Visions of Teenhood

The director of Rebel Without a Cause and J.D. Salinger (Catcher in the Rye) both do a great job of capturing what it is like to be a teen. At some point, everyone goes through the point where they feel alone and not understood. Both the film and book we have been studying have showed exactly what that can be like. As we learn more about these characters, we can see that they have a heart, but no one can help them. Like most teens, they have a hard time getting out their emotions and when it's too late they explode because they haven't been able to express themselves.

I think Peter Parker is one of the best representations of the modern teen. He always tries to do what's right, but in the end he loses something. He just an ordinary kid but he has a dark side to him that he can't explain. If anything shows what it's like to be a teenager, it's Spiderman (Film and Books).

Teenage Mentality

Our new book Catcher in the Rye clearly has an emphasis on teenage mentality. The character (Holden) shows his personal emotions of hate and rebellion against his peers. But like all teenagers he also has a soft side that he tries to hide. In my personal opinion this book captures exactly what it is like to be a teenager. I went through this phase, and most other people do. But what do you guys think? My opinion is only one of many. Do you think this book is an accurate portrayal of teenage emotion and actions, is it not even close, or somewhere in the middle?

Childhood in View

Television that often represents childhood correctly is the shows that are aimed to entertain children. The shows are simple and only show the basic view of life. They often ignore darker aspects and adult content. Even when an older person watches one of these shows, they may not feel like they're getting the whole picture. A child on the other hand doesn't need the whole picture thereby making the show perfect for them.
A good show that represents the feeling of childhood on the other hand is a different story. For me, Lost shows what it's like to be a child. You often don't fully know what is going on, and you still have a lot to learn about life and the people around you. In lost the characters are there to have a second shot at life. Essentially they are all children, because the are re-learning the value of life and the basics you need to know about it. They also all have to learn to get along, much like school. The Island is a controlled environment that forces them to grow up and stop living in the fantasy they once did.
In the four stories we've read a different aspect of childhood is shown. In "The Sutton Pie Safe" the child doesn't know the seriousness of situation around him and only focuses on the most basic of things, like the snake belt. In "Every Little Hurricane" the child shows how he dissolves the situation around him by using his imagination. In "Where are you Going, Where have you Been?" the teenager hates her parents so blindly, that she leaves them to go on a ride with a rapist. Often teenage angst leads to bad decisions much like this one. In "Bottle Caps" the lead character's little brother takes his collection to help make himself feel better about the basic nature of death by making graves for the insects he sees each day.

About Me

I think the picture pretty much sums me up, but if you need more... I love Metal, Videogames, Pink Floyd, Graphic Novels, and always enjoy "discussing" politics with my peers. I also am horribly addicted to Coffee of all types. My current favorite is a large Americano. I also enjoy brooding in my room with friends whilst listneing to music and playing my X-Box. I also am a huge fan of sleep.

Growing Up

I grew up when I realized I couldn't have everything. Back when I was very young my parents spoiled me rotten. One day me and my dad went to Shop-ko and there was a toy I really wanted. I threw a huge fit that really ticked him off. He told me that if I did that ever again I wouldn't ever get to Shop-ko. I realized that you can't get everything. The next time we went to Shop-ko I was more behaved and because of that I was rewarded with candy. This taught me that with good manners you will be liked and possibly rewarded. After this series of events I never threw a fit a gain.

Welcome

Welcome to my blog. I'll do my best to discuss all topics I can with the students in this class. What is everyone looking forward to? I can't wait to read Catcher in the Rye and I am also excited to watch both the selected movies. I've never seen Ghost World, but I hear it's great. I have seen Pan's Labyrinth and am looking forward to discuss all the crazy things that happen in it.