OUTRAGE: WEEK VII

October 1st, 10:00

Assignment One

If you want to seem, you have to be.

1. The emotions I expect to feel are outrage at the insensitivity of the male leaders in both countries, fear of losing my son, and concern for the suffering of the people in the other country. I would also worry over whether everything is going to work out and if I will get caught. However, through it all, I will still try to secretly meet up with the women who are determined to defy the standards, even if it means taking hits from men and consternation from the general public. Through it all, I want the government to realize this “heinous act” and give us what we deserve: equal rights along with a peaceful country.
2. The first emotion that I find most pressing to manage is the sadness of losing my husband since he would be the male figure that I would ideally turn to in order to talk this situation out. I would express my deepest concerns for my son and my ideas for the betterment of this country to him. His voice in this country mattered more than mine and he was the perfect medium for me to transfer my ideas, but he is gone. The second greatest emotion is the fear of losing my son. Although it is not official, it is plausible that he will be sent off to this perpetual war and I would have no other immediate family to turn to and confide in, leaving me with great sadness and isolation. Lastly, I would feel panic and anxiety over how to handle this complicated situation. My son might be leaving me while my husband has already left, the men are fighting endlessly, and the brave souls of these women are slipping through my hands. The conditions are not in my favor!
3. The three emotions that I find easiest to manage is self-pity that all of these problems have fallen to me to solve, resentment towards people who live in more peaceful countries, and shame/guilt at the thought that I am not doing enough to save people from dying. I always say this: there is no reason to pity myself! Every single person goes through their own tribulations in life and just like they persevered, I will too! No need for pity. Furthermore, those other people can have their peaceful countries. I will do my best to voice my opinion and hope it reaches to those who need to here it, which is also why I am not shameful or guilty. As long as I know that I am putting my best foot forward in these taxing circumstances, I will never worry that I am “not doing enough.”
4. Establishing an online group for women from both countries to share their experiences in the war is very difficult, for the women may not have access to social media and, if they do, their comments are being monitored very closely.
   Making arguments on social media that women are qualified to participate in government and should be allowed to is very easy. The hard part is getting women to enact on these claims.
   Criticizing the war on social media is very difficult because, again, comments are most likely being monitored for defying comments as such.
   Encouraging the women in my group to meet in person and develop strategies for greater political participation is very difficult because the women have become accustomed to the men being in charge.
   Ridiculing, mocking, and criticizing the male leaders in my country is very easy, but may not be the best decision since “violence as a means of controlling women is tolerated if not encouraged.”
   Standing up to the men in my family and community and demand that they work to eliminate the war is easy, but, again, not the best choice.
   Contacting and working with women hackers to freeze the assets of those financing the war until a peace can be reached is difficult, especially because this scheme is two-fold. The women hackers will be very difficult to find in a pool of submissive women and, two, men are very reluctant to peace (smoothing the surface).
   Organizing a public protest along with the women in the other country is very difficult because, again, there is a pool of submissive women!
   Convincing the women in my group to use whatever power they have to sabotage the war, including boycotting certain products and withholding sex from their husbands is very difficult. Moral of the story is that everything involving the women will be a great task since they have been programmed to work for the men and their households.

Assignment Two

Once again, a Greek play proves me wrong. I often expect these ancient pieces to be boring, if not tedious. However, as I continued to read Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, I caught patterns of leadership, defiance, outrage, and a number of sexual innuendos. Additionally, Ian Johnston’s translation made it all the more interesting and comical, for the puns and insults are very raw and unfiltered.

1. Making a list of emotions that I expect leaders to commonly feel was difficult, for I tend to mistake leaders as individuals who make little to no mistakes. Still, I believe I created a great list of five common emotions, one being satisfaction. Leaders should be satisfied with their day’s work, whether they satisfied the need of others or themselves. Next, a leader should feel determined. As someone who is constantly seeking the best solution for one’s self and/or the greater good, it is crucial to keep a game face on because if you think you’re a loser, you’ve already lost. The finest example comes from Lysistrata, a woman who, in the face of a impenetrable patriarchy, is determined that “if only all the women would come [to Athens] from Sparta and Boeotia… [and] join up… [they’d] save Greece.” Speaking of whom, another emotion is that feeling of uncertainty. When a leader, or any individual, is faced with trials and tribulations, it is common to feel overwhelmed with doubt or uncertainty of the future. Even the clever Lysistrata once “lost [her] courage and walk[ed] in circles”; still, she perservered. Lastly, a leader should also feel a hunger for more knowledge while still being confident in what he or she does already know and how they are going to apply it to their daily lives. To keep this answer concise, female leaders are most definitely limited to the kinds of emotions they are expected/allowed to feel and express compared to men.
2. Lysistrata’s most pressing challenge is to “convince her fellow women to withhold sex from their husbands until they end the Peloponnesian War.” Therefore, she must use all three of the rhetorical appeals (ethos, pathos, and logos) in order to execute this plan flawlessly. It is no shock: everyone loves sex (even the people from 411 BC). Ethically, she stays true to her character and doesn’t fold. While all the women are aroused and want to go home to their horny husbands, Lysistrata tells them to “please… hold on, persevere a little longer.” In the face of an aroused Cinesias, she calmly says “no thanks” as he offers up his penis. In appeals with pathos, or emotions, she asks the women “don’t [they] miss the fathers of [their] children when they go off to war?” She is trying to invoke sadness in the women, which will lead to them wanting to do something about their husbands always leaving them behind. Equally, she wants the women to feel a sense of shame, for she goes “it’s no wonder men write tragedies about us.” Lysistrata says this so the women can feel more empowered to do something that goes against the stereotypes. Logically, or with logos, she sets the foundation for her whole plan. It’s a simple domino effect to her: no sex for the men equals horny warriors and thus, no war! Lysistrata also makes a great point while in debate with the Magistrate. “If you’d like to hear us give some good advice, then start to listen, keep your mouths quite shut, the way we did.” This quote shows that the women have been nurturing the babies, satisfying the husbands, and taking care of the house for so long that it has made them nothing but pawns with no voices. It is now time for the women to speak up since the men obviously cannot get along with their own ideas!
3. Calonice, along with the women in the play in general, say and do different things that shows that they believe women are incapable of saving Greece. When Lysistrata initially decides to take the fate of the country into the women’s hands, Calonice immediately says that “it won’t be long before we done for,” showing her doubt in the capabilities of women. Also, there’s instant consternation amongst the women when they hear that they must give up “all male penises.” Lysistrata herself begins to feel incompetent, saying let’s just face it — “we all want to get laid.” The women begin to submit to their sexual needs and make excuses to go back to their husbands, one being “left my wretched flax back in my house unstripped” and another pretending to be pregnant! Throughout the play, they feed into the stereotype of women being overly lustful but, in the words of Chimamanda Adichie, “the problem with stereotypes are not that they’re untrue, but that they are incomplete.”
4. The extent that I imagine that this would have empowered ancient Greek women is not very great. This play had many scenes in which men were humiliated, talked down upon, and the women were fierce, gracious. The men could not have possibly taken it so seriously, especially with their reputations being stained. Even if the roles were played correctly by the men, I feel as if the presence of women on the stage would stir up some great emotions within the other women in the audience. This is due to the simple fact that a man can try his best to emulate the posture, tone, and attitude of a woman but, in the end, there is no better person fit for this job than a lady.
5. As Lysistrata prepares to tell the girls to withhold from sex, she says “in a minute. Before I say it, I’m going to ask you one small question.” Her rhetorical style here and in the conversation proceeding is feminine. A masculine rhetorical style mostly includes ethos and logos, for a man is always focused on his morals, which contribute to his reputation, and the facts, respectively. Lysistrata’s rhetorical style, on the other hand, is consisted of mostly pathos. Throughout the play, she tries to invoke feelings of sadness and sense of shame in the women and general public by questioning their tendencies to disregard the ladies and their feelings. Lysistrata also says that they raise boys just to see them off to the military and that they marry men just to do the same. It’s a constant, yet toxic pattern. See exact examples in Response 2.
6. A contemporary genre of music that consistently portrays women in a negative light is hip-hop/rap. The men have been in control of the rap industry for so long that they carry the power to decide how women are depicted. Similarly, men of the ancient Greek civilizations have controlled the country for so long that they molded women to be alcoholics, lazy, and oblivious. The contemporary portrayals of women are translated through lyrics and music videos, showing women as people who are easily persuaded into different sexual acts and partaking of drugs (mainly marijuana).
7. By telling Lampito that she is “the only real woman in this bunch,” Lysistrata implies that a real woman is one who defies the standards set by the patriarchy, one who is determined when faced with an obstacle, unlike Calonice and the other ladies who “bite their lips and shake their heads” the instant they hear Lysistrata’s plan. Lampito is a real woman since she admitted that “it’s hard for women to sleep all by themselves without a throbbing cock.” Still, in the same breath, she said “they must try.” Another element of a real woman is enkrateia. If a woman can’t control herself or her sexual desires for the greater good, she is not real.
8. This question is funny. The men of Greece have truly painted their own picture of women because, may lightning strike me if I’m wrong, it is a known fact that men love their alcohol! Both men and women are known to drink in social settings, but women are not known for causing havoc because they’re drunk… the men are! For example, Calonice comes in contact with the bowl of wine and says “just touching this gives instant pleasure.” Other women also marvel at the smell and colour of this wine but do not dare drink it at that moment nor at any other moment in the play. However, towards the end, an athenian delegate “comes staggering out of the citadel, evidently drunk. Other delegates in the same condition come out behind him. Athenian Delegate A bumps into someone by the door,” which reaffirms my point. Drunk men are known to be heedless, beat on their wives, provoke fights with others. It was a fact evident in 411 BCE and it still stands today.
9. The first analogy that Lysistrata draws between traditional women’s work and managing the affairs of the state is the treasury. She believes that since women take care of all the household money, handling the money allocated for the war and political corruption will be just the same. The second analogy comes into play when the Magistrate asks Lysistrata how will she “find the power to stop so many violent disturbances throughout our states and then resolve them.” She then says she will treat the problem like yarn when it’s tangled, “pass it through the spindle back and forth… if people let us try, by sending out ambassadors here and there, back and forth.” Continuing on with the yarn, Lysistrata explains that just as the women wash wool in a tub to remove all the dirt, they must “lay the city on a bed, beat out the rascals,” and wash away the factions of corrupted men. Concisely, she is making an argument for the methods that women use daily and that they may be a better solution for the population, for men do not understand or partake in such chores, only war.
10. The validity of her analogies, however, are questionable. Lysistrata is thinking of things on a much greater scale. Handling household money is of little account compared to the treasury of the state. As for the yarn analogy, I do follow her strategy but she is still making it sound much easier than it seems. Getting two opposing sides to work together as well as yarn and spindle is an overstatement. Although Lysistrata has great intentions, these small scale strategies must gradually work their way up in order to be fit for the affairs of the entire state.

October 2nd, 20:00

Session Two

NEA QUESTIONNARE

1. There are many themes, both trivial and crucial, throughout Lysistrata. However, both come together to create a beautiful play that illustrates reconciliation as a result of outrage and advocacy. I selected three themes that I believe are most important to myself, the contemporary times, and a contemporary audience. The first theme is strength in numbers. As a leader, or a common individual, you want to first acknowledge what is good and then try to convince others to understand why it will be good for them, just like Lysistrata did. Secondly, outrage is only beneficial when translated into advocacy. Individuals should be outspoken! To harbor feelings of anger is unhealthy to everyone, especially when you have a chance to speak up about it. Whether it be to a friend that got you mad or to a government that is doing wrong by its people, speaking up against injustice is what’s best, even if you might get others mad in the process. Last, but definitely not least, is the reoccurring theme of women empowerment. This theme is self-explanatory, for the women take losses together and, ultimately, a win together. Though they do not always meet eye to eye, they work in harmony to perfect the process and reach the end goal, which was to create peace and reconciliation amongst the ill-natured war.
2. I would set the play in 21st century Niger, a country in West Africa. Africa is a breathing ground for polygamous societies, which would make this play all the more authentic. Although I was thinking about setting this in 21st century America, it would be much more taboo to have a sex revolt in Niger since it is legal for men to have several children by several wives. It is not legal for women.
3. Succinctly, the use of female sexuality in leadership is very consistent with contemporary notions of feminism. A similar portrayal of Lysistrata and her followers would empower women today, especially with the misogynistic, discriminating, and ill-mannered leaders of our present time. Women are now taking control of their bodies more than ever and putting their best efforts to dismantle the long-standing patriarchy of the world.
4. If I had to select another minority group that is suffering from the poor leadership of the majority, I would choose the immigrants of America, mainly those hailing from Mexico. In recent years, Mexican immigrants, along with other minority groups, have been painted as burdens, criminals, and “job-stealers” to the American community. I would then make the white men and women the majority. These immigrants’ unexpected power would be the power of labor. While driving around in my community in the summer, you will spot Mexicans bunched together on sidewalks, waiting for someone to pick them up to do work in houses or buildings. Around the country, this minority group is exploited for their good labor and cheap prices, which is why, in this developed play, they will no longer offer their services until the overly-protected border and derogatory stereotypes are resolved upon.
5. The modern-day feminists would definitely find my play relevant. They would love to watch the initiation of women empowerment and how it looks like exactly. Myrrhine took off all her clothes, teased her husband, and still didn’t give him any sex. The old women take off their clothes in front of the aroused men of the chorus but play a dangerous “look, but don’t touch” game. Women’s chorus threw jugs of water at the controlling and imprudent men who were holding their torches with haughtiness. All of these examples are what feminists love to see and wish to emulate in order for men to understand that women are people too, capable of taking hold of power and all things! Furthermore, some new audiences would include the younger generation and men. Both are somewhat oblivious to what it means to be a woman and what mistreatment and injustice you must endure as one. Therefore, I will try my absolute best to make sure my production will make its way to major cities such as Broadway, New York (home, sweet home), Los Angeles, and Miami so that all audiences, including these two, will have a chance to enjoy the play.
6. One scene that I imagine would bring great sorrow and grief to my audience is one involving a mother and a child. A mother is in the middle of strike, just as Myrrhine was. Then, the father tugs the little child as if he’s an inanimate object. “Look at your son! Depressed, dirty, and deprived! Who the hell do you think I am, your f****** maid, b****? Take this little boy from me!” The son is sobbing, “Mommy, mommy. Please?” The mother and son lock eyes, yet she does not hold the boy in need of a mother’s love. “Mommy’s gonna come soon, my baby. Soon…” The mother walks off with tears falling to the ground as the mother and son call out to her. From this scene, I would want the audience to understand that a mother’s love for her child is unmatched; however, a mother gets little to no time to herself when caught up with feeding, bathing, and clothing a child day in and day out, especially with an idle husband. It becomes tiring and repetitive, resulting in the mother becoming nothing for herself and everything for her child. There must be a balance. On the brighter side, a scene that would bring laughter and amusement to my audience would be the women undressing themselves in front of a crowd of aroused men. As the men move in with their erections, the leader of the women says “Do not think for a second that your horniness trumps our self-control. You can’t grab us by our p*ssies.” Hopefully, the audience catches the play on words.
7. The title would be “OUTRAGEOUS,” composed by Odette Jean-Jacques. Tagline: WE MUST DIG DEEPER. get it?

October 3rd, 11:00

LEADERSHIP TALK WITH RAELYN AND SELINA

You learn silence from the talkative, tolerance from the intolerable, and patience from the impatient.

— Lennox Graham

A picture that symbolizes the feeling of breaking free from chains that someone else had put you in. Courtesy of GODUPDATES https://www.godupdates.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/godupdates-3-steps-to-break-chains-of-addiction-fb.jpg

Before I went into this talk with my friends, I remember that Professor Sandridge said that leadership does not involve solely your personal development, but seeing to it that others have what they need to become what they need to be. Therefore, the most pressing thing on my mind that I brought to Raelyn and Selina was a conversation that I had the night before with a close friend of mine. My friend and her boyfriend were having problems because she became close friends with a boy, which her boyfriend does not tolerate at all. She calls her derogatory names and gets jealous quickly. I told my friend that I am freshly out of a controlling relationship and I understand. Although it is his right, I believe, to be suspicious and a bit angry with the fact that you are always hanging around this new friend, it does not give him the authority to call you out of your name! I reassured her that I’ve been there before and hope that she doesn’t keep up with that because I sure as hell didn’t. Other things that I talked about with Raelyn and Selina was the fact that I arranged a study group with my online African class! This not only lended to me the gift of like-minded people, but they also gained knowledge from me as I did from them. I told Raelyn and Selina that I would love to here how they overcame some obstacles, whether it relates to control or study. Stay tuned for Week Eight.