Live Concert Essay Example for Free

Live Concert Essay Throughout the history of time, music has changed, grown, and developed into many unique and different genres and broken off into many interesting directions. Among one of these rather recent and distinct groups comes the genre of psychedelic rock portrayed by groups like Dr. Dog and Wilco. Psychedelic rock is considered controversial simply because of its origin and the habits it produces, encourages, and signifies in present day culture. The genre of psychedelic rock uses ragas, which literally means â€Å"color† or â€Å"hue†, and the drones of Indian music to create its individual and mood enhancing sound. This genre is a style of rock that comes from the cultures of the United States as well as the United Kingdom in 1960’s in which the use of psychedelic or hallucinogenic drugs were popular. This music is meant to reflect the feeling and effects of the common drugs and to replicate the experience of a trip from certain drugs such as cannabis, peyote, mescaline, and LSD. This trend began in America first in San Francisco, California and slowly spread through the country. This genre of music still exists today and one form of that music is from the band Dr. Dog which originates from West Grove, Pennsylvania and consists of five members, Tony Leaman who plays the bass, Scott McMicken who is the lead guitar player, Frank McElroy who also plays the rhythm guitar, Zach Miller on the keyboard, and Eric Slide on the drums. Much of this music is relaxed and tranquil, not as much hype and energy as typical rock. To create something as unique as that of Psychedelic rock, or acid rock, there are certain instruments that are used to execute the sound. Commonly used instruments in these kinds of bands include the electric guitar, percussion, keyboards, and exotic instruments such as the tabla and the sitar. These exotic instruments add a new element that was never found in western culture before. These new types of foreign instruments create a new sound and sensation for the listener. Since the whole point of psychedelic rock is to reproduce the awareness of a high from certain drugs, it has many social issues that come along with it. Many of the songs of this genre allude to the use or effects of drugs and the music resembles that emotion. The dissonance of the tones within each song creates the feeling of a drug effect and adds to the large subculture of the twentieth century. Although the music did not necessarily encourage the use of drugs to listen to the music, it had a profound effect on people of that generation. The hippie subculture of the sixties and the seventies were some of the people that surrounded this type of music. That doesn’t mean that they had to do drugs, but it means they most likely did. These were the people who went against the societal norms and expectations of the era and were engaged in music like psychedelic rock. The lyrics to most of Dr. Dog’s songs are quite ambiguous. Each song has a meaning that’s personal to the individual who is hearing it. What the listener takes away is something of their own perception and thought process. Through my own interpretation of the lyrics, this part of a song called â€Å"The Breeze† refers directly to why this type of music is controversial.

Shays Rebellion :: American History

Shays Rebellion 1) Shays' Rebellion, the post-Revolutionary clash between New England farmers and merchants that tested the precarious institutions of the new republic, threatened to plunge the "disunited states" into a civil war. The rebellion arose in Massachusetts in 1786, spread to other states, and culminated in an abortive attack on a federal arsenal. It wound down in 1787 with the election of a more popular governor, an economic upswing, and the creation of the Constitution of the United States in Philadelphia. Shay's Rebellion was the first armed uprising of the new nation. It was caused by the absence of debt relief legislation in Massachusetts. When the Revolution ended, merchants and creditors lobbied for high taxes and against paper money. They were successful. These procreditor polices underminded farmers' finances. The legislation, including foreclosure laws, were extremely taxing to farmers and caused many to go into great debt. Many farmers were dragged to court where they faced high legal fees and threats of imprisonment because of their debt. In 1786, farmers in Massachusetts attended extralegal meetings where they protested against high taxes and aggressive eastern creditors. Bands of angry farmers joined together to close law courts with force and freed debtors and fellow protesters from jail. Resistance to the legislation climbed to a full-scale revolt. John Adams, president at the time, answered with the Riot Act, which outlawed illegal assemblies. The rebellion was suppresse d by military force. The rebellion prompted leaders with national perspective to redouble their efforts and create a stronger central government. 2) Economic crisis: high taxes, mounting debt A series of tax revolts by Massachusetts farmers against the Massachusetts legislature in 1786-1787. After the Revolutionary War, the Massachusetts legislature imposed high taxes to pay war debts. Rural farmers could not pay their taxes and faced forfeiture of their farms. Resentment of the taxes increased to the point that the farmers began to break up court sessions to prevent judges from ruling that specific farms should be sold to pay tax bills. These minor acts of rebellion turned violent in January 1787 when Daniel Shays, a farmer and Revolutionary War veteran, led 1200 people into Springfield to seize weapons from a national government arsenal. Massachusetts State military troops quickly put down the rebellion, but the event shocked the nation at the time. Shays' Rebellion hinted that law and order were seriously breaking down across the new United States to the extent that the national government, under the Articles of Confederation, could not even protect its own arsenal.

John Steinbeck’s use of Realism Essay

John Ernst Steinbeck has written many award winning novels, some of which has even been produced as plays that captured audiences everywhere. Steinbeck wrote about real life experiences using realism, characterization, and dreams to emphasize his points and make an impact on his readers in order to reform or change society. The realism used in Steinbeck’s works is not only effective in informing the reader of circumstances that should be changed, but this nineteenth century literary style also creates great feelings of empathy toward the characters and their dreams. Steinbeck used realism to convey his points for a purpose, and his main purpose was that he wanted something to be made known to the public. Of Mice and Men and The Grapes of Wrath both tell of the hardships people went through and also the harsh conditions of their situations. The characters in both of these novels play and important role in personalizing the occurring events for the reader, making the novel more effective in getting the writers’ messages across to the audience. Steinbeck’s use of the American Dream and the will for the characters to succeed is also evident throughout the two novels. These dreams help the reader to relate to the characters, therefore making a bigger impact on those who read the novel. John Steinbeck’s novel â€Å"The Grapes of Wrath†, tells of a very harsh journey to California that the Joads, like many other families in the 1930s Depression era, embarked upon in order to find work and escape their dying farms in Oklahoma. During the depression a severe drought covered the plains, called the Dust Bowl. This natural disaster destroyed any chance that the farmers had of making a living, and they were forced to travel west and leave their homes in hopes of finding a job. Part of the novel’s sense of realism comes from the setting. The Joads head to California from Oklahoma and their journey is characterized by poverty, starvation, death, and suffering (Stegener 405). Steinbeck not only utilizes the setting as a sense of realism but also uses vivid description and specific details to draw attention to the numerous hardships encountered by the families forced to travel west in search of opportunity (Jackson 316). The first evening after the Joads leave their home, they stop on the side of the road to help another family. This family  is very thankful for the Joads help, and offers their tent for the Joads’ sickly grandfather, but unfortunately Grandpa passes away that night. The family is troubled from the very start of their journey and Steinbeck creates feelings of sympathy toward the Joads as well as the other families in the same situation. As the novel progresses, the family’s disparity becomes more and more evident. Grandma Joad dies shortly after Grandpa does and since the Joads are indigent and can barely meet ends to survive, they are forced to beg for money to bury Grandma Joad. Despite family’s disappointments, they just keep going (Britch and Lewis). As they continue to travel the Joads encounter many more obstacles, but there is one incident as the novel comes to a close. Rose of Sharon, the oldest daughter, goes into labor and her baby is stillborn. Rose of Sharon notices a dying old man who is malnourished and offers him her breast milk so that he might be able to survive. As the novel closes, the reader is left with despair and a sense of loneliness. Steinbeck’s uses of realism makes a strong impact on the reader, which makes this one of the greatest American novels ever written (Jackson 316). Of Mice and Men was also written during the time of the 1930s, the depression era. This novel is a short story of two men a small, short, and smart guy named George and a big, tall, mentally retarded man named Lennie. The novel is based around these two main characters and their journey to fulfill their dream to find true happiness on a farm that they can one day call their own (Hearle) In â€Å"Of Mice and Men† the use of realism is not only seen through the depressing life of George and Lennie, but it also shows the life that Crooks, a black stable hand on the farm, had. The character of Crooks is used to symbolize the social standing of the black community occurring during the time at which the novel is set. Crooks is a lonely African American on the farm that feels out of place. As George and Lennie explain their dream to Crooks he brushes them off and says that no one around here can implement their dreams. This realism gives the reader an impression that Crooks has absolutely no hope. However, Crooks may be pessimistic, but yet even he has a dream, which is the hope of one day experiencing the joys of  his childhood again. Crooks’ character is portrayed as very lonely in the novel, this is evident when Crooks explains, â€Å"A guy needs someone.† (Mice 77). Crooks is telling the reader the need of human interaction. This realism that Steinbeck uses shows the reader the harsh realities of the black community during the time of the depression in the 1930’s Steinbeck not only uses realism to make an impact on his readers but he also uses strong characterization to his advantage as well (Howard). By using characters such as Ma Joad and Curley’s wife, he is able to personalize the novel for the reader. This technique that Steinbeck uses makes the reader feel like he/she can relate with the characters’ struggles, therefore, creating a greater sense of understanding toward the characters’ situations (Horn). These two characters can best be described as strong, courageous, and they show great amounts of integrity as well as faith. In order to write a great book that will make an impact on the reader, the author must not only use realism but also have a strong sense of characterization for the reader to relate to. Steinbeck successfully achieved both of these aspects of a great novel. John Steinbeck’s character, Ma Joad in â€Å"The Grapes of Wrath†, is the epitome of a strong character. She is a supportive, loving woman, and surprisingly the family’s center of strength (Britch and Lewis). She is intent on keeping the family whole and together. The family looks to Ma Joad for their source of hope and encouragement. She is the emotional and physical backbone of the family, and it is very important to her to provide the family with comfort, nourishment, and support. â€Å"Without warning Grandpa began to cry. His chin wavered and his old lips tightened over his mouth and he sobbed hoarsely. Ma rushed over to him and put her arms around him. She lifted him to his feet,her broad back straining, and she half lifted, half helped him to the tent† (Wrath 185). Steinbeck makes it clear to the reader in this passage that Ma is the first to step up in times of need, and she puts others before herself no matter what. â€Å"Under the spread of the tarpaulin Grandma lay on a mattress, and Ma sat beside her. The air was stifling hot, and the flies buzzed in the shade of the canvas. Grandma was naked under a long piece of pink curtain. She turned her old head restlessly from side to side, and she  muttered and choked. Ma sat on the ground beside her, and with a piece of cardboard drove the flies away and fanned a stream of moving hot air over the tight old face. Rose of Sharon sat on the other side and watched her mother† (Wrath 285). The reader notices several times throughout the novel that Ma will care for anyone in need no matter what the circumstance. â€Å"In show of her fundamental spirit she accepts Casey into the family because the Joads just do not refuse ‘food an’ shelter or lift on the road to anybody that ask[s]'† (Britch and Lewis). She takes it upon herself to look out for to avoid any discouragement to the other family. Grandma dies in the back of the wagon with Ma by her side, but trying to avoid any discouragement to the other family members, Ma does not share the news until they have reached their stopping point. The strength that Ma shows in this situation is far great that any exhibited by the other family members. â€Å"Her capacity to care marks the measure of her self-respect. â€Å"As the action progresses her caring does not change in kind but rather grows in breadth and intensity† (Britch and Lewis). By creating such a noble character, Steinbeck greatly influences his readers, and his efforts in sharing the hardships these families in the 1930s went through are successful. The character of Curley’s wife is a very vivid and unique one. She represented the way that women were viewed by society as a whole. Steinbeck portrayed Curley’s wife as a temptress, when actually the woman is just craving for attention. Steinbeck made Curley’s wife stand out by the fact that she was the only woman on the ranch, she was the only one who dressed to impress, and the only person without a full name (Thesing). Steinbeck often used very colorful statements like â€Å"She had full, rouged lips and wide-spaced eyes, heavily made up. Her fingernails were red. Her hair hung in little rolled clusters, like sausages. She wore a cotton dress and red mules, and the insteps of which were little bouquets of red ostrich feathers† (Mice 31). These vivid and wild descriptions that Steinbeck created for Curley’s wife is just one of the many characters that Steinbeck created, in order for the reader to feel or relate to what the character is going through. In Curley’s wife’s case she is an attention deprived woman that is just one of the many lonely people on the ranch. â€Å"Of Mice and Men† and â€Å"The Grapes of Wrath† both examine the morality and necessary actions the characters choose as they pursue their dreams. Steinbeck uses the concept that dreams are better that reality, but that the dream is really hard to grasp. This concept is also used by three other famous authors who are Crane, Norris, and Dreiser (Benson 256-257). What is the American dream? The American dream is the faith held by many Americans, that through hard work, courage, and determination one can adhere financial prosperity and also some believe that it is led to an emphasis of material wealth as a measure of success and/or happiness. Like many people today the characters George, Lennie, Candy, Curley’s wife, and the Joads all wanted the American dream. Most of their dreams of success, wealth and prosperity were depleted by the harsh realities of life. Most of the characters in the novel Of Mice and Men have a dream of something. George and Lennie are best friends that go everywhere together. Their dream is to someday own a farm of their own and have rabbits to tend to. The dream to Lennie is an antidote to disappointment and loneliness, and he often asks George to recite the description of the farm to him. This dream is ultimately lost when Lennie kills Curley’s wife and George kills Lennie towards the end of the novel. This dream was later shared by two other friends on the farm, Candy and Crooks. As the reader can see these dreams are one way that the characters can cover up the loneliness and hopelessness of their existence. One other character in the novel that had a dream is Curley’s wife. Curley’s wife’s dream is her fantasies in becoming a part in movies and having a life of luxury. This dream is shattered and never fulfilled, because of the dissatisfaction of her life and when she is accidentally killed by Lennie. As the reader can see the dreamers in the novel are undermined by the hard facts of reality (Astro 43). In the 1930s the country suffered ecological devastation called the depression. During this economy downfall the mid-west prairie state families suffer from a large drought that leaves them with nothing to survive. This terrible phenomenon is called the Dust Bowl. In attempt to escape this unforgettable time, a family called the Joads dream of wealth and success in  the great state of California. In order to pursue their dream they have to leave their belongings behind. This journey carries death and suffering with it when Grandma and Grandpa Joad dies and many of the family members leave the family. The family left Oklahoma in order to find jobs in California (Hearle). The Joad’s dream, which is well known as the American dream, is shattered by certain events and conditions that the Joads faced. In conclusion, John Steinbeck’s style of writing impacted society just as he had hoped. He wrote about real life experiences and hardships to show the reader what people went through, like the Joads and the many characters in â€Å"Of Mice and Men†. Steinbeck informed the reader of what families had to overcome, which ultimately impacted whoever read his novels. The use of realism, characterization, and dreams in his two novels made them the greatest American novels in history. Works Cited Astro, Richard Dictionary of Literary Biography, volume 9: American Novelists, 1910-1915. A Bruccoli Clark Layman Book. Ed. James J. Martine. Saint Bonaventure University. Gale Research 1981. 413-68 Benson, Jackson J., â€Å"John Steinbeck: Novelist as a Scientist,† in Novel: A Forum on Fiction. Spring, 1977, 228-264. Britch, Carroll and Cliff Lewis, â€Å"Growth of the family in The Grapes of Wrath,† in Critical Essays on Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, Ed. John Ditsky, G.K. Hall. 1989, 97-108. Hearle, Kevin Dictionary of Literary Biography, volume 212: Twentieth-century American western writers. Second series. A Bruccoli Clark Layman Book. Ed. Richard H. Carcoft Brigham Young University. Gale Research Group. 1999, 278-294. Horn, Jason G. Dictionary of Literary Biography: volume 275. Twentieth century American Nature Writers: Prose A Bruccoli Clark Layman Book. Ed. Roger Thompson, Virginia Military Institute, and J. Scott Bryson. St. Mary’s College. Gale Group 2003. 314-323 Jackson, Joseph Henrey. â€Å"The Finest Book John Steinbeck has written.† Contemporary Literary Criticism, volume 59. Ed. Roger Matuz. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Inc. 1990. 316-317. Levant, Howard. â€Å"The Novels of John Steinbeck: A Critical Study.† Contemporary Literary Criticism, volume 75. Ed. Thomas Volteler. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Inc. 1993, 356-351. Steinbeck, John. The Grapes of Wrath New York, New York: Penguin Books U.S.A Inc. 1992. Steinbeck, John. Of Mice and Men, New York, New York: Penguin Putnam Inc. 1993. Stegner, Wallace, â€Å"The True Adventures of John Steinbeck, Writer† Contemporary Literary Criticism, volume 34. Ed. Sharon K. Hall. Detroit, MI: Gale Research Company, 1985. 405. Thesing, William B. Dictionary of Literary Biography, volume 7: Twentieth-century American Dramatists, first series. A Bruccoli Clark Layman Book. Ed. John MacNicholas University of South Carolina, Gale Research. 1981. 271-276.

Skidmore College Acceptance Rate, SAT/ACT Scores

Skidmore College  is a private liberal arts college with an acceptance rate of 27%. Located in Saratoga Springs, New York, just north of Albany, Skidmore was founded in 1903 as a womens college. The college moved to its current 850-acre campus in 1961, and in 1971 the college became coeducational. Skidmore has a low 8-to-1 student / faculty ratio and an average class size of 16. Business and psychology are the most popular undergraduate majors, and Skidmores strengths in the liberal arts and sciences earned it a chapter of the prestigious  Phi Beta Kappa  Honor Society. In athletics, the Skidmore Thoroughbreds compete in the NCAA Division III Liberty League, and the school is considered one of the  top equestrian colleges. Considering applying to this highly selective school? Here are the Skidmore college admissions statistics you should know. Acceptance Rate During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, Skidmore College had an acceptance rate of 27%. This means that for every 100 students who applied, 27 students were admitted, making Skidmores admissions process highly competitive. Admissions Statistics (2017-18) Number of Applicants 10,796 Percent Admitted 27% Percent Admitted Who Enrolled (Yield) 23% SAT Scores and Requirements Skidmore College has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants to Skidmore may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required.  During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 48% of admitted students submitted SAT scores. SAT Range (Admitted Students) Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile ERW 613 700 Math 610 700 ERW=Evidence-Based Reading and Writing This admissions data tells us that of those students who submitted scores during the 2017-18 admissions cycle, most of  Skidmore Colleges admitted students fall within the  top 20% nationally  on the SAT. For the evidence-based reading and writing section, 50% of students admitted to Skidmore scored between 613 and 700, while 25% scored below 613 and 25% scored above 700. On the math section, 50% of admitted students scored between 610 and 700, while 25% scored below 610 and 25% scored above 700. While the SAT is not required, this data tells us that a composite SAT score of 1400 or higher is competitive for Skidmore College. Requirements Skidmore College does not require SAT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, note that Skidmore participates in the scorechoice program, meaning that the admissions office will consider your highest score from each individual section across all SAT test dates. Skidmore does not require the essay section of the SAT. ACT Scores and Requirements Skidmore has a test-optional standardized testing policy. Applicants may submit SAT or ACT scores to the school, but they are not required. During the 2017-18 admissions cycle, 27% of admitted students submitted ACT scores. ACT Range (Admitted Students) Section 25th Percentile 75th Percentile Englis 27 34 Math 25 29 Composite 27 31 This admissions data tells us that of those who submitted scores during the 2017-18 admissions cycle, most of Skidmores admitted students fall within the  top 14% nationally  on the ACT. The middle 50% of students admitted to Skidmore received a composite ACT score between 27 and 31, while 25% scored above 31 and 25% scored below 27. Requirements Note that Skidmore does not require ACT scores for admission. For students who choose to submit scores, Skidmore does not superscore ACT results; your highest composite ACT score will be considered. Skidmore does not require the ACT writing section. GPA Skidmore College does not provide data about admitted students high school GPAs. Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph Skidmore College Applicants Self-Reported GPA/SAT/ACT Graph. Data courtesy of Cappex. The admissions data in the graph is self-reported by applicants to Skidmore College. GPAs are unweighted. Find out how you compare to accepted students, see the real-time graph, and calculate your chances of getting in  with a free Cappex account. Admissions Chances Skidmore College has a highly competitive admissions pool with a low acceptance rate and high average SAT/ACT scores. However, Skidmore also has a  holistic admissions  process and is test-optional, and admissions decisions are based on much more than numbers. A strong  application essay  and  glowing letters of recommendation  can strengthen your application, as can participation in meaningful  extracurricular activities  and a  rigorous course schedule. The college is looking for students who will contribute to the campus community in meaningful ways, not just students who show promise in the classroom. While not required, Skidmore strongly recommends  interviews  for interested applicants. Students with particularly compelling stories or achievements can still receive serious consideration even if their grades and scores are outside of Skidmores average range. In the graph above, the blue and green dots represent accepted students. You can see that most successful applicants had high school averages of B or better, combined SAT scores of about 1200 or higher (ERWM), and ACT composite scores of 26 or better. Skidmore is test-optional, so qualified students with SAT/ACT scores below Skidmores average my choose not to submit test scores. If You Like Skidmore College, You May Also Like These Schools Vassar CollegeWesleyan UniversitySwarthmore CollegeIthaca CollegeTufts UniversityBowdoin CollegeAmherst CollegeNew York UniversitySyracuse UniversityTrinity CollegeOberlin College All admissions data has been sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics and Skidmore College Undergraduate Admissions Office.