A lot of the actors asked for context around some of their characters or situations, this is that research.

JOYCE:

Hippie Context: 

  • – So as one of the ADs pointed out was that Joyce was possibly apart of a 2nd generation romanization of the hippie movement
  • – That would make a lot of sense for how Joyce acts about travel, she is a backpacker that has backpacked a lot which means she is of the subculture that is “nomadic” in feeling
  • – Because she has backpacked a lot which means she has the money to do so

Flowers in Your Hair: 

  • – Flowers in Your Hair by Scott McKenzie was released in 1967
  • It was hailed as one of the songs of the “Summer of Love” because of its found feelings towards San Francisco and the Hippie Movement
  • – Was written by John Phillips of the Mamas and Papas, he believed that it was contributing factor to the flocking of people to San Francisco
  • – Within the song there are lyrics about being active in social change (which ironic for Joyce’s lack of action) 
  • – Kinda a love song to the Summer of Love 

https://genius.com/1568579 (here is the genius explanation!)

Full House: 

  • – It was a wildly popular sitcom that aired first in 1987 and lasted till 1995
  • – Shockingly (not really) it was filmed in LA but took place in SF
  • – Because it was so wildly popular so many people watched it throughout their childhood (so this does muddy up the age of Joyce) 
  • – In the intro to the show the Painted Ladies are seen it’s believed that the Tanner family (the main family in Full House) live in one of the houses 
  • – However with establishing shots of the front house it is not one of the Painted Ladies but another house on Brodrick street 

  • TJ:

  • French Cave paintings: 
    • – Found in Lascaux, France
    • – It is a series of cave paintings from the Paleolithic era and was found in the 1940s 
    • – They were mainly consisted of large animals that were once native to France 
    • – There are many different parts of the cave with over 2,000 distinct drawings that include animals, human figures, and abstract signs 
    • – In 2000 there was a fungus outbreak caused by visitors, lights, and a air conditioner 
    • – They were starting to reopen around 2015 

    https://www.bradshawfoundation.com/lascaux/ (for more information about the restoration process and significance) 

    Triumph of the City: 

    • – Written by Harvard professor Edward Glaeser
    • – In the book it explores different urban cities all over the world, he really does love cities as a cultural standpoint and makes that known that throughout his book 
    • – Within the book he praises cities that have built up and not out because city density is what makes these cities unique and up is how they can keep that 
    • – He does mention the fact that San Francisco is different because of the view and SF’s huge emphasis on environmentalism 
    • – While the book has all these great ideas about how to make sure cities don’t displace people, there isn’t actual policy 
    • – Because of the lack of policy it is hard to see the practicality of what he is suggesting 

    https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/13/books/review/Silver-t.html (for more information)

  • VERO

  • Willow: 
    • – A dark fantasy directed by Ron Howard (who also directed the Grinch) in 1988
    • – About a farmer who reluctantly takes care of a baby from a queen who wants to destroy her and take over the world 
    • – Nominated for two Oscars but lost to Who Framed Roger Rabbit 
    • – Even though it is considered a cult classic people in the 1980s liked it!
    • – The critical reviews were really positive for this movie and it has maintained that reputation
    • – Considered a cult classic by many 
    • – A tv series is supposed to come out this year on disney+ 

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willow_(film)#Plot (the wikipedia link if you want to read up on it) 

    Madmartigan: 

    • – One of the most popular characters from Willow 
    • – He is a disgraced knight who reluctantly teams up with the protagonist and becomes friends 
    • – On this journey he meets the love of his life (who is a princess!!!)
    • – He wasn’t allowed to be with her because of the knights code
    • – However (because it does) love prevails and they get married 

    https://willowufgood.fandom.com/wiki/Madmartigan (for more information) 

    For this I would fully recommend watching the movie because it is integral to Vero 🙂 

    MUNA:

    https://open.spotify.com/artist/6xdRb2GypJ7DqnWAI2mHGn?si=zodOYj39RxOc3eFkwS4ddw (a link to their music) 

    • – A Los Angeles based music trio who met while they were students at USC 
    • – They all came from different musical backgrounds but when they come together they ended up playing pop music
    • – In 2021 they were signed to the same label as Phoebe Bridgers 
    • – Their third studio album is being released in June of 2022

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muna_(band) (for more information)

  • JADA

  • https://open.spotify.com/track/5fFZ1iSI7cIKfHr3VW2tm0?si=5a27b9ded05d4f48 ( a funny song with Busking references) Busking: 
    • – Busking is essentially just playing music or dancing for money 
    • – They are popular in cities on popular street corners or public transit 
    • – Jada is most likely busking in order to maintain her skill and make a little bit of money 
    • – We are also in the time of people filling street performers and making them famous 
    • – That might be what she really wants when she dances, she wants to be her boss on her own terms 

    https://www.roland.com/uk/blog/12-golden-rules-busking/?lang=en-GB ( how to busk properly) 

  • SOUL TRAIN:

  • Soul Train was an American television program that aired from 1971-2008 
    • – Created by Don Cornelious who was a journalist originally and because of the Civil rights Movement realized there needed to be a place for soul music on TV 
    • – Don Cornelious was the host of the show for 22 seasons 
    • – It was highly influential and considered the “Black American Bandstand” 
    • – American Bandstand was a music program in the 1950s that showcased different bands on television 
    • – Despite it being super influential for Black music, Cornelious didn’t like hip hop and didn’t want to showcase it on the show
    • – One of the most popular elements was the “Soul Train Line” which was in which all the dancers form two lines with a space in the middle for dancers to strut down and dance in consecutive order. – – Originally, this consisted of a couple—with men on one side and women on the other.
    • – The “Soul Train Line” and Soul Train in general launched the careers of many actors including: Rosie Perez, Nick Cannon, MC Hammer, and Jennifer Lopez 

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soul_Train (for a deeper look) 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lODBVM802H8 ( a clip from the show in 1973) 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5P-TXxoWTSE ( more clips from the show) 

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bm9hsSojAo ( and one more for good measure)

  • FRONTIN’

    • What is not happening
    • – a gang imitation or initiation 
    • – You are not in a gang 
      • – The boys are joking around and a car rolls up with with bass blaring and driving slowly by 
      • – You are puff up your chest to appear tougher and more intimidating
  • https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/15762/3/15762%20LUYT_Hegemonic_Masculine_Conceptualisation_2001.pdf what you are doing: 
    • – you are trying to prevent violence 
    • – if you appear tough and bigger and masculine you won’t be bothered
    • – that’s what you want, you want to be left alone 
    • – you want to appear as if you are already in a gang or tough enough to not be messed with 
    • – that car passing is by is a threat, every car that has its bass pumping is a threat till its not
    • – this is commonplace, you are doing this pretty often 
    • and the moment it is not you are kids again 

    • GRAND OPENING

      • – It means that Eric is never suspicions of what this crepe shop owner is doing 
      • – He is planning on reaping the benefits of this new wave of people 
      • – He has the money to stay in Oakland even once he is starting to get outbid 
      • – The shop owner is able to buy the property from the landlord because she could pay the crazy price and no one could for the last 15 Years 
        • – the kicking out of negligent residents will lead to better and safer neighborhoods 
        • – Eric wants improvement at any cost probably because he can afford to stay even when it gets pricey
        • – while displacement does happen it doesn’t always harm the people in a neighborhood
        • – it is not a new concept, improving the land had been going on for as long as societies have been placed 
        • – It is a positive when there is a lot of demand, it is what makes cities good
        • – It wouldn’t matter if cities were being gentrified people move and stores will leave no matter what 
        • – If they had stayed and “put” up with the negatives they would also be able to reap the benefits– Eric sees this shopkeeper as an area for improvement because it is simply a change  gentrification as a good thing:
    • https://grbj.com/opinion/positives-of-gentrification-outweigh-the-negatives/