...Sunshine and Noir in Historical Los Angeles: A Contextualization of Nina Revoyr’s Southland Nina Revoyr’s novel, Southland, provides a glimpse into the injustice, scandal, and struggle in Los Angeles from the 1940s to the 1990s due to its racial composition. The novel contains a unique cast of characters who, although often times interact with conflict, are forced to live side-by-side one another in their separate attempts to attain the American Dream. Southland takes its readers on a journey through a history full of trials and tribulations, with Los Angeles as its stage; throughout this story, the reader begins to understand that there was much more to this place than what was originally promised by the boosters. Revoyr makes it clear that Los Angeles, or Angeles Mesa to be more precise, during the time of the boosters, was not solely a place where one could find utopia, or sunshine – but also a place that was plagued with dystopia, or noir. Southland proves to be a story that illustrates how ethnic, racial, and gender differences can play a major role in one’s actions, behaviors, and perceptions of others. This novel uncovers the fact that Los Angeles was a socially stratified city, which was full of inhabitants who were governed according to their differences. Whether one was white, black, or Asian during the 1940s-1960s (especially in Angeles Mesa, as relevant to Southland) determined how others perceived and treated them. In a cyclic rotation, most of the time it...
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...just got treated (if that’s the right word for it) to a hard-sell from the Enterprise Rent-A-Car at Los Angeles Airport. I’m blogging about the event because it illustrates exactly how NOT to sell if you want repeat customers. Here’s how their routine works. When the customer agent checks out the driver’s identification, he or she attempts to make a connection about the driver’s place of residence. (I heard the exact same questions being asked at the other desks, with varying levels of success). Then, after this ham-handed attempt at rapport building, the agent personally escorts you to your car, pretending that you’re getting the VIP treatment. Then comes the hard sell. As you’re walking the lot, the agent tries to get you to upgrade to a bigger (i.e. higher priced) car, with the implication that you’re cheap if you don’t upgrade. Then, once you get to the car that you actually rented, the agent tries to sell you a full tank of gas “because it’s cheaper per gallon than the pump price.” (Which is technically true, but only if you bring the car back completely empty). Then comes the upsell on unnecessary insurance. My agent wouldn’t let it go and kept pounding away on how I wouldn’t be covered, most insurance companies don’t cover everything, what’s your insurance company, yada-yada-yada. Very annoying, because I’m well aware that rental car insurance is a huge ripoff: if you took the rate and extended it out for a entire year, it would usually cost more than...
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...Kin Faat Chau (Lucas) Professor Gustafson ARLT 101 07/09/2013 Preface Compilation of this extract involved numerous connections of societal development realities whereby tangible sources that supported the document provided critical information, particularly on Los Angeles historical fundamentals. Civilization is the major aspect explored in this study; the supportive materials helped my writing with analogous information that clarified the encompassed perspectives of societal detrimental issues that indicates the need for improvement, as pointed out by Mennell (p. 2). I have to acknowledge these sources for laying a foundation that proved the societal view and responses towards creation of possible change through literacy basics in their perspective community based activities. Social and political class play critical role in shaping people’s life whereby in sometimes they can be destructive rather than constructive in the societies. The view of human nature as a basic reality received in diverse perspectives indicates the need for substantive measures in taking people’s consideration when the moral basics are involved. Formulation of substantial laws to provide governance prospects are areas that many of the authors relied on in this study have proved to require substantive corrections to guide the people who seem to encounter the hardships of accepting others, particularly with the illusive approaches on society well-being. In most cases, as seen in this study,...
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...Cheech Marin currently owns one of Almaraz's most famous paintings, "Sunset Crash." Carlos Almaraz is a popular figure for early Chicano art. He was a member of an art group, in which they called themselves "Los Four." In his piece entitled "Sunset Crash," he uses bright and bold colors to paint a tragic event. What he is creating by doing this is a metaphor. The metaphor is used to show group and individual struggle in his paintings. This artistic style was described as new and innovative during his time. The new style was able to break barriers and set new trends in Chicano art. In this piece entitled "Laughing and Crying," you can see the change in style. During the 1970s the there was a switch from conceptual and minimal art...
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...get his dad’s car Buick Roadmaster and Rose bushes. When Charlie heard his he got angry and wanted to find out who was entitled for his dad’s three million dollars. While on the process of finding who was unnamed person who was entitled for the three million dollars, he found out that he has a older brother and his parents kept that a secret from Charlie. He found out that he has an autistic older brother who lives in a mental institution. Charlie kidnaps his brother Raymond played by Dustin Hoffman, and tries to bring him to Los Angeles. At first Charlie was angry that no one told him about Raymond. Charlie did not understand what it means to be autistic. So, on the way to Los Angeles he got angry at Raymond for being scared of airplanes and having to watch television shows on specific times. On the journey to Los Angeles Charlie realized that Raymond was the Rain Man Charlie always dreamed about. Charlie constantly got phone calls from Los Angeles that no one was buying his cars and customers want their down payments back. Charlie realized then that he can use Raymond’s autism as a way to gamble and count cards in Las Vegas. Both of them went to Vegas and...
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...determined that many of these preceding factors are evident in vulnerable populations around the world, particularly the homeless population. The science Daily (2013) reports that “one in five homeless people with tuberculosis die within a year of their diagnosis” (Death Rate from Tuberculosis in Homeless Alarmingly High). In addition to the high death rate for TB among homeless people, public health officials also recognize a growing threat of drug resistant strains within these vulnerable populations. Theses drug resistant strains of tuberculosis require longer, more consistent treatments, and are often more fatal. In this paper, an example homeless population group on Skid Row in Los Angeles, California will be discussed. Earlier this year, an outbreak of a strain of TB that was unique to Los Angeles was discovered on Skid Row. Public health officials sought out the help from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for assistance in investigating, managing, and...
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...Classical Argument Position ENGL 123 Public School-uniform: Decision hanging by a thread Today’s youth face a different learning environment that was not as prevalent in years past. Peer in on any one of the more than 98,500 schools, and notice the difference. Public schools have morphed into more of a hangout and social hour-type atmosphere, as well as become the new “red carpet” to display the latest fashion trends. That is not all. Reported cases of drug and alcohol use, weapons brought into school, and violence and bullying have drastically increased over the years, and not just in the high schools either, but in all grade levels. As each of these problems take a seat at the head of the class, quality education breaks for recess. Although the factors attributing to the recent increases in these issues are many, one viable solution to mitigate some of the problems is for all public schools to require their students wear uniforms. Many advocates for this initiative, me included, strongly believe that mandating the wear of uniforms will reduce the alarming numbers for violent behavior and bullying, as well as alleviate any socio-economical barriers that currently exist; therefore, they will become the catalyst which brings the focus back to education within the classroom. For those parents who oppose the idea of uniforms, and who believe that mandating their child wear a uniform while attending public schools violates the First Amendment and stifles their child’s...
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...neck and it still does. The Hollywood film industry takes art in a vital role in society and within that connection lays the opportunity to help shape a socially conscious agenda in the 21st Century. Power, intentionally employed, can awaken the birth of transformational progression and advancement in our world. Power is an aptitude to be cherished- it is grimly abused when utilized strictly for economic or personal rewards. Hollywood is the epitome of power strictly for personal and/or economic gain. Lights, camera, action! It all sounds enticing doesn’t it? The glitz, glamour, and fame is all one thinks of when Hollywood comes to mind, but what about the dark side of Hollywood? Nobody ever talks about that. It slaps you harder in the face than you could ever imagine. A lot of people move to Hollywood chasing a dream that has been a part of their entire being since as far back as they can recall. Against the toughest competition along with the hurdles of living in a big city, those...
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...Abstract How human beings judge others has been the subject of many psychological studies over the years. In this paper, psychology in the legal arena is discussed including jury selection, juror life experiences and how it affects their biases, and the impact of the media on their decisions. Jury Selection and Its Importance Juries have the all too important task of making life altering decisions dealing with money, freedom, and many times life or death situations. Therefore, serving on a jury is a very serious and important proposition. Unfortunately, in today’s society it appears that many times juries are selected in a rather casual manner. Many individuals called to jury service, especially those with a higher education or in a higher economic echelon, can find ways to escape their civic duty, while those who are less educated and theoretically less qualified for jury service, end up serving on the jury and making critical decisions. A fairly new trend in jury selection is that of trial consulting, which gained notoriety in the mid 1990’s in the O.J. Simpson trial. The application of scientific jury selection (SJS) was first applied in 1971, and has grown tremendously in recent years for those who have the means to employ such methods. The goal of the trial consultant is to find persons to fill the jury seats who optimally will arrive at a decision that will be favorable to their client. The tools used by the trial consultant include “…community...
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...sparkling clean environment. They use fresh and never frozen patties, and ingredients. In-N-Out has an array of lifetime customers claiming that it is the best burger they have ever eaten. In-N-Out has a very restrictive menu, “Although the limited menu might seem restrictive, customers don’t feel that way.” (Armstrong, 524) Despite having such a restricted menu, they also have something called a “secret” menu, this consist of items such as the “4x4” which is four patties and four pieces of cheese. This secret menu is “yet another thing that makes customers feel special.” “In-N-Out is a family-owned chain that refuses to franchise. This allows them to foster an extremely close relationship with their associates and customers while staying true to tradition.”(McKee, 2007) When entering into most fast food organizations, your expectations are not that high. You want average food, at an above average speed. However, In-N-Out is contrary to that belief. “In-N-Out exceeds the standards of the typical fast food joint”(McKee, 2007). They do not use microwaves or freezers. Therefor, their food is always fresh for the customer. The outcome of this process simple, it leads to growth. In N Out has achieved steady growth throughout the company’s history. While In-N-Out is scarce, they focus on one thing, quality. That in itself is something most fast food restaurants can’t say. In-N-Out keeps their customers so satisfied that they even “wear T-shirts and slap In-N-Out bumper stickers on...
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...Lower income citizens face more hardships, get a poorer education, and are faced with a neglectful society. When Kermit Alexander and his family moved from New Iberia, Louisiana to Los Angeles, California they looked to escape the segregated South in hope for a better future with more equal opportunity. Kermit Alexander and his family were escaping the Jim Crow South and moving to hopefully a more progressive city in Los Angeles. Jim Crow Laws were a set of state and local laws which enforced racial segregation in the Southern states of the United States of America. These laws forced “colored people” to use different facilities and other things. For example, schools, restaurants, public transportation, drinking fountains and more were segregated. The South got away with these laws with the saying “separate but equal” which entailed that although whites and blacks have segregated spaces they are equal, which was not the case. Black or colored” facilities, schools...
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...Aimee Semple McPherson: Biography Aimee Semple McPherson was an evangelical leader in the 20th Century. McPherson was determined to spread her Pentecostal faith, developing followers from all over the United States and Canada. A recognized religious leader in American history, McPherson has long been the subject of films, poems, novels and songs. Despite being known as one of the most influential evangelist of her time, McPherson was also a complex, uncontainable and contentious public figure. She was a woman advanced of her time, defying traditional roles for women. McPherson established an evangelistic ministry, wildly known worldwide as the Foursquare Church. Perhaps one of McPherson’s appealing characteristics was her ability to identify with ordinary people, drawing myriads of loyal followers throughout her evangelical journey. Born in a farm on October 1890 in Ingersoll, Ontario, Canada, McPherson was brought up in a devoted Christian home. Her father, James was a farmer and her mother Minnie worked with the poor in Salvation Army soup kitchens. When Darwinism was introduced in her school during her teenage years, McPherson began to question the Bible. When she was seventeen years old and still in high school, she attended a revival service conducted by Pentecostal evangelist Robert Semple, where she heard the message of repentance and a born-again experience. Although she resisted the message, the Holy Spirit continued to speak to her heart, convicting her of the sin...
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...The Oj simpson case was an unforgettable case.It was so many details and clues to the case. On June 12, 1994 Nicole Brown Simpson, the ex-wife of former professional football star O.J. Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman, were found murdered on the steps of her Los Angeles home. Suspicion immediately fell on Simpson as the primary suspect in the murders: he had a history of domestic violence against his ex-wife, his temper was known to be explosive, and there were no other obvious suspects for the brutal attack. Five days later Simpson and his friend, Al Cowlings, led police on a lowspeed, sixty-mile chase on the Los Angeles highways before surrendering. An estimated 23 of the of American homes ninety five million viewers were tuned in, Simpson who was jailed while he awaited trial for the murders, assembled an impressive "Dream Team" for his legal defense....
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...out of the country he anticipates that every step he takes is going to be a glance at paradise. “The blue skies and palm trees they saw on TV are scarcely visible from here: just an undifferentiated smoggy haze, billboards advertising Nissan and Cannon, and beyond those an endlessly receding mess of gray streets.” (page 51, Springboard). Here he describes how his picture of L.A was so much different from the one he was looking at in the present moment. His past of living in a different area and seeing the pictures depicted on T.V affected his overall picture of Los Angeles. Another example of presuming something completely different out of this city is found. “Over there is a block-long white limo, a Lincoln Continental,and, over there a black Chevy Blazer with Mexican stickers all over it’s windows, being towed.” (page 51, Springboard). Pico Iyer’s culture from where he previously lived was very different Los Angeles and it is shown here because he sees this fancy hotel and it has a black Chevy blazer being towed from the parking lot. He expected places like the hotel, but not cars like Chevys to be parked even close to around there. With his essay Iyer does a great job at encompassing how culture affects his views of a new place in the world. In a similar case to Pico Iyer’s essay “An Indian Father’s Plea” an essay written by Robert Lake a young boy is introduced to a new environment. Since he comes from a reservation he was previously exposed to a completely different setting...
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...In recent years, it has been made apparent that voting rights are not being exercised by many Americans. This holds true for local, state, all the way to the presidential primary elections. Voting is something Americans are taught is a fundamental right of being a US citizen and it should be exercised extensively as it is part of the foundation of democracy. Historically, African Americans and women did not have the right to vote in the United States but they were fought for because voting is such an essential right. Why is it that people are not exercising this right which is so important to the future of the United States? In this essay, local voter turnout in the US, Canada, and the UK will be described and explained and then compared in...
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