Pop Culture Post

Tiffany Skrzeczkoski

Pop Culter blog post #3

The Last Witch Hunt: The Legacy of the West Memphis Three

      The West Memphis Three, a group of ill advised teenagers who were accused of three murders in the year of 1990.  By reading this first sentence nothing much comes to mind but in reading through the facts a lot of emotions stir up. Damien Echols, Jesse Misskelley Jr. and Jason Baldwin were the three teenagers accused of murdering three, eight year old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. The boys were found tied up with their own shoelaces, mutilated and then drowned to death. Police turned straight to Damien Echols, a troublesome teenager at the time who would be considered a "goth." This appearance of Echols drove the police to question him and his three friends. The friends enjoyed dark music, dark clothing and reading criminal books. One tipping point for the police was that Echols had checked out a book on witchcraft almost promising that he was satanic, right? Well that is what the police decided after scrutinizing the boys and forcing them into a false confession. No other facts or evidence was brought up in court other than the eery appearance and habits of the boys. Eighteen years later the boys are free after being found not guilty, but they are not free from there past.

          Reading this article I was somewhat not surprised after watching False Forensics for a former assignment. Criminal evidence these days are becoming loose on prosecuting people in cases. In this case the mere appearance of the boys is what found them guilty. A matter of self expression can no longer be free. This case is a horrible example of our justice system. Wasn't it said, "it's better to let 100 guilty men go than to lock up one innocent man?" Well the sad thing here is that is not what happened. Three peoples lives changed on an account of unfair accusations and I hope our system can be saved before any worse happens.

        
           

Brief Screening Report- There Will Be Blood

 

 

 

 

There Will Be Blood is a Move about an oil mining guiness who talks a small city into letting him drill in there small community. Daniel Plainview talks the Sunday family into selling their property to him. Paul Sunday, the father of the family, decides to sell to him. Throughout the moive Eli Sunday, Paul's son, only wants to bring faith into the community and only cares about a church being built soon after the well is drilled. Danial nodds it off and states "I don't have one single faith." Daniel is not of  a religious man and this irritates Eli. Especially, after Daniels son goes deaf after a massive drill explosion Daniel gets angered with eli and the faith and realizes his drilling empire is soon crashing down. Only if Daniel can find a cheaper way to transport oil can he keep his company afloat.





Personally, I don't find this movie very thrilling. There are no special lighting effects, the conversation is really difficult to understand and the storyline is very unclear. I felt as if watching multiple movies and I couldn't stay concentrated. It doesn't really help that I am not into Westerns, if I had to give this movie a genre. The movie itself is very long and quite boring I will admit. The Acting however was quite good. The speech Daniel gives to the people ensuring them that the oil drill will be a success is wonderful.  He is calm yet forcefull but he makes you believe that he is talking to you directly. The scenery is also somewhat good. Even though its mostly barren land not many movies are taped in something like a desert area. Overall, I didn't enjoy this movie.

 

 

 



Journal #2 Movies

 

 

Journal #2  Movies

 

 

Hmm... that's the first thing that comes to mind when someone asks me to name my favorite movie. There are just so many I can't pick just one but if I would have to pick on the spot I would have to say Bridesmaids. Some may find the comedy a bit boring or gentle humor, I, however find it hilarious! Most men don't take to this movie as well as women do, maybe it's because it's a chick-flick? I feel like everyone should see it at least once though. I don't look at the camera angle or sound when picking a good movie, they are still important don't get me wrong. I look for tons of laughter if it's a comedy and an "edge of the seat" feeling when watching a horror movie, etc. The movie has to reach reach the sense of what the genre is. Bridesmaids is a comedy that made me fall out of my seat laughing. To this day my mom and I recite quotes all the time to each other. The acting is quiet in parts, but an uproar in others. Maybe it's the plot I love so much. Basically a maid of honor is being shown over by a pompious bridesmaid with lots of money causing a battle between the two girls to be the best help to the bride. Its comical yet realistic. The moral is a nice bonus too, you should never lose yourself when you feel the weight of the world but turn things around and show people you can be the best of yourself. Also, don't get in a fight with a bridesmaid (haha).  I guess I respond more to the formal elements though if I would have to choose. Being an art student you really look for the art in movies and along with that, lighting, acting and narrative. My overall adivice... watch Bridesmaids at least once!


Miranissarticle

Tiffany Skrzeczkoski

10-1-12

Miraniss Review

 

            David Miraniss explains the disappointing Monday night football game in which the Packers lost to the Seahawks in a mind-blowing call from replacement referees, in his Washington Post article. What was clearly an interception by the Packers was called as a Touchdown for the Seahawks. In this article, Miraniss asks, "is winning everything?" and "would he have felt this way if the Packers had won the game?" Those answers do not interest him. What concerns David Miraniss was not the replacement referees with the ridiculous call, but the Seattle Seahawks coach, Pete Carrol, and quarterback, Russel Wilson's reactions to the game. It angered Miraniss that Coach Pete Carrol raised his arms after winning, as if the Seahawks had performed a phenomenon against the Packers. As if that wasn't bad enough, Russel Wilson's interview following the game made the obviously phony call sound like a too-close-to-call decision the referees had to make. Miraniss Praises Vince Lombardi for making his players participate in  fair, clean games throughout his career. He was in it for the deserved wins not a mistake on the referees. Winning isn't everything, when the game is played fair.

            I completely agree with David Miraniss in his article. Yes, the replacement referees did do a horrible job but they were also not qualified for NFL games. The game's final score stands, but when the Seahawks coach and quarterback act like it was a deserved win, that's just disrespectful. I don't believe that winning is everything, life moves on, but praising yourself and the team for winning a game based on unfair calls is bad-mannered. What is worse is acting like it was a tough call. As you can clearly see in replays the Packers intercepted the ball but to the Seahawks they think they deserved that touchdown in a reasonable call. When can winning become a deserved privilege rather than a "win at any cost" lifestyle?  

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