The Diary of Kristina’s Two Brain Cells

One thing I found interesting from class was the idea that deviance can actually be healthy for society. Before discussing this, I usually thought of deviance as simply doing something wrong or going against the rules. It's a good point how having people who are considered different helps groups define what is normal and acceptable. In a way, we need an other to understand who we are. So much of our identity is shaped by the groups we belong to and how we compare ourselves to other people, too.  I also saw this idea in The Talented Mr. Ripley . Tom Ripley seems insecure about who he is, so he changes himself to fit into the wealthy and socially accepted world that Dickie belongs to. What stood out to me was how easily people trusted Tom because he had certain signs that made him appear like he belonged, such as the Princeton jacket and his connection to Dickie. It made me think about how people often judge others based on social cues rather than actually knowing them. For example, ...

I think the phrase “a wolf in sheep’s clothing” is interesting because it connects deception with something that looks completely harmless. The idea of a wolf pretending to be a sheep shows how someone can hide their true intentions behind a friendly or innocent appearance. Matthew 7:15 uses this idea to warn people about false prophets who may seem trustworthy but actually have harmful intentions. It also made me start thinking about people in my own life and how anyone could really be faking who they are. It's interesting but also a pessimistic view of others.  This idea also connects to werewolf legends and the witch trials in Europe. During the early modern period, people were often superstitious and looked for supernatural explanations for things they could not understand. Werewolf accusations became connected to larger witch hunts, and innocent people could be accused and even executed. These trials were influenced by superstition, religious and political conflicts, and the ...