Welcome to the blog for Prof. John Talbird's English 220 class. The purpose of this site is two-fold: 1) to continue the conversations we start in class (or to start conversations before we get to class) and 2) to practice our writing, reading, and thinking on a weekly basis in an informal setting.
I personally thought that the Laramie Project had an interesting way of displaying its story, how the characters are discussing their thoughts about the hate crime and those held responsible for this event occurring.
In regards to Act 1 and 2 of the Laramie Project, I find myself with mixed feelings throughout the entire story. I was very frustrated when it came to the switch between people, places, and time they occurred in. Then it hit me. This feels like I’m watching a movie on TV. The whole story feels rather dramatic. Maybe the reason why it’s so frustrating was because instead of the TV producing the image for me, I had to picture the entire events by myself in a fashion that’s similar to such movies while also imagining the “audio” as some may understand. It was difficult considering the plethora of characters, though I somehow was able to manage the differences between people involved.
This is how it all felt to me. After a group of characters within a specific place and time stopped talking, the scene suddenly switches to an entirely new one. No smooth transitioning or anything. Just like one would find in the movies. Though it’s understandable as to why they did that, given that it was tailored to be a book.
What also bothered me was the people within the book. Despite it being based on heavy topic such as the the brutal death of a homosexual resident, the way they acted was dramatic but not in a manner that was so drastic. Maybe it’s the way they talk, not their accents, but how they speak about the topic at hand. As if, you’re trying to act natural. If feels so programmed, perhaps empty. For example, those police officers you hear in the news whenever someone has been murdered. “Hearts and prayers goes out to the family”. You know it’s a sensible thing to say, yet it feels like there’s no heart put in it, for a lack of better words. Granted, it’s about the death of a gay they slightly have any knowledge of. There were some moments that did feel like a natural conversation like the one between the interviewer and the woman who has a daughter that works in the police force (I’m sorry that I don’t know their name, even though it’s right there). It felt like you can actually imagine it rather accurately. Perhaps it’s just me. There’s a lot of difference between experiencing the event with your own eyes and reading a book about it. My imagination may be more inaccurate then I feared.
Though what got me more frustrated, was the mindset of these people in the book. “What’s a homosexual?”, one would ask a Christian. It’s like the first image that comes to their mind is two guys sticking their unmentionables in each other’s asses. So much for trying to keep a clean mind. Makes me wonder, as wrongful as I admit to being, if those of religion think more sexually than those that isn’t religious. May it be muslims, or Christians. You’d imagine they know a thing or two about romance. Though, I understand that homosexuality is a foreign concept to them, they’d do well to ponder what sexuality even is. Or else they may put in “virgin” under the “sex” section in a job application form, rather than Male or Female.
No offense to anyone though. I’m an unintelligent idiot, so feel free to correct me. I’m confident I got a lot of things wrong here. Also, sorry if this was just some senseless ranting, didn’t intend on making it as such.
I personally thought that the Laramie Project had an interesting way of displaying its story, how the characters are discussing their thoughts about the hate crime and those held responsible for this event occurring.
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ReplyDeleteIn regards to Act 1 and 2 of the Laramie Project, I find myself with mixed feelings throughout the entire story. I was very frustrated when it came to the switch between people, places, and time they occurred in. Then it hit me. This feels like I’m watching a movie on TV. The whole story feels rather dramatic. Maybe the reason why it’s so frustrating was because instead of the TV producing the image for me, I had to picture the entire events by myself in a fashion that’s similar to such movies while also imagining the “audio” as some may understand. It was difficult considering the plethora of characters, though I somehow was able to manage the differences between people involved.
This is how it all felt to me. After a group of characters within a specific place and time stopped talking, the scene suddenly switches to an entirely new one. No smooth transitioning or anything. Just like one would find in the movies. Though it’s understandable as to why they did that, given that it was tailored to be a book.
What also bothered me was the people within the book. Despite it being based on heavy topic such as the the brutal death of a homosexual resident, the way they acted was dramatic but not in a manner that was so drastic. Maybe it’s the way they talk, not their accents, but how they speak about the topic at hand. As if, you’re trying to act natural. If feels so programmed, perhaps empty. For example, those police officers you hear in the news whenever someone has been murdered. “Hearts and prayers goes out to the family”. You know it’s a sensible thing to say, yet it feels like there’s no heart put in it, for a lack of better words. Granted, it’s about the death of a gay they slightly have any knowledge of. There were some moments that did feel like a natural conversation like the one between the interviewer and the woman who has a daughter that works in the police force (I’m sorry that I don’t know their name, even though it’s right there). It felt like you can actually imagine it rather accurately. Perhaps it’s just me. There’s a lot of difference between experiencing the event with your own eyes and reading a book about it. My imagination may be more inaccurate then I feared.
Though what got me more frustrated, was the mindset of these people in the book. “What’s a homosexual?”, one would ask a Christian. It’s like the first image that comes to their mind is two guys sticking their unmentionables in each other’s asses. So much for trying to keep a clean mind. Makes me wonder, as wrongful as I admit to being, if those of religion think more sexually than those that isn’t religious. May it be muslims, or Christians. You’d imagine they know a thing or two about romance. Though, I understand that homosexuality is a foreign concept to them, they’d do well to ponder what sexuality even is. Or else they may put in “virgin” under the “sex” section in a job application form, rather than Male or Female.
No offense to anyone though. I’m an unintelligent idiot, so feel free to correct me. I’m confident I got a lot of things wrong here. Also, sorry if this was just some senseless ranting, didn’t intend on making it as such.