From Struggle to Success

That was intense. It would be a lie to say Humanities Core didn’t change me, for after experiencing three quarters of the course, I get the sense I have grown. Pinpointing the precise manners in which this has occurred would be too complicated; however, I can guarantee I have become a better writer. Gone are the days I dreaded and feared writing essays. Having carefully crafted a multitude of papers throughout the year, I no longer feel hopeless. Naturally, this transformation required plenty of practice, endless hours, and consistent determination. Although each quarter brought upon its own unique set of challenges, I managed to succeed.

The Course of Empire: Destruction by Thomas Cole represents Fall Quarter from my perspective.

In Fall quarter, I was extremely unhappy with the idea of Humanities Core. All the writing prompts and reading assignments appeared to be too difficult and exceedingly above my capabilities. Frightened, I ran to HIB 143 and asked if I had to take the class. I was shocked to hear the response: “It is required.” I felt like dying. I would have to suffer for three entire quarters in this class, one that I was struggling with in the very first week. Despite the rough start, I received a lot of help and guidance from my seminar leader, who assisted in the maintenance of my sanity. At this stage, my writing was nothing to speak of. The only experience I had stemmed from my eleventh grade English class. That’s it. However, with the instruction of my seminar leader and the guidelines in the Writer’s Handbook, I began to wrap my head around the writing process. By the end, I was content with the knowledge and skills I acquired; however, I was still nervous for the future.

Miranda-The Tempest by John William Waterhouse reminds me of Winter Quarter.

Winter Quarter came along and I was once again back to writing. This time, however, I was under the direction of a new seminar leader. Although I was not very confident in my writing skills, I was set on showcasing my talents to the best of my ability. The papers I wrote this quarter were my masterpieces. I recall working day and night to polish their every aspect in order to create a worthwhile journey; it was during this quarter when I realized the significance of shaping meaning within writing. This idea emerged from the countless times I discussed my ideas with my seminar leader, who patiently listened and commented on my thoughts. From then on, I looked forward to crafting stimulating papers for future times to come.

Now, nearing the end of Spring Quarter, I look back at my journey as a writer and I am proud. I am proud of how far I have come from nearly “dying” in Fall Quarter. Currently, I am working towards finishing my research project, which requires me to apply all the skills I have learned throughout the year. Although it is daunting, the research project is especially meaningful because the choice of topic is yours. Never before have I been granted such freedom within an academic setting. For this reason, I am thoroughly enjoying all the work related to my selection: Sherlock Holmes. In the end, I am grateful for everything I have learned and for having been given the opportunity to come one step closer to the writer I have always dreamed of being. This is might be the end of Humanities Core, but not the end of its influence.

“Make Love, Not War”

John Lennon and Yoko Ono in their Amsterdam “bed-in”

Beginning on March 25, 1969, John Lennon and his wife Yoko Ono actively and uniquely engaged in their own form of anti-war protest against the United States’ interventions in Vietnam. Utilizing their potent celebrity influence, they expressed their sentiments by leading “bed-ins.” This method of protest is derived from the classic “sit-in,” a demonstration where people occupy an area and refuse to move until their demands are met. The only difference was the location: a bed. In lecture, Prof. Vo described the American public’s growing and profound opposition against the Vietnam War during the 1960’s. These bed-ins are a perfect example of a particular manifestation of this revolution.

Having been recently married in controversy, John and Yoko took advantage of the publicity they would receive to carry out their activist demonstrations for world peace. Their first bed-in was located in a Hilton Hotel in Amsterdam. They set up a bed with lots of beautiful decorations that included numerous flowers and signs that read, “Bed Peace” and “Hair Peace,” a clever play on the words “piece” and “peace.” Invitations were sent to the press, inviting them to drop by to discuss peace. For twelve hours a day, from 9 am to 9 pm, for a week, John and Yoko sat in their bed speaking with various news reporters.

After the week was over in Amsterdam, John and Yoko decided to host another bed-in. Ideally, they would have wanted it to be in New York; however, John was convicted for marijuana possession which prohibited him from entering the US. Instead, they decided on Montreal. A similar setup was created there and this is where they wrote and recorded their peace anthem, “Give Peace a Chance,” for the first time. This song later became the anthem for the anti-Vietnam protestors and the counterculture movement. It was even sung by half a million people in Washington D.C. during the 1969 Vietnam Moratorium March, a massive public demonstration that pushed for the end of the war.

The media’s responses to these bed-ins were definitely mixed. Some people thought John and Yoko were merely conducting publicity stunts. Others felt there was a genuine message behind their actions. Either way, the manifestation of such a public protest raised awareness of the worlds’ problems and channeled the raising tensions against America’s imperialistic regime.

The legacy of these bed-ins is very prominent. For years to come, many other celebrities would reenact the same demonstration in order to fight other injustices. In commemoration, Montreal has enacted a public artwork that showcases the phrase “Give peace a chance” in 40 different languages.

Oral History Reflection

I conducted my interview this Friday on a fine, lovely morning in my Grandmother’s house. Overall, the results of the interview met my expectations; however, I was astonished to witness the sincere heartbreak and emotion expressed by my Grandmother. If I am ever assigned a similar task, I will undoubtedly prepare more questions and attempt to make the interview more conversational (it was harder this time because I was ill). There aren’t any other questions I would like answered, since I had to come up with many on the spot. The next step is to formulate the story I plan on telling based on the interview.

My Grandmother regaled a variety of stories within her interview. One story involved separation and reunion. This is where I sensed the intense, emotional pain she felt when it came to leaving behind her seven children in Mexico in order to join and assist her husband in their pursuit of the American Dream. She also told a story of adaptation, which includes her perspective on how to succeed in life. Based on her experience, she feels that people can learn to live anywhere they wish since, like most things in life, feeling comfortable after moving just requires some time. Another story was related to resistance when she described her identity. She said that she would forever and always remain Mexican and continue to live richly immersed within her culture. A firm supporter of her Mexican roots, my Grandmother says that America never changed and never will change who she is as a person. Out of these stories, I will probably focus more on the separation and reunion of her family. Although it was a difficult subject to discuss, I perceived that it deeply moved my Grandmother and presented an issue of extreme importance. I believe the central message is related to the psychological and traumatic effects Empire can have on individuals.

In order to advance the development of my project, I must further research certain things that remain unclear. As of right now, I am unsure of the psychological effects that are caused by the separation of family and how they learn to cope with it. I can also research more about the motivations behind Mexican immigration during this time. The need to immigrate must have been great if people like my Grandmother were willingly to leave entire families behind in order to have the opportunity for a successful future. By incorporating this additional information, I shall be even more prepared to fully develop the story.

Beatles Break Binaries

The Beatles arriving at Jacksonville, FL on Sept. 11, 1964

The Beatles took a monumental step against racial binaries in the 1960’s when they refused to play at the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville, Florida. This was because they were informed that the audience was to be segregated. We learned in lecture that race is a created idea, hence the origin of the word “racecraft.” This ideology can be seen within the actions taken by the Beatles when it came to their American tour in 1964.

During this time, certain states held firmly to their segregation laws since the booking of the performance was in the Spring of 1964, prior to the creation of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that would ban such discrimination. The Beatles were completely perplexed when they first arrived to the US and witnessed such unfair treatment to a group of people they personally had a lot of respect for. Paul McCartney implies this when he says, “We had loads of black friends and many of our musical heroes were black.” This is definitely true since the Beatles were greatly influenced by Motown and many other popular black artists like Little Richard and the Shirelles. As a result, they unanimously decided to set their ground on what they believed was just.

The first step they took was to make a public statement regarding their views. This is where John Lennon, a member of the Beatles, formally announced, “We never play to segregated audiences and we aren’t going to start now. I’d sooner lose our appearance money.” This statements shows how strongly John and the rest of the band members felt about the laws that were currently enacted since he would’ve rather not receive any money than play under such conditions. Next, they ensured that their contract clearly stated that they would refuse to play if such circumstances were still in play. In the end, they would become the first group outside of the US to refuse to play for a “whites only” audience.

The Beatles performing at the Gator Bowl

The concert did end up including the Beatles; however, in front of a mixed audience. The Beatles’ refusal to perform in front of a divided audience provided support for the ongoing civil rights movement during the time. The fact that the group was unable to fathom the concept of racial division shows how “race” is nothing more than a concept created by those that benefit by it. With the help of popular and powerful people, civil rights were pushed to the point where it is today. Therefore, the Beatles were not only revolutionaries in music, but in social conventions as well.

Research Updates

May 21, 2017

It’s been a while since I have worked on my research! Having completed the preliminary thesis-building activity, I feel like I am finally narrowing down my focus. This entire time I was concerned that I was not going to ever manage to focus on an idea, yet here I am. There was a lot to choose from, but I decided to go with the implementation of Orientalism and Racecraft within Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four. These topics really sparked my interest when they were first introduced to us in lecture, and I am excited to analyze my primary sources through this lens.

Doyle was a fervent proponent of the British Empire and used the concepts of Orientalism and Racecraft to justify his views. This clearly comes through with his portrayal of British people as being the saviors and the do-gooders. For example, in A Study in Scarlet, a crime originates in America and is not resolved and discovered until it comes to the hands of Sherlock Holmes, a lawful, British detective. Through Sherlock Holmes, the British are represented as disseminators of justice and righteousness.

“Tonga” as he is currently portrayed in the Sherlock Holmes Musesem in London

Furthermore, the construction of race and application of racial inferiority comes through in the character named Tonga, who is featured in The Sign of Four. Tonga is a native of the Andaman Islands, a place where the British empire exiled political prisoners, and he is described in the most gruesome and dehumanizing manner. There is a vivid description of him and his people when Sherlock Holmes looks up their race up in a gazetteer that is meant to be scientific. Coming from such a “backward” race, he is perceived as animalistic and is immediately categorized alongside criminals. This interpretation of these novels does appear to have strong scholarly support.

As I was completing my bibliography, I made sure to look out for other scholars’ opinions on my interpretation. Although they are not as explicitly made, many scholars do agree with the strong sense of “othering” within these stories. I hope I am able to properly integrate their work into mine. The next step in my research is to continue narrowing down my focus until I have a very specific and refined thesis.

May 7, 2017

After reading numerous scholarly articles and chapters, I am working on narrowing down my options and focusing on a specific approach for my project. The annotated bibliography provided a particularly helpful step towards this goal, pushing me to read my secondary sources and assert their usefulness. Although it was a lot of work, I did see the significance behind it. The amount of sources as well as the diversity of ideas presented by the scholars was astonishing. I just hope that I am able to choose precisely which one I found to be most relevant for my purposes.

The first idea I encountered was related to racial criminology. This is where race is used as a factor in determining whether or not someone is guilty of committing a crime. One scholarly article, written by John McBratney, analyzes how racial and criminal types were used within The Sign of Four, one of the novels I am researching. Within the novel, it is evident that certain people, such as the Andamans and the Indians, are profiled as criminals much more than anyone else. This reminded me about the idea presented in lecture that race was created in order for the justification of the cruel actions executed by empire. According to the article, the ideal criminal type was classified under the same characteristics as certain foreign people that did not belong to the central empire, but rather to its colonies. I believe this reading of the novel is very relevant to what has been discussed in class and it is something that sparks my interest, making it a clever choice.

In the near future, I plan on looking even closer at the secondary sources that most closely fit the bill, scouting for other works that are cited within the ones I uncovered. So far, I am thoroughly enjoying researching the stories I have always loved.

April 23, 2017

By now, I am well underway in conducting my research regarding my topic of Sherlock Holmes. I am very pleased with my selection because I have found numerous books and articles that cover the topic, facilitating the research process. I am focusing my attention on the first two novels written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle which are A Study in Scarlet and The Sign of Four. Both of these stories are rich in various connections to empire and I am extremely excited to delve into each of them individually and see which themes work best. Having revisited these stories, I realized that there were many unanticipated connections to empire that I failed to recall during my previous research.

For example, within A Study in Scarlet, I noticed how Doyle represents the treatment of women as being similar to the treatment of property under certain organizations, in this case the Mormons. In the story, Lucy Ferrier, a beautiful and youthful woman, was accepted by the Mormons ever since she was a little girl. The two sons of the High Mormon Elders were fighting to marry her, not for her personality or being, but rather for her material possessions; her father is a very successful and wealthy man. She is allowed to “choose” between the two men, but she refuses since she doesn’t want to be in a polygamous relationship. Lucy decides to leave the town with her father and Gentile lover; however, the Mormons find her, kill her father, and force her back into town. She is coerced into marrying one of the men, and ends up dying of despair within a month. It was even written that her husband showed no sign of sadness for her death since he was simply content with having her wealth. The value of women as mere possessions and property was a recurring theme throughout our study of empire. It was also a theme that I didn’t really research since I had failed to recall it within the story. I will make sure my next research steps will include this novel connection.

In the near future, I plan on continuing to closely read A Study in Scarlet and then moving on to The Sign of Four while simultaneously looking up other scholarly sources that relate to both stories.

April 9, 2017

As I began to embark on my research, there were a lot of emerging concerns: Which artifact will I choose? Will I find enough material regarding my selected artifact? What humanistic research questions will I develop? The list went on and on. I figured the best thing I could do was begin somewhere. I thought about the things I love and reflected upon their potential connections to empire. There was, however, one thing I was certain I was going to research: a book. As an English major, I felt I should stick to my passion.

I contemplated a number of my favorite authors such as Hermann Hesse, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Bernard Malamud, and Shakespeare. I looked at their work individually and attempted to piece a connection to our theme. I have now decided to focus my attention on the Sherlock Holmes stories written by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson

The Sherlock Holmes series was actually the first piece of literature I fell in love with. Recalling on the stories I read in the past, I began to realize that certain criminal cases investigated by the British hero were initiated in past British colonies, yet resolved in Britain. This was a very Eurocentric point of view that I never paid much attention to in the past. I then began to research more about Doyle. I learned that he was extremely patriotic about the British Empire as well as a close friend with Rudyard Kipling. I revisited the stories that particularly came to mind and I immediately remembered how exotic and inferior people from Asian countries were portrayed and described, suggesting a hint of Orientalism. Together, the promotion of the British empire and the Orientalistic perspective formed a nice approach to reread the stories I know and love in connection with our theme. I am excited to see my research further unfold regarding the infamous detective.

A Writer, a Thinker, and a Human

Looking back at this Winter Quarter, I sincerely feel I have significantly improved as a writer and a thinker. In a sense, I developed both my writing and thinking simultaneously. As soon as I began contemplating and working with more complex ideas, my writing reflected the complexity. There was a moment within the process of writing Essay 4 that made me realize this. For this particular assignment I delved into existentialism and reflected on large questions such as what is the purpose of art? This question and many others made my head spin. I have never incorporated such profound concepts within my writing and I found the task exciting. I learned that I thoroughly enjoy pondering about hard concepts and integrating my thoughts into my writing. This helped shape the meaning of my writing, resulting in a piece that actually feels like a journey. Making an essay feel like a journey is the most amazing thing. It allowed me to feel like my writing had a greater purpose and it was up to me to ensure I conveyed it effectively. Last quarter, I used to have an issue with lacking an overall significance within my essays, but after another quarter’s worth of writing practice, this has definitely improved.

My development as a human has also been interesting this quarter. By looking at the flaws and injustices of empire, I became more aware of the world around me. There are many unfair practices in the world today and I took more notice of them as a result of our discussions. I remember having a conversation about empire with someone and they blamed America for every problem in the world. Having learned about a variety of empires, I responded with the suggestion of whether it was possible that the concept of empire was behind the issue instead of a specific manifestation of it. He was shocked. He had never seen it that way. At that moment I realized how far I have come in my studies. I loved how I was able to broaden another person’s perspective on the world by simply applying a concept I learned.

This Winter Quarter has allowed me to become a better writer, thinker, and human. Personally, I extremely value these qualities and admire those who embody them. I am very grateful that I have been given the opportunity to actually work towards becoming a person that to some degree embodies the very qualities I have always dreamed of acquiring. I feel like this quarter brought me one significant step closer to my goals in life. I hope the next quarter feels just as fulfilling as this one.

“Within You, Without You”

George in front of the Taj Mahal, 1966

Released in 1967 on the Sgt. Pepper album, the Beatles’ song, “Within You, Without You” reflects Gandhi’s advocacy for self-improvement and the rejection of material possessions. This song was written by George Harrison, who tended to promote many Hindu spiritual concepts within his lyrics. Harrison was extremely influenced by his experiences in India and wished to shed light on certain ideas he learned within his music.

The lyrics within the song reveal a calling for self-improvement. The song directly addresses the audience and invites them to “try to realize it’s all within yourself” and that “no one else can make you change.” Here, the lyrics push towards an inner reflection that can only be accomplished on the individual level. This can be seen in today’s society, where everyone is pressured to engage in introspection in order to improve as a human. The lyric also acknowledges that engaging in introspection involves a realization, which reflects Gandhi’s notion of awakening. It is up to the individual to improve himself and change for the better; this way, if everyone does the same thing, the world would collectively become a better place “and the time will come when you see we’re all one.” A universal sense of unity comes across within this last lyric, inviting everyone towards a peaceful future. This individual improvement, however, also involves the rejection of worldly values.

Further lyrics communicate and encourage the audience to not obsess over material things. The song refers to materialistic people as “the people who gain the world and lose their soul.” These lyrics imply that if people only care about material possessions, they completely lose themselves as moral, honest humans. Other lyrics reveal that these people remain immersed within this mentality due to the fact that they are hidden “behind a wall of illusion.” As a result, the obsessive material mindset manifests within the people a strong feeling of goodness and satisfaction, when in reality they are completely lost. The song admits that it is difficult for people to tell whether or not they have this mentality because “they don’t know” and “they can’t see.” They are so enveloped within their own material world that they don’t even realize they are in it.

The Beatles’ song, “Within You, Without You,” shares a number of ideas that are related to the principles promoted by Gandhi. Self-improvement and the rejection of material possessions are clearly evident within the lyrics of the song. Both concepts are unmistakably intertwined and attempt to bring the world to a more unified and peaceful state.

The Peacock Revolution

The disintegration of gender binaries can be seen within the Peacock Revolution in London during the 1960’s. This revolution involved the evolution of men’s fashion and hair to embrace a more feminine side, resulting in a style that defied gender norms. During lecture, Professor Lewis mentioned a similar trend in men’s fashion in 17th century England with these pictures as examples:

Shakespeare’s earring and the King of England’s attire presented a style that mixed both men’s and women’s fashions. Such blurring of gender binaries during this time directly challenged the strong belief of gender differences that were suggested by Aristotle. By collapsing the gender binary, both males and females would gain a new sense of equality and freedom.

The 1960’s were no exception to this trend. The idea of the “masculine” man and what he was supposed to look like underwent a dramatic change during this era. For 150 years,“masculine” men had worn plain, dark tailor-made clothing as seen in the image on the left. Society expected them to work and make money while being dressed accordingly. Men were not granted the opportunity for self-expression or creativity that women were. Consequentially, men were not allowed a sense of individuality. As a result of the revolution, men began dressing in more flamboyant colors and styles as a means of challenging the conventional gender norms and developing a sense of identity. Although some men were afraid of stepping over such traditional boundaries, many popular musical bands during the time engaged in this style which encouraged men to join the movement. The shift in men’s style not only encompassed clothing and fashion, but hair as well.

The traditional idea that men had to maintain short hair was also challenged within the revolution. Men decided to grow out their hair as a sign of rebellion and nonconformity. The Beatles were major instigators of this movement as a result of their iconic “mop-top” that was created by an existentialist artist named Astrid Kirchherr in Hamburg. This particular change aggravated many people of the older generation who simply saw it as a disgrace and an embarrassment for young men to have long hair. Older people were afraid of the changes that the new era brought along with it and kept hope that it was simply a fad.

The Peacock Revolution, although short in length, left lasting impressions and influences on society’s gender norms. In some cases, the gender binary between male and female completely collapsed since unisex clothing was released and was sold in boutiques where both men and women shopped. This movement later influenced other artists to embrace androgyny including David Bowie (on the left) and Annie Lennox (on the right). The revolution provided men with the opportunity to directly defy the gender restrictions that suppressed them. This way, both men and women are brought one step closer to equality. Today, men are definitely free to express themselves in any way they desire; this wouldn’t have been possible without this history of revolution.

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Die Beatles

The power and influence of language comes into play when one analyzes the only single released by the Beatles in German in 1964: “Komm, gib mir deine Hand” and “Sie liebt dich.” These are the German versions of the songs “I Want to Hold Your Hand” and “She Loves You.” As an English band seeking fame in America, the Beatles wrote all their music in English, the dominant language in both countries and the world. This is due to the fact that after World War II, the winning empires (including Great Britain and America) forced everyone to learn and speak their language: English. During lecture, this link between empire and language was discussed and revealed what a crucial and powerful partner language is to empire. The Beatles harness this power as a means of expanding their own musical empire. But why German?

The Beatles’ career actually was initiated in the St. Pauli District of Hamburg, Germany in 1960 where they stayed for two years. During the time, Hamburg was an extremely popular place where many bands from Liverpool went to play in its numerous clubs. Here they played for countless hours straight in front of German audiences. With such an insane amount of practice, the Beatles were able to see an audience’s reactions to their performance up front and honed their style accordingly. This German connection to the Beatles forms a major part of the future decision to release some of their recordings in German.

The Beatles playing in Hamburg. People on stage from left to right: Stuart Sutcliffe, Paul McCartney, and John Lennon.

In 1964, after the Beatles released two number one hits in the US (“She Loves You” and “I Want to Hold Your Hand”), a German record label that branched from the larger EMI label convinced them, their manager and their producer to record their latest hit singles in German “so that they could sell more records there.” The idea that by simply translating a song into the language that the audience speaks results in more sales is extremely powerful. Language represents and reflects a peoples’ entire culture and identity. By singing in German, the Beatles manifest a cultural appreciation and it is felt by many German people. It must have felt amazing for these people to hear their musical English heroes singing an entire song in their language, something that was not done for any other language. This shows how language can change a person’s perception and interpretation of something entirely, depending on their relationship with the given language.

The Beatles’ 1964 release of “Komm, gib mir deine Hand” and “Sie liebt dich” reinvigorated a reconnection with their German audience that had roots from a number of years in the past. Having a solid German foundation in their beginning, the Beatles channeled the German culture and identity by releasing songs written in their language. Even though English was the dominant language, they sought to expand their following beyond the extent of the major empires. The scope of language’s power further unfolds within these events since the German people were represented solely through their language and consequentially formed a deeper connection with the Beatles.

https://dailymotion.com/video/x33tbfp

Revolutionary Discontent

The feminist movement during the 1960’s, which promoted changes in a woman’s family, sexuality, and work, rebelled against the unjust social system that men dominated. This movement contains the same revolutionary sentiments that drove many other rebellions in the past. Similar to the Incan uprising led by Túpac Amaru II against the Spanish in defense of the natives, these women sought fairness and equality for another underrepresented group. Revolution, a sudden radical, or complete change, promotes positive revisions within unfair societies.

1960’s housewife

After World War II, a variety inventions eased the the lives of many housewives, providing these women with more time to pursue bigger things. The only problem was that they were prohibited. Men were still stuck in the old mentality in which they believed that women were meant to stay in the house. Women were expected to marry early, have kids, and manage the home. That’s it. More and more women began to realize this injustice with the 1963 release of Betty Friedan’s, The Feminine Mystique, in which she sheds light on the “boredom and lack of fulfillment” that encompassed the lives of many housewives. This book initiated a revolution.

The first inequality that was challenged was of the workplace. Women were denied access to the best jobs and were paid less than men. As a result, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission was passed in 1965, allowing women access to jobs that were previously reserved for men. The next year, women founded a group called the National Organization for Women (NOW) with the purpose to fight this discrimination and more using courts and legislations. These women not only supported political change, but personal change too since they believed “the political was personal.” The federal government approved the contraceptive pill which provided many women more freedom in their lives. Gradually, the momentum of these movements increased and Americans began to accept the reforms women were fighting for and protests erupted all over the country. This decade proved to be a crucial win for women and equality.

Whenever there is an injustice within a society, people should have the right to rise and challenge it. For this reason, Túpac Amaru II took charge and led a rebellion against the Spanish when the Bourbon reforms were too much for the Peruvian natives to handle. Although this revolution ended in failure, their beliefs remained strong. During the 1960’s, women held the same ideology and decided to unite for a common cause: equality. With their perseverance and determination, these women achieved to some extent changes in their family life, sexual norms, and work environment. Their revolution provided a stepping stone towards a better society.