Content: The Philadelphia Story
Introduction: This is intended to be the first in an occurring series of entries on classic Hollywood movies that I want Dream to be familiar with. The first is The Philadelphia Story, probably my favorite from the golden age of Hollywood, starring Jimmy Stewart, Katherine Hepburn, and Cary Grant.
Dream’s Age at Introduction: 11 or 12
Reason for That Age: The Philadelphia Story is a romantic comedy, that in its drinking/hangover scenes lapses into the region of screwball comedy. As was standard for the era, the language and subject matter are fairly family friendly. The only concern I have is that Dream will need to be old enough to realize what too much wine will do to you in order to appreciate the brilliance of those scenes, while at the same time mature enough to have had the “don’t drink” conversation with me and Alicia. I think 11 or 12 ought to thread that needle pretty well. He or she will also need to be young enough so as not to view an older romantic comedy through the jaded eyes of a teenager. The movie is very well written, and if you’re willing to be charmed it is incredibly charming.
What I Want Dream to Get Out of It: Dream should gain a greater appreciation of the wit of films and plays from that era, the 40s and 50s. The stars of that era – the Rat Pack, Stewart, Hepburn, Judy Garland, Nat King Cole, etc. – had a low key approach that seems antiquated today. Frequently, it seems that celebrities today are famous for being obnoxious. I like to think that many of these older movies – and The Philadelphia Story is a great example – demonstrate an alternative. You can be understated and still be talented; you can speak reasonably and still be heard; you can be polite and still be devastating. I’d like Dream to absorb some of that.
Be content,
John
Showing posts with label 11. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 11. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Dream’s Dreams of Real Life Adventures
Content: Hatchet by Gary Paulsen and My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
Introduction: Hatchet and My Side of the Mountain were two of my favorite books around the fourth or fifth grade. Hatchet tells the story of a boy who survives a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness and has to survive on his own with only the titular cutting implement for protection. My Side of the Mountain, somewhat similarly, tells the story of a boy who runs away from his life in the city to survive in the woods with nothing but a flint and steel set and a pet falcon (seriously – a freaking falcon). These are great coming of age stories – recommended by none other than Gram Weaver (formerly Ma Weaver in my previous writings), a learned school librarian. Although they are likely more geared for boys than girls, I think Ella will enjoy them as much as Richard.
Dream’s Age at Introduction: 10 or 11
Reason for That Age: I read My Side of the Mountain and then Hatchet when I was 10 or 11, and I think that is the proper order. Hatchet is scary: plane crash, tornado, animal attacks. This is not a book for really young kids, particularly since this is a realistic story with no fantasy elements. My Side of the Mountain, on the other hand, plays out more as a “Dick and Jane play Thoreau” story, with the parallel drawn fairly explicitly by one of the characters (although obviously, 10-year olds won’t get it). It comes across as a “fun” adventure, whereas Hatchet comes across as a “scary” adventure. But the style and syntax of both are clearly written for kids. So an older elementary schooler, one with a sense of adventure and who likes a little scare, is a good fit for these books.
What I Want Dream to Get Out of It: As is true with all of the reading material on this blog, I want Dream to gain an appreciation of the written word and reading. Regarding these books in particular, I want Dream to get a little taste of real adventure. Not Tolkien, Rowling, or Lewis adventure (although all of those are on this list too), but actual “This could be your life” adventure. After reading these books, I wanted to live in the woods and recast myself as a modern day Thoreau, even if I had no way of describing myself as such at the time. I hope the same inspiration seizes Dream.
Be content,
John
Introduction: Hatchet and My Side of the Mountain were two of my favorite books around the fourth or fifth grade. Hatchet tells the story of a boy who survives a plane crash in the Canadian wilderness and has to survive on his own with only the titular cutting implement for protection. My Side of the Mountain, somewhat similarly, tells the story of a boy who runs away from his life in the city to survive in the woods with nothing but a flint and steel set and a pet falcon (seriously – a freaking falcon). These are great coming of age stories – recommended by none other than Gram Weaver (formerly Ma Weaver in my previous writings), a learned school librarian. Although they are likely more geared for boys than girls, I think Ella will enjoy them as much as Richard.
Dream’s Age at Introduction: 10 or 11
Reason for That Age: I read My Side of the Mountain and then Hatchet when I was 10 or 11, and I think that is the proper order. Hatchet is scary: plane crash, tornado, animal attacks. This is not a book for really young kids, particularly since this is a realistic story with no fantasy elements. My Side of the Mountain, on the other hand, plays out more as a “Dick and Jane play Thoreau” story, with the parallel drawn fairly explicitly by one of the characters (although obviously, 10-year olds won’t get it). It comes across as a “fun” adventure, whereas Hatchet comes across as a “scary” adventure. But the style and syntax of both are clearly written for kids. So an older elementary schooler, one with a sense of adventure and who likes a little scare, is a good fit for these books.
What I Want Dream to Get Out of It: As is true with all of the reading material on this blog, I want Dream to gain an appreciation of the written word and reading. Regarding these books in particular, I want Dream to get a little taste of real adventure. Not Tolkien, Rowling, or Lewis adventure (although all of those are on this list too), but actual “This could be your life” adventure. After reading these books, I wanted to live in the woods and recast myself as a modern day Thoreau, even if I had no way of describing myself as such at the time. I hope the same inspiration seizes Dream.
Be content,
John
Sunday, April 11, 2010
When to Get Biblical with My Kids
The Gospel reading at mass today included the “Doubting Thomas” story that has become part of the western vernacular. This got me thinking about how prominently the language of the Bible, for better or worse, appears in every day language. From Lincoln’s “House Divided” speech to common phrases like “nothing new under the sun,” the Christian Bible is everywhere.
Some background: Alicia and I are Catholic. I frequently feel guilty about both my disagreements with Catholic dogma and my inability to measure up to the standards of Catholic dogma. However, I interpret all feelings of guilt regarding my Catholicism as signs that I’m doing it right.
Further background: Thomas’ name was Didymus, meaning that he was Didy before Sean Combs was Diddy. So he’s got that going for him. Which is nice.
And one more bit of background: I’ve always thought that Thomas gets a bad rap. Jesus got annoyed with him for wanting to see proof of the resurrection, proof that the other apostles already received and likely would have requested just like Thomas. Even if they weren’t likely to ask for an affidavit, we don’t know that Thomas wasn’t more naturally prone to data- and fact-based requests. Maybe he was the Disciples’ accountant, asking for the receipt from the Last Supper to keep track of business expenditures. But instead of saying “Thanks for staying on top of the bills,” Jesus makes him the whipping boy for western civilization’s fragile faith.
Which makes me wonder when these concepts should be introduced to kids. We’ll bring up Dream Weaver and any sequels in a progressive, church going family, which means they’ll all receive child-friendly stories of Noah, Adam and Eve, and the other basic Bible stories. But I don’t want my kids to simply digest what biblical morsels they receive from a priest, a CCD class, or me. At one point or another, it would be nice for them to review the original text – or as original a text can be that is in English only after the British translated a Latin translation of a Greek text that has been edited by church officials and copied with mistakes by silent monks.
I think maybe late elementary school or early middle school is a good time to start introducing them to portions of the Bible. Some chapter and verse they don’t need, certainly not at that age (I’m looking at you, Tobit). But I want them to read the basis for many of their childhood stories and to be familiar with the source material of so many images in the English language.
God knows my kids will hear plenty about what the Bible says. But I would like them to be able to think about what is actually written in it. And I would like them to doubt when appropriate.
Be content,
John
Some background: Alicia and I are Catholic. I frequently feel guilty about both my disagreements with Catholic dogma and my inability to measure up to the standards of Catholic dogma. However, I interpret all feelings of guilt regarding my Catholicism as signs that I’m doing it right.
Further background: Thomas’ name was Didymus, meaning that he was Didy before Sean Combs was Diddy. So he’s got that going for him. Which is nice.
And one more bit of background: I’ve always thought that Thomas gets a bad rap. Jesus got annoyed with him for wanting to see proof of the resurrection, proof that the other apostles already received and likely would have requested just like Thomas. Even if they weren’t likely to ask for an affidavit, we don’t know that Thomas wasn’t more naturally prone to data- and fact-based requests. Maybe he was the Disciples’ accountant, asking for the receipt from the Last Supper to keep track of business expenditures. But instead of saying “Thanks for staying on top of the bills,” Jesus makes him the whipping boy for western civilization’s fragile faith.
Which makes me wonder when these concepts should be introduced to kids. We’ll bring up Dream Weaver and any sequels in a progressive, church going family, which means they’ll all receive child-friendly stories of Noah, Adam and Eve, and the other basic Bible stories. But I don’t want my kids to simply digest what biblical morsels they receive from a priest, a CCD class, or me. At one point or another, it would be nice for them to review the original text – or as original a text can be that is in English only after the British translated a Latin translation of a Greek text that has been edited by church officials and copied with mistakes by silent monks.
I think maybe late elementary school or early middle school is a good time to start introducing them to portions of the Bible. Some chapter and verse they don’t need, certainly not at that age (I’m looking at you, Tobit). But I want them to read the basis for many of their childhood stories and to be familiar with the source material of so many images in the English language.
God knows my kids will hear plenty about what the Bible says. But I would like them to be able to think about what is actually written in it. And I would like them to doubt when appropriate.
Be content,
John
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