Home is a concept that is thought of very differently by all. Some define home as a sanctuary, a place to be alone, or to seek comfort in, while others define home as a place of problems, and a place that plagues and nags them, reminding them of constant financial or family tied worries. The idea of home has been ever changing throughout the years, and has changed drastically since the 1950’s, when the idea of home included the idea of a nuclear family and a perfect household. In modern times, many of us don’t consider home a place for family or happy times as people did in earlier years. Working with Habitat for Humanity and reading novels such as The Crying of Lot 49 and The Stepford Wives takes us into very different concepts of home during today’s day and age when compared to previous times.
In The Stepford Wives, we get a look at Suburbia, and what it means to be a suburban housewife in a highly satirical story. The role of a stepford wives is basically to please her husband in any way she can, while doing hours of housework like a machine, thus allowing them to be “the perfect wife.” The main character of this story is Joanna, who is part of a “nuclear family” which consists of a husband, wife, and two children. The women in Stepford have no real lives outside of their husbands and their homes. Their homes are the place they feel safest in, because it is what they were designed to do; cook, clean, iron, etc.
In The Crying of Lot 49 home is not really a place of sanctuary as it is portrayed in The Stepford Wives. For example, when Oedipa comes home and sees that her husband has just been on LSD, I can’t imagine she would feel very comfortable with that situation, let alone want to be in a house with him. The home most likely feels like a sorrowful place for her, and marks another notch in her life where she feels alone, and disappointed.
Finally, when it comes to volunteering at Habitat for Humanity, it saddens me to see how destroyed some of the houses we were working on were. The conditions were not great, and the previous owners had obviously failed to upkeep the places. However, habitat for humanity is an amazing organization, dedicated to helping make homes look their best, and be liveable for people who need them. I can only hope that these people can find some good meaning in the word home after moving in to one of these places.
In conclusion, home is defined as many different things thourghout history. Everyone’s views of home are different, as some people view it as a nice place, while others find it to be somewhat scary. Either way, home is an important factor in life, as well as in writing a novel. It gives you s sense of how the characters really are.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Essay #3 Final Draft
Historically, women of the 50's have generally been represented in a manner that suggests they will do anything for the man that they long for. This includes changing their personalities or pushing themselves to the extreme. Although the 50's represents a time where women appear to mold themselves to the likings of men, they always seem to come out in the end with a new outlook or perspective. These characteristics are widely shown in many films, and written about in the articles and books of that time period. Three prime examples of this are shown in the films; Splendor in the Grass, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, and Rear Window. The main female characters in these films all have one thing in common; their seemingly ludicrous love for the character of the male lead.
Deanie, of Splendor in the Grass is a very confused young woman. She seeks the affection of her boyfriend Bud in terms of a sexual relationship, yet is afraid to fully go for it because of the cultural norm of that era. Throughout the movie, we are focused on her sexual desire, which mounts up until the ending of the movie. Deanie almost throws herself at Bud and he rejects her because she is not acting like herself. In a conversation from the movie;
Bud: Deanie, you're not yourself. Deanie, where's your pride?
Deanie: My pride? MY PRIDE!! (He slaps her face as she becomes hysterical.)...
Bud: Stop it, Deanie! (He shakes her to make her come to her senses.) Stop!
Deanie: Oh, God. I haven't any pride. I HAVEN'T ANY PRIDE!
Bud: Oh God, Deanie, what am I gonna do with you? (He hugs her.)
Deanie: I don't care what you do. I don't care what happens. I haven't any pride. I just want to die. I just want to die.
Deanie is obviously upset that she can only push herself onto him so much before losing herself completely, and when she comes to terms with this realization, she simply states that she wishes to die. She would do anything for Bud and because she can't have it, she is devastated.
Even though Deanie feels this way about herself and about Bud now, after a couple of years away she comes to the realization that her relationship with Bud was a learning experience and a thing of the past.
In the film; Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, the main character Nancy, is so head over heels for her husband Harry that she ends up acting like a complete nut throughout most of the movie. Although she knows that Harry is seeing another woman (Honey) she stands by his side, and tries desperately to get him to love her the way she loves him. Harry definitely underestimates her strength however, until Nancy becomes the 50 foot woman and goes after him, finally realizing how cruel he has been to her.
The way Nancy continuously throws herself at Harry would annoy most men. Even when Harry simply tried to put her to bed, she goes on and on about how much she loves him, though somewhere inside her knows he does not feel the same way towards her.
In the end, Harry ends up getting what he deserved in a way, and Nancy realizes how terrible of a husband he has actually been. She kills Honey, and Harry soon after, which could have been an act of vengeance, or an act of love; as one towns person stated, something along the lines of; "Now she'll have Harry all to herself forever."
When it comes to the movie Rear Window, the female lead here (Lisa) simply can't impress the man she wants, until she becomes more "dangerous." She goes so far during the film to impress him, yet he seems to notice none of it until she takes an interest in his habit of spying on the murderous neighbor. The way Lisa seduces him, and waits on him, and does everything she possibly can for him, while knowing he wont initially return her affections just goes to show how far she would go to feel accepted and wanted.
In the end however, Lisa ends up being a wonderful match for the male lead because he considers her to be less "perfect" and more edgy, dangerous, and interesting. This is such a huge difference from where Lisa was at during the beginning of the movie, when she only wanted to please him. After she takes an interest in his affairs, and becomes a more interesting and deep person herself, she becomes more desirable.
Deanie, of Splendor in the Grass is a very confused young woman. She seeks the affection of her boyfriend Bud in terms of a sexual relationship, yet is afraid to fully go for it because of the cultural norm of that era. Throughout the movie, we are focused on her sexual desire, which mounts up until the ending of the movie. Deanie almost throws herself at Bud and he rejects her because she is not acting like herself. In a conversation from the movie;
Bud: Deanie, you're not yourself. Deanie, where's your pride?
Deanie: My pride? MY PRIDE!! (He slaps her face as she becomes hysterical.)...
Bud: Stop it, Deanie! (He shakes her to make her come to her senses.) Stop!
Deanie: Oh, God. I haven't any pride. I HAVEN'T ANY PRIDE!
Bud: Oh God, Deanie, what am I gonna do with you? (He hugs her.)
Deanie: I don't care what you do. I don't care what happens. I haven't any pride. I just want to die. I just want to die.
Deanie is obviously upset that she can only push herself onto him so much before losing herself completely, and when she comes to terms with this realization, she simply states that she wishes to die. She would do anything for Bud and because she can't have it, she is devastated.
Even though Deanie feels this way about herself and about Bud now, after a couple of years away she comes to the realization that her relationship with Bud was a learning experience and a thing of the past.
In the film; Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, the main character Nancy, is so head over heels for her husband Harry that she ends up acting like a complete nut throughout most of the movie. Although she knows that Harry is seeing another woman (Honey) she stands by his side, and tries desperately to get him to love her the way she loves him. Harry definitely underestimates her strength however, until Nancy becomes the 50 foot woman and goes after him, finally realizing how cruel he has been to her.
The way Nancy continuously throws herself at Harry would annoy most men. Even when Harry simply tried to put her to bed, she goes on and on about how much she loves him, though somewhere inside her knows he does not feel the same way towards her.
In the end, Harry ends up getting what he deserved in a way, and Nancy realizes how terrible of a husband he has actually been. She kills Honey, and Harry soon after, which could have been an act of vengeance, or an act of love; as one towns person stated, something along the lines of; "Now she'll have Harry all to herself forever."
When it comes to the movie Rear Window, the female lead here (Lisa) simply can't impress the man she wants, until she becomes more "dangerous." She goes so far during the film to impress him, yet he seems to notice none of it until she takes an interest in his habit of spying on the murderous neighbor. The way Lisa seduces him, and waits on him, and does everything she possibly can for him, while knowing he wont initially return her affections just goes to show how far she would go to feel accepted and wanted.
In the end however, Lisa ends up being a wonderful match for the male lead because he considers her to be less "perfect" and more edgy, dangerous, and interesting. This is such a huge difference from where Lisa was at during the beginning of the movie, when she only wanted to please him. After she takes an interest in his affairs, and becomes a more interesting and deep person herself, she becomes more desirable.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Essay 3 rough draft
Historically, women of the 50's have generally been represented in a manner that suggests they will do anything for the man that they long for. This is widely shown in many films, and written about in the articles and books of that time period. Three prime examples of this are shown in the films; Splendor in the Grass, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, and Rear Window. The main female characters in these films all have one thing in common; their seemingly ludicrous love for the character of the male lead.
Deanie, of Splendor in the Grass is a very confused young woman. She seeks the affection of her boyfriend Bud in terms of a sexual relationship, yet is afraid to fully go for it because of the cultural norm of that era. Throughout the movie, we are focused on her sexual desire, which mounts up until the ending of the movie. Deanie almost throws herself at Bud and he rejects her because she is not acting like herself. Because Deanie is finally willing to have sex with Bud.
Deanie, of Splendor in the Grass is a very confused young woman. She seeks the affection of her boyfriend Bud in terms of a sexual relationship, yet is afraid to fully go for it because of the cultural norm of that era. Throughout the movie, we are focused on her sexual desire, which mounts up until the ending of the movie. Deanie almost throws herself at Bud and he rejects her because she is not acting like herself. Because Deanie is finally willing to have sex with Bud.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Monday, April 20, 2009
Video plan
I'm planning on taking my own themed photos using 1 or more of my friends that depict the lives of all of the different classes in the great depression. I need to find a song using limewire or obtained from the library, which I can do either today or tomorro that I can use to put into my video. Limewire wont work at school since the connection is too slow but I will definately find something this week as soon as I can :]
Essay #2
In today's society, our way of remembering the people we have lost is quite different from the ways of the early 1900's, namely the 1920's, after World War I. In the 1920's, they would set up mass grave sites for the dead to have a national cohesion for those lost. Many families were upset by this idea, because they felt as if they should have the right to decide what happens to their family members who had passed, and that the government should not be allowed to decide where the fallen soldiers were buried. Because of the amount of technology we have today, and the advanced nature of it, there are ways in which me memorialize our dead using websites such as "www.mydeathspace.com." These types of websites are under heavy scrutinization by many, because some people feel that these sites can be derogatory towards those who have passed away.
After World War I, the dead were memorialized through the use of mass graves. Every soldier who died was remembered through these grave sites. The intent was to keep their spirit alive through these graves by burying them all together, so that people knew what these soldiers did for their country. There was a dilemma, however, because of the families that felt as if it was their right to bury and memorialize these soldiers the way that they pleased, and not the way the government wanted.
Today, we memorialize our dead in many different ways. One of the most widely used ways is through the use of technology. "www.mydeathspace.com" is a popular site among teens especially, who are looking for a way to express their grievances and feelings about the deaths of these people. This can be a definite great way for people to post their condolences about others. However, there can be people who make comments that could be considered downright disrespectful. A quote that stood out to me in the article "Mydeathspace and Cinema" was this; "The first comment left on the thread for Sid Skibinski-Gonzalez, who was 'found dead the morning after chugging an entire bottle of Bacardi 151,' simply stated, 'RIP dumbass.'" This is definately a disrespectful comment that was made towards the person that had died. There are better ways of expressing our respects or dissapointments than simply leaving a rude comment, especially when you weren't even acquainted with the person.
In conclusion, the ways we memorialize our deaths today differs greatly from the 1920's era. We now use technology to spread the word of people who have passed away. Anybody is able to pay their respects or express their feelings towards these people. In the 1920's many families did not get to do this as we would today. The deaths of their loved ones after the war were remembered by the use of large grave sites, through which anybody could memorialize the fallen soldiers, but it was much more impersonal than it is today.
After World War I, the dead were memorialized through the use of mass graves. Every soldier who died was remembered through these grave sites. The intent was to keep their spirit alive through these graves by burying them all together, so that people knew what these soldiers did for their country. There was a dilemma, however, because of the families that felt as if it was their right to bury and memorialize these soldiers the way that they pleased, and not the way the government wanted.
Today, we memorialize our dead in many different ways. One of the most widely used ways is through the use of technology. "www.mydeathspace.com" is a popular site among teens especially, who are looking for a way to express their grievances and feelings about the deaths of these people. This can be a definite great way for people to post their condolences about others. However, there can be people who make comments that could be considered downright disrespectful. A quote that stood out to me in the article "Mydeathspace and Cinema" was this; "The first comment left on the thread for Sid Skibinski-Gonzalez, who was 'found dead the morning after chugging an entire bottle of Bacardi 151,' simply stated, 'RIP dumbass.'" This is definately a disrespectful comment that was made towards the person that had died. There are better ways of expressing our respects or dissapointments than simply leaving a rude comment, especially when you weren't even acquainted with the person.
In conclusion, the ways we memorialize our deaths today differs greatly from the 1920's era. We now use technology to spread the word of people who have passed away. Anybody is able to pay their respects or express their feelings towards these people. In the 1920's many families did not get to do this as we would today. The deaths of their loved ones after the war were remembered by the use of large grave sites, through which anybody could memorialize the fallen soldiers, but it was much more impersonal than it is today.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Reflection on this week.
This week we learned a lot about women's rights and behavior in the early 19th century. It was a very interesting week. I enjoyed reading about how the sexual revolution took place, and how different women were becoming from the previous general standard of how they "should" act.
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