Armory show

Armory show:
What makes this modern? focus on two or three works of art – – sculpture or painting – – that seem particularly related to the poetry and prose that we’ve read.
Within our readings in class and the artwork in the Armory show, there is a connection of darkness and isolation, marking both of these forms of art modern. In Our Time reveals a strong tone of isolation  by the shootings in chapter 3 which leave the reader feeling disconnected and depressed by the disconnect all the characters feel from one another. T.S. Elliot also creates great discomfort in relation to others as he talks about walking around London and people stare at the ground in sorrow, not wanting to communicate with one another. In the Armory show, Lucifer is a distorted and wrapped version of a human, which places it in the modern category.
When an author talks about close relationships, he attempts to make the reader feel connected through his description of other deep relationships. Hemingway attempts exactly the opposite as he emphasizes the grotesque distortion of distant human relationships. When the narrator is waiting in the garden with others to shoot the german soldiers coming over, there is an extreme discomfort with the inhumane distoration of the relationship between those in the  garden and the german soldiers. 
The sculpture called Lucifer is a man like face that is extremely distorted. All pieces of the face are like a human, but the nose is off, the eye is misplace, the chin not correct, etc. This is the way the humans are perceived in In Our Time as they are mostly human, but there is something off and distorted about them. Similar to the scene where the mother is giving birth in in our time and the child is helping her and crying. The scene is mildly normal ( as someone is giving birth), but extremely distorted because a child is helping her give birth. This resembles to Lucifer is well with the distortion of his what seems to be normal face.
Similarly, Moonlit cove reflects an abounded place of darkness and solitude. This painting resembles the wasteland as a place of complete disconnect from people and a lack relationship. As the narrator of the wasteland walks through the streets of London alone, he feels there is a darkness amongst people that he did not know was so widely spread. This darkness is evident also in the moonlit cove. Also, it's off discoloration reflects that of a normal, yet slight distortion of the moder writing.

Wallpaper// The Revolt of a Mother

The revolt of a mother and the wallpaper have striking similarities in mood and leading roles. The mood in both stories is eerie and downcast. The revolt of a mother makes me squirm in my chair when reading the discomfort of the family and their disconnect from one another. When the family sits at the dinner, they barely speak to one another and this disconnect is also seen in the wallpaper between the husband and wife. When the wife decides the go against her husbands wishes in The revolt of a mother, the reader feels it is justified by the poor treatment of the father. This is similar in the wallpaper when the main character does not obey her husband in coming out of the room. Both stories make the reader lean graciously towards the wife because she is oppressed in some way.

3/13

1)
Outlived. This word is the center course of this poem. Although she is explaining the feelings she has within the moment, the big question is if she will outlive all of this. This is why the poem ends with acceptance of death. This word has so much brevity within this poem because she is questioning if she can outlive feelings. Outlive the continuation of her thoughts mulling around in her own mind. Dickinson writes often about death and I find that this word within this poem adds to idea of what can kill her. Her own emotion. Her not being able to escape those feelings.

2)
Emerson-He is one, who raises himself from private considerations, and breathes and lives on public and illustrious thoughts. He is the world's eye. He is the world's heart. 




Whitman- I will go to the bank by the wood and become undisguised and naked,
I am mad for it to be in contact with me
Whitman wants to be within nature where he can be whomever he wants to be. Nature is a symbol of freedom of expression where he does not have to veil himself from anything because he is alone.

Douglass- He would occasionally say, he didn't want to get hold of me again. "No," thought I, "you need not; for you will come off worse than you did before."
Douglass' freedom comes from realization that he has more power than those who are in control of him. He realizes first that he has more power physically over his master, but eventually h realizes that he has more power mentally because he can learn to outthink his master.

Dickinson-  And seen my Brain -- go round -- They might as wise have lodged a Bird
Dickinson was suppressed mentally when she was younger and her freedom is coming into adulthood and being able to think and speak freely. Her realization of her freedom is evident in this line because she is aware that she is a bird that was simply lodged at a younger age.

431

After great pain, a formal feeling comes --

when something extremely hurtful happens, my emotions run rampid and through the streets, like wild kids in a gang cursing and throwing rocks at dogs rather than being home where they should be, and then suddenly out of nowhere, an extremely sophisticated feeling arrives... like that of an elegant woman stepping into a dressy party.

The Nerves sit ceremonious, like Tombs --

What was so rampid and playing at such a high pitch is now sitting peaceful. But not like a baby sleeping, like a dead rodent laying on the street.

The stiff Heart questions was it He, that bore,

My I don't want my thoughts to venture here, but I keep wondering if there is someone that placed this together, I feel leaning towards the doubtful side because I feel so closed off to this idea.

And Yesterday, or Centuries before?
And if someone placed this together, it seems that it did not all begin today, but it would have to be forever in the past. If i dwell on someone creating and bearing yesterday, then it must have been before yesterday that He started creating, started baring.

The Feet, mechanical, go round --

I walk around in my own thoughts, thinking the same things over and over again, wondering the same questions, circling ideas in my head, what feels like the same thoughts, the same observations. I like that she used mechanical to talk about circling. She must be talking about something emotional rather than actually feet because she just mentioned the heart.

Of Ground, or Air, or Ought --
Going from one thing to the next, thinking of the things around her, above her, the things that she has to do. it is interesting that she placed things that she feels the need to do along side with the ground and the air.

A Wooden way

The way that her mechanical thoughts are going around resembles wood. This is fascinating because wood is stiff and still with so many crevices and problems. I like the idea for walking about mechanically and being wood like.

Regardless grown,

This statement makes me think of ivy growing along a wall, with no regard for which way it is growing and and it still continues to grow, no matter what others try to tell it or hope for it to do. Her feet are now goin in circles, mechanical, woodlike, and growing everywhich way with the regard for others.

A Quartz contentment, like a stone --
a stone is happy in its most simply form. Just sitting and existing, in a very pure way. She compares her happiness to that of a stone, being happy. Still and no movement, yet still completely content.

This is the Hour of Lead --

This places the poem in a specific time, not just a general idea or feeling. It is a specific time that these feelings are approaching.

Remembered, if outlived,

This hour and this space in time will be remembered if she lives passed it. Basically, as long as she is living, she will remember this hour of time. The hour of Lead.. I like that she states that she'll remember this time, as long as it is outlived, living passed it.

As Freezing persons, recollect the Snow --

Just like a person that is already laying in the snow and freezing cold, first react to receiving more cold. I see the person laying in the snow in the feudal position, and the snow begins to fall more and their body collects the snow in corners.

First -- Chill -- then Stupor -- then the letting go --
The first thing this person laying in the snow feels is extremely cold. Then they loose connection with reality and are unaware of whats going on. Then they let go. I don't think this is dying, but more so representing the phase you feel before you die. You just let go of trying to hold onto life.

Keys to Freedom

Emerson, Whitman, Douglass
Freedom? Obstacle of Freedom? Differences and Similarities?
Emerson defines talks of education throughout the American Scholar as a form of freedom. Pursuing learning and reading rather than working in fields. Emerson does not only support the reading that of a bookworm who reads only to consume but that of student who receives learning and continues to produce and apply what is learnt to other aspects of life. Walt Whitman undertakes freedom in interacting with others. Even if that interaction is imaginary when he speaks to the reader. Whitman's writing is most joyful and at peace when he writes of interaction with his fellow man. Douglass' freedom is far more literal and easy to catch. Douglass merely wants to be free from his masters he is in bondage to. Douglass obeys and succumbs to the demands that he hates from a master that he despises. When he realizes the power that the master has is no greater than the power he can tap into himself, he is freed from this bondage to his master. All freedom's are similar in the way that they are an escape from one thing that they hate to enter into something they enjoy. Also, all freedoms are mental rather than physical, although Douglass's freedom does resemble that of a literal sense of freedom.

The American Scholar 2/14

"Each philosopher, each bard, each actor, has only done for me, as by a delegate, what one day I can do for myself."
In this statement from The American Scholar, Emerson is stating that everyone has the same rank in life. He is taking down worshiped people such as poets, actors, and philosophers down to the level of the average man. This statement explains that we are all capable of bringing the same amount of pleasure to others through our talents- just as the person sitting next to us is able to bring pleasure to others through their talents. He is destroying the pedestal we put those we look up to on and stating 'you can do the same.'

Journey Narrative

That Thing You Do- plot

A man living in Pennsylvania named Guy Patterson has a very simple life. He works for his dad in his store where he sells laundry and radio appliances. Guy plays the drums in the downstairs of his father’s store and in essence lives a simple life. One day a group of boys in band approach him because their drummer is no longer able to play.  Guy agrees to play with the band for a local talent show. When they play in the local talent show, Guy speeds up the tempo without asking the band’s permission and the band wins.

            After this talent show, the band begins to become wildly popular and record labels begin to ask if they can claim the band ‘The Wonders’. Mr. White, a Playtone record manager, asks Guy Patterson to sign with Playtone for his band. Guy wants to wait to talk with his band and they decide it would be an exciting adventure for their band. The band begins a tour throughout the United States playing at fairs. The band is worshiped and adore by all of the screaming fans, which affects some members of the group more than others. The lead singer in the band begins to deny his girlfriend of affection because of his extreme fame that raises him above her in his mind. Lenny, another member of the band chases after a former playboy bunny as his fame takes him over.

            As the band begins to fall apart, Guy shakes his head in disbelief and seems to be the only steady band member in this group of dynamic characters. The band’s song ‘That Thing You Do’ raises to the top of the charts and The Wonders appear on television. This is the peak of their fame and career as each member of the band is seen on television with a note underneath their name. Jimmy- the band member with the girlfriend- appears on the screen with ‘Careful Girls, he’s engaged’ underneath his name. Jimmy freaks out after the television show and yells at his girlfriend. She breaks up with him and leaves. Lenny goes to Vegas that night wit his new playboy bunny and T.B. goes off with hi military friends. The next day, the band is meant to record in studio and Jimmy and Guy are the only band members who show up. Jimmy is so prideful that he quits on the spot and guy is left alone at the drum set. The band is officially broken up and Guy is right back where he started- alone with his drums. Guy then pursues the woman that the lead singer broke up with the night before and continues his life with her.

Analysis-

In That Thing You Do, Geographically, guy travels with the band on this journey to fame. The story begins with him in his home in Pennsylvania where he is alone and drumming on his own time. As the story progresses, Guy joins a band and is swept up into this life of fame and stardom where he plays the drums with many others. He travels from state to state across the US with the band and each of them begins to drift off into the sky as they all rise to stardom together. After the band breaks up, Guy is back to point A once again, alone and playing the drums. When he comes back to point A this time, he has the confidence and understanding to approach Fae and pursue her whole-heartedly.

In this story “nature” is becoming famous. It is this place that Guy travels to for a short period of time and experiences these new things away from his usual comfort zone. Stardom is a place of darkness and unknown outside of his home town and this changes many people around him. The people in his ‘town’ are his fellow band members. They change violently as he enters the ‘forest’ them, otherwise known as the limelight. This story’s conflict is humility vs. fame. The life the people lead in the small town was a humble life and unknown. When the band enters the tour, they become famous and everything is centered on them. This story emphasizes the dangers of fame and stardom while emphasizes the goodness in the simplicity of leading a humble life.