REFLECTION

In my senior blog portfolio I did alot of work and i feel it was a good expirence, it was something new to work with. Most of the projects i have completed on this blog were intresting. The mythology project was serious. I had alot of fun looking up Gods and Godesses. The pictures were incredible. I would continue to use blogger because its fun and easy(yea right).

Grading myself according to the rubric i feel i have contributed valuable time and effort and i feel i deserve a good grade. the progress of these blog projects took some time but at the end came out to be intresting and educational. since the start of the blog i feel its been easier for me to get my work done and it has gotten me organized and responsible.

DMX Essay

“Literature is where I go to explore the highest and lowest places in human society and in the human spirit, where I hope to find not absolute truth but the truth of the tale, of the imagination and of the heart” this quote from Salman Rushdie relates to the novel “E.A.R.L” by author Dmx in many aspects. Throughout the novel, the main character is experiences the lowest ways of human society as being viewed as a minority to living in the highest places which is fame and glory. Inside the human, lives a spirit, in each human the spirit differs. In the novel “E.A.R.L” survival is a prime objective, and one is forced to obtain it in any way possible. The human spirit plays a major role in the process of surviving the harsh aspects of a minorities life. Keeping your spirit alive and high is the key to surviving. Dmx, as the main character is an example of how one can survive a corrupt society with keeping the human spirit alive. In a corrupt minority society, many things revolve around it; drugs, violence, gangs, death, agony, abuse, murder, homicide. Dmx was exposed to this as a child and was forced to conjoin in these activities. Throughout this process his grandmother death was the only motivation keeping his spirit alive, he hustled his way to the top for her. From making beats in his mouth to making world hit rap records today. Dmx put harming influences out the way and focused on his dream, being a rap artist. Without the motivation of his grandmother, and the motivation of rap, the spirit would have died, and his survival would have collapsed. The characters in the novel played a major role in the life of Dmx. They were either a motivation or a corrupt influence. Grace, dmx’s grandmother played a major role in young dmx’s life. She was the only one that cared for him, she always saw something positive in him, while everyone surrounding him views him as a bad person to society. If it wasn’t for grace, dmx would have been in prison, dead, or in a group home. Grace is obviously a positive influence, she repeatedly gave speeches about dmx’s talent for writing. She saw in him what most didn’t. He possessed a talent for poetry and music. She encouraged dmx to chase his dream of being a rapper. Another character that played a major role in dmx path to success was his best friend, jaykwon. Jaykwon helped dmx notice the dark side of life, murder and drugs. Once dmx experienced his first killing, and his first drug deals, he felt comfortable in that environment . Once Jaykwon was behind bars, It gave dmx more opportunities to stay focused in his talent for music. Music, poetry, rap are all differently symbolized throughout the novel. Music symbolizes the struggle of his survival. In his book of rhymes he wrote to God. “I come to you hungry and tired you give food and let me sleep I come to you weak you give strength and that's deep you called me a sheep and led me to green pastures only asking that I keep the focus between the chapters You give me the word and only acts I interpret And give me the eyes so I can recognize the serpent You know I ain't perfect, but you'll like me to try And just like the devil who wants me to lie Till I die Lord why is it that, that I go through so much pain All I saw was black and all I felt was rain I come to you because it's you that knows To show me that everything is black Because me eyes were closed” This use of symbolism moves the plot in the way that his rhymes slowly lead to his path of becoming a famous rapper. Another use of symbolism throughout this novel is dmx’s all black 9 millimeter handgun. The handgun is a use of symbolism because it symbolized who he was at that period of time. His actions were dark, same color of his gun. Around his hood he was referred to as the “Dark man X” The all black handgun moves the plot of the novel in the way that with the gun in his hand he can change things permanently, but without the gun he noticed his lyrics can do just the same. During the novel, one notices different types of dialogues used by the characters. For example, Grace, dmx’s grandmother always seemed to care a lot, the way she would put her words together in such a caring tone revealed that she was a nice person. Another character who’s dialogue matched their personality was dmx’s manager, Nathan. One can tell Nathan was demanding due to the fact that there was always an exclamation point at the end of most of his sentences. Throughout the novel one notices many types of conflicts within the characters. For example, dmx the main character undergoes a conflict with him self. A man versus self conflict. He fights with his own self about weather he should continue to live such a problematic life or if she put all his negative influences behind and move forward to his dream of being a rapper. There is also a man versus society conflict with dmx. Dmx is viewed as a minority, a hoodlum, problematic child by many foster families. He is constantly fighting a battle with society, which is the police. One of the last conflicts he has is a man versus nature conflict. Nature which is God, he is always asking God why he is placed in such a painful world, why him? He then later understand the morals of life and makes a song about God. In The novel “E.A.R.L” there are many themes and messages that we can look upon on. One of the main messages that the author is trying to show the reader is to never give up on a dream that you have, ignore what others think and use everything you know to its advantage. Another message the author is trying to show the reader is learn from your mistakes. You can always look back on your mistakes to get closer to perfection. Since this book is an autobiography, the events that went on are all true and Dmx’s struggle to fame has made history. The novel “E.A.R.L by author DMX can be critiqued as from nothing to fame. The novel was interesting and exposed many things of a minorities life. This novel is the life of an individual with no boundaries. It is the truth of what happens within a corrupt society today. So indeed this novel reflects life.

REFLECTION

My Progress

Lesson taught

A human comitts mistakes, and once the msitake is comited one must re-evluate and learn from the mistake.
A lesson in my life that i ahve learned from a person would have to be my father. The lesson wich is more like motto or message was to never trust anyone excep your own blood and family. Your blood will never betray you, they will always be there for you in the good times and in the bad. There is no such thing as a best friend,or somone you call a brother. Its true, everyone thinks about themselves and doesnt waste time on you. As long as they are succesful they wouldnt care about your life or what you are going to do with your life.
I had a friend i could have called a brother, family, even blood. we used to chill every time, get into fights together with other people, make music together, talk to girls eveyrthing. but once he was influenced by a gang we raley chilled anymore. i talk to him now and a couple years back we agreed we were going to the same college when we gradutaed highschool. H told me he was leavin to some college far away now. i was focused on that college that i frogot about all the other colleges.
I had to fight my own battles now. focuse on MY future no one elses. My father was right all along, he always pushed me to the max, to the limit, i just enver listtned until now. i realize i ahve forgten about my real family, the ones whoa re always goin to be there for me. sso i treasure them to the death. i would like to make a good future so i coul help the ones who helped me reach my dreams. Stick by your blood, your blood, you could lose some of it but their will always be some left, remeber they will never leave you in a bad postion.