...Japan in 1954, is not only entertaining but also conveys a serious theme still relevant today — the horrors of nuclear weapons. Japan suffered tremendously when the United States dropped atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki during WWII, a tragedy that killed over 200,000 people. Godzilla, or Gorjira, is about coping with and taking responsibility for unbelievable manmade tragedy. It deals with the effect of nuclear radiation on Japan - in this case, problems caused specifically by the United States. The film essentially communicates the despair Japan felt during these nuclear tragedies by expressing the metaphor of bomb-as-Godzilla. Godzilla opens with a scene showing a fishing vessel appearing to spontaneously combust, drawing a parallel to the incident that inspired the creation of the movie. On March 1st, 1954 the United States tested a hydrogen bomb at Bikini Atoll – one more powerful than the atomic bombs of WWII. They under-calculated how large the blast would be, and the radiated ash landed on a Japanese tuna boat, Lucky Dragon No. 5. The crew members suffered from radiation sickness, with one member dying from the symptoms. This event caused more uneasiness in Japan, enough for Tomoyuki Tanaka to decide to make a film...
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...According to Christopher McQuarrie, “Film noir feels no responsibility to reflect some sort of cinematic morality. Film noir just is. It doesn’t talk down to you, it doesn’t condescend to you, it says to you: this is the way the world is and this is the way and we’re not going to pretend that cinema has all the answers”. A wide range of films reflected the subsequent conflicts and insecurities of the time period. Fear, loss of innocence, paranoia, and despair are evident in noir, reflecting on the Cold War period when the danger of nuclear obliteration was apparent. According to Eddie Muller, “Films of the post WWII years were indicative of America’s loss of innocence. Screenwriters were determined to paint almost an anti-myth. Hollywood during/after...
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...Hollywood has historically been reflecting many issues of the real world, including but not limited to: social, economical, political, and cultural, in their films. When issues in the real world change, the film industry does the same by changing the content in their movies to match the current trends. This essay is going to look at a more specific issue and relating it to certain movies to show that the above statement is correct. Over the past few decades, the value and meaning of family have changed drastically. The family structure, marriage rate, divorce rate, birth rate, how families live, what activities families engage in, and what possessions families own are some of the many factors that have changed with the family value. Revolutions in economies, technologies, politics, rights and the rise of activists played a role in this extreme shift in the family value norm. WWII was a major event that changed the dynamics of family life. During the war, because all the men were going overseas to fight in the war, the women at home were required to work in factories to supply the war effort. This was the first time in history were over half the women in the U.S. had a job outside of their homes. However, it created a problem when the war was over with many unemployed men trying to find jobs. Some women wanted to stay with their jobs but because of the ongoing discrimination against married women with full-time jobs outside of their home, they were socially pressured into letting...
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...qwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwertyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmrtyuiopasdfghjklzxcvbnmqwer...
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...A Walk in the Clouds Film ENG 225 Instructor Matthew Norsworthy January 17, 2014 A Walk in The Clouds film The average moviegoer is looking for the very basic qualities in their quest for discovering what they would consider a terrific movie. The basic criteria consist of neutral elements such as; which actors have been cast in the film? What kind of genre is the film targeting? Is the plot and theme interesting? Is the film visually appealing? All of these questions set a reviewers initial impressions of the film they are about to see, however every film is much deeper than those basic elements and require a very different approach when determining the true art structure that a film partakes. Naturally most people are attracted to one particular genre of movie or another, whether it is westerns, love stories, horror films, mysteries, or any number of other types of film that can be created by the talented and diligent minds of all sorts of writers. No one can say with 100% certainty that one type of film surpasses the quality of another. Any two people can see the same movie and possess opposing views of the depth and originality the film portrayed prompting very different opinions about the same film. Some of the best films prompt the viewer to ask questions that may or may not be answered directly or indirectly throughout the film. In the film, “A Walk in the Clouds” starring Keano Reeves who plays Paul Sutton, a Sargent...
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...Australia's citizens were either born in Britain, or had British descendants. In the years following the war, British subjects were encouraged to migrate to Australia under an 'assisted package' scheme, which helped with the cost of migrating to Australia and provided housing and employment options upon arrival. Between 1945 and 1972, over one million British migrants settled in Australia. Before 1945, many people, including Australians themselves, considered Australia to be nothing more than a British colony; a nation whose national identity was relatively indistinct from the British. During this period of Australia's history, our modes of entertainment, food, fashion, sporting culture and our social values and attitudes were largely dictated by British culture. American influence on the Australian culture One of the most significant changes to have taken place in Australian society since the end of WWII, however, has been its drift towards American, rather than British culture. As the American way of life was projected further into Australia via popular culture, it would rapidly alter the ways we spent our money, entertained ourselves, dressed and socialised. Eventually, many of our British cultural legacies would give way to new American ideals. In the decades since World War II, however, the penetration of American popular...
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...Commanding Heights Episode 1 The Battle of Ideas The film, Commanding Heights, explains the history of the world’s economy that lead up to globalization and the trends that we may anticipate into 21th century. The film offers insights into how economic theories can help explain how the market and other economic factors come into play for control of a country’s economy. The two important economists of the age shared air-warden duty on the roof of King’s College, an English gentleman and an Austrian exile. Personal friends, but intellectual rivals. Fredrick Von Hayek is adherent to the free market concept while John Maynard Keynes advocate for government intervention in the market. Keynes felt that the market economy would go to excesses,...
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...How can a film told through a child’s eyes be appealing to a wide audience? These eyes provide a new perspective on horrific events of WWII. “The boy in the striped pyjamas”, directed by Mark Herman, effectively represents the key events, themes and messages, setting and characters as contained in the novel, of the same name, by John Boyne. Herman has used editing techniques of key events to effectively deliver the plot of the book. The opening is a collection of scenes in a busy city street. Glimpses of Bruno, the young central character, joyfully running home with his friends are placed between images of what surrounds them. These include men in uniforms, Swastika flags and people being forcefully loaded on to trucks. As Bruno pretends to fly a plane he is completely unaware of these events. This editing clearly establishes that the film will be told from his point of view - that of an innocent ignorant child in German during WWII. Furthermore, the use of camera angles develops the story and the relationship between Bruno, the son of the Commandant of Auschwitz concentration camp and Shmuel, a young Jewish prisoner. At first they are separated by individual close up shots. While later we see them together on the scene through an eye level camera angle. These shots parallel their developing friendship. At all times the fence that physically separates them is prominently placed between them in each image. Their friendship, forbidden in these circumstances and time, is central...
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...1) Describe the three basic types of music heard in original scores during the silent film era and cites specific examples from The Birth of a Nation. (10 points) In the film The Birth of a Nation, musical adaptations, arrangements of famous melodies, and newly composed music are the three basic types of music heard. Some of the classical works are used in dramatic scenes like the ride of the KKK, where “Ride of the Valkyries” can be heard. For arrangements, the film features tunes like “Maryland, My Maryland” and “Dixie.” One of the newly composed music in the film include “The Perfect Song” which is the film’s love theme. 2) What is the role of source music in Casablanca? (10 points) The main purpose of source music in Casablanca was to portray the emotions of the characters. A lot of these music were meant to have meanings or symbols, like “La Marseillaise” which is the French national anthem that is meant to represent the Allies during WWII. This happens in the Rick’s Café scene when German soldiers were shown singing the Nazi anthem and the others began to sing “La Marseillaise” as a response. Another source music used in Casablanca was “As Time Goes By,” which represents the love between Rick and Ilsa. 3) Discuss the effect of genres on the amount and type of music in a film. Describe a number of different film genres from 1935-1939 and the typical qualities of their music. Mention specific films during this period to illustrate your generalities. (20 points)...
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...climate. America during the post-depression pre-war period, reviving from the hard life of poverty, despair, disillusioned with government, personal success, and lacking pride in their country were hungry for diversion. Hollywood supplied them with the Three Stooges, gangsters, private eyes, dashing white-coated sophisticates, dancing girls and musicals. Moreover, while this diversion was taking place, a part of the Hollywood elite were using their power to shape and influence the collective mind of America by producing movies depicting the struggle of man against hardship, our early heritage, the dignity of man, and the reconnecting of the people into a powerful nation. The Good Earth (1937), Drums Along the Mohawk (1939), Meet John Doe (1939), and Mr. Smith goes to Washington (1939), are examples. The heroes of these movies were the average everyday man or woman, thrown in to circumstances beyond their control. They were the reluctant heroes of their time, yet they were able to show that anyone could be a hero if they needed to. Rich, poor, short, or tall the audience could emphasize with these types of movies, and heroes as many of the audience were against political corruption, and pro-labor. The Grapes of Wrath (1940) by John Steinbeck, is the best example of a film depicting the plight of the average poor share croppers forced from their homes by the depression and dust storms that plagued the Great Plains through the thirties. The hero of this film is Tom Joad (played...
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...Life after World War II Once WWII ended, the United States experienced many changes, both good and bad. Despite inflation and war strikes, the U.S successfully transitions to a peacetime economy. The economy didn’t just change, but the government also with the changes in balance of power of the three branches of federal government during the 20th century resulting in the expansion of executive power during periods of crisis. Many factors contributed to the better economy, and even minimum wages increased to 75 cents because of one of Truman’s Fair Deal that Congress passed. Although with the good times, there came the bad. There was a lot of labor unrest during this period. After WWII, rising inflation triggered the labor unrest. A wave of U.S industrial strikes at the end of WWII contributed to President’s Truman’s attempt to place strict limits on striking labor unions when national interests were at stake. A miner’s strike also took place, which was ended by President Truman by ordering the government seizure of the mines while pressuring owners to grant most union demands. Labor leaders strongly rejected the Taft-Hartley Act in 1947 because the act favored big business interests over union interests. Delinquency was also a problem. Concerns about juvenile delinquency and failing educational systems surfaced during these years. Topping the list of juvenile crimes was car theft, which was something that needed to be changed. Other countries also had an impact on the U.S...
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...Film Noir A Culture of Seductive Crime Somewhere along a dark alley in the shattered shadowy streets of Hollywood a part of history lies in the tragically neglected culture known as “Film Noir.” An introduction similar to any number of introductions found in any Noir themed novel or film’s initial dawning. Aristocrat or plebeian does not come into account in this culture; those who are iconic to the startup have come from many different backgrounds and even belong to many different cultures. Film Noir culture is undoubtedly a culture that can share its members concurrently with indiscriminate amounts of other cultures. Film Noir is more than just pessimistic crime dramas starring cynical men and dangerous “femme fatale” siren like women. It is a style and an American culture. With the stock market crash on October 29, 1929 came the great depression. From this time leading up to WWII the current benign dramas unquestionably left more to be desired. Their lackluster presentations were turning off audiences who where seeing so much more turmoil and danger in the world around them, leaving them to find the films boring and detached from any sense of connectivity. With this came the onset of Film Noir. In “Hollywood Genres and Post-War America: Masculinity, Family and Nation in Popular Movies and Film Noir” Mike Chopra-Gant writes, “Noir is seen as more than a trend in film production; it is regarded as emblematic not only of the cinematic culture, but also as the tone of...
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...The significant beginning of progressive inclusion of queer themes in film found its start in the 1940’s; not in the mainstream media but rather through low-tiered, independent filmmakers, such as 17-year-old Kenneth Anger, who created the homoerotic film ‘Fireworks’ (1947) in his parent’s home. The film stars Anger as he explores themes of homosexuality through a dream-like state of consciousness, using images and context with implications to the United State Navy and Fourth of July. Outside of those involved in the community, the film was labeled as “obscene” and “lewd” due to its themes and inevitably led to Anger’s arrest after it’s release, and a lawsuit filed against manager Raymond Rohauer of the Coronet Theatre (where ‘Fireworks’ was first screen). Despite the backlash of the film, it is claimed as one of the first to open the door to a new...
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...direct reference to at least two films, how did Hollywood address the paranoid, hysterical political climate of the 50s? The Cold War began in 1947 between the USSR and the USA. After World War II, both countries began to distrust each other, as they knew the amount of power each country had in terms of nuclear weapons. Not only did they distrust each other, but they lacked a mutual understanding of each other’s culture. The USA believed in capitalism and the USSR believed in communism. This lack of mutual understanding caused mass paranoia within America as they feared that communists would infiltrate their society. This hysteria was known as the Red Scare which lead to “a range of actions that had a profound and enduring effect on U.S. government and society.” (Red Scare, 2013). During World War II “moviegoers learned to appreciate cinema for what it was: a powerful delivery system of ideology” (Doherty, 2003, p. 19) and after World War II “Soviet Communism and American Democracy, found its domestic expression in fierce debates over the subversive influence of the popular media.” (Doherty, 2003, p. 21). Hollywood was scrutinized first for allegedly using the film industry to influence the public about communism. The House of Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) was formed in 1938, and it’s investigations were “frequently focused on exposing communists working inside the federal government or subversive elements working in the Hollywood film industry” (Red Scare, 2013). On...
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...It escalated due to antagonist values between the Cumulated States, representing capitalism and democracy, and the Soviet Cumulation, representing communism and authoritarianism. Being the two ascendant world powers after WWII, contention between the Americans and Soviets became an ecumenical conflict. The Cold War differed from most wars in that it was as much of a propaganda war as a war with military engagements. The Korean and Vietnam Wars are consequential examples of military intervention by the Americans in the denomination of ceasing communist expansionism. However, these wars did not have the decade’s long impact on American domestic and peregrine policy that the cultural, political, and economic battles of the Cold War had. (Katy Fletcher,...
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