Randy Mootooveran

Lit Media

November3, 2016

Week 11 Writing Assignment

1.     I believe Kefka referred to fasting as an art form because the whole purpose of fasting is to gain enlightenment and discover a new meaning of some form in life, religion, or the universe. It basically follows principles artists try to incorporate into their work: finding and understanding an aspect of life and what its purpose is. While it isn’t meant to be a public event from what I know about it, it is something that can affect people in different ways, like finding an unusual painting in a gallery.

2.     The manager serves as both a symbol of hope for the hunger artist and as a source of selfishness. He goes around village to city, trying to find an audience for the faster, but more to continue its popularity for his benefit rather than anyone else’s. His primary motivation is to continue a dead tradition in spite of its loss in popularity and what affects it would have on the aging faster. Rather than help him find a place in these new times, he leads the hunger artist on a path of self-destruction.

3.     I would say the audience of a hunger artist has the duty to show respect for their commitment to such a task and don’t try to insult the artist who spent their life homing. Being an artist, the worst thing anyone could possibly do is undermining their hard work and not recognizes any effort made on their part.

4.     We learn he acts more like an animal than a man. He’s stubborn, resistant to change, and wishes to gain attention from his surroundings through his actions. He separates himself from other people and can recall the days he roamed free, clinging to the hope that things could be that way again.

5.     Personally, while the descriptions did give a good description, I believe an image would have benefitted greatly. It would have shown exactly what the artist’s surrounded by his preferred environment. The hunger artist could have been given an expression that conveyed what his state of mind was, and it would build a deeper connection to him as a person.

6.     I think the nature of fasting has changed over the years. There are still people who still do it, but it’s more of a religious journey to providence than something meant for the public.  It isn’t universally regarded as disgusting, but more of a rare tradition that should be self-contained for a family, religious group, or a single person looking for enlightenment. In terms of the hunger artist, I would say people regard it as an impressive feat, but also a pitiful act to stay relevant in a world that has left him behind. Of course, that doesn’t speak for everyone, but the general consensus is that unless it’s done for religion and faith, it’s not really a habit people should adopt to make a ptofit.

Randy Mootooveran

Lit Media

Polyp Response

1.     I would say Polyp uses his illustrations to help convey his feelings toward being lost in the world of illustration while presenting something visually interesting with symbolism spliced here and there. It’s clear from the image that the central focus is the hippo in the center, isolated from the others around it. Another interesting thing to note is all the water surrounding the scene, which could be a symbol for the turbulent nature of his life since he left school or how he is lost, unsure where the currents will take him.

2.     As someone studying to become a writer, story is my bread and butter. Story is what drives everything forward in narrative, and must go hand in hand with everything else.  Every good story requires heart, devotion, and meaning to leave any lasting impact on anyone who reads it. It may not be as direct as something like film, but has the benefit of giving the reader their opportunity to create the world.

Randy Mootooveran

Lit Media

October 25, 2016

The Punk Singer; Commentary or Experience?

            Artists have always been able to show off their beliefs through their work. Sometimes, it can be difficult depending on which type of medium you’re trying to work out of, but that wasn’t the case for the protagonist of The Punk Singer. Many people will tell you writing meaningful lyrics isn’t a focal point (usually successful artists who believe repeating things like “I’m in love with the cacao” or how much money you have are good enough to release to the public), the girls in The Punk Singer managed to find the perfect balance of a good tune with lyrics meant to be thought about.  Anyone can tell you that when they hear a great song, it usually stays on your mind, instead of being thrown aside for a new one every other week. It’s very reminiscent of blues musicians or Bob Dylan, who take the time to make something that illustrates a point, whether it is about society, their place in the world, and how they want to push for change by appealing to the people not roped in politics. In many ways, the songs are both commentary and an experience. It’s most apparent when the lead singer has slutt written across her chest and asks all the ladies in the room to come to the front. She wants her viewers to have the experience of not being second to men or tied down in the real world, but to have the ability to express themselves as people who won’t take shit from anyone by getting up on stage with the band during their performances.  It’s all meant to make the audience feel a deeper connection to their content.

Randy Mootooveran

Lit Media

September 22, 2016

1.    Metonym is like a saying used to substitute words for something onger, like “THE PEN IS MIGHTIER THAN THE SWORD,” is a substitute for words are far more efficient than brute force. Texas Chainsaw is f things that can be substituted or symbolic, like how oil is a precursor for blood, with the van, the generator, and Leather face’s chainsaw all rely on it and how it flows as much as the blood.

2.    New Historicism understands culture and intellect through a piece of work or text. It is strongly tied to film as both critics and audiences watch them to decipher what kind of subtle messages or hints of symbolism filmmakers and authors use to get across a point or theme.  It’s mainly searching between what’s been shown to you in order to find out why certain elements pop up.

3.    The opening of Texas Chainsaw goes through 5 different stories, each one grizzly, dark, and unpleasant. It sets the stage for the mood the film and what kind of unpleasantness the audience should expect from here on out. The argument of what the elements mean is quite extensive. Franklin falling over due to the big truck symbolizes oil as a big part in the film and that oil will be a key player in the film.

4.    Genre usually dictates what kind of symbols is incorporated. Normally in action, sci-fi, or thrillers, corporations are depicted as a dominant force with an enormous level of control or influence, and are usually tied to whatever conflicts are in the story. In Texas Chainsaw, it doesn’t have any apparent corporate signage throughout the plot, except for the very beginning and ending. A large fourteen-wheel truck knocks Franklin over, showing his fragility as both a character in this slasher film and as the every man being pushed down by large corporations. However, the truck comes back in the end when Sally is running for her life, running over one of the cannibals while stopping to save her. It displays how some good can come out corporations as we do depend on them for our survival every day. However, it also shows that the corporations can’t always be relied on, as the driver runs and leaves Sally by herself after incapacitating Leatherface for a moment. It shows that people need to be self reliant in the face of danger, as people won’t be able to protect you forever and that survival comes from learning to become independent through your own actions.

Randy Mootooveran

Lit Media

September 14, 2016

Romeo and Juliet/ Prince of cats Analysis

             When looking at both stories, it’s clear that while both have their differences, they both deal with themes of conflict, lust, young love, and how things that are forbidden for us will always be sought after. I believe when Shakespeare wrote the play, it displayed all these themes to represent the same kind o conflict that erupts between two countries with little to no justifiable grounds for disagreement. Yet beneath all of that, it shows people at the core of the fighting still acting like normal people, like Tybalt wanting to protect Juliet from a crowd he despises, people like Mercutio, who damns both houses for taking away his promise of a future for their petty squabbles, and of course how two people look past the hate between their respective houses and search for something more. In every variation, from West Side Story, Prince of Cats, and the1996 version, they all depict two factions feuding over the same basic foil, just with an added backdrop of social order, status, immigration, and racism. All versions also have the star crossed lovers, who meet one night and declare true love. I believe that this is an element that also remains constant in every version because it shows the dangers of rushing headlong into a serious relationship, what the ramifications can be when pushed to the extreme, and how people will only really learn to cooperate and be understanding if something they cared for was lost by the fault of their own actions. At the end of all the stories, the two groups cease when they see what their petty squabbles resulted in, which proves Shakespeare knew harmony will not be born without tragedy.