1. There were different definitons for the word "gospel." However I chose to relate this piece with the definiton that stated "something regarded as true and implicitly believed." This definition reltaes the most to "ghetto gospel." I say this because Tupac Shakur is vividly describing what he is experiencing in real life. Tupas is describing a testament to what is happening around him. He is preaching his own personal gospel.
2. It seems as if they writting conveys more of an ellaborative series of pictures. I tne words that Tupac writes he speaks of many different situations that he has experienced. The video as impactful as it may have been mainly focuses on the experience of this young individual caught in a crossfire. I t also illustrates a sad funeral scene that impacts the viewer of the outcome of this young mans life.
3. This statement represents the institutionalized mind set that Tupac feels is being imposed upon many of the people around him. Tupac describes a modern form of slavery. There is not much description as to what this modern slavery conveys but one can argue that the Governments view on poor minorities seems to place them in a similar social status as that of slaves.
4. Many similarities are formed between the use of words to express both Tupac Shakurs poem and Hughes' poem. An emotion that quicly fills my mind when reading these poems is that of disappointment. Dissappointment with a mixture of repeatedness becuase of the way that these two writers express themselves. As if they can describe these scenes of death and sorrow all too well. Perhaps even without having to be looking at the funerals unfold.
5. Blues music forms a very nostalgic element to the lyrics that make up it's songs. A lot of spirituality and repititious form of expressing the feelings that may be bottled up within the writers soul. It's torturious is the form that the song mellows it's listeners into understanding where the writer may be coming from with his or her feelings.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Tupac Shakur / Huges
1. The Webster's dictionary defines the word "Gospel" as the message concerning Christ: something accepted or promoted as infallible truth or as a guiding principle or doctrine. "Ghetto Gospel", by Tipac Shakur is a true picture of how life in the ghetto is. This song clearly illustrates the day to day trials of people who live in poverty stricken neighbourhoods. In the second stanza he makes reference to an old lady living out of a bag, and he also makes reference to a pregnant lady on drugs. All of these are very present in poverty stricken neighbourhoods , which makes his song true; hence the reason for the title "Ghetto Gospel".
In the fourth stanza, he talks about the importance of grandmothers in ghetto children's lives. He talks about what his grandmother did for him and how grandmothers takes the place of mothers and dead fathers. Today statistics shows that in poor neighbourhoods many of the children are cared for by grandparents, mainly grandmothers. I believe that this song is a true depiction of life in the ghetto.
2. By reading the words of the song, one will think that the video will be much more graphic. While I was reading the words of the song, I imagined images from the ghetto and created pictures in my mind of a mother holding a child, a pregnant lady on drugs and everything I could have imagined the ghetto to be. However, after viewing the video I saw a different picture. The video depicted a young man reflecting on his life. The video started with a young man lying in the street, in a pool of blood, with the EMT coming to his assistance. Then the next scene continued with that said young man, as if his soul was reenacting all the things that he did that day before he was gunned down. We saw scenes of him in the street with his homies, as was mentioned in the words of the song. Also, there were scenes of him with his family. This showed the viewers another side to this young, a softer side. The video focused on this one young man who lived in the ghetto and hung out in the streets. We saw the thug side of him in the street with other guys, and we saw another side of him looking up to the Sky, as if he is asking God to rescue him from the ghetto streets.
On the other hand, by reading the song you will get a more broad view of life in the ghetto for everyone, and not just the ghetto like of one person.
3. The line " We out of the projects, jumped into another form of slavery", means that although many blacks are successful there are still held back by many limitations. Although slavery is abolished and there are laws against discrimination, society still considers blacks to be second class and because of this the black race is not entirely free as our leaders would like us to believe.
4. Although Hughes' and Tupac's poem both relates to death, their portrayal of it is very different. In Hughes' poem, there is a sad tone throughout the poem. He refers to the shinning street lights as tears. He talks about a satin box and flowers that come from the poor boy's friends. There is a constant repetition of "Night funeral in Harlem", which reminds the reader that it is a funeral he is talking about. And then there are the lines "when it was all over", " And the lid shut on his head" , "the organ had done played" and "the last prayers been said", which depicts the end. The emotion I would use to summarize Hughes' pom is "Sad" or "Sorrowful".
On the other hand, Tupac's poem "In the event of my demise", was the opposite to sad. Tupac talked about dying for what be believes in. He talks about what he wants to accomplish before his death and how he love the people who were positive in his death. The word I would use to summarize the emotion behind Tupac's poem is "Stoical".
5. In researching Blues music, I've learnt that this genre of music generally have a somber tone; and lines in the song is usually repeated. I also learnt that this form of music originated within the black race. All of these characteristics is common in Hughes' poem. Lines are repeated and there is a somber tone throughout the poem. Lines 14 to 15 refers to sweet blues, coming from a black man's soul.
In the fourth stanza, he talks about the importance of grandmothers in ghetto children's lives. He talks about what his grandmother did for him and how grandmothers takes the place of mothers and dead fathers. Today statistics shows that in poor neighbourhoods many of the children are cared for by grandparents, mainly grandmothers. I believe that this song is a true depiction of life in the ghetto.
2. By reading the words of the song, one will think that the video will be much more graphic. While I was reading the words of the song, I imagined images from the ghetto and created pictures in my mind of a mother holding a child, a pregnant lady on drugs and everything I could have imagined the ghetto to be. However, after viewing the video I saw a different picture. The video depicted a young man reflecting on his life. The video started with a young man lying in the street, in a pool of blood, with the EMT coming to his assistance. Then the next scene continued with that said young man, as if his soul was reenacting all the things that he did that day before he was gunned down. We saw scenes of him in the street with his homies, as was mentioned in the words of the song. Also, there were scenes of him with his family. This showed the viewers another side to this young, a softer side. The video focused on this one young man who lived in the ghetto and hung out in the streets. We saw the thug side of him in the street with other guys, and we saw another side of him looking up to the Sky, as if he is asking God to rescue him from the ghetto streets.
On the other hand, by reading the song you will get a more broad view of life in the ghetto for everyone, and not just the ghetto like of one person.
3. The line " We out of the projects, jumped into another form of slavery", means that although many blacks are successful there are still held back by many limitations. Although slavery is abolished and there are laws against discrimination, society still considers blacks to be second class and because of this the black race is not entirely free as our leaders would like us to believe.
4. Although Hughes' and Tupac's poem both relates to death, their portrayal of it is very different. In Hughes' poem, there is a sad tone throughout the poem. He refers to the shinning street lights as tears. He talks about a satin box and flowers that come from the poor boy's friends. There is a constant repetition of "Night funeral in Harlem", which reminds the reader that it is a funeral he is talking about. And then there are the lines "when it was all over", " And the lid shut on his head" , "the organ had done played" and "the last prayers been said", which depicts the end. The emotion I would use to summarize Hughes' pom is "Sad" or "Sorrowful".
On the other hand, Tupac's poem "In the event of my demise", was the opposite to sad. Tupac talked about dying for what be believes in. He talks about what he wants to accomplish before his death and how he love the people who were positive in his death. The word I would use to summarize the emotion behind Tupac's poem is "Stoical".
5. In researching Blues music, I've learnt that this genre of music generally have a somber tone; and lines in the song is usually repeated. I also learnt that this form of music originated within the black race. All of these characteristics is common in Hughes' poem. Lines are repeated and there is a somber tone throughout the poem. Lines 14 to 15 refers to sweet blues, coming from a black man's soul.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
VIEWPOINTS OF HUGHES AND SHAKUR
1. The celluloid images that accompany poet Langston Hughes' Weary Blues on the website youtube.com
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Source: Dictionary.com
2. Shakur's protagonist has adapted to the conditions in which he lives, and believes that those who fought and died in the effort to create a different outcome sacrificed foolishly. Tupac's character believes in the wisdom of "eating rather than being eaten". In the corresponding videoclip
3. "We out of the projects/ Jumped into another form of slavery" might refer to descendants of African slaves who were emancipated in the late 1800's. Emancipation was immediately followed by the horror of Jim Crow segregation, deprivation, racism and disenfranchisement. Rendered relatively powerless politically and socially, many of the descendants of these slaves are now ensnared in poverty and are still hampered by rasicm today. Tupac states "I shouldn't let it phase me" inferring that today's construct is nothing new, and is a familiar evil.
4. In Hughes' time, it appears that there is temporary respite from rasicm and injustice within one's community. There was an underlying culture that allowed for a "grand funeral" for a boy "who was so dear" in Night Funeral in Harlem. In Weary Blues, there was a place where one could go to socialize and listen to music. In Tupac's ghetto world, the community is the killer. Death at the hands of a neighbor seems to be constant and untimely and the onlookers seem desensitized. Even the living have lost a spark and given themselves over to drugs, prostitution, being gangsters, or the like.
5. From a Baruch music history class, I learned that Blues is genre of music that originated in the South, a derivation of the work songs slaves used to sing while laboring. The precursor to jazz and rock music, the theme of blues music is usually melancholy. Hughes' poem, Weary Blues, describes blues' characteristic syncopation and melancholy lyrics which are employed by the artiste who is the focus of the piece. The piano he plays is also a main feature of blues, as well as percussion and brass instruments. That the music is "coming from a black man's soul" is a reference to the African-American slaves with whom the blues originated, who most certainly ended each day of forced labor sleeping "like a rock or a man who's dead".
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
A Day In The Life...Hopefully Not
The definition from the dictionary that i thought made the most sense, without having anything to do with religion, was: "something regarded as true and implicityly believed". When I think of the word gospel, the natural connection is God or Religion. Tupac's "Ghetto Gospel" was more of an analysis of what was going on in the inner city. The connection between the Gospel associated with Religion/God and Tupac's Ghetto is that the are both "regarded as true and implicty believed". If you're in a believer of a certain faith, your job is to believe. If you're from the Ghetto, your job isn't to believe, because you don't have to. The words that Pac spoke are true. You can't escape what is real, and that's how believers of a certain faith live...The video begins with death. It's nothing but despair and loss from the jump. As the video continues, you watch a man conflicted with the life he leads. Most hustlers live that life everyday; hoping that the video's ending isn't their own fate. The video was very refreshing to see; people seem to think that all drug dealers do all day is drink, smoke blunts, roll dice, "make it rain" in strip clubs, and have loads of money. I'm not advocating that lifestyle, but coming from someone familiar with people who have engaged in that life, I'll be the first to admit that Tupac's version of "A day in the life" is more accurate than what you may here in today's rapper lyrics or see in their video.The poem, on the other hand, allows you to follow a man looking over his life and surroundings. Nobody is immune to a life of trouble and hurt. The line that sticks out most for me is "mans gotta do what he can for his family". It's almost a prequel to the video, but the video shows you the reality of choosing to hustle as an interpretaion of that line...The line of " jumping into another form of slavery" makes me think of the mental slavery that people trap themselves into. Whether it be being a slave to a person, money, drugs, work, or anything that can stop you from thinking outside of the box or striving for things people may think is out of your reach. The trappings of life can seem to be inescapable. People allow themselves to be sold short because of a standard that has been set or because it's easier to just follow, not realizing that standards are redifined everyday...If I had to describe the emotion surrounding Tupac's poem, I'd say prepared. It seemed as though he knew what was ahead and wasn't extremely afraid of it. He seemed ready for his eventual fate. Lines like "I have come 2 grips" almost scream readiness and acceptance. In Hughes' poem, I feel curiosity was the main emotion crowding the poem. It was almost like sitting in your den listening to your grandmother and her friends commentary on what they were seeing. The voice in my head as I read it was that of an older women. His constant questioning everything he sees, makes the poem take on a gossip-style of writting...The Blues has always been related to hurt and pain. With lines like "he made that poor piano moan", the personification used is that of a broken, used, and hurt person. The poem is exactly what you might've seen down in New Orleans or Mississippi back in the 30's on the chitlin circuit. It's just a man and his misery over some guitar chords in a smoke-filled room with whiskey and hooch being poured into half-dirty jars. The dirt floors and that weak light flickering, just add to the mood that is given from the man wailing about his troubles. The poem capture just a peek into the "Weary Blues".
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Hughes/ Tupac
1. Gospel's meaning is very clear to most of us. Gospel is originated from Christianity. It is like a standard of living a good life. It also means something good, even holy that everyone should look up to it.
Tupac uses Gospel word in his lyrics and combines the word with the word Ghetto. It doesn't completely change the meaning of the word. It gives the word a darker meaning. Ghetto gospel is a doctrine of living of all African American in the US. It contains all of the hardships and struggles during their daily lives. It gives the younger better understanding what the previous generations have been through. The younger make mistakes and learn from them like Tupac says: "I make mistakes, I learn from everyone. And when its said and done, ill be called a better one."
2. The writing of the lyrics doesn't give me a very much different picture of the Ghetto neighborhood, but it does give me a more detailed picture of their daily lives. The music video shows a life of a young man who gets killed for selling drugs. It is probably the reality of the Ghetto life. You sell drug for a living, and sometimes either you kill or get killed for it. But the poem/ lyrics gives me a bigger picture. It tells me that not only one life is ruined like that, but many lives for many generations are ruined. That's the Ghetto gospel. Day by day, drug and violence are like water and rice. They happen all the time whether you like it or not. The younger can look up to the previous generation's lives, and try not to go on the same path. They can try, but the reality may pull them in against their will.
3. "We out of the projects/ Jumped into another form of slavery" gives us the truth of the Ghetto destiny. Yes, now they are free from slavery after many years of fighting. And yes now they are into drug and crime. Whether it is against their will or not, drug and crime beslave the Ghetto not just physically, but emotionally. When they sell drug and get involved in crime, they also sell theri souls.
4. Hughes "Night funeral in Harlem" describes a simple matter of what happens in the Ghetto neighborhood. They are so poor to the extent that they struggle a lot to bury their loved ones. Financial problems happen all the time. "Old preacher man preached that boy away - charged five dollars. His girl friend had to pay."
Tupac "In the event of my demise" gives us an inner picture of a young man who feels desperate for not accomplishing anything before he dies. He feels as if his life is nothing. He has done nothing to leave a remarkable memory for his family and friends. I think he just so depressed of his current way of living that he forgets that his family and friends just love him the way he is, and not for the outside rewards.
There is only one word appearing in my mind when I am reading these poem: hopeless. I feel their hopelessnesses. They want to change their lives, but they just can't.
5. Blue music is well known for its repetive effects and the down feelings it gives the audience. Hughes "Weary Blues" is an example of both. You can feel the drowsy feelings for the entire poem. The repitions in line 6,7, 11, 16, 25,26,27 and 28 give us even worse feelings. That's effect of the repetitions.
Tupac uses Gospel word in his lyrics and combines the word with the word Ghetto. It doesn't completely change the meaning of the word. It gives the word a darker meaning. Ghetto gospel is a doctrine of living of all African American in the US. It contains all of the hardships and struggles during their daily lives. It gives the younger better understanding what the previous generations have been through. The younger make mistakes and learn from them like Tupac says: "I make mistakes, I learn from everyone. And when its said and done, ill be called a better one."
2. The writing of the lyrics doesn't give me a very much different picture of the Ghetto neighborhood, but it does give me a more detailed picture of their daily lives. The music video shows a life of a young man who gets killed for selling drugs. It is probably the reality of the Ghetto life. You sell drug for a living, and sometimes either you kill or get killed for it. But the poem/ lyrics gives me a bigger picture. It tells me that not only one life is ruined like that, but many lives for many generations are ruined. That's the Ghetto gospel. Day by day, drug and violence are like water and rice. They happen all the time whether you like it or not. The younger can look up to the previous generation's lives, and try not to go on the same path. They can try, but the reality may pull them in against their will.
3. "We out of the projects/ Jumped into another form of slavery" gives us the truth of the Ghetto destiny. Yes, now they are free from slavery after many years of fighting. And yes now they are into drug and crime. Whether it is against their will or not, drug and crime beslave the Ghetto not just physically, but emotionally. When they sell drug and get involved in crime, they also sell theri souls.
4. Hughes "Night funeral in Harlem" describes a simple matter of what happens in the Ghetto neighborhood. They are so poor to the extent that they struggle a lot to bury their loved ones. Financial problems happen all the time. "Old preacher man preached that boy away - charged five dollars. His girl friend had to pay."
Tupac "In the event of my demise" gives us an inner picture of a young man who feels desperate for not accomplishing anything before he dies. He feels as if his life is nothing. He has done nothing to leave a remarkable memory for his family and friends. I think he just so depressed of his current way of living that he forgets that his family and friends just love him the way he is, and not for the outside rewards.
There is only one word appearing in my mind when I am reading these poem: hopeless. I feel their hopelessnesses. They want to change their lives, but they just can't.
5. Blue music is well known for its repetive effects and the down feelings it gives the audience. Hughes "Weary Blues" is an example of both. You can feel the drowsy feelings for the entire poem. The repitions in line 6,7, 11, 16, 25,26,27 and 28 give us even worse feelings. That's effect of the repetitions.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Tupac & Hughes
1. Gospel:
Gospel - often Gospel the Proclamation of the redemption preached by Jesus and the Apostles. (2) Of the Gospel Bible, one of the first four books of the New Testament. (3) Gospel Music. (4) Something accepted as unquestionably true.
The meaning of the work Gospel relates to the theme that is portrayed in the “Ghetto Gospel” poem and video because the lyrical content expresses the truth; the truth that exist in many “ghettos” across the world. The definition of Gospel is the unquestionable truth; Tupac expresses the reality that occurs in many ghettos. I live in an area of New York City in which I can relate to the reality that happens in the ghetto. Tupac is not speaking of fictitious events or exaggerating, unfortunately, the scenario that is demonstrated in the “Ghetto Gospel” video occurs in real life. I think that is was genius of him to name the poem “Ghetto Gospel” because he is speaking of the truth that occurs in the Ghetto. The unnecessary crime, drugs, disparity, drugs, homelessness, and violence that is revealed in that short video, occurs every minute in a given area of New York City.
2. Ghetto Gospel
Well I actually read the poem several times before viewing the video. I did this because every time I read the poem, and different character or scenery took place in my mind. I feel that although you are reading the poem with no imagery, the few words that are used, are key. Such words phrases like living out a bag, in rags, loving the things she has” allow you to create a character in your mind of such a woman. From just thee few words, I can draw many conclusions, like “she lived a hard life” and/or “she is probably homeless”. In poetry it is not the amount of words that is used, but the technique in arranging them. Then when I saw the Ghetto Gospel video, it was just like adding another scenario to what I had envisioned earlier. The video just retells a story adding visual characters and plots.
3. Projects
“We out the projects and jumped into another form of slavery” meant many things to me. I feel that it could have meant, although some people are fortunate to remove themselves from the actual state of living in the “ghetto”, sometimes you still cannot escape it. When you have lived under those conditions, a piece of it always remains with you. Therefore, you may always continue to mentally feel trapped into that lifestyle. I think that this phrase could have also been describing communal issues that are occurring. For instance, although one situation can be resolved, another one arises instantaneously. For example, you could have received good news from work, but the troubles of the ghetto can still bring you down.
4. Funerals
Both of the descriptions in each poem are different. In Tupac’s Demise, he is speaking of his arrival to death. He explains how he’s coping with it, what he wants to be remembered as, and what he feels. When I read this poem I felt a sense of unsuccessfulness. I find it so difficult to think that a man who had accomplished so much in his life, felt as though he’d leave the world no mark. Tupac’s poetry, music and life touched many people in different ways. I found it really creepy that he was writing poetry as though he already knew he was going to die “...I will die before my time, because I feel the shadow’s depth…”.
In Hughes’s Night Funeral, I think he was describing a funeral that would occur in a community that is experiencing poverty. Although this poem is supposed to be about death, it is distinctively demonstrating a funeral occurring in Harlem. In the past Harlem was filled with poverty and Hughe describes this. “Insurance man he did not pay-- his insurance lapsed the other day.” and “Them flowers came from that poor boy’s friends”. Hughe is describing the struggle that occurred in Harlem during his time. He is describing a very gloomy scene that portrays the people in Harlem being very poor and probably experiencing a struggle just to bury their loved ones because of financial issues. If I had to choose just one emotion to characterize each poem it would be despair. In each poem I felt a disparity and no hope for the future. Many of the scenes in the poems describe a sense of hopelessness.
5. Blues - "Weary Blues"
When I did research on the Blues, I discovered information on the origins of Blues Music. This type of music was solo songs that gave vent to the frustrations and personal troubles of the African-American. Blues music was soulful and truthful music that provided a voice for the African-American. This music was a demonstrated the feelings of disparity that the African-American was feeling during the early 20th century. When reading “Weary Blues”, by Hughes, you can feel the frustration and distress that is occurring in the life of the African-American man. This poem describes a gloomy scene and a man expressing the solitude he feels in the world. “Aint got nobody in all this world, Ain’t got nobody but ma self”. This line of poetry expresses the frustration that his man is enduring in New York City.
Gospel - often Gospel the Proclamation of the redemption preached by Jesus and the Apostles. (2) Of the Gospel Bible, one of the first four books of the New Testament. (3) Gospel Music. (4) Something accepted as unquestionably true.
The meaning of the work Gospel relates to the theme that is portrayed in the “Ghetto Gospel” poem and video because the lyrical content expresses the truth; the truth that exist in many “ghettos” across the world. The definition of Gospel is the unquestionable truth; Tupac expresses the reality that occurs in many ghettos. I live in an area of New York City in which I can relate to the reality that happens in the ghetto. Tupac is not speaking of fictitious events or exaggerating, unfortunately, the scenario that is demonstrated in the “Ghetto Gospel” video occurs in real life. I think that is was genius of him to name the poem “Ghetto Gospel” because he is speaking of the truth that occurs in the Ghetto. The unnecessary crime, drugs, disparity, drugs, homelessness, and violence that is revealed in that short video, occurs every minute in a given area of New York City.
2. Ghetto Gospel
Well I actually read the poem several times before viewing the video. I did this because every time I read the poem, and different character or scenery took place in my mind. I feel that although you are reading the poem with no imagery, the few words that are used, are key. Such words phrases like living out a bag, in rags, loving the things she has” allow you to create a character in your mind of such a woman. From just thee few words, I can draw many conclusions, like “she lived a hard life” and/or “she is probably homeless”. In poetry it is not the amount of words that is used, but the technique in arranging them. Then when I saw the Ghetto Gospel video, it was just like adding another scenario to what I had envisioned earlier. The video just retells a story adding visual characters and plots.
3. Projects
“We out the projects and jumped into another form of slavery” meant many things to me. I feel that it could have meant, although some people are fortunate to remove themselves from the actual state of living in the “ghetto”, sometimes you still cannot escape it. When you have lived under those conditions, a piece of it always remains with you. Therefore, you may always continue to mentally feel trapped into that lifestyle. I think that this phrase could have also been describing communal issues that are occurring. For instance, although one situation can be resolved, another one arises instantaneously. For example, you could have received good news from work, but the troubles of the ghetto can still bring you down.
4. Funerals
Both of the descriptions in each poem are different. In Tupac’s Demise, he is speaking of his arrival to death. He explains how he’s coping with it, what he wants to be remembered as, and what he feels. When I read this poem I felt a sense of unsuccessfulness. I find it so difficult to think that a man who had accomplished so much in his life, felt as though he’d leave the world no mark. Tupac’s poetry, music and life touched many people in different ways. I found it really creepy that he was writing poetry as though he already knew he was going to die “...I will die before my time, because I feel the shadow’s depth…”.
In Hughes’s Night Funeral, I think he was describing a funeral that would occur in a community that is experiencing poverty. Although this poem is supposed to be about death, it is distinctively demonstrating a funeral occurring in Harlem. In the past Harlem was filled with poverty and Hughe describes this. “Insurance man he did not pay-- his insurance lapsed the other day.” and “Them flowers came from that poor boy’s friends”. Hughe is describing the struggle that occurred in Harlem during his time. He is describing a very gloomy scene that portrays the people in Harlem being very poor and probably experiencing a struggle just to bury their loved ones because of financial issues. If I had to choose just one emotion to characterize each poem it would be despair. In each poem I felt a disparity and no hope for the future. Many of the scenes in the poems describe a sense of hopelessness.
5. Blues - "Weary Blues"
When I did research on the Blues, I discovered information on the origins of Blues Music. This type of music was solo songs that gave vent to the frustrations and personal troubles of the African-American. Blues music was soulful and truthful music that provided a voice for the African-American. This music was a demonstrated the feelings of disparity that the African-American was feeling during the early 20th century. When reading “Weary Blues”, by Hughes, you can feel the frustration and distress that is occurring in the life of the African-American man. This poem describes a gloomy scene and a man expressing the solitude he feels in the world. “Aint got nobody in all this world, Ain’t got nobody but ma self”. This line of poetry expresses the frustration that his man is enduring in New York City.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Hughes/Shakur Poetry
1. There are few different meanings of gospel. The literal translation of the word gospel is – “good news”. It is also referred to the four biblical books written by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John about life and teaching of Jesus Christ. In mordent life in U.S. we associate word gospel with “folk music consisting of a genre of a cappella music originating with Black slaves in the United States and featuring call and response”. Ghetto Gospel can not mean the “good news”, its sad news about the every day life (survival) of African-Americans in poor ghetto-areas. On the contrary to the biblical meaning of gospel the people in the ghetto live sinful life: sell drugs, steal, kill – “a mans gotta do what he can for his family”. They know they will burn in the hell, “but I ratha see hell later than see hell now”, tells Tupac in his poem. This is their gospel - their life, their truth – the gospel of the ghetto.
2. The music clip shows a possible scenario of what happens with black people in the very poor areas. The young black guy making his living by selling drugs in order to provide his family. In the few minutes of the clip we see the whole life of this guy. The words of the song (poem) help us to understand his feelings, what is going on inside this guy, and why he chose this road. Without watching the clip I would imagine something different: black guy looking back at his life; remembering his family; thinking of his present, and the life around him, but not being killed. The combination of the video with poem shows us the vicious circle in which most of black people live and its real consequences.
3. “We out of the project/ Jumped into another form of slavery” has two parts. First “we out of the project” means that now African-Americans are free to live the life they want. Why today the majority of blacks live behind the line of poverty? Government does help a little bit, but is it enough? How many years have to pass for African-Americans to build a better life? What are the opportunities do they really have in the world were wealth built generation after generation, if blacks got their freedom not too long ago? Out of the project – you free now, do what you want; nobody will come to help you. The second part “jumped into another form of slavery” means the slaves of poverty, the slaves of crime made by them and against them. What are the chances that young black guy will go to the college, if his family have no money to buy food? Of course some tries to improve the way of living, but what is the percentage rate?
4. Tupac in his poem “In the Event of my Demise” does not say it’s not fare to die young. He only hopes that there will be enough time to accomplish everything he believed in and valued. He does not fear of the death: “when my heart can beat no more, I hope I die”. L. Hughes in his poem “Night Funeral in Harlem” describes the funeral of a young boy, shows the respect that people pay to him after his death: friends sent flowers, girl fried paid for the preacher. There is no question about why is the boy died so young, but just a sorrow. Tomorrow will be another day, and another funeral.
5. Blues is very sad, lyrical, sometimes depressing instrumental music. Its also calls blacks music. Poem “Weary Blues” L. Hughes is about black guy, playing blues. Even when he stops playing, the melody is still in his head – now it’s his soul screams. You can hear the music play and its rhythm while reading this poem. The thematic elements of Blues in the poem are: the recurrence of some lines in the poem, the mood of the poem – sadness, hopelessness. The music comes from the player’s soul – it’s all he has left – music.
2. The music clip shows a possible scenario of what happens with black people in the very poor areas. The young black guy making his living by selling drugs in order to provide his family. In the few minutes of the clip we see the whole life of this guy. The words of the song (poem) help us to understand his feelings, what is going on inside this guy, and why he chose this road. Without watching the clip I would imagine something different: black guy looking back at his life; remembering his family; thinking of his present, and the life around him, but not being killed. The combination of the video with poem shows us the vicious circle in which most of black people live and its real consequences.
3. “We out of the project/ Jumped into another form of slavery” has two parts. First “we out of the project” means that now African-Americans are free to live the life they want. Why today the majority of blacks live behind the line of poverty? Government does help a little bit, but is it enough? How many years have to pass for African-Americans to build a better life? What are the opportunities do they really have in the world were wealth built generation after generation, if blacks got their freedom not too long ago? Out of the project – you free now, do what you want; nobody will come to help you. The second part “jumped into another form of slavery” means the slaves of poverty, the slaves of crime made by them and against them. What are the chances that young black guy will go to the college, if his family have no money to buy food? Of course some tries to improve the way of living, but what is the percentage rate?
4. Tupac in his poem “In the Event of my Demise” does not say it’s not fare to die young. He only hopes that there will be enough time to accomplish everything he believed in and valued. He does not fear of the death: “when my heart can beat no more, I hope I die”. L. Hughes in his poem “Night Funeral in Harlem” describes the funeral of a young boy, shows the respect that people pay to him after his death: friends sent flowers, girl fried paid for the preacher. There is no question about why is the boy died so young, but just a sorrow. Tomorrow will be another day, and another funeral.
5. Blues is very sad, lyrical, sometimes depressing instrumental music. Its also calls blacks music. Poem “Weary Blues” L. Hughes is about black guy, playing blues. Even when he stops playing, the melody is still in his head – now it’s his soul screams. You can hear the music play and its rhythm while reading this poem. The thematic elements of Blues in the poem are: the recurrence of some lines in the poem, the mood of the poem – sadness, hopelessness. The music comes from the player’s soul – it’s all he has left – music.
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