Thursday, September 5, 2019
Comparing Different Versions Of Batman Film Studies Essay
Comparing Different Versions Of Batman Film Studies Essay My aim for this essay is to analyse and compare different versions of the Batman film. Ive decided to compare the 1966 Batman to the 1989 Batman and The Dark Knight, which was released in 2008. I wish to look at how these films have been made, how Batmans reputation has changed over the years and how they compare to the original comic books. Batman made his first appearance in Detective Comics in 1939; he was the caped crusader who went against the criminals of the underworld who killed his parents. In the early comics, the drawings showed a grim tone and nourish use of bold blocks of black ink (Sabin, 1996, p.61). However, later on the comics were progressively lightened in order to draw a younger relationship; a trend which culminated in the 1960s where the comics became camp comedies to reflect the amazingly successful television series (Sabin, 1996, pp. 61-62). Wikipedia (2008) Man Who Laughs [Online] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Manwholaughs.jpg (Accessed: 3rd December 2010) BD Comics (1999) Batman- No Mans Land [Online] Available at: http://bdcomics.bdgamers.net/2007/06/13/batman-no-mans-land/ (Accessed: 3rd December 2010) The 1966 Batman was a film adaptation of the 60s TV series; it had budget of $1,377,800. In the film, there are no shots of skyscrapers or any buildings that resemble the scenery in the comic books. The costumes in this film are basic; the villains are all dressed in suits and Batman and Robins costumes look cheaply made, compared to the most recent film; this shows the difference in budget. The make-up is very basic; the Joker has a ghostly white face and red drawn on smile; no prosthetics are used on him. The Penguin has a prosthetic nose to make it freakishly long and pointy, however the rest of the characters have normal day to day make-up on. The fight scenes in the film are unrealistic, fake punches are thrown between characters, with words such as URKK and OUCH entering the shot is big letters: The TV show was definitely dopey, comedy and slapstick substituting for anything remotely violent or suspenseful. It even offered the surreal bonk/zap title cards to amplify the fun. (Gibron, 2008) This makes the fighting look comical and amusing. However it does match the comic book style of fighting and was what was acceptable to be shown in the film and TV series at the time. Still from TV 1960s series Batman (1966) Batman Generation : Batman 1960s TV Series [Online] Available at: http://movie-collections-on-dvd.blogspot.com/ (Accessed: 10th November 2010) The sidekick Robin appears in this film. I think his presence makes Batman look less macho, it implies that he needs back up, this may have been the reason he wasnt written into the series of films that followed decades later. In comparison to films today; it is very naive, in one scene a very toy looking shark is used as a prop and in the Bat cave every machine or piece of equipment is labelled. Heath, R (2008) The Dark Knight 2010 [Online] Available at: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/?m=200807 (Accessed: 3rd December 2010) Clara, H (2010) Entertainment [Online] Available at: http://www.mylifetime.com/lifestyle/entertainment/lewis-wilson-michael-keaton-and-val-kilmer-batman (Accessed: 3rd December 2010) In 1989 Batman was released, it was the first of a series of feature films starring Batman which were produced by the Warner Bros; it had a budget of $35,000,000. This film strayed away from the 1966 camp version, Beyond Hollywood emphasises this point by saying: Before 1989, unless you were an avid comic book reader, you probably viewed Batman as a clownish superhero, trading punches and quips with bad guys with his youthful assistant Robin faithfully at his side. He was campy, a bit dull, and never dangerous. That is, until the summer of 1989, when Tim Burton arrived to changed all that. (Beyond Hollywood, 2004) Gotham City is dark and gothic looking; the buildings are dingy and old. The shapes of the buildings resemble the comic book images; they dont look like any usual American city. Lots of smoke is used in the setting, it reminds me of backdrops in a theatre production. The joker also matches very well with the comic book illustrations; the make-up cleverly allows the actor to have a fixed smile. He puts on a show and prides himself on being theatrical, using joke shop type gags, i.e. a flower that squirts poisonous gas and a buzzer which he attaches to his hand to electrocute his victim. The music, which is often played as a backing to the joker, is almost the same as you might hear in the circus, everything about it is comical. Neumaier, J. (2008) Jack Nicholson warned Health Ledger on Joker role[Online].Available at: http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2008/01/24/2008-01-24_jack_nicholson_warned_heath_ledger_on_jo.html (Accessed: 31 October 2010) Newsrecord. (2008)Heath Ledger Was Changed by playing The Joker'[Online]. Available at: http://www.inoutstar.com/news/Heath-Ledger-Was-Changed-by-Playing-The-Joker-6583.html#nimg_16437 (Accessed: 31 October 2010) The Dark Knight (2008) was directed by Christopher Nolan and had a budget of $185,000,000. When writing the film, screenwriter David S. Goyer took influences from a few comic books rather than just one. In an interview he said: I think that there are elements from The Dark Knight, elements from The Long Halloween, elements from The Killing Joke. But its not like we were specifically adapting one specific comic book or comic book arc. (Goyer, 2008) In this film the joker has apprentices who are masked like clowns. These masks are very eerie; they allow the characters to be emotionless and cold; only showing the single expression that is drawn on their mask. Batmans fight scenes are bold and highly choreographed; this is a big contrast to the jokers style of fighting, which is very rash. This film is dominated by the Joker character; his scarred face is messily covered with make-up giving him a clown-like persona. This persona is confirmed by his greasy, green tinged hair, black eyes, smudged roughly outwards and his red creepy smile. His drawn on smile is covering thick badly raised scars. The white make-up which covers his face is uneven and always looks worn. His costumes are odd, purple velvet suits with a green shirt; this allows him to stand out against others, who mainly wear classic suits. Costume Designer, Lindy Hemming, wanted to create a younger trendier look, in order to represent Ledgers generation(Hemming, 2008). This costume also matches the comic books. His character is fearless and chillingly calm; I think this creates a great atmosphere and carries the film. Sound has a huge impact on this version of the film; dramatic music is played in the background, ticking noises are also frequently used, symbolising the rapid passing of time. However there are a few shots in the film which have no backing music or noise for that matter; this is a big contrast to the rest of the film and cleverly creates a maximum impact. One particular shot is of the Joker hanging himself out of a stolen police car that he is driving, I find this scene very chilling. After watching a documentary about the composers thoughts behind some of the music, I learnt that the sounds are based on the Joker character: Shots and clips were used to produce music that matched the jokers movements and personality. Punk influences were used and tones and noises were produced using two clashing notes of the cello, to give the feel of razorblades. (Zimmer, 2008) The sounds are unsettling and the composer wanted to create a sound which demonstrated rising tension. Uhlich, K (2008) Trickster Heaven, Two Face Hell: The Dark Knight [Online] Available at: http://www.slantmagazine.com/house/2008/07/trickster-heaven-two-faced-hell-the-dark-knight/ (Accessed: 3rd December 2010) Another hugely important character is Harvey Dent. He is Gothams golden boy who, by the end of the film, thanks to the Jokers words; I took Gothams white knight and brought him down, has been turned into a villain, Two Face. The effects for Two Face were created using digital make-up, in other words high use of CGI. A lot of shots in the setting are of buildings, the camera pans high above lots of skyscrapers as a link between scenes. The villains seem to always be lit darkly, where the lighting has a blue tinge. In conclusion, as the decades pass, technology improves and the budget for the films increase, which I think is due to the increase in film popularity. Each film stays true to the comics in different ways; the 1966 Batman is most like the comics in the fight scenes where they are quite graphical, with sounds entering the screen in text. However the make-up and costume doesnt match up and doesnt give enough of an impact. The 1989 Batman does match very well to the comic book images, make-up and costume-wise. It also has a great set which matches the buildings of Gotham city and really gives a feel that they are living in the comics. The Dark Knights special effects are by far the best and in my opinion I think the acting is best in this film. The joker is a crucial character in all three versions, particularly 1989 Batman and The Dark Knight. It is a matter of personal opinion which version is the best, however I agree with Slant magazine in preferring Health Ledgers chilling version: Eighteen years after Jack Nicholsons over-praised, distinctly Jack-ish personification of the dastardly purple-clad jester in Tim Burtons Batman, Ledger returns the character to his demented The Killing Joke graphic novel roots, conjuring up a transfixing, indelible portrait of our worst terrorist-extremist nightmares. (Schager, 2008) The Dark Knights acting and gothic feel matches well with the original comics, before they were made more camp to match the 1960s audience. The make-up takes a different direction to avoid copying Tim Burtons film, this however meant they needed to steer away slightly from the comic books. Overall, in order to achieve the perfect film version of the batman comics, you would need to combine, 1989s make-up, costume and set with The Dark Knights music, special effects and acting.
Wednesday, September 4, 2019
Appleââ¬â¢s Macintosh Computers: A Technology That Achieved Dominance Essay
1) Choose a technology and assess the process of dominance that led to a leading technology standard using the factors, battle milestones, and key phases of dominance from the article, Suarez, F. 2004. ââ¬Å"Battles for technological dominance: an integrative frameworkâ⬠, Research Policy. Volume 33, Issue 2, pp. 271â⬠286. A technology that achieved dominance is Appleââ¬â¢s Macintosh computers. According to Suarezââ¬â¢s article (1)ââ¬Å"A technologyââ¬âbroadly defined as a set of pieces of knowledge, some of which are embodied in physical devices and equipmentââ¬âbecomes dominant as the result of a complex process by which several competing alternatives and versions are de-selected until a preferred technological ââ¬Å"hierarchyâ⬠becomes evidentâ⬠. Appleââ¬â¢s Macintosh and Microsoftââ¬â¢s Personal Computer, have been competing against each other for a number of years. However, Apple has distinguished itself from its competitors, and therefore achieved dominance. The factors contributing to a technologyââ¬â¢s dominance influence the outcome of the technology battle. These factors are split into two groups. The first group is the Firm-Level Factors, which consist of the firmââ¬â¢s: Technological Superiority, Complementary Assets and Credibility, Installed Base, and Strategic Maneuvering. (1). There are a number of companies that offer personal computers to consumers, with many having similarities. To distinguish their computers from competing alternatives, Apple provides compatibility with their other products, such as the IPod and IPhone. Surprisingly, technological superiority does not always lead to dominance. (1) The differences between the technology and the competing alternatives must be great in order for it to dominate. In the case of Appleââ¬â¢s Macintosh, the unique I... ...ts. The fourth phase is the Decisive Battle, which means competitors develop a customer base. This is an important phase as customerââ¬â¢s decisions can greatly affect the firm. The last phase is Post Dominance, which clearly shows the dominant technology has emerged in the market. This phase can last for a long period of time. 1. Suarez, F. (n.d.). Battles for technological dominance: an integrative framework..com. Retrieved November 10, 2013, from http://www.sciencedirect.com 2. Martellaro, J. (n.d.). Surprise: Apple Sells to the Federal Government. The Mac Observer. Retrieved November 10, 2013, from http://www.macobserver.com/tmo/article/su 3. Licensing Brief - Licensing Windows and Microsoft Office to Use with the Apple Mac. (n.d.). Microsoft Volume. Retrieved November 10, 2013, from http://www.microsoft.com/licensing/about-licensing/briefs/apple-mac.aspx
Tuesday, September 3, 2019
Combating Healthcare Disparities Essay -- Health care inequality racia
Combating Healthcare Disparities Disparities in healthcare are a real and urgent problem in our nation. There is indisputable data supporting the fact that disparities exist not only across different racial groups, but also across the cultural and economic stratification of our society. Moreover, there is even data showing disparities among each of these respective groups along gender lines. So what can be done about these disparities to assure that all patients receive equal and adequate care? Well, there are certainly many political and governmental changes or modifications that would go a long way towards narrowing the gaps in healthcare, but such changes are beyond the scope of this paper. Instead, I will focus on the steps that I, and all of my colleagues, can take independently to attempt to eliminate healthcare disparities in our own practice. There are countless contributing factors that might lead to disparate care in the setting of private practice. Aside from disparities that might arise from actual medical decisions made by the physician, there are many more, often quite subtle, factors which play just as important a role in contributing to disparate care. For instance, factors such as the choice of location for practice, billing and payment policies, and the hiring and training of staff, all play a significant role in either introducing or eliminating healthcare disparities. As we are primarily interested in eliminating the preexisting disparities in the system, this paper will attempt to offer practical, yet useful, suggestions of ways to decrease or, preferentially, eliminate disparities caused by each of the above contributing factors. The first, and most obvious, cause of healthcare disparities is actu... ... must realize that medical education varies dramatically from institution to institution and not all healthcare workers are aware of and/or have been educated about the disparities in our healthcare system and their causes. In this case, it is the responsibility of the providers who have been educated to, in turn, educate their colleagues and peers about the issue. A provider who has been educated about the problem, yet does nothing to help resolve it, has, in effect, wasted their education and knowledge. It is for precisely this reason that I will do my very best to assure that all of my coworkers and certainly my staff are educated about the issue and are aware of the possible ways to combat the disparities in care. It is only through education and awareness that these disparities can be resolved and I intend on doing my part to see that they are, indeed, resolved.
Monday, September 2, 2019
Management Essay -- Business Management Leadership
Being a manager takes a great deal of hard work, dedication, and persistence. In order to achieve the goal of becoming a CEO, necessary skills of a manager must be developed and then achieve the skills and confidence to succeed. Since managers are leaders, leadership skills and cross-functional leadership skills must be developed. Lehman Brothers, a global investment bank, emphasizes the importance of ââ¬Å"leadership potential and initiative, as well as problem solving and technical skills.â⬠The management training program will provide a plan of action to strategize and grasp all the necessary skills in a short time to fulfill the goal of becoming the CEO. First and foremost, managers must identify weaknesses, polish up strengths, and learn new ideas and concepts that will improve their leadership qualities. Developing leadership qualities includes perfecting a key set of management skills; conceptual skills, interpersonal skills, technical skills, and political skills. It is important to use interpersonal skills to work with management team members in the program and to listen to ideas and opinions. ââ¬Å"Without strong interpersonal skills, then it is not possible to be a successful manager.â⬠The manager would develop conceptual skills a CEO would encompass to have the vision and determination through the logical thinking process. Also, learning how other people think and accepting the differences that exist would assist in managing them. This would give credibility to the manager as a person who is not afraid to think out of the box and to tread paths that are not always the norm. An amicable environment must be created where people are not afraid to communicate, manage resources and apply ideas and theories to lead ... ...e to the sub-managers whether or not he or she has the technical know-how. The CEO is able to make key decisions for the company that benefits the firm in a macro level and ensures that the decisions are made in the shareholders best interests. The CEO understands Skilos Inc. in a big picture sense, assesses issues, creates good solutions and evaluates results, while keeping a positive morale. The goal would be to work for the betterment of the company while maintaining the mission and vision of the shareholders and company. http://us.rediff.com/money/2005/apr/28spec.htm P. Buhler, Managing in the New Millennium: Interpersonal Skills (article), July 2005 R. Teerlink and L. Ozley, More than a Motorcycle, p. 268 J. Vardallas, How to Keep your Strategic Planning Focused (article), February 2005 L. Stark, Successful Meetings (article), July 2005
The Voice of Reason
At the end of William Shakespeareââ¬â¢s Romeo and Juliet, Lord Capulet and Lord Montague decide to make peace. Lord Montague promises to raise a gold statue of Juliet and Lord Capulet vows to do the same for Romeo. By this point in the story, there is no doubt that the families will keep their word. However, one is left thinking whether the peace will last or not. The deaths of Mercutio, Tybalt, Juliet and Romeo were all caused by the feud between the two families, yet it took Julietââ¬â¢s death, combined with Romeoââ¬â¢s to end the feud.The lives that were lost might be enough to maintain harmony between them for a long time, maybe forever. The Prince is the voice of reason in Romeo and Juliet. He was the one who forbade the Capuletââ¬â¢s and the Montagueââ¬â¢s from fighting in the streets because they would disturb the peace. Either way, Mercutio and Tybalt died, resulting in the banishment of Romeo. However, while the Prince tried to maintain the peace, he never qui te laid down the law with the battling families. Itââ¬â¢s like they say, if you canââ¬â¢t see it, itââ¬â¢s not there.Once the Capuletââ¬â¢s and the Montagueââ¬â¢s were battling in full view of the people of Verona, the Prince just couldnââ¬â¢t ignore it anymore. Yet what he did had no impact on the families whatsoever. Threats didnââ¬â¢t scare them. So they continued hating each other. ââ¬Å"Where be these enemies? /Capulet! Montague! /See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate,/That heaven finds means to kill your joys with love. /And I for winking at your discords too/Have lost a brace of kinsmen: all are punish'd. â⬠(V. 3. 291-296) . In this quote, the prince is berating himself for doing almost nothing about the feud.He exclaims that because of their hatred for each other, the heavens punished them by taking their children, Juliet and Romeo. Finally understanding the horrors the feud had created, Lord Capulet and Lord Montague make amends to each other by agreeing to end the feud and raising gold statues in honor of Romeo and Julietââ¬Ës deaths. ââ¬Å"Capulet: O brother Montague, give me thy hand: This is my daughterââ¬â¢s jointure, for no more Can I demand. Montague: But I can give thee more:For I will raise her statue in pure gold;That while Verona by that name is known,There shall no figure at such rate be setAs that of true and faithful Juliet.Capulet: As rich shall Romeo's by his lady's lie;Poor sacrifices of our enmity! â⬠(V. 3. 297-306) For generations to come, the story of Romeo and Juliet will be passed down from Capulet to Montague to Capulet, maintaining the peace and uniting the families. Maybe there will be another Montague who falls in love with a Capulet and maybe this time, the ending will be a happy one. As the Prince mournfully states ââ¬Å" Some shall be pardon'd, and some punished:For never was a story of more woeThan this of Juliet and her Romeo. â⬠(V. 3. 308-310)
Sunday, September 1, 2019
History of Filmmaking Essay
The main problem with assigning national identity to films is the enticement to pick movies to fit the premise. Hardly ever does a director present any significant standards by which particular films have been chosen for analysis. To give a specific example, one merely has to consider the Japanese instance of Kurosawa Akira whose movies regularly received positive commendation both overseas and in domestic ratings, yet several of Akiraââ¬â¢s films remain difficult to get to to the mainstream Japanese viewers. Another problem for assigning national identity to films is the relative lack of engagement with modern social and political concerns or conditions. Itââ¬â¢s pretty evident with Australian films (Nadia Tass, Malcolm and The Big Steal). Australian movies do not create a point of plainly and continually pondering over national identity. They take the method of conveying tales in a local context and allowing inquiries of national identity work out themselves in the backdrop through the working of their diverse and unlikely narratives. The issue of ââ¬Å"what does it mean to be Australian? is responded upon by illustrating various Australians, in unusual situations, with several problems. In my humble opinion, studies with this stature helps shine a ray of light on how and why the nation pass on a meaningful masterpiece in their local perspective, the focal point should be on reputation within the related/state/area as the major norm for selection.. Whether they have established vital praise at ââ¬Ëkey film festivalsââ¬â¢ is another material connected to ââ¬Ëart houseââ¬â¢ films, which is frequently not a fine statistic of admired appeal and consequently not a superior indicator of community communication.
Saturday, August 31, 2019
Computerized Grading System Essay
Automation has had a notable impact in a wide range of industries beyond manufacturing (where it began). Once-ubiquitous telephone operators have been replaced largely by automated telephone switchboards and answering machines. Medical processes such as primary screening in electrocardiography or radiography and laboratory analysis of human genes, sera, cells, and tissues are carried out at much greater speed and accuracy by automated systems. Applying automation to Grading systems wherein it will also make a task easy and accurate. Education must share the responsibility of developing technologically literate people (Bitter & Legacy, 2008). Both systemic reform and curriculum cannot be achieved without the aid of technology (Fletcher & Wolf, 2007). Grading and reporting are relatively recent phenomena in education. In fact, prior to 1850, grading and reporting were virtually unknown in schools in the Philippines. Throughout much of the nineteenth century most schools grouped students of all ages and backgrounds together with one teacher in one-room schoolhouses, and few students went beyond elementary studies. The teacher reported studentsââ¬â¢ learning progress orally to parents, usually during visits to studentsââ¬â¢ homes (Guskey). Researches in learning assessment, especially in terms of academic performance, have long criticized traditional rating schemes that provide feedback to students. Because learning is multi-faceted, most critiques of such formats tend to see these as superficial and inadequate arguing that they tend to cover only the areas in learning that are widely rated, leaving other areas in learning under-assessed. As a result, different systems were proposed and varying rating structures were employed by different schools in the country such as point system averaging and weighted averaging. This school year, the Department of Education (DepEd) will be using a new grading system in public elementary and high schools in connection to the implementation of K to 12 BEC (Basic Education Curriculum) program. The traditional numerical values in report cards will be replaced by letter-scheme grading system, with ââ¬Å"Aâ⬠(abbreviated ââ¬Å"Advancedâ⬠level of proficiency) as the highest grade and ââ¬Å"Bâ⬠(short for ââ¬Å"Beginningâ⬠) as the lowest. In the event that this format will be fully implemented in the target school, which in this proposal will be San Isidro Elementary School, the workload of the teachers will be increased because they will have to compute for the numeric equivalent of each letter grades. The proponents of this proposal wish to reduce their workload by eliminating the need for manual computation and recording of each grade. The common problems encountered in manual recording and computations are error- and file-handling, and redundancy. As the workload gradually increases with growing amounts of grades and student lists that need to be attended, it becomes tedious on the part of the teacher to proficiently manage them in time for documentation and file submission to higher education authorities. As such, this paper aims to produce a workable computerized grading system that will address these issues.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)