Posted by
Gayle Plato-Besley, M. Ed. on Saturday, July 05, 2008 5:43:43 PM
By Gayle Plato-Besley, M. Ed.
While discussing totally irrelevant things, over a cup of overpriced Starbucks, a few friends came together, debating a quintessential friend dilemma. No political railing or rants, just the polarized chatter about our pick of "The Best...”. Doesn't every good friendship or relationship of any matter boil down to this conversation of favorite literature, film, music-- even pizza topping? You gotta do it sometime and face the plank walk of personal tests to see if you are seeing eye-to-eye.
Cultural tastes also group us into demographic ploppings of people. Our friends quote a line from Caddyshack, or The Godfather, and we can finish it together. Ahh-- it's a brotherhood. Love grows from moments as such, and good times become frightenly nostalgic. But then, what is better than realizing you belong, and those people over there are weird! So much for teaching of tolerance and singing Kumbaya; this is the happy hour of our life and today either tastes great or is less filling.
In the scope of political correctness comes the reality check that we are not supposed to tolerate everyone or everything. We do not think alike and even our closest friends line up either with us or against us. I talked about deep things of religion and values before, but it's the personal tastes that REALLY matter :-)
Mockery? Maybe. But there is a real need to bond based on personal valuations. It's who we are and how we find out who is going to be there for us. It is how we play nicely with others. If we keep denying that factions happen, we truly begin to think that there is only one right way. Diversity is rooted in the reality check that differences are only recognizable as a result of cultural bias and personal judgment. We are free to choose for ourselves.
As a certified teacher and counselor, with many clock hours from oodles of vapid workshops about equality, self-efficacy, social platitudes, moral edification, and homogenization of all learning, I can tell you that we are all one mission statement and action plan away from a major cheese moving reality: NO ONE will have an opinion about anything without obtaining tolerance screening.
But enough of all of that: back to the lists. I polarized with friends over a few favorites and I throw down the gauntlet for you. It's a strong man or woman though who stands up and defends one's LIST. Get ready as the debate will be fierce!!!
Favorites of My Modern Culture
Note: My picks are top five in each, but no real order as they change. I could add ten more to each and that is why the debate is so fun. These are a few choices that made an impression, I revisit regularly, or evoke feelings such that I cannot deny the formative quality of each for me. For this debate I had with friends, it wasn't about the best piece of work in terms of society, but the best in terms of individual influence. I see a trend too as the sense of a free spirit is so relevant for me I guess :-)
Film
(With links about each)
The Last of the Mohicans (1992)
Why- Love the story and better than the book--rare thing- great visually and the characters know who and what they are. The tragedy yet honesty of the love that ignites during a war, and the reality that all of the players have valid reasons from each perspective. This movie is based on James Fennimore Cooper's original book, but also on another screenplay of the book, filmed in the 1930's. The movie takes license with the book, and the book takes license with history, but all try and highlight the difficulties of poor Colonials and Native Americans in pre-revolutionary times. I LOVE the soundtrack as much as the movie and should have Clannad's haunting love theme from the film on my favorite songs list.
I was shocked when I lived on the Navajo reservation within the year of this movie's release and Russell Means lived there with his wife at the time. I walked in to the elementary school in town, his wife was a district administrator, and he was just leaning on a pole by the office. I was thrown to see Chingachgook there, and was able to say hello.
The Year of Living Dangerously (1982)
Out of Africa (1985)
Why- I say this is my smart chick flick men like too. It's Sidney Pollack, it's beautiful, and based on the real life of Karen Blitzen. Much of the screenplay is based on the biographic material in Letters from Africa, 1914-1931 by Isak Dinesen ( Karen's pen name). Of all women, I get the character of Karen, feeling a kindred spirit of sorts. I also blame this movie for making me think my counseling internship would be an adventure, and a year on the remote corners of Navajo Reservation might be romantic! That's another story from another time... Should I even mention that I have this soundtrack too?
http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/36787/Out-of-Africa/overview
Rebecca (1940)
Why- Alfred Hitchcock directing: starring Lawrence Olivier, Joan Fontaine, and it's classic psychological thrills at it's best. Judith Anderson as Mrs. Danvers is truly witchy. Once again, the heroine is an unusual character-- we never know her name and Rebecca is never seen either... As I write about it, I want to go dig up the video!!!
Blade Runner (1982)
Why- I heard somewhere about how much difficulty Ridley Scott had with this film; t was not expected to do well. Now it's a cult classic. I remember my friends all going to see it as high school seniors. One cut his hair and like dressed like Harrison Ford-- Anthony wearing earth tones!! Once again, the pathos of love set against turmoil and change... is this a theme here? It's based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick, and this movie really hit home the beginnings of technological advance juxtapositioned with moral decay. Hmm... maybe prophetic too. Oh, yep, I've the soundtrack here too.. Vangelis again.
http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/5994/Blade-Runner/overview
Song
My Whys: Every song moves me, and feels like a memory or a cherished treasure. I've always 'hidden out' in music as it seems the purest language and form of communication. It's SO HARD to name just five as the list could be a mile long!
In Your Eyes
PeterGabriel
New Year’s Day
U2
Kiss From a Rose
Seal
More Than This
Roxy Music
Burn For You
INXS
Book
The Snow Goose
by Paul Gallico
Why: Like most books here, this one was from my childhood or teen years. I find of the many books I've read over the years, only a few moved me deeply, or changed my consciousness forever. This is a moving tale of, hey once again, a love but more of an allegorical tale, set against the backdrop of war. This story always brings tears.
Stranger in a Strange Land
by Robert A. Heinlein
Why: I love science fiction and found the character of this Martian learning his place, and trying to "grock" it all touching.
The Grapes of Wrath
by John Steinbeck
Why: Do I really need to explain this one? I can say, as a history teacher, I love to share this book with teens as it is gripping at every level, written flawlessly, and is palpable fiction.
by Aldous Huxley
Why: It's hard to believe this book is from 1932 as it's commentary of life is just as relevant today. While it's a piece of science fiction, it too offers prophetic looks at future events-- some now coming true. I read this in high school and found I was walking around the halls thinking about it like a haunting dream.
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
by Richard Bach
Why: I was in fifth or sixth grade and my mom had read the book, recommending it. I felt so connected and moved by this strange tale. I remember getting up in front of my English class, giving and oral book report. The teacher truly seemed moved by my feeling conveyed. She said I would be a great teacher. I wish I could remember her name and thank her for that kind statement as it changed my life.
TV SHOWS
Twilight Zone
Why: Do I really need to explain this one either? Maybe you caught the marathon this weekend, but if not, the shows were so well written-- many by the great and unique Rod Serling, I mean--- no one can copy that opening schtick either.
Why: It is the best show currently on television--period. Groundbreaking cinematography, with scifi shot like a documentary. The Cylons are beyond great with the Hybrid like the Oracle of Delphi. I am going to need therapy when it all finally ends... if they ever get to the second set of this final season! OH AND FOR FANS-- I predict LEE ADAMA as the final Cylon!
The Waltons
http://www.southparkstudios.com/
Why: I know, it doesn't fit. But it secretly does! I find I agree with these guys too much and I love how awful it is. This is not for kids and that is important to get. It's satire to the nth degree with truly vile, horrid, disgusting banality. What can I say,while a middle-aged, conservative mom literally driving to soccer by day. I become, well mentally I guess, a South Park Conservative with the potty humor of an upper adolescent idiot man-child. Really, I am embarrassed to admit it, but I must defend my LIST at all costs. South Park: I don't like it...I LOVE IT!
The Friendly Giant
Why: This was a popular children's show piped in to Detroit from Canadian TV. It was sweet, fascinating to me, and the simple rituals kids need so much, I miss it !!!