...misunderstood as the foreigners. When talking about foreigners, it is the Europeans who invaded and settled in America, not the Indians. But, on many occasions this is not the case, as many of the European settlers consider themselves as the indigenous people of America (Howells and Negreiros 27). These concepts have been shown in films, where the battle for what might appear as ownership is evident. There are many films that are about the indigenous people of America, among which are Smoke Signals and Fast Runner. The films try to demonstrate and oppose the stereotypes that people have for the indigenous people of America (Knopf 193). Comparing the movies, one can see the employment of cinematic applications such as sounds and shots, editing, angle, camera movement, framing, music, and lighting, and then see how they relate or contrast. All the same, the films are...
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...A Western film written, directed and acted by Native Americans is a hidden gem. Too often, Indians are portrayed from a white man’s point of view, which causes misinterpretations and stereotypes of Native culture. Even in movies where the white director highly respects Indians, they are bound to overlook important details or fallback on palimpsest. In Dances with Wolves (1990), a Sioux uses the butt end of a rifle to fight off the soldiers before John Dunbar tells him to shoot the gun with the other end. In reality, the Sioux tribe is known for having great warriors, some were even better with a gun than white settlers. Smoke Signals (1998), the “first feature-length movie written, directed and acted by American Indians” (James Sterngold), fully broke the cycle of producing movies that were merely a “photograph of the mirrored reflection of a painted image” (1, Kilpatrick) of Native Americans....
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...movies Higher Learning and Smoke Signals. I will briefly summarize each movie in a few paragraphs and then I will discuss the similarities and differences between the themes in each movie before I discuss overall comparisons between characters, filming techniques used, and racial stereotypes. "Higher Learning" takes place at the fictitious Columbus University, where the producer makes use of a Christopher Columbus statue to suggest a racist atmosphere. Still, he does this effectively during harsh, well-observed opening scenes that capture different attitudes of white and black students on campus. A white students' pep rally is given a frightening intensity. A young white woman clutches her purse tightly when she finds herself in an elevator with a black student. The two groups' different musical tastes present an amusing contrast and a great use of sound design which is described in our textbook American On Film by Benshoff and Griffin. Mr. Singleton creates a lively air of expectation as his half-dozen main characters settle into their dorm rooms and the battle lines are drawn. John Singleton's film, Higher Learning, about the racial and sexual prejudices that color life on a college campus turns out to be an involuntary example of the same small-mindedness it deplores. Everyone here, from beer drinking white fraternity boys to rap-loving, marijuana smoking black students harassed by the campus police, can be judged at face value. Everyone is exactly what he or she seems. So a...
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...The film Smoke Signals began on the bicentennial fourth of July in 1976 in the Coeur D’Alene Indian reservation in Idaho. A fire at the house of Matty and John Builds-the-Fire was the how the lives of two Native American infants, Victor Joseph and Thomas Builds-the-Fire, first became intertwined. The road trip to Phoenix, Arizona occurred after Arnold Joseph had died and Victor was sent to retrieve his father’s ashes. Throughout the film, director Chris Eyre used symbolism, such as fire, ashes, and the names of characters to illustrate the journey of self-discovery for two long-time childhood Native American Indians. The film, Smoke Signals, started out with a house engulfed in flames on the bicentennial Fourth of July celebration in 1976....
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...Smoke Signals: A Metaphor for Telling It has been countless years since I have watched a movie about Native Americans, and even longer since I have witnessed a decent one. Most films on the subject of the Native American people are often set in the past and are habitually on the subject of brave Indian warriors. I had never viewed a Native American motion picture filmed in a present day setting, dealing with contemporary issues until I watched Smoke Signals. In the movie Smoke Signals, co-producer and scriptwriter Sherman Alexie uses unexpected humor, numerous significant flashbacks, and modernized Native American storytelling traditions to best narrate his story and the historical plight of Native Americans. First of all, Alexie employs wit by mocking stereotypical reservation life, the frequently biased film industry, and even his own people, the Native Americans. From the opening scene as tribal meteorologist and traffic reporter Lester Falls Apart covers his seemingly uneventful daily traffic report, as he has for the last twenty-six years, from the rooftop of his broken down KREZ van, we are introduced to the odd and amusing way of life on the “rez.” In another scene, Victor and Thomas are embarking on their solemn journey and are offered a ride by Thelma and Lucy driving down the road in reverse; again, it is suggested that they exist in a somewhat backwards nation. In addition, Alexie is quick to taunt the movie industry by belittling white cowboy heroes; he even...
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...practical application of knowledge in a particular area and a capability given by it, we can look all around us and see how this has manifested itself in the real world. It is the way that life for all is made easier and for this generation, “tolerable”. Technology is an advanced art that has been around for centuries with the most advancement in the recent decades, with television, phones and computers being the simplest and common of these. It is a gain for all, young and old have reaped the benefits of the advancement of technology, surrounded by it day to day. Portable music on IPods, the ability to check emails, text and even streaming video on the go all made possible because of the recent expansion of technology, it is inevitable. Smoke signals, telegraphs, and snail mail are all a thing of the past. Today, we communicate via email, texting, and social networks, all this from the palm of our hand. The advancement of the wireless phone has allowed this to be so. More than fifteen years ago, phones still had to have some type of wire connection and now with the evolution of cell phone technology, we can easily keep in touch with those that are across the room or thousands of miles away. It is a tremendous improvement of our ability to share news with others. Breaking news stories are made available to us in seconds after they happen and can be reported to the general public in a timely manner. No longer does a person have to wait for days to receive accurate news. Computers have...
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...Communicating across Cultural Barriers Nancy J. Adler If we seek to understand a people, we have to try to put ourselves, as far as we can, in that particular historical and cultural background. ... It is not easy for a person of one country to enter into the background of another country. So there is great irritation, because one fact that seems obvious to us is not immediately accepted by the other party or does not seem obvious to him at all. ... But that extreme irritation will go when we think ... that he is just differently conditioned and simply can't get out of that condition. One has to recognize that whatever the future may hold, countries and people differ ... in their approach to life and their ways of living and thinking. In order to understand them, we have to understand their way of life and approach. If we wish to convince them, we have to use their language as far as we can, not language in the narrow sense of the word, but the language of the mind. That is one necessity. Something that goes even much further than that is not the appeal to logic and reason, but some kind of emotional awareness of other people. ... Jawaharlal Nehru, Visit to America All international business activity involves communication. Within the international and global business environment, activities such as exchanging information and ideas, decision making, negotiating, motivating, and leading are all based on the ability of managers from one culture to communicate...
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...going on in an organization, up and down and sideways, that is a clear signal that the environment is in the Stretch Zone and that people are learning and changing. The “Art” of Giving and Receiving Feedback Most of us bristle at the prospect of criticism, so it is also important to reassure the other person that you’re not hassling them, but rather trying to help. In simple terms, this means taking the following approach: following approach: • Describe the behavior. Be specific—do not put someone down or be vague. State the facts as you see them. • Avoid loaded terms that produce emotional reactions and raise defenses. Be specific and use clear examples rather than vague generalizations. If you say to someone “You’re always late” they can avoid the central issue by arguing that “always” is not strictly true. • • Build on the other person’s strengths. You can help the other person keep the feedback in perspective by including positive comments about their overall behavior • Invite the other person to respond. Think of feedback as a way of helping people to explore their behavior and see for themselves what needs to be done. You should resist the temptation to tell individuals directly what they should or shouldn’t do. The usual response to direct advice is often rejection, resentment, denial, or argument. A better approach is to avoid telling people what they should do, but rather invite them to develop their own action .All...
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...Ch r i s t i n e Ro e ll Intercultural Training with Films ilms are a great medium to use not only to practice English, but also to facilitate intercultural learning. Today English is a global language spoken by people from many countries and cultural backgrounds. Since culture greatly impacts communication, it is helpful for teachers to introduce lessons and activities that reveal how different dialects, forms of address, customs, taboos, and other cultural elements influence interaction among different groups. Numerous films contain excellent examples of intercultural communication and are highly useful resources for teachers. Additional reasons for teachers to incorporate films in class and encourage their students to watch movies in English include: • Films combine pleasure and learning by telling a story in a way that captures and holds the viewer’s interest. • Films simultaneously address different senses and cognitive channels. For example, spoken language is supported by visual elements that make it easier for students to understand the dialogues and the plot. • Students are exposed to the way people actually speak. 2 2010 N u m b e r F • Films involve the viewers, appeal to their feelings, and help them empathize with the protagonists. • DVDs usually come with subtitles in English, which facilitates understanding and improves reading skills. After discussing the importance of teaching intercultural communication and suggesting films that match specific cultural...
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...and 3) they seemed to be in no hurry, I assumed they were skipping school. They were extremely loud and unruly, tossing food at one another and leaving it on the floor. Black people ran the restaurant and made up the bulk of the customers, but it was hard to see much healthy “black community” here. After repeatedly warning the boys to stop throwing food and keep quiet, the manager finally told them to leave. The kids ignored her. Only after she called a male security guard did they start slowly making their way out, tauntingly circling the restaurant before ambling off. These teens clearly weren’t monsters, but they seemed to consider themselves exempt from public norms of behavior—as if they had begun to check out of mainstream society. What struck me most, though, was how fully the boys’ music—hard-edged rap, preaching bone-deep dislike of authority—provided them with a continuing soundtrack to their...
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...PROBLEM Discrimination is distinct from racial prejudice (attitudes), racial stereotypes (beliefs), and racism (ideologies) that may also be associated with racial disadvantages (Quillian 2006). As the diversity of the American workforce increase, organizational researchers have been increasingly interested in issues of discrimination and prejudice on the job. (e.g. Dovidio and Gaertner, 2000; Frazer and Wiersma, 2001; Trentham and Larwood, 1998). The workplace increasingly is more diverse than ever before. For decades African Americans, women, and many minorities were excluded from participating in most of the desirable jobs and institutions. Even when declared unconstitutional, the discrimination against minority groups often persisted (Beauchamp & Bowie, 1993). Although some work organizations are making progress in their efforts to combat discrimination, African Americans particularly still face a series of unique problems imposed on them through the complex interactions of racially motivated negative attitudes and actions of individual and organizational policies and practices not encountered by Caucasians (Chima, 1999; Stromen & Seltzer, 1991). Some of the major problems African Americans face include: employment process biases, channeling into "minority" positions, lack of access to network and mentors, promotion and advancement difficulties, and emotional and psychological maltreatment (Queralt, 1996). Attributes characteristics such as “lazy” and “unreliable”...
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...A R Y ( C HA P TE R S F O R I S L 1 ) CHAPTER 1 – THE ORIGINS OF LANGUAGE The divine source: Bible: Adam gave names to the things Hindu: wife of the creator of the universe created the language Several experiments to find the “original” language: Psammetichus: two babies grew up only for the company of goats children have uttered “bekos” – (Phrygian word for “bread”) could be the sound of the goats “be” (Greek suffix “-kos”) King James the Fourth: Children should have started speaking Hebrew Other experiments: children whit no access to human language grow up with no language at all The natural sound source: Language as a result of onomatopoeia and/or natural cries of emotion (e.g. splash, bang, boom, ouch, ooh, wow,…) What about soundless and abstract things? The social interaction source: Language as a result of communication between earliest groups of humans, who used hums, grunts and groans -> language as a progress of this Apes and other primates also have grunts and groans for communication, but no language The physical adaption source: Evolution factors which have made humans able to develop language: o Teeth are upright and even in height o Lips have more intricate muscle interlacing than other primates o Mouth is smaller an can be opened and closed rapidly o Tongue is smaller, thicker and more muscular o Larynx (containing the vocal cords) is much lower than the position of other primates o Pharynx (above vocal cords) acts as a resonator ...
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...Analyzing Ava ta r: A Rev iew Essa y Nekeisha Alexis-Baker By the time I decided to see James Cameron’s Avatar, I had already heard enough about the film to be unsure whether it would be worth the time, effort and petroleum to see it. People’s comments about the film ranged from praise for its groundbreaking 3D animation; to criticism of its racist portrayal of the indigenous; to disappointment with the overly predictable storytelling; to appreciation for its critique of colonization and civilization. I even heard complaints from fellow peace church Mennonites about its overwhelming use of redemptive violence. After seeing the film through my Christian anti-civilization (anti-civ) anarchist vegan antiracist woman of color lenses, my sense is that Avatar is more complex than many of its detractors or advocates acknowledge. Set on the planet Pandora, Avatar is a sci-fi story of a mercenary-backed corporation’s attempt to confiscate and mine the land inhabited by humanoid aliens known as the Na’vi. Enter Jake Sully, the paraplegic U.S. marine protagonist who joins the science and anthropology wing of the operation as a substitute navigator for his deceased twin brother’s avatar. Early in the film, we discover that the avatar is an expensive high-tech clone that allows its user to temporarily experience and subsequently infiltrate the Na’vi community. After a series of unexpected events during his first avatar excursion, Jake finds himself living amongst the Na’vi clan known as...
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...Women Inventors, What significant inventions( important parts of our lives) are women responsible for? Battery container Nancy Perkins 1986 Beehive Thiphena Hornbrook 1861 Canister vacuum Nancy Perkins 1987 Car heater Margaret Wilcox 1893 Circular saw Tabitha Babbit 1812 Computer program Augusta Ada Byron 1842 Cooking stove Elizabeth Hawk 1867 Dam and reservoir construction Harriet Strong 1887 Direct and return mailing envelope Beulah Henry 1962 Dishwasher Josephine Cochran 1872 Drinking fountain device Laurene O'Donnell 1985 Electric hot water heater Ida Forbes 1917 Elevated railway Mary Walton 1881 Engine muffler El Dorado Jones 1917 Feedback control for data processing Erna Hoover 1971 Fire escape Anna Connelly 1887 Globes Ellen Fitz 1875 Grain storage bin Lizzie Dickelman 1920 Improved locomotive wheels Mary Jane Montgomery 1864 Improvement in dredging machines Emily Tassey 1876 Improvement in stone pavements Emily Gross 1877 Kevlar, a steel-like fiber used in radial tires, crash helmets, and bulletproof vests Stephanie Kwolek 1966 Life raft Maria Beaseley 1882 Liquid Paper correction fluid Bette Nesmith Graham 1956 Locomotive chimney Mary Walton 1879 Medical syringe Letitia Geer 1899 Mop-wringer pail Eliza Wood 1889 Oil burner Amanda Jones 1880 Permanent wave for the hair Marjorie Joyner 1928 Portable screen summer house Nettie Rood 1882 Refrigerator Florence Parpart 1914 Rolling pin Catherine Deiner 1891 Rotary...
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...various spheres of human activity, including problems of individuals' daily lives and the treatment of mental illness. It is largely concerned with humans, although the behaviour and mental processes of animals can also be part of psychology research, either as a subject in its own right (e.g. animal cognition and ethnology), or somewhat more controversially, as a way of gaining an insight into human psychology by means of comparison (including comparative psychology). Origins of the psychology Near the end of 19th century things started drawing together. Questions raised by philosophers were being examined by physiologists, and vice versa. a. What is the relationship between the mind and the body? b. Why do people loose their minds? What is insanity? c. How do we perceive things? Why are their perceptions of the same stimulus different? d. What affect do our experiences have on us? How important are environmental influences versus characteristics and predispositions we are born with?...
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