An Evening with Ange and Perc

      This week in my life several of my friends finished reading The Great Gatsby. Because I very much enjoyed see the different perspectives in the LitCrit I thought maybe I should share the information I took away from reading the 'Queer Theory' on Gatsby with my friends. Maybe have a fun little discussion? I was met with ridicule. To defend myself against verbal abuse I obrained a copy of Queer Theory from Ms. Valentino and persuaded my friends to attempt to read it. Here, are the results.
Jack Percy (Perc)
Jack, what are your thoughts on the theory I proposed to you?
Uh, to be honest, I read your article and I just saw a lot of stretches and it was trying really hard to prove that Nick was gay. But, in the book he was clearly with Jordan, and went on dates with Jordan, he like hugged her, he said he felt a different way about her, so... I definitely don't agree with your theory.
Did you read at all on how there's evidence that Fitzgerald himself was a little confused with his sexuality?
I, uh, did not get to that part. Why would that influence? Are you tryna say that he was trying to express himself through Nick?
That's exactly what I am saying.
So, my thoughts on that... I guess that could kinda make sense. I don't know, I still don't agree. He was clearly with Jordan the entire time.
Nick and Jordan ended just as Gatsby and Daisy ended.
Okay. So...this is my interview?
Yeah, I guess. I don't have more questions

Andrew Hadad (Ange)
How much did you really read?
I skimmed over the highlighted parts and the first few pages. 
Did you read the last few pages on Fitzgerald's personal life?
Nah
Awesome. Can you please?
Of course, Yazzy. If that's what you want.
Did I change your mind?
The Fitzgerald thing, dressing up on a girl on numerous occasions, I think that he might be gay. But, I don't think he tried to portray Nick as gay...is that fair?
Did it at least interest you in any way?
Uh, yea, I found it interesting. It made me realize things I didn't see before. Like how Jordan could be a boy or girl name, well I knew that, I didn't think of it here though. Like, he was giving a lot of details and that was good.
Did you think that was interesting, that all those little details could be there? It's a lot to simply be a coincidence.
Yea, I found it interesting. I found it so interesting, you can type it S-O-O-O to make yourself sound better.
What piece of information did you find most convincing?
 Definitely NOT the pink suit. I would say Tom being homophobic, shows that Fitzgerald could have put Nick being gay as an underlying theme in the book. It places him and Nick just even farther apart and highlights Tom, being such a terrible guy. Because he is, am I right?
You are so right
Thank you.
Do you just think this article is just reading into the text too much?
um...Yea, for sure. I don't know what else to say to that...
Yea, that was kinda just a statement...I just changed my intonation at the end. I think we're done.

     I like to believe the boys are just being stubborn. But, as closing remarks, I really hope this doesn't reflect poorly on me to associate with people who got in trouble with Ms. Valentino in the past... That would stink :( They're smart, and kinda funny sometimes... I swear.

Now, I Ain't Sayin' She a Gold Digger...

   Hi guys, it's midnight. :) On that note let's talk about Fitzgerald's problems-his white girl problems. From what we have read, a startling amount of the portrayals of women in Fitzgerald's work are not exactly flattering. Women are viewed as flighty, vain, and above all-shallow. This could be due to the anti-feminist views Fitzgerald may have held, but I believe they reflect conflict he had with his wife Zelda. As we know, Zelda was a southern belle who refused to consider Fitzgerald as a serious suitor until he acquired his wealth. That could cause someone to grow rather resentful. Which may have manifested itself in constantly writing female characters who were preoccupied with having wealthy men to take care of them.
   In other news, I believe Fitzgerald and Kanye West have some of the same experiences with women; many Kanye West lyrics can be applied to works of Fitzgerald. This is actually my blog post. Please stop laughing. This is real.  Some logic will be involved. Kanye's mom was an English professor at Chicago State University; she probably made him read books.
    Among West's most well known songs is 'Gold Digger' with a well known hook, 'Now I ain't sayin' she a gold digger/but she ain't messin' with no broke...' we all know that Daisy, Judy, Kismine, and Zelda do not mess with broke men. More specifically West talks about his love for this woman who may in fact be using him, 'From what I heard she got a baby by Busta,' Gatsby knows very well that Daisy has a baby by Buchanan. We also know that this makes Gatsby rather uncomfortable. But despite all he knows of Tom and Daisy (you know, that they're married with a child) he doesn't care. He wants Daisy because he is in love with her, this relates to the lyric 'I don't care what none of y'all say, I still love her.'
    Another hit was 2008's 'Heartless' in which the hook states 'Somewhere far along this road, he lost his soul/to a woman so heartless' Though the song also mentions 'cold' and 'winter' which could coincide with Winter's Dream, the hook most directly relates to none other than Jay Gatsby. Jay did 'lose his soul' when he made his money illegally; he lost his soul to Daisy in attempts to please her. Daisy is in fact 'a woman so heartless' because she ran over Myrtle without showing a great deal of grief.
     Gatsby's great demise can also be related to the more recent song 'I Am a God' the song depicts the material success West has attained when he mentions getting his Porsche out of the garage, the millions he has amassed, and the massage he can receive at his beck and call. Though, he refers to all of them in a rather derogatory and disillusioned way; similarly Gatsby is not particularly happy with the luxurious home he has built for himself-he has a swimming pool he has never even used. Alas, the song ends with screaming. This could be looked at as musical tragedy-maybe not even music, a musical travesty rather-but, it could also be an homage to inner demons that consume Kanye despite his success, that he is being attacked and screaming out for help. Gatsby dies by being shot, which is, of course, an attack. Gatsby also bears a likeness to a crucified Christ in his death, and the song I am currently comparing his demise to is after all entitled, 'I Am a God'.
   Finally, in 'Blood on The Leaves' West laments what could have been, and takes a walk down memory lane. 'We could've been somebody' is rather straightforward, and can compare to 1,001 lost loves (amongst them: Gatsby and Daisy, or Dexter and Judy). Typical of West's music the song also depicts a fast living lifestyle 'Let's take it back to the first party/When you tried your first molly'. Now, no one in any of Fitzgerald's work ever did molly, mainly because it did not yet exist-but we can look at this one of two ways. Obviously, Gatsby had many parties, and he would like very much to travel back in time with Daisy to simpler days. Referencing 'molly' can be a modern version of the excessive alcohol that was consumed in The Great Gatsby, getting drunk and losing inhibitions (Daisy's wedding day). But, molly is a pure form of ecstasy and this can allude to the pure bliss that Gatsby remembers experiencing with Daisy, the pure bliss he so desperately hoped to attain once more. But, in referencing 'the first molly' it alludes to the fact that Gatsby can never get what he is searching for. The pure bliss of the first high can't ever be attained again; the way he cannot go back in time and recreate the magic he first had with Daisy.
   Well, that's it friends. Kanye West is not only Yeesus, but apparently he's also Scott Fitzgerald. Therefore Kim is Zelda, a socialite who has a way of making headlines, this comparison could spawn a whole new blog post but I seriously doubt any of you care to hear that. So I will collect my non-academic thoughts and go to sleep. Bye guys :)))
 

Gossip Gatsby

     Well hello, Old Sport. In this week's reading of The Great Gatsby, I felt as though the events of the book were very...high school. Audacious as it may sound, and be, the characters' actions brought to mind the often foolish, and irrational actions of teenagers. Though Gatsby's setting feels very Gossip Girl, the events themselves mimic those of any-and every-stereotypical high school movie/TV show. But, I'm a self proclaimed 'Math Diva' so I guess that means these types of statements are okay-if I can back them up with mediocre and somewhat vague examples.

     Nick was appalled when he found that guests at Gatsby's party didn't even know him. Yet, how many shows and movies have you seen where the teen's party goes completely out of control and he or she ends up with a house full of strangers? I've ended up as a plus one at parties where I didn't know the host, or been at gatherings at a friend's house without the owner of the house even being home. At the time it seemed totally logical that I was in those situations; even in retrospect it seems at least somewhat logical. On a Friday or Saturday night everyone is just looking for a place to be, and things to do. Much like Gatsby's party, it isn't about why you're there-it's about being there. In the world of 1920's New York and in the modern day world of High School seeing-and being seen trumps most everything.

      Up next would be the 'private time' between Daisy and Gatsby. The entire set up of Nick inviting Daisy over and Gatsby being nervous like a little school boy feels like the plot of a sitcom. Nick inviting Daisy over to 'hang out' with him and Gatsby seems quite a bit like being set up by a mutual friend. The way Nick decides to leave the room to stop being a third wheel had me laughing to myself; the situation was so awkward in such a familiar way. The chat between Gatsby and Nick after Gatsby and Daisy had their private 'chats' seemed like an old timey version of, 'Dude, did you guys hookup?' Because how often do two 'exes' just hang out alone in a room and just talk all night? 

     Finally, the way drinking is portrayed in Gatsby mirrors binge drinking in High School. The fact that the setting is during prohibition adds to the similarities; drinking is illegal for Gatsby and his guests just the way drinking is illegal for high school students. Yet, drinking takes place-and when it does it's pretty hardcore drinking. The guests at Gatsby's parties are a lot like high school parties in the sense that no one is just having a drink with dinner; both groups are drinking to get drunk. But, both groups need to keep this fact on the down low. The fiasco that was Daisy's wedding morning is much like the running joke that it's not a party until some girl cries about a boy not liking her. Daisy was the epitome of a girl getting drunk and crying over boys. But, rather than having just kissed a bad boy at a party, she married a bad guy and had a baby with him. #sadface
    So all in all, I think I mean to say that I relate to The Great Gatsby? Or maybe just my inner Serena Van Der Woodsen does... But, I think that I can see the events of Gatsby as so 'High School' because Fitzgerald wants to show the characters and their actions as immature. No one, is quite so immature and selfish as teenagers. So the real question is, do we need to thank the teens for doing dumb things? As their actions serve as inspiration for the American Classic, The Great Gatsby. Or do we have The Great Gatsby to blame for the regrettable choices of today's youth?

xoxo
Gatsby Girl

   

Work Hard. Party Harder.

    This week in blogosphere we were asked, 'Is there a dark side to American success?' To me, this read as the ultimate place to display my extensive knowledge of celebrity gossip and pop culture references. So, let's go. In this blog, driven by the hard hitting journalism of Us Weekly and E! News, the lovely 'Tennis Courts' by Lorde will serve as our background music. As she sings about the fear that comes with her impending fame she states that, 'We're so happy, even when we're smilin' out of fear.' Fear that comes from the loss of anonymity due to fame, also fear of how fame and money can change someone as a person. If I were to delve into all the celebrities who abuse drugs to cope with stresses that come with fame and fortune (aka success) the list would be longer than Old Miley's hair.  Athletes face the same challenge when using steroids. The pressure to be on top is so great that they are willing to risk their entire career and reputation to continue to be successful.
    The September 2013 issue of Glamour magazine featured the story of Christina Huffington's battle with cocaine addiction. Christina is the daughter of Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post, and a congressman. Naturally, she felt a great need to be successful to keep up with the impressive track record of her family members. Much like in The Great Gatsby Christina was living a very privileged life and stated, "the thought doing drugs felt naughty and glamorous." Christina was able to quit cold turkey after first doing cocaine at age 16, but relapsed after seeing cocaine again in college. Christina went to Yale. The American mentality towards success is often 'Work hard. Play hard.' demonstrated in The Great Gatsby with his lavish parties associated with the roaring 20's. Yet, the party scene has been proven to reveal a dark side time and time again. Overall, coping with the pressures that success puts on a person is near impossible without some repercussions. In celebrity reference closing, Hoodie Allen has got us covered by summing it all up. 'Fame is for A$*holes' we can trust him because we went to University of Pennsylvania BEFORE he was famous. He so humbly informs us of in 'James Franco'. 'Ivy League cuz I'm a genius'. (I cry myself to sleep over this fact sometimes)
See ya next week guys :) bye :)

#changes

In today's ever changing world of communication, it should be only natural that punctuation adapts to fit the changes in language.
     Punctuation has been a longstanding foe to many writers, including myself, with its rules feeling somewhat tedious. But nevertheless it seems glaringly obvious to me when I see others making simple punctuation errors in everyday life over the mediums of text and twitter. The chart of Source A provides proof of a changing language; it pays tribute to the fallen marks of punctuation in our language. It was news to me that these marks could even exist, let alone that, "the pilcrow and the hedera enjoyed temporary places in common usage before fading from view." After realizing that punctuation can be trendy, it seems obvious with the usage of the common use of hashtags '#'. Similar to how placing an exclamation point after a sentences changes its tone and demeanor, the hashtag leaves the reader reading the statement differently. Asterisks have also taken on a new meaning through their usage on twitter. Placing two asterisks around an action set the scene for a tweet. This is needed in today's world where thoughts can be limited to 140 characters. As stated in Source F, "users are forced to be concise," so they found a way to convey tone without taking up too many of the precious characters. Hashtags essentially do the same thing, they give detail without taking space. Lastly the @ symbol has come into usage in the age of the internet, serving as an identifier. All these symbols will more than likely be gone by the time I have grandchildren, maybe even by the time I get married. By then the latest craze will have come along with new punctuation to fit.

Getting in Touch with My Inner Teen Girl

     Welcome back, friends. Today, I have decided to combine the scary true words of Deborah Tannen, the genius of postsecret.com, tying it to Deborah Tannen's book You're Wearing That?, and finally some teenage angst-from that inner teen girl I have been a little too in touch with this weekend. So now would be an appropriate time for everyone to call me Lauren Conrad, because is there anything that girl doesn't do? (I love Lauren and have not yet given up hope that MTV is coming for me; even though it's in my best interests to drop it)
     I was naturally very intrigued by postsecret.com and wanted to send something in. But, I thought, and thought, and couldn't think of something I had truly never told ANYONE. Until, by some impeccable timing, I swore myself to secrecy just days after learning of postsecret. Usually, anything that is eating away at me I divulge to 4 girls I met over the summer. We met at a camp, and they're spread all across the country. We are all one another's go-to's for unbiased advice, and a sounding board for any venting that needs to be done due to the great difficulties of high school drama. Though yesterday I altered the ending to a story I was telling them to protect this newfound secret. *Wild applause because I have kept a secret for 48 hours* But, in teenage girl time that's like, at least 6 months. Why did I hide this information? Well, because, in the eyes of Deborah Tannen there is no such thing as an 'unmarked woman' (and in the eyes of John Mayer, there's no such thing as the real world).
     Simply put, I didn't want to be judged by these girls. I've always felt like a bit of an odd one out. They'll laugh at how my life and stories are always more entertaining, more dramatic, and more wild than anything going on in their lives. I was afraid of pushing my life from chaotic, to something that they would look down on. My first impression with these girls was the epitome of a 'marked woman'. Literally everyone I met and spoke to in Boston, at one point or another confessed to originally labeling me as a 'mean girl' or more bluntly, a bitch; even our own mentor. People tried to turn it into a compliment, my hair was curled too nicely, and my winged liner was too even. The black sundress and gold jewelry I chose to make a good first impression-didn't. The conversation I struck was seen as a trap, it would disappear as soon as authority figures left the room-I would then reveal myself as Regina George. My attempts to look pretty to impress these people had originally marked me as someone to steer clear of, and now I find myself afraid that my actions will mark me as someone to look down upon.
     The genius of post secret is a way to vent feelings that would otherwise leave someone as 'marked'. Our society is in love with marking, marking someone is so easy, its nearly impossible to not love it. You're Wearing That? by Deborah Tannen explores mother daughter relationships in conversations and mothers' attempts to shield daughters from unwanted marks is greatly discussed. Tannen states that mothers and daughters critique one another on the 'Big Three-hair, clothes and weight'. This obviously relates back to the problem in society, that women are judged based on their looks.
     Overall, I would like to thank anyone who read this dissertation of teenage angst thinly veiled as a blog post on issues in society. I obviously just have a lot of feelings...

I'd Come up with a Witty Title, but this Blog is All Over the Place

     The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne has seen it's share of movie revamps. Of these, there are 9 based solely on the book, and 10 if you're to count the 2010 film Easy A. Yet, the conflict of the film seems so dated. This day in age premarital sex is not only acceptable to be happening, it's expected. Even extramarital sex isn't really going to cause a frenzy in the village. Cheaters still make headlines, but no one is slapping an A on Angelina Jolie's all-black wardrobe. Having a child out of wedlock is no longer a rarity, in fact in 2010 over 50% of babies born to women under 30 were babies born out of wedlock. In it's own crazy way Hester's life is rather similar to that of Kim Kardashian's. Both Hester and Kim had a baby out of wedlock; Hester with Dimsdale (the minister), and Kim with Kanye (who identifies himself as a god). While Hester was still married to Chillingsworth, Kim was still legally married to Kris Humphries at the time of baby North's conception-yet, both of the men were out of the picture with the ladies got knocked up. Yet, aside from the occasional jokes, Kim isn't publicly shunned. If anything, she's praised as a public figure. She endorses products, has her own product lines, and is put on the covers of magazines, and as all these items sell. Love her or hate her, she proves to hold some power over the general public.
     So how could a story that feels so irrelevant still be taught in schools today? What is the purpose of reading about a society that publicly shuns Hester when no such thing would happen today? Not only is it taught in schools, it's referenced in pop culture. 2010's Easy A was loosely based on the book, Taylor Swift's 2008 hit love story references 'a Scarlet Letter', and the 2008 novel (and 2012 movie) Silver Linings Playbook in which Pat mentions how he likes that Hester believes in silver linings. The Scarlet Letter isn't just about Hester being shunned for adultery, it's about the morals behind her actions as opposed to Dimsdale's. The relevance of the story is how each of them deal with sin. Hester 'pays' for her actions up front and dies a saint, whereas Dimsdale appears to die as a result of keeping his sin hidden. The sin consumes him. It goes with the Puritan beliefs of the afterlife being more important than life on earth. Hester is in this sense alike to John Proctor, both confess early on and are able to die in good standing with society, and more importantly god.
    Despite what it seems the lessons of The Scarlet Letter hold up in today's beliefs. Owning up to mistakes proves to be a hard choice, but one that garners respect from society. Yet, people in power tend to hid their missteps (alike Bill Clinton or Richard Nixon). Though some of the stigmas Hester faced have lessened, double standards exist (the slut shaming Miley got for her VMA performance, while Robin Thicke was forgotten). Society has changed, but we still have a long way to go.