Literary Terms #5

parallelism- a reoccurring phrase in a sentence or passage.

parody-a satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing

pathos-the quality or power in an actual life experience or in literature, of evoking a feeling of pity or compassion.

pedantry-the character, qualities, practices, etc., of a pedant, especially undue display of learning.

personification-giving human characteristics to inanimate objects.

plot-main story of a literary or dramatic work, as a play, novel, or short story

poignant-affecting or moving the emotions

point of view- specified or stated manner of consideration or appraisal; standpoint

postmodernism-any of a number of trends or movements in the arts and literature developing in the 1970s in reaction to or rejection of the dogma, principles, or practices of established modernism, especially a movement in architecture and the decorative arts running counter to the practice and influence of the International Style and encouraging the use of elements from historical vernacular styles and often playful illusion, decoration, and complexity.

prose-the ordinary form of spoken or written language, without metrical structure

protagonist-the leading character, the good guy

pun-the humorous use of a word or phrase so as to emphasize or suggest its different meanings or applications.

purpose-the reason for which something exists

realism-interest in or concern for the actual or real, as distinguished from the abstract, speculative, etc

refrain-to abstain from an impulse to say or do something

requiem-any musical service, hymn, or dirge for the repose of the dead

resolution-a formal expression of opinion or intention made. the resolution of the conflict

restatement-to state again or in a new way

rhetoric-the art or science of all specialized literary uses of language in prose or verse, including the figures of speech.

rhetorical question-a question asked solely to produce an effect or to make an assertion and not to elicit a reply

rising action-a related series of incidents in a literary plot that build toward the climax

romanticism-the Romantic style or movement in literature and art, or adherence to its principles

satire-the use of irony, sarcasm, ridicule, or the like, in exposing, denouncing, or deriding vice, folly, etc

scansion-the metrical analysis of verse

setting-the locale or period in which the action of a novel, play, film, etc., takes place

Dictionary.com

Lit Terms 4

interior monologue- stream-of-consciousness writing that shows the inner thoughts of a character.

inversion- reversal of the usual order of words

juxtaposition-an act of placing words close together or side by side.

lyric-having the form and musical quality of a song,  as distinguished from epic and dramatic poetry

magic(al) realism- a style of painting and literature where fantastic or imaginary and often unsettling images or events are depicted in realistic manner.

extended metaphor-a metaphor introduced and then further developed throughout all or part of a literary work, especially a poem

controlling metaphor- a figure of speech in which a term  is applied to something to which it is not literally applicable in order to suggest a resemblance with a check or restraint

mixed metaphor-the use in the same expression of two or more metaphors that are incongruous

metonymy- a figure of speech that consists of the use of the name of one object or concept for that of another to which it is related, or of which it is a part

modernism-modern character, tendencies, or values;  with what is modern.

monologue-a form of dramatic entertainment, comedic solo, or the like by a single speaker

mood-a state or quality of feeling at a particular time

motif-a recurring subject, theme, idea, etc., especially in a literary, artistic, or musical work

myth-a traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, especially one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature

narrative-a story or account of events, experiences, or the like, whether true or fictitious

narrator- a person who gives an account or tells the story of events, experiences, etc

naturalism- action arising from or based on natural instincts and desires alone

novelette/novella- a fictional prose narrative that is longer and more complex than a short story; a short novel

omniscient point of view- point of view of having complete or unlimited knowledge, awareness, or understanding; perceiving all things

onomatopoeia- the formation of a word, as cuckoo, meow, honk,  or boom,  by imitation of a sound made by or associated with its referent

oxymoron- a figure of speech by which a locution produces an incongruous, seemingly self-contradictory effect

pacing- a rate of activity, progress, growth, performance, etc.

parable- a short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson

paradox- a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth

Dictionary.com

Literary Terms #3

exposition: The setting of the story
expressionism: creating work through use of nature and it's elements
fable: Short story using animals to teach morals
fallacy: misleading argument
falling action: The series of events that occur after the climax
farce: a short play focusing on situations
figurative language: language that contains figures of speech
flashback: to recall a lifelike memory from the past
foil: to keep someone from succeeding
folk tale: A story passed on traditionally from generation to generation
foreshadowing: A technique author's use to allude to upcoming scenes
free verse: verse that does not have any pattern
genre: category which a story is placed under
gothic tale: A story usually told under the genre of gothism
hyperbole: This literary terms list is taking FOREVER.
imagery: To vividly describe setting, people, objects etc. in a story
implication: Something usually implied by the story
incongruity: does not follow set path
inference: The act of inferring
irony: To state a meaning completely opposite of what was given.
I used dictionary.com for my definitions

HACKING MY EDUCATION

Funny this should be the assignment tonight since I recently watched this morning this TEDTALK about a 13 year old boy who hacked his own education.
This school year I believed Ive taken a step in the right direction. I stumbled into the world of autodidacticism in which I've started to venture out from the confines of public school system and have started to teach myself things. For instance I've been reading, a lot. In the past 3 weeks I have read seven books, everywhere from Utopian to nonfiction to philosophy. I have also been watching a lot of documentaries and although the opinions are skewed I do learn a lot of new things, I watched one the other day (A State of Mind) which completely opened my mind to a society and culture I knew very little of. Also with the recent addition of creating the website inlocopolitico I feel the obligation to keep up with current events which has turned out to be very helpful.

Lit Terms #2

exposition: The setting of the story
expressionism: creating work through use of nature and it's elements
fable: Short story using animals to teach morals
fallacy: misleading argument
falling action: The series of events that occur after the climax
farce: a short play focusing on situations
figurative language: language that contains figures of speech
flashback: to recall a lifelike memory from the past
foil: to keep someone from succeeding
folk tale: A story passed on traditionally from generation to generation
foreshadowing: A technique author's use to allude to upcoming scenes
free verse: verse that does not have any pattern
genre: category which a story is placed under
gothic tale: A story usually told under the genre of gothism
hyperbole: This literary terms list is taking FOREVER.
imagery: To vividly describe setting, people, objects etc. in a story
implication: Something usually implied by the story
incongruity: does not follow set path
inference: The act of inferring
irony: To state a meaning completely opposite of what was given.
I used dictionary.com for my definitions

Women's Rights in 2013 (As seen by Mia Levy)

Women gained a lot of rights for their gender during the Civil rights movement. They altered the way America was run from redesigning the constitution to allow women the right to vote to persuading the military to allow women to join them. Yet after those few rights were won over the boycotting and petitions have slowed down. Which makes sense, women are allowed to do almost anything they aspire but there are still an alarming amount of things underground that our society simply overlooks.

If you have the time and interest please spend the next three minutes and forty seconds of your life watching this video,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NswJ4kO9uHc

This gender debate is considered a huge quagmire which is understandable. If we choose to completely eradicate gender stereotypes then we get rid of not only the bad but the good too. Men should be allowed to hit women for example even though the stigma is that this is forbidden because of the evident strength difference. This strength difference is something controlled by genetics, there is nothing we can do to make that equal. Take for example how women are not allowed to fight in the armed forces and the reason for this is that they simply do not have the strength or stamina that a man does, combined with the problems sexual tension could cause during attacks (Its instinct for a man to protect a women before another man). There’s a very thin line between getting rid of gender roles and getting rid of the difference between the x and y chromosome.  We can’t forcefully alter one of those, but there are a lot of stigmas we can. 

Why haven’t we ever had a women president? Just think about that for a little. Because no women has run before that possesses the capabilities? Or because the comfort of a man in an authority position is what America gravitates too? As seen in the video I do think it boils down to the way the media portrays them, for example in recent years using sex to advertise has burgeoned in America.

Take for example this song:
http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2013/09/17/from-the-mouths-of-rapists-the-lyrics-of-robin-thickes-blurred-lines-and-real-life-rape/
or this one:
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/the-hills/girls-education-campaigner-calls-for-ban-on-sexualised-bruno-mars-song-8216gorilla8217/story-fngr8i1f-1226717666010
or the criticism said to this newscaster:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUOpqd0rQSo

Yes these references we all know are considered morally wrong, but the upsetting thing is not enough people take physical action. Why haven’t people stopped going to Jack in the Box or buying AXE body spray as a way of telling them their commercials are offensive? Why doesn’t society stop listening to artists such as Bruno Mars or Robin Thicke as a way of telling them their work is disrespectful? 

I believe the stigmas starts at young age where we subconsciously ingrain these roles into our children. The princess needs to be rescued, a man needs to provide. “You’re a man, stop crying.” “You’re a lady, cross your legs” and as a child gets older it only becomes worse. A man should pay for his date, a women should wear makeup to make her face flawless to attract a man.
Take a look at this article for more information:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-bloom/how-to-talk-to-little-gir_b_882510.html
or take a look as to why girls are undervalued:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michaela-haas/oh-boy-the-antigirl-bias-_b_884399.html

Yet it’s not just men who undervalue women, but we do as well. Take for example the certain craze adolescent girls partake in, which they stalk male celebrities such as Justin Bieber or One Direction. There are plenty of instances where young girls say extremely sexual things towards these men, where the spend hours trying to get one of these boys to follow them on twitter. They ignore the dignity and respect they’re entitled to. You do not need a man to feel whole. The first step in earning respect from others is to respect yourself

We have the power, now let’s just make the change."

To find more articles like this one please checkout:
http://inlocopolitico.wordpress.com/

Fight or Flight

             Plato's Allegory of the Cave and Sartre's No Exit both deal with major character flaws in the human race that have transcended from generation to generation. Both author's use humans placed in unsatisfactory situations. One being stuck in a cave for eternity and the other stuck in a hotel room. The interesting thing about these two stories are the characters themselves. When placed in their unsuitable enviorment a denizen from the cave reacts much differently then Garcin in the hotel room, the two different outlooks further along their specific author's theme, tone, and philosophy.
               Take for example a slave witnesses one of his fellow slaves defy their metaphysical situation and venture out of the cave. Now this is unheard of, the slave will retreat into a state of shock. The instant reaction will be to flee to the humans placed next to them. Even if the freed slave is happy the other slaves have such an addiction to codependency that they lack the skill set to leave the comfortable cave. It all leads back to the human tendency to fear change. This ultimately proves another point Plato is saying through his allegory, that we do not know the reality of the world we live in until we have seen others. So does this prove the point that maybe our reality is completely different then the man next to us is? This also settles the continuous tone of uncertainty carried out by all the slaves. 
                Now Garcin would take a much different approach. Watching a counterpart exit the "hell" he is placed into would almost anger him. He would take the 'fight' approach and demand to know why he would not be allowed to leave as well after his certain try to follow. This is the difference between Sartre and Plato. Sartre's characters describe a completely different flaw, that their independency does not provide them with the skills to live comfortably with others. Even to the point where they are so arrogant that being forced to spend 24 hours a day with themselves almost makes things unbearable, their so disgusted with the human race that they are unable to be around it. This provides evidence to the point that, "Hell is other people."
This also adds onto the vainglorious tone carried throughout the entire story.
               When analyzed it seems as though Plato and Sartre told completely different stories that showcased different flaws in ourselves. Yet this by itself is another flaw we have. The ability to over think. Sartre and Plato told the same story, a story about a tragic human flaw. A flaw that makes us less of a person. Even though these flaws are different, does it really even matter?