Extended definition so far...

Kara Dubay

Rachel Smydra

ENG 380

Extended Definition of Music-ROUGH Draft

            Growing up as the daughter of a drummer, music has been a major influence of mine my entire life. In addition to having a drummer as a father, my grandpa was also a drummer, and now my 13 year old brother is one as well. I always thought that music ran through my blood and hoped that one day I could learn to play an instrument or sing a tune. I wasn’t so lucky as to acquire either of these skills, but music has remained a constant interest of mine.

            The dictionary definition of the word music states that it is an art of sound in time that expresses ideas and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, harmony and color. I find this definition to be true, however the meaning of music should not be limited to only this explanation. Music encompasses much more than simply pleasurable sounds that express an idea or emotion, rather music serves as a universal language that teaches people around the world about the culture from which it originates. Whether it is of the hip hop genre or rhythm and blues, every piece of music in some way represents a specific culture.

            The etymology of music traces back to the Greek mousikē which means art of the muses. A muse can be defined in a couple of different ways, either an inspiring goddess or power to an artist or the act of meditating in silence on some subject. Though music definitely doesn’t represent the silent part of the muse definition, there are still clear connections between the definitions of the former word and the meaning of the word we use now. Music serves as a form of meditation for the artist and also comes from an inspiration that the artist may have had, spiritual or not. 

A Brilliant Man...

Preceding Junot Diaz's appearance at O.U., I was very excited because I had never attended a lecture by a Pulitzer prize winning author, let alone the author of a book I have read and enjoyed. The lecture went above and beyond my expectations and I left with a feeling of great inspiration. Junot Diaz was one of the funniest, blunt, and down to earth public speakers I have ever heard. I thought that even words that he improved, were brilliant, he is a true poet. I could not contain my laughter as I listened and after a while I decided to write down quotes that Diaz was saying because I wanted to tell my friends and family about this hilarious speaker.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

-Home is not the roof over your head, but the person you feel at home with.

-It's very difficult not to be extraordinarily stupid.

-Most men divide women between people they can have sex with & people that can mom them.

-There is something wrong with our eye, always. (When talking about writing)

-Some of us work well with others, some are really fucking nuts and should be allowed to work alone.

-Mellville is the ill you gotta smoke up from "Hellville". (When speaking about favorite classical authors)

-You're a writer, you're kind of like a crack head, you owe so many people shit. 

Not only was Diaz hilarious, but very insightful as well. I enjoyed his lecture a lot and I think that some of the things that he said will stick for me a very long time. I am glad I had this opportunity.  

Reflection on Pt. 1 of "Oscar Wao"

I have been excited to read Junot Diaz's Pulitzer prize winning book, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao, since my English 112 professor, Bailey McDaniel, suggested it. This book has overcome my expectations and is quickly becoming one of my favorite books the more and more I read. Major strengths of the novel include Diaz's use of multiple viewpoints to depict the story. Dominican history, Oscar's life during his childhood, high school and college years, and also an account of Beli's years as a youth are just a few of the different perspectives Diaz takes in creating the novels. I find that this method adds character to the novel and also makes us understand ,a little more, where each character is coming from. Some of the weaknesses that I see so far in the novel is the usage of footnotes and foreign language. After attending Diaz's lecture I understand why he included both in the text but I think it adds an unnecessary feeling of stress to the reader when he or she thinks she must read all of the footnotes and understand the Spanish or translate it. To do that would take much longer than it would take to simply read the book. I realize Diaz did this as a sort of a game to play with the reader and him, but most people reading the book don't have time for games. A major theme that I see arising out of the first part of the text is the struggle to feel accepted in a foreign world. I see this with the struggles that Oscar goes through and also his mother. Not only is Oscar literally an immigrant, but he also feels foreign within his own skin because people don't understand him. I think that Beli struggles with these feelings of alienation as well. So far I have enjoyed the book and I am excited to read further & also to go back and reread if I have the time before I write my review.