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
Showing posts with label analysis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label analysis. Show all posts
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.
Tuesday, November 26, 2013
How are minorities portrayed in books?
The treatment of minorities is a somewhat controversial issue, even now. Misogyny, 'gay bashings', and the Holocaust are all real-world, flesh-and-blood examples of how people have viewed others. One would think they would be a little more favorably portrayed in books; however, this isn't always the case. The portrayal of minorities tends to place them in unfavorable situations that focus more on their negative aspects, rather than highlighting the positive ones; in other words, they often receive an unfavorable portrayal.
One example of this is in the John Grisham novel The Brethren, which centers on three convicted judges extorting money from closet homosexuals. In several of these situations, outside help is called in to 'rescue' the extortion victims (mainly older, wealthy, white men). The extortion itself is despicable on many levels, but what bothers me is that these men cannot seem to get a grip. They all have experience in dealing with difficult issues (banking and politics, for example), and outmaneuvering opponents; the situation they have placed themselves in is rather similar to that. Their inability to extricate themselves makes them seem weaker than the straight men who are called on to help them, which is untrue. There is also a one-sided opinion on homosexuality throughout the book, provided by the homophobic justices running the scam. Other characters have a less obvious disdain of homosexuals, but no one steps up to protect them. Even though the book is set in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when major support groups had not really appeared in the U.S., there was support for the LGBTQ community, and that could have been written in somewhere.
Sexual discrimination was one of the factors in the Holocaust; homosexual men, having failed to create 'Aryan offspring', were often castrated after being sent to concentration camps. SS officers who were thought to be gay were shipped to a camp where they were killed.
Another example of unfavorable treatment is misogyny, which appears many times in the books I read. Women tend to be viewed as lesser than men, a view which unfortunately persists in the literary world. In the Artemis Fowl series, Holly Short, one of the protagonists, is discriminated against because of her gender. She receives less desirable police assignments than the male officers do, and even when she finds her way out of impossible situations, confidence is not placed in her abilities. While Holly does tend to be a wild card, multiple comments have been made about how females shouldn't be in the police force- even when the screwups aren't her fault.
Misogyny and gender stereotypes are still a part of world culture, despite the advancements and accomplishments made by women. Men are viewed as more 'socially valued' and competent than women; the gaps in wages remain. In African and Middle Eastern countries, men basically control everything their wives can do.
In conclusion, I found that minorities often receive unfavorable portrayals in books, similar to the real world.
One example of this is in the John Grisham novel The Brethren, which centers on three convicted judges extorting money from closet homosexuals. In several of these situations, outside help is called in to 'rescue' the extortion victims (mainly older, wealthy, white men). The extortion itself is despicable on many levels, but what bothers me is that these men cannot seem to get a grip. They all have experience in dealing with difficult issues (banking and politics, for example), and outmaneuvering opponents; the situation they have placed themselves in is rather similar to that. Their inability to extricate themselves makes them seem weaker than the straight men who are called on to help them, which is untrue. There is also a one-sided opinion on homosexuality throughout the book, provided by the homophobic justices running the scam. Other characters have a less obvious disdain of homosexuals, but no one steps up to protect them. Even though the book is set in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when major support groups had not really appeared in the U.S., there was support for the LGBTQ community, and that could have been written in somewhere.
Sexual discrimination was one of the factors in the Holocaust; homosexual men, having failed to create 'Aryan offspring', were often castrated after being sent to concentration camps. SS officers who were thought to be gay were shipped to a camp where they were killed.
Another example of unfavorable treatment is misogyny, which appears many times in the books I read. Women tend to be viewed as lesser than men, a view which unfortunately persists in the literary world. In the Artemis Fowl series, Holly Short, one of the protagonists, is discriminated against because of her gender. She receives less desirable police assignments than the male officers do, and even when she finds her way out of impossible situations, confidence is not placed in her abilities. While Holly does tend to be a wild card, multiple comments have been made about how females shouldn't be in the police force- even when the screwups aren't her fault.
Misogyny and gender stereotypes are still a part of world culture, despite the advancements and accomplishments made by women. Men are viewed as more 'socially valued' and competent than women; the gaps in wages remain. In African and Middle Eastern countries, men basically control everything their wives can do.
In conclusion, I found that minorities often receive unfavorable portrayals in books, similar to the real world.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
Social Justice in the Potterverse
Have you ever tried to 'read between the lines' in a wildly popular series? One that you've read over and over?
Take, for example, the Harry Potter series. This is probably the epitome of a series everyone has read (or watched). Many people choose to focus on the protagonists' growth and emotional development through the books; however, there are several social justice themes I find particularly interesting that appear in most of the series.
One major theme throughout the series is discrimination, especially against races viewed as 'lesser' than wizards. A particular species that fits this is the house-elves. Since Dobby's appearance in Chamber of Secrets, the rights of the house-elf have become an underlying theme in the story. They are often treated cruelly by their masters, being subjected to unusual punishments for straying out of line- Dobby's reference to shutting his ears in the oven for helping Harry is an example of this. Some are treated callously, as if they have no business existing- Sirius's indifference to Kreacher, as if he is a common household object, is another example. Yet they profess to be happy with their lot, and are nauseatingly grateful to the supposed kindness of their masters. (Dobby is probably the only exception to this rule.) Hermione, always the champion of equal rights, forms a group to get the elves a better situation; her determination for equality at age fourteen or so is admirable, especially when others refuse to acknowledge the house-elves' rather miserable situation.
Another form of discrimination is against Muggle-borns. Witches or wizards who come from an entirely nonmagical family are an uncommon group at Hogwarts, and are thought to be of a lesser status than half- or purebloods, thus having lesser magic. This is entirely untrue- Hermione, a Muggle-born, has more skill than Neville, a pureblood. Unfortunately, 'Mudbloods' are heavily discriminated against by their fellow wizards (take Malfoy's utter disdain of Hermione).
These themes of discrimination have parallels in reality. In the US, for example, African-Americans were historically discriminated against, such as the victims of the Holocaust- including Jewish citizens, homosexuals, 'Gypsies', and the disabled- were during the 1940s. In other countries, women have severely limited rights, such as the Potterverse's Muggle-borns and house-elves.
In conclusion, social justice in the Harry Potter series has parallels in reality. Many of these themes also come up in other series or stand-alone works; however, the Potterverse has more opportunity to explore these in detail. I believe that if J.K. Rowling had focused more on justice for characters that were discriminated against, she could create a very interesting and sensitive topic.
Take, for example, the Harry Potter series. This is probably the epitome of a series everyone has read (or watched). Many people choose to focus on the protagonists' growth and emotional development through the books; however, there are several social justice themes I find particularly interesting that appear in most of the series.
One major theme throughout the series is discrimination, especially against races viewed as 'lesser' than wizards. A particular species that fits this is the house-elves. Since Dobby's appearance in Chamber of Secrets, the rights of the house-elf have become an underlying theme in the story. They are often treated cruelly by their masters, being subjected to unusual punishments for straying out of line- Dobby's reference to shutting his ears in the oven for helping Harry is an example of this. Some are treated callously, as if they have no business existing- Sirius's indifference to Kreacher, as if he is a common household object, is another example. Yet they profess to be happy with their lot, and are nauseatingly grateful to the supposed kindness of their masters. (Dobby is probably the only exception to this rule.) Hermione, always the champion of equal rights, forms a group to get the elves a better situation; her determination for equality at age fourteen or so is admirable, especially when others refuse to acknowledge the house-elves' rather miserable situation.
Another form of discrimination is against Muggle-borns. Witches or wizards who come from an entirely nonmagical family are an uncommon group at Hogwarts, and are thought to be of a lesser status than half- or purebloods, thus having lesser magic. This is entirely untrue- Hermione, a Muggle-born, has more skill than Neville, a pureblood. Unfortunately, 'Mudbloods' are heavily discriminated against by their fellow wizards (take Malfoy's utter disdain of Hermione).
These themes of discrimination have parallels in reality. In the US, for example, African-Americans were historically discriminated against, such as the victims of the Holocaust- including Jewish citizens, homosexuals, 'Gypsies', and the disabled- were during the 1940s. In other countries, women have severely limited rights, such as the Potterverse's Muggle-borns and house-elves.
In conclusion, social justice in the Harry Potter series has parallels in reality. Many of these themes also come up in other series or stand-alone works; however, the Potterverse has more opportunity to explore these in detail. I believe that if J.K. Rowling had focused more on justice for characters that were discriminated against, she could create a very interesting and sensitive topic.
Thursday, October 17, 2013
An Analysis of Names
The YA novel Hero by Perry Moore is about Thom, a gay teenager with superpowers who deals with the disdain of his father and his fellow heroes while coming to terms with who he is. While I was reading this book, I noticed that the names of several characters have a connection to their personality, or are simply interesting. So here is my analysis of their names.
Thom Creed
Thom's first name is a short form of Thomas, meaning "twin" in Greek. This is connected with his inner struggle- one half of mind wants to please his father, while the other wants to be who he is. Since twins may be referred to as two halves, this is an accurate first name. His surname, Creed, means "a statement of beliefs, principles, or opinions", something Thom doesn't really do until near the end of the book. It seems that the twins need to reconcile in order to state their beliefs.
Ruth Whitliff
Ruth, an elderly woman who can see the future, is Thom's first friend within the legion of superheroes. Her first name means "friendship" in Hebrew- this has to be more than a coincidence. (Whitliff doesn't seem to have any specific meaning; simply an aristocratic name that reflects her upper-middle-class ancestry.)
Hal and Lila Creed
Hal, a diminutive form of Harold, is an English name meaning "army ruler". This connects with his army service, but also his leader-type demeanor*. Lila is a Persian name meaning "lilac tree", but it can also mean "night" or "you are mine" in Hebrew. The flower name connects with the scent of gardenias Thom associates with his mother; "night" can be connected with the time she returned to visit him, or the time of day she left her family. An army leader and a night flower seems like an unlikely combination, but she is still his to the end.
Miss Scarlett and Typhoid Larry
Two of Thom's team members, Scarlett and Larry are two of the unlikeliest people to become friends. Scarlett is an English name meaning "red", but a better meaning is associated with Scarlett O'Hara from Gone With the Wind. Mr. Moore's Scarlett has inherited Ms. O'Hara's "cold-blooded tenacity" and flirtatious manner, as well as a penchant for the color red. Typhoid Larry, who can infect people with a handshake, is a parody of Typhoid Mary, the Irish cook who allegedly infected 50 people with her cooking. Larry is also a short form of Lawrence, an English name meaning "laurel". A laurel wreath was historically awarded to game champions or victors of a battle; Larry's sacrificing himself to save the world earns him a posthumous, metaphorical laurel wreath from Thom.
Golden Boy and Uberman
Uberman's name states who he is; the personification of masculinity (especially in Thom's eyes). Golden Boy's name does much the same; he's the sidekick doing everything he can to maintain a good image for his superiors, and in the beginning of the book, he's "nauseatingly kiss-ass" in Thom's opinion. His first name, Kevin, means "handsome" in Irish, connecting with his good looks- and it's this handsome, unusually successful young man** who wins Scarlett's heart (much like Scarlett and Rhett in Gone With the Wind).
Justice and Goran
Justice is a parody of Superman, from the alien ancestry to being adopted by older farmers in Kansas. He means to bring justice to Earth, and he does; at least until he decides he wants justice for his destroyed planet and nearly blows up the Earth in the process. Goran, the basketball player from Croatia, is an enigmatic young man who also wants his own justice, becoming a vigilante hero in the process. His name can metaphorically mean "the big/tall one", which reflects his imposing size.
*Hal's superhero alias was 'Major Might'; his first name ties in neatly with this.
**The expression 'golden boy' means someone who is unusually successful at an early age. Kevin's hero status, at the age of nineteen or so, is pretty successful, considering the fact that he's an orphan of unknown race.
Thom Creed
Thom's first name is a short form of Thomas, meaning "twin" in Greek. This is connected with his inner struggle- one half of mind wants to please his father, while the other wants to be who he is. Since twins may be referred to as two halves, this is an accurate first name. His surname, Creed, means "a statement of beliefs, principles, or opinions", something Thom doesn't really do until near the end of the book. It seems that the twins need to reconcile in order to state their beliefs.
Ruth Whitliff
Ruth, an elderly woman who can see the future, is Thom's first friend within the legion of superheroes. Her first name means "friendship" in Hebrew- this has to be more than a coincidence. (Whitliff doesn't seem to have any specific meaning; simply an aristocratic name that reflects her upper-middle-class ancestry.)
Hal and Lila Creed
Hal, a diminutive form of Harold, is an English name meaning "army ruler". This connects with his army service, but also his leader-type demeanor*. Lila is a Persian name meaning "lilac tree", but it can also mean "night" or "you are mine" in Hebrew. The flower name connects with the scent of gardenias Thom associates with his mother; "night" can be connected with the time she returned to visit him, or the time of day she left her family. An army leader and a night flower seems like an unlikely combination, but she is still his to the end.
Miss Scarlett and Typhoid Larry
Two of Thom's team members, Scarlett and Larry are two of the unlikeliest people to become friends. Scarlett is an English name meaning "red", but a better meaning is associated with Scarlett O'Hara from Gone With the Wind. Mr. Moore's Scarlett has inherited Ms. O'Hara's "cold-blooded tenacity" and flirtatious manner, as well as a penchant for the color red. Typhoid Larry, who can infect people with a handshake, is a parody of Typhoid Mary, the Irish cook who allegedly infected 50 people with her cooking. Larry is also a short form of Lawrence, an English name meaning "laurel". A laurel wreath was historically awarded to game champions or victors of a battle; Larry's sacrificing himself to save the world earns him a posthumous, metaphorical laurel wreath from Thom.
Golden Boy and Uberman
Uberman's name states who he is; the personification of masculinity (especially in Thom's eyes). Golden Boy's name does much the same; he's the sidekick doing everything he can to maintain a good image for his superiors, and in the beginning of the book, he's "nauseatingly kiss-ass" in Thom's opinion. His first name, Kevin, means "handsome" in Irish, connecting with his good looks- and it's this handsome, unusually successful young man** who wins Scarlett's heart (much like Scarlett and Rhett in Gone With the Wind).
Justice and Goran
Justice is a parody of Superman, from the alien ancestry to being adopted by older farmers in Kansas. He means to bring justice to Earth, and he does; at least until he decides he wants justice for his destroyed planet and nearly blows up the Earth in the process. Goran, the basketball player from Croatia, is an enigmatic young man who also wants his own justice, becoming a vigilante hero in the process. His name can metaphorically mean "the big/tall one", which reflects his imposing size.
*Hal's superhero alias was 'Major Might'; his first name ties in neatly with this.
**The expression 'golden boy' means someone who is unusually successful at an early age. Kevin's hero status, at the age of nineteen or so, is pretty successful, considering the fact that he's an orphan of unknown race.
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