Major Research Essay

Jayleen Jimenez
English 103
Professor Vasileou
May 2011
Gia and Its Depth of Realism

Films and their directors often make satisfactory attempts at portraying certain events in either the history of life or the history in someone’s life. They grasp onto partial events that surround their plot and make use of it. This depth in realism often defines the worth and authenticity of a movie based on how accurately it portrays the sequences. Specific examples that attempt to reanimate the realism in a times point are documentaries. Documentaries often make sufficient use of actual material and incorporate it into the film. Without portraying the sense of realism at a location’s time and historical setting, that would cease to further continue the movie’s production and profit. It would simply defeat the purpose. The film Gia (1998) meets some of the requirements on portraying the aspects of movie’s setting. It realistically portrayed the social life of New York City but almost, in a way, failed to portray the political. The economic portrayal in the movie seemed to teeter on a scale from one to ten with five being neutral; It managed to balance and come off as neutral. This gives a little example of each aspect in its own way, it’s just up to the viewers to pick and choose which are they exactly.


Throughout the course of the late 1970s, New York City was still in the midst of an overpowering economic stagnation that swept throughout the states. “It seemed as if the entire infrastructure was in decay. Political corruption, sloppy accounting, and the cost of the war were killing the city.” (Tannenbaum) Much of New York City was still in total chaos especially in the poorer congressional districts where most of the minorities resided. With the depression making its sadistic stand, there was crime spawning from each corner devoid of all hope as well as many other arising issues. The absolute plight of the city just continued to grow more and more. Pivotal events forced New York City to take a turn on things; the city population declined, the economy continued to fail, and crime along with mass housing had already been corrupted. The economy also was bisected to two wealth classifications, the impoverished and opulent citizens. Due to the alarming rates in crime statistics, it typically wasn’t safe to roam the streets at night and with that, in 1977 there was a blackout in the dreadful summer of July. As a result of there being hardly any money for people to spend, there was a mass amount of looting going on as soon as the blackout commenced. This brought down the economy even further. Up until the early 1980s, the city began to recover from its slump and things began to improve. There was the revival of Wall Street in the 80s. Wall Street claimed its role as the center for the worldwide financial industry but there was still high unemployment rates and crime. The city was still on its way towards making a complete recovery in the economic term which wouldn’t be achieved until the late 1980s.
Followed by the depression, multiple cops were laid off as well as other employees. When the arrival of the electoral race, many sought to confide in a figure of who revive the city. In the mayoral campaign, Mario Cuomo went against Ed Koch who happened to win over Cuomo. Due to the Postwar, many of the congressmen and President Ford completely ignored the desperate pleas for assistance. In a Daily News headline during the year of 1976 and he stated towards the New York City residents to “ drop dead” and refused to give help as well as even threatening to veto out on a bill pertaining to a federal bail-out for the city. Without the help of any political figure, New York City was suffering.
Despite the negative entity that hovered over the New York City skyline, the social aspect seemed to be making progress even with its cons but only after the late 70s. Before the early 80s, crime was rampant and present in almost every block and sidewalk in the city. This was all a result from the lack in police officers and precincts. There was gangs forming everywhere and roaming the streets anywhere. There was also a serial killer running amok during the nights who went by the name of “Son of Sam” or also known as “The .44 Caliber Killer”. Aside from the serial killer, as mentioned previously, there was a blackout in 1977. Those two proved to be the most vital events in ‘77 thus making it one very burdensome year. After those events took place, that’s where things became a bit more positive socially. Still within a decade, the help of the New York Yankees winning the World Series, that boosted the charisma and courage within the residents of the city. It brought hope to them. New York City also began on becoming culturally diverse (Hispanics, Latin Americans, Asians, etc) as well in genres and lifestyles. This was all vividly shown in a documentary called Downtown Calling (2009) along with other things that were in the social aspects of New York City. There was a show of openness in sexuality. It came to a point where sexuality was and still is fluid; “Sex was everywhere”. Scenes were created such as Greenwich Village, a center particularly for the homosexuals. They did suffer a consequence though. At the time a new disease was introduced which was first known as HIV until it mutated and became AIDS. It was popular amongst the homosexuals because it would be transmitted through anal intercourse. Around this time, the Gay Men’s Health Crisis was founded in order to help those affected men in need. Coagulating with a partner wasn’t the only way to contract the virus/disease. Others would acquire it from potential drug abuse. Along with sex, art and music also began to bloom into the society. People such as Andy Warhol, Ricky Powell, Andy Kessler, Madonna, CBGB’s, and others brought much of an influence towards what we see presently.
The movie Gia was released on January 31st in the year of 1998 as an HBO film. The film production companies were HBO Pictures, Marvin Worth Productions, and Citadel Entertainment. The leading actress that portrayed the title character was Angelina Jolie. This biography presented viewers of a following on Super model Gia Marie Carangi’s brief life from 1977 - 1986. The film takes you through the events of when she was a teenager up until her last moments. It begins on showing her life in Philadelphia where she is discovered to be model potential. Followed by her moving to New York City to pursue her career where she’s swept instantly in the stardom. But it all begins to disintegrate because she could never really cope with life due to her childhood with her mother so she falls into the world of drugs and addiction. Oblivious to the actual world around her, she continues to abuse drugs despite its consequence. Times were shown where she tried to make a recovery to strengthen her relationship (same-sex) but she fails and ultimately relapses. It is through drugs where she acquires AIDS. Everything around her fails and just as that, her body fails to keep up with the disease bringing her to a young passing. The film won 2 Golden Globes awards, seven wins, and 12 nominations.
Life in the film of Gia was primarily focused on the life of the supermodel Gia and so because of that, outside life wasn’t shown much. The life that was presented in the film was only the one that revolved around her and with her. In the sense, it was realistic because there was no shunning when it addressed the main points of Gia’s drug addiction. It didn’t sugarcoat her addiction. In multiple shots in the film, it showed her abusing drugs starting from cocaine to smoking heroin and to shooting heroin. Track marks and festering scabs were shown from her addiction and also from the AIDS. The film also showed a realistic view of the fashion society and what goes on in it especially at the time. With just the simplest detail of things such as the fashion magazines and clothing, it gave you almost an inside view of the fashion world then. In ways, it is still the same, the only difference being the latest trends although fashion does repeat itself.
In terms of the actual financial aspect of the city during the decade, the film didn’t portray it as much with the other groups but it did with the wealthy upscaling fashion industry. At one point in the movie, an Editor-in-Chief for a well known magazine makes reference towards the finance in the city. “Fashion is advertising and advertising is money. For every dollar you earn, someone has to pay.” Even during the times of the depression, the fashion industry still aimed to make money which shows they weren’t affect much by the crisis. It portrayed the realism within the fashion industry. Most were of the figures in the film were shown wearing expensive pieces of clothing which at time is what they would wear. They would be up to date with the latest trend no matter how much it costs or how bad the economy is. Fashion was a priority. It showed the figures wearing, driving, and living in what they could afford. The lower classes were shown in the same manner such as the “junkies”. They were shown living in alleyways covered in filth with dirty and grungy clothing because it was all they could get.
Almost correlating with the paragraph above, the movie did accurately portray the realism in social aspect. Much of the diversity in lifestyles,genres,and etc were shown throughout the movie after the late 70s. In actual reality, there was nightclubs, sex, and drugs. In most nightclubs, there would always be drugs involved which usually led to having sex. Gia, who was apart of that scene, is where she first was introduced to cocaine while attending a nightclub. Most would agree that clubs with recognition were filled with people anticipating to go in and in the film that was portrayed. During scenes of Gia’s photo shoots, there would usually be a strong diverse team there each assigned to their own tasks. They would range from being gay to being a minority. Typically in the fashion industry, almost every one is diverse ranging from all countries over the world. Another thing that addressed towards the realism of the social constructs were the drug addictions. Realistically, drug addictions had proved to be a problem because not only was it bringing up the crime rates but due to the fact that many were contracting HIV/AIDS through sharing needles. This in particular is shown and referenced in the film at least twice.
Politically, the film did not portray its realism well due to the lack of politics being shown in it. Throughout the movie, politics was only mentioned once. The scene took place in the late 70s just as Gia was beginning and mentioned President Ford’s negligence towards the city, inflation, and a rally that were reacting towards the President’s speech. Other than that, no other references were made. The film failed to accurately show the realism of the politics at the time.
Within the world of Gia and the realism of everything surrounding that time, it almost manages to accurately portray a New York City then. Only focusing on the social and economic aspects at the time, this film was completely devoid of all things politics. Gia and its depth of realism is a mere reality of what New York City was really like without the full financial and political aspects.


Works Cited Page

Van Raper, Frank. “Ford to New York: Drop Dead.”
NY Daily News 30 Oct. 1975, Print.

JP. "DIRTY, DANGEROUS & DESTITUTE | NEW YORK IN THE
70s – ALLAN TANNENBAUM." The Selvedge Yard.
Wordpress, 15 Apr. 2010. Web. 23 May 2011.

Nicholson, Shan, Prod. Downtown Calling. Dir. Shan Nicholson."
2009, Film

Blog Nineteen

During the long, productive, and dreadful interval that was the archives essay, much knowledge was earned. I was completely unaware of the term “planned shrinkage”, suffice to say I didn’t even know about the economic plight that existed in the 1970s. I felt as if I ventured through an uncharted and desolate wasteland that was once of existence before. There was so much to explore and so much to learn, in a way I felt like an eager child waiting for play. The archives proved of great assistance towards facilitating the important means of the paper. However the introduction by the archives project was deemed incoherent for me due to my taking in of the information all too quickly. I had to dissect the given information piece by piece in order for my understanding to take its place. Afterward, it did prove its vital use. The archives project was much more arduous as opposed to the major research essay. My reasoning for that is because with the major research essay, there was already knowledge at hand rather than the archives project. As mentioned before, I was not familiar with the grounds the project was based on. With the major research essay, I had the information from the archives to help as well as the entire internet. I was not prohibited towards it use unlike the archives project. Other than that, I was able to form outlines for both papers, which of course, did make it all the easier.

Blog Seventeen

Some would say that the term “free will” itself is a potent fallacy, that we are simply controlled and governed by the higher jurisdiction that surrounds us entirely. Others would suggest that such things do exist, that we do control our own free will.


Soon to be continued throughout the day.

Blog Sixteen

1. The movie’s basic plot: The film Gia (1998) guides you through the tribulations and turmoil of its leading lady, Gia. She becomes a supermodel who finds herself struggling with failing relationships and her persistent battle with drug addiction. The film plays out like a biography/documentary with mock documentary clips that show interviews of the people who were in her life. After her long battle and vying for her life with drug addiction, she becomes diagnosed with AIDS and eventually dies after one last attempt to acquire her heroin.
2. How it relates or is situated in NYC: The film relates immensely to New York City because not only is it one of the fashion capitals of the world but because Gia is a top fashion supermodel which means she found herself in the city the majority of the time often doing photo shoots and runway shows. The movie situates itself in terms of the entire setting although some of it also takes place Philadelphia. The movie also relates to NYC in the sense of the entire city socially and economically.
3. How do we see NYC visually in the movie: We are shown a variety of shots that would typically range from the simplest of objects to the most prominent figure in the film. Outside shots were usually low or high angles of the fashion districts in the city such as 5th Avenue. The unimportant figures in the movie are either shown as lower class people or middle class. The important ones were shown in luxury due to their powerful position in the fashion industry such as Wilhemina Cooper, the founder of Cooper Models. Other top models were shown draped in the luxurious lifestyles of the rich and famous.
4. What does New York City look like in the movie: New York City is shown much of what it looks like today with the exclusion of some buildings and clubs along with just a bit of renovations. The lower part of the city, is shown in filth since it surrounds the junkies and homeless while the the middle part, is shown in a high manner since fashion and beauty surrounds this movie in almost every aspect.

Blog Fifteen

Considering the caustic events that have occurred over time, it justifies the violation of privacy. There are times where certain things must be overlooked and sacrifices must made in order for there to be balance. There comes a time where one must think outside of the proverbial box and weigh out the consequences and then bring about questions within themselves. I personally feel that it would be preposterous to overlook the high terms in security so that our prudish Americans can live in privacy. Living in privacy could possibly result in the cost of numerous casualties. Foreign enemies or even those who reside in the US would disrupt our infrastructures and plot against us.

Archives Project Essay

Jayleen Jimenez
April 2011
Luke Vasileou
Eng 103

During the 70s, New York City experienced a malevolent crisis that affected every New Yorker in some sort of way. The city suffered socially and economically. There were high unemployment rates that were increasing with each day that passed. Of course where there’s high unemployment, there’s crime spawning within the gaping void that’s left behind as a result. Roger Starr,a Housing Administrator, used this towards his advantage to facilitate his desires of “planned shrinkage”. He was a radical who was determined to get the job due to the belief of the city decreasing in size and population no matter what the circumstances were.
When his ideas were presented there was more of mass of negative reactions than there was positive. Not many were in favor of his idea particularly the minorities. Being that the minorities were already suffering enough from the postwar economic slump, this was depressing and distraught news presented to them. In attempts to make a stand, they were often ridiculed by some such as a journalist from the Daily News, a newspaper that was and is filled with highly subjective articles. On the 4th of March 1976, an article was written in the Daily News titled as “A Display of Ignorance”. The title itself already shows the discontentment towards minorities for whatever reason the author may possess. On this day, a regional conference was being held and Starr was planned to deliver a statement but a gathering of perturbed protestors were rallying outside and displaying their objection towards his “planned shrinkage”. All they wanted was for the idea not to go through because just as everyone else they had homes. Despite their lack of money being at their disposal, they were treated differently and often categorized as living in the slums. The ignorant of this article made their position proven by showing their demeaning and belittling conduct that was presented on the paper. They deemed the protestors as being boorish and using fascistic tactics to intervene also mentioning the “gagging” of Starr.
“A band of hooting, howling protestors invaded a regional conference on Tuesday…”
This could have been worded where it didn’t exhibit much of their animosity towards the group of individuals despite the author’s positioning. The terms “hooting”, “howling”, and “invaded” made the protestors seem barbaric. Not only were they being degraded but Starr’s idea raped them of their fundamentals and rights.
Unemployment played a huge factor towards Starr’s scheme on “planned shrinkage” In the year of 1976, the agency reductions were all over 10%. Most being significant to the communities where the minorities resided. There was 4,879(13.7%)police reduced, 1,926(13.7%) firefighters laid off, and 8,130(17.3%) health employees laid off considering much more in other agencies. All of these notable necessities are what make a neighborhood strive in a way but without it, there is complete chaos. That’s exactly what happened to the “slums”. Without the police patrolling, the crime rate sparked. Where there was a fire, there was barely any firefighters. If there wasn’t any medical assistance then there would be much more injuries and casualties. With the lack of Sanitation, the entire neighborhood would be a complete pigsty. All of these factors were being pulled out one by one and forcing the neighborhoods to decrease in size and in value. This only outraged the residents further more but still Starr didn’t consider any of it.
In an interview that was dated in September 2 of 1993, Roger Starr gave much of his views and perspectives towards “planned shrinkage” and how he felt about the minorities. He was given a number of questions by Robert Fitch. In this interview, he should his extensive knowledge of the housing industry considering he was the administrator. He knew of what he was talking about quite well. It’s just he frowned upon the minorities and degraded them incessantly. He never considered them so he often planned without their views on such subjects. Roger Starr was a very controversial individual who wasn’t in favor of the Brook Amendments.
“...take tenants who couldn’t pay an adequate rental, so the maintenance of public housing deteriorated very rapidly…”
He strongly felt that the Brook Amendments gave minorities what they didn’t deserve. He felt that the Amendment was removing the “good” tenants and keeping the “bad” tenants which were minorities who took it for granted. Economically it didn’t favor Roger Starr nor the government. It was just a program built solely for those who were in need of money and housing.
Starr wasn’t always a pessimistic person, he had great ideas that helped the people in neighborhoods. If one were to wonder why project housings are shaped similar to a cross, it’s because it kept “people from going up the roof and doing drugs…”. It was a positive input because at least he tried to keep people from harm’s way though I am sure he was doing it more for his benefit. It was very considerate for Starr to think of drug abusers going up to the roof yet he is advocating for the decrease of police officer; in which these officers are the ones who are obligated to deal with drug users and those alike however they still removed the patrolling officers. Starr believed that fiscal terms left the city in a horrid shape economically. But he did have a bit of hope, he stated “If you were willing to sit and wait and wait and wait, you would eventually get paid off…” If you look at his opinion, you can see the relevance to his “planned shrinkage”. If you can wait for the plan to go through it would eventually be paid off well to the people and the government. At the end of the interview, Starr explains the influx of immigration, the decreasing jobs, and loss of population yet he still views the “planned shrinkage” as a great idea. Though we’re losing all of these things, to make matters much worse a continuation wouldn’t affect the people who already being troubled from his previous ideas/plans.
Starr was a cynical and radical man due to his determination on “planned shrinkage”. He was fully aware of the negatives and who were affected but still didn’t give much of a second guess. He favored the rich and that was evidently shown in the interview. It all was in favor of gaining profit and disregarding the poor. There could have been ways to avoid this and go about it in another way but Starr seemed to have focus on only one idea and that idea solely.

Special Activity: MOMI

Things I’ve learned
• How the first gaming system was produced and who created it
• The way audio is done in films
• Special and visual effects done in movies. I really enjoyed the displays that were from two of Darren Aronofsky’s films.
• How the choking scene was done in “Black Swan”
• The difference between cosmetics then and now


One concept the tour guide explained was how the African Americans and Asians were type casted into movies during the early 1900s. I can’t quite remember the two actresses name that were well known but one of them were usually type casted as the “Mammy” because of her robust southern appearance. The other was an Asian woman who was type casted as the Femme Fatale/Seductress. Another concept was the producing of audio in films. She showed us the film “Titanic” as an example. The scene where the ship is already sinking, she told us how the sounds were produced such as the chimney breaking was done with a can and some one squeezing it. I can’t quite remember any thing else. Other than that, this field trip was rather splendid.