Communist Utopia

1. The eyes in the painting indicate Communism. The eyes represent the government and how it is always watching you. 

2. The author has a negative view on Communism. The grayness of everything show these negative feelings towards Communism. It shows that under Communism everything is kind of dull. Also, everything in the painting is dying or deteriorating showing these negative feelings as well. I believe the author sees Communism as a temporary fix to the problems, as evident through the cracking of the walls showing the bright red brick. Communism is the gray cement covering up these bricks, but it is slowly getting chipped away showing that Communism is something that can not be permanent.

3. This painting's name "Communist Utopia" is very sarcastic. The author chose this name to show that Communism may last for a little while and be fine for the time being, but it can not last forever. The dullness of the paining clearly highlights this sarcasm because utopias are associated with positive, happy feelings, but this painting show the exact opposite. I believe the title was intended to get the viewers to think about the affects and maybe consequences that Communism brings.

Soma

Soma is a manipulative drug that is thought to have rewarding effects, but ultimately takes away self-identity. In Aldous Huxley's Brave New World, Soma is a drug that everyone takes to alleviate them of their worries, so they can become happy. In Brave New World, Soma is idolized as it gives everyone a rewarding feeling, but the real effects of Soma are highlighted through the song. This song is telling of a man very much like Bernard's character in Brave New World once was. Both struggle with Soma and what it takes from a person. In the song the narrator is taken over by this Soma drug, and immediately loses his self-identity as evident in his change from "I" to "he". This change shows that after taking Soma one looses himself and begins to fall into this different place outside of him. Much like Bernard in the book, who after taking the drug feels out of place and does things he normally wouldn't, like when he stays with Lenina. The narrator's struggles are also shown through his desperation to break free from Soma: "Oh darling, let me go". In the song, Soma is personified, and is trying to take over the speaker, but the speaker does not want to be taken over and caught up in this world of Soma.

1. Topic Sentence
2. What Soma is 
3. Transitioning from BNW to song
4. Connection to BNW
5. Explaining connection
6. Support 1
7. Explanation of support
8. Connection to BNW with explanation 
9. Support 2
10. Example/ explanation of support  

2+2=5

Subject: Not conforming, individuality 

Tone: Defiant, but changes to unsure. The narrator is first very upset with the thought of having to follow someone's else rules, but by the end the narrator begins to fall into the control of someone else.He begins a rebel, but by the end he is following the leader.

Theme: Conformity is a powerful technique.
-At the start of the song the narrator is very adamant that he will not conform to others and be part of the crowd. He wants to be his own and live in his world where "two and two always makes a five". However, towards the end the narrator realizes that even he is not sure if one can escape the power of conforming. He begins to find himself following the crowd.

Loss of Innocence

Innocence is a pure, youthful ignorance. 

Although innocence is intangible it can be lost. Innocence is a ignorance and purity that one is born with, and as soon as that person is exposed to new knowledge and new experiences the innocence starts to become tainted. That person is no longer ignorant to certain concepts and they have experienced things that take away that purity.

-The woman is a bird taking flight so she's experiencing new activities, which means she is gaining new knowledge and letting go of the some of her ignorance. 
-The woman is intertwined with a man who has black wings showing loss of innocence yet again. White is associated with purity, but the wings of the man are black showing he is the opposite. The woman is experiencing more, which is filling her ignorance. 
-The woman on the other side is trying to cover the woman up and almost preserve her body, but the man is trying to blow the cover away to keep the woman exposed to new ideas. The woman who is trying to cover her up wants her to keep her innocence while the man is trying to take it away. 

Young Life

1. The young boy feels out of place and lost. The young boy is standing off to the side and is not really part of the other two. Also he is holding the stick like it's a weapon and so he's trying to protect himself because he is all alone. 
2. The man went hunting and is proud of what he got. The deer is placed above the couple showing the value placed on the deer, which shows how proud the man is that he was able to get the deer. Also, the gun he is holding shows that he went and hunted the deer himself. 
3. The man is of a poor, southern background. This is shown again with the position of the deer. The deer is above the couple, which shows that he is happy that he can support his girlfriend. Hunting is the only way he can eat and provide for his family, so when he accomplishes his goal of finding food he takes pride in it. This supports the way the south is. A lot of people hunt in the south and not always as a hobby, but more of a way to get by. With any other person who has done well for his/her family they too would be pleased. The man continues to show this through his stance and how he holds the woman. He is confident and comforting, which says that he can provide for her.

Don't You Want Me

In the song "Don't You Want Me", there is a conflict between the girl and the guy. The two were once in a relationship, but soon broke up. 

The guy feels that the breakup was unfair. He's bitter because he feels the girl used him to get to where she is. He taught he everything she knows, and then broke his heart.
The girl disagrees. She feels she got herself to where she is without the help of the guy. She is unapologetic for the break up because she felt the need to move on without him. 

These differences occur because both the guy and the girl want to be right. Thinking like this make themselves seem better. The guy wants the girl back, so he wants to make it seem that he deserves her, and the girl wants to move on so she wants to make it look like she is better off without him. 

I have experienced a similar situation with my sister. We were arguing about who got to watch TV in the living room. I was there first and had left for five minutes to do something else, and she came to watch her show. When I came back, she didn't want to let me watch my show. I felt I deserved to watch TV because I was there first, but she said that because I left she deserved to watch her show. We argued for a while because we wanted to be right even though we both understood where the other was coming from.

Blackbrid

The song Blackbird by the Beatles tells of Civil Rights and the hope of overcoming it, which makes the single effect hopeful. In the song there are phrases such as "Broken wings". These "broken wings" represent the oppression and obstacles that the blacks were forced to overcome. They were forced to live in a world where there was always some obstacle that pushed them down. They were mistreated and always put in a place of inferiority. However, the song also uses phrases like "light of the dark black night" and "moment to be free". The "light of the dark black night" represents the existence of hope. For so long the blacks were treated unfairly, but this "light" shows them that there is a way out and there is something that can guide them even in the dark and harsh lifestyle they're experiencing. As for "moment to be free" this represents the movement and banding together to make a difference. This moment of equality or no longer being oppressed is what this song is leading up to throughout. The song ends with "waiting for this moment to arise", which connects back to the "moment to be free". The "moment" in this sense is what connects back to hope, during the Civil Rights Movement the blacks needed to be hopeful to get through the obstacles and make it to this "moment" of freedom.

Shame

The tone of the song “Shame” by The Avett Brothers is optimistic. The narrator is reminiscing in the beginning of the song about how he was selfish in his previous relationship. However, the man feels horrible about what he did, so he has changed. In the song the man wishes for a “second start” to show he has learned from his past mistakes and behaviors. He is optimistic that his relationship can improve because of the changes he has made. He wishes for this second opportunity because he is hopeful that the end result will be much different than before. Ultimately, he knows that even if he doesn’t get this “second start” he can still move on and leave his old ways behind. The song also includes “my life is different” showing that the man has indeed changed. He knows what it feels like to have a broken heart, and he knows that he is a big reason for the ending of his relationship, so he is optimistic that making this change in attitude, which broke apart his relationship, can lead to greater things. 

Sign Language

Single Effect: Don’t let fears and emotions let opportunities pass.

The way the man was describing London as the place of opportunity helps the viewers see that he had the perfect chance to go after the girl, but he seemed afraid and let that hold him back.

The way he describes the girl and how he is doing it compared to when he is describing the other guys also connects to the single effect. He seems almost upset and dejected that maybe he hasn’t done more to pursue her. He is all happy when he explains the other guys, but when he talks about her he says he doesn’t interact with her much, which shows that he is letting his fears get in the way of what he really wants.

The ending when his friends see that he really needs to go after the girl help strengthen the single effect as well. His friends make him push pass that barrier of fear that was holding the man back, and in the end when he was with the girl the man is fortunate that he took that chance.

Love Language

The purpose of this short film is to raise awareness for the deaf or hearing impaired. The director chooses to show that being deaf doesn't define who someone is. 

The film is effective in supporting its purpose by its use of the fun music and the love story. Both the music playing in the background and the love story plot show a positive side of being deaf. Being deaf doesn't limit someone and the two techniques the director used help to make that point clear. Both make the viewer leave feeling optimistic that the deaf or the hearing impaired will be fine. Also, the way the director timed the reveals was effective. By revealing that the girl is deaf in the end the director keeps the viewers engaged and makes the reveal that much more effective. By doing it at the end the viewer could connect everything and it made the film that much stronger and the purpose that much more evident.

Semeadores

S- Two men are working in the field. 

N- Diego Rivera is the artist of the painting, and he is very pro labor. 

A- The middle-upper class would be most likely to buy this painting because they would be more likely to see it in the galleries. 

P- Diego Rivera is trying to get people to appreciate the hard work that people do to provide for us. 

The men in the painting seem to be struggling, but they continue to work. So much so the men blend into the background showing they have basically become permanently attached to their work. Diego Rivera has hidden the men's faces showing that often hard workers are overlooked and unappreciated. He wants us to respect the work these men do and no longer ignore the ones who provide so much for us.

Good Old Desk

S- The subject of the song is the reliability of the singer's desk.

N- Harry Nilsson is the narrator of the song. 

A- Harry Nilsson is targeting people who listen to this type of music and prefer this genre. 

P- The purpose of this song is to show that everyone needs some type of connection with something or someone that is reliable and always in reach in that person's life.

Knowing that "Good Old Desk" stood for God made the listener pay attention to what the actual lyrics are saying. "Its always there" is what immediately jumps out at me. God is always there for anyone. Religion is something anyone can fall back on when they are lost or confused making it very reliable. "Keeps my hopes alive" is another part of the song that stood out to me. God or any religion is not there to discourage, but it is there to motivate and give people the feeling that they can overcome certain obstacles. Finally, the phrase "I've never once heard it cry" to me represents just how strong religion is. God never gets frazzled or distressed no matter the situation. Therefore, God and religion is very stable and dependable. No matter what one is going through he or she can find comfort in religion.

The Pinch of Poverty

S- The subject of the painting is poverty hits families hard. Families in poverty struggle to support themselves and struggle to smile and be content. 

N- The narrator is possibly bias because the message the artist is trying to get through shows that he has some type of connection with poverty whether he was poor or he is very charitable and sympathetic towards the poor and wants to get the less fortunate help. 

A- The audience the artist is targeting is the wealthy or middle-upper class because those people are most likely to help the poor families because of the available resources. 

P- The purpose of the painting is to help those that are less fortunate. The yellow, bright flowers represent the hope of tomorrow and the bright red draping the baby represents the hope of a future. The artist is trying to show poverty in a negative light hoping someone will help those who are struggling. 

The fact that the author wanted to show poverty in a negative light make his choices to include drab, unappealing clothing understandable. The dark clothing blend in with the dark rainy background showing that the poor are lost in the background and often forgotten. It is not a good feeling to be poor because not only are you struggling, but you are often just ignored. Also, the bars that the family is sitting in front of show the constraints of poverty. Poverty is not something that is easy to overcome. However, the inclusion of the bright flowers and red blanket represent this vision of hope of a better life the author has for the less fortunate.

Culture

1. Culture is the way someone lives and their values and customs he/she adheres to. 

2. Religion, food, clothing, music, language, environment and traditions are all a part of someone's culture. 

3. Culture is extrinsic because the people surrounding someone and the place someone grows up all play a part in someone's culture. Culture is not something like breathing where everyone is born doing it, but culture is unique to a certain person making it something one must learn. Many external forces help to create someone's culture, for example someone in the United States has a different culture when compared to someone in Kenya. These people think differently, speak differently and act differently. It is not because they were born any differently, but because they learned differently. Likewise someone's culture can change, especially now when society is changing fast. This fast pace could lead to the development of new values and ideas.

Runaway

Fact

1. The policeman has a gun in his possession 

2. The diner has specials 

3. The stools in the diner are green

Claim

1. The diner is welcoming 

2. The young boy is running away

3. The men are interested in what the young boy is doing 

Analytical Claim

The stool next to the boy is vacant and the white walls portray an empty diner showing that if the boy runs away he will be alone and will not always have someone by his side.

Pygmalion Part 2

Further into the story you meet Mrs. Higgins who soon grows fond of Eliza. I find the connection between the two very easy to understand. Mrs. Higgins is the one who takes Eliza under her wing and somewhat guides her because I feel she just understands. I believe she mostly does this to help Eliza who I always felt was lost, but I can see how she might do it to partly annoy Higgins. When Mrs. Higgins is introduced readers can sense her disapproval with her son’s experiment, so she may also want to teach him a lesson. This is why I like Mrs. Higgins and the way the author chose to use her. She is the sensible one in the play who comes along at the right moment. At this point in the play Eliza seems to be more confused than ever as she can’t decide whether to stay with Higgins or if she wants to go on her own. Mrs. Higgins helps in her decision by allowing her to stay with her after she runs away and by defending her when Higgins comes to take her back. I couldn’t help but feel Mrs. Higgins pushed Eliza to leave and do what she wants.

The most intense moment and possibly the most important came when Eliza and Higgins were fighting. During this battle Eliza is really letting Higgins know how she feels. I think the most obvious way that she showed this was when she gives all of the credit of being turned into a lady to Pickering. I believe this is what really made Higgins mad. I feel like he felt that he made Eliza and for her to turn on him is just unacceptable. Although anyone would be upset if they got a taste of their own medicine, I can’t help but question why Higgins reacted the way he did. I feel he let Eliza win the battle because she showed that she got the best of him and was better off without him, while Higgins showed he needs her and without her he will struggle.

I enjoyed the way the play ended because the readers got to see Eliza grow and develop. From everyone in the play she is the one dynamic character. Pickering is still the same from beginning to end. He is still very kind-hearted. Eliza thanks him for treating her like a lady, and he has done this throughout. Higgins is still the same stubborn, no-nonsense professor he always was. He treats Eliza the same whether she is a flower girl or the princess he made out of her. He is still pushy and he still tries to walk over her. While Mr. Doolittle did change, he just changed his job and therefore his social status; he is still the same man. Eliza is the one who has gone from the helpless nuisance to the mature young lady. She no longer feels the need to feel sorry for herself. She has grown as a person and is now capable of making her own decisions. This ending made me feel that you can try to change someone, but ultimately you can’t. Higgins tried hard to change Eliza and give her a better life, but after his efforts she still goes with Freddy, which he finds laughable. Also, how Higgins never treats her differently. She may look like a lady now, but to him she will always be the flower girl.

Pygmalion Part 1

The beginning of the book was unusual, particularly the introductions of the characters. Higgins is introduced into the story as the man lost in the crowd noting the distinct pronunciation of words of various surrounding people. The introduction was perfect for a character like Higgins. Even before readers know his purpose in the story they already know a big part of his personality. Higgins already seems full of himself and overly confident, and this personality makes him interesting. Another odd introduction is that of Pickering. It is very sudden and almost surprising. Pickering is there the entire opening just as another bystander and it turns out he is some important man that came from India. Then there is the flower girl, Eliza, her introduction isn’t so much odd, but the reader does learn about her personality and how she is from this opening scene. She is a hard to understand, helpless nuisance making her very bothersome from the start. Her constant sobbing and need to feel sorry for herself make it completely understandable how Higgins treats her. Although, I feel this story is meant to follow Eliza I find Higgins more intriguing and easier to identify with.

Every act is different from the last and that helps to make the book more interesting because you don’t feel you’re reading something multiple times while it also keeps the story moving. In the first acts you begin to meet important side characters, like Mrs. Pearce. Mrs. Pearce is very honest, which makes her a great balance for the in denial Eliza. Eliza asks to be turned into a lady, yet she complains about everything it takes to become one. She doesn’t want to bathe or when she is asked to say her alphabet she gets defensive. At some point it gets old and tiring. I wondered throughout if she acts like this for attention or if it is because a stable family didn’t raise her?

Furthermore, I like how the upper and lower class were contrasted and compared. The upper class such as Higgins and Pickering are more sure of who they are. Pickering is the kind-hearted gentleman who tends to steer away from conflict preferring to observe and not step out of his place. Higgins knows who he is as well; he is not afraid of a challenge and often says whatever comes to mind. Both of them seem to know what they want from life. However, Eliza represents the lower class and she sometimes seems lost or confused on what she wants. When she asks to be turned into this lady she seems hesitant and she seems she only wanted to change her lifestyle because the opportunity was presented. This makes the resemblance between her and Mr. Doolittle, her father, even stronger. Both are part of the lower class and Mr. Doolittle seems to be searching instead of settling. He almost mooches money from Higgins instead of working for his trade, and Eliza says she is a product of her sixth stepmother, so he’s not exactly content with what he has. However, I feel the author makes a point to compare the two classes. Eliza and Higgins are very similar in the fact they’re both stubborn making it difficult for the two to coexist. Even though they live differently they behave the same. This makes the point that ultimately they are all just human beings.

The Pearl Part 2

The worst thing that could have happened to this family was finding that pearl. First it sends evil upon the family as people look to steal it. The family cannot feel safe and secure when the pearl is in their possession. Also, it divides the family. Juanna can feel the evil in the pearl, so when she finally stands up for what she wants and attempts to throw the pearl away Kino shows his disapproval by hitting her. This moment is the most heartbreaking to me. Not only because I was rooting for Juanna to do something like throwing away the pearl, but also because Juanna knows of what is to come and Kino is blinded by the fortunes he felt the pearl would bring. His high hopes for this pearl make the fact that his pearl was worthless a little more enjoyable. Juanna got the satisfaction of being able to think ‘I told you so’ and I hoped Kino would learn from his mistakes and return to the family man he seemed to be at the beginning of the story. However, the fact that Kino wouldn’t give up on his desire so easily was a little predictable.

I was confused when Kino killed the man and ran away. I don’t understand why he felt the need to leave. During that moment he acted almost in self-defense. He felt threatened and so he reacted like most people would. Juanna told him that it would not matter if he were attacked because of the temper he had the day before when they went to the city, but I still found it somewhat odd because to me the brush houses where they live seemed to be in an obscure location. I just didn’t figure that people from the city would look there to find the missing man.

Something I enjoyed though was the way the author depicted men and women in this story.  The way the man is described as half insane and half god helps you to envision Kino more as everyone can envision his violent spurts. However, the way the woman is described is very reverent of the man of the household. The man is the one who makes the decisions and the woman is expected to follow. This is shown with Apolina and Juanna. Both may not agree with what the man says, but they always obey. This was a little troubling for me because the women always seemed to know best. Juanna is the one who tries to do what’s best because she knows what is to come, but because Kino tells her he wants the pearl and that he wants to runaway, she agrees.

Overall, The Pearl was a simple story with a great message. The pearl itself was a strong symbol. At first it represented hope for a better life, but when Kino gets lost in its value the pearl no longer represents this hope. It is now the evil that divided the family and took away Kino’s innocence. The evil in the pearl destroys the family by forcing them to leave behind everything they knew to explore unknown territories and fend for themselves. This in turn divided Kino and his wife all the while taking away their son’s life. This story cannot do anything but evoke many emotions in the reader. I found myself struggling with the lovable family that just wanted better.

The Pearl Part 1

Kino is first introduced as a family man as he works to protect his son and wife, so immediately I fall in love with his family. They are very lovable because they seem so close, so when the scorpion bites Coyotito I couldn’t help but feel sympathetic towards them. Although the entire family is lovable I feel a connection with Juanna. I feel that even though she loves Kino the two are in two completely different places. Kino wants more for his family, but Juanna is content with what they have. While she is working to save her son by trying to suck the poison out of him and search for a doctor, Kino is getting mad at the world because he cannot have the best. Ultimately I believe their early differences are going to lead to bigger problems for the family. While I understand that Juanna would be stepping out of her place by speaking up for what she wants I can’t help but root for her to do so not only for herself but also for her son.

The songs Kino hear are something I enjoyed in the story. The songs were great motifs to include. They showed what emotions Kino was going through at a certain time. They also seemed important to Kino. The Song of Family was what Kino first heard at the opening as he is looking over his family. This song shows the loving side of Kino and it shows that Kino is at peace. However, The Song of Evil comes along at the site of the scorpion. The Song of Evil triumphs over The Song of Family. Since this happened so early in the book I couldn’t help but question whether this was purposefully done to foreshadow later events.

While I was reading I was a little surprised at how smart Kino seemed. He moved the pearl when the doctor tried to figure out the location and he didn’t allow the doctor to hold the pearl in his home.  I understand why he didn’t since he was very suspicious of the doctor. However, I don’t understand why he let the doctor into his brush house to begin with. He seemed very mad at the doctor after leaving the first time, so I figured that he would hold a grudge against the doctor. Also, I wonder why he was not suspicious of the doctor’s motive. He felt rage against the doctor when he saw him, so why would he let him operate on his child? Kino said that he didn’t want his ignorance to get in the way of his child’s health, but still he said that Coyotito was better.  I feel this part in the story in general was a little unusual. I feel the author may have included it to show how everyone wants the pearl and the evil and greed it brings out. This was the first sign of what is to come because of the pearl that Kino received, which I guess makes it an important moment.