Welcome...and initial guidelines...

This blog will be used in the spring of 2008 by 80+ students at Drexel University to investigate the effects of Iraq on culture and the reverse. Our goal will be to better understand why the US is in Iraq, and to question whether literature can help us on this journey.

Weekly plans and other materials will always be posted in Vista, not this blog. So go to Bb Vista to get the discussion prompts and other instructions.

I intend this blog to manage our discussions and track our collective investigation.

You should have received an email from me inviting you to become a contributor to this blog. The email was sent Monday afternoon to your official Drexel email address.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Addicted

The last time I went to a movie theaer, I was not thinking about whether the plot has a deep theme with societal connection. Even after viewing the movie, I judged it base on its plot and not its deeper meanings.
The movie I decided to analyze is "21", 21 is a magic number. It is when people are allowed to drink but better yet go to casino and win some big bucks. The movie "21" is exactly going to casinos, taking audiences to the world's capital of gambling, Las Vegas. In this movie, Ben Campell, a MIT student who has trouble with paying his Harvard medical school tuition decides to join a group of students to play blackjack. They travel to Las Vegas to play the game or better yet count cards, a technique to increase chance to winning the game. Ben enjoyed the short-lived life in Las Vegas winning bundles of money and being whoever he wants in a city where you can be whoever you want. Like every movie, the protagonist encounters a problem. Ben like-wise has to face an obstacle. Ben has long won enough money for his tuition but like most people addicted to the life of gambling, the thrills they seek. One night he lost a tremendous amount of money during and was told by his team leader, Mickey to pay back what he lost. Ben however, thinks that he is the one contributing the most to the team and decides that the team can function without Mickey. Ben with his group decided to stay in Las Vegas but they are now targeted by the security of the casino. In fact, the security has a history with Mickey and "signs" a truce with Ben stating that if he helps trap Mickey then Ben will be let free and allowed to count cards. Through a complex scheme Mickey was trapped but the security still forced Ben to give back what he won leaving him with nothing.
Like the analysis on the scream series, if Maureen had been a better mother, all the tragic events would've never happen. In "21", if Ben had left the team after winning the three-hundred thousand for his tuition he would not had to go through all the drama. Maternal care is lacking in today's society, children growing up with no mother often have issues. Gambling is also an issue in society, it's a dangerous thrill to seek and has led to many people's end leaving them with no money and no house.

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