Sexual Diversity as Reflected on TV Series Characters

In this occasion, I wanna talk about sexual diversity, which nowadays being a hot news after the case of Why Puberty? comic. So, what is sexual diversity? Here, I found some definitions from the websites. First thing first, lemme clarify that sexual diversity come from two words they are ‘sexual’ and ‘diversity’. Sexual or sexuality is about sexual feelings (who we are emotionally and sexually attracted to[1].) It’s clear enough that sexuality is about love and lust. Second, diversity encompasses acceptance and respect, it means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, ages, physical abilities, religious beliefs, or other ideologies[2]. From both definitions, here I concluded that sexual diversity is about acceptance and also respect to the differences of sexuality which is do exist in our life.

Sexual diversity means that everyone has different understandings about what sexuality means to them. Sexuality can mean that you are attracted to someone of the opposite gender (straight), the same gender (gay or lesbian) or both genders (bisexual)—there is no wrong, right or ‘normal’ sexuality[3].

The term ‘sexual diversity’ includes diversity of sexual orientation, diversity of sexual identity, and diversity of sexual behavior[4]. To make clear the terms I mentioned before, here I give explanation of them; sexual orientation is who a person is sexually attracted to. Sexual identity is how a person identifies with their sexual orientation. Sexual behavior is how we express our sexual feelings[5].

Well, in this case I focused on the sexual diversity which reflected on TV series characters (teenage TV series) and it will talk about the LGBT characters. I found two TV series that of course I watched; they are Glee and Hormones the Series. I think it’s fair enough because  talked about the TV series which came from the western country and eastern country.

In Glee, we can found some LGBT characters such as Kurt Hummel, Blaine Andersen, Santana Lopez, Brittany S. Pierce, and Rachel Berry’s gay dads. In Hormones the series we can found LGBT characters they are Phu and Thee.

In Glee, Kurt and Blaine is a couple or it also called Klaine to refer their relationship. Kurt is an open gay, he was bullied at the school because he is gay. But, his friends in glee club give acceptance and respect to both of them. This couple also has a long last relationship.

Kurt and Blaine

Santana and Brittany  or called Brittana or Santittany for their relationship. Both are bestfriend and they joined the cheerleader team at the school. Ok, first when I watched this series I didn’t realize that Santana and Brittany are lesbians, because both of them have sexual relationship with boys, or maybe they are bisexual or just still in closet. Their relationship is not last for a long time, they broke up.

Santana and Brittany

Rachel Berry’s dads, yes Rachel has two dads and they are gay. They were success in raising up Rachel.

Rachel and her dads

In Hormones the series, Phu is Toei’s ex, so he was in relationship with a girl.  But, he also has  a relationship with his bestfriend Thee. Phu has a doubt in his sexuality he is not sure if he is a gay or a straight. Maybe he is bisexual.

Phu and Thee

In conclusion, life is so colorful and we have to respect the diversity. We also can learn from the TV series, how we should react to the sexual diversity.

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[1] www.student.uwa.edu.au/life/health

[2] Gladstone.uoreson.edu

[3] www.snakecondoms.org.au/sex-stuff/sexual-diversity

[4] health.tki.org/nz

[5] www.student.uwa.edu.au/life/health

Structural Analysis of Gabriel García Márquez’s “A Very Old Man with Enormous Wings”

In this occasion, I will analyze a short story that is written by Gabriel García Márquez. This short story uses magical realism elements. Click here to read the short story.

1.       Characters and Characterization

a.       The Old Man

·         He has human body and huge buzzard wings.

·         He is unhealthy and weak man.

·         He has only few faded hair.

·         He was dressed like a ragpicker.

·         He has antiquarian eyes.

·         He has very few teeth in his mouth.

·         He has human reaction to the people who watched him.

·         He had an unbearable smell of outdoors.

·    The back of his wings was strewn with parasites and his main feathers had been mistreated by terrestrial winds.

·         He has incomprehensible dialect with a strong sailor’s voice.

·         He has sidereal bat wing.

b.      Pelayo

·         He is the discoverer of the old man.

·         He is an ordinary villager, kind man.

·         He is Elisenda’s husband.

·         He and Elisenda become rich from showing the angel to the crowd.

c.       Elisenda

·         She is Pelayo’s wife.

·         She is a practical woman.

·         She is charging five cents admission to see the angel.

·         She felt awful when the angel reproducing himself all through the house.

d.      Father Gonzaga

·         He is a parish priest.

·         He is a former robust wood cutter.

·         He is a well organized and careful man.

e.      The Neighbor Woman

·         She is Pelayo and Elisenda’s bossy neighbor.

·         She is a wise woman.

·         She knew everything about life and death.

f.        The Spider Woman

·         She is cursed into spider because disobeying her parents.

·         She is from traveling show.

·         She was a frightful tarantula the size of a ram and with the head of sad maiden.

·         She has sincere affliction.

g.       Pelayo and Elisenda’s Child

·         He is sick.

·         He went inside the chicken coop before he got his second teeth.

2.       Setting

a.       Setting of Place

·         Inside Pelayo’s house.

·         In the rear of the courtyard.

·         In the chicken coop.

b.      Setting of Time

·         On the third day of rain.

·         On March nights.

·         Since Tuesday.

3.       Theme

The theme is, “The coexistence of cruelty and compassion.”

4.       Plot

a.       Incentive Moment: Pelayo found an old man with a pair of enormous wings in the rear of the courtyard.

b.      Rising Action: Elisenda got an idea to charge the admission to see the old man after the news spread. A debate also appeared whether or not the old man is an angel. Elisenda earned much money from it.

c.   Climax: The people who watched the angel mistreat him. Elisenda and Pelayo didn’t pay attention to him and used this situation to earn more money.

d.   Falling Action: A carnival comes to the town and the crowd vanishes. The old man’s condition getting worse.

e.     Resolution: The old man practice runs and flaps. Finally, he and fly an disappears into the horizon.

                                          

5.       Point of View

The short story used third person point of view.

Structural Analysis of Gabriel García Márquez’s "One of These Days"

In this paper I analyze the structure of the short story based on the elements of fiction. In this case prose (short story). The elements of fiction are character, setting, theme, plot and point of view. For the short story can be downloaded here.

1.       Characters and Characterization

Here I found three characters in this short story. I will mention the characters first, and then the characterization of each characters as follows:

a.       Aurelio Escovar

·         He is a dentist without degree.

·         He is very early riser.

·         He was erect and skinny.

·         He is a careful person.

·         He wore a collarless striped shirt.

·         He is an emotional person.

b.      Aurelio Escovar’s Son

·         He is eleven years old.

·         He is a helpful son.

c.       The Mayor

·         He shaved the left side of his face.

·         He had toothache.

·         He had a swollen and in pain cheek.

·         He had a five-day-old beard.

·         He had icy breath.

·         He had an abscess.

·         He had responsibility to the twenty dead men.

·         He failed to understand his torture.

·         He was unfair mayor.

2.       Setting

Setting is where and when the story takes place and happens. Here I will explain two kinds of setting; they are setting of place and setting of time.

a.       Setting of Place

Generally this short story took place in a dentist office. The dentist office was poor and simple.

b.      Setting of Time

The short story happened on Monday.

3.       Theme

The theme of One of These Days is every deed will have its consequences.

4.       Plot

The plot of this short story is arranged as follows: incentive moment, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution.

a.       Incentive Moment: The story starts with Aurelio Escovar is preparing to open his office on Monday.

b.      Rising Action: The rising action starts when his son called him and asked whether or not he could pull the mayor’s tooth. Aurelio didn’t take attention to what his son said. So, his son said that the mayor will shoot him if he won’t.

c.       Climax: He said that he had a revolver and asked his son to tell the mayor that he will shoot him. The mayor appeared at the door and Aurelio asked him to sit down and checked him. He pulled the mayor’s tooth without anesthesia and said that it was for the twenty dead men.

d.      Falling Action: After the tooth was pulled, the mayor felt so horrible and in vain.

e.      Resolution: The mayor told Aurelio to send the bill. Aurelio asked the bill was to the mayor or to the town. The mayor answered that it was the same thing.

5.       Point of View

In this short story the writer used third person point of view.

That’s all of the discussion of the structural analysis of the short story written by Gabriel García Márquez entitled One of These Days. I hope this paper will be useful for the readers and see you on the next discussion.

Tentang Les Bahasa Inggris

Berdasarkan pengalaman pribadi saya sebagai tentor/instruktur dalam sebuah lembaga pendidikan non formal dalam hal ini tempat kursus bahasa Inggris. Banyak dari siswa yang mengikuti program ini tidak paham dengan apa yang sedang mereka lakukan, dalam hal ini tujuan mereka mengikuti les tersebut terutama para siswa yang masih duduk di bangku sekolah. Pada dasarnya lembaga kursus bahasa Inggris memiliki program yang berbeda-beda antara lain: school subject development dan atau murni program bahasa Inggris yang dalam hal ini para siswa dibagi berdasarkan level mereka. Level-level itu seperti foundation, basic, sampai conversation atau advance. Jadi program disusun sedemikian rupa dari program dasar sampai yang paling rumit. Level-level itu ditentukan berdasarkan tes yang diberikan sebelum program dimulai yang disebut dengan placement test. Hasil tersebutlah yang menentukan level yang cocok untuk si calon siswa berdasarkan kemampuan yang telah dimiliki oleh si calon siswa.

Sekarang ini banyak sekali program yang ditawarkan oleh bimbingan belajar (bimbel) dan lembaga pendidikan dan kursus (LPK). Jadi hal yang harus diketahui adalah bahwa si calon siswa harus memutuskan tujuan apa yang dia inginkan setelah mengikuti les bahasa Inggris tersebut. Ketika si calon siswa hanya ingin memantapkan materi bahasa Inggris di sekolah lebih tepatnya harus mengambil les di bimbel saja. Karena dalam bimbel ini mereka akan diberikan materi berdasarkan materi sekolah dan tentu saja materi pengayaan yang bertujuan untuk meningkatkan kemampuan siswa dalam materi sekolah tersebut. Juga ada kelas persiapan untuk menghadapi Ujian Nasional dan Ulangan Semester. Kemudian bagi calon siswa yang ingin mengembangkan skill berbahasa Inggris lebih baik untuk mengambil les di Lembaga Pendidikan dan Kursus (LPK) Bahasa Inggris yang sekarang ini banyak macamnya dan juga kualitasnya. Pada dasarnya ketika mengambil kelas kursus di LPK maka skill berbahasa Inggris mereka akan dilatih secara maksimal, sehingga hasil akhirnya adalah bahwa mereka yang telah mengambil kelas bisa berbahasa Inggris dengan baik dan benar. Selain itu ada juga program lain yang sering diambil oleh para mahasiswa dan pekerja yaitu program conversation dan TOEFL Preparation. Program conversation biasanya ditunjukan kepada mereka yang sudah memiliki bekal bahasa Inggris yang lumayan bagus. Siswa biasanya diberikan topik-topik tertentu untuk didiskusikan dan siswa diharapakan untuk menghasilkan oral production. Dalam TOEFL Preparation siswa dilatih untuk memahami materi-materi TOEFL Test dan juga aplikasinya dalam soal. Yang membuat sulit dalam kedua program ini adalah ketika si siswa masih minim bahasa Inggrisnya dan memaksakan untuk mengikuti kedua program tersebut. Pada dasarnya hal itu adalah tantangan bagi si instruktur, sehingga si instruktur akan berusaha mencari jalan untuk bisa mengajar siswanya. Namun, berdasarkan pengalaman output dari yang seperti ini masih sangat kurang dari yang diharapkan.

Yang paling annoying dalam les bahasa Inggris adalah ketika menghadapi siswa yang membawa PR mereka masih dalam keadaan kosong dan seolah-olah itu bukan tugas mereka karena mereka ikut les. Banyak siswa yang menggantungkan pada guru lesnya dan berharap PR-nya akan dikerjakan oleh guru lesnya. Yang harus digaris bawahi adalah guru les atau apapun itu mereka disebut bukanlah tukang mengerjakan PR. Anggapan yang salah apabila mengikuti les hanya untuk agar bisa mengerjakan PR yang pada kenyataannya mereka tidak melakukannya tapi gurunyalah yang mengerjakan. Lebih tepat lagi ketika siswa membawa PR yang sudah dikerjakan atau beberapa sudah dikerjakan dan menanyakan hal yang sulit dan juga berdiskusi dengan guru lesnya. Kasus seperti ini sering terjadi dalam konteks les privat tapi tidak jarang muncul dalam bimbel maupun LPK.

Pertanyaan yang sering ditanyakan adalah setelah ambil kursus nanti dijamin bisa tidak? Jaminan juga adalah sesuatu yang sering ditanyakan ketika mengambil les bahasa Inggris. Pada dasarnya semuanya berdasarkan kemampuan diri sendiri dan instruktur hanya sebagai jembatan. Kesuksesan siswa ditentukan oleh siswa itu sendiri.

Begitulah curhatan soal les bahasa Inggris ini, yang pada kesimpulannya siswa dan orangtua siswa harus paham dengan program yang akan mereka ambil agar tidak terjadi miskomunikasi.