Combination of Noir Style and Existentialist Motif The Matrix essays

Combination of Noir Style and Existentialist Motif The Matrix essays The Matrix (1999) is an extension of the existentialist motifs of the mid 20th Century set in the 23rd, for its obvious influences from the American Noir Style. This is apparent when looking at the five points of this existentialism. First, Thomas A. Anderson (Keanu Reeves), a.k.a. Neo, is portrayed from the beginning of the film as a normal Joe who holds the potential of a world savior, yet without the narcissism. He does not have X-ray vision or the ability to leap tall buildings in a single bound, but rather, he is a lowly computer programmer for a respectable computer company. He does not appear important to anyone else in the film at first, and it is because of his lifestyle. Mister Anderson is immersed in the world of computers. As a result, he is lonely and alienated from the world or reality. This feeling is also reflected in the high, swooping camera angle found in the film, which is characteristically Noir. But what is reality? The truth? Neo makes the conscious choice to see how deep the rabbit hole goes. One finds out later in the film that at the point of making such a choice, he was nothing... or nothing more than an oversized Energizer; but upon choosing the truth he is also trying to free his mind from the prison he cannot taste or touch or see. Neo is doomed to fail, as no one has come before him to succeed in the freeing of his own mind. As a result, he is under a sentence of death; the system is set up against him; the Matrix has him... he struggles with the choice between life and death, as he must let his instructor, Morpheus (Lawrence Fishburne), die or sacrifice himself to save him. There is only one element holding his life in tact: Fate... At first, Mister Anderson does not like the idea of fate, as he cannot stand the idea of not being able to control his own destiny. Throughout the entire film, as Mister Anderson...

Andromache’s Lament as an important element of the “Iliad”

Andromache’s Lament as an important element of the â€Å"Iliad† Andromache, one of the few female characters in the Iliad, is part of perhaps one of the tenderest sections of Iliad. Along with Helen, she is the only other mortal woman to have any substantial speaking lines in the entire epic. Unlike women in general in the Iliad, Andromaches role goes beyond being just another spoil of the war. Homer treats her as a counterpart to Hektor(she is, in a sense, his equal), giving her actions and words a greater significance. Andromaches lament (Book 22, lines 437-515) is particularly powerful because Homer effectively uses literary techniques here that bring out audience empathy. In the Iliad, Andromaches lament is a poignant, intense passage that serves as a characterization of Andromache, providing the reader with a further understanding of Hektor, Trojan life, and the impact of the Trojan War. Andromaches lament emphasizes the impact of the Trojan War on life at home and on the family. The Iliad focuses on Achilleus, Hektor, and other heroes in a war-like atmosphere; Andromache provides a contrast to this setting. Through their behavior, the male characters embody war, aggression, and honor, while Andromache becomes the representative for peace, love, and family. Andromaches lament acutely portrays the sense of despair, loss, and sadness that comes with the war. Here, Homers use of an emotive tone serves to highlight the sense of tragedy in a way that the audience could relate to. That is, Homer chooses to use diction evocative of the helplessness of a child, such as boy, baby, child, cheeks, tug, tiny, and soft bed. Andromache does not center her speech on only Hektors death or the immediate events of the war. Instead, she concentrates much of the passage on her dismal predictions about her son, Astyanaxs, life without a father. By focusing on Astyanax, Homer reminds the audience of the bigger picture of the Trojan War and the impact of war on all people, not just the impact on the protagonists of the story. Andromaches speech sheds light not only on the effects of war, but also on the relationship between Andromache and Hektor. The love between Andromache and Hektor is very powerful, and the depth of their bond gives the reader a sense of strength and integrity in Andromache and Hector. Because of the way Homer portrays Andromaches relationship with Hektor, Andromaches reaction to Hektors death generates audience empathy. Andromaches rampart scene with Hektor in book 6 provides the audience with prior knowledge about Hektor and Andromaches relationship. Consequently, Andromaches lament becomes all the more powerful and touching. We see these emotions via the imagery used to portray Andromache running out of the house like a raving woman with pulsing heart (Book 22, line460-461). When Andromache learns of Hektors death, she too dies: Homer uses the phrase the darkness of night misted over the eyes of Andromache (Book 22, line 466), which parallels the phrase used to describe death throug hout Iliad, the dark mist gathered around him (Book 20, line 417). In addition, the use of a morbid and rancid tone illustrates the great loss of Hektor. Andromache talks of writhing worms and dogs that will feed on Hektors naked corpse (Book 22, line 509-510); all of which convey a miserable picture of Hektors plight. As much as Andromache is a reflection of Hektor, she is also a representation of Troy itself. With the loss of Hektor, Andromaches world shatters. This shattering in turn foreshadows Troys downfall. [she]threw from her head the shining gear that ordered her headdress, the diadem and the cap(Book 22, line 468-470) The veil in ancient Greece is a symbol of husband and wife. By ripping off the veil, Andromache symbolically throws away her marriage with Hektor. With this comes the loss of her chastity, forewarning the raping and pillaging of both Troy and its women. In addition, Andromaches sons name is Astyanax, which means lord of the city. If Astyanax is a representation of Troy, then others will take his [Troys] lands (Book 22, line 489), and that he [Troy] will bow his head before every man (Book 22, line 491). Andromache represents all of the aforementioned because she, like Helen, is an observer in the epic. Even her location within the text, on the wall (Book 22, line 463) when she sees that Hektor is dead, shows this view from the outside. In the beginning of the passage, Andromache has not watched the duel like everyone else. Instead, she is weaving a web (Book 22, line 440). Thrice she gives speeches in the Iliad, all of which serve as insight into the mindset of the collective people during the time, as opposed to just what the main characters are thinking. Thus, Andromaches lament is one of the key passages of the Iliad that provides insight into life within the Trojan War.

Organizational Culture and Structure Research Paper

Organizational Culture and Structure - Research Paper Example It had the good foresight that GSM will be replaced by a new technology, and so it was not afraid to take the risk. Its advances in technology were brought by this excellent foresight. T-mobile boats of its â€Å"latest technologies and modern multimedia services† faring well with its fiercest competitors such as Vodafone. â€Å"In line the Companys vision of ‘Connected life and work’, the mobilization of personal social networking is at the heart of T-Mobiles corporate activities† (Deutsche Telekom, 2009). An example of this is their mobile internet offering, the web’n’walk which enables customer to have a mobile access to the internet. Taking advantage of its wide product portfolio, Deutsche Telekom Group has increasingly its integrated product portfolio, â€Å"which enables standardized access to personal data like music, videos and addresses across all terminal equipment and which also provides for ever more integrated services on an incr easing number of mobile devices† (Deutsche Telekom, 2009). In an industry where technology spells success, T-Mobile’s key culture is its fast, timely and courageous innovation. Taking advantage of its wide business portfolio, Deutsche Telekom Group has never stopped to amaze its customers with innovative and valuable IT solutions. â€Å"This becomes even clearer with mobile web surfing: T-Mobile was the first provider in Europe to give its customers open access to the Internet and thus offer them unrestricted access to the web. The range of news, films, music and infotainment available to customers is constantly growing† (Deutsche Telekom, 2009). Currently, Deutsche Telekom is â€Å"is systematically gearing its business to broadband services and mobile Internet† as this is the need of the hour (Deutsche Telekom, 2009). This is in congruent to their vision of connected life and work. Recently, it has adapted its â€Å"Focus, fix and grow† strategy which is

Textual Analysis Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words - 3

Textual Analysis - Essay Example The first of these texts which will be analyzed is that of Dorothea Lasky’s â€Å"Black Life†. This particular poem, though brief, expounds a very nuanced and full-bodied meaning of just what seeming meaninglessness greets the newborn child upon entering life. Says Lasky, â€Å"You are born and it is to a black life/Full of abuse and strange things†¦You die and it is from a black life/That you die from/You leave this one and go into the next/Where nothingness surrounds and evaporates/With the ease of something/That has done this sort of thing before† (Lasky 1). By detailing the somewhat meaningless yet methodical pressures that move all humanity through its brief experience on earth, the author is able to detail some sense and methodology to what has otherwise been labeled as a form of madness and ultimate depression with regards to the transient nature of life and its ultimate meaning. Although such a definition is no more comforting than any other definiti on of life and the ultimate depression it espouses, the author goes on to define some rationality to the way in which this â€Å"black life† leaves the earth with little to no fanfare or care on the part of those around it. Says Lasky, â€Å"I leave and I am black life/I leave you cause you didn’t need me after all/And I want to/Be what you made me to be/But you never really made me/This life made me/This thing that I am† (Lasky 1). In admitting that the world is perhaps better off without this blight of a depressed human being, the author is able to underscore the meaninglessness that life entails as the world cares not whether this depressed person is gone. Moreover, the ultimate cause of the depression is related not to be something biological, not something that has been recognized due to the singular unfairness of life; rather, it is born out of the fact that they â€Å"never really

Somatic Gene Therapy Essay -- Genetics Science Ethics Essays

Somatic Gene Therapy To a parent, the thought of their child having a severe, yet rare genetic disease brings guilt, sadness, and responsibility to an aching heart. Parents who see their child pass through life with the weight of a terminal illness often wish in their hearts that the curse had been placed upon them rather than their child. To some, the thought of the old clichà © "no parent ought to see their child die" seems to swim endlessly in their mind. The hope for a cure fills the hearts of many waiting on the edge of their seats in hopes for a better quality of life for themselves, loved ones, and human kind. The news of success with a novel technology in putting to rest these diseases brings a purpose in life. Such is the case with Ashanti DeSilva, a four-year-old girl diagnosed with severe combined immune deficiency (Human Gene Therapy). Ashanti hardly lived what would be call a normal life, confined to her sterile home where she battled common childhood diseases, like the cold, with massive amounts of antibiotics. She lived a life of separation, avoiding contact with the public and even those she loved. With a compromised immune system due to a missing gene in her genome, she was vulnerable to every passing germ. On September 14, 1990, Ashanti received a life changing treatment as the first approved gene therapy. In the procedure the researchers removed white blood cells from Ashanti, which were then grown in a lab. These cells were then spliced with the missing gene and infused back into Ashanti. Although this is a treatment and not a cure, Ashanti can now live a life she and her parents dreamed of. She can now attend school and play with friends and family without fear of contact, thereby living a more... ...lt;http://www.wiley.co.uk/genmed/clinical/> Human Gene Therapy (2000). National Reference Center for Bioethics Literature. (Online) 20Nov04. <http://www.georgetown.edu/research/nrcbl/scopenotes/sn24htm>. Questions and Answers About Gene Therapy (1993). National Cancer Institute. (Online) 20Nov04. <http://www.cancernet.nci.nih.gov/clinpdq/therapy/Questions_and_Answers_About_Gene_Therapy.htm>. Rubanyi, G. (2001). The Future of Human Gene Therapy. Molecular Aspects of Medicine. 22,3, pp. 113-142. Walters, LeRoy, and Julie Gage Palmer. Ethics of Human Gene Therapy. Oxford University Press, New York. 1997. Williams, D. (2003). Gene Therapy-New Challenges Ahead. Science. 302, 5644, pp. 400. Wilson, J. (1997) What Is Gene Therapy? The Institute for Human Gene Therapy. (Online) 20Nov04. <http://www.med.upenn.edu/ihgt/info/whatisgt.html>.

Bad corporate governance Essay

Approach Governance Governing is a process of implementing decisions, rules and regulations in a group of people. Its concept has been widely used by companies to make their workers comply a set of agreed actions that were done and ordered by the management. The management’s ways of doing rules and policies has a big effect in a company’s performance as a whole. As decision making is vital to a company, the management should be equipped with the knowledge of how they are going to make their decisions every day. Study of Good and Bad Governance Good Governance Good governance will surely give benefits to the company, employees, customers and suppliers. Its implemented decisions had considered the characteristics of Participation, Rule of Law, Transparency, Responsiveness, Consensus Orientation, Equity and Inclusiveness, Effectiveness and Efficiency and Accountability that if complied well, it will bring good feedbacks and result to the company. Bad Governance Mismanagement has always been a problem in all companies which is a start of bad governance. Bad governance emerges when conflict rises among people who are involved in the company. It includes conflict of interest, political issues among members of the company, social problems, discrimination, lack of participation and more. When employees or the people concerned to the company starts to ask questions about the decision of the company’s management, then there is an unclear part in that certain decisions being implemented that employees do not understand or agreed. Analysis All companies have their different mission and vision as their instrument and inspiration to be the best that they can to survive in a very competitive market. In this paper, we will examine the different possible causes why the UK Industrial Company and MISnet Inc. failed. Sample Study: The UK Industrial Company Failure The UK Industrials is composed of 539 firms and observed from 1988-1993. From table 1, we can see that from the original 539 companies, 56 companies from the group exit the firm because of its financial stabilities. This resulted to shake to the whole company making it like a domino effect to fail the company. The case study made by John Hunter and Natalia Isachenkova for the UK industries explained that the result of the UK Industrial failure is its lack of knowledge in determining the financial stability of the industry which is very important for investment decisions at the micro level. Individuality also played a big part in their failure because the study showed a big evidence of division from different panels as such, decision making regarding the industries financial problem, profits, liquidity, turnovers and changes were greatly affected. Aside from the causes of failure mentioned, the industry is also said to have focused on their current cash flow rather than also thinking about the future economic value of the firm according in their future cash flows.

Fashion And The World Of Fashion - 1087 Words

The world of fashion is always changing and new trends are always emerging. The ways by which trends and fashion news are communicated to the public has evolved as technology advances. Before television and the internet, it was difficult for designers, photographers, and fashion brands alike to spread word about the latest in fashion to a large mass of people. With the help of modern technology, fashion has made its mark in the world by appearing on television networks, online blogs, social media, and digital magazines. In the past, fashion was viewed as something to which only privileged people could have access. It was hard to keep up with trends because it was not mass communicated in the same way that it is today. Fashion shows were the best way to see the newest styles and collections from high-end designers. However, it is difficult do attend these shows because the tickets go to celebrities, socialites, and other prominent people in the fashion world. Harvard professor, Jeanni e Suk, notes that the â€Å"growing ease of travel and communication† has made the dissemination of fashion much easier (Harvard Magazine). Another way fashion was accessible was through magazines. The most common way people stayed caught up with fashion was through magazines because they were affordable and up to date. Suk also employs that the mass production of newspapers and other forms of publication has helped â€Å"fashion trends spread rapidly† (Harvard Magazine). Nowadays, technology isShow MoreRelatedThe World Of Fashion And Publicity1268 Words   |  6 PagesThe world of fashion and publicity has undeniably been enriched by these seemingly expected traits, but to what avail? Tyra Banks, host and judge of the popular reality TV show Americas Next Top Model, is regarded as one of the most beautiful -and successful- women of all time. 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