Blog # 3

I already loved analyzing movies and TV shows before this class. I’m the type who watches a movie the second time just to catch symbols, foreshadowing, or filming inconsistencies. If I have seen the movie before, I’m the friend who can’t stop mentioning analyzations during a movie night. I’m also the one who stays up late at night reading analyzations behind movies like The Lion King. I do it because it’s entertaining. I wouldn’t say taking this class extended my knowledge about symbols, semiotic characterizes, and Marxism traits more than I have ever thought about but I definitely understand Marxism from the everyday social life point of view now. 

After watching Freaks and Geeks: “Tricks and Treats” I understand how the terms learned in the Marxism chapter were applied to the show’s setting. There were characters that were strong and characters that were weak. It was interesting to see how a character’s lifestyle changes depending on what the situation is or what group they were with. For example, Lindsey was strong hierarchical elite at the beginning of the episode. However, at the end of the episode she was a weak fatalist. It seemed at the beginning of the episode she had more confidence. This confidence slowly went away by the end of the episode. It was also interesting to see how Lindsey alienated herself from certain people. She alienated herself from Millie at the beginning of the episode when Millie was eating the candy and when the teacher was talking to her. When she found out that Millie had a boyfriend, it was as if Millie had alienated her for not having a boyfriend. 

It is interesting to see how Marxism is used as a basis for analyzing and criticizing culture and mass media. Taking this class has so far taught me how to view the media and life situations in an analytic way and to always see the big picture.