Film Study Guide Assignment

For the film study guide assignment, I chose the movie "Casablanca." I am so glad that I chose this movie. It is ranked #2 on the American Film Institute's Top 100 American Movies of All Time. The American Film Institute (AFI) were judged based on: length, language, critical recognition, awards, popularity, historical significance, and cultural impact. The 1942 film, starring Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart, was set during World War II.

Quotes like: "Play it again, Sam," "Here's to lookin at you, kid," and "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship" are often recited, but I have never been able to recognize them. Thanks to this assignment, I will now be able to recognize the amous quotes that come from this movies. Also, I have always liked the song "As Time Goes By," but now I love it because it is a little more personal!

I would HIGHLY recommend watching "Casablanca" the very first chance you get!

You're Leaving A Digital Trail

All I could think of while reading this article was how much Marcus Yallow would disapprove! In "Little Brother," privacy was what Marcus demanded. However, in our society with the internet and social networking, privacy is probably unattainable.

My boyfriend, Mark, does not have a Facebook. I think it is so weird! Almost everyone has one for good reason. He, however, had one and never used it. He goes to Xavier University, which is an incredibly small school, and said that many of his friends there don't have one either. Even without a Facebook, I can Google his name find out almost everything there is to know about him.

The final statement of this article suggests that perhaps this is a good thing, because we are creating a "global village," which is keeping up with the tradition of people throughout history living in "small tribes where everything they did was known by everyone they knew" (Dr. Malone).

Cleveland Film Festival

If anyone is interested, Amanda Cox, Marissa Covelli, Brittany Moviel and I are all going to the Film Festival on Sunday, March 21 to see "Love Hurts." The movie stars actors that you may recognize: Jenna Elfman (from the former sitcom "Dharma and Greg") and Janeane Garafolo (from "Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion"). It starts at 1:50 p.m., so we were considering getting lunch somewhere in Cleveland to make a day of it!

Just let any of us know either in a response, in person, or be e-mail! We'll arrange rides closer to the day. I hope some of you will consider going with us! It should be pretty fun!

Here is the link to the movie. Check it out if you may be interested:http://www.clevelandfilm.org/festival/films/2010/love-hurts

Costanzo- Chapters 5-9

What we did today (3/8) in class was what I liked most about Costanzo's text. At this time in Dr. Pytash's class, we are talking about reading using critical lenses (Marxism, feminism, new criticism). I think that the activity we did today with the portrayal of women is a great supplemental activity or a great preparatory activity to use. This activity was fun, because we used clips from youtube that I personally found humorous.

In chapters 6 and 8, Costanzo talks about theories of films, critiquing film, and representations in film. Analyzing and critiquing all of these things can make students better readers. I realize that we've been discussing film for two weeks, but it wasn't until we did the activity today that I understood what Costanzo was saying about using film in the English classroom. I am aware now that watching meaningful films can enhance the reader's ability to critique literature and society.

I am still not sure which film I will do for my study guide. I am incredibly sensitive and Amanda Cox advised me to beware of a few of the options. I have already seen "Bend It Like Beckham," so I am leaning more towards "Casablanca." My mom has this on DVD, so I would have access, and from what I have read on IMDB, this is probably the best movie for me.

2010 Oscars

I have been waiting for Oscar night to arrive ever since I heard the big news that STEVE MARTIN would be hosting with Alec Baldwin! I have always loved Steve Martin. When I was young, I loved the movies "Father of the Bride" and "Father of the Bride part II". Also, however inappropriate, "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" was another favorite since I was young. I love how he is not crude, not disgusting, but classically, honestly funny.

Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin did a wonderful job of keeping the crowd laughing and entertained. I thought that the joke between them and George Clooney was hysterical. I was laughing out loud!

I was happy to see that Sandra Bullock was the winner of Best Actress in a Lead Role, since she was won a "Razzie" for worst actress. That had to hurt her ego a bit, but she really was 100% believable as a deep southern woman in "The Blind Side," even though she is Canadian! You know she's got to be good to pull that off as well as she did!

Now, I am a very sensitive person. When I saw "Precious," I cried so hard that I nearly made myself sick. What that poor girl went through was unimaginable. The book, "Push" was written by Sapphire, who actually endured all of this and "Precious" is Sapphire herself. I thought that the Best Adapted Screenplay was well deserved. Mo' Nique was also well deserving of Best Actress in a Supporting Role. Although I just hated her in the movie, she played an abusive, mean, angry, but incredibly fragile woman to a tee. She was such a complex character, and Mo' Nique made her so real. It breaks my heart to know that people have lives like the one they lived.

I need to see: Inglorious Basterds, The Hurt Locker, Crazy Heart, and Avatar still! Then I will be fully up to date and can make judgments on the other winnings!

History of Facebook (Rolling Stone)

“Zuckerberg made that fortune by creating Facebook — now the sixth-most-visited site in the world — as easy to use and as addictive as any drug.” -- I think that the word drug is appropriate. Not only is Facebook as addictive as a drug for users, it seems like it may be something toxic and addictive for Mark Zuckerberg. I don’t believe that we will ever know the full truth of what happened between Zuckerberg and his friends, because there are two sides to every story. However, it seems like Zuckerberg is a capitalist.

It is crazy for me to think that while we’re all out here using Facebook without a second thought (I know I am), there is so much of this controversy behind the scenes. It is especially crazy for me to consider that he is only my age! I cannot imagine creating something like Facebook and maintaining ownership as it grows! I can only imagine what more Zuckerberg is capable of, considering how young he is. However, some young, brilliant college student will probably show up into the scene with something way more effective than facebook! As of right now, it seems completely impossible to me!

I'm So Totally, Digitally Close to You

I haven’t always loved Facebook. In fact, I was one of the last people to have one! I did not get a Facebook until late into my freshman year of college. I realized that I needed one when I went through informal sorority recruitment and realized that everyone communicated with each other using Facebook and I was missing out! So I got one and I found out how it can benefit my relationships.

As for the Status updates, I need them! I love reading the updates of my friends and family. It is so hard to maintain communication with high school friends, because we are all hours and hours apart! Status updates and relationship status changes keep me in the know. In the summer, it feels like we never had the communication barrier, because we are all so familiar with each others’ lives, all thanks to Facebook! I’m hoping that more of my friends get onto Twitter for this purpose. However, only most of my Kent State friends are using Twitter. Hopefully I can set that trend!