“12 Years a Slave” and “Django Unchained” Essay

For my essay I will compare and contrast the themes between 12 Years a Slave and Django Unchained, two movies that differ immensely when it comes to the direction and delivery of their respective plots; while still holding some key similarities such as their motifs and themes throughout both films. It’s those similarities however is also where we can dissect the corresponding differences such as how â€Å"heroes† and â€Å"villains† are portrayed entirely different from one another. And by using key examples I also aim to show how 12 Years a Slave and Django Unchained are prime examples of how one movie can break the usual feel-good clichà © plot that all American cinema seems to portray; while the other follows a more traditional route that we are all more use too. Throughout the entirety of both films we see multiple signature motifs and themes that we all can associate with when it comes to colonial America during that time period. Most notably should perhaps be the distinct lack of â€Å"personal morality†; or the implication that people of non-European decent are a form of lesser human. Especially within modern day cinema we seem to exploit these themes and the characters themselves in way that allow most directors creative leeway; however numerous people such as Quentin Tarantino will take those liberties into creating visuals on slavery that were overtly fictional, and only play a role in immediate plot development. Throughout the entirety of Django Unchained we see a constant struggle for Django to regain his honor through the classic American medium of revenge. Because without the constant thought of vengeance, Django would be nothing more than a common villain; someone who uses force to gain what he desires. However even if he weren’t to use force, in Quentins Tarantino’s vision even those who don’t fight are considered cowards. And it is with that character development and overtly fictional plot that makes Django Unchained the American clichà © that it is. While these films take different approaches in storytelling, any critic must start with acknowledgment for the creators taking the period and creating interpretations that provoke thought. Particularity when it came to the  movie 12 Years a Slave, a movie that broke any prenotion of how a truly exceptional American film is made. In it Steve McQueen, the director masterfully creates a tragic story of one mans’ journey through his own personal Hell and how we would later seek deliverance; but that is where 12 Years a Slave truly breaks off from any resemblance to Django Unchained. For when Solomon, the main character seeks his own form of redeeming himself; the usual route of Hollywood is to create a response/event so that the audience entertained rather than the character developing further. Such is the case with Django Unchained, a story where Django is constantly called to respond and act in a masculine way. Whereas in 12 Years a Slave, the only way Solomon could ever come to move forward was not through his own actions, but rather after his lack of action and through the broken form of his body and spirit. Overall, both movies were an acclaimed success at the box offices and each earned multiple awards. However the clear distinction between the two should be obvious; especially when taking into consideration the amount of fictional leeway certain directors and genre’s are allowed. And although the contrasts’ stand out more than the comparatives; I still find them to be a true testament of how quality American cinema is made. Either that be in the way Django Unchained masterfully fell into the true American genre; or how 12 Years a Slave beautifully brought forth a story told before, but in a new and abrupt way. Works Cited Livingston, Jay. â€Å"The Revenge Fantasy: Django Unchained vs 12 Years a Slave.† The Society Pages. Society Pages, 14 Nov. 2013. Web. 11 Oct. 2014. . Moore, Antonio. â€Å"Slavery Displayed on Screen: A Discussion with the Creators of Roots about 12 Years a Slave & Django Unchained.† Huffington Post. Huffington Post, 23 Oct. 2013. Web. 23 Jan. 2014. . – – -. â€Å"Slavery on Screen: Creators of Roots Discuss 12 Years & Django.† Atlanta Blackstar. Atlanta Blackstar, 27 Oct. 2013. Web. 10 Oct. 2014.

Memory and attention

Dorothy Irene Height was born March 24, 1912 in Richmond, Virginia to Fannie Burroughs and James Height. Both of Height's parents had been widowed twice before and each brought children to the marriage. Fannie Burroughs and James Height had two children together, Dorothy and her sister Anthanette. In 1916 the family moved north to Rankin, Pennsylvania (near Pittsburgh) where Height attended public schools. Height's mother was active in the Pennsylvania Federation of Colored Women's Clubs and regularly took Dorothy along to meetings where she early established her â€Å"place in the sisterhood.Height's long association with the YWCA began in a Girl Reserve Club in Rankin organized under the auspices of the Pittsburgh YWCA. An enthusiastic participant, who was soon elected President of the Club, Height was appalled to learn that her race barred her from swimming in the pool at the central YWCA branch. â€Å"l was only twelve years old. I had never heard of ‘social action,' nor seen anyone engaged in it, but I barely took a breath before saying that I would like to see the executive director,† Height related in her 2003 memoir. Though her arguments could not bring about a change in policy in 1920s Pittsburgh,Height later dedicated much of her professionl energy to bringing profound change to the YWCA. In need of money to attend college, Height entered an oratorical contest sponsored by the IBPO Elks. Her speech on the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Amendments to the U. S. Constitution won her a full four-year scholarship. Turned down for admission to Barnard because the college's quota of two African-American students per year was already filled, Height instead went to New York University where she earned a B. S. in the School of Education in 1932 and an M. A. in psychology n 1934.From 1934-37, Height worked in the New York City Department of Welfare, an experience she credited with teaching her the skills to deal with conflict without intensi fying it. From there she moved to a Job as a counselor at the YWCA of New York City, Harlem Branch, in the fall of 1937. Soon after Joining the staff there, Height met Mary McLeod Bethune and Eleanor Roosevelt at a meeting of the National Council of Negro Women (NCNW) held at the YWCA. In her 2003 memoir, Height described the meeting: â€Å"On that fall day the redoubtable Mary McLeod Bethune put her hand on me.She drew me into her dazzling orbit of people in power and people in poverty†¦. ‘The freedom gates are half ajar,' she said. ‘We must pry them fully open. ‘ I have been committed to the calling ever since. † The following year Height served as Acting Director of the YWCA of New York City's Emma Ransom House residence. In addition to her YWCA and NCNW work, Height was also very active in the United Christian Youth Movement, a group intensely interested in relating faith to real world problems. In 1939 Height went to Washington, DC to be Executive of the Phyllis Wheatley Branch of the DC YWCA.She returned to New York City to Join the YWCA national staff in the fall of 1944, Joining the program staff with â€Å"special responsibility† in the field of Interracial Relations. This work included training activities, writing, and working with the Public Affairs committee on race issues where her â€Å"insight into the attitude and feeling of both white and negro people [was] heavily counted on. † It was during this period that the YWCA adopted its Interracial Charter (1946), which not fght against injustice on the basis of race, â€Å"whether in the community, the nation or he world. Convinced that segregation causes prejudice through estrangement, Height facilitated meetings, ran workshops, and wrote articles and pamphlets aimed at helping white YWCA members transcend their fears and bring their daily activities in line with the Association's principles. In 1950 Height moved to the Training Services department where she focused primarily on professional training for YWCA staff. She spent the fall of 1952 in India as a visiting professor at the Delhi School of Social Work, then returned to her training work in New York City.The increasing omentum of the Civil Rights movement prompted the YWCA's National Board to allocate funds to launch a country-wide Action Program for Integration and Desegregation of Community YWCAs in 1963. Height took leave from her position as Associate Director for Training to head this two-year Action Program. At the end of that period, the National Board adopted a proposal to accelerate the work â€Å"in going beyond token integration and making a bold assault on all aspects of racial segregation. It established an Office of Racial Integration (re-named Office of Racial Justice in 1969) as part of the Executive Office. In her role as its first Director, Height helped to monitor the Association's progress toward full integration, kept abreast of the civil rights movemen t, facilitated â€Å"honest dialogue,† aided the Association in making best use of its African-American leadership (both volunteer and stafO, and helped in their recruitment and retention.

Enhancing Employees Literacy Skills Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Enhancing Employees Literacy Skills - Essay Example Among the consequences of low levels of workplace literacy and numeracy are: time and costs wasted in having to repeat assignments; inefficient work teams, wasted material, poor training, miscalculated finances, injuries in the workplace, unsafe practices and difficulties recruiting and retaining skilled staff (AI Group, 2010). The consequences of low levels of literacy in the workplace are therefore far-reaching. Campbell (2005) informed that â€Å"literacy skills are vital to high performance and productivity† in the workplace (p. 1). The reality is, low adult literacy in general has negative impacts not only on business activities, but on the individual and the country’s economy as a whole. Poor literacy constrains an individual in terms of career choices, impairs a business’s competiveness and thus undermines the country’s ability to compete globally (Campbell, 2005). It therefore follows that improving literacy skills in the workplace is an urgent mat ter. This paper proposes a project aimed at resolving this dilemma and thus suggests a program directed at employers that will enhance literary skills in the workplace. The program thus directs attention to workplace change that can enhance literacy in the workplace. ...Thus the workplace literacy program suggested is one that not only offers literacy training for employees but also ensures that literacy learning is a part of the workplace environment. Employees are not only encouraged to participate in literacy learning programs, but are also engaged in the workplace in such a way that fosters literacy improvement. The proposed workplace literacy improvement project is realistic in that it readily accepts that workplace literacy is low and in order to improve workplace literacy change must occur in the workplace first and foremost. This workplace literacy enhancement project takes the position that a learning environment in the workplace is conducive to enhancing literacy. Thus the re is an emphasis on the utility of investing in information technology and information technology training in the workplace as a supplement to general literacy training and education in the workplace. An examination of the literature identifies the efficacy of fostering a learning environment and in particular investing in and using information technology as a training and educational tool as well as a tool for business operations. A Review of the Literature Smith et al (2000) admitted that schools around the globe have systematically failed to produce the requisite number of skilled and talented workers. This may not be entirely true as a number of persons have literacy deficiencies because they either did not complete school or simply failed to attend school at all.

Doing Business in Russia Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Doing Business in Russia - Assignment Example Not since the days of Peter the Great has Russia seen such limitless potential for businesses seeking to gain opportunities; however, this is not to say that entering Russian markets is an easy, or that success is a foregone conclusion. Being able to properly discuss doing business in Russia first requires an understanding of the Russian business environment, which is one that is highly unique given the massive political, social, and economic changes the nation has undergone as a result of the shift away from Communism. Especially in the cities of the nation, there has emerged a significant population of consumers who are eager to experience products from other parts of the world. This is made especially relevant due to the fact that the nation has likewise undergone an economic resurgence and a cultural renaissance. All of these factors have made Russia more attractive to potential investors who appear to be impressed by what is taking place within Russia itself. This is not to say, however, that carte blanche business involvement in Russia is a possibility for every company wishing to do so. Rather, there are important concepts for companies to understand before getting involved in Russia (Bergman, et al, nd).: Collectivism- Dating back to the days when Russian peasants gathered together for the purposes of farming and producing goods together, collectivism still exists in Russia to a large extent, creating a sort of group mindset for consumers, posing a particular challenge for businesses entering the Russian business sector. Egalitarianism- What is meant by egalitarianism in this context is yet another concept dating back to the communist days of Russia, when the removal of inequality was endorsed in favor of an equal distribution of all that society had to offer, which usually leads to traditional Russian business negotiations being considered as a group effort, with all sharing in the benefits of the particular business operations. Dusha- This is a somewhat mysterious force within Russian society, referring to the collective spirit and belief sets of the Russian people. However, for anyone doing business in Russia, a fundamental understanding of this concept is extremely critical. It must also be understood that, as a note of caution, there were previous attempts to open up Russian borders to outside business interests, which was essentially thwarted by the inability of the government under Mikhail Gorbachev to remedy issues of business productivity, product availability, personnel and marketing (Owen, 1995) although admittedly, these problems most likely occurred because this Russian business effort was an internal, homegrown effort which did not make a lot of sense given the inherent lack of business acumen of the level that a recently opened economy like that of Russia would demand. A Rising Opportunity: Russia's Oil Market When thinking of the most readily available and productive oil fields in the world, images of the riches and potential of the Middle East typically come to mind; however, what many fail to realize is the past of Russia's oil industry, as well as its fascinatingly lucrative potential for the future. Following suit of other Russian businesses over the years, the Russian oil industry has risen to impressive heights

Argument Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 14

Argument - Essay Example Therefore, despite Socrates and Crito consider that a death sentence was unjust, nothing unjust can be done in return. Next, Socrates makes Crito confirm, that when one makes a contract, the true way would to keep the contract. Then, Socrates explains, that he willingly made such a contract (social contract) about sticking to Athenians decisions, and philosopher lived a whole life willingly keeping the contract. Now, in refer to the same state laws Socrates is sentenced to death, and despite the death sentence may be unjust, the injustice would be to betray the contract by escaping the prison. Such unjust decision will only confirm that Socrates deserves the sentence, and logically, will deprive Socrates life of value. The conclusion Socrates and Crito come with is that Socrates ought not to escape prison against Athenians will. To argue the matter, Socrates firstly found premises, which Crito cannot deny, and then accurately referred a whole argument to those premises. Since Socrates argument was logical, Crito agreed with Socrates point of

Life between the city and village Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Life between the city and village - Essay Example No wonder many social interactions and new ventures are initiated in the cities (Leuzzi, 1995). However, despite the fact that the village is less advance than the cities in terms of the social amenities and the advance facilities, the cultural identity is real and this is directly correlated to the attitudes and ideologies of the village dwellers (Klinkenborg, 2003). Village dwellers tend to be more welcoming and friendly. In fact the love that runs deep down the villagers makes them consider everyone around them as a brother or a sister. Village lifestyle is also free of pollution and less overcrowded. The air too is fresh and less polluted that why many village dwellers are considered healthier than individuals from the city (Hillyard, 2007). As a conclusion, life may seem very enjoyable in the cities due to the many opportunities and the social amenities available but village life is likewise unique and less stressful, healthier as it is warm and welcoming to

GLL Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

GLL - Essay Example The fund can be utilised in the following sectors for building the swim centre: Hiring of Pool Contractor The foremost task is to hire a pool contractor to get the best economical value for the pool design. 1% of the total funding will be spend to appoint an appropriate contractor for the project, who will help in choosing the most economical pool structure for the ladies in Tower Hamlets. Cost to the Contractor The contractor takes the entire responsibility of constructing the swimming pool and charges a specific amount for that. 50% of the total funding can be kept aside for allocating the job to a contractor. The objective is to get the best value for investment and thus 2% has been allocated for contractor selection. Allocation of job to contractor lifts the hazards of the complex task and can provide adequate time for utilisation in other activities. Extra Features Certain amount of funding should be allocated for creating an â€Å"X factor† in the swim centre. ... Equipments such as swimming pool furniture, pool thermometers, centrifugal motor pump and hose pipe are the most basic ones. An allocation of 19% of the total funding has to be made for purchasing these equipments in the initial stage. Lighting and Heating The lighting and heating amenities need to be designed in a well structured manner in order to avoid any disaster in the future. Women prioritise safety and security the most. Thus, maintenance of highest quality lighting and heating facilities will attract and encourage women to join the centre. 5% of the fund needs to be allocated for this purpose. Promoting The centre will remain a gravestone as long as it is not being promoted. Thus, a lot of emphasis needs to be provided to the marketing aspect of the project. The remaining 15% of the fund should be utilised in promoting the swim centre within the locality of Tower Hamlets. All the facilities that will be specially designed for a ladies swim centre should be promoted. Operatin g Costs The amount of funding in maintaining the operating expenses would be derived from the operating incomes after the project gets started. However, it is essential to keep in mind that sufficient amount of fund should be utilised in maintenance and cleanliness of the swim centre. Adequate and appropriate chemicals should be used for keeping the swimming pool clean and unsullied everyday. Maintenance is extremely important for providing the best look to the swim centre around the locality. For example, vinyl and concrete linings should be refreshed once in every 5 years. A continuous checking and verifying are necessary for a swim centre to be successful in encouraging people to join (HomeHelp4U, 2011). Summary of the Above