What does it take to create a change??

   Throughout our lives as well as the lives of all of those before us, there have always been many important social issues which people try to either pretend that they do not exist due to their own best interest, people who ignore these issues, as well as those brave individuals who have the courage to stand out above the rest to make a change in this world. But i ask myself what does it take to truly be able to say that you have managed to make a change for the best in this world? Is it taking a stand by using your freedom of speech in public places such as the freemont strip or UNLV campus in order to attempt to force on others your religious views? Is it done so by changing your Facebook profile picture from yours to that of a cartoon for a few days to help bring awareness of child abuse?
   Throughout this past week of preparing for my finals as well as simply observing what goes on around on campus, and what is taking place within my social life, as well as being a part of a close friends final project for his sociology class which he choose to put together a montage against GLBT bullying, It all really got me thinking all the writers which I have read this semester from this class and all my others, I've learned to agree with most writers, art does last forever! What does this have to do with what I have been rambling on about you may ask yourself?
   Well its simple, all of my favorite writers till this day including: Alexander Pope, as well as William Blake, Jonathan Swift and many others demonstrate this within there writings which all have great meaning and purpose behind them. A few examples of how this is done is demonstrated with Alexander Pope's, "The Rape of the Lock" for the fact that his work demonstrated how being so vain leads nowhere good, and these women who are nothing more then beauties should realize that before its too late! William Blake's, Songs from the Innocence and his Songs from the experienced are multiple poems which demonstrate the struggles that many in the world had to go through whether simply innocent children and or grown adults. William Blake also was and artist who made plate paintings that went with his poetry and provided a visual to go with his writings. Lastly Jonathan Swift was a man good with words and who used this to his advantage to get what he wanted out to the world with the use of satires.
   So what does it take to create a change? Getting out there one way or another! If you manage to catch the interest of at least one individual and that manages to get the attention of others then by all means do it! Raise awareness after all, theres no harm in that! But be smart about how you raise awareness, its better to do something that will create a long lasting change in the lives of others or yourself, then to simply take part in something that will fade off and be forgotten.

Happy Holidays!!! :)

The Rape of the Lock: Vain Beauties

   The Rape of the Lock, by Alexander Pope makes it very clear how people within ones society react towards what is considered to be attractive. This is still something very much seen today! But what is of most importance to realize is that it is one thing to be aware that you are a beauty and another thing to act in such a foolish manner due to being nothing other then being vain!
   Alexander Pope places much emphasis on hair, and within one of the footnotes within this reading even states that this is present due to the fact that "Berenice, the wife of Ptolemy III, dedicated a lock of her hair to the gods to ensure her husband's safe return from war." This is clearly a great demonstration as to the level of importance which was placed on a women of beauty to be expected to have beautiful locks of hair. It's almost as if beautiful hair is a must in order to be considered a beautiful women in the first place.
   Pope also greatly emphasizes within The Rape of the Lock, the charm of women who are beautiful and how they act proper and always provide a smile and how when they turn someone down, they never do so in such a manner which would be considered to be an insult to anyone. The beauties spoken of within The Rape of the Lock, receive the exact same reaction from all men, and that is nothing less then a breath taking aw-reaction. These are the women who bring excitement and light into a room with their charm and dazzling looks!
   Sadly though, Pope does not mention that there is anything more to be offered by these women, they are simply to a great extent considered to be nothing more then trophies to men. The Rape of the Lock also mentions that women hide their flaws by presenting a pretty face which functions as a distraction which does not allow others to see the true individuals that they are. Lines 9-20 From Canto 5; however, make it clear that in reality beauty won't do anything productive for you at the end of the day. Beauty can't cure anything and just because one is considered a beauty, it does not mean that it will keep you from aging and of course with aging comes getting wrinkles! Oh no!!
   Being as these women are not seen as anything other then looks due to the distractions which they have formulated from allowing anyone to see who they are on the inside, Pope makes it clear that in order to be a women who is beautiful, but can manage to gain pleasure from reading The Rape of the Lock, the women must have a sense of humor, and be willing to admit to things how they are and not feel offended. But of course in the end "Beauties in vain their pretty eyes may roll;" (Canto 5, line 33).
   The lesson well taught within this reading is clearly as follows, no matter how beautiful and charming you are, you will not gain much of anything at all from it later on in life. Therefore, embrace beauty, but do not ever make it the only thing you have to offer! Overall absolutely enjoyed this reading!