Chris Beausire's Lit & Media Studies Experience

I recently had the opportunity to read "Marriage of a Thousand Lies" by SJ Sindu and hear explanations of her work by Sindu herself. I found the book extremely interesting and was especially fascinated with how Sindu talked about rebellion. She talked about how she provided the main character with sisters to play against, who took different paths in life. One is in an arranged marriage, and one is off living a free, albeit disconnected life. The two sisters are both satisfied with their lives surprisingly, and I enjoy this part of the book because it provides us with a little complexity. A lot of writers taking on the subject of rejecting traditional norms would only cast an arranged marriage in a cold light, but Sindu chose to make it a successful relationship to give the impression that there are a variety of paths in life, not just two (the right and the wrong). One might choose not to rebel, but to bend to their society or parent's will, and still have a fulfilling li...

In the book "Cosmopolis" by Don Delillo, Eric Packer is a ludicrously rich head of a financial firm who rides around in his limousine all day on his way to get a haircut. Outside the vehicle, the world around him rages and writhes in turmoil. People fill the streets protesting capitalism, but all Packer feels is amusement. This lack of empathy is a symptom of Eric's privilege. His privilege is a trait he has built upon with every dollar he's gained and luxury he's bought. Every ordinary event and interaction is now seen through new eyes; ones less attuned to the hearts of those struggling to get by. He sees the events around him as a spectacle, and uses the windows of the limo not only as a protective shell but also as a socioeconomic disconnect from the world around him. To Packer, everything he sees through the window is a stage set for him to interpret at his leisure, and only those he rides with are the selected audience members. One such audience member is Sh...

The Wonder Woman Theme Park I designed would tell the real story of women's rights and power just as much as it embodies the fantastical theme of Wonder Woman. Visitors to the park would have access to exhibits with recreations of women's rights figures and their stories, as well as a merging of museum and ride by recreating the atmosphere of rallies and protests, like the ones held for women's right to vote. I also think it's extremely important to recognize powerful female figures in many fields through history, not just those who dedicated their lives to furthering their sex's standing in society. Woman scientists, historians, reporters, and writers all had massive impacts on how women are perceived today, and that's all indirect, through meaningful societal contributions. I'd like to incorporate historical exhibits and monuments dedicated to these figures, maybe name plazas and communal places of the park after some. My main attraction at the Wonder Wom...

True grit is a Western, and while the fact that it features a female protagonist may be unorthodox to it's time, it shares the same values that most American Literature seems to glorify. Our protagonist, Mattie, is a strong character. Her strength stems from one thing, featured in the book's title: Her grit. American mythology loves grit. Grit is a resilience against opression, a strength in the face of adversity. Grit is the reason the United States fought the Revolutionary war, it's the value that drives success in the so-called 'American Dream', and it's why we glamorize fighting one's way to the top of corporations in a capitalistic economy. Grit is to willingly place blinders on yourself, to block out what isn't helping you in your goal. Grit has a capacity for evil however. If you never look around in your pursuit of what you want, you never question if what you are doing is right . That is the failing in America's idealization of grit, as it...