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Studies in Struggle, 2006.
A contrast between the movies "Boyz N the Hood" and "New Jersey Drive".
1,450 words (approx. 5.8 pages), 7 sources, MLA, $ 48.95
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Abstract
This paper reviews, compares and contrasts the 1991 film "Boyz N the Hood", directed by John Singleton and the 1995 Nick Gomez film, "New Jersey Drive". The paper begins by summarizing the themes of "Boyz": the often unspoken battles between Afro-Centrism and assimilation; between action and resignation; between scholars and gangsters. According to the paper, Singleton's formula was so successful that it spawned dozens of similar films, including Gomez's "New Jersey Drive." The paper compares and contrasts each movie's treatment of racism and the struggle for the black characters in -- and against -- a white-dominated society. The paper also explores how each film treats the issues of urbanization and gang affiliation.
From the Paper
"New Jersey Drive" is far less subtle in its definitions of "oppressor" and "other." Nearly all the police officers in the film are white, and many display overtly violent and racist tactics toward the black youths on which the film focuses, One exception is a black officer who, when asked if he knows a young prisoner's identity, ironically replies with a staple racist remark; "Who knows... I can't tell them apart." Clearly, in the ghetto Nick Gomez paints, racism and white supremacy are the root causes of tension. In "Boyz N the Hood," the tension (while still palatable) is less racial, and more ideological. Returning to the classroom scene, one young, black student responds to Tre's Afrocentric lesson on the origins of Man by quipping, "I ain't from Africa, I'm from Crenshaw Mafia." This simple statement sets up one of the films most prevalent themes; the tension, the direct opposition between racial identity (Afrocentrism), and loss of that identity (gang affiliation) (Boyd, 347)."
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"Karmen Gei", 2006.
An analysis of the film "Karmen Gei", directed by Joseph Gai Ramaka.
3,100 words (approx. 12.4 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 90.95
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Abstract
This paper analyzes "Karmen Gei", a film directed by Joseph Gai Ramaka about women's sexuality in Islamic and Wolof culture, set in urban and rural Senegal. The paper highlights the film's main character, Karmen, who is the embodiment of the new woman, unafraid of her sexuality or her power over others. The paper then attempts to contextualize the film within Senegalese society, in which the topic of women and sexuality is particularly contentious. It emphasizes the issues raised by the film, which include the emancipation of women and the positive changes that are occurring on the one hand, and the negative political climate, which hinders these changes, on the other hand.
From the Paper
"Karmen Gei was seen as a danger to Islamic and Senegalese society when it first came out because it completely undermined the existing Muslim beliefs of a women's role in society, especially as it pertained to their duty towards men. Everything about Karmen's character undermines the role of men, making them almost obsolete. Her success both sexually and financially is self-made and though she may need men in the process, she is the one in control and who holds the power. She is the leader of the smuggling ring and the only female. The men obey and respect her precisely because she is a woman who knows her own power and who uses it successfully to her advantage. If she were a man, there would likely be more conflicts within the group. Another instance, which demonstrates that men are superfluous in her life, is her bisexuality and her relationship with Angelique, the female prison guard. Phil Powrie cites the opening scene when Karmen is dancing overtly sexually among a group of other female prisoners. The perspective that we view this from would seem to be from a man's perspective because of our western biases of the purpose of this type of dancing. Instead, the camera shows Angelique, whose perspective we were unknowingly looking through the entire time. Powrie writes that, "This turns the potentially male gaze into a female gaze. That the male gaze is intended is made clear at the end of this opening sequence in a Foucauldian moment when the camera cuts to a high-angle shot to reveal the prison walls with male guards looking down onto the women below...in addition, the prison context, which emphasizes Angelique's hold over Karmen, ironizes the failing male gaze, the patriarchal panopticon fissured by a desiring same-sex gaze" (Powrie, 287). To imply that Karmen does not even need men for sex or to feel desired is a complete biological contradiction for many Muslims, making her far too independent in her role as a woman."
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"The Cranes Are Flying", 2006.
An analysis of the movie "The Cranes Are Flying".
980 words (approx. 3.9 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 34.95
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Abstract
This paper studies the themes of ascent and descent represented in the film "The Cranes Are Flying", directed by Mikhail Kalatozov. The author shows how straight, dramatic slopes of all kinds are seen throughout the film, as the main characters, Veronica and Boris, run past them, creep up them, step on and off them and experience literal and figurative death at their lowest points. The paper argues that these visual cues enable the film to be emotionally compelling. The paper concludes that the angular mise-en-scene provides symbolism to punctuate the film's emotional peaks and valleys.
From the Paper
"The film opens with Veronica and Boris running in the streets. They run on flat ground, but profiles of tremendous stairways loom behind them. The streets are wet and uninhabited, as if the couple is coasting along in a dream - a fantasy world that exists on a plane directly in front of reality. This scene gives the viewer an idea of the carefree love that the two characters share while allowing only subtle premonitions of things to come. At a later point, when Fyodor enters the kitchen after Veronica has left and begins to make negative comments to Boris regarding the relationship, he does so after ascending a staircase. He invades their plane."
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"Toy Story", 2005.
An overview of this film directed by John Lasseter.
700 words (approx. 2.8 pages), 0 sources, $ 24.95
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Abstract
"Toy Story" (directed by John Lasseter, 1995) may be an animated film, but it is no cartoon. The paper provides an overview of the movie which has a developed plot, sophisticated character development and is made to look as if it were filmed instead of drawn.
From the Paper
"It is ironic that the one who is most displaced by the new toy, a Space Commander, Woody is intelligent, diplomatic and accustomed to doing the thinking for the group, until he finds himself forced to surrender his favored position on Andy's bed to the newcomer. The newcomer is heroic and intently focused on fixing his space ship, trying to maintain contact with "mission control" with a constant stream of one-way messages. The other toys are familiar from everyone's childhood, and their personas are either consistent with their image or a complete opposite."
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The Image of the Robot, 2006.
This paper studies how robots are portrayed in modern literature, art and film.
2,600 words (approx. 10.4 pages), 12 sources, MLA, $ 78.95
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Abstract
This paper examines the portrayal of robots in contemporary literature and fiction. According to the author, the image of the robot is presented in all its best and worst aspects. The paper discusses technological dystopia, focusing on the more negative issues surrounding robots and highlighting their significance. The paper addresses the questions of why robots are portrayed so often in modern culture, why their qualities cause both admiration and resentment from audiences, and what the underlying human issues are that the artists want audiences to realize.
From the Paper
"In stories pertaining to robots, they are almost always endowed with a humanlike appearance. In Isaac Asimov's Robot Series ("Caves of Steel", "The Naked Sun", "Robots of Dawn", "Robots and Empire"), there's one robot character that is the most human of all robots. His name is R. Daneel Olivaw (in the books, the "R" stands for "Robot"). He is virtually indistinguishable from an ordinary human, apart from the seeming perfection of his physical appearance. He can think, talk, and move like a human. He also seems to displays emotion. The character has used this quality to disguise himself as a human, thereby deceiving the real humans and other robots. In the movie "The Terminator", the robot from the future named as "T800" was so advanced in its physical qualities that it can only be recognized as a robot by its superior strength and total lack of human emotion. In "Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines", a more advanced robot, the "T-X" (Terminatrix), has a female appearance but much more powerful than its "male" predecessors. Other movies, such as the "I, Robot", do not have "human" robots but the basic body structure used is still humanlike. In the movie "Stepford Wives", the woman robots look disturbingly real and perfect."
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"Harrison Bergeron", 2006.
A review of the short story "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut Jr.
900 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 5 sources, MLA, $ 31.95
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Abstract
The writer summarizes the story and explains that it is not only a reflection of the author's concern with controlling the masses through television but is also an attack on the idea of enforced equality. The paper shows how the use of television to control people is a major theme in "Harrison Bergeron". The writer describes the dehumanization in the story, which is a result of government oppression, as well as the physical punishment that awaits rebellious people like Harrison. In conclusion, the writer states that no government is able to suppress the individual completely because of the desire of humans to be themselves and not machines.
From the Paper
"The other major theme in "Harrison Bergeron" is the concept of equality. His world is similar to that of a tyrannical dictatorship, where people have no rights, thanks "to the 211th, 212th, and 213th Amendments to the Constitution, and to the unceasing vigilance of agents of the United States Handicapper General" (139). This new world represents total conformity, where people like George must wear weights and radio transmitters which play loud noises to hinder their intellectual development. Vonnegut's world is the most extreme and horrifying that anyone can imagine. According to Joseph Alvarez, "If everyone were equal in every which way, the various handicaps would not be necessary" (3). Alvarez is making the statement that it is ironic of the government to enforce equality to everyone but themselves. The government does not make themselves equal to the rest of society, but higher than the rest of the population. The Handicapper General displays a slave driver approach, in which they use physical discipline to keep everyone in check. Insane people enforce the insanity in Vonnegut's futuristic America. According to literary critic Carl Mowery, "In this society, it is the H-G's job to neutralize the human attributes that every citizen was given by God" (3). The aspect of equality Vonnegut takes so literally that even a person's basic rights such as freedom of speech and freedom of choice are nonexistent."
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Hollywood Heroes, 2006.
This paper examines the portrayal of heroic characters in film as detailed in "A Certain Tendency of the American Cinema" written by Robert Ray, while focusing on the two leading characters in the 1993 film "The Fugitive."
2,112 words (approx. 8.4 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 66.95
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Abstract
This paper explores Ray's book "A Certain Tendency of the American Cinema," in which the author points out how, in classic Hollywood films, a dichotomy between the "outlaw hero" and the "official hero" not only exists but converges in a delicate balance. The writer of this paper discusses how this specific balance allows one type of hero to have the characteristics of the other type and vice versa. This paper focuses on the two leading characters, both portrayed as heroes, albeit differently, in the 1993 film "The Fugitive." This paper analyzes the characteristic and personality traits of both characters while clearly describing how their actions reinforce the process of crossing over into the realm of the official hero.
From the Paper
"Another way Kimball defies traits of the classic outlaw hero is that he lacks "distrust of civilization...represented by women and marriage," which Ray attributes to the outlaw hero. Near the beginning of the movie, Kimball mockingly wards off the men who ogle at his wife Helen at a party hosted by the Devlyn-McGreggor pharmaceutical firm. Later, he justifiably shows anger over his wife's death and repeatedly sees Helen's warm countenance in his sleep. His actions, feelings, and dreams all show that he is still very much in love with his late wife. In general, the characterization of Dr. Kimball as an outlaw hero, coupled with his set of traits as an official hero, allows him to move between the two extremes without having to choose either one or the other. This duplicity reinforces Ray's idea of how "the parallel existence of these two contradictory traditions evinced the general pattern of American mythology: the denial of the necessity for choice."
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Product Placement in Movies or Television, 2006.
A review of the article "Benefits to Corporate America" by Samuel Turcotte.
993 words (approx. 4.0 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 35.95
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Abstract
The writer details the main points from the article by Turcotte. The paper explains that product placement is when a product is used by actors in films or in television shows. The paper discusses the benefits of product placement in movies and in television programs, as seen in the article. The writer concludes that Turcotte's article is excellent, but that because of the rapid changes in how movies are being distributed in the past few years, Turcotte may have to review his findings in light of the mass distribution of DVDs within six months of a movie's original release.
Table of Contents:
Implied Endorsements
Far Reach (Long Life & Global)
Low Cost
Low Clutter
High Profile
Optimum Viewing Environment
A Captive Audience
From the Paper
"One of the most important benefits a corporation can gain is by having a star imply endorsement of their product by using it in a film. Most specifically, big name stars almost never appear in U.S. television advertisements but if they are seen using a company's product in a "reality like" situation in a film, Turcotte notes that it has been shown that the audience is more likely to believe that this action might imply the star's endorsement of the product than if the star were to do a paid advertisement."
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"The Life and Times of Sam Peckinpaw", 2006.
Reviews the book, "If They Move...Kill 'Em" : The Life and Times of Sam Peckinpaw" by David Weddle.
2,360 words (approx. 9.4 pages), 1 source, APA, $ 72.95
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Abstract
This paper shows how David Weddle has fashioned a tour-de-force biography of one of Hollywood's most controversial directors : Sam Peckinpaw, a man praised as a genius and just as equally reviled by his peers. Through his book, "If They Move...Kill 'Em" : The Life and Times of Sam Peckinpaw", the paper shows us how Weddle manages to connect the dots, and in so doing bridges the professional life of an artistic rebel and the personal hell an independent spirit sometimes faces in Hollywood .
From the Paper
"Sam Peckinpaw was never a man to be trifled with. From his early years in the farm regions of Fresno California where he grew up, to his later skirmishes with the Hollywood establishment, Sam -- or Sammy D as he was known to relatives and family -- seemed to be controlled by inner and often tumultuous forces common to the prestigious Peckinpaw family; the men, all hearty outdoorsmen, who little understood Sam's poetic side, his strong desire for artistic expression."
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History of Lebanese Cinema, 2006.
Examines the effects of war on the film industry in Lebanon.
2,030 words (approx. 8.1 pages), 4 sources, MLA, $ 64.95
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Abstract
The paper shows that while the elements that affected Lebanese motion picture are diverse, war remains the major reason behind the metamorphosis of the local film industry, crippling young talents, yet remaining a source of inspiration to many.
Paper Outline:
Thesis Statement
The Different Features affecting Lebanese Motion Picture:
The Setbacks and Promoters
The Duality of War
The Crippling Effects of War on the Film Industry:
The Destruction of Studios and Cinemas
The Talent Drain
The Hidden Benefits of War on the Film Industry:
The Birth of the "Intelligentsia Libanaise"
The Dawn of a New Era
Conclusion
From the Paper
"Those forlorn images of a city split into east and west; Christians and Muslims were stranded amid the tragedies of civil war. Yet, where human values prevailed, those images won Doueiri the International Critics' Award at the Toronto International Festival and the Youth Jury Award at the Valladolid Festival, to name just a few. In "West Beirut" the moments of ephemeral beauty seem to overshadow the rumble of missiles and the echoes of despair. The first batch of fresh strawberries from the farm, a favorite piece of music played on the piano, precious seconds of every day life, are moments unnoticed in time of peace; somewhat like the effects of war on a new era of filmmaking."
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"Saturday Night Live" Comedians, 2005.
This paper describes and compares the lives of two "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) comedians Chris Farley and his idol John Belushi.
2,005 words (approx. 8.0 pages), 15 sources, MLA, $ 63.95
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Abstract
This paper explains that both comics John Belushi and Chris Farley followed the same path from Chicago Improv to breakout stardom on "Saturday Night Live" (SNL), relying on manic energy, pratfalls and their considerable girth to get laughs. The author points out that both comedians had stellar careers not only on SNL but also in films and other platforms; however, they had overwhelming appetites for food, drugs, alcohol and women. The paper relates that Belushi was the first to die at age 33 followed by Chris Farley's death also at age 33; both deaths were related to drug usage.
Table of Contents
Introduction
John Belushi
Chris Farley
Similarities
From the Paper
"Chris was born to Tom and Mary Anne Farley in Madison, Wisconsin on February 15, 1964. He described himself as a "teacher's nightmare" at Marquette University, where he graduated with a degree in communications and theatre. After Marquette, he performed with the Ark Improv Theatre group and studying under legendary director Del Close (John Belushi and John Candy both worked under Close as well) at the Improv Olympic Theatre. Chris was performing at Second City Theatre in the late eighties when he was discovered by SNL producer Lorne Michaels. Lorne brought him to the cast of Saturday Night Live in the 1990-91 season."
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Jerry Bruckheimer and Don Simpson's "The Rock", 2006.
An enthusiastic review of the movie "The Rock", starring Sean Connery and Nicholas Cage.
1,269 words (approx. 5.1 pages), 1 source, MLA, $ 43.95
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Abstract
This paper presents a very positive review of the film, "The Rock", directed by Jerry Bruckheimer and the late Don Simpson and starring Sean Connery and Nicholas Cage. The paper summarizes and analyzes the film, pointing about both its strengths and its flaws and suggests that it is worth viewing for anyone wishing to indulge in a heart-pumping, action flick.
From the Paper
"Is Alcatraz a movie with meaning? Will it change your perspective of life? I do not think so. However, if you enjoy "action-packed, blow-em up" type of flicks, and you are just looking for pure entertainment, this movie was made for you. It is one of the fastest, slickest, and most fun films of this genre. The Rock "rocks.""
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Foot Binding: A Custom Becomes a Metaphor, 2006.
A study of the Chinese custom of foot binding as it appears in literature and film.
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 38.95
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Abstract
This paper examines the ancient Chinese custom of foot binding. The paper details the history of this ritual and the socio-cultural role it played in Chinese society. Then the paper turns to an analysis of the metaphoric significance of foot binding in literature and on film. Works studied include the James Michener epic novel "Hawaii" and the film "The Hawaiians", which is based on the novel and the film "The Inn of the Sixth Happiness".
From the Paper
"James Michener explored the Chinese culture in his epic novel Hawaii, which was made into two films, the second of which, The Hawaiians, dealt with the Chinese woman Char Nyuk Tsin, and her husband, Kee Mun Ki. While the practice of foot binding is never a central theme or issue of either the novel or the film, it is an underlying element in the plot structure and character development. Char Nyuk Tsin is a peasant woman of Hakka, a mountain village that traditionally does not bind the feet of their women, since they are required to carry heavy loads up and down steep and rocky terrain. A rival neighboring village practices the custom, considering it a mark of ignorance that their neighbors leave their women's feet to grow naturally.When the Chinese are imported to Hawaii to work in the fields, the first women allowed on the islands are the women with strong, unbound feet. Chinese women with bound feet are not among the early Chinese allowed to relocate in the Hawaiian Islands, since their usefulness as laborers is limited."
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"The Waste Land" and "The Fisher King", 2006.
A comparison of the themes in the Thomas Stearns Eliot poem "The Waste Land" and that of the film "The Fisher King".
900 words (approx. 3.6 pages), 2 sources, MLA, $ 31.95
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Abstract
This paper reviews, compares and contrasts the poem "The Waste Land" by Thomas Stearns Eliot and the movie "The Fisher King". The author of the paper argues that both the poem and the movie deal with similar themes. While the poem is about the fall of Western civilization into a world of madness and chaos without meaning, the movie can be interpreted as a modern day parable of the cynicism that pervades our society and how we can reclaim our lives from the ruins of society. The paper discusses other similar themes as well, including the loss of innocence and the rediscovery of lost youth. The paper also cites evidence that both the play and the film have characteristics of Homeric similes.
From the Paper
"Eliot's poem touches upon the decline of civilization and the inability of individuals to bring about change. This same theme is touched upon in The Fisher King where the trappings of modern society destroy individuals and individual lives. Jack in the beginning saw the young urban professionals, "yuppies", as enemies of society, yet he did not realize that the true enemy was the structure of society which created a populace of mostly uncaring and dispassionate individuals. By denouncing them, he becomes an instrument of the forces that corrupt society which he had fought against. It is this realization that makes him fall from grace through the discovery that his comments on the radio to a listener had caused the death of those in the bar."
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Translating "The Firm" for the Screen, 2006.
An examination of the challenges in converting the John Grisham book "The Firm" to a screenplay.
1,100 words (approx. 4.4 pages), 3 sources, MLA, $ 38.95
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Abstract
This paper studies the process of converting the book "The Firm" by John Grisham to a screenplay and movie. The paper begins with a description of the book and the characters. Then the paper discusses the specific challenges that the screenwriter had to overcome in order to create a successful screen adaptation. The author of this paper discusses how the writer and director combined characters, simplified the plot and changed the book's ending.
From the Paper
"The Firm is a rangy novel by John Grisham that explores the parallel corruption in business and in government. A young lawyer, Mitch McDeere, is recruited by a high-profile law firm in Memphis, Tennessee, with a breathtaking employment package that he cannot refuse. But he soon learns that there is a sinister side to the activities conducted by his new firm, and he finds himself quickly engulfed in a network of intrigue and violence that involves the FBI, the Mafia and the partners of the firm. His marriage is threatened, he is blackmailed by the FBI into informing on the firm, and the apparent accidental death of two of the firm's partners turns out to be murder."
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