Teaching Rat Pack

            After reading this blog on the Washington Post I’m left wondering if inspiration from Bogey (honestly, is there a better source? No, I didn’t think so) can work here, too. As teachers, it’s too easy to point a finger at administrators, parents, and even at students. It’s too easy to pass the buck to the federal government with cries of “fix it”.

            The cries aren’t unjustified, as the scale is so big it takes federal intervention, but on the small side, in the classroom, can’t more be done. Can’t instructors envision a different way to go about the material? Yes, I full know that correcting students’ writing is time consuming. There are weeks where I can’t see the end to the essay grading, and I will go through an entire pen in two weeks. The amount of work feels much like the labor of Sisyphus.

            Going about it in a solitary manner isn’t the way, either. Surely there are packs of teachers (see where I’m going here?) that can come together across all disciplines to figure out something more that can be done. While an individual teacher may not be able to be heard, and it’s too unwieldy to band all together, can’t small groups push forward and keep Sisyphus’ rock from backsliding?

Rat Pack of Writing and Publishing

            After watching the Biography.com video on Bogey, it occurs to me that something similar might be underway with regards to publishing. The self-publishing venues and the decline of many authors’ sentiments towards the publishing industry might make for a revolution of sorts.

            Bogey and his pack began a subtle power shift away from the studio executives, and I wonder, if to survive, publishers might have to shift more power towards authors and agents, incorporating them in more of the decisions instead of simply handing it down from above. The ease of digital self-publishing might be enough to force the industry to change its ways, which are largely unaltered for over 200 years (or more).

            I don’t know how the publishing industry will change (or maybe it won’t), but I could well see a Rat Pack emerging to contest the status quo, especially with the likes of Google, Apple, and Amazon pushing for change.

Remakes

     Remakes certainly seem to be all the rage. Between Amazing Spider-Man and Total Recall this summer, I'm not sure remakes are that worthwhile. Sure, Batman Begins showed the world what happens when a remake is done right, but there are precious few examples of those. And, really, is it a matter that things should be remade? Mere months after Ron Moore's Battlestar Galactica remake there was talk of doing another. Is this anything other than cashing in on popular trends?      While many can (and have) made this case, I wonder if it might not be a cry out for re-writing the story. Is this somethign that should have happened before another version was made. In my own writing I know that changes can take the form of something minor to a drastic overhaul and complete re-imagining.      I also wonder if it's a measure of the ever-changing market. There's not an easy way to accurately gauge what will sell other than to make it available to see if it sells. I think the remakes are an effort to take what everyone recognizes as a great premise, and to tell a new story, one which may appeal to a new audience.

Awesome Avengers

     The Avengers did not disappoint. A feel this is a major accomplishment in film and storytelling. Never before have disparate franchises been brought together so seamlessly in a film. For those who have not seen the film, do so. Immediately. Oh, and stick around for the credits. There's some foreshadowing followed by a very human moment for the team. I'm trying to fight off the urge to see it again.      I wonder if something like this can be done with books. There are certain challenges to overcome, certainly, but it might be interesting to publish a set of books each with their own protagonist, culminating in a book that brings them all together.      Hmm. I think I need to make some notes.

Avengers

     I don't see many movies in the theater, any more, bu tI am a die hard fan of the Marvel movies. I have been anticipating the Avengers ever since Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk came out. Not only is this one of my most loved franchises, this is movie history. No one has ever created a scenario with separate franchises coming together in a team. This has only worked in comic books before. I truly hope that Avengers lives up to its potential. I also know I have little to fear with Joss Whedon at the helm.

Misjudged

     For many years, I have misjudged Star Trek III: The Search for Spock. Now I believe that this movie is on par with its predecessor, and together they make some of the most perfect movie watching and storytelling imaginable. The depth of personal sacrifice in those movies elevates them to epic proportions. Give them a second look while remembering that while you may find a way to get rid of the no-win scenario, there is always a cost to everything. Quite possibly the greater truth is that there is no such thing as the win-win scenario.