Summary:
In Bruno Bettelheim's The Uses of Enchantment Bettelheim claims that the message fairy tales present to children is that problems in life are unavoidable and all part of the life experience but those who meets their obstacles head on will master all obstacles and will end up on top. He argues that the fictional stories cover the basic human problems for example at the beginning of the stories usually there has been a death to a parent. Bruno explores how the issues of the need of acceptance and the fear of death are present in children's stories. He then explains that when one finds adult love the fairy tale illustrates that eternal life is then unnecessary and that the character has reached emotional security. Bettelheim's last argument is that the youthful viewer is attracted to the heroes of the stories and identifies it on their own eventually striving to be like them.
Reflection:
I tend to agree with Bruno Bettelheim's theory. Whenever you watch a fairy tale of course you like the hero of it because they're trying to do the right thing and excel. An idea that is interesting though is the topic of Sleeping Beauty and the new movie Maleficent. In sleeping beauty Maleficent is characterized as an evil witch causing destruction for no reason while in Maleficent Maleficent is wronged by the king and takes revenge but is later remorseful and actually finds she loves Aurora. These two movies display the same character in two different lights. In one movie you hate her and in the next you love her. It could be the fact that its the main character and you like to see the best in them. Like how Aurora was the main character in Sleeping Beauty and Maleficent was in Maleficent.
Sunday, December 7, 2014
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Movie Influences
Summary:
For my expansion essay I am looking into movie influences and came across a study about the influence of smoking in movies. In the article Does Smoking in Movies Promote Teenage Smoking Todd F. Heatherton and James D. Sargent conducted a study that focused on the adolescent age group along with children. Researchers surveyed children between the ages of 10-14 on their exposure to smoking in movies and were later questioned on whether smoking is considered a positive or negative experience. Many associated it with positive attitudes and predicted smoking within 1 to 2 years. The researchers concluded smoking in movies influence kids from the ages 10-14 to start smoking.
Response:
I chose this article because I can use it in my essay expansion for how teen movies effect the viewers since kids are influenced to smoke they would be influenced by themes in teen movies such as the classification of people at schools or selling themselves short because they may not be popular enough to talk to someone of higher popularity. I find it amazing how peer pressure and influencing works, the intention of influencing doesn't even need to be present in order to persuade.
For my expansion essay I am looking into movie influences and came across a study about the influence of smoking in movies. In the article Does Smoking in Movies Promote Teenage Smoking Todd F. Heatherton and James D. Sargent conducted a study that focused on the adolescent age group along with children. Researchers surveyed children between the ages of 10-14 on their exposure to smoking in movies and were later questioned on whether smoking is considered a positive or negative experience. Many associated it with positive attitudes and predicted smoking within 1 to 2 years. The researchers concluded smoking in movies influence kids from the ages 10-14 to start smoking.
Response:
I chose this article because I can use it in my essay expansion for how teen movies effect the viewers since kids are influenced to smoke they would be influenced by themes in teen movies such as the classification of people at schools or selling themselves short because they may not be popular enough to talk to someone of higher popularity. I find it amazing how peer pressure and influencing works, the intention of influencing doesn't even need to be present in order to persuade.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Expanssion Essay
For the expansion essay I will be using mini essay four where I used David Denby's article High-School Confidential: Notes on Teen Movies to analyze how the movie A Cinderella Story fits into the described category. I chose this essay because it will be easier for me to write about since I have an interest in the subject. For the expansion my plan is to incorporate not just the Cinderella themed teen movies but also horror movies such as Carrie and rebellious movies such as Footloose. Carrie I can use the fact that the 'villains' bullied Carrie into her deadly rage and Footloose I can use the idea that the teens ignore authority.
- Teen movies
- Movie genres
- Footloose movie
- Carrie movie
- High school themes
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Dentist
Summary: After Curt Lemon died O'Brien found it hard to mourn him for he didn't know him that well and what he did know he was unimpressed with. O'Brien says its easy to get sentimental over the dead and with that he begins his story of Lemon. They were working on an operation called Rocket Pocket when a dentist is flown in to check everyone's teeth. While waiting for their check up it was obvious that Lemon was anxious. When he was asked about what his problem was he said that in high school he had a bad experience with dentists and they just give him the creeps. When called in for his inspection Lemon fainted even before the Doctor touched him. Later that night Lemon woke the dentist up claiming to have a killer toothache and the dentist couldn't find a problem but with Lemon's insisting the Doctor pulled a perfectly good tooth relieving the solider.
Response: I think the point O'Brein was trying to make in this chapter is that Physical pain is much easier to cope with than mental upset and I think many can agree with that. Lemon is the solider who acts all tough yet is scared of a mere dentist its rather ironic because he is so fearless yet is so unsettled at the sight of a silly dentist. When Lemon faints he is extremely embarrassed and torments himself for the rest of the day and later hiss inner pain is put at rest when he has the dentist pull his perfectly good tooth. The next morning when Curt Lemon shows off his pulled tooth he is proud because he faced his fear and can in a way redeem himself for fainting earlier.
Response: I think the point O'Brein was trying to make in this chapter is that Physical pain is much easier to cope with than mental upset and I think many can agree with that. Lemon is the solider who acts all tough yet is scared of a mere dentist its rather ironic because he is so fearless yet is so unsettled at the sight of a silly dentist. When Lemon faints he is extremely embarrassed and torments himself for the rest of the day and later hiss inner pain is put at rest when he has the dentist pull his perfectly good tooth. The next morning when Curt Lemon shows off his pulled tooth he is proud because he faced his fear and can in a way redeem himself for fainting earlier.
Enemies and Friends
Summary of Enemies: One day Dave Jensen and Lee Strunk get into a fight over a missing jackknife that Jensen is convinced Strunk has stolen. Jensen breaks Strunk’s nose and continues to beat him. After the incident Jensen is constantly on the defense believing Strunk is going to take revenge against him. After some time of little to no sleep and unrest Jenson breaks his own nose to make he and Strunk even, Which Strunk laughs about after admitting he did steal the jackknife.
Summary of Friends: Jensen and Strunk learn to trust each other again and decide to make a pact that if one of them were to ever be seriously injured or have to spend the rest of their lives in a wheelchair the other would kill them to put them out of their misery. a day comes when Strunk's lower leg is blown off my a mortar round and in and out of his consciousness he continues to beg Jensen not to kill him. Strunk was taken by helicopter and Jensen is later informed that he had passed away during his trip and is relieved by it.
Response: It was the fact that they were in the context of war that made Jensen uneasy because it would be so easy for Strunk to strike with revenge and because Jensen already fells the need to be on guard in the environment that he's in. When Jensen breaks his nose Strunk laughs because in his eyes they had already been settled, if you steal you are punished. In Friends the two men become close again and when Strunk loses his leg Jensen couldn't kill them despite their deal. I can only imagine that going through with that pact would have been awful it wasn't something Jensen wanted to do and Strunk begged him not to so he didn't I would have probably done the same thing. The reason for Jensen's relief must have been that the deal was followed through and he didn't have to do any killing.
Summary of Friends: Jensen and Strunk learn to trust each other again and decide to make a pact that if one of them were to ever be seriously injured or have to spend the rest of their lives in a wheelchair the other would kill them to put them out of their misery. a day comes when Strunk's lower leg is blown off my a mortar round and in and out of his consciousness he continues to beg Jensen not to kill him. Strunk was taken by helicopter and Jensen is later informed that he had passed away during his trip and is relieved by it.
Response: It was the fact that they were in the context of war that made Jensen uneasy because it would be so easy for Strunk to strike with revenge and because Jensen already fells the need to be on guard in the environment that he's in. When Jensen breaks his nose Strunk laughs because in his eyes they had already been settled, if you steal you are punished. In Friends the two men become close again and when Strunk loses his leg Jensen couldn't kill them despite their deal. I can only imagine that going through with that pact would have been awful it wasn't something Jensen wanted to do and Strunk begged him not to so he didn't I would have probably done the same thing. The reason for Jensen's relief must have been that the deal was followed through and he didn't have to do any killing.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
The Things They Carried
Summary: The first story opens with an examination of what Lieutenant Jimmy Cross carries which except for gear is everything from Martha. Cross has letters from Martha and two photographs along with a good luck pebble that he carries in his mouth. Cross cherishes all these especially in the late afternoon after a days march where he can reminisce over their memories and wonder whether she is a virgin or not. Cross wants Martha to love him back but understands that when she signs "Love Martha" it means something different. The things they carried were determined on their survival factor, personality, rank, and priorities. All men carry the weight of memory and the Vietnam war itself. Every solider had a load to "hump". Tim O'Brien also discusses the story of when Lavender was shot and killed. He gives us little to work with but we know so far that he was walking back from going to the restroom and was shot and dropped "like cement". Lieutenant Cross accepts the blame for this incident and burns everything Martha sent and gave him.
Reflection: Lieutenant Cross blames his fantasizing of Martha and their life together after the war on the death of Lavender because it caused him to be negligent. This tells me that Cross is going to be someone who is very hard on themselves but will make changes if necessary. Martha was a major part of the lieutenant and he did his best to delete her from his life. Tim O'Brien, I believe, uses weight to portray the toll of the war on the men. Even the weights that vary such as for the different jobs like the medic carries more weight as he has a larger responsibility than an ordinary soldier because he will be trying to save the injured. Most of the emotional weight is inexperience and youth. They are conflicted when their friend Lavender dies because as they are sad they also have a sense of relieve that they are still alive.
Reflection: Lieutenant Cross blames his fantasizing of Martha and their life together after the war on the death of Lavender because it caused him to be negligent. This tells me that Cross is going to be someone who is very hard on themselves but will make changes if necessary. Martha was a major part of the lieutenant and he did his best to delete her from his life. Tim O'Brien, I believe, uses weight to portray the toll of the war on the men. Even the weights that vary such as for the different jobs like the medic carries more weight as he has a larger responsibility than an ordinary soldier because he will be trying to save the injured. Most of the emotional weight is inexperience and youth. They are conflicted when their friend Lavender dies because as they are sad they also have a sense of relieve that they are still alive.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Live and Let Live
Summary:
In Ian Daly's article "Virtual Popularity Isn't Cool- It's Pathetic" Daly goes on to subject his opinion of how Facebook and things alike are a waste of time. He opens with statistics for the social media sites and continues into creating a scene in which he describes "a man with a white-collar career and a family who needs his attention" logging onto his social media site to check his notifications. Daly says that the friends on these programs aren't really your friends and questions how many of them you would actually invite out to do something. He also quotes peoples responses with examples of problems such as people no longer have control of the site because other accounts can comment on yours altering the image you have created. Exploited users were another topic of his interest with names of those who posted racy photos and have been fired from their jobs. Daly compares users to teenage girls and infants and claims there are better things to do with your time that can include actual friends.
Response:
Ian Daly's article was written in almost anger he has a sincere passion against these social media sites and has no filter for his opinion. I agree with his idea that it does take up a lot of time in peoples lives but I disagree with his attitude that its a complete waste of time. I find social networks to be a fun way of learning information and staying in touch with people you don't see regularly and its also a way to advertise yourself for making new friends and coming across other opportunities. I found Daly's article rather annoying let people do what they want, if they enjoy the perks of social media then let them live and be happy and for those who disagree then merely don't participate it doesn't need to be a big ordeal like Daly makes it with his relations of teenage girls and infants. Along with that, users of the networking sites are aware of what they are getting into and should be able to manage their site to their likings and be responsible about it. The idea of social media is to express oneself and they should be able to do that without anyone's criticism.
In Ian Daly's article "Virtual Popularity Isn't Cool- It's Pathetic" Daly goes on to subject his opinion of how Facebook and things alike are a waste of time. He opens with statistics for the social media sites and continues into creating a scene in which he describes "a man with a white-collar career and a family who needs his attention" logging onto his social media site to check his notifications. Daly says that the friends on these programs aren't really your friends and questions how many of them you would actually invite out to do something. He also quotes peoples responses with examples of problems such as people no longer have control of the site because other accounts can comment on yours altering the image you have created. Exploited users were another topic of his interest with names of those who posted racy photos and have been fired from their jobs. Daly compares users to teenage girls and infants and claims there are better things to do with your time that can include actual friends.
Response:
Ian Daly's article was written in almost anger he has a sincere passion against these social media sites and has no filter for his opinion. I agree with his idea that it does take up a lot of time in peoples lives but I disagree with his attitude that its a complete waste of time. I find social networks to be a fun way of learning information and staying in touch with people you don't see regularly and its also a way to advertise yourself for making new friends and coming across other opportunities. I found Daly's article rather annoying let people do what they want, if they enjoy the perks of social media then let them live and be happy and for those who disagree then merely don't participate it doesn't need to be a big ordeal like Daly makes it with his relations of teenage girls and infants. Along with that, users of the networking sites are aware of what they are getting into and should be able to manage their site to their likings and be responsible about it. The idea of social media is to express oneself and they should be able to do that without anyone's criticism.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)