Westerns :: essays research papers

Westerns      The settlement of the west has provoked storys which have enamored the general population consistently. More than some other memorable occasion it has been expounded on in books, magazines and comic books. Screen journalists are no special case, it has been the most mainstream subject of films from their beginning. It's proximity in history is one of the most significant explanations behind it's prosperity.      Soon after the west's settlement, films got mainstream. Guardians and grandparents were recounting stories that were made much increasingly genuine by the occasions seen on the big screen. An individual could substantially more effectively envision occasions occuring inside the previous 50 years or so when contrasted with 150 years with the unrest. This proximity in history gave accounts of the west a reasonable intrigue for the general population.      With the turn of the century came the mechanical unrest. At this time the normal individual's life changed drastically. Individuals presently became "factory workers," checking in and jettisoning their cerebrums. The excitement advertised by these accounts gave most of individuals a short break from the regular "grind." People had the option to head out into the dusk for a couple of hours turning into a rough person who has any kind of effect instead of the unremarkable body that may turn one screw for what seems like forever. Storylines assortment was perpetual for the west's narrators. Any story could be composed and set as a western. The love intrigue, loathed villian and old foe all fit in a western. In the event that an essayist did not have any desire to set aside the effort to build up an adversary, one was promptly accessible in the local americans. The wests stories can be changed by exchanging perspectives as

Stupid Boy Free Essays

More troublesome than the classes, more troublesome than the weight of school and obligations is the consistent bothering of my female companions. In our school, they are the predominant sex and woman's rights can be felt from miles around. Females control our school, and it is highly unlikely of getting around it. We will compose a custom paper test on Inept Boy or on the other hand any comparative theme just for you Request Now The regular fantasy that ladies are second rate compared to men is totally and completely off-base. Since the time I started secondary school, I realized that I was not the same as the different folks. Individually I saw my male companions being gotten rid of from the higher scholarly levels, leaving a prevalently female group, however I was, and still am, resolved to keep my position. As the years have passed by, I have become the â€Å"token male† in a large number of the top classes. It is hard to clutch such an esteemed job when I realize that there are females encompassing me, prepared to demonstrate that the â€Å"token male† isn't as advanced as one would might suspect. I end up remembered for discussions about such things as male slamming and female clothing that guys are generally prohibited from. At the point when we are in science, they gripe about pregnancy, and afterward turn scornful eyes toward me, protesting that I will never know the distress of labor. The unusual thing is those discussions and persistent male-slamming meetings no longer stage me. Presently it’s hard to discuss â€Å"guy things. † I quite often go to females for scholarly discussion. Some of the time there aren’t any folks around to discuss anything. I have figured out how to manage it however, and I’m cheerful that I’ve had this involvement in embarrassment. It has made me regard ladies more than I ever would have. I feel that any self-regarding women's activist would be pleased with me. My female science educator has named me â€Å"Token Male. In my propelled science, propelled material science, propelled English, and Spanish IV classes I am overpowered by the estrogen. I couldn’t envision not having Sarah around to get notes from, or Rose to giggle when Mr. Marshall calls me persuasive. I am not the normal person any longer. I tune in to the discussions with enthusiasm, standing by to interpose my own point of view. Non etheless, I am watchful not to pull in a lot of consideration from one of the preying females. I go to the washroom and see a male companion out in the lobby and slap him five as I return into class. I look to the young ladies to hear them state, as one, â€Å"Stupid Boy. â€Å" The most effective method to refer to Stupid Boy, Papers

Early Action FAQs

Early Action FAQs The first round of application deadlines are upon you, which means ALL THE EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS are upon us. So many. If you’ve been trying to contact the Admissions office regarding your application, and you still haven’t heard from us, don’t worry! We got your message but are chipping away at them more slowly than usual because the volume has been so high. (Last week, we were getting over a hundred emails a day…) While you are patiently waiting, please check out the FAQs below in case I can get you back to zen calm state sooner :) ***AN IMPORTANT NOTE***: A lot of people seem to be panicking about getting all the required materials in for the Early Action (EA) deadline. We know that there’s been a ton of craziness with natural disasters this year (which impacted the testing), not all of you have been able to set up your interview, etc. If you can’t make the Early Action deadline, it is okay to apply Regular Action (RA). Seriously. You don’t get “bonus points” or extra consideration by applying early. Some schools use an early application as demonstration of interest, but we don’t. You should submit an application for Early Action purely for your own peace of mindâ€"if you happen to have everything ready right now, great! You can potentially get your admission decision sooner :) But if not, don’t worry about “strategizing” around early and regular action cycles. It doesn’t matter to us. AHHHHH MY INTERVIEWER HASN’T RESPONDED TO ME Ahhh okay okay okay okay The deadline to CONTACT your interviewer was last Friday*. This is NOT the deadline to have your interview. Interviewers still have time to respond to you and do the interview. Gently poke your interviewer if it’s been a couple days since you reached out to them, and maybe remind them that you’re applying Early Action. If they don’t respond after 2 or 3 emails, contact [emailprotected] and we may try to reassign you to a different interviewer (be patient as it may take us a few days to do this). That interviewer may be willing to do the interview soon. If that interviewer doesn’t respond, or we can’t reassign a new interviewer to you for some reason, we will waive your interview and it won’t hurt your admissions chances. We make notes when stuff like that happens so the Admissions committee knows. *Its a slightly different situation for people applying through QuestBridge, since you were just notified if you were finalists. Latashas done a great QA for QB applicants in general over here. AHHHH I DID MY INTERVIEW BUT IT HASN’T BEEN CHECKED OFF IN MyMIT TRACKER We’re still processing all the documents, give it some time (roughly a week). UNLESS you 1) did your interview more than two weeks ago AND 2) you submitted Part 1 of the application. In that case, go to your MyMIT account - “Online Application Tracking” - scroll down to interview and fill out the “Conducted Interview Form”. The form notifies us that you conducted the interview and that we should just keep an eye out for the report from the interviewer. You WON’T be penalized if the report doesn’t get to us by Nov. 1. But remember, only do this if both stipulations outlined above have been met. AHHHH MY ___ DOCUMENT ISN’T SHOWING UP IN MyMIT TRACKER It can take about 7 business days for us to process all the documents, so wait at least a week before contacting us. Were accepting documents from schools, testing agencies, and letter writers through the month of November so don’t worry if some of that doesn’t make it in by the Nov. 1 deadline (do make sure that YOUR Part 1 and 2 are in, though!). Just make sure you have hit submit on everything from your end by Nov. 1 for Early Action. That’s the important deadline. If we take an extra week to process that materials, that’s on us and it won’t hurt your application. If you’ve submitted documents through ApplyWithUs or Naviance, those don’t automatically go into your file so it takes about 7 working days for them to appear in your MyMIT tracker. AHHHH I CAN’T CHECK THE STATUS OF MY APPLICATION You won’t be able to use the MyMIT application tracker until you submit Part 1 of the application. So make sure that’s submitted before you start emailing us about your file :P tl;dr we are doing our very best to get to your emails and questions and to quickly process documents. Just give us a few days to respond to questions and about a week to process materials. Make sure you read through the pages on our pages for freshman applicants. And do reach out to us if anything wonky has happened or if you have specific concerns! We really are here to help and make this as minimally-stressful as possible, we’re just humans and can only type and talk so fast. Also, rest assured that despite the volume of sheer stuff that’s been coming in, we consider everything you send with the utmost care and consideration. That’s part of why we’re slow. There are real humans behind all of this who care that you’ve put so much thought and effort into your application, so we want to make sure we’re processing everything carefully and respecting all your hard work. :) Post Tagged #admissions interview #admissions interview #Early Action #FAQs #MyMIT #Regular Action

Early Action FAQs

Early Action FAQs The first round of application deadlines are upon you, which means ALL THE EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS are upon us. So many. If you’ve been trying to contact the Admissions office regarding your application, and you still haven’t heard from us, don’t worry! We got your message but are chipping away at them more slowly than usual because the volume has been so high. (Last week, we were getting over a hundred emails a day…) While you are patiently waiting, please check out the FAQs below in case I can get you back to zen calm state sooner :) ***AN IMPORTANT NOTE***: A lot of people seem to be panicking about getting all the required materials in for the Early Action (EA) deadline. We know that there’s been a ton of craziness with natural disasters this year (which impacted the testing), not all of you have been able to set up your interview, etc. If you can’t make the Early Action deadline, it is okay to apply Regular Action (RA). Seriously. You don’t get “bonus points” or extra consideration by applying early. Some schools use an early application as demonstration of interest, but we don’t. You should submit an application for Early Action purely for your own peace of mindâ€"if you happen to have everything ready right now, great! You can potentially get your admission decision sooner :) But if not, don’t worry about “strategizing” around early and regular action cycles. It doesn’t matter to us. AHHHHH MY INTERVIEWER HASN’T RESPONDED TO ME Ahhh okay okay okay okay The deadline to CONTACT your interviewer was last Friday*. This is NOT the deadline to have your interview. Interviewers still have time to respond to you and do the interview. Gently poke your interviewer if it’s been a couple days since you reached out to them, and maybe remind them that you’re applying Early Action. If they don’t respond after 2 or 3 emails, contact [emailprotected] and we may try to reassign you to a different interviewer (be patient as it may take us a few days to do this). That interviewer may be willing to do the interview soon. If that interviewer doesn’t respond, or we can’t reassign a new interviewer to you for some reason, we will waive your interview and it won’t hurt your admissions chances. We make notes when stuff like that happens so the Admissions committee knows. *Its a slightly different situation for people applying through QuestBridge, since you were just notified if you were finalists. Latashas done a great QA for QB applicants in general over here. AHHHH I DID MY INTERVIEW BUT IT HASN’T BEEN CHECKED OFF IN MyMIT TRACKER We’re still processing all the documents, give it some time (roughly a week). UNLESS you 1) did your interview more than two weeks ago AND 2) you submitted Part 1 of the application. In that case, go to your MyMIT account - “Online Application Tracking” - scroll down to interview and fill out the “Conducted Interview Form”. The form notifies us that you conducted the interview and that we should just keep an eye out for the report from the interviewer. You WON’T be penalized if the report doesn’t get to us by Nov. 1. But remember, only do this if both stipulations outlined above have been met. AHHHH MY ___ DOCUMENT ISN’T SHOWING UP IN MyMIT TRACKER It can take about 7 business days for us to process all the documents, so wait at least a week before contacting us. Were accepting documents from schools, testing agencies, and letter writers through the month of November so don’t worry if some of that doesn’t make it in by the Nov. 1 deadline (do make sure that YOUR Part 1 and 2 are in, though!). Just make sure you have hit submit on everything from your end by Nov. 1 for Early Action. That’s the important deadline. If we take an extra week to process that materials, that’s on us and it won’t hurt your application. If you’ve submitted documents through ApplyWithUs or Naviance, those don’t automatically go into your file so it takes about 7 working days for them to appear in your MyMIT tracker. AHHHH I CAN’T CHECK THE STATUS OF MY APPLICATION You won’t be able to use the MyMIT application tracker until you submit Part 1 of the application. So make sure that’s submitted before you start emailing us about your file :P tl;dr we are doing our very best to get to your emails and questions and to quickly process documents. Just give us a few days to respond to questions and about a week to process materials. Make sure you read through the pages on our pages for freshman applicants. And do reach out to us if anything wonky has happened or if you have specific concerns! We really are here to help and make this as minimally-stressful as possible, we’re just humans and can only type and talk so fast. Also, rest assured that despite the volume of sheer stuff that’s been coming in, we consider everything you send with the utmost care and consideration. That’s part of why we’re slow. There are real humans behind all of this who care that you’ve put so much thought and effort into your application, so we want to make sure we’re processing everything carefully and respecting all your hard work. :) Post Tagged #admissions interview #admissions interview #Early Action #FAQs #MyMIT #Regular Action

Reading Report Sample - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 1 Words: 373 Downloads: 3 Date added: 2017/09/25 Category Advertising Essay Type Argumentative essay Did you like this example? Government-Business Relations Reading ReportStudent Name:__________ Edith Smith _____________________________________________Class (eg Monday 10. 00am-11. 30am): _________________3 -4 PM__________________| Reading full reference| Liz Young, 1999‘Minor Parties and the Legislative Process in the Australian Senate: A study of the 1993 Budget’,Australian Journal of Political Science, 34(1): 7-27| Main point(s) made by the author(s)| The author has discovered a gap in research and literature regarding the tools and powers available and used by minor parties in the Senate to affect legislation and the behaviour of Parliament. The author explains that with the exception of a few mentioned studies, current research is focused on a single minor party or takes the primary aim of examining the impact of minor parties for a student audience. | Evidence and examples used | Detailed analysis of the votes, concession making, and negotiation that occurred in the Senates passi ng of the governments 1993 Budget is provided by the author as empirical backing for the arguments developed and claims made throughout the article. The author uses the aims of minor parties, the voting and negotiation process, and resulting changes to specific clauses of the budget to examine the behaviour, activism and effect of minor parties in the Senate. | Strong and convincing parts of the text| The discussion of minor parties bargaining with the government for amendment to legislation, in the place of voting against the government, is well argued and supported and particularly convincing. Using the 1993 Budget case study the author explores the outcomes and consequences of both courses of action, and effectively concludes that negotiating with the government is preferred by minor parties as it affords minor parties more power than in a voting situation and is viewed more favourably by non-senate audiences. | Weak and unconvincing parts of the text| A weakness of the art icle is the narrow nature of the case study. This results in arguments and findings which may not be easily generalised or applied in other areas, such as lower houses or states, or in situations where minor parties do not hold a balance of power. In examining the senate’s passing of the 1993 Budget as the empirical support of her argument, the author concedes that using such a case study is a narrow empirical base for the claims which have been put forward. | Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Reading Report Sample" essay for you Create order

Computer Technology And Computing Technology - 743 Words

Abstract—Computation-intensive mobile applications are more in demand with the evolution in computer technology, while the computation capacities of mobile devices are limited. Computation offloading is a challenging method that sends heavy computation task to the resourceful computers and obtains results from them, provided computation offloading decision should balance system s benefits and costs. This paper presents the survey of various such computation offloading decisions algorithms highlighting their objectives and features, followed with their comparative analysis based on parameters i.e. energy efficiency, performance, time complexity, overheads, application support and their future scope. keywords—Computation offloading;offloading decisions;mobile cloud computing. I. INTRODUCTION Evolution in computing technology have expanded the usage of computers from desktops and mainframes to a wide range of mobile and embedded applications including surveillance, environment sensing, GPS navigation, mobile phones, autonomous robots etc. Many of these applications run on limited resources i.e. power constrained mobile phones. Mobile Cloud Computing (MCC) provides a powerful way to perform such computation intensive task, called â€Å"Computation Offloading†. Computation offloading is a mechanism where resource intensive computations are migrated to resource rich cloud or server or nearby infrastructure [8].It is different from the migration model used in microprocessorShow MoreRelatedDevelopment Of The First Operating System1728 Words   |  7 Pagesintroduction of the first QWERTY keyboard, the first Graphical User Interface (GUI), to the present day mobile computing capabilities of smart phones. There have been many drastic changes from the first computers to today’s modern PC, which has become an essential component of our everyday lives. These improvements in computer technology have allowed for the development of the many revolutionary technologies that we have become accustomed to, such as tablets, smartphones, notebooks and laptops. With the adventRead MoreComputer Science Laboratory ( Csl )1264 Words   |  6 Pagesterm ubiquitous computing was first articulated in 1988 by Mark Weiser in Xerox Palo Alto Research Centre (PARC) Electronics and Imaging Laboratory (EIL). In late 1987, Bob Sprague, Richard Bruce and other members of PARC and EIL put forward the idea of developing wall sized flat panel computer displays from large area amorphous sheets. Its been believed that The wall display was used as input for scanning images and electronic pens. These researchers anticipated such computer walls different thanRead MoreEssay about What Is Ubiquitous Computing ?1040 Words   |  5 PagesUbiquitous Computing ? What is ubiquitous computing? An exciting new approach to serving us with technology? Or the environment where the virtuality will became the reality? Lets try to give the definition of ubiquitous computing, its development, including the key people and places influencing its development, and finally some concerns raised by this new approach for putting technology and people together. Already, one name has been reoccurring when talking about ubiquitous computing: Mark WeiserRead MoreCloud Computing : Information And Software Management Essay1262 Words   |  6 PagesCloud, â€Å"Cloud computing, often referred to as simply â€Å"the cloud,† is the delivery of on-demand computing resources—everything from applications to data centers—over the Internet on a pay-for-use basis.† †¢ Elastic resources—Scale up or down quickly and easily to meet demand †¢ Metered service so you only pay for what you use †¢ Self-service—All the IT resources you need with self-service access Over the past several years, cloud computing has been getting attention as a new computing model for providingRead MoreMobile Computing And The Creation Of The Internet1416 Words   |  6 Pages Mobile computing, a term that didn’t come around till sometime between the 1960s and 1970s, is the use of the internet and computer based applications on the go. It is using your phone to search something online, using your tablet to make changes to a PowerPoint before you go into your meeting, and sharing multimedia online through your social media. There have been many leaps within the technological world that has brought society to where it is today. From the creation of the cell phone to theRead MoreMobile Computing And Its Business Implications1725 Words   |  7 Pages Mobile Computing and its business implications Krishna Mohan Bobde University of Campbellsville 520156 27 October 2016 Abstract Mobile computing is the important informationRead MoreWhat Is Ubiquitous Computing ?890 Words   |  4 PagesUbiquitous Computing ? What is ubiquitous computing? An exciting new approach to serving us with technology? Or the environment where the virtuality will became the reality? Lets try to give the definition of ubiquitous computing, its development, including the key people and places influencing its development, and finally some concerns raised by this new approach for putting technology and people together. Already, one name has been reoccurring when talking about ubiquitous computing: Mark WeiserRead MoreThe Cloud Of Cloud Computing1483 Words   |  6 PagesCloud Computing has been one of the greatest concepts of computer access over the last years, but in fact we have been using it for more than ten years and the majority of us takes advantage of this technology in our daily life without realize it. Gmail, Dropox, Facebook, and many social networks are all examples of Cloud Computing solutions. It seems that the Cloud computing has become essential to a generation that is in constant battle to reduce costs and in the same time to provide unlimitedRead More Nano Computing and the Future of Silicon 787 Words   |  3 PagesNano computers have the potential to revolutionize the 21st century in the same way that the transistor led to the information age. Increased investments in nanotechnology could lead to breakthroughs such as molecular computers. Billions of very small, fast, and che ap computers networked together can fundamentally change the face of modern IT computing. This miniaturization has already spawned a whole series of consumer-based computing products: computerized clothes, smart furniture, and access toRead MoreCloud Technology1217 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Keeping Your Head in The Clouds† (Cloud Technology) By: Azariah Foxworth North Carolina Central University Durham, NC 4/12/2010 Within the past 10 years our societies technological advantages have been somewhat space age like, even alien like characteristics. Technologies, which ten years ago only existed in our dreams but yet, have become reality. Things like, the revolutionary iPhone and its almost seamless touch-screen tech; as well as the new advancements in our cultures most

The Work Of John Locke - 1395 Words

Different theorists have attempted to explain why individuals submit themselves to an external power to form a society. Some philosophers argue that individuals submit themselves to an external power on a contractual basis through the mutual transfer of right since, primarily, everyone has a right to everything. On party, therefore, foregoes certain natural rights and so does the other so that both converge to limited rights that govern them. Such philosophers base their argument on the assumption that sovereignty is primarily unlimited and that it is foregone when rights are transferred (Kimmel 54). On the contrary, other theorists have argued that sovereignty is never foregone upon the transfer of rights but its rather maintained among the people through the people s in the form of a government. The government is, therefore, portrayed, in this case, as an external power belonging to the people, by the people and for the people. These contrasting theories have generated heated argum ents on which of them is analytically correct. This paper provides an analysis of the work of John Locke with regard to explaining why individuals submit themselves to external power to form a society. Also, the paper provides defensive evidence explaining why Locke s work is the most compelling explanation of the question. Meaning of Social Contract as Used in This Paper In spite of the differing arguments, the theories converge on the fact that some social contract is formed between men.Show MoreRelatedJohn Locke : A Work Of Political Ingenuity872 Words   |  4 PagesTHE PHILOSOPHER JOHN LOCKE: A WORK OF POLITICAL INGENUITY Locke’s profound writings have had significant impact and influence on the works of future political thinkers till today. He is the principal architect of the enlightenment which inspired the American and French revolution. Locke’s view is instrumental to modern philosophy. As a major proponent of liberalism aim to posit †¦. The work of Locke focusses on establishing civil society, choice of leadership and right of the people to resist oppressionRead MoreEssay on John Locke: Illuminating Path to Life, Liberty, and Property642 Words   |  3 Pagesprominent man by the name of Thomas Jefferson, were greatly influenced by the Enlightenment’s most profound philosopher, John Locke. Since the beginning of Enlightenment to the 21st century, Locke’s ideas have been behind countless innovators, philosophers, and politicians; including our very own Founding Fathers. From being an enlightened philosopher to creating bold, new ideas, John Locke is the single mo st influential person in history because he helped establish the basis of modern philosophical empiricismRead MoreBiography of John Locke876 Words   |  4 PagesJohn Locke was a British born philosopher, physician, and writer that played a significant role in the framework of The United States. He was born in Wrington, England on August 29th, 1632. A father, also named John, who was a country lawyer, and his mother Anges Keene, raised Locke. Both his parents were Puritans, which influenced his later work immensely (John Locke). Locke’s parents sent him to the famous Westminister School in London where he was led by Alexander Popham, a member of ParliamentRead MoreBusiness Ethics: John Locke Essay1696 Words   |  7 PagesBusiness Ethics: John Locke Business Ethics Business ethics is defined as â€Å"a specialized study of moral right and wrong that focusses on moral standards as they apply to business institutions, organizations, and behavior† (Velasquez, 2014, p.15). Business ethics is the study of moral standards that focusses primarily on how these standards may apply to social systems and/or organizations. For this paper I will be focusing on one of the great minds of business ethics, John Locke, his ideas andRead MoreJohn Locke1098 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Locke was born on August 29, 1632 the son of a country attorney and. Locke grew up in and during the civil war. In 1652, he entered the Christ Church (Oxford) where he remained as a student and teacher for many years. Locke taught and lectured in Greek, rhetoric, and Moral philosophy. Locke, after reading works of Descartes, developed a strong interest in contemporary philosophical and scientific questions and theories. In 1666, Locke met Lord Anthony Ashley Cooper, and from then on, this lifelongRead MoreJohn Locke And Modern Capitalism1204 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Locke was a philosopher that didn’t think human thought was based on pure egoistic behavior. Locke believed people were partially altruistic, believing that people respected the rights of others by rational thought capabilities. There is speculation about how John Locke would view the modern idea of American Capitalism and how it would complement or conflict his idea of the social contract. I will argue that John Locke would be against this interpretation of modern capitalism. There are differentRead MoreBenjamin Franklin And His Life1281 Words   |  6 Pageswas only 10 years old, his father took him out of school to go work with him at his candle making shop. Ben did not like this too much because he wanted to venture out and do other things, and making candles with his father was not one of them. Ben’s father sent Ben to his brother James printing shop, and Ben was thrilled to go work at a printing shop. Although his brother did not treat him very well, Ben was still excited to work at the shop. Working at his brother’s print shop brought manyRead MoreJohn Locke : The Most Influential Philosophical And Political Thinker917 Words   |  4 PagesThe Key to Locke John Locke â€Å"proved to be the most influential philosophical and political thinker of the seventeenth century† (Kagen 213). He lived in a period of great political change; Locke’s upbringing came to influence his philosophies, and these ideas had much significance in regards to the Enlightenment. Locke was born on August 29, 1632 in Wrington, Somerset (John Locke 9: 478). Early on came the outbreak of the English Civil War. Anglican and possessing Puritan sympathies, Locke’s fatherRead MoreAnalysis Of John Locke s The Of The Golden Era Essay1393 Words   |  6 Pagesthe Renaissance and William Shakespeare treated us to the best writings and plays in the English language. Likewise, John Locke is a man who accomplished what many men could not. He single handedly developed a political system that had a focus on liberty, his work would help influence many men from both sides of the Atlantic. Aside from being a brilliant political theorist, Locke was an author who wrote many outstanding writings. He is remembered as being one of the best English philosophers of allRead More John Locke Essay1215 Words   |  5 PagesJohn Locke John Locke is considered to be England’s most prominent philosopher. He was born August 29, 1632 in a small town of Somerset, which is south of Bristol, England. Locke was the oldest of three children. His mother died when he was 22 years old and Locke spoke of her very well. Locke’s father was a Puritan attorney and clerk to a justice of the peace in the town where Locke was born. He was very strict with his son when he was younger. which Locke later believed that parents should

Evaluation of Product and Service Quality †Free Samples to Students

Question: Discuss about the Evaluation of Product and Service Quality. Answer: Introduction: After a meeting with co-managers regarding the evaluation of the business model of our company, we came up with the following strategic vision statement. Vision statement: At Best Deals Electronics our Vision is to be among the most delivering companies in the world- in terms of all the consumer household electronics. We create a wide range of durable and quality products that seeks to meet the demands of the consumers from every perspective, ranging from the television sets, washing machines, driers, cookers and fridges among others. Engaging high professionalism in all the business endeavors to ensure quality customer service delivery, through provision of better products and support services with a sole focus on corporate responsibility to boost the companys image and status (Sang Eze, 2012). References Sang, Q. A., Eze, U. C. (2012). Assessing key factors in consumers evaluation of product and service quality. International Journal of Innovation and Learning, 11(4), 415-435.

INtroduction Essays (691 words) - Sports, Basketball Statistics

INtroduction Introduction BASKETBALL Bill Buggey Hailey Kellerman Period: 7 Basketball Then Basketball was first invented in 1891 in Springfield. The creator was Dr. James Naismith (Nov 6 1861-Nov 28 1939) It consisted of peach baskets and a soccer style ball Rules in 1861 The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man who catches the ball when running at a good speed if he tries to stop The ball must be held in or between the hands; the arms or body must not be used for holding it No shouldering, holding, pushing, tripping, or striking in any way the person of an opponent shall be allowed; the first infringement of this rule by any player shall count as a foul, the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made, or, if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game, no substitute allowed A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violation of Rules 3, 4, and such as described in Rule 5 If either side makes three consecutive fouls, it shall count a goal for the opponents consecutive means without the opponents in the mean time making a foul A goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the grounds into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edges, and the opponent moves the basket, it shall count as a goal. Rules in 1861 When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field of play by the person first touching it. In case of a dispute, the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds; if he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on that side The umpire shall be judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have power to disqualify men according to Rule 5 The referee shall be judge of the ball and shall decide when the ball is in play, in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made, and keep account of the goals with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee The time shall be two 15-minute halves, with five minutes rest between The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winner. In case of a draw, the game may, by agreement of the captains, be continued until another goal is made Top 10 biggest names of basketball of all time Michael Jordan #23 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar #33 Lebron James #23 Magic Johnson #32 Wilt Chamberlain #13 Larry Bird #33 Bill Russell #6 Tim Duncan #21 Shaquille ONeal #34 Kobe Bryant #24 or #8 How basketball came about It came about from James Naismith when he was told to invent a new game for the young men at a physical education class he taught at a YMCA. He thought of a game that he used to play called Duck on a rock Duck on a rock was a game where you tried to knock a large rock off of a boulder by throwing smaller rocks. James then recalled watching rugby players tossing a ball into a box at a gymnasium. He had the idea of nailing boxes up into which players would throw a ball into. How basketball came about Once he couldnt find boxed he then used baskets. After he had the game materials he made up the rules in about an hour. The game was created for you to do something indoors during the winter season. The spread of basketball How basketball got popular was because of all the graduates that went to YMCA widely traveled and spread the word of the newly invented game.

Great Circlesâ€Definition and Examples in Geography

Great Circless in Geography A great circle is defined as any circle drawn on a globe (or another sphere) with a center that includes the center of the globe. Thus, a great circle divides the globe into two equal halves. Since they must follow the circumference of the Earth to divide it, great circles are about 40,000 kilometers (24,854 miles) in length along meridians. At the equator, though, a great circle is a little bit longer as the Earth is not a perfect sphere. In addition, great circles represent the shortest distance between two points anywhere on the Earths surface. Because of this, great circles have been important in navigation for hundreds of years but their presence was discovered by ancient mathematicians. Global Locations of Great Circles Great circles are easilye based on the lines of latitude and longitude. Each line of longitude, or meridian, is the same length and represents half of a great circle. This is because each meridian has a corresponding line on the opposite side of the Earth. When combined, they cut the globe into equal halves, representing a great circle. For example, the Prime Meridian at 0Â ° is half of a great circle. On the opposite side of the globe is the International Date Line at 180Â °. It too represents half of a great circle. When the two are combined, they create a full great circle which cuts the Earth into equal halves. The only line of latitude, or parallel, characterized as a great circle is the equator because it passes through the exact center of the Earth and divides it in half. Lines of latitude north and south of the equator are not great circles because their length decreases as they move toward the poles and they do not pass through Earths center. As such, these parallels are considered small circles. Navigating with Great Circles The most famous use of great circles in geography is for navigation because they represent the shortest distance between two points on a sphere. Due to the earths rotation, sailors and pilots using great circle routes must constantly adjust their route as the heading changes over long distances. The only places on Earth where the heading does not change is on the equator or when traveling due north or south. Because of these adjustments, great circle routes are broken up into shorter lines called Rhumb lines which show the constant compass direction needed for the route being traveled. The Rhumb lines also cross all meridians at the same angle, making them useful for breaking up great circles in navigation. Appearance on Maps To determine great circle routes for navigation or other knowledge, the gnomic map projection is often used. This is the projection of choice because on these maps the arc of a great circle is depicted as a straight line. These straight lines are then often plotted on a map with the Mercator projection for use in navigation because it follows true compass directions and is, therefore, useful in such a setting. It is important to note though that when long distance routes following great circles are drawn on Mercator maps, they look curved and longer than straight lines along the same routes. In reality, though, the longer looking, the curved line is actually shorter because it is on the great circle route. Common Uses of Great Circles Today Today, great circle routes are still used for long distance travel because they are the most efficient way to move across the globe. They are most commonly used by ships and aircraft where wind and water currents are not a significant factor though because currents like the jet stream are often more efficient for long distance travel than following the great circle. For example in the northern hemisphere, planes traveling west normally follow a great circle route that moves into the Arctic to avoid having to travel in the jet stream when going the opposite direction as its flow. When traveling east, however, it is more efficient for these planes to use the jet stream as opposed to the great circle route. Whatever their use, though, great circle routes have been an important part of navigation and geography for hundreds of years and knowledge of them is essential for long distance travel across the globe.

American Airlines (AMR Corporation) Research Paper

American Airlines (AMR Corporation) - Research Paper Example This is because the business of stock trade holds no assurances and one has the potential to either enjoy large amounts of profit from their trades or suffer huge amounts of loss as well if things do go as expected (DePamphilis, 2009). The public companies whose shares are involved in this trade are able to profit as well in terms of stock value, which has the potential to raise the value of their company in general. This is to say that, the higher the price of their stock, the higher the value of the company. Due to this relation, senior management in such companies tends to focus on stock prices and ways that they can be increased on the market in the short term so as to raise the value of the company. This can read to unethical behavior as a result as the management may be tempted to trick individuals into thinking that their stock is worth more than it is in actuality (Sandage, 2006). The increase in the value of stock leads to an increase in demand for the stock which in turn ra ises the value of the stock even higher and it is this co relation that may tempt senior management to tamper with realistic value of their stock so as to cause a rise in demand which will in effect actually raise the value of the stock as a result. ... By postponing this responsibility, the company was able to keep hold of the funds that would have been used for this activity and include it in the earnings reports that they put out. Thus, it would look like the company is doing better than it actually is as those studying the results would not be aware that the funds displayed were partly increased by the postponement of an expense which would have to be dealt with eventually. 2 Deferring the aircraft maintenance was harmful and unethical to both the shareholders of the company6 as well as the customers who used their services. This is because the company dealt in a very sensitive area of transport (air transport) where the good condition of the crafts used was essential in their everyday business. It was unethical to the shareholders as they were made to believe that the stock they owned was doing better than they thought through the manipulation of funds (DePamphilis, 2009). It also put them at risk of suffering losses should any accident have occurred as a result of shunning this maintenance responsibility as the stock value would have dropped drastically as a result. Their actions were even more dangerous to customers who used their services as they put their lives at risk through failing to perform scheduled maintenance on their aircrafts, which could have led to an accident that may have resulted in the loss of lives. This is a more serious offence than tricking those trading in shares into thinking that the company they have invested in is doing well and involved potentially more devastating results than the simple manipulation of earnings through other means. 3 In 2011, American Airlines decided to file for a Chapter 11 bankruptcy that the management saw was

Air Pollution in London Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Air Pollution in London - Essay Example Concentrations ofsix pollutants reduced between 2007 and 2008. Between 1998 and 2008 concentrations of eight pollutants have reduced. The substances that cause air pollution are called pollutants. If they are pumped into our atmosphere and directly pollute the air are called primary pollutants. Carbon monoxide from car exhausts, sulphur dioxide from the combustion of coal is example for primary pollutants. If primary pollutants in the atmosphere undergo chemical reaction, and further cause pollution, they are secondary pollutants. Photochemical smog is an example for secondary pollutant. Air pollutants mainly occur as a result of gaseous discharges from industry and motor vehicles. There are also natural sources such as wind-blown dust and smoke from fires. With increasing urbanisation and industrialisation, more pollution has been added to the air by industrial, commercial and domestic sources. When these concentrated gases like Co, Co2, So2, No2, Ozone, and Pm10 exceed safe limits, we have a pollution problem. Air pollution, particularly in cities, is not a new problem. Back in the middle ages the use of coal in cities such as London was beginning to escalate. In UK the industrial revolution during the 18th and 19th centuries was based on the use of coal. Urban air pollution levels often reached very high levels due to the burning of coal in industries, as well as in homes for domestic heat. During foggy conditions, pollution levels escalated and urban smogs (smoke and fog) were formed. These often brought cities to a halt while disrupting traffic, and may also cause deaths. Effects of air pollution on buildings and vegetation also became obvious. Effects Inhaling So2 in excess amount would lead to cough, tightening of chest, and irritation of lungs. NO2 results in irritation and inflammation of lungs. PM10 may cause inflammation of lungs, linkage of long term exposure to coronary heart disease and lung cancer. Intake of carbon monoxide in excess amount would leads to prevention of normal transport of oxygen by blood, resulting in the reduction of oxygen supply to the heart. Ozone causes pain on deep breathing, cough, irritation and inflammation of lungs. Benzene and 1, 3-butadiene leads to cancer. Lead is responsible for linkage of exposure to impaired mental function and neurological damage in children. In the great 'smog disaster' in London in 1952, nearly 4,000 people died in a few days due to the high concentrations of pollution. Air pollution in London is decreasing Year Moderate High Year Moderate High Year Moderate High 2000 218 7 2003 480 32 2006 396 26 2001 275 24 2004 225 3 2007 200 12 2002 175 7 2005 230 5 2008 130 6 1. Days of moderate-high, and very high air pollution at selected urban sites across London during 2000-2008 (Source: Defra). 2. Relative annual mean concentrations of SO2, PM10, Nox and NO2 monitored at several sites across London. (Source: London Air Quality Network, King's college London). According to the data, there has been a downward trend in the annual mean concentration of SO2. Since 2000 it had fallen significantly. By the spring of 2009 it had fallen by 80% since November 1996. Annual mean concentration of PM10 has decreased by nearly 26 % between November 1996 and late 2008. The concentration of NO2 has fallen since 2000, and now appears to

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Renewable Energies Essay

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Renewable Energies Essay During the last two decades one of the main concerns of many people and governments is the supply of energy for different purposes such as producing electricity. Two main issues lead them to think about this problem deeply. First of all the environmental problems such as carbon dioxide emission and also the shortage of fossil fuels for generating electricity. Therefore many countries decided to find alternatives which are accessible or easy to access and they cannot harm the environment. Some of alternatives are wind, Tidal, nuclear and solar energy. By looking generally to alternatives it can be realized that each one has its own advantages and disadvantages. Currently two main sources which are really important among governments and they have invested on them is solar and nuclear power for producing electricity. Nuclear power can be defined as one kind of energy which can produce through some chemical reactions between the atoms of the element. Nowadays scientists have found some m ethods to use the energy which is release from the reactions among atoms. The other kind of energy source is solar energy which is releasing from the rays of sun. Governments have decided to use these kinds of renewable energy sources to overcome the problem of energy shortage. Some countries have developed in these two kinds of energy source industries. However in each area some people are for and some of them are against this kind of producing energies. One of the common methods of producing electricity in recent years was using fossil fuel energy for spinning the turbines to produce electricity; however scientists found a method of capturing sunlight energy and heating to transfer this energy into turbine to spin them and produce a sustainable energy form without any environmental impact. Generally the main process of this method is using some kinds of mirrors in different shapes which are mostly having u shape or they are like a dish. Through this mirrors in these plants they concentrate the sun rays and convert it into heat energy for boiling water. After boiling water the steam which is produced due to heating energy from the effect of sun light the conventional turbines will spine and through complicated systems produce electricity. One of the main and biggest projects related to solar power is in California in the united stated. This project has been held between the areas Kramer junction and Harper lake in California. This solar plant can produce 150 megawatts of electricity. It can cover 1500 acres in the desert. In this project more than 900,000 mirrors have been used to capture sun light. Through this project the amount of carbon dioxide emission can decrease significantly in comparison to fossil fuels carbon dioxide emission. Because 3800 tons of carbon dioxide used to produce by fossil fuels. One of the European countries which are really concern about energy efficiency is Spain. The government has invested significantly due to the future and problems related to energy sources such as shortage and pollution of other sources. They have found this kind of energy adequate as an alternative. Trujillo solar project which is started on the year 2006 and finished on 2007 has some advantages in terms of electricity generation for many homes and also decreasing carbon dioxide emission. The total output of this project which might be introduced is 20 megawatts. The method which is used to generate electricity from sunlight in this project is photovoltaics. This project has been designed and developed by power light corporation. In this project they can cover about 100 hectars.The name of the project is Magascona. The calculations from the company can illustrate that the mentioned power plant can supply electricity for 20,000 homes. Moreover it can prevent from carbon dioxide emissi on annually by about 42,000 tons. A kind of renewable kinds of energy which is really controversial its future and its efficiency is nuclear power. In general nuclear energy is a kind of energy which is release from the atom of some elements through some reactions. This kind of energy sometimes can produce by doing some controllable processes to use this energy and convert the nuclear power to electricity. This method of producing electricity has its own advantages and disadvantages. Although some people are concern about its disadvantages but it might be a good alternative as response to the shortage of energy in future. Also there are different comparison between using nuclear power and fossil fuels for generating electricity. The general concept of generating of electricity from nuclear power can be explained through this way. In the first stage the Uranium element which is radioactive element should be extract from the mines. After that Uranium should be fed to the nuclear power plant as a main fuel for reactors. In power plants by using controllable reactions which can be called fission reaction an intense amount of heat will produce. The purpose of this intense amount of energy is to vaporise the water and use the resulted steam for spinning the turbines. The electricity which is produced by turbines will feed the electricity into electricity greed. In the last stage they will use this electricity for various purposes such as industry and homes. Although this method of producing electricity could be an alternative for the future. but there are many arguments for and against investment on nuclear power plants. Currently there are different countries that are invested on this industry such as France and USA. It might be claimed that France is the pioneer of producing electricity from nuclear power by having about 59 nuclear power plants. Generally the amount of electricity which is generated in this country is about 540.6 Tera watt hour and it is a huge amount of electricity. Currently France is the largest exporter of electricity from nuclear power. However the amount of investment in nuclear power plant is quite allotrope of the main nuclear power plants which was carried out in 1991 and 1993 was CIVAUX .This power plant has two phases. The first phase was built in 1991 and the other one built two years later. Both phases completed in 1999 and the government invested about 4.1 billion dollars on this project. There are a sig nificant issue in this project. At the time of testing this nuclear power plant before putting the electricity into the grid the engineers found out a leak from primary coolant, therefore they decided to shut down the reactor and repair the problem. Because, as some people might know, if any problem occurs during any reaction in these nuclear plants sometimes some disasters might occur, such as explosions. Unfortunately the amount of electricity which was produced in proportion to the time and investment on this project was not worth very much. The CIVAUX project work out 1,349 kwe and it was much lower amount among the other foreign projects.By comparison this project and the amount of energy which is produce by fossil fuels was not a successful project.By comparison this nuclear project to the one fossil fuel project for producing energy they have almost the same amount of electricity production. References http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_power_in_France#Limitations Civaux 1-2 http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/reaction/readings/french.html http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=nuclear-cannot-solve-climate-change

What is Giftedness? :: Biology Essays Research Papers

Maria, a friend of my mother's, once complained to our family about the public school system in Florida. She claimed Peter, her six-year-old child, is extremely intelligent and not only could he play the violin and chess, but he could also read upper-level books. Despite all this, he did not make it into the gifted program at school - a program that she believed he rightfully deserved to be a member of. Why was she so upset over the outcome, and what deciding factors do people consider that could lead to the child being selected against an accelerated program? In recent years there have been a strong resurgence in the study of giftedness in children- many people have attempted to explain the phenomena and why there are so few who are endowed with the asset. Research has promised new insights on the identification and subsequent proper handling for gifted individuals. What factors may influence innate talent in certain people - is it based on genetic, neurophysiological, or psychologi cal factors? In my last paper, I had discussed the various research projects that have attempted to link giftedness to the brain - with interesting results that are still yet to be firmly established. This paper will attempt to show how giftedness as a concept has been misrepresented in general, and how it presently cannot be used to directly identify individuals but can be used as an inference tool only. Nevertheless, finding a basis or correlates for the concept is something society finds important, because of the believed implications it will have for the gifted children in the future. The age-old issue of "what makes giftedness" has been debated in the academic world for many years. Before recent studies, it was widely believed that giftedness merely relates to the intellect only. Now many scientists believe that the term correlates not only to intelligence but also to creativity, memory, motivation, physical dexterity, and aesthetic sensitivity (1). It is without doubt that there is some basis to the fact that a few people learn faster than others, or have an accelerated sensitivity to art, music, or mathematics. But is this due to an innate ability of the particular person? Or are there several complex factors involved not involved with the individual's body? Is genius a unified brain phenomena, or is it a term used to describe different phenomena in different persons? Many believe that giftedness is due to some innate process independent, for example, from the environment the individual is raised in.

Strictly Ballroom

Study Guide Strictly Ballroom fiieducation SYNOPSIS At the Waratah Championships ballroom dancer Scott Hastings goes against Federation rules and impulsively dances his own steps, causing partner Liz Holt to dump him. Then Fran, ugly duckling of the beginners’ class, offers to be Scott’s new partner. Initially sceptical, he is persuaded by her ideas, and together they plan to dance their own steps at the Pan-Pacific Grand Prix Championships. But Scott’s rebelliousness does not go unchallenged.His mother Shirley and coach Les Kendall try various ways to prevent Scott from dancing with Fran, while corrupt President Barry Fife plots Scott’s downfall by concocting a story about his parents’ dancing career that will convince him to compete at the Pan-Pacifics without Fran. All seems lost until Scott’s father Doug reveals the truth. With Barry Fife’s desperate attempts at sabotage having little effect, Scott and Fran complete their spectacul ar dance to rapturous applause from the crowd. Everyone takes to the dance floor in celebration. CAST Scott Hastings Fran Barry Fife Doug Hastings Shirley HastingsLiz Holt Les Rico Ya Ya Paul Mercurio Tara Morice Bill Hunter Barry Otto Pat Thomson Gia Carides Peter Whitford Antonio Vargas Armonia Benedito Ken Railings Tina Sparkle Charm Leachman Wayne Burns John Hannan Sonia Kruger Kris McQuade Pip Mushin Vanessa Cronin Kylie Luke Leonie Page Lauren Hewett Steve Grace CREDITS Director Producer Screenplay Baz Luhrmann Tristram Miall Baz Luhrmann and Running Time Craig Pearce 94 Minutes CONTENTS Introduction 4 Images of Australia 5 Baz Luhrmann’s Vision 7 The World of the Film 10 Hero, Heroine, Villain 14 APPENDICES A – Baz Luhrmann interview 18 B – Tristram Miall interview 20C – Sequences for study 22 D – Key moments 23 E – Film language 24 F – Filmography 25 INTRODUCTION Australian director Baz Luhrmann's flamboyant and colourful debu t feature Strictly Ballroom (1992) opens with a theatrical swish of red velvet curtains and leads us into the larger-thanlife world of competitive ballroom dancing. It tells the story of Scott and Fran, who rebel against Dance Federation rules in order to dance their own steps. The film is the first in Baz Luhrmann's ‘red curtain' film trilogy, and can also be described as a combination of the following: a fairy tale, a romantic comedy, a dance musical, even a satire.This study guide is aimed at teachers who are teaching the film as a comparative text in the Leaving Certificate English syllabus. As well as sections relevant to modes of comparison such as The World of the Film, (for Cultural Context/Social Setting) and Hero, Heroine, Villain, a central feature of the study guide is our exclusive interview with director Baz Luhrmann. He discusses his artistic vision and defines red curtain cinema, the concept central to his trilogy of films Strictly Ballroom (1992), Shakespeare' s Romeo & Juliet (1996) and Moulin Rouge (2001).We are also very pleased to include an interview with Strictly Ballroom producer Tristram Miall in which he discusses his involvement in the making of Strictly Ballroom, and also provides insights into his role as a film producer in the Australian film industry. Both interviews will provide invaluable background material for both teachers and students. Strictly Ballroom is an excellent choice for comparative study as it is accessible, fun and fast-paced, but it also has serious themes and ultimately celebrates Australia's multicultural society, a view that has strong resonance for contemporary Ireland.I hope you will find this guide an interesting, useful and enjoyable resource in your teaching of Strictly Ballroom. Grateful thanks to my colleagues Alicia McGivern, Grainne Humphreys and Liz Fehilly for their valuable suggestions and editorial contributions. Ann Ryan Schools Officer fiieducation The Film Institute of Ireland STRICTLY BA LLROOM 4 Uluru (Ayers Rock) IMAGES OF AUSTRALIA â€Å"You will find a warm welcome waiting for you in Australia, one of the most fascinating and spectacular places on earth. A land of contrasts, at once a youthful, vital nation and the home of the planet’s oldest continuous culture. † 1A SPECTACULAR HOLIDAY DESTINATION A SUCCESSFUL MIGRANT NATION Just as the Irish Tourist Board represents Ireland in a certain way to attract tourists, the Australian Tourist Commission promotes travel to Australia by highlighting its bright, colourful aspects. Famous landmarks such as the Sydney Opera House, Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Great Barrier Reef are featured as well as Australia’s indigenous people, the aborigines. Ever since Australia was first colonised by British settlers more than two hundred years ago, there have been successive waves of migration to its shores. The majority of migrants came from Britain,Ireland and northern Europe until after the Second World War, wh en Australia welcomed refugees from war-torn Europe and also began to accept thousands of migrants from southern European countries such as Italy and Greece. (Melbourne for instance has the largest Greek population of any city in the world outside Greece). STEREOTYPICAL IMAGES What expectations do we have of Australia and its people? There are several familiar Australian stereotypes, including the enduring image of Aussie bushman hero seen in Paul Hogan’s Crocodile Dundee. This is continued in recent film release Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course (2002) tarring TV naturalist Steve Irwin. A more negative stereotype is that of a Today, Australians whose ancestors hail from Britain or Ireland2 still form a majority of Australia’s population but the country has also become one of the most successful migrant nations in the world, welcoming people from all corners of the globe to its shores. Notwithstanding the typical Australian male being depicted as beer-swilling, loud-m outhed and uncultured, like Barry Humphries’ comic creation Sir Les Patterson, ‘Australia’s 2002 government’s controversial stance on illegal immigrants, contemporary Australia is a diverse and vibrant multicultural society. ultural attache. ’ Characters and settings in Australian TV soaps such as Home & Away and Neighbours conform to stereotypical views of Australia, such as the mistaken AUSTRALIAN CINEMA* During the 1970s the Australian film belief that it is permanently sunny there, or that people are always tanned, goodlooking, athletic ‘surfie’ types. Perhaps the soaps’ appeal lies in their representation of industry experienced a revival of its fortunes. The development of a government-assisted film industry reflected a desire to develop and nurture Australia as a sunny suburban paradise, a far cry from the more downbeat settings ofEastenders or Fair City. a national cinema. Films made during the 1970s and since reflect Aus tralia’s increasing cultural diversity. STRICTLY BALLROOM 5 The Dish, Australia’s biggest ever box office success Peter Weir is an important figure in the Australian film renaissance. His haunting success. This gentle comedy is set in July 1969 in a small rural town in New South 1 Australian Tourist Commission Traveller’s Guide 2002, p3 and atmospheric Picnic at Hanging Rock (1975) was a success both in Australia and Wales. Australian scientists become unlikely heroes because of the part they play in 3 Adrian Martin, More than Muriel, Sight and Sound nternationally. Adapted from the novel by Joan Lindsey, the film is set in 1900 on Valentine’s Day, when a group of schoolgirls on a picnic at Hanging Rock in Victoria disappear without trace. broadcasting the first TV pictures of the Apollo moon landing. In the 1980s the phenomenally successful Crocodile Dundee (1987) relied on the bushman stereotype for its comedy. In 3 addition to 1990s ‘kitsch comed y’ successes like Strictly Ballroom, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert (1993) and Muriel’s Wedding (1994), other comedies also proved popular. The Dish (2000) emerged as Australia’s biggest ever box officeAnother box office success is Phillip Noyce's film Rabbit Proof Fence (2002), which explores a significant and tragic part of Australian history: ‘The Stolen Generations. ‘ From 1905 to 1970 part-Aboriginal children were forcibly removed from their families and placed in institutions. Set in the 1930s and starring Kenneth Branagh, the film tells the story of three Aboriginal girls who escape from the institution they have been placed in and walk 1500 kilometres across the continent to find their way home. STUDENT EXPLORATIONS 1 Travel brochures promote Australia as one of the world’s most spectacular holiday destinations. What mpressions of Ireland are shown in travel brochures, do you think? 2 Describe a stereotypical Australian, then a typical Irish person. In what ways are these stereotypes limiting? Where do we see such stereotypes used? 3 Do you think Australian TV soaps are realistic? What images of Australia do they present? Compare their stories, characters and settings to an Irish or UK TV soap. 4 Compare another Australian film to Rabbit Proof Fence  © Miramax Release Date Ireland: 8/11/02 Strictly Ballroom. In what ways are they similar/different? What impressions of Australia do you receive in each film? *See Filmography (Appendix F) for ore details of Australian films. STRICTLY BALLROOM 6 2 Known as Anglo-Australians, or Anglo-Celtic Australians Vol. 5 No. 6 (1995) p30 – 32 (p30) Picnic at Hanging Rock BAZ LUHRMANN’S VISION ORIGINS OF STRICTLY BALLROOM company, the Six Years Old Company, subsequently revived the play for a it won the Festival’s Prix de Jeunesse. Strictly Ballroom also won several other Ballroom dancing is hugely popular in several countries around the world. With success ful season at the Wharf Theatre in Sydney before touring to the World Expo awards, including eight Australian Film Institute Awards, three British Academy ts garish costumes, obsession with detail and rigorous rules, it has evolved into a dance sport and has recently been introduced to the Olympics. There are clubs and societies in countries around the world devoted to the promotion of ballroom dancing. Baz Luhrmann was introduced to the world of competitive ballroom dancing as a child growing up in Australia. His mother was a dancing teacher, and he took lessons, danced competitively and became a champion ballroom dancer himself. at Brisbane, Queensland in 1988. Awards and a Golden Globe nomination. FROM PLAY TO FILM VISION & PASSION The next phase in Strictly Ballroom’s evelopment, however, was more challenging. Adapting the successful stage play into a film became what the filmakers describe as a â€Å"David and Goliath journey†. Producers Tristram Miall and Ted Alb ert had approached Baz Luhrmann with a view to buying the film rights. They agreed that he would write the script and direct the film. In 1991 Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce wrote the final screenplay for Strictly Ballroom, but the Australian Film Finance Corporation were cautious about financing a first time director, producer and a largely unknown team. Few films were being made in Australia in the early 1990s, as it was in the midst of an conomic recession. In many ways the ‘David and Goliath’ struggle to get the film made reflects Scott’s struggle to dance his own steps in the film. His creativity and vision eventually win out despite the obstacles in his way. Similarly Baz Luhrmann’s team overcame what seemed to be impossible odds to triumph. Their vision and passion, combined with tenacity, hard work and determination helped them succeed in getting Strictly Ballroom made. Given the economic circumstances in Australia at the time, and the fact that Baz Luhrmann had never directed a feature film before, this was indeed a substantial achievement. AT DRAMA SCHOOLBy 1985 Luhrmann was studying drama at the prestigious National Institute of Dramatic Art1 (NIDA) in Sydney, where he felt that its traditional teaching methods and strict rules were oppressive, stifling students’ creativity. Inspired by this experience, the original premise for Strictly Ballroom was based on overcoming oppression. Luhrmann chose the world of ballroom dancing because of his own experiences in that world. A DEVISED PLAY STUDENT EXPLORATIONS Despite several setbacks, including the 1 Baz Luhrmann and the producers have described the experience of making Strictly Ballroom into a film as a ‘David & Goliath’ struggle.Find out about the sudden death of producer Ted Albert, the money was eventually raised to make the film, with the Australian Film Finance Corporation as main investor. But there story of ‘David & Goliath’, and discuss how it has parallels with Scott’s story. 2 The theme of overcoming oppression was the premise for Baz Luhrmann and SETBACKS The first version of Strictly Ballroom was a thirty minute devised play, created by Luhrmann and fellow students (including long time friend and co-writer Craig were other difficulties along the way, including Paul Mercurio (Scott) injuring his ankle just before the start of filming, and he Film Finance Corporation allegedly Pearce). Luhrmann then directed the first ever stage production of Strictly Ballroom at NIDA. The play’s success led to its selection for the 1986 World Youth ‘hating’ the film after viewing a rough-cut. (See Interview with Tristram Miall). Despite all these difficulties, Strictly Ballroom became a huge hit in Australia and Theatre Festival in Czechoslovakia, where it received awards for best production and best director. Luhrmann’s theatre overseas. Made for $3. 5 million Australian dollars, it screened a t the prestigious international film festival at Cannes, where fellow NIDA students when they evised the play version of Strictly Ballroom. The students felt oppressed by the strict regime at their drama school. Do you have any personal experience or knowledge of such a regime? Give some examples. 3 Discuss the different stages by which Strictly Ballroom became a film. What impressions do you receive of Baz Luhrmann and his team? STRICTLY BALLROOM 7 â€Å"All our films use this cinema form which we call theatricalised cinema, red curtain cinema†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Baz Luhrmann Moulin Rouge (2001)  © Twentieth Century Fox RED CURTAIN CINEMA Shakespearean language, and Moulin Rouge is a musical. Once the audience Baz Luhrmann describes his trilogy of ilms as examples of red curtain cinema. accepts that they are always watching a movie and are not seduced into believing This concept, which he defines as a theatricalised, participatory cinema form set in a heightened world, is central to o ur understanding of his work. Strictly Ballroom, the first film in the red curtain trilogy was released in 1992, followed by Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet (1996) and finally Moulin Rouge (2001). that it is real, Luhrmann believes that they will be able to participate actively in the viewing experience. According to Baz Luhrmann, there are rules and conventions in red curtain inema just as in other film genres. The first rule is that the story needs to be set in a heightened creative world. Strictly Ballroom opens with a theatrical swish of red velvet curtains. The opening image leads us into the world of competitive ballroom dancing, peopled by larger-than-life characters obsessed with winning. The second rule is that the story should be based on a recognisable story shape. In Strictly Ballroom, the David & Goliath myth can be seen quite clearly in Scott’s Romeo & Juliet (1996)  © Twentieth Century Fox struggle against the mighty Dance Federation. Similarly, the fairy tale about he ugly duckling being transformed into a swan is mirrored in the character of Fran. Baz Luhrmann for a detailed account of his artistic vision & (Appendix B) Interview with producer Tristram Miall for details of his involvement in Strictly Ballroom. Thirdly, and finally, red curtain cinema is also audience participation cinema. For Luhrmann, the audience needs to be aware that what they are watching is not meant to be real. Unlike other films which give the illusion of reality, red curtain films use ‘devices’ to keep the audience aware that the film is heightened and stylised. In Strictly Ballroom the central device is ancing; in Romeo & Juliet it is See (Appendix A) Interview with director DISCUSSION from his review of Moulin Rouge reveals: â€Å"The director clearly exults in the thrilling films like Top Hat (1935), the all-powerful Dance Federation is represented as the Luhrmann is influenced by radical theatre practitioner Bertolt Brecht, who was theat ricality of the genre, which he communicates so infectiously to the enemy in Strictly Ballroom. ‘Mockumentary’ interviews in the opening interested in creating ‘active spectators’ in theatre audiences. To achieve this he employed distancing techniques to ensure that the spectator stands outside the xperience. 2 Brecht’s aim was to keep the audience intellectually involved, but emotionally detached. Baz Luhrmann wants the audience to be active participants, aware that they are watching a film. He describes red curtain cinema as being like ‘Brecht with heart’ because he also welcomes their emotional involvement. audience in this exuberant, intoxicating spectacle, a blissfully romantic paean to the power of love. †3 sequence provide another example of the film’s parodying of conventions. So does red curtain cinema work, and are we convinced by it as a new cinema form? The world created in Strictly Ballroom is indeed larger-than -life, lamboyant and stylised. And in Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet and Moulin Rouge Luhrmann continues the concept of red curtain cinema in ever more fantastical ways. The Verona in Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet is hot, sexy and violent, a created world comprising of twentieth century icons. Moulin Rouge, STUDENT EXPLORATIONS There is no doubt that Baz Luhrmann’s red curtain films offer audiences larger-thanlife fantastical created worlds, stunning visual spectacle and stories based on recognisable myths. But perhaps the audience participation element of red curtain cinema works more convincingly in Strictly Ballroom and Romeo & Juliet han in Moulin Rouge because in the final film of the trilogy the pace is just too frenetic and rushed. Those who love watching MTV may disagree, but in my view the audience simply does not have time to absorb the myriad images, sounds, sweeping camera angles and special effects. Far from encouraging our emotional involvement with t he characters and storyline, these distancing techniques in fact have the opposite effect. A COMBINATION OF GENRES 1 Define ‘red curtain cinema’ in your own words. 2 We are used to seeing films at the cinema that are set in the ‘real world’. Give some examples of films like this. How do Baz Luhrmann’s films differ?Do you prefer films that have a realistic setting/storyline or films that are obviously set in a heightened, fantasy world? 3 What do you think of Baz Luhrmann’s concept of red curtain cinema? Does it work, in your opinion? (Consider Luhrmann’s other films, Romeo & Juliet and Moulin Rouge as well as Strictly Ballroom in your response). 4 Strictly Ballroom also draws from other traditions in film and theatre. Give examples of key moments from the film that illustrate its combination of genres (eg. ‘mockumentary’, fairy tale, dance the final film in the red curtain trilogy, is an extraordinary musical love story, se t in computer-generated Paris of 1899, featuring music from artists as diverse as Baz Luhrmann defines Strictly Ballroom as red curtain cinema, but it also draws from several traditions in film and theatre: slapstick elements of silent film; musical). Randy Crawford and Nirvana. Luhrmann’s red curtain films have been box office successes and are hugely popular with audiences. This is clear commedia dell’arte; even ‘mockumentary’. It can be described as a combination of the following genres: a romantic comedy, a fairy tale, a dance musical, a satire, and evidence that many people enjoy the experience of watching his films, and are illing, either consciously or unconsciously, to accept the conventions finally an example of ‘kitsch comedy. ’ Baz Luhrmann uses these conventions in Strictly Ballroom, but he also parodies them. The film self-consciously subverts loosely in English as distance alienation or the ‘A’ of red curtain cinema. Film critic Michael Dwyer is an enthusiastic admirer of Baz Luhrmann’s work, as the following extract our expectations of the backstage musical, so that far from being a celebration of the show business dance community as in narration, mask, song, and actors playing a variety 1 The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) is ne of Australia’s best-known drama schools. Graduates include Mel Gibson, Cate Blanchett and Toni Collette. 2 The concept of ‘verfremdungseffekt’, translated effect, is used in Brecht’s epic theatre to remind the audience that they are watching a play. (A-effects include a presentational style of acting, use of of roles). 3 Dwyer M. , The Irish Times, 5 September 2001 STRICTLY BALLROOM STRICTLY BALLROOM 7 9 THE WORLD OF THE FILM As we have seen in the discussion on red curtain cinema, one of its conventions is that the story takes place in a heightened, fantastical world. There are two contrasting worlds in Strictly Ballroom.B oth are located physically in the suburbs of Sydney, but they are distinct and separate, reflecting the film’s collision of wills and cultures. THE BALLROOM DANCING WORLD The first world we enter is the competitive world of ballroom dancing. Locations in this world are always interior. It is represented as being fiercely conservative, with rigid rules that must be obeyed. Characters are Anglo-Australian comic stereotypes, whose costumes are garish and glitzy. They wear heavy make up, have elaborate, cartoon-like hairdos, and are overly concerned with outward appearances. Obsessed with winning ballroom dancing competitions, they are nable to talk about anything else. They have created an insular, claustrophobic world where outsiders are not welcome and innovation is seen as a threat. The heightened and stylised ballroom dancing world satirises aspects of Australian society. It serves as a metaphor Scott: I’m just asking you what you think of the steps. Liz: I donâ€℠¢t think. I don’t give a shit about them. We lost. (New Partners: Sequence 2) FRAN’S WORLD The second world is the Toledo Milk Bar, where Fran’s Spanish family lives. As recent migrants to Australia they are shown as living on the fringes of mainstream society, literally beside the railway tracks.Providing a stark contrast to the artificiality of the ballroom dancing world, their world is shown as more real. The exterior location suggests space and freedom. Characters are portrayed as more passionate and authentic than the winning-obsessed AngloAustralians because they dance from the heart rather than from a desire to win competitions. Baz Luhrmann explains: for a particular Anglo-Australian attitude, shown here as hierarchical and conservative. The Dance Federation’s obsession with rules and conformity â€Å"The Anglo world took the Paso Doble, which is a dance of expression, and put a whole lot of rules on it, and made it about inning. Whereas in Franà ¢â‚¬â„¢s family, dancing is could also be said to represent a fear of change in a part of Australian society that discourages spontaneity and creativity. a tradition, it comes from life, it is an expression of life. † Scott’s crowd-pleasing steps are seen as pointless compared to the obsession with winning competitions. After Scott and Liz lose the Waratah Championships Liz is inherent in dance before it became restrained and stifled. When Ya Ya encourages Scott to â€Å"listen to the rhythm† (Paso Doble: Sequence 5), the film furious. Scott tries to persuade her to listen to his ideas but she is only nterested in winning: suggests that expression in dance should be lived and enjoyed, rather than made into a competitive sport. The film tries to capture the original passion STRICTLY BALLROOM 10 FAMILY ultimate patriarchal, authoritarian figure, treats women as decorative objects. His forced me into it – where the man goes the lady must follow – I had no choice. † Although they appear conventional enough, with a mother, father and two scenes with ‘loyal companion’ Charm Leachman (No New Steps: Sequence 6) (Waratah Championships: Sequence 1) Liz’s words are ironic, especially when we children, the Anglo-Australian Hastings amily is shown as dysfunctional. The film subverts our expectations of the ‘average’ family. Shirley, like the other characters from the ballroom dancing world is onedimensional. She is depicted as a stereotypical domineering wife, browbeating mild-mannered husband Doug. She is also a stage mother who lives vicariously through her children’s successes. Shirley is ambitious for her son Scott to win the Pan Pacific Dance Championships, but only if he dances the Federation way. and when he demonstrates the Bogo Pogo dance step to Wayne and Vanessa (The Pan-Pacifics: Sequence 7) reveal his sleazy side. consider that she is the one who refuses o dance with Scott after he dances his own steps, and throws a temper tantrum when she does not get her own way (New Partners: Sequence 2). Similarly, Shirley bursts into tears at the dance studio when the efforts to get Scott and Liz back together fail. Fran’s Spanish family is portrayed more sympathetically, but also somewhat stereotypically. Like Cinderella, her real mother has died. Her father Rico is shown as swarthy, unshaven and ultra-strict. Fran’s body language and actions suggest that she is afraid of him and when we first meet Rico after Scott walks Fran home (Sequence 3) his words to Fran are harsh.Fran’s grandmother Ya Ya, dressed in black with a crucifix around her neck, grey hair But elsewhere there are men who do not have such authority. The ‘camp’ representation of Les Kendall throughout the film indicates that he is homosexual. The fact that he is different, the film suggests, has not been to his advantage. Barry Fife calls him â€Å"a pathetic fag,† at the Pan-Pacifics (Sequence 8) when Les discovers the truth about the 1967 Championships. Doug Hastings is also different. Far from being the conventional male head of the family, he is bullied by his wife Shirley and seems to have no authority at home.Whenever he tries to talk to Scott he is ignored, until the Pan-Pacifics (Sequence 7) when he is finally able to make Scott listen. Their portrayal is in marked contrast to the way Fran is depicted. Shown very much as a fairy tale heroine, Fran is shown more positively. Her shyness and lack of self-confidence give way to her blossoming courage and independence. Her natural appearance contrasts with the heavily made-up ballroom dancers, again reinforcing the idea that Fran is genuine and has more depth than the superficial female characters of the ballroom dancing world. Doug’s role as father is in marked contrastChildren There are two children in the film, Kylie, Scott’s younger sister, and Luke, her dance partner. Bot h are aged ten, and are tied back in a bun at first looks like a stereotypical ‘ethnic’ grandmother, but her appearance is deceptive. She is in fact Fran’s ally, covering for her when she goes to the way Rico is depicted. As a strict, authoritarian father, he is also portrayed as strong and masculine, his dance prowess seen as a macho attribute. He dressed as miniature ballroom dancers, complete with elaborate costumes and hairdos. Their function is to comment honestly and insightfully on the action, ut, and revealing a playful sense of humour at Scott’s expense during the Paso Doble scene (Sequence 5) when she speaks in Spanish about Scott’s becomes a mentor, even a father figure to Scott when he teaches him about the real meaning of dance. (Practising for the Pan-Pacifics: Sequence 6). and they also provide comic asides, for example when Kylie says: â€Å"It’s the inconceivable sight of Scott dancing with Fran,† as she watches them d ance ROLES OF MEN, WOMEN, CHILDREN Women The film satirises Anglo-Australian women by depicting them as hysterical, bitchy and backstage at the State Championships (Sequence 4). Kylie and Luke also act uring the Pan-Pacifics (Sequence 8) to help Fran and Scott. Realising that Barry Men In the ballroom dancing world, the men appear to be in control. Barry Fife, the manipulative. The following melodramatic comments by Liz Holt suggest that men lead, at least on the dancefloor: â€Å"He Fife plans to cut the music, they lock themselves into the sound booth so that his plans are thwarted. Their heroic â€Å"nice body†. STRICTLY BALLROOM 11 actions at the end and the way they cheer for Scott and Fran suggest that they European migrants started arriving in Australia. It is clear that Fran’s family is not represent a brighter future for dance. s financially well off as the AngloAustralians. But the fiesta that takes place WORK at the back of the house (Paso Doble: Sequence 5 ) conveys that there is life and soul here. Although dancing is an amateur pastime for most of the characters in the ballroom dancing world, they are so obsessed that it dominates their lives. For some of the characters, ballroom dancing also provides their livelihoods. Les Kendall and Shirley run Kendall’s Dance Studio together. Shirley’s explanation of why she dumped Doug at the Pan-Pacifics in 1967 reveals her fear of insecurity. It also suggests that in this world people feel hey have to sacrifice their dreams to obtain job security: â€Å"There was too much at stake. Our dancing career was on the line. I couldn’t throw all that away on a dream. We had to survive. We would never have been able to teach. † (The Pan-Pacifics: Sequence 7) Barry Fife displays quite a different attitude to work. He uses his position as Federation President to further his own business interests, notably the way he POWER The Anglo-Australian characters are those who are depi cted as having power in the film. But Barry Fife’s power is represented as hierarchical and corrupt. During the Waratah Championships (Sequence 1) theDance Federation judging panel is framed with a low angle shot, showing Barry and his fellow officials placed on a stage above the audience, reflecting their superior status. Barry is willing to fix the Pan-Pacific Grand Prix Dance Championships, so that Scott doesn’t win, as his words to a drunk Ken Railings reveal: â€Å"Your year, Ken. Just get on the floor, go through the motions and it’s in the bag. † (Scott & Fran’s Big Moment: Sequence 8) Throughout the film, his unscrupulous places his video, Dance to Win, on display at every opportunity, and gives a copy to Wayne as a sweetener to get him on his side against Scott (The State ethods reveal that he is willing to do anything to hang onto power. He is portrayed much like a corrupt politician or businessman who will do favours for Championships: S equence 4). certain people in order to gain personal advantages. By contrast, Fran’s family business is the Toledo Milk Bar. Business does not seem In contrast, Fran’s family, who live on the to be booming, as the milk bar looks shabby and rundown. Its paintwork is dingy and worn and there are bins full of rubbish in front. In some ways the Toledo edges of society, are depicted as less powerful because they are not part of the established, dominant Anglo-Australian ulture. However, their sympathetic Milk Bar suggests an earlier era, the 1950s, when such places were first popular, and also when southern portrayal in the film suggests that despite their marginal status, they are culturally richer than their Anglo counterparts. CLASS others. (The Try-Outs: Sequence 3). It is as if Fran’s ethnicity marks her as different, STUDENT EXPLORATIONS Although the film shows two cultures in opposition, it is more difficult to position and is considered a drawback to her inte gration and acceptance into the 1 Baz Luhrmann’s describes the world of Strictly Ballroom as ‘heightened and them in terms of class.The AngloAustralians can be described as white working-class or lower middle-class. They have more money and status in society than the characters in the Spanish world, which places them in a higher position. Yet their values and attitudes are satirised in the film, so that the Anglo-Australian world is presented as tacky and artificial, lacking depth. The Spanish characters, living on the margins of an urban society can also be described as working-class. However, their values are celebrated in the film, placing them above the Anglo-Australians. Anglo-Australian world. At the Pan-Pacifics Fran tells Scott how difficult it has been for her:RACE In the film the Anglo-Australian world is shown as dominant, and ‘normal’, with Fran’s Spanish world represented as the ethnic ‘other’. This could be said to mirror t he migrant experience in Australia, where Anglo-Australians form a majority of the population and have lived there longer than more recent arrivals. Fran’s â€Å"Frangipannidelasqueegymop. Wash the coffee cups Fran. How’s your skin Fran? † (At the Pan-Pacifics: Sequence 7). When Scott is introduced to the Spanish world, he is at first treated with suspicion by Rico (Paso Doble: Sequence 5). At first characters speak in Spanish in front of Scott, often at his expense, and as a way f excluding him from their conversation. For the first time Scott experiences what it is like to be an outsider. But after initial suspicion he is accepted. Scott is willing to learn from Rico and Ya Ya, and realises that the experience is enriching. It is interesting that as Rico and Ya Ya help Scott and Fran practice for the Pan-Pacifics (Sequence 6) they begin to speak both Spanish and English, indicating their growing acceptance of him and their openness to the Anglo world. 2 3 4 5 fantastical’. How does the film language used illustrate this? See Appendix E: Film Language. (Comment on costume, lighting, characters, amerawork, colour, music in each of the contrasting settings). How does the film depict the Anglo Australian characters? How does this compare with the film’s portrayal of Fran’s Spanish family? Who is portrayed more sympathetically, do you think? Many of the characters in Strictly Ballroom are cartoon-like and one dimensional. What advantages are there in creating characters that are stereotypes? Can you see any disadvantages? â€Å"No new steps! † Why do you think some of the characters were so frightened of new dance steps? Discuss the relevant characters/key moments. Do you sympathise with any of them? Why/why not?Do you agree with Baz Luhrmann that dance should be ‘an expression of life’ rather than a competitive sport? Do you experience at Kendall’s Dance Studio reflects this marginal status. Sh e is known as ‘just Fran’ rather than by her full name Francisca. She is reluctant to say her The film’s triumphant finale, which shows the two cultures uniting on the dance floor, offers a celebration of Australia’s multicultural society. As characters from have any personal experience of dancing competitively? (Irish dancing, for example) What is your opinion on such competitions? Spanish name because it reinforces her outsider status, making her a potential arget for name-calling by Liz and Vanessa. Fran’s appearance is also the ballroom dancing world and Fran’s Spanish world dance together, Rico with Liz Holt, Ya Ya with Les, the film offers an optimistic ending. From being two 6 How does the world of Strictly Ballroom differ from the cultural contexts/social settings of other comparative texts you have studied? Are there any similarities? different. Her dark hair and natural skin provide a contrast to the artificial glamour of the other ballroom dancers. Shirley, in her role as cosmetician, is always separate, distinct cultures, the finale ensures that they intermingle, each nriched by the other. Only Barry Fife seems not to fit into this new, inclusive encouraging Fran to use apricot scrub or Buf Puf to improve her skin, and tries making her up so that she looks like the world, suggesting that he really does belong to a bygone era. STRICTLY BALLROOM 13 HERO, HEROINE, VILLAIN Mainstream Hollywood cinema draws from principles and structures established in Greek mythology. Stories are driven by the struggle between a central hero and another, usually darker force. The conventional cinematic hero is strong and virile, who proves himself by overcoming obstacles set out for him by the narrative.The hero always achieves his goal and wins the love of a woman through combat or physical confrontation with another male. HERO Scott is the central character in the film. Positioned as the hero, he is a passionate, ambitious bal lroom dancer who also wants to dance his own steps. Scott has to balance his desire to win with a need for individuality and creativity. As he progresses through the film, he overcomes pressures and obstacles in his way and finds the courage to dance his own steps with Fran at the Pan-Pacifics. How film language* positions Scott as the Hero We know that Scott is the hero because he is central to the plot.The action he takes at the Waratah Championships when he dances his own steps is the catalyst for the story. But the way the story is told through film language also shows us that he is the a desire to win marks him as unconventional. He is also put under pressure to conform at different times during the film from Shirley, Les and Barry Fife, and he gives into the pressure more than once. The hero’s qualities of physical strength and virility are shown through ballroom dancing, an activity not normally associated with macho cinematic heroes. Scott’s Journey Scott also has to change his own attitudes to fully understand the true meaning of ance. There are several key moments in the film that illustrate Scott’s emotional journey: New Partners (Sequence 2) Fran approaches Scott When Fran asks to try out as Scott’s new hero. The camera frames Scott in particular ways to emphasise this. The following elements in camerawork illustrate how a film can position the hero: Scott: You’ve come up to me who’s been dancing since I was six years old†¦ and †¢ Framing of shots – the camera stays with the character as much as possible †¢ Close-ups of the character’s face reveal you want to dance non-Federation, and convince the judges at the Pan-Pacific Grand Prix with 3 weeks to train?Fran: Yeah. how the character is feeling †¢ Point-of-view shots make the audience see things from his perspective *See also Appendix E: Film Language STRICTLY BALLROOM 14 An Untypical Hero? Scott is an untypical cinematic hero. His interest in artistic self-expression more than partner, he is dismissive of her ability: Scott: I don’t think so. Scott only listens to Fran after she loses her temper and tells him he’s a â€Å"gutless wonder† for not having the courage to give her a chance. Even after Scott accepts Fran as his new partner, he holds onto the attitudes and beliefs of the ballroom dancing world. As they dance the ne last look at Liz, Shirley and the other competitors before jumping offstage to An Untypical Heroine? But if Fran fulfils many of the rumba, he instructs Fran to â€Å"look at me like you’re in love,† emphasising the artificiality find Fran. requirements of a fairy tale heroine, she is also untypical. Although Fran appears to of the ballroom dancing style. STUDENT EXPLORATIONS State Championships (Sequence 4) Scott and Fran dance together backstage Scott is caught between wanting to win the competition and his desire to dance new steps with Fran . The opportunity to dance with Tina Sparkle is tempting, and he is esitant when Fran asks him directly what he intends to do: 1 What are the qualities of a typical Hollywood hero? 2 Give examples of 2 other films in which the central character can be described as heroic, and give reasons for your choices. 3 How does the film position Scott as the hero? 4 Give examples of key moments that show Scott as the hero, and explain how film language conveys this to the audience. be a passive and shy individual at the beginning, at important moments she shows determination and defiance. But she also falters under pressure at times, particularly when faced with Scott’s indecision, or when bullied by ShirleyHastings. Fran: Are you going to dance with Tina? Scott: I†¦ she’s a champion. But as Fran watches Tina Sparkle and Nathan perform, Scott follows her gaze. The close-up shot of his reaction indicates that he is beginning to realise what he wants to do. As he dances with F ran backstage the lyrics to the song ‘Perhaps’ – â€Å"If you can’t make your mind up, we’ll never get started,† fit the scene perfectly. HEROINE Fran’s Journey Unlike the journey Scott makes to change his attitude towards dance, Fran already knows that she wants to dance ‘from the heart’. The Spanish proverb, ‘Vivir con miedo, es como vivir a medias/A life lived n fear is a life half-lived’ is one of the main messages of the film, and is closely associated with Fran. Her journey is about overcoming her fear so that she can reach her potential and live life to the full. Paso Doble (Sequence 5) Rico and Ya Ya dance the Paso Doble Rico and Ya Ya, having laughed at Scott and Fran Fran is positioned as the heroine in the film. Like Scott, she is a complex character who has to overcome obstacles to achieve her goals. In many ways she fulfils the requirements of a fairy tale heroine, with clear similarities between her character and Cinderella or The Ugly Duckling. At irst she is portrayed as a shy, awkward Fran’s ballroom dancing version of the Paso Doble, teach Scott their way. As Ya Ya encourages him to â€Å"listen to the rhythm,† Scott is transformed by the experience and beginner dancer. Wearing glasses, no make-up and a baggy T-shirt, her plainness provides a contrast to the glitz and glamour of the other ballroom rejects her shows her strength of feeling: learns that dancing from the heart makes it more meaningful and real. dancers. you’re just really scared, you’re really scared to give someone new a go because you think, you know, they might just be better than you are.Well, you’re just There are several key moments that illustrate Fran’s journey: New Partners (Sequence 2) Fran approaches Scott Fran’s angry response to Scott when he â€Å"You’re just like the rest of them. You think you’re different but you’re not because The Pan-Pacific Grand Prix Dance The film shows Fran’s journey towards confidence and fulfilment through the Championship (Sequence 7) Doug reveals the truth When Doug catches up with Scott and tells him the truth about the 1967 changes in her costume and appearance. From the opening sequence which features a close-up shot of an ordinary looking Fran speaking to camera about athetic and you’re gutless. You’re a gutless wonder. Vivir con miedo, es como vivir a medias! † Championships, Scott realises that he can dance with Fran at last. The film moves into slow motion as he spins around to have Scott and Liz’s ‘wonderful steps’, she undergoes a transformation, blossoming into a beautiful, confident dancer. Fran is then positioned in the centre of the frame, standing in the spotlight, just as Scott had been earlier. This indicates STRICTLY BALLROOM 15 that she too wants to dance her own steps, and suggests that she and Scott go ho me rather than spoil Scott’s chances. The use of low angle close-ups of Shirley, re more closely linked than we have previously realised. Vanessa and Liz, seen from Fran’s point of view, represent them as villains and Fran as a victim of bullying. The Try-Outs (Sequence 3) This montage sequence shows several aspects of the story that happen over the same period of time. Scott’s try-outs with prospective new partners are juxtaposed with Scott and Fran continuing to practice together. The camera also cuts to dates being crossed off the calendar, indicating that time has passed, and the soundtrack, appropriately, is the song Time After Time. The montage also shows how Fran’s transformation is taking place. Gradually er appearance begins to change, her hair becomes darker and more attractive and she wears skirts rather than leggings. The use of colour is also significant, and by the end of the sequence she is shown wearing stronger colours (black and red), re flecting her growing confidence. The State Championships (Sequence 4) Fran and Scott dance together backstage After the revelation that Tina is to be Scott’s new partner, Fran retreats backstage where Scott finds her. But the spell is broken when Liz Holt scathingly comments: â€Å"You’re kidding! † when she sees Fran and Scott dancing together. Fran becomes self-conscious again, and falls ver, injuring her ankle. Practising for the Pan-Pacifics (Sequence 6) Fran and Scott practice for the Pan-Pacifics with the guidance and support of Rico and Ya Ya. When Fran dances complicated steps with confidence and poise during a practice with her father, the reaction shot of Rico shows his surprise and pride. It is as if he is seeing his daughter in a new light. Like Ya Ya, he accepts that Fran has overcome her shyness and is ready to dance at the Pan-Pacifics. STUDENT EXPLORATIONS 1 Fran can be described as being like a fairytale heroine. Choose 3 key moments from the fi lm that show parallels between Fran and a fairytale heroine. How does the film reveal Fran’s transformation? Give some examples of key moments where Fran’s image changes, referring to costume, facial expression, movement, camerawork etc. Is the transformation more than just her appearance, do you think? VILLAIN Barry Fife There is one obvious villain in the film – Shirley, Liz and Vanessa persuade Fran to go home This scene in the dressing room is Barry Fife, President of the Australian Dance Federation. Symbolising a bygone patriarchal, authoritarian era Barry is portrayed as being shifty and corrupt. Like reminiscent of Cinderella, when Shirley (like the wicked stepmother), Vanessa andLiz (as the ugly sisters) persuade Fran to many of the characters in the ballroom dancing world, Barry is depicted as a cartoon-like stereotype. He is often filmed STRICTLY BALLROOM 16 in low angle close-ups, which make his face look grotesque, and his shiny blue speech about her oes to Les, which is both comic and satirical, bearing similarities to table and is shown on the floor looking dishevelled and defeated. The high angle suits, red face and false hairpiece convey to the audience that he is not to be the kind of speeches we are accustomed to hearing from certain politicians: camera shot used here makes him appear ulnerable for the first time. To symbolise trusted. Barry’s fear of change, combined with his desperation to remain the allpowerful President by ruthless and corrupt means, results in his loss of power and authority at the end of the film. Barry fulfils the role of a typical cinematic villain, being the darker force that tries to prevent Scott from dancing his own steps. Despite his villainous ways, he is also responsible for many of the film’s funniest moments, particularly when he confuses proverbs and sayings like: ‘Let’s not chuck the baby out with the bathtub,’ and ‘One bad egg can rot the whole ba rrel. ’ Several ey moments reveal Barry Fife as a villain: Waratah Championships (Sequence 1) Barry’s office Barry is sitting in his office behind his desk, a position that emphasises his authority. Speaking directly to camera, Barry’s statement hints strongly that he is more than an impartial judge at the dance competition: â€Å"You can dance any steps you like, but that doesn’t mean you’ll†¦ win. † â€Å"Let’s not forget, Les, that a Pan-Pacific Champion becomes a hero, a guiding light to all dancers. Someone who’ll set the right example†¦ I love dancing, Les, and I won’t let what we’ve fought for all these years be destroyed. †The film then cuts to an obviously drunk Ken Railings dancing with Liz, providing an ironic comment on what exactly Barry Fife has fought for all these years. Practising for the Pan-Pacifics (Sequence 6) Barry’s version of Doug’s downfall When Barry tells S cott that Doug’s crazy steps lost the 1967 Pan-Pacifics for Shirley and Doug, the audience does not yet know the truth. Barry’s fake version of events is conveyed to us through a flashback sequence, which he narrates. The past is depicted as a drama, a playwithin-a-play in which Barry, naturally is represented positively. His version of the past is designed to create a rosy nostalgia, ut his words sound unconvincing and false: The film language used during this scene conveys Barry’s untrustworthy nature. The ADDITIONAL EXPLORATIONS 1 The final sequence at the Pan-Pacifics reveals acts of heroism by other characters in the film. Name the characters involved, and describe the actions they take that might be considered heroic. 2 From your study of Strictly Ballroom as well as other comparative texts, compare the heroic qualities of each of the main protagonists. In what ways are they similar/different? The Pan-Pacific Grand Prix Dance Championships (Sequence 7) Bar ry falls and knocks over the trophiesLes that he wants Scott to dance with Tina Sparkle. To the tune of Danny Boy in the background, Barry makes a sentimental 1 How does the film communicate that Barry Fife is a villain? Comment on the film language used and refer to selected key moments in your response. 2 Is Barry Fife more than just a villain? Are there any reasons why we might feel sympathy for him in the film? we used to scruff it together†¦ Lessie’d come along of course. The three of us together, the old gang. We were a bunch of old funsters. † State Championships (Sequence 4) Barry talks to Les Barry’s motives become clearer as he tells STUDENT EXPLORATIONS I was your dad’s best mate in those days, lighting is shadowy and the camera zooms in to a close-up of his mouth when he says the word â€Å"win,† which echoes ominously. Barry’s sudden and dramatic fall from power, his hairpiece has fallen off and the trophies are scattered ar ound him. After Barry’s schemes have been foiled, one of the last images we see of him is when he literally topples over the trophy STRICTLY BALLROOM 17 APPENDIX A BAZ LUHRMANN INTERVIEW FII: When did you first see cinematic overcoming seemingly impossible odds, on the culture of Australia. But beyond that, possibilities for Strictly Ballroom?BL: Well, what happened was I did it as a and it’s finally about the fact that the young David with the belief, comes up because it is David and Goliath, and because there was an election campaign at play and then I met this producer and he said, look I’d like to buy the rights, and I with the solution†¦ No one wanted to finance the film, I was a first-time director, the time about republicanism it had political implications too. The all-powerful said, well I’d like to make a film of it and they agreed to let me do the film. But I you know what I mean, there were lots of no’s. I went to Cannes the year be fore andFederation, they have a very particular Australian attitude, which is an old guy always thought it would be a film and I always thought it would be a musical as doors were slammed in my face. Not twelve months later the same people that going, â€Å"There’s only one way to cha cha cha mate, and you’ve got to do it that way or well. I mean all our films we make have this cinema form which we call had said, â€Å"What a waste of time†¦ † were like crying with tears going, â€Å"Remember else. † It started to smash away at that. FII: What films have influenced you? I theatricalised cinema, red curtain cinema Strictly Ballroom, Romeo and Juliet and