Discussion Questions on Jacob Riis

Jensine Wharton writes:

• In regards to the “basis of opposition”, what can be said to the facts that both sides/groups/classes of people agree on the overlying issue, not wanting the government infringing on their rights to operate in a certain way? 
• What can be said to the fact that the way that  the “other side” lives is being written by a person not experiencing the struggles that the “other side” lives—this idea of history being written by the victor, and/or the oppressor. 
• What is the author’s intention or purpose of writing this essay—what is he trying to get across? Is it positive or negative?

How the Other Half Lives - Photo Reflection

Through his photojournalism, was Riis trying to arouse activism?

Riis' work was often sensationalized, yet neutralized with realism. Is his photo set reminiscent of modern day photojournalistic depictions of poverty in the third-world? Why or why not?

It is likely that Riis was able to capture American life of squalor with such intimacy because he himself had experienced poverty and tenement housing first-hand. Does this make Riis a hero? Or something less?

Theodore Roosevelt once said that Jacob Riis was "the greatest American" that he knew. According to this assignment of such a title, what made/makes one a "great" American?

The Jazz Singer Questions

Does Jakie come back in the end to sing in his father's place simply out of guilt, or are there other factors?

Jakie states at one point that his career is more important than anything else. Is this really true?

Do Jakie's parents not understand his desires, or do they understand, but reject them?

Th 9/8 Yezierska, Bread Givers Discussion Questions

How does the setting of Bread givers interfere with Reb Smolinsky's religious beliefs?

What was the most important objective for Smolinsky's daughters, getting out of poverty, or gaining independence from their religionist father?

The Jazz Singer (1927)

Click here to watch The Jazz Singer, starring Al Jolsen.

Bread Givers chs VI-XVI

Brennen Johnson writes:

In what ways does the Smolinsky family accept/reject social conformity?

How does the Russian culture/heritage of the family effect the Smolinsky sisters views of America?

How does the father's religious values shape his hyper masculine views toward women?

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Th 9/1 Anzia Yezierska, Bread Givers __________________________________________

T 9/6 Yezierska, Bread Givers ___Brennen________________________________________

Th 9/8 Yezierska, Bread Givers ____Muhammad__________________________________

 

T 9/13 The Jazz Singer (film, 1927) ____Elliott____________________________________

Th 9/15 Settlement House photos _____Viviane__________________________________

Jacob Riis, “How the Other Half Lives” essay and photos, and Lewis Hine photos __

_____Mackenzie, Jensine________________________________________________

 

T 9/20 Immigration and Caricature images ____Amira_____________________________

Th 9/22 Claude McKay, selected poem ____Kevin___________________________

 

T 9/27 William Ripley, “Race Progress and Immigration”______Dominick_____________

Randolph Bourne, “Trans-National America” ___Cat______________________

Th 10/13 John Okada, No-No Boy ___Michael K____________________________________

F 10/14 Okada, No-No Boy _________Christian__________________________________

T 10/18 Okada, No-No Boy _______William__________________________________

Th 10/20 Colm Toibin, Brooklyn_____Natalie, Viviane___________________________

T 10/25 Toibin, Brooklyn ________Kimberly_______________________________________

Th 10/27 Toibin, Brooklyn __________Karina, Melissa_______________________________

T 11/1 Lone Star (film, 1996) _______Rachel, Andrew__________________________

Th 11/3 Nuyorican & Latino poetry ___Xavier, Nicholas___________________________

Th 11/10 Jamaica Kincaid, Lucy ______Laura______________________________

T 11/15 Kincaid, Lucy _____________________________________________________

Th 11/17 Dinaw Mengestu, The Beautiful Things ____Komal, Dominick___________________

T 11/22 Mengestu, The Beautiful Things ________Jattna_________________________

Th 12/1 Mengestu, The Beautiful Things  ___Serena____________________________

T 12/6 Ocean Vuong poems _________Michael T_______________________________

Th 12/8 Philip Metres poem; Suheir Hammad, “First Writing Since”; Mohja Kahf, “The Chicken Queen” ___________________________________________________________