Po Mo in da Movies - Danialle Dube

Blazing Saddles

View Trailer: http://www.imdb.com/video/screenplay/vi4038721817/

Blazing Saddles is a postmodern movie in the sense that it is a remake of all western genre movies including the typical stereotypes of the time. A corrupt politician, Hedley Lamarr, is trying to make a town's land worthless so that he can buy it cheap in order to have the train pass. When the townsfolk demand a new sheriff from the Governor, Hedley gets him to send them the first black sheriff. Hedley hopes that the new sheriff will offend the townsfolk so much that they will leave on their own, abondoning the property. The new sheriff, Bart, befriends the town drunk, Jim aka the Waco Kid, and makes him his deputy. Together, work to save to town from Hedley and to gain acceptance from the townspeople.

When the gang hired to scare the town sends in their biggest bad guy, Mondo, Jim warns Bart that shooting him will only make him mad. This leads Bart to find an alternative way of besting him. Bart goes to the saloon dressed as a delivery man and gives Mondo a "candygram" and walks away with his fingers in his ears and the Looney Tunes melody playing. When Mondo opens the box, it explodes in his face. When Jim congratualtes Bart later, he says the hard part was inventing the candygram and that he probably would not get any credit for it.

Another example of postmodernism in Blazing Saddles is when Sheriff Bart askes the townfolk for 24 hours to come up with an idea to save their town. When they refuse, he says they would do it for Randolph Scott. At the mention of Scott's name, the people become overly reverant and agree to give Bart 24 hours. In Hollywood westerns, Randolph Scott was typecast as the heroic Sheriff in 60 films and always managed to save the town in the end.

Finally, in making fun of all the convoluted plans in typical westerns that are able to trick the bad guys, Sheriff Bart, the railroad workers and the townsfolk recreate a model of the town to trap to gang. We can easily see that this is a fake town, but the mauraders are taken in by it. The Waco Kid is then able to steady his hand to shoot the dynamite from a long distance and save the hero's plan at the last second.

PO MO in the Movies - Elaine Martin

The Island - an example of Post Modernism in film

This movie is a similar take on a show from the 1970's called Logan's Run.   

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The two main characters find out they are clones after their daring escape from a pretend world.

The Island is a show about people held in an underground society. The modern take on a futuristic idea instead uses clones as the inhabitants of this hidden place. They are also deceived in this movie but in a different way. Their entire memory is programmed into them through extensive brainwashing. There are only a few basic pasts that they all have lived filled with good memories. The clones are also told they are being kept in this place due to the contamination on the outside. However, in this movie no war has taken place. The reason they are there in the first place is because they are clones, paid for and made by their wealthy owners. If their human owner happens to become ill and need replacement parts, they are killed and their body parts salvaged. The method they fool the clones is by telling them they have won the lottery and get to go to the Island. They think they are lucky and finally get to go to a place like paradise. The male character called Lincoln starts to figure out the truth, he takes the girl he likes and they escape. Once he puts the entire process together in his mind, he returns to help the other escape. 

Trailer to The Island - This is the IMDb trailer.

Clones escape - This is from YouTube and shows the ending of the movie as the clones escape to find they really won't be contaminated and the two main characters kiss. Then, it ends with them sailing into the future in the boat that was owned by the clones human counterpart who died during the film.

Postmodernism: The concept is copied from a futuristic movie from 1976, but in this postmodern take it uses clones as the characters. In 1996, Dolly the sheep was cloned making her the first living thing to be cloned. The movie was probably inspired by the concept of potentially cloning humans.

Pictures from The Island

The cloning machines shown.

Main characters hiding during action scene near equipment that brainwashes the clones to believe that they are who they are told they are. 

In this scene the clones are waiting to find out if they were drawn in the lottery to go to the "island".  The  island is the paradise where the chosen get to go out in live in the outside world, they think. In reality, when they are chosen it is because their matching human needs their body parts in order to live longer.

When the owners/managers of the cloning operation suspected that one of the groups of clones had more human like traits of reasoning than the others, they put these bugs in his eyes to read him.

These are a couple of the action scenes from the movie when the clones had escaped and were being hunted down to be killed so that no one in the real world would find out that clones had feelings and were human-like.

Logan's Run was a weekly show about the few people who had survived the nuclear war and are being held in a society underground. The following is a summary:

"It's 2274 and on the surface, it all seems to be an idyllic society. Living in a city within an enclosed dome, there is little or no work for humans to perform and inhabitants are free to pursue all of the pleasures of life. There is one catch however: your life is limited and when you reach 30, it is terminated in a quasi-religious ceremony known as Carousel. Some, known as runners, do try to escape their fate when the time comes and it's the job of a Sandman to track them down and kill them. Logan is such a man and with several years before his own termination date, thinks nothing of the job he does. Soon after meeting a young woman, Jessica-6, he is ordered to become a runner himself and infiltrate a community outside the dome known as Sanctuary and to destroy it. Pursued by his friend Francis, also a Sandman, Logan and Jessica find their way to the outside. There they discover a beautiful world." Written by garykmcd  from: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0074812/

Logan's Run Trailer

Never Let Me Go is a new movie coming out that is also about clones. This one is set at a boarding school in Europe. The children are given everything but time. They know their purpose as far as I could tell from the trailer. It seems to have a more real element than the other two. 

Trailer to Never Let Me Go - This trailer is from IMDb.

Po Mo in the Movies -- Danielle Wright

"Spaceballs"

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094012/

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.arxvaldex.com/shop/images/spaceballs.jpg

A fan's best clips of "Spaceballs" Pts. 1 & 2 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcY090XV284

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEZxgEgG5Cg

"Combing the desert."

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://jordanhoffman.com/wp-content/uploads/spaceballs_large_12.jpg&imgrefurl=

"Lost in the desert with Princess Vespa, Dot Matrix, Lone Star and Barf."

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Spaceballs

Mel Brooks' comedy "Spaceballs" is a classic example of a postmodern film style in that it, as the book says, "gives way to relentless quoting and remakes" (pg. 321). The film is a satirical and hilarious spoof on the modern classic "Star Wars" saga and countless other classic moderns including the popular 60s television show "Star Trek"; the popular horror film, "Aliens"; and other popular sci-fi movies. The comedy also foregoes the rules of typical filmmaking by constantly "breaking the fourth wall" (communicating directly with the camera and the audience) and "leaning on the fourth wall" (making references to editing techniques). The film also has a fairy tale satirical twist by incorporating the less than charming character Prince Valium (yawn) who is slated to marry the beautiful but spoiled, Princess Vespa. The bratty princess flees her wedding because she loathes the thought of marrying such a boring prince simply because he is the last available prince of royal blood. In her flight, however, she is captured by the evil Spaceballs who holds her ransom for the combination to Planet Druidia's air shield, the Princess' home planet, and has to be rescued by the brave and handsome Prince Charming (though he does not know it), Lone Star. In this adventure/comedy, love eventually conquers all and, as in all fairy tales, has the classic happy ending. 

"Spaceballs" also capitalizes on technology and marketing/merchandising opportunities by introducing several popula products in junctures throughout the movie including Mr. Coffee, Mr. Rental (VHS), Mercedes (the Princess' car/ship), and Brooks' take on the Millennium Falcon, Lone Star's Winnebago, to name only a few. The film also touches on the trend of cosmetic surgery, the effects of pollution, and the prejudice against ethnicities (in this case the play on the "Druish" [Jewish]).

PostModernism & Social Narratives

Body Modification

http://www.chooseyourbeliefs.com/2008/09/christian-body-modification.html

Image source: http://media.photobucket.com/image/kat+von+d/Fav54ver/FP9475Kat-Von-D-Posters.jpg

Gina's Comments: In what is considered to be beautiful, the ideas are changing more and more everyday. Specifically, tattoos and piercings, or body modifications, are becoming more acceptable forms of creating personal beauty. One person that you can look at to prove this is Kat Von D, the star of the reality TV show LA Ink. She’s considered to be a paragon of counter-cultural beauty.

Danialle:

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504763_162-20016730-10391704.html

In September 2010 a teen was expelled from high school for having her nose pierced, which is against school policy. She is fighting the expulsion on the basis of belonging to the Church of Body Modification. Now there is a nationwide discussion as to whether the Church of Body Modification is a “real” church and thus provides her with a religious exception to the rule. Members of the Church believe that modification is an ancient art that strengthens the bond between mind, body, and soul. Detractors say that the Church of Body Modification is an organization, not a Church since there is no deity or higher power.

Danielle: Although tattooing has been around for thousands of years and is an accepted practice in several cultures around the world, tattooing in the United States was considered a deviant practice or taboo until the mid-1990s. Now that this laden art has made its way into the mainstream, tattooing has become socially acceptable and not simply an exercise in rebellion. In fact, getting a tattoo can be a deeply sacred experience for many individuals as they relate getting the body art to a personal trial or tribulation that they have overcome, or in remembrance of a loved one. Individuals getting tattoos are simply not just rock stars or celebrities, but they come from all walks of life, professions, and levels of education including doctors, nurses, lawyers, and suburban homemakers. The stereotypical “wild child” persona simply does not apply to this now socially acceptable practice of body modification and we see it every day in advertisements, television, and movies.


Elaine: There has been a stigma in the religious world that has seen tattoos as a taboo in Christianity. In modern times, the taboo is fading as tattoos are becoming expressions of faith. In the example in the first picture, the artist who owns The Needle for the Nail believes, “…the tattoos on his body are signs of an alternative Christian movement, especially among youth, embracing ink and reanalyzing their faith. Many younger Christians, whose attendance at traditional churches is waning, are now turning inward and toward churches willing to stray from old-fashioned creeds and inch more towards a contemporary interpretation of the Bible.” In other realms of thinking, tattoos are also used to express believes, art, remembrance of others, and much more. Quote taken from: 
             http://newsinitiative.org/story/2007/08/16/christian_tattoo_the_needle_for

Religious Fish

http://www.ancient-symbols.com/images/symbols-influence-history/original/christian-fish.jpg

http://weblogsky.com/2009/02/16/darwin-and-buddhism/

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_TAi8dc5C-S8/THxiDe46sxI/AAAAAAAAFh4/lk8sGJhDOjk/s1600/piratefish_hiqual.jpg

Gina's Comments: These three images show different re-imaginings of symbols of meaning. The first is the re-imagining of a Christian symbol, from the typical cross to that of a fish. This fish is called the Jesus fish. The second is the re-imagining of that new Christian symbol of the fish with legs, showing the progression of evolution—this is called the Darwin or Ichthus Fish. It is in contrast to the Jesus fish because usually those with Jesus fish on their cars do not believe in evolution, and the beliefs of Christianity are sometimes in direct opposition to those of evolution. The third image is one from the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, which is in opposition to both Christian and Darwinist attitudes with the Pirate Fish, which is a symbol of (relative) atheism and also tongue-in-cheek humor.

Danialle:

The three fish images denote three different religious views, Christian, Evolutionists, and Pastafarians. The original image was developed to provide security to persecuted Christians in ancient times. By drawing half the fish in the sand, they could inquire if the person they had met was also a Christian. If so, they could finish the image. The Evolutionists modified the image, adding feet to the fish, to incorporate the idea of fish evolving and crawling out onto dry land. The Pastafarians continued to modify the religious fish icon to incorporate their beliefs concerning pirates and global warming while continuing to parody the conflict between the Christian Creationists and Evolutionists.

Danielle: In the grand theme of master narratives, different religions have always had their spin on life and how (and why) we are here, and who is controlling or has created the universe. Unfortunately everyone seems to have a different take on whom or what this higher power is and whether or not this belief is simply a fairy tale. This question has sparked deep emotional debates that have crossed into our daily lives, our work, and our schools. The example of the three fishes shows how these varying religions are taking pot shots at one another, especially the pirate fish representing The Flying Spaghetti Monster religion, and the Evolutionist fish that slams the Christianity ideal of creationism. Instead of having tolerance for varying points of view, some religious groups, who deeply believe in their message, are lashing out in what can only be deemed as hypocritical acts. Our society is constantly being exposed to stories about religious opposition on the news and on the internet as well as in other forms of media (such as television programs and advertisements) and how it affects the global stage in the form of wars, kidnappings, and terrorist attacks.


Elaine: The fish was first used as a symbol for Christianity dating back to the first century. In modern times, the fish is an iconic symbol for Christianity today as it has been marketed on clothing, bumper stickers, bookmarks, used in sitcoms, and across the technological realms. As debates began about evolution the symbol also began to evolve. It grew legs and represented the concept of evolution (humans evolving from a lesser life form) rather than a sign Jesus used to demonstrate we are to be fishers of men. The war of the symbols began and competitions were started by variations of the fish eating each other. Recently, a new symbol has joined the war. This is a fish made of bones representing pirates. The movement that designed the latest symbol was in rebellion to Christianity winning the right to have intelligent design taught along the side of evolution in the public schools in Kansas. This movement is meant to be satirical view on Creationism and has gained a lot of popularity. There is much controversy about how these symbols take on meaning based on core belief systems of the individuals involved. Some see them as humorous, others see them as heresy. Information taken from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parodies_of_the_ichthys_symbol

Media Accounts in Everyday Life: 1940s vs. the Present

Comparing & Contrasting Our Personal Accounts of Typical Days with Media

     It is very interesting to see that three out of four of us regularly use our cell phones with all four of us checking our Facebook daily. In addition, all the members of our group regularly check our email and work on computers everyday. Although all of us listen to our radio in the car, only two of us (Gina and Danielle) regularly used their iPods to also listen to music. Elaine was the only one in our group who does not watch television although Danialle admitted she only watches it on a minimal basis. Half of our group (Gina and Danialle) regularly watch movies on Netflix. Gina and Elaine were the texters of the group compared to Danialle and Danielle who both never engage in texting. Although all of us visited websites daily, Gina visited the most in the morning after making her tea.

     A typical day with media in the 1940s revolved around the newspaper and the radio for most American families. Radio was both for information and for entertainment as families listened to both news pertaining to the United States and the world. In contrast to our group’s individual days, we received our news via the Internet and the television vs. the newspaper and newsreels as they did in the 40s. Although all the members of our group listened to the radio for music, news, and entertainment, the time spent listening to the radio was limited to driving times. Our group agreed that radio or television time in the 40s was more of a family event and today the practice is more individualized as our society uses media technology for watching movies in the car, on portable DVD players, and on mobile devices.

     The comic strips that were introduced in the 40s were limited to newspaper or comic book publications as a main source of entertainment (and often as propaganda) for children. In our group Gina and Danialle regularly look at comic strips on the web. Magazines were another source of entertainment and information for individuals of the 40s compared to how our group utilizes the web to gather that same information.

     One important item to note about the 40s was how the government used media to establish the war effort by including military images in advertisements, propaganda posters, movie short reels before the main attraction in cinemas, war coverage and fireside chats on the radio, and war footage on the television. Citizens relied more on letter-writing as a means of communication compared to how our group utilized email and texting to keep in touch with our acquaintances.

     Compared to our group, individuals in the 40s utilized the radio or record players for music whereas we listen to the bulk of our music via iPods or other mobile media devices.

     Overall, our group felt a typical media day in the 40s was correlated well to the expanding technologies of today; however, in our present time we are much more reliant upon technology to function both socially and cognitively. 

Jacques Lacan & Spectatorship According to Two Movies

Shawshank Redemption


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111161/synopsis
Above is a link from the Internet Movie Database that including the plot summary as well as the synopsis of the film.


The Shawshank Redemption, generally, is a movie about an innocent man put in prison for murder. The man is Andy Dufresne.

You sympathize with the main character because he's very human. In terms of perspective, the viewer sees him or herself in the main character because of his vulnerabilities and his genuine nature. And Dufresne reverted to his survival instinct and didn't allow that to crush his human spirit, and actually enhanced the spirit of the others around him. He is likable and makes the best of his situation: he survives, and survives as well as his circumstances allow, even pushing for better (succeeding in the arduous task of bettering the prison library and therefore improving the lives of all of the inmates). His presence in prison as an innocent man also illustrates him as a foil to the other, guilty inmates. While the others are guilty, they are still portrayed as human beings--not black and white portrayals of good and evil but normal people with morals in shades of gray. Whether it is Andy's innocence which allows him to view the others this way, or the tone of the movie itself, is up for individual interpretation.

Spectatorship is involved in the way that through the likability of Andy, the audience is pulled into his place. Additionally, his status as an innocent in the place of a guilty man through no fault or action of his own is one which anyone may find themselves. This is a sympathetic role, one which the audience feels drawn and compelled to put themselves in Andy's place and wonder how they would react in similar circumstances.


Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon


http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0190332/plotsummary
Above is a link from the Internet Movie Database


Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is a movie set in Qing Era China. It is mainly about the warrior monk, Li Mu Bai and his sword the Green Destiny. While the plot deviates from these two characters and themes, it is safe to say that the movie as a whole is about love and faith. Yu Shu Lien, the woman who was once married to Li Mu Bai's brother, is also a warrior and is a friend. She and Li Mu Bai are in love but it would be considered improper for them to act on this because Li Mu Bai is a Buddhist monk and technically they might be considered as related to some people because of the marriage between Shu Lien and Li Mu Bai's brother.


Also, there is the side-story of Jiao Long Yu, the princess who is to be married to a man she does not love. She steals the Green Destiny because she is affiliated with a government rebel named Jade Fox who has been her ladies maid and also secretly her teacher in the martial arts since Long Yu was a child. But before this... the plot at this point gets a little twisted with a flashback, but basically she got kidnapped, kicked her kidnappers butts, and then fell in love with one of the brigands. After a while, after running away from her family's attempts to find her, she leaves him and chooses a legitimate life where she no longer has to run.


Eventually, in the present (main storyline), because of Long Yu's theft of the Green Destiny, a policeman from another prefecture is on to Jade Fox's scent, there where Li Mu Bai, Shu Lien, and Long Yu are all convened for Long Yu's upcoming wedding at the house of a local lord. This ends in Jade Fox's detection of being followed by him, and the policeman's death. This exacerbates the situation of everyone else in that Long Yu is not necessarily a bad guy but now has to flee with Jade Fox. Li Mu Bai is somewhat aware of what's going on, and follows them. This culminates in his death.


The movie, in short, is about faith and love. The love between the characters, specifically Li Mu Bai and Shu Lien is unable to be fulfilled basically because of the conflict with Jade Fox and Long Yu. Long Yu's own love, which she is reunited with at the end of the film, is tainted because she is yet again fleeing from her husband (or promised husband), and also that she is basically the cause of the death of Li Mu Bai.

There is a legend in which a man makes a wish for his family, and to make that wish come true he jumps into the falls. The leap is what will make the wish come true. This is what Long Yu does, though the audience is left to speculate as to what her wish actually is after her leap.

Depending upon where you live, different cultures would have a different perspective regarding this film. For example, Eastern audiences who are used to a culture that have arranged marriages generally did not care for this film as it may have been misrepresentation of traditional values and their way of life. Western audiences found it more fascinating due to its mysterious twists that mirrored our own sense of freedom and rebelliousness. Eastern audiences also have a greater respect for the martial arts than the general population of Western audiences where there is a tendency, at least in this film, to simply be entertained. Western audiences also seem to have a need for a happy ending and for love to ultimately prevail. According to Lacan's theory, children develop images of themselves and the ability to master and control their own worlds. From this perspective, the film represents Lacan's contention.

The filmmakers used the concept of spectatorship to their advantage in this film by utilizing elaborate special effects that had never been seen before. For example, the martial artists were fighting scenes in the treetops making the characters appear as if they were floating and jumping elegantly from bamboo shoot to bamboo shoot--poetry in motion. When utilizing this technique, the filmmakers made the movie fun yet fearless and take the audience by complete surprise. In addition, the film has almost an American Western feel with its lone fighters that come together and the constant struggle between the "good guys" and "bad guys." The audience cannot help but feel sympathy for the tormented princess who is destined to marry a man she does not love and roots for her freedom and independence. The film also had a strong sense of culture and allows a foreign audience to look and live in a world completely different from their own.