American Beauty Desperate Housewives Essay Example

American Beauty Desperate Housewives Essay Example American Beauty Desperate Housewives Paper American Beauty Desperate Housewives Paper Essay Topic: American Beauty Suburban Dreams and Nightmares examine the way the suburbs have been portrayed since the 1950s, I have chosen to explore the Welcome to Suburbia scene in American Beauty (from: 00:40-2:35, into the film) and the opening scene of the pilot of Desperate Housewives (from: into the episode). I have chosen these two scenes because they are very similar to each other and show how composers use a range of techniques to engage the audience and create meaning. American Beauty, directed by Sam Mendes, is a film that is set in America, in an ordinary suburban like neighbourhood, following the rdinary life of Lester Burnham, who is living the typical American Dream. He appears to have a great Job, big house with an immaculate garden full of luscious red roses, a loving wife and daughter and even a white picket fence, but its not until we look closer that we see that this is not what it seems. The film begins in the same manner that it ends, with a monologue by Lester. In this initial speech by Lester we are informed of the normality and comical misery of his current existence. Lesters sarcastic and indifferent tone is complimented by the beginning of the movies soundtrack composed by Thomas Newman. This cheerful and almost tribal sounding portion of the score echoes Lesters tone with a sort of irony that seems to enhance the sadly humorous nature of his life. At the close of this monologue Lester describes himself as feeling sedated, and again the deep sounds of this initial piece in the soundtrack complimented by a combination of piano, drums, and various strings, confirms the strangeness and numbness of his sensation. Visual techniques are a constant feature in the Welcome to suburbia scene of American Beauty. Once we take a closer look into his home, through his red door that symbolises hidden ruths behind the facade of everyday life, we realise his perfect life is actually one filled with misery as he claims to be dead already. Colour is important in this scene, while red is the main colour used to subconsciously manipulate audiences, blue is often present in the scene as it is the contrast colour that sets off the red, making the red more noticeable, such as the blue shutters on the Burnham house, making the red door more of a dominant image and help symbolise the little touches of humanity still present in their home. The colours of the Burnham house: red, white nd blue also refer to the American colours, which influences the idea of the American Dream. The first time we see Carolyn, shes cutting her luscious red roses. Alan Ball, the screenwriter of American Beauty refers this introduction to Carolyn as a concept: the life force, which, by nature tries to defy the suppressiveness of suburban life. As IVe stated thats why, the first time we meet Carolyn, shes cutting red roses, shes cutting the life force. Camera angles used, manipulate the audiences opinions on characters by the camera subconsciously alerting people. Low-angle hots were used to show authority figure and dominance, and high angle shots were used to show weakness and flaws. In the opening scene the audience is introduced to Lester taking a shower. This is the tirst Jail cell setting the audience sees Lester in. The glass in the shower resembles jail bars, the effect of Lester imprisoned suggests he is isolated and removed from the world around him. The camera angles used exaggerate this and highlight Lesters deflation of power against the significant people in his life. My other chosen scene is from Desperate Housewives. Directed by Marc cherry, this show is an American elevision drama series, the setting of the show takes place on the street of Wisteria Lane, in the fictional American town of Fairview. It follows the lives of a group of women seen through the eyes of their dead neighbour. They work through domestic struggles and family life, while facing the secrets, crimes and mysteries hidden behind the doors of their seemingly perfect suburban neighbourhood, which reinstates the idea of the American Dream. Desperate Housewives opens with a zooming in shot of Wisteria Lane, with a school bus driving through and neighbours out in the street saying hello to each other. Already in these first few seconds we get an impression of a community, and the idea of the typical American Dream. Just like American Beauty there is also a white picket fence around the protagonists house, and we then begin to hear the voice over of a typical suburban housewife, Mary Alice Young. The voice over of Mary Alice and Lester are very similar, they both talk about life and their death. Mary Alice, a typical suburban housewife broke the thin layer of perfection covering Wisteria Lane the day she put a gun to her head and shot herself. Naturally, Mary Alice does not share all her knowledge with the audience, especially er own secrets, this is manipulation of the most conventional kind, the director and producer hold back essential information to better to excite the audiences curiosity. The music in the opening scene compliments the theme of the American Dream, it helps reinstate the idea that this life is perfect, but it is ironic when, a suburban housewife commits suicide. In examining the chosen scenes from American Beauty and Desperate Housewives, I have achieved a greater understanding of the composers abilities to convey meaning using techniques, and the way the suburbs have been portrayed since the 1950s, known as the American Dream.

Italian Neo Realism and the Movie Rome Open City Review

Italian Neo Realism and the Rome Open City - Movie Review Example 45-87). This paper discusses Italian neo realism and its portrayal in the movie Rome Open City in a concise and comprehensive way using the sources mentioned in the list of Works Cited. Adair (pp. 45-87) discusses that the liberalization of the economy and the relaxation of political controls coincided with the Italian entry into the Second World War in June 1940 on the side of Germany. The situation in Italy, by 1940, was one of ideological and political uncertainties, and in part, for these reasons, of artistic possibilities. Armstrong (pp. 78-99) discusses that De Sica's I bambini ci guardano/The Children Are Watching Us (1942) and Visconti's Ossessione/Obsession (1943), variously regarded as the 'first' neo-realist films, and perhaps, the 'first' anti-fascist ones, were produced by private companies with State subsidies and State approval. And, Rossellini's 'Fascist' war trilogy, made as war propaganda between 1941-1943, was described by him as 'neo-realist', as much neo-realist as his antifascist Roma citta aperta/Rome Open City (1945). If the issue was ideology or economy, the Fascist Party or the interests of industry, it was the latter not the former that prevailed (Armstrong, pp. 78-99). By 1943, Fascism was no longer supported by Italian capitalism. On the contrary, it was pushed aside. Fascism had become a danger. It was no longer a protection against social disorder, but the cause of disorder, no longer an instrument for economic development, but a hindrance to development. The class that had helped brings Fascism into being, now acted to eliminate it. Mussolini was overthrown by a coup within the Fascist leadership encouraged by conditions created by the Allied military advance, and not by the 'people' (Armstrong, pp. 78-99). He was replaced by an officer in the Fascist High Command, Marshal Badoglio. The dates of Italian neo-realist cinema roughly correspond to the fall of Fascism in 1943 up until the consolidation of the first postwar Italian government under the Christian Democrats (Dc) around 1951 [the Dc came to power in 1948]. But the features of Italian neo-realism are not at all clear (Armstrong, pp. 78-99). Neo-realism was a tendency more than it was a definite aesthetic. Some films were more neo-realist than others. None were ever purely neo-realist. Neo-realism was an ideal toward which certain films approached in varying degrees of closeness. What is most important is to indicate the conditions that made neorealist cinema possible, then impossible, rather than to attempt to define it. The dominant cinema in Italy in the 1930s--the cinema associated with Fascism--was a commercial genre cinema. Most films screened in Italy came from America, nearly 80 per cent; most Italian films were modeled on American ones. It was logical that Italian films took American ones as their model. The Italian industry, with help from the Fascist State, sought to reconstruct itself and prosper (Munsterberg, pp. 673-76).

LOLITA in Conversation with Other Sources.create a well-developed Research Paper

LOLITA in Conversation with Other Sources.create a well-developed argument that challenges our assumptions and deepens our under - Research Paper Example At one point in life Humbert suffers a mental breakdown and upon recovery he moves to a town where he where he get married to Charlotte haze, Dolores’ mother. This is in order to remain close to Dolores or Lolita who is a madly in love or obsessed with. According to Lee and Lee (76), the novel is acclaimed to be an erotic novel that can be interpreted to be a representation of the author’s native country social and political problems. The novel is rich source of various themes that can be explored to create an argument. For the purposes of this paper, the theme or aspect that comes out to the reader of this book is pedophilia, hebephilia or ephebophilia. This can be explained by conflicting thoughts that go through a readers mind when he learns the point of Humber’s attraction and sexual desires. It raises questions of the legality of his actions, and the moral or ethical considerations partaken by the author in writing this novel. Hebephilia is a term used to re fer to sexual preference for individuals with a particular physical appearance of either sex with a strong relevance to the age of that individual ((Nobokov 188). Humbert’s behavior can be considered to be a manifestation of chronophilic preferences which boarders on pedohilia , hebephilia and ephebophelia. All of these classifications concern definition of sexual preferences with people who are below the legal age limit allowed for consensual sex and intimacy. This novel was based on events were happening in the United States (US) during the early 1950s to the late 1950s, and it requires that one look into laws of that period. This is required to understand the protagonist’s thoughts and motivators of his actions. It will be useful in understanding why Humbert did not seem consider the repercussions of his actions towards a minor. It would be important to understand at this juncture, that this period in American history was characterized by the climax of the Civil Rig hts Movement. Thus, it would be appropriate to conclude that individual rights especially those of women, girls and children were not strongly advocated for or protected. This perspective can be used to explain Humbert’s disregard of the fact that he was defiling a minor. The novel illustrates that he was aware of the evil nature of his intentions when he drugs Dolores/Lolita with sleeping pills in order to unknowingly defile when she was asleep. This does not change the fact that he accepted her sexual advances when she initiated sex for the first time. According to the Sexual Violent Predator Act (SVPA) classifications, Humbert fits perfectly into the classification of a pedophile. He exhibits a mental anomaly that predisposes him to having volitional and emotional capacities to commit sexual offences to both adults and minors. In today’s world, people of Humbert’s predisposition are placed on global watch lists of sexual predators in order to increase society ’s protection from such individuals. If an individual qualifies for one of the SVPA conditions and classifications, the law requires that they be committed to civil mental institutions where they receive specialized psychiatric evaluation and treatment for as long as it takes to cure them or reform their behavior. This predisposition was not regarded as mental condition during Humbert’s time, and it is characterized by some states in the US

Project Managment Leadership Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Project Managment Leadership - Essay Example Discuss how you would manage this project using a matrix OBS approach. 6 Reference 8 1. Discuss how your company manages projects which span two or three department? Project management is the process to facilitate planning, scheduling and controlling of the different activities in an organization. Operating projects in a multi project platform is setting up projects at the same time at different departments in an organization. The team in different departments may share members and organizational support systems and clients and also may use same resources to some extent but the working styles of the different departments are completely different in most cases. Project management includes project portfolio management in which the different processes are selected according to their need, organization performance and the objectives with the controlling groups are selected. This includes a planning and budgeting process by consulting with the team members of the different departments for an effective utilization of the resources by the management. Co-ordination with the different departments with effective communication can address the risk issues from different departments and help the management to cope with the unexpected occurrences during the execution of the project. Resource allocation is another important issue of the management to look after while working with multiple departments. The collaboration between the different team members of the separate department are needed to be understood by the management otherwise it may lead to conflict in the work place. The project team should be build by the company keeping in mind the goals of the project and dividing the roles of the different departments with the individual roles of the tea members can ease the processes and its execution. Working together can build a better relationship amongst the employees and collaborative problem solving can help the departments identify and cope with diverse problems faced at work environment. Administering the daily activities of the departments and managing the performance of the organizational departments will optimize the different processes and help the company to effectively deal with issues arising from different departments (Portny, 2006, p. 287). 2. Discuss how your company manages the two boss situation when a staff member is reporting to both the project manager and the functional manager. Reporting to different bosses can be a challenging situation in management issues. But with proper communication skill and expertise in the business this situation can be handled very effectively by the managers. With consistent work and documentation of the work schedule this situation can be handled and the staff member will be able to impress two bosses of both project management and functional department. Few points are needed to be maintained by the staff to manage two bosses at the same time. First step is to know the two managers and their relationsh ip amongst them. Knowing the style of working of the two different managers will help the staff to communicate effectively with them in their way of working. If the managers need to be reported every day or weekly or after project completion the staff should work accordingly. The communication process is also needed to be understood by the staff. Knowing whether there is any communication between the two bosses is an important task. Otherwise staff needs to

Divine Comedy - Mastery of Language in Dante’s Inferno :: Divine Comedy Inferno Essays

Mastery of Language In The Inferno - Dante’s Immortal Drama of a Journey Through Hell, Dante allows the reader to experience his every move.   His mastery of language, his sensitivity to the sights and sounds of nature, and his infinite store of knowledge allow him to capture and draw the reader into the realm of the terrestrial hell.   In Canto 6, the Gluttons; Canto 13, the Violent Against Themselves; and Canto 23, the Hypocrites; Dante excels in his detailed portrayal of the supernatural world of hell.   In each canto, Dante combines his mastery of language with his sensitivity to the sights and sounds of nature to set the stage.   He then reinforces the image with examples that call upon his infinite store of knowledge, and thus draw a parallel that describes the experience in a further, although more subliminal, detail to the reader.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Through his mastery of language, Dante allows the reader to see what he sees, to hear what he hears, and to feel what he feels, and thus experience his sensitivity to the sights and sounds of nature. In Canto 6, Dante introduces the vicious monster, Cerberus and details his grotesque features to the reader.   He states, â€Å"His eyes are red, his beard is greased with phlegm, / his belly is swollen, and his hands are claws / to rip the wretches and flay and mangle them† (66).   This quote vividly depicts the man-beast Cerberus that Dante encountered, and allows the reader to feel present in the scene with Dante.   He further emphasizes the sights and sounds to portray the hellish environment when he states â€Å"Huge hailstones, dirty water, and black snow/ pour from the dismal air to putrefy/ the putrid slush that waits for them below† (66).   This example is one of many that illustrate Dante’s ability to exh ibit the sights that he encounters.   Dante adds another dimension by providing the ability for the reader to hear the sounds present in Circle III of Hell.   An example of this is when he states â€Å"and they (the victims), too, howl like dogs in the freezing storm† (66).   Furthermore Dante greatly describes how the victims are feeling about their whole situation with the statement â€Å"I lie here rotting like a swollen log† (67).   This quote helps the reader to not only understand how the victims of gluttony are feeling, but also to picture them laying in the sodden mush of garbage.

The E-Word for a Beautiful Me

Taking care of our health is not an option. It is our responsibility and we can reach our fullest potential and have a beautiful healthy body with exercise. The newspapers,magazines,billboards and advertisements are saturated with information on how excersice keeps fit and helps prevent diseases. There is a wide variety of excersice that we can do. Young adults can do brisk walking,jogging,cycling,swimming and playing games for thirty minutes a day, three times a week. One exercise programme that is highly recommende is aerobic exercise. Aerobic exercise ,if done consistently,help to boost metabolism. It promotes cardiovascular fitness by making the heart and lungs work harder. The heart pumps more blood and this help prevent the building ip of fat and clotting of blood in the arteries. The lungs receive more oxygen during the activity and this makes them stronger. Another benefit is the control of weight and increase in the flexibility of muscle and joints. Exercising or doing workouts at the gym two to three times a week is enough to increase our fitness level. The frequency depends on one's fitness level and time. It should be done as a form of relaxation,not a burden. One can supplement these workouts with brisk walking or jogging in the park during the week. This will help to maintain and keep the habit of exercising alive. It can become a way of life. Every session or outing can take about 30 to 45 minutes. When working ,keep the pace brisk and relaxed not tense. One should feel comfortable and not be panting or out of breath. The key to a good workout is to do it with a companion. To take the. onotony or tedium out of exercise,exchange opinions and comments to encourage or discourage with your companion. It is also encouraging to have someone to compete with,albeit on a friendly basis. All these exercises will not beneficial if one's diet is not in tune with the body. Eat moderately and healthily. Do not oeverindulge as overeating is,at the risk of sounding mundane,bad for health. Disciss this with a dietician if you are not sure. So,the E-word for a beautiful me is exercise but have a good balance with whatever form exercise you take and follow a proper diet.

Biography of Gregorio Zara, Inventor of the Videophone

Gregorio Zara (March 8, 1902–October 15, 1978) was a Filipino scientist best known as the inventor of the videophone, the first two-way electronic video communicator, in 1955. All told, he patented 30 devices. His other inventions ranged from an alcohol-powered airplane engine to a solar-powered water heater and stove. Fast Facts: Gregorio Zara Known For: Inventor of the video telephoneBorn: March 8, 1902 in Lipa City, Batangas, PhilippinesDied: October 15, 1978Education: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Michigan, Sorbonne UniversityAwards and Honors: National Scientist Award (Philippines)Spouse: Engracia Arcinas LaconicoChildren: Antonio, Pacita, Josefina, Lourdesï » ¿ Early Life Gregorio Zara was born on March 8, 1902, in Lipa City, Batangas, Philippines. He earned a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a masters in aeronautical engineering (summa cum laude) at the University of Michigan, and a doctorate in physics at Sorbonne University in Paris (summa cum laude with Tres Honorable, the highest graduate student honor). He returned to the Philippines and became involved in both the government and the academic worlds. He worked in several posts with the Department of Public Works and Communications and the Department of National Defense, mostly in the aviation. At the same time, he taught aeronautics at several universities—including the American Far Eastern School of Aviation, the Far Eastern University, and the FEATI University—and published many books and research papers on aeronautics. In 1934 Zara married Engracia Arcinas Laconico, who the year before had been named Miss Philippines. They had four children: Antonio, Pacita, Josefina, and Lourdesï » ¿. Discoveries Begin In 1930, he discovered the physical law of electrical kinetic resistance, known as the Zara Effect, which involves the resistance to the passage of an electric current when contacts are in motion. Later he invented the earth induction compass, which is still used by pilots, and in 1954 his airplane engine powered by alcohol had a successful test flight at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Then came the videophone. Before video calling became as commonplace as it is in the 21st century, the technology had been developed but started slowly, possibly because it was so far ahead of its time. In the middle of the 1950s, long before the start of the digital age, Zara developed the first videophone or two-way television-telephone. The device left the realm of science fiction and comic books when Zara patented it in 1955 as a â€Å"photo phone signal separator network.† Videophone Catches On That first iteration didnt catch on, largely because it wasn’t intended as a commercial product. But in the 1960s, ATT began working on a model of a videophone, called a â€Å"picturephone,† aimed at the public. The company released the videophone at the 1964 New York World’s Fair, but it was seen as impractical and didnt fare well. It caught fire as the digital age was beginning in the late 1990s. The videophone first caught on as a device that easily enabled distance learning and video conferencing and also proved helpful for the hearing impaired. Then came such derivations as Skype and smartphones, and the videophone became ubiquitous worldwide. Other Scientific Contributions Zaras other inventions and discoveries include: Improving methods of producing and harnessing solar energy, including new designs for a solar-powered water heater, stove, and battery (1960s)Inventing wooden aircraft propellers  and  a corresponding propeller-cutting machine (1952)Designing a microscope with a collapsible stageHelping design the robot Marex X-10, which could walk, talk, and respond to commandsInventing the vapor chamber, used to visualize radioactive elements Zara died of heart failure at the age of 76 in 1978. Legacy In his lifetime, Gregorio Zara amassed 30 patents. In the year of his death he was presented the National Scientist Award, the highest honor  the Philippine government gives to Filipino scientists, by President Ferdinand E. Marcos. He also received: The Presidential Diploma of MeritThe Distinguished Service Medal (1959) for his pioneering works and achievements in solar energy research, aeronautics, and televisionThe Presidential Gold Medal and Diploma of Honor for Science and Research (1966)The Cultural Heritage Award for Science Education and Aero Engineering (1966) Sources Meet Gregorio Zara, the Filipino Engineer Who Created the World’s First Video Phone. Gineersnow.com.Today in Philippine History, March 8, 1902, Gregorio Y. Zara was born in Lipa City, Batangas. The Kahimyang Project.Role Models in Science Engineering Achievement: Gregorio Zara. Scienceblogs.com.Miss Philippines of the Manila Carnival, Engracia Arcinas Laconico. Manila Carnivals 1908-39.