The Road By Frank Mccarthy - 1274 Words

The landscape of a post-apocalyptic society contains nothing to live for, it is a world without the people you love, without sun, flowers or food; only lawlessness, fear and uncertainty of survival. McCarthy creates a post apocalyptic world in his book, â€Å"The Road,† that addresses the issues of our time by illustrating the fears of society and the violence that accompanies them. These fears at the time were most recently initiated by the attacks of 9/11 and the subsequent Iraq war and the resulting violence experienced both in America and around the world. McCarthy’s â€Å"The Road† is a worst-case scenario, in which the broad American view that we are invincible and our principles are infallible is challenged. And with the violence in today’s†¦show more content†¦A canteen. An old canvas army pouch. A leather sheath for a knife. When he looked up the roadrat was holding the knife in his hand. He d only taken two steps, but he was almost betwe en him and the child.† (McCarthy, 65). Since 9/11, we are a country that fights an invisible enemy of terror, and must defend itself against this threat. It is feasible that Americans in 2006 feared human-inflicted destruction of the U.S., if not the whole world. The man and his son are also fighting an invisible enemy. They never know when or where someone will attempt to kill them. Although the man and the boy are fundamentally peaceful people, if challenged they will use the necessary force to protect themselves from this enemy. So, in this passage when faced with the choice, the man chose violence to fight violence and ensure the survival of the boy. In contrast, in an article in the New York Times, Thom Shanker reports on Secretary of State Condolezza Rice’s opinion of a mandate approved by the United Nations. â€Å"Rice urged the peacekeeping mission in southern Lebanon yesterday to act on what she termed ‘a very robust’ mandate approved by the Unite d Nations that grants international troops authority to challenge anyone who attempts to block their mission, and to use force if necessary† (Shanker). This mandate authorizes troops to fight anyone who gets in their way, allowing for the use of force if necessary. In both passages, the need for the use of force is left up

Essay about Human Cloning - 2551 Words

Cloning humans has recently become a possibility. It is achieved by the production of a group of identical cells or organisms that all derive from a single individual (Grolier 220). It is not known when cloning humans really became a possibility, but it is known that there are two possible ways that we can clone humans. The first way involves splitting an embryo into several halves and creating many new individuals from that embryo. The second method of cloning a human involves taking cells from an already existing human being and cloning them, in turn creating other individuals that are identical to that particular person. With these two methods almost at our fingertips, we must ask ourselves two very important questions: Can we do this,†¦show more content†¦There it was concluded that cloning is not something that can be done as of now, but it is quite a possibility for the future. These scientists experimented eagerly in aims of learning how to clone human. Shannon Brownl ee of U.S. News World Report writes, Hall and other scientists split single humans embryos into identical copies, a technology that opens a Pandoras box of ethical questions and has sparked a storm of controversy around the world (24). They attempted to create seventeen human embryos in a laboratory dish and when it had grown enough, separated them into forty-eight individual cells. Two of the separated cells survived for a few days in the lab developed into new human embryos smaller than the head of a pin and consisting of thirty-two cells each (Brownlee 24). Although we cannot clone a human yet, this experiment occurred almost two years ago and triggered almost an ethical emergency. Evidence from these experiments got strange reactions from the public. Shannon Brownlee claims, The Vatican condemned the technology of this experiment as being perverse; one German magazine called the research `unscrupulous (24). This experiment opened the possibilities of cloning to society and, even though it was unsuccessful, led people to ask themselves what they would do if cloning were to happen. Common answers to the puzzling questions about humans and cloning are still trying to beShow MoreRelatedThe Cloning Of Human Cloning1449 Words   |  6 Pagesto live up to 1,000 years old is alive today. However, many humans have a fear that this power of creation is fashioning an earthy trinity of man, science, and technology. Many of those who believe and fear this idea are apprehensive of various upcoming technological advances. After the first successf ul cloning experiment of a sheep, Dolly, scientists have looked into human cloning and the benefits it would offer humanity. Cloning of humans would give parents who are infertile the possibility to haveRead MoreThe Cloning Of Human Cloning1332 Words   |  6 PagesCloning Science today is developing at warp speed. We have the potential to do many things, which include the cloning of actual humans and animals. The question no longer seems to be if we will clone humans, but when? Somewhere, sometime, a human clone will be born. This fact has exploded the world into a global debate. Will large armies of soldiers be raised to fight our wars? Or perhaps we will create a race of slaves to do our dirty work. Cloning is becoming more credible and concrete idea ratherRead MoreThe Cloning Of Human Cloning1006 Words   |  5 PagesTwins? Or is it clones? It has been known that identical twins are natural clones. The question is, what is cloning? Cloning is the process of making a genetically identical organism through the use of a DNA sample. There are three different types of artificial cloning: gene cloning, reproductive cloning and therapeutic cloning. Dolly, the sheep, was the first mammal to have been successfully cloned from an adult cell. There is a spe cific procedure that has to be followed for a clone to be madeRead MoreThe Cloning Of Human Cloning1774 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction- Cloning is defined as two organisms having identical genetic DNA and has been around since the early 1800s. When people think of the word ‘cloning’ many think of Dolly the sheep; however, the first organism to ever be cloned was a sea urchin in 1885. When scientists created Dolly, they took a cell from the mammary gland from an adult Finn Dorset sheep and an egg cell from a Scottish blackhead sheep. Dolly’s white face was the first sign that she was genetically modified because if sheRead MoreCloning And Its Implications On Human Cloning1497 Words   |  6 PagesCloning and Its Sociobiological Implications Picture this: walking down a street and seeing someone who looks exactly like you. They do the same things as you, act the same way you do, and are exactly alike in several ways. But have people ever considered the consequences of human cloning if it becomes permitted? Human cloning might seem like something out of a science-fiction novel, but it may someday be possible with advances in science and technology. This will result in the creation of severalRead MoreThe Human Of Human Cloning2049 Words   |  9 PagesHuman Cloning Nowadays, in the twenty-first century, advances in medical sciences are being more and more common. As people become sicker, scientist try to find the way to solve that prob-lem. There are many series of medicaments, surgeries, and machines that have been develop to satisfy the necessities of modern society. However, all these techniques and options are not enough to cure many diseases or other types of problems such as amputations, transplants, and so on. As a result, scientists tryRead MoreThe Prospect Of Human Cloning1295 Words   |  6 Pages The prospect of human cloning was introduced in February 1997 when an embryologist was able to produce a lamb through the process of cloning. Once the lamb was cloned, the question of whether research for human cloning came into being. Society and researchers have feuded over whether human cloning should be banned or allowed for research and reproduction purposes. Each side has reasonable ideologies to continue their stance towards the oppo sing argument. Pro- cloners believe that the research developedRead MoreThe Ethics Of Human Cloning918 Words   |  4 Pages and human cloning. The idea of human cloning is most interesting because it is most mysterious and very complex. The topic of human cloning inclusively brings up issues also raised in the mentioned technologies. Human cloning is of two types: therapeutic and reproductive. Therapeutic cloning aims to produce tissues or organs from cells of a cloned embryo, whereas reproductive cloning aims to further develop the cloned embryo into a human being (Glannon 89). Motivations for human cloning are therapeuticRead MoreThe Problem Of Human Cloning1034 Words   |  5 PagesThroughout this paper, I will be talking about the topic of human cloning. However, there are many who have concluded to different definitions. To clarify, and use a specific definition, the American Medical Association defines the method of cloning as the production of genetically identical organisms. In summary, the process of cloning is producing a child, with completely identical genes, or parent. It is important to realize that cloning does not necessarily produce an exact replica of the individualRead MoreThe Ethics Of Human Cloning Essay1927 Words   |  8 Pagesis created, and this act of reproductive cloning is regarded with controversy; is it morally permissible, or is it morally grotesque. There are certain elements to consider when debating the ethics of human cloning. Leon Kass in his article â€Å"The Wisdom of Repugnance† contends that reproductive cloning is morally corrupt, describing it as offensive, repulsive, and repugnant, believing these terms to be commonly associated with regards to human cloning. Kass goes forth with his arguments by

Nicole Sarah Calgary Wedding Photography Free Essays

Nicole Sarah Calgary Wedding Photography, a wedding photography service based in Calgary, Alberta, has announced its full range of services including international locations By prong Prepossessing Nicole Sarah Calgary Wedding Photography, a wedding photography service based in Calgary, Alberta, has announced its full range of services including international locations Nicole Sarah Calgary Wedding Photography is a luxury wedding, engagement, and lifestyle photography studio. Announcing Services Provided in Canada and Internationally, June 03, 2014 /Prepossessing/ – Customers demanding the best In Calgary wedding photography can turn to one of Canada’s award winning and Internationally recognized photographers. Nicole Sarah Calgary Wedding Photography , now providing its services in Calgary, Fans, Commoner, Edmonton, Vancouver, Los Angels and Internationally. We will write a custom essay sample on Nicole Sarah Calgary Wedding Photography or any similar topic only for you Order Now Your photographs will depict the emotion, feeling, and experience of your day, no matter the setting. For Canadian couples requiring a wedding photographer, Calgary is a stunning action with beautiful architecture, natural landscapes and mountains with stunning vistas. Providing the best In Calgary, Fans, and Commoner wedding photography , Nicole Sarah tailors Its services to provide award winning, emotive, editorial and publication worthy Imagery. Nicole Sarah Is a professional wedding photographer with an educational background In Fine Arts. Because Nicole Sarah Photography is considered one of the best wedding photographers in Calgary, they book quickly and only accept a limited amount of pots each year to provide only the highest quality experience and photographs to each couple. They can be reached online or by phone. A direct phone number and email address are provided at www. Micronesian. Com About Nicole Sarah Calgary Wedding Photography Nicole Sarah Calgary Wedding Photography Is a luxury wedding, engagement, and lifestylephotography studio. While she shoots primarily In Canada, she Is also based out of Los Angels, California and Vancouver, Fans, Commoner, Edmonton as well as Nicole Sarah is a Calgary Wedding Photographer who blends fashion, luxury, fine art ND Journalistic storytelling into her exquisite and finely detailed work. She has won multiple national and international awards and accolades for her wedding photography and has been featured in prominent publications including Vogue Magazine, Wedding’s Magazine, Style Me Pretty and Then. Com Contact Nicole Sarah Calgary Wedding Photography info@nicolesarah. Com or nicole@nicolesarah. Com ALBERTA, CANADA Nicole Sarah www. Micronesian. Com Source URL: http://prepossessing. Com/Nicole-Sarah-Calgary-wedding-photography- weatherproofing-service-based-Calgary-Alberta-has How to cite Nicole Sarah Calgary Wedding Photography, Papers

Mr.Know All free essay sample

This story was happened in the Ocean-going liners from San Francisco to Yokohama for fourteen days. It was difficult to get accommodation, so the narrator had to share a cabin with a total stranger, but he expected him to be one of his own country men. Instead, he was deeply shocked to realize it was a chatty Levantine Mr. Max Kelada. The narrator was prepared to dislike Mr. Kelada even before he saw him. When he went on board, he saw Mr. Keladas luggages and the toilet things that had already unpacked below. The mans name and the sight of his things aroused a strong epulsion in him since he was prejudiced against all non-Britons, feeling superior to them. The irony of the story lies in the fact that the list of Mr. Keladas negative traits presented in the beginning of the story shows an orderly, neat and tidy gentleman, such as: a sturdy build, clean-shaven and dark-skinned, with a fleshy, hooked nose and vey large, lustrous and liquid eyes, sleek and curly long black hair. We will write a custom essay sample on Mr.Know All or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page When the narrator met Mr. Kelada, his hatred got even stronger. He abhorred the cultural differences between Kelada and himself. He both detested and despised Mr. Keladas gestures. Therefore, the description of Keladas character is negative and biased. Mr. Kelada was a good mixer and ran everything. He organized some games as: sweeps, auctions, fancy dress ball, etc Mr. Kelada was a person that seemed to know everything and was involved in everything, not sensing that he was disliked by everybody. He was very chatty and talked as if he head beer superior to everyone else. The passengers mocked him and call him Mr. Know-All even to his face. Beside that, there was a dogmatic person on this liner Mr. Ramsay, who was a American Consular Service and was stationed in Kobe. He the man with loose fat under a tight skin; was on his way back to resume his post after picking up his pretty little wife, who had been spending alone in New York for a whole year. She looked very modest and adorable with her simple clothes, which achieved an effect of quiet distinction. One evening, the conversation drifted to the subject of pearls. As Mrs. Ramsay was wearing a pretty chain of pearl, Mr. Kelada announced that it certainly was a genuine one which had probably cost many thousand of dollars. And he was ready to bet a hundred dollar on it. On the other hand, Mr. Ramsay was cocksure that his wife had bought it for eighteen dollars in a department store. When Mr. Know-All took out a magnifying glass, a smile of triumph spread on his face, but he caught a desperate appeal in Mrs. Ramsays eyes. Then he was making over himself by all his effort and gave Mr. Ramsay a hundred dollars. Since Mr. Kelada didnt want to destroy Mrs. Ramsays marriage, he ruined his reputation instead he told everybody that he was wrong and that string was an excellent imitation. The story spread over the ship and everybody mocked Mr. Kelada. Next morning, while he narrator and Mr. Know-All were in their cabin, an envelope pushed under the door after a small scraping. It contained a hundred dollar bill from Mrs. Ramsay. at the moment the narrator did not entirely dislike Mr. Kelada. The moral of the story is that we must no Jude a book by its cover. Rather than Judging a person by his looks, Often in our self indulged lives we dont take a moment to step back and look deeply at the true characters of the people around us. Instead we are happier with making our unsupported Judgments on people and continuing to go about our own concerns. Mr. W. Somerset Maugham wrote a story called, Mr. Know-All, that shows us how we too often tend to act Judgmental towards others, but later when we pause and take a closer look, we may find that they are truly greater in character than we are. The story starts with the narrator already expressing his dislike for the character, Mr. Max Kelada. He hasnt even met the man before and he has already chosen to disassociate him. I was prepared to dislike Max Kelada before I knew him. When I went on board I found that Mr. Keladas luggage was already below. I did not like he look of it; there were too many labels on the suitcase, and the wardrobe trunk was too big. (Pg. 303-304) Here we can defiantly see a dislike for Mr. Kelada, before he even has a chance to show who he is, he isnt liked. He hasnt even received the chance to say one word of greeting or small talk, yet he is looked down upon as a piece of gum stuck to the bottom of a shoe because of his luggage. When the narrator finally meets Mr. Kelada he is set on the fact that he does not like him. He searches for the smallest reason not to like him and decides that Mr. Kelada isnt ormal enough with the way he addresses him. l do not like to put on airs, but I cannot help felling that it is seemly in a total strange to put mister before my name when he addresses me. Mr. Kelada, doubtless to set me at my ease used no such formality. I did not like Mr. Kelada. (Pg. 305) I could understand someones irritation if they were a doctor, or a General, or something of importance with not being labeled right; but to be upset because someone is talking friendly to you is being Just plain rude. After a few days the narrator is sure that he does not like Mr. Kelada,..

Aircraft Propeller Essays - Aerodynamics, Propellers, Blade Pitch

Aircraft Propeller The aircraft propeller looks like a simple mechanism to the uneducated individual. To the educated, an aircraft propeller represents the highest sophistication in aerodynamics, mechanical engineering and structural design. This report will touch on the history of the propeller, from early pioneers/experiments, advancement during/after the war, all the way up to current applications of the propeller. The creation of the propeller can be traced back to Leonardo da Vinci. Da Vinci's "helical screw" helicopter is believed to be the ancestor of the air propeller and the helicopter rotor. The first idea of a propulsive airscrew, however, belongs to J.P. Paucton, a French mathematician. Paucton envisioned a flying machine that had two airscrews, one for propulsion and the other for sustaining flight. The idea of using an airscrew for propulsion was utilized during the late 1700's to early 1800's. Only after experimentation did the inventors conclude that more propulsive power could be obtained by merely straightening out the surface of the airscrew blades. Attempts to utilize the "straight blade" propeller were made by balloonists. These contraptions were quite strange and hardly fulfilled their purpose of actually propelling the balloon. The basic propeller had evolved from the simple concepts of da Vinci, and was slowly becoming an effective means of aerial propulsion. To reach the next plateau of flight an increased knowledge of the propeller would be needed, and the mysteries of the propeller and mechanical power would need to be solved. These substantial tasks remained for aviation's pioneers to tackle during the 19th century. Throughout the 19th century, aviation pioneers explored and tinkered with the concepts of flight to design a viable airship. Some pioneers tried to transform the balloons into navigable cigar shaped airships by experimenting with sails, propellers, and paddlewheels but all produced limited results. Other experimenters, who were convinced that man flight should have wings, worked to establish basic principles in aerodynamics, flight stability and control, as well as propulsion. Controlled mechanical flight came on August 9, 1884. Charles Renard and A.C. Krebs flew the airship "La France" on a closed circuit from Chalais-Meudon to Villacoublay and back in 23 minutes. The airship "La France" was powered by a 9 horsepower electric motor that drove a 23ft diameter propeller and reached a speed of 14.5 mph. This flight was the birth of the dirigible, a steerable, lighter-than-air ship with adequate propulsion. Another important milestone in aviation, was the understanding of aerodynamics. Sir George Cayley, a British theorist, was acclaimed as the father of aerodynamics. He established a solid foundation of aerodynamic principles that were essential to the success of other pioneers. In 1875, Thomas Moy created a large model that had twin 12ft propellers with 6 blades each! Interestingly enough these blades could be adjusted to produce maximum thrust under certain conditions, an early recognition of the need for changing blade pitch. Without a doubt, the most expensive and spectacular project of its time was that carried out by Sir Hiram Maxim. His numerous experiments with propellers, culminated in the construction of a huge, four-ton biplane in 1890. This contraption was powered by two 180hp steam engines that each drove propellers 17ft, 10inches in diameter and weighing 135lbs. The two-blade propellers, inversely tapered and squared at the tips 5 ? ft wide, were made of American Pine, planed smooth, covered with glued canvas and stayed to the propeller shafts with steel wire to handle the high thrust loads. These massive propellers produced 1,100lbs of thrust each during full power while rotating at 425rpm. Maxim's jumbo creation didn't last long however, it jumped the test track and suffered extensive damage. Hands down, the most influential aviation pioneers were the Wright brothers. They had concluded that a propeller was simply a whirling wing, but didn't have the appropriate information to consult when comprehending the fundamental principles of blade shape and motion. This dilemma made designing the propeller one of the Wright brothers most challenging problems. Despite the lack of previous information to consult, the brothers were able to learn, through investigation and trial/error, that large propeller diameters would produce high thrust for a given power input. The brothers also determined that high torque produced by large, slow turning blades adversely affected the flying qualities (p-factor). On their first aircraft, they utilized 8 ? ft propellers installed behind the wind to minimize airflow disturbance, incorporated counter-rotating propellers to eliminate the problems associated with torque, and gained thrust efficiency by reducing the blades' rotational speed using a chain and sprocket transmission. The Wright brother's propeller was 66% efficient which was much higher that any other propeller of the

The Untouchables Essays

The Untouchables Essays The Untouchables Paper The Untouchables Paper Essay Topic: Everything Is Illuminated Literature Throughout De Palmas career, he has spent time exploring the idea of corruption from within. De Palma has examined the ideas of power and justice in previous films such as; Blow Out, Scarface and The Bonfire of the Vontities. This theme is carried out throughout The Untouchables. During the motion picture, De Palma uses a number of film techniques to create tension and excitement throughout. The climax reaches its height in the station scene. When the scene opens, the audience is immediately faced with a feeling of anticipation, as a car drives at high speed along the road. It weaves in and out of the traffic with its horn blazing. This opening sequence is followed by the camera panning in to show a close up the speeding car wheel. This shot is super ceded by the camera slowly moving up to reveal the two inhabitants; Ness and Stone. The use of lighting in films is very important and can easily set the mood for a scene. For example, the time of day can be established by the quantity of light. During the car scene, De Palma uses lighting to effect. The lighting inside the car is subtle; with only the faces lightly illuminated, making sure that the audience are fully concentrated on Ness and Stone and what they have to say. Stone and Ness appears detached, as if they are anxious to get some where. This is demonstrated through their dialogue which is short and to the point. Again, this adds to the growing tension. As the two characters walk to the train station, their fixed expressions are heightened. They are focused on what is going to happen next. When Ness says, The book keeper is no good to us dead Stone? the audience feels unnerved and tense; can Stone (the proti gi ) hold himself together so that he does not shoot the book keeper? For this is the penultimate scene, if they can capture the book keeper (the only one who can decode the ledger book) they can put Al Capone successfully behind bars. Also we remember back to the previous scene in which Malone (Nesss mentor) was killed by Capones cronies. This adds an emotional level to the scene and hence ups the tension and excitement; for without the book keeper, Malones death would have been in vain. Throughout the film De Palma has use a number of different camera shots/angles and editing to create more of an effect on the audience. For example, the scene in which Malone is killed, De Palma uses a point of view shot in which we see everything through the eyes of one of Capones cronies; in doing this, De Palma is able to give the audience a completely different cinematic experience. This is true for the station scene. He uses continuity editing which gives the impression of an unbroken continuum in time, where everything runs smoothly. For example, when Stone and Ness reach the station and open the door, this followed by a smooth switch over to an extreme long shot; which hence gives the impression that everything runs smoothly. The extreme long shot shows two enormous pillars and a huge lobby, putting into perspective the two men and the vast area they have to cover. This sustains the tension and excitement in the scene, how can Ness and Stone possibly watch and cover such a large area between them? Then Stone is sent to cover the south entrance, leaving Ness alone covering the main entrance, this cultivating anticipation within the audience. Ness takes a vantage point from which he can oversee the entrance hall and looks up at the clock; it is four minutes to twelve. Ness looks back to watch Stone walk across then entrance hall to the south exit. The audience hears Stones foot steps echo across the hall, which re-establishes the fact that they have such a huge area to cover. Sound of course plays a vital effect on how motion picture is perceived. These are separated into three main sets; diegetic, non diegetic and extra-diegetic. Diegetic sound is when you can see whats making the noise; for example if a person is playing the piano and you can hear a piano, the sound is obviously the piano. Non diegetic sound on the other hand is when we cant see whats making the noise but we know what is making it; for example an announcement from a speakerphone. Whereas extra-diegetic is a noise that is not part of the film; for instance a sound track playing over the top. As Ness turns away from the clock we instantly hear a baby crying, a non diegetic noise as we know what is making the sound. Instantly Nesss concentration is drawn away from the job at hand, the presence of a child at once creates tension as there is now another distraction. At the same time a low discordant note plays, adding an eeriness to the scene. As the baby is trundled into view, an unsettling baby lullaby plays over the top; this being an extra diegetic sound effect. Adding to this first distraction, the announcer calls for all passengers for the 12:05 train to board. This raises the tension in the scene as there is already too much happening. Simultaneously De Palma switches to a point of view shot, in which the audience are looking at the clock and the front entrance. Already people are coming through the doors. The audiences anticipation grows as they dont know what the book keeper looks like. It is clearly visible that Ness is distracted by the baby as he repeatedly looks over to the child in the pram and his mother, thus causing this anxiety for the audience. This is carried on as Nesss full attention is drawn towards the mother and her desperate attempts to calm the child down. The shift in attention heightens the tension as we worry that Ness might miss the book keeper. Again the announcement is made. More people come through the door. Time is passing by and the child is still playing on the audiences mind. These few changes help keep the excitement and tension sustainable. As the mother caries on soothing her child, the orchestral music playing in the back ground slowly rises. However more tension is created by the shadows of the people walking past, and the start of slow eerie music. Throughout this scene De Palma has chosen to use a point of view shot in which we can see everything that Ness sees as if through his eyes. This is extremely useful in that it shows where the characters attention lies and is also a useful instrument in creating tension and anxiety. By only showing what Ness is concentrating on, the audience grow anxious over what else is happening around Ness that he is not seeing. A suspicious looking character comes into frame wearing the typical gangster clothing. The baby music lowers to be heard quietly in the background; horns can be heard with a look out type of melody raising the tension of the scene. Audiences know that Ness is distracted by this man as his focus as well as ours is drawn away from the baby. The music fits in with this feeling, with slight increases in volume followed by quiet. The music seeps away as the man becomes no threat. De Palma is a clever film maker. He cleverly takes certain things from different films and fits them into his films. This is what sets De Palma apart from many film makers. The constant checking of the time and the fact that is moving towards noon, is in reference to the film High Noon, in which the penultimate part of the film (as in The Untouchables) is when the clock strikes twelve. The merge of the films is rammed home by the constant camera shots of the clock, as if waiting for it to stick at twelve. This anticipation both sustains and creates tension and excitement for the audience. Another thing that De Palma does to make this scene different is the fact that the scene is in real time everything occurs on screen in the time span of the scene. De Palmas constant use of camera shots easily shows where Nesss concentration lies. It becomes very obvious that Ness is caught between two sides, the obvious need to carry out his duty and his moral duty; should he help the woman? Of course, these feelings are perceived by the audience, they too undergo the same dilemma. This feeling grows to frustration and heightened tension as yet more people pass and still no-one offers the woman any assistance. As Ness looks down on the woman in dismay, the audience are reminded that he himself is a family man. However Nesss interests are in conflict; on the one hand he has his official duty (to arrest the book keeper) and that of his moral duty, (to help the weak). Ness takes one last look at the clock realising that it has hit twelve and with this last glance at the clock the audience again hear the low ominous horns sustaining the tension. Ness finally gives in to his moral duty. The music used in the film has a huge part in sustaining and hightening the tension and excitement. One of the most effective instruments used in the set scene are the horns. When the horns play, it warns the audience of the danger and brings their attention in to what is happening around Ness. This is expertly used when two suspicious men walk down the opposite staircase. As they draw level we hear the horns, which confirms our suspicion. This is followed immediately by a reaction shot of Ness who is becoming aware of the danger; what will Ness do? Tension is further sustained with the use of sound. The womens distracting chatter, the prams heave and awkward clank. We wonder how Ness keeps his focus? Another of Al Capones men comes in, Ness looks uneasily at him and as he turns round yet more men come in to the station. It seems that Ness is surrounded and the audiences excitement of what will happen grows. However, as Ness looks round he does not see another of Capones men come in. It is the gangster that Ness hit earlier on in the film. The audience (tension rising) and question whether gangster recognises him and whether when Ness is seen by him, he will be recognised. He currently appears to be the babys farther, but the audience knows this cant last. At this point the baby starts crying and De Palma gives us a closeup. This is a sign of what is going to happen and shows the babys helplessness and innocence. Will the baby survive? As the babys crying gets louder, the camera suddenly switches to the gangster with the broken nose and slowly closes up on his face. At the very same time the music starts to get louder, heightening the tension. The camera changes to Ness and gradually gets closer, as if showing the gangster slowly starting to remember who Ness actually is. In unison the orchestral music reaches a crescendo, signalling that something big is going to happen. All the tension that De Palma has managed to create and sustain thought the scene so far, has been built up until the moment when Ness fires the first shot. When he does, we get an immediate reaction shot of Stone, but moving in slow motion; heightening tension as to whether Stone will get there in time. From this moment onwards, De Palma has chosen to shoot the scene in slow motion, thus allowing the audience to appreciate every moment. However by also choosing to shoot in slow motion, De Palma manages to make the fight seem almost graceful, thus making the audience understand and appreciate De Palmas skill as a film maker. De Palma demonstrates his skill by editing sound and only allowing sounds that he wants the audience to hear; by doing this, he makes the audience concentrate on the most important aspects of what is happening. De Palma chooses to allow us to hear the load clank as the pram rolls down the stairs, the gun fire and the slow echoing foot steps of Stone as he runs to the rescue. De Palma has a good knowledge of film and he shows us this in the closing part of this scene. The shoot out reminding us of cowboy films (High Noon) and also he uses the classic film Battleship Potemkin, these demonstrating how well he can manipulate his audience. However De Palma has not finished creating tension and excitement during this scene. As the pram falls down the stairs, Ness has to choose either to save the baby or capture the book keeper. Choosing to shoot in slow motion also serves in creating anxiety; as Ness runs after the pram, it seems he is moving too slowly to save the child. Aiding in creating tension are the violins that play eerily over the top, creating an ever more tense atmosphere. As well as the constant sound of bullets ricocheting reminding the audience of the danger. As Ness runs out of bullets (highlighted by the load click as he fires), Stone rushes in to save Ness; arriving like the cavalry to save the day. Yet De Palma has not finished showing off his filmmaking technique, for as Stone runs in, De Palma has used a vast montage of shots showing everything that happens in those few seconds. At this point the cradle music that once unnerved the audience now serves as a comfort and is a sign that scales have turned. Ness now has the authority in situation; we get this through the way he takes control of the scene. Presently we get a reaction shot of the gangster and the bookkeeper; the gangster sweating and the bookkeeper trembling and afraid. All tension is now on the two. The gangster tries to take control of the situation but Ness is calm, conveying this by the slight shake of his head. The gangster is desperate Ness speaks calmly to Stone You got him? Stone replies with the same air Yeah I got him. Followed by a close up of the gangsters sweating face and trembling bookkeeper as he starts to count out One! There is a tense pause of anticipation as the audience wonder what will happen next, no other sound or musical compliments are playing, just silence. Take him, Ness says it as if it is nothing to him, followed by the load bang of the gun. Two, Stone says very calmly (blackly humorous), with a reaction shot of the gangster slowly falling to the floor. Immediately the orchestra play, still with the same eeriness as the bookkeeper looks down at his ex-comrade. The load click of Stone re-cocks his gun, now all tension is with the bookkeeper. The scene finishes on Ness; stern and impassive. The audience now are relieved of all anxiety, for justice has prevailed. What has De Palma shown us? Justice wins, in the wake of injustice and corruption, tying in with De Palmas theme of corruption from within. Ness has done whatever was necessary, even if it was not by the book as he was primarily so steadfast in doing. Most importantly De Palma has shown his skilfulness in directing, using a variety of camera angles to create different cinematic experiences. He also uses camera angles to provoke different emotions from the audience. His usage of sound, music and lighting has successfully been employed to formulate tension and excitement. He uses various editing styles to show the audience just how well he can make and produce a film, as well as influencing his audience in the way he wishes to; to feel worried, afraid, tense or excitement and relieved. In all De Palma has managed to show in one scene the following; how skilful a director he is, his knowledge of films, his ability to take things from previous films and make them his own, also how he can influence an audience into feeling what he wants them to.

Relevance of Martial Arts in Modern Society Essay

Relevance of Martial Arts in Modern Society - Essay Example The most interesting aspect of Martial Art is that it is found in wide range of styles which though based on primary philosophy of awareness and self defense, offers different people to choose a style which most appeals to their temperament. In recent years there has been increased interest in Martial Art, which is a wonderful thing. Martial Art has profound relevance in the present day modern lifestyle. Interestingly, in modern world with globalization and inter-cultural integration the term "Martial Art" has come to mean different things to different people. There are different styles depending upon different institutions and the place of origin. Martial Art, as is prevalent today covers a wide range of activities from hard core training for self defense to relaxed, esoteric and higher spiritual practices leading to meditation and relaxation aimed at sole fitness, health and relaxation. There is no universal standard which dictates the style of Martial Art. There has been linked muti-dimensional benefits from practice of martial Art, affecting different facet of modern life of humans. There is significant relevance of such training in the fast-paced terrorism dominated modern life, where safety and harmony are essential goals. Martial Art places great importance to character development... Those who take up Martial Art seriously, realize that with passage of time the practice of their chosen style of martial Art eventually became part of their life and changes them subtly as a person. The change is manifested in such a subtle manner that they are unaware of the transformation which has taken place in them internally and externally, altering their state of awareness to a higher degree of response and reflex. Universally, people lack conscious self-awareness of precisely why they do what they do and are surprised at the relevance which their training has on how they live their everyday life in the world. Martial Art is essentially taken as a technique for self defense, and that is how it evolved. Martial Art was first developed as a means to self preservation, a defense against cruel and savage world of ancient times, when survival of the fittest was the criterion for life. It was not acknowledged as a matter of recreation or sport, but an essential tool for survival, on which depended human beings life or death. With the evolution of human beings and emergence of developed societies, the role of martial Art changed to that of a means to preserve and protect the society. Eventually, they developed into warfare methods with enhanced fighting techniques using swords shields, spears, axes, lances etc. and had great practical relevance in the changing modern world to maintain order and control. The relevance of martial art changed with evolution of the society. The technique of warfare changed and so did the urban lifestyles. This presented a significant need for organized methods of tr aining for individual self defense and personal dueling