In The Closet

on his awkward pre-teen years, where it was speculated by his parents that he was gay, and he

“A Visit of Charity” by Eudora Welty and “Behind Grandma’s House” by Gary Soto both deal with similar topics about the relationship between the elderly and the young. “Behind Grandma’s House” is about a young child that is acting rebellious against society by cussing at an imaginary pastor, and scaring animals in the alley behind Grandmother’s house (291). He is rebellions until the grandmother comes out to hit the child in the face as discipline for what he has done (291). “A Visit of Charity” is about a young girl named Marion who visits a retirement home to visit with two elderly women so Marion can receive service hours for the Campfire Girls (116). Although “A Visit of Charity” and “Behind Grandmother’s House” both incorporate the Elderly

I really enjoyed your response to the article, In the basement of Ivory Tower. I find myself agreeing with you in a few areas of your response, especially the parts regarding why the author chose to publish this piece or writing. I find that he simply wanted to express his opinion on why college isn’t for everyone, I don’t find myself agreeing with that statement but the author did a nice job of making the reader think about why? I also find myself agreeing with the fact that there are many other helpful things a teacher can do to help his students succeed, especially those students who need a little extra encouragement along the way.

"…It wasn't just the war that made him what he was. That's too easy. It was everything – his whole nature…" – Eleanor K. Wade

Intro: Like various art forms such as film, television, and literature allows artists to express their own sense of identity, that being nationality, race, class, ethnicity, gender or sexuality. In this case, Queen uses music to illustrate the themes of gender and sexuality through their music video I Want to Break Free (1983). This essay will attempt to discuss how Queen’s music video, I Want to Break Free, explores queerness in relation to queer theory. Firstly, I will introduce the ideas and arguments of queer theory through Gilbert Herdt article Same Sex Different Cultures (1997). I will then discuss Queen’s portrayal of drag within the music video and how it can be seen as queer rather than heterosexual. Lastly, I will argue that

“When a writer creates a new eel, it wriggles its way into the barrel, muscles a path into the great teeming mass from which it came in the first place. It’s a new eel, but it shares its eelness with all those other eels that are in the barrel or have ever been in the barrel.” Pg. 28

In the stories of Krik? Krak! , the social system was corrupt and unfair towards women. Some of these stories include “Between the Pool and the Gardenia,” “Nineteen Thirty Seven,” and lastly the epilogue “Women Like Us.” In “Between the Pool and the Gardenia,” women were described more as tools to make babies rather than a human being.

Many debates have sparked due to the topic of naturalism vs. realism. Naturalism takes the power away from the actual person, it says that people exist entirely in the order of nature, and do not have a soul, or any mode of participating in a religious or spiritual world beyond nature. () Realism however, gives those human like characteristics back to the person. Literary realism has a concern with morality and ethics. It means that humans have a moral agency, they can make choices, take directions, and take responsibility for their actions. () Hamlin Garland’s “Under the Lions Paw” does a good job with strengthening that debate of Naturalism vs. Realism even more. The story incorporates both naturalism and realism making it difficult to

Elvis Presley, the King of Rock, is a surprising figure that rarely comes to mind when you think of the fight for sexual rights in the US. During the span of Elvis’ music career (1954-1977), conservative America was deeply engrained with values of sexual inhibition. Sex, and anything in relation, was an act that was engaged in behind closed doors. The Cock-Rocker image Elvis presented on stage, such as his gyrating hips and highly sexualized song lyrics, was significant enough in deviation from America’s social norm that parents as well as authority figures tried to censor him. Nevertheless, it is America’s youth that ultimately decides what values will continue on.

“At the Dark End of the Street,” is a novel that takes back to the terrifying experience Recy Taylor had in Abbeville, Alabama. Taylor was gang-raped by six white men in the 1940s. This scene immediately shows readers the civil rights movement during the 20th century and how important it was in understanding what was happening. Danielle McGuire is the author of “At the Dark End of the Street,” which was published in 2010. However, “This Nonviolent Stuff’ll Get You Killed,” is a novel that focuses on King’s protection during the Montgomery bus boycott that took place in Montgomery, Alabama. Charles E. Cobb is the author of “This Nonviolent Stuff’ll Get You Killed,” and was published in 2014. Both of these novels focus their points on different and similar aspects of the civil rights movement. When Cobb wrote “This Nonviolent Stuff’ll Get You Killed,” he focuses on the protection African Americans needed in order to not get killed completing everyday tasks, like going grocery shopping. Even on public transportation, civil rights activist felt threatened to the point of bringing weapons and concealing them on their personnel. Even though both novels take place during different times of the Civil Rights Movement they both show the similar hardships important figures played during this movement.

. During the 1980s, the way Americans perceived homosexuality, race, and violence was challenged. In response, Prince’s eccentric and extravagant music style and attire dismantled conventional gender barriers of what it meant to be masculine and feminine in American society. Therefore, his musical creations set an example by pushing the limits of authenticity and self-expression. Prince’s fearless dedication to breaking down conventional expectations of style, music, gender norms, and conformity can be seen in his vocals, instrument choice, and lyrics. In the late 1980s, Prince was a music icon who blended funk, soul, pop, and hip-hop and presented his work in an androgyny atmosphere to advocate for racial and gender equality. His musical creations and appearance had disrupted the societal confines that fenced in the minority groups and pushed the limits of what it meant to be a black man. Prince’s distinct attire, extravagant performances, and persona helped contribute to a new music era of funk-rock and challenged the taboo concepts of the 1980’s. Prince’s musical work impacted society by encouraging wildly free and creative behavior during a time where it was not acceptable to be who you were. In this paper, I will analyze the auditory significance of two of Prince’s songs: “If I was your girlfriend” (1987) and “I Would Die 4 U” (1984). Analysis for both songs were based on music videos and a scene from Prince’s film, Purple Rain. In addition to these songs, Prince’s

From his very first album at 18 years old to his denial of digital music markets towards the end of his life, a prominent theme throughout Prince’s musical career was his insistence on power over his music. He famously believed that artists should not have managers: “You should be a grown man, be able to man-age yourself”.(Hiatt) His public war with record label Warner Bros. was the pinnacle of his battle for control. “When you stop a man from dreaming, he becomes a slave. That’s where I was. I don’t own Prince’s music. If you don’t own your masters, your master owns

The 1980’s consisted of several historical events and societal changes that have been relived though the lyrics of many young hip-hop artists. Of the numerous genres of songs, hip-hop has been labeled as of the most relatable genres. During this 1980’s, many of the songs that were written by male hip-hop artist tend to focus on the relationship aspect of male and female interactions. This finding is similar to what was stated in Frith’s article (1986) that most successful pop songs were about being “happy in love” and “frustrated in love” as well as having a sex interest (p. 78). Instead of using derogatory terms to describe women, men felt the need to use more delicate and gentle terms. Through their music, artists portrayed women as individuals who provide love, support, happiness and fulfillment to a man’s life. Furthermore, male artists portrayed themselves as men who weren’t afraid to express their emotions, admit their dependency on women, and their willingness to do what it takes to keep a woman. There were no signs of hypermasculinity or dominance in the first few songs

As an eighth grader in the United States of America, I have grown up with an African American president for more than half of my life, and, therefore, the most diverse administration in U.S history. As an eighth grader in New York City, I have grown up in an environment where almost 70% is composed of people of color, making this city amongst the ten most racially diverse in the world. Correspondingly, the world in my eyes is far more different than that represented in To Kill a Mockingbird. In over 80 years of American history (1930s-2017) we have faced immense racial and social progress; The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed public segregation and employment discrimination and four laws have since been added to prevent discrimination. In the text, this improvement was not present. During the trial, white people sat on the first floor and black people sat on the balcony; Jem and Scout are brought to an all-colored church

The King of Pop made an impact in the world through his incredible talents of singing, dancing and entertaining while changing the world and breaking racial boundaries like a smooth criminal. Michael Jackson wants to send a message to the world that we are all the same regardless of the color of skin, gender, age, or religion. For example, in his music video, “Black or White”, he was dancing and singing all around the world with people of different cultures and ethnicities. By wearing a black and white outfit throughout the video and dancing and singing powerfully and exuberantly, he illustrates the leadership he’s talking in sending out the message that “it don’t matter if you’re black or white”. Jackson depicts world peace in a perfect picture