Reflections on the season

I'm not one for mushy blog posts. Mushy lifetime movies, yes. But mushy posts just seem a bit insincere when you don't know the person sitting behind the computer.

This is different, though. How can I not be sentimental now that the leaves have fallen, the pumpkins have been harvested, and we are only a few exams away from Thanksgiving break and the end of our poetry careers at Sem.

Poetry class has been so incredible on a number of different levels. First off, never would I have thought that poetry class would have me create a blog. And this blog has taught me a lot - needing to post once a week has been a deadline exercise, and seeing our audience and views increase has been incredibly rewarding. Not to mention the fact that I have been officially introduced to twitter in the quest to have the most blog posts in order to win the ultimate prize: Mrs. Lewis' chocolate chip cookies (Seriously, they're to die for. PS: Mrs. Lewis, I really do love poetry class for more than just the cookies)

Secondly,  who gets to create their own takeoff on Ginsberg's A Supermarket in California?! Walking to the local Walgreens and searching for inspiration... or, rather, letting inspiration find me.  I'll even let you read it!

i walk in through the automatic door in to
the merchandise everywhere. romney, why is he in the black and orange section.
american Royalty celebrated on
the  magazine shelf, no paper of news around.  read of the "Kings and Queens of silicon valley"
and of a former wife, the marriage was a mission, impossible.
what is going on in the other states today.
the other Countries away so far in distance but not in
mind - influence culture they always do:
hanes, Se Habla Español
revlon nail polish, passage to India,
Sari, my dear
the america of the star spangled banner
is only seen mid-summer in the
walgreens holiday aisle.


I'm most proud of that poem, it was a poetry breakthrough for me.


Third. I will admit, I was a bit dubious when I looked up  "Public Enemy" and saw what we would be doing for the rest of the week.  I've heard that rap was poetry but I guess I just didn't believe it since it doesn't exactly sound like Emily Dickinson. But after watching the "Art of Rap" documentary, I can officially say that rap is poetry, and darn good poetry.


I'm really unbelievably sad that our time in this class has ended, and I'll truly miss seeing everyone 7th bell. I'm so happy and thankful I took Poetry!! :)

 

Behind the White Picket Fence

Some think living a cookie cutter lifestyle is best - and from outside of the invisible glass dome that surrounds the suburbs - it may seem that way. In TV shows (ex. Leave it to Beaver) and movies, suburban life seems simple - the houses are all the same, the lawns are all the same, everyone is the same - perfect. Everyone is happy.

You're typical suburban family:
happy, perfect, zero problems

At one time the suburbs were the perfect place to live and start a family because that's what they were originally built for. After World War 2 was over and the soldiers came back home, the first thing they wanted to do was get married and have babies with their wives. Waiting throughout the war had worn down their patience and they wanted to get started and have a place of their own to live as soon as possible.

This was a common problem for young veterans until a man named William Levitt developed the idea of a suburban sprawl or Levittown as the first one was called. 

These towns were built specifically for veterans and their families as they had the appeal of being less crowded and less expensive than a place in the city. Also, the houses in these "Levittowns" could be built fairly quickly for the couple who wanted to get started on their new life right away. 

While "the suburbs" had started out with a positive connotation, as time began to pass, the suburbs began to lose their charm. 

Many begun to feel  that there was too much...sameness.

Look how much variety! So many interesting
people must live here!

As the years passed, the connotation the suburbs conjured up became more and more...questionable. Sure there were those that still saw suburbia as a great place to raise their kids - where they could be surrounded by like people and not worry about crime.

But, there were also those that began to see the suburbs as a place where EVERYONE was the same. White, boring, same occupation, same car. Everyone was the same.

Soon, books and movies were written where, if the author wanted a dull setting, they would write their play, book, etc. as taking place in the suburbs.

John Cheever, an American author let his thoughts of  life suburban life shine through in a short story titled, The Swimmer. 

John Cheever - Mister Rogers?

The Swimmer is a criticism of the stagnant life that is suburbia. The story revolves around Neddy Merrill, a typical suburban husband and father who becomes absorbed in the cyclical nature of life in the suburbs causing him to ignore his family as his life falls apart. In a metaphor for the passing years, Neddy embarks on a journey through his town that -- to him -- seems to take only a day, but by his journey's end, we find out that along the way, he has had an affair, become a drunkard, and harassed his friends for money. He arrives home to an empty house - his wife and children have left long ago but he had never noticed.

Today, the suburbs are still given this stereotype. Suburbia in fiction is often full of airheads, ignorance, and rebellious children trying to escape the impending doom of turning into their cardboard cut-out parents.

What was once a haven for easy living has turned into a black hole, sucking out the life of those who live within.

Thankful for Traditions

As horribly tempting as it is to write at length on the tumultuous, outrageously expensive, grueling election our nation just survived, I will refrain. It's not that I don't believe politics are important; in fact, I think this election especially was crucial. But, writing about Obama will alienate 50% of Americans and writing about Romney will alienate the remaining 50%. And I'd like us all to be friends.

On that note, I'd like to mention the one day out of the year (other than the  once-every-4-years-presidential-election-day) that unites the entire country. At least 95% of the population. One of the greatest, if not the ultimate best, holidays of the year. Thanksgiving.

It takes all of us Americans, whether we are Republicans, Democrats, or Independents (or one of the other many, many parties) and takes us back to our roots. Or, our hypothetical roots (since most of us did not, in fact, cross the Atlantic on the Mayflower).

Yes, there is plenty of reason to cast a gloomy cloud on the holiday, as it historically can be associated with many sad events in our nations past. But, I'd like us all to be happy friends.

So, onto the main point. The wonder and beauty of Thanksgiving. I'd like to share my top 10 favorite Thanksgiving traditions. I'll admit, they're not all mine, but, thats the thing about traditions -- you can always make new ones.


10. Turkey Trot - What better way to acquire an appetite for the feast ahead than a run or walk in the brisk Thanksgiving morning air?  There's nothing better than feeling the cool air on your face, having your hands numb and all the while thinking of the hot turkey that awaits!

9. Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade - The giant balloons, Manhattan as crowded as ever and delicious food everywhere. Plus, if you stay the night, Black Friday in NYC is the greatest. Early Christmas shopping, anyone?


8. Touch-football game - Does this really require an explanation? Plus, it will also get your appetite ready to go!

7. Baking Pumpkin Pie - Two words for you: Delicious & Nutritious



6. Add marshmallows to those sweet potatoes - You won't be sorry!



5. Roast pumpkin seeds  Granted, this can be done as early as Halloween, but those hot roasted seeds right out of the oven are just as yummy on turkey day!

4. Two types of stuffing - Because stuffing inside the turkey is just not enough! There must be stuffing inside and outside.


3. Thanksgiving Play Production - How can you not, after Everybody Love's Raymond did such a fantastic job?

Skip to 7:40 for the skit! 

2. Give thanks - At the end of the meal, go around the table and name at least two things for which you are thankful.

1. Make a Cornucopia - Because I refuse to be cliché enough to have "Giving thanks" as the number one tradition. Plus, its creative, fun, and represents the abundance of food/harvests/goods that the holiday was founded on (well, theoretically, at least)






Happy holidays!

Quotations by the Woman Who Took England by Storm

Sadly for those of my young generation, or perhaps sadly for me alone, the first time I heard of Margaret Thatcher was in a movie preview featuring Meryl Streep:

This is not your average Bridget Jones movie about a British girl with whom American audiences become infatuated. No, this is far from it. Margaret Thatcher, the "Iron Lady" of England played a defining role in British History especially in British Politics.

Thatcher is credited with reviving the economy and the nations foreign policy. She most notable dealt with the controversial problems of the Falklands and the ensuing war.

Most notably, however, was her fearlessness to be a female leader. She was the first female Prime Minister of England and held one of the longest serving times ever.  She was not afraid of the fact that she was a woman, in fact she embraced it. She believed that she could make a difference, and make a difference she did.  The movie, "The Iron Lady" emphasizes how she did not let her gender get in the way of her passion for politics. She is seen arguing in parliament, insisting that she be allowed to wear her pearls and explaining that she could not sit by and let other people control politics. 


For more on Thatchers full biography, click here.

Read some of her wisest and wittiest quotations below: 

"Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren't."

"If you want something said, ask a man; if you want something done, ask a woman." 

"Europe was created by history. America was created by philosophy." 

Introducing Pop Art: A Soup Can Etched in History, and More

Andy Warhol (Andrew Warhola) made an irreversible mark on the history of art.  Warhol is famous for his innovative use of colors and dimensions resulting in what is modernly known as Pop Art. Since he pioneered the movement he is known as the Prince of Pop Art. Though he started as a commercial illustrator, Warhol is known worldwide for his Pop Art paintings, such as 32 Campbell's Soup Cans pictured below.

Campbell's Soup Cans, 1962

The work was composed of 32 Canvases which each measured 20in x 16 in. They hung on a wall and were supposed to represent how they would be on a shelf in a grocery store (sounds similar to Ginsberg's A Supermarket in California, no?)  Each canvas was made using a printmaking technique. See an individual canvas pictured below.

This exhibit was a hit when exhibited in 1962, but, as one newscaster put it, Warhol's 15 minutes of fame is not over yet. Last month, Campbell's released a 50 year commemoration. Target will be selling cans inspired by Warhol's exhibit:

Target's Collection of 50 year anniversary Campbell's Soup Cans 

Warhol's fame extends far beyond 32 Campbell's Soup Cans. You may recognize, his 1962 portrait of Marilyn Monroe,his 1964 Jackie Kennedy, or his 1965 painting Atomic Bomb. 

Portrait of Marilyn Monroe, 1962

Jackie Kennedy, 1964

Atomic Bomb, 1965

Currently, the Metropolitan Museum of Art has a collection of Warhol's work. His work will be on display from September 18th 2012 - December 31st 2012. The exhibit will juxtapose Warhol's paintings against other painters to demonstrate Warhol's vast influence on the culture of art. The exhibit is made possible by Morgan Stanley. 

Check out Andy Warhol's work for yourself and you'll see his amazing contribution to Pop Art, American Art and art worldwide. 

The Black Ruby

In November of 1960, Ruby Bridges walked into a formerly whites-only public school in New Orleans and made history.


Norman Rockwell, one of the most famous American illustrators of the 20th century, immortalized that moment in his painting Problems We All Live With in 1964.

In this painting Rockwell captures the racial tensions from the height of the Civil Rights Movement. On the wall behind this beautiful little girl is the racial slur "nigger" as well as the initials KKK which stood for the Ku Klux Klan. She is guarded on both sides by security personnel.  The painting is done from the perspective of the white onlookers. Though we can't see their faces or hear their taunts in this painting, we know what that day was like in New Orleans:

Watch from 7:00-8:00 to see the movie's portrayal of Ruby Bridges entering the school.


Last year, Bridges was honored with the opportunity to meet with President Barack Obama to see Rockwell's painting on display in the White House.

Read more on the topic here.

SOMETHING WITTY.

SOMETHING WITTY?
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xoxo ,
L & K