First off, I disagree completely with the whole genre/worthy technique. I see where it is relevent when discribing the plot but certain genres can be placed mainly based off of opinion; the teacher may think In Cold Blood is an extremely artistic account of the murder of a family where as the student may think it' simply a horrific tale of insanity. While the book may be written in an exquisite manor the lesson may not be as effective if the reader doesn't connect with the book on some level. Where as if you take a 'popular' book that many people actually enjoy reading that uses literary techniques and creates a masterpiece out of simple words. So, no I do not think a genre makes a book 'unworthy' to be used in a school's curriculum.
Popular works I think can accomplish greatness. It will definitely take a delicate touch to achieve this but yes popular can be great and to consider a book less artistic based solely on the audience it reaches is very biased. In some cases this can be true *cough cough Twilight cough cough* but other books that I've read such as Living Dead Girl or Impulse are incredible and definitely could be taught despite their popularity.
Another issue entirely would be who decides a books level of writing. In my opinion people with degrees and who know what they're talking about should decide but I think the public should have some say in it as well. Writing to me is categorized in many different ways and forms and shouldn't have decisions made by a specific minute group, it should be decided by a vast range of people and change as the times change. Writing can always be improved like most things it can never be perfect and if we treat it like it can be we will never allow it to reach its full potential.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Filmifying the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
There would be several challanges for the book to transfer to the screen since you're in space the majority of the time. The background overall wouldn't be too difficult, but getting it to look legitimate like they were moving instead of looking like a simple green screen could've proven to be a pain. Especially since the planets they visit are so unique. It'd be exedingly hard to capture the beauty without overdoing it and making it appear cheesy. Also certain special effects such as the act of getting onto the spaceships might be tricky to gain with special effects. The background parts for the the guide explaing the importance of things such as towls and how Zaphod Beeblebrox became president.
There are many essential scenes but these are the I find the most important were.
1. when Ford "kidnaps" Arthur and explains 'oops I'm an alien.' (not actually said but you get the jist) This scene explains pretty much the entire story of how they must flee the planet to avoid being blown to bits. This sceen could be done in many ways but the movie would mostly fail with the absense of this sceen.
2. The sceen where mice undermine and rule everything. The overall point of the movie would fall and if not properly explained, would make very little sense. It's a interesting scene which helps explain the plot and journey through space.
3. When they are thrown off the ship after being forced to listen to vogon poetry. This particular moment shows the pure evil of the vogons and also allows the book to begin in the sense that Ford and Arthur are saved and begin to travel the universe with Zaphod and Trillian. Arthur is incredibly shocked to see Trillian since he met her at a bar and then she left him for some random man and disapeared. This introduces a bit of a love interest/triangle.
Tree scenes that could be cut are:
1. The majority of the flashback pretaining Zaphod's Precidency and the ship theft. While the theft of the ship is important it doesn't need such a large amount of time and is a little insignificant.
2. Some of the definitions given by the Guide are a little extravigent and wouldn't translate so well to film. It'd be purely voice over and get a little boring. Plus some of the descriptions would get rather boring and only waste time in the movie.
3. Trillian would be a character that could be cut from the movie. She's a very static character and doesn't add very much to the book. She could easily be replaced with a ship function or a robot. Besides all the purpose that she surves is navigational assistance and helping to work the ship.
There are many essential scenes but these are the I find the most important were.
1. when Ford "kidnaps" Arthur and explains 'oops I'm an alien.' (not actually said but you get the jist) This scene explains pretty much the entire story of how they must flee the planet to avoid being blown to bits. This sceen could be done in many ways but the movie would mostly fail with the absense of this sceen.
2. The sceen where mice undermine and rule everything. The overall point of the movie would fall and if not properly explained, would make very little sense. It's a interesting scene which helps explain the plot and journey through space.
3. When they are thrown off the ship after being forced to listen to vogon poetry. This particular moment shows the pure evil of the vogons and also allows the book to begin in the sense that Ford and Arthur are saved and begin to travel the universe with Zaphod and Trillian. Arthur is incredibly shocked to see Trillian since he met her at a bar and then she left him for some random man and disapeared. This introduces a bit of a love interest/triangle.
Tree scenes that could be cut are:
1. The majority of the flashback pretaining Zaphod's Precidency and the ship theft. While the theft of the ship is important it doesn't need such a large amount of time and is a little insignificant.
2. Some of the definitions given by the Guide are a little extravigent and wouldn't translate so well to film. It'd be purely voice over and get a little boring. Plus some of the descriptions would get rather boring and only waste time in the movie.
3. Trillian would be a character that could be cut from the movie. She's a very static character and doesn't add very much to the book. She could easily be replaced with a ship function or a robot. Besides all the purpose that she surves is navigational assistance and helping to work the ship.
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