The Wandering Aperture

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Death of a Salesman and a Rebirth of my Anxiety

November 12, 2021

Films hold the power to make or break a story. This statement especially holds true to film adaptations based off of iconic works of literature and the famous Mr. Arthur Miller is no different. The film adaptation of Miller's Death of a Salesman is nonetheless a work of art and is a great example of literature translating into a film adaptation. Released in the mid-1980s, the film closely follows the plot of the novel and brings to life the characters we love (or hate) in the best way. Dustin Hoffman's performance as "Willy Loman" is unbelievable. His ongoing ambition masked by his declining mental state is powerful and incredibly depressing. When reading the literary adaptation, I panned Willy as a sad, older man; broken and torn by the capitalistic systems in our country-- that still very much exist today might I add. Although, Hoffman's performance portrayed Willy farther gone and way angrier than I initially read him to be. Truthfully, his performance sparke

Honest Publishing and Why I'm Not Doing it

November 04, 2021

My goal with this post is to take a bold step and post a VERY honest reflection that I have written but, I will instead explain why I have decided not to do so. Writing is a vulnerable activity nonetheless but, is powerful when driven with emotion and honesty. I have always loved writing and as scholars, we are always encouraged to share our work and put ourselves out there. But, what happens when you're too honest and observant? A humorous example that comes to mind when I think about honest writing is an instance in the beloved television show Gilmore Girls. In the eighth episode of the fourth season titled Die Jerk , our revered mother and daughter duo are in attendance at a Yale ballet performance to which Rory is assigned to review. With great inputs from Lorelai, she encourages her kind-hearted daughter to write a brutally honest review which comes with brutal repercussions from the performer. My point? I don't want the same thing to happen to me. While my entire perso

What Film Teaches Us About Human Nature: Rear Window

November 01, 2021

This blog is a sample of my in-class essay on Hitchcock's iconic film-- Rear Window. "Curiosity is the lust of the mind," as once quoted by the great English Philosopher Thomas Hobbs. It is natural for humans to be naturally curious about the unknown and what is presented in front of us with no context. In modern society, one always wants to be in touch with what is happening around oneself. When a scandal occurs, it is human nature that we are curious to know why something happened. Alfred Hitchcock's 1954 film Rear Window presents a classic example of the oldest known type of curiosity in modern society-- how much do we know about our neighbors? Rear Window has become a revered film of the 20th century. The film tells the story of L.B "Jeff" Jefferis (played by James Stewart), a renowned photographer who is wheelchair-bound following a tragic fall during one of his assignments. While bound to his New York City apartment, Jefferies spends much of his t

Expectation vs. Reality: Blue Tiles

October 27, 2021

It's a Wednesday afternoon. I am doing the best I can just to get through the worst weeks I've had in some time. And by some time... I mean almost none at all. I anticipate that we will converse about literature or something else but, instead, we are told to write about what we think of when we think of the bathroom for the opposing sex that we identify with. Odd. An unusual topic for an ordinary Wednesday class. Here is my account from that afternoon's lesson. 1:30 m- The Expectation A men’s bathroom is best often described as a wasteland of filth— although best determined by the surrounding location in which the bathroom presides. In a university academic building men’s bathroom. Our university is particularly good with housekeeping and maintenance. Alas, in a men’s bathroom in a university academic building I expect to see blue or neutral colored walls because you know, gender association. The bottom of the walls of the urinals I except to be caked with rapidly dr

Raymond Carver- I love you!

October 25, 2021

Is it a rare occasion when I fall in love with a story. However, at this time I offer up a round of applause to Raymond Carver. I have recently fallen in love with Carver's short story "Cathedral." "Cathedral" is a short story by the late Raymond Carver written in 1983. This short story is narrated through an unnamed man and his reaction to his wife who is awaiting an old friend of hers to arrive. We learn that the wife's friend is a blind man named Robert and he has been in her life since she worked for him one summer when she was young. The narrator depicts his wife's past as to her first marriage, how she met Robert, and the current events of the story. At the time of the story's events, Robert's wife Beulah had recently passed away and the narrator's wife has invited Robert to stay. Until Robert's arrival, the narrator has disdain and an apathetic attitude toward's Robert. However, following an evening of bonding all togethe

How Cliche: The Irish Girl is a Fan of James Joyce

October 25, 2021

When I noticed we were going to read James Joyce in our class-- I was really excited! In my senior year of high school, I took a class on Irish Literature and the entire class revolved around Joyce's works. While we mentioned Joyce's other works we primarily focused on Joyce's short stories in the collection "Dubliners." I enjoyed "Dubliners" a great deal because it not only showcased how talented Joyce is at storytelling but, it connects me to my heritage. My last name is McGinty, how could I become any more Irish?! I Irish Danced as a kid, I have a large Irish family who VERY much enjoys alcohol, dare I go on? Reading "Araby" in class this past week was rewarding. I was surprised I remembered as much as I did about the story considering I have been out of high school and that class for almost three years now-- thank goodness! "Araby" follows the story of a young boy who is madly in love with his friend's older sister Managa

Dickson + Death's Gentleman and Missing Christina Rosetti

October 22, 2021

With Halloween just around the corner, it is a joyful experience to watch a scary movie, eat a bag of kitkats, and dig out the creepy reads. We all have our favorite horror books and poems that we love to be scared by. However, one cannot properly celebrate the spooky season without glossing over some of Emily Dickinson's works. Of the many great pieces by Dickson, one must be familiar with "Because I Could Not Stop for Death." Because I could not stop for Death – He kindly stopped for me – The Carriage held but just Ourselves – And Immortality. We slowly drove – He knew no haste And I had put away My labor and my leisure too, For His Civility – We passed the School, where Children strove At Recess – in the Ring – We passed the Fields of Gazing Grain – We passed the Setting Sun – Or rather – He passed us – The Dews drew quivering and chill – For only Gossamer, my Gown – My Tippet – only Tulle – We paused before a House that seemed A Swelling of the Ground –

Thursday Thoughts #1: It's a Cat....But it isn't

October 21, 2021

"Its' a Cat...." But theoretically, a drawing nor a thought of a thing is not the thing itself. One of the many reasons I've fallen in love with literature and poetry is because it challenges to me think and feel about life from new perspectives. The simplest example of this is through drawings. A drawing of a cat is not a cat but, we personify it to think it is a cat. In literature, this perspective comes in many forms. However, my favorite thing to do is analyze literary symbols and their connection to the piece as a whole. I enjoy discussing literary symbols and I could do so for hours. Symbols in literature have a way of challenging life and develop over time as life changes. Poetry, on the other hand, is a bit harder for me-- and others I'm assuming to comprehend. Poetry has a way of presenting symbols subtly. You really have to think and dive into the poem in order to find its deeper meaning. A great example of strong symbols in poetry presents itself

Getting By and Getting [it] Done: An Introduction

October 18, 2021

Introductions have never been my favorite thing to take part in. In a world that prides itself on "self", Introductions are often the most intimidating things I can think of. We are all told from a young age that we are unique but, at the same time we are told not to be full of ourselves. Introductions are that, gross, in-between the barriers that give us a small taste of the "self" without crossing too deep into either barrier. Introductions at the university level have been simplified to one's name, class year, and major and that is it. No creativity, no thought, nothing. I often fear new courses having to take on this molehill for the thousandth time. Now, almost after 4 years, It has become a mundane activity that I just have to do. With all of that being said... Hello. Let me introduce myself. My way. My name is Victoria. I was named after a soap-opera character on Young and the Restless , I am a type six on the enneagram chart. I was born October 5th

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