Little Richards Influence on Rock N Roll History Essay Example for Free

Little Richards Influence on Rock N Roll History Essay Rock and roll music emerged as a part of American teen culture during the notably conservative time period in the country’s history which shortly followed the traumatic events of World War II. Being that the genre’s target audience was white teenagers, many Americans- already overwhelmed and on-edge due to the anti-communist movement inspired by the Cold War- were apprehensive about the influence that this up-and-coming style of music might have on their country’s future. America’s youth openly accepted rock and roll’s racially integrated culture of performers and embraced the relatively lewd nature of many songs and performances associated with the genre, much to the dismay of their elders. Richard Wayne Penniman (better known by his stage name, Little Richard) had an important influence on the history of rock and roll music because of his unconventional stage presence and explicit sexuality. Artists such as Little Richard aggressively pushed the envelope, defied social norms and generated controversy. Richard, along with a few fellow pioneers, helped to define rock and roll in its early years, and paved the way for rock and rollers of future generations. Penniman’s work left an everlasting impression on the musical genre and culture that is rock and roll. Considering the time in America’s history during which Little Richard appeared on the rock and roll scene, it is completely appropriate to attribute much of his fame and influence to his unconventional stage presence. The rising popularity of television during the 1950’s fundamentally changed the music industry by presenting artists with an entirely new way to market themselves (or be marketed). Being televised meant that the overall look and presence of an artist played a more crucial role in stimulating audiences; the focus of listeners was no longer solely the sound of the music being produced. Prior to T. V. , music fans were only able to enjoy the sounds of their favorite artist by way of radio and the purchasing of records. In many cases, this meant that if a fan had never seen a live performance or record-jacket photo of a particular artist, it’s possible that they had never seen said artist at all and possessed only a general idea (if any) of what that artist looked like. As television sets became an increasingly popular household item for middle-class American families, â€Å"live performances assumed a new importance for performers of rock ‘n’ roll music, and individual artists and vocal roups sought to cultivate visual characteristics or mannerisms that would set them apart from others and encourage listeners to remember them†¦ but no performer in the early years of rock ‘n’ roll was as visually flamboyant as Little Richard,† (Schloss, Starr, and Waterman 1-75). A fan’s perception of an artist or group became subject to their opinion of the overall image of the performance. At this point in time, listening to the music of a completely respectable, clean cut, well dressed African-American was still considered inappropriate by a sizeable portion of white American society- particularly those living in the South and those beyond their teenage years. Many of these people were hesitant to accept racial integration, and tended to proceed cautiously when (or, more appropriately, if) they chose to do so. These are the same people that were unrightfully, but understandably, so frightened by performers like Little Richard. In order to differentiate himself from other rockers of the time, Richard usually wore heavy make-up and sported his famous pompadour hair style. As a former drag queen, Richard was fully aware of the type of reaction his look would draw from audiences; it’s the reaction he hoped to receive. Though, at the time, society as a whole was unsure of how to react to the statement his image made, â€Å"the†¦ ambiguity of Little Richard’s sexual identity†¦ paved the way for the image of performers such as David Bowie, Elton John, and Prince,† (Schloss, Starr, and Waterman 1-75). Just in case his eccentric outward appearance was not enough to gain the disapproval of parents across the nation, Little Richard put on an absolutely wild stage performance which included dramatic eye rolling and his simultaneous hip gyrating and piano playing. In order to dance and play piano at the same time, Little Richard stood (not sat) in front of the instrument- yet another feature of his performance that was specific to him. Little Richard aimed to gain the attention of his fans by creating an entirely original and exciting performance act. In order to do so, Richard created an image that was totally outside of society’s definition of normal, respectable, and safe. His image was only half of his act, though. It’s unlikely that there were many ‘respectable’ white, American parents around in the 1950’s that were comfortable with the idea of Little Richard having any type of influence over the generation deemed the ‘future’ of their country, much less over their specific children. If there had been anyone left straddling that fence, however, contemplating just how harmful a 24-year-old performer with a whacky haircut and face full of make up could really be, it would be safe to assume that they had never actually heard the man sing. The lewd, scandalous lyrics that completed Little Richard’s unorthodox self-presentation would have provided the final push that landed the aforementioned fence straddler on the opposite side of Richard’s performance, and confirmed the popular idea that â€Å"rock’s musical characteristics indicated a general decline in American taste,† (Schloss, Starr, and Waterman 1-75). While teenagers danced to the sounds of the modified twelve-bar blues accompanying Richard’s shouting vocal style and countertenor whoops, parents instinctively cringed in disapproval of the blatantly suggestive lyrics. Hit songs by Little Richard such as â€Å"Tutti-Frutti,† (Penniman, 1955) and â€Å"Long Tall Sally,† (Penniman, 1956) contained lyrics that were generally non-specific, but overall relatively sexual for the time. Richard’s scandalous appearance, behavior, and song lyrics embodied a sexual tension that managed to both intrigue teenage audiences, and inspire fellow performers. It is this same sexual tension that made society at large not only generally uncomfortable, but also concerned about what other ludicrous notions rock and roll would try to impose upon American culture in the future. Little Richard used rock and roll as a platform to rattle the cages of the music industry, and change society’s concept of what was acceptable, what was normal, and most of all what was popular. It was Richard’s unique image and abrasive song content that simultaneously intrigued and shocked American society in the early 1950s. American teenagers of this time appreciated the power of Little Richard’s performance and embraced Little Richard as the new spirit of rock and roll. Unfortunately, â€Å"in 1957 Richard denounced his work and joined the church†¦clos[ing] his most creative period,† (Oxford University Press). Although the momentum of his influence eventually slowed, it never quite stopped. Rock and roll performers such as Jerry Lee Lewis, the Beatles, and the American Creedence Clearwater Revival all provide examples of music inspired by the work of Little Richard, proving the power of his influence and solidifying the lasting impression that he left on rock and roll.

Horatios Role In Hamlet :: essays research papers

Horatio’s role in the play Hamlet, which was written by William Shakespeare, is extremely important. In the first place, Horatio was the person who told Hamlet about the ghost. He also had the job of watching Claudius while the play was going on in order to see if he showed his guilt. Lastly, at the end of the play, Horatio had to tell everyone the truth about Hamlet. Hamlet could not do it himself because he died along with eight other characters.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hamlet would never have known about the ghost of Old Hamlet if it were not for Horatio. Marcellus and Bernado, who were only guards; they sought the advice of Horatio in order that he would also see this apparition. Since Horatio was such a good friend of Hamlet’s, he was the one chosen to tell him. â€Å"†¦Let us impart what we have seen tonight Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life, This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him.† (I, , l 180-187) Horatio, then told Hamlet the news about the ghost of Old Hamlet and that is when the whole drama of the play began. Hamlet states, â€Å"†¦I pray you all, If you have hitherto concealed this sight, let it be tenable in your silence still;†(I, iii, L 269-270) This scene is also significant because Horatio is the only other person who not only saw the ghost but knew what he told Hamlet.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  After the ghost told young Hamlet what happened, Hamlet had to design a plan to figure out if the ghost was from heaven or hell. He then decided to use â€Å"the players† as bait in order to see how the King acted to the play. After the plan was in place, Hamlet asked Horatio to join him and watch his uncle during the play in order to see his reaction Claudius’s reaction was clear, â€Å"Give me some light. Away!† (III, ii, L 295) This reinforces Hamlet’s observations about the King’s guilt. Horatio then gives news back to Hamlet about the Kings reaction. Now, Hamlet may plan his revenge.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Hamlet decided to kill Claudius while he was doing something evil. When Hamlet finally had the chance to kill him, he thought to himself, â€Å"And now I’ll do’t. And so he goes to heaven, And so am I That would be scanned: A villain kills my father, and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send to heaven.

How can drama help shy students gain more confidence Essay

How can drama help shy students gain more confidence? 1) Studying drama at school can be a positive, life-enhancing experience for children. It can improve confidence and help to combat (ÃŽ ºÃŽ ±Ãâ€žÃŽ ±Ãâ‚¬ÃŽ ¿ÃŽ »ÃŽ µÃŽ ¼ÃŽ ®ÃÆ'ÃŽ ¿Ãâ€¦ÃŽ ½) shyness, which many young children struggle with. However, many claim that if performing is taken too seriously it can make children too competitive, stressed and diminish (ÃŽ ¼ÃŽ µÃŽ ¹ÃÅ½ÃŽ ½ÃŽ µÃŽ ¹) their confidence if they are not successful. This could make them less likely to thrive in (ÃŽ µÃâ€¦ÃŽ ´ÃŽ ¿ÃŽ ºÃŽ ¹ÃŽ ¼ÃŽ ®ÃÆ'ÃŽ ¿Ãâ€¦ÃŽ ½ ÏÆ'ÃŽ µ) social interactions with school friends and work colleagues later on in life. 2) Confidence is vital for young people who need to excel (υπΠµÃ Ãâ€žÃŽ µÃ ÃÅ½) in higher education and in the workplace. One way children can improve their confidence is to study drama at school, as it can help combat shyness and help to develop social skills. Drama can improve a child’s confidence because once they get used to performing in front of an audience, they will feel more able to speak out in other social situations. 3) Studying drama enables children to relax and have fun in social settings, which is vital for improving confidence. It also provides a perfect setting for children to make friends as they will have to work together in a team, which calls for increased communication. Children can then foster (ÃŽ µÃŽ ½ÃŽ ¹ÃÆ'χÏ ÃÆ'ÃŽ ¿Ãâ€¦ÃŽ ½) these relationships outside of the classroom. On the other hand, drama increases competition in children and serves to diminish their confidence if they are not successful. Drama is a competitive subject because children will compete for the best roles. This can lead to children becoming overly competitive with their peers and stressed if they fail to win a role they wanted. This failure can also make a child feel rejected and worthless and could damage their self-esteem (ÃŽ ±Ãâ€¦Ãâ€žÃŽ ¿ÃŽ µÃŽ ºÃâ€žÃŽ ¯ÃŽ ¼ÃŽ ·ÃÆ'ÃŽ ·) and confidence THROUGH DRAMA A STUDENT CAN become another – explore a new role – try out and experiment with various personal choices Drama allows students to communicate with and understand others in new ways. are less likely to have difficulty SPEAKING IN PUBLIC will be more PERSUASIVE in their communications will be better able to put themselves into others’ shoes and will have a more POSITIVE, CONFIDENT SELF IMAGE. Participation in Dramatic activity requires SELF CONTROL and DISCIPLINE Students in Drama will learn to WORK TOGETHER, to cooperate Are practical lessons just as important as theoretical lessons? How important is it for students to learn life skills at school? Education should be skill based rather than knowledge based. Knowledge is of no use without a skill to apply it. A student can get a good knowledge by just reading but skill to apply the knowledge can only be achieved by practice. Skill based education is better as it is useless if we have knowledge but do not have the skill to apply it and fulfill our goal. Many people are knowledgeable but if they are skilled as well , they can get employment and have a good life but if we only have knowledge its useless without a skill to apply it Some schools have debate and public speaking clubs and classes. In your opinion, how important is it for students to take part in activities like these? Debating skills raise children’s confidence and self-esteem, and it has to start early. Teachers need to work smarter. Using students’ natural talent of arguing and challenging authority, we can channel (ÃŽ ´ÃŽ ¹ÃŽ ¿Ãâ€¡ÃŽ µÃâ€žÃŽ µÃ ÃÆ'ÃŽ ¿Ãâ€¦ÃŽ ¼ÃŽ µ) student energy into a positive learning assignment (Ï„Ï ÃÅ'πΠ¿ ÃŽ µÃŽ ºÃŽ ¼ÃŽ ¬ÃŽ ¸ÃŽ ·ÃÆ'ÃŽ ·Ãâ€š). Debates offer that natural way for teachers to facilitate (ÃŽ ´ÃŽ ¹ÃŽ µÃâ€¦ÃŽ ºÃŽ ¿ÃŽ »Ã ÃŽ ½ÃŽ ¿Ãâ€¦ÃŽ ½) analytical thinking. Classroom debates enable students to work cooperatively, brainstorm ideas, develop vocabulary and read to support an opinion. Students are taking notes to summarize, to question, and to clarify (ÃŽ ´ÃŽ ¹ÃŽ µÃâ€¦ÃŽ ºÃ ÃŽ ¹ÃŽ ½ÃŽ ¯ÃŽ ¶ÃŽ ¿Ãâ€¦ÃŽ ½)information. Students are identifying the main idea, deleting less important information, categorizing, and labeling information. Questioning allows students to explain and to explore additional facts for clarification purposes. These comprehension skills are essential for students to become competent readers and writers linking debates directly to the entire curriculum.Debates allow students to become more proficient in speaking, researching, reading, and writing skills, and they promote reasoning as well as communication skills. I believe that public speaking and drama should be compulsory in schools, because it would benefit the confidence and self-esteem of young people.Drama and Speaking provides confidence, ability to express opinio ns and beliefs.

“to What Extent Was the Rise to Power of Stalin Due to...

â€Å"To what extent was the rise to power of Stalin due to personal appeal and ability†? Lenin died in January 1924 and Stalin emerged to power in 1929. Stalin has been described as a â€Å"grey blur† that rose to power. It’s quite hard to pin point the main reasons how Stalin got to power. Some historians may say that Stalin was lucky that he got to power and he benefited off events such as Lenin’s death and that his rival’s weaknesses such as Trotsky who was considered likely successor to Lenin, but Trotsky lacked the will for a political fight. However you just can’t become the leader of Russia just from good luck, Stalin used his ability to place himself in a great position within the party. This essay is going to look at the ways in which†¦show more content†¦Trotsky in 1918 became the war commissar and he created the red army, and was a major figure in the Bolshevik victory in the Russian Civil War 1918–20. He was a great public speaker and war tactician. However many Bolsheviks were afraid that he would become a m ilitary dictator such as Nicholas 2nd was. Also he had a reputation for being arrogant which made him unpopular within the party, also after Lenin died the triumvirate group established this group was made up of Kamenev, Zinoviev and Stalin their aim was not to get Stalin into power but to keep Trotsky out of reach of power. Stalin’s used his position as general secretary to gain support and power. As the general secretary of the soviet communist party which controlled the membership of the party. Through a series of appointments, gained the power of patronage over many parts of the Bolshevik Party, between 1923 - 25 the Party had expanded by recruiting more members, this was called the Lenin enrolment. â€Å"It increased from 300,000 in 1922 to 600,000 in 1925†. The new members were poorly educated; they thought that promotion and party privileges came from loyalty to the person who appointed them which in this case was Stalin; also they had to be loyal to Stalin because if they went against him they would lose their job. The expansion of the Party increased Stalin s power of patronage. InShow MoreRelatedOne Significant Change That Has Occurred in the World Between 1900 and 2005. Explain the Impact This Change Has Made on Our Lives and Why It Is an Important Change.163893 Words   |  656 Pagesthe Contributors †¢ 343 _ IN TR OD UC TIO N Michael Adas B y any of the customary measures we deploy to demarcate historical epochs, the twentieth century does not appear to be a very coherent unit. The beginnings and ends of what we choose to call centuries are almost invariably years of little significance. But there is little agreement over when the twentieth century c.e. arrived, and there were several points both before the year 2000 (the collapse of the Soviet Union