SENIORS RED: Cuckoo's Nest Historical/Cultural Summaries
Write a short summary (on the topic that you have been given below) to post at Schoolsville for your
class section (do not copy and paste or plagiarize Wikipedia and other internet
sources). Read from at least two sources. Then write a 5-8 sentence summary in
your “own words.” Write the topic first—then the summary.
Post before Tuesday's class.
Write a short summary to post at Schoolsville for your
class section (do not copy and paste or plagiarize Wikipedia and other internet
sources). Read from at least two sources. Then write a 5-8 sentence summary in
your “own words.” Write the topic first—then the summary.
Government sponsored LSD
tests: Ashley Azato
The Merry Pranksters & “The
Electric Kool Aid Acid Test”: Hannah Ciolek
The Columbia Gorge Indians in
Oregon, especially their method of fishing: Michael Connor
The Dalles hydroelectric dam
over Celio Falls: Claire Danberg
Captain Marvel (comic book
hero): Devin Deturk
Cowboy entertainers in the
1940s-1950s (esp. Roy Rogers and Gene Autrey): John Esposito
The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit (movie): Jenna Fannon
Military-industrial complex
warning by Dwight D. Eisenhower: Cass Flanigan
Cold War and Cuban Missile
Crisis: Haley Frati
Red Scare and Blacklisting in
the 1950s: Ally Fritzler
Big Brother and the novel 1984: Jen Gedz
Death of Emmett Till: Kim
Henshaw
Levittown building
development history: Aislinn Jubb
“Little Boxes” (song):
Brighid Minemier
“Does Chewing Gum Lose Its
Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight?” (song): Kyle Moore
Thalidomide and side effects:
Hunter O’Connell
Indian burial trees (and tree
burial ritual): Alexis Paller
John F. Kennedy and PT 109:
Carin Prechtl
Christ figure archetype:
Jenna Prengle
Trickster archetype: Bridget
Rocha
Mark 5: 25-29: Claudia
Seemans
posted by JTF @ 12:35 PM
21 comments
21 Comments:
On January 16, 1961, President Dwight D. Eisenhower warned America about the military-industrial complex during his farewell speech to the nation. The military - industrial complex is a combined unit of armed forces and defense contractors. Eisenhower was worried about how big the American defense establishment was growing and the resultant cost of its increase in size. He was concerned that the cost would take away from the costs of building other necessities, like schools and hospitals. A large defense establishment was needed to aid in World War II and the Cold War but he now feared how powerful it could be. Eisenhower thought the military-industrial complex was going to contradict its original purpose and end up destroying America’s principles instead of protecting them.
Christ figure- when Jesus Christ was crusified, his hands and feet were nailed onto the cross. A man in this book stands in this position and does not move. This is a result of the aids ignoring him. One day he even urinates on himself and the aids d not clean him up. The Chief imagines him falling down through the floors of the institution.
Government Sponsored LSD Tests
MKUltra was a CIA experiment that started during WWII and was used to find the perfect drug to control the minds of Soviets. In 1973, the CIA director, Richard Helms, destroyed the project and its’ documents. The purpose of the experiment was to study mind control, interrogation, behavior modification, and other related topics. MKUltra uses many methods to control the mental states of the people, such as the administration of drugs, especially LSD, and other chemicals, hypnosis, sensory deprivation, isolation, verbal and sexual abuse, as well as different forms of torture. In experimentation, the drug, LSD, was given to many mental patients, prisoners, drug addicts, and prostitutes, because these were the people who “Could not fight back.” Hypnosis, drugs, and psycho-surgery, separately and combined, were the tools used for the ultimate truth serum. A combination of LSD and Electro-Convulsive Shock and constantly replaying the patient’s own voice through helmet-mounted headphones was one way to gain mind control.
In the 1950's there was a sense of fear throughout the nation. The Red Scare was a promotion of fear of a potential rise of communism brought about by a national influence focused on national and foreign communists. This scare influenced Hollywood to take action. Hollywood then blacklisted several actors, directors, screenwriters, and musicians only because of their suspected political beliefs or associations. Due to all of the blacklistings and communistic associations, a term called "McCarthyism" came into use. McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations without evidence. This was a time of fear and little trust, especially within the government.
Big Brother and the novel 1984 :
In the novel 1984, the citizens of Oceania are told that Big Brother leader of the nation and the face of an organization called the Party. He appears on many posters that say “BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU,” but it is unclear to the main character, Winston Smith, whether he is a real person, whether he was a real person, or if he doesn’t exist in the first place. However, Big Brother symbolisms the control the Party has on their society. He also serves as a sign of reassurance or a safety net that the people can depend on. His gaze in the poster is impossible to escape, and it is impossible for the people to know who actually rules Oceania and why. Because of the novel, the term ‘Big Brother’ is now commonly used when referring to a controlling authoritative figure or group of people.
The Columbian Gorge Indians in Oregon:
Oregon is the home of numerous Native American tribes, mainly because of the plentiful natural resources available in the Columbia Plateau. These tribes are drawn to the main attraction, the Columbia River, which allows the Indians to focus on fishing, an important aspect of their culture. Many of the Plateau Indian tribes revolved around the Columbia River. They would return to the river after a harsh winter to catch the bountiful salmon runs of early spring. Then during the summer months, the tribes would migrate toward The Dalles to trade. The tribes would then return home to catch the final autumn salmon runs to stock up before another long winter. Fishing in the Columbia River is a focal point of the Plateau Indians as it is a source of food and trade.
Levittown Building Development History:
The aftermath of World War II left America with a generation of baby boomers and a shortage of housing for all of the post-war families, who were seeking the tranquility of green space outside of the city life that reminded them of war. Abraham Levitt and his two sons planned an affordable, suburban community in Nassau County, Long Island. The community was designed to house the veterans returning from war in a carefully controlled, “picture-perfect” environment. The pristine nature of the Levittown environment, which constituted curved roads to differentiate the community from the dreaded city streets, was also the root of the re-emergence of racial prejudices in housing discrimination, even after it was declared unconstitutional. The Levitts controlled nearly every aspect of the town, including who could and could not buy a house there, eventually building a community of 70,000 strictly caucasian residents. Levittown was a rather quick solution to the overcrowding of cities and a perfection of the ideal suburban community, but it was also a brooding point for racial prejudice.
“Does Chewing Gum Lose Its Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight” is a popular song by Lonnie Donegan which was actually a cover for the song “Does The Spearmint Lose Its Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight.” Donegan changed the title in his version because Spearmint was a trademark in the UK (where he lived) and BBC was not allowed to mention trademarks in songs. The song title was actually a popular phrase when the song was released, a time when gum was valued because it wasn’t as easily obtained as it is today. The fun song describes methods of chewing and storing gum. Apparently kids of the time may have thought sticking their gum on the bedpost to be a suitable way to store it. However the song exaggerates this method by joking that there was so much gum on the bedpost that people got stuck to it. I think that the song is just a fun, catchy, feel-good song without much hidden metaphor in the lyrics.
Indian tree burial and ritual.
The Plains Indians and other Indian tribes in the Pacific Northwest commonly practiced above ground burials. The body is wrapped so that it is watertight and then laid to rest in a tree branch high above the ground. Then, the body would slowly rot from the dry air. The Indians chose to bury their dead in the open air rather than underground so the animals would not eat them. Many times, according to how much grief they are feeling, they will cut joints of the fingers. Other practices and traditions incorporated in this ritual vary by tribe and location. Indian tree burials are no longer common, except in rare cases.
Before his presidency, John F. Kennedy was serving as a Lieutenant on Patrol Torpedo boat 109 during World War II. On August 1, 1943 PT boat 109 was struck by the Japanese destroyer 'Amagiri'. Kennedy had not been thrown from the boat in the collision, but many of his crew mates had. Some of the crew was able to swim back to the boat, but those that could not were saved by Kennedy. He helped McMahon, Charles Harris, and William Johnson swim back to the boat despite their injuries and exhaustion. There were no other boats around to help them and they couldn’t shoot their flare gun for fear of the Japanese seeing them from surrounding islands. They had to abandon the wreckage and swim to nearby islands. Kennedy and his crew swam back and forth from island to island for a few days before coming in contact with allied islanders who were able to help them send out a rescue message. Kennedy and his crew were eventually saved and for his courage and leadership, Kennedy was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Medal. Because of his injuries suffered during the incident he was also qualified for a Purple Heart.
The Merry Pranksters & “The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test”
During his experience volunteering in a government drug research program, Kesey was introduced to various psychoactive drugs.His involvement with such drugs led to his novel One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest to which he gained a loyal following, dubbed The Merry Pranksters. These “hippie” followers openly used hallucinogenic drugs, dawned outrageous outfits, and performed in the streets. Kesey and his troop of Pranksters bought a bus which they painted day-glo colors and traveled around cross country blasting music, giving away acid, and performing, using the roof as a musical stage. The Merry Pranksters named the bus “Furthur” and would repeat the phrase “You’re either on the bus, or you’re off the bus.” The movement struck journalist Tom Wolfe, and shortly after Wolfe wrote the widely known novel “The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test” which recounts Kesey and The Merry Prankster phenomenon cross country promoting the “Hippie” lifestyle and throwing parties called “Acid Tests” in which they served LSD laced Kool-Aid. Wolfe’s non-fiction novel paints Kesey as a “Christ-figure” who is idolized by the nation and his loyal band even while being wanted by the FBI.
Mark 5: 25-29
“Healing of the woman with the issue of blood”
This is one of the most fascinating stories in the synoptic gospels. A very rare miracle takes place during this gospel. Jesus was on his way to heal Jarius, the ruler of the synagogue, when a woman approaches him. The woman has continuous hemorrhaging and knows Jesus can heal her. She touches his garment and is healed immediately. The woman returns to Jesus and tell him “the whole truth.” The woman goes in peace and is referred to by Jesus as his daughter. What is so unique about this story is the passiveness of Jesus. Jesus is passive to the woman while she takes initiative and basically heals herself on her own. This passiveness is not represented anywhere else in the gospel accounts.
Sam Cooke- http://songsofsamcooke.com/songs/touch_the_hem_of_his_garment.htm
On August 24, 1955 fourteen year old Emmett Till was visiting his uncle in Money, Mississippi when he reportedly flirted with a white cashier at a grocery store. Several days later the cashiers husband and brother kidnapped Emmett from his uncles house. They beat him nearly to death and then shot him in the head. The two men were tried for murder, but were found not guilty by an all white, male jury. Emmett Till’s open casket funeral was one of the many sparks that helped fuel the emerging Civil Rights Movement.
Cold War/ Cuba MIssle Crisis
In October of 1962 the United States and the Soviet Union had a thirteen day standoff. The standoff was caused because the Soviet Union was making missiles in Cuba. Therefore President John Kennedey decided it would be best to create a blockade around Cuba. Ready to use military force have the Soviets no other options. So the Soviets agreed to remove Cuban missles in exchange for the United States to promise not to invade Cuba. There was also a deal made that removed United States missiles from Turkey.
The trickster archetype is one that can be found from mythology to modern literature. The trickster often questions or mocks authority and encourages impulse and enthusiasm. This character, as implied by its name, plays tricks and disobeys social rules and conventional behavior. Tricksters can be cunning or foolish or both; they are often funny even when considered sacred or performing important cultural tasks. Despite the trickster’s whimsical nature, it can have a key role in imparting knowledge and wisdom.
Topic: The Man in the Grey Flannel Suit
Summary: The man in the grey flannel suit is any ordinary man you see every day. He is the man you see going through the same routine and is one of “the dead souls” you see all around you (Kornbluth par8). Tom Rath didn’t want to be one of those dead souls. Tom Rath didn’t want to be the man in the grey flannel suit. He wanted to be the man everyone looked up to because of his high-paying job and all the luxuries he could afford. Mr. Rath got a new job as a “ghost writer” for the president at United Broadcasting (Crowther par2). He thought he was on the road to success but the story wouldn’t be true to life without bumps in the road. Tom was married with five children when he found out he had a son in Italy who was born during his time in World War II. Tom was torn between his wife and kids, and his responsibility to his illegitimate son and the mother. He was also torn between his job and his family. He wanted a more successful job but that would mean more stressful hours at work and less time to be there for his family. Tom is an ordinary man with ordinary problems who decided to share his story.
http://www.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F01E6DD1530E23BBC4B52DFB266838D649EDE
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jesse-kornbluth/mad-men-captivates-us-50_b_655133.html
Cowboy entertainers in the 1940s-1950s (esp. Roy Rogers and Gene Autry)
Throughout the 1930’s to the early 1950’s the stereotypical images of the tough and heroic men of western films became a popular genre of music. These men were known as singing cowboys. The cowboy entertainers of the 1930’s to early 1950’s often sang about adventures an actual cowboy would go through. Throughout its lifespan of popularity there were many people who became greatly popular. Of these men Gene Autry and Roy Rogers both became very well known. Autry started off as a singing cowboy who gradually made his way to the top by staring in movies such as The Phantom Empire. However, in 1937 Autry began to fall off the charts and was immediately replaced by Rogers. Both of these big named actors and singers impacted the 1930’s to the early 1950’s drastically and even set a classic stereotype to actual cowboys.
Captain Marvel was a comic book hero originally created in 1939 by Fawcett Comics and later DC Comics. He was also called Shazam and was the first comic book superhero to appear in a film, which he did in 1941 in a movie called Adventures of Captain Marvel. However, Fawcett Comics stopped using Captain Marvel in 1953 after a 1951 lawsuit by DC Comics, claiming that Captain Marvel was a copy of Superman. Stan Lee and Marvel Comics took advantage of this, trademarking the name and creating a new Captain Marvel that debuted in 1967. In May of 1968, Captain Marvel was given his own series, which did not ultimately succeed. Imagine Games Network, or IGN, ranked the original Captain Marvel as the 50th greatest comic book superhero of all time, saying, “Captain Marvel will always be an enduring reminder of a simpler time.”
Captain Marvel
Captain Marvel was a comic book hero originally created in 1939 by Fawcett Comics and later DC Comics. He was also called Shazam and was the first comic book superhero to appear in a film, which he did in 1941 in a movie called Adventures of Captain Marvel. However, Fawcett Comics stopped using Captain Marvel in 1953 after a 1951 lawsuit by DC Comics, claiming that Captain Marvel was a copy of Superman. Stan Lee and Marvel Comics took advantage of this, trademarking the name and creating a new Captain Marvel that debuted in 1967. In May of 1968, Captain Marvel was given his own series, which did not ultimately succeed. Imagine Games Network, or IGN, ranked the original Captain Marvel as the 50th greatest comic book superhero of all time, saying, “Captain Marvel will always be an enduring reminder of a simpler time.”
The Dalles Dam is just East of the Cascade Mountains in between Oregon and Washington. The dam is responsible for creating Lake Celilo. The Native American tribes that depended on the Celio falls for fishing and trading were the oldest inhabitants in North America. They had lived in the surrounding area for more than 15,000 years. As settlers moved West there was a movement to create a hydroelectric dam. The purpose for the dam was to improve navigation to the Ocean, promote agricultural irrigation, provide electricity during WWII, and to stop floods. In 1957 with the creation of the dam the Indian peoples way of life was destroyed and Indian groups dispersed.
Thalidomide is an immunomodulatory drug that was first marketed in 1957 in West Germany. The original purpose of the drug was treatment of nausea in pregnant women. What the company who marketed the drug and the pregnant women who were prescribed the drug did not know were the devastating birth defects it had on children in the womb. Not long after the drug was made an over the counter drug on October 1st, 1957, between five and seven thousand infants were born with the birth defect of malformed limbs; particularly in their legs, which were either not developed or simply grew to stumps and nothing more. Other deformities included deformed eyes, hearts, and even blindness and deafness. Approximately 60% of these children born with these defects did not survive. The scandal of the deformities the drug caused called attention to it all over the world and was even referred to as a crisis. The response lead to an increase in drug regulation across the world and the use of thalidomide was quickly banned in many countries. The use of thalidomide today is still practiced, but in a much more precocious way. It is currently used to treat some types of cancer and a complication of leprosy.
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