Goodbye, Columbus #3

While both Neil and Brenda had doubts about the future of their relationship before, on page 134 they both acknowledge their feelings for the first time. Just a few pages earlier, Neil and Brenda greeted each other with an 'I love you.' On page 134 when they are arguing, however, both of them say "I loved you". This is one of the most meaningful parts of the book because this moment marks the "official" end to their relationship. Neil and Brenda's feelings for each other are not totally gone, but the relationship itself is now just an old summer romance. One thing that confused me is how long it took for them to break up. I thought that on page 119 when Neil says "I drove Brenda to the train at noon, and she left me" that he was making the decision to break up, but he continues to say he loves her even days after the fact.

Goodbye, Columbus #2

One parallel is between Aunt Gladys and Mr. Patimkin. Both of them are always bothering Neil about his food, under the incorrect assumption that he never eats enough. The parallel between them is clearly shown on pages 56 and 57. In the first quote, Neil is talking about how Mr. Patimkin treats him when he eats dinner with them. In the second quote, Aunt Gladys has just been told that Neil will be staying with the Patimkins for a week.

"...Mr. Patimkin continued to think I ate like a bird. When invited to dinner I would, for his benefit, eat twice what I wanted, but the truth seemed to be that after he'd characterized my appetite that first time, he never really bothered to look again." (56)

"'You don't get enough to eat here? You leave over sometimes I show your Uncle Max your plate it's  shame. A child in Europe could make a four-course meal from what you leave over" (57).

For whatever reason, both Aunt Gladys and Mr. Patimkin have a strange fascination with food. It's almost a way of life for them.

Goodbye, Columbus #1

Class is a major theme in Goodbye, Columbus. Within the first few pages, the stark contrast between Brenda's class and Neil's class is evident, present in every interaction between the two regardless of the context.

Neil is very conscious of his own socio-economic class . When he goes to pick up Brenda, for example, he says "'I'll be driving a--' I hung back with the year, 'a tan Plymouth.'" Neil deliberately didn't include the year when he described his car to Brenda in a failed attempt to put them on equal footing. Brenda will see the car anyway, and Neil knows this, but he so embarrassed that he won't admit it to himself out loud.

Later, when Neil and Brenda are walking together after the tennis game, Brenda tells Neil that she had her nose fixed. The conversation gets very awkward and uncomfortable very fast. He knows that he should probably just stop talking, but he can't help himself from asking Brenda how much it costs.

Framing in L.A. Confidential and Double Indemnity

This still from L.A. Confidential makes use of the rule of thirds by putting Bud White in the left third and Ed Exley in the right third. This establishes a power dynamic between the two men by making them the focal points of the picture. They're also looking straight at each other, so when you look at one you immediately look at the other, ignoring the other officer in the lazy frame in the center. Officer White is just a little bit taller, so he looks more powerful than Exley.

This shot from Double Indemnity is similar to the previous one in that the subjects are three men, but the eye naturally focuses on Neff and Keyes, ignoring the man in the center. Despite the fact that Neff is taller, Keyes appears to be in the more powerful role because he is relaxed and open while Neff is trying to make himself appear smaller by crossing his arms and covering his mouth.

Love Machine

tough love 
coroner pockets merchandise
ice box keeps fresh.

connected conductors speed,
grinding gears croon graveyard blues.
Hooks up tramp
red hot curls on light makeup.

power? check.
smooth legs straight,
chamber locked up

hits the switch.
bang! fingers curl
cleavage swells,
tramp renewed.

boy meets girl.
petal lips smirk with teeth
like knives made up in murder.

tough love 
honey pockets coroner.

Some Movies

Minority Report
X-Men Days of Future's Past
Guardians of the Galaxy
Pulp Fiction
LA Confidential