Author: henderhan.9

Text Review Assignment- Love, Simon

by

Amber Henderhan

Instructor Elizabeth Vu

5 December 2020

COMPSTD.1100

Text Review: Love, Simon

          A movie that I had recently watched that shows connections to what we have learned in this course is the movie “Love, Simon.” This movie follows the life of 17-year-old, Simon Spier, who is a senior in high school, who has a secret that no one knows. Simon is gay and he is not sure how to come out to anyone in his family or friend group, that is until he comes in contact with Blue online. Simon is writing to Blue, which we later find out is Bram, as Jacques; they share this connection and can be who they are without anyone know who they truly are. This connection started when Simon was on the site at home. Simon, then logged onto a school computer and left still logged into the computer and someone, Martin, comes along and snoops through Simon’s messages.

After Martin searches through Simon’s messages, taking photos of the messages first, confronts Simon about being gay, and eventually tells Simon he took photos, as blackmail, in order for Simon to help Martin get a date with Abby, Simon’s friend. Simon, follows through with this situation, thus hurting a relationship forming between Abby and Nick. Martin gets upset with how the relationship between Abby and himself are going, and in the heat of the moment, Martin outs Simon on the website.

Simon faces school the next day being looked at, friends not talking to him, and Blue no longer reaching out to him. At this point, Simon feels lost and out of place. There are many people who apologize to Simon for the way they treated him, but there is also some apologizes coming from Simon to his friends. Simon comes to terms with who he is and decides to officially write a blog post about it, not without using a post from Blue in his. Simon is riding the Ferris Wheel over and over until his tickets ran out of time. Martin than appears and helps Simon by giving money to the ride operator, everyone in hopes that Blue will show up. In the end it, Blue finally shows and it is a friend of Simon’s Bram.

The takeaway from this movie is not to out someone, it’s there moment and it shouldn’t be said by anyone else or let alone someone blackmailing a person and leaking the information because you didn’t get what you wanted. I did not personally write enough about the movie, but there are scenes where students are being cruel towards Simon and another student, who is already out, Ethan. A teacher witnesses the outcome and deals with the two boys mocking and making fun of Simon and Ethan. This movie also shows the difficulties that can be encountered from family and friends. It shows that we need to be more open and see when we are hurting others and when it is time for jokes. By the end, it ends happily and shows that love is love, and choose to love and be who you truly are!

Diary of Systemic Injustices Showcase- Zaya Wade: Daughter of Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade

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The fourth systemic injustice paper I wrote was an article from TIME titled, “‘We Had to Shut Up and Listen.’ What Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade Learned About Equality From Their Daughter Zaya” written by Dwyane Wade and Gabrielle Union. Both parents learned how the world is changing and it started with their daughter over the summer. They stated that they “projected our fears onto her” (Wade & Union) and how “sometimes the fiercest fight is against the person in the mirror and how you were raised” (Wade & Union). It took them time to understand what Zaya was informing them, they had to change their perception to gender roles, how they are different from when they were younger. To understand better, they listened to their daughter, they “reached out to black trans activist, advocates…[even] watched shows and documentaries like Pose, Euphoria and The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson” (Wade & Union). There are still many questions they are facing and trying to understand about certain topics. They had to change the outcomes they thought “of our faith or our upbringing” (Wade & Union). They want their children to come home and be who they are and know that they are available to talk to them and discuss anything they may have questions or concerns about.

For those who have been treated horrible for being who they are and expressing themselves is unacceptable. Everyone can learn and adopt to changes, and if that something that others can come to terms with, they should not be a part of the other persons’ life. Dwyane and Gabrielle thought the same way, they are not going to have people in their life would are abusive or discriminatory against anyone. This is a change in the world, and everyone should be more accepting of each other. Everyone needs to be a little nicer to each other and understand that we all are just trying to find who we are in this big world.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG9-Q6UabfQ 0:00-2:56

I feel as if this article can connect in many ways to many different readings so far. A concept that I find this relating to is that of the One and Other. There is information that can be learned and taught, you just have to have the mindset to view each side of the story. Union and Wade have lot that they learned from their daughter and are willing to branch out to topics of the same discussion and look at the different perspectives and outcomes that are being shared. In this case Union and Wade are the “Others” that see their daughter, the “One” perspective. It’s important to understand that we all identify differently and it shouldn’t matter what you identify as. Union and Wade are open and accepting of their daughter, and did their research and are now have a better understanding of the LBGTQ+ community, thanks to their daughter. You have to understand yourself first, and be confident, know who you can trust and share who you truly are. Relationships grow stronger as the “One” becomes themselves and  “Other” has to opportunity to learn and understand the “One.”

(CDC)

Works Cited

CDC. “Transgender Persons.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 29 Sept. 2020, www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/transgender.htm.

The Ellen Show. “Dwyane Wade’s Candid Talk About SUpporthing His 12-Year-Old’s Gender Identity.” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, 11 Feb. 2020. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AG9-Q6UabfQ.

Wade, Dwyane, and Gabrielle Union. “Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade on Supporting Zaya Wade.” Time, Time, 20 Feb. 2020, time.com/5783995/gabrielle-union-dwyane-wade-zaya/.

 

Week Six Context Research- “The Complete Persepolis” Marjane Satrapi

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Amber Henderhan

In Iran, most of the people living there are Muslims of the Shi’i branch. Kurds and Turkmen are Muslims that fall under the Sunni branch with Arabs falling under either branch of religion. Small portions in certain areas of Iran follow Christianity, Jewish, or Zoroastrian beliefs. With the end of the Islamic Revolution in 1979, the three smaller religions in Iran, Christianity, Jewish, and Zoroastrians beliefs were “recognized in the constitution of 1979 as official minorities” (Mostofi & Afary).  In the book, we see how Marji and females in the school system had to wear a veil (hijab) and separated from their guy friends in a result of the revolution. This was to make sure that the Islamic path didn’t stray away from the people.

Shi’i is the most influential in Iran since the revolution. But if you look at the numbers “85 to 90 percent…1.6 billion Muslims are Sunnis” while Shi’i are roughly “10 to 15 percent” (Chuck). Shi’i branch gives the status of prophets to human beings, while Sunnis believe the only prophets are from the Quran. Both also have very different opinions when it comes to school.

Marji says that she was born religious and was her “destiny” to be the last prophet. Marji said that she unsure about wearing the veil, as she thought of herself has a very religious person compared to her family who were mutual about religion. In the beginning of the book we can see how the girls react to wearing the veil, they are playing around with them, and Marji has her own personal religion- she wrote down ideas about what everyone should have, she also had conversations with God when she was younger.

Iran became more and more religious as time went on and forced the religious practices on the people, which caused them to lose sight of their own personal religious beliefs. As the book gets closer to the end, we can see how women are pushing back their veils little by little. This shows that they are still true to their Islamic faith/culture but also be able to show who they are as individuals.

As Marji grew up she stayed in Austria, and at her time there she didn’t wear the veil. As Marji traveled back home, she had to wear the veil when she was in public. Marji met Reza at a party and they got talking bout moving out of Iran and applying to get their visas, and that starts with studying for the National Exam. The exam was separated between males and females (females having to wear their veils). They were both accepted but, now she had to study for the ideology test, which involves the Arabic culture, praying and knowing the history of the religion. When asked questions during the interview Marji was honest about her not wearing the veil in Austria, not knowing how to speak Arabic, and most importantly how she is going to pray in the languare she knows and speaks. She was accepted due to her honesty. It’s important to know that you can follow your religion/culture beliefs but still be yourself and show who you are.

 

Works Cited

Chuck, Elizabeth. “What Are the Differences Between Sunni and Shiite Muslims?” NBCNews.com, NBCUniversal News Group, 5 Jan. 2016, www.nbcnews.com/news/mideast/what-are-differences-between-sunni-shiite-muslims-n489951.

Mostofi, Khosrow, and Janet Afary. “Religion.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 23 Sept. 2020, www.britannica.com/place/Iran/Religion.

Satrapi, Marjane. The Complete Persepolis. Pantheon Books, 2007.