Specialty Blog 1

As the second half of this week's assignment, I am to select a brief quote on the blues, and comment on its meaning and value. I believe that there are so many ways in which someone can view the meaning of the blues; for this assignment's quote I have selected illustrates my viewpoint:

"The blues is not the creation of a crushed-spirited people. It's the product of a forward-looking upward-striving people." ~Albert Murray

At first glance, the blues is the music of someone who is stuck in despair. But, on closer observation, we notice small shreds of hope shinning through the darkness. We begin to realize that the blues is not the music of misery, but the music of struggle. The Blues is about a human being comming to terms with what has happened in real life. When a tragic event such as the death of a loved one, or the end of a deep relationship occurs, the first step towards healing is realizing that we have just experienced a personal catastrophe. After our realization, we set out on the long trek to recover from our losses. Often this is a daunting task, which requires a spiritual strength and personal courage. The destination of this journey often leads us to a life that we have yet to live. In a sense, once could argue that the blues is the music of someone who's life is about to change, or someone who wishes to change their life.
Not everyone can or will remedy their plight thought. Many people suffer losses that they will never get over. Again, there are many ways in which once can interpret the blues. In fact the genre itself has several subgenres. But in this instance I have chosen to talk about struggle. Throughout history, mankind has glorified the the weaker "underdog" who has chosen to battle something greater than themselves. Weather it is a fictional character like Rocky Balboa, or modern day idols like the New York Giants (challenging the undefeated New England Patriots), we desire to see people who can win battles that are stacked against them. It is for this reason, that I agree with Mr. Murray by saying: "The blues is not the creation of a crushed-spirited people. It's the product of a forward-looking upward-striving people."

The Blues

So, for this weekend's reading, I was given a brief passage on the musical genre known as the blues. I'm supposed to comment on the music in general as well as a short quote. The blues is basically the music of misery and suffering. The blues is the story of why we are unhappy, and how we either linger or persevere through our misery. The blues relates to every person, both rich and poor. It is the story of the most devastating blows and toughest challenges a person could face in life.
When I think back on what I read, it becomes clear that this genre is not solely about suffering. My favorite quote on this genre (which I will discuss in my next entry) would be:

the blues is not the creation of a crushed-spirited people. It's the product of a forward-looking, upwrd-striving people

This quote symbolizes the struggle of someone who is trying to defeat their misfortunes. It proves that even in our darkest moments, we can still look to the future and strive for a better life.

Intro to Me

Hi, my name's Christian and I'm an English 112 student at Northern Virginia Community College. I'm planning on transferring to George Mason University in the fall, where I will major in Global Affairs. After I earn my B.A. in Global Affairs, I want to become an Army or Naval officer, and go into (fingers crossed) Aviation or Intelligence.

This course is designed to expand my capabilities as a writer, and one of the ways in which it will do so is through this blog. As a military officer, I will be required to write repeatedly and extensively for my supperiors. Communicating professionally and properly, is critical for the advancement of my career. In english, that means I need to know how to write well. This blog will be my way of practicing writing little "reports" on class assignments and readings.

I hope that my personal opinion will intrest and sometimes even amuse you. I like to say things as they are, whether they are good or bad. I never like to make things personal, I just like to be candid.