Structuralist Approach: Skin White

STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS:

 Skin White Power Whitening

      

         Do you believe in the Power of Instant White? Fight Skin aging and achieve noticeably whiter skin instantly upon application! Skin White Power Whitening lotion uses an exclusive Advanced Tripower Technology that whitens instantly and whitens continuously. And Vitanourish formula that contains Vitamins B3, B5 & E and SPF 20 that delivers intense moisturization and protection from harmful UV rays.

Before proceeding watch the video first <3                                     https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMEsg6WwbBQ

        

ANALYSIS:

         The advertisement of skin white power whitening lotion is all about how a lady saw the transformation of people from mere ordinary people to the next level which is a step whiter than the original skin color. This  made the audience follow what to do in order to make their skin white and fair.

        The advertisement conveys a message of how people can make their skin instantly white and glowing. This gives the audience the impression or idea that it can never be late to enhance the beauty which is innate in every individual.The advertisement also shows binary opposition such as from tan skin to fair skin.

                       

 

Formalist Approach: Naming of the Parts

 NAMING OF THE PARTS

by: Henry Reed

Today we have naming of parts. Yesterday,
We had daily cleaning. And tomorrow morning,
We shall have what to do after firing. But today,
Today we have naming of parts. Japonica
Glistens like coral in all the neighboring gardens,
And today we have naming of parts.

This is the lower sling swivel. And this
Is the upper sling swivel, whose use you will see,
When you are given your slings. And this is the piling swivel,
Which in your case you have not got. The branches
Hold in the gardens their silent, eloquent gestures,
Which in our case we have not got.

This is the safety-catch, which is always released
With an easy flick of the thumb. And please do not let me
See anyone using his finger. You can do it quite easy
If you have any strength in your thumb. The blossoms
Are fragile and motionless, never letting anyone see
Any of them using their finger.

And this you can see is the bolt. The purpose of this
Is to open the breech, as you see. We can slide it
Rapidly backwards and forwards: we call this
Easing the spring. And rapidly backwards and forwards
The early bees are assaulting and fumbling the flowers:
They call it easing the Spring.

They call it easing the Spring: it is perfectly easy
If you have any strength in your thumb: like the bolt,
And the breech, the cocking-piece, and the point of balance,
Which in our case we have not got; and the almond blossom
Silent in all of the gardens and the bees going backwards and forwards,
For today we have the naming of parts. 

ANALYSIS:  

               Analyzing naming of the parts may take you to many conclusion. Different version may come as we continue to ponder what particularly this poem mean. The poem may take us in different world such as in the world of war or might be in the world of nature. Each stanza of the poem contains imageries which eventually plays the reader's senses and it somehow provides a denotative and connotative meanings.

             But as long as formalist approach is concern, the best way to look in this particular poem is that,  the poem is a free verse poem. The poem does not follow any particular rhyme scheme and also it does not have rhyme within each lines.  The word  "we" poem suggests that the poem is written in a third person point of view.  The writer uses element of poetry such imagery, similes, and metaphor in the poem which is present  fifth of the first stanza and the second line of the fifth stanza.

           After which I have come into a conclusion that the poem is about a military man who is at the same time a nature lover. He appreciates the beauty that transcends though every aspect of  nature. Though  maybe he is a bit tough considering that he is a man that must show stiff attitude, he still shows his soft side. On the other hand, the poem also shows how the military man cleans his rifle step- by- step.

    

FEMINIST APPROACH: The Virgin

 

THE VIRGIN 

by Kerima Polotan Tuvera

ANALYSIS: 

         From the title itself  "The Virgin", the story talks about those who are chaste, untouched and unstained. When we talk about virginity society wise this is very crucial and important. Am i right? When you hear about this through your elders, automatically they would probably say that " You must give that to the one who your gonna marry."

     Like the main character in the story Ms. Mijares who have kept her virginity until the very end, keeping dignity and  achieving respect would mean everything all through out. The story depicts how Ms. Mijares, a woman who struggled to find her identity as person and as woman in the midst of what we call " Social Dictate". Ms. Mijares in very good example of an obedient and caring child. Driven to be a woman not for herself but for her family, she spents her life aiming to finish college in order for her to send her niece in school and take good care of her parents. It was not her choice but she had nothing to do with it. 

As society dictates woman to be prim and proper, Ms. Mijares was not free to express who she really is. So she stick to live out of what the society expects her to be, hiding the character that she possess. Meaning her life was about abiding the guidelines that society has set.  The society expects woman to be the one who will take care of their elders and look after them, which is totally crossing the right of an individual especially women to choose what she wants to do. This case exactly what the main character Ms. Mijares is going through. She was left to take care of them and look after to those who was left, leaving the character with no choice at all. 

Many years have gone by as she looks after them, she longs for love not just from her family but from others especially a man. The story conveys that even at an old age she haven't touched a man at all, which she dreams of. The romantic feelings of Ms. Mijares towards the carpenter are depict when she showed anguish towards the man when she found out that it has already a son and she thought he lied. But upon knowing the truth about the man, the anguish she felt diminished.

Elaine Showalter said that literary subcultures all go through three major phases of development. For literature by, or about women, she labeled these stages the Feminine, the Feminist and the Female. These three stages are found in Miss Mijares' life in the story.

       

The Feminine involves "imitation" of the prevailing modes of dominant traditon and internalization of it's standards. Ms. Mijares has gone through this phase in which she sacrificed almost all her younger years to give service to her love ones . She let the guideline set by the society to rule over her life. As the story progresses the character evolved from being feminine to feminist.

The Feminist stage involves protest against the standards and values and advocacy of minority rights.  Though she didn't voiced it out that she don't want to follow such, her inner self is protesting to do so.

The last stage which is the Female stage is a phase of self-discovery, a turning inwards freed from some of the dependency of opposition, a search for identity.  It is evident in the last paragraph how Ms. Mijares overcome the struggles and succeeded to be a female and chose to follow her own instinct.

Deconstructive Analysis: Designs by Robert Frost

DESIGNS

Robert Frost

I found a dimpled spider, fat and white,

On a white heal-all, holding up a moth

Like a white piece of rigid satin cloth --

Assorted characters of death and blight

Mixed ready to begin the morning right,

Like the ingredients of a witches' broth --

A snow-drop spider, a flower like a froth,

And dead wings carried like a paper kite.

What had that flower to do with being white,

The wayside blue and innocent heal-all?

What brought the kindred spider to that height,

Then steered the white moth thither in the night?

What but design of darkness to appall?--

If design govern in a thing so small.

ANALYSIS:

           In the first stanza, the speaker opens by describing a white spider hunting a white moth on a heal-all. A heal-all is a flower having medicinal properties who holds the moth. But like life, we can never resist the force of evil surrounding us which in this case is the spider. A hungry spider looking for something to eat to ease its hunger. This also implies that darkness or evil is everywhere, we may think we are unprotected.

          The second stanza, it implies that human as we are, we are like the moth on a flower, who is innocent. Nothing can stop the evil force who lurks to bring danger in our life . No matter how hard we try to hide and find security, evil will definitely find its way bringing fear and darkness.

          Generally the poem talks about life, its dark and light side. Even in small things in which human might not even want to pay attention, the very nature of life is shown. In this case the life of the moth in a flower who eventually found by the spider who is bringing danger. We can also say that the poem is implying or questioning the very nature of life given by God. Like the moth battle against the spider, we humans who is guided and protected by God battle against the evil who lurks.

Post Colonial Analysis (Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe)

(Post Colonial Analysis)

       

       Things Fall Apart is about the tragic fall of the protagonist, Okonkwo, and the Igbo culture. Okonkwo is a respected and influential leader within the Igbo community of Umuofia in eastern Nigeria. He first earns personal fame and distinction, and brings honor to his village, when he defeats Amalinze the Cat in a wrestling contest. Okonkwo determines to gain titles for himself and become a powerful and wealthy man in spite of his father's weaknesses.

       Okonkwo's father, Unoka, was a lazy and wasteful man. He often borrowed money and then squandered it on palm-wine and merrymaking with friends. Consequently, his wife and children often went hungry. Within the community, Unoka was considered a failure and a laughingstock. He was referred to as agbala, one who resembles the weakness of a woman and has no property. Unoka died a shameful death and left numerous debts.

        Okonkwo despises and resents his father's gentle and idle ways. He resolves to overcome the shame that he feels as a result of his father's weaknesses by being what he considers to be "manly"; therefore, he dominates his wives and children by being insensitive and controlling.

        Because Okonkwo is a leader of his community, he is asked to care for a young boy named Ikemefuna, who is given to the village as a peace offering by neighboring Mbaino to avoid war with Umuofia. Ikemefuna befriends Okonkwo's son, Nwoye, and Okonkwo becomes inwardly fond of the boy.

        Over the years, Okonkwo becomes an extremely volatile man; he is apt to explode at the slightest provocation. He violates the Week of Peace when he beats his youngest wife, Ojiugo, because she went to braid her hair at a friend's house and forgot to prepare the afternoon meal and feed her children. Later, he severely beats and shoots a gun at his second wife, Ekwefi, because she took leaves from his banana plant to wrap food for the Feast of the New Yam.

        After the coming of the locusts, Ogbuefi Ezeuder, the oldest man in the village, relays to Okonkwo a message from the Oracle. The Oracle says that Ikemefuna must be killed as part of the retribution for the Umuofian woman killed three years earlier in Mbaino. He tells Okonkwo not to partake in the murder, but Okonkwo doesn't listen. He feels that not participating would be a sign of weakness. Consequently, Okonkwo kills Ikemefuna with his machete. Nwoye realizes that his father has murdered Ikemefuna and begins to distance himself from his father and the clansmen.

        Okonkwo becomes depressed after killing Ikemefuna, so he visits his best friend, Obierika, who disapproves of his role in Ikemefuna's killing. Obierika says that Okonkwo's act will upset the Earth and the earth goddess will seek revenge. After discussing Ikemefuna's death with Obierika, Okonkwo is finally able to sleep restfully, but he is awakened by his wife Ekwefi. Their daughter Ezinma, whom Okonkwo is fond of, is dying. Okonkwo gathers grasses, barks, and leaves to prepare medicine for Ezinma.

        A public trial is held on the village commons. Nine clan leaders, including Okonkwo, represent the spirits of their ancestors. The nine clan leaders, or egwugwu, also represent the nine villages of Umuofia. Okonkwo does not sit among the other eight leaders, or elders, while they listen to a dispute between an estranged husband and wife. The wife, Mgbafo, had been severely beaten by her husband. Her brother took her back to their family's village, but her husband wanted her back home. The egwugwu tell the husband to take wine to his in-laws and beg his wife to come home. One elder wonders why such a trivial dispute would come before the egwugwu.

         In her role as priestess, Chielo tells Ekwefi (Okonkwo's second wife) that Agbala (the Oracle of the Hills and Caves) needs to see Ezinma. Although Okonkwo and Ekwefi protest, Chielo takes a terrified Ezinma on her back and forbids anyone to follow. Chielo carries Ezinma to all nine villages and then enters the Oracle's cave. Ekwefi follows secretly, in spite of Chielo's admonitions, and waits at the entrance of the Oracle. Okonkwo surprises Ekwefi by arriving at the cave, and he also waits with her. The next morning, Chielo takes Ezinma to Ekwefi's hut and puts her to bed.

        When Ogbuefi Ezeudu dies, Okonkwo worries because the last time that Ezeudu visited him was when he warned Okonkwo against participating in the killing of Ikemefuna. Ezeudu was an important leader in the village and achieved three titles of the clan's four, a rare accomplishment. During the large funeral, Okonkwo's gun goes off, and Ezeudu's sixteen-year-old son is killed accidentally.

         Because the accidental killing of a clansman is a crime against the earth goddess, Okonkwo and his family must be exiled from Umuofia for seven years. The family moves to Okonkwo's mother's native village, Mbanta. After they depart Umuofia, a group of village men destroy Okonkwo's compound and kill his animals to cleanse the village of Okonkwo's sin. Obierika stores Okonkwo's yams in his barn and wonders about the old traditions of the Igbo culture.

         Okonkwo is welcomed to Mbanta by his maternal uncle, Uchendu, a village elder. He gives Okonkwo a plot of land on which to farm and build a compound for his family. But Okonkwo is depressed, and he blames his chi (or personal spirit) for his failure to achieve lasting greatness. During Okonkwo's second year in exile, he receives a visit from his best friend, Obierika, who recounts sad news about the village of Abame: After a white man rode into the village on a bicycle, the elders of Abame consulted their Oracle, which told them that the white man would destroy their clan and other clans. Consequently, the villagers killed the white man. But weeks later, a large group of men slaughtered the villagers in retribution. The village of Abame is now deserted.

        Okonkwo and Uchendu agree that the villagers were foolish to kill a man whom they knew nothing about. Later, Obierika gives Okonkwo money that he received from selling Okonkwo's yams and seed-yams, and he promises to do so until Okonkwo returns to Umuofia. Six missionaries, including one white man, arrive in Mbanta. The white man speaks to the people about Christianity. Okonkwo believes that the man speaks nonsense, but his son, Nwoye, is captivated and becomes a convert of Christianity. 

       The Christian missionaries build a church on land given to them by the village leaders. However, the land is a part of the Evil Forest, and according to tradition, the villagers believe that the missionaries will die because they built their church on cursed land. But when nothing happens to the missionaries, the people of Mbanta conclude that the missionaries possess extraordinary power and magic. The first recruits of the missionaries are efulefu, the weak and worthless men of the village. Other villagers, including a woman, soon convert to Christianity. The missionaries then go to Umuofia and start a school. Nwoye leaves his father's hut and moves to Umuofia so he can attend the school.

        Okonkwo's exile is over, so his family arranges to return to Umuofia. Before leaving Mbanta, they prepare a huge feast for Okonkwo's mother's kinsmen in appreciation of their gratitude during Okonkwo's seven years of exile.

         When Okonkwo returns to Umuofia, he discovers that the village has changed during his absence. Many men have renounced their titles and have converted to Christianity. The white men have built a prison; they have established a government court of law, where people are tried for breaking the white man's laws; and they also employ natives of Umuofia. Okonkwo wonders why the Umuofians have not incited violence to rid the village of the white man's church and oppressive government.

          Some members of the Igbo clan like the changes in Umuofia. Mr. Brown, the white missionary, respects the Igbo traditions. He makes an effort to learn about the Igbo culture and becomes friendly with some of the clan leaders. He also encourages Igbo people of all ages to get an education. Mr. Brown tells Okonkwo that Nwoye, who has taken the name Isaac, is attending a teaching college. Nevertheless, Okonkwo is unhappy about the changes in Umuofia.

          After Mr. Brown becomes ill and is forced to return to his homeland, Reverend James Smith becomes the new head of the Christian church. But Reverend Smith is nothing like Mr. Brown; he is intolerant of clan customs and is very strict.

          Violence arises after Enoch, an overzealous convert to Christianity, unmasks an egwugwu. In retaliation, the egwugwu burn Enoch's compound and then destroy the Christian church because the missionaries have caused the Igbo people many problems.

           When the District Commissioner returns to Umuofia, he learns about the destruction of the church and asks six leaders of the village, including Okonkwo, to meet with him. The men are jailed until they pay a fine of two hundred and fifty bags of cowries. The people of Umuofia collect the money and pay the fine, and the men are set free.

 

Analysis:

           The novel things fall apart by Chinua Achebe depicts the story that happens when a certain country or tribe is being colonized. There is somewhat we call "CHANGE". Change that occur when a certain country is under the administration or under the governance of another. Like a man who knew nothing about the world and inculcate the first teaching we had, we humans now despise  change or enhance them.

           In the case of the story "Things Fall Apart" I can confidently say that, when the tribe was run by the white men, certain changes happen because of the cultures that were implanted in  them. Things that they knew was changed; beliefs, culture, and even religion. We may try to resist and fight for what we think is right but eventually we learn accept them whole. We can't deny the fact that when fighting, the shedding of blood can never be avoided. 

         Like the Philippines who was colonized by many country, many cultures are inculcated in our mind by different foreigners; Spanish, American, and Japanese cultures. But like the story of Things Fall Apart, we Filipinos were changed by what they planted as Christianity who convinced them totally. Thinking that this belief will change the track of their life, they succumb to that. 

 

              At first we may say that this change will bring about destruction to the things we built and founded many many years. But as we go along, we see that this change may bring us a higher perspective in life, giving us another view of what betterment we can do with it.