Why am I an English major? That's a great question that even I, at times, have a difficult time answering. I hate to say that it is the only thing I'm good at, because that's not exactly true...I think its more that that this is the only thing I've ever been passionate enough about to take the time to understand. I am full of flaws...I'm flaky and indecisive, I often drop the ball on my commitments and, as hard as it is for me to admit, I am definitely not that best student that can be. I will neglect my math or psychology studies and instead read the Philip Roth novel that I most recently bought. I will stay up half the night reading "The Cider House Rules" (which I've read at least 10 times already) when I know that I have an essay due the next day. I guess what I am saying is that, even if it takes me a while, I will graduate with a degree in English because there is nothing else in this world that I love more. I am trying to get my ducks in a row though.
I'm not exactly sure what I will do with my degree yet. I've thought about teaching. I've thought about seeing what I can do in the publishing world. Maybe there's a place for me in the world of professional writing. It has always been my dream to be a playwright. In high school, I wrote a play for a young playwright's competition for the International Thespian Society and won. Unfortunately, that's the one and only play I have ever written. Though this has always been my passion, I deeply worry that my laziness will get in the way of future opportunities to realize my potential. I am the only person who can control this; this fact is something that I struggle with every day.
I am, however, going to put it in writing...physical proof at this very moment that next semester I will turn over a new leaf. My first English class as an English major has changed everything for me; the future is a real, tangible thing to me now, and I don't want to throw it away. My love for literature has the power to take me anywhere in life and I don't want to do anything to limit that. The life that I want is anything but ordinary.
"A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds." -Ralph Waldo Emerson
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Adaptation
I must say that I absolutely love "No Country for Old Men;" over the past year or so it has quickly become one of my favorite films. Javier Bardem is a genius, and you can never go wrong with the Coen brothers.
If I were to teach an English class, I think it would be interesting to explore the strange creation that is Spike Jonze's film "Adaptation." If you haven't seen the film, I highly recommend it. Made in 2002, this is probably the only movie in history that, I believe, should be watched before reading the book; they are two completely different entities. The film is based on the 1998 nonfiction piece by Susan Orlean, "The Orchid Thief," in which Orlean recounts her experiences while researching and spending time with John Laroche, an eccentric rare flower enthusiast.
This is truly a writer's movie. In the film, written by Charlie Kaufman ("Being John Malkovich," "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," and "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind") Kaufman does the unthinkable for a writer and actually writes himself into his own script. Kaufman (played by a bloated and especially unattractive Nicolas Cage) explores his own insecurities and self-loathing as he frantically and nervously attempts the task he has been assigned of adapting "The Orchid Thief" into a screenplay.
Kaufman creates his own fictionalized versions of actual people, including John Laroche (Chris Cooper), Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep, which is a stamp of approval in itself), his agent (played by Ron Livingston) and the film executive overseeing his script (Tilda Swinton). Kaufman even creates a fictional twin brither, Donald, to contrast his own impatience and other shortcomings.
This film is a weird but wonderful treasure. The acting is incredible. The writing is extraordinary. The cinematography is mindblowing. This is without doubt the most original film I've ever seen and is definitely worth studying.
If I were to teach an English class, I think it would be interesting to explore the strange creation that is Spike Jonze's film "Adaptation." If you haven't seen the film, I highly recommend it. Made in 2002, this is probably the only movie in history that, I believe, should be watched before reading the book; they are two completely different entities. The film is based on the 1998 nonfiction piece by Susan Orlean, "The Orchid Thief," in which Orlean recounts her experiences while researching and spending time with John Laroche, an eccentric rare flower enthusiast.
This is truly a writer's movie. In the film, written by Charlie Kaufman ("Being John Malkovich," "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," and "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind") Kaufman does the unthinkable for a writer and actually writes himself into his own script. Kaufman (played by a bloated and especially unattractive Nicolas Cage) explores his own insecurities and self-loathing as he frantically and nervously attempts the task he has been assigned of adapting "The Orchid Thief" into a screenplay.
Kaufman creates his own fictionalized versions of actual people, including John Laroche (Chris Cooper), Susan Orlean (Meryl Streep, which is a stamp of approval in itself), his agent (played by Ron Livingston) and the film executive overseeing his script (Tilda Swinton). Kaufman even creates a fictional twin brither, Donald, to contrast his own impatience and other shortcomings.
This film is a weird but wonderful treasure. The acting is incredible. The writing is extraordinary. The cinematography is mindblowing. This is without doubt the most original film I've ever seen and is definitely worth studying.
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