Author Archives: Bizarre Brunette

My Love of Band

Posted in Life Lately by

Being a college student, I am constantly stressed about classes, tests, and final exams. I try and find different hobbies to help myself relax and meet new people. Spring semester of my freshman year, I decided to participate in the Symphonic Wind Ensemble at Winona State University. I play the alto saxophone and I love the way the saxophone sounds. Band has always been something that I loved being a part of.

In fifth grade, the middle school band came to my elementary school to play some pieces of music. I was immediately interested in learning how to play a musical instrument. When I came home and told my parents about this, they were thrilled. My mom has always wanted to play a musical instrument but it never happened. My dad on the other hand was a percussionist and was in his high school marching band all four years. I had to pick three instruments that I wanted to “try out”. I wanted to play the flute and the clarinet but I couldn’t pick a third instrument to play. My dad was the one who suggested I try playing the saxophone. After making a sound out of the saxophone, I knew that it was the instrument for me.

I played in the band every year in high school except for my Senior year when I took a break. After starting my first semester in college, I realized how much I missed playing my saxophone. I was nervous because I wasn’t sure how challenging college band would be. I decided to take a chance and sign up for it my second semester of freshman year (spring semester 2013). I loved it! I met some cool people through band and I learned how to play some interesting pieces of music.

Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to take band for a full year due to my classes causing a conflict with band. Finally, I have found an open spot to put band into my schedule but I am having doubts as to whether or not to take it again.

I haven’t decided if I want to do band next semester or not, but I know that no matter what my old band memories from high school and college will remain with me forever.

Django Unchained and Violence in Film

Posted in Bizarre Brunette Big-Screen Watches by

My first blog post is dedicated to my love of film. Last weekend, I watched Django Unchained for the first time with my boyfriend. I am a huge Quentin Tarantino fan, so I have been wanting to watch his newest film for a while now. I finally got around to it and I liked it! The film follows the story of Django (Jamie Foxx) and he is rescued from slavery by Dr. King Shultz (Christopher Waltz) who is posing as a dentist but is really a bounty hunter. Django and Shultz become good friends and Shultz teaches Django how to shoot a gun and how to become a good bounty hunter. Eventually, as the movie progresses, Shultz ends up helping Django find his wife Broomhilda (Kerry Washington). Leonardo DiCaprio, Samuel L. Jackson, and Jonah Hill also have roles in this film. I enjoyed it overall and would watch it again but it’s not my favorite Tarantino film.

Watching Django Unchained made me think about violence in film. Tarantino is known for the violence and the gore that he puts into his films. That personally doesn’t bother me one bit. It does bother some individuals, however, and Tarantino has been vilified in the media for his use of violence. I don’t believe that violence in the media is responsible for violence in reality. I watch Tarantino’s films and I have played violent video games such as Gears of War, Grand Theft Auto, and Max Payne 3. This does not make me want to go out and relive these video games in real life. I don’t think Tarantino should have to tone down his films because I don’t believe his films or the use of violence is in any way responsible for violent acts in society. The people who go out and commit violent acts I feel have some sort of predisposition to violence. Now, of course, people may disagree with me and that’s fine. Everyone is allowed their opinion and this is mine.

That being said, I recommend seeing Django Unchained. The acting in this movie is superb and I really liked Leonardo DiCaprio in this movie. He plays Calvin Candie, the owner of the “Candyland Plantation”. He is sadistic and very thrilling on screen. My favorite Tarantino film of all time is Kill Bill Volume 1 so if you haven’t seen that for any reason, definitely watch that movie ASAP!