Final Reflection

 

    In Humanities 1100 I realized the importance of nature. Not only in my life but in the life of so many others. My favorite quote from the class came out of the reading, "Introduction to Responses of the Land" It is “…there existed a strong sense of the positive role that nature played in spiritual life.” (pg. 342)It helped me to realize that while nature is so easy to neglect and just disregard  but for true spiritual happiness nature is the basic element that needs to be developed.

Week 18: Gender

Male Privilege Checklist:
"I am far less likely to face sexual harassment at work than my female co-workers are." (pg. 536) This is a basic truth in the workplace. It is much more likely for the female in the workplace to be harassed than the males. I personally know several women who have been sexually harassed in the workplace. It is very sad that just because she is a female the males feel the need to be unprofessional. The female is the same employee as they are and should be respected with respect and should be realized as there colleague.

Media Protrayls:

The Joker: George Calamari (Joel Murray)

The Jock: Teddy Beckerstad (Matt Mulhern)

The Strong Silent Type: Casandra (Demi Moore)

The Big Shot: Old Man Beckerstad (William Hickey)

The Action Hero: Hoops McCann (John Cusack)

The Buffoon: Egg Stork (Bobcat Goldwait)

Graduation

            This was an excerpt from Maya Angelou’s novel, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. It is from the graduation scene in the novel.  The speech that is made was very harsh but it was most likely true in the time period. I would guess that many African Americans did not see the point in an education. This is because they would end up with the same crummy jobs so there was basically no point. But Maya Angelou worked past the barriers that were presented to her based on her race and she became a very successful African American woman. Granted she had to face terrible obstacles but these obstacles helped her to become who she is and they were a large influence on her writing. Because she had the courage to do what she did we all get to enjoy her work. One of the problems back then was that black people could only do certain jobs. These jobs were not easy or fun they often held the “dirt” jobs and t was sort of similar to the untouchables in India. It was truly pathetic for it to be like that but it just makes the fact that Maya Angelou so much more important and amazing. She was one of the greats who paved the way for other African Americans.

Shocking Story

 

I have learned, studied, and read about the horrifying story of Emmitt Till on several occasions. You would think that after that you would grow bored and numb to the story—but not in my case. This story still puts a lump in my throat and a knot in my stomach. I have repeatedly tried to figure out how someone could let those men get away with murder just because they were white and this was an awful murder. It was a killing through hate and I would call it torture. I have seen pictures of Till’s body after he was found they are absolutely terrifying. They are so graphic that they often describe Till as a scrap of meat that was barely holding together. He was in such bad condition that his mother had to identify by the ring he was wearing rather than his own face. This is why this story always brings tears to my eyes and just makes me so angry. It is horrible hat race was the deciding factor in this case and nothing else was considered. 

Hughes Poems

“They send me to eat in the kitchen when company comes, But I laugh, and eat well, and grow strong.” (pg. 594) This is a quote from the Langston Hughes’ poem, “I, Too.” I had the opportunity to go to a performance at the University of Utah honoring Langston Hughes. It was very surprising to me that the majority of attendees were Caucasian. I was expecting the African Americans of Utah to honor a man who did so much for them. Even though it is that it did not have a large audience it made me happy that the white community was there to experience a different culture. This poem was accompanied by a musical composition on the piano and while it was read aloud there were performers who were dancing to the words. This poem is very inspiring because even though the black community had every right of hatred back then Hughes just wrote about the future and how with patience everything would change. This was kind of similar to the way Gandhi taught. This is my favorite Langston Hughes poem.

Creative Writing

An Unlikely Love and Life

            Jack was a very troubled young man. He was caught up in the lifestyle of the 1960s and 1970s. He spent the majority of his childhood and early adulthood partying. He would sleep all day and party all night. He was a hippie who lived the lifestyle of free love and peace which often included sex, drugs, and alcohol. He was such a partier that he never thought he would live to be thirty. This all changed however when he met a wonderful woman named Tracy.

            Tracy grew up in a very troubled home. Her parents were so caught up in drug use to pay her any attention. She was also very poor. Her family constantly had to move because they would miss rent due to drug use and they often had no food, heat, or electricity. She was very shy and studious. They were so poor however that she was constantly teased and mocked at school so she would skip school in order to stay away from bullies.

            Jack met Tracy through her parents because he would buy drugs from them. Although this is not a normal story book beginning for a romance Tracy was very happy. Jack was a very attractive young man and had a personality that could sweep any girl off of her feet. He had a very bad reputation though and Tracy wanted nothing to do with people who were like her parents. Jack finally got her to go out with him and it all went from there. They were both taken by each other, “waiting for a knock, listening for a sign,” (Robert Graves, pg. 381). Little did Jack know but Tracy would finally be the woman that would settle him down.

            They dated for a little over a year. Jack was very charming and would show up at work with flowers and chocolates just to make Tracy happy. They quickly fell in love with each other and moved in together. They lived together for a while before Jack “popped the question.” He asked when they were sitting at his sister’s house. His niece had found a ring on the ground and Jack offered her a quarter for it. With that ring he bought for a quarter he asked Tracy to marry him. It may have not been that romantic but it meant the world to Tracy. She agreed and a few months later they got married in his parent’s back yard so his dying father could see the ceremony.

            Two years following the wedding Jack and Tracy had their first daughter, Harmony. She was born a day before their anniversary which is what Tracy says “is the best anniversary present she could have ever asked for.” Eighteen months later their second daughter was born and her name was Melody (and if you ask me she is the coolest.)   Two daughters now they wait five years to try for their first boy and he finally comes and his name is Elijah. A few months after Elijah is born someone from Jack’s past enters his life. Jack gets phone call form a fourteen year old girl named Brandi and on this phone call she tells him that she is her father. A very challenging obstacle for Tracy to overcome but it made their marriage grow even stronger.

            It is now twelve years later and to everyone’s surprise Tracy is pregnant. They gather everyone in the living room: Harmony: 19, Melody: 17, Elijah: 12 to tell them that they are going to have another baby. Shocking and scary at first the kids were kind of mad but after adjusting to the idea and having a new baby at home they love with all their hearts everyone is so happy that they took the risk of having another baby.

            Jack and Tracy now have a daughter at Westminster College and one on the way there. Even though neither of them has an education they made sure their kids has a greater chance at happiness than they did. They now have two boys to raise their last two boys and ensure success in their lives as they have tried in their two daughters. 

Cultural Activity

1.      What play or musical did you attend?

a.       “The Woman in Black” at the Shakespearian Festival at Southern Utah University in September of 2009.

2.      Give a summary or description of the play you saw.

a.       The “Woman in Black” is a chilling ghost story. It is about a woman who is seeking revenge for all that has happened to her. Her son was taken away from her by her sister because she did not feel she was fit to be a mother. But when her son died she vowed to never forgive her sister and then hung herself. She now haunts the town and every time she is seen a child within the town is killed. The main character has a son himself. He is sent to go through the house where the woman in black lived and is haunted by her continual appearances and shrieking. The man discovers the story of the sisters and the boy. He has to read terrifying letters that scare him even more. Unfortunately even after he tries to reunite the woman and her son she continues to haunt them because of her vow. She eventually kills the man and his son.

3.      In 250 words discuss the quality of the performance.

a.       This was the best play I have ever seen in my life. I was skeptical at first about how a play could be scary but let’s just say I had nightmares. It was an amazing performance. I had never been so moved in my life. They actors were truly amazing. They did nothing that detracted from the play, thank goodness. That is one reason why I often have a hard time watching plays because it is hard for the actors to be perfect like they are on movies. The most amazing part of this play was not the actors but the set. I do not how they accomplished it but they made it so the woman in black popped out of nowhere. It made it seem like a movie because she would pop out when it was least expected. That was so amazing to me because it would take a lot of creativity to come up with how to do it. It was truly fascinating. I am so thankful that I was able to experience this.

4.      In 250 words discuss the social and philosophical issues the play addresses and indicate what answers and conclusions were reached.

a.       The main issue addressed in this play was the existence of spirits. Most people in the world do not believe in ghosts. This is true within the play. There were people who were skeptical and would tell the people when they would suggest that they saw a ghost that they were crazy. But apparently it wasn’t true because there were ghosts and many of those who did not believe were tricked into their death. The conclusion that was reached was that ghosts are real and haunt the earth—yeah right.

5.      What did you find about the background of the work or playwright?

a.       This play was adapted from novel by Susan Hill called The Woman in Black. It was written in 1983. It was later made into a play and was first performed in 1987 in Scarborough, UK. It was the second longest running play and is still being run today but is on tour. In 1989 it was adapted into a TV-movie in England. In 2011 it was adapted into a film again and was very popular because it was released around Halloween.

6.      Would you recommend this performance to others why or why not?

a.       I would most definitely recommend this performance to others. This was one of my favorite plays I have ever seen. Everything was so amazing that I would have nothing bad to say about it. This play was very scary and I was always jumping out of my sear. I truly enjoyed this play. I was not sure how it would be but I am so glad that I was able to see it because it was truly an unforgettable experience.

7.      What was your personal reaction to this performance? Would you enjoy attending this type of event again? Why or Why not?

a.       My personal reaction to this performance was shock, awe, enjoyment, and absolute amazement. I truly did not know a play could be scary. It is hard to frighten people without special effects and technology. This play however did it so well you would have thought you were there. The way it entertained and scared the audience was truly amazing. I would love to go to this play again especially at the Shakespearian Festival. I would never turn down another offer to go to the Shakespearian Festival. I saw amazing plays that weekend and it was a great experience.