Saturday, April 25, 2020
Psycho Essays - English-language Films, Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock
Psycho An Analysis of the Opening Sequence from Alfred Hitchcock's Just like a building, a film needs a strong foundation in order to be successful, a foundation which is made up of the starting moments of the film. In Psycho, Alfred Hitchcock successfully uses the opening credit sequence to establish a foundation on which to build an interesting plot, including techniques to elicit involvement by the spectator, and the suggestion of a Psycho theme. A musical composition consisting of quick strokes on tightly wound violins, later used in the famous shower scene, starts to play at the beginning of the sequence. Names begin to slide on and off the screen in a series of horizontal and vertical lines. The top and bottom portions of the names slide onto the screen, followed by the middle portion. The last name to appear is that of Alfred Hitchcock, which settles in the middle of the screen and begins to twitch and flutter in an unusual manner. The credits then dissolve into a long shot of an auspicious section of an unknown city where a building is being constructed (paralleling the idea of Hitchcock shaping a foundation). As this dissolve takes place, a more subtle and mellow music (again composed of string instruments) fills the air, suggesting a stable environment. The sun burns brightly in the sky and a desert landscape is seen in the background through a haze. The shot immediately begins to pan slowly to the right, revealing more city rooftops and streets. As a dissolve zooms us slightly closer to the city and the camera continues to pan, small block letters appear on both sides of the screen and converge in the middle to read PHOENIX, ARIZONA. Hitchcock immediately brings the reoccurring theme of birds into the film by setting the scenery in Phoenix. The camera continues to pan to the right, now moving on to a more dreary side of the city. The next set of titles converges in the center of the screen, reading FRIDAY, DECEMBER ELEVENTH. As the panning continues, a slow zoom begins to bring us closer to one of the buildings. The last title appears in the same fashion as the preceding, TWO FORTY-THREE P.M. Yet another dissolve stops the camera on a rather unattractive wall, slowly zooming in on a window with Venetian blinds drawn down. A cut to a closer view of the window reveals an opening a few inches below the blind in which the camera continues to zoom in on, bringing us into a dark apartment room. Since we have grown accustomed to the bright sun outside, the apartment, in contrast, seems gloomy. The camera pans to the right at the same speed as before, allowing us to make out a couple of blurred objects. Now the picture begins to focus and we see the torso of a shirt less Sam Loomis standing next to a bed where a half-nude Marion Crane lies gazing upward at him. The first words are spoken while at the same time the mu sic comes to a halt. Never did eat your lunch, did you? says Sam. With this line a cut places the camera on a close-up of a small table on which lies a water pitcher, glasses, a paper cup, and a wrapped up uneaten sandwich. Marion answers, I've got to get back to the office. The first half of the opening sequence symbolizes the film's progress as a whole. We are taken from the broad surface view of Phoenix into the depths of its intricate workings. We go from beautiful daylight to a grim darkness. Furthermore, we move from a public and general view to a most private and intimate one, just as the movie will as it progresses. We even duplicate Norman Bates's later action of peeping through a hole to see Marion partially nude as we peep beneath the blind to see the same woman, again partially nude. Hitchcock successfully uses these opening camera shots to foreshadow later events in the film as well as suggest we are not totally unlike Norman. We too have erotic desires that possess our minds. Hitchcock explains that the line between our normal behavior and Norman's abnormal behavior
Wednesday, March 18, 2020
Scoopes monkey trial essays
Scoopes monkey trial essays The twenties had many vogue and unsteady changes. Such as The Scopes Monkey Trial had a big social, judicial and religious effects on Americans living during the twenties. During the Twenties, the Scopes Trial had a radical social effect on Americans. The trial had been moved to the courthouse lawn to accommodate the crowds. Over two hundred national reporters and more than three thousand spectators came to the town of Dayton, Tennessee to see the trial of the state of Tennessee versus Scopes.This huge audience shows that some people realized the importance of the final sentence.The trial marked the displacement of religious faith and rural values by scientific skepicism and cosmopolism as a dominant strain in American thoughts. The trial soon became between traditionalists and evolutionists, which showed the dispute in the public opinion. The Scopes Trial influences the new existing fight between religion and tradition. Also between evolution and progress. The trial Tennessee versus John Scopes caused enormous changes in the 1920s. In attendance announcers were ready to send to the listeners the first live-radio broadcast from a trial. The presence of the reporters shows the public was interested, an interest, which demanded a new kind of news. The trial itself was a bunch of conflicts, the most obvious one was evolution against religion. The courtroom was full of members of both groups. The persecutor was a strongly religious man while the defense attorney a atheist. The United States Supreme Court put the issue to rest in 1968, when it had a similar statue in Arkansas unconstitutionaly, because it violated the separation of church and state,thats part of the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. This fact is evidence that the trial was unnecessary because the Butler Act, which forbid all teachings that denied the creation of mankind thats stated in the Bible, was illegal. The expectations of the fi...
Sunday, March 1, 2020
The Etymology of Words and Their Histories
The Etymology of Words and Their Histories The etymology of a word refers to its origin and historical development: that is, its earliest known use, its transmission from one language to another, and its changes in form and meaning. Etymology is also the term for the branch of linguistics that studies word histories. Whats the Difference Between a Definition and an Etymology? A definition tells us what a word means and how its used in our own time. An etymology tells us where a word came from (often, but not always, from another language) and what it used to mean. For example, according to The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, the definition of the word disaster is an occurrence causing widespread destruction and distress; a catastrophe or a grave misfortune. But the etymology of the word disaster takes us back to a time when people commonly blamed great misfortunes on the influence of the stars. Disaster first appeared in English in the late 16th century, just in time for Shakespeare to use the word in the play King Lear. It arrived by way of the Old Italian word disastro, which meant unfavorable to ones stars. This older, astrological sense of disaster becomes easier to understand when we study its Latin root word, astrum, which also appears in our modern star word astronomy. With the negative Latin prefix dis- (apart) added to astrum (star), the word (in Latin, Old Italian, and Middle French) conveyed the idea that a catastrophe could be traced to the evil influence of a star or planet (a definition that the dictionary tells us is now obsolete). Is the Etymology of a Word Its True Definition? Not at all, though people sometimes try to make this argument. The word etymology is derived from the Greek word etymon, which means the true sense of a word. But in fact the original meaning of a word is often different from its contemporary definition. The meanings of many words have changed over time, and older senses of a word may grow uncommon or disappear entirely from everyday use. Disaster, for instance, no longer means the evil influence of a star or planet, just as consider no longer means to observe the stars. Lets look at another example. Our English word salary is defined by The American Heritage Dictionary as fixed compensation for services, paid to a person on a regular basis. Its etymology can be traced back 2,000 years to sal, the Latin word for salt. So whats the connection between salt and salary? The Roman historian Pliny the Elder tells us that in Rome, a soldier was paid in salt, which back then was widely used as a food preservative. Eventually, this salarium came to signify a stipend paid in any form, usually money. Even today the expression worth your salt indicates that youre working hard and earning your salary. However, this doesnt mean that salt is the true definition of salary. Where Do Words Come From? New words have entered (and continue to enter) the English language in many different ways. Here are some of the most common methods. BorrowingThe majority of the words used in modern English have been borrowed from other languages. Although most of our vocabulary comes from Latin and Greek (often by way of other European languages), English has borrowed words from more than 300 different languages around the world. Here are just a few examples:futon (from the Japanese word for bedclothes, bedding)gorilla (Greek Gorillai, a tribe of hairy women, perhaps of African origin)hamster (Middle High German hamastra)kangaroo (Aboriginal language of Guugu Yimidhirr, gangurru , referring to a species of kangaroo)kink (Dutch, twist in a rope)moccasin (Native American Indian, Virginia Algonquian, akin to Powhatan mksn and Ojibwa makisin)molasses (Portuguese melaà §os, from Late Latin mellceum, from Latin mel, honey)muscle (Latin musculus, mouse)slogan (alteration of Scots slogorne, battle cry)smorgasbord (Swedish, literally bread and butter table)whiskey (Old Irish uisce, water, and bethad, of life)Clipping or ShorteningSome n ew words are simply shortened forms of existing words, for instance indie from independent; exam from examination; flu from influenza, and fax from facsimile. CompoundingA new word may also be created by combining two or more existing words: fire engine, for example, and babysitter.BlendsA blend, also called a portmanteau word, is a word formed by merging the sounds and meanings of two or more other words. Examples include moped, from mo(tor) ped(al), and brunch, from br(eakfast) (l)unch.Conversion or Functional ShiftNew words are often formed by changing an existing word from one part of speech to another. For example, innovations in technology have encouraged the transformation of the nouns network, Google, and microwave into verbs.Transfer of Proper NounsSometimes the names of people, places, and things become generalized vocabulary words. For instance, the noun maverick was derived from the name of an American cattleman, Samuel Augustus Maverick. The saxophone was named after Sax, the surname of a 19th-century Belgian family that made musical instruments.Neologisms or Creative CoinagesNow and then, new products or processes inspire the creation of entirely new words. Such neologisms are usually short lived, never even making it into a dictionary. Nevertheless, some have endured, for example quark (coined by novelist James Joyce), galumph (Lewis Carroll), aspirin (originally a trademark), grok (Robert A. Heinlein). Imitation of SoundsWords are also created by onomatopoeia, naming things by imitating the sounds that are associated with them: boo, bow-wow, tinkle, click. Why Should We Care About Word Histories? If a words etymology is not the same as its definition, why should we care at all about word histories? Well, for one thing, understanding how words have developed can teach us a great deal about our cultural history. In addition, studying the histories of familiar words can help us deduce the meanings of unfamiliar words, thereby enriching our vocabularies. Finally, word stories are often both entertaining and thought provoking. In short, as any youngster can tell you, words are fun.
Friday, February 14, 2020
Personal Challenge Experience Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Personal Challenge Experience - Essay Example I was only ten years old in a family of two children when it was evident that their relationship had turned into a sour grape and was beyond repair. At the time, I could hardly tell what was happening with between as I was asked out of the room every time their conversations took a turn. Although I was young, the memories I have are illustrative of a happy family that we were before all went south. Our parents were efficient providers and we never lacked in any way. I remember walks in the park on Sunday afternoons, as my father pushed my sister on the stroller, an indication of a happy model family. At the age of ten, one does not have an abiding opinion on with regard to family relations, and this seemed to be rubbed in my face by the fact that my parents did not consider telling me what was happening. All that happened was arguments followed by the diminishing presence of my father. It was years later that I understood the full effect of divorce and wish that the system protected me better to avoid the hurt I went through. A shared parenting plan was implemented, but I spent most of my time with mother due to my tender age until she filed and was granted sole custody. It is for this reason that I lacked a father figure to help me deal with my teenage issues and did not know anyone to turn to for the problems I had. As a result, I kept to myself and avoided all confrontation however necessary they should be. I grew dejected and weary by the day, pulling away from society as my emotions raged within me. I was angry that my parents placed a burden on me to choose who I interacted with among them. I was not ready for the sudden change of lifestyle and I resulted to hating them for the choices they made. Violent outbursts initiated by the existence of happy families existed around me became norm since I failed to understand how this came to be. I lost friend following tantrums and to make matters worse, boys picked on me, calling names and teasing me at every opp ortunity. Feelings of rejection, loneliness, and dejection characterised the period following my parents’ divorce. My grades flopped and not a week passed with a visit to the principal’s office. I recall cutting classes, hiding in empty halls and wishing that the nightmare would end. Ignorance seemed to have saved me from the harm I craved as revenge over society. I remember contemplating the death of all smiling faces around me and I all that lacked was the means to implement. Great emotional turmoil ruled my social life and sought refuge in activities that I deemed to relief my condition. Great emotional turmoil ruled my social life and sought refuge in activities that I deemed to relief my condition, which saw locked doors to avoid mother. In my view, my parents showed no compassion in their decision to part ways and thus she had no right to ‘pretend’ she cared. However, she extended her concerns to my school where after a full report on my performance and behaviour, it was recommended that I attend counselling sessions. Following sessions with the school’s counsellor and a contracted therapist, all evidence pointed to back to the divorce. I had trouble coping with the effects of the separation, which explains my behaviour. The healing process proved long, but effective although I held nothing except remorse for the events
Saturday, February 1, 2020
Get Write Existing Data Sources Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words
Get Write Existing Data Sources - Coursework Example The weakness of conducting field research is that it is highly subjective and therefore is weak in terms of reliability (Maxfield & Babbie, 2006). Another weakness is that there can be disagreements between researchers concerning the events or subjects of the research. My research is on illegal immigration and high crime rate in the United States of America. Based on my research proposal, the researchers will be collecting information regarding the perception of hate crimes and illegal immigrants from U.S. residents. Therefore, field research is definitely appropriate for this research proposal. The participants in the field will provide significant information regarding their perception about the issues concerning illegal immigration with special emphasis on social crime rates in the area where they live. Being a resident in that area, participants can provide first hand information regarding illegal immigration and how it affects their daily life. Field research will therefore help to gather both qualitative and quantitative data regarding illegal immigration and hate crimes from the residents of the
Friday, January 24, 2020
From Black and White to HDTV, TVs grip on our Young :: essays research papers fc
From Black and White, to HDTV, TV’s Grip on our Young      How many televisions do you have in your house? Do you watch those TV’s for more than an hour a day? How much is too much television? These questions are asked by people everyday, with each question comes a varied response depending on who is asked. Children are very impressionable. How does television affect the children that are between the ages of ten and sixteen? Could the affect be positive or is it negative. People who watch violent television as children behave more aggressively even 15 years later, according to one of the few TV violence studies to follow children into adulthood (Grossman 43). The effect appears in both sexes regardless even of how aggressive a person was as a child, researchers found (Kline 138). â€Å"Experts say the results are no surprise, but added that the study is important because it used a wide range of measures, included many participants and showed the effect in females as well as males†(Noble 113). â€Å"Huesmann said televised violence suggests to young children that aggression is appropriate in some situations, especially when it's used by                                                   Gleason 2 charismatic heroes. It also erodes a natural aversion to violence†(Comstock 14). The American Psychological Association has said that viewing violence on TV promotes aggressive behavior, particularly in children. Other mental-health and medical groups have taken similar stands (Nobel 178). Children who play actively will have more of an opportunity to develop their senses than children who are passively viewing (Grossman 192). The health aspects of watching TV can vary, almost entirely bad. While watching TV, the eyes are practically motionless and `defocused' in order to take in the whole screen. Constant movement is required for healthy eye development (parenthoodweb Oct 24). Viewing affects not only eye mechanics, but also the ability to focus and pay attention. Since TV is more visual than auditory, children's sense of hearing is not being used to its full extent. Active listening is a skill that needs to be developed. Children need practice in hearing different things to gain that needed stimulation. Also, when TV is constantly on, the sense of hearing may be dulled by the persistent background noise (apa Oct 30). Studies show that the consumption of alcohol is shown or mentioned in 80 percent of prime-time programs (Cook                                                   Gleason 3 32). Alcoholic beverages outnumber the other beverages consumed on TV, but the pattern of drinking is virtually the opposite of the pattern found in the real world.
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Advantages Of Beauty Contests
Advantages of beauty contests†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.. FIRST IMPRESSION IS THE LAST IMPRESSION†¦ how a person appears always matters†¦.. The first thing that catches your eye when you look at a person is his or her face. It takes just a split second for us to judge someone and make our first and everlasting impression. Good evening†¦ today I stand in front of you to speak against the motion â€Å"beauty contest must be banned††¦. Many cynical people say that beauty shows are nothing more than a showcase to flaunt women’s physical attributes. They may not be entirely true.In fact if you don't look good,may be you don't leave a good first impression. That is what beauty is. You need to look beautiful in this era where people are judgmental. In my opinion, the advantage of pageants is empowerment because when you join beauty pageants you put yourself in a position to influence people. People look up to you, they listen and respect you. You serve as a role model especially to younger people and inspire others. Beauty contests have more advantages than disadvantages: Firstly, they are a medium to get recognition. People feel valued and appreciated when they receive recognition for their hard work.Beauty Queens or Kings become instant celebrities and are treated like royalties in their respective countries! ? Secondly, they help you build up self-confidence and confront your fears. The ability to face ones fears and take action anyway develops great confidence. Its common knowledge that speaking in front of a crowd gives people cold feet. Be it Q&A, interviews,discussions,conferences or even formal conversations! ?People are usually shy and reserved. By joining pageants, they are forced to break that shell and open up to the world. Thirdly, beauty contests are a method of personal development.The more a person recognizes and understands their strengths, values, likes, dislikes, beliefs, and personality style, the greater fulfillment and satis faction they’ll experience from their life. ? And last but not the least,these contests help in handling stress, pressure and disappointment. These reactions are a part of life. Your attitude and thoughts around these reactions can either move you forward towards fulfillment or break you down. Stress, pressure and disappointment don’t have to be viewed as negative things. In fact, they can be powerful motivators to accelerate you to the next level.It all depends on how you look at them. In pageantry, you experience these to the fullest extent, and with guidance, you can learn how to flip them to work to your advantage. ? Recognition, personal development, communication skills, confidence and handling stress, pressure and disappointments in life are the benefits you’ll take with you by taking part in beauty contests. After such notable benefits, do you still think beauty contests should be banned I leave the answer to you†¦. Just remember if you fancy modeli ng, hair, makeup and fashion, then these merits come like icing to your cake!
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