Jessica Says: One of the Reasons Why I Love "The Vampire Diaries": The Subject of Humanity

UPDATED: June 28, 2012

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 BACKGROUND INFO :

ONE OF THE MAIN THINGS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TELLING ME MOST WHILST I'M UNWILLINGLY IN TEARS IN FRONT OF THEM:
"It's okay to be human."
or
"You're only human."

Anyone who truly knows me knows that though I don't really watch too much television, I still watch "The Vampire Diaries" because it incorporates a lot of different things I find entertaining or intriguing in its writing and screen visuals (and it seriously has the best music on any show I've ever watched) - and this theme is humanity, something I personally embrace and brush away - it's a love-hate relationship. Though I will not deny that this third season is nearly pure fan fiction...which needs to stop...the writers still fully incorporate this theme into its writing and generally, the cast does a wonderful job of portraying this theme. And the music really helps, too. I'm not saying that anyone should or shouldn't embrace their humanity, but I think it has become an exceedingly interesting topic to me lately, though I am uncertain how I'll feel if that interest goes away.

 Anyway, I understand TVD is just a show, but I think people should watch it for the many things it embodies. It's not just another ~vampire show, thankfully. Otherwise I would not be watching it. Besides, isn't Hollywood now on the "remake of fairytale classics" train? Yawn.

Here's the final scene to the Season 3 Episode 22 "The Departed" Finale...riddled with humanity, emotion, death - the usual for a good TVD episode. Quite a beautifully-done scene. Tear-worthy, I'd say..oh, and don't watch it if you haven't seen it yet. But it's realllllllllly good.

For those who don't understand why the underwater scenes change, the girl, Elena Gilbert, is having flashbacks of when her parents drowned in the car.

SO WHAT IS HUMANITY? :  
From this website.

1
: the quality or state of being humane

2

a : the quality or state of being human b plural : human attributes or qualities <his work has the ripeness of the 18th century, and its rough humanities — Pamela H. Johnson>

3

plural : the branches of learning (as philosophy, arts, or languages) that investigate human constructs and concerns as opposed to natural processes (as in physics or chemistry) and social relations (as in anthropology or economics)

4

: the human race : the totality of human beings

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JESSICA SAYS:
So I know lately in my posts I have been ranting on about humanity, convictions, emotions, standing up for what you believe in, but it really all ties together. Those who know me personally and have kept up with this blog and my personal life know why I have been reinforcing these ideas in these blog posts (which have generally just been "Jessica Says" ones). I cannot say that I will still feel the same way in time, but part of me hopes that this new attribute (or rather, dug-up attribute) to my personality won't go away. But we'll see. "Turning off" humanity is still an option, though, too, as it probably is for others. Not in a cowardly sort of way, but it just makes things easier if there's sh*t going on in your life. But how can you live if you don't feel anything? But then the retort would be "Well why would I want to/What if I've no reason to?" which I respect all the same. Believe me. Those who know me personally know the details of my words here and how they truly pertain to my life. And I don't judge anyone for choosing to embrace or brush away humanity.

Again, here is my dedication blog post to those who helped me embrace my humanity when I needed to most:
Click Here

Below video is a video from YouTube that contains scenes from TVD as well as background music called "Human" by Civil Twilight.
Seriously, this show has the BEST depressing songs. And party songs.
Here's a link to where you can look up all of the songs used on TVD:
Click Here!

I'll list a few videos with some of the good depressing songs (who does this?):

 Here's another YouTube video of some TVD scenes with the song "All You Wanted" by Sounds Under Radio

Here's one of my favorite and most heartbreaking scenes of TVD during the beginning of Season 3. "This Woman's Work" by Greg Laswell

Another one of my favorite scenes from TVD at Aunt Jenna's funeral. "Skinny Love" cover by Birdy.

"Hate and Love" by Jack Savoretti

"Shelter" by Birdy

"Runnin' Up That Hill" by Placebo

"I Need To Know" by Chris Allen

"Lullaby" by Sia

"A Drop in the Ocean" by Ron Pope

"In Between" by Courier

 "Echo" by Jason Walker

 "Give Me Love" by Ed Sheeran

"I Was Wrong" by Sleeperstar

"In My Veins" by Andrew Belle

"Guarded" by Kevin Daniel

"Losing Your Memory" by Ryan Star

"Can't Go Back" by Rosi Golan

"Wires" by Athlete

"Down" by Jason Walker

"Holding On and Letting Go" by Ross Copperman

"Make It Without You" by Andrew Belle

"Cut" by Plumb

And because all of those have been depressing, but lovely selections from TVD, here's one of my fav "party" songs:

"Future Starts Slow" by The Kills (Gawd, I love Katerina)  

Людство

TO THE READERS: 

• What do you think about the concept behind humanity and all of the things that makes that up?
• Is it easy for you, as it generally is for me (except lately), to "turn off humanity?"
• Are you aware that I left a link for you to look up these awesome songs used in TVD? Will you check out the site? You can also find these songs on YouTube, as well.

  

~xxj 

Jessica Says: Let's Talk About My Convictions With Sex and Feelings and All That Awkward Stuff...

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PLEASE NOTE... :

This post is a result of my own thinking and conversations about this concept of humanity. Humanity being something I have been looking into a lot lately with this past semester and I realize that there are many concepts within it. I am trying to learn these, as well, and see how my own experiences, knowledge, and convictions relate with this particular topic. Maybe people will learn something from this and maybe they won't. I think it's going to be a rambling rant.

I am not good at talking or writing about sex - hence why the only time I do talk about it or refer to it is when I'm making a "that's what she said/can't say that" sort of joke or something. My friends also tend to laugh at half the things I say because nearly anything can be taken sexually if one wants to find something sexual and they're my friends, so of COURSE they automatically assume whatever I say is sexual. Oh, us college kids, right? This is not the case, though, in this post nor in 99.9% of my conversations. I've also been going on a sort of convictions, humanity, emotions, rights, etc. sort of theme lately, so I figured I'd give this a whirl.


You CAN'T say that.


Okay. Sorry. See? Me and this topic...okay. Back to being serious:

Anyway, probably the main one of two reasons why I feel awkward discussing or writing about this topic is because it is so heavily valued to me. It is one of my strongest convictions and one that I always do and will stand by, no matter what. When people judge me based on my appearance, the way I dress, how my friends are generally mostly male (I was a tomboy/sportsy person when younger, then later a percussionist, and well, they're less catty and more straightforward), and how I am perpetually single, they tend to think I'm just like the female college students who've very weak convictions when it comes to relationships, morals, and sex. I believe I am very different. Perhaps it is because of the generation that raised me (I'm sure they can be your grandparents' ages), but to me, it is not their age that made me value sex. It's just how I am. And I get a lot of flack for "putting it on a pedestal," as one of my friends would say. But hey, look who isn't getting STDs or having regrets or holding some new guy's hand every week or whatever. I value relationships, romance, passion, caring, and sex - along with many other words I didn't write here otherwise we'd have a list. 

It is like art to me.

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 AWKWARD PARAGRAPHS : 
I believe sex and passion and love are some of the most complicated concepts of humanity and it can mean many things to many different people. Non-love, liking, companionate love, fatuous love, mammalian drives, lust, attraction, sexual desire, relationships, friendships, open relationships, flings, affairs, what have you. Most, if not all, of these tend to somehow incorporate sex. And love. Or adoration. Or whatever. 

I'm not going to stand on a soapbox here or anything, but I think everyone should value things like love, caring for someone, relationships, morals, and sex. People have their rights to do whatever they please in regards to this topic, but I think it is grander than most tend to realize. Or maybe you have to have cared about someone so much to have this sort of perspective. And then you learn so much more with the "breakup," ya know? What you valued most, why you valued those things, what will you value of someone else later, whenever that may be. Or maybe some people just care about temporary comfort. Or maybe I'm just weird.

I cannot say I know if I can ever love someone because of the way I am wired, but wires can always be re-arranged and I'd be willing to do that. And in researching this topic of sex and romance and all that stuff (after a few enlightening conversations with a good friend at the Tavern...oh man, I miss that place) and thinking about it thoroughly - as I think about things quite thoroughly quite often - I think it would be a very intriguing emotion to feel. Love, I mean. Wow that feels tacky just writing it. But there are many kinds of love, as I've mentioned. I've only ever truly really cared about someone before, but after a while I couldn't see myself spending my life with him let alone another year. But you live and you learn and you realize what means a lot to you and what you'll look out for. And maybe such a natural instinctual action like sex will have a newly even stronger feeling. Now I just feel like a dating book or something. I almost wrote cook book. Ew. Am I rambling?

I feel like I say a lot of words or give insight to people without actually truly knowing or relating to the subject. So warning: I have never loved someone, but I know what it's like to really care about someone. I will not disclose anything of my lack-of sex life (haha see, still gotta incorporate humor!), but I obviously do value the act of passion so very much. And always will. And I also hope maybe, yeah, no, maybe, yeah that someday, someone can, will, and wants to re-wire me.

Can't say that! 

Or maybe it's these really passionate pictures getting to me. 
Like I said, it's like an art. 

...

I honestly don't even entirely know what point I was trying to make here. Darn these pictures!

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EVERYONE DESERVES IT :
Although this post is not centered on GLBTQ rights, I thoroughly believe everyone deserves the right to be in a relationship of whatever kind with whomever they want - gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, transgender, questioning, and straights alike. It'll be nice when the world isn't weirded out by any of this, but I think people are progressing.

D'aww, how endearing
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TO THE READER :

• I'm not even too sure what to ask here, so I'll ask two questions instead of three: what are your thoughts on all of this stuff? 
• Was there any thesis in this entire ramble?

Jessica Says: Teacher, Teacher, What You Gonna Do?

The Movie "Jennifer's Body" - For irony purposes
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WHY I AM WRITING THIS :

This must seem to be a completely random Jessica Says post, right?
Or something that's laced with sex and scandal, right?
I mean, I did use a Megan Fox picture up above, so clearly my intentions here are horrible and lustful.

Well think again because this is a post about my recent meeting with two high-up officials at this university for having a discussion with my new female adviser to whom - during a meeting - I spoke about how wonderful my previous adviser, someone of the male gender, is and how I appreciated his support and was disappointed that he no longer is my adviser.
Clearly, no ill intentions. They never existed.

So what can I possibly say about this other than this unfair treatment is wrong, hypocritical, stereotypical, and hateful. I was ordered to only speak of professional things with him, like a club I belong in or if I have a question about the fundamentals behind the construction of adverbs or something equally dreadfully boring of the sort.

And they kindly insinuated I am a slut, though I'm far from it.

Female student and female educator
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MASKED EXAMPLES :
Here are some completely true stories that I wanted to respectfully reveal to help prove my point, but I'm not going to the put names of specific professors whose encounters I've written below, for obvious reasons. And something to note is that the majority of these examples are professors in the department that I was being excessively reprimanded for conversing with :

1. Let's start with the Authority #1, whom I only met just today for the first time. She and I spoke about where we grew up, if she liked or disliked living in Pennsylvania, what she likes to write, how insane it is that it's 80 degrees in March, how New Jersey has beautiful parts and she visits the area where I grew up quite frequently, how we both think that the Lake I was going to was pretty though she's never been there, how long she's been working at [University Name Withheld], etc. etc. etc - quite the "personal conversation", though they reprimanded me for having "personal" conversations in person and via email with a male professor about things like video games or traveling. Is it okay for me to have "personal conversations" with only female authority figures? What if I were a lesbian, that'd be put me in a very difficult situation because obviously, it'd be the same "inappropriate" situation but flipped upside-down, though people rarely ever think about that because it's not in black-and-white before them or entirely socially acceptable. What if I were a bisexual? Would I never be allowed to have a conversation with ANY professor because of the constant worry of the professor (or others) thinking I may be hitting on them for having conversation that goes further than the "How are you?" "Good" - which, by the way, is a completely worthless conversation to even have in my book. Those particular ones are wasted time because they say absolutely nothing about how anyone is actually doing.

2. Let's talk about the Authority #2 who was the main culprit of claiming I was something I wasn't and doing things I wasn't. It was almost as though she were pushing me to confess to something I never did, just so she can be right and I could be wrong. At the end of this lovely meeting, I said it was a pleasure to meet the two of them, however, not under such circumstances. To this, she smiled and said that perhaps she and I shall in the future, obviously about personal things since she is not a Professional Writing professor or adviser - which doesn't that completely defeat the purpose of that entire meeting? Or is it because she's a female that her words make this entirely okay, though excessively intrusive and ironic.

3. Let's talk about example Professor #1 who I had an endearing conversation with about our births,  upbringings, and personalities. It was truly one of the most amazing conversations I've ever had with anyone, professor or not. And this professor is a female. Is it wrong that we talked about this very, very personal and real topic that probably went far deeper than any "personal" conversation I've ever had with any other male or female professor - or well, anyone for that matter? And she's a photographer, something else we have in common. Seems as though the rules should apply to both genders, but like the first example I posted, it only seems to go one way.

4. Let's talk about example Professor #2 whom I've known since the first day I began here at  [University Name Withheld] and he is one of the most amazing people I know and I am infinitely in debt to all he has done for me.Though he is not my professor for any course, I still like to speak to him about just about anything, though I rarely ever feel the need to speak to him about something that would be deemed as "professional." It's sad, but it's true that people would obviously automatically assume that any female student/male professor relationship is always more than just that. Because he is a man and I am a woman.

5. Let's talk about example Professor #3 who was kind enough to make me a cappuccino in her office one evening while working on a website for her. We spoke about many things and caught up with each others' lives. She, like Professor #2, has supported me for the past 3 years, as well, and I value her honesty and opinions. But would this situation be completely inappropriate if she were, instead, a male professor? She and I also have the same sense of style, so does that mean that we are secret lesbian lovers just because she made me a coffee, we wear black boots, and talked about the home life.

6. Let's talk about example Professor #4 who was kind enough to waste his time to speak to me about past part-time jobs done decades ago. He could be my grandfather and he also spoke of his children and his grandchildren. Is it wrong that we had a conversation about something like part-time jobs because he is a male professor and probably triple my age?

7. Let's talk about example Professor #5 who I sent an email to telling him that I sincerely appreciated the fact that he did a stand-up kind act for a friend of mine when nobody else was willing to do something monumental for her monumental event during her college career. That was a truly personal and expressive email, though I don't know him very well personally. Am I in the wrong for being honest and appreciative for a friend who deserves better than she receives?

8. Let's talk about example Professor #6 who helped me realize that I could be infinitely happier as a Professional Writing major, not a Music Composition major. He is maybe in his forties and we've spoken on a number of occasions early in my college career about our shared interest of New York City, vampires, and escaping the boring scene that is [University Name Withheld]. Am I in the wrong for speaking to him about more than just switching majors? Or is that fine because he's homosexual? Would that mean that if a male homosexual student were to speak to him about something not "professional," they're automatically sleeping together?

9. Let's talk about example Professor #7 who I have the utmost respect for. Sometimes it's difficult to be able to have professors who remind you of your aunt and is also an extremely phenomenal professor who pushes her students to try and succeed. And she is a woman. And we've had conversations before that focus on New Zealand, the tropics, retirement, and choral music. Am I wrong to have spent time in her office at 8am that one morning because that was her office hour? Or is that okay because of her status, respect, and gender? Was I wrong to ask her if I could borrow a pencil for my math exam because I forgot to grab one?

10. Let's talk about example Professor #8 who asked me to help him create a school website and needed  photographs of himself conducting because he had none. Obviously, he is a male professor who asked me something that can easily be viewed as inappropriate, however, it wasn't even in the slightest. If someone were to walk into the building that we were in, though, I am certain that they would question our motives, but especially mine because I am a female student and he is a male professor.

11. Let's talk about example Professor  #9 whom I barely know anything about, but had a nice chat about a British television show titled "Dr. Who," the amazing works and saddening death of Vincent Van Gogh, and my friendship with one of my friends. Would this be inappropriate if this particular professor were male and not female? Is death/suicide of an amazing painter off limits?

12. Let's talk about example  Professor  #10 whom I had emailed an email of complete truth and honesty after she had asked our class to leave because hardly anyone was prepared for the class. She asked me to come to her office hour and wanted to discuss my email, which coincidentally, she sincerely appreciated even though I was nervous that I may have been far too honest. During this meeting, we discussed how students seemed to have changed, how she felt as though I were a student from perhaps 20 years ago, how my parents were educators and I remember sitting in the faculty lunch room listening to these teachers speak of anything and everything, how she may pick up another job as a translator, and the reality of being a music performance major. Am I wrong for having emailed her in the first place even though she truly felt happy that I had emailed her? Am I wrong to have had a personal conversation with her during the meeting? Or is it because she's a female professor this makes my honesty and conversational personality okay?

13. Let's talk about a single example Teacher #1 whom I had for three years in high school - sophomore year through senior year, obviously during most of the time, I was a minor. We had connected instantly because he would have been my teacher at the high school I was meant to go to back in New Jersey. We had plenty of personal conversations about the differences between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, how the students were different, which teachers and students we both knew of, how we became interested in music, amongst many other things. And we generally spoke in his office and through email. Was it wrong that a 30-something-year-old man conversed with me, a minor, in his office alone and through email about things not related and not entirely related to what he taught?

14. Though I know I am no Megan Fox, I know I am not the homeliest-looking girl with the worst sense of fashion. I love boots, I love pleather, I love lace, I love looking a notch-up from the typical college student in their mismatched pajamas and tank tops.If I were extremely not aesthetically-pleasing or not generally well-put-together, would I have gotten half the heat that I did during that meeting? If I had kyphosis or two lazy eyes, would that matter? If I wore a sweatshirt or long pants instead of a dress to that meeting, would that matter? I feel like their attacking on me was brought far too cruelly than necessary, and a lot because of my physical appearance along with my choice of attire?

15. So am I wrong for having let a male professor borrow video games, telling a female professor I loved her shoes, letting a male professor borrow the movie "Girl, Interrupted," letting a female professor see me cry when I received a bad grade, telling a male professor he dressed nicely today, complimenting a female professor's dress, doing flyers for a male professor's music ensemble I'm not even a part of, purchasing a tremendous bag of candy for the former amazing female secretary of the music department for passing students so she didn't have to spend her own money, buying two large Hershey's bars for a male professor who loves chocolate, telling a female professor what I really thought of how she teaches a class, informing a male professor that he had mayonnaise on his lips after taking a bite of his sandwich,  letting a female professor have access to my website-making account, taking pictures at a male professor's ensemble event even though I don't actually have to do so, etc. etc. etc.? Am I?

16. And am I wrong for naturally being able to converse with older people, male or female, better than people my own age or younger? Perhaps it's because my parents were both educators and so are a few of my relatives, so I know how this game works, but I still like to talk to them. I remember sitting in the teachers' lunch room at my parents' schools, listening to the teachers gossip about what this particular kid did, what that particular kid said. It was hilarious. I loved being able to see backstage and hear what teachers really thought of their students and jobs and lives. I love when they're real, and a number of professors truly are actually. I love getting to know educators and being able to get a glimpse of behind the Educator Exterior, which I respect all the same, regardless. And if I can't, that's fine, too. But I like to know what they think of things, what their interests are, what they like to write, what music they like to play, what they really think of my talent, etc. It's not unprofessional.

17. I truly cannot emphasize enough the importance of the many topics in this blog post. I am a female straight student and that's why I am not allowed to have a conversation with a male professor. But as I mentioned earlier in this post, what if I were a lesbian? Would I not be able to have a conversation with a female professor? And dear gosh, if I were a bisexual, would I not be able to have a conversation with any professor? Who would I talk to then? An animal? Perhaps a dog professor named Professor Dogowitz? Or a cat professor named Dr. Meowski? How on earth would I be able to prevent myself from rubbing either of their animal bellies? I love animals.

Dr. Meowski is judging you for being judgmental
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18. And by the way, isn't EVERY email a personal email? We all say things like "warm regards" or "Good morning Professor X" - that is personal. Or do they just want me to write something like this:

Professor X:
Body paragraph with absolutely no emotion.
And absolutely no final farewell.
Just my name.
My full name.
(And I have a number of middle names.)


19. This entire blog post is a lengthy embodiment painting my silent words of regret and disappointment to the male professor whom I can no longer converse with.

And that is a shame.

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JESSICA ASKS :

1. How long do you think it took me to write all of this? Secondly, how long did it take you to read all of this?
2. What do you think about all of the true and unfair examples I provided here?
3. Do you have a professor like any of the ones I listed above that you feel you can relate to and have absolutely no fear that anything inappropriate will result from your conversations?

~xxj