This article describes a sequence of creation and production of a "chick-flick" called bridesmaids. The article was written by Chris Lee, a contributor, in Newsweek magazine. http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2011/12/13/could-judd-apatow-and-kristen-wiig-s-bridesmaids-nab-an-oscar.html. The learning outcome used in the article was number three. This demonstrated an awareness of how language and meaning are shaped by culture and context.
At the beginning of the article the reader is showered with a flowery, vivid diction. This choice of language invites the reader to see, hear, and feel the words on the page. Phrases like "female-friendly", "monster summer hit", "comedy kingpin", "wounded woman", "gut-busting sequence", "fancy-pants wedding dress shop"and others are shared in our culture and in the movies. The words in the article were put in this context to convey visual imagery. One can almost feel the words. The extreme diction is like an actor in the movie. Like of "wounded woman". Who was this lady? How was she wounded? When you have seen the movie you know its an analogy. She was an emotional, jealous, self-critical, unhappy character. The language helps the reader exaggerate her sad place in life in just one word. These words were selected in the context of the drama of hollywood. If this vocabulary was used in the seriousness of a news or political article the meaning would be completely different. This diction couldn't be used in newspaper headlines because the context requires a factual not exaggerated story. The author used figurative language to convey meaning in a dramatic method. In america, language has multiple meanings. Cultural events can shape the definition of a word or phrase as well as the context. Interpretation of phrases like "frat-boys", "buzz around hollywood", "growing louder", "change of pace", "right off the bat", "spinning out of control", "insult to injury", and more, requires more than just knowledge of the english language. It requires generalization of basic words into completely different meanings assigned by our culture. If this article was read by someone who had not seen the movie from Korea, Africa, Japan or even Iran, the reader might draw a different conclusion. If their culture was more limited or conservative some of the word choices might also be offensive. This article used learning outcome three to speak to americans about a comical movie.
I agree, Ashley, that learning outcome three be used to analyze the review of the movie "Bridesmaids". I like the third to last sentence that states that if someone from another country was to read the review, they might view it differently due to deciphering the language differently. They might be offended or confused. When Americans, and others who speak English, use phrases and words like "insult to injury" and "right off the bat" are colloquial expressions that are used as common slang references. Thus, I like how you showed that the culture and context of the movie shaped the movie review. However, I wish that the culture was more defined.That is to say, the audience. I assumed the audience to be women, but that is not specific enough. I think it would have been helpful to relate the audience to the culture and the then the culture to the language of the review. Nice job tho holmes
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