Tuesday, January 28, 2020

Lord of the Flies - novel by William Golding (1954) Essay Example for Free

Lord of the Flies novel by William Golding (1954) Essay In this essay I will be comparing the three approaches to the incident of Piggys death. This is a very significant moment in the Lord of the Flies and symbolises how outcasts are treated in a broken down society. I will be comparing the novel by William Golding, with the film by Peter Brook and the film by Harry Hook. The original book was written directly after World War 2, which had a great influence on how Golding decided to plan and write his book. The original book is the true Lord of the Flies, and the films are adaptations of the original novel. The film that was made in 1961 by Peter Brook was a very close interpretation of the original novel. The characters are the same, the setting is same, and the whole story loosely follows the same pattern as the book. Brook used thirty boys, aged eight to fourteen with non-acting backgrounds, as they all came from a randomly picked London school. He took them to an island off Puerto Rico for 3 months, in which time he filmed this masterpiece, which was ground breaking at the time and closely followed the book. It was original and daring, and was filmed in black and white with restricted amount of equipment. In contrast, the second film produced by Harry Hook in 1994, which was based on the same idea, but was set in different situations. The audience he was attracting needed much more action and adventure, which the old version doesnt show and would probably be laughed at by Hooks audience. The film needed to be original, which it was to his audience, but he cleverly used the book and the other film as a basis on which to build his ideas. The film, Lord of the Flies by Harry Hook was filmed in colour, with American actors playing as army cadets with mod cons such as army knives and watches. Changes such as including adults in the story and use of strong language add a twist to the original novel, and which isnt portrayed in the 1961 version. It moves completely away from Goldings original narrative, and his initial intentions. The opening shot is similar in the three versions of Lord of the Flies, but also has differences. The differences between the two films become evident at the opening of the scene. As the thundering waves are hurled against the sharp, jagged rocks with the darkness and savagery within them, the scene becomes clear. Brook turns to the boys walking along, you just know that something is going to happen. In the Peter Brook film, the coastline is the main feature, with the boys looking small, walking along. The faces of the boys are not so easy to depict until they get close enough. Ralph, Piggy and SamnEric, are looked down on by the camera, with the commanding rocks and the roaring sea all around. However, the boys dont seem to be put off by this and look positive and intentional in their visit. In comparison, the Hook film shows the shot to be not so dark and suspicious, but more religious and sacrificial. The background noise of the crashing waves is substituted with choral singing. This time, we only see Ralph and Piggy approaching the rocks. Piggy is wearing full cadet uniform and appears not to be having problems with his sight. The boys are at the same level, and the darkness and savagery seems to be lost from this film. Both films have followed the idea of the book, Hooks version more loosely than Brooks film. Neither mentioned how much Ralph was injured or his ragged appearance as in the novel, Ralph went first, limping a little, a spear carried over one shoulder. The films left this out because it may well have not appealed to their audiences, as the hero doesnt look perfect, especially with the later film. Hook also left out SamnEric in the advancing bunch. Golding, who wrote the original Lord of the Flies, starts this scene by retelling some of the plot. He reminds the reader how such a beautiful island has been effected by society, and how individuals can ruin things for everyone. The sky and the mountain were at an immense distance, shimmering in the heat; and the reef was lifted by mirage, floating in a kind of silver pool half-way up the sky. This little interlude reflects on the past, and will maybe add more impact to the incidents to come. Golding also mentions fire, which reminds the reader of how Jack stole the glasses off helpless Piggy, to use for their own comfort and as a aid for a cooking fire. The first sign of conflict between Jack and Ralph is when they meet. They start to argue and quarrel, and tension is built up within this period. This is the same with all three texts. Ralph intentions are clear as he approaches, but Jack wants none of it. In the novel, Golding has built up the tension with words he uses, Ralphs temper blazed out. The sentences are short, and not very descriptive. The main feature of the scene, the fight, is portrayed similarly in all three texts. They attack each other vigorously, and the real conflict and anger between the two groups is apparent. In the film, by Brook, the camera can be used to aid the build up of tension as well as the dialogue. The short camera angles used reflect Goldings staccato language. The camera looks up to Jack, and down to Ralph. He appears in a definite commanding position. The camera follows Jacks face, which appears dark against the rock, and is hidden whenever Ralph speaks to hide his thoughts. He wears a mask to hide his face, which is savage and evil. Prior to the fight, the camera sways to Jacks barbarous face, with him holding his spear, with only the point showing. This shows the wildness and spite within Jack. This is shown similarly in the Hook film, but Jack doesnt wear a mask, so we see more of his face. However, Hook has decided to use stronger language to convey the anger between the two boys. Hook chose similar camera movements and patterns to Brooks film, as they seemed to show the positions of the characters well and would appeal to his modern audience. Ralph and his gang are portrayed as the lower, weaker force, and Jacks rabble are shown as being in control. The main feature, the fight, is depicted equally in the three texts. Both sides seem angered, and in Hooks film, the loss of society is also shown. Ralph, usually the well-balanced, even-tempered individual, is lowered to such means as fighting. On the other hand, that is Jacks usual way of settling things. Roger has a strong influence on Piggys death and plays a significant role, in all three interpretations of the Lord of the Flies. Roger is first introduced into the scene in the novel, when he starts to toss rocks at Ralph. His physical appearance is kept a secret and is only released when he pushes the lever, Roger, with a sense of delirious abandonment, leaned all his weight on the lever. Roger is introduced earlier on in Brooks film. What we see of Roger is a godly figure, with his face outlined to the sky. Hook shows us a close up of Rogers face from below. He is painted with black paint around the eyes and mouth, which looks like deep hollows in which evil is to be found. He is a symbol of evil and power and as a slight grimace creeps along his face, the audience is shocked by this terrifying image. His intentions become clearer as the scene advances. A longer period of time is spent on him, so does the amount we see of him. When the camera shows us his hand going towards the lever, the anticipation is built up, with the climax of him releasing it with great force, pounding down onto Piggys head. Roger is not so well shown in Hooks film. Most of the time he is hidden by the cliff edge and the other savages, but once the stone is released, Rogers face is no longer mysterious, but is clear. This makes the audience feel suspicion and fear towards Roger. Piggy is the main character in the scene, and is based on the character first developed in Goldings novel in both the book and the films. Piggy has similarities and differences in the films, but the main feeling of Piggys character is conveyed quite well. In Peter Brooks film, Piggy is uneasy about the situation, poised on the steep rocks which seem to fall into hell. He is wearing full uniform, showing his intentions to keep rules. The camera is overhead, and makes us feel pity for Piggy who is helpless. In the build up to the death, the camera focuses on short close-up shots of Piggys face to show his hopelessness and anxiety. Piggys voice is blurred by the natural sounds of the roaring of the sea crashing against the rocks. Ralph forgets what he came for, and Piggy knows this. This has an effect on the audience to feel empathy for Piggy. Harry Hook has changed Piggys character, to fit his wants and his audiences wants. He doesnt make Piggy as disabled as Brook does in his film. He allows Piggy to be able to see fairly well and able him to stand on the same level platform as Ralph. Piggy isnt left out or forgotten during the fight, and can be seen in the shots of the fight, standing in the background. In the book, Piggy seems extremely scared and worried of what was about to happen as he clings onto the steep sided rock face. Am I safe? quavered Piggy. I feel awful-. Brooks film is better on picking up on the idea that Piggy is supposed to be very disadvantaged. Piggys emotions are shown well in all three texts, as a close up in the film, or as strong description in the novel. The murder is the main feature in the scene we are studying. It has a strong impact on the audience in all of the texts and is transmitted differently in each. In the novel, Piggys death is compared to a pig after his death, which is rather ironic, Piggys arms and legs twitched a bit, like a pigs after it has been killed. The language used here is very severe and looks as thought Golding doesnt really care about what has just happened to Piggy. After this there is a silence all around, until it is disturbed by a little speech between Jack and Ralph, followed by Jack throwing his spear at Ralph, which then leads him to run away, with spears coming at him from all directions. This isnt shown in either of the films, and in Brooks film, nothing is said, and Ralph just flees. Brook has a lengthy build up to his death scene in his film. Hints are dropped all the time, with the camera continually looking at the rough sea and jagged rocks, then at Piggys confused face. Brook supports Goldings language, with only a few minor changes. In the build up to the climax, the camera continually switches between Piggy and Roger, with longer shots to Roger as we get ever closer to the climax. Also, the noise of the jeering boys gets louder, and sounds more and more like air raid sirens, which adds to the effect of anticipation. This is obviously significant because it indicates the society the boys have just left, and shows the links to situations of which Golding has just witnessed before he wrote his novel, and of the tragedy of war. However, this is something that Brooks audience may not clearly remember so wouldnt be so obvious in his film. The final shot of Roger is of him pushing down on the lever as with Goldings novel. The face looks emotionless until the rock is released, when a wide, evil smirk smears across his face. The camera stays still to make Roger look as though he is pushing harder, as he moves out of the shot. We see the rock rolling down, and then we see Piggys viewpoint of the rock above, coming straight, bang down onto his head. Immediately as the rock hits Piggy, the jeering comes to a halt, and all is left is the roaring sounds of nature. All, including Jack seem shocked, but Roger is not. The camera switches between the characters showing their disbelief of that which Roger had just done. To end the lengthy scene, Brook has a shot of Ralph looking in commiseration down to Piggy. The camera is then just left still as Ralph scurries over the rocks. Harry Hook has changed the death scene in his film to suit his modern audience. Brook has kept close to the language with Piggys speech, and has only changed a few parts to suit more to his audience. In the shot where Roger releases the rock, the director shows the shot from Ralphs point of view. As the rock falls, Ralph shouts NO! in a slow motion speech. Piggy is oblivious to the situation due to his eyesight. He says nothing, and just falls flat onto the rock and lies there in a pool of blood. This loosely follows the original text by Golding. Golding described how Piggy was knocked into the water and got washed away, whereas there was no sight of this in Hooks film. Youre not gonna get away with this says Ralph after the death. Jack thinks logically and says that Ralph was on his own, which he most definitely was. The speaking is then terminated by the boys throwing stones at Ralph as he speeds away along the beach. All three versions of the Lord of the Flies are interpreted differently, but use the same original story line written by William Golding. All are effective, but some are more so than the others. Personally, I think that Peter Brook directed the best film. This is because it was more appealing to the audience at that time, it was more successful and it follows the book much closer than the other film, which was directed by Harry Hook. However, I do like the book for the detail and originality within it. To me the text vividly describes the sights of horror and the dramatic feelings of loss and grief felt by the societies at this particular time of World War 2. At the time the book was written, which was just after the war, total communities had witnessed such devastation as was described in the book. They could relate directly to the savagery and the way the murder was committed in cold blood. I feel the book also cleverly puts the characters into stereotypes of the time, showing how certain communities and their structures can be so easily destroyed.

Monday, January 20, 2020

Television Essay -- TV Programs, Monitoring

Since television started its first broadcast in 1941, it has become a staple in American’s homes. Television has much influence on our society and culture. It was first created to entertain, deliver information from the government, and to educate. Over the years, television has changed from education to pure entertainment to meet ratings instead of quality. Children’s programming is one of those casualties, adding violence and sexual innuendoes. Even with all the negative programs, one aspect of children’s programming, educational programing, has kept its integrity and continued to thrive for preschoolers. With the number of children’s educational programming increasing, what are the positive affects do those television shows have on preschoolers? Research suggests the most significant positive effects educational television has on a preschooler are that it heightens imagination, teaches the value of positive social behavior, and increase academic skills f or school readiness. Imagination is an important aspect for cognitive development as it shapes the interaction preschoolers have with their environment (Thakkar, 2006). Singer (2003, p1) defines imagination as the capacity to form images in one’s mind of absent objects or to maintain thoughts or ideas without necessary converting those into acts. She determined that the content on television is what hinders or enhances imagination. Research shows preschoolers imagination can be enhanced by educational television. Studying on how television stimulates imagination is done so with numerous techniques such as observation, inkblots, and questionnaires (Singer, 2003). The most research shows on imagination are on Sesame Street, Mister Rodgers Neighborhood, and Barney and Friends. Se... ...age group can grasp Super Why, Word World, and Blues Clues (Moses). Repetition of a programing episode is important so a child can understand the main points. A preschooler may seem to never tire of that same episode because they a learning things that they did understand the first time or missed (Singer, 2003). To ensure that preschoolers are getting the full benefit of educational programing, parent need to be responsible in choosing the appropriate programs and monitor viewing time. Television is criticized for dubitation American’s society because of the violence and over sexualized. However, as the research show, educational television is positive all around for preschoolers. Television networks have also recognized this. Networks such as Nick Jr., Sprout TV, and Baby TV run twenty-four hours a day to educate children no matter what time of day it is.

Sunday, January 12, 2020

A Rhetorical Approach to Interpersonal Communication File

In the theory of a rhetorical approach, three primary ways are identified in order to achieve the goals of interpersonal rhetoric. They are rhetorical reflector, rhetorically sensitive person and Nobel self. In this paper, the applicability of these three ways will be discussed since their applicability is different in Hong Kong culture. First, the way that works best in Hong Kong culture is the Nobel self, who is unwilling to change for others. This theory works best because of the way that parents taking care of their children. The average number of children in each family in Hong Kong has decreased compared to the families in the past, which have nearly doubled the average numbers of children in each family, so parents can pay more attention on each child. Also, parents tend to build up a positive parental relationship with their children by satisfying most of the wants of the children and putting their children at the first priority. Since the children are used to be the center of their parents, they become self-centered, that is they put their own feelings in the first priority, as a result, their abilities to change for others are reduced. The example to show that Nobel self works best in Hong Kong is a group of teenagers in Hong Kong who the society described them as â€Å"a group of people having the illusion of being a princess or a prince. † These teenagers believe that they should be treated as princesses or princes that they don’t have to do anything or to bear any responsibility. The main cause of this group is stated above. These teenagers are unwilling to change for others especially their relational partners because they think that everyone will change for them just like their families do. This type of teenagers shows that the Nobel self work best in Hong Kong. The part of the theories that does not work in Hong Kong is the rhetorical reflector, who is willing to change to please their partners. In Hong Kong, people are trained to possess a critical thinking skill, which means they should have their own judgment towards an issue, instead of influencing by others, for example, in the relationship of boss and employees, if the boss ask his employee to do illegal work, the employee will judge the situation using his value of right or wrong to decide doing it or not. He will not sacrifice themselves by changing their value and doing the work in order to lease the boss. This critical thinking skill enables the people in Hong Kong to think independently, so that their values and thoughts will be influenced by others. They are not willing to change to please their partners, but if there are strong evidences or supporting materials, they will change. Therefore, the rhetorical reflector theory does not work in Hong Kong. Finally, rhetorically sensit ive person works in modified way in Hong Kong. The theory is applicable in the situation that there is a difference in power, such as the teacher and student relationship, which the teacher is having a higher power. The student who has lower power will be rhetorical sensitive, for example, the student believes that he has done nothing wrong for being late to school, but when explaining to the teacher, he will change his discourse by not stating his judgment towards the issue. Instead, he will give excuses to blame it on other things. The hidden value of the excuses is that the student has done nothing wrong in this issue. However, if there is no difference in the power in the relationship, such as siblings, the student will not change his discourse. He will express his value directly to his siblings. This approach is the application of Nobel self. Since the student know that they have equal power in the relationship, that means they have equal control over the definition of the relationship, so the first priority, which is his own feeling, will come first. He is unwilling to change for others once there is no difference in power in the relationship. Hong Kong culture is a complex, so the applicability of the three primary ways in the rhetorical approach is different in Hong Kong culture even though they are developed from the same theory.

Saturday, January 4, 2020

How Heart Is Represented Through Two Types Of Scenes,...

Discussion According to the table, it can be concluded that heart is represented through two types of scenes; funerary and daily life. Firstly: Funerary Scenes Funerary Scenes were the most common scenes in the New kingdom tombs as they were represented on the walls of the longitudinal corridor (Passage) until the reign of Anenhotep III as they were illustrated on the walls of the transverse hall. Funerary scenes included many consecutive events started with purification process, mummification, and transportation of the deceased body to the tomb through a funerary procession after the pilgrimage to Abydos then opening of the mouth ritual in front of the tomb as one of the burring rituals. 1-Opening of the Mouth This ritual was acted in front of the tomb in order to enable the deceased to speak, eat, see, hear and move again in the netherworld as well as it helps him to retrieve all his power and abilities in addition to preparing him with magic to face the dangers afterlife. It didn t appear in the 18th dynasty tombs in a large scale until the reign of Tuthmosis III. It is very important to mention that there were many successive steps in the procession of opening of the mouth as the sacrifice rituals to the Upper and Lower Egypt in which the priests offered the heart and the foreleg of the bull to the mummy or the statue of the deceased. The heart is represented five times in the scene of the Opening of the mouth which is depicted three times on the northern wallShow MoreRelatedBoundary Stelae4521 Words   |  18 Pagesthe special location to develop Aten’s city, this search for the pure location was daily reenacted. The source for this information is located in the Boundary Stelae. In the ‘Boundary Stele’ Akhenaten not only claims having searched for this place by him, but also states it is solely his idea. Akhenaten documents his arrival thusly: I rode into the city on â€Å"his regnal year 5, 4th month of winter, day 13†; this is how he put it in the boundary stelae. Many new concepts in architecture relate to theRead MoreGreek Mythology8088 Words   |  33 Pagesor  region  and  quite  different  characteristics  elsewhere.   II   PRINCIPAL  FIGURES  IN  GREEK  MYTHOLOGY Poseidon,  Ruler  of  the  Sea   Ruler  of  the  sea  and  brother  of  Zeus,  Poseidon  was  one  of  the  Olympian  gods  of  Greek  mythology.  He  is  usually   represented  in  Greek  art  wielding  a  fishing  spear  known  as  a  trident.  In  this  large  bronze  statue  from  about  460  bc,   Poseidon  seems  poised  to  strike  with  his  trident,  which  today  is  missing.  The  statue  is  in  the  National   Archaeological  Museum  in  Athens,  Greece