Articles written by Beth Laster

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About me - Beth Laster

I have been teaching for a few years. I am currently taking a break in order to spend time doing other things (such as writing). I would love to find a way to make a regular living writing, although I am sure that is the hope of many writers here. A self-professed

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Entertainment > Movie Genres Popular movie themes: Stories about outcasts turned heroes: 1 of 35
The Goonies, Lucas, any movie having anything to do with John Hughes, these are the films that spark my imagination just as much now as they did when I was young. Although I have decidedly less angst now, than I did when I was 12, these films still resonate with me. When we are young, we are still learning how to socialize w... More..
Entertainment > TV Genres & Trends Are we reaching the end of the sitcom television genre: 3 of 30
A canned laugh track, characters mugging at the camera, wacky neighbors, these are the things that signify the sitcom for many. How did this come about? How did something with such a wide open setup as a situation comedy become something generic, often spoofed by sketch comedy shows? Also, is there really a need for every ot... More..
Entertainment > TV Genres & Trends From Saturday morning to prime time: The evolution of cartoons on TV: 3 of 15
How well I remember waking up at the crack of dawn, tiptoeing out my bedroom door and turning on the television. Many of the best cartoons started early in the morning. You wait until later, your parents are forcing you to sit down to breakfast, and the late morning seemed to bring not much more than the Smurfs. Don't get me... More..
Entertainment > Movie Genres Courting the undead: Assessing the appeal of zombie movies: 6 of 17
When you picture a zombie flick, do you envision (perhaps literally) mindless entertainment? Do lurching, slow-moving protagonists seem to bring nothing more than gore and protracted chase scenes? There is a reason zombie films have a rabid (okay, bad choice of words) fan base. Behind those dead eyes, something is revealed a... More..
Entertainment > Movies (Other) The female as a sexual object in male-oriented cinema: 9 of 19
"We are no longer doing movies with women in the lead". This is the recent alleged edict of Warner Bros. president of production, Jeff Robinov. He may not have said this, but it does not seem to be an unlikely thing to be said in Hollywood. With women being relegated more and more to scenery, it is important to examine why H... More..
Relationships & Family > The Single Life The girl's guide to moving out and surviving the single life: 17 of 30
Television shows like "Mary Tyler Moore", "That Girl" and, more recently, "Friends" give us a fantasy look at the life of the single girl out on her own. As much as I would like to say that it is all fabulous, funky apartments and insanely cute work clothes, that is just not the truth. Yes, it is a wonderful feeling to be in... More..
Entertainment > Movie Genres Movies and the depiction of mental disorders through film: 10 of 16
We see the hero in the movie confronting his protagonist, a man who has shadowed him, dogged his every move, ruined his life. Then the hero comes to the horrible conclusion, along with the audience, his protagonist is only a facet of his mind! We feel for the hero, it is a terrible thing for the mind to play tricks on you. T... More..
Education > Education (Other) Are our schools preparing our children for the future?: 65 of 94
A child spending time outdoors, asking questions, engaging in real discourse while learning more about the world around them. This is a beautiful image, but not the reality of the majority of public schools. A child in a crowded classroom, half-listening to a lesson while sitting under fluorescent lights is closer to the tru... More..
Food & Drink > Food & Drink (Other) Nutritious lunch box ideas: 29 of 39
If you were to ask your child what they want for lunch, what would they say? Would they ask for a happy meal? Now, if you give your child a choice between healthy lunch options, would they still feel like they made a choice? The trick to healthy lunches is in making the food fun and exciting for kids. It is also important to... More..
Creative Writing > Short Stories Short stories: Solitude: 42 of 51
Once upon a time, when the country (as we know it) was young, on man got sick of the hubbub around him. He would walk down the streets, content, until his thoughts were shattered by the inane chirping of those around him. He would try to sleep at night to escape into his dreams. That would work until the drunks spilled into ... More..