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.

 (At the following of what we did last time)

According to B. Powers, visitors can learn about the real story of slavery and its impact on today’s world. In fact, black people in America are more arrested by the police and are the main victims of police brutality. It shows how big an issue racism still is in the USA.

On one hand, when the place does not reveal the truth, the visitor’s experience is romanticized. Indeed, the tour is focused on the nice architecture of the building and the lives of the white landowners. Visitors will go away without knowing the real stories that happened there as they had been through a nice whitewashed guided tour. They will leave thinking it was a wonderful place and that people used to live a really nice life there.

On the other hand, when visitors decide to go to a plantation that presents how slaves were treated back in the day, guides should warn the visitors about the harshness of they will hear and see throughout the tour. This type of tour is obviously to educate the visitors on one part of American history.

To conclude, in order to not reproduce what happened in the past, it is important to stay educated on the different events. These plantations are used to set the record straight about the history of America. Moreover, it helps people understand better the racial tensions that still exist nowadays in the USA as a result of slavery (Jim Crows, segregation, Civil Rights movement and Black Lives Matter movement).

 Homework: Learn the lesson. 

Enjoy Your Vacation! 😊

 (At the following of what we did last time)

According to Bernard Powers, visitors can learn about the real story of slavery that is the origin of modern racism in today’s society. In fact, nowadays in America, African-American people are still discriminated against as it is the community of people that are more arrested and more victims of police brutality.

To conclude, the visitor’s experience can differ depending on what they see. In fact, if they visit plantations that only display the beauty of the place, center on the architecture and tell the lives of the owners, at the end of the visit, visitors will feel happy to have been through a whitewashed guided tour.

On the contrary, if visitors decide to go to plantation museums where the hard history of the building is told , they will hear about the remembrance of the lives of the slaves. On top of that, the guide will have to warn the visitors that what they will hear will be difficult stories. At the end of this type of visit, visitors will feel more concerned about modern day racism and race relations current tensions in the USA.

It is important for visitors to know the full history of plantations in order to set the record straight about the full story of America. In fact, it will help people to be aware of the reasons why there are current tensions because of what happened in the past. (Jim Crow Laws, segregation, Civil Rights Movement and Black Lives Matter Movement).

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Enjoy Your Vacation 😊

 Deadly Selfies

The document under study is a recording about the trend of deadly selfies. A journalist has invited someone to talk about it. In the document, we learn that people take deadly selfies next to dangerous animals or in places where the landscape is breathtaking. For example, at the Grand Canyon, people are stepping back while trying to take a panoramic selfie, they do not see the edge and fall to their death. Since the beginning of the trend, there have been more than 200 deaths reported, including 5 in the USA in the last month.

These selfies are lucrative for the people who are taking them as they earn money and more followers on their social media platforms. Besides, the social networking sites also make a lot of money out of this trend.

The aim/goal of the recording is to show that taking selfies is a good way to engrave memories. However, you do not need to put yourself in a dangerous situation to create unforgettable memories.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Bring a Selfie to class for the 

Written Production Evaluation on Tuesday, November 3rd.

Enjoy Your Vacation! 😊

Deadly Selfies

The document under study is a recording about the consequences of deadly selfies. It shows that there are some people who would be ready to do everything to have fame and money. Unfortunately, some people die when trying to take the perfect picture. Indeed, in the world, there have been 200 selfie-related deaths reported and 5 in the USA. The aim of this recording is to show that it is a human condition to be willing to take selfies and to show everyone what we have been doing. However, people should not take the risk of dying just to get likes and money on social media platforms. Besides, social networking sites use people’s selfies to make money out of them.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Bring a Selfie to class for the 

Written Production Evaluation on Tuesday, November 3rd.

Enjoy Your Vacation! 😊

Whatever it takes

The documents under study are for the first one a trailer for the first season of the TV series House of cards. The second document is an extract from season 5 of House of Cards. The last one is an article from Fair Observer magazine, published in 2025. They all deal with the TV series House of Cards. The plot takes place in Washington DC. The main character is Frank Underwood, a congressman. It is about political ambition in the American government. Franck Underwood was promised the role of secretary of state however, he ended not getting it. As a result, he was animated by revenge to rise to the top whatever it takes it.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Complete the questions in the textbook p. 84  

-Describe the character of Frank Underwood. Find three adjectives to describe him and his tactics.

-According to Hous of Cards, where does the power lie in Washington? Quote the documents to justify your answer.

What vision of politics does House of Cards present?

Enjoy your Vaction 😊

Political Power in TV Shows

The end of the show left us on a cliffhanger.

My favorite TV show has a good plot twist.

Lobbying can influence politic debate.

Trump rules over America.

In America the president is very influential.

Some political agenda are going to be debunked by the media.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Political Power in TV Shows – Vocabulary

Most of the time, politicians follow the rules.

Yanis is going to overthrow the government like Napoleon did in the 19^th century.

The best songs sometimes come from movie soundtracks.

In the TV show “Commander in Chief” Mackenzie Allen is the showrunner.

In politics, many politicians are opposed to one another.

Politicians who are speaking on this TV channel do not have interesting agendas for us.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

 (At the following of what we did last time)

The second TV show presented is entitled “Commander in Chief”, it is about the first female president of the USA. It is not easy to be the first female president of the USA because she has to prove the world that a woman is able to rule country. She is portrayed as brave and determined to go over the stereotypes and break the glass-ceiling. Moreover, we see her balancing her leadership responsibilities with motherhood.

The third TV show is entitled “Designated Survivor”, I tis about safeguarding the line of presidency. We follow Tom Kirkman that goes from being a secretary to the president of the USA when an explosion destroyed Congress. He has to rebuild a grieving nation.

The fourth TV series mentioned is entitled “The First Family”. It is about the second African-American president of the USA and his family. It is not easy to be the second one. The genre of this TV show belongs to the comedy type as it is a sitcom.

The last one is entitled “1600 Penn”, it is interesting to note that 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in DC is the address of the White House. This TV series follows the life of the Gilchrists. Despite the fact that the father of this family is the president of the USA, he has a dysfunctional family: the eldest daughter described as over-achieving is pregnant, his eldest son dropped out of college, his youngest son is a genius and his youngest daughter is hard to get for the family. Hence, this TV show is a comedy about the First Family.

To conclude, so many TV shows take place in the White House because it is a symbol of power and high staked decisions. Furthermore, audiences are fascinated by the mysteries of what can happen in the White House.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

 (At the follwoing of what we did last time)

To conclude we can say that the three documents show uncommon types of masculinity. In fact, each representation of masculinity has their own originality and highlights the fact that masculinity standards are evolving. As a matter of fact, none of these representations meet the mainstream beauty standards for men.

In the media, people are different and that is why we like them. Therefore, we want to look like them with their differences that make them cool and pretty. Besides, it emphasizes the fact that there are different ways to be beautiful and that we all have our own beauty. That is what makes beauty so special because if everyone was pretty and perfect there won’t be anything special in being handsome.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

America’s Hard History

The document under study is an extract from an article published on Condé Nast Traveler Website in 2021. It deals with the fact that it is important to address the reality of slavery in the plantation museums because the legacy of the past still has an impact on today’s society. At first sight, people perceive plantations positively due to their nice environment and their majestic buildings. Besides, these places are also used as venues for events such as weddings…

The goals of plantation museums should be to use them to educate people on the past of slavery and black history in general. On top of that, it is interesting to note that the lands where the plantations were built on had been stolen away from the Native Americans. In addition, these places are here to make people remember about the hard history of America so that this type of behavior will not happen again.

The text highlights that the enslaved were seriously mistreated there as they were tortured, raped and killed for hundreds of years.

The legacy of slavery of slavery has been kept hidden in some plantations. However, in some other places they displayed fir the visitors to see the tools used to oppress the slaves, such as the chains, or the cabins the enslaved would live in…

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

Homework: Learn the lesson.

America’s Hard History

The document under study is an article, which was published in 2021 on Condé Nast Traveler website. It deals with the importance of addressing the reality of slavery through the plantations museums.

At first sight, people see plantations as beautiful buildings, tourist attractions, or even use them as places of celebration. They do not consider them seriously as places of history. Nevertheless, the goals of plantation museums should be to show what really happened, what black people went through. On top of that, these lands where the plantations were built used to belong to the Native Americans. They were stolen away from them.

The text highlights the fact that slavery was a violent treatment against black people. Indeed, the enslaved were raped, tortured and killed for hundreds of years.

Upon their visits, visitors can see the places where slaves used to live (small cabins), the chains and other tools used to oppress them. This has been the way to display the legacy of slavery.

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

Homework: Learn the lesson.

America’s Hard History

The document under study is an article published on the Condé Nast Traveler Website in 2021. It deals with what should be displayed in plantation museums. At first sight, people perceive plantations as a touristic activity that they would do on vacation. They would take pictures of the nice buildings. Some even would get married there. However, they prefer not to know about the real story of the plantation. Nevertheless, the goals of plantation museums should have an educational role and share the real stories that are hidden behind all those fairy tales. Besides, it is to commemorate the memories of the enslaved so that thus type of behavior will not happen again. In addition, we need to keep in mind that those lands had been stolen from the Indigenous community.

The text highlights the fact that plantations were places where black people had been raped, tortured and killed for hundreds of years.

The legacy of slavery has been hidden for too long, but it should not, it has to be exposed to the world. Now, in some plantations, it is displayed through the tools used to oppress the slaves, the chains, the cabins where they would live…

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

Homework: Learn the lesson.

America’s Hard History

The document under study is an article from Condé Nast Traveler Website, published in 2021. It deals with how people perceive plantations and what should be improved. At first sight, people perceive plantations as tourist attractions. Indeed, they see them as beautiful places to learn something about the local history. However, they do not know about the horrors of slavery that happened there. Moreover, according to the author, plantation museums should not be seen as simple/mere museums you visit on holidays. In fact, they should be places where you learn about the sad truth of slavery with people who had suffered for a long period. On top of that, these places should not be romanticized, but they should show the real stories of millions of black people who were enslaved there. It is also interesting to note that it is often forgotten that the lands on which the plantations were built were stolen from the Native Americans.

Besides, the text highlights the painful reality of slavery as people were seriously mistreated. They used to be “killed, raped, enslaved and tortured for hundreds years…”. The legacy of slavery has been displayed on some plantation museums where visitors can see the tools used to oppress the slaves: the chains, the small cabins where they would live.

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

Homework: Learn the lesson.

 (At the following of what we did last time)

Group 3: No More Mr. Muscle

The document under study is an article, published in the Guardian in 2020. The article presents a form of masculine beauty where size and skin color do not matter. Indeed, this text shows a body-positive vision of masculinity. It differ from mainstream beauty standards because people are taught that being lean and muscular shows that you are able to control your weight and what you eat so that you do not get fat. Nevertheless, like women, men also have different body types. Unfortunately, Kevin Davis, mentioned in the article, explains that he has already been body-shamed in a clothes shop by a salesperson/sales assistant because of his appearance. Since a young age, children have been taught that being lean and muscular should be the norm. Nonetheless, this does not represent inclusivity and equal representation.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

 (At the follwoig of what we did last time)

Group 2: K-pop Models

The document is an article from the BBC. It presents a vision of masculinity that is inclusive stereotypical male aesthetics are changing to androgyny figures: men are wearing more make-up and are looking more feminine. It differs from mainstream beauty standards such as blue-eyed famous icons such as Brad Pitt with colored hair, unique clothing styles and colorful make-up with no shame. Even if it is “deemed unorthodox by traditional Wester, standards”, this new trend is becoming more and more “influential in mainstream media”.

Group 3: No more Mr. Muscle

The document under study is an article from the Guardian, published in 2020. It presents a body-positive vision of masculinity: “too big”, “dark skin”, “big soft belly”… It differs from mainstream beauty standards because people are taught that men should be lean and muscular with a light skin. However, like women, men also have different body types. Kevin Davis was even body-shamed in a shop where a salesperson told him he was too big to shop there. Unfortunately, kids are still taught that being lean and muscular should be the norm.

 Homework: Learn the lesson.

Political Power in TV Shows:

The president of a country has the authority to rule over the people.

The president of a country has to be compassionate for the population of their nation.

There are lots of conflicts between the politicians.

The plot of “House of Cards” is about the president of the USA.

He is in prison because he had threatened a police officer.

The Senate and the House of Representatives form American Congress.

One of the most popular rules for the American President is to live in the White House.

Sometimes, we can ask ourselves if the president is trustworthy.

Populations should denounce the abuse of power.

 Homework: Learn the new vocabulary.

 Vocabulary

The impact of a presidential power is very decisive on the people.

A political agenda is what politicians plan on doing during their mandates.

Obama is wiling to run for office for the next presidential.

A lawyer advocates for their clients.

High school students are advocating for better conditions in their schools.

I just saw the trailer of a new TV series on Netflix.

This teaser ends on a cliffhanger but also heightens public awareness.

Homework: Learn the new vocabulary.

 (Ath the following of what we did last time)

The second one is entitled “Commander in Chief”. This TV show features the first female American President: Mackenzie Allen. Being the first female president is not easy. Indeed, she is going through a lot of opposition from male colleagues who do not agree with the fact that a woman can be president. As a consequence, by being the first female Commander in Chief of the USA, she is breaking the glass ceiling. Moreover, in the TV show, we see how she balances her private life as she is a mother, and her responsibilities as the “leader of the Free World”.

The third TV series presented is entitled “Designated Survivor”. It is about a huge catastrophe that hit Washington DC where Congress exploded, many people died. A man named Tom Kirkman who was a secretary became the designated survivor to lead the country, rebuild the nation and make everyone feel safe again.

The forth TV series is entitled “The first family”. It deals with the second African-American president and his family. It is a sitcom, a light-hearted look at life in the White House. They look fun and humorous.

The last one is entitled “1600 Penn” (The White House is located at the 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington DC). It showcase the First family as being dysfunctional. It is a comedy with a lot of humorous moments.

To conclude, the fact that so many shows take place in the White House because it is a mythical place that symbolizes power and audiences are fascinated by what they cannot see.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Unit 2: The Greater the Power…

How does the representation of politics in TV shows impact our understanding of power?

Axis: Art and Power

The Top Five White House TV Shows

A Brave New Beautiful

Group 1: The Rise of the Noodle Boys

The document under study is an article extracted from the New York Times, published in 2024. It describes a vision of masculinity based being skinny and young, having an angular jawline. Hence, masculine power no longer comes from the body, but it comes from elsewhere.

It differs from the mainstream beauty standards as they look for men built like a fridge, tall with a deep voice, with defined muscles. Chalamet is the opposite.

The journalist does not sound to agree with the new trend. This is highlighted in his use of unflattering words such as comparing his hair with pasta and describing him as if he were a child (child-like appearance).

(We will continue the study of these texts next time)

Homework: Learn the lesson.

A Brave New Beautiful

Group 1: The Rise of the Noodle Boy

The document under study is an extract from an article published in The New York Times in 2024. The journalist is depicting a more feminine vision of masculinity. Masculine power no longer has to emerge/come from the body but can from elsewhere. It differs from mainstream beauty standards, indeed people see as masculine a man with a broad and built body with defined muscles. Here Timothée Chalamet is the opposite. The journalist is describing the new trend using unflattering adjectives when he describes Chalamet, in fact, he does not seem to like it.

Group 2 K-Pop Models

The document under study is an article from the BBC published in 2021. The article id presenting a vision of masculinity, from Brad Pitt to the BTS (K-pop group). Brad Pitt was the blue-eyed man with defined muscles; masculinity has evolved now to more androgynous form of male beauty with colored hair and make-up. It differs from traditional beauty standards which the references were DiCaprio or Pitt, now we can see men with more feminine traits.

In the past, it was not easy for these people to show up as they wished to. However, nowadays, the Asian market provides more and more interests in these people.

(We will continue the study of these texts next time)

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Unit 2: The Greater the Power…

How does the representation of politics in TV shows impact our understanding of power?

Axis: Art and Power

The Top Five White House TV Shows

The document under study is a video about the top five TV shows/ TV series that take place in the White House.

The first one is entitled “The West Wing”. It deals with how people work in the White House and how the juggle with their personal and professional lives. Moreover, it explores the balance between political strategy and public perception.

Homework: Watch the video again and complete the lesson.

Why do you think so many TV shows take place in the White House?

Pretty Hurts Analysis

The document under study is a video clip for the song entitled “Pretty Hurts” by the famous African-American singer Beyoncé.

In the video, we can see several women taking part in a beauty pageant.

In the backstage, every woman seems to be rival for example, we can see some fighting to have a blow-dryer. Besides, they are not supportive to one another at all. They seem to eat as little as possible to stay fit. We can even see one of them eating cotton balls to trick her stomach into being full. Some even go through surgery. Moreover, they are constantly measured and weighed. The goal of all that is to stay fit and look beautiful.

On stage, they look happy and beautiful, smiling fully. Nevertheless, in reality they are miserable, they had to suffer to be where they are.

Beyoncé’s message through her song is that she is denouncing the impact of the beauty industry that is conveying stereotypes and beauty standards that are painful to young girls and women in general. People should change their mentalities and accept and love their differences.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Moonlight and Magnolias

The two documents under study are extracts of articles, the first one comes from The Conversation website, published in 2025. The second one was published on Equal Justice Initiative website, in 2024. They both deal with plantation museums controversy.

In the first article, we learn about the fire that burnt down Nottoway plantation, Louisiana in May 2025. This tragic event triggered two types of reaction: historians and activists in favor for the preservation of the real history of slavery grieved the loss of this milestone monument. On the other hand, the people who prefer a whitewashed version of history celebrated the destruction of this building.

In the second document, we learn about how plantation tourism started: the former enslavers/slave masters were bankrupt right after Civil War (1861-1865) since they lost their free workforce with the end slavery. As a result, they decided to open the doors of their mansions to visitors and make money out of these visits. They would promote a gentle way of life in the South and would embellish the truth without mentioning the atrocities of slavery.

They would hide the lifestyles of slaves and how they were treated. In fact, the enslaved were dehumanized, treated as mere objects and properties and were deprived from their human rights. Slavery was a crime against humanity.

To conclude, plantation tourism is a burning issue/ heated controversy because there are two popular opinions: the first one is about people who prefer to sugarcoat history presenting and idealized version of the antebellum era; the second one is about people who want to tell the history as it really happened.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Moonlight and Magnolias

The documents under study are two articles, the first one is taken from The Conversation website, published in 2025. The second one was published on Equal Justice Initiative website in 2024. They both deal with plantation museum controversy.

In the first article, we learn about the fire that destroyed Nottoway Plantation, Louisiana in May 2025. There were different types of reaction: historians and activists for the preservation of the real history grieved the loss of this milestone monument, while others were thrilled to witness the destruction of this building. These were the people who prefer a whitewashed version of history. It reveals tensions between two groups of people: the ones who would prefer an idealized version of history, and another who are fighting to tell the truth as it really happened.

The second document, we learn that plantation tourism started right after the Civil War (1861-1865) when the former enslavers/slave masters who were bankrupt because of the end of slavery decided to open their doors to paying visitors to showcase their houses and make money out of it. They tried to promote gentle life in the South, presenting the lives of the owners and their family without ever mentioning the atrocities that were happening in these same houses through chattel slavery.

Indeed, what was missing and hidden was all the terrible things that happened during slavery and all the lives that were destroyed. In fact, the slave masters were extremely violent to the enslaved and they would consider the enslaved as mere objects and property deprived from human rights.

To conclude, plantation tourism is still a burning issue/ a heated controversy as plantation museums should be used as memorial rather than vacation sites.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Moonlight and Magnolias

The documents under study are two articles, the first is from The Conversation website, published in 2025. The second one is from Equal Justice Initiative website. They both deal with plantation museum controversy.

In the first document, we have learned about the fire that destroyed Nottoway plantation, Louisiana in May 2025. There were two types of reaction: on the one hand, when the mansion got destructed, some people mourned/grieved the loss of a touristic sites, whereas some others celebrated this event. This shows that even nowadays people do not have the same ideas about the past of slavery and its impact on today’s society.

In the second document, we have learned that plantation tourism began, after the Civil War (1861-1865) when the former slave masters/enslavers were out of money/bankrupt because they lost their free workforce with the end of slavery. When they opened their mansions, they would promote a false narrative in which white enslavers were always caring to their slaves. Due to this type of stories, the lives on plantations were called Moonlight and Magnolias fantasies.

What was hidden and missing was all the harsh conditions of life of the enslaved. In fact, the slaves were dehumanized, deprived from their human rights, treated as mere objects and properties.

To conclude, plantation tourism is still a burning issue today because they should be monuments honoring the enslaved and denouncing the horrors of slavery. Nevertheless, some are still used as a way to make profit for the descendants of the former landowners.

Homework: Learn the lesson. 

Moonlight and Magnolias

The documents under study are two articles: one is from The Conversation, published in 2025, and the second is from Equal Justice Initiative, published in 2024. They both deal with how in some plantation museums, the story of slavery is whitewashed and sugarcoated, replaced by moonlight and magnolias stories.

For example, we learn about Nottoway Plantation, Louisiana, which burnt down in May 2025. The reactions to this terrible event were split: indeed, on one hand, activists and historians for the preservation of the story of slavery were devastated by the loss of this milestone monument (a real piece of history). On the other hand, people who prefer a sugarcoated version of history were happy and even celebrated the loss of this monument.

In the second document, we learn that plantation tourism started after the Civil War (1860-1865). In fact, former enslavers started to open their mansions to visitors in order to make money. During their tours, they were promoting a gentle way of life in the South, hiding the truth about slavery. They were describing an idealized version of the Old South.

Hence, what is hidden or missing these tours, the lives of the free labor/workforce who enriched the landowners. Moreover, the slave masters were unkind to the slaves. The latter were treated as mere objects and property as they were dehumanized and had no human rights.

To conclude, plantation tourism is currently a burning issue/ heated controversy because there are groups of people who would prefer forget about this part of history while other people would like to shed light on this part of American history that still impacts race relations in the US today.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

A Young Man’s Portrait

The document under study is an extract of a novel entitled “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, published in 1891, written by Oscar Wilde.

It is about Dorian Gray, a narcissistic handsome young man who lives in London.

In this scene, there are three characters: Dorian Gray, the eponymous protagonist who is discovering his portrait. He is accompanied by Lord Henry who is a friend. There is also Basil Hallward, the artist who painted Dorian’s portrait. They are all at Hallward’s studio to discover the painting. Upon seeing the portrait, everyone seems amazed by Hallward’s artwork. Dorian seems to be shocked/amazed/ astonished by his own beauty. Nevertheless, at the same time, the painting makes him aware that his beauty will fade away with time, as he grows older. Besides, he becomes aware of his own mortality as a human being.

 A Young Man’s Portrait

The document under study is an extract of a novel entitled “The Picture of Dorian Gray”, written by Oscar Wilde in 1891. It is about Dorian Gray, a narcissistic young man who lives in London.

In this extract, there are three characters: Lord Henry who is a friend of Dorian, Dorian himself, eponymous protagonist who is discovering his portrait painted by Basil Hallward. They are in Hallward studio to discover his artwork.

Upon seeing/once he sees his portrait, Dorian seems to love it. Lord Henry is also impressed by this piece of art. It is as if he is discovering his beauty and he seems to fall in love with himself. Nevertheless, he understands he is not going to be young and handsome for his whole life, he is going to get old and get wrinkled. Indeed, this painting makes him aware of his own mortality as a human being.

Homework: Learn the lesson. 

Vacation Plantation

The document under study is a trailer for a documentary entitled “Vacation Plantation”, released in 2024. This documentary denounces that in some plantation museums, guides do not always share about the real story of slavery and choose to “whitewash” and “sugarcoat” the truth by focusing on the comfortable lives of the white landowners. In fact, their speech is more turned towards a white audience that want to hear some fairy tales about the Antebellum South. Therefore, there are some controversial thoughts about the meaning of these places because these people think that if they tell the truth about the suffering underwent by the enslaved at the time, it would depressed the visitors and make them uncomfortable.

 As a consequence, people from the black community are shocked by these choices, because, in their point of view, this type of visit should not be seen or experienced as a pleasant vacation day, but they are places to honor and to learn about what enslaved went through.

Homework: Learn the lesson.

Vacation Plantation

The document under study is a trailer for a documentary entitled “Vacation Plantation”, released in 2024. It denounces the fact that when plantation museums are presented to the public they hide the sufferings that the slaves were  submitted to and instead show off the beauty of the Big House. Indeed, the black community feels like the story of their ancestors is being “sugar coated” and “whitewashed” to make the white visitors happy instead of denouncing the horrors of slavery.

Homework: Learn the lesson

 Language in Progress

The Modal Expressions

1. Choose the option that best fits from the two choices.

a) I must stop speaking before I say something I'll regret. (a personal decision)

b) You ought to brush your teeth more than once a day! (a collective opinion)

c) She should read that book. (a word of advice)

d) They don’t have to finish that piece of cake. (a lack of obligation)

2. Complete the following sentences using the appropriate modal verb.

a) You should/must wash your hands before dinner.

b) You must not experiment on people!

c) You don’t have to come if you're tired.

d) You should/ought to change your eating habits.

Relative Pronouns

1. Complete the following sentences using the appropriate relative pronoun.

a) Do you know the lady whose daughter won the prize?

b) Look at the cute cat which is playing with string!

c) Roy is the name of the android which/whom I talked to you about.

d) This is the house where it happened.

e) Let me show you the place where the magic happens.

f) October 6th was the day   she had her first exhibition.

Vocabulary in Progress

1. Complete the following sentences with the appropriate idiom.

a) My grandmother is still active and healthy; she is truly in the prime of life. 

b) He almost drowned, but luckily he cheated death.

c) That old car finally kicked the bucket after years of use.

d) She had a serious accident, but she managed to live to tell the tale.

e) After eating that super spicy chili, I got so sick, thought I might bite the dust.

Homework: Learn the lesson.