Backyard

I went to see Backyard not really knowing what the film was about. I briefly read the synopsis and the time fit with my schedule. I'm glad it did. I felt this film was very powerful and emotional. The fact that is was based on true events makes it even more powerful in my opinion.
In the border town of Juarez, Mexico during the mid 90's, hundreds of women were being murdered and dumped in the desert. The story follows two completely different women. The first is Captain Blanca Bravo, a new arrival on the police force in Juarez. Bravo has a tough attitude and becomes increasingly concerned about the deaths of these women.

Captain Bravo faces sexism in the workplace as a female officer in a male field. Her superior comments on how she lets her emotions get in the way of doing her job after she let suspects get away when she stopped to help a recently raped and tortured victim that was dumped in the desert. Later in the film her male partner was offered the Chief's position even though he was in a lower position then Bravo. When he asked why him and not the Captain, he was told he would be passed over if he was so worried about her job.

The second female character is Juanita. She just arrived from another town to live with her cousin. She gets a job at the local factory and sets off to find herself a boyfriend. Or two. Without the hassles of parental figures, she is free to live her life as she pleases.
Juanita must pass a physical exam prior to being hired at the factory. After the exam the doctor gives her birth control pills. When she tells him she is not sexually active, he tells her that she must take a test monthly to prove she is not pregnant. Failing this test will result in immediate termination. By giving her the pills and assuming that she is sexually active without asking her, makes it seem like she is only a sexual object.

Once on the factory floor, Juanita soon finds that company policy is not in favor of the worker. They only get one bathroom break and a ten minute lunch per shift. To ease work strife, she and her cousin hit the local night club. She meets a boy and he jokes that her cousin found a new boyfriend. Apparently if you are seen dancing with a guy, you are now his property. Juanita and this guy become an item and she eventually ends up in his bed. She was the aggressor in this situation so when a few weeks pass and she has moved on to the next guy, she disses him in public. His homeboys convince him that his manhood was disrespected and his must get revenge.

The murders escalate and Captain Bravo works with a local domestic violence worker on identifying some of the victims. The story hits the newspaper in full force at first then are reduced to the crime sheet section on the back pages. When they try to get media coverage it is stopped by the Governor and Chief of police so the factory and foreign businessman don't receive bad publicity. Also, the town of Juarez was being seen as a murderous town where femicide was in full swing. Apparently this was bad for tourism. This could be seen as media backlash. They eventually get a major paper in the US to cover the story. A local Juarez talk radio host also has strong opinions on the way the story and events have unfolded. It ultimately results in the firing of Captain Bravo (sorry for the spoiler)

Masculinity runs wild in this film as does the objectification of women and they way they are treated as animals and as nothings to the men that rape and kill them. No one even flinches when a new body is found. They have gotten so use to it, it has become part of the culture.

I would recommend this movie but be forewarned of the strong graphic scenes.

Photos:
http://ferdyonfilms.com/Backyard%208.jpg
http://ferdyonfilms.com/Backyard%20Bravo.jpg
http://passionforcinema.com/wp-content/uploads/backyard.jpg
http://www.chicagofilmfestival.com/resources/images/movie_stills/Backyard.jpg

Father and Guns!

Father and Guns is a Canadian film about a father and son cop team that must go undercover to save one of their own. Sounds easy but for this team nothing comes easy excepts insults and abuse. Jacques and his son Marc are constantly at each others throats which makes this daring rescue even harder.

The Blood Machine Biker Gang has kidnapped Marc's best friend and fellow officer. They hatch a plan which involves getting the bikers' lawyer, Charles Berube, to turn states evidence. The police force learn through surveillance that the lawyer and his son Tim, who has suicidal thoughts are off on a father and son therapy retreat in the great outdoors.

Marc and his father are instructed to infiltrate the therapy retreat as father and son who need to work on their relationship. They don't have to do much acting. Jacques never thinks his son is good enough and Marc is insecure and fails to pull the trigger when the pressure is on. Literally and figuratively. He failed to shoot at the van the bikers' used to kidnap his best friend and his girlfriend just dumped him siting he "lacked meat".

This film has several of the concepts we learned in IDS 101. It is noticeable right from the start that masculinity will have a prominent role in this movie. Jacques and Marc are always trying to prove who is better at everything. Marc is the top rated marksmen but his father wants him behind a desk. He is only the best on paper. Marc is jealous that his father is a well liked and respected man and is always the topic of conversation. There is a scene during therapy where the counselor instructs Marc to tell his father his feelings. When Marc says that he hates that every conversation or topic is about his father... Jacques gives out a primal scream that could be heard for miles. The counselor immediately starts commenting on how wonderful it was and on and on until the point where Marc is like, "what about me?"

Sexism rears it's ugly head when the men are talking at dinner. The topic is basically where a woman's place should be. In the kitchen or the bedroom. Ageism also squeaks in when the sons instruct their fathers on the ways of the modern woman and her sexual freedom. They imply that old dogs can't learn new tricks.

A few of the therapies involve mud wrestling where masculinity and testosterone is is high form and regression back to infants where one of the father and son teams are shown suckling. I'm not sure what class theme or concepts that falls under but it got quite the reaction from the audience.

The relationship between Charles, the lawyer, and Tim, his son was that of anger and resentment. Tim feels unloved and unwanted and Charles feels Tim is too much of a sissy. Tim expresses his emotions by openly crying while Charles is cold and unemotional. It turns out in the end that Charles was similar to his son at a young age and was forced to man up. Again, men are seen as being masculine if they are emotionless, scared of nothing, and burly.

I don't want to give away the film but it was definitely worth watching and I can't wait to enjoy it again. Oh, it definitely doesn't meet the Bechdel Test for Women. There was only one women character with a name but she and Marc only talked about their relationship.

Go see it! Who knew Canadians could be funny?

Photos:
http://www.criterionpic.com/CPL/images/lcl_fathersandguns_w130-3L.jpg
http://www.criterionpic.com/CPL/images/lcl_fatherandguns_p200.jpg
http://www.tribute.ca/tribute_objects/images/movies/De_pere_en_flic/depereenflic7.jpg

Gay, Straight, Bi-Sexual, Transgender.... Who Cares?

Sexual orientation is often described as the direction of one's sexual interest towards a members of the same sex, opposite, or both sexes. (www.thefreedictionary.com) The most common categories are heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality.

We read a couple of articles in class regarding teenagers that were already embracing their sexual orientation to the same sex but the public wasn't so quick to accept them. The following excerpt is from an article written by Judy Peet named "Lesbian Sues School District Over Harassment"

Nancy Wadington received daily torment from fellow classmates which included objects being thrown at her, getting pushed down a flight of stairs and even having her backpack urinated on. Her mother informed the school about the constant harassment and they said there was nothing they could do about it. Nancy was charged for the damaged books.

After several more complaints and an intervention by a YMCA counselor, Nancy was placed on home instruction for the remainder of her Junior year. By her Senior year she was labeled as "emotionally disturbed" and transferred to a special education school.

Nancy was ridiculed daily by fellow students because she liked girls. Really? Why? There are those that believe that being a homosexual, bi-sexual or anything that isn't heterosexual goes against God. I admit I don't know a lot about the bible or God for that matter, but what I do know or have been preached to is that he is supposed to be an all loving God. If you believe in God or whatever entity, why would he/she even make such a person if it was "wrong". But that is a whole other subject.

I was fortunate growing up that my parents taught us to love everyone no matter their color, race, religion or sexual orientation. My mother had a few gay friends and my brother's best friend came out to him their senior year. I've had lesbian roommates, gay friends, and know a couple of trans genders. I've always taken the approach of not judging people and how they live there life. I believe in people being happy with themselves.

If I had to label myself I would be bisexual. I have known from about thirteen that I liked woman but also still liked men. I am 35 and it has taken me over 20 years to tell anyone and even now only a few close friends know... well and now all of you. I don't know why it took so many years because at this time I don't care if people know. Although my mother had gay friends and never had a problem with gays or lesbians, she always made comments that bisexuals couldn't make up their minds. Maybe this is what put me off "coming out". I've had lesbian roommates tell me and have also read comments on online forums that lesbians hate bisexuals because they are trying to have the best of both worlds. All I know is that I am attracted to both sexes and I like it.

Today there are a lot more homosexuals in t.v. and film. Will & Grace featured two homosexual lead characters and had a long run on prime time television. Actor like Queen Latifah, Neil Patrick Harris and Ricky Martin. Although more and more people are coming out and accepting themselves we still experience a great hatred for the LGBT community. Stories like Matthew Sheppard where he was beat to death because of his sexual orientation will continue until there is acceptance.

I went to Gay Pride last year and made this photo book as part of an online contest called SoFoBoMo. The parade features people from all walks of life and the audience is even more varied.

Photo references:

http://www.tucsonlgbt.com/images/gay-banner-5.jpg

http://paulmayers.blogs.com/my_weblog/images/just_a_phase.jpg

http://cdn.okcimg.com/php/load_okc_image.php/images/1x1/425x1000/0x0/0x0/0/17542698076693102016

Don't "Dis" the Abled!

Ahhhh. where do I begin? This is a huge subject to tackle since being disabled or differently abled has so many meanings to different people. The dictionary's definition is a disadvantage or a or mental restricts normal achievement. In IDS 101 we learned about social and medical model of disability. Social model proposes that society is the issue and not the person. For instance, it isn't the wheelchair user that has the problem with gaining access but the building that doesn't offer a ramp that will allow access. Medical model is the opposite and says that the person is the issue and should be fixed or cured of the disability. Then there are the many types of disabilities we could discuss. Physical, mental, cognitive, environmental, chronic, or sensory. Whew.. I told you this was complicated.

As we discussed in class, the period before the 1900s disabled persons were seen as curiosities/freaks, immoral, sinful, possessed and even criminal. Science's answer was to fix or cure, segregate into institutions or asylums, or even sterilize. The 1900s brought a different attitude and things started to change. People were being rehabilitated, facilities were becoming accessible, de-institutionalization began (biggest wave was in the 1980s), and in 1990 the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) become a reality.

When I was growing up society hadn't yet embraced the political correctness that we experience today. People didn't say differently abled or challenged. The word I heard over and over was "retarded". My brother and I were constantly getting into fights with the neighborhood kids defending our sister Susan. She was born with brain damage and deafness. At two months old she suffered a stroke and became paralyzed on her left side. The doctors all but gave up and told my parents she would never walk or talk and probably wouldn't live past the age of two. Today Susan is 40 years old. Although she has many struggles with her physical, mental and medical impairments (her IQ is about 42), she has Lupus, and has seizures, she is more independent than a lot of abled body people I know. She has her own apartment, walks and talks and even though she is deaf, she seems to have an ability to hear everything. She also has a memory like an elephant. Don't forget her birthday because she will never let you forget that you did.

Another sibling, Derrick, is 23 and has Autism. There are many degrees of autism and he is considered to be high functioning. He can feed and bathe himself and be alone for hours at a time but unlike my sister Susan, he will always need some kind assistance. Derrick has an amazing sense of humor and likes to joke around and tease. He has a knack for directions. If you show him where a store or home is one time, he can find his way back without hesitation. Two different people with varying abilities yet society would just as well write both of them off.

In cinema there are five characteristics of disability:
Sweet innocent-childlike, pure, female - ex. Wizard of Oz
Obsessive avenger-violent, impulsive, bitter - ex. Freddy Kruger
Tragic victim-war veterans, young men, cynical - ex. Darth Vader
Noble warrior-also war veterans, but proud, heroic - ex. Luke Skywalker
Saintly sages-wise, blind, disability heightens senses - ex. Daredevil

If my brother and sister were in a film, I think they would be characterized as the sweet innocent. In the film X-Men, the differently abled are seen as freaks and essentially are institutionalized and segregated from "normal" society. The government even tries to cure their disability. This is a common theme in our society. I think people get uncomfortable with seeing someone in a wheelchair, or using a prosthetic, blind, or deformed. They are seen as invalids, freaks, and have nothing to contribute to society. I disagree with this. I believe we can learn valuable lessons like patience, perseverance, determination from a quadriplegic, a person with Down Syndrome, or someone that lives with chronic pain.

If the media would make an effort to portray people of different abilities in a favorable light, perhaps TABs (Temporarily Abled Body) would learn to embrace the things that make us different instead of gawking or running in terror.

Photo: https://academictech.doit.wisc.edu/ORFI/otr/creating/disabled

Golden Age of Verticle Integration

When I hear the phrase "The Golden Age of Hollywood" memories of the glitz and glamour of stars like Katharine Hepburn, Greta Garbo, Clark Gable and Jean Harlow come to mind. I don't automatically think of greed, monopoly or vertical integration. In fact, until I started this class I never heard of the term.

The famed "Golden Age" essentially began with the introduction of sound in films around 1927 and lasted until 1948. "Talkies" gave the studios an opportunity to cash in on the new technology and monopolize the industry. Studios were able to buy small "mom and pop" theatres and squeeze them out or dictate what films they were allowed to show (such as "B" list films) in order to get the "A" list films in their theatre. These small independent theatres didn't have a choice or they could risk going bankrupt. This was a process called "block booking"

During this time there were a set of eight major studios. The large ones were known as "The Big Five" which included MGM, Warner Bros, Paramount, 20th Century Fox, and RKO.
The remaining "Little Three" were United Artists, Universal and Columbia.

studio logo photos courtesy of http://www.filmsite.org/20sintro.html

What effects did vertical integration have on films, theatres and actors? By controlling the production, distribution and exhibition of films, the studios were able to control the entire market. We already know that independent theatres didn't stand a chance. The studios also bought up large amounts of land in order to film on location and construct elaborate sets. read full article

This affected smaller independent studios from competing with the "Big Five". Although the "Little Three" had some success in producing successful films, each lacked one element of vertical integration. None of them owned their own theatres. Actors during that time would have been limited to the major studios. If they didn't want to sign a contract they might find their career in jeopardy since independent studios or theatres wouldn't be able to market their "image" successfully. The production of some films by independent studios would have been affected in the same way or not produced at all if funding wasn't possible.

The golden years lasted until 1948 when the case of US vs. Paramount (a.k.a. Paramount Decree) effectively ended the rein of the studios monopoly. The verdict forced the studios sell their theatre chains. The studios weren't the only ones to suffer the consequences of this verdict. Since they were forced to sell, they increased the rental rates to try to recoup their losses. This ruling along with the rise in television caused a drop in movie attendance and hurt the film industry until around 1972 with the release of The Godfather which is considered the first modern blockbuster. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Paramount_Pictures,_Inc.

Is vertical integration a thing of the past? Not really. Modern day companies like Apple are condsidered a vertical integration company. Cable companies such as Comcast are as well. I have personal experience with this monopoly. I've lived in downtown Seattle for four years and everytime I moved into a new building, I was told that I didn't have a choice on which cable company I could sign up with. Apparently apartment builiding contract with either Comcast or Broadstripe. This infuriated me as I would like to be able to choose which company I get cable from. I think it is unfair that as a comsumer I don't have the option to choose my cable provider.

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) put a ban on exclusive cable deals years ago. In October 2007 the FCC invoked section 628 of the Communications Act, which prohibits cable companies from pursuing deals that have "the purpose or effect of hindering significantly or preventing their competitors from providing satellite cable programming or satellite broadcast programming to subscribers or consumers." read full article

"Perhaps the greatest danger that a vertically integrated company poses to a non- integrated competitor is to deny the competitor access to must-have programming that it owns or controls. Lack of access could even foreclose competitors from the market. Inferior or more expensive access to that programming also could place non-integrated rivals at a competitive disadvantage." The Free State Foundation

Photo Sources:

www.stanford.edu/~brooksie/Stars/OtherStars;

http://goldenageofhollywood.co.uk/;

http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/filmnotes;