Olivia McCrary Assignment 4

The study of literature is an essential part of my life. I have always embraced studying novels, drama, and poetry. I read literature so I can learn more about human nature and therefore better understand my own psychology and behavior. Though I don’t always thoroughly analyze what I read, I examine it enough to find something that resonates with me or reflects my own life experiences. It makes me reconsider my experiences and actions, and makes me wonder about what life really means. This kind of knowledge guides me and builds my character. I can apply the literary works I’ve studied to any aspect of my life, including most other subjects in school.  My liberal arts education will hopefully leave me a well-rounded, insightful person.

Vincent Pisacano assignment 4

The study of liberal arts will enhance my life in many ways. For one, it will introduce me to things not typically taught in classrooms, such as music and art and philosophy. Also, studying the liberal arts will provide the skills necessary in order to be successful in life, like critical thinking and problem solving. liberal arts will also make me a happier, better person, allowing us to be aware of and appreciate the world around us. as from an educational standpoint, studying liberal arts teaches us to be creative in our writing,to be able to express our thoughts clearly and effectively, and to utilize effective methods of research. as for my character, the liberal arts will allow me to be more knowledgeable over cultural differences, and as stated earlier will make me a generally happier and better person.

Silvia Todorova Assignment 4

I hope that one day I will be accepted into a medical school. Med schools look for a variety of things whenever decided who to admit, but a big one is diversity. They want to pick students who are well rounded individuals and very diverse. Most schools look for students with a liberal arts degree because they say these students are well rounded individuals that have the potential to become great doctors. Studying literature helps people find deeper meaning to things they would otherwise just see the surface meaning. We learn to think differently and more creatively. Through literature we are able to open ourselves up to new things, and be more open minded.

Jeb Brumley Assignment 4

 The Liberal arts help us to express our ideas. They increase our creative thinking skills whereas other areas of learning are based around facts and reality. The liberal arts also enhance our communication and connection between each other. Although in recent years math and science subjects seem to be getting more attention, the liberal arts are still very important because they can help create a more well rounded education. The future may hold many scientific and technological discoveries, but as a society we cannot forget to value the liberal arts just as equally as other subjects.

Lucas Soard Assignment 4

Using additional texts is without a doubt the most important skill I’ve learned from studying literature. When studying a piece, the reader must take in every single detail, no matter how minute, and decide how they view the piece. Simple diction choices and repeated symbols can have drastic effects on how we interpret literature. When reading pieces, especially in preparation for class discussions, one of the most helpful practices I’ve employed was to do extra research on the piece. Who was the author of this piece, and why did they write about this specific subject during this specific time? When was the piece written, and how can the historical context around a piece of art affect it’s interpretation? I think all of these are important questions, and their answers almost always have an effect on my personal interpretation. This skill in particular, going beyond just the actual art itself to find meaning, has helped me incredibly. If a math concept seems a little vague, searching online can help me clarify how and why it is important. Why are we studying a particular event in history over another? Often, consulting other books can help me understand what makes that particular happening so valuable. 

Kaitlyn Nunnelley Assignment 4

The study of liberal arts is helpful in everyones life, even math majors. It's proven that reading more enhances your speech and thought. I know that when I read for hobby that my thinking is clearer and when I speak it's often more sophisticated. Coming up with rational and adult thoughts is easier instead of just saying "like" and "um." Liberal arts is crucial to a rounded education because it helps make you more knowledgable of other cultures and possibilities around you. In conversations with adults you are more informed about the community around you. Over all liberal arts contributes to a well rounded education and a smarter population.

Corey McMullin Assignment 4

By studying the liberal arts I have become a jack of all trades, but more importantly, it has kept me interested in school. While I abhor many subjects and classes, the advanced and varied nature of it has kept me from being bored out of my mind. My father grew up in a small town where he was always top of his class; he never had to try in school because it was so simplistic. Studying the liberal arts has forced me to take harder classes that challenge me mentally. And as a math nerd obsessed with economics, I prefer books like The Wal-Mart Effect by Charles Fishman (just let me know if you want to borrow it), but I have been given an appreciation for the liberal arts… Well, some of them anyway. Poetry is still a mystery to me.

Julia Wilson Assignment 4

I firmly believe that having a well-rounded, liberal arts education is essential to being a fully contributing member of society. It is completely reasonable to have one area of knowledge be your strong suit or your preference, but having a foundation of education in all areas (history, math, science, english, art) lets you become a more educated human being and a more well-rounded thinker. Having a strong liberal arts education allows you to view things from different perspectives and connect with and understand other people better. It forces you to learn things you didn't think you needed or wanted to learn, which can end up taking you down paths that you wouldn't have known to go down without a complete education. As you progress through life and have to deal with the various challenges that life throws at you, a liberal arts education gives you a larger bank of knowledge to pull from when needed.

Emily Chavez- Assignment 4

In a STEM dominated time, it was hard for people to understand why I chose the Liberal Arts Academy instead of a more science-focused program. I am very much an advocate of a liberal arts education because I think I emphasizes not only an appreciation for the fine arts, but is just a well-rounded education in general. Specifically, studying the liberal arts can provide insight to ideas about yourself, others and the world.
Science and math is very much based on fact and to an extent, so does our world. However, our world is continually progressed by people challenging ideas, raising questions and emotionally connecting with people, all of which the liberal arts do.
Not everything can be fixed with fact and the liberal arts teaches people to think abstractly.
Novels, literature and poems all alike are an abstract expression of ideas. It connects you to a world of allusions, which in turn creates a more connected and educated world. But beyond education there is the value it has on you as a person. I believe that being a committed learner to the liberal arts, I have a more open-minded outlook on life. Literature, visual and performing arts have exposed me to a wide range of ideas and I hope that it leaves me looking at the world in a more positive and curious way.

Zachary Whitehouse Assignment 4

Liberal Arts has helped in a lot of ways and will continue to do so. Before high school, I wasn't sure how interested I would be. I didn't know much about any liberal arts specific information. I focused almost solely on math and science. Thanks to the academy I have become a lot more well-rounded. I now enjoy English and the education I have got through liberal arts. I am knowledgeable on novels, dramas, and plays and I would not have been without this special education. In the future I believe this will help me stand out in my job search. The academy has impacted me in a way I did not believe it could. I am now looking to apply to some liberal arts schools and hope to take honors courses that will not only aid in my liberal arts education, but further it. I enjoying having a more well-rounded knowledge and I feel fuller as a student. It is an education I am glad I have received and hope to further in college so I can use it my life after schooling, both at home and at work.

Charlie Blondell - Assignment 4

To say that liberal arts and humanities are important is an understatement; they are required. In order to be a well-read and open-minded individual, one must be well acquainted with the arts and techniques of literature and language.

Liberal arts are, by definition, areas of study (such as history, language, and literature) that are intended to give you a general knowledge rather than to develop specific skills needed for a profession. Based on this interpretation, liberal arts will provide a skill set fit to sufficiently accommodate most areas of study within a field dealing with history, language, and/or literature. Science and math are necessary, yes, but are also very specific and narrow, dealing with tasks with that have one correct solution or way to accomplish them. English and humanities allows students and professors to be creative in their thought process; one answer is usually never the case. The soft skills acquired can be used not only to discover a resolution, but can also be used to intelligently communicate what it is you are trying to get across.

Dramas, novels, and poems can be used in a variety of ways to better enhance your understanding of the arts in the world around us. For example, but analyzing scripts for Shakespearean plays and comparing them to scripts written for shows on Broadway like Wicked, you can see the change over time in the dialogues and action cues. The same can be said for the analysis of novels and poems and how the styles and techniques used have developed over time.

To better comprehend pieces of literature means to better comprehend the language and writing man-kind throughout history. The narratives and messages depicted can also be studied, to see how tones and attitudes have progressed over time. For my education, the liberal arts has helped strengthen my reading, writing, text comprehension, and higher-level thinking in regards to literature. For my character, the liberal arts has made me a more open-minded person in the sense of realizing that multiple solutions can be derived in order to solve one problem.

Mark O'Brien Assignment 4

          As I get older conversations will hopefully become more and more sophisticated, and so to contribute to these conversations.  A great background in literature would provide me with the tools needed to say things that enrich the conversation.  There are other vital reasons to be able to tie in literary works into a conversation or paper/article.  If I ever am being interviewed my liberal arts background could help me impress the interviewer.  Also the value of knowledge is very high and the more you read the more you learn.  It helps you think more creatively and sound more literate.  It also would help me become a stronger writer which helps with communications as I go further in my future career.

Assignment 4 Meagan Hale

Literature is so very broad. I believe that literature is like history in the sense that it teaches lessons that we would other wise have to learn ourselves and many times still do. We learn to beware of Greeks bearing gifts and that not all that glitters is gold. We study the means by which empires rise and the failures that cause them to fall. Literature holds all aspects of life, the struggles, the victories, history, science, magic, love, envy, power. Characters teach us to be wary of villians and to keep our genuine friends close. We can read about the Victorian Era and experience the Trojan War through written word. The lessons we learn from literature can be carried with us through life and should be taken with a grain of salt. The expression, "those who forget history are doomed to repeat it," is true and because literature documents history the same can be said for books. Forgetting the content of timeless classics as well as modern additions can be equally as detrimental as ignoring a history textbook. Literature can shape our lives in that they are written examples of thousands of scenarios for us to look back on when we need them. If we were to forget anything, literature should not be it.

Anne Russell Assignment 4

While I am not necessarily talented in every subject, I really do appreciate the well-rounded education that the liberal arts academy has given me. Even though sometimes I wished our high school was more specialized as we neared further education, I think it was better for me in the long run to get my feet wet and explore my interest and abilities in each subject before narrowing my focus. Studying literature specifically has benefited me more than I anticipated. Though sometimes the amount of detail we analyze in any given work seems meticulous and superfluous, I have grown to appreciate finding meaning in every minute choice, because if someone went to the trouble to make something meaningful, who are we to ignore their painstaking efforts? I like being in this analytical mindset because it reminds me that people generally put a lot more thought into their every day choices than we maybe give them credit for, and therefore we should not judge before we get the full story (or even then). I have come to realize that having a grasp of all subjects, as liberal arts encourages, is important to understand the world around us, because even though we may not have interest in certain things, they are still going on and are good to know about. This is similar to my lack of motivation to watch the news, but the remaining importance of being informed with that is going on in the world. I also feel that a liberal arts background can influence your character in that it makes you appreciate things that other people have a passion for, even if it does not interest you. For instance, my brother really enjoys the mechanics of cars and, though I don't necessarily understand it or find it interesting, it is still important to listen to him and give him credit for what he knows because it is important to him. Liberal arts education reminds us that there is more to life than just ourselves and to stop and smell the roses every once in a while.

logan cox assignment 4

the study of literature helps people connect better with other people and ideas. generally the more you read, the smarter you become so literature has quite a profound impact of people and there lives. literature enhances the meaning of your life and It is fun entertainment. studying humanities will make you more of a well rounded individual in my opinion. someone that has studied humanities can relate and connect to other people that  have. I think it also makes you appreciate certain aspects and things in life.

Leah Noble Assignment 4

As much as I sometimes dislike the study of liberal arts, I consistently find that doing so helps me become more aware of my culture and society. So much of our modern art, music, other pop culture makes allusions to literature and poetry. With the study of liberal arts, I am able to understand many more of those allusions and therefore gain a greater understanding of culture and the connections between past and present. History is also defined greatly by the liberal arts. I can learn much about historical events and the cultures of the past through the reading of literature, and then make connections to what I have also learned in history classes. Literature also teaches great lessons, both about the mechanics of writing and about life in general. By studying literature, I can pick up on patterns in great writing and try to apply those to my writing. I also can use the themes of certain works of literature in my everyday life and make connections from writing to the world.

Amelia Caldwell Assignment 4

The liberal arts is a part of every person's life, no matter what they study or pursue a career in. By studying the liberal arts, I have learned so much about my own cultures and cultures throughout the world. Each aspect of the liberal arts is connected, which makes it easier to study and understand the world around us. Literature and history go hand in hand. By reading literature we can learn about a different time period, and view a period through many different lenses. We learn to think in many different ways, rather than being closed-minded. We open ourselves up to new ideas and solutions, without really worrying about whether it is technically "correct." We are more comfortable sharing our ideas and more accepting of others' ideas. The liberal arts create better thinkers, problem solvers, and overall more rounded people.

Jesse Konopka Assignment 4

While it may be a little rude to make this statement as a response to an assignment from a liberal arts class, but I personally believe that liberal arts subjects are less important than subjects that fall under more practical studies.These would include physics, mathematics, and the sciences. However, I do not encourage the removal of liberal arts courses from the education system. This is simply my opinion on the subject, and I do understand the use of the liberal arts in the education system, even if I find other subjects more useful. Liberal arts encourages creative freedom and self-confidence, which I do believe can improve most people's student experience. However, I do not consider myself one of those people, and while I do find the philosophy of the arts very intriguing, I do not find them personally enriching.

Tora Sellers Assignment 4

A person will never stop consuming art in one form or another for as long as they live. A deeper understanding of TV shows, movies, music, and visual art, stems from and understanding of literature. A liberal arts education, especially in literature allows students to know that novels and poems aren't just a story. A well written novel or poem is layered with symbolism and metaphor to convey a greater meaning than the plot alone. Students with a liberal arts background will have the ability to not simply take things at face value. Not only do they know how to interpret literature and art, but they will also know how politics and advertising affects them. Although finding a job on just a liberal arts degree more than likely will prove to be near-impossible, at least a liberal arts student knows not to be tricked out of their money!

Scott Street Assignment 4

As much as we like to complain about the hardships of a liberal arts education, I truly believe that it is the best possible thing that I could have ever encountered. A liberal arts education offers students to be the most well-rounded students that they can be, and I believe that without that, I would not be in the same position academically that I am in today. Because a liberal arts education isn't specialized towards one particular subject, I was able to work on improving my weaknesses, like English and math. In another stylized education, I may not have received sufficient education in either of those subjects, which would mean that I would be lacking in certain areas, and I would be significantly less well-rounded. The study of literature has taught me to really delve into the reading to try and find the real meaning that the author was trying to convey, instead of just reading the surface content of a piece. I am still working on this, but I have definitely improved in my skills in that area. The liberal arts education also influences my life in many other ways; I am a much more well-rounded person in general (not just in my education), and I attribute some of that open-mindedness to my education style. It has allowed me to be well socialized and also very open-minded to any ideas that may come up.

Amir Abou-Jaoude Assignment 4

The past is dead. Take any time period--for example, the Victorian era. In that age, there was much discussion about reconciling religion and science. Politicians worried about how to deal with the increasing numbers of the industrial poor. Some rallied against child labor while others advocated for more rights for women. Inspired by Karl Marx, young socialists went on strike on May 1, and anarchists attempted to wreak havoc on every institution of society. Intellectuals of the time wrote lengthy treatises on all these issues. They wrote about the viability of Darwin's evolutionary theories and the reconciliation between religion and science, the dangers of socialism, and the grim future that lay ahead, a future that seemed to be determined by further industrialization.

We do not read those proposals anymore, those works that were so important in their day. Instead, we read the works of Charles Dickens.

Dickens was aware of the economic, political, and social turmoil surrounding his native Britain during the Victorian era. As a young boy, Dickens had worked in factories--forced to shine shoes because his father was one of many thrown in debtor's prison. It was in these sordid surroundings that Dickens got the inspiration for some of his most memorable creations--Fagin, Ebenezer Scrooge, and David Copperfield to name a few. After the publication of his first novel, The Pickwick Papers, in 1836, Dickens became a celebrity. At the height of his fame, there were even brands of clothing based off of his books. Still, Dickens always remained committed to documenting social issues in his books.  His portraits of orphans, cheaters, and desperate workers captured the Victorian era. Long after the theories of Thomas Malthus and Edwin Chadwick have faded from the popular consciousness, novels like Bleak House and Great Expectations remain widely read.  At the heart of Dickens's work lies two fundamental questions. Where was Britain now, after the Industrial Revolution, and where was it going?

Indeed, all the liberal arts, from literature to the visual arts to theater to film to social studies, attempt to answer variations on those questions. The crux of the liberal arts is perhaps best expressed by the title of a Paul Gauguin painting--Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? The earliest students of the liberal arts attempted to answer those questions. By drawing herds of bison and horses on the cave walls at Chauvet, the first painters tried to capture nature around them and determine their place in the universe. The writer of the Babylonian Epic of Gilgamesh wanted to tell a story from the past so that his readers could apply its lessons to the future. Shakespeare's work looked into the past to answer questions about the identity of Elizabethan England, and the Lumiere Brothers were interested in looking how the past, present, and future affect one another. When Edward Gibbon wrote his chronicle of the fall of Rome, he was also writing about his Europe--a Europe in which ancient political structures were crumbling due to the influence of the American and French revolutions. 

For me, the liberal arts remain a reminder of where my generation fits into the grand scheme of the human experience. As Americans in the 20th-century, we come from a long tradition of progressive ideas. Today, as we face new social, economic, and political issues, we must make choices that will change what the United States is in the future. By examining the living, breathing, artistic records of a past civilization, we can use where we come from to influence who we are and where we are going. As the philosopher George Santayana wrote, "those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it," and the liberal arts remind us of our past and our identity in an increasingly busy world.

Jamie Smith Assignment 4

A liberal arts education is something I have always valued for many reasons. I believe it is necessary to have diversity in education, and I believe cross-discipline projects will be a part of any job and we should therefore include a variety of subjects in our learning. 

Literature, specifically, will contribute to life because literature is communication, and communication is one of the most essential skills in our world. Learning how to analyze literature not only enhances analytic and communication skills, but it is one of the only subjects that actually promotes creative thinking in today’s schools. Literature is open to multitudes of interpretations, and the study of it encourages students to form unique opinions and defend them. This is a skill that will help me throughout my life, no matter what I end up doing.

Finally, literature opens up access to other cultures. Understanding and sympathizing with other cultures is essential in today’s globally interconnected world, and literature is one of the few ways to fully enter the mind of someone with a background and belief system fundamentally different from your own. I believe sympathizing and understanding other cultures is a valuable skill, especially because I want to go into foreign service.

The study of literature will round out my education and life by allowing me to communicate and interact with people from different times and cultures, and I appreciate a liberal arts education for that reason.

Mia Alexander Assignment 4

Wow, I was actually thinking about this very question the other day. It all started when I heard an admissions counselor discuss the liberal arts at that particular college. I have a rough sense of the idea of liberal arts. Is that bad, seeing as I am a part of the Liberal Arts Academy?

I have developed a personal definition of this type of education, though. To me, liberal arts is education that the learner controls. By this I mean that the educated can be the educator, he or she takes authority over their own education. Liberal arts makes me somewhat nervous.

Sadly, I am very accustomed to the stagnant system that most high schools follow. That is, mindless listening and reiteration of someone else's (usually a person of authority) ideas rather than generating one's own.

Rather than stick with my loose definition, I looked up the internet definition of liberal arts. Honestly, I am a little embarrassed by my general definition. Oh well. Quickly typing "what is liberal arts?", .02  seconds later and a definition appears. This is not verbatim, but the quick search revealed that liberal arts is like an umbrella... covering topics like math, philosophy, art, and other non technical subjects.

Studying liberal arts, specifically literature enriches my life more than I can spell out here. For one, literature gives me perspective. I can see the world through someone else's eyes. The subjectivity may or may not be the typical pov, nonetheless it is valid. The studies enhance my mental eye as well as my spiritual eye. I am enlightened by the emotions and experiences portrayed in literature. I love being transported to other places through literature alone. Some pieces touch my soul, and that's as poetic as I can put the experience.

Studying humanities rounds out my education because I am able to learn things that are not so stagnant and cookie-cutter. Also, it can help me connect with people better which should be the ultimate goal of education right? Articulation after comprehension. 

I don't have a concise answer for how it would shape my character other than that studying humanities would help me understand myself better and realize what I do and do not like. Then, people can maybe understand me, although I like the idea of having a little mystery. 

One section of liberal arts I love is math. I may not be accurate all the time but I love math so much!

I am thankful for liberal arts for sure!

Sorry for the rant :)

Eliza Jane Schaeffer Assignment 4

I actually read an article recently that debated the importance of a liberal arts education. Lately, there’s been a lot of emphasis on STEM education (Science, Technology, and Math). This article argued that this emphasis is not doing students any good. It first started because the United States wanted to mimic the Chinese. China is really good at perfecting technique and mass producing technology and following instructions, but they’re really bad at innovation and creativity. That’s because there’s almost no emphasis on the liberal arts in China. The United States is the opposite. Traditionally, there’s been a huge emphasis on the liberal arts education, and America has been a source of innovation and progress since its conception.

I believe liberal arts, and more specifically literature, are so important to my education and personal development. Literature encourages us to expand our minds by posing questions and exploring ideas. It forces us to think hard about certain subjects. It allows us to learn about cultures and parts of the world that we will never have a chance to visit. Through the liberal arts, we become better thinkers, cultured citizens, and skilled empathizers. The human mind wasn't meant to crunch numbers and plug things into formulas. We were meant to ponder and learn and create. The liberal arts celebrate that.

Assignment 4 Rena Childers

 From the time I was a baby, my parents took me to concerts, movies, and book openings. I grew up in an environment that fostered positive feelings towards the arts. This year I took Art History as my elective and I have already seen a positive influence upon my studies. I now understand many allusions I previously did not. From biblical allusions to paintings themselves, art is know much easier to recognize and appreciate.

As a student planning on studying international relations, I am very interested in the humanities. I plan to incorporate the arts into my college education as well. I hope to study film, either as a minor or just a focus. Although the humanities relate directly to my interests, I always find new art pieces and form that require me to expand my comfort zone. With a greater appreciation for art comes a more interesting, open-minded person. Looking at art, we become better at observing and analyzing, something that is essential to all career fields. Studies have shown that people who regularly visit museums are more keen listeners and smarter readers. Just as my mother has done, I plan to visit as many museums and read as many books as I possibly can.

McKenna Elliott Assignment 4

The study of liberal arts enhances my everyday life by enriching my knowledge and view of the world. Literature gives me an outlet to explore new ways of thinking and expressing thoughts, ideas, and feelings and gives me a better sense of understanding of myself and those around me. It rounds out my education by exposing me to creativity and critical thinking. When reading a novel or poem I must interpret the reading and analyze possible ideas that the author may have been trying to express. There are hundreds of ways to interpret just one piece of literature, allowing for a subjective experience that opens your mind, enriching your life. The liberal arts and humanities enhance my character through the themes and morals communicated in pieces of work, which give me the ability to learn lessons through a character's experiences and mistakes.

Weiran Liu Assignment 4

Studies of humanities will round out my education. I am a rather math and science oriented individual, and the study of humanities allows me to integrate cultural learning into my education. Furthermore, being introduced to such topics allows me to become a more creative thinker; the introduction of multiple cultural perspectives provides me with a new lens. Oftentimes I see subjects cross over, especially history, and I see how becoming an educated individual involves understanding the whole, and not just one portion of it. It also provides me with an appreciation of all that society has to offer - diversity, multicultural experiences, new thinking methods, art, etc. The more that I am exposed to liberal arts studies, the more aware I become of what is around me and what the world has contributed to the specialization of the human species.

Amelia Rogers Assignment 4

The study of the liberal arts has and will continue to enhance my life because of the way the subjects overlap and are interdependent. The best and most surprising thing about my high school education is how much different subjects are interconnected. So many times I have been in one class and thought, “Hey, this is like what we’re learning in ______ other class.” History leaks into everything—English, psychology, natural sciences, and even math. Math has become a crucial element of science. Studying language and literature introduces real life problems, whether social or individual, often involving historical and philosophical discussions. All of the liberal arts subjects are related to each other. Studying the liberal arts has shown me how important it is to be diverse, to be able to think divergently, and to consider unique solutions. By seeing how interconnected language, science, humanities, history, and math really are, I have learned to take into consideration how real-world problems are affected by several different aspects. Ultimately, that is what the liberal arts are all about—studying the real world. In real life, conflicts, resolutions, and historical events involve multiple components, not just math or just history or just English. Studying the liberal arts has prepared me to understand the world better. 

Assignment 4

How does/will the study of the liberal arts, specifically literature (novels, drama, poetry) enhance your life?  Beyond becoming an expert juggler and test taker, how might your studies of the humanities round out your education? your character?   

Remember to put the assignment number and your name in the title of your post.

Charlie Blondell - Assignment 3

"Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird" was written by American poet Wallace Stevens, one of the prominent figures in the modernism movement. The poem has 13 individual stanzas that each have unique descriptions of the activities of a blackbird. Although nontraditional haiku is used in the poem, imagery is the main writing technique used to convey the author's intent. Stevens references to snow and winter twice in the poem, at the beginning and end of the piece, giving the reader a sense of a full circle. The description of a circle is also stated in one of the stanzas when the author claims that the blackbird "marked the edge of one of many circles" when it flew out of sight. The circle referred to is the round shape of our vision because of the shape of our eyes. In retrospect, this is supposed to illustrate how everything we see and do in our lives comes in full rotation, that everything is a cycle. Another point, directly about the blackbird, is the fact that blackbirds, like many other things in our life, are maybe never noticed or acknowledged, but do have significance and would be missed if they were absent. Stevens claims that a man and a woman make one, and a man and a woman and a blackbird also make one. Here, he is claiming that the blackbird is a key piece in our life, and it does not need to have a positive or negative effect to be important.

Jackson Pollack was one of the most unique visual artists in the twentieth century and influential persons of the abstract expressionist movement. His work consisted of large canvases of seemingly unplanned and random blobs of paint scattered around the board. He claimed that "it doesn't make much difference how the pain is put on as long as something has been said. Technique is just a means of arriving at a statement." I could not agree more. Art is all about preference. No right nor wrong conclusion can be made about an artists interpretation or personal expression. Critique is only necessary for newspaper articles and online blogs. As Pollack said, pain is individual. However, pain can be something to be empathized. In that statement alone, it is clear that although feelings can be expressed in completely creative and individual ways, they can be shared to a broad spectrum of interested consumers.

Olivia McCrary Assignment 3

In “Piano” by D. H. Lawrence, diction is used to reveal the narrator’s affectionate, yet powerful nostalgia. This nostalgia is hinted at through the use of surreal, descriptive words- “the boom of the tingling strings” (ll. 3-4). “Boom” and “tingling” express an imaginative understanding of the event being recalled. This vivid memory is very fond as well. “Cosy parlour” (l. 8) and “tinkling piano” (l. 8) suggest a peaceful warmth, and it can be inferred that the narrator’s nostalgia is entirely positive. Yet, his nostalgia has significant power over him, causing him to eventually “weep like a child” (l. 12) in a “flood of remembrance’’ (l. 12). The words “weep” and “flood” emphasize the true extent of the narrator’s feelings toward his childhood memory.

"Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in."  --Amy Lowell

This particular statement exemplifies my personal reason for creating art. Art is indeed something made to express oneself- I may not create masterpieces, but I create things that reflect who I am. Whenever I feel there is something that must be said (something that I am forced to silence), or an emotion that must be captured, I write. I write poems, simple paragraphs, or occasionally just a sentence, anything that can recreate the thoughts in my head. By writing, I can explore the way I think and react. The words I scribble in my notebooks, or write on various school assignments (and later erase), are a part of my mind and my personality. I record my reactions to the world I live in, so that I can discover myself, hidden there somewhere.

Mia Alexander- Assignment 3

Quote by Joseph Conrad: I relate to this definition of art because I think art is part of, if not evident of what kind of person the artists is. I also define art as showing pain and beauty but not limited to just those two extremes. I believe that there is an interaction between the work, the artist, and the  viewer. The viewer is more appreciative to the artist usually. But artists don't usually make art just to be late looked at. They create it to elicit ideas and emotions, which Conrad correctly clarifies in his quote including words like "delight" and "wonder" insisting that this relationship is a positive interaction.

Lucas Soard Assignment 3

1.)     This poem is extremely fanciful. The detailed descriptions certainly help, but the most important contributors to the overall tone of the poem was without a doubt the use of assonance and alliteration. “Five miles meandering with a mazy motion”, “The shadow of the dome of pleasure/ Floated midway on the waves;” These repeated letters and vowel sounds help the poem “flow” like the water features Coleridge describes. These sounds work together well, adding even more sophistication to the poem.

2.)

“The artist speaks to our capacity for delight and wonder, to the sense of mystery surrounding our lives, to our sense of pity and beauty, and pain." --Joseph Conrad

     Conrad’s quote contains knowledge that I wholeheartedly agree with. I think for art to truly resonate with someone, they must relate to it in some way. Maybe they haven’t had the same experiences as the artist, but the consumer must feel for and empathize with the artist. Technique skill may make something wonderful, but art doesn’t become truly beautiful until it resonates with someone’s heart. 

Jeb Brumley Assignment 3

1) Kubla Khan poem

The poem "Kubla Khan" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge maintains and easy-going tone throughout most of the poem. The narrator describes the palace with an easy-going and somewhat graceful rhythm. The author is able to create this tone through his use of imagery. He paints pictures of "walls and towers" and of "gardens bright with sinuous rills." His consistent tone and his use of imagery help the reader imagine the "stately pleasure-dome."

2) Jackson Pollock quote

I agree with Jackson Pollock's quote the most. It basically says that the message a work of art sends to people is more important than the means in which the message was sent. I think that the quote also says that art comes in many different forms but what the viewer gets out of the art is more important than how the artist conveyed their message.

Alex Cooper Assignment 3

1.)   In "The Harlem Dancer," McKay uses imagery to shift the tone from joyous and hopeful, to despairing three-quarters of the way through the poem. In the beginning McKay uses phrases such as "Applauding youths laughed" (l.1), and "She sang and danced on gracefully and calm" (l.5), to create a light and happy mood. Then, in line 12, the mood shifts with image of the young boys and girls "devour[ing]" (l.12) her shape, and her "falsely-smiling face" (l.13) which shifts the tone to one of despair.

2.)  I agree with Amy Lowe in that, "Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in." I feel this is most similar to my belief about art because I think art is expression and therefore comes in an infinite amount of forms. When I think of art I don't just think of paintings or songs, i think of the clothes people wear and the things people say.

Vincent Pisacano assignment 3

1) In the poem "The Harlem Dancer (pg. 1107)," Claude McKay maintains a passionate and exotic tone through his use of similes and metaphors. As an introduction, he describes a "young prostitute""half-clothed" dancing in front of youthful crowed who is watching in awe. Then, McKay shifts his description of her to that of a near goddess. He compares her to "a proudly-swaying palm grown lovelier," and her voice to "the sound of blended flutes blown by black players upon a picnic day." These metaphors greatly exaggerate the appealing qualities of the dancer, therefore creating a passionate, luxurious tone.

2) "Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in."  --Amy Lowell

This quote expresses how i feel about art. To me, the thing that makes art "art" is the interpretation that human had on the event or setting. For example, a photographed picture of a sunset is not art to me. But, if you were to tell 10 artists to create a piece of art from looking at the sunset, each piece of art would be different. It's not the beauty of the sunset that makes it art, but rather the feelings and emotions that are being felt by the artists because of that sunset, and how they transfer these emotions into the piece that they are creating. 

Julia Wilson Assignment 3

Piano By: D. H. Lawrence

Overall, this poem has a melancholy, nostalgic tone. One device that contributes to this is assonance. The first stanza of the poem generates the happy, warm memories that the speaker is reflecting on. The author does this through repetition of the "ee" sound in "singing", "me", "tingling strings",  and "poised feet". This allows the lines to sound almost bubbly and create the happiness the speaker remembers. This contrasts with the last stanza where there is little to no assonance. The lack of assonance makes the last stanza more choppy which reflects the sadness and frustration the speaker is feeling towards the anger of the poem.

"Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in."  --Amy Lowell

For me, the core purpose of art is expression. Whether it's emotions, societal/political commentary, or pure creativity, every piece of art is expressing something. Personally, I create videos on random topics. Some are me expressing my opinion on an event or issue where others are made purely to make others laugh. All of my videos are me expressing myself and I would consider them, regardless of how dumb they can be, art. This also touches on the second half of the quote. Much of art is created due to the artist reacting to things that happen in their own life. However, each artist's reaction may be different due to their varying personalities. A personal example of this is in one of my videos "Fall Makeup Tutorial". This is a video done by many "beauty gurus" who give a tutorial on a makeup look for the fall season. Mine however, was completely sarcastic and exaggerated. The difference in videos on the same topic stems from the difference in personalities of the video creators. This concept can be applied to all realms of art.

Scott Street Assignment 3

1. The poem I chose to analyze was The Harlem Dancer. The tone of the poem was essentially captured in the last couplet of the poem, as McKay used strong diction choices to create a tone that was hopeless and fake. By describing the dancer's face as "falsely smiling" (l. 13), we know that what she is doing is not exactly what she wants to be doing, and that she's only dancing because she absolutely has to. In addition, by describing the place as "strange" (l. 14), we know that the connotation of the place is of negativity, and that anyone who works there is also deemed different than others.

2. The quote that I mostly agree with is Pollock's quote. He is virtually saying that it doesn't matter how it is presented, anything can be art as long as something of importance is being conveyed or done. For example, watching football today, I remember hearing an announcer that referred to a particular series as a "work of art" and that the quarterback was essentially the artist of the team. I believe that, in a sense, football can be conveyed as art, because lots of work and preparation preceded what you see on the field, and every team strives to perfect their blank canvas given to them at the beginning of each year. In my opinion, art can take the shape of many different things, varying in medium, and that is what Jackson Pollock is saying too; art doesn't always have to be found in an art gallery.

Rena Childers Assignment 3

1. The Harlem Dancer by Claude McKay is a poem describing a dancer and her veiled identity. Through the use of metaphor/simile, the author indirectly implies that her identity is masked by her audience’s perceptions. This establishes a sympathetic tone. In the third line, the speaker writes that her voice is “like the sound of blended flutes Blown by black players upon a picnic day.” This simile alludes to the fact that her voice is innocent, reminding the audience of her innocent self in the midst of that sinful scene. Whereas most might see this as amusing, the author feels sympathetic for the dancer. A second example comes in the seventh line, “to me she seemed a proudly-swaying palm,” depicting her movement. The use of “to me” makes it obvious to the readers that this is only his own interpretation, a concerned one. The use of both metaphor and simile together create a sympathetic, understanding tone.

2. "Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in."  --Amy Lowell
I find this quote particularly interesting and relatable. As humans, we constantly desire understanding from those around us. We see the world with an egocentric view, which causes us to view our problems as the greatest and most complex. Although in reality this is far from the truth, it often passes through our minds. By creating art that we feel expresses the essence of who we are, we are in turn gaining the satisfaction of having others see things through our eyes and appreciate the complexity of our individual personalities.

Meagan Hale Assignment 3

"Kubla Khan"
Samuel Taylor Coleridge

Coleridge creates a serene tone in his poem Kubla Khan. This poem is about Xanadu, a summer palace where the Chinese ruler Kublai Khan would visit and Coleridge describes this mystical place in a way he imagines it. His use of imagery allows the audience to imagine this magical place fit for royalty. In line 9, "where blossomed many incense bearing tree," has a vivid effect on the audience's senses. We can believe this place is real through this description. Walking through, smelling these trees makes for a calm and peaceful setting. "Caverns measureless to man" and "a timeless sea" are both full of mystery but also their secluded nature and their silence equally contribute to the tranquil tone of the poem. In line 21, we can hear the, "huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail." Nearly everyone has heard this sound or something similar to it. It can be a peaceful sound, like the soft pitter patter of the rain that usually accompanies the hail. It is relaxing which makes Xanadu seem so much more real to the audience. Though there is a shift change near the end of the poem which disrupts the poems serene tone, the majority of the poem does maintain a semblance of peacefulness. This is created through Coleridge's use of imagery and diction that entice the reader's senses.


"It doesn't make much difference how the pain is put on as long as something has been said. Technique is just a means of arriving at a statement." --Jackson Pollock

I agree with Pollock in this statement concerning art. I believe that the most important aspect of art is the message it sends, the story it tells, or the emotions it evokes. The form is not as important as the message. Pollock's work has especially been criticized due to its simplistic conception. It is just paint splattered on a canvas, so what? In art history we have learned to stop saying, "I could do that," and start asking, "why did the artist do that?" I think that simple pieces of artwork are as complex as the ideas they represent. The splattered chaotic mess could really be representative of political anarchy or the perfectly symmetric solid colored square on a canvas could be a wink at a "cookie cutter" society. No matter how simple or complex a piece of artwork is, the weight it carries in the artist's motivation to make it matters much more than its construction. The artist was trying to tell their audience something they believed was important enough to invest time and money into making it art so we at least owe it to them to listen, despite our opinions on the aesthetics.

McKenna Elliott Assignment 3

1) In the poem "Piano", D. H. Lawrence creates a light tone then shifts to a nostalgic, melancholy tone through strong diction choices. When first discussing what he observes, he uses words such as "softly", "poised", and "tingling" to paint an image of a child sitting under a piano as his mother plays and sings. This is a pleasant image, so Lawrence conveys this content tone through these light diction choices. The shift in tone occurs in line 5 when the speaker is no longer content and happy with this image, but longs for the past to reoccur. This shift in tone is conveyed through diction choices that contrast the first four lines. These words include "spite", "insidious", "betrays", "weeps", "vain", "burst", and "flood of remembrance". These all carry negative connotation, contrasting the earlier lines as the speaker is now disappointed that he will never be able to get his childhood back and experience any of the same things since manhood is now upon him. These words are sad, angry, and melancholy.

2) "The artist speaks to our capacity for delight and wonder, to the sense of mystery surrounding our lives, to our sense of pity and beauty, and pain." --Joseph Conrad

I identify with this quote about art the most because it expresses the subjective influence that art has on a person. Not everyone is going to experience the same feeling or emotion from a piece of art, and this quote shows that a piece of art has the ability to speak for any kind of struggle or happiness, etc. It shows that art can communicate what words sometimes cannot, and this is a belief that I hold to be true, just like this quote.

Corey McMullin Assignment 3

1. In “The Harlem Dancer” by Claude Mckay, tone was created by imagery. The dancer was compared to a “proudly-swaying palm/ grown lovelier for passing through a storm” (ll. 6-7). This shows that she appeared to be a woman that had survived, even surpassed, the struggles brought about by life in Harlem. Yet this was later shown to be untrue; while others “devoured her shape with eager, passionate gaze” (l. 12), she had a “falsely-smiling face” (l. 13). Even though the crowd believed she was happy regardless of living in Harlem, she too struggled.


2. “It doesn’t make much difference how the pain is put on as long as something has been said. Technique is just a means of arriving at a statement.” –Jackson Pollock

I find this quote is quite appropriate, coming from a man known for slinging paint onto his canvas. I agree that art does not come in any one shape or form. Art is simply art just because it holds meaning. In 1917, Duchamp signed a urinal (not even with his own name) and attempted to enter it into a gallery. While the owners of the gallery refused to accept the piece, Duchamp’s urinal, titled “Fountain,” carried with it a provocative statement about art: that “art is something you piss on” according to Stephen Hicks. Even a urinal can be art as long as it carries a message. 

Anne Russell Assignment 3

1) In his poem "London, 1802," Wordsworth addresses the late John Milton to describe the fallen London of 1802. It is easy to get lost in the poem's meaning and skip over his reference to Milton, as he is only explicitly mentioned in the first word of the poem, but it is this allusion that captures the essence of the poem itself. John Milton is perhaps best known for his epic poem "Paradise Lost" detailing the fall of mankind in the Garden of Eden- aka Paradise- as well as the origins of Satan. This directly parallels Wordsworth's reference to the "fall" of London if you will. He refers to her as a "fen of stagnant waters," having "forfeited [her] ancient English dower of inward happiness" (ll. 2, 3, 5). He also refers to the people of London as "selfish men" (l. 6). Similarly, in an act of selfishness Adam and Eve caved in to the serpent's taunting, and thereby relinquished their dower of sorts, being their right to life in paradise in the Garden of Eden. His tone is very regretful and somber when referring to London, but very reverent when referencing Milton himself. Wordsworth seems to have a deep level of respect for Milton as he very earnestly refers to his virtues, even to the level of elevating him to a Christ figure, calling his voice "pure as the naked heavens, majestic, free" (l. 11). This again ties into Milton's "Paradise Lost" because just as Wordsworth calls on Milton to "raise us up, return to us again," so God was the only one who could have helped Adam and Eve out of their stupor (l. 7). It is Wordsworth's powerful allusion to John Milton that adds so much meaning to his lament of London's state of disrepair, clarifying his regretful tone towards London and his respectful tone towards Milton himself.

2) "Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in."  --Amy Lowell

For me, music is what connects me most to art. As Lowell mentioned in her quote, song writing is my way of expressing myself. I haven't been writing songs for very long, but I can already tell that my best songs come not from sitting down and deciding to write one, but from being so overwhelmed by a flood of emotions that I have no choice but to pour them out through the chords, the melodies, and of course the lyrics. The second half of the quote I found particularly interesting, because it has a lot to do with what it is that causes that flood of emotion that drives you to write a song. Different things resonate with different people, and thus inspiration depends on the personality of each artist and musician. The first song I ever wrote came after a lovely night out to dinner with my youth minister, his wife, and the interns (including myself). We were planning for an upcoming retreat, and ideas were just flowing so freely and bouncing off one another, excitement was filling the air and joy was filling my heart. To everyone else at the table, perhaps it was just a productive meeting, but to me, it was a night that made me aware of how truly blessed I was to be surrounded by these people and how thankful I was to be a part of their community and to be able to give back to the younger kids through this retreat. In that way, you can see how my personality reacted differently to the situation, as I immediately came home and wrote almost an entire song in one sitting to express my gratitude. I love being able to sing my songs and play along with my guitar because the music and the melody allow me to express more passion than just my words could, and my personality is able to show through the emotion behind my words and my interaction with the guitar. In that way, I really understand and resonate with what Lowell is saying in her quote.

Silvia Todorova, Assignment 3

1. The poem “The Day Lady Died” by Frank O’Hara is a poem about the time the author found out that Billie Holiday, sometimes called The Day Lady, died. At the beginning the poem's tone is very matter-of-fact, the author uses imagery to express this tone. He describe in detail how his day was going and what exactly he was doing, very plainly and very little emotion. Towards the very end of the poem the tone shifts and is now more reminiscent. He uses imagery to show how he felt when he found out the Billie Holiday died, through the imagery the author is able to evoke emotions from the reader and express how he felt whenever he found out the news. Overall the imagery in the poem helps portray that when you find out bad news you will remember everything else that happened to you that day in detail. 
2. The quote “art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in.” —Amy Lowell. This quote is essentially saying that art is an expression of the artist’s feeling/emotions and it is a reflection of his or her personality. I agree with the quote because I also see art as a way for people to show there feelings/emotions and their personally is reflected in the art work. 

Mark O'Brien Assignment 3

1) Samuel Taylor Coleridge wrote the poem "Kubla Khan"which gives the reader a feeling of power and mystery.  The title of the poem immediately puts the reader into a frame of mind that encompasses the poem's theme.  "Kubla Khan" takes the reader back in time to a foreign place.  The second section of the title is a link to the dream he had one night that he took opium.  This strange vision is described during the poem but brought up in the title.

2)  "The artist speaks to our capacity for delight and wonder, to the sense of mystery surrounding our lives, to our sense of pity and beauty, and pain." --Joseph Conrad
When we analyze art it evokes emotion.  All art seems to draw something out of us that can be different for everyone depending on time period, background, culture, etc..  Some art is made to evoke certain feelings such as abstract expressionism, but other art was purely created because someone had nothing else to do so they created a masterpiece.  As is the case for the Venus of Willendorf.  Art draws emotions from us and the artist is the one in control of these emotions.

Zachary Whitehouse Assignment 3

2)  Amy Lowell
This quote expresses my belief that art is something that is used to provoke an emotion or feeling. Either the artist wants to get that feeling or he wants the audience to feel it. The artist creates art in order for someone to feel something. He doesn't just go and put lines on a paper. That is not art. Art is purposeful and has a meaning. Like the quote says, the artist wants the audience to feel his emotion or personality. As well as the quote I believe that the world the artist lives in defines the personality of their art. This world is different for every artist and this is what shapes the feeling and emotion and personality that is supposed to be felt.
1) in the poem "The Harlem Dancer" the tone shifts about halfway through. The poem has sort of a flow to it created by the syllables and the rhyming. This flow of the poem coincides with the flow of the performer and this harmony creates tone. The tone early on is showcased by the imagery. It is cheery and happy and joyous but then shifts around halfway through. The new tone, still created by imagery is dark and somber and there is an obvious change. "Gracefully and calm" is an example of the light tone. At the end she begins to realize her smile is fake.

Amir Abou-Jaoude Assignment 3

1. Samuel Taylor Coleridge's "Kubla Khan" remains one of the most enigmatic poems in the English canon. Coleridge, who was a heavy user of opium, claimed that the poem came to him in a dream, and that he was interrupted before he could finish the poem. It is hard to believe that this poem simply came to Coleridge in an opium-induced hallucination because its rhyme scheme is extraordinarily complex, and the chant-like rhythm of the poem creates an exotic tone. Coleridge uses iambic tetrameter throughout the poem, but he interrupts the tetrameter with iambic pentameter in lines like:

And here were gardens bright with sinuous rills
Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree

Iambic trimeter is also used in lines like:

Down to a sunless sea.

The tone of the poem is fanciful and exotic, and the tetrameter Coleridge uses in lines like--

In Xanadu did Kubla Khan
A stately pleasure-dome decree

--creates a chant-like quality. The rhythm in these lines approximates the Buddhist chants common in the Far East. Certainly, European hymns or songs do not sound like these lines. The pentameter and trimeter either end the chant (as in the line "down to a sunless sea") or call attention to important details. The landscape of the mystical city Xanadu is important in the poem--thus, Coleridge uses pentameter to describe the "gardens bright with sinuous rills."

Coleridge's poem is also founded on juxtaposition--there is a sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice, a tree that burns incense. Although Kubla Khan has drunk the wholesome milk of paradise, he is still a crazed leader. Coleridge is playing off of European expectations and connotations of words in an attempt to create a poem that is distinctly non-European. Europeans would expect the "milk of paradise" to be a kind of ambrosia that would bolster life and wisdom. In Coleridge's poem, the milk of paradise only serves to exacerbate Kubla Khan's insanity. One could argue that the odd juxtaposition and the perpetual rhythm create a dreamlike state and contribute to the otherworldly tone. Furthermore, the flow of the words mirrors the flow of the river Alph in the poem.

The historical Kubla Khan ruled China during the Yuan dynasty, but Coleridge's poem is not set in a distinct time period. Instead, it takes place in a European vision of the Orient. Coleridge's work falls in line with Marco Polo's mystic descriptions of Chinese inventions and practices. Here, China is not a great civilization, but an exotic, mystical wonderland that does not abide by the European rules of nature. The varied rhyme scheme creates a foreign, chant-like quality, and the juxtaposition subverts European connotations of words. Both create an exotic, otherworldly tone. It is interesting that Coleridge was using opium when he wrote the poem. Indeed, by 1816, China was becoming embroiled in world affairs and was not the mysterious wonderland Coleridge depicts here. Still, Coleridge's images of a completely alien society and his exotic tone make the poem appealing today, even after China's exotic qualities have completely faded.

2. I would most agree with E.M. Forster's quote. Forster, the brilliant author of A Room with a View, Howards End, and A Passage to India, wrote during a time of global turmoil. When Forster's novels were published in the early 20th-century, they were not just romantic tales of English high society, but reflections of the state of England and its role in the world. His most famous novel, A Passage to India, deals with the British colonial experience on the Asian subcontinent. A Englishwoman accuses an Indian doctor of raping her in mysterious caves, and her accusation in groundless. Forster's novel reflects the culture clash between Indians and their British overlords. The sun has set on the British empire now, but Forster's novel remains "a lighthouse that cannot be hidden."  We can ignore the historical incidents of prejudice against Indians during the British Raj, but A Passage to India remains one of the most widely read books in the English language. Even today, this "cry of a thousand sentinels" reminds us of the difficulty of bridging two cultures.

Leni Riefenstahl was Nazi Germany's premier propagandist, documenting the 1934 Nuremberg rallies and the 1936 Olympic Games in Triumph of the Will and Olympia respectively. Riefenstahl's work was propaganda, and it was meant to justify and glorify the heinous policies of Adolf Hitler. Indeed, in Riefenstahl's Triumph of the Will, Hitler appears as a Wagnerian deity. While Riefenstahl's work was propaganda, she was shooting actual events. The crowds saluting Hitler and listening to his every word were not her creation. It is important to see Riefenstahl's art because it is "the echo from a thousand labyrinths." In a indirect way, her films remind us that Hitler's crimes were not committed by one lunatic--the German people followed him and allowed him to perpetrate the horrors of the Holocaust. Some may choose to ignore the writings of Holocaust scholars and survivors and the factual accounts of Hitler's rallies in Nazi Germany. Yet, Triumph of the Will and Olympia are consistently ranked among the best films ever made and continue to be viewed today. Her films are a "lighthouse which cannot be hidden" because they remind us that Hitler was able to commit crimes only because he had the support of his people. Watching Riefenstahl's films, one realizes that it is important not to be a blind follower. We must speak out against the injustices around us. Thus, Forster's quote applies even to art as divisive and as offensive as Riefenstahl's.

Tora Sellers Assignment 3

Part 1

In Kubla Khan, Coleridge uses sharp contrast within the poem to change the tone. In the very beginning of the poem, Coleridge employs euphony when describing the vast nature of Kubla Khan's kingdom to establish a serene tone. Almost all the descriptive diction in the first stanza has a positive connotation, which aims to give the reader a false sense of security for when the tone abruptly changes in the second stanza. In the second stanza, the imagery darkens, as Coleridge uses words with connotations of evil and doom, like "a savage place" and saying the land "was haunted by woman wailing for her demon-lover".  There is another transition in the third and fourth stanza where the tone contrasts again from the previous stanza. This time, the tone is once again positive, and triumphant when the speaker begins to describe the Abyssinian maid playing her dulcimer.  

Part 2

"In everything that can be called art there is a quality of redemption." --Raymond Chandler

I believe this statement to be true because art is the means by which one expresses themselves when there is no other way to do so. Art is a way to express one's feelings, or perhaps more importantly discontent, with the world. In certain circumstances, art is in its own way, a form of peaceful protest. When Pablo Picasso painted the massive mural, Guernica to protest the destruction of war, or when Rage Against the Machine records a song to protest corruption, they move the hearts and minds of millions to fight for their cause. Pablo Picasso, a single citizen has no power to personally end any war himself, yet through his paintings, he was able to raise awareness and fight for a cause with his own power. The resulting cultural victory to promote peace was, to Picasso, his redemption. 

logan cox assignment 3

in the poem, The Harlem Dancer, there is a shift in tone about half way through. in the first half the author uses imagery to create a light mood. we imagine her voice as "blended flutes" which is soothing and helps create the light mood. also the imagery of her dancing and singing "gracefully and calm" creates the light and relaxed mood. the tone shifts to more of a hectic and drunk tone with the image of passing through a storm and the "wine-flushed" eyes "that devoured her shape". this imagery creates this more hectic ad drunk tone in the second half of the poem.

2) I agree with the quote "Art is the desire of a man to express himself, to record the reactions of his personality to the world he lives in." by Amy Lowell. I think that art is a desire to express oneself. whether its painting or sculpting or whatever you want to do. Art is how people express themselves.

Leah Noble Assignment 3

In "Piano", by D.H. Lawrence, a nostalgic tone is created through Lawrence's diction choices which also combine to create imagery that supports the tone. His use of words like "cosy", "remembrance", and "old" suggest that the author is looking back on the past with a positive connotation; it is a time he longs to relive. This tone is also supported by the combination of nostalgic diction choices that form images that also create such a tone. For example, the image "I weep like a child / for the past" uses words like "weep", "child", and "past" that show the narrator's longing for old times. A second example of this is the image Lawrence creates when he says "the heart of me weeps to belong / to the old Sunday evenings at home." "Heart", "belong", "old", "evenings", and "home" create a nostalgic attitude towards the past and the memories the piano brings about.


I agree most with Jackson Pollock's idea that "It doesn't make much difference how the pain is put on as long as something has been said. Technique is just a means of arriving at a statement." I think that art is any way someone expresses their feelings, even if it may not be appealing to all or in a traditional form of "art." I believe that it doesn't matter how one goes about making art as long as there is meaning to it.

Emily Chavez Assignment 3

I read the poem The Harlem Dancer, written by Claude McKay. The tone of this poem shifts halfway and this shift is most easily seen through imagery. The first part of the poem is happy, as the prostitute "sang and danced on gracefully and calm", but in the second half becomes a bit more pessimistic, as her shape was "devoured" and she is caught "falsely-smiling".

2. "It doesn't make much difference how the pain is put on as long as something has been said. Technique is just a means of arriving at a statement." --Jackson Pollock

In this story, the main character is a prostitute. She dances for money, which was her way to make a living. When she dances, she is empty. What she is saying when she dances is not an expressions of one's self but a representation of sadness and pain. She is limited to a life of only being objectified and oppressed, which can be seen her job. The quote connects to this idea in some way. The woman is not painting or drawing, but her pain is evident nonetheless. Her statement is made when she dances, and that statement is one important to the time of the Harlem Renaissance. With racial tension and the objectification of women, this despair felt by this night club dancer was universal in many ways and her art was a way of expressing that.