Never Judge A Book By Its Cover

Netflix fails at directing, and producing its relatively new release of the show Atypical. Atypical is centered around the life of Sam. When looking at Sam he may just look like your average high school nerd, but what people fail to realize is that Sam falls somewhere along the autism spectrum. Like any other eighteen year old boy, Sam wants to find love. There is only one issue. Sam doesn’t exactly comprehend the social cues that “neurotypicals” or I would understand. This makes it hard for him to make friends and keep lasting relationships. In attempt to bring awareness of those who fall on the autistic spectrum, Netflix plays its cards perfectly to fit into the stereotypes that every other director who attempts this unsuccessfully makes.

Personally I loved this show, that was until I started looking at the reviews people were saying about it online. I have read a few books that have protagonists who are autistic, and my family has a friend who is also autistic, but prior to watching Atypical I had only known a miniscule amount of information about those who fall on the autism spectrum. Because I knew so little to begin with I thought the management did a wonderful job on the direction and the casting and for that matter the production of the show. While viewing Atypical you are not only entertained but also informed on what people on the spectrum suffer through. Maybe this was a little too much though. Maybe the directors exaggerated a mile past the accepted perception of the autism norms.

As I try to recall back to watching the show I can remember laughing a whole bunch. The dark comedy that Atypical portrays is not acceptable to laugh at though. Many times the directors would inadvertently use Sam’s disability as the punchline to a joke. An example of this can be found in the very first episode when Sam has a date that ended in him pushing his date off the bed after she takes off her shirt. I guess this isn’t funny, but there were many different ways for the crew to go around the “failed first date” scene. The only thing that failed was Netflix’s production of it.

In the midst of scanning reviews and reading countless articles online about the show Atypical, I discovered the answer to one of my questions that I had had since completing the season. I had wondered what sources Netflix used in trying to create an accurate portrayal of a protagonist that falls on the spectrum. It was verified by many sources that Netflix has not confirmed if the producers made a conscience effort in including writers/ directors who have autism to make the show more realistic and not so over dramatised. This is the problem with movies/ tv shows nowadays; there is so much information out there about autism, and all this research is being done, but no one is trying to comprehend the information by speaking with someone who is actually autistic. Netflix will inevitably keep misrepresenting subjects of this sort until they stop beating around the bush and actually speak to someone directly on the autism spectrum. Until then enjoy the show, but don’t take anything full heartedly.

Royal friendship

My Dearest Elizabeth,
First, I want to offer my humblest of apologies for your loss. As a close family friend, it was incredibly heartbreaking. I just can’t believe he is gone. How come your coronation has yet to be announced? I was appalled at the cabinet for not letting your family stay in your own house. I know how much it burdened your husband and I was very happy to hear that he is doing better since he started flying. There is really nothing quite like it in the world. Will he get his license soon? I was also very happy to see the news that Churchill finally decided to stop burying his head in sand. However, it is very unfortunate that the death of one of his favorite secretaries was what it took. Maybe, we will see more of the Churchill we know from now on and maybe he’ll think twice of concerning himself with your husband’s happiness in the future as well. You may think it naive but I am still hopeful. All the news aside, How are you, darling? I cannot even begin to imagine the storm and the stress that must weigh your mind. I’ll be sure to visit you soon. It will probably be refreshing to talk to someone other than family that you can be yourself around. I’ve always greatly cherished our ability to simply be in the presence of each other and I’ve missed it so. You becoming Queen doesn’t change our history so I will continue to treat you as I always have unless you say otherwise. How are the children adjusting to life in the palace? I know Philip has done a great deal of caring for them since your father’s passing. How old are they now? How is your mother, darling? I apologize for my enthusiasm it is simply that we haven’t spoken in a long while. Andres and I are doing well here in Ireland and we are expecting soon. I cannot even begin to explain to you how excited I am, My Dear Elizabeth. I don’t think I’ve ever had the pleasure of being so happy, it really is magnificent. I simply cannot wait to see you hopefully we can spend some time together. I’m sure you are extremely busy perhaps you can send me a date I could come for your convenience. I wouldn’t want to burden you when you simply don’t have the time to entertain guests. Andres and I were hoping you would be the godmother to our child but if you cannot it is alright we completely understand. I cannot even imagine the pressure you must be under every day. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to ease your workload. I am unsure of how much assistance I can be to you but if there is ever anything you know you can call on me.
Yours Forevermore,

 Princess Elaine of Ireland

The Crown

Brenda,

 In the 18 years that I’ve been alive, I cannot remember a time when you were not a part of my life. You were there for me in my most awkward phases and happiest times. Even now that we live an entire state apart, you are constantly there for me. It will never cease to amaze me how willing you are to give of yourself and your time to friends and strangers alike. I am so thankful for all of the memories that we’ve created for ourselves, but one of my favorite memories is the time we spent watching Downton Abbey in my early highschool years. That show was so powerful to me, and it was all the more special because I got to watch it with one of my favorite people ever (you)!

If you’re confused as to why I’m writing about all of this, I hope to make that clear shortly. Recently, I was able to sit down and watch the Netflix Original series The Crown. It has a lot of similar qualities to Downton Abbey, which is why I think you might enjoy it. Without giving too much away, the plot of the show focuses on the marriage and reign of Queen Elizabeth II. Downton Abbey actually occurs about 35 years prior to the start of The Crown, meaning that Queen Elizabeth’s father, King George VI, would have been in power during the plot of Downton Abbey.

 Although these shows have some obvious similarities, such as setting and time period, they are actually quite different. As you’re well aware, Downton Abbey is a show filled with drama and tragedy. Although there are certainly dramatic moments in The Crown, the show’s main focus is far more political. There are moments of romantic drama and heartbreaking tragedy, but as a whole series, I find The Crown to be a far more mentally engaging show. Don’t get me wrong, I will always be an avid fan of Downton Abbey and the entire Crawley family, but something about the dialogue and content in The Crown provides a much fuller entertainment experience.

Overall, I hope you will consider watching The Crown with me when I am home in just a few short days. Speaking from experience, it is a show that you will not easily walk away from. In my opinion, it is wonderful and captivating, and I think you would get a lot out of it. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!!

Tales by Light

Dearest Mr. Bradley,

 Do you remember when we sat for an entire lunch break and talked about travel photography? I always thought that was funny, considering neither of us is a particularly skilled photographer. But we both love travel so much that we are curious about all fields related to it, hence our lengthy discussion on photography.

 Something that you said during that discussion was very similar to a sentiment I heard in the Netflix Original show Tales by Light. The photographer in the episode was talking about his boyhood desire to dive the wreckage of the a Mitsubishi bi-plane that crashed into Rabaul harbor during World War II. He said, “I just knew that I wanted to dive it for some reason, you get these things in your mind from time to time and you envisage the image you want to create.”

 When I first heard this, it triggered a memory in me, but it took me a while to put the pieces together. I remember that as you and I were wrapping up our conversation, you asked me if I had ever made a bucket list. I told you that I had, and you asked me to show you. After giving it a quick scan and acknowledging the fact that most of my dreams included travel, you asked me how I planned to accomplish those goals. I’m sure I gave you a basic answer about hard work and determination, but you said something that has stuck with me to this day. “Don’t worry so much about accomplishing everything. Just start with one thing - but you have to visualize yourself there, in that place or moment. Then you can work backwards and see what steps you need to take to get there.”

 This idea of visualizing a goal and then working through small steps to accomplish it was very prevalent in Tales by Light. In the first episode, the photographer travels to multiple locations to shoot marine photos, including some action shots of whales. This seems like such a large, unattainable thing, but really it boils down to nothing more than a series of small steps. The photographer researched a location, contacted the people who owned the area where he would like to shoot, and then made necessary travel arrangements to go there. He gathered a team and equipment, and then used his diving skills to reach the underwater location where he could begin shooting.

This idea of achieving big goals by completing small tasks is one that I think more people could benefit from. Starting a new job, making new friends, or checking items off of your bucket list are all intimidating things, but not when we realize that they can be easily accomplished. Tales by Light showed the finished product of the photographer’s hard work, but it also showed some of the less glamorous parts of photography. I appreciated this, because it reminded me that just because you vision yourself achieving something doesn’t mean you’ve achieved it. You have to put in plenty of work, but for things you really want it life, it is worth it. 

Master of None: Season 2

I have already written a blog post about the Netflix Original series Master of None, but when I was considering which show could help teach a lesson, I couldn’t think of a better one than an episode from the second season of the show. There was a specific episode that I felt would fit seamlessly in a classroom setting. This episode, titled “New York, I Love You”, features a long segment about what life is like for members of the deaf community.

 The episode pieces together the lives of three separate lower-class New Yorkers. It explores the day to day lives of a doorman, a bodega cashier, and a taxi driver. As a whole, the episode does an incredible job of showing how hard life in New York can be, and it also shows the immense variety that is all contained by this one city. I recommend this show to nearly everyone that I encounter, but if you only want to watch one episode, I ask that you watch “New York, I Love You”.

 As mentioned, the part of the episode that I felt would be a useful teaching instrument was the scenes involving the deaf bodega cashier. In the scenes involving her, the show is absolutely silent. No background conversation or music, just a very noticeable silence. Watching the show with headphones on made the experience even more interesting for me, because all noise was completely absent.

 The reason I think that this would be a great lesson, especially for elementary school teachers, is because of the perspective it gave me. I experienced total and complete silence for just a few minutes, but by the end of it, I was infinitely more thankful for my ability to hear. It made me more sensitive to the boy who lives on my floor, who has impaired hearing and often needs a little extra time to process things. For the first time, I noticed a mother and daughter using ASL at Walmart while shopping for groceries. I even reconsidered the impact of my sorority’s philanthropy, which provides hearing aids to those who cannot afford them on their own. My eyes have been opened to the vast differences between my life and the life of someone with hearing loss.

 According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, 1 in every 8 people in America has hearing loss in both ears. This means that everyday, I interact with many people that have hearing loss, at least to some extent. Obviously, not all of these people are completely deaf, but they are living with an invisible disability. Through Master of None, I’ve become much more aware of the people around me who are going through things I can’t even see.

I believe that this lesson about the struggles of life with hearing loss is crucially important for school-aged children to learn. Allowing them to realize early on that this is an issue that we have to be cognisant of is the only way to improve the quality of life for those with hearing loss.

Tales By Light

Tales by Light is a two season docuseries centered around photography, pictures, and as shown by the name, light. This series follows many photographer and how they use photography to shape the way their intended audience sees the subject of their photos. Photography is all about impact to the viewer. That is what sets the visual arts apart from others. Film and photography have many things in common that draw people in and influence how people view the artist’s creation. There are some major tips and tricks that both photographers and videographer use when creating art: the rule of thirds, spacing, patterns, and the most obvious given the title of the docuseries, light.
 The rules of thirds is a “rule” that is one of the first things taught in a photography class. This is what the rule of thirds looks like:

This “rule” suggests that the artist use an imaginary grid on their image and put the subject of their image on one of the lines, or even better, one of the corners of that grid. This is somewhere the eye is naturally drawn to first and after being drawn to that area you can lead your audience through the rest of the picture. That first glance. The first part of the image that catches the audience’s attention is the most memorable. Audience’s continue to remember and come back to that one area of the image that captivated them. If there is a use of spacing in a distinct way the photo becomes more interesting and recognizable to the audience.
Space. Negative and positive space can reflect on what the audience views. Negative space is shown in this photo by Krystal Wright:

Negative space photographs are specifically done to bring the subject of the photo into the main focus. The subject of the photo is the only important part of this photo. That negative space makes a large impact on the viewer. How a photographer sets up a shot changes how the audience feels about a photo. Positive space looks a little different. All space is used to help tell the story through your photo but negative space leads the audience to their own conclusions, whereas positive  space is more focused on only showing the subject of the photo. Positive space fills the frame only giving you what the photographer wants the audience to see.

Photography and film are very similar in the ways the artist can form an audience’s opinion simply from the way they set up a shot. The overlapping between the two artforms is significant if you breakdown the techniques that are used. Learning these techniques can take some time, but everyone gets there eventually, leading to pictures or movies that stop people in their tracks and make them think. The ability to set up a shot and capture exactly what you want isn’t always available for a photographer or a film artist, but how can they work to make it easier or make it worth the wait? By using patience and their knowledge of their artform makes it increasingly easier. So, what do you think, will you start implementing the same things professionals do into their art forms into your family portraits or vacation photos?

Stranger Things

Stranger Things is a show on netflix that is pure nostalgia for anyone who grew up in the 80s.  The simpler time when people were exploring video games, bright colors, new kinds of movies, and exploring all things unknown. For some this was one of the best times in their life. Those are the memories they cherish to this day. That idea alone is what makes Stranger Things such an amazing idea. People reminisce those days to their children and to each other, and Stranger Things connects those stories in a way that the intended listener can see what those stories could have looked like.
 Stranger Things is a show set in the 80s that brings all of those elements that people love about the 80s together. The main characters are always at the arcade, when things are normal, playing games like Dungeons and Dragons, Dig Dug, and Dragon’s Lair. All of these games were big in the 80s along with the classic others: Pac Man, Donkey Kong and Galaga. You see all of theses teens and pre-teens pooling their money together to be able to play all of the arcade games, including Dragon’s Lair, which was slightly more expensive in the 80s. By keeping true to the arcade games that you entice an audience you didn’t have before: an audience that has been there and knows exactly what the main characters are doing.
 Another connections to the older audience is the tributes made to other famous movies and directors from the 80s in Stranger Things. The main female character can be connected to Carrie in the sense that they both tend to be sweet and gentle characters until they are goaded. Carrie has been famous since the 80s and being one of the teenagers who went to see that movie in theaters or reading the book after seeing the movie makes that connections more special to the viewer. A more obvious connection would be to Star Wars. In the universe that Stranger Things takes place in and the year that Stranger Things takes place in the Star Wars movies were being produced and were very popular with people of all ages. So when Mike makes multiple comments to Yoda and Star Wars in general it is another memory that is generally a happy memory for the people who grew up in that time period.
 While most people wouldn’t care about those connections knowing you and your curiosity for history and how things intertwine to create something new, I knew you would be interested in how Stranger Things connects to those other memories that you and others have of a great time period in your life. Stranger Things connects two very different generations through things that bring one generation nestalgia while still keeping the younger generation engaged and excited to watch this show. Without the engagement and connection to the younger generation through the use of CGI and a more sci-fi geared plot the show could have flopped but by combining parents and children you create this wider genre for viewers and creates a more bonding atmosphere. I know for a  fact that you would watch Stranger Things with your children and have to explain some things, which just makes you closer and give you the opportunity to bond with your children.

The Ranch to teach socially underdeveloped individuals?

There are many series on Netflix that would be excellent teaching tools but my pick would be The Ranch as a teaching tool for socially disabled individuals. Not all individuals understand the intricate types of language used in everyday speech, especially when it comes to sarcasm. This is where show like The Ranch comes in. The Ranch is sarcastic in ways that shows like Friends and Scrubs don’t touch upon.
Almost every other sentence in The Ranch is in some way a sarcastic comment referring to someone or something. The sitcom is centered around a family that seems to only communicate in insults and sarcasm.Now, I understand that The Ranch is not appropriate for people of all ages, but for some depending on how they are parented, or were raised, The Ranch might be extremely helpful. The Ranch is a sitcom that is embedded with sexual innuendos, sarcasm and quite a bit of insults. Now any sane person would be asking: How are those things supposed to help a socially underdeveloped person?
 Socially underdeveloped individuals tend, in my experience, to be very literal which inhibits them from being able to fully understand all of the social cues and discrete forms of communicating. The Ranch is primarily sarcasm and while in day-to-day activities sarcasm can be very subtle, in sitcoms and especially in The Ranch, the sarcasm is overly dramatic making it easily identifiable. How do they understand what is meant to be understood as sarcasm and what is normal speech? Having the episodes of The Ranch always be available allows the episodes to be watched multiple times. The continuous watching allows the viewer to pick up on different gestures, changes in vocal octaves, and other social cues. The repetition added with an integration of said social cues will make those specific cues easier to identify and create an appropriate response.
 Appropriate responses can be hard to form for socially developed individuals so the stress and difficulty of trying to form those responses, especially in a public setting can upset many individuals. This teaching method is not one that would be able to be used in a classroom but in the comfort of your own home. This enables the individuals to try it on their own terms before attempting to take that leap in an unforgiving environment like the public. The public can be harsh so easing these individuals into recognizing and understanding the social cues that the Ranch can teach is essential.
 Another reason The Ranch would be a great teaching tool is because one of the main characters, Colt, can be seen becoming oblivious to what people mean and how to respond in some cases. This shows the individuals using this show to learn social cues that they are not alone when it comes to struggling to understand social cues and communication. That connection can make them more open to learning those needed communicable skills. Connecting to what your learning helps those individual want to learn and excited to learn. What show do you think you could use as a teaching tool?

Big Mouth

For my last post, I'll be writing to my old friend, you know who you are. The show I picked to write to you with is only fitting, as we were only 6th and 7th graders upon meeting one another. Things have changed since those days, and I can only hope that as we grow older, we may at least stay in touch and talk every so often. We've both changed a lot, and this show takes me back to the days before we grew up. I hope you enjoy my dedication to you, as I talk about one of the weirder shows I've seen. So, for this week, I watched a seemingly cute cartoon that everyone has been telling me I have to watch. That show is one of Netflix's newest originals, Big Mouth. The show centers around two middle school kids, Nick and Andrew. They're best friends that have just entered their years of starting puberty. The same as you and I when we had met. Man, what an awful time that was for us both. Nick and Andrew, just from the pilot episode, are already dealing with their emotions, hormones, and relationships. The first episode involved a middle school dance, and we all remember how those went--awfully. This might just be me, but I thought that part of the episode was incredibly unrealistic. How did one middle school kid simply approach another and ask them to dance? I would've been so awkward, face gone red, and would never be able to face them again. Also the fact that two friends just kissed each other and played it off cool? Wow. There’s no way I could’ve. Before the dance though, the two friends got in a fight, all based off their changing emotions and not having much control of how they feel. It reminded me of all those dumb fights we had, being insecure teenangers. There are occasional times I miss the simpler life, stressing out over the dumbest projects, a time when our grades didn’t really matter for much. Now we’re here, completely different people, figuring out where we stand in the world. In any case, I’m proud of where both of us stand. I’m also happy with the fact we never accidentally saw each other naked, prompting a week's worth of awkward confrontation with each other. I’m proud of the person you’ve discovered yourself to be, by the way. You seem to be figuring things out better than I am, even though I’m the older one. I guess that’s just a part of growing up. If you decide to check out the show, for sure let me know! I bet we’ll be able to laugh at the same scenes together and relate all their adventures back to our own lives. Let me know wherever you end up, don’t you forget about me little duck!

Stranger Things

     Ah yes, Stranger Things. October 2016 as well as October this year seemed to have a backdrop of Stranger Things aesthetic. Around the release dates, most conversations that the average person has drift to the popular show for at least a few fleeting seconds. The hype surrounding this show is insane. Musicians have merchandise that incorporate scenes and memorable lines into their own lyrics and logos. Twitter, Tumblr, and other social media sites are permeated with reactionary GIF sets of scenes from Stranger Things. When I went and saw 1990’s pop-punk trio blink-182 earlier this year, the Stranger Things intro song played as the middle-aged musicians took their places on stage. Considering all of these things, it’s hard not to see the impact that this Netflix show has had on modern American culture.

    One of the many things to love about this sci-fi is the nostalgia. This factor gives the show an edge that appeals to a more broad span of viewers. For those who are over the age of 30, this provides an opportunity to remember that time with the different pop culture references to things like Ghostbusters, arcades, and the 1984 presidential election. For viewers under the age of 30, it provides insight into a time so different from what we’re used to, and (for me at least), the sheer fascination factors into our viewership.

    Continuing on the topic of age, another cause of mass interest in the show stems from the main actors. In times like these, it’s hard to remember that there are pure and wholesome people and things happening. The kids in the show serve as an example for many viewers. They represent a time in all of our lives where things were more simple, when we had energy to go on adventures and an imagination that hasn’t yet been muddied by the harsh realities of the world. In this way, Stranger Things offers a second form of nostalgia that everyone can relate to.

    Reaching back to an article that appeared on one of our weekly reading lists about how television is dead and so is national bonding, Stranger Things is a perfect example of how that’s somewhat far from the truth. The type of union that this show, as well as other Netflix originals, such as Ozark have brought about are very noteworthy. These shows give us all something to bond over, whether or not someone has seen the show in question and whether or not they even liked it. In a time as divided and war-like as 2017, it’s nice to have something neutral and lighthearted to discuss and engage in.

    These are the reasons why I like this show. While I personally don’t believe that it’s the greatest show ever or the best show that I’ve ever seen or even the best show that I’ve seen this month, I think that it does a spectacular job in not only storytelling, but also in uniting people.