This graphic novel follows Asterios Polyp's life after his house burns down.. He was a professor and architect who taught at Cornell University before that all went down. He was kind of on the snooty side and always had something smart to say. Polyp decided to take what was left and travel on a bus looking for a new life. He becomes a mechanic.
I did not finish the entire graphic novel as of yet but just from the first few pages, you get a sense that it's not your typical comic book for kids. I think it is interesting that the narrator is his dead brother. It is definitely a different point of view and gives him freedom to be at any time and any place of his life because he saw it all happen. He is a reliable narrator.
I really liked the artwork. When Asterios explains technical things, his designs turn into very geometric and abstract art and that shows the character's personality a lot more than just a simple panel with words of him explaining it. It is also eye candy for the viewer.
His journey seems to look like it will mirror the Odyssey but I am not sure. I hope to finish it.
Sunday, April 24, 2016
Monday, April 18, 2016
The Color Purple
Link to the work: http://www.slideshare.net/mistatys/the-color-purple-alice-walker
Link to a theatre performance of the play version by an academy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No9zyJvUqPk
I think The Color Purple should be included because you get a different point of view. It could be a good alternative reading for Week Six's assignment: Reading from Diverse Positions.
The main character has a different tone of voice and the writing is written in the way she speaks so just from the writing alone, you can tell that the main character is not educated. You don't always see stories told in a series of short sentences unless it is a children's book. If someone nowadays were to turn that book in to a publisher, they might reject it due to the style it is written. People want vivid descriptions and lots of feelings but because of the narrator's personality, we do not get that. Instead, we just hear the story told by her.
Once you get past the language, you then have to tackle the subject matter. Color Purple is not the happiest book ever and everything that happens in that book will not be relatable to everyone. There is rape, arranged marriage, abuse, and separation from family. It is a little harder to relate to the experiences when you have not experienced those things first hand but it is relatable in a sense of how she handles it and regains her independence.
The questions that we had to answer about Jamaica Kincaid's story "Girl" can be applied to this story due to its themes. You can easily talk about the operations of the patriarchy here in the story, powers of the sexes, and sisterhood since there are some female relationships the main character develops.
Link to a theatre performance of the play version by an academy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=No9zyJvUqPk
I think The Color Purple should be included because you get a different point of view. It could be a good alternative reading for Week Six's assignment: Reading from Diverse Positions.
The main character has a different tone of voice and the writing is written in the way she speaks so just from the writing alone, you can tell that the main character is not educated. You don't always see stories told in a series of short sentences unless it is a children's book. If someone nowadays were to turn that book in to a publisher, they might reject it due to the style it is written. People want vivid descriptions and lots of feelings but because of the narrator's personality, we do not get that. Instead, we just hear the story told by her.
Once you get past the language, you then have to tackle the subject matter. Color Purple is not the happiest book ever and everything that happens in that book will not be relatable to everyone. There is rape, arranged marriage, abuse, and separation from family. It is a little harder to relate to the experiences when you have not experienced those things first hand but it is relatable in a sense of how she handles it and regains her independence.
The questions that we had to answer about Jamaica Kincaid's story "Girl" can be applied to this story due to its themes. You can easily talk about the operations of the patriarchy here in the story, powers of the sexes, and sisterhood since there are some female relationships the main character develops.
NewsWorld II Questions
1. Are there any prominent symbols in the story that you read? If so, what are they and how are they used?
I think the prominent symbol would have to be the Twin Towers. Throughout the story, the narrator talked about childhood and it coming to an end. The Twin Towers being crashed into represents the end of that childhood. They all came to see it because they have never seen anything like that. In that sense, they were seeking knowledge but when they were caught by an authority figure, they felt embarrassed and ashamed but also defiant. They did not cry out. They stood there, ready to take responsibility for their actions. Then, the jets curved into the towers, destroying their children and innocence they had.
2. What connections did you make with the story? Discuss the elements of the work with which you were able to connect.
The connections I made with the story were very minimal. I connected with the memories the narrator shared like "Animaniacs" and commercials of Six Flags. I knew Disney existed but I only went when I was too small to remember anything later on in life. Other than those type of references, I did not really connect with the story all that much. I was in America when the Twin Towers were hit but when they hit, it honestly did not affect me all that much because I was too young to understand I think. When I got older, they had lectures in school about 9/11 but I don't think I could ever connect with it on emotional level because I have never lost anyone to a tragedy like that. I also was a pretty obedient child. I did not sneak out or sneak into places. I was too scared of my parents. I think if I was a character in this particular story, they might have just left me home. I might have been too much of a buzz kill.
3. What changes would you make to adapt this story to another medium? What medium would you use? What changes would you make?
I think the best medium to adapt this to would be a comic strip because it would not need to be super long and drawled out if it were a movie. It is very short. We would lose all the vivid descriptions we get and substitute that for drawings in a panel. We would have to probably introduce the other characters either at the beginning or as we go through school scenes. The narrator would have to be shown first and we would have to switch from a third person limited point of you to a first person. It would be easier for the narration. The main character would have to say to the audience the comparisons that he makes just so we don't lose that comedy that was in the story.
I think the prominent symbol would have to be the Twin Towers. Throughout the story, the narrator talked about childhood and it coming to an end. The Twin Towers being crashed into represents the end of that childhood. They all came to see it because they have never seen anything like that. In that sense, they were seeking knowledge but when they were caught by an authority figure, they felt embarrassed and ashamed but also defiant. They did not cry out. They stood there, ready to take responsibility for their actions. Then, the jets curved into the towers, destroying their children and innocence they had.
2. What connections did you make with the story? Discuss the elements of the work with which you were able to connect.
The connections I made with the story were very minimal. I connected with the memories the narrator shared like "Animaniacs" and commercials of Six Flags. I knew Disney existed but I only went when I was too small to remember anything later on in life. Other than those type of references, I did not really connect with the story all that much. I was in America when the Twin Towers were hit but when they hit, it honestly did not affect me all that much because I was too young to understand I think. When I got older, they had lectures in school about 9/11 but I don't think I could ever connect with it on emotional level because I have never lost anyone to a tragedy like that. I also was a pretty obedient child. I did not sneak out or sneak into places. I was too scared of my parents. I think if I was a character in this particular story, they might have just left me home. I might have been too much of a buzz kill.
3. What changes would you make to adapt this story to another medium? What medium would you use? What changes would you make?
I think the best medium to adapt this to would be a comic strip because it would not need to be super long and drawled out if it were a movie. It is very short. We would lose all the vivid descriptions we get and substitute that for drawings in a panel. We would have to probably introduce the other characters either at the beginning or as we go through school scenes. The narrator would have to be shown first and we would have to switch from a third person limited point of you to a first person. It would be easier for the narration. The main character would have to say to the audience the comparisons that he makes just so we don't lose that comedy that was in the story.
Thursday, April 7, 2016
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Sofia Coppola
I watched Marie Antoinette, Lost in Translation, and A Very Murray Christmas. Just from those three movies, I have come to these conclusions. First and foremost, Bill Murray must be her favorite actor. She used him in two out of those movies as the lead, practically playing the same character but in a different setting and context. One takes place in Japan and the other takes place in New York during Christmas. Two, I think it is safe to assume that she finds glamour interesting. She likes to shoot films that shows glamour in a different light - what's behind all the glitter and gold of the hollywood world. You can see that theme clearly in Lost in Translation and A Very Murray Christmas for sure.
She takes the very serious topic of glamour and royalty and makes it more comedic. The comedy brings up back to reality a bit because if it were stiff, it would be watched more like a documentary and less like a movie. Her comedy is not in your face comedy but rather done through mostly the blocking of the characters and the way they interact. After watching these movies, I think I might be able to tell her apart depending on the theme of the movie but probably not all the time because that kind of comedy is not really uncommon in today's society. It is often preferred because a lot of people find serious movies boring. And her color palette changed from Marie Antoinette to Lost Translation. There is a big difference so I think color definitely can't be one of her defining features as a director. The theme and the blocking makes it hers.
She takes the very serious topic of glamour and royalty and makes it more comedic. The comedy brings up back to reality a bit because if it were stiff, it would be watched more like a documentary and less like a movie. Her comedy is not in your face comedy but rather done through mostly the blocking of the characters and the way they interact. After watching these movies, I think I might be able to tell her apart depending on the theme of the movie but probably not all the time because that kind of comedy is not really uncommon in today's society. It is often preferred because a lot of people find serious movies boring. And her color palette changed from Marie Antoinette to Lost Translation. There is a big difference so I think color definitely can't be one of her defining features as a director. The theme and the blocking makes it hers.
Monday, March 28, 2016
In class: Dream and Observation
Dream:
I am at a restaurant. I have already sat down. The tables are covered with white tablecloth and the chairs are black and ornate. There is a black vase in the middle of the round table I'm sitting at and it is filled with white droopy flowers. The waitress comes to my table and asks me what I want to order. I look around and everyone's plate starts levitating and start floating to the back of the kitchen.
She asks me again, what would I like to eat and I ask her about the floating plates. She asks me again, what would I like to eat as the items then stop and turn towards me, still floating in the air.
I am at a restaurant. I have already sat down. The tables are covered with white tablecloth and the chairs are black and ornate. There is a black vase in the middle of the round table I'm sitting at and it is filled with white droopy flowers. The waitress comes to my table and asks me what I want to order. I look around and everyone's plate starts levitating and start floating to the back of the kitchen.
She asks me again, what would I like to eat and I ask her about the floating plates. She asks me again, what would I like to eat as the items then stop and turn towards me, still floating in the air.
Observation:
The lonely amphitheater finally has some visitors. A girl with a rainbow umbrella is shielding herself from the bright sunlight that is coming from in front of the amphitheater. It is peachy in color and has a pebbled texture.The amphitheater has white paint splatters going down the stairs. There are black paint splatters on the stage. Due to the bright sunlight, there is a sharp caste shadow on the right as all the light is concentrated on the left side of the theatre. An ant is walking in and out of the top row of the amphitheater. The girl has headphones on and has a palette next to her legs. She is painting More people walk down the stairs of the amphitheater but no one dares stand in the middle. The stage is the loneliest part of all. The wind blows the tree branches from left to right. It is a soft breeze - not at all harsh in nature. When the wind hits the brush, only some parts of it move from left to right. The wind lessens.
Monday, March 21, 2016
The Anniversary Party
Set Designer
If I was the set designer, I would focus a lot on the interior of the house. There should be wedding photos on the walls and smaller frames with photos of Joe and Sally on the counter. The photos of them are repeated a lot because the photographer comes to the party as well. The characters mention how soft and subtle the interior is the color palette of the room should be neutral tones with a few pops of color here and there. I picture the wall in the living room being a light tan shade with a white panel near the floor. I picture the couches being dark brown leather because Joe mentions that Sally had to change a couple things to suit him. The floors will be wood with a artsy carpet with shades of red, orange, and brown that form a linear pattern. The pillows on the couch will be a golden shade to go with the dulled shades in the carpet. The coffee table will be glass while the counters and other tables in the house with be the shade of the couches. There will be a couple vases in the house with roses in the vase because it is an anniversary. The book case will also be dark brown wood and full of books including the book that the main characters were given to put in the book case to kiss up to the neighbors next door. The piano will be in the corner of the room and will be black with a red cushion on the seat of the piano. The windows will have curtains that are gold to match with the pillows.
If I was the set designer, I would focus a lot on the interior of the house. There should be wedding photos on the walls and smaller frames with photos of Joe and Sally on the counter. The photos of them are repeated a lot because the photographer comes to the party as well. The characters mention how soft and subtle the interior is the color palette of the room should be neutral tones with a few pops of color here and there. I picture the wall in the living room being a light tan shade with a white panel near the floor. I picture the couches being dark brown leather because Joe mentions that Sally had to change a couple things to suit him. The floors will be wood with a artsy carpet with shades of red, orange, and brown that form a linear pattern. The pillows on the couch will be a golden shade to go with the dulled shades in the carpet. The coffee table will be glass while the counters and other tables in the house with be the shade of the couches. There will be a couple vases in the house with roses in the vase because it is an anniversary. The book case will also be dark brown wood and full of books including the book that the main characters were given to put in the book case to kiss up to the neighbors next door. The piano will be in the corner of the room and will be black with a red cushion on the seat of the piano. The windows will have curtains that are gold to match with the pillows.
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Ready Player One Script
Scene in the Tomb of Horrors
The scene opens with a close up on Wade's face and then goes into a full frame where you can see the entire scene with Wade's back to the camera and the focus now on Acereak on the throne.
Wade (to himself): He looks exactly like he did on the cover of the original Tomb of Horrors module.
Acereak is sitting on his throne and does not rise. The camera zooms in on his face.
Acereak: Greetings Parzival.What is it that you seek?
The camera goes back to the full frame. When Wade starts speaking, the camera goes back to him and it is a medium shot from the torso up.
Wade: I seek the Copper Key.
The camera follows Wade's movements.
Wade (dropping to one knee and bows head) : Your majesty.
The camera goes back to Acereak who is shot from the torso up.
Acereak (motions for him to rise) : Of course you do. And you have come to the right place.
Acereak stands up and the camera zooms out so you can see his full body by the throne.
Acereak: But how do I know that you are worthy of possessing copper key?
The camera zooms in on Wade's nervous face.
Wade (to himself) : How does he expect me to answer that?
Wade: Allow me to prove myself to you Noble Acereak.
The camera goes into a full frame as Acereak smiles. Then it goes to a medium shot of Acereak as he speaks.
Acereak (yelling in delight) : Very well then! You shall prove your worth by defeating me in a joust!
The camera goes to a frontal shot of Wade still on his knees as he looks up in confusion.
Wade: But won't we need horses?
Frontal shot where Wade's back is to us as Acereak walks away from his throne.
Acereak (stepping away from his throne) : Not horses - birds.
The camera zooms in on Acereak's hand. Acereak waves his hand at his throne and it transforms into an old video game cabinet. Full frame shot during the transformation.
Medium shot of Acereak.
Acereak: Best two out of three games - If you win, I shall grant you what you seek.
Frontal Shot of Wade as he stands up. Then it goes into a medium shot.
Wade: And what if you win?
Close up on Acereak's eyes and then his lips as he curls his lips into a smirk.
Acereak: Then you die.
Medium shot as Acereak holds up his hand with a swirling flame in it, threateningly.
Wade: Of course. I thought so. I was just checking.
Medium shot of Wade as he holds up his hands. Close up on Acereak's hands with the two quarters in between his fingers.
Acereak (holding out two quarters) : The games are on me. Are you ready?
Full shot of both of them at their machines. Close up of Acereak's side profile as he asks Wade if he is ready. Close up of Wade's side of profile as he nods his head. The game starts. Close up on the two screens. Wade loses the first game. Medium shot of the two characters.
Acereak: One game down. Ready for the next one?
Close up on the coin machine and then a close up of Wade's face.
Wade: Actually, do you mind if we switch sides? I am used to playing on the left.
Medium shot of the two characters as the speak.
Acereak: Certainly.
Medium shot. Acereak switches sides with Wade and then they play again. Zoom in on the screen. Close up of the hand on the joystick. Wide shot of both hands playing with the joysticks. Close up of Wade's face. Close up of the winner screen. This time, Wade wins. Close up on Acereak's had on the joy stick. Close up of Wade's hand on the joystick. Wide shot of both playing the coin machine. Close up shot of the video game screen. Close up taking from below of Wade's determined face. Close up taking from below of Acereak's face. Medium shot. Close up of joystick. Heart beat sound in the background beating hard. Close up of the winner screen. Full frame of the setting. The third game it got more intense but Wade ultimately wins in the end. Close up of Acereak's hand extending for a handshake.
Acereak (extending his hand out for a handshake) : Good game.
Medium Shot of their handshake.
Wade (shaking his hand awkwardly) : Yea, good game man.
Medium shot of Aereak.
Aereak: Congratulations Parzival. You played well.
Medium shot of Wade. Medium shot of the two bowing to each other.
Wade: Thank you Noble Aereak.
They continue to bow until it goes into a full frame and a wizard flys in and appears in front of Wade. It is a tall wizard in black robes. Medium shot of the two characters. Medium shot of just the Wizard as he speaks.
Wizard: Now then, your reward.
Camera angle down as Wade looks up as magic dust flys up and down and then lands in the wizard's hands. Orchestra music plays in the background. close up on Wizard's hand. Copper Key has appeared. Medium shot of the two.
Wizard (handing Wade the copper key): Farewell sir Parzival. I bid you well on your journey.
Still medium shot of the two. Wade takes the copper key and then everyone disappears. Shots of an empty throne room and the empty room. Full frame with him standing in the middle of the floor and a lot of negative space is closer to the camera. He is alone in the empty chamber.
The scene opens with a close up on Wade's face and then goes into a full frame where you can see the entire scene with Wade's back to the camera and the focus now on Acereak on the throne.
Wade (to himself): He looks exactly like he did on the cover of the original Tomb of Horrors module.
Acereak is sitting on his throne and does not rise. The camera zooms in on his face.
Acereak: Greetings Parzival.What is it that you seek?
The camera goes back to the full frame. When Wade starts speaking, the camera goes back to him and it is a medium shot from the torso up.
Wade: I seek the Copper Key.
The camera follows Wade's movements.
Wade (dropping to one knee and bows head) : Your majesty.
The camera goes back to Acereak who is shot from the torso up.
Acereak (motions for him to rise) : Of course you do. And you have come to the right place.
Acereak stands up and the camera zooms out so you can see his full body by the throne.
Acereak: But how do I know that you are worthy of possessing copper key?
The camera zooms in on Wade's nervous face.
Wade (to himself) : How does he expect me to answer that?
Wade: Allow me to prove myself to you Noble Acereak.
The camera goes into a full frame as Acereak smiles. Then it goes to a medium shot of Acereak as he speaks.
Acereak (yelling in delight) : Very well then! You shall prove your worth by defeating me in a joust!
The camera goes to a frontal shot of Wade still on his knees as he looks up in confusion.
Wade: But won't we need horses?
Frontal shot where Wade's back is to us as Acereak walks away from his throne.
Acereak (stepping away from his throne) : Not horses - birds.
The camera zooms in on Acereak's hand. Acereak waves his hand at his throne and it transforms into an old video game cabinet. Full frame shot during the transformation.
Medium shot of Acereak.
Acereak: Best two out of three games - If you win, I shall grant you what you seek.
Frontal Shot of Wade as he stands up. Then it goes into a medium shot.
Wade: And what if you win?
Close up on Acereak's eyes and then his lips as he curls his lips into a smirk.
Acereak: Then you die.
Medium shot as Acereak holds up his hand with a swirling flame in it, threateningly.
Wade: Of course. I thought so. I was just checking.
Medium shot of Wade as he holds up his hands. Close up on Acereak's hands with the two quarters in between his fingers.
Acereak (holding out two quarters) : The games are on me. Are you ready?
Full shot of both of them at their machines. Close up of Acereak's side profile as he asks Wade if he is ready. Close up of Wade's side of profile as he nods his head. The game starts. Close up on the two screens. Wade loses the first game. Medium shot of the two characters.
Acereak: One game down. Ready for the next one?
Close up on the coin machine and then a close up of Wade's face.
Wade: Actually, do you mind if we switch sides? I am used to playing on the left.
Medium shot of the two characters as the speak.
Acereak: Certainly.
Medium shot. Acereak switches sides with Wade and then they play again. Zoom in on the screen. Close up of the hand on the joystick. Wide shot of both hands playing with the joysticks. Close up of Wade's face. Close up of the winner screen. This time, Wade wins. Close up on Acereak's had on the joy stick. Close up of Wade's hand on the joystick. Wide shot of both playing the coin machine. Close up shot of the video game screen. Close up taking from below of Wade's determined face. Close up taking from below of Acereak's face. Medium shot. Close up of joystick. Heart beat sound in the background beating hard. Close up of the winner screen. Full frame of the setting. The third game it got more intense but Wade ultimately wins in the end. Close up of Acereak's hand extending for a handshake.
Acereak (extending his hand out for a handshake) : Good game.
Medium Shot of their handshake.
Wade (shaking his hand awkwardly) : Yea, good game man.
Medium shot of Aereak.
Aereak: Congratulations Parzival. You played well.
Medium shot of Wade. Medium shot of the two bowing to each other.
Wade: Thank you Noble Aereak.
They continue to bow until it goes into a full frame and a wizard flys in and appears in front of Wade. It is a tall wizard in black robes. Medium shot of the two characters. Medium shot of just the Wizard as he speaks.
Wizard: Now then, your reward.
Camera angle down as Wade looks up as magic dust flys up and down and then lands in the wizard's hands. Orchestra music plays in the background. close up on Wizard's hand. Copper Key has appeared. Medium shot of the two.
Wizard (handing Wade the copper key): Farewell sir Parzival. I bid you well on your journey.
Still medium shot of the two. Wade takes the copper key and then everyone disappears. Shots of an empty throne room and the empty room. Full frame with him standing in the middle of the floor and a lot of negative space is closer to the camera. He is alone in the empty chamber.
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
What is Hamlet about?
I read the text
of Hamlet and I also watched the
movie Hamlet (1996).
To be honest,
Hamlet is not my favorite play. I blame my English teachers for that. Every
year in high school we studied Hamlet. I think they were obsessed with it. I
have seen a lot of different versions of it including a live play but I have
never watched Rosencrantz &
Guildenstern Are Dead nor did we ever discuss the play. I was actually unaware of this other perspective so it was an
interesting turn.
What is Hamlet
about? I think the meaning changes depending on who you focus on. In the
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern perspective it means that even main characters are
not the only ones that suffer. If you were to focus on Hamlet, you then go
large questions about death itself and the afterlife. I think as a whole, the
Hamlet play shows that every action we make or do not make affects more than
just ourselves. Everyone in a space moves as one unit and bounce off one
another. That notion is showed the most clearly in the Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
perspective. Hamlet was the cause of everyone’s unhappiness because he was
angry at his mother for her marriage. The new king hires them to talk to him
because of all this unrest. They agreed and Hamlet greeted them happily because
he regarded them as dearest friends. They did not stop what they were doing
after they found out the letter called for Hamlet to be killed and went on.
Because of that, Hamlet no longer found them to be companions but consorts with
the enemy, changed the letter, and had them killed. Their ending might have
different if they had done something instead of stay quiet. They might have not
been directly involved with the conspiracy but just their presence and their
actions were enough to lead them to a twisted fate just like the rest of the
characters.
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
In class: Hitting Budapest
Hitting Budapest
What are the primary features of
this world--spatial, cultural, biological, fantastic, cosmological?
The primary features of the world
in this story would be poverty, large amount of land, and hunger. I say poverty
because the children in this story are compelled to search for food (guavas) to
eat due to their hunger. They often speak of what life they would like to live
that consists of America, houses, and being able to bathe and look nice
everyday. The large of amount of land is there because the children are looking
for food in multiple places so the country they live in must be vast in order
for them to do that, especially if they are only looking for guava trees. That
notion cold be due to the cultural feature of the world. A biological feature
of this world would be pregnancy.
What is the world’s ethos (the
guiding beliefs or ideals that characterize the world)?
This world's main belief would
have that you have to survive anyway you can. The children continue to go from
place to place stealing guava from the trees. They do not seem at all guilty
because they are hungry. When they see the woman has committed suicide, they
devise a plan to sell her shoes to get food. Another belief would be not to
waste food. When they first meet the skinny woman with a camera, they become
intrigued by what she is eating. They, then, are later angry with her when she
throws what is left of the food on the ground because she did not offer it to
them if she did not want the rest and wasted food. Due to the high amount of
poverty and a character's pregnancy, they are furious that she would waste
perfectly good food.
What are the precise strategies
that are used by its creator to convey the world to us and us to the
world?
The writer sticks to the child's
point of view and uses descriptions of the outsider woman with the camera you
would never think of using like "the skinny woman" and "I can
tell from the vein on the side of her neck, and the way she smacks her
big lips, that what she is eating tastes good." The
lady at end hanging by the woman is described with mostly the way she is
dressed and how thin she is.
How are our characters connected
to the world?
The characters are connected to
the world because they are stealing from it. They are stealing from every guava
tree they see since the tree they used to go to is now empty.
And how are we the viewer or reader
or player connected to the world?”
We are connected by the Child's
point of view used.
The Dewbreaker
I identify with the wife in the short story Seven. I identify with the wife because of the realities of immigration. In most cases, one member of the family goes to America (usually the husband) and then works to file for the rest of the family so that they could all live in America together.
The wife reminds me of my mother and how she felt coming to the United States. When my stepfather filed for us, he had to file for my mother and me. My younger brother, who was just a baby at the time, did not need to worry because since my stepfather was a citizen, he, too, was a citizen. He just had to get on a plane.
Unlike the characters in the story, we did not spend out first night in an apartment. My stepfather found a house with the help of his co-workers. A lot like the character in Seven, my mother wanted to work and my father did not really want her to. She spoke English because Jamaica has a British education system but a lot of places assumed that she did not. She ended up going to a community college where she had to prove she could speak English properly.
I think this short story has a very realistic view of a man's life without his wife until she can come to the United States. While women would hope that their men would not be led astray by other women in her absence, the main character's thought is what she does not know cannot hurt her. What matters now is that they are together and that they must learn to blend in with the American lifestyle. They are not in Haiti anymore.
The wife reminds me of my mother and how she felt coming to the United States. When my stepfather filed for us, he had to file for my mother and me. My younger brother, who was just a baby at the time, did not need to worry because since my stepfather was a citizen, he, too, was a citizen. He just had to get on a plane.
Unlike the characters in the story, we did not spend out first night in an apartment. My stepfather found a house with the help of his co-workers. A lot like the character in Seven, my mother wanted to work and my father did not really want her to. She spoke English because Jamaica has a British education system but a lot of places assumed that she did not. She ended up going to a community college where she had to prove she could speak English properly.
I think this short story has a very realistic view of a man's life without his wife until she can come to the United States. While women would hope that their men would not be led astray by other women in her absence, the main character's thought is what she does not know cannot hurt her. What matters now is that they are together and that they must learn to blend in with the American lifestyle. They are not in Haiti anymore.
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
How are gender roles defined?
I read Yellow Wallpaper, Even the Queen, and A Good Man is Hard to find along with the class reading of Girl.
I think when it comes to gender roles it all boils down to dominance. Males have always been dominant in a patriarchal society so it is stereotypical to see male characters that are assertive and look down at women for being the fairer sex. The power a man holds is always put forth. For example, in the story Girl, the main character is being informed of all the things she needs to do that would make her a good wife and find a good man. She is not told how to be a better person for herself. She is making herself a better fit for a more powerful man. She is told specific things like how to iron clothes, how to not behave in the presence of a man, and how to cook. That is the stereotypical housewife.
In the play the Doll House, the gender roles are clearly defined. The wife goes out shopping and the husband belittles her for spending so much. He even shames her for buying macaroons. The title of the story makes sense when you delve deeper into the work and see more of how the husband treats his wife - like a child because in the time period of this work, women were seen as helpless creatures who need men's guidance to survive. He does not talk to her about anything serious and she leaves him in the end, stating that she has been treated like a doll her whole life, first by her father and then by him. That says a lot about gender roles when it comes to marriage as well. When a man marries a female, he takes the place of her father as her authority figure.
It is quite sad that this had to occur back in the day and it is even sadder that a lot of men still think like about women today. I think relationships between a man and women should not be a relationship that requires authority over the other but rather mutual understanding, support, and good communication.
I think when it comes to gender roles it all boils down to dominance. Males have always been dominant in a patriarchal society so it is stereotypical to see male characters that are assertive and look down at women for being the fairer sex. The power a man holds is always put forth. For example, in the story Girl, the main character is being informed of all the things she needs to do that would make her a good wife and find a good man. She is not told how to be a better person for herself. She is making herself a better fit for a more powerful man. She is told specific things like how to iron clothes, how to not behave in the presence of a man, and how to cook. That is the stereotypical housewife.
In the play the Doll House, the gender roles are clearly defined. The wife goes out shopping and the husband belittles her for spending so much. He even shames her for buying macaroons. The title of the story makes sense when you delve deeper into the work and see more of how the husband treats his wife - like a child because in the time period of this work, women were seen as helpless creatures who need men's guidance to survive. He does not talk to her about anything serious and she leaves him in the end, stating that she has been treated like a doll her whole life, first by her father and then by him. That says a lot about gender roles when it comes to marriage as well. When a man marries a female, he takes the place of her father as her authority figure.
It is quite sad that this had to occur back in the day and it is even sadder that a lot of men still think like about women today. I think relationships between a man and women should not be a relationship that requires authority over the other but rather mutual understanding, support, and good communication.
Monday, February 8, 2016
Wes Anderson and Stefan Zweig
I have
read Stefan Zweig's Twenty-Four Hours in the life of a Woman and watched
Wes Anderson's The Grand Budapest Hotel. There are a lot of similarities
between the two works.
The two
works shared the same theme of telling your story to a stranger. I think it is
an interesting concept because in today's society, the thought of telling your
whole life story to a stranger is the last thing on your mind. People do it on
social media sometimes but it can be deleted from public view or can be denied
in person. When you are telling someone in person, it is a lot harder to deny
anything. Why a stranger? I think it is because if you were to tell someone you
knew, they would be more likely to pity you. The characters in both Stefan
Zweig's literature and Wes Anderson's film do not need pity or remorse for the
events that affected them. This notion leads to a more romantic way of
presenting characters because as a society, we are used to pitying characters
like that because it is hard to feel empathy for something that has never
happened to you. In movies today, characters like this would cry and seek
comfort. In these characters, they only seek understanding and want someone
else to know their story. Why? Well, I suppose they figure someone out there
should know.
Wes
Anderson's strength as a director is the ability to recreate time periods with
more accurate film styles, color palettes, blocking of characters, and not
overdoing the use of modern technology. When people create movies now about
stories that take place in another time period, they tend to overdo it, and it
starts to look less authentic to the time period. An example of that would have
to be the newest version of The Great Gatsby. I think he direct
influence from Stefan Zweig's story content and the literary devices that he
used. Story is really big in the movie and Wes Anderson tends to take on
subjects that not a lot of other directors of our time would due to the popular
demand of other movie genres.
After
reading the novella and seeing the movie, I have come to the conclusion that
the similarities are no accident. He does use what he has taken from the author
in a way that he can twist it in his way and create his own worlds. This makes
him a good storyteller.
Sunday, January 31, 2016
True Grit
There are many stereotypes when it comes to Western films.
When one thinks about a western story, one usually associates it with cowboys,
one on one gunfights, outlaws, Native Americans, robbers, lawmen, and lots of
harsh wildlife. The protagonists are usually male and they are usually a
cowboy, gunman or a bounty hunter. The women are usually pretty and there for a
little romance but not needed to tell the story successfully for it is meant to
be action packed. Women are usually minor to men and are usually one of the
four roles: mother, teach, prostitute, or sometimes an outlaw. In True Grit, not all of these stereotypes
are represented.
For one, the main protagonist is a female – a young female no less with a lot of spunk and determination. She wants revenge despite the risks. In the book, it is all told from her point of view but in the movie, her character is a little overshadowed by Rooster. Even LeBeouf does not seem that strong of a character in the movie in comparison to Rooster. This follows the western film stereotype even though the book deviates from it. On top of that, the story in general does not include a lot of Native Americans. They are mentioned briefly during the hanging of one but they are not the main focus and there is not any real interaction between the protagonist and a native.
For one, the main protagonist is a female – a young female no less with a lot of spunk and determination. She wants revenge despite the risks. In the book, it is all told from her point of view but in the movie, her character is a little overshadowed by Rooster. Even LeBeouf does not seem that strong of a character in the movie in comparison to Rooster. This follows the western film stereotype even though the book deviates from it. On top of that, the story in general does not include a lot of Native Americans. They are mentioned briefly during the hanging of one but they are not the main focus and there is not any real interaction between the protagonist and a native.
I think
this story really does give an interesting twist to westerns and Mattie is a
very strong character in the story. When she is hurt at the end, one cannot
help but feel saddened by the fact that she must be amputated. We are
conditioned to hope for a happy ending in movies and books. This was a happy
ending in terms of a mission being completed but not in terms of all the blood
that was shed and who had to suffer after. It is a very realistic ending and it
is good to see a story pushing the boundaries of its genre.
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