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Blog post 8

           The poems and songs in this sections all seemed related in some way to the dissatisfaction of people with the current system. In the poem by CA Conrad, they use the line “the soldier board the plane shot in head three days later why are you angry you said why are you not I said”. I found this line to be very powerful, because a lot of times people seem quick to be offended by all the wrong things. For example, a raunchy joke or a naked body on TV can sent people into an uproar, but the brutal images of violence and death do not. Citizens will support the war, and be proud of soldiers. However, when people are killed they will accept it as an inevitable consequence, instead of being angry at why we send young, poor soldiers off to war. The rich will sit back, and let those “less” than them take care of the dirty work, and the vast majority does not seem to be angry about this or even recognize it.

           In the Juliana Spahr poem “Transitory, Momentary” it talks about the sadness, and feelings of loss that a musician sings about. It also talks about the destruction of a park to build a building, where the police will come and force out everyone in that park. This feeling of loss that Spahr discusses seems to be related to that feeling that many Americans are feeling right now in this country. A loss of control over the decisions when an unfit leader starts making choices that put us at risk. The feeling that you are not cared about or protected because you deviate from the social norm, or are stereotyped. The feeling of being bystanders while things happen that are out of control. The way that people continue to fight these factors that they do not like by joining together with others in the hopes that the power of numbers can be stronger than the leaders that they do not agree with.

           The punk music in this section also very clearly describes the anger, and the distrust that people feel for their governments, for society, and for the world in general. Punk music has been about that feeling of being an outcast or being misunderstood sometimes being interpreted as just teenage angst, but often goes deeper than that. Punk music has called out a lot of the injustices, and wrongdoings of leaders, and of the system in general. Feeling separated from the elite will always be an issue for “regular” people in relation to the rich and powerful of the country.

           One of the poems, I had trouble understanding. This was the other poem by CA Conrad, “Coping skills lost in the flood”. I thought the choppy quality of the poem made it somewhat difficult to understand the topic. I feel like the poem is discussing more than war, but maybe critiquing society, and its lack of knowledge about what is going on around them. Perhaps this poem deals with the lies that are told through the media, and how people will believe things that are told by the government without questioning their authenticity.

           I think this was a good section to conclude the semester with, because it kind of sums up the general feeling of all the other sections. The idea that through various time periods, under different leaders, dealing with different issues, and different world circumstances we will always face similar dilemmas. There will always be people on that stick out from the majority, and that are angry with how things are. Throughout history this happens time and time again with various groups who express their dissent in different ways. Whether through protest, art, or just plain old rebellion, people will always come out to support their beliefs, and attempt to take down injustices.

           I would like to ask the question of will we all ever be on the same page, but unfortunately I think the answer is no. While society progress, and makes changes we can never please every single person. So the idea of punk is not going away anytime soon. Especially when we live in a world where many people are power hungry, and do not care about the planet or the people that inhabit it. This is an upsetting but true reality that will all face eventually. The only way to combat the problems that we have is to stand with others who are in agreeance with our viewpoints and willing to stand up for a cause, even if it puts themselves at risk.

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Blog post 7

           I was very interested in the material for this section, because the concept of human sexuality has always been of interest to me. While I did struggle with some of the readings such as “Back to the Witch” and “Dead Doll Humility”, they were still intriguing due to their strangeness. In “Back to the Witch” I had a hard time keeping up with the characters in the plot, but even with that confusion I was able to pick out the sexual undertones of the story that Kathy Acker was attempting to bring out. “Dead Doll Humility” was even stranger to me due to the lack of flow throughout the story, and the awkward sentence structure. After we discussed these writings in class, I was able to understand how Acker pulled from other literature to put in her own pieces. This would explain the oftentimes choppy style of her writing that seemed to speak with more of a stream of consciousness effect that can be difficult for the reader to follow along with.

           Another piece that I struggled with was “Performative Acts and Gender Constitution” by Judith Butler. Her idea that gender is a performance that a person puts on each day, was certainly something I had never thought of before. In some ways, I agree with her theory, because anyone can portray themselves as a gender through their actions, looks, speech, or their mentality. Most of the ideas of what is “masculine”, and what is “feminine” is all part of acts that cause us to perceive different genders depending on each person that we come in contact with. I’m not sure if Butler is attempting to argue however, that there is nothing innately feminine or masculine about a person born with the gender that they feel suits them. For example, I was born biologically female, and I identify as such, but that is not because I am acting to be perceived as female, it is because at my core I know that I am a woman. As a woman, there are certain things that I personally understand that a man would not such as what it feels like to menstruate, or the desire to give birth, and to carry life. While not all women share this feelings, I think for many women there are somethings that are innately feminine that are not an “act”.

           The Cyborg Manifesto was also a very puzzling piece that explains relationships between nature and machine. I expected this piece to be more negative, but it seemed to look upon the concept of the cyborg favorably.  Her hope that cyborgs would be “unfaithful to their origins”, which are “militarism and patriarchal capitalism”, and therefore better than human nature is appealing, but still strange to invest your trust in something that is not truly alive.

           Derek Jenson’s two essays both seemed to be very relevant to the issues of today, not only in America, but in the world overall. His ideas about the dangers of civilization, and how it corrupts the land and nature is an unfortunate truth. Human beings have been destroying the land they inhabit, even after they realize the harm that they are doing. While his radical solutions of violence to solve this problems is definitely shocking, it is understandable. In today’s world when there are still people that not only deny the damage being done to our planet, but who continue to knowingly contribute to the damages, it seems as if there is not easy solution. You cannot make someone believe something, even if it necessary to the survival of human kind, and Earth.

           In addition the examples that he gives from the essay contest that asks participants if we “need nature”, as though nature is secondary, and not the basis of life, is also relevant. In America especially, we seem more concerned with our economic prospects than our environmental ones. We also seem to follow in line with the idea mentioned by Jenson that anything human’s make is nature. This is obviously untrue, not to mention just because something is natural does not mean that it does no harm. Something that exists may do no harm, but the way that human beings utilize many natural things causes them to be harmful to nature, and to life.

           Finally, the essay “Venice Drowned” was very eerie to me. I ssumed that it was taking place in the future after many cities have been destroyed from the rising of flood waters. While the story was clearly fictional, it still resonated with me, because unfortunately, it did not seem to be that unrealistic if we continue carelessly damaging the planet, and contributing to our own downfall.  

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Blog Post 6

           Of all the sections so far, I enjoyed the readings and material in this one the most. It was interesting to see how relevant many of these speeches and writings are today with race issues that we continue to have in America. I think one of the difficult aspects of many of these works is seeing the topic through the eyes of the person speaking. In the speech “Ballot or the Bullet” by Malcolm X, and also in the poem “Black Dada Nihilismus” there are many lines that could be seen as offensive or hostile to most white people reading or hearing these words. The problem that I think still permeates our society in terms of race relations is this communication barrier. If a civil rights activist gives a powerful speech that inspires blacks, and feels insulting to whites, the common reaction is to discredit their cause. We seem to be more offended by the words of these people, then we are offended by the injustices committed against oppressed groups.

           This is apparent in how many white people will support the work of Dr. Martin Luther King, but write off Black Panthers as militant hate groups. At the end of the day, the approach is different, but the desired end goal is still the same. Is it actually offensive when someone points out the crimes committed against them, or does it just bother us when the truth is pointed out so blatantly? I cannot relate to the experience of a black person, but as a woman I can relate to the anger and aggression that comes out when you feel you are not being heard, or you are being undervalued. When someone like Stokely Carmichael stand up, and expresses his thoughts without sugarcoating them, people get uncomfortable. When a black person wants to calmly talk about racism, most whites would like to run away, or argue with a line such as “I’m not racist”. When a black person talks about racism in an aggressive way, people shut down.

           Unfortunately, sometimes the aggressive approach is necessary. If a woman quietly asks for respect and rights she would be shrugged off, as she often was since the beginning of time. Sometimes it takes vulgarity, offense, and the cold-hard truth to get people to listen to you. This is why I have respect for the people that spoke up, and knew that they would offend people. People should stop taking everything personal if they want to understand a viewpoint different from their own. If a song like “Fuck Tha Police” offends you, but the death of an innocent black person does not, it may be time to evaluate your priorities and morals. If you are a good person, doing your part to treat others with respect then you shouldn’t be personally offended by an aggressive message aimed at those that are doing harm.

           In regards to black empowerment, and writings which encouraged black people to embrace their race, I think these are essential to bettering the lives of black people in America. In the piece “Decolonizing the Mind” which suggests that people embrace their roots, I think that this is important to give black people and black communities a feeling of strength. It will not erase the damage of the past, but it may help to unite people and bring forth their culture that was taken from them for years in American history. The piece by Aimé Cesaire also supports this idea.

           Finally, I really enjoyed looking at the visual art that was in this section. I found both the works of Basquiat and Douglas to be interesting, and effective despite their differences. One of the most interesting aspects of the pieces was the use of overlaying, which helped you discovering more in the painting the longer you viewed them. One of the best things about art is that sometimes it can say more, and be more powerful than words just by looking at a piece. A long written essay can explain a viewpoint or a feeling in depth, but oftentimes a piece of art can say even more. Sometimes the message hits home more with a visual. I think Basquiat’s work is effective for those who can dig deeper into his pieces to really understand what his is conveying in his abstract way. However, I think Douglas’ pieces may be more accessible to most people, because they depict the message a little more clearly. I was glad to see these artists featured in this section, along with the music, because it provided a broader view of art that is relevant, and inspiring in the modern day movements of black people still struggling to overcome the obvious, and nonobvious prejudice that exists towards them.

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Blog Post 5

           In the readings on Fascism, the common theme that stands out for most of the documents is the blatant discrimination that permeated the minds of many fascists. Whether it be due to race, gender, or other factors there was oftentimes a negative mindset towards others or opposites. It can be clearly obvious in such works as in “The First Letter on the Jewry” written by Adolf Hitler, which directly expresses disapproval of Jewish people. It can also be subliminal, such as in the works by Ezra Pound, who uses the concern over economic crisis as a way to point fingers. While previously learning about ideologies under communism, Marxism, and capitalism it is easier to justify the belief, and rationale in such systems. However, with Fascism, I cannot say that I feel the same due to the discriminatory beliefs that seem to accompany the fascist’s writings of the time.

           Gramsci’s writings were confusing to me, when he spoke mainly about the organic and arbitrary. However, when I began to understand more about the hegemonic concepts that we discussed in class, I see how dangerous concepts of discrimination toward gender, race, or other factors can be when they are taught over time. The arbitrary concepts that do not reflect the truth is what leads to the offensive, prejudiced ideas contained in the readings on Fascism. In the Karl Polanyi reading The Great Transformation, there seems to again be little concept of what is morally right, and more focus on what is the industrial capitalism, that would lead to more exploitation of workers. Some people are so focused on economic improvement and benefit that they fail to see the negative effects on individuals. You could also tie this to using human beings (the jews) as a scapegoat for economic problems in Germany. Peoples’ fear of economic issues outweigh the need to protect our fellow human beings. I suppose that Gramsci’s concept of Syndicalism is the opposite of this viewpoint, due to the revolution of labor and workers.

           These however, are all just my own observasion toward some of the big ideas of Fascism. Of this module, I feel as though most of my interest was in the reading on Futurism written by F.T. Marinetti, and the poems by Paul Celan. While the discrimination that existed in Germany towards the Jews was no secret, I never had learned about the Italian Futurists dislike of women, and the feminine. As I was reading the Futurist Manifesto, I was understanding their points, until Marinetti threw in the rejection of women. I did not understand how this was at all relevant, until we discussed it more in class. Again, the realization that so many political and economic concepts integrated these hateful ideals, is confusing to me. Why is discrimination included, and what makes people buy into concepts that are so obviously discriminatory?

The other problem I had with the Futurist reading was the rejection of the past in the form of museums, libraries, and others. While it sounds nice to constantly look toward the future, without the past being there to weigh us down, that is simply not reasonable. The reason that knowledge of the past is so important, is because it shows examples of wrong. It (hopefully) prevents us from making the same mistakes time and time again. Without preservation of the past, we would never truly move forward, and make progress. We would most likely remain stuck in the same ways that we have always lived by.

Finally, the oftentimes mysterious poems of Paul Celan were the most interesting to me, especially upon learning more details about his life in his past. Once we were told about the death of his mother in the holocaust, and his own survival of the horrific event, it is more noticeable the hints he blends in throughout his poems. The haunting imagery that he describes to give that mental image, is what can give the poem the deeper meanings. Being able to visualize the message that he is trying to portray, is difficult when at first some of his poems seem to be so scattered. Without knowledge of the struggles that Paul Celan has endured his poems are still oddly, and hauntingly interesting. His background, is what helps the reader to peel back the layers of the poem to see what Celan is truly trying to say.

After reading so much dark, and negative material written by some hateful people it was refreshing to see the victim side of things. Even though Celan was not writing about happy subjects, his messages were not condemning other which is what made them stand out to me.  

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Blog Post 4

After delving further into the readings on communism, I was still having a difficult time understanding why if communism seems so logical, why is there still a negative attitude in American society towards communist ideas. We discussed in class the concept of the American Dream, and I think this is still the ultimate goal in life for many people. In order for people to react positively to the works that we have read by Trotsky, Lenin, and Bogdanov, it would require people to reject the beliefs and ideas surrounding success that have been taught to us since we were children.

           When these authors discuss the ideas of community, sharing, and the power of the working class it goes in almost the complete opposite direction of the American Dream and capitalism. Bogdanov’s discussion of tektology that seeks to give power to the working class defies the idea that power and success lie in working our way up the ladder in society to make more money, and have more commodities. For many people this is the motivation to work hard, and dedicate ourselves to our jobs or aspirations. With communism, and the idea that everyone will be provided with what they need, devotees of capitalism in America become outraged. They ask why someone should receive something for free that others worked for? They ask what the motivation is to be productive and work hard if everyone is equal to each other.

           To these concerns, I do not have the answers. However, I certainly do agree with everyone having what they need to live a comfortable life. Does a person need a brand new expensive car, if another person does not even have food or shelter? Also, how can we assume that people who have nothing, are in that situation through fault of their own. In the Lenin texts that refer to the means of production, I have to admit that I doubt the idea that the working class could ever control the means. In my lifetime, I do not see it. We have become so used to our way of life, corporations and the rich, have become more and more powerful. For the working class to ever believe that they could be stronger than the companies that utilize their labor is wishful thinking at best.

           I think one of the most interesting materials from this module, was the Battleship Potemkin. For the time period, I can only imagine the difficulty of creating a film with no speaking, no color, and minimal technology. To portray their message and maintain an audience interest, must have been much more difficult without the fancy CGI effects, and other technologies of today. As someone who works for a movie theater, and watches a lot of movies I have to admit that I rarely pay attention to the way the was the film is shot. Things like cutting from scene to scene, and how that conditions our understanding of the film and its plot is interesting. However, it is something that I think many movie goers of today take for granted.

           The readings talked several times about the scene with the baby carriage balancing on the top of the steps, about to roll off the edge without the mother. To create a feeling of suspense, just by cutting from the carriage to the horrified looks of the bystanders, is something that I would not normally notice, but was able to appreciate upon viewing this film. To also be able to recognize methods such as this used in modern films, shows how impactful this type of editing still is today.

           One of the readings that confused me, was Platanov’s Antisexus. I understand that this piece has a mocking tone, and that is trying to control human sexuality, but way of technology. I’m not sure exactly what this seeks out to do. To me, this reading was one of the most frightening, due to the idea that something like the Antisexus, would rid the world of sexuality, human interaction, and relationships as we know it. From the beginning of time, sex has been an activity that humans engage in regardless of the conditions of the world around them. It is also one of the few things that we are able to keep private in the modern world. In a time where purchasing commodities is a way of life, sex remains a (mostly) free activity between humans. An idea like the Antisexus is scary to me, because putting a cost on sexual pleasure would not only take away the freedom of sex away from people, but it would become nothing more than a commodity, that would limit the connection and interaction between people.

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Blog Post 3

Prior to doing this module’s readings, I knew almost nothing about Marx’s writing or ideas, and I found all of the readings to be quite challenging at first. The way that he discussed labor in Estranged Labor and some of the other readings was a completely new way of thinking for me. I found his writing about the process of labor and how it alienates the person doing the labor, to be interesting but not totally realistic or relatable upon reading it. Once we discussed this topic in class, however, I realized that this piece of writing was not just the rambling thoughts of Marx, but was an actual logical, relevant way to view labor.

It was discouraging when I began thinking more deeply about these ideas. When we discussed in class the issues with wages, and how working harder is actually not beneficial to the laborer because they never receive pay equivalent to the job they are performing, I was very surprised by my unawareness of this. Ever since we’ve had this discussion, I’ve felt truly disillusioned by my own work. I suppose that I’ve somewhat bought into the idea that hardwork would prove my worth, and make me “successful” in my job. However, I now realize that the amount of labor that I, and many others are doing, is not being fairly compensated even if we are getting paid more than the minimum wage.

I have worked in the movie theater industry for about three years now, and thankfully I love my job so I do not resent the relatively low pay that I earn. However, it does make me see this job differently. Everyone knows that movie theater concessions and tickets can be expensive, but when I thought of the example used in class about how much food I am selling in one day, it does seem very unjust that I am seeing only a very small fraction of these profits reflected in my paychecks.

I suppose that the main thought I’ve had from these Marx readings, is how many people truly do not realize or understand the downfalls of capitalism, and how it only benefits the rich, upper class citizens. To wholeheartedly support the idea, is to wish for something detrimental to ourselves, and society at large. This falls under the German Ideology and hegemony that we discussed. The reality is that many people support an idea, because they blindly believe that it is the best, and that there are no other options.

Growing up, I remember that the conversation in school surrounding capitalism was overwhelmingly positive. Never once, was Marx’s perspective mentioned in depth in any history or social studies class that I have ever taken. When Marx was mentioned, it seemed to always be cast in a negative light. We did not explore the logic of his writings, only briefly acknowledged that his ideas were different from the norm, therefore must be wrong.

In the other readings like Capital, I also began to question if people who are profiting off the money-commodity-money system truly understand that they are exploiting their workers. Is it possible that all enforcers of capitalism have little regard for morals or values in terms of their employees? Or is it simply more of the blind following of the system, with complete disregard to its drawbacks for those not profiting off the system.

Is it possible to ever fix the corruption of this system? The answer to me, is unknown. Will workers ever be able to control the means of production? Truthfully, I do not foresee it. I do not expect a major upheaval of the wage system in America, at least not anytime soon. It is sickening when we realize we are working to get paid to live to work. That to me, is not life. However, it is the life we have grown accustomed to, and there is almost no way to avoid it. We will still continue buying the things that we want or need, and putting our efforts into laboring away for companies who do not value us.

Until then, many like Zukofsky and Oppen, will continue creating art that reflects and embodies the thoughts of the lower class. But in reading poems such as these, which even commoners living these experiences may misunderstand, I do not know if their messages will ever be fully understood by the upper class. They are the ones who need to hear the message most, but until they fully comprehend the lives of those beneath them, who are struggling, they will never see the flaws of the system that they support and are profiting off of.

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Blog Post #2

               For this section of readings, I consistently found myself comparing the messages of people from long ago, to the issues of our current world. With the current political climate of the United States being in such disarray, I feel that there is no better time to study readings such as The Mask of Anarchy. Certain lines from this piece seem like something that would be heard spoken today at the rallies and protests across the country. This piece was inspiring to me, to not just accept the fate that has been handed to us, but to speak up and act when we do not agree.  When I think about the similar struggles that human beings have faced over time, it can be viewed in a positive or very negative light. Positive, because we have gotten through some of the worst of times, but negative because we keep coming back to the same problems, just in different forms.

           The final line of the poem Ode to the West Wind, “if winter comes, can spring be far behind?” sums up some of the reoccurring topics we have discussed in class. In times where the future is unpredictable, or just plain depressing we try to remember that it is just part of the ebb and flow of things. We remind ourselves of the good that usually follows disastrous times. The problem with this is, as we discussed in class, is that the cycle seems to continue with good times, and constant backlash of bad times.

           In Kristen Ross’ book, and in the Paris commune movie, it shows a group of people who were able to work together, and function in opposition to their oppressors. Had this event continued on for any given amount of time, I believe there would have always been something negative to follow. People oftentimes do not like when groups isolate themselves and live differently, so the commune would be ostracized. I wonder if the people living in the commune at the time had thought about the aftermath of their establishment. Did they expect the commune to outlast the years that it did, or did they know that eventually its existence would cycle out to usher in a new era in France?

           While I was watching some of the speakers in the film, it was apparent to me that many were just trying to get by, and survive. Often the citizens spoke about the inequalities and injustices of the country at the time, but many did not seem to be “revolutionaries”. They seemed like everyday people who were doing the best they could with very little. I think that is where the difference lies with the commune and modern day social movements. The existence of the commune, in my opinion, was about survival first and foremost, which related itself back to the need for revolution. In modern day movements, we often speak out before something becomes too horrendous, much like France was throughout the revolution. Thus our reactions to rough times is less out of desperation, and more out of preventative measure.

           However, the similarities between these messages of the past and modern day, are all too relevant after viewing artwork such as that of Gustave Courbet. His pieces depicting labor, and the conditions of the common worker, are still applicable to our modern life in America. While the United States has come a long way from the unsafe, labor intensive factory jobs that grew our industries, there still is a huge discrepancy and misunderstanding between members of the working class, and the elite. This divide will probably always exist, where some members of society feel undervalued and underpaid despite their hard work. Yet, we are still asked to respect and follow those who were born into wealth, and may not have any idea what it is like to be a common person.

           One of the readings I truly enjoyed was the words of the outspoken, Arthur Rimbaud. Oftentimes when I think of these historical figures, artists, and revolutionaries that we study, I picture the sophisticated gentlemen and women of time periods past. However, Rimbaud seems to be anything but that. To see the passion, the vulgarity, and the honesty of his work is refreshing. In his letters, he seems to be a bit full of himself, but perhaps he had every right to be. His works were not sugar-coated, such as in The Parisian Orgy where he withholds none of his feelings, but shocks with his truth and speaks in language that I would not have expected of a work from this time period.

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Blog Post #1

When viewing some of the literature and art pieces that resulted from periods surrounding the French Revolution, and the rise of democracy and capitalism, the question that struck me the most during our class discussion was whether or not art should be made after horrific, disillusioning events occur in history. Some pieces such as The Rime of the Ancient Mariner may have existed to make a political statement, while other pieces such as “The Slaveship”, existed to reveal the atrocities that human beings have committed against each other throughout time. Is it acceptable to romanticize cruel moments in world history such as the Terror in France or slavery in America?

           I believe the answer to this question is yes. Art may have served a purpose for centuries to be beautiful, appealing to those with a formalist approach. To some, that is still the main criteria for something to be considered art. However, our most gruesome moments, may be the most important ones to depict through art. Whether it be in the form of literature, poetry, cinema, or visual art, creating art that captures moments of political turmoil, or revolution is what forces us to reflect upon the flaws of human nature, and hopefully prevent us from avoiding mistakes while inspiring us for the future.

           The painting of Marat depicting his death is one that I have seen before, and never forgotten. To many of the San-culottes living in France, Marat was a hero for his outspoken radical political ideals. In the eyes of some he was a violent man, only contributing to the bloodthirsty pursuit of the wealthy by the Jacobins.  However, despite all of his written works and controversial moments of glory, he is remembered at his death with this painting. “The Death of Marat” solidifies Marat as a martyr for the cause of the poor in France, and reminds us in present day of the effect that one man can have on an entire movement, even after his death.

           In works such as “The Slaveship” the disturbing imagery is not something that would be hung on the walls of a living room to add beauty to a home. Rather, it is one that is horrific in its subject matter, and controversial in its portrayal. There are times when we, as human beings, should be ashamed of our actions and histories, but without art to reflect our mistakes we may not absorb the severity of the crimes we commit after time has passed.

           Another thought I had about this section of works was the common theme of water that connected both The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and “The Slaveship”.  Two separate historical events that were portrayed in the arts with connections to the sea. Much like the French Revolution, and the road to abolishing slavery, water acts as a symbol of change and upheaval in these two pieces. The sea itself changes from peaceful to rough as storms pass through. It has the power to destroy and to renew life. The role of slaves and the impoverished in France existed for years without questioning or resistance. At this time, the metaphorical sea was at peace. Once people began questioning these roles, and rebellion occurred, the sea became treacherous.

           The storms that passed through may have caused death and destruction as a process to recreate old systems, and eventually restore peace. In most times of political or social dissent, change does not occur without first experiencing some form of chaos. The waters that act as a symbol in these works may represent the forces of change that started as ideas, and turned into revolutions. This common theme of water could even be seen in the painting of Marat who died in his bathtub, in still water. The calmness of the water in the bath could signify the stillness of death and therefore the end of Marat’s life, ending his active role in the politically chaotic society of France.

           When discussing the early thoughts of the revolution, the written piece that I found to be very interesting was the piece by John Locke on property. I never viewed land as being owned simply by those who were able to use and work the land prior to reading this. I now see how this relates to the wants of poor citizens in France who had little rights to own anything, or earn profits from the land. Being prohibited from this opportunity, it is easy to understand the passionate cries and actions throughout the French Revolution, such as was expressed in the poem by Wordsworth. To exist in a society where there is almost no opportunity to better yourself, is in stark contrast to the radical ideas of capitalism that people were developing during this period.