Film Analysis of the Matrix free essay sample

Since the invention of film, many movies have earned their place as benchmarks in cinema history, such as Casablanca, citizen kane, and The Wizard of Oz. All of these have been (and still are) looked upon as iconic examples of creative and intuitive filmmaking. In today’s society, films are chock full of special effects, whether its gunshots, explosions, or aliens; some films nowadays can even make money without a good plot, peppering the viewer with nonstop action sequences with no thought for story or character development (Avatar, Transformers, etc. There are millions of people that go to see movies like this every year and are entertained, but experienced moviegoers are not so enthralled by this action marinated idiocy. Good action movies are written and directed by people that care equally about visuals and characters, and not just spewing special effects at the observer and hoping the flood of mindless paraphernalia will provide them with money to create a string of equa lly bad sequels and knockoffs. We will write a custom essay sample on Film Analysis of the Matrix or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The Matrix, (written and directed by the wachowski Brothers) is one such movie. It perfectly melds together underlying symbolism, special effects, and Visual style to create one of the greatest science fiction films of all time. The Matrix contains many instances of symbolism that range from religious to philosophical. Gnosticism is the main religious influence in the matrix; (Gnosticism as an offshoot of Christianity, in which knowledge instead of faith is what its followers strive for). In The matrix, the main group of characters has broken free from the illusion of the matrix. In essence, knowledge is what frees them, (only people that have become partially aware that the matrix is an illusion are chosen to be rescued from it). The Gnostic version of God created the world, but is also responsible for all of the suffering that occurs in it. But the chosen Gnostics ascend above the suffering with their newfound pursuit of knowledge. The matrix parallels this idea with the character of the architect. The architect created the matrix, and is responsible for all suffering in it; But the few that suspect the falsity of the matrix break free and see the truth of what it really is. The most prevalent philosophical influence is Platos cave. Platos cave is, at its simplest, an idea that the real world is an illusion, explained in his writing The Republic. In the cave allegory, several people are bound in a cave with their heads facing the wall, unable to turn their heads. Behind them there are a number of torches casting shadows onto the wall. These people (as they cannot turn their heads and see outside the cave) believe that the real world is entirely made up of the shadows. One day someone escapes their bonds and sees the world for what it really is. He in turn tries to free the other prisoners and show them the truth about life. This idea is also mirrored in The Matrix; the matrix (the world humanity lives in) Is fake, and the people that have escaped go back into it to try to free others. Special effects in film can be represented by many different concepts; and The Matrix is no exception. The Wachowskis are big comic book fans, and drew from their affection of that medium to create the movie. The fight scenes defy the laws of physics and are mostly created with the use of Wire Fu (the name derives from the use of wires to do impossible stunts in Martial arts action films). Almost all the fight scenes embrace this technique to do impossible things such as running on walls, jumping over gigantic gaps and fighting in mid air. Another famous effect from The Matrix is the bullet time effect. The effect is when time stops and the camera flies freely around characters and objects suspended in mid air. This effect shows the audience the action in the scenes without overwhelming them with too much fast movement. And when the effect is paired with numerous instances of slow motion; the impact of the film is increased astronomically. Visual style is one of the films major strong points which separate it from other films such as Star Wars, or Independence day. The Matrix and the real world have many subtle differences that separate them; for one thing, the matrix is always tinted in green whereas the real world (in the film) is displayed in a more normalized manner. The film further differentiates the two settings with their physical representation. The only part of the Matrix we are shown is a city, full of straight lines, like a Grid. Thomas Anderson’s Workplace is an office full of cubicles, which re enforces the mentality that the Matrix is artificial, like the lines of code that we eventually see make up the matrix. The other main setting is the ship â€Å"The Nebuchadnezzar†. The ship has straight lines, but is also full of Curves and other organic shapes. The costuming in the movie is also very unique, whenever the main characters enter the Matrix; they are clothed in Leather, suites, and/or sunglasses. The costumes separate the characters from the monotony of the Matrix. The Camera in The Matrix is very active compared to other films. There are tons of authorial shots in the movie, cameras fly through the air, zoom and dissolve from computer monitors to interrogation chambers, and the setting can change from shot to shot in one scene. The nature of the camera is another concept drawn from The Wachowski’s love of comic books; where the camera can virtually be placed anywhere. The Matrix is seen by many as a simple sci-fi action film, but few grasp how creative and intuitive of a film it is. It shows us that the sci-fi genre doesnt always involve aliens and spaceships, but that most threats to humanity originate from humanity itself. The movie uses special effects as a tool to advance the story, and not as a way to distract the audience from areas the film lacks quality in. It may not excel in every category, but it fails at none. The Matrix is not only one of historys best science fiction films, but one of the best films ever.

Colonization Within France Essays - Eugen Weber, Peasant

Colonization Within France Essays - Eugen Weber, Peasant Colonization within France Weber, Eugen. Peasants into Frenchmen: The Modernization of Rural France 1870-1914. Stanford: Stanford Univ. Press. 1976. The nineteenth century witnessed a massive amount of change on almost all levels. The birth of liberal democracy during the French Revolution continued to expand as the growing middle classes demanded more political power to be equal with the economic clout. Nationalism began to play a significant role in the way people and countries viewed themselves. The flourishing Industrial Revolution is what gave rise to the middle class as they were about to use the technological advances in transportation, communications, and the production of energy to enhance their position in society. While a growing number of people flocked to the cities in search of a better life, a substantial portion of the population remained in the countryside and isolated to the changes of the century. Eugen Weber states in his introduction how he had always been fascinated with how there existed two cultures within France during the last part of the nineteenth century, and the works which piqued this interest. In 1944 Roger Thabault wrote about the changes in culture and politics which occurred in several French villages from 1848 until 1914. Four years later Andr? Varagnac, a folklorist, shifted the emphasis from the villages to the countryside when he wrote about how the traditions of the peasants died and were not replaced during this same period. Eugen Weber attempts to combine the methodology of these two studies to illustrate how disconnected France was and through the modernization which occurred during the first forty-five years of the Third Republic that France truly became a unified nation. In the first section of the book Weber describes "the way things were" prior to 1870. Within these first eleven chapters Weber illustrates how these peasants did not speak French, were not aware of the metric system, still maintained their local currencies, and had little access to the world outside their village due to poor roads. Without such a commonality of language or systems Weber believes that it would be impossible to think that France, particularly the country side, had a national consciousness. For those city-dwellers who did venture into the hinterlands they looked at themselves as an explorer or missionary trying to tame a "country of savages". They were dismayed to find that there were still large parts of the country where French was not understood. It was widely believed that the peasants needed to become French. The next nine chapters contains the most important section of the book; Weber aims to show how the peasants were made into Frenchmen through modernization. Weber focuses on the triumvirate of expansion and improvement of roads, military service, and compulsory education as the primary "agencies of change". An extensive system had been in existence in France for quite some time, but in the period under study Weber explains that many of these roads did not reach the hinterlands. The new by-roads allowed for formally isolated areas, e.g. Brittany, to become physically connected with France. The humiliating defeat to the Prussians compelled the stricter enforcement of conscription into military service forced young men to learn French and come into contact with people from outside his region. As peasant children's attendance at school started to improve after the improvement of roads and the educational reforms of Jules Ferry were implemented during the 1880's they began to ! learn the French language of Paris and what it was to be French. While their parents would speak their patois, these regional languages would eventually diminish with them. In the final section of the book states that these regional languages and several other elements of peasant popular culture would become "changed and assimilated" into a greater French culture. The old traditions had changed. No longer was there an inherent fear of outsiders as the peasants began to see in the utility of them in aiding them with trade and industry. The old oral tradition of the veil?ethe time spent with the community between supper and bedtime working and keeping warmdied as the peasants moved into warmer homes and began to enjoy the privacy of the family. In his conclusion, Weber attempts to use his thesis for broader implications. Weber

Stock Market Paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Stock Market Paper - Essay Example History of the Company After the success of Walt Disney Land in California, Walt Disney had the idea of creating an even bigger resort which would include all different kinds of fantasy worlds in which people could lose themselves. When it opened, just outside of Orlando, Florida it covered approximately 107 acres; the theme park portion of the resort was referred to as The Magic Kingdom. It featured Adventureland, Fantasyland, Frontierland, Liberty Square, Tomorrowland, Main Street USA, and about 5,500 cast members (#2). Resort planners intentionally scheduled the opening in October, as opposed to the summer months because they wanted the opening numbers to be small, having learned their lesson from the issues that arose with the opening of Walt Disney Land. Walt Disney World was to be so much larger than Walt Disney Land, and the planners wanted to ensure that Walt’s dream was realized without a hitch; if issues arose due to the increased size and cast, they would be easier to deal with and identify with a smaller amount of guests. They had 10,000 guests on opening day. In addition to The Magic Kingdom, there were two hotels that were included in the resort itself, the Contemporary and the Polynesian Village (#2). Product Lines Walt Disney World has several different product lines that are all incorporated around the resort and theme park itself, having expanded to include three additional theme parks, and two water parks, as well as numerous hotels; the theme parks now include The Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. The water parks now present are Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and Disney’s Blizzard Beach. This does not include the other branches of entertainment that Disney has added, like the Disney Cruise Lines (#3). Walt Disney World’s customer base includes â€Å"children of all ages;† they work to be geared towards all ages of clientele (though if you look too much lik e a Disney character, you may be kicked out of the park (#4).) Marketing Strategy There are many different marketing strategies employed by Walt Disney World, from the computer generated image of the park that is now present at the beginning of each and every Walt Disney film, to the commercials advertising Walt Disney World, all the way down to references to the theme park that are included in movies of all genres, but the marketing strategies of the park do not stop there. With a steep price tag to get into the park itself (over $80 (#5) per person, per day), there are many people who feel like though they may want a souvenier to commemorate their trip, but that the additional price tag is too expensive. Disney’s got the customer covered there too. They introduced three inch tall Vinylmation figurines for $10 each, everything from the characters themselves, to the attractions that are present in the park. The catch behind these souvenirs is that they come in unmarked boxes – consumers never know which one they will get (sort of like a souvenir grab bag); the nice thing about this marketing ploy is that if the consumer does not like the one they get, there are three opened figurines placed by the register, and the buyer may choose to swap out the one they got for one of the three present at the register itself (#5); this ensures that additional items are purchased, as people love the mystery, and offers them a semi-guarantee that they will

Out of Gas and the Quest for Renewable Energy Resources and Simpler Term Paper

Out of Gas and the Quest for Renewable Energy Resources and Simpler Lifestyles During the 1950s - Term Paper Example These changes transformed standards of living, where people evolved from being small-time energy users to ultimately becoming insatiable energy consumers. Second, Goldstein discusses Hubbert’s prediction on oil, coal, and natural production and consumption levels. Hubbert forecasted that the United States will reach the peak of its oil production in the 1970s. Furthermore, Hubbert also showed that the estimated two trillion barrels of oil in the world will run out too, and that the crisis will begin, not until people have consumed the last drop of oil, but when they reached the peak of its production. Goldstein is arguing that people should wake up to the certainty that the world is running out of gas, and that continuously depending on fossil fuels alone would not be enough to respond to the energy needs of the future. He explores different alternative energy resources and explains the advantages and disadvantages of each source. He predicts that based on the rate-of-conversi on problems, the production of existing alternative fuels will not be enough to substitute for oil demand, unless vast progress on their technologies can be attained in a few years. Goldstein notes that ethanol is renewable energy, but is a negative energy resource, because of the production costs. ... On the contrary, it presents considerable safety and nuclear waste issues. Moreover, it cannot power ordinary automobiles. Goldstein finds promising developments in hydrogen-based energy production and improving battery technology to power up the transportation industry. Cars can run on advanced batteries and transport people and goods over short routes. Hydrogen is clean energy, but further research has to be done to improve its efficient production. Moreover, Goldstein is asking his readers to live simpler lives that will reduce energy consumption. I believe in the Hubbert Peak Theory, because the moment society reaches the peak of oil production, tumbling down becomes much faster, like the bell curve production that Hubbert generated. We just need to take a good look at our own lives and around us to see how much we use up energy. We use it in everything we do. In our cars, in lighting our homes and workplaces, in using our computers, tablets, cellular phones, and MP3 players, and even in producing gadgets that do not use up electrical energy like brooms and pens. Multiply that usage across the world, and especially in booming economies, where energy expenditure rises like tidal waves, and we get a rough idea of what unbridled energy consumption means. Once we reach peak oil, gas, and coal production, by that time, our consumption rates must have increased too, as population rates soar and people grow older and use more goods and tools. As a result, our consumption exceeds the rate of oil production, and we plummet down Hubbert’s bell curve. And we do not get to rise up again in another bell curve of oil production, since oil reserves are not unlimited. This is reality, a reality we have to face and to prepare

Canton City School District Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Canton City School District - Term Paper Example It is also possible that some or all of the group members could have poor communication skills; thus making the efficiency of the team poor. Canton City School District runs many public school institutions that serve a large number of students in the U.S. The schools range from elementary, middle, to high schools. The schools have different administrations that work to provide the children who enroll in them with quality education. In a study conducted recently, it was established that the group of institutions have been performing below their expected standards due to several reasons. These reasons include role conflicts among the administration groups, poor communication, lack of cohesiveness in groups with diverse members, and excessive conflicts in the groups. This paper will discuss how each of the identified problems could impact a group’s productivity. Role conflicts within groups Role conflicts in groups are common phenomena. While some roles may be well spelt out in t erms of the competence level required, some could be handled by all the members of the selected groups. Normally, people like to take up the roles that are less physically and mentally demanding while they are working on a group project. This becomes a great challenge when the members of a given group refuse to take up on some of the tasks that they are assigned. In some groups, the leaders may choose to assign the challenging tasks to specific people. Picking on team members may be a manifestation of rivalry at work, which has adverse effects on the performance of the human assets (Gaunt, 2011). There are many negative results that emanate from role conflicts within a group. First, the competence level that employees apply while working on conflicted tasks is rarely high enough to give the required results. When some of the members feel like they have been treated unfairly in the allocation of group tasks, they get demoralized to give their best performance (Gaunt, 2011). Second, w hen a group disagrees about the roles in the group, the organization of the group becomes dysfunctional. Most groups disagree about the leadership roles. Everyone in a group may be striving to assume leadership so that they can have the authority and power to boss the rest of the group. In other cases, there may be parties in the group who do not approve of some leaders. This breaks down the cooperation factor that is required in a group. Group conflicts slow down the rate at which the team works on the designated assignment. The members spend more time arguing things out rather than working on the relevant activities. The competence level of the members is also significantly lowered since they lack a motivating factor within the group. This eventually translates to poor performance or total failure in the delegated duties. Members of the conflicting group create rivalry and enmity among themselves and this cripples their ability to articulate ideas. Role conflicts within a group ha ve caused many organizations to fail in the realization of the major stakeholder’s objectives (Gaunt, 2011). Communication problems Communication is a vital aspect of any group work. The members of the group need to have good communication skills so that they can effectively forward their ideas to the rest of the members. Whenever there is a communication breakdown within a group, the members are not able to effectively cooperate when handling the

Water Cost Problem in United States: Expansion and Solution

Water Cost Problem in United States: Expansion and Solution Introduction Over the past one decade, there has been an immense increase in water usage in United States of America. This is as a result of increasing population, as well as advanced development in industries and settlements, among many other reasons. The steady rise of water usage has conversely increased the cost of water in a number of states, which is now being considered as a looming problem. According to latest research, there is an increased outcry from the public domain, regarding the ever-escalating prices of acquiring water. In respect to this, there should be quick solutions into the matter, or else the nation will be burden with outrageous costs of water. Moreover, it must be understood that increased costs of providing water, leads to adverse water shortage, since few people can only afford it. However, a closer look into this situation increases the puzzle on what is the main reason behind water shortages and pollution. (Grimm, et al, 2008) Causes of water shortage and pollution There are a number of causes behind increased water shortage and pollutions; however below are some of the most substantial causes. Increase production of farming and agriculture industry Environmental experts claim that the lack of sustainable agriculture is the biggest challenge or threat to the environment. The increased farming production to counter the inefficient food production, consequentially leads to pollution, deforestation and water shortages. It is believed that agricultural industry wastes around 65% or 1450 trillion liters, of the 2500 trillion liters of water is uses per year. The poor agricultural practice is very harmful to the environment where it drains up rivers, lakes, as well as underground water sources. In return it increases soli salinity, hence degrading its quality. On the other hand, by washing pesticides and pollutants into rivers, the sources of water get polluted at the end of the day. A lot of fingers have been pointed towards leaky irrigation systems, which causes water shortages. Other processes which causes water shortage includes; the cultivation of thirsty crops; pollution by agro-chemicals, and lastly wasteful field application m ethods. However, it must be understood that the waste and pollution of water, is worsened by; poor public awareness of the crisis, misdirected subsidies, and irrational environmental legislation. (Grimm, et al, 2008) Increase in regional heavy industry Over the last decade, there has been an increase in manufacturing and production industries, in various states. This is in line with industrialization vision of America. However, these industries require a lot of water, in order to successfully operate. For instance, large volumes of water are required to cool off huge industrial machines, wash all sorts of raw materials, used as an industrial solvent, among many other uses. The sudden water demand in these industries, has conversely led to water shortage, since there was no enough water reserves to counter such challenges. Consequently, these industries are forced to scramble for the little available water, hence increasing the costs of water in return. Expansion of major cities such as Los Angeles Over the last five decades, the human population America has increased dramatically. This development has been coupled up with urbanizations, where people exploit virgin regions to build towns and settlements. Unfortunately, urbanization of places has negatively affected water ecosystems, resulting to a great loss of biodiversity. For instance, a lot of people are now living near river basins, which are subjected to water stress. With such scenarios, the concerns about water availability increases, while the use of freshwater carries on at unsustainable amounts. The increase in towns and cities, mean that there is an increase in clothing, shelter, and food which results to additional pressure on existing water sources, through the production of the products. Moreover, business and residential developments in these cities and towns puts a lot of pressure on water ecosystems, which in return does nothing but escalates water shortage levels. (Grimm, et al, 2008) Effects Increased water prices in most cities When water becomes scarce due to the aforementioned causes, the public will be forced to brace themselves for tough water prices. For instance, a region like California is experiencing excruciating water prices, due to the drought it is facing. (Seager, 2009) Since it will be costly to supply and fetch for more water due to the shortages, prices will conversely have to go up to cater for extra expenditures. Consequentially, water usage will decrease with the increase in water prices, hence being a serious challenge for America as a nation. Unequal distribution of water resources Water shortages can also be intensified by the unequal distribution of available water over time and space. On the other hand, putting more pressure on the reliable and safe water supply will lead to the government providing water resources unequally. In this case, water resources will have to be distributed in respect to priorities, in order to ensure water reaches more important sectors than others. Major cities facing problem of adapting more urban residents Urbanization normally requires increased water supply so that it can cater for residential purposes. However, the ever growing population in cities implies an increased demand for water, which puts an additional pressure on available fresh water. Since it is the responsibility of city authorities, to provide clean, safe and reliable water, it will be very strenuous to meet all these needs. This will imply that the cities will have trouble accommodating the ever-increasing city population. (Glennon, 2010) Potential biohazard situation may happen in population condensed area There is a possibility of a large population of people to be affected by biohazards, due to this whole situation. For instance, owing to the increasing urbanization and industrialization processes, most important sources of water, such as wetlands have been destroyed. Destruction of wetlands increases the possibilities of serious biohazards to occur and affect condensed populations. This is because wetlands, which are often known to offer a range of ecosystem services that benefit people, from storms, floods, will have been otherwise destroyed, hence putting lives of many in jeopardy. In addition, water shortages will lead to a serious food shortage, which will lead to increased infant mortality, as well as decreased life expectancy for population-condensed areas. Conclusion In many cases, it is always challenging to pin point the main cause of water shortage. Normally, various factors collectively cause this problem. Nonetheless, one fact America is sure of, its economy cannot stand the increasing water shortages. (Glennon, 2010) Subsequently, in order to meet the supply and demand of water, there should be a greater focus on the causes and the solutions of water supply shortages. For instance, the available water resources should be well redistributed in various states. This will ensure that water shortage is cut down, by some extent, since unequal distribution of water normally leads to this menace. For example, regions which have large water demands should be allocated with, a relatively larger water resources, so that it would curb the whole problem. As for heavy industry, a new technology should be embraced, where it will greatly cut down the usage of water. For example, cooling down of industrial machines can be replaced by use of effective fans a nd other coolant systems, instead of using excessive water. This will immensely save water, which can be used to do other equally important activities. (Bouwer, 2002) Then again, the country should also embrace sustainable agricultural practices, which will reduce the usage of water in America. For example, excessive wastage of water, through leaking irrigation systems, can be corrected by using a more cost-effective and water-conserving systems. Those states that are still planting thirsty plants should transfer these farming practices to other alternative places, which will have no effect on the country’s water volume. References Bouwer, H. (2002). Integrated water management for the 21st century: problems and solutions.Journal of Irrigation Drainage Engineering,128(4), 193-202. Glennon, R. J. (2010).Unquenchable: Americas water crisis and what to do about it. Island Press. Grimm, N. B., Faeth, S. H., Golubiewski, N. E., Redman, C. L., Wu, J., Bai, X., Briggs, J. M. (2008). Global change and the ecology of cities.science,319(5864), 756-760. Seager, R., Tzanova, A., Nakamura, J. (2009). Drought in the Southern United States: causes, variability over the last years, and the potential for future hydroclimate change.Journal of Climate,22(19), 5021-5045.

International impact on Telephone Company :: essays research papers

International Internet Telephony has been evolving since its introduction in mid-1990s. With the Information Technology changing rapidly, different companies that work in telecommunications market are using various strategies to stay competitive. The main change has been noticed has been when more and more companies become IP carriers and multiple services providers whereas certain companies have refrained from any expansion into new infrastructure.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  For a growing number of telecommuting workers, a cell phone, a PDA, and a high-speed laptop can be indispensable tools for earning an honest day’s pay. Thus telecommunication companies have to stay competitive in today’s tough market to survive. For example, AOL recently began to offer â€Å"AOL anywhere†, service that allows users to check their email, instant messages, news headlines, stock portfolios, and other key features any time and anywhere. Or there is another service that is available only for AOL members – it is AOL TV that allows its users to do those essential to the users everyday things with their TV. AOL has always been known for providing â€Å"the most convenient and easiest-to-use interactive service available,† and that is why AOL is one of the competitors for telephone companies such as Qwest or AT&T. (http://www.corp.aol.com/whoweare.html) AOL is also the only truly global interactive service provider, offer ing AOL services in 16 countries in 8 languages.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  With the development of technology, customers’ demand is increasing as well. And Thus telephone companies are doing everything they can â€Å"to be on top† of the market. For instance, in 1999, Qwest Communications International, Inc. had an investment into Rhythms NetConnections Inc. for performance-class digital subscriber line (DSL) connectivity to addition that Rhythms has agreed to provide space to Qwest in their local facilities for collocation of call processing equipment and to use Qwest as its preferred web hosting provider. Rhythms provides high-speed networking solutions for remote access to private networks and the Internet. (http://www.qwest.com/about/media/pressroom/1,1720,162_archive,00.html?printVersion=1&xmlFilename=1999Apr07162&storyId=162) As Qwest’s competitor, â€Å"AT&T's continued financial strength helped underwrite growth and improvement, from the multi-billion-dollar digitalization of its entire network, through a sustained move into the international market and nearly 200 countries, to major mergers and acquisitions.† (http://www.att.com/history/history2.html) For example, in 1998, AT&T had invested over $70 billion in the company's future and redefining its services and products. In 1999, AT&T extended its reach through the local service businesses, broadband cable companies and wireless providers that were acquired in the past several years. â€Å"More than 75 percent of its capital investment went into growth businesses, up from 60 percent in 1998.

Art History Essay

I have had to date a career in event and music management. I studied drama at Manchester Met University and then left to work in event and music management. I have had a passion for art since childhood. Over the past three years i have sought to use this enthusiasm to good effect. I focused on discovering new talent and learning about the process of creation and also the curating of exhibitions. This lead to me creating a pop up exhibition for students at Central Saint Martins in a vacant space on the Portland estate in Marylebone. I also worked in collaboration with commercial clients; Art related fashion Installations at The Saint Martin’s lane hotel alongside the Opera Gallery on Bond Street and also in New York for the Morgan’s hotel group. I started up an event management company with two other people. We parted company and i used the quite challenging period after this to rethink my ideas and what i wanted to do with my life. I read around the subject of Art History extensively during this period. I am now assisting my father in his emerging market advisory company. i have persuaded him to consider developing the cultural industries side of the business with a focus on exploring market opportunities in Africa in relation to art. I want to underpin this with increasing my academic and practical knowledge of contemporary art. In the past i have completed number of courses at Central Saint Martin’s school of arts in art politics and also an introduction into curating. In the weekly classes it gave me the basic framework and understanding of contemporary art, artists and museums. Within the curating course you learnt to build ideas on exhibition making and also gain an understanding of historical models of the past that really aided me in my professional collaborations. These courses have motivated me to this point and really cemented the idea of studying in more depth and looking at the business of Art as a career. I am currently attending Morley College and studying a short course in Japanese Prints and French art in the middle ages which are both coming to an end. I looked at the Sotheby’s course in contemporary art and it seems a natural progression from what I have done in the past and will aid to my further studies in the history of art this year and a career in the arts.

My Brothers Choice essays

My Brothers Choice essays Drug abuse In the United States of America, we, the people value several things, some of which are freedom, expanding and taking care of our families and our financial security. We, the people, take such things for granted. We also discourage some behavior, such as crime, laziness and use of illegal drugs. Drug abuse is one of the most discouraged behaviors in our country. Use of illegal drugs is harmful to the user and ~~~ those with whom the user comes in contact. I have a brother that is an alcoholic and user of crack cocaine. As a child he was a loner. He had very few friends, but he mostly kept to himself. When we were growing up, yes my parents both drank, and we had to go through the weekends of parties, hanging out that our parents did. However, my brother was the only one who waited up to see if mom and dad would get home. Perhaps thats when he started to drink. He was a functioning alcoholic since his youth and no one knew. The most popular drug in America, alcohol, is gener~~~y thought of as soci~~~y acceptable and relatively harmless. But it can have devastating effects. Alcohol might seem very harmless but it can harm the user very easily. Alcohol was and continues to be easy to obtain and consume. It is taken as a beverage and, since it is legal, it can be purchased at the corner store. In New York where we grew up, drinking wine was the fad to most of the teens in our era the 60s and 70s. Most of the kids I saw drinking norm~~~y drank a lot in the mornings and weeknights. I never saw my brother drinking, but knew he acted different from the rest of us. My brother was very close to our mother, so when she died he absolutely lost it. He became even more distant and the drinking increased to the point that we could no longer tolerated his behavior. I did not understand his problem, until I became an adult. He was more than a social drinker. Rationalizations and intel...

Free Essays on The Learned Illness

Carillo 1 Debates have been occurring on the classification of alcoholism since early times. Is alcoholism a disease or is it a learned behavior? For most, alcohol is a common factor at parties, celebrations, and perhaps even everyday life. Many people abuse alcohol by developing risky drinking patterns. They develop cravings and a high tolerance, allowing them to increase the intake of alcohol and believe that they need more to satisfy a taste. There is also the loss of control and(,) very importantly(,) the physical dependency. Withdrawal symptoms heighten(,) making it difficult to quit drinking. So, is this term â€Å"alcoholism† really a disease, or can the individual control their behavior? Medical organizations have researched this condition over and over(,) running tests, experimenting, and analyzing. There is potential that the nature of this condition could very well be classified as a disease. Symptoms are one key in defining a disease, but complications come about in the definition. There is a mental obsession with alcohol. One can lose control of their thought processes(,) causing a sense power loss. (this last phrase is confusing – do you mean a loss of sensory power?) This can lead to a physical obsession and compulsion to drink. Although alcoholism has almost been deemed by everyone as incurable, there (replace with â€Å"it†) is the (replace with â€Å"a†) progressive disease. Progressive meaning it makes drastic changes at a subtle pace. It may progress over such an extended time, (delete) that the alcoholic doesn’t realize the changes. In actuality there is no evidence that alcoholism is in fact a disease. It does not even satisfy the meaning of and (spelling: an) illness. Scientific canalizations ( I’m not sure what you mean by this term) have failed in providing concrete facts and solid proof that alcoholism is a learned, and controllable, behavior. An Carillo 2 old A.A. group even... Free Essays on The Learned Illness Free Essays on The Learned Illness Carillo 1 Debates have been occurring on the classification of alcoholism since early times. Is alcoholism a disease or is it a learned behavior? For most, alcohol is a common factor at parties, celebrations, and perhaps even everyday life. Many people abuse alcohol by developing risky drinking patterns. They develop cravings and a high tolerance, allowing them to increase the intake of alcohol and believe that they need more to satisfy a taste. There is also the loss of control and(,) very importantly(,) the physical dependency. Withdrawal symptoms heighten(,) making it difficult to quit drinking. So, is this term â€Å"alcoholism† really a disease, or can the individual control their behavior? Medical organizations have researched this condition over and over(,) running tests, experimenting, and analyzing. There is potential that the nature of this condition could very well be classified as a disease. Symptoms are one key in defining a disease, but complications come about in the definition. There is a mental obsession with alcohol. One can lose control of their thought processes(,) causing a sense power loss. (this last phrase is confusing – do you mean a loss of sensory power?) This can lead to a physical obsession and compulsion to drink. Although alcoholism has almost been deemed by everyone as incurable, there (replace with â€Å"it†) is the (replace with â€Å"a†) progressive disease. Progressive meaning it makes drastic changes at a subtle pace. It may progress over such an extended time, (delete) that the alcoholic doesn’t realize the changes. In actuality there is no evidence that alcoholism is in fact a disease. It does not even satisfy the meaning of and (spelling: an) illness. Scientific canalizations ( I’m not sure what you mean by this term) have failed in providing concrete facts and solid proof that alcoholism is a learned, and controllable, behavior. An Carillo 2 old A.A. group even...

Environmental Fluid Mechanics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Environmental Fluid Mechanics - Essay Example Underground streams, in caves are considered open channels as long as they have free surfaces. Natural channels are usually irregular in cross section and alignment and in character and roughness of stream bed. Streams with erodible material may frequently or continuously shift their location and cross-section. Such irregularities and changes in natural streams introduce engineering problems, for example, in navigation and flood control, which treats only of flow in fixed channels of uniform roughness. Artificial channels are those that are built for various purposes. In water power development, water is brought from streams or reservoirs to head works above water plants. In irrigation, water is brought from streams or reservoirs to storage ponds or tanks or directly to lands to be irrigated. In the city water supply, water is brought from streams or storage reservoirs to ponds supplying city distribution systems. Sewerage, city sewerage, although usually covered conduits or pipes, o rdinarily are designed as open channels because they are not supposed to flow but to have a free surface under atmospheric pressure. In drainage, low-lying, swampy, or waterlogged lands are frequently made productive by draining them through open ditches or by laying and covering pipe which may or may not flow full. In flood control, protection of cities or valuable lands from floods often requires improving a natural channel by straightening, cleaning, or paving to increase its capacity, or buy building additional flood channels on new locations. Design of the open channel: From the topographic map that was taken from the Data Library, University of Edinburgh, the first thing to be done is to modify further the topographic map. The designation of elavations to 1(one) meter interval to get the precise elevation of the pathway of the proposed design of the open channel is important. From the modified topographic map, we are now able to pinpoint the exact location or track of the open channel. From the elevation of Esthwaite water which is 65 meters, it will flow down to an elevation of 39 meters which is the elevation of Windermere Lake. The analysis of the critical points of the channel is very necessary because it will determine the design of the open channel to be constructed. The length of the open channel is approximately 3.25 kilometers from Esthwaite Water to WindermereLake. Assign point 0+000 at the mouth of the channel which is at southern most tip of Esthwaite Water. Hence, cross-section of the open channel track at a 100 meters interval must b e plotted in order to make the specific design or the slope and elevation at that particular place or station. Aside from the plotting of the 100 meter interval of the proposed track, critical points must also be noted and, cross sectional drawings must be done. This is to make sure that the design of the open channel is efficient, and that the estimate to be done in the construction is factual. But as we can see from the open channel layout map, the elevation from the southern tip of Estwaite Water which is station 0+000 to station 2+000 is constant. But at station 0+030, the channel will have to cross a road. The road elevation is at approximately 67 meters as shown in the map, therefore the channel

Teaching and learning challenges and strategies Essay

Teaching and learning challenges and strategies - Essay Example Diversity is both a challenge and opportunity for a teacher. In a heterogeneous classroom, it is typical to encounter different personalities among children, and alongside with these differences is the challenge for the teacher to encourage them to learn. This difficult task is at times neglected by the teachers, thinking that their primary obligation is to teach, only. However, the real scenario contradicts this notion. Since real teaching cannot be employed without student participation, it is the teacher’s task to set her students in the class, in a way that they are motivated to listen and ready to learn. On the other hand, external and internal factors can hinder this process. Using published case studies, reports, books, and educational research, this paper will discuss the challenges of teachers in deploying effective teaching-learning activities and possible teaching strategies which may relieve the problem. Issues relating to the physical/neurological and social probl ems may cripple a child’s ability to learn; and while there is no common teaching strategy applicable to all learners, it is still the teacher’s task to inculcate learning amidst factors that can serve as an obstacle in fulfilling it, through innovation of the known strategies and its application to different learning situation. Part I: Challenges of Teachers in Employing Effective Learning Physiological and Neurological Factors to Hinder Successful Learning Process The cross-disciplinary approach to the learning environment envisions the utilization of real world situations to solve complex problems is called authentic learning (Lombardi, 2007, p. 2). The role of the teacher in the 21st century plan for authentic learning is generally as a â€Å"facilitator† wherein the traditional discussion type’s purpose is only to give a brief knowledge to the children about an information. The rest of the stages are subject to the exploratory activities of the learn ers (please see figure 3 of appendix C). However, finding relevance to activities in connection with reality may not seem to be an easy task for all types of learners. The proliferation of special education substantiated the tremendous change with regard to the treatment of the so-called â€Å"invisible minority,† otherwise known as the disabled population. The term evolved in the turn of modern thoughts which are undiscriminating to various physical and mental conditions as reference of social productiveness. Nowadays, the disabled are acceptably known as â€Å"special people.† In the matters of education, it has been a continuing challenge for teachers of children with special needs to assist learning, though they have taken the necessary, proper education and training needed. The challenge resides within the maxim of education which mentions about the uniqueness of each learner, much so with the uniqueness of learners belonging to the special group. It is therefore imperative that before contemplating on the professional and moral obligations of the teacher, one must be able to answer the several â€Å"why’s† concerning the situation of these children. In the United Kingdom, there are an estimated 1.5 million people who have learning disabilities (Mencap, n.d.), and they are categorized according to the specific condition they posses. However, a common trait existing regardless of categories is their difficulty of information processing. This difficulty is the reason why they are generally separated from the mainstream learning groups. Common conditions which are directly associated with special education is autism and ADHD, and although it is not considered as a â€Å"learning disability,† dyslexia suffers children and becomes a major problem for teachers, all at the same time. In the case of Autism Because of the lack of information regarding this condition, it is more convenient to define it with the corresponding chara cteristics seen from individuals having this disorder. Rudy (2009) defined autism as one of