Think About the Themes

          The constant creation of war films affects American society socially and politically. The way war and violence is portrayed in most war films is very different from the way violence is carried out in war in real life. Most war films focus mainly on explosions, shootings, or men dressed in uniform maintaining a "tough guise" image. Although these are things are very much present in war, film deceits these concepts and makes it seem that is all that war is. Not too often do you see a bunch of American soldiers breaking in to a poor family's home, committing treacherousness murders and robbing them for everything that they have. In film, war is portrayed in a way that won't turn the viewer against it, therefore narrowing what the film exposes to the viewer. 

Value and Ideological Control

     My Best Friend's Girl is about Tank, who faces the ultimate test of friendship when his best friend hires him to take his ex-girlfriend out on a lousy date in order to make her realize how great her former boyfriend is. The movie is rated "R" for restricted. Personally, I think a more suitable rating for this film is 18A. There is very intense and aggressive coarse language, many sexual references, limited instances of simulated sexual activity, and substance abuse. There is very little violence present in the film as well. On the "Quick Reference Guide to the Elements" chart, the films falls under a variety of categories. But overall, I think 18A is a fair rating for this film. 

How we Negotiate the Meaning of Music in Film

"Coming Home" by Bob DiPiero demonstrates a strong meaning about coming to the realization that you are not where you want to be. This could be used in a film where someone is in the middle of fulfilling a dream and coming to the realization that in reality, maybe it wasn't what the person actually was destined to to. This song could also be used in a film where someone is completely satisfied with the events that have occurred in their life, and they are ready to back to where they were born (home). An example of this could possibly be an gymnastic, who has spent all day, every day working towards her dream of winning a gold metal throughout her entire life. When the time finally came for this to happen, this song would  be suitable to be playing when the athlete is happily returning home.