Lisa's Blog

Integrating Film and Theater into My Classroom

2006-12-06T19:08:00.000-08:00

I really try to limit the movie watching within my classroom. One of the main reasons is that there’s really not too much time to watch a lot of films. It takes about 4 weeks to read a novel and then two days to watch the corresponding movie. Then, of course you write and discuss the differences between the movie and literature. There really is no time to watch a film for the sake of watching it. Everything shown within a classroom has to be both personally justifiable and justified to the head honchos. A minor reason for not showing too many films within the classroom is that it’s hard to coordinate with all the other teachers in the building (though for me it’s not too bad because there are only five of us). A student gets burned out on movies if they watch one for Language Arts, then one for Health and then another one for Science or Social Studies. Besides, the movies us teachers show aren’t the ones the students are really interested in seeing anyway. My curriculum doesn’t conform in any way to showing Napoleon Dynamite or Saw.

On the rare occasions I do show a movie, it’s usually something very compatible with a novel we just read, such as “Speak” or “Frankenstein.” In those cases, I try to find a movie that is very close to the reading, if it’s possible. If not, I take what I can get and use it as a springboard for why the novel is so much better than the movie.

For the most part, when using a video, I don’t have the students do too much with it because we already spent a month reading and dissecting the corresponding literature. It’s almost like a rewarding break from “hard work.” I don’t let the movie watchers go completely work free, though. There has to be some accountability. If not, I’ve found they sleep, talk, text-message, etc. Then, there’s really no point to showing the movie. Usually I just have the students write an informal reaction to the movie and how it differed from the reading. Sometimes we do a great discussion afterwards about what parts were different and whether that was a good or bad move by the director. Typically, though, my students voice their disgust during the movie so there’s not much to say afterwards.

I have tried going to the theater with my students, as opposed to watching a film, and as much as I hate to say it, it was a waste of money for most of the students. It was something new and I would never regret giving them an opportunity they would never have had otherwise, but their blatant disrespect for what they don’t understand is eye-opening. It’s out of their comfort zone so they don’t appreciate it. For the students surrounding me, like on our trip to the Guthrie to see Hamlet, I was able to talk with them quietly and consistently about what was going on. Those students understood it and so they enjoyed it. However, the ones who couldn’t or didn’t want to hear me, did not have the same reactions. What did I learn from that? My students will only benefit from theater if I can consistently reiterate what is going on, like I do when we’re reading and comprehending literature. If I can’t do that for them, they are either unwilling or unable to do that for themselves. On one last note, this does not apply to all my students. I do have some very motivated, capable students. They’re just few and far between when it comes to theater.

The Influence of Media in My Life

2006-12-06T19:07:00.000-08:00

In a typical week, I watch a fair amount of television as well as listen to a lot of music. At work, I’m on the computer quite a bit, but not too much of that is freely surfing the Internet. The bulk of my school time (when on the computer) is taken up by one main website: TSIS. That’s where my attendance and grading is done. I’m not sure who owns that, but I’m sure they are getting paid an awful lot of educational dollars to block websites our students can’t use. It’s funny, though, because the websites they block (like ones about STD’s) are ones we could use; however, they don’t block ones that distract our kids (addicting games, Latino gangs, etc). There’s our educational money hard at work.

To get back on track, though, I’ve already stated previously that I’m a channel surfer. I’m pretty sure, though, that every radio station I listen to is owned by Clearwater. The only reason I know this is because every morning show makes reference to it. I’m not sure what else they own, but I do know that in the mornings, all the commercials are by the same sponsors, but in different orders.

At home, I primarily watch the local channels because I’m a fan of their primetime television. I do have cable, though. I flip around there, too, so I can’t really say who owns what I watch. There it’s pretty diverse. You can’t really tell if one person owns a whole lot of things.

Other than the radio stations playing almost the exact same ads at almost the exact same time, I can’t say I’m real knowledgeable about how the big wigs influence my media. I will say that TSIS is a prominent force over my school Internet. They completely influence where I go and what I search. I can’t do anything with them watching, not even check to see if my students plagiarized! They are one annoying force to reckon with. At this point, I’m not bothered by any other influences. I’m sure the ownership will become clearer for me and I’ll be able to make a better assessment later, but for now I’ll just say I’m not real influenced.

Defining Music

2006-12-05T06:42:00.000-08:00

Like television, the music I listen to depends on who I’m with or what mood I’m in. Thankfully, I’m not to the point yet where the Wiggles Band or Barney plays continuously in my car. I think I would go nuts! However, my tastes do range quite a bit. Especially now because it’s the Christmas season and this year I found two different stations that play Christmas music nonstop. Lucky for me, I’ve also ventured into the online listening of radio stations so that when I’m on break and working on my prep, I’m not without my music!

Outside of the Christmas season, I’m generally a country fan. Funny story, I used to hate country music and would get into arguments with my college roommate about radio stations because I was a Top 40 girl and she was a Country gal. I didn’t really think I would win. I went to school in Iowa, Country music always wins out. Needless to say, by the end of the year our roles were reversed and we were arguing for the opposite side. Nowadays, I love the soft touch of country mixed with newly emerging Country Rock. It’s like having the best of both worlds. Some days you just need a good country song, one that twangs at your heart-strings.

When I’m out with my friends, though, I gear myself more toward their interests, Top 40. Am I a follower? A “wannabe”? I like to think I’m just being a courteous host and allowing my friends the pleasure of their listening habits. Who am I kidding. I love taking the break and getting out of my norm and into something different. Yes, some days you just need a good love song, and some days you just need some good ol’ rock and roll! That kind of music allows me to just sing and not have to decode or listen to a storyline or interpret. I can just listen and enjoy.

However, almost daily I am forced to listen to music out of my realm in which I don’t always enjoy. Some of the hard rap that my students listen to is catchy, but most of it is just raunchy. I’m not the type of person that can just sit around and listen to songs about “hoes” and “niggas” and all the violence that surrounds those lyrics. I want to be open-minded, but I just don’t think I can be. Those are not the words I would want my son, or anybody else’s child for that matter, listening to. What message are those artists sending? I don’t even want to know what goes through their minds when composing.

Favorite Song: I’m not sure I really have one song that defines me. I’m not sure that I can say even one specific genre defines me. If I can belt the lyrics out as loudly as I can in the comfort of my car, then that song, at that moment defines me. Why do I say that? I say that because I am America’s next Idol. They just don’t know it yet. That’s how I would define myself—The next American Idol, only in the confines of my own car. Whatever song helps me achieve that, then that’s what song defines me.

Documentary

2006-12-05T06:41:00.000-08:00

Back when I was in high school, oh so many moons ago, a television crew came in to film a day in the life of a typical high school. This was back before reality television was a craze. Someone out there wanted the world to see what life was like for the high school student. Of course we all knew about it ahead of time so we gussied ourselves up, put make-up on, and pretended to be the ideal teenagers our parents thought we were when we were out of their control. Truthful? Yes, to some extent. Who we portrayed ourselves as that day was really who we wanted the world to see us as. However, those lovely students were not who the teachers had seen day in and day out. As a side note, I must admit that to my recollection, most of my teachers had gussied themselves up as well and were in rare, humorous form. Were they realistic? Of course—all teachers are really good looking, dress extravagantly, and have the utmost manners when dealing with even the wildest child. Needless to say, the producer found that he didn’t get the intended results and canceled the entire shoot.

If I were to do my own documentary, I would probably focus my attention at my current school. The drama there is wilder than any fiction writer could imagine. Even the most creative wouldn’t be able to come across some of the scenarios I encounter daily. I’m sure this is true of almost any high school, but for some reason, I feel that being in a small school only enhances the potential for drama.

In order to do the documentary correctly, I think I would have to start with having the cameras there for a while. At first, the camera would be a distraction and all my angels would be putting on their best (or worst) show. It would be comparable to observation day where all of a sudden instead of me having to pry the answer out of students, I now have 20 bright and cheery volunteers. Once the novelty of the camera wore off, though, I think the true colors would be coming out. Then, there would be some great footage.

The biggest question, though, would be what the focus should be. It’d be too boring to just do a day in the life thing. Then it’d be nothing but kids refusing to work and teachers trying to get students behavior under control. Who wants to see that? Surely not the parents or anyone else in education. Maybe my documentary would be a horror flick, or a “glad that’s not me” show. That’s not the point I want to get across.

Keeping in the spirit of who my students are (ALC students who for some reason were not successful at the high school), I would like a documentary that sends a message. Currently, I’m on the tirade that Bush’s No Child Left Behind is making teaching even a single child a horrible task. Yes, I think I would like to send George W. Bush a message.

Message: I would like to take footage of how our one part time counselor has her hands full the three days a week she is there. I would like footage of our five teachers losing their preps because students have personal problems that shouldn’t affect their school day, but do. I would like footage of our gangs, our abused children, our children living out of hotels, our suicide threats, our self-mutilations, our teenage moms who are sure they know who the blood test will say the father is, and our other typical teenage drama that goes on from day to day. And, of course, no day is ever like the last. With that footage, I would like Bush to come into my classroom, work with the issues that were supposed to be left at the door, but were just too prominent to be left behind, and then miraculously teach these children the fundamentals of reading and writing and to love literature as much as I do. When he can come into my classroom and do that, even for a week, then I will support his Act. However, until then, my documentary would serve as my firm NO against his frail attempt at equaling out the education system. If he wants to level out the playing field, then he needs to start within the homes, not within the class.

Well, this wasn’t meant to be a lashing out at our president. I’m not sure I could take over his job and do it any better. Some people are meant for what they choose. I’m a peaceful person. I wouldn’t have been able to make any sound judgments about war (not that he really has either). Anyway, that would be my documentary idea. If there are any producers reading this looking for new ideas, call me….I have a great cast of characters!

Analysis of an Advertisement

2006-12-05T06:40:00.000-08:00

I’m not sure why I’m choosing this commercial to focus on, other than it was the last funny commercial I saw and at this moment it’s sticking in my mind better than any other one. I don’t watch a lot of television in which beer commercials are prominent, but it just so happens that I came across this Budweiser one and really liked it. Though I don’t drink Budweiser, I have always found their commercials rather entertaining!

Commercial: Two men are sitting at a bar. The place is rather empty. The two men exchange a few quick interchanges with the bartender, who coincidentally is standing in front of two giant glass refrigerators filled with Bud and Bud Light. The bartender states he needs to go into the back to get something and asks if the two men would mind “keeping an eye on things” while he is gone. Almost instantly after the bartender leaves, one of the men jumps behind the bar to get a closer “drool” by the endless supply of beer. The other man warns the jumper that the bartender is coming back and tells him to hide. The man behind the bar then finds this convenient nook to hide in; unfortunately, it’s where the bartender keeps the bottle opener. Wouldn’t you know it, the man’s butt is in just the right placement of where the opener is, and, sure enough, mistakes happen. Before the man can come out of hiding, though, a group of 25 thirsty men come in and order Bud’s. Those caps have to come of some how! Ouch! The last shot of the hiding guy squinting and his friend grimacing in empathy pains gives just enough of a hint as to what is coming next.

Targeted Audience: This commercial, and the hundreds of others just like it, use comedy to hit their directed audience—the male. Not too many women find this type of humor funny, although I did. I have an odd sense of humor, though. In my opinion, men find this type of simplistic, slap-stick humor funny. That’s not to belittle them, because advertisers love it. They can have fun with promoting a product and not have to worry about long drawn-out storylines that have emotion, and blah, blah, blah, whatever else it is that women need to find in the comfort of television and its commercials. Women need to connect with a character or empathize in order to consider the product. Men laugh and still buy what they want. However, they remember the product because they’re going to talk about the commercial. It’s getting the word out.

What Were the Advertisers Thinking: I’m sure a group of people were not sitting around thinking, “hmmm, what message would we like our viewers to leave with after watching a bartender open a bottle of Bud using another man’s anus as an opener?” I’m sure an intended message was far from their minds on this one. I’m sure, like I said before, they were just using their 30 seconds to entertain and find a way for people to talk about their product. They were successful, I must say. Here I am talking to two for sure audience members (and maybe many more) about their product. Maybe I’ve said something entertaining enough to have one of those two members talk about this wacky commercial to others (or maybe talk about this wacky writer). If I did peak interest, maybe someone reading this will find the commercial on the Superbowl’s Most Funny List and watch it for themselves. I’ve just created a waterfall effect and have started the very thing those advertisers wanted. Message? There are words deep enough to make a message about beer. It is what it is. A refreshing drink with nothing to say, but whose soul purpose in life is to amuse.

Favorite Movie/Television Genre:

2006-12-05T06:38:00.000-08:00

I don’t know that I really have a favorite genre. I’m interested in a lot of different types of movies (and television as well). Most of it depends on what mood I’m in or who I’m watching a movie or television with. If it’s with my son, then Polar Express or Thomas the Train is really the only option I have. However, with anyone else, the options are wide open.

When it comes to television, I’m mainly into the mystery or crime genres. I’m drawn to the whole “Law and Order” or “CSI” series—and their spin-off’s, sadly. If I’m not watching those, and depending on the day, I’m drawn to “Numbers,” “Medium,” and “Heroes.” I like that there is some main crime or event that needs to be figured out. I also really like that the storyline and plot changes every week, but not the means by which they get results. That’s primarily true in the crime ones mentioned above. “Heroes” and “Medium” have the added bonus of the supernatural. For as long as I can remember I’ve been fascinated by the supernatural. I wouldn’t be able to sit down and watch a two-hour movie without fidgeting, but the one-hour weekly deal, broken up by commercials really does make me want to see what comes next. Of course, I should probably confess that when it gets too into the dead and the afterlife I’m a little spooked, but that’s the price one pays for a good genre—and it is good if anyone reading this hasn’t partaken in that weekly indulgence. One warning, though, the opening music to “Medium” is very fitting, but very eerie!

Movies are a different story. Unless it’s a mystery that’s never been done on television before, like “The DaVinci Code,” that genre doesn’t capture my interest for very long. It seems that the crime genre is just too predictable and flawed. The good guy always wins (and he’s not worth watching unless he’s very good looking) and the bad guy always feels justified for the wrong he’s done. There’s always a battle where good overthrows evil and pronounces what evil has done wrong. With this genre and the big screen, it’s almost as if the phrase: “seen one, seen them all,” is truly fitting. The world needs the deviant, youthful, minds to stay away from actually committing crimes, and to delve in writing it, producing it, and having a better audience then their hoodlum friends and the cops that catch them.

Typically, if I’m allowed to choose a movie, I gear either toward Disney animation (yes, I’m an adult freak when it comes to cartoons and computer animation) or toward Romantic Comedy (again, probably a female freak in the mind of a guy, because realistically, what guy would like to watch Romantic Comedy). All said and done, I love to curl up under a warm blanket and watch love emerge. What makes it funny is when the two lovers are so opposite and so opposed to even liking each other that they go out of their way to get the other mad. As a great character in one of my favorite movies (Cutting Edge) once said, “It’s like foreplay!” The characters get on each other’s nerves to the point that they just can’t stay away from one another any more. You got to love it! In the end, you know they’re going to get together, but the fun of the movie is seeing what they go through first!

The Evening News Critique

2006-11-09T16:40:00.000-08:00

I chose to watch the Wednesday, November 8th, 10:00 PM news broadcast on Channel 11, KARE 11. I specifically waited until the elections were over because I was tired of hearing long monologues about the different candidates. Top that off with all the slanderous commercials that aired and, frankly, I was tired of the election. I did vote. I did do my research. However, I was just burned out from all the election talk and wanted to put it past me. That did not prove to be the case since the first almost third of the broadcast was devoted to the 2006 election. I say third because if you add up the minutes of actual news time (25 minutes) then the seven minutes spent on election is one third of the newscast. Of course, while begrudgingly watching it, it did seem like an eternity!

After really watching and documenting a newscast, the question that comes to my mind is: can this really be considered a “news” cast? It seemed to be more filler than anything. Have we run out of important news that we now just have four people sitting there talking about frivolous things? In my opinion, there are very important local tragedies happening that aren’t even making it into the visual media.

Here’s the breakdown of the newscast I watched:

10:00 = Preview of what the newscast will entail
10:01 = Rumsfield Retires (Political)
10:02 = Pawlenty wins Governor race; defeats Hatch (Political)
10:03 = Changes in legislature; how will Republicans and Democrats get along; what will Pawlenty do? (Political)
10:06 = Walz victory over Gutnick (Political)
10:07 = Voter turnout at the polls (Political)
10:07 = Fire in Oak Grove (Local)
10:07 = Weather update and preview of upcoming stories
10:08 – 10:11 = Commercial Break
10:11 = Kare 11 Extra: Pamela Peterson and her weight loss success (Human Interest)
10:16 = Preview for Thursday night’s “Land of 10,000 Stories” (Human Interest)
10:17 = Weather Update complete with morning sunrise pictures; Belinda Jensen talks about record-setting weather and approaching winter storms (Weather)
10:21 = Preview of upcoming stories
10:21 – 10:24 = Commercial Break
10:24 = NBA and NHL Scores flash on screen (Sports)
10:25 = College basketball; Big upset because Gophers lose to Winona in exhibition (Sports)
10:26 = Hoffarber signs with MN Gophers; he’s the guy that made the basket while on his butt (Sports)
10:28 = Reminder to watch the Sports Extra
10:28 = Three Edina athletes sign scholarships (Sports)
10:28 = Upcoming Packers vs. Vikings game; Longwell prepares (Sports)
10:29 – 10:32 = Preview of upcoming stories and commercial break
10:32 = Lottery Numbers (Miscellaneous)
10:32 = Macy’s annual display opens; Mary Poppins this year! (Miscellaneous)
10:32 = Anchors chat with each other signaling good-bye; Commercial Break
I never paid too much attention to how much news the newscast really entailed. I just always watched to see if a story caught my eye. Otherwise, I would watch just out of mere curiosity. Once I had to actually document what went on during these 35 minutes, I was quite shocked. There was very little news that pertained to me, locally (if you don’t count sports). One thought is that the newly finished election swayed the news content, but even then only 30 seconds were devoted to local news. Are they saying that the only thing that happened in the 24 hours between the previous newscast and this current one is one single house fire? Nobody was mugged, robbed, raped, beaten, or any other horrible thing? Nobody did a good deed, found a lost dog, won a prize? How is it we can have newscasts all day long with nothing to say? They must be run by politicians…

2006-11-02T15:52:00.000-08:00

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Ethnography of a Television Viewer

2006-10-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

Alanna is a 28-year-old, Caucasian female living in a Twin Cities suburb. Though she has a roommate, Alanna typically watches television alone. She doesn’t watch a lot of television these days because she must split her time between full time nurse and full time student. What spare time she does have left must be divided among spending time with friends and leisure activities such as watching television, reading, and crafts.

As a result, Alanna typically watches only about 4 hours of television a week (add on a few hours every other week for a movie with a friend or added spare time). Out of those limited hours, Alanna is very particular about what shows she does watch. Though she loves watching the primetime dramas, she also catches a few reality shows weekly. Alanna says her favorite show on right now is “Grey’s Anatomy,” a show about surgical interns making their way through their residencies. Along their way, the interns encounter love, rejection, personal failures, and loss. It is these story lines that keep Alanna watching each week. Of course, there is the added bonus that Patrick Dempsy is VERY good looking.

In talking with Alanna, it was pretty easy to see how she constructs meaning out of watching this particular show. I chose to focus on this show because the other shows she watches, such a “American’s Top Model,” were just casual viewing if she had the time and it caught her interest that night. However, Alanna is “hooked” on “Grey’s Anatomy” along with several other thousand viewers. Aside from that, Alanna typically watches this show alone and allows herself to get pretty involved with the characters and their ongoing story lines. If a character makes a move she doesn’t agree with (say, kissing the person Alanna doesn’t feel the character should be kissing) than Alanna will make comments towards the television voicing her views. For that one hour every Thursday night, “Grey’s Anatomy” is a virtual reality for her. However, when the show is over, Alanna goes back to her own reality and knows that those characters don’t exist. She is able to function in a normal society and let the drama go until the next week.
Being able to go on with one’s life despite the end of a television show is not always an easy thing for some people to do. In reading outside articles about television shows and psychology, some television viewers get so sucked into the shows they are unable to function in a normal society because in these viewer’s minds, the television world is an actual reality. Though Alanna could be oblivious to everything else going on during that one hour every Thursday, she can remove herself away from Grey’s reality if she needed to. Also, as frustrated as she gets with the characters and their actions (frustrated to the point of making comments towards the television) she doesn’t let that affect her everyday functions. As a side note, if Alanna happens to be watching her favorite show with a friend, she will still connect with the program and make comments aloud; however, at that point she’ll be making them to an actual person!

2006-10-12T09:09:00.000-07:00

HOW THE MEDIA PORTRAYS CELEBRITIES:

When something happens to a celebrity, it truly is a bigger issue than it really needs to be. Every day millions of people around the world break up with a significant other, get caught speeding, have babies, become pregnant, etc. So why is it that when it happens to a celebrity, rather than a plain-folk person, it makes the cover of the magazines and is featured on talk shows like Entertainment Tonight?

The lives of celebrities become such an important issue in today’s society because us unimportant people live our lives vicariously through celebs. Most of us won’t be as pretty or hot or as talented as some of the people on the radio, television, or silver screen. We’ve always dreamed we could. There are very few people out there that don’t sing along with the radio or quote their favorite movies lines over and over.

It’s almost as if the media serves as our rumor mill. We need drama in our lives and if we create it within our family, or circle of friends, it becomes too close to us. We need to be removed enough from the people involved so that we can talk, voice our opinion, and whatnot and not see any direct affects. The media allows us to get caught up in the gossip (like the whole love triangle involving Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston) and not get ourselves in trouble. Brad and Jennifer will never hear how my next door neighbor thinks that Brad and Jen should have stayed together and that they would have had the cutest kids together.

The media, in my mind, manipulates the given information and really does turn it into trashy gossip. They poke fun at the celebrities to the point that it becomes ridiculous. Why can they get away with it? The answer to that is simple. The audience eats it up. We would rather sit around at staff meetings and talk about whether Jennifer is now going out with Vince or whether Brittany Spears is a good mom, rather than talk about pertinent issues at hand. The issues closest to us are so depressing that the media gives us a release from that. Celeb’s issues are those that, in our mind, we can reasonably give advice and fix because they are relevant to our own lives. We have experienced these things. How can we stop violence in school? We don’t have an answer to that. However, we do know how to give Brittany answers to parenting because a large amount of the population is a parent. We feel more comfortable answering these types of problems rather than ones that seem too overwhelming for us.

So how do the media capture our attention for this? There are photographers stalking the celbs trying to be the first to capture the picture of a budding romance, new baby, public fight, embarrassing moment, etc. From there, the famous people are plastered around everywhere until we get so wrapped up in their lives that we forget about our own, momentarily.

The media really does make the lives of celebrities out to be something more grandiose than it really is. Why not take a picture of me with my husband and child and plaster it everywhere? I’ll tell you why, no one knows me and, therefore, they don’t care. The more we hear about celeb’s, the more we feel like we know then and the more we feel like it is owed to us to know exactly what is going on in their lives. Whether or not the media gets the information correct or somehow misinterprets something is not the issue. What matters is getting to some kind of dirt first!

A Feminist and Semiotic Look at a Garnier Ad

2006-10-04T09:24:00.000-07:00

Advertisement: The advertisement I chose is for Garnier Fructis shampoo and is found in People magazine. A giant, round slice of lime spans the background and then, lower on the page, a smaller round slice of lemon overlaps. In front of the fruit is a picture of the back of a naked woman with long braided hair. Through the braid is a 3-lb metal barbell. It is not pulling the hair down or harming it in any way. Above the barbell is the slogan: “For hair that shines with all its strength.” To the right of the woman are facts that state exactly how the Garnier Fructis is a great tool for hair, as well as a picture of the shampoo bottle. However, the biggest focus of the printed advertisement is the woman with the barbell in her hair against a backdrop of bright fruit.

Feminist Approach: The feminist approach asks the viewer to look at women having the equal rights as those possessed by men. This includes the same opportunities and portrayals. The first question that comes up, then, is why is a woman portrayed and not a man? A simple answer to this could be that women have longer hair, so visually a barbell would fit into a longer hairstyle than a shorter one. Women typically have longer hair, though that is not always the case. Sometimes men have longer hair as well as women sometimes having shorter hair. However, one can also look at this picture and make the assumption that the advertisers are saying that women have stronger hair than men. Both statements, though, gives the sentiment that men and women are not equal when it comes to hair. To take this argument one step further, if men and women are not comparable when it comes to something as simple as hair, then how can one assume that men and women are on the same level with something more complex like pay scales, job opportunities, etc.

Semiotic Approach: The semiotic approach uses the system of signs to decode a message. This advertisement is polysemic because it contains several signs with several meanings. There are some key signs in this advertisement. The first important sign is the hand barbell. Simply put, it is the sign of strength. Attach it to the hair, and the point is made that this product produces strong hair. However, it is not only attached to the hair, but also to the woman. Thus, it making the statement that women are strong. But what makes them strong? According to the signs, it is their hair. That leads me to another sign: the hair. Hair has long been associated with the beauty of a woman. Views of this advertisement never see her face, but it doesn’t matter because they know she is beautiful because of her hair. So, the woman featured in this ad is both strong and beautiful because the signs tell us so! Another key sign is the naked woman. Not only is the naked body considered beautiful (adding to the notion that hair and body make women beautiful), but a naked body symbolizes weakness. What are the advertisers really saying? Though a woman is weak, her hair will make her strong. Who does this appeal to? Why are they sending the message that women are only strong if they have certain assets?

Though the advertisement, itself, seems harmless—a woman with a barbell in her hair against a backdrop of fruit—the hidden meanings, whether intended or not, are there if one looks. Through the use of the Feminist Approach and the Semiotic Approach, this advertisement has hidden meanings that could offend women and make the wrong statement that women are objects and their beauty lies solely in their physical features as opposed to their inner qualities.

Analysis of Second to Last Scene in Cutting Edge

2006-09-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

The scene before the big finale really sets the audience up for the worst, especially in the way the camera portrays the seemingly dying relationship between Kate and Doug. As the scene starts, the door to the cottage where Kate’s family and Doug are staying opens. The camera catches as much of the foyer as possible by being set way back. In the next shot, Doug is coming down from the stairs. Though initially, the camera keeps the two on the same level by doing close-ups, once Kate announces she’s leaving, the camera takes Doug’s birdseye view and looks down on Kate. Is this implying that she’s in the wrong or that she’s somehow beneath him? This particular shot gives the audience distance from Kate and makes us more empathetic towards Doug. In fact, the entire scene builds sympathy for Doug while keeping us somewhat removed from Kate.

After Kate shuts the door, the focus quickly switches to the Olympics. The tempo speeds up as the camera switches its focus between skaters, judges, and spectators. This series of shots puts the audience right in with the action, complete with having the camera do 360 degree shots as if the viewer were one of the twirling skaters. In between those rapid shots, the camera pans out to show Kate and Doug’s sad and worried looking faces. Yes, the competition is heating up, but is that really what they’re worried about? Suddenly the music slows and we see the other US Olympic team competing. There’s quite a bit of clapping and then the first dialogue we’ve heard in a while tells of how awesome that pair is doing. One key focus at this point is a shot that shows Kate stretching in the background and Doug watching the action closer to the screen. The focus is on Doug at first and Kate is a blur in the background; however, the focus then switches to Kate being clear and Doug being fuzzed out. Is that symbolic of Doug being “fuzzed” out of Kate’s life? Before the audience can process that, the Russians take the ice and the music speeds up. While they are skating the camera switches between the Russians flawlessly skating and Doug and Kate practicing their routine. The camera stays enough removed from Doug and Kate so that we are close enough to be invested, yet removed enough to process everything. Next, in a key camera shot, the Russian male performs a move in which he lifts his female partner over his head. The camera fades from that and focuses on Doug and Kate practicing this same move in the background. Coincidentally, the move doesn’t go so well and, after wobbling, Doug drops Kate.

The scene ends at this point and the audience is left wondering, has Doug “dropped” Kate forever? Is this the last time he will see her? What will happen next. Throughout the movie, the editors really do a great job switching who we should feel sympathy towards by how they set up the camera shots. We are never really able to like both characters at one time, and, if we feel as if one moment is the big moment that will secure their love forever, the plot takes a twist and so do the camera shots. Of course, this all leads up the final scene, which is—as is in any predictable love story—the moment where true love finds one another and everyone lives happily ever after!

Analyzing final scene in "The Cutting Edge"

2006-09-21T06:06:00.000-07:00

I am analyzine the final scene of the movie, "The Cutting Edge," so the entire storyline leads up to this one defining moment. As the movie begins we see two simultaneous scenes: one of a US Olympic hockey player getting hit in the face with a puck, thus losing his peripheral vision; and the other of an ice-skating pair losing the Olympic medal because of a fall. Coincidentally the ex-hockey player, Doug, and ice-skater, Kate, pair up to try their hands at the upcoming Olympics. The two opposites bicker back and forth throughout training in what is later recognized by the two of them as flirting. There is an obstacle, however, in that Kate has a long-term boyfriend who proposes. Of course she accepts, but reluctantly because deep down she knows she is falling in love with Doug. Doug, on the other hand, begins a relationship with Kate’s nemesis, Kate’s former male partner’s new female skating partner. Needless to say Doug and Kate’s friendship and skating partnership are jeopardized by the outside romances. Though they skate beautifully in the Olympic trials and move on to the Olympic team, their relationship is not the same. Before the actual Olympics, Kate breaks off her engagement, drinks away her sorrows and through the use of liquid courage (AKA tequila) professes her love to Doug. Doug does not respond because he knows the only reason she’s saying this is because she’s been drinking. This, too, affects their performance at the Olympics. While all this is going on, Doug and Kate scope out their Olympic competition—the Russians. Doug and Kate must come up with something new and ingenious in order to beat the Russian duo. Of course their coach has the answer: a never-used-before move called the Pamchenko. This move would require Doug spinning Kate around by her feet and then tossing her up into the air and, after she twirls a few times, catching her in his arms. Despite the hours of practice, the many bruises and constant arguing (stemming from the embarrassment of pronouncing a thought to be unreciprocated love), the two cannot make the power move work. This almost takes the storyline to the end. Kate announces she’s leaving after their program is finished and Doug realizes that this will be his last moment with her. In true romance style, Doug must profess his love for Kate before he loses her forever. The tension is building because they are both nervous. Will this be the end? Will they lose each other forever? Will they place in the Olympics? If they lose, both Kate and Doug will never have achieved their dreams of winning an Olympic gold medal. This takes us to the end, the very predictable last moments of the movie.

As the scene begins, the Russian duo have just finished their amazing program. The entire audience is on their feet applauding. It now comes down to this one last pair—the team from the USA. Is it just a coincidence that Kate and Doug are the very last team to perform and they have a secret move (even though it’s never been perfected)? It’s not. It’s clearly an editorial choice to build suspense not only around how the two will perform, but also whether or not they will become a couple. As the Russian team leaves the ice, Doug pulls Kate aside to profess his love. Though they are in a very crowded place, the camera stays fixated on close-ups of the two talking. This is clearly a ploy to isolate the two and bring them closer to the audience, while at the same time reminding the audience that time is running short. The two characters continue to bicker back and forth and, as Doug desperately tries to tell Kate how he feels, they are interrupted by people bumping into them, announcers telling them it’s their time to skate, etc. Finally Doug just comes right out and tells Kate that he loves her and wants to be with her. Before she can answer, though, the camera focuses off of the couple and to the awaiting ice rink. The audience is anxiously awaiting Kate’s answer! As the camera comes back to Kate, she switches subjects (hmmm, could the change in scenery have indicated she was going to switch subjects?) Kate announces that they will be attempting the Pamchenko in their routine. Doug tries to argue, but Kate enters the ice and the camera goes for a long shot. Is it a coincidence that the camera goes for a long shot right as the two are about to attempt a long-shot chance for a medal? No, there are no coincidences in filmography.

Kate and Doug enter the rink and the camera zooms way out to show the magnitude of just how insignificant they are in comparison to the whole Olympics. However, in the next shot, the camera zooms in to show just how important the two of them really are. Just as their program music is about to begin and Doug tries one more time to convince Kate that they are not ready for such a daring move, the camera zooms in on Kate’s face, particularly her mouth, as she says that they will be doing the move because she’s “in the mood to kick a little a@@!”

All of a sudden the music speeds up as the audience sees alternating long shots of the American duo nailing every move in their routine and close up shots of the two clasping hands, clutching legs, and other touching-related moves of success. The audience is getting to see Doug and Kate’s love for each other coming through in their skating, as well as how that love is impacting their performance. Every once and a while the camera shows a glimpse of the crowd waving their American flags and cheering, the coach and Kate’s father expressing their joyous emotions, Doug’s family cheering from afar and, of course, the Russian team looking pretty upset. Needless to say, their short program appears extended in the drawn-out visual of their routine.

After the suspense has built enough: will they or won’t they use the Pamchenko, the music takes a drastic turn to the slow side, the camera starts shooting in slow motion and we see the two embrace each other, though it’s just in preparation for the final move. The audience sees extreme close ups of Doug and Kate’s hands intertwined, legs close together, heads leaned against one another and her back pressed firmly against his chest. They are clearly in love in these series of shots. And, since love conquers all, it is no surprise that as the audience sees the Pamchenko played out in slow motion, it is already known what will happen. Kate is thrown up into the air and twirls around slowly. Doug reaches up to catch her and, low and behold, he does! The camera quickly takes focus off of those two to show the surprised and elated faces of the judges, spectators, family and coach. Then, if that wasn’t a perfect enough move, the camera pans out to show Doug and Kate’s final, final move of the two of them in each other’s arms gliding across the ice and stopping perfectly in the middle of the screen.

As the camera remains on this somewhat close, but somewhat removed distance, the audience sees the roses being tossed from the faded background of spectators. Through tired-out breaths, Doug asks why she did this, and Kate professes her love, sober this time, to Doug. So, as the pair kiss, the audience sees that they have not only won each other’s hearts, but also the gold medal, or so it is implied. As lips touch lips, the music starts up, the screen fades to black and the credits start rolling.

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2006-09-07T15:22:00.000-07:00

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