This blog post should address the reading (Chapters 7 & 8) due on Monday, Feb. 4
Please find an example of a recent news article that embodies the "trickster" OR the "other world."
Share a link to the article and explain, using the Lule reading, how your article exemplifies this myth. Please use specific citations when referring to Lule.
Your original blog should be posted by 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 2 Any comments should be posted by 5 p.m. on Sunday, Feb. 3.
You can post an original blog as a comment to this prompt. Responses to a classmate's post can be shared by posting a "reply." Please email khettinga@ursinus.edu with questions or concerns.
In Chapter 7 of Jack Lule’s Daily News, Eternal Stories, Lule addresses the myth of the “Trickster” and its role in the journalism of today. Lule explains that the Trickster “serves as a model illustrating the necessity of societal rules” and additionally attempts to “show what happens if the rules laid down by society are not observed” (Lule 124). Although the myth of the Trickster is not the most commonly recognized story in everyday news, every so often a story can appear synonymous to Lule’s suggested myth.
ReplyDeleteThe most recent news story which embodies the myth of the Trickster is the latest confession of a heavily decorated athlete admitting to using performance enhancing drugs to boost overall competition. Lance Armstrong has been a popular target of speculation of a particular athlete who “doped” his way into winning several Tour de France titles for years and has, until recently, strongly denied that he used any enhancers during his cycling career. In January of 2013, Armstrong admitted to Oprah Winfrey in a televised interview that all allegations of suspected doping were indeed true. Juliet Macur of The New York Times reported in a January 17th news article, “For Armstrong, a Confession Without Explanation,” that Armstrong was “defiant” when initially faced with allegations of cheating via steroid usage and even went so far as to claim that for the rest of his life, Armstrong would never give in to those rumors of suspected drug use because they simply were not true (http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/18/sports/cycling/lance-armstrong-confesses-to-using-drugs-but-without-details.html?_r=0).
The Armstrong saga is a prime example of Lule’s myth of the Trickster mainly because Armstrong had the public fooled for so many years. He retired from cycling after winning many prestigious titles and when accusations of his steroid use first began, he assured the public that he would never stoop to that level. Strangely enough, when Armstrong was stripped of his titles and awards, he initially fought to have them restored but eventually, gave up. Armstrong was the ultimate Trickster in this situation and serves as an example, according to Lule, of how a public and well-known figure broke societal rules and struggled to continually trick the public into thinking something other than the truth. Now, after his recent confession, Armstrong is trying to right his wrongs by publically apologizing and mending his tarnished image, but nonetheless, his story still stands as a classic case of the myth of the Trickster.
I think you are completely accurate in relating the myth of the trickster to the story of Lance Armstrong admitting that he physically self-enhanced during his cycling career with steroids. As a society, we do not value the big rule breakers, especially when they rely on the public's trust. We expect the most sincere and hard-working people to be in the public eye.
DeleteArmstrong really messed up when he didn't accept his new public opinion after admitting to have cheated, and tried to fight it. He will forever be remembered as doing this deed. He lied, and that's something we don't take lightly.
If this is person who plays sports, sure it's a pretty big deal to abuse the public's trust in him. But, if this is an example of the trickster, I'd like to see the consequences of a person more influential in society committing a similar crime against society. Perhaps there would be stripping of titles as well, but also heavy fines, jailtime and loss of priveleges in society would be more present. This would be an even easier way to spread the message of the consequences of breaking "societal rules." I'd assume that the more dramatic the story, the more easily believed the moral of the myth would be.
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DeleteI think that this article provides a great representation of the trickster and Lance Armstrong is a great example. It was interesting to read Lule's definition and then see how it can relate in the everyday world. It seemed like the trickster is not commonly used as much, and Lance Armstrong was a great example. Clearly nobody thought they would ever see this from a heroic figure, but it does show you that this can happen and what the news will do about it. Armstrong went from being a champion medalist and almost a heroic figure by the news and now he is labeled as a trickster who used banned substances. It was cool to see from this blog and article how quickly things can change from being labeled as a hero to a trickster. Really interesting article and a good blog to show the example of the Trickster from Lule. After doing some research on articles and looking at the trickster I think it is often times most related to sports or major celebrities.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57565703/is-lance-armstrong-still-lying/
DeleteI agree with you, Paul. It is crazy how quickly things can change instantaneously. Lance Armstrong went from being one of the most beloved sportsman of our time, to being probably the most scrutinized. For example, checkout the link I posted above, the director of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency said "Armstrong did not tell the truth in that interview and left out the most important facts that investigators want to nail down." This just just just how deep Armstrong of a ditch Armstrong jumped in.
http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2013/02/01/alex-rodriguez-miami-clinic-performance-enhancing-drugs-mlb/1883861/
It is also really interesting to look at A-Rod from the Yankees, his demise was pretty quick, too. His entire stint with the Yankees has been littered with nothing but controversy and inconsistency. Now, it seems his career may be coming to a close new reports saying that he "agreed to pay $12,000 monthly for the next four years to receive performance-enhancing drugs." He fits in with the myth of the trickster so well because he gives an example of what happens when someone does not play by the rules.
In chapter 7 of Jack Lule’s, Daily News, Eternal Stories, he addresses the trickster myth. He writes, “the Trickster serves as a model illustrating the necessity of societal rules” (Lule 124). He also goes on to say, “the Trickster continually shows the need for societal standards as he lives an error-filled life of ruin” (Lule 124). One person that came to mind when thinking about this myth was Tiger Woods. After reading this chapter it seemed to me that not many times does the trickster myth appear in the news but when it does it is most commonly associated with sport figures, or well-known celebrities.
ReplyDeleteWhen looking at the article about Tiger Woods and his sex scandal clearly this portrays him as the trickster. For years Tiger Woods was labeled as the best golfer on the PGA Tour and possibly the best golfer to ever play the game. He was a heroic figure who seemed to be a great role model to society. Everyone perceived him as a well-spoken, professional, successful golfer with a determined mind to win. Off the golf course Wood’s set up numerous different organizations to help children learn the game of golf and help better society. After years of having several mistresses the truth came out and it caught up to the world’s number one golfer. He had been cheating on his wife with other women for about seven years without her having a clue. He like Lance Armstrong, and all the other great athletes went from being labeled as a hero to a trickster. Woods life began to fall apart after this and many different news coverage’s were revealing the whole story which completely destroyed Tiger’s life. He would get a divorce from his wife, and almost lose custody of his children. He also has never achieved his world status as the number one golfer in the world and still has yet to win another major.
Tiger Woods is a great example for Lule’s myth of the trickster. He went for years being labeled as a great guy, great golfer, and a wonderful asset to society. He simply could do no wrong, and he was on track to break every record in golf. Now with the truth coming out this clearly labels him as the Trickster and shows the public all of his hidden lies about all of his secret mistresses. At first Tiger tried to cover up this story and hide his lies, but when the stories just kept coming out he eventually admitted to it and claimed he was guilty of what he was being accused of. Clearly this is a major switch in the news depiction of who Tiger Wood’s really is, and this is why he is labeled as the trickster.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2034034/Tiger-Woods-sex-scandal-claims-victim--TREE-crashed-axed.html
ReplyDeleteThis is the link for the blog post above about Tiger Woods.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/croone_Iu6k2BLGuGiEVDS9HRfAyH
ReplyDeleteIn this article by the New York Post, journalist Richard Johnson reports that Frank Ocean wants to press charges against fellow singer Chris Brown after an alleged physical brawl over a parking space. On several incidents throughout the article, this particular news headline perpetuates the idea that Chris Brown embodies Lule's myth of the Trickster.
"The Trickster is driven by physical appetites, lust, and desire. He has no control over his impulses." By this definition alone, Brown already fits the image. The article specifically notes that this is not the first altercation Brown has gotten in when it mentions his disputes of the past with Rihanna and Drake.
The notion that Brown fits the Trickster mold is pushed further when author of the article includes that Brown is already on probation. The inclusion of Brown's already existing legal problems gives the audience the impression that he has been, and is continuing to lead a troubled life. This relates to the reading from Lule when he writes that, "the Trickster proceeds from afflicting happenstance to the next, seemingly always on the edge of self-destruction."
Additionally, the article portrays Brown as a savage. The writer quotes a Tweet by Frank Ocean in the article that reads, "got jumped by Chris and a couple guys" and then quotes another where Ocean addresses his physical damages. The writer also writes about how "Rihanna's advisers have tried in vain to keep her away from... the hot-tempered singer-dancer." This quote, too, makes Brown look like a brute by included the "hot-tempered" part.
Overall, I think that Chris Brown is successfully portrayed as being a Trickster, as shown through this article.
In Lule's description of Mike Tyson as trickster, he points out the correlations between the trickster myth and representations of race in the media. I am wondering if similar observations about representations of race can be made in Keith's Chris Brown example. Lule says that Tyson was depicted "as a weak human being subject either to base instincts or the machinations of others" (130). While I obviously do not approve of Chris Brown's violent tendencies, I am betting that a study of coverage on him would reveal animalistic descriptions of savage, irrational violence, playing into the violent black male stereotype. Similarly, Rihanna as victim in this article shares ties with Lule's description of Tyson as "a victim of terrible social circumstances, almost saved from the streets by a kindly overseer, but who finally faltered and fell due to the connivance of others" (130). Lule sees this victim side of the trickster as another damaging black stereotype. It's interesting to note that this article purposefully points out Rihanna's race as "the Barbadian beauty" while describing her apparent inability to stay away from Brown despite intervention from "kindly overseers."
Deletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/29/world/middleeast/egypt-protests-cairo-port-said.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1&ref=middleeast
ReplyDeleteThis article from The New York Times discusses the increasing tension between protestors and the military police in Egypt. In particular, it discusses the growing violence between police forces and protestors in the cities of Port Said, Suez, and Ismailia. Protestors have been bombarding police stations in these cities with gasoline bombs and other weapons. Police have been trying to keep order with tear gas and automatic rifles, occasionally firing into the crowds of protestors at random. Protestors are displeased with the current government regime led by President Mohamed Morsi, who is affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood. In the city of Port Said alone there were at least 45 people dead in just three days.
The coverage of the violence in Egypt definitely embodies the myth of the Other World. Lule (2001) suggests that that the Other World can be presented as a paradise. However, it can also be portrayed as the opposite. Lule (2001) states, “Other times the Other World is a forbidding place: the underworld, a land of darkness and chaos, teeming with miserable throngs, the land of the dead or dying” (p. 152). In the New York Times article, Egypt is portrayed as a land of destruction and death. This is similar to the coverage of Haiti that Lule (2001) discusses. Lule (2001) states, “Haiti is rendered as a primitive land, filled with danger and chaos, and ruled by death squads and paramilitary patrols who leave the streets littered with corpses” (p. 170). The coverage of Egypt echoes a similar message. Egypt is portrayed as a chaotic place filled with riots, tear gas, gas bombs, and bullets. This depiction of Egypt as an anarchic land is evident even in the title,” Chaos and Lawlessness Grow After Days of Unrest in Egypt.” This portrayal of Egypt as a chaotic land appears in stark contrast with our own society. Therefore, in comparison to our own society Egypt is cast as a forbidding and horrifying place, and thus embodies the myth of the Other World.
Steven's example for the Other World myth is appropriate, and he could just as easily have selected any number of other reports on violence and war in other countries. It's important to remember that the Other World myth embodies both positive and negative portrayals of foreign places; "Sometimes the other world is a garden of delight, an exotic land of foreign charm. Sometimes the other world is portrayed as a threat, as a dark and disagreeable land that harbors an enemy." In either case, humans are naturally intrigued by lands, customs, and life styles different than their own, if only because it helps them to affirm their own way of life. It would be more interesting, in my opinion, and more rare, to find a positive example of the Other World myth. This is likely due to the same reasons you only see depressing news on the news channel; if it bleeds it leads.
Deletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/30/business/30madoff.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0
ReplyDeleteThe "Trickster" myth is defined in Lule as the myth that shows society what acceptable behavior is and what the consequences are if one doesn't follow these behavior rules. There are many examples of this myth in recent times but the first news example that came to my mind was the Bernie Madoff scandal in 2008-9. It was an incredible shock at the time to hear that someone could be such a villain. The article I linked to this blog post was published in the New York Times when the court gave Madoff his sentence after around a year of news stories about the scandal. Bernie Madoff was a businessman, stockbroker, investment advisor, and financier. He was sentenced to 150 years in prison for stealing almost $65 billion from his clients. He pleaded guilty to 11 federal felonies and admitted to turning his wealth management business into a massive Ponzi scheme. Federal investigators onthis case believe his fraudulent behavior began as early as the 1970s whereas Madoff claimed he began the Ponzi scheme in the early 1990s. This follows the "Trickster" myth because this is an example of what happens when one doesn't follow society's rules. Lule wrote in Chapter Seven that “the Trickster serves as a model illustrating the necessity of societal rules” (124), which this scandal demonstrates very well. So many people lost all their lives saving in this scheme to someone they thought they could trust thus showing the necessity of rules and morality for society to function.
Caroline is absolutely correct when she says the Bernie Madoff scandal is a great example of the “Trickster” myth. As Caroline points out the quote from Lule that says, “the Trickster serves as a model illustrating the necessity of societal rules” (124), the Bernie Madoff scandal was used as a social commentary and to perhaps shed light on the corrupt behaviors of big business men. As Lule also points out on page 24, The Trickster is often “crude rich people (who) are offered up in the news as objects for mockery and contempt.” After this scandal the public definitely besmirched Madoff. Caroline herself uses the word “villain” in her blog post. It seems to me that the myths of the “Trickster” as well as the “Scapegoat” are very similar in nature. These two myths are usually meant to make an example of someone after they commit or are associated with a malicious act.
Deletehttp://articles.cnn.com/2011-03-07/entertainment/sheen.fired_1_capri-anderson-charlie-sheen-brooke-mueller?_s=PM:SHOWBIZ
ReplyDeleteLule describes the Trickster myth as "continually show[ing] the need for societal standards as he lives an error-filled life of ruin. The Trickster proceeds from one afflicting happenstance to the next, seemingly always on the edge of self-destruction" (124). Immediately, Charlie Sheen popped into my head. There was a time (summer 2011) that I remember seeing an article about Sheen at least once a day. There was a new clip of his antics, or a ridiculous quote he gave during an interview. This article is just one of many that establishes coverage of Sheen as the Trickster myth. The article describes Sheen's actions as a "public meltdown" and even says, "Sheen, 45, has been known for his highly publicized marital, legal and substance abuse problems as much as his acting." The article goes on to describe Sheen's volatile relationship with wife Brooke Mueller and their two sons. Not only is Sheen's so-called private life a disaster, but his professional life is falling to pieces. He demanded more money from the show because he felt that the only reason why the show was successful was because of him. After many degrading remarks to the creators of the show and Sheen's increasingly bad reputation, the show fired him. Despite Sheen's assertion that he made the show, the show carried on with Ashton Kutcher as the new lead.
Sheen's life embodies Lule's definition of Trickster because one incident turned into multiple incidents that just kept coming. Sheen's actions ultimately resulted in his termination from "Two and Half Men" which essentially made his modern-day career. This is as self-destructive as it gets.
http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/standoff-ala-gunman-kills-bus-driver-seizes-boy-18360753
ReplyDeleteOne of the most intriguing myths Lule describes is that of The Trickster. The Trickster represents a senseless, stupid, crude, and animal like human. The Trickster myth is not only a sly figure, but one that cannot follow the rules of society and instead follows his own animalistic instincts.
An example of a trickster figure can be found in the article, “Negotiators Talking to Ala. Captor Through Pipe” which describes the story of a 65-year-old retired truck driver, Jimmy Lee Dykes. Dykes was accused of pulling a kindergarten boy from a school bus on and killing the driver. He has been holding the boy hostage in a small room on his property that authorities compared to tornado shelters common in the area.
In this story, Dykes shows many characteristics of The Trickster myth. Abducting a child and killing a driver are both evil, inhumane things. This was an act driven by “physical appetites, lust, and desire” which are Lule’s characteristics of The Trickster.
Dyke’s actions against societal norms catch the eyes of his neighbors, who have known him to be evil figure through past events. “Dykes was known around the neighborhood as a menacing figure who neighbors said once beat a dog to death with a lead pipe, threatened to shoot children for setting foot on his property and patrolled his yard at night with a flashlight and a firearm.” His various troubling, trickster-like actions have resulted in showing, “the need for societal standards as he lives an error-filled life of ruin” as described by Lule (124). Dyke’s actions demonstrate just that: an error-filled life of ruin.
A quote by Dyke’s neighbor reveals that Dyke and other trickster figures do demonstrate the need for rules in society. Dyke is described as, "He doesn't like law enforcement or the government telling him what to do. He's just a loner." It is apparent in this quote that the neighbor feels his disagreement with the law contribute to the issue, and that societal standards are needed.
http://www.cnn.com/2013/01/29/world/americas/brazil-nightclub-fire-main/index.html
ReplyDeleteWhen I was first reading Lule, the quote "Other times the Other World is a forbidding place: the underworld, a land of darkness and chaos, teeming with miserable throngs, the land of the dead or dying," on page 152 reminded me immediately of the horrifying fire in Brazil. However, when I read the article from CNN that is linked above, I saw themes of a variety of myths as well.
On page 170 Lule explains that the majority of international news in U.S. news is a myth of the Other World. "It provides scary, fantastic stories of a world beset by anarchy and chaos," states Lule. In the stories about Brazil, the Other World is portrayed as this horrific event, full of chaos and 235 deaths. This is an example of the Other World because it tells of a story in another land that most of the United States is not familiar with, and a terrible event that happened. The fire was started due to carelessness on the part of the club owner as well as the band. This sets the stage for the US authority and other nations' inferiority that Lule discusses at the end of the chapter.
I find it too interesting to leave out, however, that throughout reading the CNN article I could not help but see examples of the hero, the scapegoat, and the good mother. The hero was seen in the singer of the band. A survivor reported that he boldly was attempting to put out the large fire with a fire extinguisher, risking his life. The scapegoat myth is seen in the article's discussion of blame for the fire, whether it was the band or the club owner (who attempted suicide days after the event). The good mother is seen at the end of the article, with the empowering quote from the president of Brazil, giving kind words to help the country's population with their grief.
I agree that this is a good example of an "other world" story. The article is clearly trying to show the inferiority of the Brazilian standards and failures to keep up with the standards. It is made known that this was the main cause of this horrible accident, and it could have been avoided. However, I also think that this article was very good at making the victims seem similar to people in the United States. There were many interviews and emotional responses and this created a very sympathetic feel for the people who lost loved ones in the fire.
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ReplyDeletehttp://bleacherreport.com/articles/441509-roger-clemens-liar-and-cheat
ReplyDeleteWhen I think of the trickster character that Lule described in Chapter 7, there are multiple famous individuals who I think fit this description. Obviously, as we recently saw, people like Lance Armstrong would definitely be considered a trickster, and another person who I think is similar to Armstrong in Roger Clemens. According to Lule, a trickster usually serves as an exemplary model in reverse. Also the trickster is driven by physical appetites, lust, and desire. He has no control over his impulses. From these explanations that Lule gave, after reading the Bleacher Report article on Clemens, there is no question he would be considered a trickster.
Roger Clemens is considered one of the greatest pitchers to ever play baseball, but was later accused and tested positive for performance enhancing drugs. This issue is becoming so excruciatingly common in professional sports today, that these players are becoming negative role models for kids who look up to athletes like Clemens.
In the article by Bleacher Report, they noted that Clemens sat in front of a Congress, denying these reports and pleading non-guilty. It amazes me that somebody who is facing these type of accusations would have the courage to blatantly lie in court, saying he is innocent, when there is clear cut evidence against him. Now that Clemens’ playing career is over, he desperately wants to be inducted into the baseball Hall of Fame, but since he made such a fool of himself, this dream will probably never come true.
Clemens being a trickster is clear because not only did he knowingly use these illegal performance enhancing drugs, but then he committed the crime of perjury by lying about it in court. By him having no control over his impulses, clearly it does not bother him that he is sending such a terrible message to people that view him as a role model. Being a trickster in the media is a negative portrayal of that individual, and Clemens falls into this category.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.thestar.com/entertainment/2013/02/01/tony_bennett_wanted_to_help_amy_winehouse.html
ReplyDeleteAccording to Lule, the "trickster" is a person who is in the news often, because "he is a subject of mockery, contempt, and ridicule" (Lule, 24). Therefore, when I think of the myth of the trickster, there are many people who come to mind (Chad Johnson, Terrell Owens, Allen Iverson, Ron Artest), but there is one name that continues to come to mind: Amy Winehouse. Winehouse was known best for career-crippling substance abuse that led to her death in July 2011.
The trickster is a "crude and lewd moralist" who "serves as a model illustrating the necessity of societal rules" (Lule, 124). Winehouse, in my opinion, was the epitome of the trickster, when she was alive she was always involved in self-destructive, mindless behavior. Although it is hard to link any racist perceptions to Winehouse's tumultuous, "error-filled life of ruin" in the public eye, it is a tall task to see her fitting the description of any other myth (Lule, 124).
It is important to point out Winehouse's feelings about her lifestyle, because I believe she did not find much wrong with her lifestyle. For example, she would perpetuate her dangerous lifestyle through a song called "Rehab." In the song, she talks about her addiction to alcohol in this song, and says that there is nothing of value that she would get out of attending a 17 day rehabilitation program and how she illustrates how much she would much rather "keep a bottle near" than kick her addiction.
http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/01/30/us-syria-crisis-town-idUSBRE90T0VH20130130
ReplyDeleteThis Reuters article on a Syrian town that has been taken over by Islamist militants exemplifies the “Other World” myth. According to Lule, “the Other World reveals and confirms social values and beliefs” of the dominant power, typically through contrasting descriptions that reinforce the value and strength of the dominant power over the inferior, less civilized Other World (153). Often in contemporary American journalism, this binary between dominant power and Other World is reflected in coverage of the Middle East, which is typically represented as an area of turmoil and oppression in contrast to the civilized American values of democracy and freedom.
This opposition can be seen from the very first sentence of this article, which begins with basic, seemingly superficial descriptions of the town, Mayadin, under Islamist militant control. The author lists various observations of everyday life in Mayadin, including the removal of unclothed mannequins from shops, the implementation of a strict, traditional dress code for women, the banning of alcohol in the town, and the instruction of strict interpretations of Islam, including jihad and polygamy. On the surface, the author seems to make no judgment regarding these aspects of like in Mayadin; however, the author is writing for a Western audience and implicit in these descriptions is the clear contrast between life in oppressed Mayadin and life in democratic America. The uncivilized, oppressed Other World in Mayadin is emphasized further through the author’s word choices, including terms such as “extremist” and “regime” as well as phrases such as “a return to the lifestyle of the 7th century” and “a distorted moral framework.” The author’s descriptions of violence, unnecessary and ridiculous death tolls, looting, and the recruitment of children to fight in the revolt against the Syrian government also underscores the depiction of Syria as the Other World. All of these descriptions appear to be set up with the Westerner’s viewpoint in mind. The author does not have to draw a direct contrast between the American way of life and the Islamist militant’s way because it seems to assume a Western reader and to appeal to a Westerner’s sense of civilized society and sense of injustice. The use of myth here, then, continues the tradition of portraying the Middle East as overran by extremists and therefore weaker and less civilized than America, reinforcing American power of the Middle East regardless of the United States' level of involvement in Syria.
http://www.foxnews.com/science/2012/11/08/tomb-ancient-egyptian-princess-discovered/
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter 7 Lule speaks of the "other world" myth by quoting Joseph Campbell who says, "The regions of the unknown (desert, jungle, deep sea, alien land, etc.) are free fields for the projection of unconscious content" (Lule,152). This quote specifically reminded my of ancient Egyptian discoveries. The article above talks about the recent discovery of an ancient Egyptian princess who was not buried amongst royals. Archaeologists are not sure whether the Princess's body lies within the tomb; however, they are creating hypothesis about ancient Egyptian builders, and are looking forward to documenting the lives of important individuals from that era.
Lule states, "The myths help defin a society in relation to other societies" (153). The reason why people are so interesting in ancient Egypt is so that we can compare it to our own society. Since we do not have Royalty in the United States it interests us to see what the life of a royal was like, especially from so long ago. Also, even as the researches make hypothesis about ancient Egyptian builders they will be compared to builders of other lands throughout the different eras. It is only interesting to learn about and to discover ancient Egypt, because the of amount of differences between our society and theirs. "The Other World reveals and confirms social values and beliefs", which is why the researchers wonder why this tomb is located where it is, and why it was built in the particular way(Lule, 153).
Someone who embodies the Trickster is Lindsay Lohan. Despite having an innocent persona in some of her films, Lindsay was a constant target for ridicule and criticism by her actions. Lindsay took part in illegal actions and taboo social aspects that challenged societal values and norms. For example, Lindsay partook in drunk driving and cocaine usage which are illegal in society. By performing illegal acts, the media felt inclined to attack Lohan for breaking a rule that society has set. Media seemed to cover Lohan's aftermath of breaking the law. Media would report that Lohan was sentenced to prison, or Lohan was instructed to take an alcohol class and do community service. The reports after Lohan's actions reflect the idea that Lohan's illegal activities were taken to justice and to show clearly what happens to people (tricksters) who break societal values.
ReplyDeleteI thought that was a good choice of a trickster. Lindsay Lohan has always had a innocent type persona since her days in "Parent trap", but in recent years she has sort of taken a fall from grace from that persona, in the eyes of the media and society. I feel like she embodies the trickster, (in agreement with justin) because although she plays the angel in movie or at least used to, her irresponsible acts such as drunk driving and the drug abuse has painted her in this negative, dark light which is why she can be perceived as a trickster.
Deletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/26/sports/football/26vick.html?ref=dogfighting&_r=0
ReplyDeleteWhen I read Lule's chapter about the myth of the trickster, and his example of Mike Tyson, I immediately thought of a direct comparison to that of the conviction of Michael Vick in his dog fighting trial. The myth of the trickster seems to be more easily correlated to athletes than any other genre of news related stories. Athletes, because of their direct portrayal of American heroism, are most easily labeled tricksters when they let down their many loyal fans. Other athletes that came to mind when reading the Lule chapter were Sam Hurd, Plaxico Burress, Lance Armstrong, Barry Bonds, and Michael Phelps.
The section of the chapter that I found both most interesting and true to that of the Michael Vick case was when Lule describes the treatment of tricksters, at least in Mike Tyson's case, as sometimes showing evidence of racism. During Tyson's trial many newspapers portrayed him as the victim, as they believed his punishment was too harsh and handed out too simply. This is the same for the Vick case when Lule quotes Boxing Council President Jose Sulaiman when he says, "I am starting to think it is true that what certain people here say, that it was a dinner of blacks by white cannibals." These were the emotions of many Americans when Vick's punishment was handed down through the court system and he was sentenced to two years in jail for merely dog fighting. Though dog fighting isn't a minor offense by any standards, was two years a just punishment, or rather was he so harshly punished because he was a black trickster athlete? In that same year Donte Stallworth, a fan favorite for the Cleveland Browns, struck an individual and killed him while drunk driving. However, unlike Vick, Stallworth was never portrayed as the trickster because he immediately owned up to his actions, and he was only sentenced to probation and community service for killing a man. Many times, such as Lule describes, tricksters are most harshly punished because of what they used to be, not because of what they did. I believe that Vick perfectly exemplifies this myth, and received the maximum punishment just like Tyson because of his status prior to the indecent as a rambunctious black athlete who was flashy and could be hiding something.
I completely agree with Satchel Summers I too had a similar thought process when I was reading this chapter. I want suggest that you might want to state the race of the athlete that you are talking about when you introduce them. In the case of Michael Vick, it could be more beneficial for your argument of race to say Michael Vick, a black quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles seemed to get a harsher punishment for his crime. But if your argument is about how he gets a harsher punishment because of his background or history then I think that it would better to state that clearly in the beginning along with Vicks flashy personality because it will make more sense when you use the example of Donte Stallworth. I see where the trickster can be featured here because of Vick’s personality of being a flashy and rambunctious black athlete in hindsight this can be said to have had an effect on his punishment. You would want to compare Vick’s personality displayed by the media to that of Stallworth’s to better support your argument, that a trickster is judged by or with his past and not by the crime that what was committed.
DeleteThere's a lot of accurate thinking here. You note that these athletes are often filed in with tricksters. I like this thought since they are able to consistently steer clear of fair justice, exemplifying the slippery nature of this archetype in mythology.
Delete"The Humane Society... Wished his sentence was stiffer." He slips past adversaries. The article chases his court room apology with a recount of his wasteful spending and bad deeds, as if to suggest his word cannot be taken seriously.
Another effective correlation here is a trickster's past deeds coming back to hang them. Big name athletes might get off easily with the judge, but their social response can't ever change.
If you happen to see these comments, I was interested to hear the racial aspect you suggest. While there were those shades of oppression with Tyson's case, I couldn't understand if you were pointing out a similar racial slant in these other cases.
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