Rick Najera Plays and Assignments

Done by: Chantel Raymond and Sean Tucker

Rick Najera – Captured by Feministas AND You Know How to Whistle, Don’t You?


1) What genre is each play? Explain why.

· Captured by Feministas = is considered Tragicomedy. It combines a mixture of comedic lines and tragedy because they ultimately murdered the main character.

· You Know How to Whistle, Don’t You? = is considered Melodrama because the play did not involve any tragedies nor was it very comedic. This genre of melodrama contained a very serious situation between two lovers. We were able to identify the protagonist and the antagonist and it contained a sense of moral judgment bases on the situation.

2) How does his choice of diction affect your reading of the plays? Be specific in your response. Use examples as support.

His choice of diction affected our reading by misleading us and not being clear as to what was directly going on between the characters. When we read the play we both got two different meanings or occurrences from the plays. For example in the play, “You Know How To Whistle, Don't You?”, if the reader did not pay attention to the word choices used you would get an image of a couple discussing sex, but then we realized it was a prostitute attempting to give herself to a man, instead of actually selling herself.

3) What is the theme for each play? Provide reasons to support your answer.

The theme for the play “Captured by Feministas”, expressed the breaking down of male dominance and the realization of the female importance in a males life. This was evident because Alejandro started off as being dominant and macho and the feministas had completely broke him down and realize the importance of women in his life.

The theme for the play “You Know How to Whistle, Don’t You?”, is basically survival, doing what you have to do to survive. This was made clear because of her persistence to sell herself for money and the want to escape harsh environment in Cuba.

4) Define the antagonist and protagonist in each play. Explain how you know.
The antagonist in “Captured by Feministas” were actually the feministas themselves because of them capturing Alejandro, doing harm to him and ultimately killing him which caused the problem. The protagonist was Alejandro, because he was basically defenseless begging for his life.

The antagonist in “You Know How to Whistle, Don’t You?”, was the female prostitute because she was constantly trying to throw herself on this man that did not want anything to do with her and she was being very forceful and leaving him without an option. and the Man the in play was the protagonist due the fact that he did not want to get involved with her due the many issue that may follow.

5) What is your opinion of each play?

My opinion of they play that they were both very opionated. they were very easy to understanding the meaning behing the story although at certain points in the play it tended to be very misleading. Rick Najeri has a way about writing that wants you to know the outcome of the story and leave you wanting a little more at the end.

Is Music Poetry

Is music poetry?

A musical selection that I also consider poetry is by Common, “I Used To Love H.E.R., and a musical selection that I do not also consider poetry is Soulja Boy, “Crank that Superman”.

I Common- I Used To Love H.E.R.

Verse 1: She was old school, when I was just a shorty Never knew throughout my life she would be there for me ont he regular, not a church girl she was secular Not about the money, no studs was mic checkin her But I respected her, she hit me in the heart A few New York niggaz, had did her in the park But she was there for me, and I was there for her Pull out a chair for her, turn on the air for her and just cool out, cool out and listen to her Sittin on a bone, wishin that I could do her Eventually if it was meant to be, then it would be because we related, physically and mentally And she was fun then, I'd be geeked when she'd come around Slim was fresh yo, when she was underground Original, pure untampered and down sister Boy I tell ya, I miss her

Verse Two: Now periodically I would see ol girl at the clubs, and at the house parties She didn't have a body but she started gettin thick quick DId a couple of videos and became afrocentric Out goes the weave, in goes the braids beads medallions She was on that tip about, stoppin the violence About my people she was teachin me By not preachin to me but speakin to me in a method that was leisurely, so easily I approached She dug my rap, that's how we got close But then she broke to the West coast, and that was cool Cause around the same time, I went away to school And I'm a man of expandin, so why should I stand in her way She probably get her money in L.A. And she did stud, she got big pub but what was foul She said that the pro-black, was goin out of style She said, afrocentricity, was of the past So she got into R&B hip-house bass and jazz Now black music is black music and it's all good I wasn't salty, she was with the boys in the hood Cause that was good for her, she was becomin well rounded I thought it was dope how she was on that freestyle shit Just havin fun, not worried about anyone And you could tell, by how her titties hung

Verse Three: I might've failed to mention that the shit was creative But once the man got you well he altered the native Told her if she got an energetic gimmick That she could make money, and she did it like a dummy Now I see her in commercials, she's universal She used to only swing it with the inner-city circle Now she be in the burbs lickin rock and dressin hip And on some dumb shit, when she comes to the city Talkin about poppin glocks servin rocks and hittin switches Now she's a gangsta rollin with gangsta bitches Always smokin blunts and gettin drunk Tellin me sad stories, now she only fucks with the funk Stressin how hardcore and real she is She was really the realest, before she got into showbiz I did her, not just to say that I did it But I'm committed, but so many niggaz hit it That she's just not the same lettin all these groupies do her I see niggaz slammin her, and takin her to the sewer But I'ma take her back hopin that the shit stop Cause who I'm talkin bout y'all is hip-hop


Soulja Boy “Crank that Superman”

Yoooouuuu! )Soulja boy I tell 'emHey I got a new dance fo you all called the soulja boy(Yoooouuuu! )You gotta punch then crank back three times from left to right(Aaaaaaaahhhhhhhh yeeeeaaaah! )
[Chorus: x2]Soulja boy up in the holeWatch me crank itWatch me rollWatch me crank that soulja boyThen super man that hoeNow watch me you(Crank that soulja boy)Now watch me you(Crank that soulja boy)Now watch me you(Crank that soulja boy)Now watch me you(Crank that soulja boy)
[Verse 1:]Soulja boy off in this hoeWatch me lean and watch me rockSuper man that hoeThen watch me crank that RobocopSuper fresh, now watch me jockJocking on them haters manWhen I do that soulja boyI lean to the left and crank that thang(Now you)I'm jocking on your bitch assAnd if we get the fightingThen I'm cocking on your bitch assYou catch me at your local partyYes I crank it everydayHaters getting mad cause"I got me some bathing apes"
[Chorus x2]
[Verse 2:]I'm bouncing on my toeWatch me super soak that hoeI'm gonna pass it to ArabThen he's gonna pass it to don loc (loc)Haters wanna be meSoulja boy, I'm the manThey be looking at my neckSaying it's the rubber band man (man)Watch me do it (watch me do it)Dance (dance)Let get to it (let get to it)Nope, you can't do it like meHoe, so don't do it like meFolk, I see you tryna do it like meMan that shit was ugly
[Chorus x4]
[Hook:]Aim to clean off in this hoeWatch me crank itWatch me rollWatch me crank that RooseveltAnd super soak that Hoe [x10]
Aim to fresh up in this bitchWatch me shuffleWatch me jigWatch me crank my shoulder workSuper man that bitch [x6]

The song by Common is also considered a poem to me because when you read you are able to see many of the components that make up a poem in this song. For instance you see many metaphors and simile’s all throughout this song. The way this song is assembled you are able to understand it and read it as though it is a piece of poetry. There are also many lyrical consonance and rhymes occurring throughout. Although this is a song I look at it as poetry because when you read you can see his point of view and understand where he is coming from unlike to songs comings from other song artists.

The other song is considered a poem to me because it just absolutely makes no sense. No matter what form you try to read it in, it does not resembled any piece of poetry.

1) Is Rap/Hip-Hop music poetic expression? Why or Why not?
Ans. Yes, I do believe that Rap/Hip-Hop music is a poetic expression. Poetic expressions
have evolved throughout the years to include music and much more. Within the musical
lyrics you see many elements of poetry which would ultimately make it a poem. A poetic
expression allows you to express your point of view, your true deep feelings, and anything
that just comes to mind. No one ever said that you could not put the poem with a musical
background.

2) What literary characteristics does this music express?
Ans. The literary characteristics music express is different emotions, music must express
emotions and it must move the listener. Also another literary characteristic that music express
are simile’s, metaphors, and also even using personification. Using all of these literary terms
makes you piece of work a better read.

3) What type of critic are you? Explain why.
Ans. I am a social relevance critic. A social relevance critic is a person that feels that words in
poetry should have some social relevance to the times and adequately define the times. I believe
that I should be able to relate to the words in the poem/song in order to better grasp or uncover the true meaning behind the lyrics. If lyrics are dominated by emotion, Ifeel that they should tie in somehow to some social factor. When the lyrics of a song/poem relate to me I understand and get more of a personal feel of the write and their point of view.

Poetry Image Writing

After Reading “Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night”, I had a feeling of death and uncertainty about why these people were trying to avoid something that was going to eventually come to pass. Also, there was a sense of rage and anger about death and a feeling that is was too soon to die.

The chosen image reflects the emotions conjured by the poem by expressing the sense of death and not wanting or ready to die. I also get a sense of despair.

After Reading “ We Real Cool”, I felt a sense of freedom and limited stability. Also certainty that death was a common occurrence to doing things that make you sin and also no one can avoid death. You should just accept it.

The chosen image reflects the emotions conjured by the poem by expressing a sense of friendship and how close they are and the part in the poem that’s state “we sing sin”. The picture shows people smoking and drinking and giving a care about how that can cause death.

After reading “I felt a Funeral, in my Brain” I had a sense of cluelessness and uncertainty. I felt that the person was unaware of what was going on in the world around them and felt over-whelmed by their life.

The chosen image reflects the emotions conjured by the poem by expressing their world and how their brain was overworked and about to explode.

What is poetry

Poetry is the artistic revelation of one’s inner true feelings through rhyme and is used to let others know how you feel and to also evoke their emotional response.

Personally, what determines and does not determine a poem for me is how it is put together. Especially referring to the stanzas and how it is put together lyrically; meaning if it is rhyming. To me a poem should not be written as a story and should be short and sweet and to the point.

Two poets of interest to me are W.B. Yeats and William Blake

William Butler Yeats was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1865, the son of a well-known Irish painter, John Butler Yeats. He spent his childhood in County Sligo, where his parents were raised, and in London. He returned to Dublin at the age of fifteen to continue his education and study painting, but quickly discovered he preferred poetry. Yeats became involved with the Celtic Revival, a movement against the cultural influences of English rule in Ireland during the Victorian period, which sought to promote the spirit of Ireland's native heritage. Appointed a senator of the Irish Free State in 1922, he is remembered as an important cultural leader, as a major playwright, he was one of the founders of the famous Abbey Theatre in Dublin, and as one of the very greatest poets, in any language of the century. W. B. Yeats was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1923 and died in 1939 at the age of 73.

Never give all the heart
by W. B. Yeats

Never give all the heart, for love
Will hardly seem worth thinking of
To passionate women if it seem
Certain, and they never dream
That it fades out from kiss to kiss;
For everything that's lovely is
But a brief, dreamy, kind delight.
O never give the heart outright,
For they, for all smooth lips can say,
Have given their hearts up to the play.
And who could play it well enough
If deaf and dumb and blind with love?
He that made this knows all the cost,
For he gave all his heart and lost.


William Blake was born in London on November 28, 1757, to James, a hosier, and Catherine Blake. From early childhood, Blake spoke of having visions—at four he saw God "put his head to the window"; around age nine, while walking through the countryside, he saw a tree filled with angels. Although his parents tried to discourage him from "lying," they did observe that he was different from his peers and did not force him to attend conventional school. He learned to read and write at home. In 1782, he married an illiterate woman named Catherine Boucher. Blake taught her to read and to write, and also instructed her in draftsmanship. Later, she helped him print the illuminated poetry for which he is remembered today. Blake was a nonconformist who associated with some of the leading radical thinkers of his day, such as Thomas Paine and Mary Wollstonecraft. Blake believed that his poetry could be read and understood by common people, but he was determined not to sacrifice his vision in order to become popular. Blake's final years, spent in great poverty, were cheered by the admiring friendship of a group of younger artists who called themselves "the Ancients."



A Poison Tree

by William Blake
I was angry with my friend:
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.

And I watered it in fears
Night and morning with my tears,
And I sunned it with smiles
And with soft deceitful wiles.

And it grew both day and night,
Till it bore an apple bright,
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine,--

And into my garden stole
When the night had veiled the pole;
In the morning, glad, I see
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.

These poems are an example of what poetry is to me because it has stanzas, it rhymes, and it has a greater meaning behind the words. These two poems are the types of poems that keep me interested to read because it talks about everyday life and refers to how I am feeling at the time.

A Clean Well-Lighted Place

Describe the setting?

The setting of the story takes place is a small town in possibly a Hispanic area or Hispanic country; the entire scene of the short story is set in a cafe and a street in a town that could serve as any town in the world. The story is set late at night, and the café is quiet and only the two waiters and a single customer, the old men sit there waiting for the old man to leave.

Why is the idea of a well lighted place so significant to this short story?

The idea of a well lighted place is so significant to this short story because the well lighted place signified somewhere that the old man the old man can go to relieve himself of all the stresses of life and the darkness that he feels surrounds him a constant basis. The well lighted area of the café allows the old man to capture humility that he cannot get at a regular bar in town.

Why are the characters’s nameless?

The characters in the story are nameless because Ernest Hemmingway wanted the story to be minimalistic and simple. Hemmingway believe that minimal is so very dramatic and he was able to write a very exceptional story without the character’s being known. Although the characters did not have names they were very individualistic and had their own qualities.

What is the connection between the old man and the older waiter?

The connection between the old man and the older waiter was that although the older waiter did not try to kill himself, he understood why the old man felt the way he did about the clean well lighted place because he himself goes to bar and have drinks before he goes home to relieve all the stresses he has on him. The old understood the significance of the clean well light place; the clean well lighted place allowed for both the old man and the older waiter to clear their mind. The older waiter knew that there was a very big difference between the café and going to a regular bar.

What is the purpose of the younger waiter in the story?

The purpose of the younger waiter in the story is to be the antagonist. In the story the younger waiter was always in a rush to go home and down talked the old man to his face because he knew that he was deaf and could not hear him. The younger waiter provided the conflict of the story and allowed for there to be a greater understanding a clean well lighted space. In the story the younger waiter did not understand or even took the time to understand why the old man acted the way he did and why he came to the café every night and drink himself away.

What is the plot?

The plot of the story is the fact that the old man is stressed out by life and he feeling that the darkness is surrounding him and he is trying to get away.
The rising action is when the old man was the last person in the café still drinking
The conflict and complications of the story was when the waiter wanted to close up the café and the old man did not want to leave and kept ordering more drinks.
The climax of the story was when the older waiter told the younger one about the old man trying to kill himself and he went to the old man saying he should have killed himself.
The falling action was when the older waiter was saying a prayer and they finally got the old man to leave and they were able to close up.

What is the theme?

The theme of the story is solidarity and the unknowable nothingness. One of the most touching aspects of this short story is the older waiter’s expressed solidarity with the old man. While the young waiter is all “youth” and “confidence,” the old waiter and the old man seem overwhelmingly lonely and tired-out by life. Especially with the older waiter he would he would lie in the bed and finally, with daylight, he would go to sleep. And as for the unknowable nothingness refers to how much the word nothing and “nada” was used in the story. It is the reason why the old man try’s to kill himself and also it is the word which obsesses the old waiter as well. After work, he leans against a bar and recites two prayers to himself substituting “nada” for most of the prayer’s major verbs and nouns

Short Bio of Ernest Hemmingway

Ernest Hemingway was born inn Oak Park, Illinois. His mother Grace Hall, whom he never forgave for dressing him as a little girl in his youth, had an operatic career before marrying Dr. Clarence Edmonds Hemingway; he taught his son to love out-door life. Hemingway's father took his own life in 1928 after losing his healt to diabetes and his money in the Florida real-estate bubble. Hemingway's drinking had started already when he was a reporter, and could tolerate large amounts of alcohol. For a long time, drinking did not affect the quality of his writing. In the late 1940s he started to hear voices in his head, he was overweight, the blood pressure was high, and he had clear signs of cirrhosis of the liver. His ignorance of the dangers of liquor Hemingway revealed when he taught his 12-year-old son Patrick to drink. The same happened with his brothers. Patrick had later in life problems with alcohol. Gregory, who was a transvestite, used drugs he died at the age of 69 in a women's prison in Florida. These occurance led to the reason why Hemmingway wrote the way he did.

work cited
http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/hemingwa.htm

Everyday Use

1) What does the term “everyday use” mean in this story? Why did Walker choose this as the title?

The term “everyday use” in the story means that the significant things talked about in the story such as the quilt, bench and other old time utilities played a part in the lifestyles of the stories characters and it allowed them to always remember where they came from and how their heritage has come down the line through the years. Walker chose this as the title because she wanted to stress the importance of keeping the family heir-looms and heritage alive and by using these things in everyday life, it allowed them to keep there focus and strive for something greater than what they already have in there time period.

2) How do Dee, Maggie, and Mama define heritage? Which view does Walker want us to agree with?

Dee defines heritage as put family heir looms on display, while Maggie defines heritage and keeping it in the family and preserving them to last through the generations, and mama define heritage as giving a better understanding of the past generations and put them to good use. Walker wants us to agree with Maggie’s view of heritage because that what keeps going in society and to never forget where we came from and what they had to do to get here today.

3) Describe the setting – how does it affect the characters and story?

The setting of the short story takes place back in the days when black pride was at its highest peak. This affected the characters in the story by making them more aware of there heritage and especially affected Dee by making her change her name to Wangero to epic the sense that her name was the one of a person that was oppressed many years ago.

4) What is ironic about Dee’s name change to Wangero?

It was ironic that Dee changed her named to get back to her African roots because of her boyfriend Asalamalakim and his beliefs that then became her beliefs. Dee believed that by changing her name to Wangero she no longer associated herself with the people that oppressed African Americans and that made her a better person. She has reinvented her identity to clearly define her separation from her origins, distancing herself from her heritage.

5) What is the significance of certain items in the story – the butter churn, dasher, bench and quilt?

The significance of the butter churn and dasher represents all the hard work put into making butter and the generations of people that help make the churn which left groove impressions, the bench presents the seat upon which many ancestors sat and ate dinner and the imprint are forever place in there spot, and quilt is that it resembled their family heritage and took parts of different clothing from different people such as the army uniform used to piece the quilt together

6) How would the story have changed if Mama was not the narrator?

The story would have changed if mama was not the narrator by not having the close family knowledge about there heritage. By having mama as the narrator it allowed us to fully understand the values and lessons learned by telling this story. It made the story better by understanding from her point of view looking in.

7) Explore the final scenes in the story and discuss how the narrator changes at the end

The mother which is the narrator of the story has identified the loss of her daughter Dee to the glutton Miss Wangero and made a choice, and chose Maggie who asks for nothing more than to have a mother, to feel the breezes in the dirt swept front yard and to be visible to the consumer trying to eat her. She examines the spiritual betrayal of a young woman who turns on her own impoverished family in order to add 'quaint' decoration to her home. Dee didn’t want to keep the family heritage prosperous she just basically felt that it would be a good additional to make her household beautiful, in the end the mother realized that and gave the quilts to Maggie.

Sony's Blues with my views

#1 1 - Research the setting of “Sonny’s Blues” – Harlem, NYC.

The setting of Sonny’s Blues takes place in 1957. Early Harlem’s economy centered on agriculture until the railroad and Manhattan street system brought industry to the area. A housing boom ensued and over-zealous builders found their buildings empty and opened their doors to tenants of all colors. Before the Great Depression, Harlem’s reputation as an economic and political powerhouse for the African American community was unrivaled in the US (welcometoharlem). After the stock market crash, Harlem went through hard times but in no way faded from public consciousness. In the 1950s and the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s, influential leaders like Malcolm X and Reverend Adam Clayton Powell Jr. who helped move the Civil Rights Bill through Washington motivated residents to take action.

2 – How does the setting affect/shape Sonny’s character and create conflict/complications in the story?

The setting affects and shapes Sonny’s character due to the easy access to drugs and the violence in that era. Sonny was full of potential but was threatened by the drugs and violence of the urban ghetto. At that point of time in Harlem all you saw was a bunch of lost boys doing nothing with themselves and falling into the epidemic and just so happens Sonny’s falls into the trap because he could not get away.

#2 1 – Research the history of African-American men in the military – Pre-Civil Rights movement.

Before the civil rights movement African American men in the military had a long and distinguished record of volunteering for the military combat from the Revolutionary War through the Korean War but their patriotic efforts were often spurned by white officers (archives). In 1953, lynching of blacks in uniform spurred President Truman to desegregate the military. After their liberation from slavery, black men tried to prove their patriotism and to improve their standard of living by serving in the U. S. military, hoping that serving their country would prove them worthy of the same respect and opportunities given to whites.

2 – Why is it ironic that Sonny wants to enlist?

It’s so ironic that that Sonny wants to enlist in the military because he wanted to get away from the drugs and the violent streets of Harlem as well as it would give him an opportunity to get a college education on the GI Bill. This is a part of the family’s urban experience. The army was safer than being at home.

#3 1 – Research song lyrics by Billie Holiday. Find a song or verse that you feel best represents the suffering of Sonny – his blues. Include song title and lyrics here.

The song I think represents Sonny’s suffering is called “Foolin Myelf”. The lyrics in the song states, “And ev'ry time i pass........And see my face in a looking glass......I tip my hat and say"how do you do, you fool.......You're trowing your life away....."I'm acting gay......I'm acting proud.....And every time i see you in a crowd.......I may pretend......But in the end.....I'm just foolin myself”

2 - Explain why.

I feel that these lyrics represent Sonny’s suffering because I felt deep down inside that was what he felt about himself. I think this best represents Sonny and his suffering because he was following the wrong path, doing drugs. After being arrested for a while he had time to think about what he done and when he was released he seemed determine to keep clean from drugs and do what he really wanted to do with his life. Ultimately he did not want to feel like a fool anymore for that he had done and tried his best to stay clean and keep on track and hoped he was not fooling himself in the process.

#4 1 – Research Bebop.

Bebop is a musical style of jazz characterized by its complex and unpredictable melodies. This genre of music came about in the 1049’s and 1950’s as a separation of restricted sounds of big band music and other styles of jazz. Bebop takes certain elements from both blues and swing and blend them to make it own unique sound. Bebop is meant to be listened to rather than danced. It emphasizes on player’s solos and makes them more personal and intimate to the player. Socially, bebop signified a rebellion by the people who played the music and had a passion for it. A rebellion rising out of the masses themselves, since the people themselves is the source of the social movement. Bebop is said to have started in Monroe’s Uptown house and Minton’s in New York City.

2 – Bebop is the music that Sonny favors. What does the music represent politically and socially to Sonny? What does the music represent to Sonny’s brother?

Bebop was more than just a political and social thing for Sonny’s it was more of an escape from all of the problems in society and within himself as a person. Politically music for Sonny was his voice beyond the apparent disposition of his stature. Music gave him a voice to stand out politically against and for what he believed in. In the days of Sonny’s downfall he felt the world outside of home was rebelling against him and did not allow for him to grow as a person but rather held him back from becoming someone great in society. Socially music allowed Sonny to be involved and bond more with people that have gone through similar things he have gone through especially his downfall with his drug addiction. Socially with music he had people that had something in common with in and would not have to judge him because they understood where he has been. To Sonny’s brother music represented everything that had gotten Sonny to where he was. For him music had no real importance other than entertainment until the day he heard Sonny play in the club. It was then that he realized it meant more, he realized that it had a special significance and helped people express themselves when they lose their voice, in order to help them heal and become better people and correct the wrong in their lives.


Works Cited

http://welcometoharlem.com/page/harlem_history/

http://www.archives.gov/genealogy/heritage/african-american/