American History

Hip A History tells us about the American history, since the times of the slavery up to the Net. The novel is written by The New York Times reporter and the author set an aim to explain what is hip in American culture since the time it has appeared on the territory of the U. S. It should be noted that this novel is full of antagonist themes such as black opposition to white, men to women. This Essay would examine tricksterism. It would reveal the meaning and the role of trickster within the pages of Hip A History. And it would be essential that the essay would examine the presence of tricksters and tricksterism in our present day life

Alongside with the hip and hipsters John Leland raises the question of the trickster and the role of tricksterism within the black culture. In his interview to Joe Estes,  during which a number of questions were raised John Leland defined tricksters as the following  Tricksters understand chaos as order. Societies create them to break the rules that hold these societies in place, preventing them from evolving (Estes, 2004). It should be noted that tricksters are essential for every society and they appear to keep the society in the right order, being rebels, they recognize the one and only order of the house. It is not surprising that since the 18th century, the tricksters and tricksterism were developing alongside with the hip and hipster. John Leland consider that the influence of tricksters and tricksterism on the society is inevitable and mentioned a number of tricksters, whose impact on the society was quite a significant one It was a Yoruba trickster (not the Euro Christian devil) who met Tommy Johnson and Robert Johnson at the crossroads and taught them to play the guitar. PT Barnum, Mark Twain, Richard Pryor, Muhammad Ali, Bob Dylan, Miles Davis, Terry Southern and Richard Hell are all tricksters. And hip would not be the same without them (Estes, 2004). In his book the author reveals the dependence of the hip and trickster, considering that if the hip could be called an epic, than trickster is undoubtedly would be the main figure, attracting social attention, the star of the whole performance. He introduces the people whose impact on the American culture is inevitable and the burning satire of the key figures in American literature, such as Mark Twain, could not leave the society indifferent. The author makes a stress on the American satire as the best illustration of the trciksterism. From Twain to Bruce and Pryor the American satire was developing tricksterism alongside with the hip. The nature of the tricksterism is filled by the polar questions it opposes the blacks against the whites, the poverty against the richness, men against the women. Moving ahead from the binaries the revolutionary nature of trciksterism reveals the artificial values. Defining tricksters and non  tricksters John Leland consider that Non  trickster heroes help societies distinguish between right and wrong tricksters violate the boundary between the two. In a nation artificially divided into black and white, inside and outside, tricksters open channels of exchange (Leland, 2004). According to the Leland the core ideas of tricksterism is to break through the artificial barriers between the nations. The racial question, which let the whites top oppress the blacks for the decades was broke through by the burning activity of the tricksters. The ideas of equality between the blacks and whites could be regarded to as a tricksterism activity. It is not surprising that tricksters played quite a significant social and historical role in ridding off the artificial difference created between men and women, the blacks and the whites, the rich and the poor. Tricksterism as it is defined by John Leland has already found its reflecting in a number of literary and media works and it should be noted that it has already spread worldwide.

Even the author defined the time we live as the post-hip I consider that there we still could find a number of tricksters and their activity is aimed on the destruction of the artificially created barriers. It should be noted that nowadays not only Afro  Americans are involved in the struggle but also other representatives of the National minorities and women as well. We could observe the illustration of tricksterism in our everyday life, when the activists of different movements provide their demands. Among the most noticeable figures among the tricksters of the late 20th century could be undoubtedly called Michael Jackson, his creative work was intended to beak through the boundary between the blacks and the whites. One the best illustration of tricksterism and opposition between men and women, could be called The North Country, based on the real events and telling the story how women could protect themselves in the male society. It also should be noted, that among the contemporary musicians and band we could find a number of tricksters, who with the help of their creative activity reflect their personal vision on some situations. The burning satire could be found in texts and music of the Green Day punk rock band from California. They protested against the War in Iraq and activity of the current United States governmental policies and their offensive texts had a direct allusion on the president in power George W. Bush. It goes without saying that these texts and music provided quite a significant social impact, especially on the young Americans, revealing the truth and the attitude of the popular figures to the current state of things. It goes without saying that huge social impact and resonance is the core thing provided by the tricksters. The burning satire of OHenry and Jerome K. Jerome alongside with Mark Twain could be the best tricksterism activity criticizing the current state of things, showing the rough truth of the reality. The American muckraking movement could be also regarded as the good example of tricksterism activity, as they revealed the truth and was intended to break through the social inequality and unfairness.

In the end I would like to make a stress on the fact that without tricksters our life would not be the same as it is now. Tricksters are rebels, changing the current order, who do not mind the difficulties and they are very successful. Among the worldly known trickster, who is the primary female activists, struggling for the rights of women in Saudi Arabia is Wajeha Al-Huwaider. She does not  give up attempts to ruin the developed attitude to women and he burning criticism of the government, attract huge social attention and her activity as a trickster would be able to ruin the system of unfair attitude to women, as well as the unfair attitude to the black was ruined in the United States. I think that the role of trickster in the present day world did not lost its acuteness.

2 Bob Dylans Chronicle Volume One and Jerome Salingers The Catcher in the Rye as real and imagined autobiography reflecting the certain period in the historical context

Both novels take the reader into the fascinating adventure, perfectly reflecting the historical period it describes. The real autobiography of Bob Dylan and imaginary hero of Salingers book Holden Caulfield perfectly reveal the atmosphere and historical context of the both books. The core idea of this essay is to examine how these books reflect their historical contexts. To describe how the main heroes of the both books and the novels themselves could be related to as the specific products of the time.

It should be noted that both books describe the same place, where Bob Dylan and Holden Caulfield arrive to seek for their fortune. It should be noted that Salingers book reveals his personal attitude to New York, where the protagonist spend several days. The atmosphere described by Salinger seems to be duller than it is in Bob Dylans autobiography, whose reminds are brightly colored by the new city and new expectations. The days Holden Caulfield spends in New York are filled with strong drinks and solitude. It is a well known fact that the main hero of the novel has become a cult figure for the youth in some time. His rebellion and difference from the others could not leave young people indifferent, he was unable to find his place in the society. It should be noted that due the date the novel was published is 1951. Six years after the World War II ended and there could be found a number of lost young people, tired with the surrounding stupidity, lost in the personal loneliness, willing for changes. The reflection of the historical context is perfectly shown within the pages of the book. Adults living at this time have passed through the Great Depression and took an active participation in the War, with all its horrors. It is a paradox that the war, which cost the nation thousands of lives was the tool, which opened the door for the national prosperity. It goes without saying that with growth of the material stability caused the effect that people desired to forget the war. Huge number of people bought different goods, houses, second cars. The nation was intended to rid off the past and have a new start. It goes without saying that there was developed a new form of materialism and extreme conservatism in traditional values. That is why Holden could not find his place in this world of growing prosperity and everything seemed dull and disgusting for him. The main hero, carefully depicted by Salinger, within the atmosphere of conservatism and prosperity at the time of Joseph McCarthy and President Eisenhower could be related to as the first heroes, who caught the restless spirit of American Youth. In 1951 his appearance was corresponding to the appearance of the first famous young Americans, the rebels of the 50-s, Elvis Presley and James Dean. The extreme desire of changes, when the world seems dull for you that is the core connection of the main hero with the youth of 50-s who were brought up in after war times, the time of growing prosperity. It goes without saying that the novel is the perfect reflection of the American current state of things and the main hero could be related to as the product of the specific time.

If we speak about Bob Dylans autobiography, it should be noted that this book is written in pretty different tone and almost the same period of time is reflected through the expectations and hopes. He first arrives in Manhattan in 1961. Bob Dylan shows New York pretty differently than Salinger does. He reveals the magical nature of this city, calling it the magic city of possibilities and his personal great expectations Dylans New York is a magical city of possibilities -- smoky, nightlong parties literary awakenings transient loves and unbreakable friendships. Elegiac observations are punctuated by jabs of memories, penetrating and tough. With side trips to New Orleans, Woodstock, Minnesota and points west, Chronicles Volume One is an intimate and intensely personal recollection of extraordinary times (Dylan, 2004, Foreword). It goes without saying that describing his personal experience, he revealed the young Amerca, with its hopes and expectations. His personal experience is also adding a lot to the whole atmosphere of the book. Bob Dylan appeared in the quite scrutinized times for American youth, when it was rebelled from the adults, who passed through the horrors of War and Great Depression. He was the one who was on the top of the movement. He experienced the same feelings as American youngsters did, being young and popular, the same like they were, bothered with all the same problems. The author and the main hero the same time is of the same nature as Salingers hero, but he was taught to see the positive from life, to live in his own world, to breath the air of personal rebellion. Critics writing about this book consider that Bob Dylan Touches a wide variety of themes and the book perfectly reflects the historical context Dylan touches on a fascinating variety of topics - personal, musical, historical. New York at the dawn of the 60s is recreated with warmth and detail. This is the flickering urban landscape of Visions of Johanna, peopled with all kinds of characters looking for the inner heat, mingling in cluttered, carefully observed Greenwich Village apartments. In Dylans memory New York is cold, muffled, mysterious, a city of epiphanies I passed a horsedrawn wagon full of covered flowers, all under a plastic wrap, no driver in sight. The city was full of stuff like that. The book and the author himself are the products of the post-war times, rebels of the new born America.
In the end I would like to make a stress on the fact that both books have a lot of in common. The main heroes are nearly of the same time. And even they see America differently both authors masterfully revealed the surrounding atmospheres, which is now could be related as historical context. And certainly both books are perfect reflection and products of the specific time in American history.