#essays

[kamreadsandrecs]

Why Do People Embrace Hate? Sartre Has an Answer - JSTOR Daily

A classic essay examines the hidden dynamics behind modern prejudice.

[umayber8]

It’s so stupid to fall in love

On the tragedy of first loves

Hey y’all, I’m truly sorry for disappearing for so long 😭 literally a lot happened these past few months and I’ve been trying to figure it all out, good news is I’m back on writing, so you’ll be hearing from me soon. for now, I wrote a little essay on first loves and some thoughts on how we act and behave when it comes to it, sharing it through my own experience (also some context in why I’ve been off lol), you’re more than welcomed to read it and share if you like it haha, thank you for supporting my stories so far, I’m glad many of you could resonate with it, and happy pride month btw!!

- May

[kammartinez]

Let’s Write About What Hurts | Los Angeles Review of Books

A conversation with prolific writer Reyna Grande about her new book of essays on vision loss, language trauma, motherhood, and more.

[nattyycakess111]

Jennifer's Body Analysis; Jennifer's sacrifice.

There is heavy talk of sexual assault, Rape, manipulation, exploitation, death, human sacrifice, gore, blood, and murder in this long maybe five- or four-part analysis. I'd advise you not to read my analysis if those are sensitive topics for you or if you have a weak stomach.

Also! There are some major spoilers, so if you'd rather watch the movie w/o any spoilers I'd really suggest you watch it first THEN read this analysis. It's a great film, it really opened my eyes to stuff, and I think watching it is worth it.

Lastly, I do not want to see any jokes about what she experienced at all. Rape is never a joke, inhuman acts of violence is never a joke, human sacrifice is never a joke, manipulation is never a joke, and exploitation is never a joke.

Just because it didn't happen to you, just because you didn't see it happen, doesn't mean it hasn't happened to others.

You matter, you are important, if you are a victim of rape/sexual assault/exploitation/manipulation/etcetera, you matter. Nobody's incident is deemed superior; no one's experience is deemed lesser or 'not as bad' than others. You are a victim. What you experienced was not something that should've happened to you, you didn't deserve that and it is absolutely not your fault. Regardless how it happened.

You are not alone, and again---My DMs are always open if you need to vent.

In 2009, Director Diablo Cody would release a comedic horror film called Jennifer's Body.  The film would star Megan Fox, Amanda Seyfried, Johnny Simmons, Amy Sedaris, J.K Simmons, and Adam Brody. Jennifer’s Body focuses on the lives of Jennifer Check (Megan Fox), a well-known gorgeous color guard flag spinner within her high school and her best friend, Needy (Amanda Seyfried), who was an insecure and considered less “glamorous” highschooler.

The film follows the lives of the duo through the point of view of Needy, as their lives become much more sinister. So much so, it led to the failed sacrifice of Jennifer check, her gruesome cannibalistic tendencies on the local small-town boys, Needy’s personal concerns on how to really feel on her “best friend” that lead to the murder of Jennifer that releases the “demon” that possessed her. However, the theme of Jennifer becoming a man-eating creature who uses lust and the idea of sex as a lure represents so much more than your average horror movie gory monster.  

The Band, bar, and sacrifice

In the beginning of Jennifer’s Body, Jennifer and Needy would go down to a local dive bar called Melody Lane, before the impactful scene of Jennifer’s sacrifice. Her sacrifice, to a majority of the audience, was the moment she became this—important blood lusting, man eater who tears boys apart to satisfy her hunger for their bloody guts. 

However, the scene of her sacrifice and the scenes before it, are all just steps leading up to a tragedy that is more than just the gory sacrifice of Jennifer Check from Devil’s Kettle, Minnesota. In fact, it’s more of a metaphor. A metaphor for the exploitation of young women and a metaphor for sexual assault. To the general audience, this may not make the most sense. But, if the scenes at the bar are analyzed enough, you can see where the exploitation comes in. Yet, in my opinion, I believe there is also a clear representation on how men like Nikolai Wolf will manipulate women like Jennifer in order for their own benefit. Regardless of if it will or will not harm the women they manipulated. 

In the scene where Jennifer first talks to Nikolai, you can notice there's this sense of innocence and vulnerability in her tone despite her actions being flirty and confident. This is showing that she, despite her acts, is still naive. She also is clearly ignorant to the red flags Nikolai shows when he talks to Needy, almost mindlessly agreeing even when he says something relatively offensive to Needy about Devils Kettle. 

Nikolai even proceeds to show those red flags that seemingly only Needy is able to identify, even without Jennifer being there. Which really shows how blind she is and how believing that she has all the control in the situation. It isn’t something you can blame her for, as it is important to remember that Jennifer Check is only 16-17 years old and still in high school. Not everyone at this age is the most sensible. 

The gruesome scene of the ignited dive bar with screams and chaos, and with Jennifer just standing there—almost entranced or lost in the moment to where Needy had to pull her out by force is in fact very symbolic. As the way she is so deep into the allure of the band, into Nikolai, that she could care less about the chaos around her. Symbolizing the way manipulation can make a victim ignorant to the red flags and horrible truth around them and focused on the good in the manipulator. Almost to where they’re compliant, even if it pains her, leaves her distressed or confused. She shows this compliance when Nikolai decides that a “safe place” was his van, to which Jennifer gladly goes into. Abandoning someone she probably trusted more than Nikolai and his band. This, again, isn’t her fault. Jennifer is a victim, and the blame all goes back to Nikolai’s greed. 

Her sacrifice is even more depressing; with the way she tries to save herself but is stopped by his band. Showing how she’s made attempts to keep herself safe, get herself out of a situation she hadn’t realized was so bad, but due to her mistakes—she already sold that chance out a long time ago. Even in the van, when she tells the band that she’s a virgin with the assumption they’re wanting to rape her is heartbreaking, as that it is clear Jennifer’s aware of the tragedy that happens to women like her every day. But, of course, we see that this only motivates the band. Making the sacrifice even more disgusting, with her supposed purity being the part the band seeked out. 

Nikolai’s lies even play out during her sacrifice, lying to Jennifer about how beautiful she was, and how he couldn’t get himself to message her. Clearly manipulating her in order to reach a goal that she’s unaware about. He even forgets her name, explaining his true view on Jennifer. That she is nothing but just an asset to something he wants.

Lastly, the way Nikolai had sacrificed her really represents how he had taken her humanity and who she really was selfishly. Nikolai stabs Jennifer in the chest, likely her heart, as if the consume every piece of care, compassion, and love she had. All for his own greedy cause. This shows really how people like him will take everything and anything if it benefits them. Even the inhumane things.

[kammartinez]

‘In the Presence of People No Longer Here’ - The American Scholar

Historians in the Ukrainian city of Lviv are documenting the horrors of the past while living in the shadow of war

[celelestecassiopeia]

already missing writing essays thinking of starting a substack because god knows I love to yap about my interests and fod knows I love to be heavily educated on those topics

[prankprincess123]

I started tutoring my little cousin on gr11 English in mid May (aka with one month of school left before exams) and this kid went from getting consistently around 50% on essays to 79% on his final essay, and I am SO proud of him. The plan is that we're gonna do a summer 'book club' with more practice essays to prep him for gr12, and with how fast he improved in just a month I'm really excited to see what he can do with more one-on-one instruction!