Netflix & Chill, except the school version

Lady Macbeth was an avid Netflix watcher (obviously) and these shows/movies are her top choices:

1. Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl, a harshly unfiltered blogger, follows the lives of privileged teenagers living in Upper East Side of NYC. Serena Van Der Woodsen and Blair Waldorf are the most popular girls in school, alongside the city's most eligible bachelors, Nate Archibald and Chuck Bass. The show follows the romantic entanglements and dramatized lives of these upper class kids, and is always filled with suspense.

Lady Macbeth would chose this series because the characters are as cunning and power-hungry as herself. They care very much about what the public thinks about them and how much everyone else knows about their secret lives. Serena and Blair attempt to keep a good public image, just like Lady Macbeth, (think about the scene at Macbeth's banquet honoring Duncan where she attempts to calm her husband and the crowd of well-respected guests). The girls often hide behind masks of happiness and integrity, but in reality their world is crumbling around them. Lady Macbeth would relate to this aspect of the show very much.

2. Quantico

Quantico is a series that jumps back and forth between time following the lives of FBI agents before and after training. Alex Parrish, the main character, is blamed for a terrorist bombing in NYC after working for the FBI agency for months. The recruits learn the intensity of investigations by digging up secrets about their peers while also being tested for physical endurance.

Lady Macbeth would watch this show to hopefully learn more about snooping. She knows her husband does not include her in his schemes anymore as he starts doing things behind her back. She knows he doesn't love her anymore and having better investigation skill might have helped her win her husband back. Or at least find some secrets she could hold over him, until their marriage improved. The show also features a strong female lead which she would find inspiring and righteous.

3. Hocus Pocus

Hocus Pocus is a Halloween themed movie that features 3 witches, the Sanderson sisters, who were executed in 1693 for illegal witchcraft. They have come back 300 years later when a child lights the black-flame candle and are out to get the group of kids. Alongside a talking black cat, Alison, Max and Dani work to outsmart the evil trio and their magic.

Lady Macbeth would be interested by this movie for its portrayal of the supernatural. The movie takes place after the Salem Witch trials when women accused of being witches were killed. The "evilness" of the three witches would be different than the type of witches Lady Macbeth has ever encountered. She would find humor in the movie because the children (which she wishes she had) outsmarted the witches. This is something Lady Macbeth might have wished she was able to do when the reality of the prophecy given by the Weird Sisters started to destroy her life as she knew it.

4. Brain Games

Brain Games is an interactive education television show. The show teaches about the cognitive processes of the brain and is filled with many auditory and visual experiments. Each episode has a different theme or brain activity to teach about.

Somewhat similarly to "Quantico" this show would entice Lady Macbeth because she would get to learn more about her "crazy" side. What I mean by this, is she could learn ways to manipulate other people (her husband) into doing what she wants by playing games on their brain. The show reveals how simple it is for average humans to be tricked and she would use this to her advantage. Also, this would make her question the truthfulness of the witches prophecy for her husband. Did they really tell him he would be King? Maybe they used the art of distraction or some other brain game to trick him into believing that is what he hear... hmm. Also because this show is educational it stimulates your brain and it is very easy to get roped into watching a billion and a half episodes. After reading "Macbeth" it seems like Lady Mac had some time on her hands so maybe this would have helped alleviate her pain of her husband no longer loving her and the fact that all this murder was happening?

Fate vs. Chance

Do you believe events in your life have been guided by fate or chance? Why or why not? Based on the text, what do you think Shakespeare's attitude was towards fate? Does Macbeth have any choice in his actions or was everything predetermined? Use examples from the text as your support.



It is difficult to determine an answer to this question because I think my life is guided by both fate and chance. I think the importance of the decision and how large the impact of the event is is what makes the difference between fate and chance events. Things that I believe that are guided by fate: meeting certain people, keeping/losing relationships, determining when you die. This is most likely because as a Jew, I believe God has a plan for me. I am often found saying "it wasn't in the plan" or "God didn't want this/that to happen." I consider these situations to be out of my control, but that they were intentional because they are influential to me as a person. This could easily be twisted into "right time, right place" situations which would fall under chance, which is where my confusion with this question arises. I think when tragic or depressing things happen in my life, believing that someone or something has my back makes it easier to cope with my emotions, therefore, I tend to agree with the statement that most events are guided by fate. In opposition, I think small, daily decisions like what cereal to eat or what to wear are not guided by any kind supernatural. Those decisions are simply chance influenced by own choice.

Based on the text, I think Shakespeare fully believed in fate. This is evident through his inclusion of the supernatural shown with the 3 witches and ghosts. The whole plot of the play is based off the prophecy given to Macbeth and Banquo in Act 1. The Weïrd Sisters proclaim, "All hail, Macbeth! Hail to thee, Thane of Glamis!...Thane of Cawdor!... that shalt be king hereafter!" (A1.S3 17). Banquo is also told that his sons will be kings. Shortly after this interaction, it is announced that Macbeth is the new Thane of Cawdor. Macbeth questioned the prophecy at first, but now it is clear that what the witches said is truthful and he goes on to fulfill the prophecy as best as he can. Shakespeare included these characters and this plot to express his beliefs. Shakespeare was not allowed to write anything that diminished the power of the King. This shows that believing in fate was a popular belief when the play was written, and explains why Shakespeare has this attitude towards fate. 

I think Macbeth did have control over his actions. He could have chosen to not kill his BFF and his child and the king and multiple other people and let the prophecy happen naturally. No supernatural power told Macbeth that the killing of these people was necessary ignorer for him to become but it is what he inferred. His lovely wife heavily influenced his actions because of her deadly desire for power but he was never forced to enact the plan she created. 

https://www.pinterest.com/madanihouha/macbeth-and-lady-macbeth/

https://www.pinterest.com/sherlonann/macbeth-memes/

IB not making art

FREEBIE :)

Canterbury Tales & Jane Eyre

Analyze the author’s use of irony in describing Mr. Brocklehurst’s family in the second passage. How does the author contrast this description with Mr. Brocklehurst’s lecture to Miss Temple to provide social commentary on perceptions of class during this time?

In the provided quote, Mr. Brocklehurst's wife and daughters are described through their luxurious clothing. Unlike the girls that Miss Temple teaches that are only allowed one clean tucker per week, these women appear in extravagant dresses sporting velvet, silk, and animal fur. The school girls must also have straight, tidy hair while his family has "elaborately curled" hair. Author, Charlotte Bronte, uses irony to make the comparison between the two social groups presented. After ranting about Julia Servern's natural curls and how he demands her locks be chopped off, his family glides in with heads of unnatural curls. It is ironic that the man does not demand that his family practice what they preach, as they are allowed to wear pretentious clothing and hair styles with no backlash from authority.

When speaking with Miss Temple about the children, Mr. Brocklehurst's tone is extremely degrading. According to him, the girls are not allowed to wear their hair natural or in braids and if they do, the only option is to cut all of their hair off. This shows that this man, supposedly an authoritative figure, does not regard the school girls of worthy of expressing their own style. Everyone must look the same. Instead of the upperclass appearing as a beacon of hope, they are intimidating and hypocritical. The narrator recognizes this differentiation when she thinks to herself, "They ought to have come a little sooner to have heard his [Mr. Brocklehurst's] lecture" (Charlotte Bronte), referring to him telling Miss Temple about how he wants the girls to be modest. The teacher nor any of the students dare to call out the upperclass visitors about their hypocrisy. The large distinction between social classes went well beyond their access to clothes and food, but to character traits they were allowed to possess. Wealthier individuals controlled society, and therefore could speak their minds and express their diversity through thought. The children, and even Miss Temple, had to simply oblige by their demands, which in a way dehumanizes them. Another important aspect of the scene that reveals evidence of social commentary is the stereotypical gender roles presented. A man is shown to have authority over an educated woman, who is a teacher, which happens to be a very stereotypical job in society for a woman.

7 Deadly Sins- Jake from State Farm

Jake from State Farm:

This State Farm insurance commercial, which was first aired on American television in 2011, has revolutionized something as boring as insurance into something iconic for the American public. 

The video begins with a middle age man in pajamas talking on his cell phone. The lights are dim, in an average looking American type home,  and the man is speaking at a low volume. In the background, a woman comes down the stairs and suspiciously asks who the man is talking to. He replies frankly with "It's Jake from State 

Farm," and goes back to talking to his cell phone about a "great deal." The woman grabs the phone stating that it is 3 in the morning and then asks the receiving end of the telephone call "what are you wearing Jake from State Farm?" Jake replies with "uh khakis" and the woman tells the man that "she sounds hideous." The commercial then ends with a red screen that says "Savings. Even at 3 A.M." with a voiceover. 

When looking closer at the advertisement it is obvious to see that the women is expressing envy. She assumes her husband, the man on the phone, is cheating on her by talking to another woman in the middle of the night. Her thoughts might be justified by the fact that the man seems to be hiding this phone call and says things like "Yeah, I'm married. Does it matter... You'd do that for me?" She was so jealous of this other "woman" that when she spoke with Jake on the phone, hearing his manly voice, she still did not believe her husband. She even insulted the "woman's" appearance, without seeing her, to degrade her even more. This makes the audience wonder why is she so envious? The audience can assume that the man has cheated on her before, or that their relationship is not strong and filled with trust. 

The commercial hints at many key themes that an American audience would pick up on. First, the husband is concerned about his families safety and is losing sleep over it. Second, a stereotype about women is shown; that they are insecure in relationships and jump to conclusions. 

More specifically than Americans, the intended audience is both men and women in the young adult and middle aged adult categories. State farm is attempting to entice young adults, who do not yet have insurance, to invest in it through the use of comedy. The middle aged viewers will relate to the man's worries about he and his families safety. The advertisement is most likely reaching the middle to upper class, who watch TV and can afford insurance. The lower class might watch this commercial, but they are not the target because it is unlikely they can afford an insurance plan. The commercial was first aired on August 11, 2011 during a screening of "Supernaturals" that had nearly 3 million viewers. 

https://youtu.be/47cAxRX3aDg

What's in a name?

My name is a tool that helps describe who I am, though it does not define me. I am much more than a name I was given at birth. A name is a first thing you learn about someone new. It serves as an introduction to a stranger and allows people to make their first judgements about you, this can be taken as a positive or a negative. My first name, Rachel, was chosen because it is a biblical name. Although neither my parents nor I are that religious, it was very important to them that their children's names were found in the bible. (My brothers name is Joshua.) Rachel was the 20th most common name for girls born in 1999, and I am surrounded by Rachels everywhere I go. This is why I believe that my personality, on top of my last name is more defining of who I am. My middle name, Michaela, was chosen after my great grandmother, Minnie, who my mother was very lose with. I never met Minnie, but it is common in Jewish tradition to name a child after someone who has recently passed, but is bad luck to name a child after someone who is still alive. I do not have a lot of information about my last name, Cannon, other than the fact that it is of Irish decent. My mother is the youngest of three sisters and decided to keep her last name, Rose, to keep that portion of the family alive for at least one more generation. When I was about late elementary/middle school age, I decided that I would add "Rose" into my middle name making it "Michaela Rose." I told all my friends about this change and my current passport actually says "Rachel Michaela Rose Cannon." Now, the problem with this is that my birth certificate does not include the "Rose" and therefore, two forms of legal identification have different names for me... Because of this odd situation I think a name is not a reliable way to define someone, especially because I have never really been too fond of my set of names.*

Similarly to how Anna Quindlen states that she is two, I would agree that I am two. I act very differently around my friends and even at school with teachers, than I do at home with my family. At school and with friends, I tend to be more outgoing and say whatever comes to mind. In these situations I often use language that is "hip" and what all my friends are using, like some neologisms, but these are words adults like my parents might not understand. More recently, I started getting closer to my older brother and started showing more of my "friends" Rachel and less of my "family" Rachel. This overlapping of both my personalities has been difficult because it is sometimes difficult to determine where to draw the line. This is the same as with my parents. I have never been that open with them, like I am with my friends, and it feels very odd when a conversations edges closer to the realm of how I speak with friends. The situation becomes the most sticky when I am with friends and my parents at the same time. Another thing that differentiates between my two selves is my responsibilities as each. I have been in situations where a friend is in need of support of some sort but I also has responsibilities at home that cannot be pushed back. When this happens, I have no choice but to listen to my parents and chose my family because they are my #1 priority. In both of my two identities my name remains the same, my parents, my friends, and my teachers (other than Grow, he calls me Cannon) all call me Rachel This is a reason why I believe my name does not define me as much as my personality does.

At least Urban Dictionary knows the real me. "Rachel: A smart, sassy, and sexy young woman who knows things from fashion to film to literature, from Manolo Blanks to Mahatma Gandhi."

*Yes it is Rachel, NOT Rachael. Yes, Cannon with 2 N's like the gun.

Othering

This photo was taken by Wing Young Huie and can be found on his site under the "Eat" gallery, which was published in 2012 in Minneapolis, MN. The black and white photo is title-less but some simple observations can be made about it. It depicts three white men in an old fashion diner. The man in the middle is the focal point of the photo and is a slightly overweight, older man who is leaned back in his chair, laughing. The man to his left seems to be pondering something or maybe simply waiting for his meal. And the man to the rights face is not in view but he appears to be reading the menu. It is interesting to note that at the angle and timing of the image, all three men seem to be alone in the diner. Though we can infer that the man in the middle is with someone because of his laughing action. It is also interesting that they are all men, and it appears they are all of the same race. This leads the audience to believe that this is the overwhelming majority of the population in the location that the photograph was taken, and that this social group can commonly be seen in public. I also noticed that none of these customers have any food in front of them and that leads the audience to wonder why. (Maybe no one can decide what to order, or the service is really slow, or these men just go there to hang out.)

In this image, Wing Young Huie shows othering in a few ways. First, the subjects of the photograph are all of the relatively same demographic; white male. The art seems to purposefully exclude females if they were in the room, by the angle at which it was taken. This is a form of othering because as a female, I see them as something "other" than me. A second way she shows othering is how all the men are spread out in the diner. All of them have their backs turned towards each other which shows a lack of trust or friendship. There is no conversing between these men, which separates them. This made me think about an example of othering from "The Handmaid's Tale." In the book, when handmaids go on shopping trips into town, they are not allowed to communicate with fellow handmaids unless they use prescribed language, which eliminates all personal opinions or input. Handmaids also avoid eye contact (because of their headpiece but nonetheless) similar to how the men are avoiding interaction in Huie's photo. Therefore, handmaids are "othered" from other handmaids, along with being separated from the rest of society. Women are often othered from men in the book, as well. For example, only men are allowed to read or write in Gilead, while only women can be present at Birthing Days. A large amount of the othering seen in the book is based off common gender role stereotypes. 

Word Count: 500

Works Cited:

Wing Young Hue http://www.wingyounghuie.com