Love, Deceit, and Conspiracy by Netflix

Recommended choices for Lady Macbeth:

Lady Macbeh

Desperate Housewives 

This show shows a group of women's lives on Wisteria Lane. The storyline depicts struggles of family life, with secrets, crimes, and mysteries mixed in between. Lady Macbeth will love this show because it stirs intense drama within the neighborhood and within the houses as well. Lady Macbeth will forget all her nonsensical troubles while watching these women fight, and create trouble to disturb the peace in the society. She may even feel less guilty than compared to these women on Wisteria Lane because Lady Macbeth's sins are not as sinister as other women. Lady Macbeth can relate to these women because near the end of the play Lady Macbeth starts to act desperate and delusional. So for her, she might be able to create a relationship with the characters on screen. 

Mocking Jay

This movie is the third in the series. It deals with a dystopian society in which change  is necessary, in this particular one revolution is on people's mind. This movie is definitely recommended because the plot of the series revolves around power. Intense action and storyline carried out by a powerful women who shows a very small feminine side. Lady Macbeth would appreciate the lead of the movie because the lead character displays masculine characteristics. Lady Macbeth will enjoy the intensity and the amount of power involved. 

Regin

This tv series follows the Queen of Scots, Mary. She is set to marry the French Prince, Francis II. It focuses on how Mary rises and gains power in the French Court. Basically, this show is complete drama, but it is based on history. So Lady Macbeth would enjoy this show because she would enjoy the historical perspective and setting. Mary has personal goals very similar to Lady Macbeth. Lady Macbeth wants power and so does Mary to change her status and gain respect. Both have similar struggles which allows both character to connect especially since both characters seem to change themselves to display a emotionless and more of a masculine side of themselves.  

Scandal

The main character of this show is Olivia Pope and it is set in Washington D.C. She was a former manager of the White House Communications and now has left to protect her own list of nation's elite. Throughout Pope displays mostly masculine characteristics such as bravery, intelligence, and confidence. However she has personal problems which hinder her job. This is similar to Lady Macbeth's situation because as she is carrying out her job of a Queen, Lady Macbeth is experiencing personal problems. Lady Macbeth is terrified near the end and has been getting nightmares. As a result this causes Lady Macbeth to act crazy and focus less on her job. This show depicts Pope coping with these problems. Lady Macbeth would want to watch this show because it would give the Lady some ways to solve her own problems and give her some time to distract herself. A good distraction could have prevented the Queen from killing herself.  

Fate or Chance?

The Three Witches

 

Fate or chance? Honestly, I believe in fate. I always have. However, I do not believe that a divine entity has decided everything for me in advance. I think there is a different fate for every decision I make. I still am responsible for my actions because I make them. Fate is a compilation of all my possible options and their implications. Chance, on the other hand, is given by fate. To me, these concepts are not different things. In fact, chance is part of the bigger concept of fate, in my opinion. 

I completely agree with the quote,"our actions make us who we are". In the case of Macbeth, Macbeth knew the rewards and the possible consequences which could arise due to his actions. He knew that he could be punished for the murder of King Duncan and treason. Macbeth was a loyal servant to King Duncan. He respected and was dedicated to the King, but the witches influenced Macbeth. Although the three witches presented a possible fate, Macbeth did not have to accept it. He could have ignored the supernatural and continued to live his life.

First Witch

All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Glamis!

Second Witch

All hail, Macbeth, hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!

Third Witch

All hail, Macbeth, thou shalt be king hereafter!

Act 1, Scene 3

Macbeth had a choice to ignore the prophecy and continue being the Thane of Cawdor and Glamis. I believe if you deserve something, then you will get it, no matter what happens, in the end. Similarly, if Macbeth was fated to be King, then he could have been King without the needless bloodshed. He tried to obtain his goal by wrongfully harming someone.

MACBETH

Your children shall be kings.

BANQUO

You shall be king.

MACBETH

And thane of Cawdor too: went it not so?

Act 1, Scene 3

Macbeth already seems to be swayed and drunk on power. King Duncan did not announce Macbeth's promotion yet, but Macbeth already seems to be excited. This shows Macbeth's motivation and the witches' prophecy is encouraging him. His obsession with power is also evident. 

MACBETH

[Aside] If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me,
Without my stir.

Act 1, Scene 3

This line shows that Shakespeare does not believe in fate. He believes that in order to attain something, the individual has to work for it. Fate cannot simply hand rewards to people who do not show their worth. This is shown in the beginning of the play. Macbeth does not believe in fate nor in chance. He thinks the only way to make sure he gets the crown is by securing it. This is the reason why Macbeth begins to scheme with Lady Macbeth to kill the King. Macbeth lies in the line above, while mentioning chance because he already has a plan to execute the King.  

I go, and it is done; the bell invites me.
Hear it not, Duncan; for it is a knell
That summons thee to heaven or to hell.

Act 2, Scene 1

MACBETH

Bring forth men-children only;
For thy undaunted mettle should compose
Nothing but males. Will it not be received,
When we have mark'd with blood those sleepy two
Of his own chamber and used their very daggers,
That they have done't?

Act 1, Scene 7

He premeditated the murder, while contemplating his fate. Dreams and thoughts cross Macbeth's mind while he thinks of harming King Duncan. Shakespeare's emphasis on the dagger in this line and Macbeth's soliloquy shows that Macbeth intends or at least anticipates the murder to occur. This provides evidence that Macbeth is choosing to murder the King, and that Macbeth's actions are not predetermined by fate. 

Title: Unfolded Architecture
Artist: Pablo Rasgado
Date:1984
Size: 65" X 65"
Medium: Broken Drywall pieces

My Sketch

Frankly, I have never seen a gallery like this one. CAM has been a completely new experience for me. Most art galleries I have seen contain realism paintings or at the most abstract pieces like those similar to Picasso.I knew beautiful art does not need canvas or paint for it to be considered art. However, broken drywall pieces was a shock to me. 

Unfolded Architecture is from Mexico by Pablo Rasgado. Although this piece is a mosaic which can represents many things, Pablo has not yet revealed his reason behind the creation of this piece. Many other pieces like this one are displayed throughout Mexico's streets. He leaves the viewer to interpret his art and to ponder over its creation. He has been called the leader of "poetic charge" because he has distanced himself from the artistic tradition. His artwork stands as the introduction of art through a new medium and a new treatment of art.  

Unfolded Architecture uses a range of broken drywall pieces with a variety of color. Although this art piece lacks color, the ripped wallpaper shows the uneven edges and creates unique shapes within the artwork. The new medium allows the viewer to see the art in its simplicity. This reinforces the meaning that art does not need polished materials to look aesthetically beautiful to the eye. Unfolded architecture is an orginal piece which attempts to dissuade its viewers from the contemporary art forms. Art can beautiful and meaningful as long as it has a purpose to someone. Rasgado, as a result created a series of these pieces for the audience as a conundrum to interpret their views on art.  

Recently in TOK, we explored art. We also exposed the some stereotypes of art such as art must use artistic elements such as color, or that it must be made with artistic materials like a brush or pencil. This artwork exemplifies in many ways what many people would not consider as art. However similar to what we have learned, art must serve a purpose for the artist and or for the audience to be art. It does not need to be beautiful or expensive to be displayed in a gallery.  

Keeping this in mind, Rasgado's piece is successful in portraying its originality and its message. A call for diverse art. This although implied could very well be an underlying theme displayed by his usage of drywall.The basic and common item, broken drywall, signals that art can be simple and basic while complex in its structure simultaneously. The mosaic is intricate and has a range of uniquely shaped pieces of drywall embedded in a standard square shape. The author lets you escape from your definition of art to come and explore his point of view. Even the title of the art lets the viewer know the origin of the art. Unfolded Architecture presents preconceived materials, broken and used drywall pieces from numerous buildings.

Rasgado's perspective has been greatly applauded. Especially, this day and age the people want to see more than just paintings. Now we seek innovation in art that sets it apart from the past. We visit museums to experience and appreciate what has already been discovered, but we visit art galleries to envision a new future for art. Rasgado's art is one of the few which allow our minds to deviate from the canvas and to look out in the streets for new forms of creativity. Not only has Unfolded Architecture been praised, but also other forms of art are new being explored and valued such as graffiti. Some time from now, these pieces will be have a price tag soon to add to their artistic quality and to reward the artist's thinking. 

What sells?

Photography done by Carlos Serrao, Published in Sports Illustrated, February 12 2013

     This is an advertisement for the all-new 2014 Lexus that was published in Sports Illustrated in February. The car has a sleek whitish-silver color that contrasts with its windshield and its front logo portion. There is woman modeling beside the car, and is dressed to almost entirely show off her skin. Her skin blends into the background because she is very pale compared to her clothes and shoes which are black and white. The background is mainly plain, dirty and grayish. There is some text under the picture talking about the people who buy Lexus. The message is written in the same color as the car with a black background. The structure of the text itself is informal, and comments and refers to people about blending in or out. Then off to the side, the logo Lexus occupies a great amount of the space and is written in all uppercase letters. Similarly the message underneath the logo is formatted the same way except for the size of the letters. 

         This advertisement uses the sin of lust to attract its customers into buying the Lexus. Firstly, the sin of lust is communicated through the portrayal of the half-naked model beside the Lexus. The model's complexion and color of clothes are almost synonymous with the color of the the Lexus, which makes both of the items seem like one entity. The seductive model not only attracts attentions of specifically male viewers, but also enhances the beauty and the appearance of the car. Male viewers are especially targeted in this advertisement because it appeals directly to the lust of men. This persuades men to buy the Lexus because desirable models like the one shown admire and follow the Lexus, furthermore emphasizing the seductiveness of the car and the value of the car to the potential owner. Put plainly, buy this Lexus and attractive women will vie for you. 

     

     The advertisement uses the contrast of two elements to emphasize one of the two. For example, the dirty-gray wall in comparison to the sparkling clean silver car. This focuses the viewer's attention on the car. The text provided with the image stands out due to the black background. The message encourages the buyer, through the personal usage of "you", to make a statement and to not "blend in", in other words, to make himself unique. For instance, beautiful women look for unique men. Since this car makes a statement, the man stand out and does not "blend in". Women will be tempted by the car and drawn to the owner of the car. Similarly, the words underneath the logo ("the pursuit of perfection") refine the message of the ad by adding the connotation of a perfect life with a perfect car. 

      The intended audience is upper-middle class, male viewers. This advertisement is targeting men with money to buy this sports car (mentioned at the bottom of advertisement) and their lust for women. The layout of this text is simple with an emphasis placed on the image itself. Since the focal point of the ad is the image, this ad appeals to the viewer's sense of sight. Another text demonstrates that eyes "see how it sounds, see how it smells, see how it tastes, and see how hard it is," all of which shows the importance of the eyes compared to the other senses. This shows that ads appealing to our sight possibly have a stronger effect on consumers. Women in general are itemized throughout the ad showing gender stereotypes. The woman is minimally dressed to entice men. This ad does not use rich or vibrant colors instead it uses the contrast of setting to drawn in the viewer such as the dirty background versus the shiny-spotless car. Overall, the ad attracts men with extra money to buy the car so women like the one above will follow the owner because he is unique.

    

Freebie!!!!!!

One Name, Two Dilemmas

Cite: http://www.my-hebrew-name.com/sady-sarah-19329.html

I have a very common name, Sarah. It originates from the Bible and means "princess" in Hebrew. I have always thought, "Why do I have such a common name? Why can't it be different? Does this name suit me?" Princess does not even nearly describe my personality at school. I could never be a princess because of my attitude or my treatment. At school, I am this "unknown" or "everyday school girl" who tries her hardest at school. I like being treated the same as everyone else and treat everyone the same. So I have a commonplace name and an erroneous meaning attached to it. Great! Therefore, I have always thought that Sarah has never defined me. I think of myself as an unique and individual personality. On the other hand, Sarah makes me feel homogenized with the other Sarahs. In fact, the other Sarahs and I are often compared of being similar or being grouped together. I do like my name, but I feel that my name does not accurately represent me in the public. 

Sarah written in Hindi
Cite:  Google Translator 

At home, however, I feel the complete opposite. The connotation of my name changes with the place. My name has a special meaning for my dad. I was not named by my parents, but actually by my eldest uncle. My uncle never had a daughter, so he named me Sarah. Both of my parents liked it and kept it as my official name. Obviously I am Indian, so my name is not pronounced the same way in Hindi as it would be in English. It is actually pronounced Sārah. This means that the "a" is elongated when spoken correctly. In English people call me Sera; they shorten the "a" and turn into an "e". This minute difference in pronunciation changes the overall feeling I receive. I feel special because only a few people can pronounce my name correctly. A few friends call me Sārah instead of the usual Sera. I like it. The overall aura is unique and significant for me in my name. No one is named Sārah, only I am. Therefore, I am the not the same as the other Sarahs. 

I feel like I play two roles in my life. The "me" in a family stuggles to keep her family values and her Indian culture intact. The role I play in my family is different than what I play as an individual in my society. I try to apply my culture to my everyday life in the house by cooking Indian food or learning and teaching Hindi to my sister. Then I play this completely new role at school where I blend in with my peers by thinking like them or by doing activities my peers do. I try to think the way a seventeen year old American student does at school by limiting my cultural views and bias. At home then I transform into this daughter who helps her mom cook and clean and helps her sister do her homework. I have these two "me" which complete my and help me function in my dual lifestyle. They are part of me, and I could not survive without one of "me". However, these roles often cause turmoil deep within because I am forever confused as to how to equally balance both roles. I have one name, but two dilemmas.

Wing Young Huie

Four Young Friends, Minneapolis, MN

Author: Wild Young Huie
Date: 1997-2000
Location: Lake Street USA

This photo was taken by Wing Young Huie. It displays a group of four young friends. Two of the African-American kids are wearing tight shorts and untied shoes, while the other two white American kids are wearing full clothing without shoes. The white American girl has her hand around both the other white American boy and African-American child. The other African-American boy has his hand around the other African-American child. The white Americans are smiling, while the other African-American children are not.

There are several strong social and cultural connotative meanings behind this photo. The children's clothes demonstrate social and economical ties in society.The two African-American kids have inadequate clothing, which signifies a low status and income for their family and a small role in society. On the other hand, the white American children have full and colorful clothing denoting a higher status and income in the society. 

The white American girl has her hand around both children of color showing her acceptance of them. However, neither of the African-American children have his or her hand around the white American children. The African-American child only has his hand over the other colored child displaying his acceptance to him only. Also only the white American children are smiling, neither of the other African-American children are smiling. This shows dissatisfaction and rejection. 

In this photo, the African-American children are regarded as the "others" because of their appearance and facial expressions. Not only are they considered "others" by the society, but they also consider themselves as the "others". This outlook is shown by the African-American child placing his hand only on the other colored child. This signifies indifference to the other two white children. 

Margaret Atwood in The Handmaid's Tale portrays the "others" conveniently through a social recognition system. The handmaids are a designated red color, the Marthas are green, and the wives are blue. This color coding system defines social status and work. There is no color code which specifies men to a status. The women are strictly divided and confined by their work and societal role.

Wild Young Huie uses stereotypes to depict the African-American children. The African-American children are inferior compared to the white American children in terms of clothes and attitude. The white American children have better clothes and friendly smiles, while the other two do not. However, Huie and Atwood represent the "others" in a specific way: clothing. Both texts depict clothing as the key interpreter of the "other". The handmaids had the white wings and red robes, while these African-American kids had the undersized shorts.