Schubert, Bach, Dowland - The Function of Music in Richard Power's 'The Time of Our Singing'

The Function of Music in Richard Power's 'The Time of Our Singing'

Fiction & Literature, Literary Theory & Criticism, British
Cover of the book Schubert, Bach, Dowland - The Function of Music in Richard Power's 'The Time of Our Singing' by Daniel Stock, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Daniel Stock ISBN: 9783638474795
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: March 1, 2006
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Daniel Stock
ISBN: 9783638474795
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: March 1, 2006
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Seminar paper from the year 2005 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2,7, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel (Englisches Seminar ), course: Seminar: Literature and Music, 39 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Introduction 'I can't pretend that anything I've ever experienced can compare to what black or mixed-race people confront on a daily basis in this country,' says Richard Powers, author of The Time of Our Singing.1 Racism and belonging are the most important topics in his recent novel. Joseph and Jonah Strom, sons of David Strom, a Jewish German immigrant and his wife, Delia Daley, a black woman, grow up in the United States, a country in which they have to face the lives of social outcasts. Belonging to neither black, nor white, neither Christian, nor Jewish, neither German, nor American society, they are permanently confronted with the question: 'Who are you, boys?' Music is the only thing that holds the family together, that provides hope and confidence in an otherwise desperate situation. The Guardian calls music the 'central metaphor of Power's book'.2 The New Yorker even establishes a connection to Thomas Mann's Doktor Faustus (1947) as a 'ghostly thematic backdrop'.3 Actually one could imagine a sort of contract between the singer Jonah and the devil. He develops and enhances his voice whilst racial hatred and uprisings are getting worse all around him. Jonah's father is a scientist who really lives for science and is always busy exploring time - just like the father of Adrian Leverkühn, the protagonist in Doktor Faustus, is a passionate scientist. Unlike Jonah, who actually is a gifted singer, Adrian needs the devil to become a better musician. As a price the latter is not allowed to love, which is the same with Jonah and, in fact, Joseph Strom. As descendants from two different races, and belonging to neihter, they are different from both and are not able to find a suitable partner. As a matter of fact they will not be able to procreate - like a 'mule', which is the very nickname Jonah gives to his brother Joseph. As a trained singer who studied physics as well, it does not astonish which topics Powers chose.4 --- 1 Powers, quoted from: Emma Brockes, 'Magic Powers.' The Guardian (14th March, 2003). 2 Brockes. 3 Sven Birkerts, 'Harmonic Convergence.' The New Yorker (1st January, 2003). 4 Joseph Dewey, Understanding Richard Powers (Columbia, SC, 2002) p. 6-7.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Seminar paper from the year 2005 in the subject English Language and Literature Studies - Literature, grade: 2,7, Christian-Albrechts-University of Kiel (Englisches Seminar ), course: Seminar: Literature and Music, 39 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Introduction 'I can't pretend that anything I've ever experienced can compare to what black or mixed-race people confront on a daily basis in this country,' says Richard Powers, author of The Time of Our Singing.1 Racism and belonging are the most important topics in his recent novel. Joseph and Jonah Strom, sons of David Strom, a Jewish German immigrant and his wife, Delia Daley, a black woman, grow up in the United States, a country in which they have to face the lives of social outcasts. Belonging to neither black, nor white, neither Christian, nor Jewish, neither German, nor American society, they are permanently confronted with the question: 'Who are you, boys?' Music is the only thing that holds the family together, that provides hope and confidence in an otherwise desperate situation. The Guardian calls music the 'central metaphor of Power's book'.2 The New Yorker even establishes a connection to Thomas Mann's Doktor Faustus (1947) as a 'ghostly thematic backdrop'.3 Actually one could imagine a sort of contract between the singer Jonah and the devil. He develops and enhances his voice whilst racial hatred and uprisings are getting worse all around him. Jonah's father is a scientist who really lives for science and is always busy exploring time - just like the father of Adrian Leverkühn, the protagonist in Doktor Faustus, is a passionate scientist. Unlike Jonah, who actually is a gifted singer, Adrian needs the devil to become a better musician. As a price the latter is not allowed to love, which is the same with Jonah and, in fact, Joseph Strom. As descendants from two different races, and belonging to neihter, they are different from both and are not able to find a suitable partner. As a matter of fact they will not be able to procreate - like a 'mule', which is the very nickname Jonah gives to his brother Joseph. As a trained singer who studied physics as well, it does not astonish which topics Powers chose.4 --- 1 Powers, quoted from: Emma Brockes, 'Magic Powers.' The Guardian (14th March, 2003). 2 Brockes. 3 Sven Birkerts, 'Harmonic Convergence.' The New Yorker (1st January, 2003). 4 Joseph Dewey, Understanding Richard Powers (Columbia, SC, 2002) p. 6-7.

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book The differing foreign policy perspectives of Senators John McCain, Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama by Daniel Stock
Cover of the book The Great Gatsby - an Overview by Daniel Stock
Cover of the book Eremitendarstellungen bei Hieronymus Bosch by Daniel Stock
Cover of the book Creative Poetry Writing in the EFL Classroom by Daniel Stock
Cover of the book Who Moved My Cheese? by Daniel Stock
Cover of the book Welcomed or Rejected? The situation of Turks in Germany by Daniel Stock
Cover of the book Short Essay on Shakespeare`s 'Sonnet 18' by Daniel Stock
Cover of the book Does the USA represent an empire in international relations? by Daniel Stock
Cover of the book The Triple Bottom Line as the answer to the primary responsibility of the manager by Daniel Stock
Cover of the book Service Marketing - an introduction by Daniel Stock
Cover of the book Barriers and drivers for the deployment of renewable energy technology in developing countries by Daniel Stock
Cover of the book Language and Gender - Is there a gender gap in language? by Daniel Stock
Cover of the book Grey Tourism in Australia by Daniel Stock
Cover of the book Competence Analysis: An approach to a firm´s competence domain by Daniel Stock
Cover of the book Zum Einfluss neuer Cleavages auf die Akkommodation islamischer Immigranten in Westeuropa by Daniel Stock
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy