Jane-fiend, film-buff fusion

tomorrow

Thu, 24 Dec 2009 03:47:57 GMT

I'm going to England.
And I have to confess I wasn't even excited about it until dinner tonight. All this time I've just been worried about all the stuff that has to get done before we go. It's all done now so I can feel free to think about what we're doing when we get there. I'm bringing a notebook so I'll probably keep track of what happens etc. I don't now the password to my Tumblr account, so if I update anywhere in the next week it shall be here.

As for you guys, don't be jealous. I'm paying dearly for these bragging rights of mine. Bahh.

I'm a little nervous for the whole getting-to-the-gate thing. Once I get to the gate it'll be fine, but the whole getting to the airport, finding long-term parking, finding and checking in, going through customs, and finally plopping down on a bench at our gate will probably stress me out more than a little.

And Grace isn't helping. Guh.

Anyways. Happy Christmas you guys. I love you all dearly :)

good morning

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 14:45:37 GMT

The snow is gently falling as it should. Last night I broke out the long underwear for bed (tmi? Sorry) and slept soundly. My dog also slept with me, and at one point I accidentally booted her off the bed (this has never happened) given she's the size of a football she was slow to recover but eventually did when I gave her a hug.

Last night I caught up with Big Bang Theory, I think its the only show I'm really interested in catching up with. I surprise myself with my lost interest in Gossip Girl and The Office.

Are you as bored reading this as I am writing it?

Apologies.

miracle of miracles!

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:24:57 GMT

My (parent’s) car passed its e-test this morning! Its very surprising given the car acts and sounds ike it was raised by tractors in the land before heat and appears to be a survivor of prehistoric sap-flinging wars.

I feel useless in the auto office, I know less than nothing about cars. I should really have given more thought to hooking up with an auto mechanic. Should but won’t. Still, if this car makes it through another winter I will be:

* surprised
* shocked
* amazed
* bewildered
* relieved
* hopeful for Fords of the future

In other, but not unrelated news, one of the most unfun things in my life currently is the fact that my car has no heat. Canadian winter + unheated car = I would rather take public transportation.

not to be spineless or anything

Fri, 18 Dec 2009 06:26:07 GMT

Which I could easily be accused of any day of the week as it turns out...

When I say that the coming of sound was a detriment to cinema, I am being unfair. I maintain that the 1930s, the early 30s at least were a bad time for American cinema because sound equipment and technology was so undeveloped that it was just plain cumbersome and all the cool stuff that they had been developing in cinema for the 20 or so preceding years was either put on hold or just plain impossible to accomplish at the same time as sound. Have you guys all seen Singin' in the Rain? That's not to say there aren't some interesting things about this time period, I mean, its such a weird transition. I mean there's like guide books about how to write dialogue (there are how-to books for writing screenplays today, but differently, the books I'm talking about are actually like, where to put dialogue in...apparently nobody read these books though, as they tend to just put dialogue in everywhere and stop letting the films speak for themselves). But its unfair to call it a detriment because it was a transitional period and all transitions tend to be rocky. I mean, its not like they "invented" sound and suddenly were able to do all the things we can do in film today with sound, of course not.

Most of the time I wish that these early sound technicians (I'll call them scientists because it makes me feel ever-so-slightly better about getting a degree in film) had taken the time to develop the technology before imposing it upon the industry. They didn't impose it - sure- a lot of the studios snapped it up like cocaine, and I guess in a way that's the best way for something to develop. Gotta give props to MGM (although in general I am bitter towards them) for being one of the last studios to use sound (they thought it was a fad, lol). If the "scientists" had just worked on it for five years longer before using the technology in a feature film we would have had a real "golden" era of film. The visual technology, the sophistication of the silent films really picked up in the 20's and by 1930 (a year or two after the sound wave began) had been completely drained of steam. We were then returned to static camera shots like the early film d'arts (filmed plays) as the stage song'n'dance musical took Hollywood by storm (after all, if we're going to use sound, might as well take full advantage, no? use it to its full potential?) A lot of the camera work (let's call it kammerspiel to be cool like that) was no longer viable and as a result, a lot of the cinema of the 1930s is visually boring.

But when I say that I wish sound hadn't come along until the 80s I am now reminded of all the great dialogue in films from the 40s, you know, the rapid-fire, pause-rewind-and-what-did-he-just-say? films of which Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant were masters. But I think that might be exception. What other kind of film depends upon dialogue like those? I would love to see a silent Star Wars.

Eventually things picked up, sure, but I mourn the loss of the great silent period more than anything. I just feel like if sound hadn't come WHEN it did, Hollywood could have contined to grow a lot more in the silent era than it did, it was simply halted with sound technology.

I feel like I've lost my point. It's too late and its been too long of a day. But here is a starting point.

WHY IS NOTHING EASY?!

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 18:53:05 GMT

The last two days have been testing my patience.

Yesterday Mum and I went shopping in NOTL and it was cold and windy and ill-suited for the activity. But we went anyway. We visited my favourite shop but the shopkeeper wasn't there, for the first time ever, because it turned out his father had died the day before so he wasn't there. We left our Christmas gift and card for him but it was a bummer. So close to Christmas.

Little Sis and I did our Christmas shopping yesterday evening for everyone. First stop was Book Depot (London Sis wanted a Raw cookbook, they had none) we left empty handed. Next we went to the Pen to look for everything else, also less-than-successful. At least nothing went wrong on our shift at work, and then we got home and parents had prepared a lovely supper for us and we watched TV.

Today I went to see if I could scrounge up the things that Little Sis and I had failed to get yesterday. The bank had a hold on one of my accounts so I went to see what the hell that was all about (cleared it up, got some money and some apologies). Discovered that the Wii game that I had shopped for (aka, called around stores asking about) I had even found a used copy which was 15$ cheaper! But its a good thing I thought to ask about regional codes because it turns out they apply to Wii games as well as DVDs. Grr.

So, I was going to drive to the mall and see if I could find a movie or something, maybe find the slippers they had asked for, or the exacto knife, when lo and behold, I got pulled over by the cops for the first time in my life. Fuuuudge. Something arbitrary concerning sticker dates or something. They cop was super nice and didn't bust me for the three other issues he could have (eeps! when I "grow up" I'm definitely living in a city so I don't have to own a car). Feeling super dispirited with my expensive ticket that I don't have the money to pay for I decided to screw the other things on my list and go home and make some Tension Tamer tea.

I also forewent the memory card for my camera. I'm pretty sure I have two cards around here somewhere, maybe I can convince my Dad to empty them somehow with his remarkable computer skills that he didn't pass onto me.

OH! And I woke up this morning (I finally managed to sleep in a bit later - 9:45) to bad news from my family that Little Sis broke one of her most prized possessions this morning before school. I'm surprised that I slept through it because she was apparently in hysterics. Mum dramatically explained that "she broke it in half" whereas Dad was more precise, "she broke it at the neck." Where as Little Sis, the only one who really knows about cellos wasn't around to tell me what happened exactly. Poor girl.

I wish Brock U had been a dear and got my tuition money that I had overpaid them back to me before the break (they have yet to sort it out, f-ing beasties) because I'm feeling mighty penniless at the moment. In fact worse than penniless. I am inadvertently paying for both Little Sis and I's trip next week (which is close to $1G each) and she will pay it all back. As of now she's paid about 1/5 of it back to me. Mum and Dad have also contributed about 1/4, but I'm still feeling a definitely sting in the bank account department.

So, am I still excited to go? Hells yes of course. But its not all easy or fun and games.
I'm also bummed that I won't see most of you this Christmas :(

I have my last exam today.

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 15:19:01 GMT

Ack, I have lots more to say but I really have to study instead.
And tonight, when I have time to sit down and write it it will turn out that I didn't have that much to say after all.

what better time to update my LJ

Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:50:19 GMT

than when I have tons of studying to do? Word. Procrastination (life is your creation).

So this week has been a little bit off because I'm not in school and I'm missing some people from school. At the beginning of the week I was able to distract myself by going to St. Mary's but now I've just been going through my school notes for studying, and there are points in my notes where I quote people at school. Grr. Long story....

Also yesterday Esther sent me and Gracie her itinerary for our trip and it has me UBER EXCITED! How can I possibly study?! Could I post the itinerary or would you guys resent it? I'm getting so much resentment from so many people about this trip...I've just stopped telling people I'm going.

Which is too bad, because I'm super excited.

Just can't figure out to get Daniel for Christmas (yes, yet ANOTHER Dan). What do you get for a British emo guy who used to be in a band, is vegan gluten-free, super skinny, works at Lush and who your sister moved halfway across the world to be with??? Please comment with helpful answers.

kk, back to studying popular cinema,
xoxox,
Janessa

I had some pretty stellar news

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 04:51:28 GMT

But then some bittersweet news got attached to it today.

Now its become a long story.

And I don't feel like telling it just now. The internet connection is spotty in St. Mary's. Which is where I am, by the way. Sorry. Wish I was home and could chat properly.

xo
Janessa

I would say a missed opportunity is worse because...

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:34:57 GMT

You spend the time thereafter kicking yourself for not taking the opportunity.

If you had no opportunity in the first place, you wouldn't be to blame for not taking it.

missed opportunity or no opportunity?

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 22:04:23 GMT

I put the question forth to a few of you yesterday and was surprised that you came up with different answers.

Now I want your answers and your reasons.

@ leanne

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:30:20 GMT

Post something, dammit!

I suck.

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 22:36:29 GMT

My confidence in my scholarly ability has taken a serious dive this week since getting seminar grades. I'm way worse off than I thought, I had better check out how much participation is worth. Damn.

LJ is coming back!

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:01:43 GMT

You guys rawk.

24.5 days............................

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 16:40:47 GMT

working out an argument for my final paper

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 14:48:05 GMT

There is, in contemporary popular cinema discourses, the argument that narrative in Blockbuster films is being subverted to spectacle in recent years and that this is problematic for the development of film. I would argue that it is the spectacle which has always been the champion of film and that, like early film theorists, we should always view narrative in terms of what it does to sustain the spectacle, rather than vice versa. It is my contention therefore that, using the terms of the early film theorists, we should return to a method of analyzing film in the context of spectacle (and opportunity for spectacle) being the primary reason for cinema itself.

If you'll allow me to speak in broad terms, I would suggest that there are currently two schools in popular cinema, "smart cinema" and "dumb cinema," or, for the purposes of my argument, narrative cinema and spectacle cinema...

Now if I can argue this, it'll be a good paper.

I feel like I probably should have posted something

Sat, 28 Nov 2009 06:03:56 GMT

when it was fresh in my mind. Because now it isn't and I'm afraid it is lost.

oh yeah, in more news,

Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:45:23 GMT

I got my plane tickets in the (e)mail yesterday!!!

why don't I post on the weekends?

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 21:22:02 GMT

Because nothing happens on the weekends.

Also, I do post a lot more but privately. Besides...who reads this thing anyway?

(Laura, I know you do....................)

-Janessa

ps. why does nobody else post anything?

(Laura, I know you do...................)

I got a letter today, yay!

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:36:24 GMT

But it was still a mostly depressing day.

Excerpt from my journal today:

"I want a way to win. I'll never win. I'm aware."

Fudge.

xo
Janessa

Scientific Progress Goes Boink

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:07:57 GMT

My plan didn't work out as I had planned today. Sigh.

Also though, I sat a row nearer in lecture this morning, with my new friend (or someone who I am determined to become friends with in the next weekish) but it was actually a poorer seat. Its quite interesting, there being only four rows, how vastly different each row is from the next. For example, my regular seat just one row up is prime. Who knew? But being that little bit closer made me no longer on eye-level so I was getting spoken above all lecture. In my row I am being directly addressed for much of the time (helps that I sit alone in that row, direct centre, but it is lonely). I don't want my new friend to get offended that I don't sit with him again though :( I'll sort it out.

My plan wasn't fool proof, its true. But...I think I would have rather had bad effects than no effects at all. The term is drawing to a close! Something MUST happen!

sneak attack!

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:29:39 GMT

I've had a piece of toast for breakfast, Laura, satisfied?

Also I'm looking cuter than I normally do for school, which is a contingent of today's experiment that I had not planned for, as I never look especially cute for school (because I sleep until the very last minute).

Sneak attack!

also I learned today,

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:58:52 GMT

that you guys read this more than I assumed you did.

Thanks for commenting.

its nice to have a reason to want to go to school

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:54:11 GMT

Its also nice to have a reason to want to do well.

read = comment

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:00:41 GMT

I've decided from now on, if I read your post I will comment on it no matter what. Even if its just like 'hey' or whatever (it won't be, we all know I like to see myself type) and I would ask that you do the same. After all, I wouldn't put it up here for you to read if I didn't want you to read it...and usually I want to know what you think.

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 05:09:35 GMT

Today again my professor questioned my seating choice as a form of greeting, "You're sitting there?" Its becoming common.

Today was ridiculous though, after all, it was in the small class that I have with him, where the lecture hall only has 4 tiers of desks. I happened to sit in the second to last one today where some of my mates sit, instead of the second to the front where apparently I'd been sitting more often.

As he set himself up at the front I quietly moved my stuff down a row to sit in the centre of the room. Who am I to disappoint? Maybe on Friday I'll one-up and sit in the front row.

"You'll sit there?"

But enough about me, I want to hear about YOUR Wednesdays. ;)