PAS3: The Kissing Booth Trilogy… or Tragedy

It is time for part three of my passion blog, in which I showcase a different series or movie, providing a summary, analysis of key ideas or unique elements, and an overall recommendation.

Let’s jump right into this week’s pick… The Kissing Booth Trilogy.

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This is the epitome of a cliché teen-romance film. Main protagonist Elle Evans is navigating high school with best friend Lee, when her crush on his older brother, Noah, sets the plot on an interesting path. The charity fundraiser they organize is a kissing booth, which leads to her kiss with her secret crush. Overall, this is a feel-good movie with relatable elements that have the audience feeling the second-hand embarrassment.

That is a surface level look at the film, but when you analyze it a little deeper you see the misogynistic elements riddled within the film. The two main male characters try to control Elle and her decisions throughout the film. Lee, Elle’s best friend, cares more for his own selfish reasons than Elle’s happiness as he tries to keep her and Noah apart. Additionally, Noah worked to ensure no guys could ask out Elle, even before he tried to date her. It is clear within not only the first movie, but the second and third as well.

Unfortunately, the second and third movies only continue in a downward spiral. The “kiss of death” to any film or series is predictability and repetitiveness.  The Kissing Booth 2 has a common element of jealousy and control, as does the The Kissing Booth 3. Instead, it takes on new forms, such as Noah and Lee both wanting Elle to attend the school of their choice, not taking into account her own free will.

When a movie expands across a trilogy, the audience expects to see character growth and development. There are glimpses of such growth at moments throughout the film, but it is often followed by regression within a few short minutes. All of the growth and development was postponed until almost the end of the third film, but by that point it feels rushed.

One main lesson that can be taught from this trilogy is the idea that you cannot always please everyone around you, without it taking a toll on yourself. Sometimes you just need to take a step back and focus on your personal needs or find out what you want in life, which Elle eventually came to realize.

Overall, this film trilogy is not so unique or interesting that it will make any great impression on the audience. Though there is a lesson to be learned, it does not come without all the negative elements of the film as well.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7bfS6seiLhk

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjVonI2oVeM

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5fKn0Dhj64w

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RCL2: Rhetoric Behind Suffrage Propaganda

The focus of this blog post will be on the two artifacts I have chosen to analyze their rhetorical elements. Both are related to the women’s suffrage movement. I picked the women’s suffrage movement because it is an important piece of American history, that in relative terms did not take place that long ago. Much progress has been made, but still a lot of progress is needed for equal rights not only in America, but also in other countries.

This artifact is called “The Awakening” by Henry Mayer and was published in 1915 for Puck magazine’s suffrage issue. I will be analyzing this artifact in my Civic Engagement Speech. In the image, a map of America is shown with a women bearing resemblance to the Statue of Liberty walking across the nation from the west to the east.

In 1915 the states highlighted in the west had granted women the right to vote, while the states in the east shown in darkness had not. Wyoming was the first state that granted women voting rights, with other western states following soon after. The woman is shown to be carrying the torch to the eastern states, bringing the right to vote with her. The message in this image is very symbolic with the contrasting regions as the smaller figures representing women reach out towards the enlarged icon carrying the “torch” of voting rights.

The color gold also holds great significance, as it was considered the color of the women’s suffrage movement in America. Gold was first used by Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony, which then progressed to be used in sashes and pins for the suffrage movement. The strong emotional appeal is what drew me to this artifact, as well as the vivid use of color and contrast.

The second artifact is a cartoon by E. W. Gustin published in 1909. The image is against the women’s suffrage movement and shows what would take place on election day if women had the right to vote. Chaos would ensue within the home as women would leave the men behind to go vote, while the men would take care of the house and children. The vivid imagery of the children crying as plates lie broken appeal to the emotional sense that if women could vote, then the way of life in America, including the gender norms of the time, would be broken.

I chose this artifact because it is very intriguing to see the rhetoric used by the anti-suffrage movement as well as the motivation behind the movement. In the essay it will be interesting to compare and contrast the rhetoric used since the two artifacts argue for and against the same topic.

PAS2: Never Have I Ever and the Teen Experience

Welcome to part two of the film analysis blog! Join me on the next stage of the adventure to showcase a variety of shows and movies, including a description of important elements that make the film unique and an overall recommendation.

Today’s TV Show is Never Have I Ever.

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Never Have I Ever is a coming of age comedy-drama that focuses on Devi Vishwakumar and her friends as they navigate their teenage years and all the hardships that follow. One of the first things the audience learns is that Devi recently lost her father, and her coping with his death is a recurring element throughout the two seasons of the show. This show does a great job at showing how people deal with grief and death, since it is a very complex topic. Devi lashes out from her emotional trauma and uses her voicemails from her father as a coping method to calm herself. There are not many shows that really hone in on the effect a parental death can have on a teenager. For example, I can name a multitude of Disney princess movies, such as Cinderella or Beauty and the Beast, where the father or mother had passed away, and yet it is barely mentioned and is never central to the theme. This show stands out and helps those who have faced a similar issue relate and feel a connection to Devi.

Relatability is important to the success of a film or show. If there is nothing an audience can connect to, then the defeats and triumphs of the characters feel meaningless. In Never Have I Ever the characters are far from perfect. They each have struggles and make mistakes, but they all work to fix those mistakes and become better people. Throughout the show Devi struggles with popularity, dating life, and her relationship with her mother.

Each character is also diverse, which is a much needed change in Hollywood. So often a larger audience cannot relate or truly connect to a show or movie because they cannot see themselves within the film. Never Have I Ever worked to represent people from diverse backgrounds so it could be a teen show for all teens. For example, Devi is a first-generation Indian teen who has lost her father, while Kamala is a woman fighting for a place at a table dominated by men in STEM research.

I would definitely recommend this show to people my age. The show has many aspects to connect to and works hard to make the viewing experience feel authentic and realistic, while also maintaining the ability to entertain the audience through comedy and romance.

Here are the trailers for seasons one and two!

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HyOCCCbxwMQ

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FakCjoNnxik

PAS 1: Outer Banks and the Perfect Escape

Hello and welcome to the Passion blog! This blog thread will be about a topic I am very passionate about, which is film. I am planning to be a film studies minor, so the opportunity to analyze and share my views on various movies and TV shows is quite exciting. Each PAS blog post will focus on a different show or movie. I will provide a basic summary, discuss some prominent elements that make the show unique or appealing, showcase some of the ways the film connects to today, and share my review to create an overall recommendation. This blog is the perfect opportunity to find a new show or movie to watch, so keep reading!

Today’s TV show is Outer Banks.

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Outer Banks is a teen drama show that takes place in Outer Banks, North Carolina in the modern day. The town is separated by the have and have-nots of society, which is a central theme of the show. Those who come from the “bad part” of town are called the Pogues and the elite class are called the Kooks. This element is very common to teen films, with The Outsiders coming to mind, having the Greasers and the Socs as their town divide between rich and poor.

Outer Banks incorporates this theme well in their show and did a great job of showing this divide not only through conversation and actions, but also visually. The Pogues live in run-down shacks, while the Kooks live in luxurious mansions. The Kooks are worried about the amount of time spent on SAT prep, while the Pogues fight for their survival. This theme is very relevant today in my opinion, since there is a very present economic divide, which affects teens’ worries of housing and food over social life.

The main protagonists go on an adventure in the two seasons of the show to find lost treasure from a sunken ship. This sense of adventure was one of the key elements that made the show so successful, but I also think the timing of the show greatly contributed. The first season was released in April of 2020, which was right in the middle of the Covid-19 lockdown. Everyone was at home and not seeing their friends, so when a show is released where a group of friends go on a wild adventure it gave teenagers the sense of freedom and fun that they needed desperately.

I would recommend this show to people my age. The show incorporates teen drama, adventure, mystery, and romance all with a summer feel-good vibe and a previously undiscovered cast. Before you watch the show have a quick look at the trailer below!

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfY3j-3uQhk

 

RCL 1: Two Sides of the Same Coin

Voting is one of the first things a person is told to do when discussing how to be an active citizen. However, there is more to being a citizen than voting and it is even more important to be informed about politics prior to participating. For example, it is in a voter’s best interest to research candidates beforehand in order to cast a vote supporting a politician that best aligns with their interests.

The logical next step is to research current politics, such as important issues that not only the Unites States is facing, but also the world. Many people choose to inform themselves through media, whether that be news articles, TV stations, or even social media. Politics is also a popular yet controversial conversation topic, since each person resides on a very broad spectrum and can have differing beliefs, depending on the issue. Due to the extreme level of diversity in politics people usually fall into two main parties, with some exceptions. This clear line of division for such a complicated subject matter easily leads to a political divide between people.

Currently, political divisiveness has become an issue that has found itself at the forefront of the United States. One example is rallies: People will gather in support or against a political topic such as abortion rights or gun control and often times counter-rallies will take place. Even conversation about politics can be tense and divisive, which is why it is commonly avoided. It can often lead to disputes among family and friends, with no clear resolution.

One of the main ideas that comes to mind when people think of a political divide is the media. There are entire news stations and websites dedicated to current issues, but some are written with a tilt towards one end of the political spectrum. This only perpetuates the political divide and makes it harder to look at the facts without any subjectivity.

So the question arises… how can progress occur if everyone is so set on one side that they are not willing to meet in the middle? Take the first step. Be willing to speak about your beliefs and be willing to hear others, as long as it is done in a respectful manner. Understand that everyone is affected by politics, so your vote and your beliefs have an impact on other people. In addition, the media needs to be a force for good to unite the people and focus on presenting the whole truth so each person can form their beliefs without influence. No matter what side of the political spectrum you find yourself on, know that we are all on the same side of the coin that is America.