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My childhood was filled with books. Anything I could get my hands on, I would read. I’d spend hours behind the couch reading Eragon or Harry Potter while my friends played outside. As I grew older, I replaced books with tv. It’s not that I don’t like books anymore, it’s just that watching tv is a lot easier and numbing than reading is.

My experience with tv is similar to Junot Diaz’s. The tv was and is my coping mechanism. I had intense anxiety in high school, but my perfectionism forced me to exude false confidence that left me exhausted by the end of the day. In between tennis practice, tennis games, studying, and clubs I had no time to just sit down and read a book, the only true stress reliever I had. Instead, I turned to watching tv. It was comforting to slip into another world without having to use even more energy that I didn’t have.

The problem with tv is that it causes unproductivity and disillusionment. Junot Diaz’s disillusionment stems from a belief that his father is a superhero, and my disillusionment stems from high school drama shows that focus 95% on drama and 5% high school. Tv is too easy an alternative to facing the real problems in life. In Junot Diaz’s case, it is justified, because he was only a child, but adults cannot rely on tv. In my case, tv was an unhealthy way for me to justify skipping a lap during practice or studying for thirty minutes less to watch the last part of an episode. If these rich girls had it so easy, why can’t I? Why can’t I get accepted to Brown with minimal effort and date hottest guy in school?

Senior year was my equivalent to Diaz’s father, the catalyst of reality. Just like Diaz’s abusive father was nowhere close to the hero he had imagined him to be, my senior year was full of missed landmarks and friends that couldn’t really be called friends. I think my heightened disappointment about missing school dances and being flaked on by friends was due to my expectations set by tv shows.

The biggest lesson I’ve learned from television is that Blair will never come and save my day, Mindy Kaling is not offering me personal sage advice, and Jessica Day is not my best friend. My point is, I have to fix things for myself. I can’t keep relying on this false reality in hopes that my feelings of misery and stress will disappear. No, I have to face my hardships head on and only then will things get better. 

While people often perceive her as airheaded and obnoxious because of her high-pitched voice and showy lifestyle, she is in fact a Dartmouth graduate who earned six Emmy awards and wrote two books and a show. She conveys the message that people should always be themselves by being unashamedly herself. She also inspires people of color through her successes, particularly her own show that she writes and acts in.

 In a study done in 2011, 20 million women were affected by an eating disorder, and by age six, girls especially worried about their body image. 40-60% of elementary girls are concerned about their weight or being fat ( NEDA Editors 1). Kaling uses her influence and spreads the message that a person should care about character traits like intellect and wit, rather than superficial qualities. This outlook on life reminds women and men alike that life should be lived without worry about trivial things like looking fat.

Kaling presents herself as a role model who encourages others to gain confidence in themselves. Her point addresses many important issues. The first is that she is okay making mistakes because she does not dwell on it. Generalized Anxiety Disorder affects 6.8 million adults, and women are twice as likely to be affected as men (ADAA 1). Anxiety stems from many different sources, but common causes of GAD include social anxiety and constantly worrying about what others think. Though “curing” anxiety is hardly the result of deciding that others opinions truly do not matter much, it is certainly a step in changing an unhealthy mindset that causes stress.

The second issue she addresses in her quote is about how people are uncomfortable with women who don’t hate themselves. In Sheryl Sandberg’s book, Lean In, Sandberg cites the Heidi/Howard study, in which a group of men and women were given Heidi’s ambitious resume, but one was labeled with her actual name, and the other, “Howard” (Adams 1). The group rated this fictitious “Howard” higher than Heidi. The conclusion is that if a man is successful and uses his strong personality to get ahead, he is well-liked, but if a woman does the same, both genders like her less. Though this study was done in 2003, the results still have validity today. People, both men, and women are still afraid of a successful and confident women. But Kaling wants people to remember that other people’s opinions do not, and should not change the way people view themselves.

In most shows and movies, it’s usually a tall, strikingly beautiful and fit white woman who defies all odds and fights back against the patriarchy. Kaling shows that even a woman who does not follow the typical ideals of a beautiful woman can be seen as more than just the sassy Indian friend or a fling for the male lead. Her character validates that any woman, not just supermodel-like ones, have important opinions and deserve to be treated as equals.

Mindy Kaling is a modern-day hero. She challenges herself, faces her own fears, and serves as an example for others. Too many people discount the value that role models hold, but seeing someone with the same skin tone, gender, and similar life obstacles achieve her dreams, can be an immeasurable source of hope and promise.

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Works Cited

ADAA. “Understanding GAD – and Its Symptoms.” Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA, 2016, adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/generalized-anxiety-disorder-gad.

 

Adams, Susan. “10 Things Sheryl Sandberg Gets Exactly Right in ‘Lean In’.” Forbes, Forbes Brand Voice, 4 Mar. 2013, www.forbes.com/sites/susanadams/2013/03/04/10-things-sheryl-sandberg-gets-exactly-right-in-lean-in/#6443945b7ada.

Biography.com Editors. “Mindy Kaling.” The Biography.com Website, A&E Television Networks, 12 July 2016, www.biography.com/people/mindy-kaling.

Hilton, Perez. “Mindy Kaling Isn’t Naming Her Baby Daddy — Just Like These Other Stars!” PerezHilton RSS, 8 Aug. 2017, perezhilton.com/2017-08-18-mindy-kaling-keep-baby-daddy-secret#.WhzYZLaZO8U.

Houlihan, Ryan. “35 Mindy Kaling GIFs That Are So Relatable, It Hurts.” Teen Vogue. TeenVogue.com, 23 June 2016, https://www.teenvogue.com/gallery/best-mindy-kaling-gifs

Kaling, Mindy. Is Everyone Hanging out without Me? (and Other Concerns). Three Rivers Press, 2015.

NATIONAL EATING DISORDERS ASSOCIATION Editors. “What Are Eating Disorders?” NATIONAL EATING DISORDERS ASSOCIATION, 2016, www.nationaleatingdisorders.org/get-facts-eating-disorders+.

Matt Murdock, also known as Daredevil, does not have the typical hero’s journey because it is out of order. Though each aspect of the cycle is met, the mixed up order that it is presented to the reader shows the darker aspect of this show. It is not the typical happy hero story where the viewer happily gets a resolution. By removing the expectation of a feel-good show, people are forced to look at the deeper, sometimes uglier meaning.

First, religion plays an important role in the show Daredevil. Matt Murdock is a Catholic, but he is not quite devout because he does not follow the Ten Commandments. He is driven by the need to protect others because he has a gift, yet he knows the violence and his vigilante tendencies are not ordained by God. By showing viewers Matt’s internal struggle, the creator’s are trying to convey the concept that one does not need to adhere completely to either religion or their personal morals. Rather, religion helps someone figure out a balance, in hopes of choosing the right path.

Secondly, Hell’s Kitchen is a corrupt place. Trash and homeless people line the street, the sky is full of smog, and crime rules. Most often, Matt’s vigilante escapades occur at night, to add to the sinister feel of Hell’s Kitchen. Just the very name evokes the imagery of demons eating its citizens alive. Though Hell’s Kitchen is sometimes an exaggeration, the point is to catch the viewer’s attention and make them think. Matt Murdock runs out and brings down several armed men to save a group of trafficked girls in a brilliant display of violence and skill. Is this the fact that this much crime occurs really too far from reality? We as humans are polluting the earth, poaching the pangolins, and turning a blind eye to the people who need our help most. In fact, Matt’s own abilities stem from a chemical spill. Perhaps if people had been more careful, such a tragedy could have been avoided.

Finally, Matt is the first blind superhero. Granted, he isn’t technically blind -he has radar sense and superhuman hearing that gives him abilities to “see” and hear better than most normal humans anyway- but for the most part, he is blind. Representation is always important, no matter how little it shows. When I was a child, I used to love Disney movies, but I felt so confused that when I dressed up for Halloween, my black hair and dark eyes made me look like just a little girl in a pink dress, rather than Sleeping Beauty. My mom noticed I was sad and didn’t know how to explain to me that I would never look like Aurora. So she showed me Mulan. I instantly fell in love. If I wore a kimono, I looked just like her! We have the same almond-shaped eyes and dark hair. It didn’t matter that Mulan was Chinese and not Japanese. I just felt happy having an idol that looked like me. Representation is vital, and a hero that is handicapped is most definitely important since handicapped people are typically the depressed helpless characters in shows. It is refreshing to see a crime-fighting superhero who isn’t limited by his disability, and in fact, let it become his power.

 

 

 

Do you know what a pangolin is? And no, I did not butcher the spelling of “penguin.” I meant pangolin, as in this scaly pokemon-like animal.

If you do know what a pangolin is, congratulations! You’re one of the few, unfortunately. This is unfortunate because pangolins are the most poached animal in the world. Found in Asia and Africa, pangolins are prized for their scales that are ground into medicine and their meat. Consuming pangolin meat is considered a status symbol because it can cost upwards of three hundred dollars for a 4-10 pound pangolin.  Pangolin babies are eaten as aphrodisiacs.

In order to raise awareness for pangolins, my group made mini flyers. To catch people’s attention, we decided to cut out sandshrew, a pokemon, and attach a few facts about them on the backside. The QR code is a link to a website we created with research, our essays, and more facts about pangolins. (Link at the bottom!) We left them in places that people would see, such as in the library and in dorm rooms. In fact, while I was cutting out the sandshrews in the library, a girl who was stapling her papers asked me, “Why do you have so many pokemons printed out?” So I offered her one of them, and told her about pangolins.

I left one of the pokemon cutouts on a chair in the library, and sat a few feet away and watched. Sure enough, someone sat down and noticed it. I didn’t take a video for privacy reasons, but she laughed and picked it up. When she flipped it over, her eyes scanned the facts, and then she put it back where she found it. Though she didn’t use the qr code, we’re hoping that leaving these around campus will be entertaining enough that perhaps one person will say to the other, “Have you seen the pokemon around school?” and create a conversation. The more people who know about pangolins, the better.

The snapchat story reactions were pretty interesting. We got a few explicit (but supportive!) snapchat responses, but someone also drew a picture of a pangolin! I felt giddy with excitement because people were actually paying attention!! Our efforts were being noticed!

At first, my group just chose pangolins because it seemed a simple enough topic. Pangolins are an innocuous subject to write about, and really all we needed to say was “Pangolins are endangered,” or so we thought. Still, the more I researched, the more I started to care. I found myself telling my friends about pangolins while I wrote the essay. I was shocked that so few people knew about them, and they often assumed that I meant penguins. It goes to show that awareness really does matter, as cheesy as it sounds. My hope is that the the more people who know, the more willing they will discuss it with others. Pangolins are eaten predominantly by Asians, and Asian culture dictates that you cannot contradict your elders. Still, it is the younger educated people who must get their elders to understand that there is no medicinal value in using pangolin scales,and there are plenty of other less harmful status symbols to indulge in. There needs to be a societal shift in which people respect endangered species enough to help the population regrow, instead of considering it a commodity that becomes that much more desirable with decreasing accessibility.

Images from our project

Some of the photos were too large to fit in this blog post, so I have provided a link to the google doc with the images.

Link to the QR code website:

Website Link!

 

Because The Hunger Games series is written in Katniss’s perspective, it is easy to understand why most people’s immediate response to “Who is the hero of The Hunger Games?” is Katniss. However, I argue that having the story told by Katniss is precisely why it is that much clearer that she is not the true hero. At a few points in the story, Katniss makes a point to say that she wants to win for her sister. But for the duration of the games, the reader gets the sense that Katniss is focused solely on survival. Meanwhile, Peeta was clear from the very beginning that he wanted Katniss to win. He makes Katniss appear desirable and lovable, an image she was quite incapable of creating herself. Katniss got sponsors because Peeta made her seem likable.

During the games, Peeta joins the Careers in order to protect Katniss. She had been angry at him, thinking that he was trying to save himself when in reality he joined the Careers because he knew the Careers would eventually go after her, and when that time came he could stop them. Finally, at the end of the games, it is announced that only one victor may remain. Peeta moves to throw away his knife, and Katniss immediately draws her bow on him. Her instinct is always self-preservation, and his is to help her.

In later books, Peeta realizes that Katniss is part of a cause that could change society forever. He does everything he can to protect her as the symbol of the resistance and his love, while Katniss is busy griping about loving both Gale and Peeta. Katniss is selfish more often than not, and when Peeta is returned from the Capitol after being tortured, she is terrified that he will not love her the same way. She does not fear for his welfare. She fears that he will blame her for the torture.

Peeta is selfless, through and through. He recognizes the role he plays and acts accordingly. From the very beginning of the games, he tells Katniss that he wants to die as himself. He always seems to look out for Katniss’s best interest, even if it means that he will die.

 

 

I read The Hunger Games in elementary school, but I read so many books that the thought of televising children murdering each other for entertainment was not as shocking, but just a part of the plot line. Now that I re-read it, the implications of this story are more horrifying. Suzanne Collins paints an absurd picture of a society where people who live in the Capitol drip with excess: they eat extravagantly, have insane fashion standards that constantly change, and seem to have little to no understanding of the struggles of everyday people, like when Effie Trinket makes fun of the previous Tributes who ate with no table manners because they’ve never in their whole lives been provided with that much food. The absurdity of this society is exactly what makes people start to wonder, does this really happen?

The top 1% of today’s society owns 50% of U.S. stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, in addition to taking home more of the nation’s income than at any other time since the 1920s. Recently, Alyona Zaitseva, the daughter of local property and oil tycoon Vasily Zaitsev, ran over nine people, killing six and critically injuring three. If you watch the video, the Lexus plows not forward across the intersection, but diagonally into the pedestrian crosswalk. According to the article, Zaitseva is fine, and after she ran these people over, her armed bodyguards came out to protect her from the angry crowd. Likely, she will face very little jail time, or perhaps, none at all, because her oil tycoon father plans to “compensate” families for their loss. In the article, images of carnage and censored body parts flung across the cement are juxtaposed with the beautiful Alyona Zaitseva posing while wearing thousand dollar Louboutins.

It’s terrifying to see how many parallels in just this one case of a privileged white girl with the “absurdness” of the Capitol culture, which seems to be less and less absurd. President Snow is constantly guarded by Peacekeepers, even though plenty of people hate him for putting in a “game” in place that kills off children. Likewise, Zaitseva killed people, and her guards came to protect her even though what she did was morally wrong. Zaitseva is like many of the people in the Capitol; she wears the newest most expensive fashions, has the best food, and lives with the most luxurious technologies available to her. The people who live in the Capitol play a hand in The Hunger Games murders because they do nothing to stop it. The killing does not bother them because they themselves are not being sacrificed. Likewise, Zaitseva ran over people, but she most likely will not be punished for her actions, and it is not even she who pays the monetary compensation. It is her father.

Though at first, The Hunger Games seems outlandish and dystopian, it is not too far from reality. Rich people get away with even taking someone else’s life, or multiple people’s lives, in Alyona’s case, because of money and power.

 

Bibliography

Parfitt, Moscow Tom. “Oligarch’s Daughter Held after Car Crash in Ukraine Kills Five Pedestrians.”    The Times & The Sunday Times, The Times, 19 Oct. 2017, www.thetimes.co.uk/article/oligarchs-daughter-held-after-car-crash-in-ukraine-kills-five-pedestrians-d60fz370m.

Chapter 13 of Craft of Research discusses the organization and essay revision. Though I typically did many of the revising tips, one piece of advice that helped me greatly for my recent essay was keeping the reader in mind. Re-reading my essay, and thinking of it from my reader’s perspective rather than mine forced me to spot holes in my argument. For example, I did not provide enough context for one piece of my evidence, and it led to the whole paragraph not making sense. Most writing advice dictates that it is imperative that you “relate back to your thesis” but I did not realize how truly important it was to do so until I thought of it from the reader’s perspective. Because I am the one writing the essay, I always know what my argument is; however, I have to convince the reader, so I must keep reminding them.

From the tips that I gathered from chapter 13, I have made my own process of revising.

1. Consider what kind of essay you are writing.

• Argumentative – is there a way to make this essay more convincing? Personal anecdote?
• Analytical – have you removed all your personal opinion out of the analysis? Gather your evidence on how/what person wrote, not how you feel (feeling = your own analysis)
• Narrative – is there enough detail?

2. Grammar and spelling check

• Tip: read the essay out loud to see if it sounds “weird.” Shifts in tense and passive voice are easier to catch this way
• If you automatically correct things while you read, you can also have google translate read your essay back to you in a monotone voice

//The rest of these tips are related only to type argumentative and analytical essays

3. Make sure your introductory sentences relate back to the thesis – concise

• Think of each paragraph as soldier in the army – delegate one segment of your thesis to the paragraph, and prove it within. All your paragraphs come together to prove your argument

4. Make sure that your thesis and your argument are still the same

• A problem I often make: I have a thesis, but as I continue to write and analyze evidence, my argument evolves but my thesis does not reflect the change

5. So what factor – why is your essay worth reading? What’s the point of your reader reading it? What should they know?

    

 

 

 

King Arthur’s knights are expected to uphold several courtly values: honor, fidelity/faithfulness, mercy, gentility, chastity, generosity, and courtesy. Knights are held to a high standard of character and are routinely tested when obstacles in their lives arise. In The Knight of the Cart, Sir Lancelot is tested several times throughout his journey. His first challenge is the tension between his loyalty for King Arthur, and his love for King Arthur’s wife, Guinevere. As Lancelot continues on his journey to rescue Guinevere, he encounters a woman who offers him lodging in exchange for sleeping with her. His ability to adhere to the knightly values was again tested. Lancelot would be unfaithful to Guinivere if he were to sleep with the woman, but without the lodging she is offering, he could not continue on his journey to rescue Guinevere.

Although the internal struggle between his values and desires is exaggerated in the unrealistic conflicts Lancelot experiences, most people encounter situations that involve making difficult decisions on a daily basis. Ranging from small life choices like whether to eat the tempting burger and fries or the salad you promised yourself that you would eat, to life-altering decisions like deciding whether to take a job in a different state, everyone can relate to making tough choices. Sir Lancelot chose to prioritize his love for Guinevere over all other knightly values he could have chosen to adhere to — as a result, his reputation as a knight was ruined from riding in a cart. Sir Lancelot’s challenges may not be typical in the modern day, but the tale of his journey highlight the struggles people face everyday to prioritize one moral value over another.

Sam Schuster is a poor shoe cobbler. He hates the idea of picking up his father’s trade, but it’s what’s expected of him. One day, Sam is walking back from the bakery when a girl tumbles in front of him. He sees two giant dark men leering over her.

“What are you waiting for? Get up!” Sam shouts. Mr. Pemberly, the carrot seller, gave Sam an angry shake of his head. Sam grabbed the shell-shocked girl’s hand, and the two raced off down a dirty alley way. Neither spoke as Sam led the way through the twists and turns until they ended up in front of a large brick factory-like building, with giant smoke stacks.

“Wait a minute, you can see me?!” The girl demands, yanking her hand out of Sam’s angrily. Sam sheepishly wiped his sweaty palms on his worn pants while the girl defensively crossed her hands over her chest.

Sam squinted at her. “Of course I can see you. Why would I not be able to? Also, you’re being awfully rude to someone who just saved you.”

The girl sighed, and stiffly extended her hand. “Taylor. Who are you?”

“That’s a boy name,” Sam said. “I’m Sam.”

“That’s a girl’s name,” Taylor retorted. She shifted from foot to foot nervously, peering around Sam to check for her evil companions. “Isn’t there any better place to hide?”

Sam nodded, and slipped into the building. None of the workers seemed to notice the two young people walking around the meat factory. “This place is disgusting,” Taylor said, wrinkling her nose. Workers stood shoulder to shoulder by conveyor belts that belched dark purple meat. Furry clumps gathered on the floor where pieces dropped and subsequently molded.

Sam led them into a small office, and Taylor whirled around and slammed the door shut. “Hey, wanna go on an adventure?” Taylor asks.

—————————————–

“Where are we?” Sam asked in a muffled voice, as Taylor mashed her fingers over his mouth. She put her fingers to her lips with an angry scowl.

“We need to get that torch from that dude over there,” Taylor whispered. Taylor and Sam were in a dark musty cave. The only light source was the smoky fire.

“Wow, he’s so. Perfect. He looks like one of those Greek gods,” Sam mused, watching the shadow of the man stretch and shrink as he moved.

“Funny you would say that.” Taylor bit her lip, digging her hands through her pockets. “Where the heck is it..” She pulled out a smooth quarter-sized pebble and sighed. “I really hope nothing happens, but. If I happen to die or something, take this stone from me.”

Sam started to reach for it, and Taylor moved away. “Not right now!” She whisper-screeched. Noticing his hurt expression, she softened. “It’s very,” she paused, looking for the right word, “precious. Please do not take it lightly.” She pocketed it again.

“So, what exactly are we doing here? Er, why do we need that torch?” Sam asked, wiping away a droplet that fell from the high ceiling.

“That guy is Prometheus, who gave humans fire. I need to take the torch and give it to the humans in his stead, so that he doesn’t get tortured and stuff. We actually need him for a different reason, but of course I don’t have clearance to know what that reason is.” She rolled her eyes. Sam got the sense that she was very bitter about that.

“You’re also, uh, pretty vague about just about everything. What are you? Why are we stealing from a greek myth? What is going on? Am I handling this situation too calmly?” Sam asked quizzically.

“Sh, you’re being annoyed,” Taylor said, waving him away. “So, game plan : you talk to Prometheus, I’m gonna steal the fire and avoid the evil people who might attack me. Let’s go!”

“What??” Sam couldn’t believe what he was doing, but it was much better than working in his father’s shop. They both burst out from around the corner. Prometheus looked up as two teens barreled into his lit cave.

“HIINEEDTHIS,” Taylor yelled, snatching the torch out of Prometheus’s hands and running out.

“Wait, Taylor, what?!” Sam shouted, but she was already gone. “Uh. This is awkward. Hey, I’m Sam.” The cave was so dark without the fire, he couldn’t even see his own fingers in front of his face. The darkness coated his eyes.

“Hello, I’m Prometheus. Why did that human steal my fire? I was going to gift it to you anyway.” Sam was surprised by how deep and warm Prometheus’s voice was. A small cracking sound reverberated the walls, and a then a tiny flame danced on the tip of Prometheus’s slender finger.

“Oh, a light,” Sam sighed in relief. He felt deeply unsettled being robbed of a sense that he took for granted. “I’m not really sure why my friend? Taylor stole your torch. I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s alright, I understand. Here, take a seat,” Prometheus waved his hand over small woven cushions on the floor. They were dirty and dented from use.

“This is a weird question, but would you happen to know why she would steal from you?” Sam asked. He felt uncomfortable when Prometheus sat down right next to him, so close that they were practically linking arms. Prometheus seemed just fine with the proximity.

“I’ve never seen her before, but there is talk about the God’s punishing me for loving humans so much.” Prometheus shrugged, a serene look crossing his face.

Loud footsteps and heavy breathing interrupted Sam’s thoughts. He could see Taylor running towards them, her earlier followers suddenly present. “Sam!” She screamed, thrusting out the pebble as her stalkers grabbed her. They all disappeared in a flash of light.

The pebble clattered to the floor in front of Sam. Bewildered, he reached down and touched it. The pebble pulsed like a human heart, and with each beat, more information transferred from the minds of all the time traveler’s before Taylor to Sam. Suddenly, everything made sense.

“Prometheus, would you come with me?” Sam asked, grabbing Prometheus’s arm.

Sam and Taylor:

People often admire athletes as heroes who scores touchdowns, hits winners, gets the gold, or wins the run. Few of these athletes are put on a pedestal for any other reason than his or her athletic prowess, but Pat Tillman of the NFL is different. “Tillman was an All-Pro safety for the Arizona Cardinals in 2000 and turned down a three-year, $3.6 million contract to join the Army Ranger program following the 2001 season” (Shottey, 1).

Inspired by the tragedy of 9/11, Pat and his brother gave up their professional careers in order to serve their country. Pat Tillman is the textbook example of Holt and Thompson’s Rebel Model, because of his tough upbringing and rambunctious personality as a young man.

According to Holt and Thompson, “Rebels are also derided as immature boys who are not up to the challenges of mature, responsible manhood” (page 427). Tillman is described as a man with a “penchant for violence” and “one who needed football more than he loved it” (page 427), presumably as a method for instilling work ethics. However, through the years, Tillman transforms to fit into the Man-of-Action Hero. He is a top athlete with a 3.85 GPA, and on the path to stardom. Tillman inspires his fans by choosing to fight in a war that he does not believe in because of his desire to help people.

Pat Tillman is a hero not because of the way he handles a football, but because of his goals and values. He overcame difficult circumstances to achieve greatness and success. Instead of continuing on the lucrative and expected path of a star football player, Tillman gave it all up to enlist in the army and become a true hero.