While at the MOMA I observed an exhibit of Russian art that explored new ways of abstraction between 1912 and 1935. The work was very different from what I was used to. I feel like the European and American style is of art is very forward and focuses on beauty, while the art I observed seemed to have a deeper purpose. All of the work was abstract art but it seemed to have this revolutionary feeling as if the pieces were making more than one point and breaking all the rules all at once. Some of the pieces made it evident that they were done by Russian artist, but even though it was all from the same region, every piece was different in their own way and told their own individual story. The piece that I was drawn to the most was Alexandra Exter’s Theatrical Composition. It was full of color and seemed to have this way of drawing you away from all the other pieces just to have you bask in its glory. It wasn’t just one particular thing within the painting that caught my eye. I believe it was the style of the painting, as in the way in which Exter capture what may seem to many as a simple scene. The painting shows two people staring out of their windows at, but shows this at different angles and dimensions. One could view the painting at different angles and even though they may have a different point of view one will get the big picture.

The alarm rang 4 times and each time she pressed snooze, until 7:20 came and she realized at some point she had to get up. “Ugh! Another long day of school. At least it’s my less stressful classes”, thought Tiana. But maybe I can just skip the first class, no let me get up. Monday’s are such a drag. They say you find yourself in college, but when exactly will that happen. Is it normal to feel like just another sheep in the flock, or are you supposed to feel like your doing something worth while, something with a purpose bigger than getting a degree. “But I have responsibilities and a certain lifestyle I yearn for, so get yah ass up and get ready”, concluded Tiana. She completed her daily morning routine and got ready to exit her home. Wow it’s actually cold today. Tiana looked at the time, “Damn I’m going to be late”, she thought. She walked to the bus and stopped to get a breakfast of cheese-its and one of those oatmeal patty things. Leny texted, “Get out of bed and go to school”. He is her boyfriend of two years and they always try to get each other on the right track when one feels like giving up. “I’m already at the bus”, she replied. The biggest drag about getting up for school, really was the fact she had to commute.

There wasn’t a lot of people at the bus stop, but there was a lot of trash and the incoming bus was packed. Thankful, the L train was empty. She didn’t really observe the people around her much, but she did see this one mother with her three children. Not sure when they got on, but they exited at Wilson ave. The children weren’t dressed up in costumes, but I don’t think they cared much. For the rest of the ride Tiana was lost in her music, like usual. She softly danced and mouthed the words of each song. She wondered if people thought she was crazy, but didn’t really care much if they did. She was tired and wanted to catch a nap in the train but the time flew. She thought might as well spend the next few stops reading. Wow this book is boring. Union square came and she transferred to the 6 to take it to 23rd. “Omg can people move any slower, I need to catch the 6 now”, she softly said to herself. Thankfully a woman in a devil costume needed to catch the train as well and get the doors of the train to reopen. Why don’t people move into the train to create more space, it seems like common sense to me. The train stopped at 23rd street and she exited. Wow I’m not late!

In the novel and the film, women of color are depicted as helpless and the sole victims of abuse. We never see women defending themselves like we get to witness with male characters. However, men of color are affected by the pain of women of color and act upon it while the women remain silenced. The article makes clear that in the film, although the beating and raping of women of color caused Turner’s initial attack, women were not shown to be a part of the physical rebellion. Although the mistreatment of women is acknowledged, the focus is mainly on how men of color are affected by it. When Turner’s wife is raped he uses this as reasoning for his rebellion, thus speaking for her since she couldn’t. Another female slave by the name of Ester was raped and remained silent throughout the film. On page 4 of the article, they state for the men “we see … their transformation into men emboldened enough to fully defy their master”.

In the novel, readers hear more about abuse being inflicted on women of color than men, but when it came time for Frederick to fully rebel, by making a plan to flee slavery, he only asked men to join him on his journey. Douglass mentions his aunts beating, which was his first time witnessing the horrors of slavery, and a slave by the name of “Henny”, who was beaten every day for the master’s satisfaction. Women of color had no voice or power, not even in expressing how they feel and what they may do to be a part of their liberation.

When the Wretch is “born”, he was innocent and free of sin. The Creature wasn’t made for evil or to bring fear to anyone. This, in my belief, makes the Creature more like William Blake’s Lamb than his Tyger. In Blake’s poem, he writes “Gave thee clothing of delight, / Softest clothing wooly bright” (The Lamb) and in the novel, Frankenstein created the Creature with features he saw as beautiful, “His limbs were in proportion, and I selected his features as beautiful.” (Chapter 4, paragraph 2). The Lamb and the Creature were both created without malicious thought and made to be wonderful creations amongst society. The Tyger, on the other hand, gives off a theme a fear and evil from the very beginning, unlike the Creature, who sins only began with his exile from the world around him. In volume 2 of the novel, the Creature says, “I was benevolent; my soul glowed with love and humanity” (Chapter 2, paragraph 12). The latter relates to the Lamb because he is too “meek…mild…[and] a little child” (Blake). The Tyger’s is never portrayed as being naïve or innocent, in fact, the whole poem dedicated to the Tyger has a very dark feeling that only develops in the Creature as the novel progresses, but isn’t prominent in the Creature upon “birth”. The Lamb represents the Creature as he is on the inside despite his flaws and actions. The Creature doesn’t mean harm, and unlike the Tyger who was made with “fearful symmetry” (Blake) from its very beginning.

I reside in East New York, Brooklyn. Many times when I tell people where I am from they either have no clue where it is or cringe. East New Yok is notoriously known one of the roughest neighborhoods in the city. Although there are many people who will probably never step foot in my neighborhood or see it as a nasty place, to me I couldn’t have asked for a better place to grow up. At times, it could be dangerous, but even within its flaws, I can’t help to see its beauty.

Fiction creates knowledge by using stories to explain and bring light to real life situations. It takes one to a fictional place and allows them to analyze the world from a third party point of view. Fiction can also help one acquire and absorb information by connecting a story to the real world, in the way people used stories to study the stars. The reading states, “Tell a story, so that we understand why and how this world was created, who our ancestors were and where they came from, so we understand where we are and where we may be going.” This meaning that through stories one can gain knowledge of the past, present, and future. Through stories, one can receive a better understanding of life in the past and get an idea of the things their ancestors encounter. The latter can create a knowledge in history and help one to have a greater understanding of the world, as it is today, to inspire tomorrow. People use fiction to explain things they don’t understand, which creates thought and inspires the expansion of one’s mind. Fictional stories are a way to “enlighten human minds in dark time full of mystery”, as stated in the reading, by having one lose themselves in a story and/or gain inspiration from the events within it. We tell stories to teach by connecting the fake world to the problems of the real world. Through fiction, one can learn life lessons and create knowledge. Fiction plays an important part in how we intake information and adapts to society to give this information the best way possible.