Sunday, October 30, 2011

This Land is Your Land

- Guthrie's message is individualist because he constantly is referring back to "you" and "I" which gives indicates single persons seeking their own way in this land. Also, he paints an image that seems like there's an individual wandering over the land who is free to do what he'd like to do. This emphasizes the feeling that people can do what they please with there life and no one can stop them.

- It is anti-government. He sets a mood that is very free-spirited and unconstrained. For example, when he says "I saw above me an endless skyway. I saw below me a golden valley" he creates a feeling of being almost boundless. Then when he says "and on the sign it said "No Trespassing", but on the other side it didn't say nothing, that side was made for you and me" he seems almost to disregard the government (represented by the sign) and he goes on to say the unconstrained part was made for "you and me".

The Egg Questions

1. Before he was a cheerful man who helped others and liked to relax after work. After he married, he became ambitious and worked very hard to improve his life.

2. He thinks chickens represent the bad parts of life and disappointment.

3. He was surrounded with death growing up. He's seen a lot of failure which has made him cautious and wary of things.

4. The deformed chickens represent the weird things that can come out of seemingly normal things.

5. He decides to entertain. This is wrong because he initially started out to try and change his life. This is fine, but it's different when you try and change who you are. When his dad tries to be entertaining, it only makes the situation awkward and uncomfortable.

6. Where eggs are concerned in his life, there will be disappointment. The "victory" of the egg is that eggs have caused another disappointment in his life.

American Friendships

To say someone is your friend sounds a lot better than to say someone is an acquaintance because it suggests that the two people enjoy each others' presence and like each other. As a result of this, Americans have gotten into the habit of calling everyone they're associated with their friend. Since it's not likely to be close to every single person you're associated with, it seems almost as if these friendships have no depth or meaning. This causes others to view it as superficial.

Collective/Individualist Cultures

1. In a collectivist culture traits such as charitable and generous would be considered ideal. In an individualist culture traits such as independent, assertive, and innovative would be ideal.

2. In a collectivist culture you might not associate with higher class people because there isn't a strive to improve status.

3. If a collectivist teacher taught in an individualist society, parents of students might be angry at the teacher for not giving individual children attention. For example, if there was one student that exceptionally smarter than the other students, that child's parents might be angry with the collectivist teacher for not challenging the student to reach his/her full potential.

4. It's mostly neutral but it has almost a negative connotation because it suggests that you aren't friends with the person.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Reading Blog #2: 1984

        Winston's having a difficult time buying into what Big Brother says because he started thinking logically. By forming his own thoughts he realizes that the government lies to everyone. This makes him wonder about what is actually true and why everyone follows the government. After he starts thinking about these things, he sees all the flaws in Big Brother and what he says. In 1984, Winston is protesting the Party, and by protesting he is breaking the law. In Winston's society, simply considering that the government might be wrong is a crime. Protesting in Orwellian society is very different than protesting in our modern world. For one, in our society people can scream and shout against the government without worrying about being tortured or vaporized. On the other hand, in Winston's world, just by thinking too much, he knows that he will eventually be caught and killed. Also, in our society, there are numerous ways of protesting that are not against the law and even protected as a right. In 1984, any form of protest was a crime.

Sunday, October 23, 2011

"2+2=5" by Radiohead

- What is the song talking about lyrically?
The lyrics are saying that if you ignore what's going on/you don't pay attention or act up, others will take control, and you won't be able to change anything.

- How does the music mirror or help push the message?
At first, the voice is very muffled and blurry. You can't really tell what he's saying. This reflects the idea of not speaking up and not paying attention. Then when the singer says "pay attention" it's a lot stronger and it sounds almost panicked. This shows the urgency to realize what's going on before it's too late. It also emphasizes his desperation to convince people to pay attention.

- The title is an allusion to 1984. Explain the connection.
In the story, Winston Smith talks about how in his society nobody thinks for themselves and they follow whatever the government says. So, if the government says that 2+2=5, everyone would believe it. In the song, the the singer is trying to get everyone to pay attention so that they don't reach a society where if the government says 2+2=5 they believe it.

Globalization and Conflict

- Identify the conflict. Is it external or internal?
The conflict is about the different views of different cultures, and whether women are subjugated by exposing too much or covering too much.

- How/why does globalization create conflict?
Globalization creates conflict by engaging opposing cultures that have different values, morals, and beliefs.

- What does she mean by one direction?
She means that the west influences other cultures, but other cultures don't have much impact on the west.

- What benefit does she mention?
Globalization helps to create role models.

- What 2 sources does she mention?
The Constitution for the west, and the Qur'an for Muslims.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Reading Blog #1: 1984

          In the book 1984 by George Orwell, the government creates a society where people are all the same. The people are supposed to remain "unconscious" (not have individual thoughts) and agree that whatever Big Brother/the government says is the truth. The government achieves this by having the Thought Police monitor everyone and ensure that people who commit thoughtcrimes are dealt with. Conflict and individual rights are also reduced. The people are convinced that individuality is bad (one of the slogans is "freedom is slavery") and they are encouraged to not develop opinions and thoughts (another slogan is "ignorance is strength"). The government gets everyone to think they're happy by altering the past so that there is factual proof to support that the present is better than the past (before the Revolution). Also, anyone who disagrees or has their own thoughts is caught by the Thought Police and vaporized. The past is then altered again and vaporized people have never existed. In this book, George Orwell creates a dystopia. Nothing is perfect about the society, and everything the government does/says is based off of lies. The people aren't actually happy, the government just convinces them that they are. Also, conflict is avoided within the society because the government kills anyone who opposes, but conflict is not actually in anyway reduced because, as a matter of fact, the Party supports war and encourages violence.

Utopia

- What is a utopia?
A utopia is a perfect world where everyone is equal and happy. Everything is good and there are never any conflicts or wars.

- What is your ideal world? Explain.
My ideal world would be one without bullies or crimes. Also there wouldn't be homeless people and starvation. Necessary resources to survive are available to everyone and people don't get jealous of the things others have.

- What type of music would be the soundtrack for your utopia?
The soundtrack for my utopia would be happy, bright, and smooth music. I would have music that sets a positive mood and inspires people. For example, "Don't Stop Believing" by Journey.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

Chuck Baird

- Make a claim about the artist's voice.
The artist wants to emphasize the importance of communication. She does this by drawing hands and mouths.

- Identify a culture.
The culture is focused on deaf people.

- Make a claim about the culture.
Deaf people value interaction and communication.

Sunday, October 2, 2011

Built to Spill- You Were Right

- Make an inference about the lyrical content of the song and explain it.
The song writer experienced some kind of pain or loss. The lyrics say "you were right when you said you can't always get what you want" showing that the singer didn't get something he wanted.

- Write one analytic statement about the musical content of the song and explain/support it.
The upbeat tempo of the song destroys the mood. The lyrics are sad because the singer keeps saying the depressing things that "you" were right about but the tempo makes the listener want to think the song is happy, so they contradict.

- Make one evaluative statement about the song's overall effectiveness and support it.
The overall song is not very effective. The mood of the lyrics conflicts with the mood of the instrumentals which leaves the listener a bit confused about the message the singer's trying to get across.

Young Life

- Make 3 claims about the painting.
1. CLAIM: The boy aspires to be like the young man. FACT: The boy is standing in a similar position as the young man.
2. CLAIM: The painter wanted to show that many families are dependent on the man. FACT: The man is standing proudly with the woman leaning on him.
3. CLAIM: The man shot the dear. FACT: There's a dead dear on top of the truck, and the man is holding a gun.

FORMAL, ACADEMIC TONE PARAGRAPH:
     In "Young Life" the little boy aspires to be like the young man. The boy stands apart from the man and the woman in an independent manner, showing that he wants to be strong and on his own. Also, the boy is holding a sturdy stick, similar to how the man is holding a gun. This shows that the boy things that in order to appear strong, he needs a manly prop. Lastly, the position the little boy is standing in resembles that of a defensive, strict man. Since the boy wants to be a man, it makes sense that he would take the form and appearance of one.

The Avett Brothers: Shame

- Identify the subject and tone.
The subject is shame and the tone is a little bit sad but peaceful at the same time. It seems like the artist feels regretful but also hopeful.

- 3 words that push the tone and explain how they do that.
1. fade: it has a gentle and subtle connotation, but it also makes you feel a bit sad because it suggests that things are disappearing.
2. "my heart was always fairly cold posing to be as warm as yours": emphasizes the contrast of what people are and what they should be. It also adds to the singer's feeling of shame.
3. lift: shows the subject as a heavy burden or like a weight on him.