#5: In the Red and Brown Water

In the projects of Bayou, Lousisiana, Oya, the main character of In the Red and Brown Water is a track crazed teen-aged girl. The plot of the play follows her transformation from girl to woman. Oya deals with the death of her mother, missing her chance at running track, and a rocky relationship with Shango. While dealing with all of this, she also has to deal with the fact that she can’t have a baby, something that she truly wanted. Her hardships finally overcome her and she cuts off her ear at a moment of insanity, killing herself, and ending the play. What struck me as the most important thing about the story for Oya was choosing between what her heart told her and what her mind told her. She wasn’t happy with Ogun Size, but he was the safe, reliable man in her life. Meanwhile her heart led her to loving Shango, the unreliable, rocky man in her life.  Her happiness and sanity were at stake for her here and even though she listened to her heart and chose Shango, she was too late and it resulted in her demise.

Throughout the performance Elegba, the maturing delinquent, captivated my attention. I loved watching his sass and immature moments while also seeing him transition into a man. He made some mistakes along the way, like getting a girl pregnant, but it ended up making him a better person. He loved having something to call his own. I was also caught off guard when I revealed that he was not only interested in women, but in men too. His comedic relief was essential to the plot and I found myself bursting out in laughter throughout the play. At first I thought I would find myself hating how the actors say their stage cues but I actually really enjoyed that aspect of the play. What I did not like as much was how I couldn’t keep up with some of the slang and language the actors used. I know it was part of the script, but at points they would be speaking too fast and I found myself getting lost.

Other than that, I surprisingly enjoyed all the other aspects of the game. This was not my first time seeing a live theater performance, but it was my first time seeing one at Penn State. I was pleasantly surprised the students acting in the play were so passionate and real. This definitely exceeded my expectations because I did not expect much going into the performance. The only other live theater performances I have seen have been big, overdone musicals on Broadway. Compared to those, this was more real and raw. I loved how the set was simple so the only thing you really focused on was the individual actors. Overall, I came out of this experience impressed and intrigued. 

#4: Good Will Hunting

Director: Gus Van Sant 

Writers: Matt Damon, Ben Affleck

Starring: Robin Williams, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Minnie Driver, Stellan Skarsgard

Length: 126 min.

Released: 1997

Rather than being your typical college film of binge drinking, sex, and drugs, Good Will Hunting captures the essence of a uplifting, heartfelt drama. 

Set in Boston and Cambridge Massachusetts, the film follows Will Hunting (Matt Damon), a janitor at the prestigious Massachusetts Institution of Technology. Hunting is a defiant, troublesome 20-year-old who, is gifted with a photographic memory. After MIT professor Lambeau (Stellan Skarsgard) challenges his students with an extremely complex math problem, Will solves it in a day, leaving the answer on the hallway blackboard, while simultaneously leaving everyone else anxious to find out who actually solved it. Lambeau finally discovers Will and as an alternative to going to jail, offers him an out with two conditions: weekly math and therapy sessions. Will refuses to cooperate with the therapy sessions and after driving away five other therapists, he finally gets sent to Sean McGuire (Robin Williams), Lambeau's former classmate. This is where the real journey begins as you watch Will and Sean deal with Will's past, present, and future together.

Directed by Gus Van Sant, Good Will Hunting easily combines a heavy story with comedic undertones. This film toyed with my emotions, compelling me to be sad in one scene and burst out with laughter in another. Though the plot line is pretty predictable, there are enough twists and turns to keep you alert and focused. Will's relationship with the equally damaged Sean McGuire is the core to this film. Viewers witness Will transforming from a troubled boy to a driven man. With Harvard girl, Skylar (Minnie Driver) as his love interest, this throws even more curve balls into the plot. 

Keep in mind, despite the fact this is an inspiring story, the film is rated R for good reason. A chunk of the movie contains foul language and sexual content not suitable for younger viewers. As an adult, the word choices of the writers only made the film better. Seeing as Will Hunting is a working class guy, he hangs out with his bar-hopping South Boston pals, who are more like brothers to him. Their foul mouths and crude jokes only make their characters more genuine. Lines like, "Morgan! If you're watching pornos in my mom's room again, I'm gonna give you a f***ing beating!" add a great deal of comedy into the film. Will's best friend Chuckie (Ben Affleck) and the rest of the crew set Good Will Hunting apart from all the other sappy films about kids from bad areas overcoming their hardships. They make the film more relatable, real, and light. 

Nominated for nine oscars, winning two, Good Will Hunting is clearly a must see. Between romance, drama, and comedy, there's something in there for everyone. I also have to mention that it didn't hurt staring at Matt Damon for about 126 min. either. I would definitely recommend this triumphant film to anyone and I plan on seeing it again in the future. 

#3: A Flower Filled Excursion

I wasn't expecting much when I heard our class on Monday would be at Penn State's very own arboretum. Thankfully I was pleasantly surprised. The fact that it was a bit chilly out didn't affect the beauty of the serene place at all. Standing under the white tent portion of the building itself made me think that this would be the perfect spot for a wedding. The scenery would be breathtaking in spring with all the flowers in bloom. The stone path that maps out the region around Penn State was a unique aspect of the area. I loved tracing my foot along the crevices engraved in the stone. I've never seen anything like it before.

I thought the arboretum was just the few planted areas surrounding the main building, but boy was I wrong. Paths led me to places I didn't expect to exist. My favorite spot was where all the sunflowers were where there were also gourds hanging on the trellise right in front of them. This reminded me of home because my neighbors down the street always plant sunflowers that always seem to grow taller than me. The gourds also reminded me of my parents since they use dried out gourds to decorate for the fall season. The bench under the trellise seemed like the ideal place to sit and slowly drink a warm cup of tea in the morning. Every part of this place compelled me to feel relaxed. 

Now, I'm normally never a nature lover. I hate creepy, crawly insects and things that slither, but I do have a soft spot for the beauty of plants and landscape. This reminded me that surrounding the bubble of happy valley is pure country. I loved all the vivid, bright colors engulfed in the arboretum. I was happily surprised to see peppers growing right next to big, bodacious flowers. I was so tempted to pluck one of the peppers off its stem. 

Another thing I was surprised at discovering was a small pond with many different types of lilly pads and flowers. I even caught a glimpse of a fish swimming around in there. It looked like I could sit on one of the pads because of its huge size, but after contemplating it, I would most definitely sink it. For some odd reason, the first memory that popped into my mind while looking at these floating plants, was of a frog jumper game I played as a child. Frogs would have to hop over a river on lily pads or they would drown. I half expected to see a frog hanging out on one of the lilly pads in the pond. Frogs and lily pads seem to be synonymous. 

On a broader note, everywhere I turned in the arboretum, I discovered something even more beautiful than the last. Looking back through the many pictures I took, I couldn't believe I actually took the pictures there. Most of them look like they came out of a magazine because the colors are so vibrant and lively. Seeing as the arboretum is right in my back yard, I would love to go back there when it's warmer out. It seems like the ideal place to layout with my books and have a nice long study session. Who knew Penn State would have such a beautiful haven!?

Here are some pictures I took while at the arboretum:

#2: Visit to the Palmer

Julie Heffernan's

Self-Portrait as Woman Recovering from Effects of Male Gaze (What's Underneath), 1992
Oil on canvas

The full piece. 

Scene of a woman and child being abandoned by a man. 

Scene of Adam and Eve.

At first glance, the piece of art just appears to be yet another plain portrait of an assortment of fruit, a common scene artists have been painting for centuries. Heffernan used a variety of dull colors; deep red is the only hue that sufficiently sticks out. An array of apples and pears painted in reds, browns, and yellows surround the deep purple, almost black, grapes that are centered towards the back of the portrait. Shades of black surround the fruit, which is reflected in the very front of the portrait, thus creating a mirror effect. At the very bottom of the piece, the words "Self Portrait as Woman Recovering from Effects of Male Gaze" is painted in white script. Upon taking a second glance, the eyes begin to focus on the true meaning of this painting. It is not just fruit painted on this canvas, but there are images painted within the fruit. There are several scenes that illustrate Heffernan's attitude towards the harsh roles men have placed women in throughout history. 

This piece of art was created in what people call the "Year of the Women" because a number of female Senators were elected in the United States. This is extremely important in relation to the rhetorical situation of the piece. This was created in a time where substantial progress had been made for women with even more to come. This piece seems to map out the struggles women endured since the creation of human beings, starting with Adam and Eve, who are illustrated in the painting. In another scene, a robust woman gazes at herself in a mirror. I interpreted this as the effects of the expectations men hold women to, both physical and mental. Additionally, a woman and child stare off into the distance at what looks like a man as he floats off into the distance on a ship, suggesting how men have deserted women in the past. The other scenes in the portrait depict themes concerning social norms, the female anatomy, and love. 

While gazing at this piece of art, I did not experience any strong emotions, but I did feel intrigued to examine each small scene more carefully. It made me consider other examples of people objectifying women. I thought to myself how lucky I am to be living in a society today where women play a greater role in the government and the community and how women in other countries across the world are still being scrutinized and held back like the women in this painting. 

This particular artists holds credibility because she is a respected member of the art world. Heffernan achieved a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of California, Santa Cruz and a Masters of Fine Arts degree in painting at Yale School of Art. She is now a professor of fine arts at Montclair State University in New Jersey. She has received many awards and distinctions including the E.H. Schless Prize for Highest Achievement in Painting and even a College Faculty Research Grant from the Pennsylvania State University. 

Personally, I believe the claim this piece is making is that men throughout history, starting with Adam and Eve, have objectified women. This claim is very persuasive because the painting is not just one scene, it's multiple scenes, all providing evidence of this one claim. They all show the inferiority women have dealt with since the start of humankind. 

Overall, I enjoyed my visit to the Palmer. I am not a frequent museum-goer, but usually take pleasure in the experience when I do go. I did not necessarily like the artwork on the first floor. I found it a little mundane, but I was fascinated by the artwork on the second floor, especially in the first room. I loved all the colors and different styles of artwork up there. I would like to go back and spend some more time exploring the museum. I could see myself discovering something I quickly passed over upon my first visit. 

#1: Blog Talk

Template: I chose this template because to me, it was the easiest one to follow. I like things that are clear and straightforward right off the bat. I thought the title font describes the mood I'm trying to set: calm and easygoing. For the rest of my blog, I chose a lucid, simple font so the reader can focus on the words typed rather than trying to decipher every single letter. Overall, I feel that this template suits my blog best since it is easy to understand.

Title: "Through the Eyes of an OBrien" gives away a fragment of my identity: my last name. The title tells whoever stumbles upon my blog that what's posted is my opinion, my personal thoughts. I'm also glad I included OBrien in my title because it links me to Penn State in a way since Bill O'Brien is now the head football coach of the Nittany Lions.

Color: Clearly I chose the color green as the background for my blog. To me it looks like watercolor, which is how that links me to the arts I guess. I love how it's not just one shade of green, there's an array of different shades of it. If you guessed that green is my favorite color, then you guessed right! Additionally, the word "Irish" and the name "Bridget Marie OBrien" are definitely synonymous and so of course green had to be my background color since it is the color of the Irish.

Pages: I felt it was necessary to create an "About Me" page so readers would have a good idea who is writing to them. I not only included the basic facts about myself, but I added what some of my favorite things are and some facts about my past that have made me the person I am today. 

I feel my blog represents me well. It took me a while to make, which was surprising. I found myself thinking about how others would perceive it a lot more than just my Facebook or Twitter pages. I hope to draw readers to my blog and discover others opinions on the same topics I write about.