the candy trail continues on…(ILUSM candies)

1. situation

I’m cramming alot of things right now, but still trying to pass them all in time. I’m also very attached to my fandom and finding it hard to allot time to do school work because of it.

2. goals

I want to pass a good university and take up the course of my choice. After that, I would want to have a succesful and happy life, with my family and buddies. ^_^

3. ethical concerns

I’m worrried about the fact that the others seem to forget about good manners whenever they interact with other people. As for my own ethical concern,  I fear that I’m not getting enough sleep these past few days and that I don’t spend time for studying as much as how I did a few years ago.

4. more points of view?

I sometimes have the feeling that I don’t care about what the others are thinking as much as I should be. Though, often times, I try to situate myself with others especially if I really feel bad about whatever happened or is happening to them. Sometimes I even wonder if one situation looks different (and not how I saw it) for another person. I even guess that this may be one cause of why wars are created between different races.  They have different beliefs and ways of thinking, that they find the opponent’s view to be mockery of theirs.

 5. stakehold

I think that whenever I do or act upon something, the whole future changes.  If I had my bag flinging over my shoulder, not caring about anything with my surroundings, there is a possibility that it would be snatched easily. Unlike if I placed it over my shoulder and protected it, then it will be harder to get and I’ll still have my bag with me ’til I get out of the mall and get back home. I always believe that if ever I make a bad move, my parents will be the greatly affected people close to me. If anything happens to me, they have to be the ones who must take the consequences no matter how heavy or light a matter it is.

6. consequences

If I don’t study well, my grades will be affected really badly. I, then, won’t be able to actually understand everything that passed through my ears that then directed to my brain. My parents will be ashamed of having a daughter like me, if I slack of throughout the entire time that I originaly should’ve directed to my study. Last is and sadly,  I won’t be able to get into the school that I like. Then thus starts my life’s donwfall.

7. role reversal

I honestly try to situate myself as other people sometimes. If I was my sister, then I would be sad because I used to kick her when she was small (but I stopped that now…realizing that it was useless doing so). If I was some hollywood star, though I cannot imagine it that clearly, then I guess the stress would get into me, but it’s okay since the spotlight is good enough payment for the hardwork done with the projects. If I was boy, would I be doing things that I do as a girl as well? I mean, it is in terms of unisex hobbies like watching TV and getting too much into books. Would I like cars more than I love them now? ^_^ I think that it would be fun if ever I get the chance to see myself as a boy in another dimension.

8. am i doing what it right?

For now, I think I’m doing okay and I feel that I could somehow achieve my goals one day in the future. Although, I’m still molding myself and still trying to strive in surviving this life. The wrong thing that I’m doing is that I’m spending too much time at the computer, to the point that my eyes are starting to hurt now. I don’t think that wearing glasses won’t be beneficial for me.

9. alternatives

I guess my alternative for regaining my passion to study, is to look up to people that I think have had great success with their lives.  If ever I fail at my dream (*knock on wood*), then I’ll switch to my other dreams.

10. justification

I think I can fairly justify my decisions and actions. I always try to act accordingly to what I believe in, and I make it a point that I must decide on decisions that would be the best to make. I don’t stick to what others are telling me to do. I still have my own beliefs to base on, and I’m happy that I have them. If ever I act unaccordingly, then I usually resort to getting mad for disgracing myself. I’m not saying that I aim to be refined and excellent in things, rather, I try to be near that — by being myself and by acting on based on what I think would be right and proper (as a person) to do.

RAM

director: Caroline Ting

Just before I gave up on finding a quality video on Youtube (that is not an illegal rip-off from the television), I finally saw this clip in one of the channels, and loved it!

 At first glance, the video may look cheap in terms of how it was animated. It was just when I was watching it, that I began to forget my first judgement and solely thought that in overall, it was great. I love the script and how the story flowed, how the voice actors did an excellent job on dubbing the characters, and how the humor was kept clean but still laugh-worthy. For the animation, I admit that big-time studios does have better 3D animations, but for a solo animator and director, this video can be called smart and sweet in its own way.

The storyline, in my opinion, is well-thought of. I mean, it does tell of good values and the possible consequences of relying too much on others and, specifically, on computers. I also found the way they argue to be really hysterical, since it seemed like the usual fight boys may have from time to time. I guess, it is also thanks to how the voice actors acted their roles, where it all seemed natural.

It just seems that, in the end, I won’t ever forget how “facade” is pronounced — all thanks to this video.

This video can be found at Aniboom’s channel in Youtube (http://youtube.com/user/aniBOOM) or directly in their site at http://www.aniboom.com/.

ENCHANTED

runtime: 107 minutes

Having watched a movie that brought back feelings that I used to have 10 years ago, it made me really glad to remember how fun simple things can be. Disney’s live action movie, Enchanted, is aimed at all age groups, considering the fact that its content and plot can let older ones appreciate it as well. It is also like the other Disney movies that tells about princesses.

Giselle (Amy Adams) gets rescued by Prince Edward (James Marsden) one morning in the forest and decides that the they must get married the next day, for they believe they have found their “true love’s kiss”. On the day of the wedding, the evil Queen Narissa (Susan Sarandon) realizes that she would have to give up the crown once Giselle marries her son, Edward. She then decides to stop Giselle’s happily-ever-after by luring her into a fountain which leads to the human world. The next thing Giselle knew was that she came out of a manhole in the middle of  New York, after being pushed into the deep abyss of the fountain she fell into. 

One important difference between Enchanted and the past animated ones, is that the live action version can tell the viewers that true love and the magic of believing can happen in real life, even without the help of animal friends or magic spells, and while you are even in the middle of the city.

I simply adore this movie. I admit that at first I thought that it would be the “same-old” type of movie, but then while
I was watching it, I kept on getting hyped up about every little thing that they did in the whole film. The cinematography along with the CGI animation was great, they made me remember the classic Disney movies. The soundtrack is really sweet in terms of how good it is. I mean, every song was sung as if it has been in broadways or stage plays for years. They were really great and it made me happy with how they remained the class of a true lady and princess. As for the actors, I have to say that Amy Adams who played Giselle, was really excellent in acting her role out. The way she speaks, sings, moves, and even how she dresses and looks, seemed as if she really is a princess from a make-believe land.

To place in simple words on how to describe the film, it was (in every aspect), something that made me feel ENCHANTED!

  “The Pope is Antichrist” by Lucas Cranach

  The Finnish Maiden

             The pictures above are mostly under the propaganda category, since both are trying to tell the viewers and those who properly study the pieces what it was really meant for. For instance, the first picture that tells that the Pope is Antichrist, is most likely telling the people that the Pope at that time has been doing things that were not according to the church’s teaching and is probably asking for taxes and fees that are too much for the poor to handle. It was said that this was commisioned by Martin Luther, so it must have been used in one of his campaigns against the Church and its religion. As for the second picture, it shows a Finnish Maiden, which also represents the country of Finland. I think that the hidden agenda in this work is that since it is used as a symbol of national consciousness and independence, is to bring the Finnish people together though the symbolic meaning of it. I’ve read that the Finnish Maiden was believed to be the human representation of Finland because its pose perfectly matches the way the country is placed and drawn on the map.

           I believe that such hidden agendas are appropriate whenever an organization, a group, or an individual wants to tell something to the the people, since they would be able to show it in a very indiscreet way. This would be very nice to apply in, if you are going to start a propaganda or a campaign, especially if the message that you are trying to tell the masses are being monitored or considered as illegal by the eyes of the law. Of course, such hidden agendas are best used if it would be for the progress of the people and if it could actually bring good deeds and effects.

1. definition of Propaganda

 - committee of cardinals: a committee of Roman Catholic cardinals, the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, in charge of supervising foreign missions and educating priests to serve in them. [1]

2. definition of Popular Literature

- is written by journalists, who are employed by the magazine for which they write. Journalists cover news and current events in a field, write profiles of people, places, or events, and express political opinions. Some examples of popular literature are :

• The New York Times
• Newsweek
• National Geographic
• Psychology Today
• Natural History
• The Nation
• New Republic
• Science News         [2]

3. reaction: Discrimination [in the movie She's The Man]

                   The discrimination in this movie might not be that visible since it is a comedy and it is a fact that this issue has been very common to our knowledge nowadays. In this example, in particular, is how the guys from the soccer team looks down to the girls from the other team, despite the fact that they are studying and playing for the same school. This then results to Olivia (played by Amanda Bynes) to dress-up as a boy to be able to prove to the others that even girls can do what they do and that they need the same respect. She loves the sport and just wanted to play it, whatever it could actually take her. In my opinion, I like the whole movie and the sense that it can actually show good morals to those who have low self-esteem and trust in theirselves. In is like an indirect way of telling others that gender doesn’t really matter in most of the things and life and that we should get rid of the usual ideas that there are things that are only meant for the male or the female.

Here is the trailer the trailer of the film. (It’s really funny!)

                   Taking discrimination in a more broader concept, it is actually everywhere. Even if people claim that the issue about this has died years ago, it still is ongoing. For example, our OFW’s who work overseas are taken for granted and seen as low kinds of people in the society. Well, they might be doing work that are a bit dirty (in its literal context) but it doesn’t mean that their self and dignity are the same with that. Another is, the difference between the black and white skinned. It might be not that evident compared to how it was years back but it still can be seen sometimes in simple ways. Most of the time, the asian race are a good source of jokes in the american culture. I admit that I myself laugh at those jokes despite being asian myself but I can’t help but wonder “Don’t they know that alot of Asians can actually have decent jobs and can speak fluent English?”.

sources:

 [1]   Soukhanov, Anne H.. Encarta World English Dictionary. Ney York: St. Martin’s Press, 1999.

 [2]   Murtha, Leslie. “Popular Literature Versus Scholarly Literature.” 2000. 10 Jan. 2008 <http://newarkwww.rutgers.edu/ecollege/popular.htm>

She’s the Man. Dir. Andy Fickman. Dreamworks, 2006