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

The Notebook

Movies are a paramount part of American culture. The themes and plotlines of the most popular films are usually ones that resonate with most of the public. Even horror films, which appear to just be superficial thrillers, can have deeper meanings. Many of them play up family ties, for instance, to especially impact viewers.

One movie that is particularly timeless is the Notebook. Everyone is looking for their soul mate and people relish in the chance to see a heartwarming love story. Internet dating sites are more popular than ever, so it is evident that society cannot get enough of love. This movie depicts two characters that separate for some years, yet end up together in the end. This concept gives optimism to hopeless romantics who are still hoping to get back with the “one that got away.”

As the middle class in America gets smaller and smaller, the difference in social classes becomes more obvious. The two main families in the Notebook are from difference economic backgrounds. While one is affluent, the other comes from a poorer working class. The Notebook’s audience can also relate well to this. Clearly, the Notebook is not just a sappy tearjerker, but a deep film with many relevant themes that society can identify with.

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