One Fine Day, SkoopaTroopa Was Peeing In A Pond...

This is, how you say, a "cop out" post. I haven't blogged in a while (shame on me) because I've been busy enjoying life and it's little quirks.

Currently, my English Composition students are studying "film" and their assignment is to essentially write a rhetorical analysis / literary criticism of their favorite film. I like to provide students with imperfect, but strong examples of what I'm looking for. However, when an assignment is new, I find that I've got to come up with my own "imperfect, but strong" example of what I might be looking for. I like to ask students permission to use their work as examples (name redacted, of course), but you can't do that if you just created the assignment. 

So, I took to writing my own college freshman analysis. Now, it's been a while since I've actually been a college freshman, but I think I see enough work to write something that might pass (or I'm a pedantic asshole... who knows... it's probably this option).

I decided to write about "Labyrinth" because I love the film. It's something my Aunt Tina passed down to me.... and something I plan to pass down to my nieces and nephews. Corrupt them young, I always say. 

If you're wondering about the title, and you might be.... the opening sequence of the Labyrinth portion of the film shows Hoggle peeing in a pond. This was something I found HILARIOUS as a child... and also today because I am, in fact, an overgrown child. My Aunt and I used to play a story game that often started out with "One fine day, Hoggle was peeing in a pond..." and went off in all sorts of fun and inappropriate directions.

 

“Labyrinth”

 The film “Labyrinth” was not a box office hit. It did not gain popularity until it found its way into the homes of potential viewers via VHS, DVD and now BluRay. The movie is widely regarded as a “cult classic,” which warmed the hearts of viewers through its opposition and derivation from mainstream cinema. While the film did not originally strike a chord with its intended audience, it has fought against the odds to attain a “cool” status. Today, the film is seen as revolutionary and is often ironically enjoyed. Though, in regards to popularity and quality, “Labyrinth” rivals some of today’s best films with its message of female empowerment, promotion of fostering strong friendships, use of trademark Henson puppetry, and inclusion of musical icon David Bowie.

 

The premise of the film is a simple one. A teenage girl, fed up with the way the world treats her (as so many teenagers are), wishes for the Goblin King to come and take her crying baby brother away. Not knowing that the Goblin King is real, the girl winds up going on a journey through the labyrinth to find and save her baby brother from becoming a goblin (Rattray & Henson, 1986). It is hokey. Though, it is meant to be. The film was aimed toward children. What wasn’t intended was the message of female empowerment that the film conveys.

The teenage girl, Sara, starts out as whiney. She is weak and absentminded. She believes the world is cruel and that her step-mother is “an evil witch from some fairy story” (Rattray & Henson, 1986). Though, as she gains determination while fighting to save her little brother, her childish attitude falls away. At the end of the film, she battles with the Goblin King and walks away the winner. She is stronger. The film conveys the idea that the Goblin King has no power over the young girl (Rattray & Henson, 1986). This was a newer approach used in the 80’s films. So, as time progressed, female viewers grabbed on to this character and the feats she managed to accomplish in the film. 

The film also conveys a warm fuzzy message about the enduring power of friendship. Sara enters the labyrinth alone. But, as she gets closer and closer to the center of the maze, she starts to pick up a colorful cast of friends. By the end of the film, they bonded through their adventures. Emotionally, this concept of friendship tugs at the heart strings of viewers. The resounding mantras of, we will be there whenever you call, whenever you need us and you’re not alone, even when you think you are connect to the sentiments of viewers. The characters are entertaining, grouchy, indignant and feisty. But, they are friends. They’re loving and supportive. This is something that all viewers want, that they can relate to. So, regardless of demographic, the film is able to bridge the gap between story and audience (Rattray & Henson, 1986).

However, it is not only the message and cast of characters that are compelling. The film itself relies on the creativity and design work of Jim Henson. Over time, Henson’s work has become a thing of legend. It’s also something that many people of many generations associate with their childhood. The vibrantly colored and imaginative puppetry that earned Henson his fame is ever present in this film. Henson, coupled with the artwork of Brian Froud, created fairies, goblins, henchmen, giant wooly beasts and even a tiny British snail. These iconic characters now adorn all sorts of merchandise. They are interesting to look at and aesthetically pleasing in a way that only Jim Henson was able to create. But, realistically, Jim Henson’s creations bring back fond memories of childhood of a time when things seemed simpler. This is the feeling that many viewers associate with “Labyrinth”. The film work and technology is limited by what was available in the mid-eighties, but still holds that signature Henson charm. 

 All of this, coupled with the choice of leading man, makes for a well-defined film. This, of course, refers to the iconic David Bowie. Bowie was a trendsetter. He was outspoken, bold, and talented. He was revered as the epitome of cool. Bowie brought an essence of 80’s glam to a children’s film. The world that knew him as this edgy musical pariah, but Bowie’s work in front of the camera only added to his repertoire. He went on to star in several films. 

Furthermore, he penned the soundtrack for the film. And, while it was a little tamer than some of his more experimental music, his vocal abilities and lyricism added another dimension to the film. He writes of love and greed and insanity. He portrays the Goblin King as a flawed individual in need of love, but also as someone who needs to control others. When all was said and done, the inclusion of David Bowie widened the scope of who the movie could or would eventually reach. Bowie fans, as adults, can watch the film and appreciate the talent and performance that he brought to the character, the music, and to the screen.
 

So, while “Labyrinth” was not initially the success that studios had anticipated, it is still a quality film. The way it has gained popularity against all odds is telling. The initial failings of “Labyrinth” were more due to an inability or confusion about how to market the film and who to sell it to. Does it appeal to children? Of course. Could it have been marketed to an older audience? Yes. It was a film that didn’t quite fit into the confines of traditional cinema. But, with an aire of coolness and a strong concept, the film has wormed its way into the hearts of viewers of all ages. The story is strong. The ideas are compelling. The puppetry is iconic. And, of course, David Bowie is David Bowie.

References

Rattray, E. (Producer) & Hensen, J. (Director). (1986) Labyrinth [Motion Picture]. United States

of America: TriStar Pictures

SkoopaTroopa Sings The Blues (Because Nobody Gets Out of Here Without Singing The Blues)

Unpopular opinion : Vincent D'onofrio is, hands down, my favorite Thor. Hands down.

Did I use a thinly veiled "Adventures in Babysitting" reference to post pictures of Vincent D'onofrio? I sure did. Can you blame me? He's wonderful (even if my mom thinks I'm crazy for saying so).

As a child, I WAS Sarah from "Adventures in Babysitting", running around with a Thor helmet--I even lived in the right city, Chicago. Though, my parents would NEVER let a babysitter take me into the city at night. That's just irresponsible.

I had silly plastic Fisher-Price roller skates too, and a sweater that was strikingly similar to the one Sarah wore for the majority of the movie. I'm sure that I have pictures of it somewhere, but it's too late and I am too tired to go digging through my closet to find them.

I would like to give this movie some credit for the way that I developed, but I was a wee tot when it came out and cultivated my love of Thor all by myself. I just found kinship with Sarah when I was old enough to understand the plot of the film, and eventually I connected to Chris instead, but that's all a normal part of growing up, or so I like to believe. The one thing I couldn't connect to was that my truck-driving dad did not have a hook for a hand.

As an adult, my deep love for Thor did not change; it only grew deeper (I ignored that whole time in comic book world where Thor was dead -- we don't talk about the dark days). Did I throw myself a Thor / WWE themed birthday party in my mid-twenties? True. Did my awesome friends show up with Thor masks and Mjolnir replicas (including a movie-quality prop--just for me)? Correct. Did I also, for some reason, run around wearing a WWE belt? Sure did. My life doesn't make sense and it doesn't have to (much like this nonsense midnight post).

So let's bring things full circle. While many other actors have stepped in to play Thor, D'onofrio will always be my favorite. Meow.

Is this post about "Adventures in Babysitting" or Vincent D'onofrio. Only sort of. I just wanted to make sure that everyone understood both my deep love for this film and for D'onofrio. I love him. Even today, love. The man can really beard. And, everyone knows that I love a good beard. Look at it. Love it as I love it.


Now that we've established that, we can move on. Will I be singing any actual blues? That remains to be seen. Depending on how stuffy my nose is when I'm done writing this, you may get something blues-adjacent (or not).

I did write another post, one with a point. It's about being a protagonist, according to the MBTI. I'll eventually post it. For now, all of you lovelies just get my Thor ramblings and  a list of my current favorite songs. You're welcome.

1. Heartworms - The Shins (I've had a favorite Shins song for over a decade now, but I think it's moved to #2 because I love this song.)
2. Album of The Year - The Good Life
3. Sea Legs - The Shins (Not the only repeat artist in my top ten here)
4. All Fall Down - Matt Skiba & The Sekrets
5. How The Hell Did We Get Here - Matt Skiba & The Sekrets
6. Messes - Tim Kasher
7. That Man - Caro Emerald
8. Fluorescent Adolescent - Arctic Monkeys
9. Leave on The Light - Lucky Boys Confusion
10. Heart it Races - Dr. Dog

Here's a playlist should you care to listen to it.

It seems you will not get a blues recording right now. But, maybe I'll make one tomorrow. Until then, "Rest well and dream of large women".

SkoopaTroopa Teaches "Zombies"

So, since my English Composition classes are still in the movie unit, we took some time to dive into Zombie movies. I had my classes read a short essay by Max Brooks, a well-known zombie author. The essay is called "The Movies That Rose From The Grave". It's short and gives enough information for even the most zombie-illiterate reader to be able to follow along (and it happens to be in our textbook, score).

From this, I had students write about how/why zombie films have regained popularity in our society. They've come up with some entertaining, though valid reasons. Why are zombie movies popular? They're a safe thrill. They force us to confront our humanity and/or lack thereof. They have us questioning our ability to survive against unforeseen enemies.

I also let students choose movies and then vote on one to watch in class. This class chose Zombieland which wound up working very well with our reading. So, in essence, we had a mini-unit on zombies because my students are awesome and sort of "get" me.

But since we have to learn while we're having fun, I had them write an analysis assignment that asked them to answer four questions. Feel free to answer them in the comment area. I'm always interested to see what other people have to say.

1. Who is the protagonist? What type of person is he? Why is he a successful element of the film?
2. How is the conflict resolved? What aspects of the protagonist's character led to this resolution? Support your idea.
3. Describe any outside forces that helped the protagonist to succeed.
4. What are three lessons from the film that viewers can apply to their own lives? Consider both the central conflict and the back story (plot and sub plot). Describe the lesson, and explain the real life implications it can have.

They're eventually writing what boils down to a rhetorical analysis of their favorite movie. So, all of the prep work will hopefully get them thinking about films they've seen in ways that they wouldn't usually. It's an exercise in critical thinking, and they're usually pretty grateful to have the opportunity to look at their favorite things from a different perspective. And, really, when we can tie movies to our real lives, it justifies our addictions (and who doesn't love to justify a Netflix addiction).

SkoopaTroopa Studies Film

I just started the Movie unit in my English Composition course. My students were excited to get going because we all have a shared love of film. We started class with a video on why we, as humans, love film. We also watched the first few videos in a set on film history; it's actually pretty interesting stuff.

The goal of the unit is to take films that you (we) love and look at them from a critical perspective, to analyze WHY we love certain films. The first thing I've asked students to do is make a list of their five favorite movies (or five movies that they love; realistically I don't have a top five; I've got a top 150, maybe more).

I always write a list  and share it with my students. This particular group and I seem to have similar taste in films. I even garnered the response, "You know, if I wasn't in this class and you weren't my teacher, I think we could be best friends." Yay me.

So, here's my list. Take it for what you will. What are your favorites? Feel free to comment below. I'm always looking for something new to watch.

1. Labyrinth
   • This movie paired three of my favorite things, David Bowie, muppets and singing. The premise of having this entire Goblin Kingdom where bad children were sent was, for me, always entertaining. But, really, this movie instilled in me values that I hold dear to this very day. It emphasizes the idea of friendship and how friends are there for you when you need them, even when you feel like you're alone. It also explores the idea of power. The Goblin King wields it. Though, in the end, it is the teenage girl who triumphs. So, it is also maybe an early symbol of "girl power".
2. Legend
   • I have always gravitated toward fantasy. This movie, while hokey, does a beautiful job of showing the stark contrast between good and evil. The set, characters, colors and design really emphasize the light and the darkness that exists in the world. I also think that Tim Curry's iconic portrayal of "Darkness" is something that many other films have drawn from. I would not have loved the movie as much if someone other than Tim Curry were to have played the part.
3. The Dark Crystal
   • This is another exploration of good and evil, and it uses Hensen puppetry to bring it to life. The thing that I find most alluring about this film is the premise that it sets forth about good and evil. In the film, the two species (Skeksis and Mystics) are at war with one another, as good and evil might be. But, the two species were, at one point, one entity. So, they are the physical embodiment of the ideas of good and evil. In the end, they are put back together to form a single species. The idea that we are all good and evil, that we need both parts to remain balanced, is one that I always found alluring. I also think there is a great deal of truth to it.
4. Army of Darkness
   • This is not a serious movie. It isn't a good movie. It is a campy piece of non-sense. Is there a logical reason for liking it? Maybe. I enjoy the stupid humor. I enjoy Bruce Campbell. I enjoy the horrible special effects. The movie has epic and memorable one-liners. There is no deep and meaningful reason that I love this film.
5. The Princess Bride
   • This, to me, has everything that a movie should have. It has sword fights, giants, pirates, evil princes, poison, horse riding, giant rodents, and a love story. I think this movie is timeless and that it has something that everyone can enjoy. There is a fair amount of action. There is a good deal of romance. There are odd characters and several side plots. We can all connect to this movie; we can all relate to it. The softie in me loves this idea of love conquering all. The tomboy in me appreciates that it is done with sarcasm, sword fighting and questing. It is a wonderfully acted film based on a beautifully written book. For most book to film movies, I am always disappointed. I find something lacking. This film, while different, didn't suffer such an ill fate.