Abstract This paper reviews the three movies "Ever After", "PrettyWoman" and Disney's "Cinderella", comparing the similarities and analyzing the meaning behind each one while relating it to the classic story of "Cinderella".
From the Paper "In the video versions of the "Cinderella" story the viewer can see the comparisons that are evident throughout each movie. The three movies, "Ever After", "Pretty Woman" and Disney's "Cinderella" are each enchanting and delicate in there own way and each offering their own unique version of the classic fairy tale "Cinderella". The story of "Cinderella" dates back several centuries and the video versions are modern, the eldest being Disney's "Cinderella" dated 1950. I will take a closer look at the above movies and compare them according to the "Nine Variants of Cinderella," and then apply what the "Cinderella" fairy tale represents to the viewer and whether or not it is relevant in today's society."
Abstract This paper discusses how in Garry Marshall's "PrettyWoman" (1990), a distinct ideology based in Hollywood's film and television is clearly outlined. It looks at how, by conforming to the Hollywood ideology, the world where "PrettyWoman" takes place is normalized by a society seeking the good and just in every subject and creating ideals like romantic love in a patriarchal society or individual achievement through capital gain. The paper also examines how, in an effort to keep Hollywood's values similar throughout cinema, Garry Marshall has endorsed the institutions of capitalism and patriarchy in "PrettyWoman" by reducing the taboo subject of prostitution through the monetary, masculine achievements of Richard Gere's character.
From the Paper "Through Edward's wealth, he is able to set up a patriarchal control over Vivian, subjugating her beneath his capital and masculine dominance. By simply being an archetypal male figure, Edward is able to acquire wealth. Whenever Edward is at a meeting, about to conquer another business, the only other employees are men. Men are the only ones with any power in the film: Edward, the hotel manager, Stuckey. The women, as Edward Lewis wants, are constantly at his "beck-and-call." Even at the pivotal scene where Vivian is going to leave Edward because he told his friend Stuckey that she is a prostitute, he is able to convince her to come back to him. He tells her that he "didn't like it" when she was talking to David Morse. Edward treats her like a piece of property that he purchased, and in many cases, her time is purchased. "
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses and analyzes the use of love as an ideal in the arts. It examines song lyrics by Tupac Shakur, the film "PrettyWoman" and the poem "The Bride of the Greek Isle," by Felicia Hemans. Specifically, the paper shows that the way that love is portrayed in the arts does not always live up to the romantic ideal.
From the Paper "The last lines of the poem help spell out the meaning, and give some feeling to the tragic story. Hemans seems to be saying that love and youth go together, and this is why the two newlyweds must die young. "Now the night gathers o'er youth and love!" is how she ends this poem, and it is a poignant moment, as we know Eudora has not only avenged her lover's death, she has also caused her own.
Love in this poem begins romantically, and then turns tragic, as real love does every day. The tragedy of love can be allowing yourself to love so much, to feel so much. Love can consume a person if they let it, and love can be just as dark as it is romantic. Consider the "love" that keeps a woman with a man who abuses her. This is the dark side of love, when it can turn ugly and even deadly, as it did in Hemans' poem."
Tags: Tupac, Shakur, Pretty, Woman, Felicia, Hemans
Abstract This paper examines the book, "Pride and Prejudice", by Jane Austen, and the film, "PrettyWoman," directed by Garry Marshall. Specifically, it traces and explores how single women have evolved in the media and how they still face some of the same prejudices they have through history. It looks at how single women have always faced far more difficulties than single men in literature throughout history and how this is quite evident in these two works. It shows how, though written centuries apart, the women still struggle to be taken seriously, and while women have made great strides in many areas, they still struggle for equality and to gain the same advantages as men.
From the Paper "Both women are certainly feminine and feminists at the same time. In Elizabeth's time, that was not such a good thing, and one character even tells her, "Well, it won't get you very far. Men detest clever women" (Austen 59). Another even calls her "emancipated," repeating it as if it were a repugnant disease. Elizabeth is a feminist long before it became fashionable, and she makes it seem so natural and so "correct," that the other women in the book seem unnatural and fake, which of course they were. Elizabeth is much too intelligent and has far too much pride in herself, (thus the title), to turn into a "damsel in distress." That strategy might work for many of the other women in the novel, including her ridiculous mother, however, it would not match Elizabeth at all, and she realizes this, because she also knows herself, along with knowing the men who surround her."
Abstract This paper looks at Joan Ryan's essay "Little Girls in Pretty Boxes" that applies observations of society from George Orwell's novel "1984." It looks at how Ryan's essay centers on the treatment of young female women, mainly athletes, that fits into Orwell's vision of a dystopian society.
From the Paper " Joan Ryan chooses the title of her essay well. The girls she writes about are little. They are little in physical stature immature of mind and body. Yet they are boxed into the telescreen of society's superficial eye under the "
Tags: Joan Ryan, Little Girls in Pretty Boxes, gymnastics, figure skating, George Orwell, 1984, Dystopia
Bertolt Brecht's 'The Good Woman of Setzuan' portrays the struggle to be good while living in a corrupt society and the delicate balance needed to survive within it.
Abstract An analysis of Bertolt Brecht's play 'The Good Woman of Setzuan'. Throughout the play Shen Te juggles her promise to be good with the necessity to be bad. The author finds through the protagonist and the creation of her doppelganger, 'The Good Woman of Setzuan' portrays the struggle to be good while living in a corrupt society, and the delicate balance needed to survive within it as seen in Shen Te's struggle as a good woman leading the life of a prostitute.
From the Paper "Shen Te, a good woman, a prostitute, and the only one willing to take three gods into her home is rewarded with 1000 silver dollars, with which she is to "above all be good"(712). This mission tears her in two. Shen Te and her doppelganger Shui Ta are in a delicate balance of power. Shen Te needs to keep her promise to the gods by being a good woman, helping those around her in need. Because Shen Te is too good, those she helps threaten to ruin her own survival. To remain a good woman Shen Te must create someone to fight for her. Like parents, both Shui Ta and Shen Te make up the whole of one unit. Shen Te is a nurturing, sweet mother-type while Shui Ta becomes a strict, disciplinarian, father-type. Through the protagonist and the creation of her doppelganger, Brecht's The Good Woman of Setzuan portrays the struggle to be good while living in a corrupt society, and the delicate balance needed to survive within it."
Abstract This paper examines the qualities deemed necessary for one to be considered a renaissance man or woman. These characteristics are taken from literary sources of the Renaissance. The features of the Renaissance man and woman suggest at once a superficial concern with appearances and at the same time an appreciation for the innate talents and abilities of every human being. The author takes issue with the lack of morality placed on the Renaissance man or women.
From the Paper "Physical prowess and mastery of weaponry are essential skills for Castiglione's Renaissance man. Both men and woman are victims of their physical endowments. According to Castiglione, being too tall or too short can hinder the development of a man's athletic skills (p. 34). The Renaissance man is also literally well-rounded: he should be agile and strong, with "shapely" limbs (Castiglione, p. 30, line 26). Renaissance women must also fulfill specific requirements. Though they should develop their bodies as well as their minds, Renaissance women should not undertake strenuous activities, as even dancing too energetically can impede her "womanly sweetness," (Castiglione, p. 35, line 192). Neither men nor women should take sport--or anything else--too seriously because being well-rounded is more important than being a specialist. At the same time, both Castiglione and Alberti infer an appreciation for the diligent development of specific talents and skills, whether tennis, dancing, or archery. Therefore, the ideal person is not a dilettante. When the Renaissance man or woman becomes proficient at something, he or she can show that skill off in polite company, though without conceit. Being what modern people would call "cool" is a key component of the Renaissance ideal. Castiglione calls that feature "nonchalance," and the Renaissance man and woman should be talented and modest at the same time."
Abstract "In Centering Woman", Beckles concentrates purely on gender issues rather than race. In this historiographical account, he intends to focus on gender as the main analytical category in the culture of the slave mode of production.
Abstract This paper introduces, discusses, and analyzes the book, "Kiss of the Spider Woman", by Manuel Puig. Specifically, it analyzes two key passages and their contrasting styles, descriptive method, character presentation, and a range of other aspects.
From the Paper "This is an important passage for a number of reasons. First, it begins to develop the two characters so that they are more understandable to the reader. Second, it begins to develop the friendship and bond that will grow between the two men, and this is an important theme of the book. Molina is a homosexual jailed for corrupting a minor, and Valentin is a political prisoner, jailed for his political beliefs. They would probably never have met and developed a friendship if they had not been in prison together. Valentin is wary of friendship, and so this passage is pivotal because it shows Valentin's walls breaking down ? he admits weakness, and that is difficult for him. Of course, Molina's homosexuality is one of the barriers that Valentin feels as he struggles to learn how to share himself, and trust another person. Molina does make some advances toward him, but he stops when he begins to respect Valentin for his beliefs. Dealing with differences is one of the things that finally draws the men together, and this passage shows how they begin to do that ? tentatively at first, and then with more conviction as they get to know and understand each other more."
Abstract The paper examines Maxine Hong Kingston's memory novel, "The Woman Warrior." The paper discusses gender and cultural issues and focuses on the oppression and status of women in China and the U.S. The paper also explores how to blend the Chinese-American heritage with feminism.
From the Paper "Whether born in pre-World War II, China or post-World War II America, whether conventional or rebellious, the female characters in Maxine Hong Kingston's "The Woman Warrior" are united by various forms of the oppression of women. In China gender discrimination was much more severe than in the United States. The stories of the Chinese women in Kingston's memory novel reveal not only their inferior status in Chinese society, but also their passivity that in a sense makes them enablers of their role."
Abstract The paper summarizes the story of "All the Pretty Horses". The writer notes the similarities to the style of William Faulkner, as seen in the long evocative sentences in the book. The writer explains that there can be some difficulties in understanding McCarthy's book, as he uses some Spanish which is not translated and conducts long conversations without quotation marks. In summation, the writer states that "All the Pretty Horses" is a hero's quest without a neat resolution, a book in which the strange light of mythic struggles shines through the quick-paced adventure.
From the Paper "Make no mistake, this is no story of three young boys having a fun little adventure. This is the well-told tale of young men facing hard times in a strange land. As a result of Jimmy's situation, Lacey and John Grady end up in prison and almost lose their lives. The story seems like it couldn't be happening in our times. It's a modern western that feels like it took place in another era."
Abstract This paper concentrates on the poem "Pretty". The writer explains that the entire poem speaks to Smith's unsentimental view of the human condition. She recognizes that although Man usually thinks of himself as The Top Predator, he is not. All creatures will fall to Man and his weapons, if he chooses. The paper examines how the poem is representative of Smith's life. The writer explains how the poem reflects the experience of Smith's life - it is a very British verse with a crisp sound and formal style.
From the Paper "Pretty is underrated, as Stevie Smith herself says. In discussions of her works, Pretty, the poem, is often overshadowed by her fiction and her earlier volumes of verse, especially Novel on Yellow Paper, A Good Time Was Had by All and Not Waving But Drowning. Pretty is a shining example of her "ironic wit, unexpected turn of phrase and unsentimental view of the human condition…." "
Abstract The paper discusses issues of sex and race in American culture, using the film "Lone Star" and the short story "All the Pretty Horses." The paper also discusses the TV show "I Love Lucy" as an example.
From the Paper "The idea has been advanced that contemporary film and literature including John Sayles' film "Lone Star" and Cormac McCarthy's novel "All the Pretty Horses" question racial constructions and offer new ways of representing the relationship between race and sex in American culture."
Tags: Lone Star, All the Pretty Horses, film, multicultural, culture
Abstract This paper offers an analysis of Cormac McCarthy's novel "All The Pretty Horses" and explains the multitude of roles that nature plays in the coming-of-age of John Grady Cole. The paper focuses on Grady's growing understanding that choices have consequences.
From the Paper "Cormac McCarthy's "All The Pretty Horses" is the coming-of-age story of John Grady Cole. The setting is Texas and the Northeastern part of Mexico shortly after the end of World War II. Grady's father wants little to do with him since coming home from the war and his mother is even more distant from him, separated from her husband."
Abstract This paper examines how in Cormac McCarthy's "All the Pretty Horses" there are multiple factors that play into the constant conflict within the heart and mind of the central character John Grady, as well as many of the other secondary characters involved throughout the novel. It looks at how McCarthy uses the wilderness, and nature itself, as the central battleground within which John Grady is presented the opportunity to adapt and carve out his own "niche." It also discusses how McCarthy's contrasting of the natural world and the civilized world is ever-present throughout the novel.
From the Paper "McCarthy opens his novel with John Grady thrust into the midst of a life changing scenario. Grady is dealing with the death of his grandfather, something that is unquestionably difficult for any male to deal with. When faced with the death of a grandparent, particularly a grandfather, one has come to a changing point within a family's structure. Now the patriarch that has most likely been a constant for most of the grandchildren's lives, has moved on and left a position needing to be filled. Most view their grandfather as having been more in touch with natural side of life, having probably lived a life of lesser means compared to those who followed. The same seems to hold true with John Grady. "
