[Name of the Writer]
[Name of Instructor]
[Subject]
[Date]
Final Exam
Introduction
Literature is the creation of human civilization. It is human-made artifact that is known for its artistic nature. Around the world, several artists have produced great literary masterpieces to illustrate different notions of life. Their literary works are much famous in this world even after ages. In this vein, this collection of literary works is a piece of acknowledgment for those artistic minds that focused on the form of art. Several literary books have been a useful resource in this regard. Some of the notable plays and novels are Twilight, What makes Sammy run, The Day of the Locust, A Single Man and so on. In addition, some of the art films have made huge fame in art and literature such as Chinatown and Twilight. It would not be wrong that these literary books and films are a significant way to understand life and its various complex concepts in societies.
Discussion
To begin with, Anna Deavere Smith is the lady who inculcated a new spirit in literature. She is the lady who is known for her peculiar taste in art. Her masterclass creation Twilight--Los Angeles, 1992 exudes the sense of justice in society. Anna believed in a unified society, she was not fond of any man-made barrier such as color or race. When the riots broke out in Los Angeles, this play made an appearance. One famous quote of this play depicted the then ongoing situation in Los Angeles:
“He was trying to get me to come insideand away from the scene,but I said, "No."I said, "We have to stay hereand watchbecause this is wrong.”
In these lines ( ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"TayatNlD","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Smith)","plainCitation":"(Smith)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":384,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/YMLC98XV"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/YMLC98XV"],"itemData":{"id":384,"type":"book","title":"Twilight--Los Angeles, 1992","publisher":"Dramatists Play Service Inc","number-of-pages":"180","source":"Google Books","abstract":"Contains the verbatim words of people who experienced the Los Angeles riots, exposing and exploring the devestating human impact of that event. From nine months of interviews with more than two hundred people, the author has chosen the voices that best reflect the diversity and tension of a city in turmoil.","ISBN":"978-0-8222-1841-8","language":"en","author":[{"family":"Smith","given":"Anna Deavere"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2003"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Smith, 50) Anna tried to convey her message that this injustice should not be left unchecked as this is morally wrong in society. She portrays a scene that someone was asking her to get away from the chaos and riots, but she is willing to stay as she considers it absolutely unjustified and criminal in nature. Thus, Anna inculcated the sense of morality in the literary piece of writings.
Furthermore, Walter Mosley and his “Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned” also highlights that black people are treated mercilessly in society. His book also throws light on inhuman treatment that is faced by black people in American society every day. He stated in his book ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"tlXUzZwe","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Mosley)","plainCitation":"(Mosley)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":386,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/IWG4YM2D"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/IWG4YM2D"],"itemData":{"id":386,"type":"book","title":"Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned","publisher":"Simon and Schuster","number-of-pages":"214","source":"Google Books","abstract":"New York Times bestselling author Walter Mosley introduces an \"astonishing character\" (Los Angeles Times Book Review) in this acclaimed collection of entwined tales. Meet Socrates Fortlow, a tough ex-con seeking truth and redemption in South Central Los Angeles -- and finding the miracle of survival.\"I either committed a crime or had a crime done to me every day I was in jail. Once you go to prison you belong there.\" Socrates Fortlow has done his time: twenty-seven years for murder and rape, acts forged by his huge, rock-breaking hands. Now, he has come home to a new kind of prison: two battered rooms in an abandoned building in Watts. Working for the Bounty supermarket, and moving perilously close to invisibility, it is Socrates who throws a lifeline to a drowning man: young Darryl, whose shaky path is already bloodstained and fearsome. In a place of violence and hopelessness, Socrates offers up his own battle-scarred wisdom that can turn the world around.","ISBN":"978-1-4516-1246-2","note":"Google-Books-ID: cxT4Hz7kNnsC","language":"en","author":[{"family":"Mosley","given":"Walter"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2010",6,22]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Mosley, 94) that “ it was the graveyard for all black people that died from grief. Each grave was marked by small granite stone, hardly larger than a silver dollar." Hence, this quote reveals the brutal side of life for black people in American society.
What Makes Sammy Run by Budd Schulberg is a novel that highlights the fact that when legitimate means are blocked, then people often choose wrong means for their ends. This is the story of a Jewish boy who tried to run away from his bitter circumstances. The famous lines ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"5qjjbybo","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Schulberg)","plainCitation":"(Schulberg)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":388,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/MW4MI7VG"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/MW4MI7VG"],"itemData":{"id":388,"type":"book","title":"What Makes Sammy Run?","publisher":"Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group","number-of-pages":"351","source":"Google Books","abstract":"What Makes Sammy Run?Everyone of us knows someone who runs. He is one of the symp-toms of our times—from the little man who shoves you out of the way on the street to the go-getter who shoves you out of a job in the office to the Fuehrer who shoves you out of the world. And all of us have stopped to wonder, at some time or another, what it is that makes these people tick. What makes them run?This is the question Schulberg has asked himself, and the answer is the first novel written with the indignation that only a young writer with talent and ideals could concentrate into a manuscript. It is the story of Sammy Glick, the man with a positive genius for being a heel, who runs through New York’s East Side, through newspaper ranks and finally through Hollywood, leaving in his wake the wrecked careers of his associates; for this is his tragedy and his chief characteristic—his congenital incapacity for friendship.An older and more experienced novelist might have tempered his story and, in so doing, destroyed one of its outstanding qualities. Compromise would mar the portrait of Sammy Glick. Schulberg has etched it in pure vitriol, and dissected his victim with a precision that is almost frightening.When a fragment of this book appeared as a short story in a national magazine, Schulberg was surprised at the number of letters he received from people convinced they knew Sammy Glick’s real name. But speculation as to his real identity would be utterly fruitless, for Sammy is a composite picture of a loud and spectacular minority bitterly resented by the many decent and sincere artists who are trying honestly to realize the measureless potentialities of motion pictures. To this group belongs Schulberg himself, who has not only worked as a screen writer since his graduation from Dartmouth College in 1936, but has spent his life, literally, in the heart of the motion-picture colony. In the course of finding out what makes Sammy run (an operation in which the reader is spared none of the grue-some details) Schulberg has poured out everything he has felt about that place. The result is a book which the publishers not only believe to be the most honest ever written about Hollywood, but a penetrating study of one kind of twentieth-century success that is peculiar to no single race of people or walk of life.","ISBN":"978-0-307-79073-6","note":"Google-Books-ID: eSbBDWgqcgYC","language":"en","author":[{"family":"Schulberg","given":"Budd"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2011",5,25]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Schulberg, 115) of this novel “Work hard, and if you can't work hard, be smart; and, if you can't be smart, be loud.”, highlights the sense of betrayal and smartness to achieve anything you want in this world. A boy runs away from ghetto and becomes a go-getter because of his trickery and deception. Hence, this shows how society and its mechanism changes the behavior of a person.
The Day of the Locust is the satirical piece of writing that further illuminates the struggle of back people in society. Here, the author states that American society does not offer many promising circumstances to everyone in its territory. The lines Here, you black rascal! A mint julep." ( ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"JauDyBCz","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(West)","plainCitation":"(West)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":390,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/4UZ62M3F"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/4UZ62M3F"],"itemData":{"id":390,"type":"book","title":"The Day of the Locust","number-of-pages":"164","source":"Google Books","note":"Google-Books-ID: M6Ek61Aph88C","language":"en","author":[{"family":"West","given":"Nathanael"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["1975"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (West, 4) exhibits how the black race is named and treated by the white race. Various chapters of this novel further substantiate the fact that touted slogans of the American dream are never the same for everyone in society. public life and opportunities are not shared equally by the members in society. some strata of the population have a more promising environment, and the rest section often faces huge trouble in living a healthy lifestyle.
Then, The Republic of East LA by Luis Rodriguez is an amazing piece of writing which offers some form of positivity in life. The author travels and gathers different real stories to inquire about their source of happiness. Besides she tries to find humor in these living stories. She focusses on the ambiance of hope and vitality in Los Angeles and explains the story of a limo driver. That limo driver is very optimistic had a person with big dreams. When given a chance, he states "My Ride, My Resolution" ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"A3Adxk1v","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Rodriguez)","plainCitation":"(Rodriguez)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":392,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/UI485MY8"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/UI485MY8"],"itemData":{"id":392,"type":"book","title":"The Republic of East LA: Stories","publisher":"HarperCollins","number-of-pages":"261","source":"Google Books","abstract":"From the award-winning author of Always Running comes a brilliant collection of short stories about life in East Los Angeles. Whether hilariously capturing the voice of a philosophizing limo driver whose dream is to make the most of his rap-metal garage band in \"My Ride, My Revolution,\" or the monologue-styled rant of a tes-ti-fy-ing! tent revivalist named Ysela in \"Oiga,\" Rodriguez squeezes humor from the lives of people who are not ready to sacrifice their dreams due to circumstance. In these stories, Luis J. Rodriguez gives eloquent voice to the neighborhood where he spent many years as a resident, a father, an organizer, and, finally, a writer: a neighborhood that offers more to the world than its appearance allows.","ISBN":"978-0-06-093686-0","note":"Google-Books-ID: sX7Z8xarPawC","title-short":"The Republic of East LA","language":"en","author":[{"family":"Rodriguez","given":"Luis J."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2003",3,4]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Rodriguez, 44) and lives his dreams. Thus, this story reveals that bitter circumstances are hurdles but this bitterness can be eradicated with some positivity in life.
“If it’s going to be a world with no time for sentiment, it’s not a world that I want to live in.”
This is the famous line in A Single Man by Christopher Isherwood ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"UlrchlEq","properties":{"formattedCitation":"({\\i{}A Single Man: A Novel - Christopher Isherwood - Google Books})","plainCitation":"(A Single Man: A Novel - Christopher Isherwood - Google Books)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":394,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/RH5A85ER"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/RH5A85ER"],"itemData":{"id":394,"type":"webpage","title":"A Single Man: A Novel - Christopher Isherwood - Google Books","URL":"https://books.google.com.pk/books?id=8X7WAAAAQBAJ&dq=Christopher+Isherwood,+A+Single+Man&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjD49qvi5jjAhXSTsAKHXEnAQcQ6AEIJTAA","accessed":{"date-parts":[["2019",7,3]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} ( Isherwood, 80). It is the story of a single man who does not hesitate from being alone in his life. George is aloof and isolated in his nature. The line clearly reflects that George is introvert and have had bitter experiences in his life. This illuminates the point that individualistic and aloof people do not like to be rushed, and they love moving on their own pace. Hence, this prime attribute of sentiments while interacting with a person as they need empathy.
Similarly, "The Ride" by Upton Sinclair is the novel that focuses on bribery and wrong practices in life. The lines (Sinclair, 6) “Never since the world began had there been men of power equal to this. And Dad was one of them; he could do things like that; he was on his way to do something like that now.” Shows the power of wealth in life. This is the novel that focuses on power, riches, and status that are shared by some in society. Thus, bribery makes its way when there is no law and order in society.
This line of Karen Tei Yamashita, “Just cuz you get to the end doesn’t mean you know what happened.” in Tropic of orange ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"fx8JgOWt","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Yamashita)","plainCitation":"(Yamashita)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":399,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/NNHQYBU3"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/ZD9MNZ2P/items/NNHQYBU3"],"itemData":{"id":399,"type":"book","title":"Tropic of Orange","publisher":"Coffee House Press","number-of-pages":"264","source":"Google Books","abstract":"“David Foster Wallace meets Gabriel Garcia Marquez” in this novel set in a dystopian Los Angeles from a National Book Award finalist (Publishers Weekly). Irreverently juggling magical realism, film noir, hip hop, and chicanismo, Tropic of Orange takes place in a Los Angeles where the homeless, gangsters, infant organ entrepreneurs, and Hollywood collide on a stretch of the Harbor Freeway. Hemmed in by wildfires, it’s a symphony conducted from an overpass, grandiose, comic, and as diverse as the city itself—from an author who has received the California Book Award and the Association for Asian American Studies Book Award, among other literary honors. “Fiercely satirical . . . Yamashita presents [an] intricate plot with mordant wit.” —The New York Times Book Review “A stunner . . . An exquisite mystery novel. But this is a novel of dystopia and apocalypse; the mystery concerns the tragic flaws of human nature.” —Library Journal (starred review) “Brilliant . . . An ingenious interpretation of social woes.” —Booklist (starred review)","ISBN":"978-1-56689-502-6","note":"Google-Books-ID: Ys91DwAAQBAJ","language":"en","author":[{"family":"Yamashita","given":"Karen Tei"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2017",9,12]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Yamashita, 64) substantiates that complexity of life. It happens that even if someone achieves the things, one still is not fully cognizant of the whole journey. In short, this is the real essence that one should not boast off his abilities.
Lastly, lunching at the Ritzmore” by Chester Himes is the story that states that there is no racial discrimination as such in Los Angeles. He states in his novel (Himes, 70) “By the gentleman of Pershing Square” which states that there is no discrimination exists in the city of Angels. For Chester Himes, Los Angeles is the city of angles where there is no segregation of any kind.
To summarize, it is evident from the above literary collection that racial discrimination and the injustices are common in American society as highlighted by various authors and essayists. Nevertheless, this social malady is refuted by some writers that there is no such discrimination in some areas which offer equal opportunity to all irrespective of their class, status or color.
Part II: Review Evaluation
All such novels and plays offer a unique insight for readers in American society. Each piece of literature is unique in its theme and substance. All the aforementioned readings have really elaborated the facets of social life in Los Angeles. They have analyzed and contemplated different social concepts such as justice, equality, good life, equal opportunity, and racial discrimination. In my opinion, the novel of Anna Deavere Smith deserves an A grade for its exact depiction of the social facts in Los Angles. She termed it twilight as it is the period of chaos, darkness, and injustice. Grade B is for the Single Man as it is about the strong and sensitive personality of George. Grade C is for Walter Mosley, Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned as it is the purest form of literature. What Makes Sammy Run by Budd Schulberg has Grade D which is about the adoption of wrong means for his objectives in life. Grade E is for The Day of the Locust as it is somehow bit ambivalent in essence. Finally, Grade F is for The Republic of East LA by Luis Rodriguez as it does not really match with harsh realities of life. all these pieces of writings have really accentuated the act the life in Los Angeles is very perplexing as it offers mixed opinions of spectators. The life in this city represents unity in diversity and tries to assimilate every single being in its locality. This anthology really awakened my literary taste and now I feel more adept in understanding the real theme of such artistic creations. Humanities, arts, and literature is undoubtedly an effective way to deal with the complexity of life.
Review Evaluation of the Films
The film “Twilight: Los Angeles” is an amazing picture that exhibits the hard work of all stakeholders involved in it. For this piece of writing, the writer interviewed around three hundred people and then she came up with this innovative piece of art. This film shows how vulnerable black lives are in American society or in the case of Los Angeles. Riots really took away their sense of identity and the inalienable rights of the black population. furthermore, the film Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned” is also an enthralling venture of the artists that took their inspiration from the same book. This film had amazing performances and the storyline was effectively plotted. Moreover, the film Chinatown is displaying the old historical traditions and the director Roman Polanski has effectively shown it. This is the film where old notions and methods are directed. Lastly, the film “The Purple Rose of Cairo” is another fantastic display of art by Woody Allen. This is the story of loneliness where a wife faces bouts of depression due to her husband's activities. She tries to escape from his miserable life and finds solace in pictures and characters. This becomes her way of comforting herself. These films are the epitome of perfection, grace, wit, and sensitivity. Each of these films represents a different era and different circumstances, but each reflects some kind of misery in life. These films corroborate the fact that life is never perfect and different people face different tragedies in life. Nevertheless, one must be really steadfast and determined to face these harsh realities of life. Perhaps, this is the only way to live life when it is throwing lemons on your side.
Works Cited
ADDIN ZOTERO_BIBL {"uncited":[],"omitted":[],"custom":[]} CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY A Single Man: A Novel - Christopher Isherwood - Google Books.
Mosley, Walter. Always Outnumbered, Always Outgunned. Simon and Schuster, 2010.
Rodriguez, Luis J. The Republic of East LA: Stories. HarperCollins, 2003.
Schulberg, Budd. What Makes Sammy Run? Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, 2011.
Smith, Anna Deavere. Twilight--Los Angeles, 1992. Dramatists Play Service Inc, 2003.
West, Nathanael. The Day of the Locust. 1975.
Yamashita, Karen Tei. Tropic of Orange. Coffee House Press, 2017.
