The Purple Rose of Cairo Essay Example for Free

The Purple Rose of Cairo Essay Film has captured and enchanted audiences since its origination with the Lumiere Brothers; and, as it developed, it began to be used to convey messages and ideas. Film started to become a creative outlet that then turned to a catalyst of philosophical thought. Film theorist Sergei Einstein expressed that film â€Å"as a work of art, understood dynamically, is just the process of arranging images in the feelings and mind of the spectator†. Thus, directors began to realize that audience manipulation was possible through the images and sounds they delivered, as well as through the way these images and sounds were presented it all has an effect of how viewers thought of and interpreted the films. This is especially clear in the German film, Triumph of Will, directed by Leni Reifenstahl. While the film is brilliantly made, with moving cameras, the utilization of long focus lenses, aerial photography, and a revolutionary approach to musical accompaniment, the film was also incredibly propagandistic and manipulative at the time of it’s release. The entire film is a vehicle to promote the ideologies of Hitler; beginning with Germany’s near-destruction in World War I and depicting Hitler as a messiah, descending from the skies to greet his vehement followers. In the opening minutes of the film, there are close-up and over-the-shoulder shots of Hitler, making him seem rather personable, adored, and somewhat noble. There are also shots of children approaching him, showing that the ideas of innocence and purity are to be seen as parallel to the views and goals Hitler himself. Aesthetically, the entire film is superbly done, and politically its manipulative powers are astonishing. By showing Germany as unified under the divine rule of Hitler, it brought the nation together and created one of the most destructive and powerful nations in the 1940s. While film can be used as propaganda, like in Nazi Germany, it can also be used to provoke thought, rather than control it, manipulate it, or deceive it. In Woody Allen’s film The Purple Rose of Cairo, the audience is pushed to move beyond the appearance of things and consider other worlds, other perspectives. For the heroine, Cecilia, film is an escape and an impossible inspiration. According to the fictitious movie (The Purple Rose of Cairo), the purple rose itself is supposed to grow in a pharaoh’s tomb the expression of a perfect love. However, no flower can grow without light making it an impossible inspiration. According to Plato, and to partially to Allen, our relationship with truth is rather grim. When we attend movies we are much like Plato’s captives, chained facing a cave wall, only seeing a world of shadows our reality is suspended. But another point is made; although we can be deceived by shadows, we are also capable of understanding and questioning anything, shadows included. Yes, film is an escape from reality and the idea of being able to truly escape a somewhat horrid life is unimaginably wonderful, but thats just it it is an idea. Change has to be brought on by oneself, not an unreliable outside source, and perfection is an illusion. I as a viewer absolutely love how Allen presents these ideologies in The Purple Rose of Cairo. He gives it an unconventional point of view, setting up a series of contrasts between perfection and imperfection, reality and illusion, loving someone and being in love with someone, that forces us to think about film as well as the actual content of the film. And this all ties back to Plato’s â€Å"Allegory of the Cave†; our life is veiled and we must aspire to leave and become less dependent on the shadow world. What is interesting is that, in the film, Allen makes the audience unsure of which world is the shadow world and which is the illusion. The perfect world becomes the film world and the false one is the desired reality. As entertainment, the film is great a nonsensical romantic comedy with a less-than-happy ending; but philosophically it goes much deeper than that, provoking audiences to think about reality and the importance of imperfection. While on the subject of imperfection, a third film demands some attention. Alejandro Amenabar’s The Sea Inside presents a whole new perspective on what perfection in life is. Many people see suicide as a selfish act removing yourself from the lives of your loved ones far earlier than they would have liked. However, the question of who is more selfish is posed. Is it the people who remove themselves when they feel no more connection to life; or the people who expect those who want to leave to stay, regardless of their misery or feelings of lacking true connection to the vibrancy of life? Thus are the questions presented to audiences upon viewing this film. In my mind, everyone should have the freedom to choose the life they want to live, or not live; and to choose what meaning they take out of said life. In Clendine’s â€Å"The Good Short Life†, it is said that we speak of living life, but never of death. That â€Å"we act as if facing death weren’t one of life’s greatest, most absorbing thrills and challenges† and that being incoherent and immobile until one only sees friends and family as â€Å"a passing cloud†. Both Clendine and Ramon didn’t want to put their loved ones through that, and taking one’s life seemed to be the best solution. Both were â€Å"vital to the end, and knew when to leave†. In my opinion, if someone has legitimate, justifiable reasons to want to leave this earth (such as a degenerative disease), that they have a right to do so. And if they cannot on their own accord due to that degenerative disease, I think that others (physicians, family members, friends) should be legally permitted to assist them. They shouldn’t be obligated to assist, but if they give consent and are willing to aid, I think they should be permitted. Mark from Breathing Lessons and Ramon were also similar on a few levels, but Mark had more hope and determination to live with dignity. Unlike Ramon who saw his life as undignified, Mark viewed it more as excessively challenging. Mark still desired life though considered suicide, but â€Å"chickened out† showing that he did truly still want to live. Ramon, however, was lost in his melancholy and nostalgia for the past, choosing to disregard the possibilities the future could bring. I think that it is a personal choice and that each individual should be given the liberty of making that choice. The phrase â€Å"dying with dignity† always reminds me of greek mythology when humiliated warriors would throw themselves on their swords for an honorable death, rather than live life in humility. I think Ramon saw his life as more humiliating and therefore wanted to throw himself on his sword, so to speak. With this, I think that the US should have a â€Å"death with dignity† law. Everyone has a right to life, as well as a right to death. Film is one of the most influential and powerful media. It’s capabilities to provoke, cultivate, and manipulate audience thought is incredible and worth studying. The innovations that film itself has gone through the amount of genres it contains, special effects, and advancements in sound all contribute to film as a whole, and all contribute to the beauty of how film is created and suspends the reality of viewers if only for an hour or two.

Mobile Phones :: essays research papers

The Mobile Revolution Rakesh Mohan Hallen By March 2004 the total number of cell phone users in India exceeded 3 crores. Experts call it a mobile revolution. People from all walks of life, of all ages use them. They carry it in their hands, pockets or purses. One can find advertisements related to cell phones anywhere: roads, newspapers, and television. Theoretically one can contact a person carrying a mobile (cell phone) anywhere, anytime. But few are aware of the technology that makes it possible. It is not very difficult to become aware of its nitty-gritties. How it works To use a cell phone one needs a handset. The handset of a cell phone, as you might have seen, has a small screen at one end and a panel of buttons below it. Some handsets have a small antenna that is protruding out from its, but it is not universal. Some modern handsets are foldable so that when not in use the panel of buttons is not visible, these handsets have a larger screen that can display colour pictures also. The essential component of the technology that make cell phone possible are networks of a large number of radio transmitters/receivers. Each cell phone company has a network of this kind that is controlled in each city/state by its central office known as MTSO (Mobile Telephone Switching Office) . You know that our body is made up of many cells. These networks are also cellular akin to the body of any animal. The area covered by a cell phone company, a city or a state, for its services is divided into zones that are called its cells. Thus the network of a cellular company is made up of many such cells. Each of these cells has a moderately sized radio transmitter/receiver and a microprocessor based instrument somewhat like a computer, located at a place known as its base station. Base stations can communicate with each other. They can easily located in a town/city because of the prominent size of their antenna above some buildings. A cell phone handset is also a low power radio transmitter/receiver. It can transmit as well as receive electromagnetic waves from its closest base station when it is powered on. As soon as one turns on a cell phone handset it listens for SID (System Identification Code - a unique 5-digit number that is assigned to each carrier by the central authority say TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) and is programmed into each handset when it is activated by a company.

Persepolis Chapter: Eggy On the first of September, cousin Alexis passed away

On the first of September, cousin Alexis passed away. My parents were answering phones and replying to texts. Almost everyone on the opposite end of the line was crying. When they were done, I asked them who Alexis was and what had happened. They told me that Kuya Alexis was my older cousin who would visit the house to see my parents whenever he had the time. They told me he would play and talk to me for hours, and so did his girlfriend Ate Nika. Then they told me that at 10:00 pm last night both of them were shot by three robbers in their house in Quezon City. It was said that their maid let the robbers in and left with them after they’d stolen jewelry and their laptops. My mom started crying, and my dad left the room. I wondered about how the robbers knew the maid. My mom and dad bought clothes for Alexis and Nika to wear at their funeral. My mom showed me Alexis’ tie; â€Å"This is the first tie I ever gave your father.† It was the ugliest tie I’ve ever seen, but I guess that made sense for him to wear it. My sister Pimee called saying that she was going to come home for the wake, I was so excited I cleaned my room that we shared for her arrival. She didn’t end up staying with me. On the day of the ceremony, the sky was clear and the sun was shining. We were all asked to wear white, which was weird because I’m pretty black was the color to wear for these kinds of things. The mass was a blur. The two coffins were beside the altar, but I couldn’t see the bodies; there were too many flowers around them. During the eulogy, several people who knew Alexis went up to speak. Some of them laughed, some of them cried. It was hard at times to understand their stuttering. Most of them called Alexis Eggy, supposedly because his head was shaped like an egg. The wake was unusual. People’s faces were damp, their eyes red and watery, and yet they were still eating snacks and holding on to drinks, as if it was a party. People were mingling, greeting each other with a sad smile and sharing each other’s connection to Kuya Alexis. I saw Nika’s father and brother talking with Kuya Alexis’ siblings and mother. I couldn’t explain the expressions on their faces; it was as if the world ended. â€Å"Isabel!† My mom called. I walked to her, and she took my hand â€Å"Would you like to say goodbye to Alexis?† Her voice shook. I nodded, and we both made our way to the coffin. I peered into the wooden case, and there he was, sleeping peacefully. I realized that Eggy was an appropriate nickname, because his head really was egg-shaped. Around his neck was my dad’s tie in all it’s hideous glory, not he would have minded. His skin was a couple of shades darker, and his body looked stiff, but I could still feel warmth radiating from him. I stood there for a few minutes, just looking at his face. He looked like he was going to wake up, so I waited. I got impatient, and before I knew it, my face was damp like the others too. My mom heard me and ran to comfort me. I told her I need to speak to Ate Bettina, Kuya Alexis’ older sister. My mom took me to Bettina and told her that I had something to say. When we found her, I tapped her shoulder and told her this: â€Å"Once, when I got home from ballet at around 10 p.m. Kuya Alexis and Ate Nika where talking to Dad and Mom after dinner. I sat beside Kuya Alexis. He asked me how ballet was and I told him that I wanted to quit. I told him that my classmates keep telling me I should get a life because I can never join them on weekends. I can never go to parties or hang out with them. It’s just school and ballet, school and ballet. Then Kuya Alexis asked me, ‘Do you love ballet?’ And I said yes. Then he said to me, ‘Then keep on doing it no matter what anyone tells you. I just wanted to tell you that I’m still in ballet because of him.† She started crying, but she smiled at me and said â€Å"Thank you.† I realized that my white blouse was drenched. When we walked out the church, I looked up and saw that the sky was black. A few seconds later, it started raining.

Extended Definition of a Modern Hero Essay - 706 Words

Classical heroes commonly display bravery and strength in their noble feats of self-sacrifice in order to attain fame and glory as a savior of his or her people. However, in modern times, a hero may represent a cause to achieve peace and amity with his or her society, no matter the differences between each person. Other admirable modern heroes express indifference towards racial and religious distinctions and help those in need, sometimes at their own life’s risk, despite their disapproving society. Whether society recognized their contributions years later or immediately after, our culture appreciates a hero’s expressions of courage and goodwill. In the early 1970’s, a gay man named Harvey Milk refused to accept discrimination as a†¦show more content†¦Proceeding with his campaign peacefully, people admired King’s non-violent efforts toward reaching a common goal: amity throughout the nation, regardless of cultural, racial, and religious differen ces. His assassination by a racist white man, James Earl Ray, in 1968 caused riots nationwide. Martin Luther King, Jr., a courageous man who sought the acceptance of all races into society, died for his cause knowing that his campaigns may cause a negative stir among the prejudiced. Also believing in morality and justice, Miep Gies demonstrated her disapproval of the Nazi’s behavior when she refused to join a Nazi association for women, risking deportation to Austria, her homeland. During this Nazi empire of the early 1940’s, Gies assisted the Frank family by transferring them into a secret annex to conceal themselves from Nazi soldiers. Despite the trouble and horror she would face if the Nazis caught her, Gies brought food, books, and more to the family to aid in their survival. Anyone who participated in such acts of treason towards Hitler were killed, or sent to death camps. Most people during this time turned in their Jewish friends, acquaintances, and neighbors t o the Nazis for a mere sum of money, and Gies, an impartial and kindhearted woman, refused. Miep Gies celebrated her 100th birthday this year. Like Gies, Oskar Schindler also realized the evil crimes committed by Hitler and his Nazis. He initiallyShow MoreRelatedEssay On Narrative Poetry1730 Words   |  7 Pagesuse of these effects to generate feelings and emotions is what marks poetry. In primitive societies, poetry was used as a means of preserving oral history, telling long, detailed stories (epic poetry), and other forms of expression or knowledge that modern societies might expect to be handled in prose. Prose is language that is meant to portray meanings in a more expansive way, constantly using more logical and narrative structures than poetry does (â€Å"What is Poetry†). Over the course of time, poetryRead MoreThe Convention of a Thriller Film Essay1737 Words   |  7 PagesThe Convention of a Thriller Film It is difficult to state a clear definition of a thriller as they cross over many genres, however the single most characteristic of a thriller is the obvious one, it thrills the audience. The plots are scary, the characters are at great risk and the films are constructed in a manner that makes the watcher really want to know what happens next. There is no formula for a thriller, other that that most thrillers follow one of a few commonRead MoreSigmund Freud s Theory Of Psychoanalysis1413 Words   |  6 PagesEver since Sigmund Freud developed psychoanalysis theory, its applicability has been extended beyond therapy to literature. In the interpretation of dreams, Sigmund Freud coins the term the oedipus complex in reference to the greek mythology of Oedipus the king. The application of psychoanalysis to myth is treated by Dowden with scepticism and he states that the only significance of the psychoanalytic approach is in its recognition of how fundamental the images that recur in the myth are (DowdenRead MoreOthello: A Covert Discussion on Racism Essay1625 Words   |  7 Pagesnorm in Victorian England, Shakespeare already had another mind set, and was trying in this creative way that the mind set of the people was not correct even for that time. How and why did Shakespeare purposely portray Othello the Moor as a tragic hero, like Hamlet or King Lear, or did this character redevelop over time, as society’s view on racism changed. This issue of race is not signaler to Othello alone but through out the play with all the other characters, such as the main antagonist IagoRead MoreModern Drama And Modern Criticism2836 Words   |  12 Pagesâ€Å"Nothing is harder to bring to life for a modern reader than the theatre of the past,† Michael Booth states in his book, English Melodrama, as an opening to his chapter â€Å"the character of melodrama†. Booth resumes by saying that to reconstruct extinct theaters, to inhabit them once again with noisy audiences, and to light them with flickering candles, harsh hissing gas, and soft multi-colored pools of limelight picking out actors long forgotten, acting in old-fashioned ways in front of creaking flatsRead MoreProstitution Is The World Oldest Profession1657 Words   |  7 Pagesdiscussed for a better understanding. Going on to say, the physical and psychological behavior that is associated within prostitution is derived from the historic cultural practices that encourage prostitution, the motivation of personal desires, and modern society’s marginalization of women. In today’s society, many people are not interested to know why prostitution exists, where did it all start, and show no desire to understand how destructive this profession can be. The earliest form of marginalizationRead MoreThe Most Dangerous Game And The Hunger Games2027 Words   |  9 PagesThe theme that I will be focusing on is survival. The definition of survival is the state or fact of continuing to live or exist, typically in spite of an accident, ordeal, or difficult circumstances. The aspect of survival I will be focusing on is the protagonists doing unimaginable things to keep themselves and their families alive. This occurs in all four of the texts that I have studied. The texts I studied were; the Berlin Boxing Club by Robert Sharenow, the Most Dangerous Game by Richard ConnellRead MoreJustice : Attainable Or Just Another Illusion?2051 Words   |  9 PagesJustice: Attainable or Just Another Illusion? What is misrepresentation? Well, the basic definition of misrepresentation states that it is â€Å"the action or offense of giving a false or misleading account of the nature of something† (). In the novels Nectar in a Sieve and Born on the Fourth of July, I was introduced to the idea of misrepresentation, which correlates with the theme of injustice, through the construction of the tannery and the glamorization of the Vietnam war. The lives of both of theRead MoreHistory of Terrorism3139 Words   |  13 PagesTHE CONTEXT OF TERRORISM Terrorism beams into our homes through television screens, it assaults us in newspapers and magazines, and it sometimes touches our lives in more direct manners. People do not seem to worry about the definition of terrorism at such times. They simply feel terror when they see the violence. Sometimes it seems as though the event itself defines terrorism. For example, when a plane is destroyed by a bomb, it is frequently called terrorism, but when military forces shoot downRead MoreAnalysis Of R.tolkien And Henry Wadsworth Longfellow1864 Words   |  8 Pagesamazement, that a people so vastly different can be recognized through one story as their common ground. This is all true about Kalevala. It is now a universal inspiration. Inspiration- a sudden brilliant, creative, or timely idea. (Oxford) This definition of inspiration corresponds perfectly with the Kalevala. Even in the translation of the Kalevala, inspiration can be found. The translator of this version of the Kalevala (not the author), himself, was blind but wanted so badly to translate this