--We didn't watch this on Tuesday because of DVD player problems. We didn't watch this on Thursday because it would have lasted past the end of the class and I had already made you stay late in the first two hours.
Bungee jump: A sport in which you jump off a bridge with a cord around your waist. The cord stops you from hitting the ground. It's supposed to be fun, but I've never done it.
"stinking up...": Doing a bad job. "His acting stunk up the theater."
crash-land: ending badly. "His paper crash-landed because he didn't put enough effort into writing the conclusion."
focus group: This a a group of people recruited by businessmen. The focus group watches a new movie or television show or product and shares their feelings about the movie or show or product.
poison: Something bad. "Box office poison," for example, would be a person who would make a movie not make money if he appears in it. "Keanu Reeves is box office poison: none of his movies makes money." "He is classroom poison: anytime he is in class, the class is bad."
creaky: something that doesn't work well; it might also be old. "I can't job because I have a creaky knee." "The movie is bad because the plot is creaky."
acclaimed: considered very good, usually by critics. "Jay Chou is an acclaimed singer."
speedo: A small swimsuit worn by men.
"real-life problems": problems that most people experience. "I like movies that look at real-life problems."
"Far-out situations": unusual experiences or actions.
realistic: Something that might happen like it happens in real life. "The violence in this movie is realistic: it is scary to watch and not cool."
"down to Earth": Relaxed and not arrogant. "Even though Jolin is very famous, she is down to Earth and nice to her fans."
"off the wall": Unusual or silly. "This television show has an off the wall sense of humor."
"swarming with": There is a lot of something in a place or thing. "The night market is swarming with customers."
"You saved....": You found a way to make something better, or you helped prevent something bad from happening. "You saved my life. Thank you."
egghead: A nerd. A person who is smart but doesn't communicate with people well.
dramaturgical: Related to drama (acting, theater, etc.)
dyad: A relationship between two things.
pretentious: Overly intellectual. "His taste in movies is pretentious: He only likes slow movies and can't enjoy a good, fun, stupid movie."
gangster: Slang meaning that something is cool. Usually pronounced "gangsta". It's hard to use this word without sounding silly.
predictable: You can tell what will happen next. "This movie is so predictable. It's obvious that Jim is Todd's father."
Cerberus: A wolf in Greek mythology that guards the gates of Hades (Hell).
in-your-face: Something or someone is loud and confrontational. "Not everyone likes her in-your-face teaching style."
edgy: Unusually challenging or shocking. "This is an edgy television show. It was the first show to have characters curse on television."
proactive: Always doing something. "To succeed in business, you have to be proactive: you can't wait for people to come to you."
paradigm: A way of thinking, or a way of seeing the world. "Most of the Western world looks at global trade from a free market paradigm."
buzzwords: Popular words that people use in certain industries: business, politics, entertaining, etc.
context: The situation in which something takes place. "This movie looks at love from the context of third-world childhood experience."
schmear: A Yiddish (European Jewish language) expression meaning "a small amount of." Similar to "smear".
open casting: When a movie or TV show or advertisement lets anyone try out for a role in the show or movie or ad. "She wants her daughter to be famous, so she takes her to every open casting call."
"What are you smoking?": "Why are you acting so stupid?" (The idea is that someone is being so strange that he must be on drugs.)
Perfection: When something is made excellent through a lot of effort and practice. Also the verb form, "perfect." "She wanted to perfect her hot and sour soup. After she added some more salt, her soup reached perfection."
tongue twister: A sentence that is very hard to say. People use it to practice speech or to "warm up" before speaking. A popular tongue twister is on the episode: "She sell sea shells down by the seashore." Try to say this very fast. Homer screws it up badly.
experience: Having worked at something for a long time. "He has twenty years of experience teaching."
strain: Something that causes physical or mental stress or pain. "Finals' Week is a great strain on students. They often can't sleep because of the stress."
withdraw: To remove oneself from something. "I had to withdraw from school because I was sick."
stoked: Excited. "I was stoked when I heard the new Indiana Jones movie was coming out."
"to the extreme": With great intensity. Not a term people use much.
"worst...ever": A sarcastic way to say that you don't like something. The opposite is "best...ever." "That was the worst class ever."
rest assured: You can be certain of something. "Rest assured, I will work hard for your company if you hire me."
What right do you have...?: Why do you think you have the authority to do something? "What right do you have to tell me what to do?"
Fundamental shifts: A change that affects the nature of something. "With fundamental shifts in car production, people drive less often and use smaller cars."
key demographic: An important group for something. "Children are a key demographic for the movie Kung Fu Panda."
"Put a sock in it": Be quiet.
"Grow old together": Stay with each other for the rest of our lives. "Marry me. I want us to grow old together."
"I learned my lesson": I've had an experience and I know something knew because of that experience. I am smarter now because of what has happened. "I yelled at a small man and he beat me up. I learned my lesson: now I know that even small people can be good fighters."
"creative control": The ability of an artist to not let other people change his work. "I write movie scripts, but I don't have creative control: often other people change my words before the movie is made."
"Thank your lucky stars": Be fortunate of something. "You should think your lucky stars that the test is postponed until next week. Now you can study more."
"What else is on?": What someone says when they don't like the TV show they are watching. People can use it as a joke to talk about things other than TV.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Cultural Misunderstandings
This evening, I went to Taichung to visit a former student. She was my student at UC Davis three years ago. When I told my Taiwanese friends about this visit, they all said something to the effect of, "Ohh! A girl!," which I found rather immature.
I figured I would have dinner with my friend, then stay at a hotel or in a spare room, then walk around Taichung tomorrow. I had thought that my friend was staying with a relative, but it seems the whole family is there: she, two brothers, mom and dad. Mom and dad are recently retired and are settling in Taichung after many years in Southern California in the U.S. My friend, one brother, and her father picked me up at the High Speed Rail station. I talked to my friend about her dental school and my job at TaiDa.
We went to the apartment complex in which my friend's parents live. There's a small restaurant in the complex. I ate dinner with my friend and her brothers. She said that the family had plans the next day. I said that was fine and that I could get a hotel room and just explore Taichung by myself tomorrow.
My friend said it was okay if I stayed in the extra room. She would take me to the Sogo bus station in the morning, so I would know how to get the the High Speed Rail station tomorrow. My friend, her brothers, and I play a Japanese copy of a Nintendo Wii. I am terrible at Mario Cart, Bowling, and Tennis.
My friend's mother comes to the apartment. She's friendly. We all sit down and eat fruit. My friend tells me that she is sorry that she wasn't clear about the situation. She says that her parents want to take me back to the High Speed Rail station tonight and have me go back to Taipei. I said if they were busy tomorrow I could just leave and see the city by myself, but they insist that I go back to Taipei. I am 32 years old, not 12, so I don't understand why I'm being told that I have to go home. My friend seems upset because the situation is so confusing. She tells me that I can't stay because only she knows me; to her parents, I am a stranger. I understand. But she says that the family doesn't know Taichung well, so they can't recommend a good hotel. My friend says that Taichung can be dangerous and the reason her family wants me to go back home is because they feel they are responsible for me, so if I stay by myself and get hurt, they will feel a great deal of guilt and shame.
I agree to go back to Taipei because I don't want to embarrass my friend. If I didn't think that it would have hurt my friend, I would have just left the apartment and asked someone at the front of the apartment for directions to a good hotel. The father drives me back to the station; the mother sits in the front with him. My friend and I are in the back. The talk more, the same type of conversation we were having before (about the city of Davis, school, Taiwan, etc.). When we get to the High Speed Rail, I think about telling my friend that I will just wait at the station for awhile, then go back to town by myself. (I'm glad that I saw my friend, but I feel that I've wasted NT1400 if all I do is eat dinner and go home.) But her mom comes with us. They change my ticket from tomorrow to ten minutes from then, and they both walk me to the track entrance. My friend says, "Nice to meet you," even though we already know each other. She changes it to, "Thanks for coming to see me" when she realizes her mistake. Her mom says, "Be safe."
On the ride home, I am a little upset about wasting money and not being able to see Taichung, but I also have plenty of work to do in Taipei, so it isn't the worst thing. I also think that I should see a friend from half a world away if she is only an hour from me, even if it is only for a few hours. Still, I don't really understand what happened. I don't mind respecting the wishes of a respectable group of people, but it seemed that, to respect them, I had to let them disrespect me, for it's not dignifying to be forced to leave town when you are an adult.
What interesting and confusing cultural misunderstandings have you had in your life?
I figured I would have dinner with my friend, then stay at a hotel or in a spare room, then walk around Taichung tomorrow. I had thought that my friend was staying with a relative, but it seems the whole family is there: she, two brothers, mom and dad. Mom and dad are recently retired and are settling in Taichung after many years in Southern California in the U.S. My friend, one brother, and her father picked me up at the High Speed Rail station. I talked to my friend about her dental school and my job at TaiDa.
We went to the apartment complex in which my friend's parents live. There's a small restaurant in the complex. I ate dinner with my friend and her brothers. She said that the family had plans the next day. I said that was fine and that I could get a hotel room and just explore Taichung by myself tomorrow.
My friend said it was okay if I stayed in the extra room. She would take me to the Sogo bus station in the morning, so I would know how to get the the High Speed Rail station tomorrow. My friend, her brothers, and I play a Japanese copy of a Nintendo Wii. I am terrible at Mario Cart, Bowling, and Tennis.
My friend's mother comes to the apartment. She's friendly. We all sit down and eat fruit. My friend tells me that she is sorry that she wasn't clear about the situation. She says that her parents want to take me back to the High Speed Rail station tonight and have me go back to Taipei. I said if they were busy tomorrow I could just leave and see the city by myself, but they insist that I go back to Taipei. I am 32 years old, not 12, so I don't understand why I'm being told that I have to go home. My friend seems upset because the situation is so confusing. She tells me that I can't stay because only she knows me; to her parents, I am a stranger. I understand. But she says that the family doesn't know Taichung well, so they can't recommend a good hotel. My friend says that Taichung can be dangerous and the reason her family wants me to go back home is because they feel they are responsible for me, so if I stay by myself and get hurt, they will feel a great deal of guilt and shame.
I agree to go back to Taipei because I don't want to embarrass my friend. If I didn't think that it would have hurt my friend, I would have just left the apartment and asked someone at the front of the apartment for directions to a good hotel. The father drives me back to the station; the mother sits in the front with him. My friend and I are in the back. The talk more, the same type of conversation we were having before (about the city of Davis, school, Taiwan, etc.). When we get to the High Speed Rail, I think about telling my friend that I will just wait at the station for awhile, then go back to town by myself. (I'm glad that I saw my friend, but I feel that I've wasted NT1400 if all I do is eat dinner and go home.) But her mom comes with us. They change my ticket from tomorrow to ten minutes from then, and they both walk me to the track entrance. My friend says, "Nice to meet you," even though we already know each other. She changes it to, "Thanks for coming to see me" when she realizes her mistake. Her mom says, "Be safe."
On the ride home, I am a little upset about wasting money and not being able to see Taichung, but I also have plenty of work to do in Taipei, so it isn't the worst thing. I also think that I should see a friend from half a world away if she is only an hour from me, even if it is only for a few hours. Still, I don't really understand what happened. I don't mind respecting the wishes of a respectable group of people, but it seemed that, to respect them, I had to let them disrespect me, for it's not dignifying to be forced to leave town when you are an adult.
What interesting and confusing cultural misunderstandings have you had in your life?
Friday, June 13, 2008
Misused Phrases in English
Think of phrases in your language that people use incorrectly. These "incorrect" uses often become common. Does this reflect a loss or language skills in contemporary life?
Here are some of my favorite English examples:
"That's okay."
When should you use, "That's okay"?
Example: "Hey, I borrowed your CD without asking. I'm sorry."
"That's okay. Don't worry about it."
How is it commonly misused?
Kids misuse "That's okay" in a very cute way.
"Son, make sure to finish eating your vegetables."
"No, that's okay. I don't want them."
--This "that's okay" makes no sense. It's not okay for the child to refuse the order to eat all of his vegetables, but it is kind of cute how they try to refuse to do something in a polite way.
"Don't Worry About It"
Example: Same as above. It's a way to say, "It's not important," and "I accept your apology."
"Hey, I broke your cup. I'm sorry." "Don't worry about it. I have plenty of cups."
How is it commonly misused?
Yesterday:
"Hey, I hear you are moving out of your apartment. Can my friend live in your room for a month?"
"Okay. She can pay the rent for a month and I will look for a new tenant for the next month as a favor to your friend."
Today:
"Hey, my friend says, 'Don't worry about it' about living here. She wants a place with air conditioning."
--As you see above, "Don't worry about it" is a way to forgive someone who has apologized. This common misuse is very annoying because the person is making you feel like you are inconveniencing them by offering to help them. It seems they are refusing to thank you because they don't need or want your help after all. Of course, you should say something like, "Hey, thank you for offering to let me stay here, but I think I should live somewhere else." "Don't worry about it" is rude here because now I have to worry about finding a new tenant to replace me: I thought I had already found someone to take my room, but now I don't have anyone.
So, what phrases in your language are commonly misused? How are they misused? Why do you think they are misused?
Here are some of my favorite English examples:
"That's okay."
When should you use, "That's okay"?
Example: "Hey, I borrowed your CD without asking. I'm sorry."
"That's okay. Don't worry about it."
How is it commonly misused?
Kids misuse "That's okay" in a very cute way.
"Son, make sure to finish eating your vegetables."
"No, that's okay. I don't want them."
--This "that's okay" makes no sense. It's not okay for the child to refuse the order to eat all of his vegetables, but it is kind of cute how they try to refuse to do something in a polite way.
"Don't Worry About It"
Example: Same as above. It's a way to say, "It's not important," and "I accept your apology."
"Hey, I broke your cup. I'm sorry." "Don't worry about it. I have plenty of cups."
How is it commonly misused?
Yesterday:
"Hey, I hear you are moving out of your apartment. Can my friend live in your room for a month?"
"Okay. She can pay the rent for a month and I will look for a new tenant for the next month as a favor to your friend."
Today:
"Hey, my friend says, 'Don't worry about it' about living here. She wants a place with air conditioning."
--As you see above, "Don't worry about it" is a way to forgive someone who has apologized. This common misuse is very annoying because the person is making you feel like you are inconveniencing them by offering to help them. It seems they are refusing to thank you because they don't need or want your help after all. Of course, you should say something like, "Hey, thank you for offering to let me stay here, but I think I should live somewhere else." "Don't worry about it" is rude here because now I have to worry about finding a new tenant to replace me: I thought I had already found someone to take my room, but now I don't have anyone.
So, what phrases in your language are commonly misused? How are they misused? Why do you think they are misused?
Monday, June 9, 2008
Vocabulary and Expressions from "Homer's Phobia"
force majeure: An "act of God." This is a legal term used to determine insurance liability. Often insurance will have a special set of rules for what to do when something is damaged or destroyed in an unusual way. Bart argues that the gambling game in his dryer was ended by an act of God or "force majeure," so he doesn't have to return the money to the kids who paid to enter the game.
retirement fund: Money saved to help pay for your life after you have stopped working.
heirloom: Some thing that has been in a family for a long time and has special meaning (also called "sentimental value") to the people in the family.
cockamamie: Nonsense. "I don't want to listen to your cockamamie ideas."
Non-Partisan: Doesn't belong to any political group.
Midget: A very short person with proportionate limbs. (A short person with very small limbs is a "dwarf".)
"Oh, Boo-hoo": This phrase mocks someone for being upset about something unimportant. "The teacher is mad at me because I don't come to class." "Oh, boo-hoo."
construe: interpret
lad: A young man.
passed down: Given from an older member in the family to a younger member in the family.
figurine: A small artwork that looks like a person.
graphics: The visual design and color scheme of something. They don't necessarily have to be animated. (John talks about the "graphics" on the toy box.)
discombobulate: To make confusing. More common is the adjective "discombobulated."
camp: "Camp" is an appreciation of something that is unusally weird. If a movie has "camp" value, it means people like to watch it because it is a very bad movie, but for some reason it is fun to watch and make fun of.
boy-howdy: Not a common phrase. It means, "that's really true," more or less.
palpitating: Beating quickly in excitement. "My heart's palpitating."
Geez Louise: This phrase is used to express that you are annoyed or upset. It replaces a curse word.
"big fat party animal": This is a type of guy who is very friendly, like to drink a lot of alcohol, and is fun in informal social settings (like parties). This is a popular "type" of person in American culture, especially in a college environment.
"cuffs and collar don't match": This means that someone has dyed the hair on his/her head. It's a pretty shocking reference (i.e. the phrase says the hair on your head and your body hair are not the same color), but for some reason it doesn't upset people too much.
"Classic": This phrase can mean something like "traditional" or "well-known." We now use the word to refer to things from the recent past, not just the distant past. You might hear someone say, "Lord of the Rings is a classic movie." Often English speakers here say, "classical," but "classic" is more common and more easily understood. "The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a camp classic."
"I'll be just a minute.": This is an informal way to excuse yourself when you are talking to someone.
"worth a bundle": Worth a lot of money. Banks bundle large amounts of bills.
"quite a charmer": "He is quite a charmer" would mean, "He can make people like him easily." This can refer both to someone's ability to flirt and someone's ability to make friends although it's probably more commonly used to refer to flirting.
"You are the living end": You are a fun and unusual person; you are weird in a good way. You might say this to someone who has just said or done something that is both entertaining and strange.
festive (adjective): Full of energy and always ready to have fun. This is also a "code word" for "gay" because the stereotype is that gay men are always very social and friendly.
"You're being ridiculous": This means someone is acting in an immaturing way or saying something stupid.
mince: To move with an exaggerated motion. This term refers to the stereotype of how people think all gay men walk.
flaming (adjective): This is a term--usually perjorative, but sometimes not among friends--that refers to a man who is "obviously" gay because his behavior fulfills all of the stereotypes of how gay men act. Homer is mad at John because he thinks John acts "too straight," so he says he wants his homosexuals to be flaming. The joke is that John does not act very straight. In fact, his horn plays "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," which is a famous song sung by Judy Garland, who is a "gay icon" (a celebrity popular with homosexuals). (Also, the rainbow is a symbol of gay pride and solidarity.)
zap: A sound kids make when they play with laser guns.
annual: Once per year.
humiliate yourself: To do something that makes you look foolish or stupid.
"sick mother": This is a common lie to tell someone when you don't want to see him or her anymore. "I'm sorry, but I have a sick mother, so I don't have time to date you."
"Come out of the closet": To publicly acknowledge that you are a homosexual. Used as a joke in this episode. "Bart, where did you get that shirt?" "I don't know; it just came out of the closet."
cross-dressing: When one dresses as a member of the opposite sex.
teensy: Very small. It's a "cute," informal way of saying very small.
queer: Generally, it means "strange" or "unusual." It's also a prejorative term for homosexual, and it is a term that some homosexuals call each other. Homer tells John that it's "our word for making fun of you guys," so he's angry that the word is also used by homosexuals.
tenderized: To make something softer by striking it repeatedly. Usually a term for meat preparation in cooking.
"Be nice!": A "classic" way for a gay man to respond to someone's prejudicial remark. Homer says at the steel mill, "You're all sick!" One worker responds, "Oh, be nice!"
gay anthem: A song that is known for being famous among gay people. This differs from time to time and country to country. The song played during the episode was a popular song in the late 1980s. After some time, and maybe because of this episode, it became considered a "gay anthem."
swishifying: To make something more "swishy". A "swish" describes the stereotypically "gay" walk.
"It ain't no mystery": An informal way to say, "The answer is obvious."
hideous: Very disturbing or very ugly.
Immature: To act like a child, or to act disrespectfully, when one is an adult.
Buck: A male deer.
Astroturf: An artificial grass once popular at sports stadiums (for baseball, American football and soccer games). The joke is that Springfield's park is made with astroturf, so there's nothing for deer to eat.
"Be a sport": Be respectful and follow the suggestion of the people around you; a suggestion to fulfill the request of the people around you.
waterworks: Slang for "crying heavily." Technically it's a term for the underground sewage and water systems.
"It's a miracle!": An exclamation used when something very good and/or unexpected has happened.
Ultrasuede: An unusal fabric used to make clothes. John calls ultrasuede "a miracle," a joke that relies on the stereotype that gay men are very interested in fashion.
"Good timing": To do something when it needs to be done. If you have a party, and you finish cooking right as the first guest knocks on the door, you might say, "That was good timing."
sissy: A common pejorative term for gay man. It is occasionally used as an adjective, and it is used as "a sissy" in noun form. The term refers to the idea that gay men "act like women": they are physically weak, emotion, etc. So the term reflects prejudice both against men and women.
fruit: A pejorative term for gay.
retirement fund: Money saved to help pay for your life after you have stopped working.
heirloom: Some thing that has been in a family for a long time and has special meaning (also called "sentimental value") to the people in the family.
cockamamie: Nonsense. "I don't want to listen to your cockamamie ideas."
Non-Partisan: Doesn't belong to any political group.
Midget: A very short person with proportionate limbs. (A short person with very small limbs is a "dwarf".)
"Oh, Boo-hoo": This phrase mocks someone for being upset about something unimportant. "The teacher is mad at me because I don't come to class." "Oh, boo-hoo."
construe: interpret
lad: A young man.
passed down: Given from an older member in the family to a younger member in the family.
figurine: A small artwork that looks like a person.
graphics: The visual design and color scheme of something. They don't necessarily have to be animated. (John talks about the "graphics" on the toy box.)
discombobulate: To make confusing. More common is the adjective "discombobulated."
camp: "Camp" is an appreciation of something that is unusally weird. If a movie has "camp" value, it means people like to watch it because it is a very bad movie, but for some reason it is fun to watch and make fun of.
boy-howdy: Not a common phrase. It means, "that's really true," more or less.
palpitating: Beating quickly in excitement. "My heart's palpitating."
Geez Louise: This phrase is used to express that you are annoyed or upset. It replaces a curse word.
"big fat party animal": This is a type of guy who is very friendly, like to drink a lot of alcohol, and is fun in informal social settings (like parties). This is a popular "type" of person in American culture, especially in a college environment.
"cuffs and collar don't match": This means that someone has dyed the hair on his/her head. It's a pretty shocking reference (i.e. the phrase says the hair on your head and your body hair are not the same color), but for some reason it doesn't upset people too much.
"Classic": This phrase can mean something like "traditional" or "well-known." We now use the word to refer to things from the recent past, not just the distant past. You might hear someone say, "Lord of the Rings is a classic movie." Often English speakers here say, "classical," but "classic" is more common and more easily understood. "The Rocky Horror Picture Show is a camp classic."
"I'll be just a minute.": This is an informal way to excuse yourself when you are talking to someone.
"worth a bundle": Worth a lot of money. Banks bundle large amounts of bills.
"quite a charmer": "He is quite a charmer" would mean, "He can make people like him easily." This can refer both to someone's ability to flirt and someone's ability to make friends although it's probably more commonly used to refer to flirting.
"You are the living end": You are a fun and unusual person; you are weird in a good way. You might say this to someone who has just said or done something that is both entertaining and strange.
festive (adjective): Full of energy and always ready to have fun. This is also a "code word" for "gay" because the stereotype is that gay men are always very social and friendly.
"You're being ridiculous": This means someone is acting in an immaturing way or saying something stupid.
mince: To move with an exaggerated motion. This term refers to the stereotype of how people think all gay men walk.
flaming (adjective): This is a term--usually perjorative, but sometimes not among friends--that refers to a man who is "obviously" gay because his behavior fulfills all of the stereotypes of how gay men act. Homer is mad at John because he thinks John acts "too straight," so he says he wants his homosexuals to be flaming. The joke is that John does not act very straight. In fact, his horn plays "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," which is a famous song sung by Judy Garland, who is a "gay icon" (a celebrity popular with homosexuals). (Also, the rainbow is a symbol of gay pride and solidarity.)
zap: A sound kids make when they play with laser guns.
annual: Once per year.
humiliate yourself: To do something that makes you look foolish or stupid.
"sick mother": This is a common lie to tell someone when you don't want to see him or her anymore. "I'm sorry, but I have a sick mother, so I don't have time to date you."
"Come out of the closet": To publicly acknowledge that you are a homosexual. Used as a joke in this episode. "Bart, where did you get that shirt?" "I don't know; it just came out of the closet."
cross-dressing: When one dresses as a member of the opposite sex.
teensy: Very small. It's a "cute," informal way of saying very small.
queer: Generally, it means "strange" or "unusual." It's also a prejorative term for homosexual, and it is a term that some homosexuals call each other. Homer tells John that it's "our word for making fun of you guys," so he's angry that the word is also used by homosexuals.
tenderized: To make something softer by striking it repeatedly. Usually a term for meat preparation in cooking.
"Be nice!": A "classic" way for a gay man to respond to someone's prejudicial remark. Homer says at the steel mill, "You're all sick!" One worker responds, "Oh, be nice!"
gay anthem: A song that is known for being famous among gay people. This differs from time to time and country to country. The song played during the episode was a popular song in the late 1980s. After some time, and maybe because of this episode, it became considered a "gay anthem."
swishifying: To make something more "swishy". A "swish" describes the stereotypically "gay" walk.
"It ain't no mystery": An informal way to say, "The answer is obvious."
hideous: Very disturbing or very ugly.
Immature: To act like a child, or to act disrespectfully, when one is an adult.
Buck: A male deer.
Astroturf: An artificial grass once popular at sports stadiums (for baseball, American football and soccer games). The joke is that Springfield's park is made with astroturf, so there's nothing for deer to eat.
"Be a sport": Be respectful and follow the suggestion of the people around you; a suggestion to fulfill the request of the people around you.
waterworks: Slang for "crying heavily." Technically it's a term for the underground sewage and water systems.
"It's a miracle!": An exclamation used when something very good and/or unexpected has happened.
Ultrasuede: An unusal fabric used to make clothes. John calls ultrasuede "a miracle," a joke that relies on the stereotype that gay men are very interested in fashion.
"Good timing": To do something when it needs to be done. If you have a party, and you finish cooking right as the first guest knocks on the door, you might say, "That was good timing."
sissy: A common pejorative term for gay man. It is occasionally used as an adjective, and it is used as "a sissy" in noun form. The term refers to the idea that gay men "act like women": they are physically weak, emotion, etc. So the term reflects prejudice both against men and women.
fruit: A pejorative term for gay.
Saturday, June 7, 2008
Meeting Famous People
How do you respond when you see a famous person? Why are people so interested in famous people as "real" people?
Yesterday (Sat., June 7) during my language exchange, an older man sat down near my exchange partners and me. His grandson ordered some drinks and brought them to the older man's table. I thought the older man looked familiar, based on some pictures that I had seen on the internet.
Eventually, one of my language exchange partners looked at me and said, "Do you know who that is?"
I said, "That's not Lee Ao, is it?"
She said, "Yes, it is."
Now I know who Lee Ao is about as well as I could, given that I don't know much about Taiwanese culture or language and don't watch TV. I was interested in his novel from decades ago (in which a mother and daughter fall in love with the same man--clearly Edward Yang read that), but it doesn't seem ever to have been translated into English.
I would just look over at him from time to time. One of my language exchange partners held up her phone camera, making an odd pose. It seemed that she wanted to surreptitiously photograph Lee Ao. He paid us no mind, and no one else seemed to care that he was here, at this Starbucks.
I have never had a close encounter with a celebrity. The most interesting experience was meeting Kurt Rambis at a basketball camp. Kurt Rambis was a famous player for the LA Lakers in the 1980s. He was a white guy with long hair and thick glasses. He did the "dirty work": he did things like play defense, rebound, set screens, etc., while the more famous players did more exciting things. Rambis looked very small when he played; in person, he was huge. It was obvious now how much taller than average he was, and his muscles were amazing. I couldn't imagine what a really big player must look like in person if this "little guy" looked so big in front of me.
Meeting musicians is very strange. I don't even know how to describe it. Here is a regular person standing next to me, yet I've listened to him or her on my I-pod and seen him or her in a music video. I've been to small concerts with musicians who had been very famous a few years before. The common is belief is that sometimes musicians are better people than other celebrities, and sometimes worse people.
I've heard other interesting ideas of what "famous people" look like in real life. First, I've heard that some celebrities that just look okay (cute, but not gorgeous) on TV or in movies are very beautiful in real life, even "stop what you are doing and stare" beautiful. I've heard this said about the actress Dana Delaney, who is not unattractive but who just looks rather like a normal person in movies and on TV. Also, whereas I was amazed at how big the sports person was, many people are amazed at how small some celebrities are (e.g. Tom Cruise).
Second, though, I've heard that some people look worse in person. This is certainly true with models. They often look too thin in person, and the make-up that looks good in pictures looks weird in person.
Yesterday (Sat., June 7) during my language exchange, an older man sat down near my exchange partners and me. His grandson ordered some drinks and brought them to the older man's table. I thought the older man looked familiar, based on some pictures that I had seen on the internet.
Eventually, one of my language exchange partners looked at me and said, "Do you know who that is?"
I said, "That's not Lee Ao, is it?"
She said, "Yes, it is."
Now I know who Lee Ao is about as well as I could, given that I don't know much about Taiwanese culture or language and don't watch TV. I was interested in his novel from decades ago (in which a mother and daughter fall in love with the same man--clearly Edward Yang read that), but it doesn't seem ever to have been translated into English.
I would just look over at him from time to time. One of my language exchange partners held up her phone camera, making an odd pose. It seemed that she wanted to surreptitiously photograph Lee Ao. He paid us no mind, and no one else seemed to care that he was here, at this Starbucks.
I have never had a close encounter with a celebrity. The most interesting experience was meeting Kurt Rambis at a basketball camp. Kurt Rambis was a famous player for the LA Lakers in the 1980s. He was a white guy with long hair and thick glasses. He did the "dirty work": he did things like play defense, rebound, set screens, etc., while the more famous players did more exciting things. Rambis looked very small when he played; in person, he was huge. It was obvious now how much taller than average he was, and his muscles were amazing. I couldn't imagine what a really big player must look like in person if this "little guy" looked so big in front of me.
Meeting musicians is very strange. I don't even know how to describe it. Here is a regular person standing next to me, yet I've listened to him or her on my I-pod and seen him or her in a music video. I've been to small concerts with musicians who had been very famous a few years before. The common is belief is that sometimes musicians are better people than other celebrities, and sometimes worse people.
I've heard other interesting ideas of what "famous people" look like in real life. First, I've heard that some celebrities that just look okay (cute, but not gorgeous) on TV or in movies are very beautiful in real life, even "stop what you are doing and stare" beautiful. I've heard this said about the actress Dana Delaney, who is not unattractive but who just looks rather like a normal person in movies and on TV. Also, whereas I was amazed at how big the sports person was, many people are amazed at how small some celebrities are (e.g. Tom Cruise).
Second, though, I've heard that some people look worse in person. This is certainly true with models. They often look too thin in person, and the make-up that looks good in pictures looks weird in person.
Friday, June 6, 2008
ATM Trouble
Lately at the Post Office ATM there is an on-screen announcement to be careful of people who might try to look at your PIN number as you enter it. The ATM also tells you not to give money from your account to other people near the ATM.
I think there are a few problems with this announcement. First, this announcement is about ninety seconds long. It gives someone a long time to get ready to copy your PIN number, and it gives someone a long time to get ready to steal money from you. I have to wait for the announcement to end; if I could just get my money right away, I would have less to worry about people copying my PIN number or demanding money from me.
Second, this idea of the ATM announcing that I shouldn't give money to someone else doesn't seem very useful. Let's say at the ATM a man puts a knife to my throat and tells me to give him money. If I point to the ATM announcement and say, "Sorry, the ATM says that I can't give you money," do you think the man will relent and leave? Probably not.
I think there are a few problems with this announcement. First, this announcement is about ninety seconds long. It gives someone a long time to get ready to copy your PIN number, and it gives someone a long time to get ready to steal money from you. I have to wait for the announcement to end; if I could just get my money right away, I would have less to worry about people copying my PIN number or demanding money from me.
Second, this idea of the ATM announcing that I shouldn't give money to someone else doesn't seem very useful. Let's say at the ATM a man puts a knife to my throat and tells me to give him money. If I point to the ATM announcement and say, "Sorry, the ATM says that I can't give you money," do you think the man will relent and leave? Probably not.
Saturday, May 31, 2008
Sunny's Yi Yi Questions
Here are Sunny's questions about Yi Yi, with a transcription of Yang-Yang's speech to his grandmother.
1. The last scene, in which Yang-yang reads out loud what he wants to tell his grandma.
「婆婆，對不起，不是我不喜歡跟妳講話，只是我覺得我能跟妳講的，妳一定老早就知道了。不然，妳就不會每次都叫我聽話。就像他們都說妳走了，妳也沒有告訴我，妳去了哪裡。所以，我覺得，那一定是我們都知道的地方。婆婆，我不知道的事情太多了，所以，妳知道我以後想作什麼嗎？我要去告訴別人他們不知道的事情，給別人看他們看不到的東西，我想，這樣一定天天都很好玩。說不定，有一天，我會發現妳到底去了哪裡。到時候，我可不可以跟大家講，叫大家一起過來看妳呢？婆婆，我好想妳...尤其是我看到那個還沒有名字的小表弟，就會想起妳常跟我說，妳老了。我很想跟他說，我覺得，我也老了。」
- Why does Yang-yang think that he's also become old?
- Yang-yang says that he wants to tell others what they don't know; that way, life must be very interesting. Yet earlier in the film his mother, Min-min, had complained about "having so little" and living much the same way every day. What might cause this difference in their attitudes toward life?
2. When we hear Taiwanese in this film, it's sometimes when someone's cursing or, more often than not, when NJ and Sherry are talking. Why do you think the two specially use Taiwanese to chat (when they would choose to speak Chinese to other people)? What might it mean? Does the use of Taiwanese create a different atmosphere in their scenes?
3. The title of this film is "Yiyi: a one and a two". What does this title mean? How does it associate with the contents of the film?
Friday, May 30, 2008
Remainder of Kathy's Yi Yi Summary
Here is the remainder of Kathy's summary of Yi Yi in Chinese.
胖子請婷婷幫他拿封信給莉莉。莉莉跟一個阿兵哥接吻，那個男生正是那天晚上在咖啡店跟莉莉起衝突的其中一人。莉莉痛恨她母親的淫亂，但她卻在模仿她母親的行為。婷婷把信交給莉莉時，莉莉表現得不太在意。
敏敏靜養的庇護所的主持去拜訪NJ。NJ以為主持跟他要錢，於是他便去拿錢給他。他跟主持說閉關修行並不適合他。
阿弟被小燕趕出家門，最後他去了前女友的家。雲雲給阿弟的錢都被他的朋友偷了。他們去了那個朋友的家，發現那裡已經空無一人。雲雲在屋裡發現了一塊昂貴的翡翠，但阿弟覺得那只是個爛東西。
洋洋和他的朋友朝訓導主任丟了一個水球，之後他躲在一間正在播放影片的教室裡。一個女孩進了教室，洋洋被她迷倒了。
婷婷跟胖子一起去喝茶。她回家的時候莉莉正好撞見她的媽媽在跟自己的英文老師上床。
阿弟跟小燕的孩子出生了。孩子的生辰八字不好，所以還沒有取名字。在孩子的滿月酒上雲雲不請自來，她的出現令氣氛頓時緊繃，最後賓客更打了起來。小燕的朋友威脅阿弟，而阿弟的朋友則吵說雲雲很應該是席上的賓客之一。
NJ載阿弟離開一蹋糊塗的滿月酒回家。阿弟跟NJ說他被小燕趕出家門後跟雲雲待在一起時有「幫她一把」，NJ聽了只能用笑聲回應他。
NJ陪著阿弟回家，但他不想留下來。阿弟的家很大很漂亮。由此可見愚笨的阿弟雖然一事無成，他還是很幸運。阿弟看來沮喪得要去自殺。第二天早上小燕回家的時候發現他一絲不掛躺在浴室裡；他看似斷了氣，但其實還活著。小燕跟他保證以後不會再生他的氣了。
婷婷告訴胖子說她不會再幫他送信給莉莉，而這時候胖子卻說他愛上了婷婷。終於他們約了好幾次會。（在第一次重要約會之前，我們看到莉莉的英文老師在莉莉媽媽回家之前狼狽地走出莉莉的家；看來莉莉可能跟英文老師有染。）胖子跟婷婷聊起他舅舅對於電影的看法：電影可以令我們活「好幾次」。藉著看電影我們可以體驗我們永遠不會做的事，「例如殺人，」胖子如是說。
胖子在之後的一次約會裡告訴婷婷他心裡只有她。（較早之前莉莉質問婷婷她和胖子的關係，婷婷跟她說他們「只是朋友」。）婷婷跟胖子去酒店開房間，但胖子說了「我們這樣不行」之後便落跑了。
洋洋發現他喜歡的女孩很會游泳。在家裡他開始在洗手池裡學習閉氣，為的是希望成為一個游泳好手。同時他也開始拍下別人的後腦杓，這樣人們便可以看到他們看不到的東西了。練習過閉氣之後洋洋自己一個人跳進了游泳池；他看起來並不會游泳。我們都擔心他會遇溺，不過他卻絲毫未傷。
NJ被派去日本跟大田簽約。NJ的公司有個很成功、沉迷女色的投資老闆；他很樂意幫助他們公司與大田合作。
阿瑞打電話給NJ，說她會飛去日本跟他見面。大田讓NJ跟他開會之前先與阿瑞一起玩。NJ跟阿瑞一同遊覽東京，他們手牽手，就像男女朋友一樣。NJ和阿瑞的東京之旅跟婷婷與胖子的第一次重要約會剛好對應。阿瑞告訴NJ她在他離她而去之後是如何的生氣。NJ跟她解釋他為什麼離棄了她：她一直以來都在控制他的生活。互相發洩完怒氣後，NJ跟阿瑞愉快地回憶起他們以前剛開始談戀愛的日子。
阿瑞和NJ在飯店裡分開房間睡。在夜裡阿瑞去NJ的房間找他，說他們兩個應該離婚，重新開始。NJ口不對心地跟阿瑞說她累了；他說他比任何人都更了解她。阿瑞責怪NJ說他太多顧慮了。
第二天他們回到NJ將會和大田開會的飯店。NJ陪阿瑞上去她的房間。阿瑞關上門之後NJ卻又敲起門來；阿瑞開了門，NJ對她說：「我從來沒有愛過別人。」阿瑞點了點頭，轉身關門，獨自一人在房裡哭泣。NJ跟阿瑞這樣說是想說明他愛她，但這句話反而令他看來特別的殘忍。
NJ跟大田一起晚餐。大田說他想當個魔術師；他向NJ表演了一個撲克牌魔術，然而他說那並不是魔術，他只是「知道每張牌的位置而已」。大田告訴NJ他只是個普通人，但NJ的公司「需要一個魔術師」。即使他們公司不跟他簽約他也能夠了解，但他很高興他有機會跟NJ共事。他告訴NJ說：「你是個好人。」
第二天早上NJ接到了一個電話。公司的投資老闆已經跟一個在台灣專仿冒別人的程式設計師小田簽約，只因小田是個胸部大的女人。NJ很厭惡公司這個決定。他沒有再見大田和阿瑞；大田似乎已經知道他們公司不會跟他簽約，而阿瑞知道她最好不要再跟NJ見面。
筋疲力盡的NJ回到家裡，在客廳裡暈倒。婷婷扶他上床休息並照顧他。
胖子離開婷婷之後再次跟莉莉約會。他們兩個不再跟婷婷一起出去了。有一次莉莉在跟胖子約會之前跟婷婷說了聲「嗨」，但她這個並不是友善的表現。
婷婷之後跟胖子說他們三個還是朋友。胖子向她發飆，說她只是生活在一個幻想中的世界，並不了解人生是什麼。他朝婷婷大吼說不要理他，婷婷只好受傷地離開。
阿弟編了個謊話，說是他自己（並不是雲雲）發現了那塊翡翠；他把錢還給NJ。阿弟和公司裡的人希望NJ回去上班。小田的作品品質不佳，令公司虧損，但投資老闆依然給他們公司錢。NJ說他不想再在那裡工作了。在這段對話進行的時候，洋洋給了阿弟一張「後腦杓」的照片。NJ開始明白洋洋的照片在照什麼。
之後我們發現原來胖子為了莉莉和她英文老師的關係感到很痛苦。那天婷婷跟胖子講話的時候他其實是在等英文老師。那晚深夜胖子在大樓外把英文老師刺死。婷婷正在婆婆的房間，問她為什麼還沒醒過來。洋洋聽到英文老師被殺的聲音，然而除了他之外並沒有人察覺到。
第二天警察請正在上課的婷婷去警察局告訴他們有關胖子的資料。胖子已因被控謀殺而被捕。之後我們看到電影以電玩畫面的形式還原胖子殺死英文老師的情形。
從警察局出來的婷婷不想回去上課，於是她便回家去。婆婆醒了過來，向婷婷默默地微笑。婷婷把頭枕在婆婆的膝上。她跟婆婆說生活彷彿變了很多；她問婆婆自她醒來之後有沒有發現世界跟她中風之前有所不一樣。婷婷說她真的很累，但她現在可以休息了，因為婆婆已經原諒了她。婆婆給了她一個紙折蝴蝶。
婷婷在她的床上醒過來。那隻紙蝴蝶就在她那裡。她走出房間，發現婆婆已經去世了；她是差不多在婷婷回家時離開的。敏敏從山上回來了，婷婷上前安慰她。（之前敏敏離家上山靜養時婷婷並沒有和她擁抱或跟她道別。）婷婷發現她的小盆栽開始開花了。
NJ也去安慰敏敏。他跟敏敏說在她不在家的那段時間他「得到機會重新再活一次他的過去」；他承認他的生活並沒有因此而變得不一樣。敏敏說她在靜養的時候感覺就像是她的母親：她說不了話，而那些僧侶就一直跟她講同樣的事情。
洋洋回到家，發現婆婆已經去世了。他走回自己的房間開始在他的筆記本上寫東西。
在喪禮上，敏敏在她母親的遺照前痛哭。之後洋洋問敏敏他可不可以跟婆婆講話。洋洋翻開他的筆記本唸了一段話給他的婆婆。
--Again, consider shifts from humor to tragedy, or even one type of humor to another. (A-Di's reunion with his ex-girlfriend, A-Di's disastrous baby shower, etc. are all funny in different ways.) Most of us also laughed at the end of Yang-Yang's speech to his grandmother; his sweet words were able to be funny and touching at the same time. What's the effect of combining different emotions in one scene in a movie or story?
胖子請婷婷幫他拿封信給莉莉。莉莉跟一個阿兵哥接吻，那個男生正是那天晚上在咖啡店跟莉莉起衝突的其中一人。莉莉痛恨她母親的淫亂，但她卻在模仿她母親的行為。婷婷把信交給莉莉時，莉莉表現得不太在意。
敏敏靜養的庇護所的主持去拜訪NJ。NJ以為主持跟他要錢，於是他便去拿錢給他。他跟主持說閉關修行並不適合他。
阿弟被小燕趕出家門，最後他去了前女友的家。雲雲給阿弟的錢都被他的朋友偷了。他們去了那個朋友的家，發現那裡已經空無一人。雲雲在屋裡發現了一塊昂貴的翡翠，但阿弟覺得那只是個爛東西。
洋洋和他的朋友朝訓導主任丟了一個水球，之後他躲在一間正在播放影片的教室裡。一個女孩進了教室，洋洋被她迷倒了。
婷婷跟胖子一起去喝茶。她回家的時候莉莉正好撞見她的媽媽在跟自己的英文老師上床。
阿弟跟小燕的孩子出生了。孩子的生辰八字不好，所以還沒有取名字。在孩子的滿月酒上雲雲不請自來，她的出現令氣氛頓時緊繃，最後賓客更打了起來。小燕的朋友威脅阿弟，而阿弟的朋友則吵說雲雲很應該是席上的賓客之一。
NJ載阿弟離開一蹋糊塗的滿月酒回家。阿弟跟NJ說他被小燕趕出家門後跟雲雲待在一起時有「幫她一把」，NJ聽了只能用笑聲回應他。
NJ陪著阿弟回家，但他不想留下來。阿弟的家很大很漂亮。由此可見愚笨的阿弟雖然一事無成，他還是很幸運。阿弟看來沮喪得要去自殺。第二天早上小燕回家的時候發現他一絲不掛躺在浴室裡；他看似斷了氣，但其實還活著。小燕跟他保證以後不會再生他的氣了。
婷婷告訴胖子說她不會再幫他送信給莉莉，而這時候胖子卻說他愛上了婷婷。終於他們約了好幾次會。（在第一次重要約會之前，我們看到莉莉的英文老師在莉莉媽媽回家之前狼狽地走出莉莉的家；看來莉莉可能跟英文老師有染。）胖子跟婷婷聊起他舅舅對於電影的看法：電影可以令我們活「好幾次」。藉著看電影我們可以體驗我們永遠不會做的事，「例如殺人，」胖子如是說。
胖子在之後的一次約會裡告訴婷婷他心裡只有她。（較早之前莉莉質問婷婷她和胖子的關係，婷婷跟她說他們「只是朋友」。）婷婷跟胖子去酒店開房間，但胖子說了「我們這樣不行」之後便落跑了。
洋洋發現他喜歡的女孩很會游泳。在家裡他開始在洗手池裡學習閉氣，為的是希望成為一個游泳好手。同時他也開始拍下別人的後腦杓，這樣人們便可以看到他們看不到的東西了。練習過閉氣之後洋洋自己一個人跳進了游泳池；他看起來並不會游泳。我們都擔心他會遇溺，不過他卻絲毫未傷。
NJ被派去日本跟大田簽約。NJ的公司有個很成功、沉迷女色的投資老闆；他很樂意幫助他們公司與大田合作。
阿瑞打電話給NJ，說她會飛去日本跟他見面。大田讓NJ跟他開會之前先與阿瑞一起玩。NJ跟阿瑞一同遊覽東京，他們手牽手，就像男女朋友一樣。NJ和阿瑞的東京之旅跟婷婷與胖子的第一次重要約會剛好對應。阿瑞告訴NJ她在他離她而去之後是如何的生氣。NJ跟她解釋他為什麼離棄了她：她一直以來都在控制他的生活。互相發洩完怒氣後，NJ跟阿瑞愉快地回憶起他們以前剛開始談戀愛的日子。
阿瑞和NJ在飯店裡分開房間睡。在夜裡阿瑞去NJ的房間找他，說他們兩個應該離婚，重新開始。NJ口不對心地跟阿瑞說她累了；他說他比任何人都更了解她。阿瑞責怪NJ說他太多顧慮了。
第二天他們回到NJ將會和大田開會的飯店。NJ陪阿瑞上去她的房間。阿瑞關上門之後NJ卻又敲起門來；阿瑞開了門，NJ對她說：「我從來沒有愛過別人。」阿瑞點了點頭，轉身關門，獨自一人在房裡哭泣。NJ跟阿瑞這樣說是想說明他愛她，但這句話反而令他看來特別的殘忍。
NJ跟大田一起晚餐。大田說他想當個魔術師；他向NJ表演了一個撲克牌魔術，然而他說那並不是魔術，他只是「知道每張牌的位置而已」。大田告訴NJ他只是個普通人，但NJ的公司「需要一個魔術師」。即使他們公司不跟他簽約他也能夠了解，但他很高興他有機會跟NJ共事。他告訴NJ說：「你是個好人。」
第二天早上NJ接到了一個電話。公司的投資老闆已經跟一個在台灣專仿冒別人的程式設計師小田簽約，只因小田是個胸部大的女人。NJ很厭惡公司這個決定。他沒有再見大田和阿瑞；大田似乎已經知道他們公司不會跟他簽約，而阿瑞知道她最好不要再跟NJ見面。
筋疲力盡的NJ回到家裡，在客廳裡暈倒。婷婷扶他上床休息並照顧他。
胖子離開婷婷之後再次跟莉莉約會。他們兩個不再跟婷婷一起出去了。有一次莉莉在跟胖子約會之前跟婷婷說了聲「嗨」，但她這個並不是友善的表現。
婷婷之後跟胖子說他們三個還是朋友。胖子向她發飆，說她只是生活在一個幻想中的世界，並不了解人生是什麼。他朝婷婷大吼說不要理他，婷婷只好受傷地離開。
阿弟編了個謊話，說是他自己（並不是雲雲）發現了那塊翡翠；他把錢還給NJ。阿弟和公司裡的人希望NJ回去上班。小田的作品品質不佳，令公司虧損，但投資老闆依然給他們公司錢。NJ說他不想再在那裡工作了。在這段對話進行的時候，洋洋給了阿弟一張「後腦杓」的照片。NJ開始明白洋洋的照片在照什麼。
之後我們發現原來胖子為了莉莉和她英文老師的關係感到很痛苦。那天婷婷跟胖子講話的時候他其實是在等英文老師。那晚深夜胖子在大樓外把英文老師刺死。婷婷正在婆婆的房間，問她為什麼還沒醒過來。洋洋聽到英文老師被殺的聲音，然而除了他之外並沒有人察覺到。
第二天警察請正在上課的婷婷去警察局告訴他們有關胖子的資料。胖子已因被控謀殺而被捕。之後我們看到電影以電玩畫面的形式還原胖子殺死英文老師的情形。
從警察局出來的婷婷不想回去上課，於是她便回家去。婆婆醒了過來，向婷婷默默地微笑。婷婷把頭枕在婆婆的膝上。她跟婆婆說生活彷彿變了很多；她問婆婆自她醒來之後有沒有發現世界跟她中風之前有所不一樣。婷婷說她真的很累，但她現在可以休息了，因為婆婆已經原諒了她。婆婆給了她一個紙折蝴蝶。
婷婷在她的床上醒過來。那隻紙蝴蝶就在她那裡。她走出房間，發現婆婆已經去世了；她是差不多在婷婷回家時離開的。敏敏從山上回來了，婷婷上前安慰她。（之前敏敏離家上山靜養時婷婷並沒有和她擁抱或跟她道別。）婷婷發現她的小盆栽開始開花了。
NJ也去安慰敏敏。他跟敏敏說在她不在家的那段時間他「得到機會重新再活一次他的過去」；他承認他的生活並沒有因此而變得不一樣。敏敏說她在靜養的時候感覺就像是她的母親：她說不了話，而那些僧侶就一直跟她講同樣的事情。
洋洋回到家，發現婆婆已經去世了。他走回自己的房間開始在他的筆記本上寫東西。
在喪禮上，敏敏在她母親的遺照前痛哭。之後洋洋問敏敏他可不可以跟婆婆講話。洋洋翻開他的筆記本唸了一段話給他的婆婆。
--Again, consider shifts from humor to tragedy, or even one type of humor to another. (A-Di's reunion with his ex-girlfriend, A-Di's disastrous baby shower, etc. are all funny in different ways.) Most of us also laughed at the end of Yang-Yang's speech to his grandmother; his sweet words were able to be funny and touching at the same time. What's the effect of combining different emotions in one scene in a movie or story?
Kathy's Yi Yi Summary, Part 1
Kathy has written/translated a summary for Yi Yi. I am dividing it into parts to the website will be less likely to think it is spam.
u《一一》內容摘要
電影的第一幕是阿弟的婚禮。阿弟的妻子小燕已經懷孕好一段時間了。阿弟的前女友雲雲出現在婚禮場地並大吵大鬧；她為未能跟阿弟結婚而向阿弟的母親道歉。
阿弟的母親（婆婆，同時也是敏敏的母親）覺得不舒服，說她不想留在婚禮場地。敏敏的丈夫NJ（南峻）和他們的女兒婷婷帶祖母回家。婷婷遇到了新搬來的女孩莉莉。因為只顧著看莉莉跟她的男朋友胖子說話，婷婷忘記去丟幾袋她本來要丟的垃圾。
NJ和敏敏的小兒子洋洋因為在婚宴裡被其他女孩欺負而悶悶不樂。NJ帶他去吃麥當勞。當他們回到婚宴場地時，NJ巧遇他的前女友阿瑞（A-Sherry），阿瑞正從電梯裡出來。阿瑞告訴NJ她於美國定居，然後遞上自己的名片後便離去；不消幾秒鐘她卻走回去質問NJ為什麼他丟下她一個人，又說她從來沒有忘記他。NJ始終沒有說話。NJ的同事（也是阿瑞的同學）出現在電梯裡，結束了這尷尬的場面。
夜深，簡家離開婚宴場地回家。一名鄰居告訴敏敏她的母親中風了，大家立即趕往醫院去。
昏迷不醒的婆婆被帶回家裡去。家裡每個人都輪流跟她講話。洋洋不知道要跟她說什麼；阿弟騙她說他多有錢、多成功。因為自己沒有丟垃圾，婷婷覺得祖母中風都是她的錯。她跟婆婆說：「如果你原諒我就起來吧，你不醒來我都不能睡了。」罪惡感使她在夜裡難以入睡，而白天在班上她便打瞌睡。她的小盤栽課堂作業也沒有開花。
洋洋帶了一個氣球上學，其中一個比較大的女孩以為那是個避孕套。訓導主任在發現那只是個氣球之後仍然大罵洋洋；而這個訓導主任似乎常常都有很多高年級的女生圍在他身邊。
NJ和他的工作夥伴（包括他以前的同學、阿弟、和幾個朋友）正努力令他們陷入困境的電腦軟體公司起死回生。他們的老闆同意讓他們聘用日本電玩設計師大田（Ota）。
接著電影從阿弟妻子的超聲波畫面轉到大田的電玩演說。大田說他認為電腦遊戲就像孩子一樣，而遊戲的類型依然傾向於打鬥殺戮是因為人們還不了解他們自己。NJ喜歡大田的概念，但他的公司希望先考慮一下再跟大田簽約。NJ被公司安排跟大田吃晚飯。對於爾虞我詐的商業世界，NJ感到沮喪；他在大田面前「盡量表現友好」。大田有點奇怪，但看起來他懂得NJ是個怎樣的人。
莉莉跟婷婷在準備健康餐。婷婷有點失望，因為她的爸爸不能跟她們一起吃晚餐。莉莉的媽媽帶了新男友回家，之後莉莉突然跟她媽媽說她跟婷婷要去看電影。婷婷對莉莉的話感到困惑。其實莉莉是對她母親混亂的情感生活感到不滿，所以才想離開。
不過婷婷和莉莉沒有去看電影，她們反而去了胖子工作的唱片行去找他。胖子叫她們在一家咖啡店等他。婷婷先回家去，而莉莉看來被爽約了。她大聲叫其他在店裡吵鬧的年輕人閉嘴，那群人也不甘示弱大聲反駁她。
敏敏覺得她的生活很空虛，十分痛苦。她每天只能千篇一律地告訴她母親同樣的事。NJ想去安慰她，但他並沒有做得很稱職：他只是把門關上，並說他可以叫看護讀報給敏敏的母親聽。敏敏決定上山去宗教庇護所靜養。
洋洋跟他的爸爸說人們如何不了解彼此，發表他覺得人們如何只知道「一半」的偉論。洋洋開始用相機拍下蚊子的照片。他在上課期間溜出去沖曬照片，回來的時候被那些女孩和訓導主任抓個正著；訓導主任取笑他的照片。
--What is the tone at the beginning of the film? There is a lot of humor, but also a lot of pathos (Sherry tells NJ that she's never gotten over him leaving), bathos (Yun Yun tries to break up the wedding), and shocking events (the grandmother has a stroke).
u《一一》內容摘要
電影的第一幕是阿弟的婚禮。阿弟的妻子小燕已經懷孕好一段時間了。阿弟的前女友雲雲出現在婚禮場地並大吵大鬧；她為未能跟阿弟結婚而向阿弟的母親道歉。
阿弟的母親（婆婆，同時也是敏敏的母親）覺得不舒服，說她不想留在婚禮場地。敏敏的丈夫NJ（南峻）和他們的女兒婷婷帶祖母回家。婷婷遇到了新搬來的女孩莉莉。因為只顧著看莉莉跟她的男朋友胖子說話，婷婷忘記去丟幾袋她本來要丟的垃圾。
NJ和敏敏的小兒子洋洋因為在婚宴裡被其他女孩欺負而悶悶不樂。NJ帶他去吃麥當勞。當他們回到婚宴場地時，NJ巧遇他的前女友阿瑞（A-Sherry），阿瑞正從電梯裡出來。阿瑞告訴NJ她於美國定居，然後遞上自己的名片後便離去；不消幾秒鐘她卻走回去質問NJ為什麼他丟下她一個人，又說她從來沒有忘記他。NJ始終沒有說話。NJ的同事（也是阿瑞的同學）出現在電梯裡，結束了這尷尬的場面。
夜深，簡家離開婚宴場地回家。一名鄰居告訴敏敏她的母親中風了，大家立即趕往醫院去。
昏迷不醒的婆婆被帶回家裡去。家裡每個人都輪流跟她講話。洋洋不知道要跟她說什麼；阿弟騙她說他多有錢、多成功。因為自己沒有丟垃圾，婷婷覺得祖母中風都是她的錯。她跟婆婆說：「如果你原諒我就起來吧，你不醒來我都不能睡了。」罪惡感使她在夜裡難以入睡，而白天在班上她便打瞌睡。她的小盤栽課堂作業也沒有開花。
洋洋帶了一個氣球上學，其中一個比較大的女孩以為那是個避孕套。訓導主任在發現那只是個氣球之後仍然大罵洋洋；而這個訓導主任似乎常常都有很多高年級的女生圍在他身邊。
NJ和他的工作夥伴（包括他以前的同學、阿弟、和幾個朋友）正努力令他們陷入困境的電腦軟體公司起死回生。他們的老闆同意讓他們聘用日本電玩設計師大田（Ota）。
接著電影從阿弟妻子的超聲波畫面轉到大田的電玩演說。大田說他認為電腦遊戲就像孩子一樣，而遊戲的類型依然傾向於打鬥殺戮是因為人們還不了解他們自己。NJ喜歡大田的概念，但他的公司希望先考慮一下再跟大田簽約。NJ被公司安排跟大田吃晚飯。對於爾虞我詐的商業世界，NJ感到沮喪；他在大田面前「盡量表現友好」。大田有點奇怪，但看起來他懂得NJ是個怎樣的人。
莉莉跟婷婷在準備健康餐。婷婷有點失望，因為她的爸爸不能跟她們一起吃晚餐。莉莉的媽媽帶了新男友回家，之後莉莉突然跟她媽媽說她跟婷婷要去看電影。婷婷對莉莉的話感到困惑。其實莉莉是對她母親混亂的情感生活感到不滿，所以才想離開。
不過婷婷和莉莉沒有去看電影，她們反而去了胖子工作的唱片行去找他。胖子叫她們在一家咖啡店等他。婷婷先回家去，而莉莉看來被爽約了。她大聲叫其他在店裡吵鬧的年輕人閉嘴，那群人也不甘示弱大聲反駁她。
敏敏覺得她的生活很空虛，十分痛苦。她每天只能千篇一律地告訴她母親同樣的事。NJ想去安慰她，但他並沒有做得很稱職：他只是把門關上，並說他可以叫看護讀報給敏敏的母親聽。敏敏決定上山去宗教庇護所靜養。
洋洋跟他的爸爸說人們如何不了解彼此，發表他覺得人們如何只知道「一半」的偉論。洋洋開始用相機拍下蚊子的照片。他在上課期間溜出去沖曬照片，回來的時候被那些女孩和訓導主任抓個正著；訓導主任取笑他的照片。
--What is the tone at the beginning of the film? There is a lot of humor, but also a lot of pathos (Sherry tells NJ that she's never gotten over him leaving), bathos (Yun Yun tries to break up the wedding), and shocking events (the grandmother has a stroke).
Additional Information Here
This blog will include auxiliary material related to class projects. It also will include material and links for reading comprehension practice and, if I can figure out how to do it, aural comprehension practice.
S.
S.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)