Ilene Lee
English 1B
27 August 2009
Tuesday-Thursday
In the eyes of James Baldwin, an artist must be imaginative and take the ugliness of truth in society and turn it into a liberating beauty that sets things straight. As an artist, I write to share my thoughts and emotions of issues that are important to me, such as women’s rights, global hunger, and the lost youth in America. My creative process stems from the core ideas and morals that I have been raised to believe. I rely on my instincts and personal experiences to guide myself through words that mean something- words that express my truth.
When I write, I isolate my thoughts into a deep corner and question the themes and ideas that exist around a particular subject. I apply my mentality into a state of “aloneness of birth or death” (1) and think about a topic at its core state without any outside influences from others. It is imperative for me, as a writer, to keep my thoughts as raw as possible, to ensure that my words create a powerful and original voice. Baldwin explains that an artist “is his own test tube, his own laboratory, working… to supersede his responsibility to reveal all that he can possibly discover concerning the human bring” (2), similarly, I write to fulfill my own discovery and to illustrate what I have learned in my research. I am not fighting to sound the smartest or most eloquent, but simply fighting to share my voice; to show that my words have meaning and depth to our lives. I strive to release the truth I perceive to be reality in the experiences of my life.
When it comes to my audience, I have no better guests than I, myself. My thoughts are mainly for my own insight and knowledge- to reflect on my perspectives in life and gain a better understanding. I have no one to make proud, no one to impress and instead of fighting for another person’s approval- I am writing for my own personal sake. Baldwin explains that all human have their own belief of what is true. An artist simply breaks down their own ideas and shares it with the world, whether or not a person chooses to believe that artist depends on their own free will. My motivation is to seek a truth that I can find fit for our society. With all the changes and taboo situations that occur daily, I am still trying to improve my ever-expanding knowledge of this world and becoming closer to understanding the purpose of myself.
Works Cited
Baldwin, James. "The Creative Process". Creative America. 1962
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Say My Name Response
Ilene Lee
English 1B
27 August 2009
Tuesday-Thursday
“Say My Name” is an independent film about the lives of female Hip-hop artists that went through the struggle of finding respect in the entertainment industry. The intertwining stories of each individual artist captured the essence of a women’s struggle to fulfill her dream as a rap artist and to earn the respect she deserves. Women who shared their stories provided a glimpse into the ups and downs of their lives and ultimately the success they achieved despite the male-dominating scene in the Hip-hop business. These women stood tall with their talent and demanded the spotlight on them – demanded the attention and respect they wanted.
In the film, Roxane Shante portrayed her story as an overnight sensation. She grew up not very rich and learned about the hardships a young girl needed to face as an upcoming Hip-hop artist. She wanted to share her story and express the truths of her life- the personal experiences and emotions that she was dealing with. Drugs, violence and preganancy were just a few of the struggles she had to face. Although she experienced peer pressure, she dedicated most of her efforts in rapping. At a young age, she had talent as a rapper. She did not let anything hold her back and rapped with passion to fulfill her dreams. Fame was inevitable with her vocal lyrics. When she shared her success with others, some did not respond with the same enthusiasm-a man beat her and brutally punched her out of envy. Despite the hardships she faced, she turned her experiences into motivation and beautiful lyrics that shared a part of her life.
Say My Name. Dir. MAMAMESS. 2009.
English 1B
27 August 2009
Tuesday-Thursday
“Say My Name” is an independent film about the lives of female Hip-hop artists that went through the struggle of finding respect in the entertainment industry. The intertwining stories of each individual artist captured the essence of a women’s struggle to fulfill her dream as a rap artist and to earn the respect she deserves. Women who shared their stories provided a glimpse into the ups and downs of their lives and ultimately the success they achieved despite the male-dominating scene in the Hip-hop business. These women stood tall with their talent and demanded the spotlight on them – demanded the attention and respect they wanted.
In the film, Roxane Shante portrayed her story as an overnight sensation. She grew up not very rich and learned about the hardships a young girl needed to face as an upcoming Hip-hop artist. She wanted to share her story and express the truths of her life- the personal experiences and emotions that she was dealing with. Drugs, violence and preganancy were just a few of the struggles she had to face. Although she experienced peer pressure, she dedicated most of her efforts in rapping. At a young age, she had talent as a rapper. She did not let anything hold her back and rapped with passion to fulfill her dreams. Fame was inevitable with her vocal lyrics. When she shared her success with others, some did not respond with the same enthusiasm-a man beat her and brutally punched her out of envy. Despite the hardships she faced, she turned her experiences into motivation and beautiful lyrics that shared a part of her life.
Say My Name. Dir. MAMAMESS. 2009.
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