20th/21st Century Genius Award Paper and Presentation (Essay Sample)

20th/ 21st Century Genius Award Paper and Presentation [Name of Student] [Name of Institution] 20th/21st Century Genius Award Paper and Presentation Introduction A genius is an extremely unique individual, yet the term genius shares a captivating, inevitable caliber for the professionals and general public alike. The present day geniuses may not remain for too longer, but the basic concept of genius will never be surrendered. The name genius is given to a standard of work which successfully surpass the reputation, fame and fashion: dissimilar from a back catalogue. By some means, the genius eliminates both the place and time of its emergence. In short, a genius is a person who exhibits exceptional creative and intellectual powers, whether acquired or inborn or both CITATION Dea09 \l 1033 (PhD, 2009). Despite of the fact that a large number of people may be extensively assumed as geniuses, it is really hard to find a consensus on absolutely who is a genius and who is not. Here in this paper, the personality who is being nominated for the genius award is Maya Angelou. She is considered as one of the greatest and highly respected writers of the 21st century. She is also an acknowledged advocate for promoting the civil rights and the black women spokesperson. A Synopsis of Maya Angelou's Life and Times The full name of Maya Angelou is Marguerite Annie Johnson. She was born in the city of St. Louis, situated in the Missouri state. When Maya Angelou was just three years old, her parents got separated. Maya along with her brother was sent to reside with her grandmother in Stamps town, in the state of Arkansas. Here, young Maya had faced the ethnic discrimination which was legitimately imposed means of life in South America; but Maya has also grasped the deep spiritual faith and ancient courtesy of conventional African American existence. When Maya was seven years old, she paid a visit to Chicago in order to meet her mother. But unfortunately here, she was abused sexually by the boyfriend of her mother. As a result, Maya got speechless and didn't talk for a period of five years. Later on, when she heard that her attacker was being killed by an uncle, she believed that the man was killed by her words. Maya Angelou has gained a grant to study drama and dance, through which she has got exposure to the ongoing ideals that sparked her later diplomatic activism. Maya has also got pregnant and just a few weeks prior to her graduation, she has delivered her son, named as Guy. Maya has spent a really tough life of being an unmarried and a single parent. She has worked as a cook and a waitress, supporting her son and herself; but had not surrendered her talents for dance, music, poetry and performance. Despite of the fact that Maya has reached the age of 86 years in this year's April, still she is nowhere near her retirement CITATION May13 \l 1033 (Angelou, 2013). She is also an active supporter of a fresh campaign named as Save the Race. Artistic Works and Ideas of Maya Angelou Revealing her as a Genius The innovative genius and talent of Maya Angelou cut across countless domains. She is the most acknowledged and recognized author of the US. Maya writes with grace and honesty that captivates particularity of evolving a black young girl in the southern countryside. Being a member of the writers' association of Harlem Maya encountered productive criticism from several different writers. Such a criticism proved to be really crucial for her later writing pieces. In the year 1960, Maya acted in an off-Broadway performance, The Blacks; by Jean Genet. It was a dramatic allegation of theatre art and race. That play also acquired an Obie Award. After that Maya's career began to prosper as a writer. A two- act play, The Clawing Within was being written by her, along with Adjoa Amissah; a musical play. In the year 1968, Maya narrated and wrote Black, Blues, Black' for the purpose of highlighting African culture's role in the US. But she first came into limelight in the year 1970, through her autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Maya appeared at a time when black women's writings were increasing at a rapid speed CITATION Don09 \l 1033 (Nardo, 2009). Maya autobiography was being highly praised by the critics. It has stayed on the list of best sellers of the New York Times for the duration of two years and was also being recommended for the National Book Award. Maya has also published second and third series of her biographies named as "Gather Together in My Name" and "Singin' and Swingin' and Getting' Merry Like Christmas" respectively. In every aspect of her work, there could be seen the individual strength resonate themes, putting an equal stress on equal responsibility, respect and pay for everybody. Maya has appeared as an ideal woman for resilience and strong self- esteem, for hard work, candor and self- reliance. Apart from her autobiographies, Maya Angelou was also testing her poetic abilities. In the year 1971, she has published Just Give Me a Cool Drink of Water ‘Fore I Diiie. The book was being recommended for the Pulitzer Prize. After it, two more poetic collections, with the titles; And Still I Rise and Oh Pray My Wings Are Gonna Fit Me Well were also being written by her. Maya has also published her fourth and fifth autobiographies, The Heart of a Woman and All God's Children Need Travelling Shoes in the years 1981 and year 1986 respectively. The sixth volume of Maya's autobiography was published in the year 2002, titled as A Song Flung up to Heaven. Each of her autobiography intensified the scope and breadth of the canon of US literature. The poetic accomplishments of Maya seemed limitless. Maya had delivered and wrote On the Pulse of Morning, a poem; at Bill Clinton's request, at his beginning in the year 1993. Moreover, many other books were also being written by her and donated to others. She has also got the credit of being a first ever black lady to possess a genuine screenplay created, Georgia, Georgia. It's really tough to spot that how or why Maya has become a cultural diva, but it is evident that Maya has achieved it all; and indeed with huge success. Maya still sees margin for her growth. Right through her theatrical and writing career, Maya has taught at several universities and colleges. She was a distinguished and a well known visiting academician at the university of Wake Forest. Here, she was the first ever individual to be the Reynolds American Studies Professor. She was also being honored with the Presidential Arts Medal and the Presidential Freedom Medal. All such creative works and achievements are enough to call Maya Angelou an exceptional and a genius lady. Impact upon Culture and Arts Maya Angelou is a real motivation and inspiration for a lot of American youngsters. Her career comprises of an abundance of titles from playwright, author, and poet to screen and stage performer, activist of human rights and a director. The writings of Maya Angelou are being extensively used in universities and schools all around the globe CITATION Jil09 \l 1033 (Egan, 2009). Maya is an idol of the Black civilization and culture. Her creations are being vi...