The song is “Brutus” by The Buttress, from the album “My Name Means Heavy (demo version)”. It is inspired by the play “The Tragedy of Julius Caesar” by Shakespeare, in which the character Brutus, a friend of Caesar, conspires to kill him with others. The lyrics portray the thoughts of Brutus, his inner turmoil about what he is plotting. One of the overarching, subtle themes in the song is the concept of heavy. The beat is heavy, and the words seem to flow with it, emphasizing in lines like “I hate the air he breathes,” “This death will be art,” “I don’t want what you had, I wanna be you,”. It also ties into the heaviness of Brutus’ thoughts, of murdering his life long friend and his own raw desperation, as in the line “so with a heavy heart I’ll guide this dagger into the heart of my enemy,”. And it all comes together with his name, Brutus, which he states means heavy. This feeling of heavy is intensified by the slow rise in volume over the course of the song.
Category: Course Stuff
“Ride” By 21 Pilots
“Ride” –Blurryface by 21 Pilots is a song to conceptualize, but the theme is also directly implied. I believe it is up for concept because of its indirectness in some areas of the song as the artist uses personification on objects such as the sun to create metaphors of what i infer is the song artists minds and complex thinking. The literary devices used in the indirect areas of the song makes it feel powerful and gives you the same feeling of complex thinking that the artists could be trying to get the consumers/ audience to relate to. I also believe it is directly implied because the 21 pilots are literally explaining their thoughts, feelings and complex feelings within the lyrics.
My concept of the song is a deep indication on the artists minds and complex thinking because of the first (indirect) six striking lines in the lyrics . ” i just wanna stay in the sun where i find, i know its hard sometimes. Pieces of peace in the sun’s peace of mind, i know it’s hard sometimes. Yeah, i think about the end just way too much, but its fun to fantasize” These lyrics indicate that the song is up for complex conception and the show the speakers wanting of what i infer is to stay on earth ( “i just wanna stay in the sun”) and is aware of the troubles and small “pieces of peace” but has the understanding that it will come to an end and is ready for it (“But its fun to fantasize”).
“I’d die for you” that’s easy to say, We have a list of people that we would take, A bullet for them, a bullet for you, A bullet for everybody in this room, But I don’t seem to see many bullets coming through, See many bullets coming through, Metaphorically, I’m the man But literally, I don’t know what I’d do
“I’d live for you” and that’s hard to do, Even harder to say, when you know it’s not true, Even harder to write, when you know that’s a lie, There were people back home who tried talking to you, But then you ignore them still, All these questions they’re for real, like “Who would you live for?” “Who would you die for?”
And “Would you ever kill?”
These lyrics indicate that the song is quite direct, and with this, the artists or audience may believe the theme of the song “Ride” is about the journey of life. Throughout the song, the artist’s lyrics indicate that he feels like dying is easy, but to find something or someone to live for is life’s challenge, also relating to the quote “easier said than done” by an extent.
Book review: All american boys
All american boys is a book about racism in america especially in small neighborhoods
The story is amazing and keeps you reading no matter what there is no boring part of the book
The suspense isn’t very well intercepted into the story but it doesn’t degrade it at all since it doesnt really need it all it needs is its point and story.
if i rated it out of 10 it would be a 9-10
reading update :we kill monsters
im reading the book called we kill monsters currently i am on page 64. this book hooks me from the start because there is already action going on in this book and it is very eye grabbing into this book and really makes me want to read more. this takes me into a new world because it has so many monsters at the beginning It has already started the plot and has took me into a new world and has made me really want to read more
Reading Update/Review #1
*Remember, avoid spoilers as much as possible, since your thoughts might inspire others to pick up the book.
The must-haves: create a post about your independent reading. See below for posting options. Also, make two comments on your classmates’ posts. Comments can be brief but they need to have substance, not just saying you like it (there’s actually a button for that).
If you have not completed your book during the past two weeks, post a reading update of at least one paragraph based on the reading focus for this week, which is Beginnings. Answer the following questions, explaining your answers:
- How does the book hook you from the beginning? Or does the reader need a little patience? Why?
- How does the book immerse you in a new world? What are some details of that world?
or
If you completed a book, post a book review of at least one paragraph, which will include answers to some the following (these questions avoid questions of plot, which will help you avoid spoilers):
- How does the book hook you from the beginning? Or does the reader need a little patience? Why?
- How does the book immerse you in a new world? What are some details of that world?
- What is the most complex character or characters in the book? What makes them round and dynamic?
- What are the compelling internal and external conflicts in the book? How does the book build tension?
- Would you recommend this book to any reader? Would you recommend it to particular readers? Why?
Pocahontas’s Stereotypical Presentation of Native American Culture
The Disney movie Pocahontas displays Native Americans in an extremely stereotypical manner, such as their conflict with white Europeans. It depicts Native Americans as uncultured people with strange religions. It also displays their housing in a very historically inaccurate manner.
Stereotypes in The Little Mermaid
I slightly agree with the argument that Ariel would give up her voice to be with the man she wanted to be with but I think that is because Ursula was urging her into making that decision and she was under pressure. I think that the stereotypes dont come into play too much here but it is more the pressure of the situation.
The Little Mermaid’s Thesis
I agree with the group when they said “It also supports the dominant narrative because by the end of the story, she changes for a man.” Throughout the entire movie her whole mission is to end up with him and she does whatever it takes to be with him even if it means losing her voice. This whole idea that she needs to change her body for a man can negatively impact its younger audience.
Why The Little Mermaid Presentation was Correct
I agree with “The Little Mermaid” presentation that the Little Mermaid film does feed into a dominant narrative about how women should act and behave, but also how like many other Disney movies made at the time, still shows parts where the dominant narrative is broken to create unique and human characters, such as on Aladdin when Jasmine run’s away to claim independence over her life, or when Pocahontas stands up against John Smith calling her people Savages.
Mulan
In the movie, Mulan, the dominant narrative is that men are better in battle than women. the whole movie is about Mulan pretending to be a boy to fight for her father so that he won’t have to go to war. Mulan has to pretend to be a boy because women are not allowed to fight. Mulan ends up being the hero of the movie.
The Little Mermaid
THESIS- The Little Mermaid, (the 1989 film), promotes a dominant narrative that women should sacrifice themselves and anything about them to adapt to a man’s needs. While Ariel is a confident female lead that sets herself apart from the rest by departing on adventures despite her obligations and restrictions as a mermaid, she still represents the dominant narrative when the prince comes into play. After falling for the powerful male character, she immediately focuses on doing anything possible to be with him, including giving up her own assets and life altogether.
I agree with the cultural analysis of Pochahontas and how they found that it incorrectly portrays Native Americans and what happened when Europeans first came to America. Using examples from the conversation between her and John Smith was a really good point because the relationship is a main storyline to the movie.
Mulan Thesis
The film, Mulan (1998), resists the dominant narrative that women are less capable than men. Additionally, it defies the dominant narrative of what a socially acceptable woman should be like. The film does so by showcasing Mulan, the protagonist, as a hero. In 01:17:00 – 1:18:27, Mulan receives honor from the Chinese Emperor as a gratitude for saving China. He gifts her a medal of honor, Shan Yu’s sword (the enemy Mulan defeated), and offers her a position in his council. This demonstrates that the Emperor admires Mulan and how she is viewed as a savior, which defies these dominant narratives by displaying how a woman does not need to be the one being saved. She not only does not need to be saved by the men surrounding her, she saves them instead.
The Little Mermaid’s Thesis
I agree with The Little Mermaid’s group thesis that “the movie breaks the dominant narrative that women should be submissive by listening and taking advice from the men in their life.” Ariel defied everyone’s expectations by going off to do what she wanted. She didn’t let people tell her what to do. The thesis really goes into depth about her struggles and triumphs.
Racism in the Jungle Book
I liked what the Jungle Book group said about their movie. Saying that Disney showed stereotypes through their animals was good. I never really noticed how the apes might have been stereotypes of African people. Having them say that they want to be like humans is definitely a stereotype of how African people are less civilized than everyone else. I also like their points about how the jaguar might also be a stereotype. Overall, I agreed with their presentation and the points that they made.
Response to Mulan Thesis
The movie Mulan released in 1998 had many stereotypes about how women should act and appear. The stereotypes suggest that women should be thin, beautiful, quiet, and serve their husbands. Although there are also many moments in the film that break the stereotypes and show Mulan as a warrior and more than just a quiet lady. Most of the film breaks gender stereotypes by having its main character break the wall that generations of her ancestors had built.
Mulan
My group’s thesis is about how the movie resists the dominant narrative of how women are less capable than men. It resists what women are traditionally supposed to be like. A scene that shows this is (41:17-41:03) when Mulan gets the arrow before anyone else could. She was able to do this by carrying weights that also proved she had discipline and strength.
The Lying King
The Lion King (1994) is a film that contains many dominant narratives and stereotypes that depict Africa in a certain way. The movie contains a wild and primitive land with no human life.. During the beginning of the film, there are many clear indications revealing how the depiction of Lions follow the African dominant narrative that Lions are capable of ruling entire sections of Africa. The film is able to make this stereotype clear through visuals and dialogue shown throughout the beginning of the story. With Lions being crowned the king of the animals in a lot of children’s media, it would make sense for this movie made for children to contain this single story of the power classes of the animal kingdom.
Body Shaming In The Little Mermaid
In the Little Mermaid, Ursula is the main antagonist in the Little Mermaid. Disney depicted the ¨bad guy¨ by making Ursula obese and unattractive. She makes attempts to be attractive by putting on lipstick or swinging her hips. She also eats disgusting shrimp where the audience hears her chewing loudly. Her voice sounds masculine. also notice how the bad guy is obese and unattractive, however the good guy is skinny and attractive.
The Little mermaid
The Little Mermaid, (the 1989 film), promotes a dominant narrative that women should sacrifice themselves and anything about them to adapt to a man’s needs. While Ariel is a confident female lead that sets herself apart from the rest by departing on adventures despite her obligations and restrictions as a mermaid, she still represents the dominant narrative when the prince comes into play. After falling for the powerful male character, she immediately focuses on doing anything possible to be with him, including giving up her own assets and life altogether.
One scene that feeds into my theme is “Poor Unfortunate Souls” starting at [43:42]. Ursula warns Ariel that if she chooses to become human and be with Prince Eric, she will never see her father and sisters again. Ariel takes a thought at it but impulsively decides to choose Prince Eric. She also decides to give up her voice for the man, barely thinking vigilantly.
Disney Thesis (Mulan)
Mulan resists the dominant narrative that women are passive and weak but doing so it also reinforces the dominant narrative that men need to be strong and not express emotions. This is shown in the scene when Shang lee finds out his dad had died. He feels that he can’t express any emotions because it will make him appear as weak in front of his army. This enforces the dominant narrative that men shouldn’t be able to express emotions. Especially in the same way women are supposed to.
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