Depression

Many Americans believe that as a nation we are unstoppable, and things that have happened in our past will not happen again. We are supposed to learn from our past, but in reality the past will repeat itself. In Robert Samuelson’s article entitled The Shadow of Depression, he brings forward the anxiety that we Americans have about falling into another economic down turn. Even through our unemployment rate is nowhere near what it was during the Great Depression in the 1930’s we have been growing closer. I agree with Samuelson because people need to be aware that anything can happen at any time. I am not saying do not spend your money, but there will come a time when things might not look so bright but as American’s we have to push through it. The more we worry the worse thing are going to get. The reason I say this is because my grandparents were in their young twenties when the Great Depression hit. As I would talk to them about this dreadful time they would stress the fact about staying positive. They would say things like do not let the world drag you down, and it made us stronger. The last sentence of Samuelson’s article says, “When people stop worrying about depression, when the shadow lifts, the crisis will be over.”  This makes me reminds me of the wise words of my grandparents. So next time you are out with family or friends, or on a vacation to somewhere remember that you cannot take your money to the grave with you! Support the local community where ever you are, and keep the money circulating.  

The Graduate

The 1967 film The Graduate was a huge step in the America film industry. This film shows Benjamin Braddock a young man that has recently graduated from college. When he comes home to his parent’s house he finds himself feeling lost in the new adult world. Then to add onto this uncertainty Mrs. Robinson, who is a friend of his parent’s attempts to seduce him after his graduation party. Benjamin originally wants nothing to do with it, but soon thereafter we find him getting a room at a hotel later in the week. From then on they are tied into an intimate relationship until Mrs. Robinson’s daughter is to return home from college. Benjamin’s parents force him to take Mrs. Robinson’s daughter Elaine out. When Mrs. Robinson catches wind that Benjamin is going on a date with her daughter she threatens to tell everyone about their true relationship. From then on Ben’s life begins to unfold as you see him trying to get Elaine back.The director Mr. Mike Nichols and casting consultant Lynn Stalmaster casted a wonderful cast of Anne Bancroft who is Mrs. Robinson, Dustin Hoffman who is Ben Braddock, Katharine Ross who is Elaine Robinson and Murray Hamilton as Mr. Robinson along with many others. Bancroff, Hoffman, and Ross all were nominated for Oscars for their performances. The chemistry between the actors throughout the picture jumps off the screen. Hoffman and Bancroft make you believe and feel their connection, and Hoffman makes you feel the conflict that he is having within himself. This romance comedy takes place in Pasadena California, and a lot of the events that happen throughout happen by or in Benjamin’s parent’s pool. This movie is fun and interesting to watch. Benjamin’s relationship with Mrs. Robinson will keep you on your feet the whole time. 

Education Please?

Left Behind, Way Behind is the title of Bob Herbert article about how America sizes up on schooling and grades. The title was enough to pull me in and once I started reading the fact I realized how shockingly true it all is. The first fact that Herbert gives to us is, “Only about two-thirds of American teenagers graduate with a regular diploma four years after entering high school”. The next fact is that, “only half of them read well enough to succeed in college”. Being a college student myself this is shocking to me. I think that this is strikes me as odd because I come from a school where everyone had the opportunity to attend at least a community college. I agree with Herbert that more than just the no child left behind law. He goes on to discuss how the minorities and low income students differ in this country. This topic has been running through my head for a few days now because we are also talking about it in my sociology class. There is a distinct difference in how minorities and low income kids are treated. My sociology professor talked about a child coming from a higher income family has more chances to succeed. If they would get a C on a paper they would be told that they can do better, but if a lower income child would get a C on a paper the teacher is more likely to say good job. This is also tied into the self-fulfilling prophecy which says that someone will do only as good as they believe that they can do. This is seen if a child gets a C on a paper and gets praised for it then that will be their objective for the next one. This is going to be a long process to get to a point where minority and income will no matter and frankly we may never get there, but they best thing that we as a population can do is   make it more know. 

The Maltese Falcon

In the 1941 film the Maltese Falcon you see Humphrey Bogart as Samuel Spade a detective with his friend Miles Archer played by Jerome Cowan. These two men are attempting to help Mary Astor who is playing Brigid O’Shaughnessy. Ms. O’Shaughnessy is a woman who supposable is looking for her sister who has run off, but as the movie progresses you come to figure out that she is just a very good liar and manipulator. Later you come to meet Joel Cairo who is working for a man Called Gutman who is played by Sydney Greenstreet. When you meet these two men the real story begins to unfold. Viewers begin to realize what Ms. O’Shaughnessy purpose is, and you come to realize what the Maltese Falcon is. If you really want to know what happens with the Maltese Falcon then you will just have to watch the movie. No spoiler alerts here! All of this happens in San Francisco and it defiantly old school Hollywood! This is a beautiful Drama for the ages along with some great acting. Director John Huston and Warner Brothers Studios has created a timeless movie about lies and greed. Who ever knew a statuette would cause so much commotion. IF you do not believe me this film was nominated for three Oscars in 1942. The three categories were best picture, best actor in a supporting role, and best writing. Maltese Falcon won the National Film Registry by the National Film Preservation Board in 1989. This movie is a good watch with a very surprising end. Full of action and drama with a lot of crime, and who do you think kill who or did what. This will keep you guessing to the very end. 

Digital or Paper?

When reading Nick Taylor’s article about digital libraries I began to think about the benefits of it. I started thinking about the fact it is completely accessible for everyone through the internet and also that it would be good publicity for the authors. If people see their work and their names they can go purchase the full writing in the please. Then I came to a line in Taylor’s article that said, “that’s the devils bargain”. This played with my thinking because I agreed with the whole article up to this point. After reading this I realized that even though it does get the writers name out there, but it probably is making more money for the search engine than anyone else. Which was also stated in the article, and then I thought about internet cite crashes and bad WIFI connections. If you live in the country you probably understand what I am talking about. The WIFI rides the “struggle bus” out here, and most of the time pulling up library websites is hard because they are linked to so much information. Then there is the fact that no everyone has internet access. There is a library in most towns, including the small ones. After reading this article my thought process has been changed. Even though it is a pain in the bottom to go to the actual library you know what the information will always be there, unlike the internet. No worries about books crashing or not pulling up because all you have to do is sit down and flip open to a page. 

Rosebud

                The movie Citizen Kane was first released in 1941. The first time that I watched this movie I did not think much of it. This time around was completely different. This dramatic tragedy is one for the ages. Most of Charles Foster Kane’s story is told in flashback. This was very different than any other movie of this time. When the movie opens up you see Kane on his death bed say his last words. “Rosebud” was Charles last words, which is important to remember throughout the rest of the movie. After the death of Kane reporters are trying to figure out what Rosebud really means. They go to his closest friends and his second ex-wife who was still living. During this time the movie pops back and forth from flashback to real time. After attempting to talk to everyone that was close to Kane reporters finally give up. They never figure out what Rosebud really means, but in the end you will. This is a great story displaying the fact that money is not everything. You could have all the money in the world, but you could be the loneliest person.  Charles Foster Kane is played by Orson Welles who also is the director and producer of this film. Welles is a brilliant Kane. He displays every aspect of being a wealthy main of this time period. He is proper and loves to buy anything that he can get his hands on. The tone of voice and the use of body movement also shows the view that he is in power over most other actors in this film.  Dorothy Comingore plays Susan Alexander Kane, Kane’s second wife. Comingore shows a great deal of emotion throughout the film. She projects the way she speaks and feels into the audience. They most powerful time you see her like this is after the passing of Charles and she is in the bar she runs drinking constantly. She cannot talk to the reporters because she is so distraught. There are many other actors such as Joseph Cotton, Agnes Moorehead, and Ray Collins. Along with others who make the movie what it is. They are seeing their purpose of their character and make it believable. The thing that makes this movie stand out the most is its structure. The way that Welles uses flashback makes the movie interesting instead of leading you along the dramatic life of Charles Foster Kane. The audience gets to hear about what has happened in his life, and then gets the opportunity to see it. This allows the film to slowly progress all the way into its dramatic ending. The lighting in this film played a key role in how the audience would feel during a scene. When you saw Kane a lot of the time it would be dark around him that gives you the feel that he is sad and alone, but when he was around his wives, or running for office you could tell that he was happier. The scene would get brighter the happier that Kane would appear to be. These are all great things that played a key role in how successful this movie has become. This film will keep you guessing. Everyone should want to know what Rosebud is because everyone has their own Rosebud.

Mother??

As I look through my English book at the different articles I always find myself stopping on ones with titles that interest me or get me thinking. So naturally when I see an article entitled “My Daughters Have No Mother” I got to thinking. I was thinking about maybe a father who had lost his wife, or maybe the wife had got up and left. Finally as I start reading Max Mutchnick’s article I realize that it is not that at all. He is a gay man who wants kids. This is not something that I commonly hear. I do not have a problem with homosexual people at all. You like who you like. Then as I am reading I see his controversy about his surrogate mother who he nicknamed “an oven”. This first made me mad because as a woman myself I would never want to be called an oven. As I continued to read about why he did it though I almost felt bad; Mutchnick had done this because he was feeling weird about asking a stranger for such a big favor. He talks about all of his other feelings of vulnerability, and many others. He said he feels bad that his daughters will have no mother, but he gives a great list of amazing things that his daughters will have. Some of these include grandparents to love them, cousins, and laughter to list a few. I am not saying that all women should be called ovens. No woman should ever, but I am glad that he explained himself. I see how these things can be hard on gay men. If they are fit to be a father they should have the opportunity to raise children just like all the other couples in the world.