It's Time To Begin, Isn't It?

It’s the end of year and it’s time to break out all those clichés. At midnight we’ll all make resolutions we won’t keep and as the fireworks light up the sky we’ll smile with those thoughts of a better change.

I don’t tend to make resolutions as I never keep them; it’s that simple. Every year I tell myself to just do what makes me happy, and in 2012, that’s what I’ve been. There have been weddings and celebrations and road trips, and there have been bad habits and late nights, but no matter what; I’ve been happy. 

This next year for me will be one of great size. Half way through the year I graduate and am suddenly out on the world on my own, having to fend for myself. University has been my constant for two and a half years and suddenly the idea of not having a security or not seeing the people I love every day is scary. With 6 months left, it really is the time to make the most of it and spend that time working hard, but getting to do all the things that being at university allows me.

                It’s also time to close a few chapters; be that with people, or places, or old habits. There are these things in my life that aren’t good for me, and I just don’t want around anymore. And to those things, I say ‘goodbye’. I’m aware of the heavy use of cliché in this entry, but it’s the end of the year. You can forgive me. 

                So to anyone reading, may your 2013 be as great as my 2012 was.  Happy New Year.

Star Wars Episode BLAH: The Commercialisation of Hollywood

Thanks to yet another acquisition by Disney, we are being “treated” to another trilogy of Star Wars films. Now, I have seen the original trilogy numerous times, though wouldn’t go as far as to call myself a “fan”. However, even I can tell you that after the bastardisation of the trilogy by the prequels, I cannot see the need to make more. For me, the Star Wars trilogy is a key example of the commercialisation of Hollywood. We were told the prequels were always planned, then given characters that we there to sell merchandise, and a story that had so much potential but so little substance. It was all style, and so little else.

As a writer, it angers me how the majority of films nowadays are sequels, prequels, reboots, adaptations or “re-imaginings” and yet hardly any of the commercially successful films of the past year have been original works. In this year alone we’ve had two Snow White adaptations as well as a reboot of a franchise not yet ten years old (Spider-Man). Even Christopher Nolan’s brilliant Dark Knight Trilogy, whilst stunning and brilliant, is just a director’s vision of a story we’ve seen done. Yes, we constantly adapt Shakespeare, but those stories are classics, and timeless. Is Batman really the new Hamlet? 

Searching through the internet the other day I stumbled upon a trailer for a film entitled “A Good Day to Die Hard” starring Bruce Willis. It wasn’t until much later I realised this was the fourth sequel in the Die Hard franchise, because the trailer shows us just another action film. It’s not even necessary to keep the name of Die Hard because it’s simply an action film. The name has been attached to ensure box office gross. It is copy and paste film-making. Over the years we’ve seen the decline of original film-making as companies back the continuation of franchise. In 1982, out of the top ten grossing films of the year, seven were original films; 1992, six films were original, 2002, three films were originals. And finally in 2012, two original works. TWO! And the success of one of those films has seen the sequel announced.

Another example of how unoriginal Hollywood can be is the Avengers franchise. Iron Man’s success saw sequels, which saw other Marvel comics hitting the big screen and soon we were given The Avengers, another brilliant film from this year. And suddenly The Avengers 2 is in the works, and now filmmakers are lining up to create the same franchise based around the DC Comic superheroes. It’s just an endless cycle of people taking pre-existing stories and re-packaging them for modern mainstream audiences.

Now, that isn’t to say these adaptations are a bad thing. The previously mentioned Dark Knight Trilogy is one of the finest examples of modern filmmaking, and one of the films I most look forward to next year is Baz Luhrmann’s “The Great Gatsby”. With these re-imaginings, we continue to see differing vision of classic stories, and mostly offer a fresh take. However, as original works continue to decline in number and success, what troubles me is that we may stall new works. Christopher Nolan’s “Inception” is yet another example of how original story can be a mixture of substance and style for all audiences, without having to sacrifice story or intellect. It’s commercial and critical success show us that audiences are not solely interested in re-visiting characters, but also something fresh.

With more and more sequels being announced and franchises ever-growing, there seems to be no end in sight. The question I leave you with is this: Is this Hollywood now? Or do you see a Renaissance of original film making?

Sin

I’ve been thinking and discussing the ideas of “sin” quite a lot lately. Now as a non-religious person I obviously don’t feel the need to abide by the rules of any religion, but that doesn’t mean that I don’t strive to do good things and commit acts of kindness. I’m also well aware that as human beings, we sin. We commit acts that we know are lacking in morality or that do us damage. We drink, we smoke, we gossip, we indulge, and yet even though we feel guilt after these things, we don’t break our own cycles.

I, for one, think a little sin is good for everyone. I think we all need those moments where we are completely reckless and buy that jumper that we don’t really want, or order that next drink that we definitely don’t need. I believe that as long as the things I do don’t hurt beyond myself, then it’s okay to do that harm (with limitations, obviously). But when we start to hurt the ones we love or care about, then our sins become bigger. 

Temptation is fine. Acting upon temptation is human. It’s in our base instincts. As long as we understand our limits, and that we risk danger to others, a little sin is good for the mind.

But I do strive for better. I hope that someday I can break some of those cycles and can leave behind a lot of those sins I constantly re-commit. I hope that I can break some of my cycles I know that move beyond me. And I hope above all else, I can look back and see good more than bad.

“Make me good, God, but not yet.”

Autumn Falls...

So, I think we can agree that whatever semblance of summer 2012 was offering up has indeed passed. Now, despite having about 4 sun-soaked days this year, I’m still not upset by the passing of the season; as with the changing times, brings Autumn (or “Fall”, to any Americans reading).

Autumn is my second favourite times of the year (the first being the Christmas period for obvious reasons). I’ve had many discussions lately about how excited I am for this time of year.

Autumn to me is putting on your coat, and scarf before stepping outside where the air isn’t too cold, but just icy enough to pinch your cheeks. All the trees suddenly burn with oranges and reds and when the leaves fall to the ground, even the most cynical person can’t help but smile at the crunch beneath their feet. Children rake up the fallen foliage and jump in the beds of leaves, then scramble to re-structure. Back at home, my favourite thing about Autumn in my village is one particular tree. I don’t know the name of it, but all year round the leaves are purple, and amongst the others, it just looks beautiful.

Autumn also re-ignites my love of cinnamon. Suddenly all warm drinks, be it coffee, hot chocolate or apple juice must be flavoured with it. Walking round Leeds at this time, the street vendors always carry some, and that smell just fills me with happiness. There is something about that taste and smell that is synonymous with those last months of the year.

Returning home at the end of the day and taking off coats and hats and scarves, then quickly grabbing the seat nearest to the radiator trying to warm up; it’s just a time that seems very traditional to me. I think there is something very nostalgic and classic about Autumn that reminds me that so many of the things that make us happy come from places that are so small, be it the colour of the leaves, or that sense of home. It takes away the need or want for “more” that summer brings. In a cliché-d, romanticised view of the world, Autumn humbles me, and reminds me that I don’t need a lot to make me happy. Just the falling leaves, and the smell of cinnamon in the air.

The Way The World Works

Me and my friends have been discussing the ideas of maturity lately, and those delusions of grandeur that come with youth.

Being a certain age and being surrounded by a lot of different people, I see a lot of people who think they understand the way the world works, or just that they think they know everything, and for the most part, I think this is a common trait amongst out generation, or just being twenty years old. You’re looking for meaning in things, or trying to make sense because the truth of it is, or at least it is for me, being twenty is scary. I’m going into my final year of university soon and after that it’s go out and get a job and “follow your dream”. This is fine if you want to be an accountant, or teacher, or something that offers a plan. I want to be a writer, and so the instability of that job means an uncertainty in my life for a long time.

But, back on track, people around me who act more ‘mature’ than they should are often the ones who appear most immature in my eyes, because there is also a misunderstanding there. The most mature thing a person can accept, in my opinion, is the acceptance that life is hard and you’re going to have to do things you don’t want to do, so you might as well get on with them. Does anyone really want to clean, pay taxes, or hold down a job they hate?

But, the more I talk about this subject, the more I find out that this isn’t necessarily limited to people of my age group. Many more mature people also either think they have a complete grasp on the world, or fully admit they don’t have a handle on things. Which prompts a question:

When it comes to understanding the world; is the acceptance of ignorance mature?

Again, this is one of those things in which I discuss it as a topic parallel from myself, but once more the truth is I do the same. The very notion that I’m trying to write a blog on the way the world works goes against everything I’m saying, right? But, this is my way of coping. This is my way of understanding that in my little room, on my tiny street in the smallest more insignificant part of the world, I have a grasp on things. Which I don’t. But I need to think that. So, I’m guessing we all do. Right?

"Killing Us Softly: Advertising's Image of Women"

So, firstly I apologise for another related around women’s rights, but it’s a topic I’m feeling very passionately about lately.

Secondly, I apologise because this isn’t going to be a blog. It’s more of a, “please watch this video because it is important”-kind of post.

I came across the video a couple of days ago and since then I‘ve been thinking about it a lot. It’s not a big expose or big reveal, but it’s talking about demand from women in the media in a very candid and openly honest way. But anyway, rather than discuss it, here is the video to watch.

The Cat, The Widow and The Mockingjay: The Plight of the Female Action Star

Whilst I am in no means the first person to say this, it is still something I believe that needs to be addressed. I truly hate the attitudes towards actresses in superhero or actions roles in today’s media. 

We are finally at a place where there are a plethora of strong female characters, not only starring but also leading action films. We have Katniss Everdeen, Selina Kyle, Black Widow, Evelyn Salt and Snow White; all strong characters in cast of men and showing they can kick just as hard as the boys. We see these characters pull off stunts that are, in most ways, far more impressive than those of their male counterparts. And in interviews when men are being asked about how they prepared mentally for their characters, and how their “Hulk is different from other Hulks”; women get:

“How do you fit into that costume?”

I shudder every time an interviewer asks this, and you can see the actress resent it. Why should Scarlet Johansson be asked about her figure when Tom Hiddleston is discussing the psychology of his character? Anne Hathaway was actually asked how much weight she had lost to fit into her Catwoman outfit! Not about the vocal work she did to lower her voice (Tom Hardy wasn’t the only one who had a vocal transformation. Yes, Hathaway’s wasn’t as prominent, but it’s hard work to lower your voice.) Another question Hathaway was asked was how did she run in her characters signature knife-blade heels, and if her role in "The Devil Wears Prada" helped at all? The only thing journalists seem to be interested in is the physicality of the actress. Not the strength, or psychology behind the exterior.

Another instance of this was the highly controversial discussion over Jennifer Lawrence’s weight in “The Hunger Games”. Now, the argument was that Jennifer Lawrence’s figure was too full to play someone who was supposed to be living in poverty. Now, I’m not going to discuss this argument but simply ask, why was nothing said about the weights of Josh Hutcherson, or Liam Hemsworth? Both of who added muscle to play their parts? 

 

Why is the media so obsessed with sexualising these characters and the actresses? Do they believe that this is what women want to read, or all that women care about? Because, even as a male viewer, I don’t care about how good these women look in skin tight lycra! I care about how they shaped a character mentally, and how they bring originality to roles. I care about the professional relationships with director and the fellow actors.

So, journalists and interviewers, please stop sexualising female stars, and start respecting them for the talented actresses that they are. Otherwise, what is the point of having strong female roles, if we are going to not treat them as equals?

If It Ain't Broke....

One of the things that bothers me about this generation is our obsession with perfection. Our film stars have to look a certain way, and our singers have to hit those notes perfectly every time. We’ve no room for imperfection. 

Take Florence Welch for example. I was never really a fan of Florence and the Machine until a few months ago, and the reason was Miss Welsh. There was something off about her voice to me that took a while for me to appreciate. What it is is that her voice isn’t polished. Her vibrato is often too fast and sometimes when singing live, you can hear her stretching for the high notes; stretching but hitting them. Her voice is undeniable, but because it isn’t perfect, I’d disregarded her.

Another case of this is Kristen Stewart. Kristen Stewart is by no means a great actress, but people seem to have made the decision that she is a bad one. I think Stewart has an awkward quality on screen and I don’t mean this as a bad thing as the characters she plays are in the most part introverted characters, and her own introverted nature works well. She isn’t groomed like other actresses to say the right thing or hold themselves a certain way. She’s not a star. And I think this is a lot of the reasons people have a problem with her. I think it also comes down to the Twilight films in which I am not a fan of her performance, but a bad performance does not make a bad actress. And because she doesn’t have the slick magnetism of someone like Charlize Theron, doesn’t mean she’s bad at her craft. I think Kristen has her own unique performance, and it will either be to your taste or it won’t, but it’s not right to disregard her completely.

I think the obsession with perfection comes down to beauty as well. Most people see beauty in the manufactured look of Nicki Minaj or Megan Fox, and the truth is that it may be ‘beautiful’ to you, but isn’t real. Take someone like Lady GaGa. GaGa uses make up and wigs to complete outfits, neither of which have to flatter her. In some videos, darker make-up doesn’t highlight her natural features, but instead crafts her into her outfits, instead of the other way around. Take all that away and you do have a beautiful woman. No, her face isn’t perfect. But she is beautiful. What I think this stems from is the media either highlighting these ‘imperfections’, or trying to hide them with Photoshop and airbrushing.

 I clearly don’t exempt myself from this; I do it with many things. I’m just saying that it’s a really unattractive quality that the media has moulded our generation into demanding perfection, because it then puts pressure on the people in the limelight. But the question I really want to ask is: 

“If something isn’t perfect, is it broken?”