This movie, directed by Gil Junger is an attempt to make people see how radical the lives of these teenagers are. They show us examples of radical romance, but really throughout the plot; and at the end, the movie maintains the status quo. The status quo is not just kept by these high school students, parents, and leading figures but by their society as a whole. 10 Things I Hate About You starts off with a new kid in school (Cameron) who is blown away by a beautiful girl who has just crossed his path; Bianca. He wants to date Bianca, but there are two problems. Bianca is not only not part of his click, her standards, but his high school "class." Bianca is a Stratford, her sister Kat is considered a heinous bitch by most, and they are not allowed to date. Cameron's only hope to take Bianca out is to find someone who will date her sister. At first the father does not allow either one of them to date. Then he changes the rule to Bianca being able to date; when Kat does. Cameron along with his friend Michael are in search of finding the guy who will date Kat. At first the problem only seemed to be that Bianca was out of his league, and not allowed to date; but later Cameron and Michael realize that the only way for Cameron to get someone to take Kat out, is by paying them to do so. This is one of the most important parts of the movies. Not only does this show us that we are not "autonomous" because Cameron has to depend on Michael; but they both must depend on Joey. Joey is the wallet, he is who provides Patrick the money to take Kat out, and therefore they all depend on each other. We are always already "unstable" and "in play" because we always depend on one another.
If Joey is the one with the money, then can he not then be considered the owner or master, are those relationships not present as well? They are, because in order for Joey to get Bianca, Cameron and Michael must convince, advice, and help Patrick seduce Kat. They are all dependent. Bianca relies on Cameron to be able to go out, Kat depends on Patrick to be the different person that proves her wrong, and Michael depends on Cameron and Patrick’s success to get Kat to go out, in order for Joey to admit that Michael exists. There are not just economical, but social relationships that coincide with the present standards in our society. Men in this movie have the position of power; have the privilege and luxury to be in command, and in control of the woman. Bianca an Kat's father is an uptight person who believes that his daughters are in danger if they take action in everyday life. He keeps them away from boys by not allowing them to date. He makes and breaks the rules. He does not want Kat to go away for college; he tries to hold her back. Joey is the future "Successful American." Joey purchases everything. Joey is like a character plugged in from the movie American Physco. Joey puts a value on it all, not sentimental, more economical value.
10 Things I Hate About You is a romantic comedy that shows us the switching of roles, the desire of sex, and the construction of characters that define different economical positions, situations, and gender roles, even within the same gender. Jenny from the movie 10 is like Bianca's friend in 10 Things I Hate About you. Bianca's friend is a free spirit that believes in independence, is willing to get everything she wants, no matter what the consequences might be, and she cares a lot about status. After Joey treats Bianca carelessly, Bianca's friend is still interested in Joey. Bianca in this movie represents society’s woman, what woman should be like in mens eyes. Bianca represents purity, untouched love, and morality. Since Bianca is a character that has these qualities, she is the desired. Bianca thinks she is loved by everyone, but really she is sexually wanted "What does this chick have, beer flavored nipples?" (Heath Ledger/Patrick). Her intelligence does not matter, what matters is the assumption of her being a virgin. Joey thinks that he is a god, and what Joey wants; Joey gets.
Throughout the entire movie we see what is thought of as radical romance. Situations like Kat once being popular, but giving away her virginity to Joey, now using that situation as a motive to be the bitch people make her out to be. However even if Patrick and Kat's love seem radical because they both have a horrible reputation, Kat only has wanted love all along (like George in 10), and even if the road was bumpy; love is what she finds in Patrick. This movie is one of the most incredible examples of something with a facade of radical romance, but within the masks, maintaining the status quo. Kat and Patrick's relationship gives us an example of radical romance, switching of the roles, and the modern woman. Joey shows us how he is the representation of the powerful man in charge, the woman and man compared to the master and slave. Cameron willing to have someone purchase Bianca's attention for him shows us the dependence, and the construction of what we think is extreme; only being an example of daily situations people act out for their own convenience. 10 Things I Hate About You is the modern romantic comedy that has a radical but normal twist, it proves to us that things have not changed.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
The graduate, The system of objects, 40 year old virgin, and 10. 9/23 - 10/05
All of the movies give us some sense of revolution, new concept, yet old, because sexuality has always been present, since the beginning of time; accepting is a whole other story. In the graduate we have the romantic comedy, well in all the movies, a romantic comedy is present. The graduate shows us the clumsy male who makes all of the wrong moves, like in the 40 year old virgin, and in 10. The men are not the usual seducer, commander, or in control. They are all confused, afraid, and act as a woman would be expected to so. The women are strong, charismatic, very modern, and in touch with who they want what they want, and definitely; how they want it. The cougar in the graduate is the typical cougar, out for sex, passion, and attention. In the 40 year old virgin the woman is the one wanting and needing sex. In 10 Jenny is the broad. Jenny is ready for free sex with no strings attached. Jenny digs status, and she is the man. All three movies show us the switching of gender roles, the use of construction for who these women must represent. Women are portrayed as all knowing, strong, independent, and intelligent. Sam in 10 is as well as Jenny the "modern day woman", they are just a different type of modern. Sex in all three movies is used as a motive of fulfillment for women, but also for men; they would not be chasing after them just for fun, but expecting sex or love. All movies and the excerpt show us that specific designations are made because something is expected in return.
Ethnography 9/21
I am at the red and khaki palace, my workplace, and the place where I get to observe people every single day; hours a day. I do not know them, these people i see and sometimes interact with I only know superficially, or so I thought. I am the operator , and I must speak to people on the phone, in person, and over the walkie talkie. Over the phone I must recognize their tone, what type of person they might be, and how would they react in a bad situation. In person I can feed off of their gestures, tone, and appearance. Over the radio we interact as co-workers, but when it comes to a manager or supervisor, it is a serious conversation; where my emotions or attitude towards them must be kept in the dungeon at the tip of my tongue.
Today I have observed our guest (customers), my co-workers, and the people in charge . Our guest included females and males. The guest in person and over the phone ranged from happy to angry. Over the phone I had a guest which I recognized a very demanding tone. He reminded me of American Physco. The character wearing the mask was the person on the phone. I am sure this white man considered himself successful, and superior; he spoke to me that way. He made me confirm that some men in society are superior, or at least they think they are. A perfect example is how men are still paid more than woman.
In person a fem ale guest asked me if I could check if we had anymore boxers in her husbands size. The husband looked perfectly healthy, fit, well cut, but his face gave you the vibe a slathering snake. I clearly heard him tell her "I told you to go ask her, do something, stop being so fucken useless." This situation, besides causing me some large amounts of rage, pointed me to the aspirational words of De Carte saying that ones self is autonomous; is a complete lie. Not only am I disagreeing with De Carte, but a perfect example is how men think and are put up in a position by society and women, because in order for men to be at a higher position and remain there; women must allow, accept, and be content with being the lower being. This woman was not only allowing herself to be lower, but she was clearly dependent and followed orders, which meant this situation can even be compared to the master-slave relationship. When it came to dealing with co-workers over the walkie-talkie I had to deal with a manager. Hispanic, in his late thirties. This man is always very rude, always thinks he can boss people around, treat them like dirt, and say things he should think twice about, and not in an aggravating matter. What I feed off of him is lack of control, unhappiness, and hunger for control. His wife is also a manager and she is very controlling, intimidating, and bossy. Every time he speaks to others I assume is the way he wishes he could speak to her. He kept calling me over the radio, and when I responded he was a sarcastic prick, so I returned the favor and was a jerk. I believe he seeks to be in control , he wants Independence, but he knows that at home he does not have that. In the workplace he decides to switch roles to feed his starvation for control. However his hunger is not always fed, because I am not the cookie cutter housewife. I am a modern woman that wants respect, but of course to many, I would be a bitch; just like his wife.
When it comes to the boss and me, it is the master-slave relationship; the worker and owner relationship. She always orders me around, yells, complains, naggs, and erupts in dispute about everything. Their have been moments when I would love to throw my walkie at her head, punch her in the face, and have a (Mean Girls) moment. Derrida enters my mind " We are always, already unstable, and in play; because we always depend on one another." While thinking of Derrida , subconsciously my dignity is screaming at me "tell her what you think, strike her, just do it." Today she yelled at me in front of a lot of guest, telling me, commanding, ordering me to not only do my job, another co-workers, but to order her food. I felt humiliated, I wanted to scream, but then I thought " I depend on this prick." If I mouth off to her she will never let it go, her best friend is the head supervisor, the head honcho. In a chain reaction, in a matter of time, I could be fired. I then fell in to the ambiguous life of being the slave, the worker, and my boss being not just the owner, but the master. In all of these situations I found radical romance, and some forms of normality. The man I spoke to, would in some way represent the successful American. He is the man we would go weak at our knees for; because of his position, obviously not because of his allure. The relationship between the two managers can be both radical and normal. her being in charge of the relationship can be seen as radical because for as long as history has existed, men have always been in command. However, even if they do seem a bit obscure, it can be normal because in todays modern society woman are taking on more male roles than ever. As for my boss and me, it can be both radical and normal. Our "love" relationship is that of the master and the slave. You work and I pay you, I say jump, and you jump. This relationship is radical because it can be unethical, humiliating, and hurtful. This relationship can also be normal in the eyes of the economy, because one is the worker, the other is the owner, and there is not one without the other. Without one another something can not only disrupt the economical; but the social status quo.
Today I have observed our guest (customers), my co-workers, and the people in charge . Our guest included females and males. The guest in person and over the phone ranged from happy to angry. Over the phone I had a guest which I recognized a very demanding tone. He reminded me of American Physco. The character wearing the mask was the person on the phone. I am sure this white man considered himself successful, and superior; he spoke to me that way. He made me confirm that some men in society are superior, or at least they think they are. A perfect example is how men are still paid more than woman.
In person a fem ale guest asked me if I could check if we had anymore boxers in her husbands size. The husband looked perfectly healthy, fit, well cut, but his face gave you the vibe a slathering snake. I clearly heard him tell her "I told you to go ask her, do something, stop being so fucken useless." This situation, besides causing me some large amounts of rage, pointed me to the aspirational words of De Carte saying that ones self is autonomous; is a complete lie. Not only am I disagreeing with De Carte, but a perfect example is how men think and are put up in a position by society and women, because in order for men to be at a higher position and remain there; women must allow, accept, and be content with being the lower being. This woman was not only allowing herself to be lower, but she was clearly dependent and followed orders, which meant this situation can even be compared to the master-slave relationship. When it came to dealing with co-workers over the walkie-talkie I had to deal with a manager. Hispanic, in his late thirties. This man is always very rude, always thinks he can boss people around, treat them like dirt, and say things he should think twice about, and not in an aggravating matter. What I feed off of him is lack of control, unhappiness, and hunger for control. His wife is also a manager and she is very controlling, intimidating, and bossy. Every time he speaks to others I assume is the way he wishes he could speak to her. He kept calling me over the radio, and when I responded he was a sarcastic prick, so I returned the favor and was a jerk. I believe he seeks to be in control , he wants Independence, but he knows that at home he does not have that. In the workplace he decides to switch roles to feed his starvation for control. However his hunger is not always fed, because I am not the cookie cutter housewife. I am a modern woman that wants respect, but of course to many, I would be a bitch; just like his wife.
When it comes to the boss and me, it is the master-slave relationship; the worker and owner relationship. She always orders me around, yells, complains, naggs, and erupts in dispute about everything. Their have been moments when I would love to throw my walkie at her head, punch her in the face, and have a (Mean Girls) moment. Derrida enters my mind " We are always, already unstable, and in play; because we always depend on one another." While thinking of Derrida , subconsciously my dignity is screaming at me "tell her what you think, strike her, just do it." Today she yelled at me in front of a lot of guest, telling me, commanding, ordering me to not only do my job, another co-workers, but to order her food. I felt humiliated, I wanted to scream, but then I thought " I depend on this prick." If I mouth off to her she will never let it go, her best friend is the head supervisor, the head honcho. In a chain reaction, in a matter of time, I could be fired. I then fell in to the ambiguous life of being the slave, the worker, and my boss being not just the owner, but the master. In all of these situations I found radical romance, and some forms of normality. The man I spoke to, would in some way represent the successful American. He is the man we would go weak at our knees for; because of his position, obviously not because of his allure. The relationship between the two managers can be both radical and normal. her being in charge of the relationship can be seen as radical because for as long as history has existed, men have always been in command. However, even if they do seem a bit obscure, it can be normal because in todays modern society woman are taking on more male roles than ever. As for my boss and me, it can be both radical and normal. Our "love" relationship is that of the master and the slave. You work and I pay you, I say jump, and you jump. This relationship is radical because it can be unethical, humiliating, and hurtful. This relationship can also be normal in the eyes of the economy, because one is the worker, the other is the owner, and there is not one without the other. Without one another something can not only disrupt the economical; but the social status quo.
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof 9/14
This movie/play gives us an extreme quality found in everyone; mendacity. Mendacity is more than just a tendency to lie, but it is being untruthful, a way of life. Brick is the most truthful even if the most fake. He constructs something he is not. He is full of hate because he cannot be who he wants to be. Brick is stuck being tied to his sorrow and sourness. He is not necesarilly unhappy with who he has become, but who he cannot be. He does love Maggie, he just hides his real love and pain through alcohol. In some eyes Brick can be viewed as the most truthful character because he never makes an attempt to lie to Big Daddy, but he also shows us that he is the status quo, he is trying to portray a strong person, who gains even more gut with his alcohol consumption, but his strenght is really just weakness.
Saussure 9/7
Semiotics, the binary, and the most important and strongest quote "All we are is a mobile army of metaphor." We are the creation of who we think we are, what we are told we must be, and what is imposed by society. We are always already "unstable" and "in play" because it always depends on another. The biggest construction of what we are is shown by our leaders who we expect the most from. Those we trust and expect to defend, and do what is right. Politicians, lawyers, and advertisement leaders and workers. Derrida aand Saussure show us how we always are dependent and are constructed like fate. Simon shows us that evrything has some value , and that man and woman have a master slave relationship. The master has no priviledge of being who he is without his slaves; man is nothing without the woman. Both man and woman are tied to their opressor biologically. Simon, Saussure, and Derrida show us a form of dependence and construction.
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