Propaganda Reflection | Control Room

Prompt: It is okay for the government to mislead to promote security?

I disagree with this prompt.
As seen in the documentary Control Room, the government often silences certain information and emphasizes other information. Often, information from testimonials or statements are taken out of context by the media, ultimately influenced by the government. Often taken out of context, the media represents situations and ideas in a different, biased light.

Within the documentary, it was evident that the Americans were trying to present themselves as the good-doers. To do so, they produced and influenced the media to be univocal about the War in Iraq. The government of the United States ultimately controlled the information being released to the press to mislead. The motive behind this was to promote security, namely of the US intervention in Iraq. They feared that if too much information were leaked, it would become a threat to the safety of the intervention. An example was the US soldier defending why the US government hadn't released the exact location of the US troops after 'reoccupying' the land.

The media broadcast Al Jazeera opposed in governments misleading to promote security. They did so through multivocality within their broadcast, instead of propaganda and bias information. This channel, in particular, showed a more honest perspective on the Iraq War, in my opinion, than the news influenced solely by the US press releases. By providing as many, non-radical or pure propaganda, viewpoints within their broadcast, Al Jazeera allowed the audience to understand the Iraq War much better as they implied the effects on all different groups.

This was unlike the univocal US-influenced news released by media outlets as these only focussed on the Americans being the center of importance, rather than showing the implications the interventions had on the local people. Al Jazeera displayed the bitter truth, the reality that the governments didn't want to show their people.

Despite the intentions of promoting security, it is generally better not to mislead the people. However, there are of course exceptions to these if the information released imposes a major threat on specific groups of people. However, it then may be more beneficial not to publish certain details fully until it doesn't impose such a big threat anymore, rather than completely misleading the audience.

Documentary: Control Room

Parody | Media bias

Report: Trump was unfamiliar with the scope of the president's job when meeting Obama

The following article contains a bias towards the political issue of the newly elected president of the United States, in which many doubt Donald Trump's competency to run as president. This article leans towards a democratic point of view, opposing the Republican ideology of Trump. 

"President-elect Donald Trump celebrated his status as a Washington outsider during his campaign for the presidency. But his lack of familiarity with the US government appears to be coming into view as he transitions to the White House. During Trump's private meeting

with President Barack Obama on Thursday, Trump "seemed surprised" by the scope of the president's responsibilities, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Trump's aides were also apparently unaware that the entire staff of the president working in the White House's West Wing would need to be replaced, according to The Journal. Obama reportedly will spend more time counseling Trump about the presidency than most presidents do with their successors. Trump and Obama were highly critical of each other during the campaign season but appear to have struck a conciliatory tone since Trump's election, at least publicly. "I want to emphasize to you, Mr. President-elect, that we now are going to want to do everything we can to help you succeed, because if you succeed, then the country succeeds," Obama told Trump in front of reporters on Thursday. Trump called Obama "a very good man" during the session."

Parody Pastiche, using Republican bias

"As Donald Trump's celebrated the success of his campaign for the presidency, Trump had a private meeting with President Obama on Thursday. Despite being a Washington newbie, Trump's arrival at the White House will be well-received as Trump will get a better scope of his responsibilities under the guidance of former President Barack Obama. Trump will arrange many affairs before his official presidency on January 20th of 2017.  Despite Trump being critical of Obama, h

e calls him "a very good man" during the session after Obama's advice in running as President.

Source: Business Insider, Wall Street Journal. Nov. 13, 2016.http://www.businessinsider.com/trump-obama-meeting-2016-11?utm_content=buffer2eee4&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer.

Act V, Scene III | Coriolanus IOC Outline

Act V, Scene III

Introduction and Context:

• This passage is from Coriolanus
• Political play was written somewhere between 1605 and 1608
• Significant to time period Shakespeare lives in, lots of political change after death of queen Elizabeth in 1603
• This passage is situated near the end of the play

Overview:

• Martius (Coriolanus) joins forces with Aufidius
• Coriolanus and the Volscian forces approach Rome
• The three V’s show up
• Volumnia (and Virgilia) attempt to persuade him not to attack Rome
• Volumnia begs Martius to remain peaceful, or else he would lose his nobility, honor, and respect of others
• Coriolanus starts to get sentimental and softens

Structure:

• The structure is linear
• No flashbacks and -forwards

Purpose and Significance

• To reestablish the theme of redistribution and change of power
• To further develop Coriolanus’s complex relationship with his mother
• To stress Coriolanus’ need to adapt to the transition of power in order to retain his honor and respect
• Coriolanus’ nature to resist shifts in power
• Possibly foreshadows Aufidius’ revenge later in scene V

Analysis

Lines 1-21:

Criteria A:        

This section of the passage displays Volumnia’s desperation to change Coriolanus’ mind. She tries to emotionally manipulate in saying that if “Thou art not honest; and the gods will plague thee” (line 3). However, she makes her admiration for her son’s hard power very clear within the passage, as she kneels for him “let us shame him with our knees” (line 6). However, it is important to acknowledge the Volumnia’s contradictory speech, in which she both admires and despises her son for his headed handhold to his hard power, she does this to emotionally attempt to manipulate him into agreeing to peace. “longs more pride than pity our prayers” (7-8) Volumnia however shows her true self when she displays her power over Coriolanus in line 11 to 20. She attempts to do this through emotional manipulation, allowing Coriolanus to feel empathetic and regretful for letting down his mother. This therefore indicates Volumnia’s speculation that Coriolanus will fail them, being considered powerless by his mother by his ignorance. “This boy, that cannot tell what he would have but kneels and holds bans for fellowship” (line 12-3)

Criteria B:

Shakespeare makes use of stage directions to amplify the contradiction position which Volumnia takes towards Coriolanus, where she is obeying by kneeling for him, yet she shames him for favoring his will for power over the relationship with his family. Volumnia amplifies the dramatic irony, in which the reader is fully aware of Volumnia’s original intentions, by stating that she will gives up on Coriolanus. “so we will home to Rome” (line 10) Volumnia’s attitude, still consciously manipulative, transitions to a defeated attitude towards her son. This can be seen through use of stage directions. Within line 11 to 19, Volumnia uses imagery to appear more persuasive towards the audience. Her use of language shows her power over her son as she has now, after persuading the audience, persuaded her son. This is seen through stage directions, “He holds her by the hand” (line 21)

Lines 21-49:

Criteria A:        

Coriolanus is hit by consciousness of the earnest of his actions, in which he immediately apologizes to his mother. “O mother, mother! O! You have won a happy victory to Rome” (line 27-8). This is very significant as the power within this passage, shifts from Coriolanus to his mother. Coriolanus was represented as being the dominant character in the beginning, but now seems to obey his mother instead (the roles have reversed). He recognizes Volumnia’s power as she has potentially saved her city from destruction. This breaks down Coriolanus’ image of being invincible, as he is defeated by his own mother. This exposes his character to mortality, foreshadowing his death “Most dangerously you have with him prevail’d, if not most mortal to him” (line 30-1).

Criteria B:        

Through the use of repetition, Coriolanus’ awareness of his resistance to change is dramatized. Not only does the repetition of “mother, mother” (line 24 and 27) show his sudden consciousness, it also signifies the awareness of Volumnia’s impact of her power on him. It is even described as a “unnatural scene” (line 25) as this sense seems unexpected to Coriolanus. Aufidius’ sarcastic remark about Volumnia’s impact foreshadows Aufidius’ plans of revenge, as he displays clearly an acted sense of sympathy which is not sincere “I was moved with withal” (line 37) The metaphor “Mine eyes to sweat compassion” reinforces Coriolanus’s surrender of power as he is enormously inflicted.

Conclusion

This specific passage in the play is significant in reestablish the theme of redistribution and change of power from Coriolanus to Volumnia, who will return to Rome as a hero. This is shown through Coriolanus’ sudden conscience, revealing his complex relationship with his mother in which Volumnia overpowers him. Coriolanus’ infliction of becoming ‘mortal’ exposes his vulnerability, which is taken advantage of in Aufidius’ revenge plot which is foreshadowed.

Passage:

VOLUMNIA

Say my request's unjust,
And spurn me back: but if it be not so,
Thou art not honest; and the gods will plague thee,
That thou restrain'st from me the duty which
To a mother's part belongs. He turns away:
Down, ladies; let us shame him with our knees.
To his surname Coriolanus 'longs more pride
Than pity to our prayers. Down: an end;
This is the last: so we will home to Rome,

And die among our neighbours. Nay behold’s:

This boy that cannot tell what he would have

But kneels and holds up bands for fellowship,

Does reason our petition with more strength

Than thou hast to deny’t. Come, let us go:

This fellow had a Volscian to his mother;

His wife is in Corioli and his child

Like him by chance. Yet gives us our dispatch:

I am hush’d until our city be a-fire

Ande then I’ll speak a little.

He holds her by the hand, silent

CORIOLANUS

O mother, mother!
What have you done? Behold, the heavens do ope,
The gods look down, and this unnatural scene
They laugh at. O my mother, mother! O!
You have won a happy victory to Rome;
But, for your son,--believe it, O, believe it,
Most dangerously you have with him prevail'd,
If not most mortal to him. But, let it come.
Aufidius, though I cannot make true wars,
I'll frame convenient peace. Now, good Aufidius,
Were you in my stead, would you have heard
A mother less? or granted less, Aufidius?

AUFIDIUS

I was moved withal.

CORIOLANUS

I dare be sworn you were:
And, sir, it is no little thing to make
Mine eyes to sweat compassion. But, good sir,
What peace you'll make, advise me: for my part,
I'll not to Rome, I'll back with you; and pray you,
Stand to me in this cause. O mother! wife!

AUFIDIUS

[Aside] I am glad thou hast set thy mercy and
thy honour
At difference in thee: out of that I'll work
Myself a former fortune.

This is water - Wallace's theory of education and Munro

In his commencement speech, Wallace adresses the impact of education later in life. He suggests that through acquiring education, one can be well-adjusted, sympathetic and conscious of the world. And by doing so, true freedom can be achieved.
Wallace's theory points out that the liberal-arts system of "teaching you how to think" is extremely important in choosing how to absorb views of the world. He states that through the present education system, students are able to "control over how and what you think. It means being conscious and aware enough to choose what you pay attention to and to choose how you construct meaning from experience."
Wallace touches base on a typical day in and day out example which is suggested to all be too familiar to the attending parents of the graduates. Through the example of an overworked person getting stuck in traffic jam, realizing he needs to go grocery shopping at the peak time, waiting for what seems like hours queuing up at the check out desk, David Foster Wallace stresses on the importance of taking a different approach on what seems to be depressing reoccuring events inmost people's daily lives. He states that if not taken a different approach on these situations "you will die a million deaths before they finally plant you".
He offers a significant solution to the depressing reality of adulthood which the graduates will soon face, they will have to become consciously aware of the possible scenarios which construct the present, thus creating meaning from the experience. By using the control over how you think, which the education today teaches us to do, Wallace suggests that this is what prevents "dying a thousands deaths" in life. Thus, being the well-adjusted; sympathetic and conscious person education has shaped you in, one will be able to achieve true freedom in life by overcoming these daily obstacles.
This therefore suggests that education, perhaps literature being thought, is crucial in developing empathy and emotional intelligence in life.
Munro's literature is therefore quite significant as it is proven to develop a better emotional intellegence amongst it readers. Like Wallace stated, Munro arouses empathy towards the different characters who all display different lives of ordinary people. This may therefore show that through this understanding of other people's lives aqcuired by reading Munro's literature, one may become better well-adjusted, conscious and sympathetic towards others by putting ourselves into the possible situations of others.

The battle of the languages

A battle of between my native mother tongue Dutch (Flemish) and between the English language.

During my one and a half month long stay in my home country, I came to this question. Throughout the year I would use English 70% of the time to communicate with my peers, including school. Leaving a mere 30% of communicating in my mother tongue. Does that make English the dominant language in my life? maybe. But as I spend more than a full month speaking only Flemish with my family and friends at homeI realized that maybe there is no need to define which language dominates my life in general. I figured that my ability to fully express myself changes depending on where I am. Quite logically, I'll be able to express and tell about my experiences in more depth if I do so in Dutch than in English. This can be explained by the fact that I had talked and experienced these things with people who speak Dutch like me. Thus, I also picked up a few more dialect words and sayings which may describe these specific ideas better than I possibly could in English. On the other hand, I found out that I can talk about more intellectual topics that was discussed during my education much more easily using the English language than the Dutch, which seems logic since my education is fully embodied in English. As a conclusion, the ability to speak using one or another language is a constant-changing ability which adapts to the situation and people you are surrounded with.

When in Moscow...

Do take the train at least once...

After our 5-day visit to Moscow, we recognized the effectiveness of the train. Moscow, in particular, is known for the hour-long traffic jams on the rings. Moscow consists of 'rings' of roads, thus enlarging the city by building larger rings around the present rings. From this system of roads comes the joke of the Meir of Moscow being called the 'Lord of the Rings'. The subway stations are strategically placed all around the huge vibrant city of Moscow, making it easy to quickly take a train to take you to another side of Moscow. The subway stations themselves are already worth a visit, looking like a museum themselves. Walking in the subway stations and taking the endless escalators gives the idea of travelling back in time, to the Russian Sovi
et Era. With long Escalator tunnels with engraved with unique figures depending on the station. The walls are filled with ancient murals, all unique on each station. The trains themselves beautifully restores. No need to visit any museums after seeing this must-see!

Do try out to communicating in basic Russian...

Despite many young Russians being able to speak flawless English, a basic knowledge of Russian comes out very handy when seeniy” meaning dark blue) and голубой (pronounced as “goluboy” meaning light blue). Did you know that aside from being the 7th most spoken language in the world, it is the leading language for space? Speaking to a Russian in their language will not only make them feel more sympathetic towards you for the effort, but it may expand your understanding and appreciation of the culture more.
travelling in Russia. Whether it is to be able to read the directions or order

delicacies in the local restaurants, Russian is hugely important when communicating with the Russian 'locals'. Firstly the Russian Cyrillic Alphabet consists of 33 letters, unlike the 26 letters in the Roman alphabet. The language itself consists of approximately 200,000 words which are far less than the average 1,000,000 words in English. However, a Russian person will be able to describe and distinguish different hues of blue much better than native English speakers. They categorize blue hues into two categories before specifying them even further: синий (pronounced as “

Do embrace the many ethnicities within the Russian culture...

Russia is so big that the local population is a hodgepodge of different ethnicities. There are approx. 160 different ethnic groups across Russia. Thus it is definitely worth a try to try different delicacies from the different groups, for example, Georgian bread or Chuvash Khash.

Do Enjoy...

Enjoy embracing the Russian ways of living as well as the architecture and food during your visit to Russia as much as I did!

IB IOC Practice

The Significance of Religion in Things Fall Apart

The personal history of an author can have a significant influence on the way meaning is constructed in his/her writing. Comment on specific instances of such influence in Things Fall Apart.


Thesis statement: 
Chinua Achebe's personal religious subjectivity is significant within the context of his novel/ By understanding the personal history of the author, a greater appreciation of cultural, religious and social context is brought to the reader.

Topic sentence 1: The character of Mr. Brown is intended for Achebe to show the audience that the best values which he associated with his Christian upbringing were compatible with the values of traditional Igbo society.

Topic sentence 2: The event of Enoch unmasking a masked Egwugwu has an  important significance withing the religious understanding which Achebe is trying to convey, namely the religious symbolic of this shows the impact of Christianity on one's attitude towards the Igbo culture.

Topic sentence 3: The parallels between the manichian of both Mr. Smith and Okonkwo, as well as the title itself conveys the audience how neither religions is superior, each having its own limitations and weaknesses.

The significance of Gender in Things Fall Apart

With reference to Things Fall Apart, discuss how an understanding of gender influences how the text may be understood.

Thesis statement: 

With reference to the novel Things Fall Apart, an good understanding of gender within the Igbo society influences one's appreciation of the text as well as enhance the understanding of different character's thoughts and actions. By having a better understanding of gender within the novel the reader will have a better appreciation of overarching themes, tradition and customs, beliefs and conflict.

Topic sentence 1: The use of gender within Things Fall Apart gives a better understanding of the overarching theme of fear of feminity and failure. It emphasizes the symbolic of feminity and how it influences the internal and external conflict within the novel.

Topic sentence 2: Achebe's representation of gender within his novel reveals the customs and tradition of the Igbo society, thus giving the reader a better understanding and appreciation of the cultural context of the Igbo.

Topic sentence 3: Beliefs within the novel have an important significance within the novel. With the Igbo beliefs comes the understanding of gender, and how different gender representations within their belief system influences the ethic and thinking of the Igbo people.

Tragic Hero Archetype in Things Fall Apart

A Hero is a person who faces adversity, or demonstrates courage in the face of danger. A tragic hero on the other hand is a hero who is confronted with his or her downfall as a consequence of their decision making and/or fate. Citing from the Greek philosopher Aristotle: "A man doesn't become a hero until he can see the root of his own downfall".Within Things Fall Apart, Chinua Achebe uses Okonkwo, the antagonist of the story as a Typical Hero. He does this for distinct purposes.

By using Harmatia: Okonkwo's fear of being like his father, Unoka, a character who was kind but showed weakness and emotion, highlights the values of the Igbo through this character. It highlights how much emphasis was put on pride, hyper masculinity, reputation,and achievements within the Igbo society, thus making it easier for the reader to resonate with the behavior of the Igbos. However, Okonkwo is characterised as putting in too much effort into these values to substantiate his irrational decisions, he does this for example by not presenting sympathy and respect towards others, even the spirituals. HI fears going down the same path of his father, full of shame and regret uncover the fear of failure of Okonkwo, suggesting the significant role that achievements played in the Igbo culture.

By using Peripeteia: the killing of Ikemefuna, contradicting the advice of the elders, thus going against his own emotional nature are used to show how Okonkwo's faith to fail the Igbo are being realized.

      Achebe uses these characteristics therefore also to show that the Igbo social and political structures were flawed as well, even before the colonization of the British. Therefore Achebe creates a much more honest exhibit on the life before and during colonization, both were flawed. Hereby Achebe creates a more honest and cultural authentic view on these historical events as it shows the story from different points of  view without aggravating or ameliorating either sides of the story.

Igbo Background Assignment

Guidebook for visiting diplomats in Igboland, Nigeria

As I have now returned to my homeland, Great Britain, I am delighted to share my experience and knowledge which I have gained during my travels to Igboland. This guidebook may provide practical prior knowledge for visiting diplomats in the land of Igbo.

To my surprise and delight, I have come to the conclusion that my prior bias towards the Igbo society and their culture and beliefs was very far from what it is in reality. As I arrived on the 22nd of January this year in Igboland, the ideas and expectations that I had of the Igbo culture and society was quite negative. Frankly, I discovered very quickly that these ideas which not only I, but many other British diplomats had, were far of how it really is.

As I arrived in Igboland, one thing thing soon became very clear: the ideas which the British (media and other politicians) published about the Igbo people were far out of context, with presumably the intention to portray the Igbo people as 'helpless' and 'in need of a Westernized political and social structure'.

Unlike the cultural practices being depicted as barbaric, it is much more complex and fascinating than I previously thought. As a visiting politician, I had the preconception that the Igbo religion was far from useful, and that it would be much more benifitial for them to repent themselves towards Christianity. The Igbo people are strong believers of life after death and in the Supreme Being, which is most often referred to as the Chukwu. They believe that the Chukwu lives in the sky, looking down upon his people. His people would carry out all tasks directed by him, all obstacles such as illness or no harvest was directed by the Chukwu and thus the will of the Chukwu.

The Igbo performing a traditional welcome ritual
posterior to my arrival in Igboland

The Igbo people would offer their children in the name of the Chukwu, this is where the Western beliefs clashed with the Igbo people. I personally found it hard to believe that new-born twins were considered 'evil' and were abandoned to the Evil Forests and left to die. I believed--and still believe that this is a barbaric action from the Igbo people to please their Chukwu, and therefore the other pioneers and I decided to put an end to this by rescuing these children since the abondonment conflicted with our personal Christian beliefs. Aside from these barbaric offers, I have learned to appreciate the Igbo culture in the sense that they form a sort of imperturbability amongst the Igbo society since it introduces principles to their lives, similarly to Christianity. Thus, unlike my fellow pioneers I believe that the Igbo religion should be respected instead of being swept away.

Regarding cultural sensitivity in order to achieve a successful diplomatic relationships, there are a few things one needs to fully comprehend. For example, the Igbo land consists of an ideology called 'equalitarianism'. This refers to the ideology of equality, or near equality amongst groups and individuals. The Igbo society is divided up in groups by age. With the eldest taking on the most responsibility in the society, as they believe that respect is earned with age. The igbo people are very individualistic, where one can only receive recognition through achievements, yet no one can ever earn full authority over the obodo.

A photograph taken with the Igbo elders

Through their ideologies, the Igbo people are partly peopled by 'invisible forces', as they believe in reincarnation of the death and thus the dead still play a significant role in their culture today. Yet, all uno acting in their own best self-interest the Igbo try to acheive minimal conflict through the mutual Chukwu who is looking down upon them. This system is an obstacle towards the placement of central authority since their system is very individualistic with little to no authority. This may cause a serious threat on the imposition of Western political ideologies in Igboland, and thus I would suggest to include the 'voices' of the Chukwu and elders as much as possible when trying to impose our political and social ideologies and setting a central authority amongst Obodos.

Concluding from my diplomatic interaction with the Igbo people, I aspire for our Western ideologies and colonization of Igboland to successfully bring a better civilization and solidarity with the Igbo people. Thereby implimenting some of our political ideologies upon the society, yet paying great respect and account to the local people's beliefs and ideologies as well in order to preserve their authenticity by maintaining our cultural sensitivity as colonizers.

May 3nd, 1914
Written by pioneer colonist Sir Frederick Lugard

(Prompt 2- Guidebook)

My most meaningful takeaway from the Achebe Shared Inquiry Discussion

During the Achebe shared inquiry discussion, we had to discuss our inquiry questions about an interview with Chinua Achebe from The Atlantic in the August 2, 2000. The interview features the writer of Things Fall Apart, discussing the effects of African literature as well as how colonization influenced the messages which writers are expressing to the rest of the world. One of the inquiry questions I had was; What is Achebe's position about the moral obligation of a writer to write about his/her homeland in a certain way?

Throughout the discussion, one point that stood out for me the most was how Achebe shows that through the use of African literature, writers bring to light how people are more similar than different, despite what they like to believe.

"I really had no sense of that. Its meaning for my Igbo people was clear to me, but I didn't know how other people elsewhere would respond to it. Did it have any meaning or resonance for them? I realized that it did when, to give you just one example, the whole class of a girls' college in South Korea wrote to me, and each one expressed an opinion about the book. And then I learned something, which was that they had a history that was similar to the story of Things Fall Apart -- the history of colonization."

This specific section resonated with me the most throughout the interview. This is because within the cultural context, Achebe adresses that many people, non-Igbo people resonated strongly with his novel Things Fall Apart. Despite their different background they shared a mutual feeling of oppression thus showing that all around the world people from different backgrounds subconsiously share many mutualities. Thus this shows how depite our geographical location, people are more similar than they realize. This emphasises how African literature is a powerful tool to connect people together through ideas and feelings, instead of relying on one-sided literature (influenced by European notion). By giving different cultures a voice through literature, it can reach many more people all around the world and allowing them to see the complexity of the world much more clearly since often left-out spots in history and literature are covered. Achebe develops an argument on how literature, in particular African literature, gives a different experience  and -side of the story which often makes it more recognizable and realistic for others to interpret.

This inquiry discussion therefore expanded my appreciation of the cultural context of Achebe's writing since he displays the mutualities such as colonialism within cultures such as the Korean and Igbo people, and how through the use of his novels Achebe evoked resonance within people from very different backgrounds and cultures.

Lupita Nyong’os speech commentary

Passage:

I want to take this opportunity to talk about beauty, Black beauty, dark beauty. I received a letter from a girl and I’d like to share just a small part of it with you: "Dear Lupita," it reads, "I think you're really lucky to be this Black but yet this successful in Hollywood overnight. I was just about to buy Dencia's Whitenicious cream to lighten my skin when you appeared on the world map and saved me."

I remember a time when I too felt unbeautiful. I put on the TV and only saw pale skin, I got teased and taunted about my night-shaded skin. And my one prayer to God, the miracle worker, was that I would wake up lighter skinned. The morning would come, and I would be so excited about seeing my new skin that I would refuse to look down at myself until I was in front of a mirror because I wanted to see my fair face first. And every day, I experienced the same disappointment of being just as dark as I was the day before. I tried to negotiate with God, I told him I would stop stealing sugar cubes at night if he gave me what I wanted, I would listen to my mother's every word and never lose my school sweater again if he just made me a little lighter. But I guess God was unimpressed with my bargaining chips because He never listened.

But a flower couldn't help but bloom inside of me, when I saw Alek [Wek], I inadvertently saw a reflection of myself that I could not deny. Now, I had a spring in my step because I felt more seen, more appreciated by the far-away gatekeepers of beauty. But around me the preference for my skin prevailed, to the courters that I thought mattered, I was still unbeautiful. And my mother again would say to me you can't eat beauty, it doesn't feed you, and these words plagued and bothered me; I didn't really understand them until finally I realized that beauty was not a thing that I could acquire or consume, it was something that I just had to be.

Paper 1 | Commentary

Within this passage of Lupita Nyongo’s speech, she emphasizes through the use of rhetorical- and literary devices how stereotypical pressures are put upon black-skinned women by society. As a result of this passage, the effects of beauty ideals set by society upon dark-skinned women are shown through the perception of her own self-worth. She develops an overarching theme of inner conflict due to the perception of her own beauty, and the ideals set by society, where her changing perspective stresses the effect of this internal struggle which many young black girls are still facing.

Within the first section of the passage, Lupita Nyong’o develops the inner conflict which she faced as a young girl, as a result of a letter she received from a fan. Throughout this section, she emphasizes the absurdity of these stereotypical pressures put on young girls by society.

Lupita evokes an image of the black skin, “beauty, black beauty. Dark beauty” (line 1-2), using amplification to emphasize and evoke the movement of resistance against the stereotypical pressures of fitting in with the ‘white’ beauty ideal. The impression of black inferiority is aroused since ‘black’ seems to be negative. Reading from the letter she received, she re-enforces the staggering effect which these ideals have led to, highlighting the admiring fan who thinks she’s “lucky to be this black but yet this successful in Hollywood” (line 4), with this antithesis establishing the idea that black people cannot be successful (in the entertainment industry) due to their skin color. This highlights the social and political context in which black people are looked down upon for being unsuccessful in contrast to whites who are represented as more successful. Lupita appeals to pathos arousing the emotion of compassion and astonishment when reading that the girl was “about to buy … Whitenicious cream to lighten my skin (until) you appeared on the world map and saved me” (line 6). Stressing the effect that her success was a form of hope for acceptance of the young girl’s black identity, rather than conforming to fit in with society. Conveying the impression of nostalgia, Lupita recalls “a time when I too felt unbeautiful” (line 7), utilizing neologism to mimic the ugliness of not being beautiful. With the metaphor “teased and taunted about my nigh-shaded skin” (line 8) she implies the repulsion towards black skin from her peers. Creating a desperate-like mood, she recalls the memory of “disappointment of being just as dark as I was the day before” (line 14), establishing the idea that her skin color caused her to struggle with her own appearance led her into huge dissatisfaction with herself. She therefore evokes the mood of desperation through her childishly attempts to fit in by becoming white-skinned. Lupita transition the tone further into absurdity, mocking her attempts to “stop stealing sugar cubes” (line 15) and “listen to (her) mother’s every word” (line 16) if “he (god) just made me a little lighter” (line 17). She refers to God as having the ability to change her skin color, thus reinforcing God as the ruler of her faith, and disappointment of her own identity as a younger child. She therefore connotes the sense that her skin color led her into deep self-dissatisfaction with her skin color, thus her identity and appearance which was ruled by her faith of being black.

Following the sense of absurdity and mock towards Lupita’s inner struggle as a young black girl, she transitions the mood in the second section to rather optimistic. Using a few rhetorical devices and recalling previous experiences, Lupita develops the movement of hope.

Lupita evokes a tone of optimism, with figurative language used to denote the way “a flower couldn’t help but bloom inside of me” (line 24), meaning that hope and resilience sparked in her life, contrasting to the depressing tone which Lupita’s struggles created. Parallel to the young girl who wrote her, Lupita finds herself as a young girl looking up to “Alek [Wek]” (line 24). Using the allusion of Alek Wek, Lupita familiarizes the audience with the impact that Wek had made to Lupita’s perception of her own beauty. She implies that Wek had aroused “as spring in my (Lupita’s) step” (line 26), imagery for the emotion of revitalization of her own self-perception of beauty. Thus, stressing the effect of a successful icon who looked similar to her, namely she was dark skinned. As an effect of this change of perception, Lupita commenced to have “felt more seen, more appreciated by the far-away gatekeepers of beauty” (line 27). The metaphorical representation of gatekeepers of beauty refers to the stereotypical standards and ideals set by a white society, suggesting the idea that now black women were also being accepted more for their talents despite their skin color. This is a very contrasting scene to the first section of the passage, where Lupita seemed to create a rather pessimistic mood around her own self-perception of beauty, in contrast to her transitioning perception of her own beauty. Lupita uncovers using an anticlimax that she “was still unbeautiful” (line 29), the negative neologism still is used to describe her own Beauty, however Lupita coveys the impression that “unbeautiful” is not as negative as given the impression in the previous section. As a conclusion Lupita states she “finally realized beauty was not a thing that [she] could acquire or consume, it was something that I just had to be.” (line 31-3). This epiphany suggests the idea that ‘black’ can be beautiful if you perceive it to be so, and that one cannot use cosmetics or other products to conform to a beauty ideal, but that one has to change their perception of beauty in order to be satisfied with their (black) skin.

Concluding from this passage, Lupita Nyong’o highlights through the use of rhetorical- and literary devices how stereotypical pressures and beauty ideals affects black-skinned women. How the need to conform to a specific beauty (or racial) ideal is suppressed upon young women, implying how the social context of this passage reveals the mechanism of beauty expectations in the society we live in. And how through the experiences of her own adversity, Lupita came to reveal that one has to adapt her perception of beauty in order to find satisfaction with their own beauty. In conclusion Lupita stressed this overarching theme of beauty and self-appreciation to empower black women struggling with their self-perception due to the ideals and expectations set by society, and how to overcome this by maintaining their true selves and changing their perception of beauty instead of changing themselves.

Characterisation of Coriolanus

Analytical Response

Throughout the play, the characterisation of Caius Martius Coriolanus not only bring to light that he is the tragic hero in Shakespeare’s play, but also emphasizes the gap between the Patrician and the Plebeians. 

The play, written around 1605 by Shakespeare, is considered a political play. Therefore the play intertwines political motives, such as the tension between the Patricians and the Plebeians. In the first scene of the play, we encounter the plebeians revolting against the Patricians, since the grain isn’t distributed equally resulting in a famine amongst the Plebeians. Thus, they are blaming the Patricians for the famine. They agree to proceed especially against Coriolanus, as he is described as “a very dog to commonality” (Act I, Scene I). Thus Coriolanus is represented as the rigorous opponent, as he is a Patrician. 

Despite Menenius’ attempt to soothe the revolt of the Plebeians, Coriolanus shows a despising behavior towards the Plebeians, fueling their hatred towards Coriolanus and the Patricians even more “We have ever your good word” (Act I, Scene I). This not only highlights the hierarchy of classes during the Roman times, but also the effect that it has on the Roman society as a whole--dissatisfaction and revolt. Shakespeare therefore shows the audience how this class system impact the proceedings of the characters in the play.

The neglecting attitude of Coriolanus, a patrician, emphasizes the gap and conflicts between these two groups; the Plebeians and the Patricians. It is clear that the Patricians look down upon the Plebeians, based on Coriolanus’ attitude towards them “you dissentious rogues, That , rubbing the poor itch of your opinion, Make yourselves scabs?” (Act I, Scene I). As shown, Coriolanus, a Patricians, does not shows any respect towards the Plebeians’ opinion, as they are seen as the inferior class of Romans. “They are dissolved: hang ‘em!” (Act 1, Scene I). The Patricians, Coriolanus, seem to want to get rid of the Plebeians as they do not form any importance in the Roman society, and are according to Coriolanus unnecessary and should therefore vanish. 

In the play, Coriolanus is represented as a tragic hero; meaning that he is a “literary character who makes a judgment error that inevitably leads to his/her own destruction” (Bainbridge. 2008) In the play, Coriolanus is considered a classical hero in the full beginning scenes since he has been able to defeat the battles against the Volscians. “Misguide thy opposer’s swords! Bold gentleman, Prosperity be thy page!” (Act I, Scene 5) However, as soon as he returns back to Rome his arrogant and disrespectful attitude towards the Plebeians will lead him to his own destruction. Significant is that he is represented as a classical hero in the battle field, but in the capital of Rome he is rather rather a tragic hero since his arrogance towards the Plebeians arouses hatred towards Coriolanus. Coriolanus’ defeat against the Volsces arouse hate as well, which later on in the play will lead to his own destruction. “He’s the devil. Bolder, though not so subtle. My valour’s poison’d” (Act I, scene 10).

Linguistic Imperialism | a lawyer's perspective

Present is a scenario where I will be a lawyer who will be representing the Frisians and their language, and why it should be preserved rather than promoting the spread of the English language.

Arguments for supporting Frisian

Intrinsic argument

• Frisian is one of the earliest form of the Germanic languages, therefore having a major importance in the history of European languages
• Frisians have on their own literature dating back from the Middle Ages to the present day
• The language promotes tribal consciousness
• Frisian possesses its own vocabulary, morphology, and syntax and therefore obtains its own resources for complex concepts and feelings

Extrinsic argument

• Frisian is still relatively spoken in the Frisian areas, and therefore the speakers still obtain a big vocabulary
• Since recently Frisian has a 'google translate' page specially developed to help maintain the language and popularise it amongst Frisian youth 
• Frisian older generations are motivated to promote their language to younger generations
• Frisian people have, after years of pleeing, finally received the aknowledgement of Frisian as an official language of the Netherlands

Functional argument

• Because of the wide range of literature dating back from the Middle Ages, it is very resourcefull for historians and linguists 
• As it promotes tribal consciousness, people living in the Frisian areas will be able to identify themselves more with their origin as well as forming communal unity with one another
• Its own vocabulary, morphology, and syntax provides different resources for complex concepts and feelings

Arguments against the spread of English

Intrinsic argument

• Due to the trading power of the English during the Golden Age, the hegemonic spread English was a matter of course for the Frisian traders with the British.

Extrinsic argument

• Despite the fact that much trade is and was done in English, English was 'forced' upon the people. Therefore it shouldn't affect the native language of the Frisian areas.
• Frisian may have fewer speakers, but many educated such as professors, doctors, and teachers speak Frisian. And therefore the spread of the Frisian language can easily skyrocket if Frisian is thought in schools.

Functional argument

• English was popularized due to its hegemonic imperialism. It is branded as convenient as most people can speak it, however Frisian speakers are highly encouraged to increase the amount of its speakers through media and education. Frisian is still spoken at Frisian homes and therefore is much more convenient for its speakers than learning English as a third language (aside from Dutch or German)

Frisian Podcast

Here is the link to the podcast which I made together with Luc Blonden.
We will be discussing the endangered language Frisian, enjoy!

Frisian Language Podcast

The Only Speaker of his Tongue | David Malouf

"It is a mystery of the deep past, but also of now. We recapture on our tongue, when we first grasp the sound and make it, the same word in the mouths of our long dead fathers, whose blood we move in and whose blood still moves in us. Language is that blood."

In this passage from 'The Only Speaker of his Tongue', Malouf communicates the strong connection between language and culture as well as identity. The language dates back to his ancestors, who established many years ago the society he grew up in. This language dates back from the time where his forefathers had established societal mechanisms and beliefs, resulting in a deep connection between the language one speaks and its history. The language is what tells the history of a specific group of people, passing along generations of the same culture. Even though the language can tell the following generations about the beliefs and values of its society as well as its history, there remains an unknown history to the use of the language, "It is a mystery of the deep past". One can only interpret the language's role based on the possible stories that have been carried on, but evolution of the language may never be fully revealed due to its partially unkown nature. Malouf communicates how one culture as well as identity is being passed on through the language, by speaking the language of your community he shows us that you identify yourself to those values and beliefs of that particular community, as well as its uses. By speaking the language, one is open to the culture of their community as well as its historical origins, to when the language was created. Malouf show through the section "Language is that blood" that the culture is carried on through speaking the language, contributing to the developing identity of the individual speaking it. It is the history that is being passed on through a way of communication, as to how the ancestors built a culture to which its language is the messenger between the present and the past--connecting the younger speakers with their origin to help them shape their identity.

Language, Power & Resistance | Indigenous languages

Since language, knowledge and culture are associated with each other, losing an indigenous language may result in many negative consequences for its speakers as well as the world.

According to the United Nations, preserving indigenous languages such as Tlingit is a highly valued. The language itself, is the verbal translation of not only emotions, experiences, and observations, but also the translation of entire cultures. Languages, forms of communication by a specific groups, are vanishing all over the world due to lack of speakers or supression of dominant languages.

Inuit in Alaska cutting pukaangajuq, which is Inuit for the best snow for igloos

Ever since the many colonizations taking place in the 18th Century, indigenous languages have collapsed and been replaced with more dominant languages such as English, Spanish and French. As many of these languages are dying, important knowledge can be potentially lost as the language vanishes, an example are the scientific advances of indigenous languages. Languages such as Tlingit have more precise ways of describing botanicals, animals, etc. to which languages such as English have nothing as descriptive and precise to describe it. Many of these languages do not only have better ways of describing things but often have more namings for things with slight variation. Inuit for example, which is spoken by mostly Eskimos in the Northern areas have a whopping twentyways of describing snow. Varying from the word aniu to describe packed snow to upsik for wind-beaten snow.

Indigenous languages often have more (precise) ways of describing the natural world around us since these languages have existed for a very long time, full of discovery and observation. This also applies to the culture which is tied to the language. Of this languages is taken away, traditions and ways of life which pair up with the language will vanish. "the death of a language such as Tlingit means more than the loss of another obscure, incomprehensible  tongue. It marks the loss of an entire culture" Time Magazine. Therefore it is crucial to preserve indigenous languages in order to preserve its history and culture with it as well, which greatly expands our understanding of the world.