IM FINISIHED

And she is fini....Yahhh!!! Im done Im done Im doen Im done Im done
Time to go to sleep get some rest take the SAT tomorrow and get ready for prom
YIPPEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE


HEY MR. PARRY DON'T 4GET I GAVE U MY FREE CHOICE ON LIKE WED. IT WAS THE CD WITH THE 4 SONG ON IT....

Persuasive Analysis #4

“The Raw politics reconfirm ‘rassilnization’ of nation,” an extremely humorous article, is an insight to the mind of an American citizen that appears to detest the rules and regulations of politics. Although the author allowed the audience to conjure his/her own political views on the 2008 presidential candidates, he uses pathos to adhere to the emotions of the people. The speaking, surprisingly, uses a happy, humorous motivating force; he realizes that most Americans already think politics are stupid childish games that call for a series of tits for tats. Frank Wooten is hoping that the audience will become emotionally charged and realize the impending jeopardy of the nations presidential future.

Within the article, Wooten’s stance on Clinton’s, Obama’s, McCain’s, and Regal’s characters is not only evidence of pathos, but also evidence of personal attack, which is attacking or praising the people who make an argument, rather than discussing the argument itself. Although the Wooten is looking out for the best interest of America, he uses emotion to distract the reader from the facts. Each of the candidates made political errors, but instead of judging their opinions or political decisions, the author, in a sense, attacks their character and demeanor. While reading this article, reader may agree or disagree with author based emotional humor, instead of a decision based on logic.

{Mr. Parry read the article its hilarious!!).

Persuasive Analysis #3 (Gun Control)

“Chicago misfire on banning solution to gun homicides” is a political insight to the issue of gun control. Although the article is interesting and thoroughly written, Chapman uses pathos to adhere to the emotions of the people. He literally feeds off the anger of the people to help justify his stance on gun control. This emotional motivation was an intelligent effort by Chapman, considering most Americans detest the notion of breached safety policies. Though the article is just a newspaper clip, Chapman appears to be hoping that the people would become emotionally enraged and dispute the present regulations on gun control.

Within the article, Chapman’s political stance on gun ban’s not only confirms evidence of ethos but, also evidence of emotional and Either/Or fallacies. The specific type of emotion fallacy used by Chapman is Argumentum Ad Misericoridam, an emotional appeal concerning what should be a logical issue during a debate. Instead of directly directing the issue, Chapman uses emotions to distract the audience from the facts at had. He grasps that the law-abiding United States citizen had the right to protect his/herself in the time of danger. The specific type of Either/Or fallacy used by Chapman is “False Dilemma, the result of when a writer builds an argument upon the assumption that there are only two choices or possible outcome s when actually there are several. Chapman informs the people “Gun control hasn’t worked as a remedy for crime. So what makes anyone think the answer is more gun control?” which can be translated to mean that there are only two answers to the sinister issue, one is gun control and the other is no gun control. And no gun control is the logical solution.

Although Chapman was fighting for the due privileges of gun owners, he used emotional pathos and fallacies to appeal to the mind of the people. However, this plan could possibly backfire because quite a few people reading this article would probably make decisions based on emotional outrage than making a logical decision based on the proposals of gun issues of both sides of the law.

Persuasive Analysis #2 (BAN Solids)

BAN’s advertisement for the product Solids is a multicolored and exhilarating ad that appeals to teenagers of all age groups. However, the creator of BAN’s advertisement applied ethos, persuasion based on the reader’s character or image, to make the product more appealing. By using ethos, the author is able to reinforce a reader’s sense of duty, and in this case, it means purchasing a potent deodorant.

The writer of the article encompasses a sense of creativity, which appeals to the young and vibrant minds of teenagers. He/She is particularly able to draw the reader in when they give the consumer the opportunity to participate in designing an advertisement for the company. Another characteristic that assists in the persuasion is the design of protection. The creator’s line “Intensely fresh formula keeps you fresher than ever to protect you form the attention you don’t need,” creates a sense of trust between teenage girls and the creator, the creator being the ultimate protector who will provide a strong brand of deodorant.

In addition to the use of ethos as persuasion, the writer uses the rhetorical fallacy false need. False need is the argument that creates an unnecessary desire for things. The creator appeals to teenagers by making them feel as though BAN is the strongest type of deodorant on the market that will provide the ultimate protection. However, the reader may fail to notice that there are other great companies on the market that provide equal if not better protection.

Persuasive Analysis #1 (TRESemme)

TRESemme’s advertisement for the product Big Boost is flamboyant and appeals to both women and girls of all ages. However, the writer/creators of this advertisement apply ethos, persuasion based on the writer’s character or image, to make the product appealing. If the application of the persuasion is effective, that the reader would feel inclined to believe what the ad is attempting to promote.

The writer of the advertisement seems to encompass good sense, good morals, and overall a good character. This is especially evident when the creator applies the phrase, ‘You won’t have to sell you soul to get his kind of body” to the ad. If the audience believes that, the writer/speaker has nothing but good intentions, the product advertised will sell more efficiently.

Along with the use of ethos as persuasion, the writer uses the rhetorical fallacy false need. False need is arguments that create an unnecessary desire for things. Because the writer understands that women despise expensive hair products, he appeals to the audience by saying, “Its long-lasting formulas let you pump up your hair’s volume, without deflating your wallet,” giving women the idea that TRESemme could possibly be the one product used for volume boost without expensive cost. However, some women will fail to notice that the author places to warnings of hair damage due to excessive use. The product may be cheap but women would rather have hair with no volume than damaged hair with no volume.

Persuasive Analysis Summary #4

“Raw politics reconfirm ‘rassilinization’ of nation,” is a fascinating article written by Frank Wooten that simply relates the world of wrestling to that of politics. The article begins by describing Obama and Hilary Clinton as video game types of people who fight to their finish in the wrestling ring; “Pitting video-game-type renderings of Barack Obama, in dark sport coat with no tie, and Hillary Clinton in red pantsuit. The Obama character opened strongly with suplexes and neckbreakers before Clinton character rallied with elbow drops off the top rope and a jolting choke slam” (Wooten 1). Clinton, Obama, McCain, and Regal are all, in a sense, satirized through the technical terminology of the WWE.

Through each wrestling analogy, Wooten refers to political moments in which candidates faltered. For example, he points out Obama’s comment about the “bitter’ voter and those who “cling to their guns and religion” (1). He ploys McCain to become the person who ultimately wants no involvement in the political confrontation between Obama and Hilary; “Looks lie Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama wanna settle their differences in the ring. Well, that’s fine with me” (1). McCain is supposedly going to stay out of the democratic confrontation and follow the policies of Bush by keeping the American soldiers in Iraq. Ultimately, he would “introduce Osama bin Laden to the undertaker” (1). McCain goes further to state that America needs WWE because it is a symbol of our freedom as Americans. Wooten than goes on to make fun of Sir William Regal, who ridicules American’s as being colonist incapable of effective self-rule.

Overall, the article is an enlightenment of what the political world is about, “a no hands barred, no time limit death match that we’re all born to eventually loss.”

Persuasive Analysis Article #4

Persuasive Analysis Summary #3

The preceding ad, created by BAN, advertises a innovative type of deodorant. Most teenage girls have problems trying to unearth the perfect deodorant so BAN created a new deodorant called Solids; some deodorants make girls suffer from perspiration and putrid smells. Well, BAN guarantees that Solid will “keep you fresher than ever to protect you from the attention you don’t need.” The deodorant also comes in fresh scents such as Paradise Breeze. BAN also formed a way to get its consumers involved with the advertisement of the product. Girls have the opportunity to make an ad related to the deodorant and feature it on the BAN Brand website.

{Once again, Parry sorry for it being so short. It was another magazine article so I didnt have a lot to base my summary off of}

Persuasive Analysis Article #3

Persuasive Analysis Summary #2

The scanned article is an ad created by TRESemme, a shampoo company that advertises a new product called “Big Boost.” Considering that many women feel uncomfortable with the lack of volume of their hair, TRESemme invented a root lift hair spray that allows the women to change the volume of their hair without “selling their soul.”

As the described by the ad, women are able to “add salon gorgeous body to their” hair with the volume collection created by TRESemme. The created formula is so special that it allows women to use long lasting products to boost volume without deflating their wallet. TRESemme is ultimately a professional product made affordable for women. Other products used to help with the frustrating aspects of hair include volume, curl, control/hold, anti-breakage, color revitalize, moisture, and thermal creations.

{Sorry it's so short Mr. Parry...It's a magazine article so I didnt have much to base my summary on}

Persuasive Analysis Article #2

Persuasive Analysis Summary #1

“Chicago misfires on banning solution to gun homicide,” is an article written by Steve Chapman. He discusses the Chicago blunder in banning guns to help alleviate the homicide rate.

The writer evaluates past murder rates without the ban of guns. According to the records, only one murder involving assault weapons has occurred as of March 31. He continues on to declare that in past years, Chicago has put a ban on the manufacture and sale of guns, yet the murder rated dropped in 1991, 3 years before the law was enacted. Some of the murder rates fell shortly after the gun ban bill was enacted; however, this proves no direct correlation between the two issues. According to Gary Kleck, most criminals’ work with stolen guns so the band typically doesn’t affect them.

Chapman believes that by enacting a gun ban criminals are permitted to carry on like common citizens, while people “who rarely misuse their guns were deprived of options. Furthermore, the supply of guns will never cease because there are over 200 million private guns, guns have an extremely extensive life, and it does not take that a great deal of effort to provide criminals with guns. Chapman ultimately believes that gun control has never worked in the past, so more gun control would be just as ineffective.

Persuasive Analysis Article

Traitor (Poem #4)

Traitor

I am a traitor. I am a victim of bigotry.
I am not what they expect me to be.
I don’t dye my hair or get the latest fashion of clothes.
I am a traitor. A victim to many woes.

My nails are not 10 inches long.
My process and ways of thinking are all wrong.
Intelligence they tell me is the path of success.
Yet, I am outcast due to very the intellect I possess.

Am I a traitor? What makes me so different?
Are my choices of direction dissident?
What causes me to be such an unusual case? Now I understand, I must understand
I am a traitor. I am a victim of separatism from my own race.

River of Tears (Poem #3)

A River of Tears

A heart is broken
And a life is token is pulled away
As her heart gets heavy, the water appears
And she begins to cry a river of tears.

The pain she bears
That no one cares
Would soon dim the light that
Had shined so bright.

She stood in her room
Thinking that her life was doomed
That life had no meaning
No fun, no happy greetings.

Her teacher tried to reach her
And show that he cared
So that no a single hour or
Minute of her life should be spared

She walked out that day
With her head held high
Knowing that she was full of pride.
She went home and knew that she needed someone
But when she looked no one was there.

She was corrupt through high school
Thinking that no one was there
To she the hard times
That she bared.

That very night she took her very life
Due to all those long years filled with grief and strife
At her funeral her teacher appeared
He spoke of all her wonderful qualities as his eyes began to tear

He spoke of those years he tried to save her life
That somewhere in her body must have been an ounce of might
But now she was in a greater place
With no more agonies to face

For years and years to come
It was her grave that her teacher would never depart from
For he was finally there to share those long years
Of the river of tears

Trying to Forget (Poem #2)

Trying to Forget

My mind races faster than the speed of light
I flip the pages of the memory book that bring so much pain
I see and remember the different phases of my life
Yet I find that your face is not there.

My mind flashes back to a time before I remembered
Such a small child screaming for you to come home.
There she stood in the mirror tears streaking down her face
Praying to God, hoping he would make everything ok.

Slowly and whimsically, you disappear from the page
Just as you disappeared from my life.
It was only on weekends that I saw your face
Then with time, those weekends became years.

Each year I try to forget the pain you caused me
Forget those nights I cried myself to sleep on your behalf
Forget all those father days’s spent alone
Forget the man you used to be
Forget the father that use to forget his child.

"Yesterday" Song Analysis

“Yesterday”, a lonesome ballad, written by Paul McCartney is in relation to the misfortune of vanished love. The general theme of this song appears to be regret. Support for this theme is found in McCartney’s use of connotation and figurate language.

Connotation, the use of diction, plays a noteworthy function in this song. McCartney uses connotation to enlighten the listener with the account of his lost love. Before this moment in his life his, McCartney had a principally astonishing individual in his life. His loss of this individual results in his longing for yesterday; “Yesterday all my trouble seemed so far away / Now it looks as though / They’re here to stay / Oh I believe in yesterday” (Beatles 1-5). “Yesterday,” McCartney was a man profoundly in love; with the departure of that, love came regret, regret for not appreciating yesterday.

A figurative language, figures of speech, is also an exceedingly significant aspect of the song. McCartney uses abstract things such as shadows to mirror his discontent in letting such a astonishing woman walk out of his life; “Suddenly / I’m not half the man I used to be / There’s a shadow hanging over me / Oh yesterday came suddenly (Beatles 6-10). The shadow is the grief imposed upon his soul It is also his heavy burden of regret and yearning for love.

Overall, McCartney created a simplistic song that means a great deal to numerous people. To one individual it may represent the lost love of a mother; to another individual it may represent the lost love of a girlfriend. The song ultimately contains few lyrics, but somehow they get the point across with the assistance of a beautiful melody.

Yesterday Lyrics

Yesterday - Beatles

Yesterday, all my troublesseemed so far away.

Now it looks as though t

hey're here to stay.

Oh, I believe in yesterday.

Suddenly,I

'm not half the man i used to be,

There's a shadow hanging over me,

Oh, yesterday came suddenly.

Why she had to go

I don't know she wouldn't say.

I said something wrong,

Now I long for yesterday.

Yesterday, love was such an

easy game to play.

Now I need a place to hide away.

Oh, I believe in yesterday.

Why she had to goI don't know

she wouldn't say.

I said something wrong,

Now I long for yesterday.

Yesterday,

love was such an easy game to play.

Now I need a place to hide away.

Oh, I believe in yesterday.

Mm mm mm mm mm mm mm.

"Eleanor Rigby" Analysis

“Eleanor Rigby,” one of the Beatles most appealing songs is in relation to the loneliness and lost love of all people. The theme of this song just happens to be similar to the denotation of the song: loneliness. The theme is supported by the Beatle use of connotation and figurative language.

Connation, the use of words, plays a noteworthy role in the song. This part of poetry assists with the explanation of the lives of Eleanor Rigby and Father McKenzie. The first stanza “Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice/ In the church where a wedding / Has been/ Lives in a dream / Waits at the window, wearing the / Face that she keeps in a jar by / The door / Who is it for?” (Beatles 3-10), illustrates the storyline of Eleanor Rigby as a worker who picks up rice after weddings. The third stanza “Father McKenzie writing the words / Of a sermon that no one will her / No one comes near / Look at him working. Darning his / Socks in the night when there’s nobody there / What does he care?” (Beatles 15-21), portrays the tale of the many vacant and futile sermons that aid no one. Both stanzas illustrate the mortifying suffering of loneliness. As a result of this loneliness, Eleanor Rigby died and was buried alone in a graveyard. Father McKenzie, too, proceeds to encompass roughly the same lonely life since he still is incapable of saving lives. Although the characters are not authentic, the listener can relate to the pain and torment felt by both characters.

Figurative language, the use of figures of speech, also plays a major role in supporting the theme of the song. The Beatles utilize rhetorical questions to convey the repetitive meaning of loneliness. The line “Who is it for?” (Beatles) speaks of Eleanor’s probable yearning to unearth a lover or acquaintance. The next line, “All the lonely people, / Where do they all belong?” (Beatles 11-12), questions the location of the calamity of all lonely people.

Overall, “Eleanor Rigby” evokes the ceaseless sentiment of loneliness felt by so many, yet acknowledged by so few. Once again, Lennon and McCartney composed a genius song that simply relates to many people.

Eleanor Rigby Lyrics

Eleanor Rigby - Beatles

Ah, look at all the lonely people

Ah, look at all the lonely people

Eleanor Rigby picks up the rice

in the church where a wedding

has been

Lives in a dream

Waits at the window, wearing the

face that she keeps in a jar bythe door

Who is it for?

All the lonely people

Where do they all come from ?

All the lonely people

Where do they all belong ?

Father McKenzie writing the words

of a sermon that no one will hear

No one comes near.

Look at him working. Darning his

socks in the night when there's

nobody there

What does he care?

All the lonely people

Where do they all come from?

All the lonely people

Where do they all belong?

Ah, look at all the lonely people

Ah, look at all the lonely people

Eleanor Rigby died in the church

and was buried along with her

name

Nobody came

Father McKenzie wiping the dirt

from his hands as he walks from

the grave

No one was saved

All the lonely people

Where do they all come from?

All the lonely people

Where do they all belong?

"Buffalo Solider' Analysis

“Buffalo Soldier,” a compelling song by Bob Marley is the description of four post Civil War regiments composed of all black privates. For twenty-five years, the privates were made to battle against the Cheyenne, Comanche, Kiowa, Apache, Ute, and Sioux Indians. The same Indians dubbed the black privates buffalo soldiers. The overall theme of the song is the irony of America’s use of slaves to validate their means of annihilation of the Indians. Support for this theme is found in the use of figurative language and shift in tone.

Figurative language, the use of figures of speech, helps cultivate the song into an passionate account of American irony. Bob Marley’s use of Patois, the Jamaican language, occasionally makes this song difficult to evaluate. This is why diminutive things such as irony help a reader grasp the significance of the song. Marley’s lines, “And he was taken from African, brought to America, / Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival (Marley 8-9), are the most apparent utilization of irony in the entire song. It was amusingly ironic that African slaves fighting for life and survival were brought to America to battle and eliminate another minority. America was enslaving one race to annihilate another. The entire song is a metaphor for the repulsive realism of manifest destiny, the principle that every American had the right to expand west. Some manifest destiny fanatics were willing to stop at nothing to accomplish their expedition.

Bob Marley’s shift in tone is most fascinating. He goes from skeptical to resentment. The line “Buffalo soldier / Dreadlock Rasta” (Marley 1) appears to validate a tone that is keener to inform the audience of a narrative; a narrative of African slaves that were captured and brought to American to fight and be triumphant in a war that was not their predicament. However, within the second stanza there is an palpable shift in tone. Bob Marley departs from storyteller to irritated Jamaican. When he says, “I mean it, when I analyze the stench - / To me it makes a lot of sense: / How the dreadlock Rasta was the Buffalo soldier” (Marley 5-7). In a sense, it is as if Bob was questioning the ideology that Americans used to enslave Africans. Bob’s irritated tone would only make sense because he was the descendant of slaves who were brought from Africa to the Caribbean, stripped of their culture, and required to toil on someone else’s behalf.

“Buffalo Soldier” is a truly appealing song. It enlightens the listener of the tale of a regiment / time in history that is easily forgotten. Nevertheless, who is better to tell their story than Bob Marley, the peacemaker and lover of all people.

Buffalo Soldier Lyrics

Buffalo Soldier

Buffalo Soldier, Dreadlock Rasta:

There was a Buffalo Soldier in the heart of America,

Stolen from Africa, brought to America,

Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival.

I mean it, when I analyze the stench -

To me it makes a lot of sense:

How the Dreadlock Rasta was the Buffalo Soldier,

And he was taken from Africa, brought to America,

Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival.

Said he was a Buffalo Soldier, Dreadlock Rasta -

Buffalo Soldier in the heart of America.

If you know your history,

Then you would know where you coming from,

Then you wouldn't have to ask me,

Who the 'eck do I think I am.

I'm just a Buffalo Soldier in the heart of America,

Stolen from Africa, brought to America,

Said he was fighting on arrival, fighting for survival

Said he was a Buffalo Soldier win the war for America.

Dreadie, woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,

Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!

Woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,

Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!

Buffalo Soldier troddin' through the land, wo-ho-ooh!

Said he wanna ran, then you wanna hand,

Troddin' through the land, yea-hea, yea-ea.

Said he was a Buffalo Soldier win the war for America;

Buffalo Soldier, Dreadlock Rasta,

Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival;

Driven from the mainland to the heart of the Caribbean.

Singing, woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,

Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!

Woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,

Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!

Troddin' through San Juan in the arms of America;

Troddin' through Jamaica, a Buffalo Soldier -

Fighting on arrival, fighting for survival:

Buffalo Soldier, Dreadlock Rasta.

Woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,

Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!

Woy yoy yoy, woy yoy-yoy yoy,

Woy yoy yoy yoy, yoy yoy-yoy yoy!

"Redemption Song" Analysis

“Redemption Song,” a magnificently composed song by Bob Marley relates to oppression and deliverance of African slaves, who were brought from Africa to Jamaica. The general theme of this song is the beauty of the redemption of people after oppression. Support of this theme is found in Bob Marley’s connotation and tone.

Connotation, the diction of words, is the most significant aspect of this song that supports the theme. Bob Marley’s terminology is responsible for creating a truly entrancing song. Bob initiates the song on a delicate level by describing the obliteration of the African people by slavery; “Oh pirates yes they rob I; / Sold I to the merchant ships, / Minutes after they took I / From the bottomless pit. (Marley 1-4). These very lines portray the appalling technique used to take Africans from their homeland to toil for others. The next line, “But my hand was made strong / By the hand of the Almighty. / We forward in this generation/ Triumphantly,” (Marley 5-8) illustrates the authority given to the slaves by God. Through His hand, the present generation has been capable of moving onward and prospering. The most eminent lines of the song, “Emancipate yourself from mental slavery / None but ourselves can free our minds” sustains thought that it is not the responsibility of the oppressors to free the oppressed; this assignment can only be completed by the oppressed themselves.

Through the complete song, Bob Marley maintains an optimistic tone. He appears to believe that through all the pain and agony of slaves his generation will be able to formulate a difference. Evidence of this is found in the lines “We forward in the generation / Triumphantly” (Marley 3-4). This strictly means that descendents of Africans have been given an opportunity to right and improve the prospects their ancestors never had.

Overall, “Redemption Song” is a incredibly stunning song that relates to not only African slaves but all others that have been oppressed. Bob Marley’s main purpose of this song is that, in the end, it is up to the oppressed to determine their freedom and destiny.

Redemption Song Lyrics

Old pirates, yes, they rob I;
Sold I to the merchant ships,
Minutes after they took I
From the bottomless pit.
But my hand was made strong
By the 'and of the Almighty.
We forward in this generation
Triumphantly.
Won't you help to sing.
These songs of freedom? -'
Cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs.

Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our minds.
Have no fear for atomic energy,
'Cause none of them can stop the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look? Ooh!
Some say it's just a part of it:
We've got to fulfil de book.

Won't you help to sing
These songs of freedom? -
'Cause all I ever have:
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs;
Redemption songs.
---
/Guitar break/
---
Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery;
None but ourselves can free our mind.
Wo! Have no fear for atomic energy,
'Cause none of them-a can-a stop-a the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets,
While we stand aside and look?
Yes, some say it's just a part of it:
We've got to fulfil de book.

Won't you help to sing
Dese songs of freedom? -
'Cause all I ever had:
Redemption songs -All I ever had:
Redemption songs:
These songs of freedom,
Songs of freedom.

Across the Universe (Critique)

An individual can go on and on about the breathtaking formation and fabrication of Across the Universe. The director, Julie Taymor, should be considered a mastermind for her toil. In addition to producing a striking story, she gave a narrative of America’s most distressed time in history with the assistance of one of the world’s greatest bands. The preeminent features of the movie were Julie’s preference of actors and actresses and the application of Beatle’s music.

The most fantastic facet of the movie was the array of actors and actresses. The majority of them were new to the acting aspects of movies. Some of these new additions included Jim Sturgess (Jude), Joe Anderson (Max), Dana Fuchs (Sadie), Martin Luther (JoJo), Evan Rachel Wood (Lucy), and T.V. Carpio (Prudence). With these actors and actresses Julie built a sturdy chemistry of companionship and adoration that lasted on and off screen.

The components of the film that appear to touch so many are the layouts of music. Julie Taymor had a plentiful amount of different songs to choose from; she chose a catalog of songs that fit perfectly into the scheme of the plot. Songs such as “Strawberry Fields Forever” and “Revolution” were added to intensify the anti-war movement’s fight against the Vietnam War. Many of the songs were rearranged to fit some actors’ vocal ranges. Most viewers expected these rearrangements to be a disgrace to the brilliant mind of the Beatles. However, Julie and her music unit arranged the songs so that they were attractive to both Beatles and non Beatles fans alike.

Overall, Across the Universe was an exhilarating and alluring movie produced for people of all ages. It created a profound appreciation for those who were in a time when all political and social aspects of the word were being flipped up side down. Along with the assistance of the music, teenagers of this generation are capable of taking an intricate look at the uncertainties and delights of those in the late 60’s and early 70’s.

Talent Show Critique

Usually Fort Dorchester High School talent shows are anything but entertaining. Most students use the opportunity to skip the last two periods of the day. This year’s production of the talent show proved to be both amusing and entertaining. The acts included a extensive range of talent instead of the usual dancing and singing. The African American Studies Club did a magnificent job with the preparation and organizing of the show. Unfortunately, a few aspects of the show were not appealing. The chief element was the behavior of the audience.

Everyone knows that not every performer in talent shows has talent. However, it is most thoughtless and discourteous to boo and hiss at performers who have enough courage to perform in front of 1500 of his/her peers. As observed, the majority of the audience was reluctant to listen to and appreciate something that was different and unique. However, as soon as someone got on stage and began to shake their rear end, the audiences went crazy, began to hoop, holler, and applaud. Ultimately, the audience displayed the lack of diversity among FDHS students.

The music selection, of course, was another concern among the audience. In a sense, the music was biased because it was composed of predominately rap. Not everyone in the audience appreciated listening to merely one genre of music. One of the rap songs that proved to be bothersome was 2 Pistols and T-Pain’s “She got it.” It appeared as though every other routine contained that song. The final performance of the talent show was a guest star appearance of the group Primetime. The music of the group was relatively irritating. It contained the identical beats of other popular rap songs, and the lyrics were most complicated to comprehend, although quite frequently it sounded as if they were make a reference to a gun—incredible message to sent to high school students.

Overall, the superlative portion of the talent show was the organizational and creativity skills of the African American Studies Club. It was particularly enjoyable to see a group of dedicated and organized students. However, listening to the grumbles and insolence of the audience was undeniably not worth five dollars. Hopefully, by next year’s talent show, someone will be able to get the audience to appreciate the courage and dedication of its performers.

Critique (Once Upon A Mattress)

Cultural Event Critique

The Fort Dorchester High School production of Once Upon a Mattress was both interesting and comical. All of the actors and actresses worked exceedingly well together. They performed with such fluidity and unison that it was quite difficult to tell whether they performed together for a few months or years. All aspects of the musical were first-rate. In fact, there were no parts of the musical that were unlikable or mind-numbing. At some point during the musical, the crew experienced a few technical difficulties. Despite these petite errors, the actors and actresses continued to perform as if nothing ever occurred.

The most interesting aspects of the musical were evident in Act 2 when the audience begins to learn the appalling plot of Queen Aggrabain. Towards the end of the act, the audience celebrates the triumph over the Queen through the knowledge of Winifred and the court.

All of the actors deserve credit for the memorization of their lines and the lyrics of the songs. The musical continued for a little over two hours. Surprisingly, within that time frame, the actors were talking and singing continuously and they rarely made mistakes. Once again, due to the creative mind of Mrs. Winkle, the set took on the view of a real kingdom. The designing most likely required an exceedingly great amount of time and patience.

Overall, the musical was breathtaking and flawlessly performed. It was easily worth five dollars. Anyone who missed the musical missed a humorous production of the world-renowned Once Upon A Mattress.

Ivan Sings Free Choice #4

Ivan Sings

“Ivan Sings,” also known as Andantino, is a compelling masterpiece created by Aram Khachaturian, a Soviet-Armenian composer. The majority of Khachaturian’s pieces are influenced by Armenian folk music. The composition of “Ivan Sings” is written in E flat major, meaning all notes on the staff are natural except A, B, and E. This key creates a truly disturbing, yet beautiful atmosphere. I chose to cover this song because it was one of my earliest emotional pieces that was played before an audience. The composition is also striking because it is the creation of a diverse artist who not only specialized in piano, but also the cello, flute, and violin.

“Ivan Sings” is divided into 10 different stanzas or bars of music. Each bar of music is essentially the fearful yet remarkable voice of Ivan. The notes are slurred into one another to create a powerful message that affects the emotions of both the pianist and the listener. The sound produced by the notes is not a tale of joy, but one of sorrow and lost love. It seems as though the composition is the story of Ivan’s journey of healing after lost love. Surprisingly, the tone is quite similar to that of “Sad Story.”

Khachaturian, one of many great composers, shaped a truly magical piece. Though simple in note arrangement, “Ivan Sings” is the creator of complex emotion. Khachaturian could not have picked any other series of notes to better illustrate lost love and heartache.

Into Darkness (Poem#1)

Into Darkness

The words on the board swirl in a blur.
Beneath her feet the ground begins to tremble.
Her soul in pieces, wrapped and packaged
Given to those who reside over and control
All those things that matter.

What, today, will justify her actions to commit
A sin that gives joy and happiness to so few. But
Brings pain and destruction to so many.
For, what shall she give, to see those few
Seconds of vibrant colors of the sun, moon, and stars.

And so her long, hard journey begins. First
The pain and then a burst of joy and pleasure.
But oh how the pleasure soon began to fade.
She needs it back, she wants it back. The heightened
Pleasure, its all she needs, desires to live.

But with each ounce of pleasure comes a pound of pain.
The feel of an electric current rushes through her legs.
The weight of a cinderblock dropped onto her chest. The
Rooms begins to shake. The lights flicker. And then darkness.

Her parents discover her limp body upon the floor.
What atrocity could cause such an appalling tragedy?
Where did they go wrong? What didn’t they do right?
How could their daughter allow her mind, body, and
Soul slip away into darkness?

Toccatina Free Choice #3

Toccatina

“Toccatina,” also known as “An Old Dance,” is another remarkable and intricate classical piece formulated by Dmitri Kabalevsky. The framework of this composition is slightly more difficult than that of “Sad Story.” The piece is in C major, the easiest key acknowledged by all pianists. However, “Toccatina” is ten stanzas/bars long and changes key during the middle of the piece. I choose to perform a cover of this song merely because of the wonderful contrast it would produce with “Beauty and the Beast,” “Sad Story,” and “Ivan Sings.” The notes of “Toccatina” provide a jazzy edge to the overall composition.


As usually, Kabalevsky shaped a composition that can be enjoyed by anybody and everybody. The chord progression of the song creates a rhythmic jazz bounce that makes the listener want to become involved with the celebration of pleasure. Unlike “Sad Story,” “Toccatina” seems to encompass a more pleasant mood/tone. All of the chords are played in staccato to create an abrupt and sharp sound that ultimately supports the excessively cheerful mood. The chief complexity of the song is the transition of natural chords, chords having no flats and sharps, to chords that are a combination of flats and sharps.


For some reason “Sad Story” and “Toccatina” seem to draw a parallel. “Sad Story” represents the obscurity and the adversity of a child while “Toccatina” draws on the cheerfulness and pleasurable life within a child. Either way Kabalevsky, once again, uses music to articulate the complex world of children. Overall, Kabalevsky is a marvelous artist who employs music to express the emotions of the people he seems to treasure and respect the most – children.

"Sad Story" Free Choice #2

“Sad story”, a complex and heart wrenching song, was composed by the celebrated Dimitri Kabalevsky, who is universally recognized for his remarkable compositions of children’s music. The original composition is written in A flat major, making the song both remarkable and beautiful, yet difficult to play. All traditional notes on the staff line are flat with the exception of three notes. My choice to cover this captivating piece of music relates to the nationality of Ms. Irina Pevzner, piano teacher of the Charleston Academy of Music. Although I no longer receive formal lessons from the academy, this song assists in capturing the essence of my gratitude to a Russian composer and a Ukrainian teacher.


The composition of this piece is essentially divided into 5 “stanzas” or bars of music. Each stanza/bar illustrates the journey of a sad story. The layout of notes cast a haunting spirit over the pianist as they try to connect the dots of an untold tale. Kabalevsky composed this piece so beautifully that it is almost virtually impossible for the pianist not only to hear but also see the unfolding of the story before their eyes. Unfortunately, there is no direct interpretation of “Sad Story,” only the pianist can enlighten the listener of the piece’s connotation; as all pianists are diverse each interpretation will be dissimilar.


In general, “Sad Story” is a charming classical song that enchants pianist and listeners alike. Kabalevsky reinvents the traditional composition of children’s music. This piece alone demonstrates the ideology that the world of a child can be just as if not more intricate and emotional than the life of an adult.

Beauty and the Beast Free Choice #1

In 1991, the captivating theme of Beauty and the Beast was written and composed by the brilliant collaboration of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken. Since its creation, “Beauty and Beast” has become a world-renowned theme song recognized by countries across the globe. The original composition of the song has been altered several times to accommodate the different levels of pianist. Despite the different variations, the song always contains its original charm and beauty.

I chose to do a cover of the song because the movie, Beauty and Beast, has touched me on a personal level since I was a child. The song not only addresses love, but of the difficulty to accept and love something unusual and unfamiliar. Howard Ashman (lyricist) attempts to capture the thought that at some point in life, everyone is fearful of love. Beauty and the Beast, in general, is a traditional classical piece that captures the essence of the heart. The mood of the song is both enchanting and haunting. Quite a few individuals have been noted to cry during the song because it inflicts such great emotions on the soul.

The arrangement that I follow was fairly simple compared to the original composition. However, covering the song was not based on the difficulty; it was about capturing the beauty of every single note regardless if the original composition was composed of complex chords or progressions. Hopefully, the cover will affect the hearts of listeners the way the original touched the hearts of millions.

Literary Devices

Literary Devices

Simile: “A drop in the ocean / A change in the weather / I was praying that you and me might end up together / It’s like wishing for rain as I stand in the desert” (Pope 1-4). This quote illustrates a simile because the author uses like to make a direct comparison. It is used to demonstrate the improbability of the speaker and the girl becoming a couple.

Rhyme: “I'm a young soul in this very strange world hoping I could learn a bit about what is true and fake / But why all this hate? / Try to communicate/ Finding trust and love is not always easy to make (Naim 5-8). This is an example of rhyme because there is a similarity in sound between words that have corresponding positions.

Alliteration: “Roots, rock, reggae: dis a reggae music!” (Marley 9). This quote is an example of alliteration because there is a similar consonant sod in the words “roots,” “rock,” and “reggae.” Marley uses this alliteration to emphasize his cultural enjoyment of reggae music.

Repetition: “I know a place where we can carry on / I know a place where we can carry on / We can carry on, we can carry on / We can carry on, we can carry on” (Marley 7-10). The quote shows repetition because the same phrase is repeated continuously. Marley emphasizes “I know a place” because he wants to open up a safe haven for those who desire freedom from the hate and chaos of the world.

Repetition: “All you need is love / All you need is love / All you need is love, love / Love is all you need” (Beatles 12-15). This quote exemplifies repetition because the same phrase is repeated continuously. The Beatles repeat “all you need is love” to exemplify that anything and everything can be achieved through love.

Rhyme: “Just a little change / Small, to say the least / Both a little scared / Neither one prepared / Beauty and the Beast” (Dion 6-10). This is an example of rhyme because there is a similarity in sound between words that have corresponding positions.

Rhetorical Question: “What's love got to do, got to do with it? / What's love, but a second-hand emotion?” (Turner 11-12). This quote is an example of a rhetorical question because it is a question asked by the artist that does not necessarily require an answer. Tina Turner adds this lit device to her song to emphasize that physical attraction has nothing to do with love.

Repetition: “All I wanna say is that / They don't really care about us / All I wanna say is that / They don't really care about us” (Jackson 17-20). This is an example of repetition because the same phrase is repeated continuously. Michael Jackson repeats this phrase to emphasize the idea that the governments of all nations really don’t care about the welfare of its people.

Rhyme: “And then while I’m away / I’ll write home every day / And I’ll send all my loving to you / I’ll pretend I am kissing / The lips I am missing” (Beatles 4-8). This quote is an example of rhyme because there is a similarity in sound between words that have corresponding positions.

Simile: “Like autumn turns leaves, winter will breathe, cold on her necks, snow in our paths / Wherever she goes, all that I know about us is that beautiful things never last” (Pope 7-8). This quote is an example of a simile because the artist uses like to make a direct comparison. Ron Pope uses the simile in this passage to emphasize that just as the seasons turn things from pretty to old and ugly, nothing beautiful can ever last.

Talent Show (Cultural Event Summary)

Talent shows are the single event that high school students get motivated about each year. On April 11, Fort Dorchester High School held their annual talent show in the gymnasium. This year the talent show was funded and supported by the African American Studies Club. To outshine the traditional announcers from past talent shows, the brilliant minds of the club decided to have the announcers impersonate celebrities, such as, Ne-Yo, Beyonce, Ludacris, Soulja Boy, and Chris Brown.

In addition to these non-orthodox but humorous announcers, came a wonderful wave of talent. The talents of each performer ranged from dancing to signing. Some groups were even part of local bands. Each group of contestants applied to the talent show for recognition and the grand-prize of cash money. The performances continued for a time span of about two class periods. In the end, an R&B group called ADT won the grand prize. However, this proved not to be the end of the festivities. Shortly after the last performance, a local group that goes by the name of Primetime performed. Most students were astounded by their guest star appearance, while others considered themselves to be lost in translation. Overall, the African American Studies Club hosted an appealing and entertaining talent show. To many students it surpassed the quality of past talent shows. This complex club may have broken the opinion of the traditional and more acceptable versions of talent shows.

Across the Universe (Cultural Arts Summary)

Across the Universe, the most distinctive and enchanting film of 2007, is critically known as “the kind of movie you watch again, like listening to a favorite album” (Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times). The film reinvents the time of the 60s in which a politically war was fought on foreign soil and at home in America. The movie unfolds the story of two young lovers brought together by fate and divided by the growing tension of the anti-war movement. Intertwined with the film are numerous hits by the world renowned Beatles. Each song assists in the telling of the character’s triumphs, downfalls, and passions.

The film begins with the journey of Jude, a young man from Liverpool, England, jumping ship to meet his father at Princeton University. While residing with his father at the university, Jude inadvertently meets Max, an indecisive college student. Unsurprisingly, Max eventually decides to drop out of university and live life as a free soul. As a result of his foolishness, Max and Jude eventually agree to move to New York’s Greenwich Village to live in an apartment owned and occupied by the infamous Sadie. The following year, Lucy, Max’s sister decides to join him [Max] and Jude in New York. Eventually, as expected, Jude and Lucy fall in love. Unfortunately, around this same time Max is required to attend an induction ceremony for the United States Army. While the war intensity seems to increase, political tensions go from straightforward pamphlets to radical protest. Lucy ultimately becomes involved and obsessed with the efforts of the anti-war group. Regrettably, the escalating violence eventually destroys the delicate relationship between Jude and Lucy. The complex plot becomes profoundly passionate until the viewer sees an ending that was perfectly designed to appeal to all audiences. [Sorry, I just could not permit myself to uncover the ending of such a fantastic movie].

The plot combined with the astounding covers of the some of the Beatles #1 hits creates a non-traditional, but remarkable movie. As an independent film, it stunningly surpassed the rating of some major motion pictures. Across the Universe is not only vibrant and captivating, but a film that depicts the social and political turmoil that occurred during one of America’s most contentious periods in history. It is a story that defines the meaning of love, friendship, and the hope needed to endure a time when the world was flipped up-side-down.

Once Upon A Mattress (Cultural Event Summary)

On February 28, 2008, Fort Dorchester High School’s Fine Arts Department performed an exceptional version of Roger and Hammerstein’s Once Upon a Mattress. The entire play is essentially a spin of the fairytale “The Princess and the Pea”. The chief distinction between the two stories is simply that Once Upon a Mattress includes quite a bit of singing and dancing. The cast included some of Fort Dorchester High School’s Fine Arts most exceptional students. These actors and actresses included Dalton Anderson (the Minstrel), Jordan Weeg (Lady Larkin), Ashley West (Queen Aggrabain), Anthony Massarotto (Prince Dauntless), Will Baber (King Sextimus), and Daniel McQueen (Sir Studley).

The musical is the tale of Prince Dauntless’ quest to find a bride. Through much researching and studying the court is able to produce twelve different princesses, all eligible to marry Prince Dauntless. However, the Queen, Aggrabain, refuses to assent to her son marrying any princess until they are capable of passing a series of test. Days, weeks, and months continue as each princess fails the appointed task. The tests are continued until the twelfth princess is unable to produce correct answers to Queen Aggrabain’s questions. When all seems lost the court is able to unearth one last eligible princess, Winifred. The only dilemma with the innovation is that Princess Winifred is relatively unorthodox. She refuses to follow the rules established by the courts and conducts herself in manner that is not traditionally considered ladylike. To much dismay, Queen Aggrabain is determined to ruin Winifred’s chances of becoming the future queen so she proposes a new test. Instead of conjuring a series of questions for Winifred to answer, she decides to place a single pea under a stack of mattress. In the eyes of Aggrabain, only a legitimate princess would be intelligent enough to feel the disturbance of a small pea under stack of fluffy mattresses. Unfortunately for Queen Aggrabain, Princess Winifred passes the test and is given the opportunity to marry Prince Dauntless.

Overall, the play was a captivating experience that kept the audience entertained and enchanted. It encompassed the moral that difference sometimes exceeds the appreciation of normality. Thanks to the production of Mr. Davis, the Fine Arts Department was once again able to produce a truly captivating and spell-binding production.

Video Error for Piano Songs

Unfortunately I was not able to upload my piano songs to the blog so I had to create a CD to give to Mr. Parry. So I guess the only thing I can do is just post the meaning of each individual song. Sorry guys I really wanted you guys to here my songs...=[