Introduction to My Playlist

Hi there,

 My name is Alex Phuong.  I plan to earn my Bachelor of Arts degree in English from California State University--Los Angeles by the end of 2015.

During one of my last quarters as an undergraduate student, I created a blog which could also be called a "Playlist."  My playlist is essentially a collection of writing that I did for my Senior Seminar, which deals with "Music and Literature."

I believe that music and literature are both interconnected, and that they both reveal fundamental themes about what it means to be human.  I hope that the writing I produced in this blog will educate others about the significance of the humanities, and to also teach people why music and literature are important within their own lives.

I will go ahead and let you explore my blog.  Please just be careful while undertaking this metaphorical journey as I do my best to explain why music and literature has impacted, and continues to impact, the world as people continue to understand what it means to be alive.

Take care!

Sincerely,
Alex Andy Phuong

Understanding and Interpreting “The Secret Power”

           Music has the ability to enhance the mind and awaken the senses.  It can also serve as a powerful reminder about a person’s past that could either create a sense of nostalgia or a sense of pain.  Since music has the ability to conjure memories from the past, the short story from Statement Magazine 2014 entitled “The Secret Power,” by Brad Kehoe, holds great significance between music and literature because both of these entities can create a way to remind people of the past so that they could strive towards a better future.  Within this story, Brad Kehoe reveals the symbolic power of music as it assists the protagonist, named Timothy, with his transition from adolescence into adulthood.

            The short story entitled “The Secret Power” reveals the power of being oneself through the comforting power of music.  Told in first-person narration, Timothy is the protagonist who had to confront challenges during high school in the 1950s.  Specifically, he had to deal with a bully named Billy, and also fell in love with a girl named Audrey.  This piece relates to music and literature because the song that the speaker was listening to on the radio created a sense of nostalgia for him.  It also allowed the speaker to reflect on his life as an adolescent.  Music serves as a reminder about his past, and also reveals how much he has grown since then.

            As a teenager, Timothy did not necessarily have the best high school experience.  For example, he reveals that “[his] senior year of high school was one of the best years of [his] life.  It was also one of the worst.”  (15).  It was also during this time in which he “discovered [his] secret power” (15).  The speaker was able to accomplish all of these achievements by learning to accept life as it is.  Basically, he does this by not preoccupying himself with the thoughts of other people, especially his high school friends.  By doing that, he was able to marry a girl named Audrey, and live a full life.

            “The Secret Power” also explores what it means to be part of a current generation as it relates to music.  For example, during the dance that the speaker and Audrey both attended, the speaker reveals, “Then the song ‘Hound Dog’ came on by Elvis Presley, a new man to fame that all the women were crazy about” (Kehoe 18).  After describing that flashback, the speaker reveals that he “relived some memories” (18).  Such an occurrence suggests that music has the ability to remind people about the past while allowing them to reflect on their lives.  Thus, music can act like an artifact that would remind people of what life was like in the past.  Simultaneously, music can also reveal to listeners how much they might have changed between the past and the present as they reflect upon their lives while listening to specific pieces of music.

            Additionally, music also relates to the power of memory because it can remind people of the past.  It can also show how “Things have changed since then” (18).  It is true that everything changes over time, but music can still act like an artifact that would remind people of the essence of a time period in which a musical composition had been created.  People cannot relive the past, but they can still reflect from it so that they would be able to progress personally instead of regress with sorrow and regret.  Furthermore, the “secret power” that is part of this literary piece is the ability to live in a way that suits a particular individual.  People might try to ridicule others, such as what Billy did to the narrator.  Nevertheless, the speaker was able to learn how to be himself.  His “secret” power was reminding himself, “Just don’t give a damn” (19).  Thus, being able to stay true to oneself is the ultimate secret power to enjoy life to its fullest.  The speaker did not let ridicule tie him down to a life filled with misery, which prompted him to live a meaningful life. 

            In the end, music has the ability to remind people of the past.  It can reveal how people behaved when they were younger, and reveal to them how much they might or might not have changed over time.  Being able to recognizing that change can prompt people to continue to strive for happiness because life ultimately is a beautiful work of art.  Music might shift as people do, but art is the essence of the basic humanity that makes people who they truly are.

Works Cited

Kehoe, Brad. “The Secret Power.” Statement Magazine 2014.  Los Angeles:               
        California State University—Los Angeles, 2014. 15-19. Print.

Music as the Language of the Soul

Music is a universal language that allows people to connect with each other as they listen to its profound beauty.  Music itself might not be palpable, but it still affects people in deep and meaningful ways.  It can create joy, conjure memories, or simply be something pleasant that people would want to listen to on a bad day.  As people change over time, so does the music.  That is because music often times reflects the time period in which a piece had been composed.  In “Caedmon's Hymn,” this example of a musical work of art helped shape the rest of the English literary tradition because of its influence on both literature and music as a whole.

Upon hearing “Caedmon's Hymn,” it reminded me about the power of religion.  Since the piece is literally a hymn, I felt as if the composer was trying to connect with God.  People have been trying to understand their place within the universe as they continue to question why they exist both historically as well as today.  Religion has been a major influence on how the world operates because there are people who would want to have a sense of purpose of why they exist.  Creating the first hymn in English might also have been a blessing that the divine gave mankind because it allowed human civilization to progress into the society that it is today.  “Caedmon's Hymn” might have been composed for religious reasons, but God might have blessed the world with the wide variety of music that exists currently within the present day.

“Caedmon's Hymn” also has a strong influence on how music developed over history.  An example of such influence is soulful song known as “Motherless Child,” which is also an anonymous work, reveals the fundamental power of the bond between a mother and a child.  Interestingly, both pieces evoke feelings of longing and connection.  Perhaps a reason why music has such a strong influence upon society is because music connects people together.  Language might create barriers between people, and separate them, but music allows people to express themselves in ways words cannot.  That is because music transcends speech as people hear the enigmatic nature of musical sounds that ultimately touch the heart.  People might have their own respective tastes in music, but being able to enjoy music together helps unify people together while also acknowledging the diversity that exists in the world.  In the end, “Caedmon's Hymn” might have been created for religious reasons, but having the first poem in the English language has truly been a blessing because it led to the development of the entire English literary canon.

The shifts in music between “Caedmon's Hymn” and the present day also reveal the fundamental fact that everything changes over the time.  Upon hearing this song, it sounded like gibberish to me.  I honestly thought that all I heard was noise rather than an actual song that people today are accustomed to, such as the songs with English lyrics head on CDs and the radio.  Later on, as society progressed, so did music and literature.  For example, the piece by Shelley entitled, “A Song: Men of England” reveals how music and religion still had connections many centuries after the creation of "Caedmon's Hymn."  In fact, Shelley's piece sounded like a hymn as well because it sounded like music that people might sing in a church choir.  The main difference between "A Song: Men of England" and "Caedmon's Hymn" is that Shelley's piece contained elements of a human voice instead of being just sounds, like the ones heard in “Caedmon's Hymn.”  I do not believe that "Caedmon's Hymn had any actual language because I did not hear words, but just sounds.  Such progress within the history of music reveals how people attempted to give themselves a voice through musical expression rather than simply live as passive listeners.  Thus, music transitioned from being a listening activity to one in which people would proactively try to make their voices be heard.

In spite of the changes that happen, “Caedmon's Hymn” also serves as a reminder that people should not forget about their origins.  Countless works of music have been made after the hymn itself, which reveals how the wide collection of music that exists today is full of variety.  In fact, “Slot Machine” by Emily XYZ does sound much more different than “Caedmon's Hymn.”  The sharp contrast between these two pieces of music serves as a reminder of how music evolves.  For example, "Caedmon's Hymn" simply had simple sounds, but "Slot Machine" had lyrics and a rhythm that might be more relatable to modern audiences.  Music within the English tradition might have started because of religious reasons, but the transition between the religious and the secular reveals how society changed over much of the history of the world.  People might be more focused on themselves in the present day, but “Caedmon's Hymn” can still serve as a reminder that music would not be like what it is today if “Caedmon's Hymn” had never been composed.  It is hard to say if music came before language, but they both intertwine to help people understand each other as well as themselves.  Therefore, even as the world changes, it is still important to not forget history because the past can teach people about why the world is like what it is today.

Finally, the importance of “Caedmon's Hymn” involves much more than just a history lesson.  This piece of music is essentially an anonymous form of expression that helped inspire many other musicians and artists who express their ideas as well.  Music and literature might appear to be separate, but they both allow for the transmission of ideas that could be read as well as heard.  Music and literature has evolved tremendously since the creation of "Caedmon's Hymn," but that simply reveals the fundamental power of change.  This simple fact serves as a reminder that human imagination has no boundaries as people attempt to express who they are through the art they strive to create.

Works Cited

 

Anonymous. “Caedmon's Hymn.” The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 4th ed,

       CD.

Anonymous. “Motherless Child.”  African American Spirituals: The Concert Tradition,

       

      Wade in the Water, Vol. 1, Smithsonian Folkways, 1994. CD.

Shelley, Percy Bysshe. “A Song: Men of England.” The Norton Anthology of English

      

       Literature, 4th ed, CD.

XYZ, Emily.  “Slot Machine.”  The United States of Poetry. CD.

Achieving the Satisfaction of Working with a Team

           I have been part of teams for numerous parts of my life.  For example, I was a member of the Academic Decathlon when I was in high school.  Being surrounded by intellectually gifted teenagers made me feel like I had a family that was outside of the one I was born into.  Unfortunately, a lot of the people I knew during my adolescence lost touch with me over time.  Therefore, it was truly a blessing to be able to be a part of another team during my time as an undergraduate transfer student at California State University—Los Angeles.  That team is the Statement Magazine staff, and it is truly a blessing to be a part of that group.

            The work that I had put into Statement Magazine culminated into one glorious night on May 28, 2015.  At first, I became interested in literary publication when I was a student at Pasadena City College.  There was a literary magazine at that campus known as Inscape Magazine.  As a creative writer during my spare time, I composed poems and short stories that were, unfortunately, rejected for publication.  The following year, I joined the Inscape Magazine editorial staff, and ended up having one of the most remarkable learning experiences in my life.  I submitted two poems while also serving as an editor, and luckily, one of the poems was eventually published.  That poem was entitled, “The Ballad of Benjamin Button.”  My adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic short story as I poem that I wrote enchanted the other editors, and I felt amazing when I saw my poem published in the 2013 edition of Inscape Magazine.

            An even more interesting story was the fate of the second poem that I submitted that year.  The other poem was called, “Au Revoir, Mon Amour.”  It was obviously a trite poem about love, and the other Inscape editors absolutely abhorred it.  After my self-esteem lessened while hearing their criticism about my poem, I was initially devastated.  Later on, though, I became glad that such an experience happened because hearing their criticism made me realize that writing does not need to follow any standards.  I ultimately learned that creative writing really is just that—creative.  Having that newfound knowledge inspired me to learn more about publication, and that desire prompted me to contact Dr. Ramey when I found out that California State University—Los Angeles had a literary magazine entitled Statement Magazine.

            The journey between my days at Pasadena City College and the night of the Statement Magazine launch is a remarkable story within itself.  During my first year as a transfer student at California State University—Los Angeles, I did my best to assist the Statement Magazine staff in spite of my own personal health issues.  I also wanted to be an editor that year, but my health created complications.  That meant that I was only able to help out whenever I was not in medical appointments.  As my health improved, however, my schedule became more flexible, and I was glad to have finally been able to serve as one of the editors for Statement Magazine.  Hoping to have creative work published once again, I submitted four pieces of writing.  Unfortunately, the staff rejected all of my work.  Nevertheless, I gained a new learning experience while serving as an editor for Statement Magazine, and that was realizing that the creative world is extremely competitive.  I also realized that I am not the best writer in the world, but I am willing to acknowledge the fact that at least I made an honest attempt when I submitted my work.  I might not be as talented as Jane Austen, but I can still strive to be at my own personal best rather than wallow away in self-pity.

            More importantly, though, I realized that while I was at the launch, I became part of another team again.  I had become a part of the literary community at California State University—Los Angeles.  In fact, having my name listed under the “Editorial Staff” list made me feel proud of myself because I really did take time out of my personal life in order to create this work of art.  None of my own personal work had made it into the magazine, but I can still congratulate myself for putting in the effort in order to create the 65^th anniversary edition of Statement Magazine.  I have undoubtedly contributed to the legacy of Statement Magazine, and my name, “Alex Phuong,” will remain on the book jacket of that edition of the magazine forevermore.  Not a lot of people can say that their name is on a book jacket, but at least I can.

            Finally, all I can say in response to the Statement Magazine launch is that it was a wonderful evening.  I was able to hear creative work read aloud, spend time with my friends, and even enjoy two pieces of cake.  I might not have been published in the magazine itself, but at least I can still congratulate myself for helping produce it.  In fact, I must admit that I never took Statement Magazine as a class.  Honestly, the only reason why I decided to help out the Statement Magazine staff is because I genuinely want to do that out of the goodness of my own heart.  Therefore, I must admit that I am truly blessed to have been able to have such a remarkable experience, and that I was able to relish that extraordinary journey that culminated to that one special night.  That night had already passed, but I can still do my best to remember that night even as my memory fades over time.  Finally, it is impossible to remember everything that happened during the night of the Statement Magazine launch, but it is possible to remember that the entire night was completely beautiful.  All I can say is that I wanted to learn more about publication, and I ended up being a tremendous help.  My sincerest hope is that other students would contribute to the growing legacy of Statement Magazine for future generations to come.

Deglamorizing the Soulful Nature of the Blues

            There has been countless times in which music plays a major role in the lives of entertainers.  People ranging from Barbra Streisand to Michael Jackson have contributed to the world of music with their passion and devotion to that craft.  However, the general public might not be fully aware about how music affects the private lives of such artists.  In fact, sometimes music might act as a curse upon such people rather than a blessing.  In David Crittendon’s “Reckless Blues / A Story About Bessie Smith,” Crittendon’s use of music reveals the pressure associated with being a music star because of the stress related to the entertainment industry.
            Bessie is a character who craves for more because of her desire to achieve stardom.  For example, Bessie mentions that she, “Got tired of being the best thing on stage but never singing lead” (78).  It is interesting to note that she reveals how she was “the best thing on stage” (78) because that implies that she is already a starlet.  However, she immediately follows that description with “never singing lead” (78).  In a way, she essentially strives for more because she enjoys the glory associated with being on stage.  Such a mentality presents an issue, though, because the pursuit of fame can ultimately result in her personal demise.
            Bessie also undergoes a character shift as she transitions from being a star to a person consumed within her own craft.  For example, she mentions that, “I stopped singing and only used my mouth for pleasure, forget about turning expressions into songs, was through hooking trumpets to memories, telling no-counts I loved them” (79).  The idea of using her “mouth for pleasure” (79) implies that her desire to be a music star involves her craving for satisfaction.  Additionally, singing allows her to express herself, and the simple act of using her mouth offers her the opportunity to enjoy what she does.  However, her want of “pleasure” (79) also contributes to her own downfall because she stops “turning expressions into songs” (79).  Therefore, she uses music as an excuse for a sense of satisfaction rather than as an act of passion.
            Bessie’s downward spiral also creates problems within her personal life.  Specifically, she reveals, “I finally woke up singing and his people warned him about me” (79).  Bessie essentially becomes a danger to both herself and her husband because other people regard her at a threat at this point in her descent.  Symbolically, Bessie also remarks, “‘Songs die like we do’” (79).  Her comment foreshadows her end of her relationship with her husband, named Earl.  Furthermore, Earl also asks her, ““‘Why you say ‘yes’ when I offered you a quiet life?’” (80). Realizing that the both of them had changed, Bessie acknowledges that she “leaned into the blues” (80), meaning that she devoted herself entirely to her music and nothing else.  Unfortunately, her passion for music led to devastation as “A country juke brought [their] marriage down” (81).  Ultimately, music might have been Bessie’s passion, but it also transformed into a disastrous obsession as her professional life damages her personal life as well.
            Finally, David Crittendon’s short story serves as a warning about the destructive power of music.  Some people believe that music artists might have it all, but that portrayal of the glamour associated with stardom is not a complete portrait of such talented musicians.  In fact, sometimes the general public forgets that artists are fundamentally human and prone to error.  Additionally, music might enchant audiences, but there is also a dark side to music that reveals the bleakness associated with entertainment.  Therefore, David Crittendon appropriately titled the first part of his story “Reckless Blues” because the blues ultimately did make Bessie a reckless individual.

Works Cited

Crittendon, David.  “Reckless Blues / A Story About Bessie Smith.”  Statement Magazine
            2015.  Los Angeles: California State University—Los Angeles, 2015. 78-81. Print.

Works Cited

alluringscorp. “Les Misérables - Finale - Live at the O2 Arena.” YouTube. YouTube,     

            3 Oct. 2010.  Web. 18 Apr. 2015.

Anonymous. “Caedmon's Hymn.” The Norton Anthology of English Literature, 4th ed,

       CD.

Anonymous. “Motherless Child.”  African American Spirituals: The Concert Tradition,

      Wade in the Water, Vol. 1, Smithsonian Folkways, 1994. CD.

Anthony, Bishop. “What Really Matters.” Compass (10369686) 47.3 (2013): 27-28.

            Academic Search Complete. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.

Crittendon, David.  “Reckless Blues / A Story About Bessie Smith.”  Statement Magazine 2015.  

               Los Angeles: California State University—Los Angeles, 2015. 78-81. Print.

Glonek, Katie L., and Paul E. King. "Listening To Narratives: An Experimental

           Examination Of  Storytelling In The Classroom." International Journal Of

          Listening 28.1 (2014): 32-46. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 May 2015.

Hugo, Victor, and Charles E. Wilbour. Les Misérables. New York: Knopf, 1997. Print.

Kehoe, Brad. “The Secret Power.” Statement Magazine 2014.  Los Angeles: California

         State University—Los Angeles, 2014. 15-19. Print.

Krull, Kristin. "Global Contributions Of African American Writers: Using Poetry

          To Facilitate Connections Between Historical Periods And Students' Personal

          Experiences." Black History Bulletin 72.1 (2009): 14-21. Academic Search

         Complete. Web. 21 May 2015.

Loersch, Chris, and Nathan L. Arbuckle. "Unraveling The Mystery Of Music: Music As        

       An Evolved Group Process." Journal Of Personality & Social Psychology 105.5

       (2013): 777-798. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 May 2015.

Luo, Lianggong.  “The Textual Construction of Poetry.”  California State

          

           University—Los Angeles English Department.  Room E & T A 129 at California

    

           State  University—Los Angeles.  7 April 2015.  PowerPoint Presentation.

Sanchez, Sonia. “Ballad.” Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, 2007. Web. 12 May

          2015.

Sanchez, Sonia. “21 Haiku.” Harvard Review No. 36 (2009): 136-39. JSTOR. Web. 12

          May 2015.

Sanchez, Sonia.  “Wisdom Session.”  California State University—Los Angeles

      English Department.  Room KH B1010 at California State University—Los Angeles. 

     14 May 2015.  Lecture.



Schultz, Susan.  “Memory and Forgetting: A Poetry Reading.”  California State

            

             University—Los Angeles English Department.  Room KH B1009 at California

            

             State University—Los Angeles.  9 April 2015.  Lecture.

Shelley, Percy Bysshe. “A Song: Men of England.” The Norton Anthology of English

       Literature, 4th ed, CD.

“The Complete Libretto.” Les Misérables: The Libretto. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.



Turney, Jon. Darwin Now. Manchester: British Council, 2008. Print.

XYZ, Emily.  “Slot Machine.”  The United States of Poetry. CD.

Playlist Progress Review

            Prior to taking this Music and Literature senior seminar, all that I knew about music and literature was that songs and writing both involve language.  For example, the lyrics of songs could sound like poetry set to music.  I also thought that people cannot read music or listen to literature because of the human senses involved with music and literature.  After taking this course, though, I learned that music and literature are actually interdisciplinary.  For example, music and literature both convey emotions about fundamental themes within the human experience.  In fact, understanding music and literature involves all of the senses.  Since they both involve the humanities, I now know that music and literature offer ideas about what it means to be human.  Specifically, music that my classmates listen to is different from the music that I personally listen to, but that reveals our uniqueness.  I might not be the same as someone else, but all people share the basic humanity that makes the world the diverse place that it is.

            The experiences I had in this class contributed to my current knowledge of Music and Literature by revealing to me different facets about these two entities.  For example, before performing Darwinian analysis on the Beach Boys, I never thought that music would evolve along with society.  Interestingly, the Beach Boys still has a seminal quality that affects people in the twenty-first century even though this music group was popular during the 1960s.  Therefore, the impact that music has on people reveals the universal quality of music.  Additionally, I realized that music and literature both have many dimensions that define people.  Specifically, the music of the Beach Boys defined a generation, which reveals how music has a history of its own.  Society might be different today, but there are still some commonalities that people share because they are still fundamentally human no matter how to world changes as time passes.

            In terms of my Playlist, I still need to revise my writing based on feedback that Dr. Ramey provided for me.  It is true that I am still working on my blog, but I am learning how to take constructive criticism so that I am able to improve my writing without feeling ridiculed.  So far, I have at least rough drafts of the different sections of my Playlist up online.  Between now and the end of the course, my plan is to revise the writing as much as I can so that I am able to make my Playlist the best that it can possibly be.  I also need to make sure to include more peer-reviewed scholarly secondary sources to make my work more credible.  I could do this my doing research in databases like JSTOR.  My blog is not yet complete, but I am proud to admit that I still have a prototype of what my blog could be by the end of the course.  More importantly, my Playlist will be a reflection of who I am, and reveal everything that I had learned in this course.

            Finally, remembering to work at a steady pace will help me complete my Playlist calmly.  I can remind myself that if I do sections of my Playlist at a time, and really focus, then I can have a satisfying outcome at the end of the quarter.  I can also take advantage of my free time by working on a particular section instead of procrastinating.  If I find a few moments to spare, I could just log on to my blogger account so that I can revise my writing.  I must admit that I have also been busy with errands and personal issues, but I am learning to take advantage of the time I have.  I also like to tell myself that if I feel like I have free time, I could log onto my blog and work on my Playlist instead of wasting time.  Time really is of the essence, but I am reminding myself to simply stay calm and focus.  Finally, panicking would not be appropriate, but focus and dedication with my work can help me ensure success as I create my own Playlist as a blog.

Reflections on Meeting the Prominent Literary Figure, Sonia Sanchez

     As a student at California State University—Los Angeles, I have been blessed to meet some of the most prominent writers of this current generation. I have met Mr. José Kozer, Mr. Li-Young Lee, and even Lisa See while they visited the campus. It has also been a great pleasure to meet yet another famous writer, which in this case, is Sonia Sanchez. Meeting her on the day of the Jean Burden Reading will definitely be an event that will stay in my memory.
     Upon finally seeing her for the first time, I was not sure how to react. My first impression of her was that she reminded me of Toni Morrison because they are both important figures in modern-day African-American literature. When she began speaking, I thought that she has a lot of knowledge about the world since she lived during important twentieth-century historical events. Specifically, she discussed how some writers were banned during the McCarthy trials. In spite of that issue, she wrote a haiku, and presented it at the University of Beijing. Such a wonderful opportunity that Sonia Sanchez took advantage of reminds me that literature has the power to connect people even if cultural differences attempt to divide them.
     Additionally, Sonia Sanchez related her writing to larger real world issues. For example, she mentioned how the Chinese were amazed that there were places where black people could not go to in America. Furthermore, Sonia Sanchez also discussed the issue of communication. She believes that people have trouble expressing themselves properly, which is especially true in the present day. In fact, miscommunication is prevalent today because people could easily misunderstand messages written through texting and social media. Nevertheless, Sonia Sanchez still did her best to write. In fact, she revealed that writing kept her alive. I am glad that she was able to achieve that satisfaction because writing does allow people to express who they truly are.
      Not only did writing keep her focused, but it also allowed her to acquire memorable experiences and several literary accolades. For example, she once had to write an article for Time Magazine, and she had been inducted into the Alabama Writers’ Hall of Fame. That distinction has made Sonia Sanchez become part of a prominent literary group, whose members include Zora Neal Hurston and Harper Lee. It is truly amazing that she was able to achieve such success by simply doing what she loves. That reminds me about how being passionate with what someone does can propel that person to personal success.
      Before she concluded her dialogue in King Hall, Sonia Sanchez offered some valuable life lessons. The first lesson that I learned was the healing power of breath. The fact is that oxygen is necessary for life, and maintaining self-control is important in order to cope with the stress that life can offer. Even though life can be rough at the times, the simple fact that a person has the ability to breathe serves as a reminder that life continues. Not only can breathing help a person stay calm, but it can also help create a brighter future rather than having that person dwell on the past. People do face hard times, but breathing can help them confront such challenges.
      Finally, Sonia Sanchez touched upon larger issues that involve much more than just the personal. Breathing can help a particular individual, but Sanchez mentioned about large societal concerns. Specifically, global warming is a major problem because Earth is the only home that people have. Within the present, it is now the time for people to do what truly is righteous so that they can care for themselves, and the world, so that all people can prosper. In fact, it really is the time for the people of the current generation to do what they can to benefit humanity.

Works Cited

Sanchez, Sonia.  “Wisdom Session.”  California State University—Los Angeles


      English Department.  Room KH B1010 at California State University—Los Angeles. 


     14 May 2015.  Lecture.

An Exploration of the Work of Sonia Sanchez

         Prior to my second year as a transfer student at California State University—Los Angeles, I had never heard of Sonia Sanchez.  After reading some of her work online for my Senior Seminar on Music and Literature, I began to wonder about the relationship between what has been written on paper, and what is said orally when someone recites poetry.  In fact, listening to literature through audio recordings and listening to music are both very different experiences when compared to reading written language silently.  Reading language with the sense of sight also does not have the same impact that listening to written language has upon the mind.  For example, if someone were to simply read a text, he or she might not understand the meaning of that text immediately.  Additionally, hearing a recitation of a literary piece only provides a limited experience, especially for people who might not be accustomed to a specific language of a certain text.  Combining reading with listening can enhance the learning experience of a person because it would engage more of the human senses.  Ultimately, the fact is that music can create experiences for people who enjoy the sounds that they listen to using the sense of hearing, but writing is able to record such thoughts, sounds, and ideas so that the sounds can create pleasure for people willing to bask in its musicality, otherwise known as the mixture of sounds that give a written text a distinctive voice if one were to speak it orally.

            Sonia Sanchez employs musical poetry that explores the undeniable power of love that unifies people even as generational differences between people attempt to separate them.  For example, in her poem entitled, “Ballad,” Sonia Sanchez uses lines that convey differences that people share.  For example, the lines, “forgive me if i laugh / you are so sure of love” (1-2) suggests that the speaker in this particular poem is trying to express the notion that love is more translucent rather than concrete.  The “laugh” (1) that this speaker is doing suggests that the speaker disregards the overly romanticized notion of love that is common for people of younger generations.  Ultimately, these two lines hold great significance because it reveals how the older are often times more aware about the world around them, while the young remain ignorant until they finally come of age.  Furthermore, the lines reveal that with age comes wisdom, and that sometimes people cannot learn certain life lessons until they reach a specific point in their metaphorical ballads known as life itself, which is still an enigmatic concept that people are still trying to comprehend.

            Additionally, I find it amazing that Sonia Sanchez would use improper capitalization in her work.  Returning to the poem entitled “Ballad,” I noticed that Sanchez kept everything in lower-case.  Such a technique suggests that the speaker of this poem is essentially child-like, and that the speaker also holds a sort of innocence that fades as people mature with age.  Moreover, the repetition of the idea of a person being “too young / for love” (11-12) questions the nature of love itself.  Perhaps Sanchez refers to the love that a person has for oneself because of how Sanchez employs the use of a fictional person who is too young and another person who is too old.  Additionally, since there is no capitalization within the entire poem, there is the possibility that no one can fully love another because all people are figurative children who can only grow old physically, but can never rise up to the challenges of loving others as people strive for maturity.  In fact, people in general can simply be too young or too old, and love might never be found at all since they are all unique individuals.  The idea of being oneself is also possible theme in this poem, and Sanchez might suggest that people can still be themselves in spite of the possible incapacity to love that affects them because of the age differences across generations. Furthermore, Kristin Krull's scholarly article entitled, "Global Contributions Of African American Writers: Using Poetry To Facilitate Connections Between Historical Periods And Students' Personal Experiences," explores how literature unifies people in spite of differences between language and what exactly is acceptable in terms of written work.  Krull reveals, "Ultimately, my encounter with Sonia Sanchez served to solidify my belief in and commitment to literature as a means to facilitate student connections to history and their own lives through culturally responsive teaching" (15).  Perhaps Sonia Sanchez defies conventional writing to suggest that breaking conventions can lead to better learning.

            Sonia Sanchez also combines cultural differences in her work to reveal universal themes in a diverse world.  For example, the poem, “21 Haiku,” holds some interesting features, including an allusion to Japanese culture.  The poem contains sensory features immediately at the beginning of this work with lines such as, “The sound of / your voice thundering out / of the earth” (1-3), which reveal how people can truly make an impact upon other people with the words that they express.  The poem also serves as a reminder that people need to be careful with what they say because once people speak out ideas orally through speech, they cannot revoke what they say.  The idea of using sounds within literature and music also implies that sounds can often times only be heard once.  It is possible to repeat something that a person has said in the past, but the original communication can never be found again because sound is not permanent.  Sanchez could suggest that people must communicate carefully within a diverse world.

            In contrast, writing can actually be permanent.  Whenever people express language orally, miscommunication is almost inevitable.  Sometimes a word that is said might not be heard correctly, the pitch might be too high or too low, or people could simply receive incorrect ideas through what a sender tries to express.  This is perhaps a reason why the oral tradition prevalent in ancient times has been lost, and the rise of the printing presses came about.  Specifically, in the scholarly article "Listening to Narratives: An Experimental Examination of Storytelling in the Classroom," by Katie L. Glonek and Paul E. King, the two of them reveal that, "Theoretically, the results demonstrate that constructivist theory of narrative comprehension is relevant to contexts beyond written texts—to listening contexts" (32).  The experiment that they conducted involved test subjects listening to auditory instructions, except some of the test subjects listened to audio in the form of a story while the others listened to a standard lecture.  According to their research, the people who listened to the instructions that sounded like a story remembered the instructions more clearly.  Thus, language and sound combine to create learning that is more permanent rather than simply listening to something standard. 

            The themes that Sonia Sanchez evokes also relates to my Playlist.  Even though my Playlist is still a work-in-progress, I am developing the theme of a combination between music, literature, and myself.  As of right now, the working title of my Playlist is “Music, Literature, and Me.”  My main goal for this Playlist is to preserve the work that I have been doing for my Senior Seminar so that I would be able to reflect on the work that I had done as I explored the relationship between music and literature, and how both of these concepts define me as an individual.  Sonia Sanchez has written about generational differences and the musicality of language, and I believe that those two themes apply to my own personal life as well.  For example, I am the youngest in my family, and I do not speak any language except English.  In spite of my limitations, I can still use music to convey ideas because music is often times universal.  I also love to sing, and I believe that I can use my willingness to sing to create joy for the people around me.  That is why music and language have a strong impact on my life.

            As an English Major at California State University—Los Angeles, I encounter literature and music on the regular basis, and both of these entities help define who I am.  Even when I am not literally reading or listening to music, I can still recall material that I have read or music that I have heard using my memory.  Unfortunately, the human brain can only remember so much.  Nevertheless, I can still remember that I am an avid admirer of literature and music, and that the musicality of language can impact me positively even if I cannot remember I have read or music I have heard in the past.  Additionally, the lessons that I learned from Sonia Sanchez will hopefully remain part of my memory as I reflect on my time as an undergraduate student.  Lessons, such as how I am part of my own generation, inspire me to do what I can with my time even if I am different from the people of different generations.  I also remember to learn to spread my love even though noble deeds I do today might be forgotten later on in my life. Ultimately, it is impossible to remember everything that happened to me in the past, but the life-long lessons that I had learned from those experiences can push me to develop myself as a person, and to progress rather than regress.

            The work of Sonia Sanchez has a profound effect upon me even though I had just begun reading her work very recently.  Analyzing her poetry has allowed me to deepen my analytical skills as I understand the relationship between diction and theme.  Additionally, reciting the poems aloud makes me question the relationship between music, sound, and literature.  In the end, I realized that music and literature has a connection that parallels the relationship between the past and the present.  People can read or listen to music in the present, but the effect that such work has on an individual would be different in the future if such people choose to reread or listen to music again.  That is because the experiences that happen in the present would hopefully remain a part of a person’s memory, and then a re-encounter of such work could evoke memories that happened in the past.  Listening to music and reading in the present moment can create sensory sensations that could cause elation, but such an experience ends once reading has been completed or when a person stops listening to music.  In the end, music does relate to literature because music and sound are both transient experiences that could only be experienced within the present, but literature can record thoughts and ideas on paper so that the musicality of language could be experienced later on in the future.  The past might be gone, but people could revisit literature so that sensory experiences could happen again, and impact future generations so that the past might not be completely forgotten even with the limitations of memory.  Memories sometimes do fade, but recording sounds and written work can help prevent such moments from fading completely into oblivion.

Works Cited

Glonek, Katie L., and Paul E. King. "Listening To Narratives: An Experimental
           Examination Of  Storytelling In The Classroom." International Journal Of
          Listening 28.1 (2014): 32-46. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 May 2015.

Krull, Kristin. "Global Contributions Of African American Writers: Using Poetry
          To Facilitate Connections Between Historical Periods And Students' Personal
          Experiences." Black History Bulletin 72.1 (2009): 14-21. Academic Search
         Complete. Web. 21 May 2015.

Sanchez, Sonia. “Ballad.” Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, 2007. Web. 12 May

          2015.

Sanchez, Sonia. “21 Haiku.” Harvard Review No. 36 (2009): 136-39. JSTOR. Web. 12
          May 2015.

An Application of Darwin’s Ideas to Language, Culture, and the Beach Boys

           The theory of evolution radically changed the world as Darwin discussed that particular concept.   Darwin’s theory of evolution also metaphorically applies to art and culture because society changes alongside history.  For example, a major issue within society for centuries was the place that women held.  In the nineteenth century, society expected women to marry and perform domestic duties.  Some women might still live like that during the twenty-first century, but society progressed in terms of civil rights as it transitioned from a rigid social construct to one that is more accepting towards people who are outside of the social norm.  It is true that white supremacy has been a main idea for a long time, but more people are transitioning from prejudice towards others, and are beginning to exhibit pride for being one’s truest self.  Because of the social shifts that have happened dramatically throughout both the twentieth and twenty-first centuries, people are now embracing a culture that sharply contrasts restrictive social hierarchies.  Finally, society creates culture, and it is the changing beliefs that people within society have that form what the world is like today.  Ultimately, mankind creates its own culture.  In terms of culture, the music of the Beach Boys has a seminal quality because it touches upon basic human joy in spite of the changes that happened before and after the Beach Boys created their music.

            Even as society changes, there are still some fundamental truths about people that will never change.  For example, no matter how powerful one particular individual might be, all people are still fundamentally human.  There are also some pleasures involved with being alive that many people want to enjoy.  In fact, there are people who would desperately want to enjoy a vacation unless some of them would prefer to work constantly.  Nevertheless, the thought of a warm and sunny day is a desire that many people would crave, and that is perhaps why some music related to that wish resonates with listeners for generations.

            In spite of the continuous process of evolution, the Beach Boys are still popular because their music evokes simplicity that contrasts the social reforms that happened during the 1960s.  Songs with titles like “Fun Fun Fun” and “Surfin’ USA” project the idea of a carefree day at a California beach, which is a possible reason as to why the music of the Beach Boys continues to endure.  Additionally, people might change over time, but the concept of summer fun has a timeless quality to it.  Such an enduring concept suggests that even as the world evolves, there are some aspects of existence that will never change.  That fundamental truth reveals that everyone is still basically the same despite the differences that would separate them.  Music, including the music of the Beach Boys, also reveals how music is often times social.  In the scholarly article entitled, “Unraveling the Mystery of Music: Music as an Evolved Group Process,” by Chris Loersch and Nathan L. Arbuckle, the two writers reveal, “In sum, this work establishes human musicality as a special form of social cognition and provides the first direct support for the hypothesis that music evolved as a tool of social living” (777).  The idea of “social cognition” (777) suggests that being social is a key characteristic to being human.  Ultimately, the music of the Beach Boys helps bring people together because its music has universal qualities to it that make the music of this group seminal.

            In the end, Darwin’s ideas of evolution relates to the basic fact that everything changes over time.  Once people are born, they experience life in any way that they can until their time on Earth eventually, and unfortunately, runs out.  As people develop, society changes as well because they are the ones who compose society in the first place.  Additionally, human beings might be an advanced species, but they are still as much an animal as any creature that could be found in the wild.  In fact, music itself has the ability to bring people together because not all animals are capable of doing what people can do.  The expanse of the human mind, and its ability to create, led to the development of the society that exists in the modern world.  Additionally, music helps people become social, and learning together allows people to function in the world as they create art to both express themselves personally and unify society as a whole.  Therefore, the art, music, literature, and culture that people can create can reflect who they are today, and only some of it will remain seminal if it relates to basic humanity.

Works Cited

Loersch, Chris, and Nathan L. Arbuckle. "Unraveling The Mystery Of Music: Music As
       
       An Evolved Group Process." Journal Of Personality & Social Psychology 105.5      
       
       (2013): 777-798. Academic Search Complete. Web. 21 May 2015.

Turney, Jon. Darwin Now. Manchester: British Council, 2008. Print.

Yes, I Hear the People Sing

        Victor Hugo was one of the prominent literary figures of the nineteenth century.  His writing provides a scathing social critique while also presenting the hope for a brighter future.  Cameron Mackintosh, the producer of the musical version of this novel, recognized the power of Hugo’s writing, and adapted the novel Les Misérables as a Broadway musical.  The combination of literature and music that came about through Mackintosh’s adaptation resulted in one of the longest running Broadway musicals of all time.  I was also fortunate enough to share the epic scope of the finale of the Broadway show with my English 492 class, which ultimately reveals how there is, indeed, hope for a better tomorrow.  In Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables, and in its subsequent Broadway adaptation that Cameron Mackintosh produced, Hugo utilizes the final two chapters to suggest that the pain and suffering within the present moment can dissipate with the passage of time, and the musical exhibits that same idea through a powerful finale.

            In order to understand the profound nature of the finale of Victor Hugo’s masterpiece, I must provide some reflection on my interest in this novel.  Part of the reason why I did my presentation on this particular literary work, and its subsequent musical adaptation, is because I am a Francophile.  When I was younger, I was fascinated with French culture, and had dreamed about traveling to Paris.  In fact, right before I started high school, I yearned to learn the French language, which is what I had studied for four years of my life.  During that same time period of my life, my French teacher showed the class a televised version of Les Misérables in order to engage the class with one of the most famous literary works ever written.  I still remember feeling pity for Fantine as she was forced into prostitution.  Even though the characters endured dire circumstances, I still felt as if they had the ability to cope.  Ultimately, my interest in French culture taught me valuable life lessons about the misery that does exist in the world in spite of the glamorized portrayals of French culture found in media.

            Victor Hugo’s novel does more than just evoke pity from readers because it reminds them, including myself, about how life is a precious gift.  For example, within the novel, as Jean Valjean approached his death, he told Cosette and Marius to “Love each other dearly and always” (1431).  The significance of love holds great importance because that is one of the central themes of the novel.  Jean Valjean agreed to care for Cosette, which taught him to learn how to love.  Additionally, love is prevalent in the novel in spite of the suffering that many of the characters face.  Hugo presents the idea of death as not a punishment, but a way to alleviate suffering.  In fact, the last few words that Jean Valjean speaks remind Marius and Cosette that death is inevitable.  Specifically, Jean Valjean expresses “almost inarticulate words [that came] from his mouth: 'It is nothing to die; it is frightful not to live’” (1428).  Furthermore, people can only live for so long, which means that it really “is frightful not to live” (1428).  In a way, Jean Valjean really did live because he achieved a sense of human dignity by loving a child that was not his own.  In the end, the journey that Jean Valjean undertakes reminds readers that life can happen only once, and that it up to them to embrace life itself.

            The finale in the musical also reminds me to stay positive rather than stagnate in despair.  I had suffered from personal issues while growing up, and I had often times felt isolated because of the emotional pain that I had experienced for a major part of my life.  For example, I had been a victim of bullying as a teenager because I had trouble with my math classes.  I also felt depressed because I yearned to be among the popular students in high school.  In a way, I hated myself in the past because I did not receive that much attention when it came to how people at school would treat me.  I still remember students lacking faith in my ability to succeed in school and in life.  I also felt embarrassed about receiving several rejection letters from numerous universities in California.  To put it simply, I felt like a loser. 
             Nevertheless, the rapturous beauty associated with the finale of the Les Misérables musical encourages me to take the initiative, and to willingly change my life for the better own my own.  For example, the lyrics, “Somewhere beyond the barricade / Is there a world you long to see?” (The Complete Libretto), relates to my personal desire to do what I want to do with my life in spite of the discouraging comments that people have given me in the past.  The characters in the musical did their best to revolutionize France because of social oppression.  I personally felt downtrodden in the past, but my attempts at doing my best to enjoy life has made me the happier person that I am today.  I understand that I have limitations, but I am still able to live in a way that works for me.  Additionally, I sometimes do take minor risks in order to explore what the world has to offer.  I obviously do not do dangerous stunts, like swimming with sharks, but sometimes I do take small risks, such as tasting foreign food that I never had before.  The small risks that I try to take regularly allow me to engage myself with what the world has to offer.  In fact, performing a cyclical routine can actually be very bland, but trying something new each day helps me enjoy the life that I have.  Doing those actions also help develop my personality because fixating on one or two topics might make me appear shallow.  Instead, exploring new possibilities allows me to broaden my horizons so that I know that I had actually lived rather than wallow in self-pity.

            Victor Hugo's novel also explores the precious value of life itself.  Within the scholarly article entitled, “What Really Matters,” by Bishop Anthony, he asserts, “Les Misérables’ heroes demonstrate that redemption is pure gift from God” (28).  Seeking a personal sense of dignity helped Jean Valjean find peace at the end of his life.  In a way, he was blessed with being able to learn to love others, especially Cosette, Fantine, and Marius.  I also believe that part of the reason why Les Misérables is a classic that resonates with people is because it offers them a sense of hope in spite of the harshness of reality.  Bishop Anthony also appropriately titled his scholarly essay, “What Really Matters,” because the novel and the musical both teach the respective audiences to treasure what really does matter in life.  In a general sense, some people might be so preoccupied with material possessions and trivial matters that they become superficial.  Instead, the ideas of redemption and religion both interconnect within Hugo's novel to create a seminal work of French literature.  Jean Valjean felt as if God had blessed him by the end of the narrative, and he obtained salvation at the end of his life by learning to care for others instead of simply himself.  Both the novel and the musical also compels audience to examine what really does matter in life, such as the importance of family, and note taking life for granted.  Hugo's text and the musical also encourages people to embrace life itself even though all people are limited human beings.  People might have limitations, but they can still be grateful for what they have.  Some people might not believe in God or any other example of religious figures, but they are still capable of being who they are as long as they remember that each of their lives is a special gift.

            Returning to my presentation, I must admit that I enjoyed sharing my adoration of musical theater with my class.  I have to also say that I have been blessed with the opportunity to watch performances of some of the greatest musicals ever made.  For example, I have seen both the stage version of The Phantom of the Opera, and the musical film adaptation, when that particular film was released in 2004.  Additionally, I have seen Wicked at the Pantages Theater in 2007.  An interesting correlation that exists between Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera, and Wicked is that each musical has a protagonist who is essentially an outcast.  For example, Jean Valjean was a criminal who broke his parole, the Phantom was a disfigured musical genius, and Elphaba was a misunderstood girl who eventually became the notorious Wicked Witch of the West.  I can definitely relate to the idea of being an outcast because I was not the best student when I was in high school.  The one truth that I knew for sure, though, was that I used my interest in musical theater to help me cope with the pressure associated with adolescence.
            When I was a teenager, I did not enjoy interests that were similar to my peers.  I enjoyed classic films while some of my classmates would have preferred more current forms of entertainment.  I developed an interest in musical theater because I felt as if singing could alleviate stress as well as allow people to express themselves more fully.  I was also very daring when I was younger when I chose to sing and dance during class presentations while other students would have been more monotone.  Musicals have given me great joy because they teach me to be bold.  They also inspire me to follow my heart because I would listen to soundtracks that include songs about being oneself, such as the song "Defying Gravity" from Wicked.  In the end, musicals help me cope with daily stress because I would cheer for characters who would occasionally sing about despair, but achieve a sort of resolution by the end of a musical production.  I am sure that I will find a solution as well even though challenges might hinder my chances for success.

            Les Misérables is a work of literature that has affected generations of readers ever since it was originally published during the nineteenth century.  Its universal themes of love, hope, and redemption reminds people that there is still hope for a better tomorrow.  In fact, my presentation revealed how a literary work can combine with music so that the themes of the novel resonate to an even larger audience.  Additionally, some people might be illiterate, and would not be able to understand the themes that Victor Hugo explores in his novel.  In contrast to the limitations of written text, music has the ability to go beyond what people can write because music is like a universal language.  Finally, music and literature both interconnect because they both serve the purpose of communicating ideas.  Language barriers might inhibit the transmission of messages, but people can still hear the sounds associated with music so that they can at least have an idea of what another person might try to convey.  Ultimately, music can take a foreign piece of literature, and express its ideas in a way that profoundly affects the mind and the heart, much like how Jean Valjean dynamically changed into a more fully-realized person by the conclusion of Les Misérables.

Works Cited

alluringscorp. “Les Misérables - Finale - Live at the O2 Arena.” YouTube. YouTube,     

            3 Oct. 2010.  Web. 18 Apr. 2015.

Anthony, Bishop. “What Really Matters.” Compass (10369686) 47.3 (2013): 27-28.

            Academic Search Complete. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.

Hugo, Victor, and Charles E. Wilbour. Les Misérables. New York: Knopf, 1997. Print.    

“The Complete Libretto.” Les Misérables: The Libretto. Web. 29 Apr. 2015.