A Wonderful Blog

Poet from the Past Research Project – Emily Dickinson (5/15/24)

Emily Dickinson was born in Amherst, Massachusetts on December 10^th, 1830. She wrote over 1,800 poems. It is said that the way Emily Dickinson was raised heavily influenced the way she wrote. She grew up in an extremely strict religious household. The belief in the Calvinist doctrine of predestination affected what topics she wrote about and how she viewed the world.

Emily Dickinson began writing poetry when she was a teenager. By the time she was 35, she had written more than 1,000 poems. She rarely shared her poems with anyone and only shared them with close family and friends. Her most famous works include “’ Hope’ is the Thing with Feathers,” “I’m Nobody! Who Are You?” and “A Bird Came Down the Walk.” She was influenced by the many poets of the 17^th century. She took inspiration from their language and philosophy.

Despite being inspired by poets such as Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Ralph Waldo Emerson, Emily Dickinson had a unique writing style. She also had an incredible love for the natural world which could be seen in her poetry. Her poems explore themes of love, life, death, and the human condition. Love is an often-recurring theme. She would encourage her audience to ponder many questions that make up our very existence.

The school that Emily Dickinson attended was called Amherst Academy. Amherst Academy was mainly focused on science. Still, it helped to develop her as a poet. One of her first mentors was the principal of the academy, Leonard Humphrey. When he died unexpectedly in the year 1850, Emily Dickinson wrote a letter addressed to her friend, Abiah Root. In this letter, she states that the only thing she can contribute is her tears, which she will not wipe away because that is her way of expression. This shows how his death continued her interest in poetry.

Emily Dickinson had mixed feelings about marriage because of how she saw a wife’s role in society. Wives would often not have their needs fulfilled and their health would also decline. She saw this because of what she had observed when she came home from her final year of schooling. She authored many poems about being a wife in the 1860s. She wrote of how once a woman gained the role of a wife; they lost many other traits that made up their character.

One of my favorite poems from Emily Dickinson is “Hope is the Thing with Feathers.” I like this poem because it is vague. It doesn’t immediately say, “Hope is like a bird.” It illustrates hope is something with feathers that lingers within you, singing a sweet song no matter what trials or “storms” come to pass. The poem is truly beautiful as it serves as a reminder that there will always be hope, even in the “chillest land” or the “strangest sea”. I think this poem is as relevant today as it was then. We all need hope in our lives. We all need a little bird to sing a sweet song that soothes our aching hearts and calms our worried minds.

Bibliography

Lombardi, E. (2023, July 20). Emily Dickinson: Examining the Influences and Impact of Her Revolutionary. Book Geek. https://www.abookgeek.com/emily-dickinson-examining-the-influences-and-impact-of-her-revolutionary-poetry/

Academy of American Poets. (2013). About Emily Dickinson. Poets.org. https://poets.org/poet/emily-dickinson

Emily Dickinson Museum. (2019). 1855-1865: The Writing Years – Emily Dickinson Museum. Emilydickinsonmuseum.org. https://www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/emily-dickinson/biography/emily-dickinson-the-writing-years-1855-1865/

Poetry Foundation. “Emily Dickinson.” Poetry Foundation, Poetry Foundation, 2015, http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/emily-dickinson. 

Cyberphobia Art Project

My drawing is titled “Under Surveillance”. It is meant to depict cyberphobia, the fear of computers. Cyberphobia can be developed through one’s personal history, one’s environment, and even one’s genetics. People with cyberphobia usually experience a strong sense of fear or discomfort when using or around computers. With this in mind, I based my drawing off the movie The Ring by drawing the girl with the long hair reaching out from inside the computer. It was drawn only using graphite, charcoal, and a shading tool. The girl reaching out from the screen is supposed to represent how someone with cyberphobia may feel while using a computer.
It took me a lot of time to come up with ideas and I was unsure if I would finish in time. I would have liked to make the computer screen wider to draw more attention to it. Still, I liked that I was able to make the girl look creepy and eerie. Though I wish I could have added more details, I believe I was able to convey the fear within the image well. Overall, I am happy with how my drawing came out.

French Culture Outside of France – French I B Honors Project (3/21/24)

Since the beginning of the French empire, France has made a lasting impact on the countries around them. The French language is already natively spoken on 6 continents. These continents include Europe, Africa, Asia, North America, South America, and Oceania. One can see that French influence is very widespread.

It all started in what is now Nova Scotia, Canada. Now, even after Canada gained independence, Canada still has bits and pieces of French culture left in its present day. One piece of culture would be Canadian French. Canadian French includes Michif, Acadian, and the most common, Québécois. The British had fought to capture Canada and, because of the Treaty of Paris, Canada was ceded to the British. Canada gained independence from Britain in 1867 and became fully independent in 1982.

There are also Asian countries that were colonized by France which include Vietnam, Cambodia, and Laos. Vietnam has been influenced by French culture in a lot of ways. There are many French foods in Vietnam like croissants, omelets, and baguettes. Some dishes were introduced due to the demand of French authorities and their families. The French also left behind a bit of their linguistics in common Vietnamese words and phrases in addition to their religion, architecture, fashion, and education.

Furthermore, there are multiple Francophone countries in Africa. The largest is the Democratic Republic of Congo which was colonized by Belgium, not France. The French left behind monuments of General Charles de Gaulle and the explorer Count Savorgnan de Brazza. Congo also used to be the capital and center of communications in French Equatorial Africa.

As was mentioned before, South America also has a French-speaking country. It is called French Guiana, and it borders Brazil and Suriname. The capital is Cayenne, and the name comes from the Cayenne Pepper. The French Space Center is located here. Its population is mostly made up of indigenous people.

There is so much French culture around the world, yet it is hardly acknowledged by the French themselves. Why is that? Well, France’s colonial history and its past conflicts with neighboring countries may have strained diplomatic and cultural relations, affecting the acknowledgment and appreciation of French culture in other countries. In addition, the dominancy of Anglophone culture often overshadows other cultures, including French culture. There is also a chance that France refuses to acknowledge its culture outside of its borders because it does not want to be associated with more impoverished countries due to their “elitist” mentality.

French citizens may have a different understanding of their own culture, appreciating its diversity, complexity, and rich heritage. They may identify with regional cultures and traditions within France, which can vary widely across distinct parts of the country. French people may also be critical of certain aspects of their culture or society, acknowledging both strengths and weaknesses. Outside of France, perceptions of French culture can be influenced by cultural stereotypes portrayed in media, literature, and popular culture. These stereotypes may include notions of romance, elegance, and sophistication, as well as stereotypes about French attitudes toward food, fashion, and art. Historical events and interactions with France, such as colonialism or international conflicts, may shape perceptions of French culture in different parts of the world. For example, former French colonies may have complex relationships with French culture, influenced by both colonial legacies and interactions.

France could better its relations with countries that used to be under the French empire by returning various cultural, artistic, and historical artifacts that belonged to those countries. By bettering French relations, France can move on to acknowledging and validating its culture around the world and motivating other countries to do so as well. France can also support those countries, especially the ones that are experiencing poverty.

French culture is very widespread outside of France and it is time that we begin to acknowledge this culture, especially language which most people do not regard as language. French culture has been outside of France for a while, and it should be regarded as French culture even if it is outside of France.

Bibliography

Spencer, Erika Hope. “Research Guides: Québec: French Culture, First Nations & Folk Music: Francophone Studies.” Guides.loc.gov, https://guides.loc.gov/quebec/francophone-studies. Accessed 11 Mar. 2024.

Anon. “Togolese Idioms: French as You’ve Never Seen It!” Alliance Française de San Francisco, www.afsf.com/news/blog/tblog/togolese-idioms-french-as-youve-never-seen-it/. Accessed 11 Mar. 2024.

Pike, Matthew. “A Number of Ways France Influenced Vietnamese…” Culture Trip, 19 Dec. 2022, www.theculturetrip.com/asia/vietnam/articles/11-ways-france-influenced-vietnamese-culture. Accessed 11 Mar 2024.

FranceABC. “French around the Globe: Madagascar French Language.” FranceABC, 3 Aug. 2021, www.france-abc.com/post/french-around-the-globe-madagascar-french-language. Accessed 11 Mar 2024.

Anon. “Welcome to Cameroon, Country of “Camfranglais” !” Alliance Française de San Francisco, 2023, www.afsf.com/news/blog/tblog/welcome-to-cameroon-country-of-camfranglais/. Accessed 11 Mar. 2024.

Reflection

I am glad that I got to learn about the other African countries that are French-speaking. The only reason I wanted to learn French was because I come from Cameroon. I had never really seen the French language as French culture until now. I do not think it is fair that French culture is only French when it is within France. It was also interesting for me to learn about the culture of Vietnam and French Guiana.

ETERNALT Album Analysis/Review

“All My Poetry” is so good!!! And I’m even happier it’s over 3 minutes long.

The K-pop group Close Your Eyes debuted with the Album ETERNALT on April 2, 2025 (it’s technically an EP on Spotify, but it’s as long as an album, so that’s what we’ll call it). After watching the music video for the title track, “All My Poetry (내 안의 모든 시와 소설은)”, and listening to all the songs on the album, I can say that I am really intrigued. The songs on the album remind me of One Direction since they really give me 2000s boy band vibes. Some other groups that have given me this vibe are RII7E and maybe TNX (formerly known as The New Six). All My Poetry really reminds me of Psychic Fever’s “Paradise”. I also love All My Poetry’s choreography!

The Vibes

Right from the beginning, I could tell the group would have some kind of mystic/magical concept, which I haven’t seen very often lately in K-pop, except for some specific comebacks. I really hope they continue to dive more into this mystic concept because it really made them stand out to me with their debut compared to other groups who have debuted in the 5th generation (not that no other groups stood out to me, lol). They are also one of the few 5th generation groups I know of who have debuted with a full album besides Kandis and NEWBEAT. I really like Close Your Eyes’ musical style, and I hope they don’t end up changing it, even though newer groups are encouraged to experiment earlier in their careers rather than later.

About the Title Track

“All My Poetry” seems to be a song about unrequited love for someone. The lyrics say, “All the poems and novels inside me. Stories embroidered with you.” These lyrics tell the story of a poet who pines over their muse. They can’t seem to escape them, even being kept awake by the thought of them in the lyrics “I can’t even sleep today. It doesn’t seem to come when you suddenly come to mind.” The thoughts of their muse bleed into all their writing, all their poetry. It has been a while since I’ve heard a song about “old-school love”. Writing sweet poetry and letters with lyrics such as “baby, you’re so goddess,” has seemed to be replaced with “If I’m S, can you be my N?” that is being sung for the whole world to hear (not that I dislike songs like that, but it’s nice to have variety). “All My Poetry” is like a secret being told. Not a forbidden love but a love that is still in the writing. A love letter.

The B-Sides

One of my favorite songs on the ETERNALT album is probably “To The Woods”. “To The Woods” is a very summer-esque song that makes me picture dancing in the woods on a nice, sunny day. It reminds me a lot of “2002” by Anne-Marie, a song I used to hear on the radio when I was a kid. I do see many groups going for a 2000s aesthetic, but I really like seeing boy groups that have the essence of boy bands. Another song on the album that I liked was “Laid Back”, which, as the title suggests, is chill and laid back and reminds me of “20cm” by Tomorrow by Together (but is unfortunately the shortest song on the album). The instrumental makes me think of having a picnic with family and friends, and it feels very fresh to my ears. Lastly, my overall favorite song from the album has to be “Upside Down”. The chorus is what really hooks me and has that bittersweet vibe.

Closing Remarks

To close this out, I just want to say that I am so excited for Close Your Eyes’ later releases. They have been officially added to my list of 5th-generation groups to keep up with. If you’ve read this far, go listen to the ETERNALT album!

Bibliography

“All My Poetry (내 안의 모든 시와 소설은).” Letras.com, 2 Apr. 2025, www.letras.com/closeyoureyes/nae-anyi-modeun-siwa-soseoleun-all-my-poetry/english.html. Accessed 12 Apr. 2025.

Samples of Life

My artwork is a divided circle filled with various patterns. The subject matter of my art piece is African patterns and zentangle drawings. I titled my drawing “Samples of Life.” The title is inspired by the song “Symptoms of Life” by WILLOW. Elements that are obvious in my piece are the use of different lines, shapes, and space.
For my piece, I used a sharpie to outline the circle and divide it. Furthermore, I used a black pen to draw the different patterns within the divided parts of the circle. I rarely used the sharpie to draw patterns as it seemed to bleed over the borders of the circle. The patterns I drew took inspiration from Cameroonian fabrics I saw online and patterns I had created before. When trying to make parts darker, I used my pen to lightly shade it in order to create a cooler effect.
My art piece was inspired by my love for Cameroonian fabrics. It was also inspired by things I had seen in my daily life like flowers, clouds, eyes, etc. Though it doesn’t express any issues, it is meant to show off the patterns you see in life, hence the name “Samples of Life.” The piece is like a community quilt, the only difference being that it was made on paper by one artist. The emotion I hope my art would bring is a sense of longing. Community quilts are usually full of color while my art piece is in black and white. I hope my art piece makes people want to bring more color into their own lives.
As an artist, I strive to be as creative and unique as possible. In this piece, I wanted to share some of the unique patterns that I had created. I also wanted to make each section stand out on its own. I believe that this piece is a good representation of my creative side. Though there are some parts I wish I could change, I believe that I did a good job of making my piece unique.
With this piece, I learned how to create my own patterns. To be honest, the final piece did not come out exactly how I wanted it to. There are parts I wish I could erase and there are parts I wish I could shade in completely. Still, I am proud of it. In the future, I hope that this piece will influence how I draw fabrics in art. I also hope it will help me if I ever choose to get into fashion design.

Back Home

This is a collage I made for my art class that was supposed to reflect a memory or dream I had. This collage was supposed to represent Africa (or Cameroon more specifically) as I hadn’t been there in a while. The collage itself was a bit rushed and I wish I had taken more time in cutting out the pictures and planning where I would put them. However, I do like the colors of this collage!

The Electric State: Good Books vs. Bad Adaptations

The Electric State, which was created by Simon Stålenhag, had a movie adaptation released on Netflix on March 14, 2025. I had high hopes for this movie as I had already been interested in The Electric State. Yet, I was unpleasantly disappointed. Not that the movie was terrible or anything. I remember finishing it one day and thinking “I finished it” and not “I finally watched it!” I felt bad that I didn’t really enjoy the movie. There were some funny moments and some parts that made me wanna cry. However, I knew these parts were coming. Even the foreshadowing didn’t surprise me. It felt like a basic cash-grab movie. Even the casting was a bit boring as most of the main characters were extremely well-known actors (Chris Pratt, Millie Bobby Brown, Stanley Tucci, etc). Not that there is anything wrong with that, it’s just boring.

Easy to Watch

Plenty of books have gotten movie adaptations, such as The Hunger Games, Percy Jackson, and Harry Potter. One of my favorite movie adaptations has to be The Maze Runner (for the record, I have only read one of the books, but I am aware that the movies are not the same as the books). I have also encountered other movie adaptations that were not so good, such as Uglies. Uglies seemed to have found it hard to showcase the original message of the book, and was even a bit “cringe” in some scenes. I believe that what makes most movie adaptations bad is when the message of the book is lost in order to make a movie that is “easy to watch.” I’ve heard of Netflix trying to create movies that people can easily watch while also using their phones. I understand that some people may like doing so, but when I watch a movie, I want to watch the movie.

The Message

The original story of The Electric State was created in the form of a graphic novel that was released on September 25, 2018. It revolves around a girl and her robot traveling together through a lonely retro-futuristic wasteland. As the two characters pass by hundreds of people completely absorbed in virtual reality, a big message the graphic novel seems to portray is how technology, something we created, can consume us. When I look for articles on The Electric State, all I find now are posts about the movie. Of course, the movie contains a message too.

A few months ago, I wrote an essay on the movie The Creator (that does contain spoilers), which revolves around the overall message of the movie. I talk about man vs. technology and how humans learned to live alongside their robotic creations (in the movie). I feel like The Electric State movie was trying to do something similar. Many movies have touched on the theme of humans vs. robots (which I talk about in The Creator essay), and most have done it the exact same way. There’s a human who just happens to be different than others and finds out that not all robots are evil and deserve rights too. Some movies do it differently, basically saying that robots are evil because humans are evil. The Electric State movie shares how humans had isolated their own creation because the robots no longer wanted to live the lives that were programmed for them. Yet, there is also a message about how technology can ruin people’s lives and connections with one another. So what was the real message of the movie?

Lost in Translation + Closing Remarks

I feel like The Electric State movie adaptation is a good example of a message getting “lost in translation”. It wanted to keep the original message while also illustrating another message saying “Everyone deserves rights (even if they are made with metal)!” It didn’t seem to stick with one, which is why the movie ended up being uninteresting. It’s similar to how many things people know and love can be removed from an animated movie when a live-action adaptation is created and the movie becomes forgettable and underwhelming (for example, the Mulan live-action adaptation did not feature the beloved characters Mushu and Cri-Kee and also did not contain the wonderful songs that people may know the original movie for). I think that this movie could have been better if it took more inspiration from the graphic novel, besides the science fiction aspect. Another story by Simon Stålenhag that had a film adaptation is Tales from the Loop. The show seems to take more from the original concept, and I think it works much better than The Electric State movie. Though I don’t hate the concept of The Electric State movie, the movie could have been done so much better, especially with the amount of money that was put into it (which was $320 million by the way).

Bibliography

“The Breathtaking Horror of ‘The Electric State’” Youtube, uploaded by Curious Archive, 16 Jan. 2023, youtu.be/BOdca_kJimE?si=5_Lj6ieIAWxSwMUr. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

Bradley, Tony. ““The Electric State” Blurs the Line between Technology and Humanity.” Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025, www.forbes.com/sites/tonybradley/2025/03/14/the-electric-state-blurs-the-line-between-technology-and-humanity/. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

Face Off

This is an art piece I did based on the work of Jean-Michel Basquiat. It is meant to symbolize crossing boundaries and showing your true self, like taking off a mask. The being in the middle is drawn to look like a skeleton (showing its “true self”). I drew different faces that resemble different masks one might wear. I used a lot of wacky imagery because our true selves aren’t uniform. The text placed around the drawing is meant to give off a sense of indecisiveness (On? Off? Cross? Don’t cross?). I used traffic symbols to symbolize this as well.

Overall, I really like this drawing and I feel proud of it. Maybe in the future I would sketch it out before going in with colors but I believe the craziness of the drawing is what makes it unique. Also, a song I associate with this piece is Future Perfect (Pass the Mic) by Enhypen (“Walk the Line!”).

The Problem With Les Champs Elysees – French I Honors Project (1/26/24)

“Les Champs Elysees” is a popular French song released in 1969. It was written by Michael Wilshaw and sung by Joe Dassin. It is a French adaptation of a British song called “Waterloo Road” which was released in 1968 by Pierre Delano. This song is immensely popular in France and other European countries. It is also considered a classic along with others like “La Vie En Rose” and “Non, Je Ne Regrette Rien” by Edith Piaf. But how did the song get to be so popular?

Well, it is extremely catchy and very upbeat. It tends to bring a sense of nostalgia and romance. Because of this, does this song happen to be one of the standards for all French music? “Les Champs Elysees” tells the story of a man and a woman who go to a bar together and leave the next day as lovers. You may be wondering, what is the “Champs Elysees”? The Champs Elysees is an avenue in Paris. The name “Champs Elysees” means Elysian Fields which, in Greek mythology, was a place for dead heroes. It happens to connect Place de la Concorde and L’Arc de Triomphe. The avenue is famous for being the beautiful, lively heart of Paris. So why is it mentioned in the song? Because that is where the story takes place. It symbolizes Les Champs Elysees’ ability to bring the couple together in the first place. No wonder people see Paris as the city of love!

This song is really a symbol of Paris, but it may overshadow other new French artists. Most popular French songs are much older because of how the standard has remained the same since they were released. So how can this be fixed? Other artists need to be recognized. Artists like Marwa Loud, Jeremy Frerot, or Vendredi sur Mer! Not all the artists are family-friendly, but they still deserve recognition. While those classics may hold a historical significance, embracing the contemporary music scene is essential for acknowledging the evolving cultural landscape. French music fans are not going to stay in the past forever. Eventually, fans of modern music genres will become more prominent which means there will need to be more popular modern artists. This can only be helped if we look past the old, classics of French history and look to the future of French music. Recognizing and supporting the entirety of the French music scene will contribute to a more inclusive representation of the country’s rich musical heritage.

It is highly likely that if I asked you to think of a popular French song, you would think of songs related to pop or chanson. Chanson is a genre of French music that was sung during the Renaissance or the Middle Ages. A higher demand for different genres of French music could be brought into the light the way these classics have. While pop and chanson are indeed prominent genres in the global perception of French music, there is a rich tapestry of other genres that have significantly contributed to the diversity and evolution of the French music scene. Genres like French rock, hip-hop, jazz, and more highlight the dynamic and innovative nature of the country’s musical landscape. French rock, with its energetic and rebellious spirit, has produced influential bands and artists like Noir Desir, Phoenix, and Trust, contributing to the global rock movement. The French hip-hop scene has gained recognition for its unique voice. Additionally, France has a longstanding tradition in jazz, with notable contributions from musicians who have played a vital role in the international jazz community, musicians like Django Reinhardt, Henri Texier, and Michel Legrande. We will also be able to bring more attention to French afro-beats from the francophone countries of Africa. While classical and chanson genres provide a historical foundation, it is crucial to shine a spotlight on the contemporary artists shaping the diverse sounds of modern France. By acknowledging and celebrating the contributions of artists across various genres, we can foster a more nuanced and comprehensive understanding of the vibrant French music scene, breaking away from the stereotypes associated with a limited set of iconic songs.

So how can we balance the impact of those songs with songs of other genres? We can do this by introducing new genres to the public eye which may draw more attention to French music. Initiatives such as music festivals, curated playlists, and dedicated radio programs can provide platforms for displaying the diversity of genres. By embracing and celebrating the multiplicity of genres, we not only balance the impact of iconic songs but also pave the way for a more dynamic and inclusive representation of French musical heritage on the global stage. Ultimately, diversifying the exposure of French music allows for a richer and more nuanced understanding of the cultural and artistic contributions that extend far beyond the confines of a few songs.

Finally, in closing, I would like to say that we should not push these amazing songs like “Les Champs Elysees” out of the music scene completely but we should instead begin to integrate these new artists into the eyes of the public so they can shine just as these classics have.

Bibliography

“Champs-Élysées Facts | Britannica.” Britannica. Www.britannica.com, www.britannica.com/facts/Champs-Elysees. Accessed Jan 9. 2024.

Issokson, David. “Joe Dassin – Les Champs Élysées (French Lyrics English Translation).” French Learner. 23 Mar. 2022. www.frenchlearner.com/songs/les-champs-elysees/. Accessed Jan 9. 2024.

Hollen, Joseph L. “The Meaning Behind The Song: Les Champs-Élysées by Joe Dassin.” Old Time Music, 27 Sept. 2023, oldtimemusic.com/the-meaning-behind-the-song-les-champs-elysees-by-joe-dassin/. Accessed 9 Jan. 2024.

Hanson, Rachel. “History of French Music.” LoveToKnow, www.lovetoknow.com/life/lifestyle/history-french-music. Accessed 9 Jan. 2024.

Krambs, Gregor. “The Most Popular Genre of Music in France: Revealing the French Music Scene.” StrawPoll, strawpoll.com/most-popular-genre-music-france. Accessed 9 Jan. 2024.

Reflection

Authoring this essay was interesting for me since I got to learn a lot more about French culture. I had never really been eager to listen to French music. Through this project, I was able to do more research on it and even started a playlist of French songs I liked. Finding resources on French music was a bit harder than I realized but I was still able to find informative ones. Also, I got to learn about other genres of French music that I did not even know existed like French rock and hip-hop. Overall, authoring this essay has gotten me to learn much more about the music of France than I did before.

(SPOILERS) The Creator and Man vs. Technology – Creative Writing Honors Project (5/17/24)

(WAIT! This essay contains spoilers for the movie The Creator! If you don’t want spoilers, don’t read this essay!)

There are many movies that feature the Man vs. Technology conflict type like Wall-E, iRobot, Avengers: Age of Ultron, The Mitchells vs. The Machines, M3GAN, and The Matrix. In most Man vs. Technology movies, technology is usually the bad guy. Though this does not happen all the time, it seems to be the case for most movies. For example, the villain in Wall-E was Auto, the villain in iRobot was VIKI, and the villain in Avengers: Age of Ultron was Ultron, Tony Stark’s messed up robot, which was really a result of human error. This type of conflict is so common because of our own fear of technology and how it can affect the world even though we are the ones who created it. However, in The Creator, it seems like man is blatantly shown to be the true villain.

The Creator is a movie where, like in most futuristic movies, man develops artificial intelligence. These robots can replicate human features and abilities, including the ability to feel emotions. After many years of living alongside artificial intelligence, there is a nuclear bomb detonated in Los Angeles. The West turns against the robots it created and vows to exterminate them fearing their power and ability to harm humanity. What humans did not know was that the detonation of the bomb was a human error, not one of artificial intelligence. Unlike the West, Asia learned to live with robots and treat them as if they were humans. This upsets the West and starts a war between America and what is now known as New Asia.

The story follows Joshua Taylor, who is an American undercover in New Asia. He has a pregnant wife named Maya, who many believe is the daughter of the head of New Asia’s AI advancements, Nirmata. Joshua and Maya’s relationship represents love and forgiveness because even though Maya is Nirmata’s daughter, Joshua loves her. When NOMAD discovers Joshua and Maya, they launch an attack on their hideaway. Maya feels betrayed when she learns that Joshua is a spy and runs away. She is seemingly killed after a NOMAD strike.

Many years later, Joshua is part of a cleanup crew but is later recruited to find “Alpha O” which is a weapon created by Nirmata that could destroy humanity. Joshua hesitates but when he learns that Maya could also be alive and helping Nirmata, Joshua agrees. When Joshua finds the weapon, he finds a young simulant, an AI with a human likeness, in the form of a young girl who can control technology. Instead of destroying the child, Joshua diverts and looks for his old commander. His old commander tells Joshua that the child, who is now called “Alphie,” could be the most powerful weapon in the world.

Though the child is considered a dangerous weapon, Alphie represents Maya’s love for Joshua and humanity because Maya is the real Nirmata. Alphie is based on the child that Maya and Joshua were supposed to have. Since Maya modeled Alphie after her unborn child, Maya’s love for Joshua is instilled in her as well. Joshua also learns to love the child as his own even though he was hesitant at first because she was a simulant.

Joshua finds himself in a simulant village where Nirmata resides. Maya is found in a coma and since none of the simulants can harm Nirmata, she can only be taken off life support by a human. Joshua is forced to take Maya off life support himself as U.S. forces arrive. One of the simulants tells Joshua that the only way for the war to end is for NOMAD to be destroyed. Soon, Joshua and Alphie are captured by U.S. forces who want Joshua to destroy Alphie.

Joshua and Alphie plan a rouse where he pretends to kill her for them to escape and take control of NOMAD. They must act quickly before NOMAD attacks all remaining AI civilizations. Joshua plants explosives on NOMAD and is attacked by a robot that is sent to stop Alphie and Joshua from escaping. Joshua is forced to save Alphie in an escape pod. As NOMAD falls apart, Joshua finds a simulant with Maya’s likeness. They embrace for one last time aboard the crumbling ship, killing both Joshua and Maya.

Alphie arrives on the ground safely to see many people celebrating the destruction of NOMAD. There is a feeling of relief in the air and the war is finally over. The movie ends with Alphie smiling, showing that there is hope for humanity and AI.

This movie shows the hypocrisy of humanity fighting against something it created. New Asia’s kindness towards AI completely contrasts America’s cruelty. One side was attempting to force AI down while another wanted to live with it in harmony. After many years, AI learned to become more human, feeling human love, human sadness, and even human pain. New Asia saw AI as humans while the West saw AI as trash to be disposed of. The message of the movie is to love one another, no matter how different. Whether you are made of flesh or metal.

Bibliography

Curran, Brad. “The Creator’s Chapter Titles & Meaning Explained.” ScreenRant, 29 Sept. 2023, https://screenrant.com/the-creator-chapter-titles-meaning-explained/. Accessed 17 May 2024.

“Man vs Technology: The Conflict between Man and His Creations.” Prowritingaid.com, 2022, https://prowritingaid.com/man-vs-technology. Accessed 17 May 2024.

Kalita, Mitra. “The Humane Response to the Robots Taking over Our World.” Time, 21 Mar. 2023, https://time.com/charter/6264732/the-humane-response-to-the-robots-taking-over-our-world/. Accessed 17 May 2024.

“The Psychology Behind Our Feelings about Robots.” @GI_weltweit, www.goethe.de/ins/gb/en/kul/zut/rob/22912887.html. Accessed 17 May 2024.

“Humans and Our Alarming Fear of Robots.” Discover Magazine, 8 Mar. 2023, www.discovermagazine.com/mind/humans-and-our-alarming-fear-of-robots.

Sohrab. “Meet the Characters of the Creator.” D23, 25 Sept. 2023, https://d23.com/meet-the-characters-of-the-creator/.

Reflection (3/24/25)

I think that if I could have rewritten this essay, I would have made it less like a summary and more of a think-piece on the movie’s overall message. I also would have ended it by saying “The message of the movie is to judge someone by their actions, not by what they look like,” instead of “The message of the movie is to love one another, no matter how different.

I really loved The Creator! It was such a cool movie. Honestly, there may be other movies that portray the struggle between humanity and its own creation better than The Creator but I chose this one mostly because I loved the soundtrack (especially at the end because Hans Zimmer is a great composer and producer). I am writing this reflection after watching another movie, The Electric State which was inspired by Simon Stålenhag. I may write a review of this movie as I really like retro sci-fi as well. However, The Electric State left me with a different feeling.