Happy Gobble Gobble Day!

Happy Thanksgiving Everybody!
Hope you all had a great time eating and having fun with the ones you love!

The Calling of "Chocolat"

Chocolat is the perfect movie for the holiday season. It’s warm; it’s joyous; and it’s “sinfully delicious.” Through a “re-vision” of this amazing film, it is as much of a heart-warming movie as it is a feminist movie.



Chocolat features a young, independent mother, Vianne, who enters a small, conservative, and religious French town with her daughter, and she opens a chocolate store during Lent. The town mayor, Comte de Reynaud, is enraged by her actions and even fears her influence, because Vianne threatens to break his traditions. He is a strict man and wishes to rule the town with an iron fist. He has been successful until the presence of Vianne and her chocolate.

Vianne is a foreigner. She travels in a bright red cape in which her daughter also has. She follows to North Wind, and allows it to take her wherever it calls her to. She is not religious, because she does not believe in such restrictive rules. She is not married, and she has a daughter. Vianne stands for everything that the town is not.

This story reminds me of another tale - "The Women Men Don’t See” by Alice B. Sheldon (actual story provided.) Sheldon depicts a woman, Ruth Parson, who is traveling alone with her daughter, and the story tells that they have already been to a couple of places. Parson’s family does not involve men. Ruth’s mother raised her alone, and Ruth raised her daughter alone. Furthermore, Ruth and her daughter leave Earth together; if her daughter is with child, then her daughter will also raise that child alone.

For some unknown reason, all the women in the Parson family remain single, and the men’s only role is to provide the seed for the next generation. It is as if independence runs through the women’s veins. It is in their blood. Vianne comes from a similar culture where the women roam free to travel, to explore, to help, and to fight. Men are not involved. They follow the call of the North Wind.

Another interesting similarity is the influence of “Maya” culture. Ruth and her daughter traveled to many Maya sites and were supposed to be going to another, and her daughter is later involved briefly with the Mayan pilot. If you notice Vianne’s sign, it says “Chocolaterie Maya.” Her chocolates are based on the Mayan recipe.


However, unlike Ruth, Vianne is definitely “memorable.” The sidestories involve how Vianne helps different villagers. Most of them star a female character, rather than male character - an eldery woman with an equally strong spirit, a wife with an unpassionate spouse, a woman trapped with an abusive husband, and more.

Vianne and her chocolates are exotic with the power to "awaken the passion," and that is exactly why she is not to be accepted. The town’s people call her “some kind of a radical.” A child calls her “an atheist.” Although he does not know what that word means, the way he says it implies a strong, negative connotation as if Vianne is associated with the devil.

Needless to say, Vianne infuriates Comte de Reynaud. He calls her a “brazen” woman and fakes sympathy for her “illegitimate child.” He is threatened by her, because she “laughs” at the town’s, namely his, traditions. She wears vivid colors and has a signature red cape while the main colors of the town are grey, black, and white. Chocolate is sensual; not only that, Vianne’s chocolates are exotic. She is the embodiment of life and its sins.

This single woman represents a foreign power that this one man is afraid of. His world is changed, and not in the way that he wants. She is independent and will bow down to no man. He is terrified of her potential, yet he can do nothing to suppress her. He then tries to prevent the town’s people from further succumbing to her influence by calling her “satanic.” She is also immoral, for she associates herself with the gypsies who are boycotted for immorality. She is a black-hole to his universe.

Chocolat is a story of a woman’s mission to bring joy to a village that has long forgotten the meaning of happiness and the true meaning of life. Life is not all about strictly following rules and traditions. Life does not mean for one to be serious and solemn all the time. Life is about letting oneself go and remembering what little things make the heart beat and make the heart melt. Life is knowing how to give and accept kindness and care. Life is about the unrestrained expression of love.

Life is living with passion.

Can You Hear Me, Mother?

I found this across the web years ago, and I came across it again today. I am not trying to change your views and beliefs for anything. I simply felt the urge to share this with you all after I read it. I thought it was a very moving piece.

---

I know some people feel like there should be the ability to have abortions. I understand especially if they were raped, but there are better ways to handle it. You can view the baby as a gift from God instead of a burden from a traumatic experience.

Month one
Mommy
I am only 8 inches long
but I have all my organs.
I love the sound of your voice.
Every time I hear it
I wave my arms and legs.
The sound of your heart beat
is my favorite lullaby.

Month Two
Mommy
today I learned how to suck my thumb.
If you could see me
you could definitely tell that I am a baby.
I'm not big enough to survive outside my home though.
It is so nice and warm in here.

Month Three
You know what Mommy
I'm a boy!!
I hope that makes you happy.
I always want you to be happy.
I don't like it when you cry.
You sound so sad.
It makes me sad too
and I cry with you even though
you can't hear me.

Month Four
Mommy
my hair is starting to grow.
It is very short and fine
but I will have a lot of it.
I spend a lot of my time exercising.
I can turn my head and curl my fingers and toes
and stretch my arms and legs.
I am becoming quite good at it too.

Month Five
You went to the doctor today.
Mommy, he lied to you.
He said that I'm not a baby.
I am a baby Mommy, your baby.
I think and feel.
Mommy, what's abortion?

Month Six
I can hear that doctor again.
I don't like him.
He seems cold and heartless.
Something is intruding my home.
The doctor called it a needle.
Mommy what is it? It burns!
Please make him stop!
I can't get away from it!
Mommy! HELP me!

Month Seven
Mommy
I am okay.
I am in Jesus's arms.
He is holding me.
He told me about abortion.
Why didn't you want me Mommy?

A Woman's Right - Breastfeeding in Public

Have you ever seen a mother breastfeed her child in public? After all, it is a natural body function, and it is legal in multiple states.

Why should these mothers be looked at any differently than any other women walking down on the street? The baby is simply eating his/her meal just as any toddler or adult would. Would you stare at other people over the age of 3 for eating in public? Perhaps in the library where they aren’t supposed to or if they were making some kind of dramatic scene, but in most cases, you wouldn’t give them a second thought.

But, is there a line as to where these mothers can breastfeed their child?

Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against breastfeeding in public. I work at a retail store that sells baby clothes, and we have a special chair just for mothers who wish to breastfeed their child in. I am used to such scenes and feel no awkwardness towards them.

However, just the other evening when I was on the bus during a busy rush hour, I saw a woman with an about 1-2 years old boy. The boy started whining, but he wasn’t creating much of a disturbance. The next thing I know was that the woman began to breastfeed her child.

Do keep in mind that this small bus was already packed with people. There was a man in front of her who was holding on the railings and another man who was sitting beside her. Needless to say, it was a very awkward situation. I am pretty sure that it was not very comfortable for the men around her. I believe that I even saw the man who was standing directly in front of her blush.

Yes, breastfeeding in public is a “basic civil right.” And yes, breast feeding “should be encouraged and not hidden.” But, shouldn’t mothers still be aware of where in public they choose to do this? I am not sure if the child then was suffering severely from hunger or not, but his cries did not suggest that he was in pain. Perhaps there should be more discretion in this act?

What are your thoughts?

How would you feel if you were on a bus and the person seated in front of you began breastfeeding her baby? Would it be okay? Or how about in a restaurant, would you feel any different?

Society's Needed Female Model

Referring back to Leslie Griffith’s article “First lady needs to get beyond pretty in pink,” we are in need of finding a woman who can temper “the testosterone with reason and [can help] an often-isolated president the condition of the people living in the nation he governs for them.” Who can be the “hero” that young women “need” these days?

I suppose Hillary Clinton would be the person that Griffith slightly implies, for “Hilary in blue slacks” is a “nightmare” for the men. She is certainly a threat. To quote a male professor of my friend, “Hilary is the empowered woman – a woman as far as we know. She is the Judas goat (the one goat that leads the herd to slaughter) in her feminist views, but she’s working for the bigger conspiracy.” He even implies that she may not be a woman because of her actions.

The whole controversy as to whether Clinton should or should not be supported in her ways reminds me of a video I made back in High School in 2007 for a government/economics class (posted below.) The point of this “advertisement” was to show the different ways politics used propaganda and its various methods. (Can you catch them?)

Anyhow, I found my video quite fitting for this topic! It definitely shows the different aspects of Hillary Clinton, and I do applaud her for her bravery and willingness to continue to participate strongly in the political world.

Hillary Clinton - Bringing Sexy Back


Please excuse the amateur editing! Take some time and watch it ^^ It’s short enough~ You will definitely see the many faces of Hillary Clinton. I put a lot of thought in choosing the quotes and the different music choices at that time! (Ohh goodness, this video just shouts youth - and not in the good way)

Who else do you think would fit into the role of a contemporary female model?

Legally Blonde Exists in Real Life?

"Legally Blonde” as a simple comedy film filled with jokes heavily laced with stereotypes. A bubbly sorority girl who majored in fashion merchandising decides to conquer the political world in a bright pink suit. A movie that most consider to be more or less unrealistic since the general picture of politics is serious and more intense than how “Legally Blonde” portrays that world to be. However, the scary thing is that it isn’t that far from reality.

Leslie Griffith’s article “First lady needs to get beyond pretty in pink” raises that exact question as to why presidents’ wives and other ladies involved sided by sided with men in power feel the need to maintain a look “that makes [them] look as if [they] are a Paris Hilton-ized Size 2.” They are “forced to project a pretty-in-pink image.” Why is there even a need for these women to appear beautiful to even have a spot besides these men?

As Griffith mentioned, we often see the older man-younger women teams on television. It reminds me of Sandra Cisneros's poem “Old Maids,” where it implies that women have some sort of expiration date. Youth does not stay forever, in particular a woman’s youth, and once past this limit, the woman is rendered useless. Oddly enough, for some reason, it is “acceptable” to see old men with younger girls; at times it is even admired. There may even be envious thoughts towards the old man who somehow got a hold of such an attractive young female and so full of life while the man could very well be on the verge of death. It seems that her purpose is to "liven" up the older man. When have you seen an older and serious woman and a perky young man on television and being a team together?

If women are objectified, then they are less threatening. As my mother always said, “Numbers are dead; I can handle them. How could you let something that’s not even alive defeat you?” The same concept could be applied here. If women can be seen as vases and portraits, simply to be admired and act as background sceneries, then they can be conquered. They are no longer threats. “Hilary in blue slacks” is a “nightmare,” because she is too similar to them. She is trying too much to integrate into their lifestyles and too close to taking over their lives.

Another question rises as we wonder when did we develop the idea that if you aren’t attractive, then eventually your other half will leave you? Shouldn’t marriage and a relationship be more than just the shallow surface? Where did inner beauty disappear to? It is one thing that this thought exists in the working world, but it is another when we realize that it also exists in our intimate lives. Again, it ties back to the poem “Old Maids." What happens when the man gets old? Does the wife leave the man because of his age and wrinkly appearance? What happened to staying together in sickness and in health till death do they part?

Why can’t we just stay young together in terms of our energy while refusing to let appearances cloud our judgment? The only thing we should admire from youth is the willingness to be rash and exclaim our thoughts – to have the ability to say what’s on our minds and deal with the consequences later.

Be empowered. Just do it! Be “young”! Have fun! Stay cool!

Be brave.

A Bootcamp for Emotions

Last time in Step 2, Mike in “Men Anonymous” learned the valuable lesson on “How to Communicate.” He learned how to express or at least seem like he is expressing “genuine” emotion and “feeling real.”

Men Anonymous - Step 3

The next step is to “build life skills,” which involves a series of intense training with his powerful coach. Under her special care, “there’s going to be blood, there’s going to be sweat…there will hopefully be some tears.” The word “tears” probably has two implications. It first suggests that the training will be so strenuous that these men will cave under the pressure, but the other connotation is that they will finally be in touch with their feelings and express openly – the point is to make them to cry.

To further exercise this skill, the coach forces them to watch a romantic comedy movie, because women “eat” this type of genre “up” and find it emotionally satisfying. As the coach states, “if you’re not crying, you’re not trying.” Crying is a physical sign of emotional outlet and often seen as a sign of weakness for males in general; hence, the men in “Men Anonymous” need to be comfortable with expressing themselves in this way to further connect with the ways that females are.

Step 3 is basically an emotions boot camp to further know the proper ways of behavior when dealing with a female. They taught to reform basic daily routines, such as how to go to the restroom, what to do with the toilet seat, how to say "I love you" out loud, how to deal with eating tofu, and how to order from a menu. The men do pushups while repeatedly saying “flush seat flush” to implant the foreign idea into their heads. They are even being prepared to overcome the embarrassment of buying pads.

To quote Mike about his training after he throws up after trying desperately to eat tofu, “it’s too much man; it’s too much.” It truly must be difficult to learn to behave and communicate a different way. It is as if the two sexes are two different species.

However, as we approach the finale of Step 3, Mike makes visible improvements. We see that he is the one who has “damp” eyes when watching a movie, and he knows how to order from a menu “properly” (although I still think he failed the tofu test – Is tofu really that bad? I love tofu! Is it because I’m a female? =O) Mike hugs the coach as he surpasses each harsh obstacles and even says aloud “love you coach” quite comfortably as a sign of gratitude. Mike is slowly having a breakthrough, and in the video’s sense, he is finally getting control and power over his life.

I feel that “Men Anonymous” illustrates the general and base stereotypes for both males and females in a funny, inoffensive way (at least that was not my intention.) Am I sadistic to say that I found Mike’s training pretty hilarious? I am actually finding myself laughing more and more as I rewatch and analyze his training. =D

I am so curious to know how you feel about Mike and "Men Anonymous!" The catch phrase for the program is “You’re a man. We can help.” Is Mike making improvement? Is the coach good? I think she's amazing now after the nth viewing of this video.

To Be Unheard, Isolated, & Discarded

"Cassandra"
To me, one silly task is like another.
I bare the shambling tricks of lust and pride.
This flesh will never give a child its mother,—
Song, like a wing, tears through my breast, my side,
And madness chooses out my voice again,
Again. I am the chosen no hand saves:
The shrieking heaven lifted over men,
Not the dumb earth, wherein they set their graves.
- Louise Bogan
Such a simple poem, but its feelings are so intense! The anguish and the torment within oneself prove to be extremely difficult to bear that they threaten to rip from the inside out .

Bogan uses Cassandra, a Trojan prophetess, to illustrate the isolation and burdens felt by women. Cassandra is blessed with the gift of vision, but she is cursed so that no one will believe her words. She “bares the shambling tricks of lust and pride.” Despite the irony of her cursed blessing, there is a conflicted pride on having a power that everyone yearns after. Such is her burden to bear.

It is for the world to see, but the world will not listen to her. Hence, her gift cannot bear fruit. Her flesh “will never give a child its mother.” What can she claim to be her own when she cannot do anything with her powers? “Song, like a wing, tears through [her] breast, [her] side, and madness chooses out [her] voice again.” She wants to bold and different, yet she cannot be. The conflict tears her body and soul apart. She is mad, not only in the eyes of others, but also to herself.

For some reason, Louise Bogan’s poem “Cassandra” really spoke to me when I first came across it. The parallelism amazed me. I love her use of the character, Cassandra, to represent the female sex. Cassandra had such great powers, but no one recognizes or acknowledges her strengths. No one will listen to her. Females, much like Cassandra, hold much potential, but because it is foreign to our male dominated society; their strengths are overlooked and discarded. Again, similar to Cassandra, they wish to be bold and remain different, but no one will accept such distinctions.

By taking in the Louise Bogan and her identity into consideration, I believe that I felt an even greater connection to the contents and it gave me further passageway to the poem’s intended meaning. Cassandra is a parallel to Bogan’s life. She, much like the prophetess, holds a great deal of potential, but it is because of her identity, the foreignness of her work, and its difference compared to the rest of the world’s influence that she is pushed aside. She shares a voice with Cassandra’s isolation.

I really cannot place why I feel such a great connection to her poem. I do not think that I go through the same type of torment described. I doubt that I can correctly imagine what it would be like to be in either Cassandra’s or Bogan’s shoes. However, I assume that sense of disappointment and feeling of loneliness when one’s skill is disregarded resonates with many.

Who wants to be forgotten? Who wants their gifts to be ignored? Who wants to be cursed by loneliness, with no one to understand or willing to listen to your cries?

Do you share a voice with Cassandra?

Communication Style

I am sure that most people share a common belief that men and women communicate differently. Most of the time we see women as the sex that need to talk their feelings out in order to express themselves and need verbal reassurance. Word are equally as important as words. We are also often led to believe that men tend to hold on to their thoughts and preserve a “manly” and “strong” image.

I recently came across a Youtube video titled “Men Anonymous.” It is about a man named Mike who feels helpless and powerless with his lifestyle as a man who can’t take care of himself, which causes him to seek help. This is Step 1. He has to go through 12 steps to complete his “training.” In Step 2 and the rest of the 12 steps, he and other men from his support group have a coach who teaches them the “proper” ways of communication, namely with females. It is a very entertaining way to show just how different and difficult it is to adapt a new communication style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qy4j_A57M5k

I’ll share Step 2 right now. The coach, who is dealing with a group of men trying to master the ways of communication, speaks to the men with a blunt, direct tone. She goes straight into the point and gives short commands. That is the assumed communication style that men respond to. She adapts this man-like behavior or that of an authority figure, so that they will understand her and obediently follow her directions.

The beginning of Step 2 shows Mike doing an exercise where he is having a proper and “good” talk session with his coach posing to be his girlfriend or partner. The point is for Mike to provide his girlfriend reassurance of who she is, to admit to her that he respects her, and verbally state his support for her. He uses expressive adjectives and verbs in his speech to communicate emotions, a style that women tend to have rather than men. His coach comments, while using what Mike did as an example, that women will consider this as “genuine emotion” and “feeling real.” This video portrays female communication as a method to connect to each other and to work through together without caring for a particular outcome.

We see the second pair with two men. Expressing feelings verbally does not come directly to them. However, playing and being competitive with each other is their form of bonding. They become friends much faster and naturally than through speech. It is a more physical and less serious form of communication.