Exodus 20:7 says “You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not acquit anyone who misuses his name.” A very strong statement, don’t you think? Well I do.
As I approached my timeline to create an act of resistance, I was truly running out of ideas!!! I was drawing on a blank, I didn’t have an idea on what to protest. And then Ahong came along with a very clever idea. She wanted to protest the use of God’s name in vain, so I decided to jump on that wagon and join in her in the cause.
At first I really wasn’t sure where this was going to get us to. Don’t get my wrong, I loved the idea, but I really didn’t know what was going to be outcome of this. Ahong planned the activity and we all agree to wear a shirt, which Ahong made, to school on Monday. The shirts said “Don’t offend my God, I don’t offend yours”. Though simple, the message was very direct and to my believe very powerful. I had more than a few of my fellow classmates what the shirt was all about.
Once I came home I had to go and get a hair cut. So I just dropped my book bag off at home and drove myself to the barber shop. When I got there, it was pretty empty, but nevertheless my shirt was still intriguing to the few people there. I began to explain the idea behind it and they thought it was pretty neat that we all took some of our time and dedicated it to fight for what we believe is right.
If I was given the chance to do this again I think that I will probably dedicate more time in being involved in the creation of the shirts and also I think I will like to make this act of resistance more public and recreate it on a larger scale.
I personally believe that the act of resistance was very impacting, although it’s not going to be an overnight change, I believe that this has raised awareness about this topic. I think, better yet, hope that people will take more consideration in respecting the sensibilities of others when it comes to things like using God’s name in vain. I will most definitely like to continue with acts as this, and I think it will be really cool if we all did one as a class. Got any ideas?
Monday, December 1, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Finally!!!
Now that I have posted all that i wanted I really wanna talk about wheter i liked to book or not....welll in this case its really hard to decide that, because I feel that there are too many factors that I have to consider to make a decision.
First of all I really did not like the overall and general depiction of both sexes, by that i mean i dont like how men were seen as sex crazy animals and women as not bright individuals. But then again you have Lysistrata who is very very very smart and did a fantastic job leading the revolt.
Another thing about this play that i would have changed was the setting, I feel that the adaptor of the play should have had changed not only the language and formated to modern times but they should have also formated the basic setting of the play so that the main concept was more clearly undestood by the reader.
Finally I wanna say that I have enjoyed blogging but i missed writting the papers (motifs, chatracter analysis...) : (
Until next time!!!!
First of all I really did not like the overall and general depiction of both sexes, by that i mean i dont like how men were seen as sex crazy animals and women as not bright individuals. But then again you have Lysistrata who is very very very smart and did a fantastic job leading the revolt.
Another thing about this play that i would have changed was the setting, I feel that the adaptor of the play should have had changed not only the language and formated to modern times but they should have also formated the basic setting of the play so that the main concept was more clearly undestood by the reader.
Finally I wanna say that I have enjoyed blogging but i missed writting the papers (motifs, chatracter analysis...) : (
Until next time!!!!
UWM!!!!!
We had 3 very bright and intelligent individuals come in to class and give us some great information about college english courses. The presentation was well planned and they all had a strong argument to complete and really seemed real when they spoke. They all had very good presentations and knew what they were talking about.
One of the things that really shocked me was that they were all very young and were pursuing their doctors degree. Another thing was that they have similar teaching styels but they are diverse in a way and also how different these courses are then what we are used to in high school, sucks for us because its gonna be just like TOK!!!!!!!!
One of the things that really shocked me was that they were all very young and were pursuing their doctors degree. Another thing was that they have similar teaching styels but they are diverse in a way and also how different these courses are then what we are used to in high school, sucks for us because its gonna be just like TOK!!!!!!!!
What kind of power do men have?
If women are said to have power over men, couldn't it also be said that men have even more power over women?
I say this because it is their actions that lead women to think about a way to stop this war and therefore in a way the man egged the women like Lysistrata to think beyond their boundaries and come up with this idea of abstinence.
So I'm gonna keep it short and sweet and open it up for discussion...what do you guys think that the men are the one with the central power and that from their power women obtain theirs?
I say this because it is their actions that lead women to think about a way to stop this war and therefore in a way the man egged the women like Lysistrata to think beyond their boundaries and come up with this idea of abstinence.
So I'm gonna keep it short and sweet and open it up for discussion...what do you guys think that the men are the one with the central power and that from their power women obtain theirs?
Does this really work?
In the play the women decide to go and strike the war by not having sex with their husbands, so we got to think about it in class and we wondered...could this idea work in our day?
To me the answer is very simple and short...NO!!!!!
The idea that couple stop having sex is very absurd because of several factors.
1) The men are away and there is no real chance to have sex because, welll is not like they are really close to each other at all.
2) It is cery hard to get everyon to participate because we have grown apart as a society.
3) Nowadays there are also women that are in the military, so what do we do with that?
Fianlly i would like to point out that we also really lack a strong and centralized women leader to take on this role that Lysistrata did, we have to many Kleonike's and not enough Lysistrata's
To me the answer is very simple and short...NO!!!!!
The idea that couple stop having sex is very absurd because of several factors.
1) The men are away and there is no real chance to have sex because, welll is not like they are really close to each other at all.
2) It is cery hard to get everyon to participate because we have grown apart as a society.
3) Nowadays there are also women that are in the military, so what do we do with that?
Fianlly i would like to point out that we also really lack a strong and centralized women leader to take on this role that Lysistrata did, we have to many Kleonike's and not enough Lysistrata's
What is Pun?
A pun or paronomasia is a phrase that deliberately exploits confusion between similar-sounding words for humorous or rhetorical effect.
Lysistrata is filled with puns and their use, to my knowledge, is far more than just that for fun!!!
The puns in the play can be seen as an element that the aouthpr uses with the intent to create a more sexually explicit dialogue between the characters and to portray the idea behind the line of sexual abstinence and how it affects the development of the plot.
Puns also serve as an aid to the translator because they make the job of translating the basic and main ideas of the play much more quicket yet it doesnt take away from the original effect of the oroginal text.
So why puns? Why not just have stright sex talk?
I think this was done to romaticise the idea of the explicitness of the play and to make it a more targetable piece of literature for a broader audience.
Lysistrata is filled with puns and their use, to my knowledge, is far more than just that for fun!!!
The puns in the play can be seen as an element that the aouthpr uses with the intent to create a more sexually explicit dialogue between the characters and to portray the idea behind the line of sexual abstinence and how it affects the development of the plot.
Puns also serve as an aid to the translator because they make the job of translating the basic and main ideas of the play much more quicket yet it doesnt take away from the original effect of the oroginal text.
So why puns? Why not just have stright sex talk?
I think this was done to romaticise the idea of the explicitness of the play and to make it a more targetable piece of literature for a broader audience.
Kleonike
From the moment I read about her I knew she was something special.
Kleonike to me is kind off the comic release in this play, even though the play initself is comical.
Kleonike comes across as a very very dumb women who understimates her power as a woman and lacks the ability to com eup with logial and indepth reasoning like Lysistrata does. Thorughtout the novel there is a sense of learning for her. She learns how to use her power and manipulate her man with it and in a way it seems as if she was more reasured of who she is and what her true value is.
In my mind she is skinny, she wears glasses, wears odd outfits, she speaks through her nose and drags her feet as she walks. IDK why but this how I picture her...how about u guys?
Kleonike to me is kind off the comic release in this play, even though the play initself is comical.
Kleonike comes across as a very very dumb women who understimates her power as a woman and lacks the ability to com eup with logial and indepth reasoning like Lysistrata does. Thorughtout the novel there is a sense of learning for her. She learns how to use her power and manipulate her man with it and in a way it seems as if she was more reasured of who she is and what her true value is.
In my mind she is skinny, she wears glasses, wears odd outfits, she speaks through her nose and drags her feet as she walks. IDK why but this how I picture her...how about u guys?
So, what is this play really about?
At first this play can be really seen as an exhibtion of sexual inuendo and sex related puns , but when looked at it closely there are many other aspects that surround the surface of the underlying meaning. To me, personally ther are more than one way this play can be interpreted.
1) A shwoing of the struggle for power between the sexes - This is shown by the conflict over the akropolis by the women and the men and throughout the entire play when both sides dealt with the constant fight and struggle that they had to go through to gain what they expected from their actions, for the women it was stop the war and for the men stop the war to get sex.
2) The understimation of women and their power - need i say more!!! this point is shown by the action that the woment take to abstain from sex.
3) It can also be a social critique by the author in which he calls out society for being to eagerly motivated to pursue what they want without taking into consideration the unintended consequences - for example the men go to war to win it and women stop having sex with them to stop the war, but really did the problems get solved right away or were there even further obstacles?
1) A shwoing of the struggle for power between the sexes - This is shown by the conflict over the akropolis by the women and the men and throughout the entire play when both sides dealt with the constant fight and struggle that they had to go through to gain what they expected from their actions, for the women it was stop the war and for the men stop the war to get sex.
2) The understimation of women and their power - need i say more!!! this point is shown by the action that the woment take to abstain from sex.
3) It can also be a social critique by the author in which he calls out society for being to eagerly motivated to pursue what they want without taking into consideration the unintended consequences - for example the men go to war to win it and women stop having sex with them to stop the war, but really did the problems get solved right away or were there even further obstacles?
The depiction of Men
Men in this play r also depicted very negatively to me. They are seen as if they were irrational creatures who have the sole purpose of fighting in wars withour having a single idea of what the consequences of their actions may be. Having have said this i also think that thay are seen as overly sexual adn too lusty. Yes, there are times of desperation, but it just occurrs to me that even in times of sexual desperation and need there are other alternate solutions even during these times.
The depiction of Women
Lysistrata is based and centerd all around women. It is an attempt bu the author to make the reader consciously aware of the importance the women have in our everyday lives. And while I do agree that they are very important to the well being of our society, I do also wanna point out that I completely disagree with the depiction of women in this play and how the author makes them carry themselves. From my perspective they are a seen as nothing more than a sexuaul object by both the men and the author. Also women in this play like Kleonike are often seem as not very clever and unable to reason why abstinence is a positive way of protesting. On the other had however there are some good depictions of women in the play. Lysistrata, for example is a strong and charismatic leader who has what all of the other women lack, personality and intelligence.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Final Response
Loved Hedda, hated the play!!!
I think it was too over the top spanish soapopera!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!
Think the characters are effectively used to move the plot ahead and their actions are justified (most of them). That said the characters were very predictable and kinda over created by Ibsen, their extensive physical description took away the right of the reader, which to me is the power to create and imagine the character however they want!!!!
Language was very simple, so I got it!!!!!!!!! But why 4 acts? Didn't like the brake up of the action between the 4 acts? and why did it all happen in lilke 2 days? too much for such a small time period, dont u think?
The ending was very good, impecable but not too clever. My perfect ending would have been if like Thea killed herself...was anyone else annoyed by her?????
Sadly the story came short of my expectations, sorry for all of those that liked it, but it did make for great class discussion and there is more than one possible paper topics!!!!!!!
Well...now....Lysistrata!!!!!!
I think it was too over the top spanish soapopera!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!
Think the characters are effectively used to move the plot ahead and their actions are justified (most of them). That said the characters were very predictable and kinda over created by Ibsen, their extensive physical description took away the right of the reader, which to me is the power to create and imagine the character however they want!!!!
Language was very simple, so I got it!!!!!!!!! But why 4 acts? Didn't like the brake up of the action between the 4 acts? and why did it all happen in lilke 2 days? too much for such a small time period, dont u think?
The ending was very good, impecable but not too clever. My perfect ending would have been if like Thea killed herself...was anyone else annoyed by her?????
Sadly the story came short of my expectations, sorry for all of those that liked it, but it did make for great class discussion and there is more than one possible paper topics!!!!!!!
Well...now....Lysistrata!!!!!!
Does this play really work in our times?
Does this story about a woman recurring to extremes to get what she wants in life work in our time?
Sadly it does....
Although times have changed and the balance between the power that men and women has changed, there is still a big part of our society that denies women the opportunity to be equal to men.
Of course things are not as bad as they were in traditional society but they are not that different either.
Women stil have to fight and be very agressive in many scenarios to obtain the power. Not neccesarily ask people to kill themselves, or pull another womens hair, but there is still this fight for women to get into power.
I personally believe that if I wanna be in peace with myself I would like to know that i dont get what I get because I am a guy but because the system was fair and I have what i deserve, even if it means losing to a woman.
Sadly it does....
Although times have changed and the balance between the power that men and women has changed, there is still a big part of our society that denies women the opportunity to be equal to men.
Of course things are not as bad as they were in traditional society but they are not that different either.
Women stil have to fight and be very agressive in many scenarios to obtain the power. Not neccesarily ask people to kill themselves, or pull another womens hair, but there is still this fight for women to get into power.
I personally believe that if I wanna be in peace with myself I would like to know that i dont get what I get because I am a guy but because the system was fair and I have what i deserve, even if it means losing to a woman.
If Hedda Was a Boy
As I sit here trying to finish my blog posts, I cant help but turn on the radio and just went I thought I was out of ideas, I heard Beyonce's new song and all I could think is: Hedda would so sing this song if she could....next are the lyrics, hope you read and interpret them....really good song....enjoy
If I Were A Boy by Beyoncé
If I were a boy
Even just for a day
I'd roll outta bed in the morning
And throw on what I wanted then go
Drink beer with the guys
And chase after girls
I'd kick it with who I wanted
And I'd never get confronted for it
Cause they'd stick up for me
'''If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I'd be a better man
I'd listen to her
Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
Cause he's taken you for granted
And everything you had got destroyed'''
If I were a boy
I would turn off my phone
Tell everyone it's broken
So they'd think that I was sleepin' alone
I'd put myself first
And make the rules as I go
Cause I know that she'd be faithful
Waitin' for me to come home (to come home)
'''If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I'd be a better man
I'd listen to her
Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
Cause he's taken you for granted
And everything you had got destroyed'''
It's a little too late for you to come back
Say it's just a mistake
Think I'd forgive you like that
If you thought I would wait for you
You thought wrong
'''But you're just a boy
You don't understand
Yeah you don't understand
How it feels to love a girl someday
You wish you were a better man
You don't listen to her
You don't care how it hurts
Until you lose the one you wanted
Cause you've taken her for granted
And everything you have got destroyed
But you're just a boy'''
If I Were A Boy by Beyoncé
If I were a boy
Even just for a day
I'd roll outta bed in the morning
And throw on what I wanted then go
Drink beer with the guys
And chase after girls
I'd kick it with who I wanted
And I'd never get confronted for it
Cause they'd stick up for me
'''If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I'd be a better man
I'd listen to her
Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
Cause he's taken you for granted
And everything you had got destroyed'''
If I were a boy
I would turn off my phone
Tell everyone it's broken
So they'd think that I was sleepin' alone
I'd put myself first
And make the rules as I go
Cause I know that she'd be faithful
Waitin' for me to come home (to come home)
'''If I were a boy
I think I could understand
How it feels to love a girl
I swear I'd be a better man
I'd listen to her
Cause I know how it hurts
When you lose the one you wanted
Cause he's taken you for granted
And everything you had got destroyed'''
It's a little too late for you to come back
Say it's just a mistake
Think I'd forgive you like that
If you thought I would wait for you
You thought wrong
'''But you're just a boy
You don't understand
Yeah you don't understand
How it feels to love a girl someday
You wish you were a better man
You don't listen to her
You don't care how it hurts
Until you lose the one you wanted
Cause you've taken her for granted
And everything you have got destroyed
But you're just a boy'''
The Victim
In my opinion, the true victim in this play was Hedda Gabler. Why? Because...
1) She had no power over her life.
Hedda seemed as if she was in control but in reality she was the on being controlled. She
lacked the ability to be as powerful as Brack or any other men in the play.
2) Brack takes advantage of her.
Hedda is trapped and manipulated by Brack. She lacks the power to escape his manipulation
and she lacks the strenght to confront him.
3) Thea steals Lovborg from her!
Sure sure, she doesnt really love him but Thea does come in the picture, to a certain extent
take advantage of Lovborg and impact negatively Hedda.
1) She had no power over her life.
Hedda seemed as if she was in control but in reality she was the on being controlled. She
lacked the ability to be as powerful as Brack or any other men in the play.
2) Brack takes advantage of her.
Hedda is trapped and manipulated by Brack. She lacks the power to escape his manipulation
and she lacks the strenght to confront him.
3) Thea steals Lovborg from her!
Sure sure, she doesnt really love him but Thea does come in the picture, to a certain extent
take advantage of Lovborg and impact negatively Hedda.
Dirty Little Secret!!!
Brack!!!!!
Did you love or did you love him?
I didn't!!! What a manipulative selfish pig!!!!!!!!
Brack, from the start was nothing but the one to look out for. He was that very strong masculine prescence that the book needed to carry on the plot. His prescence and his involvement in the life of Hedda was crucial to the conclusion of the story and it was impartial to the sequence of the story line.
Did I like him? NO WAY!!!!!!!!!
He was too dirty! He lacked charisma and that witty charm that many villains have that make you love them a lot!!!!
Can't believe he didn't die though!!!!
Well I can see why...if I died what whould have happened to the last line....who would have said it? and would have had the same meaning if it didn't come from him?
Did you love or did you love him?
I didn't!!! What a manipulative selfish pig!!!!!!!!
Brack, from the start was nothing but the one to look out for. He was that very strong masculine prescence that the book needed to carry on the plot. His prescence and his involvement in the life of Hedda was crucial to the conclusion of the story and it was impartial to the sequence of the story line.
Did I like him? NO WAY!!!!!!!!!
He was too dirty! He lacked charisma and that witty charm that many villains have that make you love them a lot!!!!
Can't believe he didn't die though!!!!
Well I can see why...if I died what whould have happened to the last line....who would have said it? and would have had the same meaning if it didn't come from him?
Who was the real villain?
Hedda can be the villain because, well, if you dont know that by now then you have a little problem dont you?
George can also be seen as the main villain because his desire to obtain the professoship and to please Hedda leads him to be dishonest, hide the manuscript, which to a certain extent leads to the end of Hedda.
Thea can be also be seen as the villain because she controls Lovborg and inderectly lets Hedda go crazy because of this which in a way leads her to the ending of her life.
Lovborg, too can be the villain becuase well wasnt he the one causing all the trouble and didnt her literally kill Thea and her hopes?
And Brack...welll I'll save him for later!!!!!!
George can also be seen as the main villain because his desire to obtain the professoship and to please Hedda leads him to be dishonest, hide the manuscript, which to a certain extent leads to the end of Hedda.
Thea can be also be seen as the villain because she controls Lovborg and inderectly lets Hedda go crazy because of this which in a way leads her to the ending of her life.
Lovborg, too can be the villain becuase well wasnt he the one causing all the trouble and didnt her literally kill Thea and her hopes?
And Brack...welll I'll save him for later!!!!!!
Saw it coming.....
Guess what?
Hedda Dies!!!!
No!!!!
Yes!!!!
Yeah Ibsen, dont think you fooled me, ok....I saw her end as soon as I saw her start.
C'mon...really guys, did we not all predict that she was gonna die?
I could see it from the begining, all these writters find it impossible to let a character as "bad" as Hedda alive, and thats the problem in all of these stories.
Hedda had to die to relieve the main point in the plot, which to me personally, is the injustice in society, especially against women and the struggle for power between those who need it to move ahead.
Hedda Dies!!!!
No!!!!
Yes!!!!
Yeah Ibsen, dont think you fooled me, ok....I saw her end as soon as I saw her start.
C'mon...really guys, did we not all predict that she was gonna die?
I could see it from the begining, all these writters find it impossible to let a character as "bad" as Hedda alive, and thats the problem in all of these stories.
Hedda had to die to relieve the main point in the plot, which to me personally, is the injustice in society, especially against women and the struggle for power between those who need it to move ahead.
Manuscript: was it really that good?
Its ironic to see the importance that the characters place upon the manuscript!!!
Well, don't get me wrong, I do understand its significance on the play, but is it worth it??????
All we really know is that it is written by Lovborg, with the help of Thea, and that it deals with subjects about the future. So....why is there such a big deal with it?
Sure, sure, it can get Lovborg the recognition that he wants and it guarantees him a higher place in the place social structure, and yes for George it is a chance at getting the profesorship.
But are we really sure it was that good? Who knows? Maybe its just a sad little creative writting paper and nothing out of the world.
Hedda, refers to it as the "baby" of Lovborg and Thea, can we say....ridiculous?
C'mon, even if Thea wrote it, there are more than one thing that can bind Thean and Lovborg together, and in all honesty the manuscript is just a sad little excuse, no need for all of that!
Well, don't get me wrong, I do understand its significance on the play, but is it worth it??????
All we really know is that it is written by Lovborg, with the help of Thea, and that it deals with subjects about the future. So....why is there such a big deal with it?
Sure, sure, it can get Lovborg the recognition that he wants and it guarantees him a higher place in the place social structure, and yes for George it is a chance at getting the profesorship.
But are we really sure it was that good? Who knows? Maybe its just a sad little creative writting paper and nothing out of the world.
Hedda, refers to it as the "baby" of Lovborg and Thea, can we say....ridiculous?
C'mon, even if Thea wrote it, there are more than one thing that can bind Thean and Lovborg together, and in all honesty the manuscript is just a sad little excuse, no need for all of that!
HEDDA!!!!
Well, sorry it took so long!!!!!
Got so many things to say about this play!!!!!
Loved Hedda, hated the plot...to Gatsby for me!
Hedda is indeed one of the most fascinating characters in the play. There are way too many ways to read who she is. She is very strong and arrogant at first glance but, she isn't really. Her desire for power places her in a constant struggle between doing what is right and doing what she feels she need to do in order to move ahead in this power structure that she has been placed in. With out doubt many people will disagree with the way she goes about doing things, but wouldn't we do the same if we felt trapped in the situation she is. How do you think it would feel to have to move down in social class because of your marriage, see the one you love working with your enemy and being manipualted by a pig who uses his power to abuse you?
I can completlly defend and understand Hedda's aggressive passion. I think that in her position, and knowing that there are no other choices, I would do the same as her.
Got so many things to say about this play!!!!!
Loved Hedda, hated the plot...to Gatsby for me!
Hedda is indeed one of the most fascinating characters in the play. There are way too many ways to read who she is. She is very strong and arrogant at first glance but, she isn't really. Her desire for power places her in a constant struggle between doing what is right and doing what she feels she need to do in order to move ahead in this power structure that she has been placed in. With out doubt many people will disagree with the way she goes about doing things, but wouldn't we do the same if we felt trapped in the situation she is. How do you think it would feel to have to move down in social class because of your marriage, see the one you love working with your enemy and being manipualted by a pig who uses his power to abuse you?
I can completlly defend and understand Hedda's aggressive passion. I think that in her position, and knowing that there are no other choices, I would do the same as her.
Friday, September 19, 2008
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