R.E.M. - Every Day Is Yours To Win

R.E.M. - Every Day Is Yours To Win

 

 

R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by singer Michael Stipe, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and drummer Bill Berry. One of the first popular alternative rock bands, R.E.M. gained early attention because of Buck's ringing, arpeggiated guitar style and Stipe's unclear vocals. R.E.M. released its first single, "Radio Free Europe", in 1981 on the independent record label Hib-Tone. The single was followed by the Chronic Town EP in 1982, the band's first release on I.R.S. Records. In 1983, the group released its critically acclaimed debut album, Murmur, and built its reputation over the next few years through subsequent releases, constant touring, and the support of college radio. Following years of underground success, R.E.M. achieved a mainstream hit in 1987 with the single "The One I Love". The group signed toWarner Bros. Records in 1988, and began to espouse political and environmental concerns while playing large arenas worldwide.

Review of the album:
therealricko Jun 18 2012

For me, this was one of the albums of 2011 and such a shame that this was their last. I believe R.E.M only ever realeased one bad/mediocre album (Around the Sun) so every time they released an album of late, they risked their legacy. With this record they put a bit of added sheen on that legacy. Great that the band finished on a creative high. It does fade a little in the 3rd quarter of the album but the first half and finish is as strong as any REM record. It really is a pity we won't ever have another R.E.M record but what a back catalogue we have to remember them by.

Personal review:

R.E.M's song "Everyday is yours to win", have a slow rythm. The lyrics are abouts commons things; like a list. I think that; it can symbolizes that the must commons things; can make a heroe, as if the lyrics were giving a glimmer of hope. I think is like a song wich appears to be simple; but in fact it have a huge meaning behind. The tittle is very positive, to supports the people who are listening the song, like saying that they can achieve their dreams.

Video:

The video is like a sequence of mini videos, made by common people. It refers to the lyrics of the song, showing us that everybody can makes special things. It's like an amateur video, and I think it's for the people; can see themselves.

 

 

 

 

 

Two notions illustrated in Sean Penn's movie "Into the wild" (2007)

 
In my opinion this movie deals with two different notions, Myths and heroes and the Idea of progress, telling us the story of a man who decided to break free from the society and his life, and go to Alaska to live like a free person. The idea of progress can be tackle, in a contrary way, because in fact the protagonist is against progress and decided to come back  to a natural state to have a better life. In fact is showing like a regression but it can be a spiritual progress for him  too. The second notion is can be tackle is the notion of myths and heroes because of the myth of  the Good Savage, which explain that living in the state of nature is something good, contrary as the vast majority of people can think. And it can be shows through the protagonist eye, who seems to became some idealistic figure of this myth. 

Myths and Heroes

Here is the link of my worksheet about Myths and Heroes.

Paris.

Choose something to present that I like...what's an hard decision! I might choose to talk about music, but it's so typical of me, or about my dream to move to Canada but no. I decided to say something about the city of Paris.
I was born there, and for me is a city which means a lot.  I can say that I am totally in love with this city, for it's architecture, history, monuments and more.  I just come back there twice at year but anyway. 
 I think that it's this kind of city that even if  you go during summer or winter, you always have fun and can be astonish of what Paris can hide.
I am not saying that people from Paris are the most lovely persons, because is not the case, because when you are walking in the street people look at you with distrust.
Paris, one of the most beautiful cities in the world.. definitely, yes. The city of love, of the lights, of mode! People always have something to say about this city, but in fact is not my case, it's my hometown, it's the city that I will always love.

Night or Day 

 Welcome Mr Eiffel.

In...

...Or Out.

 

                                                                Cosmopolitan way of life. 

THIS IS PARIS.

Requiem for a Dream

I decided to present the movie "Requiem for a Dream", directed by Darren Aronofsky, in 2000. It's an american drama starring Ellen Burstyn, Jared Leto, Jennifer Connelly, and Marlon Wayans.

This movie deals with the notion of power, in various aspects. 

This movie shows us, the power of different addictions, as drugs, and TV. And the power of love, of imagination, and of physical aspect. 

The power of drugs, is one of the most important think in the story, because three of the protagonists are addicted to drugs, Harry Goldfarb,  Marion Silver and Tyrone C. Love. Then, Harry and Tyrone got into the business of drugs, to can finance some things. In this story, the lives of these three characters change because of drugs; at the beginning, they started in the same point, but at the end, they all finished in three different situations.

The power of TV is really important for one character, Sara Goldfarb, (Harry's mother). The movie starts with a scene where we can see Harry taking his mother's TV, because she is so addicted. Later, Sara, received a call of a TV channel, then she starts thinking that she was selected to appear on television, on her favourite TV show. The think, is that during the vast majority of the movie she's setting in front of her television, is like the trigger element, because the majority of her actions during the movies, were engendered by her addiction of television. 

Another aspect of power can be the power of the mind in Sara's case, because, she was too obsessed of television, than she changed important things in her life, and she started to rave. At first, she understood that she was selected for the TV show, later, she convinced herself that she have to wear her red dress again. 

Which takes us, to the importance of the physical aspect, because she decided to lose weight. What jeopardize her physical and mental health. 

And finally, we can find the power of love which is not the more obvious in this movie. But Harry and Marion are a young couple, and they still in love during all the movie. Harry decided to continue with the business of drugs to can finance Marion's future project. During the movie, their paths diverge, but they still fighting because they still thinking on  each other, to won't give up.

We can definitely find the notion of power of power in Requiem for a Dream, in various way, and not the most common that we can imagine.  

Post 5 - THE NOTION OF POWER "Redacted"

Trailers: 

In my opinion, this movie deals with war consequences, like what happened during war, and the outcome after war.With the lack of communication, which causes the ill-being of the soldiers, during and after the war. I think that Brian De Palma, didn't want to shows us a typical movie, but a really realistic, like a documentary. To shows us  Afghanistan and Irak  wars from the Americans soldiers viewpoint, but on a realistic way, not showing the american superiority, or a patriotic point of view. I think that De Palma, really wanted to disturbed people who watch the movie, making some mix of film, and documentary. 

I think that this movie deals with the notion of power, because is showing us that, sometimes some people have too much power, and than they don't use it, as they have to. But, it shows too, that sometimes the soldiers are powerless, like they have to kill people, and they don't want, they just sometimes live really hard situations, like they were liking in hell, and all because of the decision of a government. So it really deals with the notion of power, in this case political power, which is not always good.

Synopsis:

Director Brian De Palma turns his lens on the Iraq War with this "fictional documentary" about the experience of U.S. soldiers involved in the conflict. Based on a news item about the rape of an Iraqi schoolgirl by wayward grunts assigned to patrol a checkpoint, the film depicts a scenario not unlike the one De Palma covered in Casualties of War. Shot on high-definition video, Redacted also addresses the ever-evolving manner in which war is covered by the media by focusing on such journalistic innovations as blog coverage and web reporting.

Review:

This is one truly powerful (for lack of better a word) film. I am left dumbfounded and virtually speechless. Of course we all are aware of the horrific tragedy of war, but this film really showed me that what I had in mind is a "G" rated version. Everyone needs to see this film so we can all truly understand what our men and women are going though. It really brings you there with them and lets you see what they see on a daily basis. Not only does it focus on Americans, but it looks into what the Iraqi's are going through as well. This war is not a pretty picture, and though this film documents the disturbing realism of war, please watch it. It's films like this that make a difference and spark change.

Post 4: IRack

In my opinion, this video can deals, with two notions: Notion of Progress, and Seats and Forms of Power.
For notion of progress, it is obviously on a critical side, showing how much technology, is improving, but sometimes, this improvement doesn't make sens. It shows us that sometimes, humans can not control technology which they created, because in this video the IRack exploded and Steve Jobs cannot does anything. 
In another side, just  the name of this new "electronic device", shows us that, the video is dealing with the implication of the U.S.A in Iraq, making  war, against terrorism. So, it's a metaphoric image, to display the power of America, in the world, so it deals with the notion of seats and forms of power.
We can conclude saying that, this is a critical video, against to much technological progress which is sometimes unnecessary, and against  too much power of America in the world, like making war in Iraq.