John Fords The Searchers Essay -- Film Movies

John Ford's The Searchers A critical theory by Robin Wood posits that the filmic genres popularized by the Hollywood system are not "discrete", but represent "different strategies for dealing with the same ideological tensions." (478) Wood claims that conventional theories fail to address this ideological phenomenon, and proposes a search for the myths and contradictions, produced by American capitalism, which fuel disparate filmic genres. Wood's attempt to discuss this ideology lists the "components" of a definition of "American capitalist ideology." (476) One component is the character of "the ideal male", the potent hero of the American way. (477) As the films produced out of capitalism tend to uphold the system's ideology, the hero produced by the film tends to represent the values of this ideology. Thus, through its hero, the classic Western naturalizes and justifies the "taming" of the land and the consequent subjugation of its "libidinous" native people in order to build "civilization." (476) However, genre films are only potent because of the potentially subversive "intervention of a clearly defined artistic personality in an ideological-generic structure." (479) In The Searchers, John Ford manipulates the traditional relationship between hero, text, and ideology to challenge the dominant values of American society. The viewer initially identifies with the conventional character of Ethan Edwards, but is gradually forced to reject this "hero" and his values, and to regard Martin Pawley, a representative of more liberal beliefs, as the new-order "ideal male." Martin is both an indicator of how the audience should react to Ethan's extremist tendencies, and an alternative to them. Through the rejection of Ethan, in fav... ..., even as a victim of the psychological reach of the expansionist credo. Clearly, revealing the damage done by the capitalist ideology, whether individual or social, in the frontier society of 1868, or in the "separate but equal" context of 1956, was important to the director. Fortunately, Wood's theory, examining the new meaning created by the juxtaposition of the thesis of a preexistent text with the antithetical views of the auteur, reaffirms Ford's success, and the potence of the genre film. Works Cited Warshow, Robert. "Movie Chronicle: The Westerner." Film Theory and Criticism. Ed. Braudy, Leo, Marshall Cohen and Gerald Mast. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. (453-466) Wood, Robin. "Ideology, Genre, Auteur." Film Theory and Criticism. Ed. Braudy, Leo, Marshall Cohen and Gerald Mast. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. (453-466) John Ford's The Searchers Essay -- Film Movies John Ford's The Searchers A critical theory by Robin Wood posits that the filmic genres popularized by the Hollywood system are not "discrete", but represent "different strategies for dealing with the same ideological tensions." (478) Wood claims that conventional theories fail to address this ideological phenomenon, and proposes a search for the myths and contradictions, produced by American capitalism, which fuel disparate filmic genres. Wood's attempt to discuss this ideology lists the "components" of a definition of "American capitalist ideology." (476) One component is the character of "the ideal male", the potent hero of the American way. (477) As the films produced out of capitalism tend to uphold the system's ideology, the hero produced by the film tends to represent the values of this ideology. Thus, through its hero, the classic Western naturalizes and justifies the "taming" of the land and the consequent subjugation of its "libidinous" native people in order to build "civilization." (476) However, genre films are only potent because of the potentially subversive "intervention of a clearly defined artistic personality in an ideological-generic structure." (479) In The Searchers, John Ford manipulates the traditional relationship between hero, text, and ideology to challenge the dominant values of American society. The viewer initially identifies with the conventional character of Ethan Edwards, but is gradually forced to reject this "hero" and his values, and to regard Martin Pawley, a representative of more liberal beliefs, as the new-order "ideal male." Martin is both an indicator of how the audience should react to Ethan's extremist tendencies, and an alternative to them. Through the rejection of Ethan, in fav... ..., even as a victim of the psychological reach of the expansionist credo. Clearly, revealing the damage done by the capitalist ideology, whether individual or social, in the frontier society of 1868, or in the "separate but equal" context of 1956, was important to the director. Fortunately, Wood's theory, examining the new meaning created by the juxtaposition of the thesis of a preexistent text with the antithetical views of the auteur, reaffirms Ford's success, and the potence of the genre film. Works Cited Warshow, Robert. "Movie Chronicle: The Westerner." Film Theory and Criticism. Ed. Braudy, Leo, Marshall Cohen and Gerald Mast. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. (453-466) Wood, Robin. "Ideology, Genre, Auteur." Film Theory and Criticism. Ed. Braudy, Leo, Marshall Cohen and Gerald Mast. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. (453-466)

Audience Analysis and Reception Essay

Knowing the audience needs, are important to communicate effectively. In the workplace, knowing the needs helps us to explain the what, why, how, who, and when we can provide productivity in the workplace. In this report, I would like to inform my manager, about why we need another maintenance technician and certain tools for the Maintenance Shop. In this formal letter to management, what would be the need for a maintenance technician and certain tools needed to perform tasks.† What† being the problem, and the steps we must take to achieve this goal. My report will include ways to save in order to allow capital to be saved to allow an extra payroll. Safety issues due to the lack of an extra employee, and how we can get more productivity done within the company. Understanding, that this report must be formal, I must be sure to use the proper language, tone, and content. Because this report is to be written to manage I must also provide evidence, facts, and personal experie nce to support my claim. Providing a plan to reach these goals will help me to better explain the â€Å"where†, I am trying to help the company. By explaining, how the addition of more tools, and a maintenance technician would benefit the company. This can further express the needs of the two to management. Also, providing a map of the tasks that will be accomplished, and a timeframe in which they will be completed helps to explain how it would also be beneficial for the company. Not considering the audience needs can lead to communication lost, or the inability to interact effectively with the receiver of the message. The content of the report will not answer the question of what is the problem, how can we solve the problem, what steps are needed to solve the problem, where we can find the resource to fix the problem, and why we should take these steps to accomplish other tasks. Formal reports should be written in formal. At this time, the claim that we are making should be supported with evidence, facts,  and personal experience to be taken as factual information. The content of the report should focus on the needs of the audience, and the steps that are needed to solve the problem. Sources: The five W’s An old tool for the new task of audience analysis-ProQuest (). Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy .apollolibrary.com/docview/2200989762/fulltext/13DA2†¦

Essay Sample on King Lear Poem

Essay Sample on King Lear Poem King Lear is one of the worlds most brilliant insights into the weaknesses of a human being. The main theme of Shakespeare’s tragedy is the corruption of the human soul by the unlimited power and authority and self-destruction, which results from it. At the beginning of the play Lear is a person whose inborn dignity has already been fully destroyed by the enormous power he possesses. He is so self-confident and arrogant that he refuses from his throne, being perfectly sure that he will be highly respected without his crown and land. However, he discovers that he has made a horrible mistake. It comes as revelation to him that in the corrupted human society a person is not important for his/her personal qualities. What really makes the difference in the attitude to the person is the wealth and title he/she has. The one who is not mighty or rich is worthless and rejected. And this is the kind of attitude he has to accept. Having realized that all his previous ideas were wrong, Lear loses his mind and, being totally insane, he suddenly discovers a new feeling: he starts sympathizing and feeling compassionate to all people in misery. But it is too late, as he himself has already given the cruel and the wicked too much power. His loyal and kind daughter Cordelia, the embodiment of love and virtue, dies, and having lost her, Lear loses interest in life. Nevertheless, the wicked die as well. The vanity and selfishness kills them too. So, the whole family is destroyed. The tragedy focuses on the idea that evil cannot be controlled. Those who bring it to life will inevitably die, but it can also destroy the innocent, as the stream of life makes no difference between people and that is why every single person bears full responsibility for his/her actions.