NOMNOM
(via theanimalblog)
Finals Be OVVVAAAA
AHHHH!!
HOLLA
That means my roomate and I got to watch Mona Lisa, Smile
and fret over how the movie depicts the Women of Wellesley.
I thought it hilarious that one of the first things they say about Wellesley is that it is one of the most conservative Colleges to be at the time. The women have classes on how to please the bosses of their husbands, and have poise. The administration is most concern with image of the college instead of the learning experience of the students. When I first saw this movie back in 2005 I vowed I would never even apply to an institution like that. I crossed Wellesley off my list, and all other all women’s colleges as well. I didnt want to be bred into a smart woman who served her husband. I didnt want to be told that it was ok for my brain to waste away after I finished school as long as O had a husband and family- I couldnt be a part of an institution that promoted that kind of thinking. As you can see from my attendance of said college, that my current perception of All womens institution is much better, and I admire the work they do in cultivating women to make the world a better place. But at the time, was against the idea as a whole.
Watching the movie this time, I did see somethings that i missed the first time though. For the time period, the women of the college were actaully quite progressive. They were all outspoken, and had heavy opinions, yet they were all willing to learn. the fact that they were even at college actually spoke to the progresivness of their character. They could have just greaduated high school and got married- insetad they chose to educate themselves, and gain a broser knowldge of the world. My favoite part about this movie is that that broader knowldge was gained by way of Art History. The theme of the class they were in was “What is Good Art? And Who Says So?” By looking at how different art could be good or bad, and learning that the standards for what god art is supposed to mean can change with the times, the girls in the class learned the same for the measure of the lives they were supposed to lead. What is a Good life? and Who says so? by their teacher’s standards a good life is one where you have the freedom to think and expand your mind, where you are not limited by the restrictions of society. By the girls standards a good life is one where you upheld your duty as a wife and mother, not at the expense of your mind, but for the comfort of stability and love. When those two views of the world collided what was ultimatly found was that the standrd for a good life is one where you are happy, and not wanting. One where you do not deeply regret the choices you have made, and one where you can learn from the mistakes you made. What they learned was that there is no “Good Life” or “Better Life” any life you lead can be good or made better, and more any life you lead, if it makes you happy is good by any standard.
In the end, my roommate and I concluded that the movie showed the double side of being a women in a new and changing era. We appreciated the realness of the portrayl, but also the fact that the characters had real depth. As for the depection of Wellesey women, by the end of the movie all of the women in the class had evolved into what a real, current Wellesley Student is like. Open to new ideas, willing to learn from one another, vocal. Truely content.
if you ever get a chance you should see the movie o )
or you could just come visit Wellesley its self- sit in in an Art History class even!
