Life is but a Netflix queue...

Happy Holidays from Rudolph!

Random, but doesn't Hermie the elf totally

remind you of Andrew Kaplan?!

Welp. I am incredibly stupid for saving my last Beowulf FREEBIE for the easiest blog post ever... at least that's less work for me? Anyways, I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and hope you actually have a vacation from all the IB stress! As for me, its time to relax with all the classic Christmas cartoons and become even more of a kid again!

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Witch-slapped: Macbeth's fall from grace

How does the values of manhood differ in modern times? What do you think it takes to be a good man? Explain how your views are like or unlike those in the play, using examples from the text.

     While the concept of manhood has become more lenient in American society, many of the basic concepts still apply to modern men as they did in Shakespearean times. One societal definition of manliness is provided by artofmanliness.com, which states a "male who aspires to be a man must protect, procreate, and provide". The specific role of provider has a partially dominant position, where there is a 70/30 split between husband and wife in the household. This concept of a "real man" can be seen in Shakespeare's work, as Lady Macbeth expects for her husband to have the strength and courage to kill Duncan due to his gender. After she learned about the prophecy, she claimed "Yet I do fear thy nature. It is too full o' the milk of human kindness to catch the nearest way"  (Shakespeare 20). Lady Macbeth views the trait of kindness as rather effeminate, viewing Macbeth as less desirable because he does nut fulfil societal standards of how a man should act. The situation they are in is quite extreme and cannot be applied specifically to modern audiences, but the idea does. Modern women also tend to desire men with physical strength, gameness, and are self-reliant, but are more willing to accept someone outside these precise standards. Millennials-including my fellow classmates- would probably say these standards only apply to the superficial, but the conversations I overhear about the latest attractive guys on magazines and television shows say otherwise. 

     In my opinion, the societal traits outlined by society are somewhat desirable, but not a requirement. I would much prefer a man I could have a conversation with over a built physique, as well as having an equal marriage. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth and Lady Macbeth have an equal relationship, where they are open with each other and respect each other's opinions. This trait is synonymous with how I view what a "good man" is, because I would like to feel valued in a future partnership. However, as Macbeth's mental state determinates he begins making more primal decisions, such as killing Macduff's family without consulting his wife. Lady Macbeth exclaimed, "The Thane of Fife had a wife; where is she now?...No more o' that, my lord, no more o' that. You mar all with this starting" (Shakespeare 99). The couple's equivalent standing has thus faltered; Macbeth has now begun making all decisions that will affect his family. Possibly this change was due to Macbeth's sense of manhood shifting to a more societal one, because his lack of control over external forces made him shift his power from Scotland to his marriage. War during this time period was typically among men alone, meaning women were excluded from these matters because of their more kind nature. Lady Macbeth was obviously distressed by this shift in power, but was unable to say anything due to the norms of the 11th century. Since I live in the modern era, my views are different than those in the play since I would not passively take this without talking to my husband. Even though having a discussion is nothing dramatic and would likely be accepted by my spouse, it shows how the idea of a man has changed. No longer are men forced to make decisions themselves, because they can consult their wives without being looked down upon. Having an equal partnership in the United States is no longer an issue because manhood is no longer defined by dominance, but by the respect a man treats his wife with in and outside of the household.

#IBMakingArt

It is with a solemn heart that I am using my first Freebie. Thank you for this wonderful opportunity, and I look forward to seeing a crisp 100 in the gradebook.

The Society of Jane Eyre

6. Writers often highlight the values of a culture or a society by using characters who are alienated from that culture or society because of gender, race, class, or creed. Explain how the author uses various literary devices (such as irony, characterization, and figurative language) to provide social commentary, OR  how the character’s alienation reveals the surrounding society’s assumptions and moral values.

     The author of Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë, strived to show the anti-feminism nature of 19th century England through various figurative devices. Even though this book was written under a man's name, Brontë had to show women's alienation through the subtext of Jane's first-person perspective observations. One of the main examples of figurative language in the beginning of this excerpt is the use of foreshadowing. As the protagonist is recalling past events from her life, she is able to use foreshowing to emphasize what is to come. The text states, "All along I had been dreading the fulfilment of this promise,--I had been looking out daily for the 'Coming Man,' whose information respecting my past life and conversation was to brand me as a bad child for ever: now there he was" (Brontë). The man being discussed in this quote-Mr. Brocklehurst- was only just introduced to the audience, and is the main authority figure of the facility. However, not until the author says he will be the "fulfilment of this promise" does the reader realize he will play a crucial part in Jane's life. The narrator goes on to say that he will "brand me as a bad child for ever", foreshadowing he will punish Jane and will have a lasting effect. This supposedly eternal branding is symbolic because it shows the level of power men have over women. Even though Mr. Brocklehurst will likely not be a permanent figure in Jane's life, a single act could alienate her from society for her entire life. Since she is recalling this memory so vividly, this lifelong branding may still be affecting her years later because a man was the one who implemented it.
    

     Once Jane's punishment begins, the author effectively describes her emotions using similes. One notable example is when she is forced to sit in front of the class to be showcased as a heathen. All of her classmates peered at her, and she "...felt their eyes directed like burning- glasses against my scorched skin" (Brontë). The students' eyes are compared to burning glasses, showing the intensity of their stare. However, what makes this simile more effective is how the author described her skin as "scorched." Being used in the past tense, it shows that her skin was already burned before they started staring at her. This is not only symbolic of her earlier embarrassment, but how she is oppressed and alienated in society regardless of her actions. Having her classmates gawk at her was simply another instance of how she is scorned by a man's world, because she is now isolated from the peers she used to identify with.
     Lastly, the author successfully used juxtaposition to show how alienation in English society was not unique to one girl. When Jane's classmates walk by her and are not allowed to make eye contact, one girl does so obviously. In the protagonist's elation, she recalls, "What a smile! I remember it now, and I know that it was the effluence of fine intellect, of true courage; it lit up her marked lineaments, her thin face, her sunken grey eye, like a reflection from the aspect of an angel" (Brontë). The girl is described as somewhat grotesque, with marked features and a sunken eye. Yet, she is still described as being the reflection of an angel despite her outward appearance. As the smile given is one of understanding, it shows that many girls share the same struggles as Jane. While at first glance this may not seem like alienation because they have a common understanding, it shows how female inferiority is a trend in that society. The juxtaposition of an ugly girl being an angel shows that the most kind-hearted people are those who rebel against societal standards. Even though a simple smile may not seem too difficult, it is considered an act of rebellion in this scenario. It shows how the English patriarchy tried to isolate women from each other despite a shared understanding. Therefore, through these methods of foreshadowing, similes, and juxtaposition, Jane Eyre portrays women as alienated from society because they are practically helpless to oppose their superiors: men. 
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Picture: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/56/39/5f/56395feaf05d67a4ec43d8684497a103.jpg

Advertising and the Seven Deadly Sins

Author: Dorothy Gray Salon
Date: 1951

    Place of Publication: New York Herald Tribune

     When looking at this advertisement, the eye is immediately drawn to the woman's face taking up a third of the picture. Behind her is another man and woman, seemingly close due to their proximity and cordially intimate touching. The rest of the advertisement contains information about the product being sold, which is a variety of skin creams and lotions. The catchphrase for this ad is "Does your husband look younger than you?", referring to the nervousness plastered on the main woman's face. A smaller picture on the right shows the woman happy with the man in the background, and has the caption, "Happy results reported by woman everywhere".

     Looking beyond what is explicitly said/shown in the advertisement, the message is one of defining attractiveness based on what a husband thinks of one's appearance. The woman in the foreground is in obvious distress, not only because of her facial expression but because of the black/white color scheme used in the photograph. By looking at the bottom two-thirds of the ad, it can be seen that color was a printing option in the 1950s. At this point, pictures could be taken in color, but were very expensive. Thus, a largely dispersed newspaper would have chosen to use black and white for mass production. However, the author could have chosen to use a hand painted picture in color rather than a photo. This means the author believed the best way to get across the theme of distress was to use a black and white photo to show how a woman with poor skin lived an uninteresting life. Her life was essentially without color: pointless and apprehensive.

     The intended audience of the advertisement is an essential part of how it was created and its relevance to the time period. As it was created in the United States in 1951, women lived a more domestic lifestyle with a heavy reliance on a man/husband. Beauty was highly desired as a means to attract a suitor, thus this ad appealed to a woman's wish to be considered beautiful. The bold text under the slogan reads, "You may side-step the tragedy that overtakes so many wives...", using an ellipses to draw the reader to continue reading the advertisement. Having poor skin is described as a tragedy; its negative connotation paired with the importance of bolded text contributes to the idea of standardized beauty.

     While the obsession with appearances can be attributed to society, a woman's desire to

be physically perfect can be considered a form of vanity. Finding a suitor aside, women (or at least the desired audience for this ad) believed that females should look and be younger than males. They preferred youthful skin because it was considered delicate and feminine, as it showed they did not have to leave the house to get their hands dirty. Women with hardier, worn skin were associated with the working class, and due to standards of 1950s society, were looked down upon. Thus, women suffered from pride because they mentally placed themselves over others and wished to be attractive to determine their status in society.

     In addition to vanity, another instance of one of the seven deadly sins is lust. In the background, a man is intimately associating with a woman, much to the chagrin of the woman in the foreground. The man is presumed to be the husband to the woman in the front, due to the mention of "husband" in the slogan and them being happily together in a later picture. While in modern American society it is looked down upon for a man to cheat on his spouse, it was not always considered detrimental in decades past. If a man cheated on his spouse, it could be considered the wife's fault if she did not maintain an ideal outward appearance. Yet, the man's actions can still be considered a sin because the Christian Bible forbids adultery. Cheating on an unattractive spouse may have been allowed in America's society, but according to the New Testament, a husband and wife must remain faithful to one another so long as they are married.

     Do to its use of two "Deadly sins", this advertisement is a prime example of how mass media appeals to its intended audience. Dorothy Gray Salon may have only targeted American women, but this audience is still rather broad. The sins of vanity and lust appealed to them because they play off women's insecurities of remaining young and vibrant so their husbands would remain faithful. Since this is an advertisement, it is possible that the scenarios in the pictures/text are exaggerated to stimulate a more emotional reaction from the audience. A woman may act on impulse and buy one of Dorothy Gray's products, as the primary purpose of the text was to sell merchandise. The placement of the ad in a newspaper, a popular source of information at the time, made it accessible to those in New York and beyond. To conclude, this ad, while controversial with its stance on women, is successful at delivering its message because of the subliminal use of the deadly sins and societal norms

What's in a name?

My Name
     I wish I could say my name - Kaitlyn - has some cool meaning behind it, or that it is a translation of a word in another language. Unfortunately, the real story is that my name derives from a rerun  of an 80s TV episode. Being the second child in my family, my mom wanted my gender to be a surprise and only revealed when I was born. My father was less patient, so he found out from the doctor and was supposed to keep it a secret. One fateful day while they were watching Miami Vice, my dad saw a character named Caitlin and exclaimed "How about naming her Caitlin?", thus revealing my gender. As frustrated as my mom must have been, they agreed on this being my future name. However, they changed the "C" to a "K" and added a "Y" to make it more "exotic". Despite their attempts, I have never viewed my name as unique. This probably has to do with how I can think of several other people with the same name and spelling in my grade. As a result, my name has never defined me. I do not view it as a crucial part of who I am; it is just a word people say to get my attention. For those who view their names as a fundamental part of their identity, my outlook may seem a bit odd. Yet, since I am not defined by my name I do not feel bound to it. "Kaitlyn" is quite versatile, as it can be shorted to "Kate", "Katie", "Kat" or "Kay". If in the future I want to change my name, I can use one of these nicknames without going to the extreme of changing it legally. Thus, not being defined by my name actually gives me more freedom, because I am not constrained by sentimental or familial ties.
Together, but Alone    
     One of the biggest complaints adults over 25 have is how invested teenagers are in their cell phones and social media. While I may be guilty of sometimes preferring my cell phone over human interaction, I am almost completely isolated from social media. I have never had an account for Facebook, Twitter, Vine, Snap Chat, or Instagram, and I never plan to. Whenever people reel back in shock over this, I simply state that it ensures there is "nothing for or against me on the internet". I have been scared straight by teachers over the years saying the internet is forever, and I do not want one silly comment/picture to permanently affect my life. I do not need social media to interact with my friends, and still feel part of the group in our day-to-day interactions. For the most part, I do not notice my life being different than anyone else's, likely because students are supposed to not use their cell phone during school hours. However, there are certainly times where I feel excluded because of my absence on the internet. It can be as simple as not knowing the latest events, or why everyone seems to be talking about a viral "twitter war" between two students I have never heard of. In the long run these things will have no impact in my life, but in these moments it is easy to feel isolated and alone in my situation.

Atta Girl Atwood Response

Photograph title: Expecting Mother St. Paul
Author: Wing Young Huie
Date:1993-1995
Place of Publication: http://www.wingyounghuie.com/frogtown

     Upon first glance of this black and white photograph, one can see a young, possibly Asian girl lying on a mattress in the center of a room. There are piles of items around her, somewhat disheveled, but still seemingly personal. When the photograph is inspected further, the items around the girl help to reveal her situation. There are several stuffed animals and baby dolls scattered around, as well as an overfilled laundry basket. These items suggest that this is the girl's home, or perhaps a place of living. The boxes and random objects on the table in the background show that the building she is in is quite small, because there is no other place to store them. While there are two suitcases in the frame, this does not necessarily mean the people who live in the house travel often; they could have recently moved or use them for extra storage. Squished between a suitcase and wall of boxes is a thin mattress, causing the girl to curl up as she is too tall for it. This again establishes that her place of living is small and that she is possibly in a difficult financial situation. In addition, the mattress does not have any fitted sheets or blankets for it, suggesting that these are considered luxuries and she sleeps in her clothes only.
     Both Atwood and Huie show a form of bias in their work, as the groups they choose to portray align with their identities. Atwood chose to show the inferiority of women in A Handmaid's Tale to highlight the issues that could come with dropping fertility rates, and Huie wishes to explore the lives of minorities or those living in countries struggling economically. However, both artists' methods of "othering" differs, as Atwood allows the reader to personally identify with the oppressed group while Huie allows his viewers to have a more objective standpoint. Neither author gives their subject's real name, but this was done intentionally in A Handmaid's Tale. The text states, "My name isn't Offred, I have another name, which nobody uses now because it's forbidden" (Atwood 84). While not giving a name to the protagonist is slightly unusual, it was done because of the oppressive nature of the society. Through the same technique of first person perspective, it later becomes known how the "othering" between men and women occurred. Conversely, the unnamed girl in Huie's photograph has a different effect. If this photo is looked at in isolation, the girl is the only representative of her culture and ethnicity. This leads to an overgeneralization of people who share her ethnicity, and effectively submits them to "othering" since there is a separation created among those who cannot relate to her situation. Thus, Atwood and Huie classify groups of people as different by either explaining how false names isolate women from men, or how the lack of a name allows for a broad generalization.