Breaking Bad Questions

1. The "Pilot" episode of Breaking Bad was very interesting. At first I was skeptical because I've seen this show on Netflix before but never watched it. I would not recommend this show to a younger audience because of the content of sex and drugs. However, I did enjoy the episode. I enjoyed how the episode started with a scene from the end of the episode. This left me wondering what happened and interested in watching the rest of the episode to find out what happened. The suspense made the episode more intriguing.

2. Men in this episode were scene as tough. Walter's brother in law worked with the DEA and worked to take down meth labs. At Walter's birthday party, he was showing everyone his gun and asked Walter to hold it but he was hesitate. The men are not supposed to show any emotion and were supposed to be the head of the household, working multiple jobs, making all the money.

3. Walter's brother in law, Walter's student in his Chemistry class, and Walter's former student, meth maker, "Captain Cook" exhibit the socially acceptable masculine traits. I know this because all the men praise his brother in law when he shows his guns and is on television. Walter's student gets all the girls and respect from classmates. "Captain Cook" makes meth with chili powder, his signature ingredient and he is recognized for his work. Walter and his son Walter Jr, do not exhibit the socially acceptable masculine traits. Walter was afraid to hold the gun and does not really stand up to his students nor his boss at the car-wash until later in the episode. Walter Jr. suffers from cerebral palsy and is made fun of by classmates. His parents treat him like a child because of his condition.

4. This episode of Breaking Bad revealed economic problems. Walter and his family struggled with money, They did not have enough money to get a new water heater. Skylar, Walter's wife tracked how much they spent on their credit card because they did not have much money to pay it back. Walter only had a few pairs of "good clothes" as he described them. Also, with a baby on the way, it did not make things easier. Another problem addressed would be drugs. In reality, people really do run meth labs and sell drugs. Another problem is the effect on illness on the family. Walter has to look over his son and so does Skylar. Walter Jr.'s condition sometimes puts a strain on the family because Skylar treats him like a child and Walter thinks he should be independent. Lastly, Walter did not want to go to the hospital after he passed out because he said his insurance was not the best, meaning he would have to pay out of pocket, and his family already struggled with economic problems.

Reaction to Crapalachia

I enjoyed Crapalachia. I felt like it was a great novel that many people, no matter their background, could relate to in some shape or form. From death to love, I feel like most people have experienced these things. My favorite part in the novel would be on page 100 when Scott McClanahan told readers Ruby's recipe for her chicken gravy. I felt like although I knew everything was not true that Scott wrote about, I could tell that part was true. It reminded me of all the times I watch my mom cook and write down her recipes so when I have a family one day, I'll cook the same delicious meals she made me. I also like how McClanahan included the audience into his writing. I felt as though he was talking right to me.

What saddened me the most was Nathan's death. Nathan made the story most interesting to me. He reminded me of my cousin who had special needs. He passed away a few years ago but he could light up the room with his presence and funny jokes. Nathan was a lot to handle at times but to me, he was still a fascinating person. From his love of soap operas, to his love for Rhonda, Nathan was like a big teddy bear. Overall, I felt Crapalachia was a great novel. From Scott McClanahan's stylistic choices to the stories that were told of his family, it get kept me intrigued. 

Crapalachia Type 3

In the story the author talks about Uncle Grover, who suffered from depression and schizophrenia. Instead of taking him to the doctor, the family brought in a faith healer and had someone hold him down and tried to exorcise his demons. I connected this to modern life today. Some people believe that instead of getting the help they need like therapy or psychiatric help, they take it into their own hands that God is the ultimate healer. God is a healer but some people need actual professional help. Furthermore, it goes on to say that out of the 11 children, 5 of them committed suicide. Suicide is a real life issue that many people face in society today. Suicide is a mental disorder. God can heals things but he cannot heal a mental disorder.

I could connect the scene where the author learns of his grandma's cancer. Although Ruby had breast cancer but actually just benign I connected it to my grandma having throat cancer. My grandma passed a few years ago. When doctors caught wind of the cancer, it was too late and was already spreading quickly throughout her body. Doctors couldn't do anything because it was too late and a few days later my grandma passed away.