...Eddie Adams from Torrance: Finding Family in P. T. Anderson's Boogie Nights All human beings at some point believe they are extraordinary or at least special in their own way. Often, individuals do nothing with these special abilities or talents, leaving those opportunities from being pursued. But there are others who are so bold as to take a chance and see where this talent might take them. Eddie Adams was one of the latter. He took the bus from Torrance, California to work in Reseda as a bus boy. Sure he could probably find the same job back home, but he is in search of something grander than what's offered in Torrance. He works at a club in Reseda to be around people who are living lives of glamour. Eddie wants this for himself. But what Eddie is searching for is not exactly what he finds. In P.T. Anderson's Boogie Nights (1997), Dirk Diggler is used as a vehicle to tell the story of several individuals, each dealing with personal struggles who don't find exactly what they are looking for but do find each other, creating a family which is essential for each character's survival. Eddie Adams if first introduced working in a night club. He is not typical. Jack notices this as the entire scene cuts from Jack's gaze to Eddie, “whose unique talent is about to be spotted and put to use” (Smith). He immediately follows Eddie to the kitchen where he questions him on his background. Here the audience sees Eddie as a young man seeking a goal. Jack asks, “So what do...
Words: 4501 - Pages: 19
... Realization Narrative Draft Emotions. Those things that everybody experiences in every waking moment of life. The twist and turn of life bears the emotions associated with the situation. As a young child I didn’t want to show these feelings to the world. I would’ve rather kept them bottled up inside me and not let anyone penetrate my vonuralble skin to see inside my thoughts and heart. In particular, affection towards other was very arduous to exhibit to others. This is largely because I always admired the tough guys of the world and, as I saw it, they would never express their feelings especially if it was something that would contradict their “macho man” mentality. I always envisioned masculinity as a stoic, nonemotional figure and as a kid I desired to emulate their robust persona. As I look back on my nonsensical idea today, I realize how foolish my definition of masculinity was and how it lead me to hurt those I love most in my life. My elementary years were filled with ill-advised concepts of the world. Included, in these feebleminded thought, was the notion that I needed to distance myself from my parents to seem “cool”. As a young child, I recall either my father or mother driving me to school in the morning and I would refuse to thank them or say goodbye. They would have to force me to say thank you and even still, the words carried no meaning. They provided so much for me and I, in return, would treat them crudely. My simple, unknowing mind imagined...
Words: 713 - Pages: 3
...He’s the Man We were sitting next to the wedding cake, flashing lights and music beats filled the open space under the night sky. As I sat next to my friend Brenda, I reached over and began asking her dad questions about his life, all of which lead to some intriguing stories. Brenda and I have been friends since high school and before this wedding night I had not met her parents. You see, Brenda and I were friends but she was a year older than me and graduated the year before I did, so meeting her family hadn't been an occurrence. He stood over me, a tall man with semi-long hair (for a male at least), with a trimmed mustache and a welcoming personality; He made me feel like I was part of his family, like if our meeting was meant to be. His sense of humor reminded me of the men in my family. He picked on his nieces, nephews, and even his daughters, getting everyone to laugh. And just like in many Hispanic families, he was admired simply for being a man. I enjoyed every minute that I shared with his family being that I had been away from home for almost a month and I wouldn't see my family for another 3. We started with basic questions like his name, where he grew up, his birthday and things of that sort. Mr. Angel Santos was born in Del Rio, Texas on July 4th. Recounting his childhood, Mr. Santos tells me about one of his favorite childhood memories. “I learned to play music from a blind man. This man thought I was so talented that he one day told my father “Take him home;...
Words: 575 - Pages: 3
...‘Survival of the Fittest’ is defined as the continued existence of organisms that are best adapted to their environment with the extinction of others (Wikipedia: Survival of the Fittest). In Night by Elie Wiesel, in face of extermination the Jews of Sighet commit uncharacteristic ‘sins’. Fear had forced silence, fear had forced evil deeds and fear had turned the Jews against one another. The cruelties of natural selection is described in Night by Elie Wiesel, portraying the breaking of the human spirit, damaging faith in humanity, family, and God. Humanity, an important theme in Elie Wiesel’s memoire is portrayed as an ever changing proposition. The Jews of Sighet, and most importantly Elie, is seen struggling with his conscious based on the inhumane acts of oppression he has witnessed. In the beginning his faith is abundant and is evident through his trust in the German’s and disbelief in Moshie the Beadle (his mentor). “He told me what had happened to him and his companions. …The Jews were ordered to get off and onto waiting trucks. The trucks headed toward a forest. ...Infants were tossed into the air and used as targets for the machine guns” (Wiesel 6). Although, Elie did not believe Moshie at first the nightmares described by his mentor became a reality when he had first entered the concentration camps. The traumatizing events witnessed by Elie had caused him to question his faith in the human race while stripping him of reason to live. It was hard for him (Elie) to...
Words: 1022 - Pages: 5
...Over the past week we have started and completed another novel.This one titled “Night” by Elie Wiesel.The story tells the life of Eliezer Wiesel who was sent to a concentration camp in Auschwitz at the age of 15 with his family. It tells the struggles and pain he endured during his years of imprisonment and the hardships of the things he has seen.He had multiple basic freedoms and rights violated everyday such as cruel treatment,freedom stripped from him in a matter of seconds, and being taken into exile. The most basic article of rights was violated article 2 which states “Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the...
Words: 560 - Pages: 3
...The book I read for this assignment is Night by Elie Wiesel. Night is a memoir about Wiesel's horrific experiences at the German concentration camps Auschwitz and Buchenwald. In Night, there are two main conflicts. We see Wiesel struggle with his faith in god and his faith in humanity itself. In the beginning of the book, we get to see a bit of Elie's life. Elie is a 13-year-old Jewish boy living in Sighet, Transylvania. "By day I studied Talmud and by night I would run to the synagogue to weep over the destruction of the temple" (20). Elie finds a mentor in Moshe the Beadle, a poor Hungarian immigrant that possesses a deep understanding of Jewish mysticism. Moshe and Elie pray together. Moshe the Beadle also helps Elie with his studies in...
Words: 1572 - Pages: 7
...door; given to the fact the technology is an issue for Ruben and Lisa. The fact there club lacks the upgraded technology in order to make a statement among all other clubs in the area. Club IT does not have the relationships that most successful club have with their consumers or contractors. For example Belasco night club in Downtown LA sub contracts to a professional radio station who makes appearances on certain nights and have professional relationships with music Stars who may be included for a certain percentage of the profits made from that night. The thing is the more you reach out and make connections such as a radio station or well-known DJ; they automatically have an fan base which will boost your ratings and boost your reputation with free promoting from each source. Unlike like Belasco’s venue they lack the technology, lack resources when it comes to customer’s appellation and just like any other club around the nation you need to make relationships with promoters who will bring and build your clientele. Club IT lacks many key components which could make the night time business a successful entity. Ruben and Lisa have a very nice venue again just right for the night time entertainment stream, but technology and lack of applications are major. Ruben...
Words: 815 - Pages: 4
...fire and joined me on that highway divide As the smoke blew in the air, and its perfume my honey guide The phantom smiled its toothless snide and melted into the night. And there I stood on that lonely road casting my shadow by the red tail light And the red glowing stars, in the purple sky, casting mirrors in the stream site. And the faint smell of whisky still drifting in the air Made me long for my sweetheart and how in her eyes I could forever stare. Midnight on the highway, the tune of a song on my lips I whistle on this lonely road, my wheels crushing a few tobacco thrips. Crossing each dead man's turn I get further away from my home Thinking of friends some dead, some gone and most who left me alone. The hilt of my knife sits cold by my waist, the cold steel my constant friend The blade I have sharpened this twilight, fit to make its cold descend. It shall not feed I think tonight, at least, it is what I shall for the moment pretend I have had more than my share of misfortunes and dealt many a bitter end. The roaring engine tears through the darkness, every minute growing deep My frozen fingers clasps the clutch desperate not to fall dead asleep, And off across the hills, someone dreams in peaceful uninterrupted delight While I ride this unholy hour haunting the dark highways every night. ~ Saurav...
Words: 325 - Pages: 2
...Maximo Park - Books From Boxes Night falls And towns become circuit boards We can beat the sun as long as we keep moving From the air Stadium lights stand out like flares And all I know is that you're sat here right next to me We rarely see Warning signs in the air we breathe Right now I feel each and every fragment This paper trail leads right back to you You say you need me to step outside You spent the evening unpacking books from boxes You passed me up so as not to break a promise Scattered polaroids and sprinkled words around your collar In the long run you said you knew that this would happen Well this is something new But it turns out it was borrowed too Why does every let down have to be so thin? Rain explodes At the moment that the cab door closed I feel the weight upon your kiss ambiguous You have to leave, I appreciate that But I hate when conversation slips out of our grasp You spent the evening unpacking books from boxes You passed me up so as not to break a promise Scattered polaroids and sprinkled words around your collar In the long run you said you knew that this would happen Two bodies in motion This is a matter of fact It wasn't built to last Two bodies in motion This is a matter of fact It wasn't built to last You spent the evening unpacking books from boxes You passed me up so as not to break a promise Scattered polaroids and sprinkled words around your collar In the long run you said you knew that this would happen ...
Words: 532 - Pages: 3
...Greatsword/Longbow Recommended Build * In Zeal you want Fiery Wrath for 7% more damage that is almost always up unless you are soloing with scepter. In that case take Zelous Scepter. As long as you are using Greatsword you definitely want Zealous Blade for a reliable 5% DPS modifier and the cooldown reduction on Greatsword. If you’re not using Greatsword, go ahead and use Kindled Zeal. In the grandmaster slot you will want to take Symbolic Avenger with pretty much any weapon exept Scepter. When you are using Scepter you can take Shattered Aegis since that’s pretty much the only time you don’t have any symbols. * In Virtues we take Unscathed Contender – 20% more damage while under Aegis, or Master of Consecrations – Consecrations last longer and their cooldowns are reduced. It depends on whether we are able to keep up the Aegis buff or need to use Consecrations such as Wall of Reflection. If you need to maintain Projectile Defenses for your party then go with Master of Consecrations. In the second slot we can take Supreme Justice or Absolute Resolution depending whether we need Condition Removal or not. Absolute Resolution removes 3 conditions from each ally and yourself when activating VIrtue of Resolve and Supreme Justice will increase Burning duration and decrease the amount of hits needed to trigger burning from 5 to 3. The final choice is not really hard, it’s just what you need at a specific encounter. Permeating Wrath will change the burning Virtue of Justice applies...
Words: 1449 - Pages: 6
...“The Stowaway” is a revolutionary story that presents a unique outlook on the age-old tale of Noah’s Ark. Told from the viewpoint of a bold, outspoken woodworm that sneaks onto the ship, the story defies the traditional telling of the classic flood story. Rather, the woodworm relates unheard of insight on the arduous trip within the ark, the humorous animals he experienced the journey with, and the untrue details that characterize the biblical story. However, the most remarkable information the woodworm includes in the story involves the character of Noah himself. In “The Stowaway,” Julian Barnes uses the voice of the woodworm to depict the character of Noah as a depraved individual. The woodworm brings to our attention Noah’s blind arrogance very early in the story. Noah made decisions and would not change his position even when it was brought to his attention that there were other points of view that might be better than his. As the text of the story itself says, “Animals of a speculative bent began to propound rival selection principals, based on beast size or utility rather than mere number; but Noah loftily refused to negotiate. He was a man who had his little theories, and he didn’t want anyone else’s”. (Barnes 8) This demonstrates the woodworm’s dislike for Noah’s lack of consideration of other’s feelings. Noah made up his mind about how he was going to select the animals for the ark. He would not consider alternative selection criteria. He refused to listen to the pleas...
Words: 340 - Pages: 2
...manner of lights that could make a blind man see and blind him a second time.” These were the words of the town’s tale bearer Akim as all the children gathered around him during the many black out night to listen. Electricity was not dependable in Ghana. Black-outs are not uncommon and five black-outs a day is not an exaggeration. Listening to Akim was like sleeping to sweet fairy tale stories only that there was hope of living this fairy tale. Akim continued “some have sworn that, even if their feet could just touch the soil of this land then death is allowed to whisk them away because they have seen an honorable sight.” Akim had never been to this land but knows everything about it. He was the go to person if you need to know anything about the United States. He claimed to have many of relatives as residents of this land. He often showed us post cards and gadgets sent to him from them. The post cards were true testimonies of the lights that run across this great nation. It was as though long ropes of lights run across the floor of every block, street and avenue. Of course, as an electricity and technology deprived people, we were quickly moved by our sight. Perhaps Akim was not the only news bearer as this was the hottest topic for many citizens of my country Ghana. Day and night you would come across many people like Akim. They were fathers, mother, brothers, sisters, cousins, aunts, uncles friends etc. They would find time to tell you...
Words: 1184 - Pages: 5
...#2 Use details from the text to explain how human beings respond to the concentration camps. How do the attitudes, personalities and behavior change over time. In the story, Night by Elie Wiesel, a story is told by Elie Wiesel himself about how he and his family were captured by Nazis in 1944 and thrown into concentration camps. He recalls events that happened in that dark time period like how he and his father were separated from his mother and three sisters when they arrived at the first concentration camp, Auschwitz. Also, he talks about all of the horrible things that went on around him including the horrible conditions that he and his father had to go through. The people in the concentration camps changed throughout the story due to the circumstances they were in. The first thing that the reader notices about the people in the camps is that they had turned on each other and helped destroy each other physically while imprisoned by the Nazis. The reason for this is because they are each desperate to survive and will do anything to stay alive even if it means killing each other for food. Also...
Words: 851 - Pages: 4
...Essay of “The White Man’s Burden” (1980), Jan Needle. This is a short story by Jan Needle. We follow the teenager Tony Robertson, who really wants to be friends with immigrants and thinks very positive of the multi-cultural society. It is pretty ironic that although his amiable behavior, two Paki-stanis eventually end up beating him up. Tony is liberal, he thinks that everyone should have the same chances, and he doesn’t prejudice anyone. “He’d brought Tony up to be liberal, to reckon on everybody being equal, having the same rights an so on.” (p. 42, top) “You could get robbed and kicked up by a white gang just as easy as a black” (p. 43 top) Tony is truly clearly thinking same about all ethnics group in the multicultural society. He is definitely setting a better example than some of the other boys at his school by being extremely tolerant. Tony has a very different attitude on immigrants than his father. This is showed in several of arguments and rows. “Every time they talked about something happening in the paper, even a strike by some poor starving hospital workers or something, he took the wrong side. It made Tony see red, get absolutely fuming” (p. 42, l. 11). “But what had gone wrong with Dad? …Defended them against all-comers. Then it had changed” (p. 42, bottom) These two quotes clearly state how upset Tony is with the way his father has changed to the other side. When Tony is questioning himself, “but what had gone wrong with Dad?”, it is very...
Words: 967 - Pages: 4
...Night by Elie Wiesel is an autobiography about his experience of being forced to survive in a concentration camp. At the tender age of 15, Elie had to witness and suffer through things we could never imagine. As a Jew, one could only choose to die or work until they were too sick to function. Some people were unlucky enough to not get a choice to begin with. Unknowingly, this nightmare would change him externally and internally for life. Due to the atrocities witnessed and experienced during the Holocaust, Elie Wiesel, a once deeply religious individual, loses his faith in God, himself, and mankind. Throughout the story there were many occasions of where Elie started to question and lose his faith in God. One of the many occurances...
Words: 804 - Pages: 4
