iMedia: Taking Chances (Glee)

Taking Chances

"Don't know much about your life,
Don't know much about your world."

Glee is a typical show about the misfits at an average high school, with musical numbers added to supplement the plots. When I hear this song, I think about the character who sings it-- Rachel Berry. Rachel is an extremely driven character: she is unafraid to express her opinions, and often gets beaten down for those opinions since they tend to stray from the norm.

The lyrics of this song represent the unknown future. To me, it represents my ability to try new things without knowing the repercussions. I think that this song would matter to all the people who don't try to stick with the "norm" just because everyone else is: it embodies what so many misfit high school kids feel. While the musical people here are not outcast, in many different situations I can see the singers and actors being labeled losers and misfits, and I think that this song symbolizes the risks that people take not only by showing their appreciation for the arts in high school but for attempting to express their love for the arts in life.

To me this song also represents hope. It exemplifies the possibilities in life that a person could have not considered: getting to know someone new, reexamining the ideals that you've judged a person on, and giving things have have failed you in the past another shot. I find Taking Chances a powerful song that shines a light on the causes for peoples actions and emotions.

Connections: Cordelia and Princess Leia

When I think about Cordelia, I find myself seeing her personality as a no-nonsense, very blunt sort of person, as described when Cordelia approaches Lear as he asks her to profess her love for him, and she replies

"Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave
My heart into my mouth. I love your majesty
According to my bond, no more nor less."

While Lear is outraged at how his favorite daughter is treating him, he doesn't realize that there is actually a truth to her words. He finds her disrespectful of his position as King. What he does not realize is that however blunt and straightforward she may be, Cordelia is also nothing but honest. She will tell her father what she thinks, and stand by that no matter what. Before she is disowned by Lear, Cordelia also holds hierarchical power: she is the (favored) daughter of the king.

In Star Wars, Princess Leia is one of the "rebellions" leaders and a very strong female character: her decisions impact the future of all those who disagree with the imperial rule and their Emperor. She is a respected authority, but there are others above her in the hierarchy who will not hesitate to use their authority to make demands of her and subject her to whatever they feel is necessary so that she is subject to their rule and orders (Darth Vader captures and attempts to torture her for information, and Obi-Wan Kenobi's actions).

These two characters really relate to each other because not only are both girls princesses, they are the strong female figures of their stories and they are virtually unafraid to speak their mind. While they both suffer the consequences of having powerful families whose connections and enemies consistently interfere with their business, they always do what is "right" by treating those around them with the respect they deserve and they are not afraid to take action in the name of what they believe.

To me, connecting these two characters shows just how universal Shakespeare's stories and characters are. Not only is the concept of a powerful female who is always plotted against, the characteristics of Cordelia have lasted "in a galaxy far, far away" to another princess, one with just as good intent, whose father has lost sight of the light path (as Lear had) where she uses her army and forces in another attempt to make the world a better place.

Dialectics: Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort

Harry Potter is a young boy that millions have watched grow up throughout seven books, thus far six movies, and 4110 pages. They have rooted for him facing unimaginable evils from a Dark Wizard looking to kill him to the abuse he suffered from his Aunt, Uncle and Cousin (being locked in his closet, not receiving enough food as a growing child, living in a cupboard under the stairs, etc). But nowhere in the story does Rowling point out how connected the two truly are.

On the outside, Harry is the "light" hero of the story-- the one who can do no wrong; Voldemort is strictly evil, focused on killing everyone that does not agree with his perfectionist ideals. However, when you actually stop to look at what we know about Voldemort and Harry, we see that there are a lot of parallels. While they end up growing differently, in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Harry questions whether he belongs in Gryffindor (the house of the brave and strong) or Slytherin (the house of sly, cunning and typically evil) after facing the manipulative teenage Tom Riddle, who would grow up to become Voldemort.

In Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, we see that Tom Riddle grew up lonely, detached, friendless and with no family or anyone to care for him while he was constantly teased and mocked at an orphanage. From the very beginning, we know that Harry's parents were killed before he could really know them, and he was forced into his Aunt's unloving arms. As he grew up, his intimidating cousin kept him from ever having any friends, and his guardians forced him into isolation.

In my opinion, this dialectic shows how people in similar situations do not always turn out the same. People who grew up poor do not always wind up homeless or as drug dealers; those who live their childhood and adolescence privileged can end up in shelters and on the streets. I think that the main point of this dialectic is that ones life cannot be judged based on the experiences and opportunities they've had. Albert Einstein was a genius, but he also had several mental disorders. Those diseases could have seriously stunted his opportunities to work and get a job, but because individuals didn't condemn him to a future that paralleled his past he was able to accomplish great things with his mind.

I think that this dialectic is really important because Harry Potter and Tom Riddle/Voldemort grew up in similar, parent and love-less situations but managed to have two completely different futures; one which manifested into a machination that killed many and called for devoted followers who were disposable, and another which blossomed into love and caring friends and family.