Abstract
This paper explores the ways that character and narrative interact to create meaning in the movie "American Beauty" .

From the Paper
"The proclamation of imminent death - "In less than a year, I will be dead" - in the opening narration establishes a curious and unconventional equilibrium. It is from the main character Lester's point of view that the audience is introduced to his wife Carolyn and daughter Jane, who both, according to Lester, hate him. Carolyn is first seen in "gardening clogs" with matching pruning sheers, cutting roses. This picture of domestic happiness is starkly contrasted by Lester's acid remarks about his wife ("She wasn't always like this"). His daughter Jane is first shown in her room, at her computer, closed off from the activities of her parents. This disjointed family system is the equilibrium that the film begins with, and is acknowledged by Lester as having been so for several years. Being off-balanced at the outset, the establishment of disequilibrium as the narrative progresses introduces a further familial dysfunction as the family structure begins to dissolve, further."

Tags:character, development, film, media, narrative, structure, studies

Abstract
This paper examines how although times have changed in between Jane Austen's novel "Emma" (1816) and Amy Heckerling's film "Clueless" (1995), the vales of humanity remain the same. It looks at how what has changed with the times is the attitude society has taken such values as tolerance and relationships and shows how through examination of these two main values, both composers use satire to criticize the society they live in.

From the Paper
"Before the values of humanity and the composers are addressed, the way in which times have changed must first be examined. Jane Austen wrote her novel in a time of social upheaval and revolution from the Napoleonic wars and the French revolution as well as the examining of values during the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment values rationalism and empiricism, direct emotion and removal of obstacles to correct and clarify understanding. These are the values of civic humanism, which means active and patriotic citizenship as well as an ethos and educational ideal."

Tags:satire, enlightenment, knightely

Abstract
This paper examines how a characteristic common to both novels and films is the spectacularly gripping battle that takes place between good and evil. It looks at how the protagonists of both stories struggle with a powerful, superhuman embodiment of evil - Voldemort in "Harry Potter", and Sauron in "The Lord of the Rings". It also looks at how juxtaposed against these hateful figures are characters possessing magical or mystical powers who command the fight for virtue and justice - exemplified in Dumbledore and Gandalf. Betwixt these two polar opposites are Harry and Frodo -the symbolic heroes, who, even though they fight determinedly against evil, still discover that they are connected to or tempted by the evil figure they are opposing.

From the Paper
"The stifling, materialistic world of the Dursley's, Harry's foster parents in Privet Drive, Little Whinging, and the pettiness and relative inconsequence of life for the Hobbits in the Shire both represent the ordinary world of the middle class. One of the contemporary dissatisfactions to which both stories respond is the general boredom with modern bourgeois existence. The escapism these stories provide is a remedy for the routine that is the curse of secure, stagnant middle-class life. In particular, Harry's repulsion towards the Dursley's provides an exceptionally adverse view of modern bourgeois life. It is this essentially cramped existence that Harry is keenest to escape, made manifest in the tiny dimensions of his cupboard under the stairs turned bedroom. "

Tags:hobbit, medievalism, witch, wizard, dumbledore, gandalf, voldemort

Abstract
A discussion on how meaning is enacted or re-created when a text is performed or adapted for a performance. A written comparison of a print text with the text's adaptation into film.

From the Paper
"Cormac McCarthy's novel "All the Pretty Horses" examines in fine detail the maturing of a sixteen-year-old boy, John Grady Cole, as he travels through the scorched landscape of Mexico. Grady's quest to uphold the romantic ideals of "the Wild West" is beautifully illustrated through McCarthy's attention to detail in his writing. When comparing the delicacy McCarthy has taken to articulate his ideas, with Bill Bob Thornton's film representation of the same title, one can only feel utmost disappointed."

Tags:film, movie, novel, literture

Abstract
The group development process contains five different stages of a group's life. Each step involves activities directed both at performing the task and dealing with the interpersonal interactions within the group needed to accomplish the task. The paper shows that an effective group deals with the challenges and issues of each stage and then moves to the next stage. The paper examines the movie "Office Space" and shows how it can be used to accurately illustrate each stage in a group's development.

From the Paper
"The third stage is called coordination of group behaviors, also known as norming (19). An open exchange of pertinent information occurs. Group members acknowledge that varying responses to the task are legitimate. This is often the most time consuming stage because time needed to collect data and resolve disagreements. Members usually resolve disagreements by open conversation of relevant information and opinions and start acting as a cohesive group. Scenes from the movie that illustrate norming are when the group is sitting around the table and have all agreed to go ahead with the plan (Kiros 51). Zahir was the one group member who was the least committed and had the most doubt about the task. He was easily convinced by Peter telling him that prison is not that bad and there is no way that the company will be able to find out about their laundering anyway."

Tags:Peter, Gibbons, Innotek, Zahir

Abstract
This paper analyzes this romantic comedy which centers on a young Greek-American woman's trials and tribulations when she falls in love with a non-Greek and struggles to get her family to accept her fiance while she herself comes to terms with her heritage and cultural identity. The paper examines the main characters and how they develop throughout the movie.

From the Paper
"The central female character, Toula Portakalos falls in love with Ian, and finds herself caught between her love for him, and pleasing her father, Gus who believes Toula should "marry a Greek boy, make Greek babies, feed everyone" (Harvey, 2002). Both male characters are pivotal to the development of the story and in the end, Toula's growth and acceptance of her cultural heritage (and family's overbearing traits). She is able to take what she has been taught by her father, and re-learns from an "outside" point of view of Ian what it means to be a Greek-American."

Tags:marriage, culture, fiance

Abstract
This paper looks at the various elements of the film "The Player" by Robert Altman and their thematic effects on shaping viewer response. The paper analyzes the plot, characterization, acting, camera angles, mise en scene and cinematography of the film in great depth.

From the Paper
"The 1992 film The Player written by Michael Tolkin and directed by Robert Altman, satirizes the filmmaking industry of Hollywood, whilst criticizing the industries corruption. The film constantly alludes to earlier Hollywood films and comments on the practices of Hollywood film studios. The film utilizes the scope of film medium to simultaneously create meaning and entertain the viewer."

Tags:art, cinematography, criticism, filmic, movie, theatre

Abstract
This essay outlines the way in which popular representations of sexuality (i.e., masculinity) must reproduce a specific kind of 'normal' in order to appeal to the masses. It establishes the definitions and 'appearance' of the differing types of masculinity, highlighting the nature of these as social constructs, but also the continual need and perpetuation of such constructs as natural or 'fact'. The essay highlights, through the use of two modern representations, the movie, "The Siege", and the series, "Ally McBeal", the way in which differing masculinities are unconsciously propagated in modern culture. NOTE: Hilarious use of Ally McBeal material, dialogue included in appendix.

From the Paper
"The mass media is produced and consumed in a commercial context. To reap the most financial gain it is therefore imperative that the material to be consumed is comprehensible for the intended audience. The more comprehensible and recognizable the material, the higher chances of consumption and subsequently, profit. This often means that representations of masculinity will continually reproduce the established conventions of masculine behavior and norms (Bignell 1997:196). As a result, hegemonic masculinity, which can be defined as the dominant masculinity performed at any given time, is continually reinforced as dominant and therefore reasserted as normative in society (Cheng 1999:297-301). Subsequently, marginalized masculinities, which are perceived as lacking in relation to the supremacy of hegemonic masculinity, are continually presented as subordinate and therefore remain oppressed (Buchbinder 1994: 33). In the following examination of masculine representations, two dramatizations have been analyzed for the extent to which their characters reproduce or challenge conventional masculine behavior and norms."

Tags:ally, construct, dominant, domination, film, gender, hegemonic, male, mcbeal, representation, social

Abstract
This paper reviews and analyzes the 2001 film "Black Hawk Down," which was directed by Ridley Scott. By outlining, in chronological order, 10 ethical decisions made by U.S. military personnel in the movie, the paper argues that ethical decision making is both ambiguous and subjective. The paper delves into each of the 10 ethical decisions. For example, the paper discusses the scene of an American soldier manning a machine gun atop a Humvee. The soldier is being shot at, and he can either shoot back or not shoot back; he chooses the latter. Next, the paper asserts that these decisions can be validly argued to be both good and bad, depending on the individual's perspective and ethical beliefs. The paper concludes that it was proven that good ethical decision-making is not a concrete science, but perhaps more of an art form, full of gray areas.

From the Paper
"This serious ethical decision can be argued to have been a good one. A Hedonist could argue that while the Somali would be quite unhappy with being shot, the two soldiers would be happy that they don't have to worry about the threat of that individual Somali. As this was the decision that meant the maximum happiness for the maximum amount of people, this decision was a good one according to the hedonist argument. Believers in preventative attacks could argue that the soldiers conducted a preventative attack on the suspicious Somali as he was holding a weapon and running on a battlefield, and hence the decision to fire was a good one. It could also be argues that the circumstances were extreme in that the soldiers were alone and surrounded by hostile Somalis. In this case, extreme tactics must be employed in order to stay alive. Hence, by this argument, the soldier made a good ethical decision."

Tags:philosophy, military, ethics, rules, engagement

Abstract
A discussion of the non-linear film "Memento" in terms of narrative continuity and rupture. It looks at film technques and the thematic effect of the films unconventional narrative. The paper explores the film noir elements used and philosophical and psychological issues in terms of the films structure and themes.

From the Paper
"Christopher Nolan's Memento, described as a neo-noir revenge film uses a rather unconventional non-linear narrative structure to achieve thematic effect. Protagonist Leonard Shelby (Guy Pearce) suffers from a memory problem, limiting his short term memories to only a few minutes; the narrative structure attempts to put us within Leonard's world by creating a reverse chronological order of events, starting with the killing of Teddy, and moving backwards from there. There are also, in contrast the chronological black and white scenes. Through the "rupture" of the narrative into a series of non-chronological scenes, making meaning and continuity rests on the readers fabula - "the viewer's or reader's mental reconstruction of the narrative's nonchronological arrangement of events into chronological order" . Memento in this sense "demands constant attention from its spectators." , with the movie hinging on the viewer's ability to make continuity from rupture. This narrative structure works to great thematic effect, emphasising the conventional noir elements, mirroring the alienation and disorientation of Leonard, and exploring philosophical and psychoanalytical themes."

Tags:filmic, movie, movies, noir, techniques