Opinions are made to be changed - or how is the truth to be got at.
- Lord Byron (1788 - 1824)
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Harold and Maude
I had a difficult time finding decent essays to use for our Harold and Maude paper. I had a good idea of what I wanted to say about the movie, and chose an essay that seemed to agree with my point of view. What stood out the most to me in the movie and the essay was Maude's personality. At first she seemed like a crazy old lady. But as the movie progressed we find out that Maude has lived a full life filled with happiness and tragedy. She was a carefree spirit despite the atrocities she faced in her youth during the Holocaust. I wonder how it is possible for anyone to achieve any sort of happiness after living through such hell. I think that Maude chose her eightieth birthday to commit suicide with great care. Maude was not depressed, or mentally ill. Maude was asserting control over her life by choosing the time and place, rather than the unknown. She wanted to end her life under her own terms. The movie was done well in a creative and interesting manner.
Harold & Maude
I chose to respond to this essay because the author makes valuable points. He states that we are born into this world with the realization that "life is like a box of chocolates and it is hard to take it at face value." This is so true. Harold is lost in life at the beginning of this movie, but when he meets Maude she changes his whole outlook on life. She teaches him a countless number of things to do, learn, and to learn from, rather than focusing his life around death and performing his suicide acts. She introduces him to a new way of life. She is so full of life, and has no limitations to anything, being carefree and full of life and giving him what he never got from his mother-love and affection and life lessons.
www.123helpme.com/preview.asp?id=68772
www.123helpme.com/preview.asp?id=68772
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Harold & Maude
I chose this essay because I agree with every word that the author says. The author speaks of both the obvious and the not so obvious. “On the surface, Harold and Maude is a delightful black comedy, but if you delve deeper you will find a compelling story about life and death.” “…It is obvious that he grew up in a sterile, unloving environment,” the author of the essay states about Harold. As you watch this movie, it quickly becomes obvious that this young man has lacked attention throughout his entire life. He craves attention-which is why he performs these so-called “acts of suicide.” His father is not mentioned throughout the entire movie, so he obviously lacked a father-bonded relationship in life and his mother never seemed to pay him any mind at all.
Http://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/86486.html
Http://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/86486.html
Friday, October 17, 2008
My essay response
The writer of this essay claims that Harold is "lost in life" and "haunted by answerless questions." I don't think Harold is really lost. He seems to be able to remember where he lives and who is mother is, doesn't he? Harold is a smart young man, he just chooses to come off as a shy, up-to-no good kid. He acts this way because it is the only action that seems to get a reaction from his mother. That is why people say that Maude coming into his life was a good thing and that she may be a decent role model. The only reason people say that is because she's 80 so she must know something. Seems like one of the few things she knows is how to coheres a youngster. That's really scary. If I were Harold, I would have ran while I still had time. Rather, Harold visited with Maude, giving her the time of day. Of course Harold enjoyed her company, he had no one else. Harold's mother is beyond a control freak. She's worse than some other mother's that pick out their kid's clothes, pack their lunch, and tend to their every need as they were God's gift the earth. I feel that Harold was attracted to Maude instinctively because she is also an overbearing, obnoxious type of woman. Almost a mirror image of his mom. Because they both have some comparisons in characteristics, Harold finds it easy to fall for Maude. Maybe he thinks since she's so old, she will support him with a roof over his head and food to shove in his face. Although Maude demonstrated freedom towards Harold, and reminded him he can be whatever he'd like to be, I think she forgot how old Harold is. His mind is still fresh and young. Maude was more of a corruption to Harold rather than a positive influence.
http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Harold-Maude-Analysis/49362
http://www.oppapers.com/essays/Harold-Maude-Analysis/49362
Thursday, October 16, 2008
://www.echeat.com/essay.php?t=27048
In an essay on echeat.com, the author describes that the film entitled “Harold and Maude” is a film entirely about freedom. “The point of this movie is, be free with yourself, to try to show a little humor, and to poke fun at some of the things in our society that needs poking.” I agree with this because Harold definitely shows a side of himself where he does all of these random things and he does not really care whether people thinks he is weird or anything like that. Of course he never had any friends at all, except for Maude, but he really did not let it hurt him at all. If people just be free-minded, they may not have so many friends, but the friends that they do have will probably be all they need as friends. I, personally, try to be as free-minded as I possibly can. Although I have very few true friends that I know almost every little detail about that I can count on whenever I’m in need of assistance, it doesn’t really matter to me. The friends that I do have are my true friends that I will keep until my dying day. Harold is very happy to have Maude for a friend and doesn’t even let the fact that Maude is eighty and Harold is only around his teenage years get to him. Of course Harold was sad about never having any friends at first, but that was only before he met Maude. He is even reluctant to try to meet anyone else because he thinks Maude is all he needs. Whenever Harold’s mother tries to get him a date, he would fake a suicide to scare any girls away. If people are able to keep a free mind, it may not be the greatest experience in the world, but it will definitely have a positive impact as time passes by.
Angelas Harold and Maude
I chose this essay because the author conveys many of the same feelings and ideas that I took away from the movie. They talk about how Harold is detached from the world and how Maude taught him how to live. It was really hard for me to find full essays on the internet, most were only exerts from the essay.
“Maude asks why and Harold answers, "Because they're all alike". Maude then reacts emotionally saying "Oh, but they're not!” She explains to Harold that even though that these flowers seem alike they aren’t.” This was a very important point in the movie that the author points out in the essay. At this time Harold tells us that he believes everyone is alike. Maude corrects him and explains to him that they all have their own unique personalities. This shows that Maude has a real hunger and thirst for life, something that Harold is developing through spending time with her. I agree with the author when he/she talks about how Maude taught Harold how to live. She was spontaneous, lively, and not afraid to deviate from the norm of society.
“Harold’s mother in this movie represents society, her being a wealthy socialite herself, and pushes Howard to become more "normal" and there for less as an individual.” I agree with this fully. Harold’s mother was a firm believer that everyone should be normal and act the same. She tried to make Harold normal by buying him a new car and setting him up on blind dates. She couldn’t accept that Harold did not fit the mold that society had created for him.
I think Maude made Harold a free spirit. I believe that once Harold saw the numbers on Maude’s arm it helped him realize why she acted so freely. Maude conveys an important life lesson, “just live, be carefree, because life it too short not to be.”
http://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/39009.html
“Maude asks why and Harold answers, "Because they're all alike". Maude then reacts emotionally saying "Oh, but they're not!” She explains to Harold that even though that these flowers seem alike they aren’t.” This was a very important point in the movie that the author points out in the essay. At this time Harold tells us that he believes everyone is alike. Maude corrects him and explains to him that they all have their own unique personalities. This shows that Maude has a real hunger and thirst for life, something that Harold is developing through spending time with her. I agree with the author when he/she talks about how Maude taught Harold how to live. She was spontaneous, lively, and not afraid to deviate from the norm of society.
“Harold’s mother in this movie represents society, her being a wealthy socialite herself, and pushes Howard to become more "normal" and there for less as an individual.” I agree with this fully. Harold’s mother was a firm believer that everyone should be normal and act the same. She tried to make Harold normal by buying him a new car and setting him up on blind dates. She couldn’t accept that Harold did not fit the mold that society had created for him.
I think Maude made Harold a free spirit. I believe that once Harold saw the numbers on Maude’s arm it helped him realize why she acted so freely. Maude conveys an important life lesson, “just live, be carefree, because life it too short not to be.”
http://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/39009.html
Harold and Maude Response
http://oldschoolreviews.com/rev_70/harold_maude.htm
Hal Ashby talks about the movie ‘Harold and Maude’. He says that he loved Harold and Maude. He said that he generally agreed with Siskel and Ebert’s tastes in movies, but Ebert hated the movie. Ashby said that he was stunned to find this out, because he always thought that he had decent taste in films. In this review he tells about how this movie seemed to have one of the weirdest opening scenes ever. “It is where Bud Cort who played Harold slowly down the stairs, lights some candles, and then hangs himself!” He said that this made him think that Harold is either 1) faking this suicide. 2) Dreaming of this. 3) Or really committing suicide, and we are actually seeing some flashbacks. Harold seems to enjoy staging different suicides seeming to try and get his mother’s attention, he also enjoys going to other people’s funerals. We get the impression that Harold has given up on life whatsoever, he tells his psychiatrist that he has performed at least 15 different suicides.
Ashby then adds that at these funerals Harold begins noticing this 79 year old woman who is also seems to be attending all the same as him. She is different from everybody else, when everybody else is wearing black she wears light colors and takes off with other people’s cars. Ashby said that he believes that from the beginning they are destined to be together. Maude seems to act as Harold’s mentor in life. He adds this quote which I just loved, Maude asks Harold what his favorite kind of flower is, and he answers back with a daisy because they all look alike. Then Maude remarks that how each daisy is individual in its own way with different shapes, etc. I thought this movie was really good, also kind of very disturbing in parts but all and all a very good movie. I also agree with Hal Ashby’s review and how he does not really agree with what Roger Ebert thought of the movie.
Hal Ashby talks about the movie ‘Harold and Maude’. He says that he loved Harold and Maude. He said that he generally agreed with Siskel and Ebert’s tastes in movies, but Ebert hated the movie. Ashby said that he was stunned to find this out, because he always thought that he had decent taste in films. In this review he tells about how this movie seemed to have one of the weirdest opening scenes ever. “It is where Bud Cort who played Harold slowly down the stairs, lights some candles, and then hangs himself!” He said that this made him think that Harold is either 1) faking this suicide. 2) Dreaming of this. 3) Or really committing suicide, and we are actually seeing some flashbacks. Harold seems to enjoy staging different suicides seeming to try and get his mother’s attention, he also enjoys going to other people’s funerals. We get the impression that Harold has given up on life whatsoever, he tells his psychiatrist that he has performed at least 15 different suicides.
Ashby then adds that at these funerals Harold begins noticing this 79 year old woman who is also seems to be attending all the same as him. She is different from everybody else, when everybody else is wearing black she wears light colors and takes off with other people’s cars. Ashby said that he believes that from the beginning they are destined to be together. Maude seems to act as Harold’s mentor in life. He adds this quote which I just loved, Maude asks Harold what his favorite kind of flower is, and he answers back with a daisy because they all look alike. Then Maude remarks that how each daisy is individual in its own way with different shapes, etc. I thought this movie was really good, also kind of very disturbing in parts but all and all a very good movie. I also agree with Hal Ashby’s review and how he does not really agree with what Roger Ebert thought of the movie.
Harold and Maude, sitting in a tree.
http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?
res=990CE7DF1138EF34BC4951DFB467838A669EDE
Cory Ray
For an Article written in 1971, the one written in the NYTimes is surprisingly timeless in its critique of the movie “Harold and Maude”. Its acknowledgement of the taboo of the relationship is still a socially acceptable response to a relationship between a 19 year old and a 79 year old, even in 2008. Even the apathy behind the attempted suicides wasn’t as serious as I thought it might have been in 1971; even now, a lot of people don’t find the fake suicides all that funny, especially when they’re merely to shock his mother. A lot of people might take offense to that, apparently the writer didn’t take offense, but acknowledged the same chance as I did. The writer attends that the movie ‘pretends’ to be in favor of life, and is actually much more about life, however, I feel that due to the nature of the context of the death, I assume that the movie is actually about what role death takes in life, and how life is seen by some as a restriction, and some as an opportunity, and how death by some can be seen as an escape, and by some as a loss. I guess in effect, the movie is equally about life and death, and whether or not it is in a positive or negative effect, is irrelevant yet.
I haven’t found a lot of articles on the movie, I only found short synopses, and short blurbs of opinion, but nothing really in depth. The only arguing points I could find were about whether or not the movie was about life or death, or whether or not it was moral to have the type of relationship between Harold and Maude had, but as a video “poem”, as it seemed to be, its messages were very effective in telling a story about life, death and love.
http://www.echeat.com/essay.php?t=27048
Harold and Maude’s Freedom
The main theme in the film, Harold and Maude is freedom. They both desire freedom in their lives. The movie is trying to show people to enjoy what you have in life, to live everyday as best you can and to be happy with yourself. When Harold meets Maude at a funeral, they start hanging out and they realize that they have something in common, not that they both like funerals but that they need to have fun together.
The quote, “…Maude is free with other’s property, usually cars, is her way of telling people that they do not have a hold on things, that it is best to love it while it is there for it may not be tomorrow,” is very true. She normally steals people’s cars because she doesn’t care, and she wants other people to learn a lesson. She also wants to be happy. She also doesn’t let anything get in her way. If she wants to do something, she most likely will. On her 80th birthday she took some pills that would kill her. She thought 80 was old enough. She had lived a good life and wasn’t going to let even Harold stand in her way of doing what she wanted to do.
Harold is a very different person as well. “…so obsessed with death that he cannot focus on life. His obsession with death is illustrated in his repeated suicide acts.” This shows that he knows what he is doing, the suicides were very believable and mature. He knew what he was doing and when he did these, he was really just crying out for attention from his horrid mother. She really had no idea what was wrong with him and still tried to make him a different person by trying to find him a girl or put him the military. The movie was very enjoyable and goes to show that life is good, be happy and enjoy what you have now because you may not have it tomorrow.
The main theme in the film, Harold and Maude is freedom. They both desire freedom in their lives. The movie is trying to show people to enjoy what you have in life, to live everyday as best you can and to be happy with yourself. When Harold meets Maude at a funeral, they start hanging out and they realize that they have something in common, not that they both like funerals but that they need to have fun together.
The quote, “…Maude is free with other’s property, usually cars, is her way of telling people that they do not have a hold on things, that it is best to love it while it is there for it may not be tomorrow,” is very true. She normally steals people’s cars because she doesn’t care, and she wants other people to learn a lesson. She also wants to be happy. She also doesn’t let anything get in her way. If she wants to do something, she most likely will. On her 80th birthday she took some pills that would kill her. She thought 80 was old enough. She had lived a good life and wasn’t going to let even Harold stand in her way of doing what she wanted to do.
Harold is a very different person as well. “…so obsessed with death that he cannot focus on life. His obsession with death is illustrated in his repeated suicide acts.” This shows that he knows what he is doing, the suicides were very believable and mature. He knew what he was doing and when he did these, he was really just crying out for attention from his horrid mother. She really had no idea what was wrong with him and still tried to make him a different person by trying to find him a girl or put him the military. The movie was very enjoyable and goes to show that life is good, be happy and enjoy what you have now because you may not have it tomorrow.
Sorry Guys Continued-
www.layouth.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Issue&action=IssueArticle&aid=1995&nid=69
I have no idea how to really do this, so just bear with me- I think I will just retype what I wrote in the comments: Although the writer of this essay, Samantha Sumampong was just 17 years old at the time she wrote it, I feel that she did and excellent job collaborating and understanding just what the original writers were trying to point out.
I have no idea how to really do this, so just bear with me- I think I will just retype what I wrote in the comments: Although the writer of this essay, Samantha Sumampong was just 17 years old at the time she wrote it, I feel that she did and excellent job collaborating and understanding just what the original writers were trying to point out.
The WayI Feel
http://www.angelfire.com/cantina/dame/fall02_two.html
I chose an eassy that talked about the movie Harold and Maude, that i feel strongly about in a positive way. The author mentions many things that I agree with. The author says " he cannot participate in dialouge becase he does not care about his life, has never comtemplated it, and take no join in it." I agree with this quote a lot because it proves in the movie that he doesnt care about his life, no one truly cares about him so why should one care about himself. When it says he has "no join in it," its true, a good percentage of the first half of the movie, it all about him trying to perform suicide. I believe that if someone enjoyed thier life they wouldnt try to kill themselves. In another paragraph the author says " I feel that is was experiencing Maude's life that made him choose to live, and that her death only confirmed for him that death was not the choice he wanted to make." I strongly agree with this quote because if death is what he truly wanted wouldnt he have mad it happen the night his true love killed her own self? I believe she had showed himt hat there are many reasons to live your life. She was an 80 year old woman who saw every reson to live and I believe that she had showed him all the reasons that life can be great.
I chose an eassy that talked about the movie Harold and Maude, that i feel strongly about in a positive way. The author mentions many things that I agree with. The author says " he cannot participate in dialouge becase he does not care about his life, has never comtemplated it, and take no join in it." I agree with this quote a lot because it proves in the movie that he doesnt care about his life, no one truly cares about him so why should one care about himself. When it says he has "no join in it," its true, a good percentage of the first half of the movie, it all about him trying to perform suicide. I believe that if someone enjoyed thier life they wouldnt try to kill themselves. In another paragraph the author says " I feel that is was experiencing Maude's life that made him choose to live, and that her death only confirmed for him that death was not the choice he wanted to make." I strongly agree with this quote because if death is what he truly wanted wouldnt he have mad it happen the night his true love killed her own self? I believe she had showed himt hat there are many reasons to live your life. She was an 80 year old woman who saw every reson to live and I believe that she had showed him all the reasons that life can be great.
http://www.echeat.com/essay.php?t=27048
Harold and Maude Essay
The author of the essay says that the movie is all about freedom. I think the movie has so many refrences to being free. In the movie Maude makes Harold feel free. She does this in many ways.
One way she does this is when Harold's mother talks his uncle into drafting him into the army. Maude helps Harold stage a freak out so that his uncle will be scared to draft him. During the fake freak out she fakes a death that drives his uncle further over the edge.
Maude also shows Harold how to be free by not trying to make him conform she lets him himself. Unlike the other pople in Harold's life they all want him to conform and be normal. They want him to be just like them wich is the last thing that Harold wants. One way the movie shows the in Harold's life want him to conform is when his mother buys him a car. Though he has a good running car his mother gives him a new one. She buys it because she does not like the fact that Harold's old car was a hearse. She also shows this by the online dating service. She does this to tr to pair up with someone. She does not like the fact that Harold is a loner. At the end of the movie though Maude has passed away Harold is still himself. He did not change to make his mother or any other person in his life happy.
http://www.echeat.com/essay.php?t=27048
I agree with the author of the essay "Freeeom", about Harold and Maude. The author talked about how Maude taught Harold how to live in freedom. Harold was obseesed with death that he could not focus on live; but through Maude, Harold learned to live freely. The author summarized the idea of the movie well.
hilary c
http://www.echeat.com/essay.php?t=27048The online essay that I wrote had some very strong points. Overall I agree with this essay that this person wrote, but I think I would have put the wording a little differently. The essay states that the theme of the film is freedom, because Maude is teaching Harold how to live life freely. I think that this is true. However, I think the better way to say it is she’s teaching him how to live a more carefree life. Maude is a free spirit. She doesn’t care what others think and she marches to the beat of her own drum. Harold wants to be himself and have his mother love him for it and this is what makes Maude “shine” to Harold. The essay also states that another key point to the movie is to do what makes you happy. I think this is shown by the music choices in the movie. I was literally brought up on Cat Stevens music because my sister was a “hippie” so I was familiar with the song “If you want to sing out, sing out”. This song is pretty much the anthem for the whole movie. I think the film maker was trying to stress that by playing that song on more than one occasion. The lyrics stating “if you want to be you be you, and if you want to be me be me.” I think that’s telling the person to do what makes them happy whether or not it makes anyone else happy or not. I think this essay that I’ve read on the film is pretty right on with what I think the film maker was trying to display.
101--the Blog begins
Hi everyone,
This is the blog.
Post the link to your article, followed by your opinion (not the summary of the article).
Then, after people get their links up, read TWO articles and post comments (paragraphs, at least five sentences) where you respond to the original article and/or the comments already made.
This is the blog.
Post the link to your article, followed by your opinion (not the summary of the article).
Then, after people get their links up, read TWO articles and post comments (paragraphs, at least five sentences) where you respond to the original article and/or the comments already made.
Blogging is 102
After the commentary in class yesterday, I think we should learn some new skills. Blogging, a method of writing so that the universe can read your opinions online, is the easiest and most instant way to publish your words. I would like everyone to post a paragraph about something you're really passionate about, something you would drive a great distance for or take an expensive plane ride to--something you'd rather be doing than anything, and why.