My Memory
The dank suffocation fo my face in the pillows allowed muffled, lachrymose wails to escape my mouth. Knowing it was wrong, the trepidation grew. Anger, sadness, fatigue and hatred. All emotions overwhelmed my inner core. It was cool in my room. Toys along the walls and my keyboard in the corner. The window shades were down blocking the lighting from the full moon. Keeping it shut out as an unwatned visitor. My blankets lay still on my quivering body. My bed, being much bigger than I, stayed still. My feel barely reached the end. My hair, wet with tears, lay sprawled across my pillow and stuck to my face. Minutes passed and the darkness enveloped me with the only source of light coming from under the door. I started the calming process. I was about seven then. I closed my eyes wanting to turn back the clock. Change my words, actions, the whole thing. When I thought it was over, when I thought it was okay, the yellow glow from the ceiling blub in the hall spread across the opposite wall as the door opened. I felt mad again, felt it was all a delusion. I conjured for forgiveness. My heart ran laps around my chest. Struggling with the arms of present evil grabbing me, moving me. Kicking, fighting, nothing. The stinging of a five-pointed star remained after impact. It was as if a comet exploded into solar dust. The tears returned as I grimaced in pain. The mordacious attack, the growth of vacuity, all aplomb for a better tomorrow disappeared. The occurances of that one inclement moment. The light shrunk away and the serenity of darkness took over again. The knob of the door clicked as it returned to it's origin. My face went back to the pillows.
Vocabulary:
Trepidation: NOUN fear
Lachrymose: ADJ teary
Aplomb: NOUN confidence
Grimace: VERB wince
Dank: ADJ dark and wet
Delusion: NOUN hallucination
Inclement: ADJ harsh
Vacuity: NOUN nothingness
Mordacious: ADJ brutal
Conjure: VERB to beg
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Music Essay
John Butler, the lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of The John Butler Trio was born in California in 1975. At the age of eleven, his family moved to Australia where he grew up. John found a love for playing instruments and music in general. He played his first instrument, the ukulele, when he was two or three years old. Learning the guitar at sixteen, John walked up and down the streets and saw graffiti and social commentary, which inspired him. He began expressing his views and feelings through music. Butler spent his time busking in front of large crowds at markets, or just plugging in his amp and playing on the streets. Rather quickly, people began to ask for tapes or recordings of John's songs; so much in fact that in 1996, being completely self-funded, he released his first tape which sold approximately 3,500 copies, leading to his first CD. The band came together in 1998 and originated in Fremantile, Australia. John Butler, along with drummer and percussionist, Michael Barker, and bass and double bass player, Shannon Birchall, incorporate blues, reggae, country, folk, funk, and even rock in their music, which John considers to be under no specific genre. I think their music could be placed under a mix of Rock, Alternative and Folk. Their inability to be categorized as a certain type of music expressing their ability to hit a bunch of different targets. Their inspirations come from Reggae artist Bob Marley, civil rights activist Martin Luther King Jr., and other artists such as The Meters, Jeff Lang, De La Soul, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Sabbath, and much more. Also, John Butler holds high thoughts about rapper Eminem. When in an interview, Butler said, "Feeling able or free to criticize the government, to say what you're feeling or thinking...That's what's so great about Eminem...he said what you were thinking...it was scary, but he was saying what you were thinking." I view The John Butler Trio as three guys having fun, but lacking fear in expressing how they feel about society and the way our world has turned out.
The John Butler Trio views music as one's ability to really touch people, inspire them, and be inspired by them. Through music, artists can affect people when putting as much soul and truth into it as possible. John Butler puts out messages about social equity, justice, and the human spirit. In his song, "Used to Get High," I believe he talks about how people have conformed to society and are constantly being brainwashed. In my opinion, he utilizes drugs and getting high as a metaphor for society. In the opening line, "I used to get high for a living," Butler explains experiencing pleasure from what society has to offer like someone would feel from using drugs. The repetition of this line explains how he doesn't find that pleasure anymore or fall into that pleasure; instead John Butler lives within his individuality, his own beliefs, and himself. The next and fourth lines, "Believing everything that I saw on my TV; Eating all the bull@#$% food that they sold me," expresses how the media puts forth advertising and subliminal messages creating a mindset in all it's victims. I think that John Butler is trying to bring across the message that Americans and even people all around the world are tricked into thinking certain things will bring you complete happiness. Therefore they put emphasis on the wrong things making them the most important aspects of their lives. The next line, "Thinking that my destiny was out of my control," explains how before he never thought a thing about his future or where he was going and just figured that he would, "go with the flow," but now he realizes how we can all control our own future. The following stanza lists food, "super size, large fries, big mac, coca cola," and drugs, "speed, weed, ecstasy LSD, Prozac, ADD tablets, coke, and smack," explaining certain things people use for pleasure. I believe that John is trying to explain that a lot of people stop receiving pleasure from the media and television, so they progress to eating or even something as serious as drugs. Butler goes on to sing, "Man, it don't bother me 'cause we're all on something...you know I'm clawing at the walls trying to get my fix," explaining how the media acts as a drug for everyone so all these other serious things aren't as bad or don't bother him and he has even fallen victim to the media's poison. The next stanza, after the refrain, I think talks about man's downfall in society and that we are on a route to destruction, "Escape, can't wait all trying to get away from this place man that we're feeling, can't deal can't feel what's real...No doubt the route you're on." Also, "Can't find the clout that you've been needing," expresses how many people focus only on getting ahead in society or getting connections with wealthy, powerful and popular people. Many people, I believe, spend their whole lives trying to make their way to the top of the social ladder and once they get there, they are alone and unhappy. John Butler explains that while people constantly strive to get to the top, they give up all power and control to corporate giants, and eventually they have to deal with the situation. The artist somewhat switches gears after repeating the refrain again and talks about everything the government is doing in our country like, "Getting lazy with their foreign relations, starting wars, closing doors...Economic rational calling fouls with the workers, just trying to make it pay, cost cutting, head butting." Eventually, the economy takes control and, "Big business do what they like and you do what they say." I believe in the next lines, "What's wrong get along, just prolong the thoughts you got going on, on the inside, appease, stand at ease, just try to please all the apathy that you're trying to hide," explains how many people recognize what's going on and they either pretend to ignore it, or don't do anything because they are waiting for someone else to step forward. The end of that stanza, "all the apathy you're trying to hide," depicts that John Butler is poking fun at Americans saying we really lack passion for things going on in our world today and exemplify our apathetic emotions very openly. Others, however, can't even realize how they got to where they are. Everything is just a blur, as expressed in, "How now brown cow did we get from this standing place and now we're kneeling." The repetition of the line, "You must contend with the monster that you're feeding," expresses that its too late to stop what has happened, so now we have to deal with it and then try to turn it around. For the last lines of the song, John Butler and his band repeat the refrain placing emphasis on how they used to be just like everyone else, just sort of going through the motions, but now they realizes the truth and are changing their ways.
Through music, I believe the John Butler Trio is trying to change the world, one note at a time. Along with the messages of their songs, the John Butler Trio has created an organization called The JB Seed. This organization is an arts grant fund bringing together and bringing out emerging artists and their talents. Also, on The John Butler Trio's MySpace website, there are multiple links to websites of organizations working for the betterment of our world, such as, "The Hub," "ANAWA," "The Wilderness Society," and many more. Also, in the music video, while playing their song, a little boy walks up to listen and is the only one out of the crowd really paying attention. The little boy is the only one really affected by the music, which I think brings about the idea that messages, like the one in, "Used To Get High," need to be directed towards the youth of society because they are the future and they can turn things around. I feel that John Butler explains a message through this song that he holds a great deal of belief in. This artist depicts the band aid to society and it's flaws.
The John Butler Trio views music as one's ability to really touch people, inspire them, and be inspired by them. Through music, artists can affect people when putting as much soul and truth into it as possible. John Butler puts out messages about social equity, justice, and the human spirit. In his song, "Used to Get High," I believe he talks about how people have conformed to society and are constantly being brainwashed. In my opinion, he utilizes drugs and getting high as a metaphor for society. In the opening line, "I used to get high for a living," Butler explains experiencing pleasure from what society has to offer like someone would feel from using drugs. The repetition of this line explains how he doesn't find that pleasure anymore or fall into that pleasure; instead John Butler lives within his individuality, his own beliefs, and himself. The next and fourth lines, "Believing everything that I saw on my TV; Eating all the bull@#$% food that they sold me," expresses how the media puts forth advertising and subliminal messages creating a mindset in all it's victims. I think that John Butler is trying to bring across the message that Americans and even people all around the world are tricked into thinking certain things will bring you complete happiness. Therefore they put emphasis on the wrong things making them the most important aspects of their lives. The next line, "Thinking that my destiny was out of my control," explains how before he never thought a thing about his future or where he was going and just figured that he would, "go with the flow," but now he realizes how we can all control our own future. The following stanza lists food, "super size, large fries, big mac, coca cola," and drugs, "speed, weed, ecstasy LSD, Prozac, ADD tablets, coke, and smack," explaining certain things people use for pleasure. I believe that John is trying to explain that a lot of people stop receiving pleasure from the media and television, so they progress to eating or even something as serious as drugs. Butler goes on to sing, "Man, it don't bother me 'cause we're all on something...you know I'm clawing at the walls trying to get my fix," explaining how the media acts as a drug for everyone so all these other serious things aren't as bad or don't bother him and he has even fallen victim to the media's poison. The next stanza, after the refrain, I think talks about man's downfall in society and that we are on a route to destruction, "Escape, can't wait all trying to get away from this place man that we're feeling, can't deal can't feel what's real...No doubt the route you're on." Also, "Can't find the clout that you've been needing," expresses how many people focus only on getting ahead in society or getting connections with wealthy, powerful and popular people. Many people, I believe, spend their whole lives trying to make their way to the top of the social ladder and once they get there, they are alone and unhappy. John Butler explains that while people constantly strive to get to the top, they give up all power and control to corporate giants, and eventually they have to deal with the situation. The artist somewhat switches gears after repeating the refrain again and talks about everything the government is doing in our country like, "Getting lazy with their foreign relations, starting wars, closing doors...Economic rational calling fouls with the workers, just trying to make it pay, cost cutting, head butting." Eventually, the economy takes control and, "Big business do what they like and you do what they say." I believe in the next lines, "What's wrong get along, just prolong the thoughts you got going on, on the inside, appease, stand at ease, just try to please all the apathy that you're trying to hide," explains how many people recognize what's going on and they either pretend to ignore it, or don't do anything because they are waiting for someone else to step forward. The end of that stanza, "all the apathy you're trying to hide," depicts that John Butler is poking fun at Americans saying we really lack passion for things going on in our world today and exemplify our apathetic emotions very openly. Others, however, can't even realize how they got to where they are. Everything is just a blur, as expressed in, "How now brown cow did we get from this standing place and now we're kneeling." The repetition of the line, "You must contend with the monster that you're feeding," expresses that its too late to stop what has happened, so now we have to deal with it and then try to turn it around. For the last lines of the song, John Butler and his band repeat the refrain placing emphasis on how they used to be just like everyone else, just sort of going through the motions, but now they realizes the truth and are changing their ways.
Through music, I believe the John Butler Trio is trying to change the world, one note at a time. Along with the messages of their songs, the John Butler Trio has created an organization called The JB Seed. This organization is an arts grant fund bringing together and bringing out emerging artists and their talents. Also, on The John Butler Trio's MySpace website, there are multiple links to websites of organizations working for the betterment of our world, such as, "The Hub," "ANAWA," "The Wilderness Society," and many more. Also, in the music video, while playing their song, a little boy walks up to listen and is the only one out of the crowd really paying attention. The little boy is the only one really affected by the music, which I think brings about the idea that messages, like the one in, "Used To Get High," need to be directed towards the youth of society because they are the future and they can turn things around. I feel that John Butler explains a message through this song that he holds a great deal of belief in. This artist depicts the band aid to society and it's flaws.
Lyrics to Used To Get High :
I used to get high for a living
Believing everything that i saw on my tv
I used to get high for a living
Eating all the bull@#$% food that they sold me
I used to get high for a living
Thinking that my destiny was out of my control
I used to get high for a living
There's lots of different reasons and i'll tell you so
Super size, large fries, big mac, coca cola
Go on man, pick your poison
Speed, weed, ecstacy, LSD
Man, it don't bother me cos we're all on something
Caffeine, cigarettes, alcohol
You know i'm clawing at the walls trying to get my fix
Prozac, ADD tablets, coke, smack
Now you know i am turning tricks cos
I used to get high for a living
Believing everything that i saw on my tv
I used to get high for a living
Eating all the bull@#$% food that they sold me
Yeah, that they sold me
Escape, can't wait all trying to get away
From this place man that we're feeling
Can't deal, can't feel what's real
All trying to conceal all this time we're stealing
No doubt, the route you're on
Can't find the clout that you've been needing
'Til then my friend you must contend
With the monster that you're feeding
I used to get high for a living
Believing everything that i saw on my tv
I used to get high for a living
Eating all the bull@#$% food that they sold me
I used to get high for a living
Thinking that my destiny was out of my control
I used to get high for a living
There's lots of different reasons and i'll tell you so
Got links of the cheney
Getting crazy, getting lazy with their foreign relations
Starting wars, closing doors
Trying to bring about one quicker, man, revelations
Economic rational calling fouls with the workers
Just trying to make it pay
Cost cutting, head butting
Big business do what they like and you do what they say
What's wrong get along, just prolong all the thoughts
You got going on, on the inside
Appease, stand at ease, just try to please
All the apathy that you're trying to hide
How now brown cow
Did we get from this standing place......
And now we're kneeling
'Til then my friend you must contend with the monster that you're feeding
I used to get high for a living
Believing everything that i saw on my tv
I used to get high for a living
Eating all the bull@#$% food that they sold me
I used to get high for a living
Thinking that my destiny was out of my control
I used to get high for a living
I used to get high for a living
Believing everything that i saw on my tv
I used to get high for a living
Eating all the bull@#$% food that they sold me
I used to get high for a living
Thinking that my destiny was out of my control
I used to get high for a living
There's lots of different reasons and i'll tell you so
Super size, large fries, big mac, coca cola
Go on man, pick your poison
Speed, weed, ecstacy, LSD
Man, it don't bother me cos we're all on something
Caffeine, cigarettes, alcohol
You know i'm clawing at the walls trying to get my fix
Prozac, ADD tablets, coke, smack
Now you know i am turning tricks cos
I used to get high for a living
Believing everything that i saw on my tv
I used to get high for a living
Eating all the bull@#$% food that they sold me
Yeah, that they sold me
Escape, can't wait all trying to get away
From this place man that we're feeling
Can't deal, can't feel what's real
All trying to conceal all this time we're stealing
No doubt, the route you're on
Can't find the clout that you've been needing
'Til then my friend you must contend
With the monster that you're feeding
I used to get high for a living
Believing everything that i saw on my tv
I used to get high for a living
Eating all the bull@#$% food that they sold me
I used to get high for a living
Thinking that my destiny was out of my control
I used to get high for a living
There's lots of different reasons and i'll tell you so
Got links of the cheney
Getting crazy, getting lazy with their foreign relations
Starting wars, closing doors
Trying to bring about one quicker, man, revelations
Economic rational calling fouls with the workers
Just trying to make it pay
Cost cutting, head butting
Big business do what they like and you do what they say
What's wrong get along, just prolong all the thoughts
You got going on, on the inside
Appease, stand at ease, just try to please
All the apathy that you're trying to hide
How now brown cow
Did we get from this standing place......
And now we're kneeling
'Til then my friend you must contend with the monster that you're feeding
I used to get high for a living
Believing everything that i saw on my tv
I used to get high for a living
Eating all the bull@#$% food that they sold me
I used to get high for a living
Thinking that my destiny was out of my control
I used to get high for a living
There's lots of different reasons and i'll tell you so
Monday, November 17, 2008
Hypnopaedia
The images presented in the beginning of the presentation explain the sadness and feelings of devastation people naturally experience when hearing about tragedies dealing with death. We feel natural hurt and a need to sympathize with those involved of those who had loved ones involved. The images of people mourning and crying expresses the normal reaction to loss and death. We are overcome with pain in realizing that people have lost their lives and no longer exist on this earth. However, the way death is viewed in society holds an ironic twist I tried to express within this video. Yes, humanity feels pain and suffering when others are lost, yet we find entertainment and sometimes enjoyment when seeing images or videos about torture or death. Whether in Hollywood, on the news, or trying to look up videos on YouTube, we can't help but want to see or hear the gruesome details. The idea of death causing sadness and hurt, but also providing entertainment makes the viewers of this video stop and really think that we are pretty twisted, because it's true.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Dramatic Monologue
Look at me now.Never in all my wildest dreams.
I never thought I’d end up this way.
How did I get here?
So badly I want to return.
I miss soma holidays.
Pope gave me mescal.
It’s not the same.
It makes you feel so sick with the peyotl.
Just so ashamed the next day.
Soma is pleasure.
Never to be seen again.
I’m a mother now.
A thing unheard of .
They would never accept me.
I love my son.
Oh Ford, Ford, Ford, he was such a comfort to me.
Yet, the Malthusian Drill.
It’s not my fault.
I did it by numbers.
Something just happened.
But things should be different.
I should be beautiful.
I should live there.
I should have soma.
I’m old and fat.
Covered in wrinkles
No teeth.
They would never accept me now.
Nobody here understood.
I tried explaining it to John.
How could he understand?
He’s never learned of science.
The Beta Embryo-Store Workers Guide.
Only source to civilization.
There was so much I didn’t know.
How would I answer John?
‘Who made the world?’
‘How do helicopters work?’
I didn’t know.
Women here didn’t understand either.
They beat me and hated me.
Whipped me and hit me.
I didn’t know why.
I continued my practices
They all said I stole their men.
I just played with them.
Red flowing
Like the light in the room for all embryos.
There are rules there.
Science and organization.
Chemicals and social classes.
‘Civilization is Sterilization.’
‘Streptocock-Gee to Banbury- T,
to see a fine bathroom in W.C.’
‘Alpha children wear grey.
They work much harder than we do,
because they’re so frightfully clever.
I’m really awfully glad I’m a Beta,
because I don’t work so hard.
And then we are much better
than the Gammas and the Deltas.
Gammas are stupid.
They all wear green,
and Delta children wear khaki.
Oh no, I don’t want to play with Delta children.
And Epsilons are still worst.
They’re the stupidest of all.’
I’m a Beta.
I worked in the Fertilizing Room.
Ohhh Ford how badly I want to go back.
A call for me
Visitors entered.
They came from the World State.
How beautiful they were.
So young and beautiful.
The look she gave me.
I disgusted her.
I was something she had never seen before.
But she was beautiful.
The acetate silk!
The viscose velveteen shorts!
Reminded me of my old clothes.
They are tucked away.
Never to be worn again.
I told them my story.
A thing unheard of .
They would never accept me.
I love my son.
Oh Ford, Ford, Ford, he was such a comfort to me.
Yet, the Malthusian Drill.
It’s not my fault.
I did it by numbers.
Something just happened.
But things should be different.
I should be beautiful.
I should live there.
I should have soma.
I’m old and fat.
Covered in wrinkles
No teeth.
They would never accept me now.
Nobody here understood.
I tried explaining it to John.
How could he understand?
He’s never learned of science.
The Beta Embryo-Store Workers Guide.
Only source to civilization.
There was so much I didn’t know.
How would I answer John?
‘Who made the world?’
‘How do helicopters work?’
I didn’t know.
Women here didn’t understand either.
They beat me and hated me.
Whipped me and hit me.
I didn’t know why.
I continued my practices
They all said I stole their men.
I just played with them.
Red flowing
Like the light in the room for all embryos.
There are rules there.
Science and organization.
Chemicals and social classes.
‘Civilization is Sterilization.’
‘Streptocock-Gee to Banbury- T,
to see a fine bathroom in W.C.’
‘Alpha children wear grey.
They work much harder than we do,
because they’re so frightfully clever.
I’m really awfully glad I’m a Beta,
because I don’t work so hard.
And then we are much better
than the Gammas and the Deltas.
Gammas are stupid.
They all wear green,
and Delta children wear khaki.
Oh no, I don’t want to play with Delta children.
And Epsilons are still worst.
They’re the stupidest of all.’
I’m a Beta.
I worked in the Fertilizing Room.
Ohhh Ford how badly I want to go back.
A call for me
Visitors entered.
They came from the World State.
How beautiful they were.
So young and beautiful.
The look she gave me.
I disgusted her.
I was something she had never seen before.
But she was beautiful.
The acetate silk!
The viscose velveteen shorts!
Reminded me of my old clothes.
They are tucked away.
Never to be worn again.
I told them my story.
-Linda
Brave New World
Monday, October 27, 2008
Allusion Paragraph
Throughout Penn's All the King's Men, the author utilizes the Greek allusions of Telemachus and Cassandra to explain the experiences and happenings of Jack Burden. Cassandra demonstrates a Greek character that had the power to tell the future. However, after refusing Apollo's love, he placed a curse on her which entailed that no one would believe her predictions. This curse parallels to the curse of Jack Burden not acknowledging or understanding all the subtle clues to his past. For instance, Cass says, "I write this down...with what truthfulness a sinner may attain unto, that if ever pride is in me, of flesh or spirit, I can peruse these pages and know with shame what evil has been in me," which shows Jack how pride can make people arrogant. In turn, they are unable to realize how much they affect others and vise versa. The following excerpt reinforces this idea, "I have said that Jack Burden could not put down the facts about Cass Mastern's words because he did not know Cass Mastern...They could only be words t him for to him the world then was simply an accumulation of items, odds, and ends...one thing had nothing to do, in the end, with anything else." Jack is oblivious to all Cass tries to show him through his writings. This also demonstrates the introduction to the Spider Web Theory, meaning all acts are interconnected in some way. Throughout the story, Jack connects with the Greek allusion Telemachus. Once Odysseus, Telemachus' father, goes out on a journey, there are a bunch of suitors trying to marry his mother. Telemachus becomes forced to be the man of the house at a very young age in defending his mother. Once his father returns from his journey, Telemachus holds the inability to recognize him because so much time has passed. This plot reflects on Jack Burden's situation. Once the Scholarly Attorney, "abandoned" Jack and his mother, Jack was forced to be the man of the house while keeping an eye on his mother throughout her many following relationships. During Jack's entire life, Judge Irwin had been there acting as a father-figure. Jack, however, doesn't come to learn that the Judge was his real father until near the end of the novel. Burden's father was there the whole time; he just couldn't recognize him. This is depicted through, "'You ought to have led that duck more, Jack. You got to lead a duck, son. But, son, I'll make a duck hunter out of you yet,' the Judge said." Also, when Odysseus was able to string the bow to prove that he was worthy of marrying Penelope, Telemachus' mother, the son didn't want to recognize Odysseus as a hero. Jack, in sequence with this, never wanted to acknowledge the judge as a hero, despite his war efforts and good deeds. This idea is explained through, "I supposed that for a long time I took a snotty tone about the Judge as hero because it was a fashion for a while to take such a tone about heroes and I grew up in that fashion. Or perhaps it was because I had bad feet and never got into the Army, or even the S.A.T.C. when I was in college, and therefore had a case of the sour grapes that the wallflower always has." Robert Warren Penn utilizes the Greek Allusions of Cassandra and Telemachus to not only enhance the connection of the work to the outside world, but also further explain the situation of Jack Burden
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
A Calm, Clear Night
It was a very calm, clear night
Her breathing was shallow, quick, and dry.
The eyes that were following me.
Fumbling in the right side pocket
the man with the head like the block of bare granite.
I almost drown in those eyes.
The minutes shifted and wavered down around us.
Oh the awful responsibility of time.
Piercing blue, yet entrancing those eyes were.
Smoking automatic.
Time has stopped.
The eyes are gone.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Long Day's Journey into Night
Aspects of a writers’ experiences, good and bad, have a tendency to be reflected within their works. The life of many artists have been trial-some and full of pain or suffering, therefore, their masterpieces exemplify pain within the characters. Also, many times writers have unresolved conflicts within their lives, which they are able to put an end to once writing it down in one of their works. Throughout Eugene O’Neills, Long Day’s Journey into Night, he intertwines many aspects of his life making this work almost an autobiography.
Eugene O’Neill’s father was a nineteenth century actor. He rose from poverty and became one of America’s most popular. Once out of poverty, apparent to all was his obsession with financial security. For many years he played a part in The Count of Monte Cristo, despite being criticized by everyone for this waste of talent (Gale). This real life father of O’Neill connects almost exactly with James Tyrone within Long Day’s Journey into Night. James Tyrone was abandoned at the age of ten by his Irish immigrant father. Because of this he was forced to work and bring himself out of poverty. Once out of poverty he learns an appreciation for money that borderlines with stinginess. James was a famous actor touring the US with his wife playing the same role in the same play over and over. James’ sons comment on how good of an actor he could have been, but he refused to play any role besides the one he was comfortable with. Throughout the work, Eugene O’Neill expresses James inability to commit, his frugality with his feelings, and the fact that he lives life just going through the motions. These ideas connect almost flawlessly with the feelings Eugene had about his own father, James.
O’Neill’s mother, Mary Ellen Quinlan, grew up from a wealthy household and was educated in Catholic convent schools. Right after meeting O’Neill’s father, they married and immediately became isolated and shunned by women in conventional society. Also, while recovering from giving birth to Eugene, she became addicted to morphine. O’Neill was unaware of her addiction until a time when at their “summer” home, only real home, she ran out of pills and tried to drown herself (Gale). Mary Tyrone reflects the playwright’s mother through all aspects. Mary, being educated placed in a Catholic convent after her mother’s death wanted to become a nun; however instead, she married James Tyrone. Her father brought her to James, and immediately she fell in love. After marrying, she traveled all around with him while he performed. Instead of becoming addicted to morphine after the birth of a child, she became an addict after the death of her child Eugene. This symbolic death reflects the emotional death of O’Neill once finding out his mother had become an addict. Since O’Neill’s mother started using after his birth, he felt somewhat responsible for her downfall and reflected that guilt within the death of Eugene in Long Day’s Journey into Night.
After Mary Ellen Quinlan’s attempted suicide, Eugene lost all faith in both his mother, and God. From that point on, Eugene fell in love with the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher who disagreed with Christianity. In an article written by Gale Cengage Learning, “Nietzsche offered a new faith based on confidence in one’s inner resources.” Finally, after trying to commit suicide and surviving to learn he had tuberculosis, O’Neill was checked into a sanitarium where he decided to become a playwright (Gale). Eugene O’Neill reflects himself and his inner trials within Edmund Tyrone in his work Long Day’s Journey into Night. Edmund demonstrates the name of Eugene O’Neill’s brother who died depictec in, “As it is, I will always be a stranger who never feels at home…who must always be a little in love with death.” The writer makes himself Edmund because O’Neill lived through all the pain and suffering of his family; however, he makes the son that dies within his work Eugene, because he feels an emotional death within a certain time of his life and also feels somewhat responsible for the symbolic death of his family. Edmund Tyrone also lacks faith in Christianity. Many times throughout the work, the characters talk about Edmunds love for reading books written by Friedrich Nietzsche. Finally, Edmund, at the end of the play, learns he suffers from consumption and he must be sent to a sanitarium.
Throughout many people’s lives, they find themselves stuck with unresolved conflicts and unsettled issues. To put these trials at rest, many find out puts such as writing. Writers and authors all over the world place unresolved pain into their works hoping to rid themselves of that suffering and haunting. Also, by placing these lingering memories into their literature, authors become more passionate about what they are writing, creating not only a work of art, but a masterpiece. Many writers, like Eugene O’Neill, depict their feelings of insignificance within their lives through the significance of writing.
Works Cited:
"Eugene O'Neill." Authors and Artists for Young Adults. Vol. 54. Gale, 2004.
Eugene O’Neill’s father was a nineteenth century actor. He rose from poverty and became one of America’s most popular. Once out of poverty, apparent to all was his obsession with financial security. For many years he played a part in The Count of Monte Cristo, despite being criticized by everyone for this waste of talent (Gale). This real life father of O’Neill connects almost exactly with James Tyrone within Long Day’s Journey into Night. James Tyrone was abandoned at the age of ten by his Irish immigrant father. Because of this he was forced to work and bring himself out of poverty. Once out of poverty he learns an appreciation for money that borderlines with stinginess. James was a famous actor touring the US with his wife playing the same role in the same play over and over. James’ sons comment on how good of an actor he could have been, but he refused to play any role besides the one he was comfortable with. Throughout the work, Eugene O’Neill expresses James inability to commit, his frugality with his feelings, and the fact that he lives life just going through the motions. These ideas connect almost flawlessly with the feelings Eugene had about his own father, James.
O’Neill’s mother, Mary Ellen Quinlan, grew up from a wealthy household and was educated in Catholic convent schools. Right after meeting O’Neill’s father, they married and immediately became isolated and shunned by women in conventional society. Also, while recovering from giving birth to Eugene, she became addicted to morphine. O’Neill was unaware of her addiction until a time when at their “summer” home, only real home, she ran out of pills and tried to drown herself (Gale). Mary Tyrone reflects the playwright’s mother through all aspects. Mary, being educated placed in a Catholic convent after her mother’s death wanted to become a nun; however instead, she married James Tyrone. Her father brought her to James, and immediately she fell in love. After marrying, she traveled all around with him while he performed. Instead of becoming addicted to morphine after the birth of a child, she became an addict after the death of her child Eugene. This symbolic death reflects the emotional death of O’Neill once finding out his mother had become an addict. Since O’Neill’s mother started using after his birth, he felt somewhat responsible for her downfall and reflected that guilt within the death of Eugene in Long Day’s Journey into Night.
After Mary Ellen Quinlan’s attempted suicide, Eugene lost all faith in both his mother, and God. From that point on, Eugene fell in love with the writings of Friedrich Nietzsche, a German philosopher who disagreed with Christianity. In an article written by Gale Cengage Learning, “Nietzsche offered a new faith based on confidence in one’s inner resources.” Finally, after trying to commit suicide and surviving to learn he had tuberculosis, O’Neill was checked into a sanitarium where he decided to become a playwright (Gale). Eugene O’Neill reflects himself and his inner trials within Edmund Tyrone in his work Long Day’s Journey into Night. Edmund demonstrates the name of Eugene O’Neill’s brother who died depictec in, “As it is, I will always be a stranger who never feels at home…who must always be a little in love with death.” The writer makes himself Edmund because O’Neill lived through all the pain and suffering of his family; however, he makes the son that dies within his work Eugene, because he feels an emotional death within a certain time of his life and also feels somewhat responsible for the symbolic death of his family. Edmund Tyrone also lacks faith in Christianity. Many times throughout the work, the characters talk about Edmunds love for reading books written by Friedrich Nietzsche. Finally, Edmund, at the end of the play, learns he suffers from consumption and he must be sent to a sanitarium.
Throughout many people’s lives, they find themselves stuck with unresolved conflicts and unsettled issues. To put these trials at rest, many find out puts such as writing. Writers and authors all over the world place unresolved pain into their works hoping to rid themselves of that suffering and haunting. Also, by placing these lingering memories into their literature, authors become more passionate about what they are writing, creating not only a work of art, but a masterpiece. Many writers, like Eugene O’Neill, depict their feelings of insignificance within their lives through the significance of writing.
Works Cited:
"Eugene O'Neill." Authors and Artists for Young Adults. Vol. 54. Gale, 2004.
Thursday, September 18, 2008
FSU college essay
I truly believe that the FSU Almar Mater, “Vires, Artes, Mores,” embodies all aspects of my life. “Artes,” is communicated through my love and passion for photography. I adore trying to understand the emotions displayed in others' works. For me, photography is my own unique form of expression. I love seeing the beautiful, vibrant colors in a flower, but also the shadows and shades of a grungy alleyway. My mood can be so affected by art, that when not surrounded by nature or beautiful colors, I find myself a totally different person. In viewing the world through a lens, a camera protects you from the bleakness of the life surrounding you, yet it lets you capture the beauty that may only present itself for a moment and then disappear. Another way I express my creativity is through designing. I have created or altered many articles of clothing to show my own personal style.
Though I’m nontraditional by nature, “Mores” presents itself through my love of family traditions and they way they’ve molded me. Getting together as a whole family in Arizona for Thanksgiving, or just my parents and I around a small table on Sunday nights, we all take a second to look around and appreciated how lucky we are. Not only do these get-togethers have awesome food, but they are filled with stories about embarrassing moments, joyous times, or even sad periods of life showing me how much my family sticks together. To me, this is very important because having those close relationships is what will get you through all curve balls life throws at you.
The physical strength of "Vires," depicts itself in my dedication to the Varsity Volleyball team for four years and the travel volleyball team for three. Because of volleyball, I've learned to stick to something no matter how hard it gets and to make sure that I’m enjoying something I spend so much time doing. Also I've had to play a leadership role on the court depicting not only physical strength but also emotional strength keeping a positive attitude even when we're losing 23-10 and the game is pretty much over. Making jokes or dancing throughout timeouts to keep the team’s spirits high and everyone laughing, many have said that I’m more entertainment on the sidelines then on the actual court.
Though I’m nontraditional by nature, “Mores” presents itself through my love of family traditions and they way they’ve molded me. Getting together as a whole family in Arizona for Thanksgiving, or just my parents and I around a small table on Sunday nights, we all take a second to look around and appreciated how lucky we are. Not only do these get-togethers have awesome food, but they are filled with stories about embarrassing moments, joyous times, or even sad periods of life showing me how much my family sticks together. To me, this is very important because having those close relationships is what will get you through all curve balls life throws at you.
The physical strength of "Vires," depicts itself in my dedication to the Varsity Volleyball team for four years and the travel volleyball team for three. Because of volleyball, I've learned to stick to something no matter how hard it gets and to make sure that I’m enjoying something I spend so much time doing. Also I've had to play a leadership role on the court depicting not only physical strength but also emotional strength keeping a positive attitude even when we're losing 23-10 and the game is pretty much over. Making jokes or dancing throughout timeouts to keep the team’s spirits high and everyone laughing, many have said that I’m more entertainment on the sidelines then on the actual court.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
“Rain”
Driving down the busy street
The sun leaves; clouds take over.
I stare out the window in the passenger seat.
Striking lightening across the sky
The thunder booms; the earth shakes.
I watch these drops fall from high.
Hitting the windshield; it’s just begun.
The water slides across the side windows.
I see drops picking up others, becoming One.
Driving down the busy street
The sun leaves; clouds take over.
I stare out the window in the passenger seat.
Striking lightening across the sky
The thunder booms; the earth shakes.
I watch these drops fall from high.
Hitting the windshield; it’s just begun.
The water slides across the side windows.
I see drops picking up others, becoming One.
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