Friday, March 20, 2020
Comparative Contrasts Abstract Expressionists
Comparative Contrasts Abstract Expressionists Free Online Research Papers This paper will discuss, and compare three abstract expressionists, their artwork, their ideas, and their emotion involved in these works of art. They are primarily from the same time period. Robert Motherwell (1915-1991), Milton Resnick (1917-2004), and Mark Rothko (1903-1970). All of the artists use deep, rich color to covey feeling or emotion to the viewer. The first abstract expressionist artist that I chose was Robert Motherwell (1915-1991), and his painting ââ¬Å"Elegy to the Spanish Republic No.34 (1953-1954)â⬠oil on canvas. ââ¬Å"Robert Motherwell was born on January 24, 1915 in Aberdeen, Washington. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from Stanford University in 1937â⬠(artinthepicture, 2008). In 1948 Robert Mother started on the Elegy theme, a series of over 150 images. This series would absorb his interests for the rest of his life. Elegy is defined by Websterââ¬â¢s dictionary as ââ¬Å"a song or poem expressing sorrow or lamentation especially for one who is deadâ⬠(Websterââ¬â¢s, 2008). The ââ¬Å"Elegyâ⬠series is about the Spanish Civil War of the 1930s, No. 34 specifically is about General Francisco Franco cru shing the burgeoning democratic movement in Spain. In this painting Motherwell used simple contrasting colors, predominantly black, and white, but also subtle uses of red, yellow, and blue in the background. Motherwell simply explained the meaning of the black and white colors simply stating that black is to white as death is to life. He also said ââ¬Å"he never considered his paintings to be abstractâ⬠(Sayer, 2007). The best-worded description of the painting is ââ¬Å"simplistic deathâ⬠. The long black irregular shapes seem to drop from above to invade and divide the white rectangular zones, in poetry of death. ââ¬Å"Elegy to the Spanish Republic No. 34 stands as modern testimony to the rich legacy of some of the oldest tenets of the concept of style in western artâ⬠(Habel, Hiles, 2000). The second abstract artist I chose was Milton Resnick (1917-2004), and his painting ââ¬Å"U+Me (1995)â⬠oil on canvas. Milton Resnick was born on January 7,1917 in Bratslav, Russia, and immigrated to the United States in 1922. ââ¬Å"Milton Resnick was one of the last survivors from the New York School of painters, also known as the Abstract Expressionistsâ⬠(oregonstate, 2006). ââ¬Å"U+MEâ⬠is one of a series of 5 large oil paintings themed ââ¬Å"Adam and Eve in the Garden of Edenâ⬠. In this oil painting Milton Resnick uses a unique technique called scrumbling. Scrumbling is the technique of working one layer of oil paint over another of a different color with out entirely annihilating the preceding layer, or layers. Miltonââ¬â¢s particular style of painting is done without any practice, a plan, or a preliminary drawing, its just done with a brush mark and a feeling of where heââ¬â¢s going (Sayer, 2007). Milton stated that ââ¬Å"the feeling doesnâ⠬â¢t have to be physical, but it has to be as if I came at you and you were frightenedâ⬠(Sayer, 2007). A brief description of this painting would be that the painting resonate a sense of death approaching. ââ¬Å"The background fields remain true to Resnicks earlier styles, with horizon less expanses of browns, Prussian blues, and dusty yellows. The figures simply float over this like ghostly Apparitions, highlighted with shocks of impasto whiteâ⬠(Zissner, 2000). They seem to have very short arms, or maybe theyve been violently cut off. ââ¬Å"The tree is similarly stunted, and draws a similarity to a crossâ⬠(Sayer, 2007). The last abstract artist that I chose was Mark Rothko (1903-1970), and his painting ââ¬Å"Four Darks in Red (1958)â⬠oil on canvas. ââ¬Å"Mark Rothko was born in Daugavpils, Latvia (a part of Russia), and imagrated to the United States in 1914 ââ¬Å"(guggenheimcollection, 2007). Mark Rothko stated, ââ¬Å"he was only interested in expressing the basic human emotions in his paintings; tragedy, ecstasy, doom and so onâ⬠(Sayer, 2007). ââ¬Å"His art is known for its subtle colors, firm structures, rich variations, and absence of explicit imageryâ⬠(MPG, 2004). Most viewersââ¬â¢ think of his art as rational, and opulent. This painting seems to convey to it viewers that the red and black emotions come at night, when you are alone and most vulnerable, black being the largest of the rectangles, with the misty red emerging at the bottom. Giving the impression that the emotions are solid, even tangible as though they are deeply saturated with heat. Itââ¬â¢s the colors one would imagine a human heart to be. ââ¬Å"Although many people seem to have great difficulty determining the vanishing point of this painting, its not hard to find if one draws lines through the tops and bottoms of the columns on the leftâ⬠(MPG, 2008). In comparing these three paintings, ââ¬Å"Four Darks in Red (1958)â⬠by Mark Rothko, ââ¬Å"U+Me (1995)â⬠by Milton Resnick, and ââ¬Å"Elegy to the Spanish Republic No.34 (1953-1954)â⬠by Robert Motherwell. These paintings have a lot of similarities. The first, and most the predominate similarity is that all of the before mentioned artists use a layering technique in these particular paintings. The most extensive of these paintings in using the laying technique was done by Milton Resnick, in ââ¬Å"U+Me (1995)â⬠. This painting is shown developing in ââ¬Å"The World of Art, Fifth addition by Henry M. Sayerâ⬠. These three pictures give you a general, but a good idea on how this painting unfolded in its design, and creation. Itââ¬â¢s a very unique view on how this painting started, you would have never thought that the painting would have been completed the way it was, but yet it was necessary to see it in this light to understand the depth of the wor k involved. Resnick believed ââ¬Å"that it was important to be open to previously unthought-of possibilities in the act of painting and to that extent angst, or the discomfort of not knowing while painting was considered a virtueâ⬠(Manister, 2004). Mark Rothkoââ¬â¢s Four Darks in Redâ⬠more simplistic in design than ââ¬Å"U+Meâ⬠, but yet has a carefully modulated field of color that suggests to several of it viewers ââ¬Å"dawnâ⬠, without a realistic image. This warm, but somewhat ominous painting suggests dark feelings. This painting is 102 by 116 inches. It can be viewed in the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City, New York. From the simplest stick figures drawn in sand with a stick, or from the earliest man painting animals on cave walls, or carving images in wood, bone, or stone, people all around the world have responded to the world by creating images of some kind. The primary purpose of art, particularly in the past, was to suggest a sense of meaning, and express essential thoughts, or feelings like in abstract expressionism; some kind of enlightenment is what was crucial in every culture, by stunning images. In identifying the subject material of any painting, or what feelings the artist was trying to express, you have to look at the artists intent, which are frequently associated with the social conditions, national issues, the burdens of the population, or even their own personal problems. To avoid judging art by our own personal experiences, and biased views, we have to learn the backgrounds surrounding the artist when their work was created. Horrendous tragedies, life changing moments in life, religious experiences, or just pure mysticism, these are the types of things that are often reflected in these types works. Trends, and fads are lead by mass media, and most artists struggle to do anything to get this type of recognition, or exposure, but these three artists stand out from the crowd. Their diversity differentiates from the artists of their era, and even today. This diversity is characteristic of abstract expressionism, and each of their style reflects different types of feelings, and emotions. Some aspects of contemporary society will always analyze, these styles trying to rationalize them, but through their paintings, these artist express their ideas, their emotions, as well as some strange version of the reality that they, and only they may perceive, in a two dimensional visual form thatââ¬â¢s poetic, and even hypnotic. Some artists paint, sculpt, or even take photographs, but these visionaries strayed away from traditional forms, with which their viewers are generally familiar with, and strived to create a visual representation of a physical feeling, entirely through an abstract relationship. All of these paintings were created in different ways using slightly different techniques, with different colors, shapes, and they convey a different range of emotion, but all were created by the masters of the craft; ââ¬Å"Abstract Expressionismâ⬠. References 1) Style and abstraction by: Dorothy Metzger Habel, Ph.D.Timothy W. Hiles, Ph.D. Downloaded from website: http://edtech.tennessee.edu/itc/grants/twt2000/modules/dhabel/home.htm 2) Robert Motherwell biography downloaded on February 1, 2008 from website artinthepicture.com/artists/Robert_Motherwell/biography.html 3) Definition of Elegy, Websterââ¬â¢s Online Dictionary downloaded on February 1, 2008 from website: m-w.com/ 4) Robert Motherwell quote; Sayre, H.M., 2007 A World of Art (5th Ed.) 5) Milton Resnick Biography Oregon State University downloaded on February 1,2008 from website: http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/video/art24.html 6) Milton Resnick quote; Sayre, H.M., 2007 A World of Art (5th Ed.) Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. 7) Milton Resnick description of U + ME Sayre, H.M., 2007 A World of Art (5th Ed.) Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. 8) Milton Resnick, U + ME by John Zissner downloaded on February 1, 2008 from website: artnet.com/magazine_pre2000/reviews/zinsser/zinsser1.asp 9) Mark Rothko Biography downloaded on February 1, 2008 from website: guggenheimcollection.org/site/artist_bio_138.html 10) Mark Rothko quote; Sayre, H.M., 2007 A World of Art (5th Ed.) Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. 11) Mark Rothko the early years downloaded on February 1, 2008 from website: nga.gov/feature/rothko/credits.shtm 12) Mark Rothko modern art famous paintings downloaded on February 1, 2008 from website: 13) masterpiece-paintings-gallery.com/mark-rothko-1.htm 14) Sayre, Henry. (2007). A World of Art, Fifth Edition. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc. 15) Milton Resnick: Dour? By Craig Manister, Downloaded on February 7, 2008 From website: artezine.com/issues/20040501/cmres.html Research Papers on Comparative Contrasts Abstract ExpressionistsThe Masque of the Red Death Room meaningsHip-Hop is ArtBringing Democracy to AfricaWhere Wild and West MeetHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionThe Fifth HorsemanCapital PunishmentHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows EssayMind TravelPersonal Experience with Teen Pregnancy
Wednesday, March 4, 2020
Free PDF Chemistry Worksheets To Download or Print
Free PDF Chemistry Worksheets To Download or Print This is a collection of chemistry worksheets in pdf format. The answers to the questions are available on separate worksheets so you can fill them out and then check your work. Please feel free to download these to your computer, print them, and use them as hand-outs. Metals, Nonmetals, and Metalloids WorksheetMetric to English Conversions WorksheetMetric to English Conversions AnswersMetric to Metric Conversions WorksheetMetric to Metric Conversions AnswersTemperature Conversions WorksheetTemperature Conversions AnswersTemperature Conversions Worksheet #2Temperature Conversions Answers #2Moles to Grams Conversions WorksheetMoles to Grams Conversions AnswersFormula or Molar Mass WorksheetFormula or Molar Mass Worksheet AnswersPracticing Balancing Chemical Equations - WorksheetBalancing Chemical Equations - AnswersPracticing Balancing Chemical Equations - Worksheet #2Balancing Chemical Equations - Answers #2Practicing Balancing Chemical Equations - Worksheet #3Balancing Chemical Equations - Answers #3Balancing Equations - Worksheet #4Balancing Equations - Answer Key #4Common Acid Names Formulas - WorksheetAcid Names and Formulas - AnswersPractice Calculations with Moles - WorksheetMole Calculations - AnswersAcid Base pH - WorksheetAcid Base pH - Answers Gas LawsGas Laws AnswersGas Laws Answers - Shown WorkLimiting Reagent - WorksheetLimiting Reagent - AnswersCalculating Molarity - WorksheetCalculating Molarity - AnswersBalancing Redox Reactions - WorksheetBalancing Redox Reactions - AnswersPrintable Element CrosswordPrintable Element Crossword - AnswersChemical Names to Chemical Formulas - WorksheetChemical Names to Chemical Formulas - Answer KeyChemical Formulas to Chemical Names - WorksheetChemical Formulas to Chemical Names - Answer Key Printable Periodic Tables Here are some printable periodic tables to help you out, also in pdf format. Color Printable Periodic Table - Pretty much everything you need that can fit on a page and still be readable. Color table with atomic numbers, element symbols, element names, atomic weights, periods, and groups. [2013 Edition] [2012 Edition]Black/white Printable Periodic Table - Black/white table with atomic numbers, element symbols, element names, atomic weights, periods. [2013 Edition] [2012 Edition]Blank Printable Periodic Table - Fill in the boxes yourself.Electron Configuration Periodic Table - Periodic table that lists the electron configurations for each element.Color Printable Periodic Table - Color table with atomic numbers, element symbols, atomic weights, periods, and groups. (no names)Basic Printable Periodic Table - Black/white table with atomic numbers, element symbols, atomic weights, periods. (no names)Basic Periodic Table with Element Names - Black/white table with element symbols, names, atomic numbers, and periods. (no weights)Basic Periodic Table with Element Nam es (color) - Color periodic table with element symbols, names, atomic numbers, periods, and groups. (no weights) The atomic weights given on these tables are the most recent (2007) values as accepted by the IUPAC. Printable Scientific Method Flow Chart This is a flow chart of the steps of the scientific method, available as a PDF file: Scientific Method PDF Also available is a PDF of a pie chart of the elemental composition of the human body.
Monday, February 17, 2020
Religion - Theology of the book of relevations Essay
Religion - Theology of the book of relevations - Essay Example of all, there is discernment of the modern situation by prophetic insight into Godââ¬â¢s nature and purpose, and the Revelation has dominant prophetic concern for exposing the truth of things. The second element of Revelation as a prophecy is prediction, which consists in seeing how Godââ¬â¢s ultimate purpose for the coming of his universal kingdom relates to the modern situation as it is perceived by the prophet. It is fundamental fact that the coming of Godââ¬â¢s kingdom takes place and prophecy as prediction reveals how the modern situation must change for the Godââ¬â¢s kingdom to come. ââ¬Å"Thirdly, prophecy demands of its hearers an appropriate response to its perception of the truth of the contemporary world and its prediction of what the working out of Godââ¬â¢s purpose must mean for the contemporary world. It is the third element that ensures that the predictive element in biblical prophecy is not fatalistic.â⬠(Bauckham, 149) Therefore, Richard Bauckham offers an insight on the three closely related elements of Revelation as a prophecy in his The Theology of the Book of Revelation and he indicates how biblical prophecy can be relevant for both its original audience and later readers. According to him, biblical prophecy gives room for human freedom and it is relevant in the contemporary world, just as it was significant to the original readers. In the final section of the chapter, the author offers a significant explanation of Revelationââ¬â¢s relevance today and it becomes clear that the readers may find their own routes from engaging with Revelationââ¬â¢s theology to contextualizing it in a contemporary situation. Bauckham lists eleven ways in which Revelation is relevant today, at the end of the chapter and these are essential ways in which one can realize the importance of Revelation in the contemporary world. The first of these eleven ways seems to be most fundamental today. Thus, the author maintains that one of the fundamental functions of Revelation is to purge
Monday, February 3, 2020
Leadership Development and Self Awareness Research Paper
Leadership Development and Self Awareness - Research Paper Example This paper highlightsà the Armyââ¬â¢s existing Army curriculum pushes the most multifaceted subjects to the final stages of a soldierââ¬â¢s learning career. As a result, only some soldiers get an opportunity of expanding their intellectual limits through creative and critical thinking before their field grade experience. Doing business, in such a manner, denies junior level soldiers the opportunity to develop the necessary skills required to excel in the leadership area. The Army has to promote superior learning opportunities to a young soldierââ¬â¢s career in order to develop the essential leadership skills needed to manage the 21st century warfare scenery.From the discussion it is clear thatà the education and evaluation methodologies should be modified to replicate the complexities of the current operating environment to encourage a change in the career progression of leaders equipped for the 21st century warfare. In order to achieve this, the Army should adjust its l eader development systems to identify and promote strategic thinking before it is too late.à The Army education system plays a vital role in creating strategic leaders for the logical challenges they might encounter against an equally resolute enemy. However, it does not stress much on the essential factors of creating able leaders who will lead the Army for many generations to come.à Strategic leadership education should offer soldiers options regarding how they might proceed decisively to overcome adversaries that know no limitations or regulations of war.
Saturday, January 25, 2020
Types of Life Insurance: Advantages and Disadvantages
Types of Life Insurance: Advantages and Disadvantages Overview Life insurance is one of the most popular types of insurance that people purchase. Life insurance is basically insurance that you purchase and will pay money to your beneficiaries if you die. One of the main reasons why people purchase life insurance is to protect their family financially. Life insurance will help pay for burial costs, debt, mortgages, and any other income losses that will occur if someone dies. Life insurance is paid for just like automotive insurance is. It can be paid by a monthly, quarterly, or annually premium for as long as the policy goes for (Types of Insurance Policies, 2011). There are several different types of life insurance policies that people can purchase that will best suit their needs. The main types are term life insurance, whole life insurance, variable life insurance, and universal life insurance. In this research paper, I will explain the advantages, disadvantages, time lengths, and how each of the types of life insurance fit different people. It is very important to understand how these insurance companies calculate premiums for different people. Their main goal is to assess the risk of someone dying during the policy. Just like other types of insurance, the more risk you have, the higher your premium will be. Some of the factors that are used to determine premiums are gender, age, occupation, height, weight, medical history, lifestyle, and if you smoke (Types of Insurance Policies, 2011). Recently I had to do a project in class where you had to find different premiums on life insurance. Some other things that I was asked were if I recently had any DUIs, if any relatives have died before the age of 60, if I have recently been hospitalized, and if any diseases run in my family. All of these factors do give the insurance companies a better understanding of someones risk, but it is nearly impossible to be able to determine the chances of someone passing away. It is also difficult to estimate the cost of each of the different types of life insurance because it is different for every individual. Term life insurance is very affordable, and that is why it is growing in popularity. Term life insurance is basically a life insurance policy that covers a person if they die during the length of their insurance. Term life insurance policies can be anywhere from 1 to 30 years. These policies are known as temporary because once the policies are over, you are no longer covered. For example, if you purchase a 10 year term life insurance policy, and you die the year after your policy expires, your beneficiaries wont receive any money. This also means that if you stop paying your premiums, you will no longer be covered. There are many different reasons how people decided on how long they want their life insurance policy to cover their family. A lot people that purchase term life insurance decide to make their contract until they retire. Another popular way people decide on their term is to remain covered until their children have turned 18. This is a very smart way to insure that your children will be financially protected until they are adults (Life Insurance Wiz, 2006). Another good reason to purchase term life insurance is if you are involved in risky or potentially fatal activities. Even though these factors will increase your premium, it is still worth it in case something terrible happens. The cost of term life insurance all depends on a persons risk and the length of the policy. There are several different types of term life insurance, and it is important to know the differences when selecting the best type. Annual renewable term life insurance means that each year a person may renew their term life insurance. However, each year you renew your term life insurance, the premium will go up in cost because of your age. Renewable term life insurance means that after your specific term is up, you are allowed sign a new term life insurance contract. Level premium term insurance means that your premium will not change throughout the length of the contract. This type of term insurance is good because as you get older, you dont have to pay more money for your life insurance. Convertible term insurance means that you are allowed to convert your term insurance into another type of life insurance, like universal or whole life (Life Insurance Wiz, 2006). There are advantages and disadvantages to term life insurance. Some advantages are that you get to choose how long you want to be covered for, most policies can be changed or renewed to other policies, and your beneficiaries are paid a specific amount upon your death which is decided when you start your policy. Some disadvantages are that if you pass away after your term life insurance policy, no benefits are giving to your family, and it doesnt offer as much protection as other life insurance policies offer (Life Insurance Wiz, 2006). Whole Life Insurance Whole life insurance is exactly what it sounds like, a life insurance policy that last for someones whole life. Upon death, the beneficiary receives the value of the account. Whole life insurance is also known as permanent life insurance. The main difference between whole life and term life is that whole life insurance grows in value over time. Whole life insurance is similar to a retirement account where you are putting money toward the future, except in this case it is toward your death. An interesting fact about whole life insurance is that you can actually borrow money out of your account, which you cannot do with term insurance (Life Insurance Wiz, 2006). To be able to borrow money out of your account, there must be a set minimum of money already invested into the account. Most whole life insurance policies mature when a person turns 100 years old, so if that person is still alive they will receive the face value of their account (My Life Insured, 2007). The main reason why peop le choose whole life insurance over term life insurance is because they want to be insured for the rest of their life. For this reason, whole life insurance is more expensive than term insurance. There are several different types of whole life insurance. Non participating whole life insurance means that you do not receive dividends for your policy. On the other hand, participating whole life insurance means that you do receive dividends. Level premium whole life insurance is just like level term insurance, where you pay the same premium throughout the length of the policy. Purchasing a life insurance policy with a fixed premium is a great choice because once you retire, you wouldnt want your premium to increase every year due to the loss in income. Single premium whole life insurance is a policy where you pay a large sum of money in the begging of your policy, which than eliminates having to pay premiums. This type of policy is not very popular due to the reason that you would need a lot of money up front. Intermediate whole life insurance means that your premiums change over time depending on your status (New York State Insurance Department, 2011). In the past couple years, a significant amount of people lost their homes because of adjustable mortgages, so I think that this type of whole life insurance is not a good choice. Some advantages of Whole life insurance are that they are usually fixed premiums, the beneficiaries will receive money whenever the policy holder dies, there are tax benefits, and most of the money will be returned if the policy is cancelled. The money that accumulates in your policy is tax free, which attracts a lot of people to purchase a whole life insurance policy over a term life insurance policy. Some disadvantages of whole life insurance is that it is costly compared to term insurance, and it is much more complicated than term life insurance (New York State Insurance Department, 2011). If you are interested in purchases a whole life insurance policy, it is important to know which type it is so you know you will be able to afford it for the rest of your life. Universal Life Insurance Universal life insurance is very similar to whole life insurance. A universal life insurance policy will cover someone for their whole life, so it is also considered a permanent life insurance policy. Universal life insurance policies also grow in cash over time, which is tax deferred. The interest rates increase and decrease like the money market, so there is a chance to make a lot of money in this type of life insurance (My Life Insured, 2007). The main advantage that universal life insurance has over whole life insurance is that there is more flexibility in the policy. The cash value and the death benefits parts of your policy are broken up, so a person can decide how much of their money will go in each part (Life Insurance Wiz, 2006). The policy holder can also increase and decrease their premium depending on their situation. However, the insurance companies do have a target premium, so if you pay less than it, you may be penalized (Life Insurance Wiz, 2006). This type of life in surance policy would be best for someone who wanted to be covered for the rest of their life, and would want to be able to adjust their policy to be suit their needs. Advantages of Universal life insurance are it is the most flexible, you are able to take out loans, you can adjust your premiums due to your situation, and the cash you earn in interest can be used toward your payments. Some disadvantages are that your cash value isnt guaranteed like it is with whole life insurance and it more costly than term and universal life insurance policies (Life Insurance Info, 2011). Variable Life Insurance Variable life insurance is also considered a permanent type of life insurance. It is considered a pure investment policy because the insured has completed control of how their money is invested (My Life Insured, 2007). They can decide to invest their cash account into bonds, stocks, or any other money market funds (My Life Insured, 2007). For this reason, variable life insurance is the most risky out of all the types of life insurance. If a person makes poor investment choices, they risk losing a substantial amount of their money. On the other hand, if good investments are made, the policy holder can receive a significant profit. Due to the risk of this type of life insurance, it is the most expensive one. This type of life insurance policy is only a good choice for people that understand the money market, and will remain active in watching their investments.
Friday, January 17, 2020
Ralph Ellison was an African American
Ralph Ellison was an African American writer and literary critic who was most recognized for the book ââ¬Å"Invisible Manâ⬠in 1952, which is written in an adaptation of the Afro-American folk and cultural tradition. In her paper ââ¬Å"Ritual and Rationalization: Black Folklore in the Works of Ralph Ellisonâ⬠Susan Blake posited that ââ¬Å"the predominant theme in this story is the quest for cultural identity [â⬠¦] as unbeknownst to the main character, he seeks identity as a black man in a white societyâ⬠(p. 121). This is evident as Battle Royal opens with a seemingly young and confused black boy on the cusp of manhood, who desperately wants to belong but is unsure of how to establish himself in a world where life is stacked against him. This is an issue which can be identified in today's society particularly among the black youth. For the purpose of this essay we shall analyse the events in ââ¬Å"Battle Royalâ⬠in an effort to identify parallels which exist between present day society and that of the protagonist's society in ââ¬Å"Battle Royalâ⬠. The chapter is an account of inequality and racial injustices in a small town down south in the post -colonial era, where segregation was alive. It begins with the protagonist narrating a childhood memory of his grandfather's death and his final words in passing. The grandfather had admonished the protagonist's parents to teach him and the other young ones to be a traitor as he, the grandfather had been, so he can get ahead in a white society. These were appalling words to the family and the children, including the narrator had been rushed from the room. The boy grew, always thinking the grandfather had imparted a curse and spent his life trying to escape the clutches of the curse, for who would want to be known as a traitorous coward? The parallels which exist between our society and that of the story are embedded in the symbolism that Ellison employed as a tool in his treatment of the issues of the black society in the 1950s. The story is rife with symbolism for issues which may easily be identified in modern day society. First we see the dying grandfather and his last words, symbolic of the hopes and dreams of ancestors passed on to the next generation. He has little else left to leave behind as a legacy, all he has is his wisdom. We see a confused black boy, symbolic of much of the black society, wandering aimlessly as they haven't a true sense of who they were before slavery and they struggle to figure out how to begin to carve out a place in this world. The gathering at the Battle Royal, comprising of the most influential and affluent whites in the society represents the hierarchy that governs the system we live under. It also represents black perception of opportunities for a seat at the table or at the very least, crumbs from the table; a chance to win the approval of whites for social and economic advancement. Such opportunities are often used as a lure, they keep blacks hopeful, paint a picture of all we could accomplish but beneath the surface can be the trap that leads to destruction. The white stripper represents the fantasies of blacks, something that is often not attainable; something that would often serve as a source of embarrassment to us if they were to be known, yet they make us vulnerable. The animosity the nine boys have towards the main character symbolizes the helplessness and frustration of the black community (Blake, p.122). The protagonist represents to the boys, a constant reminder of the scourge of their lowly estate as slaves, the physical and sexual exploitation that had to have occurred to make his existence possible, for he was a ginger coloured boy, indicative of lighter complexion which is testament to a black ancestor being raped by a white master. He was tainted by this for it made him appear to be a house nigger as opposed to darker hued boys who would have been regarded as field niggers. This mentality is prolonged in present day society as colorism is an issue among blacks, who feel that the lighter skinned blacks have better odds as they may have lighter skin tones and finer hair textures that may afford them more opportunities than darkies. This frustration feeds into the symbol of the blindfolded fight serving as blacks being played against each other. We lash out, not knowing why we are fighting against each other, not recognizing that the differences in each other that we pick at make no difference to whites, who still see us all as blacks. We are conditioned to adopt the philosophy of every man for himself. In essence we forsake the principle of community and abandon team work. It sets us up for the money rug, which is symbolic of the whites dangling the proverbial carrot, a part of a sordid game that further divides us and allows them the upper hand. It relegates us to a position of grovelling, total degradation. It represents the economic struggles of blacks , who must bear unspeakable humiliation and undergo excruciating pain and sacrifice to make a dollar. Finally, the note in the main character's dream symbolizes the ever shifting goal post; the reality that the rules of the game will always keep changing. Ellison uses the Battle Royal as a ritual rooted in slavery in which both sides accept their status and assumes their role (ââ¬Å"Artâ⬠p. 175) Other writers used some variation of the Battle royal in their stories as it appears to have been a fixture of slavery in which slave owners pitted their strongest slaves against their neighbor's with the plantation as the ultimate stake. In order to understand the underbelly of the basis of the symbolism in the grandfather's statement on his death bed, one must know the differences between the Sambo and John characters in African American folklore. Sambo represents the docile, subservient slave who accepts degradation while John represents the unbroken defiant slave who continually defies master. The parting words of the protagonist's grandfather serve as nuggets of wisdom for though youth and pride would have many aspiring to be a John, for longevity sake it would serve him better to be a Sambo or Samfie; for though this appears to be Sambo's nature, it is his greatest source of power. We see the protagonist rejecting the Sambo nature out of pride. This is still the attitude of many blacks today, for they cannot see how playing Sambo will benefit them and think it further extends the white man's narrative, that they can be no more than grovelling idiots who suck up and worship the ground that whites walk on. They refuse to accept the grandfather's philosophy that it can be harnessed and used as a tool that can pacify the whites to some degree and help blacks to eke out a living for themselves. By virtue of the staunch opposition to the Sambo stereotype, some blacks are regarded as traitors because they choose the path of least resistance to survive a prejudicial society. Those who would try to walk the path of Sambo are called coons, Massa's boy as a label that shows disdain for their decision to travel the path of least resistance; an indictment that they have somehow sold out the black race or relinquished their black card. This may result in alienation, as both whites and blacks reject such a one.By the end of the chapter the grandfather's words take on new meaning for he only wished to let the next generation know that to get ahead blacks must outsmart the white man by playing the white man's game of black subservience, but know at all times that you won't win on their terms. Take footsteps of Sambo, for Sambo can fly under the radar but John will draw heat from Massa and they will always seek to break John. The takeaway then, is that we should continue to go to the sc hools, take the scholarships, seek to accomplish by the white man's standards but know that for him this is entertainment and so the game of ââ¬Å"send the fool a little furtherâ⬠will always be part of the black man's reality.
Thursday, January 9, 2020
Analysis of Charlotte Gilmans The Yellow Wallpaper
Yellow Wallpaper Annotated Bibliography Frye, C.B. Using Literature in Health Care: Reflections on The Yellow Wallpaper. The Annals of Pharmacotherapy. (32: 7). 1998. 829.33. Print. Most people who wrote about The Yellow Wallpaper do so from the perspective of a literary scholar. This however is written by someone in the health care field. C.B. Frye says that fiction can impact the larger world; in this case it impacted mental health and the work of Gillmans doctor, S Weir Mitchell. Although the short story acts as a testimony from a patient, there is either no or very little information from the perspective of the health care community about why the rest cure was used. This article provides an altogether unique perspective on the short story. Instead of examining it as a work of literature, Frye reads The Yellow Wallpaper as an autobiographic document about a mental health patient. By doing this, he provides the literary scholar a unique viewpoint on the topic. Gilbert, Kelly. The Yellow Wallpaper: an Autobiography of Emotions by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Print. Charlotte Perkins Gillmans own experiences with mental illness are well documented. She herself was subjected to the rest cure which the character in The Yellow Wallpaper also has to endure, which drives her crazy. In this article, Gilbert explores the significance of Gillmans story and the changes that it began in terms of womens mental health. For the first time many people came toShow MoreRelatedAn Analysis of Charlotte Gilmans The Yellow Wallpaper1239 Words à |à 5 PagesWhat if something as simple as a pattern could cause someone so much grief, attention and unwanted thoughts that it could eventually causes them to slowly go insane? In Charlotte Gilmans short story, The Yellow Wallpaper she uses the techniques of foreshadowing, personification, simile, and symbolism, in order to acknowledge how easily humans are convinced and influenced in their daily lives. Ones own perspective on themselves can quickly be changed as they are exposed to different thoughtsRead MoreAnalysis of Charlotte Gilmanââ¬â¢s Story The Yellow Wallpaper711 Words à |à 3 Pages Charlotte Gilmanââ¬â¢s short story ââ¬Å"The Yellow Wallpaperâ⬠is centered on the deteriorating psychological condition of the female narrator. As a woman in a male dominating society in the 19th century, the narrator has no control over her life. This persistence eventually evolves into her madness. The insanity is triggered by her change in attitude towards her husband, the emergent obsession with the wallpaper and the projection of herself as the women behind the wallpaper. The ââ¬Å"rest cureâ⬠which wasRead MoreAn Analysis of Charlotte Perkins Gilmans The Yellow Wallpaper693 Words à |à 3 Pagesï » ¿1. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (1899) contains elements that could be construed as a feminist take on a paternalistic society or a gothic ghost story. When the writer states that à ¦ he hardly lets me stir without direction, I cant imagine anythi ng more claustrophobic. Given the period in which this is written, it makes sense that this attitude is fueled by the endemic paternalism of the time. When the heads with bulging eyes began to appear in the wallpaper, as if theseRead MoreThe Yellow Wallpaper, By Harriet Beecher Stowe1603 Words à |à 7 PagesThe Yellow Wallpaper is a feminist piece of literature that analyzed womenââ¬â¢s struggle in the 1900s, such as medical diagnosis and womenââ¬â¢s roles. Over the years, women struggled to attain independence and freedom. In order to achieve these liberties, they were females who paved the way and spoke out about these issues to secure equal rights for women. In addition, these powerful females used their vulnerability to challenge the male domination through their literary work. The Yellow Wallpaper is aRead MoreCultural Analysis : The Yellow Wallpaper927 Words à |à 4 PagesCultural Analysis: The Yellow Wallpaper Charlotte Perkins Gilmanââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"The Yellow Wallpaperâ⬠is a short story told from the perspective of a woman whoââ¬â¢s believed to be ââ¬Å"crazyâ⬠. The narrator believes that she is sick while her husband, John, believes her to just be suffering from a temporary nervous depression. The narratorââ¬â¢s condition worsens and she begins to see a woman moving from behind the yellow wallpaper in their bedroom. The wallpaper captures the narratorââ¬â¢s attention and initial drives herRead MoreThe Yellow Wallpaper By Charlotte Perkins Gilman846 Words à |à 4 Pagesjourney of the admirable story ââ¬Å"The Yellow Wallpaperâ⬠created by Charlotte Perkins Gilmanââ¬â¢s, gave the thought whether or not the outcome was influenced by female oppression and feminism. Female oppression and feminist encouraged a series of women to have the freedom to oppose for their equal rights. Signified events in the story ââ¬Å"The Yellow Wallpaperâ⬠resulted of inequ ality justice for women. Charlotte Perkins Gilman gave the reader different literary analysis to join the unjustifiable lifestyleRead More What Others Say about The Yellow Wallpaper1572 Words à |à 7 PagesWhat Others Say about The Yellow Wallpaper à à à à The Yellow Wallpaper is a short story written by Charlotte Perkins Gilman in 1890 and eventually published in 1892 in the New England Magazine and in William Dean Howells collection, Great Modern American Stories (Shumaker 94). The story was original not only because of its subject matter, but also because it is written in the form of a loosely connected journal. It follows the narrators private thoughts which become increasingly more confusingRead MoreEffects Of Repressing The Yellow Wallpaper 1520 Words à |à 7 PagesThe Yellow Wallpaper In her story, The Yellow Wallpaper, Charlotte Perkins Gilman expresses exasperation towards the separate male and female roles expected of her society, and the evident repressed rights of a woman versus the active duties of a man. The story depicts the methods taken to cure a woman of her psychological state during Gilmanââ¬â¢s time, and delineates the dominant cure of the time period, ââ¬Å"the resting cure,â⬠which encouraged the restraint of the imagination (The Yellow Wallpaper: LookingRead More Critical Analysis of The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins1179 Words à |à 5 PagesCritical Analysis of The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Charlotte Perkins Gilmanââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"The Yellow Wallpaperâ⬠is a detailed account of the authorââ¬â¢s battle with depression and mental illness. Gilmanââ¬â¢s state of mental illness and delusion is portrayed in this narrative essay. Through her account of this debilitating illness, the reader is able to relate her behavior and thoughts to that of an insane patient in an asylum. She exhibits the same typeRead MoreThe Yellow Wallpaper Essay : Importance Of Identity And Self Expression1707 Words à |à 7 PagesThe Importance of Identity and Self Expression in The Yellow Wallpaper In the article ââ¬Å"ââ¬ËToo Terribly Good to Be Printedââ¬â¢: Charlotte Gilmanââ¬â¢s ââ¬ËThe Yellow Wallpaper,ââ¬â¢Ã¢â¬ Conrad Shumaker explains the genius of ââ¬Å"The Yellow Wallpaperâ⬠and how its themes reflect the patriarchal society of the time period. Shumaker identifies one theme as the detriment of suppressing the narratorââ¬â¢s sense of self and that ââ¬Å"by trying to ignore and repress her imagination, in short, John eventually brings about the very circumstance
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