Netflix and Chill? more like Netflix and KILL

Recommended for you by Macbeth:

1. How to Get Away with Murder - Brilliant criminal defense attorney and law professor Annalise Keating, plus five of her students, become involved in a twisted murder case.

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Macbeth recommends this Netflix series because he has a very personal connection to it - it helped him tremendously in planning the murders of King Duncan and Banquo. He says that without it, he would not have known how to successfully cover his tracks and assure that no one knew that he, and/or Lady Macbeth, was responsible. The fact the Macbeth loves this series so much reveals that he is a clever man with evil intentions; he not only gets enjoyment out of killing, he goes as far as to blame others for his malicious actions and "get away" with them.

2. Witches of East End - Besides becoming an artist and the mother of two daughters, Joanna Beauchamp harbors an identity she hides from the world; that of a centuries-old witch.

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This is one of Macbeth's favorite Netflix shows because he loves to constantly learn more and more about witches. Ever since the witches told Macbeth that he would be Thane of Cawdor and he actually became the thane, he truly believes in the prophecy and he therefore listens to and believes in everything the witches have to say. What this recommendation by Macbeth could tell us about him is that he is intrigued by the supernatural and does not dismiss it as irrelevant. 

3. Braveheart - Scottish warrior William Wallace slays a local English lord's soldiers, which leads to an epic revolt.

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Macbeth recommends this movie because he loves it and can relate to it in so many ways. The movie tells the story of a very brave and ambitious man (hence the title). Macbeth is also known to be extremely brave and ambitious for he is power-hungry, and, by the end of the play Macbeth, he is not afraid to do whatever necessary to achieve this. Not only are William Wallace and Macbeth similar in personality, they also both live in Scotland and fight against English armies. 

4. Django Unchained - A black gunslinger roaming the Old West. He's looking for freedom and his wife. But he'll risk anything for vengeance. 

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Macbeth envies the main character of this film, Django. Django is relentless, fearless, and never feels guilty for any of his actions. Macbeth on the other hand is racked with guilt and self-doubt as a result of all of the murders that he has committed over the course of his rule. What this selection by Macbeth reveals about him is that he wishes he were more like Django and did not overthink or beat himself up over his decisions, especially those that are already in the past and cannot be changed or fixed. 

Blog Post #6 - Witch-slapped: Macbeth's fall from grace

Evil is defined as morally wrong or bad, and wicked. People who are not "evil" take the first step into evil because of outside influences. I believe that no one is naturally born with malicious drives or intentions, but rather that many are steered that way because of the environments in which they live and grow up. Societal influences, especially the opinions of our loved ones and family members, play a huge role in determining the kinds of people we turn out to be and the ways we behave. 

This fact is shown very clearly in the character of Macbeth. He is driven to the immoral, "evil" side largely in part by his wife's persuasive tactics and because of his fear of how people will view him. Macbeth constantly strives to impress everyone in the society in which he lives, even if it means putting up a "false-face," or attempting to externally appear differently from what his internal thoughts would naturally reflect. 

Lady Macbeth says to her husband, questioning his manhood in an attempt to convince him that he must kill King Duncan, "Wouldst thou have that / Which thou esteem'st the ornament of life, / And live a coward in thine own esteem, / Letting "I dare not" wait upon "I would," / Like the poor cat i' th' adage?" (Macbeth, 1.7). She succeeds in her aim, for Macbeth agrees to go along with the murder, showing that she has turned him to the "evil" side, by mocking him and intentionally instilling fear in him. She wants to say things to her husband that will induce a change in mindset and a change in his course of action, and being that this actually works and that she achieves her goal, we can clearly see that Macbeth is very easily influenced by external forces and opinions - he cares a whole lot about what other people think of him, and many argue that this is the cause of his eventual downfall as a tragic hero.

Because Macbeth lets these outside forces get the best of him and prompt his actions, he suffers many consequences, especially internally. We see many instances in the play of Macbeth's character being destroyed by guilt of his "evil" wrongdoings, and even his increasing insanity and mental disorder. All of these negative consequences stem from his immoral character, and we see this not only in Macbeth, but also in our daily lives. Many people who turn "evil," or simply commit a crime or something that goes against their moral sense, end up feeling extremely guilty, and letting those feelings consume them and tear them apart internally.

One specific example of Macbeth's guilt as a result of "choosing evil" comes from Act 2, Scene 1 when he has a soliloquy that involves a dagger - a dagger that is very likely only a figment of his imagination, a symbol of the guilt he feels after killing Duncan. Macbeth says, "Or art thou but / A dagger of the mind, a false creation / Proceeding from the heat-oppressed brain?" (Macbeth 2.1). Here, Macbeth is directly referencing the fact that there is a very good chance that there is not even a dagger in his hand, and that he is just imagining the whole thing. He also addresses his "heat-oppressed brain," slowly being wrecked by mental illness, resulting from the guilt building up inside of him with each evil action he commits. 

 

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Love this because it implies that there is a direct relationship between Macbeth's visions of daggers (guilt) and him killing people (murder). It's as if he doesn't understand that he will never get better, mentally or emotionally, until he fixes himself morally and corrects his evil actions, misconduct, and wrongdoings. You gotta' stop murdering people, bro...#smh...

Blog Post #5

Freebie :)

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I went to the play for blog post #4!!

Seven Deadly Sins

Author: IHOP Franchise
Date: January 21, 2015
Place of Publication: Corporate Office in Glendale, CA

Upon first examination of this IHOP advertisement, one notices the immense stack of pancakes on the right side of the publication. There is a large heading that reads, "The STACK is BACK," with emphasis placed on the words "stack" and "back," as a result of them being a much bigger font, as well as a brighter, different color than the surrounding words. Below that there is a descriptive, persuasive paragraph followed by very small print that states that the advertised "stack" is only available for a limited time. Lastly, at the very bottom of the advertisement there is an added note that the "coffee is never ending too!" Overall, this publication is very inviting and attractive because of the bright blue and red colors, the pretty and light sky background, and the stack of pancakes that looks absolutely delicious.

But, when one takes a deeper look, past the superficial qualities of the advertisement, he/she can see that there is a lot more at play here. For instance, IHOP is attempting to appeal to many people's lack of self-control when it comes to food - making that enormous, never-ending stack of pancakes absolutely irresistible to its customers. This could very well be touching on the deadly sin of gluttony, and using that as a persuasive device. By stating, "All you can eat," this company is literally implying that one can eat as many pancakes as they desire, and not only that - never ending coffee, too! In a way, IHOP is also encouraging pride and sloth, via the language used in the paragraph under the heading. The phrase "just for you," can be interpreted to mean that the employees are serving the customer and doing everything necessary to please him or her, instilling a sense of pride in him/her. Also, by including "we'll make 'em fresh" just before that, it hints at the fact that these IHOP employees are doing all the work while the customer just sits back, relaxes, is attended to, and can be lazy, or show sloth.

The audience that this franchise is intending to reach through an advertisement like this one is one composed primarily of people living in countries that have the benefit of having an IHOP in their vicinity, particularly those who enjoy pancakes, or food in general, and may eat a few more than they should, if you catch my drift. Because what is being advertised is unlimited pancakes for one set price, this intended audience is most likely not of the highest economic class, or the most wealthy citizens. In fact, I believe IHOP may be attempting to attract just the opposite - middle- to lower-class families that will come to their various restaurant locations ready to pig-out on never ending pancakes and coffee. There is not a lot of intelligence or deep thought required of the members of the intended audience of this unlimited pancakes advertisement; most of them probably do not hold large amounts of cultural knowledge. What they do know is that IHOP's pancakes are yummy and that they enjoy being able to eat as many as they desire, until they are all "pancaked-out."

What's in a name?

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Our names define us, to a certain extent. In my opinion, names were a bigger deal during Beowulf's time than they are now, but we can find many instances in our lives today in which we are affected by our names in some way. Looking at different parts of my full name enables me to analyze different trends that I see. My first name has never truly impacted me or my life in drastic ways. Other than many people mispronouncing or misspelling it, I cannot think of any strong effect that my first name has had. One nickname that I have been given, however, is "Banana" or "Ana Banana." These have developed through rhyming, but they are not uncommon nicknames for someone named Ana - this silly nickname has existed for many years. Something interesting about my name is actually the lack of a name. I was never given a middle name, which usually alarms people at first. In Argentina, it is very common to only have a first and a last name, whereas here in the United States, almost everyone has a middle name. This clearly portrays cultural differences, and how they can affect someone and how they are perceived in society. Finally, my last name - Iglesias. When many people first see or hear it, they immediately notice that it is from another language. Many mispronounce it, spell it incorrectly, or even attempt to say it in Spanish. Although most people "have fun" with my last name, it definitely has an impact on the way people view me - some people form stereotypes about me, based on my name, that never leave and that always have an effect on the way they see me, be it negatively or positively.

Many dilemmas can result from being "two," or both an individual, as well as part of a larger group. I see this in many different aspects of my life. A small-scale example is in group projects at school. While every member of the group must work together to create a great project, different grades are awarded, most of the time, to each individual student. This means that I must not only assure myself that I am being well-represented as an individual in this larger group, but also that the product that we all create together in the end is strong. This creates some problems at times, like unfair distribution of responsibilities, and group members who begin to boss everyone else in the group around. 

Another example of being "two" that I have experienced comes into play at dance conventions/competitions. I attend these competitions with my dance studio, meaning that I am there to represent CC & Company Dance Complex. But, I am also there to represent myself well, for there are several solo achievements awarded in addition to group awards. This presents a kind of moral dilemma in a sense, because although I am a member of the larger whole of my dance studio and I must work together with everyone else in order to perform well in the competitions, I also want to make myself stand out. The moral or ethical question that is raised in this kind of situation is, "How much of the team's success am I willing to sacrifice in order to succeed, myself?" Being "two" is something we see in our lives daily, yet something that many of us have still not figured out completely. There is a constant struggle present in all of us between furthering one's self in society, while at the same time working for the good of "the group."

Wing Young Huie Response

Wing Young Huie - Young Girl Wrapped in Dora the Explorer Blanket, We are the Other (2012-2013)
URL: http://photos.wingyounghuie.com/p709406511/h7f32b48c#h7f32b48c

Young Girl Wrapped in Dora the Explorer Blanket, photographed by Wing Young Huie, was published in 2012 in South Minneapolis, MN. Upon first examination of this photograph, one can see a young girl that seems to be around ten years old or so. She is wrapped in a towel that has a drawing of the character of Dora, from the cartoon television show Dora the Explorer, printed on it. She appears to be very content, as shown by the smile on her face, with an older lady by her side, potentially her mother. Finally, it is evident that she was either getting into or out of the red minivan behind her prior to this photo being taken. This appears to be set in a city - there is a building in the background.

By looking deeper into this photograph, a connection can be made and a relationship identified between this girl and the towel she is wrapped in. It is apparent that she looks an awful lot like Dora and it is not a bad assumption to claim that this young girl is Hispanic or Latina, like Dora. The usage of this towel could be merely by coincidence, but that is hard to believe. The simple fact that she is having a photograph taken of her in this towel and that she appears to be genuinely smiling is reason enough to believe that she particularly likes this towel and deliberately chose to wrap herself in it. This can be interpreted to suggest that she has a stronger connection with Hispanic or Latino characters than with characters of other ethnic origins.

Although they go about it in different ways, Wing Young Huie and Margaret Atwood both present the concept of "othering", meaning the deliberate portrayal of a person or a group of people as different, in their work. Wing Young Huie achieves this through image, as he has taken a photograph that allows the viewer to implicitly eventually see the alienation of the pictured young girl, as well as the entire Hispanic population. Huie wishes to depict the fact that many Latinos are associating with Latino TV shows and characters, separating them from the U.S. culture. All of these implications, which relate to the idea of "othering," are identified simply by looking at this one photograph - there are no words needed. Therefore, Wing Young Huie illustrates the "othering" of Hispanic people in the U.S. through an image.

On the other hand, Atwood also brings up "othering," but by using a completely different method. Instead of doing this through a photograph, she presents it in the dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale. This in turn means that she utilizes a different approach - layout, or format. In this book, the main character, Offred, is presented as socially isolated by the society of Gilead. The limitations placed on the freedoms of Offred and the other handmaids, such as not being able to read or write, force them into a life lived in seclusion, during which they can only freely think at night when they are alone in their rooms. Atwood shows this by separating the novel into different sections, some examples being Shopping sections, Night sections, and various others. This allows for the reader to clearly see the difference in Offred's, and the other Handmaids', actions and thoughts in different sections and therefore the fact that the Night sections are the ones in which Offred is most able to retain some of her suppressed freedom. Because of the use of different sections, an element of format, in The Handmaid's Tale, the isolation of Offred and the other Handmaids is clearly shown, along with the concept of "othering."