'Spirited Away' is the first Miyazaki I have seen, but from this stunning film I can tell he is a master storyteller. During the first fifteen minutes we have no idea what is going on. Neither does the main character, Chihiro. We discover the world as Chihiro does and it's truly amazing to watch. But Miyazaki doesn't seem to treat this world as something amazing. The inhabitants of the world go about their daily business as usual. Places and buildings are not greeted by towering establishing shots and majestic music. The fact that this place is amazing doesn't seem to concern Miyazaki.
At the start Chihiro is a selfish, spoiled, whiny brat. But as she plunges deeper into the spirit world, she becomes more independent, more assured and more respectful. No Face, a black figure with a white mask, is the motivation behind Chihiro's transformation. Once he is let into the bathhouse, we are no longer tourists – the story propels forth. Watching No Face prey on the greed of the workers is a terrifying delight.
The animation is wonderful, if not as smooth as Disney's works – but there's something superior to that. 'Spirited Away's imperfect, but the detailed world is far more fascinating than the perfected un-inspiring of Disney's latest contributions. The film is full of vivid images – both beautiful and horrifying. The line between those two extremes is crossed over seamlessly. From Chihiro and Haku running through an opening flower field to Haku's dragon snarling with a bloody mouth, both extremes seem to belong in the film. It's also excellently done with the characters. Kamaji can be seen as a scary, daunting figure at the beginning, but soon he changes into a humble, wise figure. Yubaba also seems to be able to turn from kind to witch with the snap of a finger.
The sounds perfectly match the on screen actions and objects. It plays excellently with the scenes, but never overbears them. A lot of the time the it is barely noticeable, a sole piano plays softly in the background evoking a dreamlike/lullaby quality.
'Spirited Away' works on a multitude of levels; a social commentary on Japan, a homage to ancient Japanese/Russian mythology, a moral film for both children and adults. But most importantly, it is a simple story brilliantly told by a great filmmaker who appears to be at the top of his game. 'Spirited Away' works much like a relaxing journey. Pop in the DVD; leave this world for two hours and when you will be almost certainly enriched and ready to take the trip again.
Tuesday, 5 August 2014
Monday, 23 June 2014
HEADING: LOCKER BAY COMMITTED FEEDBACK ANALYSIS
Please answer the following questions:
1. Make a list of the team roles and what each team member was expected to do.
Tom: team leader; to lead the team and tell them what to do
Bailey: idea man; come up with ideas for issues
Tea: scribe; write down ideas and issues
James: idea man; come up with ideas for issues
2. What do you think is the advantage of dividing the team into different roles?
People are good at certain things, and they can expand their horizons.
3. Discuss how successful was your team in carrying out the roles.
Yes. The idea people came up with all ideas, and the leader was good
4. Do you thinks some roles had more responsibility than others?
Yes. The idea men had the most responsibility because they came up with all the solutions to the bay issues.
5. If you had to match the team roles to certain personality types, how would you describe this?
Scribe: a more creative person
Leader: a more strong and out-going person
Idea People: people better at thinking and coming up with ideas
5. Make a list of the different strategies your team came up with to deal with the locker bay situation.
6. How would you find out if the strategies you have put in place have been successful or not.
When the ideas we have thought of a put in action.
7. Would your team meet in the future and why?
yes, because we go to the same school.
8. Are there any other issues around our school or just for Year 8 that could be addressed with this same team exercise. If so, could you make a list of these issues.
The toilets are never open. Some of the toilet stall doors in the gym and around the school
Please answer the following questions:
1. Make a list of the team roles and what each team member was expected to do.
Tom: team leader; to lead the team and tell them what to do
Bailey: idea man; come up with ideas for issues
Tea: scribe; write down ideas and issues
James: idea man; come up with ideas for issues
2. What do you think is the advantage of dividing the team into different roles?
People are good at certain things, and they can expand their horizons.
3. Discuss how successful was your team in carrying out the roles.
Yes. The idea people came up with all ideas, and the leader was good
4. Do you thinks some roles had more responsibility than others?
Yes. The idea men had the most responsibility because they came up with all the solutions to the bay issues.
5. If you had to match the team roles to certain personality types, how would you describe this?
Scribe: a more creative person
Leader: a more strong and out-going person
Idea People: people better at thinking and coming up with ideas
5. Make a list of the different strategies your team came up with to deal with the locker bay situation.
6. How would you find out if the strategies you have put in place have been successful or not.
When the ideas we have thought of a put in action.
7. Would your team meet in the future and why?
yes, because we go to the same school.
8. Are there any other issues around our school or just for Year 8 that could be addressed with this same team exercise. If so, could you make a list of these issues.
The toilets are never open. Some of the toilet stall doors in the gym and around the school
Saturday, 7 June 2014
Trash Summary
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1DC2zH4fXJAhOo1YwOD3fL89VuoB0zJQ3xUk_OB23Qu8/edit?usp=sharing
Friday, 6 June 2014
Jose Angelico's daughter
Name: Pia
Age: 9
Gender: female
Eye Color: Brown (???)
Hair Color: Dark brown/black
Sayings: "Serious face, like Gardo's - as if no one had told her to smile" "my name is Pia Dante Angelico and I'm waiting for my father, Jose Angelico"
Age: 9
Gender: female
Eye Color: Brown (???)
Hair Color: Dark brown/black
Sayings: "Serious face, like Gardo's - as if no one had told her to smile" "my name is Pia Dante Angelico and I'm waiting for my father, Jose Angelico"
Describe a day in the life of a prisoner in Colva Prison. (also Describe an event from 2 points of view.)
To my left, iron cages, to my right iron cages. Everywhere I look there are men, boys, women and girls. The smell is almost unbearable. The guard stops in front of a small cage with an even smaller ledge (presumably to sit on). On the ground there is blood and urine. The strong man shoves me in the cage, and locks the door behind me. "Try not to make to much noise, or else you wont get any food" says a small, squeaky voice behind me as the guards walk away. I turn around and see a small girl, about 10, leaning against the side where our two cages meet. "Oh..." I say, offering my hand through the bars, "Hey, what's your name?" She shakes my hand and introduces herself, as well as why she is in prison.
"My name's Madeline" I say to the woman, "I have been here a month for stealing a piece of bread and 10 pesos. I get let out in another month" I continue. "For taking that little?" she says, and I nod. I reveal a small, foam ball from my pocket and pass it too the woman. "Look inside" I say. She opens the ball up using her bare hands and finds a picture of a man, woman and two little girls. "This your family? You must miss them very much." says the woman, passing me back the ball and picture. "Yeah, my mum died a few years ago, and my dad is in the army. My older sister has looked after us since dad left" I say calmly.
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As it grows dark in the large room and the sun sets I tell the little girl about myself. "I'm Grace Olivia Fernandez, and am in here because I supposedly shot my father. My father was a dirty criminal. He was always threatening my mother, attacking me." I say, showing her one of my scars on my arms, "Both my mother and I had had enough of him. They got in a fight, and he attacked her... She grabbed his gun, and shot him." i continue, "she ran from the house and left me. By the time the police had arrived, my dad was dead and my mum long gone. I was sentenced to only a month, so I guess we get out together" I slump on the edge of the cage. "What about your mum? Where is she now?" asked Madeline, and I shrug.
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"Who knows... She could be on the other time of the country..." she says. I stand up straight and go to the door of the cage, "shh, food mans here!" i whisper to her. She also moves to the door of her cage, waiting for the man with the food trolley to come by. He walks past me first, passing me a plate with porridge on it. I sit down, and mumble my grace. After a few minutes he walks past Grace, handing her a plate with porridge as well. She says her grace, and we eat together. After dinner, once pitch black, we lay on the small ledges and slowly fall asleep, waiting for the day where we can be free, where we can go do whatever.
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As it grows dark in the large room and the sun sets I tell the little girl about myself. "I'm Grace Olivia Fernandez, and am in here because I supposedly shot my father. My father was a dirty criminal. He was always threatening my mother, attacking me." I say, showing her one of my scars on my arms, "Both my mother and I had had enough of him. They got in a fight, and he attacked her... She grabbed his gun, and shot him." i continue, "she ran from the house and left me. By the time the police had arrived, my dad was dead and my mum long gone. I was sentenced to only a month, so I guess we get out together" I slump on the edge of the cage. "What about your mum? Where is she now?" asked Madeline, and I shrug.
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"Who knows... She could be on the other time of the country..." she says. I stand up straight and go to the door of the cage, "shh, food mans here!" i whisper to her. She also moves to the door of her cage, waiting for the man with the food trolley to come by. He walks past me first, passing me a plate with porridge on it. I sit down, and mumble my grace. After a few minutes he walks past Grace, handing her a plate with porridge as well. She says her grace, and we eat together. After dinner, once pitch black, we lay on the small ledges and slowly fall asleep, waiting for the day where we can be free, where we can go do whatever.
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THE END!!!!
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