In order to make up for missing class on Friday, I'm posting another blog! I know all you TZ fans are excited to hear some more of my opinions...haha just kidding.
I'm not sure exactly what episodes were viewed in class, since we don't always follow the syllabus and our schedule was messed up on Thursday. Regardless, I watched four (And When the Sky was Opened, The Long Morrow, People are Alike All Over, and The Lateness of the Hour). With the exception of Lateness, I found that these episodes had a common theme - space travel.
And When the Sky was Opened told of three men back from a trip into space, but slowly disappearing, one by one. The story reminded me of Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, Mirror Image, and Living Doll because the characters all have something to share, but no one will believe them. As a viewer, this is extremely frustrating because you just want to shout, "[S]He's telling the truth!" and cut out the crazy-cycle the main character goes through. I really didn't think Sky had a strong lesson; it was [loosely] based off a short story and seems to most likely be some sort of political commentary by Serling. Perhaps he wants to make sure that when we finally make it into space that our astronauts are remembered for their hard work/dedication/potential sacrifice (first American astronauts sent into space in 1961; this episode came out in 1959)? Overall, not one of my favorites. I really dislike it when the characters seem crazy to everyone but the viewer.
Next, I watched The Long Morrow. This has one of those classic TZ twists. I didn't realize what the twist was until the very end, too. They really got me with this one. I think the lesson should be one of eternal love though (if you're meant to be, you're meant to be - you just click/age is just a number/treasure the time you have). The characters should still end up together, even though Sandra is now forty years younger than Douglas (hey, if Hugh Hefner can date young girls, anyone should be able to, right?). I dislike that they go separate ways in the end. I also dislike their "whirlwind romance." It seems particularly unreal, especially for the fifties (they seem a little too forward with each other during their first encounter, but again, this could just be my misconception of the past). However, I'm critical of that kind of stuff even in movies and TV shows today. "Really? Oh you're in love after just three hours? Riiiiight..." Anyway, this episode was good. It showcased the classic surprise ending.
People are Alike All Over also had this sort of surprise finale. I knew what to expect, because we had talked about it, and I may have seen it before, but it was still entertaining. I think this one also had generally-applicable morals: be careful who you trust (seems to be a common lesson for TZ) and use your judgment. If Conrad had really been using his brain, he wouldn't have so readily accepted the aliens "help." He also would have taken notice of Teenya's unease when showing him around the planet with the group of her fellow aliens. "People are alike everywhere!" is Conrad's final exclamation. This seems to me to maybe be one of Serling's commentaries. The episode made me think of world travel and what it is like to visit other cultures. Sometimes foreign countries can seem more like other planets, and the people there more like aliens. If the final statement and episode title is "people are alike all over," then that reminds me that people are people and although our surroundings and beliefs and ways of life may be different, we are still essentially the same. We shouldn't judge others or think of ourselves as "better" than people of different races or cultures. Especially as Christians, this is a good reminder that we are all made in God's image, meant to bring glory to him and to love him and our fellow man. This being said, people really are alike all over. They really are.
The final episode I'm going to discuss is The Lateness of the Hour. For the third time today, I experienced a classic plot-twist. I actually didn't see it coming either, not until the very end when Jana starts to talk about not remembering her childhood. Overall, I think the episode was clever and made in true TZ form. It was interesting to learn that this episode, along with five others, was filmed at CBS Television City as a money-saving measure. However, the finished product lacked the visual-depth of other TZ episodes, so this method of production was stopped because the savings weren't worth sacrificing the quality of episodes. I'm glad they decided this because Lateness did seem to be more like a play than a typical episode. The set simply wasn't expansive enough, in my opinion. I'm guessing that the lesson to this story has to do with the emotional well-being of families and the quality of one's life. It's important to cultivate deep, meaningful relationships (especially with family) and to do useful things with our lives, since each of us has a pre-determined number of years here on earth. Jana was upset that her life and her parents' lives seemed to lack depth and seemed to revolve around the pursuit of comfort. She felt that was meaningless. She wanted to go out and experience life and also to grow closer to both of them. As Christians, we know that pursuit of comfort is a very shallow purpose, considering how many people are martyred for their faith every day and how many people live in desolate conditions around the world. We are called to live for a higher purpose than taking care of ourselves. Lateness served as a good reminder of that.
Note: It's interesting that Jana says she can't feel pain and can't feel love...yet she can break into tears, crying about how she isn't really a human. Wouldn't those tears be an expression of emotion? Just an imperfection of the TZ I spose.
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Thursday, January 13, 2011
"My name is Talky Tina..."
Today was an interesting day. We had temperature changes, room changes, a conference call, and even got to be video-stars ourselves! It was a good idea to video-tape our call with Earl Hamner. As Dr. Snoeyink said, it was quite a historic event! I mentioned to my parents that we spoke with Mr. Hamner and they didn't believe me. It's a pretty neat thing that we got to talk to someone who played an integral role with the production of The Twilight Zone for such a long time. I appreciated hearing Hamner's personal viewpoints of his own episodes, like with You Drive, where I saw the story as a "crossroads-decisions-character-revealing" moral, Hamner really just meant the car to represent a conscience. He also informed us that most of his stories are based on real events (ex. You Drive was written after he read a story of a hit-and-run accident; The Art of the Miniature had roots in his experience with his bonsai trees and a pool boy). I'm not much of a writer myself. I especially can't see ever wanting to write a story or screenplay just for fun, as Hamner does, so it was interesting to hear where he gets his inspiration. I don't feel like I'm a particularly creative person, but I'm always glad to get insights from people who are!
As for the episodes we watched (Living Doll, The After Hours, and An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge), my personal favorite was Living Doll. I actually enjoyed Talky Tina, as strange as that may be. Her sayings were funny and her role in the story was that of Christie's protector. Serling also had good commentary at the end. It was awesome to see that he thought children should be protected, from both broken marriages and verbally-abusive [step-]parents. In my mind, I never associate "divorce" and "step-parenting" with the fifties and sixties. I've always thought of those things as more recent occurrences. But clearly my thinking is wrong. No marriage is trouble-free; today it's just more common for problems to be publicized and unions to be broken. Although the episode was sad, it was intriguing to see a blended family portrayed on television in the fifties. I just didn't realize that was "tele-visable" (it was probably more accepted because it was a TZ episode...that whole "other dimension" bit I guess).
As for the episodes we watched (Living Doll, The After Hours, and An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge), my personal favorite was Living Doll. I actually enjoyed Talky Tina, as strange as that may be. Her sayings were funny and her role in the story was that of Christie's protector. Serling also had good commentary at the end. It was awesome to see that he thought children should be protected, from both broken marriages and verbally-abusive [step-]parents. In my mind, I never associate "divorce" and "step-parenting" with the fifties and sixties. I've always thought of those things as more recent occurrences. But clearly my thinking is wrong. No marriage is trouble-free; today it's just more common for problems to be publicized and unions to be broken. Although the episode was sad, it was intriguing to see a blended family portrayed on television in the fifties. I just didn't realize that was "tele-visable" (it was probably more accepted because it was a TZ episode...that whole "other dimension" bit I guess).
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
The Mysteries of Time Travel
Let's go back in time.
Today we did that with Group #3's episode: Deaths-Head Revisited.
Upon hearing the summary, I was immediately struck by the serious nature of the subject matter. For the first few minutes of the episode, I was very skeptical and critical because I thought that the Holocaust was not an appropriate topic for TZ to cover. Even after our enlightening discussion, I still feel that way.
Serling did have a very good point to make at the end; we need to leave some places untouched, to pay tribute to past horrors and to prevent such things from happening again. I completely agree. This was likely one of the only outlets for him to voice his opinion on this, but I just don't think that the TZ should have episodes based on completely true, completely horrific events, especially considering the time that the show was produced (the world was still healing from this genocide and Holocaust survivors were just starting to tell their stories).
It was, of course, written in response to the Eichmann Trial, so it wasn't a completely random subject for Serling to choose. I just dislike that it is so based in our reality. I could also imagine that it might have been a hard episode for actual Holocaust survivors to watch. To watch a trial for war crimes on television or look at pictures of concentration camps is one thing, but this episode really brought Dachau to life (sometimes seeing video of something, even just a re-enactment, has more power than hearing recollections or looking at still images).
The whole point of this series is that its stories and tales don't truly take place in our world; they happen in some "other dimension." Dachau was a real place where real people were brutally tortured and killed. Although Serling teaches a good lesson and there are other lessons to be learned from it (the power of forgiveness, who has the right to judge and condemn, etc.), this episode was a little too real in my opinion.
The other insights revealed by Deaths-Head and Group #3's presentation include the idea that all sin is equal in God's eyes (as hard as that is to comprehend; all sin is unacceptable to God and receives the same punishment - death, whether as little as lying or as huge as murder) and the contemplation of who should judge and dole out retribution or justice (as Christians, we are to forgive and leave the condemnation up to the Lord; though this event was horrific, I don't believe it was up to the prisoners to give the officer "justice." They were hurting him as he had hurt them. And that can be called revenge. We know that if we forgive and love others as God does, in the end, everyone will get what he deserves. For some, that will be death, sadly.).
On a final note, I found the excerpt from The Hiding Place extremely moving. I had heard it before, but it still impacted me. It's just such an awesome example of the power of the Holy Spirit to move and enable forgiveness and love, even towards the most vile people whom we feel nothing but contempt for (as in Corrie's case). Her story was also a great example of "practicing what you preach." If God detests all sin, yet forgives when we ask and even gives us eternal salvation, how can we possibly rightfully deny a contrite heart?
Today we did that with Group #3's episode: Deaths-Head Revisited.
Upon hearing the summary, I was immediately struck by the serious nature of the subject matter. For the first few minutes of the episode, I was very skeptical and critical because I thought that the Holocaust was not an appropriate topic for TZ to cover. Even after our enlightening discussion, I still feel that way.
Serling did have a very good point to make at the end; we need to leave some places untouched, to pay tribute to past horrors and to prevent such things from happening again. I completely agree. This was likely one of the only outlets for him to voice his opinion on this, but I just don't think that the TZ should have episodes based on completely true, completely horrific events, especially considering the time that the show was produced (the world was still healing from this genocide and Holocaust survivors were just starting to tell their stories).
It was, of course, written in response to the Eichmann Trial, so it wasn't a completely random subject for Serling to choose. I just dislike that it is so based in our reality. I could also imagine that it might have been a hard episode for actual Holocaust survivors to watch. To watch a trial for war crimes on television or look at pictures of concentration camps is one thing, but this episode really brought Dachau to life (sometimes seeing video of something, even just a re-enactment, has more power than hearing recollections or looking at still images).
The whole point of this series is that its stories and tales don't truly take place in our world; they happen in some "other dimension." Dachau was a real place where real people were brutally tortured and killed. Although Serling teaches a good lesson and there are other lessons to be learned from it (the power of forgiveness, who has the right to judge and condemn, etc.), this episode was a little too real in my opinion.
The other insights revealed by Deaths-Head and Group #3's presentation include the idea that all sin is equal in God's eyes (as hard as that is to comprehend; all sin is unacceptable to God and receives the same punishment - death, whether as little as lying or as huge as murder) and the contemplation of who should judge and dole out retribution or justice (as Christians, we are to forgive and leave the condemnation up to the Lord; though this event was horrific, I don't believe it was up to the prisoners to give the officer "justice." They were hurting him as he had hurt them. And that can be called revenge. We know that if we forgive and love others as God does, in the end, everyone will get what he deserves. For some, that will be death, sadly.).
On a final note, I found the excerpt from The Hiding Place extremely moving. I had heard it before, but it still impacted me. It's just such an awesome example of the power of the Holy Spirit to move and enable forgiveness and love, even towards the most vile people whom we feel nothing but contempt for (as in Corrie's case). Her story was also a great example of "practicing what you preach." If God detests all sin, yet forgives when we ask and even gives us eternal salvation, how can we possibly rightfully deny a contrite heart?
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Interview about an Auteur
Today's interview with Doug Brode was very interesting. In spite of poor sound quality, it was really neat to hear from someone who has had quite a bit of interaction with the Serlings and is a true Twilight Zone-aficionado. Although we didn't get to ask Brode many questions (for lack of time) he provided valuable insight into the series itself, as well as several episodes.
He said that Serling saw TZ as an opportunity to voice his opinion on hot-button issues that wouldn't have otherwise been able to be addressed (due to censorship and the rules on what was allowed to be portrayed on television). He also described Serling as an auteur - a director/filmmaker/author whose work genuinely reflects his creative vision; his voice speaks the loudest, in spite of all the different processes that go into creating the work (producing, editing, etc.). Undoubtedly, this was Serling. And because TZ was a "science-fiction" series, the censorship/appropriateness rules didn't exactly apply because it seemed to showcase an alternate reality, not 1960s America.
It's cool that Brode uses this series in the classroom. I think there are many valuable things to be gained from the majority of episodes (a classic example that he cited was The Eye of the Beholder). He uses it for more than just moral lessons though; he uses it to teach students how to write. This is just one demonstration of what a profound impact the series has had on society. Pop culture references it (SNL spoofs, cartoon parodies, "It's a cookbook" references), there have been two attempted re-makes (twenty years apart! TZ really spans generations), and its morals are relevant even in our much advanced day and age (no more twin beds are shown in parents' bedrooms on tv shows, yet everyone can still learn something from episodes like The Obsolete Man).
I was happy to hear Brode's opinion on some less-insightful episodes. I hadn't really thought of it before, but Brode said Stopover in a Quiet Town lacked a good [moral] message. Of course the saying, "Don't drink and drive" is very important, but Brode doesn't believe the episode fit well within the TZ. Though it has an ironic twist, it was a little too out there for his taste. I have to agree.
As for the final bit of today's blog, I'm pasting in my notes from the episode my team presented today, Caesar and Me. We pretty much went over everything in class, but I just wanted to make the notes available for viewing.
He said that Serling saw TZ as an opportunity to voice his opinion on hot-button issues that wouldn't have otherwise been able to be addressed (due to censorship and the rules on what was allowed to be portrayed on television). He also described Serling as an auteur - a director/filmmaker/author whose work genuinely reflects his creative vision; his voice speaks the loudest, in spite of all the different processes that go into creating the work (producing, editing, etc.). Undoubtedly, this was Serling. And because TZ was a "science-fiction" series, the censorship/appropriateness rules didn't exactly apply because it seemed to showcase an alternate reality, not 1960s America.
It's cool that Brode uses this series in the classroom. I think there are many valuable things to be gained from the majority of episodes (a classic example that he cited was The Eye of the Beholder). He uses it for more than just moral lessons though; he uses it to teach students how to write. This is just one demonstration of what a profound impact the series has had on society. Pop culture references it (SNL spoofs, cartoon parodies, "It's a cookbook" references), there have been two attempted re-makes (twenty years apart! TZ really spans generations), and its morals are relevant even in our much advanced day and age (no more twin beds are shown in parents' bedrooms on tv shows, yet everyone can still learn something from episodes like The Obsolete Man).
I was happy to hear Brode's opinion on some less-insightful episodes. I hadn't really thought of it before, but Brode said Stopover in a Quiet Town lacked a good [moral] message. Of course the saying, "Don't drink and drive" is very important, but Brode doesn't believe the episode fit well within the TZ. Though it has an ironic twist, it was a little too out there for his taste. I have to agree.
As for the final bit of today's blog, I'm pasting in my notes from the episode my team presented today, Caesar and Me. We pretty much went over everything in class, but I just wanted to make the notes available for viewing.
Summary:
1. previous owner “left” Little Caesar; Mr. West promises to stick with him [ gives loyalty]
1. previous owner “left” Little Caesar; Mr. West promises to stick with him [ gives loyalty]
2. Little Caesar has mind of his own, so he could actually do routines for Mr. West
3. but instead, he lets Mr. West flounder and encourages a life of crime *red flag
4. Mr. West becomes downcast and easily influenced by Little Caesar *red flag
5. Mr. West goes to jail proclaiming “We’re a team.” hoping Little Caesar will back him up
6. Little Caesar tries to entice Susan by saying “We’re a team.”
4. Mr. West becomes downcast and easily influenced by Little Caesar *red flag
5. Mr. West goes to jail proclaiming “We’re a team.” hoping Little Caesar will back him up
6. Little Caesar tries to entice Susan by saying “We’re a team.”
Little Caesar quotes: “Your best stinks.”
“Ya couldn’t make it any other way.”
calls him a third-rate criminal and a bad ventriloquist
Mr. West quotes: “A man has to live with himself, even if he lives in the gutter.”
“We’re a team.”
Moral: Be careful who you trust; beware of betrayal; remember what the Bible says - “Bad company corrupts good morals.” (from Corinthians)
Questions:
1. Why do you think Mr. West stuck with Little Caesar?
He was in a bind. He thought Little Caesar had good intentions and would be able to help him get back on his feet. He bought Little Caesar’s lie that they were a “team.” Clearly, though, Mr. West was being manipulated (just men were by the mob bosses).
2. Do you think Mr. West saw Little Caesar’s bad side? Or was he somehow blind to it? Why?
No. I think he wanted to believe the best about his friend, so he chose to ignore the warning signs that Little Caesar was using him. Perhaps he didn’t have anyone else to turn to for companionship. In bad relationships, people can choose to ignore red flags.
3. Does anyone see a lesson to be learned?
Be careful who you trust; beware of betrayal; remember what the Bible says - “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
1. Why do you think Mr. West stuck with Little Caesar?
He was in a bind. He thought Little Caesar had good intentions and would be able to help him get back on his feet. He bought Little Caesar’s lie that they were a “team.” Clearly, though, Mr. West was being manipulated (just men were by the mob bosses).
2. Do you think Mr. West saw Little Caesar’s bad side? Or was he somehow blind to it? Why?
No. I think he wanted to believe the best about his friend, so he chose to ignore the warning signs that Little Caesar was using him. Perhaps he didn’t have anyone else to turn to for companionship. In bad relationships, people can choose to ignore red flags.
3. Does anyone see a lesson to be learned?
Be careful who you trust; beware of betrayal; remember what the Bible says - “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
Note: only TZ teleplay written by a woman; notice Little Caesar's cheek scar and the way he calls Mr. West "Dillinger" - references to the mob
Monday, January 10, 2011
Aliens and Doppelgängers
Today's theme seemed to be invasion. I find it interesting that so many TZ episodes are centered on the idea of earth being overtaken, humans being overpowered, or of humans travelling into space. I feel like nowadays these aren't such hot topics though. With the space travel that's been accomplished and that's ongoing, our fixation with the "mysteries of the galaxy" seems to have subsided. These TZ episodes also made commentaries on the arms race and the Cold War. Because TZ was science-fiction, Serling was able to create episodes like these that appealed to fans of the alien/science/space genre, while also subtly making political and moral statements.
Examples of these sorts of episodes include: The Little People, The Monsters are Due on Maple Street, Stopover in a Quiet Town, and all of today's episodes.
The Little People - Speaks to people's fears about what else is "out there." This episode also makes you consider that maybe we humans aren't the most powerful. It might be a stretch to suggest that The Little People has a religious undertone, but it certainly makes me remember that although our world may seem like the most important thing and we may seem like the ones with all the power, God is actually in control. And he is much greater than any of us can imagine! But unlike the little people, we don't need to fear. He has our best interests at heart.
The Monsters are Due on Maple Street - Commentary on the Red Scare; everyone was suspicious of Communists; this episode demonstrates how people can get carried away with their fears; also entertaining because humans are portrayed as significantly less intelligent than aliens (they can overtake us simply by letting us destroy ourselves)
Stopover in a Quiet Town - Again, theme that humans are not the [only] ones with power; in the end, the man and woman are simply pawns to be played with; as a Christian, this makes me think that we are sort of like God's pawns, except we have free will and aren't simply his toys
Summary and [possible] lessons to be learned from today's episodes:
To Serve Man - If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be careful who you trust! The Kanamits might also be likened to gods (religious undertone perhaps?). They had humanity's best interests at heart and were willing to help alleviate earth's problems. However, UNLIKE our God, they had a secret, selfish motive.
Third from the Sun - I believe the main point was not that the characters were from a strange planet far away (that was just another one of TZ's ironic twists). Third From the Sun spoke to people's fears about nuclear war, and maybe even Communism. Carling was a shady character with a hidden motive. The main characters were somewhat afraid of him; Sturka seemed to suspect something fishy about him. Maybe this was a portrayal of McCarthyism?
The Invaders - First of all, this episode really annoyed me. I really disliked the actress's strange grunting and moaning, and also the lack of dialog (of course this makes sense in hindsight, but it was frustrating while watching the episode for the first time). However, The Invaders is a statement on the fears of space travel. We didn't know what was "out there." Giant creatures? Powerful aliens? People just like us? I did find this ending quite entertaining. Once we learned the astronauts were humans, I found them and their costumes much cuter and also empathized with them more than with the giant.
Mirror Image - Supposedly speaks to Christian theme of betrayal and belief (ex. Judas and Paul), however, I didn't see much of a point to the episode. However, I am a person who always sees people who I think look like other people, so it was funny to watch that portrayed on screen and also to consider the fact that I have an evil twin/alter-ego out there somewhere (completely ridiculous thought, but funny to think about nonetheless). This episode does play on people's fears of being "taken over," though. It highlights the idea that there are people out there who want control (Communists? Aliens who look like us?).
Look out...you could be next!
Examples of these sorts of episodes include: The Little People, The Monsters are Due on Maple Street, Stopover in a Quiet Town, and all of today's episodes.
The Little People - Speaks to people's fears about what else is "out there." This episode also makes you consider that maybe we humans aren't the most powerful. It might be a stretch to suggest that The Little People has a religious undertone, but it certainly makes me remember that although our world may seem like the most important thing and we may seem like the ones with all the power, God is actually in control. And he is much greater than any of us can imagine! But unlike the little people, we don't need to fear. He has our best interests at heart.
The Monsters are Due on Maple Street - Commentary on the Red Scare; everyone was suspicious of Communists; this episode demonstrates how people can get carried away with their fears; also entertaining because humans are portrayed as significantly less intelligent than aliens (they can overtake us simply by letting us destroy ourselves)
Stopover in a Quiet Town - Again, theme that humans are not the [only] ones with power; in the end, the man and woman are simply pawns to be played with; as a Christian, this makes me think that we are sort of like God's pawns, except we have free will and aren't simply his toys
Summary and [possible] lessons to be learned from today's episodes:
To Serve Man - If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Be careful who you trust! The Kanamits might also be likened to gods (religious undertone perhaps?). They had humanity's best interests at heart and were willing to help alleviate earth's problems. However, UNLIKE our God, they had a secret, selfish motive.
Third from the Sun - I believe the main point was not that the characters were from a strange planet far away (that was just another one of TZ's ironic twists). Third From the Sun spoke to people's fears about nuclear war, and maybe even Communism. Carling was a shady character with a hidden motive. The main characters were somewhat afraid of him; Sturka seemed to suspect something fishy about him. Maybe this was a portrayal of McCarthyism?
The Invaders - First of all, this episode really annoyed me. I really disliked the actress's strange grunting and moaning, and also the lack of dialog (of course this makes sense in hindsight, but it was frustrating while watching the episode for the first time). However, The Invaders is a statement on the fears of space travel. We didn't know what was "out there." Giant creatures? Powerful aliens? People just like us? I did find this ending quite entertaining. Once we learned the astronauts were humans, I found them and their costumes much cuter and also empathized with them more than with the giant.
Mirror Image - Supposedly speaks to Christian theme of betrayal and belief (ex. Judas and Paul), however, I didn't see much of a point to the episode. However, I am a person who always sees people who I think look like other people, so it was funny to watch that portrayed on screen and also to consider the fact that I have an evil twin/alter-ego out there somewhere (completely ridiculous thought, but funny to think about nonetheless). This episode does play on people's fears of being "taken over," though. It highlights the idea that there are people out there who want control (Communists? Aliens who look like us?).
Look out...you could be next!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Earl Hamner Day
Friday's class was centered on Mr. Earl Hamner, Jr. He wrote eight episodes of The Twilight Zone; we watched four.
I thought The Hunt had a surprisingly religious theme for the TZ. It bothers me that it doesn't give a solid moral though. I do like the fact that Heaven welcomes with open arms (accepts both man and dog), I dislike that it portrays the afterlife as such a picky-choosy thing. What you decide while you are still alive determines where you will spend eternity; you don't decide after you're dead (that kind of defeats the purpose of leading a good life, anticipating your reward in Heaven - otherwise everyone would do whatever they wanted while still alive, then simply "pick" paradise and avoid the fire and brimstone). Because who in their right mind would choose punishment?
The "old woman" says that the "old man" wasn't really a religious man and rarely went to church. Of course, he could still have accepted Christ as his savior in his heart and we just don't know that. But typically, if you are a follower of Jesus, people should be able to tell by your behavior, so his wife should have known and should have been able to say with full confidence that she knew her husband was in Heaven. Anyway, I just didn't really care for this episode and its [non-]religious undertone.
Jess-Belle had a good lesson. It urges the viewer to consider the question, "What price will you pay for what you really want?" It is important to consider the consequences of our decisions. Jess-Belle paid a high price for Billy-Ben's love. Sadly, by the end, she didn't think it was worth it.
About the overall episode, I thought it was surprisingly racy for the times (multiple characters kissing, laying together in the hay, bit of suggestive talk). I suppose it was meant for a mature audience who was okay with this subject matter though (infidelity and witchcraft). In class, one student pointed out an interesting correlation between the name Jess-Belle and that of the immoral woman, Jezebel, in the Bible. Perhaps Mr. Serling and Mr. Hamner were trying to play off the beliefs of some of their viewers?
You Drive also had a good lesson. Early in the episode, Rod Serling asks something to the effect of, "What will you do at the crucial moments of life?" The main character made the wrong choice at a crossroad of his life. This choice revealed his true character and unfortunately led to his demise. This can happen to any of us. At some point, we'll be faced with important decisions, and these decisions will reveal who we really are and can have profound effects on the rest of our lives.
I'd seen the fourth episode, Stopover in a Quiet Town, many times before. I find the child's laugh very entertaining, and if you pay close attention, it's a good clue as to what is really happening to the characters. The moral is also a little entertaining. Rod Serling didn't try very hard to hide the point of the story though. His narration ends with the blunt statement, "Don't drink and drive."
I thought The Hunt had a surprisingly religious theme for the TZ. It bothers me that it doesn't give a solid moral though. I do like the fact that Heaven welcomes with open arms (accepts both man and dog), I dislike that it portrays the afterlife as such a picky-choosy thing. What you decide while you are still alive determines where you will spend eternity; you don't decide after you're dead (that kind of defeats the purpose of leading a good life, anticipating your reward in Heaven - otherwise everyone would do whatever they wanted while still alive, then simply "pick" paradise and avoid the fire and brimstone). Because who in their right mind would choose punishment?
The "old woman" says that the "old man" wasn't really a religious man and rarely went to church. Of course, he could still have accepted Christ as his savior in his heart and we just don't know that. But typically, if you are a follower of Jesus, people should be able to tell by your behavior, so his wife should have known and should have been able to say with full confidence that she knew her husband was in Heaven. Anyway, I just didn't really care for this episode and its [non-]religious undertone.
Jess-Belle had a good lesson. It urges the viewer to consider the question, "What price will you pay for what you really want?" It is important to consider the consequences of our decisions. Jess-Belle paid a high price for Billy-Ben's love. Sadly, by the end, she didn't think it was worth it.
About the overall episode, I thought it was surprisingly racy for the times (multiple characters kissing, laying together in the hay, bit of suggestive talk). I suppose it was meant for a mature audience who was okay with this subject matter though (infidelity and witchcraft). In class, one student pointed out an interesting correlation between the name Jess-Belle and that of the immoral woman, Jezebel, in the Bible. Perhaps Mr. Serling and Mr. Hamner were trying to play off the beliefs of some of their viewers?
You Drive also had a good lesson. Early in the episode, Rod Serling asks something to the effect of, "What will you do at the crucial moments of life?" The main character made the wrong choice at a crossroad of his life. This choice revealed his true character and unfortunately led to his demise. This can happen to any of us. At some point, we'll be faced with important decisions, and these decisions will reveal who we really are and can have profound effects on the rest of our lives.
I'd seen the fourth episode, Stopover in a Quiet Town, many times before. I find the child's laugh very entertaining, and if you pay close attention, it's a good clue as to what is really happening to the characters. The moral is also a little entertaining. Rod Serling didn't try very hard to hide the point of the story though. His narration ends with the blunt statement, "Don't drink and drive."
Thursday, January 6, 2011
"Life is pretty. Life is fun. I am all and all is one."
The episodes from today fit one of two themes: conformity or paranoia.
Eye of the Beholder, Number 12 Looks Just Like You, & The Obsolete Man [conformity]
The Monsters are Due on Maple Street & The Shelter [paranoia]
First, I must say that I enjoy starting class with Bible verses. Today I thought they related especially well. Galatians 5:14-15 extol us to love our neighbors as ourselves. These verses encourage us to accept others as they are (realizing everyone is different, but beautiful in their own way) and also to embrace the value of others, even during tough times when we are tempted to put ourselves first. I think both of these themes fit perfectly with the episodes we watched today.
Lessons:
Eye of the Beholder - it's normal to want to belong, but at what point do we stop trying to fit in and accept ourselves even if the rest of society doesn't; commentary on the Civil Rights Movement ("The state isn't God."); Who decided that the pig-faced people were "normal" and the normal-looking people were actually hideous and "undesirable"?
Number 12 Looks Just Like You - conformity comes at a cost ("Being like everybody means you're nobody."); independent thinkers can be perceived as threats; commentary on relationships (Val couldn't imagine being with the same man for "a hundred years")
Note: Dr. Rex's pinky movements were extremely creepy.
The Obsolete Man - pointed out the value of literature (one's ideas can live on well after he is placed in the grave); it's not right to get rid of people when they fail to serve society any longer (ex. the elderly, disabled, injured)
Notes: The main character was named William Wordsworth, a clever play on words. I also liked that this episode clearly included God. It reminded me that even in the secular world, God is not absent. Mr. Wordsworth talks back to the Chancellor and says, "You can't erase God with an edict." and also proceeds to read the Bible (I don't think that would happen on a TV show nowadays).
The Monsters are Due on Maple Street - trust is a tricky thing; mob mentality is dangerous; "Paranoia will destroy ya."
The Shelter - makes you question whether you'd want to survive a major catastrophe (Would it be worth it?); prejudice can easily surface during times of stress; prejudice makes it easy to find a scapegoat; "For civilization to survive, the human race has to remain civilized."
Eye of the Beholder, Number 12 Looks Just Like You, & The Obsolete Man [conformity]
The Monsters are Due on Maple Street & The Shelter [paranoia]
First, I must say that I enjoy starting class with Bible verses. Today I thought they related especially well. Galatians 5:14-15 extol us to love our neighbors as ourselves. These verses encourage us to accept others as they are (realizing everyone is different, but beautiful in their own way) and also to embrace the value of others, even during tough times when we are tempted to put ourselves first. I think both of these themes fit perfectly with the episodes we watched today.
Lessons:
Eye of the Beholder - it's normal to want to belong, but at what point do we stop trying to fit in and accept ourselves even if the rest of society doesn't; commentary on the Civil Rights Movement ("The state isn't God."); Who decided that the pig-faced people were "normal" and the normal-looking people were actually hideous and "undesirable"?
Number 12 Looks Just Like You - conformity comes at a cost ("Being like everybody means you're nobody."); independent thinkers can be perceived as threats; commentary on relationships (Val couldn't imagine being with the same man for "a hundred years")
Note: Dr. Rex's pinky movements were extremely creepy.
The Obsolete Man - pointed out the value of literature (one's ideas can live on well after he is placed in the grave); it's not right to get rid of people when they fail to serve society any longer (ex. the elderly, disabled, injured)
Notes: The main character was named William Wordsworth, a clever play on words. I also liked that this episode clearly included God. It reminded me that even in the secular world, God is not absent. Mr. Wordsworth talks back to the Chancellor and says, "You can't erase God with an edict." and also proceeds to read the Bible (I don't think that would happen on a TV show nowadays).
The Monsters are Due on Maple Street - trust is a tricky thing; mob mentality is dangerous; "Paranoia will destroy ya."
The Shelter - makes you question whether you'd want to survive a major catastrophe (Would it be worth it?); prejudice can easily surface during times of stress; prejudice makes it easy to find a scapegoat; "For civilization to survive, the human race has to remain civilized."
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