Trumbo # 5

            Thoreau is basically spitting in Trumbo’s face. If the two of them were to meet, Thoreau would thoroughly scold and mock Trumbo for his character’s participation in something meaningless that they did not understand without protest. While it’s true that Trumbo is technically just bashing the war, they do agree on the issues of the imagery of a true virtuous and strong soldier. Both tear this character down to being worse than the lowliest maggot or made of clay with no real substance to call their own creation. Thoreau can just bash Trumbo either as he does flee to a lake and refuse to pay taxes. This is his complete removal of government support, however, it’s not quite the activist attitude. This, in his own mind, is the most productive way to sway a majority or ruling group affectively in  a democracy. Trumbo may not necessarily disagree with him. In the novel, he does make the point to show that it’s “cowardly” and dangerous to attempt to desert or not report for action. However, he later makes the point that going just costs more than you’re willing to give and those mindless soldiers who obey the calls of “honor” just end up in shoe boxes. Thoreau would more likely tell Trumbo that he’ll be truly honorable to end up in jail for desertion. 

what the hell have i been reading...

            Johnny Got his Gun is probably the most uniquely written novel I have ever read. While this may not say a lot about my usual choice in books, it is a unique take on portraying a theme which I find engaging and slow at the same time. It is possible to be taken into any of the single accounts of the main character or to begin to work out the different metaphors and physical ailments being suffered. The only problem is the fact that there are so many in the point of a trade off of every other chapter. It’s completely possible that I may be missing something, but to me the book seems somewhat redundant only it is able to pull this off by using highly articulate ideas and themes. Each metaphor develops the points further as the novel progresses, however, this causes me to think about whether it could be done more concisely without taking one hundred pages to build the same points and bring them to light. While I’m only on page one hundred, even though we’re supposed to be around 120 for tomorrow…shhh, The book seems to be following a very strict theme that could turn dangerously bad for the book should it not branch out away from its own creativity and style.

american idiots for american idol

            American idol has become a senseless dribble of hacks and morons. It’s commercialized to the point where they have filler content of stupid skits or behind the scenes footage or bonus materials from the singers. This is pointless in retrospect to the competition as no one needs to see them acting like children or trying to give off certain public image vibes. The judges are another affliction that is slowly killing this program. Originally there were three judges, but apparently over time between the pissy Brit, the drunken maniac who thinks everyone’s got talent, and the chill personality that can “feel” when people are stars, the show supposedly needed another judge. This is where the new lady came in with relatively no purpose at all other than to balance out some negativity and some over positive behavior. Now we have the new singers. It’s become acceptable to allow a broadway singer to make it to the final four even though they’ve had formal parts and training. It’s even been allowed to let people with actual talent and passion to get kicked off. The show is commercial based off of personalities and who gets the most support. Of course, it is no surprise since America doesn’t have a musical PhD, however, the reliability of the country to make educated decisions in relation to the show is frighteningly sad.

Summer Blockbusters

This summer will be the release of numerous anticipated films. Amongst the typical smash and grab action films, where the sudden violent robbery on screen is no different than the point of this movie in stealing your money in its first few weeks, are the summers main foci. Between fillers the summer actually kicks off in theaters in May. From expansions and remakes of old concepts and story lines to the next in a long series with a bewitched following, the summer proves to be promising both in content and in sales revenues. Two films to keep an eye out for apart from whatever might catch your eye and be widely publicized are Public Enemies in July and Inglorious Bastards in August. The idea of the next Harry Potter is appealing to many, myself included, but it takes a persistent theater enthusiast to uncover the stories and trailers of under publicized movies. Public Enemies features a 40's Capone-esque mob boss (Depp) and his cop hound (Bale). With Christian Bale being shown wrestling robots and climbing threw apocalyptic dumpsters its no surprise that this more subtle film has slipped under the radar. The last movie is unsurprisingly somewhat of a secret and placed at the end of the summer. Two words: Quentin Tarantino... This Nazi film may carry recognizable stars, Pitt among them, but the concept of this early Italian film has gone way beyond its predecessor. Torture and maiming run rampant in this under the radar film as Tarantino threw on some final touches in Europe this year...

somalian pirates weeeeee!!!!

Last night i saw the funniest South Park i have seen in a long time. While they have been on an upward spiral in quality and social critique, this was the absolute pinnacle of their performance. By giving Cartman disney world pirate's of the carribean kid characteristics and then shipping him to somalia the two ideals of pirating completely collide cause the fairy tale version to crash and burn. While some racism and cultural slams do exist in the show, the up beat singing of a scarred and AK-47 wielding crew carrying a tune can cause even the most skeptical viewers to laugh their ass off. From a racial joke crowning the show regarding the american military to the timeless crack at French bravery, the show brings in and encompasses multiple cultural aspects. It breaks down and mocks numerous aspects to both modern piracy and cultural trends within the US. 

i doooo declare, i don't want to have to work the fiellllds where's my corset

            I believe what I have been raised to believe. Both through media perceptions and social standing I have been influenced and seen certain aspects of life typically associated with a gender and although this might not draw the thought that it’s a man vs a woman’s job or action to mind it is still associated with characteristics, and through this, the gender that society deems is to be associated with it. I believe that we are genetically and scientifically different that girls. While this from case by case may mean a given average male might be stronger than a random average girl, these are all still random cases that take individualism out of account. Characteristics and general exceptions to typical traits might be passed on within a group and while these will make the individual stand out, either positively or negatively, they exist none the less to show that there is no one definition or rule to genders. My family, the media, and my classmates have defined what gender means to me. Through this I believe that the world and its history has determined my perception. The girls at school hating to get dirty or play sports, although there were those who did enjoy these things, saw it or heard it from somewhere. The people they got it from saw it or heard it from somewhere and it goes all the way back to where women were expected to dislike manual labor and getting their hands dirty and sweaty. MY point being that our cultural perceptions today come from outdated and laughed at pieces of history, only ironically we indirectly never escaped their marks.

If Atlas and Wonder Woman had a child.... I would be that wonder....

            In Ortiz’s story the media plays the role of a standard. It’s a standard that she constantly holds herself too and compares herself against. Apart from the fact that she’s far too young to be setting herself up against full grown adults, her fellow classmates don’t even fully comprehend why they’re supposed to find certain characteristics appealing and others not. They merely respond to what they see as socially popular and this carries down into their school system. It’s through these events that you can begin to get such twisted scenarios as an elementary or middle school girl trying to beef up and get strong just like the “Atlas man.” Between this and Wonder Woman, her aspirations are high placed and ridiculously impossible. She looks for perfection and tries to achieve it, but realistically this is impossible, but she is too young to realize and understand this fact. The media serves as her social blue print. She and others are constantly comparing her to different things in different lights and never just taking in how she looks as merely being something unique. Any differences seen are frowned upon and tormented leading her to torment herself in a pursuit for unachievable perfection.

416

Yes, I support gay marriage rights. Even if I didn’t take into account the numerous people and family members that I know who are gay, I would still support gay marriage. I would think this on the fundamental level of human rights. Growing up in a democratic society where I’ve been taught to treat people the same as I want to be treated, it just seems logical and natural. The fact that it is a complicated issue almost seems absurd to me. I can follow the arguments and train of thought geared by religious belief, although I may disagree. It’s the people who are against it without religious cause that bother me the most. It’s homophobia and fear that keeps these people in this light. It is truly sad because it’s not their fault they think this way, but they must still be considered in the view of their own ways of thinking even if they were taught. This is why I believe in gay marriage rights. It’s a combination of a sense of equality and the fact that I see no good reason why me, or any other person for that matter, should tell gays otherwise. 

Members of the Jury.... you're being pigheaded homophobes

            Through both analyzing of the anecdotes and his neutral view of what was morally wrong with these emotionally straining situations his legal expertise emerged. Between that and the outright list of legal disadvantages to not being formally and civilly bound to another being. The title itself carries the tone of defining a term’s definition and legal implication. By this, it is easy to dissect points without the implication and weight of attaching it to any particular sexuality or group. This black and white view is a base for the author to build off of by breaking a claim down to the most basic level (much like a legal case). It is here where the emphasis is placed to rebuild a new image that supports Wolfon’s views. At this point it’s just hoping the jury, the readers, will not allow their own views into their judgement. It’s really it’s most effective and strongest against those who who are impartial or don’t have an opinion. Building up a case will not dissuade someone who already has decided to be against it as they’re too opinionated and will see every point as a broken point and might just ignore the valid ones altogether. Those who have a pro stance don’t really matter as they shouldn’t need much convincing.

shame shame sneaky conservative

            The plane metaphor seems very loose and disparate from the main points of the piece. The idea is that one plane has better odds than the other. The odds in this analogy are supposed to be relatively good for each plane, but the focus is that we would always pick the one that has slightly better odds if it were as black and white as a plane (which it is not). The other point I got out of this other than the fact that it seems very general is that it doesn’t take into account exactly what odds are: gambling. Even statistically if one is better on a more usual basis, theoretically that’s where we’d get our do good citizens and members of society. The less sure plane would crash every now and then, but it would also churn out more rewarding results than the first plane. We might randomly get the next Ghandi or philosopher. I think the analogy is simply trying to place the idea that it’s an easy decision to choose normal marriages over single parenting or same sex marriage and it even has the slight implication that it’s dangerous and unstable. The author does a good job of trying to seem balanced and neutral during this entire piece, but like this analogy, some sections of it betray a train of thought that is carried and argued by the author.

how does a bomber jacket and a bus stop make you gay...

            She waits a while to liken the story to any other image of gender discrimination the reader might know. It draws upon a scenario that the reader might not know personally, but has heard of. By doing this she opens the door to a new level of violence that is not to be expected. She discloses this to show that allowing homophobic tendencies to exist isn’t just a threat to everyone, but permeates extreme violence and hatred that is disgusting and a blemish on society. While this connection might make some straight people care merely because it endangers themselves or others they know who aren’t gay, to me, it just goes to show how ignorant, moronic, and sad most of those who abuse homophobes are. It shows you that this violence is like a drunken rage towards a group where the only intoxicating and blinding substance is the individuals own ignorance, limited personality and acceptance, and damaged intellect. Sadly this is affective for some who find the violence might strike them for no reason, but I believe it merely accents the fact that it isn’t so much the fact that it exists anymore, as to some extent blind ignorant hate always will, but it’s the fact that there are still cases of it going unimpeded and unreported by citizens observing it. 

not quite Eustace, not quite...

            Eustace Conway strives to be a transcendentalist, but fails to fully escape from societal standards physically. Mentally, he fully supports and glorifies nature and the forces behind it in his day to day life in the style of the Native Americans. However, he soon finds out how unrealistic it is to be able to transcend society’s characteristics, no matter how ugly they might seem, to achieve his own personal freedom. He finds himself being pulled back again and again to meet expectations provided to him by society so that he may further appreciate and understand his own dreams. Gilbert feels that Eustace was able to transcend the limitations of society and life placed before him. Through proving his own fortitude and endurance in his journeys to going beyond the norm of societal standards and achieving turtle island Eustace goes above himself, and the world he lives in, time and time again. I do not feel that he was a true transcendentalist. He may have transcended his physical limitations as a human, but emotionally and characteristically he was unable to move forward and adapt to the people around him. He was a product of his father and he was never able to beat that connection and remained chained to the same high standards that he once faced.

oh you and your silly childish petulance

“The misery of man appears like childish petulance,  when we explore the steady and prodigal provision that has been made  for his support and delight on this green ball which floats him through the heavens.” These lines speak to me because unless you’re born into slavery, destitute poverty, or a warzone, life offers a bounty of things from which to draw joy. Even the farmer who lacks material possessions may find pleasure and comfort in moving across fields and pasture lands under blue skies. The world is full of comforts and joys ranging from experiences shared with others to awe inspiring sights. The following statements after this quote even talk about the ease and power we have over experiencing the world as we choose by travel and technology, yet we all, at some point or another, choose to get swept up in the little things. It is not the fact that there are a million other girls in the world that strikes the broken guy, but the hard break up he went through. It’s not the pleasures of succeeding in six classes, but the sorrow of failing the seventh. To some extent, everyone experiences a shallow perception that focuses on the negative, but when taken into the bigger picture it seems irrelevant and minor. This is what that quote is all about and the fact that it is in very understandable terms makes it all the more true and deep.

Man of Destiny

I think Elizabeth Gilbert fell in love with him, and his idea of a man of destiny, to the point of attempting to further his outreach into the world to instigate some form of connection between this man and "normal people." She uses the last little story and testimony of Dave to bring this in. This is one of the most in depth and positive accounts in the book as far as taking things away from Eustace and applying them to the individual's life. It also serves as the end of the book to leave the reader with a positive feeling about Eustace, what he stands for, and the possibility of being able to learn and grow as an individual similarly to Dave. While the book does tend to bring out Eustace as a character and at times this can be raw and corrosive, this only serves to show that this man is aspiring to be a symbol for something greater than himself (which is not a task most people take on). The book serves as an ode to this man and his journey as he develops and tries to change the world in a way that he sees as practical. It tries to humanize his ideals and life in a way that someone looking from a city industrial life could understand and glean some of his message. Eustace made his journey traveling to talk to groups and taking on those he can educate over the summer. The book serves as a way to break down his message and goals in a way that we can understand them better in the way that they're embodied by this single person. It allows the reader to look past his faults to the bigger picture.