An Exploration of Family Systems in “The Glass Castle”: Resource Management Tools used in the Novel

Photo Courtesy of Amazon

In her novel The Glass Castle, Jeanette Walls draws a family that many would consider a broken household. Facing barrier after barrier, the family very rarely meets all the conditions of Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs, thus straining each character, and pushing them to make decisions they otherwise would not make, nor would they have had to consider them as options unless they wanted to.

Mothers, Crime, and Incarceration

Original Publication Date: May 17, 2017

Mothers are people we see every day, and they do many things to help keep a household running smoothly. Even in the increasingly feminist society we currently find ourselves residing in, these women still find themselves balancing both jobs inside and outside of the home. Many of us, however, do not stop and consider where else mothers might reside, and some of these places may not be where we would expect. More and more frequently, we hear and read stories that detail the lives of mothers in jail, and how it affects both them and their families.

The Globalization of United States Popular Music

Original Publication Date: Oct. 23, 2016

Globalization is often viewed as Americanization, and the two can be difficult to distinguish between at times. However, they are not the same. Globalization is the process of spreading culture from one area of the world to another, and while it isn’t always Americanization, in many cases it is. One of the best examples of Americanization is the spread of popular music to Latin America, as much of the music imported from the states had large effects on the musical styles of the Latin countries.

In the 1960’s, American rock styles began to be widely exported to Latin countries, and these styles were often adopted by the youth. The majority of this musical adoption happened in urban areas, and by groups who were looking to rebel against society, and against the government if the people were oppressed by a military regime, such as in Argentina. Argentina had a mass movement, called rock nacional, which was the youths way of rebelling against the dictatorship that had become prevalent. Argentinian youth ended up adopting much of the rock music coming from both the United States and Britain.

Café Tacvba: A True Representation of Rock in Mexico

Café Tacvba, a rock band hailing from Mexico City, often comes up in conversation when one finds him or herself conversing about the “Rock en Espanol” movement. With their eclectic blend of musical styles mixed with the classic characteristics of punk music, it quickly becomes evident upon listening to the group that they pushed boundaries and redefined rock music in an entirely new way. Café Tacvba has been a large contributor to the “Rock en Espanol” movement, and a realistic representation of effective punk music in Mexico City.

Los Aldeanos: A Cuban Rap Duo

Los Aldeanos, a Cuban based rap duo, formed in 2003 with the intent of acting as a voice for the disenfranchised in a time of difficulty for Cuba and its people. The band, despite the attempts of the government to censor them, has become a large force, and has managed to push through, and continues performing and producing to this day. With the groups, politically charged lyrics and toned down hip-hop sound, Los Aldeanos have managed to become a largely influential duo in Cuba.

The Musical Rebellion

How the Militarization of Latin Governments Lead to Musical Backlash from Rock Artists

Photo of Cafe Tacuba; Courtesy of VGMdb

The militarization of governmental powers often leads to the oppression of the people who live in the country. This is a trend we have seen repeatedly: in Africa, in the Middle East, and especially in Latin America. Once a military regime or dictatorship sets in, governments begin to lay down strict laws, ones that leave citizens unhappy and bitter about their circumstances. These regimes can only last so long before the countries residents begin to speak up, and when they do the government lays down stricter laws, and harshly punishes those who choose to continue defying the new regulations put into place.

“Ten”: A contemporary Jazz Album

A review of the 2010 works of musician Jason Moran and his group The Bandwagon

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Ten, an hour-long album produced by Jason Moran and his group The Bandwagon, is a masterful work composed in honor of Moran’s 10-year anniversary with The Bandwagon. The album, recorded in 2010, demonstrates the beauty of jazz through the musicians’ instrumental prowess.

The group is composed of Moran, a pianist, bassist Tarus Mateen, and drummer Nasheet Waits. In the forefront of much of the album, one can hear Moran demonstrate his extensive piano skills, and it quickly becomes the center of attention as he rapidly traverses the keys of the piano. Just behind the piano, the subtle and tasteful use of percussion can be heard.

A Critical Review of Samuel Geesey: A Junior Jazz Trombone Recital

Friday, November 14, Samuel Geesey gave a thrilling jazz performance at his Junior Jazz Trombone Recital. The young musician took the stage at six in the evening, and left the crowd awestruck at the end of his seemingly flawless concert.

Geesey, dressed professionally in a suit for his performance, led a band composed of three other members, including Asher Herzog on the drums, Immanuel Williams on bass guitar, and Christian Lumsden on guitar. Geesey himself played trombone, and skillfully directed the band with count offs, and carefully timed entrances. The intention of the band was to help Geesey perform Friday night, and has thus not been along for a very long time. The recital was part of the requirements Geesey needed to fulfill in order for him to be able to receive his Minor of Music in Trombone in the future.

The Livery Stable Blues: Is it Really the First Jazz Recording

Livery Stable Blues: Is it Really the First Jazz Recording?

Photo Courtesy of Wikipedia

In jazz music history, it can be challenging to determine exactly who did what first. Who was the first person to create jazz styled music? Who was the first to use swing in their music? The question for this discussion, however, is who really recorded the first jazz album? This can be relatively easy to answer, depending on which definition of jazz is used.

Most people would agree that jazz music and its influences have been around for a very long time, resulting many different definitions of jazz, and many opinions on what jazz music must or should encompass to truly be considered “jazz music.”

Family Life: Is it in Decline, or is it Resilient?

Original Publication Date: December 4, 2016

Over the past few decades, society and family has changed in many ways: gay marriage has become legal, there has been an increase in cohabitating couples, and divorce rates are said to have increased, along with many other new trends popping up along the way. Despite the benefits that can come with change, society always finds itself debating if said benefits are good, or if the change is more detrimental than anything. These disturbances to traditional family life are no different, and have sparked debates over whether or not family life is dissolving as we know it.