It seems a little bit open-ended. It wouldn't be fair to say that they didn't get it right, because obviously some of them did and some of them didn't. I think the more recent films and books did a better job of describing the modern teen, probably because they can compare it to teen life in this day and age. The books and movies from the 50s did a fine job of describing teen life in the 50s, I'm sure, but they don't work for these days. While there was clearly teen angst like there is today, it was usually about some totally different things, and films and books from the 50s are hardly comparable to films and books from the here and now, just as teen life from the 50s is hardly comparable to teen life now.
In keeping with the idea that the newer films portray modern teen life better, I would say that either Ellen Page or Jonah Hill best exemplify teen life these days simply because their characters more accurately deal with the kind of problems that teenagers face. But, like I said, comparing movies about teenagers from the 50s with movies about teenagers today is about as fair as comparing teenage life in the 50s to today's teenage life.
Friday, November 19, 2010
Thursday, November 18, 2010
The Secret Novels of J. D. Salinger
It's hard to imagine, at least for me, what these books would have been about. I suppose he probably wrote some things about the Glass family, those seemed to be really big hits when he wrote about them, even if none of them were considered classics like The Catcher in the Rye. Maybe he did something related to The Catcher itself, though. That sounds like something Salinger might do. That is exactly what he did with the Glass family when his short story about Seymour Glass was published in The New Yorker. But it's still hard to tell, not knowing Salinger personally. If I did know him personally, I'd probably ask him about those books.
Even though he didn't like his books being turned into movies, I wonder if he would have gotten over that by the time he got around to writing some of his later works. Obviously, he didn't want to ruin The Catcher, seeing as it was considered a classic. Still, maybe some of the other supposedly secret novels that he may or may not have written would have made good movies, or at least be easier to make into a movie. Salinger might have even made good screenplays, if he put his mind to it. The Catcher isn't exactly the best book I've ever read, but it's pretty good, and even if you don't like The Catcher, you'd probably be able to tell that Salinger is a talented writer.
It would be great if someone found these secret novels, assuming Salinger did write them. I'm assuming he did, though, because writing is something that Salinger does. He writes well, and I can't really imagine someone just not doing something they're good at, unless he had no doubt that The Catcher would eclipse everything else he would ever write. Who knows, though? Maybe someday someone will find these novels and they'll turn out even better than The Catcher. That would be an interesting day.
Even though he didn't like his books being turned into movies, I wonder if he would have gotten over that by the time he got around to writing some of his later works. Obviously, he didn't want to ruin The Catcher, seeing as it was considered a classic. Still, maybe some of the other supposedly secret novels that he may or may not have written would have made good movies, or at least be easier to make into a movie. Salinger might have even made good screenplays, if he put his mind to it. The Catcher isn't exactly the best book I've ever read, but it's pretty good, and even if you don't like The Catcher, you'd probably be able to tell that Salinger is a talented writer.
It would be great if someone found these secret novels, assuming Salinger did write them. I'm assuming he did, though, because writing is something that Salinger does. He writes well, and I can't really imagine someone just not doing something they're good at, unless he had no doubt that The Catcher would eclipse everything else he would ever write. Who knows, though? Maybe someday someone will find these novels and they'll turn out even better than The Catcher. That would be an interesting day.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Visions of Childhood
Remember that old show Recess? You better. It was awesome. You have the six characters, from TJ to Gus, Vince to Mikey, Spinelli to Gretchen, all representing a little slice of childhood as we remember it from the good old days. Vince, you may remember, was the sporty kid who was good at everything he did, and he had a little bit of a competitive spirit as well. Mikey was the kid who just wanted to get along with everyone, but with a dark side and a hidden talent to balance him out. Gretchen was the overachieving honor roll student who always had the answer to get out of a jam. Spinelli was Mikey's opposite, a rough-and-tumble tomboy who was always looking for a fight, but she did have a soft side to go with the tough girl front. Gus was the awkward new kid with just getting to know everyone. His father had been an officer in the army, and it showed in the way that Gus acted around his friends. And finally, there was TJ, the man with the plan, the little hellraiser who always had a new way to make mischief. Each of these six characters almost literally defined every aspect of childhood imaginable when combined, and there were even more supplementary characters to fill in any gaps left by this group of characters.
The short stories themselves, I think, might give a more accurate picture of childhood (in my opinion) if they were more relatable to my life. In such stories as The Sutton Pie Safe and Every Little Hurricane, I have no idea what it's like to live on a reservation or a farm in the country, so I couldn't possibly understand what the childhood of a person who did was like. However, these stories more often than not relate stories that aren't typical of most children. Most kids can't say that they live on farms out in the middle of nowhere or in HUD housing on an Indian reservation, so these stories don't really seem to properly demonstrate childhood. The authors may have gotten the feeling and experience right of children who live in such conditions, but as far as describing a typical childhood, they seem to be a little bit off the mark.
The short stories themselves, I think, might give a more accurate picture of childhood (in my opinion) if they were more relatable to my life. In such stories as The Sutton Pie Safe and Every Little Hurricane, I have no idea what it's like to live on a reservation or a farm in the country, so I couldn't possibly understand what the childhood of a person who did was like. However, these stories more often than not relate stories that aren't typical of most children. Most kids can't say that they live on farms out in the middle of nowhere or in HUD housing on an Indian reservation, so these stories don't really seem to properly demonstrate childhood. The authors may have gotten the feeling and experience right of children who live in such conditions, but as far as describing a typical childhood, they seem to be a little bit off the mark.
Childhood Memories
A long, long time ago, way back in the golden age of preschool, I had a friend named Bradley. Bradley was really the first friend I had ever made by myself. I had other friends, but I knew them from playdates and other random things like that over which I had little or no control, which isn't to say that I didn't like them, but there's something different about a personal friend. Bradley and I played every day in preschool, and he was the one I talked to about all kinds of random things, especially Star Wars. He was a huge fan of Star Wars, and I believe I had seen it at the time, or if I hadn't, I knew enough about it to talk to him about it. Though Bradley had a huge influence on me when we were young, though, the thing about getting to know him that really changed me was after all the experiences I had with him, and I even think as recently as within the last year or two. He died some time into our foray into preschool.
At the time, I really didn't know anything about death. My mom tried to explain it to me, but not being able to understand how permanent it was, I always felt like he was still around somewhere. Who knows, maybe he really was? That feeling disappeared a long time ago, but recently I've been thinking about it a lot more. Mostly I wonder how things might have turned out differently if he were still here. Would he have moved a long time ago? Would we still be friends? If he were still alive and for some reason we weren't friends anymore, would the future even feel any different?
What I've taken away from the whole experience has been a relatively recent transformation. In Bradley's name, I strive to be a better person to everyone around me, knowing that I could have as much of an impact on somebody else as Bradley has had on me someday. If that's the case, I want that impact to be positive. Someday, someone may remember me for the good I did and work to pay it forward to the next person they meet. Treating one's neighbors well is the first step toward keeping the chain alive. Pay it forward, my friends.
At the time, I really didn't know anything about death. My mom tried to explain it to me, but not being able to understand how permanent it was, I always felt like he was still around somewhere. Who knows, maybe he really was? That feeling disappeared a long time ago, but recently I've been thinking about it a lot more. Mostly I wonder how things might have turned out differently if he were still here. Would he have moved a long time ago? Would we still be friends? If he were still alive and for some reason we weren't friends anymore, would the future even feel any different?
What I've taken away from the whole experience has been a relatively recent transformation. In Bradley's name, I strive to be a better person to everyone around me, knowing that I could have as much of an impact on somebody else as Bradley has had on me someday. If that's the case, I want that impact to be positive. Someday, someone may remember me for the good I did and work to pay it forward to the next person they meet. Treating one's neighbors well is the first step toward keeping the chain alive. Pay it forward, my friends.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
About Me
Hello, all! Let me be the first to welcome you to the Blogocube, one of THE places for posting your insights on College Literature.
As I will be hosting this site, allow me to let you know a little bit about myself so we might become a little better acquainted. I consider myself to be something of a jazz man, and though I'm by no means a professional, I would be the first to tell you that I do play a mean saxophone. I always enjoy the opportunity to go out and hit a round of golf, despite my very apparent lack of skill at the game. Oh well, it will get better as time goes on. I am not a very active man, and I don't participate in any sports, but I do take part in the local Academic Decathlon team, and last year's team, I am proud to say, competed well enough to come in first place nationally in an online competition. I also owe each individual member of that team a lot of thanks, as it was through their influence that I became the person that I am today.
That's a little bit about myself. Pleased to meetcha!
As I will be hosting this site, allow me to let you know a little bit about myself so we might become a little better acquainted. I consider myself to be something of a jazz man, and though I'm by no means a professional, I would be the first to tell you that I do play a mean saxophone. I always enjoy the opportunity to go out and hit a round of golf, despite my very apparent lack of skill at the game. Oh well, it will get better as time goes on. I am not a very active man, and I don't participate in any sports, but I do take part in the local Academic Decathlon team, and last year's team, I am proud to say, competed well enough to come in first place nationally in an online competition. I also owe each individual member of that team a lot of thanks, as it was through their influence that I became the person that I am today.
That's a little bit about myself. Pleased to meetcha!
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