Imovie

This week was my first time using imovie and I was surprised how easy and fun it was. I have had my mac computer since June, but I had yet to use this program. I guess that I thought it would be extremely hard to use but to my surprise it was not. My group and I decided to do our project on teen dramas and why people watch them. I personally find this topic extremely interesting because I love and watch these shows religiously. I can't really explain why I love to watch Gossip Girl, The Hills, and The City; I certainly can't relate to their lifestyle. I'm sure that a part of me is envious in ways and love to escape into this dream world. I am also fascinated by the fashion.

We just finished our movie and since I was the only person with a mac I mainly put the movie together. What I thought would take me hours to do, took me an hour at most. Imovie made it so easy to add songs and transitions and cut down the film to fit perfectly into the movie. So far this is my favorite program on my mac and I can definitely see myself using it in the future. It is an amazing tool for the classroom and a great way to teach students. I also think that students would greatly enjoy using this program themselves and it should be taught it school. I felt as if it was a new and improved powerpoint. I really enjoyed making this project!!!

Reaction

Last class we talked about an extremely heavy topic, suicide. We spoke about why people feel the need to take their own life and how we as teachers should deal with this devastating act. I don't think that I would personally be able to talk to an entire class about the subject. It just seems too personal and emotional a topic to bring up in class. I definitely think that teachers have a responsibility to be available if students want to talk and counselors need to be available.

I was shocked after reading about what is on the web regarding suicide. How can people post ways to kill yourself and talk about it so freely as if it is something to brag about? The only people who commit this horrific act are severely ill and depressed people. Suicide is a serious problem and in many cases can be avoided with the correct guidance and support. I personally believe that counseling and strong relationships help prevent and are the key to helping someone though a difficult time. Websites condoning suicide is terrible and the worst thing that a suicidal person could look at. I personally believe that these sites should be banned. Looking at them in class made me sick.

It is scary that suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death for teenagers. As a teenager, I think that it is so important to look after all your closest friends and simply be there for them. Everyone has had bad days and gone through bad times, I know that some people more so than others, but strong relationships and talking to a trained professional can help greatly. Teachers need to be there for their students and report any behavior that could be questionable. Although teachers may not want to get involved in their students lives, they have an obligation to try to protect and help them. I know that when I was having a bad day, it always meant a lot when one of my teachers noticed and asked me how I was even if I didn't want to talk about it. Like it or not teachers play an important role in their student's lives.

Slumdog Millionaire

This week in class we watched, Slumdog Millionaire, one of the breakout movies of the year. I had watched it prior to the class because I had heard rave reviews and I wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Just like Hollywood, I thought that the movie and the story was fascinating and agreed with all the praise it had been getting. I think what is most fascinating about this movie, and many other movies and TV shows, is the contrast from most peoples every day life. This film shows an entirely different world, something that is very hard to relate to. Hollywood and the general public is obsessed with this idea, whether it be the extremely wealthy or the poor and suffering. People love to watch others lives, lives that they cannot relate to. This can be a dangerous thing, especially since this leaves room for much exaggeration. I'm sure that India did not love the way their country was depicted. India seemed dirty and violent, while their people were corrupt and in poverty. I went on some websites and saw that the people of Mumbai Slum were insulted by the title of the movie, saying that they might be poor but were not dogs. To them, the title made them feel like animals. Hindus were also upset that they were shown killing Muslims and portrayed as violent and cruel people.

This movie is a perfect example of the power of television and film. They way people and places are depicted can have a profound impact on society. People who have never visited India and have only seen this movie will automatically have judgments about the County and culture. So much of what we see and know to be true is a result of media.

Most people think that people want to watch what they can relate to but the more I think about it the more I believe it is the opposite. I guess certain characteristics of characters in film and TV shows, I relate to and love but for the most part their lives I cannot relate to at all. I have no connection between the lifestyle and culture in Slumdog Millionaire as well as the TV shows I watch like gossip girl, Greys Anatomy, Privileged, Sex and the City. I think that two things that tie everyone to TV shows and films are the love stories and friendships. Those two relationships are constant throughout most societies. Yet, the settings in which most of these relationships take place are completely different from my life and the lives of most.