Final Reflection

Topic I picked was the portrayal of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in Eternal Sunshine of the spotless mind. Based on scholarly articles, Michel Gondry portrayed memory loss in the film as a way of forgetting therapy for PTSD. By researching more on PTSD it gave me a better understanding that mind numbing or erasing memory is a way to help patients cope with their disorder. It helps forget about the bad memories and move forward on their daily events. After writing this paper, I have realized how bad PTSD can affect a person's way of thinking or even behavior depending on the severity of the traumatic experience. In this writing class, I learned a great deal on understanding how to write a research paper. Not just researching ideas but also how to take scholarly information and putting it into my own words. College-level research is totally different from other types of English writing. In this research paper, details are very important especially when quoting an author. If taking words from an author, it is crucial for the writer to give a citation to let the readers know where the facts came from. My best advice for the future students, use all of the sources that the professor gives you, the links where to find scholarly articles or books. Such as Gale Virtual Research Library, LexisNexis or other JStor will be the best place to find great sources. The more information you have on your topic, the better you can navigate on what best sources you can use for your paper. The hardest part was putting the information together, but the professor will give you an outline of what should each body paragraph should consist of. Once you have written down your version of the outline, it will make writing so much easier.

My final research paper game plan

During the next two weeks, I need to work on topic sentences on my body paragraphs that will introduce my quote sandwiches, along with the right citations for paraphrases to finish my research paper. I need to improve on organizing my arguments and improving my writing style. My transition sentences also needs to be worked on. I will make this time tomorrow for a couple hours tomorrow, at least an hour everyday and some more this weekend.

Close Reading of Film Stills in The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Close Reading of Film Stills in The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.

Figure : 1 – Joel (Jim Carry) and Clementine (Kate Winslet) meets again after the procedure.

2) **What details do you notice about the film still?

            In this film still Joel is sitting up awkwardly, shy and unsure of what to say to Clementine. While Clementine is kneeling on the seat like a young kid would, in front of him showing that she is interested to get to know Joel.

3) What emotions can you ‘read’ in this film still?

            There are lots of emotions in this film still. Clementine had this weird feeling that she knew Joel from somewhere because he looked so familiar. She tries to figure out where she might have seen him before. While on the other hand Joel is having an odd day, trying to figure what’s going on with him. He is unsure why this girl is so interested in him. At the same time afraid that he falls for every girl that gives him a little bit of attention.

 

 

Figure : 2 – Joel (Jim Carry) finds out Clementine (Kate Winslet) erased her memory of their relationship.

2) **What details do you notice about the film still?

             In this film still Joel (Jim Carry) looks lost, puzzled and unsure of what to do. His eyebrow are close to each other while walking out of the books store as his background starts to dim. It slowly gets darker the more his puzzled.

3) What emotions can you ‘read’ in this film still?

             Joel (Jim Carry) seems hurt, angry and betrayed. As the news slowly sinks in to his brain, he isn’t sure if he should believe it or not. He feels his world just came down on him. Hi is overwhelmed with the news and confused of what to do next. Joel seems to be thinking to himself is that even possible.

 

In these two film stills, lots of different emotions are expressed through imagery. The film stills show close details on what the character is thinking or feeling based on their body language and the scenery. It reveals that Joel and Clementine are two totally opposite people at the same time they compliment each other. Clementine is very upbeat, outgoing and enjoys drinking. While Joel is shy, simple and a quiet guy. In the first figure, Joel and Clementine are seating in the train as they meet again after going through the procedure of erasing each other out of their memories. Clementine sits in the seat ahead of Joel, as she is kneeling on the seat facing him. Her body language shows that she is interested, excited and curious. By the way Joel was sitting still in the corner, unsure what to say back to Clementine, feeling nervous and curious. Figure two is a film still of Joel leaving the book store after finding out about the shocking news that what he though was his better half, erased him out of her memory. The background gets darker as he tries to process the event while puzzled on why. His world slowly comes down on him as his brows gather in the middle of his face, unsure of whats next. A movie is meant to be watched more than once, if not there is a lot to miss. Close reading reveal details on what the characters are portraying which helps understand the movie. Figure two can be used in my paper as an evidence of memory loss. Two people who once knew each other now does not have any recollection of their past but deep down inside their is a funny feeling that they have met before. As for Joel, figure 1, was a painful experience which is why he decided to go through the procedure. With a film still I'm able to read the characters, looking at the scenes closely as the directors use imagery to express emotions. Compared to just watching the movie, there are so many details one can take in that we miss some.

Are Hollywood Films Realistic

Are Hollywood Films Realistic?

Hollywood Films are meant to be realistic but not exactly accurate at all times. Their job is make us as an audience believe the movie whether it is fictional or not. Actors do a great job at portraying their role that we as an audience can easily fall and believe it. Not everything is true but certain information may be accurate. As a viewer it is up to us whether we oppose to it or not.

eng103 Blog Assignment #1

 Memory loss is defined in various levels. It is very common at the same time it is accompanied with aging. According to the scholarly article on memory loss, this may occur at any age at the same time there are numerous conditions to consider such as behavior and conditions including use of drugs. This may be associated with other evidence of brain dysfunction, emotional problems or traumatic events. An example would be a Benign forgetfulness which only affects the recent events but does not interfere with the daily events. Even accompanied with frustration it only affects the unimportant events such as forgetting keys, returning calls or sending out a mail. Although in the movie The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, the main character, Jim Carry, found a way to erase a memory of a rough relationship with his significant other with the help of technology. According to Greg Miller, Neuroscientists thinks that after some time, memories become hard wired in the brain which makes it difficult to wipe out. There was a study reported that a drug was injected in a rats cerebral cortex, what it does is block the enzymes called protein kinase which helps the rat forget about a bad meal it had few weeks before. As a result on the continuing study the rodents enhanced their long term memory up to twenty five days later, remembering not to eat the bad meal or drink the bad water. Although after twenty five days of giving the drug, the rodents are unable to make new memories.  

My reseacher topic idea

The first research topic I chose was Portraying Minds In Films. There is a few movies I would like to talk about which are "The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind by Michel Gondry or Momento by Christopher Nolan". I would like to explore more on the Psychology of memory lose or not being able to create new memory. I'm interested to know what causes or triggers the brain to do this.

welcome blog

My first post.