Thursday, June 25, 2015
Boyhood Atlantic Article
I found this article to be interesting since we discussed how very relatable "Boyhood" was. I never really thought about who it would and would not be relatable for. Hope the link below works, because my computer is not letting me test it.
http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2014/09/the-not-so-relateable-boyhood/379700/
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Carrie, the link works!
ReplyDeleteI read the article, and it was good. I understand what the writer is saying. But I think there's only so much you could put in a film. For example, I think I mentioned in class the scene where Mason is picked on in the bathroom was totally relatable for for me. I guess I wanted to see more about how Mason would deal with bullies.
The article also said everyone could relate to this film, and I guess I seized on the bathroom bullying scene. I'm obviously not a boy, but I had a difficult time in high school. I didn't go to parties, didn't go out on dates, I was constantly picked on by boys, so school was a torture. Never had that "first love" in school sense. Never went AWAY to college (I stayed in town and drove there every day.) So when this film moved to the high school stage of Mason's life, it was harder for me to pay attention, because Mason was having the kind of high school experience I would have loved to have had.
On the other hand, I watched Welcome to the Dollhouse, and it was so traumatic for me, I really don't remember exactly what it was about. There's real, and there's disturbingly real. I can watch people get shot up in movies all day, but when your seventh grade experience is being played out on the screen, and it's horrifying, it's not something you really want to watch.
Thanks for posting the article Carrie,
ReplyDeleteThe author has a point in his perspective and thinking but I am not sure how valid it is. I do not mean that race is not important or was never talked about or discussed growing up. In watching this movie all I could think about was yep...did that, that happened, I remember that, etc. again and again. It was very relatable for me. I do not remember growing up talking about race and worried about race. Although the author does have a point that it is the story of Boyhood of a young white boy. I am sure it would be different if it was a young black boy to some extent....but I am not sure why this is critical or applicable to the movie. It is like saying Do the right thing did not talk enough about white people and their struggles. I am not saying that...it just does not seem like it is a criticism worth noting to me. Thanks for the interesting reading. I really enjoyed the class.
Thank you for sharing the article. I understand your points Gloria, there were things in the movie for me as well that hit home, making he reflect on my own personal experiences. As far as the article goes, I agree with most of the statements that it makes about avoiding the topic of racial discrimination. During watching the movie I didn't even realize that it was being avoided. However that could also be a reflection of growing as a kid. Personally, when I was a kid, race just wasn't a thing to me, it didn't make sense why people were so upset that others were different. I was around the topic, but as a kid I chose to ignore it because it didn't make sense and seemed stupid to nitpick about another persons outward characteristics. I also feel that sometimes a film speaks loudest about topics and words unsaid.
ReplyDeleteAs I said in class, this movie was very relateable to me. One of the first things that I noticed at the begining of the movie was that it seems that they just went somewhere and filmed, rather than trying to make one place look like another, or even create it in a studio. The scene when they're in the house that the parents are building is another one that just seemed very real. The setting as well as how the older kids were acting and talking.
ReplyDeleteAs I said in class, this movie was very relateable to me. One of the first things that I noticed at the begining of the movie was that it seems that they just went somewhere and filmed, rather than trying to make one place look like another, or even create it in a studio. The scene when they're in the house that the parents are building is another one that just seemed very real. The setting as well as how the older kids were acting and talking.
ReplyDeleteIt was a distinct movie in that you watched the main character grew up literally in front of the audiences' eyes. You literally watched the characters age and grow in a two hour span of time. It made it feel like it was real like a documentary not a film. It was so realistic that it allowed each viewer find their own life experiences reflected in the scenes.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this movie but was I the only that suspected something bad was going to happen when they where at the house with the high school students and one of them was about to do the death punch. I seriously though the board would like end up stabbing the kid holding it or something.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Mason's truck was a Toyota but at the end when he is about to leave to college the To and Ta fell out leaving behind Yo only and Yo in Spanish means I, so I don't know if the director did this in purpose to foreshadow Mason's beginning his journey on his own?
ReplyDelete