Outlook, Summer 2006

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Outlook, Summer 2006 SUMMER 2006 Keli’s story: returning from weakness and pain Keli Roberts had achieved everything “By this time, I was working com- moving a little bit. Even though I was she’d aimed for and more. She left pletely for myself,” she said. “The just fussing over a bunch of potted the life of a model and actress in thought of having no income was plants, their growth encouraged me.” Australia and Europe to become a fit- devastating. I didn’t know how I was Keli had already adopted a healthy ness instructor in this country. Her going to get through it.” Keli’s mus- diet: “I was used to eating fresh fruit love of hard physical training and cles responded well to prednisone and vegetables, lean meat and fish, teaching were well received by some and she dreamed of regaining a nor- whole grains and low-fat dairy prod- of Hollywood’s most visible celebri- mal life. “All my clients except one ucts,” she said, “so I just kept that ties. Soon she was lead- were understanding and up.” She took a great many warm ing Nicole Kidman, made temporary arrange- baths, began exercising under water, Beverly Johnson, Lauren ments until I could heal,” and walked, slowly at first, then Hutton and Jennifer Gray she said. Along with increasing the distance and speed. in routines designed for improving her strength, Finally, she began riding her bike. “I strength and agility. prednisone made her slowly came back,” she said. “It was Other celebrities, like dizzy and sick, so she several months, and I didn’t force Cher, Kirsty Alley, avoided the weight gain. anything, but I knew I had to make Jennifer Jason Lee, Susan The medication also spun progress.” Dey and Faye Dunaway, her into a manic episode: Keli’s stature in her profession hired her as their person- “I was in a psych ward was such that she was hired by manu- al trainer. She made a for several days,” she facturers of fitness equipment to train video with Cher and its said. “It may have been a Keli Roberts, DM patient other trainers in the use of new prod- success led to a series of blessing in disguise, as I ucts. This new career focus has sent videos on her own. It seemed like had struggled with highs and lows all her all over the world, and she’s nothing could stop her from living my life.” Once released, shaken by developed many programs to provide the dream she’d had as a young ath- all that had happened to her, she continuing education credits in step lete growing up in Australia. forced herself not to worry so much training, kickboxing, circuit training, and to concentrate on small things She did notice an increasing array sports conditioning, indoor cycling, she could do. of aches and pains. “It seemed pretty dumbbell training, body bar training, normal, given my profession,” Keli “It’s amazing how accomplishing core training, rubber resistance train- recalls. She’d been warned for years one practical thing can make you feel ing and medicine ball training. She’s that her blood tests indicated a great better when you’re sick,” Keli said. written manuals on rubber resistance deal of inflammation but, fueled by “In my case, finding a roommate, training and teaches people with ambition, the sheer love of her cho- though it didn’t solve all my prob- rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia sen field and lots of Aleve, she lems, at least made me feel I was how to use this type of training to worked through the pain. One day in moving towards solutions.” Keli relieve pain and avoid stress on joints 1999, she was no longer able to. “In spent several months recuperating, and muscles. fact, I could hardly move,” she said. finding satisfaction in tiny bits of She’s had to teach herself how to She agreed to the tests her doctor had progress. “I moved as much as I avoid flares. “I still have them,” she been suggesting and, after a biopsy, could, in a gentle way,” she said. A said. “Each time I make a new kick- was diagnosed with polymyositis. small balcony garden flourished boxing video, it seems to trigger a Her symptoms were very severe, under her attention. “I began to take flare.” Then there’s her new sport, including trouble breathing as well as great joy in my gardening efforts,” moving. she said. “At least I was outdoors and See Keli’s story on page 5 Published by: TMA, Inc. TMA advocates for IVIg THE MYOSITIS ASSOCIATION 1233 20th Street, NW, Suite 402 reimbursement, patient registry Washington, DC 20036 Advocacy is a term often used but represented diseases get a dispropor- P: 202-887-0088 little understood. It means being an tionate share of federal research P: 800-821-7356 advocate for your cause and trying to funding and as for those who have F: 202-466-8940 persuade others to your point of myositis “we just want help for peo- Email: [email protected] view. The crisis that has developed ple who desperately need it …. In Web: www.myositis.org for those needing IVIg therapy to the end, it’s about justice and fair- Executive Director: Bob Goldberg treat myositis and other autoimmune ness.” Editors: Theresa Reynolds Curry, Kathryn Spooner diseases has created a great many Through our advocacy efforts and advocates as this crisis has worsened the assistance of persons such as BOARD OF DIRECTORS over the past 18 months. Fabio who can garner media atten- Janet C. Schuler, Chair TMA, along with other autoim- tion, we are working to secure feder- Jay C. Shinn, Vice Chair mune disease organizations, is cur- al funding and create greater aware- Janice Goodell, Vice President rently having a letter circulated in ness of myositis. Richard G. Stevenson Jr., Vice President Congress that would request the Sharon K. Weber, Secretary Secretary of the U. S. Department of Subscribe to IG Living Health and Human Services to Andrea H. Macher, Treasurer IG Living is a magazine for patients declare a public health emergency Sandra Dunphy who use immune globulin products with regard to IVIg reimbursement and their care providers. Keith John Merritt through the Medicare and Medicaid Chester V. Oddis, MD programs. This would restore previ- Regular features include such top- ous rates of reimbursement until ics as product and manufacturer MEDICAL ADVISORY BOARD there was a determination made as to news, resources for healthy living, Richard Barohn, MD, Chair the impact of the reimbursement immune globulin treatment options, reimbursement and clinical trials. 2 Lisa Rider, MD, Vice Chair changes that took place in 2005 and Anthony A. Amato, MD the effects they have had on the IG Living is a community service provided by FFF Enterprises and its Valerie Askanas, MD, PhD availability and distribution of immune globulin products. TMA has specialty pharmacy services division, Walter Bradley, DM, FRCP asked its members to urge their NuFACTOR, free of charge to those Marinos Dalakas, MD Member of Congress to sign onto the living in the United States. Proceeds W. King Engel, MD IVIg “Dear Colleague” letter. For from advertising go to national Michael Harris-Love, PhD further information, contact TMA at patient organizations whose con- Ingrid Lundberg, MD 1-800-821-7356 or stituents receive immune globulin Frederick W. Miller, MD, PhD [email protected]. therapy. Chester V. Oddis, MD TMA is also advocating for fund- To subscribe, visit Lauren Pachman, MD ing from Congress to provide for a www.IGLiving.com; or call 800-843-7477 x1143. Lawrence H. Phillips II, MD myositis patient registry and surveil- lance survey. These will help estab- Ann Marie Reed, MD lish a more accurate picture of the Rup Tandan, MD, FRCP Fabio to speak at Capitol Hill number of those who have myositis, event Victoria P. Werth, MD their demographics, and treatments On September 21, Myositis Robert L. Wortmann, MD being used. Awareness Day, TMA will be hosting STAFF TMA, like many organizations an event on Capitol Hill in Theresa Curry, Communications Manager that represent rare diseases, faces the Washington, DC, to celebrate challenge of getting Congress and Myositis Awareness Day and recog- Bob Goldberg, Executive Director the public to focus on their disease. nize the efforts of those who are Jami Latham, Operations Manager Referencing this challenge, Bob working to increase public knowl- Beverly Posey, Office Assistant Goldberg, TMA’s Executive Director, edge and awareness of the myositis Kathryn Spooner, Programs Manager was quoted in IG Living!, a new pub- at the federal level. A proclamation, lication for those who use IVIg, say- introduced in Congress by MAA Founder: Betty Curry ing that the more common and better See TMA advocates on page 3 ASK THE DOCTOR Rash differs according to skin color TMA often hears from people wanting red-purple or lilac color similar to appears on the face, chest and hands to know why their rash doesn’t look that of the red-purple heliotrope flow- of the Hispanic woman, available free like the photos in the doctor’s office er (a dermatomyositis rash affecting of charge at www.jfponline.com. or the rash of another dermatomyosi- the eyelids is often referred to as the tis patient in their support group. “heliotrope rash”). Sun intensity influences dis- Some members have told us they did- In individuals having racially or ease type n’t even know they had a rash until ethnically determined more heavily Dermatomyositis is more common in their doctor found it. Often, these are pigmented skin such as latitudes with high UV intensity.
Recommended publications
  • Movie Actresses 10 Mar 2017
    Movie Actresses 10 Mar 2017 251-2017-07 This article is about my favorite movie actresses of all time. Movie critics and most people will not agree with my picks. However, my criteria is quite simple - the actress must have made at least three movies I have seen and liked and would watch again if they happened to come on the TV movie channel when I’m in the mood to see a good show. I’m going to pick my Top 20 Actresses. I could not decide on a header so you can pick the one you like best. Faye Dunaway Sharon Stone Liz Taylor #1 Faye Dunaway Born: Dorothy Faye Dunaway on January 14, 1941 (age 76) in Bascom, Florida Alma mater: Boston University Years active: 1962–present (Appeared in 81 movies) Spouse(s): Peter Wolf (m. 1974–79) Terry O'Neill (m. 1983–87) Children: Liam O'Neill (b. 1980) Facts: The daughter of Grace April, and John MacDowell Dunaway, a career officer in the United States Army. She is of Scots-Irish, English, and German descent. She spent her childhood traveling throughout the United States and Europe. Bonnie and Clyde (1967) with Warren Beatty. In the middle of the Great Depression, Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty) and Bonnie Parker (Faye Dunaway) meet when Clyde tries to steal Bonnie's mother's car. Bonnie, who is bored by her job as a waitress, is intrigued by Clyde, and decides to take up with him and become his partner in crime. Three Days of the Condor (1975) with Robert Redford.
    [Show full text]
  • Fact Or Fiction: Hollywood Looks at the News
    FACT OR FICTION: HOLLYWOOD LOOKS AT THE NEWS Loren Ghiglione Dean, Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University Joe Saltzman Director of the IJPC, associate dean, and professor of journalism USC Annenberg School for Communication Curators “Hollywood Looks at the News: the Image of the Journalist in Film and Television” exhibit Newseum, Washington D.C. 2005 “Listen to me. Print that story, you’re a dead man.” “It’s not just me anymore. You’d have to stop every newspaper in the country now and you’re not big enough for that job. People like you have tried it before with bullets, prison, censorship. As long as even one newspaper will print the truth, you’re finished.” “Hey, Hutcheson, that noise, what’s that racket?” “That’s the press, baby. The press. And there’s nothing you can do about it. Nothing.” Mobster threatening Hutcheson, managing editor of the Day and the editor’s response in Deadline U.S.A. (1952) “You left the camera and you went to help him…why didn’t you take the camera if you were going to be so humane?” “…because I can’t hold a camera and help somebody at the same time. “Yes, and by not having your camera, you lost footage that nobody else would have had. You see, you have to make a decision whether you are going to be part of the story or whether you’re going to be there to record the story.” Max Brackett, veteran television reporter, to neophyte producer-technician Laurie in Mad City (1997) An editor risks his life to expose crime and print the truth.
    [Show full text]
  • Download Checklist
    Yasumasa Morimura November 23, 1996 - January 4, 1997 First gallery, starting from left: Self-Portrait (Actress) / After Vivien Leigh 1, 1996 llfochrome / Acrylic sheet Edition #4/10 47.25 x 37.40 inches C6890 Self-Portrait (Actress) / After Vivien Leigh 3, 1996 llfochrome / Acrylic sheet Edition #2/10 47.25 x 37.40 inches C6955 Self-Portrait (A'Ctress) / After Catherine Deneuve 1, 1996 llfochrome Acrylic sheet Edition #3/1 0 47.25 x 37.40 inches C6865 Self-Portrait (Actress) / After Catherine Deneuve 4, 1996 llfochrome / Acrylic sheet Edition #2/10 47.25 x 37.40 inches C6956 Self-Portrait (Actress) / After Red Marilyn, 1996 llfochrome / Acrylic sheet Edition #7/10 47.25 x 37.40 inches P6753 Self-Portrait (Actress) / After Brigitte Bardot 2, 1996 llfochrome / Acrylic sheet Edition #4/10 47.25 x 37.40 inches C6864 Self-Portrait (Actress) / After Marlene Dietrich 1, 1996 llfochrome / Acrylic sheet Edition #3/10 47.25 x 37.40 inches C6962 Self-Portrait (Actress) / After Marlene Dietrich 2, 1996 llfochrome / Acrylic sheet Edition #2/10 47.25 x 37.40 inches C6963 Self-Portrait (Actress) / After Liza Minelli 1, 1996 llfochrome / Acrylic sheet Edition #2/1 0 47.25 x 37.40 inches C6964 Self-Portrait (Actress) / After Elizabeth Taylor 1, 1996 llfochrome / Acrylic sheet Edition #2/10 47.25 x 37.40 inches C6885 Self-Portrait (Actress) / After Elizabeth Taylor 4, 1996 llfochrome / Acrylic sheet Edition #2/10 47.25 x 37.40 inches C6965 Self-Portrait (Actress) / After Jodie Foster 1, 1996 llfochrome / Acrylic sheet Edition #2/10 47.25 x 37.40 inches
    [Show full text]
  • Cinematic Fashionability and Images Politics
    Journalism and Mass Communication, Mar.-Apr. 2021, Vol. 11, No. 2, 73-80 doi: 10.17265/2160-6579/2021.02.002 D DAVID PUBLISHING Cinematic Fashionability and Images Politics Chan Ka Lok Sobel Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR, China The marriage of cinema and fashion? When, where and how their interaction and origin is begun? There should be no glamor and red carpet when The Lumière brothers short films like Workers leaving the Lumière factory, The Gardener, Baby’s Breakfast on the birth of cinema in 1895. However, we notice that artificially costumes are tailor-made for A Trip to the Moon in Georges Méliès and D. W. Griffith’s Intolerance. Suddenly, it adds the aesthetical and modernist elements into the blood of cinema beside the raw-realism of how the daily life of the common people is represented on the silver screen. Some kinds of bourgeois ideology and middle class value is enhanced. It is so unbelievable that some ordinary actress like Mary Pickford transforming into a movie star after beautifully dressing up. Not only the audience feel the power of movie magic but also the fashion magic. This paper explores the different perspective of movie and fashion in terms of fashion and film costumes, movie stars icon, fashion trends influenced by movies, and how fashion designers changes the look of cinema as well, etc. Keywords: ideology, movie images, stardom, fashionability Introduction Cinema is somehow like a showcase of fashion. General audiences are fans of movie stars not just because of their personal charisma, but because of the fashion they wear.
    [Show full text]
  • Polanskimay Soon Be Permitted Back Into the U.S., but He's Made Some of His Most Compelling Films While in Exile from the Holl
    RomanMAY SOON BE PERMITTED POLANSKI BACK INTO THE U.S., BUT HE’S MADE SOME OF HIS MOST COMPELLING FILMS WHILE IN EXILE FROM THE HOLLYWOOD MACHINE. AS HE COLLABORATES WITH ARTIST FRANCESCO VEZZOLI ON A COMMERCIAL FOR A FICTIONAL PERFUME STARRING NATALIE PORTMAN AND MICHELLE WILLIAMS, THE DIRECTOR TALKS ABOUT THE PERILS OF THE MOVIE WORLD AND THE PLEASURES OF SKIING DRUNK AT NIGHT By FRANCESCO VEZZOLI and CHRISTOPHER BOLLEN Portrait PAOLO ROVERSI OPPOSITE: ROMAN POLANSKI, PHOTOGRAPHED IN PARIS ON NOVEMBER 25, 2008. YOU KNOW WHAT I like TO SEE AGAIN and AGAIN? SNOW WHITE. I DON’T THINK they MAKE ABOVE AND OPPOSITE: PHOTOS FROM THE SET OF GREED, THE NEW FRAGRANCE BY FRANCESCO VEZZOLI (2008), DIRECTED BY ROMAN POLANSKI ANYTHING better. IT’S so NAÏVELY BEAUTIFUL. AND STARRING MICHELLE WILLIAMS AND NATALIE PORTMAN. COSTUMES DESIGNED BY MIUCCIA PRADA. “ ” When Italian artist Francesco Vezzoli went look- Not like in America. [pauses] You know, I did an in- RP: No, I didn’t. But you have to take it into consid- ing for a director to help him make his latest art- terview for Interview with Andy back in 1973. eration, nevertheless. work, he went straight for the biggest. Vezzoli’s CB: I think, in fact, you did two with him. Do you FV: I’m sure you know the movie by [François] productions have always served up larger-than-life remember the questions he asked you? Truffaut called The Man Who Loved Women [1977]. spectacles studded with Hollywood mythos and RP: Not at all. He didn’t care.
    [Show full text]
  • Dr. Kayla Martin) – a Versatile Actress, Tiffani Thiessen Has Proven Her Talent from Comedy to Drama in a Variety of Film and Television Roles
    PANDEMIC CAST BIOS TIFFANI THIESSEN (Dr. Kayla Martin) – A versatile actress, Tiffani Thiessen has proven her talent from comedy to drama in a variety of film and television roles. From Woody Allen's comedy "Hollywood Ending," to “Beverly Hills 90210,” Thiessen’s charisma has kept her career moving constantly forward and has gained her the adoration of millions internationally. Last year, Tiffani was in Rob Schiller’s “Stroller Wars,” opposite Rhea Perlman. Her other televison roles include a nine-episode guest starring role on NBC’s “Good Morning Miami’; a starring role in the Fox series "Fast Lane" with Peter Facinelli and Bill Bellamy; a guest-starring role in a three-episode arc on “Just Shoot Me" opposite David Spade's character and a recurring role on the ABC comedy "Two Guys and a Girl." Raised in Long Beach, California, Thiessen began modeling at the age of eight and soon went on to star in the television series "Saved by the Bell" for five seasons. At the same time, she made her feature film debut in "Son in Law." In 1993, she was cast by Aaron Spelling in the pivotal role of Valerie Malone for five seasons in “Beverly Hills 90210.” Her other feature film roles include the comedy "Ladies Man," "Love Stinks" and the horror/comedy spoof "Shriek! If you Know What I did Last Friday 13th. Thiessen currently resides in Los Angeles. ### VINCENT SPANO (Troy Whitlock) – An actor of striking intensity with memorable success in film, television and the theater, Vincent Spano’s work displays his versatility as both a comedic and dramatic talent.
    [Show full text]
  • American Auteur Cinema: the Last – Or First – Great Picture Show 37 Thomas Elsaesser
    For many lovers of film, American cinema of the late 1960s and early 1970s – dubbed the New Hollywood – has remained a Golden Age. AND KING HORWATH PICTURE SHOW ELSAESSER, AMERICAN GREAT THE LAST As the old studio system gave way to a new gen- FILMFILM FFILMILM eration of American auteurs, directors such as Monte Hellman, Peter Bogdanovich, Bob Rafel- CULTURE CULTURE son, Martin Scorsese, but also Robert Altman, IN TRANSITION IN TRANSITION James Toback, Terrence Malick and Barbara Loden helped create an independent cinema that gave America a different voice in the world and a dif- ferent vision to itself. The protests against the Vietnam War, the Civil Rights movement and feminism saw the emergence of an entirely dif- ferent political culture, reflected in movies that may not always have been successful with the mass public, but were soon recognized as audacious, creative and off-beat by the critics. Many of the films TheThe have subsequently become classics. The Last Great Picture Show brings together essays by scholars and writers who chart the changing evaluations of this American cinema of the 1970s, some- LaLastst Great Great times referred to as the decade of the lost generation, but now more and more also recognised as the first of several ‘New Hollywoods’, without which the cin- American ema of Francis Coppola, Steven Spiel- American berg, Robert Zemeckis, Tim Burton or Quentin Tarantino could not have come into being. PPictureicture NEWNEW HOLLYWOODHOLLYWOOD ISBN 90-5356-631-7 CINEMACINEMA ININ ShowShow EDITEDEDITED BY BY THETHE
    [Show full text]
  • Sonic Vocality: a Theory on the Use of Voice in Character Portrayal
    Georgia State University ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University Communication Dissertations Department of Communication 8-11-2015 Sonic Vocality: A Theory on the Use of Voice in Character Portrayal Cindy Milligan Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/communication_diss Recommended Citation Milligan, Cindy, "Sonic Vocality: A Theory on the Use of Voice in Character Portrayal." Dissertation, Georgia State University, 2015. https://scholarworks.gsu.edu/communication_diss/64 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of Communication at ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Communication Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ Georgia State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SONIC VOCALITY: A THEORY ON THE USE OF VOICE IN CHARACTER PORTRAYAL by CINDY ANN MILLIGAN Under the Direction of Patricia G. Davis, PhD ABSTRACT The primary purpose of this study was to discover whether and how the voice alone can change audiences’ perception of character in films. It further sought to determine some of the specific changes in vocal performance that might construct that difference. Data were gathered from three focus groups that screened film clips between two and five minutes long. The clips were edited from five pairs of matched films—an original and its remake. Films were chosen to represent a variety of genres and release dates, and they included scenes where the dialogue was identical or similar. Although each focus group experienced the same set of edited film clips from the matched film pairs, one group experienced only the sound without any visuals, a second group watched only the visuals of the same clips without any sound, and a third group watched the clips as they were produced with sound and visuals.
    [Show full text]
  • The Thomas Crown Affair
    Urban Optiques “Movies at the Marquis” Viewing Guide Tonight’s Feature The Thomas Crown Affair Viewing Notes Released in 1968, The Thomas Crown Affair directed by Norman Jewison stars Steve McQueen and Faye Dunaway in one of Hollywood’s most stylish heist thrillers. FAST FACTS Nominated for two Year: 1968 Academy Awards and Studio: The Mirisch Corp/United winner of the 1969 Oscar Artists for Best Song with Length: 102 minutes “Windmills of Your Director: Norman Jewison Mind,” The Thomas Screenplay: Alan Trustman Crown Affair remains Color: Color a masterful example of Original Sound Mix: Mono late-60s movie making. A Genre: Crime/Thriller/Romance remake starring Pierce Actors: Steve McQueen, Faye Dun- Brosnan and Rene Russo away, Paul Burke, Jack Weston was released in 1999. Awards: Winner of 1969 Oscar and Golden Globe for Best Music, Plot Original Song for Michel Legrand’s “Windmills of Your Mind.” Thomas Crown (Steve McQueen), a millionaire Budget: $6,000,000 businessman and Box Offi ce Gross: $14,000,000 sportsman, pulls off a perfect crime by having fi ve men rob a Boston Alternative Titles: bank and dump the money - The Crown Caper -- approximately $2.6 - Thomas Crown and Company million -- in a cemetery’s - L’affaire Thomas Crown (France) trash can. Crown retrieves the money later and depos- Original Studio Movie Poster for The Thomas Crown Affair its it at a bank in Geneva. The fi lm also features the now famous chess scene. McQueen and Vicki Anderson (Faye Dunaway), an independent insurance Dunaway play a game of chess, silently fl irting with each other, investigator, is contracted to investigate the heist.
    [Show full text]
  • Dr. Peterson Class of 1974 40Th Reunion Friday, Oct. 31, 2014, Tech Tower Lawn
    Dr. Peterson Class of 1974 40th Reunion Friday, Oct. 31, 2014, Tech Tower Lawn • On behalf of Georgia Tech, we extend our most sincere thanks to the class of 1974. Please join me in a special thanks to Steve Chaddick and Jim Stratigos, the reunion committee, and all of you who gave so generously. You greatly exceeded your overall goal of $10 million. Your gift will go a very long way in numerous areas to help us maintain excellence that you have come to expect from your alma mater. • There are two things that I believe set Georgia Tech apart. One is the trademark innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of our students and alumni, and the other is the loyalty our alumni have for our Institute. Georgia Tech is a national leader in its alumni giving back to the Institute, and tonight you have shown that to be true. • Your class project in support of the Class of 1974 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Endowment is a gift that will help Georgia Tech prepare innovators and leaders for generations. • 60% of all Georgia Tech invention disclosures list at least one student. • InVenture Prize competition/Capstone Design/Ideas to Serve Competition. • Example: Rachel Ford. 2 companies in Startup Summer, (Talk about FIXD) • Your generosity extends beyond this class project to support for individually named endowed chairs and professorships, facilities renovation and construction, endowed undergraduate scholarships and fellowships, and of course, the unrestricted annual Roll Call and the Alexander-Tharpe Fund. • In the past four decades you have seen many things change, in your own lives, and at Georgia Tech.
    [Show full text]
  • Richard Pells, "Film: Movies and Modern America"
    Film: Movies and Modern America By Richard Pells What is a "typical" American movie? People throughout the world are sure they know. A characteristic American film, they insist, has flamboyant special effects and a sumptuous décor, each a reflection of America's nearly mythic affluence. Furthermore, American movies revel in fast- paced action and a celebration of individual ingenuity embodied in the heroics of an impeccably dressed, permanently youthful Hollywood star. And they feature love stories that lead, inevitably if often implausibly, to happy endings. Yet over the past 15 years, for every high- tech, stunt-filled Mission Impossible, there Director Martin Scorsese and actor Daniel Day-Lewis have worked together are serious and even disturbing films such on such high-quality film projects as American Beautyand The Hours. For as Gangs of New York and The Age of Innocence. every conventional Hollywood blockbuster (© Associated Press) apparently designed to appeal to the predilections of 12-year-old boys, there have been complex and sophisticated movies such as Traffic, Shakespeare in Love, Magnolia, and About Schmidt that are consciously made for grown-ups. What is therefore remarkable about contemporary American movies is their diversity, their effort to explore the social and psychological dimensions of life in modern America, and their ability to combine entertainment with artistry. Profile: Filmmaker Alexander Payne The sweeping vistas of the Nebraska countryside outside the city of Omaha in the movie About Schmidt, and the hushed, stoic visages within the city itself, represent a homecoming of sorts for filmmaker Alexander Payne. The son of Greek parents who owned a prominent restaurant in Omaha, Payne left Nebraska after high school to study Spanish and history at Stanford University, with an eye toward becoming a foreign correspondent.
    [Show full text]
  • A Parallax View
    1 A Parallax View The Violent Synchrony of Multiple-Camera Montage N DECEMBER 8, 1967, THE COVER of Time announced O Hollywood’s “New Cinema” with images of Arthur Penn’s Bonnie and Clyde (1967). America’s answer to François Truffaut and Jean-Luc Godard, the film, according to the magazine, epitomized contemporary assaults on traditional cinema by drawing together “Vio- lence . Sex . Art.” Coupling nudity and impotence with protracted and bloody deaths, Bonnie and Clyde privileged ambiguity, chance, and inco- herence, not unlike “abstract painting, atonal music, and the experimental novel” (“Hollywood” 67). It comes as no surprise, then, to discover the aforementioned cover features a collage by Robert Rauschenberg rather than a conventional production still or publicity poster. In fact, in 1968, Rauschenberg produced a series of six lithographs titled Reels (B+C) that variously repeat and juxtapose images from Bonnie and Clyde. As with much of his collage work during this period, Reels (B+C) appropriates photographs from popular sources that index the era’s preoccupations with, among other things, violence. One thinks, for instance, of Rauschenberg’s 1970 screenprint Signs, which brings stills from the Zapruder film together with images of Vietnam, youth protests, the Kennedy brothers, and Martin Luther King Jr.’s dead body. Despite the apparent unity of their content, however, the form of these works frustrates determinate interpretations of their significance. Subject to recursive changes in focus, beholders must navigate incompatible contexts 25 © 2017 State University of New York Press, Albany Figure 1.1. Robert Rauschenberg’s Bonnie and Clyde (Time, 1967). © 2017 State University of New York Press, Albany Figure 1.2.
    [Show full text]