I think I related to the protagonist, Daniel Blake, even though my problems are nowhere similar to what he faced. Every student at Cornell goes through a cycle of stress at some point of the other. And unfortunately (or fortunately) those days are the ones that I find myself bonding the most with people. It’s the adversity that brings people together and not the non-existent bright sunny days of Ithaca. The protagonist too connects with the single mingle over the hardships either of them faced. And both of them lift either of them together when things didn’t go the right way. That’s what I think my student life has been as well. I have been fortunate to have my friends there at my lowest and I strive to be with them when they need me.
Author Archives: ak2242
When was the last time you read for fun during the semester?
I had seen the advertisement for this book sale first during freshman year, I was really interested to explore Ithaca outside the bounds of Cornell. I had been to the commons a few times for dinner but had never been there during daylight. Unfortunately, I went to this event independent of the group because of an emergency but still, I found the entire affair very wholesome and nice. Reading is something I didn’t focus on during the semester. Unfortunately, I get bogged down by the coursework that reading seems to be a secondary activity which it should not. I am planning to extensively read over the summer though. Also now I have the science center and the library off my Ithaca exploration list.
Comedy as medium to entertain and enlighten
I really enjoyed what started as a comedy sketch but turned a moral lesson for humans in general. Comedy certainly gives perspective and a platform for the current happening of the world. Gender inequality, racial inequality, and socio-economic inequality and hard topics to talk to in general but with humor, these certainly get enough nuance for striking a chord within people to actually see what is happening around them. And that is what Nanette did for me.
The greatest movie if you are not tired
Stanley Kubrick is certainly one of the greatest movie makers of our generation. But I certainly am not the audience he was catering towards. Though 2001: Space Odyssey has great soundtrack visuals and deep metaphors. But for tired college students who just climbed the slope multiple times on a Friday evening, it is nothing but a sure shot way of dozing off in a fetal position of Cornell Cinema chairs. Hopefully, I get the time to rewatch to truly marvel at this movie. But admittedly I slept for most of the movie.
Dynamite saved lives and also took many more
Black Panther is one of the best marvel movies I have seen (haven’t watched Endgame yet). It brings up topics about race and gender equality. This has been discussed many times in relation to this movie. And certainly the writers did a great job making it seamless in the movie. The movie also made me think about what if there was a something like vibranium hidden in a city and what decision do its leader have to make to share or not to share this great resource. Which on one hand can make life better while on the other destroy everything.
One day Ill be an Old Grumpy Man
During the movie, I was wondering about all the “grumpy” old men that lived near my childhood home. Going about lives, mourning the lives of their loved ones. Me being unaware of their situation, their sorrows, their comforts just being oblivious yet being annoyed by their demanding nature. Though now I hope I had spoken more to them I would have learned something unique. Ove was an interesting man with certainly many skeletons in his closet.
Behind this mask there is more than just flesh. Beneath this mask there is an idea… and ideas are bulletproof.
The classic movie V for Vendetta is one of my all time favorites. There are items from movies which have greater influence than the movie itself. The mask is one of those. Every revolution or protest in the modern era has at least one instance of a person wearing such a mask at the rallies. I can bet that most people recognize the mask before the movie and that is what is amazing about humanity. We as humans need a symbol to bring us together and V for Vendetta showed how this is true.
Humour is the best medicine
Joseph-Jordan-Jeremiah-George Gordon-Levitt. The few minutes before the movie was spent just debating with no absolute basis but high confidence that the actor’s name was one of the stated. But jokes aside this movie was absolutely gem. Seth Rogen is hilarious and made the hardness in facing death, the main topic of the movie more bearable. Also, there was certainly more upbeatness in this movie than what its description suggested.
The Night King has Friends
Ice Skating one of my favorite activities on campus. Lynah Rink especially is certainly a hidden gem of Ithaca. The act of ice skating with friends itself was a beautiful way to spend time, also meeting new people while falling down on the ice was mildly embarrassing but turned to extremely fun. Watching other “pro” skaters is always a past time I have when I’m in the rink. I keep telling myself that one day I’ll get better, another lie added to the list containing promises about going to class and eating healthy.