Labyrinth
By: Cam Hall
Labyrinth, a fantasy/adventure film released in 1986, is one of many interesting creations by the ever so brilliant Jim Henson. The film tells the story of a young teenage girl named Sarah (Jennifer Connelly), who has been reading a story/play book called (The) Labyrinth. Sarah hates her home life and all of the people in it, especially her little baby brother, named Toby. On one stormy night, while her two parents go out and leave her with the baby, Sarah wishes for the goblin king and his army of goblin henchmen (most likely in connection with the play she was reading) to come and take Toby away for her. This wish is then granted, with Toby mysteriously disappearing from their house and Sarah being visited by the goblin king (David Bowie), who tells her that Toby resides in his castle, at the center of a labyrinth. Sarah asks for him to return Toby to her house and that she really didn't mean anything by the wish she made. The goblin king, who goes by the name of Jareth, then gives her the chance to solve the labrynth and rescue her brother in the time frame of 13 hours. At one point, Sarah is transported to the magical fantasy world of the labyrinth and starts her quest to rescue Toby from the goblin king and his minions, while also trying to prevent him from becoming like one of them.
This film is truly an instant classic and should be recognized for its great musical store, characters, and settings. A great number of songs on the soundtrack were made and composed by David Bowie. People will enjoy the beat to his song "Magic Dance," a catchy tune that allows people to get up out of their seats and move around wherever they are. In addition, viewers will like Bowie's slow ballad song "As The World Falls Down," which allows them to picture themselves dancing slowly with a partner like they are at some grand ball dance of some sort. Another song by David Bowie that is played in the film is called "Underground," which talks about not always enjoying life and wanting to run away from what is given to you, something that everybody can connect to in one way or another.
The many characters in the film help to contribute to the film's maginificent appeal and entertainment purposes. The audience will fall in love with the ever so loyal Ludo. Ludo is a big beast who is very friendly and is able to summon large groups of rocks by bellowing and/or roaring loudly to help Sarah in her quest, throughout the film. Viewers will laugh at the ever so outrageous Sir Didymus and his canine dog pet Ambrosious. Sir Didymus proves to viewers that bravery comes in any shape and size, even when his dog Ambrosious acts afraid of the enemies that they, Sarah, and the others are pitted against in the film. One other character that viewers of the film will enjoy is Hoggle, a little troll-like figure who likes to collect jewels and tries to help Sarah to the best of his abilities, while being one of Jareth's henchmen at the same time and trying not to disappoint him, either.
The different settings in the film are another factor that contribute to the films overall brilliance and appeal to an audience. People will be intrigued by the first part of the labyrinth that Sarah encounters, in which she is between two tall walls and no matter which direction she decides to take, left or right, is seems as though both paths go on forever and do not stop. What makes this setting really interesting is that the audience assumes that there is not way to get out of it, when the only possible ways to get out of it are camouflaged by the two walls that she is between. Another interesting setting is under the ground in a dark cave where the stone walls have faces that talk to Sarah and Hoggle in deep bellowing voices as they pass by them. This setting can get a few different reactions from viewers, such as fascination, fear, and wonderment. One other setting that will stand out to audiences is within Jareth's castle, in which there are a bunch of staircases that go every way a person could possibly think of. Sarah finds this to be a challenge when trying to reach Toby who keeps crawling away from her and who then possesses abilities like the goblin king, such as being able to walk on walls while being upside-down and sideways.
Despite having negative reviews from certain commentators, Labyrinth will still be able to appeal to audiences, both young and old alike. Certain people that the film has not appealed to include Desson Thomson of the Washington Post who stated that the film ". . . never sets a timely tone beyond the 1980s. It remains disappointingly tethered to yesteryear." Another person who had some negative criticism of the film was Wesley Morris of the Boston Globe, who felt that the film ". . . has no pep. It's a dream in neutral." The negative crticism that Labyrinth gets from certain movie reviewers will never change the fact that it will remain an instant classic in American popular culture. Anybody can be able to like this film, he or she just has to open his or her heart and mind to it.
Works Cited
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/labyrinth/
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Writing a Report
Teens Get The Chills
By: Cam Hall
During this last weekend, over 100 area teenagers from several area churches found out what it was like to be homeless. The teenagers were able to accomplish what they set out to do by setting up a youth camp at Mason Fielld, in North Attleboro, MA. In addition, the teenagers used assorted cardboard boxes of different sizes and wore several layers of clothes to prevent getting cold. The event took place during a weekend on November 10 and 11 of this year, with the sole purpose of raising awareness for the homeless and what they have to endure in their everyday lives.
All of the participants in the organization went into it with the determination and will to obtain $10,000 to help better the Attleboro Area of Council of Churches' Food 'n' Friends program, which gives to nearby food storage units. On the plus side, additional food storage units and organizations would also gain profits from the event, such as the Homes with Heart program, a number of nearby soup kitchens, and homeless shelters.
A number of the participants in this event were willing to share how they felt about the kind of experience they were going through during the event. One participant, a 16-year-old girl by the name of Catie Silva, a resident in Barrington, RI, said in her own words, "I think it was colder in the box than it was outside." Besides this statement, Miss Silva also said, "I woke up (during the night), and my face and feet were freezing." Silva, who has partcipated in this organization for three years, was accompanied by novice Abby Bushnell, a 15-year-old girl from the town of Rhehoboth, MA. Miss Bushnell explained about her present thoughts and feelings about what she was going through by stating that, "I never realized how much I needed until now. A mirror, money, running water...". Abby Bushnell also commented during the organization, stating that, "I've definately learned that even though someone doesn't look homeless, you don't know someone's life story until you experience it." These comments help to indicate how old and new arrivals in this organization might have felt about experiencing this kind of organization in their lives.
A number of people were appreciative of the youngsters' drive to help shine a light on homeless people and what they have to go through in their daily lives. The head organizer of this charitable happening, Don McClain, stated that, "The teens are so excited to be here. It's something that effects their lives, and how they view homelessness and hunger." In addition, Original Congregational Church's youth leader Heather MacAskill had great acknowledgement of the youngsters' determination in the organization whe she said, "They're a really amazing group of kids to give up the comforts of their home and spent two nights in a cardboard box." It is easy to think that a great number of people responded in similar ways to the youngsters' drive in this organization like the way in which McClain and MacAskill did, based on what the youngsters did during the organization.
Despite having to make it through cold evening temperatures - which decreased to a mere 34 degrees at 1 in the morning - and resting in multiple-sized cardboard boxes, the participants made it through this organization with flying colors, and were more than happy to take part in this happening. If only a big number of young kids and adults today would be willing to participate in charitable events like this one to raise awareness for serious kinds of situations that are going on in the world and help to fix the world, as a whole, in doing so.
Works Cited
Cosentino, Judee. Teens get dose of cold reality. Attleboro - North Attleboro, Mass: The Sun Chronicle, November 11, 2012. Print.
By: Cam Hall
During this last weekend, over 100 area teenagers from several area churches found out what it was like to be homeless. The teenagers were able to accomplish what they set out to do by setting up a youth camp at Mason Fielld, in North Attleboro, MA. In addition, the teenagers used assorted cardboard boxes of different sizes and wore several layers of clothes to prevent getting cold. The event took place during a weekend on November 10 and 11 of this year, with the sole purpose of raising awareness for the homeless and what they have to endure in their everyday lives.
All of the participants in the organization went into it with the determination and will to obtain $10,000 to help better the Attleboro Area of Council of Churches' Food 'n' Friends program, which gives to nearby food storage units. On the plus side, additional food storage units and organizations would also gain profits from the event, such as the Homes with Heart program, a number of nearby soup kitchens, and homeless shelters.
A number of the participants in this event were willing to share how they felt about the kind of experience they were going through during the event. One participant, a 16-year-old girl by the name of Catie Silva, a resident in Barrington, RI, said in her own words, "I think it was colder in the box than it was outside." Besides this statement, Miss Silva also said, "I woke up (during the night), and my face and feet were freezing." Silva, who has partcipated in this organization for three years, was accompanied by novice Abby Bushnell, a 15-year-old girl from the town of Rhehoboth, MA. Miss Bushnell explained about her present thoughts and feelings about what she was going through by stating that, "I never realized how much I needed until now. A mirror, money, running water...". Abby Bushnell also commented during the organization, stating that, "I've definately learned that even though someone doesn't look homeless, you don't know someone's life story until you experience it." These comments help to indicate how old and new arrivals in this organization might have felt about experiencing this kind of organization in their lives.
A number of people were appreciative of the youngsters' drive to help shine a light on homeless people and what they have to go through in their daily lives. The head organizer of this charitable happening, Don McClain, stated that, "The teens are so excited to be here. It's something that effects their lives, and how they view homelessness and hunger." In addition, Original Congregational Church's youth leader Heather MacAskill had great acknowledgement of the youngsters' determination in the organization whe she said, "They're a really amazing group of kids to give up the comforts of their home and spent two nights in a cardboard box." It is easy to think that a great number of people responded in similar ways to the youngsters' drive in this organization like the way in which McClain and MacAskill did, based on what the youngsters did during the organization.
Despite having to make it through cold evening temperatures - which decreased to a mere 34 degrees at 1 in the morning - and resting in multiple-sized cardboard boxes, the participants made it through this organization with flying colors, and were more than happy to take part in this happening. If only a big number of young kids and adults today would be willing to participate in charitable events like this one to raise awareness for serious kinds of situations that are going on in the world and help to fix the world, as a whole, in doing so.
Works Cited
Cosentino, Judee. Teens get dose of cold reality. Attleboro - North Attleboro, Mass: The Sun Chronicle, November 11, 2012. Print.
Sunday, November 4, 2012
Writing a Short Article
A Significant Material Girl: Originality in the Pop Music Industry and What it Inspired in Others that Followed
By: Cam Hall
Most people in the younger generation have heard the name of the legendary "Queen of Pop" herself: Madonna, at some point in their lives. The majority of these people are familiar only with a few of Madonna's most recognized songs; including "Like A Virgin," "Material Girl," and "Vogue." In addition, while Madonna in retrospect as put out a number of popular tracks and albums, the most of which have gained huge success over the years, and has lasted for about 30 years as a music artist, still the younger generation go about listening to likes of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna, and other such music artists that fall into the same category of music as Madonna. Even though while some people in the younger generation may have heard about about the comparisions made between Madonna and more recent female pop stars, especially based on their image, they still go about thinking that current female pop music acts are completely original and have great talent unlike any other music artists in existance, when this is really not the case. The younger generation is definately unaware of how significant Madonna is the pop music industry, especially since she paved the way for a certain number of popluar female pop music artists of today. Madonna inspired a number of current female music artists to foloow in her footsteps thtough the ways in which she promoted herself in the music industry, especially through her songs and music videos.
Madonna was a female pop music star who early on talked about very standout topics through the lyrics of her songs, such as acceptance and sexual activity. One of Madonna's popular songs during the 1980s, "Express Yourself," tells people to show themselves to the world for who they really are and that they can only be able to respect themselves by doing so. Similar and/or related messages came out through Lady Gaga's song "Born This Way" and Christina Aguilera's song "Beautiful," in the 21st century, with both songs basically giving out the idea that no matter how different you are to just be yourself in order to feel truly happy and not insecure with yourself. Another one of Madonna's songs that sparked a following from more current female music artists was "Erotica," a song that basically makes sexual activity and promiscuity an okay thing have fun with and explore to certain extents. A similar king of idea followed on Rihanna's song called "S&M," which bascially makes sexual desires and fantasies seem like not completely bad things at all. Madonna definately shows originality through her songs in these kind of cases.
Madonna was a female pop music star who early made a very significant and controversial image for herself in the music industry, especiallt through her music videos. One of Madonna's music videos in her early carreer that touched the nerves of a lot of people was the video for her song "Like A Prayer," which showed her standing in a field of burning crosses and kissing a black Jesus Christ, and this video was ultimatley slammed by the Vatican for its content. A similar kind of controversy followed in Lady Gaga's music video for her song, "Alejandro," which showed religious imagery annd the singer swallowing a neacklace that had a miniature cross attached to it, and obviously certain religious groups didn't like this at all, either. A few of Madonna's music videos in her early career that inspired others to floow in her steps were the ones for "Justify My Love," "Erotica," and "Human Nature," two of which showed her as a dominatrix and in one of these videos she was wearing black leather clothing while carrying a whip used for sexual activites. A similar approach followed in Christina Aguilera's music video for her song "Not Myself Tonight," in which she had the exact same kind of dominatrix image that Madonna had in her own music videos. Another example is through Madonna's music video for her song "Justify My Love," which showed her touching upon and/or exploring what different kind of sexualities were like. This kind of exploration followed with Katy Perry's music video for her song "I Kissed A Girl," which involved her having a dream of what it would be like to experience a same-sex kind of realtionship while still preferring heterosexual relationships at the same time. Madonna definately shows originaltiy through her music videos in these kinds of cases.
Whether or not the younger generation will recognize Madonna for her contributions to making a number of female pop music artists what they are today, she will still be recognized by others who still appreciate her creativity and boldness to do what she did, especially during a time in America when her image and other aspects to her music career were considerd extreme and over the top for a woman to be doing. Madonna's originality has earned her a great deal of respect from many people in the world, still to this day. In addition, Madonna has been able to obtain something that no other younger generation female pop music acts have, except for the likes of Britney Spears who really didn't deserve to get one, a lifetime achievement award. The so-called "Queen of Pop" has denfinately earned her title through all of her hard work as a music artist. Madonna will always remain a significant figure in the pop music industry, no matter whether or not she is recognized for how meaningful she is in the world of music.
By: Cam Hall
Most people in the younger generation have heard the name of the legendary "Queen of Pop" herself: Madonna, at some point in their lives. The majority of these people are familiar only with a few of Madonna's most recognized songs; including "Like A Virgin," "Material Girl," and "Vogue." In addition, while Madonna in retrospect as put out a number of popular tracks and albums, the most of which have gained huge success over the years, and has lasted for about 30 years as a music artist, still the younger generation go about listening to likes of Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rihanna, and other such music artists that fall into the same category of music as Madonna. Even though while some people in the younger generation may have heard about about the comparisions made between Madonna and more recent female pop stars, especially based on their image, they still go about thinking that current female pop music acts are completely original and have great talent unlike any other music artists in existance, when this is really not the case. The younger generation is definately unaware of how significant Madonna is the pop music industry, especially since she paved the way for a certain number of popluar female pop music artists of today. Madonna inspired a number of current female music artists to foloow in her footsteps thtough the ways in which she promoted herself in the music industry, especially through her songs and music videos.
Madonna was a female pop music star who early on talked about very standout topics through the lyrics of her songs, such as acceptance and sexual activity. One of Madonna's popular songs during the 1980s, "Express Yourself," tells people to show themselves to the world for who they really are and that they can only be able to respect themselves by doing so. Similar and/or related messages came out through Lady Gaga's song "Born This Way" and Christina Aguilera's song "Beautiful," in the 21st century, with both songs basically giving out the idea that no matter how different you are to just be yourself in order to feel truly happy and not insecure with yourself. Another one of Madonna's songs that sparked a following from more current female music artists was "Erotica," a song that basically makes sexual activity and promiscuity an okay thing have fun with and explore to certain extents. A similar king of idea followed on Rihanna's song called "S&M," which bascially makes sexual desires and fantasies seem like not completely bad things at all. Madonna definately shows originality through her songs in these kind of cases.
Madonna was a female pop music star who early made a very significant and controversial image for herself in the music industry, especiallt through her music videos. One of Madonna's music videos in her early carreer that touched the nerves of a lot of people was the video for her song "Like A Prayer," which showed her standing in a field of burning crosses and kissing a black Jesus Christ, and this video was ultimatley slammed by the Vatican for its content. A similar kind of controversy followed in Lady Gaga's music video for her song, "Alejandro," which showed religious imagery annd the singer swallowing a neacklace that had a miniature cross attached to it, and obviously certain religious groups didn't like this at all, either. A few of Madonna's music videos in her early career that inspired others to floow in her steps were the ones for "Justify My Love," "Erotica," and "Human Nature," two of which showed her as a dominatrix and in one of these videos she was wearing black leather clothing while carrying a whip used for sexual activites. A similar approach followed in Christina Aguilera's music video for her song "Not Myself Tonight," in which she had the exact same kind of dominatrix image that Madonna had in her own music videos. Another example is through Madonna's music video for her song "Justify My Love," which showed her touching upon and/or exploring what different kind of sexualities were like. This kind of exploration followed with Katy Perry's music video for her song "I Kissed A Girl," which involved her having a dream of what it would be like to experience a same-sex kind of realtionship while still preferring heterosexual relationships at the same time. Madonna definately shows originaltiy through her music videos in these kinds of cases.
Whether or not the younger generation will recognize Madonna for her contributions to making a number of female pop music artists what they are today, she will still be recognized by others who still appreciate her creativity and boldness to do what she did, especially during a time in America when her image and other aspects to her music career were considerd extreme and over the top for a woman to be doing. Madonna's originality has earned her a great deal of respect from many people in the world, still to this day. In addition, Madonna has been able to obtain something that no other younger generation female pop music acts have, except for the likes of Britney Spears who really didn't deserve to get one, a lifetime achievement award. The so-called "Queen of Pop" has denfinately earned her title through all of her hard work as a music artist. Madonna will always remain a significant figure in the pop music industry, no matter whether or not she is recognized for how meaningful she is in the world of music.
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