#1 P. 1014 and #4 P. 1018

Kuper dramatizes the illustrations, background, and facial expressions in order provide fertile ground for humor.Through hyperbolic images, he encourages his viewers to feel remorse and sympathy for Gregor, a brilliant and genuinely good- hearted man, jailed in the body of a impotent vermin. Page 995 is just one image that directly reflects my preconceived notions about Metamorphosis. Through Kafka's diction, I have always imagined Gregor as a human-sized bug (not a tiny insect) awkwardly lying face up in bed, not knowing what to do with all of his new limbs. I love Kuper's addition of the alarm clock right on the bedside table reminding the reader of Gregor's old routine lifestyle and the early mornings he had to rise in order to catch the train as a traveling salesman. Often times, alarm clocks are also reminders of our limitations. For Gregor, it might serve as a physical reminder that he is running out of time (death approaching or he ran out of time in his human life), that he is late for work and now having to deal with the employer's consequences and the new consequences he'll have to face as a bug, or that he has failed in his life's task (financial provider).Kuper's choice to use black and white was expected for me. Color always influences the part of the human brain that signals hormonal (and thus emotional) responses, impacting how we initially react and respond. Hence when people "see red" or are "green with envy" or are "stuck in the blues" or "in the pink". It's amazing, but color really does manipulate human emotion. Black and white images also evoke emotional responses such as nostalgia, bleakness, and sentiment. Many times, we feel that black and white photography is devoid of emotional indicators, but instead Kuper captures eternity and endurance of the story, the morals, and the simplicity. Kuper encourages his viewers to think abstractly, provoked by thought and subtlety. 

Kafka Post (After being sick)

Metamorphosis magnifies and satisfies the necessity for eavesdropping. Though modern society views this means of interaction as regressive, rude, unprofessional, and oftentimes evil, Gregor uses eavesdropping as a means of human connection. Because his family starts neglecting him, increased especially when the lodgers arrive, he resorts to listening to what his family has to say about him. Overhearing his mother repulsed by his form and his father in disbelief of his son’s metamorphosis, Gregor fully recognizes his traumatic rejection by his family and his housekeeper too! Though detrimental and often times painful, our society has become one of casual eavesdropping. Social networking has become the hub of personal, pathetic, entertaining, and instant updates on what people are saying or doing and what they have seen someone else do. This constant sharing of news clearly devalues privacy. Undeniably through generations and culture, our private behavior has now become public. Even though eavesdropping damages his self-esteem at times, Gregor hardens his self-protection by learning what his family thinks of him. As society has proved, hearing the truth maintains order and safety. Therefore, Gregor takes advantage of this evolved communication, even at the expense of his ultimate demise.His story proves that the victim of eavesdropping is no longer the eavesdropper, but rather it’s the bystanders who can’t escape the words overheard. What might have seemed private is now thrown into his face, and like Gregor, the unspeakable are harmed, shamed, and destroyed.