Trapped in a Small Town

 

Homework:

1.              How is Inglourious Basterds a movie about revenge?

2.              How has the director changed history in Inglorious Basterds?

 

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I didn’t put up a homework assignment last week. I will do that tonight.

I did say everyone can have 20%/20% on the homework part.

Some ideas about What’s Eating Gilbert Grape.

It takes place in Iowa in a small town. Iowa only has one city: Des Moines 212,000 population.

1.              Xenophobia: fear of outsiders or strangers. Arnie gets excited though when he sees the campers.

2.              Socio-economic disparity. People in big cities have more money than people in small towns. Most people in small towns never get the chance to go to university. They will feel bitter because they feel they can’t get away or escape.

3.              Mentally disabled brother.

4.              The director is a foreigner. Swedish. Foreigners or first generation (your parents are foreigners) tend to make the greatest directors. Why? Because they grow up knowing they are different and constantly thinking identity. This is called existentialism, or the meaning of life.

5.              Their father killed himself in the basement. That is why Arnie is afraid of it.

6.              This was a theme in American Beauty. Adultery. Sleeping with someone besides your husband or wife. Why do they do it? Does it has something to do with the hopelessness and boredom of life in that small town? Existentialism. Why are we here and what is the meaning of life? It is a common idea in literature, film and art.

7.              He was trapped in the small town. He can’t escape. Is she trapped in the marriage? Is that what she feels?

Twist of fate is a surprise ending – a conclusion to a novel or movie we did not expect. Why do we care? We are watching a movie about history. So, if we know our history, we already know what is going to happen in the end. The director Polanski said music should not match the scene or guide the viewers emotions because then the viewer does NOT have to think. He/she can space out.

 

What’s Eating Gilbert Grape

Pun: when the title of a book or movie / play has two meanings. Shakespeare loved puns

Gilbert’s surname is Grape or food. We eat grapes. What’s eating you? Means what is bothering you.

Red in literature symbolizes blood and foreshadows death. What is that genre?

Tragedy.

Jealousy is a green eyed monster.

Green symbolizes jealousy.

What fairy tale is going on here?

Foot fetish.

He is afraid he will go on trial after the war and go to jail. Usually, the top guys committed suicide (killed themselves). Some escaped but were later caught by Jewish special agents. This guy is worried this will happen to him.

Catch and release is more of an idea in writing music. The music goes from very loud and even annoying to beautiful and relaxing. John Coltrane’s These Are some of my Favorite Things or Nirvana’s Aneurysm.