Assignment 03: True Grit

Upon reading the book and watching both adaptations of “True Grit”, I've observed there are elements of American mythology (small town Americana) that are romanticized and glamorized, especially in the 1969 movie adaptation. The book, written by Charles Portis, depicts Mattie Ross, an angry and distraught teenage girl wanting to avenge her father’s death. She hires two men, Rooster and LaBoeuf, and leads them on a quest to redeem her family name. In the end, Mattie is held captive and led to believe that both men have abandoned her, and is forced to fend for herself to complete her mission.

In the 1969 film adaptation, Mattie is depicted as dainty, quiet, and in mourning as compared to her forceful counterpart in the book. This is to romanticize the traditional role of southern women, and how small town society believed a women should handle crisis in that time period. This depiction of Mattie is more ladylike and stern leading the men, as compared to her forceful leadership qualities in the book.

In the original book, Mattie demonstrates open racial prejudice. This was an unfortunate mindset common for that time period, but considered unenlightened in modern times. In the 1969 adaptation, the racial inequality aspect is excluded from the story, making the film feel more like a period western.

Mattie’s character being portrayed as more refined in the 1969 film leaves the majority of the action to Rooster and LaBoeuf. This forces Mattie's character to be dependent on these characters, and demonstrate subdued emotion while seeking revenge. Comparatively, Mattie in the book is commanding and determined overruling any hesitancy by either man.

The 2010 film adaptation by the Coen brothers is much closer to book in terms of details and dialogue. The tone is dark, and the film does not gloss over the racism or brutality, which makes Mattie's motivations more apparent. While authentic to the era, nothing about the time period is romanticized. Mattie's anguish and anger is all consuming, and nothing is more important to her than finding her father's murderer.

While the 1969 portrayal of Mattie appears passive, the 2010 portrayal does not impose societal limits about the roles of women and men. The 2010 film conveys the brutal loss of a family member, and Mattie's authentic reaction to this kind of tragedy regardless of era and gender. It's more gut wrenching for it's dark realism.

I believe each generation romanticizes different eras for different reasons. Some romanticize their childhood memories and outstanding historical events. Others may romanticize an era that inspired them artistically and attempt to reflect it in their own art.

In the 1960's, filmmakers tended to romanticize westerns, and small town America, often adhering to the societal and gender expectations of the current day, and adapting the characters to fit. Although current generations can be nostalgic, having grown up in the information age, they prefer more accurate depictions of time periods. Authentic depictions of even fictional events allows viewers to connect to the mindset of people from past eras, which makes the experience more relatable and emotionally immersive. Current generations seem to prefer depictions that adhere to American history over complete “American Mythology”. They prefer realism over myth.

Assignment 02: Pride & Prejudice

I chose to listen to the audio book of Pride And Prejudice for LibraVox.org, which can be found at this link on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eVHu5-n69qQ

I feel that Pride and Prejudice has social relevance today through the character of Elizabeth. If a woman knows her self worth, she will not choose someone just because they offer to court her. I found her interactions with the first suitor to be quite refreshing, considering the fact she declines his offer, despite her mother’s insistence that he is a good match. Elizabeth knows that he will not be happy with her. His motivation is not love, but for acquisition of assets. In that time-frame, it was frowned upon for women to be so independent of men, but now emotional strength and education is encouraged. Elizabeth reminds us that we need to self analyze and make choices that are realistic and reasonable versus choices society pressures us to undertake.

I have had experiences where suitors approached me with expectations that I would prioritize their needs over my education and career aspirations. I would gently remind them that I need to dedicate myself to my work because I need to be successful. I am the only sibling to a brother with special needs, and one day his care will fall to me. My brother is low-verbal, and I refuse to let him be in the care of strangers who could mistreat him without consequence because he can't report. Some of my suitors refused to accept my life's circumstances, and chose to leave. However, I do not regret being strong enough to prioritize my education, and the realities of my family situation. These men did not understand my concerns, were too demanding of me, and therefore, not the right fit. I believe I will find someone who supports my choices, and that person will stay. In the meantime, I have my education to keep me focused, and my artistic expression to help me cope and feel fulfilled.

The character of Mr. Darcy first appears aloof and mysterious. Initially, I felt that he was not a good match for our main character. After the other suitors express their self serving desires and the limited role they desired in a partner, we learn Mr. Darcy is actually quite progressive. He wants a woman to be his intellectual and emotional equal rather than a mere acquisition to serve his needs.

I feel I have been misjudged similarly based on first impressions. Some people presume I am naive because of my girlish appearance and mannerly social demeanor causing them to either be pushy, or leave me out of activities entirely. Others assume my priorities can be easily altered to serve their needs. When I refuse to be swayed from my original goals, they are often indignant. This misinterpretation of me has not limited to peers. Prior to attending college, I had a few teachers misjudge me based on my close relationship with my parents. They did not understand that our closeness grew out of working together to keep my low-verbal brother safe. To make it worse, they presumed my parents' support of my artistic goals was “coddling”. It was shortsighted since they never asked about my situation, or made any attempts to understand it. They decided their perception was fact, and the details didn't matter. However, I was lucky to have wonderfully supportive teachers that still follow my progress, which made up for those with lack of interest.

Elizabeth’s sisters seem to be more dependent on the attention of suitors. Lydia’s dependence on suitors puts her in a dangerous situation with a man who lies about his intentions. No one knows where he has taken her, and whether or not he keeps his oath to marry her. I identify with Elizabeth completely. Relationships should be mutually beneficial to be healthy. I have witnessed many girls giving their partners too much authority over their choices, and their self worth will come second to keep the peace. I have never given my self worth away to another person. My progress in my craft is where I get my pride and self esteem.

I feel Pride and Prejudice has historical importance in terms of how women should view themselves as people versus societal expectations. In modern times, a woman being encouraged to be independent minded is not uncommon in many societies. However, some cultures still see the role of woman as subservient. I feel self esteem and happiness occurs when people practice mutual respect and should choose a supportive partner that shares their views.

Assignment 01: Prologue

My childhood could be described in one word...LOUD. The television was loud, the computer was loud, and my brother was loud. We shared a small room in a small townhouse with big wooden bunk beds. Anthony was not a great sleeper. I remember many nights drifting in and out of sleep to the sound of Super Nintendo. Those were the more restful nights.

I am the only sister to an older brother with low-verbal autism. I spent the earliest part of my life attempting (and failing) to verbally communicate with my brother. I just assumed all of this was normal, and all brothers were like Anthony. It would be years before I realized our situation was extraordinary.

Anthony's autism engulfed him. His expressive and receptive language skills were equally delayed. Most of the world didn't make sense to him, so he was restless. To spend time with my brother, I had to learn to understand his autism, and defer to it. Anthony spent many hours playing video games and time on the computer. He could rely on his visual skills, which were heightened, and this would calm him. It was cool to watch him play games like any other kid, often better. Anthony had a photographic memory, so he would remember a move that worked, and could steadily advance through the levels. I gladly gave up “my turn” to watch him play. Anthony was the most happy communicating with his electronics. I was the most happy just to be able to sit with him.

My brother and I spent many afternoons sitting side by side at the keyboard or game console. Once Anthony got his first laptop, we moved our games to the living room couch. That's when things truly got noisy. Cartoon Network would be playing on the television, a video game would be running on the computer, and both would be at high volume. It was like he was trying to fill the air with sounds that made made sense to him. It was the loudest “peace” you could imagine.

When Anthony wasn't playing computer games, he was always in motion. I would watch him pace from the living room to the kitchen and back. He was like a shark that had to keep moving, or die. Anthony was a wanderer, which was extremely dangerous without communication skills. When we went anywhere as a family, it was always tense. We had to keep an eye on Anthony at all times or he might wander off without concern. All trips, even fun ones, could end tragically if we weren't hyper aware. No moment outside felt relaxed. We loved amusement parks, and Anthony and I rode all the extreme thrill rides together. Hershey Park was our favorite park. Even though we had fun, I remember being scared the whole time that Anthony could get lost if we weren't careful. I would look at other families enjoying themselves, and wondered what it was like to go places without fear. My parents kept two-way radios, and no one ever left Anthony's side. He was always dressed in a brightly colored shirt so he could be spotted quickly and easily. We all had to work together to keep Anthony safe, so we did.

While Anthony played his electronics, I would sit next to him and draw. It was cathartic. I enjoyed being able to make something beautiful when I was having a bad (or lonely) day. What I didn't expect was Anthony to pay attention to my drawings. We didn't communicate verbally, but he started pointing to cartoon or video game characters, and I would draw them. Anthony would light up with a smile and point to another one. That's when my world really began to change.