Cultural Tensions in 1950s Hollywood Film Essay

Cultural Tensions in 1950s Hollywood Film - Essay Example As America emerged from the darkest days of the â€Å"Red Scare†, which saw the Hollywood film community intimidated by politicians, it was considered risky at best to undertake a thoughtful and soul-searching study of American political institutions and society. It is the thesis of this essay that Twelve Angry Men uses the instruments of American government and culture to effectively combat just these prejudices and bigotries. The film zeroes in on the New York of the 1950’s, the scene of a massive influx of Puerto Rican immigration in the years since the Second World War ended. There was considerable backlash by older immigrant stock both resentful and fearful of the newcomers. This tendency is frequently found today in soft areas of cultural intrusion and the perception of threat—whether real or imaginary—by the â€Å"invaders.† Such borderline xenophobia is of course not confined to America in that decade, but it seemed to present a crisis at th e local level at that time. It is into this setting that Twelve Angry Men is embedded. A Puerto Rican youth is accused of patricide in the stabbing death of his father, and it is his misfortune to come before a jury of largely apathetic or overtly racist men to hear the case. The film uses the sterilised laboratory of the American courtroom and jury deliberation room in the relentless search for objectivity and ultimate truth. Since this is a capital murder case, it is also a life or death decision for the defendant, the death penalty then being the punishment for the guilty. Whilst this would seem to demand the utmost care and commitment of the men on the panel, in fact the opposite happens. They range from the apathetic and even jovial to annoyance and boredom at the proceedings. Thus, there is also a subordinated theme of indifference to this highest of civic duties. Into this vacuum steps Davis, a man who seems to take his duties seriously. Disturbed at what he interpreted as a weak defence for the accused, he is the sole holdout as the poll goes around the room, voting â€Å"not guilty†. The other panelists have already determined the young man’s guilt, but Davis wants to â€Å"talk†; that is, he wants to open a dialogue box to try to find the truth. In this, he is after all only discharging his constitutional obligation to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. After this first polling, he gradually wins over one by one his fellow panelists, but it is not easy. Davis does not pretend to have all the answers, only probing questions to find the truth in the shadow of prejudice. In perhaps the most trenchant bit of dialogue in the script, Davis confronts the most blatantly bigoted member of the group after eyewitness testimony by a Puerto Rican woman throws some doubt on the deliberations. â€Å"She’s one of them, isn’t she?† he demands of the bigot. â€Å"You’re a pretty smart fella, aren’t you?à ¢â‚¬  the man replies, and then mutters to the others, â€Å"what’s he getting so smart about?† Possibly for the first time in his life, he has had his thought processes stimulated by a stranger. Soon, he changes his verdict as well. But Davis is far from arrogant in his search for objective truth. In another memorable scene in the water closet, another man confronts Davis and plants the seed of doubt in his mind. â€Å"How do you know the kid didn’t really knife his father?†

Cando processes of globalization help alleviate poverty Essay

Cando processes of globalization help alleviate poverty - Essay Example (Aart, 2005) There are also sources that use "modernization" as a synonym for globalization, and it is sometimes subsumed under "liberalization," "Neoliberalism," and "post-modernism." Globalization may be seen as a structure, a process, an ideology, or a combination of these. Proponents of globalization see it as, "A force which is beneficial to all, individuals and states, in all parts of the world" (George& Wilding, 2002). Opponents of globalization see it "as of benefit to the upper groups in society, to the multinational companies and the affluent world; and as detrimental to the satisfaction of public needs," and as a "force for the perpetuation and accentuation of inequalities within and between groups of countries for the benefit of multinationals and the upper classes. Its constant emphasis on increased competitiveness involves a race to the bottom". A number of factors have led to the process called "globalization." As large corporations began diversifying their products and services by buying up smaller enterprises-usually for stock market, income tax or other financial benefits-they became conglomerates. By then merging with similar-often-overseas-conglomerates, they became huge international entities known as MNCs (Multinational Corporations). The economic breakdown of the Soviet Union gave further impetus to globalization as many foreign firms hurried to establish units in so-called economies in transition. Free trade agreements of various kinds further supported this process. MNCs now account for between a quarter and a third of the world's output, 70 percent of world trade and 80 percent of direct international investment. Perhaps more importantly, international financial institutions, including aid agencies, put conditions on their aid or loans. The World Bank, for example, plays its part by demanding open trade channels as a condition for financial help. Even the partial integration of Europe and the introduction of the Euro made business across former boundaries easier, and consequently, "MNCs are increasingly organizing production and service provisions on an international basis" (Held & McGrew, 2003). The International Monetary Fund strongly advocates less or no government intervention in the economy, but its preconditions for loans have grown from about a dozen to over eighty, thus dictating the economic policies of countries vulnerable to its restrictions. The activities of international banks and aid programs like the IMF, the World Trade Organization and World Bank are not without immediate consequences for working people, and particularly for the poor. The role and activities of some of these organizations are worth quoting: The World Trade Organization was designed as a meeting place where willing nations could sit in equality and negotiate rules of trade for their mutual advantage, in the service of sustainable international development.

THERE ARE 5 KEY CONTINGENCIES. TO WHAT EXTENT CAN MANAGERS IGNORE OR Essay

THERE ARE 5 KEY CONTINGENCIES. TO WHAT EXTENT CAN MANAGERS IGNORE OR MEDIATE THESE CONTEXTUAL FACTORS UNDER WHAT GENERAL CONDITIONS MIGHT MANAGERS BE FORCED TO RESPOND TO THESE FACTORS - Essay Example The imperatives of the fast changing perspectives in managerial leadership within an organization have become vital to its impact on the performance outcome of the employees and organization, as a whole. Hitherto, managerial leadership or managers were solely responsible to achieving the targeted production and efficient administration through a well defined rational analysis, planning and decision making which distinctly lacked consideration and importance of human interaction in the organizational culture. Today the equation seems to have changed and ‘we approach managerial leadership as a relational, ongoing social construction process rather than as a single clear cut phenomenon’ (Sjostrand and Tyrstrup, 2001). The various aspects of the interactive elements of the organization, work together to produce a cohesive, output representing the organizations unique objectives and goals. The different contextual factors vis-Ã  -vis size, technology, environment, diversification and globalization are vital elements that have significant impact on the managerial decision making. Organisation’s performance outcome is directly related with the size of its workforce that may be working within well defined parameters of organizational structure. The stratified but focused division of labour within the organization is an intrinsic part of management strategy to achieve the organisation’s goals and objectives. The strategy of the managerial leadership to transform the workforce into human capital is being accepted as an inherent part of organisational culture. The changing socio-economic environment made it necessary that more consideration be paid to socio-cultural and political environment so that the requirements of the people became the focal point in the development of strategy. McGregor has been emphatic that proactive participation of the workforce in the decision making is imperative for

Frankenstein Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 7

Frankenstein - Essay Example The description is vague simply because Victor does not want to people to know the where about of the creature due to fear of humanitarian principals that’s why he fears the destructive nature of the creature even though he feels sympathy for the creature. Henry and victor in the book are friends who come together to pursue their dream in creating life. Although they contrast exist among them Victor his more of the old school and the genius behind creating life while Henry s still young and more concerned with real life situation. Justine was implicated in the murder of William by the creature after implanting locket from William’s throat into the pocket of Justine while she slept. Justine confesses swearing die before Elizabeth. The creature is supernatural horror straight from our nightmares. He is massive, powerful, and extremely intelligent. He can survive harsh weather especially cold, can watch people without them suspecting, and even puts the locket in Justines pocket while she is distracted. This is completely different from our modern view of Frankensteins creature who is a lumbering, groaning idiot. Victor believes he will be killed on his wedding night. We, the reader, never believe he is the one who will be killed. This is a use of dramatic irony, where the character is not aware of something the audience

Professional Development PD Plan Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Professional Development PD Plan - Assignment Example The researcher will begin with the statement that he chose the career of a project manager where his professional development plan proved out to be very helpful. The role of the project manager is different from a functional manager. It is not effective only to apply best practices, skills, and knowledge to project management. Rather, project manager requires having certain managerial and interpersonal abilities to pursue a project successfully. Having a positive attitude towards others and mutual respect for each other are essential features of professionalism. Being project manager, being professional is very important. The author is given a specified time and amount to spend on a project. At a time, there are a number of projects to be dealt with. Professionalism requires careful handling and management of all the projects taking care of the cost and time. The researcher has to make a list of all the tasks at hand. Make sure that every project is going on schedule. When he has to procure resources or delegate responsibly, he does it in an authoritative and professional way keeping my emotional self away from the self at a job. In meetings, the author has to reach before time and if in some cases he has to reach late, he informs the attendants beforehand to avoid inconvenience. The author believes the sense of responsibility and timeliness of project manager is very important because all the people working under me will copy me and become irresponsible if the boss is irresponsible.... I had to work for longer than working hours, keep track of all the activities of workers and I had to be patient in handling them. Sometimes the work needed to be done from scratch again; it required my lot of stamina and patience. Being a successful project manager not only requires the depth of skills of project management, but also managerial capabilities and people management skills. I had to assign different projects to different workers; I had to keep this thing in mind that which worker is good at what? I did not assign projects randomly, rather I had to keep this thing in mind that efficiency can be maximized in a team if members’ strengths and weaknesses are complemented by each other. If a worker is good at recordkeeping, I will assign the transactional work to him rather than giving the actual construction work and ending up with a faulty structure. Working professionally requires to be good at communication skills, to manage time effectively and to take notes of th e critical points. Part 2 My PD plan was very useful in my self-analysis and I got a chance to explore my strengths and weaknesses. The weaknesses identified through PD plans were very critical and needed to be improved to become successful project manager. I tried my best to improve my skills and be a responsible project manager by utilizing my potential and capitalizing on my strengths. It was not an easy task I had to work really hard for improvement. As a result of my PD plan, I found out that my communication skills were not effective. I needed to increase my listening capability and make myself able to convince others by explaining my ideas. It was my week area which I got to know as a result of my

Frankenstein Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 7

Frankenstein - Essay Example The description is vague simply because Victor does not want to people to know the where about of the creature due to fear of humanitarian principals that’s why he fears the destructive nature of the creature even though he feels sympathy for the creature. Henry and victor in the book are friends who come together to pursue their dream in creating life. Although they contrast exist among them Victor his more of the old school and the genius behind creating life while Henry s still young and more concerned with real life situation. Justine was implicated in the murder of William by the creature after implanting locket from William’s throat into the pocket of Justine while she slept. Justine confesses swearing die before Elizabeth. The creature is supernatural horror straight from our nightmares. He is massive, powerful, and extremely intelligent. He can survive harsh weather especially cold, can watch people without them suspecting, and even puts the locket in Justines pocket while she is distracted. This is completely different from our modern view of Frankensteins creature who is a lumbering, groaning idiot. Victor believes he will be killed on his wedding night. We, the reader, never believe he is the one who will be killed. This is a use of dramatic irony, where the character is not aware of something the audience

The American period Of Colonization Essay Example for Free

The American period Of Colonization Essay Flora;Aguinaldo’s Forces continued its attempts to capture Manila from the Spaniards. Throughout this time, American Leaders Forged an agreement with the Spaniards that the Americans latter will surrender to the Americans . The two conspired that a mock battle of Manila Bay will be staged to save the honor of the Spanish crown. This plan was aided by Aguinaldo’s permission to the American request to clear the pasay and Baclaran trenches to avoid any casualty in case of a fight On August 13, 1898, the American started to attack the Spanish fleet. American troops started occupying Intramuros .Though the Filipino soldiers still thought of the Americans as their ally, With the capture of Manila by the Americans, the Filipinos came to realize that the Americans were not their ally. Instead, they were the new enemies. Jascha:The Treaty of Paris On Dec. 10, 1898 the treaty of Paris was signed between Spain and the United States. Under this Treaty, Spain ceded the formally ceded the Phil. To the United States. The ff. were among its important provisions . 1. Spain will cede the Phil. Puerto Rico and Guam to the United states 2. Spain will cease its governace of the Phil. And Cuba. 3. The United States will pa Spain a sum of $20,000,000. 4. The United States will decide on civil and political rights of the territories won from Spain. Philippine–American War known as the Philippine War of Independence was an armed military conflict between the Philippines and the United States, which is formed on Jan. 23, 1899 at Malolos, Bulacan. The war was a continuation of the Philippine struggle for independence, following the Philippine Revolution, led by Emilio Aguinaldo and the Spanish-American War. Jasteen:The Filipinos realized the true motive of the Americans in coming to the Phil., to annex the Phil. To United States. The conflict began on the night of February 4, 1899 when a Filipino soldier was shot by an American soldier, William W. Grayson (an English immigrant who acquired U.S. citizenship in ). San Juan Bridge in modern San Juan City, Metro Manila was considered the site of the event. When Aguinaldo, who was in Malolos then, heard about this, he asked for the cessation of hostilities. According to him, the attacks were not ordered from him .Aguinaldo also ordered and investigation of the incident. Flora:Despite Aguinaldo’s attempt evade a full-scale war, the Americans went ahead with the hostilities. Aguinaldo, and has no other choice but to declare war against the Americans. The encounters between the Filipinos and the Americans spread in the different parts of the country. Battles began however the Filipinos failed. On march 31, 1899 the capital of the first republic ,fell into the hands of the Americans. Aguinaldo was forced to leave Malolos. He went to San Fernando, Pampanga where he was transferred the country,s capital. Although the Filipinos lack of arms and weapons, the Filipinos continued the fight however failed and provinces and cities fell into American hands. Jascha:Military Leaders of the Republic of the Phil. Were forced to surrender. Felipe Buencamino ,Sr. General Fernando Canor of Nueva Ecija and Colonel Tirona of Cagayan surrendered in Dec. 1899 they were soon followed by Pedro Paterno the president of the Malolos Congress, Paciano rizal ,Maximo Hizon and Others were among those who were exiled in Guam. Lyquel:The escape of Aguinaldo Aguinaldo managed to elude the Americans. And later moved to Palanan ,Isabela where Aguinaldo established his main headquarters. It was General Gregorio del Pilar who volunteered to block the Americans’ pursuit of General Aguinaldo ,General Gregorio del Pilar waited for the Americans on Dec 2, 1899 at Tirad Pass in Ilocos Sur with 60 filipino soldiers. When they saw the Americans Aproaching they began to shoot An exchange of shots took place. At the stat American soldiers encountered difficulty since they don’t know where the is the location of the Filipino soldiers . Jasteen:Unfortuneately, Jaunario Galut, a Christian Igorot, revealed to the Americans a secret passage that would enable the latter to surround the Filipino soldiers .General del Pilar and the Filipinos fought valiantly but were defeated because of Jaunario Galut’s treachery. Most of them died including del Pilar ,the very few who escaped brought the sad news to Aguinaldo. Flora:Aguinaldo’s Arrest On January 8,1901 Cecilio Seguismundo, Aguinaldo’s messenger, was arrested by Gen. Frederick Funston in Nueva ecija. With Sequismundo was document contaning orders from Aguinaldo to send troops to Palanan. General Funston and his scout companions left Manila Bay on March 6, 1901. with them were and English and Taglaog interpreter and four taglaogs. Jascha:March 23 they reached Panlanan. The Taglogs pretended to be filipno soldiers . Funston and his men entered Aguinaldo’s camp and fired ate the guards they then arrested aguinaldo in the name of the American government. President Aguinaldo was brought to Manila and was made to take his oath of alleagiance to the United States. Questions 1.Jaunario Galut a Christian Igorot, revealed to the Americans a secret passage that would enable the latter to surround the Filipino soldiers 1. January 8,1901 Cecilio Seguismundo, Aguinaldo’s messenger, was arrested by Gen. Frederick Funston in Nueva ecija 2. General Gregorio del Pilar who volunteered to block the Americans’ pursuit of General Aguinaldo 3. The conflict began on the night of February 4, 1899 when a Filipino soldier was shot by an American soldier, William W. Grayson 4. August 13, 1898, the American started to attack the Spanish fleet 5. march 31, 1899 the capital of the first republic ,fell into the hands of the Americans 6. Dec. 10, 1898 the treaty of Paris was signed between Spain and the United States 7.Americans on Dec 2, 1899 at Tirad Pass in Ilocos Sur with 60 filipino soldiers. 8.General Funston and his scout companions left Manila Bay on March 6, 1901 9. William W. Grayson an English immigrant who acquired U.S. citizenship in .