Journal+19

Journal #19 on May 15th, 2009 for Bolf’s 363 (After the film is over) Note: This one should be longer than one page. In fact, it should be over two pages long. Finish it later if you run out of time. You have the entire class period to work on it. THINK. Add any other observations that you have.
 * 1) Based on your viewing of the film, what dangers exist in nature? Remember this: Emerson, Thoreau and Whitman idealized the beauty of nature. How does the film offer insight into some of the harsher realities inherent in nature?
 * 2) Why won’t Chris/Alex accept the love of the people that he knows and meets? Why does he leave those people constantly? Think of his sister, the hippie mom who sells books, the young girl from “Slab City” who obviously loves him, and Mr. Franz. Why does he reject their love and leave them? Is this a character flaw of his?
 * 3) Judge the life of Alex Supertramp. Does he meet Emerson’s mantra: “To be great is to be understood.”
 * 4) Judge the life of Alex Supertramp part II: is his rejection of society and choice of going to Alaska something admirable? Was he truly free?
 * 5) At the end of the film, Alex writes in his journal that life is about shared happiness. Why was that a significant realization for Alex?
 * 6) Explain this line from the end of the film, spoken by Alex: “Call everything by its right name.”