Blurring Reality

Hey! I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving last week! To keep on going with last week's senses inspired theme, I want to share with you my favorite part of having the sense of sight, watching movies. I am soon beginning a TV and film production degree, with a minor in film studies, so visual media is definitely a major aspect of my life. Of course, almost everybody enjoys seeing films, so I'm sure you all can relate too. A quotation from A Clockwork Orange perfectly describes how I feel about this subject (viddy = view/watch): "It's funny how the colors of the real world only seem really real when you viddy them on the screen."

Sometimes, real life seems like an illusion. Everything passes by so quickly, people get into habits and become numb to small, yet beautiful, human experiences. Emotions are dulled, not appreciated. Things sometimes turn out the opposite of how we want them too, and often there aren't inspiring moments where you suddenly find your true self and your inner happiness. But life in movies is different. The best ones seem to bring out potent emotions in people which they struggle to conjure up in their real lives. For instance, if you have ever seen American Beauty (If not, go see this masterpiece!), you know how Kevin Spacey's character cherishes the little details of life. He says at the end,
"It's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst...and then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain. And I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life... You have no idea what I'm talking about, I'm sure. But don't worry... You will someday."
This is one of my favorite movie monologues ever. But the point is, when watching this film, people (including myself) actually get emotional over the beauty of the world. It can make one appreciate even the most insignificant seeming of things, such as the fluttering of leaves on a fall day or the warmth of the sun on your skin. A movie is able to make people feel gratitude like that! Incredible, isn't it? But guess what? A majority of people leave the theater or pop out the DVD and then immediately stop feeling thankful for everything again. Life goes back to being robotic, and the wonder of our senses is diminished and forgotten... Until the next movie, of course. If you are able to see the beauty in life, that is a a rare and amazing gift. For those who may go through the world on mental cruise control though, getting lost in movies has a crazy way of making one feel truly alive (while watching them). In the fantasy world of film, human experiences and emotions strangely seem more real and less like the odd dream of life. I find this fascinating.

Anyways, I think that everything in existence is beautiful and that film is too. I am so thankful for my sense of sight. To add onto this topic, here are two great (very) short films I have found for you.


Leave Me from Daros Films on Vimeo.



Notte Sento (English subtitles) from napdan on Vimeo.

Please let me know your thoughts on the short films! I would also love to know how you feel about the rest of my post. Thank you for taking the time to read it!

xoxo, Caylee

Indulging the Senses

Hey everyone! So I just decided that I want to write different posts inspired by each of the five senses. I am in a musical sort of mood today, which is why my focus will be on the sense of hearing! Below, I have shared with you eight songs that I adore, most of which have been favorites of mine for years now. They've been listened to a thousand times, yet they still have some sort of magical quality that stirs up something within me, whether this emotion makes me want to cry, dream, or dance. The songs like "Amber," "Chan Chan," "Pas de Deux," and "In the Aeroplane Over the Sea" are especially meaningful, because they have the ability to bring me back to old places that I could never truly be in again. A different age, different friends, and different emotions that would be impossible to return to. It always astonishes me how the first note of a song can instantly cultivate memories that had been long forgotten until that moment. They come back so clear. When "Amber" plays, I can feel the exact temperature of the balmy Floridian air on that night, years ago, the cool sand underneath my feet, and the way I was smiling inside from pure contentment with life. I love that. Because of music, because of hearing, we have the ability to travel through time, back to the past.

So take a listen to these songs if you'd like. They are definitely an eclectic mix of genres! As a sort of experiment, let me know if you enjoy listening to them. If most of you don't, then it may show that I simply like these songs for the good memories associated with them. If you do, then perhaps I just know good music? :)

**I've heard that the music set isn't loading properly for some people. I have no idea how to fix it. If it doesn't work for you, find my playlist "The Right Sounds" here and take a listen! Thanks!**

Questions for you:

What are your favorite songs of all time? Which bring back memories for you? I love talking about this sort of thing; can't want to hear from you all! I hope you enjoy my musical choices!

xoxo, Caylee