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 The paper looks at the African American rapper, Tupac Shakur. It gives a critique of the 2003 MTV documentary of his life and premature death and also examines the themes that run through this programme.
From the Paper "Tupac Resurrection is an MTV funded 2003 documentary in a long line of posthumous examinations of rapper Tupac Shakur, murdered at age 25 in 1996. The documentary is distinctive in that having its subject as the narrator, it provides surprising depth on the topics of Tupac's childhood his upbringing his celebrity his run-ins with the law and his opinions on every topic under the sun."
Abstract The paper analyzes the Marxist French film "Germinal" (1994) and concludes that the premise of the proletariat and the bourgeois remain the central issues of class division that occur within. In the struggles that occurs between the workers and the company, there is a developing realization by the leading character, Etienne, and those around him that they must fight for their rights. Thus the film explores the relationships between the exploited proletariat and the ruling bourgeois. The conditions are atrocious and the employers do not care. The paper looks at Marxist philosophy and shows how this applies to the plot of the plot.
From the Paper "This study will analyze the film Germinal (1994), directed by Claude Berri, and based on the self-titled novel Germinal by Emile Zola. In this film, the problems of Marxist philosophy explore the relationships between the exploited proletariat and the ruling bourgeois that run the mining village these people live within. In this manner, the clash between the owners of the mining company and the workers becomes a Marxist problem related to the exploitation of the proletariat and their plot to overthrow their bourgeois employers, as well as the government. The beginning of the film has Etienne Lantier wandering hopelessly around France without a job and without food and shelter. Zola has him begging for food at times, and also, he becomes enrapt in the idea of employment in coal mining when he sees newspapers and signs."
Abstract This paper discusses the role and responsibility of the media, specifically addressing bias, adequate media coverage, and the protection of victims from media scrutiny. It also looks at the role of the media consumer in enforcing media responsibility and setting expectations. Entertainment media is also briefly discussed, in terms of the minimal responsibilities is has to the public compared to news media.
From the Paper "There is no doubt that the media has power and authority in the modern society. People around the globe, at all economic and social levels, consume multiple forms of media daily. For this reason there are expectations from the public that media sources and their affiliates uphold certain standards. This includes ethical, honest, and objective reporting. Different forms of media uphold these standards to varying levels, creating a range of reporting available to consumers. Media for entertainment concerns a much different set of responsibilities than news reporting. Political and business allegiances also affect..."
