Deconstruction, what's your function? :)

Today's class was really beneficial in getting an overview of the dreaded "deconstruction." The example of Mrs. Hollingsworth's deconstruction of the dot over the i in the title of The Da Vinci Code was both fascinating and overwhelming. It was great to see how deep you can go into something! On the other hand, I'm not sure my mind has the capacity (or patience) to think on some things for so long and so in depth. I'll be honest, I contemplated the use of illegal substances to get my juices flowing but I don't think slurred sentences would benefit me either. : )

On a side note, we discussed the binary of nature vs. culture today and used the example of incest. It made me think of a guy friend of mine trying to explain why guys are so prone to cheating. He claims that over 95% or something of the male animals in the world are not monogamous and that it was just in there nature. To this I replied that dogs eat their own poop.

Love and settling for something kinda like it

In Kate Chopin's stories "the Storm" and "At the 'Cadian Ball" she proves that certain things are really timeless. I have personally "settled" for a boyfriend because the one I really wanted wasn't available, just as Calixta settles for poor devoted Bobinot who would go to the ends of the earth for her. People would rather be with someone than no one, even if the someone isn't the one they really want. Calixta knew that Bobinot would be good to her so after realizing Alcee cared more for Clarisse than her she settled. In "the Storm" she seems happy to be with her family and cares for her husband and son immensely, however she has an affair with Alcee and we are led to believe her husband is never the wiser. Alcee and Clarisse were also married, but in this case it was Clarisse who settled, though she was obviously motivated by his desire to leave for a while, for something better possibly. I'm not sure what it meant when Clarisse was less than happy with their conjugal relationship. Does she not like sex? They have kids so it's not like it hasn't happened. Perhaps she isn't happy with it because she isn't truly in love with him?

I've always been very against infidelity in relationships so the ending of "the Storm" was a bit disturbing to me. I'd like to think that everyone was happy, but how can Alcee or Calixta be happy knowing what they have done? And even worse, what would happen if their spouses found out? It'd be a whole 'nother "Assumption" topic for the town gossip I suppose.

Story of an Hour, Story of a Lifetime

Kate Chopin's Story of an Hour is a real eye opener! I had never read this story before and it totally caught me off guard when the husband walks through the door at the end! It's a twisted way to give a message, but that's exactly what it does. This short story is just screaming for women to live for themselves! Not entirely of course, marriage is important and a couple should be happy together, but simply not to be defined by a husband and live entirely for him. It's really quite tragic that she has to die after this realization, but I guess it's all part of the effect of the urgency of the message.

So live for yourselves ladies, and the fellas too! :) Live like Kate wants you to, "free, free, free."

Doomed From the Start

Our class discussions about Freud and all of his theories revolving around sexuality and penis envy did not surprise me because much of these theories are ones we have all heard. However, when Mrs. Hollingsworth described that penis envy should really be defined as control envy because the penis is a symbol for control, my eyes were opened. Previously when the idea of penis envy came up I would often think to myself "Ew, I'm really glad I don't have one, this theory is bogus." But the control issue, there's something I can relate to! The women in my family are, let's just say bold. They will say what they want, when they want and aren't afraid to boss people around, including their husbands. But to be fair, the men stand up for themselves and know how to handle their women. Which brings me to a verse I recently read in Genesis. In the third chapter, verse 16b, after Eve was caught with the fruit in her hand and God is giving out punishments he says "You will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you." Can you say, NOT FAIR? I've had control issues all my life. I prefer being the one who drives, and if I'm not I have to work really hard not to tell the driver what to do. As for men and boyfriends, goodness gracious, I love to tell them what to do! (Don't get me wrong, I'm not a terrible girlfriend, I'm just rather opinionated). I thought childbirth would have been enough, but now I see that Freud is really onto something with this whole envy theory.

oedipus... veggie style

We had a good discussion in class on Tuesday about the visual benefits of seeing the story of Oedipus Rex played out in opera form. The way the different hands portrayed the characters' motives/struggles as well as the rest of the over the top costumes and special effects. Going from over the top to quite minimalistic, I'd like to show everyone this video I found of a very condensed version of Oedipus played by vegetables. Enjoy. :)

girls rules, boys drool...

Growing up as a young lady, I often thought how nice life would be if I was able to fall in love with a man, get married, stay home and be the adorable housewife I knew I could be. I would cook and clean and eventually raise our children and life would be perfect. Right? Wrong! As a 23 year old I'm not entirely aged, but I think I've seen enough to know better than to wait around for some fairytale that will never come. I have to make my own dreams come true and it'll just make them even sweeter to achieve. It probably goes without saying that I was a fan of Christine de Pisan's letter to the secretary of the King. Sure, she had to use a little "butt kissing" tactics but she knew that's what she had to do simply to have the letter read. I really enjoyed the way she compliments him, and then immediately tells him he's wrong. I have a vivid image in my mind of an egotistical aristocrat looking down on this woman for being a writer but being swept away by her flattery, only to be dropped right back down with her honest opinions. This woman was brilliant!

I still see this type of behavior with today's men and women. My mom will often try flattery tactics to get my dad to do something she doesn't want to do, such as mow the lawn or bring in fire wood. However, theres one thing I have noticed that has changed, or perhaps is only magnified through contrast of most other things changing and this remaining the same, it's that men rely heavily on women for much of their needs. I'm not just talking about sex, laundry, housework, etc. I'm talking about when my (now ex) boyfriend calls me and asks me to look up a phone number or directions for him when I know just as much about the area as he does, as if by some mysterious way his phone cannot dial 4-1-1. I don't mind small favors, but when things like this continue over time you really start to feel like that person's mother/caretaker and frankly it's not attractive. I'm so glad I'm a woman in this century because at least I have the right to choose not to be with a loafer!