A short commentary on Roland Barthes Mother Courage Blind Essays

A short commentary on Roland Barthes Mother Courage Blind Essays A short commentary on Roland Barthes Mother Courage Blind Essay A short commentary on Roland Barthes Mother Courage Blind Essay Essay Topic: Literature There are many men who altered time in creating a different world for everybody else. Some took it for worst, while others changed it for the better. Most of these men were all soldiers of a certain rank or leaders of nations, nonetheless of what they represented or what they done, they all have the same similarities. These men were all leaders. Bertold Brecht was a front-runner of literature, the originator of what we call epic theatre and he was an artistic leader with all of the qualities that was needed to originate this new theatre. Walter Benjamin describes Brechts epic theatre as â€Å"[1]appealing to an interesting group of people who do not think without reason† in his essay [2]â€Å"What is Epic Theatre† in his illuminations. I will use this as the stronghold to my essay on Roland Barthes Mother Courage Blind and how Bertold Brecht influenced him. Brecht sets Mother Courage Blind and Her Children during the thirty years war, a war that went on for thirty years without reason, in many cases without a reason for the people living during the war. A war that the poor and working class lost what they did not see while the higher classes won with their losses. Brecht writes this play during 1939, the time where Fascism and Nazism were on a rise and Nazi occupied Germany had just taken over their neighbors Poland. Brecht being a Marxist himself, I could imagine that he used the setting of this play as a left wing political act against the governments of the time. However one may argue that Brecht was himself a businessman, exploring the environment in his play by targeting the people who would be interested, but I very much doubt this was his intention. Brecht was a man of great culture, creativity and a sense of humor who influenced many of his time and still does now. What Brecht’s implies in this play is how great powers, in this sense the European powers use war as a profit venture. This is one of the main reasons which Mother Courage Blind attracted Roland Barthes. Barthes seemed to love the idea of Brecht displaying this act with his epic theatre and not preaching his thoughts through religion or politics as he states in his essay that Brecht â€Å"unites his crucial intention to a true theatre, so that the proposition’s evidence results not from sermon or argument but from the theatrical act itself† [3]. Barthes suggests that Mother Courage is suffering because she is blind to her own senseless acts, but this is what Bertold Brecht actually wants the audience to think as he later goes on to explain in the essay how â€Å"we are once mother courage and we are those who explain her;†[4]Barthes appreciates how Brecht’s intelligence in his theatre takes a hold of the audience and makes them lost in Mother Courage which then the audience is brought into her blindness without acknowledging the greatness of the theatre which has a enormous impact on the individual in the audience. Even though Brecht’s Mother Courage is an opportunist and a very inspiring character, it does not take much to see that she is simply a product of her environment and that the character is solely playing the part of a victim to make the audience feel for her struggles, which is what I believe Barthes meant by â€Å"we are all once Mother Courage[5]† by Brecht creating this character, it allows the audience to get in and get close with Mother Courage, feeling her emotions and what she is going through. As I have explained before, this play was written in 1939, which means most of the audience had already witnessed the First World War and the Second World War while Brecht was touring Europe. In a way Brecht seems to create this character so the audience could see themselves in Mother Courage and not make the same mistakes as her, because he only allows them to get close enough to judge her and nothing more. I trust if Walter Benjamin was alive to witness Mother Courage Blind and her Children in theatre, and if he were to write a critic’s essay about it, it would be the very similar to Roland Barthes version. The two men had a lot of similarities and I consider that if it was not for the tragic loss of Walter Benjamin, the two would have been very good friends. While reading Barthes Mother Courage I could sense a certain charismatic male. He explains what he see’s as the only way and does not take in account any other opinions and expects for the reader to understand him and only understand his opinion. Barthes seems obsessed with the â€Å"double vision: of the social evil and its remedies[6]† which is seen in Mother Courage Blind and her Children. The social evil the modern day is drugs, alcohol and violence. These are all things that are frowned upon and the remedies to life that change people. The social remedies in Mother Courage Blind are basically the characters blindness. All things could be made better if Mother Courage actually steps back and looks, but what Barthes does not consider while writing his essay is what he would have done if he were himself in Mother Courage’s shoes himself? Throw in the fact that all Mother Courage knows is war, where as the audience obviously knows that there is an end to the thirty years war, she sadly doesn’t. Brecht Mother Courage has a very important quote towards the end of the play â€Å" hope I can pull this wagon by myself. gotta manage. Not much in it, now. Gotta get back in business†[7] this is the scene just after Mother Courage leaves her late daughter to be buried by the peasants. This quote could show that people are in need of psychological and materialistic support as she looses her daughter but her only concern is getting her business back running again which is what I believe Barthes emphasizes on about his social evil. Although it could be argued that this is all she knows and this is all she’s know all her life. Although I see that Brecht is trying to show how the small people, also known as the working class does not have a say in what happens and all they’ve got to do is get on with what ever is thrown at them, Barthes argues this matter and suggest that if people saw their own stupidity, they will realize their mistakes and change for the better. Most of Barthes drama works after this had resemblance to what Bertold Brecht had created with his epic theatre. After the war, Barthes helped establish a magazine called â€Å"theatre populaire† I believe his main intention in this magazine was to assault the commercial drama of his days yet no one had really created theatre that will attack both social and political issues in the same play. But in 1954 Barthes came across Mother Courage Blind and Her Children while Brecht’s Berliner Ensemble was in France. This is where Barthes saw what he had longed to see from his university days after he had founded a theatre group which performed Greek plays. In Brecht he had found a theatre that brings together both Marxism and aesthetics in the same play. This was the start of a critic being unleashed into the world with the influence of a great leader in his own field.

The Oil and Gas Industry

The Oil and Gas Industry Background The oil and gas industry is the means for Nigeria’s economy. The upstream oil and gas industry remains the most important sector of the country’s economy.Advertising We will write a custom dissertation sample on The Oil and Gas Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Statistical Energy Survey by BP 2012 estimated that â€Å"Nigeria had oil reserves of 37.2 billion barrels at the end of 2011, equivalent to 41.4 years of current production and 2.25 % of the worlds reserves while the country produced an average of 2457.3 thousand barrels of crude oil per day in 2011, which represented 2.93% of the world† (MBendi, 2013). According the BP Statistical Energy Survey 2011, Nigeria had 5.29 trillion cubic metres of gas. However, a poor infrastructure has affected the distribution of the gas. It flares 75 percent and re-injects 12 percent of the gas produced. However, the country wanted a zero percent flare by 2010. The government also intended to increase revenues from export of gas by 50 percent. The country’s downstream oil and gas industry also has important roles in the sector. However, it faces a myriad of challenges, such as fire, poor management, corruption, sabotage, vandalism, and poor maintenance. As a result, such refineries have never â€Å"operated above 40 percent capacity† (MBendi, 2013). Therefore, the country cannot meet the internal demand for oil and gas, and it has turned to imports in order to supplement the shortage. The country has an active petrochemical industry based on its refining abilities and demands. The current situation of Nigeria is risky for production and proper management of the sector. For instance, Nigeria experiences political unrest, border problems, and inadequate funding from the government coupled with corruption. Such problems have affected the promotion of best practices in the oil and gas industry of Nigeria. Information techno logy in the oil and gas industry Technological developments in the oil and gas industry have transformed the sector in advanced areas like the US (NaturalGas.org, 2011). There are innovations that have changed the oil and gas industry in many OPEC member states. Consequently, the roles of technology in oil and gas industry, particularly in explorations and productions have had deep impacts on the potential of the sector.Advertising Looking for dissertation on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The applications of information technology (IT) and other innovations in exploration and production of oil and gas have equipped the sector with the required practices and equipment for continuous efficiency in production of oil and gas to meet the world demands. The aims of the IT and other innovations are to ensure safe exploration and production and environmental friendly practices. Usages of such technol ogies in exploration and production aim to mitigate challenges that arise from ‘unconventional’ sources of natural gas like shale rock. Specifically, agendas of IT in the oil and gas industry have been to provide superior and integrated database with high-end visualisation and communication capabilities for oil and gas information management. Such innovations are also useful in managing petroleum geological information and improving observation of the sector. The overall aim is to improve production through efficient drilling quality that protects the environment, and reduce costs. Some major oil and gas firms like Chevron, Shell, Mobil, and BP also work in Nigeria. They have applied information technology in their practices in the sector. The involvement and activities of these firms remain extensive and critical for the success of the country’s oil and gas industry. Therefore, it is fundamental to understand the impact of information technology in the oil and g as industry in Nigeria. Study problems The cost of oil and gas exploration in Nigeria is high due to a myriad of challenges in the sector. For instance, there is a slow rate of gathering data that are fundamental for seismic activities, reservoir characteristics, and monitoring. Moreover, availability and sharing of data are also challenges in the sector. As a result, the cost of drilling has increased. However, IT in the industry should enhance efficiency, protect the environment, eliminate emissions, and improve identification, mapping, and understanding of source rocks.Advertising We will write a custom dissertation sample on The Oil and Gas Industry specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Objectives This study aims to indentify impacts of information technology in the oil and gas industry of Nigeria. Specifically, the study shall show how adoption of information technology in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria has affected various area s. To investigate the effect of information technology on cost of production To assess the level of efficiency as a result of adopting information technology in the industry To highlight impacts of information technology on risk mitigation and management in the oil and gas industry To investigate effectiveness of information technology in production processes To assess the environmental impacts of adopting information technology the oil and gas industry of Nigeria These are the most critical considerations for the use of information technology in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. Relevance of the research Limited data exist on the impact of information technology in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. However, data should be available in the volatile oil and gas industry of Nigeria that faces many challenges. Besides, the increase in demands for oil and gas has created opportunities for advanced practices in the sector. Studies in information technology can help in developing th e oil and gas industry in Nigeria by providing a basis for drafting technology policies and procedures for the industry. Therefore, the research shall provide useful information for oil and gas firms, government agencies, industry stakeholders, and researchers in the oil and gas industry. Review of available literature Studies about the use and impacts of information technology in the oil and gas industry of Nigeria are rare. Currently, there has been growing attention for alternative energy that can replace fossil fuels. However, the oil and gas industry has changed its practices in order to meet challenges of providing clean and cost-effective energy. In this regard, the use of information technology has been the most important element in the dynamic oil and gas industry because it has assisted in mitigating the environmental impacts and increasing efficiency in exploration, production, and supply of oil and gas (Edwards, Ishaq and Johnsen, 2010).Advertising Looking for dissertation on environmental studies? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More At the global level, the oil and gas industry is diverse because of various government policies, uneven distribution, and technological capabilities of workers. Players in the oil and gas industry have expressed their concerns about external risks, which may disrupt the oil and gas industry. For instance, Thales notes that exploration and drilling activities have become dangerous in many oil fields, including Nigeria (Thales, n.d). Therefore, the need for advanced physical and data security is paramount. Moreover, field operations also need risk assessment in order to mitigate risks. The process needs recognition of potential risks, the creation of boundaries, evaluation of security consequences, and developing business recovery plan. The oil and gas industry participants also note that industry characteristics are important for planning. For instance, oil and gas firms require abilities to operate in volatile frontiers, they need new skills and knowledge, understand dynamic governm ent regulations, and the need for hydrocarbon fuels. Moreover, the changes and competitive industry has favoured national oil companies. As a result, multinational firms face challenges of energy source availability as focus shifts to new oil fields and emerging markets. A number of changes that affect the oil and gas industry require firms to act now in order to position themselves for future operations. Solutions to these challenges are in leveraging information technologies in order to enhance development of vibrant oil and gas resources, improve recovery from current fields, eliminate environmental challenges, and find alternative sources of energy. Clear strategies for mitigating such challenges require a focus on information technology. First, develop performance management in the oil and gas business units, costs, assets, and various processes based on best practices within the field. Second, the information technology should address the enterprise-wide risks by developing go vernance systems that can continuously recognise and control various risks in the firm and various locations. Third, information technology should address operational excellence in the industry. This can happen through creating value to the environment, enhancing quality, and enabling cost reduction strategies. Third, the solution should also focus on people management. The aim is to align the right personnel with the right goals, activities, and processes. Information technology has to enhance decision-making in these processes (Roge, Rydl and Simpson, 2004). Finally, the effective use of information technology should assist the industry to create adaptive business model, which can integrate various value chains, operation units, technologies, and partners. Research methodology This section provides the framework of collecting the required data to meet research objectives. Howe and Eisenhardt note that in the final analysis, â€Å"methodology must be judged by how well it informs research purposes, more than how well it matches a set of conventions† (Howe Eisenhardt, 1990). In this regard, these authors argue that the research methodology must provide data that answer the research questions, has coherent background assumptions, and methods applied work well enough to provide credible results. Research method We have various methods of addressing data collection in a study. These methods address both design and measurement challenges in a study. In this research, we shall apply both qualitative and quantitative methods to gather the required data. Qualitative approach shall address non-numerical factors of impacts of information technology in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. Thus, it shall provide descriptive and interpretative information. On the other hand, quantitative research shall address numerical information from quantitative research variables. It shall permit the researcher to have high-levels of confidence in making normal inferences (Tr ochim, 2006). Target of research This research targets managers in information technology departments in government agencies, private oil and gas firms, and industry stakeholders in Nigeria. This group has valuable information about the application and impacts of information technology in the oil and gas industry. Data collection method The study shall utilise a variety of data collection methods. Survey questionnaires shall provide the researcher with the flexibility of using telephone, mail, Internet, or paper to gather information from various respondents. In addition, there shall also be interviews by telephone where appropriate. The aim of the interview is to get information in in-depth about impacts of IT in the industry. The researcher may also use Web survey tools like e-mail or online in order to save costs and time. The researcher shall ensure validity of measurement tools i.e., all research instruments shall measure what they purport to measure. Thus, the study instrument s are specific to the study. The researcher shall use these approaches in order to gather data from sufficient respondents. Sampling This is a mixed research method. However, the method for sampling shall be purposive (non-random) sampling. The sample shall be large enough to allow the researcher to generalise where necessary. The large sample shall provide opportunities for hermeneutic analysis of gathered data (Bazeley, 2002). According to Bazeley, we can perform such analysis because of computer programmes that can perform data analysis from both qualitative and quantitative sources. Purposeful sampling will not attempt to gather data from the representatives of the samples. Instead, the researcher shall focus on respondents who can provide rich information on impacts of information technology on the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. Such data are useful for in-depth analysis of the study issue. Thus, the researcher shall purposefully focus on IT managers in oil firms and governme nt oil agencies in order to gather a great deal of data about the study purpose. Sample size The researcher shall rely on samples from ‘information rich’ sources in multinational firms. The sample size shall also include government agencies in charge of the oil and gas in Nigeria. The researcher is yet to identify the total sample size from the total target organisations. Data Analysis The researcher shall clean data after collection. They researcher shall organise the results based on themes of impacts of IT on the oil and gas industry. For qualitative data, the research shall code common themes, whereas quantitative data shall be numerically organised (Miles and Huberman, 1994). The researcher shall use SPSS data analysis software in order to analyse data from mixed sources (Pallant, 2005). This shall provide opportunities for the researcher to analyse qualitative data after coding. The researcher shall also present descriptive statistics for quantitative data and use analytical framework approaches for qualitative data (Wolcott, 1994). The researcher shall also ensure credibility of the data collected for analysis. This process requires the researcher to describe any factor that may the outcome of the study (Patton, 2002). This ensures internal validity in quantitative study. Likewise, the researcher shall ensure external validity of the study by ensuring transferability. The researcher shall describe research contexts and assumptions. The researcher shall then present the study outcome through presentations to the professors, institutions, students, and other related stakeholders. Ethical issues The researcher shall observe all principles of ethics in research as Beauchamp and Childress highlight (Beauchamp and Childress, 2001). The researcher shall also present the research to the Institutional Review Board (IRB) for approval before the study. Moreover, the researcher shall gain informed consents of all research participants before the study begins (Pimple, 2006). The research shall not harm any human subject. The researcher shall ensure: Respect for the autonomous choices of persons Confidentiality Protection of all participants Not collection of personal information without the consent of the respondent Opportunity to withdraw Professional code of ethics of the university Research Timetable Time Schedule April April May June July Ethical Form Approval Literature Review Research Design Questionnaire formulation Pretest of research questionnaires Reviewing research questionnaires Data Collection, cleaning, coding and analysis Post-field study Data Analysis and interpretation of findings Presentation of research findings, conclusion and recommendation Reference List Bazeley, P 2002, Computerized data analysis for mixed methods research, Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA. Beauchamp, T Childress, F 2001, Principles of biomedical ethics, Oxford University Press, New York, NY. Edwards, S, Ishaq, O and Johnsen, Ø 2010, Oil and Gas 2030: Meeting the growing demands for energy in the coming decades, IBM Global Business Services, Somers, NY. Howe, K Eisenhardt, M 1990, ‘Standards for qualitative (and quantitative) research: A prolegomenon’, Educational Researcher, vol. 19, no. 4, pp. 2-9. MBendi 2013, Oil and Gas in Nigeria: An Overview. Web. Miles, M and Huberman, A. 1994, Qualitative Data Analysis – An Expanded Sourcebook, Sage Publication, London. NaturalGas.org 2011, Natural Gas and Technology. Web. Pallant, J 2005, SPSS Survival Manual, Ligare, Sydney. Patton, Q 2002, Qualitative research and evaluation methods, 3rd edn, Sage, Newbury Park, CA. Pimple, K 2006, Protection of human subjects in non-biomedical research: A tutorial. Web. Roge, J, Rydl, L and Simpson, C 2004, ‘Wireless Technology uses in the Oil and Gas Industry’, Issues in Information Systems, vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 666-672. Thales. (n.d). Security Solutions for the Oi l Gas Industry. Web. Trochim, W 2006, The Research Methods Knowledge Base, 2nd edn, Atomic Dog Publishing, Cincinnati, OH. Wolcott, H 1994, Transforming qualitative data: Description, analysis, and interpretation, Sage, Thousand Oaks, CA.

Republic of Brazil Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Republic of Brazil - Essay Example This different climates produce the coniferous and temperate forests in southern part, equatorial forest in the northern part and semiarid deserts in the north eastern part, while tropical savannahs in the central part of the country. In Brazil, there is no dry season that is evident but there are variations in rainy seasons. III. Environment: The critical issue that is facing Brazil is environmental conservation. This is attributed to the fact that it practices cattle ranching, logging, and agriculture, and oil extraction, wildlife trading and overfishing extensively. b) The legal system has a federation constitution system and all the rest of the legislation have to abide by the federal constitution. Although it has all this reinforcement, Brazil still registers the highest crime rates globally (Boraas 9). 2. Concluding statement: (Final thought) Brazil is a country that is diverse in terms of the environment, climate, biodiversity and law. Despite having an informed law system, it still has high rates of crime taking place. More so, it is a good tourist attraction centre when judged from the existing biodiversity and also its moderate climatic

Banking concept of education Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Banking concept of education - Essay Example Banking concept of education Particularly, I would like to describe the manner in which the tutor conducted the lesson from the beginning to the end in relation to the arguments by Freire that related to the banking concept of education. The most specific and outstanding thing is that in the class duration, the tutor’s mode of teaching appeared to have been more inclined towards inquiry-based education or problem-solving education. However, there are instances when the tutor’s teaching methods could have been perceived as focusing on ‘depositing and withdrawing’ aspects of banking; except that in this case, it was in the contextualization of education. It was on a Friday morning Philosophy class in which the tutor introduced the concept of critical thinking. In analyzing his thoughts on the same, it dawned on me that the best approach to education should be that which seeks in solving problems through offering of solutions to the same. Critical thinking as a subject area is a diverse f ield and in most cases, students just take down notes and only revise on them when the exams period are approaching. Actually, for some students, the passing of the exams is more essential than the knowledge itself. Applying the Freire’s argument of libertarian process of education, would have greatly led to the demystification of the teaching concepts that were espoused by the tutor. For instance, in beginning the class, the tutor asked each student to theorize, and then apply in immediate contexts the instances in which we had to engage critical thinking skills in making rational decisions. The attainment of this was through the provision of a sit-in-test that lasted for 30 minutes. While this was opposed by a section of other students, I noticed that the tutor wanted each one of us to be more of problem-solvers than bankers of education. Consequently, the tutor’s selection and use of language and practical illustrations for the topic indicated his intention for the adoption of the problem-posing and solving strategies to education. From the point of view of Freire, I perceive this distinguishing and objective learning style adopted by the tutor as useful and can be further applied in admonishing creativity among the students. However, on the other hand, I perceived the tutor’s ways of teaching as those that were inclined to the banking systems of education. According to Freire, the banking concept of education mostly perceives students as just but, recipients of what their teachers tell them irrespective of their content or the factual truth behind them. In support of this, I noticed that there were instances when the tutor just mentioned concepts or recited them without proper explanations on the same. This in my opinion assumes students to be but, receiving and withdrawing machines that just re-cycle concepts as stated by the teachers. I noticed that this was a dangerous situation, despite having been used by most teachers to refill t heir narrations on students. In assessing this position, I would also agree with Freire in this line since, it only makes students to be storage devices who only store that which has been

Production Lab exercise Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Production Lab exercise - Essay Example During the first round, I observed that most people still do not know what they are supposed to do. In fact, when the first order came in, many people were suggesting different ideas on how to accomplish the work, making things more difficult and complicated for me. Moreover, the first material that came in was not for the first order but rather, for the third order. This makes things even more confusing for me and for worker assembly 1 because both of us have to work together. It was really frustrating because I know that the rest of the material handlers were waiting for me to get my materials and pass it to them. After a while, I and my assembly worker got the hang of it and we got better and faster. We communicated better with the production control people and I communicated better with my assembly worker. The first round went well after all, as my team managed to finish all orders with no leftover inventories. This lowered our production budget and increased our profits. We mana ged to get $18 a minute for our first round. Then came the second round with a whole bunch of orders. It was making me a little nervous and anxious because our orders increased from 3- 5 to approximately 10-15. I felt so conscious seeing my assembly worker and the rest of the material handlers waiting for me to hand over something to them.

Un Chien Andalou Experimental Movie Film Studies Essay

Un Chien Andalou Experimental Movie Film Studies Essay Bunuel explains that historically the film represents a violent reaction against what in those days was called avant-garde, which was aimed exclusively at artistic sensibility and the audiences reason. In Un Chien andalou the film maker for the first time takes a position on a poetic- moral plane. His object is to provoke instinctive reactions of disgust and attraction in the spectator. He also says that nothing in the film symbolizes anything. The premise for the ideas from the film comes from two dreams, one by Luis Bunuel and one by Salvador Dali. Therefore in a dream-like sequence a womans eye is slit open, juxtaposed with a similarly shaped cloud obscuring the moon moving in the same direction as the knife through the eye, to grab the audiences attention. The French phrase ants in the palms, shown as text on the screen literally, this is meant to show the mans urge to kill the woman, as the phrase means itching to kill. This is based on Dalis dream. A man pulls a piano along with the tablets of the Ten Commandments and a dead donkey towards the woman hes itching to kill. Shots of striped objects are repeatedly being used to different connect scenes. The film is an intense amalgam of modernist material drawn from a wider variety of cultural sources. It also includes amalgamates of the aesthetics of Surrealism with Freudian discoveries. It simply answers the general idea of that, which defines Surrealism as an unconscious, psychic automatism, able to return to the mind its real function, outside of all control exercised by reason, morality or aesthetics. The narrative of the film is not continuous, there are non-real jumps in time and space, which make the characters doubt, retract and repeat themselves very much like in a dream and time is non- linear. Surrealist artists used film as a medium because it gave visual expression to their words and ideas and seemed to be closest to dream imagery. The film begins in the present, moves to 8 years later, then 3am, then 16 years before, and finally ends in spring. A very rich and individual cinematographic language is revealed by the use of angles, optical, focus, transitions and also the alternation of long-shots and close-ups. The events that happen are not possible in our everyday reality, for example ants coming out of the palm of the mans hand. Two completely unrelated objects and ideas come together and create a never seen before new idea. Like in the opening of the film, when the womans/ cows eye is slit it was Dalis and Bunuels interest to shock the audience and make them question their own reality and by doing so creating a new one. Man Ray mixed poetry and film to create the cinà ©poà ¨me. He used the same concept as Dali and Bunuel by using completely different and unrelated ideas and objects to create a new reality. An example of a cinà ©poà ¨me is Man Rays Etoile de mer (Starfish), a poem by Robert Desnos, which Man Ray interpreted through film. The film also involved innovative shots and camera angles, such as glimpses through church glass,which created a distorted, unclear view of the scene. Sigmund Freuds influence on European intellectuals resulted in automatic writing and the interests in the dream world. Salvador Dalà ­ in particular set out to simulate mental disturbance with his paranoiac-critical method. These interests manifested themselves in explorations of the illlusionistic rendering of the dream world. Surrealists were tying to challenge bourgeois values and saw themselves as revolutionaries valuing destruction as a way of clearing the ideological landscape. Bunuels film made a key link between surrealism and Freudianism, by revealing the cinema as the true metaphor of the dream state. Atheistic, Dionysian, rebellious and revolutionary, the Surrealist movement thrived on the paradox of filling the moral, ethical and religious vacuum left in the wake of the First World War with another void of guiltness, sinless liberty. As a resolution of World War One the political atmosphere in the 1920s was shaky. The failure of postwar treaties, the economic disaster and the failure of the League of Nations to keep the peace, made it possible for opposing forces to once again emerge. The totalitarian regimes of several European countries used this tenuous ground to grow in the 1920s and 1930s. Benito Mussolini emerged as the head of the fascist regime in Italy which was derived from a staunch nationalism. Joseph Stalin gained control of the Communist Party in the Soviet Union in 1929 and Adolf Hitler in Germany by building the National Socialist German Workers Party into a mass political movement. The questions left from the aftermath of World War One were in need of an intellectual answer. Instead of rejecting everything, as Dada espoused, Surrealism sought a way to improve the society in which it was entrenched. While Dada was a primary rebellion of the individual against art, morality, and society based on chance and with nihilistic intent, Surrealism was based on hope. While Surrealism tended to create instead of destroy, Dada was against everything. Not only in art and literature Surrealism was a ground breaking movement, but also in politics. The strongest years of Surrealism were between1924-38, and these were in many ways characterized by political actions. Breton founded La Rà ©volution surrà ©aliste in 1925 as the voice of Surrealism . By the end of the War, many future Surrealists joined the Dada movement. They believed that the government systems had led them into the war and they insisted that it was better not to have a government, also that the irrational was preferable to the rational in art, all of life, and the civilization. A dream-logic, chance, superstition, coincidence, absurdity and challenging orientation was favoured by the surrealists. They also aimed to recreate links between primal thoughts and emotions in order to recast human needs away from materialism, mass culture and social order towards immersion in the revolutionary hagiography of mankinds dark side. http://lunar-circuitry.net/wordpress/?cat=160 http://searchworks.stanford.edu/view/1129727 http://www.wasistwas.de/aktuelles/reportage-HYPERLINK http://www.wasistwas.de/aktuelles/reportage-film/filmlexikon/artikel/link//e5d323f0b8/article/lexikon-experimentalfilm.htmlfilm/filmlexikon/artikel/link//e5d323f0b8/article/lexikon-experimentalfilm.html http://www.cinematica.org/archives/u/un_chien_andalou.htm http://www.centerforvisualmusic.org/Moritz1920sAb.htm Surrealists used all media were to create art or poetic acts. One of the main goals of Surrealism was to force the viewer/reader out of his or her everyday reality to see a new, surreality filled with the potential of changing the world into a place of beauty, love, and freedom, away from the harsh truths of European politics and the control of the bourgeoisie. characteristic of the middle class, especially in being materialistic or conventional. Bourgeois: (in Marxist contexts) capitalist. Freudian: relating to or influenced by the Austrian psychotherapist Sigmund Freud (18561939) and his methods of psychoanalysis. susceptible to analysis in terms of unconscious thoughts or desires: a Freudian slip. Hagiography the writing of the lives of saints. a biography idealizing its subject. Le Cinà ©ma, des origines à   nos jours; prà ©face par Henri Fescourt.

Sonjas Embrace :: essays research papers

Naked. My reflection mocks me. The morning sun smiles on me, kisses me, holds me. As I begin to appreciate its soothing warmth, it slips away to be replaced with the unforgiving chill of the cold winter morning. Such is life, and such is my love for you. How I dream of your smile, your kiss, your embrace – But these are only dreams, swiftly replaced with reality. The numbing chill of reality is that I will never be good enough for you. And so I will wait forever, longing for Sonja’s embrace. Jaded. My eyes chase their reflection. They become lost within each other, and I wander down the endless tunnel of my eyes. There is light at the end of this tunnel perhaps, but I will never reach it. The ground and the sky are gray, but the walls are painted with pictures of you. There is no sun in the dark world of my eyes, but the paintings of you give it warmth. I can see you now, but I can walk no further. I beg for you, but you turn away. Helpless. I have stepped outside of my mind and into reality; it slaps me across the face. Alone in a room filled with people – I watch you, I hear you. Like a goddess bathing in a river of silk, you look in my direction - but our eyes do not connect - yours go by me, identifying me as the desperate filth that I am. You pass me in the corridor, I breathe deeply, tasting your sweet smell. All of the flowers in the world could not be so satisfying. Like the song of a thousand birds on a spring morning, your voice awakens something within me, but this pleasure I intake only for the short moment you pass. Your beauty is such that I would wish to be blind if I could not see you, and your song such that I could breathe it instead of air. You leave, and I have had my fix for now. Pathetic. You consume all of my thoughts; I am infatuated with you. I enact conversations with you, asking you out for dinner, pretending to be interesting, witty, charming, amusing. I have spent so many days and nights thinking of you, the time has come to act upon these feelings. You are sitting at your table in the crowded room as I approach you.

First experience to a foreign country Essay

I have an aunt who has been living in the United States since she was eighteen years old and she used to invite me to stay with her many times. One day I decided to go. Staying with her and her family was one of the greatest experiences in my life. Besides learning a new language, I made new friends and I really got into the culture of a great and beautiful country. When I arrived there, I got very excited. First, I was excited because it was my first time in a foreign country, and second because I was going to live something really new in my life. On the other hand, learning English wasn’t an easy process because my aunt used to speak just Portuguese with me; I used to take English classes just twice a week and all the students were foreign too. My experience of learning English in a regular course was limited to this little experience and a short period taking English as a Second Language at the local College. Thus, from that period until de end of the time there, I learned the language with the people from the city and the new friends I had met. Besides the experience of studying a new language, making new friends was the best aspect of living abroad. I had a girlfriend who lived in a beautiful city by the Pacific Ocean and I used to spend every weekend with her. We used to go out often and in one of these times I met my first American boyfriend. He was handsome and very kind and we had a great time together. He took me to many interesting places and showed me the authentic American way of life by introducing me to his family, his friends and his culture. Moreover, going out constantly and talking to him helped me to improve the skills with the language and mainly to be familiar with the American people and their habits and customs. Another great experience I had was working as a babysitter. Once I read in the newspaper an advertisement looking for a foreign girl to take care of two children. At first I got really scared with the big responsibility of taking care of two children, but I decided to live this new adventure. The family’s house was in a very nice place by the ocean and the children were very cute and curious about my â€Å"weird accent†. In spite of the fact that this new experience wasn’t easy due to my lack of practice at that time,  everything went well and the whole situation was very meaningful to my life.

10 Tips to Avoid Chigger Bites

10 Tips to Avoid Chigger Bites Chiggers are mites: tiny insects about 1/50th of an inch long. Theyre nearly invisible except, as occasionally happens, they cluster together on your skin. They are red in color; juveniles have six legs, and adults have eight. Seen under a magnifying glass, they look something like tiny red spiders. Chiggers love moist grassy areas, including lawns and fields. They are transferred to human beings through contact with grass, brush,  and vegetation. Chiggers dont carry disease, but they can cause severe itching. About Chiggers and Chigger Bites Chigger mites go through four life stages: eggs, larvae, nymphs, and adults. Only the larvae are parasitic, which is why they are so tiny and hard to see. Chiggers lay their eggs on the soil, and when the eggs hatch in warm weather, the larvae move around on the ground and low-lying vegetation until they find a host - that is, an animal on which to feed. Most interaction with humans starts with feet, legs, or arms that brush against vegetation. Unlike mosquitoes, which bite where they land, chiggers may move around the skin to find a good place to eat. Belts and tight clothing prevent them from moving further, so chigger bites are often found around the waist or near elastic waistbands. Other favorite locations are spots where the skin is thin: near the groin, behind the knees, or in the armpits. One prevalent myth is that chiggers burrow into the skin; this is not true. Instead, they  inject enzymes into the skin that destroy the surrounding tissue. The chiggers then ingest the dead tissue. Because this activity is likely to cause intense itching for the host, chiggers are usually unable to feed for long; if left undisturbed, though, they can feast for days. Unlike ticks and mosquitoes, chiggers do not carry disease, which means that contact with them isnt dangerous per se. Unfortunately, however, chigger bites are incredibly itchy. Even worse, chiggers usually move in large groups, so its unlikely youll experience just a single chigger bite. Assuming you walk outdoors during the warmer months of the year - late spring, summer, and early fall - its difficult to completely avoid the risk of chigger bites. You can, however, minimize risk by following these tips. Use an Insect Repellent Containing DEET on Both Skin and Clothing Apply DEET liberally to your shoes, socks, and pant legs. Treat your waist area and shirt if youll be in tall vegetation. Carefully apply the repellent by hand to your face, neck, and ears; you dont want DEET in your eyes or mouth.  Adults should apply DEET products to young children. You may need to reapply DEET after several hours. Note:  DEET is not the same formulation as DDT, and it is safe to apply directly on the skin when used as directed. It is important, however, to wash hands and avoid the use of DEET on the face. Apply Permethrin to Clothing, Hiking Boots, and Your Backpack Permethrin products should never be used directly on the skin, but they remain  effective on clothing through several washings. Permethrin is sold under the names Permanone and Duranon. Alternatively, outfit yourself in bug repellent  apparel.  ExOfficio  sells a line of clothing that is pretreated with permethrin. The treatment lasts through up to 70 washings. Permethrin is generally safe to use, but some people are allergic. If youre not sure, test a small area of skin before using permethrin-treated clothing. Wear Long Pants With Sneakers or Hiking Boots Tuck your pant legs into your socks, and keep your shirt tucked into your waistband. In areas where chiggers are abundant, you might even want to wrap some duct tape around your ankles, over the top of your socks. You may look a little silly, but it works. Choose Tightly Woven Fabrics for Working or Walking in Chigger-Prone Areas Because chiggers are so tiny, they can actually work their way through your clothing to get to your skin. If you know youll be exposed to chiggers while outdoors, wear the tightest woven fabrics you can find. The smaller the space between threads, the harder it will be for chiggers to penetrate your clothes and bite you. Stay on the Trail Chiggers hang out in vegetation, waiting for a passing host. When your leg brushes the vegetation, the chigger transfers to your body. Walk on designated trails and avoid blazing your own through meadows or other high vegetation areas. Youll avoid chiggers and leave a minimal impact on the wild places we love. Avoid Chigger-Infested Places In some places, chiggers may be too abundant to avoid, even with the best repellents and long pants. If an area looks like prime chigger habitat, avoid it. If you think you may have chiggers in your yard, do a sampling test to find out. If You See Chiggers on Your Body, Wash Them off Immediately If you wander into a chigger patch by mistake and can actually see the chiggers on your skin, the best thing you can do to avoid bites is to wash the chiggers off your body immediately. Take a hot, soapy bath or shower right away. Chiggers usually take a little time to settle on a place to feed, so just washing them off quickly can make a big difference. Wash Any Chigger-Infested Clothing in Hot, Soapy Water If youve picked up chiggers while hiking or working in the yard (or even suspect youve attracted chiggers), strip down quickly and put all of your clothing in the wash. Launder the clothing in hot, soapy water. Dont wear that clothing again until it has been washed and dried. Eliminate Chigger Habitat in Your Yard Chiggers live in moist, shady areas with thick vegetation. You can effectively eliminate almost all chiggers in your yard by simply minimizing such habitat from your landscape. If thats not possible, of course, its best to stay out of thickly vegetated areas.

Avatar Film Review Essay Example

Avatar Film Review Essay Example Avatar Film Review Essay Example Avatar Film Review Essay Example Avatar is a fictional film produced in America in 2009 by James Cameron and starring Zoe Saldana, Sam Worthington, Michelle Rodriguez, Stephen Lang, and Sigourney Weaver (French, 2010). It is about the human colonization of Pandora, a fictional land in the star system inhabited by ape-like beings called Navi. The environment of the place is not suitable for human life, and the interest of the colonialists was only mining mineral deposits of unobtanium. The film is significant as it depicts things that happen in the real human societies such as the scramble for Africa by the European powers that implied the invasion, occupation, colonization, and annexation of territories (Chamberlain, 2014). Avatar thus reflects on the real life situations in a number of ways. The Comparison of the Fictional Treatment of Na’vi to Real Life Cases The native inhabitants of Pandora lived in a wilderness setting, and they coexisted with their ecosystem that included a dense forest (Horwitz, 2009). The colonialists from the Earth land there with the interests of mining the unobtanium minerals, and this threatens the forest as well as the indigenous population. Just like in the film, the European powers such as Britain, Portugal, Spain, and France among others invaded Africa and destroyed forests to pave the way for mining of minerals such as copper, construction of roads and farming among other uses (Shillington, 2005). In Avatar, the colonizers send spies to gather information about the Hometree, a sacred place where the Na’vis used to pray, after discovering the possibility of the presence of mineral deposits under the tree. They later send a bulldozer to destroy the shrine and pave the way for mining (Cameron, 2010). The European colonial masters also destroyed African forests and shrines in a bid to exploit the resources of their interest (Chamberlain, 2014). The humans forcefully evict the Navis from their lands doing this is through bloodshed that led to deaths of the locals and some of their leaders. They also disregard the Navis deity by destroying the shrines and trying to change their wilderness culture and life (Cameron, 2010). However, the Navis begin to resists the human oppression, and they wage rebellions that lead to the expulsion of people from Pandora. In Africa, the European colonial masters forcefully ejected native inhabitants from their lands and confined them in reserves. They also disregarded the native religion and tried to introduce Christianity (Shillington 2005). In the film, the humans had no intentions of settlement and thus they were just interested in destroying the forests and mining the unobtanium minerals (Cameron, 2010). European colonialists in Africa, in their turn, had the intentions of displacing the natives and settling on their lands for large scale farming. These distinctions clearly differentiate the interests of the invading parties in both instances. On the one hand, in Avatar, the invasion of Pandora was purely economic because the human had the interests of mining the unobtanium minerals (Cameron, 2010). The European invasion of Africa, on the other hand, was a combination of both the economic and political purposes. Apart from mining and farming, the powers were interested in establishing the direct rule, annexing territories, and obtaining fighters to support their armies during the world wars (Chamberlain, 2010). The invasion also fuelled slave trade that saw the capturing and transportation of Africans to foreign continents as slave workers. Security Contractors Security contractors work under the incentive of making profit, and they have no moral obligation to the civilians. Due to the greed for money, they tend to promote a culture of violence as opposed to the official government militaries that work to promote peace, and they have a duty of serving the nationals in their given jurisdiction (Gomez del Prado, 2008). Unlike the military officers, private security guards work under little or no oversight and thus they tend to violate the rights of the civilians to maximize their profit gains. It was very unethical for the guards in the Avatar film to open fire on Jake and Grace, and that shows how the private officers disregard the lives of their comrades (Cameron, 2010). The private guards also tend to use excessive force against non-combatants, and this may involve indiscriminative shootings. For instance, in the Avatar film, the Resource Development authority’s private security officers killed the non-combatant Na’vis in a b id to expel them from their shrines (Cameron, 2010). Military officers, in their turn, work under regulations and thus they rarely violate the rights of civilians due to strict oversight (Gomez del Prado, 2008). Private security guards, on the one hand, operate using unidentified vehicles, and this makes it easy for them to engage in misconduct. On the other hand, the military has branded vehicles that are easy to be identified (Gomez del Prado, 2008). The governments of various jurisdictions need to regulate the private security firms to prevent them from engaging in crime as well as violating the rights of civilians in their areas of assignments (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2014). There is the need for oversight to hold the officers accountable for their actions and this could assist in taming them. Regulations are also necessary to limit the number of private security companies because their aim is not serving the public but to maximize their profits while disregarding the civilian rights (Gomez del Prado, 2008). According to United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (2014), regulations are inevitable to prevent the possibility of corruption amongst the private security officers as well as their companies. Cameron’s Message on Environmental Sustainability and Corporate Greed Cameron uses the film to blame business organizations for the wanton destruction of the environment as well as the depletion of natural resources. He demonstrates a scenario in 2154 when there is an energy problem due to the exhaustion of natural resources, and this might compel the scientist to try other options, for instance, the metaphor of human beings mining unobtanium in the Pandora space that is beyond the planet earth (Horwitz, 2009). The resistance by the natives as well as the final expulsion of the human from the planet shows that most options in the projected time will not be fruitful, and this might lead to the collapse of all industries. The film is, therefore, an eye opener to corporations to be mindful of the future when they exploit the natural resources. In the movie, the invasion and the attempts to mine unobtanium on the Pandora planet threaten the forests and the lives of the natives and thus the indigenous population resists the move (Horwitz, 2009). Cameron tries to explain that the greed for resources diminishes people and has the potential to lead the investors outside the planet of Earth. The fictitious conflict between the Resources Development Authority and the Pandora is an imagery of what happens to business organizations and their host communities. In extreme situations, people directly attack the businesses or launch demonstrations against the same organizations to expel them from their land. Cameron also intended to pass the message that corporations should respect the culture of the natives of their areas of operation. The Resources Development Authority destroys the Pandora forests that houses the Na’vis shrines and this is a total disregard of the hosts’ culture, religion and their deity (Horwitz, 2009). The result is the rebellion war that leads to mysterious intervention of wild animals for the Navis, and this forces the human beings out of Pandora. This fictitious image shows that organizations must respect the hosts’ culture for them to succeed in that setting. Cameron also indirectly speaks about the corporate social responsibility that entails organizational acts of giving back to the societies in their vicinities as a sign of appreciation for their accommodating nature. The Resources Development Authority’s (RDA) action of clearing forests and destroying shrines in Pandora as well as killing the locals represents how the modern business organizations harm the host communities in various ways such as destruction of the environment and the indirect killing of people through air and water pollution among others. Just like the RDAs expulsion from Pandora, every modern industry that disregards the welfare of the host population is doomed to fail. Cameron tries to pass the message that corporate firms are to be blamed for the environmental deterioration as well as the depletion of natural resources. He visualizes an energy problem in 2154 where industries will have all the resources exhausted. He strengthens his argument through the fictitious Pandora example whereby the RDA mining activities threaten the lives of the natives as well as their eco-system. Cameron portrays the arrogance of such organizations through the RDA’s act of using force against the hosts and destroying their shrines. His message is that organizations must reverse the energy use trend as well as the exploitation of the non-fuel resources to save them for the future use. In conclusion, Avatar is a fiction film but it depicts the immorality that takes place in the real life situations. For instance, the RDAs greed of mining unobtanium in the Pandora in disregard of the environment and the welfare of the natives represent what modern industries do. The unprofessional behaviour of the security guards in the film is a replica of how modern security guards operate. Avatar bears a warning to the industrialists to take care of the host communities as well as their environment as otherwise, sooner or later, their businesses will collapse.

The Assassination of President Garfield (Document Analysis Assignment) Research Paper

The Assassination of President Garfield (Document Analysis Assignment) - Research Paper Example The document under analysis was written in the context of Guiteau assassinating the president, an act he asserted was of political necessity. On the fateful day, July 2, 1881, Guiteau tracked the President to the then Baltimore and Potomac Railroad Station where he shot him. Guiteau immediately surrendered to authorities, saying he was the â€Å"The Stalwart of the Stalwarts.†2 Although he said that he was â€Å"Stalwart of the Stalwarts†, it is evident that he was merely disgruntled as he states in his letter that â€Å"the President proved a traitor to those who made him president.† 3 Stalwarts were a late 19th century group of Republicans under the leadership of one Roscoe Conkling who supported President Ulysses S. Grant (1869–1877) for a third term in office. This clique opposed the moderate Republicans who wanted civil reforms and often fought for the control of the Republican Party. Later, the opposing groups would settle on James A. Garfield for the Republican ticket at the Republican national convention in 1880. Guiteau arrived at his decision to assassinate President Garfield arguing that the latter was ungrateful to the Stalwarts after allowing himself to be manipulated by the Secretary of State to plot to murder Senator Conkling and General Arthur Grant. It is widely believed that Guiteau’s plot to assassinate the Pr esident originated from his belief that he was principally responsible for Garfields victory and should have been rewarded with an ambassadorship for his vital help to the President. 4 The two postings he wanted for himself but were constantly rejected by the President and the Cabinet were Paris and Vienna. Without family, friends, and almost penniless, Guiteau grew increasingly isolated and depressed and decided that the President Garfield had to be removed. That Guiteau was the only one obsessed with President Garfield and disgruntled with the latter’s government to the point of

NEPAL WATER FOR HEALTH Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

NEPAL WATER FOR HEALTH - Coursework Example Recycling waste is also a major concern and essential method used in waste management especially in the solid waste materials (PARIATAMBY & TANAKA, 2013) In Gorkha District, the rural hill area, there is a lack of waste management facilities hence can create challenges especially during the disposal of organic waste materials. In this case, the disposal of organic materials/waste is done in various ways that sometimes do not meet the required measures. These include feeding the animals with the leftover scraps, a trend that creates threat to animals’ lives. In the hill areas, plastic bottles, glass bottles, and plastic bags are some of the waste materials that are being found on the ground. This is an indication that there is a gradual accumulation of waste in the area. The methods used to dispose these wastes such as dumping and burning is also a threat to human and animal’s health. As a result of these effects, the community is being encouraged to desist from littering on the ground through provision of bags for disposing of the recyclable wastes/materials. Maintaining an environment is one of the ways to keep the com munity healthy and active by acquiring healthy natural resources (WORLD ENVIRONMENTAL AND WATER RESOURCES CONGRESS, & KABBES, K. C, 2007). In waste management, recycling is given a major consideration. It helps in saving the valuable landfill space and protecting the health of the surrounding society. Nepal Water for Health is continuously operating together with the community to increase the recycling efforts to the people. Giving the community a recommended bag for waste disposal is one of the major steps taken to improve waste management. Even though recycling proves to be the best method in waste management, not all waste materials can be recycled for home use. They can further be as raw materials to manufacture the same products. Some of the materials