How I Met My Husband ~ A Movie

Plot
I think that in order to turn this short story into a movie, I would leave the plot similar to what it is now. The few things I might change are additional scene where Edie is with her family, and the family she works for. This would add more of a sense as to Edie's personality, upbringing, and place as a servant. Additionally, I think that added scenes with Chris, to show her developing adoration of him. This would help to explain her reaction as a naive young girl to Chris' behavior. Finally, I think that towards the end, a scene that would play quickly through Edie and her husband's meeting and dating would be needed. This would proportionate it's importance to that of the story of her knowing Chris. These changes would give the story a more cinematic effect.

Point of View
I feel that the movie would start out with Edie talking, introducing the audience to the situation, and acknowledging the story to be of her younger self. Occasional comments by this narrator would be made, but rarely. Then, at the finish of the movie, a scene that quickly went through Edie actually meeting her husband would play, and she would talk over these silent scenes, explaining and narrating the past. This would pull the audience in and help for more relation to the story. The narration would also help to clarify different points in the story.  This narration would be similar to that of the movie "A Christmas Story," in that it covers the narrator's past, and the narrator is not omniscient.


Characterization
I would leave the characterization for the most part as it is in the short story. These characters are well developed and mesh well into the plot. I think I would make Edie's naivety more apparent to the audience. This would help later when Edie acknowledges having been "intimate" with Chris. Aside from this, I suppose Loretta Bird could be more nosy. This could add more humor to the story, along with Edie's awkward naive behavior. I believe these minimal changes are all that would be necessary in order to make this story work as a movie.

Setting
I would not change the setting at all. It is essential to the story, and thus would best be left as is. I think that in showing Edie's life at home more, the setting of her home may need to be added. However, all other previously existing settings would be left as they are. This way, the plot would follow its course of action. I love the way this story was written, so I don't feel like much setting/ plot wise would necessarily need to be changed, aside from those few plot additions previously mentioned.  Too much addition would bog down the story and its purpose.

Theme 
I think the theme of this movie would be where little things in life can lead you. In this case, the situation of meeting Chris indirectly led Edie to her husband. This is a twist in plot, so I don't know that it can technically be considered a theme. The essential point of the story was to show how when one door closes another opens. Through the changes I have added, I feel like these points would be clearer. This story would be a romantic comedy with a twist, so the theme would be relevant and flow quite nicely with the rest of the story. 

A Christmas Story

Plot

The plot of this movies follows very closely to that of the book, with a few significant differences.The primary difference is that the movie doesn't not contain an opening sequence with the older Ralphie and the woman with the badge against toys. In the movie, the characterization of Ralphie is further developed through the character, Scut, the neighborhood bully. Through Ralphie's change in reaction to the bully, as he later fights him, a courageous aspect of Ralphie's character becomes evident. Other differences in plot are further repetition of the famous line, "You'll shoot your eye out." Also, Ralphie's friend finds himself stuck to a flagpole after licking this. I feel that this played no significant part in character development, but was merely provided for the entertainment aspect. Furthermore, the movie did stay close to the plot of the actual obtaining of the Red Ryder and the many "tasks" Ralphie went through in order to convince his parents/Santa of his need for it.

Point of View

The point of view in this movie is also the same as in the book. It is clear that the story is being told by an older version of Ralphie, although he is never literally present in the story. Throughout, the narrator tells the story as if he is looking back in his past. The real difference comes in the ability to expand upon the dialogue the characters undergo, as much of a movie is dialogue, where as much of the story is description of emotion and thought. This difference portrays more of the characters, but less of their actual thought processes. As in the book, the only thought process visible is that of Ralphie in the past. Thus, although the point of view is unchanged, the format in which the point of view is presented changes the insight provided.

Characterization

The character of Ralphie is relatively the same between the story and the movie. The movie expands upon his actions, whereas the story expands upon his thoughts and then his actions ultimate consequences. Ralphie of the movie is seemingly more tempered, in reference to his fight with Scut, as well as his slip of the "F-word." In the book, he appears more scheming and less dream-ridden. In the movie, there are several sequences of Ralphie's dreams with the Red Ryder. However, there are less in dealing with the way in which he has planned to get it. The movie really shows more of the family and friend interaction in Ralphie's life than it does in his methods to obtain the Red Ryder. I feel that the movie changes Ralphie's character a bit and makes him more desperate for the gun than in the book. This may seem contradictory as compared to the earlier statements, but because the movie is focused on action over a 1.5 to 2 hr time range, much of the film is filled with Ralphie's want of the gun, and how that affects his family life. The book mainly focused on how he would convince his family of his need of it, but not on much interaction with the family itself.

Setting
The setting of this story is also Hammond, Indiana. It takes place in the winter, as does the story, and it emphasizes the fact that it is Christmas season. The school appears more often in this story, as does the home. In particular, the school seems to help with Ralphie's characterization, in reference to the personalities displayed by his friends. The home takes a center as the place of Ralphie's plans, and dreams for the Red Ryder. Several of his dream sequences are of him in his home, protecting his family, Thus, the home is a prominent setting in this movie, as much so, and possibly, more so, than it was in the book.

 Theme

The theme of this movie, I believe is similar to that of the story. However, with the added emphasis on family, I think the true goal of this movie was to show how Christmas time allows everything to be put aside for love. Where the book focused on the joy of giving, the movie focuses on the joy of family being together, even if things don't seem to be going right (as in the loss of turkey to a neighbor's pack of dogs.) The premise of the movie is to emphasize quality time with the family, even in watching the movie itself. I think because the family is the center of the plot in this movie, it is the center of the theme as well. The family is what brings joy in this case, not so much the giving of gifts.  

You're Ugly Too

I am going to approach this blog with the intention of addressing why Zoe uses humor so much in her life, even though it is ineffective. Clearly, from the history provided within the story, Zoe has serious medical issues. These problems, among others, segregate her, in her mind, from the world. However, I feel that she realizes that this segregation is not right, because of this, she makes attempts to reconcile herself with society. She uses humor as a means to feel closer to society, because everyone likes a good joke, and their laughter or enjoyment would thus make her feel appreciated. I think the key role of humor in this story is to show how far detached Zoe has become, to the point unto which she doesn't realize that no one truly gets her humor. I feel like her humor is in some ways similar to the fox fur for Miss. Brill. It is her means to connect with society and to express herself.

Popular Mechanics

I liked how this story parallels the biblical passage from Solomon, in some ways. In other ways, however, it seems to carry a different ending. In Solomon, the true parent of a child is determined after the threat of cutting it in two. One woman gives in and says the other may have it, the one who speaks up is the true mother. In this story, there doesn't exist a true parent. I feel like this story is meant to emphasize a flaw in humanity, our reaction to instinct and inability to give in, even at the risk of injuring others. The two parents clearly do not want to give in to each other. It is in my opinion, that the child is eventually injured, because the events of the fight escalate in such a way that there seems to be no stopping point. Although the child is crying aloud, the parents can only think of beating the other. In this way, one common human characteristic is displayed, though a negative one it may be. I feel the point of this story then, is to show just what can happen if we react without thought or care for others.

The Drunkard ~ A Father, a Son, and a Tendency to Drink

This story really only has one main string of irony in it. The important irony is that it takes the boy's father his son's drunkenness to quit drinking. He was not strong enough to give up drinking for his family's good or for the money he lost because of drinking. He truly gives it up because of the embarrassment his son causes him. Which in itself is ironic. For all of the times he had been drunk, as the was implied to know, one would think that he would quit from the embarrassment of  that. However, somehow, the embarrassment only set in when he was sober enough to see and hear the opinions of the people. In the end, the irony of this story circles around the parallels between the boy and his father's situations.

The Lottery - for EB Laut: The Story of a Town, Some Rocks, and a Box

#6. In "The Lottery", the entire idea of choosing one person as a scapegoat for the entire town at random is an old fashioned, primitive ritual. As it is set in modern times, there is an implication that human society as a rule, does not like to give up the past. Since this custom has been set in place and long since upheld, it is culturally acceptable for it to be continued. As humans, we often times fear getting rid of the old, for consequence of the new. Human nature has a tendency to revert to instinct even over all else that has been learned, because this is what we are comfortable with. As this ritual is so well known, it is what the people are most comfortable with. In not knowing what the future may bring, they fear giving up the ritual. In this, the story reveals one of many flaws in human nature: the inability to let go of the outdated and potentially threatening past.