Poetry Slam Essay Example for Free

Poetry Slam Essay On my visit to Bar13 I was instructed to watch a poetry slam. I have never experience such a vivid art of performing poetry. The only way I had experienced poetry before was by reading it from books. This has change the way I see poetry now. The poetry slam is a very competitive event in which the poets perform their work. The poets are judged by people of the audience. The host, who was pregnant, selected the judges who were instructed to give a numerical score (the score being 0 – 10). The score was based on the poets’ content and performance. I was a little hesitant when the host asked me to be a judge. Since this was the first time, I was scared that I wasn’t going to be a fair judge. The host explained to me the basic rules for the contest and how the poets are selected. The first rule one is that each poem must be the poet’s own work. The second is that each poet gets only three minutes to read or say the poem. The third is that they can’t use any musical instrument or costumes and the fourth and last one is that from the score the poets receive the high and low scores are dropped and the middle three are added together giving them a total score of 0 – 30. Before the contest started the microphone was open to other poets. In my opinion there were a couple of poets who were good. After the opening performance was done, the host presented a poet who has competed before. Her name was Gypsee. She performed for about 45 minutes, the content of her work was very good and her performance was excellent. I think she has practice a lot. I remember clearly two of her poems. One talked about crossing the Canadian bridge into the United States as an immigrant (she was born in Albania). The second one was about her childhood and soldiers with shotguns. During the slam there was different kind of poetry. It was very interesting to listen to a diverse range of work within the slam. It included love poetry, social issues, personal problems and even some were kind of comic. What I really like was the range of poets presented; they are free to do work in any style on any subject. I will recommend it to my friends and I would like to go back, it was a nice experience.

Awakening Essay -- essays research papers

When Kate Chopin's "The Awakening" was published at the end of the 19th Century, many reviewers took issue with what they perceived to be the author's defiance of Victorian proprieties, but it is this very defiance with which has been responsible for the revival in the interest of the novel today. This factor is borne out by Chopin's own words throughout her Preface -- where she indicates that women were not recipients of equal treatment. (Chopin, Preface ) Edna takes her own life at the book's end, not because of remorse over having committed adultery but because she can no longer struggle against the social conventions which deny her fulfillment as a person and as a woman. Like Kate Chopin herself, Edna is an artist and a woman of sensitivity who believes that her identity as a woman involves more than being a wife and mother. It is this very type of independent thinking which was viewed as heretical in a society which sought to deny women any meaningful participation. The fact that Edna is an artist is significant, insofar as it allows her to have a sensibility as developed as the author's. Furthermore, Edna is able to find in Mlle. Reisz, who has established herself as a musician, a role model who inspires her in her efforts at independence. Mlle. Reisz, in confiding to Edna that "You are the only one worth playing for," gives evidence of the common bond which the two of them feel as women whose sensibilities are significantly different from those of the common herd. The French heritage which Edna absorbed through her Creole upbringing allowed her, like Kate Chopin herself, to have knowledge or a way of life that represented a challenge to dominant Victorian conventions. In Creole society, women are dominated by men, but at least the freer attitude toward sexuality allows a woman opportunities for romance which are lacking in Anglo-Saxon culture. But sexual freedom is of little interest to Edna unless it can be used as a means of asserting her overall freedom as a human being. Learning to swim is thus important to her, because it allows her to have more control over the circumstances of her own life through the overcoming of the dread of water and the fear of death which it symbolizes. Again, the process through which Edna attains liberation and, in the author's words, begins to "do as she likes and to feel as she likes," is a gradual one. From stat... ...otagonist, or the heroine. She dares to rebel against prevailing society, and even the very title of the book, as named by Kate Chopin, "The Awakening" is analogous to danger. Is the truth then so dangerous and horrific that one risks suicide? And if so, is this applicable to everyone? Similarly I would ask the question, if this were to be the case, or if even not, why is that most of the population is not committing suicide? Surely they are living lives which they would not prefer, for example, most people according to polls would not report their job unless they had to and were paid for it. Most marriages end in divorce. Indeed, the degree and level of suffering and pain throughout the populace is almost unfathomable. Perhaps, Ms. Chopin was living out a vicarious reality through Edna in committing suicide...and perhaps, this may be the underlying reason for the great reception which this novel has enjoyed...as well as staying power. Similarly, it has also been appointed a kind of jewel of the vanguard of women's rights. Indeed, "The Awakening" is one novel which exemplifies the attempt -- even realization -- of American womanhood's escape from personal and domestic bondage.

Data Summary and Discussion

The data presented shows the amount charged on credit cards by households of a given size and income. This data shows that while the amount spent by households varies depending on the size and income, the combination of both might also have an important bearing on the amount of that household’s debt. The debt range for the entire data set of 50 households is $1,864 to $5,678 per year, while the incomes in the set range from $21,000 to $67,000 per year. The households’ sizes in this data set range from one (1) to seven (7). When each variable is taken singly, one finds that each does to a significant extend predict the amount of debt that the household carries. What is specifically shown in this data is that households tend to have a higher amount of debt depending on the number of persons who live in the house, as it largest households generally carry a debt amount that lies on the higher end of the spectrum. For example, the average debt for the three seven-person households lies at $4,911, which is only about seven hundred dollars below the highest debt amount of $5,678. The data also shows that the average debt for the five one-person households is approximately $2,781. However, what the data also shows is that even though debt rises as the household size rises, it does so at a decreasing rate. The fact that the average debt for one-person households is significantly higher than the lower end of the range demonstrates that the low end might represent an extraneous amount, and indeed it does. This is the debt carried by a two-person household. A better comparison of the one-person household average debt could be made with the calculated debt per head for the entire data set. The total number of persons in all households is 171, and the total debt for all households is $198,203. The average debt per capita for this group of persons is about $1,159. This, compared with the average debt for the one-person households, shows that the debt for the one-person households does represent a disproportionately high size of twice as much as the overall per capita debt. This might be explained by the fact that the fixed costs for households generally remain relatively the same regardless of how many persons may live in the house. Other factors that bear on this are extraneous, such as the spending patterns and financial awareness of the persons in each household. However, another major factor to consider in predicting household debt is the annual income of the persons within each house. Which is a Better Predictor: household size or income? However, further analysis shows that even household, by itself, does not predict the amount of debt very well. In fact, the data points toward the fact that household size predicts the annual credit card charges better than household income. Looking back at the previous example, one sees a household that earns $26,000 producing debt comparable to most of the higher-end earners. Part of this debt size has to be attributed to the fact that the household earning such a small income in comparison to other household is faced with the challenge of supporting seven persons. Another household earning $23,000 supports six persons and shows credit card charges of $4,127 per year. Other households of comparable earnings ($21,000 and $27,000) show smaller credit card charges of $2,448 and $2,477 respectively, and this can be attributed to their smaller household sizes. Combination of Household Size and Earnings The income range for the data set has already been stated as $21,000 to $67,000. The total income for this group is $2,174,000 and the average income is $43,480. The average debt for each household is $3,964 which falls approximately in the middle of the $1,864 to $5,678 range. However, what one notices is that though the average debt for the three 7-person households is shown to be $4,911, the highest debt in that segment goes to the household with the highest income. Therefore, the $5,301 debt goes to the household that earns $55,000 per year, while the lowest debt of $4,603 goes to the household that earns only $26,000 per year. This demonstrates that the combination of household size and household income is an overall better predictor of credit card charges that any of those variables alone. According to this, a household made up of three persons and earning $40,000 should show a credit card charge within the median range of about $3,800 – $4,100. This would be expected to be comparable to any other household of three persons, yet slightly below those households of three that have higher earnings. Other Data Necessary to Make Accurate Predictions Other information concerning these households’ loans, mortgages, and neighbourhood locations would also be requested of the client. According to the discussion above, though, it would appear that despite the fact that household size predicts the annual credit card charges better than household income, other factors also affect the size of credit card debt. What one notes is that most of the low-earning households do still show a disproportionately higher amount of debt than their counterparts of high-earning households with similar household sizes. Households that, for example earn twice as much as another do not generally show twice as much debt in this data set. Neither is this so for households that have twice as many persons. One contributor to this is the existence of fixed costs, as mentioned above. However, this does not account for all the discrepancies. Therefore, other factors that might contribute to credit card charges include the amount of previous debt (such as university tuition loans, mortgages, etc) that each household has incurred. They may also include the household’s attitude toward its finances and toward debt in general. Other factors involve the cost of living within the geographical area of the particular household and the general lifestyle to which the household is accustomed. Work Cited Professor’s Name. â€Å"Data Sheet.† Name of Class. City: University, 2007.

The Renaissance Essay - 924 Words

The Renaissance Would it not be nice if we could go back in time to experience the Renaissance for ourselves? Being able to walk down the streets of Florence, Italy and experience this time period that not only gave rebirth to old values and artistic ways of statement, but also were a period of great individualism. (make this into a sentence#8230;add a subject and a verb to make it flow). Indeed, Renaissance was a period of great individualism based on old traditional values. The Renaissance had its start in Florence Italy and was inspired by the values of ancient Greece and ancient Rome. During the Renaissance, people from various levels of society began to study classical literature and art.†¦show more content†¦These people were all individuals each of whom made great contributions in their field by understanding and learning from the past and bringing that into their works. Leonardo da Vinci is a good example of the perfect personification of the Renaissance belief in mans power to shape his own destiny and to shape the world as an individual. He was born as the illegitimate son of a Tuscan village notary and a 16-year-old peasant girl, and was said to have died in the arms of the King of France. Throughout his life, Leonardo da Vinci accomplished many things as both a scientist and an artist. One of his greatest works is The Last Supper. It represents the theme of Jesus sharing a last meal with his disciples telling them that one of them will betray him. The interesting part here is that da Vinci brings a classical theme to life, but he does it using an experimental technique that unfortunately was doomed from the beginning and caused theShow MoreRelatedRenaissance : The Renaissance1049 Words   |  5 Pagesleft in the dark, until a flicker of hope emerged offering a new beginning: the Renaissance. The Renaissance lasted from the 14th to the 17th cen tury and was an era of â€Å"rebirth† in European history. During this period, culture throughout Europe underwent a dramatic reformation where classic learning and Greco-Roman beliefs were reintroduced. Italian art in particular encountered a major change in which new Renaissance ideas were skillfully demonstrated and incorporated. In artists’ work, humans wereRead MoreEarly Renaissance And The Renaissance1205 Words   |  5 PagesEarly Renaissance to High Renaissance The Renaissance is the period that immediately follows the Middle Ages in Europe ancient Rome and Greece. Growing prosperity and reduction in political stability accompanied by new technologies, the printing press, astronomy and the exploration and discovery of new continents was supplemented by a blossoming of philosophy, literature, and art. Painting style, decorative arts, and sculpture arose in Italy in the 14th century, reached its peak in the late 15thRead MoreRenaissance Humanism : The Renaissance1209 Words   |  5 PagesRenaissance Humanism The renaissance is by its definition a rebirth of the classical methods of the ancients (Dictionary.) Through the study of the text and the artwork that defined this period we are able to see the transition from a dark, apocalyptic world, to a reinvigorated and bright new era which was dominated by titan of artistry such as Donatello. Because Italy was so well situated in a land that was formally the Roman Empire, and its economic links to lands of heavy Greek influence RenaissanceRead MoreRenaissance And The Renaissance Era915 Words   |  4 Pages Renaissance The Renaissance era was a time of great change in music, art, literature, and science. The Renaissance, which lasted from the 1300 s to the 1600 s began in Italy and spread throughout other countries to England, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain. During this time, there was a great deal of agricultural economy and the church were dominate and transform society. The word Renaissance come from the Latin word meaning â€Å"rebirth.† During the Renaissance period manyRead MoreRenaissance And Discovery Of The Renaissance4916 Words   |  20 PagesChapter 10 Outline: Renaissance and Discovery The Renaissance in Italy Jacob Burckhardt, a Swiss historian, described the Renaissance as the â€Å"prototype of the modern world† in his book Civilization of the Renaissance in Italy (1860). People became to approach the world empirically and draw rational conclusions based on observation. Burckhardt saw the emergence of the modern world emerge from that of the pre-modern, or medieval, period. Some criticize Burckhardt for overlooking the continuity betweenRead MoreRenaissance Music : The Renaissance1368 Words   |  6 Pages Renaissance Music The Renaissance is a historical time from 1425 to 1600. The name Renaissance formed in the 14th century. The renaissance meant rebirth and at that time period that s what occurred in the classical period. The era started in Italy and spread throughout Europe. Renaissance music set a path going into an era of changes and innovations. In this period of arts were influenced by developments in politics, economics, religion and technology The renaissance had growth withRead MoreItalian Renaissance And The Renaissance910 Words   |  4 PagesIn the late 14th century to the 16th century, the Italian Renaissance was taking place and moving from the Middle Ages at a time when the Catholic Church was indomitable to a period called The Renaissance. After this â€Å"rebirth† in Italy began, it started spreading to other countries to then produce a French Renaissance, an English Renaissance, and so on. Italy served a sort of birth place for the Renaissance in European culture. During this time period, more and more people were placing humans asRead MoreRenaissance Education In The Renaissance729 Words   |  3 PagesThe renaissance education changed as time went on. The views, values, and purposes went through a metamorphosis throughout the years of the renaissance. In the beginning of schooling around 1450, the focus was reading and writing. Then people started to take a more humanist perspective and put their values in knowledge more and being experienced in multiple areas. Aeneas Sylvius Piccolomini was a humanist from Italy who later became a pope. In 1450 he said that reading and learning from othersRead MoreThe Impact Of Renaissance On Italy And The Renaissance969 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction Renaissance was a series of revolutions and changes that originated in Italy and had wide spread impact very rapidly in the entire Europe. All the developments and changes were done to keep in mind and keep pace with the local environments and situations. The developments were frequently connected to encourage cultural developments without affecting the basic idea and conventional heritage of the country. Many artists and military personnel also took part in the revolution where theRead MoreThe Renaissance And Its Impact On The European Renaissance1694 Words   |  7 Pagesagain, a giant scale cultural revolution like never before was slowly beginning to sweep over Europe. Becoming what we now know as the European Renaissance, every aspect of European life changed because of this revolution. The Renaissance began a renewed interest in the people to seek knowledge and question what the world around them meant. The Renaissance wasn’t just about learning however, it included exp loring the world, art, and focusing on what the human being had to offer in society. This focus