Reflection

When starting this blog I had already assumed that the class would be given prompts for each blog post. I was not expecting it to be as open as it was. Which as a group we liked because we were able to express our own individual thoughts without the limitations that prompts tend to have. Because of this we were able to bring up topics not discussed in class or revisit some in further depth. It also allowed us to read other peoples points of view and they were able to share some perspectives that we had not thought about. Over all making the understanding of what we were learning or reading about in class greater than if we were just reading a repeat of answers to the same prompt. Because there would probably be more or less of the same answers or thoughts.

Writing the blog in a group helped because we all have lives. And by having it in groups we were able to evenly share the work and our opinions. Our group worked very well with communication and understanding that if someone was busy one week that they would pick up the next one. As a whole our group worked out really well and gave each one of us a better friendship and we ended up looking to each other for help with class work. We also all have another class together and it brought us closer in that class as well. The only thing I personally would change about this is working harder to try and figure out how to link everyone's Google account say that way they wouldn't have to email their work to my personal email and I post it to the blog. Not really a big deal however.

I really like this combined with the class presentation as an alternative to taking a final exam, because personally I have really bad test anxiety and tend to learn more when I have homework vs. studying. And I ended up learning more about the class work this way by reading other peoples interpretations vs. studying and taking the exam on my own.

The Awakening

There is no doubt that The Awakening is regarded as a classic piece of literature. Kate Chopin does an amazing job creating this story; however, there is a piece of this story that makes it hard to get behind. That piece is the character of Edna.

With all due respect—Edna sounds like a bitch. I understand that someone could feel a lot of pressure from the presumed social norms, and want to trail braze their own path; however, many of Edna’s behaviors are borderline irresponsible, naive (and in my opinion, pathetic). As a respectable human being you are going to face situations, circumstances, problems, etc. that you would rather not face; however, you push on. You address the problem and you solve it—it is that plain, it is that simple. 

This leads me to my greatest point against the character of Edna—motherhood. How in the world do you, as a human being, carry a newborn for nine months and feel less than nothing for them? That repulses and strikes such a cord in me that it almost makes me want to cheer against this entity. I know the reason why I feel so strongly about this. It is because my own mother has played such a crucial role in my life. Without her there would not be a chance that I am here in college, and there is a good chance I would be getting into trouble. Compounding this sentiment further, I have seen the damaging effects that can arise from a mothers absence. One of my best friends in junior high had a mother who committed suicides. The shock wave of turmoil that that event ravages still haunts my good friend today—nine years later. 

That shock wave did not only affect my friend. It uprooted the life of his father. Lost in a sea of grief he began to drink more, smoke more, and come home at all hours of the night. This reaction isn't unheard of, and because isn't uncommon. I can only feel sympathy for Edna’s husband, Leonce, especially given the reality of becoming a single father.

Edna’s irresponsibility stretches beyond family (one of the most valued facets of life). This leads me to another factor attributing to why I disdain Edna so profoundly, it is because her actions are completely self-absorbed and self-motivated. Again, I understand where Edna could be coming from given the repressive and unfair treatment handed to women of that time; however, two wrongs do not make a right. Therefore, I believe it to be morally detestable that Edna cheats on her husband. Such weakness to resist temptation goes (in my opinion) a long way in coloring the nature of Edna’s character.

In conclusion, Edna’s irresponsible and naive behavior isn't enough to redeem her. Furthermore, I am more confused as to why the label “courage” and “bravery” bestow upon the ideal and practices of Edna.

Sherlock

 While Sherlock Holmes did possess some positive qualities, the great detective does not deserve to be regarded as a hero. A hero has unique traits and much power. By defining these qualifiers you will see why Sherlock Holmes should not be regarded by society as a hero.
    Hero’s carry certain traits. These traits can vary in degree; however, hero of every kind possess them. Leadership, humility, courage, virtue, diligence are trademarks of heroes. A hero leads (they are not afraid of failure and proceed with great responsibility). A hero is humble (not self-righteous). A hero has courage (to take the necessary risk for the best good). A hero is virtuous in nature. A hero is diligent (and will work until the task is finished).
    Hero’s are incredibly powerful. Two incredibly moving concepts are wrapped in a hero: justice and community. Hero's have an innate moral compass the presses them on to justice be held—motivation. In addition to carrying justice, Hero’s, also, move communities. By a hero serving justice they are intervening turmoil from the lives of their community. This accumulates into a uniting power.
    Sherlock Holmes is many things: an amazing detective, wildly intelligent, quick witted, etc. However, there is one thing that he surely is not—a hero. Mr. Holmes carries traits that are not in alignment with those of a hero. He is self-isolated, diligent, passionate, and an addict. A mix of good and evil, Sherlock Holmes is a melting pot of characteristics.
    Self-isolation cannot be a trait of a hero due to the power a hero has. There are incredible opportunities for uniting a community and locking yourself away (like when John Watson discovered him in his house). Diligence is a trait of a hero. Sherlock carries this in spades—he never wants to leave a case unsolved. Passion is another trait similar to the qualities of a hero; however, Holmes has much of his passion out of productive balance (given his self-righteous nature and addiction). Holmes is also an addict. Addiction is terrible. The behaviour that it triggers can be very destructive (to the individual and their loved ones). Therefore, these traits of self-isolation, diligence, passion, and addiction go to show that as great of a person Sherlock Holmes was he was not a hero.

Cotton gin

Last week we looked at life in the 19^th century, and how different it was compared to today. Many topics were explored, and for this blog I want to look at the impacts caused by one significant technological advancement that occurred during the Industrial Revolution, the Cotton Gin.

The Industrial Revolution, which began in the 18^th century and ended in the 19^th, was a period of time when many inventions were created that largely affected people’s way of living. One of these inventions was the Cotton Gin, which was created by Eli Whitney in 1794. While it doesn't seem that important, agriculturally, economically, and socially it had a massive impact.

The device separated cotton fibers from the cotton seeds, which sped up the cotton production process immensely because before the cotton gin was created, workers (usually slaves) had to separate the fibers by hand, which would take hours and only produce a small amount. By speeding up the cotton production process, this lowered the cost it took to produce cotton fibers. This hugely impacted the agriculture of cotton, because now that it could be produced much more effectively, cotton was fairly cheap to produce, and so it became widely used in clothing. This caused cotton production to skyrocket, and many farmers in the south moved to farming cotton, and they did this on large scale cotton plantations.

The large scale cotton plantations created because of the cotton gin affected slaves drastically. While on the one hand slaves no longer had to separate the cotton seeds from the fiber, the large scale plantations created more work for them. Before Eli’s cotton gin was created, about 700,000 slaves lived in the South, and in 1850 more than 3 million slaves were in the South. This increase in the slave population in the South after the cotton gin was patented shows what an impact the invention had economically on the south. Not only that, but the growing demand for cotton created a system in which the South relied largely on slaves economically.

This economic reliance on the slave trade to sustain the cotton business in the South eventually led to the Civil War. High cotton tariffs began to be imposed by northern states, and the election of President Lincoln caused unrest in the South, because he had anti-slavery sentiments. These factors caused the South to secede from the Union, which started the Civil War.

Overall the cotton gin was monumental to changing the economic structure of the South and causing the collapse of slavery. It is incredible to really think about this, because today the cotton gin is viewed as another machine that does something useful. And while it is useful, it is much more important than just a machine. 

How delicious

Food in the 19th Century

            The 19th century was an era of Romanticism. It is, then, to be expected that the same sentiments were regarded towards food. Appeals to class, conformation of social norms, and consumerism are all elements of what was promoted by food companies. In this piece, Wringley Gum and Gantz, Jones, & Co will be examined to highlight these and other elements that compose the Romantic Era of the 19th Century.

            The Wrigley Gum Brand, for instance, had an ad campaign that solicited a very fancily dressed woman on a poster. She was illuminated with a sophisticated nature about her—her dress, mannerism, expression. All of these designed and orchestrated details go to form a picture of the high class. In this way, Wrigley is adding to the notion that one should desire to be a part of that demographic—both an appeal to social norms and consumerism. In addition to the woman, the idea of value was another point of emphasis. Wrigley sought after linking their product to the concept of gifts and value deals. Hence, the promo offer details on the other side of the poster. The promise of buying in bulk and receiving a prize for your purchase were meant to entice, the opposing side of, the buyer.

            Gantz, Jones, & Co had a different target demographic than Wrigley. Where Wrigley was advertising to a group of consumers that could afford small commodities like gum, Gantz, Jones, & Co was selling to a consumer focused on the essentials—bread, biscuits, etc. With their audience in mind, Gantz, Jones, & Co went with a simplistic campaign. Their imagery features a little boy (with a caption of, “Would go fifty miles to get it”) and a little girl (with a caption of, “Brings health & comfort”), both dressed pleasantly. The image is both clear and concise. The previously mentioned captions capitalizes on a calming blue text. In addition to the cool color the caption alludes to both class and social norms. To begin, “would go fifty miles to get it,” gives an impression of desperation (one that’s highly contrasting to the impression of the image). Also, because the target demographic of Gantz, Jones, & Co was the working class there was a big importance on attendance at work. You have to be there to earn a pay check. Therefore, the promise of “health & comfort” is great for its consumer

            The world of Food in the 19th century had many parallels to the culture of the times, the Romantic Era. Therefore, class, social norms, and consumerism are all reflected in their advertisement (as represented by Wrigley Gum Brand and Gantz, Jones, & Co).

Western film or Nah?

Growing up I remember watching western films with my father and thinking to myself how boring I thought they were. To me every western movie was basically the same. They all followed the genre verisimilitude exactly. What is the genre of a western film? Western films are typically a story of good vs. evil and an attempt to establish some sort of law. You can always count on an action packed showdown typically a gunfight or salon brawl. Generally the characters are cowboys who are fighting Indians or other malicious cowboys who believe themselves to be above the law. The setting is always set in a desert like terrain one that makes your lips feels chapped. And horses galore, there are horse everywhere. The general theme is based on telling a story about morality.

Although The Bride Comes to Yellow Sky is a western short story I could not help but find all of the points in which it strayed from the typical western genre (personally to myself, making it more enjoyable to read and rather humorous). The first example I noticed was the uncertainty and fear that the marshal had about bringing his new wife home. Western heroes such as a marshal are thought to be tough, courageous, and bold. So seeing a sensitive or soft side of the western hero was very different than what I was expecting. Another stray from the genre that noticed was the in the end scene where there is about to be a showdown between the marshal and the town drunk but does not end like you would expect a western confrontation to conclude. In fact neither one of the characters shoots a gun; in class it was discussed that Scratchy did not shoot because he realized that he was in the presence of a woman and he wanted to be respectful. However I have to disagree, I believe that it was because he was so drunk that he had become dumbfounded when he was told by the marshal that this lady was his wife. Because he had no idea that the marshal had left town and gotten married. So in his drunken stupor he became stunned and was unable to shoot because of the news he had just received. It would also have contradicted the point of the story which is what I believe to have been a parody on the western genre because if he had continued the marshal to bear arms the marshal would no longer be the fearful hero that he was. He would have to act in an entirely different manner with courage and strength which is way different than the nervous man we got to know in the train. 

Those Fancy Women

In lecture on Tuesday a T-chart was created of the different characters and whether they were on the facts side or the fancy side. What we noticed as a group was that many of the female characters were on the fancy and many of the male characters were on the fact side. After some research online I discovered that Dickens wanted to make a point, he wanted to use women as a symbol as the counterpoint to the mechanical ideologies that men tend to possess.  He shows that the compassion that women carry balance the hardness of men and that without that balance there would be conflict. This can be seen in the marriage of the Grindgrinds. Mr.Gradgrind who is all about facts suppresses the women that are in his life. First by suppressing his wife whom towards the end of the book makes the statement “you must remember, my dear, that whenever I have said anything, on any subject, I have never heard the last of it: and consequently, that I have long left off saying anything” (Dickens 186).  Luisa the daughter of Mr. Gradgrind confesses to him that she feels she has lost a part of her childhood because she was taught only facts and has lost her femininity. She also feels isolated and disconnected from other people because of the rigid upbringing she received from her father. She finds herself married to a man that embodies the ideologies of her father and came to the conclusion that she truly is not in love or happy with this man and it is because of her father. As she progresses throughout the story with the help of the other female characters such as Rachel and Sissy she is able to recognize her emotions. This is a strong changing point in the story with Luisa because as she changes into a woman of fact and fancy she is proving Dickens point that fact and fancy need to be balanced and he has chosen a woman to embody that idea, which is very different for his time and can be seen as the beginning of the feminist movement for that era. This whole system of men is being paired with facts and women being paired with emotions but then having a big garnering at the end of the story shows Dickens views that he believes women are being treated unfairly by society and men. And this story is him recognizing the potential of women.