Are Villains Born Evil?

 

Are Villains Born Evil?

How often do you sympathise over the loss of the villain in any movie or TV series that you have watched? Have you ever considered the villain to have a shred of humanity? The immediate reply would be a ‘No’, and to a certain extent this is implied with the viciousness and the desire of the villain's attempt to make life miserable for the other characters that appear alongside. Irrespective of the genre and the variations in the plot, a majority of the movies has a hero and a villain developed under different circumstances. Though much is spoken of the protagonist, it is the villain that intensifies the action and suspense that captures the audience. In fact, they set the grounds for the hero to develop and to gain the glory in the scene. However, the initial thought that comes to our mind when we hear the term villain is everything associated with hatred and evilness. They are shown as the cause for the chaos and destruction, and as the potential threat to the hero of the story and those around. This makes it difficult for the audience to find a sense of humanity within the antagonist, and hence would prefer the hero over the villain. Despite of the callousness displayed, have it ever occurred to you that it is the villain that highlights the hero? If the villain, or the ‘bad guy ’was not strongly constructed, there will be no opportunity for the protagonist, or the ‘good guy’, to play hero. We are left with the assumption that many of these characters who play evil, are inherently nasty and miserable. However, if we analyse such characters in depth, we realise that most of them had been forces of good before they were surrendered to a life of crime and murder. The series of events that capture the development of the protagonist is more often unfolded in movies than that of the antagonist. However, this untold chapter of the ‘bad guys’ in are revealed at some point in the story line.  Like for instance, in Harry Potter, a fantasy series written by J.K. Rowling, the true character of Professor Snape is exposed at the end of the series, in the final movie, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – part two. It takes only a minor cause to trigger the callousness in the hearts of the villain, and each of these characters will have a different history that obliged them to be immoral.  However, they all have been psychologically and socially reprimanded for their choices, and repeatedly secluded from society.  Take a look at these examples drawn from two popular movies, where it brings into light that the characters identified as the villain or the 'monster', were once humans with empathy and a sense of humanity. We all recognize Lord Voldermort as the villain in Harry Potter, but we are also made aware that as a child, then called as Tom Riddle, he was well mannered and fascinated all teachers with his talents. He was not brutal and cold hearted as how we attribute him. Gradually, we realise that it was his hatred towards his father, that turned him to be the most powerful and dangerous character of the wizarding world, where the name itself caused terror in people. Also, in the DC’s Batman movies, we identify the Joker, as the all-time villain, given his unstable state of mind that led to behaviours of total insanity. However, his life prior to these events was not that of evil; it was a deal he made with the mob in order to care for his wife, that got himself involve in illegal breakings. It happened to be a chemical company, where his mission was not executed as planned. In order to escape form Batman, he jumped in to a pool of chemicals, which resulted in disfigurement, and it made him mentally unstable, and thereafter with his appearance, was called the Joker. Ever since then he is recognized as the potential threat to Batman, and the audience praises the actions of the hero over the failures of the villain. The list goes on where villains are not born evil as they are perceived to be, and we can outline similar circumstances in other fields of work such as in tv series, novels, plays, etc. The degree of success in any production, depends on the contribution of the characters, which relies on how well the scripts are written. As critiques write, “Villains are the heroes worst enemy, and the screenwriter’s best friend”, conveys that the villain should be powerful and convincing as the protagonist of the plot.  All things considered, would you not agree that just as much we have a high regard for the hero, we have a secret admiration towards the villain, but would rather vouch otherwise?   Give it a thought the next time you sit to watch a movie. Comment on what other characters you came across who are portrayed evil, however were people with good intentions prior to their episodes of darkness.     HS/TE18/0004

What I do when I feel like giving up

 

I am struggling today. If you have tried to be consistent with something you care about, maybe my efforts will resonate with you.

It is nearly 365 days since I have started my degree. Some days most glorious, some days most frustrating and stressful I have managed to my best level so far.

Today I want to give up

But today? Well, I am struggling today. Today, I don't want to study. Today, I don’t want to stick to the routine. Today, I don’t think my brain supports me with my daily studies. Looks like my mind is exhausted, and I don’t have enough time to give myself a break or procrastinate. Today, I want to give up.

Research from the University of Pennsylvania shows that perseverance is a trait closely related to success. I can use some grit today.

This is what I want to remind myself when I want to give up...

Your mind is a suggestion engine

Consider every idea you think is a suggestion, not an order. Now, my thoughts show that I am tired. Suggest that I give up. This shows that I have taken a simple path.

However, if I pause for a while, I will find new suggestions. My thoughts also imply that once this work is completed, I will be very happy. This shows that I will respect the identity I am building when I follow the schedule. This shows that I can complete this task, even if I don't want to.

Remember, these suggestions are not commands. They are just choices. I have the right to choose the option to follow.

Discomfort is Temporary

Compared to the usual day or time of the week, nearly any habit you perform is over quickly. Your workout will be completed in one or two hours. Your report will be submitted tomorrow morning. This article will be completed soon.

Life now is easier than ever. 300 years ago, if you didn't hunt for your food and build your own house, you would die. Today, we complain and whine about forgetting our iPhone charger.

Maintain perspective. Your life is good, and your discomfort is temporary. Step into the moment of thinking pattern and let it increase your strength.

Once completed, you will never regret good work.

Theodore Roosevelt once famously said: "Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.." Therefore, we often seem to want to easily complete the work that is worth doing. . We want our work to be helpful and respected, but we don't want to struggle in our work. We want our stomachs to be flat and our arms strong, but we don't want to wear it through another workout. We need the final result, not the failed attempt before the final result. We need gold, but no grinding.

Anyone would want a gold medal. But a few people want to train like Olympians.

However, despite our resistance, after completing the due hard work, I have never found myself feeling worse. There were days when it was so difficult to start assignments with three-four due in a week, but it was always worth completing. Sometimes, even the simple act of appearing ordinary and having the courage to do the work is a victory worth celebrating.

This is life

Life is a constant balance between giving in to the ease of distraction or overcoming the pain of discipline. It is no exaggeration to say that our lives and identities are defined in this delicate balance. What is life, if not the sum of 100,000 daily battles and small decisions to either make it or give it up?

This moment you don’t feel like doing the work? This is not a moment to be thrown away. This is not a dress rehearsal. This moment, like any other moment, is your life. The way you spend it will ultimately make you proud.

Let the world decide

So, what should I do when I want to give up? I show up.

Do I show up at my best? I doubt it. But my job is not to judge how good or bad I am.

My job is to do things to my best level and let my teachers decide.

 

Who Do You Think You Are?

Love is an intense feeling of deep affection for someone or something that we experience as humans. It has no conditions or limits. Sometimes people enjoy the feeling of love whereas some people suffer due to love. Christina Perri's song 'Jar of Hearts' is an example of the latter; how people suffer due to love. This song is about a girl who is trying to stay away from her lover who wants her back in a relationship. Throughout the song, the heartbroken feelings of a girl are described. The lyrics show that the man once the girl loved has hurt her feelings more than once, and he returns to her again and again. It has affected the feelings of the girl. When she is trying to forget him, he comes again to find her love. The suffering of the girl is obvious in this song. Although this song is about a heartbroken relationship of a girl this can be applicable for boys as well. The melancholic tone of the song implies that still she loves the man. Yet, this time she won't accept him as she has made up her mind and she thinks not from her heart but from her brain. 

Personally, for me, the most heart touching verse is that,

" You are gonna catch a cold

From the ice inside your soul

So don't come back for me

Who do you think you are?"

This shows that the girl believes in karma. She does not want to get revenge from him, but she waits for the time to punish him for his bad deeds. She desperately wants him to understand the mistakes he has done. That is why she repeatedly asks the question " Who do you think you are? "

ARE YOUR FRIENDS REAL OR FAKE?

 Do you have friends? Surely, most of you will reply with “yes” as there should be at least one friend in your life who is always there being for you at any risk. Are all the friends real? My point is that most of them are fake friends who only need light from you, even though you’re burning in the flames of life.

 

Friendships are one of the major bonds that are being maintained by almost all human beings, and that type of bond can have a profound impact on an individual’s mental health and well-being. Sometimes, a good companionship means a powerful tool to face any challenge and it can console your soul by replacing every pain and loneliness with a delicate smile and integrity. Real friends can always offer their shoulders you can lean on to. They endure your struggles and help you in the storms of life. Having such real friends is actually a blessing to one’s life. Unfortunately, it has become a hard task to find real friends since they are very rare in this universe. However, you definitely meet a lot of toxic people wearing a mask, hiding fakeness, and appearing as real friends.

What will happen if you are in a friendship with fake friends? First of all, you have to spot and identify who are the fake friends.

 

BE CAREFUL WHO YOU TRUST

       Fake friends are more common in society than you think because in a rat race life more people tend to be selfish and strive to come up by bullying others. These friends cannot be recognized at first sight. They may appear as best friends to you and that makes it difficult to identify them correctly. 

Here are the signs of fake friends.

• They are not trustworthy
• They adore gossip and drama
•  They will prefer you when they only need you
• They have no commitment
• They will lie
• They are critical of you
• They tell bad things when you’re not around
• They are envious and jealous of you
• They shun you
• They exploit your good heart and kindness

 

“The fake people do not dare to come out from their mask and face the truth of the real ones.” (Ehsan Sehgal)

 

 

CAN THEY CAUSE FOR DEPRESSION IN YOU?

   Yes, exactly. Fake friends can make a depression. How? Once you meet friends, you will try to always be with them, enjoy your life with them, share your personal life with them, and most importantly you will trust them. Those friends will also act like best friends and will convince you that they are really happy by being with you. They may say that they want the success of your life and happiness and they promise you to help. Consequently, you believe them and continue your friendship for two-three months or two-three years. At one point, you will realize that you had been used and bullied trickily by them. 

Let us take an example: You are preparing for an exam. Your friends say that you will definitely pass your exam and they will motivate you with words like “don’t be afraid”, “we’re always for you”, “let’s do this anyway” Conversely, they hide your notes, gossip with you, ask you to come to watch films and do everything to prevent you from achieving success.

This is just a simple example. These friends are toxic people or abusers and always with an artificial fake smile. When you identify these so-called friends or frenemies, you will start to think that “these friends are fake” and “the whole world is fake”. After comprehending the danger lurking behind friendships, you’ll feel torn inside, shattered and that can harm your wellbeing and finally, you will get depression.

 

HOW TO DEAL WITH THEM

 Fake friends can devastate your personal life seriously. There are two options. Avoiding fake friends and finding real friends. Don’t get depressed because of unwanted toxic people. I am sensing that the best option is to avoid them as far as possible. They are just trouble makers and a nuisance, creating problems for you. The world is not fair at all and we should adapt to that unfairness with intelligence. You have to intelligently get away from fake friends. I firmly agree with Lord Buddha’s preaching that “if you cannot find a good friend, it is better to be alone” Befriend with you. Love yourself. Chase your dreams. Then, you will win.

Now, this is your turn to share your own experiences about fake friends or real friends.👀👬👭

HEAL THE WORLD

This song by Micheal Jackson is still a worldwide favorite. Its visual sets a background of a conflict. Specifically here, the foreground focuses on ‘children’, who represent next generation. It is mainly because, children are the mostly insulted category of war. In this video, the scene ‘children play with cannons’ indicates the naivety and innocence of them who even have no any deep idea of battlefield.  People are not born with ethnic, color, class or religious boundaries. Yet, their egoistic purpose to develop materialistic values instead of spirituality pave the way for a destruction. The mostly highlighted background color in this video is Ash. It is because, Ash usually symbolizes frustration, darkness and uncertainty. Here, the doubt is directed on future of unsophisticated children. However, through the audio and video, love, equality and unity are appreciated mostly. It is evident, the children’s cheerful mood with their friends indicate ‘if our purpose is to be happy, we should respect and care about each other’. In other hand, their mind sets to enjoy and live in the moment. It is shown by ‘they hold hands of each other tightly and laugh together. Indirect questions arises that, why their adults can’t consider themselves as equal. However, here ‘throwing cannons by soldiers’ gives a message to the audience that, there is no need to kill or hurt to someone. People can solve problems by talking, but not by fighting. Hence, the immense power of love makes easier to make the world a ‘better place’. 

Living in a Hell?

Lovely

Lyrics

Thought I found a way

Thought I found a way, out (found)

But you never go away (never go away)

So I guess I gotta stay now

Oh, I hope someday I'll make it out of here

Even if it takes all night or a hundred years

Need a place to hide, but I can't find one near

Wanna feel alive, outside I can't fight my fear

Isn't it lovely, all alone?

Heart made of glass, my mind of stone

Tear me to pieces, skin to bone

Hello, welcome home

Walkin' out of town

Lookin' for a better place (lookin' for a better place)

Something's on my mind (mind)

Always in my headspace

But I know someday I'll make it out of here

Even if it takes all night or a hundred years

Need a place to hide, but I can't find one near

Wanna feel alive, outside I can't fight my fear

Isn't it lovely, all alone?

Heart made of glass, my mind of stone

Tear me to pieces, skin, and bone

Hello, welcome home

Whoa, yeah

Yeah, ah

Whoa, whoa

Hello, welcome home

The song "Isn't it lovely" by Billie Ellish and Kaled is about a person who is mentally, physically, and emotionally trapped in depressed feelings and at the same time, having the intention to move away from it and move forward in life.

This song can be interpreted in many ways and one possible way would be an instance where a person feels low, lacking freedom, is tormented, and being discriminated in the place where he/she is living.

Some people live in houses that are equal to living in hell. The place we all humans learn and begin life is home and a family is an individual entity that creates society but we should keep in mind that all families are not equal and all homes are not equal and that is why the world is corrupted today. However, being exposed to the feelings of depression is not natural or sudden as if it starts with new things; it starts with sadness which repeats over and over again. Discrimination and imbalance all start within the family. If one has been at least once discriminated or felt entrapped at the place of living, this feeling of depression starts to grow.

The starting lines of this song emphasizes how this feeling grows within a person and how it repeats over and over again even though he tries to move away from it, thinking that he has found a way out. The feeling of depression is addressed as “you” in this stanza by personifying it because it is something that lives within a person.

Thought I found a way

Thought I found a way, out (found)

But you never go away (never go away)

So I guess I gotta stay now

In order to describe the feelings of depression, it is important to take a look at its root cause. So, what can cause depression? 

I strongly believe that words have power. Words can bring happiness and at the same time, they can tear us apart. Just imagine a home where there is frequent discrimination, lacking inner peace, and self-satisfaction. A home where there are frequent quarrels and noise. A home where there is no freedom, a home where there is no mutual understanding. This type of home causes depression to all its living. According to this song the person who is having depression and who is trapped inside this home needs to move away and get rid of this feeling of depression. This person is living with the hope that he could get out of it someday. Without caring about the time wasted, “Even if it takes all night or a hundred years”, this person believes that he could fly and get out of this disorder. Especially the lyrics state that he wants to feel alive, he yearns for it which means this person is not living the life until he finds a better place with freedom.

Oh, I hope someday I'll make it out of here

Even if it takes all night or a hundred years

Need a place to hide, but I can't find one near

Wanna feel alive, outside I can't fight my fear

The chorus of this song is sarcastic and awakes this person from his illusion. Which says how “lovely” is it to live in a hell all alone bearing this feeling, knowing that the heart is not strong enough to overcome, by just having an intention to move away. Each time he thinks of getting rid of this feeling he falls back again to the same position where he is destined to live with this depressed feeling. “welcome home” can be returning to the same state or addressing the listener saying this is my home and this is where I live and it is as if living in hell.

Isn't it lovely, all alone?

Heart made of glass, my mind of stone

Tear me to pieces, skin to bone

Hello, welcome home

No one knows the inner sufferings of this particular person yet he lives as if he is living and enjoying life. He goes to the world and experiences new things trying to get away from this feeling. Externally he seems better and tries to avoid the negativity by living like a normal person, but continuously he is having this feeling inside which never goes away.

Walkin' out of town

Lookin' for a better place (lookin' for a better place)

Something's on my mind (mind)

Always in my headspace

Finally, the song ends with the words “welcome home” which means the person realizes that he cannot get rid of this feeling of depression and decides to live with it. If you have watched the official music video of this song, it is clear that once the feeling of depression stings it is inevitable, and it will live within a person neither it can be treated medically.

Despite moving into medical treatment, it is important to be aware of and prevent causing the feeling of depression at first instance. As human beings, it is necessary to take a break and ponder our behavior. It is important to avoid penalizing or depressing others because unknowingly a simple utterance or behavior can hurt or depress another. Depression is not an illness to be treated medically, it is something created by humans and the surrounding we live in. Therefore, there is hope that this feeling can be healed by human behavior itself and it is important to always be conscious and live with mutual understanding for a depression- free better world.

Dear reader, do you think depression is an illness? If so, do you think it can be treated medically?

"Recreation of Sri Lankan history using films and teledramas"

 The study of past events can be defined as history. People learn what happened in past using things from the past such as, books, letters, visiting historical places and visiting museums.

When we talk about Sri Lankan history, it is very interesting, because there are lots of interesting stories related to past of Sri Lanka. The love story of prince Gamini and princess Chithra, the fight between king Dutugamunu and king Elara, and the love story of prince Saliya and the poor girl Ashokamala are some interesting stories related to Sri Lankan history. History books, letters, and ancient ruins evidece about these stories.

Today, some films and teledramas are created using historical events, but most of these films and teledramas do not bring out the real historical events which is proven by historians using clear evidences. The story we heard or learnt using books is differ than the story in those films and teledramas. The clear image that people have about the history is changed due to those films and teledramas and people become confused about the history.

The major impact of this process is on students. They have to learn two stories based on the same incident, one from their text books and other from films and teledramas. So, due to the difference between the two stories, the become confused and the become unable to create a clear image about history.

History should be recreated, because people are able to remember something by watching and listening than only reading. The stories which are brought out through the films and teledramas should be similar to the real historical event. People should not change the historical events through these films and teledramas. If the real story and the story in the film or teledrama are not similar, people who watch it become confused.

So, if someone wants to recreate history using films or teledramas they should not change the history. If they can bring out the real story through them, it become helpful to others to learn the history properly.

HUMANITY..

 HUMANITY..

Humanity is the most important quality we all should have as humans which is decaying in modern society. The poem defines humanity as a question raised to ourselves about how we give, share and love others. Humanity is where people take care of other humans and sharing the things they need without considering the social status, race, appearance, age, gender and complexion.

We cannot live alone in a society as humans always want someone to accompany, to share their ideas, to communicate and to live as a person in a society. So, humanity is the quality we should always maintain in order to live in the world. Although there are teachings about love, care in every religion, what we should do as humans is to show our love and humanity towards people in society whenever and wherever they need us most. Also, being a human does not indicate that you have humanity and it will depend on how you behave in society by understanding each other, helping and caring for others. Then only you can be a human with humanity. That is why in the poem also, the writer says that humanity depends on yourself and how you care, share, sacrifice and love other people. Although the poem is simple, it gives a great definition on humanity and how we should look at humanity. Today, we often see many people do charity works like alms giving and helping beggars in roads by giving them food and shelter in a big way. According to my point of view, I think that they expect to show the world that they have humanity by doing them. But, humanity means the inner happiness we get by helping others even by doing a small work and we do not need to show that we have humanity to the world.  If we help and care for people in society, people will automatically know that we have humanity.

For instance, if someone help a blind person to cross the road or give a seat for a pregnant lady in a bus, it shows our understanding of people and their needs in society and that is where humanity appears. However, today many people try to maintain their egoistic lives by fulfilling their materialistic achievements without considering about other people in society and the phrase “we’ll spend our lives vainly seeking in the crowd ALONE” clearly shows how humans spend their lives only by thinking about themselves. So, as humans first we should develop humanity among ourselves and it will lead to create a better world with people who care, share and love others unconditionally. Ultimately, the poem gives an effective idea on humanity and how we should define humanity within ourselves by understanding people and their necessities in society and indicates that humanity is most essential quality people should always try to develop in order to live in society without being neglected.

Cyberbullying 

Cyberbullying is a form of harassment using electronic platforms. This is also known as online bullying. With the advancement of technology, this has become a common way of bulling people by creating huge impacts. This happens in every country especially among teenagers through popular social media spaces. Cyberbullying or cyber harassment can be identified as a new-age problem that can harm an individual mentally and physically which results in ruining the victims’ lives completely.

There are long term effects as well as short term effects on Cyberbullying. This can be identified in numerous ways. People can harm others through the internet and in other digital spaces as in the form of threats, through sexual harassments, by posting rumors, by sharing personal information among the outside world etc.

Victims of cyberbullying may tend to suicide, get depressed, being introverts, destruction of self-esteem, and feel unsecure to move with society can be recognized as the negative impacts of cyberbullying. This has become an easy way to disrupt someone for personal revenging purposes or simply for the amusement of others. Most famous personals have to suffer due to this cyber harassments as they get framed in numerous ways of fake rumors and threatening through social media platforms. Now, this has become a trend among many cyber bullies. Many of them post fake information on famous characters to get views, likes and comments to earn money through the internet.

As this has become a huge issue in contemporary society, now there are strict laws to combat cyberbullying in almost every country. This is a way of harming one’s character emotionally as well as physically by creating huge impacts on victims’ lives. Now there are highly improved technological methods to determine and stop cyber harassments. Thus, cyberbullying can be identified as a serious issue as it can destroy victims by causing severe impacts on their lives.

Sledging in Cricket

 Sledging in Cricket

Sledging is a term, used in cricket to describe the devious practice through which some players try to take advantage by verbally insulting and intimidating the opposing players. Weakening the opponent’s concentration can be stated as the ultimate purpose of this act. This will pave the way to lack of performance of the player subjected to sledging. This practice is noticed to be very much effective because the batsman stands within a hearing range of the bowler and several close fielders and vice versa. The insulting may be direct or featured in conversations among fielders designed to be overheard. 

Sledging gone too far?

contrary to the popular conception of sledging, we can see some moments in the game where  sledging is not often outright verbal abuse but in large part is a stream of hushed expletives, passive-aggressive body language, conversations between team-mates, and assorted noises and physical fights.

As in every other sport, mental balance of the players is a major necessity in the cricket field. Like every other human being cricketers are individuals who carry nerves, insecurities, and awareness of weakness. So it’s all a matter of persistence of the players as to how long they can withstand the humiliation, embarrassment, and feelings of not belonging compromise their confidence. The situation becomes worst at some incidents when their personal lives and relationship details are dragged into mockery and humor in the field.

Sledging Into Ethical Consideration. 

Among the many and overlapping guiding principles for a player's behavior, particularly at the professional level, Sledging has been subjected to debate as to acknowledge it as something ethical or unethical. Until and unless this potent yet fragile tool for psychological disruption (Sledging) contributes to the aspect of match-winning while making one’s inning more difficult, the same batsmen who find sledging disgusting while batting will utilize it out in the field for the very same reason. Finally, as long as professional pragmatism and the doctrine of winning prevails, so will sledging, whether publicly acknowledged or not.

So what do you think about Sledging in cricket? Share your thoughts in the comment section.