Author: Camille S.

Comparing Raise the Red Lantern and Pride and Prejudice

On By Camille S.In Comedy/SatireLeave a comment

The patriarchy has been a long standing struggle through history that extends beyond a specific culture. Jane Austin’s Pride and Prejudice in comparison to Raise the Red Lantern are perfect examples of this. Although the stories occur during different time periods in widely different cultures, both have showcased the perspective of a woman trying to gain her own power. Both pieces examine marriage and what true happiness in marriage really means. These stories show the ability of women, despite their circumstances, to overcome.

Both Songlian and Elizabeth are well-educated, bright young women. They are both strong willed and independent despite what others may say. Both their characters are highlighted by a male counterpart, Darcy and the Master. Elizabeth refuses to marry a man she does not like, despite the many proposals she is given. Songlian, however, is forced to become a Mistress, yet she still attempts to gain power in this position. Despite their different lives, both women have many similarities. Most importantly, they use their traits to fight the man versus woman binary. Elizabeth uses her sharp wit and honest commentary to shape characters like Darcy into realizing his flaws. Songlian uses her intelligence and calculated performances not only to gain power as a mistress, but also to ideally change traditions for the better. Most importantly, both women give us a strong female perspective from a time period during which women were thought of as nothing more than property.

The main theme of both stories is women going against the patriarchy. Songlian and Elizabeth consistently use their intelligence and words to their advantage. They remain independent and honest to themselves. In my opinion, both these women found power by standing in their beliefs. I am deeply impressed by their wit and their willingness to be true to themselves despite their circumstances. I believe both these women, although fictional, helped create a better future for the people around them. I think both these characters are powerful women that can be truly admired for their strength.

Have We Taken Reality TV Too Far: Lessons to be Learned from South Park

On By Camille S.In Comedy/SatireLeave a comment

One of the most iconic works of satire to date is the long-running adult comedy show South Park. Originally created by Trey Parker and Matt Stone, the show covers a variety of politicized topics (gender, race, poverty, etc) in a darkly humorous manner. The majority of episodes attempt to reveal a truth to the audience about modern society, however the varied subject matter makes it almost impossible to analyze the series as a whole. I will focus on one episode in particular that I find both impactful and incredibly funny, “Raising the Bar.”

“Raising the Bar” contains two plots occurring at one time. In the town of South Park, the main characters (Cartman, Kenny, Stan, and Kyle) observe an obesity epidemic, mainly focusing on the overuse of mobility scooters. On the other side of the world, director James Cameron attempts to find a mythical “bar” deep in the ocean, which controls what we are willing to accept as a society. In this episode, Cartman’s over-the-top nature is apparent as he decides to except his label as obese and begins to use a motorized scooter. He forces the citizens of South Park to make all their bathrooms more accessible, in public and in their homes, through a series of dramatic lawsuits. Kyle criticizes Cartman’s ways and enlists Token to make a documentary about Cartman to make the public aware of his negative ways, however Token decides to use the footage to make a new reality TV show. Originally, Cartman is deeply angered by this, however once he is made aware of the success of his new show, he commits fully to his life as a reality TV star. This leads to a conflict with Honey Boo Boo for ratings, eventually leading to them having a spaghetti fighting match (yes you read that correctly) hosted by Michelle Obama, at her symposium. While the fight is occurring, James Cameron is able to find the bar and raise it back, leading to those watching the fight to become disgusted with it. After this, Michelle Obama announces her plans to end childhood obesity, and Honey Boo Boo destroys Cartmen’s scooter, which ends his career as a TV star.

The plot is obviously ridiculous, and mainly satirizes the reality TV show Here Comes Honey Boo Boo. In fact, Cartman’s own TV show is named Here Comes Fatty Poo Poo. The show heavily utilizes hyperbole mainly in the form of Cartman’s absurd actions and decisions, such as the several lawsuits he imposes on the city of South Park. They also overdramatize other characters such as Honey Boo Boo, showing fake clips of her show, and highlighting its problematic premise. Parker and Stone also use a lot of situational irony, for example when Cartman makes unexpected decisions (such as choosing to become a reality TV star) or the fact that Honey Boo Boo and Cartman’s fight is hosted at Michelle Obama’s Obesity Symposium. The double plot also adds dramatic irony, in which the audience is aware of the low “bar” causing this insanity, whereas characters like Kyle wonder how this level of depravity in society is possible.

I believe this episode attempts to encourage the watcher to “heighten the bar” of what they are willing to accept, especially when it comes to reality TV. The episode points out how reality TV shows such as Here Comes Honey Boo Boo are not only damaging to society, but to the show’s stars themselves. These shows promote negative lifestyle choices and almost abuse their stars, making them laughing-stocks of the world without their complete understanding. Overall, “Raising the Bar” makes the watcher evaluate what they have been watching, and how these shows are detrimental to society.

The Tragedy of Goneril: The Plight of the Eldest Daughter

On By Camille S.In King LearLeave a comment

Shakespeare’s King Lear explores many themes, such as family, power, and societal roles. However, one hidden theme I found particularly intriguing was the view of women in leadership, specifically Lear’s daughters, Regan and Goneril. Throughout the story, both girls are characterized as villainous and brutish due to their actions, in direct contrast to their youngest sister, Cordelia. Although I do not agree with all the actions of the sisters, I can understand where they are coming from. As an eldest daughter myself, I can particularly understand the plight of Goneril.

For one, at the very beginning of the play, Lear requests a speech from each daughter to prove their love to him. Before this, we are given no background on the previous lives of these characters, and much like innocent Cordelia, we as readers are unsure of how this speech should sound. Goneril is the eldest and therefore the first to be called upon, however she immediately knows and is able to produce the ideal speech praising Lear. Therefore, she must have dealt with Lear’s egotistical ways many times before. During the time period this play takes place, the ideal eldest child was a son. A son could pass on the family name and heritage, and could easily rule a kingdom (with or without a wife). I have no doubt Lear was likely disappointed in Goneril being his first child. As a woman, she likely had to prove herself worthy to rule throughout her life. This speech is another game Goneril learned to master in order to be treated with respect by her father.

With this background, I can further understand her relationship with Albany. Since she is a woman, she must fully take charge. She does not have the ability to show weakness, or else she could lose her power. Goneril probably resents the fact that because she is a woman, she needs a husband so she can inherit and rule her father’s land. This inner conflict likely drives their marital tensions.

Although I cannot condone all of Goneril’s actions, I can understand where her motivation came from. As the eldest daughter, she likely had to fight to get to the place of power and respect she holds. She probably felt as though she had to be heartless to be taken seriously. Overall, I think if Lear was less sexist and a better father, this play could have ended on a much more positive note.

“The California sun and the movie stars”

On By Camille S.In Poetry4 Comments

Lana Del Rey’s Normal F**king Rockwell is arguably one of the best albums in her discography. As the name suggests, the album follows Del Rey’s journey to find her idyllic life, whether through relationships or her own happiness. One of my personal favorite songs on the album (and arguably one of the most poetic) is “How to disappear”. The song is made of three main stanzas, separated literally by music and through depicting a different time in Del Rey’s life as she pursues happiness.

The first stanza:

John met me down on the boulevard
Cry on his shoulder ’cause life is hard
The waves came in over my head
What you been up to, my baby?
Haven’t seen you ’round here lately
All of the guys tell me lies, but you don’t
You just crack another beer
And pretend that you’re still here

The song begins by describing Del Rey’s first unhappy relationship with her lover, John. She is struggling with the responsibilities of life, as depicted through the metaphor of the “waves came over my head.” She seeks solace in his company (“cry on his shoulder cause life is hard”), but he lacks the ability to truly make her happy. He struggles to be present in their relationship, depicted by the line “haven’t seen you ’round her lately”, possibly struggling with his own mental health or substance abuse. Despite her deep need for him, all he can do is “pretend” to be there for her and care for her.

The second stanza:

Joe met me down at the training yard
Cuts on his face ’cause he fought too hard
I know he’s in over his head
But I love that man like nobody can
He moves mountains and pounds them to ground again

Del Rey reveals another part of her life in these verses, this time with “Joe”, instead of John. Similarly to John, Joe clearly has problems of his own. He often gets into fights, and now is in deeper trouble, depicted in the line “I know he’s in over his head.” Despite these issues, Del Rey still loves him, particularly because he is so passionate. She shows this using the metaphor, “He moves mountains and pounds them to ground again.”

The third stanza:

Now it’s been years since I left New York
I’ve got a kid and two cats in the yard
The California sun and the movie stars
I watch the skies getting light as I write
As I think about those years

During this stanza, Del Rey reveals this song has been memories of her past relationships, as shown by the use of “Now” in the first line. She reveals that she’s left New York and now lives in California. We are led to believe she now has a stable, happy life as due to the line “I’ve got a kid and two cats in the yard.” There is also one other change in this stanza that shows she has finally reached happiness, the chorus. Both previous stanzas were ended by the repetition of the line “This is how to disappear,” signaling her wish for a new life and deep sadness. However, this stanza is different. Instead the final two lines are:

I’m always going to be right here
No one’s going anywhere

Del Rey has finally found her happy place and no longer wants to “disappear.” Arguably, she may have also found a partner willing to stay with her as depicted by the line, “No one’s going anywhere.” She promises never to leave, and so does whoever she’s with. We are never given the name of this forever person, unlike the other stanzas, possibly because this is Del Rey’s hope for the future. In real life, she has no children and has yet to be married, so we may assume this stanza is her dream of a perfect life.

The song “How to disappear” takes the listener through a journey of Del Rey’s past and hopeful future. Many of us can relate to the feelings she expresses throughout the song, due to our past relationships or hopes for new ones. Personally, this song continues to be one of my favorites, and maybe some day we will all find our unnamed soulmate while living under “the California sun and movie stars.”

Our Urge for Human Connection: A Strength or Weakness

On By Camille S.In Exit West1 Comment

Despite Albert Camus’s take in “The Stranger,” I believe we as human beings need a connection to others. Both “Exist West” and “Trust” showcase this concept despite their extremely differing subject matter.

In Trust, Mathew’s father needs him and Maria’s mother needs her, despite their toxic relationships. Maria and Matthew, to a certain extent, also long for each other, despite Matthew’s temperament issues and Maria’s deep self-hatred. In Exist West, Nadia longs for a connection with others despite her also having a need for independence. Nadia is willing to leave her own family, yet risks her life to spend time with Saeed. Saeed also has his own happy family, yet he clings to Nadia despite the fact that it goes against the culture and his family’s beliefs.

In both these cases, we see the pros and cons of these connections. Although Maria and Matthew support one another, they also lose parts of themselves in the relationship. Nadia and Saeed are also able to provide each other comfort, but they also seem to be beginning to get tired of each other’s company. So is Camus right? Is the social concept of needing love, friendship, or connection from others truly holding us back? I see the logic of both sides. Yes, having a support system is important, any person with a basic understanding of social-emotional health could tell you that. However, our dedication to a single person or group can also cause our downfall. It’s the reason so many people fall into abusive/toxic relationships or cults. Our need for connection, at its worst, could even result in our own demise.

However, I chose not to side with Camus on this concept. I know without my family and friends, I would have never made it this far. Does it mean every relationship I’ve had has been good? Of course not. And trust me, when I say not good I also mean really really bad. But, so far, I haven’t regretted my choice to give into this urge. And I think if you really give the world a chance, you won’t either.

#YOLO

On By Camille S.In Stranger7 Comments

The phrase YOLO, as many of us know, means you only live once. I believe the term originated sometime during the 2010s (most likely 2016), but the concept has been around for centuries. One such example is Albert Camus’s belief of existentialism.

In “The Stranger”, the final paragraph(s) serves as the protagonist’s realization of this theory, due to his upcoming public execution. Existentialism essentially argues that we all die in the end, so we should be true to ourselves rather than social concepts such as love or family. In a sense, we only live once and we should make the most of our lives. Aka YOLO.

Existentialism attempts to answer the question of how we should respond to the unexpectedness of the world. YOLO has the same message. Our death is inevitable and uncontrollable, we only live once and we can’t know for certain when our “death date” is. Despite the un-seriousness in which the term is used (usually in captioning posts of daring adventures like bungee-jumping or traveling the world), there is some deep truth to it.

Although Camus was never alive for the #YOLO trend of 2016, I have no doubt he would have been a big fan of it. Who knows, he may have even named “The Stranger” #YOLO instead.

An Elephant Appears

On By Camille S.In Short Stories2 Comments

“The Elephant Vanishes” reminded me of a story I read when I was younger by Kate DiCamillo called “The Magician’s Elephant.” In this story, however, an elephant appears out of thin air. The main plot of the story follows a brother and sister that had been torn apart as children. The brother is told by a fortune teller that his sister is alive and to find her he needs to follow a magician and an elephant. The sister dreams of finding her brother when an elephant appears. Their quest towards finding each other begins when a magician accidentally summons an elephant, causing lots of shock and some destruction.

DiCamillo’s story is one of hope and faith, bringing a war-ridden town back together through magic. I believe “The Elephant Vanishes” is more negative with the theme focusing more on the unpredictability/oddity of the world. In both stories, something truly astonishing, magical, odd, etc happens surrounding an elephant. Although exactly what happens is different, they both showcase the power of human connection/belief. The magician, through hope, is able to make an elephant appear. The caretaker, through love, is able to make an elephant shrink/vanish.

The addition versus subtraction of an elephant in a story seems to also relate to the view taken by the main characters. When the elephant appears, the people become hopeful and reinvigorated. When the elephant vanishes, the main character starts to spiral and seems upset with the world. One is positive, the other is negative.

I find it interesting that such similar stories can have such varied themes/outlooks. Part of me wonders if DiCamillo read “The Elephant Vanishes” and decided to put a happier spin on it. Or maybe she came up with the idea separately and it really shows the difference in world view between the two authors. Either way, I wouldn’t mind experiencing a little bit of magic in my life.