I want you to want me 12/13/10 Final

I want you to want me

10 Things I Hate About You directed by Gil Junger is an attempt to make people see how radical the lives of teenagers are. They show us examples of radical romance, but really throughout the plot; and at the end, the movie maintains the status quo. The status quo is kept by the high school students, parents, and leading figures. 10 Things I Hate About You starts off with a new kid in school (Cameron) who is blown away by a  beautiful girl who has just crossed his path; Bianca. He wants to date Bianca, but there are two problems. Bianca is not part of his click, her standards, or her "class." Bianca is a Stratford, her sister Kat is considered a heinous bitch by most, which shows us the threat to men that a righteous and strong woman can create to the first sex, gender, and authority in society; men. Cameron's only hope to take Bianca out is to find someone who will date her sister. At first the problem only seemed to be that Bianca was out of his league, and not allowed to date; but later Cameron and Michael realize that the only way for Cameron to get someone to take Kat out, is by paying them to do so. This movie seemed like an example of the teenage life but then I realized it is a mirror of today’s society. These teenagers in high school already have either constructed or have been fed their personal ideal and opinions about woman. Cameron wants the girl, he must pursuit, and however his respect for women is not that great. He does not care about Kat’s feelings; he is even willing to put a price on her. This not only shows the viewer the threat that men feel towards an independent, educated, and outspoken woman but it shows that women still carry the parallel of seventeenth century, like in some of the literature mentioned in the movie. When women were nothing but property, women were slave-like, had no word, no freedom; and the outcome of when they desired change or an opportunity to speak. Seventeenth century is not the only time that women had no voice, for as long as history has been written woman have always been portrayed as passive, and content. In this movie we have different profiles of women, we have Bianca who wants to be accepted, her friend who is willing to be a mat, and we have Kat who is the ideal modern woman. The conflict is not that Cameron cannot have Bianca; it is that she is torn whether she wants to play the acceptance dummy like her friend or the independent woman she can become. Bianca’s friend is in her shadow; she must abide, agree, and stick with Bianca because she is the one that appeals to everyone. The only way out for Bianca’s friend to exit her shadow is to give up the capacity of being a self. She then follows the route of acceptance, she wants to be the popular “one” but if she is popular that then means that she is part of a construction to be a certain way ignore sacrifices she must make like her virginity or promiscuity for popularity. Kat is the example of an educated, independent, and outspoken woman. She is the modern role of how woman are becoming. Even if Kat is being the heinous bitch, she is seeking independence and freedom from what ties her to the society that constructs what women must do for “love”. Purity is something that has been dramatized in this movie, Bianca is the pure one, she is desired because she is still untouchable, and Kat is the angry example of when “love” goes wrong. She is angry at the sacrifice she made for acceptance from someone who she thought loved her and respected who she was. Her giving up her virginity to the cutest boy who seemed to respect who she actually was is an example of how males are fed a construction of who they have to be or literally screw over to get ahead. Kat was nothing but a trampoline Joey had to jump to get his reputation going; to some men, women are nothing but reputation. This movie has shown us the example of structure, agency, and the creation which society makes us to be. These three characters portray the evolution of women, the journey and decisions they must make in order to confirm who they are. In earlier times the woman had to abide by the rules, had no voice, no freedom to decide or become educated. As time went on we have the woman who has made decisions, appealed to the social norms and expectations; to become a new type of woman. Through time some women have become “lost in translation”. The new woman is one who does not care for “out of the ordinary”, someone who does not mind to speak and actually have their own point of view. The new woman is educated, demands respect, and feels autonomist. 

Like Kat wanting romance, wanting to be loved, Cameron, Michael, and Patrick show us that we are not "autonomous" because Cameron has to depend on Michael; but they both must depend on Joey. Joey is the wallet, he is who provides Patrick the money to take Kat out, and therefore they all depend on each other. We are always already "unstable" and "in play" because we always depend on one another.
If Joey is the one with the money, is he then considered the owner or master, are those relationships not present as well? They are, because in order for Joey to get Bianca, Cameron and Michael must convince, advice, and help Patrick seduce Kat. They are all dependent. Bianca relies on Cameron to be able to go out, while she decides who she wants to be, and who she wants to be represented by or seen with. In a relationship we are the advertisers of the other partner. We advertise who the other is. Whether the person is high class, low-class, ugly, beautiful, educated or ignorant.

 Kat depends on Patrick to be the different person that proves her concept of males wrong. Michael depends on Cameron and Patrick’s success to get Kat to go out; in order for Joey to admit that Michael exists. Reputation is not the only issue; there is also a problem with acceptance, and existence. Why must someone be accepted? Who is to decide the standards that become requirements for acceptance? These are questions proposed in this movie, it shows us that high school is a society of its own, that reflects society in a bigger picture. This small internal society constructs standards, which must be met in order to be embraced by the “high school society.” The ironic part is that usually the people in power are those of economical power; in Joey’s case that is exactly who he is. There are economical and social relationships that coincide with the present standards in our society. Men in this movie have the position of power; have the privilege and luxury to be in command, and in control of the woman. Bianca and Kat's father is an uptight person who believes that his daughters are in danger if they take action in everyday life. He is the traditional male who is only afraid of his daughter’s decisions because of his concept of how easy, passive, and naïve women are. He makes and breaks the rules. He does not want Kat to go away for college; he tries to hold her back. In a sense it is a parallel of how he wants control over his daughters; but most of all control as the male in power and command. The father resembles the owner and the master.

 Joey is the character that represents the "Successful American." Joey purchases everything. Joey is like a character plugged in from the movie American Physco. Joey puts a value on it all, not sentimental, but economical value. Joey is a product of capitalism and commercialism. He buys things in order to replenish what he is missing mentally and emotionally.

10 Things I Hate About You is a romantic comedy that shows us the switching of roles, the desire of sex, and the construction of characters that define different economical positions, situations, and gender roles, even within the same gender. Bianca's friend is a free spirit that believes in getting ahead, she is the female version of Joey; without the money. She is willing to get everything she wants without taking the consequences into consideration. After Joey treats Bianca carelessly, Bianca's friend is still interested in Joey. Bianca in this movie represents what “good” woman should be like in Joey’s/mens eyes. Bianca represents purity, untouched love, and morality. Since Bianca is a character that has these qualities, she is the desired. Bianca thinks she is loved by everyone, but really she is sexually wanted "What does this chick have, beer flavored nipples?" (Heath Ledger/Patrick). Her intelligence does not matter, what matters is the assumption of her being a virgin. She has her own concept of self, and does not realize what others actually think, until she makes the decision of what kind of woman she wants to be.

Throughout the entire movie we see what is thought of as radical romance. Situations like Kat once being popular, but giving away her virginity to Joey, now using that situation as a motive to be the bitch people make her out to be. However even if Patrick and Kat's love seem radical because they both have a horrible reputation, Kat only has wanted love all along, and even if the road was bumpy; love is what she finds in Patrick. However, even that love has tweaks and flaws. Would all women forgive a man after hurting them? Is the concept of forgiveness realistic in real life? A bass can be a form of a sexual representation according to Freud. Is Patrick not buying her off as well? Is Kat giving in to societies rules for acceptance?  This movie is one of the most incredible examples of something with a facade of radical romance, but within the masks, maintaining the status quo. Kat and Patrick's relationship gives us an example of radical romance, switching of the roles, and the modern woman. Joey shows us how he is the representation of the powerful man in charge, the woman and man compared to the master and slave. Cameron willing to have someone purchase Bianca's attention for him shows us the dependence, and the construction of what we think is extreme; only being an example of daily situations people act out for their own convenience. 10 Things I Hate About You is the modern romantic comedy that has a radical but normal twist, it proves to us that things have not changed. We have and always will be a constructed society, with a designated created self. We are not autonomist, we are not unique, we all must abide by the expectations and become products of profit and society.

WORKS CITED

www.yahoo.com

www.ask.com

http://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/Phallic+symbol

http://www.narth.com/docs/1996papers/schoenwolf.html

http://changingminds.org/explanations/learning/freud_stage.htm

Barker, Chris. Cultural Studies: Theory and Practice

De Beauvoir. The Second Sex

McDonald. The Romantic Comedy: Boy Meets Girl Meets Genre

Butler. “Imitation and Gender Insubordination”

Foucault. The History of Sexuality

 

12/07 Final thoughts

Throughout this course I have faced being the second sex, having no-self, the construction of beauty, race, sex, gender, and the construction of media, web, and cultural politics. I learned that through society I will be the second. Woman still are faced with the slave-master worker-owner relationship. We have no self, the self is constructed, we are products of commercialism and capitalism. The things we buy make us the product, the profit for those in power. We are walking advertisements. That which we think makes us unique is a construction of who we think we are, which include beauty, race, and gender.  Beauty is an opinion and an ideology created by the media and society which tells us if we are ugly, pretty, fat, skinny, too tall, too dark/light, and if who we think we are and look at is nothing but a design of society.

11/30 Barker Chap 14 " Cultural Politics and Cultural Policy"

"The emergence of cultural studies as an institutionally located enterprise did not coincide with an upsurge of class struggle."

 Hegenomy was a concept that was used in relation to social class, now it embodies relations towards sex, gender, age, national identity, and ethnicity. One of the most important concepts that hegenomy has adapted towards is femenism. This shows us that cultural politics and policy has had its turns and tweeks in history in order to fulfill the ideology of citizens in need of "democracy."

Cultural politics and policy had to assimilate to regulate and produce cultural identities and social action. In cultural politics African Americans challenge the representation of black people as a marginal and crminalized. Women want to be citizens of equal standing with men; but both African Americans and women are still fighting for the establishment of their cultural policy. Language is very important for redescribing because in order to say anything and take action there must be a temporary closure to the meaning of what is being challenged for redescription.

11/23 Barker chapter 11 ' digital media culture"

Digital technology organize and enables information to be processed at a greater speed. Like news, the hegemonic model, and soap operas, digital technology shows us the democratic exchange of ideas and opinions. The Internet is hailed as a new social space. A text has no single meaning or original source but is made up of already existing cultural quotations. Blogs and web pages have created support for democratic activism . Every website demands more data and more information regarding public culture. Having a blog or a profile on the web has created an adoption to beliefs, and created a way of constructing a self. We do not have to see the other person in contact, it is information we screen, create, and not always research; of course not always from first hand experience. 

The information we see on the internet, on other blogs, and profiles from other people are created to serve those who believe in the same issues, have similar values, and political preferences. The Hegemonic model is a perfect example for the digital media culture. For example channel 34 is a channel that shows spanish speaking soap operas, news regarding issues that affect the culture like (immigration, green act, and political advances that profit the Mexican, Latin/Hispanic community.) They are part of a coorporation called Univision; Univision has created a website that allows viewers that missed a soap opera or news to watch it online, create a blog about what they have watched, chat within a community of people with similar interests, and leave comments on something they have a "unique" opinion about.

"We might think we are surfing freely through the web but actually we are being channelled into the limited options chosen by powerful commercial interest." (Pg.356)


 they are a stream of

11/16 American physco

This movie is about the 1980s but made in the 2000s. The main character Patrick Baytmon has created his own form of self, he is a product of capitalism, commercialism, and social ambition. Patrick is nothing but a social construction of self. He has layers that slowly peel off when he erupts in disgust and anger. Patrick is a profit because of his wealth, he exploits, he makes purchases, therefore he is a cycle of commercialism and capitalism. An example of this is his golden boy image, the cleansers, scrubs, after shave, moisturizers, and balms.


Without language we cannot know ones self, Patrick's ideology is already structured. Reaction is written and given to us. He is an example of action (doing something has a monstreous side.) He is monstreous when he says "fucken ugly bitch I want to stab you to death and play around with your blood." His physco side comes out, his contruction of who he has become, and what society has made of him.

11/09 Seinfeld

Seinfeld is "a show about nothing" it is a stream of words into Amrican pop culture. Elaine is the corky character full worries and gossip, she is the only female in the group, and Jerry's ex. Jerry is the glue of the group who is a comedian and wants to star on the today show as a stand up comedian. Kramer is the balance of the group, he is the creative and imaginitive one.George can never hold a job down or score the girl, but he has more than enough schemes to make things happen.

The four of them make the setting at the coffee shop, restaurant, or mall. Their everyday experience always sets the stage for their humor about single life in the big city. The language presented in the show has created memories like "masters of their domain, close talkers, big salads, killer envelopes, and yada, yada, yada, yada. This show has made history. This show dramatizes everyday events and simple issues, it uses satire to show us how ridiculous we sometimes act about meaningless things.

Barker Chapter 10 11/02

"News is not an unmediated 'window-on-the-world' but a selected and constructed representation constitutive of 'reality'."  Like other forms of television, the news is a medium to the audiences that tend to agree with their opinions, arguments, and values that are presented. News is constructed to be negative towards the opposing side, positive to the audience it serves, and neutral to the new viewers. News presents the viewer with politics, economy, domestic and foreign affairs, sports, and hot/occasional stories.

I believe in the manipulative model, the media is a class-dominated society, the media is controlled by those in power. They control what we see, who we lean to believe in, and what we are informed about. We see the screened version of the aftermath. I also believe that we see what we want, hear what we want, and believe in who and what we want to. Therefore we can say that the hegemonic model is the model in power, because the type of people that believe in what is presented, is who it serves. For the case of women, femenist have said  soap operas are the only validations and motives glorified as a space for women.
Soap operas and the Hegemonic model are two examples of presentations that serve a specific someone.

Knocked Up (group#3) 10/26

In my group we discussed the consciousness of class, authority in command, and how the person that is second class, and not in command is submitted to the desires and expectations of those in charge. My duty was to find examples of how the main couple portrayed the "new woman" "the weak man" "sex" "class" and "romance." Allison was constructed as the independent woman but throughout the movie there was issues that contradicted the image created. She was independent, but lived with her sister. She did not want to commit to anything serious, but she was upset when Ben did not read the baby books; she said it was "a lack of commitment." Allison is obviously in power, she has the job, the looks, and the car. She is an example of the new modern woman. She is concerned about her job, not the image of the woman that must bare children. She is not independent or in power just because of her looks, job, and car; but by default. Ben is a slacker that gets high, has no real income, and no mobility.

Throughout the movie Ben submits to the torture and goes through a metamorphisis; from the embarassment to the ideal. He was after the girl, and changed for her, not because he wanted to, but because he needed to be accepted. Sex in this film is portrayed as the one night stand  that turns in to love. This is not realistic, it is the typical romantic comedy. We can argue that class is present because she yells at him about her property, she says " Get out of my car" "Get out of my fuc#$@ car" In other words, since she has lost control of her body, she cannot go back in time, all she is left with is her property. There is also a contradiction when we say that only the wealthy are concerned about their view and social standing. A present issue is abortion. In the wealthy family they say "Just take care of it " In the lower class they say "Smasmortion" Both classes avoid the word, however both classes are aware of the impact abortion can have on Allison and Bens lives. This movie makes us aware of what alcohol can do, alter a no strings attached situation, and the problems that our society faces when we create borders against the man and woman relationship, how people adjust to the "modern woman", todays various ways of how we view sex, marriage, and commitment.

10 Things I Hate About You

This movie, directed by Gil Junger is an attempt to make people see how radical the lives of these teenagers are. They show us examples of radical romance, but really throughout the plot; and at the end, the movie maintains the status quo. The status quo is not just kept by these high school students, parents, and leading figures but by their society as a whole. 10 Things I Hate About You starts off with a new kid in school (Cameron) who is blown away by a  beautiful girl who has just crossed his path; Bianca. He wants to date Bianca, but there are two problems. Bianca is not only not part of his click, her standards, but his high school "class." Bianca is a Stratford, her sister Kat is considered a heinous bitch by most, and they are not allowed to date. Cameron's only hope to take Bianca out is to find someone who will date her sister. At first the father does not allow either one of them to date. Then he changes the rule to Bianca being able to date; when Kat does. Cameron along with his friend Michael are in search of finding the guy who will date Kat. At first the problem only seemed to be that Bianca was out of his league, and not allowed to date; but later Cameron and Michael realize that the only way for Cameron to get someone to take Kat out, is by paying them to do so. This is one of the most important parts of the movies. Not only does this show us that we are not "autonomous" because Cameron has to depend on Michael; but they both must depend on Joey. Joey is the wallet, he is who provides Patrick the money to take Kat out, and therefore they all depend on each other. We are always already "unstable" and "in play" because we always depend on one another.

If Joey is the one with the money, then can he not then be considered the owner or master, are those relationships not present as well? They are, because in order for Joey to get Bianca, Cameron and Michael must convince, advice, and help Patrick seduce Kat. They are all dependent. Bianca relies on Cameron to be able to go out, Kat depends on Patrick to be the different person that proves her wrong, and Michael depends on Cameron and Patrick’s success to get Kat to go out, in order for Joey to admit that Michael exists. There are not just economical, but social relationships that coincide with the present standards in our society. Men in this movie have the position of power; have the privilege and luxury to be in command, and in control of the woman. Bianca an Kat's father is an uptight person who believes that his daughters are in danger if they take action in everyday life. He keeps them away from boys by not allowing them to date. He makes and breaks the rules. He does not want Kat to go away for college; he tries to hold her back. Joey is the future "Successful American." Joey purchases everything. Joey is like a character plugged in from the movie American Physco. Joey puts a value on it all, not sentimental, more economical value.

10 Things I Hate About You is a romantic comedy that shows us the switching of roles, the desire of sex, and the construction of characters that define different economical positions, situations, and gender roles, even within the same gender. Jenny from the movie 10 is like Bianca's friend in 10 Things I Hate About you. Bianca's friend is a free spirit that believes in independence, is willing to get everything she wants, no matter what the consequences might be, and she cares a lot about status. After Joey treats Bianca carelessly, Bianca's friend is still interested in Joey. Bianca in this movie represents society’s woman, what woman should be like in mens eyes. Bianca represents purity, untouched love, and morality. Since Bianca is a character that has these qualities, she is the desired. Bianca thinks she is loved by everyone, but really she is sexually wanted "What does this chick have, beer flavored nipples?" (Heath Ledger/Patrick). Her intelligence does not matter, what matters is the assumption of her being a virgin. Joey thinks that he is a god, and what Joey wants; Joey gets.

Throughout the entire movie we see what is thought of as radical romance. Situations like Kat once being popular, but giving away her virginity to Joey, now using that situation as a motive to be the bitch people make her out to be. However even if Patrick and Kat's love seem radical because they both have a horrible reputation, Kat only has wanted love all along (like George in 10), and even if the road was bumpy; love is what she finds in Patrick. This movie is one of the most incredible examples of something with a facade of radical romance, but within the masks, maintaining the status quo. Kat and Patrick's relationship gives us an example of radical romance, switching of the roles, and the modern woman. Joey shows us how he is the representation of the powerful man in charge, the woman and man compared to the master and slave. Cameron willing to have someone purchase Bianca's attention for him shows us the dependence, and the construction of what we think is extreme; only being an example of daily situations people act out for their own convenience. 10 Things I Hate About You is the modern romantic comedy that has a radical but normal twist, it proves to us that things have not changed.

The graduate, The system of objects, 40 year old virgin, and 10. 9/23 - 10/05

All of the movies give us some sense of revolution, new concept, yet old, because sexuality has always been present, since the beginning of time; accepting is a whole other story. In the graduate we have the romantic comedy, well in all the movies, a romantic comedy is present. The graduate shows us the clumsy male who makes all of the wrong moves, like in the 40 year old virgin, and in 10. The men are not the usual seducer, commander, or in control. They are all confused, afraid, and act as a woman would be expected to so. The women are strong, charismatic, very modern, and in touch with who they want what they want, and definitely; how they want it. The cougar in the graduate is the typical cougar, out for sex, passion, and attention. In the 40 year old virgin the woman is the one wanting and needing sex. In 10 Jenny is the broad. Jenny is ready for free sex with no strings attached. Jenny digs status, and she is the man. All three movies show us the switching of gender roles, the use of construction for who these women must represent. Women are portrayed as all knowing, strong, independent, and intelligent. Sam in 10 is as well as Jenny the "modern day woman", they are just a different type of modern. Sex in all three movies is used as a motive of fulfillment for women, but also for men; they would not be chasing after them just for fun, but expecting sex or love. All movies and the excerpt show us that specific designations are made because something is expected in return.

Ethnography 9/21

I am at the red and khaki palace, my workplace, and the place where I get to observe people every single day; hours a day. I do not know them, these people i see and sometimes interact with I only know superficially, or so I thought. I am the operator , and I must speak to people on the phone, in person, and over the walkie talkie. Over the phone I must recognize their tone, what type of person they might be, and how would they react in a bad situation. In person I can feed off of their gestures, tone, and appearance. Over the radio we interact as co-workers, but when it comes to a manager or supervisor, it is a serious conversation; where my emotions or attitude towards them must be kept in the dungeon at the tip of my tongue.

Today I have observed our guest (customers), my co-workers, and the people in charge . Our guest included females and males. The guest in person and over the phone ranged from happy to angry. Over the phone I had a guest which I recognized a very demanding tone. He reminded me of American Physco. The character wearing the mask was the person on the phone. I am sure this white man considered himself successful, and superior; he spoke to me that way. He made me confirm that some men in society are superior, or at least they think they are. A perfect example is how men are still paid more than woman.

In person a fem ale guest asked me if I could check if we had anymore boxers in her husbands size. The husband looked perfectly healthy, fit, well cut, but his face gave you the vibe a slathering snake. I clearly heard him tell her "I told you to go ask her, do something, stop being so fucken useless." This situation, besides causing me some large amounts of rage, pointed me to the aspirational words of De Carte saying that ones self is autonomous; is a complete lie. Not only am I disagreeing with De Carte, but a perfect example is how men think and are put up in a position by society and women, because in order for men to be at a higher position and remain there; women must allow, accept, and be content with being the lower being. This woman was not only allowing herself to be lower, but she was clearly dependent and followed orders, which meant this situation can even be compared to the master-slave relationship. When it came to dealing with co-workers over the walkie-talkie I had to deal with a manager. Hispanic, in his late thirties. This man is always very rude, always thinks he can boss people around, treat them like dirt, and say things he should think twice about, and not in an aggravating matter. What I feed off of him is lack of control, unhappiness, and hunger for control. His wife is also a manager and she is very controlling, intimidating, and bossy. Every time he speaks to others I assume is the way he wishes he could speak to her. He kept calling me over the radio, and when I responded he was a sarcastic prick, so I returned the favor and was a jerk. I believe he seeks to be in control , he wants Independence, but he knows that at home he does not have that. In the workplace he decides to switch roles to feed his starvation for control. However his hunger is not always fed, because I am not the cookie cutter housewife. I am a modern woman that wants respect, but of course to many, I would be a bitch; just like his wife.

When it comes to the boss and me, it is the master-slave relationship; the worker and owner relationship. She always orders me around, yells, complains, naggs, and erupts in dispute about everything. Their have been moments when I would love to throw my walkie at her head, punch her in the face, and have a (Mean Girls) moment. Derrida enters my mind " We are always, already unstable, and in play; because we always depend on one another." While thinking of Derrida , subconsciously my dignity is screaming at me "tell her what you think, strike her, just do it." Today she yelled at me in front of a lot of guest, telling me, commanding, ordering me to not only do my job, another co-workers, but to order her food. I felt humiliated, I wanted to scream, but then I thought " I depend on this prick." If I mouth off to her she will never let it go, her best friend is the head supervisor, the head honcho. In a chain reaction, in a matter of time, I could be fired. I then fell in to the ambiguous life of being the slave, the worker, and my boss being not just the owner, but the master. In all of these situations I found radical romance, and some forms of normality. The man I spoke to, would in some way represent the successful American. He is the man we would go weak at our knees for; because of his position, obviously not because of his allure. The relationship between the two managers can be both radical and normal. her being in charge of the relationship can be seen as radical because for as long as history has existed, men have always been in command. However, even if they do seem a bit obscure, it can be normal because in todays modern society woman are taking on more male roles than ever. As for my boss and me, it can be both radical and normal. Our "love" relationship is that of the master and the slave. You work and I pay you, I say jump, and you jump. This relationship is radical because it can be unethical, humiliating, and hurtful. This relationship can also be normal in the eyes of the economy, because one is the worker, the other is the owner, and there is not one without the other. Without one another something can not only disrupt the economical; but the social status quo.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 9/14

This movie/play gives us an extreme quality found in everyone; mendacity. Mendacity is more than just a tendency to lie, but it is being untruthful, a way of life. Brick is the most truthful even if the most fake. He constructs something he is not. He is full of hate because he cannot be who he wants to be. Brick is stuck being tied to his sorrow and sourness. He is not necesarilly unhappy with who he has become, but who he cannot be. He does love Maggie, he just hides his real love and pain through alcohol. In some eyes Brick can be viewed as the most truthful character because he never makes an attempt to lie to Big Daddy, but he also shows us that he is the status quo, he is trying to portray a strong person, who gains even more gut with his alcohol consumption, but his strenght is really just weakness.

Saussure 9/7

Semiotics, the binary, and the most important and strongest quote "All we  are is a mobile army of metaphor."  We are the creation of who we think we are, what we are told we must be, and what is imposed by society. We are always already "unstable" and "in play" because it always depends on another. The biggest construction of what we are is shown by our leaders who we expect the most from. Those  we trust and expect to defend, and do what is right. Politicians, lawyers, and advertisement leaders and workers. Derrida aand Saussure show us how we always are dependent and are constructed like fate. Simon shows us that evrything has some value , and that man and woman have a master slave relationship. The master has no priviledge of being who he is without his slaves; man is nothing without the woman. Both man and woman are tied to their opressor biologically. Simon, Saussure, and Derrida show us a form of dependence and construction.

Ideology?

I read one of the most interesting quotes that truly hit me hard for Tuesdays assigned reading.
According to Althusser " Ideology teaches workers to accept and submit to their own exploitation while teaching managers and administrators to practice the craft of ruling on behalf of the dominant class". (PG.65 Barker) This quote opened my eyes to something so evident. I work in retail, where I see many older Latin American woman work horrible long shifts, I see them get treated like dogs, correction dogs is wrong, they get treated like scum. Many times I have wondered to myself why is it that they are still there? Why is it that they allow such treatment? Until this quote, I was blinded by the evident answer that laid in front of my face. Those woman are not only taught to be afraid because of necessity, but they later accept, become CONTENT with their position, which allows these horrible undeserving managers and administrators to act the way they do.

why is Ann the monster???????

I think that if we can say love is real and true then Douglas should not have cheated. Ann is the monster because she forgave him. I know it can be argued that love is about forgiveness, but I say everything has its limits. She was not pushing him, he strayed, therefore she is the monster! They had a perfect life together, a happy family. Many times in relationships where the family has a "good name" like in a political and wealthy families with a position women allow adultery, domestic violence, and humiliation. The cookie cutter, the great housewife, the lady of perfection, the person to hold everything in tact and keep an image, is the monster. By forgiving or allowing any of those things you are ignoring it, and by ignoring it you are agreeing with it. A relationship is also staying true to ones self and she is not attending the problem, she is a sick monster who gives woman a bad name. Forgiving Douglas like Ann did, only sends the message to the rest of the men that it is okay to cheat, lie, hit, abuse, and humiliate.