Linda Larkin

Aladdin In the 1992 production of Aladdin, a street boy runs into a magic lamp, and transforms into a prince so he can win the heart of the princess of Agrabah. Walt Disney studios collaborated with Ron Clements and John Musker who were both the directors and producers, to create the hour and thirty-minute production (“Aladdin”). Some of the featured players are Scott Weinger as Aladdin, Robin Williams as the Genie, and Linda Larkin as Princess Jasmine. The story of Aladdin is derived from the Thousand and One Nights, which is a large collection of Middle Eastern folk tales compiled during the Islamic Golden Age. There is not a ‘based on the book’ statement; however it follows some of the original plot. In the Disney production of Aladdin,…

Propaganda. When we hear the word propaganda, we think of the Holocaust, of Nazi Germany, of Hitler. We think of a dark, dangerous time, a time when everyone was suspected to be the enemy, a time when no one could be trusted. What we don't think about, is the constant propaganda that we are exposed to today. We expect it to be plainly stated. To be so obvious, that when we see it, a bright lightbulb lights up with a glaring neon red sign saying “WARNING: PROPAGANDA. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.” Yet,…

This situation presents different problems depending on the listener. For instance, those in agreement with the religious message being imparted are going about their day and are unable to give the message their full attention. Larkin discusses how this is problematic specifically for Muslims as they are supposed to be attentive to these religious messages. However for those who do not belong to the religion that is being broadcast, it can be seen instead as an attack as the religious message is…

away from home is an act that every child considers. As an adult, though, the hope and majesty of the idea can start to fade. In Philip Larkin’s “Poetry of Departures”, the narrator speaks of someone who had considered leaving home. Larkin develops two ways of living in his poem, one where the character spontaneously abandons his life and walks out, and the other being the mundane life at home. Larkin’s attitude toward the two ways of living is shown through his diction, progressing and evolving…

Compare the ways in which the poets you studied this year use poetry as a form of protest. Different poets utilise various poetic techniques to express their opposition against war, death and society. Wilfred Owen in ‘Dulce et Decorum Est’ and Siegfried Sassoon in ‘Suicide in the Trenches’ condemn the glorification of war based on their experiences in World War One. ‘Funeral Blues’ by WH Auden and ‘Do no go gentle into that good night’ by Dylan Thomas convey the poets’ common objection against…

Every once in awhile, you get the opportunity to attend something special, emotional and lasting. Last week I attended the 19th Annual Music Master Awards/ Conference/Tribute Concert for The Everly Brothers. I will cherish and remember the conference but especially the concert forever. When I think about it today I have two distinct emotions, joy and a tear. At the conference we saw some very rare footage of The Everly Brothers, film clips from Germany and England not seen by my many until…

The song Pretty Hurts, written by Sia Furler and performed by Beyonce Knowles in a video directed by Melina Matsoukas has been viewed more than 203 million times on YouTube. At first glance the lyrics and storyline of the video, are moving and even at some points heartbreaking. The setting of a beauty pageant shows some of the darker aspects of girls trying to fit into societal beauty standards, which is all too relatable for far too many people. It might not be until your second or third…

When I first started listening to this piece, Haydn’s String Quartet in D Major, Op. 64, “The Lark,” I was surprised by how familiar it sounded to me. I think it is well known, and has a distinct section that repeats multiple times throughout the piece, which is very well known. The strings often build up with one another to create a type of tension and anticipation throughout the movement. The piece appears to be written in ABA form, thus the listener has a clear idea of where the piece is…

Collective memory describes stories, artifacts, food, drink, and many other things that connect shared groups, but in Landreth’s film, Larkin is the form of memory the ties and binds people together. Viewers see parts of Larkins past and relationships with former girlfriend Felicity, and his friend Derek as they add their own experiences. “Ryan” is a film about the shift between objective reality and the analysis of human thought in an emotional and psychological study. Larkin and his works,…

certain events such as First Friday, while people dine. The band consisted of four male instrumentalists, a couple who also vocalized and a female singer appeared for a few of the songs. All of the participants on stage were assumingly in their 50s. The instruments played throughout the set included a drum set, a keyboard, an electric guitar and bass. They were scheduled to play from 8 to 10:30, I unfortunately wasn’t there the entire session, since I found them when they had already started. I…