The text I chose for my inquiry was the song 'Girls/Girls/Boys', by Panic! at the Disco. I decided to closely read the lyrics and see what the major and minor themes were, and I found that several intertwined. What themes could there be in this song?
Well, two major themes are love and acceptance, which really go hand-in-hand. In the song, love is the driving force behind the narrator's somewhat contradictory actions. He wants to protect his former girlfriend from people who might harm her ('But if you change your mind, you know where I am/Yeah, if you change your mind you know where to find me'); however, he's also in two minds about what she's done ('But I don't ever wanna be your boyfriend'). He cares about her a lot, going as far as defending her bisexuality ('Girls love girls and boys/And love is not a choice'). This is similar to real-life defense and support of the LGBT community, such as legalizing same-sex marriage.
This song could be the anthem for every bisexual woman across the world. Love isn't a choice, sexuality isn't a choice...this song portrays that through the narrator's thought processes.
The second major theme, acceptance, is also shown throughout the song. The narrator, despite his differing views on his girlfriend's choices, comes to accept the fact that she has a girlfriend ('They're close to finding out about your girlfriend...Girls love girls and boys'). He also accepts that love isn't a choice, due to his girlfriend's girlfriend and the fact that he's still in love with her (maybe because of their breakup).
Both of these themes are shown in the real world, especially on the topic of the LGBT community. Love within said community has been portrayed multiple times in the media (Cam and Mitchell on Modern Family, for example), and people are gradually coming to terms with it- an example of this is the seventeen states that have legalized same-sex marriage. However, others take a different view on the topic, such as the thirty-three states where non-heterosexual marriages are still illegal. A connection can be made to these states and the people persecuting the narrator's girlfriend ('They're close to finding out about your girlfriend').
Love isn't a choice, and that's a beautiful thing. If people would just realize that there's no stigma attached to not being straight, the theme of acceptance (if not necessarily love) would be widespread. We could learn to at least tolerate those who make different choices than us, like the narrator learns to.
Link to lyrics: http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/panicatthedisco/girlsgirlsboys.html
Tuesday, January 28, 2014
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
Synthesis Page: The Stolen Party
The Stolen Party falls under the category of XYZ short stories. While there are many themes to be noticed on the surface, reading between the lines reveals even more.
One theme is naivete. Rosaura's naivete in believing that the occupants of the 'big house' view her as a friend is the most obvious; she doesn't seem to realize she's being deceived until the very end. Her persistence in trying to see the good in other people renders her blind to the fact that they only see her as someone of a lower class. Likewise, Senora Ines' naivete lies in believing that Rosaura knows her place in society, and that she volunteers to work at the party because of this. Her naivete, like Rosaura's, is shattered when she attempts to pay Rosaura for her efforts.
Another theme is power and resistance, which occurs multiple times throughout the story. In the beginning, Rosaura resists her mother's power over her when she states that she's going to Luciana's birthday; her mother attempts to reassert her power, but eventually gives in. During the party, Rosaura has power over the other guests when she hands out slices of cake; she gives out "the biggest pieces" to the people she likes, and "a slice so thin one could see through it" to a girl she argued with. Senora Ines also has some power during the party when she asks Rosaura to help her; she indirectly asserts her authority. At the end of the story, Rosaura resists both the power of Senora Ines and the power of social class when she refuses to accept payment from the senora.
A third theme, similar to naivete, is deception. When Rosaura goes to the party, she is deceived by the behavior of Luciana's family into thinking that she is viewed as a friend. Her naivete in believing the deception lasts until the last few paragraphs of the story. The magician hired for the party also has some deceptions of his own. With his card tricks, and making the monkey disappear, he is convincing people into believing the untrue. This is similar to the deception Rosaura falls for; both appear to be good things but in reality are no more than smoke and mirrors.
One theme is naivete. Rosaura's naivete in believing that the occupants of the 'big house' view her as a friend is the most obvious; she doesn't seem to realize she's being deceived until the very end. Her persistence in trying to see the good in other people renders her blind to the fact that they only see her as someone of a lower class. Likewise, Senora Ines' naivete lies in believing that Rosaura knows her place in society, and that she volunteers to work at the party because of this. Her naivete, like Rosaura's, is shattered when she attempts to pay Rosaura for her efforts.
Another theme is power and resistance, which occurs multiple times throughout the story. In the beginning, Rosaura resists her mother's power over her when she states that she's going to Luciana's birthday; her mother attempts to reassert her power, but eventually gives in. During the party, Rosaura has power over the other guests when she hands out slices of cake; she gives out "the biggest pieces" to the people she likes, and "a slice so thin one could see through it" to a girl she argued with. Senora Ines also has some power during the party when she asks Rosaura to help her; she indirectly asserts her authority. At the end of the story, Rosaura resists both the power of Senora Ines and the power of social class when she refuses to accept payment from the senora.
A third theme, similar to naivete, is deception. When Rosaura goes to the party, she is deceived by the behavior of Luciana's family into thinking that she is viewed as a friend. Her naivete in believing the deception lasts until the last few paragraphs of the story. The magician hired for the party also has some deceptions of his own. With his card tricks, and making the monkey disappear, he is convincing people into believing the untrue. This is similar to the deception Rosaura falls for; both appear to be good things but in reality are no more than smoke and mirrors.
Saturday, January 11, 2014
Image four
http://us.123rf.com/400wm/400/400/egal/egal1210/egal121000036/15970979-autumn-falling-leaves-isolated-on-white-background.jpg
Falling leaves make me think of how little control we actually have over some aspects of life. In autumn, leaves naturally start to change color and detach from their trees; people naturally start to change as they get older, both physically and mentally. Like the falling leaves, we can't control how we change. It's a response to our environment. Teenagers especially are easier to represent with this metaphor, because teen years are when you go through puberty; something you have no control over. Appearances begin to change as hormones activate and deactivate; this is similar to leaves shifting color as chlorophyll shuts down, depriving them of the greenish shades normally present.
Falling leaves make me think of how little control we actually have over some aspects of life. In autumn, leaves naturally start to change color and detach from their trees; people naturally start to change as they get older, both physically and mentally. Like the falling leaves, we can't control how we change. It's a response to our environment. Teenagers especially are easier to represent with this metaphor, because teen years are when you go through puberty; something you have no control over. Appearances begin to change as hormones activate and deactivate; this is similar to leaves shifting color as chlorophyll shuts down, depriving them of the greenish shades normally present.
Sometimes you can't control what goes on in your thoughts, like who you like. That just seems to happen without warning. While this doesn't exactly happen with leaves, it's an involuntary response.
If leaves could 'control' how they shifted colors, and people could 'control' what goes on with their bodies and minds, life would start to become predictable. Some of the beauty in autumn lies in seeing what colors the leaves end up being, and the beauty in life is that it takes its own course with everyone- just like every tree's leaves fall at their own pace.
Monday, January 6, 2014
Best Books of 2013
While there was quite a lot of good literature published in 2013, three books stood out to me. These books made the list because they contain good plots, unique writing styles, and they're overall good books.
1. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. This book is written from the changing points of view of the wife and four daughters of a Protestant minister who travel to the Congo in 1959 as missionaries. Each of the narrators change through the course of the book (which spans thirty years), learning to accept differing religions and viewpoints based on their own decisions. Aside from character growth, there is an unexpected plot twist at the end which throws everything into a new light. A good plot is another reason why I enjoy this book.
2. Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian by Eoin Colfer. The final book of the Artemis Fowl series comes with as many plot twists and unexpected happenings as the previous seven, but this is the book where human protagonist Artemis really changes the most in terms of character growth. When megalomaniac pixie Opal Koboi once again tries to destroy the fairy world, Artemis's plan involves himself making a huge sacrifice to save his friends- something he wouldn't have done previously without pressure from others. This shows how much his compassion for his friends and family has increased, which is a major change from the rather cold and emotionless boy before. The Last Guardian is written in Colfer's witty style, another reason why I enjoy this series.
3. The House of Hades by Rick Riordan. This book is witty, it is emotional, and sometimes downright hilarious. Picking up from the cliffhanger in The Mark of Athena, the crew of the Argo II are traveling to meet Percy and Annabeth at the Doors of Death- but not without some delays on both sides. The main reason I like this book is because of the changing relationships. First between Percy and Nico, which affects how the other characters see him (Nico), and the second between Leo and Calypso (this is a very sweet one because they actually are very similar). Hazel's acceptance of her half-brother and friend despite these relationships also shows that everyone should be given a chance, which is one of the underlying themes throughout both the Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series.
All in all, these were some of my favorite books of 2013. They all have similar themes of acceptance, and the unique ways the authors chronicled the growth of their protagonists added to the good plots and made these books special.
1. The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver. This book is written from the changing points of view of the wife and four daughters of a Protestant minister who travel to the Congo in 1959 as missionaries. Each of the narrators change through the course of the book (which spans thirty years), learning to accept differing religions and viewpoints based on their own decisions. Aside from character growth, there is an unexpected plot twist at the end which throws everything into a new light. A good plot is another reason why I enjoy this book.
2. Artemis Fowl: The Last Guardian by Eoin Colfer. The final book of the Artemis Fowl series comes with as many plot twists and unexpected happenings as the previous seven, but this is the book where human protagonist Artemis really changes the most in terms of character growth. When megalomaniac pixie Opal Koboi once again tries to destroy the fairy world, Artemis's plan involves himself making a huge sacrifice to save his friends- something he wouldn't have done previously without pressure from others. This shows how much his compassion for his friends and family has increased, which is a major change from the rather cold and emotionless boy before. The Last Guardian is written in Colfer's witty style, another reason why I enjoy this series.
3. The House of Hades by Rick Riordan. This book is witty, it is emotional, and sometimes downright hilarious. Picking up from the cliffhanger in The Mark of Athena, the crew of the Argo II are traveling to meet Percy and Annabeth at the Doors of Death- but not without some delays on both sides. The main reason I like this book is because of the changing relationships. First between Percy and Nico, which affects how the other characters see him (Nico), and the second between Leo and Calypso (this is a very sweet one because they actually are very similar). Hazel's acceptance of her half-brother and friend despite these relationships also shows that everyone should be given a chance, which is one of the underlying themes throughout both the Percy Jackson and Heroes of Olympus series.
All in all, these were some of my favorite books of 2013. They all have similar themes of acceptance, and the unique ways the authors chronicled the growth of their protagonists added to the good plots and made these books special.
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