Choose either (or both):
1. Do some research about the musical genre of blues and extrapolate on what it meant for Langston Hughes to transfer this form into his modernist poetry.
2. Offer a close reading either of “Madam’s Calling Cards” or “Madam’s Past History” (pp. 80—81)
Blues music is a musical genre that emerged in African American communities in the Deep South in the late 1800s. It is distinguished by its melancholy lyrics, which frequently focus on the difficulties and tribulations of daily living, as well as its unusual chord progressions and rhythms. Blues music is noted for its improvisational character and emotional intensity, and it frequently deals with themes of loss, loneliness, love, and sadness.
ReplyDeleteBlues music and its ideas, rhythms, and visuals affected Langston Hughes greatly. He regarded blues music as a strong statement of African American culture as well as a means of connecting with his listeners. Hughes frequently used blues music as a metaphor for the African American experience in his poems, relying on the music's themes to depict the difficulties, pleasures, and complexity of black life in America.
The paragraph opens with a description of Madam Lebrun's calling cards, which are praised for their exceptional quality and original design. The narrator notes that Madam Lebrun's personality, which is also a carefully produced image meant to communicate refinement and elegance, is reflected in the cards.
ReplyDeleteThe rest of the chapter goes on to explain how Madam Lebrun applies her calling cards to keep her social standing and connections. The narrator observes that Madam Lebrun is "sparing" with her cards, choose carefully who she would send them to and for what occasion. This implies that her social networks are selectively built and maintained.
Overall, "Madam's Calling Cards" provides a short yet enlightening look into elite society in the late 19th century.