I recently became addicted to the show Supernatural, which is about two brothers, Sam and Dean Winchester, who go around the US killing supernatural entities to avenge their mother's death and to find the thing that killed her. It's a great show, it's funny, scary, and overall amazing in my opinion. However, one thing I noticed after finishing the first season was that there were no female leads. After thinking a little more, I noticed that there, in fact, was a female character in every episode, and although she was always different, she usually played the same role: a single girl, sometimes a mom of young kids, who has been affected in one way or another by the supernatural entity in question, she's pretty, has a spunky personality, and is attracted to one of the brothers; or if she's evil, she's pretty, controlling, and pretty "bad," if you know what I mean. So I did some research, and I found the article Is Supernatural a Misogynistic Show? by Red Newsom.
The article goes on to explain something I did not notice until now, the language is often very Misogynistic. Dean especially uses derogatory terms for women, calling them sl**s, b*****s, and wh***s. "Even when facing down dudes, it’s always 'you son of a b****'," says the article. On top of this, Dean always teases Sam for not being as manly and macho as he is, for being sensitive and possessing more feminine traits than he does.
I don't think that the writers hate women, or have purposefully misogynistic views in any way. I think that Supernatural is a good show with a bit sexist undertones. I know that later on in the season (thanks for the spoilers, tumblr!!!) things get better, as there are better female characters and even a lead or two.
Monday, May 27, 2013
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Romeo And Juliet
It is not
an uncommon occurrence for two people to fall in love, especially if they are
young. But how often do these relationships last forever, and how often do they
actually work out? In William Shakespeare’s Romeo
and Juliet, Shakespeare is trying to teach us that young love cannot always
work out, because young people tend to be more impetuous, impulsive, and often
are not mature enough to make such serious decisions.
Shakespeare
often voices his opinion through other characters in the play that Romeo and
Juliet’s relationship isn’t completely right, or that they should slow down.
The only characters completely supportive of Romeo and Juliet’s romance are
themselves. Friar Lawrence notes to Romeo early in the story that he wants them
to move more slowly so that when the end comes, it won’t hit them as hard.
“Violent delights have violent ends,” (2.6.9.) he says. He is saying that a love this lustful,
fast, passionate and young will have an equally strong and powerful
ending. He’s right, as they both die for
love in the end of the play. Many other characters, such as Mercutio and the
Nurse, actively voice their disapproval of Romeo and Juliet’s relationship.
Romeo and
Juliet was a tragedy, which means that there will be at least one death in the
play. Sure enough, Romeo and Juliet die for each other in the end of the story.
They each say that they cannot live without the other before they kill themselves.
Romeo’s last words are “O true apothecary, / thy drugs are quick. Thus with a
kiss I die.” (5. 3. 119-120) “Here’s to my love” clearly and obviously states
that he would rather be dead than live without Juliet. Juliet’s intent is
similar in some of her last words, “I will kiss thy lips. / Haply some poison
yet doth hang on them, / so that I may die with a restorative.” (5. 3.
169-171.) She hopes there is still poison on his lips, so she kisses him. She
feels as if to love Romeo is her purpose, so she tries to end her life by
making it the last thing she does. Romeo and Juliet are very young, Juliet
being thirteen and Romeo being of a slightly older but equally youthful age. By
making Romeo and Juliet commit suicide, Shakespeare is emphasizing their immaturity.
If you are as young as Romeo and Juliet, you still have your whole life ahead
of you and you should not kill yourself over another person, you will
eventually move on. Young people often have feelings of suicide or angst, and
Shakespeare is showing that they are this young by showing that they are
feeling this way. Romeo and Juliet should not have had to make this decision.
Romeo and
Juliet only knew each other for less than a week before marrying each other and
dying. It was “love at first sight” when they met at Capulet’s party- when
Romeo first saw her, he gushed over Juliet’s beauty and asked himself, “did my
heart love till now?” (1. 5. 59) Romeo, being young and impulsive, decided that
they were meant to be forever with only a glance. What happened to Rosaline?
What happened to loving her forever? If Romeo was so convinced he was in love
with Rosaline before, how does he know he really loves Juliet? Juliet is also
impulsive, and again shares a similar opinion when she asks Romeo to propose to
her in the Balcony Scene. “If that thy bent of love be honorable, / thy purpose
marriage, send me word tomorrow.” (2. 2. 150-151) Shakespeare wants us to be
shocked at how young they are, and to question how in love they really are in
order to move this fast.
By
including his disapproving opinions and adding a tragic ending, William
Shakespeare is trying to share with us his true thoughts on young love. He thought
young lovers were somewhat immature, impetuous, and that they should stop being
so serious in their relationship. If two people are as immature in a
relationship as Romeo and Juliet were, their relationship has high chances of
ending badly, with death, or with heartbreak.
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Home Away by Launa Schweizer
I am currently reading the memoir Home Away by Launa Schweizer. It's an amazing book about a woman, Launa, who moves to the Aups in France for a year with her husband Bill, their seven year old daughter Abigail, and heir eleven year old daughter Grace in 2010. Launa describes in vivid and humorous detail her family's experience in France. I have known the Schweizer-Leinhards since I was about two years old. I love the experience of reading a book, when you yourself have experienced some of it, know the inside and personal lives of all the characters, and know by heart some of the personal anecdotes described by Launa.
I really love how the character Grace is portrayed. Grace has been one of my best friends for my entire life, and I know her extremely well. In the book, Grace is described as fairly distant, quiet, soft-spoken, brilliant, kind, and smart. She likes to keep to herself, often spending time alone in her room by herself for fun. In real life is brilliant, smart, kind and solitary, but she is also loud, funny, outgoing, social, and overall a wild and fun person to be with. I adore the contrast between these two characters- I feel like I'm getting a sneak peek into the characters' lives by knowing them.
Launa includes many personal anecdotes of her family throughout the story. For example, when grace was younger, she tried to make friends by saying "I have enjoyed thinking about death lately. What are your ideas on that topic?" I know this story very well. I've heard it a million times. It makes me smile every time I read it, knowing that everyone who buys this book will probably also laugh and smile when they read this section, but for a different reason. Yes, it's funny, but I laugh because it's such a typical Grace thing to do.
I love this book. I'm very proud of Launa, and of the whole family, too.
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