Untold Lives in Focus

The document under study is a short documentary published in 2019 about the Whitney Plantation and its history. It is located in Edgar-Wallace, Louisiana, nearby the Mississippi River. It was established in 1752. It used to be a sugar, rice and indigo plantation. It kept on working their productions of rice and sugar up to the 1970s. There are several pieces of artwork scattered all over the plantation to pay tribute to the lives of the slaves and to give an immersive experience to the visitors. The particularity of the plantation is that it is the only museum in Louisiana that tells the story of slavery through the enslaved people’s point of view. The goal is to change people’s mind about slavery and show the real sides of this part of American history. Their will is to give back their voices to the voiceless (the slaves). Hence, during the tour, they tell about the economic aspects of slavery, the free labor from the enslaved, their place of origin (West Africa), the slave trade and the daily lives of the slaves on site.

To conclude, through this type of exhibition, it will help people to have a better understanding of one another nowadays. Moreover, it raises awareness on the way black people were mistreated in the past and the consequences on today’s race relations in America.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Untold Lives Focus

The document under study is a video published in 2019, about The Whitney Plantation. This plantation museum is located in Edgar-Wallace, Louisiana, nearby the Mississippi River, and not too far away from New Orleans. It was established in 1752. It used to be a sugar, rice and indigo plantation. It kept on working their productions of rice and sugar up to the 1970s.

The Whitney Plantation is the only plantation in the state of Louisiana that tells the story of slavery from enslaved people’s point of view. Their will is to give back their voices to the voiceless (the slaves). Hence, the tours are focused on the place of origin of the slaves (West Africa), the slave trade and their daily lives on site. Moreover, we can see several pieces of artwork scattered on site as a form of memorial to pay tribute to the lives of the enslaved and for an immersive experience for the visitors.

To conclude, these actions at the Whitney Plantation are meant to make people understand what happened in the past so that they can better understand what is happening the present through the race relations in America. The testimonies presented there are emotional and difficult to hear.

Homework: Learn the lesson. 

Untold Lives Focus

The document under study is a video from Visit New Orleans YouTube Channel, published in 2019. It is about the Whitney Plantation, located in Edgar-Wallace, Louisiana, nearby the Mississippi River. It was established in 1752. It sued to be a rice sugar and indigo plantation. It kept on working their productions of rice and sugar up to the 1970s.

The economic part was one of the main aspects of the plantation as it depended on the slave labor.

On this plantation, we learn about the enslaved people’s lives, from their place of origin, West Africa, to the slave trade and their daily lives on the plantation.  The Whitney Plantation is the only one in the state of Louisiana that tells the story of slavery form the perspective of the enslaved. The stories can be difficult to hear and the visits are emotional experiences for visitors. Moreover, through the pieces of artwork scattered on site, it also gives an immersive experience to the visitors.

To conclude, their actions is to show how the enslaved really lived and it will help people understand the current state of the race relations in America nowadays.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Untold Lives in Focus

The document under study is a video from Visit New Orleans Youtube Channel, published in 2019. It is about the Whitney Plantation, located in Louisiana, nearby the Mississippi River, which is the only plantation in this state that tells the story of slavery from the point of view of the enslaved. We learn that the Whitney plantation was established in 1752. It used to be a sugar, rice and indigo plantation. They kept on working their productions of rice and sugar up to the 1970s.

This place was a whole economic system that depended on the enslaved people that worked on site. Moreover, there are some pieces of memorial artwork on site to educate, to focus on the lives of the slaves, to feel the injustice of what the enslaved had to go through, to pay tribute to their lives and to give an immersive tour to the visitors.

The Whitney Plantation’s main purpose is to give back their voices to the voiceless by telling the story of slavery thought the enslaved people’s perspective since their place of origin, West Africa to the slave trade and their daily lives on plantation.

To conclude, many plantations have only showed a sugarcoated version of history, however, through the Whitney Plantation, they chose to focus on the lives of the enslaved in order to change the public opinion on slavery and for them to understand the cause of the race relations in America nowadays.

 Homework: Learn the lesson.

 (At the follwing of what we did last time)

Franck Underwood is portrayed as manipulative, calculating, ruthless, clever and ambitious. In fact, his goal is to use corruption, bribery, blackmail and betrayal to gain power and destroy his opponent. To achieve his goal, he works closely with his wife Claire.

According to House of cards, the power does not lie in Washington but in the private sector, in big businesses and with the lobbyists.

To conclude, House of cards depicts a dark, cynical and negative vision of politics. In fact, the main characters use manipulation and corruption to achieve their goals. They prefer immorality over justice and public interests. In addition, politics could be compared to a chess game which is targeting pursuit of power and satisfaction of personal ambition.

Homework: learn the lesson.

 (At the following of what we did last time)

Frank Underwood is portrayed as an ambitious, ruthless, manipulative and clever politician. He uses bribery, blackmail and lies and is ready to destroy anyone who would go against his will for power. In addition, he works closely with his wife Claire to manipulate those around them.  

According to House of Cards, the power does not lie in Washington, but in the influence of lobbyists and big business. Moreover, the power belongs to those who “own the White House”, therefore wealthy corporations and the private sector.

To conclude, House of Cards presents a dark and cynical vision of politics. Indeed, it shows politics as a world of corruption, manipulation and power struggles where politicians are ready to betray one another to achieve their personal ambitions. On top of that, the show depicts the will of power as being more important than justice and the interests of the citizens.

 Homework : Learn the lesson.

Whatever it takes.

The documents are videos and a text introducing the Netflix series entitled “House of Cards”.

The first one is the trailer for the first season of the TV series. The second document is an extract from the last episode of season 5. Finally, the last document is an article from Fair Observer magazine published in May 2023. It is about what is happening inside the White House, the political ambitions and hidden influences that shape the government. The main character is Frank Underwood, a congressman who was promised the position of secretary of state, however he got betrayed. As a result, he decides to take revenge by manipulating the government and public opinion with the purpose of destroying his adversaries. Frank rises from congressman to vice president and eventually president. He got there by all means necessary.