The Voice and Auteur Theory

First to discuss an Auteur you need to know what it is, a filmmaker whose personal influence and artistic control over a movie are so great that the filmmaker is regarded as the author of the movie.

From there I thought instantly of Wes Anderson, particularly because all of his films scream a certain style that is unique to the director alone. He has technique, a unique style, and an interior meaning (personal influences) for all his films. The main point is they all feel like their own "genre" because they're all consistent.

Technique: His tracking shots, dramatic tilts, pans, slow motions, symmetrical framing, rostrum camera, mise en scene, long takes, ( a weird obsession with Jason Schwartzman, Bill Murray, and owen wilson), and even a fourth wall are in all of Wes Anderson's films.

Style: The color palette he uses, the costumes, the time period "feel", the color grading.

Interior Meaning: He seems to create his films based on his personal experiences or based on people he personally likes. Most hollywood directors make films based on what others would like to see, but Wes Anderson makes films based on what he wants to see. This makes him an Auteur. An artist more than a filmmaker. An artist that chooses film as his medium.

Reading From Diverse Positions

The short story I chose to read for this week was Whites by Julie Otsuka. We are taken on this journey in the viewpoint of a japanese woman who traveled from japan in seek a better life to only face a much worse situation than before, one she can not escape, in America. The blatant racism occurring in this short story is true, but unsettling to today's view points. At the time this story takes place the japanese were basically slaves, paid, but still slaves. The "bosses" controlled their lives, there was nothing they could do to leave the situation. Despite the cruelty and messed up system they are stuck in, they are determined to work even more and have high hopes for the future. The writer starts us out by not giving away the country of origin right away, it's more of a guess till they say. The creator tells a bit about both groups of people and how things are different, even things like language barriers are brought up. The characters in this story have big plans and dreams and yet they still know the reality is that it's an endless cycle of sadness. How am I connected to this world as a reader? Well, I'm a white american woman, but I 100% do not approve or follow the treatment of others in this story on my end. I am embraced by the white american history. I wish I could say that I wasn't white or American. I was raised to treat everyone as I would like to be treated. It made me feel like standing up for the woman in this story against the racist people. The fact that it had to be my race again always bothers me. My family's roots are in Germany and Wales, I'd rather be seen as German-Welsh than "White". After attending an inner city school in Georgia (I had moved from ohio to the south, a place I've never been to before) I was bullied for being white, I was labeled and I was treated horribly. Racism is horrible, it shouldn't happen to anyone. I truly hope this nation can get over this race-war.

Reading From A Critical Position

The short story "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid comes off like a list of do's and don'ts by a strict mother. The language is strange to me, telling your daughter "prevent you from looking like the slut you are so bent on becoming". This doesn't sit right with me, yet the story feels like it belongs.

The question "do you identify with the girl in this story" seemed like a joke. I was surprised to hear that the majority of the class said yes. I was not raised to compare myself to other genders, to others, and I did not have a mother who tried to put me in a label. Yes, my parents had me do chores, but not because of my age or gender. Our whole family did chores together, we all helped with laundry, my dad is an excellent cook, both my parents work, they encourage my sister and I to both have successful jobs. We were expected to go to college and get a job. It would have been odd if we didn't. My parents never placed gender roles on my sister nor I. My family sees everyone as equals, gender, race, education. I know there are some people and countries that believe that this is okay, but as a woman, I do not agree with this stories upbringing. Everyone should have equal opportunities to apply themselves and that it's okay if they don't fall into that gender stereo type, be yourself and what makes you happy.

Wes Anderson and Stephan Zweig

Wes Anderson pays homage to Austrian writer Stephan Zweig in his film "The Grand Budapest Hotel". Anderson shares similarities with the use of color, the humor, and the pace.

I always enjoy Wes Anderson's films, some may find him a tad boring, but I find his work quirky and colorful. It just has that classic humor that you can't find in most films today. It had the very dream life essence that Zweig's writing brought to the table. Wes Anderson said in an interview about Zweig "So much of his work is written from the point of view of someone who’s quite innocent and is entering into kind of darker territories" and that was a sort of essence Wes Anderson wanted and succeeded at. I didn't connect with the characters because they were sort of "out there", but I did enjoy it because they were so different.

True Grit - Mattie's Justice

I have seen both the new and old films of True Grit and enjoyed both of them, but the old simply is a classic. Before approaching True Grit, I was reluctant because I can not stand western films, books, dramas, you name it. Again, having low expectations and then getting blown away by the powerful characters this story has to offer.

Mattie, our protagonist, is just a fire ball of energy, she takes charge, doesn't take no for an answer, and she has a strong voice and no one will silence her. I really enjoyed the strong female role, back then it was sort of un-heard of so the other characters were shocked and looked down on her like she was helpless when in the end she kicks ass. Mattie has "true grit".

Yes, sometimes Mattie was out-spoken for a young girl, but some things shouldn't be ignored and I applaud her for taking control of the situation. I feel like I connected with Mattie, I used to find her somewhat annoying in the beginning because she was so whiny, but what she had to say was important and she shouldn't be just seen as just a girl. I would always speak up if I felt things weren't fair or right, I would be the one that took charge and didn't take crap from anyone; that's what Mattie did. She wasn't going to sit around and sob, she was out to get revenge for her father's murder and see it till the end.

Pride and Prejudice - Original

Man oh man do I love this story. I had watched the 2005 Keira Knightley film a couple years ago, but had never read the book. First of all I hated reading up until my junior year of college, conveniently enough this is my second semester of loving books. So as a new- reader I had expectations for an old long book. Would it be like the movie? Would I imagine the characters faces from the film? Would the ending be different? Would I like it more than the movie? These questions were things I wanted to answer for myself as I took on the challenge of reading the biggest book I've ever read cover to cover. (seriously sad to say I haven't read many books in my life, but finding a new found interest at the age of 21 isn't so bad, least I'm trying again.)

Now this review is more for those who HAVE read the book, so I won't really go over the plot. It's a classic love story, but more so a one that started it all. There's the main lovers that almost have that fairytale feel, Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth. There's also Whickham and Lydia, the not so fortunate lovers. This story makes it so anyone can relate to any of the characters. These people FEEL real, their personalities FEEl real and so you want to be involved and invested in the lives of these characters. When things don't work out for one of the lovers you go "nooo!!" because you feel passionate as they do. I don't think I've ever enjoyed a love story (book or movie) like i've enjoyed Pride and Prejudice". It's simply a wild roller coaster of feelings. Jan Austen is indeed one of the worlds classic authors and deserves that position because a lot of writers fail at character connection. Those who succeed at making believable characters go on to be classic authors. People don't want to just read a story, people want to feel something. If a book can make you cry, well then it's a damn good book. The connections in this story besides the connections with the readers are those within the book, character to character. The sisterhood is the ideal sisterhood every sibling of a sister would want. Yes, my sister and I fight, but as an older sister, when my sister falls ill i would ride on horse back to go to be by her side. It's just what we do. I connect with Elizabeth a lot, never looking for a relationship, but then finding one. Even seeing my younger sister do so well (but then not so much after all, she's a lot like Lydia). You could say that the best thing about this incredible story is the connections and how Jane Austen can read people.

My Origins / Influences

I have always been a person that forms an open mind, a diverse understanding of cultures and opinions. My name, Alexandria, is a common name; however, my father specifically chose it to be based on the city of Alexandria. Ancient architecture, knowledge, and a collection of the world's history interest my father due to his personal interest in history and art. I was raised catholic, but have slowly come to form my own personal opinion about our world, our universe, and believing in science over religious beliefs, but at the same time accepting that not everyone will have the same views. With this understanding of personal opinions comes respect and a connection with others. I have traveled around the world making friends who come from wealth or those who come from poverty, or even those who have made it from the bottom to the top and even vise versa. A human is a human, and love is love.

 I was strongly influenced by my open minded parents, by the places I have visited and the people that I have lost. Being influenced by art and culture, trying to improve upon myself and not be blinded by social media. I come from from a home that was religious, but did not attend church and my parents did not force me to believe what they did. My parents views were guidelines for my own; my set of "rules" are that being offended refers to my personal experiences being attacked, but I am not the type to be offended by others. I am, on the other hand, not content when someone else's life is strongly negatively affected by another. If you're idea of a good time is to obstruct someone's personal happiness then it is not just. My ideals or my rules and personal beliefs may be different than some, but that is why they belong to me. I believe there is not one god or many or even a single
 controlling deity. I believe we are organisms just here to live and then die. I am blind to race and gender, there are physical differences, but that does not effect how I treat someone. I believe everyone has the right to marry another willing partner. Two men or two women, a Transgender, or even those who are polyamorous are allowed to live the life they wish to live. Abortion is acceptable, no one should be forced to give birth.

What are my labels? Labels meaning what categories I belong to. I am a pansexual female illustrator/Art student. I am categorized as white, American, in my 20's, agnostic, and currently in a two year + relationship. What you read on this blog should only be taken as a personal opinion or critique about a piece of literature, this is a discussion and nothing should be taken to heart. So far, this is for a class, but maybe I'll take it further depending on how it goes.