S.E. Hinton's The Outsiders

What is the context?

            S.E. Hinton was born in 1950 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Although she was not part of a gang, she did grow up with friends who were greasers, and she knew a few Socs. She did not consider herself to be a greaser or a Soc. Hinton realized that there was not a lot of quality literature for young adults. Because she loved to read, this bothered her, and she took matters into her own hands. Hinton began writing The Outsiders when she was 15. She continued it throughout high school and it was published when she was 18. Believing the male authors had more credibility, Hinton used her initials “S.E.” rather than her real name Susan Eloise.  She wrote the book to express what it is like as a teenager, and she wanted to make people realize that being an outsider is not always a bad thing.

What is the author communicating and how?

            There are many themes found in The Outsiders. The most obvious is found in the title. The novel looks at what it is like to be an outsider, and to live life on the outskirts of society. Ponyboy feels like an outsider himself. He understands that the way he dresses and where he lives can change how people feel about him. He feels powerless to change this, and often times can be seen thinking about what it would be like to be included. He realizes the injustices that come with his economic status. Hinton expresses this through gangs. The greasers and Socs come from different backgrounds. Their economic statuses clash and that is the root of all their gangs’ wars.

            In addition, relationships are a large part of The Outsiders. The Curtis family is not like a normal family. Their parents died and now the oldest son is in charge of the household. This strains their relationship as brothers. Darry now sees Sodapop and Ponyboy as responsibilities rather than family. He puts a lot of pressure on them and is very strict. However, in the end, Ponyboy realizes that it is for the best. Darry sees Ponyboy’s potential and wants him to succeed. Darry wants him to be more successful than himself or Soda, who both are stuck in the small town. In addition, Johnny makes Pony realize how lucky he is to have a family. The gang is a family in itself, but the bond of a family runs deeper. Ponyboy says “Darry and Sodapop were my brothers and I loved both of them . . . they were my real brothers, not just sort of adopted ones." Family is very important to Ponyboy, which shows how important it should be to teenagers everywhere.

            Lastly, Hinton expresses the bonds that form between childhood friends. The people you grew up with are special. No one else in the world grew up like you did. Because you matured together and grew up together, a special bond forms. No one can replace your neighborhood friends. For many young adults, their friends are almost like family. Hinton shows that friends can be just as important as family.

Why is it beautiful?

            I think The Outsiders is beautiful because it conveys a lot of important meanings to young adults. I remember reading this book in 7^th grade, and being truly moved. I think it was even the first book that made me cry. Everyone knows the famous line “Stay gold Ponyboy.” It is a reference to the Robert Frost poem that says “Nothing gold can stay” meaning that all good things must come to an end. However, Johnny encourages Ponyboy to “stay gold” or stay innocent. He realizes how useless all the fighting was and he wants Ponyboy to stay innocent and good. This message runs deep for many people.  Every person wants to grow up as fast as they can, and leave adolescence behind. However, being innocent and living a happy life should not end. You should always look on the bright side of things and realize the beauty of life. Hinton’s entire novel can be summarized in that one quote. The harsh realities of the world can ruin a person’s innocence, yet some people can stay gold through it all. The truth behind her novel can be applied to anyone of any age. The wise words of a sixteen year old are truly beautiful and astute.

Rachel Platten's "Fight Song"

What is the context?

            Rachel Platten’s “Fight Song” has been all over the radio recently. Considering it to be overplayed, most people will switch the station or skip the song when it comes on their playlist. However, there is a lot more meaning behind the song if you truly take a look at it. Rachel Platten wrote it to be reminded of her strength and the struggles she has overcome. She has said “"'Fight Song' was inspired by a lot of experiences that were hurting me and that were making me feel like maybe I didn’t have a chance in this industry. I wrote it because I needed to remind myself that I believed in myself. No matter what, I still was going to make music, even if it was on a small scale. Even if it was just for me.” As you can tell, the song holds a lot of emotions for Platten. After being rejected time and time again, Platten was not confident in her abilities as an artist. She just could not shake the feeling that she wasn’t good enough. Nevertheless, Platten realized her love for music. She was not going to stop just because she couldn’t get a record deal. Instead, she wrote “Fight Song” to remind herself and all her fans that they should still believe in themselves.

What is the author communicating and how?

            The song is important for many reasons. For one, Rachel Platten wrote this song for herself. She needed to recognize her worth and believe in herself again. You can hear that in the lyrics. She realizes that she has the potential to change the world. “I might only have one match, but I can make an explosion.” Those words represent that Platten has fire left inside of her and that she shouldn’t give up.

            In addition, the song conveys that you should speak your mind. Many people hold back their true feelings, whether it be because they are scared or just shy. Platten sings “And all those things I didn’t say/Wrecking balls inside my brain/I will scream out loud tonight/Can you hear my voice this time?” She encourages people to stand up for themselves and to speak their mind.

            Lastly, she shows that she, as well as everyone else, should believe in themselves. “And I don’t really care if nobody else believes/ Cause I’ve still got a lot of fight left in me.” It does not matter what other people think of you. As long as you believe in yourself, you have the power to change the world.

Why is it beautiful?

            I think, although cliché, this song is very relevant in today’s world. The song is popular among teenage girls, which are the people who need to hear these words the most. Often times, girls are put down and told to stay quiet. They are not encouraged to pursue their dreams, and many girls feel as if they cannot do anything. However, this song changes all of that. It encourages everyone to believe in themselves, and never lose hope. You have the power to “make an explosion” as long as you realize your worth. Platten said that she wrote this chorus through tears. It was so hard to write and so meaningful to her that it was worth one and a half years of work. If a song is that important to someone, then you can trust that her words are sincere and were not just written to make money. Platten truly believes in this song just like the listener should believe in herself.

The Eiffel Tower

What is the context?

            Originally made as an entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair, the Eiffel Tower was built by France architects. The fair was commemorating the 100^th anniversary of the French Revolution. The tower was originally designed by Maurice Koechlin, but often times Alexander Gustav Eiffel gets all the credit. In fact, Eiffel did very little to actually design the tower. He originally rejected Koechlin design. It was too simple and boring for such a grand event. In the end, Koechlin redesigned the tower to include 18,000 pieces of iron and 2.5 million rivets. It took two years to build the tower. At the end of construction, the Eiffel Tower stood 1,000 feet tall making it the tallest building in the world until the Chrysler Building was erected. A 65 foot antenna was added to the top in 1957 which made it taller than the Chrysler Building but still shorter than the Empire State Building. The tower was intended to only be a temporary installment. In 1909, it was almost torn down. However, the Parisian government recognized its value as radiotelegraph station in addition to its grand stature. Throughout the years, the Eiffel Tower has become an icon in the city of lights. No other attraction gains as much attention or attracts as many tourists as the Eiffel Tower does.

What is the author communicating and how?

            Koechlin’s original design was intended as an entrance to the World’s Fair. Being such an important event, he understood that the entrance needed to be eye-catching and awe-inspiring. Eiffel also recognized this significance and demanded that it be more ostentatious and ornate.  They wanted to show that the World’s Fair and the centennial of the revolution were important. Parisians wanted to commemorate the revolution and believed that new buildings were the way to do so. Therefore, the Eiffel Tower was built. A tower like this is not built for just any event. The entire reason for making it was to represent the fair and remember the revolution.

            In addition, the Eiffel Tower represents the innovation in science and technology of its time. A tower of this size could be used for many scientific experiments regarding air pressure, temperature, and radio telegraphy. The people of the time were excited to explore new things and make France a leading country in innovation.  

Lastly, I believe that the tower represents the strength of France as a country. Following the revolution, France was rebuilding itself as a democracy. The tower represents the culmination of the hard work of its entire people. Becoming the tallest building in the world shows that France was emerging as a world power.  The Eiffel Tower represents France’s power and strength.

Why is it beautiful?

The Eiffel Tower goes dark to mourn the loss of lives on November 13

            I think the Eiffel Tower is beautiful for many reasons. First, this was an incredible feat in the 19^th century. To build a tower of this height and stature is an incredible accomplishment of the French people. In addition, the tower is incredibly intricate. There are thousands of small pieces of iron forming this huge tower. The tiny lattices and rivets are detailed and indicate that a lot of work was put into this building. Lastly, I see the tower as bringing people together. It was built by hundreds of workers, and brings people from all over the world to see it. The tower is lit every day so that people across Paris can view it. It also had incredible significance to the Parisian people. After the recent terrorist attacks, the Eiffel Tower was dark for the first time in a hundred years to mourn the lost lives. The tower represents France, Paris, and its people. It can be used as a symbol of love, light, or any other emotion that is attached to the tower.  

Love Lock Bridge

What is the context?

          The practice of putting locks on a bridge began in Rome. The young adult novel I Want You by Frederico Moccia inspired Italians in 2006. After the book was adapted into the movie, Italians all over the country began securing locks to bridges, lampposts, and other fixtures within their cities. As Paris is the city of love, it is not surprising that the idea soon arrived. Beginning in 2008, Parisians and tourists alike began to secure padlocks to the Pont des Arts Bridge and throw the key into the Seine River below. The lock and key represented love that would never end. The permanent nature of the lock symbolizes a couple’s eternal love. This practice has continued for the past 8 years, but recently the Parisian government has gotten involved. Claiming that the locks made the bridge unsafe and dangerous, city workers have begun to remove the locks from the bridge. However, Parisians cannot be stopped. To continue the tradition, people have persistently placed locks on the Pont des Arts Bridge as well as other bridges across the city. As much as the government tries, the people will not stop their actions to declare their love for one another.

What is the artist communicating and how?

          First, the artists are showing their never ending love. Because the keys are thrown into the river, the locks can never be opened. This represents that love will never end and that a relationship will last forever. The permanence of the lock itself and the fact that the key is gone symbolizes the strong love the compelled the person to participate in the first place.

          Recently, Paris’s government has deemed the love lock bridge unsafe. They have begun removing the locks and declared the action illegal. However, many people continue to put locks on the bridge. This represents the rebellious nature of love. Love does not stop for anything. True love cannot be forbidden, no matter how much the government tries to prevent it. By ignoring the law, the love locks show that true love cannot be stopped.

Why is it beautiful?

          I think this is one of the most romantic gestures ever. By putting your lock on the bridge, you are showing a level of commitment to your relationship. There is no going back just as there is no removing the lock from the bridge. In addition, many locks have personal words etched into them. Each lock has its own story behind it. Someone put time and effort into placing the lock on the bridge. One lock amongst millions can mean the world to someone. It is not just another lock—it is all their love symbolized by one tiny object. The love lock bridge brings together so many people. There is so much history on one bridge and so much love in one place. It is so much more than hundreds of locks--it is a symbol for love and all its goodness. 

Pieter the Elder Bruegel's Landscape with the Fall of Icarus

What is the context?

              Painted by Pieter the Elder Bruegel, Landscape with the Fall of Icarus is based on the Greek myth written by Ovid. The inventor Daedalus creates wings for his son and himself in order to escape the Labyrinth. When they were flying, Daedalus warned Icarus not to fly too close to the sun as their wings were made of wax. However, Icarus, being the stubborn and rebellious son that he is, ignores his father’s advice. Flying as close to the sun as possible, Icarus’s wings melt and he falls to his death into the sea. Bruegel depicts Icarus’s death through his painting. You can see Icarus’s legs in the sea on the bottom right corner as well as feathers flying everywhere. The painting was created around 1590 which is why the farmer and shepherd are the main focus. Those occupations were very important during that time and were considered to be valuable assets to society. The main focus of the painting is the farmer yet because of the title, the viewer is drawn to the drowning boy. This painting was the inspiration of many poems such as William Carlos William’s Landscape with the Fall of Icarus and W.H. Auden’s Musée des Beaux-Arts. While the current painting on display in Brussels was thought to be the original, after close inspection it was discovered that it was a very well done copy of Bruegel’s work. No one truly knows where the original painting is.

What is the artist communicating and how?

                On the surface, Bruegel is trying to tell a story. Inspired by the Greek myth, Bruegel depicts the myth of Daedalus and Icarus. Ovid’s Metamorphoses describes the day that Icarus died. Daedalus and Icarus are flying through the sky while a plowman, fisherman, and shepherd watched from below. As Icarus fell, the onlookers did nothing to save him and he drowned in the water. Bruegel’s painting is a visual representation of the renowned Greek myth.

After further investigation, this painting is a commentary on society’s lack of concern for pain. Icarus is drowning in the sea, yet the farmer is still plowing and the shepherd is tending to his flock. Humankind does not care about suffering and tends to ignore it. Bruegel depicts this message by his subtle placement of Icarus in the painting. It is by no means the focus of the painting. There is much more going on and it is only at a closer look that you even realize that Icarus is in the painting. Even the title focuses more on the landscape rather than the actual fall. This emphasizes that suffering is always a second thought. We chose to overlook it rather than focus on it.

                In addition, Bruegel shows how important farming was in his day. The focus of the painting is the farmer plowing his crops. That is the first thing that your eyes are drawn to. By placing the farmer in the center and making him much larger than the other figures, Bruegel turns the attention of the farmer rather than Icarus. The emphasis on the farmer depicts that farming was superior to every other thing in the painting, including the death of a young boy.

Why is it beautiful?

                I find this painting beautiful because the message is important even in today’s world. This painting may be from the 1500s or even a copy, but Bruegel is still making a valid point. The middle and upper classes often ignore the problems of the less fortunate. Suffering and death are prominent in the world, but many countries ignore it. The subtle addition of Icarus into this painting makes it a social commentary that should still be considered. We need to be more aware of those around us and their problems. Giving attention to those less fortunate can make a difference between life and death. Bruegel’s message is compelling and essential for all ages, from the 1500s to the present.

            In addition to the important message behind it, the actual painting is indeed beautiful. The blues and greens of the sky and sea blend together to form a cohesive landscape. The vibrant red of the farmer’s shirt makes him stand out among the background. The perspective of the painting is also unique. The audience seems to be looking down on the painting, as if you were in the sky. Whether to make the viewer seem godly or to see it from Daedalus’ perspective in the sky, the viewpoint makes the painting just that much better. You can tell that a lot of thought went into every aspect of this painting. Bruegel was a very skilled painter, and I believe this painting to be some of his best work. 

One Tree Hill’s episode “With Tired Eyes, Tired Minds, Tired Souls, We Slept”

What is the context?

            This episode aired on March 1, 2006. Within the last year two school shootings had occurred—one in Minnesota and one in Tennessee. Although in today’s world that does not seem like many, both were very shocking to America. In addition, it is rumored that Mark Schwahn, the show’s creator and writer of this episode, overheard someone talking about Columbine and they whispered the name. Schwahn heard this and wanted to “say something loudly” about the tragedy. He wanted to let the world know about the tragedy that is a school shooting without glorifying it.

What is the artist trying to communicate and how?

Jimmy Edwards, portrayed by Colin Fickes, comes to Tree Hill
High with a handgun. 

            Throughout the episode, Schwahn tries to communicate the severe problem that is bullying. Jimmy Edwards was bullied to the point that he brought a handgun to school. Through the episode, Schwahn conveys Edwards’s pain without making it overly dramatic. Schwahn is also trying to depict the tragedy that is a school shooting. He does not want to glorify the tragedy but rather inform the public about it. He conveys both these points by being completely sincere with the episode. One Tree Hill is a teen soap opera but none of the ridiculous teen drama is seen in this episode. It is a very heavy and serious episode that conveys the tragedy without being overly dramatic. In addition, Schwahn was very concerned for the score of the episode. He had specific music created just so he could get the emotions and feeling just right.

            In this scene in particular, Schwahn is trying to communicate how the media responds to tragedy. News outlets cover tragedies and often approach it the wrong way. They take the pain and suffering of real people and plaster it all over the front page of a newspaper. Schwahn communicates his thoughts on the media through the script. Sophia Bush says “It's not a news bite to boost your ratings because tomorrow or the next day or the next week when we go back to school changed forever by a day that will never leave us, where are you gonna be? At the next tragedy thrusting your microphone in the face of the next fractured person asking them how they fell? Lady that is not journalism. You are not contributing anything to society. You are buzzards circling the carnage but you prey on the living.” All of this rings true with the media. They circle any news story they can just to boost their ratings and attract attention. In addition, Bush’s acting conveys how painful it is to be involved in a tragedy of this regard. She is so sincere and emotional that you can hardly tell she is acting. It feels as if this really did happen to her. The camera angle adds to the dramatics. This scene is a oner, which is one sustained take. They could not edit it because Bush gave her monologue all at one time without breaks. The camera does not move from Bush once she begins her monologue. The lack of background movement and score help the words become the sole focus of the shot. All you hear is Bush’s voice reprimanding the reporter and all you see is the pain in her face.

Why do you find it beautiful?

            I find this episode beautiful because it is so sincere and emotional. It is one of the most serious episodes One Tree Hill has ever done and everyone took it very seriously. Some of the actors did not want to do a school shooting episode because they did not want to glorify these tragedies and they did not want to use it to gain ratings. However, in the end, the episode did occur and the sincerity behind the episode can be seen. No one is overly dramatic or has petty problems like the usual One Tree Hill episode. In addition, the acting is impeccable. Because no one wanted to ruin this episode, every actor did their best work. Everyone is incredibly emotional and raw in this episode that it literally brings me to tears every time I watch it.

            This scene is particularly heart wrenching. As I mentioned before, Sophia Bush is an incredible actress. Besides that, the camera angle helps the scene. This scene is a one-er which means that it was one sustained take. They could not edit it to make it shorter because of the way it was filmed. That is why it was cut from the episode. The acting, script, and filming all come together to create a beautiful, emotional, and heartfelt scene.   

Watch the scene here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7DKkIYr4X7s  (first deleted scene)