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Category: Binaries

SNL and the Fragility of Democracy

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On February 23, 2025

In Binaries, Comedy/Satire, Drama/Theater, Memory/Past/History, Modernism

A few weeks ago, I watched the Founding Fathers Cold Open on Saturday Night Live. On my first watch, I thought that this was hilarious and I was cracking up throughout the skit however, when my AP Lit teacher asked my classmates and I to analyze a modern piece of satire, I decided to revisit this particular skit and I found it to be kind of scary.

The skit begins with the “founding fathers” signing the Declaration of Independence. “John Hancock” then asks “Alexander Hamilton” to share his opinions on their new nation to which Lin Manuel Miranda comes out and begins to rap about what he hopes for in this new country. Within his first few lines, “Hamilton” is interrupted by “Donald Trump” and the remainder of the skit is “Trump” discussing the future that he envisions for the country.

Throughout the skit, many satirical techniques are employed however, here I will only name a few.

During the skit, the actor that played Trump consistently used youthful slang such as “zesty”, “take the L”, and “in my ___ era”. This is incredibly ironic because both the current president (Trump) and the most recent president (Biden)  were the oldest presidents in the History of the United States. By creating this binary between young and old, SNL is showing how ridiculous it is that for people so close to the end of their lives to take on the kind of responsibility of running a country just as it would be crazy for a tween or a teenager to run the U.S.

The fact that SNL made this skit about Trump’s first week back in office a parody to the signing of the Declaration of Independence is another example of satire. Some of the things mentioned were either a step back from the progress that society has made with equality since the signing of the Declaration of Independence or it was something that the founding fathers were trying to avoid in their new country such as having a king (the skit implied that Trump may one day take on a role similar to that of a king).

Finally, SNL used both hyperbole and understatement  in creation of this skit. When “Trump” first interrupts Miranda, he says that he is in his “king era”. This can be viewed as a hyperbole as while President Trump is currently using a lot of power, it is unlikely that he will adopt a role similar to a king. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the writers of this skit used understatement to illustrate the unhappiness of the American people after his first week in office. To show this, near the end of the skit when “Trump” is talking about the all time high of the price of eggs he exclaims, “Who would have thought it’d be easier to get a ceasefire in Gaza then bring down the price of eggs?”

While the goal of SNL is mainly comedy, most of their skits also provide a commentary on some aspect of society. In this particular instance, they bring to light how worrisome this bombardment of executive orders was and how the United States may continue to change in a way that many do not believe to be positive in the coming years. SNL is trying to make light of a situation that they believe to be potentially dangerous but they are also cluing in society for what is to come.

Exploring Shakespeare’s characterization of Cordelia

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On February 5, 2025

In Binaries, King Lear

After reading King Lear, I’ve been particularly interested in how Shakespeare wrote the character Cordelia and her evolution throughout the play. Although Cordelia only appears in 3 acts, her character plays an essential role throughout the story as she is the catalyst for many of the tragic events that take place.

In my first read of Act 1, I thought Cordelia was rebellious and bold for her honesty and unwillingness to bend to Lear’s demands, however as I closely reread and analyze I find that Cordelia was tactful and worked within the confine of her gender role to some degree. When Cordelia says to France, Burgundy and Lear, “But even for want of that for which I am richer: A still-soliciting eye and such a tongue
As I am glad I have not, though not to have it Hath lost me in your liking” (I.i.252-255). Even in her explanation she still makes it a point to express her sorrow for losing Lear’s love. Cordelia has no autonomy outside her love for the king. This is displayed multiple times throughout Act 4. A key moment I saw this is when her and Lear were reunited and when Lear asks for forgiveness Cordelia says, “No cause. No cause.” While her forgiveness is admirable, I think its right to say she should have been able to express her hurt to some extent. I understand that this was to further a point of forgiveness when faced with power, I just find it interesting that it had to be displayed in her character.

It’s obvious that Cordelia’s character is centered around love and grace specifically towards men. To some extent, I look at Cordelia less as a character and more of a force within the play. I see no character growth or development in her, rather Shakespeare uses her as a model to what a woman should be: graceful, dignified, meek, and submissive. Cordelia is honest, but not rude. She’s outspoken, yet gentle. While these are characteristics all should strive for, Shakespeare makes it a point to make the only character that demonstrates these qualities a woman. He even furthers this when he gives the worst qualities within the play to Cordelia’s sisters. There is no redemption for them like there was Edmund and in their final moments they are seen as villains.

The line that struck me the most about her character was when King Lear said, “Her voice was ever soft, Gentle and low, an excellent thing in woman.” (VI.iii.334-335). I think it was almost like an “aha moment” as I then understood Shakespeare’s perspective on women. Shakespeare never meant for King Lear to be radically feminist or empowering for women, it was meant to subdue and reinforce the gender roles at the time. 

 

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The Doors: Were They the Right Move?

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On November 5, 2024

In Binaries, Empathy, Exit West, Migration, Power of Stories/Storytelling, Story Power

When we first began reading Exit West by Mohsin Hamid in class, I was confused why Hamid decided to include magical doors that could lead an individual to a different country in his novel. I thought the presence of the doors took away from the seriousness or reality of the piece. Without the portals, the story could have been seen as more realistic, and readers would be more likely to see the real-world  implications.

One day in class, though, about when we were halfway through the book, Mr. Heidkamp had us listen to Hamid’s explanation for why he included the doors. He explained how by having Nadia and Saeed, and all migrants in the book, find doors to walk through instead of journeying to their new destination, it forces the audience to focus only on the stories and lives of the migrants before and after the migration. If Hamid were to include the long and treacherous journey of migrating to a new country or even continent, half the book – or at least a short, action-packed section of the book – would have to document the journey, and readers would only sympathize with or perceive the characters through the lens of their journey.

I know many others shared the opinion I had when I first started reading this book: they feel that the doors make the story seem too magical or too unrealistic. But, I hope those people take the time to truly listen to what Hamid has to say about the portals. His explanation made me realize the true perspective of a migrant, and how the media on migrants today take away from the real stories and voices of millions. The media crafts a perspective of only just the journey of migration, stating things like “Boats of Hundreds Docks in Italy from Africa.” Instead, Exit West forces the audience to perceive Nadia and Saeed’s life, not journey.

Gender Roles in Exit West

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On October 30, 2024

In Binaries, Exit West, Uncategorized

When reading Exit West one of the first concepts in the text that stuck out to me was the the gender roles in the book. From the beginning, its clear that Nadia craves independence, lacks a close relationship with her family, and rides a motorcycle, while Saeed has a close relationship with his family and values his religion deeply.

As the story progressed, I felt like the gender differences between them strengthened and caused tension in their relationship. Saeed loved Nadia, but he craved someone he could share his values with, someone to pray with, who he could also talk with and meet their family. Meanwhile, Nadia wanted a person who could go out with her, go on adventures. Yet the two of them didn’t sperate, likely because of a trauma bond between them. They had gone through so much together, it could feel wrong to seperate after that.

Through this story telling of “swapped” gender roles leading to seperation and eventually new relationships, Hamid portrays a concept that I beleive many young people today are realizing: While it may seem “correct” or “right” to have a dominant and submissive, or a independent and dependent in a relationship, it doesn’t have to be that way.

Saeed and Nadia speak to an experience that many young people have of learning to find someone that can do thier favorite activities with them and share their values, as opposed to being with someone that is so different from you that you may struggle to connect to them.

While there are many themes that can be found in this book, even in just the gender roles, I chose to speak about this one because it was something that I felt personally connected to.

The Stranger – To Whom

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On October 16, 2024

In Albert Camus, Binaries, Existentialism, Stranger

We all know ourselves. At least we think we do. The phrase I know you better then I know my own self, signifying kinship between two people. We think that we can control our destiny, make our own choices, influence our own stories. Unfourtunetely  we cannot do whatever we want, due to laws, regulations, and social norms

Meursault takes this predicament into his own hands. He does not obey laws nor conform to anyones expectations or wants from him. He views the world not as his oyster but something that cannot control him. He is passive. He never strives for any achivement or status reveled by society. When his boss asks him “open an office in Paris which would handle his business directly with the big companies.” Meursault refuses saying life does not change and he is contempt with what he has now.

He says ” I’m not unhappy” after declining the work offer, but never in the story does he say he is happy. Only at the end of the book does he finally come to the realization that blatantely disregarding everyone also included himself. Only then when he is alone with his thoughts and feelings does he say he feels happiness.

Powerful or Powerless

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On October 15, 2024

In Binaries, Power and Identity, Trust (film) - Hal Hartley

Last week in English class, we were introduced to the movie “Trust” By Hal Hartley. This movie is centered around two main characters, Matthew and Maria. However, I want to focus solely on Matthew.

Matthew is thought to be an adult in his 20s or 30s who still lives at home with his father. The relationship between these two is far from normal, or even loving. Throughout the movie, we can see multiple instances of Matthew’s father laying hands on him for trivial reasons, such as not cleaning the already squeaky clean bathroom. The act of Matthew repeatedly being beaten by his father illustrates the idea that he is powerless. This is also reinforced by Matthew constantly submitting to his father whenever he is around.

However, when Matthew’s father is not present, a whole other side of Matthew is shown. He is violent and aggressive to those around him. Matthew is seen punching and assaulting random strangers. His dominance over others is what gives him power and superiority. Yet, this power is nowhere to be found when he is in the presence of his father.

This poses the questions, “Is Matthew Powerful or Powerless in the movie? Or is it possible to be both?”

“Drinking Coffee Elsewhere” with “Bonds of Love”

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On September 30, 2024

In Binaries, Jessica Benjamin, Short Stories

Jessica Benjamin takes an intersubjective approach to Freud’s original theory of power and domination; which inherently focused on authority and dominance not being an innate human necessity, but rather an extension of human relationships. The foundation of these flaws comes from the binary view of “do-er” and “done to” or “good” and “bad.” To truly change social flaws, it is necessary to realize that in these dominant relationships, the submissive or “bad” role also participates in the neverending cycle. To fix these flawed relationships, a mutual understanding and recognition of the other party is necessary, however, Benjamin understands that our society is inherently built on these roles from when infants first begin to realize their own sense of self.

I have realized that after reading and analyzing Benjamin’s theory, I subconsciously have begun to apply her own theory of mutual recognition to my analysis of the different stories we read in AP Literature.

For example, mutual recognition could be a solution to the conflict the characters have in “Drinking Coffee Elsewhere” by ZZ Packer. The story is full of different “good” and “bad” binaries despite there only being a few characters shown throughout the majority of the story. Dina, the main character, and narrator of the story tends to have a very “narrow-minded” worldview in which she is constantly putting herself into either a dominant(good) role or a submissive(bad) role with every person she interacts with. This worldview seems to stem from Dina’s insecurity about herself, which results in the failure of her relationship with Heidi, a girl who seems to have embraced mutual recognition in some ways by the end of the story. If both girls were to have truly embraced Benjamins’ theory of mutual recognition, I believe they both would have possibly had a happy ending to their relationship, rather than ending with a lack of closure.

Does Football Make You Cross Dimensions

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On September 27, 2024

In Binaries, Empathy, Imagination, Power and Identity, Uncategorized

In Game Changers by Neal Shusterman, the main character actually changes dimensions via being tackled. No not CTE or multiple concussions, although around 1.2 million people get seriously harmed from football.

Ash our main character is a 17 ,on the football team Like failing math tests and girl troubles. One day he gets tackled which when you play a contact sport is not surprising, then he notices little details that seem to have changed but no one else believes him. The other team mascot was the wildcat but now the Ravens, he initially rushes it off because believing he’s in another universe seems very far-fetched. Next, the stop sign as we know and love became blue, this was a bit harder to wrap his brain around.

Each time he gets hit something grander changes he’s suddenly rich with a nice car and a fancy house.  These changes don’t only affect him, things in history have also been changed, in one dimension Brown versus the Board of Education  was never one, segregation still existed and his best friend didn’t go to school anymore. There were other more unusual Dimensions like changing his sexuality and giving him a boyfriend.

The final change was him becoming a woman, so he could understand how it feels to be a minority and the social structures.  The book was very addicting. I read it all in one sitting under 3 hours. The writing is not super complex in understanding the text, however it does have broader Messages such as hierarchy in class, gender ,and sexuality.

 

A Reflection of Benjamin’s Theory of Subjectivity and Power: the Impact of Language Barriers and Xenophobia on First-Gen Americans Identities and Psychological Development

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On September 27, 2024

In Binaries, Jessica Benjamin, Mutual Recognition, Power and Identity

In The Bonds of Love, Jessica Benjamin provides a profound analysis of the psychological foundations of love and relational dynamics. Drawing on her psychoanalytic theory, she critiques Freud’s focus on the Oedipal complex and the power struggles that often dominate male-female and father-son relationships. Benjamin argues that these struggles reflect deeper societal issues of authority and submission, leading to relational disconnections and the reinforcement of patriarchal structures.

She introduced the concept of “recognition,” explaining that true connection requires both people to acknowledge and validate each other’s experiences and feelings. She emphasizes that authentic love fosters equality and cooperation rather than dominance. By examining the complexities of human relationships, she advocates for an approach that prioritizes mutual recognition, ultimately suggesting that the bonds of love have the potential to transform individuals and society as a whole.

  • As explained in Jessica Benjamin framework, power dynamics w/out mutual recognition leads to oppressive relationships where one side’s identity is invalidated, resulting in feelings of inferiority and alienation (As we all know).
Question: How does her theory of mutual recognition inform our understanding of psychological development of first-gen Americans navigating cultural identity, xenophobia, and language barriers in their relationships w/ immigrant parents and society?

As a first-gen American w/ immigrant parents, I found myself grappling w/ this question to Benjamin’s theory while reading The Bonds of Love — like how mutual recognition can help people like me navigate identities amidst xenophobia and language barriers (The applications of her theory to other aspects). My own struggles with English comprehension as I was growing up made me reflect on how these challenges impact my psychological development and relationships w/ both my parents and society.

After some thought, I feel that Jessica Benjamin’s theory of mutual recognition application to this would emphasizes the importance of acknowledging each other’s experiences and subjectivity in relationships. As a first-gen American, I believe that this theory can help navigate the complexities of cultural identities. As this highlights the need for understanding between immigrant parents and their children, who often face conflicting cultural expectations. Mutual recognition fosters open communication, easing tensions that arise from generational differences. As for xenophobia and discrimination, her theory encourages solidarity and support within communities, reminding individuals that their experiences are valid. Language barriers can also create distances, but recognizing each other’s challenges can strengthen family bonds. Using mutual recognition to cultivate empathy, I believe this promotes healthier relationships and emotional intelligence.

  • As mutual recognition emphasizes the importance of understanding and validation each others experiences and can be applied to understand dynamics between immigrant parents and their first-gen American children, this helps bridge cultural gaps, reduce tensions, and empower individuals to embrace their unique identities while fostering healthier family dynamics. This framework fosters empathy and open communication, enabling both parties to navigate their identities while respecting their shared heritage/culture identity.
  • Without it, the experiences and identities of first-gen Americans can be invalidated, leading to feelings of isolation and diminished self-worth. For example, if a first-generation American child hears a xenophobic comment to their family or to them such as, “Go back to your country” or “If you can’t speak English w/out that thick accent, maybe you shouldn’t be in this country, ” it can create a deep sense of alienation, making them feel like they don’t belong in the society they’ve grown up in, and causing rights in their familial relationships as they struggle to reconcile their heritage with the rejection they face from others. (As a native Russian speaker, I often felt a sense of disconnect in conversations when I was younger (pre/during Covid), as people make assumptions about my intelligence based solely on my accent and ability to articulate thoughts in English)
Extra: If anyone would like to share their experiences or their own answer, please do so!

Analysis/Reflection on Benjamin’s Power and Subjectivity

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On September 26, 2024

In Binaries, Jessica Benjamin, Power and Identity

I believe Benjamin’s argument around Power and Subjectivity are based on ideas of individualism and a sense of connection. According to Benjamin, healthy subjectivity can only be achieved through understanding one’s own unique and distinct being but also recognizing and acknowledging others as subjects or individuals. It is also equally important that others recognize a subject for it to be perceived as an individual. 

Benjamin’s argument also explains the ideas behind Freud’s argument. Freud did not recognize women as subjects, therefore his argument creates a binary that equates MAN/woman to SUBJECT/object. In order for a man to gain self identity he needs to separate himself from his mother (an object) and instead start to identify with his father who is a subject.

Finally, Benjamin’s argument touches on the source of domination. If both parties do not acknowledge each other’s subjectivity then domination will occur. When one has no respect for the other’s sovereignty and free will they will instead feel a sense of superiority. Because of that they will then attempt to dominate the other on the basis of viewing them as an object rather than a subject resulting in domination

After dissecting Benjamin’s argument I can begin to see binaries that have been established in my own life. Some I can be on the dominant end of, others not so much. One, however, that seemed to stick out to me in particular was the Able-bodied/Disabled binary. I always thought that I was someone who supported and promoted inclusivity in this space, which I do, but my mindset has been flawed because of the sense that it was the duty of able-bodied people to speak for and represent disabled people. Benjamin’s argument challenged my previous thinking and made me realize I was not looking through a lens of mutual recognition.

Benjamin’s Theory

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On September 24, 2024

In Binaries, Jessica Benjamin

I think Benjamin’s theory is very present in a lot of things today. I believe this to be true because we are living in such a patriarchal society. I can see this in many relationships in my life right now, especially the part of her theory where she talks about how humans unintentionally put ourselves/others into that dominator/dominated relationship. Many men in today’s society believe that they are superior to women because of the way the system was set up and how they were brought up within that society. Even in my personal experience, my boyfriend’s friends (all men) make small jokes about masculinity with undertones of him being the dominator and me being the dominated. So I think that it is almost impossible to avoid this dynamic and if you did it would have to be a very conscious effort to stay out of that. This dynamic can also be seen in our most recent presidential debate. Trump and a lot of his supporters try to discredit Kamala Harris by talking about her gender as well as her race. This connects to the other area of Benjamin’s theory about the “other” because in this case, Trump is trying to make Harris seem like the “other” to his supporters through publicly questioning her race as well as putting her down because of her gender. So yes, I do believe that Benjamin’s theory is ever present in our current society.

The State of Being the Unknown Woman

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On September 24, 2024

In Binaries, Power and Identity

In the short stories packet we had, there was a story titled “The Secret Woman” by Colette. Although we weren’t assigned this story, I decided to take a look at it.

The main character, Irene, and her husband, lied from the start of the story all the way until the end. Specifically, Irene said at the start “As for me…Can you see me in a crowd, at the mercy of all those hands…” (38). She was speaking about the ball and how she didn’t want to go alone since her husband wouldn’t be there to accompany her (but he was lying as well, he was going to be at the ball). But later in the story, when both characters are observed participating at the ball, it is clear that Irene enjoys it. At the end of the story the author narrates “the monstrous pleasure of being alone, free, honest in her crude, naive state, of being the unknown woman, eternally solitary and shameless, restored to her irremediable solitude and immodest innocence by a little mask and a concealing costume” (41). This gives the reader an insight into what Irene really wants. She just wants to be free, without the rules of her husband or society weighing down on her, she is able to do whatever she wants. The costume she wears is a social barrier and helps her embrace the freedom she is deserving of.

I feel like this is such an incredible story because it gives a clear insight into what it’s like to try and fit in as what people view as the “perfect woman” in society. It also challenges the view that women are simple and made to live under their husbands. Irene is a great example of a complicated woman that doesn’t need her husband to thrive in society.

From an outside perspective, or if you haven’t read this story, would you agree or disagree with the idea that Irene is challenging stereotypes?

Benjamin’s Subjectivity and Power – Summary and Analysis

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On September 24, 2024

In Binaries, Course Stuff, Power and Identity

Benjamin argues that subjectivity and power are deeply intertwined, as power often shapes individual perceptions and understandings of one’s self. She suggests that our inner selves are indeed self-generated, but are much more influenced by external factors such as social norms, cultural expectations, and idealization of certain gendered social structures. Power dynamics play a key role in the process of determining which perspectives/voices are privileged or marginalized. Due to this, inter-subjectivity is not merely a personal experience, rather being constructed through social interactions and power relations. Benjamin emphasizes that recognizing the role of power on subjectivity is essential for understanding how identities are formed and maintained. She also highlights the fact that as individuals seek this recognition and come to, resistance and rebellion towards these power structures is inevitable. Ultimately, Benjamin’s argument underscores the importance of examining how power influences not just social dynamics but the very structure of social identity.

I feel like I’ve become aware if not accustomed to how power dynamics in all social experiences greatly influence how I feel as a person, in addition to how each respective moment shapes my own identity. For instance, social norms within high school greatly exacerbate the “fun” and “glory” of going out, partying, etc, all in an effort to seem as popular as possible (where everyone fights for this spotlight). As for me, I’ve tried to fit within these expectations many times, and realized that the people at the top of these dynamics—the most popular individuals—always affect how I feel and how I see others, in a rather subtle way. Due to this, I’ve given up on trying to fit in, and accepted who I am. That is not the case for everybody, though. 

The Old Blogs are Dead! Long Live the Old Blogs!

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On August 20, 2024

In Binaries, Course Stuff, Empathy, George Saunders, Imagination, Jessica Benjamin, Mutual Recognition, Power and Identity, Short Stories, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Vladimir Nabakov

At present, we use the Edublogs platform for our class blog, which is built on a WordPress platform — one of the most popular and robust web publishing platforms in the world. We had been using the WordPress.com platform directly for several years, and you can still wander around that old AP Lit blog.

For many years before that, we used the Blogger platform for the AP Lit blog, but it was a very limited and bug-ridden platform, and Google eventually stopped supporting it.

If you are interested, though, in seeing what those long-ago AP Lit students have been thinking and writing about, feel free to wander over to the old old AP Lit blog.

old blog

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