Shakespeare Enters

We're only at the halfway mark... Yet so much has happened in these past three weeks of summer school here in Cambridge. However, I'd like to save such stories until the end of this journey, to deliver to you in one fatal swoop of madness.

Thus, for now - as a little taster - I wish to present you with the script my A2 class crafted together with very little input from myself, in which they then had to act out in front of a live audience. On stage. It truly was a thing of beauty. Shakespeare himself would be proud (I imagine). I was definitely very proud of them.

It was lovingly referred to as Shakespeare Enters, and here it is: 

'Shakespeare Enters'

Characters:

SUPERHERO: Sharp

SUPERHERO FATHER: David

EVIL PERSON: William

TREE: Iraide + Lawrence

DOG MAN: Bruce

SHAKESPEARE: Ruslana

MINION: Daniel

MONKEY HERO: Frank

PASSERBY: Emily + Jake

WIZARD: Nico

FIRST SCENE: [Shakespeare enters the stage]

Shakespeare: Hello and welcome to the show. We will travel in time and show you lots.

[Superhero plays guitar]

[Minion dances] + [Monkey hero dances] – 7 YEARS

[Wizard does magic]

[Shakespeare enters the garden]

Tree(s): We are beautiful green trees.

[Superhero father dances]

Dog man: Woof, woof. I am a dog man.

Evil person: I am evil MWAHAHAHA

Passer-by Emily: [sings]

Passer-by Jake: Reads book

[Superhero and evil person fight]

[Wizard wins]

[Dog man helps the superhero]

[Dog man dies]

[Superhero wins and then goes home to have a party, he invites all his friends, including the dead people]

Shakespeare: Thank you for coming, goodbye!

[everybody bows]

 PAPA AMERICANO PLAYS

Ugly Enough To Be Rather Attractive

It would seem like the whole notion of dating and messaging people on specifically-designed apps has always been an interest of mine...

Hence why I have stumbled across such a video on YouTube that shares the results of a rather intriguing study conducted by one of these types of sites (but has since been deleted).

Although I shall try to explain briefly the workings of the study, it'll be far better if you watched the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qLNwa_hoz4w

Essentially, people who are observed as having a generally lower score of average 'attractiveness' (this was a 1-5 rating scale) created a polarized effect - in that they would also score as being (a fair amount) hotter for a statistically significant group of people.

Thus, if your face causes an amount of debate or controversy as to your supposed attractiveness, you're more like to have some people think you're REALLY attractive, or REALLY ugly. But if you're just a generic kinda cute, then they'll be fewer people trying to hook up with you. "Men who think you're hot will add to your message count, but men who think you're cute will subtract from your message count".

A point to take away from this, I thought: "If someone doesn't think you're hot, the next best thing for them to think is that you're ugly".

So...

What to make of the findings? Well, basically, it is thought that men may feel this way as they assume they do not have a lot of competition with women who may attract these varying (largely polarized) opinions. They may assume "Hmmm, maybe she's lonely, or maybe she is just waiting to find a guy who appreciates her..." and so they shoot their shot. Whereas, the generically attractive 'cute' girl may find herself without an abundance of dates or potential suitors based purely on the fact other guys are assuming she's already receiving a whole bunch of attention.

Anyway, a lot of this has come about because I have shared a fair amount recently about my dissertation with my colleagues (to be read here, if interested) to the point that I've found myself exploring even more of the realm of all that is online relationship and vaguely SWB - perhaps it's time to delve deeper into the different categories, or even an update to my previous research.

Of course, it's always worth  questioning the validity of these studies (y'know, like, attractiveness as a measure, for instance, but I find them pretty fun to read nevertheless)

Hope this has been enlightening.

Leave comments if you so wish.

x

Somewhere in Poland

I've just returned home after spending a delightful week volunteering in Poland. 

I've always been a fan of meeting new people, and the program did not disappoint in that regard. I met so many wonderful human beings whilst away, from all over the world. I cannot describe how happy the week made me. It's been a truly enriching experience.

There was pizza making, walks in nature, water balloon fights, songs around the campfire, terrible card games, regaling the tale of the Canvey Island monster, a whole load of innuendo, and - of course - the hat.

The truth is, it would not have been such a good time had the participants not been so amazing and intelligent and genuinely intriguing individuals. It would also not have been such a good time had I not been surrounded by the other wonderful volunteers. Y'all were fantastic.

I would definitely like to do Angloville again. But I'll admit I have very high expectations now.

A huge thank you to everyone I met on this journey.


P.S. I didn't take my camera with me - so here's just a small selection of not too great photos (or photos that were sent to me) that summed up the trip: