So I've been giving the ever-present Capstone project a lot of thought since my last post, and I think I have found the way to incorporate all that I've learned in taking the Core classes with my writing. It's still a work in progress and most certainly rough around the edges, but I'm working on smoothing it out, so bear with me.
I'm going to put together a publication (probably a mix of my work and the work of other writers) that is broken up into sections that tackle some of the topics that I've talked about in my past three years in Core. These are the categories that I've thought of so far: Concepts (of the self and community, these would be the nonfiction-esque pieces that talk about how life experiences have shaped them and those around them); Religion and Politics (for Capitalism & Democracy and Secular & Sacred, these would be pieces that in some way addressed religion or politics, maybe an explorative essay or two); and, Global World (Technology & Development and Human Rights, these pieces would discuss how the world is changing in some way). I have yet to think of ways to incorporate Aesthetics Expressions, Scientific Revolutions, and the Middle East Core classes, but I can assure you that I will.
I know that it's rough and I have a lot of work, and writing, ahead of me if I want this publication, or collections of my works as it may turn out to be, to look like how I envision it looking, but I committed to getting this thing accomplished. I have spent far too much time thinking about it already to have it not happen.
That being said, suggestions?
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Spring Break Movie Mania
Spring Break was last week, so what else was I going to do but go to the movies? I'm from St. Albans; there aren't a lot of options. This time around I managed to squeeze in three theater trips, and it's safe to say that I had mixed reactions.
Alice In Wonderland
I am a huge fan of the Alice books (Wonderland, Through The Looking Glass) and I love "The Jabberwocky" even more than that. I knew it wouldn't be as good. I knew I would disappointed. But it's Tim Burton, so like pizza, I thought that even if it was bad, it was would still be pretty good…Not so much. To say that I hated it would be a bit of an overreaction, but to say that I enjoyed it would be a lie, as well. It was okay, and it's difficult for me to use such a tame word.
The actress who played Alice, Mia Wasikowska, was charming in a polite way, the Chesire Cat maintained the coolness that I remember from watching the Disney version in my childhood, and Anne Hathaway was flawless as the White Queen. But everything else fell a little (just a little) short of my expectations. The Jabberwocky and Bandersnatch were not childish villains, but they weren't as frightening as the poem makes them out to be, and the Mad Hatter was quite possibly the sanest character in the film.
It was disappointing to see Tim Burton, known for eccentricities, take such a wild tale and create something so flat. This is the first Burton film that I don't want to watch again, and I've had to watch Big Fish several time to recover from the heartbreak.
The Crazies
Let's be honest: the only reason anyone in their right mind would see this film is because of Timothy Olyphant, myself included. The previews looked decent, but from them, you could tell that it wouldn't fall under the terrifying category, but it wasn't really supposed to be funny, either. The one thing I can say about it is that it was a joke. The only thing scary about this movie was that I left feeling like the events of the movie (which I wouldn't ruin for those of you silly enough to watch it like I did) could actually happen. In my hometown. As much as I hate my hometown, it was enough to send a shiver down my spine.
Shutter Island
I didn't care so much about this film, but it was my last night home until May and my father really wanted to, so I agreed. What's a free movie? And it was one of the best decisions that I have made in a long time (which, admittedly, may be kind of sad).
There isn't much to say that wouldn’t ruin the movie for those of you who haven't seen it yet (and you should), but I will say that I went into it thinking that it was about something completely different than it's about. When the movie started I was so lost that I remained lost until the big twist (which is fairly obvious about a half hour in the film) at the end, at which point I understood what lost me before, but gained new things to get confused about.
It is safe to say with this film that you'll want to watch it a second time. Which I plan to as soon as possible.
Now that I'm back at school it becomes a little more difficult to keep up with my movies, but I'm giving it my best shot and will have more to say soon. Until then, farewell, World. <3
Alice In Wonderland
I am a huge fan of the Alice books (Wonderland, Through The Looking Glass) and I love "The Jabberwocky" even more than that. I knew it wouldn't be as good. I knew I would disappointed. But it's Tim Burton, so like pizza, I thought that even if it was bad, it was would still be pretty good…Not so much. To say that I hated it would be a bit of an overreaction, but to say that I enjoyed it would be a lie, as well. It was okay, and it's difficult for me to use such a tame word.
The actress who played Alice, Mia Wasikowska, was charming in a polite way, the Chesire Cat maintained the coolness that I remember from watching the Disney version in my childhood, and Anne Hathaway was flawless as the White Queen. But everything else fell a little (just a little) short of my expectations. The Jabberwocky and Bandersnatch were not childish villains, but they weren't as frightening as the poem makes them out to be, and the Mad Hatter was quite possibly the sanest character in the film.
It was disappointing to see Tim Burton, known for eccentricities, take such a wild tale and create something so flat. This is the first Burton film that I don't want to watch again, and I've had to watch Big Fish several time to recover from the heartbreak.
The Crazies
Let's be honest: the only reason anyone in their right mind would see this film is because of Timothy Olyphant, myself included. The previews looked decent, but from them, you could tell that it wouldn't fall under the terrifying category, but it wasn't really supposed to be funny, either. The one thing I can say about it is that it was a joke. The only thing scary about this movie was that I left feeling like the events of the movie (which I wouldn't ruin for those of you silly enough to watch it like I did) could actually happen. In my hometown. As much as I hate my hometown, it was enough to send a shiver down my spine.
Shutter Island
I didn't care so much about this film, but it was my last night home until May and my father really wanted to, so I agreed. What's a free movie? And it was one of the best decisions that I have made in a long time (which, admittedly, may be kind of sad).
There isn't much to say that wouldn’t ruin the movie for those of you who haven't seen it yet (and you should), but I will say that I went into it thinking that it was about something completely different than it's about. When the movie started I was so lost that I remained lost until the big twist (which is fairly obvious about a half hour in the film) at the end, at which point I understood what lost me before, but gained new things to get confused about.
It is safe to say with this film that you'll want to watch it a second time. Which I plan to as soon as possible.
Now that I'm back at school it becomes a little more difficult to keep up with my movies, but I'm giving it my best shot and will have more to say soon. Until then, farewell, World. <3
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