Lennox- Mardi Gras

                                             Looks better than the actual stuff that gets thrown

This Mardi Gras was very fun and eventful. I went to Chaos, Muses, Endymion, Thoths and one other parade this year. I probably would have gone to more if I had the proper transportation. I honestly only went to some due to support family participating and put on a fundraiser. People who are not from New Orleans tend to think it's a time when people get drunk, show breast, and do things that will be regretted in the morning. In some spots of the city, it is exactly like that, but in others, Mardi Gras is a fun family friendly holiday. I like the fun family friendly Mardi Gras. It's a time for me to let loose and forget school work and house work. Mardi Gras is technically a religious holiday down here in New Orleans and Louisiana. Some see as a time to get rid of all their sins before lent. They wear masks in order to do and see the unthinkable. It's Fat Tuesday and they have to do it big. Being surrounded by tourists this year, I kind of don't like some. During Muses, I received an armpit to the face and a push into a float over some sparkly shoes. I was not a happy camper. During Endymion, this family tried to hurt me several times over light up swords that I caught. They were thrown at me and I caught them. Anyway, I think Mardi Gras can truly be enjoyable without the excessive amounts of alcohol and nudity. If your in the right spot with the right friends, you can have a fantastic time. Of course, people have their own ways of fun during this carnival season. What I perceive as fun may be seen as boring. Although Mardi Gras is extremely annoying to me, it's an incredibly fun holiday. Some may not understand its religious relations (I barely understand the religious part myself), but they do understand it's designed for people to let loose. Well, I hope everyone enjoyed their days leading up to Fat Tuesday, and I hope they caught all the little trinkets they could hope for. 

Lennox-Edward's Fairy Tale

Edward's enjoying some of that magical "lemonade"

Edward Scissorhands is very similar to a fairy tale. There’s romance, there’s tragedy, there’s a protagonist, there’s an antagonist and there’s a lesson to be learned, but poor Edward doesn't get your typical Disney fairy tale ending. The beginning of the film starts off with a grandmother telling her granddaughter what sounds like a magical story. Once we’re in the story we see our protagonist, Edward. Now others may disagree with me but Edward was very similar to the princess I grew up watching: Disney Princesses. Like Ariel, Cinderella, and Snow White, Edward loses a parent at an early age and is forced to try and understand the world alone. Edward is also misunderstood by the town’s people just as Cinderella is misunderstood by her step sisters and Ariel is misunderstood by her sisters. Now, I will stop comparing Edward to women. Edward is also similar to the beast in Beauty and the Beast; Edward is seen as a monster; Kim is the beauty; Kim’s boyfriend is Gaston. The sort-of fight seen was similar to the fight seen in Beauty and The Beast. The guy who thinks the Beast is most dangerous fights him and loses the fight and his life. Kim kissed Edward like Belle kissed the beast, but Edward did not miraculously turn into a man like the beast; he remained the same. I also found Edward to be similar to be similar to Peter Pan because he does not age, but the one he loves does. He also reminds me of Pinocchio due to the fact that he was created. Edward did not get the fairy tale ending like Cinderella, Snow White, Ariel, The beast and Pinocchio. Edward ended up alone in his own little world. It is not revealed that Edward is too happy or too sad. He does create beautiful ice sculptures and causes it to snow a beautiful snow that Kim still enjoys in her old age. The lesson to be learned here is that people should not judge someone by their outside. Kim is hoping to pass this lesson on her young granddaughter. 

Lennox- Catwoman: the Beauty or the Beast

Selina Kyle/ Catwoman

When Batman sees and saves the nervous and timid Selina Kyle for the first time, he does not seem that interested, but when Bruce Wayne sees the confident Kyle for the first time, he is immediately attracted to her looks and attitude.

Batman is entranced by Catwoman. He lets her get too close and does not push her away as he would a normal villain. Maybe it’s her seductive voice, the tight leathery suit or the thrill of the thrill of the chase. Batman becomes a normal human male when he sees this sexy woman. He stops thinking with his brain and can become easily distracted and manipulated by the feline female.

Bruce Wayne knows that Max Shreck is full of bull, so seeing a woman like Kyle working for that selfish monster might have caused him to think she needed saving. He can give her a large house, a nice car and all the love she desires. When Wayne learns of her second identity, he believes he has found his perfect match. He rips off his mask in front of Shreck and pleas with Kyle to just turn him in and they could live happily ever after. He does not care about Batman anymore, he cares about finding the companionship he had lost long ago.

Even after knowing that Catwoman has worked with the Penguin, after she assisted in the murder of an innocent woman, after she stuck her claws in his side and has fought him on several occasions, Batman/Bruce Wayne is still willing to love someone who is not much different from himself: someone who does not want two identities: someone who would not be themselves without a double identity. Catwoman is the female version of Batman. Kyle shows Bruce that he is not the only one with issues that can’t be easily solved.  

If Catwoman wanted to bring Batman down, she probably could. Batman foolishly loses himself in her presence. If Catwoman were to stick around, it would be destructive for Batman. Their relationship is too complex. Bruce Wayne wants a princess; Selina Kyle only needs herself.    

Lennox-The Joker? A Trickster?

The Joker

The Joker follows his own rules. He does not abide by the crime leaders, nor does he abide by the laws of Gotham City. He wants attention. He wants chaos. He wants Batman. That is his goal; to outshine and impress Batman. The joker cares of no one else in this process. He wants chaos in Gotham City just like the chaos floating through his mind. The joker only benefits psychologically, because he has the ability to drive others to the brink of insanity just as he has he was driven himself. He takes joy in what he does and does not fret when it comes to consequences. He feared death but died with a smile on his face. In comparison to the DC comic, the joker is more of a trickster because he does not die so easily. He terrorizes Gotham City again and again, to gain Batman’s attention. In fact, it has been said recently that the Joker has homosexual feelings for Batman. I believe I can see it in Tim Burton’s version of Batman. The Joker is overtly obsessed with causing problems. He gains a certain pleasure when he see that he is either feared or loved more than Batman. This makes him want to create more and more problems for Gotham. I do not believe that he is truly attracted to Vicky Vale, I believe that knowing he is taking something from Batman that means a lot to him, gives him a certain pleasure.  Of course you can argue that the Joker did not know that Bruce Wayne is Batman, but I believe that subconsciously he knew that the two were somehow related. However, I sort of disagree with Tim Burton's version of the Joker. I believe the Joker's history could be more detailed and his obsession more intense. He would then seem more like a trickster to me. Not to say that he was not a trickster, I just could not see it like I could with Betelgeuse. Maybe it was because Betelgeuse seemed to be more comical and the Joker seemed to be more serious.

Lennox- Bettlejuice: America's Denial of Death

Betelgeuse! Betelgeuse!! BETELGEUSE!!!

Death. It’s something that we sometimes hate thinking of. When we find out someone we’ve known has died, we can’t believe it. And once they’re gone from our lives, they’re gone. In Beetlejuice, the dead aren’t necessarily gone; they just go about as strange and unusual, blind to the ‘normal’ eye. When the Maitlands die, their death isn’t sad. We see no funeral. There are no grotesque bodies. There are no upset families or neighbors, except for Jane, who wanted to sell the house anyway. When the Maitlands die, we don’t really know that they are dead yet.

Throughout the entire film, the Maitlands actually seem quite fine and alive. They use their ghostly powers occasionally, but it’s really nothing too supernatural. At the end of the film, they seem perfectly alive and fine again. Barbara is hanging new wallpaper, Adam is still working on his model and they both seem to help Lydia with her studies just as normal family members or friends would. The film isn’t accepting that they or anyone else is dead. The film doesn’t let them move on. Their presence continues to linger.

In American, we burry our dead dressed and made up as if they were still alive. We touch and kiss their bodies as a final goodbye even if they’ve died days or weeks ago. We use funerals to celebrate their lives not mourn their deaths. In New Orleans, we have second lines (after parties) for the lost. We swear we’ll keep them alive in our hearts and memories. We refuse to accept the fact that they are gone. We try to keep them alive in as many senses as possible. It’s hard to think that someone whom you cared so deeply for is no longer around. So here, in America, we do what we must to try to keep people alive, just as Lydia prepared to marry Betelgeuse to keep the already dead Maitlands alive. 

We like to think that the loved ones we have lost have all gone to a better place where they will finally be free from their troubles. We like to ease the survivor’s guilt hanging over our shoulders. America tries to avoid the death of their own people as much as they possibly can.

We like to ease the survivors guilt hanging over our shoulders. America tries to avoid the death of their own people as much as they possibly can.

       

Lennox Introduction

Senior Prom (2012)

Hi! My name is Chrishell Lennox and I’m 18 years old (well not yet...). Of course I attend Loyola, but I was born and raised in New Orleans, specifically, the Lower Ninth Ward. My family survived Hurricane Katrina, and we are currently in the process of rebuilding our home. I live with both my parents, my three brothers, one sister and my grandfather. I attended Lake Area New Tech Early College High School (yes that is the whole name). I am a commuter here at Loyola.  

I spent several years in Houston after the storm. There, I discovered my love of anime/manga, drawing and vocal music. I am also a fan of horror movies. My favorite anime/manga are Fullmetal Alchemist and Fairy Tail. My favorite things to draw are people (mostly self-portraits), fictional characters and flowers. I like all genres of music and will sing just about anything. My absolute favorite singer is Bruno Mars. I feel as though I should let you know my favorite poet is Edgar Allen Poe. 

Here at Loyola, I am currently a Criminal Justice major because I have been watching crime dramas and documentaries since I was able to see. I have a dream to be the first Lawyer in my family. I want to be a Criminal Defense Attorney. 

My favorite food would have to be fried shrimp. They are yummy, and I love them. My favorite Restaurant in New Orleans is Zea’s (located on St. Charles). 

I have met several of the New Orleans Saints players including Malcolm Jenkins, Pierre Thomas, Darron Sproles, Jermon Bushrod, Roman Harper and Darren Sharper. 

I like to do community service. I once organized a donation drive for the Ronald McDonald House of New Orleans. It was a very successful drive. 

My favorite color is purple and I love to laugh. Oh, I almost forgot to mention I love video games. I love the classics such as Mario, Sonic, Kirby, Legend of Zelda and Pokémon, as well as the newer games like Assassin’s Creed, Left 4 Dead, and Dead Island. I also like to play Mortal Kombat and Street Fighter, as well as the Just Dance and Dance Central games. I think there are thing I failed to mention, so I guess you will have to get to know me to find out more.