The Porter’s Netflix Recommendation List:

1. The Office

This sitcom attempts to embody the dynamics of office relationships in the 21^st century in a humorous manner. The main character, Michael Scott, is arrogant in that he beholds himself to a higher value than society typically would. Just like Michael, the Porter does not acknowledge the social order of the society in which he lives. Although he is very limited in authority, he speaks to those above him as though they were equals. Such a persona is demonstrated in Michael Scott during his interactions with the corporate executives who control the regional branch of the paper company that employs him. For these reasons, the Porter might see a funny, lighthearted representation of himself in The Office.

2. Master of None

Master of None follows the life of a young man, Dev Shah, who struggles to make decisions.  Dev lives his life in the present and never plans too far ahead. In many ways, Dev is an opportunist: he takes advantage of the opportunities that life throws at him and hopes for the best. Dev’s behavior in Master of None may represent the Porter’s disposition and view on life. Rather than concerning himself with material gain and the assumption of power, the Porter lives his life pretty laid back. He is not at all concerned with what is expected of him nor about what the future may hold. In the eyes of both Dev and the Porter, every day is a new day.

3. Flight­

This film is different from others on this list in that it tackles a significantly more dramatic topic: alcoholism. Although the Porter (from the brief appearances he makes in Macbeth) is generally nonchalant, he is symbolic of the life of an alcoholic. While it is never expanded on, there is likely a reason for which he drinks and why he has become so unconcerned. Flight details the life of an alcoholic pilot who is in hot water regarding a flight in which a plane malfunction resulted in a crash, killing several passengers on board. The movie does a good job of showing the struggles of overcoming alcoholism and the effect that it can have on the victim and his or her loves ones. As is the case with many alcoholics, the Porter may not wish to discuss his problem externally; but there is no doubt he would relate to this film’s premise internally.

4. Trailer Park Boys

This TV sitcom completes the list on a brighter note. Trailer Park Boys follows the life of three Canadian men living in a poverty-stricken trailer park. The “boys”, as they are referred to in the show, enjoy leisure activities like smoking and drinking, as well as coming up with elaborate schemes to make money. As demonstrated in Macbeth by his drunk state of mind at the feast for Duncan, the Porter is to some extent a party guy: he likes to kick back and have fun like the “boys” do. Trailer Park Boys was created with an attempt to relate to people with similar interests, such as the Porter. The drug references, potty humor, and crude behavior of the “boys” would likely resonate well with the Porter. 

Shakespeare, Power, and Corruption

"Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." - Lord Action 

In Macbeth, Shakespeare demonstrates the effect of power on man. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is a noble warrior who fights with honor and creed. Shakespeare describes Macbeth's virtuous character early on through a conversation between King Duncan and one of his captains. The captain describes how "brave Macbeth" defeated the rebel Macdonwald to which King Duncan, delighted, responds "O valiant cousin! Worthy gentleman!" 

Despite this initial characterization, Macbeth's value of loyalty is suddenly changed by the prophecy of the witches promising him power. In murdering King Duncan, Macbeth shows complete disregard for the allegiance to his country that he was once so willing to die for. The struggle for power, then, fundamentally corrupted Macbeth; he completely lost sight of his moral compass. For this reason, Shakespeare would agree, to a great extent, that absolute power (like being King) absolutely corrupts what one stands for (such as the irony of a soldier killing the King that he once fought for). 

In my own experience, I have also demonstrated the ability of power to change one's personal values. For all my life, I have been very dedicated to spending money wisely. Over the summer, my parents gave me a credit card to use for emergencies and, occasionally, for food. In contrast to spending my own money, the credit card gave me full access to my parent's bank account. Because of this, I did not feel the usual guilt associated with spending money when I used the card. As the summer went on, I began to use the card more and more frequently. The consequences of overusing the card were, at the time, indifferent to me. 

At the end of the summer, however, after my parents read through their bank statement, I was stripped of my credit card privilege and forced to pay my parents the $300 bill out of my own pocket. In retrospect, I consider the credit card to have been a form of absolute power to me. With the card I could buy virtually anything without having to worry about losing my own money. Ultimately, I turned into a person with no regard for spending nor rational purchases. Just like the power of being King led Macbeth to betray his values, the power of the credit card led me to do the same. 

Freebie!!!!!!

On November 13, 2016, I am using my one "freebie" for the first semester.

Canterbury Tales & Jane Eyre: Question #3

"One afternoon (I had then been three weeks at Lowood), as I was sitting with a slate in my hand, puzzling over a sum in long division, my eyes, raised in abstraction to the window, caught sight of a figure just passing: I recognised almost instinctively that gaunt outline; and when, two minutes after, all the school, teachers included, rose en masse, it was not necessary for me to look up in order to ascertain whose entrance they thus greeted. A long stride measured the schoolroom, and presently beside Miss Temple, who herself had risen, stood the same black column which had frowned on me so ominously from the hearthrug of Gateshead. I now glanced sideways at this piece of architecture. Yes, I was right: it was Mr. Brocklehurst, buttoned up in a surtout, and looking longer, narrower, and more rigid than ever." -Charlotte Bronte, Jane Eyre 

In the selected chapter from Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte, Bronte employs a stylistic use of imagery to introduce the character of Mr. Brocklehurst. This imagery takes on a rather architectural lens: describing physical characteristics that neglect to acknowledge the the character's status as a human being. Taking away Mr. Brocklebury's  mortality  underscores his nonconformity with human nature early on. In the passage above, Jane first predicts the arrival of Mr. Brocklehurst after seeing a "gaunt outline" pass the window of her classroom. Diction in this case, such as "gaunt", establishes a grim foundation for Mr. Brocklehurst from the get-go; his presence is essentially bleak in nature. As a result, the development of his character is retarded to a low level of empathy for others, unlike what is expected of humanity. 

Once Jane's prediction is proved accurate, she then compares Mr. Brocklehurst's appearance to that of a "black column". A dark color, black suggests that Mr. Brocklebury is both a powerful and serious individual. Furthermore, a column is straight by definition and can therefore appeal to logic; Mr. Brocklebury is motivated by reason rather than emotional dilemmas.  In her final remarks regarding Mr. Brocklehurst's appearance, Jane states that he looked "longer, narrower, and more rigid than ever." "Than ever" implies that Mr. Brocklehurst's character on this particular occasion will be extreme in its respective nature and thus more cold. Such character is unlikely to change on account of his "rigid" disposition. In brief, Bronte's embrace of the architectural imagery approach serves to dehumanize Mr. Brocklehurst and therefore explain his inhumane temperament. 

Lust, A Horrible Temptation

This advertisement was created by the United States government and released to the public in 1942. On the surface, we can see a line of blonde-haired, white women dressed in the same attire. Below the women are the face’s of three men, each of them wearing a hat. The text on the image reads “98% of all procurable women have venereal disease,” followed by “Why bet against these odds?” Looking at the connotative implications, new conclusions be made. Considering the tight-fit clothing and high skirts of the women, it can be inferred that the US government intended to present these women in a sexual manner. The three male heads below the line of women substantiate this inference by means of facial expressions: the men’s faces appear to be entranced. Furthermore, the text suggests that due to the high percentage of women with sexually transmitted diseases, arbitrary fornication may not be sensible. 

The US government intended for this image to appeal to adolescent and young adult men. Although the advertisement is applicable to men from all social and economic backgrounds, it was most likely directed toward the poorer classes; during the 1940s, abstinence was easier to achieve in richer communities, in which an emphasis on education steered people away from sexual activity until adulthood. In creating this image, the US government assumes the stereotype that young men are attracted to white, blonde hair, voluptuous women. The US government, as well as contraception lobby groups who would have economically benefitted from this image, demonstrates that while women may be aesthetically pleasing, they are still not worth the risk of contracting a venereal disease.  

AAAAAA

What's in a name?

For this investigation I will explore the meaning and history of my last name, Thomas. The surname Thomas comes from the Greek word “ta'oma,” which means “twin.” Because Thomas is the name of an apostle in the New Testament, the name is often associated with Christian roots. According to behindthename.com, Thomas the Apostle was “martyred in India.” This is particularly interesting to me because my dad's family, from which I received my last name, is from India. 

In my life experiences, I think that my last name has helped define me in a religious sense. Because I am half-Indian, many people have the preconception that I may be a follower of Hinduism. My name, however, as demonstrated by its connection to Thomas the Apostle, suggests that I am of Christian descent. Ironically enough, though, Thomas shouldn't even be my last name. When my grandfather moved his family to Canada in 1972, he accidentally applied for Canadian citizenship using his first name as his family name; thus, my grandfather's legal name is Thomas Thomas.

Being an individual and, at the same time, part of a larger whole is very relatable to me given recent events. On the social media platform, I have come to realize that although my ideas and opinions are strictly my own, they represent a larger group of people as well. Take for example my Twitter account. In the past month, I took it to myself to defend Millbrook's pride by replying to the Tweets of multiple friends from other high schools who were disrespecting, in my opinion, our school's honor. 

In my responses to their Tweets, I neglected to consider the larger audience that would see what I said. Because of this, I used language that is unbecoming of me, as well as Millbrook high school. My soccer coach, who discovered the Tweets, was very disappointed in the image that I was painting for Millbrook. Ultimately, I resolved to delete the Tweets and issue a formal apology to the students who I Tweeted at. When all is said and done, it is clear that although the inappropriate language came from my account, it reflected on the school as well because I am a Millbrook student and athlete. 

Atta girl, Atwood

In Wing Young Huie's David and Lou (published in South Minneapolis, MN, 2012), included in his "We are the Other" collection, two men of different ethnic backgrounds are presented on a porch with a white column dividing them. The man on the left is white, dressed in gym shorts and a tank top, and is smoking a cigarette. In contrast, the man on the right is black, wears a button up shirt, and has an earring on his left ear. Despite these differences, the two men seem remarkably similar. They both wear glasses, have a square-shaped beard, and are sitting in almost the exact same position. After reading the text below the photograph, new discoveries can be made about the men that are not apparent on the surface. The two have been friends for seven years and consider themselves to be "two bosses" and "entrepreneurs." Both men live their lives by a shared moral code of values: serving to strengthen their relationship and understanding of each other.

Both Wing Young Huie and Margaret Atwood use color to present the concept of "othering" in their work: the process by which people or things are portrayed as fundamentally different. In Huie's David and Lou, the difference in color between the two men's skin immediately suggests to the audience that they come from two different backgrounds. Furthermore, sitting on the front porch of a house in such attire is stereotypical of poor, Southern communities, which have a long history of racial conflict between blacks and whites. As a result, the audience is generally surprised when they discover that the two men are actually close friends and share common interests. Similarly, Atwood uses color in The Handmaid's Tale to underscore the difference between classes in the society of the Republic of Gilead: the Handmaids wear red, the Marthas wear green, and the Wives wear blue. Although color does divide the women, the Marthas and Handmaids demonstrate some degree of association and shared understanding in that they are both subservient to the Wives. Color in both scenarios, therefore, lets Huie and Atwood alienate people in the physical sense while still allowing them to be bound together in the mental sense. "Othering," then, can be misleading at times; while a person or group may be presented as fundamentally different, some striking similarities may exist between them below the surface.