Everyone has a Black Veil

In Nathaniel Hawthorne's short story, The Minister's Blake Veil, Parson Hooper begins to wear a black veil over his face. Even though he continues to be kind to others and continues his job just as well as he had before, the congregation begins to fear him in a way. His life begins to be very lonely. No one talks to him, his wife leaves him, and the congregation gossip amongst each other trying to find out the purpose of his black veil. At the end of the story, Hooper is asked to take the veil off. He refuses, saying that he does not understand why people avoid him only because of his black veil.

I believe that this story is written in agreement with Puritan England. Hooper believes that he, as well as everyone else in the congregation, has done wrong and covers his face because of this. When the congregation turns a cold shoulder to him, Hooper does not understand why. He believes that everyone should hide their face from the world because of the wrongs they have done. This brings us back to the Puritan ideas. You could not enjoy anything and most everything was a sin. Hooper believed that everyone was a sinner and no one deserved to show their face in public.

Old Post

I was just looking through the archive of my other blog and I found this.

It made me laugh. I am a silly little girl and I like my Bill Becketts with long hair.

I've Now Heard Two Emo Anthemns Live

Every Friday, I have a reason to be happy. Not because it's the last day of school before the weekend. Not because I don't have to do homework that night, and I can hang out with my friends instead. But because the Masquerade Message arrives every midmorning every Friday in my inbox. Here I can see who is coming to one of my favorite venues in Atlanta, and when the tickets go on sale. Last Friday when this e-mail came, I was disappointed to see that I wasn't very enthusiastic about any of the shows they announced. Remembering that I had answered the trivia question in this e-mail I scrolled down just to see if I had gotten it right. I had, and with that right answer came two Hawthorne Heights tickets. I had never participated in this contest before, but I was so happy I had. After much persuasion and lots of promises, my dad agreed to drive me to Atlanta and take me to see one of my favorite bands. And that's what I was doing last night.

When we got to the venue The Mile After had just finished their set, but we were there just in time for Tickle Me Pink. They sounded great and played an awesome cover of "Paradise City." Always a crowd pleaser. Next up was The Color Fred. If I could marry a band, Fred would be at the top of my list of possible spouses. They played a great set and they all really looked like they were having a great time. I was able to meet Fred Mascherino after the show and he was extremely down to earth and so sweet. After Fred, Emery played. I didn't know very much of their stuff and they were probably my least favorite. It may also have to do with the live experience, because I don't like moshing and there was lots of it. Once they were done playing, it was finally time for Hawthorne Heights.

I'll be the first to tell you that the first Hawthorne Heights song I ever heard was "Ohio is for Lovers," and it was after it got big. (I haven't been a Fall Out Boy fan since the "Take This to Your Grave" era either.) I liked the song, but I never really made an effort to try and listen to any of their other music. Once "Fragile Future," I listened to much more of their music, new and old. I regret not listening to more the first time I heard "Ohio is for Lovers," because I've found that I love it. Hawthorne Heights cease to amaze. After the passing of their guitarist, Casey Calvert, last November Heights was able to remain strong while recording a new album and now going on tour.

Their set sounded amazing and they played a few acoustic songs. I met J.T. Woodruff after the show, and he couldn't have been any nicer. All in all, it was a great night.

What is Greatness?

"To be great is to be misunderstood." I can not help, but agree with this quote. Right off, it may not make a ton of sense. Webster's dictionary says that to be misunderstood is "to interpret incorrectly" and to be great is to "remarkably skilled." It does not make since at all that someone who is unable to interpret something correctly is also remarkably skilled, but that is not the way that these words are described when Ralph Waldo Emerson used them in his Essay on Self-Reliance. Emerson knew what he was talking about, even if it did not make perfect sense.

I believe that Emerson's description of being "great" is very much like the Webster dictionary definition. Someone who is great is looked upon by many as someone who knows what his or her job is and is able to do it to the fullest. While this definition is so dead on, I think that Emerson's definition of "misunderstood" is very different from Webster's. The great person is the one who is misunderstood, but not by his oneself, by the other people observing him. He may be doing something great, but the people around him don't understand that and really have to think about it. If they didn't have to think so much about him, not as many people would discuss him with other people which just makes him more well known. This causes him to be even greater.

I've Been Caught

I'm in love with the new Fall Out Boy song, "What a Catch, Donnie." The song is really different from their past music. This only song I can think of that is a little close to it is "Golden" of their last album, "Infinity on High." Both songs show off Patrick Stump's melodic voice, but this time there are many more instruments than just a piano. Not to mention more voices than just Patrick's. Towards the end the song is greatly built up and then slows down so that almost all you can hear is Elvis Costello singing "Headfirst Sliding into Cooperstown on a Bad Bet." The song then picks back up and as Patrick continues to sing, in the background you can hear the voices of singers from different Fueled by Ramen bands singing the choruses of older Fall Out Boy songs. These include Gabe Saporta, Travis McCoy, Brendon Urie, Alex Deleon, Dough Neumann, and William Beckett. Even if you're someone who doesn't like Fall Out Boy I really think that you could enjoy this song. I just hope the rest of the album is this good.

Bill and Trav's Bogus Journey

Last Thursday, I was able to go to the Masquerade and experience an amazing concert. I was mainly going to see The Academy Is... but when I heard the rest of the acts I became even more excited. I had never heard of anything by Hey Monday or Carolina Liar, but with a quick myspace search I realized I liked both of them as well. I had first heard of the other co-headlining band, We the Kings, when I saw them last year when they opened for Cobra Starship on the Really Really Ridiculously Good Looking Tour. They had played a good show and I was very excited to see them again. I must say, their set this year was equally as good if not better. They were able to play a lot more than last year and they played an awesome cover of The Gorillaz' "Feel Good Inc." The Academy Is... played an amazing set and sounded incredible live. William Beckett is a born performer, which can be seen as he struts across the stage.

That Way the Impact Will be Much Better

I was recently listening to The Academy Is... song, "Down and Out." While a truly heart breaking song, I can't help but love it. The story of an mistreated girl taking control of her life gets me every time. The line, "Why do you wear sunglasses in the home when the sun went down about an hour ago?," at first made me think of someone being abused and trying to cover up the marks. When I thought about this some more I realized that it also showed that she was hiding from herself behind something. The song does not signify who the abuser is (boyfriend, parent?) but it is still just as powerful. "Always up or down," could be describing the relationship. It is either extremely happy or much more sad. I think that "You dream of demons while you sleep that make you stutter when you speak" shows that the girl worries about what will happen in the relationship. This could cause her to have nightmares and/or worry about and become hesitant of the things she does. "Speak now or forever hold your peace in pieces" describes her need to tell someone, but she hesitates to because she worries about what will happen if she does.