Name Game

Sydney has many different meanings depending on where you are from. In Greek Sydney means from Sidon (Sidon is a city in Lebanon). The English meaning of Sydney is wide island: south of the water. The Sydney that my parents chose was the English meaning of Sydney because around the time that I was born the Olympics were set to be held in in Sydney Australia which is a wide island south of England (wow so creative). I do not think that my name defines me because it is predominantly used to describe a place rather than a unique set of characteristics. My middle name Nicole would be a better way to describe me because Nicole means people's victory and typically people with this name tend be better at managing and at saving money. People with the name Nicole also strive for others to achieve peace and harmony, which is very fitting for me because one thing that I really try to push for in this world is religious equality.

There is a quote that talks about the different faces that humanity has. One face we show the world, one we show to our friends and family, and the other one we do not show to anyone but ourselves. It is the third face that reflects our true nature. The times when there have been two me's have only showed up in school especially when I have to be around people that I do not really care to be around. The other Sydney that does not show up at school is the Sydney that is really only seen around her friends and family. In our society, attempting to be an individual is something that is very hard to do. You want to stand out and be different, but with so many people, you are expected to fit into more of a social norm rather than to stand out. That doesn't mean that you are not an individual, it just means that your individuality is something that you have to cherish and it shouldn't be affected by what other people think. Being part of a larger whole isn't such a bad thing either, because a sense of community is created and then there are more people to appreciate your individuality.

Picture Perfect

The picture that I chose was photographed by Wing Young Huie and is from his We are the Other  collection. This photo was taken in 2012 at Chicago Avenue in South Minneapolis, Minnesota. At first glance all that is seen is an American flag hanging from a flag pole that appears to be in someone's yard. The flag itself is torn and is barely hanging on to the pole. This gives off the idea that the flag has been hanging on that pole for a while and that the residences at that house have probably been there for a while. Looking deeper into this post there is an underlying feeling that this picture is saying that America might seem great right now, but that is only now and now will eventually fade. It is saying that this time of greatness will eventually come to an end.

Based on the picture I selected, Wing Young Huie presents the concept of "othering" through the format in which the picture was taken and in the way that the color presents itself in the picture. This picture was taken from an angle with the camera facing more towards the sunlight that was blocked by the house. This format places more emphasis on the area surrounding the flag than the flag itself aiding the concept of "othering" by taking away the importance of the flag which is suppose to be the main focus of the picture. He also presents the concept of "othering" through the color in the photo. The color within the picture is not very saturated creating a washed out effect. This presents the concept of "othering" because the  faded appearance represents how groups of people or places are treated as if their differences are something that sets them aside in  a negative manor.

Margaret Atwood presents the concept of "othering" through the reoccurring implication of social classes throughout the book. There is a clear distinction of social classes within the The Handmaid's Tale. The highest class of women are the wives, and then the handmaids, aunts, Martha's, econowives, and at the very bottom, the unwomen. The handmaids are taught from day one that one does not want to end up being declared an unwoman or even being an econowife: "Go to the Colonies, Rita said. They have the choice. With the Unwomen, and starve to death and Lord knows what else" (Atwood, 10). The tone of Rita in this quote gives the audience the impression that the Unwomen are inferior to everyone else and because of this they are the group that is alienated in the Republic of Gilead.