#and i think i do a decent job elucidating those themes

[jacquelinemerritt]

Thanksgiving Films You Forgot: The Ice Storm

Originally posted November 16th, 2015

It’s November, and because it’s the most thankful time of the year, I’m taking a look at the Thanksgiving films you either didn’t see, or forgot existed. This week, I’m looking at The Ice Storm, which was directed by Ang Lee and stars an ensemble cast of Kevin Kline, Joan Allen, Sigourney Weaver, Henry Czerny, Christina Ricci, Elijah Wood, and Adam Hann-Byrd.

The Ice Storm takes a very deliberate approach to its story; it’s a character drama at its heart, and Ang Lee takes his time progressing through the story. The first half of the film focuses on the few days before Thanksgiving, and follows two major stories: Kevin Kline’s affair with Sigourney Weaver, Christina Ricci’s relationship with Adam Hann-Byrd and his younger brother Elijah Wood.

Kline’s affair is a fairly simple story; he and Joan Allen are married, and he’s seeking sexual satisfaction with his neighbor Henry Czerny’s wife, Sigourney Weaver. Lee shows us that this simple arrangement isn’t quite what we might predict however, when Kline begins babbling to Weaver about his problems at work.

It would seem he’s seeking emotional fulfillment more than sexual fulfillment, and Weaver refuses to reciprocate his outpouring of emotions, telling him that if she wanted to hear about his problems, she’d just go speak to her husband. Later on, she abandons him, leaving him in his boxers with free reign over his house, sending the message that she’s not even interested in him sexually any longer.

The relationship between Christina Ricci and Adam Hann-Byrd is a complex one as well. They’re both fourteen year olds, going through the beginnings of puberty, and they’ve begun to experiment sexually, keeping this hidden from their parents. Ricci’s character is particularly sexual, and steps out of the bounds of their relationship to show herself off to Elijah Wood, Hann-Byrd’s younger brother.

Wood’s character, though tangentially interested in sex, is actually repulsed by Ricci’s exhibitionism, and responds appropriately, calling for help and getting his mother, Weaver, to kick Ricci out. When Hann-Byrd discovers this, he’s slightly dismayed, but as soon as Ricci exhibits sexual interest in him again, he forgets his concerns, and the two of them begin to experiment in his parents’ basement.

The second half of the film focuses on Thanksgiving night, which follows Kline and his wife Joan Allen as they attend a cocktail party, Ricci as she sneaks off to spend the night with Wood. At this point in the film, the stories begin to parallel one another, with each exploring themes of sexuality and personal connection in different but similar ways.

At this point in the film, Joan Allen has discovered that Kline is having an affair with Weaver, and their relationship has taken a significant toll as a result. This toll is intensified when they arrive to the cocktail party to discover that it is a “key party,” or a party wherein the men leave their keys in a bowl for the women to select from at random to determine who they will be going home with. Allen and Kline quickly get into an argument about this, with Allen eventually deciding to let Klein do whatever he wants, and throwing his keys into the bowl for him.

At the end of the night, when the women all select the keys, Allen chooses near the end after her husband has passed out drunk, and decides to go home with Czerny. They attempt to have sex, but Czerny is deterred, lacking the confidence to move forward, despite the fact that Weaver left early on with another man. Where Allen is ready to surrender to her physicality, Czerny refuses, letting his need for honest emotional connection supersede his desire for sex.

While her parents are away at the cocktail party, Ricci sneaks off to meet Elijah Wood at his house, and upon arrival discovers that his brother has left to go to an abandoned swimming pool in the forest. She and Wood decide to go up to his bedroom and lie in his bed together naked, but once they’ve stripped down, they don’t engage sexually. Instead, they talk, and lie in bed together, reveling in an honest emotional connection. It’s a very sweet and innocent moment, and it reveals that Ricci’s hypersexuality is a tool she uses; it scared off Wood, but not Hann-Byrd, and through this, she was able to determine that Wood was genuinely interested in her.

The parallels between these storylines are most clear when examining the way sex is used as a tool by these characters. Weaver most clearly uses sex as a tool, and she does so for no other reason than her own sexual pleasure, rejecting the intimacy of sex altogether. Ricci uses sex as a tool to test people, but she also uses it as a way to gain acceptance.

When she finds someone who isn’t interested in her for sex alone however, she recognizes her need for intimacy, and embraces a moment of non-sexuality. Finally, Allen, at the end of the film, attempts to use sex as a tool of revenge, wanting to sleep with Czerny only to upset her husband. But Czerny ultimately isn’t interested, desiring only the intimacy that comes alongside sex, and wanting to keep that intimacy between him and his wife.

Finally, Kline himself uses sex as a tool to gain intimacy; he sleeps with Weaver in order to try and have an emotional connection with her, and he spirals out of control when he doesn’t get that connection from her, ending up making a fool of himself at the cocktail party when Weaver leaves with someone other than him.

Ang Lee’s exploration of intimacy in this film is brilliant and subtle, showing the many ways people use sex to gain intimacy. The only real “complaint” I have about this film is that its setting around Thanksgiving is mostly incidental; this story could have happened at any point in the year, and its themes don’t line up with the themes of family and appreciation that are inherent to Thanksgiving. Still, ‘The Ice Storm’ is an excellent film, and you likely won’t find a more interesting film to watch this Thanksgiving (assuming you also require it be set around Thanksgiving).

[sadiemyohelove]

College Essay Writing Tips — Best Recommendations for Your Essays

numerous understudies don't see how to think of a school paper. Different conversations are circumventing the issue of students who don't know even the essentials of scholastic assignments. One reason is that the instructive framework is essentially obsolete. The world is evolving quickly, and that makes it trying for specialists to alter the scholastic norms to the improvements occurring. Training is one of the most preservationist fields of social foundations. Changes are especially delayed here on the grounds that the entire territory is huge and comprehensive. Henceforth, to stay aware of important necessities and be an understudy who can manage any instructive test, realizing the nuts and bolts is an absolute necessity. Here, we are concentrating on article composing, which is the most well-known task at any instructive level. We might want to harp on the issue of how to compose a paper for school and do it splendidly. It is a ground for practically any school venture you may look during understudy years: you plan a thought, examine it, and reach an inference. Most of the school papers have this technique as a central reason. However, any extra necessities may differ contingent upon the paper's sort. Along these lines, this guide will be a centering focal point for your comprehension of solid school article standards. Our article will be your accomplice in fruitful instruction. There are a few explanations behind us to pick precisely this scholarly level as a focal point of the talk.

• In school, you must be set up for progressively significant examinations.

• The length prerequisites here are additionally requesting and unbending.

• You may need to allude to the examinations from the profundity of the scholarly world.

• Topics for your expositions ought to be increasingly pertinent and can be questionable.

 Some of the time educators don't understand that understudies may have inquiries regarding scholastic works or contrasts between secondary school and school papers. A few teachers disregard to give extra rules. What's more, without at any rate offering bits of knowledge, they can't help when you need to compose a splendid paper. Having devoted a long time to composing and perusing scholastic papers, teachers will, in general, accept that these abilities are much the same as natural reflexes. Along these lines, they figure everybody ought to have the option to adapt to papers. However, aside from prerequisites for school papers that are muddled to plan, there is a scope of fundamental exposition basics that one ought to know about. As yet perspiring over the inquiry, "I have no clue what the aim of my article is"? This article is a decent answer for you - here, you will discover essential answers and helpful composting tips. Additionally, we've arranged different thoughts for exposition themes and even a few proposals on the school application process. Nuts and bolts of a College Essay Writing The main thing you have to comprehend is that in school composing, the structure is no less significant than the substance.

It is pivotal to:

• Start with a school paper presentation

• Present your argumentation in body sections

• Sum it up with a brief and exact end It is likewise basic to adhere to the principles of the style utilized.

A few teachers may dole out you to write in MLA, however, there are a large number of those discovering APA progressively suitable for school papers. The object is to decide the manner in which you shape your references, and the works referred to the list. Teachers may leave the decision of style and configuration to the understudies, as long as they reliably tail one all through the paper. An incredible school exposition tip will be to utilize MLA. It is simple and the most direct reference style to utilize, and if your educator permits you to pick the configuration yourself, we prescribe that one. The venture's sort and theme assume a significant job as well. The data for search and investigation relies upon those angles, just as the state of mind of portrayal does. Along these lines, in the event that it is a thoroughly analyze exposition on political theory, be prepared to contemplate a lot of reports, files, interviews, and so on. Here, the portrayal is to be fairly formal and quiet. Or on the other hand, on the off chance that you were allocated to present an increasingly aesthetic and elucidating article, at that point, you'll need to communicate your thoughts by utilizing elaborate gadgets and fascinating jargon.

[douglasbchambers-blog]

College Essay Writing Tips — Best Recommendations for Your Essays

numerous understudies don't see how to think of a school paper. Different conversations are circumventing the issue of students who don't know even the essentials of scholastic assignments. One reason is that the instructive framework is essentially obsolete. The world is evolving quickly, and that makes it trying for specialists to alter the scholastic norms to the improvements occurring. Training is one of the most preservationist fields of social foundations. Changes are especially delayed here on the grounds that the entire territory is huge and comprehensive. Henceforth, to stay aware of important necessities and be an understudy who can manage any instructive test, realizing the nuts and bolts is an absolute necessity. Here, we are concentrating on article composing, which is the most well-known task at any instructive level. We might want to harp on the issue of how to compose a paper for school and do it splendidly. It is a ground for practically any school venture you may look during understudy years: you plan a thought, examine it, and reach an inference. Most of the school papers have this technique as a central reason. However, any extra necessities may differ contingent upon the paper's sort. Along these lines, this guide will be a centering focal point for your comprehension of solid school article standards. Our article will be your accomplice in fruitful instruction. There are a few explanations behind us to pick precisely this scholarly level as a focal point of the talk.

• In school, you must be set up for progressively significant examinations.

• The length prerequisites here are additionally requesting and unbending.

• You may need to allude to the examinations from the profundity of the scholarly world.

• Topics for your expositions ought to be increasingly pertinent and can be questionable.

 Some of the time educators don't understand that understudies may have inquiries regarding scholastic works or contrasts between secondary school and school papers. A few teachers disregard to give extra rules. What's more, without at any rate offering bits of knowledge, they can't help when you need to compose a splendid paper. Having devoted a long time to composing and perusing scholastic papers, teachers will, in general, accept that these abilities are much the same as natural reflexes. Along these lines, they figure everybody ought to have the option to adapt to papers. However, aside from prerequisites for school papers that are muddled to plan, there is a scope of fundamental exposition basics that one ought to know about. As yet perspiring over the inquiry, "I have no clue what the aim of my article is"? This article is a decent answer for you - here, you will discover essential answers and helpful composting tips. Additionally, we've arranged different thoughts for exposition themes and even a few proposals on the school application process. Nuts and bolts of a College Essay Writing The main thing you have to comprehend is that in school composing, the structure is no less significant than the substance.

It is pivotal to:

• Start with a school paper presentation

• Present your argumentation in body sections

• Sum it up with a brief and exact end It is likewise basic to adhere to the principles of the style utilized.

A few teachers may dole out you to write in MLA, however, there are a large number of those discovering APA progressively suitable for school papers. The object is to decide the manner in which you shape your references, and the works referred to the list. Teachers may leave the decision of style and configuration to the understudies, as long as they reliably tail one all through the paper. An incredible school exposition tip will be to utilize MLA. It is simple and the most direct reference style to utilize, and if your educator permits you to pick the configuration yourself, we prescribe that one. The venture's sort and theme assume a significant job as well. The data for search and investigation relies upon those angles, just as the state of mind of portrayal does. Along these lines, in the event that it is a thoroughly analyze exposition on political theory, be prepared to contemplate a lot of reports, files, interviews, and so on. Here, the portrayal is to be fairly formal and quiet. Or on the other hand, on the off chance that you were allocated to present an increasingly aesthetic and elucidating article, at that point, you'll need to communicate your thoughts by utilizing elaborate gadgets and fascinating jargon.

[susanjpatrick]

College Essay Writing Tips — Best Recommendations for Your Essays

numerous understudies don't see how to think of a school paper. Different conversations are circumventing the issue of students who don't know even the essentials of scholastic assignments. One reason is that the instructive framework is essentially obsolete. The world is evolving quickly, and that makes it trying for specialists to alter the scholastic norms to the improvements occurring. Training is one of the most preservationist fields of social foundations. Changes are especially delayed here on the grounds that the entire territory is huge and comprehensive. Henceforth, to stay aware of important necessities and be an understudy who can manage any instructive test, realizing the nuts and bolts is an absolute necessity. Here, we are concentrating on article composing, which is the most well-known task at any instructive level. We might want to harp on the issue of how to compose a paper for school and do it splendidly. It is a ground for practically any school venture you may look during understudy years: you plan a thought, examine it, and reach an inference. Most of the school papers have this technique as a central reason. However, any extra necessities may differ contingent upon the paper's sort. Along these lines, this guide will be a centering focal point for your comprehension of solid school article standards. Our article will be your accomplice in fruitful instruction. There are a few explanations behind us to pick precisely this scholarly level as a focal point of the talk.

• In school, you must be set up for progressively significant examinations.

• The length prerequisites here are additionally requesting and unbending.

• You may need to allude to the examinations from the profundity of the scholarly world.

• Topics for your expositions ought to be increasingly pertinent and can be questionable.

 Some of the time educators don't understand that understudies may have inquiries regarding scholastic works or contrasts between secondary school and school papers. A few teachers disregard to give extra rules. What's more, without at any rate offering bits of knowledge, they can't help when you need to compose a splendid paper. Having devoted a long time to composing and perusing scholastic papers, teachers will, in general, accept that these abilities are much the same as natural reflexes. Along these lines, they figure everybody ought to have the option to adapt to papers. However, aside from prerequisites for school papers that are muddled to plan, there is a scope of fundamental exposition basics that one ought to know about. As yet perspiring over the inquiry, "I have no clue what the aim of my article is"? This article is a decent answer for you - here, you will discover essential answers and helpful composting tips. Additionally, we've arranged different thoughts for exposition themes and even a few proposals on the school application process. Nuts and bolts of a College Essay Writing The main thing you have to comprehend is that in school composing, the structure is no less significant than the substance.

It is pivotal to:

• Start with a school paper presentation

• Present your argumentation in body sections

• Sum it up with a brief and exact end It is likewise basic to adhere to the principles of the style utilized.

A few teachers may dole out you to write in MLA, however, there are a large number of those discovering APA progressively suitable for school papers. The object is to decide the manner in which you shape your references, and the works referred to the list. Teachers may leave the decision of style and configuration to the understudies, as long as they reliably tail one all through the paper. An incredible school exposition tip will be to utilize MLA. It is simple and the most direct reference style to utilize, and if your educator permits you to pick the configuration yourself, we prescribe that one. The venture's sort and theme assume a significant job as well. The data for search and investigation relies upon those angles, just as the state of mind of portrayal does. Along these lines, in the event that it is a thoroughly analyze exposition on political theory, be prepared to contemplate a lot of reports, files, interviews, and so on. Here, the portrayal is to be fairly formal and quiet. Or on the other hand, on the off chance that you were allocated to present an increasingly aesthetic and elucidating article, at that point, you'll need to communicate your thoughts by utilizing elaborate gadgets and fascinating jargon.