Walden Wisdom

To many in the mid-nineteenth century, New England would’ve been the entire world.  For Henry David Thoreau, self-proclaimed weather man and transcendentalist, New England was but a particle in the vast expanse of the universe. 

There is obviously much more to the world than the six quaint states of New England.  To some, spending two years in solitude in the woods of Walden Pond would make the five square miles that Thoreau occupied, would make those miles seem like the entire world.  Walden was a small part of Massachusetts, a smaller part of the United States, and a microscopic fleck in the Milky Way. 

Thoreau’s words of wisdom might be wasted on such non-intellects, but would appeal to his educated audience, which was composed of philosophers, Transcendentalists, and literary minds.  Though Walden was meant to be an account of his time living in the woods, Thoreau (the genius he was) made it unintentionally one of the greatest works of literature of all time.  The subtle, yet bold aphorisms, the simplicity, and the picture of Thoreau is burned into your mind.  His accounts give view to his beliefs and what he thinks is important; nature, living simply away from want of material goods, and the straightforwardness of the earth. 

One can hardly read Walden without wanting to visit each and every nook and cranny of the globe.  The emotion behind his statements proclaiming, “Travel! Explore! Discover!” can’t help but lodge themselves in your brain.  “The universe is wider than our views of it” (Thoreau 260) just begs you to go out and view everything.  In the conclusion to Walden Thoreau says that the goose is more of a traveller than people, for the goose has breakfast in Canada, lunch in Ohio, and a quiet supper down south.  How can Thoreau have the authority to tell us, his beloved and cherished readers, to explore the world when he stayed within a five-mile radius (maybe 10, max) for two years?  It is his cunning wisdom and ethos that make you want to never stop travelling. 

Walden has as many claims as the actual pond has pebbles.  Live simply, don’t be lazy and buy a basket when you can make one yourself, stop and smell the coffee once in a while (but for him it was probably the wildflowers – no Starbucks in Walden).  However, the one that stands out the most is Thoreau’s obvious adoration for nature.  Even the rain that keeps him indoors, will benefit him later, when his bean harvest is plentiful.     

Do not build your own fences and walls; keep your life and soul as open so that the wind may pass freely through it (not a Thoreau quote, a me quote).  To be honest, with all his nature-loving-woods-soul-cleansing shtick, Thoreau would’ve made an excellent hippie.  For all we know, hippies got their ideology from Walden. 

Army Inc. Rhetorical Analysis

The purpose of this article is to compare the United States Army to a corporation.  In addition to that, the author, James Surowiecki of the New Yorker, argues that the newest fad (well new in 2004, which was ten years ago) for the government was outsourcing.  But on the other hand, Surowiecki argues that to do things “in house” (1) is easier and more efficient. 

The audience of this article would be anyone willing to read it.  Having been published in the New Yorker, a very distinguished weekly magazine, the audience would be intelligent and social, economic, and political aware individuals. 

Surowiecki uses a plethora of techniques including ethos and logos.  This voice is well represented in this piece through its enticing language and the hook of his opening statement.  Also, his last sentence really wraps up his argument nicely. 

He uses a multitude of facts and bits of common sense.  He is a credible source, being a writer for a very dignified and old magazine. 

Published on January 12, 2004, this article was written well before the economic crash of 2008 and during the presidency of George W. Bush and in the height of U.S. involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan.  At that point in time, the United States military was very strong and crucial to the national defense. 

Some of Surowiecki’s claims include comparing the United States Army to company like General Motors and that, “outsourcing works well when there;s genuine competition among suppliers – that’s when the virtues of the private sector come into play” (2).

The language of this article really improves Surowiecki’s already excellent argument.  One good example from the first page is, “the Army becomes a lean, mean killing machine” (1).  This is funny and also accurate because that’s exactly what the Army does – it’s supposed to kill those who try to breach the national security of the United States.  The title is also a great play on words, Army Inc.  This starts Surowiecki’s claim that the Army works like a company, which means that it's out to make a profit and benefit those involved in the process. 

Nihonica

If you were plopped in the middle of downtown Tokyo, I doubt you’d be able to tell whether or not you were in New York City or Tokyo (unless you happen to be a Tokyo-aficionado).  Starbucks, Nike, Forever 21, Gap,  McDonald’s, and dozens of other Made in America companies line the fashionable streets of Ginza and Harajuku. For Americans in Japan, it’s a blessing to have little pieces of home with you even when you’re 6,000 miles away.  But doesn’t that take away from the whole idea of being 6,000 miles away from home?  Japan is a country that had been sheltered away from the world until Commodore Perry decided to visit in 1874.  It’s culture up until that point had been strictly Japanese, which is to say, unique and very traditional.  Kimono, sumo, geisha, and other exclusive bits of culture couldn’t have been found anywhere else.  Although now, nearly everyone has heard of geisha (thanks Arthur Golden), or seen some form of a kimono at a costume party (trust me, if it were a real kimono, it wouldn’t have been that short and the person wouldn’t have been able to breathe). 

            In America, you can’t swing a cat without hitting a sushi restaurant.  Luckily for Americans, we get a taste of Japanese culture from the comfort of home.  And fortunately for Japanese, they have a plethora of American culture at their fingertips.  All of my girlfriends from Japan love Taylor Swift, One Direction, and Harry Potter, and the typical things American teens do.  

For all those who have yet to study Japanese history (or did and forgot it all), good old Commodore Perry was to first to cut the ribbon that opened Japan to the world.  After the arrival of the gaijin, Japan was forever changed.  Dress evolved from traditional kimono and geta to suits and pants and shirts.  Those who dressed in the “old ways” were considered uneducated and lower in society than those who dressed in Western clothes.  Despite having centuries of a rich and strictly Japanese culture, within half a century, societal standards had dramatically changed Japan to be more like the West, all the while still retaining nearly all the aspects of Japanese culture.  "A ping pong match between eastern and western." (Gwen Stefani, Harajuku Girls)  This cultural exchange put in place new standards, many of which are still in place today.

Japanese girls dress and like a lot of the same things as American girls: One Direction, Forever 21, Coach, etc.  On the other hand, they also enjoy many aspects distinctive to Japanese pop culture: anime, manga, J-POP, karaoke, purikura.    Sadly for Americans, these parts of Japanese culture are hard to find in the U.S.  After coming back from Japan, I scoured the streets of Boston and New York looking for purikura, but to no avail. The negative effects of this cultural exchange is that it takes away from the culture of Japan and makes it harder for a very Japanese one to emerge after having so much Western influence.  On the other hand, it offers more variety to Japan, and an awareness of other cultures, and also creates a huge industry for American companies in Japan, which is the third largest economy in the world.  However, despite the strong influences from the West, Japan has retained its fabulous culture.  As Sam Abell once said, “For sheer majestic geography and sublime scale, nothing beats Alaska and the Yukon. For culture, Japan…”  

Standard English en français

Ahh français : c’est la langue d’amour (ou c’est ce qu’ils disent). Est-ce c’est à cause de la façon dont ça sonne ? Ou parce que c’est ce qu’on parle à Paris ? Ou tous les deux ?

En français, il y a beaucoup des phrases que démontrent beaucoup des sentiments que n’existent pas en anglais. Par exemple, la phrase “Le spirit d’escalier” est une phrase qu’on utilise quand on sent nostalgique pour les conversations précédents.

Mais, en anglais, nous utilisons beaucoup des phrases français. Plusieurs phrases courantes sont : haut cuisine, haut couture, a la carte, avant-garde, laissez-faire (pour le gouvernement), etc. Mais, pourquoi nous utilisons les phrases français quand nous sommes très immergés dans notre langue? Peut-être c’est parce que tous les deux langues viennent à la base de latin? Ou peut-être c’est parce que nous (les américains) aimons l’idée de sembler sophistiqués et bien cultivés. Quand vous utilisez le français en anglais, vous semblez très intelligent. Aussi, si vous parlez français, vous pourriez donner l’air d’être français. Toutefois, vous semblez français. Je parle français, mais je ne suis pas française. Les langues donner (pick one) créer des illusions.

La langue aussi montre comment vous pensez de vous-même et d’autres. Par exemple, si vous parlez officiellement, vous montrez du respect envers les autres. La langue est un très bon indicateur de caractère.

Répondre à la question, “Can we live without Standard English,” je pense que oui, nous pouvons. Si par nous nous dire humains, alors non. Les américains peuvent vivre sans et beaucoup de gens le font, comme immigrés. Des autres utilisent constamment l’argot et les autres moyens de parler. “Standard English” est plus comme lignes directrices de toute façon.  Comment vous définiriez “Standard English”? Par les règles faites il y a un siècle? La langue est une chose vivante, qui respire, et est toujours en évolution. Pourtant Standard English est la fondation de l’anglais, il ne devrait pas et ne définit pas l’anglais. Pas tout le monde parlent anglais de la reine; il suffit de demander un brit de York.

Pour conclurer, je ne pense que il y a un Standard English. L’anglais est un mélange de mots et expressions en anglais, mais qui intègre également des mots et des phrases des langues latines, italien, espagnol, français, et autres. Donc, l’anglais, comme l’Amérique, est un melting pot.

The Blues in the Bluest Eye

Despite its name, blues music is a rainbow of variety; country blues, urban blues, jazz blues, modern blues, Chicago blues, Detroit blues, with the list going on and on.  Blues music is what it sounds like when the heart is ripped open and all of the pain and love and emotions flow out.  Bessie Smith, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Etta James, Catfish Keith, and dozens of others who have popularized the blues genre also have characterized the stereotypical sadness of a blues song.  Bessie Smith’s famous Downhearted Blues is a prime example of the display of emotion in a blues song.

Toni Morrison’s novel The Bluest Eye could easily be sang to the sultry, slow rhythm of a blues song.  The heartache, despair, and the melancholy tone of the plot and the characters would fit like a glove to blues music.  The Bluest Eye if converted into a blues song would be slow.  The first verse would be reminiscent to childhood and nostalgic for innocence and ignorance of the world and how harsh it can be.  The chorus would be a repetition of the sadness of the characters and so on.

A common theme to both blues music and The Bluest Eye is repetition.  Blues artists always repeat common phrases and words throughout a song and the music itself has the same 10 or so bars over and over again.  The main characters in The Bluest Eye all have repeated tales of misery and a loss of hope.  For Pecola, it's the lack of lovely blue eyes, her desolate home life, and want of love and affection.  Her parents constantly fight, and her mother is frequently abused by her drunken husband, Cholly.  Pauline, Pecola’s mother, who had a relatively good life growing up, slowly sunk into misery after marrying a man she used to love.  Her inability to love her children and the abuse from her husband was certainly key factors of her unhappiness.  Such tales of woe can only be told through the emotion and feeling given in a blues song, which furthers my thought that The Bluest Eye can be read like a blues song.

Blues music originated from African-American communities in the Deep South in the nineteenth century.  The actual term (blues) came from Western African cultures, which used blue indigo clothing and materials for death and mourning ceremonies, and was the base for such phrases as, “feeling blue.”

In my opinion, the connection between the dejection of the black characters (Pecola, Pauline, and Cholly to name a few) and their sadness with the origin of blues music and the book’s title is not accidental.  The story of Pecola, Claudia, and the other characters moves at a slow pace, with Morrison expertly weaving a tale that leisurely moves towards its conclusion.  The tempo of the progressing plot makes a good beat for the words to flow not only from the author, but from the characters.  One can almost imagine Pecola walking dejectedly through town, singing mournfully for her blue eyes and how glorious she’d be if she had them. 

The only element that doesn’t make The Bluest Eye a blues song is the lack of music.  If there was a mournful beat, one could easily and soulfully sing the entire book.

Dove Dives into a Self-Esteem Promotion

Smooth. Clear. Flawless.  These are words that are frequently used to describe “perfect skin", but would not describe the picture above.  This woman doesn’t have clear skin, but does that make her less attractive?  Of course not! But let’s face it (no pun intended), we can’t all have smooth and clear and flawless skin.  However, Dove is trying to show us that and how we should accept the things that make us different and own them.  Upon looking at this picture for the first time, you immediately look at the woman.  Then your eyes dart to the check boxes, which defiantly say, "Flawed? Flawless?" This effective play on words is very well done that adds a lot to the ad.  In addition to that,  to me, the woman’s eyes are saying, “Say flawed and my freckles will turn into lazer beams that will zap you.”

The format and look of the first ad is very simple and clean, using a white background, which makes the woman and the words really stand out.  You don’t need any other images that would take away from the message of the ad.  In fact, it would be weird if there were other images that would detract from the simplicity of their message; all women are beautiful even if they aren’t clear and flawless.

Finally, your eyes wonder to the bottom right corner where you see the Dove logo and the website for their campaign.  It isn’t big and you’re not supposed to focus on that.  But if the logo wasn’t included, would this ad be as effective?  Dove is a major authority on skin and it utilizes its power in order to successfully let their message across.

Dove has really gone above what they normally do with their Campaign for Real Beauty.  This movement is one of the few that has challenged the conventions of traditional beauty shown in ads.  Instead of showing thin, perfect, and pretty models, Dove is using women of all ages, body type, and colors.  Below is another picture from the Campaign for Real Beauty that shows the diversity of their campaign.

What’s so wonderful about this movement is how it would really touch the heart of all women.  The women pictured above would never be considered models by traditional standards, but seeing them striking a pose and looking genuinely content does make them models.  These ads show all kinds of women and all women would see themselves in these ads too, for they display all types of women, those with wrinkles, freckles, or both.

Dove takes the plunge and is very daring by challenging the typical ideals of beauty.  Many see freckles as cumbersome and annoying, not at all beautiful, when they are really just kisses left from the sun (at least that’s what my grandma told me).  This ad is saying, you’re not flawed, you’re flawless!

In addition to these two advertisements, Dove created dozens of other similar posters that ask you to choose whether or not the woman is pretty or not or extra-large or extra-sexy (as shown in the ad below).

In my opinion, this is one of the most powerful ads I’ve ever seen.  It disputes societal norms and goes against long-established standards.

It is so rare that one sees an ad, let alone more than one, that shows big women and old women looking beautiful and confident.  I’m sure that this series of ads has given many women confidence and the ability to accept and love their bodies.   Good job, Dove.

Final Reflection of Cultural Spaces

After a few weeks of closely monitoring lower Fairfield County, I’ve concluded that it is a good representation of America what with its diversity, generally good values, and its proximity to New York City (a major plus).  In Darien where I live, and a few towns around me like New Canaan and Greenwich (all three of which are on the list of America’s top 50 richest towns) the ideals and standards are slightly higher than those of more urban towns around us.  For example, in Darien school and college is such a competitive process that I’ve heard of people I know being hospitalized due to all of the stress of their schoolwork and the pressure put on them by their parents.  In other cases, I’ve seen mothers say to their daughters to “Do whatever necessary in order to get a good score on the SAT, cheating included.” Such unethical morals do not display those who have them in a positive light and further expand upon my point that competitiveness is particularly dense in this area.  Though scholastic standards are high, cultural awareness and appreciation is low.  Despite living in such an ethnically diverse area and with New York City just 45 minutes away, many in Fairfield County are a part of probably the most global part of America but they do not take advantage of this.  Instead of learning about the world and “being one with it” many choose to do the same old same old. 

Even though the Disney film Brave have nothing much to do with Fairfield County, nor its ideals, its just the type of movie needed in this Mom-eat-daughter; daughter-eat-mom world.  In this Disney hit, it stresses the importance of a familial bond, particularly that of a mother and daughter.  When Princess Merida changes her mom into a bear instead of changing her mind (wrong spell from a witch- what can you do?) she must change her back before her mother is stuck as a bear forever.  It’s when Merida thinks she’s about to lose her mother that she realises how much she loves and appreciates her just for who she is.  The end of the movie shows Merida and her family together, not fighting, and living harmoniously.  I’m sure I’m not the only one who wanted to have a better relationship with my mom after watching this.             

The double standards in Fairfield county might be more apparent than in other places.  For example, many fathers in Darien commute to and work in the city everyday, while the majority of the mothers stay home and be with the kids.  That isn't to say that mothers don't have careers; my mother has a job, many of my friends do, heck, my good friends mother is one of the top lawyers in the state.  With the stereotypical, "Honey, I'm home," ideals it's been harder the step out of the double standards to let the old gender roles break down.  Why can't guys to laundry? Girls certainly have enough rage to knock people down in football.  Before F.C. can focus on being more global, it needs to work on making itself a better, more equal and democratic place to live

To conclude, before Fairfield County works on getting all its kids into Ivies, it should work on improving itself from within and then working to conquer the world.

The Lack of Culture Appreciation in the Melting Pot

If you’ve ever been to Europe, you know that it’s drenched in culture.  London, Edinburgh, Paris, Rome, Copenhagen, Berlin, St. Petersburg, wherever.  Take Paris for example: it’s the city of lights, love, food, art, and culture. Paris is a Petri dish with people of hundreds of different ethnicities, languages, and history.  This is shown in all of the different restaurants (all of which are amazing; you honestly can’t go to a bad restaurant in Paris) and sections of Paris.  The same is true with London, a place with which I am very well acquainted, having lived there for five months and going many other times.  Though America is known to be a melting pot, and it is to some extent, it isn’t nearly on the same level as Europe for cultural appreciation. 

When most girls turn 16, they want a sweet sixteen, the famed and glorious American tradition.  The sweet sixteen poses as a sort of rite of passage, from childhood to womanhood, like the quinceñera in Spanish culture.  I however wanted to go to the Metropolitan Museum of Art with my best friend and see the History of Turkish art exhibit (it was seriously cool, you should’ve seen the tapestries and pottery). When most girls turn seventeen, they want a car, expensive perfume, or a nice expensive, designer handbag.  I wanted tickets to the ballet, La Bayadere, the story of a woman warrior from India and her battle against love.   Okay, so I’m the exception to most teenage girls.  I’m not saying I’m “not like other girls.” Trust me, Chanel No. 5 would be a great birthday present for me (my birthday is tomorrow in case you were wondering what to get me) but I’d rather ask for something that can’t be wrapped, but rather something that I can have wrapped up in my mind for the rest of my life. 

Perhaps its because I’ve been to Europe more times than I’ve been to places in the United States, or that my parents both lived and worked there for more than three decades, but I can’t help admire Europeans for their admiration for culture and the arts.  In Paris alone there are over 153 museums.  The love of art in Europe is apparent in its murals, exquisite architecture, and history.  In the majority of European countries, the idea of cutting the arts budget (in schools) is shocking.  The arts budget in America is .1% of 1% of the entire budget and is continually cut from schools.  My own school had to drop their fall play because they couldn’t afford it.  (A real loss; I’d have been a fine actress).  Anytime I’ve ever been to a museum on a class fieldtrip, I’ve noticed that most kids look at a painting for about 2 seconds then start to chat with their friends.  The only time I’ve observed a student observe a painting or other piece of art for more than two seconds is in the Greek and Roman galleries, which prominently feature statues of naked people.  

Americans are generally self-centered and care more about the welfare of America rather than the world’s.  It’s this America-centric mentality that's keeping culture out of the U.S.  Sure we include other cultures in our country, and sometimes celebrate them, but they aren’t as valued here as they are in other places. Typically, I’ve noticed that when we have foreign exchange students, they are encouraged to assimilate into American culture and to not do the things that they normally would in their home countries.  This lack of respect for other cultures can damage the  view that other countries have on us.  We say that we’re the melting pot, but we don’t walk the walk. 

If you checked my iPod, you would find that it is 50% alternative and 50% classical.  There’s something so appealing about Tchaikovsky and Chopin and Dvořák to me.  I’ve been listening to classical music, people will ask my what I’m listening to, and when I tell them, they always ask me why.  Well why not?  It’s relaxing, calming, and it sounds beautiful, unlike the autotuned wailing of so-called professional singers.

In my English class, we read Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie, a worldwide acclaimed bestselling author, well known to the entire world, except the United States because if you’re not American, then we don't care.  My parents and uncle knew who he was and had even read a few of his books.  Well how can he be so famous if I, and lots of other Americans, haven’t heard of him?  This unintentional ignorance comes from the under appreciation of foreign culture in America and it’s a serious problem.  It’s fun to read Shakespeare and other English-based books, but it would really open students’ minds to read literature from around the world, and not just the English-speaking world.  Anywhere you go in the world, you can’t get away from English, so Americans should value other culture as well.

Why can’t we take art history instead of art?  Could they offer tai chi or fencing instead of dodgeball?  Why not go to the Renaissance Faire for extra credit?  There are so many ways that schools could incorporate foreign culture into our daily lives, but they don’t.  The world is becoming an increasingly smaller place and us Americans can’t keep hiding from the outside world for long.  And when the walls between America and the rest of the world break down, most of us won’t be prepared. 

The Revered in America

The American Dream. Being President. Getting into Harvard. Getting into any Ivy League or good college.  Getting a job.  Getting good grades.

There are many aspects in American culture that are highly revered, like the ones listed above.  Of course, none of these in and of themselves are bad, but there is a lot of bad pressure for people to accomplish them.  Not everyone can get into Harvard.  Not everyone can be the president.  Those are the more astronomical goals that parents have for their kids, or that the kids have for themselves.  More realistic goals would be to get good grades and to work your hardest.

Having a good, strong work ethic is highly valued.  It’s all apart of the formula for the American Dream: work hard, do your best, don’t give up, and it’ll all pay off someday and be worth it.  For good ethics, you’re not supposed to cheat: it’s unethical.  However, that doesn’t stop the thousands of students each year who cheat on tests like the SATs and the ACTs, which are a big weight in your college package.  Some kids don’t care about cheating; as long as they get the grade, it wouldn’t put one scratch on their conscience.  In September I was attending a meeting for the SAT class I was going to take and the woman speaking was stressing the importance of a good score and how if your grades weren’t top-top that having a strong SAT score would be very appealing to colleges.  I accidentally heard the mother next to me whisper to her daughter, “I don’t care if you have to cheat.  You have to get at least a 2200 if you even want to think about Georgetown.”  At first I was shocked.  What parents encourages cheating? Especially on the SAT where your cheating not only effects you but everyone else in the BUILDING you took it in.  Your selfishness would put at least 100 other people in jeopardy. Last time I checked, colleges didn’t revere cheating. 

If you’ve ever watched American television, you would have noticed that for whatever reason, we have a thing for “reality” shows.  Keeping up with the Kardashians, Teen Mom, The Bachelor, Jersey Shore, Honey Boo Boo, etc. These people have absolutely no talent and don’t really offer anything to the world, except a glimpse at their drama-stricken lives.  But we still care about them, worship them, and keep watching them.  How are those people revered in American society?  They don’t contribute anything but their lifestyles become the epitome of what we, “average citizens,” should strive for.  They don’t have any qualities that Americans are supposed to admire, yet to many, they are Gods.

In my opinion America does hold some good values, such as working hard and being able to change your life, though many ideals what were once revered in a good way have now become warped.  For example, of the girl at the meeting, the goal of getting a high score on the SAT is a very commendable goal, but if you don’t believe enough in yourself to do this and you therefore resort to cheating, then your honest goal has become twisted.  Paul Revere definitely wouldn’t revere that. 

Double Standards in American Society

There are many ways in American culture in which gender inequality is very apparent, the most obvious being those of double standards.  Double standards have become such a norm in our society that when they occur no one questions them because it’s what accepted and that is the problem with them (any many other things that reinforce inequality between genders).  When you start to notice what’s acceptable for one gender and isn’t for another, it really sticks out to you and to be honest, it’s rather ridiculous. But what's considered acceptable for a gender role? 

I was at Starbucks last week and the kid in front of me in line was wearing a purple shirt (it was a really nice shade of pale lilac- I nearly asked him where he got it, but what was said next stopped me in my tracks) and the two obnoxious teenage boys behind me were joking that this kid, who was probably nine or 10, was gay and how only girls wear purple and when a guy wears purple it means he isn’t “a man for not wearing blue.” Not only did this thoroughly piss me off, but it was so stupid.  So what if this kid wants to wear purple? It looks great on him and doesn't say anything about his character except for the fact that he has a great taste in coloured shirts.  People should wear whatever they want without having people question their sexuality or whatever be cause of it.  Whether or not that kid was gay, it would't've mattered.  Who said boys couldn't wear lilac? George Washington?

In every “chick-flick” I’ve ever seen, there’s a hardworking woman who is great at her job and works hard, but she’s always portrayed as being a bitch simply because she works hard and is assertive.  She usually doesn’t have a boyfriend because she’s “too focused on her work,” which is rather admirable, but is always questioned why she hasn’t settled down yet with a nice guy.  Whereas, if a guy is too focused on his work, he’s seen as dedicated and when he says he isn’t ready to start a family the general response is something along the lines of, “That’s really cool for you, wanting to establish yourself.  You should focus on work and being successful rather than jumping off to have a family.” Why should a woman be criticised for working hard by being “selfish” that she hasn’t started a family yet. Why is it so wrong for a woman to want to have a career?  The conflict of the ages addressed in many movies is love or career.  But why not both?

Nothing is more fun than a night out on the town with your friends.  Getting dressed up, going to a glamorous  restaurant, and having a fun evening is such an appealing thing to do after a hard week at work.  I know that when I go out to dinner with my friends, I really take the time to choose a nice outfit and to spend more time than usual on my makeup because its fun and a relaxing way to start the evening.  When girls go out in their cute dresses, sassy heels, and incredible makeup, they’re seen as trampy or easy whereas men are seen as classy and sophisticated.  How does wearing a dress make me a slut? I just wanted to look super cute and have fun with my friends?  Not only is the woman seen as trampy, but vain as well.  Maybe it’s possible that she was trying to look nice and impress herself rather than you Mr. Misogynist.

What I’m trying to say is that these double standards (and dozens of others) have become incorporated in society as normal, perfectly acceptable things.  Their acceptance is rooted in age-old ideals that man are superior to women and the certain duties each has.  Women are supposed to get married have children; clean the house, etc. etc.  Men are supposed to get a job, be successful, support a family, and be a strong, hearty role model.  But women can’t be because it’s dinner time.

All the Single (Disney) Ladies (Lady)

What comes to mind when you hear “Disney Princess?” Its probably something along the lines of pretty, wears a dress, animal sidekick of some sort, good singer, and gets the guy in the end.  That’s the old Disney.  Nowadays Disney has really stepped up in broadening their definition of a Disney Princess. In 2007 Disney introduced its first black princess, Tiana in The Princess and the Frog. Tiana, however, still sticks with the traditional Disney Princess mold by marrying the prince in the end.  The only Disney Princess who stays blissfully single is Merida from Brave. 

Merida’s story is truly unique: her story doesn’t revolve around her getting the guy, but rather getting away from the three guys who her parents are pushing at her.  At 15, Princess Merida (of an ancient Scottish clan) is being forced to marry and that doesn’t sit too well with this archer extraordinaire.  Merida and her mother (the Queen) constantly bicker over Merida’s general princessy-ness (or lack of) and the princess decides to get a spell to change her mother’s mind on her getting married.  Instead of changing her mind, Merida changes her mother into a bear.  The movie focuses on Merida trying to change her mother back into a human before her mother is stuck as a bear forever.  It’s when Merida realizes she might not get her mom back when she realized how much she loves and appreciates her mother and how badly she took her for granted.  What really sticks out in this movie isn’t Merida’s flaming curly hair (though it certainly is noticeable) but rather the intimate mother-daughter relationship and how delicate it is.  As a teenager watching this, I really could relate as my mother and I fight all the time.  It’s the mother-daughter relationship in this movie that makes it the first in all of Disney’s 53 animated films really relatable to the average kid.  I can’t say that I’ve ever been a mermaid or a girl with 50 feet of hair. In my opinion, this movie can be more relatable to teenagers because as a teenager you go to battle with your parents over everything and when you’re a kid you can’t really appreciate your parents.  After watching this movie, I stopped fighting with my mom and I appreciated her more by telling her I loved her and trying to be a better daughter to my mother. 

Disney really stepped out of their box with this hit, however it got odd criticism from the more conservative critics who said that by having Merida reject being married at 15, that Disney was promoting lesbianism.  Is it an odd idea that girls DON’T want to be married at 15?  I’m 16 (almost 17) and I don’t want to be married anytime soon.  Does that mean I’m a lesbian?  Wow, I had no idea. 

Though most Disney Princesses have been married at relatively young ages (or what seems young in today’s society), it’s refreshing that Merida can choose to fall in love when she wants.  Some say that Merida needs a man’s protection, but if you’ve seen her shoot her bow and arrow, you’d know that she’s perfectly capable of defending herself, her archery skills comparable to those of Katniss Everdeen and Robin Hood.

So for future reference Disney, if you feel like putting out another movie about a badass-princess who don’t-need-no-man, my wallet will be open.

What Defines Ownership

With Valentine’s Day somewhat around the corner, cards, candies, and bears will be popping up with the phrase ,“Be Mine.”  What would qualify something (in this case a person) to be the property of someone else?  By this definition, by “being someone’s” it means that you have strong feelings for one another and cherish that other person.  To be someone’s completely, you give up your heart and soul to them and love them unconditionally.  You give yourself up to that person and you belong to them and they belong to you.  That ownership correlates to a sense of self because you have a bit of that person in you and a bit of you is attached to them.  On the other hand, Holly Golightly in Truman Capote’s Breakfast at Tiffany’s famously said, “People don’t belong to people.  I’m not going to let anyone put me in a cage.”  Holly thinks that by being in love with someone that you belong to them and she is against this is idea so she keeps ignoring that it is true.  When you love someone, you DO belong to them and it can’t really be helped.  Think of the songs, like Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours,” which say that people belong to other people because they love them etc., etc. 

The definitions of ownership for people and objects are different.  For objects they’re things that enhance your life or things that you need.  Lot’s of things have places where you can write to whom the object belongs like coats or calculators.  That’s putting a name on something and making a statement that it belongs to you.  But with people its different.  You can’t put your name on someone else (well actually people have in the forms of tattoos but that isn’t what I mean) so that everyone knows that they belong to you.  People can’t be claimed in such a way, however they can be claimed in the ways of the heart.  I know that sounds corny but it is true. 

Your belongings don’t define you.  If you have very little doesn't mean you’re poor and having a lot doesn’t mean you’re affluent.  Instead actions, thoughts, and opinions define who you are and contribute to your sense of self.  I don’t think that belongings have anything to do with your sense of self.  Your sense of self comes from who you are, how you view yourself, what you think as well as the people you surround yourself.