Literary Criticism

Literary criticism is an important and useful tool used by writers. Literary criticism is the practice of evaluating and analyzing literature. These criticisms can either be done by the author themselves, by critics that are writing a book review for a newspaper or book, or students that are studying literature in class can even do them. These critiques of the literature can give the author feedback about their book. They critique the message that is conveyed in the story, as well as the literary elements that the author uses such as the theme, characterization, setting, protagonist, antagonist and point of view. These criticisms give the author and the reader greater insight into the piece of literature and what is going on in the story. Many authors criticize their work many times before they finally feel satisfied that it is ready for publishing. These authors take great pride in there writing, they pick apart each section they have written and analyze it until it is perfect. Many prolific writers such as Thoreau and J.D. Salinger used literary criticisms to make sure that what they had wrote was what they considered perfect and ready to be published.

New Journalism is a type of writing that involves the use of many fiction-writing techniques. New journalism uses many types of descriptions, narrations, and character development. These techniques help to bring the reader closer to the story. Writer Tom Wolfe, who used lots of descriptions and narrations in his journalism and non-fiction writing, was the first to use the term new journalism. One of the most important as well as interesting writers of New Journalism was Hunter S. Thompson. Thompson was a heavy drug and alcohol abuser. His famous novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas emphasized his heavy use of drugs while reporting. (Thompson 6) “ I laughed and ripped open a beer can that foamed all over the back seat while I kept talking.”

Aldous Huxley Footnote

Aldous Huxley experimented with the drug known as mescaline. Mescaline is a hallucinogenic drug that comes from the cactus peyote.  The effects of mescaline are visual hallucinations, visualizations, euphoria, dream-like state and laughter.  the mescaline allowed him to open up his mind and heighten his senses. It also allowed him to go on a path of self discovery.  These positive effects that he got from taking mescaline had him encouraging other to try it, this is what he called a "chemical vacation."

Abstract

Performance enhancing drugs such as steroids have become increasingly prevalent in recent years in many professional sports.  They are extremely popular in baseball, football, Pro Wresting as well as track and field.  These performance-enhancing drugs give the individual an unfair advantage over the rest of the playing.  Most of these drugs allow the individual to become bigger and stronger faster.  They also allow them to recover faster than they normally would.  As a result more stringent drug testing programs have to be developed with harsher consequences.

Cubism

Cubism is one of the most important artistic movements of the 20th century.  The artists who contribute to this art form were often neglected and misunderstood.  One of the main artists of this era was Picasso.  Cubism has had effects on painting and sculpting as well as music and literature.  In Cubism era artwork the objects depicted in a paintings or sculpture are broken up and reassembled in an abstract form depicting the subject in many different viewpoints.  There are often many intersects and random angle.  Cubism is often neglected for is over use of the avant-garde style.