Visual aesthetics in movie Once upon a time in the west, and Frida Essay

Visual aesthetics in movie Once upon a time in the west, and Frida - Essay Example In rare form, the films aesthetics skillfully incorporates Kahlo's paintings into real scenes, often focusing for several minutes on the slight differences between realized canvas and filmed reality. The visuals are one of the film's strongest points. The same fluid efficiency that the direction produces during the scenes focused on the interplay between paint and flesh impressively permeates the whole film. The camera work, lighting and costumes assist in producing the aesthetic visualizations of the film. Another part of the movie's visual aesthetic is the rather stilted animations that occur between certain scenes of the film. Borrowing images from Kahlo's work and almost always centered on death another very visible theme of the movie, these transitions are eerie and strangely powerful. A scene early in the film, when Rivera is proposing to Kahlo, he tells her that while he can never be faithful, he promises at least his loyalty. The film itself makes a similar promise to its audience, and while in one sense "Frida" isn't worthy of its subject, it always remains loyal to her aesthetics. The film's constant visual backdrop is of a new town in the process of being built in the middle of the desert, a town that will be called Sweetwater, due to its valuable water supply which will be an important way station for the comin

Paradise Lost by John Milton Essay Example for Free

Paradise Lost by John Milton Essay 1 Language has the ability to make sin look attractive Tis Pity was published by John Ford in 1633 and is set in Italy, the heart of the Renassiance. John Milton published Paradise Lost in 1667, relatively soon after John Ford, and was the first epic poem to be written in blank verse. Both writers push the boundaries of literature by exploring untouched, taboo subjects: incest and The Fall of Man. During this period of time, soon after the Renassiance period, many artists and writers were challenging society by introducing a range of different styles and genres. This meant that Ford and Milton both intended to tempt controversy through their pieces of literature; yet, the seductive choice of language has instead caused an attractiveness to both texts. It is this attraction to the language, and utter skill behind these writers intentions, that has enabled both texts to withstand the test of time. In Book Nine of Paradise Lost, Milton begins to introduce Satan as the Serpent; however, he manages to draw the audience away from Satans intentions by presenting his physical beauty. As the Serpent Addressed his way towards Eve, with the desire to cause corruption, he moves not with intended wave. Instead, he towers fould above fould a surging Maze, with the colours of Verdant Gold. By giving the Serpent distinct characteristics, he is separating him from the other creatures in the Garden of Eden, therefore drawing Eves attention to his uniqueness. The repetition of fould above fould gives the sense of an illusion, something which Eves eyesight is unable to comprehend; which is then reinforced by surging Maze, giving this illusion speed and power, causing a greater confusion on Eves behalf. The vivid description of verdant Gold gives the Serpent a very rich colouring, thus reiterating his importance in the Garden. When Satan finally decides to confront Eve, he becomes erect, giving himself a sense of empowerment. This is when Miltons narration confirms the beauty of his language, as he mentions how pleasing was his shape / and lovely. For an audience, this outsid e interpretation almost gives a sense of comfort, as they too are lost in his physical beauty. Finally, as the Serpent begins to speak, his ability to compliment and seduce enables him to make his way into the heart of Eve. There are clear similarites between Satan in Paradise Lost and Vasques in Tis Pity: both have a masterful use of rhetoric. As Vasque attempts to gather information from Putana, he mentions how her by proving themselves  to be devoted to these women, they are appealing to their naivity and giving a false sense of trust. Their seductive use of language causes them to become impassioned, as they begin to realise their ability to attract these women. The absence and withdrawal of language in both texts is equally as attractive to an audience. In Paradise Lost Book Nine, the pivotal point when Eve eats the Forbidden Fruit is simply expressed in four words, she plucked, she eat. The use of these monosyllables reinforces how emphasis can be achieved through simplicity. Extending on this further, Miltons constant elaboration and care to detail is deliberately dismissed here to send an even greater message to his audience: mankind cannot blame Eve for causing the Fall as she simply ate the fruit. By refusing to focus on Eves decision to eat the Fruit, he is daringly challenging conventional views that women are the only cause of sin. John Ford in Tis Pity has a similar intention through his portrayal of Hippolyta; her refusal to be silenced goes against the view of womens inferiority. This is achieved in Act Two Scene two, as she powerfully enters with Tis I;. These two words are separate from the rest of her speech in order to hold suspense and give her a greater presence on stage. Fords intention is for the audience to immediately be drawn to her in preparation for her criticism towards Soranzo. As both Ford and Milton are so skilled in writing attractively and deliberately trying to engage an audience, it is even more effective when they suddenly withdraw; the audience become responsible in using their own imagination, in attempt to understand the message these writers intend to express. In Tis Pity, the most effective use of language is through convincing an audience that Giovanni and Annabella have a natural, loving relationship. In Act One Scene Two, when Giovanni admits his love for Annabella and she responds evenly, he ends the scene with After so many tears as we have wept, lets learn to court in smiles, to kiss and sleep. Finally Giovanni is no longer impassioned, I have too long suppressed the hidden flames, and is instead able to appreciate the natural rawness of their love. Not only that, but by referring to their ability to weep, smile, kiss and sleep, he is expressing emotions which audiences are able to relate to; proving that their relationship isnt as unnatural as first assumed. During this particular moment, the audience become so engaged in the text that they forget about the theme of incest and instead support the  purity of their relationship. John Miltons depiction of Satan creates a similar sense of curiosity into the ability to sympathise with him. This is highlighted when he observes Eve for the first time and becomes of enmitie disarmd/ of guile, of hate, of envie, of revenge. The repetition of guile, hate, envie, revenge proves how Satan is gradually striped of his emotions associated with evil, and is instead left vulnerable through his admiration. The power of Eves beauty forces him to become abstracted from his own evil, thus demonstrating the ability to respond humanely. During this moment, Milton is allowing the audience the opportunity to make their own viewpoint of Satan; isolated from the conventional, one-dimensial presentation of him. The beauty of both texts is not caused by convincing the audience that sin is attractive, but instead pushing them into sympathising, admiring and simply enjoying pieces of literature beyond expectation.

America Needs Greater Voter Participation Essay example -- Politics Po

Government and Politics – America Needs Greater Voter Participation We may live in a country that encourages voting in political elections, yet the level of voter turnout in America is relatively small and continues to decline. Compared to other countries with democratic governments, the United States falls very near the bottom of the list with its percentage of voter participation. One explanation for this disturbing phenomenon states that the American system requires more effort from voters, asking them to participate in â€Å"more elections for more levels of government with more elective offices at each level than any other country in the world† (Schudson 159). In most other democracies, the citizens may be asked to vote only 2 or 3 times over a 4-year period (Edwards, Wattenberg, and Lineberry 246). American voters feel overwhelmed by all that is asked of them. The diverse and numerous elections held in the United States, especially at the state and local levels try the attention spans of voters and decrease their willingness or desire to participate. Reading the local election ballot and trying to determine the actual function of the various obscure local offices such as county clerk, court clerk or register of deeds can be a daunting task. Extracting real meaning from the political jargon used in wording local propositions can also be a challenge and source of discouragement (Schudson 156). Dr. Bill Lyons, of the University of Tennessee, said this of Tennessee state and local elections: â€Å"In Tennessee, we also have a very long ballot with a lot of constitutional offices and we have an awful lot of elections. I think that’s bad because it unnecessarily splits the time and attention of voters† (Flessner 2). Ame... ...n Perspective Sections on pages 208 and 245. Michael Schudson, â€Å"Voting Rites: Why We Need a New Concept of Citizenship†. Allan Cigler and Burdett Loomis, American Politics: Classic and Contemporary Readings, 4th ed. Boston: Houghton Miflin Company, 1999, pp. 156-164. Project Vote Smart, â€Å"PVS General Population and Youth Survey†, Department of Political Science at OSU, http://www.vote-smart.org/youthsurvey.phtml?checking=/, 1999, p. 5. Robert D. Putnam, â€Å"Bowling Alone: America’s Declining Social Capital†. Allan Cigler and Burdett Loomis, American Politics: Classic and Contemporary Readings, 4th ed. Boston: Houghton Miflin Company, 1999, pp. 165-175. Ruy Teixeira, â€Å"Voter Turnout in America: Ten Myths†. Allan Cigler and Burdett Loomis, American Politics: Classic and Contemporary Readings, 4th ed. Boston: Houghton Miflin Company, 1999, pp. 149-155.

Dower and Dowry Confusion

Dower and dowry confusion The dower is a sum of money or other property which becomes payable by the husband to the wife as an effect of marriage[1]. On the other hand, Dowry is a transaction between two parties involving cash, or other valuable articles such as precious metals, gems, clothing, appliances, real estate, or goods for entertainment, made as a condition for entering a marriage contract[2]. The dowry system is not recognised in the religion or the law of the Muslim societies but has spread into it. 3] Conversely, Islamic law provides dower to enhance the status of women[4]. It is important to note that until now authors confuse dower with dowry. Perhaps the aspect of women's property or stridhanam in Hindu law and dower as the exclusive property of the wife are seen as synonymous. When dowry is regarded as stridhanam or pre-mortem inheritance for women, contradictions arise and the equation of dowry with stridhanam has been disputed by several authors.They argue that the situation is absolutely reverse, as dowry is not a gift to the wife or her exclusive property but the property of her in-laws. [5] Islam has legislated the giving of the dower by the husband to the wife in order to please the woman’s heart and to honour her. It is also meant to bring an end to what was done in the Days of Ignorance wherein she was wronged, exploited, despised and robbed of her wealth. The dower is a right exclusively for the wife. It is her possession and none of her guardians or relatives may share any part of it[6].No one has any power over her concerning how she wishes to dispose of it, as long as she does so in a legally acceptable manner. She may give it away as a gift, she may lend it to others or she may give it in charity or do any other permissible acts she wishes with it[7]. But dowry is totally different. At times people think that dower is some sort of acronym of dowry, which is literally incorrect. Dower is the money paid by the groom to his brid e while dowry is trousseau, gift of money or valuables given by the bride's father to the groom at the time of the marriage.It is important to understand that there is absolutely no similarity between dower and dowry; with the former being a legal right and the latter being a tradition[8]. Dowry is predominantly a Hindu tradition carried on after the people of the subcontinent embraced Islam. Women are given the right of inheritance but there is no concept of dowry in Islam. If it was a part of our religion, our Holy Prophet (PBUH) must have granted valuables to his only daughter Fatima on her marriage to Ali. Instead, Ali had to pay for the valima by selling his armour[9].This problem has intensified to the extent that women in both India and Pakistan commit suicide considering themselves burden on their families as they can't afford to give heavy dowry or entertain the in-laws years after marriage. At times the girl's family pays part of the dowry at the time of the marriage, prom ising to pay the rest after the marriage. This stipulation causes a lot of grief and mistreatment to the girl and her family especially if the ‘payment' is delayed[10]. ———————– 1]Monsoor, Taslima: â€Å"Gender Equity and Economic Empowerment: Family Law and Women in Bangladesh†. Dhaka, p. 22 2 http://www. indiatogether. org/women/dowry/pledge. htm 3 Sivaramayya, B. : Inequalities and the law. New Delhi 1984, p. 66 4 Monsoor, Taslima: â€Å"Gender Equity and Economic Empowerment: Family Law and Women in Bangladesh†. Dhaka, p. 47 5 Ibid [2] http://www. islamweb. net/emainpage/index. php? page=articles&id=97117 [3] Ibid [4] http://jang. com. pk/thenews/feb2007-weekly/you-20-02-2007/ [5] Ibid [6] Ibid

Of Mice and Men Film/Book Comparison

The lack of interaction between the Weak' ones of the ranch in the film version of Of Mice and Men results in the obscuring of the theme of handicaps that is present throughout the novel. In the film, the scene begins with Leonie approaching Crooks as the rest of the men are in the nearby town. They discuss Lien's desire to tend rabbits and later on, Leonie makes it clear his intention for George and he to be together till the end. George comes in, escorts Leonie out of the room where they encounter Curlers wife as she complains of her unhappy marriage and runs away.The book varies in the way that Curlers wife and Candy are both in the room as they all talk. As Candy, Leonie, and Crooks discuss the promise of a brighter future, Curlers wife is quick to crush their dreams with the reality of each of their situations. After she humiliates them, they are defeated and their harsh circumstances sink in. It is important to notice in the novel that each character has their own handicap, whe ther it is age, gender, race, mental capability, or physical capability; although they show strength even with their weak descriptions, the purpose of the theme is to convey the low tolerance their society has of handicaps.For example, Crooks, even being a bitter man, latches onto their dream of the little house for the promise of companionship, but because of his race and the prejudice during the time period, Curlers wife makes sure he knows that he will never be accepted. Although the handicaps are physically portrayed In the film, they are not reinforced well enough because there isn't as big of a power difference between Leonie and Crooks as there is between them and Curlers wife. Curlers wife may be handicapped as her loneliness makes her desperate, but she has the ability to take away any hope they eave.Also, in the novel, Curlers wife mentions that the men left the three Weak' ones at home. This comment serves to further describe the time period as there Is never enough prote ction for the weak from the strong. The theme of handicaps Is essential to the comprehension of the novel as It grasps the concept of Inequality; without the theme's distinction, there Is no closure, positive or negative, that Is needed for the reader to comprehend the negative Impact the fictional world has on a group of people that are not as strong as society requires them to be.