"Bachal Boys"

I went to go see the film, “Bachal Boys.” I didn’t realize until the movie started that this film was in Philipino with English subtitles. It was somewhat hard to understand what was going on at certain points but overall I understood the film. This film consisted of one ethnicity; Philipino people. Most of the characters in the film were young Philippino children. The concepts that were developed in the film that I noticed were all male dominated, class, and how woman were very little seen or heard from.
This film was all male dominant because the film was constructed around these young male children searching for their friend. These children ran around the city looking to steal/find metal scraps to trade in and receive money for themselves. One day they lost their friend at sea. One of the children was completely saddened by this. He continued searching for his friend but never found him. The focus was of males throughout film.
The classes of the people in the film were of lower class. The children and their families were of poverty. The children wore the same clothing everyday in this film and their clothing was dirty and torn up. Whenever the families would eat they would only eat rice for meals. Also, the homes were sand/dirt flooring, the roofing was a hut, and the doors were sheets. They showed a scene where the landlord came by to get rent and one family couldn’t pay.
Woman in the film were not at all seen in the beginning of this film. It was only up until the middle that woman were seen. The mother and grandmother in the film were very little heard from as well.
Overall, I thought this film was very difficult to stay focused on and it wasn’t what I expected at all. It was a different film to view because I don’t usually view films that are in a different language with subtitles.

"Winter's Bone"

I went to the Egyptian Theatre to view the film, “Winter’s Bone.” First I would like to say that this was fabulous and I completely see why it has won so many awards, including one from the Sundance Festival. The film was completely sold old and multiple people were waiting outside in long lines trying to get in. A few of the key concepts taught in class that were developed in the film were the white messiah and gender roles.
The main character, Rae, is a 17 year old young girl who takes care of her sickly mother and 3 siblings. She takes on the stereotyped gender role of a male by chopping wood for the family, shooting, teaching siblings how to shoot squirrels, and basically making all decisions and figuring out everything for the family when things go wrong. She is a contradiction of the stereotyped gender role of a female because of all these things that she continues to do in the film for her family. The idea of a woman to clean, be submissive and be a sexual object is nothing of which Rae does in this film. She dresses very manly by wearing baggy jeans, big boots, and big jackets. She also speaks unlike a stereotyped woman is suppose to. She speaks her mind by yelling at people who she thinks knows where her father may be and has an attitude with the Sherriff in the film.
Rae is the White Messiah in this film. The story of the film is, Rae attempting to find her father to turn into the law so Rae and her family can keep their home. Her father committed a crime and was scheduled to show up in court and if he doesn’t he noted that he would pay for his bail with turning over his home. Rae was the White Messiah by trying to find her father to turn him into the law so her mother and siblings could keep the home. She was the one who was trying to fix the issue and that is what makes her the White Messiah.

"Winter

Don't judge

Many people in this world have their own opinion about a variety of different issues, topics, or anything for that matter. But I think that people should be able to be whoever or whatever they want to be. Everyone in this world is different. Some people who are considered the “other” are not given the same treatment or laws as the “norm.” Just because of someone having a different sexual orientation other than heterosexuality, they are not given the option of marriage. I find this very strange and morally wrong to do to two people who are in love/love each other. People who want to have same-sex marriage certainly should be allowed to get married if they want to, just like a man and a woman want to get married.
Everyone in this world is allowed to their own opinion, but I find it completely wrong to sit there and judge someone. We shouldn’t be judging people who are considered the “other.” I have my opinion about same-sex marriage; I’m a Catholic and believe that it’s wrong, but who am I to judge someone else and their decisions? I think people should be given all the same treatment no matter whom or what they are and what they want to do. We all should be created equal, just like God intended.

MURDERBALL

“Murderball” was a wonderful film. The main issue in the film I picked up on was the benefit from being disabled. The game that these people were playing seemed to be only appropriate for people who are disabled. The game looks very challenging and difficult; full of possible injuries. I think this game is an excellent way for disabled persons to get back into the world if they are feeling hopeless. It’s almost like this game was giving these people a second chance. They seemed so happy while playing the game. I never even knew this game had existed up until now.
The people in the film were disabled, in wheelchairs from various causes. I thought it was very interesting how most of the disabled persons didn’t dwell in being disabled, as the ‘norm’ expects them to. They were very confident, optimistic and acted/reacted to things as a TAB person would react to. It was different for me to see this because normally I don’t see people who are disabling, in wheelchairs acting this way. I usually see them being very quiet or to themselves. It was kind of cool seeing these people act this way.

Women in Rap Videos

Women in rap music videos are portrayed as these sexual objects in today’s society. These images of African American women are hyper sexualized. In these rap videos, they pretty much have only women of color dancing, seducing the men, or for example: licking lollipops, as they have in Lil Wayne’s music video for “Lollipop.” They also have multiple women dancing/grinding on one man. All of this is offensive and disgusting in my opinion. Many of these men, if not all, in the videos also treat the women like nothing. There are many videos that I have seen where women are seducing the men and then they just walk away like it’s nothing to them. It’s almost portrayed like it was just another women having sex with.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy some of this music, but I am starting to ask myself ‘why.’ Why do I listen to music where is only gives off that women are to be seen and not heard, that women are objects, that women are only there to have sex with. All of these rap songs sing about the same exact thing over and over again; getting drunk and having sex with as many women as possible. Even the title of the songs I’m hearing are offensive to some degree; “She ain’t goin to tie me down,” “Shawty is the s**t,” and “break your heart.” All of these songs sing about is having sex with women. They play all of these songs on the radio for young people to hear. All this is telling them is that women are there for sex and that’s it. I’m just getting to the point where I don’t want to listen to it anymore. I use to like it, but it’s become so horrible and degrading that it bothers me now. And to be honest, the men that sing about women like this, have no respect from me.

"The Jazz Singer"

The film, “The Jazz Singer,” was a very interesting film to watch not only because it was a silent film but because of the stereotype that one must fulfill. The father of Jackie Rabinoson wants Jackie to be an Israel singer and not a Jazz singer, like he has as his dream. His father treats him like he supposed to live up to his last name and what he is; a Jewish Cantor and not change it in any way. In the film one of the characters is trying to have Jackie come back to his father who is ill after he’s shunned him from the family and says about Jackie that “will he be the first son in five generations to let down the Rabinoson name down.” This is just another way of showing that he is suppose to follow in his father’s footsteps and anything other is wrong or frowned upon. Since Jackie disobeys his father by becoming a Jazz singer, it’s obvious that his father distances him from the family and shuns him away. He also is oppressing Jackie based on what he wants to do rather than following his father and take over after his father when he’s passed. I think this is a way of putting a stereotype on your own race or culture. It also puts a lack of understanding on Jackie and making him feel like his father doesn’t understand him or care.