Who Am I Now

I am writing a poem, but it is more about what I know has changed about me (for example I can write  really deep poems:) and just in general how IB has changed me, a little too poetic probably....)

Who was I before you

Who am I now after you

Does it matter that I was a tortured and lonely soul

Or can it be that after your presence, my place in this world seems to be gifted

So many opportunities have knocked on the door

Not one seemingly wasted

I was hallow, emptiness in my world

Suddenly with all of your surprises, excitement overflows

There is no moment in vain

All of my happiness lies in the service of others

Creativity breeds, actions prevail

Throughout life I searched for one thing and it seems to finally appear

A new being

Who was I before

I was a soul

Now, with anticipation riveting through my bones

I am and I B the new form of benediction

Whitman

 

Walt Whitman

My Analysis:

Strangely, for me at least, the poetry in Whitman's book seems simplistic and ordinary. Diction is mostly colloquial and not elite. There are a few metaphors, but not to long, and his poem contains an allegory and similarly symbols. His poems are definitely different and fresh compared to the previous books we have read. His poems were for the most part easy to understand. However, the handwriting poses as an obstacle for the reader because the writing is sloppy and messy throughout the pages. I also cannot read cursive well, so that also contributed to my dilemma, but this was not to bad to read and understand overall. 

The pictures in the notebook are well drawn and one particular picture was interesting, the skeleton flying (picture is not loading or copying onto blog...). 

The pictures focus on the head, so particularly the emotions on the face. The body is relatively small and supposedly not as significant to draw. The pictures are of a man, maybe the character from the poem. They seem to illustrate the phases of different reactions of the man. He says, "I shall know whether there is anything in you", this makes me wonder Whitman's purpose of writing poems. I wonder if Whitman prefers to know the characters' inner thoughts than their actions. It also makes me question what kind of a man Whitman is as an author. 

New Observations:

Interestingly, Whitman seemed to admire Lincoln especially if he imagined conversations with him. "He may be suggesting that the ideal of liberty transcends and outlasts even the longest-lived political regimes." This supports the idea of probably why Whitman appreciated Lincoln. Whitman agreed with Lincoln and believed in liberty and to a certain extent equality. There is an unique version of viewing God. God having four sides, including Satan. That is something new and very weird for me to imagine. Largely due to this belief of God being a savior, so I don't view God having another side which Satan occupies. Religious feelings are often expressed during harsh times. People often doubt the existence of God or even distort the idea of religion. It seems like Whitman here has done something similar due to the profound effect of the arduous Civil War.

There are so many pictures in his notebook however they are not drawn by him. It seems that Whitman's physical appearance is strong by his broad frame and masculine by his height. His appearance did not seem to comply with his poetic nature as described by a sailor. He also like to have himself photographed like a celebrity; I wonder if he liked to show off. The last page serves as an enigma for everyone seemingly because it could either be a bizarre picture or it could adequately represent an allegory. If it is an allegory of America, then it sure is a weird one (lack of a better word) because of the contrasts present in the picture. All the pictures seem to be in a way realistic except the last one. 

The American Dream

The "American Dream" was a shared ideology common during the 1920s. This ideology encompasses many values and beliefs on which the foundation of America still stands today. Main ideas that most of America shares include freedom, individualism, nationalism, and motivation to purse dreams. The American dream during this era was in many ways what this picture describes. For example, a family who enjoys many of the unique privileges embedded within the society. This family above is having a picnic outdoors. They are enjoying the freedom and security the nation provides. Individualism as whole, this family is satisfied with their life and their individual position and status in society, specifically the family is separate from the society but together a part of the whole present in the nation. This family is responsible for its own fate and is a self-made family. They are also fulfilling the dream of a complete and successful family.

Wealth in my perception is an important item in the world. Many would say "It makes the world go round", in some sense I would respond yes. This is because money itself is used worldwide as a currency to purchase or own items. Ownership is mainly through obtaining and or showing off money, or in this case wealth. Ownership has in important existence in the world for not only ourselves, but also others. Emotionally, wealth is not an important factor to me because it limits my thinking and narrows my perception to a mathematical value. However, physically wealth holds a great importance for many and in many situations for me as well. I do everything right now to ensure that in my life I am blessed with enough wealth to not only provide for myself but also for the the people I care about. In my mind, wealth is a motivator for me and helps me rationalize myself sometimes during important decision times.

Poverty used to be a stigma in the minds' of Americans, however lately, this view has slowly been diminishing. Poverty is an important factor which many use to characterize individuals who are unfamiliar with each other. Although most think that poverty is a limiting factor and a stigma, in many ways poverty is slowly being accepted within society. This is something I believe because, for example colleges nowadays seem to recognize people's situation and they provide aid and many scholarships. This shows that poverty is not limiting people's education, but providing an opportunity to achieve more. Wealth is still an important concept for many Americans, but more abstract perceptions are evolving in accordance to wealth. This is seen by the various melodramas present in the media. There are two different sides of the spectrum with viewing wealth. Left is where wealth dominates some peoples lives, while the right is where wealth is meaningless and useless to life. I am in the middle and so are most of the Americans in my opinion. Poverty in my perspective is not a bad thing, in fact it can be motivator for some people to educate themselves more. Poverty is sometimes an uncontrollable condition, and many think of it as a limiting situation. For me, it is something that should motivate individuals to overcome his or her difficulties in order to leave poverty behind. Some people use it as an excuse for not being successful, but nowadays there are so many opportunities for success.

What's in a Translation?

Translation is deciphering another language into one's own language. However, more often translations are more likely to suffer through bias. This is largely due to the fact that every language has a unique structure despite its similarities to other languages. This seems to happen when some languages cannot properly translate the exact words from another language. For example, in the following quotes "bug" is substituted with "vermin". This can be the translator's bias in which he or she wants to intensify the effect of the language therefore he or she completely change the word. 

This makes translating a difficult task because bias is the biggest hurdle to overcome. A translator's bias is difficult to overcome because so often languages do not translate exactly. Different translations affect the tone and the mood of the reader greatly. Tone can change due to word choice of the author which affects the overall mood of the reader. Similarly, syntax can also affect the tone like quote #4 by using the commas to separate the order of events. It made the situation seem to happen almost suddenly. 

Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka

Original: Als Gregor Samsa eines Morgens aus unruhigen Träumen erwachte, fand er sich in seinem Bett zu einem ungeheuren Ungeziefer verwandelt.

(Got this amazing idea, so the darker the color gets the more effective the quote was on me.....)

#1:As Gregor Samsa awoke one morning from uneasy dreams he found himself transformed in his bed into a gigantic insect.
This quote was the second most effective on me. The diction in this quote is a little more intense compared to that of #2 and #3 but lesser than #4. Words like "uneasy" "gigantic" and "insect" make a unique effect on the reader compared to #4. Uneasy means causing or feeling anxiety.  In this case it makes Gregor seem like he is ill and currently sick, so the dreams are a side effect of the sickness. However, in #4 "agitated" makes Gregor seem like he is used to getting fits and violent dreams. Gigantic means huge or enormous. In this quote he is transformed into an enormous insect, but in the other quotes it says "giant" or "monstrous" so gigantic makes this quote seem different and it heavily emphasizes the size of the bug compared to the other quotes. 

"Insect" is used in this quote but other quotes use "vermin" or "bug". "Insect" makes the Gregor seem like an insignificant organism while "vermin" characterizes Gregor to be a despicable animal and "bug" makes him look like a tiny and annoying organism. There is no significant syntax because it is just one sentence. However, this different to #4 because that one had many commas unlike this one which is straightforward and without commas. The structure is simple and easy to understand because it is a single sentence. This allows for easy understanding for the reader reading the translation, this is different from #4 because of that one has many commas. Although this quote is much easier to understand, #4 is much more effective because of the word choice the author has chosen. 

#2:Gregory Samsa woke from uneasy dreams one morning to find himself changed into a giant bug.
This quote was the least effective on me because it is too simple and it has no complex structure or syntax. Even the diction is mediocre so this dims the effectiveness of this translation in specific. "Uneasy" is used once again to describe the dreams. However, only this quote used "changed" instead of transformed. This changes the connotation of the sentence overall. Changed makes the translation seem that Gregor turned different in his appearance, but transformed makes Gregor seem like he not only changed physically but also mentally. 

Similarly, the name of the character has also changed from Gregor to Gregory. This is unique to only this translation, all the other translated works use Gregor. This quote also uses "bug" like #3 and uses a synonym "giant". Giant for the most part is the least effective adjective compared to all the other quotes. The quote is a single simple sentence illustrating a morning where Gregor turned into a bug.

#3:When Gregor Samsa awoke from troubled dreams one morning he found he had been transformed in his bed into an enormous bug.

 Some diction words the author uses are "troubled"and "enormous" which is different compared to the other quotes. Troubled means having anxiety. In this situation, it seems like Gregor is having difficulty sleeping so that is why he found himself transformed into a bug. This kind of changes the meaning of the sentence, and changes the effect because he turned into a bug one time. 

Enormous means extremely large. This means Gregor changed into a large bug, however in the other quotes Gregor is described more in depth while this one says "bug". Bug is not effective at all compared to "vermin" or even "insect" because it sounds childish and insignificant. The syntax is simple once again without any commas or interruptions. The structure is a dependent clause in the beginning of the sentence with an independent clause. 

#4:One morning, upon awakening from agitated dreams, Gregor Samsa found himself, in his bed, transformed into a monstrous vermin.

This quote was the most effective on me because of the specific word choice the author uses. Diction words like "monstrous", "vermin", and "agitated" have the greatest effect on me from this quote because of the vivid details I imagine. This is different from all the other quotes that use not as strong synonyms for the words present in the quote. Monstrous means having the ugly or frightening appearance of a monster. Specifically "monstrous" makes me feel like the man has transformed into a monster who is pure evil in his intentions and actions. Vermin is defined as parasitic worms, insects or people perceived as despicable and as causing problems. "Vermin" makes the man less of a insect, he is a pest, despicable, or more of a disturbance to the society overall. Agitated is a feeling or appearing to be troubled or nervous. "Agitated" describes the dream to be more of a nerve-wrecking experience. 

For structure, there are also many commas making the sentence seem choppy and short. The event happens over a short period of time as demonstrated with this sentence. For syntax, the events that occur in this quote seem to be happening in order. First he woke up, then he found out he became an insect. The diction in this quote is the strongest that allowed for more vivid details for the reader. The events that occur seem like list of occurring details, instead of a story revealing the details like the other quotes. This quote also is the longest one that appears so it has a lot of description.

IOC!!!! :(

Planning of IOC 

Rubric Comments:

A- 6   I believe I was not too bad with remembering key details of this novel, and I tried to stick to the passage instead of going overboard with details of Handmaid's Tale. I tried to use textual details to show support from passage which hopefully demonstrated my understanding.

B- 5 Adequate awareness of literary stuff (analysis) with references to what effects it has on the reader. I talked a bunch of stuff about diction and details... 

C- 3 Kept having to pause to think... said a few ummmms.... hopefully still okay to give myself a 3 (leniency) 

D- 3 I was on topic and did not digress from the passage, hopefully was coherent even with the ummmms nice notes, had almost complete sentences and not just words spouting out of my mouth.

(10 min video takes forever to load on this blogpost thingy..... I sent u copy too it just is not working...)

Total: 17

"From Cancer to Dance"

How can you survive cancer? Ananda Shankar Jayant tells her story of how she conquered her disease through dance. Ananda, a dance teacher, danced all her life. After visiting the hospital, she finds out that she has breast cancer. As she struggled in the beginning with shattered confidence, she finds the stage as a hopeful platform to fight head on with cancer. Battling with hair loss and a weakened body, she regained a new perspective through dance and religion. She performs two styles: Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. The styles are very close to each other because both incorporate a lot of similar rhythmic movements and music styles. With all Indian dance forms, they are built on the foundation of Indian poetry, philosophy, and the Hindu religion. 

I chose this video primarily because I could relate to her story as I am an Indian, also because I have worked over four years in the oncology ward at Duke Hospital. I spent eight hours every work day in the summer with the cancer patients. I was a junior nurse taking care of the patients' needs and running basic lab work. Although it was a depressing job to see people suffering, some patients really turned their life around due to the disease. I saw how patients changed from every chemo, becoming stronger and more determined. I have heard countless survivor stories, but never have I heard a story like this. Dance never struck me as a technique to fight cancer because it weakens people mentally and physically. However, she was different. I was surprised with the immense amount of dedication she had for the art. All together, I feel empowered by her words that with a change in the mindset, I can turn around my life for the better. 

Ananda Shankar Jayant

This story's purpose it to change one's mindset positively to encourage oneself to fight against a relentless disease like cancer. Her intentions are to persuade and to teach the audience how to enlighten and reconnect with one's passion to fight any sort of difficulty. Apart from using pathos as a way of communicating with the audience, she uses an interesting technique in her presentation- dance. Another interesting fact is that the target audience is not just the Indian population, but people from different nationalities as well. People of all nationalities seemed to appreciate and admire Ananda's self confidence and her story. She explains that narrative dance is a metaphor for her. The story of each dance is specific to a God in the Hindu religion. This allows her to feel and communicate the message of each story. Dance is a symbol representing all the struggles she has gone through. 

This quote from her speech is especially motivating and it is the main argument she makes throughout her presentation, "Your mind is really your final frontier. I was able to take my thoughts and push them into my dance. I made it so that cancer was not a big deal. I would go and get my chemo, take the three days rest that my body needed, and then I was back in the studio dancing, teaching class or doing choreography." Ananda starts by presenting a Bharatanatyam, a energetic dance demonstrating her power, then she ends by presenting Kuchipudi. This form of dance reveals a sense of beauty, devotion, and physical art. Her performances capture the audience through her intense facial expressions and her hand forms which depict symbolic gestures to convey a message to the audience. 

Double Indemnity

Question 6. What types of themes are being explored here in this film? What do you think this film is about? What is it trying to say? Support your answer with specific examples from Double Indemnity.

Double Indemnity 

The film is about Walter Neff and Phyllis Dietrichson who are drawn to each other, and in their attempts to be together the couple commits a murder. Walter murdered Mr. Dietrichson in order to be with Phyllis, however, both are paranoid as their truth may be exposed by Keyes, Walter's boss. Initially, Walter devised a plan to make the murder of her husband appear to be an accidental fall from a train that will trigger the "double indemnity" clause and pay out twice the value of the insurance policy. However, Keyes refuses to believe the suicide story and deduces that Phyllis and another unknown accomplice killed her husband for the money. As the plot unravels, Phyllis is shown to have illicit connections with another man. Eventually, this causes Walter to shoot Phyllis and wait for the police to arrive.

Some themes that reoccur throughout the film are adultery, betrayal, guilt, sexual desire, seduction, money, and murder. Adultery drives the plot as Phyllis Dietrichson, a married women, has an affair with Walter Neff. Consequently, both of them scheme to murder Mr. Dietrichson in order to receive the double indemnity. Money is the primary motivator for Phyllis to partake in the crime,  and she gains Walter's support by seducing him. Sexual desire is obvious as both characters Walter and Phyllis are attracted to each other. Guilt appears when Walter feels responsible for the step daughter of Phyllis, Lola. This theme also shows up near the end where Phyllis feels guilty for involving Walter because she confesses to have not loved him. This causes Walter to kill Phyllis for her betrayal. Near the end Walter intends to pin the blame on someone else, but instead waits for the ambulance and police to arrive. 

I think the film is about lust and specifically about the power of women. Lust is obvious throughout the film and is a major reason for Walter to commit the crime. However, the power of women seems evident in the story due to the portrayal of Phyllis. She uses her strong points to lure Walter into her calculating scheme. Phyllis uses her looks to seduce Walter intentionally. For example, her dressing purposely shows more skin, the way she walks and speaks, and even her hair style is noteworthy. Makeup and jewelry are also used to accentuate her body to make Walter feel enticed by Phyllis. This shows that a women can to a certain degree control or ignite a man's lust; moreover, women can use tricks to make men more susceptible to their demands. Walter eventually agrees to carry out the plan to kill Mr. Dietrichson. I think the film is trying to say that women have power over men to a certain extent. The characterization of Phyllis may seem like the movie objectifies women, but Phyllis chooses to use herself in such a way and better yet does it knowingly. This shows she recognizes her figure as a powerful weapon, rather than a weakness. Therefore, I do not think the film intentionally targets women negatively. This film shows how women exhibited power over men during the old time, although it is shown in a different way than today's society normally thinks.

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.