I honestly do not think there is too much of a problem with the books assigned to read in schools. It would be a horribly idea to swap Of Mice and Men for Twilight...and what kind of teacher would ever go for that?? When I think of reading books in school I think of Sophomore English reading To Kill a Mockingbird, and Junior English where we read Catcher in the Rye, The Great Gatsby, and Of Mice and Men. All of those ended up being some of the best books I have ever read...because I actually read them. The problem with Literary Fiction in schools is that kids get so caught up in the work that goes along with it to forgetting about actually enjoying the books and therefore do not see the greatness in them. Although I found The Great Gatsby to be a great book and movie, I don't see how high schoolers are able to relate to it, besides to learn the history aspect.
In a way, I do agree with Melissa Thomas when she is talking about fantasy books and says, " it is an undistilled version of human imagination-momentary worlds and magic that may be at odds with the rational truth, yet continue to reflect our culture and times."
Although all of us would not willingly choose to pick up and Twilight book and dig in, there is an aspect of adventure and imagery and description that allows us to see things with our imagination vividly. That is something that SHOULD be taught in schools. These fantasy books give us something that To Kill a Mockingbird and Catcher in the Rye cannot give us...which is the ability to use our imagination and escape to another world. All in all, I am pretty indifferent about this topic to be honest.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Adapting the Book
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
Ken Kesey
There would be a few challenges in making this book. The first would be making sure that the Clinic is displayed exactly how the book describes it becuase a big chunk of the beginning is the narrator going into great detail about his surroundings. To help this, there would need to be good camera angles and panning so that the audience can get a full view. Also, it would be difficult to portray Nurse Ratched exactly how she is without her just being annoying because she is a pretty confusing character in my opinion.
Scenes to be kept:
1. The scene that no doubt needs to stay in the film adaptation is when the main characted McMurphy firsts arrives to the clinic and he is laughing and singing when no one has done either in that place in years. It completely transforms the mood.
2. Another scene is the one where McMurphy so desperately wants toothpaste to brush his teeth but it is too early. He stands there in his towel and dips his toothbrush into the bucket of soap an aid is cleaning with and goes on brushing his teeth.
3. This third scene actually happens a few times. It is where the residents are in a room where they are not allowed to play cards, games or anything. All they can do is sit there staring at the clock. I think this would be essential to have in the movie in order to portray the mood of the clinic and what their lives are like every day.
Scenes to discard:
1. When the narrator Chief Bromden is hallucinating at night, seeing machines and body parts being shipped and people being hung would be difficult to show in the movie without the audience getting extremely confused.
2. Another part where Bromden is hallucinating is when he sees fog everywhere would be a little bit much to include.
3. The last scene I feel could be taken out is where Harding, one of the residents has to get a shot in his behind because he refused to take medicine...it's pretty self explanatory why I think this could be taken out.
Ken Kesey
There would be a few challenges in making this book. The first would be making sure that the Clinic is displayed exactly how the book describes it becuase a big chunk of the beginning is the narrator going into great detail about his surroundings. To help this, there would need to be good camera angles and panning so that the audience can get a full view. Also, it would be difficult to portray Nurse Ratched exactly how she is without her just being annoying because she is a pretty confusing character in my opinion.
Scenes to be kept:
1. The scene that no doubt needs to stay in the film adaptation is when the main characted McMurphy firsts arrives to the clinic and he is laughing and singing when no one has done either in that place in years. It completely transforms the mood.
2. Another scene is the one where McMurphy so desperately wants toothpaste to brush his teeth but it is too early. He stands there in his towel and dips his toothbrush into the bucket of soap an aid is cleaning with and goes on brushing his teeth.
3. This third scene actually happens a few times. It is where the residents are in a room where they are not allowed to play cards, games or anything. All they can do is sit there staring at the clock. I think this would be essential to have in the movie in order to portray the mood of the clinic and what their lives are like every day.
Scenes to discard:
1. When the narrator Chief Bromden is hallucinating at night, seeing machines and body parts being shipped and people being hung would be difficult to show in the movie without the audience getting extremely confused.
2. Another part where Bromden is hallucinating is when he sees fog everywhere would be a little bit much to include.
3. The last scene I feel could be taken out is where Harding, one of the residents has to get a shot in his behind because he refused to take medicine...it's pretty self explanatory why I think this could be taken out.
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