#and how this speaks to a certain narrative disposability of the lower classes

[seven-saffodils]

"mr lavelle" spoilers

[gretamclaughlin]

Fueling the Modern World

The readings focus on nonrenewable and renewable energy sources, and they talk about the necessity to shift to new forms of energy production to prevent further climate change. Environmentally-degrading oil is the most widely used energy resource in the U.S. Fracking, another popular energy source, is also detrimental to the environment, costly, and limited. I enjoy how the textbook notes various issues with nonrenewable energy sources that are not restricted to the environment; this appeals to a diverse audience and provides a comprehensive view of the scope of the effects of degradation. In other words, environmental issues influence a range of other social and political issues, including foreign policy. Keith Crane explains this in his book Imported Oil and U.S. National Security, stating that a disruption in oil imports “would undermine U.S. national security, for example, by weakening U.S. global economic and political influence and the ability of the United States to pay for U.S. military forces” (Crane 2009, 19). The readings go on to present other sources of energy like oil and tar sands, which emit air pollutants and produce more CO2 than conventional crude oil production. Certainly, some new and seemingly promising energy solutions further damage the environment, and many methods of energy production have a high long-term cost. Although we can promote the view that these sources are detrimental to ecosystems as a whole, it may be more effective to focus on the human cost, which would attract a greater audience. Regardless of the angle one takes, it is integral that people look towards more ecologically friendly methods for sustainable and lasting solutions.

The textbook also covers natural gas and coal and explains how natural gas intensifies climate change and shifts people away from finding better energy because it is seen as clean. The description of coal highlights both the environmental and health issues caused by its mining and combustion. The health costs can be such an economic burden on countries that switching to cleaner energy can become the most viable option. Ben Ewald conducted a study in New South Wales, Australia on the health costs of SO2 emissions from burning coal (Ewald 2018, 227). Sulfate particles are classified as part of the particulate air pollution smaller than 2.5 microns (PM2.5). He found that by reducing PM2.5 levels 16%, there would be 104 fewer deaths and 560 fewer years of life lost per year in NSW, valued at about $539 million (based upon the statistical value of life) (Ewald 2018, 228). Ewald argues that pollution fees need to correspond with the cost of health damage to reduce emissions. Of course, speaking about human life in terms of money can be problematic, and it raises the question of why people cannot just value life for itself. Regardless, this tactic can expand the number of people in support of environmental action, including those who are more economically-driven. The production of CO2 by the coal industry causes further issues. By highlighting both the environmental and health impact of coal, the readers can understand how they are directly affected.

I always believed that nuclear energy was the key to the future, but the readings changed this. Although there are benefits to nuclear power like a low environmental impact and low accident risk, there are numerous disadvantages, such as the difficulty of disposing fuel rods, high cost, and low net energy production. However, governments have invested significantly more money into nuclear power than renewable resources, despite having little success. It makes me wonder what the world would look like if nations had focused on funding more sustainable options. Climate change may not be as advanced as it is now, and the U.S. could have been a leader in reducing emissions. According to a study in Risk Analysis, “Climate change concern is associated with increased acceptance of nuclear power only when nuclear power is considered as the only viable way to cut CO2 emissions” (Vainio et al. 2017, 557). Certainly, other options exist today that produce more energy and are better for the environment; therefore, nuclear energy and financement of it should be phased out.

Despite the higher net energy of nonrenewable resources, it is necessary to switch to renewable resources to reduce the environmental and health impacts. The readings highlight how by turning to cleaner options, we can create business opportunities and provide jobs, which is important because people often lean on the economy to justify ruining the environment. Indeed, it is integral to promote the positive economic effects and opportunities of businesses and countries becoming greener in order to generate more support for climate action. Consolidating diverse interests will be essential in fighting environmental degradation.

The U.S. needs to implement a smart grid to connect wind farms and solar power plants throughout the country, subsidize energy efficiency initiatives, and make the switch to more renewable energy. Generally, human systems are unnaturally linear, and in order to decrease human impact on the environment, people need to switch the energy system to one that imitates those found in nature (biomimicry). For example, solar cells mimic leaves, with some newer technology even turning to the sun as leaves do. Other renewable energy includes wind energy, which is highly productive and could potentially fuel the entire country. Loyola University Chicago created a program in which they collect oil from Chicago restaurants and universities and convert it into biodiesel that operates university and other local vehicles (Loyola University Chicago, n.d.). Small projects such as this one increase in their value when their methods are employed on a larger scale.

Of course, governments need to establish comprehensive policies to reduce pollution and increase renewable energy use, such as Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which improve vehicles’ fuel efficiencies. Standards are being used in Paris by establishing a low-emission zone where only certain vehicles can enter (Bernard et al.). This reduces air pollution and encourages people to purchase fuel-efficient and electric cars. Increasing CAFE standards in the coming years will further improve the energy efficiency of vehicles on the road.

We need to create legislation that forces communities to utilize renewable energy. California legislation requires the state to use renewable energy to produce half of its electric power by 2030. If this was imposed on a national level, we would see a sharp increase in wind, solar, and other renewable energy and a lower reliance on coal, oil, etc. Furthermore, the government needs to shift away from awarding subsidies and tax breaks to nonrenewable energy producers, and it should provide financial incentives for building and using renewable energy. Of course, these initiatives would be more logical if the U.S. government sped up the process of building a smart grid so widespread usage of clean energy would be more viable. Tax breaks and other economic incentives should also be used to encourage people to purchase more energy-efficient vehicles, including hybrid and electric cars. 

The government must also implement full-cost pricing when it comes to nonrenewable resources to reduce their usage. The International Monetary Fund approximates that if full-cost pricing were applied to burning coal, coal use would drop 55%, and CO2 emissions would drop 20%. It is necessary that pricing accurately reflects human and environmental cost; in the case of the NSW study, taxes were not high enough to make any companies take action. However, if done properly, this method can greatly reduce emissions from burning coal and producing other forms of nonrenewable energy. Promoting environmental education in schools and through community groups is integral in combating the narrative that nonrenewable energy is safe, which is purported by many corporations.

Unfortunately, impoverished people bear the brunt of climate change much more than those who are well-off, and many suffer as a result of wealthier people’s actions, such as corporations. While the rich can flee the effects of environmental degradation, marginalized people must face them directly. This makes comprehensive environmental policy even more necessary, and it can ameliorate other race and class issues, such as health. More immediate policy can include building parks in urban areas and cleaning up pre-existing places. Grassroots organizations can also spearhead efforts, and the Bronx River Alliance is revitalizing the Bronx River, and their work has a multitude of psychological and physical benefits to nearby residents. Growing up, I had the opportunity to explore nature through clean parks, playgrounds, and more in my neighborhood. Just 20 minutes down the road in a more impoverished neighborhood, children did not have access to the same opportunities and did not live in a healthy environment. Today, the memories I made in nature were formative and continue to affect my relationship with the world. It is unfair that so many young people are denied these opportunities, just because of how much money their parents have, and action must be taken to prevent further injustices.

Changing building standards to ensure green architecture would reduce energy waste, use solar energy to heat buildings, and more. Unfortunately, living in a sustainable manner is largely only accessible to wealthier people who have the means to live in buildings with top-of-the-line technology. Therefore, by making green living more accessible to everyone with government subsidies, less energy will be wasted and less emissions will be produced, leading to a cleaner world for everyone. On an individual level, we can all take action in our homes by ensuring that leaky heating is sealed, using LED bulbs, shutting off electronics when not in use, and transitioning to energy-efficient appliances. Switching to a cleaner and more energy-efficient world is critical in preventing further climate change. Acting sustainably can be a difficult road to take, especially given the capitalist system that we live in. I find myself purchasing from Amazon instead of shopping at brick-and-mortar stores, and I often eat meat in favor of vegetarian and vegan options. However, we must all be more conscious of our actions and their effects in order to have a cleaner future, or even a future at all.

Word Count: 1668

Question: If governments had focused their resources on renewable energy rather than nuclear energy, how would current emissions have been affected?

Diagrams:

Savings due to reduced air pollution in New South Wales, Australia

Potential phases for Paris’ implementation of its low-emission zones: cars receive stickers based on their fuel-efficiency

Sources of U.S. energy in 2019 - very unsustainable

Works Cited:

Crane, Keith. 2009. Imported Oil and U.S. National Security. Santa Monica, CA: RAND Corporation. https://eds-a-ebscohost-com.avoserv2.library.fordham.edu/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=c36b0d2f-45db-4a48-9f08-35b1ee8e70c8%40sdc-v-sessmgr02&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#AN=276729&db=e000xna. 

Ewald, Ben. 2018. “The value of health damage due to sulphur dioxide emissions from coal- fired electricity generation in NSW and implications for pollution licences.” Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health 42, no. 3: 227-229. EBSCOhost. 

Vainio, Annukka, Riikka Paloniemi, and Vilja Varho. 2017. “Weighing the Risks of Nuclear Energy and Climate Change: Trust in Different Information Sources, Perceived Risks, and Willingness to Pay for Alternatives to Nuclear Power.” Risk Analysis: An International Journal 37, no. 3. 557-569. EBSCOhost. 

Bernard, Yoann, Joshua Miller, Sandra Wappelhorst, and Caleb Braun. 2020. “Impacts of the Paris low-emission zone and implications for other cities.” The Real Urban Emissions Initiative (March 2020): 5. https://theicct.org/sites/default/files/publications/Paris-LEV-implications-03.12.2020.pdf. 

Loyola University Chicago. n.d.”Biodiesel Program.” https://www.luc.edu/media/lucedu/sustainability-new/pdfs/IES-biodiesel.pdf. 

[evangelinecullperformingart-blog]

Romeo and Juliet , Xmas Holiday Homework:

Social, cultural and historical context of the text and playwright

William Shakespeare was an English poet, playwright and actor. He has written approximately 38 plays, 154 sonnets and two long narrative poems’ including, “Romeo and Juliet”, “Othello”, “Macbeth”, “Hamlet”, “Julius Caesar” and much more.  His plays have even been translated into every major language because of his success. Shakespeare is regarded as the greatest writer in the English language, he is even called England’s national poet.

His plays were written in the Elizabethan era, so Queen Elizabeth was ruling England (1558-1603). “Romeo and Juliet” was written in 1597, during this time several historical events happened in the world. For example, England troops went to Amiens, Flemish painter Frederick of Valckenborch became porter of Frankfurt-on-Main and also there were a lot of deaths. For example,  a group of early Japanese Christians were killed by the new government of Japan for being seen as a threat to Japanese society, Lucas van Valckenborch, (a famous painter) died at the age of 61 and there were many more deaths which could have influenced Shakespeare’s ideas of so many characters’ in the play to dying.  There was also a plague in 1597, which is referenced in “Romeo and Juliet” when Friar John says he couldn’t deliver Friar Lawrence’s letter to Romeo because he was locked away hiding from the plague.

When “Romeo and Juliet was originally performed, to keep themselves entertained, the poor and the rich would gather in playhouses in the afternoon to see plays performed, often if you were going to see a play in the Elizabethan era, it would be one of Shakespeare’s. People would pay money to see the play but going to the playhouse was also seen as a social event where people would mingle with both sexes and many different social classes. There was a wide range of social and educational levels in Shakespeare’s audience, especially since many London brothels were nearby.

The theatre often served as a place for prostitutes and their customers. There were no toilet facilities in the theatres and people relieved themselves outside. Sewage was buried in pits or disposed of in the River Thames, (this could have been responsible for outbreaks of the plague). Audience’s talked during dull moments, and threw rotting vegetables, especially tomatoes at the actors if they weren’t impressed.

The vocal requirements and physical demands to be considered when interpreting the text and developing character’s for performance

The first performance of “Romeo and Juliet” was at the playhouse called the Theatre where Shakespeare and his cast worked. After the English Restoration, “Romeo and Juliet” was performed with elaborate scenery, dancing, thunder, lightning, wave machines and even fireworks. The original play would have been performed to 1500 people, in an octagonal shaped building with a thatched roof just around the perimeter so that the theatre was open air. Actors, even the ones playing Juliet were all male; originally it was illegal for females to go onto the stage. Shakespeare and his company the Lord Chamberlain’s Men would have originally performed in the Globe and Blackfriars Theatres. The actors would have performed in a melodramatic style, so the acting was emphasised and emotions would even be exaggerated.

The demands and requirements that each classical text places on a modern actor

Originally, actors would have worn clothes that reflect their character’s status/class, there were even laws controlling what actors could wear! Costumes were mainly the modern dress of the time; some actors playing smaller roles might have worn their own clothing. Companies would reuse costumes if they could like any theatre company would today. They took the theatre so seriously that they would spend around £300 monthly just on costumes, today that translates to £35,000! So the costumes helped the actors as they would help to emphasise their character’s social status. Makeup also helped the actors to perform their roles as it helped the audience to understand their character. A white face, red cheeks and a blonde wig turned a boy actor into a beautiful young woman.

Performance conditions:

Some theatres could hold up to 3000 audience members, stages would be covered in straw and the audience would stand on all three sides. Similar to today, the wall at the back of the stage had a door on both sides for entrances and exists. Above the stage was a trapdoor which was used to lower actors onto the stage and there was also a trapdoor on the stage itself for surprise entrances.

Some plays were performed in an outdoor playhouse meaning the actors had to be able to project their voices to a high standard due to the surrounding noises. Also, since audiences were so large, actors would have to exaggerate their gestures immensely to ensure that the far away audience could see them. Due to lack of technology, there wasn’t much set that actors would bring onto the stage, this is likely why Shakespeare included lots of dialogue about the weather and the environment a character was in. On their costumes, characters may have had to carry real swords and weapons for scenes and so they would have learned how to use them properly. Also, they would have only been able to perform at certain times in the day when the lighting suited the play and the scenes within it since their only source of lighting was natural lighting.

“Romeo and Juliet” cast list:

Escalus, prince of Verona

Paris, a young nobleman

Montague, Capulet, heads of warring households

Old man, cousin to Capulet

Romeo, son of Montague

Mercutio, kinsman to the prince, and friend to Romeo

Benvolio, nephew to Montague, and friend to Romeo

Tybalt, nephew to Lady Capulet

Friar Laurence, Friar John, Franciscans

Balthasar, servant to Romeo

Sampson, Gregory, servants to Capulet

Peter, servant to Juliet's nurse

Abraham, servant to Montague

An Apothecary

Three Musicians

Page to Paris; another Page; an Officer

Lady Montague, wife to Montague

Lady Capulet, wife to Capulet

Juliet, daughter to Capulet

Nurse to Juliet

Citizens of Verona; Maskers, Guards, Watchmen, and Attendants

Chorus

A synopsis of scenes

Act 1, Scene 1: Sampson and Gregory (Capulet family servants) get into a fight with Abram and Balthazar (from the Montague household). Benvolio appears and tries to end it but then Tybalt fights with him. The Prince then comes along and puts the fighting to a stop. Once the Princes and Capulets have exited the stage, the Montagues discuss Romeo's strange behaviour. Benvolio speaks to Romeo about this, Romeo says that he is in love so much with Rosaline and will never love another.

Act 1, scene 2: Paris wants Capulet to allow him to marry his daughter Juliet.  Capulet argues that his daughter is too young but if Paris can win her over then he will allow them to marry. Capulet gives his servant the guest list, Romeo and Benvolio pass by and Capulet's servant asks if they will help him. At this moment, Romeo notices that Rosaline's name is on the list and so he and Benvolio decide to go to the party in disguise because Romeo is so desperate to see Rosaline.

Act 1, scene 3: The nurse and Juliet speak about her childhood then lady Capulet tells Juliet about her father's plan for her marriage to Paris.

Act 1, scene 4: Romeo, Benvolio and Mercurio arrive at the party; Romeo says that he won't dance because he's too sad. Romeo expresses dark thoughts whilst Mercurio teases him.

Act 1, scene 5: Romeo notices Juliet and is taken back by her beauty. Tybalt recognises him and is angered by his presence but Capulet orders him to be peaceful as he doesn't want to be embarrassed at his own party. Love immediately blossoms as Romeo and Juliet kiss, Juliet is called to her mother and so Romeo learns who she is. This is when he learns that her family is his rival family. Juliet also learns this from the Nurse and is disappointed.

Act 2, scene 1: Romeo separated himself from his friends as they leave the party. His friends leave thinking that Romeo has gone looking for Rosaline.

Act 2, scene 2: Juliet appears at her balcony, Romeo is in the garden. Thinking that she is alone, she speaks of her love for Romeo, wishing that he wasn't a Montague. Romeo hears this and reveals himself, they exchange vows. Juliet is called away by the nurse but she explains to Romeo that she will send a messenger for him in the morning as they plan to get married. They then exchange living farewells.

Act 2, scene 3: Romeo goes to see Friar Lawrence and tells him of his new love for Juliet. He asked Friar Lawrence to help him marry Juliet, to which he agrees.

Act 2, scene 4: Juliet waits for her nurse, who she sent to meet Romeo. The nurse tells Juliet that Romeo is waiting at Friar Lawrence's cell to marry her. Romeo arrives and secretly goes to Juliet's bedroom.

Act 2, scene 5: Romeo and Friar Lawrence wait for Juliet to arrive at the cell. The lovers embrace and speak of their love and are then wed.

Act 3, scene 1: Benvolio and his men walk in the sun as they speak about fighting with Capulets. Tybalt sees Romeo and he wants him to draw his sword. Romeo doesn't want to (as he is now secretly married to Tybalt's cousin). Mercutio says that is Romeo won't fight Tybalt, and then he will! Tybalt stabs Mercutio, he dies as he curses both families. Romeo and Tybalt then fight, Romeo kills him.

Act 3, scene 2: The nurse tell Juliet of the fight, the nurse is so confused and upset that she makes it sound that Romeo is dead. Juliet thinks that Romeo has killed himself, the nurse moans about Tybalt death and then Juliet fears that both Romeo and Tybalt are dead. When everything is made clear, Juliet curses nature that it should put “the spirit of a fiend” in Romeo’s “sweet flesh” (3.2.81–82). The Nurse echoes Juliet and curses Romeo’s name, but Juliet denounces her for criticising her husband and adds that she regrets faulting him herself. Juliet is depressed by Romeo's banishment. The nurse says that she knows where Juliet is hiding and will take Juliet's ring to him.

Act 3, scene 3: The friar sets forth a plan: Romeo will visit Juliet that night, but make sure to leave her chamber, and Verona, before the morning. He will then stay in Mantua until news of their marriage can be spread. The Nurse hands Romeo the ring from Juliet, which makes him very happy. The Nurse goes, and Romeo says goodbye to Friar. He prepares to visit Juliet and then goes to Mantua.

Act 3, scene 4: Capulet, Lady Capulet, and Paris walk together. Capulet says that he's had no time to ask Juliet about her feelings for Paris. Lady Capulet states that she will know her daughter’s thoughts by the morning. Paris is about to leave when Capulet calls him back and makes what he calls “a desperate tender of my child’s love” (3.4.12–13). Capulet promises Paris that the wedding will happen.

Act 3, scene 5: Romeo leaves before morning. The nurse enters to tell Juliet that Lady Capulet is coming. Lady Capulet tells Juliet that she will marry Paris, Juliet is appalled. Capulet threatens to disown Juliet if she doesn't marry him. The nurse advises her to marry him, Juliet pretends to agree but in reality, she is disgusted. She goes to Friar Lawrence hoping he will help her.

Act 4, scene 1: in the cell, Paris encourages Friar Lawrence to make the marriage happen faster. Paris speaks affectionately to Juliet but she doesn't respond in any way. Once Paris has left, Juliet asks Friar Lawrence’s help, she says that she’d rather kill herself than marry Paris. Friar comes up with a plan: Juliet should agree to marry Paris, and then on the night before the wedding, she must drink a sleeping potion that will make her look dead. She will be put to rest in Capulets tomb, and then the Friar will send a letter to Romeo saying he must come get her and then they can run away to Mantua together. Juliet loves the plan and Friar gives her the potion.

Act 4, scene 2: Juliet goes home to find Capulet and Lady Capulet preparing for the Wedding. She tells her parents that she will agree to marry Paris. Capulet is so pleased that he insists on moving the wedding to Wednesday – tomorrow!

Act 4, scene 3: Alone in her Romeo Juliet thinks of the potion. She wonders what if the Friar is untrustworthy, she worries and then thinks what if Romeo is late for some reason, she could awake in the tomb and go mad with fear. She even has strange visions that Tybalt’s ghost is searching for Romeo. She then drinks the potion.

Act 4, scene 4-5: The next morning the nurse finds Juliet dead. Capulet and Lady Capulet show grief and sorrow when Paris hears the news he joins then in the lamentations. The Friar comforts them and says they should make plans for her funeral.

The musicians begin to pack up, Capulet’s servant asks them to play a happy tune, to ease his sorrows but they don’t agree. The musicians argue with the servant and then decide to stay to see if they will get any food.

Act 5, scenes 1-2: In Mantua, Romeo describes a wonderful dream that he had of Juliet. Balthasar enters and tells Romeo that Juliet has been found dead.  Romeo writes a letter to Montague and tells Balthasar that he will return to Verona that night. Romeo says that he will go to Juliet’s tomb and kill himself. He buys a bottle of poison to do this.

Friar Lawrence speaks to Friar John who was supposed to send a letter to Romeo telling him of the plan. Friar John says that the letter didn’t get delivered because he was shut up in a house, hiding away from the plague.  Friar Lawrence worries because he knows that if Romeo doesn’t know about Juliet’s false death, then there will be no one to take her away from the tomb when she awakes. Friar Lawrence decides that he will have to rescue Juliet from the tomb alone. He sends another letter to Romeo to warn him about what’s happened and plans to keep Juliet in the cell before Romeo arrives.

Act 5, scene 3: Paris scatters flowers on Juliet’s grave, he then goes. Romeo enters with Balthasar, he tells Balthasar that he was come to open Capulets tomb to get a valuable ring that he gave to Juliet. He orders Balthasar to leave and in the morning to deliver the letter to the Montagues.  Balthasar secretly doesn’t leave but watches what his master Romeo is doing.

Paris recognises Romeo as the man who murdered Tybalt and the man who murdered Juliet (supposing that she died because of her grief over Tybalt’s death). Thinking of this, Paris sees Romeo and they fight. Romeo ends up killing Paris, as he dies; he asks to be laid next to Juliet’s body. Romeo walks over to Juliet thinking that she is dead. He kisses her and speaks of her beauty, then kisses her again. Romeo takes to poison and dies. Just after this, Friar Lawrence walks into the tomb where he sees the body of Paris and Romeo, as he takes in the bloody scene, Juliet awakes. Juliet asks where Romeo is and they Friar fearfully tells her that they are dead. He tells Juliet to leave with him but she refuses and he goes without her.  At this moment, Juliet realises that Romeo has taken poison. Juliet takes Romeo’s dagger and stabs herself; she then dies upon his body. The Prince and Capulets enter and discover the bodies. Friar Lawrence then tells them the story of Romeo’s and Juliet’s secret marriage. Balthasar gives the Prince the letter Romeo had previously written to his father which confirms the Friar’s story. After all the chaos, Capulet and Montague clasp hands and agree to put their hatred behind them. Montague says that he will build a golden statue of Juliet, and Capulet insists that he will raise Romeo’s likeness in gold beside hers.

Bibliography:

http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/uploads/files/2014/01/costumes_cosmetics.pdf

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHoaPLO6Zd8

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/romeojuliet/characters.html

https://www.cliffsnotes.com/literature/r/romeo-and-juliet/character-list

https://www.rsc.org.uk/romeo-and-juliet/past-productions/stage-history

https://www.rsc.org.uk/shakespeares-life-and-times/performing-shakespeare-in-the-17th-century

https://www.tes.com/teaching-resource/elizabethan-theatre-original-performance-conditions-edexcel-unit-4-11007164

http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/uploads/files/2014/01/costumes_cosmetics.pdf

http://www.biography.com/people/william-shakespeare-9480323

https://www.rsc.org.uk/shakespeares-life-and-times

http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/romeojuliet/section16.rhtml

https://www.rsc.org.uk/shakespeares-life-and-times/performing-shakespeare-in-the-17th-century

http://keepcalmandcrossbounderies.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/shakespeare-original-performance.html

[kyselor-blog]

Week 5

“But crucially the monster is also to be differentiated from the individual to be corrected on the basis of whether power operates on it or through it. In other words, the absolute power that produces and quarantines the monster finds its dispersal in techniques of normalization and discipline”  (Monster, Terrorist, Fag 119). I think that this is a quote that really captures one of the main themes of this week’s pieces because they both discuss how people that are labeled as disposable and less than human, are subjected to receiving “help” from an absolute power. In this case, it is painted and assumed that these people are willing and waiting for this help, but it is actually being forced onto these individuals. The absolute power that has to help everyone in this narrative that it portrays to everyone is the United States. It seems to be their job to “fix” these “monsters”. I put that into quotation marks because they are the ones to label these groups of people as monsters, and the only way to fix them is to isolate them as people and force strict forms or conformity and discipline. This is a violent way to being because it rips them apart from their normal way of life is forces them into something that is unnatural and coercive. It is justified since these people “need to be saved”.

My addition to the Glossary of Haunting is the word “mobilize”. This word is used a lot in this week’s readings because it is trying to explain how power and has been mobilized over lower status communities. In the Shock Doctrine, it was explaining how the victims of Katrina were left to the discretion of private companies. They used the natural disaster of the hurricane, to mobilize their power and dominance, during a period of disorientation. There is always going to be a mobilization of actual troops or physical force, or there could be a mobilization of ideologies. These are both very harmful and both work in tandem because the physical force and violence of stripping people away from their original space or way of life and forcing them to adopt a “normalized” culture, is just another act of dominance. Mobilization in this context has a negative meaning because it may seem to be for the well being of a certain group, but there is always going to be another prerogative at the foundation.

The haunted power dynamics in this week’s readings are those of sexuality and class level.  A big theme about the Monster, Terrorist, Fag reading, is that the West has the idea that the Muslim women have been subjected to a lot of violence. They are victims of their own culture and of men in general. They have been sexualized into a submissive and secondary role by people looking at the situation from the outside in. Since women have to be covered up, due to religion, others feel like they are being forced to do so or that it is against their will. They do not bother to actually get to know the personal reasons behind it or even if they are CHOOSING to do it and do not need saving. They are making these biased statements, but also have the power to make them believable by the general public. There has been a big idea of gender-dependency within their culture, which had started after the bin Laden situation. This idea that women had been waiting for someone to save them (126). This was used to justify the mobilization of the US troops into the middle east. During this period, the war had been created into a very masculine and sexist project. A lot of the actions and thoughts behind the war had put men at the front as their duty to save women and children. This taps into the traditional ideas of what it means to be patriotic and what that even looks like (127). People feel the need to be overly patriotic in these situations because of the fear of being labeled as an outsider or even going against one's country. It is good in a sense, but also tends to exclude people of color or even people of the LGBTQ community because they have already been seen as outsiders. The boundaries get even tighter when there is already an infringement on society. If they do not fit into the heteronormative ideals, then you are grouped into marginalized communities. Class level is also a haunted power structure in this week’s reading because in the Shock Doctrine piece, it discusses how after Katrina, the marginalized people which were specifically people of color and blacks, were left to survive with minimal help. The big thing that was happening at the time though, was the privatization of the state. Klein says it was a “land grab” (6). This was the people of power, splitting up what they wanted and could afford and forcing the inhabitants to follow the ideology and programs that they wanted to implement. They said that these would help them in the long run, but it is only pushing the personal agendas of those in high status. These people are racialize as inadequate, seeking help, and that is when the rich white man comes to the rescue.

The role of orphaned beginnings takes part in these readings because in the Monsters reading, it shows how people’s individuality, religion, daily lives, are totally erased and altered by the ideologies that people have of them based off of only certain groups. This leads to a common idea of what monsters are supposed to look like and handicaps all brown people because people think they could be terrorists based on a preconceived concept of them. These pictures have quarantined these groups of people because now everyone else from the outside perspective is going to initially assume they're bad, needing correction. It can also cloud judgement in how people interact with them even though they have done nothing wrong. ( Paur, Rai 117). Also the ideology that women need the help of Americans and men in general because they are victims of their own culture, is a violent process in itself because it takes any type of autonomy or choice out of their actions. They may be doing it as a form of resistance to stay rooted in their culture but the logic that they need to be saved, totally disregards that. It puts them into a secondary role from the jump, stripping them of their own identity and sense of power.

We can listen for liberators futures by actually getting first person insight to this culture that has been so polluted by western ideologies. They honestly don’t even need to say anything because they don't have to prove anything to us. We have just throw so much dirt on who they are as a whole, based on individual actions. Once we are able to see past the things that only individual people, then we can see the truth and character instead of what people in power have told us to believe. We have to give them back their voice and power to speak for themselves. I don't think I see a future where we are held accountable for the violent ideologies that have been created to mask these people and what they stand for. We can handicap a people based off of individual actions because they don’t represent everyone. So much of our history and policies have been based off of a response to these people and preemptive actions so I don't know how we can undo all of that. We are using them as a tool to justify our own military actions that harm other people, but it is hidden behind the other “bad guys”.