Alexander,+Laura

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LA The 39 Steps

LAAssignment3

2. Question 2 at the end of the chapter asks that you do the following: Choose one of the stories, and write a short essay that includes your responses to the following questions: a. What do we come to learn about the character from the story? b. What images in the story make the strongest impression on you? c. How does the story relate to the events of the play and the play's meaning?

Bynum relates his back-story early in the first scene of the play as he explains to Selig why he asks for him to find the "shiny man." Based on the other character's perspectives of Bynum as a seedy and seemingly unstable "conjurer," this tale of his experience with the "shiny man" further explains his odd behavior and outlook on life. Through his story, we learn how Bynum earned his name, for he picked the Binding Song that the "shiny man" led him to, and he's "been binding ever since." Selig and the Hollys both seem skeptical of Bynum's account, as they simply choose to put up with Bynum rather than argue with him over his strange rituals. Additionally, we learn that the conjurer possesses a soft side, for he rationalizes his choice of song with his observations of other people he has seen on his travels that meet each other and leave once their journey together ends. In his opinion, this pattern occurs all too often, which leads him to choose the Binding Song to connect carefully selected people together in the hopes of bringing them happiness.Therefore, through his story we learn the basis of his philosophy and status as an "African conjurer." However, it brings into question his sense of identity, for he looks for the "shiny man" in order to seek further wisdom, as if he fails to completely understand the "Secret of Life."

The paragraph following Bynum's introduction of the "shiny man" in which he depicts a ritual involving smearing blood across his body and a twisted journey into a forest like area in which Bynum's guide, according to Bynum, "shined until all of the light seeped out of him." Such powerful imagery stood out to me as well as explained why Bynum so adamantly assured Selig that he would know this man if he saw him. Other than when Wilson describes a new character, this passage vibrantly describes the scene, more so than in most other scenes of the play. However, this may be due to Bynum's apparent connection with and love for the wonders of nature, for he seems like the character that interacts the most with it both in his line of work and his rituals.

This story directly relates to the establishment of Bynum's character and his role in the lives of the tenants and the Hollys. Additionally, it introduces the issue of identity, as Bynum later claims that Loomis' problem is that he "hasn't found his song." This, in fact, is the central theme of the play - Loomis' search for his identity after losing it during his imprisonment under Joe Turner.

South East Asian Puppet Shows

1) In both videos, the clown puppets exhibited more rounded features than the angular and square warrior-type gods in order to create a less serious appearance. Additionally, their mouths often protruded when closed which creates a dunce-like facial expression, which further exaggerates the clown persona. Sharp movements that emphasize the puppet's dialogue and attitude coupled with the tone of its speech also contributes to the comedic characteristics of the puppet. High tones unlike the deep and rough sounds of the more serious characters represent a universal characteristic of clown-like characters that the puppeteer utilizes effectively. While language obviously remains a large barrier in being able to appreciate the comedic aspects of the performance, one can gather from the appearance, movement, tone, interactions between the characters, as well as cues from the audience, that the clown servants provide a comedic aspect within the performance in order to lighten the mood of an otherwise serious ritual.

2) Due to the lengthy duration of the ritual of making holy water, the puppeteer incorporates comedic elements into the performance in order to break up the seriousness of the event and possibly to keep the audience's interest. Not only is the performance part of a sacred tradition, it is also a form of entertainment. Therefore, in order to maintain the audience's attention,the puppeteer employs comedy to lighten the mood throughout the ritual and maintain a certain atmosphere capable of joyful laughter as well as serious reverence for the importance/holiness of the performance.

I'm Laura Alexander. I live in Myers and plan to major in Microbiology. I love reading and exercising and I'm absolutely loving UGA right now.