Dreadlocks

DREADLOCKS 

Hair is one of the main ways we identify ourselves in our society. The style, the color, the length are all factors of how we present ourselves. The societal norm for men is to have short hair and for women to have long hair. Yet for generations people have been going against this by experimenting with what they can do with their hair and create a transcendentalist approach in how to present themselves. One style of hair that has been becoming more and more popular, yet still not accepted by society is dreadlocks. 

Dreadlocks first originated in Africa then slowly became popular within other countries, especially the United States, by ionic stars who promoted their dreads, such as Bob Marley. People believed that this new hairstyle was considered hip and unoriginal, and that is why it drew the eye of others.  Yet, some people shied away from this way of presenting oneself, because some thought that this made people look messy, dirty, and unmotivated. These stereotypes towards people with dreads has now further categorized people with dreads as uneducated and even associated them with the involvement of drugs. These assumptions about people with dreads are untrue and can make the lives of people who have them more difficulty. One with dreadlocks may have a harder time getting a job due to the harsh stereotypes that follow them around daily, only due to how they wear their hair. 

Author Paul Fussell once said, "If you refuse to dress like others, you will be ridiculed..." This is true because people who have dreadlocks are considered a minority in comparison to people who don't. They don't and shouldn't be ridiculed due to how they present themselves. One should have the liberty to do as they like and not be judged nor denied an opportunity by being themselves. 

Shaping and Manipulating the Worlds

To each individual, the world we live in is perceived differently.  As humans, we have ultimate control to make our life our own within the limits that we are born into.  For example, people who are born into a country that has significant control over its population, there are certain regulations that one must oblige to. Yet within those restrictions people should find away to express themselves and make their life unique and try to make an impact not only on oneself but also on others. It is impossible to shape and impact everyone in the world, but it is possible to shape the ones around you and to that individual those people are their world. You can make the world your own safe place and as big or small as you wants it be. You can create and manipiluate your "world" by focusing on your wants and needs and not others. It is important to sometimes be selfless, yet at the end of the day it comes down to whether or not you are satisfying your desires. 
           Our thoughts can also greatly impact the world around us. By defining and formulating the feedback we get from our actions, we readjust our future actions towards others, then repeat the process. With every positive feedback and confirmation from our pervious doings, our world becomes molded and clearer to us. We then can fully shape our true self. 
            The culture we were born into can also form and shape our perceptions on reality and the real world. Cultures tell us what is acceptable and what is not. From having culture impact each person's world that they live in, it creates a variety of depths between people's perceptions of how to live and impact others. For example each culture has its different rituals and practices. To others that do not participate in these activities might believe that they are wrong and offensive, yet that is just because they were not raised the same way. 
            

Double Indemnity

This shot from Double Indemnity shows Neff in Phyllis's living room waiting for her to arrive. Neff is not centered in the shot, he is positioned in the left third of the frame. This still is shot like this, in order to show his surroundings. The living room is spacious and well-furnished indicating that Phyllis and her husband are very wealthy. From what we can see in the frame, the room has many lamps, yet none of them are turned on, the room is only lit from natural light coming from the window. The window is furnished with blinds, which casts a horizontal shadow across the room, making the room appear hazy and mysterious. In the right hand part of the shot, lies two picture frames resting on a piano. The pictures are off Phyllis's husband and step-daughter. The bright light illuminating from the window seems to be directed towards the right part of the frame, right where the picture frames are. White bright light, tends to mean goodness and purity, and by having the light cast over Phyllis's husband and daughter, can mean that the true good people are them and not Phyllis, because she is not framed nor casted in light, in this shot. This can also be interpreted as Phyllis not having a role within the family, or importance to either her husband or daughter. To the left of where Neff is standing lies a fish bowl on top of a desk. It appears as if Neff is staring directly into it. A fish living in a bowl is trapped, and has no where to go. This is symbolic and can connect to Neff's life because he knows that he is trapped due to the murder he committed. He knows that there is no way out for him and that he is trapped just like the fish in the fish bowl. 

Literature & Film - Danielle Bishop