Kind of a cliche title, I know. But after watching Corrina, Corrina in this class, and Life is Beautiful in my Senior Seminar class, I can't help but point out the obvious. In the movie we watched in this class, humor is not directly aimed at the death of Molly's mother, but the movie itself is considered a comedy. A comedy about death and people in grieving? As a communication major, we would call that modern-day taboo. But speaking in nontechnical terms, it was an awesome movie with a great message that did not seem offensive or taboo in any way.
If anyone has not seen the movie Life is Beautiful (Le Vie Est Bella!), I would highly recommend it. Yes, it is one of those foreign language movies (Italian) but if you take the time to sit through the subtitles, you will gain nothing but respect. This movie also presents humor, but in a different manner than Corrina, Corrina. The characters and main setting in this movie are in a Jewish Concentration Camp. To explain these dramatic measures to his young son, the father tells his son that they are entered into a game (the holocaust), and that if they win (survive), the grand prize will be an army Tank. Throughout the whole movie, the father hides all of the actualities of their fate in this camp, and tries to spin them off as competitions that he and his son must defeat so they can earn more "points" than the other players (prisoners) and be put ahead of the game. It really is a comical adventure, and in every way possible, this movie is taboo. It unquestionably makes fun of possible death and the holocaust. The father is pulling this comedy skit up until the very end of his life, which is sacrificed for his sons safety and freedom.
So when we think that the words "funny," "happy," or "silly,"cannot be related to death, I do not think that it is fair. Not all death or dying situations have to be dark. Sad of course, but there can be light found in anything, even in grieving.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Simply Mortal
Being mortal really puts an emphasis on life. Life is like a timeline, the time you spend reading this has already passed. theres no going back only moving forward to what might come. I remember watching the movie Troy and there was an interesting view Achillies presents about the gods. Achillies says that "the gods envy us. They envy us because we are mortal, because any moment might be our last. Everything is more beautiful because were doomed. you will never be lovelier than you are now and we will never be here again". Being mortal can be a rush, pushing the limits and not knowing if your going to make it out alive can be exhilarating. Ive been in situations that could have resulted in serious injurys or death, and when I made it out ive never felt so alive. Its an incredible feeling thats almost addicting, it makes me want to push the envelope.
Monday, February 21, 2011
A Genuine Man
On February 11th 2011,
my grandfather passed away.
He technically wasn't a blood relative. My "real" grandfather had left while my father was still a boy. David stepped in later on in my Nana's life. Like a knight in shining armour kind of way. David had experienced his own loss, a man who's child and wife had both died some years before. But he met my Nana and they spent 15 years together in partnership before her passing five years ago, and became the man I (and my family) knew and welcomed as our own.
It's difficult to write words such as spent ,and had, in reference to anyone, but for those people closest to us it's a million times worse. The past tense makes it so final.
While he lives far away, I was unable to visit the man that had brought so much joy to my family in his remaining time. I will always regret that. Even now I realize I used the word lives in the previous sentence. He spent his remaining years alone in a nursing home, missing his past. The few letters I sent him, now just don't seem like enough.
After taking this course I realized how important social contact is to those of us having to say goodbye. And I wish I could have been there with my family to hold David's hand and talk to him about my Nana and his beautiful rose garden. His funeral will be held later this month with flowers from my parents and myself, as well as a bouquet from my Nana.
David was a genuinely nice man. He was a man always willing to listen and show compassion. Thanks for being a part of my family David. You will be missed.
my grandfather passed away.
He technically wasn't a blood relative. My "real" grandfather had left while my father was still a boy. David stepped in later on in my Nana's life. Like a knight in shining armour kind of way. David had experienced his own loss, a man who's child and wife had both died some years before. But he met my Nana and they spent 15 years together in partnership before her passing five years ago, and became the man I (and my family) knew and welcomed as our own.
It's difficult to write words such as spent ,and had, in reference to anyone, but for those people closest to us it's a million times worse. The past tense makes it so final.
While he lives far away, I was unable to visit the man that had brought so much joy to my family in his remaining time. I will always regret that. Even now I realize I used the word lives in the previous sentence. He spent his remaining years alone in a nursing home, missing his past. The few letters I sent him, now just don't seem like enough.
After taking this course I realized how important social contact is to those of us having to say goodbye. And I wish I could have been there with my family to hold David's hand and talk to him about my Nana and his beautiful rose garden. His funeral will be held later this month with flowers from my parents and myself, as well as a bouquet from my Nana.
David was a genuinely nice man. He was a man always willing to listen and show compassion. Thanks for being a part of my family David. You will be missed.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
New Orleans Cemeteries
A couple weeks ago we learned about the “New Orleans Jazz Funeral” tradition. This cultural tradition is fairly unique to the area, and some people may be confused by the different emotions shown at this funeral compared to the usual somber funerals.
I attended a conference in New Orleans this past November, and on the way to the hotel, our bus driver was giving the passengers somewhat of a tour. The football stadium had been painted, the Saint’s were playing, and the cemetery is above ground… wait, what?! As we passed by a large cemetery, I saw the thousands of memorials and what looked like sarcophagi in rows upon rows. The driver explained that since New Orleans is below sea level, people cannot be buried in the ground, or else the coffins would rise out of the ground. I personally found this unsettling, and tried to get my mind off of the topic. Although it is different, I thought I would share this with you.
I did do some research, and apparently the driver was a little off- the coffins would not rise out of the ground, but instead they would fill with water and the remains would give off fumes. This led to city rules that required (in most cases) for people to be buried aboveground. I found a link that explains more about the New Orleans cemeteries if you would like to learn more: http://www.nolacemeteries.com/
Monday, February 14, 2011
Death & dying quotes
Some quotes on death and dying I find interesting.
"We all die. The goal isnt to live forever, the goal is to create something that will"
Chuck Palahniuk
"Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live"
Norman Cousins
"Have the courage to live. Anyone can die"
Robert Cody
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever"
Mahatma Ghandi
"Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist" Epicurus
"While I though that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die"
Leonardo Da Vinci
"As a well spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings happy death"
Leonardo Da Vinci
"Some people are so afraid to die that they never begin to live"
Henry Van Dyke
"To Die will be an awfully big adventure"
James Barrie
"You cant get out of life alive"
Les Brown
"We all die. The goal isnt to live forever, the goal is to create something that will"
Chuck Palahniuk
"Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside us while we live"
Norman Cousins
"Have the courage to live. Anyone can die"
Robert Cody
"Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever"
Mahatma Ghandi
"Death does not concern us, because as long as we exist, death is not here. And when it does come, we no longer exist" Epicurus
"While I though that I was learning how to live, I have been learning how to die"
Leonardo Da Vinci
"As a well spent day brings happy sleep, so a life well spent brings happy death"
Leonardo Da Vinci
"Some people are so afraid to die that they never begin to live"
Henry Van Dyke
"To Die will be an awfully big adventure"
James Barrie
"You cant get out of life alive"
Les Brown
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Mr. Death
This is in response to the Twilight Zone episode that we previously watched in class called "Nothing in the Dark."
This short episode revolves around the most fearful things known to man: the unknown. The little old lady (main character) has remained shacked up for years in a dark room that she calls a home. Afraid that "Mr. Death" will surely claim her life if she gives him an opportunity, she refuses to communicate with the world and objects to see the day of light. In my personal opinion, the miserable fear that she lived in, was not a life worth living for. She spent all of her days scared of what might come for her, which held her captive in a dead-life. As she was describing what Mr. Death was, all I could think about were those stupid Final Destination movies...... Although most of the charcters throughout that series ended up dying, the main characters knew that death was out there waiting to reach them, and lived in fear also (not as extreme as the little old lady's, of course).
These two examples of living in fear kind of raise a question in my mind: is death really that scary? When we relate death to the idea of movies like Final Destination and that there is no way to cheat death, it is scary. But when we compare the idea of dying to Mr. Death who painlessly takes the old lady to a better place, it isn't all that scary.
This short episode revolves around the most fearful things known to man: the unknown. The little old lady (main character) has remained shacked up for years in a dark room that she calls a home. Afraid that "Mr. Death" will surely claim her life if she gives him an opportunity, she refuses to communicate with the world and objects to see the day of light. In my personal opinion, the miserable fear that she lived in, was not a life worth living for. She spent all of her days scared of what might come for her, which held her captive in a dead-life. As she was describing what Mr. Death was, all I could think about were those stupid Final Destination movies...... Although most of the charcters throughout that series ended up dying, the main characters knew that death was out there waiting to reach them, and lived in fear also (not as extreme as the little old lady's, of course).
These two examples of living in fear kind of raise a question in my mind: is death really that scary? When we relate death to the idea of movies like Final Destination and that there is no way to cheat death, it is scary. But when we compare the idea of dying to Mr. Death who painlessly takes the old lady to a better place, it isn't all that scary.
Hachi - A Tale of Loyalty
We mentioned this film in class discussion, Hachi A Dog's Story. It is the true story of one dog's loyalty and love for his master. I watched this movie over winter break and it brought me to tears throughout. It truly depicts companionship and love in its purest form. Death is more about the people we leave behind and Hachi's never yielding devotion to his deceased master is an example of a deep bond that cannot be broken even by death.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6U7mAnPtw4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6U7mAnPtw4
Friday, February 4, 2011
A beautiful death
Lifes final exam 300 reminded me of the movie 300 and when they were talking about a beautiful death. If you havent seen the movie basicallly dying on the battle field is the most honorable way to die in their culture. Meeting their match and dying fighting for what they believe in is sought after by the Spartan soldiers. I can relate this to our fellow Americans who die fighting for our country. What it all comes down to is that they are fighting for this country and our freedom, which isnt free at all. I am thankful for every person that serves for our country.
Heres a short clip from the movie referring to a beautiful death
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeFiwYQtGp0
Heres a short clip from the movie referring to a beautiful death
www.youtube.com/watch?v=YeFiwYQtGp0
Thursday, February 3, 2011
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