Sunday, September 18, 2011

"Eleanor Rigby": The Beatles vs. Pain vs. Dubstep

Which of these do you like better?
-I liked The Beatles version better because it was easier to hear the lyrics. I did not like how the Dubstep was a remix and I did not like how the Pain version was overtaken by the background music. I like being able to hear the lyrics and knowing what they are trying to say.

Which of these is more aesthetically pleasing?
- I believe The Beatles version is more aesthetically pleasing because it didn't change as much. It was pretty much the same throughout. The other two versions had too much going on at one time. I believe it is more pleasing to just listen to one thing not a bunch  of things happening at one time.

Kandinsky vs. Pollack

Which of these fo you like better?
- I like the Pollack better because it is the same throughout. There is not too much going on in it like the Kandinsky. I also like how the colors are very relaxing because they are all neutral.

Which of these is more pleasing to look at?
-I think the Kandinsky is more pleasing to look at because there is always something new you see when you are looking at it. Every time you look at it you notice something you hadn't before. Also, the colors are very bright and they stand out which makes it more pleasing to look at.

Sunday, September 11, 2011

Short Film

-The single effect that I got out of the film was that you shouldn't live life not aware of your surroundings.

-Things that showed this single effect were-
 1. "I'm here to point out the less obvious."
 2. The music was very soft and sweet.
 3. "People don't look beyond the neon"

- I would change the fact that the camera was in his face the entire time. I thought the camera was too close to the people in the film. I don't think that this would change the single effect.

"Good Old Desk" Harry Nilsson

SOAPSTone-

Subject- his desk- literally
Occasion- 1972
Audience- other people who own desks
Purpose- to show how useful desks can be
Speaker- the artist
Tone- happy. appreciative, affectionate

What is he talking about?
-He is talking about how God is always there for him no matter what.

Three things that show he is talking about God-
-"its waiting there for me to keep my hopes alive"
-"Such a comfort to know its dependable and slow, but its always there"
-"Its the friend Iv'e got, a giant of all times"

Wednesday, September 7, 2011

"Shooting an Elephant" by George Orwell

SOAPSTone

Subject
The subject of George Orwell’s “Shooting an Elephant” is that imperialism causes social pressure. Pressure to please people that are socially below you is illustrated with the story of Orwell shooting the elephant. Orwell shoots the animal because he feels socially pressured by the Burmese. He thought that he ha to please them and do as they wished because of the fact that he had a higher social class. He was British and Britain were imperialists to Burma, therefore he thought as the higher person he ha to do what was expected of him.
Occasion
“Shooting an Elephant” was written in 1936. The essay’s time of creation is displayed through the text when it is stated that Burma was a state that was under the British’s imperial rule. Britain was an imperialist of Burma during the late 1930’s. The probable place of the essay’s creation is in Moulmein, Burma. Orwell says in the beginning of the essay that, “In Moulmein, in Lower Burma..” stating that this is where the essay was probably created.
The time and place of the essay’s creation influence the essay in which the author is sure to make his point clear so that he can change others’ opinions on imperialism. The time period is when imperialism was happening in Burma he writes the article in this time period to try and change opinions about imperialism because he feels it is wrong. Because of his experience with shooting the elephant he realizes what morally wrong things imperialism caused him to do because of the pressure that he felt others putting on him.
Audience
George Orwell’s specific audience for “Shooting an Elephant” is British rulers. The author’s target audience is exhibited by Orwell’s strong views against imperialism. He focuses on British rulers who are the main controllers of the imperial rule on Burma.  Orwell is trying to change the rulers opinions on imperialism.
The author’s general audience for the essay is imperialists. The author’s general audience is shown by his emphasis on how imperialism is wrong. The author focuses throughout the article on how imperialism is evil and causes people to do things they regret. He is trying to target imperialists and change their views on imperialism.
Purpose
Orwell’s purpose in “Shooting an Elephant” is to persuade that imperialism is terrible because it puts people under pressure to do things that they will regret.  Pressure to do regretful things because of imperialism is illustrated by the author’s emphasis on the story about the elephant. The author ended up regretting killing an elephant because it was morally wrong. However in the moment he was pressured to it because of the imperial rule that Britain had on Burma. He says, “The people expected it of me and I had got to do it…” The author felt the pressure to kill the elephant because it is what the people expected of him because it was British. Without the imperial rule he would not have been expected to do such a thing and the pressure would not have been put on him.
Speaker
George Orwell, author of many classic novels, believes that imperialism is terrible. This value is illustrated by the quote in the article, “For at that time I had already made up my mind that imperialism was an evil thing and the sooner I chucked up my job and got out of it the better.” The author puts emphasis on the fact that he hates his job because of the imperialistic role he is under. As a police officer he expected to take care of the Burmese people and this is why he is put under so much social pressure by imperialism.
George Orwell’s, use of imagery is evident in when he explains the situation that he was ut under before he killed the elephant. He describes the people around him as “An immense crowd of…faces all happy and excited over this bit of fun, all certain that the elephant was gong to be shot.” These people put the pressure on him to kill the elephant because they thought it was his job as a British imperialist.
Tone
George Orwell exhibits a pleasant but firm attitude about imperialism in “Shooting an Elephant”. These attitudes are expressed with his pleasurable approach to the article. He wrote the article very pleasantly and was not stern when saying imperialism was wrong. He took a firm approach when saying that imperialism was wrong. He was not criticizing saying that people are stupid for being imperialistic, he was just firm in saying it needs to be changed. This tone showed that imperialism caused pressure on people to do things that they regret; because the tone was pleasant it made people believe it more but it was also firm saying that people needed to realize what was wrong.  He says that he thinks imperialism is evil because of the pressure he is under but also because he feels bad for the Burmans. Here he is pleasant saying he is sorry for them but also firm saying that imperialism is evil. His tone is very helpful in showing his purpose.

Sunday, September 4, 2011

Rockwell's "The Runaway"

Norman Rockwell's "The Runaway" shows a boy, a policeman, and a waiter all having a good time in a diner in the 50s. The painting is set during World War II with all of the problems going on in America at this time the painting completely overlooks them. The little boy has run away and been picked up by the policeman. The boy is completely oblivious to all of the big problems in the world and is just trying to have a good time. The three people are all trying to run away from either their small problems or larger problems symbolizing America in this time period. Rockwell's "The Runaway" overlooks the fundamental rift that was rising in America throughout the 1950s, an emerging counter culture that was not concerned with how things were in America but rather how they are.

"Across the Universe" The Beatles"

Identify 3 images in this song.
-The images I saw were "Images of broken light dancing before me like a million eyes" also, "...endless rain into a paper cup" and, " limitless undying love that circles me like a million suns."

Are any of these images symbols?
- I believe that undying love circling like a million suns symbolizes the love that is all around the artist. The artist is saying that he is in love or just has alot of love in his life. He says that "nothings gonna change [his] world" saying that nothing can change the love in his life.

Explain one symbol that you know to be a symbol. What makes it more than a image?
One symbol I know to be a symbol is the cross. It stands for my religion and beliefs. It is more than just an image for me because it symbolizes me as a person. The cross symbolizes my religions which had made me who I am today.