The Queen of Pop Culture – A Media Savvy Monarch

The document under study is a video from Good Morning America published in September 9^th 2022, the day after the death of Queen Elisabeth II. We have learned the Queen was nicknamed the Queen of Pop Culture because throughout her reign we could see her face in many different types of media (the press, magazines, the radio, TV, currencies, stamps…).

The Queen had always had an elegant and classic style, with her classic hats and handbags wearing bright colors to stand out. In fact, she had created her own style that would her signature.

At the beginning of her reign, she would appear on TV, on photos, magazines… Then, more recently, she was portrayed in movies, TV series, and cartoons. She also was the subject of songs and pieces of art. In addition, she featured with Daniel Graig in a short film for the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games of 2012 in London.

 Homework: Learn the lesson.

The Queen of Pop Culture – A Media Savvy Monarch?

The document under study is a video from Good Morning America, published in 2022 right after Queen Elisabeth II died. We have learned that she was nicknamed “The Queen of Pop Culture” because we could see her face on several types of media throughout her reign. Indeed, for example, we could see her on the press, on Pound bills and coins, on stamps, on magazines and newspaper, on the radio, on TV…

On top of that, she had a distinct style of dress: she would wear hats and purses and dresses with bright colors and monochrome as to stand out.

At the beginning of her reign, her face was already famous thanks to newspapers, currencies, magazines, books… years after years she began to be portrayed in movies, cartoons and TV series on the small and big screens. Moreover, more recently she went on social media to reach the younger generations. In addition, we can also hear about her and see her in pieces of art (songs and paintings…). Furthermore, she even starred in the ceremony of the Olympic Games that took place in London in 2012.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

The Underground Railroad

The document under study is a video about the Underground Railroad in the 19^th century.  We have learned that there were individuals and families who were committed to the anti-slavery cause and helped many slaves to flee the South. There were abolitionists, code name: Station masters who would provide fugitive slaves safe places in their houses to hide them from the slave catchers and to allow them to rest as well in the middle of their journey.

(We will continue the study of the video next time. Be ready!)

Unit 3: Black Lives Matter

To what extent has public protest helped African-Americans get closer to equal rights?

Axe 7: Diversity and Inclusion

The Rosa Parks Story – Tired of giving in: The bus ride that changed America (1955)

Rosa Parks can be seen as a hero because she was one of the first women, after Claudette Colvin, who refused to give up her seat to a white passenger in a segregated bus in Montgomery Alabama. Moreover, thanks to this action, she is seen as a hero because everyone remembers her. On top of that, she is also the figure of a bigger movement involving different personalities that also had an impact on the Civil Rights movement of the 1950s.

The NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) chose to wait for the right person to challenge the bus segregation laws so that they would not be blamed or beaten off for anything else. Indeed, a black man could have beaten off to death; Claudette Colvin, even though already was arrested for having challenged the segregation laws, was a teenage girl who was pregnant and not married. She would have been accused of being promiscuous. Hence, Rosa Parks was perfect because she had no criminal records, nothing to blame as she was a married woman who also had a proper job.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

An Heir and a Spare

The document under study is an extract from Prince Harry’s memoirs entitled “Spare” published in 2023. In this extract, he shares about his family. More precisely, he remembers his mother, Princess Diana, as being a loving mother toward her two sons. Moreover, she wanted peace and love between William and Harry and their father. He shares about these values about his mother at a time when the Royal family is divided. In fact, the word “duel” refers to the fact that the two brothers do not get along well because Meghan Markel Harry’s wife, was not well welcome in the family, as a result, they decided to leave the country to go live in the USA.

In this extract, Harry is back in the UK to attend the funerals of his grandfather. However, he feels stressed, lonely and insecure because he feels rejected by his family because of his personal choices. His mother was peaceful and loving, nevertheless, there is a contrast with the Royal family nowadays who seem to be deprived of love.

Furthermore, he has also planned to meet with his father and brother. However, he feels stressed, intimidated and overwhelmed. When Charles and William show up they are described as threatening. The meeting appears to be conflictual.

To conclude, Harry sees the Royal family as an institution as he set a sort of emotional distance between them, but also physically with his departure to the USA. Harry can be considered as a modern shift in the monarchy as he is one of the few who were ready to break with the Royal institution for personal reasons. Nonetheless, at the same time, having a meeting with his brother and father could be a way to find a compromise.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Be ready for the Final Project => Monday, January 26th => Let's Talk Royals!

An Heir and a Spare

The document under study is an extract from Prince Harry’s memoirs entitled “Spare”, published in 2023. In this extract, he is sharing about a different face of the Royal family and the consequences of his departure from the Royal family to live in the USA with his wife.

He shares about his mother, describing her as a symbol of peace and love. Her wish was to bring peace all over the world through her charity work, but also to have a family with less conflict as possible. However, nowadays, there are tensions in the Royal family that is divided because Harry’s wife, Meghan Markel, was not well welcome in the family.

Moreover, there has been an ongoing rivalry between the two brothers (Harry and William) that reinforced when Harry chose to leave the country.

In this extract, Harry is back in the UK to attend the funerals of his grandfather, Prince Philip. He planned to meet with his father and his brother. He feels a bit stressed and anxious about this meeting. When they show up, they seem to be deprived from love towards Harry.

To conclude, Harry sees the Royal family as an institution from which he had been rejected because of his personal choices. The fact that he left the Royal family can be seen as if he seemed not to want to be part of the monarchy anymore. Nevertheless, at the same time, he is looking for a connection with his brother and father as if he was looking for a compromise.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Be ready for the Final Project => Monday, January 26th => Let's Talk Royals!

Unit 3: The Secret Road to Freedom

How did a chain of diverse people save thousands of slaves from the Deep South?

Axes: Identity and Exchanges – Diversity and Inclusion

Harriet Tubman and the Underground Railroad.

The document under study is a painting showing a black family in the woods at night, they seem to be trying to escape from someone.

We can also see a woman heading the group holding a rifle, helping and guiding the group to escape from something by protecting them (stretching her left arm). We can deduce that this woman is the famous Harriet Tubman, an African-American woman who escaped from/ ran away from/ fled slavery in the South of the USA to go to up North/ to the northern states. Then, she came back several times in order to free other slaves. Therefore, on this painting we can see a family of fugitive slaves escaping from slavery in the 19^th century.

Running away from slavery was not easy, the fugitives slaves took great risks assumed by the use of a firearm. Indeed, it was dangerous as they were chased by slave-catchers who could be very violent with runaways. Despite the dangerousness of the situation, there were families, as we can see it on the painting with the little baby, who were ready to take any risks to go away from slavery.

To conclude, this painting represents the process of escaping through the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman was a conductor on the Underground Railroad.

Homework: Learn the lesson.