Abstract This paper analyzes the marketing approach for the recent film, "Capote." The author acknowledges that this film was clearly meant for a more educated and selective audience, which impacted its marketing approach. This approach included waiting for the film to receive awards, and a careful release pattern that built on reviews and word-of-mouth to bring in the public. The writer concludes that the film's success shows that it found its target audience and may have drawn others along once the awards were announced and the quality of the film touted from the podium.
From the Paper "Many widely-accepted ideas about film releases govern what the industry as a whole does, among them the idea that certain times of the year are best for certain kinds of films, that a big star can assure a large opening weekend, that a high-grossing opening weekend is necessary if a film is to succeed, and so on. Many of these accepted ideas have been challenged from time to time by one or more films, and even when shown to be wanting, the underlying belief remains powerful and affects next year's product. Many of the independent companies have been taken over by larger entities and act as boutiques, but they still manage to continue to be the most likely to challenge accepted doctrine and to take more chances. Sony Pictures Classics is the sort of in-studio arm that has been developed to handle this sort of release, with Capote a prime example."
Tags:Capote, In, Cold, Blood, Golden, Globe, Award, audience, film, revenue
Abstract This paper considers the foreign policy developments of President Harry Truman. It covers the use of the atomic bomb, the Marshall Plan, the Truman Doctrine and Korea. It also includes a reflection on current foreign policy departures from Truman's concepts.
Tags:truman, foreign, policy, cold, war, containment, marshall, plan, korea
Abstract When President Harry S Truman received a report on the effects of the atomic bomb dropped by American pilot Colonel Paul Tibbets on the Japanese city of Hiroshima, he said: "This is the greatest thing in history." This paper considers whether the atomic bomb that was dropped on the city of Hiroshima was really the greatest thing in history, as President Truman said according to the quote, or whether it was the most terrible crime in history.
Abstract This paper discusses how President Truman's rhetorical style and manner of outlining the objectives and direction of American politics, brought a radical change to the rhetoric of American politics especially during the Cold War. The paper examines the phases that Truman's rhetorical context follows, focusing on his rhetoric in the first years of the Cold War just after World War II and the following years.
Outline:
Introduction
Propaganda during the Cold War
a) Period of Naivete
b) Period of Hysteria
Evaluation
From the Paper "According to Medhurst (1988), between 1945 to 1947, Truman exhibited rhetorical failures by choosing the rhetorically "inappropriate strategy of silence and noncommitment" (p.54) when confronted with the inflexible and deceitful politics of the Soviet Union. Medhurst states that the President's rhetoric during this period, was reticent and one which failed to inform the Americans about the arising problems of Soviet "expansionism, intimidation and support for indigenous armed minorities" (p. 55). In fact, Medhurst defines Truman's rhetoric as a "rather laudatory of the Soviet Union" (p. 55) and points out that it was due to his forthright, clear and authoritarian rhetorical manner that lead to the perception that the Soviet-American relations were mildly positive. However, even though this authoritarian style attempted to portray the Soviet Union in a mildly positive light in the eyes of the American public, "rhetoric had not mirrored reality" (Medhurst, 1988, p. 56). Vague assertions such as "we shall refuse to recognize any government imposed upon any nation by the force of any foreign power" (as cited in Medhurst 1988, p. 56), stated by the President in a foreign policy address in 1945, "were as close as he would come to overt criticism of the Soviet regime" (Medhurst, 1988, p.56). "
Tags:Truman, rhetorical, rhetoric, speech, Cold, War, propaganda, administration
Abstract This paper explains that, when TrumanCapote's "In Cold Blood" was first published in serialized form in 1965 in "The New Yorker", it created a sensation, which catapulted the young author to the forefront of the literary world, and, according to the author, created a new genre called the non-fiction novel, an artful blending of facts and fiction. The author stresses that Capote's practice of simply listening to his subjects without the aid of recording devices or written notes was decidedly unscientific and, due to the unpredictable idiosyncrasies of the human mind, susceptible to corruption. The paper relates that, following the enduring success of "In Cold Blood", other authors have indulged in Capote's penchant for exaggeration, sometimes crossing over into outright fabrication such as the cases of Stephen Glass, Jayson Blair and James Frey.
From the Paper "Capote's colorful treatment of the Clutter family's murder and the careful yet fanciful examination of their killers showed the world the value and power of presenting a story with a theatrical flair, but questions about Capote's methods and the accuracy of his "true account" have existed since In Cold Blood's publication. Capote seemed to argue that the point of the story was more important than the details presented to illustrate it, but that sentiment has not helped Stephen Glass or Jayson Blair to regain their credibility or James Frey in the defense of his book, nor should it be acceptable when history looks back on Capote's work."
Abstract This paper explains that, in TrumanCapote's "In Cold Blood", there are two literary voices. One voice is the detached reporting the factual details as a journalistic reporter; the other voice is of a gifted and creative writer inventing images, which breath life into the reality. The paper further relates that, in addition to Capote's innovative writing style, the book is an intriguing masterpiece, which provides the crime enthusiast with the highest level of intrigue. The paper hypothesizes that the fact that Capote never completed a work after "In Cold Blood" might suggest that this book drained his ability to ever again be so inventive in telling the truth.
From the Paper "It is, however, somewhat disturbing that Capote resorts to other heinous crimes and the details of those crimes almost as filler, to sustain the length of the novel. As if the story he is telling and the lives and destruction wrought on the lives of everyone involved in the story is not enough to lengthen the novel and to sustain the reader. Yet Capote's journalistic instinct, nor his own ego, allow for him to be upstaged or outdone by the bold and elegant oratorical of another wordsmith."
Tags: darkness, fiction of truth, story telling, journalism horror blend
Abstract This paper describes and analyzes the characters of Perry Smith, the murderer in TrumanCapote's novel "In Cold Blood" and Alberto Villamizar, the husband in Marques' novel, "News of Kidnapping", who is trying to free his wife from the clutches of Pablo Escobar. From the examination of these two characters the paper then takes a closer look at Marques and Capote's moral ladder to find out what precisely it is that separates perpetrator from victim, the moral from the immoral, and whether there is any hope for redemption.
From the Paper "In Cold Blood, by Truman Capote, is perhaps one of the most chilling, yet enthralling novels ever written. Gabriel Garcia Marques, the author of News of a Kidnapping, himself a Nobel Prize winner (for 100 years of Solitude) is also a fascinating writer of our own time. One of the many attributes that distinguish these two authors is not just that they understand the human condition and present it in a compelling way; it is that they often ask difficult questions, questions of time, place, morality, and responsibility. They bring up questions that most people would never think to ask. Both of these books are the accounts of true crimes that happened. Both authors spent many years researching the stories and preparing the books. They both ask us chilling questions about the darker side of human nature."
Abstract The paper describes the political and social background of Harry S. Truman, his inexperience and his sudden appointment as president. The paper explains that Truman walked into a presidency characterized by landmines, disruption, war, change and the Soviet threat, with little advisory framework in place to support his administration. The paper relates that while Truman was very unpopular at the time he left the presidency in 1953, his contributions were appreciated more in later years.
Outline:
Introduction
No Warning and No Time To Prepare
Political and Social Background of Harry S. Truman Inexperienced and New
Truman: End To Fascism and Police Government
Tried To Please Everybody, Satisfied Nobody
Summary and Conclusion
From the Paper "Former President Harry S. Truman's life changed with five mere words and so did the face of world politics on the day that upon entering Eleanor Roosevelt's sitting room at the White House and was informed: "Harry, the President is Dead." (Donovan, 1996) April 12, 1945 was a day that was quiet in Washington D.C. and in fact it had rained all afternoon. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt had stopped in Warm Springs, Georgia for a rest after returning from the Big Three Conference in Yalta at the Crimea. (Donovan, 1996; paraphrased) "
Abstract This paper discusses the role of illusion in the film, "The Truman Show". The author feels that Truman Burbank lives in a world of ultimate illusion in "The Truman Show" where nothing is what it seems; his entire life has been a hoax, even the city he lives in is not real. The author feels that there is a similarity between our media influenced lives and Truman's illusion.
From the Paper "Illusions are what this movie is all about, and they are not simply the illusions that Truman has been living under since he was born. The illusions here are much stronger. While Truman's illusionary life is unraveling, the audience who watches every day is so bought into the illusion, they think it is just another plot twist in Truman's life. The directors at the network who know what is happening are under the illusion they can keep Truman where he is, and save their own butts in the process. All of these illusions are as false as the wall that keeps Truman from sailing away to his freedom. Therefore, they all relate to our own lives filled with illusions."
Abstract "The Truman Show" is a film about Truman Burbank, a man who was adopted by a corporation and unknowingly turned into a reality television star. While Truman thinks his life is like everyone else's, he is really living in a giant studio and having his entire life broadcast as a television show. The studio and almost every detail of Truman's life is controlled by one man, the creator/producer of the show Christof. The paper shows how this sets the scene for a film that explores many areas, one of the most important being the issue of free will and how people are affected by controlled surroundings.
From the Paper "The next question raised is what happens when Truman gains knowledge. This happens gradually as Truman suspects that something is happening and then slowly gains more and more evidence. The more he begins to suspect, the more he challenges the boundaries and strives to break free. This suggests that it only takes a brief glimpse at the truth for a person to find the motivation to break free. Truman was completely in the dark. Even without knowing the truth of what was happening, just knowing that something was not right was enough for Truman to take action to find out the truth and escape from his fictional life."
Abstract In this essay, President Truman's decision to bomb Hiroshima is critically assessed. The author of this essay evaluates the decision by considering the historical, political and economic contexts of WWII and assesses Truman's options and influences. The paper concludes that Truman's decision was justified in direct relation to the contexts of history and the impact of the war.
This paper examines the Korean and Vietnam wars as well as the various similarities shared by both President Harry S. Truman and President Lyndon B. Johnson during their terms in office.
Abstract The writer of this paper explores the ironic similarities shared by Presidents Truman and Johnson, who both inherited the office of president at the death of their predecessors, both were extremely popular leaders and both died while in office. It is another irony that each president became embroiled in a war in Asia. This paper discusses both wars in detail as well as the events that led up to the conflicts including the fact that the Korean war set a precedent for the Vietnam War. This paper also examines the different leadership styles of both presidents, including the manner in which Truman kept firm control over the military while Johnson accepted most military assessments at face value. This paper also contemplates how these two conflicts effectively ended the public life of both Truman and Johnson, bringing an end to each one's administration.
From the Paper "Earlier in January, 1968 the Tet Offensive attempt to take over the American Embassy had been a turning point in the war. Five of South Vietnam's six major cities, 36 of its 44 provincial capitals, and 66 of the 242 district towns were attacked. American losses were heavier than ever before, 3,895 men killed in eight weeks. South Vietnamese forces sustained much smaller losses, but there were an estimate 14,000 noncombatant men, women and children who were killed in the campaign. Although the Communist offensive was ultimately to lose 58,000 men in the offensive, the action drew even more dissent at home. The protestors were not now only the radicals and students, but mainstream voters were also increasingly expressing their opposition lining up in a groundswell of support for presidential Robert Kennedy, who pledged to end the war, as were members of the president's cabinet."
An examination of the achievements of Harry S. Truman as President of the United States, focusing on the challenges that he had to overcome in this role.
Abstract This paper discusses Harry S. Truman's life, as well as his history as a politician. The paper provides a background to his life, but focuses on his achievements as President of the United States. It also discusses Truman's first notable act as President, which was also his most notorious - the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945. In addition, the paper describes Truman's other achievements and focuses on the challenges that he had to overcome as president.
From the Paper "Arthur Schlesinger Sr., the Harvard historian, was noted for (among other accomplishments) his polling of other historians and scholars in order to arrive at a list of "rankings" or ratings of the greatest Presidents in United States history; he conducted such polls in 1948 and again in 1962. His son, Arthur Schlesinger Jr., has followed in the footsteps of his father by conducting an updated poll in 1996. While some critics have noted that the great variance in presidential ranking polls may suggest that they are more subjective than objective (cf. Dean), Schlesinger's placement of Truman at number seven on his list of greatest Presidents may well be a testimony to the difficulties that Truman had to overcome during his two terms in office, and his strong personal intention to do what was necessary to get the country back on a peacetime footing in the face of a brewing Cold War (Schlesinger 179.) Given the subjective nature of such polls, there is no guarantee that Truman will remain in this position in future polls, as history has a way of being reinterpreted and placed into new contexts as new information comes to the surface with the passing of years; as a result, new and fuller perspectives may be expected to arise."
Abstract In this article, the writer introduces, discusses and analyzes the film "The Truman Show" directed by Peter Weir. Specifically, the writer discusses how the film raises the issue of appearances differing from reality, and how that affects the skeptic and the true believer in all of us. The writer maintains that Truman Burbank is a true innocent in this film, trusting those around him and his own perceptions to be the truth. However, they are not. The writer notes that Truman is actually the victim of an elaborate hoax, and has been his entire life. The writer discusses that the film makes the viewer think about reality, and how one perceives reality, and it raises questions about beliefs, skepticism and trust.
From the Paper "Reality is at the core of this film, and it illustrates that what is entirely real for one person can be another person's fantasy. The film makes the viewer question how they see reality, but also, the core theme is what is reality, really? Truman's life is entirely real to him, and until he begins to question his surroundings and some of the things that are happening, he is totally happy and secure in that reality. Underlying this theme is the question, what would we do if we were in the same situation as Truman? Would we be able to deal with it as effectively as he does? In essence, when he realizes that something is not right in his perfect world, his response is not really to flee, but to discover, and there is a big difference between the two. He wants to find out the truth, but also find out what lies beyond the massive soundstage that has been his home for his entire life. The audience has to feel that if the same thing happened to them, would they react in the same way"
Abstract This paper examines President Truman's decision to fire General MacArthur during the Korean War. It looks at the different reasons why MacArthur wanted to bomb China and suggests that Truman made his decision because he felt that MacArthur was gaining to much power. The author examines the correctness of the decision by detailing not only what what happened when MacArthur was fired, but also looks at what was prevented from happening in the war as a result of his firing.
From the Paper "In the Korean War, President Truman made a very controversial decision to relieve General Douglas MacArthur of his duties, for the reason that MacArthur tried to overpower the President to drop the atomic bomb on China. This decision was considered controversial amongst the American people due to the fact that MacArthur was looked upon as a wartime hero, being in both World Wars and leading the armed forces in Japan and Korea. I believe that Truman was right in his decision, looking ahead into the future to stop further conflicts with other nations. Truman, by making this decision, not only stopped the involvement of the Soviet Union entering the Korean War, but also stopped what could have been World War III, and ended the war in a more peaceful manner."
