over the weekend. The book was solid Krakauer and the movie adaptation was good if not a little long. Both Krakauer in the book and Sean Penn, who directed the movie, approach both projects as though they have personal stake in it. Both seem to personally identify with Christopher McCandless, aka Alex Supertramp. The story falls into the usual rugged individualism storyline and both writer and director seem defensive of their main subject/hero.
The book and movie also got me thinking about how the storyteller situates its relationship to the content and subject of the story and how important it is to make the connection clear or unknown altogether. For example, is it necessary to know that Krakauer spent several weeks in Alaskan wilderness and considers himself to be a headstrong youngster like McCandless? Or is that too suggestive? Sean Penn doesn’t necessarily insert himself into the film but if one knows anything about his personality, it is safe to see why he chose to make the film. Rejecting the glitz and glamour of Hollywood, Penn chose to live in a simple trailer (that burnt down in the recent fires last fall) outside of Hollywood. Long known for opposing conservative tradition, Penn has orchestrated sometimes outlandish demonstrations against current politics. His narrative is not too far off from McCandless’s own outsider tendencies.
I don’t have a concrete answer for how I feel about Krakauer and Penn’s involvement in both narratives. Krakauer does state from the beginning of the book that he does try to maintain outsider status from the story but cannot help but disperse some of his own experience throughout. I don’t know Penn’s direct stance on this, but after watching the movie and reading the book it is easier to see how Penn was influenced by Krakauer’s stories.
It would be interesting to see what others though about this angle.
I’m proud to have joined Blog for Choice Day on January 22, the thirty-fifth anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Yeah!
Personally, I’m not sure if I’m 100 percent for Obama but I am excited that the majority of democrats in Iowa supported him. I think America is ready for a change and hopefully next week’s primary in NH will support that as well. Perhaps, this will inspire others who support Obama but didn’t think he was an electable candidate to make the leap and vote for him. I was also moved by Edwards’ speech last night. I liked how he immediately discussed health care as that is an issue that is close to me for personal and professional reasons.
And Huckabee. The fact that he was elected really scares me a lot. Its refreshing to see two very different candidates win yesterday. New Hampshire will tell a lot with the republicans maybe even more so than the democrats. The evangelical vote isn’t so big in the Northeast as it is in the Midwest, but there are plenty of fiscal conservatives. And with that there is a perhaps more electable republican candidate for the rest of the country.
So onto Super Duper Tuesday as Wolf Blitzer calls it!
Woah! What an interesting turn of events…
Barack Obama will win the Iowa Democratic caucus and Mike Huckabee will be the Republican winner, CNN projects.
With 88 percent of precincts reporting, Obama had the support of 37 percent of voters, compared to 30 percent for Edwards and 30 percent for Clinton.
“The numbers tell us this was a debate between change and experience, and change won,” said CNN political analyst Bill Schneider.
With 66 percent of Republican precincts reporting, Huckabee had the support of 34 percent of voters, compared to 25 percent for Mitt Romney. Fred Thompson had 14 percent, John McCain had 13 percent and Ron Paul had 10 percent. via CNN
I am very much eager to watch coverage of the Iowa Caucus. And I am also eager to see who will come out the winner on either side so we will see how this election will start shaping up.
I am openly liberal but am not sure who I will be supporting and am looking to Iowa voters for some guidance.
I spent the night near Iowa City once. In my drive across the country, it was the last place going West to California that offered espresso right off the freeway.
- Ms. Rose
Traveling back home from the Midwest on the airplane(s), I realize my glasses keep falling off of my face if I looked down or was trying to maneuver on a plane. This is bad because I don’t want my glasses haphazardly falling off my face. That would be bad! Should I get new glasses? I’m not sure.
In other news, I’m in the midst of thinking over new years resolutions and other things I have to do stat since its the new years and so far I have come up with
(1) Finally get in shape and maintain it
(2) Read 100 books. This was a resolution last year and I read 70 so maybe I’ll finally reach this goal.
(3) Become more politically active in an active, not just blogging way.
(4) Learn more about blogging and blog culture. For example, I know nothing about nablopomo. I should have known about that!
(5) Actually do things I want to. Instead of thinking about how I want to go to the Natural History Museum, actually go there.
I’m sure I’ll think of even more!
