Postmodernism and The Yiddish Policemen's Union

Postmodernism deals with irony and playfulness in looking at The Yiddish Policeman's Union the whole novel is postmodern. The novel is postmodern because it takes place in an alternate Alaska. The novel states that the Jews reside in Alaska because in 1948 when it was propose to make Alaska a refuge for the Jews the one individual who would have oppose it had been hit and kill by a cab. That fact in itself makes the novel ironic.
Another thing that makes this novel supremely ironic is that Berko's mother died indirectly because of something Berko's dad Hertz Shemets did. "The prayer house at St. Cyril," Berko says."The riots." "The St. Cyril riots," Hertz Shemets agrees. "God damn it." "Berko--" "God damn it! Indians always said it was the Jews that blew it up." "You have to understand the pressure we were under," Hertz says."At the time." "Oh, I do," Berko says."Believe me. The balancing act. The fine line." "Those Jews, those fanatics, the people moving into the disputed areas. They were endangering the status of the entire District. Comfirming the Americans' worst fears about what we would do if they gave us Permanent Status." "Uh-huh," Berko says."Yeah. Okay. And what about Mom? Was she endangering the District, too?"
I can think of a Disney show that is postmodern the same way that this novel is Phil of the future. The story is base around the fact that a couple opened a time capsule which made them nostalgic about the past so they rented a time machine and traveled back in time. While traveling back it time the family ran into some time machine trouble causing them to be trapped in the past. While trapped in the past the family added thing to the time capsule that the couple original open which made them nostalgic.

Devil in the Blue Dress

When it comes to adapting a novel to a screen play the director of the film has many things to take into consideration. Who were the main characters of the novel? Who can the director get that best represents the way the characters were portrayed in the novel? Are there certain characters that part is so insufficient that they do not need to be featured? What parts can be cut from the novel that will still allow the story to be told? A director of a film has to answer these question and more.
In comparing Devil in the Blue Dress the movie to the novel one can find an array of difference. Daphne in the novel was blond however the movie she was brunette. In the novel Easy was taken back down to the police station however in the movie he wasn't. Frank was murdered by Mouse in the novel however in the movie he left with his sister. In the novel Todd was willing to do anything to be with Daphne however in the film it was Daphne who was able to do anything. In the novel Daphne and Easy had this elaborated sex scene however it was complete omitted from the film.
Inconsistence such as the once mentioned above does not make for a bad film it just changes the interpretation. For the most part most directors try to stay as close to the novel as possible however sometime that is just not possible. Instances in which it is not possible usually consist of budget and time.

Bill Cosby about Gangsta Rap, drugs and youth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXrLnshM_ME

This video discusses the influence that race/ethnicity has had on our youth and society as a whole. I think it relates to the discussion we had in class concerning how we think individuals act based on the race or nationality they seem. For example, all asian people are smart or all black people love fried chicken. In this video Bill Cosby discusses the impact music has on white society, ie white individuals who listen to gangsta music and than mock the words that they hear in the music. Also black individuals who say the "n" word saying they say it to take back control over the word its just riducious.

Charlie Chan is Dead

Charlie Chan is dead. Charlie Chan was very stereotypical of what most America at the time thought Asian were. Smart, loyal, trustworthy, patient, educated, and full of wisdom. Yes, Asian are these things however they felt that by begin labeled this way they were limited. In my opinion this book did limit Asian. Even in today’s day and time we still limit Asian individuals this way. The first thing that comes to my mind when I think about a Asian individual is that they must be smart and educated. Asians have been trying to break these stereotypes of Charlie Chan since his conception. I think that the thing that bothers them the most is that Charlie Chan was created by a white man that lived in Ohio who thought that he was doing something to help a community which in fact he did something to hurt it.
"Charlie," said Sally Jordan.
"Yes, Miss Sally." He turned, smiling, to face her.
"What was that you said about the burden dropping from your sholder? The delectable thud?"
"Now vacation begins," he said. "All my life I have unlimited yearning to face the wonders of this mainland. Moment are now at hand. Care-free and happy, not like crossing on ship. There all time pearls rest heavy on stomach, most indigestible, like sour rice. Not so now."
Madame Jordan shook her head"I'm sorry, Charlie," she said. "I'm going to ask you to eat one more bowl of sour rice. For me-for auld lang syne."
In this passage Charlie is asked to put aside his on feeling and longing to aid Madame Jordan. He is asked to do this because; being the loyal, trustworthy person Madame Jordan knows he is, she knows he won't turn her down. She knows that he will be patient and take whatever she throw his way. Farther stretch of the stereotypical Asian.

ENGL 2673- Reading

The thing that I like about the reading that we've had so far is that the characters are complex. Philip Marlowe is not your average PI he has layers, he has a code that he follows his own personal rules. Marlowe is modern yet he is also traditional. He lives and works in a modern work but he knows how to balance the modernity with his traditional beliefs and style. The other characters threw out the novel seem to be flawed either morally or emotionally.The character that sticks out in my mind to have the most flaws of both morally and emotional is Anges. Anges’ moral flaws are in the way she has had a kind of involvement with two different individual who get murdered and Anges does not care. Anges emotional flaw is in the fact that she doesn't care, that she has distanced herself to not care. However, Anges is not the only character in this novel that has distanced themselves.
Distancing ones self isn't always a bad thing in the case of General Sternwood distancing himself is probably what has kept him alive for so long. I think this fact is even true for Marlowe. As a PI it is necessary for one to limit the involvement with a client. What I mean is to become intimately involved with a client will take away from ones ability to see the whole picture. A great example of this is in The Big Sleep if Marlowe would have gotten involved with Carmen he probably would not have found out that she murder Rusty.

Law and Order: SVU

My favorite crime tv program is Law and Order: SVU. I like this program because it deals not only with the crime but also the law that is behind the crime. In Law and Order:SVU detectives investigate sexually based crimes. The Assistant District Attorney brings closure to the intense investigations with legal expertise. Forensic psychiatrist, insight into the minds of the accused often provides significant clues that lead to the resolution of a case, and Medical Examiner provids skills to uncover forensic evidence. It is a well rounded show that deals with all the aspects of the law. Each one plays their part to make this show a drama well worth watching.