Author Archives: Ralph Hanson

Good Friday, Dr. King, and the Letter from a Birmingham Jail

Posted on April 6, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. always understood symbolism and that words and actions had to match each other. That’s why he marched and got arrested in Birmingham, Alabama on Good Friday, 1963. While he was jailed there over Holy Week, … Continue reading →

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Link Ch. 8 – The Bechdel Test

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

There are lots of movies with great relationships between men.  There are a number of movies with interesting roles for women.  But how many movies out there feature multiple major female characters who interact with each other?  That’s the question … Continue reading →

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Questioning The Hunger Games

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

So the movie of The Hunger Games is out, and it’s been an enormous success.  Here are some questions the movie might raise: That whole death lottery things seems familiar.  Haven’t I read that kind of story before? Yes, in … Continue reading →

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Link Ch. 8 – Trailer for “The Artist”

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

The Artist won a host of Oscars in 2012, including Best Actor and Best Picture.  Not bad for a black & white silent movie….

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Link Ch. 8 – Tyler Perry’s Hollywood Success

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

Vanity Fair  – Tyler Perry was the number #2 African American Hollywood star for 2010 Never mind the fact that he actually lives in Atlanta…. Box Office Mojo – The box office success of Tyler Perry He’s produced a reliably … Continue reading →

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Link Ch. 8 – Original 1975 Jaws trailer

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

This is the trailer for the original summer blockbuster Jaws released in the summer of 1975.

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“The Media”

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

Remember when you talk about “The Media”: The bestselling newspaper is The Wall Street Journal. The top-rated radio talk show host is Rush Limbaugh, who has more listeners than the top four liberal hosts combined. The top cable news channel … Continue reading →

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Link Ch. 11 – Fun Commercials

Posted on March 29, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

During the advertising unit, I often interrupt the lecture for a “word from our sponsors.”  Here are a few of my favorites: Nissan “Toy Story” Nike “I am Tiger Woods” Levis “I Think I Love Your” by Michael Bay Levis … Continue reading →

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Link Ch. 8 – What should the documentary Bully do about its R rating?

Posted on March 28, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

The documentary Bully has been getting a lot of attention this week for the R rating the MPAA assigned it. As of right now, the MPAA (who does the ratings) says that the documentary on bullying deserves the R rating for … Continue reading →

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Link Ch. 8 – Final Cut: The Making and Unmaking of Heaven’s Gate

Posted on March 27, 2012 by Ralph Hanson

Michael Cimino’s epic failure of a motion picture Heaven’s Gate is credited with/blamed for sinking the United Artists film studio.  Some claim it was a masterpiece.  Me?  My wife-to-be and I saw it on our first date back in 1981.  The … Continue reading →

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