Humbert and Quilty and Nabokov and Kubrick and Lyne

Some might say they didn’t.

So I was doing some research this for a piece I wrote about the book Lolita , and somehow I came across this super-interesting article in the most recent issue of Alphaville, “‘I Get Sort of Carried Away, Being So Normal and Everything’: The Oscillating Sexuality of Clare Quilty and Humbert Humbert in the works of Nabokov, Kubrick and Lyne,” by Emerson Richards. (Don’t you just love the titles of academic writing?)

Basically, it’s about the different portrayals of both Clare Quilty and Humbert Humbert in the book of Lolita and its film versions–Stanley Kubrick’s 1962 film; Adrian Lyne’s 1997 film; and the screenplay written by Nabokov himself for Kubrick, which Kubrick ultimately declined to use. And yes, it’s an academic article, and I don’t know if I agree with all of her points, but I found it totally fascinating from both a literature and a film studies point of view–of course, actually, the interaction between literature and film in the form of adaptation is one of the major issues being discussed. Also, portrayal of sexuality! Villainization! How films can criticize culture! And the different ways they can be censored! Whether, in fact, they ever did really Make A Film Of Lolita! Yeah, go read.

Thoughts On The Conclusion Of A Media Writing Class

Topics Discussed: Various Times Early In The Morning; What I Read; Knowing Of Vs. Knowing How; A Minor Thing That I Am Somewhat Embarrassed To Admit; Odd Thrills

Every semester, I’m a bit surprised at which classes end up being my favorites—for example, I certainly didn’t think my Tutoring Writing class, for which I had to be at the Writing Center at eight o’clock in the morning, would be the most enjoyable. By the end of a long semester, I can barely remember what I expected each class to be like when I signed up for it at five am the previous semester. This is all merely to say that I don’t remember what I expected Writing for the Media to be like, but what it ended up being was challenging, novel, and fun.

Taking this class allowed me to try my hand at writing the kind of things that I spend my time every day reading. I mean, sure—I read fiction, I read poetry, but also, I spend every day reading news and other media writing on the internet. And being able to write the kinds of things I consume the most often is kind of—I can’t think of another way to put it—empowering.

Our assignments for this class covered a variety of types of writing: interviews, humor, reviews, press releases. I feel like I got to try on different voices, imitating the style of, again, the internet writing that I read, or adopting a more serious, journalistic tone for my interview piece. And now I feel like I have more experience—before this class, I knew what the inverted pyramid was, but now I’ve actually used it.

Ideas for things I would write articles or features about come much easier and much more quickly, now. Almost every other day I think, I should write an article about that, and often, I know where I would hypothetically submit it to as well.

Lockie, our teacher, talks to us like we really could be published writers, encouraging us to submit our work to places and having us write bios. And now I feel more confident that I could write for the media and actually get published, which seems like, I’m slightly embarrassed to admit, one of the most thrilling things in the world. (I’m on my way—it’s thanks to this class that I received my very first rejection letter! It was oddly thrilling.)

So I think the biggest change for me this semester has not been in my writing, per se, but in my mindset and in my sense of possibility. It’s been pretty exciting.

This Is A Key & Peele Appreciation Post

And this is the only comedy sketch you will have to watch for the rest of your long, sweet life.

Conversations About Things: Gone With The Wind, Part II

In Which We Cover: Eleni’s French-Speaking Abilities; Who Is Gay?; The Author Is Dead; Murder and Bitchface—the Exploits of Scarlett O’Hara; A Post-Script

What a fancy bitch.

Eleni: Hey hey hey guess who has two thumbs, speaks limited French, and gets to write her literary methods final about Gone With The Wind? THIS MOI!!

Malka: Yessss. That’s awesome!

Eleni: Do you think I could make the argument that Ashley is gay?

Malka: Hmmmm, I dunno—he does seem pretttty down to make out with Scarlett on several occasions.

Eleni: Well, sexuality is a spectrum.

Malka: This is true! But I wouldn’t necessarily want to credit Margaret Mitchell or Selznick or whomever with wanting to posit that idea with the character of Ashley. I mean, I know authorial intent doesn’t matter that much. But still. Hmmm. [Editor’s note: Sidney Howard actually wrote the screenplay.]

Eleni: I just really want to use this one theorist! It’s encouraged! Maybe Melanie is the gay one?

Malka: I guess that’s possible! Her sexuality isn’t really ever a Thing. She is awful forgiving of Scarlett for the Ashley business.

Eleni: True. She’s more like the definition of passive femininity.

The differences between Scarlett and Melly, illustrated.

Malka: Yes exactly. Actually she is the exact paragon of what women were supposed to be like at that time, which included being totally nonsexual.

Eleni: Whereas Scarlett is the complete opposite.

Malka: Yes! Breakin’ alllll the rules, existing beyond the domestic sphere, etc.

Eleni: Shooting a man and starting her own business. Ooh this is going to be such a fun paper!

Malka: Yeah if you’re interested I think there’s a lot to be found about how middle class women were supposed to be during that time. Angels of the home, et cetera. Oh yeah, I forgot about the MURDER.

Eleni: Yeah! She’s really done just about everything. She’s my hero.

Breaking all the rules, by eating all the desserts.

Malka: It’s interesting how she breaks all the rules of society and is the protagonist of the movie, yet the movie also shows her being a total bitch and making lots of really dumb decisions. The film is pretty ambivalent about her, you know? The ending is ambivalent too.

Eleni: I know. And audiences are pretty divided as to how they feel about her.

Malka: Yeah! I’m divided as to how I feel about her! But she does have the best bitchfaces, so.

In conclusion, we love Scarlett’s bitchface. Also, probably everyone in this movie is gay.

P.S. We know we didn’t talk about it, but this movie is also upsettingly racist. Just thought we should mention.

Conversations About Things: Gone With The Wind, Part I

In Which We Start in the Middle of the Movie and Cover: Big Sleeves, Little Sleeves, All Kinds of Sleeves; Has Malka Ever Even Seen This Movie Before?; the Proliferation of Non-Consensual Kisses; Eleni’s Favorite Bechdel Test-Failing Musical; Doubles, Anyone?; Spartacus Man

Gone With The Wind: crazy dresses and upsetting rapeyness. And beautiful, swoon-inducing Technicolor!

Malka: Omg I totes forgot how Scarlett becomes, like, a business tycoon? I kind of totally hate her and Rhett right now.

Eleni: Yeah. They are very hate-able, yet impressive.

Malka: Also basically every kiss shown on screen in this movie involves one unwilling participant?

Eleni: Oh yeah. That’s how it works.

Malka: There are massive amounts of this movie that I do not remember at all! So weird!

Eleni: I mostly just remember the skirts.

Malka: Like, dude, she stole her sister’s fiance?

Eleni: I know! That bitch. If [Eleni’s sister] ever did that I would punch her.

Malka: Hahaha. Also, Rhett and Mamie are broing out?

Eleni: Oh yeah. They’re bros.

Malka: Wait, there’s a baby??? HAVE I EVER EVEN SEEN THIS MOVIE ALL THE WAY THROUGH BEFORE. WHAT IS GOING ON.

Eleni: Doesn’t sound like it.

Malka: But–but–I would have sworn I have!

Eleni: Maybe it’s just been a while?

Malka: I guess. I mean, I’ve definitely seen the Frankly My Dear part. When is that?

Eleni: The very end.

Malka: Maybe I fell asleep the first time. This is the longest fucking movie.

Eleni: Very possible.

Malka: Ahahahaaaaa! The part when he kicks down the door!

Eleni: Oh yeah. That is some manly power right there.

Malka: Oh man Scarlett just wore the MOST ENORMOUS SLEEVES! And NOW they’re verrrrrry small!

Eleni: She’s got the craziest dresses!

Malka: Oh wow this movie just got rapey.

Eleni: But she sure does seem happy in the morning.

Malka: Uncomfortable!

Awkward.

Eleni: So by the way, we were watching a documentary about homosexuality in film for my literary theory class. Guess which amazing scene from my favorite Bechdel Test-failing musical it opened with?

Malka: Um. I feel like a failure

Eleni: Oh my god, Malka. DOUBLES? ANYONE?

Malka: 😦

Eleni: Doesn’t ANYONE want to play?

Malka: GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES!!

Eleni: Bingo!

Malka: Wait, was the documentary The Celluloid Closet?

Eleni: It was!

Malka: I seen it! I don’t remember it too well, but I seen it.

Eleni: Oooh! Isn’t it interesting? So much stuff in those movies went over my head when I first saw them!

Malka: Yeah, it was really great. I wish I remembered more of the specific things they discussed. I mostly remember there being a lot of what’s-his-face. Spartacus man?

Eleni: Kirk Douglas?

Malka: Yes! Although I kind of like “Spartacus Man” better. Can we change his name to that?

Spartacus Man is Spartacus.