Thursday, December 16, 2010
Final project
Hooray! https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Uh2WfSWiKIJvqVkQWGp5Q0a9g93gwrHcZ4mFaE00QPo/edit?hl=en#
Saturday, December 11, 2010
Comics to movies, comics to shows, shows to comics
Comic books have inspired movies for at least the last forty years, to my knowledge. It wasn’t until ten years ago, however, that every third movie released was bitten directly from a comic book. I use the word “bitten” as opposed to “inspired” only because of the deluge that has resulted. These days, it seems an inspiration of unoriginality to make movies from comic books. It seems to be more the effect of Hollywood writer’s block instead of a genuine desire to take this great saga and amazing artwork and transfer it to live action. Live, hmm… interesting choice of words given the percentage of these films that owe all credit to the minds behind computer graphics.
Ok, ok, I’ll admit it, I like a lot of these films. They are jolly good fun, but I still cannot justify coughing up ten bucks to see them. I will wait for Netflix.
Anyways, I would love to have a discussion with students about the effectiveness of transfer from comic books/graphic novels to live action films (X-Men, Punisher, Hulk, V for Vendetta, Sin City), the transfer of television programs to comic books (The Simpsons, The X-Files), and comics transferred to television programs (Dilbert, The Boondocks, Garfield).
I am currently reading the Watchmen and plan to see the movie soon. I have had discussions with people about how to watch film adaptations of books. The consensus is that they are different pieces of art and should not comment on each other, too much. This is the consensus among my friends and colleagues; what will students think? And what will students think about the other adaptations? Are they able to read a Simpsons comic book without hearing Nancy Cartwright and Hank Azaria’s voices? Do they even have the desire to read the comics if they can just watch the show? Is any of The Simpsons’ magic lost in the comic book?
What about The Boondocks? In one week of daily comics, The Boondocks tries to cover a social issue. The dialogue is snappy, because the frames only allow for so much of it. Is the dialogue in the show as snappy now that they have a half hour to fill? Or does Huey’s cynicism just get played out? Was this an effective adaptation?
And Spiderman? Tobey Maguire is a cutey. Kirsten Dunst is lovely. Great, more good looking people on the big screen. How is the story? Is there too much focus on the relationship and not enough on the ethics of vigilante justice? Are students able to separate their opinions of the comic book when watching the film? Can they view them as two separate pieces of art? Can they separate what they know about Tobey Maguire from the Peter Parker that he is playing? This last question brings up a debate that our class had last week: what importance should viewers put on the actors and actresses playing the characters? They aren’t the character. The film is about the characters, not the actors and actresses. Does a live action adaptation of a comic book screw this up?
Big questions for classroom discussions.
Ok, ok, I’ll admit it, I like a lot of these films. They are jolly good fun, but I still cannot justify coughing up ten bucks to see them. I will wait for Netflix.
Anyways, I would love to have a discussion with students about the effectiveness of transfer from comic books/graphic novels to live action films (X-Men, Punisher, Hulk, V for Vendetta, Sin City), the transfer of television programs to comic books (The Simpsons, The X-Files), and comics transferred to television programs (Dilbert, The Boondocks, Garfield).
I am currently reading the Watchmen and plan to see the movie soon. I have had discussions with people about how to watch film adaptations of books. The consensus is that they are different pieces of art and should not comment on each other, too much. This is the consensus among my friends and colleagues; what will students think? And what will students think about the other adaptations? Are they able to read a Simpsons comic book without hearing Nancy Cartwright and Hank Azaria’s voices? Do they even have the desire to read the comics if they can just watch the show? Is any of The Simpsons’ magic lost in the comic book?
What about The Boondocks? In one week of daily comics, The Boondocks tries to cover a social issue. The dialogue is snappy, because the frames only allow for so much of it. Is the dialogue in the show as snappy now that they have a half hour to fill? Or does Huey’s cynicism just get played out? Was this an effective adaptation?
And Spiderman? Tobey Maguire is a cutey. Kirsten Dunst is lovely. Great, more good looking people on the big screen. How is the story? Is there too much focus on the relationship and not enough on the ethics of vigilante justice? Are students able to separate their opinions of the comic book when watching the film? Can they view them as two separate pieces of art? Can they separate what they know about Tobey Maguire from the Peter Parker that he is playing? This last question brings up a debate that our class had last week: what importance should viewers put on the actors and actresses playing the characters? They aren’t the character. The film is about the characters, not the actors and actresses. Does a live action adaptation of a comic book screw this up?
Big questions for classroom discussions.
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Feeling a little misanthropic
The music video for the Pearl Jam song "Do the Evolution" messed up my head when I first watched it 11 years ago. It still messes with my head a little, but in the best way possible. The music video is animated by Todd McFarlane and is basically a montage of past, present, and future examples of how the human race is immature, destructive, and ultimately doomed. Yah, charming. It works though. As cynical as the video is, it touches on a lot of truths. Had this been the first song I ever heard by Pearl Jam, I would definitely have been sold by this video. However, I had already heard plenty of songs by Pearl Jam prior to seeing this video and had already decided that I did not like them. This might be the only song that I like by them, but I like this song A LOT.
Be forewarned, this video is jarring.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDaOgu2CQtI
Be forewarned, this video is jarring.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDaOgu2CQtI
The Decline: A Punk Rock Masterpiece
Around the time that cynicism took me in out of the cold--freshman year of high school--I began listening to punk rock. Although I giggle a bit at how seriously my friends and I took ourselves, the music and lifestyle was incredibly formative for us and honestly saved me from a very boring suburban teenage life.
Punk rock caught me with its speed, angst, humor, and cheap concerts. Whereas many people I knew attended only one or two concerts per year, either because the bands they liked rarely toured or because the ticket prices were just so absurdly high, my friends and I went to several concerts per month, and had money left over to get high. That last sentence was pretty long, I know, but read it at the speed of a punk rock song and it won't seem as run-on.
Punk rock concerts were very important to my social circle. They were our physical, emotional, intellectual, and dare I say spiritual, release. We liked being sweated on. We like getting bruises. We liked having a hoarse voice at school the next day. This was all very important to us. A lot of times punk rock and friends were all that seemed to matter. Goddamn, this sounds so freakin sentimental.
At the age of 26, there is still a feisty little punk swinging fists in my heart. A song that still brings him out is The Decline by LA based punk grandfathers NOFX.
The song, as the title suggests, is about the decline of America, a common theme in punk rock. However, this song is actually well written. As much as I will preach punk, I will admit that many punk lyrics are pretty childish. Not The Decline.
Talk to damn near any punk and they will tell you that The Decline is a punk rock masterpiece. In a music genre where songs rarely, and I mean rarely, last longer than three minutes, The Decline churns out 18 minutes of speed, slow downs, and a variety of other musical techniques rarely incorporated by punk bands. NOFX, those cheeky bastards, played a trick on the punk genre by putting out this one long song as an EP. They were not the first punk band to play a long song--the Subhumans played a song just short of 17 minutes--but they can call claims to the longest punk song.
The lyrics of The Decline cover issues ranging from the US prison system, drug laws, gun control, the education system, religious institutions, the media, patriarchy, and homophobia. As a teenager looking for something to fight, The Decline was basically a menu for me to choose from. It was because of punk songs like The Decline that I actually paid attention in some my classes. I made connections between what I was hearing from my music and what I was learning in my social studies and English classes, and it was exciting. Punk rock made school seem worth my time.
For years I have planned to teach The Decline in my English class. Each issue raised in the song could be a hour-long discussion in itself, but I would also like to teach the song as a piece of art breaking traditional form. The Black Arts Movement broke traditional form with their poetry, Warhol with his art, and NOFX with a 18 minute long punk rock song.
Below are links to parts 1 and 2 of the decline. Remember, it is 18 MINUTES LONG, and it isn't worth your time to only listen to part of it. If you are going to listen to this absolutely amazing song set aside a full 18 minutes.
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCz8PNvABO0
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM6KF_Pz0mc&feature=related
Punk rock caught me with its speed, angst, humor, and cheap concerts. Whereas many people I knew attended only one or two concerts per year, either because the bands they liked rarely toured or because the ticket prices were just so absurdly high, my friends and I went to several concerts per month, and had money left over to get high. That last sentence was pretty long, I know, but read it at the speed of a punk rock song and it won't seem as run-on.
Punk rock concerts were very important to my social circle. They were our physical, emotional, intellectual, and dare I say spiritual, release. We liked being sweated on. We like getting bruises. We liked having a hoarse voice at school the next day. This was all very important to us. A lot of times punk rock and friends were all that seemed to matter. Goddamn, this sounds so freakin sentimental.
At the age of 26, there is still a feisty little punk swinging fists in my heart. A song that still brings him out is The Decline by LA based punk grandfathers NOFX.
The song, as the title suggests, is about the decline of America, a common theme in punk rock. However, this song is actually well written. As much as I will preach punk, I will admit that many punk lyrics are pretty childish. Not The Decline.
Talk to damn near any punk and they will tell you that The Decline is a punk rock masterpiece. In a music genre where songs rarely, and I mean rarely, last longer than three minutes, The Decline churns out 18 minutes of speed, slow downs, and a variety of other musical techniques rarely incorporated by punk bands. NOFX, those cheeky bastards, played a trick on the punk genre by putting out this one long song as an EP. They were not the first punk band to play a long song--the Subhumans played a song just short of 17 minutes--but they can call claims to the longest punk song.
The lyrics of The Decline cover issues ranging from the US prison system, drug laws, gun control, the education system, religious institutions, the media, patriarchy, and homophobia. As a teenager looking for something to fight, The Decline was basically a menu for me to choose from. It was because of punk songs like The Decline that I actually paid attention in some my classes. I made connections between what I was hearing from my music and what I was learning in my social studies and English classes, and it was exciting. Punk rock made school seem worth my time.
For years I have planned to teach The Decline in my English class. Each issue raised in the song could be a hour-long discussion in itself, but I would also like to teach the song as a piece of art breaking traditional form. The Black Arts Movement broke traditional form with their poetry, Warhol with his art, and NOFX with a 18 minute long punk rock song.
Below are links to parts 1 and 2 of the decline. Remember, it is 18 MINUTES LONG, and it isn't worth your time to only listen to part of it. If you are going to listen to this absolutely amazing song set aside a full 18 minutes.
Part 1: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DCz8PNvABO0
Part 2: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sM6KF_Pz0mc&feature=related
Monday, November 22, 2010
On the Downlow
Recently I watched a film called On the Downlow. The film follows several homosexual black men who live in Cleveland, Ohio. According to many of the men in the film, it is difficult to live as an openly homosexual within the urban black community, as it is in many other communities.
The beginning of the film introduces several men, all of who live in different circumstances. One character lived in a “foster home” for gay men living on the “downlow,” which basically means being openly homosexual only when the circumstances allow. Another character was a divorced father fighting to get custody of his two children. One character was an ex convict searching for love and a job. Each of these characters, and the ones I did not mention, explain when they knew that they were homosexual, the difficulty that they have had coming out, how they live their lives as “straight” men, and how they live their lives as the homosexual men when they are in comfortable environments.
Most of the perspectives offered in the film are the perspectives of the characters themselves. However, the film also interviews the mothers of a few of the young men. The film also captures one of the young men coming out to his father and one of them coming out to his girlfriend. The scene where the character comes out to his father is particularly emotional.
The film isn’t so much pushing an agenda as it is telling the stories of young men whose stories have not yet been told. The film is only 70 minutes long, which limits how much it can get across. An interesting technique that the film makers used was to film the young men both going about their daily activities in their home and among friends and family who they are out to, and going about their daily activities in public, where they feel the need to act straight. I myself did not see a huge difference in the identities, but then again, I knew that they were truly homosexual.
The beginning of the film introduces several men, all of who live in different circumstances. One character lived in a “foster home” for gay men living on the “downlow,” which basically means being openly homosexual only when the circumstances allow. Another character was a divorced father fighting to get custody of his two children. One character was an ex convict searching for love and a job. Each of these characters, and the ones I did not mention, explain when they knew that they were homosexual, the difficulty that they have had coming out, how they live their lives as “straight” men, and how they live their lives as the homosexual men when they are in comfortable environments.
Most of the perspectives offered in the film are the perspectives of the characters themselves. However, the film also interviews the mothers of a few of the young men. The film also captures one of the young men coming out to his father and one of them coming out to his girlfriend. The scene where the character comes out to his father is particularly emotional.
The film isn’t so much pushing an agenda as it is telling the stories of young men whose stories have not yet been told. The film is only 70 minutes long, which limits how much it can get across. An interesting technique that the film makers used was to film the young men both going about their daily activities in their home and among friends and family who they are out to, and going about their daily activities in public, where they feel the need to act straight. I myself did not see a huge difference in the identities, but then again, I knew that they were truly homosexual.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
KARE 11 - 10 o'clock news
On November 9, 2010 I watched the 10 o'clock on Channel 11. A few things that I discovered while watching were 1) People poor excuse for news, but was prepared for that, 2) it was actually quite relaxing. I am not sure why exactly. It could be that almost all of the stories were about areas that I knew and involved people who I knew by reputation or who I could relate to. Plus, since all of the stories were basically fluff (and short), it didn't require a whole lot of thinking on my part to follow along, and 3) all of the anchors just seemed so darn friendly.
This is the breakdown of last night's news:
15 seconds - "Good evening" introduction
2 min 7 sec. - News: Farmer runs over a wandering black bear with his combine. Family going to eat the bear. (Video footage and interviews)
2 min 15 sec. - News: Governor candidates comment on recount process (Video footage)
15 sec. - Reporter comments on recount process
25 sec. - High speed rail line debate
10 sec. - Woman hit by car on Summit Ave.
10 sec. - House fire in Belle Plain
15 sec. - Mankato State student sexually assaulted
15 sec. - 13 year old sexually assaults 12 year old on school bus
10 sec. - Update on deer hunting registration
20 sec. - University of Denver hockey player recovering from spine injury sustained during a game. (Video footage)
20 sec. - Fire on Carnival Cruise leaves passengers stranded. Coast Guard brings them food. (Video footage)
15 sec. - "Mystery Missile" trail spotted in the sky (Video footage)
3 min. - Commercials
4 min. - Top Story: Minnesota food shelves see increase in people needing food. (Video footage and interviews)
20 sec. - Plug for tomorrow night's top story: In the present economy should you reach into your 401K to pay bills?
4 min. - Weather
3 min. - Commercials
5 min. - SPORTS: Joe Mauer awarded Golden Glove (Video footage)
Timberwolves losing to Laker by 2 points with 8 minutes left in the first half (Video footage)
St. Thomas Tommies 10-0 so far this season. (Video footage and interviews)
Randy Shaver names Viking's Chris Kluwe "Player of the week." (Video footage)
3 min. - Commercials
30 sec. - Final story: Huge pumpkin grown in New York. Carved sections given to chefs who will make dishes out of it which will then be donated. (Video footage)
Many of the stories that were covered involved exciting footage, like athletes doing stuff, a Carnival Cruise just wading in the ocean, or a huge pumpking being carved with an electric saw. Some of the stories contained no footage, including the more tragic stories. I guess there isn't a whole lot of footage that you can give to the more tragic stories without showing something, well, tragic.
When the anchors reported on tragic stories, they ended the story with sorrowful tone of voice and often lowered their heads while saying the last few words.
During the Weather, the anchor walked outside to their well-lit patio to report. It was strange, but I thought to myself, "Hey, she is experiencing the same weather that I am," which felt kind of unifying.
When the anchors said "Goodnight," the camera panned out to show the entire studio while the anchors were still chatting with each other. Relaxing music closed out the program and I couldn't help but feel like the anchors actually liked each other and that they really loved their jobs. It was a pleasant feeling.
This is the breakdown of last night's news:
15 seconds - "Good evening" introduction
2 min 7 sec. - News: Farmer runs over a wandering black bear with his combine. Family going to eat the bear. (Video footage and interviews)
2 min 15 sec. - News: Governor candidates comment on recount process (Video footage)
15 sec. - Reporter comments on recount process
25 sec. - High speed rail line debate
10 sec. - Woman hit by car on Summit Ave.
10 sec. - House fire in Belle Plain
15 sec. - Mankato State student sexually assaulted
15 sec. - 13 year old sexually assaults 12 year old on school bus
10 sec. - Update on deer hunting registration
20 sec. - University of Denver hockey player recovering from spine injury sustained during a game. (Video footage)
20 sec. - Fire on Carnival Cruise leaves passengers stranded. Coast Guard brings them food. (Video footage)
15 sec. - "Mystery Missile" trail spotted in the sky (Video footage)
3 min. - Commercials
4 min. - Top Story: Minnesota food shelves see increase in people needing food. (Video footage and interviews)
20 sec. - Plug for tomorrow night's top story: In the present economy should you reach into your 401K to pay bills?
4 min. - Weather
3 min. - Commercials
5 min. - SPORTS: Joe Mauer awarded Golden Glove (Video footage)
Timberwolves losing to Laker by 2 points with 8 minutes left in the first half (Video footage)
St. Thomas Tommies 10-0 so far this season. (Video footage and interviews)
Randy Shaver names Viking's Chris Kluwe "Player of the week." (Video footage)
3 min. - Commercials
30 sec. - Final story: Huge pumpkin grown in New York. Carved sections given to chefs who will make dishes out of it which will then be donated. (Video footage)
Many of the stories that were covered involved exciting footage, like athletes doing stuff, a Carnival Cruise just wading in the ocean, or a huge pumpking being carved with an electric saw. Some of the stories contained no footage, including the more tragic stories. I guess there isn't a whole lot of footage that you can give to the more tragic stories without showing something, well, tragic.
When the anchors reported on tragic stories, they ended the story with sorrowful tone of voice and often lowered their heads while saying the last few words.
During the Weather, the anchor walked outside to their well-lit patio to report. It was strange, but I thought to myself, "Hey, she is experiencing the same weather that I am," which felt kind of unifying.
When the anchors said "Goodnight," the camera panned out to show the entire studio while the anchors were still chatting with each other. Relaxing music closed out the program and I couldn't help but feel like the anchors actually liked each other and that they really loved their jobs. It was a pleasant feeling.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Mammoth mouths
For a while I considered my love of "Eating a huge amount food" shows to be a guilty pleasure. I have gotten over it.
Cooking shows have been on for years, and even eating shows have had their time in the sun, but the emergence of eating shows where the host eats ALOT is relatively new. Two of the most famous of this genre are "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" hosted by Guy Fieri, and "Man vs. Food" hosted by Adam Richman. Now, to the cynical viewer, these shows are about nothing but large men eating large amounts of food, thus perpetuating the ever-present stereotype of Americans as gluttonous swine. Ok, so the show has aspects of that, but I swear, there is more.
First off, the hosts are legit. They have done their time in the culinary worlds and have the credential to prove themselves.
Each show follows the same basic premise: The host travels to some city in the U.S. and searches out restaurants to stuff their faces at. However, once they arrive in the city, they take the role of a tour guide, and lead the viewer around providing history, stories, and humor. The host introduces us to the restaurant owners and employees, asks them an array of question about the city, their restaurant’s clientele, the restaurants influences, focus, history, and usually asks about famous people who have stopped in. All the while, the viewer is treated to an abundance of god-awful jokes and aimless comments. I actually like the asinine commentary because it makes me feel like I am not watching the show alone, which I usually am.
Unlike the more prestigious travel and cooking shows, (don't get me wrong, I love those too) the pig-out shows appeal to the more "common" viewer. The food is often greasy, the guests outrageous, the pace fast, and the backing soundtrack simplistic and rock oriented. The entire show is like reading the Comics and Sports pages, with Anthony Bourdain being the World section.
But just because the shows are more "working class" as far as culinary shows go, they do offer a lot of fascinating information about foods. What kind of cheese makes the best Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich? What are the ingredients to Cleveland's city champ chili 5 years in a row? I often take notes during the shows and they have really paid off.
Some criticism: Yep, the hosts are rather obese men and they do eat a lot during the show. For the same reasons that many people love these programs, they also kind of hate them. Obviously Guy and Adam are not role models (still waiting for them to score Lebron-esque commercial spots) and the average human should not be indulging in the diets (regularly) that these guys seem to on a daily basis. Quick note: my friend recently read an interview with Adam where he describes what he does on days where he is not shooting an episode. Answer: Treadmilling. Also, the non-meat eating population is probably disgusted 2X by the quantities of meat that these guys eat. I cannot remember the statistic, but it is something about how if each American cut their meat consumption in half, then something like world peace or daily rainbows would come to be. In all seriousness, a lot of food is packed into these guys for the sake of entertainment that could otherwise go to more hungry mouths. Really big debate on food justice exists here.
Other criticism: The show is pretty male centric. There are a lot of aggressive personalities and macho lingo thrown around. I tried watching this show with my sister and she shook her head throughout and said simply, "This is dumb. The concept and the guys are just dumb." "Man vs. Food" is particularly "Bro" infested. Occasionally, Adam is even escorted from pig-out joint to pig-out joint by frat brothers. It is all tongue-in-cheek of course, but then again, so is a lot of sexist material.
Cooking shows have been on for years, and even eating shows have had their time in the sun, but the emergence of eating shows where the host eats ALOT is relatively new. Two of the most famous of this genre are "Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives" hosted by Guy Fieri, and "Man vs. Food" hosted by Adam Richman. Now, to the cynical viewer, these shows are about nothing but large men eating large amounts of food, thus perpetuating the ever-present stereotype of Americans as gluttonous swine. Ok, so the show has aspects of that, but I swear, there is more.
First off, the hosts are legit. They have done their time in the culinary worlds and have the credential to prove themselves.
Each show follows the same basic premise: The host travels to some city in the U.S. and searches out restaurants to stuff their faces at. However, once they arrive in the city, they take the role of a tour guide, and lead the viewer around providing history, stories, and humor. The host introduces us to the restaurant owners and employees, asks them an array of question about the city, their restaurant’s clientele, the restaurants influences, focus, history, and usually asks about famous people who have stopped in. All the while, the viewer is treated to an abundance of god-awful jokes and aimless comments. I actually like the asinine commentary because it makes me feel like I am not watching the show alone, which I usually am.
Unlike the more prestigious travel and cooking shows, (don't get me wrong, I love those too) the pig-out shows appeal to the more "common" viewer. The food is often greasy, the guests outrageous, the pace fast, and the backing soundtrack simplistic and rock oriented. The entire show is like reading the Comics and Sports pages, with Anthony Bourdain being the World section.
But just because the shows are more "working class" as far as culinary shows go, they do offer a lot of fascinating information about foods. What kind of cheese makes the best Philly Cheese Steak Sandwich? What are the ingredients to Cleveland's city champ chili 5 years in a row? I often take notes during the shows and they have really paid off.
Some criticism: Yep, the hosts are rather obese men and they do eat a lot during the show. For the same reasons that many people love these programs, they also kind of hate them. Obviously Guy and Adam are not role models (still waiting for them to score Lebron-esque commercial spots) and the average human should not be indulging in the diets (regularly) that these guys seem to on a daily basis. Quick note: my friend recently read an interview with Adam where he describes what he does on days where he is not shooting an episode. Answer: Treadmilling. Also, the non-meat eating population is probably disgusted 2X by the quantities of meat that these guys eat. I cannot remember the statistic, but it is something about how if each American cut their meat consumption in half, then something like world peace or daily rainbows would come to be. In all seriousness, a lot of food is packed into these guys for the sake of entertainment that could otherwise go to more hungry mouths. Really big debate on food justice exists here.
Other criticism: The show is pretty male centric. There are a lot of aggressive personalities and macho lingo thrown around. I tried watching this show with my sister and she shook her head throughout and said simply, "This is dumb. The concept and the guys are just dumb." "Man vs. Food" is particularly "Bro" infested. Occasionally, Adam is even escorted from pig-out joint to pig-out joint by frat brothers. It is all tongue-in-cheek of course, but then again, so is a lot of sexist material.
Lesson Plan: I think that students could get a real kick out of making their own versions of a pig-out video. The language used on the show is usually very colorful, and the hosts are actually quite theatrical. Having students write a script for a pig-out show and videotaping an experience would be a blast. Encourage them to be silly. Buy a nasty hot dog at Super America and treat it like the wiener form Mt. Olympus. Be eccentric and over the top. Be theatrical about their food. Make a triple-decker peanut butter and jelly sandwich and have their friend time them and chant their name as they try to mow it down in under a minute. Eating competitions are absurd and comedic. Why would a human endanger themselves while engaging in the most basic of needs? But people do it, and make television shows about it. Discussions about the absurdity of the shows could be quite eye-opening for students raised in our consumer culture. How does the rest of the world view “Man vs. Food?” How would a third-world country view it?
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
X Files Ethnography
Ok, to be honest, I am a little nervous about even started this post. I am what is called an X-Phile, one who really, really loves the X-Files. I have been a lover since I was 11 years old and it that love has only strengthened since. Honestly, I love the show and love to discuss it and the many, many themes that come up in it. So, I am not entirely sure if this is an ethnography since I am one of the people being studied, but let’s do this anyway, it will give me a chance to write about the X-Files.
So, I am a member of an X-Files fan site on fanpop. I read the questions posed to my fellow Philes, answer when I deem the question legitimate, and literally swear out loud when I read a post that I consider utterly absurd, i.e. “Yes!!! Mulder and Scully were totally meant to be together!” Uh, no, they were not, you foolish excuse for a Phile. Have you seen what their relationship came from? Did you watch its development? Do you think any marriage or committed relationship could comfortably contain all of that? Have you ever even watched a fricken episode??!! God! NO, you are wrong. They were not meant to be together like THAT. It is hard for me to be objective.
Anyways, Philes allow themselves to be absorbed into the show. They care deeply for the characters, judge them when they are doing something wrong, forgive them for their faults, care for their families, embrace their weaknesses, and I could go on. We discuss these things. As Philes, we discuss the characters like they were our own children and we only want what is best for them, but we know that they will have to live their own lives.
Anyone I know who is a true Phile watches the show in the same way, silent. Whereas other shows demand commentary, the X-Files does not, at least while the episode is showing. That is why we talk online. The X-Files and the internet have a close relationship. It was one of the first shows whose followers capitalized on chat rooms for discussion of episodes. Yah, the followers can be a bit subterranean. Silence is key to watching episodes because there is so much there. If the plot is weak—yes, they occasionally are—then you are listening for Mulder’s quirky one liners, watching for Scully’s exasperated face when she realizes that Mulder is in over his head and she needs to dig him out, or listening for the subtle changes in music done so masterfully by Mark Snow. When others talk during the episodes, well, tempers tend to flare. Now, if these uneXposed viewers genuinely want to know what is going on, then we will be happy to fill them in, but they should not expect our full attention or complete answers, until after the show.
Philes are open minded. The show deals with both sides of many issues: spirituality/science, platonic/erotic love, revenge/forgiveness, so on and so on. These are big issues and the X-Files deals with them carefully. The show has actually helped me to become more tolerant of some issues.
I could go on but it would be better to talk about this in person.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
What the media doesn't show us about New York
So, as usual I could not figure out how to work the technology needed for the assignment. Voicethread duped me, so this is what I have instead.
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&source=imghp&biw=1024&bih=882&q=upstate+new+york&gbv=2&aq=0&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=upstate+&gs_rfai=
Follow this URL and you will come to photographs of Upstate New York. Last summer I worked in Upstate New York and was shocked. My whole life I had only been shown picture of NYC, as most of us have. As far as I was aware, Upstate New York did not exist. When I got there I was amazed to see lush fields, valleys, farms, and areas that looked as unpopulated as the most serene areas of Wyoming. Needless to say, I fell in love.
Later that month I visited NYC and got my fill of what I had already seen on Sex in the City, numerous numerous movies, The Apprentice, and hundreds of commercials. That was the New York that I knew existed. Bright lights, loud people, nutso traffic, and a pizza parlor on every corner. I soon missed the tranquility of Upstate New York.
I spoke to a number of New Yorkers about the term "Upstate". Most of them said, "Upstate is anything that isn't NYC." To which I asked, "But there is so much to it! It is big and beautiful and... well... so much bigger than NYC." To which many replied, and I am not joking, "But who really cares about all that? Who cares about anything outside of NYC." We have everything you ever want right here in the city." I was shocked. Now, to be fair, I was talking to folks who had a lot of NYC pride and who looked at me like I was a camel when I told them I was from Minnesota. "Where?" "Minnesota." "West of here, right." "Uh, yah. Everything other than New Jersey is west of here." The people that I spoke to in NYC fit the media representations of the people that I saw on TV and in the movies, unfortunately. But the land that I saw while biking through Keene Valley, Lake Tahoe, and Lake Champlain were not the media representations of what I saw when "New York" was displayed on TV and in the movies.
Thanks to the media, the name New York has come to mean strictly the Big Apple, not the entire state. When Alicia Keyes sings, "Let's hear it for New York! New York! New York!" I do not think that she means the lush fields with grazing bovine. And the big NY on the Yankees cap, I am curious as to how many of the quiet and content elderly people who put me up in Keene Valley put that on par with the American flag. I think it is safe to say that many "New Yorkas'" do.
http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&source=imghp&biw=1024&bih=882&q=upstate+new+york&gbv=2&aq=0&aqi=g10&aql=&oq=upstate+&gs_rfai=
Follow this URL and you will come to photographs of Upstate New York. Last summer I worked in Upstate New York and was shocked. My whole life I had only been shown picture of NYC, as most of us have. As far as I was aware, Upstate New York did not exist. When I got there I was amazed to see lush fields, valleys, farms, and areas that looked as unpopulated as the most serene areas of Wyoming. Needless to say, I fell in love.
Later that month I visited NYC and got my fill of what I had already seen on Sex in the City, numerous numerous movies, The Apprentice, and hundreds of commercials. That was the New York that I knew existed. Bright lights, loud people, nutso traffic, and a pizza parlor on every corner. I soon missed the tranquility of Upstate New York.
I spoke to a number of New Yorkers about the term "Upstate". Most of them said, "Upstate is anything that isn't NYC." To which I asked, "But there is so much to it! It is big and beautiful and... well... so much bigger than NYC." To which many replied, and I am not joking, "But who really cares about all that? Who cares about anything outside of NYC." We have everything you ever want right here in the city." I was shocked. Now, to be fair, I was talking to folks who had a lot of NYC pride and who looked at me like I was a camel when I told them I was from Minnesota. "Where?" "Minnesota." "West of here, right." "Uh, yah. Everything other than New Jersey is west of here." The people that I spoke to in NYC fit the media representations of the people that I saw on TV and in the movies, unfortunately. But the land that I saw while biking through Keene Valley, Lake Tahoe, and Lake Champlain were not the media representations of what I saw when "New York" was displayed on TV and in the movies.
Thanks to the media, the name New York has come to mean strictly the Big Apple, not the entire state. When Alicia Keyes sings, "Let's hear it for New York! New York! New York!" I do not think that she means the lush fields with grazing bovine. And the big NY on the Yankees cap, I am curious as to how many of the quiet and content elderly people who put me up in Keene Valley put that on par with the American flag. I think it is safe to say that many "New Yorkas'" do.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
My use of Facebook
I got on the Facebook bandwagon late. By late I mean halfway through my junior year of college. I remember I was sitting in the "computer lab" of the community house I was staying at in Nicaragua while I was studying abroad and one of my fellow classmates was shocked to hear that I did not know what Facebook was. She quickly helped me set up an account and the rest is history.
When I started using Facebook I will admit that I sunk my teeth in. I saw it as a canvas for telling the entire world, or whoever was interested in reading, who I was and what I was all about. My interests included EVERY SINGLE THING I enjoyed doing, plus some quirky things that I though would make people think that I was clever. For example, one of my interests was something like, "teaching the world about poetry on bathroom stall walls." Yah, really smooth Ted. Real smooth. My list of favorite movies and music were equally detailed as was my list of favorite quotes. Basically, I wanted people to be able to find out whatever they wanted about me simply by looking at my Facebook page.
When I wasn't stroking my own ego with Facebook, I was attempting to reconnect with high school friends who had gone elsewhere for college or who had simply moved elsewhere for whatever reason. It was very useful for that. I did reconnect with a number of people. It was so convenient to be able to find anyone, anywhere simply by typing their name into a huge search. Once we were friends, I could ask them for their numbers so that we could reconnect over the phone and in some cases even reconnect in person. This was very useful and I do owe a big thanks to Facebook for helping me to get in touch with people who I probably wouldn't have otherwise reconnected with.
Once I graduated from college I began using Facebook to stay in touch with friends who had moved. A lot of times a full phone call wasn't necessary just to tell a friend that I heard a song that reminded me of them, and texts cost money. I was also able to look through my friends photographs to see what they had been up to, but as expected, most of them were of my friends at bars. Yah, Facebook has a plethoa of drunk photos.
For two years I worked with an Americorps position where I was stationed in a school working with high school students who were trying to get into college. Once they graduated from high school and moved onto college, Facebook allowed me to stay in touch with them. When they needed a letter of recommendation, they posted on my wall. When they had a question about financial aid, they sent me a message. When they posted incriminating photos of them doing God knows what, I was able to report those photos to Facebook and tell me former students to stop being stupid and think about how those photos could affect them in the future. Yep, Facebook allowed me to be a watchdog.
I still use Facebook to stay in touch with friends, organize events, and occasionally post a random tidbit about my day, but I use it much less than I used to. Well, not much less, but less. I do still get bored while doing assignments. To be honest, I checked Facebook once while I was writing this post.
When I started using Facebook I will admit that I sunk my teeth in. I saw it as a canvas for telling the entire world, or whoever was interested in reading, who I was and what I was all about. My interests included EVERY SINGLE THING I enjoyed doing, plus some quirky things that I though would make people think that I was clever. For example, one of my interests was something like, "teaching the world about poetry on bathroom stall walls." Yah, really smooth Ted. Real smooth. My list of favorite movies and music were equally detailed as was my list of favorite quotes. Basically, I wanted people to be able to find out whatever they wanted about me simply by looking at my Facebook page.
When I wasn't stroking my own ego with Facebook, I was attempting to reconnect with high school friends who had gone elsewhere for college or who had simply moved elsewhere for whatever reason. It was very useful for that. I did reconnect with a number of people. It was so convenient to be able to find anyone, anywhere simply by typing their name into a huge search. Once we were friends, I could ask them for their numbers so that we could reconnect over the phone and in some cases even reconnect in person. This was very useful and I do owe a big thanks to Facebook for helping me to get in touch with people who I probably wouldn't have otherwise reconnected with.
Once I graduated from college I began using Facebook to stay in touch with friends who had moved. A lot of times a full phone call wasn't necessary just to tell a friend that I heard a song that reminded me of them, and texts cost money. I was also able to look through my friends photographs to see what they had been up to, but as expected, most of them were of my friends at bars. Yah, Facebook has a plethoa of drunk photos.
For two years I worked with an Americorps position where I was stationed in a school working with high school students who were trying to get into college. Once they graduated from high school and moved onto college, Facebook allowed me to stay in touch with them. When they needed a letter of recommendation, they posted on my wall. When they had a question about financial aid, they sent me a message. When they posted incriminating photos of them doing God knows what, I was able to report those photos to Facebook and tell me former students to stop being stupid and think about how those photos could affect them in the future. Yep, Facebook allowed me to be a watchdog.
I still use Facebook to stay in touch with friends, organize events, and occasionally post a random tidbit about my day, but I use it much less than I used to. Well, not much less, but less. I do still get bored while doing assignments. To be honest, I checked Facebook once while I was writing this post.
The Bad News Bears and Americana Lesson plan
So, the original Bad News Bears is one of my favorite movies. Not just because I love baseball or quick witted children. I feel that the movie uses a great deal of social commentary to show the hypocrisy behind American culture, which is great. The scene linked below is the final scene from the movie. Let me fill you in on what has happened up until now. So, Buttermaker, the teams coach, has lead this ragtag group of misfits to the little league championships, though not always in the most honest ways. For example, he finds a ringer to put on the team and he encourages some of his players to step in front of pitches so that they can get on base. Yah, he is pretty sneaky. Anyways, the Bears make it to the finals and end up losing to the league Goliaths, the Yankees. The following scene is what happens after they lose.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1-zBIIvl5g
The lesson plan follows as so:
Ask students what words they think of when they hear the word baseball. You will probably have students say things like hotdogs, summer, little league, the national anthem. Stuff like that. Next, ask them what they have learned about good sportsmanship. Not all students will have something to offer on this since probably not all students played sports as a kid. Either way, lead the discussion in the direction of what you have learned about good sportsmanship i.e. play by the rules, be a gracious winner, don't be a sore loser, shake hands after the game, etc.
Next, discuss with students what they hear about sports in the media. Steroids, dog fighting rings, rape charges, sexting (sooo recent), so on and so on.
The discussion here can lead into ideals vs. reality. Baseball, America's pasttime. Little league, sunflower seeds, dirt on your pants. But is that all there is to it? The Bad News Bears says no. It gives us a stark contrast to the ideal. Beer slugging youngsters, a shabby looking good, bad sportsmanship, and foul mouthed kids. And as the camera pans out in the last scene what does the viewer see waving in the breeze? The red, white, and blue.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R1-zBIIvl5g
The lesson plan follows as so:
Ask students what words they think of when they hear the word baseball. You will probably have students say things like hotdogs, summer, little league, the national anthem. Stuff like that. Next, ask them what they have learned about good sportsmanship. Not all students will have something to offer on this since probably not all students played sports as a kid. Either way, lead the discussion in the direction of what you have learned about good sportsmanship i.e. play by the rules, be a gracious winner, don't be a sore loser, shake hands after the game, etc.
Next, discuss with students what they hear about sports in the media. Steroids, dog fighting rings, rape charges, sexting (sooo recent), so on and so on.
The discussion here can lead into ideals vs. reality. Baseball, America's pasttime. Little league, sunflower seeds, dirt on your pants. But is that all there is to it? The Bad News Bears says no. It gives us a stark contrast to the ideal. Beer slugging youngsters, a shabby looking good, bad sportsmanship, and foul mouthed kids. And as the camera pans out in the last scene what does the viewer see waving in the breeze? The red, white, and blue.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Analysis of Six Feet Under
This is a little out of order. I should have posted this at the same time that I posted it on Ning. Oh well. Here it is.
It worked this time. http://ant.umn.edu/vae.php?pid=1285254481
It worked this time. http://ant.umn.edu/vae.php?pid=1285254481
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Here's to Karl Marx and baseball
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_OxCHyLLkU
Marxist approach to Miller High Life commercial
Whereas Budweiser assures the nation’s television viewers that “This Bud’s for you,” Miller High Life chooses to tell the nation through witty commercials that High life is for, to use a Marxist term, the proletariat. In the following commercial, everyone’s favorite beer regulator crashes a bourgeois version of a “baseball game” to confiscate their beer and inform them that Miller High Life was not made for snobs the likes of them. A bit snobbish in itself, but I support it.
As the commercial begins we see three working class High Life employees speed walking into a baseball stadium clearly on a mission. The leader directs them to the skybox, “Right up here in section la de da,” suggesting his predisposed distaste for the people inside. He then asks the very well-dressed patrons if any of them know what inning it is. Confused—practically unaware that they are at a baseball game—they look at each other, each their cheese cubes, and continue to talk on their cell phones. These people represent the bourgeois who are more interested in their own worlds of business talk than the baseball game that they supposedly came to watch. Recognizing their ignorance, the proletariat High Life employee commands his fellow High Life employees to remove the “working class” Miller High Lifes from the bouge premises. While in the skybox, the proletariat leader attempts to yell out his opinion on the game, but it unable to since the skybox is enclosed in glass, a representation of class separation: “Man, they (my fellow working-class baseball fans) can’t even hear me through this glass!” He then expresses, “I need to smell a hotdog (working-class American cuisine) or something. Just to know that I am alive!”
The proletariat High Life employee leaves with his fellow employees and the confiscated Miller High Lifes and enters the bleachers where he is among the rowdy working-class fans. Once their he passes out Miller High Lifes to everyone, just like a true Maxist.
Questions for classroom discussion (of course I probably wouldn’t use a beer commercial with my students”
-Who do the High Life employees represent?
-Who do the skybox patrons represent?
-What does this commercial tell you about Miller High Life’s intended consumers?
-What other products do you know of that are aimed at this consumer pool?
-What is the significance of the setting of the commercial?
Historical approach to Miller High Life commercial
The setting of the commercial is an outdoor baseball game. Baseball is called America’s pastime. Long before the multimillion dollar contracts of recent history, baseball player made meager wages and most often had to hold additional jobs just to survive financially. Baseball was classic Americana.
Miller High Life wants to remind its target consumers that it is an American beer. It intends to instill some good ol’ fashioned American pride in its consumers. In our current political and economical situation, the upper class is blamed for many of our nation’s problems. This elite class is often viewed as too good to associate with the likes of the middle and lower classes, the true fans of baseball. Think of the historical pictures of young boys playing pick-up games in some American city alley. Think of movies such as The Sandlot and The Natural. Working class kids and the dashing farmboy: classic Americana. Outdoor baseball brings these memories to the minds of many Americans, and High Life wants to be associated with those memories.
Questions for class:
-What does baseball represent for you?
-What does High Life intend to say about its product being popular at a baseball game?
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Here it is fans!
It took some help from grand ole' Jim but here is my VLOG.
You need to be on the U of M server to view. Feel important.
You need to be on the U of M server to view. Feel important.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
So this is my blog
I have never blogged before in my 26 years and now I have my very own. Honestly, this is a proud moment for Theodore. I gotta tell my brother in law about this!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)