John Cage Defined in the 1950s
John Cage is considered by many to be the defining voice of avant-garde music throughout the 20th century. Fusing philosophy with composition, he reinvented the face of modern music, leading composer Arnold Schoenberg to declare, "Of course he's not a composer, but he's an inventor -- of genius" (Kostelanetz 6). For Cage, the 1950s brought a series of critical events that both refined his message as a composer and brought him great fame, or infamy to some. His interest in Eastern Zen philosophy blossomed throughout the early part of the decade, a subject that is actively pursued and reinforced in all of his following musical works. The 1950s also brought the revelation for Cage that sound is inherently
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I received the highest grade in the class. That convinced me that the institution was not being run correctly. I left. (Cage, An Autobiographical Statement).
Cage departed for Europe where he spent a year traveling and attempting to become a refined writer. It was here where he was first exposed to modern music and painting and had the idea that he could do these things just as well. He returned to California and began composing music with no formal training, lecturing on modern music and painting to housewives to earn money. When he needed a pianist to perform a Schoenberg piece that proved too technically difficult to perform himself, Cage attempted to enlist the help of concert pianist Richard Buhlig. Buhlig turned down the offer, yet offered to help the struggling Cage with his compositions. Buhlig, realizing his own composition skills were inadequate to assist Cage in any meaningful way, suggested to Cage that he go and study with Henry Cowell. Cowell, living in New York City, eventually led Cage back to California to study with world renowned composer, Arnold Schoenberg.
At that time, "legitimate" classical music was divided between the great composers Igor Stravinsky and Arnold Schoenberg, both of whom were residing in California and whom Cage could have studied with. Stravinsky composed in much the same classical tradition of the previous 200 years.
The Novel Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey revolves around a young boy named Charlie Bucktin living in the small Australian town of Corrigan in the 1960’s. Charlie is exposed to the confronting issues of racial prejudice, injustice and moral duality. He is challenged to question right from wrong, has to come to the realization that law doesn’t always uphold justice and we as readers are positioned to understand that people are capable of holding two conflicting values and remain in confortable harmony. The ideas are portrayed through Silvey’s use of narrative conventions that are used to either challenge or reinforce our values, attitudes and beliefs on the issues explored.
Charlie Bucktin learns a great deal about himself, others, Corrigan and important lessons that will help him live a better life in Jasper Jones. In the novel, Charlie goes through some experiences that teach him some of life’s great lessons. In particular he comes to learn a great deal about trust, love, facing and overcoming fear, role models and racial prejudice.
In Francine Prose’s “I Know Why the Caged Bird Cannot Read: How American High School Students Learn to Loathe Literature”, the author is trying to explain why high school students are not asked to read more quality pieces of literature now a days. In my opinion I agree with Prose because I think the texts we read in high school are not challenging and not a lot of students enjoy the readings because they cannot relate. Prose uses the rhetorical strategy of degrading the books high school students are reading and she uses her own personal experiences to support her argument.
The narrative piece written by Frederick Douglass is very descriptive and, through the use of rhetorical language, effective in describing his view of a slave’s life once freed. The opening line creates a clear introduction for what is to come, as he state, “ the wretchedness of slavery and the blessedness of freedom were perpetually before me.”
Born in Tennessee, Nikki Giovanni spent the majority of her childhood in Cincinnati, Ohio, after moving with her family. Well acquainted with Knoxville, because of her family’s frequent trips to Tennessee from Ohio, Giovanni decided to go to college at Fisk University. Giovanni had trouble complying to the foreign rules and way of life at the University, which ultimately resulted in her expulsion. After being expelled, Giovanni thought about priorities and the importance of a college education. Giovanni negotiated a deal with the dean of Fisk University to allow her to re-enroll and graduate with the class of 1966 (Giovanni). Without her college education, Giovanni would be incapable of birthing her thought-provoking, mind-rendering poetry at the caliber in which she does. Shortly after receiving her graduate degree, Giovanni 's grandmother, Louvenia Watson, passed away. To help cope with the loss of her beloved grandmother, Giovanni started to write and eventually produced her first book of poetry, Black Feeling Black Talk. Wanting to publish her newly written work, Giovanni asked numerous publishers to give her an opportunity, but to no avail. Instead of waiting for the greenlight from a publisher, Nikki Giovanni self-published Black Feeling Black Talk using her personal finances (Giovanni). After composing several collections of poetry, Giovanni became a New York Times best-selling author and an acclaimed professor at Virginia Tech. Following the tragedy of the Virginia
Tommy Burns was the new heavy weight champion and like Jefferies, he to was denying Johnson a shot at the title. This time Johnson was not having it. He followed Burns for two years from San Francisco to New York from Paris to London, mocking him to fight him. Burns would just state that Johnson was yellow, eventually it was said that King Henry himself called Burns a bluffer, I guess this got to Burns for in the end he agreed to fight Johnson for 30,000 dollars win, lose, or draw. This
Milton Babbitt and John Cage were both composers who played pivotal roles in the post-World War II Avant Garde music scene and in the pioneering of electronic music. Both composers found their roots and were greatly influenced by German-Jewish composer Arnold Schoenberg, however they both adopted different viewpoints on the relationship between a composer and their audience . Babbitt believed that a composer or creator did not have an obligation to please his or her audience, and that his pieces were intended mostly for professionals capable of understanding the context and intention of his music. Cage on the other hand granted his audience more power and influence, believing that music was a platform on which audiences could utilize their creativity to adopt new ways of perceiving and being aware of the world around them. These stances, as well as the different techniques and methodologies of the composers pitted them on somewhat of a spectrum, with Babbitt and his systematic, modernist ideas that were largely based in the music schools of academic institutions on one side and Cage, with his uncontrollable, radical combinations of Avant Garde sounds on the other side. These ideas on audience construction and relations were also visible in rock music of the 1960’s, particularly in compositions of artists such as Jimi Hendrix and Bob Dylan.
Felsenfeld takes his readers on a journey from being an uninspired teenager, into the world of an adult “rebel” composer. Although Daniel was in piano lessons at a young age, he just couldn’t seem to spark an interest in the classical music that was being put in front of him. He continued the lessons through high school, and only had enough skill to make minimal money in piano bars and orchestra pits. Daniel regularly hung out with a friend, Mike, whose house he would go
As Alex Ross describes, “Cage love[s] noise” (366). This should be why he decided to alter his piano in a “conceptually violent” and unusual way for Sonatas and Interludes. Though, Cage’s aim was not pure violence, as we are pleased by the “soft sounds” instead of being “battered by some unholy racket” (Ross, 366). I
George Balanchine came to the United States in 1933, following an early career throughout Europe. He studied piano from a young age and graduated from the Imperial Ballet School in St. Petersburg, where he first studied dance from the age of nine. He then enrolled in Russia’s Conservatory of Music and studied piano and musical theory, as well as musical theory, composition, harmony and counterpoint. He graduated after three years in 1924. His extensive training made it possible for him to work with composers held in high regard, such as Igor Stravinsky.
Throughout her life, Marguerite experiences many different situations and people that all contribute to the way she grows up and the person she becomes. Despite some of her tragic circumstances, she learns a lot growing up, mainly because of the African-American women in her life who teach her all different life lessons. In I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, Marguerite gets to absorb teachings from her mother (Vivian), Mrs. Bertha Flowers, and her grandmother (Momma). These women allow Marguerite to learn and grow as an African-American female, all while paving her own way.
Maya Angelou's I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Maya shields herself against the confusion of St. Louis by reading fairy-tales and telling herself that she does not intend on staying there anyway. Vivian works in a gambling parlor at night. Maya pities Mr. Freeman because he spends his days at home waiting for Vivian to return. Maya begins sleeping at night with Vivian and Mr. Freeman because she suffers from nightmares. One morning after Vivian has left the bed and the house,
Salinger, J(erome) D(avid) (1919- ), American novelist and short story writer, known for his stories dealing with the intellectual and emotional struggles of adolescents who are alienated from the empty, materialistic world of their parents. Salinger's work is marked by a profound sense of craftsmanship, a keen ear for dialogue, and a deep awareness of the frustrations of life in America after World War II (1939-1945).
Blood, gore, and a lot of language; you will find this is most Quentin Tarantino movies. Although, this is what makes him such a writer and director. Quentin Tarantino is not only a fantastic screenplay writer, but he also pushes the limit of intense plots of drama, and mostly violence. As a great director, who changes the world of filmmaking, Quentin Tarantino is one of the most unique directors/writers, today.
The poem “Caged Bird” by Maya Angelou tells the story of two birds: one bird has the luxury of freedom and the second bird lives its life caged and maltreated by an unknown tyrant. Maya Angelou wrote this poem during the Civil Rights Era, the period when black activists in the 1950’s and 1960’s fought for desegregation of African Americans. This poem parallels the oppression that African Americans were fighting during this time period. In “Caged Bird”, Angelou builds a strong contrast that shows the historical context of discrimination and segregation through the use of mood, symbolism, and theme.