For over hundreds of years the United States has fought a long, vicious war on attempting to control alcohol consumption among citizens. The United States had lost the first battle when the Prohibition that restricted the manufacturing and sale of alcoholic beverages had failed and caused a backlash from the American people. From there on the United States has struggled with alcohol consumption and a fluctuating minimum legal drinking age. After a few struggles with finding an appropriate drinking age; the country settled with the minimum legal drinking age at 21. However, it appears that another storm is on the horizon; within the past three years authority figures have resurfaced a controversial debate on lowering the legal minimum drinking age. The minimum legal drinking age should not be lowered because it decreases alcohol related health problems, driving accidents, and fatalities in young adults.
In 1917, Congress approved the 18th Amendment that prohibited the manufacture, sale, transportation, and consumption of alcoholic beverages in the United States (McGrew). Before the 18th Amendment was ratified over half of the states were banning alcohol and by January 16, 1920 the entire country was dry (Prohibition). The leaders of prohibition, including the Anti-Saloon League and the Women’s Christian Temperance Union, pressured the ban of alcoholic beverages because they were outraged by the drinking behavior of American and frustrated with Saloon owners who were bringing in gambling and prostitution into their establishments to create more business (Why Prohibition?). Enforcing the law on Prohibition was the most difficult task that the country faced. Crimes such as smuggling, bootlegging, and homemade alcohol concoctions increased. The enforcement of the prohibition soon proved to be impossible. On December 5, 1933 the prohibition ended (Prohibition).
After prohibition, the Federal Alcohol Control Administrations was established. The FACA was given power to grant and revoke alcoholic beverage industry permits, plant capacity and production, and prohibit false advertising of alcoholic beverages (McGrew). A minimum legal drinking age of 21 was also established at this time the legal drinking age remained at 21 until the 1970’s when 29 states lowered their drinking age to18, 19, and 20. Young adults were now being able to participate in voting, thus giving a reason why they should also be able to drink alcohol. After studies from the 1970’s showed significant evidence that after lowering the drinking age that there was a huge increase in alcohol related accident and fatalities, citizens urged that the legal drinking age be moved back up to 21. From 1976 and 1983, 16 states changed the drinking age to 21 (Minimum Legal). Finally in 1984, the Federal Union Drinking Age was signed into law. This law withholds 10 percent of Federal highway funds from any state that allows the purchase and possession of any alcohol beverage to an individual under the age of 21. All the states complied (Research Findings). Since 1984 the minimum legal drinking age (MLDA) has stayed the same. In 2007 college presidents began speaking out and opening the debate on reducing the MLDA. College presidents, politicians, and supporters began organizations to support their claims.
In 2007 John M. McCardell Jr., former President of Middlebury College, founded a nonprofit organization called Choose Responsibility. This group was formed after McCardell was approached by the Robertson Foundation (A foundation that investigates consequence of the 21 year-old drinking age) to research and write a report on the 21 year-old drinking age. After the report received positive reviews McCardell received funds to start Choose Responsibility (About Choose Responsibility). Choose Responsibility believes that once the MLDA is lowered, individuals should be required to have alcohol education classes and a permit for drinking (Our Proposal Choose Responsibility).
In June 2008, McCardell was invited to speak at a meeting for the Annapolis Group, a group of 120 liberal colleges. While preparing for the presentation, McCardell contacted several long-time friends that were Annapolis Presidents and asked them about their thought on the 21 year-old drinking age. McCardell and his friends discovered they all had a common interest in reopening the debate to the public on lowering the drinking age. The group discussed the possibility of other college presidents supporting their opinions. They concluded that any college president agreeing with lowering the drinking can join their cause. Thus they created the Amethyst Initiative. To this day, 135 individuals have signed the Amethyst Initiative supporting lowering the drinking age (About Amethyst Initiative).
The Amethyst Initiative states that the twenty one is not working because “Adults under 21 are deemed capable of voting, signing contracts, serving on juries and enlisting in the military, but are told they are not mature enough to have a beer.” And that “A culture of dangerous, clandestine “binge-drinking”-often conducted off- campus –has developed.”
Amongst college presidents, several state politicians are urging the lowering of the drinking age. Seven states including Kentucky, Missouri, Minnesota, South Carolina, South Dakota, Wisconsin, and Vermont are considering taking their own measures on the drinking age. Kentucky, Wisconsin, and South Carolina legislation introduced the idea of lowering the drinking age for military members only. While Vermont’s legislature is taking a task force to study the issue under consideration. Minnesota is considering a bill that would allow any individual 18 and older to purchase alcohol in bars and restaurants but not at liquor stores until they are 21 (Keen).
While several states and many college presidents are encouraging the lowering of the MLDA more than half of American citizens think otherwise. According to a 2007 Gallup Poll, “77 percent of Americans oppose of lowering the drinking age to 18.” (Keen). Amongst those opposed to the idea are large organizations such as Mother Against Drunk Driving (MADD), The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, and the American Medical Association (Parker). All three groups believe that the current MLDA has done exactly what it was established to do and should not be lowered.
“The 21 limit has been shown time and time again that it saves lives. I hope it doesn’t go anywhere,” says Jean Mulvey, the executive director of MADD (Henry). According to a 2008 report by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the MLDA laws have saved more than 26,000 lives since 1975. They also stated that the current drinking age law saves around 900 lives in traffic fatalities per year (Henry). If the drinking age was reduced, the number of motor vehicle injuries and fatalities would increase. “Twenty-eight percent of 15-20 year old drivers who were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2005 had been drinking” (Impaired Driving SADD). Young drivers have very little experience as it while driving and cause a high number of accidents every year, adding the alcohol would be a highly dangerous mix.
Along with traffic safety, alcohol at a young age can cause severe health problems. During adolescence the body goes through many changes such as hormonal alterations and brain development. Exposing the brain to alcohol during this transition can interrupt the brains developmental process. The U.S. Government publication, Prevention Alert, confronted teen alcohol abuse and the negative side effects attached to it. The study stated that small doses of alcohol in teens can lead to learning impairments that could affect academic and occupational achievement. In one experiment between alcohol-dependent and nondependent teens from ages 15-16 showed that alcohol-dependent teens had a greater difficulty remembering works and simple geometric designs. Other studies showed that alcohol interacted with conditions such as depression and stress that contributed to suicide. Alcohol poisoning is a major health concern for drinkers. In 1995, 318 people from the ages of 15-24 died from alcohol poisoning (The Health Effects Teen Drug Abuse). Drinking alcohol at an early age can lead to alcohol dependence later in life. Over forty percent of youth who start drinking before age 13 develop alcohol abuse later in life (Wechsler Wuethrich 72).
With the current drinking age many minors still have the capability of getting alcohol. Fifty eight percent of 12th grade students have reported being drunk at least once in their life. While twenty percent of 8th graders reported being drunk at least once in their life (Underage Drinking SADD). Underage drinking is a huge problem in the United States and no one seems to have answers to solve it. With lowering the drinking age to 18 we are allowing individuals who have broken and disrespected our current laws the right to drink. Lowering the drinking age will give youth ages under the age of 18 easier access to alcohol.
An argument for supports of lowering the drinking is that in European countries many legal drinking ages are at 16 years and they have no problem with drinking; they are wrong. Binge drinking is an increasing and deadly fad in Europe. In 1999, 55,000 youths aged 15-21 died from alcohol. In a study of thirty European countries, binge drinking in 15-17 year olds increased in all 30 countries (Wechsler Wuethrich 81).In 1999, New Zealand lowered the drinking age from 20 to 18. Since the decrease traffic crashes and injuries have increased twelve percent for 18-19 year old males and fourteen percent for 18-19 year old females (Lowering the Drinking Age Join Together).
The minimum legal drinking age has set out and fulfilled its purpose from that start. It saves hundreds of lives every year. It decreases health problems, injuries and driving accidents in young adults. If the drinking age was lowered in all areas would we see a decrease in negative effects from alcohol consumption. In no way would lowering the drinking age have any positive effects on young adults and their futures.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Demons in Different Religions and Cultures
Demon mythology has been around for centuries; dating to before there was any human records and is known throughout many religions and cultures across the world. Throughout the years demon mythology has been passed down and depicted differently through every culture. The word demon derives from the Greek word daimon, meaning a supernatural spirit or power of an inferior sort. Demons have not always been associated with evil and menacing spirits as how they are viewed by today.
In pre-Islamic times there was no difference between gods or demons. Jinns (Genies) are supernatural beings made from smokeless fire by Allah (God), that live among humans and angels. The Jinns were the only beings that had freewill other than humans. Jinns could take on human and animal shapes to lore men into doing good or evil. The leader of this group is Iblis (the devil according to the Qur’an). According to tradition Iblis refused to bow down to Allah’s newly created man, Adam, because Iblis felt superior to any other being because he was made of fire. He still continues to tempt humans through whispers and false suggestions. It is believed that one day Iblis will be cast to Jahannon (hell).
In Judaism, Lilith is the princess of all demons. It is said that she was the first wife of Adam before God gave him Eve. Lilith refused Adam when he tried to make her lie beneath him during sexual intercourse. Not wanting to be dominated by a man, Lilith ran to the red sea where she cursed out three angels that God sent to bring her back to Adam. While at the red sea Lilith became a lover to demons and produced more than one hundred children a day. God told her that her demon children would go away if she did not go back to Adam. She again refused and was punished while Adam was given Eve to fill Lilith’s place. After being punished by God, Lilith became the wife of Samael, the angel of death. Lilith went on to seduce men and kill off newborn children. Even though the legend of Lilith died out, her daughters, Lilim, went thousands of years torturing men. It is said that men who experience nocturnal emissions are being seduced by Lilith and her daughters.
In Hindu and Buddhist religions there are many demons. Vritra (the enemy of the gods), Yama (the king of death) and Ravana (the Demon King) are just a few of the several dozen in Hindu culture. Rakshasa is one of the more well known demons. Rakshasa uses its powers to distract men from their true path and spiritual progression.
Christian beliefs in demons were adopted by Judaism traditions. Christians say that demons are fallen angels that conspired against God and his kingdom under their leader Satan. They were cast out of heaven by the archangel Michael and the other holy angels to realm the Earth. Not much is known about the battle to get the rebels out of the heavens because the war happened long before human records or possibly human existence. Satan and his worshipers have been allowed to tempt and induce humans into doing wrong. Like many other religions there are several different demons that all have different purposes. In present day, Liberal day Christians consider demon reference in the bible to have no value and have no longer believe in the existence of demons. On the other hand conservative Christians still believe that they are demons.
For centuries every culture or religion has had their own tales and ideas about demons. No matter what religion you look at all, of them seem to have a lot of similarities on their beliefs.
In pre-Islamic times there was no difference between gods or demons. Jinns (Genies) are supernatural beings made from smokeless fire by Allah (God), that live among humans and angels. The Jinns were the only beings that had freewill other than humans. Jinns could take on human and animal shapes to lore men into doing good or evil. The leader of this group is Iblis (the devil according to the Qur’an). According to tradition Iblis refused to bow down to Allah’s newly created man, Adam, because Iblis felt superior to any other being because he was made of fire. He still continues to tempt humans through whispers and false suggestions. It is believed that one day Iblis will be cast to Jahannon (hell).
In Judaism, Lilith is the princess of all demons. It is said that she was the first wife of Adam before God gave him Eve. Lilith refused Adam when he tried to make her lie beneath him during sexual intercourse. Not wanting to be dominated by a man, Lilith ran to the red sea where she cursed out three angels that God sent to bring her back to Adam. While at the red sea Lilith became a lover to demons and produced more than one hundred children a day. God told her that her demon children would go away if she did not go back to Adam. She again refused and was punished while Adam was given Eve to fill Lilith’s place. After being punished by God, Lilith became the wife of Samael, the angel of death. Lilith went on to seduce men and kill off newborn children. Even though the legend of Lilith died out, her daughters, Lilim, went thousands of years torturing men. It is said that men who experience nocturnal emissions are being seduced by Lilith and her daughters.
In Hindu and Buddhist religions there are many demons. Vritra (the enemy of the gods), Yama (the king of death) and Ravana (the Demon King) are just a few of the several dozen in Hindu culture. Rakshasa is one of the more well known demons. Rakshasa uses its powers to distract men from their true path and spiritual progression.
Christian beliefs in demons were adopted by Judaism traditions. Christians say that demons are fallen angels that conspired against God and his kingdom under their leader Satan. They were cast out of heaven by the archangel Michael and the other holy angels to realm the Earth. Not much is known about the battle to get the rebels out of the heavens because the war happened long before human records or possibly human existence. Satan and his worshipers have been allowed to tempt and induce humans into doing wrong. Like many other religions there are several different demons that all have different purposes. In present day, Liberal day Christians consider demon reference in the bible to have no value and have no longer believe in the existence of demons. On the other hand conservative Christians still believe that they are demons.
For centuries every culture or religion has had their own tales and ideas about demons. No matter what religion you look at all, of them seem to have a lot of similarities on their beliefs.
Why the College Dropout Rates are so High
For decades America has attempted to get more young adults into college and yet even with the high enrollment rates the college dropout rates are skyrocketing high. According to a study from 2007 by the Department of Education over 30 percent of college students drop out after the first year and almost 50 percent never graduate. The increasingly high college dropout rate is a growing problem that America faces. Many educators and other officials are trying to find answers and solutions to this problem.
No one can say for sure what the reasons are behind so many students are dropping out of college. Among the many reasons students have for leaving college are financial struggles and simply because they were not prepared for college.
Government officials and educators believe that a majority of students who graduate from high school aren’t academically ready to handle college level classes. While students are in high school many students decided to take it easy their senior year. Since most high schools only require students to take three years of science and social studies courses some students feel they no longer need courses in those fields. College administrators say this is one of the reasons why students aren’t prepared for college. They claim that the student is wasting a year of his or her education to take easier classes that won’t necessarily prepare them for college level courses. Also, students are finding that they have to take remedial classes in math, reading and English to catch up with their peers. Even when taking remedial classes students are still struggling to get by. Homework and studying come in heavy loads in college, while college freshmen barely spent two hours a night on homework in high school. College freshmen do not have the proper studying and note-taking techniques that are needed to succeed in college courses.
Along with students not being academically prepared for college, others may find themselves not being able to handle the freedoms and responsibilities that come along with leaving home for higher education. A high number of students drop out of college because they cannot find a proper balance between social and academic life. According to recent studies 1,400 college students die every year because of alcohol poisoning, drunk driving, dangerous pranks and other risky behaviors (all alcohol related). The majority of those students being college freshmen. Sara Stanton, a student at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire recalls her freshmen year; "I remember going to parties every night for the first couple of weeks. There aren't any major exams or papers for the first couple of weeks, so you're almost lulled into a false sense of security. But you snap out of it pretty quick. I remember feeling like the grasshopper that played all summer; now it was my turn to pay, (Whitborne, 2).” Excessive partying and dating takes time away from students from their studies and though at first they may seem to be able to keep up with their work, in the end the results are poor and failing grades.
A fairly new reason for students leaving college is an increase in mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety. In a 2005 survey, 90 percent of college counseling centers reported seeing students with more serious mental illnesses. The increase is leaving many colleges struggling with ways to address this problem. A majority of colleges have programs that help students with emotional needs. Some schools give students with mental illnesses the choice between a six month voluntary leave or a twelve month involuntary leave to get back on track. While other schools such as The University of Illinois have created a suicide prevention program. The program includes four sessions of therapy after a suicide attempt or threat from a student. The university claims that the suicide rate has been cut in half since the program was initiated in the 1980’s.
Lastly, financial reasons seem to be at the top of the charts for why many students do not finish their degrees. According to 2007 statistics, 38 percent of college dropouts leave school due to financial problems. An average student attending college for a four year degree totals in more than $15,000 to $20,000 of debt by the time they graduate. The increase in tuition and decline in student grants makes it very difficult for students to be able to pay off loans and debt. On top of tuition costs, students have to pay for books, food, and other necessities. With all these costs in mind, many students can’t afford to finish school or even afford to pay for what little college they have completed.
Whatever the reasons may be behind students leaving college, one thing for certain is that the college dropout rate is an increasing problem throughout the nation. College preparation in high school is just one of the few things educators and officials could improve. Creating student success programs, freshman studies classes, suicide awareness, and funding to start these programs and continue research on how colleges can produce more graduating students could be a few solutions to our nations problem.
No one can say for sure what the reasons are behind so many students are dropping out of college. Among the many reasons students have for leaving college are financial struggles and simply because they were not prepared for college.
Government officials and educators believe that a majority of students who graduate from high school aren’t academically ready to handle college level classes. While students are in high school many students decided to take it easy their senior year. Since most high schools only require students to take three years of science and social studies courses some students feel they no longer need courses in those fields. College administrators say this is one of the reasons why students aren’t prepared for college. They claim that the student is wasting a year of his or her education to take easier classes that won’t necessarily prepare them for college level courses. Also, students are finding that they have to take remedial classes in math, reading and English to catch up with their peers. Even when taking remedial classes students are still struggling to get by. Homework and studying come in heavy loads in college, while college freshmen barely spent two hours a night on homework in high school. College freshmen do not have the proper studying and note-taking techniques that are needed to succeed in college courses.
Along with students not being academically prepared for college, others may find themselves not being able to handle the freedoms and responsibilities that come along with leaving home for higher education. A high number of students drop out of college because they cannot find a proper balance between social and academic life. According to recent studies 1,400 college students die every year because of alcohol poisoning, drunk driving, dangerous pranks and other risky behaviors (all alcohol related). The majority of those students being college freshmen. Sara Stanton, a student at Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire recalls her freshmen year; "I remember going to parties every night for the first couple of weeks. There aren't any major exams or papers for the first couple of weeks, so you're almost lulled into a false sense of security. But you snap out of it pretty quick. I remember feeling like the grasshopper that played all summer; now it was my turn to pay, (Whitborne, 2).” Excessive partying and dating takes time away from students from their studies and though at first they may seem to be able to keep up with their work, in the end the results are poor and failing grades.
A fairly new reason for students leaving college is an increase in mental illnesses, such as depression and anxiety. In a 2005 survey, 90 percent of college counseling centers reported seeing students with more serious mental illnesses. The increase is leaving many colleges struggling with ways to address this problem. A majority of colleges have programs that help students with emotional needs. Some schools give students with mental illnesses the choice between a six month voluntary leave or a twelve month involuntary leave to get back on track. While other schools such as The University of Illinois have created a suicide prevention program. The program includes four sessions of therapy after a suicide attempt or threat from a student. The university claims that the suicide rate has been cut in half since the program was initiated in the 1980’s.
Lastly, financial reasons seem to be at the top of the charts for why many students do not finish their degrees. According to 2007 statistics, 38 percent of college dropouts leave school due to financial problems. An average student attending college for a four year degree totals in more than $15,000 to $20,000 of debt by the time they graduate. The increase in tuition and decline in student grants makes it very difficult for students to be able to pay off loans and debt. On top of tuition costs, students have to pay for books, food, and other necessities. With all these costs in mind, many students can’t afford to finish school or even afford to pay for what little college they have completed.
Whatever the reasons may be behind students leaving college, one thing for certain is that the college dropout rate is an increasing problem throughout the nation. College preparation in high school is just one of the few things educators and officials could improve. Creating student success programs, freshman studies classes, suicide awareness, and funding to start these programs and continue research on how colleges can produce more graduating students could be a few solutions to our nations problem.
Fight Club Lighting Analysis
David Fincher’s Fight Club is probably best known for its unique lighting. Cinematographer Jeff Cronenweth combined cinematographic styles from Fincher’s past films such as Seven and The Game for Fight Club. The cinematography throughout the film is what attracted audiences and really made the film stand out.
Low key lighting was used for most of the film, while the only high key lighting was used during scenes with just the narrator. The high key lighting during these scenes gave it a realistic feel. On the other hand when Tyler Durden was in the scenes with the narrator the lighting was low key to give off and unrealistic vibe. More than half of the film was shot at night, but even the daylight scenes are somewhat shadowed and dark. All of the scenes throughout the film seem to be not heavily lit.
A color theme of desaturated colors was used throughout the film. This technique made the characters look shiny, dark and unrealistic. Most of the film has green yellow tint, very dark, under exposed and unnatural colors. The lighting was used as a visual metaphor for the unrealistic, negative life of the narrator.
Adding all the elements of the lighting together, the dark, desaturated and unnatural colors visually give emphasis to the plot of the film. The cinematographic techniques throughout the film gave the audience a unique experience.
Low key lighting was used for most of the film, while the only high key lighting was used during scenes with just the narrator. The high key lighting during these scenes gave it a realistic feel. On the other hand when Tyler Durden was in the scenes with the narrator the lighting was low key to give off and unrealistic vibe. More than half of the film was shot at night, but even the daylight scenes are somewhat shadowed and dark. All of the scenes throughout the film seem to be not heavily lit.
A color theme of desaturated colors was used throughout the film. This technique made the characters look shiny, dark and unrealistic. Most of the film has green yellow tint, very dark, under exposed and unnatural colors. The lighting was used as a visual metaphor for the unrealistic, negative life of the narrator.
Adding all the elements of the lighting together, the dark, desaturated and unnatural colors visually give emphasis to the plot of the film. The cinematographic techniques throughout the film gave the audience a unique experience.
Fight Club Editing Analysis
David Finchers Fight Club is a dark satire that is narrated by a nameless businessman who follows every order given to him and is nothing out of the ordinary until he meets his soon to be friend Tyler Durden. The two start a fight club and at first get along quite well until the narrator starts resenting Durdens ideas and begins to realize that he is Tyler Durden. Fight Clubs editing style helps the audience understand the narrators thought process, the intense fighting sequences, and the narrator’s realization of his alter ego Tyler Durden.
In the beginning of the movie subliminal messages are added in a few scenes before the narrator meets Durden. The editor inserted one frame of Durden so that in just a glimpse of the eye, the audience would be able to see him. This allows the audience to piece together that the narrator is slowly starting to create Durden in his mind and that both characters have significant meaning to each other.
The film lacks a formal structure, which is replaced by random jump shots, inner thoughts of the narrator, and flashbacks. This informal structure adds to the chaos and confusion of the narrator’s journey throughout the movie. Also, throughout the movie are cuts to the narrators inner thought process. The film cuts to a frozen cave where the narrator seems to walking about aimlessly trying to figure out his problems. One of the scenes with in the frozen cave the narrator sees Marla, a women who he notices is also addicted to attending self help groups. Adding this scene within movie allows the audience to see how the narrator is captivated by her.
During the action sequences of the film, short shots and fast edits are used. These techniques are used in these scenes of movie to make the audience feel like they are actually in the fight. It engages the audience to feel the quick punches and the rushing adrenaline of the fighters.
The editing of Fight Club allows the audience to understand what is going on within the world of the narrator and to understand that Tyler Durden is just an alter ego. It also allows the audience to feel emotionally involved within the movie.
In the beginning of the movie subliminal messages are added in a few scenes before the narrator meets Durden. The editor inserted one frame of Durden so that in just a glimpse of the eye, the audience would be able to see him. This allows the audience to piece together that the narrator is slowly starting to create Durden in his mind and that both characters have significant meaning to each other.
The film lacks a formal structure, which is replaced by random jump shots, inner thoughts of the narrator, and flashbacks. This informal structure adds to the chaos and confusion of the narrator’s journey throughout the movie. Also, throughout the movie are cuts to the narrators inner thought process. The film cuts to a frozen cave where the narrator seems to walking about aimlessly trying to figure out his problems. One of the scenes with in the frozen cave the narrator sees Marla, a women who he notices is also addicted to attending self help groups. Adding this scene within movie allows the audience to see how the narrator is captivated by her.
During the action sequences of the film, short shots and fast edits are used. These techniques are used in these scenes of movie to make the audience feel like they are actually in the fight. It engages the audience to feel the quick punches and the rushing adrenaline of the fighters.
The editing of Fight Club allows the audience to understand what is going on within the world of the narrator and to understand that Tyler Durden is just an alter ego. It also allows the audience to feel emotionally involved within the movie.
Art As A Political Statement
Throughout the ages art has been a way for people to express many things, including documenting a place or certain era, allowing individuals to express their feelings, beliefs, theories and dreams. One huge factor that influenced the way that artists expressed themselves was the society they live in. Politics, race, economics, and war are all major influences in the famous artwork we see in museums today. Two artists in particular that drew deep inspiration from politics are Max Beckmann and Ben Shaun. Though both artists are from completely different art movements, they share several close similarities in their passion for art.
Max Beckmann, a German artist, was a part of an art group within the Expressionist movement called Die Neue Sachlichkeit (The New Objectivity). Beckmann began studying art in 1900 at Grossherzogliche Kunstschule, an art academy in Weimar. After completing his studies he made several trips to Paris to paint and endeavor in the art scene. After moving to Berlin he became a very accomplished painter in Impressionism styles by painting landscapes, self portraits, scenes of mythology and religious subjects. When World War 1 broke out in 1914 Beckmann was a supporter of the war and joined German forces in medical corps. After a year of duty, Beckmann suffered a mental break down and was medically discharged. (Max). After the war there was a huge change in Beckmann’s painting. The colors in his painting became more vivid, the subjects that he was painting were malicious, depicting scenes of death and torture. After seeing combat, Beckmann realized the tragedies and inhumanity of war. He often used allegorical figures in his paintings and kept this signature for the rest of his life (Beginning). One of the most famous of Beckmann’s painting was Night.
This painting depicts three intruders in a small room that are injuring what is said to be a husband and wife. The husband is being hanged and appears to be screaming in, while the wife who has eligibly been raped and is bound by her hands. There is also another woman that is cowering in the corner on the painting (Gardner’s). The crowded composition of the painting gives off the idea of utter confusion and chaos that is taking place within the scene. Red is the dominant color within the painting and I wonder to myself if it’s just a coincidence or irony that red is the color of blood and that within this scene much blood was shed. You could also relate the color red to the war in which Beckmann served in. The dominant color of red that is also seen in many of his other painting could be a symbolism of the high amount of bloodshed he saw during action. This painting in particular has a lot to say about Beckmann’s new view on the world. The war really did change his mind into believing that humans are cold and heartless creatures.
Unlike Max Beckmann, Ben Shaun was a Jewish immigrant that came with his mother to Brooklyn in 1906 to meet up his father who a socialist. While living in America Shaun became an apprentice to a lithographer which paved the way for his art career (Common). In later years Shaun studied at New York University and the National Academy of Design. At college he met Walker Evans a photographer who he shared a studio space with and whom influenced him on starting his own photography. From there Shaun worked on morals and other commissioned work. However, his first major paintings that got him into the art scene and the most famous pieces were created in his earlier years when he began painting in the Social Realism movement.
The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti was a serious of twenty three painting that were inspired from the murder of two anarchists (Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti) who were blackmailed and executed (Ben). Shaun also created ink drawings, three serigraphs, and a mosaic mural on the trial. Ben Shaun identified with these two men because he believed they fell victim to the Red Scare, a period of intense anti-foreigner sentiment suffered by Jews, Italians and other immigrants (The Passion). Shaun profoundly stood up for these men when justice could not be found and they were wrongfully trialed and hanged. The most famous of this collection being the painting of Sacco and Vanzetti outside of the courthouse in their coffins with two attorneys holding lilies and the judge standing over them. In my opinion one of the most interesting things about this painting is the solemn look about the three men’s faces. There they stand before two dead men who were wrongfully convicted without any representation of feelings on their face. It makes the mood of the painting feel very eerie and you get that idea that something isn’t right. Which is most likely what Shaun wanted viewers to experience when they looked at the painting. Going back to Shaun’s background I believe that his dad was possibly quite a big influence on his politically beliefs. Whatever the reason may be Ben Shaun used art to express his feeling on politics and the injustices in American Society.
Both artists, Max Beckmann and Ben Shaun are extremely influential artists in history. Though both artists were from different backgrounds and art movement there is two things they both greatly have in common. One being the passion to put worth their own ideas on society and politics in a visual way to share with others. These two artists weren’t afraid to express their thoughts and theories on a subject that most people tend to keep quiet. By breaking boundaries they made world history and are globally known for making a difference. Another great similarity is the effect that politics have on their art, beliefs, and lifestyles.
Max Beckmann, a German artist, was a part of an art group within the Expressionist movement called Die Neue Sachlichkeit (The New Objectivity). Beckmann began studying art in 1900 at Grossherzogliche Kunstschule, an art academy in Weimar. After completing his studies he made several trips to Paris to paint and endeavor in the art scene. After moving to Berlin he became a very accomplished painter in Impressionism styles by painting landscapes, self portraits, scenes of mythology and religious subjects. When World War 1 broke out in 1914 Beckmann was a supporter of the war and joined German forces in medical corps. After a year of duty, Beckmann suffered a mental break down and was medically discharged. (Max). After the war there was a huge change in Beckmann’s painting. The colors in his painting became more vivid, the subjects that he was painting were malicious, depicting scenes of death and torture. After seeing combat, Beckmann realized the tragedies and inhumanity of war. He often used allegorical figures in his paintings and kept this signature for the rest of his life (Beginning). One of the most famous of Beckmann’s painting was Night.
This painting depicts three intruders in a small room that are injuring what is said to be a husband and wife. The husband is being hanged and appears to be screaming in, while the wife who has eligibly been raped and is bound by her hands. There is also another woman that is cowering in the corner on the painting (Gardner’s). The crowded composition of the painting gives off the idea of utter confusion and chaos that is taking place within the scene. Red is the dominant color within the painting and I wonder to myself if it’s just a coincidence or irony that red is the color of blood and that within this scene much blood was shed. You could also relate the color red to the war in which Beckmann served in. The dominant color of red that is also seen in many of his other painting could be a symbolism of the high amount of bloodshed he saw during action. This painting in particular has a lot to say about Beckmann’s new view on the world. The war really did change his mind into believing that humans are cold and heartless creatures.
Unlike Max Beckmann, Ben Shaun was a Jewish immigrant that came with his mother to Brooklyn in 1906 to meet up his father who a socialist. While living in America Shaun became an apprentice to a lithographer which paved the way for his art career (Common). In later years Shaun studied at New York University and the National Academy of Design. At college he met Walker Evans a photographer who he shared a studio space with and whom influenced him on starting his own photography. From there Shaun worked on morals and other commissioned work. However, his first major paintings that got him into the art scene and the most famous pieces were created in his earlier years when he began painting in the Social Realism movement.
The Passion of Sacco and Vanzetti was a serious of twenty three painting that were inspired from the murder of two anarchists (Nicola Sacco and Bartolomeo Vanzetti) who were blackmailed and executed (Ben). Shaun also created ink drawings, three serigraphs, and a mosaic mural on the trial. Ben Shaun identified with these two men because he believed they fell victim to the Red Scare, a period of intense anti-foreigner sentiment suffered by Jews, Italians and other immigrants (The Passion). Shaun profoundly stood up for these men when justice could not be found and they were wrongfully trialed and hanged. The most famous of this collection being the painting of Sacco and Vanzetti outside of the courthouse in their coffins with two attorneys holding lilies and the judge standing over them. In my opinion one of the most interesting things about this painting is the solemn look about the three men’s faces. There they stand before two dead men who were wrongfully convicted without any representation of feelings on their face. It makes the mood of the painting feel very eerie and you get that idea that something isn’t right. Which is most likely what Shaun wanted viewers to experience when they looked at the painting. Going back to Shaun’s background I believe that his dad was possibly quite a big influence on his politically beliefs. Whatever the reason may be Ben Shaun used art to express his feeling on politics and the injustices in American Society.
Both artists, Max Beckmann and Ben Shaun are extremely influential artists in history. Though both artists were from different backgrounds and art movement there is two things they both greatly have in common. One being the passion to put worth their own ideas on society and politics in a visual way to share with others. These two artists weren’t afraid to express their thoughts and theories on a subject that most people tend to keep quiet. By breaking boundaries they made world history and are globally known for making a difference. Another great similarity is the effect that politics have on their art, beliefs, and lifestyles.
Friday, October 29, 2010
We all have free will to choose our own fate but sometimes due to uncontrollable events we are left with no choices. I believe that personality is affected in many ways including both nature and nurture. Personality forms over times from the very beginning of our lives. Throughout our lifetime that personality can mold and expand. Our personality can in some cases have the potential to be altered and influenced by external events as they occur in our life. Most humans act upon certain events due to memories in the past. Our past can affect how we live and act in the present and future. Everyone is different in the sense of physical looks, opinions, and beliefs but we also share some of those beliefs and opinions with others but not everyone. At the same time, we are all a carbon copy of something else. From what we wear to what we eat to how we talk. We picked it up from someone or something else such as our culture, friends, parents, influence, etc. Physically we are all unique. No physical human body is the same. However, we allow external stimuli to influence everything else. Early civilizations main purpose in life was to survive and they did whatever they can to do that. It was an endless cycle of obtaining the basic needs of survival (food, shelter, water, clothing) and then reproducing to create the cycle all over again. Weve come a long way since then and now we live above our means and strive for more than just basic needs in our lives such as Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs suggests. If we look at it that way are we just trying to seek pleasure in our lives? In a way, yes we are. As animals our only purpose in life is to survive and reproduce to keep the cycle going. But now as people who are up at the top of the food chain and the most superior beings on Earth we see life for more than just that. We see our life needs as growing, learning, following goals and dreams, and climbing to our fullest potential if we so choose. Human beings aren’t born from their mother’s womb into society as being good or evil, we are born into the world with a neutral, clean slate and our own free will decides which way we go. Everyone has all capabilities of good and everyone has all capabilities of doing evil, but we decide what capabilities we choose. Everyone has done something in our life at least once that our society, religion, morals, friends, family, constitution, government and/or laws claims is wrong. But who sets the boundaries to what is good and what is bad? What gives anyone the right to judge those? The simple answer is no one because we all have free will to do, think, speak and act in whatever way we want to.
Monday, October 18, 2010
A fresh start? July 09
So over the past few months I’ve gone through a lot of changes. I graduated from high school and soon going to be starting a new chapter in my life. I’ve made new friends and have lost some that were close to me. After years of a shitty relationship with my parents I’m trying to make it better. And I’m finally trying to get myself back together and be over all happy and healthy. Lately I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about my relationships I have with people now and ones that have ended and what I need to do to make myself happy. Today it dawned on me that everyone goes through something shitty in their lives and everyone deals with pain. I recently ended a relationship with someone that I was really close to and I’ve been pretty upset about it. But even though we’ll probably never be as close as we were or at worst never talk to each other again something good had to come out of it. I learned a lot from that relationship and have realized its not the end of the world, even though I feel like shit about it right now, in the long run it may never matter. And the beautiful thing about it is that something that was once so great could make me sad, which makes me feel that I’m alive and just maybe for every bad thing that happens something good can come out of it. I’m always going to get hurt in life but I’m still living and I should make the best out of every situation. Relationships end whether its a romance or a friendship but you still have to move on because there’s so many people out in this world who are great people I’m sure. And if the people you think are you friends don’t follow after you or stick beside you no matter what…are they really true friends in the first place?
Also, I’ve come to the conclusion that MiffCo holds nothing for me. I went to high school and did what I had to do but now its time for me to move on. The county line feels like a prison to me and I’m dying to get out. I cannot wait till I move out to Pittsburgh. A new beginning with new people and a new environment. No one has ever believed in me when I told them about my dreams and my goals for my future but I assure you that I will do whatever I can to make them a reality. I know life can be hard but I’m willing to make sacrifices to achieve my dreams. No one ever said life is easy and I know I have to work hard to get what I want out of life.
So from here on out I’m going to do what I want to make myself happy and to achieve my goals and dreams. I wasn’t placed on this earth to satisfy others and if other people can’t respect that then they aren’t worth my time.
Also, I’ve come to the conclusion that MiffCo holds nothing for me. I went to high school and did what I had to do but now its time for me to move on. The county line feels like a prison to me and I’m dying to get out. I cannot wait till I move out to Pittsburgh. A new beginning with new people and a new environment. No one has ever believed in me when I told them about my dreams and my goals for my future but I assure you that I will do whatever I can to make them a reality. I know life can be hard but I’m willing to make sacrifices to achieve my dreams. No one ever said life is easy and I know I have to work hard to get what I want out of life.
So from here on out I’m going to do what I want to make myself happy and to achieve my goals and dreams. I wasn’t placed on this earth to satisfy others and if other people can’t respect that then they aren’t worth my time.
Personal Preferance 1/31/10
After listening to several opinions I wonder if I should even listen to them at all. It’s my life. Everyone’s different. Different views, opinions, etc. Is it worth risking the chance to take a friends opinion when you know deep down that’s not what your heart wants? No one can really grasp a situation unless they’re in it and know all the inner workings. If we are all different and all individuals shouldn’t we be able to make choices in life without the opinion of others. Then again, one could say everyone needs some sort of guidance in their life. This very well could be the reasons why some people see nothing wrong while others see things to be very wrong. Is it a matter of personal preference or what society expects of us? How do you fix your wrongs? Can two simple words make everything better? Is it a matter of time to let things heal or is it some sort of affirmative action? Or does it all depend on the persons involved or a certain situation? I don’t know the answers to these questions. I don’t know if anyone does know. Or is it just a matter of personal preference?
Monday, June 7, 2010
Guy Ritchies Sherlock Holmes Review
When did Sherlock Holmes join Fight Club and when did Watson become James Bond? Guy Ritchies modern twist on the classical Sherlock Holmes is sadly a disappointment. The creators of this film used too many action sequences to make up for a boring storyline. While the whole look of the movie was draped in a dull, lifeless color scheme of grays.
In original Sherlock Holmes novels and short stories, Holmes and Watson rarely used weapons or hand to hand fighting skills. It was only on occasion that the characters used either of these methods when solving a case. However, i give them props for displaying that Holmes was an unorganized drug addict; something we haven't seen in past films.
The sweet and innocent Rachel McAdams makes a poor Irene Alder, who in this adaptation is a divorced criminal. McAdams seems out of place for being a criminal mastermind and it is hard to believe that she had the strength to carry Holmes to a bed and tie him up. While Robert Downy Jr. (Holmes) and Jude Law (Watson) individually portrayed their characters well, there was little chemistry between Holmes and Watson. Throughout most of the movie it seemed that Watson was almost superior to Holmes and somewhat of a babysitter, while in past films Holmes was very critical of Watson’s case solving techniques.
For long going fans of previous Sherlock Holmes books and films, the movie is quite a disappointment and nothing what one would expect. The ending of the movie was probably the biggest disappointment of all. The writers seemed to be more focused on visually displaying that they were making a sequel to the movie then actually creating a well thought out ending. The sequel to Guy Ritchies Sherlock Holmes will for then likely reflect the first movie out of the duo. I wouldn’t recommend watching either movies unless you’re interested in a good laugh and to grimace at a horrible movie.
In original Sherlock Holmes novels and short stories, Holmes and Watson rarely used weapons or hand to hand fighting skills. It was only on occasion that the characters used either of these methods when solving a case. However, i give them props for displaying that Holmes was an unorganized drug addict; something we haven't seen in past films.
The sweet and innocent Rachel McAdams makes a poor Irene Alder, who in this adaptation is a divorced criminal. McAdams seems out of place for being a criminal mastermind and it is hard to believe that she had the strength to carry Holmes to a bed and tie him up. While Robert Downy Jr. (Holmes) and Jude Law (Watson) individually portrayed their characters well, there was little chemistry between Holmes and Watson. Throughout most of the movie it seemed that Watson was almost superior to Holmes and somewhat of a babysitter, while in past films Holmes was very critical of Watson’s case solving techniques.
For long going fans of previous Sherlock Holmes books and films, the movie is quite a disappointment and nothing what one would expect. The ending of the movie was probably the biggest disappointment of all. The writers seemed to be more focused on visually displaying that they were making a sequel to the movie then actually creating a well thought out ending. The sequel to Guy Ritchies Sherlock Holmes will for then likely reflect the first movie out of the duo. I wouldn’t recommend watching either movies unless you’re interested in a good laugh and to grimace at a horrible movie.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
The Beauty Myth
The year was 1848 at a convention in Seneca Falls, New York where hundreds of female delegates gathered to issue a declaration of independence for women. The document demanded full legal equality, educational and commercial opportunity, equal compensation, the right to collect wages and to vote. The movement infused the country and soon extended to Europe. However, it wasn’t until seventy-two years later until women’s suffrage was won, thus creating what we call today first-wave feminism.
Although women won the right to vote, some were still unsatisfied. Second-wave feminist reform occurred from the 1960’s through the 1970’s. The wave was concerned with issues of equality, sexuality, family, the workplace, and reproductive rights. In the 1980s it was largely perceived that women had met their goals and succeeded in changing social attitudes towards gender roles, repealing laws that were based on sex, illegalizing gender discrimination, marital rape, and the legalization of no-fault divorce. Many women felt that they had won the war against gender discrimination; however, there are still thousands of women who think otherwise.
Writer and neo-feminist, Naomi Wolf, explains in her article, “The Beauty Myth” that women of the 21st century are pressured by society to look a certain way. Wolf also explains that there is still a fight for feminism so women can escape what she calls, “The Beauty Myth.” Women have won their rights to vote, own property, and equality in the workforce, therefore, feminism is no longer needed in the 21st century.
Female beauty dates far back to ancient times in Greece and Rome and even farther. Every century and time period has had its own idealistic women. However, 21st Century beauty seems to be more extreme than other time periods:
Reproductive rights gave Western women control over our own bodies; the weight of fashion models plummeted to 23 percent below that of ordinary women, eating disorders rose exponentially, and a mass neurosis was promoted that used food and weight to strip women of that sense of control. Women insisted on politicizing health; new technologies of invasive, potentially deadly ‘cosmetic’ surgeries developed apace to re-exert old forms of medical control of women. (Wolf 371)
Women of this century are taking drastic measures to become the idealistic woman. Due to media technology break throughs and media increases in our everyday lives, we are almost always consuming media and consequently almost every female we see is that “ideal woman”. Women are led to believe that this is how the average woman looks because that is all that we are seeing. On top of that, these women are successful and have good looking men chasing after them. It’s no wonder that a majority of women want to embody this idealistic look. However, if you think back to the 60’s and 70’s when the first waves of feminism were taking place, there was even a beauty myth then. Women are brainwashed with this idealistic beauty, they always have been, and always will be. If female ideal beauty is something that will always be around, then why do women need to spend time trying to fight it?
I do not understand the reasoning behind why women feel that they need to fix their hair and apply makeup no matter where they go or who they are around. A female friend of mine is always running late due to applying makeup and fixing her hair. She is willing to be thirty to forty-five minutes late for the only four hour class she has that day just so she can ‘look good’. Even going somewhere as simple as a two block walk to a Smithfield News Mart cannot be taken without the application of makeup and a quick fix of the hair. She recently began a weight loss routine. When she first mentioned this to me I assumed she would eat a balanced diet with five to six small meals a day. “She never eats Joan and Marjorie said of Louise. They ate lunch with her at school, watched her refusing potatoes, ravioli, and fried fish. Sometimes she got through the cafeteria line with only a salad.” (Dubus 209). Similar to the story of a woman who struggled with eating, appearance and how her friends viewed her, I rarely see my friend eating anything at all and not having the correct intake of foods or calories. I cannot completely grasp why women do these things themselves, maybe it’s because they are not comfortable with whom they are physically or because they feel that because society tells them to they need to look a certain way. Whatever the reason may be it is no concern to me. There is a fine line in dressing appropriately and just not caring at all about your hygiene or self image. Of course, they are things I do not like about myself physically but nobody is perfect and I have come to peace with who I am. I dress appropriate for certain situations, but I don’t mind throwing on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt for a four hour class. I dress to please myself, it’s as simple as that. If I kindly approached my friend and told her she didn’t need to wear makeup or fix her hair, she wouldn’t listen; she would go on as if the conversation had never happened. If a friend cannot reach out to a friend to explain the beauty myth what female can?
I do find it unfortunate that many women are brainwashed with this idealistic beauty idea, but it is not a fight that can be won through women coming together for a cause, it is a personal battle between a women and herself. It is only until a woman can come to terms with herself and her body that a women can overcome the beauty myth. No matter how many other women try to infuse the beauty myth unto 21st century female youth, it will make little affect. The beauty myth is just social problem that feminists grabbed onto because there is no longer anything else to fight for. The 21st century is a post-feminism world. Feminists need to throw in the towel on a myth that has been surviving for centuries and will continue to be for centuries more.
Although women won the right to vote, some were still unsatisfied. Second-wave feminist reform occurred from the 1960’s through the 1970’s. The wave was concerned with issues of equality, sexuality, family, the workplace, and reproductive rights. In the 1980s it was largely perceived that women had met their goals and succeeded in changing social attitudes towards gender roles, repealing laws that were based on sex, illegalizing gender discrimination, marital rape, and the legalization of no-fault divorce. Many women felt that they had won the war against gender discrimination; however, there are still thousands of women who think otherwise.
Writer and neo-feminist, Naomi Wolf, explains in her article, “The Beauty Myth” that women of the 21st century are pressured by society to look a certain way. Wolf also explains that there is still a fight for feminism so women can escape what she calls, “The Beauty Myth.” Women have won their rights to vote, own property, and equality in the workforce, therefore, feminism is no longer needed in the 21st century.
Female beauty dates far back to ancient times in Greece and Rome and even farther. Every century and time period has had its own idealistic women. However, 21st Century beauty seems to be more extreme than other time periods:
Reproductive rights gave Western women control over our own bodies; the weight of fashion models plummeted to 23 percent below that of ordinary women, eating disorders rose exponentially, and a mass neurosis was promoted that used food and weight to strip women of that sense of control. Women insisted on politicizing health; new technologies of invasive, potentially deadly ‘cosmetic’ surgeries developed apace to re-exert old forms of medical control of women. (Wolf 371)
Women of this century are taking drastic measures to become the idealistic woman. Due to media technology break throughs and media increases in our everyday lives, we are almost always consuming media and consequently almost every female we see is that “ideal woman”. Women are led to believe that this is how the average woman looks because that is all that we are seeing. On top of that, these women are successful and have good looking men chasing after them. It’s no wonder that a majority of women want to embody this idealistic look. However, if you think back to the 60’s and 70’s when the first waves of feminism were taking place, there was even a beauty myth then. Women are brainwashed with this idealistic beauty, they always have been, and always will be. If female ideal beauty is something that will always be around, then why do women need to spend time trying to fight it?
I do not understand the reasoning behind why women feel that they need to fix their hair and apply makeup no matter where they go or who they are around. A female friend of mine is always running late due to applying makeup and fixing her hair. She is willing to be thirty to forty-five minutes late for the only four hour class she has that day just so she can ‘look good’. Even going somewhere as simple as a two block walk to a Smithfield News Mart cannot be taken without the application of makeup and a quick fix of the hair. She recently began a weight loss routine. When she first mentioned this to me I assumed she would eat a balanced diet with five to six small meals a day. “She never eats Joan and Marjorie said of Louise. They ate lunch with her at school, watched her refusing potatoes, ravioli, and fried fish. Sometimes she got through the cafeteria line with only a salad.” (Dubus 209). Similar to the story of a woman who struggled with eating, appearance and how her friends viewed her, I rarely see my friend eating anything at all and not having the correct intake of foods or calories. I cannot completely grasp why women do these things themselves, maybe it’s because they are not comfortable with whom they are physically or because they feel that because society tells them to they need to look a certain way. Whatever the reason may be it is no concern to me. There is a fine line in dressing appropriately and just not caring at all about your hygiene or self image. Of course, they are things I do not like about myself physically but nobody is perfect and I have come to peace with who I am. I dress appropriate for certain situations, but I don’t mind throwing on a pair of sweats and a t-shirt for a four hour class. I dress to please myself, it’s as simple as that. If I kindly approached my friend and told her she didn’t need to wear makeup or fix her hair, she wouldn’t listen; she would go on as if the conversation had never happened. If a friend cannot reach out to a friend to explain the beauty myth what female can?
I do find it unfortunate that many women are brainwashed with this idealistic beauty idea, but it is not a fight that can be won through women coming together for a cause, it is a personal battle between a women and herself. It is only until a woman can come to terms with herself and her body that a women can overcome the beauty myth. No matter how many other women try to infuse the beauty myth unto 21st century female youth, it will make little affect. The beauty myth is just social problem that feminists grabbed onto because there is no longer anything else to fight for. The 21st century is a post-feminism world. Feminists need to throw in the towel on a myth that has been surviving for centuries and will continue to be for centuries more.
Monday, April 12, 2010
Lamott Essay: Response to Anne Lamott's "Polaroids"
Snap! The Polaroid camera releases a flash of light capturing the image upside down through the lenses and chemically combining to the film. Most of us just go randomly shooting trying to capture our precious memories as they arise. As amateur photographers, we only look at the subject and rarely pay attention to the other subtle subjects that feel the space that we weren’t so worried about. When we finally get our Polaroid it’s not the process of waiting, but taking a second look at the exposure. Noticing all the little details that we neglected to see that makes our picture scream a thousand words rather than a mere hundred.
There are two types of writers, process-based and product-based. A process-based writer is one who uses prewriting, drafting, revising, proofreading and editing to develop their final product. A product-based writer is one who only cares about the finished product and doesn’t take all the steps a process-based writer does to end up with a final product. Anne Lamott who explains in her article “Polaroids” that she is a process-based writer and to her writing is like a developing Polaroid. Using the Polaroid metaphor, Lamott explains that for her, watching a Polaroid and not knowing what the picture is going to turn out until it has finished developing, is like writing a first draft.
Although, I myself am a process based writer, Lamott’s Polaroid technique doesn’t truly represent how I use a process for writing. My process allows me to see that my purpose can mature and become more meaningful as I recognize the supporting details. As said before we as amateur photographers don’t have the keen eye as professionals nor can we manipulate a camera meant for merely snapshots. Because of this loss of control we can’t effectively tell the story as it is presented to us. We don’t pay attention to the background of the idea nor that squirrel that just ran by as you pressed the lenses release button.
In “Polaroids” Lamott writes about attending a Special Olympics event that she is writing an article on. She says that going into the event she didn’t have any idea what the article would be focused on. Later in the day a mentally challenged man tugs on her sleeve and shows her a Polaroid of him and his friends together. At this moment an idea for Lamott’s article comes to her. “And this was the image from which an article began forming, although I could not have told you exactly what the piece would end up being about. I just knew that something had started to emerge,” (273). Unlike Lamott’s metaphoric idea of how writing is like a Polaroid developing, when I write I see the subject I see the main points but like that squirrel I didn’t see the little details that made the purpose important. When developing a point it’s the little details we didn’t catch during our first glance that makes the piece truly fly off the page. The processes of the Polaroid developing in our hands help us notice all the small details I had missed but don’t change the ending purpose. This maybe come a tedious ritual but I know each time I look at the final product the more beautiful it becomes.
In words a little less metaphorically I write in a process. Like most projects I have an idea, something I want to share with the audience that I feel is important enough to move them or even influence them. My process truly begins after I have jotted down the main ideas and the supporting details that make my point worth arguing. When I feel the idea has fully matured I start to express them on the paper. I add details and develop the point to where the story flows and effectively tells my purpose without giving it all to you all at once. I look over the first roughly written draft and tear apart. Rearranging the piece to better fit the invisible time line that allows the points to be fully understood. The process becomes more tedious as I reread the piece over and over again to make points clearer and remove the points that have become redundant. Revising is the next step in this process and one that can be very important so the reader can fully comprehend rather than trip over misplaced commas and wrong words. After another read and that I feel that the paper has truly accomplished its goal then I can say I’m finished.
As a writer we are never truly finished with this ritual. We are our biggest fans and at the same time our biggest critics and each time we reread our pieces we find something we could have done differently. Sometimes to improve our point or to even show a change in our views as time lingers by. We look at Lamott’s “Polaroids” and we are reminded that when we take a snapshot we are getting more than just the picture we had planned to achieve but that moment in time and all the little details that narrate the story we hope to tell.
There are two types of writers, process-based and product-based. A process-based writer is one who uses prewriting, drafting, revising, proofreading and editing to develop their final product. A product-based writer is one who only cares about the finished product and doesn’t take all the steps a process-based writer does to end up with a final product. Anne Lamott who explains in her article “Polaroids” that she is a process-based writer and to her writing is like a developing Polaroid. Using the Polaroid metaphor, Lamott explains that for her, watching a Polaroid and not knowing what the picture is going to turn out until it has finished developing, is like writing a first draft.
Although, I myself am a process based writer, Lamott’s Polaroid technique doesn’t truly represent how I use a process for writing. My process allows me to see that my purpose can mature and become more meaningful as I recognize the supporting details. As said before we as amateur photographers don’t have the keen eye as professionals nor can we manipulate a camera meant for merely snapshots. Because of this loss of control we can’t effectively tell the story as it is presented to us. We don’t pay attention to the background of the idea nor that squirrel that just ran by as you pressed the lenses release button.
In “Polaroids” Lamott writes about attending a Special Olympics event that she is writing an article on. She says that going into the event she didn’t have any idea what the article would be focused on. Later in the day a mentally challenged man tugs on her sleeve and shows her a Polaroid of him and his friends together. At this moment an idea for Lamott’s article comes to her. “And this was the image from which an article began forming, although I could not have told you exactly what the piece would end up being about. I just knew that something had started to emerge,” (273). Unlike Lamott’s metaphoric idea of how writing is like a Polaroid developing, when I write I see the subject I see the main points but like that squirrel I didn’t see the little details that made the purpose important. When developing a point it’s the little details we didn’t catch during our first glance that makes the piece truly fly off the page. The processes of the Polaroid developing in our hands help us notice all the small details I had missed but don’t change the ending purpose. This maybe come a tedious ritual but I know each time I look at the final product the more beautiful it becomes.
In words a little less metaphorically I write in a process. Like most projects I have an idea, something I want to share with the audience that I feel is important enough to move them or even influence them. My process truly begins after I have jotted down the main ideas and the supporting details that make my point worth arguing. When I feel the idea has fully matured I start to express them on the paper. I add details and develop the point to where the story flows and effectively tells my purpose without giving it all to you all at once. I look over the first roughly written draft and tear apart. Rearranging the piece to better fit the invisible time line that allows the points to be fully understood. The process becomes more tedious as I reread the piece over and over again to make points clearer and remove the points that have become redundant. Revising is the next step in this process and one that can be very important so the reader can fully comprehend rather than trip over misplaced commas and wrong words. After another read and that I feel that the paper has truly accomplished its goal then I can say I’m finished.
As a writer we are never truly finished with this ritual. We are our biggest fans and at the same time our biggest critics and each time we reread our pieces we find something we could have done differently. Sometimes to improve our point or to even show a change in our views as time lingers by. We look at Lamott’s “Polaroids” and we are reminded that when we take a snapshot we are getting more than just the picture we had planned to achieve but that moment in time and all the little details that narrate the story we hope to tell.
Fredrico Fellini Comparison Essay
Federico Fellini, an Italian director inspired by neo-realism, Hollywood and fantasies became a world renowned director for his distinct style and reoccurring themes in his films. Starting out as a neo-realist and later developing to films about dreams and the subconscious mind. La Dolce Vita a film that is was in between Fellini’s neo-realism and surrealism period, and is said to be Fellini’s greatest film by many critics. Another one of Fellini’s well known films, 8 1/2, a self reflective film that shows a directors struggle with writers block. Both films have similar themes, a man’s struggle with where he is in his life, but is executed in different ways.
La Dolce Vita depicts the life of journalist, Marchello Mastroiann, who writes for a gossip column but longs to become a serious, successful writer. This film was largely influenced by Fellini’s life when he worked as a journalist himself in his earlier years. The films main focus is a realistic view of the inner struggle with a man, who is at a cross road in his life. He doesn’t want to settle down but wants to make something more of himself. However, he is too easily distracted by women and the self indulgence of high society life. During the opening scene of the film, a statue of Christ being flown to the Pope at the Vatican with Marchello’s helicopter flying closely behind became highly controversial and lead to the censorship of the film. The opening scene was inspired by an actual event that Fellini witnessed. Also, the first scene is ironic in the fact that the statue of Christ is flying over Rome with outstretched arms as if it was blessing the people of Rome while underneath the glitz and glam of the characters are vapid, self indulgent individuals. The film has no formal structure and is just a continuation of episodes of celebrity soiree’s and social gatherings that start in the evening and end at dawn. The suicide of Marchello’s friend Steiner is one of the main points in the film. Steiner was wealthy, intellectual, successful and something that Marchello envied and wanted to become. In the ending scene, a young girl calls to Marchello but he is never able to hear what she says and walks on, this scene represents Marchello’s ignorance to the fakeness of the high society world that he has indulged himself in.
8 ½ refers to the Fellini’s eight and a half films as a director and is also autobiographical. The main character Guido Anselmi’s struggles with writers block and constant memories and dreams of his childhood represents Fellini himself. Throughout the film Guido is being hassled by his producer and actors agents to begin filming and working on his science fiction piece. However, due to attention being drawn to personal problems with relationships, and finding ones true happiness; Guido is unable to complete the film. The opening scene of Guido dreaming that he is in a traffic jam, that everyone surrounding him is blankly staring at him, and that he cannot breath in his car is a foreshadowing of what’s going to happen in the film. In a sense, Guido’s wife, producer, production crew, and his mistress, are all suffocating him with problems that he needs to fix. All eyes are on him and they are throwing all of these problems in his face and demanding they be done as soon as possible. Like the opening scene, daydreaming and flashbacks are frequent throughout the film. As the film progressed the dreams and flashbacks mix in with reality and become difficult to apprehend what is real. At the end of the film Guido shoots himself which is symbolization that he suddenly understands the causes of his confusion and is unhappiness. This scene leads to a montage of him stating to accept me as who I am.
Both films follow themes reoccurring themes in his films: self reflexive and struggling with the subconscious mind. Like most Fellini films. They were both inspired by life experiences. In La Dolce Vita and 8 ½ the main character is at a cross road in his life, struggling to find happiness and is influenced by friends and society that surrounds them. Another similarity is a religious theme. In La Dolce Vita the opening scene was banned from the Catholic Church for what they thought as Fellini mocking the second coming of Christ. In 8 ½ Guido’s childhood memories show him being punished by Catholic priests for conversing with a prostitute whom the priest claimed was the devil. Although both films share a basic theme, both are executed quite differently. One major difference between both films is that La Dolce Vita is a more realistic film. 8½ is filled with Guido’s dreams and fantasies where as La Dolce Vita is a series of realistic events.
Despite Fellini’s transition from neo-realism to baroque, fantasy films, Fellini stayed true to his ongoing themes. Both films are examples of his unique style which some may now call "Fellinian" and "Felliniesque".
La Dolce Vita depicts the life of journalist, Marchello Mastroiann, who writes for a gossip column but longs to become a serious, successful writer. This film was largely influenced by Fellini’s life when he worked as a journalist himself in his earlier years. The films main focus is a realistic view of the inner struggle with a man, who is at a cross road in his life. He doesn’t want to settle down but wants to make something more of himself. However, he is too easily distracted by women and the self indulgence of high society life. During the opening scene of the film, a statue of Christ being flown to the Pope at the Vatican with Marchello’s helicopter flying closely behind became highly controversial and lead to the censorship of the film. The opening scene was inspired by an actual event that Fellini witnessed. Also, the first scene is ironic in the fact that the statue of Christ is flying over Rome with outstretched arms as if it was blessing the people of Rome while underneath the glitz and glam of the characters are vapid, self indulgent individuals. The film has no formal structure and is just a continuation of episodes of celebrity soiree’s and social gatherings that start in the evening and end at dawn. The suicide of Marchello’s friend Steiner is one of the main points in the film. Steiner was wealthy, intellectual, successful and something that Marchello envied and wanted to become. In the ending scene, a young girl calls to Marchello but he is never able to hear what she says and walks on, this scene represents Marchello’s ignorance to the fakeness of the high society world that he has indulged himself in.
8 ½ refers to the Fellini’s eight and a half films as a director and is also autobiographical. The main character Guido Anselmi’s struggles with writers block and constant memories and dreams of his childhood represents Fellini himself. Throughout the film Guido is being hassled by his producer and actors agents to begin filming and working on his science fiction piece. However, due to attention being drawn to personal problems with relationships, and finding ones true happiness; Guido is unable to complete the film. The opening scene of Guido dreaming that he is in a traffic jam, that everyone surrounding him is blankly staring at him, and that he cannot breath in his car is a foreshadowing of what’s going to happen in the film. In a sense, Guido’s wife, producer, production crew, and his mistress, are all suffocating him with problems that he needs to fix. All eyes are on him and they are throwing all of these problems in his face and demanding they be done as soon as possible. Like the opening scene, daydreaming and flashbacks are frequent throughout the film. As the film progressed the dreams and flashbacks mix in with reality and become difficult to apprehend what is real. At the end of the film Guido shoots himself which is symbolization that he suddenly understands the causes of his confusion and is unhappiness. This scene leads to a montage of him stating to accept me as who I am.
Both films follow themes reoccurring themes in his films: self reflexive and struggling with the subconscious mind. Like most Fellini films. They were both inspired by life experiences. In La Dolce Vita and 8 ½ the main character is at a cross road in his life, struggling to find happiness and is influenced by friends and society that surrounds them. Another similarity is a religious theme. In La Dolce Vita the opening scene was banned from the Catholic Church for what they thought as Fellini mocking the second coming of Christ. In 8 ½ Guido’s childhood memories show him being punished by Catholic priests for conversing with a prostitute whom the priest claimed was the devil. Although both films share a basic theme, both are executed quite differently. One major difference between both films is that La Dolce Vita is a more realistic film. 8½ is filled with Guido’s dreams and fantasies where as La Dolce Vita is a series of realistic events.
Despite Fellini’s transition from neo-realism to baroque, fantasy films, Fellini stayed true to his ongoing themes. Both films are examples of his unique style which some may now call "Fellinian" and "Felliniesque".
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Video Treatment
A Blind Date in Plain Sight
My purpose in this video is to entertain the audience with the idea that not everything in the world is perfect. More specifically, this video shows that dating and relationships don’t always have a happy ending. In the video, Fred never notices character two’s pink top nor does Alex notices the single rose that Fred is holding. The pink top and the rose both symbolize that there are things in romantic relationships that people overlook or don’t acknowledge at all about their significant other. These things can happen earlier on in the first few dates or in this case, a blind date, and can lead to the demise of the relationship.
Fred’s rushing around his room trying to get ready. He walks out of the bathroom and into his closet to retrieve a shirt. As he’s walking towards his desk and finishing his shit he glances over at his calendar. He looks at the unsuccessful dates he’s had this month. He glances lower to todays date that reads: blind date. He picks up a marker and circles it. He grabs the rose off his desk, and walks out the door. In another apartment, Alex is getting ready for the date. She walks out of her closet towards her bed to grab her bag. She looks up at the pictures of her and her ex on her bulletin board. She reaches up and rips them off her bulletin board, tears them up, throws them in the waste basket and walks out the door.
It’s in the middle of the afternoon in downtown Pittsburgh. Unlike the busy main streets of the city, Fred is in a back street standing in front of a coffee shop. He’s holding the single rose he grabbed off his desk. He stands nervously as he looks up and down the street. Every few minutes he glances down the street and continually looks around anxiously and nervously. Fred turns around to look at his reflection in the coffee shop window. He straightens up his shirt to make sure he looks his best. He glances up and to his right to see his friend Kerri walking down the sidewalk. She waves and smiles and starts walking towards him. The two greet each other and begin to have a conversation.
Meanwhile, Alex slowly walks toward the coffee shop in the opposite direction. She timidly glances around looking every direction. She stands in front of the coffee shop window and reaches into her pocket. She pulls out a piece of paper and unfolds it. “2 pm. Verdi Good Beans. Rose.” After reading the paper she refolds it and places it back in her pocket. She glances up and looks around. Fred is still conversing with Kerri. They are having a cheerful conversation and laughing happily. Alex is still standing outside of the coffee shop. She grabs her compact and lipstick out of her bag and reapplies her lipstick and fixes her hair. We see Tony walking briskly toward the coffee shop in Alex’s direction. Alex puts her compact and lipstick back her in bag. She looks up and sees Tony and calls to him. He comes towards her and they embrace and start chatting with one another.
Glancing back over at character Fred and character Kerri they are still in the midst’s of their conversation. Alex and Tony are enjoying their conversation. Fred and Kerri are saying good bye to one another. Kerri walks away passing character Alex and Tony. Fred is still standing in the same spot glancing to his left impatiently.
Glancing back over to Alex and Tony they are still conversing and laughing together. Fred continues to look around he glances around. Frustrated and sick of waiting, Fred begins to walk away to his right before walking across the street, he pauses to look at the rose and throws it on the ground beside a building and continues on his way. Tony says good bye to Alex and walks on past the coffee shop. Alex is left alone in front of the coffee shop. She takes out her cell phone to look at the time. She puts her cell phone back into her bag and looks around hopelessly. She pulls out the paper from her pocket and reads over the invitation. Angrily, she crumbles up the paper and throws it on the ground. She begins walking away from the coffee shop to her right. We see he paper that Alex crumbled up being carried by the wind and it ends up stopping right beside the rose.
Characters:
Fred: The leading male role. He has had numerous girls cancel dates with him and hes hoping that his luck will change on his blind date. He’s anxious and nervous about going on his date. He continually looks at his watch to see the time. He’s also concerned with his appearance because he wants to look his best.
Kerri: The female friend of Fred. She spots friend instantly and begins a cheerful conversation with him.
Alex: The leading female role. She just recently ended a serious relationship and is hoping that her blind date will help her to move on and start over. She’s shy to meet her date but has no problem yelling at her friend Tony when he almost walks right past her.
Tony: The male friend of Alex. He barely notices her as he walks down the street. However, he’s excited to see her and welcomes a conversation.
Location: I chose to shoot in front of Verde Good Beans. It’s not on the main streets of the city and therefore has less traffic. Because of less traffic it should be easier to shoot and less of a chance that I will get interrupted.
Props: The blind date papers, rose, lipstick, photos of Alex and her ex, and compact are the props I’ll have to supply my actors with. The blind date papers let the audience visually know whose going to be on the date and what they are to look for. The rose goes along with the invitations so you know the audience knows he the main male role is. The lipstick and the compact are what I feel a majority of women carry with them and many women spruce themselves up before a date. The photos of Alex and her ex show why she’s going on the date.
Visual Style: I plan to shoot in a second and third person point of view. Using a wide shot as the opening, various medium shots, over the shoulder and close ups shots. I also plan to use natural lighting for outside shots and low key lighting for the inside shots so it appears more sad and negative.
My purpose in this video is to entertain the audience with the idea that not everything in the world is perfect. More specifically, this video shows that dating and relationships don’t always have a happy ending. In the video, Fred never notices character two’s pink top nor does Alex notices the single rose that Fred is holding. The pink top and the rose both symbolize that there are things in romantic relationships that people overlook or don’t acknowledge at all about their significant other. These things can happen earlier on in the first few dates or in this case, a blind date, and can lead to the demise of the relationship.
Fred’s rushing around his room trying to get ready. He walks out of the bathroom and into his closet to retrieve a shirt. As he’s walking towards his desk and finishing his shit he glances over at his calendar. He looks at the unsuccessful dates he’s had this month. He glances lower to todays date that reads: blind date. He picks up a marker and circles it. He grabs the rose off his desk, and walks out the door. In another apartment, Alex is getting ready for the date. She walks out of her closet towards her bed to grab her bag. She looks up at the pictures of her and her ex on her bulletin board. She reaches up and rips them off her bulletin board, tears them up, throws them in the waste basket and walks out the door.
It’s in the middle of the afternoon in downtown Pittsburgh. Unlike the busy main streets of the city, Fred is in a back street standing in front of a coffee shop. He’s holding the single rose he grabbed off his desk. He stands nervously as he looks up and down the street. Every few minutes he glances down the street and continually looks around anxiously and nervously. Fred turns around to look at his reflection in the coffee shop window. He straightens up his shirt to make sure he looks his best. He glances up and to his right to see his friend Kerri walking down the sidewalk. She waves and smiles and starts walking towards him. The two greet each other and begin to have a conversation.
Meanwhile, Alex slowly walks toward the coffee shop in the opposite direction. She timidly glances around looking every direction. She stands in front of the coffee shop window and reaches into her pocket. She pulls out a piece of paper and unfolds it. “2 pm. Verdi Good Beans. Rose.” After reading the paper she refolds it and places it back in her pocket. She glances up and looks around. Fred is still conversing with Kerri. They are having a cheerful conversation and laughing happily. Alex is still standing outside of the coffee shop. She grabs her compact and lipstick out of her bag and reapplies her lipstick and fixes her hair. We see Tony walking briskly toward the coffee shop in Alex’s direction. Alex puts her compact and lipstick back her in bag. She looks up and sees Tony and calls to him. He comes towards her and they embrace and start chatting with one another.
Glancing back over at character Fred and character Kerri they are still in the midst’s of their conversation. Alex and Tony are enjoying their conversation. Fred and Kerri are saying good bye to one another. Kerri walks away passing character Alex and Tony. Fred is still standing in the same spot glancing to his left impatiently.
Glancing back over to Alex and Tony they are still conversing and laughing together. Fred continues to look around he glances around. Frustrated and sick of waiting, Fred begins to walk away to his right before walking across the street, he pauses to look at the rose and throws it on the ground beside a building and continues on his way. Tony says good bye to Alex and walks on past the coffee shop. Alex is left alone in front of the coffee shop. She takes out her cell phone to look at the time. She puts her cell phone back into her bag and looks around hopelessly. She pulls out the paper from her pocket and reads over the invitation. Angrily, she crumbles up the paper and throws it on the ground. She begins walking away from the coffee shop to her right. We see he paper that Alex crumbled up being carried by the wind and it ends up stopping right beside the rose.
Characters:
Fred: The leading male role. He has had numerous girls cancel dates with him and hes hoping that his luck will change on his blind date. He’s anxious and nervous about going on his date. He continually looks at his watch to see the time. He’s also concerned with his appearance because he wants to look his best.
Kerri: The female friend of Fred. She spots friend instantly and begins a cheerful conversation with him.
Alex: The leading female role. She just recently ended a serious relationship and is hoping that her blind date will help her to move on and start over. She’s shy to meet her date but has no problem yelling at her friend Tony when he almost walks right past her.
Tony: The male friend of Alex. He barely notices her as he walks down the street. However, he’s excited to see her and welcomes a conversation.
Location: I chose to shoot in front of Verde Good Beans. It’s not on the main streets of the city and therefore has less traffic. Because of less traffic it should be easier to shoot and less of a chance that I will get interrupted.
Props: The blind date papers, rose, lipstick, photos of Alex and her ex, and compact are the props I’ll have to supply my actors with. The blind date papers let the audience visually know whose going to be on the date and what they are to look for. The rose goes along with the invitations so you know the audience knows he the main male role is. The lipstick and the compact are what I feel a majority of women carry with them and many women spruce themselves up before a date. The photos of Alex and her ex show why she’s going on the date.
Visual Style: I plan to shoot in a second and third person point of view. Using a wide shot as the opening, various medium shots, over the shoulder and close ups shots. I also plan to use natural lighting for outside shots and low key lighting for the inside shots so it appears more sad and negative.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Recently, I've been thinking and taking things into consideration a lot more than usual. Society, feminism, gender roles, 21st century youth, etc. I can honestly come to the conclusion that this world is one big fuck whole of a mess with ever going problems and no solutions. Everyone is brainwashed with this whole what society thinks bullshit. Everyone is looking for acceptance in life. Most of the time its the acceptance that society has made for us. The acceptance that has been mushed into our heads since we were children. Unfortunately, more then half of Americas youth believes in this ridiculously scam. I wonder what this country would be like if people stopped caring so much about what other people think and stopped following trends and going on with society's rules and what their parents tell them to do.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Essay for Film History. Comparing and contrasting two films.
British director Alfred Hitchcock and American director Preston Sturges are both well-known directors from the 1900’s. Hitchcock’s Blackmail (1921) and Sturges’ The Lady Eve (1941) are two well-known films that are known for the beautiful cinematography. Although both films are phenomenal for their times, they have several similarities and differences.
The Lady Eve is a classic screwball comedy, noted for its witty dialogue between main characters Jean Harrington (Barbara Stanwyck) and Charles Pike (Henry Fonda). The performance in this film was excellent. The on screen chemistry between Stanwyck and Fonda was fantastic. The entire film was crisp and clear. Also, the set design in this film was very convincing. This film is said to be the best of Sturges comedic films. In 1994 The Lady Eve was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Blackmail is considered to be one of Britain’s first sound films. Originally it was to be a silent film but after the popularity of sound started to develop the producer of Blackmail gave Hitchcock the go ahead to have some of the film with sound. With this being one of the first sound films the audio is quite well. The performance in this film is fairly decent, though some of it seems staged. Hitchcock added his unique style to this film. Having a beautiful blonde commit a violent crime and of course Hitchcock’s signature cameo that became a frequent occurrence in his films. Hitchcock’s cameo in Blackmail shows him being bothered by a small boy as he reads a book.
The Lady Eve had a better quality then Blackmail, mainly due to the The Lady Eve being produced twenty years after Blackmail. Even though The Lady Eve has a crisper presentation, Blackmail seemed to have a truer black color, while The Lady Eve has more grayish tones. Also, the performance in each film was different. Like I said previously, the acting in Blackmail seemed somewhat staged at times and more theatrical then that of The Lady Eve, which seemed more natural and convincing. .Furthermore, Hitchcock seemed to use imagery to make the audience understand how the main character Alice was feeling. For example, the knife laying on the kitchen table while her and her family were sitting down to eat a meal and how she kept starring at the knife uneasily or how she would see the man’s face she murdered through a homeless man on the street. All used to let the audience know the guilt and paranoia she is feeling, while The Lady Eve was a more of a straight to the point film.
Both of the films had creative shots. Ironically, both films had shoots where the camera zoomed into a mirror and showed what the character was viewing in the reflection. Other then the obvious similarities (black and white, sound, etc.) there wasn’t many similarities, since the films were twenty years apart and completely different genres.
Although, each film had few similarities and what seems to be more differences, both films were excellent for their time. Each film has a unique cinematographic elements that makes them worth viewing again and again even after sixty plus years.
The Lady Eve is a classic screwball comedy, noted for its witty dialogue between main characters Jean Harrington (Barbara Stanwyck) and Charles Pike (Henry Fonda). The performance in this film was excellent. The on screen chemistry between Stanwyck and Fonda was fantastic. The entire film was crisp and clear. Also, the set design in this film was very convincing. This film is said to be the best of Sturges comedic films. In 1994 The Lady Eve was selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Blackmail is considered to be one of Britain’s first sound films. Originally it was to be a silent film but after the popularity of sound started to develop the producer of Blackmail gave Hitchcock the go ahead to have some of the film with sound. With this being one of the first sound films the audio is quite well. The performance in this film is fairly decent, though some of it seems staged. Hitchcock added his unique style to this film. Having a beautiful blonde commit a violent crime and of course Hitchcock’s signature cameo that became a frequent occurrence in his films. Hitchcock’s cameo in Blackmail shows him being bothered by a small boy as he reads a book.
The Lady Eve had a better quality then Blackmail, mainly due to the The Lady Eve being produced twenty years after Blackmail. Even though The Lady Eve has a crisper presentation, Blackmail seemed to have a truer black color, while The Lady Eve has more grayish tones. Also, the performance in each film was different. Like I said previously, the acting in Blackmail seemed somewhat staged at times and more theatrical then that of The Lady Eve, which seemed more natural and convincing. .Furthermore, Hitchcock seemed to use imagery to make the audience understand how the main character Alice was feeling. For example, the knife laying on the kitchen table while her and her family were sitting down to eat a meal and how she kept starring at the knife uneasily or how she would see the man’s face she murdered through a homeless man on the street. All used to let the audience know the guilt and paranoia she is feeling, while The Lady Eve was a more of a straight to the point film.
Both of the films had creative shots. Ironically, both films had shoots where the camera zoomed into a mirror and showed what the character was viewing in the reflection. Other then the obvious similarities (black and white, sound, etc.) there wasn’t many similarities, since the films were twenty years apart and completely different genres.
Although, each film had few similarities and what seems to be more differences, both films were excellent for their time. Each film has a unique cinematographic elements that makes them worth viewing again and again even after sixty plus years.
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