Comments for even a pencil has fear to http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn Thu, 04 Dec 2008 18:41:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 Comment on Some more thoughts on Midge. by Portrait Of John http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/04/25/some-more-thoughts-on-midge/#comment-707 Portrait Of John Thu, 06 Mar 2008 20:21:46 +0000 http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/04/25/some-more-thoughts-on-midge/#comment-707 <strong>Wedding Portrait Photographers International...</strong> A true professional in any field will be the first to admit that there is always room for improvement.... Wedding Portrait Photographers International…

A true professional in any field will be the first to admit that there is always room for improvement….

]]> Comment on The Fog of My Mind — thanks Morris. by » Final: Fred Leuchter Jr. : Gangster Intro to New Media Studies, Spring 2008 http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/04/09/the-fog-of-my-mind-thanks-morris/#comment-689 » Final: Fred Leuchter Jr. : Gangster Intro to New Media Studies, Spring 2008 Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:05:21 +0000 http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/04/09/the-fog-of-my-mind-thanks-morris/#comment-689 [...] Mary Carolyn’s blog about a personal viewing of the film “Fog of War” with her fiancee is great because it captures a bit of that open-endedness that I was talking about in Craig’s post and was trying to argue for in Brad’s post. What is Errol trying to say? Fog of War uses CGI, heavy cuts, and a fantastic score by Philip Glass, and we still don’t know how to feel. McNamara is a hated man, even more hated than Fred, because he did directly lead people to their deaths. Yet, you watch this film, and you feel a sympathy for him too. Mary-Carolyn found that she couldn’t make sense of how Morris wanted to make you feel after she had seen the film, but felt exactly there with him when it was playing. [...] [...] Mary Carolyn’s blog about a personal viewing of the film “Fog of War” with her fiancee is great because it captures a bit of that open-endedness that I was talking about in Craig’s post and was trying to argue for in Brad’s post. What is Errol trying to say? Fog of War uses CGI, heavy cuts, and a fantastic score by Philip Glass, and we still don’t know how to feel. McNamara is a hated man, even more hated than Fred, because he did directly lead people to their deaths. Yet, you watch this film, and you feel a sympathy for him too. Mary-Carolyn found that she couldn’t make sense of how Morris wanted to make you feel after she had seen the film, but felt exactly there with him when it was playing. [...]

]]> Comment on An Errol Morris Religion? by Poetics by Praxis » Cut and Wait: Tyler’s Paper http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/04/03/an-errol-morris-religion/#comment-651 Poetics by Praxis » Cut and Wait: Tyler’s Paper Wed, 12 Sep 2007 02:37:42 +0000 http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/04/03/an-errol-morris-religion/#comment-651 [...] suggested that it was a new religion based on Morris, which wasn’t exactly what I meant.  Then Mary Carolyn pointed out that my four models of God weren’t complete, which I understood.  Morris is asking [...] [...] suggested that it was a new religion based on Morris, which wasn’t exactly what I meant.  Then Mary Carolyn pointed out that my four models of God weren’t complete, which I understood.  Morris is asking [...]

]]> Comment on Aesthetics by Final Blog - Yojimbo » Royale With Cheese http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/02/11/aesthetics/#comment-114 Final Blog - Yojimbo » Royale With Cheese Mon, 30 Apr 2007 11:32:26 +0000 http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/02/11/aesthetics/#comment-114 [...] I also like where Mary-Carolyn was heading in her “Aesthetics” blog. She states that while The Glass Key is portrays the plot and its structure, while Yojimbo, being a self-conscious film, goes deeper into what’s underneath of the actions these protagonists take. I agree that The Glass Key adaptation doesn’t further the novel much more than other than showing a love story that was never even developed in the book. Yojimbo, on the other hand, digs deeper into heart of the matter of why Sanjuro takes on the world; because that is essentially what he is doing. The corruption of large industrial tycoons is stretching its green hand over everything it can reach. Sanjuro’s reasons for fighting back is to rid the town and, in a way, the world of evil. I wonder if that is the same thing (N)Ed is doing in The Glass Key novel and film. It’s a possibility, but only Dashielle Hammett, the one who started this whole thing, would know. [...] [...] I also like where Mary-Carolyn was heading in her “Aesthetics” blog. She states that while The Glass Key is portrays the plot and its structure, while Yojimbo, being a self-conscious film, goes deeper into what’s underneath of the actions these protagonists take. I agree that The Glass Key adaptation doesn’t further the novel much more than other than showing a love story that was never even developed in the book. Yojimbo, on the other hand, digs deeper into heart of the matter of why Sanjuro takes on the world; because that is essentially what he is doing. The corruption of large industrial tycoons is stretching its green hand over everything it can reach. Sanjuro’s reasons for fighting back is to rid the town and, in a way, the world of evil. I wonder if that is the same thing (N)Ed is doing in The Glass Key novel and film. It’s a possibility, but only Dashielle Hammett, the one who started this whole thing, would know. [...]

]]> Comment on Some more thoughts on Midge. by Seeing is Believing? » It’s a Symptom, Not a Disease: Final Blog Post http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/04/25/some-more-thoughts-on-midge/#comment-111 Seeing is Believing? » It’s a Symptom, Not a Disease: Final Blog Post Mon, 30 Apr 2007 04:11:23 +0000 http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/04/25/some-more-thoughts-on-midge/#comment-111 [...] Like Robyn, I too agree with Mary Carolyn’s ideas about Midge being willing to mold herself into what Scotty wants.  She seems to still be pining for Scottie.  After all, she goes to great trouble to literally paint herself into Scottie’s world.  The Midge/Carlotta picture is a sheer stroke of genius.  She cannot help the fact that Scottie does not like it because he has been sucked into the dysfunctionality that is Madeline/Judy/Carlotta.  Now throw Midge into the mix.  Wow, you have a recipe for a huge catfight.  I think Mary Carolyn’s observation is very astute.  I had not seen it this way until I read her post.  But she is right on. [...] [...] Like Robyn, I too agree with Mary Carolyn’s ideas about Midge being willing to mold herself into what Scotty wants.  She seems to still be pining for Scottie.  After all, she goes to great trouble to literally paint herself into Scottie’s world.  The Midge/Carlotta picture is a sheer stroke of genius.  She cannot help the fact that Scottie does not like it because he has been sucked into the dysfunctionality that is Madeline/Judy/Carlotta.  Now throw Midge into the mix.  Wow, you have a recipe for a huge catfight.  I think Mary Carolyn’s observation is very astute.  I had not seen it this way until I read her post.  But she is right on. [...]

]]> Comment on The Fog of My Mind — thanks Morris. by Things That Perplex Jimmy Stewart’s Disembodied Head » Final: Fred Leuchter Jr. : Gangster http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/04/09/the-fog-of-my-mind-thanks-morris/#comment-109 Things That Perplex Jimmy Stewart’s Disembodied Head » Final: Fred Leuchter Jr. : Gangster Sun, 29 Apr 2007 20:59:44 +0000 http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/04/09/the-fog-of-my-mind-thanks-morris/#comment-109 [...] Mary Carolyn’s blog about a personal viewing of the film “Fog of War” with her fiancee is great because it captures a bit of that open-endedness that I was talking about in Craig’s post and was trying to argue for in Brad’s post. What is Errol trying to say? Fog of War uses CGI, heavy cuts, and a fantastic score by Philip Glass, and we still don’t know how to feel. McNamara is a hated man, even more hated than Fred, because he did directly lead people to their deaths. Yet, you watch this film, and you feel a sympathy for him too. Mary-Carolyn found that she couldn’t make sense of how Morris wanted to make you feel after she had seen the film, but felt exactly there with him when it was playing. [...] [...] Mary Carolyn’s blog about a personal viewing of the film “Fog of War” with her fiancee is great because it captures a bit of that open-endedness that I was talking about in Craig’s post and was trying to argue for in Brad’s post. What is Errol trying to say? Fog of War uses CGI, heavy cuts, and a fantastic score by Philip Glass, and we still don’t know how to feel. McNamara is a hated man, even more hated than Fred, because he did directly lead people to their deaths. Yet, you watch this film, and you feel a sympathy for him too. Mary-Carolyn found that she couldn’t make sense of how Morris wanted to make you feel after she had seen the film, but felt exactly there with him when it was playing. [...]

]]> Comment on Some more thoughts on Midge. by Dancing Bread Rolls » Shades of Gray (and red) (and green) http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/04/25/some-more-thoughts-on-midge/#comment-101 Dancing Bread Rolls » Shades of Gray (and red) (and green) Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:19:22 +0000 http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/04/25/some-more-thoughts-on-midge/#comment-101 [...] We move now to a very different location: Midge’s apartment. There has been quite a bit of discussion over the Midge/Madeleine question, especially in Ben’s blog. Despite the general consensus that Midge does not put herself on display the way Madeleine does, this is not entirely true. Midge does try to do this exactly the same way, though not consistently. So let’s look at what Midge chooses to surround herself with.Ah, orange again. Her walls, furniture, and even the glow of the light are all orange. We see later that her shirt is actually red, but in this shot it definitely looks orange. Intentional, of course. In this scene, Midge is displaying herself for Scottie, probably because she thinks that’s what he wants. She even wears red in the same way that Madeleine does, an attempt at lowering his guard. As Mary Carolyn points out, Midge is willing to make many sacrifices for Scottie, including molding herself into what she thinks he wants. But what’s missing here? The green, of course. Midge cannot be Madeleine because she doesn’t have the green to counteract red. She is wearing red, the color of bravery, but it doesn’t do her much good. Perhaps because to create love you need both red and green, and she’s missing the green—it’s whatever Madeleine/Judy has that makes the romance complete. Emerson says that “Midge is wearing bright red when she attempts to put a stop to Scottie’s romantic illusions about Madeleine.” Again, I disagree. Midge is not wearing red for Scottie. She’s wearing it for herself, because she’s the one who needs the added courage. But how can she possibly succeed without the other aspect of love as represented in this film? Midge is doomed from the start. [...] [...] We move now to a very different location: Midge’s apartment. There has been quite a bit of discussion over the Midge/Madeleine question, especially in Ben’s blog. Despite the general consensus that Midge does not put herself on display the way Madeleine does, this is not entirely true. Midge does try to do this exactly the same way, though not consistently. So let’s look at what Midge chooses to surround herself with.Ah, orange again. Her walls, furniture, and even the glow of the light are all orange. We see later that her shirt is actually red, but in this shot it definitely looks orange. Intentional, of course. In this scene, Midge is displaying herself for Scottie, probably because she thinks that’s what he wants. She even wears red in the same way that Madeleine does, an attempt at lowering his guard. As Mary Carolyn points out, Midge is willing to make many sacrifices for Scottie, including molding herself into what she thinks he wants. But what’s missing here? The green, of course. Midge cannot be Madeleine because she doesn’t have the green to counteract red. She is wearing red, the color of bravery, but it doesn’t do her much good. Perhaps because to create love you need both red and green, and she’s missing the green—it’s whatever Madeleine/Judy has that makes the romance complete. Emerson says that “Midge is wearing bright red when she attempts to put a stop to Scottie’s romantic illusions about Madeleine.” Again, I disagree. Midge is not wearing red for Scottie. She’s wearing it for herself, because she’s the one who needs the added courage. But how can she possibly succeed without the other aspect of love as represented in this film? Midge is doomed from the start. [...]

]]> Comment on An Errol Morris Religion? by . » Blog Archive » Cut and Wait: Tyler’s Paper http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/04/03/an-errol-morris-religion/#comment-99 . » Blog Archive » Cut and Wait: Tyler’s Paper Fri, 27 Apr 2007 20:03:22 +0000 http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/04/03/an-errol-morris-religion/#comment-99 [...]             I remember there was some controversy over my initial Fast Cheap post, where I wondered about the men as four models of God.  Someone suggested that it was a new religion based on Morris, which wasn’t exactly what I meant.  Then Mary Carolyn pointed out that my four models of God weren’t complete, which I understood.  Morris is asking questions, probing- I think he has an open mind about the whole question of God.  I’ve probably talked about this film with Serena the most.  We watched it together initially, so she caught both my opening frenzy and has been willing to keep talking about it over the weeks.  Serena continued probing the initial idea in an interesting way.  She took the movie as a religious text, trying on the implications as Morris made them, finding her own personal interpretation through a Morro-religious lens.  Serena ended up thinking that she’s a headless giraffe shrubbery.  I guess that may be so.  I’m pretty sure I’m a toothless tiger myself, bluffed into a cage I’m more than capable of escaping, or at least wrecking.  Serena’s issues and my issues are represented in different parts of the film.  Even more than the technical artistry of the film, it is this that makes it a masterpiece.  Fast Cheap and Out of Control smashes into my soul every time I watch it (rather, both times I’ve watched it).  But it doesn’t leave me alone, or empty- just open. [...] [...]             I remember there was some controversy over my initial Fast Cheap post, where I wondered about the men as four models of God.  Someone suggested that it was a new religion based on Morris, which wasn’t exactly what I meant.  Then Mary Carolyn pointed out that my four models of God weren’t complete, which I understood.  Morris is asking questions, probing- I think he has an open mind about the whole question of God.  I’ve probably talked about this film with Serena the most.  We watched it together initially, so she caught both my opening frenzy and has been willing to keep talking about it over the weeks.  Serena continued probing the initial idea in an interesting way.  She took the movie as a religious text, trying on the implications as Morris made them, finding her own personal interpretation through a Morro-religious lens.  Serena ended up thinking that she’s a headless giraffe shrubbery.  I guess that may be so.  I’m pretty sure I’m a toothless tiger myself, bluffed into a cage I’m more than capable of escaping, or at least wrecking.  Serena’s issues and my issues are represented in different parts of the film.  Even more than the technical artistry of the film, it is this that makes it a masterpiece.  Fast Cheap and Out of Control smashes into my soul every time I watch it (rather, both times I’ve watched it).  But it doesn’t leave me alone, or empty- just open. [...]

]]> Comment on Jenny = Miss Spinney? by Blog Title http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/04/16/jenny-miss-spinney/#comment-98 Blog Title Fri, 27 Apr 2007 19:15:26 +0000 http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/04/16/jenny-miss-spinney/#comment-98 [...]             I thought Mary’s blog was an interesting idea because if Spinney did turn out to be Jennie, then where would that leave Eben? I mean he would be reunited with his soul-mate but to what end? So he can watch her grow old and die? No, I firmly believe that Spinney and Jennie are two entirely different characters, but I do believe they serve the same purpose which is to give Eben the opportunity to create.  [...] [...]             I thought Mary’s blog was an interesting idea because if Spinney did turn out to be Jennie, then where would that leave Eben? I mean he would be reunited with his soul-mate but to what end? So he can watch her grow old and die? No, I firmly believe that Spinney and Jennie are two entirely different characters, but I do believe they serve the same purpose which is to give Eben the opportunity to create.  [...]

]]> Comment on A Few Small Thoughts on Vertigo by mark’s awesome blog http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/04/21/a-few-small-thoughts-on-vertigo/#comment-97 mark’s awesome blog Fri, 27 Apr 2007 18:39:23 +0000 http://blogs.elsweb.org/marycarolyn/2007/04/21/a-few-small-thoughts-on-vertigo/#comment-97 [...] Mary-Carolyn’s blog raises a thought-provoking analysis of Midge. Earlier, I stated that Midge was easy to categorize because she is a simple character. After reading Mary-Carolyn’s post I’m not so sure. There can be a lot made up about Midge, because we are not given much about her. I feel like maybe during the original screenplay there may have been more of Midge, but her story was cut out due to various constraints (time, Hollywood, etc.) It just seems to me that is it very unnatural for her character to just somewhat disappear with no explanation. However, Mary-Carolyn offers a theory that she sacrifices herself for Scottie. She has an excellent explanation in her blog, which I will let you read instead of paraphrase it myself. [...] [...] Mary-Carolyn’s blog raises a thought-provoking analysis of Midge. Earlier, I stated that Midge was easy to categorize because she is a simple character. After reading Mary-Carolyn’s post I’m not so sure. There can be a lot made up about Midge, because we are not given much about her. I feel like maybe during the original screenplay there may have been more of Midge, but her story was cut out due to various constraints (time, Hollywood, etc.) It just seems to me that is it very unnatural for her character to just somewhat disappear with no explanation. However, Mary-Carolyn offers a theory that she sacrifices herself for Scottie. She has an excellent explanation in her blog, which I will let you read instead of paraphrase it myself. [...]

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