The Emulation of Art ; Life

In all walks of everyday life, lessons and experiences are collected in hopes to use them in future scenarios. Many writers throughout history have said they have used these occurrences in their work. At various point in life situations arise in which decisions must be made and once the choice is being carried out, there comes a point when one cannot go back and change course. This inability to revert one’s path is called the â€Å"Point of No Return. † In other instances the use of geography may not only be viewed literally but also serve as a metaphor.There are also periods when isolation has an effect on the behavior of an individual. Point of no return, use of geographic surroundings and isolation are concepts used in all of the following works: Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now (Now), William Faulkner’s â€Å"A Rose for Emily† (A Rose), and Tim O’Brien’s â€Å"The Things They Carried† (Things). In these three pieces one shall see not only the ideas of â€Å"Point of No Return† (PNR), geographic surroundings, and isolation, but the notion of art imitating life. Foremost, PNR comes in a variety of ways for each of the many characters we encounter in these adventures.In Now, we see Willard’s PNR towards the end of the film after he has arrived at Kurtz’s compound. As he sits in the darkness, Chef’s decapitated head is thrust into his lap. Without Chef to aid him, Willard realizes he is truly on his own. In order to escape Kurtz’s world intact, he must complete his mission alone. In the case of Emily’s manservant in â€Å"A Rose,† the PNR is depicted after the death of Emily. â€Å"The negro met the first of the ladies at the front door and let them in, with their hushed, sibilant voices and their quick, curious glances, and then he disappeared.He walked right through the house and out the back and was not seen again. † (Faulkner, pg. 7) The mans ervant is aware of the truth of Emily’s dark life which shall soon be exposed to all and does not want to be in the vicinity when it happens. For Lt. Cross in â€Å"Things†, the PNR occurs following Ted Lavender being shot and killed. â€Å"It wouldn’t help Lavender, he knew that, but from this point on he would comport himself as a soldier. † (O’Brien, 13) After this tragic event, a transformation in the Lt. ’s attitude towards the remaining men occurs. On the morning after Ted Lavender died, First Lieutenant Jimmy Cross crouched at the bottom of his foxhole and burned Martha’s letters. † (O’Brien, 12) His feelings of love for Martha have also been replaced by an emotion resembling anger. Given these examples, PNR is present in each one of these accounts. The use of geography can be interpreted in numerous ways. As the men in Now make their way into the depths of the jungle, the Nyung River gradually becomes narrow. Slow ly the soldiers are picked off one by one. The group begins to diminish, as does the width of the waterway.Another use of geographic surroundings is found in Faulkner’s work. His description of Emily’s home and its location demonstrate the similarity in her temperament. â€Å"But garages and cotton gins had encroached and obliterated even the august names of that neighborhood; only Miss Emily’s house was left, lifting its stubborn and coquettish decay above the cotton wagons and the gasoline pumps- -an eyesore among eyesores. † (Faulkner, pg. 1) Although modern technology is progressing all around her traditional neighborhood, and the South for that matter, she stubbornly refuses to adapt.The geography is split into both literal and metaphoric ways in â€Å"Things. † â€Å"They carried the land itself. Vietnam, the place, the sod- a powdery orange-red dust that covered their boots and fatigues and faces. They carried the sky. The whole atmosphere, they carried it, the humidity, the monsoons, the stink of fungus and decay, all of it, they carried gravity. † (O’Brien, pg. 7) Not only did the soldiers carry the soil of Vietnam on their boots but they carried the experiences of Vietnam in their minds. All of the tangible and idealistic aspects of being in a war-torn country are what these souls carried.Geography used by these storytellers create a world which not only can be seen but be felt deep within. Lastly, the third concept found in each of these works is isolation. A wise man once said, â€Å"The true character of a person is revealed once they think no one is watching. † (A. Mancha) This becomes evident in NOW when the three remaining men have reached Kurtz’s dwelling. In front of the natives, Kurtz is God-like in his demeanor. However, inside the temple and away from his worshipers, Willard sees what lies beneath Kurtz, a man. A man who poetically writes the horrors of what he has seen, done a nd become.Willard becomes conscious of Kurtz’s desire and anticipation of his own death. â€Å"Everybody wanted me to do it, him most of all. I felt like he was up there, waiting for me to take the pain away. He just wanted to go out like a soldier, standing up, not like some poor, wasted, rag-assed renegade. Even the jungle wanted him dead, and that's who he really took his orders from anyway. † Kurtz is aware of Willard’s mission and welcomes it. In â€Å"A Rose,† the segregation of Emily from society, enforced by her father â€Å"clutching a horsewhip† (Faulkner, pg3), played a major role in Emily’s lack of emotional and mental development. On a tarnished gilt easel before the fireplace stood a crayon portrait of Miss Emily’s father. †(Faulkner, pg. 2) Although Emily is of adult age she still remains much like a child as she uses crayons to create her father’s portrait. The isolation seen in â€Å"Things† comes in form of the deployment of the soldiers.These men are stripped from everything they know, from the families they love to the climates they are familiar with. â€Å"The things they carried were largely determined by necessity. † (O’Brien, pg. ) The men have replaced these elements with items each soldier deems essential for survival. This is not limited to weapons and food but also pictures, books and other mementos from home. As one can see, Coppola, Faulkner, and O’Brien’s works reflect abstract and concrete notions of art imitating life. By using PNR, geography and isolation, these men were able to illustrate their points on a deep and abysmal level. The impact these works have had on society are invaluable and because of their timeless nature will continue to influence artists throughout the years.

African American Theater

African American Theater Introduction Dramatic performances have been prevalent in many parts of the world for a long period of time. These artistic performances entail several aspects that reflect on a community’s point of view regarding certain societal elements. African American theater is a typical example of dramatic art presentations that serve to highlight on a society’s weaknesses and strengths (Rubin, 2000).Advertising We will write a custom research paper sample on African American Theater specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More African American theater basically stemmed from American theater which is believed to be relatively new. The black population in America has basically strived to ensure that their dramatic performances get the required attention. It is believed that black American performers ventured into the field as early as 1820, but their work never attained sufficient recognition (Hay, 2004). Black artists generally performed, cr eated, and staged shows for audiences that were not entirely black. It is evident that black theater is currently facing challenges although it is regarded as a remarkably transformed field. Challenges faced by African American Theater These challenges occur through the various constraints faced by companies that seemingly work hard to promote this form of art. Most companies that aim to promote black performances rarely survive for a long time, thus, they close down for various reasons. For instance, it is hard to find such companies employing black participants in all the stages of production. In simpler terms, the directors, producers, and performers are usually a mixed lot in terms of their racial affiliation. Nevertheless, there is every reason to state that African American theater has really improved as evidenced by intensified comparisons between the past and the present (Hay, 2004). The African Groove Theater stands out as one the first companies to appreciate African Ameri can theater. Through William Brown and Hewlett James, who were also founders of the company, African Groove Theater offered black performers a chance to showcase their talents. Drama of King Shot Away was showcased to a mixed audience in 1823, but white people were not amused (Hay, 2004). They basically opposed the idea of an African American theater and even executed several attacks that eventually led to its closure. The Sambo is a typical manifestation of racial issues during these periods and black people disliked such depictions. During this period, white actors could perform stereotypical black roles by wearing black faces. White audiences generally attended these performances as a way of mocking the Africans (Rubin, 2000).Advertising Looking for research paper on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Black actors during this period also performed African American roles in the performances, but they a dhered to the prevalent white ideas about these particular roles. For instance, black actors could wear black faces in their performances and they also subliminally embraced racial depictions that were commonly performed by white artists. The evolution of black theater Black theater is constantly evolving as evidenced by the journey travelled through the years. Black theater made a bigger impact in the 1930’s, especially during the Harlem Renaissance (Hay, 2004). Grandison Lewis stands out as the first black actor and playwright to feature on Broadway. Others included Loraine Hansberry and S. Ntozake who appeared later on. They overcame many challenges that were meant to sabotage the progression of African American Theater. These artists tried as hard as they could and their message was eventually heard. The artists currently command enough respect among the black population for their efforts. It is evident that despite the challenges, African American arts have become reli able channels of entertainment in America. Black people in America have basically subdued several forms of subjugation in the community and this can be attributed to the African American Theater. They include human rights issues, political matters, and residential complications. Black films played a great role in changing the attitudes of the entire community towards black people (Rubin, 2000). Apart from being denied an opportunity to share drinks from the same source with white people, African Americans could not easily feature on television. However, the persistence exemplified by black actors ensured that they started featuring on television without restrictions from the society. The stage, therefore, became a major platform through which black people expressed their sorrow, oppression, and other vices that were perpetrated by white people. Acting became the fundamental way of enduring the pain that was inflicted on black people by the White population. Advertising We w ill write a custom research paper sample on African American Theater specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Black Theater today Today, African American Theater is a core component of American theater. Black Theater basically holds that the issues which are shared emanate from human stories and nothing else. This implies that the cultural affiliation and background that an individual has, does not matter because human conditions like love and struggle are usually at play. In other words these are universal themes that affect each and every individual. However, these institutions require lots of support in order to maintain and boost their importance in the society. Some theater institutions have opted to ensure that black theater lives forever. This is done through supporting and educating the artists. The Ensemble Theater, based in Houston, is an example of institutions that currently promote African American Theater. Urban theater has also emerge d on the scene and it constitutes a multi-billion dollar industry (Elam, 2000). Its appearance has been a thorn in the flesh for black theater and its survival. Urban theater flourishes because unlike black theater, it has all the funding and it consists of fewer stereotypes. Black theater has come a long way, but many challenges are still evident. References Elam, J. (2000). African American Performance and Theater History: A Critical Reader. Oxford: Oxford University Press Hay, S. (2004). African American Theatre:An Historical and Critical Analysis. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press Rubin, D. (2000). The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: The Americas. New York City: Routledge.Advertising Looking for research paper on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More

Michelle Obama Staff Size and Salaries

Michelle Obama Staff Size and Salaries Michelle Obamas staff consisted of 18 employees who got paid nearly $1.5 million in salary in 2010, according to the administrations Annual Report to Congress on White House Staff. The size of Michelle Obamas 2010 staff is comparable to the staff of former First Lady Laura Bush in 2008. Both First Ladies had 15 staffers directly under them, plus three more in the Office of the White House Social Secretary. The 15 employees who were members of Michelle Obamas staff in the Office of the First Lady were paid $1,198,870 in 2010. Three more staffers worked in the Office of the Social Secretary, which is under the jurisdiction of the Office of the First Lady; they earned a total of $282,600, the administrations Annual Report to Congress on White House Staff stated. Since 1995, the White House has been required to deliver a report to Congress listing the title and salary of every White House Office employee. List of Michelle Obamas Staff Here is a list of Michelle Obamas staff and their salaries in 2010. To see the annual salaries of other top U.S. government officials go here. Natalie F. Bookey Baker, executive assistant to the chief of staff to the first lady, $45,000;Alan O. Fitts, deputy director of advance and trip director for the first lady, $61,200;Jocelyn C. Frey, deputy assistant to the president and director of policy and projects for the first lady, $140,000;Jennifer Goodman, deputy director of scheduling and events coordinator for the first lady, $63,240;Deilia A.L. Jackson, deputy associate director of correspondence for the first lady, $42,000;Kristen E. Jarvis, special assistant for scheduling and traveling aide to the first lady, $51,000;Camille Y. Johnston, special assistant to the president and director of communications for the first lady, $102,000;Tyler A. Lechtenberg, director of correspondence for the first lady, $50,000;Catherine M. Lelyveld, director and press secretary to the first lady, $85,680;Dana M. Lewis, special assistant and personal aide to the first lady, $66,000;Trooper Sanders, deputy director of policy and projects for the first lady, $85,000; Susan S. Sher, assistant to the president and chief of staff and counsel to the first lady, $172,200;Frances M. Starkey, director of scheduling and advance for the first lady, $80,000;Semonti M. Stevens, associate director and deputy press secretary to the first lady, $53,550;and Melissa Winter, special assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff to the first lady, $102,000. Other Michelle Obama Staff The White House social secretary is responsible for planning and coordinating all social events and entertaining of guests - a sort of Event Planner in Chief for the president and first lady, if you will. The White House social secretary works for the first lady and serves as head of the White House Social Office, which plans everything from the casual and educational student workshops to elegant and sophisticated state dinners welcoming world leaders. In the Office of White House Social Secretary were the following staffers: Erinn J. Burnough, deputy director and deputy social secretary, $66,300;Joseph B. Reinstein, deputy director and deputy social secretary, $66,300;and Julianna S. Smoot, deputy assistant to the president and White House social secretary, $150,000. Melania Trump’s Leaner Staff According to the June 2017 report to Congress on White House personnel, First Lady Melania Trump maintains a significantly smaller staff than her predecessor, Michelle Obama. As of June 2017, only four people were listed as working directly for First Lady Trump for a total combined annual salary of $486,700. They were: Lindsay B. Reynolds $179,700.00 assistant to the president and chief of staff to the first ladyStephanie A. Grisham $115,000.00 – special assistant to the president and director of communications for the first ladyTimothy G. Tripepi $115,000.00 – special assistant to the president and deputy chief of staff of operations for the first ladyMary†Kathryn Fisher $77,000.00 – deputy director of advance for the first lady As did the Obama administration, the Trump administration acknowledged several additional White House staffers beyond those listed in the report with the term â€Å"first lady† in their titles. However, even counting those employees, the total of nine for the current first lady compared to a high of 24 for Michelle Obama, Melania Trump’s total staff is relatively small. For sake of comparison, First Lady Hillary Clinton retained a staff of 19, and Laura Bush at least 18. Updated by Robert Longley

Evaluation on Mathematics Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Evaluation on Mathematics - Term Paper Example Since the 1960s, the mathematic abilities of American Students has been deteriorating compared to those students from other nations. A recent study illustrated that mathematic performance depends more on education and attitude rather than inborn genetic talent (Kimball & Smith, 2013). As such, this particular analysis will focus on the ways in which mathematics is an essential component of the current society and how it is essential that students be effectively trained in math and taught not to simply â€Å"give up† if the first attempt (or attempts) were less than satisfactory. Math is objective, so students who do poorly on exams will tend to compare themselves to those who did well; not realizing that those students were well prepared. The dilemma occurs as the under-performing students identify themselves with the phrase, "Im just not good at math". From this point, it may seem the student will use this as a excuse that could decrease their motivation to prepare for math exams. This self-fulfilling prophecy can cause people to avoid approaching math with "perseverance, tenacity, and fearlessness," which is the attitude needed for people to succeed (Schwartz, 2006). Yet, as has been noted previously, the reality of this approach is that it creates generations of students that simply give up on math; rather than coming to appreciate the fact that it is a difficult subject that requires a certain degree of dedication and mastery to successfully understand and apply. In order to encourage the increased levels of dedication that should be reflected within st udents, educators would do well to remind them how fundamental math is and some of the reasons why is will come to be of ever increasing importance if these students would like to attain a well paying job after graduation (Goel & Reid, 2012). One of the first and

The role of Perceived risk in sustainable consumption contexts Essay

The role of Perceived risk in sustainable consumption contexts - Essay Example Research and development projects have found out that most car demanders have perceived risks about hybrid cars; however, marketing can address the perceived risk barriers to change the attitudes of consumers towards these vehicles. Barriers Associated with Perceived Risk in Decision-making for Hybrid Cars The first barrier associated with perceived risk is lack of warrants. Hybrid companies do not give customers warrants in most cases. This causes lack of guarantee among the customers concerning the functionality of the hybrid cars. Consumers find it difficult to trust hybrid cars because they are not afforded some period of protection should the car fail to meet all dimensions of product quality (Blackwell, Miniard and Engel 101). Sometimes, hybrid car manufacturers offer extremely short period of warrants, which leaves consumers with doubts; customers tend to belief that the reason for this is that these cars could be having short Mean Time To Repair (MTTP) periods. Additionally, hybrid manufacturers fail to avail information concerning earlier purchases that could encourage customers to buy these cars. According to the social learning theory, human beings are naturally attracted to things that society members demand most because they believe that many people demand good things. Car buyers hold a belief that the speed and distance covered by the hybrid cars leads to excessive consumption of fuel and energy during driving. The general assumption is that the higher the speed, the more the engine consumption of fuel. Car consumers, therefore, have a perception that these cars may cause them spend more on fuel than they could spend in conventional cars. The hybrid cars typically attempt to increase the mileage while overcoming the shortcomings of an electric and gasoline car. Apart from the energy costs, hybrid cars are believed to cause accidents easier than conventional cars. The braking system of a hybrid car is automatic and highly sensitive to slight paddle s. Drivers believe that this may encourage them to over-depend on emergency brakes, which may expose them to fatal accidents. The root causes of these perceptions are lack of proper information and false generalizations. Marketers and manufacturers have not invested in consumer education to ensure they have clear knowledge of hybrid cars and their functionality (Blackwell, Miniard and Engel 80). Despite hybrid cars being environmentally friendly and offering great savings on gas than their conventional counterparts, they are associated with several risks. Hybrid cars have gigantic sizes and high voltage batteries. When accidents occur, the high voltage batteries pose a risk of causing acid spills and electric shocks. The force involved in accidental collision or falling of cars causes the high voltage batteries to burst and spray hot acids. Acids may lead to burns of victims while shocks may make it difficult for volunteers who are attempting to save the victims. Sometimes excessive sprays of acids and shocks lead to fires that burn the whole car and victims who might not have escaped. Further concerns arise from the fact that the large battery pack at the rear can accumulate up to 300 volts (Swanson 27). The cables connecting this battery to the engine may rupture or leak and deliver a nasty wallop. Marketing Recommendations to

Theme of Life in Hamlet- Revenge Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Theme of Life in Hamlet- Revenge - Essay Example One thing which stands out in the play is the ability of Shakespeare to manipulate the language; this has been very effectively done in the play. The play is based upon revenge; Hamlet takes revenge of his father’s death in the play. Revenge is a very dangerous motive but a very powerful one. â€Å"This drama is one of the great tragedy themed plays by William Shakespeare. The themes of the plot cover indecision, revenge and retribution, deception, ambition, loyalty and fate. Prince Hamlet mourns both his father's death and his mother, Queen Gertrude's remarriage to Claudius. The ghost of Hamlet's father appears to him and tells him that Claudius has poisoned him. Hamlet swears revenge. He kills the eavesdropping Polonius, the court chamberlain. Polonius's son Laertes returns to Denmark to avenge his father's death. Polonius's daughter Ophelia loves the Prince but his behavior drives her to madness. Ophelia dies by drowning. A duel takes place and ends with the death of Gertr ude, Laertes, Claudius, and Hamlet.† (The Summary of Hamlet). Delay in Avenging the Death of his Father Hamlet is a very intriguing play and the play is based around the story of revenge which gets delayed. Claudius is the protagonist in the play and Hamlet plays the role of a tragic hero in the play. He gets many chances to kill Claudius but he delays avenging the death of his father, Hamlet gets possibly the finest opportunity when Claudius is seen to be praying in the play but Hamlet does not kill him there, this prolonging of revenge shapes up the play very well and it is easily the highlight of the play. The impulsive nature of Hamlet is another very interesting aspect of the play. ... The impulsive nature of Hamlet is another very interesting aspect of the play. Had Hamlet killed Claudius earlier in the play, the play would have lost its charm, the delay in Hamlet’s revenge is one of the biggest factors that intrigues the readers. Let’s now take into consideration the character of Hamlet, as discussed earlier, it can be easily made out that Hamlet was an impulsive person. His Father was the king of Denmark and he was killed by Claudius, who has now become the king by marrying Hamlet’s mother. A ghost tells Hamlet that his father was murdered by King Claudius and this allegation was later proved. Based on this assumption that Claudius killed his father, Hamlet decides to take revenge of the death of his father. Hamlet’s rash actions go on to decide his fate. In the sense that he succeeds in killing King Claudius but prior to this Hamlet ends up killing innocent old man by the name Polonius. Hamlet decides not to kill Claudius while he wa s praying; this causes an unnecessary delay and only goes on to make the readers believe that the actions of Hamlet were very Impulsive. To conclude with the character of Hamlet it can be said that since revenge was his sole aim, no one could have predicted the future and there are risks involved when a person seeks revenge, so it is fair to say that the death of Hamlet was not surprising as a reader and he pretty much deserved it. This is purely based on the fact that anything can happen when one seeks revenge. â€Å"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark.† (Hamlet). Marcellus speaks this line the word rotten goes to show the atmosphere in Denmark. The atmosphere is very bad because of the crime committed by Claudius. He killed Hamlet to come to the throne and this is

A History Of Counterculture In The 1950s History Essay

A History Of Counterculture In The 1950s History Essay The Beat Writers were the pre-hippies, the rebellious teenagers, and the defiance of their generation. They had an explicit effect on the Eisenhowerian society, one of stay at home mothers who cooked and cleaned, one of intolerance and segregation. Their influential writings reflected a persona of a more modern generation, a tolerance not found anywhere else in their time. Their literature is rated as some of the best literature of the 20th century. The Beat Writers writings reflected their lives, even as much as being autobiographical. The effect they had on American society was extraordinary and they provided the basis for jumpstarting the civil rights and social reform movements. In this paper, Beat Writers, Beat Generation and the term beatnik will be used interchangeably. The Beat Writers of the 1950s redefine American culture and pushed the boundaries of the socially acceptable. Not many people have heard of the Beat Writers as their influence in America is hard to discern in the modern world. Their writings started around 60 years ago, originally in New York before moving to the San Francisco Bay area. The most famous Beat Writers were Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, and William Burroughs, but many others such as Neal Cassady were part of the group. They all shared a common interest in drugs, more specifically psychedelic drugs and marijuana. The Beat Writers also had multiple bisexual or gay members; their writings reflected an extremely tolerant sexual attitude, on topics considered taboo at the time, such as interracial romance and group sex. Their interests included spiritual enlightenment and a rejection of materialistic ideas common in mainstream culture, as well as an interest in poetry. We are the change that we seek. Barack Obama The social norm in the 1950s was a modernist traditional one; the women who were working during WWII now had to put on an apron when the GIs came home. The domestic society seemed to move backward instead of forward. Sexual topics or references were considered forbidden and taboo and most writers did not mention them. The Beat Generation was a new thing; Chester MacPhee was quoted as saying, The words and the sense of the writing is obscene à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦ you wouldnt want your children to come across it. However, it seemed the American people were appreciative of something new. Brown vs. Board of Ed happened two years earlier; the time was one of change. The Beat Generation provided the subtle spark for this change. To rebel! That is the immediate objective of poets! We can not wait and will not be held backThe poetic marvelous and the unconscious are the true inspirers of rebels and poets.-Philip Lamantia When Allen Ginsbergs Howl was published in 1957, people such as M. L. Rosenthal, the founder of the Poetic Institute at NYU, responded to the poem as very simply, this is poetry of genuine suffering, but MacPhee, an employee of San Francisco Customs deemed the poem too obscene. This led to an obscenity trial in 1957, where the owner of City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, was put on trial for selling obscene materials. The American Civil Liberties Union sent forth the famous J.W. Elrich, a criminal defense lawyer, to defend Ferlinghetti. City Lights was made famous by the case; Judge Clayton Horn declared the work Howl and Other poems was not obscene and was of redeeming social importance. This ruling sparked attention to the poems author, Allen Ginsberg, selling 20,000 copies in the first year of publication. Howl has now sold over a million copies. In the same year, On the Road was published. It was an instant bestseller; the New York Times proclaimed it as the novel of the Beat Generation. On the Road was a transcription of Kerouacs friends and fellow Beats; in short, it was an autobiography of a few trips Kerouac made around North America. The names were changed from the actual people to pseudonyms for legal reasons. In 1957, when Howl was published, it generated a response that was not exactly favorable yet was acknowledged by critics as the landmark poem of the Beat Generation. The poem was ruled publishable after an obscenity trial, and the ruling set a precedent for the American public. Yet even in the modern world, there is still controversy about the poem being aired. The effect of the publication as summarized by Ginsberg included liberation of the world from censorship and spiritual liberation. The Beat Generation as a whole had more than a marginal effect on the American populace, however. The year is 1960. Beatnik culture has now turned into hippie culture. Allen Ginsberg is now considered a hippie and a part of the counterculture of the 1960s. The culture of America is a more tolerant one, especially after the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964, which stated that discrimination is henceforth banned on the basis of race, color, religion, or national origin, as well as other laws and policies passed in Congress. These laws, including the Civil Rights Act, the Voting Rights Act, and the Immigration and Nationality Services Act were passed because of action taken by years of peaceful protests and sit-ins by protesters, including hippies and African-American activists. The 50s counterculture movements led to these movements in their inspirational writings as well as the fact that several notable members of the Beat Generation joined these counterculture movements. Neal Cassady, the star character of Jack Kerouacs On the Road started off fresh with The Merry Prankster s, a group of pre-hippies who advocated for peace and understanding as well as the use of illicit drugs. The Grateful Dead, popularized by the hippie music movement, had even written a song about the group, entitled Thats It For The Other One. The hippie ideology is itself a mirror image of the beatniks; it was based on the use of illicit psychedelic drugs such as LSD (Lysergic acid diethylamide), listening to counterculture rock music like the Grateful Dead and The Beatles, and an explicit embrace of the sexual revolution. All of these ideals tie into each other and form a certain fundamental understanding that inspired the Beat Writers and hippies alike. In fact, the iconic groups of the hippie counterculture took direct inspiration from the beatniks. The name of the Beatles comes from the phrase Beatnik, according to Jack Kerouac, who spelled the name with an a apparently because of the Beat influence. Allen Ginsberg sums up the effect of the Beat Generation in his summary, A Definition of the Beat Generation, in which he states that the there are a couple different outputs into culture and ideals. Most of those outputs were directly from Beat ideals; others such as the evolution of rhythm and blues into a higher art form and respect for the land and indigenous people and animals were indirect. His understanding of the extent of the Beat influence let him make more accurate conclusions than most people. However, his conclusions are those of an insider; a individual who has a comprehensive viewpoint into the world of Beat. Other Beats had ideas about the environment; the supposed notion of a Fresh Planet, which later provided the basis for the hippie ideal of caring for the environment. In particular, this idea of deep ecology, the philosophy of environmental ethics and earthen spirituality resulted from the ideas in the Beat generation. The Beats also left behind them a musical legacy; not one of their own music but an inspiration to others music. Bob Dylan, a Grammy and Golden Globe winning musician, was good friends with Allen Ginsberg, and Dylan states that Kerouac and Ginsberg were major influences in his work. Rollingstone magazine ranked him as number 2 in their all-time best artists list. His music reflected social unrest and counterculture; it was very popular with the counterculture movement in the 1960s. The Merry Pranksters, as mentioned earlier, contained future members of the Grateful Dead, a extremely popular music group among fans of psychedelia and hippies. The Grateful Dead had massive followings of fans and had a three decade career in the music industry. William Burroughs was also friends and influences of Mick Jagger and Bono of U2, both extremely popular musicians. Many bands and artists leave tribute to the Beat Generation; most of these groups are representative of similar ideals, but with a more modern outlook. For instance, the group They Might Be Giants, an alternative rock group, writes songs that utilize counterculture lyrics and experimental instrumentation. They mention in their song I Should Be Allowed to Think the first two lines of Howl; I saw the best minds of my generation, destroyed by madness, starving, hysterical and then proceeds with the rest of the song. Yet even their indirect musical contributions remain part of a bigger picture of their cultural effect. I am going to marry my novels and have little short stories for children. -Jack Kerouac Probably the most obvious and important contribution to culture and society was the Beats literature. Howl, Naked Lunch, and On the Road each represented a different opinion on the same genre of ideals. Notable writers such as Thomas Pynchon, the author of Gravitys Rainbow, cites the Beat Generation as a major influence. Experts compare his work to William S. Burroughs. Pychon himself explains, At the simplest level, it had to do with language. We were encouraged from many directionsKerouac and the Beat writers, the diction of Saul Bellow in The Adventures of Augie March, emerging voices like those of Herbert Gold and Philip Rothto see how at least two very distinct kinds of English could be allowed in fiction to coexist. Allowed! It was actually OK to write like this! Who knew? The effect was exciting, liberating, strongly positive. Other writers, including Amiri Baraka, who published several Beat writers such as Kerouac and Ginsberg, turned their viewpoints into other genres of counterculture activists. Amri Baraka became a black nationalist in the 1960s after separating from the white Beat Generation. His poems and writings have become famous; he has also taught at Rutgers University. The overall effect of the Beat Generation was a positive countercultural one, an effect where the explicit was allowed, illicit psychedelic drugs were not generally allowed but used anyway, spiritual enlightenment became popular; especially among hippies and activists; and the society and culture of the Western hemisphere became a more understanding and open-minded society. The so-called Beat Generation was a whole bunch of people, of all different nationalities, who came to the conclusion that society sucked, as stated by Amiri Baraka; and they did something about society.