What I've learned...

Since this is the last blog of the quarter, I've decided to do a conclusion for the time being. Looking back, I'm impressed by the variety of stereotypes I've pin-pointed and analyzed. Here is the list of the groups of people I found to be exploited (or fairly represented) by Hollywood:

1. All Women
2. Goofy/Lazy Husbands
3. Asians
4. African-Americans
5. Overweight Americans
6. The British
7. Hawaiians
8. Little People
9. The Brain Injured
10. American Southerners
11. Polygamists
12. Housewives
13. Nazis

Surprisingly, I found that women were the most commonly exploited group of people in Hollywood. Actually- I am half surprised. I thought a specific ethnicity or race would definitely be the most exploited but I kept finding more and more ridiculous stereotypes of women. Perhaps I am biased because I am a woman but I think I found the women stereotypes to be the most surprising and non-progressive. It seems that racial groups usually speak up when they feel that they are unfairly represented in Hollywood. I don't think this is as common for women. I have no idea why this is and it is frustrating. We are a huge population and bigger than any one racial group so why should we be so quiet and accepting? I know there are women out there who do voice their opinion and point out these stereotypes. But I do not think we are doing a good enough job because these stereotypes are still going strong in Hollywood.

Doing these blogs has exercised my brain a lot and has caused me to easily identify stereotypes in every TV show or film I watch. I am glad I can do this but it is annoying at the same time because it becomes hard for me to enjoy most TV/films. Hopefully I will be in a position one day to make changes of my own in Hollywood *knock on wood*.

The Reader

I finally saw The Reader this past Wednesday. Kate Winslet is one of my favorite actors and I have heard mixed perceptions of this movie. So of course I was excited to see it and form my own opinion.

Basically, I'm not sure if LOVED it. I liked it. I appreciated it. But I don't think I loved it.

Why I liked it:
1. Kate Winslet is a great actress (obviously with her Oscar)
2. I was very impressed with rookie actor David Kross
3. I usually have a soft spot for the tragic love stories

Why I appreciated it:
1. Somewhat of a non-linear storyline. Thank you for attempting to exercise my brain Hollywood.
2. It gave a Nazi human qualities vs. portraying them as lifeless monsters.
3. It showed how different generations of Germans comprehended the holocaust.

Why I didn't love it:
1. Her flaw of being illiterate was spoon-fed to the audience. It was not a surprise even though it was supposed to be.
2. I would have been more interested in seeing her thoughts and how she became a cold guard who assisted in the final solution. The illiteracy seemed to be a more important issue to film makers/author.
3. Tragic women always kill themselves! I am becoming numb to suicide in film/play plots. It never surprises me!

Well to be fair, my problem with the plot line is more of a fault of the author of The Reader (what the film is obviously based off from). I just can't get over why women can never solve their problems or just deal with them. The Reader continued the helpless woman stereotype.

As for improving stereotypes, I really liked how there were characters who were conflicted about how Hanna (Winslet) should be punished and the holocaust itself. And we also saw that she is indeed human like the rest of us and has feelings, regrets, emotions and confusions. It did not end in a lecture or the expected revenge catharsis. I felt the story was truthful.

What I found interesting was a passage in Wikipedia about the criticism of the story:

"Schlink (author) has said, 'in Israel and New York the older generation liked the book' but those of his own generation were more likely to criticize Michael (and his) inability to fully condemn Hanna. He added (also in The Guardian), 'I've heard that criticism several times but never from the older generation, people who have lived through it.'"