Economics and Psychology in Appalachia, An Analysis of the Novel: Above the Waterfall In the novel Above the Waterfall, Ron Rash decides to focus on the main theme of Loss. The culture within the beautiful ecosystem of Appalachia is encased with family ties that are hard to deny. Rash writes, “In a county this rural, everyone’s connected, if not by blood, then in some other way” from the relationship between Darby and Gerald to the friendship between Les and Becky, their relationships show a true loyalty to the ones they have grown up with and show that Appalachia is a tight knit community (Rash 90). The characters within the novel: Above the Waterfall demonstrate signs of loss of self, domestic violence, as well as poverty.
The Power Behind “Just Walk on By” In Brent Staples article “Just Walk on By”, Staples shares his thoughts on the way marginalized groups interact. He uses his own experiences as a young African American man to shed light on how people can have implied biases that affect the way they treat other people. Staples does this to demonstrate how society develops preconceived notions in the minds of individuals about marginalized groups, primarily African American men, which are often a flawed representation of the people within these groups. The rhetoric he uses is key to developing an understanding persona and an emotional appeal that exposes the implied biases of people without alienating or offending the audience, to whom-- among others-- he attributes these biases.
Music carries each and every one of us to a new awareness. It can reach to the innermost part of an individual. Music can envelope our emotions from tears all the way to our joy. It captivates and motivates. As I attended a concert on Saturday, November 7, 2015, Lynyrd Skynyrd performed with power and feeling to their audience.
It was a time when refugees were fleeing with almost nothing. Most only brought whatever they had in their pockets or hand(Shapiro). They involuntarily left their home so suddenly that most didn’t have time to bring many, if any, belongings with them. The loss of these belongings made them feel like their lives had been turned inside out. In the novel Inside Out and Back Again, by Thanhha Lai, Ha’s family was forced to flee when the war got closer to their home.
The Old Man Isn’t There Anymore Grieving the Death of someone you hardly know can bring you together. The Old Man Isn’t There Anymore written by Kellie Schmitt, focuses on the differences between Chinese and American culture. Throughout the whole story she is learning more and more about Chinese culture. Schmitt shows how she really tried to connect with her Chinese neighbors.
The book Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai, is about a girl named Ha and her family leaving Vietnam after the war. She faced many challenges with moving countries. Leaving behind Vietnam was hard for her. Learning a new language was hard for her. Becoming herself again was hard for her.
Many refugees have to go through many challenges during their lives. An example of a refugee is Ha and her family from Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai. Refugees are people who are forced to leave their homes due to environmental problems or fighting near them. They all have to endure obstacles and overcome challenges. Ha is a ten year old girl who must leave her country due to the Vietnam War.
Music can bring the brightest of joys that keeps us moving through our dull and boring lives. An example of this joy is Ishmael Beah’s life as a boy soldier in his book A Long Way Gone. As he tells you his story, he tells of his dance group with his friends, the times he heard music in the middle of war, and how music saved him from the madness that brewed within him. Music has the unique ability to create peace in a person’s life despite the difficulties surrounding them, and to bring a constant reminder of who they are as a person.
I do believe that music clears my mind and makes me happy no matter what emotion I have before I listen. It has a certain superpower that can change someone from sad to happy or from depressed to proud in a few minutes if you listen to the right songs or genre. I know that just turning on a song that someone likes can make their day. Music has enough power to get someone to get up and dance and that is special. It can power athletes, singers, actors, doctors, teachers, and anyone.
My Theme Song Songs can connect with how we feel and our experiences. Music has been a major part of my life ever since I was just a toddler. For me music has helped me express what I am feeling and who I am as a person. My therapy has been music, it has helped me through almost every problem I have faced. With listening to the song lyrics, we can get a true understanding of what the artist is trying to tell us.
Alphonse de Lamartine, French writer and politician, once said, “Music is the literature of the heart; it commences where speech ends” (“Quotes About Power Of Music”). What is one of your favorite songs? Does this song have any special meaning for you? Music can be motivational, relaxing, exciting, or even frightening. Sometimes choosing a specific song as your favorite can be challenging, but there is usually one that you really like because the lyrics are relatable to you, maybe it describes your mood, or it may just be really catchy.
“Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything” (Plato). If my childhood was filled with anything: it was imagination. From my earliest memories of my cousin, and I putting on a sold out concert on my papaw’s front porch; to putting my baby dolls to sleep with lullabies. Music has always been a big part of my life: it was the one thing I could always count on, no matter where I went; and that still stands true today.
Growing up I was consumed by an interesting assortment of music. Musical influences were thrown at me from all directions. Whether it was the rock and roll and punk rock music my dad listened to, or the country and pop music my mom listened to, my ears were always full of different arrays of music. Having my grandma blasting gospel music and my older sister jamming Disney, music became a very influential part of my childhood.
At a young age, I constantly wanted to express myself through music. I always found a way to incorporate music into my daily life, whether it be by blasting my favorite music, creating my own funky songs, or even having the opportunity to participate in my elementary school choir. My love for music actually took flight after I had decided to join my elementary school choir, however, in my opinion, it is not the most transformative moment in my life. After elementary
Music has always been a part of my life. In definition, it is “vocal or instrumental sounds combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion.” Ever since I was a young child, I have loved music. The strong, steady beats, the entrancing melodies, and the lyrics that vary between heartwarming and heart-wrenching have always had an unexplainable effect on my life. Music seems to have the ability to change certain aspects of my world.
