When reflecting on Charlotte Temple and relating it to modern day times, I think that we see this a lot today. For example, there is always that kid that growing up their parents are really uptight and shelter their children as much as they can to think that they are protecting them, but as soon as they can they rebel in as many ways as possible. I am not saying that this happens all the time but we do see it a lot.
I can see how it must be difficult for parents to raise their children especially in today's society. I think it is a tough position to find balance between discipline and trying to teach kids between right and wrong without trying to deprive children of feeling like they can still make their own choices.
I think it is just importance to find balance because if we look a lot of television stars and how they have barely any limitations on anything they are exposed to so much at such a young age. For example, a much talked about issue recently is Jamie Lynn Spears' pregnancy. We can see that her sister was also exposed to so much at a young age that eventually led to her breaking down in front of national television. Through a lot of this we don't see much parental protection through these situations.
On the other side of things, I have some friends who all through high school their parents held them on a tight leash for so long that as soon as they got to college they went crazy. So like I said, I think it is all about a balance and it is important that parents show their children the right amount of attention and love. As far as protecting children from a "treacherous heart," the best thing parents can do is hope for the best and caution their children and be firm in disciplining but through love. Also that parents not be push-overs to others or their kids and that they teach their children to have a strong voice of opinion and not be afraid to stand up for themselves because we see what happened to Charlotte by never really making decisions.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Another Cause of Female Depravity
If this week's article were to be written now I think that it would probably address this idea of a lofty romance. Not that I do not believe in romance or anything, I would say that I am a pretty optimistic person. However, today I think that many women today read these romance novels and when they finish are usually overwhelmed with a sorrow of a longing for something that they do not have. I am not saying all women experience this, yet we do see this quite frequently in our culture today.
Something funny that acutally occurred recently reminds me of this. I went to see the movie Nights in Rodanthe with one of my roomates a while ago. We did not really find it to be a heart-warming, romantic movie, however, a lot of women in the audience I think did. When we were leaving my roomate said to me, "see all these women are probably wishing that their husband could be like that, and they're depressed because he's not. " And we just laughed as we left. Are we a little cynical? Yes, maybe. But still that thought just reminded me of the way romance is depicted today.
When referring back to our reading and the cause of female depravity, I do not think that it is the novels themselves that might lead a woman to cheat on her husband, or want something more, a better relationship, more romance. I think that we are a society that has to associate blame to something if we see something not going the way we want to, that is not always the case. It is just the human condition to have passion and long for romance. In these articles that we have read, I think that many men are scared that women can think for themselves and have a mind of their own.
Something funny that acutally occurred recently reminds me of this. I went to see the movie Nights in Rodanthe with one of my roomates a while ago. We did not really find it to be a heart-warming, romantic movie, however, a lot of women in the audience I think did. When we were leaving my roomate said to me, "see all these women are probably wishing that their husband could be like that, and they're depressed because he's not. " And we just laughed as we left. Are we a little cynical? Yes, maybe. But still that thought just reminded me of the way romance is depicted today.
When referring back to our reading and the cause of female depravity, I do not think that it is the novels themselves that might lead a woman to cheat on her husband, or want something more, a better relationship, more romance. I think that we are a society that has to associate blame to something if we see something not going the way we want to, that is not always the case. It is just the human condition to have passion and long for romance. In these articles that we have read, I think that many men are scared that women can think for themselves and have a mind of their own.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Retrospective Readings
I think that even though some of these texts that we read for the week were a little different, they were still a little similar to the ones we had been reading. A woman loses her virtue, something happens to where she is unhappy and heart-broken most of the time.
In reflection on the last couple of weeks and the different readings that we have done, I think the ones that I can recall the most are the ones where we talked about rake. Every time that I read these articles though, I always link them to something from our modern day life. It just helps me to understand it more.
However, I did find it interesting in the reading from this week in The Gossip No.LIV and how it actually correlates to a modern day story of Jamie Lynn Spears and teenage pregnancy in our society. I did find this article to be rather interesting.
One thing that really did strike my attention was how in the article The Gossip XXV the question is finally directly asked, “And why is not Chastity as necessary a virtue in man, as in woman?”
We still see this stigma today, for the most part. Woman are always held in a more harsh light when they do something not deemed acceptable because most of the time they have to deal with the consequences where the man gets to choose. Teenage pregnancy would be an example because the man is usually seen to be respected and heroic if he decides to stay by the woman’s side.
In reflection on the last couple of weeks and the different readings that we have done, I think the ones that I can recall the most are the ones where we talked about rake. Every time that I read these articles though, I always link them to something from our modern day life. It just helps me to understand it more.
However, I did find it interesting in the reading from this week in The Gossip No.LIV and how it actually correlates to a modern day story of Jamie Lynn Spears and teenage pregnancy in our society. I did find this article to be rather interesting.
One thing that really did strike my attention was how in the article The Gossip XXV the question is finally directly asked, “And why is not Chastity as necessary a virtue in man, as in woman?”
We still see this stigma today, for the most part. Woman are always held in a more harsh light when they do something not deemed acceptable because most of the time they have to deal with the consequences where the man gets to choose. Teenage pregnancy would be an example because the man is usually seen to be respected and heroic if he decides to stay by the woman’s side.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Love?
Love. Did it even have to do with anything? From the texts we have been reading, we can see the way they have changed. They seem more directed towards women and these stories about how women end up heat broken and betrayed my these deceiving men. Yet, somehow, this is what is popular during this time.
Even though most marriages were arranged at this point, clearly, love is not a factor. Stability and reproduction is the focus. But what if it were not arranged? My question is, as we can see from these texts and that we see a lot in films today, is it really love or lust? What defines love? In movies we see people meet and have one night fling and suddenly they are head-over-heels in love and they do not even know each other’s last name.
Bringing me back to these texts that we have observed, maybe they were a form of escapism. Ironic, but maybe women would rather read about this as more of instruction as to what not let happen in their lives. All these women that we read about usually end up heart-broken and sad and usually die from a broken soul. I don’t know. I never think that marriages should be arranged though, especially not now. However, you still see women and men getting married more out of convenience and financial stability rather than letting love be the foundation of it all. We look at couples still today, especially celebrities and hear about them getting married and divorced like it is no big deal. Was love ever a factor? Who knows, maybe will always be asking that question.
Even though most marriages were arranged at this point, clearly, love is not a factor. Stability and reproduction is the focus. But what if it were not arranged? My question is, as we can see from these texts and that we see a lot in films today, is it really love or lust? What defines love? In movies we see people meet and have one night fling and suddenly they are head-over-heels in love and they do not even know each other’s last name.
Bringing me back to these texts that we have observed, maybe they were a form of escapism. Ironic, but maybe women would rather read about this as more of instruction as to what not let happen in their lives. All these women that we read about usually end up heart-broken and sad and usually die from a broken soul. I don’t know. I never think that marriages should be arranged though, especially not now. However, you still see women and men getting married more out of convenience and financial stability rather than letting love be the foundation of it all. We look at couples still today, especially celebrities and hear about them getting married and divorced like it is no big deal. Was love ever a factor? Who knows, maybe will always be asking that question.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Rake it up before the fall
A common example of rake in our modern society today makes me think of, even though we used this example in class, the movie John Tucker Must Die. In this movie he is seen to be the most attractive guy in school who can get with any girl, and as a matter of fact, pretty much does get with every girl. Four of his girlfriends discover that they are all dating him at the same time. Thus, causes them to want to lead an innocent girl to try and do to him what he did to all of them and have her deceive him.
When thinking about other examples of rake, it reminds me of a similar plot that I see in a lot of movies today. In the movie She’s All That actor Freddie Prinze Junior makes a bet with one of his guy friends that he can turn any girl popular, because of course, he is the most popular attractive guy in school. So he attempts to change actress Rachel Leigh Cook from an artsie-loner, to the kind of girl that hangs out in his crowd. Of course she ends up finding out and is upset, but the movie ends happily as they always do. However, we can see how this example is used as rake because the guy uses his charm as a way to deceive (even though he really ends up falling for her and has good intentions in the end) it is still a good example (because please note that this used to be one of my favorite movies in junior high.)
There are also many other films that I have seen on countless Lifetime movies where the guys are abusive and destructive to the women in these films. These movies usually always represent the women to always be victimized and abused. This channel is mainly aimed towards women, so it shows real-life situations that happen today in society. So a lot of these movies demonstrate most of the men to be seducers and and to be deceptive. The women are usually left to be abandoned and hurt with a loss of virtue and trying to regain confidence to feel strength again.
Many examples of rake are seen in our society today through so many different movies and television shows that I can not just think of one that sticks out to to me.
When thinking about other examples of rake, it reminds me of a similar plot that I see in a lot of movies today. In the movie She’s All That actor Freddie Prinze Junior makes a bet with one of his guy friends that he can turn any girl popular, because of course, he is the most popular attractive guy in school. So he attempts to change actress Rachel Leigh Cook from an artsie-loner, to the kind of girl that hangs out in his crowd. Of course she ends up finding out and is upset, but the movie ends happily as they always do. However, we can see how this example is used as rake because the guy uses his charm as a way to deceive (even though he really ends up falling for her and has good intentions in the end) it is still a good example (because please note that this used to be one of my favorite movies in junior high.)
There are also many other films that I have seen on countless Lifetime movies where the guys are abusive and destructive to the women in these films. These movies usually always represent the women to always be victimized and abused. This channel is mainly aimed towards women, so it shows real-life situations that happen today in society. So a lot of these movies demonstrate most of the men to be seducers and and to be deceptive. The women are usually left to be abandoned and hurt with a loss of virtue and trying to regain confidence to feel strength again.
Many examples of rake are seen in our society today through so many different movies and television shows that I can not just think of one that sticks out to to me.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Lessons for the Ladies
Our readings discuss this way of life that a woman should lead. One of the main readings that came to my mind at first was the one we discussed in class by Alphonzo. He basically writes this instruction to women saying, “Ok ladies, here’s what I, the man, have to say. I think that if you listen to this and do what it says, you should be good.” He says that a “woman without delicacy, is a woman without reputation; for chastity really exists in the mind; and when this fountain is pure, the words and actions that flow from it will be chaste and delicate.” His writing instructs women on how they need to maintain a life of purity and virtue and uses several different words all meaning the same thing like we discussed in class. He also instructs women to not be too prudent or coquettish, rather to find the happy medium. I just found that part silly. He addresses women’s education by saying that women are not really that into reading and the stuff that does spark her interests, which he claims is fiction does not do her any good.
In Orlander’s writing women are told more to “watch out” and to “be on your guard” and be careful not to fall into the temptation of men who “may devour” because we are told that once women basically fall into this “abyss of misery [they] can never return to [their] former greatness.” It seems this way too in Eliza’s writing, because she says that her female virtue is gone.
From these readings its shows that women were instructed to make sure and live in the way that was expected. Basically, don’t be whorish. Mind your manners and be submissive to men and you won’t lose your virtue. Chastity and virtue were all that really seemed to matter. A women’s education did not seem to ever extend further than an man’s and she was always well educated on what needs to be done domestically.
In Orlander’s writing women are told more to “watch out” and to “be on your guard” and be careful not to fall into the temptation of men who “may devour” because we are told that once women basically fall into this “abyss of misery [they] can never return to [their] former greatness.” It seems this way too in Eliza’s writing, because she says that her female virtue is gone.
From these readings its shows that women were instructed to make sure and live in the way that was expected. Basically, don’t be whorish. Mind your manners and be submissive to men and you won’t lose your virtue. Chastity and virtue were all that really seemed to matter. A women’s education did not seem to ever extend further than an man’s and she was always well educated on what needs to be done domestically.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Changing Times
Over the progression of years it is evident to see the way the role of women indeed did change through text. Starting with Cotton Mather, women were, as we have discussed, seen as fallen and evil if they were to go against the so called norms of society within those days.
In comparison with the Panther Narrative the woman runs away from home. In past texts this would have been portrayed has a fallen woman who was going against moral instruction and religious duty probably.
Yet, this woman, has gone from a woman running around with lewd men in the night and participating in promiscuous behavior to kind of like a G.I. Jane type hero. The Panther narrative gives her more of a voice and like they said, it was an adventure. Rather than the story being so focused on what the woman might have done wrong, it focuses more on her journey and what happened to her.
The conception of American audience has changed greatly by the way the texts are now written. In Mather, his writing was more of instruction and guidance of what one should do because that is how society was within that time period. Now, we can see how it has shifted to more of a fantasy and desiring romance within the Panther narrative.
In comparison with the Panther Narrative the woman runs away from home. In past texts this would have been portrayed has a fallen woman who was going against moral instruction and religious duty probably.
Yet, this woman, has gone from a woman running around with lewd men in the night and participating in promiscuous behavior to kind of like a G.I. Jane type hero. The Panther narrative gives her more of a voice and like they said, it was an adventure. Rather than the story being so focused on what the woman might have done wrong, it focuses more on her journey and what happened to her.
The conception of American audience has changed greatly by the way the texts are now written. In Mather, his writing was more of instruction and guidance of what one should do because that is how society was within that time period. Now, we can see how it has shifted to more of a fantasy and desiring romance within the Panther narrative.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
I think that over time American society has diverged into two different views on morality and the sensual lifestyle of women. I think that the life of the media has accepted the “promiscuous girl” and given her a sophisticated lifestyle. For example, I can’t help but think of the television show, Sex and the City. I do have to say, this show is one of my favorite shows. Even though I do not live a lifestyle like any of these women, the show is still entertaining and intriguing, which thus, proves my point. This show is completely about the lives of those four women and the different sexual relationships they have with many different guys almost promoting that this is the life of the independent and successful women.
Comparing to the women of TCU, I think especially in the south because it is more conservative, there is a stigma that comes with that girl who “sleeps around.” She becomes known as the “shacker” amongst the other girls when she comes back with the guy’s clothes on from the night before. I think once a girl becomes known as that, gossip spreads, and she is considered a “slut” or “whore.” It’s just so ironic the polarity that existed between the stigma towards the “easy” girl and the guy who constantly sleeps around. Just as in the past, men are not nearly stigmatized the way women are today.
Even though women are not punished the way they were back then, they still have to battle the names and reputations that are given to them by people. In today's society I think that it is more of a reputation battle that a woman has to fight. If she wears something rather low-cut, it assumed that she is probably "slutty" or "easy." I think one way that women might be stigmatized is also being pregnant out of wedlock, most people usually ask, "who is the father? " and "when are you getting married?" And if you don't, it is almost frowned upon, even if words are not said, it is that social stigma that I think is still carried with society from our past. I am not saying it is always like this, but many times, this seems to be the case from people that I have known and things I have seen.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Witch and Goddess
In reactions to this movement that is discussed, I personally could not help but think a little cynically. I don’t know, maybe I have just had to read a lot of papers in anthropology lately having to do with feminism, I am not really sure. When it is said that the “ordinary” woman is both a goddess and a witch, I just found it amusing. The reason I think this is so is because by trying to reclaim this stigma of a witch as something seen as positive and powerful, I think that is just like trying to re-create the idea of a zombie within our minds. Zombies are usually depicted in books as dead, scary people found walking around haunting graveyards. In this same sense, I think that is what Rountree is doing within this article.I understand her message and what she is conveying. I know that she is not trying to claim any of this to be correct or incorrect. However, I find this depiction to be quite lofty. Just like she states in the beginning of her article, the “image of ‘witch’ incorporate[s] both the hideous hag and the irresistible seductress,” it says that women can self-identify with both witch and goddess. Which, in ways, I guess I can agree. Deception I think is something that is present within both the "witch" and "goddess" representation, which at times I know that I can relate to.
I found interesting this idea of the “feminist witch.” It all just seems a little too extreme to me. In order to be an independent woman, seeking affinity and power, I do not think one has to go the extremity to be labeled a feminist witch. Even though it is a movement of a subculture in itself, when she states the definition of “witch” it was a woman “who challenges patriarchal control and claims independent knowledge and power.” That sounds like the definition of a feminist to me.
This idea of re-creating the image of a witch from the past just seems interesting to me I guess. I am not condemning the idea nor condoning it, rather, I am just saying that I think it sounds a little silly. But hey, each to their own I guess.
I found interesting this idea of the “feminist witch.” It all just seems a little too extreme to me. In order to be an independent woman, seeking affinity and power, I do not think one has to go the extremity to be labeled a feminist witch. Even though it is a movement of a subculture in itself, when she states the definition of “witch” it was a woman “who challenges patriarchal control and claims independent knowledge and power.” That sounds like the definition of a feminist to me.
This idea of re-creating the image of a witch from the past just seems interesting to me I guess. I am not condemning the idea nor condoning it, rather, I am just saying that I think it sounds a little silly. But hey, each to their own I guess.
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Wonders of the Invisible World
When reading Mather I began thinking about a lot things that are now present within our culture and society. But first, relating back to his writing and his Puritanical roots, the idea of women having any voice of power whether it be good or evil was probably almost a kick in the face to him to fathom that idea.
I honestly have never really heard of any "witch-hunts" within my time. However, I do recall two different instances in my past where I guess one could say I encountered some people who shared some of these practices. When I was in high school there was a girl in my biology class who claimed that she was a practicing witch. One day, she proceeded to take her Tarot cards out in class and attempted to contact spirits to help her perform her reading. I just watched from the back of the class, interested to see what was going on. On another occasion, there was a guy in one of my classes who claimed that he was Wicca. He explained to me some of the stuff he practiced and did. It was very interesting to hear.
When considering the existence of evil in our contemporary world, I believe that evil always exists. Not to sound trite, but I think that with all good there is bad. Especially in our society today I feel that evil is more easily displayed sometimes almost as a good thing. Rather it be through books or television shows, I think that this existence of evil in our world is almost twisted into something intriguing and luring. For example, as mentioned in the prompt, modern day shows such as Charmed and Practical Magic display this sense of magical fantasy that draws us to be attracted to this idea of something mystical and dark.
I honestly have never really heard of any "witch-hunts" within my time. However, I do recall two different instances in my past where I guess one could say I encountered some people who shared some of these practices. When I was in high school there was a girl in my biology class who claimed that she was a practicing witch. One day, she proceeded to take her Tarot cards out in class and attempted to contact spirits to help her perform her reading. I just watched from the back of the class, interested to see what was going on. On another occasion, there was a guy in one of my classes who claimed that he was Wicca. He explained to me some of the stuff he practiced and did. It was very interesting to hear.
When considering the existence of evil in our contemporary world, I believe that evil always exists. Not to sound trite, but I think that with all good there is bad. Especially in our society today I feel that evil is more easily displayed sometimes almost as a good thing. Rather it be through books or television shows, I think that this existence of evil in our world is almost twisted into something intriguing and luring. For example, as mentioned in the prompt, modern day shows such as Charmed and Practical Magic display this sense of magical fantasy that draws us to be attracted to this idea of something mystical and dark.
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
This is me
Hello all! I am Stephanie Merrill. I am currently a Senior at TCU and I am a Communication major and and English and Anthropology minor. I am from Coppell,TX, home of the Coppell Cowboys. I honestly can not remember what exactly lured me into TCU, maybe the fact that my dad graduated from here or the fact that I would have rather worn purple over green (I almost went to Baylor). Needless to say, I also like the fact that it is not too far from home because I am a family girl. Home is where my heart is.
If I were made the chancellor of TCU I honestly do not know what I would change. Maybe the most obvious thing problem I would say would be parking. I possibly would look into building a parking garage (that is if there was any available space left for one). I always feel that the good teacher is that one who comes to class with inspiration every day: The kind of teacher that will look past the students faults and still encourage them to keep pushing on, the kind that breathes life into dull material, the kind that wants to hear the voice of the students more than their own, the kind that is willing to accept the possibility that they might be wrong at times. That is what I think makes a good teacher. As far as a good student, I think that student needs be open-minded to ideas discussed in class, listen well even when tired, is persistent in trying to do well, and be honest with the teacher when they really do not understand.
If I could eat dinner with any three people, all three of them would be the grandparents that I never got to meet because they had passed away before I was born. Three things people should know about me : #1. I hate condensation rings and I love coasters. #2. Even though I am from Texas, I try to avoid saying "Ya'll" at all costs. #3. I love being outside and can't imagine my life without sports. If there are usually three things that I want to know about someone it would have to be: #1. If they could travel just one place tomorrow where would it be?#2. Where are they from? #3. What is something they are passionate about?
The reason I am taking this course is because it sounded interesting to me. But mostly the reason I enrolled in it is because I had Dr. Williams as my professor last year in an Emerson and Thoreau class and I loved it and I really got a lot out of it. Even though this class is different, I am still looking forward to it.
As far as personal reading goes, I honestly will read whatever sounds good to me at that point in my life. I really enjoy fiction novels. Sometimes romance, sometimes mystery. I also enjoy personal anecdotes of people's lives, just real life stories of people really interests me. Academically, I have read a lot of literature and personally things I would not pick up outside of class, for example, writings over King Arthur. I however took a class last semester over that and enjoyed it! I also really enjoy writers who make you think deeply inside yourself and discover new things just like Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. In relation to my own writing, I enjoy journaling a lot. I am someone of a hopeful writer, and sometimes cynical at times as well.
Even though it may sound silly, I would hope that my blog shows fun and light! I enjoy positivity and being hopeful in things. As an author, I would hope that it would display my approachability and optimism and that would also contribute to my participation in class.
I have read the course syllabus and I understand and agree to the terms.
If I were made the chancellor of TCU I honestly do not know what I would change. Maybe the most obvious thing problem I would say would be parking. I possibly would look into building a parking garage (that is if there was any available space left for one). I always feel that the good teacher is that one who comes to class with inspiration every day: The kind of teacher that will look past the students faults and still encourage them to keep pushing on, the kind that breathes life into dull material, the kind that wants to hear the voice of the students more than their own, the kind that is willing to accept the possibility that they might be wrong at times. That is what I think makes a good teacher. As far as a good student, I think that student needs be open-minded to ideas discussed in class, listen well even when tired, is persistent in trying to do well, and be honest with the teacher when they really do not understand.
If I could eat dinner with any three people, all three of them would be the grandparents that I never got to meet because they had passed away before I was born. Three things people should know about me : #1. I hate condensation rings and I love coasters. #2. Even though I am from Texas, I try to avoid saying "Ya'll" at all costs. #3. I love being outside and can't imagine my life without sports. If there are usually three things that I want to know about someone it would have to be: #1. If they could travel just one place tomorrow where would it be?#2. Where are they from? #3. What is something they are passionate about?
The reason I am taking this course is because it sounded interesting to me. But mostly the reason I enrolled in it is because I had Dr. Williams as my professor last year in an Emerson and Thoreau class and I loved it and I really got a lot out of it. Even though this class is different, I am still looking forward to it.
As far as personal reading goes, I honestly will read whatever sounds good to me at that point in my life. I really enjoy fiction novels. Sometimes romance, sometimes mystery. I also enjoy personal anecdotes of people's lives, just real life stories of people really interests me. Academically, I have read a lot of literature and personally things I would not pick up outside of class, for example, writings over King Arthur. I however took a class last semester over that and enjoyed it! I also really enjoy writers who make you think deeply inside yourself and discover new things just like Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. In relation to my own writing, I enjoy journaling a lot. I am someone of a hopeful writer, and sometimes cynical at times as well.
Even though it may sound silly, I would hope that my blog shows fun and light! I enjoy positivity and being hopeful in things. As an author, I would hope that it would display my approachability and optimism and that would also contribute to my participation in class.
I have read the course syllabus and I understand and agree to the terms.
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