Saturday, November 11, 2006
T minus 40
39 days left. So I'm actually taking this weekend to work on my finals. Sked:
This week: work on finals. Interview as much as I can, write as much as I can. Make my contacts.
Next weekend: Davis
Next week: Derrick & Thanksgiving
Week after Thanksgiving: Finals due
Week after that: rewrites due
Week after that: SCHOOL IS OVER.
Where'd all the time go?
This week: work on finals. Interview as much as I can, write as much as I can. Make my contacts.
Next weekend: Davis
Next week: Derrick & Thanksgiving
Week after Thanksgiving: Finals due
Week after that: rewrites due
Week after that: SCHOOL IS OVER.
Where'd all the time go?
Friday, November 10, 2006
vent: politics and media
What is with it? Yes, I vented to Kevin yesterday (and I say vent because I know I can't look at it without inserting a fair amount of personal bias).
We were talking about political media and how extreme it is. It is the reason (or a large part of the reason) that I'm not as politically minded as I once was, especially since I came to New York. I know it's not a personal thing, but I just hate it when people (including media, professors, classmates, people on the street) assume that just because you're in New York and you have higher education, that you must hate Bush and be a Democrat.
I'm not a Democrat. I'm not a Republican. What I am is a moderate. I don't hate Bush. I don't know Bush. I don't think anyone that I've heard say "I hate Bush" actually knows Bush. Kev and I talked about holding politicians, especially the President, to a higher standard than most people - he just doesn't have the leeway to mess up because of the greatness of his responsibilities and his position as a figurehead of our nation. A large part of it, Kevin pointed out, was also that the party in power will always be vilified just because they have power.
Will they, though? I believe that is in large part due to the media. We are not objective (I mean, seriously, that's the reason we write), but political writers get away with a lot (and I mean A LOT) more personal bias and editorializing than we'd ever let any straight news writer go. Why is that?
Part of that is because the readers let them. Politics, in an odd effort to equalize the voting population, has instead polarized it, each attacking the other reactively rather than proactively. As someone who has always sort of sat on the fence, it angers me that the media, of whom I hope to become a part of, is to blame for this. I know, it sounds trite, but why can't we just all get along?
Kevin, in his political science wisdom, explained to me the fundamental differences between liberals and conservatives and why they will never understand each other. It lies in human nature. Conservatives believe that people are flawed and that social institutions are necessary to save us from ourselves. Liberals believe that people are blank slates molded by the worlds they grow up in, and we all start in the same place. While this explanation is all well and good, I don't think most people understand that when they choose to become liberal or conservative.
Growing up in a very conservative household in a relatively conservative Southern California county (one of the few left in the state), it's always been easy for me to see the conservative point of view (sharing a belief system with the majority of them makes it easy as well). But through my exposure in public schools, higher education and New York in general has given me an understanding of the liberal point of view as well. In my mind, I'm thinking (although in my mind it doesn't sound so egotistical), why can't people be more like me and understand each other? I have close friends that fall on both sides of the spectrum, and they all (although they haven't told me otherwise) respect me for my opinion even when I differ from them. How is it that you can understand when someone you know believes in something different from you but you close the doors on someone you don't know? Isn't everyone (or most people at least) just as nuanced and complex as your friend (or at least have the possibility to be?)
What brought all this on was Walter Shapiro (former USA Today political columnist and current Washington Bureau Chief of Salon.com) came to speak to our class today (his wife is our teacher). As someone who has spent so much time in Washington (he's been covering politics for over 30 years; the 2008 Presidential election with be the 8th presidential election he's covered), I expected a lot of the same old same old "hate Bush, vote Hillary" schpeal that you get thrown at you from all directions in New York. One of the things he spoke on was that all politicians, no matter how they come across in public, have complexities we do not see. A classmate immediately asked "If that's true, then what are Bush's complexities?" The room was abuzz for a moment in snickers, as if there could not possibly be a single one (thank goodness no one cracked a Texas joke or I would have been all over their ass).
Shapiro, who comes across as congenial and understanding, thought for a second and said, and I paraphrase, that some of the things George W. has done lately have surprised him, such as the recent firing of Rumsfeld and the not-so-recent appointment of Josh Bolten as his Chief of Staff. His overall assessment: Bush has learned a great deal during his time in office, and he has begun applying some of it. Not a positive review, not a negative review. Shapiro does not know Bush personally, but as a well-established and respected political writer, I was so relieved that he didn't jump to an extreme conclusion.
Thus goes back to the perils and pitfalls of journalism school and the future of political journalism. The types of people that go to journalism school tend to be the types with very firm beliefs in one way or another. Those that aren't so swayed usually don't want to write on those topics (aka myself). And the extremists end up being the ones who apply to and end up writing about topics such as politics. But through my two classes (which are insanely different even in the way they are alike), there are two outlets for covering politics - one for pop culture (a la Rolling Stone and Esquire) and one for Washington (a la Wall Street Journal and USA Today). The amount of editorializing and bias that goes into a pop-political article is usually more than goes into a political news story. Unfortunately, most people would rather read a Rolling Stone than a Washington Post (although I don't know why - I've never gotten through a whole issue of that cumbersomely large magazine - it doesn't fit anywhere!).
Unfortunately, it seems the trend is not going anywhere anytime soon. I can say without a doubt that NYU is definitely honing a new generation of these pop-politicos to fuel the biased fire. What will be interesting to see after Tuesday's election is if the critics will begin to feed on the now-majority Democrats as they rule Congress. It was easy to vilify the party in power when there was just one target - how do you even it out when the power is distributed between more than one party?
We were talking about political media and how extreme it is. It is the reason (or a large part of the reason) that I'm not as politically minded as I once was, especially since I came to New York. I know it's not a personal thing, but I just hate it when people (including media, professors, classmates, people on the street) assume that just because you're in New York and you have higher education, that you must hate Bush and be a Democrat.
I'm not a Democrat. I'm not a Republican. What I am is a moderate. I don't hate Bush. I don't know Bush. I don't think anyone that I've heard say "I hate Bush" actually knows Bush. Kev and I talked about holding politicians, especially the President, to a higher standard than most people - he just doesn't have the leeway to mess up because of the greatness of his responsibilities and his position as a figurehead of our nation. A large part of it, Kevin pointed out, was also that the party in power will always be vilified just because they have power.
Will they, though? I believe that is in large part due to the media. We are not objective (I mean, seriously, that's the reason we write), but political writers get away with a lot (and I mean A LOT) more personal bias and editorializing than we'd ever let any straight news writer go. Why is that?
Part of that is because the readers let them. Politics, in an odd effort to equalize the voting population, has instead polarized it, each attacking the other reactively rather than proactively. As someone who has always sort of sat on the fence, it angers me that the media, of whom I hope to become a part of, is to blame for this. I know, it sounds trite, but why can't we just all get along?
Kevin, in his political science wisdom, explained to me the fundamental differences between liberals and conservatives and why they will never understand each other. It lies in human nature. Conservatives believe that people are flawed and that social institutions are necessary to save us from ourselves. Liberals believe that people are blank slates molded by the worlds they grow up in, and we all start in the same place. While this explanation is all well and good, I don't think most people understand that when they choose to become liberal or conservative.
Growing up in a very conservative household in a relatively conservative Southern California county (one of the few left in the state), it's always been easy for me to see the conservative point of view (sharing a belief system with the majority of them makes it easy as well). But through my exposure in public schools, higher education and New York in general has given me an understanding of the liberal point of view as well. In my mind, I'm thinking (although in my mind it doesn't sound so egotistical), why can't people be more like me and understand each other? I have close friends that fall on both sides of the spectrum, and they all (although they haven't told me otherwise) respect me for my opinion even when I differ from them. How is it that you can understand when someone you know believes in something different from you but you close the doors on someone you don't know? Isn't everyone (or most people at least) just as nuanced and complex as your friend (or at least have the possibility to be?)
What brought all this on was Walter Shapiro (former USA Today political columnist and current Washington Bureau Chief of Salon.com) came to speak to our class today (his wife is our teacher). As someone who has spent so much time in Washington (he's been covering politics for over 30 years; the 2008 Presidential election with be the 8th presidential election he's covered), I expected a lot of the same old same old "hate Bush, vote Hillary" schpeal that you get thrown at you from all directions in New York. One of the things he spoke on was that all politicians, no matter how they come across in public, have complexities we do not see. A classmate immediately asked "If that's true, then what are Bush's complexities?" The room was abuzz for a moment in snickers, as if there could not possibly be a single one (thank goodness no one cracked a Texas joke or I would have been all over their ass).
Shapiro, who comes across as congenial and understanding, thought for a second and said, and I paraphrase, that some of the things George W. has done lately have surprised him, such as the recent firing of Rumsfeld and the not-so-recent appointment of Josh Bolten as his Chief of Staff. His overall assessment: Bush has learned a great deal during his time in office, and he has begun applying some of it. Not a positive review, not a negative review. Shapiro does not know Bush personally, but as a well-established and respected political writer, I was so relieved that he didn't jump to an extreme conclusion.
Thus goes back to the perils and pitfalls of journalism school and the future of political journalism. The types of people that go to journalism school tend to be the types with very firm beliefs in one way or another. Those that aren't so swayed usually don't want to write on those topics (aka myself). And the extremists end up being the ones who apply to and end up writing about topics such as politics. But through my two classes (which are insanely different even in the way they are alike), there are two outlets for covering politics - one for pop culture (a la Rolling Stone and Esquire) and one for Washington (a la Wall Street Journal and USA Today). The amount of editorializing and bias that goes into a pop-political article is usually more than goes into a political news story. Unfortunately, most people would rather read a Rolling Stone than a Washington Post (although I don't know why - I've never gotten through a whole issue of that cumbersomely large magazine - it doesn't fit anywhere!).
Unfortunately, it seems the trend is not going anywhere anytime soon. I can say without a doubt that NYU is definitely honing a new generation of these pop-politicos to fuel the biased fire. What will be interesting to see after Tuesday's election is if the critics will begin to feed on the now-majority Democrats as they rule Congress. It was easy to vilify the party in power when there was just one target - how do you even it out when the power is distributed between more than one party?
Thursday, November 09, 2006
commentary: movies
I was talking to my music-, photo-, and movie-snob brother yesterday (yes, I say that lovingly), and sadly realized that I was the one out of touch with reality. But am I?
What has happened to movies nowadays? Borat is the most successful recent movie, and it is a mockumentary rather than a blockbuster or a thriller. Where have the romantic comedies gone (not that I miss them), and how did Reese Witherspoon become one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood ($30 mill in 2005 alone)? Where in the world have I been? Oh yeah, the "capital of the world."
Where have the epics gone? The new 007 is coming out soon, and critics have already begun raving about Daniel Craig's performance in a remake of Casino Royale (I don't know why they didn't just use a new story), but will audiences embrace a blonde Bond? I'm not convinced (yet), and probably won't go to the theaters to see it either.
A good point Derrick brought up yesterday was a question: Is America getting more stupid or more smart in terms of their movie-watching? Borat is a mockumentary (like I mentioned above), and to understand it for those purposes takes a certain level of intelligence. Has everyone who's seen it understood it, or are some people not getting the intended message? That's hard to say.
Have we progressed beyond two hours of straight action? Or the old boy meets girl story? Or have we just gotten bored? It seems the only movies getting good reviews have been animated (those Happy Feet commercials are just so cute). It doesn't help that prices for movie tickets have gone up while services like Netflix have made it so much more convenient (and cost effective) to just wait a few months and rent the movie.
Just a thought.
What has happened to movies nowadays? Borat is the most successful recent movie, and it is a mockumentary rather than a blockbuster or a thriller. Where have the romantic comedies gone (not that I miss them), and how did Reese Witherspoon become one of the highest paid actresses in Hollywood ($30 mill in 2005 alone)? Where in the world have I been? Oh yeah, the "capital of the world."
Where have the epics gone? The new 007 is coming out soon, and critics have already begun raving about Daniel Craig's performance in a remake of Casino Royale (I don't know why they didn't just use a new story), but will audiences embrace a blonde Bond? I'm not convinced (yet), and probably won't go to the theaters to see it either.
A good point Derrick brought up yesterday was a question: Is America getting more stupid or more smart in terms of their movie-watching? Borat is a mockumentary (like I mentioned above), and to understand it for those purposes takes a certain level of intelligence. Has everyone who's seen it understood it, or are some people not getting the intended message? That's hard to say.
Have we progressed beyond two hours of straight action? Or the old boy meets girl story? Or have we just gotten bored? It seems the only movies getting good reviews have been animated (those Happy Feet commercials are just so cute). It doesn't help that prices for movie tickets have gone up while services like Netflix have made it so much more convenient (and cost effective) to just wait a few months and rent the movie.
Just a thought.
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
Deeper into the Rabbit Hole
The highlight of my Tuesday was when I posted an entry on the knot message board and there were 12 comments (including two responses by me to questions). Pretty much just a random "here! look at the cute shoes I found" post, but it only takes 16 post to get a star ("popular post") and I almost did it. ha ha. Someone smack me upside the head.
That said, it seems the root of my problem is slightly deeper than just my crazy planning habits. Part of it stems from the fact that during the day, most of my friends in CA are at work (well, so are these girls), so they're not actually free to even chat online.
So I've realized two main things: 1) I really am pretty lonely up here and 2) I am definitely an OC girl at heart. There's just so much more relatable stuff (even non-wedding related) that I find I have in common with these girls than with the girls I have met here in New York. I panicked yesterday when filling out online job apps and the knotties helped. I celebrated my shoes with the knotties. I might even go to their December GTG (get together) if I'm in town.
I guess I'm officially in the Rabbit Hole. Don't know what kind of world I'm getting myself into, but I'm sure the adventures will be numerous.
That said, it seems the root of my problem is slightly deeper than just my crazy planning habits. Part of it stems from the fact that during the day, most of my friends in CA are at work (well, so are these girls), so they're not actually free to even chat online.
So I've realized two main things: 1) I really am pretty lonely up here and 2) I am definitely an OC girl at heart. There's just so much more relatable stuff (even non-wedding related) that I find I have in common with these girls than with the girls I have met here in New York. I panicked yesterday when filling out online job apps and the knotties helped. I celebrated my shoes with the knotties. I might even go to their December GTG (get together) if I'm in town.
I guess I'm officially in the Rabbit Hole. Don't know what kind of world I'm getting myself into, but I'm sure the adventures will be numerous.
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
My Movie List
I'm not exactly a movie person ($10? no thanks). But there are several things coming out I do want to see...
Stranger Than Fiction
Running with Scissors (already out)
Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus
Bobby
For Your Consideration (another Christopher Guest comedy a la Best In Show and A Mighty Wind)
The History Boys (adapted from Broadway)
Factory Girl
Stranger Than Fiction
Running with Scissors (already out)
Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus
Bobby
For Your Consideration (another Christopher Guest comedy a la Best In Show and A Mighty Wind)
The History Boys (adapted from Broadway)
Factory Girl
Monday, November 06, 2006
I like my food like I like my internet
Fast.
Yes, I'll admit to being more excited about Taco Bell's new gordita than any new movie. Still haven't tried it...still plan on it, though.
But, as I was telling Cari the other day, it seems as if in New York, the land of the mom and pop diner, there is a stigma placed on fast food. I've heard people say countless times that they don't care where we eat "as long as it's not fast food." My heart drops.
What is with this fascination? My theory: it's inbred in Orange County and So Cal culture due to the extensive hours spent in your car. How many times have I swung by a drive through between work and church and ate in traffic on the freeway? Too many. The drive-through, one of the best inventions ever, has revolutionized car culture, and perhaps even created it. Not only do we need our cars to get places in So Cal (or pretty much everywhere but New York and other select cities), you can store things in your trunk (aka 12 pairs of shoes), eat in it, put your makeup on in it, dry your laundry on the back seat in the sunlight (spread out so it doesn't wrinkle), and use it to store books (you only need to stop by your car between classes). It is a necessity, which was most apparent to me in my senior year of college.
I love my car. Thank goodness my mother promised it back to me when I move back in December. Bucko, the now-off-white 1990 Nissan Maxima has served my family well in the past 16 years. He holds my high school tassel ( green and gold, baby), my broken Barbie keychain and most of all, my heart. The old school tape deck doesn't work, the back speakers are broken (all that ever comes out is buzzing...but the tone changes when I accelerate!), and there are chips all over (my dad has a thing for hitting inanimate objects). But alas, I'm in love.
So first thing I'll do when I get back to Cali? Hop in my trusty ol' Bucko and head off to In n Out. The best thing about a car is that it never complains about going through a drive-through.
Yes, I'll admit to being more excited about Taco Bell's new gordita than any new movie. Still haven't tried it...still plan on it, though.
But, as I was telling Cari the other day, it seems as if in New York, the land of the mom and pop diner, there is a stigma placed on fast food. I've heard people say countless times that they don't care where we eat "as long as it's not fast food." My heart drops.
What is with this fascination? My theory: it's inbred in Orange County and So Cal culture due to the extensive hours spent in your car. How many times have I swung by a drive through between work and church and ate in traffic on the freeway? Too many. The drive-through, one of the best inventions ever, has revolutionized car culture, and perhaps even created it. Not only do we need our cars to get places in So Cal (or pretty much everywhere but New York and other select cities), you can store things in your trunk (aka 12 pairs of shoes), eat in it, put your makeup on in it, dry your laundry on the back seat in the sunlight (spread out so it doesn't wrinkle), and use it to store books (you only need to stop by your car between classes). It is a necessity, which was most apparent to me in my senior year of college.
I love my car. Thank goodness my mother promised it back to me when I move back in December. Bucko, the now-off-white 1990 Nissan Maxima has served my family well in the past 16 years. He holds my high school tassel ( green and gold, baby), my broken Barbie keychain and most of all, my heart. The old school tape deck doesn't work, the back speakers are broken (all that ever comes out is buzzing...but the tone changes when I accelerate!), and there are chips all over (my dad has a thing for hitting inanimate objects). But alas, I'm in love.
So first thing I'll do when I get back to Cali? Hop in my trusty ol' Bucko and head off to In n Out. The best thing about a car is that it never complains about going through a drive-through.
Sunday, November 05, 2006
Let's Start a Revival
of movie musicals! In the style of MGM's fabulous Freed Unit in the 40s and 50s, movie musicals ran the gamut of moviemaking - drama, romantic comedy, comedy. Last night I re-watched (for the ump-teenth time) Easter Parade, the amazing Judy Garland - Fred Astaire film that dragged Mr. Astaire out of early retirement and led to his eventual partnership with Ginger Rogers (ever heard of her?). The history behind all of it is fascinating, as the documentaries will tell you.
So of course I watched those as well. Some fun facts you may not necessarily know (but I do since I've watched hours and hours of movie musical documentaries):
-Mickey Rooney was a teen idol in his films with Judy Garland - they were a team.
-MGM's Little Red Schoolhouse once had a roster that included Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, Mickey Rooney, and Deanna Durbin among others...all taught in one room on the premises.
-The parts played by Fred Astaire and Ann Miller in Easter Parade were originally meant for Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse. Injuries to both Kelly and Charisse prompted the last minute changes.
-Ann Miller's amazing tap scene "Shaking the Blues Away" was filmed (well, the whole movie was filmed) while she was in a back brace recovering from a broken back. Her husband at the time had pushed her down the stairs while he was drunk, breaking her back and causing a miscarraige.
-Judy Garland's first marriage was at 19. Her first pregnancy ended in abortion - she wanted to keep the child but the studio and her mother said she couldn't.
-At the time Easter Parade was made, Fred Astaire was already a 49 year old grandfather. Judy Garland was only 26.
-Fred Astaire guest starred on one episode of the original 1978-79 Battlestar Galactica television show.
-For the part of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, MGM originally tried to get Shirley Temple. Luckily for Garland, Louis B. Mayer was convinced she could play the part, even though at 16 she was too old to play a little girl. The song "Over the Rainbow" was written for Garland - some guess that if Temple had been cast, the song would never have existed.
So of course I watched those as well. Some fun facts you may not necessarily know (but I do since I've watched hours and hours of movie musical documentaries):
-Mickey Rooney was a teen idol in his films with Judy Garland - they were a team.
-MGM's Little Red Schoolhouse once had a roster that included Judy Garland, Elizabeth Taylor, Mickey Rooney, and Deanna Durbin among others...all taught in one room on the premises.
-The parts played by Fred Astaire and Ann Miller in Easter Parade were originally meant for Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse. Injuries to both Kelly and Charisse prompted the last minute changes.
-Ann Miller's amazing tap scene "Shaking the Blues Away" was filmed (well, the whole movie was filmed) while she was in a back brace recovering from a broken back. Her husband at the time had pushed her down the stairs while he was drunk, breaking her back and causing a miscarraige.
-Judy Garland's first marriage was at 19. Her first pregnancy ended in abortion - she wanted to keep the child but the studio and her mother said she couldn't.
-At the time Easter Parade was made, Fred Astaire was already a 49 year old grandfather. Judy Garland was only 26.
-Fred Astaire guest starred on one episode of the original 1978-79 Battlestar Galactica television show.
-For the part of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz, MGM originally tried to get Shirley Temple. Luckily for Garland, Louis B. Mayer was convinced she could play the part, even though at 16 she was too old to play a little girl. The song "Over the Rainbow" was written for Garland - some guess that if Temple had been cast, the song would never have existed.
