Sound and Music in Films Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Sound and Music in Films - Research Paper Example Filmmaking has transcended a challenging and colorful artistic journey. The fast pace of technological advancement profoundly influenced the growth of filmmaking from its crude origins of silent and black and white films to the intricately three dimensional movies of contemporary times. Kay, Ghent, Chumney & Lutkins presented the history of sound in films and traced its origins before the 1920s when Thomas Edison was quoted to say in 1925 that â€Å""My plan was to synchronize the camera and the phonograph so as to record sounds when the pictures were made, and reproduce the two in harmony. . . We had the first of the so-called "talking pictures" in our laboratory thirty years ago" (Kay, et.al., n.d., par. Edison’s persistent intent to invent the kinetoscope, granted patent in 1897, paved the way for the introduction of sound in films. In this regard, this essay aims to proffer relevant issues and perspectives of sound and music in movies and films. The discourse would initia lly present significant events from the origins of sounds and music, together with the people who were instrumental in making the discoveries. Likewise, the role of sound and music in films would also be discussed before presenting the characteristics of these elements in contemporary filmmaking.

Common Racial Themes Shared in Faulkner and Morrison

Common Racial Themes Shared in Faulkner and Morrison Common Racial Themes Shared in Faulkner and Morrison In spite of obvious racial and gender differences between William Faulkner (1897-1962) and Toni Morrison (1931-present), both authors approach race as a means of social separation. American society throughout history has focused on such separations to establish a defined hierarchy, based both on race and gender. In Toni Morrisons The Bluest Eye, race is used to demean black Americans; standards of beauty were based on what appeared to be the closest in resemblance to white Americans. Traditionally African features such as broad noses and full lips were deemed unattractive and therefore socially inferior, as evidenced by The Bluest Eyes protagonists with the fair-skinned Maureen Peal. William Faulkners Light in August approaches race as a means of gendered power. Faulkners works showcase the ambiguity in gender lines, and Light in August is no different. Miscegenation, a central topic, melds with gender differences in empowering white characters as masculine and black characters as ne utered. Joe Christmas, a character whose racial background is shrouded throughout most of the novel, is constantly berated and indirectly belittled by powerful white figures such as his stepfather and a later lover. His death, presented at the apex of the novel (also coinciding with verification of his mixed-race background), is most significant in its portrayal of Joe Christmas castration and murder at the hands of authorities. The Bluest Eye Morrisons portrayal of race touches on several important points reflecting the social climate of the time. First, being white is aesthetically more desirable than being black. Second, being black equivocates to hardship, and third, being white transcends all aspects of being black in the social hierarchy. Race and Ethnicity Claudia and Frieda encounter the phenomena of racial aesthetics with the introduction of Maureen Peal, a fair-complexioned black girl who, despite being born with an unusual amount of birth defects, is preferred by the black boys and girls. Maureen is born with six fingers on each hand with slightly noticeable stumps where her extra fingers used to be, a significant mutation and something that would erstwhile earn her the cruel taunting of most all the children had it not been for her fair skin (Morrison 63). More noticeable is the contempt Maureen garners from Claudia and Frieda, who take closer notice to her dog tooth, relishing what physical imperfections they can find (Morrison 63). If anything, the girls spite is a jealousy harboured because they too desire to be as light-skinned and supposedly beautiful as Maureen. Further accentuating the social favour of white aesthetic superiority, Maureen denigrates Claudia, Frieda and Pecola, screaming that she is cute [and they are] black and ugly black e mos [sic], presumably differentiating herself from the three by pointing out her fairness in comparison to theirs (Morrison 73). Identity Other forms of childhood naÃÆ'Â ¯vetÃÆ'Â © serve to further Morrisons grim portrayal of black race as being synonymous with a life of hardship and inferiority. Introducing Pecola in a narrative from Claudias perspective, Morrison demonstrates the perversion of a black society that would, in a blue-eyed Baby Doll, personify what adults assume to be a childs fondest wish (Morrison 20). Still worse is the infuriating tone Morrison evokes in her three protagonists upon Mrs. Breedloves interaction with a white girl smaller and younger than them who refers to their revered matriarch as simply Polly; told from Claudias point of view, what infuriates the protagonists and the reader is that not even the elder Pecola refers to Mrs. Breedlove by her first name (Morrison 108). Still more self-deprecating is Claudias implied realisation that she is at the bottom of the social chain. Stuck below her mother in age and black men in gender, she is further demeaned when she realises the white girl s transcendence of the black social order altogether. As a young, black woman, Claudia sees how inferior even her own people perceive her. A Light in August Identity Unlike Morrison, Faulkner uses race as a means of sexual empowerment. For example, Joes feelings of self-hatred as a man of colour is reflected in his beating of the shenegro in the barn, a means of projection against the demons he faces as an adopted boy (Faulkner 514). As a black man, Christmas further feels inadequate and filled with self-deprecation. He is demeaned into emasculation under the sexually charged Miss Burden, a reflection of black inferiority to the white race in all interactions. Christmas emasculation is complete in his murder at the hands of Grimm, who shoots Christmas five times and then castrates him in a kitchen, a symbol of the relegation of blacks into servitude and powerlessness. Faulkners inherent message is that to be black is to be not only socially inferior, but to also be genderless and dehumanized, a fact evidenced by his most gruesome and torturous death. Though Joe Christmas is not noticeably black as a product of miscegenation, he is forced into a b lack identity by a society who will not accept a white man with even a drop of black blood in his lineage. Race and Ethnicity Morrison and Faulkner both draw upon the inequities of American racial relations in order to communicate his disdain for the institution of racial discrimination. However, Faulkner is more fatalist in tone, evoking a manner of apathy and helplessness at the situation. Like Morrison, Faulkner demonstrates how racial association compromises character. Reverend Gail Hightower is shamed in society initially because of his wifes infidelities; however, what ostracizes him from the white community is a contemptuous rumour that he, as a reverend, had an affair with a black woman. People who wished to distance themselves from Hightower could not do so simply with the knowledge that he was a cuckold; instead, a far more negative rumour involving sexual relations and possible miscegenation was spread. Faulkner further shows the power of racial separation in the indictment of Joe Christmas by Joe Brown, who is questioned by Hightower and the sheriff. Unable to sway them from assuming his guilt a t the murder of Miss Burden, Brown spitefully accuses the two of [accusing] the white man trying to help [them] and letting the nigger run (Faulkner 470). BIBLIOGRAPHY Faulkner, William. Novels 1930-1935: As I Lay Dying, Sanctuary, Light in August, Pylon. New York: The Library of America, 1985. Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2000.

Moderate Drinking and Reduced Risk of Heart Disease :: essays research papers

Alcohol use has been widely studied and documented, as I have found in my research. One article in particular, "Moderate Drinking and Reduced Risk of Heart Disease" by Arthur L. Klatsky, appears to be a good source that I will be able to use in my final research paper. This article will be a good source for two main reasons: first, Klatsky's article adds to my knowledge of my research topic, and second, Klatsky provides good evidence for his claim. Thus, Klatsky's article will help me write my final research paper. I learned from this article that moderate drinkers have the lowest risk of coronary artery disease and death from cardiovascular disease when compared to lifelong abstainers and heavy drinkers. According to Klatsky, alcohol has "protective" effects. It raises the level of HDL (artery-clearing, high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol and lowers the level of LDL (artery-clogging, low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol in the blood stream (18). This information about a specific disease and its relation to alcohol is the kind I need to write a good research paper. In addition, Klatsky does a good job of defining "moderate" drinking, a definition that is essential to the article and to my research. He defines moderate consumption as one or two drinks per day (15). A "drink" equals one five-ounce glass of wine, twelve ounces of beer, or one and a half ounces of liquor, all of which contail one half an ounce of alcohol (15). I will use Klatsky’s definitions in describing "moderate" drinking. Klatsky also provides sound evidence to support his claims. He claims that moderate drinkers are at the lowest risk of death from cardiovascular disease and cites a study from the American Cancer Society. This nine-year study of 490,000 people showed a 30-40 percent lower mortality rate from cardiovascular disease among those who consumed one to two drinks per day (20).

Visual art analysis

French occupation. The painting also evokes neither the people of Madrid nor Spanish troops who rose up against the invader and to protect their love and respect land. The most remarkable of the painting is the man In the white shirt that was standing in front of the Napoleon troops took place on the left hand side of the painting. His clothes are white and clean contrasting to the other townspeople who were wearing dirty with blood stained. HIS snowy presents purity ND also Is believing of religion as well.He Is holding his arm In an unmistakable reference which shapes like a V and does salary to the Christ on the cross explores peace and Independent. Thus, It also suggests the audiences that he Is a martyr for the rest of the town. As a consequence of his stance, his left hand was polluting to the church at the background conveys Ideology of their religion which Is Catholic; his others hand are above the townspeople's heads symbolizes as a shield of protection. The man in the white shirt is standing out in the darkness of the sky. The dark sky is successfully represents the feeling of sadness and hopeless of the townspeople to audiences.Besides, there is a puddle blood in the foreground with a dead body on that. Though, there is a group of Spanish troops in the middle of the painting were standing with hands over their faces emphasizes that they were suffering and sorrowful with a great lost. Those events encounter the Napoleon's troops that lining up with guns. The guns were holding up between their faces and shoulders level pointing straight to the townspeople. The troops took place on the right hand side of the painting. They were wearing full uniform with hats and black shoes represents powerful and unity.They face were showing no mercy and inspirited. The visual techniques used by French Soya plays an important role in the painting. The artist has uses many visual techniques such as facial expression, colors, contrast and vectors. There are many facial e xpressions to communicate character's feeling to audiences namely inhumanity from the Napoleon's troops and feelings of pain, suffering or even nervous of the Spanish which was an outcome of war. Other technique is contrast; it used to created outstanding of the characters usual art analysis By bounyalisouvankham their love and respect land.The most remarkable of the painting is the man in the townspeople who were wearing dirty with blood stained. His snowy presents purity and also is believing of religion as well. He is holding his arm in an unmistakable reference which shapes like a V and does similar to the Christ on the cross explores peace and independent. Thus, it also suggests the audiences that he is a martyr for the rest of the town. As a consequence of his stance, his left hand was pointing to the church at the background conveys ideology of their religion which is Catholic;

Keats’ Romantic Eco-Poetics

Ecocritics work to develop and demonstrate the connection between nature and humanity by expressing how places are connected to the people that live in them. Likewise, those places, or nature, affect the people that live within them and vise versa. John Keats’ eco-poetics often convey a Romantic adoration for nature by means of a self-conscious, philosophical imagination’s connection to nature. His enthusiasm for the philosophical as well as the corporeal scopes of nature plays an obvious fundamental role in his theory of consciousness and aesthetics. Keats has specific qualifications for truth and beauty.Truth is all inclusive, combining all experiences with nature in one’s life, whether they are affirmative or undesirable experiences, into one functional vision. However, Keats separates his poetry from nature in dominating way. He does not believe that nature only funds the aesthetics of his poetry, but rather that his poetry forces readers to recognize a deepe r meaning to existence. ‘Ode to a Nightingale’ is an excellent example of Keats’ use of nature in developing the poet’s assumptions of consciousness and philosophy. The initial use of a bird singing, in its poetic aesthetics sense, portrays the beauty and concord within nature.Keats embraces the thought of a painless death only while listening to the nightingale’s song. This is because of the bird’s ability to be free, which wills Keats’ to want a similar freedom, apart from the suffering and pain within human life. He even speaks as though the nightingale is immortal and incapable of the sorrow of death. Within the same stanza, which can be found below, Keats speaks of a magic this nightingale holds. It is as if Keats firmly believes in the nightingale’s ability to transcend the natural world, into a world free of cares and lacking death. My heart aches, and a drowsy numbness painsMy sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk, Or emptied some dull opiate to the drains One minute past, and Lethe-wards had sunk: ‘Tis but through envy of thy happy lot, But being too happy in thy happiness, That though light-winged Dryad of the trees, In some melodious plot Of beechen green, and shadows numberless, Singest of summer in full-throated ease. (Lines 1-10) Though wast not born for death, immortal Bird! No hungry generations tread thee down; The voice I hear this passing night was heard In ancient days by emperor and clown Perhaps the self-same song that found a pathThrough the sad heart of Ruth, when, sick for home, She stood in tears amid the alien corn; Charmed magic casements, opening on the foam Of perilous seas, in faery lands forlorn. (Stanza VII) Likewise, the seasonal transition depicts nature’s ability to change in spite of man’s inability to look past their monotonous and speculative life. Keats focuses on the phenomena of metamorphosis in regards to the conscious self. This pattern of c ycles which can be directly connected to the process of life and human existence can be seen in the fifth stanza of ‘Ode to a Nightingale’ as well as in ‘to Autumn. Fast fading violets cover’d up in leaves; And mid-May’s eldest child, The coming musk-rose, full of dewy wine, The murmurous haunt of lies on summer eves. (Lines 47-50 ‘Ode to a Nightingale’) Where are the songs of Springs? Ay, where are they? Think not of them, thou hast thy music too,— While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day, And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue; Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn Among the river swallows, borne aloft Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies; (Lines 23-29 ‘To Autumn’)Again, Keats’ implies a connection between human existence and the fact that there would be no meaning to life without the inevitability of eventual death to the seasons, life in spring and death in winter. Along with this rend ition of life and death, Keats creates a feeling of comfort in his ecological representation of death. In ‘To Autumn,’ Keats displays a world in which fruit is ripe and flowers are budding. Colors are alive and bright. However, each season brings the death of the one preceding it. In other words, every season, as with every human existence, has the capacity of life and death.The ecology behind this declaration appears within the recurring and inexhaustible rebirth of nature’s beauty. On the other hand, I do not believe that Keats’ sole intention was to display the beauty of nature. Keats often uses the exploration of nature and its imagery as a socio-political symbol of freedom, sovereignty, and harmony. Although autumn is beautiful and Keats uses this ecology to the political and personal strife found within every human being. I believe this to be true because Keats wrote ‘To Autumn’ in September of 1819, shortly after his brother, Tom, died in December of 1818 of tuberculosis.Also the Peterloo Massacre, which occurred in August of 1819, about a month before Keats wrote ‘To Autumn,’ may have influenced his language and aesthetics within the poem. Keats was obviously pondering the concept of death and his undeniable belief in an existence after death. It is important to consider the context, both political and social, in which ‘To Autumn’ was written. This is because â€Å"ecocritics enlarge the vision(s) of texts and their role and function in our lives while challenging, the readers, to investigate and grapple with our personal understanding of humanity, texts, and nature itself (Bressler). Our understanding of humanity, text, and nature is often greatly influenced by the experiences we face from day to day. Keats is able to use his poetry to address a number of reoccurring ideas: the relationship between art and existence, the limitation of that existence and how those limitations are embrac ed by people, and the inevitability of death and loss of everything that is capable of reproduction and beauty. Although his poetry is beautiful, his ideas are somewhat tragic.

Free Essays on Weapons Of World War II

"World War II, the most mechanized war in history, was fought with a profusion of complex, formidable weapons which radically affected the course of events in our century. It is nearly impossible to understand the war-to read its history or the memoirs of it participants, or even to watch documentary films about it-without some knowledge of the terrible machines with which it was fought" (Kirk and Young, Preface). Many new small arms were developed during World War II, the most notable being the new improvements on the machine gun. Both Axis and Allies developed scores of new weapons to meet an ever-growing demand. In World War I, it had been shown that heavy machine guns could be successful against tanks; however, "by 1939 most tank armor had become thick enough the be proof against even the largest machine guns (the firing bullets approximately a half inch in diameter) and a majority of the great powers lost interest in the big guns" (Kirk and Young, 292). The major exception to this was the United States. American soldiers used the heavy Browning .50 caliber M2 in almost every aspect of fighting. The Army used the M2 primarily as a defensive weapon of its infantry forces. The armor divisions used it as a second armament in many combat vehicles. Army and Navy Air Forces (the U.S. Air Force had not been formed yet) used the M2 almost to the exclusion of all other machine gun. All forces used the M2 as a light anti-aircraft weapon. All told, about two million M2's were produced during the war (292). The U.S did not just like big guns: there were very convincing arguments to the superiority of the M2. It had many of the good points of smaller caliber arms, plus great range, accuracy, and the incredible stopping power of its big bullets. The M2 was belt-fed, "cycled at about 450 round per minute, had a maximum range of 7, 200 yards, and had a muzzle velocity of 2, 660 feet-per-second" (292). The British counterpart of... Free Essays on Weapons Of World War II Free Essays on Weapons Of World War II "World War II, the most mechanized war in history, was fought with a profusion of complex, formidable weapons which radically affected the course of events in our century. It is nearly impossible to understand the war-to read its history or the memoirs of it participants, or even to watch documentary films about it-without some knowledge of the terrible machines with which it was fought" (Kirk and Young, Preface). Many new small arms were developed during World War II, the most notable being the new improvements on the machine gun. Both Axis and Allies developed scores of new weapons to meet an ever-growing demand. In World War I, it had been shown that heavy machine guns could be successful against tanks; however, "by 1939 most tank armor had become thick enough the be proof against even the largest machine guns (the firing bullets approximately a half inch in diameter) and a majority of the great powers lost interest in the big guns" (Kirk and Young, 292). The major exception to this was the United States. American soldiers used the heavy Browning .50 caliber M2 in almost every aspect of fighting. The Army used the M2 primarily as a defensive weapon of its infantry forces. The armor divisions used it as a second armament in many combat vehicles. Army and Navy Air Forces (the U.S. Air Force had not been formed yet) used the M2 almost to the exclusion of all other machine gun. All forces used the M2 as a light anti-aircraft weapon. All told, about two million M2's were produced during the war (292). The U.S did not just like big guns: there were very convincing arguments to the superiority of the M2. It had many of the good points of smaller caliber arms, plus great range, accuracy, and the incredible stopping power of its big bullets. The M2 was belt-fed, "cycled at about 450 round per minute, had a maximum range of 7, 200 yards, and had a muzzle velocity of 2, 660 feet-per-second" (292). The British counterpart of...

Hydrolysis of Starch Essays

Hydrolysis of Starch Essays Hydrolysis of Starch Essay Hydrolysis of Starch Essay Hypothesis: Temperature change (positive) will almost certainly have the effect of catalysing the starch which is being catalysed by the amylase solution, meaning it will speed up the entire reaction which is already being catalysed. Enzyme activity will be profusely affected whatever the temperature change is. Science Reasoning For Hypothesis: Proteins have biological catalysts (a substance which speeds up the reaction without becoming part of the product). They are called enzymes which when binding to the reactants of the reaction theyre catalysing, cause the amount of activation energy to decrease, causing the reactions speed to increase. A large activation energy amounts to a slower reaction because the substrate needs to surpass the initial activation energy, so a lower one will result in a faster reaction. An enzyme and a product are left at the end of a chemical reaction with a substrate and reactant. Interactions between enzymes and substrates are noticeably weak, so a large surface area is usually required, this is to increase the chances of reactions. Metabolic reactions are also catalysed by enzymes such as respiration and digestion (of foods) theyre also receptors and membrane pumps amongst many other proteins (every single metabolic reaction). Amylase is a globular protein as all enzymes are, the active site being where the reaction takes place. The reaction rate will almost always increase at optimum temperature but only up to the optimum temperature, which is in exact proportion to the temperature rise. This is because both the substrate and enzyme molecules in any particular reaction have more kinetic energy, therefore the particles have a higher chance of actually colliding with one another (so reaction speed increases). The Substrate molecule is held in position by amino acids which occupy the a certain space in the active site this occurs whilst the reaction is in progress. Any other molecules simply wont fit into the active site the enzymes specific purpose is for one sole reaction molecules of a different shape simply wont connect to the active site. The enzyme will then speed up the reaction on its surface, the product is then released. All chemical changes cause a product to be formed from a substrate. In humans [most] the enzymes will be at the optimal temperature when the bodys heat is regulated to approximately 40C ( fourty Degrees Celsius ), where the usually temperature is somewhere around 37C. Hydrogen bonds are broken down by thermal energy the secondary structure and tertiary structure of the enzymes are held together by hydrogen bonding, the active site can no longer have a substrate bound to it because of the disfigurement of the active site. This regulation of 37C acts as a kind of safety mechanism because minimal changes above 40c (optimum level) causes denture of the enzymes an irreversible damage ( at high C) which will stop them from working properly, if not then altogether. The optimum pH for enzymes is 7 any change to this and damage can also be done to enzymes, the charge will change so the hydrogen and amino acid bonds will disconnect. Method: Switch on the colorimeter to warm up, secondly to carry out serial dilutions to make starch solution with a range of concentrations: Ill take 12 boiling tubes, and in one tube measure 10cm3 of 0.5% starch solution, in test tube two 10 centimetres of the 0.5% starch solution and add 10cm3 water and mix. In tube 3 measure 10cm3 solution from tube 2 and mix with cm3 of water, in tube 4 measure 10cm3 of solution from tube 3 and mix with 10cm3 of water and so one. With tube 12 Ill discard 10cm3 of water, I should then have 10cm3 in each tube. Ill make up twelve colorimeter tubes of dilute iodine. Ill draw up 4cm3 in a 10cm3 to proceed with the enzyme reaction (using a pipette / syringe). One cm3 of amylase will be draw upinto the same syringe plus 2cm3 air, Ill mix by means of inversion and then start my stop clock and put 2 drops of the reaction mixture in the first indention tile. Hopefully the iodine will turn blue. Every 30 seconds this process will be repeated, if my reaction is finished, (after placing starch to the iodine in subsequent solutions in the indentation tile ), the enzyme will be diluted after eight minutes. Three and four (of the above) will be repeated for the other starch solutions, the frequency sample will be increased if the reaction fishes quickly, need to keep reaction mixture throughout. Will plot a graph of substrate concentration against time to complete the overall reaction, and a second graph will be plotted against the rate of reaction. A standard curve needs to be plotted which is a graph of concentration percentage against absorbency, this will be before the experiment has started. Temperature will be the independent variable in my experiment, five of the temperatures will test the effectiveness of the reaction. One of the fixed variables will be reaction volume. The dependant variable are the substrates and enzyme concentrations. A list of these will be made for each experiment. Prediction: I predict that product yield will be highest when the temperature is between 37 and 40c due to these being the near optimum and optimum temperatures for the enzymes and substrates to react with one other (as explained above). Risk Assessment: Laboratory safety garments, glasses and plastic gloves must be worn at all times during the experiment due to the [very] harmful chemicals involved (such as iodine, an irritant).Any physical damage done to myself or anyone participating in this experiment should be attended to by medical personal The breaking of certain glass objects may occur this should be cleared up with a dust pan and brush or whatever is available for this type of action. Apparatus list: Equipment Ill be using in this experiments as follows: Graduated glass pipette or [secondary choice] syringe possibly: Because in my preliminary experiments the syringes were not accurate enough, which meant it was difficulty to measure the solution properly. Boiling tubes which sufficient enough to carry out experiment properly. Heated water bath: The temperature should stay at a regular level when using the water bath. Thermometers will be put in the boiling tube with the substrates and enzymes. This is a precaution to make sure the water bath is working adequately, the temperature must be regulated. An indention tile to place the starch solution on. A stop-clock will be needed to time the experiment. Colorimeter tubes are tubes that fit inside the colorimeter with some liquid inside them. Colorimeter: A colorimeter measures the light absorbed by a coloured/cloudy solution. This is known as absorbency and is shown in arbitrary units. The colorimeter measures the light that is transmitted through a solution. This is known as transmission and is expressed in a percentage form. A colorimeter works using light rays from a tungsten bulb. A filter is put between the sample and the light source. For this experiment I will be using a red filter, as my solution is blue. This filters out certain colour densities.