Culture is an embodiment of a society’s values. The representation of American culture is rapidly changing, showing a plethora of beliefs over the decades. Every change comes with controversy, new radical ideas of the upcoming generation challenging the previous. Once deemed taboos become socially acceptable and ideas once thought absurd are altered to become social norms. For example, when rock and roll debuted in the late nineteen sixties it caused conservative Americans belonging to the fifties to believe the new music of the generation was causing internal decadence. Joyce Carol Oates’ short story, “Where are You Going, Where Have you been” represents this time in American history through the use of a symbolism. The reoccurrence of music and its influence on Connie, the main character in the story, symbolize the demoralization of American society. The beginning of the story introduces Connie’s view on sexuality, showing how traditional ideas of sex have changed. When …show more content…
Mike Tierce points out in his article, “Connie’s Tambourine Man”, the story is dedicated to another artist of the time period, Bob Dylan. Tierce argues in his article that Arnold Friend is a representation of Dylan. Friend compares to Dylan because they both assume the identity of Christ himself. Dylan was known to fans as a “rock-and-roll messiah” and Friend claims his sign is an “X”, which is commonly associated with Christ (Tierce 220). Many people during the time period worshipped rock and roll artists instead of worshipping a divine being. In a study conducted between three separate colleges to observe value trends, the deans observed, “Church attendance dropped sharply from 1952 to 1968-1969” (Hoge and Wittenberg 505). The years that church attendance dropped were the same years that rock and roll artists began to debut, proving a correlation between the music’s influence on
Culture, with true consistency, has been continuously evolving throughout human history. Government, technology, and religion have all transitioned in some way over the course of our history, but a strange trend has appeared over the last two centuries. This trend has relatively nothing to do with the development of a specific value in society, but rather it points out the alarming rate at which society has been developing over the last two hundred years. To put this trend in perspective; the industrial revolution, which was the process of mechanizing industry in favor of increasing the output of consumer products, while at the same time catalyzing the process of urbanization, only took place two-hundred years ago - arguably. And in this short
Americans tend to turn to culture wars when they feel a deep anger and frustration about the state of affairs. An example of Americans caught in a culture war was during the Monica Lewinsky affair or as Fiorina puts it, “The year of angry white males”(2) where in the year 2000 Americans were more angry than ever before. A culture was is when a large number of people from a certain demographic oppose and loathe their
The articles in this essay will give three different insights on how American culture is perceived based on observations and first hand experiences. Jennifer Price, “The Plastic Pink Flamingo: A Natural History,” used the trend of the pink flamingo to describe a time of new and vibrant change that has shaped its culture to be strong and optimistic. Richard Rodriguez, Days in Obligation, gives his first hand experience of being a part of two different cultures to give a comparison between total opposite places, who have their own traditions and customs. Scott Sanders, Stay Put: Making a Home in a Restless World, presents his belief of ideas are more important to the American people than the places which they live in. All of these writers all give substantial information of their viewpoints which combined makes up the identity of American culture.
The short story “Where are you going, where have you been” by Joyce Oates, has a darkness around it. An aspect that has been praised by readers. The story revolves around the main character, Connie, a rebellious teenager. Connie’s character suffers from many transformations throughout the story. She starts off as a rebellious girl with a superficial personality.
The articles in this essay will give three different insights on how American culture is perceived based on observations and first hand experiences. Jennifer Price used the trend of the pink flamingo to describe a time of new and vibrant change that has shaped its culture to be strong and optimistic. Richard Rodriguez gives his first hand experience of being a part of two different cultures to give a comparison between totally opposite places with their own traditions and customs. Finally, Scott Sanders presents his belief of ideas are more important to the American people than the places which they live in. All of these writers all give substantial information of their viewpoints which combined makes up the identity of American culture.
The short story “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” was written by the author Joyce Carol Oates in 1966. Oates describes her idea for the story after briefly reading an article about the real-life murderer, Charles Schmid, who lured and murdered three teenage girls (Kirszner & Mandell 523). She uses this idea to create the character, Arnold Friend, and his victim, Connie. Connie is a typical teenage girl portrayed as naïve and self-centered. The short story appears realistic, given that the conflict in the story is based off of real events.
Home is where the heart is, but what if home is no longer safe? Joyce Carol Oates explores this concept in her 1966 short story, “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been”. On surface level, this story appears to discuss a rebellious young girl named Connie and her confrontation with Arnold Friend, a stalker. The ending leaves the reader to assume that Arnold Friend plans to sexually assault the young girl.
“Virgins”, by Danielle Evans, is a tragic story narrated by a young girl who places what she views as “inevitability” into her own terms. The protagonist of the story is Erica, a young, physically well-developed girl who has her own view on men and what exactly they want from her. Throughout the story, a constant battling environment surrounds her, and one side of her keeps pushing her to the verge of giving up everything - even her virginity. Evans uses the title of the story to question the importance of finite as virginity in relation to the value of a woman’s body. Through the use of character development, plot, themes, language and style, setting and figurative language, she is able to come up with a true proposal of the both self-value,
In the coming of age story “Where Are You Going Where Have You Been?” Joyce Carol Oates uses symbolism, conflict, and the third person to foreshadow fifteen-year-old Connie’s unfortunate, yet untimely fate. While one may think that the conflict stems from Connie’s promiscuity, it is clear to see her promiscuity is only a result to a much bigger conflict, her mother’s constant nagging and disapproval, alongside the lack of attention from her father. the author paints a vivid picture of what happens when a fifteen-year-old girl such as Connie goes elsewhere to find to find the love, attention, and approval that she lacks at home. All which is vital for her growth and wellbeing as a person.
Fantasy V.S. Reality In some cases an individual can perceive something as the complete opposite of what it truly is. People create the illusion or the fantasy on what they believe something to be.
Arnold Friend’s Biblical Allusions In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, Joyce Carol Oates tells a story of a young, innocent teenage girl, Connie who enjoys listening to music and begins exploring her sexuality and being with boys “the way it was in the movies and promised in songs” (Oates 198). In fact she catches the attention of Arnold Friend one night while at the mall meeting up with a boy. Not knowing he would appear in her life, Arnold strangely shows up at her house assuming they made plans to get together. His character is seen as the devil.
Culture is the defining aspect of an entire society. Throughout America's history, each decade has displayed its own unique take on culture, through the arts, fashion, and pastimes. The 1950's were a time of bright colors, household gadgets and many of the shows and movies that are currently deemed 'classic' were originated in this era. Technology and household items Americans use every day were invented and have evolved since the 1950's. The 1950's were the beginning of an innovative time in American culture and included the creation of television, the growing popularity of movies, music and brand new inventions, however, unexpectedly conformity and consumerism resulted as well.
In her short story "Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?", Joyce Carol Oates utilizes a variety of literary devices to strengthen the story in its entirety. This short story is essentially about a 16-year-old girl named Connie and the conflict between her desire to be mature and her desire to remain an adolescent. Throughout the story, the audience sees this conflict through her words in addition to through her behavior. The audience is also introduced to Arnold Friend, a rather peculiar man, who essentially kidnaps her. This short story by Joyce Carol Oates functions and is additionally meaningful because of her usage of literary devices.
In Joyce Carol Oates’s “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?”, Connie is a fifteen-year-old girl, who does not necessarily get along with her family. During the week, she often times goes to a shopping plaza with some of her friends. However, they sneak across the highway to go to a popular diner where the older crowd hangs out at. At home, Connie is often times arguing with her family. One day her family is invited to her aunt's barbecue but Connie refuses to go.
“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” is about a teenager named Connie who is trying to come to terms with her transformation from childhood to adulthood. Through this process, Connie attempts to act older than she is an tries to gain the attention of boys. In “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been,” Joyce Oates portrays Connie as obsessed with men to symbolize how one’s obsession and narcissistic attitude can cause danger to seem surreal. In the short story, Carol Oates describes Connie as having two different personalities, one being a narcissistic attitude.