The Village and other thoughts concerning M. Night.

This isn't actually a movie review. In preperation for the soon coming Lady in the Water, I was thinking about other M. Night flicks. Well, I guess I was really thinking about M. Night in general. He has become known as the crazy twist guy. You'll be watching one of his movies and think you have it figured out, and then you find out that Bruce Willis was dead or that he has supernatural powers. And that little girl was totally right about the water.
We came to expect that from him. He, like so many actors, has been typecast as the director who never ends a movie like you expect. The problem with that is that he constantly has to one up the suspense he built up in the last movie. But, not every movie is a thriller. If he made every movie a thriller, he would become cliche and blah and no one would go see his movies anymore.
But, when M. Night makes a movie that isn't a thriller, people are disappointed. Case in point: The Village. Everyone expected the movie to be about scary monsters. So when there were no scary monsters, just the elders dressed up in crazy costumes, people thought that was the crazy twist. But, no, if that's what you thought then you wrong. Some people thought that the crazy twist was the fact that the village wasn't what you thought. It was a modern day group of people that had voluntarily secluded themselves from the world. If this is what you thought, then you were only half right.
The crazy twist in The Village is that it isn't a thriller. It's not about the monsters. It's not about the suspense. It's about love. Yep, it's M. Night's version of a love story. And, it's a damn good version. But, before you go thinking the wrong thing again, let me just add that it's not just about romantic love. It's about people loving their children and their family so much that they were willing to seclude themselves from the rest of the big scary world so that they could give their children the best possible life. They gave up their careers and the members of their family who didn't want to come so that they could build a better life. It's about the kind of love that produces a kind of pain that would make people want to seclude themselves from the rest of the world. It's about loving someone so deeply that when you lose them, you lose yourself.
The elders understood that love so completely that when Lucius Hunt was stabbed they broke all their rules to save Ivy walker from that same kind of pain. It's a movie about a love so pure that if you're not careful you could miss it. It's a movie about innocence.
Only a genius of a director could pull of such an amazing movie. And, only M. Night is that kind of genius. Perhaps I am a bit biased, but few movies are shot as well as his. His aliens were probably the most beleivable aliens I have seen in a movie in a long time. And what director pays such attention to detail as he did in The Sixth Sense? And, what does it say about a director when actors want to work with him again and again? And, not just any actor, good actors. Bruce Willis, Bryce Dallas Howard, Joaquin Phoenix have all worked for him twice. He's had Mel Gibson, Sigourney Weaver, Adrien Brody, Samuel L. Jackson, Haley Joel Osmet, and Toni Collete in at least one of his projects. That's not a list you should sneeze at. So, don't.
All of you need to go out and rent The Village and any other M. Night movie you didn't like and watch it again with new eyes. Shake off your old prejudices. Stop looking for the twist and start looking for the story. Because not only is M. Night a brilliant director, he is a fantastic writer, a story teller.

I need a map.

I don't really know why I am writing this. I just sort of need to send this cosmic question out into the universe.
Today, I was listening to the radio and the DJ said that the artist who had just sung the song was only twenty-three and already has three number one songs. That made me start thinking, that's how old I am. And, how many other twenty-somethings are out there acheiving their dreams. They are out there making movies, on tour, hitting home runs and such while I live in my parent's basement working at a medical billing office and watching the gilmore girls.
I have already resigned myself to the fact that it is unlikely that I will "make it" before I'm twenty-five. So, I'm shooting for thirty. Now, I know that thirty isn't old, but it is in seven years. I do not have that kind of patience. I think John Mayer called it a "quarter life crisis." I feel like I am sitting behind a desk waiting for my life to start while the rest of the world is just zooming by. It hurts a little.
Another part of the problem is that while I am waiting for my life to start, I feel a little guily because I feel like I could be starting it if I just knew what to do. If I just knew what job to take or who to talk to or what classes I should sign up for, then I could get my life started. But, I have no idea what I am doing. Here I am, graduated from college, with a good idea of where I want to end up, but with no idea what steps to take to get there.
So, college students, worse then the dreaded senioritis is the quarter life crisis that seems to inevitably follow. I have all this freedom. I don't have to go to class or write a paper. I don't have to register for classes. But, it seems when I don't have someone telling me what to do, I'm lost as to what step to take next. Like John Mayer said, there is just a stirring in my soul, wondering about a still verdictless life.

Confessions

I thought that because I have now graduated from college and have entered the real world and adult life that maybe there are a few confessions to make before I start this new chapter.
1. I love American Idol. No, excuse me, I really really love American Idol. Sometimes Tuesdays are the highlight of my week, especially lately. I vote and vote and vote. No, I am not giving this up.
2. Sometimes I stay in my pajamas all day. I want to. I don't see any reason why I shouldn't. It's not like I would go to work in my pajamas and I hardly ever leave the house in them, so every once in a while I just stay in them for a very long time.
3. I daydream a lot. It exercises my creative mind.
4. I really did wonder if Ross and Rachel were going to get together in the end.
5. I hate when people make suggestions about what I should do. I know they are trying to be helpful by offering their knowledge in a particular area, but I really just want to punch them in the face. Look, I'll find my own path, thanks. And, if I do need your help, then I'll ask.
6. Boys make me nervous. Always have, always will. I'm not sure why. And, honestly, I have a bachelors degree in psychology, so if I did want to know, I would figure it out on my own.
7. And, lastly, I love television. I know a lot of you already know this about me, but I want to say it for everyone to hear. I love tv. I watch it a lot. And I don't think I am any less smart for it. And if I was, then dang, I could have been the next Einstein.
I invite your own confessions, but you probably shouldn't tell me. I don't really care. I hardly ever listen to people when they talk.

I'm set adrift, with a diploma for a sail and lots of nerve for oars.

Today I graduated.
They did not let me give an acceptance speech, so I decided I would put one in blog form anyway. So, if I would have been able to give a speech upon accepting my diploma what follows is what I would have said.
First and foremost, I want to thank my family. My parents have supported me in more ways than I could possibly recount. My sisters have been wonderful as well. We don't always get along, sure, but I always know I can call on them. Also, to my extended family, especially to those of you who are here today. All of you have been the base of my support system and I have a hard time believing that I could have actually made it without you.
Second, I want to thank my friends. I hesitate to name them for fear that I might leave someone out, but there are a few I would like to name. Crystal, without you, I would have no idea where I'm going. Joshua, thank you so much for picking me up on the side of the road, changing my tire and all the other things you do for me. Mary and Sarah Beth, you were my salvation those first few semesters and I never would have made it without you. Jessie, my wonderful roommate, I can't believe we did it. Sara, this is only the beginning. And, finally, Audrey, if you wouldn't have caught me on the way to the registrar's office, I definitely wouldn't be here.
Third, I want to thank the faculty and staff. Namely, Dr Dirksen and Dr. Jones. I know that I can be an annoying student. I know that I can be a pain in the butt. Dr. Dirksen you have taught me, but more importantly, you have showed me a bigger world out there. Thanks for Peru. Dr. Jones, you have always made me believe that I can do anything. Your passion about even the most boring aspects of Anthropology is infectious.
I can't believe I have finally made it. And while I am proud of myself, I am proud of us. It has taken a lot of people to get me here. I did not do it on my own. It took a village to get this girl graduated.

You can read this if you want.

I know I've been blogging a lot lately, and maybe you are tired of reading them. Well, you don't have to read this one. I will not be complaining though. And, it's not about graduation. It's something I've never written about before. I know your interest is peaked now.
Okay, so I have been reading this book by Tony Campolo called A Reasonable Faith. I wasn't impressed until I got to the second to last chapter today. He was talking about self actualization and humanism. Don't worry if you don't know what that is because I'm going to break down my favorite parts for you. If you are curious though, I do suggest you read it.
So, basically Campolo is building around Maslow's theory of self-actualization, which is that the ultimate goal of humanity is to become the most perfect human, to be fully human. Campolo suggests that the only way we can become fully human is to have an intimate relationship with the only person who is fully human, Jesus.
The most interesting thing about Campolo's Christian Humanist theology is not the above statement, which is the main premise, but its implications. The one on sin being my favorite. If we are all striving to be that most fully human, then we should also be striving to bring others to that same state. And anytime we succeed in bringing a person, including ourselves, closer to self-actualization, we have accomplished good. Anytime we fail to bring a person, included ourselves, to self-actualization, we have not accomplished good. Worse yet, if we make a person, including ourselves, feel less like a human, dehumanized, we have sinned. Whoa. Holy Moses.
Think about that. I am still trying to wrap my mind around it. But, how many times do you think you dehumanize someone? Call some driver an idiot, treat the casheir like they're stupid, or get agitated in a drive thru. We are dehumanizing them. But, even more, when we fail to humanize someone, or bring them closer to being fully human, is that a sin as well? Man, I don't know. But, I have to be honest, I am loving this new perspective on sin. I like the black and whiteness of it.
It definitely made my last trip to Walmart a little more interesting.

"Adventure," she cried, "adventure!"

I am so bored. I am bored with Cleveland. I am bored with my apartment. I am bored with my job. I am bored with school. I am bored with my life. Let me break it down for you.
Cleveland does not rock. Cleveland sucks. There is never anything exciting going on. Well, last week there was the festival of cultures, but I had to work. You can drive from one side of Cleveland to the other in ten minutes and not see anything excited. I know, I just did it. In fact most of the restaurants are closed by ten. Well, that's just silly.
Because I do not have a job, and I only have class on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and most of my friends do not have this cushy arrangement. So, I spend most of my days hanging out in my apartment. I hate it. I feel like a big, lazy slob.
I am bored with my job. Yes, I am the Lee University Lady Flames Concessions Manager. I am grateful for my job. And, most of the time, I don't mind my job. But, sometimes, I just get sick of serving hot dogs. Sometimes, I have a lot of fun with my job. And, sometimes, I don't. The truth is, it just doesn't pay enough.
I am twenty-three days away from graduation. That is exciting. I am definitely not bored with that. No freaking way. However, seriously, what are you going to teach me in twenty-three days. Actually, it's far less than twenty-three days, it's actually eight days. What are you going to teach me in eight days? What could I possibly prove to you about my own intelligence in those eight days. If I haven't proven that I am worthy of my degree, am I really going to prove it to you in those eight days? I really don't have the motivation to write one more paper, to take one more exam, to listen to one more lecture.
I think I am done complaining. I realize that my life is not that bad. I'm just frustrated right now. I just need a little adventure. I am not content hanging out in my apartment, watching television and writing response papers. I need to climb a mountain, hang out in a cafe with a hot guy with a lovely accent, take a hike in a jungle, hell, I'd eat a jungle grub.

AND ANTHROPOLOGY

Today, I went to the bookstore to pick up the twenty-five announcements the school gives me for free. Before I even open the announcements, I call my mom to let her know that they are in. Then, I open them and saw what they said. Sure, they spelled my name right, but the got my degree wrong. Oh man, am I ever mad. It says I am a candidate for a Bachelor of Art's Degree in Psychology.
AND ANTHROPOLOGY!
But, do they say that? No.
The truth is, I don't really care what the announcements say. If the school didn't give them to me for free, then I wouldn't even be sending them out. But, I do care what my degree says. I do care what they say when I walk across the stage. And if they can only say one major, fine, but I want it to be Anthropology. None of the psychology professors even know my name. I don't even care about psychology anymore. Sure, I probably learned some useful things, but if I had to do it all over again, I would only do anthropology.
My fellow double major, Sara, and I are feeling as though we aren't getting a fair shake. Neither major wants to recognize us because we betrayed them in some way. It's like we are Samaritans, not fully Jewish, and not fully Gentile. But, there is one difference, we have done the same amount of work as every single major, plus the work of an entire seperate major. I only had one class that overlapped. This is ridiculous. I stayed an entire year longer because I discovered that anthropology is truly my passion, my avenue to change the world, and I don't even get the recognition for it.
Man, come Monday if something doesn't change, heads are gonna roll. I'm calling my Mama.