Author Archives: Erika Campo

The Twelfth Night

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On Thursday I had the opportunity to watch a modern reenactment Shakespeare’s play, Twelfth Night. What amazes me the most is that despite this play being written about 500 years ago, it still lives on! I am familiar with some of Shakespeare’s work from high school English class, however I have never read the Twelfth Night, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. I wasn’t disappointed. One of my favorite things about the play is that it takes place in the present, not the 1500s, and yet the same lines are used and still completely make sense. For example, there is a scene in which one of the main characters, Olivia, commands that she be handed her veil. However, instead of a veil, she puts on stylish shades.

However, what was even more engaging was how the play seemed to transgress gender and racial lines. Two of the main characters, Sebastian and Viola, were black and, in addition to this, they both had complicated romantic relationships with both men and women. The director, Simon Godwin, switched up the gender of some the characters in the original play. For example, Malvolia in this play, is Molvolio in the original play. In this way the play now had more layers to explore which are relevant to today’s conversations about gender and sexuality.

After the play, GRF Sara and two other Rose Scholars and I were able to discuss some of the themes in the play. It was helpful the Sara is so knowledgable on Shakespeare and his work which helped us understand the context better. This was my second time attending a play at the Cinemapolis this academic year, and I hope to have the opportunity to attend some more plays next semester.

Gimme Coffeeeeeeee!

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It’s always nice taking a stroll off campus, especially for some coffee. Along with GRFs Sara and Magdala, a group of about 6 of us head off to Ithaca’s well-known Gimme! Coffee, and although the weather was a bit bleak, we warmed up quickly once we arrived. It was my first time trying a cortado, which was a bit too strong for my liking, but at least now I know what to get when I need an extra boost of energy.

Even more delightful than the warm coffee was the conversations we had. It started off with Magdala and Sara sharing a few stories (that had to include something related to coffee) and somehow made its way to Harry Potter and other fictional works and ended with the topic artificial intelligence. Although I have not read the Harry Potter series, it was interesting to hear the discussion and the fervor some people expressed for different interpretations of the book. Hearing them talk so passionately about the book kind of made me want to read the series! Regardless of my lack of familiarity with the fictional works discussed, it was great seeing new faces and hearing different opinions. When you’re so consumed with school work/life, it’s easy to forget how meaningful simple things like getting coffee and having a good conversation can be.

Tying a Tie with Ty

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For this event, GRF Tyler and SAs Ben and Ashley gave out a few pointers for looking good for different professional occasions. I typically tend to stay in the safe zone when it comes to any type of professional event, however, after this event I’m willing to experiment a little more. Even though you’re dressing professionally, it doesn’t mean you can’t show your personality! In addition to women’s pointers, Ty and Ben also covered professional attire for men. I’m was always confused as to what the proper attire for men is in different professional occasions, but after this event, I got a bit of a better grasp. with the help of Ty, we even learned how to tie ties and bow ties! Although I don’t plan on incorporating a bow tie/tie in my outfits anytime soon, learning how to a tie was useful considering my dad is always asking me to tie his–on the rare occasion that he does wear one. Considering I’ve never tied a bow tie/tie before, I think I did pretty well! Hopefully I can practice my tying skills sometimes soon. Thanks Ty! 

Avocado on the Horizon

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Last Saturday I spent part of my day at the Johnson Museum. Although this was not my first time, it always seems as if I discover something new whenever I go. Although I’m not that great of an art “interpreter” per say, it’s always enjoyable looking at the different art forms, genres, and mediums. This time around I encountered a piece that caught my attention, particularly because it was a video. Semiotics of the Kitchen by Martha Rosler was first released in 1975. The video is six minutes long and portrays a woman in the kitchen presenting several kitchen utensils, each of which stands for a letter in the alphabet. At first I was very confused and even a bit scared, considering the video is played in a dark room with only a bench in the center of the room to watch the video from. The woman in the video demonstrates how to use different utensils in the kitchen which may seem odd in itself, but what makes it even more bizarre is that her motions are aggressive and, for the most part, she doesn’t seem to use the tools correctly at all. Like I said, I was really confused at first (remember I’m not that great at interpreting art) but once I read the description of the piece it made a little more sense to me. Artist Rosler, a well-known feminist, commented on this piece that “when the woman speaks, she names her own oppression”. I’m no expert, but I think she might have been trying to explain how women are undermined and subjicated through media, commercialization, and the “technologies” of the kitchen during this time and even today. Here’s a link to the video online in case you’re interested in checking it out. Perhaps you can add more to the conversation and interpretation than I can. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vm5vZaE8Ysc

Once we left the museum, we walked over to Rose to create some of our own art. When you’re so busy with school, papers, exams, etc. it’s easy to forget about your creative potential! I decided to draw an avocado. . . I named this piece “Avocado on the Horizon”. I had a lot of fun coloring it in with pastels and definitely wouldn’t mind more art sessions throughout my semester!

 

 

 

Bird, Bird, Bird, Bird is the Word

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Before this past weekend, I had no idea bird watching could be so fun and rewarding! Along with GRF, Ty, and a fellow Rose Scholar, I visited Cornell’s renowned Lab of Ornithology. However, to be honest, my favorite part of this event was the bird watching prior to the tour of the lab. I think one of the most valuable lessons gained from the day was to pay attention to your surroundings. I mean, think about. Most of us wake up every morning and walk to class without even knowing what animals, particularly birds, we are surrounded by! Birds are so diverse in sound and personality; they’re definitely more than just a pretty tune in the morning.

So here’s a few things I learned that might help you be a bit more aware of your surroundings. Hopefully this encourages you to stop by the lab or take a walking bird watch tour at some point during your Cornell experience!

As a beginner, you might find it logical to try and memorize different birds by the way they look; however, it would actually be easier to remember the way a bird acts and what they sound like before attempting to remember what different birds look like. The reasons behind this are that birds can be difficult to differentiate. Also, depending on where you are and the weather, you’ll rarely ever get a perfect view of a bird. A lot of the time you won’t even get to see the color on the bird, only shades and shape. Also, if you’re able to identify birds by their sounds, your life becomes a lot easier because once you hear a bird, then you can focus on looking for it (instead of looking for a bird without being able to identify the sound).

What I found most interesting was learning how to identify birds based on their behavior. For example, the American Robin tends to spend its time on ground, with bunny like hops. This is characteristic of many birds in the thrush category. Or take for example, the finch (forgive me I don’t remember exactly what type of finch) tends to hang out in groups high up at the tip of trees. They’re so chatty! They almost sound like they’re gossiping amongst themselves. Chick-a-dees literally make the sound “chick a dee dee dee”. They’re cute little fellows that are always curious and willing to get  little closer to see what’s going on, especially when humans walk by. Blue jays are characterized by bully-like behavior and their chirp is a bit harsher than any of the other bird previously mentioned.

I know this sounds like it’s a lot to memorize, but I promise it’s so much fun! Once you see the birds for yourself, you’ll see how unique their personalities can be. It’s also really rewarding once you’re able to remember what a bird sounds/looks like and how it behaves. Now I can show off some of bird identification skills with some of my friends.

Following the walk, we got a tour of the lab. This was my first visit, and I definitely plan on going back to cover the whole lab. The tour offered a more biological and historical perspective of birds and background on the creation of the lab and what it holds. Below I have attached pictures of some pretty fancy birds, however, the lab is not limited to just these figures. I highly recommend stopping by to see the vast amounts of information the lab holds. Bird definitely is the word!

 

Cidade de Deus

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City of God is based on a true story in the 60s in one of Rio’s favelas, or slums. The film revolves around two main characters, Lil Ze, a notorious drug dealer,  and Rocket, an aspiring photographer whose lives intersect all too often, despite Rocket’s attempt to stay out of trouble. The film is separated into chapters which depict the different stages of the boys’ lives in a crime-driven neighborhood.

To my surprise, most of the actors featured in this film have no prior acting experience which made the film feel all the more authentic and showing of the violence that occurs within the slums of Brazil, and other parts of the world. One of the scenes that resonated the most with me was when one of the ‘runts’, a group of children involved with crime, was caught by Lil Ze. Prior to this scene we see the same child stealing from a local store with other runts, enjoying his spree. The runts seem to see themselves as as adults and arguably act as such throughout the movie, however, in this moment the boy is depicted as what he truly is: a boy. When he is threatened and eventually shot, we see him cry and let out a high pitched squeal, bluntly reminding us that he is only a child. This scene, along with the first chapter of the movie, show us how inescapable crime is for these children. There is no other option. And for those who do seek to escape, it could just as easily cost them their lives. For example, Knockout Ned, a handsome young man who has gone to school, served in the military, and works modestly as a bus fair collector, is suddenly drawn into a viscous brawl with Lil Ze, by chance. After Lil Ze rapes his girlfriend and kills his brother, Knockout Ned is out for revenge which consumes the rest of his days until he is killed by one of his ‘soldiers’.

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Crime and violence within these slums seems almost inevitable, especially since the law enforcement can be just as corrupt as the criminals themselves.

This movie has led me to do more research on the current situation of favelas in Brazil and what has been done since then. Although it can get a bit bloody, I highly recommend it. I’m sure it will also spark an interest for you.

 

 

When you can finally say you’ve watched The Matrix. . .

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Whenever my friends would ask me if I’d ever seen The Matrix-and I responded no- they’d react as if I had sinned! To be honest I hadn’t even heard of this movie until 8th grade. So when I heard they were going to play the movie, I just had to go and see what all the fuss was about. I really expected more. I could understand why the film was so successful and why its legacy still continues, however, it really didn’t impress me as much as I’d expected it to (I guess a major reason why is because I’m watching the film 18 years later).

Here’s why:

The graphics seemed tacky and outdated (again, mostly attributed to the fact that I’m watching this 18 years later). The slow motion scenes with the ‘futuristic’ music playing in the background and the overdramatic pauses and lines just didn’t sell it to me. I think the most laughable scene was when Trinity and Neo had their major battle against ‘the bad guys’, in which of course, not a single shot hit them, despite their overexposure. Considering the movie started with a complex idea, I kind of expected it to end with a more complex scene. . . not just a fight scene. I also didn’t appreciate Trinity’s role in the movie. Yes, she seemed like a badass and a woman in control of her own destiny, but throughout the film she was a very static character with short lines throughout different scenes. Her only purpose was to ‘save’ Neo and confirm that he was the one.

Perhaps some of you may argue that I lack taste or appreciation for what this film represents, but here are some things I did like:

I appreciated what this film could symbolize. We are all so consumed within this ‘matrix’ living our lives day to day without stopping to question why and what could be beyond. What is our role within this capitalistic society? Are we just machines to meant to produce and maintain larger corporations and entities? If it came down to it, would we be willing to choose the pill that exposes an ugly truth or the pill that allows us to live blissfully ignorant? As constantly emphasized within sociological teachings, societies create their own social constructs which we perceive to be reality. But what would be of us if we were able to bend the spoon? What if we were able to recognize that the spoon is just a product of our imaginary creation and the only reason we can’t bend the spoon is because our social construct tells us we cannot. Now this, this was interesting.

Similar to works of literature and art, I could see how this film might have inspired other films and stories that follow this narrative (i.e. I thought a lot about Inception). I understand why this might be such a staple film.

Regardless, it’s satisfying to finally be able to say I watched the movie (and be able to understand all the memes related to this film).

A Saturday with August and Diapers

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Last Saturday morning I had the pleasure of volunteering at the Catholic Charities Diaper Drive with Magdala and Angela. I truly hadn’t planned on attending until the extra email advertising the event was sent (my excuse was that I had too much homework to work on that weekend, but I thought I’d go anyway). I’m glad I did end up going, because not only was I able to meet another fellow Rose scholar, but I was also able to offer a hand for a few hours.

Our job was to basically unpack diaper boxes, remove them of their plastic coverings, and place a certain amount of diapers in separate bags, categorized by age. The last time I remember even smelling a diaper was maybe 12 years ago when my little brother was born, so the task did come with some welcome nostalgia. I honestly couldn’t tell you exactly how many boxes we unpacked in total, but according to Liddy, the woman running the event, we were able to package around 4,000 diapers in less than 3 hours! However, as Magdala and Angela informed me, babies can go through a lot of diapers in a day (shows you how much I know about kids). Regardless of the amount of diapers, I know a lot of families in Ithaca and the surrounding area benefit from this help. Even more exciting, I got to meet sweet little August (Liddy’s daughter). I have to admit, seeing August smile and giggle and packaging the diapers gave me somewhat of a “baby fever”, but I can assure you this won’t be happening for at least another decade and a half!

Overall, it was a rewarding experience, and I am definitely more willing to sign up for the volunteer events coming up. There are more or less 3,000 hours in a semester (forgive my math), and dedicating at least 4 hours toward helping someone can have a much greater impact than you think.

 

 

HumEc or HomEc?

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I guess I should be a bit ashamed of my lack of knowledge of the contributions of Flora Rose and Martha Van Rensselaer-considering I live in Flora Rose and am part of the College of Human Ecology. Prior to this cafe, I really had no idea what the role of these two influential women had been for Cornell University. I mean, I had browsed through some information on Flora Rose in the past, but I never knew of the relationship between Rose and Van Rensselaer.

It was exciting to learn how dedicated Martha Van Rensselaer and Flora Rose were to the advancement of women’s education. Not only did Van Rensselaer lead the creation of the College of Home Economics, but she also managed to offer free tuition-with the help of friends- for the women attending. Imagine, a college already offering financial age during a time when other universities and colleges were only beginning to accept women. And to even further drive your interest, Martha Van Rensselaer and Flora Rose had close ties to Eleanor Roosevelt! What a small world. It was with the help of Eleanor Roosevelt, in fact, that Van Rensselaer was able to expand the college.

Even more to my surprise, Van Rensselaer and Rose received a working desk as a gift from Eleanor Roosevelt, which we were lucky enough to see ‘in the flesh’. Eileen Keating, our guest speaker, also brought along some photos of the women and the college (see photo below).

In sum, this was only a tidbit of Cornell’s history. I would definitely encourage you to explore Cornell’s history while you have the chance! Stop by Kroch library, or maybe take a historic tour of Cornell when they’re offered. I’ll also take on the challenge myself!

 

 

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