Chapter 3 Reflection Questions

1. Think of one of your favorite movies and consider: Who is the protagonist? How are you supposed to identify with him or her? Who or what is the antagonist? Is the protagonist morally good? Is the antagonist morally bad?

Star Wars

Protagonist: Luke Skywalker, this is shown due to the fact that Luke is the most powerful and most focused on in the movie and the film revolves primarily on his fight against the Sith and his inner self through his resistance against the dark side. He is also suggested to be morally good considering that he represents the light side, a very literal metaphor, and fights for the rebels against an extremely tyrannical empire.

Antagonist: Darth Vader and or Darth Sidious, the two represent the most powerful and most iconic members of the empire and dark side. The two are morally bad due to their association with the dark side and the oppressive empire.

2. Watch a familiar scene from a film and focus on everything except the main actors. How does the background contribute to what is being communicated?

Scene: Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back, Darth Vader reveals he is Luke's father

The main environment of the scene is in a massive tube that provides an ominous and empty feeling, this is further embellished with the fact that the audio in the beginning light saber duel is silent, no music is given to show the emptiness of the scenery. Furthermore, upon the moment where Luke's arm is sliced, you suddenly hear music being played, a quick, sharp, tone, to emphasize the surprise of the scene and the disparity of Luke's defeat. Finally, upon Darth Vader's reveal, the dark side theme is played, which shows the idea that Luke has a connection with the dark side and to further show the idea that the dark side has one this battle.

3. Watch a familiar scene from a film with no sound and only subtitles. How does this differ with the same scene with audio?

Scene: Same above

Obviously, it isn't the same. While it does contain some of the shock with the reveal as it did with audio, it simply is not the same without the music and Luke's audible reaction. This creates a very unnatural, boring, and stiff tone throughout the scene.

Song Reflections

YOLO- Lonely Island

As the song's title suggests, it regards the usage of the phrase YOLO (You only live once) in popular culture, in which people often use it to justify irresponsible actions or those that overlook the future in favor of enjoying oneself in the present. Throughout the song, the band constantly interprets YOLO in the exact opposite of its common usage, using it to justify actions of paranoia and extreme safety due to the preciousness of life. The song is obviously satirical in nature and a comedic parody in response to the way people use the saying. Despite its theme of caution, the lyrics address the the questions regarding morality, in which it suggests that you should go through life with a sense of comedy as well as with another sense of lightheartedness as it stresses a mid ground between the seriousness of the song's lyrics and the stupidity of those who follow YOLO. Not only that, but it also suggests ways in which we should address popular culture, in which we should be skeptical and avoid becoming slaves to its influence as it can make you affected by the sheer idiocy of the term YOLO. In terms of the other ultimate questions and worldviews, the song does slightly give off an answer to destiny, or life after death, in which it only suggest it as negative, as the group sings entirely about an evasion of death. 

The One that Got Away- Katy Perry

As opposed to YOLO, this song has many stronger messages and worldviews. It regards a young couple living happily as the man pursues a career as an artists, but eventually the two fall apart in various fights and the man dies in a car accident shortly after separating. The song is about the woman (Katy Perry) lamenting about the man being "The one that got away", or the one she should have been with as opposed to her current wealthy husband of whom she is unhappy with. The worldviews of this song primarily tackle relationships of which this fits into the question of morality. It stresses the fact that having a perfect relationship is always more valuable than material wealth or riches as well as the idea that in a relationship, the two involved need to be loving and truthful with each other. Also, the song also addresses the question of meaning in which it implies that people are meant to live happily with their spouse and live a life of coexistence. In another perspective, the song also gives a suggestion regarding pre-marital relationships and sex, where it shows that such actions are morally acceptable as the couple in the music video are involved in a sexual relationship.