P3+Sean+M+and+Justin+S

1.) Elysian Fields Justin Silva

Elysium is a place that found its way into Roman and Greek mythology. It is comparable to the modern Christian’s idea of heaven. According to Homer, “the Elysian Fields were in the Western Ocean: there dwelt heroes under the rule of Rhadamanthus” (Scull 101). Rhadamanthus is known as a judge of the dead in the underworld. Those who committed heroic deeds were granted an afterlife in Elysium. It is considered a divine place. The name Elysium has made its way into use in English speaking countries as a means of depicting a divine nature of a given thing or place. This is a trend followed by many ancient mythological terms.

Scull, Sarah A. __Greek mythology systematized.__ N.p.: Porter & Coates, 1880. Print.

2.) Tennessee Williams Sean Madsen

Tennessee Williams was a renowned American playwright and author of //A Street Car Named Desire//. “He was born in Columbus, Mississippi on March 26, 1911 to Cornelius and Edwina Williams” (“Tennessee Williams”). He graduated from the University of Iowa, and then moved to New Orleans to begin writing for the WPA. This is also where he began his most famous work, //A Street Car Named Desire// ; and where he met his lover, Frank Merlo. Williams’ schizophrenic sister Rose was believed to have had a profound impact on the female characters in his plays. She spent the majority of her life confined to mental hospitals, and was permanently institutionalized after her parents allowed a lobotomy to be preformed; a decision Tennessee would never forgive them for. Interestingly enough, Williams died on February 25, 1983 by choking to death on the cap of an eye drop bottle. However, police said his alcoholism and drug abuse might have played a role in his death. “Tennessee Williams.” //Wikipedia//. Wikipedia, n.d. 8 Jan. 2010. Web. 10 Jan. 2010.

3.) New Orleans 1940-1950 Justin Silva

New Orleans is known for its popular jazz scene. According to //The Ken Colyer Trust Website// contributor, Hugh Crozier, “During the 1940s attention turned to New Orleans itself, rather than cities where New Orleans players had settled. Partly this was a search for what a band of dedicated but disparate enthusiasts believed was the ‘authentic’ jazz played by musicians who had never by choice left the city for the bright lights and big dollars of the North” (Crozier). This new attention to the city itself is important to the history of New Orleans. This highlights the importance of the 1940’s New Orleans jazz scene. The contributions this city has made to this music scene is of utmost importance. This is especially seen in the enthusiasts’ belief in its “authentic” sound. The recognition of the talent featured in the area makes this era a very important part of the New Orleans history. It brought great attention to the town with ramifications beyond just that.

Crozier, Hugh, and Brian Harvey. "New orleans Jazz." //The Ken Colyer Trust Website//. Eds. Martin Colyer and Mark Pringle. Ken Colyer Trust, n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2010.

4.) Napoleonic Code  Sean Madsen

Summary: The Napoleonic Code (a .k.a. the Code civil des FranÁais) was an article written to establish laws in France. It was written in 1804 under the rule of Napoleon I. “The document is considered a major step towards establishing the rule of law” (“Napoleonic Code”). Some historians have described the code as influencing the entire earth as many countries throughout Europe adopted it. Despite the groundbreaking structure and contents of the codex it was not the first establishment of a European civil legal system, being preceded by three other such documents. The contents of the code deal with such topics as freedom of religion, birthrights, and governmental organization.

“Napoleonic Code.” //Wikipedia.// Wikipedia, n.d. 15 Dec. 2009. Web. 10 Jan. 2010.

5.) Belle Reve Justin Silva

Belle Reve has been used by many as names or names of businesses in the modern and pre-contemporary societies. According to //Yahoo!//’s “Babel Fish” translation feature, Belle Reve means “beautiful dream” in French. The idea of "beautiful dream" has a wide appeal. This may be in reference to the American dream. It is easy to understand why this would find its way into the corporation and society sector. Those hoping for others to contribute to a cause or become a patron of may have found appeal in this name due to its ability to imprint many ideals into the consciousness. The dream for Americans to succeed and aspire can is empowering. This may have a direct relationship to the plot of //A Streetcar Named Desire//.

//Yahoo! Babel Fish// Yahoo!, n.d. Web. 6 Jan. 2010.  6.) The Varsouviana Polka Sean Madsen

Summary: The Varsouviana Polka is a song that became popularized by the play //A Streetcar Named Desire//. The polka style song has strong ties to one of the characters and is utilized frequently throughout the play. The piece is described as being classical and formal, yet sounding more like a waltz than a polka. Lawrence, Andrew. “The Musical Score in //A Streetcar Named Desire//.” Associated Content. Associated Content, n.d. 6 June 2007. Web. 10 Jan. 2010.

7.) Tragedy Justin Silva Tragedy has become a vital part of literature, Broadway and contemporary film. Tragedy literally means “goat song”. According to Mr. Shingler’s lecture: tragedy is, “a serious drama that shows conflict among two people, which normally ends with sorrow”. The ideas of tragedy have changed over the century, but commonly display traits of sorrow throughout the ages. The key idea revolves around the sense of sorrow. The concepts of tragedy date back to the days of Greek theater. Tragedy continued to appear in theater and other forms of art from then on. It has integrated itself into literary culture and will continue to be a part of the culture till the end of all suffering.

Shingler. "Tragedy." Tragedy Lecture. Period 3 Senior Composition. Lecture.