The Invisible Gorila Essay Example for Free

The Invisible Gorila Essay A talent show is an event that participants perform their specific talents in order to win the first prize. Singing talent shows are quite popular lately because they don’t require participants to be in certain ages or professions. Talent shows are very entertaining so that people start to pay attention to them. In fact, in talent shows, not only contestants, but also judges and audiences, always project illusions. They misperceive something might not exist. In book The Invisible Gorilla, Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons investigate six illusions that happen everyday in people’s lives. They use a lot of examples and scientific experiments to explain how different illusions affect people and reveal that human being’s thoughts are suffered from illusions. Among those six illusions in the book, illusion of confident, illusion of knowledge and illusion of cause have the biggest effect in talent shows. Contestants experience the illusion of confidence because they have unjustified confidence in their own abilities and they are not aware of their lack of skills. Some contestants don’t have skills but they act very confidently. Chabris and Simons state in Chapter 3, â€Å"In fact, those who are the least skilled are the most likely to think better of themselves than they should† (86). Least skilled contestants probably have never done anything relevant to music. They attend talent shows because they like singing or they want to be proved by aud iences. For example, in 2003, a student William Hung who was studying in civil engineering at Berkeley participated in â€Å"American Idol†. Since he couldnt sing and dance, his performance was funny and everyone was making fun of him. However, he was very confident and he thought he was doing his best. Indeed, when people are interested in something or just started doing something, they are more likely to feel confident because they dont know much about it. Furthermore, least skilled contestants don’t realize their actual competence. They mistake their confidence as real competence. When performing on stage, they think that even though they have not been trained before, their personalities or appearance can draw audiences’ attention. When constantans experience illusion of confidence, they are so confident that neglect the fact that they dont have abilities of performing. Except for contestants, audiences experience illusion of confidence as well. Not acting confidently doesnt mean a person has no ability. Yet sometimes audiences automatically treat confidence as a mark of actual competence of contestants. For example, when two contestants who have similar level of skills are performing on stage, audiences consider the one who looks more confident is better than the other. In 2007, there was a Taiwanese singing talent show called â€Å"One million Star. † Jam Hsiao was one of those contestants and he was quiet when asked questions. He told everyone that he wasn’t confident in communicating with other people. When audiences looked at Jam, they automatically thought Jam was not good at singing because he didnt show his confidence in front of other people. Nevertheless, He became totally different while performing and his beautiful and powerful voice attracted everyone. Since audiences are prone to believing a person is not confident, which may give a contestant an unfair disadvantage, but later when proven wrong may give the contestant a bigger advantage due to audiences having to compensate for the contrasting information. They become more likely to support contestants they doubt at the very beginning. Different with those least killed contestants, skilled ones experience the illusion of knowledge. People believe that they know things at a deeper level than they really do. Skilled contestants, who may have been trained for long time, have a lot of experience in performing in front of audiences. For instance, some of contestants who participate in â€Å"The Voice of China† went to musical universities before. As they said, they started learning musical instruments since they were kids and they have attended countless singing contests. They consider themselves as knowledgeable contestants for they have much experience. Compared to least skilled contestants, skilled contestants participate in talent shows because they think they know much about how to utilize knowledge they have learned than those who dont have many skills. Yet, knowing much about music doesnt mean those skilled contestants can definitely win contestants. The illusion of knowledge makes them not be able to properly determine their value because they are more likely to approve their merits and ignore shortcomings. Constantine Mouralis, who had a tony nomination before, participated in season four of â€Å"American Idol†. Constantine Mouralis started to improve his interest in music when he grew up. He sang in high school garage band and he appeared in Broadway roles. He was not only experienced, but also obtained a lot of awards before he competed on â€Å"American Idol. † He thought his ability was good enough compared to other contestants but he was eliminated at the sixth week. Although Mouralis was very skillful, other contestants who are better than Mouralis win eventually. In talent shows, judges project illusion of knowledge as well. Most judges are either famous singers or they are successful in the music industry. When they decide to choose the winner, they use their knowledge and experience to make decisions. They think the winner they choose will be successful after the show ends. Some contestants perform really well in talent shows and they fully show their talents to everyone and of course judges admit them too. After that, some of them are not famous due to all kinds of reasons. Foe instance, record companies decide not to give winners opportunities to release albums or winner contestants realize they want to do something else instead of being a singer. Judges make judgments because they think they know more about entertainment system than anyone else. The illusion of knowledge makes talent shows become unfair because judges are subjective when they make judgments. People are more interested in talent shows because some of them think that talent shows give them opportunities to be a professional singer. Apparently, these people are having illusion of cause. They infer causal relationships from coincidence. In entertainment system, parts of popular singers come from talent shows. They get a contract with record companies so that they can release albums after they win the talent show. Besides, since they are popular, they are invited to perform in many occasions. In fact, winning talent shows and becoming a famous singer are two different things so they have no causal relationships. However, people who want to participate in talent shows infer causal relationships from those coincidences. They believe that if they attend talent shows, they might win the first prize and they have a high possibility to be a famous singer. However, not everyone who comes from talent shows becomes famous. For example, in 2007, the champion of singing talent show â€Å"Super Boy† was really good at singing and he released his first album afterwards. Unfortunately, he wasnt popular and he never got the second chance to release other albums. Talent shows provide people opportunities to show their talents, but participating in talent shows and being famous have no causal relationships. Sometimes, the reason why contestants win talent shows is not only because they are better than anyone else. For record companies who want to make money, they prefer pick up contestants who have good appearance than those who have talent in singing but dont have beautiful faces. Thus, some factors which people think will cause contestants to win are not truly existed. Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons’s explanations make me think illusions that happened in my life. People are beset by all kinds of illusions every day without noticing their existence. In talent shows, both skilled and least contestants have illusions since they are not able to determine their real abilities. People who win talent shows don’t mean that these people will be famous forever. On the contrary, people who failed in talent shows can still be successful. Besides, the reason why top singers and movie stars are famous is not only because talent shows give them opportunities to perform, other factors such as hard working and good luck can also be important for them. We need to pay attention to different kinds of illusions because sometimes they affect our decision-making. If we like singing and want to make music, we dont have to participate in talent shows because there are other ways for us to chase our dreams. After all, we should evaluate our abilities appropriately. If we are just interested in something but we dont actually have talent in doing them, we should have find out something else we can do to fulfill our dreams.

Sexual Assault is Never the Victim’s Fault :: Essays Papers

Sexual Assault is Never the Victim’s Fault I could see the fear in her eye, and could feel the pain in her trembling hands. I could sense her discomfort when she talked about the night. I had never known, and never would have guessed, that something happened to her at a party with kids I knew from my school. She told me first. She only told me. She spoke to me about how she can not be in a room with a stranger, or how she feels that part of her died that night. She explained that hugs didn’t feel good anymore, they felt intrusive. She explained that she won’t stay in a room with a male teacher if the other students leave. Every part of her life, she explained, has been changed. She wasn’t the same girl anymore, and she blamed herself for it. Even contemplating suicide, like many victims often do, seemed better than living with the memories. She was too afraid to talk to her parents, because she had drank a little the night of the incident; and too afraid to tell her friends, because they though t that the guy was cool. She didn’t trust anyone anymore, not even her old best guy friends. She had known him; they had been friends in junior high. She knew him†¦ Her story changed me. I would no longer wait for the issue of sexual assault to approach me. I would educate myself about it. I was going to help. I didn’t want to see anyone else have to feel the way my friend did. I joined the Sexual Assault Response Team, and began to fight back. The issue of sexual assault needs to be addressed openly so that everyone changes their current paradigms, or perspectives. People that believe that sexual assault can be prevented, is the victim’s responsibility, or is just miscommunication, are allowing perpetrators too much freedom. Sexual assault is always the perpetrators decision, thus never being the victim’s responsibility, or decision. This is a simple concept, but let me show you how presently we are not acting this way. It is all too likely that each one of us knows the victim of a sexual assault. One in four Colorado women and one in fourteen Colorado men have been the victim of a completed or attempted sexual assault.

Obligation and Contracts Reviewer

OBLIGATIONS AND CONTRACTS REVIEWER TITLE I – OBLIGATIONS CHAPTER 1 GENERAL PROVISIONS 1156. An obligation is a juridical necessity to give, to do, or not to do. JURIDICAL NECESSITY – juridical tie; connotes that in case of noncompliance, there will be legal sanctions. – An obligation is nothing more than the duty of a person (obligor) to satisfy a specific demandable claim of another person (obligee) which, if breached, is enforceable in court. – A contract necessarily gives rise to an obligation but an obligation does not always need to have a contract.KINDS OF OBLIGATION A. From the viewpoint of â€Å"sanction† – 1. CIVIL OBLIGATION – that defined in Article 1156; an obligation, if not fulfilled when it becomes due and demandable, may be enforced in court through action; based on law; the sanction is  judicial due process 2. NATURAL OBLIGATION – defined in Article 1423; a special kind of obligation which cannot be enforced i n court but which authorizes the retention of the voluntary payment or performance made by the debtor; based on equity and natural law. (i. e. hen there is prescription of duty to pay, still, the obligor paid his dues to the obligee – the obligor cannot recover his payment even there is prescription) the sanction is the law, but only conscience had originally motivated the payment. 3. MORAL OBLIGATION – the sanction is conscience or morality, or the law of the church. (Note: If a Catholic promises to hear mass for 10 consecutive Sundays in order to receive P1,000, this obligation becomes a civil one. ) B. From the viewpoint of subject matter – 1. REAL OBLIGATION – the obligation to give 2. PERSONAL OBLIGATION – the obligation to do or not to do (e. . the duty to paint a house, or to refrain from committing a nuisance) C. From the affirmativeness and negativeness of the obligation – 1. POSITIVE OR AFFIRMATIVE OBLIGATION – the obligatio n to give or to do 2. NEGATIVE OBLIGATION – the obligation not to do (which naturally inludes not to give) D. From the viewpoint of persons obliged – â€Å"sanction† – 1. UNILATERAL – where only one of the parties is bound (e. g. Plato owes Socrates P1,000. Plato must pay Socrates. ) 2. BILATERAL – where both parties are bound (e. g. In a contract of sale, the buyer is obliged to deliver) – may be: (b. ) reciprocal (b. 2) non-reciprocal – where performance by one is non-dependent upon performance by the other ELEMENTS OF OBLIGATION a)ACTIVE SUBJECT – (Creditor / Obligee) the person who is demanding the performance of the obligation; b)PASSIVE SUBJECT – (Debtor / Obligor) the one bound to perform the prestation or to fulfill the obligation or duty; c)PRESTATION – (to give, to do, or not to do) object; subject matter of the obligation; conduct required to be observed by the debtor; d)EFFICIENT CAUSE – the JURIDICAL TIE which binds the parties to the obligation; source of the obligation.PRESTATION (Object) 1. TO GIVE – delivery of a thing to the creditor (in sale, deposit, pledge, donation); 2. TO DO – covers all kinds of works or services (contract for professional services); 3. NOT TO DO – consists of refraining from doing some acts (in following rules and regulations). Requisites of Prestation / Object: 1)licit (if illicit, it is void) 2)possible (if impossible, it is void) 3)determinate or determinable (or else, void) 4)pecuniary value †¢INJURY – wrongful act or omission which causes loss or harm to another †¢DAMAGE – result of injury (loss, hurt, harm) 157. Obligation arises from – (1) law; (2) contracts; (3) quasi-contracts; (4) acts or omissions punished by law; (5) quasi-delicts. (1) LAW (Obligation ex lege) – imposed by law itself; must be expressly or impliedly set forth and cannot be presumed – [See Artic le 1158] (2) CONTRACTS (Obligation ex contractu) – arise from stipulations of the parties: meeting of the minds / formal agreement – must be complied with in good faith because it is the â€Å"law† between parties; neither party may nilaterally evade his obligation in the contract, unless: a)contract authorizes it b)other party assents Note: Parties may freely enter into any stipulations, provided they are not contrary to law, morals, good customs, public order or public     policy – [See Article 1159] (3) QUASI-CONTRACTS (Obligation ex quasi-contractu) – arise from lawful, voluntary and unilateral acts and which are enforceable to the end that no one shall be unjustly enriched or benefited at the expense of another – 2 kinds: 1.Negotiorum gestio – unauthorized management; This takes place when a person voluntarily takes charge of   another’s abandoned business or property without the owner’s authority 2. Solutio i ndebiti – undue payment; This takes place when something is received when there is no right to demand it, and it was unduly delivered thru mistake – [See Article 1160] (4) DELICTS (Obligation ex maleficio or ex delicto) – arise from civil liability which is the consequence of a criminal offense – Governing rules: 1.Pertinent provisions of the RPC and other penal laws subject to Art 2177 Civil Code [Art 100, RPC – Every person criminally liable for a felony is also civilly liable] 2. Chapter 2, Preliminary title, on Human Relations ( Civil Code ) 3. Title 18 of Book IV of the Civil Code – on damages – [See Article 1161] (5) QUASI-DELICTS / TORTS (Obligation ex quasi-delicto or ex quasi-maleficio) – arise from damage caused to another through an act or omission, there being no fault or negligence, but no contractual relation exists between the parties – [See Article 1162] 158. Obligations from law are not presumed. Only th ose (1) expressly determined in this code or (2) in special laws are demandable, and shall be regulated by the precepts of the law which establishes them; and as to what has not been foreseen, by the provisions of this code. †¢Unless such obligations are EXPRESSLY provided by law, they are not demandable and enforceable, and cannot be presumed to exist. †¢The Civil Code can be applicable suppletorily to obligations arising from laws other than the Civil Code itself. Special laws – refer to all other laws not contained in the Civil Code. 1159. Obligations arising from contracts have the force of law between the contracting parties and should be complied with in good faith. CONTRACT – meeting of minds between two persons whereby one binds himself, with respect to the other, to give, to do something or to render some service; governed primarily by the agreement of the contracting parties. VALID CONTRACT – it should not be against the law, contrary to mora ls, good customs, public order, and public policy. In the eyes of law, a void contract does not exist and no obligation will arise from it. OBLIGATIONS ARISING FROM CONTRACTS – primarily governed by the stipulations, clauses, terms and conditions of their agreements. †¢If a contract’s prestation is unconscionable (unfair) or unreasonable, even if it does not violate morals, law, etc. , it may not be enforced totally. †¢Interpretation of contract involves a question of law. COMPLIANCE IN GOOD FAITH – compliance or performance in accordance with the stipulations or terms of the contract or agreement.FALSIFICATION OF A VALID CONTRACT – only the unauthorized insertions will be disregarded; the original terms and stipulations should be considered valid and subsisting for the partied to fulfill. 1160. Obligations derived from quasi-contracts shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 1, title 17 of this book. QUASI-CONTRACT – juridical relat ion resulting from lawful, voluntary and unilateral acts by virtue of which, both parties become bound to each other, to the end that no one will be unjustly enriched or benefited at the expense of the other. (See Article 2142) 1)NEGOTIORUM GESTIO – juridical relation which takes place when somebody voluntarily manages the property affairs of another without the knowledge or consent of the latter; owner shall reimburse the gestor for necessary and useful expenses incurred by the latter for the performance of his function as gestor. (2)SOLUTIO INDEBITI – something is received when there is no right to demand it and it was unduly delivered through mistake; obligation to return the thing arises on the part of the recipient. (e. g. If I let a storekeeper change my P500 bill and by error he gives me P560, I have the duty to return the extra P60) 1161.Civil obligations arising from criminal offenses shall be governed by the penal laws, subject to the provisions of Article 21 77, and of the pertinent provisions of Chapter 2, Preliminary in Human Relations, and of Title 18 of this book, regulating damages. Governing rules: 1. Pertinent provisions of the RPC and other penal laws subject to Art 2177 Civil Code [Art 100, RPC – Every person criminally liable for a felony is also civilly liable] 2. Chapter 2, Preliminary title, on Human Relations ( Civil Code ) 3. Title 18 of Book IV of the Civil Code – on damages †¢Every person criminally liable for a felony is also criminally liable (art. 00, RPC) CRIMINAL LIABILITY INCLUDES: (a)RESTITUTION – restoration of property previously taken away; the thing itself shall be restored, even though it be found in the possession of a third person who has acquired it by lawful means, saving to the latter his action against the proper person who may be liable to him. (b)REPARATION OF THE DAMAGE CAUSED – court determines the amount of damage: price of a thing, sentimental value, etc. (c)INDEM NIFICATION FOR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES – includes damages suffered by the family of the injured party or by a third person by reason of the crime. Effect of acquittal in criminal case: . when acquittal is due to reasonable doubt – no civil liability b. when acquittal is due to exempting circumstances – there is civil liability c. when there is preponderance of evidence – there is civil liability 1162. Obligations derived from quasi-delicts shall be governed by the provisions of chapter 2, title 17 of this book, and by special laws. QUASI-DELICT (culpa aquiliana) – an act or omission by a person which causes damage to another giving rise to an obligation to pay for the damage done, there being fault or negligence but there is no pre-existing contractual relation between parties. (See Article 2176)REQUISITES: a. omission b. negligence c. damage caused to the plaintiff d. direct relation of omission, being the cause, and the damage, being the effect e. no pre-existing contractual relations between parties Fault or Negligence – consists in the omission of that diligence which is required by the nature of the obligation and corresponds with the circumstances of the person, time, and of the place. BASIS DELICTS QUASI-DELICTS 1. INTENT Criminal/ malicious Negligence 2. INTEREST Affects PUBLIC interest Affects PRIVATE interest 3.LIABILITY Criminal and civil liabilities Civil liability 4. PURPOSE Purpose – punishment Indemnification 5. COMPROMISE Cannot be comprised Can be compromised 6. GUILT Proved beyond reasonable doubt Preponderance of evidence CHAPTER 2 NATURE AND EFFECT OF OBLIGATIONS 1163. Every person obliged to give something is also obliged to take care of it with the proper diligence of a good father of a family, unless the law or the stipulation of the parties requires another standard of care. Speaks of an obligation to care of a DETERMINATE thing (that is one which is specific; a thing identified by its indi viduality) which an obligor is supposed to deliver to another. †¢Reason: the obligor cannot take care of the whole class/genus DUTIES OF DEBTOR: †¢Preserve or take care of the things due. ? ~DILIGENCE OF A GOOD FATHER – a good father does not abandon his family, he is always ready to provide and protect his family; ordinary care which an average and reasonably prudent man would do. -Defined in the negative in Article 1173 ~ANOTHER STANDARD OF CARE – extraordinary diligence provided in the stipulation of parties. ? ~FACTORS TO BE CONSIDERED – diligence depends on the nature of obligation and corresponds with the circumstances of the person, time, and place. ** Debtor is not liable if his failure to deliver the thing is due to fortuitous events or force majeure†¦ without negligence or fault in his part. †¢Deliver the fruits of a thing †¢Deliver the accessions/accessories †¢Deliver the thing itself †¢Answer for damages in case of non-fulfillment or breach

Improved communication technology and transport Essay

People can live and work anywhere they want to choose, because of improved communication technology and transport, do the advantage of this development outweigh disadvantages? Until a few decades ago, the majority of workers commuted to their work places in order to perform their job abilities. As information technology has become more common in our life, this phenomenon has changed. Instead of wasting employees’ valuable time on commuting to and from corporates, quite a number of companies are establishing and offering a chance of remote working to their employees. In this essay, advantages and disadvantages regarding this ongoing trend is posed with some applicable supports. To begin with, remote work provides job opportunities to dual income parents who have young children to look after, and it would remove geographical boundaries which allow corporates to recruiting highly skilled professionals or relatively cheap workers from overseas. Secondly, there would be a significant increase in employees’ productivity. According to a report from the USA, numerous experts have contended that an increase of 20 percent in workers’ productivity can be expected due to less time spending in commuting and more flexible working hours. Moreover, since there would be less need for having a huge office that requires expensive rent and fees for facilities, cost reduction is expected to corporates. Lastly, due to a consumption of fossil fuel is the main cause of global warming and air pollution, working from home can reduces gas-intensive commutes, and energy using in buildings. Be that as it may, there are several drawbacks have also been reported. An expert from IT industry has argued that reduced human contact can lead to feelings of loneliness and isolation due to a lack of face-to-face interaction. Furthermore, misinterpretation can occur between employees and there would be difficulties for managers to supervise employees’ job performance when people only communicate and work via online. Finally, the benefits which the company generates as a result of telecommuting can be offset by an increase in employees’ home facility costs for remote work.

Consider the way genre conventions are used in the opening sequence of Blade Runner Essay Example

Consider the way genre conventions are used in the opening sequence of Blade Runner Essay Example Consider the way genre conventions are used in the opening sequence of Blade Runner Paper Consider the way genre conventions are used in the opening sequence of Blade Runner Paper Essay Topic: Film Oliver Twist Blade Runner was made in 1982 and was directed by Ridley Scott. Made a long time after the classic Noir film making period of the forties and fifties, this neo noir sci-fi thriller was a bricolage of genres and highly original. Described as visually overwhelming, this movie has become a cult classic, and there are few films that have managed to achieve its originality, mood and suspense. The narrative is typical Noir set in a dystopian future Los Angeles. Disillusioned blade Runner Rick Deckard (Harrison Ford) is hired to track down six replicants (more commonly thought of as androids or robots) who are out of control. Typically labyrinthine, as the narrative continues it picks up the femme fatal and other trade marks of classic forties detective fiction, as Deckard stumbles after his quarry in a tough, tough, world. The scene I am looking at is the introduction, the opening sequence of Blade Runner. It is key because it suggests things to the audience through the genre conventions it uses, because the audience will recognise them. Noir opening sequences are very dramatic usually. They create a feeling of claustrophobia and impending doom. They are often what makes a noir stand out and are re-used in other films, for instance the Coen brothers Blood Simple was almost exactly the same as the opening to Double Indemnity, and it is the kind of classic noir opener that is often seen in other films of the genre. Also the opening of any film sets the mood, tone and, most importantly, the expectations of the audience. I am going to explore the genre conventions that are used in the opening sequence, especially the noir conventions, and look at how they are used, and to what effect. I will also look at audience expectations, and how the conventions used create them. Genre is a term often just associated with classification. It is a lot more than that. Each film genre has its own set of conventions that distinguishes it from other films from other genres and builds expectations within the audience. Inflecting those expectations or subverting and merging them with others does alter an audiences perception of the film. Phillip Drummond says They (genres) respond to rules and conventions by developing formulas and patterns of theme, character and iconography (the repertory of visual motifs) He also states that genres need to stay the same to survive, and also, for precisely the same reason, need to retain the possibility of innovation and change Blade Runner is an example of such innovation and change. All these conventions and rules form a language which the viewer learns through years of watching film, and subconsciously reads. Each genre has its own language, a set of symbols and conventions which distinguish it from other genres. My approach to the study will be an iconography approach to genre study, as it embraces not only looking at classification but the way a film looks, its language, and its continuity and change. There are other conventions such as sound which must be considered, and things like character stereotypes, narrative structure and themes that its harder to explore in one scene. Foster Hirsch describes Film Noir as as a descriptive term for the American crime film as it flourished, roughly from the early forties to the late fifties It became known as Noir because of its dark look, a look that came from the German expressionist movement. It created its own conventions, and created a whole new style of lighting, low-key lighting. Low key lighting was a style where the main characters wouldnt always be lit up in full, and would not only leave many parts of their face and body in shade, but also parts of the set and scenery. It was a dark image that created a world full of contrasting patterns of light and dark and would create a dark, tense, claustrophobic and secretive atmosphere. It wasnt just a style, or a technique to create suspense, but symbolic representation of a dark reality. A scared reflection of a modern world that lacked morals. Where people always seemed to be I the dark because of lack of knowledge, or because they were secretly greedy and lustful. It represented hidden emotions and a clash between good and evil that was almost daily. The film doesnt just use Noir conventions. From the outset it is clear that science fiction has big role to play as the sequence opens up with a scrolling text. This is a most common part of sci-fi, that even without such words as replicant and Blade Runner to highlight the genre, we understand that it has been used in such sci-fi greats as Star Wars, and that it is an essential part of informing the audience of the setting of the sci-fi. The script, however, is in red this hints at the types of emotions the film is going have in it, such as anger and lust, but also tells us that it isnt going to be like Star Wars and the others, and will have a different edge to it. The text sets other expectations as well, of the narrative. It tells that a Blade Runner (and what a Blade Runner is) will be hunting down what are in essence outlaws, giving the audience an idea of what other genres the film will be drawing on. It could be interpreted as a western, but sounds like one of the more classic chases of the noir crime genre. The lone detective in a world of deceit and lies trying to find the truth. Next we are given the date and location. While the fact that is 2019 tells us it is Sci-fi, the location of Los Angeles is most definitely the site of most crime stories, and a classic Noir location. Also the hero is a world weary cynic, as up to this point he had been retired, so he knows his stuff. This is the classic hero/anti-hero that noir loves to use. The slow moving tracking shot of the city is the next thing that appears, and it to has its Noir elements. While it is most definitely a futuristic setting, it is also dystopian. Film Noirs world is almost indefinitely dark, as this city is. The world of Noir is not just dark, it is a setting for lust, greed, mystery and corruption. This city is the kind of opening shot most Noir directors would have dreamt of. It has many levels, which could be symbolic of the different levels of corruption in this city, and it is also massive. It is perplexingly complex, yet almost totally dark. This wide angle establishing shot is breath-takingly presented in the first few moments, yet what the eye is drawn to the most is the large bursts of flame appearing from different parts of the screen. Fire is a classic symbol of Noir, standing for corruption, burning anxiety and Hell, where most of the characters in this film are headed for, or so it suggests. The fiery colour are juxtaposed to the blackness, and make an interesting contrast. It is not only symbolic therefor, but also a device to create mood and suspense. The next thing that strikes us is a sort of lying car, obviously a land mark of the future, and something that has become a classic symbol of sci-fi. It is not just that though, as the theme of escape has always been one a the very heart of noir. The actual doing it is always in question, as noir is a fatalist genre where it seems that the characters cant escape their eventual fate. The car is not just a symbol of that escapist theme, but is also seemingly moving away from the city (the place always to escape from), and is a more actual than just symbolic reference to escape. Earth looks like a dispiriting place that people would want to escape from, probably to the off earth colonies. The images created make the city seem threatening, a place where people are trapped and doomed, and this is also a major part of noir. Not just a theme, but a feel, an atmosphere that is created. From this opening we know that the opposite of this world an agrarian paradise would be the utopia that would be the place to escape to. Again the colonies seem to provide that answer, they are places where there is space, somewhere to be able to see things, somewhere better to live. It then cuts to a blue eye with fire reflected in it, juxtaposed with the colour of the eye to a startling effect, and also used as a symbolic reference to film Noir. We have no idea who the eye belongs to at this point, but we assume one of the main characters. The eye is not just an interesting opening sequence device to shake up the mood, but a running theme throughout the film. Not only that but it is an allusion to one of the central themes of Noir, the act of seeing. Vision as a whole is a theme often in question, how it can be clouded, whether characters see what they want to see, and in a dark genre such as Noir, the actual physical, and not just metaphorical, act of seeing becomes a central preoccupation of the viewer. Before this shot the tracking shot didnt seem have any destination, but we cut back to the tracking shot and our attention is drawn to pair of large, triangular buildings with white beams of light coming from the top. The chiaroscuro pattern of light and dark recurs throughout noir, and these make a classic symbol. As J. A Place and L. S Peterson describe in Some visual motifs of Fil Noir it is the constant opposition of light and dark that characterises noir cinematography. Small areas of light seem on the verge of being totally overwhelmed by the darkness that threatens from all sides. And this is exactly what we can see here. It is towards these we now head. Because of the expectations created by the opening sequence so far, the audience already has a certain understanding of what is going to happen. Not just in the narrative, but in what the expect to see. Remembering the shot of the flying car, the viewer will probably realise, now we have a destination, that we seem to be on o ne these. That is was is taking us to our apparent destination of the two buildings, and the shot can now be recognised as having some practical relevance to the film. It is not just some grandiose sci-fi opener, but an integral part of the film, accustoming the audience to the feel of the film, and the world they are entering. This very continues the custom of Noir openings, where you are placed in the world of the characters, either by being in a car in the rain (Blood Simple, Coen Brothers 1983, Double Indemnity, Billy Wilder 1944) or by travelling the seedy back streets of the inner city in another way. This time we are just travelling above. We cut back to a medium shot of a man standing in a smoky room, extremely reminiscent of a private detectives office. It is small, cramped badly lit, and the unnerving sound of a huge fan whirring. The fan is a classic symbol of Noir because of the way it emphasises the claustrophobia of cramped spaces, and because it has a knack of creating the image of jail with a juxtaposed pattern of light and dark splashed across small walls. It does its job well here, and not only creates a enclosed atmosphere in seconds, but really does add to the Noir feeling of the film. Of course it looks out of place, as the so far we have seen nothing but futuristic images, albeit unpleasant ones. This image is obviously contrasted with the others so sharply to create a shock. It is at this point that the audience get their first proper idea of genre mixing, as well as the possibility of archetypal characters appearing, and certain narrative conventions being followed. This is true, and there is a lot of noir conventions that appear throughout the film, but the old set up against a futuristic backdrop is indicative of the film itself. Its set is a mixture of superior technological advancements set in an almost industrial age city, which cramped living style and industrial smear reminds you of something from Oliver Twist, or gangster movies set during the Great Depression. Ridley Scott managed to use Noir conventions to create this dystopian vision. The connotations that this Noir imagery carries are important in helping the audience pre-determine the narrative, recognise the themes, and creating a mood. We cut back to the approach to the building until we settle inside the office. Then we again cut back to the approach. We can see the office through a window, as well as the building it is situated in. Up close it is a grimy, metallic, but definitely futuristic in its design. We cut back to the office, and see that it has a table and two chairs. A computers voice opens the scene introducing one of the characters with his name, occupation and how long hes worked. The edge interview that follows is typically Noir. There are long pauses, awkward silences, and interviewed character is very defensive. The interviewer is shot at the end when the interviewee delivers a line that carries all the hidden threat and innuendo that a bad guy would want to carry in a Noir. Let me tell you about my mother. The non-diegetic music running through the entire opening sequence shout sci-fi, it is dreamy and electronic, a winding piece that fits perfectly with the setting and establishes a very futuristic and dystopian mood. As a film student I have been able to recognise many elements of the opening that suggest the mixture of Noir with Sci-Fi. These images and clues were put their purposefully and were supposed to let the viewer know the nature of the film within minutes. It is questionable, however, to whether this theory is correct, and whether it is possible to tell such things from a film language. The film was slated when it first came out, and did appallingly at the box office. This could be due to peoples expectations being focused totally on the Sci-Fi element of the film from the beginning because they missed the signs. Then when the film did not conform to their expectations the were disappointed. I use myself as a perfect example, as when I watched when I was younger I was very confused by the lack of action in the film and did not pick up on the Noir elements. Ultimately, though, that is because of my lack of knowledge of Noir at the time. The beauty of the film is that it confuses expectations from the very start and does not promise anything specific, other than the fact that you know it will have elements in from both noir and sci-fi. We have already read from the opening that the future appears to be bleak and threatening, and yet many elements from the past have survived. We also have expectations of the characters and the narrative from the opening dialogue. It is all picked up through an understanding of the language of film, and the more film we watch the more we will be able to read that language. The noir iconography in this opening sequence is not explicit until the scenes in the office, but it is always there.

Responsibilities of Management in International Business within Essay

Responsibilities of Management in International Business within Lockheed Martin - Essay Example In the process, despite a well-published code of ethics, Lockheed Martin's history is not exactly a good example of managerial experience. Domain of business. Lockheed Martin is an arms manufacturer said to be one of the world's largest and most influential corporations. Three of its many focus areas are weapons systems, social services, and homeland security. (Polaris Institute, n.d.). Having profiled the corporation "to provide information to activists and citizens concerned with the power Lockheed Martin wields over their lives and the lives of others" Polaris Institute (n.d.) says Lockheed Martin is one of the most politically connected corporations in the world. With its focus on high technology, it was able to get involved with the US Postal Service, the Department of Defense, the Social Security Administration, and the Transportation and Security Administration among others, it said. Sales. In 2003, Lockheed Martin was said to report sales of $31.8 billion, some $3.2 billion of which came from its information and technology (IT) services division. Of that amount, 40 percent came from defense services, 37 percent from IT and 23 percent from NASA. As reported by Arthur Johnson, Lockheed Martin's senior vice president of corporate strategic development, IT sales make about a quarter of Lockheed Martin's revenue, most of which comes from the federal government(Gerin 2004). All in all, seventy eight percent of this business was with the United States Government and 18% of the corporation's sales are from their international customers (Polaris Institute, n.d.) Last year, sales for the first six months rose to 17.8 billion dollars from 17.1 billion dollars, despite a drop in deliveries of F-16 fighter jets. For 2005, this biggest U.S. Defense contractor and top seller of secure computer systems saw net profit jump 41 per cent to 830 million dollars in the first six months (Bauer 2005). Also strong on missile defences, Lockheed Martin's integrated electronic combat systems and military space programmes projects 2005 sales of up to 38 billion dollars (Ibid.). III. Business Ethics Lockheed Martin that specializes in a host of products and services for the federal government has dramatically raised its ethics and business conduct program since the mega-corporation merger in 1995. With 65 "ethics officers" around the United States, it requires its 130,000 employees to devote at least an hour a year to consider the ethical issues of the business, at a cost of millions of dollars per year (Terris 2005). History of lawsuits. Lockheed Martin is said to have a long list of lawsuits and controversies, one of where the company paid $38 million to settle claims for their alleged failure in providing complete and accurate cost in bidding for a large foreign military sales contract (Polaris institute, n.d). Following a series of bribery, overcharging, and corruption scandals in the 1970s and 1980s, it formed its ethics program (Terris 2005). When interviewed in Ethically Speaking: News from The International Center for Ethics, Justice and Public Life at Brandeis University, Terris who wrote a case study on Lockheed Martin Corporation. was said to comment: "If U.S. corporations are spending millions of dolla

Was Plutarco really a person as history describes or a person Almada Essay

Was Plutarco really a person as history describes or a person Almada depicted in her documentary, El General Did Almada personalize to examine her controversial ancestor, Plutarco Calles - Essay Example The contrast lies in the sense that while history portrays him as the Puppet President, the one who has Catholic blood on his hands, the one who deceived many to make his way through, on the other hand, Almada portrays him to be reasonable, logical and nonetheless ‘humane’ in contrast to popular opinion. One will have to explore facts and indulge in an in-depth study in this context to be fair in an analysis, and to explore as to which side of the story holds more truthful value. The paper aims at exploring the mainstream history books popular not just in Mexico but rather in the world. The study will focus on how Plutarco is portrayed and perceived in the world, also how the opinion has been altered. Furthermore, the opinions will be contrasted with data from the documentary produced by Almada who is Calles` great grand-daughter. This data will reflect how a daughter perceived her father, i.e. the firsthand account of someone who was directly associated with the much co ntroversial figure. Thus, based on the analysis, contrasts would be made to predicate how history is de-shaped and de-framed by the historians. Calles is essentially portrayed as someone who was deeply indulged in a power struggle throughout his life, which poses certain paradoxes. He is perceived as a rather controversial yet revolutionary figure, a President who failed to deliver his promises, deported priests on a massive scale, destroyed covenants, closed Catholic schools while he was facing a huge scaled rebellion. However, he sent his daughter to the United States, and that too to study at a Catholic school. This poses a question-mark over the issue i.e. if he hated Catholics such deeply, why would he want his daughter to be indulged in an education purely based on those values he abhorred. Historically, Calles was many things, portrayed by mainstream history, i.e. a school teacher, a Guaymas native, someone who went as far as to become