Methinks We All Remember Learning Shakespeare

Shakespeare is probably rolling over in his grave right about now

Whether you have fond memories of having to read Shakespeare in high school, or you have dread, you have memories nonetheless of being assigned to read his work. For the rare few who have not needed Shakespeare in order to pass English class, this post is not for you – and wow, how did you manage to get away with that?

His work came to be considered classics (I’m sure if he was alive today, he would be thrilled). However, I find that once you break down the plots, they always seem quite simplistic and, dare I say, a little boring *cue the gasps of every English teacher*.

Here is my ranking of best to worst based on what I had to read in high school.

1. Hamlet

We have to give this win to none other than Hamlet. You really can’t go wrong with an all-knowing spooky ghost, good old-fashioned revenge and family drama. Not to mention insanity, oh the insanity, a bunch of epic sword fighting and a whole lot of poison and murder. And we can’t forget about the iconic questioning of life and death. All in all, Hamlet shapes up to be probably the only redeeming Shakespearean play I’ve ever read. I have very little complaints in terms of overall plot and general ridiculousness. Some questionable takes on mental health, but overall, I’m not mad. 

I grant thee 8/10. 

2. Macbeth

Speaking of murder, Macbeth comes in second place. No all-knowing ghost, but instead we have three all-knowing witches. Macbeth wants to be top dog, and he’s under the impression he can be, so he murders a lot of people in the name of power. Lady Macbeth is all for the murdering, as any supportive wife would be. Although, she disappears for a while after the beginning. I have this suspicion that Shakespeare forgot about her mid play and in order to make ends meet, kills her off – because what’s another death to this play?

Needless to say, not a lot of characters survive and there’s a very questionable “gotcha” moment at the end. A word to the wise, caesarean section is still the act of being born from a woman, but hey, you do you Shakespeare! He sure did love his technicalities, didn’t he? I don’t know if I would consider Macbeth to be a bloody good time, but I will consider it a bloody okay time – nonetheless it comes in second, and second isn’t the worst.

I grant thee 6/10.

3. Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet – forbidden love at its finest! Boy and girl fall madly in love, but their families despise each other and forbid marriage. The Montagues and the Capulet’s did the olden times equivalent of “as long as you live under my roof, you follow my rules”. And of course, Romeo and Juliet decided, well, not to. But I guess you do anything in the name of true love. Even if that means faking your own death in order to fool your parents, therefore allowing you to then sneak away with your husband – of course the kicker being not telling your husband your genius plan beforehand. Perhaps Romeo might’ve checked her pulse first?

If I’ve learned anything from Romeo and Juliet, it’s to not believe fake news. And maybe also to not get married as young as thirteen, but hey, to each their own – and I understand it was the cool thing to do back then. 

Side note: who else remembers watching the 1968 movie adaptation and thinking, Zac Efron?

I grant thee 4.5/10.  

4. Merchant of Venice

That’s right. The only comedy on this list (aka the one with no deaths) is the worst one. Anti-Semitic stereotypes in the plot aside, we need to discuss the atrocity that is the character Portia. Her fiancé Bassanio has to leave town to go help a friend out in court. Before he leaves, she gives him this ring and tells him essentially that if he loves her, he will not give up this ring.

She then dresses up as a man and pretends to be a lawyer’s apprentice in order to help the friend of Bassanio (without his knowledge) and ends up winning the case for him.

Seems nice and selfless enough, right? Well, then afterward a very grateful Bassanio asks what he can do to repay this lawyer’s apprentice. A disguised Portia then pressures him into giving her the ring as a test.

Long story short: Portia is petty. Although, I guess I’d be petty too if my father controlled my love life, even from the beyond. 

I grant thee 3/10. 

Parting is such sweet relief (no sorrow here, folks)

Safe to say, I don’t miss analyzing Shakespeare.

My sincerest apologies to English majors, teachers and enthusiasts alike.

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Natasha Lanceman

A uOttawa social sciences graduate and a second year professional writing student at Algonquin College. Will gladly edit or look over your work if you ask her to. Enjoys anthropological non-fiction, black and white films and music that makes you feel something. Always caffeinated and probably conveys ideas much better on paper.

Don't Be Fooled by Nostalgia: Your favourite childhood movies might just be okay

Don’t let nostalgia disrupt the underlying message

Nostalgia can be a heartwarming feeling. However, it can easily blur the lines of your ability to address problematic contexts. If you remember something so fondly, it’s hard to differentiate the good from the bad, because you have developed some sense of bias. We often struggle to adjust our thinking after the fact in order to critically think about things. 

When it comes to things like movies, we all have some that we hold dearly from childhood. Due to nostalgia tied to certain movies, we sometimes forget or blur out aspects that are in fact problematic. Re-watching movies from the past today can really shed some light on what we missed or what we didn’t account for. It can be hard for us to think poorly about movies we loved so much, even after learning of their issues. It is important to understand, nostalgia aside, what we have internalized from a young age. 

 Here I will (hopefully) ruin some childhood classics for you in order to prove my point.

1)    Sixteen Candles

To sum up just a few of the many problems:

The main love interest (Jake) decides to pursue the main character (Sam) whilst he is still very much in a relationship with his then girlfriend (Caroline). Then at a party he takes advantage of his very drunk girlfriend by allowing someone he barely knows (Ted the “Geek”) to drive her home, all while a drunk Caroline is thinking it’s Jake taking her home. Safe to say let’s stop idolizing Jake as the “dreamy” love interest he’s meant to be!

Ted the “Geek” proceeds to take advantage of the situation by getting his friends to take pictures of an unconscious Caroline and him as “proof” of the situation. Not to mention the next morning there is an implied occurrence of sexual assault that took place with an intoxicated Caroline and sober Ted.

And if all of that isn’t bad enough, there is the foreign exchange student character (Long Duk Dong), who was solely used in the movie as an exacerbated racist stereotype for a cheap laugh (I suppose). Update: it’s not funny.

2)    Most Disney princess movies pre early 2000s 

These movies as a whole are clear cut examples of childhood classics that are particularly problematic for their age demographic – mainly young girls. Movies such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Cinderella, The Little Mermaid, Sleeping Beauty, Pocahontas, are just a few of the movies in this genre that convey problematic and concerning messages that are easily internalized at a young age. These movies depict instances of kissing without consent, needing a prince to make your dreams come true, giving up one’s own voice to be able to be with a man, lack of female independence and autonomy or support of that, racialized stereotypes and eroticized depictions of women of colour, and many more concerning messages and plot points. I would think twice before showing these movies to young kids nowadays. 

3)    Space Jam

Continuing on the topic of negative portrayals of female characters I thought I’d throw in Space Jam. I agree, the movie is a classic for many, however there is a lot to unpack in terms of female-based objectification. Let’s remember Lola the Bunny, who although is not technically human, is still very much depicted in the same regard as a human woman. Is she really an empowering female character? Sure, they emphasize her basketball abilities – but just remember what she wears, and how she acts. It’s not hard to come to the conclusion that she is an overtly sexualized character solely there as a love interest of Bugs Bunny. If you re-watch the movie, I promise you won’t be able to unsee this fact.  

Nostalgia aside

As much as we fondly recall these childhood movies, there needs to be clarity in terms of understanding what is really being conveyed. Think to yourself: what am I learning? What is being normalized? What is the main takeaway? If nothing good comes from such critical thought than it’s clear that these movies lack progression. It’s perfectly fine to still watch them and still love them because of the memories that they bring, just don’t let nostalgia cloud your judgement. 

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Natasha Lanceman

A uOttawa social sciences graduate and a second year professional writing student at Algonquin College. Will gladly edit or look over your work if you ask her to. Enjoys anthropological non-fiction, black and white films and music that makes you feel something. Always caffeinated and probably conveys ideas much better on paper.

The past taken out of context: A conclusion on modern music and its influences

The former always influences the latter

It’s not a new concept for music and culture from the past to make an impression the future. Seeing as music inspires far and wide, it only makes sense for some past trends and styles of music to rub off on newer artists and bands. Like anything, we evolve, and we take into consideration the past when moving forward. There are some notable musical talents who have incorporated nostalgic personas and sounds for the purpose of their own branding. Let’s take a look at some modern artists who are heavily inspired by the past and discuss their inspirations, and whether or not they are really their own artist given the circumstances.

Here are three examples for you.

1.     The glamorous Lana Del Rey

Lana Del Rey has taken to producing music based predominantly on nostalgia of past time periods she admires, and she’s extremely popular and loved for doing so. Her music as a whole contextualizes American imagery from the 50s onward, and its iconic history and figures – including that of jazz, Woodstock, groupies, Norman Rockwell, cult leaders and New York City, among many other mentions. Whether she’s using specific nostalgic imagery, or simply singing in a simplistic dated way, Lana makes it very clear what she considers to be her muse — that being the past and all it entails – the good and the bad.

Despite her evident consideration and idolization of the past, which is strongly incorporated into her branding, I would say this has ultimately helped to make a name for herself – one that is specific to her and her only. Right off the bat you can pinpoint whether a song is by Lana Del Rey.

To sum up, in very Lana like fashion, as pulled from her tune Brooklyn Baby, “I’m talking about my generation… And if you don’t like it, you can beat it, beat it, baby”.  

2.     Greta Van Fleet or Zeppelin Van Fleet?

Greta Van Fleet, like Lana Del Rey, seems to be quite reminiscent of the past – specifically 60s and 70s-esque rock eras. It’s something that you can definitely tell when seeing them perform live. It’s obvious they embody the style and musical elements of the past. It’s quite interesting to listen to Josh Kiszka, lead singer of the band, because he sounds uncannily similar to Robert Plant, iconic lead singer of Led Zeppelin. So much so, that it’s hard for people, myself included, to differentiate between the 24-year-old Michigan native and the 72-year-old English rock legend just by listening alone. Their heavy allude to former rock eras has gathered them a huge following of fans – specifically a lot of young people who enjoy and appreciate the representation of that genre and culture as a whole. A lot of criticism has been made in terms of whether or not they are copying Led Zeppelin and simply profiting off of something that’s already been done. It’s debatable as to whether their brand as a whole is truly their own.

3.     The groovy Dope Lemon

Perhaps a lesser known band, Dope Lemon is an Australian indie-folk group formed by former Angus & Julia Stone member Angus Stone. The first thing I thought of when I heard their music was a) I like this, and a little after the fact, b) this is very reminiscent of psychedelics, if psychedelics and Bob Dylan had a love child. It’s evident what inspiration Dope Lemon is pulling from. The music is incredibly nostalgic of the psychedelic rock era, where the lyrics are simplistic and mellow, while the music alone is dazed and entrancing. I would argue that not everyone would necessarily put two and two together in terms of the nostalgic elements, and because of that I feel like they have a relatively unique sound despite the notable influence. 

So what’s to be said about musical influence? Is it really a bad thing?

I think it’s crucial to understand that old music and culture is not the pinnacle of greatness, and modern forms are not merely a copy. Sure, there are influences and takeaways from the past, but this has been happening for centuries, and is not something to criticize given the fact. Inspiration from the past incorporated into new music forms can really enhance the overall nostalgia of the work. I think it really comes down to the fact of the matter: do you like the music or do you not? It’s that simple. Music is subjective, and everyone can learn to appreciate the past in all its forms -- whether in the past or brought into modern day.   

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Natasha Lanceman

A uOttawa social sciences graduate and a second year professional writing student at Algonquin College. Will gladly edit or look over your work if you ask her. Enjoys anthropological non-fiction novels, black and white films and music that makes you feel something. Always caffeinated and probably conveys ideas much better on paper.

60's, 70's, 80's Galore: A Listen Down Memory Lane

 It was the best of times, it was the worst of times — but either way, I remember

Music can spark many emotions – it can make you nostalgic for the past. It can bring up memories of the good old days, bittersweet emotions or things that you’d rather leave be in the past. There might be that one song or artist that you can’t listen to without wanting to bawl your eyes out, needing to crank up the volume or simply needing to sit and digest it as a whole. Everyone has a different story – a different song from the past – a different reason to listen. The experience of listening to music, for better or for worse, can ignite something within you (which is pretty cool if you ask me).

A blast from my past

It was the 90’s to early 2000’s. My dad was blasting yet another album on the home CD player. He always needed the volume to the max. He rarely played the same music twice – his music collection was quite extensive. It was clear that whatever he played was considered top notch and worthy – something that I often took to heart. His main muse was none other than rock n’ roll. 

Stevie nicks

Some classics for you

1)     The Rolling Stones

I cannot express to you how many times I’ve heard them on full blast in my youth – whether it be from at home or in the car. “Gimme Shelter”, “Beast of Burden” and “Sympathy for the Devil” were personal favourites, even if I was too young to really understand the lyrics at the time.

2)     The Who

They were constantly on repeat. Back when I had a paper route (my first ever job), I used to play “My Generation” and “Magic Bus” exclusively while putting papers in mailboxes. 

3)     Fleetwood Mac

When I was younger, I genuinely thought I was so cool for knowing more songs than just “Go Your Own Way” (many friends of mine knew it from Guitar Hero). Their album Rumours is and always will be a classic. I remember sitting on my carpeted living room floor, hearing “Rhiannon” and “Never Going Back Again” for the first time, and just thinking “wow”. 

4)     Peter Gabriel

Who can forget “Solsbury Hill”? I know I will always cherish that song, along with “In Your Eyes” and “Sledgehammer”. I remember (innocently) wondering why Gabriel wasn’t the one chosen to sing for Disney soundtracks (anyone who’s familiar with Genesis or Phil Collins might understand this reference).

5)     Bruce Springsteen

My dad and I shared the mutual love for “Atlantic City”. As a young girl who glamorized angst and moodiness, it seemed like the perfect song. “Darkness on the Edge of Town” and “I’m on Fire” seemed to coincide well too.

6)     Led Zeppelin

My brother and I were heavily influenced by Zeppelin. My dad made sure to instill their music into us at a young age. “Kashmir”, “Going to California” and “Stairway to Heaven” were game changers for us.

7)     Tom Petty

I’m sure many might share this same nostalgic memory: picture yourself on some kind of road trip and “Free Fallin’” starts playing on the radio. Iconic, right? “Don’t Come Around Here No More” is also a classic – I remember loving the music video because it had Alice in Wonderland elements.

And on that note

I would like to personally thank my dad who, although extremely biased, refused to let me listen to anything else at the time. I still fondly listen to all of this music to this day.

I listen to music constantly, no matter how I’m feeling — so for me there is and always will be that connection.

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Natasha Lanceman

A uOttawa social sciences graduate and a second year professional writing student at Algonquin College. Will gladly edit or look over your work if you ask her. Enjoys anthropological non-fiction novels, black and white films and music that makes you feel something. Always caffeinated and probably conveys ideas much better on paper.

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