We started with an article called "The Yellow Wallpaper"by Gilman. By reading "The Yellow Wallpaper," I found the stereotype of man and woman. The wife was getting treatment at home and was not allow to go out while husband is working outside. The man get to have sociability outside of the house. To relate this topic to the article "The Final Push for Woman Suffrage," women were fighting for their rights to vote. In the Document 3 from "The Final Push Woman Suffrage," Wooddrow Wilson metioned that the woman played an important role during the war. Women helped with preparation for the war. At the end, women finally got their rights to vote. Of course they went through many troubles to have people to support them.
We also talked about the American soldiers in Europe. In the article "In Another Country" by Hemingway, it mentioned that soldier were using machines to help them move (like walking) again. In the class, we discussed Hemingway's writing style. People said that it was always hard to tell who is talking in the story. And most of the time, Hemingway wrote story of what he heard/known and himself played a role in the story. And he wrote the story in his perspective, so we can't really know most of the things detailly from the story.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Weel 1
What I learned from history this week was how the policy for child labor improved, women fought for their rights, Theodore Roosevelt's goal about American business and how Woodrow Wilson deal with the World War I. First Jane Addams, she wanted to help her immigrant neighbor, and offer an opportunity for educated women find meaningful work. Jane Addams was the founder of the Hull House. She lived in a poor neighborhood to understand the social issue. The Hull House offers women and children in the neighborhood a place to relax and play. And then Addams went on political to fix the issue of rich and poor gap, child labor and the harsh working environment. Later the law states that children who are under 16 are not allow to work, the working environment was also improved to not affect human health.
Theodore Roosevelt was one of the former President of United States. Roosevelt believed that the most vital question facing the county was “whether or not the government has the power to control the trusts.” He was trying to break up the nation's largest corporations to let small businesses to have chance to make money. Roosevelt's goal was not to completely overhaul the structures of American business, but beak up bloated economic monopolies, to punish the “bad” trust (the ones broke laws), and leave the “good” ones alone. In relations with Europe, Roosevelt sought to establish the U.S. as a rising force in international politics. He was trying to show European the power of U.S.(strong government) is equal as Europe.
Woodrow Wilson was also one the the former President of United States. He fixed the Tariff, the trade tax, instead of paying trade tax, people are now paying the income tax. Later because of the World War I, Wilson was reelected as the President of United States in 1916. During the WWI 1914-1918, US was trying to be neutral between the Great Britain and Germany. First British block the dock with ships, so Germany won't get any supplies from others. Germany used submarine to attack the ships or boats (some were American's) that bring supplies for British. Wilson argued that Germany should give warning before they attack the ships. Later, Wilson convinced the US congress to join the war because of it. Later Wilson gave fourteen points to keep the peace between each county. The points were about to help each other, can't not attack or block the trading dock and remain peaceful. It was presented to the US and other countries that were involved in the war.
What I learned in literature class was the meaning of American Literature. American literature is literature by American (whether naturalized or born in U.S.). The material we covered were photography and story (article/journal). The photo we saw in class were about children labor. Children were so young as 5~10 years old working in a bad condition. There were children without shoes working with machines. Some children were like 3 or 4 years old sleeping on the street. Also there are adult labors squeezed in a small room with 10 or more people.
And the most unforgettable reading I read was “How It Feels to Be Forcibly Fed” by Djuna Barnes. She described how hopeless she was when she was tied up and fed with a rubber tube put in from her nose. She wrote that she was trying to be claim and imaged how many women had been through this experiences. The discussion we had in class, we talked about the tone she was using in this piece. She was trying to be humor but also disgusting by writing out the process of the feeding. It was also an evident to prove a point that readers should think it was disgusting.
We also covered some art works (advertisers) from history like Uncle Same saying “ We want you for the US army” with a figure pointing at you, or a lady with open armed asking you to join to army. And a poster saying that German kill women and children. The reason of those words “Germany Kill Woman and Children” was trying to make people mad. So people would get involved to stop them.
Theodore Roosevelt was one of the former President of United States. Roosevelt believed that the most vital question facing the county was “whether or not the government has the power to control the trusts.” He was trying to break up the nation's largest corporations to let small businesses to have chance to make money. Roosevelt's goal was not to completely overhaul the structures of American business, but beak up bloated economic monopolies, to punish the “bad” trust (the ones broke laws), and leave the “good” ones alone. In relations with Europe, Roosevelt sought to establish the U.S. as a rising force in international politics. He was trying to show European the power of U.S.(strong government) is equal as Europe.
Woodrow Wilson was also one the the former President of United States. He fixed the Tariff, the trade tax, instead of paying trade tax, people are now paying the income tax. Later because of the World War I, Wilson was reelected as the President of United States in 1916. During the WWI 1914-1918, US was trying to be neutral between the Great Britain and Germany. First British block the dock with ships, so Germany won't get any supplies from others. Germany used submarine to attack the ships or boats (some were American's) that bring supplies for British. Wilson argued that Germany should give warning before they attack the ships. Later, Wilson convinced the US congress to join the war because of it. Later Wilson gave fourteen points to keep the peace between each county. The points were about to help each other, can't not attack or block the trading dock and remain peaceful. It was presented to the US and other countries that were involved in the war.
What I learned in literature class was the meaning of American Literature. American literature is literature by American (whether naturalized or born in U.S.). The material we covered were photography and story (article/journal). The photo we saw in class were about children labor. Children were so young as 5~10 years old working in a bad condition. There were children without shoes working with machines. Some children were like 3 or 4 years old sleeping on the street. Also there are adult labors squeezed in a small room with 10 or more people.
And the most unforgettable reading I read was “How It Feels to Be Forcibly Fed” by Djuna Barnes. She described how hopeless she was when she was tied up and fed with a rubber tube put in from her nose. She wrote that she was trying to be claim and imaged how many women had been through this experiences. The discussion we had in class, we talked about the tone she was using in this piece. She was trying to be humor but also disgusting by writing out the process of the feeding. It was also an evident to prove a point that readers should think it was disgusting.
We also covered some art works (advertisers) from history like Uncle Same saying “ We want you for the US army” with a figure pointing at you, or a lady with open armed asking you to join to army. And a poster saying that German kill women and children. The reason of those words “Germany Kill Woman and Children” was trying to make people mad. So people would get involved to stop them.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Lit 223 - American Literature is Not Just Word but the Meaning Behind It
Vicky Lay
Due 3/30/2009
Writing 105
Essay #1
American Literature is Not Just Word but the Meaning Behind It
Language is a tool we use in our daily life through out the world. Literature is a document that we gather the history and culture of a country or expression, stories and imaginations of people. The definition for American literature is literary work produced in the area of the United States and Colonial America. American literatures can represent the condition during the period of time. The strong and meaningful literatures were often written during the wars or to describe one's personal experiences and thoughts.
African American writers often use racism as their topic to tell their stories. Many African Americans in the past had the worst living condition and very less rights were given in America in nineteenth century. The trans-Atlantic slave trade brought the Africans to America to work for white people since the colonial days.1 They did not have any freedom and rights till after the Civil War that freed the African slaves. Elizabeth Keckley was born a slave and purchased her freedom at age 30. She was the personal maid and seamstress to Mary Todd Lincoln during the Civil War.2 These two women became best friends. Her most famous publication, “Thirty Years a Slave, and four years in the White House” describes they everyday lives of the Lincolns in the White House, also the living conditions of southern blacks who fled to Washing D.C. During the war.3 “Dialect Tales” by Sherwood Booner, was a book that telling a story during the civil war.4 “Now, each one of those Africans would have sold for fifteen hundred dollars. What do you do in the way of sport? A negro chase perhaps you would call it. You see, our jail is such a ram-shackle affair that it is next to impossible to keep a prisoner in bonds, if he has any get-up-and-get in his make-up. The rascals break out and take to the hills. And when the humor takes us we hunt them down," from Dialect Tales.4 From this conversation in the book, racism was a deep root in everyone's mind. The literatures written during the slavery often described the hardships that African slaves had been though, and the rights they fought for.
American Literature can also bring people imaginations or dreams like fairy tales. Children literatures often describe the impossible stories for children to image, it helps to rich children's imaginations. Something we get out of the stories are most about being a good person, be kind to people, mean and evil are not acceptable, or good people have happy ending and bad people end up with punishments. Children literatures help educate little children knowing what is good and what is bad, but also give them some common sense of the life. A fairy tale called “The Girl Who Owned a Bear” by Rick Walton, was about a girl who got a book.5 A bear came out of the book magically. The bear was going to eat the little girl. The little told the bear that she owns it. The bear was her property. “This story should teach us to think quickly and clearly upon all occasions; for had Jane Gladys not remembered that she owned the bear he probably would have eaten her before the bell rang.”5 There are many books written to tell history, culture, story and imagination, but there are some other way to learn about American literature.
The quotes are also a way to express American literature. “Is life so dear or peace so sweet as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty, or give me death!” by Patrick Henry. The quote was talking about the situation between the colonists and the British in the Civil War. The colonists were hoping the be independent from the Great Britain. They did not want to be control by the Great Britain anymore. This quote as a symbol represented the Civil War. Quotes can also express a person's thought.
We can often see quotes from articles, commercial or even someone's status. “I really can't deny it, I am who I am. I'm pretty normal. I'm not that smooth type of girl. I run into things, I trip, I spell food. I say stupid things... I really don't have it all together.” by Katie Holmes, an American actress.6 Katie Holmes is trying to tell people that she is a normal person. She is not 100 percent perfect. She doesn't want people to her as someone that she is not. This quote tells an aspect of human. We often see those pretty or handsome idols as prefect people. They have good looking faces, hot bodies and the great popularity. How about little girls? “What are little girls made of? Sugar and spice, and everything nice, that's what little girls are made of.”7 This is a quote by an unknown author. The quote actually states the reality of what little girls are. Most of the little girls do like fairy tales, princess, Barbe, candy and pretty dresses. There are quotes expressed in a sense of humor. “ We are all pencils in the hand of God.” by Mother Teresa of Calcutta.8 “All of us are guinea pigs in the laboratory of God. Humanity is just a work in progress.” by Tennessee Williams.8 These two quotes are about religion that god is above us. God knows everything and we are under god's control. This quote describes the what the followers believe in.
The definition for American literature is literary work produced in the area of the United States and Colonial America. American literature is not just a writing work, it also represents the history and culture of American, and expression, story and imagination of people who live in America. There are meaningful writings created during the Civil War. There are personal stories shared in the writings. There are writings describe the reality of society and religion. American literature is not just some words, but the meanings and stories behind the word.
References:
1. "Slavery." 2004. Brooklyn Public Library.
3. "Elizabeth Keckley." WOMEN IN HISTORY.
4. Bonner, Sherwood. Dialect Tales. New York: Harper & Brothers, Franklin Square, 1883. 15.<
5. Walton, Rick. "The Girl Who Owned a Bear." Rick Walton's Books.
6. ThinkExist.com. http://en.thinkexist.com/quotations/girls/
7. ThinkExist.com. http://en.thinkexist.com/quotations/girls/
8. ThinkExist.com. http://en.thinkexist.com/quotation/what_are_little_girls_made_of-sugar_and_spice-and/177994.html
9. ThinkExist.com.
http://en.thinkexist.com/search/searchquotation.asp?search=god
http://en.thinkexist.com/search/searchquotation.asp?search=god
10. "American Literature." Wikipedia.org. <1.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/american_literature>.
Monday, March 17, 2008
AOD #11 (1st quarter)
Building Social Capital
Key Club is a club that gets involve with our community the most from all the clubs I joined. We even have convention every year. What we do the most is to volunteer and help people to improve our relationship with others and our community.
Also if you have some talents like drawing, singing, or tutoring, you can volunteer in a preschool or elementary school to hang out with the children. Just like a program call “big brother & big sister”, that you read books or play games with children after school. So I would say that Key Club is a club that you might want to consider to join, it helps you with community service hours and get the opportunity to interact with the community you live in.
Key Club is a club that gets involve with our community the most from all the clubs I joined. We even have convention every year. What we do the most is to volunteer and help people to improve our relationship with others and our community.
Also if you have some talents like drawing, singing, or tutoring, you can volunteer in a preschool or elementary school to hang out with the children. Just like a program call “big brother & big sister”, that you read books or play games with children after school. So I would say that Key Club is a club that you might want to consider to join, it helps you with community service hours and get the opportunity to interact with the community you live in.
AOD #10 (1st quarter)
Mentoring
Religion is very powerful that can guide some of us the way that is the best. I saw a Taiwanese article online. It is about a guy who used drug and send to the jail. He quit the drug and started to believe in religion. The religion was Christianity. He became a priest, and tried to convince people (or gangs) not to follow the way he chose to do.
And I think it is very nice that this guy became a thoughtful and smart person and try to convince to people to choose a better way to live, not wasting times on getting yourself into troubles. So I believe religion is very power and needed in our community. Maybe religion might not mean that much to me, but to have something believe is really a way to get some pressure out of me.
Religion is very powerful that can guide some of us the way that is the best. I saw a Taiwanese article online. It is about a guy who used drug and send to the jail. He quit the drug and started to believe in religion. The religion was Christianity. He became a priest, and tried to convince people (or gangs) not to follow the way he chose to do.
And I think it is very nice that this guy became a thoughtful and smart person and try to convince to people to choose a better way to live, not wasting times on getting yourself into troubles. So I believe religion is very power and needed in our community. Maybe religion might not mean that much to me, but to have something believe is really a way to get some pressure out of me.
AOD # 9 (1st quarter)
Diversity
Coming to America was like folding up my eyes and can’t see what’s at front of me. Before I came I did not know that there were so many people from other countries immigrated here. I was so surprised and had to get used to live in an environment like this.
Back in my country, there are some people moved to Taiwan, but you don’t see them often. Taiwan is still a country that full of Asian. After I came, I made friends with people from the different background and shared our cultures with each other. It is very nice to know and live in a country that full cultures and we are rich
Coming to America was like folding up my eyes and can’t see what’s at front of me. Before I came I did not know that there were so many people from other countries immigrated here. I was so surprised and had to get used to live in an environment like this.
Back in my country, there are some people moved to Taiwan, but you don’t see them often. Taiwan is still a country that full of Asian. After I came, I made friends with people from the different background and shared our cultures with each other. It is very nice to know and live in a country that full cultures and we are rich
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