In cold blood May 9, 2008

for kicks and giggles…

In The film, In Cold Blood, based off a novel by Truman Capote. The author examines the background of the two killers and their friendship. Both film and novel allows the readers to be more open to learn more about both killers, Perry Smith and Richard Hickock, rather then to judge and not to not have an open mind about both men. Some aspects of modernism used throughout the film are impressionism and Perspectivism. Both which is brilliantly used throughout the film in an artistic view.

Impressionism: Again, “an emphasis on the process of perception and knowing: the use of devices , to present more closely the texture or process or structure of knowing and perceiving”. Impressionism takes on a big role in the film In Cold Blood. First the two killers were introduced in the beginning of the play where the climax immediately takes place in kansas. Both men , Perry Smith and Richard Hickock, murdered the clutter family. The film transitioned to another scene, not showing who killed the mother, father, or the two kids. Doing so that left a time gap where the audience had a chance to find out more about both men and their backgrounds. Watching the film you would think that smith was a corrupt innocent character that just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. You would also get the impression that Hickock was the one who pressured Smith into getting involved and that Hickock killed the family. Once you get to the end you soon see that Smith was the one who killed the family out of no where.

Perspectivism is the viewpoint of a character. “the use of narrators located within the action of the fiction, experiencing from a personal, particular perspective”. Again the use of perspectivism was used. During the time gap

under construction!!

The Glass Menagerie; Character Analysis April 4, 2008

As you read the analysis of all characters you will see that every single person who plays a role in this play will have a hard time excepting reality. Having said, each character have problems towards each other that withdraws them into their own illusions and world. All disagreeing with each others beliefs and wants in life only makes matters worse and soon drives others into great despair.

Laura Wingfield, daughter of Amanda Wingfield, plays a major role in the Glass Menagerie. Laura is a twenty three year old who is crippled and who’s maturity level is low. Seems as if she shes a 11 year old stuck in a twenty three year old body who is extremely shy. The only things that draws her attention is her music and the glass menagerie. Laura resembles the Glass Menagerie in many ways. Like the glass, Laura is fragile and delicate. And when light shines on it a certain way its intriguing in many ways. For example when Toms friend from work, Jim shines the candle light on Laura, which happens to be symbolic in many ways. When Jim openly talked to Laura and made her open up more and show her true colors, in the candle light it seemed as if she was more brilliant then at times when there was no light at all. Also the menagerie seems to represent the imaginative world that she seems to be in. Other symbolic things mentioned in this play that is related to Laura is the nick name “blue roses” and the glass unicorn itself. Both, because they are unique.

Light plays a major role in The glass Menagerie also, that is where impressionism comes into the play. When Jim shined the candle light onto Laura seemed as if she was a different person.

Tom Wingfield, Laura’s older brother who supports her and their mother. Tom resents his father who left their family. In my opinion, Tom has the most trouble in the family and the only way he feels as if he could escape reality is to go to the movies, smoke, drink and through literature. Tom is like most older children in the family… basically get craped on for everything! NOT COOL!! anyways, Adolescence can easily relate to Tom, Where his mother expects so much out of him because he is the oldest and the “man” of the house. Like kids the oldest kid always gets blamed for everything and have high standards that the parents set for them. Unlike the younger siblings they don’t have as much to worry about. But Tom, on the other hand he has everything against him, Feeling as if his sisters future is his responsibility. Having to work a job that he greatly despises makes him want to escape reality more and also Toms imagination would effect his judgments in many things. His mother it a nut! she should have seen that putting all this pressure on him would only drive him away, which is what ended up happening. The relationship between Tom and Laura is close. Tom cares deeply for laura but his mothers nagging causes Tom to only think of how to get away and how he could possibly leave and go on a adventure like the stars in the movies. When Tom leaves at the end of the play he felt nothing but hopelessness because the thought of his sister being alone made him depressed about leaving her. Nothing was accomplished when Tom left.

Amanda Wingfield, Tom and Laura’s mother. A nut case! During the entire play Amanda’s main goal was to find Laura a husband. Amanda was terrified by the fact that Laura maybe single for the rest of her life. There for she would always have to care for her. Even though she put so much pressure on Tom and Laura all she wanted was what was best for her kids. But only seeing that she forgot to see what her kids wanted, which was her downfall.

this blog is under construction… =)

P.O.V March 10, 2008

As we have read in class, A Street Car Named Desire, By Tennessee Williams I have yet to think that Stanley Kowalski is to blame for all the misfortune that has happened during Blanches stay at Stella’s and Stanley’s home in New Orleans. Blanche Dubious who is the older sister of Stella shows obvious signs of stress disorder and suffers from Alcoholism. Even though Blanche is obviously unstable, Stanley is the one who takes full advantage of her weakness and later on in the novel you will find that Blanche is the victim not Stanley.

Class mates have claimed that Blanche is manipulative and only came to New Orleans to pick on her sister Stella. I’ll make things clear for many people and cite my point of view before I get into detail with how Blanche is the victim not Stanly. Anyways Blanche came to New Orleans because she had no money and did lose the plantation after playing all those debts. Blanche has every right to be mad at Stella for leaving her with everything and starting a new life without her consent. Blanche had no where else to go but to stay with Stella until she figured things out.

Coming to New Orleans was new for Blanche, who came from a more refined background. Blanche seeing the lifestyle that Stella have adapted to shocked Blanche and Blanche being the opinionated one spoke out and told Stella what she thought of the place. The new lifestyle was something different that Blanche realized she needed to adapt herself to. Its not just Stanley that bothered Blanche, it was also the environment and the atmosphere that was all new to her. That just added more problems to the situation between Blanche and Stanley.

Of course Blanche had a problem with Stanley from the start. Coming unexpectedly to New Orleans and telling both Stanley and Stella what happened to Belle Reve. Stanley instantly assumed that she sold the house and went on a big shopping spree for herself and spent all the money on useless things. Stanley jumped to conclusions and was wondering where the money went and how exactly did she lose Belle Reve.

Stella: You saw how she was last night

Stanley: uh-hum, I saw how she was. Now let’s have a gander at the bill of sale.

Stella: i haven’t seen any

Stanley: She didn’t show you no papers no deed or sale or nothing like that, huh?

Stella: It seems like it wasn’t sold.

Stanley: Well what in hell was it the, give away? To charity?

Stella: Shhh! She’ll hear you.

Stanley: I don’t Care if she hears me. Lets see the papers!

Stella: There weren’t any any papers she didn’t  show any papers, I don’t care about papers

Stanley: Have you ever head of the Napoleonic code?

Stella: No Stanley i haven’t heard of the Napoleonic code and if i have, I don’t see what it-

Stanley: Let me enlighten you on a point or two, baby.

Stella: Yes?

Stanley: In the state of Louisiana we have the Napoleonic code according to which what belongs to the wife belongs to the husband and vice versa. For instance if i had a piece of property, or you had a piece of property-

Stella: My head is swimming!

Stanley: All right. I’ll wait till she gets through soaking in a hot tub and then ill inquire if she is acquainted with the Napoleonic code. It looks to me like you have been swindled, baby. and when you’re swindled under the Napoleonic code I’m swindled too. And I don’t like to be swindled.

 Stella: There’s plenty of time to ask her questions later but if you do now she will go to pieces again. I don’t understand what happened to Belle Reve but you don’t know how ridiculous you are being when you suggest that my sister or I or anyone of our family could have been perpetrated a swindle on anyone else.

Stanley: Then where’s the money if the place was sold?

Stella: Not sold- Lost, lost!

 On that note, this shows how manipulative and selfish Stanley is. First he was wondering what has happened to the money and was wondering if there was a piece of land that he was suppose to own under the Napoleonic code. secondly he tried to manipulate Stella that Blanche is trying to “swindle” her.

not done..

… February 11, 2008

During the time we spend on learning attributes of modern literature I will attempt to show my class mates the relation between paintings and novels through a visual context.

For example, for those who have read “The Killers” by Ernest Hemingway, a painting that would best fit the story would be “Nighthawks” by Edward Hopper.

What is impressionism?

Impressionism is an art movement during the early 18th century and during the 19th century. The name “Impressionism” came from a title of one of Claude Monet’s work Impression, Sunrise. Characteristics in impressionism painting includes texture/visible brush strokes to capture the essence of the subject, and open composition. Impressionist artists concentrate mostly on technique, color, lighting, and lack of perspective. “Primitive” point of escape, established from Renaissance, disappears and opens a new ideas for artists.

here’s a link for Impression, Sunrise http://www.toffsworld.com/art_artists_painters/images/claude_monet_sunrise.jpg

about me February 1, 2008

My name is Lan. I’m a Junior at Auburn High. I’m involved in many activities such as cross country, Track and Field, Indoor track, 5 Star cheering, and girls Ice Hockey. I use to work two jobs Orange Julius, and at a restaurant Sapporo. I’m currently a captain for the girls indoor track (i love my team!!). I’m pretty much a workaholic. Also, most of you know that I love to paint and draw. Growing up I have always enjoyed drawing, except when I was forced to. I currently take independent study, drawing painting II, and studio art. I honestly don’t have a good understanding on Art history and I would like to get a good idea on what Art is all about. That is why I will be focusing on Impressionism.

I have chosen Impressionism because I take great interest in Art. After High School I will be continuing education in Art History and hopefully I will become a contemporary artist. During the time we spend on finding ‘Attributes of Modernist Literature’, I would like to get a good understanding of the roots of Impressionism and how it affected modern literature.

January 31, 2008

Impressionism: an emphasis on the process of perception and knowing: the use of devices (formal, linguistic, representational), to present more closely the texture or process or structure of knowing and perceiving.