Thursday, September 9, 2010

Of Basket Cases, Jane Austen, and Why Catharsis is Good for the Soul

"Oh, send your armies in of robbers and thieves
To steal the state I'm in. I don't want it anymore."
-Basket Case (Sara Bareilles)

Maybe it's because I'm about to face another birthday, or because I'm overly analytical, or because I've been uber-nostalgic and sentimental these past few months, but I feel as if I've been experiencing the world through a different pair of eyes than I used to.

I've been working on reading a book this week (Task 5). "The Jane Austen Book Club." I decided to read something light and fluffy this time. As it turns out, I find it rather hits human nature square on the head at times. I somewhat remember the movie, liking it, being intrigued by the concept of an actual Jane Austen book club. But the book is, as they usually are, better, different, more thought-provoking. I'm not sure if I'll actually finish it by my deadline (this Saturday night), but I plan on making myself finish it regardless.

I've always been an emotional, even empathic book reader, movie watcher, and song listener. I get very involved in the emotional processes and lives of the characters/singers. I guess this fact explains why I cannot handle thrillers, horror movies, really heavy metal, or screamo (emo music with lots of screaming). It also probably explains why I'm pursuing a degree in clinical counseling psychology.

As I've been reading this book, I have found myself identifying with one of the characters in particular more than the rest (so far, as I haven't even reached the halfway point yet). Jocelyn is a 50-something year old woman who raises dogs, has never been married, and has a profound respect for Jane Austen and tidiness. Maybe I should be alarmed that I most relate to a character twice my age, but then again a classmate told me I swatted away a bug that flew in front of me like an elderly lady today, so maybe it does make sense after all (not that I'm saying 50-something is elderly, but you get my point, right?).

Last night, I watched that movie "Remember Me" with Robert Pattinson and Pierce Brosnan. I hadn't heard much about it except I wouldn't like the ending. I was thinking, "They probably just don't end up together and decide to go their separate ways." Not quite. I don't want to give away the plot, but I will tell you that a) I am not sure if I have ever watched a more emotion-provoking movie and b) I had a cry-fest for a while after the movie ended. And I'm not talking Nicholas Sparks tears. I'm talking cathartic tears. Even today, I've still felt really moved and somewhat shaken up (but not necessarily in a bad way). See? I get overly empathic when I watch movies.

What is the most emotional and/or cathartic movie you've seen?