Emma Koberstein

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Mean Girls

After watching “Rebel Without a Cause”, my group and I decided to pick “Mean Girls” as our second movie which also deals with teens rebelling.   Throughout the movie “Mean Girls”, we see Cady move to a new school and deal with the popular kids and her transition.  This is very similar to “Rebel Without a Cause” because Jim also moves to a new school where he has to try and make friends.  Both Cady and Jim deal with similar problems like peer pressure and wanting to fit in with the cool and popular crowd after recently moving to a new school.  Both stories also exaggerate the way teens act in both time periods in the same environment which would be high school.  Some characters are realistic in “Mean Girls”, but also, some are not like the “Plastics”.  Our group thought that the audience of this film would be teenage girls because it focuses on Cady in high school and how she deals with the stereotypical popular girls.  The purpose could be to show teenage girls going through high school that there is more to life than just being the most popular or best dressed, and that you do’t have to conform to others’ thoughts.  The speaker of this movie would be people like Cady in the movie because she is trying to show people that they don’t have to change what they look like or how they act in order to be “cool and liked” in high school.  Throughout both of these films, there is reoccurring themes that can be seen through the main character's thoughts and actions.  

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Rebel Without a Cause

Throughout this movie, my group and I were confused at certain points, but we also found it to be quite interesting at some parts.  We thought that the movie portrayed common problems that teens still struggle with today like peer pressure, bullying, and family problems.  We also thought that these problems were exaggerated compared to how they are seen in daily life even though times have changed.  For example, teenagers don’t drive their cars toward a cliff in a game of chicken anymore, but they still make up dares for other people to complete or else others will make fun of them.  Our group also thought that it made sense for the movie to portray the main character, Jim, as trying to fit in because teens have always wanted to do this (even today).  Our group also believed that the audience would be teenagers struggling through their years of high school because the whole movie focuses on the problems present between themselves, family, and friends.  The purpose of “Rebel Without a Cause” would be to showcase all the problems that the teenagers in the movie deal with and offer a situation that some people may be able to relate to.  We believe this because it shows how Jim dealt with the “cool” group and how Judy dealt with her dad offering a story to relate to.  We also thought the speaker would be other teenagers struggling with those same problems like Jim and Plato dealt with because they want to tell their story.  Overall, our group found this movie very interesting because of the ways the problems that teens struggle with are presented.   

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A film transcending the genre: My Sister’s Keeper

A film that I think transcends the genre would have to be “My Sister’s Keeper” which was made from the book written by Jodi Picoult.  This movie’s genre would be drama due to all the problems the family goes through, but this film accurately showcases what families try to do when they have a child that is struggling with a sickness.  The parents in the movies try their hardest to help save their daughter which tears apart the family too.  This movie travels through all of the family problems they have when they are dealing with such a hard situation.  Even though it may unrealistic for a little girl to talk to a lawyer about her suing her parents, kids still do ask their parents why they have to do things for other people.  Through all these situations the family deals with, the audience is able to look at their life and to be thankful for everything they have because this isn’t the audience’s situation at home.  The director of this film through the common use of dramatic scenes helps the family show the audience that they can get through anything with a strong bond with other people.  

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Simon Fuller, the creator of the British TV show Idols, should be considered original because of the thoughts he put into reality.  Fuller was able to show a large audience performances done by many different people from all different backgrounds.  Idols, which is the British version of American Idol, became so popular in England that he decided to move the show to America.  From this growing popularity, Fuller was able to create a successful franchise that has gone on to create many other reality television shows.  Without taking the risk to create Idols in England, Fuller would have never been able to showcase many performances of rising stars through the TV show set up.  With combining rising stars and celebrities as judges, Fuller created a TV show that was unalike anything at the time which many people liked to watch.  Through his franchise, he has created many other shows that gained popularity because the audience becomes apart of the process.  Many spin-offs of Fuller’s original idea have also allowed other people to experience the wealth and opportunities he has.  Fuller’s creativity helped him involve music into a well-liked TV show that was unalike any reality television before making him original.         

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Studies indicate that children learn resilience when they hear what their relatives before them have faced.

I wanted to get another perspective based on a similar story to what my book was like.  I thought this was a very interesting article and story because it shows how the family interacted and how their thoughts differed.  I think this could relate to my book because the brother and sister relate to Liz and her sister.  I can also understand why Liz decided to be so close to her parents even though they were not treating her right.  I think this source will really help me develop other ideas that relate to my abstract and book.  

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These three teens beat long odds, and will be recognized Wednesday.

Many teenagers in New York City struggle with having a bunch of problems they have to deal with at such a young age.  In this article, it focuses on three different teenagers that have struggled with family and housing problems, but in the end, they all end up succeeding with their education.  This shows that no matter the amount of stress or unhappiness you have in your life with determination, a negative can turn into a positive. This also related to my book because these stories that are being shared relate to Liz’s situation a lot.  They all find happiness and support in their educational career.  Without education, these lives would have never be changed for the teenagers to make something out of them.  

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Pride In New York City by Romeo Della Valle How could I ever return When leaving put the past behind me? Some kinds of love I have no use for, It would be like searching In pockets that are

I thought this poem was very interesting because in a way it could directly be related to my book.  It talks about how people struggle with being homeless in New York City and what that does to your pride.  Many people get impacted from living on the streets so much; they begin to turn into someone completely different that they never imagined.  This poem creates reality for a lot of people in New York City which is why I used it as a secondary source because it implies what goes through your head if you didn’t have a home or any money.  It also acknowledges everyone else’s thought on these type of people which makes you think about what homeless people have to go through everyday just to survive.  

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Liz Murray grew up in poverty with drug-addicted parents but survived without resentment and landed a place at Harvard.

I think this book review is a very interesting source because it focuses on the main character's mother instead of mostly the main character.  I thought this was interesting because I think this source saw her mother as the main problem or part of the book.  It seems like the article is trying to prove how her mother has impacted Liz’s life and story.  With giving focus on someone else besides Liz, it showcases a different viewpoint or even how her mother saw her daughter growing up.  I think this could help me learn something about the main character on a deeper level or even her mother.  

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Follow-up to the 57th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW). Implementing agreed conclusions. 57th Commission on the Status of Women agreed conclusions.

Violence is a main cause that leads to many girls being sent into homes that try to help them recover from what has happened to them.  They have them all over the country in order to reduce the amount of problems these girls will experience in their lives.  They try to get girls to think that they are important and that they should value their education and who they are as a person.  I think this relates to my book because the girl’s home Liz attended helped her find a friend that could connect with her when she had no one else.  These homes and shelters offer a way of education to help their lives when everyone else is trying to bring them down.  I think this makes a huge impact in every girl’s life when they attend these because it offers hope and self-knowledge to them.  

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As a proponent of emotional intelligence, I'm often asked to explain this complex and sometimes-elusive concept. Simplifying emotional intelligence is a ...

I think this article is very interesting because it offers a explanation for why people do what they do for their ego or identity.  It talks about how people try to feel confident and comfortable in their own skin and don’t really care about everyone else’s.  It also offers solutions to these problems for blaming people.  This article really helps you realize things that you thought you don’t really do.  I think these examples are seen in Liz because she realizes her strengthens and weaknesses especially in her life and situation.  Liz found her self-confidence in a very hard time in her life whereas many people struggle to find it even when they have everything.  Liz realizes what she is good and bad at which helps her be honest with her own feelings.  

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Join Liz Murray www.facebook.com/lizmurraybrea­kingnight Copyright: Guideposts TV

This video is of Liz talking about the NRA coin her mother gave to her.  I decided to pick this as a secondary source because it gave a another insight into how she felt. Even though this is the same story as what is in the book, this video describes how she felt and the emotions that went through her mind when this was all happening.  Liz knew that this coin related her to her mother and whenever she felt like she couldn’t do it, she would grab the coin to make her feel like she was important and had to take a leap in order to succeed. She never has a big ego and allows herself to learn and adapt to different situations.  

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According to federal data, 1.36 million children were homeless during the 2013-2014 school year.

Being homeless is a very hard thing to do as a kid or a family.  Even though the article is not related to the time period of my book, it deals/talks about how hard it is for kids that are homeless to be educated in the public education system since they are all moving around.  I have never experienced this, but I can’t imagine how hard it is to try to find somewhere warm and comfy to sleep in order to be ready to go to school the next day.  It uses facts to show the states that lead with this problem, New York being second, which help put it into perspective for someone else.  The amount of dedication those students have to go to school after not sleeping well or having any food is truly amazing.  I think education offers hope to those people who literally have nothing.    

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New York Times College Scholarship Program selects six New York City high school students for $12,000 per year for four years; profiles of winners Anahad O'Connor, Mirela Miraj, LeTicia Williams, QiQi Cheng, Elizabeth Murray and Denise De Las Nueces; photo (M)

This article talks about the scholarship, Liz Murray won in order for her to get into Harvard which gave her up to $15,000.  This relates to my topic because it shows more of the person Liz was through her journey. It gives a view to people who haven’t read the book or heard about Liz.  This article shows that even though she grew up with barely no support, she had grown into a person who supports herself and now finds value in her education.  It goes on to explain another example of how no one believed in what she could do, but she proved them wrong.  She found happiness, even though no one did find it in her, just because a teacher at her Prep school showed her this scholarship.  This offered her hope because people were willing to see the good in helping others get education.  

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Most managers accept that employers benefit from a diverse workforce, but the notion can be hard to prove or quantify, especially when it comes to measuring how diversity affects a firm’s ability to innovate. But new research provides compelling evidence that diversity unlocks innovation and drives market growth—a finding that should intensify efforts to ensure […]

In this article from Harvard where the main character went to college, it talks about how they value diversity in their college. I think many people also value their education a lot and especially one from a college because it is a privilege.  I think this shows how Liz got serious about college because she wanted to make something of her life.  Harvard offered Liz hopefulness to value her education and to have a further one.  Liz offered diversity and a different viewpoint to life because of what she has been through with her family and education.  She learns pride and her self-importance at Harvard because they took the chance to bring her in and let her grow.  Without having a diverse, accepting college, Liz would have never ended up where she is today.  

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Ego, Pride, and Self-Knowledge #6

At the end of the book, she says, "Instead, what I was beginning to understand was that however things unfolded from here on, whatever the next chapter was, my life could never be the sum of one circumstance. It would be determined, as it had always been, by my willingness to put one foot in front of the other, moving forward, come what may" (321). By ending the book with this, it shows how she has changed as a character from the decisions she has made. Now that she is making something with her life, Liz finally feels like her life is important, and she should enjoy it. She has a identity that makes her different from everyone. This book really highlights the change in her personality through all of her struggles. She learns more about herself every time something bad happens which allows for her to grow and find her purpose in this world. Overall, Liz shows an unbelievable amount of strength to learn and grow as a independent person which ultimately leads to happiness.

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Ego, Pride, and Self-Knowledge #5

After Liz finally decides to try to get into a school , she has this thought, “The rapid changes I had experienced were hitting me hard as I sat there, and yet sadness wasn’t what came up in my gut.  Out of nowhere, for whatever reason, a different feeling snuck up in its place, hope.  If life could change for the worst, I thought, then maybe life could change for the better”(251). I think this is where you start to see a change in Liz as a character.  She finally realizes that she needs to begin a life that will sustain her goals.  By being able to be so honest at the age of 17 with herself, it shows how she was dedicated to making her life something she values.  I think she has really grown up and learned a lot from having basically no parents to living on the street.  Education has always been mentioned in the book, but now I think she is going to take pride in her education.  It will be interesting to see how she changes as she attends the prep school.  

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Ego, Pride, and Self-Knowledge #4

“Just not today, I kept thinking, not right now.  Life seemed to be rushing me, and all I felt I could do was duck and cover.  Not now.  Later, I kept telling myself” (175).  Since the main character, Liz, has a lot going on right now, she begins to get stressed out when her mother sickness grows because she takes cares of her.  Liz also has to attend school in order to not go back into the girls home.  Liz’s ego is based around her mother because they had a very close relationship, and when her mother got sick and left Liz’s dad, Liz was very impacted by this because she has no one to look to when her times get rough.  She now has to learn how to jungle everything in her life.  It will be interesting to see how she jungles school and her mother’s sickness later on with the book.  I feel like this will create a huge change in her character once her mother dies.