Things to do during Winter Break

Winter break is the week between semesters where we enjoy our free time by spending time with our family and friends. During winter break, we usually go and have fun at the movies or on the ski slopes. However, we should all remember that we can also go to museums or read books—learning doesn’t stop just because school is closed for break.
For example, the Cleopatra exhibition at the Franklin Institute is a magnificent exhibit that includes a lot of the relics that were recently discovered in the Mediterranean Sea. Some of those relics include the giant statues of Egyptian gods and statues of Cleopatra’s family life. The exhibition is made complete by including things that Cleopatra used during her rein as the last queen of Egypt. The Cleopatra exhibition may not be as famous as the King Tut exhibit, but in Egyptian history, Cleopatra is just as famous as Tutankhamen, and the exhibit itself is certainly worth seeing.
Before seeing this exhibition, I only knew a few superficial facts about Queen Cleopatra. After viewing the exhibition, I was able to understand her love life and her family. I understood her rule over Egypt and how Egypt fell to the Roman Empire after Cleopatra’s death. The statues of Cleopatra and of her children were created carefully, with a lot of emphasis on the facial features. Unfortunately, because of this, I was unable to take photographs in the exhibition halls.
If you’re not interested in going to see a museum exhibit, perhaps a book will interest you. The Catcher in the Rye written by J.D. Salinger is a novel about the coming-of-age of a sixteen-year-old boy. The main character, Holden Caulfield, has many problems, like the inability to control his anger and his addiction to alcohol. This is unlike a book by Mark Twain or Charles Dickens; it is a novel about a teenager maturing into an adult. Holden has always been acted like a child in the body of an adult, and has trouble connecting with people because they treat him poorly.
The story of The Catcher in the Rye is extremely relatable for teenagers like me because of the sarcastic nature of the main character and his relationships with other people. The novel makes me feel like I’m there with Holden when he drops out of school and wanders the city instead of returning home. The Catcher in the Rye is a great book because it perfectly captures the transition from teenager to adult through Holden’s adventures.
Reading and going to museums are my favorite activities during winter break because they make learning enjoyable. Of course, because not everybody enjoys museums or reading, this article just presents some options.
I hope everyone’s enjoying their winter break, whatever it is they choose to do!

Disney gets Tangled up

Rapunzel is the latest princess added to the Disney princesses’ collection. She is the star of the new Disney animated movie, Tangled, the Disney adaptation of the original story Rapunzel. This story takes you on a magical journey where two people, who have just met each other, fall in love while on an adventure. Although it is much more cliché compared to all the other Disney movies, Tangled is the best Disney movie that I have seen this year.
The soundtrack is one of many reasons why Tangled is such a great film. The music adds emotion while still remaining appropriate for the plotline. When Rapunzel sings, the song creates a poignant moment that adds another dimension to the movie. Like most Disney classics, the movie is more than a musical, with singing that is much more spontaneous. Normally, the singing in musicals is awkward compared with the story or plot. The music in Tangled is both heart-warming and happy, bringing joy to this romantic action-adventure film.
Not only is the music great, but the animals within the story are personified well. Maximus, the horse, is a particularly good example of this. He is smart, and can cope with any situation, hide himself, and ambush Flynn. These human-like characteristics also include the abilities to shake “hands”, fight, and search for lost things. However, as an animal, Maximus does not talk; instead, he uses his actions to convey his thoughts emotions. Pascal, the frog that stays on Rapunzel’s shoulder, is another example of a personified animal. From the beginning to the end, Pascal acts as a friend and a guide to Rapunzel. He is the friend that makes sure Rapunzel is safe and the “person” that makes sure that Flynn Rider is telling the truth. He acts like a human when he “talks” to Rapunzel, but he’s still an animal. Like Maximus, Pascal does not talk and uses actions to express thoughts; for example, his eyes bulge when he detects that Flynn is lying. Well-personified animals, namely Maximus and Pascal, add a lot to the likability of the film.
Then there are the great visual effects. Ever since the popularity of television and movies took hold, studios have been trying to produce films with better resolutions. Disney has taken the lead—the lantern scene makes the movie look more realistic than animated. Its high resolution lights up the scene and also makes it look more romantic. In addition, the hair was computer-drawn, but, impressively, its appearance is very convincing.
Tangled has everything that you expect to see in a film produced by Disney. You’ll certainly enjoy Tangled, the last Disney Princess movie.