Post14: Elephant by Gus Van Sant (2003) 

  

   

1) What struck you most in the film?

  What struck me the most is the slowness of the film.Because on the film all the characters are filming from the back and the spectator follows all their step.Besides this we focus on the life of each character for more know them.

2) What also impressed you?

What impressed me is the ease by whom the killers are entered into the high school. Nobody has stop them.And the other things that impressed me is the reaction off all the people who was on the school during the massacre.Their reaction doesn’t convince me , it was like “normal” and i don’t feel their scare.

3) Did you find anything more particularly upsetting?

The thing that i have particularly find upsetting is the fact that the film is very slow.And there is every time different point of view in on scene.

4) What did you find very disturbing?

I find very disturbing the fact that the camera makes a plan on certains characters that facing it’s going to happen something or they were going to be important on the film.

5) What was most shocking?

The most shocking in the film for me it’s that the movie on basis is pulled of a truth story and that from my opinion the The movie removes in a way the tragedy of the drama, because it is too stereotypical.

6) What does the film  suggest about the two school shooters?

The film suggests about the two shooters that one of them was bullying at school and that people don't pray attention and was shocked by the other. The other shooter was the friend of the bullying young boy who was fan of a brutal video games.

7) What's more, what does the film director make clear about the two killers?

The director makes clear that the two killers wants to prepare something at the beginning because we can see one of them in the self look at around him and also that they are determined to make a revenge . Also that they are an unclear relation.

8) What kind of approach to the school shooting itself did Gus Van Sant opt for?

He  makes an approach that lead to think that it’s something that can happen.And also a moralistic approach because it’s the student that bullying the killers who have created a brutal person.

9) Moreover, what's the main consequence of the realistic treatment he uses? What about the 'poetic' touches he instills throughout the film?

  The main consequence of the realistic consequence is that people can change and that there is a limit of all.Also the fact of finding gun more easly.

 

10) As a conclusion, what must we admit about the way in which the killing and the killers are perceived by the film viewers?

  They is perceived like a Young school boy that was not concious of the gravity of they act .Because they take that like something normal and not seriously. And it seems that they have any regrets.


 

The US GUN CULTURE

The US Gun culture

Steve SACK, on www.startribune.com,
Gun Lobby and Congress (2010)

The Founding Fathers of the United States are the individuals of the Thirteen British Colonies in North America who led the American Revolution against the authority of the British Crown and established the United States of America.

Description : 

 The cartoon was illustrated by steve Sack and it's called "Gun lobby and Congress".The cartoon stages two characters in front of the Congress in America.One of the character represents a gun lobby and the other represents Congress. The gun lobby's man is giving a bag of money to the other by saying "Now, where were, before we were so rudely interrupted...".On the stairs of the congress, we can see blood flowing.

Interpretation :

This cartoon reflects the power of the Gun industry in US. Many campaign has been established to fight against the carrying of weapons . But it leads to nothing because they still existed a handgun violence. As underlined the cartoon many system is corrupted like the congress the lobby gun's man gives to the other some money . I think that is for not removed the laws which allows the Gun ownership in US and closed the eye about all the violence and the polemic which surround the use of gun. The pharse of the gun lobby's man which is  "Now, where were, before we were so rudely interrupted..." The interruption about which he speaks is the blood behind them in other words they have already started to establish an accord .The lobbies have taken an important place in US. 

Dave GRANDLUND, on www.davegranlund.com,
Second Amendment and NRA (2013)

The National Rifle Association of America (NRA) is an American nonprofit organization which advocates for gun rights.Founded in 1871, the group has informed its members about firearm-related bills since 1934, and it has directly lobbied for and against legislation since 1975. It is also the oldest continuously operating civil rights organization in the United States. This organization is the most   longest-standing civil rights organization of America.The NRA supports privacy rights for gun owners and, additionally, has invoked the Tenth Amendment to defend gun rights.The NRA is considered as being one of the most influential political lobbies of the United States because of its capacity to bring regularly a large number of votes during the elections.

Description :

This drawing was made by Dave Grandlund in 2013 and it's called "second Amendment and NRA".The drawing shows on statue of a standing soldier who has on his hand a rifle.next to the statue there is written "Second Amendment as defined by the founding fathers" in front of the the statue there is also a standing soldier but more recent . Because of the color and the soldier has in his ownership three submachine guns and two handgun. The soldier is standing on a reserves of ammunition. next to him there is written "Second Amendment as defined by the NRA".

Interpretantion :

 First the illustration confront two ideologies and two ideas. On the one hand there is the idea that the gun has served for  defend something that is very important. It was before a question of a right of militia, to participate in the defense of the State.On the other hand there is the NRA which defends the right to carry weapons in US. We see this idea clearly on the illustation .
"Our Father, who is in heavens, who your name is sanctified [...].
That the freedom to carry weapons is protected,
and that to protect our families. Amen."It it is the thoughts which they defend throught he cartoons we see that with all the bullets which are on the floor.

My individual document

POST 11: FOR LVA STUDENTS ONLY: Individual document on Exchanges in Real and Virtual Spaces

  

The personal document that i have chosen is illustration by Stephen Maurice Graham.

            

illustration by Stephen Maurice Graham

Today we can see appear new types of spaces in particulary because of the technological advances.The virtual spaces forms part of this new spaces. Virtual space is an artificial environnement generated by software.And this virtual reality reproduces articially a sensory experience which can include the view, the touch and the smelt.This shows that the borders between real and virtual world is soon crossed. 

On the illustration we can see a man who is seat on a chair and he is attached.He has a head mounted displays relied to a machine behind him which probably contyrol his thought. 

The idea is that the virtual space extend on the real world and we cannot detached from that . For example we can talked about the gaming in virtual reality.Certains of these games presents a free world where we can escapedbut this can cause a dependance and an addiction because we are isolated and cut of everything.

  

The other document that i can choose is a 2006 Horror film which is called stay alive . The film shows also the limit between the virtual and the real spaces. It's shows the same idea as the illustaration but goes even further in removing the border of the real and the virtual world.

The film is about a group of friends who finds herself in possesion of a game which is called Stay Alive. So they started to play at the game. But Everything does not go according to plan...

       

POST 7: THE IDEA OF PROGRESS : QUANTITY vs QUALITY

POST 7: Quantity vs Quality 

First let me explain the notion idea of progress. Idea of progress is all the advances in the domain  of technology, scientific,social,medical,educational ..,. that can be make life easier. We can notice that there is two types of progress; on in term of quality which  is the forward movement as toward a goal. And the other in term of quantity which is the gradual betterment  . This two phenomenon has been always confrontated. To illustrate the opposition that is between them I decided to focus on the shopping with two documents.

My first document is an article which was written by a woman who is named Marianna Glynska , the 10/10/2016 :

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marianna-glynska/quality-versus-quantity-w_b_12413012.html

In this document it's very good explain the fact that we are always confronted by  commercial center where we spend a lot of money . And we don't pay attention of what we bought and sometimes we bought thing which are not useful. Because we pay much attention of if the thing is beauty or it's trend and not if it's a good quality.

Even if the quality is more expensive than the quantity it's more durable and we are not obligated to buy another thing and we can find something with quality in reduction. And the author says that it's much better to buy good-quality that you need.

And the author tells a proverb which is “buy quality and cry once and by cheap and cry forever” .

  The quantity urges to buy more. Because when the production is a lot the price are not very expensive. For example i take the irish company Primark , this company is specialised in the less expensive sale of products . But their products are not especially of good quality because they tear fast.

But this quantity can permit to people who have not a lot of money to buy goods.

And make products less expensive is a good idea and it can be increase the turnover of the company .

For example Primark : https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/jun/22/india.humanrights

“Other major retailers are scrambling to follow the cheap, fast and fashionable concept - for good reason. Worth an estimated £5bn, the Primark chain now has 4.8 million sq feet of retail space across 177 stores in three countries, employing 25,000 people.”

Even if the quality is very expensive , the quantity seems to atracted more and more people. But the thing which are in good quality are very difficult to find .So that why we seen apearing more and more imitation .
    

POST 4: Myths and Heroes

Myth and Heroes

I'm going to talk about the notion Myth and Heroes . First I would like to give brief definition of the notion. A myth is a popular belief or story that has become associated with a person, institution, or occurrence , especially one considered to illustrate a cultural ideal.

A hero is the protagonist of the story , the principal male or female character in a novel, poem,or dramatic presentation or a film. It can also be a modern-day hero, a person who has performed a heroic act or simply our own personal hero, our role model, who we look up to.

The Martian

The Martian is a 2015 American science fiction film directed by Ridley Scott based on Andy Weir's 2011 novel The Martian. Matt Damon strats as an astronaut who is mistakenly presumed dead and left behind on Mars.

  

During an expedition on Mars, the astronaut Mark Watney is left for dead by his team-mates,a storm having obligated them to take off as matter of urgency. But Mark survived and it is alone from now on, without way to leave on a hostil planet. So he is going to deploy all the means to contact the earth.In 225 million kilometers,his team-mates try to organize a mission to get back him at the risk of their lives.

                                                        
       

In my opinion Mark Watney illustrates the notion of Myth and Heroes. First he is like a ''Robinson Crusoe'' because he is surviving of a storm and is lonely in a place where there is nobody who live there.Even if he has not the qualities of the traditional hero , he still embodies  the idea of the modern and fictional hero,because he is an ordinary person in as extraordinary circumstance.He is  going to appeal his intelligence and his ingenuity. He is confronted with himself in Mars. Because there nobody and it’s an extreme solitude because it is another planet and another world.

   

Alone on Mars,he has resources in food limited which cannot allow him to survive until the arrival of the next mission. Thanks to the science he arrives to grow some potatoes. Mark Watney is also a scientifical hero because he have a camera with him and that he uses it as a newspaper for the scientists, so that they can be inspired by his experiment in case he would die. For example he arrives to do water with some fuel by realizing a chemical transformation.

Thanks to his courage and his determination he become an hero with whom we can easily fasten.

POSt 6: An Art Exhibition Review

Pop Art Myth

This exhibition called "Pop Art Myth" , have took place at the Thyssen Museum in Madrid from June10 to September 14,2014.
  The exhibition can be seen in Internet by a Virtual Visit which is very productive. The Thyssen Museum is located in Madrid at Paseo del Prado 8, 28014.And fort more information i add the link of the exhibition :

  http://www.museothyssen.org/microsites/exposiciones/2014/mitos-del-pop/index_en.html#ancla 

Pop Art Myth, opens with several collage by Pop Art artists like Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warold, 
Robert Rauschenberg etc. They have introduced on their works artist who have become a myth and have achieve sucess in the dream factory, like Marilyn Monoe ,Marlon Brondo. For Pop Art any image was recyclable and every object could become art . and that is What the artists like Andy Warold did . The object which have existed during the late 50's and early 60's.                   
                                                                                                                                                                   

                                                      

Andy Warold, Bigtorn Campbell's soup can 1962                                              Andy Warold, Brillo Soap Pads 1964                     

This exhibition has reunited many pieces of pop art artist like Andy Warold, Richard Linder or Wolf Vostell. They introduced in their pieces the traditional collage from Cubism and Dadaism. 

                                                     

                 

                         Wolf Vostell, Marilyn Idol 1962                                              Richard Linder , Thank you , 1971

  The exhibition is divided in many section which is related with the type of art which is presented.
I think that this exhibition is very productive and very complex at the same time. Because there are a lot of pieces with different compositions and various forms of reperesentation. For example we pass from a collage to a painting. Through the pieces we saw the particular characterictic of each artists.
The particularity which make this exhibition very interressnte is the presence of the color on all pieces . This gives an illumination.Personally, I think that in this exhibition that nothing it missing. All the pieces are appropriated because they have a good esthetic.
The works that i value the most are the ones where there is Marilyn Monroe. 

I would like to emphasize most on the fact that there are animated character who are represented. For example Mickey Moose is very present on many pieces.It brings a diversity on the exhibition . It enables different types of people from different ages to enjoy art.

Look Mickey, 1961

                                         

I have chosen  this pieces by Wolf Vostell, called Marilyn Idol. First i would like to say more about Wolf Vostell. Wolf was an german a painter and sculptor . He is known because he is the pioneer of the fluxus movement (contempory art) and of his technical like the De-coll/age. In particular the piece which called Marilyn Idol.

Wolf Vostell

First it seems that the piece is very interesting. Because it is made by collage ( the artist have superposed different image) and decollage . It´s a  very personal work and he has surpassed the limits of the original. The papers which are used seems to be the page of many magazine where Marilyn Monroe appears. The artist have made a decollage, we can see that because the is some part of de collage which is riped .This collage give an effect of something vintage and the unfinished work. It also shows that Marilyn Monroe is more than icon she is a myth.And that she appears in many magazine.

The color of this work are very equal . In order words the artist stayed in the same tone of color.

This exhibition is very interesting because we learn a lot on the technical of many artist.And i would advise you to go on the interactive visit.

      

        

MARILYN IDOL, 1962

                    

 
    

Into the Wild

POST 2 : Chris/Alexander & the myth of the noble/good savage in Sean Penn's Into the Wild movie

Chris/Alexander in Sean Penn Into the Wild

A representation of the noble/good savage

A noble/good savage is a literary stock character who embodies the concept of an idealized indigene, outsider, or "other" who has not been "corrupted" by civilization, and therefore symbolizes humanity's innate goodness. In English, the phrase first appeared in the 17th century in John Dryden's heroic play The Conquest of Granada (1672), where in it was used in reference to newly created man. "Savage" at that time could mean "wild beast" as well as "wild man".
The idea which "the good savage" lives in a heaven on Earth before the original since developed in the XVIIIe century, having its foundations at the explorers and the conquerors of the Renaissance.The myth of the good savage allowed the contemporary writers to develop a shape of social criticism on the aberrations and the injustices of the society.

a) What does Alex seem to believe about the wild/nature as opposed to society/civilization? To what extent does he embody the myth of the 'noble savage'?

Alex seems to believe that in the wild he can be himself and make its own decisions without being to criticize by people in particular by his father. We were able to see, at the beginning of the movie in the scene in the restaurant, his father criticized and wanted to check all the Chris's choices.Chris was fed up with his parent's hypocrisy.
At the same time as, Chris shows towards our society a certain disgust , he is sick and tired of her .It is show when this one, leaves having a walk in the streets of Los Angeles. He feels bad and horrify by what surrounds him it.He seems to think that the nature represents a place which are not be contaminated by the human.

Alex embodies the myth of the noble savage because he lives alone into the wild far from civilization and without means of communication. He lives with the bare minimum.

He lives in perfect harmony with the nature,he hunts for eat . But he is not totally a noble savage because he comes from a society. He was condition by society and knows how she works.

b)What does he hope when going to Alaska/into the wild on his own? What is he longing for?

Chris hopes to be happy and free and that he can live alone with barely anything ,in the wild.His goals is to find the ultimate freedom. Chris hopes to dicover a life without responsabilitiy,possession,people and money.He eventually burnt his money and cut all his card. This would enable, to forget the past because, his parents liars to him and his sister during all his life.He is longing to learn on himself , to know what he is able to do alone.He wents to discover new horizon and make his own story. 

c)What basic truth(s) about living close to nature does he fail to grasp (=understand)? Illustrate with concrete situations taken from the film.

 He fails to grasp that the nature can change because Chris went to Alaska during the winter and he had crossed a freeze river to join the "Magic Bus" but many time later , when he decided to make the inverse way ,he fails to cross the river because the thaw (melted the ice ) caused a very strong current . So he begins the prisoner of the nature. He fails to grasp ,that there are other predatords in the nature. For example , when he killed a moose , he did not manage to keep the meat fresh because the flies laid eggs in that turned into maggots.Before that Chris wants to kill a femal moose but he cannot manage to do it because he sees the baby of the animal. That, shows that Chris has a heart . After we can see that at the end of the film, Chris is starving because he doesn't find wilg game. He becomes crazy , and he doesn't make attention of what he do and what he eats . He finally , eats a poisonus plante and dies . He forgot that the nature is very dangerous. 

d)Is he a good savage or a romantic? Justify.

 I think that he is a romantic and a noble savage. Even if he is in contraction with the idea of "good savage " . He also represents this idea because this one lives in the wilds and he is in accordance with her. In order ,he has lived and born on this society that he thinks she is bad.He is a romantic because at the end of film Chris seems realizes that he badly needs relationships as he has become scared and lonely in the wild. he eventually understands that he will never see his loved ones again.

e) Is it really possible and/or advisable to go back to a state of nature when one has lived in society? Why or why not?

I think that it's very difficult because we are accustomed to live in the society. And we have not the technical to live in the wild . We are on society  which is very based on the consummation , all is more easy .People have neither the courage nor the motivation to do this . their also haven't the time .We can see that on the film chris at the end has regrated his choice.

But It could be possible but for a very short duration.