I Wanna Dance with Somebody

I Wanna Dance with Somebody was the first single from Whitney Houston's second album called Whitney. This song was a huge hit in America and over-seas, topping the charts in thirteen countries. This song was a big dance-pop song because as soon as you here it you instantly want to dance.

"Oh! Wanna dance with somebody

I wanna feel the heat with somebody

Yeah! Wanna dance with somebody

With somebody who loves me."

- Whitney Houston, I Wanna Dance with Somebody

I absolutely love this song because it brings a happy feeling to me and makes me just want to get up and dance no matter if I have somebody to dance with or if I'm just by myself. I also like the message it sends, its somebody who wants to dance with somebody who they love and a mutual feeling back, when can you ever go wrong with love and dancing? 

I Wanna Dance with Somebody - Whitney Houston (listen here)

I Have a Dream pt. 2

On August 28th 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King delivered one of the most powerful speeches in the history of mankind. Dr. King spoke about racial equality and the end of discrimination. Dr. King possessed the power to capture, educate and inspire every person who had been standing on those steps listening to the speech on the Lincoln Memorial. Even through such a controversial time, he informed everyone on the problems going on no matter what side of the fence they were standing on, everybody stopped to listen. 

“No, no, we are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

- Dr. Martin Luther King, I Have a Dream

King uses a simile here when he describes his desire for justice and righteousness. He says he and the American people will not be satisfied until justice and righteousness flow through the nation like water would flow through a mighty stream. He compares justice to water, which I think he means just as water flows from a stream it shows something pure and clean and that would be the same reaction if there was justice a feeling of purity and cleanness since that's what African-Americans deserved. 

I Have a Dream

On August 28th 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King delivered one of the most powerful speeches in the history of mankind. Dr. King spoke about racial equality and the end of discrimination. Dr. King possessed the power to capture, educate and inspire every person who had been standing on those steps listening to the speech on the Lincoln Memorial. Even through such a controversial time, he informed everyone on the problems going on no matter what side of the fence they were standing on, everybody stopped to listen. 

"Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children."

- Dr. Martin Luther King, I Have a Dream

King uses a metaphor in his speech by comparing the way America needs to get rid of racial injustice to raising a stone from quicksand to solid rock. Racial injustice is the quicksand that will bury the stone that represents our nation. By bringing the stone onto the solid rock representing brotherhood, it no longer is in danger of sinking in the quicksand.

Brave New World pt. 4

Brave New World is a novel by Aldous Huxley written in 1931.In Huxley’s society that he created everyone consumes daily grams of soma, to fight depression, babies are born in laboratories, and the most popular form of entertainment is a "Feelie," a movie that provokes the senses of sight, hearing, and touch. Though there is no violence and everyone is provided for, Bernard Marx feels something is missing and senses his relationship with a young woman has the potential to be much more than what there allowed to think. The future society shows how reproductive technology and anti-depressants shape a society.

"Orgy-porgy, Ford and fun,

Kiss the girls and make them one

Boys at one with girls at peace; 

Orgy-porgy gives release." 

Huxley uses informal language when describing the chant that kids sing, with words such as: "orgy, porgy, kiss and gives release." Huxley is talking about sex, drugs and cloning. His use of commas and semicolons make it easier for the reader to read the chant and understand it. 

Brave New World pt. 3

Brave New World is a novel by Aldous Huxley written in 1931.In Huxley’s society that he created everyone consumes daily grams of soma, to fight depression, babies are born in laboratories, and the most popular form of entertainment is a "Feelie," a movie that provokes the senses of sight, hearing, and touch. Though there is no violence and everyone is provided for, Bernard Marx feels something is missing and senses his relationship with a young woman has the potential to be much more than what there allowed to think. The future society shows how reproductive technology and anti-depressants shape a society.

"Hug me till you drug me, honey

Kiss me till I'm in a coma:

Hug me, honey, snuggly bunny; 

Love's as good as soma." 

Huxley becomes informal with his particular word choice such as: "drug, hug, kiss, honey, snuggly and bunny." His use of informal language makes it easier for the reader to see that this is comedic tone that Huxley has set up by his word choice because he obviously couldn't be serious saying "Hug me, honey, snuggly bunny". His sentence structure is actually longer with the use of more commas when comparing the drug Soma to love. 

Brave New World pt. 2

Brave New World is a novel by Aldous Huxley written in 1931.In Huxley’s society that he created everyone consumes daily grams of soma, to fight depression, babies are born in laboratories, and the most popular form of entertainment is a "Feelie," a movie that provokes the senses of sight, hearing, and touch. Though there is no violence and everyone is provided for, Bernard Marx feels something is missing and senses his relationship with a young woman has the potential to be much more than what there allowed to think. The future society shows how reproductive technology and anti-depressants shape a society.

"The zippers on Lenina's square pair of viscose velveteen shorts were at first a puzzle, then solved, a delight. Zip, and then zip; zip, and then zip; he was enchanted." 

When Huxley writes about clothing in the World State there always happens to be zippers. Huxley's repetition of "zip" sounds like a way of saying easy access relating to sex. He also has a lot of commas in these two sentences to slow the reader down and to show the importance of that "zipping" sound. He begans by saying how the zippers had him confused calling it a "puzzle", but ends it saying he was enchanted. The comma's and longer sentence structure show how he wants to clearly explain whats going on; setting up a rhythm with the word zip constantly saying it. 

Brave New World

Brave New World is a novel by Aldous Huxley written in 1931.In Huxley’s society that he created everyone consumes daily grams of soma, to fight depression, babies are born in laboratories, and the most popular form of entertainment is a "Feelie," a movie that provokes the senses of sight, hearing, and touch. Though there is no violence and everyone is provided for, Bernard Marx feels something is missing and senses his relationship with a young woman has the potential to be much more than what there allowed to think. The future society shows how reproductive technology and anti-depressants shape a society.

"The overalls of the workers were white, their hands gloved with a pale corpse-coloured rubber." 


Huxley uses figurative language to create a feeling of lifelessness in the Hatchery, which is a place that is supposed to be giving life. The word “corpse” adds to the dead feeling. Comparing the workers gloves to a pale color rubber makes the reader think that although they are creating lives, they feel dead themselves. I also think it's interesting that the workers were dressed in all white with pale colored rubber because I think that color white represents how the life is sucked out of everything that is created in that room.

Letter from Birmingham Jail

In April of 1963 Civil Rights Activist Dr. Martin Luther King wrote an open letter to who ever was willing to read it after being arrested for being apart of the Birmingham campaign. The letter was a response to a letter that had recently run in a local newspaper, which had claimed that the protests were "unwise and untimely". King deliberately wrote his letter for a national audience. The letter reveals King's strength as a rhetorician and his knowledge. At the time it gave a strong well respected voice that jumbled the movement.


"Any law that uplifts human personality is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust. All segregation statutes are unjust because segregation distorts the soul and damages the personality. It gives the segregator a false sense of superiority and the segregated a false sense of inferiority. Segregation, to use the terminology of the Jewish philosopher Martin Buber, substitutes an "I it" relationship for an "I thou" relationship and ends up relegating persons to the status of things. Hence segregation is not only politically, economically and sociologically unsound, it is morally wrong and sinful."

- Martin Luther King, Letter from Birmingham Jail 

King is using logos when he says, "Any law that uplifts human spirit is just. Any law that degrades human personality is unjust." King is using logos to determine whether a law is just or unjust. Another claim in this paragraph is where King says, "Hence, segregation is not only politically, economically, and sociologically unsound, it is morally wrong and sinful." Again, this is using logic and reason to show that segregating people on account of their skin color is "wrong and sinful." In both of his claims, he is saying because of this, it is this. He is using logic and reason to see why things are wrong and bad. The second claim could also be appeal of ethos because it deals with ethics and morals as well.

Marilyn Monroe

The beautiful and famous Marilyn Monroe was an actress, model and singer but mostly known for being Americas sex symbol. Marilyn is probably one of the most celebrated actresses for her good looks, exquisite physique and charming quotes about life through her eyes.  

“A wise girl kisses but doesn't love, listens but doesn't believe, and leaves before she is left.”

- Marilyn Monroe  

Monroe clearly sets up a rhythm after every comma saying what a girl does but shortly right after says what she doesn't do. Her use of a short sentence gets straight to the point with what shes saying a girl should do but also what they shouldn't do. "listens but doesn't believe", every word she uses in the beginning before each comma relates to the last word; for example listens, doesn't believe. Kisses doesn't love, leaves before left. Her rhythm of sentence structure and word use makes the quote a lot more interesting and easier to believe.

Beastie Boys

The Beastie Boys were the first successful white rap group and one of the few artist from the early to mid 80’s hip-hop that still enjoy major success today. Their rock and punk-influenced rap has had a significant impact on artists both in and outside the hip-hop scene, and they were the first rap group to gain a good amount of fans following with alternative rock fans. The Beastie Boys is still the only group that could mix together rap and rock and still have it be a musical success. 

"We rode for six hours then we hit the spot

The beat was a bumping and the girlies was hot

This dude was staring like he knows who we are

We took the empty spot next to him at the bar

M.C.A. said, "Yo, you know this kid?"

I said, "I didn't." but I know he did

The kid said, "Get ready cause this ain't funny

My name's Mike D. and I'm about to get money."

Pulled out the jammy aimed it at the sky

He yelled, "Stick 'em up!" and let two fly

Hands went up and people hit the floor

He wasted two kids that ran for the door

"I'm Mike D. and I get respect

Your cash and your jewelry is what I expect"

M.C.A. was with it and he's my ace

So I grabbed the piano player and I punched him in the face

The piano player's out the music stopped

His boy had beef and he got dropped

Mike D. grabbed the money M.C.A. snatched the gold

I grabbed two girlies and a beer that's cold."

- Beastie Boys, Paul Revere

The Beastie Boys use imagery and vivid description to paint a scene of them at a club or bar where a robbery ended up braking out with them saving the day and leaving with hot girls and a cold beer. They describe how the beat was loud, boys were staring and the girls were hot there use of rhythm keeps the audience intrigued with the funny story they created.

Paul Revere - Beastie Boys (listen here)

Andy Warhol

The late Andy Warhol was one of the greatest pop artist creating paintings, books, prints and photography. Warhol was best known for his unique and outspoken personality. A soft-spoken homosexual who later in life took to wearing a silver-grey wig, he was said to be obsessed with fame and wealth and was surrounded by outlandish and flamboyant friends. Andy Warhol was a truly different, the type of character that New York seems to create once in a while. 

"I love Los Angeles. I love Hollywood. They're beautiful. Everybody's plastic, but I love plastic. I want to be plastic."

                               - Andy Warhol 

Warhol uses to word "Love" back to back in the first two sentences. Then uses "plastic" in the last two sentences back to back. His use of short sentences show he simply gets straight to the point about how he likes the the unoriginal feel in Hollywood calling everybody "plastic". 

Adorn

Songwriter and producer Miguel came out with a song called Adorn off of his Extended Play (EP) Art Dealer Chic: Volume 1. 

"These lips can't wait to taste your skin, Baby noo

And these eyes, yehh, can't wait to see your grin, ooh ooh baby

Baby these fist, uh, will always protect ya... Lady

And this mind ooh will never neglect you, yeah baby

Ooh baby

And if they try to break us down

Don't let that effect us, noo baby" 

- Miguel, Adorn

I like the way Miguel uses his body objects in a third person because to me it makes it seem as though it adds more feeling to what hes saying. For example when he says "These fist, will always protect you", it makes it seem as though hes sincere and it creates a romantic tone to the song compared to him saying "My fist will always protect you". If he was to come out and say it plainly it would be sort of cliche and it wouldn't set up the same tone I hear in the song. 

Adorn - Miguel (listen here)

Ferris Bueller's Day Off

Ferris Bueller's Day Off was and still is every high school students dream scripted up into a Hollywood film. High school senior Ferris Bueller decided to take the day off with his best friend Cameron and girlfriend Sloane and spend the day in downtown Chicago. Throughout the movie Ferris manages to dodge his school principal Mr. Rooney, his spiteful sister Jeanie and his clueless parents. Before Bueller put his plan in full affect he had to convince his easily stressed best friend Cameron. 

"He'll keep calling me, he'll keep calling me until I come over. He'll make me feel guilty. This is uh... This is ridiculous, ok I'll go, I'll go, I'll go, I'll go, I'll go. What - I'LL GO. S***." 

- Cameron

Cameron's use of repetition shows how he was constantly going back and fourth with himself. For every knew thought he continues to repeat himself before he finally agrees to go with Ferris's plan. Towards the end of the quote when he repeatedly says "I'll go" he sets up a serious tone to let himself and Ferris know that he's actually going to go through with his plan to bunk school. I love Cameron's character because throughout the whole movie he's easily stressed and acts like a stick in the mud; until he realizes that its okay to live a little as his friend would say. 

The Breakfast Club

The Breakfast Club is known to be one of the best 80's movies of all time. The comedy-drama stars five different teenagers, from different stances in the high school popularity chain; coming together on a Saturday morning detention. As they spend their Saturday morning together they find a bit of themselves in each other, looking past the stereotypes that they labeled each other as.



                                                                                                       "Dear Mr. Vernon, 

we accept the fact that we had to sacrifice a whole Saturday in detention for whatever it was we did wrong. What we did was wrong. But we think you're crazy to make an essay telling you who we think we are. You see us as you want to see us...In the simplest terms, in the most convenient definitions. But what we found out is that each one of us is a brain…and an athlete...and a basket case...a princess...and a criminal...Does that answer your question? Sincerely yours, the Breakfast Club." 

- Brian Johnson, Andrew Clark, Allison Reynolds, Claire Standish & John Bender 

I like this quote because it shows how all of them came together despite the tears, fears and judgement's they went through to finally realize that they are actually a lot more similar than they thought. "...we found out is that each one of us is a brain…and an athlete...and a basket case...a princess...and a criminal..." they came together and found that they had a lot more in common than they thought; and I think that's what shows the actual glory of this movie that despite their social groups, or how far they are on the social ladder they still came together as one.

Homecoming

Rapper, producer, film director and Fashion designer Kanye West came out with a song called Homecoming off of his solo album Graduation released in 2007. West dedicates the song to his hometown Chicago, as he rhymes about his guilt for leaving to pursue his career. 

"I met this girl when I was 3 years old

And what I loved most she had so much soul

She said "Excuse me lil homey, I know you don't know me

But, my name is Wendy and I like to blow trees"

And from that point I never blow her off

N***** come from out of town, I like to show her off

They like to act tough, she like to to blow 'em off

And make 'em straighten up their hat cause she know they soft

And when I grew up she showed me how to go downtown

In the nighttime her face lit up, so astounding

I told her in my heart is where she'll always be

She never messed with entertainers cause they always leave

She said it felt like they walked and drove on me

Knew I was gang affiliated, got on TV and told on me

I guess that's why last winter she got so cold on me

She said "'Ye, keep making that keep making that platinum and gold for me!"

- Kanye West, Homecoming

West uses an extended metaphor and personification when describing his hometown city as a childhood crush named Wendy. He describes Wendy as a soulful, outspoken, spunky girl that showed him the real reasons as to why he loves his city so much. “I told her in my heart is where she’ll always be. She never messed with entertainers cause they always leave”, West says how he told Wendy she would always be with him and how other entertainers left for their stardom as well. I love the way he wrote this song because I listened to it, I thought he was talking about a childhood crush; but as he continued to rap he later says "And if you don't know by now, I'm talking bout Chi town". Once I heard that line I was amazed because I've never heard a song with a metaphor so long. The song is a lyrical reference for his love for hip hop and his hometown. 

Homecoming - Kanye West (listen here)

Ballot or the Bullet by Malcolm X

Cleveland Ohio, April 3rd 1964 Malcolm X gave one of his many highly anticipated speeches during the Civil Rights Movement. During that time African American's we're fighting for their freedom and equality in America, the movement stirred many different emotions from anyone and everyone. Malcolm X was empowering the black community to fight against the "white man" and vote. Malcolm refused to sit around and wait for equality among blacks, he believed in taking full action. Voting was the civil way to go about things, the bullet was where the violence came in. 

"So it's time in 1964 to wake up. And when you see them coming up with that kind of conspiracy, let them know your eyes are open. And let them know you -- something else that's wide open too. It's got to be the ballot or the bullet. The ballot or the bullet. If you're afraid to use an expression like that, you should get on out of the country; you should get back in the cotton patch; you should get back in the alley. They get all the Negro vote, and after they get it, the Negro gets nothing in return. All they did when they got to Washington was give a few big Negroes big jobs. Those big Negroes didn't need big jobs, they already had jobs. That's camouflage, that's trickery, that's treachery, window-dressing. I'm not trying to knock out the Democrats for the Republicans. We'll get to them in a minute. But it is true; you put the Democrats first and the Democrats put you last."

- Malcolm X

Malcolm constantly uses the word "you" in the beginning of his speech to let his audience know he's talking directly to them, setting up a serious tone but at the same time setting up a friendly gesture. When he keeps telling the audience what they need to do, and why the audience feels as though hes looking out for them. Building his credibility to the audience by making them feel as though hes with them.  X automatically grabbed his audiences attention through one important line, "Ballot or the Bullet". The ballot symbolized the right to vote, a thing that was denied to African-American's for so long. The bullet symbolized something else. It symbolized the dark side of the civil rights struggle. It symbolized the desire of the African American population to come together and act violently against the mistreat they faced all these years. With this opening statement, X captured the audience’s attention and never let them go. 

The Help

The Help is a novel written by Kathryn Stockett. From beginning to end, this book will keep you interested in the strong sisterhood that is formed between three brave women and a town that will be rudely awaken by their truth. The story is set in Jackson Mississippi, during the early 1960's when the African-American women were left to raise white children, but not trusted to enough to use their bosses bathroom inside the house. 

Aibileen is a stubby, dark skinned, strong minded maid raising her 17th white child. Mrs. Leefolt happens to be a young white woman with a fragile mind who neglects her two year old daughter because she feels she isn’t pretty enough. From her mothers neglect Mae Mobley sees “Aibee” as her mother, Aibileen knows shes not going to be working for the Leefolts for much longer. So she teaches Mae Mobley lessons that she will never forget in order to become strong without the love from her mother.

“You is kind, You is smart, You is important."

Aibileen's use of repetition shows how much she wanted to emphasize how important Mae Mobely actually is, despite how much her mother may or may not pay attention. When she repeatedly says "You is", Aibileen is setting up a serious tone to Mae Mobley so it stays in her head that she is serious and she means everything she says. The reason this line stuck out to me the most was because I could feel the sincerity in Aibileens voice (although I had been reading), she seemed to sound so pure and honest in the words she said. I could instantly tell that she was trying to build Mae Mobley into a strong girl, since she had a weak support system.