Wild Strawberries

Diverse people/cultures constitute this world and such diversity is reflected via the cinematic experience. Film emanates the entire infrastructure of a people’s culture (gender, age, creed, race, personal impressions, ideas, emotions, prejudices and religious/political/ economic/educational institutions, etc.).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Wild Strawberries specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More At the height of the 20th century, many countries witnessed a rise in cinematic prominence and Sweden was no exception. Gustaf Molander, Alf Sjà ¶berg, Victor Sjà ¶strà ¶m, Mauritz Stiller and most recently Lasse Hallstrà ¶m  as well as Lukas Moodysson brought prominence and popularity to Swedish film. Among this distinguished cadre of Swedish filmmakers is the accomplished and prolific Ingmar Bergman. A repertoire comprised of over sixty documentaries and films (television and cinema) as well as one hundred an d seventy theatrical plays, Bergman’s work featured a typical element of Swedish film – slow pacing and austere landscapes. His distinctive style/attribute and contribution, however, was exploration of human emotions and its vast landscape with death, illness, betrayal, and insanity as the focus. Bergman’s 1957 film, Wild Strawberries, is superbly characteristic his style. Wild Strawberries was written and directed by Bergman and has an acclaimed cast of Swedish actors, among them Max von Sydow. Deemed a classic and one of Bergman’s best films, thought-provoking themes such self acceptance and discovery as well as human existence constitute the thematic core of the film. Bergman wrote the screenplay while hospitalized and such experience served as an impetus. Wild Strawberries is character and plot driven in that the two intertwined bring the fundamental themes to the surface and explain them. The film chronicles the emotional voyage of an elderly physici an named Eberhard Isak Borg (Victor Sjà ¶strà ¶m). This emotional journey filled with self introspection/re-evaluation is introduced at the onset of the film with Borg’s opening statement – â€Å"In our relations with other people, we mainly discuss and evaluate their character and behaviour. That is why I have withdrawn from nearly all so-called relations (Wild Strawberries). At seventy years old, Borg appears to have come to a point in which evaluation of his behaviour and character is of primary concern rather than others. The journey unfolds as he travels to receive an honorary degree/award at Lund University. Such accolade, however, has no value and does not bring him happiness for he comments prior to his trip â€Å"Honorary Doctor! They might as well appoint me Honorary Idiot (Wild Strawberries).†Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More During the 400 mile sojourn from Stockholm to Lund, in which he is accompanied by his daughter-in law – Mariaane (Ingrid Thulin), Borg seventy eight years old, undergoes a life assessment or revaluation process. The various people he meets along the way force him to confront various personas about himself (aloofness, loneliness, etc.), his past and relationships (mother, son, etc.) that contributed to his behaviour. Self examination also comes in the form of nightmares and daydreams throughout the film. At the conclusion, Borg comes to terms with himself (past, present, self acceptance) and immanent death which in the beginning he greatly feared. Smultronstà ¤llet is the original Swedish title for the film and translated literally means wild strawberry patch. Idiomatically the title refers to something underrated or devalued yet possesses sentimental or personal value. Self awareness, value, acceptance, and even love appear to be the sentimental and personal emotions at the core of Bergman†™s focus/message and for this reason Ingmar Bergman Wild Strawberries’ impact will remain indelible. Work Cited Wild Strawberries (1957). Web. This essay on Wild Strawberries was written and submitted by user Jacey Jensen to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.

John Ross essays

John Ross essays John Rosss Response to Jacksons Message to Congress In my nearly forty years as a Cherokee and an American, my eyes have seen much. I witnessed much brutality in the early years of the American frontier, as constant raids raged between the American Armies and Cherokees. I have had the benefit of an education comparable to that of my white counterparts in Washington, yet I have still kept a firm grasp on my native roots and heritage. In the long memory of my tribe, there has been pestilence, famine, oppression, loss of land, and war all due to the emergence of settlers and colonies. While these men and their ways have again and again mistreated our people, we have maintained a diplomatic stance and made many compromises with the peoples who brought such strife. President Jackson has typified us as savages and uncivilized, it is unfortunate that such a misjudgment of our society has occurred. As I have lived and experienced both worlds, that of the tribes and that of cities and towns, I am a witness that we are not savages. It is a si mple difficulty of perspective. As a culture based heavily on tradition and tribal life, Americans view us as a people without culture or civilization. This assumption is easy to make for outsiders, but it is the way we talk, hunt, dress, act, and socialize that makes our very society. The formation of our Cherokee Nation within the United States of Alabama and Georgia, was made necessary by the increasing erosion and oppression of our culture and land. It is not in defiance that we form such a sovereignty, but in defense of our culture and way of life. While it may appear to be a misjudgment to form such a state, it is in even poorer judgment to emigrate the entire Native population of the Southeastern United States west of the Mississippi. There is little justification given by the President for the removal of the tribes, and that which he offers as reason is in it self-faulty, contradic...

Social network Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Social network - Essay Example LinkedIn, which is one of the social network sites, offers job seekers as well as managers of organizations the opportunity to identify potential employees (Patridge 86). This is achievable when the managers go through the online resumes as well as the career histories of those within their network. The social network sites offer individuals the opportunity to communicate openly. In as much as there are several conventions that agitate for the freedom of expression, people have eon certain occasions failed to let all their thought out for reasons that are unknown. The social network sites offer platforms on which individuals can air the ideologies they harbor without any fears. The fact that individuals discuss various ideologies and post news of events that take place within different parts of the world similarly contributes to open communication. In like manner, open communication comes out in the form of individuals asking questions and share various links. Social network sites provide individuals with the opportunity to widen the business contacts that we have. As mentioned above, LinkedIn has come in handy in supplementing the careers of the over two hundred million users it has, other social network sites like twitter and Facebook can help an individual to widen business contacts by getting to know professionals in their respective areas of expertise. Stakeholders in the field of human resource management have often advised that social network sites can act as the ideal tool for recruitment. This is majorly because the sites provide a wide audience and this makes it easy for organizations to reach several potential employees within a short duration (Peacock 79). Experts in the field of marketing similarly hold the belief that social networking sites often act as ideal marketing equipment. Business owners can advertise their ventures online. Though some people have normally held the opinion that negative feedback can amount to

When Starbucks was launched who was the target market, how was Case Study

When Starbucks was launched who was the target market, how was Starbucks positioned and what decisions about product, price, distribution, service and promotion supported this positioning - Case Study Example With his sound business strategies, the company has achieved market leadership in the specialty coffee industry. This paper enumerates the different marketing strategies utilized by Starbucks in order to achieve the position that it has held today. It evaluates the different marketing mixes that contributed to the success of the company. The paper focuses on the product & services positioning strategies, pricing strategy, distribution channels and promotion strategies. In order for a business to grow and achieve market leadership, it must create a strong market orientation. The company must seek to understand the customer needs and develop its marketing strategies in response to those needs. The strategies should aim at attracting, satisfying and retaining target customers. (Best, 1997) When Starbucks initially started, their product portfolio includes dark-roast, whole bean coffee and manual coffee pots and equipments. The company is in the retail business of offering their products to customers who like to brew at home. Their target market is the people from Seattle who are educated on fine coffees. These are type of people who love quality brewed coffees. When Schultz joined Starbucks, he envisioned the company as becoming the Third Place. The Third Place is considered as the place between home and work. The company was now engaged in serving coffee to customers similar to Italian espresso bars. It is in this stage of the company’s life cycle that their target customer also includes people who are educated with college degrees and high annual income. The market segment responded positively to the Starbuck’s marketing strategy such that the company grew rapidly. Schultz and his management team strategically positioned Starbucks as a strong brand that not only spells quality coffee beverages but also a unique experience in which the customer longs for and

Does the globalisation of culture effectively mean the westernisation Essay

Does the globalisation of culture effectively mean the westernisation of culture - Essay Example It is a process of transformation that is affected by several changing factors at the global level. The main factors that promote globalisation are technology, economy and culture. Politics has been widely influenced by globalisation; and the political institutions, such as the nation – state have been significantly transformed, on account of globalisation (Shaw 1999: iii). There are a number of concepts involved in the globalisation process, which vary according to the circumstances. It has been argued that globalisation is a symbol of capitalism that is controlled by the market forces. Globalisation legalises transnational capitalism, and establishes international governmental institutions to supervise the world. As such, it brings about global domination, thereby depriving sovereign nations of their power of self – determination (Kellner). Culture can be defined as a combination of diverse features, such as spirituality, materialism, intellectual pursuits and emotions in a society. It incorporates art, literature, lifestyles, social forms of living, value systems, traditions, and belief in a social group or society. Culture can also be construed as communication. Civilisation developed on the basis of the cultural features of society. In the past, the development of dominant societies in a specific region established unique cultural identities for that region. The development of culture resulted in civilisation (Effects on Globalization in Culture Differentiation 2009). In the aftermath of globalisation, cultural identity, in some societies that depict cultural diversity, will emerge stronger. The determining factors, in relation to cultural identity will change, after globalisation. Consequently, diversities in culture will coexist with globalisation. However, the criteria that underlie culture differentiation will undergo transformation, due to globalisation (Effects on Globalization in Culture Differentiation 2009). Western

Understanding The Political Party System Of Nigeria Politics Essay

Understanding The Political Party System Of Nigeria Politics Essay Political parties are important in any representative democracy. They gather people with similar interests, set policy-making agendas, allow for choosing new candidates for offices, and provide for coordinated electoral and legislative activity. Democratic development requires efficient and functioning parties. Since the start of the third wave of democratization in 1974, various multiparty systems have been introduced in new, restored and emerging democracies around the world (Political Parties in Conflict-Prone Societies: Encouraging Inclusive Politics and Democratic Development). The multiparty system has positive and negative aspects. The positive aspects includes: redistributing of wealth to the poor, increasing communications between groups, solving problems between parties, and giving power to weaker groups. However its negative aspects damage the processes of democracy by: preventing minorities from getting power and empowering dominant parties. The multiparty system is evide nt in Nigeria. Nigeria is a nation on the west coast of Africa. It is one of the most populous countries in the world. Its terrain varies from hot tropical forests to dry deserts. There are many ethnic groups living in different regions in Nigeria (Nigeria). The United Kingdom gained control of Nigeria in the late 1800s and the early 1900s. Nigeria was a British colony until 1960, when it gained independence. Once after independence, Nigerias political party system was chaotic (Nigeria: Place). Nigerias ethnic groups, Nigerias regions, and Nigerias religious groups affected the political party system, creating a weak and ineffective system. Nigerias Ethnic Groups The different ethnic groups in Nigeria were associated with different political parties which promoted political fragmentation. Arthur Nwankwo refers to Okwudiba Nnoli, an author who writes about the conflicts in Nigeria, about the impact of Nigerians different ethnic groups on Nigerian political party system: There is no nation in the world today, which does not strive for the attainment of full democracy, the material and spiritual empowerment of her people. However, as striving differs in the conscious realization of these ideals, many nations are still caught in the tragic dance of hypocrisy and deceit. Such nations, Nigeria being a ready example, risk the danger of total violence and the pains of collective immolation. We cannot allow this country to suffer that kind of fate of which many states are unworthy examples, which litter the pages of human civilization. To many well-meaning observers and commentators, the democratization process in Nigeria has at best been haphazard and at worst non-existent. The contradictions of our colonial past and our inability to evolve a workable political system stem from the opportunism and lack of vision of most of the post-colonial elite. Okwudiba Nnoli opines that ethnicity, more than any other factor is at the root cause of this. According to hi m, politics, during the era of the nationalist struggle for independence from colonialism, was dominated by the conflict arising from the assertion of interests other than national interest. In their inter-class struggles, the hegemonic regional factions of these privileged classes paid lip services to the desirability of national unity, and condemned ethnic particularism. For all intents and purposes these declarations were not taken seriously and were never intended to be. The same people who inveighed against ethnicity and ethnic identify simultaneously institutionalized them by making them a basis for economic participation within their regional enclaves and to a lesser extent for political participation at both the regional and national level (Okwudiba Nnoli 978: 153-154). (Political parties in Nigeria). In short, Nwankwo argues that ethnicity is the main reason why Nigerias democratization process or Nigerias political party is in chaos. It is because the Nigerian people fail to realize the larger picture. To show that the Nigerian people fail to see the whole picture, Nwankwo also mentions: The conflict arising from the assertion of interests other than national interest is the uncomfortable fact but reality all the same, that the concept of the nation as a Nigeria geographical entity and identity is a novel concept yet to take firm root in the consciousness and psyche of the average Nigerian person and institutions. Put differently, it is my view that the notion of the Nigerian nation and therefore National Interest as a concrete reality of the same meaning and importance in our country is yet to be fully realized (Political parties in Nigeria). Ethnic loyalty dominated political parties in Nigeria. Unlike many African nations, Nigeria never was under the control of a single political party system. According to dictionary.com, a single political party system is a dominant-party system where only one political party can realistically become the government. Governments have tried to force Nigerians to express their will through cross-ethnic parties or diverse parties with multiple groups in one coalition (Kesselman, Krieger, and Joseph 261-268). However, because ethnicity drives much of the political organizing in the country, political leaders have succeeded in undermining the goal of truly national parties through their appeals to ethnic identity. A cross-ethnic party is in that situation nothing more than a coalition of ethnic interests. The NPC (Nigerian peoples Congress) represented conservative, Muslim, largely Hausa interests. The NCNC (National Convention of Nigerian Citizens) was the Igbos party, and the AG (Action Gr oup) was a party that was controlled by the Yoruba (Comparative: Comparing Political Parties). According to Nwankwo, Nigerians political parties are made up of connections whose political persuasions are opposed and this also explains the high level of party indiscipline and collapse of the parties. Because of their artificiality, all the parties are experiencing cracks or fragmentation. The political class has always remained bereft of viable political ideology on which the nations political future could be anchored. This bankruptcy in ideology and vision has rescued party politics in Nigeria to a bread and butter game where monetization of the political process is the bedrock of loyalty and support. In conclusion, ethnicity creates disunity in Nigerians political party system. Nigerias Regions The different regions in Nigeria affect the political party system by creating political instability. Before Nigerias independence, there were three political parties. Each was divided based on the regions: the Northern Region, Eastern Region, and Western Region. After many years of British rule, several positive aspects were found in Nigeria. There was increased urbanization, improved communications, and trade. These aspects made the Nigerians feel United as a nation. As a result, Nigerian leaders agreed to keep the name Nigeria. They also agreed to create a democratic government based on British parliamentary government which shared national and local government power (Nigerian Independence). After independence, the three regional parties had trouble sharing power and unifying Nigeria. They tried to establish national institutions such as education to try to unify the country. Education stressed the importance of national identity and unity. They still had problems (Comparative: Comparing Political Parties). According to the authors of Introduction to Comparative Poltics, the Northern Region had the majority of Nigerian people in its territory. They wanted the most delegates. Sir Ahmadu Bello, the most powerful Fulani leader in the north, handpicked his assistant, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, to be the first prime minister of Nigeria (Kesselman, Krieger, and Joseph 260-265). Following independence Nigerian unity began to disappear. First, a section of the Western Region decided to secede. In 1964, the population in the Northern Regions was larger than the two other regions. Because of this, the Northern Region had many delegates in the national legislature. The north accepted this because it was in their favor. However, the Western and Eastern Regions opposed it. Corruption among the Nigerian government leaders caused problems for regional groups (Nigerian Independence). More problems came up when Prime Minister Balewa and government leaders in the Northern and Western Regions were murdered in a coup staged by several army officers. General Aguyi-lronsi, an Igbo from the Eastern Region, declared himself the head of state (Comparative: Comparing Political Parties). Ironsis government was short, but many Nigerians blamed the Igbo people for the coup that brought Ironsi to power. In July, Northern Region officers assassinated General Ironsi (Nigerian Independence). Colonel Yakubu Gowon, a northerner, became the head of state. Colonel Ojukwu, an eastern military official, was disappointed in the instability of Nigeria. He governed the Eastern Region as a separate nation, expelling all non-easterners. In response to Colonel Ojukwus decision, Gowon infuriated eastern leaders by dividing Nigeria into twelve states without consulting them (nigeria). On May 30, 1967, Ojukwu seceded from Nigeria and declared the Eastern Region the separate country of Biafra, marking the start of the Nigerian Civil War (Nigerian Independence). After three years of fighting, Biafra finally announced the end of its secession on January 12, 1970. The war had a lasting effect on Nigerian life (Nigerian Independence). First, the blockade of Biafra had kept food from entering the war zone. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Biafran civilians died, mostly from starvation and disease. Second, Nigeria remained divided into twelve states, leaving the Igbo isolated politically (nigeria). Finally, the civil war increased the power and prestige of the military. Nigeria increased the size of its military from 10,000 in 1967 before the war, to 250,000 at its height. After the civil war, Nigeria tried to reconstruct the nation, yet political instability continued. For example, Nigerian leaders restructured the political map several times. In 1976 Nigerian military leader General Murtala Ramat Mohammed divided the country into nineteen states. Mohammed also moved the capital of Nigeria from the former colonial capital of Lagos to a new location, called Abuja, in his northern region. In 1991, the political map was again divided, this time into thirty-one states (Nigerian Independence). In conclusion, the different regions created political instability for about thirty following independence that affected the different regional party leaders. Nigerias Religious Groups The different religious groups affect the political party system by allowing for destructive behavior. Religion has been a persistent conflict in Nigeria for a long time. The two dominant religions are Islam and Christianity. Islam came from northeast Nigeria somewhere between the eleventh and twelfth centuries. It spread to the Hausa territory by the fifteenth century and greatly expanded in the early nineteenth century. In the north Islam started with coexisting with the different indigenous religions. However, it gradually converted most of them into Islam. Christianity arrived in the early nineteenth century, but expanded rapidly through missionary work in southern Nigeria. The amalgamation of northern and southern Nigeria in 1914 brought together the two religions and their belief systems. These religious cultures have consistently clashed over political issues such as the secular character of the state. The application of the sharia criminal code in the northern states has been a focal point for these tensions. For many Muslims, the sharia code represents a tradition or a way of life and supreme personal law that transcends secular and state law; for many Christians, the expansion of sharia law threatens the secular nature of the Nigerian state and their position within it. The pull of religious versus national identity becomes even stronger during economic crisis. For example, during the Babangida period, there was a rise in both Islamic fundamentalist movements and evangelical Christian fundamentalism that has continued through the present. Where significant numbers of southern Christians are living in predominantly Muslim states (for example Kaduna State), many clashes have erupted, with great loss of life and the extensive destruction of churches, mosques, and small businesses (Kesselman, Krieger, and Joseph 300-301). The Ineffective Party System and Conclusion Nigerias political system consists of many parties. The different ethnicities contribute to the disunity in Nigeria. The different regions contribute to the political instability. The different religious groups contribute to destructive behavior. The Nigerian multiparty system is ineffective because, unlike most democracy which promotes peace and freedom to its people, it creates disunity, instability, and destruction among political parties. The weaknesses of this system includes: a divided country whose people work against each other; a corrupted system where regional parties fight to dominate government; and a nation who can not think together. There are no significant strengths. Although a multiparty system is good for redistribution of wealth and power; stronger communications; and solving problems together, the multiparty system present in Nigeria would best serve no one. Instead of promoting peace like most democracies, Nigeria, consumed in violent opposition between different groups of people, opt to stay in political turmoil.

Lewis Latimer :: essays research papers

Lewis Latimer was born in Chelsea, Massachusetts in 1848. He was the son of George and Rebecca Latimer, escaped slaves from Virginia. When Lewis Latimer was a boy his father George was arrested and tried as a slave fugitive. The judge ordered his return to Virginia and slavery, but the local community to pay for George Latimer’s freedom raised money. George Latimer later went underground fearing his re-enslavement, a great hardship for Lewis' family. Lewis Latimer enlisted in the Union Navy at the age of 15 by forging the age on his birth certificate. Upon the completion of his military service, Lewis Latimer returned to Boston, Massachusetts where he was employed by the patent solicitors Crosby & Gould. While working in the office Lewis began the study of drafting and eventually became their head draftsmen. During his employment with Crosby & Gould, Latimer drafted the patent drawings for Alexander Graham Bell's patent application for the telephone, spending long nights with the inventor. Bell rushed his patent application to the patent office mere hours ahead of the competition and won the patent rights to the telephone with the help of Latimer. Hiram Maxim, founder of the U.S. Electric Light Co., at Bridgeport, CN, and the inventor of the Maxim machine gun, hired Lewis Latimer as an assistant manager and draftsman. Latimer's talent for drafting and his creative genius led him to invent a method of making carbon filaments for the Maxim electric incandescent lamp. In 1881, he supervised the installation of the electric lights in New York, Philadelphia, Montreal, and London. Lewis Latimer was the original draftsman for Thomas Edison (who he started working for in 1884) and as such was the star witness in Edison’s infringement suits. Lewis Latimer was the only African American member of the twenty-four "Edison Pioneers", Thomas Edison's engineering division of the Edison Company. Latimer also co-authored a book on electricity published in 1890 called, "Incandescent Electric Lighting: A Practical Description of the Edison System." Lewis Latimer had many interests. He was an inventor, draftsman, engineer, author, poet, musician, and, at the same time, a devoted family man and philanthropist.