Summary:
Voltaire starts this satire by introducing the title character, Candide, from the country of Westphalia. He's the son of the baron's sister, and his mom didn't marry his father because she couldn't find anything about his family tree. Candide learns from Pangloss the oracle of the family, about "metaphysico–theologo–cosmolonigology", and about how everything in life is for the best. He argues about cause and effect, and how things are created with a purpose, thus the world is created so everything works out for the best. Candide has a crush on Miss Cunegund, and is exiled from the castle when he is caught kissing her. Nearly frozen and starved to death, he walks and comes across a house of two gentlemen whom offer their hospitality. Learning he's not loyal to the King of the Bulgarians, the two gentlemen make him act as if he's a soldier. One day however, he is kidnapped by four people, and brought to a cave. He is made to either run six and thirty times, or get his head blown off. Candide argues that he has free will, but chooses to run out of fear. After being tired to death from running, the King of the Bulgarians comes and gives him a pardon, just as soon as a war starts. During the courses of the war, there is blood, limbs, dead people, wounded people in each village, caused from both sides of the army, as Candide runs away into Holland. There, he is asked by a preacher if the Pope is the antichrist, to which Candide admits he doesn't know. The preacher's wife dumps something into him out of anger and disbelief, causing a stranger named Jacques to come and help him and offer his hospitality. Candide then restates that everything does happen for a reason. The following day, Candide meets a ill stranger walking the streets, and finds out it's Pangloss. He explains that the castle was attacked by Bulgar soldiers, and everyone, including Miss Cunegund, died of a horrible death. Pangloss then explains how he contrived syphilis from Pacquette, and how it all happened for the best, according to his philosophy. Jacques agrees to pay for Pangloss's recovery, and on a way to the doctor, states that God did not give humans bayonets and weapons, while Pangloss states it's all necessary. While on their ship sail to Lisbon, a disastrous storm occurs, causing nearly everyone on board, including Jacques, to die. This leaves Candide, Pangloss, and a sailor left alive. As they arrive, they notice Lisbon is in ruins, from a recent earthquake. The sailor finds money, and gets drunk and buys a prostitute. The next day, Candide and Pangloss help out the victims, causing Pangloss to state how it's all for the best. A man in black argues otherwise, saying how if it were so, there wouldn't be the fall and punishment of man. Afterwards, people were getting chosen to be burned alive to prevent another earthquake. Candide and Pangloss were chosen for speaking their mind, and are separated for eight days. On the 8th day, Pangloss is hanged, while Candide was flogged in public. Grieving over the loss of Pangloss, Jacques, and Miss Cunegund, he questions how it's all for the best. An old woman then offers support if he follows her. She takes him to an old house, and treats his wounds and feeds him. She takes him to a house, and shows him a young woman, that is revealed to be Miss Cunegund. The both speechless and grateful both are alive, start to retell their stories. Miss Cunegund explains that a Bulgarian captain killed of her rapist, and looked after her. He then sold her to a Jew in Holland, whom brought her to the countryside. She was taken to see Candide and Pangloss hanged in public, and hired the old woman to bring him into her house.
Quotation:
“Possibly, my good sir, you do not
believe in original sin; for, if everything is best, there could have been
no such thing as the fall or punishment of man.” (Voltaire 13)
Reaction:
This is the first time someone in the novel openly went against Pangloss. The stranger goes against him by saying that humans are by nature sinful, and that if everything were for the best, there would be no such things as sins. This comes back to Voltaire's satire on philosophers that believed life was predetermined, and everything has a reason behind it.
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
The Accidental Billionaires (Pg. 165-227)
Summary:
As Tyler, Cameron, and Divya get ready to graduate, they launch their website, ConnectU, formerly known as the Harvard Connection. Tyler and Cameron plan to make a go for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and hope ConnectU gains popularity. However, Tyler is still bitter about Mark's actions, and how it didn't work out for them. The story then goes to Silicon Valley, where Mark and his programmers coincidentally come across Sean. Sean is moving out his girlfriend's house, and has no place to stay. Which is perfect, because Mark just moved into a new house down the street. While he crashes at their new place, Sean thinks about Eduardo's whereabouts, and his involvement. He starts to question Eduardo's relevancy and importance to thefacebook. Later on, Eduardo quits his internship in New York, and heads to Silicon Valley. On the flight trip, he starts to get irritated with Mark's association with Sean, and their level of involvement. When Eduardo arrives at California, he is picked up by Dustin and Mark, and is driven to a party Sean is attending. As they meet Sean and his wild stories, Eduardo notices something strange; Victoria Secret models flirting with Mark. Eduardo then leaves four days later, after days of business meetings and partying.
The story then flips back to Tyler and Cameron, as they compete in the Henley Royal Regatta. His team loses by two seconds, and the opposing team receives the trophy and celebration. While being congratulated for effort by their host father, he mentions his daughter taking pictures, and asks the brothers if they can be found on thefacebook. Tyler and Cameron are shocked to hear how it's now international, while their website, ConnectU, is only in numerous schools. Tired of hearing about thefacebook, Tyler and Cameron decide to go after Mark.
Back in New York, Eduardo calls up Mark and argues about his position in thefacebook and how he's still the businessman. This comes after he learns that Parker has set up meetings with potential advertisers. Eduardo then sends Mark a letter reassuring his position as CFO, which Mark and Sean views as a cry for attention and childish. Trying to get his point across, Eduardo freezes thefacebook's bank account, which is under his control.
Afterward, Sean and Mark are on a elevator ride to meet Peter Thiel, founder of Paypal, head of Clarium Capital, and on of the richest men in America. While waiting to reach their floor, Sean starts to think about Eduardo's immaturity with the letter, and freezing the bank account, which could have possibly risked thefacebook as a whole. Thefacebook desperately needs money for a structural renovation, to pay for servers, and because of Tyler and Cameron's lawsuit against them. Which is why they needed to secure Peter Thiel as their angel investor, to help them secure thefacebook financially.
Quotation:
"Eduardo would go back to school. But Mark Zuckerberg had found his place in
the world." (Mezrich 225)
Reaction:
Seeing as this is Sean's thinking, he views Eduardo as finding his education priority over thefacebook. Mark in the other hand, is completely dedicated to thefacebook, enough not to return to Harvard. Sean is sure about Mark's involvement, viewing it as his place in the world, what he's fitted to do. This is a contrast to how in the beginning of the novel, his personality and social awkwardness wouldn't seem to get him anywhere far, according to Eduardo.
As Tyler, Cameron, and Divya get ready to graduate, they launch their website, ConnectU, formerly known as the Harvard Connection. Tyler and Cameron plan to make a go for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, and hope ConnectU gains popularity. However, Tyler is still bitter about Mark's actions, and how it didn't work out for them. The story then goes to Silicon Valley, where Mark and his programmers coincidentally come across Sean. Sean is moving out his girlfriend's house, and has no place to stay. Which is perfect, because Mark just moved into a new house down the street. While he crashes at their new place, Sean thinks about Eduardo's whereabouts, and his involvement. He starts to question Eduardo's relevancy and importance to thefacebook. Later on, Eduardo quits his internship in New York, and heads to Silicon Valley. On the flight trip, he starts to get irritated with Mark's association with Sean, and their level of involvement. When Eduardo arrives at California, he is picked up by Dustin and Mark, and is driven to a party Sean is attending. As they meet Sean and his wild stories, Eduardo notices something strange; Victoria Secret models flirting with Mark. Eduardo then leaves four days later, after days of business meetings and partying.
The story then flips back to Tyler and Cameron, as they compete in the Henley Royal Regatta. His team loses by two seconds, and the opposing team receives the trophy and celebration. While being congratulated for effort by their host father, he mentions his daughter taking pictures, and asks the brothers if they can be found on thefacebook. Tyler and Cameron are shocked to hear how it's now international, while their website, ConnectU, is only in numerous schools. Tired of hearing about thefacebook, Tyler and Cameron decide to go after Mark.
Back in New York, Eduardo calls up Mark and argues about his position in thefacebook and how he's still the businessman. This comes after he learns that Parker has set up meetings with potential advertisers. Eduardo then sends Mark a letter reassuring his position as CFO, which Mark and Sean views as a cry for attention and childish. Trying to get his point across, Eduardo freezes thefacebook's bank account, which is under his control.
Afterward, Sean and Mark are on a elevator ride to meet Peter Thiel, founder of Paypal, head of Clarium Capital, and on of the richest men in America. While waiting to reach their floor, Sean starts to think about Eduardo's immaturity with the letter, and freezing the bank account, which could have possibly risked thefacebook as a whole. Thefacebook desperately needs money for a structural renovation, to pay for servers, and because of Tyler and Cameron's lawsuit against them. Which is why they needed to secure Peter Thiel as their angel investor, to help them secure thefacebook financially.
Quotation:
"Eduardo would go back to school. But Mark Zuckerberg had found his place in
the world." (Mezrich 225)
Reaction:
Seeing as this is Sean's thinking, he views Eduardo as finding his education priority over thefacebook. Mark in the other hand, is completely dedicated to thefacebook, enough not to return to Harvard. Sean is sure about Mark's involvement, viewing it as his place in the world, what he's fitted to do. This is a contrast to how in the beginning of the novel, his personality and social awkwardness wouldn't seem to get him anywhere far, according to Eduardo.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
The Accidental Billionaires (Pg.82-165)
Summary:
Tyler, Cameron, and Divya sit in a Porcellian-exclusive room, as they think about Mark's involvement and his constant delays on the project. Mark claims he's too busy with schoolwork to work on the Harvard Connection, sending them emails about his progress. The three then talk about the possibility of having to find a new programmer. On February 4, 2004, Mark goes over the final version of thefacebook with Eduardo, going over its features. Thefacebook was exclusively for Harvard members, as it required a Harvard.edu e-mail, and was originally sent to the Phoenix members, to make the website circulate faster. As the website launches, Eduardo suggests the both of them to celebrate, but Mark chooses to simply stare at his own creation. The book then goes back to Tyler and Cameron, as they're both interrupted by Divya while working out. Divya shows them the last edition of the Crimson, headlining Thefacebook. They get angry over it's wild success, and its similarities to the Harvard Connection. They also get angry about themselves because between them and Mark, there were no files, forms, or agreement signed, meaning Mark can legally get away with it.
Now, as Eduardo and Mark sat, listening to Bill Gates giving a speech at Harvard, they are interrupted by two Asian girls. They ask Eduardo if that's Mark sitting next to him, much to his surprise. He then realizes Mark's fame has soared through ever since the launch of Thefacebook. The two Asian girls asks them out for a drink later, which Eduardo obviously agrees to. When Eduardo and Mark arrive to his dorm room, Eduardo discovers a cease-and-desist letter from Tyler and Cameron, regarding about his role with the Harvard Connection. They accuse him of taking their premise of the Harvard Connection and using it for Thefacebook, and demand it to shutdown. Mark reassures Eduardo he has it handled, by even sending them back a letter. In the letter, Mark makes it clear that he didn't sign anything, and only expressed interest into the Harvard Connection. Soon afterward, Dustin, and Chris come in through the door, offering help with Thefacebook's growth by programming. They then decide to expand.
Tyler and Cameron arranged a meeting with the president of Harvard, to see what actions he can take against Mark. During the meeting, the president makes it clear to them that there's nothing he or Harvard can do about it, and tells them to simply move on. Tyler practically storms off, angry at the president's apathy toward their situation. Now the story jumps to Sean Parker, founder of Napster and Plaxo, both which didn't turn out well for him. As an entrepreneur, he's been trying to think of the next big thing. He finds it when he stumbles over Facebook, which has reached to Stanford University. Sean then sets up a meeting with them in New York. There, Sean and Mark have an instant connection, sharing the same vision for Thefacebook. Eduardo is obviously jealous, and starts to worry about Sean's risky strategies. As they depart, Eduardo ensures Mark they have enough money and don't need Sean's help.
As Facebook becomes larger, several people have been coming to Mark and Eduardo on potential offers, which they both refuse. Mark still believes Facebook shouldn't be about the money. Mark then reveals to Eduardo he's moving to Silicon Valley with the 8 other interns. This conflicts with Eduardo's plans to take up an internship in New York, while also setting up business meetings for Facebook.
Quotation:
"He knew he had set the bar really fucking high. If it wasn’t a billion-dollar company—his own YouTube, his Google—then it wasn’t worth his time. But he’d already had a Plaxo, and the experience had been less than satisfying. The next time it would be a billion dollars or bust." (Mezrich 144)
Reaction:
Just like Mark, Sean wants to make something groundbreaking, that he can be able to call his own. They want to set themselves apart from everyone else, which causes their instant connection when they meet. One difference however is that Sean cares more about the profit and success, rather than the project's/company's goal.
Tyler, Cameron, and Divya sit in a Porcellian-exclusive room, as they think about Mark's involvement and his constant delays on the project. Mark claims he's too busy with schoolwork to work on the Harvard Connection, sending them emails about his progress. The three then talk about the possibility of having to find a new programmer. On February 4, 2004, Mark goes over the final version of thefacebook with Eduardo, going over its features. Thefacebook was exclusively for Harvard members, as it required a Harvard.edu e-mail, and was originally sent to the Phoenix members, to make the website circulate faster. As the website launches, Eduardo suggests the both of them to celebrate, but Mark chooses to simply stare at his own creation. The book then goes back to Tyler and Cameron, as they're both interrupted by Divya while working out. Divya shows them the last edition of the Crimson, headlining Thefacebook. They get angry over it's wild success, and its similarities to the Harvard Connection. They also get angry about themselves because between them and Mark, there were no files, forms, or agreement signed, meaning Mark can legally get away with it.
Now, as Eduardo and Mark sat, listening to Bill Gates giving a speech at Harvard, they are interrupted by two Asian girls. They ask Eduardo if that's Mark sitting next to him, much to his surprise. He then realizes Mark's fame has soared through ever since the launch of Thefacebook. The two Asian girls asks them out for a drink later, which Eduardo obviously agrees to. When Eduardo and Mark arrive to his dorm room, Eduardo discovers a cease-and-desist letter from Tyler and Cameron, regarding about his role with the Harvard Connection. They accuse him of taking their premise of the Harvard Connection and using it for Thefacebook, and demand it to shutdown. Mark reassures Eduardo he has it handled, by even sending them back a letter. In the letter, Mark makes it clear that he didn't sign anything, and only expressed interest into the Harvard Connection. Soon afterward, Dustin, and Chris come in through the door, offering help with Thefacebook's growth by programming. They then decide to expand.
Tyler and Cameron arranged a meeting with the president of Harvard, to see what actions he can take against Mark. During the meeting, the president makes it clear to them that there's nothing he or Harvard can do about it, and tells them to simply move on. Tyler practically storms off, angry at the president's apathy toward their situation. Now the story jumps to Sean Parker, founder of Napster and Plaxo, both which didn't turn out well for him. As an entrepreneur, he's been trying to think of the next big thing. He finds it when he stumbles over Facebook, which has reached to Stanford University. Sean then sets up a meeting with them in New York. There, Sean and Mark have an instant connection, sharing the same vision for Thefacebook. Eduardo is obviously jealous, and starts to worry about Sean's risky strategies. As they depart, Eduardo ensures Mark they have enough money and don't need Sean's help.
As Facebook becomes larger, several people have been coming to Mark and Eduardo on potential offers, which they both refuse. Mark still believes Facebook shouldn't be about the money. Mark then reveals to Eduardo he's moving to Silicon Valley with the 8 other interns. This conflicts with Eduardo's plans to take up an internship in New York, while also setting up business meetings for Facebook.
Quotation:
"He knew he had set the bar really fucking high. If it wasn’t a billion-dollar company—his own YouTube, his Google—then it wasn’t worth his time. But he’d already had a Plaxo, and the experience had been less than satisfying. The next time it would be a billion dollars or bust." (Mezrich 144)
Reaction:
Just like Mark, Sean wants to make something groundbreaking, that he can be able to call his own. They want to set themselves apart from everyone else, which causes their instant connection when they meet. One difference however is that Sean cares more about the profit and success, rather than the project's/company's goal.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
The Accidental Billionaires (Pg. 40-82)
Summary:
Mark enters his room mad, as he starts using his laptop. The connection between him and his laptop is unbreakable, as he starts writing on his blog. He blogs about his frustration, and how he wants to create a site called, Facemash, where people can compare two girls. He then starts to pull pictures from various dorm house servers, as he works his magic with hacking. Soon afterward, he's nearly done, except for sneaking inside an empty room of another dorm house, to hack their servers. Three days later, he arrives home to his laptop to realize Facemash has accidentally gone public, much to his dismay. He then quickly shuts it down. Back to Tyler and Cameron, they are met by Divya, as he shows them the Crimson, Harvard's newspaper, with Facemash and Mark as headline. Divya explains how much of a hit Facemash was, and Mark's capability of helping them with the Harvard Connection. The three conclude to e-mail Mark and ask him to join them. The story then comes back to Mark, who has just got out of a ad-board meeting, for causing chaos with Facemash, and hacking into the school's servers. However, he's only given a warning, because of his unintentional purpose to crash the school's servers. He then talks to Eduardo about an e-mail he received, offering him to write the code for a secret website, and to meet up with Tyler, Cameron, and Divya. Later on, Mark meets only Tyler and Cameron, because Divya couldn't make it. Tyler proceeds to inform Mark about the goal for the Harvard Connection, which lets people socialize easily. After they were done, Tyler shakes Mark's hand, and notices the new energy in him. A couple days later, Eduardo is at a cafe, as he is suffering from a hangover. The previous night, he was doing last-minute rituals for new members at the Phoenix, which involved heavy drinking. He meets Mark, who has been thinking of what is now the premise of Facebook, and states his discontent with the Harvard Connection. Mark then asks Eduardo to help start out Facebook with finances, and offers him to be CFO, and split the money seventy-thirty. Eduardo agrees, and the both shake on it.
Quotation:
"Maybe the idea of hanging out with guys like the Winklevoss twins appealed to something inside Mark, or maybe it was just another lark, like Facemash—something that seemed like it could be amusing. Or, as Mark would put it, as he always put it: “It might be interesting.”" (Mezrich 62)
Reaction:
Mark is described as Eduardo to be passive and easy going, as he's willing to work with the Winklevoss twins. Eduardo views Facemash as a result of Mark's boredom, overlooking his intentions of actually creating a website. He fails to see Mark's overall vision of Facebook.
Mark enters his room mad, as he starts using his laptop. The connection between him and his laptop is unbreakable, as he starts writing on his blog. He blogs about his frustration, and how he wants to create a site called, Facemash, where people can compare two girls. He then starts to pull pictures from various dorm house servers, as he works his magic with hacking. Soon afterward, he's nearly done, except for sneaking inside an empty room of another dorm house, to hack their servers. Three days later, he arrives home to his laptop to realize Facemash has accidentally gone public, much to his dismay. He then quickly shuts it down. Back to Tyler and Cameron, they are met by Divya, as he shows them the Crimson, Harvard's newspaper, with Facemash and Mark as headline. Divya explains how much of a hit Facemash was, and Mark's capability of helping them with the Harvard Connection. The three conclude to e-mail Mark and ask him to join them. The story then comes back to Mark, who has just got out of a ad-board meeting, for causing chaos with Facemash, and hacking into the school's servers. However, he's only given a warning, because of his unintentional purpose to crash the school's servers. He then talks to Eduardo about an e-mail he received, offering him to write the code for a secret website, and to meet up with Tyler, Cameron, and Divya. Later on, Mark meets only Tyler and Cameron, because Divya couldn't make it. Tyler proceeds to inform Mark about the goal for the Harvard Connection, which lets people socialize easily. After they were done, Tyler shakes Mark's hand, and notices the new energy in him. A couple days later, Eduardo is at a cafe, as he is suffering from a hangover. The previous night, he was doing last-minute rituals for new members at the Phoenix, which involved heavy drinking. He meets Mark, who has been thinking of what is now the premise of Facebook, and states his discontent with the Harvard Connection. Mark then asks Eduardo to help start out Facebook with finances, and offers him to be CFO, and split the money seventy-thirty. Eduardo agrees, and the both shake on it.
Quotation:
"Maybe the idea of hanging out with guys like the Winklevoss twins appealed to something inside Mark, or maybe it was just another lark, like Facemash—something that seemed like it could be amusing. Or, as Mark would put it, as he always put it: “It might be interesting.”" (Mezrich 62)
Reaction:
Mark is described as Eduardo to be passive and easy going, as he's willing to work with the Winklevoss twins. Eduardo views Facemash as a result of Mark's boredom, overlooking his intentions of actually creating a website. He fails to see Mark's overall vision of Facebook.
The Accidental Billionaires (Pg. 1-40)
Summary:
The novel opens with Eduardo, who is at a party for a highly exclusive club called the Phoenix. The Phoenix is for wealthy guys with a legacy to live up to. However, Eduardo is Jewish, and doesn't have a real legacy to live up to. After conversing with a Phoenix member and lying about his knowledge in business, he comes across Mark Zuckerberg. Eduardo views him as socially awkward, and being out of place from the party. Later on, Eduardo sees Mark at a party again. He explains that Mark is a genius hacker, writing several of his own programs. As they both leave the party, Eduardo comments to the readers about Mark's lack of emotion in his words. The book then centers on Tyler and Cameron, twin brothers as they practice rowing early in the morning. They both are amazing at rowing, being the best at Harvard, and members of the Porcellian Club. Besides this, they are working on a side project with their friend, Divya. Their side project, Harvard Connection, is interrupted by their programmer, Victor, quitting. The three of them then seek out someone else with advanced computer skills. The story then jumps back to Eduardo as he quietly enters a lecture hall with a crate beside him. He spots Mark dozing off, and sits right next to him. Mark notices the crate, and lifts the blanket covering it. Instantly, it's obvious a live chicken is inside, as it starts making noise and flutters. The chicken is a final task for soon-to-be Phoenix members, as they have to ensure its safety, and carry it with them everywhere. Eduardo makes the silly decision to feed the chicken...chicken one day, which two members of the Porcellian Club witness. As a prank, they accuse the Phoenix of forcing its new members to torture live chicken, creating a scandal. As the whole thing blows over, Eduardo reminds Mark of a double date they both are having the same night.
Quotation:
"Eduardo knew, as he said it, how foolish the idea sounded. Phoenix members weren’t going to get excited about this awkward kid because of some computer program. You didn’t get popular by writing computer code. A computer program couldn’t get you laid. You got popular—and sometimes laid—by going to parties, hanging out with pretty girls." (Mezrich 19)
Reaction:
It reveals how Eduardo is aware of the elitism and popularity level needed for the Phoenix, contrasted with Mark's personality. It also hints at how Eduardo views himself slightly superior, because of his eligibility to Phoenix.
The novel opens with Eduardo, who is at a party for a highly exclusive club called the Phoenix. The Phoenix is for wealthy guys with a legacy to live up to. However, Eduardo is Jewish, and doesn't have a real legacy to live up to. After conversing with a Phoenix member and lying about his knowledge in business, he comes across Mark Zuckerberg. Eduardo views him as socially awkward, and being out of place from the party. Later on, Eduardo sees Mark at a party again. He explains that Mark is a genius hacker, writing several of his own programs. As they both leave the party, Eduardo comments to the readers about Mark's lack of emotion in his words. The book then centers on Tyler and Cameron, twin brothers as they practice rowing early in the morning. They both are amazing at rowing, being the best at Harvard, and members of the Porcellian Club. Besides this, they are working on a side project with their friend, Divya. Their side project, Harvard Connection, is interrupted by their programmer, Victor, quitting. The three of them then seek out someone else with advanced computer skills. The story then jumps back to Eduardo as he quietly enters a lecture hall with a crate beside him. He spots Mark dozing off, and sits right next to him. Mark notices the crate, and lifts the blanket covering it. Instantly, it's obvious a live chicken is inside, as it starts making noise and flutters. The chicken is a final task for soon-to-be Phoenix members, as they have to ensure its safety, and carry it with them everywhere. Eduardo makes the silly decision to feed the chicken...chicken one day, which two members of the Porcellian Club witness. As a prank, they accuse the Phoenix of forcing its new members to torture live chicken, creating a scandal. As the whole thing blows over, Eduardo reminds Mark of a double date they both are having the same night.
Quotation:
"Eduardo knew, as he said it, how foolish the idea sounded. Phoenix members weren’t going to get excited about this awkward kid because of some computer program. You didn’t get popular by writing computer code. A computer program couldn’t get you laid. You got popular—and sometimes laid—by going to parties, hanging out with pretty girls." (Mezrich 19)
Reaction:
It reveals how Eduardo is aware of the elitism and popularity level needed for the Phoenix, contrasted with Mark's personality. It also hints at how Eduardo views himself slightly superior, because of his eligibility to Phoenix.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Fight Club Reaction
The film opens with what seems to be the brain system of the narrator as the camera zooms out to show in detail the gun pointed in his mouth. The film stays true to the novel by using this cold open, and introducing Tyler Durden. I noticed the echo in both their voices, which gives out that their inside an empty room. The scene wraps up with a zoom in of the narrator's face, as he is thrown into Bob. In the scene where Tyler explains how with insomnia, everything is a copy of a copy, we are given a point of view shot of the office. For a split second though, we're giving a flash of Tyler, showing us his development inside the narrator. The camera also shows us the insides of a garbage bin as it shows several brands, as the narrator explains how corporations will eventually get to name our galaxies and planets. I like how both these scenes add to the story and wouldn't work in the novel. In the film, the narrator meets Tyler on the airplane, rather than on the beach. The film's version comically gives us more of a preview of Tyler's personality and his soap business, and a subtle hint when the narrator comments on their identical suitcases. The film's fight club scenes are also more intense, due to the camera's low angle shots, and up close shots on the fighters, bringing the action closer. The actors are also giving make-up to simulate the effects of fighting. Added with the loud sound of the crowd, the fight club scenes become more intimidating. Ultimately, I found the film to have perfectly take advantage to the use of visuals and audio to bring the audience closer into the world of Fight Club.
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk (Pg. 1 - 88)
Summary:
As the story begins with a cold opening, we are immediately introduced to the narrator, and Tyler. Both are on the Parker-Morris Building as it's rigged with homemade bombs, which is Tyler's area of expertise. As the narrator counts down the minutes, he gives a . We are then transported to a meeting of Remaining Men Together, testicular cancer support group. The narrator suffers from severe insomnia, which causes himself to feel distant from reality. Believing that the only way to feel alive is to be in a room full of terminal patients, he starts visiting numerous support groups, to the point where he creates a schedule. All is well until one day, he notices a woman at the testicular cancer support group. At this point, he realizes she has been attending every support group as him. He the vows to tell her the next meeting to quit attending, as he feels threatened by her presence. The next chapter then starts as the narrator is describing Tyler's job as a movie projectionist. At the same time, the narrator reveals his job as a Product Recall Specialist. Due to the nature of his job, he constantly travels and lives in a routine. Coupled with his insomnia, he constantly hopes for a plane crash. The narrator then tells us how he met Tyler at a nude beach, and received his phone number. He then skips back to a support group meeting, whom Marla is also attending. He finally confronts her, and finds out she too uses the support group as a way to feel alive. They then agree to split the attendance of the support groups. The narrator then comes back to the present story, as his luggage is left behind, due to his electric razor going off. As he arrives home by taxi, he finds his condominium to have exploded during his leave. Not caring much, he calls up Tyler and asks him if he can stay over his house. They agree to meet at a bar, where Tyler asks the narrator for one favor: To hit him as hard as he can. The narrator skips forward to a meeting between his boss and him, as he has a bruised and swollen face. He talks about the rules of Fight Club, which is what he and Tyler started at the basement of a bar. It started out the night of the explosion, as the narrator and Tyler gathered up support from the crowd as they were fighting for their first time. The narrator then tells how Tyler came to know Marla. Marla calls the narrator as she's about to commit suicide, but Tyler calls the cops and rushes to her hotel room. Marla however exists her apartment and directs the cops to the wrong room, as she follows Tyler back home. The narrator is back at his job, as he is sent back for all the dried up blood in his pants. Back at home, Tyler shows the narrator how to make soap, using fat. After creating the soap, Tyler kisses the narrators hand, to have water on his hand. The purpose is to pour lye, a dangerous substance, on his hand. When he pours it on the narrators hand, he explains how one must go towards self-destruction and hit rock bottom first, to be saved. Afterward, the narrator is working at a famous hotel restaurant with Tyler, as they stop an elevator full of food in between floors. Tyler proceeds to piss in one of the soups, as the narrator tells of how often they ruin the wealthy people's food. Now, the narrator is at a abandon car lot with Tyler, as they eat chinese food. They discuss how profitable Tyler's soap and company, Paper Street Soap Company, is. However, they can't get back home because Marla is highly upset at the both of them, and they fear her dangerousness. The narrator explains how Marla asks her mom for her fat to use to enlarge her lips, and asks the narrator to use his freezer as a storage of her fat. As she opens the freezer, the narrator realizes Tyler has been disguising himself as Marla in the form of a telegram, and has been asking Marla's mother for her fat too.
Quotation:
"Tyler says I'm nowhere near hitting the bottom, yet. And if I don't fall all the way, I can't be saved. Jesus did it with his crucifixion thing. I shouldn't just abandon money and property and knowledge. This isn't just a weekend retreat. I should run from self-improvement, and I should be running toward disaster. I can't just play it safe anymore. This isn't a seminar. "If you lose your nerve before you hit the bottom, " Tyler says, "you'll never really succeed. " Only after disaster can we be resurrected. "It's only after you've lost everything, " Tyler says, "that you're free to do anything. "(Palahniuk 61)
Reaction:
This quote explains the whole theme of the narrator's journey of life, and Tyler's view of how to deal with life. This explains the purpose behind Fight Club, and Tyler's imprudent lifestyle. This quote also reveals how close the narrator pays attention to Tyler, as shown how he repeats "Tyler says".
As the story begins with a cold opening, we are immediately introduced to the narrator, and Tyler. Both are on the Parker-Morris Building as it's rigged with homemade bombs, which is Tyler's area of expertise. As the narrator counts down the minutes, he gives a . We are then transported to a meeting of Remaining Men Together, testicular cancer support group. The narrator suffers from severe insomnia, which causes himself to feel distant from reality. Believing that the only way to feel alive is to be in a room full of terminal patients, he starts visiting numerous support groups, to the point where he creates a schedule. All is well until one day, he notices a woman at the testicular cancer support group. At this point, he realizes she has been attending every support group as him. He the vows to tell her the next meeting to quit attending, as he feels threatened by her presence. The next chapter then starts as the narrator is describing Tyler's job as a movie projectionist. At the same time, the narrator reveals his job as a Product Recall Specialist. Due to the nature of his job, he constantly travels and lives in a routine. Coupled with his insomnia, he constantly hopes for a plane crash. The narrator then tells us how he met Tyler at a nude beach, and received his phone number. He then skips back to a support group meeting, whom Marla is also attending. He finally confronts her, and finds out she too uses the support group as a way to feel alive. They then agree to split the attendance of the support groups. The narrator then comes back to the present story, as his luggage is left behind, due to his electric razor going off. As he arrives home by taxi, he finds his condominium to have exploded during his leave. Not caring much, he calls up Tyler and asks him if he can stay over his house. They agree to meet at a bar, where Tyler asks the narrator for one favor: To hit him as hard as he can. The narrator skips forward to a meeting between his boss and him, as he has a bruised and swollen face. He talks about the rules of Fight Club, which is what he and Tyler started at the basement of a bar. It started out the night of the explosion, as the narrator and Tyler gathered up support from the crowd as they were fighting for their first time. The narrator then tells how Tyler came to know Marla. Marla calls the narrator as she's about to commit suicide, but Tyler calls the cops and rushes to her hotel room. Marla however exists her apartment and directs the cops to the wrong room, as she follows Tyler back home. The narrator is back at his job, as he is sent back for all the dried up blood in his pants. Back at home, Tyler shows the narrator how to make soap, using fat. After creating the soap, Tyler kisses the narrators hand, to have water on his hand. The purpose is to pour lye, a dangerous substance, on his hand. When he pours it on the narrators hand, he explains how one must go towards self-destruction and hit rock bottom first, to be saved. Afterward, the narrator is working at a famous hotel restaurant with Tyler, as they stop an elevator full of food in between floors. Tyler proceeds to piss in one of the soups, as the narrator tells of how often they ruin the wealthy people's food. Now, the narrator is at a abandon car lot with Tyler, as they eat chinese food. They discuss how profitable Tyler's soap and company, Paper Street Soap Company, is. However, they can't get back home because Marla is highly upset at the both of them, and they fear her dangerousness. The narrator explains how Marla asks her mom for her fat to use to enlarge her lips, and asks the narrator to use his freezer as a storage of her fat. As she opens the freezer, the narrator realizes Tyler has been disguising himself as Marla in the form of a telegram, and has been asking Marla's mother for her fat too.
Quotation:
"Tyler says I'm nowhere near hitting the bottom, yet. And if I don't fall all the way, I can't be saved. Jesus did it with his crucifixion thing. I shouldn't just abandon money and property and knowledge. This isn't just a weekend retreat. I should run from self-improvement, and I should be running toward disaster. I can't just play it safe anymore. This isn't a seminar. "If you lose your nerve before you hit the bottom, " Tyler says, "you'll never really succeed. " Only after disaster can we be resurrected. "It's only after you've lost everything, " Tyler says, "that you're free to do anything. "(Palahniuk 61)
Reaction:
This quote explains the whole theme of the narrator's journey of life, and Tyler's view of how to deal with life. This explains the purpose behind Fight Club, and Tyler's imprudent lifestyle. This quote also reveals how close the narrator pays attention to Tyler, as shown how he repeats "Tyler says".
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