Life is but a Netflix queue created by an idiot...

and in this case, that "idiot" is Lady Macbeth.

Number 1: Breaking Bad
TV Series

Lady Macbeth relates more with the later seasons of this series, about an average high school chemistry teacher who begins to do illegal things and get in deeper and deeper trouble. At some point, his wife discovers his secret and is appalled, but later she is on his side, and in season 5 in particular, seems to be calling the shots and giving orders. A parallel to how Macbeth had to do the dirty work, but the motivation and orders essentially came from Lady Macbeth.

Number 2: Scandal
TV Series

Number 3: Harry Potter (Focus on #6 and 7)
Movie Series

Lady Macbeth's struggle in life is her ultimate goal to achieve power. With her relation


Number 4: New Girl
TV Series

If you were to play "Which of these is not like the others?" New Girl would definitely be it. A TV series about a female moving in and living with 3 other males, I believe Lady Macbeth could relate well to the main character Jess. She fits in well with men because of her slightly masculine behavior, and Lady Macbeth's secret desire to become part of the male gender.

A Hard(ee's) Sell

Hardee's has lately released a series of advertisements to promote their restaurants and new products that will be available or are currently available in them. While they are all very similar, I picked this particular ad because I believe I can analyse it with multiple Deadly Sins.

The link for the advertisment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3BA5qCOnkc
The voiceover is done by Chris Fries.

The Little Picture: The video depicts a young attractive woman in a barn/farm setting wearing a "country" or "cowgirl" outfit, although with an intentional and provocative twist on said attire. The voiceover in the video talks about what makes someone "From Texas" such as the hat or boots, but then states that it is the toast, as the woman eats a Texas Toast Bacon Cheese Thickburger (Say that 5 times fast) slowly and appears to enjoy it immensely. The sandwich itself appears large and appealing.
The ad stereotypes that all people from Texas (and the South in general) are typically farmers and live a rural lifestyle.
BIGGER PICTURE: There are two apparent sins present in the ad. The first is gluttony, as is common in food advertisements. The burger size and caloric value is unnecessary, but is still appealing because, as Americans and as people, we like food and more of it. Hardee's appeals to this through the actual appearance of the burger, as they most likely took time and effort to prepare the burger used in the ad to look as appealing as possible. They also use the human reaction of the woman; her looking satisfied after eating the burger gives the impression that it tastes as good as it looks, even though she is a paid actress.
The second sin present is lust. Hardee's creates this sin deliberately through their choice of an attractive actress and how they presented her. The use of provocative clothing and the actions in the ad, such as pouring water on herself, are meant to arouse the male (and possibly female) viewers to persuade them to go to Hardee's.

WHO is it for? The advertisement is for potential Hardee's customers, most likely middle or lower class citizens. These targeted audience members are most likely male, and are unsatisfied with the amount of food other restaurants serve them based on the emphasis of size in the ad.

Can't bury these tales: Canterbury Tales & Jane Eyre

IB got the best of me this week - FREEBIE

What's in a Name?

My family can trace our roots back to Germany, Poland, Wales, Austria, and France among other countries. Other than knowing the names of those five countries, I've never actually put much thought into my ancestry. In fact, I've never asked my parents what the origin of my last name is, but after several people asking me if it is French I just assumed it was so.

This is not to mean that I don't care about my family, our history, or my last name. I've grown up taught that my last name is one of the biggest values in life, not only to myself but to my entire family. Disgracing yourself isn't just a blow to you, but also to everyone who carries the same last name as you. The same goes for bringing pride and respect. If you are a successful and respectable person, those who are related to you will carry that reputation with them.

I've seen the positive side of this in one instance during my life. My late grandfather used to own a house on a very small island in Maine, with a population of 341. In a small place like that, it fits the stereotypical "everybody knows everybody" small town. On my first visit there the summer before my freshman year, I was not expecting this to be true on my first visit to the only grocery store on the island. When I went to pay for the purchase at the counter, the clerk was intrigued as he had never seen me before. I told him who I was and he responded with "Oh, you're Clark's (my father) son." This took me completely by surprise (Well, that and his New England accent. Apparently I was "Clahhk's son"). This man was a childhood friend of my father's, and because of that I was well received by him from the recognition that we are related.

As far as history of my name, there's only one family story that I have ever known. According to my grandfather, the reason that my middle name is Clark, as well as my father and my cousin's first name is Clark, is because we are descended from William Clark of Lewis and Clark. I've never actually investigated this (although we aren't the only family who has this tradition), but it's a piece of me that I can always relate to my grandfather. Even though he passed away three years ago, I still carry that part of him with me, as a constant reminder of who I am and the family before me that I represent. While the story may not be true, the name that my grandfather passed down to me is still very real, and that is the reputation that I must uphold.

My last name may be LaGanke, but I only ever get to see my extended family on my father's side very rarely. The family that I get to see the most often, and that I feel closer to, is my mother's family. During or after many of these visits with them, I often feel like I am "two". I feel more connected to my mother's family, but I am separated by the name barrier. I know that once we are grown we will separate and grow apart. This is natural, and I've already seen it begin to happen, but maybe it wouldn't be as likely if we shared the same last name.

Fly the Colors

 

Author: Wing Young Huie
Publication Date: 2012
Chicago Avenue, South Minneapolis, Minnesota

At first glance, this photograph seems simple. A tattered American flag that is well worn past use, still flying in front of a house. Yet this photograph can mean so much more. About the flag itself. About the people who choose to fly this flag. About the country that the flag represents, and how its own citizens feel about it.

The United States Flag is meant to be flown with pride. According to The US Flag Code "The flag, when it is in such condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning." The condition of "fitting emblem for display" is a matter of opinion, but I do believe that most will consider this flag as no longer fitting to be flown. But the owner of the flag, and presumably the owner of the house, have decided to continue to fly the flag. Maybe it is ignorance; they do not know that the flag should be retired. Or maybe it is a sign of rebellion; that they do not support the flag or the country itself. Or maybe it could even be interpreted as the ultimate sign of pride; that the owner believes in flying the flag and showing their support for the nation under all conditions, even if it means violating the Flag Code.

Admittedly, this photo seems hard to connect to Margaret Atwood's novel. But examining the lighting of the photograph taken by Wing Young Huie, he displays a violation of Code in a positive light. It seems as though he believes that this is an act of pride, and that it is not an antagonistic act.
Atwood is similar in this way that, throughout the novel, she portrays the rebellious acts of Offred and the other Handmaids in a positive, encouraging manner, as though disobedience is the equitable act.