Mean Creek Essay Example

Mean Creek Essay Example Mean Creek Essay Mean Creek Essay In the film ‘Mean Creek’, the director Jacob Aaron Estes uses visual and verbal techniques to successfully convey the main idea of loss of innocence; this idea is relevant today to teenagers and shows their actions due to it. The main idea is presented to the viewer in three vignettes; banks of the river, burial site, and taking the police to the burial site. In the vignette ‘Banks of the river’ the director successfully displayed the use of verbal and visual techniques to show the relevant idea of loss of innocence.For instance, the visual technique blue filter shows that the characters have become sorrowful because of the death of George; it also makes the setting dark grey-blue which reflects how the characters lost their innocence. Another visual technique was the pull focus from George’s face to other main characters; it creates the effect that George is the centre of attention and he will be engraved in their minds, as they grow up they will rem ember how they lost their innocence and are guilty for George’s death. Further on, the director also uses verbal techniques.For example, Millie frantically screaming â€Å"wake up† to George, previously she was a polite and cheerful girl. This vignette shows her inner anger and sadness resulting in her to lose innocence. Another two verbal techniques that were used were the Foley effect and Lament music. The ‘Foley effect’ was used on the flies making them louder; this emphasises death and that the swarm of flies are on George’s dead body. The Lament music was played by the cello instrument in the background which made the vignette more funereal like.It shows to the viewer that the death is the main focus and that loss of innocence is relevant today because it shows how teenagers can lose it easily as they grow up and the consequences they will face in the present and future mentally. Another vignette that the director used to portray the idea of lo ss of innocence and successfully developed by visual and verbal techniques was the ‘burial site’. The director used the visual technique close up shot. It was used to express the facial features of the main characters.All of the characters were red yet getting pale; it also shows how the characters were hyperventilating because of the death of George. In addition, the director also used an establishing shot of the burial site, the setting at first was fresh and pure green but as the events occurred the vignette became dark and suspenseful. The verbal techniques that the director used were lack of dialogue and sudden silence. In this vignette lack of dialogue was evident as no characters were speaking, only heavily breathing; it shows that the characters were astonished and grieving over George’s death.The sudden silence technique was used when Millie stabbed the slug, nothing was to be heard for a moments. This reflects Millie’s loss of innocence because b efore the death of George she was peaceful and calm. The vignette is relevant today as it shows how an incident can ruin anyone’s life; it also accentuates that It can change the personality of one as they grow up. The ‘taking police to the burial site’ was also a vignette that the director effectively presented the main idea of loss of innocence through visual and verbal techniques.The visual technique mid-shot was used on the creek it shows that the creek was extremely misty and full of shadows giving the viewer the impression that death is present. Another visual technique was the p. a. n shot of the burial site; this shows to the viewer that death of George was official and it also suggests that characters have chosen the right pathway by telling the police what had happened. The director also presents the visual technique slowness of the water, at first during the day the water was rapid and the sunlight was reflecting off of it.In this vignette it is in con trast the water began to drift slowly across the creek which gives the impression of a tranquil mood. The verbal techniques of lament and synthetic music was also used. This really connects to the main idea as it emphasises the relevance of death and loss of innocence to real life situations today; it also shows that it can ruin someone’s life. ‘Digetic voice over cuts to non-digetic scene’ this suggests that the character George did not deserve this and also that he was different.He also says in his voice over â€Å" People that do not see inside my mind don’t get there are gazzilion things going on† This is relevant today as people should not judge one’s personality through looking at him or by his actions but to look inside and see his inner feelings. In conclusion, the director Jacob Aaron Estes successfully conveyed the idea of loss of innocence sing visual and verbal techniques in the three vignettes Banks of the river, Burial site and taking police to the burial site. The viewer’s learn the relevance of losing innocence and how it can affect them.

Find Out What It Means to Be on Academic Probation

Find Out What It Means to Be on Academic Probation Academic probation is the most common term colleges and universities use to indicate that a student is not making the academic progress the institution requires for graduation. Academic probation often means that a students grades and/or GPA are not high enough to continue in school if his grades or GPA do not improve. Someone can be placed on academic probation for a variety of reasons, although all will be academic in nature. Nonacademic offenses could lead to disciplinary probation. No form of probation is good, as it could result in a students suspension or expulsion. What Leads to Academic Probation? A school may put a student on academic probation because of her cumulative GPA or because of her GPA in the classes required for her major. A single semester of poor grades could also lead to academic probation. Perhaps even direr: A student may end up on academic probation if he fails to meet the standards of any financial aid he is receiving- it all depends on the schools rules and what is required to remain in good academic standing. Even if a student thinks she is doing well in school, she should familiarize herself with any GPA standards she must meet, whether for her major, scholarships, an honors program, or basic academic requirements. The best strategy, of course, is to avoid any issues in the first place rather than unexpectedly ending up on probation and having to work out of it. How to Respond to Academic Probation If a student does end up on academic probation, dont panic. Being placed on academic probation is usually not the same as being asked to leave college. Students are given a probationary period- often a semester- to demonstrate that they can indeed make successful academic progress. To do so, students may need to increase their GPA by a certain amount, pass all of their classes, or meet other requirements, as determined by their school. While there will certainly be pressure to succeed- failing to boost grades or meet certain standards could result in suspension or expulsion- there are several things a student can do to make the most of this second chance. First, be clear on what is required to stay in school. The specific steps of a students academic probation, as well as how long the probationary period will last, should be outlined in the notification the student received from her school. If its unclear as to what steps to take to move out of academic probation, the student should ask as many people as possible until she finds out the information he needs. Once its clear what lies ahead, its important to ask a key question: Are there any changes the student needs to make in her day-to-day life to ensure she reaches her academic goals? For example, if the student can cut back on some extracurricular activities, social commitments, or work hours to increase study time, she may want to do so. She should ask an adviser or a trusted mentor for resource recommendations like a study group or individual tutor because extra support can go a long way in a high-stakes situation.

Personal statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 1

Personal statement - Essay Example I have many positive personal qualities, I settle in a new place like a duck takes to water and this trait of mine will also help me work with new people and I completely look forward to it. I have also been participating in a lot of extracurricular activities and I am sure that this is going to be a boon for me as well. Right from a very young age I have known that managing resources effectively can change our lives. There are people who squander available resources and as a result, they fail to achieve what they have always wanted to. On the other hand, there are many people who have very limited resources available to them but they make the most of their resources and as a result, they overachieve. I have been arduously working on improving my management skills. Soundpond International Co Ltd was my first company and I learnt a lot of great things working there. It is a textile company which taught me how to negotiate with clients and how to secure orders; this is a very important skill which only a few people possess. I met with European and American clients while working for Soundpond, and it was a very instructive experience as some clients were easy to talk to and convince whereas some others not so. I also have experience of working in the banking sector. HSBC Bath South gate was the organization where I worked as a banker, and it was great meeting new people and learning banking; it was a very enriching experience indeed. Human resource management is of extreme importance. Managers who guide people effectively tend to achieve their targets on a more regular basis than managers who fail to steer people successfully. Human resource management consists of several different things; motivating the employees is, arguably, the most important part of human resource management. Employees tend to deliver results when they are motivated and happy with what they do. It is also important to understand and work towards solving the problems of the employees so as to ensure that they do not affect their productivity. Communicating with the people effectively is of prime importance; he/she who fails to communicate would never achieve the desired results. I have been working on improving my language skills for quite some time now; I got a ranking of 7.5 in IELTS which is considered to be really good. I have been staying in the UK for the last 5 years and this is another factor which has made my language so much better. Time management is a very important skill; unfortunately, there are many people across the globe who consistently struggle to manage their time effectively. Luckily, I have not had any such problems. I have always managed to handle my time advantageously and as a result, I have also achieved a great deal in my life thus far, this quality would take me places and I am positively sure of this. In an organization, it is very important to work in teams and I am a team player. I have always been affable and open to suggestions, which mak es life so much easier, working in teams becomes a walk in the park if you are affable and respect other people. I have always respected both peers and seniors so it becomes really easy for me to ensconce into new groups. Employing new HR techniques is also very important. I have learned a great deal from my University, for instance, I am thorough with fundamentals of organizational theory which is an

Operation management Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words - 1

Operation management - Assignment Example Top among the priorities remains the element of competition from existing hotels within the region. The organisation must ensure the competition aspect of the business becomes effectively addressed for successful entry into the market. This research seeks to undertake an analysis of the existing competition within the market, and enable the organisation to make informed decision about commencing with the project. This will involve conducting internet based research to establish the market situation within the target region. Competition among organisations can be conducted through different approaches, including the adoption of effective operations strategies. The development of an effective operations strategy involves undertaking research to understand the components and measures of efficacy in operations (Lewis et al. 2010). Efficiency of operations remains a fundamental component of cost-cutting which ensure organisations increase their profitability. Before the development of these strategies however, numerous conditions must become satisfied to ensure the strategies function effectively, within a competitive market (Brown et al. 2013). Operating efficiency remains a fundamental indicator of the operations capability within an organisation. Analysing the operating efficiency of competitors can enable an organisation to adopt better operation initiatives and improve the processes, for increased profitability. Within any market, competition remains an ever present element when conducting business. Successful entry into a market involves conducting an analysis of the existing competition in order to develop competition strategies, which will ensure successful market entry. As a new entrant, the market dynamics utilised in enhancing competitiveness within the market become essential features, which organisations can utilise to compete effectively. Undertaking a competition review enables a new entrant to understand

Surreal vs. Real Life Essay Example for Free

Surreal vs. Real Life Essay Every normal human at one point in their life wishes and dreams of, and even craves the existence of a utopia, a surreal life. All (all as in reference to human beings, with a mature level of thinking) want a life that offers more of an upward stability compared to a current state of being, which in some aspect may be lacking. Where an ideal life may not include any troubles found today, and offers the cliche of clouds with a silver lining, real life includes not only troubles but also so much more, which provides many nameable contrasts between the two. In one world there is sunshine all year round, in the other a grossly challenging variety, often not wanting to be faced. In the perfect life, there is happiness and freedom from worry and hardships. Heaven on earth, long thought over and sought by many, a truly tempting mouth watering alteration of our existence that is so wanted, yet completely out of reach. Everyones daydream is comforting to dream, take them to this imaginary place where every home is of equal value, every car is built by the same manufacturer, and every family has the same number of children, and includes pets. This is where it never rains on game day, or on anyones parade. Its also the seemingly perfect place, sound economically as well as politically. A dream come true, for most, with an almost euphoric peace of mind. A world where it is safe to unlock your doors, take the bars off your windows, never fears that your car parked on the street will in some way be damaged, and go a walk well after dark. Children can play outside without fear of being viscously attacked, even by the neighbors dog. Where everything that does happens, happens for a reason, but is always beneficial. Everything is just as it should be, because another way would be unknown. All living things are never without, never wanting, never needy. There would be no competition to out do one another; no two people standing in opposite corners waiting to battle over who has greater stamina, or more power; everyone is equal. People are courteous and respectful, and have no reason for malice or greed. Grief and suffering over the loss of something, of someone, would never come, for in a utopia, there is no death, or even days filled with gloom. As a matter of fact there is nothing, and life such  as this is typical for this world from our point of view, but expected, and appreciated. Now the dream crushing normalcy, or life as we know it. Without a shadow of a doubt, life is not perfect no matter how outward appearances may seem. What is shown on the outside may be a shield to hide the turmoil within. Actors or actresses, singers, millionaires and even royalty encounter problems that they must face, and conquer just the same as the middle and lower class. Real life offers two extremes; overwhelming joy such as the birth of a baby; a marriage; a gathering of loved ones for a special celebration, and horrendous sorrow like death, loss of love, or any other unforeseen tragedy. With low-lying mediums where the day isnt any better, or isnt any worse then the preceding or possibly the following. Life brings trials and tribulations, which assist us in snapping back into the harsh reality of every day. Even the short spurts of good luck granted to us, the lost souls, are more of a burden then a pleasure, for we all know that one day all good things must come to an end. Happiness, the only comparison between real and the surreal, is merely a rock compared to the mountain of pain. Terrorist attacks, death, famine, destruction, starvation, murder, drug abuse, suicide, broken homes, just to name a few, would be a fictional horror stories told by campfire, and would never occur in the utopian world, which is why they are so different. Contrasting the surreal and the norm is like contrasting night and day. Think about it. In a utopian world everybody would literally be free of the shackles of normal life. Whereas in our lives, people are imprisoned for violent crimes committed and the masses are in a constant state of fear. Now not to be completely one sided, a surreal life and our everyday life have in common, a handful of things. We are not here to discuss the likeness, but the enormous range of differences that make a fairly tale life so desirable. Life grants everyone opportunities, but in return we must give up something, i.e., friends, family, that special someone, ECT, so either way we are, in a sense, constantly unhappiness. In a utopia we could have both. Actually we could have it all. This brings me to a question. Who would want to live in a world where everything is perfect, in a constant state of contentment? There  would never be any excitement; from a natural perspective life would be dull; boring. One must admit if given the choice to live in a perfect world described as a black and white movie or a fiction novel, or to live in a world filled with color, the choice would be carefully thought and not made in haste, and all pros and cons would be heavily weighed. Why, because the decision to live within or on a flat plane with no peaks and valleys, versus the spice if you will of reality would be difficult for some, for even though the challenge may be unwanted, there would be curiosity as to what will happen, and that is exciting. Given all aspects, most would choose to live in the world we currently inhabit, despite the drama, devastation, or glory we are never sure as to what we are going hear, of whiteness, from one day to the next, whether it is good or bad and with that we truly experience life. While it may not always be taken accordingly, it is fulfilling in all ways.

The Gay Marriage Controversy Essay -- Same-Sex Marriage Essays

Marriage has been an important part of life since the Biblical times. It usually consists of the union of a man and a woman, but for gays and lesbians, it is the union of two men and two women. On June 26, 2015, the US Supreme Court ruled that the US Constitution guarantees the right for same-sex couples to marry. Many conservatives are completely against gay marriage and they have stated that they will fight to have the Supreme Court ruling overturned. Legalizing gay marriage is a very difficult issue for much of society to accept. Some of the controversies with gay marriage are religious beliefs, equal rights, legal ramifications, a fight for acceptance and the freedom to practice their lifestyles openly while society can contend that gay marriage is a bad idea for the sake of procreation, because the consequences far outweigh the benefits. We can concede that the emotional stigma associated with gay marriage makes it more difficult for children to fit societal standards. First of all, there are many reasons that are given to refute why gay and lesbian marriages should be a part of our society. Marriage in this country is defined as the union between a man and a woman, but over the past couple of years there has been much controversy over the true meaning of marriage. For the vast majority of professing Christians today believe that the Bible teaches that monogamy is the only acceptable form of marriage and that gay marriage violates God's commandments concerning marriage. According to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, in July 2003, the Vatican stated, â€Å"There is absolutely no grounds for considering homosexual unions to be in any way similar or even remotely analogous to God’s plan for marriage and family†¦ Marriage is ... ... Works Cited Keenan , Jill. "Legalize Polygamy!." Slate. 15 April 2013: n. page. Web. http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2013/04/legalize_polygamy_marriage_equality_for_all.html Mello, Michael . Legalizing Gay Marriage. Philadelphia, PA: Temple Univ. Press, 2004. Print. ProCon.org. "Gay Marriage.† ProCon.org.Web 3 Dec. 2013. http://gaymarriage.procon.org/view.resource.php?resourceID=004857 Robson, Ruthann. Gay Men Lesbians And The Law. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1997. Print. Sean, C. R. . Same-Sex Marriage in The United States: Focus on the facts. Lanham, Maryland: Lexington Books, 2004. Print. Stanton, Glenn T., and Dr. Bill Maier . Marriage On Trial. Downers Grove, IL.: InterVarsity Press, 2004. Print. Wardle, L. D. . Marriage and same-sex unions, a debate. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers, 2003. Print.

How does Iago Convince Othello to Kill Cassio and Desdemona by the End of Act Three?

How does Iago Convince Othello to Kill Cassio and Desdemona by the End of Act Three? Act Three of Othello begins with Othello having no doubts at all concerning his wife’s fidelity and the happiness of their marriage, and ends with him almost totally convinced of her false guilt of being in an affair despite having very little evidence to prove it and no reason to want it to be true. His complete certainty comes rather from the manipulative skill of his ensign Iago who uses three principal broad categories of tactics to convince Othello of Desdemona’s culpability.Iago’s first and favoured tactic at the beginning of Act Three, Scene Three (the pivotal scene in which he brainwashes Othello) is that of subtly delivering half-completed ideas and ambiguous statements to reel Othello into this body of lies and entice him into questioning Desdemona’s fidelity. This begins when Cassio, whom Iago is trying to frame as Desdemona’s lover, takes his leave from the scene. Desdemona says to Cassio ‘Well, do your discretion’, to which Iago replies ‘Ha, I like not that’ (3. 3. 34).By saying that he does not like the idea of Cassio being free to do as he pleases, Iago implies that Cassio is doing something wrong and going unnoticed, thus sowing the initial seeds of doubt in Othello’s mind. When Othello begins to question him as to what he’s seemingly keeping secret, Iago masterfully uses hesitation to convey half-completed ideas and further snare Othello. For instance, when asked what he is saying by Othello, he answers ‘Nothing, my lord; or if- I know not what. ’ (3. 3. 36) The pause after ‘if’ conveys the idea that there is more to the story and, also, that Othello doesn’t want to hear it.This supposedly evasive answer intrigues Othello and allows Iago to proceed later on with bolder persuasion. Iago exercises other methods to communicate supposed unsettled, half-formed ideas, such as in his monologue in Act Three Scene Three lines 147-157, which is a vague, tangled, and convoluted expression of the horribleness of his thoughts, containing sudden pauses and spoken in the more awkward and disorganised prose form. This all serves to give the impression that Iago is hiding something and to frustrate Othello, which works, since when Iago is done Othello exclaims ‘Zounds! What dost thou mean? ’.It is clear that early on Iago’s rhetorical tactics successfully lure Othello into doubt and lay the foundations for Iago’s forthcoming more concrete convincing of Othello. In addition to these rhetorical tactics is Iago’s use of subliminal influence to win Othello over to his side. Iago makes remarks that, on the surface, are positive, but are actually meant to convince Othello of Cassio and Desdemona’s guilt. For example, when Othello asks Iago why he asked him whether Cassio knew about Othello and Desdemona’s lo ve from the beginning of their relationship, Iago replies ‘But for the satisfaction of my thought,/ No further harm’ (3.3. 97-8). Ostensibly this seems like a good thing for Othello, but Iago is implying two things that would indicate harm: first, that Iago has a curious thought about Cassio and Desdemona that needs to be satisfied and, second, that harm has already been done. Later on in the scene, when Othello claims that he does not believe that Desdemona is cheating on him, Iago says ‘Long live she [as loyal]; and long live you to think so’ (3. 3. 230). Once again Iago is outwardly looking at the situation in a good light, but beneath the surface he is suggesting that Othello is being naive.This obviously works, because on the next line Othello has begun to worry once again. Iago uses another aporia to sway Othello when he says ‘For Michael Cassio,/I dare be sworn, I think, that he is honest’ (3. 3. 127-8). The two caesurae in this line emp hasise the daring and the thinking, both expressions of doubt. Therefore, Iago weakens his own point so that Cassio’s honesty is subject to much doubt in Othello’s mind. Furthermore, line 128 has eleven syllables, by contrast to the rest of the passage’s lines which, written in iambic pentameter, have ten syllables.This extra syllable does not fit in with the meter, and so implies that Iago’s claim that Cassio is honest is not quite correct: the word doesn’t quite hold. Once more Iago is knowingly undermining his statements to inflate Othello’s doubt that they are true. Moreover, in this line Iago says that he ‘dare be sworn’ that Cassio is not cheating with Desdemona. Using the word ‘dare’ insinuates a risk in doing so and, what’s more, this phrase uses vocabulary often used in law courts, which entails a crime.This phrase which seems to intend to comfort Othello is actually a threatening accusation against Cassio (and hence Desdemona). Later on, once Othello seems completely certain of his wife and Cassio’s guilt, Iago uses similar subliminal influencing to beguile Othello into killing the two. He says, as the two are kneeling and promising that they will unite to achieve revenge, Iago says: ‘†¦ Iago doth give up The execution of his wit, hands, heart, To wronged Othello’s service’ (3. 3. 468-70).Using the word ‘execution’ with its double meaning while talking about revenge implants the idea into Othello’s mind that his revenge should take the form of murder. Iago reinforces this shortly afterwards by accepting Othello’s order to kill Cassio, and then saying ‘But let her live’ (3. 3. 477). In this way Iago is influencing Othello to do the exact opposite of the words’ surface meaning by reminding him of how he hasn’t ordered anything to be done about her and, since Othello’s hatred for Desdemon a is currently at its peak, it is the perfect time to induce an order for murder out of him.Iago’s subliminal influences also come in the form of getting into Othello’s head in order that he may be more subject to passion than any rationality and therefore believe more of what he is told and leap to more rash conclusions and decisions. For instance, Iago gives supposed evidence of Desdemona’s affair by talking about seeing Cassio using a handkerchief of Desdemona: ‘I know not that, but such a handkerchief, I am sure it was your wife’s, did I today See Cassio wipe his beard with’. (3. 3.440-2) This powerful visual image of Cassio using a handkerchief, which Othello so cherishes and which represents his love for Desdemona, in such a base and unrefined way is likely to cloud Othello’s good judgement and have his impulses lead him to accept what Iago says as the truth. Iago also tries to get into Othello’s head by bringing up past w ords when he says ‘She did deceive her father, marrying you’ (3. 3. 209), which calls back to the powerfully resonant lines of Brabantio in Act One ‘Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:/ She has deceived her father, and may thee’.Iago’s paraphrasing of these lines serves to convince him of Desdemona’s deception by convincing him that it was fated, and these lines which are haunting for Othello do this successfully. The final factors that render Iago so effective at convincing Othello are his flexibility and competence at tailoring his persuasive tactics to Othello’s emotions and vulnerability at any time, and his brilliant sense of timing. Iago seems to know exactly when his intervention is or is not required; for instance when Desdemona starts talking about how much she likes Cassio andhow she sometimes talks badly about Othello behind his back, Iago stays silent for minutes despite being in the scene, because his plan is going well as Desdemona damages her relationship with Othello on her own, Iago’s plan having previously been set, and the current dialogue does not need to intervened with or adjusted for the plan to work. This is testament to Iago’s flexibility, which is also demonstrated when Othello demands ocular proof of Desdemona’s infidelity.To deal with this, Iago uses Desdemona’s handkerchief which he has just been given to quickly devise a plot which later serves as ocular proof for Othello. Iago here knew that Othello needed to see the ‘ocular’ proof quickly while he was still vulnerable, and Iago’s thinking on his feet led to Othello being even further convinced by his supposed theory. Iago also displays an excellent ability to assess how vulnerable Othello is at any point, and hence how bold he can be.For example, only once Othello is vulnerable enough and he knows that he is safe does Iago first explicitly suggest adultery: he says ‘That cuckold lives in bliss/ Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger’. By claiming that confusion is worse than both ignorance and certainty, Iago is both sympathising with Othello and implying that he now may as well know, thus explicitly suggesting Desdemona’s infidelity in the safest possible way. Furthermore, when a depressed Othello says ‘And yet how nature, erring from itself-’ (3. 3.230), Iago senses the weakness and cuts Othello off, then delivers a long speech about the absurdity of Othello’s marriage and convinces him of this fabricated affair. In conclusion, Iago draws Othello in and then skilfully persuades him that Cassio and Desdemona should die by using an array of linguistic and rhetorical tricks and by paying close attention to Othello’s sentiments and desires so that he is transformed from not suspecting anything to wanting to kill his wife and her alleged lover within three days. Iago uses his own skill and his knowledg e of Othello’s jealous nature to achieve his sinister ambitions.