Chariots of Fire Essay

Answer: In the film Chariots of Fire, Directed by Hugh Hudson, two major film techniques which have been used are slow motion and close up shots. These Production techniques reinforce the character and feelings of Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams as they prepare and run in the 1924 Paris Olympic Games. The Close Up shots give us an insight into Eric’s Character and reactions, specifically when he makes the decision not to run on the Sabbath. Slow motion tells us of the nervousness and loneliness of Harold as he waits for the races to start, and communicates the feeling of tension to the viewers . The film techniques in Chariots of Fire enhance the characters personalities and form a link with the theme and major events in the story line. Close up shots are used in Chariots of Fire to portray the honesty and integrity of Eric Liddell, â€Å"the Flying Scotsman†, and his personality and approach to the Olympic Games. When Eric arrived in Paris he was confronted with the problem of running his 100m heats on the Sabbath. Eric decides that he won’t run on the Sabbath because, â€Å"the Sabbath is Gods and I for one intend to keep it that way†, â€Å"I won’t run and that’s final†. The close up shots showed us Eric’s reactions and emotions which exposed how Eric was a transparent character whose life was governed by faith, honesty and loyalty to God. Hugh Hudson has used slow motion during the Olympic races to portray the honesty and integrity of Harold Abraham and Eric Liddell. The slow motion technique is also used to portray the loneliness and solitary feeling before races. At the start of Harold’s race it shows his determination to win, â€Å"If I can’t win, I won’t run†. Harold was a Jew and was determined to prove that he could run, it was his weapon against the rising of Anti-Semitism before World War Two. The slow motion in Eric’s race shows the viewers the different style of running he has and how each movement counts towards the final victory. Eric said â€Å"God made me fast, and when I run I feel his pleasure†; the slow motion shows how he loves running, but reminds us of his firm faith and trust in God which will never be severed. Slow motion shots showed me the feelings of the runners during their races and deepened the sense of nervousness, but determination to run the race to victory in both of the main characters. The two production techniques close up shots and slow motion, enhance the link between the characters and the theme of faith and endurance, the understanding of character feelings and determination made the film worthwhile because you can sense the tenseness of the character and their yearning for victory as the both had â€Å"something personal to prove†. The production techniques helped me to understand the characters faith and the strength of their faith which governed their lives, never to decrease but continually increase and inspire others to run a straight race morally, have ambition and determination, this theme is especially prominent as we are shown how Eric’s faith in God was his strength when running and pathway to victory. Two major production techniques in Chariots of Fire, used by Hugh Hudson were close up and slow motion, these two techniques enhanced my understanding of the main characters, Eric Liddell and Harold Abrahams. The techniques portrayed character feelings, formation and the result of crucial decision making. This film is worthwhile to watch because not only because of the way the director has used techniques to make it easier to understand the lives of the two Olympic heroes and inspire future generations, but to get an insight of how these two runners achieved their goal and their personal reasons for pursuing victory.

CASE STUDY Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 5

Case Study Example By exhaustive rendering of customers’ conscious and unconscious patterns into data sets and algorithms, Target has revolutionized what it knows about its customers, therefore, how precisely it can sell. (Duhigg, 2012). Thus, it is clear that by collecting purchasing data, Target studies consumers’ purchasing behavior and thereby is coming up with effective marketing strategies to entice customers optimally. One of the key insights that emerged was consumers would be ready to experience bad things, if they knew they can buy a product that can solve or lessen that bad experience. This insight could be understood as a result of the ethnographic research done by the market research company Housecalls for the over-the-counter antacid Maalox. When makers of Maalox wanted to know how people with chronic heartburn became loyal to its product, the Housecall after doing an in-depth study came to the conclusion that its target customers â€Å"love their food more than they hate their heartburn.† (Osborne, 2002). The other key insight that emerged was the target customers of companies, which offer retirement plans, could focus on how those plans could positively impact their lifestyle, more than the money they may get in their post-retirement phase. Using this insight that came out of an ethnographic research, the company Wells Fargo designed its retirement planning site to include the vari ous life stages used in the â€Å"ethnographic research to convey the message we meet you where you are† and provide relevant guidance instead of â€Å"producing numbers-dense material filled with endless financial projections.† (Cayla, Beers & Arnould,

The Downfall of the Tokugawa Shogunate Thesis Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6500 words

The Downfall of the Tokugawa Shogunate - Thesis Example Shogun had decided to close Japan to the West. However, forced by various situations, Tokugawa Shogun was pushed to terminate the directive and open Japan to the West. This was a definite sign that Shogun was irresolute.2 However, besides that there were numerous other reasons behind the collapse of the Tokugawa Shogun. The Shogun’s power and influence was weakening. The power of Shogun over a large number of Daimyo had already declined by 1862. Commodore Perry of the United States pushed Shogun to allow Western powers into Japan.3 The Emperor requested the presence of the Shogun to Kyoto in 1863 and compelled him to agree to an imperial directive to expel the Western powers from Japan. After a year, the Shogun was again sent for Kyoto, where he was forced to consent that sooner or later the Emperor would integrate the daimyo with their realm.4 The daimyos of Echzaw, Choshu, and Satsuma were also admitted as Imperial counselors. In 1866, the Emperor ordered the Shogun to chast ise Choshu but the Shogun himself was overpowered by Choshu. From then on internal problems emerged which led to internal conflicts and uprisings and finally on the 9th of November 1867 Shogun decided to leave his post.5 This was the end of the Tokugawa Shogunate and the launching of Meiji Restoration and Japan’s modernization. Throughout their regime Tokugawa Shoguns attempted to build and strengthen their own influence and authority. They exerted their greatest effort to keep the power in their hands. Unfortunately, they failed to do so. There were foreign intrusion and internal problems and conflicts which led to the gradual weakening of the Shoguns’ power. This brought about the eventual downfall. As argued by B.R. Chatterji, â€Å"Probably no contemporary European society was more civilized and polished. But it was not a living, growing organism. It had to change and its rules did not desire change.†6 (Chaurasla 16) The

Final Field Experience Summative Report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Final Field Experience Summative Report - Essay Example The first day offered education and training in making the apple crisp, the second day’s lecture was upon the food and food safety with some Nutrition activity (Puzzles). Third day involved sewing the 2 hall button and preparing to make pillows while the fourth day involved sewing. B. Description of instruction observed On the first day, the students were asked to make the apple crisp. To make sure that all students participated in the activity, the teacher arranged all students in the groups. Roles assigned to the members of the group included measuring oats, mixing margarine and cleaning apples. As the students performed these tasks, the teacher kept a close eye upon the students to ensure complete participation and cooperation by the students. The second day’s lesson was more theoretical than the first day’s lesson. On the second day, the teacher delivered lecture on food and food safety. He required the students to make notes so that they would pay attention throughout the lesson. The teacher did not permit any discussions among the students in this lecture. The teacher made the students pay attention towards the lectures by asking them questions randomly or asking them to repeat what he had just said. Students that would not be able to do that felt embarrassed. Thus, the teacher controlled the students psychologically. No student wanted to become prominent as a bad student, so everybody paid attention. C. Teacher transitions A teacher uses transitions to build up the students’ concepts and help them identify the links among the various lessons. Once the teacher starts the lesson there maybe need to transition either between topics or different subjects. To make the transition smooth from one lesson to another, the teacher first gave a recap of... On the first day, the students were asked to make the apple crisp. To make sure that all students participated in the activity, the teacher arranged all students in the groups. Roles assigned to the members of the group included measuring oats, mixing margarine and cleaning apples. As the students performed these tasks, the teacher kept a close eye upon the students to ensure complete participation and cooperation by the students. The second day’s lesson was more theoretical than the first day’s lesson. On the second day, the teacher delivered lecture on food and food safety. He required the students to make notes so that they would pay attention throughout the lesson. The teacher did not permit any discussions among the students in this lecture. The teacher made the students pay attention towards the lectures by asking them questions randomly or asking them to repeat what he had just said. Students that would not be able to do that felt embarrassed. Thus, the teacher c ontrolled the students psychologically. No student wanted to become prominent as a bad student, so everybody paid attention. A teacher uses transitions to build up the students’ concepts and help them identify the links among the various lessons. Once the teacher starts the lesson there maybe need to transition either between topics or different subjects. To make the transition smooth from one lesson to another, the teacher first gave a recap of the previous lesson. This way the students remembered what the last lesson entailed.

The Department of Defense Better Buying Power Essay

The Department of Defense Better Buying Power - Essay Example d goods, which was aimed at gaining extra value for the American taxpayer by increasing productivity and efficiency in defense spending (Parrish, 2012). The first phase of the BBP planned to cut spending by $487 billion for the entire DOD in ten years, and the lessons learnt since its implementation have been incorporated into creating BBP 2.0, which was initiated in 2013. Since the implementation of the first phase in 2010 and the second in 2013, there are numerous examples of acquisition executives adhering to the BBP initiative. According to Kendall (2014), the initiative has been a qualified success with evidence suggesting that the practices and policies of BBP have taken hold and opportunity for improvement still abounds. BBP refers to DODs plan to use best practices in strengthening its buying power, improving the productivity and efficiency of the department, and to give the war-fighter value-added and affordable military capability. The initiative consists of essential principles of military acquisitions that seek to attain improved efficiency by promoting competition, doing away with bureaucratic and unproductive acquisition processes, and controlling costs. As a result, the DOD expects that the overall outcome of the initiative will be the improvement of tradecraft in service acquisition. While it should also, provide incentives to improve government and military industry innovation and productivity. BBP 2.0 was a further initiative created to improve on BBP 1.0, seeking to build on the DODs commitment towards continually improving their acquisition practices. Some of the plans put into place that show the initiative’s progress include the Defense Acquisition Board’s affordability analysis, which seeks to facilitate decision making on defense investments. For instance, opportunities for smaller entrepreneurs have been given additional focus and attention, while military services are now using cost-estimates as standard practice. Majority of

Sainsbury Supermarket Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words

Sainsbury Supermarket - Case Study Example The 2008 outlook also reports that downside risk to the outlook seems more threatening that at the time of the September 2007 outlook. This is because oil price declines since last august and generally benign global financial conditions have helped to limit spillovers from the corrections in the US housing market and to contain inflation pressures. (IMF World Economic Outlook, 2008). Thus, multinational companies must rethink their global strategies, in the phase of foreign exchange rate and falling price of oil. The present circumstances make them victims of foreign exchange risk and exposures. Against this background, the purpose of this paper is three fold. The study first of all is aimed at carrying out an analysis of the impact of foreign exchange exposure on a United Kingdom UK based retail company-Sainsbury Supermarket. In the second part of the paper, the paper analysis the impact of capital investment appraisal tools on the activities of Sainsbury group. In the third part of the paper the paper asses the impact of share valuation on Sainsbury group. The last section of the paper presents conclusion and a brief recommendation to the company's management on how to go about getting the best from foreign currency exposures. Like macroeconomic analysis the analysis of the industry i... In the third part of the paper the paper asses the impact of share valuation on Sainsbury group. The last section of the paper presents conclusion and a brief recommendation to the company's management on how to go about getting the best from foreign currency exposures. 1.1 Brief Overview of Sainsbury Supermarket Like macroeconomic analysis the analysis of the industry is important because it enables the analysts to make abnormal profits arising from information asymmetry between the proper analyst and competitors who fail to carry out a proper analysis. Just as it is difficult for a firm to do well in a poor macroeconomic environment, so too is it difficult for a firm to perform well in a troubled industry. (Bodie et al, 2002). Similarly, as performance can vary across countries, so too does it vary across industries. (Bodie et al, 2002). According to the company, (2008) report, J Sainsbury plc is a United Kingdom-based food retailer with interests in financial services. The main activities of the company are in the groceries, related retailing and financial services. According to the corporate report, J Sainsbury plc consists of 504 supermarkets and 319 convenience stores and Sainsbury's bank. Sainsbury's Online is the Company's Internet-based home delivery shopping service, which operates from 97 stores. Bells Stores operates a chain of 54 convenience stores in north east England. Jackson's Stores operates a chain of 114 stores across Yorkshire and the North Midlands in the United Kingdom. Sainsbury's Bank, owned by J Sainsbury plc and HBOS plc group, offers a range of products, including savings and loan products. The Company's businesses are organised into two operating divisions: 1.2

School councils Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

School councils - Essay Example "The youngsters involved also learn about society and citizenship as well as developing their personal skills. " (BBC News 2005) In a separate survey by BT and the charity Childline, only 47% of the children questioned said adults listened to what they said and acted on it. (Anderson 2004) Most adults agreed it was important to listen to children, but only 57% said this happened. The effectiveness of these School Councils is not as positive as some of the media would like for us to think. There has been recent research on the School Counsils and the results are similar to the ones revealed by Anderson (2000) The research suggested a school council could make a significant contribution to the life of a school and to young people's experience of democratic processes and practices. (BBC News 21005) Setting one up did not guarantee a positive outcome, though. "As with any other learning strategy, the context in which the council operates and its processes and practices need to be supported and kept under review in order to generate positive outcomes for students and for it to have an impact on the school," said the co-author of the study, Monica Taylor. (Daniels and Ivatts) there needed to be a school-wide culture of consultation, respect for the views of students and staff, participation - and the possibility of change.