Elliot Stein Lit. And Media Studies Blog

My thoughts on the article/story Suddenly, a Knock on The Door was intrigue. Although it was written 6 years ago, and taking place in Russia, it felt close to home for me. The story is that a man was invaded by different attackers coming to his house, presumably to rob him, and demand he tells a story for them. The more and more he tries to tell a story, the closer he feels he may get on death's doorstep. The story itself is both intriguing to me, and terrifying. Terrifying because even though it came from the author Etgar Keret's perspective, but it felt like it was really happening in real life. To me, it felt real because of the rise in the news, and media of death, and gun violence in the world, as well as America. It's true the article was written in 2012, but it feels like it could have been written today, and nothing would be different. It's scary to think that could happen to anyone today, and whenever makes it even more relevant. The second thought I felt thr

There are a number of things that can be recommended to anyone who wants to get into a hobby. Whether it's a book, a video game, movies, drawing, exercise, and more. To me, I can recommend a graphic novel to anyone who seems to be struggling with personal issues, faiths, and even the troubles of growing up. The novel is called "Blankets" by Craig Thompson. The novel is based on a young man named Craig (Based on the author) growing up within a Christian lifestyle. Throughout the beginning of the book, Craig goes throughout most of the novel in search of his soul, and wants to break free of his fate despite what his parents, and his Church tell him. This isn't until he meets a girl named Raina at Church camp, and begins growing a loving relationship with throughout the story. When Craig has the chance to stay with Raina during his spring break, he takes the chance, and with her goes from an anti social character, to a more respectable, and lovable figure that cares not

Media, can be the best of things, and it can be the worst of things. The way we as humans learn about the world we live in is through the media. From news, to social media, to observing it from our phones. Sometimes if we hear a piece of news that is unnatural to our beings, we look away, and try not to think about it. We have the ability to look past the harsh realities of the world, in favor to look forward to the more positive viewings. However it's because of our abilities to view the news we want to hear, and learn what we want to learn that we often fall behind to the rest of the world. Social media for example is how we view not only news, but how other people view it. Sometimes people can be overly dramatic when delivering "grave news" on their Facebook pages, but often it can be seen as overbearing to everyone browsing. Truly a nuisance. This can also be a way to think differently about the person you know. (Disastrous news article + Dramatic response = Overrea

The TV show I chose to watch was Netflix's Godless, a Western drama about living in the Old West during the mid 1880's. Throughout the show it follows numerous characters as they live their lives throughout the Wild West, and how they live their lives around the world. From criminals, to wealthy business tycoons, to sheriffs, every character in the show has a story to tell. One thing that stood out during the show for me was the way many of the characters broke their norms from the average stereotypes we associate with from the Wild West. In fact I would say in many ways, the women in the show are the real main characters. From how they act, to their positions in the world, and the more we learn about everyone. The show also breaks tradition of typical Western Drama entertainment as a lot of the stories told in each episode are honest in the way their characters act, and talk to each other. The main story of the show follows Roy Goode, an outlaw on the run from his former bos

Throughout the week, I've read both My Favorite Thing is Monsters by Emil Ferris, and Ghost World by Daniel Clowes. Both are graphic novels about characters lives, and are based on an abstract take on reality. Though Ghost world is more of a narrative novel, and Monsters is a graphic novel like a comic book, both tell stories of human emotion. In Ghost World the story follows two teenage girls Enid, and Rebecca as they graduated high school, and wonder what they will do for the rest of their lives. While pondering their futures, they also take the time to wander their town criticizing pop culture, and the people they meet. While their friendship is big, their bond is testes throughout the novel when Enid plans to move out of town to go to college. My Favorite Thing is Monsters focuses on a young girl named Karen Reyes as she discovers to her dismay that her neighbor was murdered. Conflicted, and curious Karen, and her mother try to cope with their friends, neighbors, and other ch

Having a voice through filmmaking can be a hard thing to use, especially when you want to tell your stories to a large audience. Wether based on ideals, beliefs, ethnicities, ideologies, or personal senses of thought, telling a story about a topic through a specific tone. Throughout the past week I've watched three movies by filmmaker Paul Thomas Anderson, an American filmmaker best known for abstract takes on life, and how we feel between them. The movies I've watched (in no order specific to the release dates of the movies) were There Will be Blood (2007), The Master (2012), and Boogie Nights (1997). Each of the three movies follows different protagonists, but each also follow similar themes of human emotions, ideals, and all have incredible acting in each of them. In chronological order, each of the movies follow under a timeline I've theorized as "The P-TA Timeline." From the dates, and periods in which these movies play out, it begins with "There Will