http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-8JRtGMBUz0
this is song from the Eurovision contest that was held this past year in Moscow. The interesting thing about this song is the text. The take on the song is very interesting, and I don't know what to properly make of it. The mood seems to contradict itself, and is slighty bipolar. From verse to verse the mood changes. For example he sings "Years ago, when I was younger/ I kinda liked a girl I knew/ she was mine and we were sweethearts." It's very superficial, and nothing quite so deep. This seems to follow more the pop culture views on fairy tale, the "happily ever after" concept.
This contradicts heavily with the chorus "I'm in love with a fairy tale/ Even though it hurts/ Cause I don't care if I lose my mind/ I'm already cursed." Very dark lyrics for something that starts out so happy-go-lucky. I don't know which one to believe, it this really a careless love song, or something much darker? the visual aspects of the chorus follow what I've come to discover over this semester in the literary aspects of fairy tales. Something more morbid, more along the lines of Bluebeard
I think this song, though written for a European contest, proves something interesting about society's relationship with fairy tales. We want the best of both worlds, I think, the entertainment aspect of the death, destruction, and mayhem, along with the pleasing and optimistic characteristics of happily ever after.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Magazine work
So this past weekend I've been working on getting my articles for this magazine in line. I'm finding it to be a very interesting project, as far as creativity is concerned. I've started 'transcribing' my oral presentation into an actual paper, and that is proving to be not something to demanding. I've decided to take it and do the 'spin' aspect of it, and only trying to focus on making it relate to our magazine theme. Since my presentation was on gendering and my magazine in on princess feminism, I've been able to focus on women and how they are gendered.
I've also had similar creative success with my creative project. I'm writing the featured column, and am focusing on the 'woman on woman' abuse. I've taken a stance and get to almost play something of a different character with the writing. I hope to carry that over into the construction of our project, as I think it would help to better 'sell' the magazine. I feel confident with the others in my group, and I do think we'll come up with something that will be very good.
I've also had similar creative success with my creative project. I'm writing the featured column, and am focusing on the 'woman on woman' abuse. I've taken a stance and get to almost play something of a different character with the writing. I hope to carry that over into the construction of our project, as I think it would help to better 'sell' the magazine. I feel confident with the others in my group, and I do think we'll come up with something that will be very good.
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Newspaper Beginnings
On Tuesday we began our last presentation project. This seems like a cool idea and I'm both a little nervous and excited to begin it, basically because not only do we have to write something very good, but we must present it.
After going over logistics of what to do, we broke into groups, and I was soon named editor of our magazine. I don't think that that will be too difficult of a job, and I'm pretty sure that we've gotten our magazine off to a good start. I think we have a good topic, and that we are going to approach the making of this magazine. We are going with a feminist approach, and focusing mainly on Cinderella, and how to become a more independent person.
We will see tomorrow just how well the magazine begins to come together. I hope that we have a good working layout and that we can move it along well.
After going over logistics of what to do, we broke into groups, and I was soon named editor of our magazine. I don't think that that will be too difficult of a job, and I'm pretty sure that we've gotten our magazine off to a good start. I think we have a good topic, and that we are going to approach the making of this magazine. We are going with a feminist approach, and focusing mainly on Cinderella, and how to become a more independent person.
We will see tomorrow just how well the magazine begins to come together. I hope that we have a good working layout and that we can move it along well.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Cinderella Man
I happened to notice that a movie was released called "Cinderella Man" the other day and did some investigation, because I thought it would be good blogging material, just to see what it was all about, and I have to say that the title is no coincidence. The plot of the movie, based on true life events, depicts the rise, fall, and then return of a boxer.
The similarities between this movie and the original tale(s) is uncanny, and leads me to believe that this movie must have been sculpted after the fairy tale. The movie is about a Jason Braddock, a famous boxer during the Depression, and how he was at the top of his boxing game, until he broke his hand in a match. This is much the same, in idea, to Cinderella, who was at once a princess, until her fortune is taken away. Braddock is forced to quit boxing and take up odd jobs in order to make an income, much like Cinderella is forced to work as a scullery maid, or a servant to her family.
The Cinderella part comes in when Braddock proves an upset, and goes on to challenge the heavyweight champion at the time. This could be seen as Cinderella receiving her dress to the ball, and dancing with the prince. And the movie ends with Braddock defeating the heavyweight champion, Max Baer, much to the suprise of everyone. This is similar to Cinderella being discovered as the girl from the ball.
The interesting thing is, is that most of this is based off of true life events. So is this life imitating art?
The similarities between this movie and the original tale(s) is uncanny, and leads me to believe that this movie must have been sculpted after the fairy tale. The movie is about a Jason Braddock, a famous boxer during the Depression, and how he was at the top of his boxing game, until he broke his hand in a match. This is much the same, in idea, to Cinderella, who was at once a princess, until her fortune is taken away. Braddock is forced to quit boxing and take up odd jobs in order to make an income, much like Cinderella is forced to work as a scullery maid, or a servant to her family.
The Cinderella part comes in when Braddock proves an upset, and goes on to challenge the heavyweight champion at the time. This could be seen as Cinderella receiving her dress to the ball, and dancing with the prince. And the movie ends with Braddock defeating the heavyweight champion, Max Baer, much to the suprise of everyone. This is similar to Cinderella being discovered as the girl from the ball.
The interesting thing is, is that most of this is based off of true life events. So is this life imitating art?
Batman as Bluebeard?
Today I was watching one of the many Batman movies. "Batman Forever" to be exact. What caught my attention about this that relates to fairy tales is a comment that Alfred, the butler, makes during one portion of the movie. In this movie, we learn how Robin came to join the Batman. As Alfred is giving him a tour of the Bruce Wayne Manor, Robin (aka Dick Greyson) asks Alfred "What's behind this door?" in reference to the door that leads to Bruce Wayne's Batman Cave. Alfred responds "Master Wayne's dead wives."
I just thought that comment was so interesting, and I began to think about how the idea of Bluebeard plays out in Batman. In a way it is the same, minus the whole killing part, but the basic concept is still there. People want to know who the Batman is, yet he has something off setting, a blue beard if you will, that keeps them away. Villians especially feel this, or atleast in the movie that was the driving force behind their attacks on Batman. So they pursue, out of curiosity, Batman, and punished for their actions, aka ending up in jail.
I just think that some type of copying went into the creation of Batman. Bluebeard seems like such a good archtype for a story that it begs to be copied for something. With Batman, I think the whole concept of curiosity and punishment are adopted to fit a different type of story.
I just thought that comment was so interesting, and I began to think about how the idea of Bluebeard plays out in Batman. In a way it is the same, minus the whole killing part, but the basic concept is still there. People want to know who the Batman is, yet he has something off setting, a blue beard if you will, that keeps them away. Villians especially feel this, or atleast in the movie that was the driving force behind their attacks on Batman. So they pursue, out of curiosity, Batman, and punished for their actions, aka ending up in jail.
I just think that some type of copying went into the creation of Batman. Bluebeard seems like such a good archtype for a story that it begs to be copied for something. With Batman, I think the whole concept of curiosity and punishment are adopted to fit a different type of story.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Presentation #2
So this past tuesday I had my second presentation. I don't know how to feel about it, really. The others who presented did a really good job. I was quite impressed with how they did. I thought I did ok. That's it.
I feel like I tried to approach this in a different way than the others, but didn't know about it until after the fact. While most had a script, and a rehearsed presentation, I took a different route. Sure I mapped out what I wanted to do and how I wanted to go about saying it, but I used alot of room so that is sounded like I was speaking, and not reciting (I don't mean that in a bad way, it just is what it is). My feelings about these presentations are that they are supposed to be oral, and therefore when you just recit something you wrote down a week ago, it's not really speaking. Therefore I thought it best to have guidelines, an outline, a talking GPS if you will, and then follow it that way. With that, it sounds more personal, more natural, and not so rehearsed.
I was nervous, and I didn't rehearse as much as I could/should. I think all that showed through, but I think that I was able to present all my material in a concise point of view, and was able to prove my point.
I feel like I tried to approach this in a different way than the others, but didn't know about it until after the fact. While most had a script, and a rehearsed presentation, I took a different route. Sure I mapped out what I wanted to do and how I wanted to go about saying it, but I used alot of room so that is sounded like I was speaking, and not reciting (I don't mean that in a bad way, it just is what it is). My feelings about these presentations are that they are supposed to be oral, and therefore when you just recit something you wrote down a week ago, it's not really speaking. Therefore I thought it best to have guidelines, an outline, a talking GPS if you will, and then follow it that way. With that, it sounds more personal, more natural, and not so rehearsed.
I was nervous, and I didn't rehearse as much as I could/should. I think all that showed through, but I think that I was able to present all my material in a concise point of view, and was able to prove my point.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Different for Disney?
http://http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmlZhrmMAhc
This clip is for the newest movie that is coming from the Disney studios, the Princess and the Frog. The clip seems to show this movie as being along side the movies of the past, and being apart of Disney's great tradition.
Whether that will happen remains to be seen. I wonder if this movie will get to hung up on trying to be different, or is it trying to just be the same. It seems that Disney wants to play it safe by presenting a storyline similar to those movies of the past, the only thing this time is that the skin color of the main characters have changed. I think this is an important change for Disney, who never seems to have a main leading character that is black. They have used indians with Pocahontas, and chinese with Mulan, so it seems only natural that they would expand their cultural representations.
The movie looks like it will be similar to the link I posted earlier, from the Fractured fairy tales of Rocky and Bullwinkle. I think this shows Disney's attempt to get further away from what it's central topic, yet still maintain what it is. This is done by playing with the orginial storyline, yet still having the same elements that make this movie a Disney Movie.
I am pretty sure that this movie will be a commerical success, but will it break new grounds in the Disney world, or just end up being something it always has been?
This clip is for the newest movie that is coming from the Disney studios, the Princess and the Frog. The clip seems to show this movie as being along side the movies of the past, and being apart of Disney's great tradition.
Whether that will happen remains to be seen. I wonder if this movie will get to hung up on trying to be different, or is it trying to just be the same. It seems that Disney wants to play it safe by presenting a storyline similar to those movies of the past, the only thing this time is that the skin color of the main characters have changed. I think this is an important change for Disney, who never seems to have a main leading character that is black. They have used indians with Pocahontas, and chinese with Mulan, so it seems only natural that they would expand their cultural representations.
The movie looks like it will be similar to the link I posted earlier, from the Fractured fairy tales of Rocky and Bullwinkle. I think this shows Disney's attempt to get further away from what it's central topic, yet still maintain what it is. This is done by playing with the orginial storyline, yet still having the same elements that make this movie a Disney Movie.
I am pretty sure that this movie will be a commerical success, but will it break new grounds in the Disney world, or just end up being something it always has been?
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