Wednesday, December 8, 2010
16 month old death, woman to blame?
So tonight at dinner my mom was reading the paper. Now lets be honest, I really don't read the paper and I don't really want to... but I was kinda interested in one of the articles. On the front page of the extras in big font, it says "Video focus of day care death case." So I read about it and it turns out there is a woman being help because they suspect her of killing a 16 month baby at her day care job. They interrogated her for hours, switching sides. You know the whole good cop bad cop crap you see on law and order. I feel so bad for this woman because according to her the kid was throwing a tantrum and knocked his head back. When asked if she'd take a lie detector test she immediately agreed than was denied one because it would prove her innocence. I just think this is so awful. This woman will probably not get a job for a while, and if she is telling the truth it kind of isn't her fault. She doesn't deserve cops bullying her around when she is already in a state of distress.
The Picture of Dorian Gray
After reading chapters 1 and 2, I feel that there is a strong connection to "good" and "evil."
In chapter one we are introduced to Lord Henry and the painter, Basil. We see that Lord Henry is somewhat cocky and very different from the men in his day. Everyone is uptight and formal, and Henry goes on about random things with conviction in his voice. Basil does not believe a word he says, yet they are still "brotherly" friends. Basil lets it slip that he is very close friends with a man by the name of Dorian Gray. He doesn't want Henry to meet him because he is afraid that he will corrupt Dorian Gray's innocence. Basil finds a strange attraction to him, and cannot bare to lose his dear friend.
In chapter two, after insisting that he meets Dorian, Lord Henry and Dorian meet. As Dorian is posing for Basil, Henry presses his ideas upon Dorian. He tells him that no one lives their lives to the fullest. If everyone lived on impulse and every emotion, there would be no regret. This would be the most joyful world and everything would be better. He then lists all the things Dorian may have regretted in his childhood. This strikes a chord within Dorian and he believes every word. Again, later, Lord Henry influences him yet again by talking about youth. He says that Dorian is very handsome but that that will only be true for so long. Once he is old and ugly, he will lose everything that's worth living for and will only remember how good life used to be.
After seeing Basil's painting, Dorian is struck by how beautiful it is. He then is hysterical because that photograph will never age, yet he will. When he does he will be worthless. A little later, he yells at Basil because his eyes have been opened and he now believes that he is just using him as an object to paint, and when he grows old and ugly Basil will cast him away. That night, Dorian ditches Basil for Lord Henry.
We talked about in class that Lord Henry was "evil" (taking away Dorian's innocence) and that Basil was "good" (wanting to keep Dorian's innocence). But is this really true? Is it really better to live blindly? I for one want to, but is it what's best?
I was talking with someone today about how when one loses their ability to act childish when they are older, than they lose a part of themselves. Now, it is possible for one to be mature while still letting their child out every once in a while. So when Lord Henry tells Dorian that he will lose his youth, aka good looks... does it matter? Of course Dorian is young and naive and believes it is. But is it possible that Henry is right? Yes, he will lose his youth, and youth is what matters, but is it not the youthfulness of ones soul that is important? Maybe he was just reading into it wrong. Maybe indirectly Lord Henry is telling him that his child will be gone, especially if he takes and misinterprets what he is saying. I don't know, but maybe having someone tell you riddles about life could actually help us.
In fact, I don't know if any of this makes much sense... but it was what was going on in my mind today after that conversation I had.
In chapter one we are introduced to Lord Henry and the painter, Basil. We see that Lord Henry is somewhat cocky and very different from the men in his day. Everyone is uptight and formal, and Henry goes on about random things with conviction in his voice. Basil does not believe a word he says, yet they are still "brotherly" friends. Basil lets it slip that he is very close friends with a man by the name of Dorian Gray. He doesn't want Henry to meet him because he is afraid that he will corrupt Dorian Gray's innocence. Basil finds a strange attraction to him, and cannot bare to lose his dear friend.
In chapter two, after insisting that he meets Dorian, Lord Henry and Dorian meet. As Dorian is posing for Basil, Henry presses his ideas upon Dorian. He tells him that no one lives their lives to the fullest. If everyone lived on impulse and every emotion, there would be no regret. This would be the most joyful world and everything would be better. He then lists all the things Dorian may have regretted in his childhood. This strikes a chord within Dorian and he believes every word. Again, later, Lord Henry influences him yet again by talking about youth. He says that Dorian is very handsome but that that will only be true for so long. Once he is old and ugly, he will lose everything that's worth living for and will only remember how good life used to be.
After seeing Basil's painting, Dorian is struck by how beautiful it is. He then is hysterical because that photograph will never age, yet he will. When he does he will be worthless. A little later, he yells at Basil because his eyes have been opened and he now believes that he is just using him as an object to paint, and when he grows old and ugly Basil will cast him away. That night, Dorian ditches Basil for Lord Henry.
We talked about in class that Lord Henry was "evil" (taking away Dorian's innocence) and that Basil was "good" (wanting to keep Dorian's innocence). But is this really true? Is it really better to live blindly? I for one want to, but is it what's best?
I was talking with someone today about how when one loses their ability to act childish when they are older, than they lose a part of themselves. Now, it is possible for one to be mature while still letting their child out every once in a while. So when Lord Henry tells Dorian that he will lose his youth, aka good looks... does it matter? Of course Dorian is young and naive and believes it is. But is it possible that Henry is right? Yes, he will lose his youth, and youth is what matters, but is it not the youthfulness of ones soul that is important? Maybe he was just reading into it wrong. Maybe indirectly Lord Henry is telling him that his child will be gone, especially if he takes and misinterprets what he is saying. I don't know, but maybe having someone tell you riddles about life could actually help us.
In fact, I don't know if any of this makes much sense... but it was what was going on in my mind today after that conversation I had.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Shawshank Redemption
I watched Shawshank redemption a couple weeks ago. This story is about a man who finds out his wife is cheating on him. He got drunk and took a gun with him to get payback on his wife and her lover. The viewer does not find out till much later whether he does or doesn't. Whatever the case, the main character is sentenced for life.
SPOILER ALERT! Don't read the next part if you haven't seen it because it's a fabulous movie!
After he gets very used to prison life and becomes high up in the food chain, the viewer finds out that he's actually Innocent. Knowing this the warden still won't let him out because he is doing his taxes and "stealing" money for the prison on a daily to monthly basis. He is miserable and the watcher sees how he becomes disinterested in his life. You become scared for him, until you find out he's escaped!
But back to the good and evil stuff. This man is obviously wrongly imprisoned. So is it justified that he escapes? It's still against the law isn't it? Should he technically be found and re-imprisoned for escaping? The viewer obviously develops sympathy for him, but should we?
Personally, I'm happy for him. But other people are wrongly convicted, too, and I think he should have to go through the same process as them. If every innocent man in the prison were to escape there would be some major problems. He was under extenuating circumstances, however. On the other hand, he shouldn't have been cheating people out of their money. I don't really know what is right, but I know I'm happy for him.
SPOILER ALERT! Don't read the next part if you haven't seen it because it's a fabulous movie!
After he gets very used to prison life and becomes high up in the food chain, the viewer finds out that he's actually Innocent. Knowing this the warden still won't let him out because he is doing his taxes and "stealing" money for the prison on a daily to monthly basis. He is miserable and the watcher sees how he becomes disinterested in his life. You become scared for him, until you find out he's escaped!
But back to the good and evil stuff. This man is obviously wrongly imprisoned. So is it justified that he escapes? It's still against the law isn't it? Should he technically be found and re-imprisoned for escaping? The viewer obviously develops sympathy for him, but should we?
Personally, I'm happy for him. But other people are wrongly convicted, too, and I think he should have to go through the same process as them. If every innocent man in the prison were to escape there would be some major problems. He was under extenuating circumstances, however. On the other hand, he shouldn't have been cheating people out of their money. I don't really know what is right, but I know I'm happy for him.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Switching Titles
I think it is very possible to switch the titles to "Do the Right Thing" and "Unforgiven."
In "Do the Right Thing," there are so many chances to place the word unforgiven into different scenes. Especially at the end when the town starts a riot. For example, the viewer learns that Mookie has a child and that he is not very supportive of his girlfriend or the baby. I'm sure his girlfriend Tina will never forgive him for this. At the end, Radio comes in to start something with Sal. Sal didn't have to, but he smashed Radio's radio into pieces. This is what starts the whole commotion. No one in the town will be able to forgive him because his actions indirectly kills Radio.
In "Unforgiven" there are so many actions that could be questioned. Did they do the right thing? Will kills more than a handful of men in the bar at the end. Was it justified? Personally I didn't really like the characters of any of the men in the bar. But he killed some innocent men out of anger and guilt. Did Ned do the right thing by leaving? I think he did the right thing, however what does he get for it? Lots of pain and death. He would have been better off if he had just tagged along with Will and Scholefield. That makes me wonder if the good guy ever gets what he deserves? (Which brings me back to Sal who actually loved what he did, but because of a group of aggressive men came in and aggravated him, he lost his whole business). I don't think they do. I think Scholefield did the right thing by deciding to never kill again. He may have been the only one...
In "Do the Right Thing," there are so many chances to place the word unforgiven into different scenes. Especially at the end when the town starts a riot. For example, the viewer learns that Mookie has a child and that he is not very supportive of his girlfriend or the baby. I'm sure his girlfriend Tina will never forgive him for this. At the end, Radio comes in to start something with Sal. Sal didn't have to, but he smashed Radio's radio into pieces. This is what starts the whole commotion. No one in the town will be able to forgive him because his actions indirectly kills Radio.
In "Unforgiven" there are so many actions that could be questioned. Did they do the right thing? Will kills more than a handful of men in the bar at the end. Was it justified? Personally I didn't really like the characters of any of the men in the bar. But he killed some innocent men out of anger and guilt. Did Ned do the right thing by leaving? I think he did the right thing, however what does he get for it? Lots of pain and death. He would have been better off if he had just tagged along with Will and Scholefield. That makes me wonder if the good guy ever gets what he deserves? (Which brings me back to Sal who actually loved what he did, but because of a group of aggressive men came in and aggravated him, he lost his whole business). I don't think they do. I think Scholefield did the right thing by deciding to never kill again. He may have been the only one...
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Unforgiven/ Do the Right Thing
The movie Unforgiven was really good. Clint Eastwood was a total badass. I kind of feel bad for the girl who got slashed in the face, but she's still awesome.
Do the Right Thing was really strange. I don't understand why Tina was dancing in the beginning. The whole movie was confusing come to think of it, but I enjoyed it.
Do the Right Thing was really strange. I don't understand why Tina was dancing in the beginning. The whole movie was confusing come to think of it, but I enjoyed it.
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