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Deconstruction essay the plastic pink flamingo: a natural history
Deconstruction essay the plastic pink flamingo: a natural history
Deconstruction essay the plastic pink flamingo: a natural history
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Since the 1930's, plastic pink flamingos have been a trendy statement piece at hotels and in yards across the country. Jennifer Price, the author of "The Plastic Pink Flamingo: A Natural History", uses tone, satire, and diction to show her view on United States culture. Price's view is that United States culture is flashy, cocky, and that Americans tend to try and stand out to get attention.
"The pink flamingo splashed into the fifties market, it staked" (Price lines 1-2). Plastic flamingos are unable to splash like real flamingos, therefore Price is demonstrating satire. Also, the plastic flamingos are staked into the ground. "Americans had been flocking to Florida" (Price line 4) is humorous because the Americans flocking to the southern east coast like flamingos. The plastic pink flamingo became "synonymous with wealth and pizzazz"(Price line7-8). After the Great depression and the war, Americans had a lot of pride for their country, and this was one way of showing it.
"This was a little ironic, since Americans had hunted flamingos to extinction in Florida" (Price lines 13-14). Price may be putting down American because Americans tend to follow the crowd and copy what everyone else is doing. The flamingo could be a metaphor of how Americans are followers and do not come up with their own ideas. The plastic pink flamingo gave an "extra fillip of boldness" (Price line 20). The flamingo was a way for Americans to stand out in the crowd and be noticed. Americans were flashy, cocky, and maybe even a little bit conceited.
"And the Flamingo was pink- a second and commensurate claim to boldness" (Price lines 30-31). American culture is very flashy and bold. By being bold and flashy, it makes Americans stand out from the crowd and be noticed. Pink was the thing to have, it showed wealth and status. "The hues were forward-looking rather than old-fashioned" (Price lines 36-37). The pink flamingos were a way for the Americans to show pride after World War II. The plastic flamingos were the Americans' way of coming back out after the Depression and the war. They are the symbol that marks the beginning of a new era.
"Even a real flamingo is brighter that anything else around it" (Price lines 48-49). The Americans wanted to be recognized after the war and show their pride for their country. The flamingo was a symbol of status and power.
“The Lady in the Pink Mustang” is a poem written by Louise Erdrich that is about a traveling woman that sells her time for money. She is considered an outsider by the norms of society, because she is a working girl. She is not a traditional sex worker; whereas a regular prostitute has only a little strip of pavement, to sell their wares. Whilst the Lady has the roads of country to sell herself. She runs freely like a wild mustang, but can only stay in the limits of the country. This poem could be speaking about itinerants, how they are on the edge of society, not quite living by the rules, but still not be able to be free.
Frederick Lewis Allen’s book tells in great detail how the average American would have lived in the 1930’s. He covers everything from fashion to politics and everything in between. He opens with a portrait of American life on September 3, 1929, the day before the first major stock market crash. His telling of the events immediately preceding and following this crash, and the ensuing panic describe a scene which was unimaginable before.
Pink, White, and Gold Beaded Baby Shoe – The shoe that the Swallow Man carried around with him represented his daughter, Greta. The Swallow Man “worried constantly that the tiny beads of pink and white and gold were falling off with each jostling step of his constant motion through the world, though in truth it was usually the unwrapping of the thing to check the damage that pulled them loose” (59). He was always worried about the shoe because it belonged to Greta. Since she was no longer with him, he held onto the shoe as a way to remember her. That is why the shoe represents Greta within the book. It Greta’s last possession and therefore, is the embodiment of her to the Swallow
Throughout poetry, there are many works that reflect society; however, few reflect it as it truly is. Among those few is “Wings” by Macklemore. Not only does this song express the emphasis that society puts on materialistic things, it explains that they are truly just materialistic items and nothing more. It does this through many lines of admirable imagery. Included is the line, “That air bubble that mesh… The box, the smell, the stuffing', the tread, in school… I was so cool… I knew that I couldn't crease 'em… My friends couldn't afford 'em… Four stripes on their Adidas.” Not only does it display imagery, but this line introduces the emphasis on materialistic items in our society, and implies that the shoes are what make a person great, and not raw talent. This is a key line in understanding the rest of the song, as it also exemplifies the fact that expensive items are what makes a person cool, as they are falsely related to enhanced
On late August of 2007, Dana Thomas writes to the general public on the horrors made possible by the buying and selling of counterfeit fashion goods to persuade the end of the consumerism funding monstrous acts. Through the incorporation of ethos, logos, and pathos in her journalism, Thomas persuades her audience with the uncoverings of the sources behind the making of the counterfeit goods.
environment, the pigs Jack and his hunters come to love hunting are also pink. On Jack’s first
“Pretty In Pink” is all about Andie’s life, Andie does not have a lot of money so most of the time she find cheap clothes in
In “This Is What It Means To Say Phoenix, Arizona,” Alexie creates a story that captures the common stereotypes of Native Americans. For instance, in the story the narrator states, “Who does have money on a reservation, except the cigarette and fireworks salespeople?” (Alexie). This quotation shows that the narrator addresses the idea that all Native Americans must own businesses that sell fireworks and/ or cigarettes in order to be successful. In this example, Victor is shown to not identify with the Native Americans because he does not pursue the same job opportunities as many Native Americans do. Victor's character is used as a contrast to the stereotypes that , there he represents reality. Another instance in which the author incorporates a stereotype about Native Americans is when Thomas-Builds-the-Fire first makes conversation with Victor. Thomas-Builds-the-Fire informs Victor about the news of Victor's ...
"I'd rather you shoot at tin cans in the backyard, but I know you'll go after birds. Shoot all the bluejays you want , if you can hit 'em, but remember it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." This is what Atticus Finch tells his children after they are given air-rifles for Christmas. Uniquely, the title of the classic novel by Harper Lee, To Kill A Mockingbird, was taken from this passage. At first glance, one may wonder why Harper Lee decided to name her book after what seems to be a rather insignificant excerpt. After careful study, however, one begins to see that this is just another example of symbolism in the novel. Harper Lee uses symbolism rather extensively throughout this story, and much of it refers to the problems of racism in the South during the early twentieth century. Harper Lee's effective use of racial symbolism can be seen by studying various examples from the book. This includes the actions of the children, the racist whites, and the actions of Atticus Finch.
The bald eagle was finally adopted as the emblem of the United States in 1787 because "its long life, great strength, and majestic looks, and also because it was then believed to exist only on this continent." The bald eagle has survived for many years. It was almost lost at one point, and finally now is on its way back and the numbers are rising thanks to many efforts by various foundations. The Bald Eagle is more than a just a bird like every other species it too has a special part in keeping the food chain going.
Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. "The Yellow Wallpaper." Images of Woman in American Popular Culture. Ed. Angela G. Dorenkamp, et al. Port Worth: Harcourt Brace, 1995. 78-89.
A white picket fence surrounds the tangible icons of the American Dreams in the middle 1900's: a mortgage, an automobile, a kitchen appliance paid for on the monthly - installment - plan, and a silver trophy representative of high school football triumph. A pathetic tale examining the consequences of man's harmartias, Arthur Miller's "Death of A Salesman" satisfies many, but not all, of the essential elements of a tragedy. Reality peels away the thin layers of Willy Loman's American Dream; a dream built on a lifetime of poor choices and false values.
To give a brief history, pink ribbon’s were initially introduced by the Susan G. Komen foundation during their 1990 Race for the Cure to signify breast cancer awareness (pinkribbon.org). Soon after, the pink ribbon was adopted as the official international symbol for breast cancer research and awareness, and as of “2008, the initiative was extende...
Prager, Emily. "Our Barbies, Ourselves." Signs of Life in the U.S.A.: Readings on Popular Culture For Writers. 3rd Ed. Maasik, Sonia and Jack Solomon. Boston: Bedford, 2000. 706-709.
Belinda’s shows her materialism through the many cosmetic items on her vanity. Her items include, “The Tortoise ...