Very much like breaking up with your boyfriend just when your crush falls head over heels with some girl who is totally unworthy, timing can really bite you in the butt.
My personal scenario is when Grady College creates a study abroad program to Cambodia, featuring a travel writing class, that will begin right AFTER I graduate! Now I must admit that I have not tapping my pencil on the table, exhausting the Google search to find out how I can get myself to Cambodia, but it sounds 10,000 times more interesting than the terribly expensive Oxford and Cannes programs.
Spurred by this missed opportunity, I have begun to look into programs that will get me into East Asia. As I mentioned in a previous blog, I have a friend over there now who is having the time of her life, and as graduation steadily approaches I become more and more anxiety ridden of getting stuck in my "career building," without traveling out of the States once again.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
"Coming to America" Movie Review
The premise: An African prince, breaking with tradition, travels to America (Queens, NY to be exact) to find his wife.
Features: Eddie Murphy, James Earl Jones, and Arsenio Hall
The movie plays on the American perception of people from Africa. More entertaining, however, than the cultural wisecracks, are the characters themselves, (most which are played by either Eddie Murphy or Arsenio Hall). For example, after the prince Akeem (Murphy) and his travelling companion (Hall) buy American clothes, they go to the neighborhood barbershop so the Akeem can get a very American jerry curl. The owner and main barber is truthful, outspoken, and loud.
Made in 1988, the movie is true to its time. Big hair, acid wash jeans, and a hot tub all add to pulling the viewer in and making them laugh. The movie has many highlights that make it a comedic classic.
Even though the storyline is simple, it does not flatline or become predictable at any time given that Akeem's persuit of the perfect woman is under the false persona of an exchange student, working in a fast food restaurant. The challenges he faces are cleverly written and thoughtfully filmed.
For example, in the scene where Akeem is trying to meet a suitable wife in the bars and clubs of New York he encounters every psychotic, emotionally draining woman imaginable. He and his companion are sitting at a table in the club, and the women change, each saying something that is completely unconventional. (One woman admits to worshiping the devil.) The scene illustrates how awckward and scary dating can be in a large city, regardless of where you are from, without saying "all New York women are crazy" throughout the scene.
What I enjoy about this movie the most, is that it is more of a commentary about American life in New York in the 80's, than an ignorant display of stereotypes.
Features: Eddie Murphy, James Earl Jones, and Arsenio Hall
The movie plays on the American perception of people from Africa. More entertaining, however, than the cultural wisecracks, are the characters themselves, (most which are played by either Eddie Murphy or Arsenio Hall). For example, after the prince Akeem (Murphy) and his travelling companion (Hall) buy American clothes, they go to the neighborhood barbershop so the Akeem can get a very American jerry curl. The owner and main barber is truthful, outspoken, and loud.
Made in 1988, the movie is true to its time. Big hair, acid wash jeans, and a hot tub all add to pulling the viewer in and making them laugh. The movie has many highlights that make it a comedic classic.
Even though the storyline is simple, it does not flatline or become predictable at any time given that Akeem's persuit of the perfect woman is under the false persona of an exchange student, working in a fast food restaurant. The challenges he faces are cleverly written and thoughtfully filmed.
For example, in the scene where Akeem is trying to meet a suitable wife in the bars and clubs of New York he encounters every psychotic, emotionally draining woman imaginable. He and his companion are sitting at a table in the club, and the women change, each saying something that is completely unconventional. (One woman admits to worshiping the devil.) The scene illustrates how awckward and scary dating can be in a large city, regardless of where you are from, without saying "all New York women are crazy" throughout the scene.
What I enjoy about this movie the most, is that it is more of a commentary about American life in New York in the 80's, than an ignorant display of stereotypes.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
"Somebodies" Review
The pilot episode did not leave me laughing or wanting more. In fact, most of the time my face was curled up in disdain, or looking at my Sociology reading because I saw the show when it originally aired.
The premise of the show: A not-so-young Black male in college who is trying to figure out life with his friends and family.
The show consists of Scottie (the not-so-young college student), his four friends, his ex-girlfriend (Diva), and his aunt and uncles.
Essentially, the show is supposed to be a comedy. However, I believe it goes too far along cultural lines (for example, if you have never been to a predominantly Black Baptist church) to be understood by some, and simply offensive and obnoxious to those that get what the joke is supposed to be. Additionally, the show tries to tackle serious racial issues and structural inequality, but they are presented with very little segue or forewarning, so that all of a sudden you are listening to enlightened social commentary, which is an abrupt end to anything clever or comical.
Aside from an inconsistent flow of comedy, the main character is NOT a comedic actor, or a great actor at all. His reactions to every scenario was terribly anti-climatic, (he would barely have a comment). Nor did I believe him or his friends were college students. They looked at least thirty. The only highlight in the pilot episode was meeting the aunt and uncle who own the restaurant. They actually had personalities, and were true to life.
The second episode was no more impressive than the first. Scottie branches out to get his own place, and gets quite a surprise when his "girl next door" neighbors move out and turn into "loud poor people." There were some funny moments, mainly coming from the animated male neighbor.
Overall: the show is slow pace, and I understand why it was cancelled.
The premise of the show: A not-so-young Black male in college who is trying to figure out life with his friends and family.
The show consists of Scottie (the not-so-young college student), his four friends, his ex-girlfriend (Diva), and his aunt and uncles.
Essentially, the show is supposed to be a comedy. However, I believe it goes too far along cultural lines (for example, if you have never been to a predominantly Black Baptist church) to be understood by some, and simply offensive and obnoxious to those that get what the joke is supposed to be. Additionally, the show tries to tackle serious racial issues and structural inequality, but they are presented with very little segue or forewarning, so that all of a sudden you are listening to enlightened social commentary, which is an abrupt end to anything clever or comical.
Aside from an inconsistent flow of comedy, the main character is NOT a comedic actor, or a great actor at all. His reactions to every scenario was terribly anti-climatic, (he would barely have a comment). Nor did I believe him or his friends were college students. They looked at least thirty. The only highlight in the pilot episode was meeting the aunt and uncle who own the restaurant. They actually had personalities, and were true to life.
The second episode was no more impressive than the first. Scottie branches out to get his own place, and gets quite a surprise when his "girl next door" neighbors move out and turn into "loud poor people." There were some funny moments, mainly coming from the animated male neighbor.
Overall: the show is slow pace, and I understand why it was cancelled.
Monday, September 7, 2009
The Apex
The Apex is a small museum in Atlanta, GA highlighting the past history, inventions, and achievements of African-Americans.
Located on Auburn Street, this museum has a main room that has a time-line of the African people from thousands of years B.C. -up to slavery, as well as a replica of the Yates and Milton Drug Store, one of the first Black owned businesses in Atlanta.
Past the drug store replica is a hallway that highlights African-American inventions: the traffic light, improvements on the airplane, and the golf tee among many others.
Off the hallway are two rooms. One showcases African-Americans from Georgia that have accomplished great things, and the other is a movie room. The movie room is decorated as a dedication to the history of Auburn Street, "one of the richest Negro streets in the world," in the 50's.
My friend and I watched a short film about Auburn Street, after which our visit came to an end.
I enjoy going to places like this. It is difficult because it stirs up a lot of emotions- pride, frustration, anger, sadness, determination- all within minutes of each other, but it is important that I go.
I go because I know better than to wait on any textbook or television show, (which tend to exclude most things that are not of the White Anglo-Saxon tradition or tell history from that perspective) to tell me what it means to be an "African-American."
Unfortunately, certain sentiments are left on the side of the road in the name of change.
The Apex was in need of updating and was practically empty the day my friend and I went.
Located on Auburn Street, this museum has a main room that has a time-line of the African people from thousands of years B.C. -up to slavery, as well as a replica of the Yates and Milton Drug Store, one of the first Black owned businesses in Atlanta.
Past the drug store replica is a hallway that highlights African-American inventions: the traffic light, improvements on the airplane, and the golf tee among many others.
Off the hallway are two rooms. One showcases African-Americans from Georgia that have accomplished great things, and the other is a movie room. The movie room is decorated as a dedication to the history of Auburn Street, "one of the richest Negro streets in the world," in the 50's.
My friend and I watched a short film about Auburn Street, after which our visit came to an end.
I enjoy going to places like this. It is difficult because it stirs up a lot of emotions- pride, frustration, anger, sadness, determination- all within minutes of each other, but it is important that I go.
I go because I know better than to wait on any textbook or television show, (which tend to exclude most things that are not of the White Anglo-Saxon tradition or tell history from that perspective) to tell me what it means to be an "African-American."
Unfortunately, certain sentiments are left on the side of the road in the name of change.
The Apex was in need of updating and was practically empty the day my friend and I went.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Just Go Teach English!
How do you visit foreign countries all expenses paid, for a year or two at a time? Just go teach English. The new popular post-graduate option for a lot of students seems to be programs that fly Americans to countries in Asia to teach English.
Of course the programs all vary, but I have a friend who is in South Korea teaching English by day and partying it up by night, traveling to Indonesia and other Asian islands, with insurance, and she did not know a lick of Korean before she left. I get misty-eyed just thinking about it.
We do not communicate too often because of the time difference, but I am always a little jealous after we do.
I was also talking to a Japanese exchange student in my class. I told her that I would love to go to Japan, and that I might try teaching English to get over there, immediately she mentioned the JET program. Going since 1987, JET is probably one of the most established English teaching exchange programs out there that has definitely grown in participation.
If you are wondering, 'is she an Education major?' The answer is no. Although, I have thought about teaching at some point as a way to give back to society. (However, fighting to make a difference in a system that has been broken since the 60's, except for the wealthy of course, simply does not appeal to me too much.)
I like to think that teaching English abroad could still contribute to American society in that I would be like an ambassador of sorts...
In any event, I will definitely be looking into it further.
Of course the programs all vary, but I have a friend who is in South Korea teaching English by day and partying it up by night, traveling to Indonesia and other Asian islands, with insurance, and she did not know a lick of Korean before she left. I get misty-eyed just thinking about it.
We do not communicate too often because of the time difference, but I am always a little jealous after we do.
I was also talking to a Japanese exchange student in my class. I told her that I would love to go to Japan, and that I might try teaching English to get over there, immediately she mentioned the JET program. Going since 1987, JET is probably one of the most established English teaching exchange programs out there that has definitely grown in participation.
If you are wondering, 'is she an Education major?' The answer is no. Although, I have thought about teaching at some point as a way to give back to society. (However, fighting to make a difference in a system that has been broken since the 60's, except for the wealthy of course, simply does not appeal to me too much.)
I like to think that teaching English abroad could still contribute to American society in that I would be like an ambassador of sorts...
In any event, I will definitely be looking into it further.
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