If you are one of the first 10 responses, you need to answer the question only. If you are #11 or higher, please respond to one earlier respondent's answer. Once again, please provide citations from the text to support your answer.
You must respond by Friday, November 4th by 11:59pm.
QUESTION 1: Would you consider “The Girl” a muse? Why or why not? Your response must include your definition of a muse and his/her relationship to the artist’s work as well as an example that fits your definition.
OR
QUESTION 2: How are performance and creation connected in the film? One definition of a musician is “an artist who plays a musical instrument.” Both “The Girl” and “The Guy” perform by playing their “instruments” (her voice, his voice and guitar). Yet, “The Guy” composes the songs. Does this distinguish him from her as an artist? Why or why not?
The Girl is a muse because she keeps pushing him to achieve his dream and shows him how good his music really is, all that it needs is a little fine tuning. A muse is someone who inspires or helps escalate one’s already pretty good talent in any field like the arts. And by the end of this movie he was kind of singing those lovey dovey songs to her, so by the end she was his inspiration. Without her he would not have tried to follow his dream again because in the beginning he kind of given up, but she came along and kept pushing him to try harder and complimenting his music to make him believe in his music. There is no doubt that without this girl he would not be reaching for his dream again and being closer than ever. Plus the most personal songs with just those two were the most powerful and even if the song was about someone else that feeling could switch to be about another person. So yes, this plain, innocent, and musical gifted girl was maybe not his muse in the beginning, but no one is ever born a muse, it just happens for what they have done to help that person to realize and achieve their dream. That is a muse and she is it.
ReplyDelete-Timmy Reynolds
A muse is "a woman, or a force personified as a woman, who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist". The Girl clearly serves as a muse for the main character because she inspires him to continue writing songs and even record the ones he has already written. She helps him expand his talent by accompanying him in his recordings and helping him find a band to record with. In the beginning of the movie, The Boy admits that many of the songs he has written were inspired by his ex-lover. As time progresses and The Boy continues to write, it becomes clear that not all of his songs were written with this ex-lover in mind. Some of his songs are distinctly aimed at and inspired by The Girl. The lyrics to the song "Falling Slowly" are as follows: 'I don't know you, but I want you all the more for that'. They seem to be provoked by the strange origins of The Boy and The Girl's relationship. The Girl greatly serves as a muse in the movie, and one can plainly see her influence and inspiration in The Boy's music.
ReplyDelete-Mary Lee Sperl
The Girl in the movie “Once” was definitely a muse for the man in the movie because she encouraged him to achieve his dreams and inspired a miraculous change in his music. The general definition of a muse in art is a woman who is the source of inspiration for an artist. The girl was a source of inspiration for the man because there was a clear change in his music from the beginning of the movie to the end, and she was the source of the change. Before she came along, the man was in a rut and was playing music on the streets. She helped him get back on his feet by expressing to him how gifted he was and pushing him to record his music. I believe that the man’s previous muse was his wife who had cheated on him, and that he never quite got over her and that is why his music was so sad and his career wasn’t going anywhere. And then the girl comes along and inspires him to write new music full of new emotions and feelings. Even if he was singing the same songs, he sang them with a new intensity that could only be coming from her inspiration. These lyrics from the song “Falling Slowly” show the man’s emotions showing through in his music, “Moods that take me and erase me and I'm painted black. You have suffered enough and warred with yourself, it's time that you won.” In conclusion, I believe that the girl is a muse for the man because her inspiration shows through in his passion for music.
ReplyDeleteA muse is defined as a person that inspires a creative artist. I definitely think that "the girl" in "Once" acted as a muse. "The guy" in the movie was at a rough time in his life. He was struggling to make a living with his music and his relationsjip was on thin ice. He hadn't seen his lover in a while and he was extremely lonely. Then, this girl walked into his life and changed his whole outlook. She inspired him to take pride in his music and work at promoting it. She motivated him to pursue his real passions. She wasn't afraid to push him and he confided in her. He finally gained the courage to get his music recorded and produced. She essentially gave him his big break. I think his wife had acted as his muse before, but he had lost faith in her after she cheated. "The girl" filled this void. These lyrics from the song "Falling Slowly" that the two worked on together express this, "Take this sinking boat and point it home
ReplyDeleteWe've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You'll make it now." He finally had some hope in his songs. She was the person that pointed his sinking ship home.
A muse is someone, typically a woman, who inspires another individual. That individual is normally an artist of some sort. The guy in the movie had just recently had his heart broken. He was composing music based of his breakup. He meets the girl when he is playing his music on the street one time at night. At first he is apprehensive about her; he is not really sure how to act around her. Initially he comes off as sort of rude, but over time, he grows fond of her. I would definitely consider the girl his muse. She filled the void in his life; she made him feel like all the pieces of the puzzle fit perfectly. Every thing was coming together for him. He began to create beautiful music. He composed the songs and she composed the words. They collaborated together. One of the most famous songs, "Falling Slowly" is about pointing someone who is lost back in the right direction. At the beginning, the guy is essentially lost in the world and doesn't know what to do. When the girl comes along, she guides him back towards the right direction. Like the song explains, she veered him in the direction of home.
ReplyDeleteIn response to question number one, I would definitely consider The Girl a muse. A muse is someone who is an inspiration for someone else, and the girl is evidently an inspiration for the guy. The girl is a source of inspiration for the guy because she comes into his life and she gives him the courage to really follow through with his passion for music. When the two first met, the girl was living with her daughter and her mother and working as a cleaning lady, and the guy was playing music on the streets for extra change and working for his dad at their ‘hoover’ store. The guy had been writing music about his ex-girlfriend, whom he wasn’t willing to chase after but was clearly still in love with her. When they played music together for the first time the song they sang was composed by the guy and was inspired by the girl. The lyrics in falling slowly clearing illustrate the fact that he knows she is creating his second chance at life: “Take this sinking boat and point it home; we've still got time”. I believe that music is always inspired by an event or a specific person, and the music that the guy began creating after he met the girl was clearly inspired by her. Therefore, the girl is a muse for the guy’s actions and his music. -- Julianna Lee
ReplyDeleteOne of the definitions of a muse is "someone that inspires a creative artist. In the movie "Once", "the girl" is definitely a muse because she inspires "the boy" to become more active in his music career, rather than just playing on the street for extra money. The two first meet when he is performing on the street and looking for money when she donates 10 cents to his fund. He responds saying something like "Only 10 cents?" These few words were the start of a long lasting relationship between the boy and the girl. The girl gives him courage to follow and pursue his dream as a musician and ultimately he starts recording music with her in a professional studio. The girl inspires him to let his depressing lyrics about his ex-girlfriend bring him to fame and let his struggles make him stronger. The song that the two worked on together "Falling Slowly" clearly explains their relationship by comparing him to a sinking boat, after his ex-girlfriend cheated on him, and now, after working with the girl, she has supported and inspired him to express emotion through music and she has "pointed it home" as the lyrics say. Because the girl motivates the boy and brings about the good in him, she is a muse.
ReplyDeleteAnyone is capable of performing something, but a select few are capable of creating something special. The difference between the two is not huge, but there is a difference. Performing means to recreate, or recompose someone's creation. For example, performing a song doesn't necessarily mean that you created, or wrote the song. Which brings about the next word, to create, to create means to compose it and for the object to be originally yours. Because the guy in Once wrote his song, that makes him more of an artist than those who just play the musical instrument and sing. However, the guy is more of an artist because he isn't displaying just one art, he is displaying two- the art of writing, and the art of music. Throughout this movie, the girl proves that one can be an artist by only performing. However, throughout this movie, the boy proves that one can be more of an artist by performing original songs because it displays a greater amount of talent.
ReplyDeleteAccording to my definition, a muse is a person who inspires one to take a leap in their artistic life. Therefore, in the movie Once I would consider The Girl to serve as a muse for The Boy. Before The Girl and The Boy meet, The Boy works at his father’s vacuum fixing shop, but his true passion is music. He spends much of his afternoons singing and playing familiar songs, while at night performs original songs. One night The Girl appears and inquires as to why he only plays this music at night, and The Boy responds that no one would listen if he played his self-written songs. The Girl then assures him that she would listen, and here changes in The Boys life begin. The Girl and Boy continue to spend more time together, singing and playing their songs, and not before long The Girl begins to take the place of The Boy’s ex-girlfriend as inspiration in his music. He writes in “Falling Slowly”, “I don't know you, but I want you all the more for that”. The Girl proves to be opening new feelings in The Boy. As the movie continues, The Girl encourages The Boy in his music, constantly assisting and complementing his work. The Girl’s most evident use as a muse is when The Boy decides to record his music and bring it to London. Had The Girl not entered his life, The Boy most likely would not have had the courage to follow both his passion for music and his love for his ex-girlfriend. Because The Girl inspires The Boy to record his music, make the move to London, and seek a recording contract, I would consider her a muse.
ReplyDeleteThe girl is definitely a muse. A muse is a sources of inspiration for a creative work. Without her inspiration and encouragement, the guy would never have gone out and tried to make it in the music business and wouldn't have tried to make up with his ex-girlfriend, whom he still loved and lived in London. At the beginning of the movie, he was just playing to make a few extra dollars on a street corner. He was working in a Hoover store and had no real goals surrounding music, which he loved. But with her encouragement, he began to have hope again in his work and life. When he decided to make the recording, she even went with him to help after he asked her. This demonstrates how she was his muse to take his music seriously and continued to inspire and encourage him. "Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
ReplyDeleteYou'll make it now," from the song "Falling Slowly" represent how she helped him become filled with hope and how as a result, he will succeed. She was truly his muse.
Gabrielle
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeletePerforming and composing are both parts of a musical creative process. The guy performs and composes, and he is an artist. Composing music requires different skills than performing. However, the ability to carry out even one of these tasks still defines one as an artist. As the guy composes the music, the girl can easily follow along with the melody and add a stylish flair too. Also, while her composes, she writes most of the lyrics when the officially start working together. I disagree with Haley because I do not believe that a greater amount of talent makes anyone more of an artist. Together, the music is magic, without certain parts of the process this magic cannot be made. So, together the guy and girl are artists, and what they produced was brilliant.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Ellie Sweeney when she says that The Girl in the film "Once" was a muse. Ellie pointed out that she helped The Guy get back on his feet again after his past love broke his heart. The Guy sang a song to The Girl on a bus and says that he felt like a "Hoover fixer sucker guy" when his girlfriend left him, and his distress is apparent in the tears in his eyes after he finishes the son. The girlfriend's actions inhibited The Guy from seeing that his amazing musical talent that was worth sharing because she left him feeling worthless. His low self esteem can also be seen when he told The Girl won't sing his songs during the day because he believed no one would want to hear them. The Girl fits the role of a muse The Guy because she inspired him with her kind words to try something new and take his music to the next level. Like Ellie said, The Guy's music wasn't going anywhere until she came along. She accompanied him in creating his album and enhanced his music with her voice, playing the piano and writing lyrics. However, it was not just her music that gave The Guy hope, the affirmation of her friendship encouraged him to feel a sense of worth and purpose again. Without creating this bond The Guy might have never been uplifted enough to take his music off the streets and "fall slowly" into the idea of making something more for himself.
ReplyDeleteI believe that “The Girl” from the movie Once displays the traits exhibited by a muse. There are myriad different suggestions for the definition of a muse, the choice is quite subjective. Originally, in Greek mythology, Muses were goddesses who stimulated creation within arts, literature, and music in general. Nowadays, I believe a muse could be defined as someone who ponders of thinks deeply or profoundly, and is the inspiration to an artist, author, or musician. The girl was clearly a muse towards the guy. He composed his original music by himself and his previous experiences before he meet her. After he heard her music and voice and comprehended her talent, the guy used her as his musical and lyrical inspiration. He handed her the blank instrumental CD and asked her to help him write the lyrics. The guy gained a certain level of trust and appreciation of the girl and her talents to allow her to be the motivation for something as personal as his music. The girl encouraged the guy to fulfill his dreams and pursue music in a passionate sense. I agree with Emily that before the guy met the girl that he was essentially “lost” in a spiritual way, and the girl was like an “awakening” who led him back to a beautiful reality when she compiled the lyrics to his music and ameliorated it as a whole.
ReplyDelete-Caroline Kolada
A muse, defined by thefreedictionary.com, is a guiding spirit or source of inspiration however, like Caroline Kolada said, there are multiple definitions. All definitions I have researched have given me the impression of the one I stated previously. A source of inspiration. In the movie "Once" the character known as "The Girl" is most definitely muse for "The Guy". Through out their journey as artist, the two are able to make something of their talent with music. This would not be possible if "The Girl" hadn't inspired "The Guy" to follow his dreams and find a way to let his music take him somewhere; whether it b London to find his lost love or making a career by passing his recorded music out and continuing to sing for the public. Without his muse, "The Girl", this "Guy" may never have found his way to fulfilling his dreams. She provided him with enough inspiration to 'wake him up' (as Caroline also noted) and do something with his talent.
ReplyDelete- Claire Pandaleon
I disagree with Haley Hartzel when she says that “The Guy” is more of an artist than “The Girl.” Just because someone is not creating something, does not mean that they are less skillful or less talented than the other. Many classical musicians make their livelihood interpreting music of composers; that does not mean they are less skilled musicians than the composers. Playing an instrument and composing are two different (but deeply entwined) aspects of music. An example would be a friend of my father. He majored in composition in college, but he had trouble playing simple pop tunes on piano. Another example is one of the most important composers of the 20th century: Arnold Schoenberg. He is known to have had assistants perform parts of his music that he himself was not able to play. In conclusion, you cannot call one artist more talented than the next because one of them did not compose. There are more aspects to music than just composing, such as technical proficiency and ability to channel the emotions of the piece in your playing.
ReplyDeleteA muse is someone or something that acts as a source of inspiration. In Once the girl acts a muse for many reasons. Although the boy started making music before he met her, she was his inspiration to record it. She helped him write lyrics and many songs. If it wasn’t for her he may not have ever recorded his music and gotten their band together. I agree with Caroline Kolada when she says that the girl exhibited traits of a muse. The guy used her as a source of musical inspiration to create his music. He gained trust from her and through the two of them working together their music was created.
ReplyDelete^^^^^^^^^^john buck^^^^^^^^^
ReplyDeleteA muse is the "goddess or the power regarded as inspiring a poet, artist, or thinker. The girl in the movie "Once" was definitely a muse as she inspired the guy to sing his own songs, not just perform the popular songs he sang during the day for the passersby. She gave him confidence that his songs were good, and her zest for music rubbed off on him as he slowly began to gain confidence. She directly affected his art by trying to write lyrics for some of his songs and by accompanying him with her vocals and piano playing ability. I agree with John that she exhibited traits of a muse as she served as the source of inspiration for his music, while she helped him compose his songs. Even more importantly than this though, she gave him the encouragement and hope that got his life back on track.
ReplyDeleteMaggie Nick
A muse is a guiding spirit or force of inspiration for an artist. In the movie, Once, the girl was definitely the guy's muse by this definition. She did this in two ways. First of all, she was was his inspiration to compose music, and even helped him with the harmonies in Falling Slowly and wrote some lyrics for him. From the minute she came into his life, she began to inspire him to keep writing and performing just by being herself. Her obvious enthusiasm and optimism in life gave him the strength to keep pursing his musical dream. Outside of music though, she was also a guiding spirit in his life. She recognized that he needed two things to get his life back on track: music and love. I agree with Maggie- she definitely provided encouragement and hope for him to record a demo CD and put himself out there. As far as finding love, she did inspire him to find his lost love in London. Maybe this was just by existing, since there were moments in the movie where it definitely seemed like the guy loved the girl. Perhaps she made him realize he could love again. Like Maggie said, she was definitely his musse artistically, but even more so in life itself.
ReplyDeleteIn the movie “Once” the girl is definitely the main inspiration or “muse” for most of the guy’s songs. A muse is defined as a woman, or a force personified as a woman, who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist. The girl in the movie has this effect on the guy and inspires him to play songs and keep writing them. On the night they met she encouraged him by saying that his songs were good and that he should play during the day because people would really enjoy hearing his music. She lifts up his spirit and helps him through the rough patch in his breakup. I agree with Ellie Sweeney when she says that the girl pushes the guy to record his music and also expresses how good he is. She takes his music from a sad depressing sound to the cheerful and upbeat piece it once was. She inspires him to go after his dreams and never give up on the things he loves by showing her love for Evanna. She inspires him to put a new emotion into his songs and transforms them into works of art. Without all of her help he would’ve never realized his talent and never taken his music to the next level. She inspired him to do so much and this is why she is his muse.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Claire Pandaleon when she states that a muse "is a source of inspiration". Giving this definition, it is fair to say that The Girl was indeed a muse. Throughout the entire movie, The Girl always encouraged The Guy to persevere through the hard times he was going through and focus on what good things could come out of his beautiful music. The Girl was also the driving force behind the recording studio. If she had not been with The Guy to help him find a band, to help him get a loan for the studio, and to help him with the actual recordings, The Guy would have never left his lowly street corner where he played for a couple of dollars a day. Not only was The Girl a motivator for The Guy's music, but she also motivated and inspired him to go and chase after the girl of his dreams. Had she not constantly questioned him about her and why the broke up, The Guy would have never realized that he met the love of his life and let her slip through his hands like sand. Without The Girl acting as a muse for The Guy, the beautiful cycle of love shown at the edn of the movie would have never happened. Ryan Chestnut
ReplyDeleteI also agree with claire pandaleon when she said "the girl lifts up his spirit' and so therefore, i believe she is a muse. A muse, in my opinion, is something or someone that can get you to feel or see differently than you normally would. In the movie, the guy's vocus was on his lost girlfriend, but the Girl changedhis focus. He now focuses on the music himself (and some people might say that he focuses on Her). I believe that this turning point for him was when they sang and played "Falling Slowly" together. This instance made The Guy stop and think about his life and reflect on his music. Another thing is that The Guy's music changes when he becomes friends with The Girl. His music becomes more positive and uplifting than his music prior to meeting her.
ReplyDelete~Emily Okrzesik
I agree with Grace Parker when she says "the girl was definitely the guy's muse according to the definition 'guiding spirit or force of inspiration for an artist'". The girl provided the guy with inspiration and the motivation to keep writing and performing music. She made him really think about his lyrics and songs, and how he could improve on them. She also inspired him to record his songs in a studio. Personally, I think he never would have left the street corner if she had not come along. The girl and the guy are both artists. Sure, the guy writes his own original songs, but the girl adds a special, new twist to his music. Everyone brings something different to every piece of music, so everyone is an artist in that way. You don't have to write music to be an artist, artists come in a variety of forms.
ReplyDeleteEmma Wojnicki
I would have to agree with Konrad,
ReplyDeleteJust because one person composes and another plays does not mean that one is more talented then the other. As he mentioned, the two are close together and are connected. Just because a person compose music doesn't mean they can play it. There are people who have never sung or played a note on an instrument who are able to compose music, of course they would have to check if it works, but if they follow the guidelines, it isn't impossible. A great example would have to be the Beatles. It is true that Brian Epstein, the Beatles manager composed most of their songs. Many of the Beatles had trouble even reading music. However, look at the difference that the band made on the world. They are the best known band in the entire world, and for many, the greatest of all-time. Did it matter that they did not compose their own music?? Ask the millions of people, who today, continue to listen to the band years after the band split up. This shows that "The Guy" and "The Girl" were both equally talented, because both talents demand a lot from the musician.
A muse is a power that inspires an artist, writer or thinker. I would definitely consider The Girl to be a muse because although The Boy was a musician before they met he really grew when they met. In the beginning, he was just a musician playing on the street and with his friends. Then one day they began talking and realized all they had in common. It did not take long at all for them to realize that they could write beautiful music together. When thought about, it is clear that The Girl was The Boy’s muse. She seemed to come out of nowhere to pull him out of his slump. She was all he needed to become successful. This instance just goes to show that “everyone is just a small adjustment away from making their lives work.” (How Do You Know) The Girl was exactly the adjustment that the boy needed. Without her, he still would have been playing on the street and maybe even would not have had the guts to reconnect with his ex-girlfriend. She acts as a muse for him not only in his music, but also in his life. I agree with Mimi Sperl because as The Ban plays his music it seems that some of his lyrics are aimed at her. Although, the two never got together in the end, an artist often needs an emotional experience or a person to inspire their music. At first glance it may appear to be impossible to think that The Girl could be The Boy’s muse, she just wants him to fix her vacuum cleaner after all. However, later in their relationship it is very clear that she is his inspiration.
ReplyDeletePerforming is another form of creation that equally qualifies a person as an artist. I disagree with Hayley’s statement that “Because the guy wrote his song that makes him more of an artist than those who play a musical instrument and sing.” Performing and singing are, as stated by Konrad, entwined. Creating has a great deal to do with connecting to an audience, which is the same objective as performing. Both arts have the main purpose of trying to provoke emotion in their audience. One song can have millions of interpretations because the people who perform it have their own previous experiences they can bring to the performance. A song can become an original, whether you write it yourself or put your own unique spin on a song. There is no less creativity involved performing versus actually writing songs because in order to have a successful performance, you must have a connection to the song. In reality, performers are often given more credit as artists than songwriters. You may know who sang the biggest top 20 hits on the radio, but you most likely won’t be able to name the songwriter or songwriters. Society gives more credit to the performers, when both the performers and the writers are equally talented artists in their own rights because they use their creativity to create something truly personal and unique.
ReplyDeleteIn the movie "Once" there is both performance and creation. At the beginning of the movie the Guy is performing his songs and the girl hears him. After that he continues to create more music because she inspires him. Both the girl and the guy are artist but the fact that the guy actually creates the music does distinguish him from the Girl. He is more of an artist because he actually does the creation part that involves the thinking. The Girl does not have that aspect. I agree with Bria when she said "The ability to carry out even one of these tasks still defines one as an artist." The Girl still is an artist because she can sing.
ReplyDeleteA muse is a woman who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist. The word comes from the nine Muses of ancient Greek and Roman mythology. They were the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne and the goddesses of art and science. The Girl, one of two main characters in the independent film, Once, is a muse. The other main character, The Guy, is the creative artist whom she inspires. One evening, the Guy is standing in an alley, singing and playing an original song on his guitar, just trying to make a living, while at the same time do what he loves. The Girl, in an outgoing manner, approaches him, flips him a ten cent piece, and says she likes his song. This is the start of something special between them, and demonstrates her ability to motivate The Guy. Over the course of the film, she convinces him to chase his dream of becoming a musician and encourages him to find his lost love. In return, the Guy encourages her to do the same, and in the end they go their separate ways. But they make each other stronger, and that is enough. I agree with Gabrielle Timm, who said that the Guy would never have made it without the Girl. He would not have, and vise versa. Karina de Hueck
ReplyDeleteThe Girl was most definitely a muse for The Boy in Once. A muse is someone or something that inspires a creative artist. Without the Girl, the Boy would not have the extra push that made his music so good. The girl not only inspired him to turn his passion for music into a career, but also inspired the lyrics of his music. His songs became more romantic, because he had finally found love again. The Girl let the Boy realize his full potential, and showed him all that he could do with his music if he put his whole heart into it. The Boy was filled with fear throughout his life. He was never able to puck up the courage to take a chance with his life and his music, until he met the Girl. She was quick to tell him how talented he was, and from then on he was inspired to make his music the best it could be, because now he realized he had a chance in London. The Girl also inspired his love life. I agree with Sarah Young that if the Boy had not met the Girl, he wouldn't have gotten back with his ex-girlfriend. He now knew he could love again, and knew how important love was to each person. Although he accepted he couldn't be happy with the Girl, she had still inspired him to find love again and be happy with his ex-girlfriend.
ReplyDeleteAnnie Lyons
In the film once, performance and creation are connected because without creation, there would be no performance. First, a person with talent in writing music must write a piece, filled with all the little details that come along with it. Then, that piece can be further characterized once it is performed. Both require equal skill and determination, yet still some consider the Boy a better artist in the movie than the Girl because he composes songs as well as writes them. Truth is, they just use their talents in different ways. He may write the melody, but she also wrote lyrics to one of his songs. The have different strengths and weaknesses, but it is not our job to judge them.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I disagree with Haley Hartzel because in order to perform a piece, the artist can put his or her own unique twist on the song. Words are just words until the speaker truly means what they are saying, and the performer has the capability to do this. The execution of a song can vary according to whoever plays it. Without the performer, the audience would never hear the piece that was composed. However, I still believe that both performing and composing require equal skill that cannot determine the strength of an artist.
In the movie, "Once", the Girl can definitely be described as a muse to the Guy. A muse by definition is an object that inspires an artist. This definition fits well with the Girl because she in many ways inspires the Guy to make music on a more professional scale then the street corner he played at on Grafton Street in Dublin. After only a few meetings between the Guy and the Girl, they both find themselves in a musical instrument store playing one of his songs, which gives more credibility to the Guy's music because he is hearing it as if it were a recorded song on iTunes. If the Guy and Girl never met, the Guy would continue to play on that street corner for quite some time. This instance is just one to support the Girl's description as a muse. The other similar reason is that the Girl is the one to convince the Guy to actually record his music in a professional studio. This gives more credibility to the music of the Guy on an even greater scale since it is such a professional operation. In brief, the Girl can be described as a muse because she inspires the Guy to not only record his music and support his effort to get his music in the public, but she also helps him create music, like when she composed the lyrics for that one song.
ReplyDelete-Mark Bredemann
I agree with Haley Hartzel when she says that the Guy was more of an artist than the Girl. He was the one who wrote the songs and made the music. She could attempt at writing songs and music, but they were just bits and pieces. Anyone can sing a song, it takes true artistic talent to actually write and complete a piece of music. She also had the much simpler job. The Guy would use his talents to actually think of something, and she would perform the harmonies and find them on the piano. He has to work much harder and without him and his talents, the Girl would basically be nothing. She would just have her half-written songs.
ReplyDeleteA muse is a source of inspiration for an artist. In the movie, "Once",
ReplyDeletethe woman is definitely a muse for the hopeful man. When the man is
playing his guitar and singing on the streets, the woman comes up to
him and lets the man know his talent. It is quite obvious that as the
movie continues, the singing and songwriting of the man greatly
increases. The woman seemed to be a quiet release for the man. Also,
she was always there when needed to help assure the man that he was
musically gifted. She gave the man confidence to go beyond the streets
of the city and take his talents to a recording studio. As the woman
promised, others were blown away by the passion and emotion in the
man's songs. The woman also inspires the man to go back to London and find his girlfriend who he is clearly still in love with. The man
takes her advice and leaves for London with a new confidence he had
not had before meeting the woman. I agree with Emily in saying that
through the song, "Falling Slowly," there is a clear change in the
man. He is trying to head the right direction, and with the woman's
source of inspiration, he is getting closer.
"The Girl" in the movie Once would definitely be classified as a muse.A muse is someone who is very inspirational and motivates another person in the sense of art. I agree with Annie Lyons when she states "Without the Girl, the Boy would not have the extra push that made his music so good." From the very beginning of the movie we are able to see the delight and fascination of music the Girl has. She shows much interest while the boy in playing the guitar by the road. The girl kept pushing the boy to achieve his goals and make a record like he always wanted to. She helped him write the songs and was truly an inspiration. I also agree with Annie Lyons that the girl inspired his love life. The girl's inspirational lyrics and constant pushing to make the boy a great performer would definitely make her a muse. Without the help of the girl, the boy would not have fulfilled his dreams.
ReplyDeleteA muse is someone or something that acts as a creative outlet for any type of fine art. In the movie Once the "Girl" was definitely a muse for the "Guy." Although at first she was merely a stranger, her story and talents soon became the basis on his music. Through her story, kindness, and honesty, the "guy" figured out that life doesn't have to be so hard and lonely. Once he figured this out, he was a lot less afraid to express and share his music. An example of the "girl" being a muse for the "guy" started when both were riding the bus together. She kept asking him about his old girlfriend, where she is and what she did to him. Within that conversation, it was obvious to the audience that the "guy" realized something he hadn't before. He realized the reason she left was not his fault but through her lies. This conversation inspired him to write the song "Lies, Lies, Lies!" the next morning. I believe that without the "girl" to push him along, the "guy" would never have been able to compose those lyrics. This conversation also allows the "guy" to forgive his old lover and to pursue her.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Eliot when he says that the "girl" gave the "guy" new confidence he never knew he had before her.
I think that performance and creation are connected in the film through the ways that the girl and the guy work together to create one piece. Although the guy composed the songs, I don't believe that this distinguishes him as an artist compared to the girl. My definition of an artist is someone who uses they're talents and love for art to create beautiful things, whether it be a composition, painting, or use of the voice. One thing that music and art doesn't do is discriminate, because anyone with a passion for it can succeed. I do feel that in the movie the girl and the guy only succeed as they do because they are working together, like when they're in the shop playing the piece. Without the piano and the girl's voice, the song is mediocre. But with her talents, they make the song into something more. I disagree with Julia when she says, "Anyone can sing a song, it takes true artistic talent to actually write and complete a piece of music." I believe that it takes just as much artistic talent to sing then it does to compose a piece of music, and that stands for all the elements of art.
ReplyDeleteI believe that The Girl was definitely a muse to The Guy. A muse is someone who inspires others to create new work and to go beyond boundaries to achieve their dreams. The Girl pushes The Guy into performing his songs, writing more, and to recording them. The Guy went from playing the songs that he wrote at night on street corners when no one was around to recording them in a studio all because of The Girl. The Guy began to create new music and it was obvious throughout the movie, how his music was inspired by her. The Girl was constantly cheerful and optimistic and showed The Guy that you do not have to live life negatively.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Julianna that the music the two characters wrote together sounded better than any of the music he played by himself. It was evident that his music was inspired by her.
The word muse can be interpretated in many different ways. To me, a muse is a person or thing that creates a source of inspiration in music. The girl greatly showed that she was a muse by influencing the guy to turn his life around. Life for the guy has not been great so far; his girlfriend left him for another guy, he works at a vacuum repair shop with his dad, and he plays guitar at night to earn some more money. The only thing that the guy seems to enjoy is playing music, but he does not think that he has the capibility to go anywhere with it. This is where the girl comes into play. The girl creates more options for the guy by introducing new sounds and ideas into his music. She also pushes him to turn his life around and go after the things that he wants in life. Through the girl, the guy learns that he should have confidence in himself and others and that he is an excellent musician. The guy eventually goes and records his music hoping to be discovered and he also goes to London. The girl also helps him write some of the lyrics to his songs which probably helped him greatly. The girl was deffinately a muse for the guy and she helped him turn his life around for the better.
ReplyDeleteI strongly agree with Eliot when he says The woman seemed to be a quiet release for the man. This was very true because the guy always seemed to be happy or in his comfort zone when he was playing his music with the girl.
-Michael Neumeyer
A muse is a person that invokes artistic inspiration to the artist, and the artist may create a work based on the inspiration from the muse. I believe the girl is definitely a muse for the guy in his music. The girl taught they guy that through harsh experiences, beauty can be made from them. The girl taught the guy to become stronger through the heartbreak that they had both previously had; this is seen in the songs "Lies" and "The Hill." They give each other strength. I also agree with Eliot when he mentioned that the girl gave the guy new confidence that he may have lost due to his past and the loss of "his original muse", or his old girlfriend. The new girl teaches the guy to grow and continue on.
ReplyDeleteA muse is someone who inspires an artist to create art. The Girl can definitely be considered a muse to The Guy because she helped him realize that he should play the songs he wrote himself instead of the more popular songs. She pushed him to follow his dreams and create an album. I agree with Timmy when he says that The Girl may not have been his muse in the beginning, but by the end it is clear that he would not have created more songs or moved on with his life without her.
ReplyDeletePerformance and creation are both a part of “the Guy’s” life. He writes his own songs to express his creativity and then sings them on the streets, and later in the studio as his performance. “The Girl” does this too by rewriting song lyrics for him the night that she had to go buy new batteries, and then joins his band to perform. In my opinion, an artist is someone who expresses their creativity in some way that is unique to them. The fact that “the Girl” sings, plays the piano, and occasionally writes song lyrics makes her as much of an artist as “the Guy” who plays his guitar, sings, and writes music. The only difference is they have their own attitude about it and their own style. I agree with Bria Condon that one can be called an artist if they are able to either perform or create. It just so happens that the two main characters in the movie, Once were able to do both, showing their immense abilities as artists and musicians.
ReplyDeleteA muse is a woman, or a force personified as a woman, who is the source of inspiration for a creative artist. It certainly seems that “the girl” from the movie Once artistically inspires “the guy” from Once and therefore is a muse. The way she inspires the man to pursue his musical career and tells him how good he is classifies her as a muse. The man is doubtful of his musical potential but is urged on by the woman. She brings him to a musical instrument shop, where the two collaborate brilliantly on the song, “Falling Slowly.” Here the man realizes how inspiring and amazing the woman is. Eventually with her influence, the man even rents a recording studio for the weekend with much needed money. He was accompanied by the woman in the recording studio, where he is truly impelled to perform his best. With his muse by his side, the man clearly pushes his musical limits and records wonderful songs because of the woman’s presence. Not only musically, but the man is inspired by the woman in every aspect of his life and turns his life around by leaving his dead end job as a vacuum repairer and going to London to be with his ex-girlfriend. I agree with Mary Lee when she says that, “you can plainly see her [the girl’s] influence and inspiration in the boy’s music.” It is quite obvious in the man’s songs that this woman is the inspiration of them. Interestingly enough, I think it is also apparent that the man inspired the woman to become a better artist as well. Conclusively, the woman is a muse for the man and it is shown plainly in the movie how she inspires him to his full potential.
ReplyDeleteI believe that the girl is indeed a muse since she provides inspiration to the guy. She pushes him to follow his heart and expand his career. If she had not come, he would not have wanted to chase the love of his life. A muse is someone who inspires someone artistically, and the girl did inspire the guy. I agree with Haley Hartzel when she said that the guy is more of an artist than the guy. A point from the movie that demonstrates this is the scene in the piano shop, when the guy is playing his music he created and the only music she knows is the music she learned from past composers. But, she did write some of the lyrics for the guy's song. Again, this would reinforce the idea of her being the muse, since inspired the lyrics he thought was too romantic for him.
ReplyDeletePerformance and creation are in fact connected to the movie. The entitre plot is centered around The Guy's struggle to make it in the misical world. Although The Guy composes his own songs it doesn't make him more of an artist than her. It makes him more well-rounded as an artist because he has the ability to compose/perform his own music; however, the ability to sing is just as important as the ability to write the songs. I agree with Bria when she said that they are each artists coming toigether to perform brilliant songs. Both of these artists have qualities that distinguish them as talented, but neither one is more of an artist than the other.
ReplyDeleteMolly Murphy
In the movie Once “The Girl” is a muse, or guiding spirit, for “The Guy.” First, the girl helped the guy compose his songs. Even thought the songs the guy writes are about an ex-girlfriend, his melodies and lyrics are influenced and guided by the girl. Next, I agree with Grace Parker when she said that the girl inspired the guy from the minute she came into his life. Her first comment to them when they met on the street was that she loved his music. She motivated him to become a better artist all the way to the end when she encouraged him to go to London to hopefully land a record deal. Finally, the girl guided him to become a better person. The connection the connection the two shared was one of love. When they are standing on the hills looking out at the sea the girl says, “"Miluju tebe" or “It is you I love.” This love that they share guided the guy to overcome his broken heart and move to London to try and fix things with his ex-girlfriend. The girl inspired him to do all of these things, so she is considered his muse.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree with Ellie when she says the girl is a muse because she encouraged him to achieve his dreams and inspired a miraculous change in his music. Before she came along the man was, as ellie puts it, in a rut, he could not find a way out. He spent his days fixing vacuums and playing the same songs everyday on the streets for a little extra money. When she heard him and told him how good she thought he was all he could comment on was how little money she gave him. But as the two bonded and grew closer the man's music started to evolve, and as she inspired him his writing came more free and easy to him. Because of their relationship and the influence she was able to have on him his music career took off. He began to feel more confident in his music and it began to take on a different meaning and that is what helped him make his music that much better. Had she never stop to comment on his music and had their relationship not become what it did the man would probably still be stuck in the same rut he was before she came.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Haley that "the girl" was "the guy's" muse because she pushed him, and helped him become a better artist. Without "the girl" "the guy" might never have made the decsion to rent a recording studio, and get songs professionally recorded. "The girl" completely changed "the guy's" life, adn his career. Before he met her he was just a guy who fixed vaccums, lived with his, and just played music on the streets for fun. After he met "the girl" he took his singing career to the next level with a much help form "the girl" She inspired "the guy" to not play the songs that people wanted to here, but the songs that he wrote, and the songs that he wanted to play. It is for those reasons that I think that "the girl" was "the guy's" muse.
ReplyDelete-Jimmy
An artist in musical media is a performer such as a singer, actor, or dancer. Thus, “the girl” and “the guy” in the movie "Once" have equal potential and talent as artists. He performs on the guitar while she plays the piano, and they both sing. The fact that “the girl” does not create any of the compositions is unrelated to performance in the movie because the plot is for “the guy” to start to record his music. She pushes him to make more of his life and inspires him. Since she is not the focus of the move if she were creating her own music it would take the spotlight away from him and change the motive of the author. Also, just because they don’t record any songs she has written, doesn’t mean she cannot do it. She shows she is a beautiful composer when she shares her song about her husband with him in the private piano room at the recording studio. In this particular film creating verses performing does not distinguish the man and women because even though they both have the ability, the author chooses to display the man’s talent. I disagree with Haley Hartzel because anybody can write or perform a song. Yet, only an artist can put passion and meaning into a work to make it beautiful. Clearly, the specialty of an amazing artist is not evident in the creation, but the deliverance. Overall, the guy and girl both complete moving performances to show they are equally great artists.
ReplyDelete-Elle Zadina
In the movie "Once" the girl was definitely a muse to the guy. A muse is a guiding spirit or an inspiration. The girl helped the guy realize that singing songs that he wrote at night would never help him in life. She was an inspiration to him because the girl brought out the best in him, and also turned his life in the right direction. The girl believed in the guy, even though she did not know him, and he thought that it was weird at first. As the movie went on, though, he began to realize that she was right about his music becuase of the album they were able to record! If it was not for her, he would have never believed in himself, therefore she was his inspiration. His music changed because he began writing truly from the heart, and the girl helped him. I agree with Jimmy Moriarity when he says that the girl helped the guy take his singing career to the next level, a level he never knew existed.
ReplyDeleteA definition of the word muse is, "a guiding spirit or source of inspiration for an artist". In the film the girl was a muse to the guy, because she was an inspiration to him. The girl was an inspiration because she was the first one who stopped to listen to the guy's music, she was the first to recognize him. She believed in him even when no one else did. As the movie went on the girl pushed the guy further than he thought he could go. The girl was always there for the guy helping compose his songs and giving her feedback to make them better. The girl also deeply encouraged the guy to go to London to get a record deal. Finally, I agree with Tom when he said that the girl gave the guy the confidence that he needed and that without the girl he would be stuck in the same place he was before. -Michael Brien
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