Popcorn-Can

Niedecker's poetry is very interesting to read, and different from your traditional types of poems. One strong part of her poetry is the use of details even if they are simple. I think that because they are simple it is easier for the reader to relate to and be able to picture it. I always wonder while reading her poems, what is this poem supposed to be about? Her work can be very confusing at times due to line breaks or just the poem being too short. One of her poems that I found interesting was the one about the popcorn-can covering the wall. This poem was easy to understand the meaning, and it also created an image in my mind.

"screwed to the wall over a hole". Her use of imagery can be found in most of her poems. In this line from the poem the reader imagines this popcorn-can being put into the wall over a hole outside so nothing can come in, including the cold. Her simple descriptive words makes it easy for the reader to create there own image of what she maybe would have saw. I found it neat how she described "so the cold can't mouse in". I visualized the wind moving slowly toward the hole but not being able to get in. Her adding the word mouse make the poem unique and more interesting for the reader.

Her poems make me wonder many questions. What is the meaning of this poem? Why wasn't emotion/ tone added to each poem? Why the line breaks? Why are some of the poems so short? Why did she choose to write only about her life and certain topics? Did she really have a passion for poetry? Why did she like to write poetry?

I have understood from reading her poems though that she has a deep connection with nature and her life. From the poems I have read so far I can always visualize either one part of her poem or the whole scene. She does a great job in describing nature even if she uses simple word choice like colors, objects, size, and other words. I still wonder why she wrote her poems the way she did? Why is the subject of each poem so hard to understand?

Is it just society based gender roles?

Are women being seen negatively in advertisements and men look like the powerful ones? Why are certain tasks associated with gender? I have been reflecting on this question after reading "Two ways a woman can get Hurt": Advertising and Violence by Jean Kilbourne. Also by reading the other readings, I have some to realize that men and woman have certain responsibilities but on them by society.What gives someone the right to say that woman are this way and men are another way?

Through the use of advertisement, women are presented as weak and defenseless while men are all powerful and successful. According to Kilbourne, she talks about how in advertisements power is the main focus over another person. I certainly agree with this because even when you watch commercials the guy is in control or the only person featured in the commercial. Why can’t women be seen as powerful too? In this society women are responsible in most cases to have a job and sometimes even be single mothers and support the family. 

 In some of the ads in her article the women are shown with guns pointed at them. What is this teaching society? I find it very harming for the children of our society to see. It only teaches violence and not the well-being of others. I found this very alarming, and think women should have better rights when it comes to advertising.

Why does each gender have specific characteristics? I found it very interesting that in “Becoming Members Of Society: Learning the social meanings of gender by Aaron Devhor, that children are taught to adapt these traits at very young ages because that is what society wants them to do. 

These gender roles are predefined for them. I find nothing wrong with each gender having the same characteristics. Men and women should be seen as equal. Men typically want power/success and are aggressive while women are trying to have harmony and well-being. Why can’t each gender have both traits? Maybe they would act for the better then.

Gender roles are just traits of masculinity and femininity that cultures and people have made up through the years. I strongly believe that they aren’t always true to either gender. Advertisement of women needs to change to create more equality of both genders. Do you think gender roles are acceptable?