S'Mores and Movie Night

Hi everyone!

This week we continue our MOVIE NIGHT "Cine Casero" film series with the international film
BABEL

and dessert: Indoor S'MORES - I'll teach you how to make the classic North American camping food

Where? Charly's apartment - Calle 58, No. 819, 6A
When? 9:30 pm, this Thursday, September 11th

Please contact chuckabbo@gmail.com if you're interested in coming! See you there!

Donnie Darko!

Hey all,

If after seeing Donnie Darko, you're as bewildered and confounded as I was the first time (okay, let's be honest... everytime I've seen it until I did some research), check out these websites for extra information.  As I mentioned, this is considered a "cult" film, so die-hard fans who seem to have a lot of extra time have written extensively on this movie.  Look these over before class next week, and then come prepared to talk about Donnie Darko.

Here you have the film's page from the Internet Movie Database.  This page comes complete with a message board of confused victim's of Darko, as well as some experts, and of couse, emo kids arguing about what it all means.

This page is the official website of the movie, created by the director, Richard Kelly, himself.  Although this site has annoying and disturbing music, it has different clues that will lead you to the "truth" about Donnie according to the director.  It's very interactive and kind of fun!  Either way, it gives you extra information about the movie and might answer some of your questions.

If after the first two sites, you're still frustrated and determined to get to the bottom of things, read this long article entitled, "Everything you were afraid to ask about Donnie Darko."  This site spells it all out for you, but bear in mind that since this is a work of art that it can be interpreted in other ways.  Even the author explains a bit about the two main hypotheses about Donnie Darko.  1.) This film illustrates the deterioration Donnie's sanity... and he suffers from psychological illness, 2.) Donnie's not crazy and he is the chosen one that can save the actual world from eminent destruction by destroying the tangent world... and essentially "taking one for the team."

Well, I hope this helps you formulate your own ideas about the film and it's meaning.  I'm excited to discuss it in class!

xoxoKristal

Dinner and Movie Night

Featuring: Funny Ha Ha
9pm @ Charly's Apartment
Thursday, September 4, 2008

Dinner selection to be announced... oooh!

If you're coming, be so kind as to RSVP to chuckabbo@gmail.com so we'll know how much food to make! Thanks!

The world at your fingertips

Here are a few resources to start finding information for your country presentations:

Google Earth - A way to find your country on the globe and look at actual aerial photos of your country. If you haven't heard of your country before, this is a good way to literally get a "lay of the land."

National Geographic - This is the official webiste of National Geographic magazine. The links on the left include Maps, Music, Photography, Travel & Cultures, and other headings that could help you to find information about your country. It also contains up-to-date world news and searchable archives.

CultureGrams - This website describes itself as "concise, reliable, and up-to-date country reports on 200 cultures of the world." It is just that: it contains a searchable database of numerous, often very specific, aspects of the countries' cultures.

Best of luck as you design your presentation about your country and, as always, feel free to contact me with any questions, concerns, comments, queries or complaints.

Fievel: An American Tail

For those interested, here are a few links to help contextualize the life and times of the Mousekowitz family:
When Fievel arrives in New York City, he sees the Statue of Liberty being built by a French pidgeon. In reality, the Statue of Liberty was a gift from the French. Fievel and his family have to pass through immigration at Ellis Island. (Today, over 100 million Americans can trace their family history back to Ellis Island.) The sweatshop where Warren T. Rat tries to force Fievel to work, and the fire at the docks, may be allusions to the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire, which until Sept. 11, 2001, was the largest industrial disaster in the city's history. The fat mouse in a top hat who registered dead mice to vote for him is a reference to the Tammany Hall political machines in New York.

For more about the making of Fievel, click here.

Think about this as we discuss the movie: What would Fievel: An Argentinean Tail look like? Where would Fievel go? What historical and cultural events would he run into in Buenos Aires?

Bilingual Writing Workshop!

Hey everybody,

You're all invited to participate in a free bilingual writing workshop.  The next one will be on Saturday, September 6 at 4pm (16:00) at Café de la Artes.  It will last for two hours.  Bring some paper and something to write with and your creativity.  It's bilingual, so even though this is an excellent opportunity to develop your writing skills in English, you can write in Spanish or even bust a Gloría Anzaldúa and write in both! Any questions, email me at kristalbivona@gmail.com or call/text me at (15)6683-6794.  See you then!

Return of Movie Night!

Return of Movie Night! DOUBLE FEATURE!

Flight of the Conchords (TV show episode)
and The Science of Sleep (movie)
Tomorrow, Thursday, August 28th
Charly's apartment: Calle 58, # 819 Dept. 6A
9PM (21 hrs)

Come over for pizza a lo Charly and bring any food or drinks you like!

If you're coming, please confirm so we know how much food to prepare: chuckabbo@gmail.com, (11) 3251-9018