Sunday, December 6, 2009

PR 1

So I haven't blogged in a while so some of the things may be a bit outdated and already frequently talked about but here is my perspective.

So a while back I know you all can remember the whole Chris Brown Rihanna thing. I'm not going to discuss what exactly happened or whose fault it was or wasn't, but what I will discuss is how Chris Brown an his people addressed the situation and the media.
first and foremost, I think he tried to run away from the situation as though it would disappear if he just didn't talk about it. There was no public apology released until a long while after and when he did so it seemed very insincere as he appeared to be reading it from a teleprompter. This makes the people feel that he isn't remorseful and allows fans to view him as a person that doesn't regret what he has done. All in all I think they could have handled the situation a lot better.

here is a link to the apology Chris Brown released a while back.
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/3077415/chris_brown_apology_video/

Friday, July 24, 2009

Jean-ah Poquelin

In southern Gothic, symbolism is one of the main elements as it encourages the reader to look more in depth to what the author is trying to get across and the theme of the work. In Jean-ah Poquelin I see many instances of symbolism, particularly involving the bayou and the house. It seems as though the bayou symbolizes the old South. I think this is so because although the bayou is cut off from the canal it is still running very slowly, just as the Old south is being pushed out by the New South the creole are holding on to their traditions by speaking Creole and doing other things that would be considered Old South.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Our Nig

Although Our Nig is a great piece of work and good narrative, there is a mystery of why it was lost to scholars for over 120 years. I feel one reason for this is the title Harriet E. Wilson uses. It may be due to the title, "Our Nig" that scholars wanted nothing to do with this narrative. Just by looking at the title of the novel, one may think it is a mockery of African-American people, and this is what may have shied scholars away. Upon reading Wilson's narrative, it comes to mind that maybe this narrative was purposely lost in order to hide or cover up the harsh realities that freed Blacks faced in the North, although there were abolitionist present and the North was looked upon as a better place for Blacks at the time. In the narrative Wilson describes many beatings and times in which she was mistreated as though she were an animal. At the time this narrative was first published, these kinds of stories about the North were unheard of.

House of Usher

An unknown narrator is used in "The Fall of The House of Usher. I feel he is reliable because he is telling us the story as he goes through it as opposed to him reflecting on the story, he is taking us alongside him as he visits the house. The narrator does not seem to have any biases or mental problems which is related to that of an unreliable narrator. I think Poe chose to use this type of narrator in order to allow the reader to take the information the narrator presents and analyse it for themselves, instead of letting the narrator explain things. Poe does this so the reader can look for clues on their own, and to keep the reader curious and wanting to figure out more.

Young Goodman Brown

Hawthorne uses a great deal of symbolism as he tells the story of Young Goodman Brown. He chooses the names of his characters very carefully in a sense that they stand for many things. For example Young Goodman Browns name is Faith. As the story progresses Hawthorne reveals to the reader that Faith is not just her name, for it actually symbolizes Faith. Hawthorne also names Young Goodman Brown his name as a form of a symbol. Young Goodman Brown symbolizes any young man. Hawthorne uses these names to explain the characters to the readers and for them to easily identify the meanings of them. Hawthorne also places symbolism in the settings and surroundings of the story. Most of the story takes place in a forest and the wilderness, Which symbolizes how a man must make his decisions alone and learn to think for himself.

Female Gothic

Upon reading "Lois the Witch" I can see some sort of take on the Cinderella formula, as Lois' story is very similar to that of Cinderella's. Both are orphans in a sense as they have to go stay with a different family. Both have the form of the evil step mom and evil sister who treats them terrible. Although Lois the Witch has some Cinderella elements it is not the classical Cinderella story. Lois the Witch lacks the element of the glass slipper which is a key ingredient in the Cinderella formula. Along with the element of the glass slipper missing, Lois is not saved at the end of the story. There is a form of the prince in Lois but he fails to save her which ultimately leads to her death.
I see women writers sending the message that women need to get away from being caught up in the fairy tale story where they think some sort of prince will come and save them form their problems. It seems as though the writers have no problem with women having faith in men saving them but they are more focused on getting the message across that women need to fend for themselves and speak of for what it is that they believe in.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

As we all know, in Gothic literature, setting is very important as it sets the mode and sometimes provides you with vital information to understand what is going on within the literature. In Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Stevenson does not use a castle but he does use other settings such as the laboratory and house of Dr. Jekyll, the city of London and the courtyard to create the element of terror. In the story it states that the morning Mr. Utterson and Inspector Newcomen of Scotland Yard went to look for Mr. Hyde, It was very dark and heavily foggy with high winds which makes the scene seem a bit scary. The weather conditions are in correlation with the personality of Mr. Hyde.