...to current day, music has had an impact on my life that is simply difficult to match. A lot of my personality and resilience was created and encouraged by the songs and lyrics that I was exposed to from a very early age. Currently music is used as my escape; as a place that I can express myself and how I’m feeling through the artistry of others. To many people who create the music we listen to, their music and their expression through their lyrics is almost as important as breathing to them. Music feeds the soul and the heart in ways that many people can simply not explain. The infectious nature of music is what has helped maintain its existence around the world for centuries before and many...
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...It changed my life, it calms me down when I'm stressed, it makes me feel happy when I’m feeling heavy-hearted, it waits for me to get home and it’s helped me throughout my high school years. I love my violin. I love my music. It all started during seventh grade when I realized that I could major in music at Lincoln Park High School. Once I found this out, I was determined to not only succeed in getting into the program, but to challenge myself by taking up a new instrument: the violin. I’d been taking piano lessons since I was nine, so I asked my instructor, Ann Urhausen to help me prepare. I auditioned with a piece she had picked out for me. On average, I practiced two hours a day in order to make certain that my interpretation was on point,...
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...have developed for music has to be high on that list. It was in fourth grade that I was really introduced the wonder that is music. That January, at the age of ten, I suddenly matured in a way that I could not have imagined. From that day on, a part of me began to develop. Now, that passion is one of the cornerstones of who I am as a person. This change can be largely credited to a big hero of mine: my sister, Anniestacia. Her active involvement in band blazed the trail for what would become one of the biggest parts of my life. As a multitude of students do, Stacia joined the sixth grade band at Bay Minette Intermediate School. When I heard about her joining, not much went through my head except the thought that there would not be much quiet around the house anymore. As I went to her concerts that year, I went through the motions of being an audience member, clapping after every song, and even standing up...
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...Creative Spark Talk Analysis July 20th, 2013 For this assignment I chose to review Stefon Harris’ “There are no mistakes on the bandstand” TEDTalk. After review I found the concepts and narrative to be very applicable to the business realm as well as daily life. Stefon presented many different ideas and opinions to the process of creativity that are normally lost in typical creativity examples. From what I gathered, Stefon is a musician, a vibraphonist to be exact. While I am not familiar with what a vibraphonist is, I assume it focuses mainly on instruments such as the xylophone and similar instruments. Stefon is not who I would have expected as a guest on TEDTalks but his perspective is refreshing. I viewed Stefon’s on YouTube which showed the video to have been posted in December of 2011. This talk was very interesting because it used jazz music as the example to creating something organic and fresh. The driving point of the presentation was that perceived mistakes are commonly viewed as problems when in reality they should be not be seen as mistakes but as a shift in the mainstream thought process. Creativity comes in many forms so what one person sees as a mistake can instead be seen as a new way of continuing. Commonly, creativity is stifled due to perceived problems with the thought process and non-conformity is extinguished. We view these non-conformers as hiccups generally which eventually wears on a person’s creativity and ends when that person no longer wants...
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...The essay “I Killed Britney Spears” was written by the London based journalist Jean Hanna Edelstein, in 2008. Edelstein was born in New York, 1981 to an American father, and Scottish mother. She later moved (1999) to London, where she studied economics and political science. She has also lived in Montreal, Berlin. She has an online-based blog, where she uploads a few essays and inputs – inputs that are all backed up by her academic background. Despite the online essays, her first official published book was in 2009. “I Killed Britney Spears” is a (non-fiction) personal essay, with a first person narrator which makes the essay identifiable. Edelstein clearly wrote this essay to highlight a few consequences and flaws in the relationship between fan and idol. Most of these flaws are shown in the age 13-18. These years are filled with the confusion that follows the transition from child to adult. Edelstein might have thought about this particular transition and thereby, intending the text to be read by these confused adolescents. The text “I Killed Britney Spears” was written in 2008, a year of great turmoil for the star Britney Spears. She was fighting over the custody of her children, she had been in rehab and just cut off her hair. All these events generated a lot of public attention. Mostly negative attention. Many of the “Spears” fans (including Edelstein herself) who identified themselves with her, were emotionally hit by Britney’s instability. The intention of Edelstein...
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...Arts and the Education of Artists: Art and Story CONTENTS SECTION ONE: Marcel’s Studio Visit with Elstir……………………………………………………….. David Carrier SECTION TWO: Film and Video Narrative Brief Narrative on Film-The Case of John Updike……………………………………. Thomas P. Adler With a Pen of Light …………………………………………………………………… Michael Fink Media and the Message: Does Media Shape or Serve the Story: Visual Storytelling and New Media ……………………………………………………. June Bisantz Evans Visual Literacy: The Language of Cultural Signifiers…………………………………. Tammy Knipp SECTION THREE: Narrative and Fine Art Beyond Illustration: Visual Narrative Strategies in Picasso’s Celestina Prints………… Susan J. Baker and William Novak Narrative, Allegory, and Commentary in Emil Nolde’s Legend: St. Mary of Egypt…… William B. Sieger A Narrative of Belonging: The Art of Beauford Delaney and Glenn Ligon…………… Catherine St. John Art and Narrative Under the Third Reich ……………………………………………… Ashley Labrie 28 15 1 22 25 27 36 43 51 Hopper Stories in an Imaginary Museum……………………………………………. Joseph Stanton SECTION FOUR: Photography and Narrative Black & White: Two Worlds/Two Distinct Stories……………………………………….. Elaine A. King Relinquishing His Own Story: Abandonment and Appropriation in the Edward Weston Narrative………………………………………………………………………….. David Peeler Narrative Stretegies in the Worlds of Jean Le Gac and Sophe Calle…………………….. Stefanie Rentsch SECTION FIVE: Memory Does The History of Western Art Tell a Grand Story?……………………………………...
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...Ahmed Al-Matari Professor Marine English 111 October 30th, 14 Personal Narrative Life is all about making choices, but some of them can even change our life. Four years ago, I walked out the Washington Dulles International Airport for the first time. This was a significant event that changed everything about my life and me. Although leaving Saudi Arabia was a tough decision to make, I knew I would be leaving my family, my homeland, and my friends to go to a far-away place to seek for a better life. My parents supported my decision because they believe life is wonderful and the world was big. Arriving in a new country was exciting and discomforting. America is a wonderful place to live, which is full of adventure and challenge. I was highly fascinated by the Western culture. Although I lived in a westernized household and grew up in international schools, I learned English since I was a child. However, my writing and oral abilities tend not to be adequate. I had to study hard to improve my English, so that I can understand the people and the language more. Since I came to America, I made great progress not only foreign language but also adaptive capacity. I believe the most significant part of my life is when I was able to cope with the social differences I faced in two different countries. The most important social differences that affected me and made me who I am today are family, religion, and gender equality. Family is one of the most important parts of Arab culture...
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...considered auteurs. The roles that both Hitchcock and Kubrick play in this essay are why that is so important for them to be considered auteurs. In my topic I will be arguing that Hitchcock and Kubrick were both Auteurs, but couldn't every director be an auteur isn't the definition of an Auteur a film director who is considered the primary creative force in the picture. Why are Hitchcock and Kubrick so special I am going to argue that they are great auteurs, how I'm going to do this is by viewing two hitchcock movies and two Kubrick movies and compare them to movies I have recently watched in the movie theaters. The two Hitchcock films I'll review watching are vertigo and to catch a thief . I choose these films because vertigo is the very first Alfred Hitchcock movie I watched and it was very interesting to watch such an old movie that was so entertaining. The way Hitchcock used the music and the way he is able to build the suspense and keep the suspense going even when without the music made it very shocking to me. And then in to catch a thief how Hitchcock was able to put an ordinary man in such bizarre events made it fun to watch. Two movies I have chosen for Stanley Kubrick are the shining and 2001 a space Odyssey. I choose the shining because it is the first scary movie I have ever watched I have watched it 2 to 3 years ago with my family and I haven't watched a scary one since the way Kubrick was able to use the Instruments to produce the suspense and thriller behind every...
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...making employability of the graduates the main goal of education. With two thirds of all majors being in business and finance, humanities don’t seem to play a big role in higher education overall. This work makes an attempt in defense of liberal arts education to our students, and the importance of teaching the subjects like English, Literature and Philosophy independent of a student’s major concentration. Even in our age of specialized and corporatized education, these courses are of great importance. These subjects can help young people find their way in this confusing web of life weaved out of pressure, expectations, failures, problems, fears. What other fields of study can teach them about history of cultures and languages, people who made history; who made contribution to the world in art, literature and science; what young people can learn from them. But most importantly, how to raise questions about life in...
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...9. Autumn 1835-June 1836 This work was written to fulfill Robert’s dream of composing something for Moscheles in homage and consequently dedicated to him. In the autumn of 1835, Robert made Moscheles personal acquaintance who looked at this work (which at the time was originally intended as a concerto without orchestra) and frankly commented that it “did not fulfill the requirements of a concerto thought it possessed the characteristic attributes of a grand sonata in the manner of Beethoven and Weber.” It follows that Robert reformed and renamed this work as a sonata to better suit its character. Chissell also points out that ‘In subject-matter, however, the Sonata is wholly Clara’s. During its composition Schumann had faced up to the truth of his love for her, and had broken off his engagement with Ernestine, which would account for the music’s tone of high romantic tumult. But more specifically the slow movement is a set of variations on an ‘Andantino de Clara Weick’ bringing her ‘motto’ theme, the falling figure of 5 notes, out into the open…This theme generates the greater part of the sonata. Little else in Robert’s piano music is quite a monothematic as this work.’ Clara’s motto theme of 5 falling notes, C-B-A-G-F Sonata in F minor, Op. 14 10. 1836 Learning from Liszt that plans were afoot to erect a monument of one of his idols, the late Beethoven, Robert composed this work as a means of raising money towards this end. Accordingly, he was inspired...
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...Experiment in Modernist Fiction Modernism is a current which defines everything that is new in matters of art, literature or music. The main focus of our interest is modernist literature which is a subdivision of modernism and begins during the early stages of the 20th century, being seen in opposition to the traditional values promoted until the first World War. Many branches develop during this period (psychology, philosophy, political institutions etc.) and the realism of the earlier times is now rejected and replaced by the idea that everything is relative. Things take a new shift and the absolute truths vanish, leaving room for multiple interpretations and personalized opinions which are presented now, in writing. But how can one define something that has no clear conclusion? An element of this sort cannot have a finality, therefore, it is understood according to one’s personal background and experience. Modernist literature will always raise serious issues concerning the purpose and form of literature, questioning its former aspects. What are the reasons for writing a novel and what should a novel consist of? For example, the notion of “novel” becomes ambiguous in the mind of Virginia Woolf, who declared after writing “Mrs. Dalloway” that “I’m glad to be quit this time of writing a novel, and hope never to be accused of it again.” Next to Virginia Woolf which is believed to be one of the greatest modern authors, the faithful readers come across names like James Joyce...
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...Westerns are stories of life and adventure in the American West a time period and way of life everyone should reflect on. Dances with Wolves(1990) is one of the most truth brought forward Westerns of our time, as it explores the ending of the Civil war and the embarks on the New Frontier that ultimately changed the way of life for most all Native Americans. This film is compiled with drama, love, loyalty, courage, and racism all with lasting impact on its audience. Directed by Kevin Costner in a simple cinematographic technique that allows the audience to experience the characters every move. This movie was written by Michael Blake and directed by Kevin Costner who also is the lead actor throughout the film. Other actors include Mary McDonnell, Graham Greene, Rodney Grant, and Floyd Red Crow Westerman. The story starts with a wounded Civil War soldier about to have his foot amputated when he makes an attempt at his life by stealing a horse and running recklessly across the open battlefield nearly getting shot. The build from this scene is that the soldiers fighting see his act of desperation and encouragement and a distraction and use the fact that the enemy is so focused on shooting him off his horse that they never see the final attack coming. The end of this scene Kevin Costner throws up his arms and glides with the horse like they were one in a full gallop and is deemed a hero and the general not only gives him the horse(Cisco) but also lends his personal surgeon to save his...
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...G U I D E T E A C H E R’S A TEACHER’S GUIDE TO TWELVE YEARS A SLAVE BY SOLOMON NORTHUP bY Jeanne M. McGlInn anD JaMes e. McGlInn 2 A Teacher’s Guide to Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup Table of Contents SYNOPSIS......................................................................................................................................3 ABOUT THE AUTHOR...............................................................................................................3 INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY GUIDE............................................................................3 MEETING COMMON CORE STANDARDS.............................................................3 THE SLAVE NARRATIVE GENRE...............................................................................3 HISTORICAL OVERVIEW..........................................................................................................4 DURING READING.....................................................................................................................6 SYNTHESIZING DISCUSSION QUESTIONS.......................................................................9 ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES.......................................................................................................9 ACTIVITIES FOR USING THE FILM ADAPTATION........................................................ 11 ADDITIONAL RESOURCES.....................................................................................
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...“Someone should write a film version of Harold Bloom’s The Western Canon,” a writer from The Independent suggested, and “the person who should write it,” he said, looking at me, “is you.” I looked to Walter, who replied, “If you write it, I’ll publish it.” And the die was cast. Faber offered a contract, and I set to work. Following the Bloom model I decided it should be an elitist canon, not populist, raising the bar so high that only a handful of films would pass over. I proceeded to compile a list of essential films, attempting, as best I could, to separate personal favorites from those movies that artistically defined film history. Compiling was the easy part—then came the first dilemma: why was I selecting these films? What were my criteria? What is a canon? It is, by definition, based on criteria that transcend taste, personal and popular. The more I pondered this, the more I realized how ignorant I was. How could I formulate a film...
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...Popular Music —Lots of definitions —Mainstream music: “the majority of music that appears in national charts and appeals to a broad cross-section of the public” (Fonarow 2006:63) —“Commercial music”: “Any music that is created or produced with commercial purposes (i.e. financial gain) in mind” (Pruett 2011:1) —These definitions exclude many forms of music that might be considered ‘popular’ to the people that listen to them or refuse to listen to them —Tied to mediated listening and technology —Music could be popular for the masses when recorded music allowed masses of people to access the same music —Tied to commercialism – embedded within the commercial music industry —Certain styles of music appeal widely —These styles are industrialized, part of the music industry, large scale —Popular music is constantly changing – reflection of cultural attitudes about popular culture, culture as a national/international project —In ethnomusicology fieldwork focuses include: —Fan-based communities —Technoculture —Local or indie music scenes (Ex: Berger 1999; Fox 2004; Samuels 2004; Fonarow 2006) —Actual artists in popular music often remain elusive —Inaccessible to an ethnomusicologist —Little motivation to participate —Something to consider before picking a topic of study —As a result, very few studies of popular music focus on popular artists today —Different genres (country, rock, heavy metal, pop, rap) have different modes of access between fans and artists —Can...
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