Jazz: A History Essay -- essays research papers

Jazz: The History   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The music called Jazz was born sometime around 1895 in New Orleans. It combined elements of Ragtime, marching band music and Blues. What made Jazz such a different perspective of traditional music was its act of improvising. There was a widespread use of improvisation often by more than one player at a time. Songwriters would write the music down on a piece of paper, and then the Jazz musicians would try their best to play the music. Usually in a Jazz piece, musicians would use the song as a starting point to improvise around. Jazz musicians would play a familiar song to the audience, and by the time they were done with the piece they would stir up a totally different feeling away from the original song.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The average Jazz musician could not read music at all, but the way they performed on stage gave life to the audience. It thrilled them in a way that brought joy to their emotions. Their spontaneous music captured their hearts, which fell in love with the music known as Jazz. African-Americans and Creoles in New Orleans first played Jazz. And it was generally known that Buddy Bolden was the first Jazz musician to play. Some other veteran Jazz musicians such as Freddie Keppard, Bunk Johnson, and Clarence Williams were known to first play Jazz music. Although these people are not famous as of today, their style and ideas are still affecting musicians today.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Although Jaz...

Beowulf as a hero in modern society Essay

In the historic epic Beowulf, its title character, Beowulf, is perceived as an unconventional as well as a traditional hero in current society. Beowulf, the son of Ecgtheow and Hygelac’s thane, is presented as a fearless warrior to the audience. This acknowledgment of Beowulf causes the readers to instantly recognize that Beowulf is a well-respected man. Beowulf’s magnitude is seen at the very beginning of the poem as the narrator states, â€Å"The man whose name was known for courage, the Geat Leader† (Heaney 25). Beowulf is announced to the Danish people with magnificence. Before proving Beowulf’s heroic qualities, the viewers are conscious of the fact that Beowulf is a great warrior and the son of a well admired man. It can be distinguished that from Beowulf’s opening statements he will become a hero. Bravery is a key characteristic that identifies a hero. Throughout the entire poem Beowulf appeared to possess infinite valor. He displayed courage in his swimming competition with Breca, and in his fights with Grendel, Grendel’s mother, and the dragon that fatally wounded him. In all of Beowulf’s struggles, he revels wisdom, strength, and motivation. In his clash against Grendel, Beowulf utilizes his sheer strength to kill Grendel. He used his mighty strength to rip off the monster’s arm from the shoulder. As stated by the narrator, â€Å"The monster’s whole body was in pain; a tremendous wound appeared on his shoulder†¦ Beowulf was granted the glory of winning†¦Ã¢â‚¬  (Heaney 55). The defeat of Grendel fulfills Beowulf’s heroic duty. This is also seen with Grendel’s mother. After Grendel’s death, Grendel’s mother desires to avenge her child. Beowulf fights her in water and still prevails. By keeping true to his word Beowulf is able to prove his worth. Near the end of poem, Beowulf faces his last episode. He takes on a dragon that is creating havoc upon the city. Before facing the dragon he knows that he might die and yet still fights with glory and all of his might. On page 171 Beowulf states, â€Å"This fight is not yours, nor is it up to any man except me†¦ I shall win the gold by my courage, or else mortal combat, doom of battle, will bear your lord away† (Heaney 171). Beowulf yet again completes his task as he kills the dragon, however, he immediately dies from his wounds. Beowulf, a true hero, confronts his death with bravery. It is Beowulf’s strength, determination, and courage that enable him to become a distinguishable hero in modern society. Although Beowulf is portrayed as a true Anglo-Saxon hero, he has qualities that would depict him not as one in current society. From Beowulf’s initial introduction he is seen as being conceited and aggressive. During the first feast, Beowulf tells of the story of his swimming race. Beowulf states, â€Å"I was the strongest swimmer of all†¦Time and again, foul things attacked me†¦but I lashed out, gave as good as I got with my sword†¦My sword had killed nine sea-monsters. Such night-dangers and hard ordeals I have never heard of nor of a man more desolate in surging waves.† (Heaney 37). This quote reveals the cockiness of Beowulf. He is very arrogant as he believes that he is the best and the bravest. Arrogance is not a characteristic of a hero. Another flaw is shown in Beowulf’s character as he fights Grendel and Grendel’s mother. Beowulf’s quarrel with Grendel exposes his true expression of violence. While Grendel and Beowulf are wrestling, Beowulf manages to get Grendel in such as position where he ripped off Grendel’s arm from the socket. This violent act can be seen as very brutal. The killing of Grendel in such a way would deny the right to name Beowulf as a hero in present society. In addition, the killing of Grendel’s mother has the same effect. While battling Grendel’s mother, Beowulf seeks assistance from an ancient blade. With this sword, he delivers a final blow to the neck of the monster. After determining that she is death, he still proceeds and decapitates her. He then returns with the head and displays it in Heorot. The decapitation of Grendel’s mother illustrates Beowulf as disrespectful and in violation of the heroic code, which doesn’t identify him as a hero. In the eyes of contemporary society Beowulf can be recognize as a paradoxical character as he is embodied by both heroic and callous qualities.

Language As A Monitor Social Reality - 766 Words

Language as a Monitor to Social Reality Different societies and cultures are strictly shaped and expressed by their own multiple languages. What’s more, many languages were born from the same linguistic branches, but â€Å"no two languages are actually similar to be considered as representing the same social reality† (Kramsch, 2014, p. 32). Applied linguistic research has concluded three categories to explicitly expose the relations between languages and realities: â€Å"semiotic relativity, linguistic relativity and discursive relativity† (Kramsch, 2014, p. 32). According to Vygotsky (1980), a semiotic system is made up of both linguistic symbols and cognitive methods. Children, to develop their own speeches primarily, make an identical process as apes that they initialize and associate the words’ meanings by repeatable observations. To be distinct from animals, children create their own meanings by accomplishing the psychological acquisitions (Vygotsky 1980; Kramsch 2014). Thus, the community’s and the individual’s cultures are tightly related to each other since beginning (Vygotsky 1980; Wertsch 1985). Linguistic relativity describes the phenomena that speakers of different languages think differently towards the same thing (Kramsch, 2014, p. 34). According to Slobin (1996), people must â€Å"attend to the syntactic and lexical choices offered by their grammars and that the cumulative occurrence of these choices can have cognitive and affective effects on the listener† (as cited inShow MoreRelatedLanguage Ideolo gies933 Words   |  4 PagesLanguage and Perceptions and Ideologies Language is the basis by which we communicate with others and ultimately make meaning of the world we live in. It is a combination of indicators, grammatical categories and symbolic meanings we subjectively assign to what we experience and think, and thus it is a critical element in attaining new knowledge. Regardless of the society, knowledge of language is closely related to our knowledge of the world. Thus, language shapes our worldviews and perspectivesRead MoreHow Does Language: Allow Self Reflection? Organize Perceptions? Allow Hypothetical Thought? Explain the Connection Between Language and Perception. Use a Specific Example to Illustrate This Connection.690 Words   |  3 PagesWe use language to reflect upon ourselves and what we want others to think of us. Language allows self-reflection in this way. It helps us gain an understanding of who we are as individuals and as leaders. It allows us to analyze and/or monitor our communications. In order for us to be truly effectiv e at leading others, we have to be effective at leading ourselves. If we are not able to really know ourselves, we are only being deluded into thinking that we can lead ourselves. 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