Glee is a musical-comedy TV show known for its musical elements and exaggerated events and dialogue. The first time I watched Glee was back in 2015, when I was just a 14-year-old girl looking for a funny show to entertain me.

Back then, I was too young to properly understand the mature jokes or the more serious storylines that the show (rarely) has. Fast-forward to 2020, after we had gone into lockdown due to COVID-19 during the summer, I decided to rewatch the show in order to see if it was as good as I remember it to be. Long story short, it was even better. Not only had I gotten attached to some of the characters like Santana Lopez and Quinn Fabray, but I’ve also come to appreciate the satire that is clearly the basis of the show.

Over the years, people have criticized Glee for its ‘problematic’ scenes, quotes, and stereotypes of several characters. However, what people don’t realise is that the entire show is basically a satire. Satire is using humor and irony as a form of ridicule and mockery, specifically when it comes to more serious topics.

Take the main characters for example, the determined and considerably annoying female lead, the jock, the mean head cheerleader and her two sidekicks, the flamboyant gay kid and etc. At the start of the series, all of those characters play into the role they were written as, with the overuse of stereotypical actions and quotes that can be seen in old high school movies. There is also the case in which the popular kids throw slushies at the Glee club members, as they are considered to be ‘losers’, practically taking something serious like bullying and turning it into a comedic gig for the show.

An example of this is S03E03 ‘Asian F’, where one of the Asian characters on the show, Mike Chang, receives an A- on his exam, which is referred to as an ‘Asian F’ by him and his girlfriend Tina Cohen-Chang.

Another example could be Kitty Wilde’s entire character. She is the new head cheerleader after some of the Glee members graduate, and her character is written to be extremely mean and insensitive towards her fellow Glee members, specifically the minorities in the club. Smaller examples of which the show mocks itself include coach Sue Sylvester pointing out that despite their ‘money problems’, they waste a lot of money on costumes and props for performances that don’t even leave the practice room, as well as a running gig of prioritizing sports over arts in the school.

While the show includes some significantly questionable moments, as well as some more serious storylines such as teen pregnancy, ableism, and LGBTQ+ characters struggling with coming out and other problems, it also manages to keep the setting of the show incredibly lighthearted and comedic.

I think that the main reason for Glee’s success is that the show doesn’t take itself too seriously. Despite some of its controversial moments and quotes that go too far, at most times, the show calls its own faults out, and includes self-aware jokes that allows the audience to laugh along without being too offended by it. It also includes extremely well written and complex characters that went through great character development throughout the series and important issues that a lot of people can relate to. The best example for both of those points is Santana Lopez, who starts out as a background character and one of head cheerleader Quinn’s sidekicks, to becoming part of the main characters and having her own coming out storyline.

That is personally why I love this show as much as I do, because of its hilarious quotes and over exaggerated events, the characters and their individual storylines, as well as its self-awareness and ability to make jokes about serious topics without being too offensive (most of the time), not to mention the incredible covers that are sometimes even better than the original songs themselves.

This is one of my favourite Glee performances. The song they cover is ‘We Are Young’ by Fun, and it’s at the end of the first half of season three where the main group split up and competed against each other in the competition. I love it because it’s so wholesome and loving, and shows that despite all of their differences and disagreements, they’re all just one family.

People always say being able to speak many languages is a great skill. Many even try and get babies as young as two or three to start a foreign language. Being a Pakistani who has grown up abroad, I have always thought and mostly spoken in English. While that developed my English skills greatly, I struggled to find a balance between English and my two Pakistani tongues. There is the language most are familiar with when it comes to Pakistan, Urdu, but the one that is lesser known and is my mother tongue, Sindhi.

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Wanting to have a better connection with it, I decided at a young age I wanted to speak the two languages, Urdu and Sindhi, better. Normally, when we took our annual trip to Pakistan, I always tried to speak as little as possible. But this time I tried interacting with others my age and was made fun of for my accent and lacking vocabulary. So, it was an overall demotivating trip and upset me greatly, as it was the first time I had taken up a project as a kid and I felt like I failed.

After we got back from the trip, I did not realize it at the time but I do now,  my mom and my grandparents would only speak in Sindhi to me and over the years this stuck as a habit and I realize it is what developed my speech in Sindhi. While it was a simple thing that we would talk in a particular language, it also created memories I will always treasure, for one my grandfather’s favorite things to do is tell me Sindhi poems. My  favorite one will always be this one about studies as it was a simple one I could understand 😂

It was a simple way to learn how to speak the language. But I know it is what has helped me come far. There is, however, still a lot to learn as my parents and grandparents sometimes still use words I struggle to understand and have to ask them. In my opinion however, that is the fun part, I am surrounded by people with great knowledge of the languages and I can ask them and learn in any way I see fit.

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Only eighteen days after George Floyd’s tragic murder, Dave Chappelle dropped an emotional, angry, heartfelt tribute to him and all other victims of police violence. It was a 30-minute “comedy” special uploaded entirely to YouTube. Clad in all-black with a cigarette in one hand and the microphone in the other, he appeared like we’ve never seen him before: solemn and non-comedian-like. Titled “8:46,” it reflected the time the police officer had his knees on George Floyd’s neck, 8 minutes and 46 seconds. In it, Chappelle detailed the two reasons that drove him into making the special: public pressure and seeing himself in the victims.

He recalled that, shortly after watching the George Floyd video, he stumbled upon a CNN broadcast of Don Lemon’s show, CNN Tonight. In that particular viewing, Don Lemon expressed anger and disapproval over the silence of many black celebrities; like Jay Z, Beyonce, and, of course, Dave Chappelle. That duly irritated him. Why should he comment on George Floyd’s death? Why should people even listen to him? Who in their right mind would sit on the edge of their seat anticipating what a comedian would think about a tragedy of this kind? What would his words do?

This man [Derek Chauvin] kneeled on a man’s neck for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. Can you imagine that?

– Dave Chappelle

At first, Dave put off watching the video. He knew that when he would, the image wouldn’t get out of his head. But then, after reading more about the incident, he realized that the time the police officer had his knee on George Floyd’s neck matched a special number on his birth certificate, his time of birth: 8:46 am. That really spoke to him. Another eerie connection he found with yet another police officer killing of an unarmed black man was even more chilling. Chappelle got pulled over by an officer in Beavercreek, Ohio, for speeding. He luckily managed to get off with only a warning. The very next day, that same officer shot an unarmed black man in a Walmart for carrying a toy gun.

All throughout the special, Chappelle expressed strong emotion. He yelled, teared up, cursed, and even used obscene words to describe political commentators that played down all these tragedies. Aside from the few scripted jokes he jotted down on that notebook, sitting on that stool, everything he said sounded like it came straight from his heart and mind.

Here is the full special on YouTube below:

What do you guys think? Should comedians venture out of the world of comedy and talk about serious topics like these? Or about politics? Do you even care?

One of the world’s first instances of comedy were the comic dramas of Aristophanes, deemed “The Father of Comedy.” Most of his comedies were inspired by real-life events and people. He mocked the Athenian elite with political satires and made his audience think while they laughed. How much has comedy changed since then?

Thinking of venturing into the land of fantasy novels? Lost? Confused? Not sure where to start? Well look no further! Welcome to the Beginner’s Guide to Fantasy Novels!

Fantasy books are a wonderful world to dive into, but some are hesitant and intimidated. “I don’t like magic, I don’t like dragons, I only like the real world!” Well that’s just because you haven’t been to the imaginary one yet. But which imaginary world is for you? Stay tuned to find out.

There are two main types of fantasy books: high fantasy and low or urban fantasy. High fantasy consists of entirely new worlds and new societies and systems. You’re fully emerged in a fantasy realm. Oftentimes, these are harder for beginners to get into, as the first half usually consists of lots of world-building, which could include different societies, mythology, vocabulary, etc.. It can take time to become familiar enough with the world to get immersed in the story. These types of fantasy books require more patience, commitment, and perseverance, but are really worth it in the end. The other type is urban fantasy, which has magical elements but is set in the real world or a universe similar to ours. This can make it easier to get into, as you’re already familiar with the world and only need to learn the magic system.

Below I’ve compiled a list of both urban and high fantasy novels to check out if you’re looking for a new magical read.

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First up is The Infernal Devices trilogy by Cassandra Clare. This is an urban fantasy series set in the year 1878. Tessa Gray, in search of her missing brother, teams up with a group of demon-slayers called the Shadowhunters. Together, they find themselves battling the Pandemonium Club, a secret organization consisting of demons, vampires, warlocks, and even humans determined to rule the British Empire with their army of clockwork creatures. This is a great read set in an engaging time period. It is a part of the Shadowhunter Chronicles, which consists of multiple series set in the same universe.

Getting into it: medium
New words: a whole lot
Funny: so many laughs
Epic: so epic
Romance: my heart bleeds for them
Moving: yes sometimes
Boring parts: nope not really
Rating: 96%

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Next is The Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater. This urban fantasy series is very different, kind of quirky, and a little weird. It takes some time to get into it, around 100 pages or so. But once you’re in, you can’t help but be intrigued and want to know more. Our main character, Blue, comes from a long line of psychics, but is not a psychic herself. Instead, she acts like a battery, enhancing the energy around her. Our other lead, Gansey, is on the hunt to find the tomb of an ancient Gaelic king who can supposedly grant wishes. Together, Blue, Gansey, and their friends embark on a mission enmeshed in fascinating lore and mythology. If you’re searching for a more interesting read, then you should look into this series. It’s not exactly thrilling but that won’t stop you from wanting to finish it.

Getting into it: medium-difficult
New words: quite a few
Funny: chuckled a few times
Epic: I mean kind of
Romance: plot takes centerstage, but still present
Boring parts: eh some slow parts
Rating: 88%

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Up next is the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas, one of my all-time favorites! This is set in a universe where magic has been banned by the King. Celaena is the best assassin in the land, who’s been sent to a labor camp to die, only to be pulled out by the Prince to compete for her life and her freedom. It’s an action-packed high fantasy series with a strong lead and an awesome romance that you won’t want to miss!

Getting into it: medium
New words: Yes some
Funny: Yes!
Epic: all the epicness
Romance: So good
Boring parts: None at all
Rating: 98%

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Last on the list is the Six of Crows duology by Leigh Bardugo. This is also a high fantasy series set in a world with an elaborate magic system. In this duology, a team of six lowlifes band together to pull off an epic heist that could save the world. This is technically a sequel series to the Shadow and Bone trilogy, but can be read separately.

Getting into it: medium-difficult
New words: yes so many
Funny: has its moments
Epic: kind of epic
Romance: yes but not heavily so
Boring parts: not really no
Rating: 94%

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Hope you enjoyed and found a new series to pick up 🙂

According to Wikipidia (2020, September 5) Feminism refers to a series of campaigns that touches many issues such as domestic violence , equality, and sexual violence  . There are many other topics but what matters is that they’re all under the word FEMINISM. Add to the above it is also about how people use their words and language which changes the way others usually respond and analyze events.

Moreover, feminists use the neutral language to remove any misplaced assumptions regarding the gender the feminist movement has also brought up how people use language. For example, when women speak they use a non-sexiest language that does not define who the person is. An example is the word “Ms.” it’s used for both married and single women. From here a goal of feminism is derived which will lead to the production of new concepts.

When many women heard about feminism in the past they assumed that it’s all about anger and hate toward men which was proven wrong today. Feminist isn’t someone who has hate towards men and is not necessarily someone who represents all women because anyone can be feminist and you don’t need to have a position in politics to do so because it’s the case of the public.

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On the other hand, literature plays a powerful role in shaping attitudes towards women and is at the same time a window into how women are viewed.

Literature has also allowed women to express their ideas, feelings, attitudes, and reach the world of men and women.

In this respect, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichi has written a book titled: “We Should All Be Feminists” to explain about the treatment of women in today’s society.

She highlights big titles and issues that we need to be aware of in our societies. This book explains what it is to be a feminist. It also talks about how the society members see women as inferior to men in both homes and the workplaces. It shows how people see women as incomplete beings and that they are ad- on to the society rather than essential part. She admits the biological differences between men and women but no gender is superior to the other. The last most important idea is acknowledging feminism. People must acknowledge the way they think and act toward women because that what will shape the future of both men and women.

Chimamanda’s speech : We should all be feminists

My questions to readers:

Have you ever looked at the feminism movement as a movement of anger and hate? Why or why not

Do you think that feminism movements are able now to deliver their messages to all the world and prove all who doubted them wrong?

References:

Mark Molloyo (2018, February 6) How far have women’s rights advanced in a century? retrieved from https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/far-have-womens-rights-advanced-century/

Wikipidia (2020, September 5) Feminist movement retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feminist_movement#Language

Deborah Appleman (2007, February 19) Through Rose-Colored Glasses: The feminist Lens retrieved from https://apps.carleton.edu/people/appleman/talksworkshops/workshop_handouts/rose_colored/

First Impressions, now known as Pride and Prejudice is a romance novel/ novel of mannerisms written by Jane Austen. Originally published in 1813, Pride and Prejudice was serialized as it was released anonymously in three seperate volumes before eventually being compiled into a single novel. 

Pride and Prejudice is set in regency England, or what is more commonly known as the Victorian era in the 19th century. The novel revolves around the Bennet’s, a rural English family. The five Bennet sisters are all expected to find a suitable consort to marry in order to secure their futures in the unfortunate event of their father’s death since their family estate was legally required to be passed down to a male relative. At its core, the novel chronicles the dynamic relationship between Elizabeth Bennet and a wealthy gentleman, Mr. Darcy. Although the two initially get off on the wrong foot, they slowly grow to be fond of one another. In the process to their “happily ever after” tale, they embark on a journey of many trials and tribulations [or in other words, pride and prejudice] that they conquer and overcome, which ultimately touched the hearts of many. 

Other than being categorized as a classic British novel and arguably Austen’s most famous novel, Pride and Prejudice still touches and resonates with readers across the globe today. Pride and Prejudice has influenced and been adapted to numerous films, television series and plays, thus gracefully morphing from a piece of work included in the literary canon to something of a pop culture phenomenon. Notable reworkings of the novel include Joe Wright’s (2005) movie “ Pride and Prejudice” featuring Keira Knightly and Matthew Macfayden and Bernie Su’s (2012) Emmy winning web series titled “ The Lizzie Bennet Diaries”.

Having first being introduced to the novel through a British literature class, I admired and was in awe of the wit, satire and irony demonstrated throughout the novel. After some research I also learned that Austen pioneered what was called free indirect discourse via the novel. To me, Pride and Prejudice is a timeless classic which remains to be thematically, symbolically and contextually relevant and significant. The novel explores and touches upon themes such as feminism, classism, love, and socioeconomic constructs. The issues, elements and attitudes highlighted in the novel still echo and are relevant in our cultures and societies today. 

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

Sources:

Doll, J. (2013). “ 200 Years of ‘Pride and Prejudice’ Book Design”. The Atlantic. Retrieved from: https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2013/01/pride-and-prejudice-200th-anniversary-covers/318349/

Errigo, A. (2000). “ Pride and Prejudice Review”. Empire. Retrieved from: https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/pride-prejudice-review/

Kliger, S. (1947). Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice in the Eighteenth-Century Mode. University of Toronto Quarterly, 16(4), 357-370.

The Harry Potter series consists of seven fantasy novels that revolve around the lives of the young wizards Harry Potter, Ronald Weasley, and Hermione Granger at the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main plot follows their struggles in their fight against the evil wizard Lord Voldemort, whose aim is to kill Harry Potter and overthrow the wizarding world’s government known as the Ministry of Magic.

In the wizarding world, wizards are often classified by the purity of their blood. There are three main blood types:

• pure-bloods
• half-bloods
• muggle-borns (muggle is the wizarding term for human)

A pure-blood refers to a wizard with no human ancestry, a half-blood refers to a wizard with some human ancestry, and a muggle-born is a wizard born to two human parents.

Prejudice exists against half-bloods and muggle-borns due to their human ancestry. In fact, muggle-borns are often referred to as “mudbloods”, a highly offensive term that’s similar to modern-day racial slurs. One of Voldemort’s key desires is to eradicate the wizarding world of all muggle-borns. This acts as a metaphor for ethnic cleansing. This idea is further supported by J.K. Rowling’s revelation that Voldemort was influenced by Hitler, thus illustrating that Voldemort’s belief in blood purity is similar to the Nazi party’s belief in racial purity. Similarly, it could also be compared to hate groups such as the Ku Klux Klan, who advocate for white supremacy.

Harry Potter’s main attraction will always be its ability to let its reader escape into the magical wizarding world where love potions exist and P.E. lessons consist of flying on a broom. However, I think it’s important to acknowledge these political parallels between Harry Potter and the bigotry and racial tensions that exist in modern society. Especially in light of the recent global discourse surrounding racism and the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. Overall, the Harry Potter series does an effective job of criticizing racism. Likewise, we should do the same because as human beings we have a duty to call out social injustices and advocate for diversity and inclusion because of our shared humanity.

You place too much importance, and you always have done, on the so-called purity of blood! You fail to recognise that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be!

– Albus Dumbledore (Headmaster of Hogwarts)

P.S. What other childhood stories have you recently realized have a darker meaning to them that you never noticed as a kid?

Friends is an American television sitcom, the series talks about six characters that are best friends, they live in New York City, they go through family problems, love, drama etc. They have won many awards.

One of the main characters is Rachel Green( Jennifer Aniston), she plays the role of an indecisive rich girl that gets whatever she wants by her dad’s money and never learned how to depend on herself.

She moves to New York City after she ran out on her wedding day and moves in with her best friend Monica Geller, who is independent and acts like the mother of the friend group. While Rachel is living with her she learns how to be independent and to follow her dreams.

Rachel had to start from the bottom to reach to her dream job, she started working as a waitress in Central Perk, which she did not take seriously nor did she like the job. But later on she quits her job so she can pursue a career in fashion.

She finally gets into her dream job, she got to work at bloomingdale’s as a Personal Shopper. But that didn’t last for long, she later on got hired to work at Ralph Lauren.

Friends storyline

Friends aired on NBC from September 22, 1994, to May 6, 2004, lasting ten seasons. Six young (20-something) people from New York City (Manhattan), on their own and struggling to survive in the real world, find the companionship, comfort and support they get from each other to be the perfect antidote to the pressures of life. This average group of buddies goes through massive mayhem, family trouble, past and future romances, fights, laughs, tears and surprises as they learn what it really means to be a friend.

My experience

I started watching friends in 2017 when my cousin suggested it to me, I am not really into comedy series or movies, but I watched it anyways I really liked it, everything about it kept me going, I loved the bond between them and how they all stick together no matter how many mistakes they make, and they all embrace each other’s flaws. I watched all 10 seasons more than four times since then, the show just puts me in a good mood and watching it just makes me happy.

Citation:

Friends. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108778/plotsummary

Never Have I Ever is a Netflix series that released on April 27th this year. It comprises of one season so far, and its renewal for a second season was confirmed on July 2nd. The show revolves around the story of an Indian-American teenage girl named Devi Vishwakumar, who navigates her journey of self-acceptance, as she struggles with coming into terms with her racial identity as a South-Indian woman. Devi is also grieving for her father, who died of a heart attack during her concert (Read more on here). The following year after her father’s death, she is determined to change her persona from a geeky-awkward teenager to a more attractive and daring personality.

Her best friend, Fabiola’s reaction to her outfit made me burst out laughing. She walks up to her and says, “Oh My God, You look like an Indian Kardashian.” Devi strikes off at first as quite intimidating – she’s short-tempered, a straight-A student, a debater at the Model UN, and most of all, an unapologetic sass-queen. Her best friends also happen to be eccentric nerds like her – Fabiola is a robotics enthusiast, and Eleanor is the president of the drama club.

However, it was only after watching Devi in her more intimate moments that I began to see her from a new light. Observing her conversations with the therapist, arguments with her mom, especially her hallucinations of her father made me realize how naïve and innocent Devi really is. I could relate with her at a certain point, in high school all I ever wanted to do was in fit in and do things that a normal teenager would do. Like Devi, I also found it difficult to embrace my South-Indian culture, and fell prey to peer pressure.

Watching Devi’s journey as a third-culture kid, I was finally able to connect someone who faced the same struggles as I did. What makes “Never Have I Ever” special is not only the fact that a South-Indian female is the lead for the first time in a Netflix show, but also its inclusion and diversity amongst the cast members – giving it more reason for all people, from different cultures and races, to watch the show in hopes of creating a bond with any of characters in a unique way.

While at first glance this description may seem like nothing new, as there have been several movies in recent years that have depicted experiences of first and second generation Asians, including The Big Sick, To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before and Blinded by the Light, Never Have I Ever brought another much needed layer to the experiences of this historically underrepresented group on screen.

Shanelle Kandiah from tamilculture.com

P.S. What show do you guys bond with in a cultural sense? What characters (or character) from that show can you relate to the most?

Let me know in the comments!

After nine long seasons, the last episode of How I Met Your Mother aired on TV on March 31, 2014. This American sitcom series stars Josh Radnor as Ted Mosby who recounts to his kids the story of how he met their mother. The narrator also describes the journey of his life along with his four best friends, Lily, Marshall, Robin and Barney.

Over time it has been a general trend for TV shows and movies to introduce their viewers to made-up words and catchphrases to engage their audience more. Similarly, this series has generated several sniglets and phrases that most himym fans would be familiar with. The first of the lot is “revertigo” which was termed by Marshall; a phenomenon that takes place when the presence of someone from your past causes you to become the person you used to be back when you knew them. (also known as associative regression)

In the season six thanksgiving episode, Ted came up with the “Turturkeykey” which was a turkey stuffed with a smaller turkey instead of actual stuffings which, in spite of looking appetizing, tasted “wrong” according to Ted himself. However, some chef youtubers like Binging with Babish tried to remake the turturkeykey and even succeeded in doing so.

Aren’t we all waiting for our Lebenslangerschicksalsschatz?

P.S. Which made-up term fascinated you the most? Let me know in the comments!