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FREEBIE!

IOC

Here is the link on youtube if that doesn't work: http://youtu.be/rZsg2_wxCBo

Oh and ignore the fact that its on Sarah's account- I forgot to log her out!

Grade:

Knowledge and understanding of the extract: 5

I think I showed a little understanding of the extract by explaining where in the novel it is. I knew the scene and what the purpose of it was, as well as what happens later in the novel. However, I think I could have discussed the context more and specified how the examples applied to the text as a whole. I also think I could have talked about major themes in the novel and connected this passage to these.

Appreciation of the writer's choices: 6

I pull many examples from the text and talk about how they impact the text, but I do not talk about the overall effect enough. I think I focused too much on the individual examples and what they mean and I didn't talk about the reason Shakespeare made these choices. I also think I repeat a lot and my thoughts don't make much sense sometimes. I never concluded anything either. 

Organization and presentation: 3

I tried to organize this presentation and I think that I succeeded in the basic outline. However, I brought up tone and irony and never went into depth about these. I think I need to organize a lot more when I actually do this, because I got lost a lot and I ramble about random stuff too much. 

Language: 2

I don't even know what I am trying to say sometimes. I think I use appropriate language sometimes but most of the time it was nervous rambling and I should probably fix that. 

Please ignore the part I talk about restless ecstasy! I realized as I was saying it that it made no sense...

Oh and sorry for the awkward pauses!

I think this might be too blurry to read and it is a total mess but here is my article!

TED Talks

The Louise & Brenna Show: Season 1, Episode 1- Pilot

https://www.ted.com/talks/the_jill_and_julia_show

We realize this makes no sense, but what do you honestly expect from us?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdb9NKJcK5U

(In case the video above doesn't work.)

Double Indemnity

   2.  Film noir literally means “black film.” As you are watching the film, keep track of all the elements in the picture that seem dark or depressing. Think about the characters, the setting, and the storyline.

Double Indemnity is full of dark, twisted ideas that surprise and capture the audience. The film itself challenges the distance a seemingly good guy will go with the encouragement of a woman. The first depressing aspects of the film come out in the setting and lighting. The opening scene consists of a street at night and a character with a dark hat and a black jacket. This may have been the traditional attire of the time, but the set up of a "murky and dark street" with low lighting accented the theme. Moreover, many of the scenes happen at night including the murder of Mr. Dietrichson on the train. The lighting is an important element of any film that may be directly manipulated by directors to add to the core themes, these being dark and depressing. There is a creepy silence that adds to the suspense felt by the audience throughout. The number of people in each scene is kept to a minimum, for example in the confession by Mr. Neff at the closed insurance office. This eliminates the happiness felt by social chatter and adds to the secrecy of the plans. 

There are dark motiffs found in the very characters themselves as well. One important example is the flirtatious nature of Phyllis to a man other than her husband. Walter Neff plays along and is quickly swept up in her manipulative ways. She has a secret motive to the majority of her actions and this is shown by her immediate interest in accident insurance for her husband. Neff finds himself falling for Mrs. Dietrichson despite his suspicions about her plans for her falling marriage. The talk of murder and the guilty confession throughout are all elements that fit into the idea of a "black film". 

The storyline of the film is obviously not that of a traditional cheery film. Double indemnity has lots of key characteristics of Film Noir found in the events themselves. The story is told in a "confessional, first person narration about the downfall of an innocent everyman who fell victim" to the evil plotting of Neff and Dietrichson. The attraction that is felt between the two main characters is twisted in the murder plans of Phyllis' husband, and emphasizes the "brutal, unhealthy, seamy, shadowy, dark and sadistic sides of the human experience." 

*All of the quotations come from the sheet we received on Double Indemnity and Film Noir. 

Netflix

Recommended for Lady Macbeth:

The Wolf of Wall Street- Recommended based on your interest in Power and Corruption

Lady Macbeth is not one to reach the top of the food chain without bitting off a few heads (or killing people). She understands the price that comes with power and goes for it anyway. This movie is based on a mega-rich stock broker who goes from Mr. Nice to Mr. Drugs&Hookers. The money destroys him and takes away all he ever had. This would be a film to watch before the third scene in Macbeth when Duncan is killed, and could possibly prevent the whole fiasco. She wants the power more than anything but forgets about the corruption that accompanies it. Maybe a vivid reminder like this movie would help open her eyes, and if not, it is still a truly entertaining few hours (something she doesn't get too often).

Criminal Minds- Recommended based on your interest in Crime and the Mindset of Macbeth

These FBI profilers are getting into the minds of some of the most twisted criminals in their time. This show will give Lady Macbeth insight into the insane workings of her disturbed husband's mind. The entertaining series will provide plenty of insane criminals to compare to herself and make her actions seem like child's play. Learning about these crimes and how to get away with them will help Lady Macbeth hone the craft and gather insight into her own crazy thoughts. Also, the action and crime present in the show will distract Lady Macbeth and allow for her long nights awake to be spent pondering the fiction crimes of the FBI. 

Desperate Housewives- Recommended based on your interest in Drama and Powerful Women

These housewives are stirring up the quiet Wisteria Lane through their impossibly dramatic lives and intense relationships. Lady Macbeth will not only fall in love with each character for their individual personalities, but they will disintegrate her every desire to become a "simple" housewife. Their sins and problems will ease her troubled mind and justify her deeds. These women play off each others strong characters (regardless of the title) and Lady Macbeth will be able to form a sort of friendship with each. Through the last few chapters Lady Macbeth becomes a desperate housewife herself, and an opportunity to see others in action is a great way to learn how to handle it. 

               
   

Mocking Jay- Recommended based on your interest in Power and Revolution

MockingJay is the third movie in a trilogy of three about a dystopian society called Panem. This particular one is about the revolution and the rise of the people. Lady Macbeth will be able to connect to the powerful main character, Katniss, and appreciate her masculine ways. However, it may seem odd to connect her to a movie about the people rising up; watching this may be seen as necessary research to help prevent this very thing from happening to herself. She will avoid becoming the Capital and be a Katniss herself. Not only does this movie have enough drama to satisfy a Queen, but it has enough action to raise her lowered spirits. 

First step towards Evil

1. Why do people who are not "evil" take the first step into evil? What, for instance, is involved in taking that first step "down the primrose path to the everlasting bonfire" (Macbeth, 2.3)? What are the consequences of the individual choosing evil (particularly the internal consequences)? Use examples from the text to support your opinion.


Taking the first step towards an evil act is the most important part of partaking in sin. Many people may define the turning moments in ones life as the time they made the decisions to change his or her life made. The causes of taking this daring leap is a very similar journey for many people. You need the idea of an evil act to be planted in your head, be able to justify the act, and, in most cases, be persuaded by the words of a close friend. Macbeth displays all of these steps in his decision to step toward "the dark side". 
Macbeth was given the inspiration to kill Duncan when he heard the witches prophecy in the woods. The witches words in act 1, scene 7, "All hail, Macbeth! hail to thee, thane of Cawdor!", place the seed that will develop into a plot to kill Duncan (Shakespeare). Macbeth ponders these words and takes them with great curiosity, "Stay...tell me more: /By Sinel's death I know I am thane of Glamis; /But how of Cawdor?" (Shakespeare). This prophecy gives Macbeth a sense of purpose and the potential for power. Even this potential to yield such power has his mind running to evil thoughts.
The next step towards evil actions from an all around good person is the ability to justify the evil act. Macbeth uses his thirst for power to develop justification for all that must be done. However, as found in act 1, scene 7, Macbeth has decided to avoid murder, "We will proceed no further in this business: /He hath honour'd me of late..." (Shakespeare). This is all without the persuasive words of Lady Macbeth that push him over the edge and make him take the first step into evil. It is her words that allows his mind to justify his actions and encourage him to murder Duncan. She does this through de masculinizing him, "Art thou afeard/ To be the same in thine own act and valour/ As thou art in desire?", "And live a coward in thine own esteem..." (Shakespeare). 
Once Macbeth committed his terrible act, it had a dramatic effect on his state of mind. By choosing evil he eventually found himself, "Stepp'd in so far that, should I wade no more, /Returning were as tedious as go o'er...". He led himself down a deep hole that has no turning back. When he commits his second murder of Banquo, his guilt turns into a severe insanity. He starts to see the ghost and admit, "Strange things I have in head..." (Shakespeare). By choosing evil the first time, he changed the course of his life. The guilt he felt would manifest as paranoia and insanity. This manifested in later acts of violence and a spiral of bad decisions. 

Art Analysis

This piece is called Topologies of Belief by Jose Davilla, 2011. The pictures are organized into an area 99 X 351 cm. The works are Piezography print on photo based paper. The location of the photographs is not provided but Davilla is from Mexico and bases many of his works off western culture.

The photographs consist of the outline of multiple buildings, cut out of the picture. This leaves a blank space and a shadow on the white paper approximately an inch behind the pictures. The white space that previously displayed the architecture of many buildings is Davilla's way of treating common pictures in a revolutionary way. The subject of the picture should be the buildings but by cutting the main focus out, we are forced to look around it and appreciate the background or setting. The shapes of the buildings allow the imagination to run free and fill in the empty cut out with our own ideas and forms. This is a new way to represent the traditional theme of architecture.

Davilla uses black and white photographs to enhance the viewers imagination and allow them to fill in the traditional subject matter. He uses the lack of color to enhance the impact of the photos and change the perspectives from which they are viewed. The white space pulls together the photo itself, and ties into the white frames. We are forced to re imagine the scene and take our attention away from the obvious subject. The light creates a shadow on the white paper that is away from the photograph, enhancing the absence of the building that has been cut out. The buildings consist of several cut out shapes all arranged in square frames organized evenly along a middle line. This contrast pulls the viewer in and allows them to ponder the significance of the art.

I believe the purpose of this art is to force the viewer to ponder how much we focus on the largest subject, and alter our perception. By looking at these pictures for extended periods of time we start to think about what the buildings look like and who the people are. We are exposed to so much everyday, and because it is right in front of us we do not use our imagination. By taking away the primary subject in pictures, we think about what the photo was like before and what is missing. Using the fact that Davilla is trained as an architect, I began to think of the photos as his way of expressing the importance of shape in architecture and buildings. We need to broaden our minds and stray from the traditional. Davilla allows us to view a simple subject and walk away straining for the many meanings and interpretations found in the way he cuts things out.