Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Rock And Roll An Integral Part Of American Culture

I love Rock Roll! So, put another dime in the jukebox baby.† - (Joan Jett). Still like that old time Rock Roll. That kind of music just soothes the soul, I reminisce about the days of old, with that old time Rock Roll.† - (Bob Segar). Music has always been an integral part of American culture. Music is the art of combining vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion (Oxford Dictionary). People of any race, age, social class, intelligence, etc. can enjoy music that is a popular form of entertainment. There are many different kinds of music, but Rock and Roll is one of the biggest and most popular. Rock and Roll is a combination of a blues and country music. Rock and Roll has†¦show more content†¦Their sounds were reaching white teens across America thanks to these disc jockeys and the increased availability radios. Eventually white performers, such as Bill Haley and Elvis Presley began to re-record recordings by black performers. These new versions were not exact copies of the originals. The newer versions were faster and the country style guitar replaced jazz styled instruments. The lyrics also changed from black slang to language that was more acceptable to white audiences. During this time of the mixture of blues and country, black musicians such as Little Richard and Fats Domino began to capture white audiences with their own new recordings. As artists continued to write music following in the steps the others, the blues and country elements faded and newer groups began to establish a new energy of American music in the 1950 s. Rock and Roll is the new energy, which also was a slang expression for lovemaking that appeared in many blues songs back in the thirties (Charlton, 1990). Rock and Roll began as an American phenomenon and has grown to international proportions (Stump, 1997), and even tually became music of teenage rebellion. Rock and Roll changed all people but mainly focused on teenagers. Teenagers have always been the main targets when it comes to the public. Since adults did not particularly take to the Rock and Roll music and teenagers did, the artists and the media did what

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Geoffrey Chaucers The Canterbury Tales Essay - 629 Words

Throughout literature, relationships can often be found between the author of a story and the story that he writes, whether intentional or not. In Geoffrey Chaucers story, Canterbury Tales, many of the characters on the pilgrimage make this statement evident with the tales that they tell. Such a distinct relationship can be made between the character of the Pardoner and the tale that he tells. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;Through the Prologue to the Pardoners tale, the character of the Pardoner is revealed. Although the Pardoner displays many important traits, the most prevalent is his greed. Throughout the prologue, the Pardoner displays his greed and even admits that the only thing he cares about is money: quot;I preach nothing†¦show more content†¦Although the Pardoner is extremely greedy, he continues to try and teach that quot;Avarice is the root of all evilquot; (6). He explains to the pilgrims how money is the root of all evil, and then he takes the money from them in exchange for forgiveness of their sins. This action could be seen in two ways. Perhaps the Pardoner is a very greedy, trecherous man, or perhaps Chaucer is trying to jab at Christianity by alluding to Christ. The characters in his tale display great hypocrisy as well. As the tale begins, the friends all act very trustworthy and faithful towards all of their friends. They nobly make a decision to risk their lives while trying to slay their friends murderer. As they talk about their challenge, they pledge quot;to live and die each of them for the other, / As if he were his own blood brotherquot; (241-242). At the end of the tale, the quot;brothersquot; begin to reveal their true nature. They all turn on each other in an attempt to steal the treasure for themselves. All of the loyalty, which they had pledged, was simply a lie and no faithfulness remained. While the two older quot;brotherquot; plotted to kill the younger, the younger quot;brotherquot; plotted quot;to kill them both and never to repentquot; (388). Thus, these so-called faithful quot;brothersquot; display their true ruthlessness and reveal their hypocrisy in relation to theShow MoreRelatedGeoffrey Chaucers The Canterbury Tales1030 Words   |  5 PagesGeoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales is a collection of several tales that are all told by different characters and all convey different messages. The story presented in the general prologue is that a group of pilgrims is traveling to the shrine of St. Thomas Becket, and during their journey they take turns telling tales and talking about themselves. Chaucer uses the pilgrims to express his beliefs, about religion, marriage, social class, and many other topics. One of the pilgrims is the MancipleRead MoreWomen In Geoffrey Chaucers Canterbury Tales1288 Words   |  6 PagesIntroduction Geoffrey Chaucer’s â€Å"The Canterbury Tales† is a collection of stories written between 1387 and 1400 about a group of thirty people who travel as pilgrims to Canterbury (England) and on their way, they tell stories to each other about their lives and experiences. The stories constitute a critique of English society at the time, and particularly of the Church, while women seem to be presented in a different way than they are in other contemporary works. The aim of this essay is to presentRead MoreEssay on Geoffrey Chaucers Canterbury Tales1261 Words   |  6 PagesGeoffrey Chaucers Canterbury Tales The Knight, Squire, Prioress, The Monk and the Friar are defined by their settings in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Prologue to The Canterbury Tales. 1. Portnoy says in his article in the Chaucer Review that The General Prologue is like a mirror reflecting the individuals appearance which then defines the character of that person.(281) 2. Scanlon backs up Portnoy in his article from Speculum by saying †¦Characters descriptions somehow emerge inevitably fromRead MoreGeoffrey Chaucers Experiences In the Canterbury Tales Essay1130 Words   |  5 PagesIn the Canterbury Tales, Geoffrey Chaucer describes the journeys and life lessons of thirty fictitious pilgrims. Scholars explain that only one of the thirty pilgrims was indeed Chaucer, but other characters in the Canterbury Tales represent the struggles of Chaucer as well. Although the pilgrims’ tales were pretend, they were based on actual events that Chaucer experienced throughout his lifetime. He represents his own insec urities and flaws throughout the array of the characters’ tales. SituationRead MoreThe Role Of Women In Geoffrey Chaucers Canterbury Tales777 Words   |  4 Pages The â€Å"Wife of Bath’s Tale,† emphasizing her prologue and the general prologue in Geoffrey Chaucers Canterbury Tales, along with the story of Margery Kempe are examples of male authors reflecting misogynistic ideals onto unsuspecting female characters. When transitioning from Old English to Middle English culture, the role of women in literature takes a more prominent voice compared to Old English where women were offered little to no voice during the writings and manuscripts. Women were always portrayedRead MoreThe Worldview Of Society In Geoffrey Chaucers The Canterbury Tales793 Words   |  4 Pagesâ€Å"Time and tide wait for no man† (Chaucer). Geoffrey Chaucer (1340-1400) was a man of creativity, a mind for artful thinking, and a soul full of poetic writing. Chaucer attended St. Paulà ¢â‚¬â„¢s Cathedral School where poets such as Virgil and Ovid strongly influenced Chaucers’ writings (Britannica). Chaucer in his book The Canterbury Tales depicts society as being corrupted and morally declined. Chaucers life of events such as his time as a prisoner of war (Biography.com) had impacted his outlook on theRead More The Pardoner as Symbol in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales2609 Words   |  11 PagesThe Pardoner as Symbol for the Pilgrims’ Unattainable Goals in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales Geoffrey Chaucer’s work, The Canterbury Tales, paints a portrait of medieval life through the voices and stories of a wide variety of speakers. The people on the Pilgrimage tell their stories for a wide range of reasons. Each Tale is told in order to accomplish two things. The Tales provoke their audience as much as they are a kind of self-reflection. These reactions range from humor, to extremeRead MoreFrame Characteristics In Geoffrey Chaucers The Canterbury Tales1119 Words   |  5 PagesThe Canterbury Tales, Chaucer uses frame narratives to incorporate the many stories of pilgrims. The author, Geoffrey Chaucer, also known as the â€Å"Father of English Literature,† writes these little stories to mirror his inquisitive language and use of cunning and satirical passion. The tale takes place in the fourteenth century where the wealthy Catholic Church dominates the political scene of England. This story describes twenty-nine individuals who are going on a pilgrimag e to Canterbury withRead MoreThe Pardoner, a Symbol of Greed in Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales616 Words   |  3 PagesGeoffrey Chaucer’s famous medieval classic, The Canterbury Tales, offers its readers a vast array of characters. This God’s plenty features numerous unique and challenging individuals, but there is one specifically who stands out as particularly interesting. The immoral Pardoner, who, in a sense, sells away his soul for the sake of his own avarice, puzzles many modern readers with his strange logic. Already having laid his considerable guilt upon the table, this corrupted agent of the Church attemptsRead MoreCorruption and Hypocrisy in Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales981 Words   |  4 PagesIn Geoffrey Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales, the prioress’s behavior can be interpreted as being part of the change occurring within religious institutions, which were changing to allow for freedom of thought and individual choice, as the nun does when she takes the liberty of customizing her fine garb by wearing it with beads and a gold brooch. The nun is one of the first characters to be given a name and as such is identified as being an individual, and not just seen as being a nun. The nun’s deviation

Monday, December 9, 2019

History of Breakdancing Essay Example For Students

History of Breakdancing Essay B-boying is a form of hip-hop dancing, which is popularly known as breaking. It consists of top or up rock, footwork, spinning moves (power moves), and freeze. B-boying came from Bronx, NY. The term B-boy or B-boying was created by Kool Herc who was a DJ spinning at block parties in Bronx back in the days. B-Boys means break boys and they were called so because they dance to the break part of music. Later, by repeating this break part done by DJ, breakbeats was born. It was late 60s, early 70s when people started a sort of b-boying. Their dancing was called Good Foot from James Browns record of the same name. The Good Foot was the first freestyle dance that incorporated moves involving drops and spins, and assembled the beginning s of breaking. The best way to describe the Good Foot is, according to Michael Holman, to imagine a majorette marching in a parade taking steps raised high at the knee but keeping the leg raised at the knee in the air for a beat before dropping it down and simultaneously raising the other leg. Like a stop action drum majorette on beat. Soon moves like dropping down to the ground and poppin up again on beat became standard and gave this first generation of b-boys the nickname of boie-oie-oings. Footwork came in when the boie-oie-oings started using their arms and hands to support their bodies in order to free the feet and legs to do gymnastic steps, shuffles and sweeps. In Brooklyn a new step inspired by these drops was being developed and called Brooklyn Rock also known as Uprocking. Once the first early break moves had been established, a definite style began to develop. The famous first generation of b-boys were Nigger Twins, Clark Kent, and Zulu Kings. Around 1977 breaking was losing its popularity and it was about to die. (Continued on Page 2) History of Breakdancing B-Boying (continued from Page 1) However, breaking came back with a new generation of b-boys. It was Puerto Rican b-boys who put new life to breaking and took it into next level. They started to put many higher levels of acrobatics and gymnastics into breaking and invented many new moves. B-boys such as Crazy Legs from Rock Steady Crew who were influenced by Jimmy Lee and Joe Joe, members of original Rock Steady Crew developed and invented the new moves such as backspins and windmills. Media stars like Bruce Lee and other Kung Fu film stars and martial artists had a major influence on b-boying culture. The popularity of Kung Fu films during the mid and late 70s around the world and especially in New York City has had a great impact on b-boying style. A large number of martial arts moves were incorporated into b-boying. B-boying became even more popular in 80s. It was first introduced to out side of New York City and the rest of world by a movie Flashdance in 1983. (Before the Flashdance, there were already movies like Wildstyle and Stylewars). Even though it was not a b-boying movie, the short scene, which featured b-boying and poppin on a street, had a great impact, enough to inspire people to start b-boying all over the world. Then revival of b-boying happened around 1990. I dont know how exactly it happened. I am sure that it was done by the support of real b-boys who never quit b-boying even during the winter period of b-boying. Nowadays, B-boy events such as B-BOY SUMMIT and ROCK STEADY ANNIVERSARY are organized every year and many b-boys from all over the world get together and keep the culture alive and even try to take it into next level. Battles, also help to keep it alive. A Battle is a competitive way for b-boys to determine what crew or which b-boy is a better athlete. These Battles could be between friends, crews or just a way to get together and learn new moves.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Socrates on Life Meaning Essay Example

Socrates on Life Meaning Paper What did Socrates meant by â€Å"an unexamined life is not worth living†? Socrates’ reasoning in passing up the chance to escape his sentence after being condemned to death on fabricated charges Socrates is one of the most influential Greek philosophers, who as influential in ushering the Hellenistic Age. His powers of logical reasoning and the invention of the Socratic method has left a lasting impression on Western philosophy. Although he was a prominent member of the Aristocratic class, his lack of deference to authority would lead to his tragic death. Even when given the choice between a life in exile or immediate execution, he chose the latter as a matter of adhering to principle. According to Socrates, a commitment to moral reasoning is an essential condition of a well-lived life. An individual should base his actions upon the outcomes of such internal dialogues. The exercise of self-examination and introspection as a way of arriving at moral truths is of paramount importance to Socrates. So much so that he unequivocally declared that â€Å"an unexamined life is not worth living† (Vlastos, p.121). This commitment to truth by way of rational, critical enquiry would eventually cost Socrates his life. But, even when in sight of his impending death, Socrates calmly reasoned with his friends and supporters that accepting the judgment of the state is to follow the moral course of action and he refused to escape into exile. We will write a custom essay sample on Socrates on Life Meaning specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Socrates on Life Meaning specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Socrates on Life Meaning specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Socrates was brought to trial by the democratic Athenian jury, which had scores to settle with prominent members of the previous regime. Socrates’ association with the previous regime made him a target of persecution, irrespective of the validity of the alleged charges. He was accused of undermining religious and state authority and for also corrupting the minds of Athenians. But in reality, Socrates made no deliberate attempts to bring down the religious and state authorities. Instead, he encouraged his students to adopt a critical approach to moral actions, also suggesting that the Athenian rulers themselves are not exempt from such scrutiny. Hence, Socrates sacrificed his life as a way of standing by the principles he endorsed to others. Despite his tragic death in this fashion, the event has acquired him a martyr status among subsequent generation of intellectuals and philosophers. Starting with Plato, his most illustrious disciple, intellectuals have taken inspiration and strength from Socrates’ choice and have contributed to positive social change. Two millennium since the execution of Socrates, in the more progressive and liberal democracies of Western Europe and North America, the citizens enjoy a whole array of civil rights. This includes the right to freedom of speech as well – a right that was not available to Socrates. While there is no doubt that modern democracies offer their citizens rights and privileges that were unknown of before, dissidents still don’t find it easy to get their views across. For example, it is fair to say that those from far left of the political spectrum face plenty of hostility from the mainstream establishment. The mainstream media and political institutions simply ignore critical analyses from this quarter. This points out that modern liberal democracies are far from ideal and utopian. There is still progress to be made in terms of fulfilling Socrates’ notion of living an ‘examined life’, which would allow citizens of a state to critically examine their state a nd its wielding of authority. Works Cited: Vlastos, Gregory (1991). Socrates, Ironist and Moral Philosopher. Ithaca: Cornell University Press. Hanson, V.D. (2001). â€Å"Socrates Dies at Delium, 424 B.C.†, What If? 2, Robert Cowley, editor, G.P. Putnam’s Sons, NY. Socrates’ reasoning in passing up the chance to escape his sentence after being condemned to death on fabricated charges Socrates is one of the most influential Greek philosophers, who as influential in ushering the Hellenistic Age. His powers of logical reasoning and the invention of the Socratic method has left a lasting impression on Western philosophy. Although he was a prominent member of the Aristocratic class, his lack of deference to authority would lead to his tragic death. Even when given the choice between a life in exile or immediate execution, he chose the latter as a matter of adhering to principle. According to Socrates, a commitment to moral reasoning is an essential condition of a well-lived life. An individual should base his actions upon the outcomes of such internal dialogues. The exercise of self-examination and introspection as a way of arriving at moral truths is of paramount importance to Socrates. So much so that he unequivocally .