Hell is Other People

Hell is Other People

One of Jean-Paul Sartre’s most famous plays “No Exit” tells the story of Inez, Garcin and Estelle in hell – or rather, what their version of hell is. The arrival of the three characters takes place in the drawing room, with no knowledge as to why are there. Quickly, the reader learns who the characters are and the stark difference of all their behaviours. Garcin, the friendly gentleman is first introduced to the scene, while Inez the cold “damned-bitch” and vain Estelle follow soon after. Thus, their torture begins simply within the presence of one another. No physical harm, flames or “Satan”, just the entrapment of the three characters for the rest of eternity – in which they are each other’s punishment. Sartre’s philosophy of “Hell is other people” does not mean that people are terrible and the reason for suffering, rather that the vulnerability of an individual to other’s judgement is terrifying.

Sartre’s philosophy is based on the Look and the Other. The Look being that in the mere presence of another means putting oneself in a position of judgement, just as an object, and it is as an object that one can appear to another. The presence of other people means that one is forever trapped in other’s perception, putting pressure on one’s behaviour and actions, forbidding one of being “truly themselves” in fear of unacceptance. This is present in Garcin’s gentleman façade at the beginning of the scene, his actions being extremely friendly and cooperative towards Estelle and Inez, only for the act to be shattered once the characters begin to open up about their “sins” and true purpose of being in hell. His personality takes a drastic turn for an irritable, immoral, and cowardly man who runs away from not only his responsibilities, like his war duties, but judgement. This is particularly seen through the dynamic relationship of Garcin and Inez. Inez, already being the lesbian feminist that she is, has an obvious dislike towards Garcin, to which intensifies after learning about his sins. Inez is quick to insult and degrade him throughout the whole scene, mostly out of jealousy due to Estelle’s interest in Garcin. It is her judgement that Garcin feels extremely uncomfortable and suffers from. Garcin tries to shut them out by putting fingers in his ears for silence, to mimic how it would feel like to be alone, but he fails to do so as their presence is difficult to ignore. He searches for approval underneath her harsh words just so that doesn’t have to live with constant apprehension to what her perception is of him, which is that of a monster.

Arguably, Estelle is the character that suffers from this most as she is undoubtedly the most egotistical of the trio. The moment shared when Inez offers herself to be the mirror of Estelle is immensely significant due to the meaning behind Inez’s eyes. Inez explains how Estelle can’t escape Inez’s eyes because she will forever be stuck in a room without a mirror; Inez is the only “mirror” – mirror being her perception. Estelle’s biggest fear is imperfection; any pimple or the fact that will ever be able to see herself again haunts her. Inez’s quote is so important because Estelle is a subject to judgement, regardless if it’s willing or not. Depending on Inez’s perception, Estelle will listen. The lie Inez told of the pimple on her face left Estelle in hysterics, which just showcases not only Inez’s ability to manipulate, but the control her judgement has on Estelle.

Colombian Culture and Superstition

Colombian Culture and Superstition 

Superstition is one of the most prominent aspects in Colombian culture, heavily influencing the behavior and mentality of most locals. These superstitions have derived from indigenous tribes, Spanish conquerors and African slaves -- which means it is safe to assume these ideas have blended together. The superstitions have been passed on through the centuries and have stuck around until now: 

1) New Years Eve

Eating twelve grapes at midnight (making a wish after every one) and wearing yellow underwear are all encouragers of wealth.

2) Butterflies and Moths
If someone encounters the presence of a dark butterfly or moth, it is usually and indicator that a loved one will soon pass.

3) Bags on Floor
There is a strong Colombian belief that placing a bag on the floor means that all your money is "running away" which is why Colombian woman opt for placing their bags on hooks or inside their office drawers.

Here are some of a few superstitions found in Colombian culture. 

Kafka's Text

How is Kafka's text "surreal"?

Surrealism is a heavy movement seen throughout Franz Kafka's "Metamorphosis". Kafka incorporates surrealist literature into his novella through what the main character, Gregor Samsa, is experiencing. Gregor wakes up one day as a cockroach, which in itself is absolutely absurd. This is definitely surrealism in it's purest form, absurdity used to make nonsense make sense (if that makes sense, haha). Surrealism goes against "realism" or any traditional forms of literature. It is commonly referred to as the "dream state" of literature, and does not utilize logic to base the story or plot line. Typically, surrealism does not follow a structured plot of events, rather, random experiences strung together to form the story. This is seen in Kafka's work right at the beginning of the novella where Gregor wakes up in his bed to see himself as a bug. The audience is not introduced to the main character, nor are they given context about his life -- the audience is living through the character at the moment they are experiencing it. The audience does not know what happened before or after Gregor's metamorphosis, the novel is purely about his transformation. Surrealism blurs the demarkation of dream and reality, in order to see a new kind of reality; this is exactly Kafka's intention. Kafka pushed to view society in a different light through the life of the Samsa's -- financial struggles, family issues and all. He drew attention to the grueling reality of living in a capitalist society and the social issues at the time. Gregor's metamorphosis into a bug is a metaphor for the mental and physical stress he has been weighted with. Although his transformation is absurd and shocking to the public, it tells the story of a man, slaved to the society he lives in, and Kafka captures the reality perfectly through surrealism.

Frankenweenie

The adaptation of the gothic classic "Frankenstein" took form in the 2012 moving picture of "Frankenweenie". "Frankenweenie"and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein have parallels in their plots, yet simultaneously are different. Both share the same backstory, the main character being Victor Frankenstein, and the themes of resurrection with the consequences of playing God. 

Victor Frankenstein:

Taking after the original Victor Frankenstein, the Victor in "Frankenweenie" has an unconditional love and fascination with science, seeing as he was interested in joining and winning the science competition. He is inspired by his mentor by using electrical currents to jolt the isolated frog legs -- an experiment that can help him win the science fair. He tests this out on his late dog, Sparky, without giving a second-thought to the potential consequences of resurrecting his only friend (the void of loneliness being another parallel to Shelley's Frankenstein). Victor is portrayed in the scene of the resurrection as a mad scientist, determined in succeeding and bringing his dog back to life. His longing for his companion is similar to Shelley's Victor and his longing for his mother. 

Consequences: 

The consequences of Victor's actions act as a significant role in both versions, as it is his punishment for playing God. In "Frankenweenie", Victor's classmates find out how to resurrect their dead pets, and it turns out disastrous. The most important part of the experiment and it's success is the true bond between the two -- the kids were only doing it out of greed. The significance of nurture and care is reinstalled, relating to Shelley's original and the ethics of parenthood. Shelley's Victor is haunted by his own creation, threatened to apologize and create another life to accompany the creature. 

Atmosphere:

"Frankenweenie" and Frankenstein both follow gothic literature and it's themes, creating an eerie and creepy mood to the adaptation. "Frankenweenie" is edited in black and white, and it's characters are illustrated with sunken eyes and frail bodies. Tim Burton, who created the film, has a specific style of illustration, and is known for his gothic and dark films. 

Aesthetic Movement in Europe

Oscar Wilde: 1854 - 1900

1) As a rebel against traditional Victorian traditions, the Aesthetic movement viewed art as an enjoyable pleasure without the heavy morals and values that Victorian art pushes. Wilde believed that art should be appreciated purely or it's aesthetics, and it greatly influenced Oscar Wilde's life -- especially his writing. Within "The Picture of Dorian Gray" the Aesthetic movement is seen through every page of the book, as it acknowledges how art should not be used as an explanation of the artist. 

2) A dandy is a man who draws a lot of importance towards his outer appearance, and how refined he is. 

3) The preface of the novel almost acts as a warning sign -- a caution for those who look at art to find the reflection of the artist. Wilde believed in the Aesthetic Movement which values art for its beauty rather than its deeper meaning. Coinciding with the events that were occurring during the time "The Picture of Dorian Gray" was realized, the preface was created to say that none of his writings and works could be held against him as it was purely for arts sake, and is used to tell a story, not HIS story. 

Collage

"The death of a beautiful woman is, unquestionably, the most poetical topic in the world."- Edgar Allan Poe

Poe and his inspiration drawn from the tragic death of his lover showcase through his several writings about death. It is undeniable that one of his most common motifs is the death of beautiful woman, reoccurring in many of his famous works such as 'Annabel Lee' and 'Ligiea'. His fascination drives the gothic literature movement, turning conventionally morbid topics into captivating and beautiful writing. Within Poe's 'Annabel Lee', the narrators yearning for his deceased lover is riddled with misery and longing seen here, "A wind blew out of a cloud, chilling my beautiful Annabel Lee, [...] chilling and killing my Annabel Lee, [...] And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side of my darling -- my darling -- my life and my bride, in her sepulchre by the sea--- in her tomb by the sounding sea." I drew inspiration from 'Annabel Lee' for my collage as the poem struck out to me as the most tragic of Poe's works. The motif of the sea is seen through my collage as the background, as within the poem, the speaker sits by the sea next to her tomb. I also incorporated the clouds into the picture as a symbolism of her illness, and how the wind 'chilled' Annabel Lee. The photo of the woman is centered in the middle of the photo, and filtered in black and white to symbolise death; her expression and the filter creates a paleness to her face -- she is lifeless without colour. The picture of the woods reminded me of the eeriness that Poe is able to create through his writing; the photo fit the author's aesthetic so well. The two photos within the white circles is also two of Poe's most common motifs: substance abuse and the heart. 

The Black Cat

What might the narrator be repressing? Remember that the unconscious mind consists of repressed wounds, fears, unresolved conflicts and guilt desires. 

A reoccurring theme in Poe's writing is the use of animals to represent characters' greatest fears and trauma that haunt them. Within "The Black Cat" the narrators source of stress and rage comes from his black cat, in which fuels his impulsive behavior. The cat drives the narrator into a psychotic state where he is constantly battling between his sanity and insanity-- a motif of "good" and "bad". 

The narrator has a love and adoration for animals; a 'deep love' that has been around since the very day he was born. The story goes on to tell of his married life, and how the narrator had owned several pets, but the one he cherishes most is Pluto, a black cat. The narrator has an unconditional love for Pluto, recalling how they were "the best of friends", and how they would always play with each other. The narrator states in this stanza how his life began to chance as soon as he started to drink heavily -- that of which turned into a 'disease'. A volta in the story shifts the mood from happy and fairytale-like to dark and sinister once starting to describe his sudden aggressiveness. Although physically abusive to his wife, the narrator never once laid a hand on Pluto. However, one night, the narrator felt such intense rage that he gauges out one of Pluto's eyes, comparable to that of an evil eye. The narrator then hangs the cat and finds a new cat where rather than the cat being afraid of the narrator, the narrator is terrified of the animal. In the attempt of axing his new cat, the narrator ends up killing his wife instead. At the end of the story, the wall where he buries his wife is torn down by police revealing the dead body, and Pluto's hissing face one top of his wife's head. 

Highlighting the main points of the story, the narrator constantly rationalizes his actions, saying that he is far from "mad" or "insane". He has a sense of self-awareness understanding that his actions are far from loving, but rather out of fear and anger. The narrator is possessive of the cat, stating how "the cat didn't like my wife. It loved me alone." When looking at symbolism, this possessive love for the cat metaphorical for his love for alcohol. He admits the change in his character right from the beginning of the story, as if he became a different person when the "cat" was around. The narrator is constantly worried and fearful of this cat that he resorts to violence to act out on his feelings. The narrator is repressing his anger at his alcoholism, aware of how different he becomes once he drinks. The anxiety about the cat is driven by his drinking, making him unreliable as a narrator and feeds the cat's symbolism.