Monday, February 17, 2014
Pills and Shit: The Drug Scene - Lenny Bruce
In "Pills and Shit: The Drug Scene," Lenny Bruce takes a spin on things and makes fun of the strict system involving drugs. Bruce uses a series of monologues. These monologues are used to portray a humorous point of view about drugs. Do you think that Bruce's use of monologues helps convey his message or do you think that it is hard to follow and understand? Overall, what is the main point Bruce is making? What are the literary techniques Bruce uses?
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"Pills and shit" by Lenny Bruce was a very confusing story. I read it about 3 times and at first I thought he was a advocate talking mainly about marijuana usage and how it should be trailed as a drug to throw people in jail. In my opinion his use of monologues sorta threw me off as a reader because I couldn't follow up with his stories of drug use and it sorta cut me off as soon as he started talking about inhaler you use with benzedrex.... I think this piece is talking about his experiences first hand as a drug user and some of his experiences while on the drugs. I liked how the story was in first person perspective sorta felt like I was experiencing it.
ReplyDeleteThe whole 'speed' of the piece can be confusing, but I think it was written at a time when there was so many things (drugs) that could catch one's attention. Wanting to test everything. The different monologues is really effective just to show the culture that surrounded the drugs.
ReplyDeleteI felt as though the reading had a faster pace then usual which made it confusing to read sometimes. Lenny Bruce threw all those drugs in the reading to catch our attention and to make us have a closer connection to the story. His use of first person writing made me feel like it was realistic. His main point was to show his use of drugs and to have the reader gain a better connection.
ReplyDeleteI felt like the use of the monologues and the pace of the reading made things a little confusing for me. Also I felt like the main point of the reading was that everyone has different perceptions on drugs. People use drugs for various reasons, not everyone uses drugs for the same reason. The first person narrative made the scenes feel more realistic.
ReplyDeleteI felt that it was nicely written and it was fun to read. I found it funny and interesting because what he talked about actually made sense. He talked about how politicians are making it seem like marijuana is a horrible thing so they can put people into rehab and fill up the empty beds, which are empty because not many people are using strong narcotics. Overall it is a good read.
ReplyDeleteI thought that this story was really funny. I think that most of his points make sense because when he mentions that in Europe they are putting people in jail for marijuana but on the other hand if people use heroin, then that is fine. They think that this is alright because with marijuana you have to smoke it, so their thinking is that anything that you smoke must be bad for you. I liked the dialogue because it made it more entertaining for me. I also think that it also made it easier to read.
ReplyDeleteIn my opinion, the monologues make the piece. It makes the story far more interesting and interactive. Allowing the reader to feel connected to the piece and the pace truly taking you for a ride. As per the message of piece, I would say explicitly as the title of the piece would suggest is about drug usage and its affects. But implicitly I have gathered that the message of this piece is that that the drugs in which we label as legal and allow people open access to them are actually far more dangerous than marijuana. In essence I feel that Lenny is trying to give the reader a different perspective or outlook on marijuana as well as the other drugs, in which the every day person has assess to. It was overall a great read, and offered me a different perspective on the matter of narcotics, and drugs in general.
ReplyDeleteI loved the monologues! Maybe it's because i relate to my own writing style but.... anyway. I think the monologues are an effective way to portray his opinion on drug use. As a drug user, that is probably what goes through some people's minds. I think he used pace in an effective way as well. the pace of this piece was faster...and it set a sense of realism.. Like i was actually hearing him talk this all out.
ReplyDeleteThe monologues were really funny to me, in a darkish kind of way. It gave an insight to a world that very few know. i enjoyed how fast the pace was.
ReplyDeleteI personally had mixed feelings about this story. To start off people were jailed in for using marijuana but nothing will happen if you use heroin?! To me that makes no sense. I like the way he portrays his own thinking of the drugs. As a constant drug addict that is what probably goes on but i just find this really funny.
ReplyDeleteI am strongly inspired by those monologues, thought some sentences are sad and negative, Bruce still demonstrated what he want to say about drugs. Actually, I am not absolutely stand against taking marijuana after reading his piece. But heroin is pretty bad :(. The whole piece is not as dark as I thought when I saw the title. Bruce's standards and opinions definitely create a kind of interesting inside. Maybe the readers will get new vision of drugs after finishing this fun piece. (For real, I do not like this piece :P)
ReplyDeleteMeh, this story wasn't really my cup of tea. I didn't really like it at all. It's way too sporadic for me and I don't really see any purpose in it. Maybe it's because I don't have any interest in the field of drugs and their legalization, but I do find one thing important to note. The issues concerning marijuana have existed for such a long time! It's interesting that it's something like that that's so widely condemned and people get in trouble for when there are many worse drugs out there that have infinitely more impact in their effects on people.
ReplyDeleteI thought that this piece would be some what relatable to a college reader due to the things we see on a day to day basis. Everyone in college has either smoked marijuana, or knows someone who does regularly. In my opinion his use of examples in Europe where people get locked up for pot but slapped on the wrist for heroin is comical. I often find it amazing how much trouble a plant that grows naturally can get you in so much legal trouble. Although i feel that marijuana can be abused if used incorrectly, it has clear medical benefits which cannot be over looked. I can see where Lenny Bruce is skeptical of the laws regarding marijuana and think many can relate.
ReplyDeleteThe use of the monologues in this story was a pretty good idea. It made the story more comical and interesting to read because the reader would feel as if he or she was present there. The fact that these issues are still present now made it a relevant topic.Who knew this was an issue for such a long time? Also there was comical side because of things that are accepted and the punishments.
ReplyDelete