Curation Assignment by Gabriel Stransky

"We Real Cool" by Gwendolyn Brooks

stranskyg24123_2 — 2024-04-30 17:59:10 UTC

The Pool Players.
Seven at the Golden Shovel.

We real cool. We

Left school. We

Lurk late. We

Strike straight. We

Sing sin. We

Thin gin. We

Jazz June. We

Die soon.

"We So Cool" - Summary

stranskyg24123_2 — 2024-04-30 18:30:00 UTC

"We Real Cool" was written by Gwendolyn Brooks, an American Poet. She is known for her impactful poetry that explores urban life, race, and identity. The poem is short and only eight lines long, but it is packed full of meaning. The poem shows the life of young adults who are choosing a rebellious lifestyle. Brooks employs use of slang terms that help convey this poem through a younger mindset and vocabulary. The poem is about seven young pool players who are ducking school and engaging in other less productive activities. Most of the mom is uplifting and has an uplifting theme, but the last line of the poem is, "We die soon." This shows that "Being cool," might hurt you in the end with the decisions you end up making that could affect you down the road.

An Interview with Gwendolyn Brooks

stranskyg24123_2 — 2024-04-30 18:57:38 UTC

The interview was between Gwendolyn Brooks and George Stavros in 1970. Brooks is describing her upbringing in Downtown Chicago. Brooks talks about her childhood and growing up in a racially segregated society. She also describes her early works in poetry that led to her eventual recognition. Brooks also gives her thoughts on how poetry affects society and potentially even changes it. Brooks closes by talking about the importance of authenticity and honesty in poetry.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/1207502?searchText=Gwendolyn+Brooks&searchUri=%2Faction%2FdoBasicSearch%3FQuery%3DGwendolyn%2BBrooks%26so%3Drel&ab_segments=0%2Fbasic_search_gsv2%2Fcontrol&refreqid=fastly-default%3Ae95305f7e7a1f09b87ff850bcb23d7b5&seq=1

Gwendolyn Brooks, and George Stavros. “An Interview with Gwendolyn Brooks.” Contemporary Literature, vol. 11, no. 1, 1970, pp. 1–20. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/1207502. Accessed 30 Apr. 2024.

Youth Rebellion Painting

stranskyg24123_2 — 2024-05-01 02:27:18 UTC

In this piece of artwork, a young boy is depicted smoking a cigarette. The work captures a sense of independence, defiance, and youthful spirit. It shows us the teens' urge to go against social norms and be different. Sometimes no matter the consequences. This directly correlates to the seven pool players that Brooks is describing in her poem. They are going against social norms. At the end of the poem, it is stated that "We Die soon," likewise, in the painting smoking is something that could cause you to have a premature death.

Youth Rebellion Through Rock and Roll

stranskyg24123_2 — 2024-05-02 01:47:13 UTC

The rise of rock 'n' roll coincided with the post-war baby boom. During this period a large part of the population was of teenagers and young adults. Rock and Roll was the soundtrack to youth rebellion and gave a voice to those seeking freedom. Rock and Roll artists played an important role with their charismatic stage presence and rebellious personalities. For example, Elvis Presley was idolized by many for his Rock and Roll lifestyle with his captivating performances, provocative dance moves, and iconic fashion style. Like the boys, Brooks writes about in her poem, the youth during this time were rebelling and went out of the social norm.

https://www.demodemagazine.com/the-legacy-of-rock-n-roll-tracing-its-impact-on-popular-culture-de-mode-global#:~:text=Rock%20'n'%20roll%20became%20the,icons%20for%20young%20people%20worldwide.

1960s - Teenage Rebellion

stranskyg24123_2 — 2024-05-02 02:24:43 UTC

In the 1960s. there was a large cultural revolution that was mainly led by hippies and activists. The counterculture welcomed long hair, rejected conformity, and explored alternative lifestyles. Even basic things such as grooming were rejected as a social norm that was not needed. Over this time, the generation gap increased greatly. One example is the "Summer of Love" in San Francisco, which focused on love, peace, and communal living. Brooks wrote " We Real Cool" in the 60s and was likely influenced by the changes around her. The seven pool players in the story are direct symbols of the changes in the youth culture during this time that leaned on the more rebellious side rather than conservative.

https://youtu.be/plgKnrpvtAI?si=QFyfyLDGmUyqQAHx

Youth Rebellion Art Work

stranskyg24123_2 — 2024-05-02 02:45:09 UTC

This piece is called "F-111", it was created by the American artist James Rosenquist. The painting was named after the F-111 bomber. The piece is massive, it spans over 23 individuals that wrap around a room. The artwork is packed full of juxtapositions from American consumer culture. Also, there are elements of war and violence in the piece. Just as in "We Real Cool", youth during this time wanted to be different and not copy the generations before them. The boys would rather play hooky and skip school than learn about monotonous topics that they couldn't care less about.