Abstract This paper discusses Alain Resnais' 1955 masterpiece film, "Nuit et Brouillard" ("Night and Fog"). The paper focuses on how Resnais' resurrects the horrors of Auschwitz by contrasting the black and white brutal and historical footage of Auschwitz with present-day color footage of the European countryside. The paper explains that, when contrasted with the black and white footage of the camps, these colored shots seem almost deceptive, as though the camera is lying to the audience, by trying to cover up the ugly history of the place. This beauty, however, quickly gives way to the brutal and recent history of the place, as the viewer is soon presented with one horrific image after another.
From the Paper "The next shot depicts bones of every description, taken from every part of the human body. The very picture of death, these bones give way to a picture of a fertile field. Death and decay, is here contrasted with new life springing forth. These images, taken with the narrator's commentary echo the juxtaposition that pervades throughout the film. The color and beauty of the countryside, next to the cold, harsh, black-and-white reality of the camps; the comfortable home-life of the commandant, while the prisoners starve and freeze--all serve to highlight the untruths and abuses that became second nature to the Nazis."
Abstract This essay gives a general overview of the life and many works of the director, Alain Resnais, and describes his philosophy of film with an emphasis on the film "Muriel". Resnais lived in France during the New Wave Movement. This paper describes the basis for the movement and details several directors and works of the time. It details the complex strata of loss and absence in the film as well as the nature of tragedy and ways to deal with it.
From the Paper "There are different ways to pay tribute to that which is not there. There is the technique of explicit mourning, in which the one who is bereft describes in every possible detail the person or thing that has been lost. And then there is the technique pursued by Alain Resnais in his film Muriel in which what is looked for, longed for, the thing that will make life and experience complete, is in fact never seen at all, never made real to us ? except only by its absence."
Tags: Muriel, new, wave, Alan, Resnais, actors, absence, France, director
Abstract Compares Alain Locke's and Carolyn F. Gerald's proposals for a pseudo-militant black arts movement. Looks at how both authors view the self-image of the average black person as one that has been forced upon them by the white majority. The paper goes on to discuss how both authors see the need to change and recreate the black self-image, and their differing views on how to approach the task of creating this new image.
From the Paper "The main difference between Locke and Gerald is the way in which they approach the new image-making task at hand. For Locke, it is entirely a creative process. He seeks to find whatever meaning in white culture that ought to be (for black culture has, after all, left parts of its meanings floating about in white space, such as musical influences). He additionally seeks to create new meanings that can interact healthily with white culture, to create a new American culture. Gerald is far more nihilistic. Her focus is more on destruction and the (justifiable) wrath of her people. Attempted culture creation in the presence of the white discourse has only led to failure and frustration. The white discourse must be destroyed."
Tags: black, artists/writers, global, race-identification, black, people, black, literature
Abstract The paper looks at how Alain Touraine discusses in his book, "Beyond Neoliberalism", the issue of globalization as it is seen from the perspective of the French society. The paper considers several aspects of Touraine's theories in order to underline the fact that his theory is not fully supported by today's reality. The paper also offers four arguments that clearly demonstrate how Touraine's ideas cannot be applied to the current situation of the global world.
From the Paper "First and foremost, Touraine argues in the beginning that little is in fact changed in the way society works. In this sense, he considers that "what we are living through is therefore not so much a change of society as a change in the mode of modernization. To speak of industrial society or the information society is to speak of a type of society; when on the other hand we say that we are moving from a state controlled administered economy to a market economy, we are talking about a change in the mode of modernization" (9). He goes on to say that in his opinion "capitalism and socialism are modes of modernization and not types of society" (9). From this point of view it can be added the fact that Touraine supports the idea that at the moment the society is by no means experiencing something new or innovative."
Abstract The paper studies the Harlem Renaissance - the term given to a period in American history where a new focus on the African-American experience emerged. The writer of this paper shows how it was a time when African-American artists began to express their culture and at this time in history there came a new focus on the African-American artist and African-American Art. The writer introduces artist, Aaron Douglas, as someone who emerged from this time period and went on to create works which reflected the Harlem Renaissance. Some of Douglas' works are also discussed.
From the Paper "From this we see how Douglas's paintings represented modern life for African-Americans. Rather than their African life, his paintings reflect the life of African-Americans within America. While the subject of the works was modern, Douglas also incorporated his African culture by his focus on African forms, with his style being described as "flat with hard edges and repetitive designs... heavily influenced by African sculptures, jazz music, dance and geometric forms" (Schomburg Center)."
Analyzes an article on teenage pregnancy written by L. Dinerman, M. Wilson, A. Duggan and Al Joffe, which compares the effectiveness of different forms of contraception on teenage girls.
1,150 words (approx. 4.6 pages), 7 sources, 2002, $ 44.95
Abstract In 1995, Linda M. Dinerman, Michele D. Wilson, Anne K. Duggan and Alain Joffe, conducted a study to determine the differences in long-term pregnancy prevention in teens between the use of implants, oral contraceptives and other contraceptive methods. Their study employed a broad experiment that focused on 166 girls between the ages of 12 and 18 who were all sexually active. The experimental study discovered that the use of Norplant was a more effective method of contraception than any other method studied. The authors relied upon a hospital-based clinical setting in which to observe the participants. The study employed a quantitative method of research and was based upon solid theory. The results of the study can be considered statistically significant.
Abstract This paper provides a focused analysis of one article in experimental psychology: Kumar Vedantham, Alain Brunet, Richard Boyer, Daniel S. Wiess, Thomas J. Metzler, and Charles R. Marmar. 2001. Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Trauma Exposure, and the Current Health of Canadian Bus Drivers. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry. 46: 149-155. This essay examines the validity of the dependent variable in the study and evaluates the researchers' discussion of their findings in post-traumatic stress disorder.
Abstract This paper describes the treatment of the Holocaust in Elie Wiesel's "Night", Art Spiegelman's "Maus: A Survivor's Tale", Roberto Benigni's "Life is Beautiful", and Alain Resnais's "Night and Fog". The paper shows how each of these different works provides a unique and important look at the Holocaust, while also illustrating that different genres and approaches can be effective in conveying an event as important and profound as the Holocaust.
From the Paper "Elie Wiesel's book, Night, tells the semi-autobiographical tale of fourteen year old Eliezer Wiesel who is sent to Holocaust concentration camps. Throughout the novel, the author struggles to find meaning in the horror of the events that surround Eliezer. The death camps consume his family, and Eliezer is left with the horrific guilt of survival. He tries desperately to understand how God could have allowed these terrible events."
Abstract This paper examines filmmaker Alain Resnais' documentary approach to recounting memories of the Holocaust with a warning never to forget. The paper includes a list of the sources used by the filmmaker and an annotated bibliography.
Tags: Holocaust, Nazi Germany, concentration camps, memories, cinematic techniques
Abstract This paper discusses the Harlem Renaissance and how it transformed African-American identity and history, as well as American culture in general. It describes some of the prominent writers who were discovered during the Harlem Renaissance, such as Claude McKay, Alain Locke, James Weldon Johnson, W.E.B. Dubois and Marcus Garvey. It also describes some of the artists and musicians who became famous at that time.
From the Paper "Musicians were also a tremendous source of enlightenment during this period. Specifically, during the birth of the Harlem Renaissance, "somewhere around the year 1918, this melting pot of southern blacks deeply rooted in the traditions of spirituals and blues mixed with the more educated northern blacks to create an atmosphere of artistic and intellectual growth never before seen or heard in America." In the case of music which may be the expressive form most frequently associated with experiences of spirit possession, contemplative revere, and wistful or violent nostalgia--our most striking experiences often takes place at moments of half-understood haunted-ness. Therefore, the intersection of, music and social memory constitutes and especially propitious site for cultural analysis, not least in the study of the Harlem Renaissance intellectual life" (Anderson 16). Duke Ellington, Louis Armstrong, Josephine Baker, Dizzy Gillespie, Billie Holiday, and Charlie Parker are some of the musicians during the Harlem Renaissance that moved the spirit in most of the African-Americans. "Ragtime was the one artistic production of American music" (Huggins 282). It was originated by colored piano player in the questionable resorts of St. Louis, Memphis and other Mississippi River Town. Ragtime got it first hearing in Chicago and made its way to New York during 1918."
Examines the social aspects of race through the writings of Alain Locke in his essay "The Concept of Race as Applied to Social Culture" and Ralph Ellison in his novel "Invisible Man".
Abstract This paper looks at how Alan Locke's essay "The Concept of Race as Applie to Social Culture" and Ralph Ellison's novel "Invisible Man", show us that race is not only the biological difference between people, but is a socially constructed concept as well. The paper concludes that we can see the social aspect of race through people's interactions with others, through cultural traditions, as well as through racism and stereotypes.
From the Paper "Like these other groups, race can be subject to subjective views about what makes an individual part of that group. As Locke says, race is "properly analyzed on the basis of conformity to or variance from culture type." Race as a social structure can only be judged in varying amounts relative to the race culture. This idea is wide spread today with individuals having to cultivate an image that is, for example, 'black enough' or 'not too Hispanic.' It is not uncommon to hear someone be put down for acting out of character for their racial stereotypes."
Tags: conformity stereotypes member, good black, narrator
