Abstract This paper examines how the movie "Good Will Hunting" proves that psychological and environmental obstacles need to be challenged in order to be overcome. In particular, it looks at how this relates especially to the life of Will. His attitude was very troubled, but when he created goals and dreams his life changed to the better.
From the Paper "Pride was another issue that was introduced to the viewer. Now pride was both Will's problem, and the professor's in math. As Will was given the opportunity to go see a therapist, instead of serving time in jail for a crime he did, he refused. The reason was pride. Will had for a long time read books, and he was very confident that he was not in need of any therapist. He kept saying: "I don't need therapy." The professor had another problem with pride. He was so proud about his life, that he compared it to all others, and believed that his life was much better than theirs. One he compared himself to, was an old friend of his, named Shawn. But Shawn saw through the professor and challenged his big ego. This is what Shawn said to the professor: "You're fucking scared of failure!" And it was true."
Abstract This paper explains that "Donnie Darko" is a film, set in 1988 in Middlesex, Virginia, about a young teenage boy named Donnie Darko, a somewhat disturbed teenager who escapes a weird accident and from then on sees a vision of a large rabbit who makes him believe that the world will end in 28 days. The author points out that, at first, the film may be viewed as a shallow disoriented teen movie but, as critics cite, reveals a much deeper revelation and reflection of American society at this specific time. The paper concludes that the film proves the power of media to educate, free, convict and manipulate; therefore, filmmakers should always be responsible and accountable in their works.
From the Paper "Jim Cunningham, played by Patrick Swayze: This character in the film establishes this "self-help" empire aimed at helping people battle their fears through his therapies and seminars. According to him, mans' proceedings are based on two inert human emotions, fear and love. Hence, bad or negative actions lead to fear and positive or good actions lead to love. His philosophical thought attracted a lot of educational institutions that adopted his line of thought. His numerous therapies on helping people overcome and solve their fears was a magnet. Because of this he became a very influential and famous person. Nevertheless, his hypocrisy would soon be unfolded in an accident. He was discovered to be a pedophile when his mansion was gutted by fire. In his basement was his stash of child pornography materials. It was later referred to as "Kiddie Porn Dungeon"."
Tags: 1980s, satire, homosexuality, teenager, guru
Abstract This paper discusses the nature of reality and the limits of consciousness and dreams by comparing and contrasting a principal philosophy text and a box-office hit movie, Descartes' "Meditations of First Philosophy" and the movie "The Matrix". It focuses on the theme that no human can really judge the limits of existence and knowledge, so therefore we cannot really be sure what is real and what is illusion.
From the Paper "For Descartes the primary debate is posed in his Meditation One, in which he illuminates on those things that can be called into doubt. He essentially doubts the separation between wakefulness and dreams because he argues that he experiences the same things in sleep that he does when he is awake. His primary example is that while he thinks he is awake because of all the things he is seeing and doing, "how often does my evening slumber persuade me of such ordinary things as these" (14). With this in mind, one cannot argue that dreams do not prove to have all the same basic elements that we know to exist when we are awake. "
Abstract This paper provides an evaluation of "Good Will Hunting" as a film that deals with the class cleavages in American society and the problems that persons in the underclass have in breaking out of the class's limitations.
From the Paper "Good Will Hunting can be viewed as a critique of the widespread internalization of the values of classism in the United States by the very persons who are most likely to be victimized by class warfare. The film tracks the transformation in consciousness of ..."
Abstract A critique of the fast food industry that discusses Eric Schlosser's book, "Fast Food Nation" and Morgan Spurlock's documentary film, "Supersize Me". It contends that both present ample evidence that the health and longevity of the American people are being severely damaged by the fast food industry.
From the Paper "Eric Schlosser's, "Fast Food Nation" uses the truth to persuade his readers of the reality of the facts and opinions presented in his book. Unlike the devious deceptive and manipulative methods used by the fast food industry to stimulate sales on ..."
Abstract This paper analyzes Douglas Sirk's 1956 social melodrama "Written on the Wind". It discusses how the film reflects the ideology of its period. The paper also explores issues of sexuality, gender and materialism. The author includes a discussion on the relationships between the main characters, the plot line and main themes of the film.
From the Paper "Director Douglas Sirk's social melodrama, "Written on the Wind" reflects the ideology of its period but the film may also be seen as a criticism of American dream of materialism. Film critic, Roger Ebert called Sirk a sly subverter of American postwar materialism ..."
Abstract This paper interprets the movie "Boys Don't Cry" using the personality theory of Erik Erikson. The author presents a brief synopsis of the movie and an analysis of its main character, Teena Brandon. The paper concludes that, based on Erikson's conceptual framework of personality and psychosocial development, Teena has an issue of identity diffusion.
Abstract This paper analyzes organized crime behavior in the film "Goodfellas" from a social control theory perspective. The paper uses concepts such as social norms and deviant behavior as well as social bonding theory in the analysis. The paper also discusses the character of Henry Hill in relation to social control theory.
From the Paper "Social control theories focus on the strategies and techniques that help regulate human behavior and thereby ensure conformity and compliance with social rules, including the influences of family, school, morals, values, beliefs and others. Essentially, social control theories contend that juveniles and adults conform to the law according to certain forces that seek to control their lives. Thus, these juveniles and adults are more likely to engage in behavior outside the law when these forces are defective or absent..."
Tags: social control theory, organized crime, goodfellas
Abstract This paper discusses and analyzes McNamara's "The Fog of War." It also explores John McNamara's motive for making the documentary.
From the Paper ""The Fog of War" is a documentary filmed by Errol Morris that features an interview with former U. S. defense secretary Robert S. McNamara who served under Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. Over the course of the film McNamara delivers eleven lessons regarding war learned from his experience. The title refers to the fact that human knowledge is incapable of full understanding of the complexities of military warfare. As Stephen Holden says in his review of the film ..."
Abstract The paper supports the theory that media, film and video games can cause violence in society. The paper discusses the debate over the effects of media violence on young children, adolescents and adults.
From the Paper "Media and Violence Lawyer-turned-novelist John Grisham makes the case that Hollywood films such as Oliver Stone's "Natural Born Killers" play a significant role in shaping cultural attitudes toward violence and in some extreme cases in providing some killers with either justification for their actions or role models. Not everyone agrees with Grisham's position. The debate over the effects of media violence on the behavior of children, adolescents and adults has been ongoing for many decades."
Abstract In this article, a film and print version of the story of Martin Guerre are compared and contrasted. The writer contends that nearly all the themes in John Tosh's "The Pursuit of History" are contained in the 1982 French film and Natalie Davis' "The Return of Martin Guerre".
From the Paper "Nearly all the themes in John Tosh's 'The Pursuit of History' are reflected directly or obliquely in a comparison of "The Return of Martin Guerre" by Natalie Zemon Davis and the French film "Le Retour de Martin Guerre". Apart from the fact that the historian Davis collaborated on the film script in question which gave it a far higher level of historical authenticity than is usually the case with historical dramas, an examination of how print and film media present an historical event in different ... "
Abstract This film study analyzes the issues of economic and social stratification in conflict theory in relation to the film "A Day Without a Mexican". Through an understanding of the characters and society presented in this fictional comedy, the paper shows how helpless white society becomes when the Mexicans have vanished. This creates an economic and social vacuum due to the wage slavery and racial conflicts that white Americans impose on legal or illegal Mexican immigrants.
From the Paper "This aim of this film study will be to examine the sociological basis of conflict theory in relation to the film: A Day Without a Mexican, directed by Sergio Arau. The basis of social conflict lies within the racial stereotypes that white hegemonic society imparts on the Mexican population in America. By this form of racial subjection, the Mexicans in this film must struggle through the conflict of subjugating the Mexican race through American social and economic stratification. The film A Day Without a Mexican (2004) reflects the story of whites that are left without their Mexican servants and illegal immigrant workers to do their manual labor. The story revolves round both political and social lines in relation to how these people 'survive' in this comedy on Mexican social and economic status."
Abstract This paper examines bias in the media. The paper investigates media ownership, the content of news and entertainment broadcasts, and the relationship between media influence and public opinion, in order to assess the extent of the ideological bias in the media. The paper then analyzes which factors have contributed to media bias in the United States and its effects.
From the Paper "Ideological Bias in the Media: An Analysis Accurately assessing the extent of ideological bias in the media requires investigating media ownership, the content of news and entertainment broadcasts, and the relationship between media influence and public opinion. In recent years, corporate media conglomeration, deregulation, and declining journalistic standards have significantly increased ideological media bias in the United States, which has had a devastating effect on participatory democracy. Media ownership is more concentrated than ever before and serious coverage and debate of public issues such as war, taxes, corporate crime, education, political corruption, and pollution is disappearing right before our eyes."
Abstract This paper reviews the film "Training Day," in which Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington) plays a law enforcement officer who takes on a rookie partner named Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke). The paper explores the use of violence in "Training Day" and focuses on violence as a tool of accomplishing social change. The paper then concludes with personal reflections on a persistent cycle of violence.
From the Paper "A Film Review and Study of Violence in "Training Day" Introduction This paper reviews the film Training Day, in which Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington) plays a law enforcement officer who takes on a rookie partner named Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawke). Hoyt's experiences with Harris are disillusioning and frequently require him to explore his personal morality and his ethical limitations. This paper shall explore the use of violence in Training Day and focus on violence as a tool of accomplishing social change. This paper concludes with personal reflections on a persistent cycle of violence. Review and Concepts of Training Day The film focuses primarily on Hoyt's first day on the job with a partner who has determined that the protocols for law enforcement are misplaced and hinder actual crime prevention from taking place."
Abstract This essay is an analysis of the movie "Losing Isaiah". It looks at some of the issues identified in the family support course that the main characters are influenced by. The essay first summarizes the film and then goes on to explore the following issues: the definition of family and motherhood, what is a good mother, the types of families that exists and their characteristics, the role of the genders in child-rearing as well as the issues of race and socio-economic status.
From the Paper "Analysis of a Movie - Loosing Isaiah This essay is an analysis of the movie Loosing Isaiah. It looks at some of the issues identified in the "Family support" course that the main characters are influenced by. They essay first summarizes the film and than goes on to explore the following issues: the definition of family and motherhood, what is a 'good' mother, the types of families that exists and their characteristics, the 'role' of the genders in child-rearing as well as the issues of race and socio-economic status."
