More Potter Emotions

So this is how the last week has been (up to this point, anyway).

I cannot easily put it into words. Since my class finished (and I'd had about 24 hours to process the reality of where I was on the Grand Timeline of Life), I've been overwhelmed with emotion. It was this beautiful, moving moment at the London premiere last Thursday that it really started to sink in. I know the full emotions were experienced when Deathly Hallows was released in 2007--but at that time, there were still three movies that had yet to come out. Now, there's a loss of sorts; no real new and unseen thing left for us to anticipate. (Well, except Pottermore, but I'll get to that in a second.)

Part of my remembered childhood and the entirety of my adolescence was tied in some way to this series. I encountered Harry as a sixth grader, preparing to enter jr. high. The first movie came out when I was in eighth grade, trying to survive girls' basketball (the only time I ever went out for a sport). The fourth film came out when I was a senior in high school, and my first year of college was capped off with not only the fifth film, but the unforgettable release of Deathly Hallows. The sixth film came out a month after I'd been in England, having walked across the very bridge that is destroyed at the beginning of the film.

And now here I am, one year from completing my undergraduate degrees, and we are days away from seeing Deathly Hallows Part 2, the very last ever Harry Potter film. Somehow it feels appropriate--or I happened to time my exit from KSU just right--that it was released now. One could argue that it's even a kind of capstone to my adolescence, and adulthood is the next step. I've said before that I've accepted the knowledge that "all good things come to an end"--which I still believe, to be clear--but the other half of me is distraught. This is so much a part of me, who I have become. I have invested so much time in the expectations and excitement...now that Part 2 is (nearly) here, it's hard to imagine the mind state's absence.

I'm not saying that it's going to be one of those, "My life is over!" scenarios, because you and I well know that it is far from it. I am merely remembering how important it was (and still is) to me. What if I hadn't decided to put my name on the waiting list for Sorcerer's Stone all those years ago?

I constantly wondered in high school if people really understood what it meant to me, to be a part of this whole thing. The books, and then the movies, gave me something to latch onto. They helped me fight my internal battles. They gave me somewhere to escape to, to imagine somewhere that was a helluvah lot better sounding than school. When I told people how much I cried reading the last hundred pages of DH, some of them seriously looked at me and asked, "You know it's just a book, right?"

But it's not. It's the reason I'm majoring in creative writing. It was the reason I finally realized how much fun reading was. It was an example for how awesome (and beautiful) filmmaking can be. It gave me the damn pick-me-up I needed to get through my hellish adolescence. It encouraged me to think beyond the confines of the fields and Big Blue that surrounded my hometown. It gave me the experience of walking up to a random person in King's Cross Station to ask if they knew where Platform 9 3/4 was, only to receive a look of complete bafflement in return. It gave me memories that I will treasure forever.

And Pottermore is certainly something to look forward to; I still have few words to describe how exciting it is. It's going to be incredible. It's almost too much for me to process at the moment.

Remembering all those years of keeping up with movie news, going to releases...those were some high points for me. The film is going to be amazing. I can feel that bubble of happiness starting to swell the closer we get to Thursday night. But thinking about the actors and filmmakers--especially Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint--and how they have built up bonds after spending so much time making these films, films that we flocked to and quoted and loved and hated...so much emotion at the thought.

Ten years is a long time, but not in the grand scheme of things. This film is what they've been building to for so long. And I feel so blessed, filled with so much gratitude the actors, filmmakers, and most importantly J.K. Rowling, that I able to take part in it, even as a fan. You know, one tiny part of the Harry Potter Generation.

Why Glee Kind of Matters (Another Probable Part One)

If you have not seen this review of Glee Live in NYC, you should read it, not only because it is honest, it also vocalizes something important that some fail to understand about Glee. And oh, is it spot-on--and that last line.... (Also be sure to check out the comments...no words.)

I will return to this subject. But first: homework.

Sidenote: Also check out the video the author provides of the Kurt/Blaine skit from the late show. It is probably my favorite of all the ones I've watched on YouTube because

A) Kurt is awesome (and my favorite character, so that's a given)

B) Kurt and Blaine are wonderful together and

C) It is hilarious. (And Chris Colfer ad-libbing--from what I understand, anyway--with Darren Criss' responses are possibly the greatest thing since sliced bread.)

A Billion Cool Points Go To...

...Dianna Agron, Who. Is. Awesome.

Quotage #1:

Acceptance opens doors, makes room for change, diffuses misunderstanding. Every day, people commit hate crimes because of misunderstandings. Hate effects the target, and consumes the person behind the gun. It is crazy to realize that we have been in war for almost our entire existence on this planet. Many times for reasons of greed and hate.

Quotage #2:

 We can’t always put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. But we can try....I am lucky to live in a place where I can wear almost anything that I want to express myself, and that jail is not a probable consequence. Which makes me feel as if I should exercise my right to do so every now and then. Think of the people that have died because of their passion and heartfelt hopes of change? So many good men and women. All because of an inherent wish for tolerance, love and support. 

What a beautiful message and gesture. (She's always quite eloquent and thoughtful on her tumblr, but something about this post makes it extra important.) I think we tend to forget that this kind of hatred is still there and still very real--as unfortunate as it is--in today's society. I've been doing a lot of reading on the Civil Rights movement for my history class, and the more I read about it, the angrier and more horrified I become. How is it that human nature can turn so ugly when one doesn't understand or does not try to understand something that society deems different and unacceptable? How can someone hate another so much because of the color of their skin or their religion or sexual orientation or whatever makes them different? And it's not just limited to the racism of the past and today, but also homophobia, like Dianna Agron points out, something our society deals with on a daily basis.

All because we don't try to understand our world and most especially the people we interact with. We are all different, and that's what makes us unique. We are all human. In the words of Gaga, we are born this way. So why are we so set on judging someone else because they are so different from us? What will we gain from the hatred and intolerance?

Thank you, Dianna, for your inspiration and beautiful thoughts. #letlovein

(Edit: Deconstructing Glee brings up a couple excellent points with this as well. Agreed on all counts.)

"If you look the right way, you can see the whole world is a garden."

The other day when Alisha and I were at Hastings, I found a copy of The Secret Garden. It had been AGES since I'd seen it--I'm in my early twenties and the only time I was able to watch it was when we'd go visit my grandparents in Omaha because we never got around to getting a copy for ourselves...and the last time I watched it, I was probably 7 or 8. I figured it would be worth it for nostalgia's sake, and so I bought it, unaware of what it would do to me. 

I put it in that night and finished the following day (it had been very late when I started it). I remembered only bits and pieces and I was not expecting to become so enveloped in it...yet the entire time I was caught up in its simplicity and beauty. The walls of the manor were covered in tapestries, the wardrobe Victorian (as is Colin's preoccupation with death). The look of the film itself had the quality and feeling as old photographs do, an air of the antique, of times long forgotten and secrets within. The garden, I think, was what really got me. Vines making their way up the wall, as thick and present as the tapestries in the house, ruins of a building (a church, perhaps?) on one end, and within the expanse, roaming flowers, bushes, animals. And that gorgeous, grand swing...

At the end of the movie, after I'd calmed down from getting unexpectedly emotional while watching Colin running around, his father in tow, showing him every nook and cranny of his mother's garden, I found myself thinking about what had drawn me to it in the first place. There was a sense of magic, of curiosity and mystery that surrounded the story; present in Mary's discovery of an ornate key in the room at the other end of a secret passageway, present in the moment Colin walks for the first time back and forth between Mary and Dickon, present in Mary's dream of her mother in the garden. 

And then I thought about the other films I'd loved as a child: among many others, A Little Princess and Labyrinth. Each of these films has a sense of magic to them. Sara never loses her sense of imagination and belief that every girl is a princess despite her father's apparent death (though her faith is tested when she is forced into servitude immediately after she is told the news). The other girls are enchanted by her storytelling; Miss Minchin's practical viewpoints are challenged with everything that Sara brings to the school. And the film is beautiful...the scene that still enchants me today is the one in which Sara stands on the balcony of her attic prison, and the snow is falling, and she begins to spin around and around......

And then, of course, there is Labyrinth, which is still one of my favorite films ever. The Sarah in this story has one desire only: to find her brother and fix the wrong she caused. She struggles with her love for fantasy and the pressure to be more mature, to act her age. Everything that she encounters works against her; little creatures that live underneath the cobblestone change the direction of her marks, she is always being given the wrong directions, and Jareth controls the conditions of their agreement. But yet she continues on, determined to accomplish what she said she would. And by the end? She discovers that she can overcome anything, telling Jareth, "You have no power over me." Though she attains a sense of maturity by the time her parents arrive home, she also recognizes that her imagination, her fantasy, will always be a part of her and should therefore not be completely shut out.

I fell for these movies long before Nancy Drew, Harry Potter, and American Girl, before I realized that reading was something I loved, that storytelling meant more to me than almost everything else. And though I never read Frances Hodgson Burnett's two classic stories as a kid (something I mean to rectify this summer, if everything goes as planned), the stories themselves stuck with me as I read more and more, soaking up the mystery and the magic. Perhaps these influences left me with with a slightly warped sense of human nature--I tend to underestimate what people can do sometimes--but these were some of the first things that also lead me to think beyond what everyday life presents to us. The human imagination can be a terrible thing, but it is also beautiful, transcending the ordinary ebb and flow of real life, allowing us to grow and understand better who we are. With The Secret Garden, I discovered that there is beauty within mystery and that it is these mysteries that engage the mind and ignite the imagination. Perhaps this child-like curiosity and fascination with storytelling will be with me for the rest of my life. I don't mind, though. It keeps things interesting. 

Today's Art Moment....

...comes from the portraits of Emma Watson by Mark Demsteader. GORGEOUS.* The absence and simultaneous presence of marks and value, how mute some of the value is, the simple linework...and each piece is unique while still fitting with the others. I can't get over it.

This kind of thing always makes me really happy. I have a much bigger appreciation for abstract now than I did two years ago, but this kind of thing is what I'll always have love and adoration for. I am determined to try to preserve traditional methods for handling the figure in my work as much as I can while also experimenting and pushing it to see where it takes me. Artists like Mark Demsteader, Graham Little, Elizabeth Peyton, and many others are hugely inspirational for me in this respect. Modern art is not just limited to abstract (though it's certainly a huge part of it, as is seen in these works.) Wonderful, wonderful stuff.

*Sidenote: Have I mentioned how much I LOVE Emma Watson?


Source: The Leaky Cauldron

Yay/Nay for Glee 02x22, “New York”

Watching "New York," I had a hard time believing that this was the finale to the season that started with Mr. Schue singing along with "Toxic" (this is the only scene ever in Glee where I have to look away) and odd things like promise rings and inappropriate/unnecessary side plots that led nowhere. But yet this episode celebrated more than just New Directions' stellar efforts in past competitions and hard work: it celebrated how far each of them has come in the time since they joined glee club. Kurt begins the episode reminiscing about their humble beginnings, and in that moment it hits you how far they have come. It is wonderful.

This episode was awesome. As always, spoilers ahead.

Yay: "Hey, do you know why it smells like it's wet here all the time?" and "Most of the other teams split by sexual orientation." I was in stitches. Have I mentioned how much I love the writing of this show??

Yay  (something you may not have noticed the first time through): Brittany's one-liners. Responding to Kurt's "I feel like Eloise.": "I have pills for that."; "And I'm going to be anxiously awaiting just like everyone else to see if their babies are Asian, too."; In response to "You're my best friend": "Yeah, me too."

Nay: The kids' lack of preparation until they actually are in New York. I mean, I guess it makes sense as they are at their best when they're loose. Still. I would be freaking out a little if I weren't prepared for a competition that was DAYS AWAY.

Yay: The juxtaposition of the happenings the boys' room to those in the girls' room. Also? The pillow fight and the fact that Kurt was a part of it. *fist pump*

Yay: Dreaming big. From Rachel in Sardi's to New Directions' attempt to gain inspiration from the city to that beautiful scene in which Kurt and Rachel visit the Wicked theater, we see these wide-eyed teenagers from Ohio getting a taste of a kind of life that Ohio is unable to match, see everything they dream of possible. They can be whatever they want. This is exhibited beautifully when Kurt is telling Blaine all the reasons he's not totally upset about ultimately losing. In comparison to what they know from life in a small midwestern town, New York is one one that allows them to achieve their dreams.

Yay: Rachel and Kurt's friendship. My favorite part of the episode is that of their adventure through the city. I LOVED that they did breakfast at Tiffany's. I LOVED that Rachel's final motivation for talking to Patti LuPone was because Kurt would want her to. I LOVED that Kurt insisted they break into the theater. I LOVED their duet from Wicked--hands down the best song of the episode. I LOVED how Kurt encouraged Rachel to make a choice through song. And I LOVED their discussion about the future. They are both dreamers, highly talented, and they have an incredible understanding of each other that the others will never be able to match. There's just something about their friendship...."For Good" is marvelous. I clapped at the end of the sequence because it was so amazing. Thank you, Glee.

Yay: All the references to romantic comedies as Finn and Rachel make their way through the city. Funny and wonderful all at the same time.

Yay: Finn and Rachel. It took freakin' forever, and not without a lot of trouble, but FINALLY... I was exhausted from all the build-up. (I was rooting for Finn all the while Rachel was being difficult. I'm glad she finally came around.)

Question: Does Quinn really know that Santana's a lesbian? Or does she just know about the rumor but no confirmation? I couldn't tell if her "I'm flattered" comment was meant as a joke or if it was because she knows...

Yay: The scene with Quinn's breakdown was very good. Great acting from all three of them.

Yay: Rachel and Sunshine resolving their issues. I'm so glad Rachel is growing up. Great character development for her.

Yay: While it was heartbreaking to see New Directions lose--it upset me to no end--I appreciated the fact they didn't win quite yet. You know what I mean? Glee puts a lot of focus on the journey, and as cheesy as that sounds, as viewers we are drawn to the events that lead up to a big moment. I love that the writers aren't afraid to have them lose. It makes it so much more worthwhile if it goes the other way. If New Directions make it to Nationals again next season (and I'm really hoping they do), it will make it even more exciting if they place first at nationals. It's also realistic; they were up against 50 other schools, and they placed 12th. That's pretty impressive if you ask me. I can't wait to see what they have up their sleeves next season as they make their way toward nationals. And they will win. They have to.

Yay: "Light Up the World" was excellent. I like "Loser Like Me" a little better--I feel it has a little more 'oomph'--but "Light" is quality. It's almost a fusion of the things the glee club has had to overcome over the season: speaking up, perseverance despite whatever may be in your way or if you are unsure of yourself, being who you are rather than what someone else may want you to be and so on. And that mentality worked, didn't it? They made it to Nationals. Also, I loved how there were multiple solos on the song. Strong way to go out.

Yay: "It was the Superman of kisses. It came with its own cape." LOL. Finn is awesome this week.

Yay: Kurt and Blaine and "I love you." JOY!!!! HAPPINESS!!! Such a beautiful moment. No words can describe how happy I am. (cue happy dance) "You know, when you stop and think about it, Kurt Hummel has had a pretty good year." Yes you have indeed, Kurt, and I am SO HAPPY FOR YOU!!!

Yay: I also loved the bit leading up to that and after with Kurt telling Blaine about the aftermath of the competition, complete with flashback of Santana chewing Rachel out in Spanish. Also, when Kurt is talking about the Pippa Middleton musical, and Blaine gives Sam and Mercedes that "He's so silly" look. Slightly related: I'm glad that Mercedes was sporting a shirt from the competition.

Yay: HOORAY FOR SAM AND MERCEDES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! JOY! HAPPINESS! Not a minute after cheering for Kurt and Blaine's beautiful moment was I cheering again because Mercedes had someone to love. I'm fairly sure that the last eight minutes of this episode put me on cloud nine. The only thing I don't understand is why Sam and Mercedes are being so secretive about it. Why not tell the world??

Yay: Brittany's bit of wisdom in her conversation with Santana.

Yay/Nay: Talks of the future. It makes me sad to think of graduation, but I loved how it was hovering over the end of the episode. Definitely a different kind of feeling.

It's going to be a long wait for Season 3. But it will be worth it.

Yay/Nay for Glee 02x18, “Born This Way”

As you can see, there aren't many nays this week, because "Born This Way" was EXCELLENT. The story was spot-on perfect and there was a lot of strong character development, something I really latch on to. (And they're so good with character stuff; I'm in awe much of the time I watch an episode.) I found it comparable to "Laryngitis" from Season 1 (and just as good, too). I think this one is my favorite of Season 2 thus far, and my giddiness has not quite faded...

On to the Yay/Nay. Heads up: spoilers abound. 

Yay: Santana’s voice-over—or basically ANYTHING she says in this episode. Yes, she is a “judgmental bitch”—but she’s also hilarious. One of my favorite bits from this week: “…She’s so gullible I could convince her that by royal decree, I’d made her being with me the law of the land.”

Yay: I die every time Sam does an impersonation. He needs more of them. Stat.

Nay: We still don’t know much about Sam, and I didn’t like the fact that we didn’t hear much from him this week. (Though by the looks of the promo for next week, we’ll get to see more of him. I hope. I'm tired of not knowing what his deal is.)

Yay: The White T-shirts. Such a bold idea: sporting your biggest insecurity with pride, for everyone to see, and in turn, taking hold of it and embracing it. It seems like an easy thing to do at first, but accepting ourselves is so hard to do. It would take every ounce of courage to sport them because we are our own worst critics. Self-acceptance is hard to achieve, and this lesson really tackles that head on. Beautifully done, Glee.

Yay: “Unpretty/I Feel Pretty”. First, it’s a PERFECT song choice. Second, this scene is beautiful. It is so emotionally charged and bittersweet. There’s Quinn on one end, confident in her looks (and a little conceited about it). Rachel is on the other side, wishing to step over to the other side, because not only will she “become beautiful,” she will also acquire the kinds of things Quinn possesses. In short, there’s a reason Rachel specifically wants Quinn’s nose. This tendency to compare oneself to others is not uncommon; I remember the girls that I wanted to be as I went through junior high and high school, and I know I’m not the only one secretly wishing to have those kinds of clothes, or that particular hair color/cut, or have that certain look about them. By achieving any of these things, perhaps someone will notice and admire you, too. This storyline was very strong, and I’m glad they included it, because it’s important to address.

Yay: Santana’s conversation with Dave. There are so many awesome things about this scene.

Yay: Finn and Mike dancing.

Yay: I love whenever Mr. Schue is Real Mr. Schue and not Crazy Out-Of-His-Mind Mr. Schue. This was a great week for him.

Yay: The meeting between Burt, Kurt, Dave and his father, Principal Figgins, and Mr. Schue. Burt once again gets the Kick-Ass Dad Award (and Dave’s dad gets cool points for being understanding). Also, I adore the exchange between Kurt and Dave. Hell yes. Awesome.

Yay (times a BILLION): Kurt is back at McKinley!!!!!!!!!! Whoop whoop! does happy dance

Yay: “Somewhere Only We Know”. Beautiful song, beautiful cover, and a lump in my throat that hasn’t yet gone away. Also, seeing Kurt and Blaine together, sharing looks and holding hands and general cuteness and care for one another… I’m just so happy they’re together. LOVE.

Nay: Not a lot of Blaine this week, but I understand why. There were a lot of important things to get to this episode. 

Yay: Kurt singing “As If We Never Said Goodbye”. He nails it, and I got chills, and I am amazed and awed. This is one reason why Kurt is so awesome. So much emotion, so much power…. It’s the perfect song at the perfect moment. And the way it's filmed....

Yay: The Lucy Caboosy storyline. Quinn is a bitch, no denying it—but she’s also 3-dimensional, and I LOVED that they included this storyline. Powerful stuff. 

Yay: “Why did you bring me here? Is there a sale at Claire’s?” And later: -“Is she here?” –“No. This is a mall in Ohio.” LOL

Yay: Kurt and Puck’s Barbravention for Rachel. AWESOME.

Yay: Brittany mistaking “Lebanese” for the correct spelling of lesbian and her speech to Santana; and later at the end of the episode, when we see Santana wearing the Lebanese shirt, watching the others perform. Well done. Well done indeed.

Yay: “Born This Way”. Chills. Happiness. A fine example of the breathless, beautiful, shining moments we look forward to on Glee. It successfully pulled together all the empowerment and emotion and issues into one kick-ass performance. I love this part so much. Elegant and stately. Gaga would be proud.