ELS Autoblog

Every tool represents a human purpose. In Immigrant, the cabinet is a major tool. It is programmed to have the ability to interact with humans. I think it represents a human purpose because it does pretty much everything a human can do so it is like a servant (but without negative connotations, since it was designed for that purpose). It has the ability to read what people are thinking so it can better serve them. It can talk and offer advice. In the story, it helps to connect and advise Bishop. I think the cabinet is fascinating because of everything it is capable of doing, especially because it acts as a sort of mirror, reflecting Bishop’s thoughts and ideas.

Original post by Ashley

The Thin Blue Line is a colloquial term for police and police forces.  The term derives from ‘The Thin Red Line’ and suggests that a thin line of police officers is all that prevents civilized society from descending into disorder.  It is sometimes used as a negative term against police who cover up criminal activity of fellow police officers.
The Thin Blue Line (1988) is a documentary film about the murder of a Texas police officer who had stopped a car for a routine traffic citation.  The police are presented with two males, one a local boy with a criminal record (David Harris, a boy who returned to his hometown bragging that he had murdered a policeman) and the other a 28-year-old guy with no criminal record (Randall Adams). The documentary represents testimony suggesting that the police altered, fabricated, and covered up evidence to convict the guy they wanted to be […]

Original post by Amanda

I had one of those weird dreams the other night. You know the kind–the ones that happen right as you’re waking up, and it takes you a few minutes to sort out what’s real and what isn’t. I rolled over in bed and saw huge butterflies with black and dark violet wings fluttering around my room. Some of them were on the ground, dying, and some were still in the air, but just seemed to be waiting for their turn. Eventually I realized that there weren’t really butterflies in my room.
I think I’m unraveling a little at the edges.
My script, while not polished, is done. I’m filling in camera directions now. Its evolution was interesting, and it’s not at all what I thought it would be. I think I like it. (We’ll see if I still like it after I get some sleep for the first time in over 48 […]

Original post by arynna

What does it mean to capture something with a cell phone camera? Instant gratification? Mobility? Convenience? Simplicity? Why am I so fascinated by such a simple camera? (although in theory not quite so simple because I am still baffled as to how digital photography works, I mean really, it is amazing).
Perhaps I enjoy it so much because it is an instantaneous way to capture bits and pieces of moments in time which I can then upload onto my computer and then in turn upload them to a photo sharing/storing website like Flickr so that my memories are preserved in case my brain starts to leak (which it most likely will as time goes by).
But what does it mean to me to have a camera readily at my finger tips?  Do I take photos for purposes solely benefiting myself?  Do I want to share them with others?  What does it mean by […]

Original post by Peanut!

Education can be defined as the act or process of imparting or acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, and generally of preparing oneself or others intellectually for mature life.
“Our cultural concept of education and knowledge is based upon the idea of building something up from a ground, from zero, and starting piece by piece to put things together, to construct edifices. It is addictive. If we approach this process from the other direction, considering it to be backwards, or subtractive, all sorts of things start to happen.  Scientists always marvel at nature, at how it seems to be some grand code, with a built-in sense of purpose.  Discoveries are made which reveal that more and more things are related, connected. Everything appears to be aware of itself and everything else, all fitting into an interlocking whole. We quite literally carve out our own realities.  If you […]

Original post by Amanda

Gates of Heaven is a documentary film by Errol Morris about the pet cemetery business. It was made when Morris was unknown and did much to launch his career.
Gates of Heaven consisted of many interviews with different people involved with these pet cemeteries.  Many of these people continuely talked more about their lives and why their lives had meaning, trying to justify their life to anyone who is watching this documentary.
Is it really human nature to try to defend your outlook on life?  What is important in life seems to be a matter of opinion, and if one is content mowing the lawn of his father’s pet cemetery than who can tell him that he’s worthless?!  Yet at the same time, the same young man trying to say he is an expert on love seems a little absurd, considering his experience with love was from a long-term relationship in college. […]

Original post by Amanda

I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I’m still thinking about “Gates of Heaven” and still trying to figure it out. That movie really was something else. There is something about this movie that troubles me. I think a small part of me feels pity for the Harbert family. I’m curious if they had any idea what they were getting into when they agreed to make this film. I doubt that they did. I suppose what’s bothersome to me is, are they really any creepier or crazier than anybody else? Sure, they own a pet cemetery (which is not the norm) but don’t we all do things other people would find bizarre to some extent? I don’t know, maybe, maybe not.
I suppose to some extent I’ve put myself in the Harbert’s shoes (the shoes where they were put into a documentary […]

Original post by kcannon

After reading the first assigned chapter (7) in Irwin’s companion to the Arabian Nights, I am already having ideas for my paper run through my mind. I probably just missed the big picture, but when he mentions that many of the tales are not of Islamic origin, but are simply moved to places such as Cairo or Baghdad and characters are assigned Islamic names – I was kind of surprised. This doesn’t take anything away from the tales, in my opinion at least, but it is fascinating. Were these tales relocated and reassigned to another group of people based on the fact that Arabian women better fit the mold for many of the narratives (adultresses, witches, prostitutes are a few examples Irwin mentions)? Or is it just an unbiased authorial decision?
To get back to my inspiration for my paper, as rough of an idea […]

Original post by jendudley

I found the footage of Werner Herzog eating his shoe in the spirit of keeping his bet with Morris, but while he isn’t choking down the leather, he has some very interesting things to say about television and the quest to provide adequate images for our culture.  Morris has most definitely found images of humanity in Gates of Heaven.  I’ll post this for everyone to see while I try to come up with something of weight to say about the film — I’m still sorting things out…as it is quite a different take on human relationships.

Original post by cdame2of