Parallels Of Latin American Culture Essays - Pedro Pramo, Juan Rulfo

Parallels Of Latin American Culture There is an uncountable amount of references of Latin American culture found within the literature, Pedro Paramo by Juan Rulfo, and No One Writes To the Colonel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The question is; can the reader whose cultural experiences are based in the United States of American relate and make relevant to themselves the aspects of Latin American Culture? Through the comparison of sport, such as cock-fighting, a Latin American pastime, The roles of a small town vs. a large urban American city, and the part the Patron plays in the community, it can be seen that the United States reader does not have the Latin American experiences necessary to easily relate to many of the situations presented in the texts. Cock-fighting is an important sport in No On Writes to the Colonel, and is referred to many times through out the book. Cock-fighting is used as a means for economic gain and an improvement in ones standing in the community. Cock-fighting in the story is viewed in different lights. To some, the fights represent the risk of gambling and the decaying state of the society. These people would see the violent and greedy nature of the sport as the peoples last resort for economic stability with a high price to pay; morals and decency. The other side of the spectrum would view the sport as a highly entertaining pastime that has monetary as well as social benefits. A man could become rich and respected off the fighting ability of his trained animal. Interestingly enough there is a highly similar sport in the United States that faces these exact clashing viewpoints; for example, the highly regarded and disregarded sport of professional wrestling. One side of the United States population would cite this activity as an immoral and disgusting sport that feeds on the lust for money and violence of a lower-class group of individuals. However, the opposing side views it merely as a good laugh and an easy and entertaining outlet for mans inscrutable appetite for gambling. These two parallels between Latin American culture as presented in these two texts and United States culture, obviously give the U.S. reader the ability to make the situations and pastimes presented in the book relevant to themselves. In Pedro Paramo , the plot is based around an extremely small and isolated town named Comala, in the midst of the Mexican landscape. This setting is often presented in Latin American literature because it is only there where small towns are isolated from each other and the rest of the world because of barriers in the terrain and communication, as well as tradition. The city of Comala, and isolated and desolate ghost city is not questioned or uncommon when viewed in Latin American literature, however there is very little like this to be found in the United States. The United States reader would know that throughout the U.S. landmass even small distant cities are connected to the tangle of communication, commerce and tourism that is America. It is because the U.S. reader has never been in an environment as isolated and completely separated from a mainstream society as seen in Comala in Pedro Paramo, it is hard to really relate to that type of setting. This is one example of the vast differences between the two cultures that interferes with the readers ability to connect with the relevance of some of the material in Latin American literature. One more example that demonstrates the effect that the differences in the cultures of Latin American and the United States have on the readers ability to relate to the text, is the role of a Patron in a community. Throughout both of the texts the Patron plays a very important part. He is feared, he is respected and he is the corrupt owner of towns and their inhabitants. In the Latin American culture it is not considered to be a monopolistic type of situation, rather more of a community leader controlling the town. In a land of free enterprise and a place where the government has control over the amount of control that one person can have over the people, the readers in the United States have very little to relate to when it comes to the role of the Patron. Although the Patron plays a very solid role in Latin American society, there is very little comparison to something of that sort in the U.S. Once again there seems to be one more

About Charles Follen McKim, Architect of the Gilded Age

About Charles Follen McKim, Architect of the Gilded Age With his partners Stanford White and William R. Mead, architect Charles Follen McKim designed grand Beaux Arts buildings, important mansions, and also relaxed Shingle Style homes. As the architectural firm of McKim, Mead White, these three architects brought European nobility and taste to Americas nouveau riche. Background of McKim: Born: August 24, 1847 in Chester County, Pennsylvania Died: September 14, 1909 at his summer home in St. James, Long Island, New York Education: 1866-1867: Lawrence Scientific School at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA1867-1870: Studied architecture at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris Professional: 1867: Worked briefly in the New York office of Russel Sturgis1870: Joined the office of Henry Hobson Richardson1877: Partnered with William R. Mead1879: Stanford White joined the partnership and the influential architectural firm of McKim, Mead White was established Important Projects: McKim, Mead, White designed both relaxed summer homes and grand public buildings. Landmark examples of McKims influential designs include these: 1881-1883: Isaac Bell House in Newport, Rhode Island1887-1895: Boston Public Library1894: New York Herald Building1897: Low Memorial Library, Columbia University, New York City1906: Pierpont Morgan Library, New York City1910: Pennsylvania Station, New York City Styles Associated with McKim: Beaux ArtsShingle Style More About McKim: Charles Follen McKim was influenced by his study at Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. Along with his partners Stanford White and William R. Mead, McKim applied French Beaux Arts ideas to grand American buildings like the Boston Public Library and Pennsylvania Station in New York City. These historic styles were not associated with the new architecture of the day- the skyscraper- so the firm did not tackle skyscrapers. However, after McKims death, the firm built the 40-floor Municipal Building (1914) in Lower Manhattan. McKim was drawn to the clean lines of American Colonial architecture, and he admired the simple architecture of Japan and rural France. The architectural firm McKim, Mead, White became known for informal, open plan Shingle Style houses designed shortly after the partnership was formed. They could also transition into designing the more opulent styles prevalent in Newport, Rhode Island. McKim and White became the design architects of the firm, while Mead administered much of the firms business. What Others Say: McKims formal training and innate sobriety provided clarity of form to which White added richness of texture and plasticity in ornamentation.- Professor Leland M. Roth, Architectural Historian Learn More: Archives: The Charles Follen McKim papers,1838-1929, are held at the Library of Congress, Manuscript Division (PDF)Americans in Paris: Foundations of Americas Architectural Gilded Age by Jean Paul Carlhian and Margot M. Ellis, Rizzoli, 2014Triumvirate: McKim, Mead White: Art, Architecture, Scandal, and Class in Americas Gilded Age by Mosette Broderick, Knopf, 2010Making of the Morgan from Charles McKim to Renzo Piano by Paul S. Byard, Morgan Library Museum, 2008 Source: McKim, Mead, and White by Leland M. Roth, Master Builders, Diane Maddex, ed., Preservation Press, Wiley, 1985, p. 95

Radio 1 report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Radio 1 report - Essay Example BBC has many local stations in different cities of the UK. Around 40 local radio stations are working in England and Channel Islands under the name of BBC. BBC Radio 1 was established in 1967 with an intention to broadcast popular music and other entertainment activities. The popularity and the rating of Radio 1 were extremely high until recent times. However, the popularity of radio 1 seems to be declining in recent times. â€Å"Radio 1 had 10.87 million listeners in the third quarter of 2008, up from 10.58 million in the third period of 2007. However, listeners tuned in for less time, with a fall in its audience share to 9.8% from a seven-year high of 10.6% the same period last year† (Plunkett, 2008). This paper explains the station policy, play lists, and specific programs that are broadcasted by radio 1. Also, this paper analyses how fully and completely does radio 1 provides access to culture, music and public service inspired ideas specified in its service remit Unlike many other radio stations in the UK, radio 1 works on some unique policies. For example, radio 1 usually conducts roadshows with the DJs and pop stars in order to reach out even distant audience. The direct experiences received from the audiences will be broadcasted from 16:00-19:00 every weekday, with a 15-minute break at 17:45(BBC Radio 1, 2014) There are hundreds of programs broadcasted by Radio 1. A unique program of radio 1 is the breakfast show. It is broadcasting between 6:30 am and 10:00 am, Monday to Friday and is hosted by Nick Grimshaw at present. Dance Anthems, Xtra’s stories, Essential mix, Xtra live, chart shows such as UK singles chart (aired on Sunday afternoons) etc are some of the other popular shows on radio 1 (BBC Radio 1, 2014). Apart from regular shows, radio 1 airs many special shows and events time to time. For example, radio 1 has celebrated its 40