Exploring The African American Woman s Identity Through...

Exploring the African American Woman’s Identity through the Arts In the Africa American culture, there has been a longstanding discussion of the black woman’s physical appearance and how they identify themselves in society. Though there are many themes of the Black experience in the media that discuss the standard of beauty Black women should have. However, theatre has a creative and tactful way of exploring these topics that are considered taboo in the African American culture. During the Black Arts Movement, topics such as black empowerment and self-identity were the blue print for what the movement stood for. In reference to, A Brief Guide to the Black Arts Movement Writers, â€Å"African American artists within the movement sought to create politically engaged work that explored the African American cultural and historical experience† (A Brief Guide to the Black Arts Movement Writers.1). Prolific writers such as, Ntozake Shange s, Amari Baraka, and Nikki Giovanni, just to name a few, were revolutionary in a creative and political movement, which allowed for writers and poets to demonstrate the pains and qualms of what African Americans faced in Western society. Two African American playwrights, Lorraine Hansberry and Adrienne Kennedy, expounded on these topics in their plays A Raisin in the Sun and Funny House Negro. In the further exploration of stigmas of African American female hair and self-identification through theatre, these plays will be used as a platform toShow MoreRelatedAnalysis Of Chris Ofili s No Woman No Cry 1697 Words   |  7 Pages Painter Chris Ofili is well known in his highly decorative style to playfully explore the notion of black cultural identity. British born to Nigerian parents artist Chris Ofili often makes work highlighting political conversations. In 1998 he won the Turner Prize, the painting No Woman, No Cry was one of the works included in exhibition which won him the prize. It was made while he was living and working in London, a time period of Ofili’s practice, beginning in 1996, in which he shiftedRead MoreThe Black Man and Langston Hughes1601 Words   |  7 PagesThe term identity is defined by Webster’s dictionary as being â€Å"the state or fact of remaining the same one or ones, as under varying aspects or conditions† however in exploring the concept of Identity in black literature, we can find no definite explanation or definition. We can try to accept that it has been rooted in social situations that are generally more discriminatory, such the institution of slaver y. In some way shape or form, the average or normal African American is confronted with theRead MoreWoman Hollering Creek By Sandra Cisneros1587 Words   |  7 PagesThe book Woman Hollering Creek, by Sandra Cisneros highlights many examples of â€Å"everyday verbal mythology† in the Hispanic culture, literacy and language as sites of conflict build up. The violence in lack of translation, interpretation by translators, culture betrayal and existence of encoded language only familiar to insiders are some of the issues that seems not to appeal to the translators. The sufferings and subordination of both the culture and language by the leading culture is accompaniedRead MoreThe Harlem Renaissance- a Black Cultural Revolution2021 Words   |  9 Pagestalented minds of African-Americans in the 1920s. Although principally thought of as an African-American literary movement, the Harlem Renaissances influence extended through every form of culture: art, dance, music, theatre, literature, history, and politics. Along with the great contribution this period made towards art and entertainment, the Harlem Renaissance also made a great impact on a social level. The Harlem Renaissance gave birth to the first African-American cultural identity and playedRead MoreRacism- An Aid to American Society2184 Words   |  9 PagesRacism – An Aid to American Society? â€Å"Racism is actions, practices or beliefs, or social or political systems that consider different races to be ranked as inherently superior or inferior to each other, based on presumed shared inheritable traits, abilities, or qualities.† (Newman, 2012) Racism has promulgated after the slavery in America, and these practices are still evident in our generations today. Oftentimes, when the word â€Å"racism† is heard by many, negative characteristics on these actionsRead MoreHarlem And The Harlem Renaissance Essay2269 Words   |  10 Pages1930s nearly half a million African Americans migrated to the northern cities, in a movement called the Great Migration. Many of the southern African Americans migrated to a city called Harlem in New York. They relocated due to dogmatism and intolerance of melanin diverging out the of pores of many white southerners. The African Americans who migrated found new opportunities both economic and artistic that resulted to the creation of a stable middle class Black –Americans (Dover, 2006). This was theRead MoreAnalysis Of Alice Walker s Search Of Our Mother s Gardens Essay1910 Words   |  8 Pagesit explores racism, oppression, slavery, self-identity, freedom, enlightenment and independence. She writes about the scope of her history as a black woman, both personally and through the past experiences of her ancestors. In an interview with John O’Brien, when asked what determines her interests as a writer she responded stating â€Å"I am preoccupied with the spiritual survival, the survival whole of my people. But beyond that, I am committed to exploring the oppressions, the insanities, the loyaltiesRead MoreIdentity in the Poetry of Langston Hughes2807 Words   |  12 PagesSearch for Identity in the Poetry of Langston Hughes In exploring the problem of identity in Black literature we find no simple or definite explanation. Nevertheless, it is generally accepted that it is rooted in the reality of the discriminatory social system in America with its historic origins in the institution of slavery. One can discern that this slavery system imposes a double burden on the Negro through severe social and economic inequalities and through the heavy psychological consequencesRead More Search for Identity in the Poetry of Langston Hughes Essay2704 Words   |  11 PagesSearch for Identity in the Poetry of Langston Hughes In exploring the problem of identity in Black literature we find no simple or definite explanation. Nevertheless, it is generally accepted that it is rooted in the reality of the discriminatory social system in America with its historic origins in the institution of slavery. One can discern that this slavery system imposes a double burden on the Negro through severe social and economic inequalities and through the heavy psychological consequencesRead MoreThe Historical Progression of African Americans4523 Words   |  19 PagesProgression of African Americans Jeff Brown HIS 204: American History Since 1865 Prof Carl Garrigus May 16, 2010 The Historical Progression of African Americans America in 1857 was a â€Å"Nation on the Brink.† Relationships between the Northern and Southern states had been strained for decades. During the 1850 s, the situation exploded. The Compromise of 1850 served as a clear warning that the slavery issue—relatively dormant since the Missouri Compromise of 1820—had returned. African Americans

Suffering and Identity in Donne and Wit - 1195 Words

One’s identity may be questioned when suffering; ultimately suffering is what creates one’s sense of self or what destroys it. The poetry of John Donne and the play W;t, 1993, by Margaret Edson, both illustrate and explore a sense of suffering and identity. In John Donne’s poetry, suffering, both emotionally and physically allows the speaker to understand their identity in more depth, in comparison to Margaret Edson’s play, W;t, Vivian’s suffering leads her identity to be stripped away. In Donne’s sonnet, ‘If poysonous mineralls’ we are shown suffering religiously and emotionally, through one’s sin’s, questioning god’s justice, which leads to a realisation of one’s identity. In Margaret Edson’s play, W;t, Vivian’s emotional suffering†¦show more content†¦Ã¢â‚¬Å"And I their Mapp, who lie Flat on this bed†. He describes his body as a map, a metaphor for his life being a jour ney, which his doctors attempt to read in order to discover his illness and his suffering and ultimately where his journey ends. In reference to Cartography, Donne refers to bearings, using the imagery of a map to point out that what we see on the western edge of a flat map is also to be found on the eastern edge, showing that he believes life and death are connected to each other. In the final stanza, Donne feels joy at the though of death as he feels he will recover his identity by reuniting with the lord. In the final stanza, he returns to the idea of the first stanza, summing up the poem’s central message with the use of a paradox. â€Å"Therefore that he may raise the Lord throws down.† This paradox shows that to rise up to heaven, one must be thrown â€Å"down† by death, so therefore one must suffer to be accepted and united in a place where one’s identity is established. His extreme suffering has purged and prepared him for paradise. Vivian’s physical suffering is caused by her illness, which slowly deteriorates her identity. In W;t, Vivian’s physical character is enhanced by her power through Language and it’s discourse. As time progresses, cancer slowly cause’s her to suffer physically, and therefore inverts her powerful identity. On page 25, Vivian’s body is clinically deconstructed, theShow MoreRelatedManagement Course: Mba−10 General Management215330 Words   |  862 PagesAs we continue to experience the twenty-first century’s economic, social, and political churning, how will these driving factors be influenced by the brutally competitive global economy in which organizations do not have any particular geographic identity or travel under any particular national passport? What will be the effect of the rapid gyrations in markets that emphasize the difficulties that accounting practices face in determining true performance costs and that forecasting programs c onfront

Essential to the Freedom a People free essay sample

The tea was imported, which was a major problem; it began to take money and jobs away from the Americans. But, the act did provide financial relief for the British East Indian Company, which was deeply in debt because of the military expeditions to extend Britains influence in India. The Tea Party Act offended many Americans since 1768, the use of British tea is considered not as a private but public evil (CTD. Massachusetts Spy Henrietta 153). The American merchants joined the protest against the East Indian Company because they excluded the Americans from he trade since they started distributing the tea directly to shopkeepers.In response to the Tea Act, an event occurred in Boston in 1773. When a new shipment of tea was waiting to be unloaded in Boston Harbor, a group of colonists disguised as Native Americans boarded the ship, breaking open the crates and dumping the tea In the water. We will write a custom essay sample on Essential to the Freedom a People or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Colonists later argued about whether this event should be celebrated as a protest against oppression or if It was simply foolish destruction of property. In response a displeased Lord North convinced Parliament to pass the Coercive acts, which closed Boston Harbor until the tea had been paid for, and retract the charter of the colony of Massachusetts. Ultimately, the Americans tried to go against any Idea that the British had on raising taxes; because the act was a disadvantage for the Americans and an advantage for the Brutish. Additionally, the Stamp Act enacted by Parliament In 1 765, which Britain attempted to collect revenue for a new colonial army; required that revenue stamps be placed on most printed paper In the colonies, including all legal documents, newspapers, pamphlets, and advertisements.The the first time the colonists were required to pay a direct tax rather than paying an indirect tax on an imported good. Greenville claimed that this act was fair, as it showed that the colonists were contributing their share of the burden of the war. Benjamin Franklin, who was in Britain as the agent of the Pennsylvania assembly, proposed the idea that American representation in Parliament. If you chose to tax us, give us members in your Legislature, and let us be one people (CTD Franklin in Henrietta 143).The colonist argued that we already had virtual representation in Parliament, that we were represented by members who were transatlantic merchants and West Indian sugar planters. Greenville moved forward with his plan to raise revenue and to assert a constitutional principle the right of Parliament to lay an internal Tax upon the Colonies. Greensville plan would provoke a constitutional confrontation not only on the specific issues of taxation, Jury trials, and military quartering, but also on the general question of representative self-government.Through all the obstacles the Americans went through, they still had to pay taxes. Furthermore, both the Boston Tea Party and the Stamp Act Congress came about due to many tax laws p assed and repealed by the British government and the protests against them. In these two events there were positive and negative effects. The Boston Tea Party had a positive effect on the Americans after the tea party, because they gained independence from Britain. But after that, the British continued to enforce new laws; thats the only negative aspect after the Boston Tea Party.As far as the Stamp Act Congress, for the first time, against all odds, respected delegates from differing colonies sat with each other and engaged in spirited debate. They discovered that in many ways they had more in common than they originally had thought. This was a tentative but essential step toward the unity that would be necessary to declare boldly their independence from mother England. The negative effect of the Stamp Act was that the British troops in America were paid off but everyone was broke, because the stamp served as revenue to keep British troops inAmerica. In closing, the statement, It is inseparably essential to the freedom a People, and the undoubted Right of Englishmen, that no taxes be imposed on them, but with their own Consent, given personally, or by their representatives demonstrated the American support by the Boston Tea Party and the Stamp Act Congress. (Resolutions of the Stamp Act Congress, 1765) The relationship between the two, were that the British wanted all the goods to be imported and then taxed the Americans on those goods.

King Kong (1933) An Analysis Essay Example

King Kong (1933): An Analysis Paper The black-and-white version of King Kong, made in 1933, is a typical Hollywood film. All aspects of the film have trademark Hollywood elements in them. The following passages will see an explication of this assertion. In many ways this is a ground-breaking film. It set a precedent for all the subsequent thriller/horror/animation films that have been made in Hollywood. It would not be an exaggeration to state that in all subsequent movies of these genres, traces of King Kong could be found. Not many people today would be excited at the prospect of viewing this 1933 edition. The reason being, they have already seen aspects of King Kong in many movies that the novelty completely escapes the mind. Is this a judgement on the true merit of the film? The answer is in the negative. The only proper way in evaluating the technical and artistic merits of the film is by taking into consideration the prevailing technologies available at the time of production. In this case, King Kong should be placed in the context of the available technologies of 1930s. For example, Willis O’Brien’s stop-motion animation was a remarkable achievement at the time. So is the skilful performance of the lea ding lady Fay Wray (Stringer, p.409). We will write a custom essay sample on King Kong (1933): An Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on King Kong (1933): An Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on King Kong (1933): An Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The animation work of Willis O’Brien received special appreciation. Eight years earlier, O’Brien had worked as Special Effects Animator in the film adaptation of Arthur Conan Doyle’s â€Å"The Lost World†. Given that the Hollywood in 1925 was in a stage of technological nascence, adds merit to O’Brien’s work. Although King Kong is rightfully regarded as a ground-breaking film, it did follow a trend of films that involved monstrous beasts. Some such movies leading up to King Kong would be â€Å"Jazz Monkey†, â€Å"Chang†, Monkey Stuff†, â€Å"Prohibition Monkey†, and of course â€Å"The last world†. All these movies except the last one expanded on the â€Å"Apes in Jungles† theme. The Last World depicted prehistoric life of dinosaurs. Some critics point out that King Kong has semblances to the classic fable â€Å"Beauty and the Beast† (McGowan-Hartmann, 2006). The realistic portrayal of an ape-like monster can be attributed to the film-makers’ backgrounds. Both Merian Cooper’s and Ernest Schoedsack’s previous work experiences included documenting apes in their natural habitat. The transition from factual documentary making to adventure-horror-fantasy must have been challenging for both these men. In hindsight, their success in overcoming these inundated challenges had contributed immensely to the film industry world-wide. The screenplay by James Creelman and Ruth Rose was full of brilliance as well (Vaz, p.73). The RKO Studio, which produced the film in 1933, was in a tight corner financially. So the budget for King Kong was kept to the bare minimum. Due to some foresight, planning and efficient use of available resources, the film-makers were able to produce this masterpiece. For example, the shooting was scheduled in such a way that the benign climatic conditions of spring and summer seasons could be used for maximum advantage. When constrained by the low budget, Merian Cooper and Edgar Wallace decided to re-use the set built for the making of â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game† the previous year. By the way, â€Å"The Most Dangerous Game† was itself a big success. But King Kong managed to out-score this movie in financial returns (Vaz, p.73). The one aspect of King Kong that saw much innovation was its cinematography. For example, rear projection, dummy miniature models of characters, and other cameral tricks that were adopted during the making of this film were to become standard procedures in the film industry. In spite of such revolutionary innovations, King Kong did not receive even a single Academy Award nomination. The category where it would have swept all prizes was â€Å"Special Effects†. Since there was no separate â€Å"Special Effects† department during the 1930s, this coveted recognition evaded King Kong. Also, the constant depiction of violence in the film and the popular acclaim that it received might have swayed the decision of members of the Academy (Stringer, p.409). In the movie, the character named Denham (who plays a notorious film-maker) fails to find a star actress to accept the role of the leading lady. His offers were declined because of the unconventional nature of the script – it seemed no one wanted to risk their careers. This situation was testing Denham’s patience and balance. At this juncture, his eyes catch the sight of a poor and miserable young woman in one of the New York streets. Unkempt she might have been, but her underlying beauty was unmistakable. He decides then and there that she (played by Fay Wray) would be the leading lady in his film. He convinces the young woman that this is a rare and lucrative opportunity to achieve popular recognition and fame. The young woman complies. There are many a classic Hollywood thematic elements in this section of the narrative – â€Å"a chance encounter†, â€Å"journey from obscurity to fame†, â€Å"rags to riches†, â€Å"the American Dr eam†, etc. (Grover, 2005). Exploring further, more classic thematic pieces could be uncovered. For example, when First Mate Driscoll meets Ann (Fay Wray) in the deck, he develops empathy for her. This could be deciphered as a variation on â€Å"Damsel in Distress† scenario. First Mate Driscoll, a hard and tough shipman, mellows in the presence of a vulnerable and insecure woman (McGowan-Hartmann, 2006). This scenario too is played out in numerous other Hollywood productions. Damon Young sees the romance in the film from a different perspective: â€Å"The theme of domesticating femininity as that which tames and undoes the male subject through the force of its visual desirability is central to the film’s narrative economy†¦.Insofar as Kong functions as a surrogate for the masculine ego unconstrained by civilization, the film stages the feminine power of desirability as a threat: Kong is destroyed by his love for Ann.† (Young, Damon) The director maintains an element of suspense and mystery during the adventurous voyage to an island, whose inhabitants are not known to the outside world. First of all, Denham, on whose orders the ship is run, does not disclose any information regarding their destination when the ship leaves shore. He finally decides to brief his crew members of their impending exotic experience. Even at that point there were more questions than answers. The crew only had a vague conception of their enterprise. The director is not just keeping his crew members in a state of uncertainty and anxiety, but also the audience (Grover, 2005). Movies in the horror genre exploit this aspect of human psychology very well. This is a time-tested technique used in narrative arts of all types – novels, plays, movies, etc., to keep the audience hooked to the narrative. Again, this is classic Hollywood. The narrative technique, which was very effective in arousing audience interest found varied expr ession in Alfred Hitchcock movies decades later (McGowan-Hartmann, 2006). The second half of the film is a showcase of visual innovations. The scene where King Kong would mount the Empire State building with his lady love in hand was masterfully crafted. Here, the giant beast takes on an array of fighter planes. The use of miniature models in arriving at a real-life visual effect was so perfect that it would escape our notice (Stringer, p.409) The movie has come to define Hollywood productions because it leaves room for various interpretations. This quality is manifest in all classic works of art and King Kong is no exception. The film can be classified under numerous genres. It is a romantic, adventure, horror, science-fiction, political film. The last adjective is quite interesting, because this particular description is not striking or obvious. It is political to the extent that it depicts American imperialist tendencies through the treatment meted out to the native tribes of the island. It is also political in that the movie making attitude displayed by Denham is purely capitalist – ruthlessly commercial and thereby inhumane. This inhumane subjugation is imposed on his own crew members and the native tribes. In many ways Denham’s character was so typical of the Studio bosses of the 1930s and 1940s. Since Capitalism and Imperialism are both inherent qualities of all Hollywood productions, we can c onclude that King Kong typifies the Classic Hollywood production. (Stringer, p.410)