Why does Quinn Fabray never get a Happy Ending?

Not a Wellesley related post at all but I think it needs to be said.
As requested by D, there are spoiler alerts following in this post.

WHAT ON EARTH ARE THE WRITERS OF GLEE DOING WITH QUINN FABRAY???

Seriously...what was this?

Seriously though. I feel like she takes the fall for basically everything. When things are getting tired on the show, they drastically alter something about her character. They really can never let her be happy which sucks because she really is one of my favorite characters. She was smart, and had aspirations outside of the performing arts even though she enjoyed singing in Glee alot.

I get it that in the first season, it makes sense. It was the huge plot twist that the "Beautiful Blonde Cheerleader" gets pregnant and hits rock bottom.

Even the Lucy Caboosey stuff makes her character really interesting. She worked really hard to become the Alpha Female and it adds more pathos to the fact that she completely messed things up. The allegory of the Perfect Christian Girl's world falling apart was kind of tragic and added a nice layer to the story. Her parents divorce and yet she perseveres.

But really. It seems like when Quinn is in the spotlight she is either completely deplorable and attention seeking, or having to work back from another bombshell that the writers just dumped on her. Usually a negative thing happens RIGHT after something positive has just happened to her. They also constantly say that she is beautiful but that seems to be grounds to be smacked down on Glee

For example: Taking Dad to Chastity Ball. Gets Pregnant and kicked out of the house.
Runs for Prom Queen. Finn cheats on her with Rachel and she loses to Kurt.
Gets into Yale. Paralyzed.

It's been a long time since we've seen this girl. Can we have her back?

What's next? About to Graduate...Dies? I really would not be happy with that. There's really only so many times she can have bad things happen to her and try to rebound like she's needed to in these past 3 seasons of Glee. I want to keep rooting or her but the writers keep making her happy ending impossible. I'm kind of getting discouraged

RE: WellesleyFML

I don't think I have the brainpower to write another long post so I'll keep it short.

So this is just something I wanted to address for awhile I just never got around to it. It seems like a lot of people use this site and I think it's an interesting phenomenon that we have so many ways that we as Wellesley students can connect with one another and share experiences.

BUT.

That site seriously stresses me out. It really does. While there are a few posts of people being supportive about people(a lot of times about questioning/queerness) there's a lot of built up stress there too and sometimes just outright ridiculous/obnoxious posts. I can't really talk because this blog in and of itself supports the idea that ranting about stuff is the best way to deal with your emotions. However. The only way that you, the reader, has access to this URL is through either my personal Facebook or through my Twitter and is protected from being searched on Google. The audience is limited so if you're reading this right now, chances are I know you fairly well(just kidding you could also be coming here from the weird Russian site that's trafficking my posts....sorry). WellesleyFML.com is designed to share info with anyone who has the URL which includes alumnae, professors, current students and anyone who feels like "seeing into our world". It's sometimes hard for me to tell whether or not the people posting are genuinely in distress and which are just attention seeking harlots. It strikes me odd that certain topics, such as rape, are discussed on it(given the very very VERY serious nature of that topic).

The collective bitching of everyone can become really overwhelming, and sometimes people can be snarky or sarcastic to people which I find is usually unnecessary.


So while I find the posts like "Beginning of semester: I’M GONNA GET A 4.0. Middle of semester: Yeah, a B+ isn’t a bad goal. End of semester: Please let me pass, please let me pass…" worth the lulz, this site is highly problematic for me.

Slow descent into madness: Why I am cranky all the time now.

Note: This is not going to be a funny or amusing piece in any way. Just me complaining. You have been warned.

I haven't been writing as frequently because we seem to be in that period of time where all the exams and studying for finals converge into one big mess. However, the Ruhlman conference is later today meaning I don't have to go to work so I feel slightly less guilty about staying up to type something up. Besides, I like being able to write something _not_ about the role of Euripides in Ancient Greek Tragedy, or how element of the artist has dissolved in a Post-War mobile representing an abstracted lobster tail.

Lately I've just had a lot of pent up anxiety about the future. I know that sounds cliche and I know this definitely will NOT be the last time I feel the way I do but it all seems to be pooling up right now. A few weeks ago, I was worrying about what classes to take and then I had an anxiety attack about my proposed "major". Screw that, I don't even know if I want that to be my major or what I really want to do with my life. In high school I was pretty good at what I think I want to do but at the AP and college level that hasn't really been the case. What I've been proven good at is not necessarily the most profitable field either. And if I do stick with my original major(because I'm fairly sure double majoring will be incredibly difficult so let's just stick with one) HOW THE EFF AM I SUPPOSED TO FIT IN ALL MY CLASSES??? Sorry for that moment of insanity but I don't even really know if I'm actually good at what I'm doing(the second unprofitable major) or I just haven't gotten to the harder levels. Frankly, being barraged by exams and assignments is not doing awesome things for my psyche-it makes me feel like there's nothing I'm good at academically. I used to think that I felt overwhelmed in high school but I think that was just me spinning my wheels. I _actually_ think I'm out of my element here. Sometimes I think that I should have chosen a different school where I could do better in class. I do love Wellesley but my goodness it drives me nuts sometimes.

Furthermore, as summer approaches everyone is talking about the awesome things they're going to do; travelling, working internationally, researching. Now to be fair, I know that I am very lucky to have any job at all because it's a tough market and there are still a lot of seniors who are unemployed which is a much larger issue than mine. I guess I just had the false idea that when everyone said we have a vast and affluent network of alumnae, that meant that finding a job would happen within a matter of days/weeks. It doesn't.

I think that with all of this going on that I've been neglecting friends and family way more than I should be and for that I apologize. I'm just scared and confused and frustrated and...well basically all the negative things. Trying to keep it together for the next 2 and half weeks until I'm home and all of this is (hopefully) resolved. Hoping my dignity and GPA survive.

Dear 14 year old self

An Idea I've been toying around with for a while but lacked the inspiration for until now: an open letter to freshman year me.

Dear 14 year old me-

The interesting thing about the internet is that I can go back and see everything you did on the computer, like pictures on facebook and chats between people, wall posts, comments...everything. So I don't think I'll ever really forget what you are going through but I was still shocked enough at what I saw to want to write to you. I can't say that I'd want to be friends with you, but I remember the heartbreak and frustration and I commend you for managing it the best you could.

You may think that I will want to vilify you because you are at silly and impulsive but I am not going to do that. You are younger than I am now so that it understandable, you have a lot to learn. I also am not going to tell you anything because I think all the mistakes that you will make are a central part to why you become the person you are. All the fights, the petty jealousies, the frustration you feel, while sucky, will really make you a better person in the end, and I'm not trying to be cliche.

I know your hopes and dreams and I know what you are afraid of, what you are deeply and truly afraid of. I will tell you right now that everything you're wishing for is within your grasp if only you will find the courage to fight for it. You are a lot stronger than you give yourself credit for and you can make everything happen for yourself. One day you will get into your dream school and you will find lots of wonderful people there, whom I hope you will stay friends with well after graduation.  There is a lot of uncertainty in your life and I know that that frightens you and I don't think that will ever really change. You will shoot for the stars and you will fail but I commend you for even trying. You will feel a lot of anger and anguish and no amount of time could ever trivialize that. I hope you realize what wonderful outlets you have at your disposal.

I am also proud of you, 14 year old me. Regardless of what age you are, and yes I have stalked you at different significant moments of your life, you always seem to have friends that you can count on to catch you when you fall and you will cherish them. Just because you don't always stay in touch with them doesn't mean their friendship is less significant. They will give you the strength you need to face your problems and fight them into submission. Never lose them.

Lastly, I remind you to try and stick around. There will be many points in the next few years where you question whether or not it is worth it and I assure you it is. No matter how bad things get, you will find a way to not only survive, but to thrive. I have total confidence in you.

Love,
Your 18 going on 19 self

PS: You don't gain weight like I do. I suggest you eat more while you still can.

Just derpin' along

It's the time of the semester when all you want to do is just sleep. And eat. And then sleep some more. And watch TV on your computer.

It's midterms yet again here at our fair College, and for the life of me I will never understand why they call them that when clearly they are not. The word midterm implies that said midterm will happen once and only once, smack dab in the middle of your semester. Instead, we have them twice a semester. I'm not sure what you would call them but as it stands that name is really misleading.

My life right now.

There's actually a lot going on right now on campus; we had registration yesterday morning and we should be hearing back from Housing about where we shall be living. Everyone is preparing for next semester but I don't think I can even process that I'm supposed to be excited right now. These past few days and the coming weeks are kind of just the college's way of reminding us that we are not as smart or as accomplished as we think we are. Which, you know, is helpful just somewhat painful.

So, I'm sorry that this post is just me complaining about life right now but there's really nothing exciting going on...this is almost just the calm before the storm called Finals.

Time to get some more Jasmine tea and gear up.

On Justin Bieber's single "Boyfriend"

So I'm going to start out by saying that since I've come to college I've been a bit slow on listening to recently released music. I saw that he had a clip of it on Ellen and decided to give it a listen.

I'm not going vilify him here so if that's what you're looking for, I'm sorry. I think that in the past couple years, Justin Bieber has been more famous for the fact that he has a famous girlfriend and for the fact that a lot of people hate him. Neither of which says anything about his abilities as an artist.

So let the formal analysis begin.

The song begins with a rather annoying siren sound while he raps in a weird rhythm. I thought that he was going to go with a syncopated rhythm...but then he didn't. So that was a bit of a surprise and kind of cool, I guess. There is literally no hint of tonality in the first verse whatsoever, just the siren and rapping. So far nothing particularly catchy but I guess I have to listen to the entire thing. I will admit the repetition of "swag" is mildly irritating. Then comes the guitar/vocals section, which has an R&B kind of feel which is not ground breaking but not unpleasant. He seems to be doing the most singing here; as far as being a vocalist, he's fairly mediocre and the sound is breathy which I'm guessing is supposed to make all the girls out there love him.

The chorus is somewhat forgettable, I had to play it a few times to even try to remember it; mainly just moving stepwise. Not particularly catchy. The siren thing is starting to get on my nerves though.

So the rest of the song alternates between the chorus and him rapping about how awesome he could be if the anonymous girl he's singing to would only go out with him. It's supposed to be a song of seduction which has it's roots in the bard songs of the Medieval European courts. So...again. Nothing ground breaking.

It seems glaringly obvious that this song was contrived by songwriters to help perpetuate his image created by his publicists: a charming, "gentleman" with "cash to burn". Essentially, he's supposed to be the guy that young girls will fall in love with...and then use their money to buy his songs and make everyone who works with him really really rich.

Now, I know art is created for a variety of reasons, one of which is to sell money. But for me, the purest form of music expresses something about the artists' thoughts and feelings. All I can tell about Justin Bieber is that he wants to please everyone, namely his fans so that they will continue to support him financially. Other than that, we have no idea who he really is or what he thinks or feels. I almost wish he wrote a song about Selena and how happy she makes him or something like that to preserve some of his integrity. I guess I also feel a bit of pity that he has to keep up this image to continue supporting himself...and then I remember that the money he brings in from this one song is enough to put me through four years of Wellesley. And then I don't feel as bad for him.

So all in all, this is a very mediocre song from a mediocre artist. I don't think this qualifies him for the hero worship given to him by girls ages 11-16 or so, or to be torn down by everyone else. I don't find it particularly entertaining or catchy, which is what I think most people expect from pop music. So I'm going to give it a C. Kind of just meh.

Hunger Games review

So this is going to have to be short since I need to pack and stuff to go back to school but I literally just got back from the theater and I felt like I needed to write something. Again, these are my personal opinions and if you don't like them...well, I'll leave it up to your imagination just what exactly you can do with them. I'm going to try really hard not to give away spoilers but if I do, I'm sorry.

So generally when I watch movies that are based off of books I usually feel really disappointed because they leave things out and the books have become way too important for me to judge the a movie as a piece of storytelling. Usually it just seems like a pale imitation of what I pictured the books to be like, and in extreme cases, completely and totally off from what I expected.

The Hunger Games did leave out a few details that I thought would have made it really chilling(i.e. the individualized wolves). Also, things felt incredibly rushed despite the fact that the film was two and a half hours long. So in that sense, yes the book was better. One other point worth making is that some details that they decided to keep(tesserae/how the names can be put in more than once, the fact that the medicine was expensive and paid for by the sponsors) were set up rather poorly. I only really realized this because I was watching the movie with someone who had never read the books. But once we realize that those shortcomings are a result of the medium and the makers, I think despite all of that it was a very good film.

So here's what I really liked about the film: the cinematography was kind of choppy whenever you were really supposed to be inside Katniss' mind which was a little bit headache inducing but a very important artistic choice, and I ultimately approve of it. Also, I liked how the background story(like with President Snow and Seneca, and Haymitch shmoozing) was shown rather than told up front, like it is in the book. It gives the viewer more of a sense of the characters' humanity which is interesting for me, but not Katniss' focus since she's trying to fight for survival. I would also like to commend Effie Trinket's performance ("But I don't think they can have dessert, and YOU can!"). Brill. Final note, the Career alliance seemed very playful when hunting people down which was horrific but also a good choice; I think it just enhanced the savagery of the Games and culminated with Cato's speech/realization(sorry to be vague, but trying not to spoil things).

Overall, I really liked what they did with the film. They filled out parts that I hadn't thought too much about and the things that I did were pretty much spot on. If they weren't, I think that they make perfect logical sense within the context of the film. If you haven't seen it, I would suggest that you go whenever possible. The odds will be ever in your favor.