Mona Lisa Smile

A Movie of Female Empowerment

This past Saturday night, during a trip to Miami, my friend and I chose to stay in. (Yes—we’re prone to dullness at times). Our hotel *cough, cough* (a 1 star, mind you) barely offered 15 TV channels (7 of which were in Spanish and 1 in French). Oh, and did I mention that a remote control was non-existent?

We took turns to drag our lazy backsides off the bed and be the official “channel switcher.” Eventually we succumbed to a laptop and Netflix.

My friend and I opted to watch a film called Mona Lisa Smile starring Julia Roberts, Kirsten Dunst, and Julia Stiles. (My friend likes Julia Roberts and I like the “Mona Lisa.” Thus, it was a fairly easy way to compromise).

Mona Lisa Smile is about an Art History professor named Ms. Watson (played by Julia Roberts) who arrives at Wellesley College in 1953. This professor notices how the all-female student body analyzes art. They utilize rigid textbook methodology. The way they approach their personal lives is not that different either. These young women are expected to marry young and become homemakers extraordinaire. Once married, they are to vacuum, iron, and cook perfectly—with lusciously lined lips and coiffed curls of course.

 

         What makes Ms. Watson indignant is seeing how her students’ sole drive is to marry well and embody the stereotypical 50’s housewife. She watches how her otherwise intelligent students shrug off their talents in favor of a purely domestic lifestyle.

         Predictably, Ms. Watson’s feministic philosophies are quickly upended by fierce opposition (from both teachers and students). It was the ‘50s after all. In spite of this, Ms. Watson continues to bulldoze over “a woman’s boundaries” by telling her students that they have a choice: They do NOT have to belittle their ambitions because of marriage. They can do both—career and family.

         This subject is obviously exhaustive and hackneyed: “Women and Work,” “Women and Family,” “Women and Societal Expectations.” We’ve seen and heard and read it all. Right?

Vogue December 2012

 

But four days later, and I'm still contemplating this movie. The characters reminded me of my former classmates, my fellow Synagogue-goers, my neighbors, and of....yours truly.

 

Beat Final Madness! 

        To college students who are now on winter break and free from the tyrannical clutch of finals and papers – bless your fortunate souls! Yet, for all those students who are studying in a Jewish college (a.k.a they plough on through Christmas and New Years) finals are quickly impending. Gulp.

 

        I recall how much I despised finals (er…who doesn’t?). My shoulders constantly hunched, my mind reeling, my hair an unkempt nest, Red Bull being my dedicated friend...Every final season was truly a war to be waged. I was obligated to arm myself with the requisite weapons, or else I would suffer the injuries.

 

 

        Okay, maybe I’m being a tad dramatic, but if one doesn’t tackle finals with the necessary strength and tactics, then he or she is inclined to endure one hellish disaster (like I did many times - sigh).

Without further ado here are several excellent tips to survive finals and maybe—just maybe—semi-enjoy them? Who knows? You can totally surprise yourself.

CAREER CONFUSION

 

       In second grade our teacher asked my fellow classmates and I to sketch a picture of the proverbial “what you want to be when you grow up” in our journals. I happily grabbed my pencil and began to draw a girl who was wearing many hats. Literally. She simultaneously managed to don the clichéd beret of a French artist, a chef’s towering Dodin Bouffant, and the headgear of a submarine swimmer. Talented girl she was. Oh, and she also had five arms. One was to feel a puppy’s heartbeat with her stethoscope, another was to vigorously scribble her N.Y.Times article, another was to distribute prizes to her Preschool students, and so on.

 

THE STYLISH STUDENT

       

         Dear college students, I’m sure midterms recently snaked their way into your life (for better or for worse). Either way, they’re over! Whew. I hope you celebrated your midterm finale with a glass of your favorite champagne and soap opera. Kidding. There are even better ways to celebrate…like enjoying quality time with your family and friends over Thanksgiving break.     

 

        Yet, now the holiday is over and you’re bound towards your college classroom. Is there a way to perk up the rest of your semester? How can you tackle another round of Greek and Roman History? Actually, never mind History. What about Organic Chemistry? Hmm?!

 

Well, I can’t help you with the befuddling facts and figures that you must confront, but I can offer one itsy, bitsy tip. What’s that itsy bitsy tip? Dress for the part. Seriously. It has 2 benefits:

 

 

 

1) Confidence: You’ll be more astute when you argue with your professor (about why you deserve an A of course) when you’re wearing an outfit that makes you feel good, as opposed to a dull, uninspired one. Take my word.

2) Self-Expression: I know this may sound ridiculous, but I’ve realized through my own experience that experimenting with clothing is one of the coolest aspects of college. Mull this over: Once you hit the end of the collegiate road and start working, your dress code will be quite restrictive. Of course, not all work environments have uptight dress codes, but still…you can’t exactly toss on your idiosyncratic sweater or well-loved but scuffed boots. Your boss will prefer polished over punk--unless he’s the CEO of Vespa, in which case, go ahead and rock your studded vest.

Prelude to the post: Dear East Coasters, wishing you and your loved ones plenty of safety and sanity over the next few Sandy days. (Alliteration much? Try saying that sentence ten times fast). Let's hope this "Perfect Storm" is more hype than harm. Seriously...I'm praying we don't lose power. We hope you enjoy the following post.

  Get Your Geek On!

        

 

         Autumn, like a romantic lover, is a soothing companion: There is hot chocolate to quietly console your throat, a gentle wind to whisper sweet nothings into your ear, cashmere to caress the smoothness of your skin, and leaves to satisfyingly crunch under your boots. Yet, there is another characteristic that I attribute to fall, and that is the annual resurgence of "Geek Chic." The mesmerizing color of trees and the rejuvenation that lingers in the crisp air symbolizes the fresh start of the academic year. Being that I recently graduated college and am no longer in school (at least for now), I become nostalgic when I see students striding to the library, clutching their textbooks and lattes, a twinkle of determined resolve in their eyes... Trust me; I am far from envious of their burdensome jumble of exams, reports, and presentations. I just simply miss collegiate ensembles, studious looks, and all forms of Geek Chic.

 

 

         Being that I usually ascribe deeper, "psychological" reasons to my Personal Style, I must mention why I am continually drawn to the classic schoolgirl fashion. Although I despised the itchy mid-length uniform skirt and prison-striped button-up that I wore everyday in elementary and high school, I’ve developed a peculiar attachment towards them. How can I not? I’ve worn that desperately dull outfit for the majority of life--so whether I like it or not, schoolgirl panache is now and forevermore “my thing.”