Flashbacks: Classic and Contemporary

With so many movies already out there- and with thousands more on the way every year- filmmakers often have to try different techniques to distinguish their movies from others. One interesting, although not novel, technique sometimes used is the flashback. Used in both books and movies, flashbacks, or analepses, can create interest, explain the current state of affairs or a character’s motivation, or just add an interesting element to the literature. A flashback is a technique that bridges time to provide imperative information to the reader or viewer. In addition to the many works of literature that utilize flashbacks, numerous famous movies, classic and contemporary, have employed flashbacks as well.

For instance, the renowned movie Casablanca uses flashbacks to illustrate the enchanting time in Paris when Ilsa and Rick first met and fell in love. Without these flashbacks, the viewer would be left without a crucial piece of information- Rick and Ilsa’s past history- to the plot. These analepses are more of the traditional, predictable kind- unlike the flashbacks in The Bourne Identity.

The box office-busting film series The Bourne Identity utilized flashbacks in a more contemporary way. When the audience first meets lead character Jason Bourne, he’s floating in the Mediterranean Sea and wakes up with extreme memory loss. Throughout the film, he struggles to discover who he truly is and- once he learns that he was an assassin- what he’s done.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFhbNOXDNPA

The use of flashbacks in this series helps take the audience on a suspenseful journey with Jason Bourne as he fights to discover his identity. They allow the audience to “remember” events as Jason does in real time, heightening the interest and involvement in the movie.

Regardless of whether the literature is read or watched, time and time again, flashbacks have proved a valuable tool to both writers and directors in bridging time and place to interest their audience while communicating information vital to their story’s plot.

Walter White vs. The Unnamed Grandmother

While reading the short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find," I was struck by the character that the story seems to center around: the grandmother. She is a polarizing figure, with many readers, including myself, finding it hard to empathize and relate to her, while some are drawn to her ideals and old-fashioned lifestyle. The Grandmother reminds me of another polarizing figure in popular culture: Bryan Cranston’s character in the critically acclaimed series Breaking Bad. Although Breaking Bad is a television show and not a movie, its success and appeal are based off of its enigmatic and dark storyline brought to life by the lead character, Walter White, so I feel it applies to this discussion. In “A Good Man is Hard to Find,” the grandmother is focused on her family, has a set of moral values different from the rest of the cast, and above all else, is never self-critical.

                The first and most obvious similarity between the two characters is their commitment to their families. The grandmother tries to avoid the Misfit at all costs in order to protect her family; meanwhile, Walter begins cooking meth in order to provide for his family after he dies. Both characters strive to put family before almost everything, willing to cross paths with dangerous foes along the way in order to do what they believe is best for their kin. The operative word is most, however, because each has a fundamental flaw that alters their set of moral values from the rest of the cast. The grandmother believes being a lady should come before anything else and this foolish façade she puts on ends up harming her family in the end, when she causes a car accident. Walter on the other hand is consumed by greed, ultimately endangering his family for the pursuit of pecuniary benefits. Finally, both Mr. White and the unnamed grandmother are always throwing judgment on others while never reflecting upon their own transgressions and mistakes. They never stop to question their own role in the precarious situations they find their families in and refuse to admit any role in their current plights.

                Two seemingly opposite characters in Walter White and the grandmother are driven by the same characteristics, which make them so dividing in our culture today. While critics may rave over both stories, common viewers may find them hard to appreciate or relate to. Unfortunately for the short story, those readers who are alienated by the messages presented have no other means of understanding the story; by contrast, viewers of Breaking Bad are aided by the actor’s portrayal of the characters, facial expressions, and details in the set design (to name a few factors) that make it a visual medium. [The clip at the end of the video shows Walter's darker side, convincing his wife that he will do anything to protect his family.] Those who cannot bring themselves to like the grandmother may find Walter to be flawed, but more understandable for it, due to the artistic choices present. That is why, at the end of the day, whether film and television are considered literature or not, they bring elements to the table that “classic literature” simply cannot, appealing to a broader audience, and interacting with that audience more deeply, for better or worse.

 

In celebration of the pumpkin spice latte coming back to Starbucks

By Lilly Xie

Today, I walked the grueling journey from the Engineering Quad all the way to the William T. Young Library with a 20 pound backpack on my back and one thing on my mind: PSL.  Now, PSL stands for Pumpkin Spice Latte, the iconic drink of fall at Starbucks. Call me basic, but I love the pumpkin spice latte and I have no shame telling everyone I know about how great it is.

As I waited for my coffee in the ridiculously long line, I started observing the UK students in the café around me. They were all chatting amongst themselves but one particular couple caught my attention. They were sitting at a table for two casually having a conversation and sipping from their Starbucks cups, but it seemed to me that they were probably talking about something a little more serious than the sunny weather, and this sparked my imagination. The scene reminded me vaguely of that one story we read in AP Lit class, “Hills like White Elephants” by Ernest Hemmingway.

I thought earnestly to myself, man, it would be so easy to make a film adaptation of that short story. It would be one of those short, dramatic, and strange films, much like the ones that are shown right before a Pixar movie. Hemmingway already wrote the story in a dramatic/objective POV, so turning it into a short film would be a piece of cake, as easy as pumpkin pie. Reading HLWE was basically like watching a movie except I, the reader, got to make up the actors, setting, and other cinematic details and visualize them in my head. The way that Hemingway wrote the story gave me as a reader a lot more control.

So why stop there? My mind kept wandering (the Starbucks line was really really long) and I thought about how I could make a modern spin-off of “Hills like White Elephants.” Ok, my version would be set in an average Starbucks, much like the one I was in, and the couple would be a pair of teenagers. The dialogue would be mostly the same as the original, except with modern lingo embedded in. Also, instead of ordering liquor they would order Starbucks coffee. Instead of the Anis del Torro tasting like licorice (I got that question wrong on the quiz and I am still bitter), the latte would taste like pumpkin spice. They would still be talking about the “procedure,” which really is an abortion.

I am a strong believer in the lessons that can be learned from literature. The “timeless classics,” although they have great lessons to be learned, sometimes are unable to reach the minds of young people of today because they are simply too outdated. The language is unfamiliar, the customs are antique, and it’s just hard to connect to the story. Also kids these days like watching better than reading. That’s why I love modern spin offs of classics, especially film versions. I think they are the bomb dot com. If I made a modern film adaptation of “Hills like White Elephants”, I think it could definitely connect with the teenagers of today, especially since teen pregnancies are becoming more common (Juno, Teen Mom, 16 and Pregnant) and this could be a way to talk about the issue without directly taking a stance on one side or the other. Thank you Ernest Hemmingway; you are a genius even to this day.

And now, I can finally sit down, blog, and enjoy my coffee.

Commercial vs. Literary Film

It’s commonly discussed that literature can be divided into two main divisions: commercial and literary. Commercial literature is published with the sole purpose of making money. The books are generally easy to read and can appeal to a wide audience. Readers usually expect a sympathetic hero or heroine, a defined plot with suspense, and a happy ending. In addition, the book’s theme commonly affirms conventional views of world. Literary fiction’s purpose is very different: either an artistic or to broaden or deepen the reader’s awareness of life. Literary fiction seeks to bring the reader pleasure combined with understanding. It often attempts to dispel illusions about certain places, things, or people. In fact, literary fiction commonly attempts to challenge or change world views. Since we’ve been arguing that movies are, in fact, literature, it follows that we can argue that there are also two main divisions of movies: commercial and literary. The commercial movies are often movies that are supposed to draw in viewers based on a funny, romantic, or familiar story line; movies made solely to bring in money. A common commercial movie would be the romantic comedies often found in movie theaters (i.e, Nicholas Sparks’ movie Safe Haven). On the other hand, literary movies have a deeper purpose which often includes the dispelling of misconceptions or prejudices. For instance, Schindler’s List and Remember the Titans both have a deeper purpose than entertainment. Each movie seeks to confront and dispel the racist tendencies that lie dormant in society. Schindler's List takes the audience through a dark, riveting tale set in the Holocaust and forces many to confront issues that are often skirted around, leaving the audience uncomfortable yet altogether better off. Remember the Titans isn't quite as harsh, but it still details the racism present at the high school football level, which is just as hard to stomach. This scene is difficult due to the gruesome civil war references, yet it is one of the most inspirational moments in all of sports.

These movies are forcing the viewers to think, which is often a signal for a great movie; however, great movies can be commercial. The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly is considered a classic, yet it doesn't challenge deep, societal issues like the preceding movies. Even some commercial fiction is well regarded, such as the Lord of the Rings Trilogy, which combines wide appeal with critical acclaim. Movies are literature, and they are divided as such, yet it is crucial to recognize that these are not strict definitions; they exist on a spectrum. In addition, some movies are focused on a specific audience or not intended to be great movies at all, but are instead intentionally silly. It is due to this large variation that movies are so appealing: there is a movie for every view, mood, and by extension, person, which is why we love them so dearly.