Lady Macbeth on Netflix

Lately, a lot of people have been asking me what types of shows I enjoy watching on Netflix. If it wasn't already obvious enough, I LOVE shows that empower women and show them in the light of a "man's role". I also love movies with powerful main characters who contrive diabolical plans in order to get what they want. I've compiled a list of a few of my favorite shows and movies for you guys to look at!

1. The League - The League is a TV show about a group of friends who play fantasy football. One of the members, Kevin, is not as good as the others at fantasy league so he often seeks advice from his wife, Jenny. After watching a few episodes I have officially decided that Jenny and I are similar in many different ways. Jenny takes charge of her husband and goes to incredible feats just to win. The power and persistence that Jenny shows in The League is mirrored by my ambition to help Macbeth take the crown. I'm willing to do whatever it takes to live a luxurious life and if that means manipulating my man to bend to my will.....so be it.

2. National Geographic: Snow Monkeys - This selection is a documentary performed by National Geographic on snow monkeys. While portraying the monkeys as happy and graceful, the documentary also shows the wits and the desire to survive that these monkeys show. Much like myself, these monkeys will do whatever is necessary for them to survive. Whether that means collecting food for winter or abandoning their babies, they are prepared to do what is necessary. My husband Macbeth was too big of a wimp to kill Duncan so I seized control and became the masculine character. What I chose to do was quite literally the definition of "Survival of the fittest". If you're looking for a documentary that will end making you feel empowered and awestruck, this is the one for you.

3. The Wolf of Wall Street - Let's just start off by saying that Leonardo DiCaprio is one hot hunk of meat. In this movie, he plays a money-hungry wall street executive who isn't afraid to get his hands dirty. All I want is for my man to be as motivated and mischievous as Leo so I wouldn't have to do all the dirty work myself. After seeing this movie I decided that I'm gonna have to do all the work myself and take on my husband's role since he's too big of a woman to fulfill his prophecy.

4. Game of Thrones - This is a medieval political show in which kingdoms wage war upon each other and havoc breaks loose. Every time I watch it, I find myself envious of all the lords and kings. They're all so sinister and sly. One of the biggest traits that I cherish in this show is the characters' ability to feel no remorse. Although I have to act tough and stone-cold in front of my wussy husband, my conscience nags at me every day for the deeds I have committed. If I could only be as strong as half of the royal families in this show I would be an unstoppable leader.

Give me a chance

3. 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.

I personally believe that events in my life have been guided by chance. I believe that everyone has a set path (fate) but they are able to deviate from it due to free will. The fact that humans can make spontaneous decisions based on instinct leads me to believe this. People stumble upon events by coincidence and then recreate a new path for themselves.

Based on Macbeth, I believe that Shakespeare did not believe in faith and relied more on chance. This is demonstrated mostly by the main character, Macbeth. Macbeth has been told of a prophecy that will come true which represents fate. However, instead of letting events play themselves out, Macbeth takes it into his own hands to fulfill the prophecy. The witches tell Macbeth that Duncan will die and he will become king. Macbeth takes matters into his own hands and murders the king. If Shakespeare had believed in fate, he would have allowed his character to live out the prophecy versus creating it himself. 

Although I believe Shakespeare was a believer of coincidence and chance, I do not completely dispute the fact that he believed in fate. By incorporating the witches into the story of Macbeth, he presents a fateful situation in which Macbeth cannot escape. However, I think this story serves as a warning that fate can not be fully relied on. He is trying to say that if one is to fulfill their fate, they must forge their own path in which chance plays a role. 

To wrap things up, Shakespeare would believe that Macbeth had the ability to make his own decisions even though his fate was foretold to him by the witches. He could have made different decisions instead of being hypnotized by power and the prophecy. Perhaps if Macbeth had had the willpower to resist killing Duncan, events would have played out differently. Or perhaps it was Macbeth's fate to act the way he did.

CAM Raleigh

Before visiting the Raleigh Contemporary Art Museum, I was never impressed by abstract art. I was always under the impression that anyone could produce a random piece of art and create a fake meaning for it. However, after walking through the Limited Visibility exhibit, my opinion was changed. The exhibit itself held a unique feeling that inspired deep thought and contemplation within myself. The various pieces invoked a calm but creative mood as I ventured around the museum. One piece that provoked the most thought from me was the one titled "Miradas I"

Analysis

The name of the piece of art that I chose to analyze is "Miradas I". The author of this piece is Moris and the size is 69" x 117". This piece of art was created by putting a picture on canvas and using acrylic paint to cover up certain parts. "Miradas I" was created in 2012.

This painting was created in Mexico in 2012. This was a very important time period in Mexico because it marks a period in which there were very high numbers of immigration to the United States from Mexico. The piece portrays 6 individuals who only have their eyes showing. The rest of their bodies are covered by transparent black paint but their outlines can still be seen. Most commonly, on TV or the internet, we see criminals entire bodies with their eyes blocked out. However, this painting is the exact opposite. I think that this is representing that these people, or Mexican immigrants, are not criminals. I believe this painting is a comment on immigration that is saying immigration is not a bad thing. The fact that we are able to see their eyes signifies that they are creating a new identity for themselves in America. From what can be seen, the people in the painting are from different ethnic groups (Caucasian and Hispanic). I think that the purpose of that is to show that Mexican immigrants and Americans can co-exist without a problem.

The author still allows us to see the outline of the people in order to invoke a feeling of humanity within the reader. If the author only depicted the eyes, the viewer would not be able to connect with the painting as well. By using black to cover the people, the painting shows that the immigrants are overcoming or "coming through" their obstacles in order to be successful. Not only does the painting itself hold meaning, but so does the title. In Spanish, the word "mirada" means look or gaze. The title and the use of colors show that the people in the painting are looking through the darkness to a brighter future.

Life is Short, Have an Affair :)

This video, created by Ashley Madison, originally aired on the television during the month of February in 2010. This ad was seen as offensive to many people because it was "inappropriate" and "disgusting". The deadly sins that this ad condones are avarice and lust.

Upon viewing the video the first time, I noticed a lot of happy men singing in a joyful tone. They were singing about "seeing someone other than my wife". Between clips of happy men singing, half naked girls were flashed across the screen in seductive poses. My mind automatically filled the gaps and I naturally assumed that these men were happy because they were making sweet love with the women that they met using this website.

After watching the video a few more times and paying closer attention, I grasped the bigger picture. This advertisement shows plenty of men that are using this website and it almost makes it seem that cheating on your wife is "okay" and "normal". During the 30 second commercial, a man creates an account and finds many matches. This is trying to show that the website is easy to use and that its simple to find sexy ladies other than your wife. The overall mood of the commercial makes it seem like cheating on your wife will make you a happier man and that there will be no repercussions. Now I'm not married, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and assume that cheating on your wife will NOT make your life any easier. 

Although this website is geared towards men and women, this ad is directed specifically at men. It is easy to tell that the ad targets men because it shows half naked women and not half naked men, and (most) women aren't interested in seeing half naked girls. It is also easier for men to relate to this ad. At the end of the commercial, a chorus of men chimes in singing about cheating on their wives. This makes the viewer feel less guilty because they wouldn't be the only person cheating on their significant other. This ad shows handsome middle class men which captures the attention of the middle-upper class viewers. It almost makes the viewer feel like the website is so easy, that anyone could use it. In a society in which the divorce rate is around 50%, cheating on your wife doesn't seem like such a terrible thing to viewers. This ad takes advantage of their viewers' ignorance in order to inspire them to make a bad choice that will create revenue for the company.

Freebie

;)

Leaving a "Mark"

Mark Thomas Hallman

At first, I had a little bit of trouble trying to think about what my name means to me. My name isn't a very special one. It isn't passed down from anyone who did important things. Nor is it a name representative of someone from a high social class. However, I think those exact reasons explain why my name IS so special despite it's blandness. The fact that my name is unique is what allows me to take pride in it. An article that I read allowed me to appreciate the uniqueness that comes along with a name. I am  not expected to live up to standards that somebody with a name before me had set. I can choose whatever path I want and forge a meaning for my name that has personal value. In a sense, having a name that is the first of its kind is like a fresh start. I would never change my name because that would be like losing all the experiences I once had and starting over.

Sometimes I feel as though I act differently around guests than when I am alone. My parents always taught me to be respectful and polite when representing the family, so I try my best to. When guests come over, I always use words like "please" and "thank you" even if I don't mean them. I also try my best to be helpful so that I can shed a good light on the Hallman name. However, the second the guests leave I go back to being myself. I walk around with my shirt off and sit around playing video games until early in the morning. If I ask my brother or sister for something I usually do not include a "please" or a "thank you". Even though this may seem like a bad thing, I believe that it is completely natural. I think that everyone feels the need to represent themselves positively to some extent  to people who are unfamiliar. Even when I go to school or go to get food somewhere, I act slightly differently than I do when I'm alone. I think everyone has more than one type of personality for different situations.

Taking a look at the OTHER side

Othering is the process of perceiving or portraying someone or something as fundamentally different or alien. Photographer Wing Young Huie does an excellent job of "othering" in his photography. For example, there is one photograph on his blog that shows a white man and a black woman sitting side by side. The white man is holding a sign that says, "I hold prejudices that need to be faced and overcome." On first glance, the observer can see that these two people are looking away from each other even though they are sitting side by side. However, when looking deeper into the meaning of the picture, you can get the sense that these two people are meant to represent something bigger than themselves. They both represent different races in society. Although they are sitting directly next to each other, practically "intermixed" with one another, they choose to look the other way and not see each other as equals.

Photographer Wing Young Huie and author Margaret Atwood both use different techniques to display the concept of "othering" in their works. Wing Young Huie does this through image. As mentioned in the previous paragraph, the photograph of the white man and black woman next to each other gives off a strong sense of othering. This sense of othering is given off through prejudice. By having the two people face opposite directions, the observer gets the feeling that they are ignoring each other. This picture serves as a comment on the society in which we live in today. Although whites and blacks live together equally, there are still many white people who feel that minorities are different and are "alien". This problem is common knowledge and that is what the sign that the man is holding is supposed to represent. Wing Young Huie captures this sense of "difference" in the photograph and it can almost be felt versus seen.

Margaret Atwood takes on a different approach and uses language to portray the concept of "othering" in The Handmaid's Tale. One of the most prominent examples of this throughout the story is the use of quotation marks. When a handmaid talks, her words are very rarely given quotation marks. However, when a Commander or Aunt talks, they are given quotation marks. This creates the sense that when a handmaid talks, her voice is not valued or even considered. It almost seems like the handmaid is not there and thus creates a sort of "alien" image for the handmaids. This use of language creates a clear distinction between which people are considered "normal" and which people are considered "different" in Gileadan Society.

As you can see, the use of "othering" can be used to create a distinction between two or more groups of people in a work of literature or art. It allows an author to empower certain groups or draw attention to an underlying message that they may want the reader to discover. Both of the authors examined in this post use different methods of "othering" to come to the same end goal/effect.