Gender in the Matrix Essay Example for Free

Gender in the Matrix Essay The Matrix became one of the most notable films released in 1999 which provided rich visual effects and a thrilling storyline. Most of the scenes from this film play within the context of the future, a visual offering of year 2199 wrapped in virtual reality where machines govern and control human actions. Though the film deals with the relationship between machines and humans, every character in the plot represents an underlying gender-related interaction. Since the film basically revolves on the cyber world in the form of a simulation created by machines, gender specific plots are not explicitly conveyed throughout the whole duration of The Matrix. The following discussion will focus on some of the gender dynamics present within the film. The paper will analyze some parts of the film where norms of gender are either contradicted or affirmed. As previously mentioned, the world in which the main characters believed to be real, is manipulated by intelligent machines. These machines utilized human body heat to convert into energy while they control human behaviors within the matrix. In the general sense machines are considered as a non-living thing created by man and from this perspective, machines do not have a specific gender. In this film they can be considered as androgynous, the Agents who can take any virtual body for their usage is an example on how the machines in this film are androgynous. Contrary to the real world, these androgynous machines have the power over humans with no concept of male and female. Somehow, it projects a balanced and equal form of gender treatment. First of all, there is no direct interaction between genders since their physical bodies are trapped inside a tank connected to the simulation. Second, all humans are used and contained for a single purpose that no other humans can dominate. Seeing the domination of machines as a projection of gender balance, the concept of the â€Å"ONE† enters the scene. It has been revealed from the start that Neo the male protagonist of the film is the savior of the human kind. This can be regarded as an obvious manifestation of upholding patriarchy, since the real world is where men are associated with power. From the world matrix where men and women are controlled, a man is predicted by the Oracle to save the humans from the machine’s imprisonment. Naturally, to the film’s audience, Neo’s success is attributed to the male strength and the power of patriarchy. The female character of Trinity shows her strength which is equal to her male counterparts. However, this strength seems to compliment her appearance which resembles Neo, who has the same shape of face, same sunglasses, and same battle moves. From earlier scenes of the film, Neo mistaken her for a man who cracked a difficult code called IRS d-base (The Matrix 1999), a scene where intelligence are stereotyped among males is reinforced. This film has been said to draw out some of its concept from theological concepts. Neo being the ONE symbolized as the God who is the savior of humankind while Trinity derived from God’s three dimensional forms represents Neo not just in physical traits. The kiss she gave to Neo when he died miraculously revived him which can be compared to the Holy Spirit (Diaz-Diocaretz Herbrechter 200). The issue of gender in The Matrix tackles the usual gender norms of exhibiting male power and dominance. The balance of gender interaction within the simulated environment became the antagonist throughout the film where the characters try to escape. Agent Smith said that the real world is shaped by misery and suffering and the purpose for the creation of the Matrix is to build a perfect world for humans where everyone is treated equally. Ironically, the concept of equality in the film is one thing that needs to be eradicated. Works Cited Diaz-Diocaretz, Myriam. , and Herbrechter, Stefan. The Matrix in Theory. New York: Rodopi, 2006. The Matrix. Dir. Wachowski Brothers. Perf. Keanu Reeves and Laurence Fishburne. Warner Bros. , 1999.

Alfred Hitchcock The Birds Analysis

Alfred Hitchcock The Birds Analysis The Birds was one of the most successful suspense films of its time and possibly all time. It is a superbly directed film by the master of suspense Alfred Hitchcock in 1963. The Birds was based on a novella by Daphne Du Maurier of the same name. I think this is an astounding, unbelievably, remarkable film because it does everything a suspense film should have, and more. In this article I am going to explore the suspense used in the film directed by Alfred Hitchcock. I will examine how through lighting, colour and camera angles this was one of Hitchcocks most renowned motion picture. Hitchcock was very impressive in his dramatic techniques because the tension is built in various scenes which also makes this film accomplish the horror genre in addition to suspense. Initially the audience believe the film is a comedy because it is incredibly ordinary in addition to the use of bright lights and warm colours. Hitchcock makes us as the viewer get an understanding of the characters back story before unleashing the terror in the rest of the film. The movie was very modern for its era, as a result of the use of new technology to the 60s hence the scenes are realistic which adds to its unrevealing storyline. The use of Technicolor added to the horror during the film because it was very new. Through pathetic fallacy the atmosphere is set in most scenes, for example when Melanie Daniels and Mitch Brenner are in the bird shop it is very bright and colourful which is reflected in the characters behavior in the scene. Also towards the end the lighting and colour create a dark and eerie atmosphere. The killers in The Birds and Psycho were believable however the characters remained odd and innocent characters. The introduction of the film with the character is familiar shows her sense of security however when she moves to a rural area we see a vulnerable character with unfamiliar surroundings. Hitchcock may have chosen a small town because it is seen to be more dangerous but in this setting it is more dangerous as it is isolated. The film features a mass use of the colour green for example in the scenery whilst Melanie is driving the boat the landscape is green and blue to Hitchcocks liking and also Melanie wears the same green coat throughout the film. This makes the colour green significant to Hitchcocks films. Green is not usually associated with terror and fear but Hitchcock used this to make the audience feel uncertainty in the film. When Melanie is taking the birdcage to Mitch she is viewed from the waist down showing her in a green dress. This is a reference to birds being women because Melanie is blonde haired and is wearing green, the love birds are yellow headed with green bodies. This suggestion is also made in the beginning when Melanie is walking down a busy street and hears a wolf whistle towards her. This sound is similar to a birds sound. Hitchcock also used the colour green in Vertigo the Female lead wears green. Hitchcock also uses sharp objects in many ways for example the beaks in The Bird s and the weapon in Psycho. Most of the film is set during the day which makes the viewer unsuspecting of the birds. Hitchcock does this to show the calm and peaceful atmosphere which is maintained throughout the film until the ending. Vibrant colours take over the screen predominantly, during the relaxed scenes whereas before and for the duration of the bird attacks dim, shady colours are used. For instance in the Tides Restaurant when the birds attack the atmosphere is dark which is reflected on the clothes worn, the weather and the colour of the birds (see image 1). The colour plays a key part in why The Birds is a successful suspense film. Through its use of high key lighting contrasted with low key lighting which creates a mysterious impression to the audience. An example of lighting is offered proficiently in the dead famer scene. In this scene we see the lighting symbolising the mood in the scene. It begins with Lydia walking down with very bright sunlight, as she walks towards the door the lighting begins to dim down. Entering the house we see a window with natural light but no false light in the house. This absence of light begins to suggest something bad has happened. The director has used this superbly in many of his films to create unease with the observer. Hitchcock was superior when it came to using mise-en-scene to alter the appearance of things. The room where the famer is found is bright but as the camera begins to reveal his body the lighting is darker. The shadows cover the body only exposing his face with his pitch-black eye sockets. As Lydia runs out the weather has changed to a dark stormy sky. The audience feels that this symbolises the man has died and the birds will attack again. Hitchcock creates a parallel to the book because the main character finds his neighbours killed because of the birds. The director does this because he is trying to use visual techniques such as camera angles and lighting to create a horror film atmosphere which also creates a more effective suspense film. This scene is effective because of the drama portrayed by Lydia it is also good because we begin to see different aspects to Lydias character. During the scene where the old woman talks about the scientific facts concerning the birds we see bright colours and vivid lighting but as the birds begin to attack it seems to get darker. When the man is set alight the fire signifies death and evil, as well as a warning that more birds are coming to attack. This is another scene where lighting causes suspense. The use of Chiaroscuro is very effective in scaring the audience. Also the use of long dialogue to create suspense is extremely effective because the audience is eager to find out the cause of the attacks and when they will attack again but this explanation creates the anticipating effect on the audience. The MacGuffin changes throughout the film. At the beginning the audience feels the film is a cheerful film about love but when the storyline develops the viewer thinks: Why are the birds attacking? When are they going to attack next? These questions cannot be answered because they were even analysed by the characters in the Tides Restaurant scene after the birds attacked the school but there was no rational reason. Hitchcock used the MacGuffin in many of his films for example in Psycho the characters wonder Where Is Marion Crane with the money? MacGuffin is one of Hitchcocks strong points because he uses it to make the audience have a different attitude to every scene wondering what is going to happen and why is it happening. This works well because the audience does feel the urge to find out what will happen and a number of other questions. The performance portrayed by the actors in this film is very effective as the actors and actresses are very realistic and can relate to the audience through this. Also the use of something as ordinary and everyday as birds instead of monsters and aliens used in modern films makes the film relate to the audiences life. This is a film that can affect a wide range of audiences because it would have frightened people in the 60s because of the fear of bombs attacking. Nowadays it could be a relation to global warming attacking us. Due to the death of the farmer Lydia was in more need of Mitchs protection but felt she had to compete with Melanie because both were women in Mitchs life and they felt helpless. The very moving portrayal of a needy mother by Jessica Tandy is amazing and still makes an impact to people today because this emphasises Oedipus complex. Mitch is the central character and the women seem to revolve around him which could be another cause for the bird attacks. The protagonist in the novella by Du Maurier is a farmer and Mitch lives in a barn. This is one of many similarities between the film and the book. Hitchcock developed the characters relationships in different ways to create an unsuspecting atmosphere. Melanie is the centre of this as she is a problem to Lydia Brenner and Annie Hayworth (the school teacher) as they are both women who are dependent of Mitchs love. Kathy Brenner (Mitchs sister) likes Melanie because of the love birds she received from her for her birthday and is not one of the main focuses of the film. The handing of the love birds guides to a very misleading storyline making us think it is about the love birds only because Hitchcock spent a lot of time building the characters feelings and behaviours to create an intense atmosphere for the audience thus creating suspense. In the opening credits the title The Birds was slowly pecked away by the passing crows. This use of bright light and medium shots for an introduction creates a mysterious tone for the audience. For modern audiences this could be seen as a very emotive film but long however this makes the audience even more eager to watch the film because it does not give away much information in many scenes. The power of the movie is through the use of camera angles due to the absence of a music soundtrack. Hitchcock uses a variety of methods which are incredibly effective to produce the vast suspense in the film. In many scenes tension is built to create fear and uncertainty in when the birds attack. The film is not extremely graphical in the scenes where the birds attack yet the terror is shown through his use of camera angles. For example Melanies phone booth scene, the camera moves around in the point of view of the birds then switches to Melanies view however when she is getting more and more vulnerable low angle shots are used to make her look defenceless (see image 2). As Melanie enters the phone booth a medium long shot is used. Birds-eye view is used to show her alone with the birds attacking the booth. Extreme close ups show her emotion as scared. The attack from the birds is shown with fast paced point of view shots from Melanie and the birds. Extreme close ups are used to show the characters emotions during bird attacks. At the start of the film this is used showing the characters behaviour. Predominantly when we see Melanie she looks like an upper class woman with no worries in the world through extreme close ups. She is very sophisticated which makes her weak and in danger of attack. Hitchcock uses a female protagonists in many of his films such as Psycho, Marion is alone and vulnerable and Vertigo, the female is calm and alone. Through camera angles we can see the similarities in the characters feelings. Point of view shots are used a great number of times during the film to give you an idea about what they can see and how they see things. For instance when Lydia sees the farmer we walk with her because a point of view shot is used. The body of the farmer zooms in three times to show his eyes. This triple close up shot works well with point of view shot to create a tense atmosphere. Lydia is a frightened old woman who walks in a certain way through Camera angles we find out about her need to be a woman in authority. In the playground scene of The Birds the camera shots are used to develop the still surrounding before the assembly of the birds. The long shot of Melanie Daniels walking to the bench illustrates she is alone and the empty climbing frame in the playground. She is unaware of what is going on and has her back to the birds in the climbing frame (see image 3). By doing this suggests she is exposed and vulnerable and open to attack as she is unaware of the further gathering of the birds but the audience can see this through the medium long shot. She is lower down under the birds showing she is in danger of attack by the birds. Hitchcock is trying to explore the audiences reaction to this calm place being the home of the villains of the film because the playground seems like a place of purity so the audience believes it is a cheerful place. Usually in suspense films something begins calm but changes unsuspectingly. Hitchcock used suspense to its extent because the wait in many of his scene s for the birds to come are long. This change is when the first bird lands on the climbing frame creates a sinister atmosphere. The camera cuts from mid shots of Melanie smoking and the birds building up number on the climbing frame. Mise-en-scene is used because Hitchcock makes the landscape reflect onto Melanies loneliness. The school playground and the hills in the background make the atmosphere normal and make her appear defenceless and alone. Hitchcock is trying to explore how colours and bright scenery creates a cold scary atmosphere without the use of non-diagetic sounds or speech of Melanie. The argument that the bird attacks are drawn by Mitch could be proved wrong as it has three female characters: Kathy, Melanie, Annie. The sounds are very loud and show tension such as in psycho the only sound in the shower scene is the water touching the basin. Melanie is a very vulnerable character because she is an outsider to the community and Hitchcock emphasises this in many scenes. Annie seems to be dominant and have power over Melanie because she is accepted by the community. Also Annie feels threatened by Melanie because we see her ordering Melanie to sit outside instead of staying with her in the classroom. Tilted angle shots are used in the end scene when we hear the birds approaching. The characters look up towards the ceiling where the bird sounds are coming from. The squawks could be a diegetic or non diegetic sound because they set the mood and as the volume increases the characters are more frightened and the mood is intense. Afterwards a low angle shot is used to show the defencelessness of the characters. Wide shots (Extreme long shots) are used to show the landscape and the characters surroundings and usually it is not visibly detailed. This is incredibly thrilling and terrifying and is shown in many scenes to show the birds plotting and attacking. A birds eye view camera angle is a very strange and unnatural shot but is used frequently in the film, not only in the phone booth scene (see image 4). Hitchcock could have used this as a literal birds-eye view however the shot puts the audience in a god like position because we see it from above. This could be a direct link to the judgement day explanation of the film as this shot is used when the birds begin attacking at the gas station. The first attack is referenced in the Tides Restaurant scene when the woman accuses Melanie of the bird attacks because she is the first person to be attacked in the boat. Long shots are used to show the landscape. The warm, calm atmosphere in the scene is shown by the landscape and Melanies clothing. The long shot doubles as a point of view shot for Mitch. We see what Mitch sees as she is attacked by a seagull. The bird attack could be interpreted as Melanies need be noticed by Mitch because Melanie would have gone home straight afterwards if it wasnt for the bird attacking her. Hitchcock uses a range of dramatic techniques to introduce the characters and their relation with each other. He does this to create a sense of unease and make the film have a deeper meaning than just bird attacks. This film could be about a number of other things because this scene shows the emotions between the two characters which seems to cause the first bird attack. If Hitchcock really wanted to make th e film only about birds he would have based it more around the book because the novella has a conclusion and an explanation. Also it focuses more on the bird attacks and the science than the relationship between the characters. The mother and son relationship is shown in many of Hitchcocks film for example the dominant mother in Psycho. Throughout the film Mitch refers to his mother as darling and kisses her frequently. This is a suggestion of Oedipus Complex. Mitch is in love with his mother and the absence of his father makes the mother needy. In addition to that Lydia and Melanie look extremely alike which tells us that Mitch wants his wife to be his jus like his mother. One of the most successful scenes in the film is Kathys birthday scene. It has a sense of being a very unsuspecting scene because it uses very vivid colours and has an absence of birds altogether in the landscape. This use of bright lights and bright colours make the scene seem innocent which makes the audience anticipating a bird attack or wondering why they arent attacking. This gives an idea of innocence because we see Mitch and Melanies relationship develop before the bird attack and we see their characters revealed which also adds to a build up to the climax of the birds attacking. We see Lydia is helpless by the uses of camera angles such as point-of-view shots and extreme close ups. She is scared when the birds begin to attack and is needy of Mitchs attention but he is focused on the other two women in his life Melanie and Annie. When the birds pop the balloons we hear sounds like bombs which could be a link to the Daphne Du Maurier novella because her book was based in Englan d to show the fear of bomb attacks in post war Britain. Hitchcock was trying to explore what humans are afraid of which is nature attacking the human race. Hitchcock played on the idea of being afraid of the sky and used birds instead of bombs. This scene shows how the director makes a calm peaceful scene make us think about the world and nature. Modern movies have followed this example by the master of suspense such as 2012 which shows nature attacking humans and ending the world. Towards the end when the birds attack the house the feeling of being paranoid is conveyed through the actor which implies the feeling of things coming out of the sky. This is a reference to the cold war. This also makes us as humans feel that anything can happen to us and nature can make us vulnerable. The book comes to a conclusion that the birds are influenced by the tide levels. In the beginning the humans are in control of the birds as they are caged. The tables turn when the humans are locked in their homes with the birds intimidating them. The Birds is arguably a film about the tension between families because the birds attack when different things happen to each character. The bird attacks when Melanie starts to get feelings for Mitch and when there is tension between Lydia and Melanie. Lydia is the overprotective mother and Melanie is a woman without a mother. Melanie is wealthy and has everything she wants apart from a mother. At the end we see Melanie powerless she can barely look up to Lydia but still does in a way saying that she has found her mother figure and is need of help. Also another interpretation of the bird attacks is that because the birds will never stop until humans change. The birds almost fight back after the humans treat them with cruelty trapped in zoos and cages. The phone booth scene also emphasises that because Melanie is surrounding by birds mocking her in a phone booth which looks like a bird helpless in a cage. This tells us there could be a biblical message to the film, Judgement day as discussed in the Tides restaurant. In Psycho, there is a psychologist who concludes the film by explaining why Norman Bates chose those actions, similarly The Birds an ornithologist explains the facts about birds and possible answers to their behaviour in the Tides Restaurant. The birds could be a warning from something greater than humans due to the fact that birds are traditionally a symbol of peace but in the film they connote death and evil. Hitchcock reinforces the idea that humans are in constant fear that nature will turn against them. Humans a re usually the predators of birds but in the book they are shown as eating the humans because of the weather. However in the book they kill the humans but no mention of eating. The humans are left helpless to die. Hitchcock could have also based this on the bird attacks in San Francisco because the birds attacked without an explanation. Also Psycho, Normans hobby is stuffing dead birds which could be a reference to the cruelty of humans to birds. In the beginning the lack of any non-diegetic sounds in the film makes us believe there is no music score. However Hitchcock uses the sounds of the school children and birds during the film. The squawking of the birds is very intense. When it is calm the sounds are quiet and high pitched. Before and during attacks the bird sounds range in pitch and volume terrifying the viewer. Hitchcock refers to Bernard Herrmann, a composer as a music consultant. Herrmann has worked with Hitchcock on many films such as Vertigo. Hitchcock seemed to not use non-diegetic sounds to create a nervous atmosphere which is preserved throughout the film but the bird noises seems to be internal but is a non-diagetic sound with different pitched squawks. When we are introduced to Mitchs family home Melanie on the piano is another sound which creates and atmosphere. Whist Kathy is pleading for Melanie to stay. The piano sets the mood and slows down in pace as Kathy is turned down. In the Playground Scene the childrens nursery rhyme is the only sound which gives the same effect as a non-diegetic sound. This sound is well used to create tension in the atmosphere. The children sing repeatedly to make the scene feel innocent and to show Melanie is still naive to the birds gathering behind her. Although the sound is internal it still builds up tension and fear in the film. To conclude the film was incredibly triumphant in creating suspense for the audience. The whole film has a mixture of horror and suspense. This made me feel Hitchcock deserved to be called the master of suspense. Although others may feel this is not one of Hitchcocks best films because of bad visual effects I think it is worthy of being in the top five of Hitchcocks films. Through camera angles, colour and lighting and the drama portrayed by the actors and actresses the birds continues to be a success due to it being able to frighten audiences from different time periods. The absence of a musical soundtrack is very efficient in creating suspense. The film also produces an amazingly compelling storyline and for those reasons Hitchcock will never be forgotten for his amazing works.

Comparing Ideology in Emersons Self Reliance and Catcher in the Rye Es

Non-conformist Ideology in Emerson's Self Reliance and Catcher in the Rye      Ã‚   Human beings all around the world are different in many ways. They all have their unique and physical characteristics, as well as different personalities. They each also have different ideas and thoughts on different topics. America is made up of a great amount of diverse people with diverse, even conflicting opinions and ideas. Diversity is a major component of the foundation of our country. The clichà © of American as a salad bowl is extremely true. Every person is different and every person in his or her own way makes up a small part of America. Without the diversity of ideas and beliefs of Americans, the nation would not be nearly as successful as we are. A major similarity between Ralph Waldo Emerson's Self Reliance and J.D Salinger's Catcher in the Rye is a non-conformist ideology that both exhibit, and the idea that one should choose their own individuality above confomity.    Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye portrays Holden as a character who views conformity as evil. Conformist is a word associated with people who dismiss their own ideas and opinions and act the way most others do. In doing so, they believe others will respect them more because they are more like the majority of the population, Holden saw all those who tried to conform to society as `phonies'. He stated, "At the end of the first act, we went out with all the other jerks for a cigarette. What a deal that was. You never saw so many phonies in all your life, everybody smoking their ears off and talking about the play so that everybody could hear how sharp they were." (Salinger 126) Almost everyone in the novel acted as phonies according to Holde... ...his own mind. No one should be afraid of what society believes they are or what they believe in. One should decide what is good for him/her, not act according to what humanity as a whole believes is good for him/her.    The roles of diversity and uniqueness are a crucial part of society today. Without these qualities being enforced into the American character, people won't produce thoughtful ideas that could help shape America. Both authors illustrate the evil effect of conformity in society and support how one should be self reliant, not phony, and confident in their own beliefs and ideas.    Works Cited       Emerson, Ralph. "Self-Reliance." The American Tradition in Literature. Eighth Edition. Ed. George Perkins. New York. McGraw-Hill, Inc., 1994.    Salinger, J.D.   The Catcher in the Rye.   Boston: Little, Brown, 1991.   

Alzheimer’s Disease: The Importance of Public Awareness Essay -- Alzhei

Imagine greeting your grandmother and being met with a blank stare. Think about how it would feel to watch as your father forgets how to drive or dress himself. Picture your own mother crying out for her long dead parents and siblings. Try to envision the look on a loved one’s face as you tell them that they can no longer live at home alone. Now put yourself in their place-- slowly losing your freedom, your memory, and your very identity. Welcome to the world of Alzheimer’s disease. This is the reality that nearly fifteen million caregivers and over five million patients must face every day. Public awareness must be raised about Alzheimer’s disease and the people it affects. Alzheimer’s disease was discovered in 1906 by German physician Alois Alzheimer. While studying the biopsy of the brain of a fifty-five year old woman who had suffered some type of severe dementia, he noticed some aberrations in her brain structure. The brain appeared shrunken, with enlarged crevasses in the gray matter. Over a century later, we now know that Alzheimer’s is caused by a mixture of chemical and cellular brain abnormalities and the breaking down of cells in the mind. Most of the defects occur in the cerebral cortex, which is the outer gray matter of the brain and the center of most human-like brain functions like memory, language, and thought. About ten percent of the nerves in the cerebral cortex die as the disease progresses, causing the person to lose previously created synapses (connections between nerve cells). Neurofibrillary tangles, which are abnormally twisted and knotted strands within nerve cells in the cerebral cortex, also contribute to the cognitive impairment. Nerve cells in the brain lose the ability to create vita... ... a disorder that plays a huge role in the United States, and one that needs to be recognized. Public awareness of Alzheimer’s will stimulate research to increase, more support to be made available to those directly affected, financial solutions to be found, and an overall increase in understanding and compassion. By informing people about Alzheimer’s and its consequences, we can truly begin to battle this devastating disease. â€Æ' Works Cited Alzheimer's Association. 2011 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures. Annual Report, Washington: Alzheimer's Association, 2011. August, Paul Nordstrom. Brain Function. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1988. Check, William A. Alzheimer's Disease. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1989. Harmon, Dan. Life Out of Focus; Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 1999.

Chaos In William Shakespeares King Lear :: essays research papers

A device which Shakespeare often utilized to convey the confusion and chaos within the plot of his plays, is the reflection of that confusion and chaos in the natural environment of the setting, along with supernatural anomalies and animal imageries. In King Lear, these devices are used to communicate the plot, which is summarized by Gloucester as:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   …This villain of mine comes under the prediction: there’s son against father. The King falls from bias of nature: there’s father against child. (Act 1, Sc.1, 115 - 118) The “bias of nature'; is defined as the natural inclination of the world. Throughout the play King Lear, the unnatural inclination of nature, supernatural properties and animal imageries are used by Shakespeare to illustrate the chaotic state of England, which was caused by the treacheries of the evil characters.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Gloucester is a character in the play who firmly believed that man’s fate has supernatural properties that are controlled or reflected by the heaven and stars:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  These late eclipses in the sun and moon   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Portend us to no good. Though the wisdom of   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  nature can reason it thus and thus, yet nature finds   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  itself scourged by the sequent events. (Act 1, Sc. 2, 109 - 113) This is proclaimed by Gloucester as he is told by Edmund of Edgar’s supposedly treacherous plot to remove him from power. Gloucester’s trust in Edgar faltered as a result of Lear’s irrational banishment of Cordelia and Kent, coupled with recent anomalies in the heavens. Gloucester believed that Lear’s actions also came as a result of the star’s unusual behaviour. Edmund, the treacherous and bastard son of Gloucester, exploits Gloucester’s blind believe in the stars in his plot to oust Edgar out of the inheritance and ultimately to gain all of Gloucester’s wealth and land:   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  This is the excellent foppery of the world, that when we are sick in fortune (often the surfeits of the sun, the moon, and stars, as if we were villains on necessity; fools by heavenly compulsion; knaves, thieves, and treacherous by spherical predominance; drunkards, liars, and adulterers by an enforced obedience of planetary influence; and all that we are evil in, by a divine thrusting on. (Act 1. Sc. 2, 125 - 133) As a result of the irrational acts of trust by Lear and Gloucester, the state of England crumbled due to corruptness and treachery of Regan, Goneril and Edmund. At the point of ultimate chaos, Lear is disdained by his two evil daughters and has none of the power and honour of his kingship, and the state of nature reflects this chaos in the form of a tumultuous storm:

Literary Semiotics

Literary Semiotics Quite often the terms semiotics and semiology are equal, so that often instead semiotics use semiology and vice versa. Ferdinand de Saussure speaks of the sign and the first makes the distinction between semiotics and semiology. Semiotics is the general theory of signs. Semiology study the functioning of the sign in the social practice. Today avoids this distinction and semiotics equate with semiology, ie, they are synonyms. GENERAL Semiotics: The sign does not exist only in language and literature, but in the film we have and tone as a sign, signs of the folk tradition (clouds as signs, etc.. . The sign is a general phenomenon that exists in all forms of human communication. With the help of the sign announce something. The sign communication across borders communion. It is believed that she sign communication has with animals, plants etc.. Within the general linguistic information and communication there is the literary form of communication between author and r eader, between the work and the reader etc.. Semiotics is shared:First Semantics – which focuses on the relationship between sign and signified; Second Pragmatics – is a discipline that focuses on the relationship between the sign and the reader; Third Syntax, syntax – is a discipline that focuses on the relationship between signs, eg. : Texts as signs books as characters. Semiotics makes several typologies and distinguishes several types of sign systems: First PRIRODOJAZICHNI SYSTEMS – define them as first-and include natural languages, ie national languages (English, French, etc. ).. These are the languages that are characterized by a specific practice use.In these systems each character is in relation to an object (reference) from the reality. Not all characters are specified, does not always mean only objects that exist, which are in reality, but there are also abstract, metaphysical signs that signify something that is not tangible, but still exist s in our consciousness. Second Artificial sign systems – Artificial signs we have in mathematics, science and so on. These signs are called artificial, because they agreed. These include road signs, sign language of the deaf, blind etc.. => Structure is a way of organizing systems.System and structure are inseparable. Third Secondary, secondary sign systems – usually build on existing linguistic systems and does not always refer to things that exist in nature. Literature uses natural language to translate literary, coding, etc. All secondary languages have pre-need of natural language and together constitute some already performed sign systems, such as. Literature. Secondary sign system eg. Myth – iconic, pictorial system. 4th Mixed HIBRIDIZIRANI SIGNS – eg. Essay which combines prirodojazichen system and a secondary sign system and pictorial system. th METAJAZICI – Metajazichni systems, metalanguage thoughts when one language describes another ki nd of language that is already built, eg. Theory of literature has described the literary language. There are meta-meta languages, such as literary criticism, literary methodology etc.. Semiotics distinguished: linguistic and nejazichni signs, verbal and non-verbal. Semiotics distinguishes several types of signs: First -Symbols – symbols are all coded signs and they denotativni. These signs have a high degree of codification and konvencionalnost. In these signs the relationship between the sign and the signified is kodiviciran.Second Sign-image – in these signs the relationship between sign and signified is vividly. Iconic signs konotivni signs. The model has features of artistic creation. Third Sign-INDEX – among them the relationship between sign and signified is causal. These signs are generally semiotic. Example: Where there is smoke there is fire. Among them there is a logical connection that occurs as a result of long-term perception. Eg. before an earthqu ake occurs, animals are disturbed, I felt mean. Also, prior to such disasters, we get information, warnings from other planets. All this belongs to indeksnoto information.Semiotics differs constant and variable signs. The sign indicates the object replaces the subject. Therefore, the sign is viewed by the subject marks. To sign appears must e apostoi need an item to be replaced, to signify. Roman Jakobson describes knizhenosta literary self-referential aesthetic message. Piece of literature at the same time can be referential (aesthetic) and referential. Znakovnosta literature does not exhaust WMO interest signified. The sign is a complex composition (signifier + signified). With signs serving entities, transferring to other entities, which means that there must be an agreement.In literature, there is a higher level of esthetics, but this does not exclude pragmatism. While eg. in journalism, a higher degree of pragmatism, but it does not necessarily mean that there is no aesthetic. There is intertextuality. For example, the parody – there parodiziranje literary work that already exists, we mythema, whose basic text comes from another, previously written text hipotekst. Even in the literature have metajazichnost yet dominate vtorostepenosta. It should be noted and the consideration that relates to the fact that there is a difference between literary and linguistic systems.Some systems faster change, others more slowly. Systems include konvencionalizirani relations imply a certain constancy legality. Speech is practice the kind of language use. Linguistic system is slowly changing. A change in the system of language comes when occurring changes in the conventional system. The change in the lexicon is not a real change in the language, but the change in syntax is a real change, because the syntax is a mirror of the language, it is the soul, the essence of language. In the 20th century resulting rapid and radical changes in literary systems, and in language systems can not change for centuries.Literary system as a secondary Literary Semiotics Systems vary in degree modelativnata power. Systems have a high degree of first instance modelativna power and appeal have lower degree modelativna power. Literature is not that important (secondary) sign system. In the literature, the language system is reorganized in a different way, because prirodojazichniot system is already encoded, he once again coded in the literature, which means that the literary system is doubly coded. = CODE = Code means is prohibited and what is not. The term â€Å"code† is not a purely literary term, but comes from egzaknite sciences (mathematics, computer science).Code shows us the optimal boundary between the forbidden and permitted. Modelativnata power is the ability to present a subject in the form of linguistic or literary figure. The model is a picture of the items indicating displays a single character. Model of the object is displayed in a text can be closer to the world that displays, but can be distant. Therefore, some characters are considered to be relatively more realistic poreferencijalni, open to predmetmetot and others are considered less referential, hermetic and more confined to the subject.Structure prirodojazichniot sign implies a direct connection between the sign and the referent. A literary system that relationship between the sign and the object is indirect, and even invisible. When reading the signs, the whole array of interpretenti that are sorted from other sign with any reader pbuduva whole range of different images, each reader think differently. For example, the term â€Å"Company† each poimuva different: one has a no house, stone house, ruined house, a beautiful house, a house-snail, small house, white house etc.. Models, the image of the subject in the literature represents what must exist, what can be absent.Ordinary language signs poreferencijalni, because the connection between the sign and the m atter may be provieri, and in literature it has not. Some literary characters completely reject referentiality and identify as nereferencijalni or auto-referential. They completely distracted by the relationship between the sign and object, life, the world, etc.. But after Mallarme annulling all those links, they are invisible, and even signs can not signify anything other than themselves. These marks signify themselves and thus resolve the question of the definition of the sign that always means something that exists outside of them.These characters have their origin and their long-lasting tradition. Repealed logical connections between them, or at least invisible at first glance. There are literary characters to a greater extent referential and such that auto-referential, that encourage thinking the sign, except the exact information they want to offer something more to the subject, ie the world who represent; those signs tend to have a broader, more universal information how orga nized life and the world. In the literary system is activated principle sozvuchnost musicality, that activates the eneral signification semiotichnost, which plays a major role in the formation of literary texts that it does not matter what you say, but how you say. There are two completely identical words. Ordinary linguistic signs are distinguished by a high degree of symmetry between the object and the sign by which that object is marked. These signs are harder legible because they distort the image of a world that is marked with this sign; while doing so because of the asymmetry between the sign and the object, ie the world; not think of anything specifically. Literary system is: First secondary, secondary;Second double coded; Third iconic, picturesque, with a high degree modelativnost; 4th relationship between the object and the sign is asymmetric; 5th shows interest in the character and high degree of auto-and at the same time and communication and information. It is believed t hat all these properties of the literary system, its structure shows in a nutshell – the tropics. It is believed that ordinary language tends to conventionalize be used automatically, but literary-art information tends to be something more than mere information. In this sense, ordinary expressions have low informativnost.The purpose of literature is constantly questioned images umrtvile forgotten language, and it achieves when they express will deliver another new context and text and no more primates using automated. What's old, already seen, automated, predictable, does not carry much information. But when you make a transformation, modification context, the degree of unpredictability gives it clear that there is some degree of artistic expression. What is stereotypically can perform literary function only when you are questioned and it will say something new, unknown, unpredictable.In literary communication is very important reader that fits into his measure expectation is already known, conventional, and what exceeds this measure is shocking and purely literary. To develop the system, it should be constantly introduce changes that will have a radical character. It is believed that the literary system is a complex system, because it is simultaneously modelativen iconic communicative, informative etc.. STRUCTURE AND LITERARY-artistic structure The term structure is taken from disciplines that have the exact character. This term means the constitution, construction, structure, composition.Can speak of a connection between the structure and the system (composition pragma). Pragma-linguistic semantic __ decorative what is encountered in all literary genres. Literary form is prezentativen. There is a prejudice that oako speaks of structure, must be taken only strucuturalist method. Strucuturalist method of studying literature immanent – within, regardless of external factors. Structure – nestatichna. This term has its prehistory and predstru kturalistichkiot method. Promotes the emergence of Saussure, then in Prague structuralists in 30 years (Roman Jakobson).The structure is a way of organizing a race, when you are thinking of something dynamic, live outdoors. But it always is a minimum order, which can be viewed transhistoric outside of literature. It shows anthropology and linguistics. Distinguished two levels of understanding society. Archetypal structures – which manifests Oedipus, infanticide, Phaedra, and it asa eglavno negative occurrence. They are constantly renewing, changing WMO their name, the essence is the same. When speaking of the structure, not thinking assemblies, but the relationship between these parts that are different relations.The structure is latent given, you need to be activated to express a given relationship. It is not a material category, but a correlation between at least two parts, as part of one great whole. There must be a ratio of that unit which is higher than those who own par ts. The label may not mean anything. Even the sign is a higher instance. It establishes relations between the sign and the signified. The context shows us how the text structures and includes the subject, as well as the channel through which they passed.The structure is separable elements that make up the parts that build a third instance. It is not equal to the sum of those parts. The idea of structure has its own continuum from Plato onwards. When speaking of a literary work of art can not change the way the author laid the parts. Work itself has a rigid structure, there is coherence. Any literary work of art has a minimum structure, within a text is completed. Structure does not exhaust in terms of the text itself, but continues in the relations between texts that are external.The internal structure is latent, but in proportion with the reader that changes its character. Structure becomes external, opens to a text read in a social context of a given epoch. It opens towards the c ategory of value, ie toward non-literary categories participating in the reader and the author. The text-reader-author is different in the written and oral tradition. In oral literature there is a collective, multidisciplinary artist, oral text is intended for a different kind of reception kolektiviet (holidays protakularni religious rites). The novel is an individual kind.It introduces a new relation to the adoption of the text (information and understanding). In everyday communication relationships are different speakers-reader known. In the literary work of art speaks of aesthetic structure – art. That does not mean that it is polisemantichka multifunctional (educational, ethnic, linguistic, fun, social). Linguistic literary system implies certain conventions. The literary structure is composed of text and context (genre code metajazichnosta all types of channels, psychological, biographical, biological factors).Literary structure implies something conditionally given (tex t). Contextual factors – open. The text is the primary datum in the literature. He builds with just reading and valued. Ultimately, it ends in a new value. Text Literary and artistic text Textus Lat. textus = texture, fabric, specific kind of tissue taken from the material environment and ported in the literature. Text – a literary work of art and represents graphic zvukoven part of the work. It is unchangeable part, material, literary and artistic work that is more complex, consisting of immaterial part style.Literary-may be in oral and written (literary) form. Text changes its status through history is part of the moral language conventions. The text is also linked to the development of human civilization. Associated with civilization signs. Each text is articulated and systematized, it is to communicate with him. The author (individual or collective) and the sign, by linking the text for a long time, and the reader was switched off. Today is considered that the read er can influence those literary conventions. Differences between the literary work of art and literary and artistic text.The text is considered an open category, sign, while the work is closed category, the whole classic with reduced significance. It is a theory of Roland Barthes and structuralists in France. Variability of the text seen in the oral tradition. Textuality is as fixed as a material part of the work. Each text serves not only to inform, but also to communicate. Text as a cultural and artistic means authorship readers act vrednvuanje denial and others. Cultural and artistic text linking at least two dimensions – historical and artistic ontological. There are literary and non-literary texts.

The Value of Life

Generation after generation of societies change as time goes on. Maybe not so much the society itself, but the people in it do. The value of life now differs depending on the different kinds of experiences people go through. We will all have different obstacles in our life, but the way we get through them and live to tell the tale is the way life should be valued for. In It’s not about the bike: My journey back to life, an autobiography by Lance Armstrong, he is a great inspiration to America for winning one of the most grueling sporting events on the face of the earth, the Tour de France. A 2,290 – mile race through the hills and mountains of France on a bicycle. Yet this is still not what puts value into life, through his eyes. Lance was diagnosed with testicular cancer at the age of 25. As tough as it is to fight a cancer as severe as that, he says it was his profession that helped him fight it. His profession taught him how to fight and compete against all odds and obstacles. A near death experience is what made Lance ask himself, â€Å"If I live, who is it that I intend to be?† This is where I truly believe people start contemplating what the value of life is. Another example of an obstacle people sometimes go through in order to assign value to life is suicide. The world famous Shakespeare has a play precisely on the basis of this issue. In the soliloquy of Hamlet he is a man who doesn’t know whether to live or commit suicide, but carefully analyzing the aftermath of suicide and what comes after death is what makes the character have a change of heart. Again we see that what we go through in life, the obstacles we face and overcome is what we use to assign value to life. To further conclude this statement, the way society should assign value to life is the way we have been doing it for years, by basing it on the different experiences people go through and letting each individual have a say in what they think the value of life is. Everyone’s opinion is different, but that is the beauty of it. From all the differences it creates some of the greatest stories ever told. That is how value should be assigned. The Value of Life The Value of Life The value of human life is still a mystery and we as a society is still trying to figure it out. During early times, life was not valued at all. People were being turned into slaves and treated like nothing. In today’s world though, we base the value of life by our achievements, one’s past, or the salary one receives. This shouldn’t be the way we value one’s life. We as a society cannot assign a value on one’s life. Money cannot buy happiness.In the article â€Å"What Is a Life Worth† by Amanda Ripley, she argues that nowadays we base life on money. â€Å"The courts started to put a dollar value on a life-after death† (â€Å"What Life is Worth†, stanza 1). I do not agree with this because people expect money after a death occurs to a loved one. No amount of money can fill in the void of a loss someone is enduring. William Shakespeare, one of the most famous and influential writer, argues his point of view of hu man life in â€Å"Hamlet’s Soliloquy. Shakespeare uses a suicidal character, Hamlet, to show that the only time we value life is when something bad is happening. Also to show that life is full of misfortunes. Both Shakespeare and Ripley seem to be suggesting that life is only valued by death. Death opens our eyes and makes us cherish what we have. This sounds very sad, but it’s very true. The government doesn’t seem to care about human life. Cheri Sparacio, the widow of Thomas Sparacio, exclaims, â€Å"The government is not taking any responsibility for what it’s done.This was just one screw up after another. † The government tries to replace loss with money. How can one’s life value be bought? Nowadays, one way life is valued is by money. 6 On the other hand, Lance Armstrong believes that death is not an option. That the value of life should be cherished and taken for granted because your life can end any second. In the excerpt â€Å"Itâ €™s Not About the Bike: My Journey Back to Life† by Lance Armstrong with Sally Jenkins, it talks about Lance