A forum for Blog Community #2 of CSCL 1001 (Introduction to Cultural Studies: Rhetoric, Power, Desire; University of Minnesota, Fall 2011) -- and interested guests.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Reinforcing what's romantic
Sunday, November 20, 2011
The Flying Scene
Titanic
I know that Titanic is sometimes known as cheesy or clichĂ© in regards to romance, however, James Cameron’s Titanic is undeniably one of the most famous romantic movies ever made, and one of the most well known scenes is the flying scene, where the two of them are at the bow of the boat. This scene tears at your heart strings because Jack is like the underdog in the situation, being that he is not as worldly, wealthy or as highly regarded as Rose’s current fiancĂ© is, which is precisely why the viewer wants him to win the heart of Rose, because everyone likes to root for the underdog.
In this scene Rose is looking for Jack to tell him that she has changed her mind and decided not to marry a man that she does not love and that she wants to be with him. He tells her to close her eyes as he helps her onto the rail so that she can feel as though she’s flying, and then the two share their first kiss.
This scene is the epitome of romance for several reasons, one being that they are the star-crossed lovers that shouldn’t be together because he’s the boy from the wrong side of the tracks and she’s the innocent girl that grew up in a wealthy family that is supposed to marry a man from the same. Another reason that this scene gives off such a strong romantic feeling, is because James Cameron made the perfect song selection for the scene by having Celine Dion’s My Heart Will go on playing faintly in the background while the two share their first kiss. Also Rose choosing Jack over her current relationship supports the romantic idea that love can conquer all- from family disapproval, money issues and differences in background.
Romantic Man
A House of Candles
This past summer I developed a great attraction to the show Grey’s Anatomy. Being interested
from friends, I decided to watch just a ‘couple episodes’ of the series. However…I soon became hooked. From the drama created by the medical mysteries to that created by the characters themselves, I couldn’t stop watching. My favorite by far, as is with most people who watch this show, is the chemistry between Derek Shepherd and Meredith Grey. This interaction started off immediately with the first episode…the night before Meredith’s first day as an intern at Seattle Grace. At a bar, and not knowing anyone, she ended up spending the night with who else but Derek Shepherd. Yet, the thing to note here is that Derek was Meredith’s attending (boss). And this is where the romance began. However, the one episode that I can’t get out of my head is the one where Meredith builds a house of candles for ‘McDreamy’…as he is commonly called in the show. This scene exemplifies ‘the romantic’ in more ways than one. After months of fleeing his pleas towards settling down, Meredith finally comes around. The viewers have wanted this pair to finally realize that they were meant to be. This house of candles represents an idea becoming reality. If you watch the scene, you see that Meredith explains her plans for each room in the house…including the kids’ rooms. As viewers would know, Meredith was strongly opposed to any idea of getting married or settling down. However, just this one comment shows that everything is about to change. This just adds to the reality aspect as the couple is finally planning a future for themselves.
Every girl loves this scene because it portrays the great emotion present at that exact moment. Ever since the beginning, the audience pleads for Derek and Meredith to get together. With their on and off relationships, most never thought that it would last. However, this scene creates a structure of feeling by giving that glimmer of hope…an idea emphasized by the ‘romantic.’ At this precise moment in Derek and Meredith’s lives, anything can happen and reason and fact go out the door. One more thing to note is that Meredith was always portrayed as being ‘broken’ as her mom was one of the best cardiac surgeons in the nation and extremely critical of Meredith’s every move. Yet, with Derek in her life, someone she can talk to and share anything with, Meredith finally began putting the pieces of her life together. But this scene just cements her together, and she is finally whole again with Derek permanently in her life (as the audience assumes). The romantic loves this scene where for one short-lived instant everything is perfect and nothing else can come in the way.
Oh yes...Twilight
The romance that has swept the nation. But what is it that really makes it so romantic? Why have millions of love-crazed females across the world gone completely gaga over a love story about a vampire? I've come to realize it has a lot to do with some of the topics we've discussed in class, and that cultural "I want that" reaction we seem to develop relating with the fantasy. The Twilight series fulfills many peoples longing for that one true, unbreakable, unachievable but in the end enduring, love that seems to no longer exist in this day in age. If I were to hear of a book about the tragic relationship between a teenage girl and a hundred some year old vampire my typical reaction would be..."wow that sounds dumb". But I have actually read the first book, and I must say I did enjoy it. The story has a lot of "romantic" aspects that lure in the reader, leaving them lusting for a vampire to fall in love with them.
- The fact that Bella is just an average girl. She isn't the typical all American beauty. Nor is she completely outgoing, enthusiastic, or in any way overly confident. She is very reserved and border line introverted. This gives female readers the notion "hey, this could happen to anyone, maybe even someone like me". It breaks the social norms of what an extremely attractive and confident male would go for.
- The setting of the book. It takes place in a very rural, densely forested and cold town in the state of Washington. This gives the story a sort of hidden romantic feel. The characters are tucked away, surrounded by the natural world, disconnnected from most of societies typical reasoning. Many of the scenes in the story also take place in beautiful settings in a hidden meadow, thick forests, or on one of the many isolated misty beaches in Northern Washington. It adds to the overall romantic "feel" of the novel, and the idea that their (later)love is pure and above that of the "real" world.
- The two have completely different lifestyles (putting aside the whole vampire human aspect). Edward's "family" is very close, seemingly perfect in style and tastes, and appear above the "norm". Bella (an only child), on the other hand, is living with her father (divorced from mother) who she seems to have a distant and impersonal relationship with. They live in an average house, live off pretty average means, and are very... average. But this divide in lifestyle plays no hinder on their future feelings, setting up the readers for that "I wish this was me" sensation, and seeming much more attainable through Bella's ever so "average" character.
Hookers are romantic, right?
Romantic Cigarette Advertisements
This first ad states "Who says length doesn't matter?". This is directly related to sex in obvious ways. The couple in this picture appears extremely happy. They both have huge smiles on their faces, and are touching in many places. They appear to be well off financially, as the man is wearing a tie and they are sitting inside with a nice breakfast. Another romantic component of this advertisement are the flowers on the table. This ad persuades the consumer that these cigarettes will make smoking better, just as longer 'equipment' will make sex better. The name also epitomizes romanticism. Eve is the known for enticing Adam in the Garden of Eden. She is the sex symbol portrayed in many famous artworks and in movies from many time periods. A consumer would be urged to buy Eve brand cigarettes to fit into this construct of romanticism as it is very desirable.
The second two pictures have two different takes on the romantic connection made with smoking,with both men and women. The woman in the ad on the left is in the ocean (nature is romantic). She is natural as well, wearing minimal make-up. Her shirt is sheer, basically see through. The ad connects the sexual idea behind her sheer shirt with the sheer enjoyment that a smoker would experience when they smoke this brand of cigarettes. A women who smokes this brand could believe that they would make her this attractive. A man could believe he would get the same pleasure from smoking these cigarettes as he does when looking at this ad.
The Rothmans ad on the right depicts a pilot, signified by the 4 stripes on his sleeve, smoking one of their cigarettes. In this era, pilots were idolized by women. They were successful, and always surrounded by numerous, beautiful flight attendants. This ad appeals to both men and women. It says to men, smoke these cigarettes and you will be successful with life and with the ladies. It says to the ladies, be with a man who smokes Rothmans.
These advertisements that link smoking to romantic endeavors are now illegal in the United States and in many countries through out Europe. I guess that means that they had a positive effect on the sales of cigarettes, and needed to be eliminated. It is very interesting the way an idea can be connected with an action and make it more desirable and irresistible.
One more time, one more chance
(Better version here)
The name of the movie is "Five Centimeters per Second" which is the time for a piece of sakura falling down to the ground. I don't know how romantic we are but I do know people change between the romance they pursue and the reality they live in.
The movie chooses a simple first love story to express a sophisticated life in which everyone must grow up after experiencing a sentimental love in the teenage age. As we grow up, all kinds of social issues rise up and we gradually lose the pureness of childhood. Who can still start a simple and pure love as it was in our teens?
The rhetoric of words here is just as simple as the word itself is, love. And yet, with the reality which force the love change as time passed by. The plot is mainly composed with interior monologue of the protagonist, which let you, the audience, feel like that you are reading through a secret diary written in your teens. It is so familiar that it can reach the softest part of your soul. You could take such a position to cherish your teenage love and in such a warm and beautiful way to recall him or her who is deep inside there in your memory. It just likes a time machine for you to look back yourself several years ago. Then you get a chance to remember your first love, your first romance and your first precious memory.
The music itself contributes a lot for the whole atmosphere in this movie. With the singer sings "one more time, one more chance", the video shows all the memory from a child to an adult. What is the romance? It is not the wealthy life we are seeking now but the wish that we could go to visit the cherry tree in front of your house again sometime. It is not the luxury we wanna buy but the courage a teen has to bear the cold and hunger to go such a far way for a meet.
The story ends in the crowd in Tokyo. Though the actor and the actress of the film are still in the same city, they have no chance to meet any more. Most of the first loves all ended with no results following. But luckily enough, we still have the choice to miss the romance we missed.
It is not about the result, though everyone want a perfect ending. Love is an experience more than a result since there are always other factors which contribute or block it. Once you owned it, once you lost it. One more time and one more chance, at least you were the leading actor of the memorable romance, a groovy kind of love.
Legendary Romance
It will give you goose-bumps
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4CQK-ML_KA
I love music. It is the one media that never ceases to give me goose-bumps. In this piece from The Phantom of the Opera called The Music of the Night, there is extreme romanticism in action with the tone and shape of the music and the words being said.
The rhetoric of words being said is a combination of true love, being with that true love forever, and overcoming great obstacles to achieve that solidarity of love. If you haven’t seen the play or the movie, the main plot is the Phantom, who is a disfigured musical genius and lives in a Paris Opera House, falls in love with Christine, the main actress of the opera company, who he has trained in secret, and then proceeds to “terrorize” the opera company for the affection of Christine. Thus the main point of the plot is the love that needs to be acquired. The words lure you in with tales of beauty, mystery, adventure and freedom (with the Phantom). But the underlying message is one of possession and abandoning your life for a new one, which in some aspects could be considered escapism; there is a looming darkness that is in between the words.
The music itself contributes to the overall feeling of the piece. With the dark, rich sound of Gerard Butler’s voice mixed with the deep tones of the brass and the sweltering, moving, and dramatic influxes of the strings and percussion the music depicts a scene of mystery and wonder and an underlying sense of warmth. The rise and fall, the swells!, of the score help define the beauty the words are conveying. The overall affect of the music and the lyrics tug on your heart strings and make you wish you had someone that close and intimate to you that you could just leave everything behind and be free.
The position the piece makes you feel is that everyone finds their true love, their soul mate: “You alone can make my soul take flight”, even a disfigured musical genius. But the argument I want to make is the underlying message that the romantic’s covers up: that of kidnapping and possibly losing oneself being okay if it’s for true love. Don’t get me wrong I love this play/movie, but there are some fundamental aspects not addressed on the surface. The song lyrics contain the message of leaving behind everything and being ‘free’, but then belonging to someone else; with the tone of the music this message is pushed under the romantic’s and is lost on the audience. The main argument is anything is okay if it’s in the name of true love. Is the possibility of losing oneself in the process a dignified loss if you achieve true love? Maybe yes, maybe no… but what do your goose-bumps tell you? *To see what those goose-bumps may mean here’s an extra article about the romanticism in connection with ones brain: http://blogs.psychcentral.com/relationships/2011/06/the-neuroscience-of-romanticized-love-part-1-emotional-taboos/
Star Crossed Lovers
Here lies the greatest love story of all time, the Shakespeare classic of Romeo and Juliet. Romeo and Juliet are the most starcrossed lovers to ever walk this earth. They are banned from seeing each other since their families are rivals and they have to do anything they can in order to be with each other. What is romantic about these two is the fact that they are willing to go to any means if in the end they will have each other. It is also romantic, in a weird sense, that they are willing to die for each other because then they will even be together in death. But the most romantic part from this story is the fact that Romeo called to Juliet from outside her balcony and recited this wonderful poem he came up with. I'm pretty sure that most girls have wanted a guy to call to her from outside and to proclaim their love for her. Nonetheless if this does happen to you on a daily basis or not, Romeo and Juliet will forever be the classic romantic love story that young girls first learn about and young boys find repulsive.
Romantic Wedding
This link offers snapshots of a truly individual wedding ceremony. A truly romantic wedding ceremony, if you will.
Tahni and Joseph (the couple pictured) decided to throw a Bohemian/French inspired wedding! Take a look at the photos, they’re incredible. I’ll admit, I’m a romantic in just about all regards, and this wedding epitomizes that.
How do the pictures of this wedding scream “romantic” to me? Well, for pretty much all of these reasons:
- Tahni has no veil or tiara. She has a beautiful and natural headpiece with flowers, leaves, and winding vines around the crown of her head.
- Her makeup is minimal. No makeup on a wedding day? That’s an intimate view of the bride’s natural beauty.
- Her dress has a little lace – lace simultaneously covers and reveals physical beauty.
- The dress is white, the universal color of innocence.
- The dress also has little flounce. Who says romance has to be full of extravagant frills?
- Joseph looks barely old enough to marry Tahni. His build is still boyish, which makes me think two innocent lovers have found each other in the big world.
- Joseph isn’t wearing a tux, or even a sport coat! In the ceremony, he is still wearing his flat cap. Who used to wear flat caps? Poor little newsboys. Poor little immigrants. Flat caps have, after all, been named the “mark of a non-noble”. So romantic! He is “poor” but wants to marry her anyway.
- His hair (and hers) is clean, but a little unruly. Neither is slicked-back, pulled tight. Just loose curls and ringlets. Natural.
- Sunlight peeks through. Purple flowers everywhere. Grass that appears almost bluer than it does green. Knotted trees and branches. Everything has a golden glow.
- Butterflies. Lanterns filled with flowers.
- Tables have globes for centerpieces and repurposed kitchen pitchers for vases.
- Old, handwritten postcards. Wild flowers instead of roses.
- It is a wedding. The ultimate consecration of love.
Refer to Robin’s list of what makes something “romantic”. You’ll feel the emotions, the love. The wedding is completely individualized to their taste (when have you, or when will you, ever see a wedding with your own eyes that is just like this?) The wedding is set in nature; the entire thing is outside. It’s crafty, artistic. It looks like it was thrown together on a dime (though in reality it probably cost much more). It’s rural, they’re children, it’s all innocent. Everything looks placed, set, written, and done by hand. A bit feminine? Arguably yes, it is.
I think a political message might be that weddings don’t need to look like they cost a fortune to show the love. Love isn’t purchased, after all, it’s natural. This wedding appears to be so naturally beautiful, that the love between the couple must be equally beautiful (and equally natural). The wedding, hair, dress, and entire ceremony appears effortless. Maybe their love for each other is effortless, too.
What is the overall message? These two, out of every other person across the globe, have found each other. The four words I took away after seeing this wedding (and have used multiple times now)? Natural. Beautiful. Effortless. Romantic. By finding each other, they round beauty and love and romance. Really, what could possibly be more romantic than pure romance?
Do You Remember?
When I saw the prompt for this blog entry, I immediately thought of Jack Johnson, who is, in my opinion, one of the most romantic singers of the current time period. His lyrics are simple, to the point, and of course, romantic. Combined with the pleasant and upbeat music, his songs warm my heart (as corny as that sounds) and make me believe that there really are true romantics left in this world. One of my current favorite songs is Do You Remember (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y5kxOGhqrw&feature=related). This song is basically a love song to his wife. He combines snippets of the two of them falling in love (Do you remember when we first met? I sure do. It was sometime in early September) with reflection on how time flies (Well, all these times they come and go, and alone don’t seem so long. Over ten years have gone by….), and memories from in between (Do you remember when we first moved in together). Although I truly do love all Jack Johnson songs, this song is one of my favorites because of the specifics it includes. The specific parts of the ‘story’ told by this song closely relate it to one person, which adds to the romance of it.
Like any other song that Jack Johnson performs, the main feeling that he wants you to experience is happiness. However, happiness is a broad feeling, which can be broken down into many different emotions. What is making you happy? Being happy because you got an A on a paper or passed your midterm is a completely different happy than if your team won the big game , and feeling happy because someone took the time to tell you how they really feel, much less through a song, is completely different than that! The goal of “Do You Remember” is, as the title suggests, to make sure you remember all the wonderful times you have had with each other, and so that you can always remember exactly how he feels about you, so you can feel the same way too. Remembering this feeling should make the listener happy. Jack Johnson, a laid back former surfer, has the power to simple feelings into songs, bringing out the romantic side in the best of us.
(Full lyrics- http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/jackjohnson/doyouremember.html)
Nature vs. Nurture
The Notebook
For me the romantic in action can be seen the best in the movie, The Notebook. Now, I know for most people this movie is lame and cheesy but who doesn’t love a magically love story, that ignores all of the facts and goes straight to the feelings and emotions. There are several emotional scenes in this movie but one of the best scenes is when Allie and Noah have reunited several years later after their romantic summer in their teens. Noah is trying to convince Allie that he should be with him and not Lon. (If you want to see the full clip check out this link, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q3wmx8EBVk)
In this example our feelings and emotions are thrown for a loop. We want Allie to stay with Noah because they are amazing together. We see how passionate they are together and how much they truly love each other. However we see why Allie cannot decide. She is engaged to yet another wonderful man, Lon. She gave him a promise when she accepted that ring from him. Our emotions and feelings being pulled in every direction makes us ignore these facts and simply want Allie to pick the man she loves more. In this scene Noah also mentions how it’s all about money for Allie. But Allie doesn’t care about this fact; she makes her decision based on whom she loves more. She follows her heart and not her head.
Now I believe that the message portrayed by this scene is exactly what Allie did, follow your heart and not your head. We must ignore all the facts and follow our emotions and feelings. If Allie had not followed her heart, she would have never experienced an amazing love for Noah. She wouldn’t have had three wonderful children. Her life in general would have played out very differently. The Notebook makes us believe in this romantic idea that your heart knows best.
Friday, November 18, 2011
Posting Assignment #7 (due Sunday 11/20, 11:59 P.M.): So how Romantic are we really--and so what?
* 300 words or more – again, you'll need some space for this.
* No keywords required -- but you're welcome to use them if they'll help you make your points. (And whether or not you end up using words like 'intertextuality,' and 'structures of feeling' in your post, you'll want to be thinking in those terms anyway. ) '
* No text-references required — but again, you're welcome to use them if they'll help you make your points.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Taking the Plunge
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Speech following the return of Toruk Makto
Toruk Makto |
I choose to analyze the scene right after Jake Sully returns on Toruk Makto. This almost mythical creature is very dangerous, and evokes fear in the clan. It had not been conquered for many generations. In fact, the last time it was captured the clan was in a similar struggle for survival. The leader of the clan of that time made a bond with Toruk Makto, just as Jake does here. The Toruk Makto is able to unite all of the clans across Pandora to fight for the Na'vi's cause. Jake's arrival on the bird signifies his ability to lead the Na'vi in the war to preserve their homeland. Prior to this scene, the Na'vi felt Jake had betrayed them because he had not warned them of the attack on their hometree, but now know he is committed to them. Jake then makes a speech, entitled "This is our land". He says, "you fly with me now, my brothers, sisters, and we will show the sky people they cannot take whatever they want, and that this is our land".
This scene attempts to make the audience feel a sense of hope. We are placed on the side of the Na'vi by deeply involving us in their personal and emotional lives. It grabs the hearts of the audience as it relates to the lives of many. At some point in everyone's life they feel helpless. This motivational speech is very similar to speeches in the real world. The speaker stands above the people, as a symbol of dominance and strength. He has several people up on the 'stage' behind him, which shows he is supported. He has arrived from the sky to be their savior, which seems very familiar to the Christian texts speaking of the arrival of Jesus to save humanity. The last part of the speech is shot upward, as if the camera is on the ground with the Na'vi people. It is as if the audience is looking up to Jake, and it makes them feel more involved and attached to his mission.
I have been studying philosophers in my political science class this semester, and this scene reminds me of the theories of two in particular. Ibn Khaldun, a muslim philosopher, has a theory called group feeling. This is the strong attachment to the community, and is usually formed between people of the same culture and family. Jake proved he was worthy of belonging to their community when he conquered the Toruk Makto, and further increases group feeling with his word choice in his speech (brothers, sisters, our land, ect.). This also relates closely to the theories of John Locke. He says everyone has the right to life, liberty and property. If anyone violates these rights, it is expected that you will act in whatever means are necessary to get these rights back. The sky people are violating all three of these natural rights, and all the Na'vi people needed was Jake to step up as a leader so they could fight back. This speech is a message to the community to take action to preserve their rights. Many leaders in the history of the world have stepped up like Jake Sully did to fight for rights, with one great example being Martin Luther King Junior. I believe the message in Avatar is completely relevant to the politics of our past and present societies, and the images James Cameron created in the speech scene reinforce my argument.
A New Start
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QEFrI-D_3c
This scene represents a new beginning. It is when Jake Sully first wakes up in his new body on a new planet and runs with his own legs for the first time. It is an extremely crucial turning point in Jake's attitude towards Pandora and the people of Pandora. At first, he is seen to be extremely skeptical of the new experiences he’s having and the people he’s meeting. However, once he realizes that these ‘new people’ have provided him with the power to walk and run again, he feels a sense of jubilancy.
This scene starts off right away with various computers, electronic devices, and scientists staring intently at glowing screens. Then it jumps into the examination room where Jake Sully is laying on the table. Just watching this at first reminds me of Jake being a specimen at who the doctors and scientists are extensively scrutinizing. These signifiers, the doctors, scientists, and lab equipment, emphasize the point that Jake is an artificial being. Jake himself provides a stark contrast to the humans in the room (blue skin, height, facial features, tail, etc.) However, if looked at from an opposite perspective, this beginning of this scene can also represent ‘birth’. The signified (doctors, scientists, equipment) highlight the situation present when a child is born in a hospital. The beeping instruments, people in lab coats, and the examination table are all present during the birth of a child. To the viewers, this represents a new beginning. Yet, at this moment of transition between his old human form and his new avatar form he is at the mercy of the doctors (signified). However, he soon realizes that he can (and will) do whatever he pleases. At first, he is just occupied with brand new control in relation to his legs, especially his brand new toes (the signifier). Jake now has his liberty back, something that was taken away from him years ago. His disability left him in shambles…and extremely grumpy. But now, since his body is complete again, he can resume showing his determination that had long since evaded him (signified). This gives the viewers a great sense of hope along with a little bit of Jake’s determination. It even creates a sense of joy to see Jake finally able to walk and run. Moreover, this scene shows the great differences between a human and an avatar and illustrates the difficulties of becoming accustomed to such differences. For example, Jake has troubles just getting used to his massive height and an extra appendage…his tail. When he first gets up, he begins to accidentally destroy the machines and wires in the room. But when he runs outside, he realizes how great it feels to have such freedom. Therefore, the movie attempts to surround the viewers with a feeling of wonder and plain curiosity. From new toes to new surroundings Jake, along with the audience, is submerged into a different world. The scene endeavors to bring out the child in all of us by introducing us to so many new ideas. We are then left to use our imagination to envision the assortment of possibilities available to us.