Most of All You've Got to Hide it from the Kids: The Coming of Age Tale of “The Graduate”

Young adults refusing to conform to the idealistic standards of society is a constant theme portrayed throughout history. Consequently, many young adults believed that the older adults of their generation simply did not understand them—or their lifestyle choices. Throughout the 1960s, following the conservative mindset of 1950s America, many American teenagers sought to cut away the apron strings of their parents conservatism, taking part in the rebellious lifestyle of sex, drugs and rock and roll.
The film, “The Graduate,” produced in 1967, typifies the struggle of a young man, Ben Braddock, who is attempting to find his place in the world, while at the same time, portraying his rebellion from his parents as he engages in a marital affair with an older woman, Mrs. Robinson. The plot of the film is incredibly twisted, not only because Mrs. Robinson is the wife of Ben’s father’s business partner, but is also a long-time friend of the family.
It is evident that Ben’s family is suffocating him with their values in the first scene of the film in which Ben is gazing into a fish tank in his room, not wanting to attend his college graduation party.
Mr. Braddock: What's the matter? The guests are all downstairs, Ben, waiting to see you.
Benjamin: Look, Dad, could you explain to them that I have to be alone for a while?
Mr. Braddock: These are all our good friends, Ben. Most of them have known you since, well, practically since you were born. What is it, Ben?
Benjamin: I'm just...
Mr. Braddock: Worried?
Benjamin: Well...
Mr. Braddock: About what?
Benjamin: I guess about my future.
Mr. Braddock: What about it?
Benjamin: I don't know... I want it to be...
Mr. Braddock: To be what?
Benjamin: [looks at his father] ... Different.

Throughout the film, Ben struggles to find himself—a recent graduate, he is unsure what he wants to do with his life. Mrs. Robinson’s initial attraction toward Ben first appears at his graduation party, an ironic twist because her own daughter, Elaine Robinson, is merely a college student as well. Upon coercing Ben to take her home and then proceeding to seduce him, it is obvious that Ben is incredibly uncomfortable.
Ben: Oh my god.
Mrs. Robinson: Pardon?
Ben: Oh no, Mrs. Robinson. Oh no.
Mrs. Robinson: What's wrong?
Ben: Mrs. Robinson, you didn't... I mean, you didn't expect...
Mrs. Robinson: What?
Ben: I mean, you didn't really think I'd do something like that.
Mrs. Robinson: Like what?
Ben: What do you think?
Mrs. Robinson: Well, I don't know.
Ben: For god's sake, Mrs. Robinson. Here we are. You got me into your house. You give me a drink. You... put on music. Now you start opening up your personal life to me and tell me your husband won't be home for hours.
Mrs. Robinson: So?
Ben: Mrs. Robinson, you're trying to seduce me.
Although at first, Ben may have been uncomfortable with Mrs. Robinson’s aggressive sexual behavior, he soon warmed up to the attention and the two began their affair—further coercing Ben to become more emotionally involved in the relationship than Mrs. Robinson. He wants the pair to talk rather than simply having sexual intercourse;
however, Mrs. Robinson quickly opposes, wanting to keep their relationship merely sexual.
Ben’s situation becomes more complicated when his parents begin questioning his late-night whereabouts, along with his plans for the future—thus proving that Ben is merely drifting along in his life, without any concrete plan.
Mr. Braddock: Ben, what are you doing?
Ben: Well, I would say that I'm just drifting. Here in the pool.
Mr. Braddock: Why?
Ben: Well, it's very comfortable just to drift here.
Mr. Braddock: Have you thought about graduate school?
Ben: No.
Mr. Braddock: Would you mind telling me then what those four years of college were for? What was the point of all that hard work?
Ben: You got me.
Furthermore, his relationship with Mrs. Robinson disintegrates when he begins to date—and fall in love with—her young, attractive daughter Elaine. Soon after, Mrs. Robinson threatens to tell her daughter of their relationship, forcing Ben to admit to their affair. The whirlwind of trauma that follows—Ben’s parents’ disgust, Mr. Robinson’s threats, Mrs. Robinson’s psychotic behavior and Elaine’s departure to college—only fuels Ben’s unrequited love for Elaine. He refuses to give up, and follows her to Berkeley.
The film’s plot continues to display parents’ forcing their children to conform to their morals and standards when, after Elaine falls in love with Ben, the Robinson’s force her to marry a medical student from Berkeley. Ben was completely heartbroken; however he rushed to the church, where he found Elaine kissing her new husband. Still not willing to give up on their love, he yells at Elaine through a glass panel, and she flees from the church, thus allowing the pair to start their relationship with one another—at the contempt of their families.
Mrs. Robinson: Elaine, it's too late.
Elaine: Not for me.

Although many critics argue that “The Graduate” promoted sexual promiscuity, and was too risqué for its time, I believe that the film was both eye-opening and revolutionary to the lives of young Americans. All too often, young adults make their life decisions based on their parents’ views—rather than regarding their own happiness and well-being. The internal conflict of Ben, which is seen throughout the film, epitomizes his struggle of finding himself following his graduation. He is unsure what he wants to do with his life, although his affluent family and friends try to impose unwanted advice. His affair with Mrs. Robinson further shows his confusion and although the affair could be deemed as sexually provocative to film critics, I believe that it was necessary to enhance viewers’ perception of Ben’s uncertainty in his life.
All in all, “The Graduate” portrayed the exact feelings—confusion, anger, mistrust—that many young adults living in 1960s America felt. It is practically impossible for young adults to grow up independently in a society in which the previous generation’s ideas are forced upon them. At the same time, this same concept compels many coming-of-age men and women to engage in outlandish behaviors, such as Ben’s affair with Mrs. Robinson. Without films like “The Graduate” young adults would possibly not be able to have the courage to make their own decisions about their lives. The film is a straight-forward portrayal of a reality in which young adults must make decisions about the lives—whether right or wrong—in order to ensure their happiness, without regard for the approval of their parents’ generation.

-Meaghan Cochrane

Letter to the Editors

This letter was written in response to Amanda Seebaugh's column that appeared in the October 18, 2007 print issue of The Pharos. Due to space constraints, this letter was not published in the print version.

Dear Editors:
This is in response to Amanda Seebaugh’s column in the Pharos on Oct 18^th.

When we read the article, we were hurt not only because we felt like people were singled out, but also because we felt like it was us, as fellow human beings, that were causing her to feel silenced. In response to the article, a dialogue took place on campus that Amanda took part in. We got to speak with her and how her article affected some of her readers.

We value that everyone has a voice and we strongly believe that everyone deserves to be heard. However when we do vocalize what we feel, we believe that there is an obligation to make sure what we’re saying is clear.

There were a few points in the column that we wanted to recognize. First, she said that she felt like she was being persecuted in several different ways including her religious beliefs and her moral standing. The problem that we found was that in response to this persecution she then singled out another group that then felt persecuted. This, we feel, doesn’t solve anything and may have even deepened the rift in communication that could have remedied the situation.

Secondly, she makes a point that she’s afraid of offending people for what she has to say. What we could do, instead of constantly remaining silent, is to recognize why these thoughts are offending people, to take a moment to see things from another person’s perspective. This doesn’t mean that you can’t say what you feel, but that you should be contentious of others and their feelings when you’re speaking.

We realize that if this article wasn’t written, we would have no idea how this one person felt, and if you don’t speak up about what you feel, no one will know what you feel either. In addition, it’s also important to listen to what others are saying and not be afraid to disagree with them. You may disagree, and that’s not a bad thing, we need to learn how to talk to one another, and this is where we can start.

So now that we’ve learned that there’s prejudice on campus, let’s talk about it.

--Jennifer Jones and Jess Barkley

Letter to the Editors

This letter was written in response to Amanda Seebaugh's column that appeared in the October 18, 2007 print issue of The Pharos.

Dear Editors:

I have grown since coming to college. In my three years (and change) here at Wesleyan, I have learned more than what can be taught in lecture halls. Some of these lessons have been very difficult. Perhaps one of the most difficult, and yet obvious, is that communication is the key to any relationship, whether it be with your significant other, your friends, your professors, God – whoever. Though some might not recognize it, communication is important with your peers, as well, even if you don’t consider yourself to be in a direct relationship with them. What you do and say may come in conflict or agreement with what other people do and say, even if you aren’t interacting personally. In a way, this is communication within a relationship.

Upon reading Amanda Seebaugh’s latest article, I recall these things. She makes several valid points. She has brought a pressing issue to the forefront and it might make many people uncomfortable to have opinions expressed so bluntly that until now only seemed to be undercurrents. Some may react with indignation, claiming that the problem rests with the “closed minded, out-of-date, and mean” Christians. Others may express empathy and feel defensive about their own beliefs as well. Neither of these stances is helpful to the communication required to handle the situation.

Open communication between people of different faiths and practices is desperately needed on this campus. What are the true differences and what are the roots of conflict? These questions should be approached with open dialogue that is non-judgmental. Those involved should understand that they will walk away not having gained a convert but instead a better understanding of someone else’s beliefs.

I recognize a double-standard that exists within our language on this campus. Many people have worked against the use of the word “gay” as an adjective to describe something undesired and there has been success with that. However, many of these same people, if they were to become particularly frustrated, might growl, “Jesus Christ!” This is something Amanda claims to be particularly offensive. If you ask others to check their language, I think it would only be fair to check your own language as well. This comes from understanding.

Speaking of frustration, it seems to run deep with the students here. Hot topics such as homosexuality are closely intertwined with ones’ spiritual beliefs. These are also political issues (same-sex marriage, for example), making the need to discuss them all the more necessary and yet, when they are mentioned, people roll their eyes. The talking points have already been spoon-fed to the opposing camps by the spindoctors and no one wants to hear them rehashed. The world of politics does not stand still while we grow tired of the issues at hand – Congress still passes laws despite our short attention span. Now is the time when we should be gaining a deeper understanding of what the other side has to say. Why do some people believe homosexuality is wrong? Can you ask this question of someone and listen patiently to their answer, honestly trying to understand where they are coming from?

It is difficult. And yet, it is necessary. What can be gained from letting our anger and frustration rule our discussions? Does this help anyone on either side of the debate? I encourage the people of this campus to speak with someone about something on which you disagree. Ask questions curiously, not spitefully. Let go of your concerns about being judged and simply learn from one another. Share what you believe, what you’ve learned here and elsewhere, and this will lead to a better understanding of that which once frustrated you.

--Josh Briscoe

Letter to the Editors

This letter was written in response to Amanda Seebaugh's column that appeared in the October 18, 2007 print issue of The Pharos.

Dear Editors:

I am responding to the article written by columnist Amanda Seebaugh in the last issue of The Pharos. It has come to my attention that Ms. Seebaugh has received considerable negative feedback for her work. I would like to express my thoughts.

First of all, I have to say that I am a Bible-believing Christian. Therefore, I agree with Ms. Seebaugh’s stance on homosexuality. Also, I understand how she feels. It is true that prejudice exists on this campus, against both homosexuals and those who do not agree with that lifestyle. However, sometimes this results in a self-righteous attitude and people such as I seem to evade such people. This is not what Christianity is. Christianity is not about avoiding non-believers. Jesus commands us to love. He calls us to love God with everything we have, as well as our neighbor.

Ms. Seebaugh pointed out that she does not avoid homosexuals. I am glad she mentioned this. She does not believe she is any better than someone who is not a Christian, and neither do I. We are not perfect; Christians mess up. This is not an excuse to sin, however. I am glad she mentioned that Christians need to speak up more. This is true, but we can’t do it out of self-righteousness or duty. It has to be out of love and a desire to point people to Jesus. I do not believe Ms. Seebaugh is trying to be hateful with her article, merely truthful. She wants people to hear what the Bible says.

The gospel of Jesus Christ is not about being right. It is about the fact that humans are sinful, sin separates us from God, someone was going to have to pay the price of death for that sin, and Jesus Christ died so that we wouldn’t have to. I just want everyone who reads this to know that love is not about saying something is ok. I don’t hate homosexuals because I disagree with them. I still love them as people, just as everyone should. Thank you for your time.

--Josh Carpenter

Letter to the Editors

This letter was written in response to Amanda Seebaugh's column that appeared in the October 18, 2007 print issue of The Pharos.


Dear Editors:

Practitioners of Christianity have been persecuted since the religions’ first emergence; it’s practically a foundation of the dogma. Amanda Seebaugh voiced her opinion that she feels persecuted by much of the student population because of her beliefs. My response to this is: who doesn’t? West Virginia Wesleyan College is a very unique animal—a religious liberal arts college. With a student body of less than 1300, we are going to encounter, in close proximity, people and ideas that challenge our beliefs. But if I believed for one second that there is a wave of anti-Christian sentiment on this campus as massive as the one described by Miss Seebaugh in her article, I’d have to eat my shoe. I have seen nearly nothing here but positive acceptance of a variety of convictions, and I can’t imagine something so widely endorsed as Christianity would meet with the amount of opposition expressed in her article.

As we are a predominantly Christian campus, with an assortment of Christian student organizations, I am astonished that she could not find more like-minded companions rather than people who oppose her.

But even in the midst of my incredulity concerning the basis of her article, a thought springs to mind: is seeking similar friends the point of going to college? If college were just about a degree, then we’d all just come in, learn, and leave. But part of the college experience, the one we’re paying nearly $30,000 a year for, is to interact with different types of people. I imagine that Miss Seebaugh, though anticipating a change of scenery, was perhaps ill-prepared to deal with the very real actuality that there are people who’ve had different lives and who have different ideas about the world we inhabit, and perhaps confused ugly prejudice with strong criticism. But criticism isn’t prejudice; your convictions are your convictions whether others hold them or not, and criticism can, in fact, strengthen your beliefs. Who knows, Miss Seebaugh; you may come out of college with an even stronger faith than when you entered.

--Jennifer Scott

A New Beginning: A Freshman's Thoughts on Adjusting to the Wesleyan Experience

What a roller coaster preparing for college has been! For almost four months I have been planning, organizing, re-organizing and trying to make sense of this new stage of life all while trying to remain sane. I am so thrilled to finally be able to step outside of my comfort zone and be exposed to many new things that I previously would have never considered. I am still in the adjusting phase and probably will be for at least a couple more weeks but can already feel that I have made the right decision. There is something about this school that just puts me in a good mood. Yes, I have been unhappy at times, but it doesn’t seem to take long for something to cheer me up. If nothing else, the massive amount of squirrels provide a good laugh.

After one week of class, the work load seems to be manageable as long as I stay focused. It will be interesting to see how I am able to balance a healthy social life while achieving the grades that I desire. The staff here at Wesleyan has been excellent this far. I feel very sure that each professor is more than willing to help me in any area of difficulty. This peace of mind was one of the main reasons why I chose this college over a year ago. Since my arrival, I am even more confident that the staff is working very hard to help me succeed both academically and as a well-rounded person.

Although I am very happy here, it is still not home. No matter how hard I work to make my dorm more inviting, it is still hard sleeping in a cement block room that feels like it is ninety degrees every night. The food is better than most colleges but could never compare to home. Probably the most inconvenient thing I have experienced is the shower situation. Now, flip flops and fans are now a necessity that I would be miserable without. Although things feel a little uncomfortable now, over time I am sure that this place will seem much more relaxed. It’s nice to know that I am only an hour away from home!

-Samantha Phillips

The Pharos acts both as a source of news and as a forum of free expression for the West Virginia Wesleyan community. The Pharos and its staff operate with editorial freedom and responsibility. The views and editorials printed within the Pharos and its affiliated forms reflect the opinions of the individual writers and not the college or the Pharos staff as a whole.

First Issue Release

Issue 1, Volume 99 of The Pharos has been released at several distribution points on campus. Please feel free to take a copy at your earliest convenience! We look forward to hearing feedback on the issue.

Thanks!

The Pharos Announces Plans for New Year

It's that time of year again! Pretty soon, the serene sidewalks of West Virginia Wesleyan College will see students moving into dormitories and running to their first classes of the new academic year. It's an exhilarating time, and The Pharos, Wesleyan's student-run newspaper, has some exciting changes to go along with it.

First off, there are some changes to the Editorial Board.

Editor Tracie Wise graduated from Wesleyan in May 2007 with best wishes from the entire Pharos staff. Her former position of Editor-in-Chief for this year will be filled by two people, co-editors Zak Ritchie and Sarah Wilkinson. Last year, Ritchie served as Assistant Editor, and Wilkinson served as News Editor. Editors Ritchie and Wilkinson look forward to a great year of bringing The Pharos to the campus community.

The Pharos is also very excited to announce a new section of the paper and a new position on the Editorial Board. Because community service is such an integral part of the Wesleyan experience, The Pharos decided to add a section of the paper devoted to it. This section will also cover many of the social events on campus, as even those tie back in to community service. Heading up this section on the Editorial Board as Social and Community Service Editor will be Jeff Webb.

Also appointed to the Editorial Board were Daniel Trader as News Editor, Jennifer Elkins as Entertainment Editor, and Liz Short as Greek Editor. DJ Payne and Josh Arthur will be returning as Sports and Layout Editors, respectively.

There will be some minor changes to the content of the paper as well. While you can still count on The Pharos to bring you all the relevant news, sports, and entertainment, also be on the lookout this year for a new This Week in History column, as well as a myriad of other new features and columns. The layout of the paper will also be improved.

The Pharos looks forward to unveiling the new features and the work of the new Editorial Board on campus this fall. Keep a lookout for new editions in the Benedum Campus Community Center! See you soon!

(Are you a Wesleyan student interested in writing for The Pharos? Let Editors Ritchie or Wilkinson know at ritchie_jz@wvwc.edu or wilkinson_sa@wvwc.edu!)

CORRECTION: Volume 98 Issue 12

In the Volume 98, Issue 12 editon of The Pharos, we mistakenly identified musical theatre major Shannon Connell, who portrayed "Velma" in the recent production of "Chicago." In the article "Chicago Rocks Wesleyan!" on page 7, both the caption and name identified in the article as "Shannon Huff" should read "Shannon Connell."

The Pharos greatly regrets this error.

WVWC Battle of the Bands!

West Virginia Wesleyan College’s own Campus Activities Board will be hosting its annual Battle of the Bands Friday, April 27th, 2007 from 4 – 8pm.

This event promises to be better than ever, showcasing the top six bands that WVWC and the surrounding communities have to offer. Applications will be accepted through Friday, April 6, 2007. All are welcome to apply. Must be accompanied by a demo CD with a track list (only up to one half of songs listed on demo CD can be title songs).

Bands will be competing for a monetary grand prize. Submissions should be brought to the Campus Activities Board office in the Benedum Campus Center, WVWC Campus, or can be mailed to Jessica Starcher, 59 College Ave. Buckhannon, WV 26201. No late submissions will be accepted.

A picnic dinner and novelties, such as Airbrushing T’s will occur during the Battle of the Bands (FREE to WVWC Students, non WVWC students may pay for these items)

CAB hopes to make this event fun for everyone, and hopes to see everyone out supporting the bands and having a great time. All information, rules and regulations, questions/comments, as well as the application can be obtained by e-mailing starcher_jw@wvwc.edu. We hope to see everyone there!

College Announces Cost Hikes

The following is the email announcement from Wesleyan President Pam Balch.

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From: President Balch
To: Wesleyan Community
Subject: Campus Renovations and Tuition and Fees

I am writing to share news about upcoming summer campus renovations and our direct costs for 2007-08. I am pleased to report that we have experienced a five-year high for both new student mid-year enrollment and fall to spring retention. These are encouraging developments and I am grateful to everyone for their contributions to our enrollment efforts.
I am also pleased to announce that during the summer we will complete the second phase of our facility renovation project. We will replace all windows in Agnes Howard, Benedum, Holloway, and Jenkins residence halls as well as in Annie Merner Pfeiffer Library, Christopher Hall of Science, and Middleton Hall. We will also complete several painting projects and renovate bathrooms in Doney, Fleming, and McCuskey. These improvements will re-fresh our beautiful campus.

Finally, the Board of Trustees has approved our Direct Costs for the 2007-08 academic year. Our Direct Costs, which represent a four percent increase, are listed below:

Tuition $20,980
Student Activity Fee 200
Technology Fee 650
Room & Board 6,160
Total Direct Costs $27,990

We are committed to offering a high-quality total educational experience while remaining fiscally efficient and responsible.

I continue to be honored and excited to serve my alma mater as president. There is a great sense of optimism about West Virginia Wesleyan. I welcome your comments and suggestions as we work collaboratively to strengthen the College.

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Peter Turchi Reading

The English Department presents Peter Turchi in An Event for Those Who Like Creative Thinking. Be in Nellie Wilson at 7:30 PM tomorrow, 8 February, 2007, to witness this event.

Issue 7 Available Now

The Pharos is pleased to announce the release of Volume 98, issue 7. Stop by the switchboard and pick up the new issue today!

A Stand Against Wikipedia

Editor's Note: Periodically, we will be posting stories relating to the college experience here on The Pharos blog. If you have anything to say, please give us your opinion via the comment option below the post.


"As Wikipedia has become more and more popular with students, some professors have become increasingly concerned about the online, reader-produced encyclopedia.

While plenty of professors have complained about the lack of accuracy or completeness of entries, and some have discouraged or tried to bar students from using it, the history department at Middlebury College is trying to take a stronger, collective stand. It voted this month to bar students from citing the Web site as a source in papers or other academic work. All faculty members will be telling students about the policy and explaining why material on Wikipedia — while convenient — may not be trustworthy."

Read on...

The Five Most Anticipated Albums of 2007

As 2007 gets off to a rousing start, it’s time to take a look forward to what we can expect in the music world this year. Below are my Five Most Anticipated Albums. Excited? You should be!

Silverchair: When Silverchair’s last album, “Diorama,” came out in 2002, it was called “one of the boldest musical statements ever made by an Australian rock band.” Even Bono of U2 told Rolling Stone that you should “swim to Australia to hear them if you have to.” Yes, it’s true that “Diorama” took a drastic turn away from the band’s original grunge sound. However, their new album “Young Modern” should surpass “Diorama” easily. The guys have had a four year break, allowing for plenty of writing and recording and taking the time to do things just right. There will most likely be some orchestration and electronica over the ‘Chair’s normal heavy rock, as we saw them do in “Diorama,” but expect them to take this album even further. Hopefully this album will also see success in America; the band hasn’t had commercial success here since their 1999 release “Neon Ballroom.” “Young Modern” will drop in late March or early April on Eleven: A Music Company.

The Smashing Pumpkins: This is the Most Anticipated I never thought I’d get to write. When I heard about Billy Corgan’s full-page ad in the Chicago Tribune, promising to bring back the band, I doubted he could do it. Now he’s proved me wrong. While the lineup of the band won’t be entirely the same (Corgan and drummer Jimmy Chamberlin are the only original members returning), the sound will most likely be assuredly Pumpkins, with haunting lyrics and soaring melodies. We can expect to see Corgan’s brilliant songwriting dominate the album, hopefully with tinges of growth and maturity that weren’t in previous Pumpkin albums. The album is due in late spring or early summer.

The Used: They were supposed to release an album last year. They didn’t. Things within the band got rocky, and eventually led to the replacement of Branden Steineckert with Dan Whitesides. Because of all this, expect their new album (which, yes, will be out this year) to be a little tougher than their previous works. Actually, it’ll probably be a lot tougher. Also, don’t expect it to be a concept album—guitarist Quinn Allman has already nixed that theory by telling Alternative Press, “Each one of our songs is its own concept.” The album has been promised for February or March on Warner Brothers.

Aiden: These guys are young and talented. However, their previous efforts, including their most recent “Nightmare Anatomy,” have all been lackluster. They were so obsessed with being “unique” that the quality of the music suffered, and they wound up sounding like every other teen goth act in America. Hopefully their new album will show us that they have matured a little bit, have stopped limiting themselves, and can play with the big boys. I’m expecting more singing and less screaming from frontman wiL Francis, as well as lyrics that a normal human can comprehend. Expect the album to drop sometime in July on Victory Records.

HIM: This band has long had a bit of a cult following in America; by now, we’ve all seen their trademark Heartagram plastered somewhere. The Finnish quintet stunned many with their last album, “Dark Light,” which was much more pop-sounding than their previous efforts. “Dark Light” was also their final push (and first real success) in America, thanks in part to the support of MTV star and skateboarder Bam Margera. However, don’t expect their next album to continue the pop vibes. They’ll most likely head back to their monster rock roots, leaving the pop behind. They’ll probably also experiment some with acoustic sounds. Expect the new album to drop in September on Sire Records.

Also expected to drop albums this year are Fall Out Boy, Sevendust, Good Charlotte, Modest Mouse, Joss Stone, Aerosmith, The Black Eyed Peas, Dido, Jimmy Eat World, R.E.M., Britney Spears, U2, and 80s stars Duran Duran. Stay tuned to the Pharos Blog to see reviews of many of these albums as the year progresses!

(Have an album you’d like to see reviewed here? Let Sarah Wilkinson know at Wilkinson_sa@wvwc.edu !)

The Pharos Needs You!

To all current Wesleyan students:

If you, or anyone you know is interested in working for The Pharos, please contact Assistant Editor Zak Ritchie at your earliest convenience. We are seeking students who are interested in writing or journalism. This is a great chance to show off your work and help build a strong resume. Please send questions or inquiries to the above email (hotlink).

Short Sets: Movies I Saw Over Break by Chris Garton

Apocalypto, Starring Rudy Youngblood, Dalia Hernandez, Jonathan Brewer, Morris Birdyellowhead, and Carlos Emilio Baez. Directed by Mel Gibson.

Who it’s for: People who like heavy doses of realistic violence with their chase movies.

Who it’s not for: People who don’t like heavy doses of realistic violence.

There was a lot of talk prior to the premier of this movie of people boycotting this movie because of Mel Gibson’s anti-Semitic remarks he made while blind drunk one night. I would compare this to boycotting your barber because he is a Republican. Now obviously being a Republican is not quite so heinous a crime as slandering all the Jews of the world, but the point is that his personal views have nothing to do with the product or service he is providing you. Is Apocalypto itself anti-Semitic? It is set in Mexico before any Europeans had set foot on the continent, so no, it doesn’t have an anti-Semitic frame in its body.
The story centers around a young man named Jaguar Paw (Youngblood) who lives in a small village in the middle of the jungle. They are a tight-knit community of hunters, and for the most part they seem quite content. Jaguar Paw’s wife Seven (Hernandez) is pregnant with their second child, and life is good. Then one morning the village is attacked by vicious troops they have never seen before. These troops kill, rape, or capture everyone in the village, but Jaguar Paw manages to lower Seven and his son down a well not far from the village. The upside of this is that they aren’t found by the invaders. The downside is that Jaguar Paw is then captured and they have no way of getting out. Also, this particular well fills up with water every time it rains, and they are in the middle of a rain forest.
What follows are the exploits of Jaguar Paw as he is taken to a huge city, learns that he is about to be sacrificed, escapes at the last moment, and then leads his hunters on an amazing chase through the jungle, trying to get back to the well before what is left of his family drowns.
This is not much more than a glorified chase movie, but it is a great chase movie. Gibson knew what he was trying to do, and he delivered. I give it 4 out of 5 stars.


Eragon, Starring Edward Speelers, Jeremy Irons, Sienna Guillory, Robert Carlyle, Rachel Weisz, and John Malkovich. Directed by Stefan Fangmeier.

Who it’s for: Small children and people seeking a good laugh at these poor actors expense.
Who it’s not for: People who are familiar with the plots of Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.

I don’t have much to say about this movie, other than that I don’t recommend it at all, except to kids under 12, perhaps. Maybe kids under 10. There was not much in this movie that was original. It either stole from J. R. R. Tolkien (most of the base material), or blatantly plagiarized George Lucas. The plot goes something like this. A young revolutionary princess is about to be captured by evil forces, but she has in her possession a precious item that can help turn the tide of the war. She sends it to a remote location where it is discovered by a young farm boy. The youth seeks the wisdom of a local eccentric, who turns out to be more than he seems. Unfortunately, the evil forces have tracked the item to the boy’s home, and when he gets there one night, his house is burned to the ground and his uncle is dead. He sets off with his new mentor to rescue the princess, who is held within the evil kingdom’s dark fortress. While rescuing the princess, our hero meets up with a roguish character that he’s not sure he can trust. This coincides with the tragic death of the mentor, who sacrifices himself so that our hero can get away. The princess, the hero, and the rogue then make their way to the base of the outlaw rebels, who make ready for the assault that is sure to come, because our trio have been followed.
Now, am I describing Eragon or Star Wars? Answer: both. Substitute “dragon” for “Death Star” and you have Eragon. Substitue “Ben” for “Brom” and you have Star Wars. For sheer unoriginality, I give it ½ out of 5 stars.


Blood Diamond, Starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Djimon Hounsou, Jennifer Connelly, and Kagiso Kuypers. Directed by Edward Zwick.

Who it’s for: People who prefer their moral outrage served to them while they are comfortably seated.
Who it’s not for: The squeamish.

The theme of this movie is similar to one of last year’s best films, The Constant Gardener: the exploitation of Africans by rich white corporations in the developed world. While The Constant Gardener was a superior work, in my opinion, Blood Diamond hits its mark thanks to the excellent performances delivered by all of its leading actors and the high intensity direction of Zwick.
The plot focuses on Solomon Vandy (Hounsou), a poor fisherman trying to get his oldest son through school so that he can be a doctor. His world is shattered by the arrival of a ruthless gang of thugs who call themselves “revolutionaries”, who proclaim that they will free the people of Sierra Leone from the government. They roll into town, shoot, maim, and kill many, capturing some of the younger males for indoctrination into the revolution, and some of the older males for slave labor in the diamond fields. Solomon is forced into the diamond fields, his son has an automatic rifle pressed into his hands. Diamonds are the currency of the revolution. They are traded for guns and rocket launchers by weapons dealers who then smuggle the diamonds out of Sierra Leone and into Liberia, where they can then be sold to diamond merchants from Europe. Danny Archer (DiCaprio) is one such smuggler. By a chain of events I won’t bother to explain, Danny and Solomon find themselves in the same prison, where Danny hears about an enormous pink diamond Solomon allegedly found and buried. Danny pulls some strings to get both of them out, and then tells Solomon that if he’ll take him to the diamond, Danny will help find Solomon’s family.
DiCaprio and Hounsou both give incredible performances, Leonardo as the emotionally hardened mercenary, at first concerned only with his own well being, and Djimon as the emotionally distraught father who couldn’t help his family. Jennifer Connelly was also very good as an outraged reporter trying to make the world right and as the eventual love interest to DiCaprio’s Archer.
What ultimately keeps this film from achieving greatness is a few too many cliché emotional scenes, seemingly stuck in the screenplay to placate the audience and give them something to cheer for. This is a movie that is crying out to be real, and I think for the most part it is. I give it a 4.5 out of 5.

The Pharos wants to know:

What was your favorite part of break?

What are looking forward to the most during the coming semester?

Editor Wise enjoyed having the time and energy to read for fun, but can't wait to get back among her friends and live up her last semester.

Leave a comment with your answers!

A good quotation with which to start the year

"Consider your origin; you were not meant to live as brutes, but to pursue virtue and knowledge." --Dante Alighieri

As you prepare to return to Wesleyan for the spring semester, The Pharos too looks forward to new beginnings and some interesting changes. Our various editors will be contributing their individual styles to the paper (page 6 of the last issue gave you a taste of how great that will look) and some adjustments we are considering may lead to a change in the size of our publication. All in all, we hope to continue the improvements we made during the first semester.

Enjoy the last few days of your break and watch for a new issue, to be released at the end of January.