Tragedy in Bethesda, MD

Today for my blog I am going to do a short piece on recent events that happened in my hometown of Bethesda, MD, a small town about 15 minutes outside Washington, DC. For those of you who have no idea where Bethesda is I don't blame you, our only real claim to fame is that the President gets his physical at the Naval Base next to my house. To get back to my point, basically nothing really happens in my town, good, bad, or otherwise. However that changed this past week while I was at home.

The morning of Saturday March 12, 2011 was by all accounts a very normal morning in Bethesda. Stores opened around 8:30/9 o'clock, and prepared for what would be a busy day in "downtown". However it would be anything but an average day. At around 8:30 am a female employee at the local yoga clothing store, Lululemon Athletica, opened the store for what she assumed would be an average Saturday. When she open the store she heard a noise coming from the back of the store and noticed that items were in a state of disarray, she backed out and enlisted the assistance of a local man. The man investigated the noise, and what he discovered has shocked the entire community. The man had discovered two female employees both had been badly beaten. The first was 27, she was tied up, had been sexually assaulted, was in critical condition but was still alive. Her co-worker however, a woman identified as Arlington, VA resident Jayna Murray, 30, was pronounced dead at the scene. (Arlington is a county in Northern Virginia, about 15-20 minutes away from Bethesda) All the details of what transpired are not publicly known, however what authorities have concluded is that it began as a robbery, and escalated from there.
News Clip:
http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Assault_and_Homicide_at_Bethesda_Lululemon_Store_Washington_DC-117858919.html

In conclusion please keep the victims and their family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.

Disney So Screwed Me Over!

Ok before I start on my Disney rant. Here's a kind of harsh break-down for you:

Snow White=pretty much a blithering idiot "Oh yea I'll eat this random apple creepy old lady, gee thanks" like WHAT!

Cinderella=Zero-Backbone

Aurora=Ungrateful brat who couldn't take direction

Ariel=at least she had her own opinions and interests

Belle=Finally a semi-intelligent independent girl who saw inner beauty, she actually owns and reads BOOKS what an idea (Thanks Disney for finally getting with the program of giving girls an actually role model)

Jasmine=Kind of a bitch at times but she stood up for shit, broke rules to follow her heart, marry for LOVE (Disney finally preached a message of NOT marrying for money--> novel concept)

Pocahontas=Based very loosely on history (take artistic licensing to a whole new level), she really stood up for her love.

Mulan=What a BADASS!, again loose interpretation of the real story (a theme with disney, butcher original fairy tales), teaches girls they can do anything and make a difference.

Giselle=unofficial princess, sees reality, and Disney finally acknowledges that the fairy tales leave a lot out, and they are actually pretty unrealistic

Tiana=Most recent "official" princess, hard worker, knows what she has to do to get her dream, (a real role model for young girls), make your own destiny

Rapunzel=Most recent princess, she is the heroine, she saves Flynn's ass multiple times, and she reads.

So there is an idea that has been seriously bothering me lately. The idea of true love/love at first sight/the Disney ideal of love. Disney makes it seem pretty straightforward: Once Upon a Time...Happily Ever After...that's supposed to be the story. But life doesn't subscribe to the "Disney ideal". Shit happens that no one could see coming, death, infidelity, but that would be a bad message to show young kids. This crap about "happily ever after," thats the ideal, but it's never quite as easy as Disney makes it seem. Disney skips over the dating phase, the fights, the break-ups, the getting back together, the baggage that is ALWAYS there. All those princesses married the first guy who looked their way, except maybe Pocahontas who didn't get married in the first movie. Disney idealizes love, and makes it all look simple. Meet, fall in love, get married, happily ever after. That's a great concept, however people are disappointed when they get involved with someone thinking it will be all great and happy, and then it gets hard. Disney gives individuals false expectations about love.

Despite all that, I still find that I want the fairy tale as told by Disney. And I don't think it is wrong to want that as long as you aren't ignorant about reality and the fact that it won't always be perfect. But I firmly believe that if anything should be idealize it is love. Romantic Comedies seem to say it best, "Love is the only shocking act left on the planet." So you know what while I curse Disney for giving kids and young adults such unrealistic expectations of love, I thank them for teaching people to be open to finding love.

Everyone's A Little Bit Racist

The Broadway musical is stereotypically fluffy and sweet with happy songs and spontaneous dance numbers. However, that is not always the case. Though Disney would have you believe otherwise. In fact often a musical takes on issues of the time and makes a social commentary on it. One musical that is a perfect example is Avenue Q, which is musical with puppets. But not just any puppets, muppets, except these Muppets aren't as warm and fuzzy as the ones we know and love. These muppets are actually facing real life modern issues, with songs such as Everyone's a Little Bit Racist, If You were Gay, Sucks to Be Me, and There's a Fine, Fine Line. The idea that musicals don't make statements is incorrect. In many cases theatre and musicals are a light-hearted way of showing people their short comings, in a non-threatening manner. The songs in Avenue Q tackle issues pertinent to today's society without chastising people or getting on their case. The song Everyone's a Little Bit Racist, makes the point that there isn't really such a thing as being "color blind",  but as the song says that doesn't mean all people go around committing hate crimes. The show makes serious/"taboo" subjects, such as racism, and homosexuality more accessible, in an attempt to open lines of communication. The song If You Were Gay, is all about tolerance, accepting people for who they are no matter what. Fine, Fine Line is about relationships, and how when you cross the line of friendship into something more things can get messy. While there are other musicals that handle social issues, Avenue Q is the one that does it very bluntly and like Dane Cook says, "It is so true, that's why it's funny..." People see the show and get a good laugh, because it is relatable. There are very few mediums that can call people out for their short comings and not offend and/or chastise them. And the idea, that theatre just has to keep people happy, and go along with what the audience is comfortable with is complete BS. Musical Theatre has consistently pushed people out of their comfort zones. Shows like American Idiot, Chicago, West Side Story, Memphis, and even A Chorus Line deal with subjects of war, murder, intolerance, racism, and A Chorus Line deals with those and more. From the outside Broadway Musicals look like all sequins and fluff, but almost all deal with deeper issues. So the next time you groan and criticize show-tunes, remember that those songs could be making just as big a statement, to a possibly larger population, as your protest music.

Can I have a re-do? Please?

Three weeks ago I wrote my first blog post. I don't mean for this class, although that could apply also. No, what I mean is three weeks ago was the first time I had ever written a blog. Why am I telling you this? Because I would like to try my first post again, and you know what is awesome about having a blog now? I don't really have to ask permission, I can just write one. So here goes Take 2 of my introduction...Hi my name is Lauren Patton, I am from Bethesda, MD, which is a small town about 5 min outside Washington, DC. I am a Theatre/Mass communications freshmen at Loyola University New Orleans. This is my blog, specifically it is my blog for my freshmen seminar class Protest and Pop Music. Here's the thing, I have been in this class for three weeks and I think it is great. However, unlike my classmates, I am not in a band, I can't write music, I don't go to cop raided concerts, and I don't think I could name more than one or two bands NOT on American Top40, but you know what that is OK. I am so stoked that I can take a class where I know enough of what we are talking about to attempt to contribute, but I am still able to learn not just from my professor but also from my peers. This is take 2 of my introduction blog, which may seem kind of strange, but I think it is necessary, and it is MY blog, so suck it haha. Here's a few more quasi-interesting facts about me...if you were to look at my iTunes library you would find that over 50% of it is soundtracks, not just any soundtracks BROADWAY soundtracks. My most listened to song is Notice Me, Horton from Seussical the Musical. I have heard of Arcade Fire, but couldn't name a single song by them without Googling it. I listened to country music, ALL the time, until 7th grade when my friends introduced me to Top40 radio. Before my senior year in high school, I had only ever been to concerts with my mom and step-dad. You may be wondering to yourself, why any of this information is relevant? I want you all to know me. I want you guys to now why I may have a strange blank look on my face when someone mentions a band, and I think if I expect you to listen to my opinions on music and such you should at least know a little bit about me. So here, I love ACDC, the Rolling Stones, Journey, the Eagles, and the Who, because most of my life until I left for college was spent hanging out with my parents (mom and step-dad). Who I still talk to ALL the time. (but that you probably didn't need to know) What else can I tell you? Well since this is a class about music, I can tell you a little bit more about me and music. I am a musical theatre kid, I LOVE Cd's solely because they come with that little book thing with pictures and lyrics, but I much prefer records (vinyls) they just sound better, I own way to many Brittney Spears CD's, Glee is my favorite show right now, and I am pretty sure I am still 5 years old on the inside. With all this in mind, I want everyone to know that while I may never have seen a real rock concert, Jonas Brothers absolutely does NOT count, and I may not have as many bands from the 80s on my iPod, I am open to learning from you guys and hope you will be open to listening to me, even if many of my post relate to Top40 and Perez Hilton. Oh, and if y'all wanna post music I should know in the comments box I would be stoked to see what you've got. Well, I think that's it, I am fairly certain you know enough about me, for now. :D Buh-Byes


<3 Lauren

Bieber-fever? Really?!

How old is this kid really? How much could he know about love or relationships, and yet girls FREAK out over this pint-sized pop star. The little teeney bopper arrived on the scene in 2008, he was just 14 years old. His first single One Time, is what you would expect from a pop song: fluffy and lacking any real substance. For God's sake one of his first singles was Eenie Meenie, the way you would pick who would be it in tag as a child, or who was your best friend in kindergarten. Am I the only one mildly confused by this? As we discussed last week in class, one of the reasons there aren't many protest songs around is because they just don't really exist. Most music now is about love, and what people do for love. Justin Bieber, perfect example, what would you ever have to protest? That you went through puberty and your voice changed, or that people suddenly realized your hair cut was stupid? Maybe, you would protest the fact that people woke up one day and realized you sing about NOTHING. I am just saying, who are you and what is your point?

California Girls

Ok folks, here's a little word association game for you. When I say California Girls, you say? Katy Perry was probably your first thought, and who can blame you, that song was all over the place this past year. It was played constantly on the radio, on TV, in clubs and bars, literally EVERYWHERE! Now I have a question...how many of you knew that a country singer named Gretchen Wilson came out with a song also entitled California Girls back in 2005? I will venture to guess it was a significantly smaller margin. Whats my point? Katy Perry's pop song, is very much the stereotype of California. However as many "California Girls" will attest they do NOT all run around in a bikini top and daisy dukes. Is it a catchy song? Yes. Does it reinforce many of the media's negative stereotypes of how women should act and dress? Yes. While the Gretchen Wilson video, does not exactly squash the bikini and short-shorts stereotype, her lyrics confront the "California Girls" stereotype. She is clear that not all women in California are "California Girls". To bring it back to my original point, the media has been instilling in us the ideas of what women should look like and act like for some time now. So is it any coincidence that Katy Perry's pop song about skinny bitches in bikinis is the California Girls most teens and young adults know? Absolutely not.

hey HEY hey!!

HELLO!

ok so this is supposed to be an introductory post, so here it goes...my name is Lauren, I am a freshman at Loyola University NOLA! Theatre/Mass Communication hybrid major (I am environmentally friendly). I am supposed to write a blog this semester for my freshmen seminar Protest and Pop Music. So this is my attempt. Blah! I guess that's it...