Background research and themes of literature
This background research and themes of literature assignment was actually really interesting. You are supposed to choose new information about an author, setting, location, geographic region, or history era and post an image that relates to the topic you chose and include the theme of literature you selected in the first week of class. During my first week of class, I chose diversity, love is the worthiest of pursuits, and first and second generation migrants as my three themes of literature, which is why I talked about diversity and first and second generation migrants in my background research. These assignments show my mastery of course objective three: demonstrate the results of close reading and original thinking about the works and themes studied in clear, well-organized writing and articulate discussion. Here I have recognized the themes that relate to the authors I chose and organized my writing into articulate paragraphs that are easy to understand.
Background Research 1
According to the website, Audubon.org, John James Audubon (1785-1851) was artistic at heart and attempted to describe and paint all of the birds of America. He created a collection of 435 life-size prints of the birds of America, which is still held as the standard of bird artists through the 20th and 21stcentury. When he lived in Mill Grove, Pennsylvania he conducted his first bird-banding experiment where he tied strings around the legs of Eastern Phoebes and studied that the birds all returned to the same nesting site every year. In 1819 after hard times hit, he was put in jail briefly for bankruptcy. After he was released, he set off to depict America’s avifauna and lived a rugged existence where he shot his famous life-size bird portraits. He soon found a printer for his ‘Birds of America’ and after his images were printed, he became very successful. Before his death at age 65, he spoke out against the destruction of birds and habitats and talked highly of conservation.
I chose these images to represent John James Audubon and my selected theme of diversity because I feel that this man was very diverse and was able to come to America and find his own passion of paining while he was here. Not only was he himself diverse and brought diversity to America, but his paintings were diverse as well. He painted many different birds and added great assortment to his work, just like these images show.
Works Cited
Bourke, Ace. “Ace Bourke’s Blog.” Wordpress. N.p., 11 Feb. 2012. Web. 15 Nov. 2012.
"John James Auburn." Audubon.com. National Audubon Society, Inc., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2012.
“Library and Archives.” Ansp.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2012.
I chose these images to represent John James Audubon and my selected theme of diversity because I feel that this man was very diverse and was able to come to America and find his own passion of paining while he was here. Not only was he himself diverse and brought diversity to America, but his paintings were diverse as well. He painted many different birds and added great assortment to his work, just like these images show.
Works Cited
Bourke, Ace. “Ace Bourke’s Blog.” Wordpress. N.p., 11 Feb. 2012. Web. 15 Nov. 2012.
"John James Auburn." Audubon.com. National Audubon Society, Inc., n.d. Web. 27 Oct. 2012.
“Library and Archives.” Ansp.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2012.
Background Research 2
On May 9, 1938 in Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Charles Simic was born (Charles). In 1954 he came to the States with his mother and brother to meet up with his father who was already here (Charles). When he was 21 years old age, he stated publishing his poems and when he was 23 he was drafted in the U.S. Army where he served for a little while (Charles). When he wrote, Simic drew upon his experiences of war in Belgrade (Biography). Since he published “What the Grass Says” he was published more than sixty books and in 1998 was chosen to receive the Academy Felloship and was even elected, in 2000, Chancellor of the Academy of American Poets (Charles). His most recent award was the Wallace Stevens Award in 2007 (Charles). For my image, I chose a picture of Simic and his father in 1942 to show the theme of first and second generation immigrants. Simic was taken to America at a young age to meet up with his father, like I previously stated, and this picture shows this theme of two generation of immigrants in America.
Works Cited
“Biography Charles Simic.” Poetryfoundation.org. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 5 Nov. 2012. <http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/charles-simic>
“Charles Simic.” Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 5 Nov. 2012. <http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/27>
Simic, Charles. “Fire from the Sky.” Unhmagazine.unh.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2012.
Works Cited
“Biography Charles Simic.” Poetryfoundation.org. Poetry Foundation, n.d. Web. 5 Nov. 2012. <http://www.poetryfoundation.org/bio/charles-simic>
“Charles Simic.” Poets.org. Academy of American Poets, n.d. Web. 5 Nov. 2012. <http://www.poets.org/poet.php/prmPID/27>
Simic, Charles. “Fire from the Sky.” Unhmagazine.unh.edu. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Nov. 2012.