Lolita

Love, passion, lust, these emotions run unrestrained throughout humanity's psyche. While we may revel in their pleasures, pine at their losses, and scorn the lack of control, these feelings and desires are as much a part of the human experience as breath and food. Vladimir Nabokov's character Humbert Humbert, being human and thus in possession of these uncontrollable desires, brings the reader a rather vivid and culturally taboo desire. Which in his description of Annabel and Monique and his meeting with Lolita, we see that his desires are not subject to him, more so the other way around.

From the beginning Humbert is lost to his desires, Annabel is his first described encounter with this beast. While he is a child him being sort of swept away is rather understandable. Having never felt emotions as he did he quickly becomes submerged in his relationship with Annabel, he says "these incomplete contacts drove our healthy and inexperienced young bodies to such a state of exasperation that not even the cold blue water (...) could bring relief"(9). Her early death and the sudden loss of that part of his life could possibly explain his interest in prepubescent or near pubescent girls. He even thinks so himself "I am convinced, however, that in a certain magic and fateful way Lolita began with Annabel."(10)

Before he describes his relationship with the Parisian Monique he goes into detail about how he feels about his compulsion for the underaged. "While my body knew what it craved for, my mind rejected my body's every plea." (14) this is an almost outright declaration of his division, he then goes on to say "One moment I was ashamed and frightened, another recklessly optimistic."(14) Then as the rest of the story unfolds its clear that his desires have won out.

Oz

To me this book seems to personify the idea that if you have good intentions, you will prevail. Dorthy seems to be wandering through Oz just wanting to go home and everywhere she seems to receive help from anyone whom she asks, or through some deus ex machina. Good prevails over evil no matter what, such the idea of spilling water on the witch kills her and Dorthy could go about her merry way.
It also embodies the idea that you have to power to do what you want to do inside of you. Dorthy had the power to go home with her all along she just had to use it.

Hunger Games

First off I really enjoyed this book, a good quick read that left me wanting more. As far as a cultural assumptions go the biggest that this book deals with would have to be the inviolability of children. In our culture at least children are sacred, in war you do not shoot children, getting off of a sinking boat it's women and children first. But this book has society pick two random children by lottery from each district and sends them to parade about in the main city and then murder each other. Scenes of children tearing each other apart and especially the one of the 12 year old getting speared hit very strongly. Also death games, not so much acceptable in our society, we consider ourselves above such barbarities.
I suppose that this book really goes for the idea that people are animals at heart, we love to kill each other and we love to watch people kill each other.

Heavenly Creatures Director's Notes

Cast:
The teenaged girls are more wild and alive, whereas the other characters/adults are more reserved and grey.
Possible candidates
Mia Wasikowska - Pauline

Director:
Guilermo del Toro

Style:
The overall feel of the film is to be split between two extremes. Scenes set in the real world (the school, the two houses of the girls, etc) are to be dull, with a lot of desaturated blues and greens as their primary palate. Whereas the scenes in the Fourth World and shots in the real world tinged with their madness are to be bright, colorful, and exaggerated. Something along the lines of Moulon Rouge, or Across the Universe in how the first half is desaturated, and the second half wild and vivid.

Music:
Scores will be few and far between, much of the film will be only dialogue and local sounds. The scenes that are set in the Fourth World will have subtle sweeping symphonic pieces, think The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe. Additionally scenes with Mario Lanza's music will obviously be scored with such.

Cinematography:
Shots in the real world will try to either give a sense of claustrophobia or emptiness, with the feeling of the respective families pressing in on the girls, or when the are being separated towards the end of the movie, having the shots make the rooms they are brooding in feel large and empty. The Fourth World should have more sweeping angles and wide shots to show the beauty of their created world. The scenes of madness should be playful with quick cuts, a sense of childishness tinged with a manic air.

Costumes:
As with the rest of the film, the costumes are drab and rough, the school uniforms should seem oppressive and stiff, while their regular clothes are equally dull. When in the Fourth World their clothes should be the same style and appearance, but they should be colorful and seem comfortable and almost luxurious.

Group Discussion

Career Districts vs Poor Districts
Katniss vs Cato
Market vs Seam
Katniss vs Prim
Capitol vs Districts
City vs Woods
Enclosure vs Freedom (districts vs woods)
Male Players vs Female Players
Careers vs Tributes
Cinna vs Rest of the Dressers
Cinna vs Effie
Effie vs Haymitch
Emotional vs Lack of Emotion
Vulnerable vs Experienced
Glory vs Survival
Nurturing vs Survivalist
Beauty vs Survival

Similar Books:
1984
Most Dangerous Game
Anthem
Battle Royale
Cast Away
The Lottery
Equilibrium
Lord of the Flies
The Road
Lost

Expectations:
More realistic feelings towards Peeta

Paired with the Book:
The Road
Dawn of the Dead
28 Days Later