Cinema as Intertext in Midnight’s Children Essay -- Essays Papers

Cinema as Intertext in Midnight’s Children Saleem in Midnight’s Children makes an accurate evaluation of India when he states, â€Å"Nobody from Bombay should be without a basic film vocabulary† (Rushdie 33). Bollywood, the capital of the film industry in India, is the largest manufacturer of motion pictures in the world. A large percentage of the films are either mythical romances or musicals and often they last longer than three hours in length. While watching Indian cinema would be a painful ordeal for Western audiences, Indians embrace the industry and are very proud of their cinema heritage. Indians would argue that it is the distinct differences in Bollywood filmmaking that sets India apart from the Western world. It is the desire to separate themselves from Western culture that makes the Bollywood film industry so successful and accounts for India’s obsession with film. However, while film is a major part of Indian society, cinema does have its origins in the Western world. Salman Ru shdie uses intertextuality to portray how Indian society changes the Western influence of cinema to express Eastern culture and how cinema depicts the narrator Saleem as unreliable. Intertextuality is the process of deriving meaning from the ways in which texts stand in relation to each other. This is the theory that all authors imitate styles, themes, and ideas from previous writers and, therefore, no text is entirely original. Thais Morgan asserts in his article â€Å"The Space of Intertextuality† that there are two different levels of intertextuality: â€Å"influence† and â€Å"inspiration†. Morgan says, â€Å"Text A influences text B when the critic can demonstrate that B has ‘borrowed’ structure(s), theme(s), and/or image(s) from A ... ...ollywood films help strengthen motivations of characters and demonstrate the unreliable narration of Saleem. Lastly, the usage of cinematic language sets a tone of both romance and disbelief in the words of Saleem as he struggles with remembering a traumatic event from the past. In all three examples of cinema as intertext, Rushdie transgresses conventional uses of cinema and crafts new and unique ways for it to appear in the text. This establishes Midnight’s Children as an original contemporary work, relinquishing it from any claims of prior influence from previous texts. Works Cited Morgan, Thais. â€Å"The Space of Intertextuality.† Intertextuality and Contemporary American Fiction. Ed. Patrick O’Donnell and Robert Con Davis. Baltimore: The John Hopkins University Press, 1989. 239-279. Rushdie, Salman. Midnight’s Children. London: Picador, 1982.

A Documentary Film

In modern world, social dimensions are manifested in the ability of media to control the circulation of ideas about economic and political events, social problems and ethical issue.Documentary films play a special role in filmmaking unveiling vital problems of modern mankind or informing the audience about historical or social events, outstanding personalities and their historical significance.It is known fact that people copy or borrow their identities from the media, and very often social images are misrepresented and just exploited by the media. In this case, the aim of documentary genre is to inform the audience about current problems and social troubles. The genre of documentary appeared at the beginning of XX century.The documentary film movement had a great impact on filmmaking during the 1930s and 1940s, and was a response to social and economic conditions faced by many nations around the world.Taking into account British filmmaking, critics suggest that: â€Å"the movement and its leader played a pivotal role in stifling the growth of a critical British film culture, and in establishing a realist paradigm which critically marginalised the avant-garde† (Aitken, 1998, p. 1).  Getting the message across, not just through ascetic lectures but getting the right images as well documentaries can speak volumes to a greater number of people across the globe. Where documentaries are largely responsible for promoting the culture, one can still trust their power to reverse it to bring a certain outlook of current events avoiding unnecessary blames and aggression.There are no strict guidelines for producers to follow. Alan Rosenthal (2002) admits that: â€Å"In the last twenty years, tremendous changes have taken place in documentary and nonfiction filmmaking, including changes in subject matter, form, and the very way in which documentaries and industrial films are made† (p.1).In general, the main idea of the documentary is to portray the real soci al and historical images and social problems. According to Michelson (1984): â€Å"In fact, the film is only the sum of the facts recorded on film, or, if you like, not merely the sum, but the product, a ‘higher mathematics' of facts† (Michelson 1984:84 cited Bruzzi, 2000, P. 11).The documentary genre is based on the idea to create â€Å"the authentic representation of the real† (Bruzzi, 2000, p. 9). This is achieved through specific techniques and methods which help to recreate authentic atmosphere in order to appeal to emotions of viewers and their feelings through emotional tension and deep experience.The remarkable feature of modern documentary films is that producers select techniques and cinematographic tools according to plot development and meaning of the film. Usually, the plot structure of documentaries is clearly set out, with few diversions of sub-plot and with fairly obvious contrasts of characters.It can consist of several frames which force the vie wer to rethink the events and interpret them in a different manner according to behavior and thoughts of the narrator (Bruzzi, 2000).Similar to fiction genre, the main thematic elements of documentaries include: theme and focus which frame events and facts depicted in the film. The themes of documentaries can be interpreted as responses towards problems and issues under discussion.Evaluating the themes, producers try to unveil important problems which marked the film. For instance, in the documentary â€Å"Bowling for Columbine†, Michael Moore portrays extreme violence and hostility of modern youth toward other people based on wrong media images and social indifference.

The Alcoholics Anonymous

During the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting I attended, my eyes were opened to the disease of addiction. When I walked into the meeting, I introduced myself and announced that I am a nursing student and was there to observe. In sync, all of the people attending the meeting greeted me. Twelve people took turns to read the twelve steps on the road to recovery. After the twelve steps were read everyone introduced themselves and then everyone greeted them at once. It was announced that each person that was there for addiction had only had five minutes to share their story.The Alcoholics Anonymous meeting was definitely a reality check for me. There were many people that were there that announced that they were an addict that did not look or act like an addict. Many described the third step to be the most difficult of the twelve steps. The third step is transferring yourself to God or a higher power to get you through your addiction. At first this did not make sense to me, but I realized that addicts naturally need control over situations.So when they hand over themselves and their addictions to a higher power it is like they are stepping down from having control. It is as if they will not make any wrong decisions because their higher power is in control. So if they do make a wrong decision they feel it is not their fault which I do not agree with. The difference between NA and AA is that AA believes you are clean as long as you did not have any alcohol, but NA believes you are clean as long as you did not have any mood or mind altering substances, which includes alcohol.I definitely enjoyed NA better than AA because it was more fulfilling and not so ignorant to the actual idea of addiction. AA believes in trading one addiction for another even if it is more dangerous than alcohol. It is not said at the AA meeting that this is the case, but that is what I got from it. At the end of the meeting they also said the serenity prayer like the NA meetings in a circle.

Applying Critical Thinking

INTRODUCTION On 12th August 2010, the Governor of Illinois notified the Federal State Employee Trade Union (FSEU) Region 343. This is aimed at outsourcing the information system management function of the Ministry of Transportation (DoT) and privatizing it. Monday 20) In response, Mr. Padilla, FSEU's 343th President, urged Glenn of Human Resources at FSEU to rate the notice. The memo of August 20, 2010 includes Mr.. The purpose of this paper is to outline the fundamentals of critical thinking and the importance of understanding how we develop and apply critical thought power. This article describes the benefits of applying critical thinking skills as a systematic approach to the 21st century workplace. The basis of critical thinking can be traced back to Greek philosopher Socrates who lived between 469 BC and 399 BC. The center of critical thinking of the Socratic method is the process of using open-ended questions, which helps to infer and clarify inference (American Management Asso ciation, 2001). Its strength lies in helping people slow their thoughts and allow them to observe, evaluate and improve their thoughts. The Socratic method is based on the assumption that everything has logic that can be found through question and thought (AMA, 2001). There are three aspects to help people develop critical thinking: a way to become a facilitator of the process, a way to nurture a critical position that will always lead people to use critical thinking. Problems and problems Please check the self-worth of the learner. Critical thinking is intellectual exercise, but it is also a matter of confidence and courage. Learners must confidently believe that authority figures and established beliefs may be wrong and challenge them. The counselor needs to raise self-esteem by confirming that the learner's opinion is important and respectful. Applying Critical Thinking INTRODUCTION On 12th August 2010, the Governor of Illinois notified the Federal State Employee Trade Union (FSEU) Region 343. This is aimed at outsourcing the information system management function of the Ministry of Transportation (DoT) and privatizing it. Monday 20) In response, Mr. Padilla, FSEU's 343th President, urged Glenn of Human Resources at FSEU to rate the notice. The memo of August 20, 2010 includes Mr.. The purpose of this paper is to outline the fundamentals of critical thinking and the importance of understanding how we develop and apply critical thought power. This article describes the benefits of applying critical thinking skills as a systematic approach to the 21st century workplace. The basis of critical thinking can be traced back to Greek philosopher Socrates who lived between 469 BC and 399 BC. The center of critical thinking of the Socratic method is the process of using open-ended questions, which helps to infer and clarify inference (American Management Asso ciation, 2001). Its strength lies in helping people slow their thoughts and allow them to observe, evaluate and improve their thoughts. The Socratic method is based on the assumption that everything has logic that can be found through question and thought (AMA, 2001). There are three aspects to help people develop critical thinking: a way to become a facilitator of the process, a way to nurture a critical position that will always lead people to use critical thinking. Problems and problems Please check the self-worth of the learner. Critical thinking is intellectual exercise, but it is also a matter of confidence and courage. Learners must confidently believe that authority figures and established beliefs may be wrong and challenge them. The counselor needs to raise self-esteem by confirming that the learner's opinion is important and respectful. Applying Critical Thinking INTRODUCTION On 12th August 2010, the Governor of Illinois notified the Federal State Employee Trade Union (FSEU) Region 343. This is aimed at outsourcing the information system management function of the Ministry of Transportation (DoT) and privatizing it. Monday 20) In response, Mr. Padilla, FSEU's 343th President, urged Glenn of Human Resources at FSEU to rate the notice. The memo of August 20, 2010 includes Mr.. The purpose of this paper is to outline the fundamentals of critical thinking and the importance of understanding how we develop and apply critical thought power. This article describes the benefits of applying critical thinking skills as a systematic approach to the 21st century workplace. The basis of critical thinking can be traced back to Greek philosopher Socrates who lived between 469 BC and 399 BC. The center of critical thinking of the Socratic method is the process of using open-ended questions, which helps to infer and clarify inference (American Management Asso ciation, 2001). Its strength lies in helping people slow their thoughts and allow them to observe, evaluate and improve their thoughts. The Socratic method is based on the assumption that everything has logic that can be found through question and thought (AMA, 2001). There are three aspects to help people develop critical thinking: a way to become a facilitator of the process, a way to nurture a critical position that will always lead people to use critical thinking. Problems and problems Please check the self-worth of the learner. Critical thinking is intellectual exercise, but it is also a matter of confidence and courage. Learners must confidently believe that authority figures and established beliefs may be wrong and challenge them. The counselor needs to raise self-esteem by confirming that the learner's opinion is important and respectful.

World Religions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

World Religions - Essay Example Swami Vivekananda was a very charismatic representative for Hinduism in America. Even though he died only a few years after first coming to America, he was able to establish many societies dedicated to Advaita Vedanta, which is based on the teachings of Ramakrishna, an Indian saint. These various societies developed into several formal movements including the Self-realization Fellowship and the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, more commonly known as the "Hare Krishnas". As immigration from India has increased over the years, Hindu temples have added to the varied architectural landscape of America. These temples are constructed in the style of temples from northern and southern India. They are blessed by Hindu priests and offer a safe have for believers to escape the materialistic impulses that rule so much of American life. Hindu temples stand as a symbol of cultural acceptance and tolerance, adding to the cultural mosaic that makes up America. Orthodox Hindus, those conducting serious investigations of the Hindu religion with an eye on converting, as well as the simply curious are all welcome to visit the temple. This reality shows that in some ways, Hinduism and American culture are a good fit. Hinduisms tolerance for other religions has also affected culture in America. Aside from influencing authors and artists, Adivaita Vedantas universalism has affected certain liberal leaning Christian churches. The "New Age " movement also can link directly to the tenets of Hinduism in regards to acceptance of other religious beliefs, the belief in a plurality of paths to enlightenment and a commitment to non-violence and pacifism. While Hinduism has not grown to be a major religion in America in numbers of actual adherents, it has nonetheless had substantial influence. From art to architecture to the melding of

Texas Financial Funding of Public Schools Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Texas Financial Funding of Public Schools - Essay Example The highest of these revenue producers are local property taxes that account for a majority of districts local tax revenue. Therefore, the information means a lot to me. In this article, I learned that the public education system in Texas is among the biggest in the country with a sizeable number of school districts and a charter school comprising many campuses. In addition, the article revealed that Texas has extra school districts compared to any other state, and it is next only to California in regard to the number of students registered in its schools. I also learned that at present the school finance system of Texas is functioning as two separate systems: one system is based on the equalizing calculations of the foundation school program, and the other focuses on historical district funding stages commonly referred to as the target revenue system. This article by Research foundation means a lot to me. This is because such programs developed in schools including the foundation school program ensure that each public school in Texas has enough finance and balances resources to offer a fundamental instructional plan that meets the values of the state. I have learned from this article that for a long time the courts in Texas have been demanding the legislature to create fairer and equitable ways to finance public education within the state. The article also enlightened me on the issues surrounding the school finance in Texas. For instance, I have learnt about the judicial history and the achievement of the present system of school finance in attaining various school finance equity objectives. The information provided in this article means a lot because it has made me realize that Texas is the best state to study. For example, Texas acknowledges that some attributes of school districts and of learners increase the costs of giving education. The information can be used to encourage others in various ways, especially those with issues concerning school finance in Texas.  Ã‚  

Should College Football Players be paid Research Paper

Should College Football Players be paid - Research Paper Example This unfair situation should be remedied by immediately establishing steps towards the payment of the football players. Unfortunately, there is strong opposition against such effort, primarily from the school administrators themselves. Nevertheless, it must be made clear that the payment of the players’ services is not just because they are making their schools famous. Even without monetary compensation, these players would certainly work hard to win championships because of their loyalty to the schools where they belong. Still, they deserve to be paid because the schools are actually earning from them also, not just for indirect promotions, but for actually taking part in a revenue-generating spectator sport. The NCAA, particularly its football tournaments, has become a big business, which is why the players should get what is due to them for their hard work. Should College Football Players be Paid? College football players contribute so much in promoting their respective sch ools. They certainly do not only make the colleges and universities in which they are enrolled in proud; they also encourage other prospective students to entertain studying it too. As a result, these athletes may well be considered as the schools’ instruments for increasing the number of enrollees per school year or semester. Since these academic institutions also function as businesses, earning income through tuition, increased enrollment naturally means more revenues to be collected. In a way, college football players should be provided with a percentage of the income they generated for the school. They should be paid not for making their school proud but for utilizing their skills in order to make it earn. The sentiment in favor of having college football players paid by the school is actually gaining support from different sectors already. This is particularly because the public is already very much aware that the NCAA is already a multi-million dollar business. A report from USA Today points out that the â€Å"NCAA averages better than half a billion dollars a year in revenue† and that does not include payouts from the 28 football bowls, which exceed $184 million and go to the conferences† (Whiteside 2004). This means that aside from the indirect financial advantages that schools can generate from enrollment, these could also profit from the premier collegiate tournament itself, especially because the games are often televised and just like the professional leagues, also earn from the TV endorsements. These millions of dollars definitely are not gained because of the member-schools of the NCAA doubled or tripled their respective enrollment rates. Instead these are generated because the student athletes trained hard in order to perform well in the games. Their diligence in the training programs in which they all underwent ultimately raised the level of quality of the games, particularly football. In fact, many observers would point out that many college football players already possess the skills commonly seen among the pros. Another argument why school administrators can certainly allocate funds for paying their respective football players is that some coaches in Division 1-A actually make more that $1 million dollars a year. In the Southeastern Conference or SEC, where the some of the country’s top college football teams are found, â€Å"