As we have learned in class, it is almost twice as hard if not even more difficult for a woman to be known as a great artist. Whether it is in paint, or words women seem to have to have to have skill that far surpasses a man’s in order to be deemed “worthy” in the arts even in today’s society. Gwendolyn Brooks was able to achieve this title despite being a women, African American and being raised in the early nineteen hundreds. To me, her being able to use her work to surpass all of her obstacles and still become a well-known poet makes her worth of a fan page.
Not only does Gwendolyn Brooks deserve a fan page for being a woman in, “a man’s field” but she also contradicts and mocks aspects of earlier society within her poetry. For instance, she often contradicts the stereotypes of women for instance in the poem I analyzed below, “The Crazy Woman.” Another satirical poem by Gwendolyn Brooks was the one we analyzed in class about the young African American boy that was killed for hitting on a white woman. In that poem Gwendolyn Brooks used irony to display the ridiculousness of the crime committed and how society’s views are frequently skewed. In my opinion any author brave enough to not only show their views through their art, but also show views that are opposed to a society’s views deserves a fan page.
Another aspect of Gwendolyn Brooks that I find amazing is that fact that in a time where racial tension was high, and women where still not encouraged to go to school Gwendolyn Brooks manages to attend and graduate from both an integrated high school and college. In the 1920’s and 30’s this is an amazing accomplishment that must have taken incredible perseverance and intelligence.
The final reason I believe a fan website can be dedicated to Gwendolyn Brooks is that she was the first African- American to ever win the Pulitzer Prize. Why I believe this is such an amazing accomplishment is that she is not only showing a woman can create art, but she is showing that a woman whom is a minority can convince a strong willed society through her work that she has talent and is able to be held to the same standard as any man in the same field.
In the end, what it comes down to is Gwendolyn Brook’s created work that even in a culture ten years after her death continues to inspire and provoke thought in people. It is that element of an artist that makes then remembered, loved, recognized, and overall worthy of a fan page.
I thought this was a great blog too read about. Personally, I can now see why she clearly deserves a fan page. I think anyone who created work that even after she is died she continues to spire and provoke the thought in people makes anyone worthy of a fan page. Also, it's very impressive that she ws the first African American to ever win the Pulitzer prize and that one hell of a price. Being an minority is already hard nought but she was able to get through all of it. She was able to show all the women that she was very talented and inspire the world it seems. Great blog!
ReplyDeleteThis was an excellent blog about Gwendolyn Brooks. This blog made me feel like she was the first African American to have courage to stand up for what she believed in. The fact that people listened to her through her artwork is incredible, especially ten years after she passed away. Being a minority in the United States is not easy, but she persevered because she was persistent. Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Great blog and a very talented woman!
ReplyDelete- Loren Hughes
Becoming a great female artist is something that is much more difficult than become a great male artists. Like you said, as we learned in class Gwendolyn Brooks was trying to succeed in a man’s field. Her work is very unique and I really enjoyed your analysis on her style. Her poem” “Real Cool” also caught my attention in class. Her style is both strong and bold, and yet she manages to make her points without appearing too obvious. I would like to know more about the poems she wrote about family dynamics within the family. A person with her boldness would have a very interesting option about the ways families work.
ReplyDeleteIn terms of her poem “The Ballad of Rudolph Reed”, the message behind it is so deep and intense, yet she still manages to deliver it in a subtle way. The stanzas are not long, and the words are not complicated, but they are still very, very powerful.
After reading your blog have become much more interested in Gwendolyn Brooks, and do consider her an author worthy of a fan page!
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ReplyDeleteI have to say I like your blog. Different from other blogs, you are not only introducing the author to me, but also list Gwendolyn's achievement and how is she unique to other author and deserve a fan page.
ReplyDeleteFrom my reading of your blog, Gwendolyn is a person with strong personality, she got the coverage to argue against society's traditional view. She also became the first African- American to ever win the Pulitzer Prize. Even though I never got a chance to read Gwendolyn's article. You made me want to read Gwendolyn's story and I believe I will. Great Job.
Guo JunLiang
I really enjoyed you're blog about Gwendolyn Brooks. I like how you pointed out how she was brave enough to write about strong issues in society like race. I also think it was great that you mentioned her winning the Pulitzer Prize. That alone encompasses why she deserves a fan page. Good job on the blog and the layout!
ReplyDelete-Lisette Nunez
David Gerson-
ReplyDeleteI agree with you that her ability to stay influential in society even after her passing is a big part of what makes her worthy of a fan page. This author went through tremendous trials, but in the end really made her mark on society by talking about controversial topics.
-Jordan Ross
Loren Hughes-
ReplyDeleteI also found it incredible that as not only an African American but also a woman in her culture she was able to make her point of view known. Her strong voice and willingness to make her voice known made her a remarkable influence.
-Jordan Ross
KKarn-
ReplyDeleteWhen reading some of the works by Gwendolyn Brooks I found that a lot of them, along with the one you mentioned, "The Ballad of Rudolph Reed" didn't need to use flowery words to get their strong point across. She has a strong message and gets her point across through her art. One of the many reasons I found she is more than deserving of a fan page.
-Jordan Ross
Guo JunLiang-
ReplyDeleteI believe it was not only the art of this amazing author that made her worth a fan page, but really the amazing accomplishments she made throughout her life. When writing this blog I thought it would make more of an impact to show how she really dedicated her life to finding equality and pointing out injustice, and how her poetry was a result of the impressive things she chose to do in her life time. This author was an easy one to dedicate a fan page to.
-Jordan Ross
Lisette Nunez-
ReplyDeleteI believe this authors courage to write about touchy subjects in her cultures time is really what made her still influential today, and made her work so inspiring. I found there where a lot of things that made her an author easy to dedicate a fan page to.
-Jordan Ross
This is a great blog post. Nice job. Easy to read format and good discussion. Brooks does indeed deserve a fan page!
ReplyDelete