Thanks to the COM352 students for contributing a bunch of new pages! I'll be moving these pages into the main area of the wiki soon.

From UMassWiki

Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” which was originally a rock album released in 1979, inspired the band’s front man Roger Waters, and director Alan Parker to create “The Wall” in a film version which was released in 1982. The film had few words but ran “The Wall” album as its soundtrack which truly told the story the film was portraying. While watching the wall, the viewer receives a blast of intense scenes consisting of World War II battle scenes, rebelling British youth, as well as a combination of trippy animation. The story follows a young man who lost his Father to the war and consistently has visions of the war and flashbacks to his childhood. It also shows him being introduced to the party scene and sexuality. As I watched the film, I noticed certain scenes and themes to relate to my experience so far as a UMass Amherst freshman. In the beginning of the movie a scene shows the main character, who remains nameless outside in the playground as a small child. There are many other children running free in the playground. This scene reminded me of myself on move in day at Amherst because there are so many other students on the “playground” on this day. Continuing the scene, it shows the boy sitting on a swing trying to get himself going, yet can’t seem to without the aid of a parent. I can really relate to this because when you get to college your expected to do everything on your own without your folks. For the first eighteen years of my life I had lived in the same house getting taken care of by my Mom and Dad, but getting to school really opened my eyes to the fact that I would be doing things entirely on my own. Tasks such as doing my laundry, making sure I have eaten all my meals, organizing my daily tasks, and even getting to bed at a decent hour.

A scene from the film depicts the boy rummaging through his Father’s old war chest, which contained a letter, a box of bullets, a razor, and also the soldier’s hat. The boy walks to a mirror and tries the hat on himself. Immediately following, the picture turns to show the Father putting the hat on which was a very cool part of the movie. Thinking about this scene instills the memory of unpacking my gear im my dorm room on the day I arrived here. Putting all my things up wondering about my own Father and his experience as a young man going to college. I’ve always loved the connection between Father and Son. The legacy a Dad leaves to his boy, not only in taking his name but also everything the boy learns from him. Another reminding part of the movie shows teenage kids breaking free from a large locked gate. The wild adolescents finally snap the lock and all rush into the streets screaming and doing what they please. This quite easily relates to my experience in coming to Amherst. All of these children who have been held down by their parents and teachers for their whole lives are finally free to roam, and do what they please. Myself and thousands of other Freshman are experiencing real freedom for the first time which is a truly liberating experience. In being out on our own here, we have broken the lock off the gate and have made a mad dash into the streets. The streets of experience, education, and an overall sense of freedom. As the movie progresses it shows the main character as the singer of a band, belting out lyrics to the screaming teens in the streets below. I connected with this scene remembering the first night I was here when just outside my dormitory played a remarkable live band. My new friends and I made our way down to check it out. A truly immense crowd had formed around the stage and looking over it I saw all of the admiring screaming children from this scene. The movie depicts the man growing up and in a certain scene looks as though he is getting introduced into the party scene. The man drinks alcohol and watches women strip their clothing off in a fit of joy. All through this scene a wild rock and roll track off the album wails through your ear, which only heightens the intensity of this raging party. Amherst is known for being a huge party school, but nothing could prepare me for what I have experienced only in the first week. My new comrades and I made our way to the town houses this weekend and what ensued was one of the craziest nights I can ever imagine. kids from wall to wall, scantily clad women running about like it was nobody’s business, and of course an abundance of alcohol. I was definitely reminded of that scene from this experience at Umass. “The Wall” had many underlying themes and symbolism that conjured thoughts of my own personal experience here at Amherst so far. Im sure in the future there will be other things I could relate to the film but I will have to wait to find that out. The film in my opinion is a spectacular combination of cinematography and music which are two of my passionsStarwars