Don't Worry, Be Happy

          The biggest thing that caught my attention in part I of "Notes From the Underground" was the fact that no matter what he's doing or who he is, he is never happy. Many times in the boom he talks about how he wishes he was a "stupid man". In the Underground Man's point of view he thinks that if he becomes this "stupid man" than he would be able to enjoy things and finally be happy. But the very next sentence The UM talks about how he would hate himself be he was a "stupid man" because than he wouldn't have his own conscience, and he can't let that go since it kinda seems like that's the only thing that really defines him. Hence the title and song in this post. So Underground Man, I say to you, Don't Worry, Be Happy.

(BTW one of the best songs in the world)

Lion Project

The Lion Project

            The single story of California might not be as harmful as that of Africa but the interesting thing is how people try and dismiss their single story. The two texts that try and clear up of the single story of both their cultures are Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, and the Misconceptions – Visit California Commercial. Even though the Visit California video is a commercial for a tourism website, it paints a more complete picture of what everyone else sees and thinks of about SoCal and California in general. One of the most important parts about this video is that it shows that some Californians do surf and go to the beach but the video also demonstrates that Californians also do a lot of other things as well[p1] . The commercial uses the stereotypes of California to complete the story. Another side source that I found was a blog by a TCU student named Sydney Green. Her blog uses a more personal way of debunking California stereotypes.

Achebe similarly portrays Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart. Throughout the story Achebe depicts Okonkwo as the poster child in the Ibo people’s eyes. But Achebe also displays how Okonkwo often loses his temper and beats up his wives and children. Although this is not a good characterization of Okonkwo Achebe still includes it in the story because that gives the whole story. [p2] The difference between the way that Achebe and the commercial attempt to dismiss the single story is that Achebe emphasizes some of the negatives more than the commercial.

The real difference in how the two texts try and present a more complete story of their culture is the amount of balance each text uses. In Things Fall Apart Achebe clearly uses more of the negative sides. He shows this in the very beginning of the story when talking about some of Okonkwo’s characterizations and says, “He had a slight stammer and whenever he was angry and could not get his words out quickly enough, he would use his fists.” (Achebe, 4) This is definitely not one of Okonkwo’s best attributes but non-the less is very important to include it because it is part of Okonkwo’s and the Ibo people’s complete story. While Achebe gives examples of Okonkwo’s weaker side the Visit California commercial mainly just shows the best parts of California. Nowhere in the commercial does it show the amount of poverty and struggle that is actually present in a lot of California. The commercial is an example of a way of overcorrecting the situation by telling just the good parts and not everything[TB3] .[p4] 

Another thing that many if not most people think about is that [p5] Africa is completely uncivilized and there is no strong sense of community. After another tribe captured and killed an Ibo girl, the Ibo tribe decided to take tradition action, Achebe writes, “An ultimatum was immediately dispatched to Mbaino asking them to choose between war on one hand, and on the other the offer of a young man and a virgin as compensation.” (11) While to most people the offer might seem odd, but it was a traditional trade that each tribe had been doing for a very long time. The fact that the Ibo people have these traditions demonstrates how they are not barbaric or uncivilized and have a strong community. Although community is not a strong essence in the commercial, a feeling of togetherness is still present, in the way that because the commercial cuts go so quick from place to place it makes California feel like such a small place[p6] .

One of the biggest misconceptions about California and the people who live there are that not everyone goes to the beach and surfs all day. A former Californian TCU college students named Sydney Green writes on her blog, “I would just much rather lay in bed. And when the weather is just too nice, I move to the couch.” (The Californians: Stereotypes Debunked) [p7] Similar[TB8]  to anywhere in the US there are many people in California who enjoy staying at home and reading books. Just like how certain stereotypes are created about Californians, the same happens to Africa. People hear about one situation and generalize that the whole continent is the exact same to that one situation. One product that comes from this idea is that every person in Africa is starving and doesn’t know how to supply himself or herself with food. During one of the growing seasons for the Ibo people Achebe writes, “The yams put on luxuriant green leaves, but every farmer knew that without sunshine the tubers would not grow.” (24) While many of the Ibo people might not be educated in stuff like calculus, they learned what they needed to know. The farmers knew that even though the yams were growing luxuriant leaves, they needed sunshine in order for the yams to grow[p9] . Throughout the book yams played a very big part in the Ibo peoples lives and shows that they do have a means of food. This also shows that many people in Africa are and were living perfectly independent lives.

Out of all the misconceptions and stereotypes about Africa the biggest one is that every person in Africa needs help and salvation from their terrible lives and that they don’t work hard. Towards the end of Things Fall Apart missionaries come to Nigeria and try and convert people to Christianity. While talking to the Ibo people one of the missionaries said, “We have been sent by this great God to ask you to leave your wicked ways and false gods and turn to Him so that you may be saved when you die.” (145) Without knowing anything about the Ibo people’s culture the missionaries came to their homeland and basically said, everything that you have ever believed in is wrong and we are right. People think almost the opposite about California. Instead of thinking Californians need help, many people think that everyone who lives in California doesn’t have any responsibilities or worries. In fact people in California have to work just like any one else. In the commercial at the very end it shows popular celebrity Betty White on set in Hollywood, even though she is an actress she still had to work hard to become what she is today. Everyone no matter where, whether it’s in Africa or California have to work to be successful[p10] .

There are many different stereotypes and many different misconceptions in this world but the real challenge is how to deal with them. Even though it is tempting to only show the best qualities of the story like in the commercial. It is important to remember that the complete story includes everything, including the good, the bad, and the ugly, just like what Chinua Achebe did in Things Fall Apart[p11] .

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 [p1]What is your thesis? Does it have how both authors try to complete the single story?

 [p2]I like how you show the good and the bad to complete the whole story

 [TB3]This is how the commercial completes the single story.

 [p4]Then how does this commercial complete the single story of california?

 [p5]Super wordy

 [p6]I like how you show the differences and similarities of the commerical and things fall apart

 [p7]Are you using to different sources? If so i think you have to put it in the into.

 [TB8]I added something in the first paragraph but I wasn’t sure if that was what you were looking for

 [p9]I like how you wrote about what they need to know and what is important for them to survive in their culture J

 [p10]What you are saying in the beginning of the paragraph doesnt really stay that way all the way through.  Stay more on track

 [p11]Really good summary and “bigger Picture” of the essay. Short and sweet J J

The Whole story: SoCal

Even though this video is a commercial for a tourism website, I believe that it paints a more complete picture of what everyone else sees and thinks of about SoCal and California in general. In my mind the best part about this video is that it shows that some of surf and go to the beach but it also shows that we do a lot of other things as well. I think this is how Achebe portrays Okonkwo in Things Fall Apart. Throughout the story Achebe shows us how Okonkwo is the ideal child in the Ibo peoples eyes. But Achebe also shows us that Okonkwo often loses his temper and beats up his wives and children. Although that is not a good characterization of Okonkwo Achebe still includes in the story because that gives the whole story.

"To This Day"- Shane Koyczan

          The first thing that I really like about this Ted talk is the use of rhyme. The rhyme and music behind the talk gives so much more power than without. Another thing that I really like about this is when Koyczan talks about how we are forced to know who we want to be before we know who we are. Like when you are taking tests in 6th, 7th, 8th grade and it asks you what job you want. When I was young I always had trouble with knowing who I wanted to be. When Koyczan gets into the actual poem he talks about one of the most common issues in today's schools, which is bullying. The reason why I think I found this talk so much more interesting than any other anti-bullying lecture is because of the pain and pure power in his voice.

Technology and Hamlet

Hamlet has been performed in many different time periods but one time that I haven't seen it performed in is 2013. I think it would be very interesting just because of the pure fact of what kind of technology we have in the world today. With all this technology and the capability of phones the play would have been much shorter and less intense. One of the most interesting parts of the reenactments of Hamlet is watching the actor or actress's emotions, and I think that would be lost a bit with everyone being on their phones all the time.

The scene that I chose to put into a modern setting is Hamlets "To be or not to be" soliloquy. The way I imagine this scene is Hamlet sitting in his bed on his phone typing away. You can here his voice in the background saying what he's typing to Twitter and Facebook. This way would show how in today's world people are even sometimes disconnected with themselves and having to share everything with everyone. Hamlet could also use CAPS at some points to show that he is becoming more aggressive. I think this would be a funny take on Hamlet.

To be or not To be

1. David Tennant's interpretation of to be or not to be

2. Mel Gibson's  interpretation of to be or not to be

          In David Tennant's deliverance of Hamlet's to be or not to be soliloquy, he is much more passive about it. Throughout the soliloquy he seems to be confused and betrayed. He also stays in one place through the whole thing which also gives his version a much more passive feel. While Mel Gibson's interpretation of the soliloquy is almost the opposite. Mel Gibson is much more active in his scene, he moves all over the place. Mel also speaks in a much louder and harsher tone than what Tennant did. Gibson seemed to be angry and revengeful rather than sad and confused.

          I personally think that Mel Gibson did a better job while portraying this scene. The reason why I like it better, is because where the soliloquy is in the book. At the moment Hamlet seems to have left the confused and sad state of the mourning process, and now is starting to purely focus on revenge. Since Mel Gibson's version was much more active I believe that it illustrates Hamlets moods in the play at this time.

Paragraph revision

          Although the Barbie doll is a symbol of what we think beauty is, Piercy also shows how the symbol has a negative effect. After the girl hits puberty, one of her classmates said, “You have a great big nose and fat legs.”(6) Because the idea of what beauty is, is so strong in today’s world, it allows girls to tear each other apart just by making fun of the way they look. Later in the poem Piercy writes, “She went to and fro apologizing.”(10) Because everyone had told her that she was not this perfect Barbie doll pretty, she became so self-conscious that she felt bad to be in people’s presence. At first glance the Barbie doll might seem like a harmless child’s toy, but really it has come to have more serious effects than just making girls self-conscious about their bodies.


          Although the Barbie doll portrays a symbol of what we think symbolizes beauty, Piercy also illustrates the negative effect of the symbol. After the girl hits puberty, one of her classmates says, “You have a great big nose and fat legs.”(6) Because the idea of what beauty is, is so strong in today’s world, it allows girls to tear each other apart just by making fun of the way they look. Later in the poem Piercy writes, “She went to and fro apologizing.”(10) Because many people including the girl from school had told her that she was not this perfect Barbie doll pretty, she became so self-conscious that she felt ashamed to be in other people’s presence. This simple comment also influences the girlchild's choices throughout the rest of the poem. At first glance the Barbie doll might seem like a harmless child’s toy, but really it has come to have more serious effects than just making girls self-conscious about their bodies.