Abstract In this paper, through biographies and musical analysis brought forth on Cage as a multi-cultural composer, the idea of a unified eastern/western philosophical and musical tradition was pioneered through his efforts. In essence, John Cage's philosophy of silence, chance, and indeterminacy is actually a modern American product for certain external aspects of the Eastern originals served as the stimulant lending a mystic aura of "orientalism".
From the Paper "The aim of this music study will be to examine how Asian philosophical and religious concepts play a large role in how John cage composed his works. By revealing the Asian philosophical practices of Hinduism and Zen, one can realize why Cage chose 'silence' and the act of 'chance' in his compositions, as well through the indeterminacy of musical form. By analyzing various texts that define Cage's role in bringing 'orientalism' to the western musical tradition, one can clearly define the Asian philosophies and religious practices that Cage practiced within his own life. Through biographies and musical analysis brought forth on Cage as a multi-cultural composer, the idea of a unified eastern/western philosophical and musical tradition was pioneered through his efforts."
Abstract In this essay, I will examine Weber's philosophy, the basis of his beliefs and the development of his notion of the closing of the iron cage. This will provide a background from which I will address Canada's increasing governmental efforts at privatization and deregulation, policies which mirror Weber's understanding of the iron cage, since they create a system which strips people of power over their own lives.
Abstract This freshman paper highlights the reasons for Maya Angelou's writing the famous book: "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" followed by a brief overview of the noteworthy events in the book. The paper supports reasons for the grandmother's subtle resistance as a cage for Maya.
Abstract This paper explains that, in Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings", a story based on her life, the two things which propelled young Maya into adolescence were her thirst for learning and her love of reading. The author tells of several aspects of Angelou's life including her attending college at the age of fourteen and the birth of a baby boy out of wedlock. The paper concludes that, even today, Maya Angelou, who is a product of Stamps and Oakland and of the disdain and hatred of pre-Civil Rights Negroes, seeks freedom for all people, black and white, so that they are not a caged bird.
From the Paper "Maya also became somewhat of a dreamer, especially when thoughts of her mother, Vivian Baxter, arose from time to time. It seems that a movie star of that period, Kay Francis, was supposed to look like their mother, and the two would go to the movies- the colored balcony, of course, every time a Kay Francis movie would be shown at the local theatre. Slowly, there was a need for mother and daughter to reunite. But, still the heart and soul of Maya was her education. "I had met and loved the Bronte sisters, and had replaced Kipling's 'If' with 'Invictus'.""
Abstract This paper describes the father-son relationships depicted in Alistair McLeod's work, "The Boat" and in Guy Vanderhaeghe's work "Cages". The paper first looks at Alistair McLeod's story "The Boat" and his portrayal of a Puritan family and the father's role in the protagonist's life. The paper then looks at Guy Vanderhaeghe's work "Cages" that describes a father who will do anything for his sons to have a better life than himself. The paper points out that in both stories, we are shown a father's relationship with his son(s) and how it shapes an identity.
From the Paper "Shakespeare actually considered himself a poet, not a writer. Many successful screenwriters acknowledge that their works do not reflect reality, only that they use poetic devices to create something that resembles it (Trottier 7). Likewise, those who write fiction - whether they admit it or not - have a great deal in common with poets, who are said to "paint pictures with words" (source of quote unknown). The blank page is the canvas, and the palette consists of colours we have conveniently labelled as "symbol," "image," "narrative," "contrast," "metaphor," "reversal," and more (Harmon, 262, 441, 507). These literary "colors" - devices - are used in establishing characters' identities, and the identity of their relationships to each other."
Abstract This paper examines "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou, an autobiographical diary of her childhood. It examines two excerpts from the book - her experiences in the picking season and the description of Mrs. Cullinan, her cookery teacher, and analyzes her writing style. It shows how Maya Angelou writes with a style that leaves little to the reader's imagination and how she writes with emotion, making a serious subject such as growing up in a racially charged environment, easier to read.
From the Paper "Maya Angelou writes about living in the store with her Grandmother when she is a small girl. In the following except she mentions watching the field across from the store. ?Each year I watched the field across from the Store turned caterpillar green, then gradually frosty white. I knew exactly how long it would be before the big wagons would pull into the front yard and load on the cotton pickers at daybreak to carry them to the remains of slavery's plantations. (Angelou, 1969).? "
Abstract The paper reviews Takaki's book "Iron Cages", which presents the foundation of White America's relationship with other races and cultures that also consider themselves to be Americans. The paper's author believes that Takaki wants to understand why white men don't want to get along with other cultures and how they arrived at this opinion. The paper concludes that Takaki states that, unless all Americans learn to live together in cooperation, the social health of the nation is in jeopardy.
From the Paper "In the first part of Chapter One, Takaki launches into a discussion of the American Revolution and how John Adams once thought that, if the British won and severely wounded the fledgling country, it would be a good thing. Already, within just a few months of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, Adams saw corruption, greed and malice. He was upset by the lack of virtue that the new American people had and concerned about whether it could be stopped before it got much worse and infected everyone in the whole country with unkind thoughts toward their neighbors."
Abstract This paper seeks to analyze the directorial aspects of a couple that lived a cage for three days. By becoming "Circus Freaks" in an old custom that depicted South American Indians as savages, they see seek to explore how people would react in a city environment in Columbia, South America. By seeing the filming, the racial perspectives, and the reactions the couple get, we can see how this film provokes historical revisions on Indian heritage.
Abstract This paper examines the Ontario Works program. It applies Weber's 'iron cage' of bureaucracy to its current operations. It identifies changes between 1995 and 1999 that lowered the level of benefits and increased the manner in which the program imposes upon recipients' lives.
Abstract This paper will analyze the poem by Maya Angelou called " I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" and use this as a medium to discuss the factors of child rearing that occur as lessons within the structure of the writing. This poem will be a way to see how resilient children can be brought up and show how the lessons for good parenting can be found in the lines that she has written. The realm of the parent will be revealed as well, within the poem, to show how the relationships of the parent play a part in raising a child to be healthy as an adult in later life.
Abstract The paper addresses several parts of the book, "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings," by Maya Angelou. The analysis discusses how these parts prove that racism has negative effects and show how to overcome racism. The paper analyzes specific quotes and includes the use of outside sources to back up these analyses.
From the Paper "Despite being "caged" in a horrible life of racial discrimination, she "sings" or prospers. In the Bible, Peter comes to realize that "God does not show favoritism, but accepts men from every nation who fear Him and do what is right (New International Version Acts 10:34-35)." Peter realizes that prejudice is not highly looked upon by God. Regardless of a person's color, God loves them, and we should too. Maya proves in this book that racial intolerance has highly negative effects on people. To live a truly happy life, we should all learn to accept everyone, even those who are different."
Abstract Edward Said's theory of Orientalism is generally understood to mean white/western discourse about the Orient/East. This paper argues that other races can form almost identical stereotypes of one another, using examples from Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" of a young black woman's experience of white people and their culture. Ultimately, it raises questions about the nature and origin of racist discourse, and how it is inseparable from other factors such as wealth, from a cultural perspective.
From the Paper "The word 'powhitetrash' itself is an interesting example of how culture limits the way that race is understood. Angelou uses the label to define the 'powhitetrash' as distinct from the black people and the 'whitefolks'; however, she chooses to do this using language that only the black community uses, and draws attention to it even more by writing the words as they would be spoken. The two white groups would not give themselves the same labels assigned by Angelou and her community. Therefore, racial others are understood by Angelou only in terms of her own culture, not on their own terms. Quite literally, she is only able describe them using words she has heard spoken within her own culture. "
Abstract This paper discusses the biography of Maya Angelou "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings". The paper reviews the life of this African-American poetess, discussing the hurdles she has had to overcome on her journey to becoming the U.S. poet laureate. The paper parallels the book, tracing Angelou's voyage from Arkansas to St. Louis to San Francisco, and through the minefields of racism in America.
From the Paper "When she was forced to spend some time in the black section of St. Louis, this second-class education became even more real. "When we were enrolled in Toussaint L'Ouverture grammar school, we were struck by the ignorance of our classmates and the rudeness of our teachers." Without saying so, one might infer that the rudeness of the teachers was due to their frustration. In those days, education was of little benefit for "colored children". Their career choices were limited, and, to a large part of Negro ghetto life, an education was a source of derision. The fact that she learned to read and love Shakespeare, came because of the largesse of a wealthy black woman in Stamps, not because of the Missouri or Arkansas black school systems."
Abstract This paper describes the musical styles and influences of three of the greatest 20th Century composers: Claude Debussy, Duke Ellington and John Cage. The paper examines the innovations of each composer and cites examples of their work.
From the Paper "The works of Claude Debussy represent a transition from the late Romantic era in music to music of the 20th century. His unique musical language veered away from the style of Wagner with its heavy emotion. Instead Debussy wrote..."
