...As Patricia Pisters (2003) asserts in her study of Deleuze and film theory The Matrix of Visual Culture, the Wachowski brothers’ film can be read from number of different theoretical perspectives. It invites readings via Lacanian psychoanalysis, Platonic notions of the cave and the disparity between the two strata of perception and also as a “New Age” (Pisters, 2003: 11) quasi-religious evocation of the second coming. However, here I would like to place the film’s visual sense and diegesis into a context of postmodern philosophy; drawing inferences and theoretical connections between the film and the work of Jean Baudrillard, Walter Benjamin and the neo-Marxists of the Frankfurt School, most notably Adorno and Horkheimer in Dialectic of Enlightenment (1979). The importance of postmodern philosophy and cyber culture to the visual sense of The Matrix is declared from its very opening titles. Random strings of green neon data are scrolled against a black background imbuing the viewer with a sense of the virtual and the cybernetic and this is concretised and given definite focus later on as Neo (Keanu Reeves) hides the two thousand dollars given to him by Anthony in a copy of Simulacra and Simulation by Baudrillard. This reference however is more than a mere visual joke it is a signifier for a number of the film’s sub-textual tropes and motifs. For Baudrillard, the notion of the simulacra was central to an understanding of the modern capitalist society. In his essay “The Precession...
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...Introduction One of the most prevalent paradoxes of modern culture is how the online personas of friends, family, businesses and organizations flood social networks with images of warmth, consideration, kindness and altruism yet in reality their behavior and priorities are seemingly different. It is well-known that Facebook and Instagram were primarily designed for sharing images, not text. These social networking platforms and others like them flood accounts with powerful images, often carefully orchestrated to create a very specific effect. In the case of airlines, the differences could not be starker between perception and reality. The intent of this analysis is to evaluate how pervasive the power of images are in our culture, and how airlines use these images to portray a reality they intend to project yet don’t support with systems and policies internally. Analysis of the Power of Images – Racial Equality in the Skies On a recent United Airlines flight, the myriad of images showing overt racial equality in passenger selection in safety videos, stewardess and steward selection, and racial equality in passenger service was blatant. It has become obvious that all airlines are trying to be so inclusive that the images are nearly becoming stereotypical in their own right. The image from the United Airlines site today shows an African-American male as steward, while another African-American man sits in business class. This image suggests an airline that sees itself...
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...Critical Thinking Assignment – Week 6 – Everette I. I have selected Buddhism for this week’s assignment. Answer the questions of Origin? Identity? Meaning/Purpose? Morality? And Destiny? ; As seen by the followers of Buddhism. Though Buddhism is based off of, and follows some principles of Hinduism, Buddhism does not believe in a god or entity as ultimately everything is created in one’s own mind. When researching Buddhism, there is no specific view on the origin of man, or the planet. It was mentioned several places that a person does not need to know the origin of man in order to achieve enlightenment, or in other words there is no need to know where you came from, only where you are going. Modern Buddhism, as a generalization, has adopted the theory of evolution as they do not believe there is anything to dispute it. So how do they view themselves? Identity is more about answering question about yourself with regards to the fetters (areas of suffering). There are ten fetters total, however the top three, and most important to identity are 1. Belief in self (sakkaya-ditthi), 2. Doubt (vickiccha), and 3. Attachment to rites and rituals (silbabatta-parsmaso). How one handles these suffering is how you can view their identity. The question of morality is very close to Christianity, I have read a lot about Buddhism and there are a lot of factual references stating that moral behavior flows from the mastering of one’s ego and desires, that the growth of love and compassion...
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...This is an award winning drama that took place in the small village of Gover’s Corners. It is one of Thornton Wilder’s most frequently performs plays. It is a 1949 film adapted by Harry Chandlee and Wilder. The play opens up with the Stage Manager’s introduction to Gover’s Corners whichis a fictional town based on Peterborough, New Hampshire. The story takes place over a period of fourteen years. Gover’s Corners is an average size town that represents much of an average life in a town. It portrays a typical American small town life. This play manages to convey a deep sense of human tragedy without portraying people who rabidly abuse each other. This play has three acts that each represent daily life, love and marriage, and death. The audience...
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...Enterprise Odisha Even after 62 years of independence, Odisha our beloved state is still developing. With thirty districts it is the 9th largest state in the country (155,707 Sq Km) and population wise 11th (36,706,920). It is a state which is rich with all kinds of resources right from minerals, fossil fuel and ores to rich history and culture. The land is fertile and has the capability to produce many Rabi and Kharip crops. Now if we scan the country and try to name the prosperous states, we can count them on finger tips. Among which Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab and Goa may be the front runners. Odisha may not even appear in the first 10. So what makes these states economically better than us despite the fact that we are far wealthier than the others in terms of Natural Resources, history, culture and intelligent brains? To find out let’s have a closer look at the simple strategies adopted by the prosperous states. My father always said, owning a gold brick does not make you rich. You will be rich only when you learn to make a fortune out of it. It is that simple. The prosperous states have done this. Only that in their case, the areas of their strength was their gold brick. Gujarat is strong in entrepreneurship and business sense, Goa is rich in natural landscapes and Punjab is rich with fertile agricultural land. These states have worked on their strengths to develop themselves. When I say the states have done it, I mean the contribution of both government and people...
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...In every form of artistic expression the human life and how people spend our existence is explored. Our Town is one such exploration of life choices and consequences. Every single human being assumes they have a unique perspective on life. Like snowflakes, no two lives are lived exactly the same. However, the constant of life is that people are all born, live ,and die. The when, where, why, and what of life are the variables that determine our passage through earth. In a scene from Hope Floats (Whitaker)the mother says “beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it’s the middle that counts the most.” In the beginning, people are born blissfully unaware of the choices to be made. As people grow in awareness of what life is demanding...
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...Leaving New York for the Farmlands Scott Albert MBA-540-MBOL7 03/29/2015 To Farm or not to Farm There is a major difference from being an investment banker to running a farm. The colleagues are giving some good advise in that it may be a great business opportunity, but they are assuming that the price of farmland is going to increase drastically due to the demand of corn to fuel plants expected to soar. There are a couple of factors though that the colleagues are not taking into consideration Competition and Alternatives Even if entry is limited, firms within an industry are not immune to outside competition (Brickley, Smith, Zimmerman, 2009, p. 255). The advise given by the colleagues is sound, but without a true understanding of the how running a farm works, investing right into farmland may not be wise. There are going to be many competitors out there, and the goal of living in a peaceful environment may not be attainable. What also must be taken into consideration is that corn-based ethanol is not the only alternative to gasoline. There are in fact several alternatives including biodiesel, natural gas, propane, hydrogen, and electricity (fueleconomy.gov, 2015). What if the government decides to back one of the other alternatives instead? What if it is discovered that another alternative is out there that hasn’t even been considered yet? There are a lot of questions that need to be taken into consideration before just jumping into purchasing the land. Additional...
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...Tax Research Problem 1 Team 5 Ji Kim, Amy Li, Catherine Yuan Facts (Phrase the problem in the textbook) The § 351 transaction discussed here can be presented as below. Issues 1. Should M recognize gain on the contribution of the land? If so, how much? 2. Should X recognize gain on the contribution? If so, how much? 3. What is X’s basis in the land contributed by M? Conclusion Due to the contribution, M should recognize a total gain of $43,000, of which $30,000 is attributable to the contribution of the land. X recognizes no gain or loss. The gain recognized by M increases X’s basis in the land to $55,000. Analysis Internal Revenue Code (I.R.C.) § 362(a) states that if property was acquired by a corporation in connection with a transaction to which § 351 applies, the basis shall be the same as it would be in the hands of the transferor, increased in the amount of gain recognized to the transferor on such transfer. In this case, M’s basis in the land is $25,000. Therefore the gain recognized by M on this transaction needs to be determined. Although no gain or loss is recognized in a § 351 transfer [I.R.C. § 351(a)], I.R.C. § 351(b) requires that the transferor recognize gain to the extent that other property (“boot”) is received. In M’s case, he received boot, which is cash, of $50,000. This is the maximum amount of gain he can recognize on this transaction. However, M transferred multiple assets. This complicated the computation for gain recognized....
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...Part one, childhood and adolescence, part two, love and marriage, part three, death and regret. A life loved in a robotic structure, going by what is “meant to be.” Relinquishing your hopes and dreams to please your community. In Thornton Wilder’s, Our Town, Individuals perceive the Grover’s Corners as a “true community,” yet others, like myself, believe it is just the illusion of a perfect society. Wilder is optical illusionist, M. C. Escher, and Our Town is the painting Three Worlds. A place viewed in various perspectives. The characters in the play all ostensible relationships. In The End of Solitude author William Deresiewicz states, “Technology is taking away our privacy and our concentration, but it is also taking away our ability...
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...1) What is at stake in this decision for Carol and for Davis Press? Why? There is a lot at stake in this decision for Carol and Davis Press. Let’s take a look at what would happen if the book “Meccan Madness” were to be published. Referring to the past and what had happen to Rushdie when his book “The Satanic Verse” was released, it was mayhem. Death threats were issued, Rushdie was wanted dead for several years, and innocent people were killed and much more were injured. If Carol decides to publish Taajwar’s book, there is a possibility history could repeat itself, which includes Davis Press making high profits by selling the book, but also losing millions of dollars that went towards the security of employees. If Carol decided not to publish the book, it is obvious they will lose on the chance of making high profits. However, all the employees will remain safe and not have to fear what will happen to them if “Meccan Madness” is published. 2) Who are the stakeholders here? To whom (or what) does Davis owe her allegiance? The stakeholders in this case are the employees of Davis Press. The employees play a major role in this case because of the amount of work they do for the company. Another stakeholder in this case is the government because in the event problems occur between countries. This sort of situation happen when Rushdie’s book was published where there was issues between Britain and Iran. Carol owes her loyalty to the employees for the amount of...
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...Our town is a play written and published by Thornton Wilder in 1938. The set of the play is very scarce throughout the play but the actors and stage manager use a lot of spoken décor throughout the scenes to make up for the limited props. The play takes place in a small town in New Hampshire called Grover’s Corner in the years 1901-1911. Throughout the play the stage manager comes on stage and narrates what is taking place. “Our Town” consists of three different acts that are spread out over the span of eleven years. The play is based mainly off the lives of two families; the Gibb’s and the Webb’s but offer’s information on other members of the town. In scene one the play starts off with Howie Newsome making his rounds through the town dropping...
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...Running head: PASSAGE Passage of Time Alyssa Smith Grand Canyon University Passage of Time Life is never guaranteed. A person does not know when their end will come. People go through day to day life and rarely stop to look around them. It seems that the older a person gets the faster time appears to go by. This is not an uncommon theory. The play “Our Town” by Thornton Wilder (1938) is a representation of people versus time. The theme is to appreciate the moments in life because time passes quickly. In three short acts, this play covers twelve years in the lives of the townspeople. There are many references that indicate passage of time as a theme. As the stage manger is introducing the town, he states “Naturally, out in the country – all around – there’ve been lights on for some time, what with milkin’s and so on. But towns people sleep late” (Wilder, 1938, pg. 7). The reference to people in town sleeping late compared to in the country is a way of saying that townspeople waste valuable time. Time sleeping is time that could be spent with family or friends enjoying moments that do not come along often. When the town does awaken they are being rushed. The kids are in a hurry to get ready, they eat breakfast quickly, and then they run off to school so as not to be late. Everything is rushed. Life proceeds in a way that indicates it is something that needs to be done. When Emily is talking about doing her homework, she stated “Well, I always feel it’s...
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...In a dry season * Reflect life in late 19 centaury setting * Graphically describe the country side ..bathurst and macqurie river * Attempt to show the element that paints life in Australia * Observation in “In a dry season” is to evoke humour in a way in which he describe the railway lines. (verbal humour) – censored words in the bush liar * Understatement to create humour such as the description of the dryness of the bush (second paragraph) * The adversity of living in such setting and worker who forged strong friendships eccentric characters that added colour and ordinary life. * Focused on characterisation and the setting as a character who takes on a personality * Idea of extreme nature of isolation * Idea of monotony of the land foreshadowed in the opening of the story with the simple illustrates quote “a wired fence...” which could be anywhere in a remote land. * The journey is presented in snapshots images which provides the understanding of the land ..the landmark and the people. * Invites us visualise the typical railway town with such description as “there is some times a small obilong weather bill..” “...” * Stereotypical images * The bush is described in generic terms “draw a wired fence...” which establishes the predictability and the monotony of the bush. * Lawson depict the people of the town through the personification the their clothes. “old fasion ....fat brim hat...begin to drop into the train”...
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...Alexander II faced several major problems during his reign, largely stemming from the negative implications of Russia’s system of serfdom that stifled economic and industrial growth, as well as Russia’s outdated and ineffective military that limited Russia’s presence in Europe and demonstrated her lacking industrial sector. Alexander was shown to be a keen reformer and managed to effectively tackle these problems, with his emancipation of the serfs, followed by his overseeing of successful economic and military reforms. Arguably the greatest problem that faced Russia in 1855 was the outdated and feudal – like system of serfdom which lagged far behind the social infrastructures of other major European nations. This system, in which over 23 million serfs were forced to work for their food and keep under private landowners, Nobles, and the state, was both economically inefficient (as Russia required a free labour force for industry and internal markets to grow) and attracted rising opposition to the Tsarist autocratic rule. For these reasons, Alexander decided to emancipate the serfs in an attempt to quell unrest and bring Russia “up to date”, famously stating: “It is better to abolish serfdom from above than to await the time when it will begin to abolish itself from below”. This shows that Alexander II saw the threat of grievances among the serfs with the ruling administration and wished to protect his own position from threatening opposition. This desire for self-preservation...
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...The Little Rascals There is a lot of time, effort, and many different components that directors have to put into making great movies. These components can include things such as the quality of the acting, setting, plot, characters, and scenery. A mess up in just one of these areas can ruin an entire film. One of my favorite movies of all time, that I feel has a perfect combination of these components, is The Little Rascals. It is such a cute and quirky film, and it’s perfect for people of any age! The Little Rascals is a 1994 movie that follows the childhood adventures of “The He Man Woman Haters Club.” Spanky, leader of the club, and the rest of the gang are trying to raise money to rebuild their clubhouse, which tragically burned down at the start of the movie due to some of their usual crazy antics. They hit some bumps along the road, such the typical childhood bullies, Butch and Woim, who are really just jealous they never got to be members of the club. Their hard work pays off and leaves the audience happy in the end because they accomplish their goal, and the gang gets a new clubhouse better than the one before. The main actors and actresses in this movie are children that are not even ten years old. It is amazing to watch how great they are at acting. These children captivate the audience’s heart. It was very hard for me not to fall in love with each one of them. My favorite character is Alfalfa. He plays the typical boy that tries to act...
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