Day: May 16, 2024

Why Does Nobody Talk About Spiderhead?

On By SAVANA SHIPPIn Story PowerLeave a comment

George Sunderer’s Tenth of December was one of my favorite books this year. It has such a captivating array of short stories, peculiar and complex in their own ways. Looking through the blog, I am quite surprised there aren’t too many, if any, blog posts about it, especially considering the masterpiece that resides within the fourth chapter, “Escape from Spiderhead.”

I absolutely loved Escape from Spiderhead, somehow even more than the movie, and that’s saying a lot because Chris Hemsworth and Miles Teller are co-stars. Saunders’ storytelling combines science fiction elements with intriguing psychological insight, creating a haunting narrative that sticks with you well after the story is finished. As Jeff grapples with the consequences of his actions and struggles to maintain his sense of self in a world where every thought and emotion can be manipulated, readers are compelled to confront their own beliefs about the ethical implications of scientific advancement. “Escape from Spiderhead” is not just a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power, but an exploration of what it means to be human in a world where the boundaries between right and wrong are increasingly blurred.

Escape from Spiderhead was truly a masterpiece, and I enjoyed every moment of reading from start to finish. It was a powerful piece that I feel connects with today, given the rise of artificial intelligence and technological advancements in every aspect of life. It really made me think and put our possible future into perspective, but it’s also just an entertaining read, and it was definitely my favorite piece of the year.

“I’m Not Afraid to Disappear, the Billboard Said, The End Is Near”

On By Catherine C.In Music, Music Poetry, Poetry, RomanticismLeave a comment

The social commentary of Phoebe Bridgers’s “I Know the End,” has a direct correlation to Emily Dickinson’s social commentary “I felt a Funeral in my Brain.”

Off of Bridger’s Punisher album, “I Know the End,” is a captivating and remarkable take on depression and death. More specifically, the fantasy of death and the yearning to escape are the pillars of the poem and song—making uncanny parallels and taking listeners on an emotionally exhilarating journey. 

The song carries listeners through an eerily apocalyptic story in which a speaker fights for her life, but knows her life is over—there is nothing she can do: the speaker knows the end. 

Towards the beginning of the song Bridgers sings, “When I get back, I’ll lay around, then I’ll get up, and lay back down,” shifting dramatically from a melancholy mood to anger. This line encapsulates the feelings of depression experienced by the speaker, but more so how draining and unmotivating the waves of sadness the speaker experiences truly are. This quote’s imagery pulls the listener into a sinking feeling, alongside the speaker—a feeling familiar to many who experience feelings of depression or sadness in general. Paralleling to Dickinson’s, “And I dropped down, and down / and hit a World, at every plunge,” Bridgers’s line similarly pulls listeners under and portrays someone who has no motivation to get up—no motivation to live. Someone being placed underground in their coffin is a true representation of the end. 

Towards the end of the song, Bridgers switches to complete anger and expresses no remorse for her life ending. The apocalyptic feel becomes very dominant. She states, “I’m not afraid to disappear, the billboard said, the end is near.”  This vision of the billboard showing that the end is near directly relates to the last few lines of the poem, stating “And I dropped down, and down — / And hit a World, at every plunge, / And Finished knowing —then—.” The speaker of the poem appears to know that her mind is turning on her and her reason is gone. Her mind is telling her that the end is near. 

In an interview with Genius, Bridgers says it is about “Just kind of being at peace with the end of the world” This correlates with the speaker of the poem because the speaker is also at peace with their feelings. The poem reads in a way that sets you up to think the speaker is okay with their ending. They aren’t fighting for their life or their happiness, they are okay with their ending.

King lear = seniors= Madness

On By SAMUEL GIn Story PowerLeave a comment

“King Lear” explores themes like power, betrayal, and madness. Lear’s tragic flaw is his inability to tell true love from flattery, which leads to his downfall. The play shows how greed and deceit destroy family bonds and societal order. 

Madness, both literal and metaphorical, is a key theme, revealing how distorted perception can unravel lives and relationships. Shakespeare suggests that true madness isn’t just about losing reason but also about seeing the world in a twisted way.

I believe even though I didn’t go mad senior year learning in English, Senior year as a whole is very similar to what Lear goes through as his whole life flips many times. Which is what happened to me during the college process. I believe English was what taught me that no matter the power shift that happens there has to be two sides to a power dynamic and it can be easily changed by what actions you take. Even later in the year when we learned romanticism taught me how to appreciate things and it’s what Edgar goes through and senior showed me to appreciate what I got from nature and high school at the same time and not to lose the moment in present time thinking about the future.

Epitome of Virtue

On By SASKIA VIn Story PowerLeave a comment

William Shakespeare’s “King Lear” has many dynamic and interesting characters. One who stood out to me was Coredelia. She contrasts all of the characters with her virtuous personality. At the very beginning of the play, you recognize right away that she will not part from her beliefs to fit the conformity or gain something. When her father was dividing his kingdom between her and her sisters, she stood by her principles even with dire consequences. The contrast between her and her sisters emphasizes her importance in the play. While sisters are selfish and driven by their greedy ambition, Cordelia does not let it change her. 

Cordelia stands out to me because she defies traditional gender roles in literature. Usually, women were viewed and portrayed as submissive and easily manipulated, but Cordelia, although treated poorly, doesn’t reflect these traits. She is powerful and outspoken, making her stand out, especially during the time period. She shows agency and rejects the expectations to conform placed upon her as a woman. 

At the end of the play, Cordelia demonstrates love, loyalty, and forgiveness. Even after being unjustly betrayed and disowned by her father, she forgives him and shows her love. We know her care for him is genuine because she stayed, even when Lear couldn’t recognize her, proving she wasn’t doing it so he would reward her or for personal gain, as her sisters would have done. Her unconditional love and forgiveness stand out when compared to many of the other characters in the play.