Issues that Rouse Passion

http://news.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/06/17/merit-based-pay-for-teachers/
Merit-based pay is an incredibly important issue that impacts everyone in society.

http://www.wired.com/medtech/drugs/magazine/16-04/ff_kurzweil?currentPage=all
The idea of technology and it's implications on human life, existence, and what it means to be human in general. This exigence was spurred by seeing Ray speak last Tuesday...

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3711/is_200305/ai_n9238722/
Examining what effect violence in the media is having on our minds is another topic of major concern. Many believe that violent media causes aggression, while many others believe it is the other way around...

Which topic to choose I wonder...

Sentimental Design

There is something inviting about the book. The crisp pages of the new book, the off-white with the newly printed letters. The new book calls to you, it beckons, open and enjoy it says. there is some sort of simple joy in the turning of a page the light press it takes to press down the page before one continues. The book is compact in most cases, the paperback is the perfect size to enjoy while reclined in a comfortable chair. The book is light, and in lamplight the pages seem warm, reflecting the yellow light of a lamp. When used in combination with a bookmark the design is genius; simply pick the book up and one can pick up where the story was left off. The image of a book is one of sentiment, there is some strange emotion attached to it. A sense of tradition and loyalty.



There is a sterility about this object. The sentimentality of the book is all but gone. Certainly there are attempts to conjure up this emotion, with the faux aged pages, the clever programming, but the emotion is absent. The design is one of a modern age. There is the characteristic curvature of the actual device. Metal and plastic give it a durability and heaviness the book does not have. The polished surface of the screen reflects light and is hard to the touch, sometimes cold and sometimes hot. The turning of pages is more of a presentation than an action. The animated effect of a turning page intending to simulate a book yet something is missing. Somewhere in the metal, the processors, the ingenious ingenuity the heart of the book is lost. Some think that the two are interchangeable, and on the surface they do seem to be. There is something powerful in the simplicity of a book that even cunning technology cannot replace.

Critique of Basterds.

Everyone knows Tarantino. Who doesn't? After all the man has been tremendously successful with the Kill Bill series, and with Pulp Fiction and Reservoir Dogs, and finally with his latest project, Inglourious Basterds. This film follows in the tradition of Trantino's style and is one of the best cinematic experiences, of the year, or ever.

The film is immensely successful because it conforms to Tarantino's usual film style, which is very much the film-making that American's have come to expect from a good film.

There are two key components to the appeal that come hand-in-hand in Tarantino's movies. Both of these components relate to the striking visuals presented in the films. The movie makes use of I. wonderful and imaginative cinematography and II. use of incredibly vast amounts of graphic violence. Both these components are present in his latest, Inglourious Basterds. The cinematography features the unique stlye that has come to define Tarantino movies. It is gritty and old fashioned and yet at the same time it works in modern imaginative shots. The violence similarly adds to the striking impression the already vivid visual side of the movies has. The contrast of the vast amount of blood against the otherwise bleak backdrop add aesthetic brilliance. This scene in particular illustrates both the extreme violence, cinematography, and dialogue.

As can be seen, particularly from the bar scene, the dialogue that goes back and forth between characters is a major reason Inglourious Basterds should be deemed such a masterpiece. The dialogue in the movie is both witty and ingeniousely written. The film in particular is known for it's brilliant dialogue. A major component of this dialogue naturally brings me to the issue of actors. The film features perfect actors and extraordinary performances particularly by Brad Pitt and his attempts to speak Italian, and by Christoph Waltz (an Austrian actor) who won an Oscar for his performance.

Another key component staying on the subject of audio is the soundtrack. Tarantino in all is films loves to include tracks reminiscent of the Western movies that are his inspiration. Inglourious Basterds is the same. He includes these types of themes in the backdrop of his WWII movie and surprisingly it works. Tarantino adds his own unique flair to this reimagining of a WWII story. This film is without a doubt a Tarantino success.