GWSS Spring 2008 Section B

Dear Frank,

I know that when you were thrust into our household, I told you to run away, but I'm glad that you didn't, or more accurately, couldn't. I have felt like an outcast in this whole family for so long and I felt like you understood me, even through silence. Even during that stifling road trip in that stupid excuse for a van, at least I felt like I wasn't alone. A part of me died when you and Olive showed me that I was color blind, further killing my dream of being a pilot, and I'm still not sure what I can do in its place. But you showed me that the kind of support that a family can force upon you is the kind that can save your life. I don't know if I would've found that kind of lesson in Nietzsche... although I could've tried I suppose.

I know you had to stay with us in order to save your life, and keep you somewhat sane. But I feel like your prescence helped to save MY life. I hope our relationship as uncle and nephew can continue into the future. But that doesn't mean we need to stay roommates anymore...

-Dwayne

Posted by KoreanPrincss at 04:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Leaving Normal is reminiscent of those Hallmark movies my mom used to make me watch on Sunday evenings. Though sometimes cute, it was way too cheesy for me. The idea could've been portrayed in a more effective way, with characters who were less neurotic and more accessible. It surprised me that this was the last movie of the semester, it seemed like a strange fit.

My favorite movie from this semester was probably The Grace Lee Project. It kept my interest for the whole film, and Grace Lee's mission seemed so heartfelt. Her presentation of the topic was excellent.

Posted by magatron at 01:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

My favorite road movie from this class would have to be Girl on a Motorcyle or Vegabond. I liked these two movies because I had never seen or heard about them before. I wouldn't have seen them if it was not for this class and they were unlike any movies I have ever seen. It seems like movies are losing originality in plot and these two movies were unlike that. Girl on a Motorcycle was a little cheesy and the male gaze in the film was absolutely ridiculous but I enjoyed watching something and being able to analyze it with the tools we were given in class. Vegabond was...well I will just call it interesting. You never knew how the main character was going to act, and you never knew her next move. This was a difficult blog because I will always like Easy Rider as well....but Girl on a Motorcyle and Vegabond were new to me and I like older movies.

Posted by Holly Golightly at 06:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

While the film Leaving Normal was at times over-the-top cheesy, I enjoyed it nonetheless. The film was a bit too happily-ever-after, especially at the end when the two women and the two young squatters come together in the new house to form a sort of family unit. I liked the female friendship and bonding aspect of the movie as well as the fact that everything seemed to work out for them.

My favorite film from this class was Little Miss Sunshine, but that happens to be my all time favorite. Boys on the Side would have to be my second favorite, probably because there's an aspect that we as women can all relate to. Thanks for a great semester. As a Fisheries and Wildlife student, I enjoyed this class much more than I expected.

Posted by Pumpkin at 05:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This movie was pretty damn corny. It wasn't different from any movie we have been watching at all. It didn't give me any message to take away with. It was just another movie about 2 women who have nothinggoing for them and just leaving to escape their problems.

In general, the number of films I liked in this class were few and far between. They all had the same message and in many cases made women look very stupid and emotionally weak.

My favorite movie was either Priscilla. It though it was hilarious and silly and they really pushed their boundaries which is something I love. It is a concept that I like to watchin adn deal with everyday.

Posted by Alexandra Goldman at 04:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I disliked "Leaving Normal" a lot! I thought it was a really bad film. It seemed like it was just a heart warming film from the Woman's Entertainment channel. I do not really see how it applies to anything. I felt like we just watched it because P. Zita liked it. I do see some of things that we discussed but this film was a really bad example of them. Everthing was too obvious.

My favorite film was "Little Miss Sunshine". Even though I had a likeness for the film before we watched it in class, I looked at it in a different way. I thought it was fun to draw paralells between this film and the other films that we watched. I really liked it because it wasn't just one or two people on the road, there were many people that were affected by the road trip. They were a family but they were all so different and came from different places. Each family member was affected in there own way but it brought them together as a cohesive unit. It was also interesting to see different genders, sexes, and ages being affected in the same film. It was a modern day road film

Posted by littlegreenapples at 04:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I loved you when I first saw you...

Dear Harry,

I should have told you when I first met you that I love you. I knew it right away. I have had some awful relationships in the past that still affect me. I realize that I make bad descions some times but I am prepared to deal with the outcomes. I take chances and I am learning to make the best out of what happens, good or bad. I have made some really bad choices as far as men. I do not always respect myself enough to choose a man that will respect me too. I give people the benefit of the doubt and put my faith in people and things because I am a loving person. I do not always put myself first though. I have been on the road for a long time now with Darly and I am starting to see things about myself that I never realized before. I know that I can do things on my own. I left everything that I knew behind. I left my lover, I left my home, I left my neighborhood. I went on the road with a total stranger and left my only family, my sister, behind. We have encountered a lot of strange things along the way. I now know that I am strong enough to handle anything. I am able to let people into my life and love them and trust them, I can also forgive them for mistakes they may make. I have learned to take a negative situation and turn it into a positive one. I got a job without any experience and I enjoy it so much. Darly and I have grown to respect and love one another as individuals. We have found ways to lift eachother up and support eachother when we are down. We have made friends with the locals, there are some boys that are helping us with the house. Speaking of the house, Darly and I have made such progress, we have walls! I would love to see you again. I was so surprised when you came to see me. Don't be long gone. We have a lot to talk about. I feel so comfortable with you and I know that you would never hurt me. Thanks for being there.

Sincerely, Marianne

Posted by littlegreenapples at 04:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I loved you when I first saw you...

Dear Harry,

I should have told you when I first met you that I love you. I knew it right away. I have had some awful relationships in the past that still affect me. I realize that I make bad descions some times but I am prepared to deal with the outcomes. I take chances and I am learning to make the best out of what happens, good or bad. I have made some really bad choices as far as men. I do not always respect myself enough to choose a man that will respect me too. I give people the benefit of the doubt and put my faith in people and things because I am a loving person. I do not always put myself first though. I have been on the road for a long time now with Darly and I am starting to see things about myself that I never realized before. I know that I can do things on my own. I left everything that I knew behind. I left my lover, I left my home, I left my neighborhood. I went on the road with a total stranger and left my only family, my sister, behind. We have encountered a lot of strange things along the way. I now know that I am strong enough to handle anything. I am able to let people into my life and love them and trust them, I can also forgive them for mistakes they may make. I have learned to take a negative situation and turn it into a positive one. I got a job without any experience and I enjoy it so much. Darly and I have grown to respect and love one another as individuals. We have found ways to lift eachother up and support eachother when we are down. We have made friends with the locals, there are some boys that are helping us with the house. Speaking of the house, Darly and I have made such progress, we have walls! I would love to see you again. I was so surprised when you came to see me. Don't be long gone. We have a lot to talk about. I feel so comfortable with you and I know that you would never hurt me. Thanks for being there.

Sincerely, Marianne

Posted by littlegreenapples at 04:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Harry,

I should have told you when I first met you that I love you. I knew it right away. I have had some awful relationships in the past that still affect me. I realize that I make bad descions some times but I am prepared to deal with the outcomes. I take chances and I am learning to make the best out of what happens, good or bad. I have made some really bad choices as far as men. I do not always respect myself enough to choose a man that will respect me too. I give people the benefit of the doubt and put my faith in people and things because I am a loving person. I do not always put myself first though. I have been on the road for a long time now with Darly and I am starting to see things about myself that I never realized before. I know that I can do things on my own. I left everything that I knew behind. I left my lover, I left my home, I left my neighborhood. I went on the road with a total stranger and left my only family, my sister, behind. We have encountered a lot of strange things along the way. I now know that I am strong enough to handle anything. I am able to let people into my life and love them and trust them, I can also forgive them for mistakes they may make. I have learned to take a negative situation and turn it into a positive one. I got a job without any experience and I enjoy it so much. Darly and I have grown to respect and love one another as individuals. We have found ways to lift eachother up and support eachother when we are down. We have made friends with the locals, there are some boys that are helping us with the house. Speaking of the house, Darly and I have made such progress, we have walls! I would love to see you again. I was so surprised when you came to see me. Don't be long gone. We have a lot to talk about. I feel so comfortable with you and I know that you would never hurt me. Thanks for being there.

Sincerely, Marianne

Posted by littlegreenapples at 04:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Harry,

I should have told you when I first met you that I love you. I knew it right away. I have had some awful relationships in the past that still affect me. I realize that I make bad descions some times but I am prepared to deal with the outcomes. I take chances and I am learning to make the best out of what happens, good or bad. I have made some really bad choices as far as men. I do not always respect myself enough to choose a man that will respect me too. I give people the benefit of the doubt and put my faith in people and things because I am a loving person. I do not always put myself first though. I have been on the road for a long time now with Darly and I am starting to see things about myself that I never realized before. I know that I can do things on my own. I left everything that I knew behind. I left my lover, I left my home, I left my neighborhood. I went on the road with a total stranger and left my only family, my sister, behind. We have encountered a lot of strange things along the way. I now know that I am strong enough to handle anything. I am able to let people into my life and love them and trust them, I can also forgive them for mistakes they may make. I have learned to take a negative situation and turn it into a positive one. I got a job without any experience and I enjoy it so much. Darly and I have grown to respect and love one another as individuals. We have found ways to lift eachother up and support eachother when we are down. We have made friends with the locals, there are some boys that are helping us with the house. Speaking of the house, Darly and I have made such progress, we have walls! I would love to see you again. I was so surprised when you came to see me. Don't be long gone. We have a lot to talk about. I feel so comfortable with you and I know that you would never hurt me. Thanks for being there.

Sincerely, Marianne

Posted by littlegreenapples at 04:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Overall I was quite disappointed like many others with Leaving the Normal. Being that our papers were based around this particular concept in terms of being disconnected with the road I was felt that more of a message could have been conveyed to the audience through the title.

After reflecting on the course of the semester I must say that my favorite road film including one of my favorite movies of all time still would have to be Little Miss Sunshine. The internal struggles that are occurring simultaneously and continuously colliding is constantly keeps me thinking in terms of connecting the characters to the concept of "leaving the normal." The end of the film brings about such a rewarding feeling showing that it is impossible to completely leave normality behind and emphasizing the strength and bond of family that is can be created despite differences and constant struggle. Through struggle we are capable of reaching stability in our lives.

Posted by Megatron at 03:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

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Dear Harry,
I should have told you when I first met you that I love you. I knew it right away. I have had some awful relationships in the past that still affect me. I realize that I make bad descions some times but I am prepared to deal with the outcomes. I take chances and I am learning to make the best out of what happens, good or bad. I have made some really bad choices as far as men. I do not always respect myself enough to choose a man that will respect me too. I give people the benefit of the doubt and put my faith in people and things because I am a loving person. I do not always put myself first though. I have been on the road for a long time now with Darly and I am starting to see things about myself that I never realized before. I know that I can do things on my own. I left everything that I knew behind. I left my lover, I left my home, I left my neighborhood. I went on the road with a total stranger and left my only family, my sister, behind. We have encountered a lot of strange things along the way. I now know that I am strong enough to handle anything. I am able to let people into my life and love them and trust them, I can also forgive them for mistakes they may make. I have learned to take a negative situation and turn it into a positive one. I got a job without any experience and I enjoy it so much. Darly and I have grown to respect and love one another as individuals. We have found ways to lift eachother up and support eachother when we are down. We have made friends with the locals, there are some boys that are helping us with the house. Speaking of the house, Darly and I have made such progress, we have walls! I would love to see you again. I was so surprised when you came to see me. Don't be long gone. We have a lot to talk about. I feel so comfortable with you and I know that you would never hurt me. Thanks for being there.

Sincerely, Marianne

Posted by littlegreenapples at 03:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I wasn't quite sure how to feel about Leaving Normal. I thought the whole thing was kind of cheesy, especially the new family they formed at the end. I also wasn't sure about how to feel about the truck driver, I guess I wasn't sure about how neccesary it was. I also would have liked to find out about the daughter. This was certainly not my favorite road film of the year, it was belittled by Set it Off which was my personal favorite. I thought that it was an interesting exploration into the pressures of race and womanhood and it was one of the few movies that had a satisfying ending.
Hope you all have a wonderful time with finals! Thanks Professor Zita!

Posted by ninjasecret at 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Leaving Normal was an okay film. I honestly am having trouble even specifying the details of the movie even though I attentively watched the entire thing. I did find it kind of boring and slow at different parts.

I would have to say my all time favorite road film is a toss between "Set it Off" and "Easy Rider". I guess I enjoy the rebellious aspects of the road film. "Set it Off" demonstrates the oppression and struggle it takes to move up a class or try to make a better life for yourself when you live in the ghetto. I enjoyed the passion of these girls and the motive of the film. I also enjoyed "Easy Rider" because of the rebellious lifestyle Dwight and Billie choose to live out on the road, and the way in which society tries to place them back into society.

I loved this class! Thank you Prof Zita!

Posted by nels5199 at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Leaving Normal was an okay film. It was a little long for me and there was nothing special about it. The writing was okay, the acting was fine, and the cinematography was good for the lower budget film. There were some really cheesey aspects the film. Such as, Sixty-Six and her getting engaged to a rich many after meeting him for only a few hours. However, I was happy that Marianne and Darlene were able to leave their bad habits behind them and find a home together in Alaska. Also, I liked how the film was left open ended. It is up to the viewer to decide the fate for both of these women, do Marianne and Harry ever meet again, and does Darlene ever get to see her daughter?
It is hard to pick just one film from the entire semester that I liked best. Of course, Little Miss Sunshine is up there because it is so typical of every family and a person can easily relate to it. Set if Off was also one of my favorite because it focused on the minorities in America and showed the struggle that people go through just to survive day by day. Easy Rider was also very good, even though it downplays women but it really shows the focus of the film industry in 1960s. Finally, Thelma and Louise just broke all the rules and really set up a new set of characters for women. Overall, I really enjoyed this semester and all of the wonderful films we got to explore.

Posted by Susie Q at 10:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Leaving Normal was alright. I liked Darly more but i suppose from a critical standpoint maryanne was a more interesting character. My favorite quote was "Just because you're leaving doesn't mean you're not in the same goddamn place." Which is easy to identify with. I'm glad we didnt see Darly's daughter come back, that would have been too predictable, and I'm glad that Maryanne didnt leave with what's-his-face truck driver dude, because she had finally received some sort of independence.

I think I liked Boys on The Side best. I really do enjoy seeing abusive men get beat up and love the idea of them dying at the hands of their victims, as cruel as it sounds. but I was abused by an ex and i wish it was as easy to just run away. Some of us dont have people to save us from that position. Anyway, the characters werent stagnant, and their "growth" i felt was less cheesy than in some of the other films. Jane wasnt so much a bulldyke as she was just a strong woman. While Robin's character was exaggerated in the beginning, she was fun and multidimensional from a closer inspection, and as the film progressed without implying that all it was was the other girls rubbing off on her. I'd watch it again.

Posted by Bob Dole at 10:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I really did enjoy Leaving Normal. I enjoyed the inevitable, yet hard at times friendship that was formed. I enjoyed the adventure that the women let themselves take, despite the many setbacks (physical and mental). I enjoyed the family and love that was found through their journey to Alaska and beyond. I thought the movie was great.

My favorite movie we watched this semester is Priscilla: Queen of the Desert! This film has stuck out in my mind since we have watched it. I cannot really pinpoint what it is that I love so much about it. Maybe it is that the drag queens find community in this harsh world. Maybe its that they find companionship in their own kin. Maybe its that ultimately they rely on each other for their immense support. I love the characters development, especially Ticks. One of my favorites!

Posted by believer. at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm fairly certain I liked Leaving Normal, despite the fact that I found a lot of the plot points predictable (Let's do everything in our power to get to a house in Alaska we've never seen and can only assume is there! Nothing can go wrong!) and some of the characters' traits irritated me--Darly's negativity about small-town life and Marianne's innocent assumption that Darly wouldn't mind their "leaving money" being used for flowers and a porch swing, for example. The dialogue and the plot could have been better, but I still enjoyed watching the film. The relationship between Darly and Marianne actually illustrated what Robin tried to explain while on the stand in Boys on the Side when talking about relationships between women. Darly met Marianne on a bus bench in the middle of the night, yet was perfectly willing to take her on the road the next day with very few questions and with a certain amount of instant loyalty.

My favorite film this semester was Little Miss Sunshine, which was one of my favorites anyway, but it was interesting to watch it in the context of the "normal" American family and the roles the Hoovers were trying to play throughout their journey. I enjoyed watching the film through a different lens and actually thinking about the underlying issues (as opposed to just laughing).

Posted by ristee at 08:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Leaving Normal was totally sweet and awesome. Marianne was as cute as a button and completely hurtled forward with the mindset of a child. Charles Baudelaire once said that "genius is no more than childhood recaptured at will," and since he's always right, that must make Meg Tilly the genius to end all geniuses. I thought it was hilarious how goofy and mean Darly could be, and I completely relished the moment of B.S. when the two ladies had an argument because, basically, the plot said they should. That sort of thing is great. Also, it was cool how the Alaskan boy with the long hair dressed exactly like a modern day hipster would, with Converse All-Stars, tight jeans, etc. all hitting the obligatory hipster checklist. Plus, Edward Zwick went on to direct The Last Samurai, starring none other than my hero, Tom Cruise! I don't understand all the hate this movie's getting from the other bloggers. Come on, lighten up, people! Ed Solomon wrote this! If you had known that he also wrote Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, Super Mario Bros., and Charlie's Angels, you totally would have jumped on the Leaving Normal bandwagon. Leaving Normal is an unbelievably mellifluous movie, obviously.

The best movie this semester was easily Vagabond. It was the only film we watched that utilized sophisticated techniques and that actually did anything interesting. Nothing else we watched and listened to was remotely near the thematic league that Vagabond was riffing on. What a complex, meaningful choice for this class. It's a keeper, for sure.

Bye, everybody!

Posted by pete5676 at 02:34 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"Leaving Normal" was a ok film. I thought Darly's character was really funny, and entertaining, though her character does get a little too much to handle towards the end. Her sarcastic and dark view of the world gets to be too much by the end. I do not like Marianne's character at all. I had no interest in her, and was not invested in what happened to her. The film was funny at times, but just something about the story (maybe that it is somewhat conservative) made me lose interest.

My favorite movie, if I had to chose, would be "Set It Off." I thought it was a really funny movie, and it was also full of excitement and violence; therefore really entertaining. I also liked that the story touched on a lot of different issues, like sexuality, motherhood, poverty, racism, urban life, violence, etc. Though the movie did not really look at all these factors in depth, just by bringing them up within the story, made me as a spectator conscious and thoughtful of those issues.

The representation of lesbianism was far from perfect. Cleo is stereotypically butch, and very masculine. She has a girly, feminine girlfriend. Their power dynamic is quite exagerated, with Cleo always the one in command and control, and Cleo's girlfriend never even speaking. Yet, Cleo's sexuality is not presented as something negative of her personality; we don't like her less because of it. Though, her friends seem a little homophobic at first, they somewhat non-chalantly accept her sexuality later on.

The presentation of other racial, social and emotional factors is similar to the representation of Cleo's sexuality. The movie may even suffer from trying to tackle too many subjects to actually cover them all in depth. The characters are female, black, poor, one is a mother, one is a sister, one is a lesbian. Even though the movie fails to properly handle all these characteristics, the fact that they are present makes the representation more well-rounded and more true to life. Life is complicated, there are many factors that play a role in every individual's life; "Set it off" presents this complexity within a funny and entertaining film.

Posted by whoa at 10:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Leaving Normal was a film that was mediocre for me. It ranked right in the middle of all the others that we have watched throughout this course. I could relate to the characters (Darly more than Maryanne) but I did not enjoy the storyline. The reason why I could relate to both is because there are times when things just go wrong, one after another, and there just does not seem like anything will go well again. Like Darly (when her car got trashed) I would really try to remain optimistic but that last event, the one that breaks me, will cause me to give up all hope for everything else. Maryanne plays that side where she accepts things as they are, whether good or bad. Even when Maryanne had no other place to go but to stay with her sister and accept whatever plans her sister had made for her, she accepted that outcome. It was obvious that Maryanne was not happy staying with her sister but she did not express that dislike. Maryanne was not the one to scream and yell out of anger or frustration, but Darly changed that. There was a scene where Maryanne was seen calling for her wedding ring back, it was a shock because she was screaming and demanding. Overall it was a good movie but probably not one that I would go rent.
My favorite film out all the ones we watched in this course was Little Miss Sunshine. It was the only film that I liked all of the characters. It is probably a film that I would watch over again in my spare time.

Posted by Lulu at 10:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Leaving Normal was a movie that captured the intensity of a friendship that can develop suddenly and without cause between two women. Although I believed that parts of the movie were too cliched to be really enjoyable some portions of the film were, in my opinion, well done. The interplay between MaryAnn and Darly was perfect at times. For example when Darly reveals that she abandoned her baby shortly after its birth MaryAnn has to reconcile that new information with the little history she has with Darly. Their friendship is not based on a long history of trust and friendship. That means in one way their friendship is fragile. But this move ends up demonstrating that their friendship is the most important thing they have and the most certain thing that they trust about themselves -- that they are there for each other even when the rest of the world does not care.

My favorite film this semester was Little Miss Sunshine. I thought it painted a wonderful picture of the way American families can be dysfunctional and beautiful at the same time. The characters int he movie were not successful representations of what society expects of "dad" "mom" "grandfather" and "daughter." But the characters were so full of life and desire and desperation that they were lovable and worthy of respect despite their faults. That is an important message to send. At the same time the movie was a lot of fun.

Posted by ludme002 at 10:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I would have to say that I didn't particularly enjoy Leaving Normal. To me it seemed like the film just wasn't believable enough; I couldn't relate to the characters at all because their actions and the plot didn't seem possible. I felt like Darly and Marianne befriended each other too quickly and easily; maybe it would have made sense if they had been friends, and known each other, like Thelma and Louise, before heading out for Alaska. They're sudden pairing-up with each other seemed a little too convenient for me.

My favorite film of the class is probably Boys on the Side. I liked this film in largely because of the lead actresses, as well as the intriguing plot. It threw me for a loop when Mary-Louise Parker's character was revealed to have AIDS, which really made the plot interesting to me. I also felt that the film was very empowering for women and that that was a welcome thing to see in a film, especially as it had non-negative portrayals of lesbians.

Posted by Emma Zoch at 02:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I didn't enjoy Leaving Normal as much as other films we've watched this semester. I felt that the characters weren't very well developed, and Maryanne particularly bugged me. She didn't seem believable to me. Clearly she is a dreamer at heart, but I didn't feel any sense of understanding or reality in her character. Darly on the other hand was well played in my opinion. Her emotions felt real and i felt i could relate to her unlike Maryanne. The plot also seemed a little dull to me. Perhaps because after watching thrillers like Thelma and Louise and Set it Off there wasn't as much going on.

My favorite film that we watched this semester was Thelma and Louise. While it certainly could be judged/viewed as a male bashing film, it exerted a sense of female empowerment that made me walk away feeling satisfied and proud to be a woman. I love Susan Sarandon as an actress in general, therefore i was a slight bit partial to the film as well. It was a fun and interesting film to simply watch for surface value and entertainment, however i really enjoyed the analytical opportunities it offered as well.

Posted by sigmundfreud at 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Leaving Normal didn’t strike me as a very developed film. I appreciated it because I took into general society and the time in which this film was written into account. With that being said the plot was generic to me; that could also be because of the order in which we watched the films throughout the semester. Films that we’ve watched previously that also had dealings in women on the road left a much more multi-dimensional taste with me. I was indifferent to Marianne and where she had come from—which was really unfortunate.

Favorite road film as I’m sure many would say would be Thelma & Louise. It’s the ultimate “women on the road” film; working with multiple references and layers that allude to societal situations. Gina and Susan, as brilliant as they are, truly make connecting with the film an eye opener for people who are unaware of the underlying meanings of ‘road films’. And for those that are familiar with certain characteristics of road films are then taken for a real invasive ride with these females. Overall script is well done and artistic direction of film goes where it needs to go in order to make this story of these two women entirely believable. I lovezzzz it.

Posted by muen0036 at 08:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thanks for playing along. It's been fun. Love, Thelma.

Posted by Jenny at 03:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I worry I am becoming like you.

Dear Darryl,
I'm so grateful I got away. The truth is that I never should have put up with it as long as I did. Now Louise and I are on the road and I am finally free. I'm doing things now that I never could have done when I was stuck in that stupid kitchen. Even if they might be things I shouldn't have done. It feels great to get revenge on all the people who have ever done me or Louise or any woman wrong.

I worry though that we might not be as powerful as we think. Is this really the best way for women to express their newly found power? Is violence ever the answer? People seem pretty shocked when two women pull up to rob a conveinence store and shoot a man in a bar parking lot... but is that the best way to draw attention to women? Do we really want to take control of our lives the same way men do in movies? A part of me worries that I'm falling into a rabbit hole like the one I saw in you.

I have a few regrets. But they couldn't outweigh the thrills. Life is so exciting without you.

Posted by Courtney at 01:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I really enjoyed the film, Leaving Normal. At the beginning of the film, I wasn't so sure. It started out slowly and a bit boring, but towards the end I really had a sense of the characters and how they were feeling and what was best for them. I would consider this movie one of the top five of the semester but my ultimate favorite would have to be Boys on the Side. Any film that can move me to tears is a good film in my book. I loved the different characters in the film and how they all had different goals in their lives but they all took the same road to reach their individual goals. I also liked the emphasis on female friendships in the film, which seems to be a recurring theme throughout female road films. There wasn't a film I didn't enjoy this semester. Thanks.

Posted by bella at 05:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Fellow Grace Lee's,

I have set out on the journey of my name 'Grace Lee' and there are many more of us out there. My question was considering the stereotypes of Asian-American women, particularly those named Grace Lee, however, I learned much more than I was bargaining for. We are almost all first generation Asian Americans, we represented the American dream for our parents. They wanted us to become what America means. They wanted us to become Grace Kelly. We have all failed our parents. Is your loyalty to your parents strong enough to accept this failure?

-Grace Lee

Posted by cici at 05:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So "Leaving Normal" was a horrid movie. Horrid. The character that was really pale with black hair has got to be one of the least convincing actresses I've ever seen. The characters in general, with the exception of the wild child, were totally cheesy and easy to predict. The wild child woman, though, made me laugh and made me cry and made me feel what she felt. She did an excellent job at portraying her character and the only part of the mocie I liked was her and her wit. This movie had a cool theme, almost, but the way in which the characters interacted with each other just made me sick. I see myself in the wild child woman and it made me happy to see that someone, whather fake or real, had the same ideas and mentality as me. I most likely would recommend this movie to others just so that I could watch it with them and rip on the pale chick that always runs away. Not my favorite movie (as if the other ones were good) but whatever.

Posted by ZoraMonkey at 02:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I wish I pushed down harder, longer, again

So I really don't know what to write on here. It was knid of unclear, so I'll just talk about this postcard. It would be made by Frank Ginsberg (the scholar who tried to kill himself in Little Miss Sunshine) and directed to his ex-boyfriend/student. I chose this because the look on his face when he saw this man again in the gas station was incredibly profounded and saddened, especially when he began talking about his new boyfriend. I think in the enitre movie Frank acted like he was happy to be alove and well, even though he wasn't a couple months before that. In this postcard I tried to imagine what he was thinking at the gas station and put it into words. I think that regarding that aspect of his life, he was ready to drop dead and die during the entire movie but he just didn't show it. This is what he is really thinking. He really did want to die because his emotional life, his love life, and his social life might now and forevermore be scarred. This is what he would send to his ex or maybe just send it out to anybody. Poor guy.

Posted by ZoraMonkey at 02:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Although I found the story line of Leaving Normal to not be as strong as many of the other films we have watched in class, I like the message I received from it. I have noticed from my own experiences traveling that the journey often begins because of a feeling of needing to leave the everyday routine and doing something different, but then it ends with a feeling of wanting to return and a sense of comfort. Leaving Normal reminded me of how the road can often provide appreciate for the things that we have and for who we are, which I think has been represented in each film that we have watched in some way.

One of my favorite films that we watched in class was The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert because I think that it is one film I would have ever been exposed to had I not taken this course. I like how it incorporates diverse personalities and perspectives with the road being what brings them together. I also find the film to be very forward thinking in the way they depict family and what some people would call alternative life styles. The way in which each individual experiences the road is different along with what they gain from, which I find to be a very realistic interpretation and allows viewers to learn about how the word affects others like and unlike themselves.

Posted by Gertrude at 11:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I am not sorry I got away.

Dear Detective Strode,

The day you saw me on the bus I am thankful that you let me leave. I know that you may not have fully understood our choices we had made, but I was that glad you fairly understood the issues and situation with my brother’s death and the follow in the bank robberies I had been involved with. I made a promise to my girls that I will continue on my journey. Please understand that my girls and I have encountered different issues in society coming from the urban community. Having people who always looked down on all of us is not a good feeling and the unjustness of my brother's death and what my friends had went through.

Through my journey, I finally see that you realized the reason for what my friends and I have done what we did. I have come to terms of my brother's death and what my friends have done for me. The experience and memories with my friends will always be remembered. I will always miss them. Through this all getting away has given me a better life.

Sincerely,
Stony

Posted by tranx246 at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Dear Keith,
I am so sorry for what I have done. Every day, I am reminded of the things I have lost. I just read a quote the other day by Katherine Mansfield. She said, “Make it a rule of life never to regret and never to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can't build on it; it's only for wallowing in.” I don’t think this will ever be relevant for my situation. I suppose I am and always will be an “appalling waste of energy” because I can never forgive myself for what I have done, nor can I forget. I am struggling every day with the choices that I made. Some people say that you should never regret and that you should simply learn from your mistakes. Once one door shuts, another one opens. I don’t know if that next door will ever open. I feel like I am stuck between two closed doors, all alone with a pile of money and a heap of regret. How did I let things get so bad? What was I thinking? Why didn’t I stop Frankie and Cleo, especially after T.T. died? I should have done something! I wish I knew then, what I know now. Things would have eventually gotten better for me. I had you, three amazing friends, support, opportunities, freedom and a home. I should have realized that those things would get me through the rough times. There was another way out for me, (and things apparently could have been a lot worse…like they are now), I just could not see through the storm to a brighter day. I have lost everything, you, my wonderful friends and my family, all for something I thought was so important at the time. Somehow, doing what we did felt like the only option. Now I live every day not only with regret, but with pain and loneliness, all of which I completely deserve. I have lost you and I can never come back. I am so sorry for doing what I did, I never had dreamed it would have gone this far. I miss you.
Love Always, Stoney

Posted by Holly Golightly at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I didn't not like Leaving Normal. I thought the characters where very one dimentional, the writing was incredibly bad (I understand that parts were supposed to be cliché), and the stories that were constructed seemed incredibly inconsequential and bland. The main character, Marianne, had this supposedly strange and influential back story, yet I feel I don't understand what happened at all. How long was she even with her abusive husband? Christine Lahti, whom I have enjoyed in other shows, was able to bring punch-up the humor a little bit, but still, I felt all of the comedy was incredibly stressed. In the end, I didn't care about who was doing what, where the baby was, if Marianne will get with Harry (Who plays a super creepy guy in Twin Peaks!), or what will happen to their lives.

My favorite film would probably be Priscilla, Queen of the Desert for many reasons. I felt it was an incredibly well thought out story, and used many interesting actors (action stars!). Many of the scenes in the film are very memorable and used great cinematography. I think as well, the story never treaded into dubious water in regards to drag queens, homosexuality, and sexism.

Posted by tris0020 at 11:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I hate using the word fake, but that's what it is. Something unreal. Something rather unauthentic. Maybe that isn't how I see it, but the world does. Is a person still a performer when what they are playing feels more real than their true life? Do my friends understand? This face I put on, the clothes I wear, the person I am when I'm all dressed up is something so far from "fake" that I worry.

Posted by tris0020 at 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

forgive me....i couldn't save you

Mona~

I am so sorry. I couldn't save you. I should have told you never to leave, to stay where it was warm, and where you knew the world and the world knew you. I couldn't stop you from giving up everything you had worked for to become and do nothing. I should have kept your wandering spirit from leaving, or at least gotten you to take up the farmer's offer so you could create a new life that was somewhat stable.All I wanted was for you to be happy. Safe and happy, and I failed. I should have warned you about the drinking, drugs, and men. I should have told you you'd go hungry and thirsty and every day the world would be a little more threatening. I should have made you realize that what you were leaving for was not worth your spirit, or your life.
But I couldnt, and i didn't.
Please, please forgive me.

~Mona

Posted by palm0361 at 11:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I didn't enjoy the film Leaving Normal. It felt so contrived and fake to me. I can't quite pinpoint if it was the script or the acting that didn't work for me, but I just didn't care about the characters. In a film like this, I should be routing for them to figure everything out, but I just kept hoping that they would make up their minds and hurry things along. There wasn't any real depth to the characters, so I had a lot of trouble connecting with them. My favorite film this year has been Straight Story. I loved the simplicity of this movie. My reaction to it was completely the opposite of Leaving Normal. I really cared about what happened to the characters here. I wanted him to be able to see his brother so badly and became really invested in his story. It was a beautiful movie which I really want to see again.

Posted by orour078 at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This is my greatest accomplishment.

Climbing the mountain with you has been my greatest accomplishment for multiple reasons. First of all, I had both of your support. Also, I wouldn't have been able to climb this mountain without Benji accepting me. I truly felt that it would work out between us as father and son right before we decided to conquer one of your goals Felicia. As for you Bernadette, you were such as essential part of our trio. You were the one that kept us both in check and were our constant rock. Thank you for being the one I can truly confide in. Felicia, thank you for your never ending silliness you strange girl. You take care of Benji so well and really acclimated him to our ways. He truly feels at home with us now.

Thank you girls for conquering so many obstacles and so many hardships but also creating so many hilaaarious memories. Climbing this mountain was the manifestation of our final journey. You rock girls.

Posted by believer. at 10:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I know what beauty means now.

I was so mad at you Cindy when you got Olive involved in these beauty pageants. As if little girls don't have enough criticism to deal with, and unrealistic beauty standards being thrown at them, but these pageants are really the worst. I was afraid for her. I saw the girls that she would be competing against, and I knew that she would have no chance. But then I saw her on that stage, and I realized something. I realized that she is the most beautiful little girl in the whole world. She may not be the kind of girl who will win beauty pageants, but that is because her beauty in immeasurable... it is beyond comparison. So I wanted to thank you Cindy. If you had never started this beauty pageant thing, I might never have realized how truly beautiful and wonderful my daughter really is. You helped bring my family together and make us closer than we have ever been before. I wouldn't trade this experience for the world because it taught me so much about myself and my family. We are all beautiful in our own ways, and I'm glad I finally learned to see that.
Love,
Sheryl

Posted by orour078 at 10:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I enjoyed the film Leaving Normal, but it wasn’t my favorite film of the semester. I thought it presented an uplifting view of life; the way everything happened for a reason and it all fit together. It emphasized the idea that we’re all constantly trying our hardest to control the many aspects of our life and direct it to where we want it to be, and in doing this we’re actually missing out on what’s happening at the moment. I liked that everything came together in the film, and although it was fairly predictable, I was relieved to find that it had a happy ending. The characters were very interesting. They represented many extremes, and it was interesting to watch them all interact.

My favorite film of the semester was Little Miss Sunshine. However, that was my favorite movie before I took this class. As far as new movies go, my favorite was Thelma and Louise. I had heard about it before because it’s so iconic, and I’m glad I finally got the chance to see it.

Posted by Beyonce at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

"I need you to know how much this changed me."

Cheryl,

I need you to know how much this trip changed me, for the better. When you picked me up from the hospital, I didn't want to go home with you. I didn't want to be around your 'normal' family and your irritatingly motivated husband. I really did just want to be left alone, maybe to try to kill myself again, maybe not. But you forced me into your world, and I want to say thank you. I hadn't seen Olive and Dwayne in so long, and I had forgotten that RIchard's dad was living with you. I was unprepared for the overstimulation of Olive's questions and dogged determination to win a beauty pageant. Dwayne's silence caught me off guard, but I grew to appreciate how he could say so much with his silence and hastily scribbled words on his notepad. He was just who I needed to be around to allow myself to get over my experience and move on.

I know this trip didn't turn out like anyone planned, with Grandpa dieing, the bus breaking down, and being banned from all California beauty contests, but it was exactly what I needed to start living again. It was what I needed to pull me out of my stuffy academic world of Praust and gay love intrigues and into something that mattered so much more, family. So thank you Cheryl, for being a good sister and unwilling to give up on me. I'll go on another road trip with you guys any day.

Frank

Posted by goldie at 10:19 AM</