Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas Chapters 6+

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Questions and Answers

What does it mean to write an autobiography from another person's perspective?

To offer an opinion on how another person has impacted your life

To write about someone else's life as if it were your own life. (correct)

To use an event in another person's life to exemplify a biographical event in your own life.

To write about a different individual than a famous person.

To write about yourself but use a different name.

What is the concept of 'stream of consciousness' in writing?

A writing style focused on capturing the flow of thoughts and emotions without traditional structure or logic.

Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas were only interested in artistic movements and were not politically aware of their time.

False

What is 'Realness' in the context of Ballroom culture?

Realness, in the context of Ballroom culture, refers to convincing authenticity. It encompasses the ability to embody and showcase a specific persona with conviction and believability. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main themes explored in 'Straight Line Crazy' by David Hare?

One of the main themes explored in 'Straight Line Crazy' is the tension between progress and ethical accountability, specifically examining whether the pursuit of ambitious projects for the greater good can justify the potential harm or displacement inflicted on communities. Signup and view all the answers

In the context of 'The Other West Side Story' article, why does the author say that modern-day gang violence is ‘a phenomenon that has a history’?

The author of 'The Other West Side Story' asserts that modern gang violence is a phenomenon with a history because it stems from a more deeply rooted and persistent social and economic reality—which includes systemic issues such as poverty, racism, and lack of opportunity— contributing to its recurrence. Signup and view all the answers

What are some of the key characteristics of 'Film Noir,' as a genre?

Some key characteristics of 'Film Noir' include its use of a shadowy, cynical, and often pessimistic tone, typically featuring morally ambiguous characters in urban settings. The genre also emphasizes themes of alienation, loneliness, and corruption. Signup and view all the answers

The ______ City is an exemplary film of the Film Noir genre.

Naked Signup and view all the answers

In 'The Naked City,' the filmmakers use black and white cinematography to highlight the darkness and moral decay of the city and its inhabitants.

True Signup and view all the answers

What social and political factors influenced the genesis of 'Film Noir', as a genre?

Film Noir emerged in the 1940s and 50s, reflecting a period of heightened societal anxieties following World War II. The genre's pessimistic tone and emphasis on moral corruption were often attributed to the disillusionment and cynicism that arose in the wake of wartime and the Cold War. Film Noir also mirrored the anxieties associated with the rising influence of capitalism and the growing divide between wealth and poverty during this period. Signup and view all the answers

What is the central theme of 'Paris is Burning,' as a documentary film?

The history of Ballroom culture throughout the 1980s and its evolution into a mainstream cultural phenomenon. Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the drawbacks of representing a story from an outside perspective?

'Bell Hooks, in her critique on 'Paris is Burning,' highlights a key drawback of an outsider perspective-which she describes as 'ritual into spectacle.' This perspective reduces the complexities of the culture being represented to a series of entertaining performances for viewers, often neglecting the deeper meaning and significance of the practices and traditions being portrayed. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas

Published in 1933
Chapters 6 onwards deal with the book
The book focuses on bohemian culture
Gertrude Stein
- Attended Harvard and later medical school
- Moved to Paris to be a writer
- Became successful through patronage for her work
- Stein was born in Pennsylvania and Toklas was from San Francisco
- Famous for collaborating with other great artists (Pablo Picasso and Matisse)
- Volunteered for the American Fund for French Wounded during WWI
- Included elements of a modernist text, multiple perspectives
Themes of the City
- Understanding of American Identity during their time in Paris
- Stein was intrigued by Americans in Paris during WWI
- Stein felt Americans were situated in French culture, and felt this was unique
- Stein believed Paris was exciting and interesting.

Book Breakdown

Chapter 1: Before coming to Paris
- Summary of Toklas' life
Chapter 2: My Arrival in Paris
- Toklas being Stein's wife
Chapter 3: Gertrude Stein in Paris 1903-1907
- Introduced people like Vollard, Matisse, Picasso
Chapter 4. Gertrude Stein Before She Came to Paris
- Introduces William James, a psychologist with whom Gertrude Stein worked during her years at Radcliffe College
Chapter 5 - 1907-1914
Chapter 6. The War
Chapter 7. After the War 1919-1932
- Stein published The Making of Americans.
- Stein and Toklas became Hemingway's son's godparents.
Chapter 20 and 23
Key Scenes/Passages
- Important details and quotes, including about the significance of the book's title "The Book of Salt"

Other Works Discussed

The Book of Salt by Monique Truong
- It deals with the composite of two people who cooked for Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas and their experiences in Paris
James Baldwin, Notes of a Native Son
- Baldwin's comments on the First International Congress of Black Writers
- Baldwin's essay "A Question of Identity" about Paris
“Equal in Paris”
- Baldwin spending a year in Paris and being arrested
- The time spent in cafes
Crossing Brooklyn Ferry by Walt Whitman-1856
- About the timelessness of NYC
"Paris is Burning"
- Documentary film that examines and explores the culture and stories of the drag balls in Harlem, New York

Additional Information

"The Naked City", a 1948 film by Jules Dassin
Focuses on the specifics of crime in New York
Important roles of women like Jean Dexter/Ruth in the film
The importance and significance of the film's black and white color scheme
Specific lines from “Puerto Rican Obituary” used in the song

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Description

Explore the intriguing chapters of 'The Autobiography of Alice B. Toklas', focusing on Gertrude Stein's life in Paris and the vibrant bohemian culture of the early 20th century. This quiz dives into themes of American identity and modernist perspectives as portrayed by Stein and Toklas. Test your knowledge of their artistic collaborations and the historical context of their time in Paris.