Episode Transcript
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(00:05):
Hello, I'm Callie. And I'm Sara.
And this is Community Spotlight.
We are students in the college and career studies program at UK. This radio
segment will spotlight different things in the local community.
each week. Thanks for listening.
(00:29):
Hello, and welcome to the Community Spotlight podcast. This podcast was started by students
in the College and Career Studies program at the University of Kentucky. It is a space for students
in inclusive higher education programs to explore topics of interest, and connect with people in the
community. If you are interested in learning more or being on the podcast, please reach out
(00:54):
and let us know. On today's show, our topic is impactful stories. Our guests are Will, Sara,
and Jakob - all students at UK. Sara is a student in the College and Career studies program and is
also studying universal design. Will is a student in the universal design certificate program,
(01:17):
and is doing his practicum this semester around libraries and literary interests. Jakob is a
social work student and peer mentor, and is also interested in literary topics and creative
writing. Today, we would like to talk about how stories are important in our lives. Stories can
be entertaining, but they are more than that. They also can impact our lives and minds in many ways.
(01:45):
Whether we engage with stories through books, magazines, movies, plays, TV shows, or other
formats, they can have a big effect on the way we think about the world. Today, our guests will
talk about some of the stories that have most impacted their views on the world and the human
condition. Hello, Will, Sara, and Jakob. Thanks for being with us today. How are y'all doing today?
(02:11):
I'm doing fine.
I'm doing good. Thank you for asking.
I am fantastic. I'm very excited to be recording this.
Thank you. So, we focused a lot on the shared interest of stories and our practicum work. We
engage with stories using multiple media formats, including books, essays, short fiction, movies,
graphic narratives, comics, animated series, TV shows, plays, and many others. What are
(02:37):
some of your favorite ways to engage with stories? And why? How about you, Will?
Well, I like to visualize the story in my head when I read a book or listen to a
podcast. It helps me cope with the escapism to the realities I'm facing with or when I hear dreadful news.
(02:59):
That is an excellent reason. Thank you. Sara, how about you?
One of my favorite ways to engage with stories is to read a book while
listening to a recording of the book. It helps me focus and I understand the story better.
I sometimes like to use closed captioning when watching a story on TV, DVD or YouTube.
(03:19):
Excellent. How about you, Jakob?
Yeah, I'm gonna have to agree with Will, when I say like, my favorite way is just
engaging with books. With my imagination. I think it's so amazing to become immersed in
a story just in general when you read the words on the page, but imagination really
can bring the words to life and give you some imagery into what you're reading. In turn,
(03:40):
I really, I really think it's going to help you understand the story 10 times better that way.
I totally agree. So, stories are not only entertaining, they can also give important
perspectives that can change how we think about ourselves and other people and the world. So,
what are some ways that stories can help us to think about things in a new way?
(04:03):
Well, I enter the character's perspectives on their thoughts
and feelings, how they think and what they feel, what they're going through.
That is an excellent point. One
way that stories help us think about things in a new way is by telling the story from a different
point of view, we might learn that a story has a different meaning than what we originally thought.
(04:26):
Absolutely. Yeah, stories can really help us think about things in so many different
ways. I feel like stories withhold messages that everyone is able to see which can be
common to a lot of different people. I feel like it's just a super unique thing about
reading because sometimes I really feel like it can bring a whole crowd of people
together who can relate to the same things. And stories also have the unique ability to elevate
(04:48):
the way we think and let us imagine and see stuff that we've never like done before. So,
like in a way, they can really help us create morals for ourselves and
then the characters and stories can be really influential into how we see the world as well.
Absolutely, I think these are all ways that imagination and what we call reality kind of
come together in magical ways with stories, which is one of the cool things about them. We've talked
(05:15):
recently about some of the stories we each feel have helped us change our perspective in some way.
Maybe they have helped us think about the world in a new way or challenged views we already had. One
example is fairy tales, Sara and Will, you're both taking a class now about fairy tales in European
context. What are some of the fairy tales you're discussing in that class this semester? Well,
(05:39):
we recently read Rumpelstiltskin, the Three Spinners, Lazy Spinner, Hansel and Gretel,
Molly Whuppie, Thumbling, Mutsmag and now we've read Snow White.
Excellent. And you mentioned Hansel and Gretel. What are some of the themes
of this story? And how do they relate to social issues in the modern world.
(06:02):
One of the themes of Hansel and Gretel was about abandoning children. Child
abandonment was a real world problem in the 17th through 19th centuries. One example is
that children were abandoned when families had too many children, no birth control,
and couldn't feed them. Another thing had to do with greed. Times were hard and people were
(06:23):
hungry. In this story, the parents were so greedy, they were willing to abandon their
children and put them in danger to make sure they had enough food for themselves.
And that's really interesting. A lot of people probably don't know or think about those issues
in relation to that story, but see it is a simple children's story. So that's one of the really
interesting things about fairy tales. Did you have any other thoughts about Hansel and Gretel? Well,
(06:49):
yes, there's also child abandonment and hunger, that I agree with Sara, but also
not taking candy from strangers, which is a life lesson that a lot of people need to learn about.
Agreed.
I think that taking candy from strangers might be
more of like what children can learn from themselves?
(07:11):
Yes, and that's probably one of the things that's most often talked about. As, as you all know,
sometimes fairy tales are presented as children's stories when they may have originated as something
a little bit more complex than that. But there are there are things in them for all ages for
sure. Rumpelstiltskin is another fairy tale you all have mentioned, what are some themes
(07:34):
or social issues from that story that might make us think about the world in a deeper way? Well,
there are some antisemitism, how Rumple is portrayed as a Jewish
stereotype with the hook nose, dark skinned, curly, long beard and Dwarfish appearance.
One of the main themes of Rumpelstiltskin is that a person should always tell
(07:57):
the truth and be responsible for their actions. If the miller and
his daughter hadn't told the king she could spend gold out of straw,
they could have avoided making a deal with Rumpelstiltskin and almost losing a child.
Yes, there are a lot of themes that some of the things you mentioned, Sara,
are things that people might understand it at first read part of what you mentioned, Will,
(08:21):
I think probably a lot of people might not notice that or not have realized that that could
be seen as that type of a stereotype or that it might be anti-Semitic, so it was it was a very
interesting themes. If you dig deeper into fairy tales, we can learn a lot more about
the complexity of them. And in addition to fairy tales, there are many other types of stories that
(08:42):
have been depicted a lot in popular culture. We've talked before about the Wizard of Oz as an example
of a story that many people know and engage with. Most people encountered the original movie version
of that story. Before the movie, though, it was a children's book called The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
written by L. Frank Baum. After the well-known movie version in 1939. It has since seen many
(09:06):
spin off versions and variations that have also gotten a lot of attention in society. Will, can
you tell us about some of the different variations of the Oz stories before we go into interpretation?
Well, there is Wicked, the Wiz and Tin Man which are reimaginings of the L Frank Baum novels.
(09:30):
Yes, and some of those have gotten a lot of attention in recent years for sure. How do
you think the different versions and variations handle concepts of good and evil differently?
Well, in Wicked, it is told through the witch’s, the Witch of the West’s perspective,
how she was used as a scapegoat by the rich and powerful, including the wizard, whom that
(09:53):
society blames people who are not, don't look and think and feel different. That's a good point.
I will say, in the 1939 Wizard of Oz movie good and evil are easy to identify in Oz and seem to
be in balance. For example, there is a good witch to balance a bad witch. I haven't seen Wicked,
(10:14):
but this is a musical version of The Wizard of Oz story. I have read that the focus on
good and evil and wicked is more about how both good and evil can be inside of a
person. It would not be the only musical that deals with that kind of thing, though. True.
And I'm sure we will get to some more of those later as conversation maybe. Jakob,
did you want to chime in about the Wizard of Oz? Oh, sure.
(10:38):
I didn't even know there were so many different variations of the Wizard of Oz. I'm super familiar
with the 1939 adaptation with Judy Garland. I think that one's like, really, I don't know,
it's really fun to watch. And it's, it just kind of gives me like a feel of nostalgia. But I've
been, I like was doing some research about the Wizard of Oz. And there are so many adaptations,
(10:59):
like Will said, Tin Man. And then I've also seen something called His Majesty,
the Scarecrow and the Patchwork Girl of Oz. There's a lot of variations
that I really want to check out now. So, I'm definitely going to be doing that for sure.
Yeah, that's cool. I was excited when I first I have not seen Wicked. I am familiar with the songs
(11:21):
a bit because my kids became familiar with it. And then I heard the songs and they have seen it. So,
I have heard the songs. But I read the book Wicked, and it is a very different variation
on the story than others that I had encountered. And I really enjoyed it. But it's one of those
stories because of the popularity of the movie, I think people have interest in it. In all kinds
(11:46):
of different genres and stuff like that. How do you think the overall story and themes of the
Wizard of Oz can help - regardless of which variation we're talking about - how do you
think the overall story and themes can help us think about the world in new ways? Well,
it's about how Dorothy's companions want something that they have not like courage,
(12:09):
brains, and hearts. But they have it inside of them. It’s not
by achieving them, but by finding inside of them.
Yes, absolutely.
Essentially, it's a story about like, how all those characters wanted to find those
things. But the Oz told them actually, you all had those things with inside yourself.
(12:33):
You just needed to go on this long journey to find those strengths within yourselves.
But I also see it as a metaphor of the populist movements, movements that happened between
the late 1800s and the early 1900s, how people were oppressed by the rich and powerful.
(12:53):
Yes, and that really stays true, even in the other iterations really stays true to something that was
a big part of the original book, that maybe not everyone notices, because there's so many
different things to notice in the movie, that we may not see it as clearly. But if you look at it,
(13:14):
it is probably present. Exactly what you talked about those themes are very present in
all of those variations, too. What do you think, Jakob, do you have any other thoughts about that?
Yes. So, my thing with the Wizard of Oz, I think immediately when I like think of themes regarding
it, I think of the theme of you can accomplish more with friends than when you're alone. So, when
(13:37):
you think about the story as a whole, Dorothy's three friends that she encounters - the Scarecrow,
the Lion and the Tin Man, they're alone, they have no friends. They're practically friendless, and in
a sense, that kind of helplessness in a way. Once it is apparent, each of these three characters
show their flaws to one another, there's a sense of friendship that can be picked up on and I
(13:58):
personally think it's really beautiful when you examine it more closely, and in depth. Dorothy,
the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the lion all help each other out with their friendship.
Their bond is awesome to watch, develop and unfold. And it truly shows that overarching
theme of the fact that we can accomplish more friends than when we then when we are alone. It
(14:19):
really makes me think about cherishing my own friendships more and being thankful for what I
have. That is so true. I agree with that completely. And I think to going back to
some of the themes, you all have all talked about this, some of the ways that those friends
band together to go toward their journey and what they're looking for. Also does reflect
(14:41):
the theme of the populist movement that Will was mentioning because even though they band together,
they still sometimes can't get past the hurdles that they face once they get to the wizard. And
there's a lot of as you've pointed out, Will, a lot of stuff about the wizard that kind of
represents the establishment and things that aren't always systems that aren't always kind
(15:04):
to working folks. But it does take people working together to even move forward in
a world that they don't have that much control over. So, I think all of these are really good
themes to think about. Another story many people are familiar with is Alice in Wonderland. This
(15:24):
also started as a children's book and novel called Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by
Lewis Carroll. There have since been sequels as well as many variations of the story in books,
films and theater. The story is fantasy, but also has many themes in it that we can relate
to in the world we live in. What do you see as some of the themes of Alice in Wonderland,
and how might this help us think more deeply about the world we live in?
(15:47):
Well, in Carroll's novel, it shows us that we use our imagination to escape our reality. In
the end of the novel, Alice wakes up and learns that her journey to Wonderland was
actually a dream. And she and her sister imagines the same thing, but uses similar
(16:08):
sounds that her sister encountered in a dream. And in one adaptation in the 1999,
made for TV movie. Alice has stage fright, and wants to escape. And so, she uses her imagination.
Yeah, those are really great themes to think about.
(16:28):
One theme in Alice in Wonderland is that we need to have an open mind and be ready
to accept when unexpected things happen, or we meet with people or environments
that are different. Also, we need to learn to embrace our own strengths and qualities.
I absolutely agree with that. And I think we could
all use more of that in the world for sure. What do you think Jakob,
(16:51):
I think of Alice in Wonderland is it's such a wonderful classic to go back and rewatch
over and over, it always brings me so much nostalgia. The one theme that really stuck
with me is probably the inevitable loss of childhood innocence is what I was thinking,
and then kind of how our bodies change. So, through the story, Alice is going through so many
physical changes during her journey, and they're really abnormal to her. So, in a sense, we can
(17:16):
see that these changes can be really traumatic for her. And I really feel like the constant changes
she's experienced truly represents the way that a child feels as their body grows and changes in
their transition from childhood to adolescence. It reminds me of when I was transitioning into my
teens and kind of makes me sad to remember how innocent I used to feel as a child,
Before learning about changes in humans and just more about the world in general, like growing up
(17:37):
and sort of going into adulthood in a sense, from teenage, if that makes sense. Sort of Yeah. We
don't really think of it when we're kids. And in a sense, it makes me think about whenever I have
my own kids and raise my own family someday, I really want them to enjoy their innocence in
their youth before they begin to grow up. And so, I really don't want them to rush out or anything.
(18:02):
That's a really good point. I don't know if I had thought of it in precisely that way.
But that makes a lot of sense. Especially a lot of times in fantastical stories,
things can seem absurd or really exaggerated, but they really do speak to something that is
happening in reality. So that's a really good comparison. Thank you. Frankenstein is another
(18:28):
story that has seen many variations over the years and that we've talked about a lot because you will
have read it in other classes, and you've just enjoyed talking about it together. So,
Sara and Will - you both read this for one of your classes recently and got to study it
more in depth than most people do. The story of Frankenstein may be just as misunderstood
(18:49):
as Frankenstein's creature. What do you see as important themes in the story of Frankenstein,
that this book makes you think differently about how people treat each other in the world? Yes,
it could be a metaphor how people mistreat other people who are different in appearance,
sexuality, gender efficacy, and religious backgrounds. How you know,
(19:13):
if you're not following the status quo, you're seen as an outcast.
I agree. Sara, what do you think?
One important theme in Frankenstein had to dowith how people felt about science when Mary when
Mary Shelley wrote the story. Frankenstein was playing God when he brought life to his
(19:35):
creature and that was unforgivable. Another theme in Frankenstein was that the creature
was isolated and considered evil based on his appearance and how he was created. We
need to learn that you cannot judge people because of their differences.
I agree and especially interesting, since this was a creature created by
(19:56):
someone else and yet took the wrap for what people saw as the flaws of that creature.
And this kind of leads a little bit toward another genre, I want to talk about that I
know Will and Sara that you're both very into. And that is horror. So, some of us, like myself,
(20:21):
have a hard time watching horror films because of the violence or terror they often show.
But the storylines and horror stories can be truly interesting. And for fans of the genre,
the stories have much more to them than others may think. What is one
horror story - whether that be a book, story, movie or series - that you think
goes deeper than most people think? And what is something about that story that
(20:47):
you think shows us something about the world or something about ourselves as humans? Well,
I have I have a class. A respect for the classic Universal Monsters,
is they have a timelessness to them. In one half its 19th century Europe,
but the other half is present day 30s or 40s. But the setting, that's the thing is
(21:11):
very ambiguous. It also shows us our like, our dark nature, that man is a true monster.
How these monsters may be misunderstood beings, tragic figures, and outcasts.
Yeah, and that's really interesting, Will. So, you mentioned that it could be seen that
in some ways we as humans are monsters. But you also mentioned that it could be
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that depictions of monsters are about people being misunderstood or being outcasts. So,
I think some people are scared away from thinking about monsters because they worry
that they might also have that capacity. But I think what you bring up is really interesting,
because I think any qualities in human nature that come out, are oftentimes, there is some
(22:00):
kind of tie to someone not being treated well. So, I think that's good to keep in mind. Sara,
what are your thoughts about horror or any particular stories that speak to you?
I think the Friday the 13th horror movies have a deeper storyline than most people think. Jason
Vorhees, the villain has a backstory that deals with being bullied as a child because of a facial
(22:21):
deformity. He also had an over protective and violent mother. I think it just shows
us again that we shouldn't treat people differently because of their differences.
Thank you. Jakob, I don't know if you're a fan of horror. What are your thoughts on this?
I'm actually a huge like horror movie fanatic. Okay. I do love a lot of modern horror films. So,
(22:44):
one of the scariest films that I've seen that's relatively new is Hereditary. If you haven't seen
it, and you enjoy something genuinely frightening, I highly recommend watching it. I usually don't
get scared at horror movies. But this one terrifies me. And so, the lore behind it goes
really deep. But there's one theme that I found when watching it, that may drift over a lot of
(23:06):
people's heads. So, I actually just recently read Jennette McCurdy's book, I'm Glad My Mom Died,
is very, very good memoir. By Jeanette, I highly recommend reading that as well. Essentially,
in her book, she discusses the overall central theme of toxic parental expectations,
which really got me thinking about hereditary when you look back into it. without giving any spoilers
(23:30):
essentially, in the plot. The mother cared for her children so deeply. But the things that she
would do for them were twisted in order to align with the ideologies of a family cult
that was that her mother was a part of, it's like, kind of gives you a sense of where the title came
from. It's hereditary in their genes. It probably sounds like a lot, and it's a little confusing,
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but bear with me. The consequences of the mother's actions essentially led her son
and husband to view her with a ton of doubt, and gave her this really bad reputation. So, I really
think the movie portrays the idea and burden of toxic expectations that can be set by parents,
specifically mothers in this case, and how they can feel and even be not escapable sometimes.
(24:12):
Wow, that does sound pretty intense. Sara and Will - were
either of you familiar with that particular movie?
Oh, yeah. I've seen many clips of it. I find it very disturbing,
but never got read the subtext about toxic parenting expectations. That's something that
a lot of teenagers may face. If they have toxic parents who wants to want to achieve better.
(24:38):
Thank you, Will. Is that something you've heard of?
I am not familiar with that movie or the book that was before it. So,
I am not familiar with either of those two things at all. Okay, well, I
probably will not check it out. If I'm already scared of horror movies and that one even
scared a fanatic of horror films. That's probably not the one for me to watch but
(24:59):
I do who have an interest in reading that memoir. So, thank you for that recommendation.
Absolutely.
Okay, we have talked about a lot of different stories that many people know,
maybe a couple that people haven't known. So now I'd like to give each of you a chance to
say something about one of your own favorite stories are series that you've not gotten to
(25:20):
talk about yet. So, this could be a book, movie series, any format or any genre. So,
Will, let’s start with you. What is a story that has affected you a lot, and which
you believe says something really important about the world or the human condition? Well,
there is a certain book that is very overlooked over time, is Michael Ende’s Neverending Story,
(25:42):
which some people may be familiar with the film adaptation, but are not aware of its
actual book source material. In the book, it has, it teaches us about how escapism,
imagination uses our escapism, but it can be a danger, about losing our identity,
and our egotism, and how imagination can fuel a world but we can lose ourselves at a price.
(26:10):
That's a really good example. And those are really good points. You mentioned that the
movie version is what most people are familiar with, and not the book, which is often true.
Do you feel like the movie version did a decent job of carrying the story across?
Well, they fit, the focus on the first half of the book. But the rest is kind of a bit
(26:30):
complex and has kind of a well, darker and surreal aspects to it,
that it was unable to adapt into film because it was made in the 80s.
That's a good point. And I know that for we've talked about this a lot,
because sometimes the film adaptations they leave a lot out because a film would
(26:51):
have to be really long for them to capture everything. But yeah, so, so interesting.
And if anyone out there is familiar with the movie and you liked it and want to like,
go further with it, you could always check out the book and maybe learn some new things. Sara,
what is something that you are really interested in and would like to talk about?
(27:13):
My favorite story is Phantom of the Opera - the book and adaptations that were that were
better before the 2004 version. I especially love the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical version
on DVD. The Phantom of the Opera affected me because of the Phantom’s history. Because
of his appearance, the Phantom was abandoned as a child and never experienced what love
(27:35):
or compassion felt like. He didn't get to learn right from wrong because he didn't
have human connections. I think this shows that people need to be shown acceptance,
love, and compassion to help them develop the same feelings for others. Okay, thank
you. And as you mentioned before, that is something that has come across in themes
of some other things, too. So, I can see why these are shared stories that
(27:59):
you have interest in that some of them have the same kinds of themes in them.
I do recommend that for people who are fans of the musical that have not read the
original novel by Gaston Leroux to please check it out. At any bookstores that have
it available. It is kind of better from the adaptations once you familiarize yourself with
(28:25):
the musical versions that were before 2004. So, if you haven't read the original novel,
I have the English translated version, sitting at my house somewhere. If you haven't read that
novel, originally by Gaston Leroux, I do recommend that people who are still fans
(28:46):
of it even before reading the book to check it out. It is a good story. And
it has a lot of character perspectives as they each give their own testimony as to
how they know the Phantom versus how everyone that witnessed him actually came to know him.
(29:09):
Good suggestion. Thank you for that suggestion. I hope some people will take that to heart.
And Jakob would you like to share anything about a story that affected you a lot? Sure,
I'll say I talked about horror just now. I feel like the entire genre of horror kind of gives
me a new perspective on appreciating my family that I have. I really like watching story. I like
(29:31):
watching horror films and things like that. But getting to see families struggle like
that kind of, you know, makes me a little sad whenever I'm watching it in a sense,
I know it's really scary, but it's also like kind of hard to see other families struggling. So,
I feel like it gives me a sense of like being more thankful for what I have in my family and just
overall thankful that I don't have to deal with these crazy scenarios that go on in movies. I
(29:58):
absolutely do and I just have to ask real quick do any of you all talk to the TV or the screen when
you're watching horror movies to like tell people like, don't follow the music or things like that?
Oh, yeah, I always try. I always, you know, know what's going to expect you like,
just tell them go back in the house or don't find the source or the sounds. Yeah,
(30:20):
I feel them as a morality place that I'm glad I'm not those people. In
my head. My brain goes, “If you all have seen horror movies long before you came along,
then why do you break the number one rule of splitting off from each other?” Bad decision,
bad things happen when you split off from each other in these scenarios. And I'm always
(30:44):
glad that I don't have to live like those people that make that decision. It sounds
like you all agree on that point that it makes you glad to turn out in those situations. And
to that point, you just said, Sara, and then we'll wrap this up is that it reminds me of a question I
used to have about a song that I heard growing up, which is called MTA by the Kingston Trio.
(31:06):
And there's a line in the song, the premise of the song is this guy gets on the subway,
and then they raised the fares while he's on there. And they are asking him to pay a nickel
in order to get off the train. And so, it's you know, it's a song that uses that as a device
to tell this story into it's a political song too about raising of fare increases in public
(31:30):
transportation. But I remember hearing it one of the lines in the song they would say
that, “Charlie's wife goes down to the Scully Square Station every day at quarter past two
and through the open window, she throws Charlie a sandwich as the train goes rumbling through.” So,
it's kind of like he just keeps riding the train forever, “He’s the man who never returned” is the
tagline of the song. But as a kid, you know, of course, I took it very literally. And I said,
(31:54):
“Mom, why didn't she just hand him a nickel instead of a sandwich?” And she said, “Well, I guess then
there wouldn't have been a song.” And I feel like that's true with the horror movies, too. They kind
of want us to be telling the characters that and that's part of the that's part of the fun of it.
And not so much in like any time one of them is screaming before being killed. The surviving ones
(32:17):
always split off from each other because they want to find out where that sound where the source of
the sounds are coming from. And my head is just like, “Y'all know, that's a bad decision?” Right,
right. Maybe run away and the other direction? Yeah, it goes, my brain goes.
“Maybe don't follow the source of the sound. So, you'll live from that. Follow them? Yeah,
(32:38):
pretty sure the villains got to find you anyway.” Oh,
by the way, have you ever seen a film he films called Scream or Cabin in the Woods? I've
heard of Cabin in the Woods film. I am not familiar with
the film itself. I am familiar with the first Scream movie that was ever made,
though, aired on my TV once. That's how I'm familiar with the first film.
(33:00):
I even watched the first Screammovie because I heard it was funny,
which it was, but it was really scary. And it was also truly a horror film. So, it was scary to me.
It kind of pokes fun at like the rules of horror movies. And it's like there's a mysterious killing
person that like, calls people on their phones. Granted the year the movie was set in an era where
(33:26):
corded phones were still a thing. Yeah, and the villain, the killer, keeps calling up his victims
on those. And then he'll ask like, what is your favorite horror movie? And then they and then
they get asked a question. What are the rules of the horror movies? And they have to say that it's
(33:49):
don't split off from each other. Don't follow the source of the mysterious sounds. Yes, and don't
do anything bad like having sex or drugs or drinking.
Yeah because in Friday the 13th that was a huge thing that camp counselors
kept doing in all the sequels and it was just a matter of time before they
decided they were gonna split off from each other. With it not turning out to
(34:11):
be a good idea. Because that's how Jason finds them easily. Exactly.
And I think these are partly where these stories come about and why they're so popular. Okay,
I guess we better wrap up. So, this has been a wonderful conversation about
impactful stories. Thank you to Will, Sara, and Jakob for sharing your thoughts with us
today and anyone listening. We appreciate you tuning in to the community spotlight podcast.
(34:36):
This podcast again was started by students in the College and Career Studies program at UK,
and it is a space for students and inclusive higher education programs to explore topics
of interest and connect with people and the community. The podcast is recorded and
produced by the media team at Human Development Institute. If you're interested in learning more
(34:57):
or being on the podcast, please reach out to us and let us know. Bye. Bye.
Thank you for having us. See ya. This has been community spotlight.
Thanks for listening.
Hello, I'm Callie. And I'm Sara.
And this is Community Spotlight.
We are students in the college and career studies program at UK. This radio
segment will spotlight different things in the local community.
each week. Thanks for listening.
(00:29):
Hello, and welcome to the Community Spotlight podcast. This podcast was started by students
in the College and Career Studies program at the University of Kentucky. It is a space for students
in inclusive higher education programs to explore topics of interest, and connect with people in the
community. If you are interested in learning more or being on the podcast, please reach out
(00:54):
and let us know. On today's show, our topic is impactful stories. Our guests are Will, Sara,
and Jakob - all students at UK. Sara is a student in the College and Career studies program and is
also studying universal design. Will is a student in the universal design certificate program,
(01:17):
and is doing his practicum this semester around libraries and literary interests. Jakob is a
social work student and peer mentor, and is also interested in literary topics and creative
writing. Today, we would like to talk about how stories are important in our lives. Stories can
be entertaining, but they are more than that. They also can impact our lives and minds in many ways.
(01:45):
Whether we engage with stories through books, magazines, movies, plays, TV shows, or other
formats, they can have a big effect on the way we think about the world. Today, our guests will
talk about some of the stories that have most impacted their views on the world and the human
condition. Hello, Will, Sara, and Jakob. Thanks for being with us today. How are y'all doing today?
(02:11):
I'm doing fine.
I'm doing good. Thank you for asking.
I am fantastic. I'm very excited to be recording this.
Thank you. So, we focused a lot on the shared interest of stories and our practicum work. We
engage with stories using multiple media formats, including books, essays, short fiction, movies,
graphic narratives, comics, animated series, TV shows, plays, and many others. What are
(02:37):
some of your favorite ways to engage with stories? And why? How about you, Will?
Well, I like to visualize the story in my head when I read a book or listen to a
podcast. It helps me cope with the escapism to the realities I'm facing with or when I hear dreadful news.
(02:59):
That is an excellent reason. Thank you. Sara, how about you?
One of my favorite ways to engage with stories is to read a book while
listening to a recording of the book. It helps me focus and I understand the story better.
I sometimes like to use closed captioning when watching a story on TV, DVD or YouTube.
(03:19):
Excellent. How about you, Jakob?
Yeah, I'm gonna have to agree with Will, when I say like, my favorite way is just
engaging with books. With my imagination. I think it's so amazing to become immersed in
a story just in general when you read the words on the page, but imagination really
can bring the words to life and give you some imagery into what you're reading. In turn,
(03:40):
I really, I really think it's going to help you understand the story 10 times better that way.
I totally agree. So, stories are not only entertaining, they can also give important
perspectives that can change how we think about ourselves and other people and the world. So,
what are some ways that stories can help us to think about things in a new way?
(04:03):
Well, I enter the character's perspectives on their thoughts
and feelings, how they think and what they feel, what they're going through.
That is an excellent point. One
way that stories help us think about things in a new way is by telling the story from a different
point of view, we might learn that a story has a different meaning than what we originally thought.
(04:26):
Absolutely. Yeah, stories can really help us think about things in so many different
ways. I feel like stories withhold messages that everyone is able to see which can be
common to a lot of different people. I feel like it's just a super unique thing about
reading because sometimes I really feel like it can bring a whole crowd of people
together who can relate to the same things. And stories also have the unique ability to elevate
(04:48):
the way we think and let us imagine and see stuff that we've never like done before. So,
like in a way, they can really help us create morals for ourselves and
then the characters and stories can be really influential into how we see the world as well.
Absolutely, I think these are all ways that imagination and what we call reality kind of
come together in magical ways with stories, which is one of the cool things about them. We've talked
(05:15):
recently about some of the stories we each feel have helped us change our perspective in some way.
Maybe they have helped us think about the world in a new way or challenged views we already had. One
example is fairy tales, Sara and Will, you're both taking a class now about fairy tales in European
context. What are some of the fairy tales you're discussing in that class this semester? Well,
(05:39):
we recently read Rumpelstiltskin, the Three Spinners, Lazy Spinner, Hansel and Gretel,
Molly Whuppie, Thumbling, Mutsmag and now we've read Snow White.
Excellent. And you mentioned Hansel and Gretel. What are some of the themes
of this story? And how do they relate to social issues in the modern world.
(06:02):
One of the themes of Hansel and Gretel was about abandoning children. Child
abandonment was a real world problem in the 17th through 19th centuries. One example is
that children were abandoned when families had too many children, no birth control,
and couldn't feed them. Another thing had to do with greed. Times were hard and people were
(06:23):
hungry. In this story, the parents were so greedy, they were willing to abandon their
children and put them in danger to make sure they had enough food for themselves.
And that's really interesting. A lot of people probably don't know or think about those issues
in relation to that story, but see it is a simple children's story. So that's one of the really
interesting things about fairy tales. Did you have any other thoughts about Hansel and Gretel? Well,
(06:49):
yes, there's also child abandonment and hunger, that I agree with Sara, but also
not taking candy from strangers, which is a life lesson that a lot of people need to learn about.
Agreed.
I think that taking candy from strangers might be
more of like what children can learn from themselves?
(07:11):
Yes, and that's probably one of the things that's most often talked about. As, as you all know,
sometimes fairy tales are presented as children's stories when they may have originated as something
a little bit more complex than that. But there are there are things in them for all ages for
sure. Rumpelstiltskin is another fairy tale you all have mentioned, what are some themes
(07:34):
or social issues from that story that might make us think about the world in a deeper way? Well,
there are some antisemitism, how Rumple is portrayed as a Jewish
stereotype with the hook nose, dark skinned, curly, long beard and Dwarfish appearance.
One of the main themes of Rumpelstiltskin is that a person should always tell
(07:57):
the truth and be responsible for their actions. If the miller and
his daughter hadn't told the king she could spend gold out of straw,
they could have avoided making a deal with Rumpelstiltskin and almost losing a child.
Yes, there are a lot of themes that some of the things you mentioned, Sara,
are things that people might understand it at first read part of what you mentioned, Will,
(08:21):
I think probably a lot of people might not notice that or not have realized that that could
be seen as that type of a stereotype or that it might be anti-Semitic, so it was it was a very
interesting themes. If you dig deeper into fairy tales, we can learn a lot more about
the complexity of them. And in addition to fairy tales, there are many other types of stories that
(08:42):
have been depicted a lot in popular culture. We've talked before about the Wizard of Oz as an example
of a story that many people know and engage with. Most people encountered the original movie version
of that story. Before the movie, though, it was a children's book called The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
written by L. Frank Baum. After the well-known movie version in 1939. It has since seen many
(09:06):
spin off versions and variations that have also gotten a lot of attention in society. Will, can
you tell us about some of the different variations of the Oz stories before we go into interpretation?
Well, there is Wicked, the Wiz and Tin Man which are reimaginings of the L Frank Baum novels.
(09:30):
Yes, and some of those have gotten a lot of attention in recent years for sure. How do
you think the different versions and variations handle concepts of good and evil differently?
Well, in Wicked, it is told through the witch’s, the Witch of the West’s perspective,
how she was used as a scapegoat by the rich and powerful, including the wizard, whom that
(09:53):
society blames people who are not, don't look and think and feel different. That's a good point.
I will say, in the 1939 Wizard of Oz movie good and evil are easy to identify in Oz and seem to
be in balance. For example, there is a good witch to balance a bad witch. I haven't seen Wicked,
(10:14):
but this is a musical version of The Wizard of Oz story. I have read that the focus on
good and evil and wicked is more about how both good and evil can be inside of a
person. It would not be the only musical that deals with that kind of thing, though. True.
And I'm sure we will get to some more of those later as conversation maybe. Jakob,
did you want to chime in about the Wizard of Oz? Oh, sure.
(10:38):
I didn't even know there were so many different variations of the Wizard of Oz. I'm super familiar
with the 1939 adaptation with Judy Garland. I think that one's like, really, I don't know,
it's really fun to watch. And it's, it just kind of gives me like a feel of nostalgia. But I've
been, I like was doing some research about the Wizard of Oz. And there are so many adaptations,
(10:59):
like Will said, Tin Man. And then I've also seen something called His Majesty,
the Scarecrow and the Patchwork Girl of Oz. There's a lot of variations
that I really want to check out now. So, I'm definitely going to be doing that for sure.
Yeah, that's cool. I was excited when I first I have not seen Wicked. I am familiar with the songs
(11:21):
a bit because my kids became familiar with it. And then I heard the songs and they have seen it. So,
I have heard the songs. But I read the book Wicked, and it is a very different variation
on the story than others that I had encountered. And I really enjoyed it. But it's one of those
stories because of the popularity of the movie, I think people have interest in it. In all kinds
(11:46):
of different genres and stuff like that. How do you think the overall story and themes of the
Wizard of Oz can help - regardless of which variation we're talking about - how do you
think the overall story and themes can help us think about the world in new ways? Well,
it's about how Dorothy's companions want something that they have not like courage,
(12:09):
brains, and hearts. But they have it inside of them. It’s not
by achieving them, but by finding inside of them.
Yes, absolutely.
Essentially, it's a story about like, how all those characters wanted to find those
things. But the Oz told them actually, you all had those things with inside yourself.
(12:33):
You just needed to go on this long journey to find those strengths within yourselves.
But I also see it as a metaphor of the populist movements, movements that happened between
the late 1800s and the early 1900s, how people were oppressed by the rich and powerful.
(12:53):
Yes, and that really stays true, even in the other iterations really stays true to something that was
a big part of the original book, that maybe not everyone notices, because there's so many
different things to notice in the movie, that we may not see it as clearly. But if you look at it,
(13:14):
it is probably present. Exactly what you talked about those themes are very present in
all of those variations, too. What do you think, Jakob, do you have any other thoughts about that?
Yes. So, my thing with the Wizard of Oz, I think immediately when I like think of themes regarding
it, I think of the theme of you can accomplish more with friends than when you're alone. So, when
(13:37):
you think about the story as a whole, Dorothy's three friends that she encounters - the Scarecrow,
the Lion and the Tin Man, they're alone, they have no friends. They're practically friendless, and in
a sense, that kind of helplessness in a way. Once it is apparent, each of these three characters
show their flaws to one another, there's a sense of friendship that can be picked up on and I
(13:58):
personally think it's really beautiful when you examine it more closely, and in depth. Dorothy,
the Tin Man, the Scarecrow, and the lion all help each other out with their friendship.
Their bond is awesome to watch, develop and unfold. And it truly shows that overarching
theme of the fact that we can accomplish more friends than when we then when we are alone. It
(14:19):
really makes me think about cherishing my own friendships more and being thankful for what I
have. That is so true. I agree with that completely. And I think to going back to
some of the themes, you all have all talked about this, some of the ways that those friends
band together to go toward their journey and what they're looking for. Also does reflect
(14:41):
the theme of the populist movement that Will was mentioning because even though they band together,
they still sometimes can't get past the hurdles that they face once they get to the wizard. And
there's a lot of as you've pointed out, Will, a lot of stuff about the wizard that kind of
represents the establishment and things that aren't always systems that aren't always kind
(15:04):
to working folks. But it does take people working together to even move forward in
a world that they don't have that much control over. So, I think all of these are really good
themes to think about. Another story many people are familiar with is Alice in Wonderland. This
(15:24):
also started as a children's book and novel called Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by
Lewis Carroll. There have since been sequels as well as many variations of the story in books,
films and theater. The story is fantasy, but also has many themes in it that we can relate
to in the world we live in. What do you see as some of the themes of Alice in Wonderland,
and how might this help us think more deeply about the world we live in?
(15:47):
Well, in Carroll's novel, it shows us that we use our imagination to escape our reality. In
the end of the novel, Alice wakes up and learns that her journey to Wonderland was
actually a dream. And she and her sister imagines the same thing, but uses similar
(16:08):
sounds that her sister encountered in a dream. And in one adaptation in the 1999,
made for TV movie. Alice has stage fright, and wants to escape. And so, she uses her imagination.
Yeah, those are really great themes to think about.
(16:28):
One theme in Alice in Wonderland is that we need to have an open mind and be ready
to accept when unexpected things happen, or we meet with people or environments
that are different. Also, we need to learn to embrace our own strengths and qualities.
I absolutely agree with that. And I think we could
all use more of that in the world for sure. What do you think Jakob,
(16:51):
I think of Alice in Wonderland is it's such a wonderful classic to go back and rewatch
over and over, it always brings me so much nostalgia. The one theme that really stuck
with me is probably the inevitable loss of childhood innocence is what I was thinking,
and then kind of how our bodies change. So, through the story, Alice is going through so many
physical changes during her journey, and they're really abnormal to her. So, in a sense, we can
(17:16):
see that these changes can be really traumatic for her. And I really feel like the constant changes
she's experienced truly represents the way that a child feels as their body grows and changes in
their transition from childhood to adolescence. It reminds me of when I was transitioning into my
teens and kind of makes me sad to remember how innocent I used to feel as a child,
Before learning about changes in humans and just more about the world in general, like growing up
(17:37):
and sort of going into adulthood in a sense, from teenage, if that makes sense. Sort of Yeah. We
don't really think of it when we're kids. And in a sense, it makes me think about whenever I have
my own kids and raise my own family someday, I really want them to enjoy their innocence in
their youth before they begin to grow up. And so, I really don't want them to rush out or anything.
(18:02):
That's a really good point. I don't know if I had thought of it in precisely that way.
But that makes a lot of sense. Especially a lot of times in fantastical stories,
things can seem absurd or really exaggerated, but they really do speak to something that is
happening in reality. So that's a really good comparison. Thank you. Frankenstein is another
(18:28):
story that has seen many variations over the years and that we've talked about a lot because you will
have read it in other classes, and you've just enjoyed talking about it together. So,
Sara and Will - you both read this for one of your classes recently and got to study it
more in depth than most people do. The story of Frankenstein may be just as misunderstood
(18:49):
as Frankenstein's creature. What do you see as important themes in the story of Frankenstein,
that this book makes you think differently about how people treat each other in the world? Yes,
it could be a metaphor how people mistreat other people who are different in appearance,
sexuality, gender efficacy, and religious backgrounds. How you know,
(19:13):
if you're not following the status quo, you're seen as an outcast.
I agree. Sara, what do you think?
One important theme in Frankenstein had to dowith how people felt about science when Mary when
Mary Shelley wrote the story. Frankenstein was playing God when he brought life to his
(19:35):
creature and that was unforgivable. Another theme in Frankenstein was that the creature
was isolated and considered evil based on his appearance and how he was created. We
need to learn that you cannot judge people because of their differences.
I agree and especially interesting, since this was a creature created by
(19:56):
someone else and yet took the wrap for what people saw as the flaws of that creature.
And this kind of leads a little bit toward another genre, I want to talk about that I
know Will and Sara that you're both very into. And that is horror. So, some of us, like myself,
(20:21):
have a hard time watching horror films because of the violence or terror they often show.
But the storylines and horror stories can be truly interesting. And for fans of the genre,
the stories have much more to them than others may think. What is one
horror story - whether that be a book, story, movie or series - that you think
goes deeper than most people think? And what is something about that story that
(20:47):
you think shows us something about the world or something about ourselves as humans? Well,
I have I have a class. A respect for the classic Universal Monsters,
is they have a timelessness to them. In one half its 19th century Europe,
but the other half is present day 30s or 40s. But the setting, that's the thing is
(21:11):
very ambiguous. It also shows us our like, our dark nature, that man is a true monster.
How these monsters may be misunderstood beings, tragic figures, and outcasts.
Yeah, and that's really interesting, Will. So, you mentioned that it could be seen that
in some ways we as humans are monsters. But you also mentioned that it could be
(21:34):
that depictions of monsters are about people being misunderstood or being outcasts. So,
I think some people are scared away from thinking about monsters because they worry
that they might also have that capacity. But I think what you bring up is really interesting,
because I think any qualities in human nature that come out, are oftentimes, there is some
(22:00):
kind of tie to someone not being treated well. So, I think that's good to keep in mind. Sara,
what are your thoughts about horror or any particular stories that speak to you?
I think the Friday the 13th horror movies have a deeper storyline than most people think. Jason
Vorhees, the villain has a backstory that deals with being bullied as a child because of a facial
(22:21):
deformity. He also had an over protective and violent mother. I think it just shows
us again that we shouldn't treat people differently because of their differences.
Thank you. Jakob, I don't know if you're a fan of horror. What are your thoughts on this?
I'm actually a huge like horror movie fanatic. Okay. I do love a lot of modern horror films. So,
(22:44):
one of the scariest films that I've seen that's relatively new is Hereditary. If you haven't seen
it, and you enjoy something genuinely frightening, I highly recommend watching it. I usually don't
get scared at horror movies. But this one terrifies me. And so, the lore behind it goes
really deep. But there's one theme that I found when watching it, that may drift over a lot of
(23:06):
people's heads. So, I actually just recently read Jennette McCurdy's book, I'm Glad My Mom Died,
is very, very good memoir. By Jeanette, I highly recommend reading that as well. Essentially,
in her book, she discusses the overall central theme of toxic parental expectations,
which really got me thinking about hereditary when you look back into it. without giving any spoilers
(23:30):
essentially, in the plot. The mother cared for her children so deeply. But the things that she
would do for them were twisted in order to align with the ideologies of a family cult
that was that her mother was a part of, it's like, kind of gives you a sense of where the title came
from. It's hereditary in their genes. It probably sounds like a lot, and it's a little confusing,
(23:51):
but bear with me. The consequences of the mother's actions essentially led her son
and husband to view her with a ton of doubt, and gave her this really bad reputation. So, I really
think the movie portrays the idea and burden of toxic expectations that can be set by parents,
specifically mothers in this case, and how they can feel and even be not escapable sometimes.
(24:12):
Wow, that does sound pretty intense. Sara and Will - were
either of you familiar with that particular movie?
Oh, yeah. I've seen many clips of it. I find it very disturbing,
but never got read the subtext about toxic parenting expectations. That's something that
a lot of teenagers may face. If they have toxic parents who wants to want to achieve better.
(24:38):
Thank you, Will. Is that something you've heard of?
I am not familiar with that movie or the book that was before it. So,
I am not familiar with either of those two things at all. Okay, well, I
probably will not check it out. If I'm already scared of horror movies and that one even
scared a fanatic of horror films. That's probably not the one for me to watch but
(24:59):
I do who have an interest in reading that memoir. So, thank you for that recommendation.
Absolutely.
Okay, we have talked about a lot of different stories that many people know,
maybe a couple that people haven't known. So now I'd like to give each of you a chance to
say something about one of your own favorite stories are series that you've not gotten to
(25:20):
talk about yet. So, this could be a book, movie series, any format or any genre. So,
Will, let’s start with you. What is a story that has affected you a lot, and which
you believe says something really important about the world or the human condition? Well,
there is a certain book that is very overlooked over time, is Michael Ende’s Neverending Story,
(25:42):
which some people may be familiar with the film adaptation, but are not aware of its
actual book source material. In the book, it has, it teaches us about how escapism,
imagination uses our escapism, but it can be a danger, about losing our identity,
and our egotism, and how imagination can fuel a world but we can lose ourselves at a price.
(26:10):
That's a really good example. And those are really good points. You mentioned that the
movie version is what most people are familiar with, and not the book, which is often true.
Do you feel like the movie version did a decent job of carrying the story across?
Well, they fit, the focus on the first half of the book. But the rest is kind of a bit
(26:30):
complex and has kind of a well, darker and surreal aspects to it,
that it was unable to adapt into film because it was made in the 80s.
That's a good point. And I know that for we've talked about this a lot,
because sometimes the film adaptations they leave a lot out because a film would
(26:51):
have to be really long for them to capture everything. But yeah, so, so interesting.
And if anyone out there is familiar with the movie and you liked it and want to like,
go further with it, you could always check out the book and maybe learn some new things. Sara,
what is something that you are really interested in and would like to talk about?
(27:13):
My favorite story is Phantom of the Opera - the book and adaptations that were that were
better before the 2004 version. I especially love the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical version
on DVD. The Phantom of the Opera affected me because of the Phantom’s history. Because
of his appearance, the Phantom was abandoned as a child and never experienced what love
(27:35):
or compassion felt like. He didn't get to learn right from wrong because he didn't
have human connections. I think this shows that people need to be shown acceptance,
love, and compassion to help them develop the same feelings for others. Okay, thank
you. And as you mentioned before, that is something that has come across in themes
of some other things, too. So, I can see why these are shared stories that
(27:59):
you have interest in that some of them have the same kinds of themes in them.
I do recommend that for people who are fans of the musical that have not read the
original novel by Gaston Leroux to please check it out. At any bookstores that have
it available. It is kind of better from the adaptations once you familiarize yourself with
(28:25):
the musical versions that were before 2004. So, if you haven't read the original novel,
I have the English translated version, sitting at my house somewhere. If you haven't read that
novel, originally by Gaston Leroux, I do recommend that people who are still fans
(28:46):
of it even before reading the book to check it out. It is a good story. And
it has a lot of character perspectives as they each give their own testimony as to
how they know the Phantom versus how everyone that witnessed him actually came to know him.
(29:09):
Good suggestion. Thank you for that suggestion. I hope some people will take that to heart.
And Jakob would you like to share anything about a story that affected you a lot? Sure,
I'll say I talked about horror just now. I feel like the entire genre of horror kind of gives
me a new perspective on appreciating my family that I have. I really like watching story. I like
(29:31):
watching horror films and things like that. But getting to see families struggle like
that kind of, you know, makes me a little sad whenever I'm watching it in a sense,
I know it's really scary, but it's also like kind of hard to see other families struggling. So,
I feel like it gives me a sense of like being more thankful for what I have in my family and just
overall thankful that I don't have to deal with these crazy scenarios that go on in movies. I
(29:58):
absolutely do and I just have to ask real quick do any of you all talk to the TV or the screen when
you're watching horror movies to like tell people like, don't follow the music or things like that?
Oh, yeah, I always try. I always, you know, know what's going to expect you like,
just tell them go back in the house or don't find the source or the sounds. Yeah,
(30:20):
I feel them as a morality place that I'm glad I'm not those people. In
my head. My brain goes, “If you all have seen horror movies long before you came along,
then why do you break the number one rule of splitting off from each other?” Bad decision,
bad things happen when you split off from each other in these scenarios. And I'm always
(30:44):
glad that I don't have to live like those people that make that decision. It sounds
like you all agree on that point that it makes you glad to turn out in those situations. And
to that point, you just said, Sara, and then we'll wrap this up is that it reminds me of a question I
used to have about a song that I heard growing up, which is called MTA by the Kingston Trio.
(31:06):
And there's a line in the song, the premise of the song is this guy gets on the subway,
and then they raised the fares while he's on there. And they are asking him to pay a nickel
in order to get off the train. And so, it's you know, it's a song that uses that as a device
to tell this story into it's a political song too about raising of fare increases in public
(31:30):
transportation. But I remember hearing it one of the lines in the song they would say
that, “Charlie's wife goes down to the Scully Square Station every day at quarter past two
and through the open window, she throws Charlie a sandwich as the train goes rumbling through.” So,
it's kind of like he just keeps riding the train forever, “He’s the man who never returned” is the
tagline of the song. But as a kid, you know, of course, I took it very literally. And I said,
(31:54):
“Mom, why didn't she just hand him a nickel instead of a sandwich?” And she said, “Well, I guess then
there wouldn't have been a song.” And I feel like that's true with the horror movies, too. They kind
of want us to be telling the characters that and that's part of the that's part of the fun of it.
And not so much in like any time one of them is screaming before being killed. The surviving ones
(32:17):
always split off from each other because they want to find out where that sound where the source of
the sounds are coming from. And my head is just like, “Y'all know, that's a bad decision?” Right,
right. Maybe run away and the other direction? Yeah, it goes, my brain goes.
“Maybe don't follow the source of the sound. So, you'll live from that. Follow them? Yeah,
(32:38):
pretty sure the villains got to find you anyway.” Oh,
by the way, have you ever seen a film he films called Scream or Cabin in the Woods? I've
heard of Cabin in the Woods film. I am not familiar with
the film itself. I am familiar with the first Scream movie that was ever made,
though, aired on my TV once. That's how I'm familiar with the first film.
(33:00):
I even watched the first Screammovie because I heard it was funny,
which it was, but it was really scary. And it was also truly a horror film. So, it was scary to me.
It kind of pokes fun at like the rules of horror movies. And it's like there's a mysterious killing
person that like, calls people on their phones. Granted the year the movie was set in an era where
(33:26):
corded phones were still a thing. Yeah, and the villain, the killer, keeps calling up his victims
on those. And then he'll ask like, what is your favorite horror movie? And then they and then
they get asked a question. What are the rules of the horror movies? And they have to say that it's
(33:49):
don't split off from each other. Don't follow the source of the mysterious sounds. Yes, and don't
do anything bad like having sex or drugs or drinking.
Yeah because in Friday the 13th that was a huge thing that camp counselors
kept doing in all the sequels and it was just a matter of time before they
decided they were gonna split off from each other. With it not turning out to
(34:11):
be a good idea. Because that's how Jason finds them easily. Exactly.
And I think these are partly where these stories come about and why they're so popular. Okay,
I guess we better wrap up. So, this has been a wonderful conversation about
impactful stories. Thank you to Will, Sara, and Jakob for sharing your thoughts with us
today and anyone listening. We appreciate you tuning in to the community spotlight podcast.
(34:36):
This podcast again was started by students in the College and Career Studies program at UK,
and it is a space for students and inclusive higher education programs to explore topics
of interest and connect with people and the community. The podcast is recorded and
produced by the media team at Human Development Institute. If you're interested in learning more
(34:57):
or being on the podcast, please reach out to us and let us know. Bye. Bye.
Thank you for having us. See ya. This has been community spotlight.
Thanks for listening.
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