultures would value, loyalty, hard work, and other such attributes. In what type of culture might elders or people who have professional distinction receive more respect and less challenge from people lower on their culture's/group's hierarchy? Explain your answer.
This would be in an individualistic culture, as those are the cultures that value the person over the group. Individualist communities are all about the status of individuals rather than the group.Create a specific problem a teacher may encounter when he/she moves from teaching in a collectivist culture to an individualist culture or vice versa. Explain the specific values/influences/obligations/desires caused by the clash.
A teacher moving from a collectivist country to an individualistic country might not be able to handle the competitiveness of students or the ambition of a singer person rather than a group. Vice versa, the teacher might have issues handling the group mind set over the individuality of the person.What is an acquaintance? Does the word have a positive or negative connotation? Explain.
An acquaintance is someone you know well enough and like to talk to, but someone you would not call a friend or be able to say a lot about their personal life. This typically would have a neutral connotation though it may become negative if one person considers someone an acquaintance but they confider the other as a friend.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
1984 Section 2 Reading
I think that a major contributor to how he feels about the state of Oceania is greatly affected by Julia. His relationship with her is very powerful in a world where strong emotions are taboo, which makes him feel like there must be more out there, somewhere, or more accurately, that there was something better before, in the past. He wishes for what it used to be, however, there is still a part of him that is affected by the doctrine of the Party, and therefore he expresses himself through small acts of disobedience to the government. His small acts of defiance (the diary, his relationship with Julia, etc) are his way of defying the Party, just as Julia's sleeping around are. I do feel, though, that Winston's defiance is more deep than Julia's, and that his is more like what we wish to see. Julia grew up in the doctrine of the Party; to her, it's unbreakable. Winston, however, grew up in a time before then, and can therefore remember bits and pieces of what used to be.
By trying to compare Winston's rebellion with a rebellion of today, such as anti-war demonstrations and the Tea Party, you are comparing little things, like writing in a diary, with that of marches in the capital with signs and speeches. That said, the signs and speeches are merely a thing to try to convince others, to show your support to a cause you feel is just. With Winston, the poor man can't manage that. He has to make do with what he can; writing in a diary, keeping a scrap of paper for a second longer than he should have, or having relations with another Party member. However, when you get right down to it, both Winston and the anti-war movements are protesting for the same reason: for what they believe is right. And in both cases, as well as other examples that were given, they are protesting the government for one reason or another. The governments of today may see the movements differently, depending on the group. I feel like the government would look at some of the movements of today as though they were annoying little flies bearing banners with their message and parading around their work area. The government of 1984, however, sees defiance as the horrible, unthinkable. Actually, there may possibly be a Newspeak word for that. What, with the very idea of thoughtcrime, people are made so that to even think about something other than what the government wants is to be a criminal. The government of today may listen to what you have to say, if it is worth hearing; the government of 1984 would just erase you without a further thought. As for the masses, it really just depends on whether they agree with you or not, at least in the case of our society. If they do, you are a hero; if not, a loony or an idiot, depending on what you are protesting. However, in 1984, those who protest are to be feared and hated by all, no matter what. This, more or less, seems to be obeyed by the general public.
By trying to compare Winston's rebellion with a rebellion of today, such as anti-war demonstrations and the Tea Party, you are comparing little things, like writing in a diary, with that of marches in the capital with signs and speeches. That said, the signs and speeches are merely a thing to try to convince others, to show your support to a cause you feel is just. With Winston, the poor man can't manage that. He has to make do with what he can; writing in a diary, keeping a scrap of paper for a second longer than he should have, or having relations with another Party member. However, when you get right down to it, both Winston and the anti-war movements are protesting for the same reason: for what they believe is right. And in both cases, as well as other examples that were given, they are protesting the government for one reason or another. The governments of today may see the movements differently, depending on the group. I feel like the government would look at some of the movements of today as though they were annoying little flies bearing banners with their message and parading around their work area. The government of 1984, however, sees defiance as the horrible, unthinkable. Actually, there may possibly be a Newspeak word for that. What, with the very idea of thoughtcrime, people are made so that to even think about something other than what the government wants is to be a criminal. The government of today may listen to what you have to say, if it is worth hearing; the government of 1984 would just erase you without a further thought. As for the masses, it really just depends on whether they agree with you or not, at least in the case of our society. If they do, you are a hero; if not, a loony or an idiot, depending on what you are protesting. However, in 1984, those who protest are to be feared and hated by all, no matter what. This, more or less, seems to be obeyed by the general public.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
"2+2=5" by Radiohead
What is this song talking about lyrically?
It's talking about how the singer just allows things to happen and doesn't think to do anything about it until it is too late. The repeated lines stress the fact that the person has not been "paying attention" to what has been going on until it gets to the part where he wants attention (people to pay attention to him.)
How does the music mirror or help push the message?
The music is wavering throughout the entire time, showing how the person is not paying attention to what is going on. This gives off a confused or wavering imprssion like he doesn't know what to do now that the world has gotten to where it is. The music also sounds vaguely depressed or distressed, which gives the emotion of not being happy with the way things are.
The title is an allusion to 1984...explain the connection.
The government in 1984 controls everything, including the truth and what the past actually was and the main character even says that eventually the government would be able to say that 2+2=5 and no one would be able to say otherwise.
It's talking about how the singer just allows things to happen and doesn't think to do anything about it until it is too late. The repeated lines stress the fact that the person has not been "paying attention" to what has been going on until it gets to the part where he wants attention (people to pay attention to him.)
How does the music mirror or help push the message?
The music is wavering throughout the entire time, showing how the person is not paying attention to what is going on. This gives off a confused or wavering imprssion like he doesn't know what to do now that the world has gotten to where it is. The music also sounds vaguely depressed or distressed, which gives the emotion of not being happy with the way things are.
The title is an allusion to 1984...explain the connection.
The government in 1984 controls everything, including the truth and what the past actually was and the main character even says that eventually the government would be able to say that 2+2=5 and no one would be able to say otherwise.
Identify the conflict. Is this an internal or external conflict?
She feels as though globalization is only running one way, and that those in other cultures respect western culture but it does not flow the other way. This is an external conflict.
How/why does globalization create conflict? In the speaker's opinion globalization has flown in only one direction. What does she mean by this?
She means that while other nations respect the opinion of the west, the west does not respect other people's opinions and culture. Globalization cause conflict by having other people more and more so exposed to culture that are greatly different from them.
Although the speaker feels globalization has been one-sided, she noted that there has been one benefit related to the process. What benefit does she mention?
She feels that the idea of influencing for the good of others is a good idea. This means that those in the west can use their influence for the good other communities and vice versa.
The speaker says Muslims and Westerners live by/are obligated to two different sources of truth. What 1 sources does she mention?
The Qur'an and the Constitution
She feels as though globalization is only running one way, and that those in other cultures respect western culture but it does not flow the other way. This is an external conflict.
How/why does globalization create conflict? In the speaker's opinion globalization has flown in only one direction. What does she mean by this?
She means that while other nations respect the opinion of the west, the west does not respect other people's opinions and culture. Globalization cause conflict by having other people more and more so exposed to culture that are greatly different from them.
Although the speaker feels globalization has been one-sided, she noted that there has been one benefit related to the process. What benefit does she mention?
She feels that the idea of influencing for the good of others is a good idea. This means that those in the west can use their influence for the good other communities and vice versa.
The speaker says Muslims and Westerners live by/are obligated to two different sources of truth. What 1 sources does she mention?
The Qur'an and the Constitution
Monday, October 17, 2011
1984 Section 1 Reading
The thing that pops out to me first is the elimination of the right to choose. Winston never comes out and says, "Oh, no, we don't get to choose how we feel," but it's there. Every time Winston is in a room that contains a telescreen, he carefully monitors his facial expressions, and even seems to do it subconsciously. This shows that the right to choose what your facial expression is is gone, completely. The people, especially the younger kids, aren't really allowed to choose whether they want to be a part of the various propaganda groups such as the Spies, they are just thrust into them quickly before they are even able to think for themselves. Another really noticeable inability to choose that I noticed was that the telescreen cannot be turned off. It can be turned down, but it's always on, spewing propaganda 24-7. That way, people can't choose whether or not they have to listen to the news or the patriotic songs or whatever other thing the Party decide to play at that time.
There's also a section, starting on page 55, which talks about Winston's dealings three years prior to the story, with a prostitute. He spends the next couple pages musing over how it's illegal to deal with prostitutes, but that it was only punishable with five years of hard labor, and therefore not that horrible of an offence. He then goes on to say that "the unforgivable crime was promiscuity between Party members." The next paragraph is spent speaking about how all of the women of the Party are part of an organization called the Junior Anti-Sex League, and that the Party has more or less managed to make sex and relationships such as marriage only necessary in order to make babies. At the point in time when this book takes place, relationships seem more or less taboo, at least between Party members, which of course is one of the points that utopias tend to get rid of to end conflict.
There's also a couple of mentions of religion, but mostly that it's something that the Party never completely got rid of from the Proles. When Winston speaks of it, religion itself carries the tone of something that is just employed to make people happy, and therefore religion does not seem to play too heavy a part in the lives of the Party members. What is really noticeable to me is that the people don't really seem to be happy. They are brainwashed to think that they are happy, but they don't give me the impression of people who are actually happy or who actually seem to be happy, and mostly just make me think of zombies. This is of course talking about the Party members, as the Proles don't get dealt with near as much, and are only instilled with enough patriotism to keep them useful.
There's also a section, starting on page 55, which talks about Winston's dealings three years prior to the story, with a prostitute. He spends the next couple pages musing over how it's illegal to deal with prostitutes, but that it was only punishable with five years of hard labor, and therefore not that horrible of an offence. He then goes on to say that "the unforgivable crime was promiscuity between Party members." The next paragraph is spent speaking about how all of the women of the Party are part of an organization called the Junior Anti-Sex League, and that the Party has more or less managed to make sex and relationships such as marriage only necessary in order to make babies. At the point in time when this book takes place, relationships seem more or less taboo, at least between Party members, which of course is one of the points that utopias tend to get rid of to end conflict.
There's also a couple of mentions of religion, but mostly that it's something that the Party never completely got rid of from the Proles. When Winston speaks of it, religion itself carries the tone of something that is just employed to make people happy, and therefore religion does not seem to play too heavy a part in the lives of the Party members. What is really noticeable to me is that the people don't really seem to be happy. They are brainwashed to think that they are happy, but they don't give me the impression of people who are actually happy or who actually seem to be happy, and mostly just make me think of zombies. This is of course talking about the Party members, as the Proles don't get dealt with near as much, and are only instilled with enough patriotism to keep them useful.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Utopia
What is a utopia?
Simply put, a utopia is a perfect world. Not so simply put, it's a world where there is no pain or suffering, and the system can't be improved upon at all.
What is your ideal world? Explain.
In my ideal world, nobody would want for anything, as that would get rid of poverty. World peace, no sickness...that would probably be my utopia. But I don't think that I would want for there to be no conflict; I think that as long as that conflict was resolved peacefully, it would fit into my ideal world. Yeah, pretty much just everything seems peaceful with the world.That would be my utopia, even though I know that would never happen.
What type of music would be the soundtrack for your utopia?
I honestly don't know. Everyone likes different music, so there is no way I could choose music that would make everyone happy. Alternately, it could also by some polka/rap/country/pop/dubstep mashup, because that way everyone would agree that it sucks, because there's no way for everyone to agree that something is wonderful.
Simply put, a utopia is a perfect world. Not so simply put, it's a world where there is no pain or suffering, and the system can't be improved upon at all.
What is your ideal world? Explain.
In my ideal world, nobody would want for anything, as that would get rid of poverty. World peace, no sickness...that would probably be my utopia. But I don't think that I would want for there to be no conflict; I think that as long as that conflict was resolved peacefully, it would fit into my ideal world. Yeah, pretty much just everything seems peaceful with the world.That would be my utopia, even though I know that would never happen.
What type of music would be the soundtrack for your utopia?
I honestly don't know. Everyone likes different music, so there is no way I could choose music that would make everyone happy. Alternately, it could also by some polka/rap/country/pop/dubstep mashup, because that way everyone would agree that it sucks, because there's no way for everyone to agree that something is wonderful.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
You Were Right-Built to Spill
Make an inference (claim) about the lyrical content of the song and explain it.
The switch partway through the song to him saying "You were wrong" was put in the middle so as to emphasize it. This is because the rest of the song way what "you were right" and then in the middle of the song you find him singing "you were wrong."
Write one analytic statement about the musical content of the song and explain it.
The music is supposed to sound all over the place to show how the singer is feeling confused. He does not know what to feel about the fact that this other person was write about so much.
Make one evaluative statement about the song's overall effectiveness and support it.
The song manages to get across how confused he feels about what the other had said, as the music combines with the lyrics to show just how confused he is.
The switch partway through the song to him saying "You were wrong" was put in the middle so as to emphasize it. This is because the rest of the song way what "you were right" and then in the middle of the song you find him singing "you were wrong."
Write one analytic statement about the musical content of the song and explain it.
The music is supposed to sound all over the place to show how the singer is feeling confused. He does not know what to feel about the fact that this other person was write about so much.
Make one evaluative statement about the song's overall effectiveness and support it.
The song manages to get across how confused he feels about what the other had said, as the music combines with the lyrics to show just how confused he is.
"Young Life" by Bo Bartlett
Give 3 claims with a supporting fact for each.
1. The artist is trying to show that he feels that the younger generation is too violent.
-The painting, titled "Young Life" shows a picture of a teenager holding a gun, and nobody in the picture appears bothered by that.
2. The little boy is holding a stick and standing to the side to show that he wished to grow up to be like the older teen in the picture.
-The little boy is standing to the side, holding a stick a manner that could be similar to the teen's, showing that he wants to be like him.
3. The truck and kids are situated in the middle of no where to show that the artist feel like violence gets you no where.
-The surroundings appear to be empty and the kids are not moving or trying to go anywhere.
Write a paragraph based on one of those claims.
The setting of the picture is in the middle of no where to show that the artist believes that violence gets you no where in life. This is shown by the fact that they are all situated in one place, and nobody is in a moving position. The truck behind them is also situated in one place and is not going anywhere. They are also surrounded by dead tree stumps, which shows that there isn't anywhere to go from here, just like the trees stumps that were once something good, that could have made something.
1. The artist is trying to show that he feels that the younger generation is too violent.
-The painting, titled "Young Life" shows a picture of a teenager holding a gun, and nobody in the picture appears bothered by that.
2. The little boy is holding a stick and standing to the side to show that he wished to grow up to be like the older teen in the picture.
-The little boy is standing to the side, holding a stick a manner that could be similar to the teen's, showing that he wants to be like him.
3. The truck and kids are situated in the middle of no where to show that the artist feel like violence gets you no where.
-The surroundings appear to be empty and the kids are not moving or trying to go anywhere.
Write a paragraph based on one of those claims.
The setting of the picture is in the middle of no where to show that the artist believes that violence gets you no where in life. This is shown by the fact that they are all situated in one place, and nobody is in a moving position. The truck behind them is also situated in one place and is not going anywhere. They are also surrounded by dead tree stumps, which shows that there isn't anywhere to go from here, just like the trees stumps that were once something good, that could have made something.
Shame- The Avett Brothers
ID Subject and Tone
The singer regrets something that he did and wants for the other person to forgive him. The tone is very apologetic and regretful as the singer is very resigned about what he is apologizing about and just wants to be forgiven.
Choose 3 words that push the tone and explain how they do that.
Overwhelming-it shows how what he is feeling he is feeling apologetic about is making him very regretful
Helping-this shows how he really wants to be forgiven
Sink-this shows how he is regretful about how the woman feels about him.
The singer regrets something that he did and wants for the other person to forgive him. The tone is very apologetic and regretful as the singer is very resigned about what he is apologizing about and just wants to be forgiven.
Choose 3 words that push the tone and explain how they do that.
Overwhelming-it shows how what he is feeling he is feeling apologetic about is making him very regretful
Helping-this shows how he really wants to be forgiven
Sink-this shows how he is regretful about how the woman feels about him.
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