Response to the play "Death of a Salesman"

Biff finally says, "I know who I am." What does it mean to "find yourself" and is this ever truly possible? If so, how?

Feeling lost is probably one of the most common inner conflicts that every individual faces at some point in life. Truthfully, it may seem almost inevitable and feel like a constant struggle to "find yourself". To find oneself means reaching a place in life not only mentally but also emotionally where one is at peace and harmony with accepting oneself whole heartedly. Finding yourself however, does not imply JUST accepting "reality" because that could seem like complying to certain situations. Finding yourself exemplifies ones beliefs as well as undertaking new challenges through self assurance and faith remaining true to oneself and values. It can occur out of the blue without expecting it as graceful as en epiphany  such as it did with Biff when he realized that as he was sitting in that office awaiting a future that he himself knew was not right for him. On the other hand finding oneself can be an exhausting battle not only struggling with the confusion found at every corner in many aspects of life but also with one's pride such as Willy Loman does throughout the play. 

I believe finding oneself is an ongoing process that will never be complete. Its in our mere nature as humans to yearn for fresh starts, adventure and spontaneity. The older we grow, the more mature we become and the more we endure we find that we may reach a point of satisfaction but happiness is something that we always look because in life its important not to just "accept", but rather to strive. 

Brainstorm: Ideas For individual Project

Individual or Collaborative Project: Death of a Salesman

Burning question: Why must the title involve death? To what extent is death involved, fear or reality?

Main Idea #1: Scrapbook

Each chapter has:

-Specific theme

-Inspiring/cheerful/touching quotes

-Images painted by the author (show don’t tell)

-Characters might stand out more than others

-Person vs.: self/person/nature

All of these things will be organized in a scrapbook also separated by chapters.

This Project would allow me to learn about this unit by analyzing it from a different lens connecting it to me through a more personal perspective.

Main Idea #2: Puzzle

Each puzzle piece will have symbols that will come from each of the chapters. For example based on the movie something that is symbolic is the red chevy. Each of the puzzle pieces can have something as symbolic as that and at the end the audience will have to put the puzzle together using the recognized symbols to order out the chapters.

It would be better if the puzzle could be big, like life size.

This project would allow the audience to interact more making the presentation more interesting. As the pieces are puzzled together finding certain symbols and or features of the pieces would allow the audience to subconsciously analyze the story.

Main Idea #3: Before & After

The project for this unit could also focus on looking towards the before and after of all the major events.

The before and after could be shown in any artistic way, for example maybe a big book and or posters arranged in the form of a large book in order to show the process in which the story begins to go downhill. This could be due to the market crash, or the distant that grew between Bif and Willy.

This project would be more creative due to the ability of choosing to demonstrate and express the before and after in many different ways with no limits. Before and after’s can be perceived differently for everyone allowing ones ideas to be shared with everyone. 

The Introduction to Death of A Salesman

Before watching "The Death of A Salesman", the mere title provoked a burning question that was:

To what extent is death involved, is it fear, or physical death and the reality of it?

Analyzing various images with the same, simple, title lead me toward a path of foreshadowing that something bad was to occur in the play. Let it not be confused that the simplicity of the title does however trigger an inevitable curiosity embedded deep within the thoughts of the audience. Looking back to what I thought of this play, (before watching the play) never would I have guessed that a story with such a simple title would evoke an epiphany or promote a common theme of the challenges reality brings in its many forms. 

Examples of these many forms are developed throughout the relationships of the distinctive characters and the many conflicts they face including so much as inner as outer. The varying personalities are all representations of examples of truth that we as a society today try our absolute best to avoid or hide. Take Willy for example, he exhibits pride on so many levels, just as extreme as Linda, the representation of being silent, limited or even reprimanded. It was as if each of the characters were made to specifically emulate an unbearable truth representing a continuous pattern in many scenes; a pattern that is shame, found within all the characters and displayed in their actions. The characters ironically share hope, as much as hopelessness and are surrounded by an environment that seems to collapse on them from every corner as they are in search from what seems to be an irretrievable dream.

A dream of the good old days.
Nostalgia in my opinion, seems to be the backbone of the play as it is built off countless flashbacks. Flashbacks according to the dictionary is: a sudden and disturbing vivid memory of an event in the past typically as the result of psychological trauma. I found it very interesting how almost every other word in the definition had negative connotation, almost the same negativity felt after watching the play.

The play was not at all disturbing. The play was incredibly powerful especially once one analyzes the impact it made on society when it first came out. Its amazing to see how major events and key points within the play are found so often in todays society and in our daily lives. Constant struggles, overwhelming insecurity, proximate endings and floods of inner conflicts that can permanently mark us.

The ending of the play is what was most symbolic to me. The death in the form of suicide, the injustice situation that pierces the hearts of each of the characters is what I contemplated most. It meant many things, coming back to the same main idea that reality isn't pretty and truth can be detrimental.
It reminds me of a part of a quote that says, "only those who understand complexity can communicate simplicity". The author Arthur Miller did exactly this communicating life changing situations and common issues such as pride, giving in, struggles and loss (in many forms) in a highly revered play. 

Brainstorm: Tv show the Bachelor: nurture vs nature of love

Brainstorm:

• "Love" v.s the Bachelor

• encoded--> semantic vs planted--> sense of brain wash
• complicates by creating a nature vs nurture idea of love
• possibly interferes with "balance of life"(cliche)
• emphasizes competition, impulsive game v.s keeping calm and carrying on

Show how the bachelor only promotes a "fake"sense of love: Using Shakespeare Perspective

• love is already complicated enough,(quote: The course of true love never did run smooth- shakespeare)
• proves how media uses the vulnerability of women and men; desperate; to their advantage. Manipulation (quote Cupid is a knavish lad, thus to make females mad- shakespeare )
• Men’s vows are women’s traitors- shakespeare
• Love is begun by time, And time qualifies the spark and fire of it- shakespeare love is NOT found after a 4 week long competition for a meaningless rose on the show

Interesting Titles:

• What's love got to do with it? (uses reference to Tina Turner song)
• Looking for love in all the wrong placeshttp://ir.uiowa.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1023&context=poroi&sei-redir=1&referer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com.pe%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Danalysis%2520about%2520the%2520bachelor%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D3%26sqi%3D2%26ved%3D0CCMQFjAC%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fir.uiowa.edu%252Fcgi%252Fviewcontent.cgi%253Farticle%253D1023%2526context%253Dporoi%26ei%3DfsKGUIbjN4j69gTch4DgCg%26usg%3DAFQjCNEi_l64OW8CP6R0cohqEL2oNhSbNQ%26sig2%3DWMvUGmTfsKBYKyrSS_aAOQ#search=%22analysis%20about%20bachelor%22
• Several interesting points:
• the bachelor has been used in analyzing gender, ego, myths, self-efficieny prophecies
• Good example of sarcastic and entertaining op-ed on the bachelor and the allure of t.v dating: http://www.guardian.co.uk/tv-and-radio/tvandradioblog/2011/oct/28/the-bachelor-wooed-viewers

Social Media Messes with Egos

In modern day society the urge to be known on social networks just oozes out of every website, social network as well as all types of media. Here are some images showing this.

Below are several examples of the ripple effect of "haters" that inflated egos create.

INFLATED EGOS:

 

VS. HATERS

Opinion Ed Outline

Op-Ed Outline

 Social Networking like Facebook and Twitter Inflate egos

Introduction:

  

     Hook: (Possibilities)  

• Scenario of girls obsessing over another girl's profile
• She has more likes than I do
• Someone more popular than someone else because of her number of followers
• (Anecdotes)  

Body/ 3 reasons:

1. People start to notice; promoting and boosting their self worth

2. Builds popularity; developing superiority 

3. Jealousy comes along.

Examples:

• sarcasm
• anecdotes of teenagers
• metaphors 
• interviews
• cliques   

Conclusion: Wrap up is dramatic. 

Op-Eds (plural) examining social media effecting egos (self efficiency prophecies)

Op-Eds (plural) examining social media effecting egos (self efficiency prophecies)
The following articles, I felt had to be shared all together because it shows three complete different perspectives on it. Each are very appealing and powerful. The language varies amongst all three (due to the sources), highlighting the importance of this topic on many different levels.

The first which has already been mentioned: Social Media Psychology: Facebook may inflate big egos

http://www.examiner.com/article/social-media-psychology-facebook-may-inflate-big-egos

The second: Too Much Testosterone Linked to Inflated Ego (from source "HealthDay")

http://consumer.healthday.com/Article.asp?AID=661269

The third: How Social Networking is Inflating Your Ego: Form a Narcissist's Perspective

http://www.soundmagonline.com/how-social-networking-is-inflating-your-ego-from-a-narcissists-perspective/

Op-Ed discussing: Music is a Healer

Op-Ed discussing: Music is a Healer


Music in its simple form is probably the most powerful tool or even gift to many individuals today. The ability a song has to rush through one's body in the form of chills or adrenaline, the way in which lyrics can mark our minds, hearts and decisions so significantly, the manner in which music creates an atmosphere, even a idealistic world is a topic that may be seen as cliche; however, it can also be extremely profound.

http://www.depressionhelpfiles.com/articles/a27.htm
http://www.ted.com/conversations/5558/music_is_a_healer.html

A great opinion article found was that of: Effects of Music on the Brain.

The strengths of this article:

The article is separated in three sections emphasizing the importance of music crediting the relevance of the topic. The mere separation of the topics allow the audience a balanced review of the topic showing that the article keeps the many different perspectives, views and variables when discussing such a general topic.

The three brief sub-sections:

a) Music all around- Music and the Brain
b)The Effects of music while studying
c) Music has healing Effects
d) Music as a marketing tool- Music effect on the brain

http://www.squidoo.com/the-effects-of-music

Op-Ed from the specific perspective of "Men's Health"

Op-Ed from the specific perspective of "Men's Health"

The article speaks about how music, specifically "iTunes" can cure depression.
Something unique about this article is how it justifies this topic using listing for their reasoning.
The main points:

-Its a Distraction
-It gets you high
-It makes you feel understood

The reasoning is in bold within the article however apart from that, the reasoning is appealing to the reader. It uses some what colloquial language or cliche language such as "gets you high" or "makes you feel understood" in order to provide emotional appeal.

The diction is very clever for example:

Listening to the blues might help reverse your own blue mood

                    It also uses some metaphors as a hook:

                                       So what’s behind the power of the playlist?

                                   
    http://news.menshealth.com/how-itunes-can-cure-depression/2011/10/12/

Social Media such as Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr inflate egos.

Social Media such as Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr inflate egos.

“offers a gateway for hundreds of shallow relationships and emotionally detached communication.” -Christopher Carpenter

Everytime I find myself with a friend they seem to always be on social networks like twitter, instagram or Facebook. I realized a lot of times girls associate "popularity" or "superiority" with something as simple as the number of likes on a picture or update. This lead me to think that social networks not only can cause people to be more self conscious but it can even inflate egos. People who own blogs or any kind of social media obtaining followers categorize their worth with the number of followers leading to a boost in their ego. However, many times social media can send someone's ego shooting through the roof.

Music can be therapeutic, fomenting a comfort zone.

Music can be therapeutic, fomenting a comfort zone. 

Nowadays it is almost impossible not to find a person without headphones on. I don't know how many times in a day do I hear adults asking their children or teachers to take their headphones off. This can be seen in two ways either the child purposely does not want to listen (teenage issues) or that music just might be their perfect place. Through music a lot of times peoples of all ages feel it creates a sense of complete and utter peace. Music allows a break from all surroundings as much as environmental as internal. Through music people can develop a wide range of effects all the way from creating their own place of zen to feeling the closest thing to Euphoria. Music as described in the song "Closer to the Edge" by Thirty seconds to Mars can become a whole religion, it is without a doubt that almost every person associate music with faith.

Media Implies Ideals on Beauty

Media Implies Ideals on Beauty

 Pressure: the feeling of stressful urgency caused by the necessity of doing or achieving something.

It is without a doubt that media nurtures the minds of every individual and leads people down a path of terrifying  insecurity making everyone self conscious. In every corner on every street we are provided with anything to signal any or all of our 5 senses that we as individuals are not good enough. Media provides an ideology of what is to be accepted perfectly in society. However, this ideology has created much stress to the minds of individuals leading them to confuse what is "ACCEPTED" with, what is to be "EXPECTED". 

In modern day society sure the minds of kids are the most impressionable however, the minds of the teenagers are the most lost and confused. Teens feel a deep urge to "belong" and therefore the adolescent years have been defined as the rebellious years; this is all due to the fact that teens will do almost anything, go the distance, reach wild extremes of taking huge risks just to "fit in".
Media has corrupted with the minds of all individuals, even if one does not want to admit it, it has subconsciously. It is what teenagers associate their conscience with, especially in modern day society. 

1) A perfect woman is hourglass shaped. 

2) Maybe its ok if I don't eat right? I mean if the model on t.v is 6'1 and can be 110 lbs then theres no reason why I can't be.

2) A perfect woman is hourglass shaped. 

                        3)The perfect woman has thighs the size of pinkies. 

4) Piercings and tattoos will allow me to be noticed because personality isn't what counts

ALL Examples of different opinions of what is right, without realizing how wrong or unnatural that really sounds.

While I was scrolling down my dashboard on tumblr almost everyday I am encountered with bulimic and anorexic blog full of supporters and others full of haters. 

Either way nothing will ever seem to be enough to ever meet what is expected from one self, Or accepted to society.