Berlin Calling

1.  Ickarus takes drugs because it is something that is relaxing to him.

2.  Why:  His friends take drugs to relax and have a good time.  It enhances their experience of partying. 

What:  Ickarus and his friends are taking cocaine, ecstasy, kematine, LSD, and PMA.

3.  They focus on drugs because they feel like this is the only way to get a better experience while partying.  Once they experience these drugs, it’s extremely hard to stop using them. 

4.  Similar:  There is partying currently in our society.  While partying there is also drug use going on.  Sometimes in our society, people who intended to use drugs recreationally, become addicted and form a problem.

Different:  The drug seen in clubs is a little more open in Europe then America.  The act of sex is also more open in Europe.  In America, it is a little more private.

5.  I think the youth in this movie could change the culture of society for the worse if they never grew out of the drug and partying stage.  If they were continuously irresponsible, nothing would get accomplished when it was time for their generation to run the economy.  Alice and Ickarus are two very driven people.  They worked extremely hard to get Ickarus’s album finished.  The label director is also a hard worker.  Even though she fires Ickarus, she was just looking out for what’s best for the record label.  She is a very serious business woman. 

6.  I have currently not seen any American “cult” movies. 

          This movie is a little different from what I’m used to seeing in American movies.  It took me by surprise sometimes and other times I was caught off guard by what was on the screen.  I felt it was a little slow and repetitive at parts and a little uncomfortable at others.  Although it was not my favorite movie that I’ve seen, it showed the reality of the club and drug scene in Europe.  I did appreciate how the producers definitely didn’t hold anything back when they filmed this movie.  That is one thing that American movies don’t really do a good job of because a movie like this would cause uproar in American society.  Usually in American rated R movies, there is a lot of swearing and some nudity.  In this movie there was way more than the average American movie.  One of the huge differences I noticed was that there was a large amount of sexuality shown throughout the movie.  There was a range of intercourse between homosexuals, heterosexuals, and both together.  This was one aspect of the movie that was very noticeable.  It is just something that we are not openly exposed to in America.  I believe this movie portrayed that Europe is a very open country about certain interests.  America likes to keep things private and I noticed this to be a big difference in the countries.  Another difference that I noticed was the open drug use.  In America there is obviously drug use, but I feel like it is mostly done behind closed doors.  Even though it is not very common in American movies to show a ton of drug use, I’m glad this movie did.  I think if people were exposed to the harsh reality of what drug abuse can lead to, people would think twice before using.  Although the movie made me uncomfortable at points, I was glad I had the opportunity to view this and be exposed to some of the European culture. 



1701-1800: Men and Women's Roles in Society

PARTNER: Danika Leavitt

WORKS CITED:

http://www.katelynludwig.com/masters/the_literary_salon/gender_roles/index.html. (October 17, 2011) 

http://www.localhistories.org/18thcentcolonial.html (October 17, 2011)

http://people.csail.mit.edu/sfelshin/saintonge/women.html (October 17, 2011)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_history#United_States  (October 17, 2011)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women's_history#United_States  (October 17, 2011)

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/gender_2.html#ixzz1b5mQEzMY (October 17^, 2011)

Danika's blog: click here
Randy's blog: click here
Brooke's blog: click here
Jake's blog: click here
Jennifer's blog: click here
YunFei's blog: click here

Character: Bertinck

Partner Amber Vroman

Lieutenant Bertinck:

I run a crew of good men. I was put in charge of this company and I will make sure I do the job well. I care for these men and believe if I show them respect I will receive respect, as simple as that. I was once in their position, so I understand how frightening and difficult it can be at times when you don't have much experience. When they run out of food I will make sure we get more. It's hard to see my men taken down but if the other men need their resources they should have them so they have enough strength to keep going and do a good job. I will not tolerate unjust or foolish actions, especially from our cook. I will do anything for these men because that is my duty, I am the leader of these boys. I am tough but you need to be tough to survive in this war. I have been here for two years and have not gotten injured yet and I intend for it to stay that way.

Review On All Quiet On The Western Front

            Going into class and hearing that we had to read a book, I was not excited.  As soon as I bought the book I procrastinated as long as possible.  I found myself starting the book three days before class.  To my surprise, the book was very good.  It is not a usual type of book I read, but I enjoyed it.  From reading some book reviews and ratings, I got the general consensus that the majority of the people enjoyed reading this book too.  One person wrote:  Clip:  “Have you ever finished the last page of a book and immediately turned to the first to begin it all over again? I never had, not before I read All Quiet on the Western Front.”  End Clip (http://www.mashmagazine.com/00april/aprilbook.html. 10-04-11)  Another person said, “I think the novel All Quiet on the Western Front is a well told story, mixing both fiction and non-fiction into a powerful novel which forces people to think deeply about war and all of its possible repercussions.”  (http://ezinearticles.com/?All-Quiet-on-the-Western-Front---A-Book-Review&id=84991. 10-04-11) 

            I believe the purpose of this book was to show the reality of the war.  Everybody was really pushing young men to enlist.  It did not take the young men long to figure out that enlisting was not at all what they thought it would be like.  When the book wraps up, it is clear that these young men never get a chance at a normal life.  They grow up, go to school, and die in the war.  One person wrote about what they thought the purpose of this book was.  They said, “Erich Maria Remarque created a historical novel that tells the story of what the war did to those who had so much to look forward to in life, and how the war shattered many of those hopes.”  (http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-quiet-on-the-western-front-erich-maria-remarque/1100608826. 10-04-11)  Another person described the purpose in these words, “…it is not exactly a pleasant book to read. It is not supposed to be. It is full of violence and death and loss and a kind of perpetual suffering and terror that most of us have never and will never experience.”  (http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/355697.All_Quiet_on_the_Western_Front. 10-04-11)  Over all this was a well perceived book.  It would be a good read for young adults and adults.  Reading this book would be time well spent.