Sunday, September 21, 2008

Song that fits a character

I chose the song "How I Could Just Kill a Man" by Rage Against the Machine to describe Eva, specifically when she decides to kill her favorite son Plum. It is very difficult for the audience to grasp how Eva could kill her child, just as a lyric from the song states: "Here is something you can't understand, how I could just kill a man!" Also, the manner in which she kills her son (burning him to death) is very violent and seems like a brutal way to kill someone, especially since the reason she does it (supposedly) is based on love, to put him out of her misery. The song is also very violent sounding, so I feel as though the song fits very well.

Rage Against the Machine - "How I Could Just Kill a Man"

Sunday, September 7, 2008

Streetcar Named Desire

I believe that Vivien Leigh does the better job of portraying Blanche in the 50's version of the video. First of all, she seems like an overall better actor. Her acting got me far more interested in what I was watching than the 1995 version did. Second, and most importantly, it seemed to me that she really captured Blanche's personality, with her descent to eventual madness and her flirtatious ways. In the beginning of the video, it is evident that she is trying to make Stanley jealous, even though she has no logical reason to draw the interest of such a dangerous and angry man. Of course, as soon as Stanley starts to become aggressive Blanche becomes very timid and has the expected reaction of a woman in fear.

Leigh also does the best job of acting out the quote by Tennessee Williams, "I have found it easier to identify with the characters who verge upon hysteria, who were frightened of life, who were desperate to reach out to another person. But these seemingly fragile people are the strong people really." It is quite clear in the 50's version that Blanch is on the verge of "hysteria", as she completely fabricates the story of an old boyfriend asking her on a cruise of the Caribbean, and makes it very believable that she is going crazy.