deartraveller

“In the car” is a 1963 pop art painting, by Roy Lichtenstein.

Objectively, it portrays a blonde woman and a dark-haired man driving a car. It was painted on a large canvas (172 cm × 203.5 cm) and the colors in it (such as red, yellow and blue) are vivid and draw the public’s attention. To convey the sense of movement, Lichtenstein used horizontal and parallel lines. Throughout the years this painting was interpreted as a tense, melodramatic graphic single-frame depiction of a romantic dialogue between the two characters. Another of the techniques used by the artist was the so-called Magna, which is a type of acrylic paint easily removed with turpentine that shows, in Lichtenstein’s perspective, color better than many water-based acrylic paints.

Since it is no more than the reproduction of a comic book series “Girl’s Romance” strip, this work conveys perfectly the message of the Pop Art movement: that art may derive from any everyday object and should be accessible for everyone, regardless of their social status. In the 60’s, Pop Art broke free from the previous conceptions that art was destined to an elite. This movement made it clear that anyone may enjoy art, because every object may be considered a product of art: the commonplace was turned into art.

Érica

Dear Sara,

Can you believe how long has it been since we last wrote to each other? It feels like ages!

Well, I have to admit I’m moved by your attempt to re-write the end of such an awesome movie! I mean, the 50’s were inspiring times! What about James Dean? “Hottie” alert over here!

The truth is that our letter’s timing couldn’t have been more perfect. I’ve actually been involved in a re-make of “Rebel without a Cause”! Last week, when I arrived to Boston, I met my old friend Rubén who is studying cinema at the Boston Arts University. We went to have some coffee one afternoon and he told me that his mid-term assignment was to produce a short film of one of the biggest blockbusters of the 50’s and he chose “Rebel Without a Cause”. The challenge was to come up with an all new ending to the movie. At this point Robert started going on about how I love to write to you, and Rubén asked me if I would like to write the new ending. And, you know me… My answer was (of course): Hell Yeah!

Here is my script:

(At the planetarium)

Jim: Plato, there’s no need to hide in here and there’s certainly no need to hold on to that gun. It only brings trouble. Why do you need it anyway?

Plato: To protect myself.

Jim: From what? Me and Judy are the only ones in here. We would never arm you.

Plato: You left me alone. That’s just as bad!

Jim: You feel asleep. We were coming back. We would never leave you. We’re best friends: the three mosquetiers!

Plato: Don’t lie to me. You were leaving, just like my parents did!

Jim: That’s not true.

Plato: Promise?

Jim: I do. Now come on, let’s go outside before those cops think we are robbing the planetarium.

(Jim holds his arm around Plato. Judy approaches them.)

Judy: What’s in here worth robbing anyway?

(Laughing.)

Plato: Jim’s necklace.

(Plato takes Jim’s necklace and puts it on. It was a medal of some hard material.)

Judy: I never understood why you always wear that thing around your neck. Does it have any sort of special meaning?

Jim: Not much. It was given to me by my father, back when we had the same address for some years, and we wasn’t a complete… (hesitates) Well, it’s yours now Plato. I’m giving it to you.

Plato: Really? Thank you so much!

(The two boys from earlier appear)

Boy 1: You idiot! You shot our friend! I’m going to kill you.

Jim (steps in front of Plato): You will die trying.

Plato: No, I won’t be a coward anymore. I won’t run away again. If you want me, come and get me!

Jim: What are you doing?

(Jim and Plato get distracted discussing)

Boy 2: Enough! Two of our friends died tonight. Now it’s time to get even!

(At this point Jim is in front of Plato. The boy shoots. Plato jumps to the front and takes the shot.)

Jim (holding Plato in his arms): What have you done?

(After hearing another shot, the police enter the planetarium and finds Plato lying on the ground and the other boy with the gun on his hands. There’s a moment of silence.)

Judy: No, this can’t be happening. No! No! No! Plato, please wake up!

(Suddenly, Plato opens his eyes.)

Jim: Thank god, Plato! Are you ok?

Plato: I’m fine. I don’t think I’m even hurt.

(Jim notices his necklace around Plato’s neck. The bullet had landed right in it, stopping the shot.)

Judy: It’s a miracle.

Jim: I told you we would always have your back.

(Plato smiles)

Policeman (to the two boys): You boys are under arrest.

Jim’s mom: Jim are you insane? I can not believe this! How could you do it?

Jim’s dad: Do you really think this is the time for a lecture? For once in your life, hold your tongue!

(Seeing his dad finally stood up to his mom, Jim is happier than ever.)

Jim: Let’s go get something to eat guys!

Plato: Yeah… This near death experience really opened my appetite!

(The three laugh)

THE END

Well, what do you think? Please write me back your honest opinion. The best part is that as a reward for my script he let me play Judy’s part.

Save these letters! When I’m famous, everything I wrote may be worth a fortune!

I miss you a lot.

Love,

Érica.

P.s. The tacos are on their way, as well as the recipe!

Dear Érica, 

Centuries had passed since our last letters and as I'm getting a bit anxious I decided to send you my last work, produced on my online Creative Writting lessons. (a poor excuse that allows me to be alone with my laptop for a couple hours ... sorry Gabriel a girl has to breathe!)

It is an amateur work, but having Gabriel as my only critic is driving me crazy! Oh and by th way, he is missing very badly Robert's tacos so if you please could send some of those by plaine my weeek in L.A. would be much calmer without a race to e-v-e-r-y s-i-n-g-l-e taco store! I'll thank you in advance.

So moving on to the release of an undiscovered artist, ladie and gentleman, I give you ... "Rebel Without a cause: the outstanding alternative ending"! (Still working on the tittle actually).

Rebel without a cause: the alternative ending - Jim, Judy and Plato last scene together

Jim - OK Plato, they have turned out the lights. Come on now. It's safe for you to come out.

(Plato exits the Observatory and gets strangely calm at the sight of the police cars. The policemens silently start to form two lines leaving their guns and other materials in the cars that are now turned off. Jim's parents and the lady who takes care of Plato are in the middle of the front line)

Plato - What is going on here?

Jim - I don't know. Judy?

Judy - Well, I think this is the part of the film when everybody sings along, the dead are actually alive and a moral lesson about guns is taught to Plato. You Jim, reveal that you are to old to go to school because you're a policemen who got stuck with highschool dramas due to your grades and your parents live in a fantasy world, because, as they are broke, they have to play along with you so that they can afford, with your "good" salary, the fact that your grandma is living with them.

Jim - What? Are you under the effect of something girl?

Policemen 1 - Actually, no she's not. (starts singing with other policemens "YMCA")

All - «Young man, there's no need to feel down.

I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground.

I said, young man, 'cause you're in a new town

there's no need to be unhappy.

Young man, there's a place you can go.

I said, young man, when you're short on your dough.

You can stay there, and I'm sure you will find

Many ways to have a good time.

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

They have everything for you men to enjoy,

You can hang out with all the boys ...

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

You can get yourself cleaned, you can have a good meal,

You can do whatever you feel ...

Young man, are you listening to me?

I said, young man, what do you want to be?

I said, young man, you can make real your dreams.

But you got to know this one thing!

No man does it all by himself.

I said, young man, put your pride on the shelf,

And just go there, to the y.m.c.a.

I'm sure they can help you today.

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

They have everything for you men to enjoy,

You can hang out with all the boys ...

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

You can get yourself cleaned, you can have a good meal,

You can do whatever you feel ...

Young man, I was once in your shoes.

I said, I was down and out with the blues.

I felt no man cared if I were alive.

I felt the whole world was so tight ...

That's when someone came up to me,

And said, young man, take a walk up the street.

There's a place there called the y.m.c.a.

They can start you back on your way.

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.

They have everything for you men to enjoy,

You can hang out with all the boys ...

Y-m-c-a ... you'll find it at the y-m-c-a.

Young man, young man, there's no need to feel down.

Young man, young man, get yourself off the ground.

Y-m-c-a ... you'll find it at the y-m-c-a.

Young man, young man, there's no need to feel down.

Young man, young man, get yourself off the ground.

Y-m-c-a ... just go to the y-m-c-a.

Young man, young man, are you listening to me?

Young man, young man, what do you wanna be?»

(At the end of the song Plato is already singing and embraced the going to YMCA (Young Men Criminal Assocation))

Jim - So Plato I hope you are not mad with me for not telling you.

Plato - That's alright Jim, I think YMCA will really help me. Just take care of Judy I think she will miss me more than what she thinks.

Jim - Will do Plato, farewell.

(Plato leaves to a police car and rides towards better days. Judy actually gets along well wuth her father and goes home with a song in her heart. Jim, who is a pooor lonesome cowboy and that is a long way from home decides to return to Kansas and resine from his work.)

Jim - To much drama for me old fellows, go and do that cruise that you have been talking for years. I'll go home now.

(The police has already went away with Plato and the last person standing is the old men that works in the Observatory, that after sawing Jim take the bus secretly retrieves all signs of human presence and leaves is human vessel. First the antennae then the big wings and then the green coloured skin.)

Old men - Finnaly a bit of peace in this world, lets go then! O.M. go home!

(Jumps to the sky and returns to his galaxy.)

So I hope you liked my dear friend, hope to ear from you soon!

Missing you a lot,

Sara.