Like Bounty paper towels that only require one sheet to apparently pick up an oil spill, this blog keeps picking up all my various academic blog assignments.
Influenced by urban scenery, spontaneity, and modernity, Frank O'Hara paves the way for the New York philosophy with one of my favorite poems, "Steps." He begins by addressing a personified New York, for it is funny today "like Ginger Rogers in Swingtime." O'Hara's comparison of New York in the moment is representative of his whole philosophy of poetry writing: that poetry should be written on whim and not taken too seriously.
Ever the observer of urban life, he continues to muse upon the scenery that he encounters on the city streets. Lana Turner is out eating somewhere; the park is full of dancers; Pittsburgh baseball fans are cheering because their team is winning. After this description, O'Hara seems to get to the heart of the poem, "in a sense we're all winning / we're alive." This is a New York School and particularly O'Hara-istic purpose of poetry: to celebrate life and its pleasures.
Even as O'Hara details the terrors of city life, "even the stabbings are helping the population explosion," in the wrong country and noticing the corruption of government with the "liars at the UN," he is never one to dwell on these things; he doesn't need liquor. He just likes it. This celebration of the ordinary day is taken to even further depths as he celebrates spending the morning with his lover. He is content with coffee, cigarettes, and love.
This painting, titled Katie in an Armchair, is a Fairfield Porter work from 1954. Although we've discussed that the New York School was heavily influenced by abstract expressionist art, it is still notable that there were many still life portraits still produced, and perhaps these still life portraits reflect as much as the more abstract works. If we take a look at the picture, we see that Katie, the subject, is staring into the distance. She is observing what is outside of her surroundings, as she does not gaze at the painter, or the chair in which she sits. Much like the gaze of this young girl, poets find inspiration in observing the outside world in order to reflect inward. Although the Confessional Poets concerned more on internal affairs, the New York School observed the urban setting in which they lived.
Although the re-sizing of this picture produced a less appealing quality, I found it important to study Katie's face in relation to poetic inspiration. The first thing that I thought about when I saw the picture is that she doesn't look quite human. I hope I'm not being too hard on Porter, but I believe this could be intentional, as writers and artists possess a certain "queer" quality that sets them above the folds of nominal society. They are separated from society, yet they observe it with more detail than for example, the average businessman.
Although Katie is a small girl, it seems as if she is engulfed by her surroundings. The chair is much more massive than she is, yet she is still the focus of the painting. Perhaps this could inspire the prevailing humanity over material objects in a poet's work. According to Wordsworth, it is impossible to write poetry without emotion, as he claimed it was the "spontaneous overflow of emotions." Whether you agree completely or not with that assessment of poetry, it is undeniable that poetry reflects the courses of life, even as inanimate objects overpower man's size.
Through the journey that is Robert Lowell's Life Studies, the reader has become rather properly introduced to Lowell as both a poet and a man, as these two titles are interchangeable in the realm of confessional poetry. Throughout the collection, Lowell chooses to include the most intimate of details concerning his personal life, including death, madness, and those existential questions that beg to be answered. However, the last poem of the collection is simply titled "Skunk Hour." Why is Lowell choosing to end his somber journey with the image of a skunk?
First of all, the poem does not immediately begin with the image of pungent skunk odor. Rather, like many of Lowell's previous poems, notably "Waking in Blue," Lowell begins with detached descriptions of the inhabitants of a given area. In "Waking in Blue," Lowell described characters found in the mental hospital in which he was committed for three months. The characters have passed the prime of their life and are unable to accept the futility of age and decay. Therefore, the character of Stanley "still hoard[s] the build of a boy in his twenties," and the character of Bobbie has reverted to childhood as he "swashbuckles about in his birthday suit and horses at chairs." The characters of "Skunk Hour" echo the former poem, as they experience their own sort of decay. We find:
--"Nautilus Island's hermit heiress" in her dotage. Longing to relive the decadence of her youth in the Victorian area, she continuously purchases "eyesores," only to let them fall.
--The "summer millionaire." Past his prime, his wealth is shamed at an auction.
--The "fairy decorator." A man whose work is unfulfilling and fruitless longs to marry, yet there are no prospects.
There is decay and failure in each of the characters' lives, as they cannot accept life as it progresses. They construct a world of fantasies and property values only to learn that their constructed lives have expiration dates. Similarly, Lowell himself has a moment of fantasy, as he hears "my own ill-spirit sob in each blood cell," lamenting his loneliness after hearing a love song on a car radio and observing "love-cars." The climax of the poem is the moment that Lowell realizes that "nobody's here." He is utterly alone, depraved of humanity. However, the poem only shifts into self pity momentarily, as Lowell discovers that he is indeed not alone, as skunks begin their night feeding.
These skunks have no romanticized qualities; Lowell states that the mother skunk "jabs her wedge-head in a cup of sour cream" that she has discovered in a garbage dispenser at midnight. Survival is of the utmost importance to these creatures. They feed at midnight to elude predators, and yet they are unashamed to consume others' waste. Unlike the human characters whose material centered lives have distinct expiration dates, these skunks are not afraid to eat the curdled sour cream of life, as it is the only thing that ensures survival.
At the end of the poem, Lowell breathes the "rich air," littered with the smell of skunk. It is in this moment that the revelation of the book occurs. As we can tell from poems such as "My Last Afternoon with Uncle Devereux Winslow," Lowell has dealt with the events in his own life by detachment and formalization. Each event is sterilized, as he dons his "formal pearl gray shorts" for his mother's esteemed family and describes his mother's corpse "panetone in Italian tinfoil" in "Sailing Home from Rapallo." For the first time in the collection, Lowell is freely identifying with a group without force. It may seem to be ironic that he is identifying with such an abhorred animal; however, through the depictions of his previous poems, humans do not seem to fare better than his black and white comrades, as they are shallow, concerned with monetary gain and the retention of youth. In one moment, Lowell chooses to disregard all notions of false security in life, whether by riches, detachment, or sterilization and chooses to survive in the trash that is life, as the skunks have chosen to do.
As we discussed earlier in class, the first distinct section of "Howl" is a vivid combination of both true stories and fantastic, sometimes grotesque, imagery. This is Ginsberg's method of introduction, as he opens the first line of "Howl" proclaiming that the "best minds of [his] generation" are driven to madness by the unaccepting society in which they are surrounded. Ginsberg presents this struggle as a war between the spiritual (himself and his peers) and the mechanical (society). By the end of the first section, there seems to be hope still abounding in the desperation as Ginsberg seeks to find the "absolute heart of the poem."
However, this tone does not remain present as Ginsberg shifts "Howl" into its second section. Perhaps it does not seem fitting to try and resolve a poem dedicated to the pursuit of spiritual transcendence by mentioning the murder of spiritualism and even humanity within a society, but Ginsberg has a purpose. Ginsberg names this mechanistic force "Moloch," which is fitting, because historically, children were sacrificed to the god Moloch. Children are representative of the futurity of the human race; therefore, we can deduce that Ginsberg's context of Moloch is also a destroyer of humanity. For Ginsberg and his loyal readers to fight against this mechanical god, they must know its nature. Therefore, Ginsberg describes Moloch as "Solitude! Filth! Ugliness!" This is a harsh juxtaposition to a high level of spiritual transcendence, a disgrace to Ginsberg. He even goes on to say that Moloch's followers "broke their backs lifting Moloch to Heaven." Moloch has invaded the spiritual plane, as Heaven is no place for the mechanical, but the spiritual. Ginsberg even admits that Moloch "entered [his] soul early." Therefore, Moloch seems to be inescapable; however, Ginsberg responds to the reader with hope, for all is not lost. He addresses Moloch: "whom I abandon!" This resolves the notion that Moloch is an omnipotent god, for Ginsberg is able to escape its influence. However, many are not able to transcend the force of Moloch. At the end of Section 2, Ginsberg talks about the "American River." This river symbolizes time, and this time is carrying the spiritual side of humanity ("Highs! Epiphanies! Despairs! Ten years' animal screams and suicides! Minds! New loves! Mad generation!") down its stream. Note that this spiritual side is not just one of happiness, as there are suicides and madness. It is rather a representation of human feeling. This section, I feel, is Ginsberg's commentary in the present state of the world and society in the poem.
The third section once again shifts tone, more akin to the first section than the second, as it is an address to Carl Solomon, to which the poem is dedicated. His repetition of "I'm with you in Rockland," a mental institution, assures the reader that he is still mad and burning with human feeling, rather than lifting Moloch to a spiritual plane and perverting transcendence. His lines, describing madness, are true stories, allowing the reader to know that this attempt at transcendence is reality, that spirituality itself is a reality for him. He then resolves the poem with two important lines:
I'm with you in Rockland where we wake up electrified out of the coma by our own souls' airplanes roaring over the roof they've come to drop angelic bombs the hospital illuminates itself imaginary walls collapse O skinny legions run outside O starry-spangled shock of mercy the eternal war is here O victory forget your underwear we're free.
I have bolded key words in this section. I believe that Ginsberg has resolved the oppressive state of section two, proclaiming that spirituality is the clear victor is this “eternal war.” This line is full of heavenly imagery, as even the bombs of war are angelic. Also notice that punctuation and grammatical structure are forgotten, as the spiritual is escaping from even written language standards. The poem itself cannot even describe the transcendence. There are no rules anymore, for they are free to fight, free to love, and free to even forget their underwear.
I'm with you in Rockland in my dreams you walk dripping from a sea-journey on the highway across America in tears to the door of my cottage in the Western night.
Ginsberg states that Solomon is back from a “sea journey.” This is in opposition to the river of time that destroys the spiritual in section 2. As the river has one direction, the sea is limitless, bringing the resolution of the poem. Even tears are a victory, for a mechanical world is without human emotion and passion, and solace is found at last.
Now, I know that we've already read a review this semester of this movie, but it's my favorite movie OF ALL TIME. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is quite simply a masterpiece, and please, if you've not heeded to my suggestions in the course of reading my rambling blog, take this one suggestion, and see this movie.
Starring Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet as Joel Barish and Clementine Kruczynski, this movie takes the viewer on a wild ride of love, loss, and amnesia. Joel, a slightly boring guy (played perfectly by Carrey, by the way. I had no idea that Jim Carrey could take on such a serious role. He really blew me away), has been erased by his ex girlfriend, Clementine, after a harsh breakup. Erased, you ask? Yes. In the movie, there is a company called Lacuna that specializes in voluntary memory loss for those who wish to forget events and people in their lives. When Joel learns that Clementine has erased him, he decides to do the same thing, out of hurt and partially for spite towards Clem. As the memory erasure process proceeds, you'll see a glimpse into a dysfuntional, beautiful relationship with the boring Joel and eccentric Clementine. In an interview, Kate Winslet once said that Clementine was her favorite character that she's ever portrayed, and it is understandable why this is her choice. Labeled as a comedy (so wrong, in my opinion), the layers of humor, tragedy, and visual dynamics will simply blow you away. Easily my favorite love story of all time.
Watch this scene. It's amazing. I actually cry buckets everytime I watch the movie, especially this scene. I know you guys think I'm a crybaby by now, but I'm just going to mark it up to being passionate!
I work at Bruster's Ice Cream, so I see, smell, scoop, and eat a whooole lot of ice cream. I can pretty much be considered a conoisseur of sorts. I also believe that those who do not like ice cream do not have taste buds. At all. I understand that there are terrible ice creams (see: Rum Raisin, Pistachio, anything with malt flavoring), but I will highlight the ice creams that tickle my taste buds over any other. I'm getting a craving just thinking about it.
3. Ben and Jerry's Oatmeal Cookie Chunk
Yum, Ben and Jerry's. What a great way to start off a top 3. Ben and Jerry's is committed to not using steroids on their cows, so whenever you pop open a pint, you're getting the freshest stuff possible. Now, I am partial to oatmeal cookies. Without raisins, they're the best gift to mankind, and this ice cream combines it INTO ICE CREAM! What a wonder. The base is sweet cream, which is great, if you've never had it. Different and sweeter than vanilla, it's a great base. Combine it with oatmeal cookies, and you've got the best thing since sliced bread!
2. Coldstone's Berry, Berry, Berry Good
Usually, I combine sweet cream ice cream with strawberries and graham crust, but as for pre-made flavors, this one takes the cake for me. Combining sweet cream with strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries (personal favorite), this ice cream lets you feel good about being bad (I mean, you are getting your antioxidants with those blueberries!). What's even better is that you get to see it made right in front of you, an experience which is essential for a visit to Coldstone.
1. Bruster's Black Raspberry
The first summer that I started my job at Bruster's, I was intrigued by the prospect of black raspberry ice cream. Now, I love annnnything flavored with raspberry, so if you're a raspberry lover like me, you have to check this out. Wonderfully fruity and creamy at the same time, you'll be begging for more and more, but take advantage of this ice cream, as Bruster's only carries it in summertime. I think the time limit on this is one of the greatest tragedies that I have ever faced in my life, but apparently, blackberries can not grow successfully all year. :( But I do a great job of expanding my waistline during the scorching summer months!
BOOM! Top 5 list again. I almost broke this little vicious (nah, not really vicious) cycle of Top 5 lists by writing about how awesome The Smiths are and how utterly refreshing it was that the soundtrack for [500] Days of Summer was framed by the band. Then I started thinking how great a lot of movie soundtracks are. Now, we have to think about the two different kinds of movie soundtracks. One type includes mostly a film score, the orchestral music composed for the purpose of the film, and the other includes music by different bands that contribute to the background. I am going to be ranking the latter, but I might tackle the former in the next blog posting.
I know a lot of people that hate this movie. I, however, am not one of them. Whether you like the movie or not, it has a great soundtrack. Some of the artists are more recognizable than others on this soundtrack, and I really like how there is a plethora of music, from the Monkees to Sigur Ros. Each song works perfectly with the mood of every scene. Top 3 songs for me in this list: Everything in Its Right Place, Solsbury Hill, and Svenfn-g-englar, although Sigur Ros' other song, Njosnavelin (The Nothing Song), is also superb in the movie, and I have no idea why it's not listed here. (BTW, if you're unfamiliar with Sigur Ros, they are an Icelandic band, singing in Icelandic. I don't know what the hell they're saying, but they transfix me.)
Here's a clip of the ending of Vanilla Sky. The song in the background is Njosnavelin. BY THE WAY, THIS IS GOING TO SPOIL THE ENDING. DON'T WATCH IF YOU HAVEN'T SEEN THE MOVIE AND PLAN TO SOMEDAY. YOU CAN'T BLAME ME. THIS IS ALL IN CAPS.
4. Hedwig and the Angry Inch
1.
Tear Me Down
2.
Origin of Love
3.
Angry Inch
4.
Wicked Little Town (Tonny Gnosis version)
5.
Wig in a Box
6.
The Long Grift
7.
Hedwig's Lament
8.
Exquisite Corpse
9.
Midnight Radio
10.
Nailed
11.
Sugar Daddy
12.
Freaks
13.
In Your Arms Tonight
14.
Wicked Little Town (Hedwig version)
Prepare to meet on of the most rocking transvestites (since Tim Curry) you've ever seen on film. I absolutely adore Hedwig and the Angry Inch for two reasons: 1. Hedwig and 2. Hedwig's songs. Let me fill you in a little on the plot. Hedwig, a victim of a botched sex change operation (thus the angry inch, haha) is a phenomenal singer/songwriter who is dreaming to make it big. However, his ex-boyfriend, Tommy Knossos, has stolen his songs and is making it big on his own. This movie is a journey through Hedwig's past and present and is filled to the brim with catchy songs, especially "The Origin of Love."
3. The Virgin Suicides
1. Magic Man - Heart
2. Hello It's Me - Todd Rundgren
3. Everything You've Done Wrong - Sloan
4. Ce Matin La - Air
5. Air That I Breathe - The Hollies
6. How Can You Mend a Broken Heart? - Al Green
7. Alone Again (Naturally) - Gilbert O'Sullivan
8. I'm Not in Love - 10cc
9. Dream Goes on Forever - Todd Rundgren
10. Crazy on You - Heart
11. Playground Love [Vibraphone Version] - Air
12. Come Sail Away - Styx
I am a huge fan of Sofia Coppola (Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette) and the soundtrack to this movie fit the atmosphere perfectly. A story about 4 sisters, desired by all, obtained by none, who commit suicide in the 1970's is an intriguing story, and I found myself as immersed in the music of the movie as the movie itself. Highlighted by French duo Air's "Playground Love," this soundtrack takes 70's era hits and combines them with more ethereal music tones. Perfectly executed.
1. O Brother, Where Art Thou?
1. "Po Lazarus" - James Carter & the Prisoners 4:30
2. "Big Rock Candy Mountain" - Harry McClintock 2:17
3. "You Are My Sunshine" - Norman Blake 4:26
4. "Down To The River To Pray" - Alison Krauss 2:53
5. "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow" - The Soggy Bottom Boys 3:13
6. "Hard Time Killing Floor Blues" - Chris Thomas King 2:01
7. "I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow" - Norman Blake 4:30
10. "Didn't Leave Nobody But The Baby" - Emmylou Harris, Alison Krauss and Gillian Welch 1:58
11. "In The Highways" - Sarah, Hannah and Leah Peasall 1:36
12. "I Am Weary (Let Me Rest)" - The Cox Family 3:16
13. "I Am A Man of Constant Sorrow" - John Hartford 2:34
14. "O Death" - Ralph Stanley 3:21
15. "In The Jailhouse Now" - The Soggy Bottom Boys 4:18
16. "Indian War Whoop" - John Hartford 1:30
17. "Lonesome Valley" - Fairfield Four 4:08
18. "Angel Band" - The Stanley Brothers 2:18
Come on, you have to love this soundtrack. I remember doing a reenactment of Faulkner's A Rose for Emily in 11th grade and using this soundtrack as the background music for some of the scenes. Too morbid? It really worked! Anyway, if you're a fan of the Coen brothers, The Odyssey, or humor in general, you have to watch this movie and check out the soundtrack. I mean, "I Am a Man of Constant Sorrow" was on the radio everywhere when this movie first arrived on the scene! The soundtrack takes old hymnals and twangy wonderfulness and combines it into a wonderful concoction.
It doesn't take long after meeting me to find out that I have a slight...problem. I watch way too many movies. I mean waaay too many. I'm fairly upset that this hefty semester has interfered with my movie watching time, but I guess I have to get on with this graduating business! Anyway, thanks to the Great and Powerful Netflix that my mom has generously subscribed to for the last four years, I have been introduced to so many movies, actors, and directors that my head could probably explode at any moment.
For now, I'd like to share my personal five favorite directors. Now, I understand that some of these might sound a little familiar, but they're great, nonetheless. However, I must warn you that James Cameron will not be appearing on this list, but I'll save my Avatar rant for later. :)
5. Wes Anderson
Ahhh, Wes Anderson, King of Quirky. Anderson crafts each movie that he directs with spectacular, surreal visual presentation. I will admit that I have not seen his first movie, Bottle Rocket, however, I have seen the others, The Royal Tenenbaums, Rushmore, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, The Darjeeling Limited, and Fantastic Mr. Fox. Heard of any of those? If you haven't, you need to take a trip to Blockbuster. All of Anderson's movies usually center around some kind of dysfunctional relationship, whether it is between members of a family, a love/hate relationship with a school, or a big ass shark. Although these stories center around dysfunction, there is never a shortage of laughs, as Anderson focuses on some of the quirkiest characters you'll ever come across (see Jason Schwartzman's Max Fischer). Anderson likes to reuse a select group of actors for his films, including Bill Murray, Anjelica Huston, Jason Schwartzman, and the Wilson brothers. And if you're looking for an amazing animated movie, check out Fantastic Mr. Fox (which should have won the Oscar for Best Animated Movie, in my opinion). You will not be disappointed.
4. Stanley Kubrick
One of my friends is OBSESSED with Stanley Kubrick, convinced that there is no comparison in the film world. I respectfully disagree, but I will admit that Kubrick's work is damn good. With films such as Full Metal Jacket, The Shining, A Clockwork Orange, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and my personal favorite, Dr. Strangelove, under the belt, Kubrick proved that he was one of the most versatile directors in filming history. When watching a Kubrick film, don't be surprised to see controversial elements pervading the plot line. Kubrick was also a perfectionist; quality meant everything to this director.
3. Cha Cha Cha (Alfonso Cuarón, Alejandro González Iñárritu, Guillermo del Toro)
Okay, I know I'm cheating. This combines three directors into one, but I'm making the rules here. But let's just review some films: A Little Princess, Y tu Mama Tambien, Children of Men (Cuaron). I remember falling in love with A Little Princess at the age of 6, and about a year ago, I bought the movie on DVD. Guess what? I love it as much as I did fifteen years ago. And Y tu? One of the best coming-of-age films that I've ever seen. Oh, and for HP fans out there, Cuaron directed Prisoner of Azkaban. Amores Perros, 21 Grams, Babel (Gonzalez Inarritu). These three films are known as the "Death Trilogy," as characters who are strangers to each other are connected in some way by death, a car crash for the first two and a gun for the third. All three are amazing; the characters for the films are given great multi-dimensional depth, and I am always left with a sense of awe after watching them. Hellboy, Pan's Labyrinth (del Toro). Although I will admit that I've never seen Hellboy, I was impressed to the gills with Pan's Labyrinth. The fact that it did not win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film absolutely astounds me. I am a firm believer that Mexico has a top spot in quality filmmaking, and these three gentlemen absolutely take the cake for me.
2. Quentin Tarantino
Say what you will about Tarantino using the same bag of tricks. That bag of tricks WORKS. I recently had a discussion with someone who said that they don't care for the quality of dialogue in movies, but to me, dialogue is one of the most important aspects of a film. And let me tell you, you cannot get better dialogue than Tarantino. With films such as Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, and Inglourious Basterds, Tarantino always delivers bloody violence with wonderful flair and entertainment. Tarantino also has a pool of actors that he enjoys casting, such as Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, and Harvey Keitel.
Take a look at this classic scene from Pulp Fiction. Samuel L. Jackson plays perhaps my favorite character of any movie ever: Jules Winnfield. Be advised: this does contain violence.
1. The Coen Brothers
All Hail the Coen Brothers! My favorite duo of director/producer ever, these brothers are responsible for gems such as Fargo, Raising Arizona, The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, No Country for Old Men, and their latest A Serious Man. The world is their oyster; the brothers experiment with all different types of genres of filmmaking, from black comedies to film noir. You'll never know what you'll get with the Coens. You could be following George Clooney's Ulysses Everett Magill on a hilarious homage to The Odyssey in O Brother, Where Art Thou? Or, you could be on the edge of your seat, waiting for No Country for Old Men's psychopathic killer Anton Chigurh to pop onto the screen. The Coen Brothers have a fantastic sense of timing and surprise, just watch Burn After Reading. A certain scene (you'll know it when you see it) was so surprising that I actually screamed in the movie theater. So please, for the love of all things holy, check out these siblings. They're quite amazing.
You know, I'm really liking the format of this Top 5 thing that I've been doing for the last couple of posts, so it's going to continue in this manner. Let's see..I've touched on movies, music, and websites, so I think it's time to travel to the genre of literature. As an English major, I spend the majority of my life reading, and I'm pretty sure that without some sort of book, I would probably go into DT's. Now sometimes these books that I am required to read are not the most enjoyable things I've ever had to do (read: Dostoevsky); sometimes I've felt like ramming my head into something either sharp or rock hard getting through the numerous pages of a book. And why does it seem like unenjoyable books have to ramble on for 1200 pages? Okay, maybe I exaggerate, but you know what I mean.
To digress on the subject of excruciating literature, I am going to present my 5 favorite books of all time. Now, I am not part of the literary canon, but dammit, I know what I like, and I cannot recommend these highly enough.
5. The Awakening - Kate Chopin
I remember reading this in high school and absolutely LOATHING it. Sure, it was supposed to be a prime example of feminist literature, but I frankly had no interest whatsoever in the Victorian setting with these seemingly one-dimensional characters. Oh, how wrong I was. I reread the book about four years later in college in one of my favorite professor's classes, and I was ashamed of myself for ever having hated the book. For those who are unfamiliar, The Awakening is the story of Edna Pontellier, a twenty-eight year old mother of two who vacations with her husband for the summer at a community located near the Gulf of Mexico. Sounds like a typical housewife story, right? Wrong. Edna, like most women of the Victorian Era, has an unspoken duty to be the picture of a perfect wife and mother, neglecting her own needs and wants. Too bad this doesn't set well with her, so she decides to clean house a bit (no pun intended). She meets a man by the name of Robert Lebrun, and gasp, she falls in love with a man who is not her husband. She also has another affair and actually moves out of her house. You're probably thinking that this woman is a completely floozy, but let me assure you, she is not. It is the oppression of her own will that forces her to take "drastic" measures, for Edna is a true pioneer, fighting for her own happiness rather than being subjected to the "mother women." The ending of the book astounds me; probably one of my favorite endings of any book. Check it out! It's really a short read, and it's worth your time.
4. A Wrinkle in Time - Madeleine L'Engle
I've probably read this book about 7 or 8 times in my life, and I own the entire Wrinkle in Time series. I'm usually not a science fiction fan at all, but something about this really pulled me in. The protagonist is a girl named Meg Murry, whose parents are scientific geniuses working on a tesseract theory, which allows time travel by folding space and time. A social outcast, Meg has never had anything extraordinary happen to her; she is overshadowed by her athletic, yet average twin brothers, Sandy and Dennys. Her youngest brother, Charles Wallace, is a prodigy, yet considered unintelligent because he does not talk. In the course of the tesseract experiment, Meg's father goes missing, and with the help of three otherworldly ladies named Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs.Who, and Mrs. Which and a slew of other fantastic creatures, Meg, Charles Wallace, and friend Calvin O'Keefe travel the depths of time and space to recover Mr. Murry in an adventure that will stay with the reader even after the book is over.
3. The Poisonwood Bible - Barbara Kingsolver
I'd always heard a lot of acclaim for this book, but it was just one of those books that I planned to read "some day." Two summers ago, I figured that I'd give it a go, and it absolutely floored me. The book tells the story of four sisters: Rachel, the eldest and most spoiled of the sisters; Leah, the independent, headstrong twin to Adah, who is obsessed with making her father happy; Adah, a hemiplegic, who soars at science and math; and young Ruth May, who is the most playful of the bunch. Forced to live in the Congo as missionaries by their overruling father, this book offers sections from each girl's point of view about the events that transpire. We see political turmoil, religious persecution, patriarchal dominance, and utter tragedy as the missionary life plays out for the girls. This book provides some of the richest character development that I've ever seen in my life and describes ravaged Africa with such brilliance that I felt as if I was living through the scenes of the book.
2. One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Let me just inform you now that Gabriel Garcia Marquez is my favorite writer of ALL TIME. If you haven't read his work, you need to get your head out of a hole and go pick this book up today. I'm serious. It's that good. Garcia Marquez has a very unique style of writing, in which he almost always surrounds his stories with magical realism. If you're not aware of what magical realism is, let me explain. Imagine you're reading a story about a normal day in the life of a character. The character is brushing his teeth, taking the garbage out, while his faithful winged dog follows him outside. Magical realism incorporates the fantastic into a story not to highlight the fantasy, but to present it as truth, as if nothing is strange about the winged dog. In One Hundred Years of Solitude, Garcia Marquex focuses on seven generations of a family in a mystical village called Macondo. Throughout the book, the reader will see Macondo frequented by gypsies, war, and love spells. The novel is one that comes full circle, and you'll have to read to find out how it ends.
1. Harry Potter (1-7) - J.K. Rowling
I apologize if you were looking for something a bit more literary at the top of this list, but I cannot lie. I might love Harry Potter as much as I love my family. I know it seems a bit cliche to have Harry Potter at the top of the list, but let me tell you, folks: it is as good as it's rumored to be. We all know the story behind these famed books, whether by reading or watching the movies. The books pulled me in so much that (and I'm not kidding when I say this), I CRIED my eyes out when it ended. I'm not talking a couple of tears; I was bawling. I mean, the book has magic, Quidditch, and Bernie Bott's Every Flavor Beans. What more could you ask for out of a series?
Let's just all agree to agree that unless you're some kind of joyless shell of a person, you most likely enjoy some form of music. Whether it be Led Zeppelin or Lady Gaga, music is usually a driving force in our day. I, however, sometimes have the problem of discarding a band after a few good listens. You know those songs that are amazing the first 46 times that you hear them, but after that cursed 47th, you'd rather hear nails on a chalkboard? Sometimes I just do that with bands in general. But there is always that one band out of ten or twenty that absolutely stays with me, and in the same vein of my last post, I am going to comprise a top 5 list of bands and/or musicians that have stood a considerable test of time with me. I was going to dedicate this post to classic rock and roll bands, but I decided to be more inclusive, because although I do hang my head at some atrocious lyrics and "musicians" in today's world (Britney Spears, for one, is abysmal to me. I think a dying cat could probably sing better), I do believe that good music is still being produced.
Disclaimer: I'm sorry, reader, if the bands in this post seem to fall one way. Unfortunately, there will be no rap, country, or metal on the list. I'm not trying to be a musical snob; I'm sure that there are talented artists in all of those genres. Besides, I told you in the first post that this blog is going to be full of biased opinions. ;)
So without further ado:
5. The Smashing Pumpkins
Although I was almost put into a coma when I heard the rumor that Billy Corgan, the lead singer of the Smashing Pumpkins, was dating Jessica Simpson, I have decided to almost forgive him and include him in the list. I've been listening to the Smashing Pumpkins since my early teens. Well, I'd probably been listening longer than that with no knowledge of who they were, but early high school was the time of the Smashing Pumpkins for me. This band has endured many lineup changes, and even style changes, but to me, Billy Corgan has one of the most original sounding voices that I've ever heard. Some people just cannot stand to hear him sing, but I could listen all day. (So could my 50 year old mother. Figure that one out.) The Smashing Pumpkins are widely known for Siamese Dream and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness (although I am partial to their album Adore, even though it wasn't as successful as the aforementioned), two amazing albums producing hits such as Cherub Rock, Disarm, Bullet with Butterfly Wings (come on, you know the lyric: Despite all my rage/I am still just a rat in a cage!), and my personal favorite: Tonight, Tonight.
In fact, here's a live video of Tonight, Tonight.
4. Regina Spektor
I don't think I've ever heard another person on the entire planet make the noises that Regina Spektor does when singing a song. She'll buzz her lips in the middle of the music or beat a chair with a drum stick. She doesn't care. She likes it. And I love it. What I also love is her vocal range. She doesn't adhere to one octave of singing; she plays around with anything she can. She'll take your expectations about what a song and then destroy them, which I will commend, because not many artists are willing (or talented) enough to do that, in my opinion. Although she's not as mainstream as the music that you'll find as you flip your radio channels, she's been gaining ground for the last couple of years, and you've probably heard some of her stuff on TV shows, namely her song "Fidelity." From beautiful, lyrical songs such as her new "Eet" to RAP ("Consequence of Sounds"), Regina Spektor showcases such a range of talent, I might just explode.
3. Sufjan Stevens
Oh, Sufjan Stevens, where to begin? Shall I begin with your ambitious (yet almost irrational) plan to write an album about all 50 states of America? Or your proficiency in a billion instruments? Or your VOICE? Let's just go with all three. Sufjan Stevens is the embodiment of musical Americana; he'll take a landmark or city and write a song completely dedicated to it. And this is no factual lesson or School House Rock-like session if that's what you're thinking, it is a complete musical celebration. So far, Sufjan Stevens has made two state albums: Greetings from Michigan and Come On Feel the Illinoise, not to mention his Christmas album and more spiritually themed Seven Swans. Once again, Sufjan Stevens is not as popular as Beyonce right now, butI actually saw one of his songs advertising that new Robert Pattinson movie (whatever it's called) on MTV the other day. His most popular song as of yet is probably "Chicago" which was featured in the movie Little Miss Sunshine, along with his "No Man's Land." Give this guy a listen. You will not regret it.
I love this live version. Skip to about 2:10 to get straight to the music:
2. Fleetwood Mac
If you know me, you'll know that I fall at Stevie Nicks' feet. I LOVE her. Well, I love the band, too (But especially her). I remember loathing Fleetwood Mac as a child and comparing Stevie Nicks' voice to a goat (I was WAY ahead of you, South Park), but as I got older, I miraculously had an epiphany, and the epiphany is that it really doesn't get any better than Fleetwood Mac. The fact that the band just recently went on tour is astounding, since the group has been together since the 60s. Like the previously mentioned Smashing Pumpkins, the band has endured many lineup changes, but the picture to the left is how I prefer the group, with Lindsey Buckingham and Christine McVie in the group as well. If you're new to the group, be sure to first check out the 1977 album Rumours. "Gold Dust Woman" and "Secondhand News" are the highlights of the album in my opinion.
But here's "Gypsy." Probably my favorite Fleetwood Mac song. Ignore the hokey video, hahahaha.
1. The Beatles
What can be said about my favorite band of all time? They revolutionized music as we know it today, ranging from a 50s rock sound to absolute psychedelic wonderfulness. Comprised of Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Ringo Starr, and my personal favorite George Harrison, the Fab Four have continued to influence today's music, even though they've been apart for more than thirty years. I mean, look at Beatles Rock Band, the remastered albums, and that atrocious movie Across the Universe. Beatlemania is still here and appealing to younger generations, such as myself. With twelve studio albums, the Beatles offer a style of music for every listener, though I myself would say that the top three albums are The White Album, Revolver, and Abbey Road. If you've never taken the time to discover this one-in-a-million band, I suggest you do so as soon as possible.
"And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." "The End" from Abbey Road
Oh, Spring Break. I've promised myself that I was going to spend you catching up on schoolwork. Guess what? I'm not. I've completely gone into a vegetative state over the weekend, and I think I'm loving every minute of it. That is, I love it until next week when reality deals me an awful fate. So, I've decided to update the blog. That way, I can sort of feel as if I'm doing something worthwhile academically. What a paradox. In utter celebration of laziness, I am going to recommend 5 websites (other than Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter) that will completely waste your time in a fabulous way.
This is probably my favorite thing about the internet at the moment. StumbleUpon is a personalized recommendation engine; when you install the toolbar and make an account, you are asked questions about your likes and interests. After the toolbar is installed, just hit the Stumble button, and you are moved to internet pages that match your interests. Want another page? Just keep hitting the Stumble button. Possibilities are endless. Hours are wasted. Nothing is accomplished. But hey, it's a wonderful little do-dad.
If you're a music lover like I am, this website is tip-top. Don't you hate when you feel, even though you have two weeks worth of music on your iTunes, that you have no music? This is your solution. You can either check out music by artists that you already know, or you can type in a band that you like, and last.fm will give you some really great recommended artists that you might in which you might not be familiar. And like other music websites, such as Pandora, last.fm also has a personalized radio for your musical tastes.
You might have seen this design somewhere circulating on the internet, or on someone's t-shirt. This is courtesy of Threadless. Not only do I waste time on Threadless, I waste all of my money. These are the best t-shirts that I've ever come across. Whether you're into pop culture, artistic designs, or all-out wacky pictures, Threadless has a plethora of t-shirt designs. What is even better is that a few times a year, Threadless has huge sales; the shirts are usually $10 or less during those spectacular times. If you're an artist or think you've got the next great slogan, you can even submit your work into the site. If your design is chosen, it's printed on a shirt, and you get a nice cash prize.
What can I say about another arcade website besides "THIS ONE IS TOTALLY AWESOME." I just played checkers, and this website offers a lot of old school games, like Connect Four, Uno, and the like (they're under different names, of course.) You can also play multiplayer games and create an account to save all your laziness victories. Wonderful.
See this little comic? It's hilarious. The whole website is hilarious. Thanks to StumbleUpon, I was introduced to this gem of a website, and I've been laughing ever since. The whole website is the work of one guy named Matthew Inman, and these little comics will make you want to read more and more. It seems as though he's getting a book deal, and I'm really glad to see the success of this little website.
I have successfully neglected this blog not only because I am a superb procrastinator, but also because I have been at odds with what I should focus on with this thing. I can't crochet; I can't change a tire (I can barely manage to even DRIVE my car); I can't instruct a reader how to choose a dog based on the reader's personality. However, I can give some completely biased recommendations. When I sat down and thought of how to narrow my topic, I was completely certain that I would focus this blog on film. See, I love film. Probably to an unhealthy degree. I can spout off directors' names just as easily as I can spout off film titles, so I was certain that I had definitely found my niche in the blogging world. But then, I started thinking about how much I love to read. And listen to music. And find hilarious videos on YouTube. So, I'll chalk this compilation up to my scatter-brained tendencies and include it all. This blog will focus on the best of everything (in my opinion, that is).
So, let's get started.
Now, if you were conscious last year, you must have been aware of a little film known as Slumdog Millionaire, directed by Danny Boyle. Complete with an amazing soundtrack and feel good ending, it easily won over audiences and the Academy. It won me over, too. However, it did not win over my opinion for Best Picture. The other four nominees (The Reader, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Frost/Nixon, and Milk) did not win over my vote for Best Picture 2009, although Milk was a close run.
However...
In my opinion, the Best Picture of 2009 was Revolutionary Road. If you're unfamiliar with the title, allow me to enlighten you. RR is the film reunion of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, last seen together in 1997's Titanic. But if you're expecting a tale of star-crossed lovers who cannot be separated by social class, an iceberg, or even death, you need to reformulate those expectations. RR is the story of Frank and April Wheeler (DiCaprio and Winslet), a 1950's suburbanite couple. The Wheelers are the perfect answer to the "Leave it to Beaver" crew, whose sugary-sweet home life perfection has delighted and repulsed viewers for decades. The Wheelers are filled to the brim with dreams of Paris, acting, and the bohemian life, scoffing at the mundane monotony of 9-5 work days, superficial social gatherings, and the defined roles of husband and wife. But when April finds herself pregnant with their first child, the Wheelers are forced into the suburban life that they despise; however, they believe that they are "special," that they will eventually make their way out of that way of life. Two and a half children later, they find that the suburban nightmare of the 1950s has claimed them, with no hope of escape. The cast is also enhanced with the joining of Kathy Bates as realtor Helen Givings, who sells the Wheelers their home on Revolutionary Road. Not only is Bates the couple's realtor, she serves as a friend and an example of the life in which the Wheelers are trying to escape. Along with her son, John (Michael Shannon, in an Oscar nominated role), who resides at a mental health facility, the Givings provide a wonderful commentary and cultural context for the time period.
In order to prevent spoilers, I will not reveal any more plot summary, but expect the best acting yet out of both DiCaprio and Winslet, in fight scenes to get anticipation beating throughout your entire body. Just get out to Blockbuster, Netflix, or whatever movie rental service you use, and rent this movie. NOW.
