Dead Poets Society, WIP.

Year after year, the same face formed. The tight lips, the furrowed brow. From the minute their born, the transformation began for all of those poor students. A school producing clones, to become doctors, to become lawyers.  Welton Academy, the main setting of Dead Poets Society is a manufacturer of neatly combed men meant for the world. Peter Weir directs this highly acclaimed film, bursting with hidden truths. A quick run through would show the obvious, “go against the grain.” To not become the person people want you to be, or have planned for you. A second example would be to follow your heart. A clichéd phrase, but pertaining to the movie a meaningful one all the same. The third, and perhaps most powerful message outlined in this essay would be the one of stepping out. Going where you’re afraid to be.

The whole movie is followed with the outstanding idea that you should “remind [yourself] that [you] must constantly look at things in a different way.”  In one scene Mr. Keating, the one leading the class along the path of self awareness, makes them stand upon their desks so they can understand the many ways to see the world. In another he brings them outside, using an exercise demonstrating how easy it is to be sucked into conformity, and how you must "think outside the box."

 Following this essential theme, is the idea to be who you were meant to be. That doing what you love is more rewarding than doing what pays more. In the scene when Mr. Keating and Neil Perry talk about the latter's love for acting and his fathers suppression of it, Mr. Keating tries to inspire him to speak with his father and make him understand. Unfortunately, Neil doesn't see that as even plausible, and looses his life over the matter. That final act impacts his friends more than would be expected.
The last and perhaps most valuable theme delivered in Dead Poets Society is where Todd Anderson breaks the class free. He proves that even though these boys had been breed a certain way, there's always a glimmer of resilient originality. He does when he stood upon his desk and shouted "Oh Captain! My Captain" even at risk of expulsion. That act of individualism allowed Todd to break free of his self made catacomb of insecurity's. When multiple other students in the class followed suit, and allowed Mr. Keating to understand how well he had broken through was the perfect end to the movie.
Throughout the movie, several smaller and contrarily prominent points were made, but these ones resonate stronger than any of the others.

Homework Blues

As I shuffled into the classroom, I knew that Mr. Van Camp would never believe me. I looked at my scuffed shoes and mumbled, " My homework is not done, Sir. I do have a good excuse though."

     Mr. Van Camp scowled as he looked up from the papers he was marking. "This is not the first time your homework has not been completed. Perhaps," he suggested, "it's time to speak with your parents."

     "Please, you have no idea what will happen to me if you phone my home," I moaned.
     "Well, let's hear your excuse. It better be good."
     "Three days ago," I started, "my room had a sudden foul stink to it."
     "How does that relate to your homework?" inquired Mr. Van Camp, sarcastically
     "Let me finish, sir." I sighed, "It would be easier if he knew how to listen" I thought to myself.
     I began again, at a pace that I thought he would allow me to complete my story, "I thought nothing of it at first, but when my hamster was sick, then my gold fish died, I considered that it might be-"
     "This doesn't matter whether or not your homework is completed, your beating around the bush, and like I said before this isn't the first time your homework has been late." Interjected Mr. Van Camp, then shifted his jaw in the way he does when he believes a great injustice is being done to him.
      I internally groaned, this would take me forever. "If you would only let be get to the end of the story, sir"
      "Well lets hear it" If he interupted me one more time I was going to throw chalk at his head.
      I took a deep breathe  and spat it all out quickly "Sir, theres a gas leak directly flowing into my room. I left my papers on my desk. I finished the work but theres no access into there for another week. They only found it last night, I promise I'll be able to give it to you as soon as I can."
     "Well, I suppose thats reasonable." Mr. Van Camp turned and dismissed me with that.

Up, up and away.

After Mrs. Mitty came out of the drugstore, they climbed into their automobile, Walter fastened his seat belt, turned on the windscreen wipers and carefully pulled away from the curb. As they drove out of Waterbury it was raining cats and dogs. As he heard Mrs. Mitty mumble to herself,
"Well when it rains, it pours." Suddenly he was higher than the stars. Aboard the Acacia 89. On its way to destroy the meteor about to disintegrate the earth. Commander Walter Mitty stood in front of his crack team of astronauts, giving them a speech to remember,
"Well ladies and gentlemen, we're on a fast track to hells garden. We need to hit that thing dead centre. Close only counts with horseshoes and hand grenades, one wrong move and we're toast. We're between a rock and a hard place with this one, ladies and gentlemen, now, I'm not saying that this is impossible, but don't be counting your chickens before they hatch. " Commander Mitty was a down to earth, nitty gritty type of guy who didn't take orders from anyone. He stood with  poise that demanded respect..
 "What are you doing!" came the shrill voice of Mrs. Mitty. "You nearly killed us! Why is your head always in the clouds? You'll be the death of me!...."

"Ladies and gentelmen; The Beatles!"

In a room that filled with growing tension, with each member about to set of on their own path. With Yokos presence growing more prominent, one of the many reasons tearing the preeminent band apart. An amalgamation of lyrics and notes enveloped me, creating one of the most memorable songs in their repertoire. Hearing the subtle changes, extended chords, more complicated notes, yet simpler drum patterns, one of the last few times where the band forgot about their concerns, and came together. The words that came to Paul McCartney in a dream, his mother telling him that his problems, money or otherwise will be solved, all the discomforts in the world one day resolved. There's just something about this song that makes you feel good, and to feel that live would be more than a Utopia for me.