# 1 Sophomore journal---Your Favorite Work of Art (post before Sept. 7)
Tell me what you consider to be your favorite work of art. Please don't limit your definition of art to the "fine" arts, like painting. Please feel free to include the "pop" arts, like music, film, cartoons, or television.
You might want to use this post as a "warm up" or pre-writing to the final essay that is due Friday, September 14. However, you may choose to write about something else for the final essay, too.
Complete this blog/journal response before Friday, September 7, so I can post all of your classmates responses for you to read.
Remember, I recommend that you first write your response in a Word document, save it, and then copy and paste it as a comment at Schoolsville. Eventually, I will collect all of your "blog/journal" responses at the end of each marking period as a graded assignment.
Be more succinct here than you will be in your essay--write a MINIMUM of 200 words (your essay should be 3-4 typed pages).
At Schoolsville, you probably want to respond to these questions:
1. What is your favorite work of art?
2. Give a brief description or overview.
3. Why is it your favorite work? Does it make you "think" (appeal to your intellect) or "feel" (appeal to your emotions)? A little of both, perhaps? Briefly explain and be specific.
To get an idea of how to respond properly to this blog, you may check out the archives for September 2011 and read some of the 50-some responses made by last year's sophomores to this blog entry.
The image that you're viewing is of Jamie Wyeth's Portrait of a Pig (currently on display at the Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, PA), one of my personal favorite "works of art."
posted by JTF @ 9:26 PM
47 comments
47 Comments:
My favorite work of art is a hip/hop song called “The Ill Mind of Hopsin 5.” Hopsin is an artist who rhymes about people growing up and the choices they have to make to be successful in this life. In this particular song he talks about how people expect things to magically fall into their lap instead of them actually working towards their goals and eventually achieving them. He also speaks about how kids are dropping out of school because they don’t want the responsibility of trying hard in their studies. His main topic, however, is that people do not have true relationships. They’re blinded by society’s idea of fun and a good time (drugs, alcohol, partying etc.) when in reality it is enjoying the very company of people you care about. He covers almost everything in this song including; drugs, school, girls, relationships. He questions why girls always expect “Romeo” to be somewhere just waiting for her to stumble upon him. They don’t work hard in anything they do and expect to be treated like a princess from a movie, he opened my eyes the first time I heard it. This work of art hits me right in the face every time I hear it because of how true every line is to me. Even if you don’t enjoy the rap genre everyone should at least read the lyrics and let them fill your head.
As The Doctor drifts through the time vortex and lands on an odd planet a billion years in the future, my eyes open wide in awe. My favorite work of art is the TV show, Doctor Who. This TV series is about a mysterious 900-year-old man named “The Doctor.” The Doctor is a Time Lord from a far-away planet known as Gallifrey. He travels through time in his spaceship with his companion and alters the course of time for the good of humanity. This show is my favorite work of art because the imagination that is put into it. The writers of Doctor Who semi-accurately predict the future in a way that truly gets your mind going. The planets in the show that are a million light-years away from Earth are imagined by someone with an amazingly brilliant mind. My own mind would never be able to fabricate an ever-expanding universe with unknown species and planets like the writers of Doctor Who can. Even the character development is amazing. Unlike the majority of other television shows, I actually feel attached to the characters. Every character is perfectly casted and has a very unique personality that makes me feel like I’m a very close friend of him or her. Whenever an actor leaves the show, I’m literally devastated to see that person go. Overall Doctor Who is an amazing work of art because of the imagination that goes into it, the way it makes you consider all possibilities, and makes you feel connected to the characters.
My favorite work of art is the television show LOST. LOST is a show in which survivors of the crash of Oceanic flight 815 find themselves stranded on what they think to be a deserted island somewhere in the south pacific. However, the 40-some survivors quickly realize that the Island is nowhere near uninhabited. They soon discover polar bears living on the island and a mysterious smoke monster that destroys everything in its path. At the same time on the other side of the island, the passengers from the tail section of the plane that broke apart in mid-air are having disputes with the Island`s original inhabitants, The Others. I chose LOST as my favorite work of art because it made me think. The unanswered questions that would arise every episode would be replaced by even more mysteries about this fantastic Island. I also enjoyed LOST because I felt for the characters, who over the course of the show, I grew to know and love. While any show can have dramatic cliffhangers and complex mysteries, it was the perfectly cast actors playing characters with just the right personalities that set LOST apart from all the other shows of the time.
Music has been a huge part of my life since I was young, and I have always appreciated how magical it is that music can provide the listener with such strong emotions simply by combining different sounds. One of my all-time favorite songs and favorite work of art is “Some Nights” by Fun. The heavy beats of the bass and harmonizing of the singers give me chills every time I listen to it. It is a perfect example of raw emotion poured into a song by the artist. The music alone conveys so much energy and life, but the words are even more relatable and I can see my own thoughts echoed in the lyrics. “Some nights I stay up, cashing in my bad luck,” Nate Ruess (lead singer of Fun) screams with that pure emotion into the microphone. “Some nights I call it a draw.” These lyrics are describing how sometimes one can feel like they are at their lowest point in their life, or they can feel as if they are on top of the world. It is absolutely one of the most inspiring songs I have ever heard, and I always find myself thinking back to the words of this song whenever I need an optimistic view of my life. It is a reminder to keep looking forward, and know that after all hard times there is a good outcome. “Some Nights” will always be one of my favorite works of art because of the incredible inspiration and emotion it provides for its listeners.
My favorite work of art isn’t a painting or a TV show, it’s music. Not just one song or band, but the genres of metal and rock music. When people think of metal music, some people think that the entire genre is just people screaming; and that is hardly the case. The metal I listen to barely has any screaming, and the music, lyrics, and the whole flow of the songs just sound really good to me. Some of my favorite metal bands are Avenged Sevenfold, Bullet For My Valentine, All That Remains (who are the kind of metal band that usually screams a lot), and Via, a local band in Delaware that my friend knows personally. Not only do I like metal, but I also like some rock music. My favorite rock band is called Sabaton; they’re a band from Sweden that makes songs about war and famous battles during the many different wars. I like how Sabaton’s music sounds, and I like how most of their songs are about war, which I enjoy reading and learning about. The reason I like metal and rock music is because the sheer fact that I think the music sounds awesome. When you listen to the music, everything is in sync; the guitars and drums are all synced with the lyrics and the final product sounds amazing. I listen to metal and rock all the time, during homework, while drawing, I even fall asleep to metal and rock sometimes. When I listen to metal and rock, I just can’t help tapping my foot or starting to drum along to the song on my fingers. Metal and rock music aren’t just people screaming, it’s two genres of music that sound amazing.
I would consider the film of the Titanic to be one of my favorite works of art. I could watch it over and over again not only because the suspense of the story, but because it incorporated many lessons that we can still relate to today. It is considered to be one of the greatest love stories of all time, yet still captures the devastation of a deadly accident. In the movie, Rose Dewitt and Jack Dawson are both passengers aboard the thought to be “unsinkable” ship that is headed to New York. Rose, traveling in first class, falls madly in love with Jack, who is traveling under the most basic living conditions. The relationship that develops between them demonstrates the power of love to transcend many things, and in this case it is social class and status.
On April 14th, 1912, tragedy strikes when the ship hits an iceberg and creates chaos among the passengers. Rose and Jack do everything they possibly can to find and save each other. Sadly, Jack can only save Rose but not himself. Every time I watch this film, I always find myself thinking about how devastation can strike at any moment and how it can change the lives of people forever. Most of the passengers among the Titanic took all the luxuries they had for granted, not thinking that the unexpected would happen. Also, the will to survive can save the people you love, just as Jack’s pure and genuine love for Rose saved her life. This extraordinary work of art is not only a remake of one of the biggest tragedies in history, but has and always will make me realize the beauty a life and how we are each destined for our own fate.
My favorite work of art is a film which I have watched countless times. The movie is entitled Moneyball. Moneyball is without a doubt my favorite baseball movie of all time. It tells the story of a Major League Baseball team, the Oakland Athletics, that won 102 games in 2001 to earn a playoff spot only to be knocked out in the final game of the American League Divisional Series against the New York Yankees. In the offseason following this magical 102 win season, the Athletics lost their two best players, Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon. They were a small market team with little money and little hope at success in 2002; however, the Athletics’ general manager, Billy Beane, challenged the system and rebuilt a team of cheap, undervalued players with the help of his Yale-educated assistant who used sabermetrics to determine what players would give this team the best shot at success. This is my favorite work of art because even after getting off to a rough start in 2002 and dealing with harsh criticism from their fans and the media, the Athletics overcame adversity and went on an unbelievable run to end the season in first place in their division. They persevered and did what no one thought they were capable of doing. Billy Beane and his assistant, Paul DePodesta, challenged the system and forever changed the way the game of baseball is played. This movie got me thinking about how it could be possible for someone to put together a first place baseball team on a limited budget using players that other teams didn’t want. Paul DePodesta somehow could see value in players that no one else could see and these players ended up leading this team to success. This movie also made me feel a great deal of admiration. At the end of the movie, the Boston Red Sox offered Billy Beane $12,500,000 to become their new general manager, but he turned them down. He took less money to stay with the Oakland Athletics because he felt it was the right thing to do. That scene made me feel great respect towards Billy Beane for staying with the team that he rebuilt and led to success. Even if you don’t know a great deal about baseball, I truly believe any person would enjoy this movie.
I don’t have a favorite work of art as much as I have a favorite artist: Frank Lloyd Wright. He was an architect that designed buildings and houses during the late 1800s to the early 1900s. Some of his more famous projects are Fallingwater in Mill Run, Pennsylvania, Robie House in Chicago, Illinois, and many houses in Oak Park, right near his home. He was a very innovative man and his designs were very modern for his time. Fallingwater for example is very geometric in design but also natural with the incorporation of the waterfall and river. His Lake House also uses geometric designs with the incorporation of the natural cliff that the house is built into. His designs make me want to live in these houses they’re so cool. The amount of effort and work that went into these houses is astonishing. Its mind blowing to think that someone could have thought this up in their head. Overall I think Frank Lloyd Wright is an amazing artist and that all of his works are outstanding.
My favorite work of art is the ballet The Nutcracker composed by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikosvsky. This ballet is my favorite because it is also one of my favorite stories as well. It is set on Christmas Eve in the mid 1800s. Clara, the main character, and her brother Fritz are waiting anxiously for night to come because their parents are hosting a party in which all of their friends will be attending. As the party is starting Clara’s godfather, Drosselmyer, enters the scene and he brings with him his handsome assistant and collection of magical toys, including a special gift for Clara. The party continues and Clara is presented her gift, which is a nutcracker! Fritz feels jealous and excluded, as he did not receive a present. Fritz takes Clara’s gift and breaks it in front of the guests. Magical Drosselmyer fixes the toy and the guests begin to leave.
That night, Clara notices that her toy has been fixed and falls asleep with her precious nutcracker in the living room. Clara has an extraordinary dream that takes her through a battle with mice in which her nutcracker comes to life and turns into a prince! After Clara and her prince win the battle, the prince takes Clara to a winter wonderland where snowflakes dance around them and they are escorted to the Princes castle in the Land of Sweets. The treats perform dances for Clara and the Prince. Clara awakens with her nutcracker and Drosselmyer by her side and she realizes it was only just a dream.
For the past nine years I have been apart of my dance company’s production of The Nutcracker. I have danced many ballets and ballet pieces, and The Nutcracker has become my favorite. It makes me feel completely in the Christmas spirit not just around the holidays but also anytime of the year. When I listen to the music, it makes me feel happy and I just want to get up and dance along with it. My favorite role that I have danced in the production is the Gingerbread Girl in the Ginger Sweets dance. It is a fun and uplifting dance that changes the mood from some of the more serious dances in the show. My favorite song is the music from the Waltz of Flowers. It is slow and sweet and ends very dramatically with big music. My favorite role that I have always dreamed of dancing is the role of Clara. Clara was my role model for a very long time and I have always wished to have the honor of dancing her part. Clara teaches us in the production to not be afraid to dream. This story and message is so simple and timeless that anyone can enjoy it, which makes it not only my favorite story, but also my favorite work of art.
My favorite work of art is the film Saving Private Ryan. When I first watched it, I could not keep my eyes off of the screen. I have watched it many times, and I would watch it all day if I was allowed to. I like it because it shows what real life troops have gone through in the past and what they still have to go through today. Three of four brothers have all died in the Ryan family. Their last surviving brother has been reported MIA somewhere in Normandy. Eight men have received orders to find the last brother in the Ryan family and return him safely. These men had no starting point on where Ryan might be. This shows how courageous and unselfish they were. Those men had to risk their own lives to find a man they have never even seen or heard about. They had to start from scratch and find someone who does not even know they existed. In the end, they finally do find Private Ryan although he is at first reluctant to leave. However, not all eight original men made it out alive at the end. The suspense, the realness, the plot, the acting, the feeling you get, and the fact that this is based on a true story make this my favorite work of art.
“Carpe diem. Seize the day. Make your lives extraordinary.” This is the first lesson the unorthodox teacher, Mr. Keating teaches his students in my favorite work of art, the movie “Dead Poets Society.” The movie is set at an all boys boarding school where tradition, honor, discipline, and excellence are the pillars of their being. Conformity is expected. Standing out and being an individual is discouraged. That's all the boys there had known until their new English teacher, Mr. Keating, taught them otherwise. The class was centered on poetry, but he didn't have his students analyze the language and determine the variations in rhyme and meter in various poems. He taught them how to discover the beauty of poetry, and how there's a poet inside of everyone if they're willing to dig deep enough. As a student, this movie speaks to me because I've always found it hard to enjoy poetry in English class when I'm always just analyzing every small detail, no matter how tiny or insignificant. For me, it takes away the real beauty of the poem if I try dissect every word. A poem is not meant to be looked at in small pieces. A poem is supposed to express a message or convey what the author was feeling when he or she wrote it. Mr. Keating taught this to his students. He even had them rip out the pages in their textbooks that explain how to “rate” a poem according to perfection, or rhyme, meter, and figures of speech, and importance. He didn't teach his students to analyze poetry. He taught them to enjoy it. Along with teaching them in class, he also connected to his students on a more personal level. The life lesson he taught them from day one was to not let their lives slip away from them but to live life to the fullest. He taught them to try to stand out and be their own person instead of conforming with the crowd. As a high school student, this, again, speaks to me because in high school, the need to be accepted is so great that we can sometimes lose sight of our true identity. We forget that we're not supposed to be the same as everyone else, or we would've been born with same fingerprints. Mr. Keating encouraged the students to be themselves, to be free thinkers, and to “walk their own walks” in a world that was telling to be like everyone else. His ideas inspire me to be who I am, which is why “Dead Poets Society” is my favorite work of art.
My favorite work of art is Paper Towns by John Green. It follows the story of Quentin Jacobsen, nicknamed Q, as he tries to find the girl who he loves, Margo Roth Spiegelman, after she runs away. Quentin has loved Margo since they were kids. The day before Margo runs away, she and Q get revenge on former friends and break into SeaWorld; that night gives Q a new on perspective on life. After Margo runs away, Q finds clues she left behind for him. As Q tries to dissect and understand the clues Margo left behind, he learns more and more about her and about people in general. This is one of my favorite works of art because it teaches such important lessons in fun and interesting way. You can see the effort John Green put into this book and how much he believes in the messages with the metaphors and ideas he subtly incorporates. I can empathize with the characters and care about them as they go on their journeys. Paper Towns taught me to imagine people with complexity and recognize that we are all connected together. To see people and try to imagine their stories their pain and break them from the one dimensional stories we give them.
In 1918, in New Orleans, a blind clockmaker named Mr. Gateau has unveiled a huge clock he has made for the train station. However, everyone in the station stares on in shock because the clock he has made ticks in reverse. Mr. Gateau explains that maybe if we could go back in time, then all the boys who were in the war, including his own dead son, could come home. And so begins one of my favorite works of art, the movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. That same year a baby boy is born with the ailments of an elderly man. His mother dies in childbirth and his father, disgusted by this ugly baby who killed his wife, almost drowns Benjamin, but ends up leaving him on the back porch of a home for elderly people. Benjamin has been born an old man, and throughout the movie, he ages in reverse. During his life, Benjamin touches so many people’s lives and they touch his, especially Daisy, the love of his life. She comes in and out of the story, but he never stops thinking of her. Finally, Daisy comes back to take care of Benjamin when he is slowly aging to a young boy. He does not remember who she is or the love they shared. It never fails to make me cry when Daisy is an old woman and she is holding Benjamin as an infant. He looks up at her with the same blue eyes and she swears he knows who she is. Then, Benjamin just closes his eyes, almost as if he were sleeping. This movie makes me believe that different people come into our lives for different reasons and some will forever change us.
My favorite work of art is ‘The Phantom of the Opera’, a haunting love story between the opera ghost of the French Opera House and a young soprano. This musical shows the struggle of a man who has a disfigured face that is concealed with a white mask that reveals only half of his face. He yearns for love and seeks it in a young opera star, Miss Christine Daae, whom he has fallen madly in love with. He uses the power of his voice and his music to haunt her dreams and draws her into his lair below the stage of the opera. But she sees the monster that is hidden by the mask and he becomes obsessed with her and tries to force and trick her into loving him back. In the beginning of the story, Christine’s childhood sweetheart, Raoul, who is a very rich supporter of the opera, comes back into her life and they rekindle their love much to the phantom’s dismay. After the phantom repeatedly terrorizes the opera house through sabotage, murder, and making the chandelier fall to the ground, plans are made to capture and kill the phantom who is much too clever to fall for any of it. He forces Christine back to his lair and tries to marry her. Raoul’s attempt to save her, he is almost hanged if she didn’t agree to spend her life with the phantom. In the end the phantom sees the error of his ways and lets the couple be free. I really enjoyed this musical because most people assume that Broadway Theater is all about happiness, smiles, and dancing, but ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ it can be serious and hauntingly beautiful. This is my favorite work of art because as soon as the overture began I was instantly mesmerized. At the end of the production, I was in such a daze that in the end, I honestly have no idea whether or not I clapped.
“It doesn’t matter if we win or lose, and it’s not even about how we play the game. What matters is that we play the game.” Regardless of the fact that I’m not a huge football fan, one of my favorite movies of all time is We Are Marshall. We Are Marshall is a movie based on a true story that took place in Huntington, West Virginia. The varsity football team, coaches, boosters, and even a few fans were all boarded on a plane on their way home from a game on November 14, 1970. The plane went down and everyone inside either died on impact or burned to death when the plane caught fire. One of the assistant coaches drove home instead; unaware of the awful fate that was awaiting his team and coworkers. One man,Jack Lengyel, in another town reads about the open position for the head football coach. He and the assistant coach rallied up a team of freshmen and three remaining varsity players who struggled through trials and tribulation, finally becoming victorious. This movie is close to my heart because my grandfather was the coach of Marshall University’s football team just two years before this fatal plane crash. By the grace of God he was fired, and alive today to tell the stories of his job at the university. This movie also helps me see that even after a tragic loss, you can grieve the pain while still doing what you love, doing it for them. It doesn’t matter if you win or lose. You tried.
Music has always been one of my favorite forms of art. Certain songs can be very inspiring and personal to listeners. The song “100 Years” by Five For Fighting is my favorite work of art because it is a song I can apply to my own life.
The song “100 Years” is about life as a whole; about growing up and the experiences that come with it. The song starts off talking about being fifteen and having your whole life ahead of you. It continues to talk about being twenty-two and in love, being thirty-three and becoming a parent, and facing troubles at age forty-five. The song also reflects on being ninety-nine and looking back on your life. This song is about how short life actually is and how we have to appreciate every minute we have. When I reflect on the lyrics of this song, I am inspired to make the most of my life and cherish each moment I spend with my family and friends.
Another reason this song is special to me is that I played it for my eighth grade piano recital. I had taken piano lessons ever since I was in kindergarten. My eighth grade recital would be my last recital after nine years of playing, and I wanted to make my last performance special. I worked hard learning to play “100 Years” and even though I do not take lessons any more, I still enjoy playing this song on the piano.
The refrain of the song states, “You’ve only got 100 years to live.” These words are inspiring to me because they help me remember to enjoy my life. This song helps me realize what is important in my life, and that I should make the most of every moment that I have.
My favorite work of art is the movie Iron Man. I like this movie because it combines a lot of action and comedy with some serious themes. The movie is about the owner of a company that manufactures weapons for the military who gets captured by a group of terrorists. This group has acquired some of his weapons and wants him to build them more. He is able to escape from captivity by designing a suit of armor that makes him very powerful. He then goes on to develop an advanced form of this armor to save lives, which his company has put in danger, from the very same terrorists. His friend, who also owns part of this company, turns against him and steals this new technology. His friend has been selling weapons to terrorists and now wants to make his own advanced armor to be invincible. In the end the main character is able to defeat his friend turned enemy. I like this movie because it has a lot of action scenes that are very exciting to watch, but also because it has tragic parts that make you want to know what happens next. Everything from the story, the futuristic technology, the realistic scenarios, and the care-free life of the main character will always make this one of my favorites.
My personal favorite work of art is the film called A Town Called Panic. A Town Called Panic is a French stop-motion animation based on a television show of the same name. The first time I watched it was when my cousin was over at my house and my dad suggested we watch one of the many obscure, foreign movies he tends to choose. Stop-motion animation has always interested me, so I agreed that we should watch it. The movie is about the adventures of three plastic figurines: a clueless cowboy named Cowboy, a Native American named Indian, and a horse named Horse. The adventures begin for these characters when Cowboy and Indian forget Horse's birthday. They try to order a last-minute gift for him, but they end up making a mistake on the order. What I like about this film is that despite being only an hour and fifteen minutes in length, it does not have a boring plot. Each event leads to another, keeping the film exciting and unpredictable, if sometimes a little confusing. One minute they are in an arctic wasteland being chased by a wooly mammoth, and another minute they are in an underwater chase scene. All of these things happening make the film seem much longer than it actually is. The music during the chase scene is a song called "Surfin' Frog" by the French band Dionysos with surreal-sounding lyrics such as "I've got a frog in my hand / Like an electric torch / I was surfin' the river / With a boat on each foot." I think this song fits A Town Called Panic because it too is surreal with strange, confusing things happening. I also found that this movie had a nice sort of moral, for the three main characters get in all of these adventures just so Horse will have a nice birthday. I have watched A Town Called Panic countless times after I first saw it. It never gets old or boring because there are so many things happening that I notice something new each time I watch it.
My favorite work of art is the movie “Moneyball”, which is based on a true story about the Oakland Athletics professional baseball team. This movie is focuses on the general manager of the Oakland A’s, Billy Beane, after they lost three of the best players in the league. He does something no one has done before, and he uses statistics to pick and choose his team. He had many doubters of his system throughout the movie, but he stuck with it. The Oakland A’s had a rough start to the season, and many had lost hope in the team. The A’s then got hot so to say, and went on a 20 game winning streak, which is the second longest in Major League Baseball history. They then went on to make the playoffs, and he changed the way the game was played. This is my favorite work of art because I love baseball, and this movie shows a true underdog team proves everyone wrong. Before I saw this movie, I never thought about playing baseball in such a way. Also, I like how they give people chances that other teams would never even bother to look at. I suggest watching this movie if you’re a true baseball fan, and you love to be entertained.
My favorite work of art is the movie “Moneyball”, which is based on a true story about the Oakland Athletics professional baseball team. This movie is focuses on the general manager of the Oakland A’s, Billy Beane, after they lost three of the best players in the league. He does something no one has done before, and he uses statistics to pick and choose his team. He had many doubters of his system throughout the movie, but he stuck with it. The Oakland A’s had a rough start to the season, and many had lost hope in the team. The A’s then got hot so to say, and went on a 20 game winning streak, which is the second longest in Major League Baseball history. They then went on to make the playoffs, and he changed the way the game was played. This is my favorite work of art because I love baseball, and this movie shows a true underdog team proves everyone wrong. Before I saw this movie, I never thought about playing baseball in such a way. Also, I like how they give people chances that other teams would never even bother to look at. I suggest watching this movie if you’re a true baseball fan, and you love to be entertained.
I can’t remember the first time I saw the movie The Sound of Music or how many times I’ve seen it since then. This is a movie based on a true story about Maria von Trapp in Austria during World War 2. Maria was in an abbey until Mother Abbess decided that Maria should spend some time away from the abbey and is sent to be a governess of the von Trapp family. Once there, she completely changes the family for the better and falls in love with Captain von Trapp and they get married. I think I fell in love with the movie when I was younger because I liked the songs and could sing along to them. As I got older, I appreciated the story more for what it was; a story about true love and even understanding that you never know what life has planned for you. Maria was convinced that she was destined to become a nun, when actually, she was destined to help the von Trapp family and become their mother. She really encourages the children to sing and express themselves and even convinces the Captain to be a little less strict. She teaches the children to express themselves through song and helps the Captain realize how much he missed music. If we listen to what Maria is saying, we will all find love and learn not to question life.
Not only is seeing giant roses that stretch 25 feet tall unusual, but seeing them in the middle of a street in a crowded city is even stranger. This unique sight is the work of the talented Will Ryman, the man who created “The Roses,” my favorite work of art. “The Roses” is a set of steel installations that spot up and down the streets of New York from 57th to 67th street. Every block in the middle of the road is a beautiful display of roses and rose petals that are all distinctly beautiful. Besides the obvious aesthetic appeal of flowers that tower above the traffic lights, this is also my favorite work of art because it triggers many memories. The installation was set up on January 25th of 2011 and taken down May 31th, and by luck, I was up in New York in February that year for my birthday. My family, my best friend, and I were simply walking around the city when we came across the flowers. I’ve always loved modern art, but I fell in love with this because it was almost ironic to see “wildlife” seemingly “growing” in the middle of one of the most bustling cities. Looking through my photos and seeing my own pictures of the work reminds me of the fun memories I have of being in my favorite city for my birthday and just how neat it was to see the work of a famous artist.
“This is your time. Their time is done. It's over. I'm sick and tired of hearing about what a great hockey team the Soviets have. Screw 'em. This is your time. Now go out there and take it.” I consider the movie Miracle as my favorite work of art. It is a true story dedicated to the1980 United States Olympic ice hockey team coached by Herb Brooks. The team he assembles is full of talented but immature college hockey players that play for rival schools. At first they do not look like a team at all because they are constantly arguing and even fighting. It truly is remarkable to watch as the grueling months of practice go by how they become more of a team everyday. In the eyes of everybody in the world, the Soviet hockey team, who is undefeated, is the favorite to win the Olympics. In the eyes of Herb Brooks his team is the best in the world. The U.S. is led by captain Mike Eruzione and goalie Jim Craig. Going into the Olympics, the Americans were more confident then ever. In the semifinal game, team USA did the unthinkable. They defeated the seemingly invincible Soviets with a score of 4-3. This victory was one of the greatest sports achievements in United States history. The U.S. would then move on to defeat Finland in the finals 4-2 to capture the gold medal. This is my favorite movie because it is so inspiring and just so interesting to watch. Any sports fan would love this movie and I wish I was alive to see it myself. It truly does prove that anything is possible as long as you have the heart and confidence. This inspirational story about an underdog hockey team is miraculous.
"There's a brotherhood between us. And if you're not willing to give up everything, you've already lost." This quote is from one of my all time favorite movies Act of Valor. That quote alone shows how much the United States navy seals give up for our country. This movie contains scenes that show how much they really risk their life every day for us. It shows that they go out and do whatever they can, even if that involves giving up their life for us or a fellow navy seal, to protect this country and everyone in it. It really amazes me how much some people go through life complain about the kind of car they drive or house they live in when these people never complain and actually have things to worry or complain about. It's inspiring how much they would give up to fight for us or how much they would give up to save a friend. An example of this love and dedication is when one man jumped on a grenade so he would be the only one impacted by it, and the rest of the team would survive and be able to go back home to their families. The stuff they go through everyday is just unbelievable. It makes me so grateful for all the little things I have. That's really why i love this movie; it shows why we should be grateful for what we have and who's giving us the opportunity to have it all.
My favorite piece of art is the movie “The Wizard of Oz”. The movie is based on a book by L. Frank Baum. After seeing the film multiple times, I have to marvel at the imagination someone must have to create such a whimsical journey. From flying monkeys, to singing munchkins, and a band of misfits seeking the help of a magical wizard, the tale never fails to surprise what magical element will come next. Some may not enjoy this movie anymore, due to its highly theatrical and utterly unrealistic plot. However, to me, this is one of my favorite things about the movie. Since seeing the movie at a young age, I have always dreamed of journeying to such a place as “The Emerald City”.
Throughout the movie, the main character, Dorothy Gale, is journeying to see “The Wizard of Oz”. She tries to find her way back home, accompanied by a Scarecrow in search of a brain, a tin man in search of a heart, and a lion in search of courage. It is a treacherous journey being pursued by the Wicked Witch of the West. When they finally get to see the Wizard, they realize that they’ve had their brains, heart, and courage all along, and Dorothy gets to go home. It is truly a story of finding yourself and having confidence in one’s abilities.
My favorite work or art is the movie The Lion King. The Lion King is a classic Disney movie about Simba, a young cub born to Mufasa, King of the Pride Lands, who struggles to follow in his father’s footsteps. Mufasa’s brother, Scar is upset that Simba will be inheriting the throne once Mufasa dies instead of him. Scar tries multiple times to kill Simba but Mufasa ends up dying instead. Once Mufasa dies, Simba loses himself and throughout the movie he is working to regain confidence to take over as King of the jungle. While on his journey, Simba has people helping him and encouraging him to do better. I like this movie because it is inspiring and also has a bit of comedy at the same time. It’s inspiring because it was difficult for Simba to witness his father dying and to overcome the obstacles his uncle was putting him through. It was interesting to see who was going to end up taking control of the land. I’m sure almost everyone has seen this movie before but I can watch it one hundred times and not get tired of it. The Lion King is just a cute movie that families can enjoy together.
My favorite work of art is Steven Spielberg’s film Saving Private Ryan. Saving Private Ryan is an exhilarating war movie taking place during World War II. The government attempts to find and bring home Private Ryan after learning that his three brothers have all died in the war. In doing this the lives of eight other men are put at stake sending them to find Private Ryan behind enemy lines. The mission was a man. To make everything even more questionable, no one knows whether Private Ryan is dead or alive. When watching this movie I always feel awful for the mother of Private Ryan; I can only imagine the pain of losing three sons. In addition, I think it is very strange that the lives of eight men would be risked to find one man who may not even be alive. I could understand how frustrated and upset they would be about being sent on this mission. I do not believe it is fair to risk the lives of eight men to save one. This movie also makes me think about how cruel war can be. Three sons were taken from a mother and millions others lost their lives for the war. It has been estimated that up to seventy million lives were lost in World War II. Steven Spielberg’s film had me at the edge of my seat the entire time.
Choosing my favorite work of art was very tough for me because so many works of art came to mind, but finally I decided on the movie, “Remember the Titans.” This is a movie I have watched since I younger and I still enjoy it to this day. This funny but inspiring movie is about a high school football team from Virginia during the desegregation of schools. It shows a group of white and African-American football players who grow close as they go through the ups and downs of a football season while dealing with different pressures from the outside world and attempts to break the team up. The team eventually is able to win the state championship and in doing so, is able to ease some of the racial tension in the town. This movie is my favorite work of art because it shows how something like football can change people’s attitudes towards serious things such as race. This movie has helped in teaching me to stand for what I believe in and to never give up. In between the very serious parts, there also are some parts that will make you laugh and some memorable lines. I would recommend this movie to anyone who likes an inspiring story and enjoys sports. What makes this movie even better is that it is based on a true story and most of the events in the movie actually happened. This football movie also portrays a great message which makes it one of my favorite movies.
If you ask most teenagers what they’re favorite television series is I’m sure some common answers would be “reality” tv shows like Keeping Up With the Kardashians or Jersey Shore. So it might be surprising that my favorite television show is Seinfeld. Now what is Seinfeld about? The simplest way that I can explain the show is that it’s basically about nothing. It’s amazing to me that a show completely about nothing could be named the greatest television program of all time by TV Guide. So what makes the show so popular? Could it be the fact that it’s physically impossible to sit through an episode and not laugh at the simplest things the characters do? Or that the tasks that the characters go through are so relatable to our everyday lives? It was a very easy decision for me to pick Seinfeld as my favorite work of art. I’ve seen every single episode multiple times and somehow I still manage to laugh like it’s my first time seeing it. Usually I wouldn’t consider a television series a work of art. But the way that Larry David wrote Seinfeld made it almost impossible not to see art in his work. When people ask why I love the show so much it’s practically indescribable. In order to get the full effect of the enjoyment of the series you have to watch an episode; it’s an experience that you could never forget.
I feel as though I am one of the few teenagers left who really enjoys reading. With all the technology out there today, it is a great feeling to be able to relax and read a book. Naturally, my favorite work of art is a book, specifically To Kill a Mockingbird. I first read To Kill a Mockingbird in fourth grade, and I went on to read this book a few more times, making it a part of the handful of books that I have read more than once. This novel by Harper Lee tells a story about a brother and sister growing up in a town in Alabama who spy on their mysterious neighbor. Meanwhile, their father, a lawyer, chooses to defend a black man in a racist white town. One major reason I like this novel so much is that it has a female protagonist, which is not something you see often in books. Along with the good messages and symbolism that can be found in this story, the plot of the book is, in my opinion, the most impressive part. To Kill a Mockingbird’s plot is remarkable because it is very well-rounded and includes everything that a good, complete book should have. For this reason, I have a lot of respect for the author. I love to write myself and, in the little experience I have, I’ve already realized how difficult it is to come up with a plot that works.
One of my absolute favorite past-times is to just sit down and read a good book. When i first purchased The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls i could not wait to open it and be taken away from reality for a little while. Little did I know how much this book would touch my heart. This memoir is an insight into Jeannette’s life growing up the way she did. Now she did not grow up in a so to say “normal” environment. Her father was a very heavy drinker and became very violent when he was drunk. When he was sober though he would teach his children about geography, physics and how they should just live life fearlessly. When reading this i always found myself asking, “How does she live like this?”. I couldn’t grasp the fact that some kids grew up in such wild and horrid conditions. At the time i was only twelve when I first read this book so I didn’t understand much of it. One thing i did know was that i should always be grateful for how loving my parents are. Jeannette’s parents were selfish, her mother did not want to have the responsibility of having children so she ignored them most of the time. My mother can be quite nagging at times but at least she is doing it because she loves me. Whenever I think I’m going through a hard time, I just think of how Jeannette was raised and how my parents would do anything and everything in their power to keep me safe.
Throughout time art has been a huge part of everyone’s life in some shape or form, and throughout time people have always had a favorite work of art. Now, that favorite work of art could range from a painting to a book even to a movie, and recently if have been faced with the question what is my favorite work of art. To me that was a very tough question to answer because I admire a lot of pieces of art. Although, if I had to chose one work of art, my all time favorite work art would have to be the movie The Patriot. When I first saw The Patriot I was about thirteen years old, and I was at my friend’s house and we watched it on his big screen TV. Since that day it has remained by far my favorite work of art. What I like about The Patriot the most is how patriotic it makes you feel throughout the whole movie. Also, it not only makes you feel patriotic but it makes you feel a sense of pride for your country, and also gives you a good sense of your history. To me the best part of the movie is in the final battle scene were there is a huge fight scene between the Continental Army and England. What I like the most about this scene is how the underdog, which is the Continental army, comes from behind when all bets where against them and bet England in the war. Overall, I think The Patriot is one of the best war movies out there, and I would recommend to any one who hasn’t seen it.
To boldly go, that is the quintessential phrase from my favorite TV series. Star Trek: Deep Space 9. Star Trek DS9 is about a crew of Starfleet personnel operating an old space station at the mouth of a wormhole. The Starfleet crew has to co-exist with their hosts, the Bajorans, who have just suffered through a horrible fifty year long brutal occupation. This causes cultural clashes among the two crews. However, both sides end up as one big family at the end of the series. The main plot revolves around the Captain finding his destiny with the Prophets, the enemy alien factions, and the devastating war with the Dominion. It also has other personal episode arcs involving family, planetary pride, and friendship. Other more serious story arcs revolve around the Cardassian Occupation, casualties of war, and the topic of religion. The reasons why this show is one of my favorites are many. I enjoyed the futuristic setting with the prospect of humanity evolving past its petty quibbles, such as crime, poverty, and civil war. The prospect of humanity traveling among the stars in cooperation with many alien species in a Federation of Planets is a very strong hope that may eventually come to fruition. I also enjoyed the idea the DS9 was a little bit more realistic due to the fact that the station was not portrayed as a perfect utopia. Crime still exists, but it is kept in check efficiently and effectively. I also enjoyed watching the ideas of futuristic technologies. While most of the speech is techno babble, nether the less the ideas of future technologies can inspire our current tech. For example, the portable communicator, tablet computer, and touch screen all appeared in Star Trek before they were even invented, and they inspired inventors to build their own working versions of these television props. Also, the way the characters developed and the plot progressed is emotionally touching. The characters progressed from office enemies to close knit family. This show also looked at the characters personal life more in detail, allowing the audience to get to know the characters on a more personal level. However, the Dominion War shows fear of utter destruction and serves as a warning that exploring can be a very dangerous to one’s own culture, world, and population. I personally enjoyed Star Trek: Deep Space 9 due to its uplifting but precautionary ideas about exploring into unknown space.
Art can be expressed in many ways, shapes, and forms. Whether it be a sculpture, a painting, a play, a song, or countless other things, art always portrays the personality of the creator. My favorite work of art comes in the form of a movie. After reflecting for a few days on what truly inspires me and speaks to me emotionally, one certain film kept entering my mind. This motion picture I speak of was recently released in theatres, titled Act of Valor. Though this is not a classic creation that has been around for centuries, I believe it is a true work of art.
The movie Act of valor is based on real missions carried out by United States Navy SEALs. Throughout the course of the movie you follow a squad of SEALs known as SEAL Team 7, who attempt to carry out a mission requiring them to stop a terrorist group from having suicide bombers attack 16 American cities. This is not just any Hollywood war movie however, what makes this film unique and a true work of art is the fact that the cast is made up of active duty Navy SEAls. Also all scenes in the movie were carried out with live ammunition making it as realistic as any movie could be. I found this idea of cutting out the actors all together and using experts themselves to play the roles, a revolutionary idea. It was extremely inspiring to me, to watch the brave, elite soldiers performing their duties, and to see how they risk their lives each and every day in order to protect the freedoms of America.
Act of Valor, I found to be a very patriotic and motivational movie. It proved to be a work of art, because while watching the film at no point could one say, “well its just a movie.” This is a motion picture based on real events, real missions, carried out by real soldiers, currently dedicating their lives to protecting the United States of America. This is why I found the movie Act of Valor a true artistic materpiece.
My favorite work of art is the television series Glee. Glee is a musical comedy-drama
television series. It is set at a fictional William McKinley High School in Lima, Ohio. It centers on the high school glee club – New Directions – that competes in choir competitions. Throughout their school year, the members of the glee club deal with relationship, emotional, and social issues. All the members represent different social groups – jocks, nerds, various ethnicities, gay people, etc. They wouldn’t usually interact with each other, but come together through music.
I don’t know what part made me choose Glee as my favorite work of art, the music or the characters. Each week is set around a different theme. The themes are all focused around controversial issues in today’s society. Some examples are: teen pregnancy, texting while driving, bullying, discrimination based on race or sexual orientation. I feel an attachment to all of the characters because I can relate to their various personalities. Each week’s episode has a related song, group of songs, or remix of songs. What I really love is that they make old songs new again. It makes me want to download different types of music. Glee is uplifting, different, and anyone can relate to it.
Twenty-four teenagers. One boy and one girl from each district… and only one can survive. The Panem Nation was once broken up into 13 Districts. During the rebellion, District 13 was destroyed. The Panem Government leaves the ruins of District 13 to serve as a reminder to the people of what happens when they rebel. The Hunger Games, a punishment for the districts after the rebellion. The Hunger Games, a book that is captivating and imaginative is my favorite work of art. This book shows how the Capital keeps the poor people very poor and the rich people very rich. As an outsider looking in, I wonder what produced this spark of inspiration for Suzanne Collins to come up with the concept of this book. This is a book of fighting and lies made by the Capital to attempt to control the districts so that they will continue to support the Capital’s growing needs, but during the 74th annual Hunger Games, a new rebellion begins. This new rebellion, triggered by Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, will end up changing the Capital and the Districts forever. You go through the twists and turns in this book feeling as though you were there watching the tributes fight to survive, rooting for your favorites, and watching the tributes fall one by one.
My favorite work of art is a remake of the film The Thomas Crown Affair. I only saw this movie in parts it has only been a year since i saw this film in full. This movie stars Pierce Brosnan as Thomas Crown, a wealthy building owner of an art museum and an art fanatic. When the movie begins we see a statue of a horse being delivered. The workers leave the room and robbers chainsaw out of the horse. This is obviously a reference to the Trojan Horse. The robbers successfully steal the painting, but then a guard starts to question them and catches them. The alarm is set off and all the gallery doors start to close. A suitcase is left under one of the doors and Thomas slips under the jammed door and steals a different painting. A detective is assigned the case of the stolen painting. She falls in love with him and vice versa. In a few days after the robbery Thomas loans a painting to the museum So Thomas now tries to return the painting while all the security of the museum knows he is trying to return the painting.
The scene of him trying to return the painting is a genius work of art which has a clever outcome. In this part Thomas enters the building with a bowler hat, trench coat, and a suitcase to hold the painting. He then bolts off and switches the suitcase with an identical one on the ground. then a man in trench coat and bowler hat comes and picks up that suitcase. The whole museum is full of trench coat and bowler hat wearers. The music incorporated with this scene is very fitting. This film is artistically pleasing just plain and simple. It has all kinds of amazing art like paintings, music, film writing, and even thievery.
I like this scene some much I want everyone to see it.
If you would like to watch the returning of the painting scene go here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0KK0msnLhw&feature=related
Some language and cut off the video at 4:00 if you don't want to spoil the great ending.
When I think about my favorite work of art, many masterpieces cross my mind. People have different opinions on what their favorite work of art might be, from a note on a piano to a sci-fi TV show. However, my favorite work of art would have to be J.K. Rowling’s fictional novel Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. The entire Harry Potter series as a whole is great, but to me, the seventh and final book is very special. One aspect which makes Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows such a great read is J.K. Rowling’s writing style. From chapter one page one, Rowling’s writing draws in the reader, opening with the fascinating but most controversial character, Severus Snape. Not only is this chapter the first chapter of the book, but it is my favorite! This one chapter evokes so many questions from the start, such as why is Severus with Yaxley and the antagonist, Voldemort? Also, this chapter makes the reader rethink our opinion about Severus’s character; specifically about whether or not our assumption of him being good is correct. Another great feature of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is Rowling’s descriptiveness, and the detail that she puts onto every page of the book. Her ability to paint vivid pictures with her words draws me deeper and deeper into the world of Harry Potter with every page I read. I feel as though I’m standing right there with the characters. Not only is this book descriptive, but the story’s plot is unpredictable too. Rowling uses this element of surprise in her writing to keep the story alive and interesting at all times, making the reader want to continue on to see what happens next. Even though this book is my favorite work of art and I have so much love for it, reading it still saddens me, for I know it’s the end of a great story. Stephen King best describes my feelings upon finishing this epic series with his quote about the book: “No ending can be right, because it shouldn't be over at all. The magic is not supposed to go away.”
“Well, you know what my dad always said: having dreams is what makes life tolerable.” This quote sums up the true meaning of the movie Rudy, which I would classify as my favorite work of art. Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger is the main character in the movie that is based on a true story. Rudy is a high school football player who lives in Illinois with his family who are big Notre Dame football fans. Rudy had always dreamed about playing football for the Fighting Irish, but his family, friends, coaches always laughed at and criticized his dream. It was hard to picture a 5 foot 6 young man who only weighed about 165 pounds practicing with one of the best teams in college football. Rudy never let those people or his size prevent him from following his dream. He traveled to South Bend, Indiana and attempted to become a student at Notre Dame but failed the first time. He didn’t give up though, and after countless rejection letters finally got into Notre Dame. Rudy even became a practice player on the football team and actually ran out of the tunnel in the stadium to play in a game. He rose above everyone’s criticism and showed that dreams can be accomplished if one is willing to be patient, work hard, and never give up. Not only do I have many dreams, but also many people in the world have dreams. This is how many other people including myself can relate to the movie. It helped me to understand that not everything is given to you in life. Goals are hard to reach but can be achieved. Some effort, composure, and determination are needed. In the end, it is all worth it when one can score the winning goal, become the head of the class, or even run out of the tunnel on the football field. Even if you fall flat the first time, there’s always the chance for you to pick yourself and try again.
My favorite work of art is a hip-hop song called “Poppy.” The artist, Mac Miller, often rhymes about true experiences from his life, no matter how trivial. This is why he is my favorite hip-hop artist. He doesn’t just rap about money, drugs, fame, and girls, like most rappers these days, but about real experiences that people can relate to. In this song, he talks about the death of his grandfather. The song’s lyrics read almost like a timeline of his way of dealing with grief. He talks about his intense sadness at first, then how he realized that he would see him again in heaven. Mac rhymes about how he knows that the experience is difficult to his grandfather, but that although the McCormick family (Mac’s real last name) will never forget him, they will eventually all meet again. He says people need to face death face to face, as a person, or we will live in ignorance of this integral part of life. I can relate to this song because I recently lost both of my grandparents and found that this method of grieving is tough at first but is the quickest way to get through the death of a loved one. Every time I listen to this song, I recall my fondest memories of my grandparents and remember that in a little while, we’ll be reunited in heaven. Even if you don't like hip-hop, I suggest that you read the lyrics, because they are a true work of art.
When I first saw the musical Les Miserables, I could never tear my eyes away from the stage where the actors and actresses were performing. Les Miserables is about the life of a man named Jean Valjean who is sent to prison for twenty years for stealing a loaf of bread. After breaking his parole, Valjean basically starts his life over, rising to become the mayor of a town five years later. However, after nine more years pass, the poor citizens in Paris grow hungry for a revolution to “cut the fat ones down to size.” Valjean joins the fight to make sure that his adopted daughter Cosette’s boyfriend, Marius, survives the fight. In the end of the musical, Cosette and Marius get married, but Valjean dies of old age shortly after the wedding. This musical is my favorite work of art because of the memorable characters and beautiful music.
My favorite character, Jean Valjean, is one character who undergoes enormous personal growth and changes from an escaped prisoner who has sunken low enough in mind to steal from a bishop to a rich mayor who decides to risk his freedom to prevent an innocent man from being sent to prison and would sacrifice his life if that was what it took to save his daughter’s boyfriend. He slightly plays into the touching “rags to riches” theme that always inspires me to think that I could achieve anything if I worked hard enough. Some other characters whom I remember fondly from the musical are the comical Monsieur and Madame Thenardier who provide hilarious humor before the scenes become too intense. The songs that the characters sing are all very emotional and make me feel what the characters are feeling when they break out into song. One of my favorite songs in Les Miserables is "Empty Chairs and Empty Tables" because it nearly brings me to tears when I hear Marius's hopelessness in his voice after all of his friends die in the rebellion. Les Miserables is overall a beautiful musical that always touches my heart with its wonderful characters and songs.
My favorite work of art would have to be the movie Now and Then which was made in 1995. The movie is centered around four childhood friends named Samantha Albertson, Roberta Martin, Chrissy DeWitt, and Teeny Tercell. In the beginning of the movie, the four best friends are reunited later in life and are reminiscing about their favorite summer of 1970. Only during two short periods of time, in the very beginning and very end of the movie, do we see the girls as adults. Mainly the entire movie is about their summer in 1970. Their main goal during that summer was to save up enough money to buy their dream tree house. Now and Then is a typical comedy movie that shows the life of four best friends. Despite the comedy in the movie, it also shows each girl and the struggles they are facing in their life. This is my favorite work of art for numerous reasons. It was very relatable to how my life was when I was the age that the girls are in the movie. Each girl and the situations they were in throughout the entire movie displayed real issues that preteens and teens go through all the time. Roberta deals with the death of her mother, Chrissy deals with being the odd one out, Teeny deals with her parents not ever being there for her, and Samantha deals with her parents getting a divorce. The best friends make a pact to always be there for eachother no matter what happens throughout the rest of their lives. It really makes me think about my life and how when I think I am the only one going through a rough time, I am really not. Watching this movie, I will be crying one second, and the next I will be laughing so hard I can’t control it. The mixture of comedy and drama in this movie is what really appeals to me. I love something that is easy to relate to but can also make you look on the brighter side of things. One of my all time favorite quotes is said at the very end of the movie. This quote states, "you can run from the disappointments you're trying to forget but it's only when you embrace your past that you truly move forward."
My favorite work of art is the movie Space Jam. Ever since I was young I have loved the movie. It combines two of my favorite things, cartoons and basketball. I have vivid memories of watching that movie when I was younger, I remember getting it on VHS for my 4th birthday and how happy I was. I really love to play and watching the game of basketball and that movie helped to spark my interest. The movie takes place during Michael Jordan’s first retirement when he tried out baseball. Aliens come to abduct the Looney Tunes to use them as an attraction at their intergalactic amusement park. The aliens are very small, so Bugs Bunny decides to challenge them to a game of basketball. The aliens hatch a plan to steal the talent from NBA stars such as Charles Barkley, Larry Johnson, Patrick Ewing, Muggsy Bouges, and Shawn Bradley. They immediately become better than the Looney Tunes, who decide to abduct Michael Jordan while he’s playing a round of golf with his friends. Michael whips the team into shape as they get ready to play the aliens who nicknamed themselves the “Monstars”. Michael Jordan makes a bet with the leader of the Monstars, he says if the Looney Tunes lose that he will take their place as the main attraction at the park. At first the Monstars are crushing the Looney Tunes, but they would turn things around and mount a come back. Eventually they’re down by 1 with a few seconds left and it comes down to Michael Jordan to make the clutch shot, which, as always, he does. The NBA players get their talent back, the aliens leave, and Michael Jordan even makes it back from the Looney Tune universe in time for his minor league baseball game. The movie is pretty silly, but I think I will always love it because of the time period it reminds me of. Constantly watching this movie is definitely one of the fondest memories I have from my childhood.
One of the main reasons that I admired the movie “Remember the Titans” was because it taught me at a young age how to overcome adversity. Because this movie was based on a true story, I was able to learn about some hardships that were faced in the past as well. In the late twentieth century, a high school in Virginia, T.C. Williams High School, was integrated. Herman Boone, played by Denzel Washington, was appointed head coach for the football team of this high school over a white man, Bill Yoast. At first, the boys on the football team were reluctant to associate with the opposite race, but Coach Boone did not give up on the team. He set the tone for the season during summer camp when he told the young men: “This is a dictatorship, I am the law.” His objective for the season was to make the boys look past their skin color and win football games; He did just that. His success was evident when Gary, a white football player got into an accident the night before their big game and Julius, his African American friend on the team, was told that only kin was allowed in the room to visit Gary. Gary replied, “Alice, are you blind? Don’t you see the family resemblance? That’s my brother.” This statement warmed my heart because Gary, the former racist on the team, learned to accept the African American race and was able to call Julius his brother. Although the hospital scene was a sad part in the movie, I was able to laugh on many separate occasions including when the football team came out on the field with a song and dance before a game. As an athlete and French student, one of my favorite quotes from this movie was, “What is pain? French bread.” This quote made me realize pain during a hard workout exists, but I should not think about it. By the end of “Remember the Titans,” I retained how to look past differences of others, some American history, football tactics, and some great quotes that I can refer to in my daily life.
The best part of my favorite work of art is that it was made right in front of my eyes. In 2004, my family took a trip to New York. While wandering the streets one night, we saw many people gathered on a street corner. When we approached we saw what they were all staring at in awe. A man, using only spray paint, poster board, and household items (pie pans, can, etc.), was making beautiful pictures of the New York skyline. At that moment I thought it was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I guess my parents liked them too because they bought two of the paintings. I still have one of the paintings hanging in my room. I love it not only for the way it looks, but also for what it symbolizes. It shows that everyone can express himself or herself in one way or another, that the fanciest things aren’t always the best things, and that if you have a vision, you can make anything happen. Also, this painting brings back the great memories of that trip. It was a time in my life when everything was much simpler. I didn’t have any major responsibilities. I had nothing bothering or concerning me. It seems like life was more enjoyable then. To this day I can still look at that painting and feel instant happiness, and I do often.
I think musicals are a wonderful thing. They combine many various forms of art to create one exquisite display of art; therefore, my favorite work of art would have to be the Broadway musical Wicked. I had sung two of the songs, “For Good” and “Popular”, with my grade school’s chorus in fifth grade. I had loved those songs so much that I wanted to learn more about the musical. I had read everything I could have read about the musical online and had listened to the album I think a thousand times before I got to see the musical on stage. When I went to New York City on August 7, 2011, I went to the Gershwin Theatre and saw Wicked. I enjoyed the performance very much and I wish I could have seen it a hundred more times. One of the reasons I love Wicked so much is because of the storyline. It tells the story of how the witches in The Wizard of Oz become the Good Witch of the East (Glinda) and the Wicked Witch of the West (Elphaba.) I found it very interesting that there was a story before the story; however, now I found myself trying to figure out a backstory for every story I read, hear, or see. I also enjoyed the musical because I felt like I was able to connect with the characters. I felt like I went on Elphaba’s journey with her. She was always different, never accepted, laughed at, and never had any friends but throughout the musical she start to get recognized for all the good things about her, makes a new friend, and even falls in love. It gave me hope that anything is possible and that it is okay to be different. Wicked is a powerful and compelling musical that I thoroughly enjoy and is definitely my favorite work of art.
What is your favorite work of art? Mine usually come from one of my two biggest interests. They are architecture and music. Right now I mostly focus on music however. One of the masterpieces, that are one of my favorites, is Dyers’ Eve written by Metallica. Metallica is the most successful thrash band in the world. The song talks about how parents don’t always treat their kids with respect and kindness. It is a very fast paced song (common in thrash metal) but has a very unique structure. Most thrash bands just play really fast. This band is very good at creating songs with a lot of speed but also have flow and different forms of rhythm. It also intrigues me, being a drummer, how he can go so fast. Knowing from experience that it is not that easy at all, I was left totally dumbfounded when I first heard this song. I didn’t know what hit me. I also like it because some of the lyrics can be put in perspective and applied to my life. Many of these songs by this band are really good! Maybe you’ll listen to some of them sometime in the future!
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