Before going to the Tower of London I was not quite sure what to expect. I had definitely heard the name but I really had no idea of what it was. I had no idea such history lied within the Tower of London and I especially had no idea of what gruesome activities had taken place there! The structure of the Tower of London even looked dreary and dark. There was definitely a lot of murder that took place at the Tower of London and it portrayed a great sense of tragedy and anger. So many people were killed here that it is somewhat hard to focus on anything else other than their tragic deaths. The Tower is definitely a beautiful place to be, but once you know about everything that has happened here, it is very distracting and almost takes some of that away.
St. Paul's Cathedral was the complete opposite. Once you walked inside, you immediately feel at peace. You catch yourself standing still amongst a crowd of people just in complete awe of it's beauty. Everything in the cathedral was absolutely breathtaking. From the stained glass windows to even the memorials that were honored inside. The windows were brightly colored and the dome was extremely high, letting the light stream through. Walking up to the top of the Cathedral was such a wonderful experience. You get to look down into the cathedral, almost as if you were God looking down on your people. I felt a great sense of power when i was up high like that, and the view was amazing!
Unlike the Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral was very uplifting. The cathedral represented life while the Tower represented death. I found the cathedral to be very uplifting, and to the other extreme, I found the tower to be very depressing! These two places are the complete opposite of one another in pretty much all aspects!! The only thing I can think to compare them as being similar is the fact that they both represent a lot of history in London and they both recognize the deaths of many people both innocent and great heroes. The cathedral is a place of celebration where as the tower is a place of remorse. I don't know how they could be anymore opposite!!!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
The London Eye
When I found out that we were taking a class field trip to the London Eye, I was really excited! The London Eye was definitely on my list of things I wanted to do in London. To be able to see the city from such a great height is really amazing and not something you can do often (unless perhaps you live in London and frequently visit the London Eye!!). Being up really high like that really changes your perception. Instead of looking up at all these magnificent buildings, you are looking down on them. They definitely seem a lot smaller from the London Eye then walking next to them on the street!
I really enjoyed the view of Big Ben and the Parliament buildings. I absolutely adore them and it was really cool to go way up high and be able to see the whole thing all together. When you are so close to it on the ground you can't really get a good view of the whole thing. That was my favorite view of the whole time I was on the London Eye. However, When looking at it from the ground it seems so great massive and elaborate, but when looking at it from way high up above it seems less intimidating. Maybe it was because of the fact that I was a lot farther away, but it was definitely a lot harder to pick up on all the smaller details of the building. Both views have their pros and cons, but I enjoyed both because they are both very different from each other.
When looking out over the city, I recognized a lot of places around London that I have traveled to and explored. I was shocked at how close they seemed to one another from looking down on them in the sky. I think that my perception of how close things are to one another has definitely been impaired by riding the tube so much because you can't see where you are going. I did not realize how close everything was to one another until I could see from way up high. That was when i decided that it was time I stopped using the tube so much!!
I greatly enjoyed my "flight" on the London Eye and would definitely recommend it to anyone who was visiting London. It is a great experience and opportunity to see the beautiful city of London from such a great height!!
I really enjoyed the view of Big Ben and the Parliament buildings. I absolutely adore them and it was really cool to go way up high and be able to see the whole thing all together. When you are so close to it on the ground you can't really get a good view of the whole thing. That was my favorite view of the whole time I was on the London Eye. However, When looking at it from the ground it seems so great massive and elaborate, but when looking at it from way high up above it seems less intimidating. Maybe it was because of the fact that I was a lot farther away, but it was definitely a lot harder to pick up on all the smaller details of the building. Both views have their pros and cons, but I enjoyed both because they are both very different from each other.
When looking out over the city, I recognized a lot of places around London that I have traveled to and explored. I was shocked at how close they seemed to one another from looking down on them in the sky. I think that my perception of how close things are to one another has definitely been impaired by riding the tube so much because you can't see where you are going. I did not realize how close everything was to one another until I could see from way up high. That was when i decided that it was time I stopped using the tube so much!!
I greatly enjoyed my "flight" on the London Eye and would definitely recommend it to anyone who was visiting London. It is a great experience and opportunity to see the beautiful city of London from such a great height!!
Tate Modern Museum
When we first walked up to the Tate Modern museum I noticed that the structure of the building was obviously modern. It did not fit it with all the other buildings you see around London, because most of them are very old. You can tell that this building is not very old at all, at least when considering it's surrounding buildings.
I have never really been in a museum of modern art. When I walked into the museum i noticed that everything was very plain looking and bland. Even the colors were bland and there was nothing appealing at it at all. Maybe the point of this was to direct the attention towards all of the art instead of the building itself. Or perhaps it is an art statement in itself, trying to make a point. Either way, I was surprised by the overall appearance of the building.
A specific painting that I noticed was in the very beginning, in the National History section. This painting was called "The Reckless Sleeper" and was painted by Rene Magritte. At the top of this painting there is a figure sleeping in what looks like to be a wooden box. Underneath it appears to be a dark and cloudy sky with a large tablet with various pictures on it. The pictures consist of a handheld mirror, a lit candlestick, what appears to be an apple, a crow, a black hat, and a black crow in the middle of the rest, which are forming a circle. This may be representing what the figure above is dreaming about in their sleep. In my opinion, the tablet strongly resembles that of a tombstone. The dark sky and clouds in the background add to that dreary effect and make what seem simple and ordinary pictures suddenly seem eerie and mysterious.
I also noticed this small room where all of the pictures were fairly small but all of rock formations in nature all in black and white. Usually when someone takes pictures of nature, the color is an important aspect of the picture. I found it interesting that these pictures did not have any color. Perhaps the intent was to focus on the structure itself and to not get distracted to smaller means of lesser importance, such as the color of the picture.
Another section was by Brice Marden and was called Etchings for Rex Roth: Energy of Nature. In this display there were a bunch of collaged pieces of paper with etchings of mushrooms all over them. The collaged sheets of paper had a messy look to them, and was not neat or organized at all. It looks as if someone was just etching on scratch paper and not at all as if it were meant to be on display. I think through this, Marden was trying to express the energy source coming these mushrooms. Maybe mushrooms represent something to him that he feels strongly about. Perhaps even a reference to drugs.
A display that really made me stop to ponder was The Pack by Joseph Beuys. This was a display that had a Volkswagen with 24 wooden sleds around it, each with a survival kit containing a roll of felt for warmth and protection, a lump of animal fat for energy and sustenance, and a torch for navigation and orientation. When reading about it I learned that Beuys had been in a plane crash during World War Two and used animal fat to wrap around him to stay warm to survive. This was very interesting to me because this artist was reflecting on a tragic experience that occurred to him, and it seems as though he wants to make sure that everyone has the first aid attention they would need if this situation were ever to occur again.
I found the Tate Modern Museum to be very interesting and unique from any other art museum I have even been to. I really appreciate the different forms of art and I find it extremely interesting. I really enjoy reading the information about the works of art so that I can look artist's mind to see where they are coming from. But before I read the information on it I also like to try and interpret it myself. I find it to be a great way to look into your soul and to discover what moves you and what you think of when you see certain things. I really enjoyed going to this museum and I appreciate the different and unique displays of art that are featured there.
I have never really been in a museum of modern art. When I walked into the museum i noticed that everything was very plain looking and bland. Even the colors were bland and there was nothing appealing at it at all. Maybe the point of this was to direct the attention towards all of the art instead of the building itself. Or perhaps it is an art statement in itself, trying to make a point. Either way, I was surprised by the overall appearance of the building.
A specific painting that I noticed was in the very beginning, in the National History section. This painting was called "The Reckless Sleeper" and was painted by Rene Magritte. At the top of this painting there is a figure sleeping in what looks like to be a wooden box. Underneath it appears to be a dark and cloudy sky with a large tablet with various pictures on it. The pictures consist of a handheld mirror, a lit candlestick, what appears to be an apple, a crow, a black hat, and a black crow in the middle of the rest, which are forming a circle. This may be representing what the figure above is dreaming about in their sleep. In my opinion, the tablet strongly resembles that of a tombstone. The dark sky and clouds in the background add to that dreary effect and make what seem simple and ordinary pictures suddenly seem eerie and mysterious.
I also noticed this small room where all of the pictures were fairly small but all of rock formations in nature all in black and white. Usually when someone takes pictures of nature, the color is an important aspect of the picture. I found it interesting that these pictures did not have any color. Perhaps the intent was to focus on the structure itself and to not get distracted to smaller means of lesser importance, such as the color of the picture.
Another section was by Brice Marden and was called Etchings for Rex Roth: Energy of Nature. In this display there were a bunch of collaged pieces of paper with etchings of mushrooms all over them. The collaged sheets of paper had a messy look to them, and was not neat or organized at all. It looks as if someone was just etching on scratch paper and not at all as if it were meant to be on display. I think through this, Marden was trying to express the energy source coming these mushrooms. Maybe mushrooms represent something to him that he feels strongly about. Perhaps even a reference to drugs.
A display that really made me stop to ponder was The Pack by Joseph Beuys. This was a display that had a Volkswagen with 24 wooden sleds around it, each with a survival kit containing a roll of felt for warmth and protection, a lump of animal fat for energy and sustenance, and a torch for navigation and orientation. When reading about it I learned that Beuys had been in a plane crash during World War Two and used animal fat to wrap around him to stay warm to survive. This was very interesting to me because this artist was reflecting on a tragic experience that occurred to him, and it seems as though he wants to make sure that everyone has the first aid attention they would need if this situation were ever to occur again.
I found the Tate Modern Museum to be very interesting and unique from any other art museum I have even been to. I really appreciate the different forms of art and I find it extremely interesting. I really enjoy reading the information about the works of art so that I can look artist's mind to see where they are coming from. But before I read the information on it I also like to try and interpret it myself. I find it to be a great way to look into your soul and to discover what moves you and what you think of when you see certain things. I really enjoyed going to this museum and I appreciate the different and unique displays of art that are featured there.
Harry Potter and the Fantasy Aspect of London Culture
When one thinks of fantasy, the mind’s eye suddenly is opened up to a whole new dimension without limits, a way of life beyond rules, and a world with endless possibilities. Growing up as children, we have all been encouraged to expand our horizons, to branch out and be creative, and really put our imagination to work. But do we stop this fantastical way of thinking after reaching a certain point of maturity? Should imagination eventually come to an end? Imagination is one of the many spices of life. It allows relief from the normality of the every day routine: a source of entertainment that allows our minds to take a journey that our bodies could never grant us. It is a realm of freedom; freedom that no one else can ever take away. Imagination grants us a peace of mind when all else in life falters and fails. It is a haven of hope and wishful thinking. It is a place where dreams prosper and ignite to life. And in those seldom and rare circumstances it can even pose a threat or conjure controversy. But once a couple of these ideas (or more) begin to gather and correspond within our imagination, the formation of a fantasy comes to life.So why choose Harry Potter, one might ask, to support the analysis of fantasy in London culture? The answer is quite simple. Harry Potter is in itself the epitome of everything a fantasy represents. In fact, it is more than that; The Harry Potter series is a collection of endless fantasies all ga
thered together in which an entire fantasy world has been created, unlike anything the “real” world has ever seen. Sure there are other stories that are fantasies as well, but no other story (or series of stories) has ever come even close when it comes to J.K. Rowling’s remarkable talent to go to such great depth and minute details of a fantasy world, that she herself has created. In the Harry Potter series that Rowling has so brilliantly put together, not only do you dive headfirst into a fantasy world of witches and wizards, spells and potions, and even the art of flying, but you also are introduced to how everything works and comes together with an in depth inside look at all the behind the scenes action so many crave to discover. In Harry Potter you follow the three main characters Harry, Ron, and Hermione in their everyday lives at the magical school known as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It is as if you are right there beside them going through every step of the way, just as they are, learning how to make specific potions, cast certain spells, and even the rules to play their magical sport of Quidditch.
thered together in which an entire fantasy world has been created, unlike anything the “real” world has ever seen. Sure there are other stories that are fantasies as well, but no other story (or series of stories) has ever come even close when it comes to J.K. Rowling’s remarkable talent to go to such great depth and minute details of a fantasy world, that she herself has created. In the Harry Potter series that Rowling has so brilliantly put together, not only do you dive headfirst into a fantasy world of witches and wizards, spells and potions, and even the art of flying, but you also are introduced to how everything works and comes together with an in depth inside look at all the behind the scenes action so many crave to discover. In Harry Potter you follow the three main characters Harry, Ron, and Hermione in their everyday lives at the magical school known as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. It is as if you are right there beside them going through every step of the way, just as they are, learning how to make specific potions, cast certain spells, and even the rules to play their magical sport of Quidditch.Not only is Harry Potter the picture perfect example of the idea of a fantasy, but also it has a great deal to do with London specifically. There are numerous references to various places in London throughout the series and much of London’s culture is revealed through the text. Also, much of the scenes from the movies are filmed in different locations in London, which also shines a light on the city’s culture. For example, King’s Cross is the station in which all yo
ung witches and wizards go to in order catch the Hogwarts Express, which is a train that takes them to Hogwarts. The platform in which they use for this special train is not known to Muggles (or non-magic folk), as they would say. The platform that they use is known as Platform 9 ¾, which King’s Cross station has now designated a spot on the platform to allude to this cultural phenomenon. The Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley are other places located in London, which is where all witches and wizards get all their magical shopping done. The Ministry of Magic is also located in London which is the organization that keeps Muggles unaware that there are magic folk around. Gringotts, the only wizarding bank there is located in London as well. Pretty much all the important places and organizations having to do with the wizarding world are all located within London. Because London is so often referred to in this book, a great deal of its culture can be gathered by reading the text of these novels and also by watching the scenes in the movies. You get a great sense of the culture of London through all the little cracks, which is great because the reader is never left bored.
ung witches and wizards go to in order catch the Hogwarts Express, which is a train that takes them to Hogwarts. The platform in which they use for this special train is not known to Muggles (or non-magic folk), as they would say. The platform that they use is known as Platform 9 ¾, which King’s Cross station has now designated a spot on the platform to allude to this cultural phenomenon. The Leaky Cauldron and Diagon Alley are other places located in London, which is where all witches and wizards get all their magical shopping done. The Ministry of Magic is also located in London which is the organization that keeps Muggles unaware that there are magic folk around. Gringotts, the only wizarding bank there is located in London as well. Pretty much all the important places and organizations having to do with the wizarding world are all located within London. Because London is so often referred to in this book, a great deal of its culture can be gathered by reading the text of these novels and also by watching the scenes in the movies. You get a great sense of the culture of London through all the little cracks, which is great because the reader is never left bored.
Fantasy has always been considered to be part of the children’s culture and not so much a big factor in
the adult world. But as times are constantly changing, one may want to think again.
the adult world. But as times are constantly changing, one may want to think again.“Part of the magic in reading the Harry Potter novels is that they are written on several levels and for different audiences. A child will enjoy the storytelling itself, the characters, and the imagery, but a well read young adult will likely understand some of the allusions, the clever wordplay, and the many historical, mythical, and literary references that are embedded throughout the books. And a grown adult will, if he’s reasonably well read, enjoy it on multiple levels.” (George Beahm)
When I was in a bookstore on Charing Cross Road, I asked one of the employees to point me into the direction of the Harry
Potter section of the store. The response she had for me was, “Which section would you like to go to, the children or the adult?” This completely threw me off guard because I had always found Harry Potter in the children’s or even teenage or young adult’s section. I asked her what the difference was and she explained to me that the covers on the books are different. The covers in the children’s section are the well known illustration’s that are advertised everywhere, while the cover on the adult’s section is more sophisticated looking with some of the pictures even being from real life. This just goes to show that in their culture here in London, fantasy is looked upon as more acceptable in the “adult” world. You usually don’t see many adults walking around with books of fantasy in their hands, as you do newspapers or biographies on famous and prosperous people in the world. It is evident, however, that Harry Potter has played a significant role in making the world of fantasy more popular and appealing to adults, considering the same seven-book series of novels were made a completely whole new set of book covers that are more “adult-like”.
When I was in a bookstore on Charing Cross Road, I asked one of the employees to point me into the direction of the Harry
Potter section of the store. The response she had for me was, “Which section would you like to go to, the children or the adult?” This completely threw me off guard because I had always found Harry Potter in the children’s or even teenage or young adult’s section. I asked her what the difference was and she explained to me that the covers on the books are different. The covers in the children’s section are the well known illustration’s that are advertised everywhere, while the cover on the adult’s section is more sophisticated looking with some of the pictures even being from real life. This just goes to show that in their culture here in London, fantasy is looked upon as more acceptable in the “adult” world. You usually don’t see many adults walking around with books of fantasy in their hands, as you do newspapers or biographies on famous and prosperous people in the world. It is evident, however, that Harry Potter has played a significant role in making the world of fantasy more popular and appealing to adults, considering the same seven-book series of novels were made a completely whole new set of book covers that are more “adult-like”.Harry Potter has also served as a major source of entertainment every since it began. It has now been eleven years since the first Harry Potter book was published. It is remarkable that it has stayed in the spotlight for as long as it has and is still going strong. There are seven published books that complete the entire series, as well as movies to go along with each one. The fifth movie which represents the fifth book has just recently come out into theaters, which means that the anticipation and hype of the series still has much to hold in its future. There are even Harry Potter video games, costumes, posters and trinkets such as wands and quills that are on the market to purchase. Even the soundtracks for the movies are popular. Because Harry Potter has been around for so long, it has become a huge part of London’s culture, especially in terms of fantasy. Harry Potter is the biggest phenomenon that fantasy has ever seen, especially in London!
J.K Rowling does an excellent job of creating the fantasy world in Harry Potter. She makes a clear distinction between the wizarding world and the “real” world, yet also intertwines them together. The m
agical world is very much a replica of the “real” world but with the extra kick of the imagination added to it to give it the touch of magic. For example, there is still school in the wizarding world which is viewed in the same manor, the morals remain the same, and there are even magical sports, such as quidditch. In quidditch there’s not just one ball but rather three that are in play at the same time. There are also two objectives to the game verses just one. Not only are you supposed to score goals but also you have to catch a tiny golden ball that travels so quickly you can hardly spot it. J.K, Rowling takes the ordinary and makes it magical by taking off the boundaries that lie in reality. For example, Hogwarts is a magnificent and beautiful castle rather than some boring and uniform building in which we typically find our schools in. Rowling takes the ordinary, puts a magical spin on it, and makes it extraordinary.
Fantasy is such a great way to expand and broaden our minds, but sometimes there are people who think that there is a very strict line that should not be crossed. The Harry Potter series has had such controversy with religious groups, that claim the witchcraft in these stories a
re evil and associated with the Devil. It is interesting that these religious groups choose now to protest about such fantasies when stories filled with the same ideas have not been thought twice about. What about Cinderella and the godmother who uses her wand to do magic in that fairy tale? What is the difference between that magic and the magic in Harry Potter? Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs has the evil witch who uses a potion to poison the apple she gives to Snow White. And The Wizard of Oz has the wicked with of the West, and also a nice witch, which is exactly the kind of representation you find in Harry Potter. It seems that since the Harry Potter series goes into such detail and depth with its magic that it’s all of a sudden not acceptable anymore. It is very peculiar how these religious groups became so offended and hotheaded about this particular series.
However, as time passes by, these said religious groups have eased off and have become more accepting to the story of Harry Potter and hopefully have realized that it represents the very same ideas that so many fantasies and fairytales have before this particular story. The more time that goes by with the Harry Potter series, the effect it has on the culture. London has been infatuated with the tale of this young wizard boy for eleven years now and at least a couple more to come. Harry Potter has definitely played a huge role in fantasy and how the culture of London takes it in and now appreciates it in many generations. In Stephen King’s review of the fifth Harry Potter novel, he says, “Will kids (and adults as well) still be wild about Harry 100 years from now, or 200? My best guess is that he will indeed stand time’s test and wind up on a shelf where only the best are kept; I think Harry will take his place with Alice, Huck, Frodo, and Dorothy, and this is one series not just for the decade, but for the ages.”
Sources:
Beahm, George. Fact, Fiction, and Folklore in Harry Potter's World. Charlottesville, VA: Hampton Roads Publishing Company, Inc., 2005.
Turner, Graeme. British Cultural Studies: An Introduction. London: Unwin Hyman Inc., 2005.
Rowling, J.K.. Harry Potter and the Philosopher. London: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc, 1999.
Anelli, Melissa. Harry, A History: The True Story of a Boy Wizard, His Fans, and Life Inside the Harry Potter Phenomenon. London: Simon and Schuster, 2008.
Lawrence, Will, and Joe Barnes. "The Trouble With Harry." Deathray AUG/SEPT 2009: 55-63.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Mrs. Dalloway
What first fascinated me about Mrs. Dalloway is when I found out that this whole book takes place in the course of one day! At first I was skeptical, wondering how in the world a single day could fill the up the space of an entire book! But then once I got further into the book Woolfe kept taking us through flashbacks. I felt a little more relieved when I found this out, however it was also quite confusing to keep up and follow along with the story. It was also odd that there were no chapters in this book. Chapters are generally used as a breaking point or a bridge in a story. This was not so in the novel of Mrs. Dalloway. Woolfe also makes a habit of switching around whose point of view the reader is reading from. This book is quite unique in that aspect and definitely leaves no room to be bored with the book! The reader is constantly on the guard to when the point of view may change or if the tense is present or past. It definitely keeps the readers on their toes!
Mrs. Dalloway was a woman who enjoyed her privacy. She enjoyed it more so than most anything else. I think Mrs. Dalloway likes to have her privacy so much because she is not truly and completely happy with her marriage with Richard. This turns out to be a vicious cycle because Mrs. Dalloway also finds that Richard Dalloway does not know everything about her, and she finds it to be a sad thought. The reason why Richard does not know everything about Mrs. Dalloway is because of the fact that she likes her privacy and to keep to herself.
Mrs. Dalloway is clearly in doubt of her marriage with Richard. When she runs into Peter earlier on during the day, old memories and feelings run back to her as she reminisces on the past. Peter was devastated by her refusal and even to this day seems to still be pretty beaten up over it. Mrs. Dalloway questions whether or not she made the right choice. To Clarissa (Mrs. Dalloway), the wisest decision was to refuse Peter’s proposal and even deny her feelings to Sally, her childhood infatuation. She is wise because of how pursuing these relationships would have an effect on her. Homosexuality was not accepted in the society that she was living in at the time, and Peter was not high up enough on the status level of importance or wealth in their community so she thought it best to move on.
Richard was the perfect candidate for a spouse, as far as social terms are concerned. However Clarissa did not have the same kind of passion for him as she did for Peter. You can see that Clarissa is doubtful of her existing marriage and reflects on the memories of her and Peter. Clarissa definitely chose the future that would be the most stable and safe and socially acceptable, but it is clearly not the future that made her most happy. In this novel, it is clear that Clarissa chose comfort over love or happiness.
Mrs. Dalloway was a woman who enjoyed her privacy. She enjoyed it more so than most anything else. I think Mrs. Dalloway likes to have her privacy so much because she is not truly and completely happy with her marriage with Richard. This turns out to be a vicious cycle because Mrs. Dalloway also finds that Richard Dalloway does not know everything about her, and she finds it to be a sad thought. The reason why Richard does not know everything about Mrs. Dalloway is because of the fact that she likes her privacy and to keep to herself.
Mrs. Dalloway is clearly in doubt of her marriage with Richard. When she runs into Peter earlier on during the day, old memories and feelings run back to her as she reminisces on the past. Peter was devastated by her refusal and even to this day seems to still be pretty beaten up over it. Mrs. Dalloway questions whether or not she made the right choice. To Clarissa (Mrs. Dalloway), the wisest decision was to refuse Peter’s proposal and even deny her feelings to Sally, her childhood infatuation. She is wise because of how pursuing these relationships would have an effect on her. Homosexuality was not accepted in the society that she was living in at the time, and Peter was not high up enough on the status level of importance or wealth in their community so she thought it best to move on.
Richard was the perfect candidate for a spouse, as far as social terms are concerned. However Clarissa did not have the same kind of passion for him as she did for Peter. You can see that Clarissa is doubtful of her existing marriage and reflects on the memories of her and Peter. Clarissa definitely chose the future that would be the most stable and safe and socially acceptable, but it is clearly not the future that made her most happy. In this novel, it is clear that Clarissa chose comfort over love or happiness.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Painting of Dorian Gray
In this novel, Oscar Wilde takes an interesting spin on imagination through a simple painting. I found it extremely interesting because a few years ago I came up with my own story dealing with a painting and how it was enchanted and actually told a story and predicted the future through the painting itself. Of course it does not compare to this story in terms of quality and structure and so on. I simply found it somewhat coincidental and amusing to myself!
Wilde uses the painting in this story to represent the character of Dorian Gray. Dorian Gray wishes that he could forever stay beautiful. He wishes this so much that he offers to sell his soul and let the portrait that Basil has painted of him to age instead of himself. Dorian gets his wish and keeps this painting hidden away and watches it change and distort within time while he remains young and beautiful. This represents how in the culture of this time period, beauty and appearance were extremely valued and important, much like today. People will go to extremes to make sure that they continue to remain as youthful and beautiful as possible. Lord Henry Wotton influenced Dorian greatly in his beliefs that pleasure and beauty are all that really matters in life. With this mindset, a person’s soul can become quite distorted. This is in fact what happened to the painting of Dorian which represented his soul.
The distortion of this portrait of Dorian Gray is a representation of how with every sin, your soul becomes more and more distorted. Dorian Gray hid his painting because he didn’t want anyone else to see how he had become so distorted. You would think that if you are aware of how awful you
I found it interesting that in the end of the story, when Dorian dies, the painting goes back to its original form and Dorian himself is transformed into the hideous depiction of him that the picture represented. This is a clever way to show that even if you do to try to avoid the consequences of your actions it will eventually catch up with you in the end.
This story is very clever and has great metaphors to get its point across. I thought it was a great portrayal of the culture of the time in which is was written and displays themes that are still seen even today. There are moral values in which one can take away from this book even though it was written so long ago. I think its great how relevant is still remains to this day.
Wilde uses the painting in this story to represent the character of Dorian Gray. Dorian Gray wishes that he could forever stay beautiful. He wishes this so much that he offers to sell his soul and let the portrait that Basil has painted of him to age instead of himself. Dorian gets his wish and keeps this painting hidden away and watches it change and distort within time while he remains young and beautiful. This represents how in the culture of this time period, beauty and appearance were extremely valued and important, much like today. People will go to extremes to make sure that they continue to remain as youthful and beautiful as possible. Lord Henry Wotton influenced Dorian greatly in his beliefs that pleasure and beauty are all that really matters in life. With this mindset, a person’s soul can become quite distorted. This is in fact what happened to the painting of Dorian which represented his soul.
The distortion of this portrait of Dorian Gray is a representation of how with every sin, your soul becomes more and more distorted. Dorian Gray hid his painting because he didn’t want anyone else to see how he had become so distorted. You would think that if you are aware of how awful you
I found it interesting that in the end of the story, when Dorian dies, the painting goes back to its original form and Dorian himself is transformed into the hideous depiction of him that the picture represented. This is a clever way to show that even if you do to try to avoid the consequences of your actions it will eventually catch up with you in the end.
This story is very clever and has great metaphors to get its point across. I thought it was a great portrayal of the culture of the time in which is was written and displays themes that are still seen even today. There are moral values in which one can take away from this book even though it was written so long ago. I think its great how relevant is still remains to this day.
kurieshi's buddha of suburbia
In Hanif Kurieshi’s novel, Buddha of Suburbia, I had no idea the type of story I was about to jump into. The title of the novel includes “Buddha” in it so when I first saw it I was thinking in terms of religion. I quickly learned that this story was not under any such restrictions, especially when it comes to religion.
This book is very forward and it is clear that Kurieshi was not afraid to cross any boundaries considered by society or morality. I have never read a book that has been so openly forward and engrossed in such details of such controversial situations as were described in this book. Perhaps other books are too afraid of showing too much honesty and the reality of the culture during this time period. I think such extremes are taken simply because of the fact that Karim does not know who he is or where he stands. With this in mind, he is open and willing to try things that other people would not agree with or look highly upon. Through these cultural and daring experiences he is searching for answers in which seems to be difficult to find.
Karim is often quite moody. For example, sometimes he likes his dad when other times he does not. He even refers to his dad as “God” on occasion. Sometimes it is a serious tone while others are more sarcastic. Maybe this is a reference to the “Buddha” in the novel’s title. What often times flares up these mood swings has a lot to do with Charlie. The very presence of Charlie seems to have such a great effect of Karim and what kind of mood he is in. It is clear that Karim thinks very highly of Charlie and is very intrigued with him. Charlie is somewhat of a role model to Karim and he can’t seem to shake him from his thoughts. Charlie has a gret deal of representation when it comes to cultural ideas of London during that particular time period. He represents the care free lifestyle that was not common during the time. The greatly intrigued Karim and kept him wanting more.
The end to this book did not seem to be completely satisfactory, to at least myself as a reader. It somewhat leaves you hanging and there is no real closure. In the last sentence of the novel it says is that things will not always be so bad. That is extremely vague, not to mention that according to the pattern of the book, that did not seem to be very likely. I think the ending could have been better written, but then again that is just my opinion. Overall it was a very forward, open, and honest story of a young boy trying to find his place in the world.
This book is very forward and it is clear that Kurieshi was not afraid to cross any boundaries considered by society or morality. I have never read a book that has been so openly forward and engrossed in such details of such controversial situations as were described in this book. Perhaps other books are too afraid of showing too much honesty and the reality of the culture during this time period. I think such extremes are taken simply because of the fact that Karim does not know who he is or where he stands. With this in mind, he is open and willing to try things that other people would not agree with or look highly upon. Through these cultural and daring experiences he is searching for answers in which seems to be difficult to find.
Karim is often quite moody. For example, sometimes he likes his dad when other times he does not. He even refers to his dad as “God” on occasion. Sometimes it is a serious tone while others are more sarcastic. Maybe this is a reference to the “Buddha” in the novel’s title. What often times flares up these mood swings has a lot to do with Charlie. The very presence of Charlie seems to have such a great effect of Karim and what kind of mood he is in. It is clear that Karim thinks very highly of Charlie and is very intrigued with him. Charlie is somewhat of a role model to Karim and he can’t seem to shake him from his thoughts. Charlie has a gret deal of representation when it comes to cultural ideas of London during that particular time period. He represents the care free lifestyle that was not common during the time. The greatly intrigued Karim and kept him wanting more.
The end to this book did not seem to be completely satisfactory, to at least myself as a reader. It somewhat leaves you hanging and there is no real closure. In the last sentence of the novel it says is that things will not always be so bad. That is extremely vague, not to mention that according to the pattern of the book, that did not seem to be very likely. I think the ending could have been better written, but then again that is just my opinion. Overall it was a very forward, open, and honest story of a young boy trying to find his place in the world.
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