In 1957 it was very hard for African-American students to achieve their dream. In the text “Warriors Don’t Cry” there is a ton of evidence for this statement. Some examples of the previous statement is, Melba’s house was shot at, The people in the mob were being violent, and Elizabeth Eckford had experienced denial of the opportunity that she had deserved to enter her school. They had faced a ton of discrimination; they continued to try to get into the school. Though at one point they had gotten into the school, everything wasn’t all perfect.
The Bonnie and Clyde ballet was excellent. It was performed at the Dorothy Jemison Theater. The theater had elevated seats so everyone could see the stage which is helpful. At first I was kind of confused with what was going in the play, but after reading the program book where they described the scenes. This helped me understand the ballet and the meaning behind it.
In Nickle and Dimed: On (Not) Getting by in America, Barbara Ehrenreich uses precise language to paint a picture of Holly, an underprivileged woman working at The Maids. While working at The Maids, Ehrenreich provides the audience with numerous descriptions and characteristics of Holly. First off, Holly is a twenty-three year old who feeds not only herself, but also her husband and an elderly relative; astonishingly, she manages to do so with a salary of thirty to fifty dollars per week. Specifically, Ehrenreich writes, “She is visibly unwell-possibly whiter, on a daily basis than anyone else in the state… think bridal gowns, tuberculosis, and death” (Ehrenreich 95). Furthermore, the author describes Holly’s meager eating habits by asserting,
In the book “Maxed Out” by Daphne Greer the main character Max is a kid that likes hockey Max has a brother called Duncan, Duncan who needs to go with Max everywhere, due to the death of his father. Max can’t play hockey and watch Duncan at the same time. There is a big hockey game and the team needs Max. With Duncan, his mom won’t allow him to play. Max and the team were sad.
Eleanor Roosevelt had once stated “You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the think which you think you cannot do.” An interpretation of this is that the only way growth and courage can increase is when the time is taken to perform at the best state possible. This can occurs when there is a challenge which may or may not be extremely difficult, but you must push forward and come out ahead. The Little Rock nine had to endure going to school facing true hatred and constant denigrate each and everyday.
Heterosexual romance becomes important in the U.S. society as it resolves cultural and racial problems that arise in the 1950s. As Stacy Wolf says, “heterosexual romance stands in for larger struggles in the U.S. that are symbolically resolved in marriage” (9). An example of Wolf’s idea is expressed in many musicals during this time, such as in the musical South Pacific by Rodgers and Hammerstein. In the musical, racial tensions are resolved with marriage.
“Dance me Outside” by W. P. Kinsella tells the story of little Margaret Wolfchild, an eighteen year old Indigenous mother who is brutally murdered by Clarence Gaskell at the Blue Quills Dance Hall (21). The film by the same name attempts to convey a similar message, but there are key differences such as overlooking the Gaskell’s trial. The broader scope of film allows for the story to be told through multiple perspectives, aiding in rounding out the characters and providing them with a realistic dynamism. In her book “Iskwewak Kah Yaw Ni Wahkomakanak” Janice Acoose criticizes Kinsella’s portrayal of Indigenous women, particularly a character from a different story of Kinsella’s named Linda Starr (69). Acoose asserts that Kinsella “exhibits
The era of 1920s is known for flapper dresses, extravagant lifestyles, and reformation of women. Before this time, women were treated as property and did not have their own voices in politics and their personal lives. With the start of the 20th century, women yearned for a change. They wore shorter dresses, became more reckless, and took control of their lives. F. Scott Fitzgerald was a renowned author during the 1920s who provided commentary about the changes of women.
Rosemary Wolff is acutely affected by the oppressive patriarchal values present in American society. Although Wolff depicts his mother as someone who is free-spirited and optimistic, she is not immune from the pressure to find stability in a “nuclear family” and provide that for Jack, continuing in her marriage with Dwight despite being unhappy, “She still hoped this marriage would work, was ready to put up with almost anything to make it work. The idea of another failure was abhorrent to her.” In 1950’s America, the idea of a single mother, one independent from a man both emotionally and financially, was frowned upon and it is suggested that Rosemary stays in these relationships not only because of the abuse she suffered as a child, but because
Dirty Dancing was released in 1987. The film clip I chose was from the end of the season talent show. Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) approaches Baby’s (Jennifer Grey) table and tells her father “Nobody puts baby in a corner.”
Stories and memories passed on through generations can help to shape an individual. In many instances, storytelling can tell a lesson or push a person’s opinion about something in a certain direction. Memories can sometimes be unreliable, but can also be all that someone can base their life off of. Judith Ortiz Cofer’s memoir Silent Dancing: A Partial Remembrance of a Puerto Rican childhood uses storytelling to share her memories in a life lesson manner.
Humor comes in many shapes in sizes, appealing to different ages, genders, time periods, and even different intellect levels. In the 2011 blockbuster hit “Bridesmaids”, there are comical devices used that attract a crowd through low comedy. This implements comedy through vulgar language and jokes, indecency, and exaggeration. Although, this sort of humor may appeal to millions according to the outstanding ratings and exceptional critiques, this does not excite the same reaction to myself as it may to others. “Full of heart, warmth and enough excrement to fill an all-white bridal shop.”
Sampson Paquette Professor Edwards ENGL101C 9-13-2016 The Dance The essay: “Silent Dancing” By Judith Ortiz Cofer reflects on the transitional period in her life where herself and her immediate family made the move from Puerto Rico to the Big Apple, otherwise known as New York city. The timeline for the essay was set in the 1950’s where cultural fusion and blatant racism ran rampant in the streets.
One of the most classic staples in film history, Singin’ in the Rain, influenced the way the film industry made movies forever. Singin’ in the Rain was a musical-comedy produced by Arthur Freed. It was released in 1952, but based in the late 1920’s, depicting the transition from silent films to “talkies.” Don Lockwood, played by Gene Kelly, was an already successful actor in the silent film era. Kathy Selden, played by Debbie Reynolds, was an aspiring actress who fell in love with Lockwood.
Historians agree that feminism’s fate broke through in the 1920’s, yet this reformation of social justice was not been embraced by a majority of Americans. In this decade, women were finally allowed to vote, they cut their hair short, and rebelled against the norms of society; however, misogyny remained mentally within the community through media, politics, and even in literature. In 1925, five years after the flappers movement was initiated in America, F. Scott Fitzgerald published his most reputable novel: The Great Gatsby, where the misportrayal of women is apparent within the distinctive natures of his characters. Fitzgerald’s novel focuses on the complexities of American society and the struggles to attain dreams, all while enduring the
