Journal 3: Taylor Swift's Variation

Taylor Swift, Courtesy of Nathan Wisnicki

After the recent release of Taylor Swift's new album, Red, there has been much controversy over whether or not she is heading in the right direction from country music to pop.   Swift has many devoted fans who will listen to her music regardless of the direction she pursues, but there are many that question her abilities as far as true talent.  In his article, In Defense of Taylor Swift and Gen-Y Pop Music, Nathan Wisnicki dedicates himself to positively advertising Taylor’s music. 

Personally, I have always been on the edge with Taylor Swift, simply because I feel that her vocal talents are not as good as her songwriting.  However, Nathan raised some great points. Taylor has outdone herself and has become truly popular in a classy way.  Over and over, she continues to produce number one singles.  She does everything herself and commits herself to producing heart felt lyrics that the vast majority can relate to.  I believe that has been the key to her success.  She has honest communication with her audience, and that is more than luck.  

I think that Nathan raises a lot of great points and puts her in the light that her hard work and dedication deserves.  She has unbelievable talent.  Yet, as far as country music goes her last album was far from it.  If she is moving away from country music that may be the best thing for her, but country music fans are going to criticize her for it. 

http://www.popmatters.com/pm/feature/164733-taylor-swift-red/

No Country for Old Men

Still scene from coin flip scene, courtesy of Patrick Crook

            The film, No Country for Old Men directed by the Coen brothers, raises a lot of unique and disturbing twists to a story about a drug ring and a serial killer who is merely unstoppable.  There are many scenes throughout the film that are important to the film’s theme.  However, there was one scene in particular that really stuck out to me. 

Chapter 4 of the movie titled “Call It, Friend-O” was very important to setting up the rest of the movie.  This is towards the beginning of the film after the audience has already gathered the main direction of where the movie is progressing.  At scene four it is still a little unclear of how this creepy man with an oxygen tank named Anton Chigurh relates to the plot.  It is truly at chapter four where his motives and capabilities are revealed.  In this scene he stops to get gas at a gas station.  He begins to make small talk with the old man running the convenience store.  He proceeds to question his life asking him where he sleeps at night, what time he goes to bed, and other questions prying into his personal life.  Chigurh’s true personality is revealed as he is shown mentally manipulating someone. He also asks the man to flip a coin and guess heads or tails. Because the old man guessed the correct side, he was saved from death. It is after he nonchalantly walks out of the store that his streak of uncontrollable behavior is shown. I believe that this chapter was very important to the movie by setting up Chigurh’s personality to lead you into his plans for the rest of the movie.  Without it, it would be blurred as to how important his manipulative personality is to his character and the plot itself.    

Journal 2: A Timely Classic

Still shot from The Fox and the Hound, courtesy of Parent Previews

While there are many movies that I have learned to love, my favorite of all time is Disney's classic Fox and the Hound.  Although it is not a typical favorite among many, it always surges my emotions. I feel a sense of calmness when I think about how familiar this classic is to me.  Every time I am sick or feeling bad, this is the movie that you can find me watching.  What’s more, whenever I watch this movie I am instantly reverted back to my childhood, a time in my life that is quite monumental.  It may not be a chart buster, but to me it will always be worthy. 

                The animation of Fox and the Hound is equally important, but for me the cultural aspects of the movie are what make it most important to me.  I grew up in the Northwood’s of Wisconsin so it is easy to relate to a plot that involves wildlife and hunting game.  There are very important messages to gather from the movie.  First, the relationship between the fox and a hound show to the public that it doesn’t matter where you come from or who you are to form an everlasting relationship with someone quite different from you.  In fact, it further shows that under unfitting circumstances diversity can tear people apart.  As Copper, the hound, gets older and begins to become a hunting dog, his old friend Todd the fox, becomes his target.  In fact, Copper saves Todd from his owner on a hunting extravaganza as he helps him hide.  The world around them perceives that they cannot be friends and for a long time that stands true.  However, at the end of the day they never forgot their relationship.  Even if diversity tries to bring two people apart they can always tear down the status quo.  The message that is sent from this timely classic makes it important to me.  No matter how old I get, this will always be my favorite movie and take me back to a very important message to carry in everyday life. 

Journal 1: Winning Isn't Everything

Packers vs. Seahawks Game, courtesy of John Lok/Seattle Times

David Maraniss was critically stern in his argument that winning is not everything in his article, Winning Actually Isn't the Only Thing.  Sports are an important part of American culture and despite the drive to win and please your fans is winning really everything? People curve their emotions and actions in response to a win even if those actions aren’t always appropriate.  Maraniss wrote in response to the Seahawks Packer game in which a call was game winning in the Seahawks favor.  The call should not have stood, yet Seahawks fans and players alike treated the situation as if it was correct.  Maraniss aims to prove that it is just a game and regardless of the outcome there are more important things to gain from sports.  

Having been an avid athlete all my life I tend to agree with David Maraniss.  In the situation of the Seahawks Packer game it was hard to choke down the last play, however; at the same time there was an NFL referee lockout and they had no choice but to supply replacement refs.  They were not up to par to referee a professional game, but there was no one else to do it.  I also believe that you gain so much more from sports than any stats will ever tell you.  What you learn through team work, dedication, commitment, and time management is far more life changing than a season of statistics.  While they are fun to look back on and remember, the memories you make far outweigh a season record.  Yet, regardless of any situation, there are always people that do believe winning is everything and it does change the sport.  Such as, those in favor of the Seahawks haphazard attitudes after the undeserving win.  Making the best of the situation and others reactions to an irreversible event is all you can do, and in the words of Vince Lombardi, “If you can’t accept losing, you can’t win.” Therefore, I do agree with Maraniss and think that it should always be remembered that winning is never everything. 

The Believing Game Part B

On the other hand, there are valid reasons to consider lowering the drinking age to 19.  Binge drinking in college is such a norm that it is unsafe.  Students partake in drinking no matter where they go to school.  If the drinking age was uniformed at 19, all college students could participate in alcohol related functions.  If it was part of normal society, students wouldn’t act out or binge drink, because it is acceptable.  A study done in Canada at a University where 18 years old is the legal drinking age, showed that United States students who went there were far less viable to participate in binge drinking.  Because they could go do it whenever they wanted, students were more educated, and didn’t feel the need to participate like students do in the United States.  Further, you can fight for your country, vote, and subject to many other activities as a result of becoming 18 and a legal adult.  Yet, you can’t drink alcohol.  It seems undermining of our country to deem you an adult at 18, yet keep people from partaking in adult functions.  Finally, a lack of communication between younger adults and adults could be compromised by lowering the drinking age.  Young people and adults especially in a University setting could intermingle around alcohol.  In doing so, young people would learn how to drink from people who are experienced, instead of endangering themselves and others by teaching oneself unsafely.  There would be fewer deaths, injuries, and other alcohol related problems if you were able to interact with elders.  Overall, alcohol is a very controversial subject amongst Americans.  If we could come together and compromise as a whole, such as lowering the drinking age to 19, maybe our country would find a common ground after all. 

The Believing Game Part A

A common controversy surging through the United States is that of the public drinking age.  Currently, in the United States the drinking age is 21.  Many people believe that the drinking age is appropriate right where it is and for just reasons.  Caleb Daniloff from Boston University conducted research on this topic alone.  He found that the National Minimum Drinking Age Act was spot on in 1984 when they raised the drinking age to 21.  In doing so, they have saved nearly 17,000 lives on the highway since 1988.  He adds that it’s important for the decline in alcohol-related deaths annually.  What’s more to purchase a handgun you must be 21, and to rent a car you must be 25.  Also, you should not change a law just because of a widespread disobedience.  It is still breaking the law, just like speeding.  No state would change all their speed limits due to widespread disobedience.  Many valid statements go hand in hand with why the drinking age was lowered in the first place in 1988.

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Penguins, courtesy of Microsoft