The Importance Of Social Ranking In Michael Moores Roger And Me Essays

The Importance of Social Ranking in Michael Moore's Roger and Me Michael Moore's film, Roger and Me is about the closing of several General Motors plants in Flint, Michigan and the effects that the situation imposes on Flint's citizens. Throughout the movie, Moore, the director and narrator, tries to reach Roger Smith, chairman of GM, to let him understand Flint's suffering and devastation. Flint, after all, is the birthplace of General Motors. The citizens therefore feel that Roger Smith owes it to Flint to keep the plants alive. The story begins as an autobiographical film about Michael Moore. It explains how growing up in Flint, Moore never realized the significance of GM to the town. Nevertheless, he soon learns that the town's entire economy is based on General Motors. Moore's film utilizes various narrative techniques to emphasize that only an elite few have control over issues that may affect others whose voices are ignored. The use of major figures, point of view, and overall tone help him to make his argument. Moore's film is told from a first person perspective which allows the viewer to sympathize for the narrator. Moore is presented in the film as the main character while he continues to play the role of an insignificant individual: himself. Though Moore is a part of the community of Flint, he can still be described as an underdog. He is an average, unattractive, and poorly dressed man. Taking advantage of his ordinariness, Moore represents the everyday citizen of Flint who has to succumb to policies and standards set by the ?cr?me de la cr?me? of Flint. An intriguing part of the film in which the narrator represents himself as an average man is the scene in which Moore gets thrown out from a country club in which Roger Smith would allegedly be found. Access to the country club is reserved strictly for wealthy, ?significant? people, and Moore clearly does not fit this criteria. He also gets denied entrance to Roger Smith's office after many stubborn attempts. At one point, Moore gets a chance to speak with Smith by posing as a major shareholder in GM, but Smith ignores him after learning that Moore is an impostor. When Moore tries to interview a former spokesperson for a GM plant that was recently closed down, she refuses to be interviewed because Moore does not represent any major news network. Ironically enough, the woman is also an average ?nobody?. Moore chooses not to edit the rejections from his film in order to mock the way that people are brainwashed into only yielding to some and not to others based on their social ranking. He avoids his own appearance in the film while he still maintains a first person point of view. The overall tone of Moore's film further illustrates the ongoing struggle between the powerless and the dominant elite. Moore contrasts the lifestyle of the members of Flint's upper class with that of the rest of Flint and illustrates the apathetic attitudes of the rich towards the rest of Flint. He shows wealthy people attending parties, playing golf, and enjoying life without a worry in the world. In fact, some of them go as far as to accuse the poor of simply being lazy and choosing not to work. On the other hand, Moore's film helps the viewer to understand that the poor people of Flint are, in fact, trying to survive. Moore gives the viewer a look at the so-called ?lazy? people's attempts at making a new living. One lady, for example, decides to begin a business that determines the different colors of the clothes that people should wear based on the complexion of their skin. Moore describes the utter ridiculousness of her new business as well as that of another citizen of Flint w ho raises and sells rabbits. To further emphasize the unsuccessful efforts that the town is making to recover, Moore's film depicts several multi-million dollar projects aimed at attracting tourism to Flint. These efforts, needless to say, are done in vain. They still, however, help to prove that the rich people are wrong in saying that Flint is simply being lazy. In a town where poverty prevails, almost every way

Free Essays on Music History Between 1600-1820

Music began to change form the style of the Renaissance to a more complicated form around 1750. The period following the Renaissance is called the Baroque. "Music of any period reflects, in its own way, some of the same influences, tendencies, and generative impulses, that are found in the other arts of that time. Thus the word "baroque," usually used despairingly by eighteenth-century art critics to describe the art and architecture of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, came to be applied also to the music of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries." "The term has in the past, and to some extent in the present, carried implications of absurdity, grotesqueness, or abnormality. But as applied to the music of the period of 1600-1750 the term "baroque" has no such pejorative connotations, for much of the music of this time is of the finest quality." The Baroque style is easiest seen in the Baroque churches in Europe. It is obvious in the ceiling and altar paintings, the ornate carvings and metal work, and in the highly expressive sculpture. In music, aspects of the Baroque can are flamboyance, spectacle, and emotionalism in Italian Operas. Also, the use of dramatic in religious music and the massing together of large groups of voices and instruments. Some baroque was seen before 1600 and was seen after 1750 and the early baroque was first seen in the works of Montebverdi and in the Venetian School. The major-minor tonality actually emerged from this period and composers began to note the key within the titles of their music. Also pertinent to Baroque style of music, â€Å"a regular persistent rhythmic pattern was frequently used throughout a movement of an instrumental piece in order to constantly maintain a single basic mood.† The main texture of the Baroque was a similar rhythm in all of the parts with the horizontal motion mostly existing in the bass and soprano. There was also an emphasis on... Free Essays on Music History Between 1600-1820 Free Essays on Music History Between 1600-1820 Music began to change form the style of the Renaissance to a more complicated form around 1750. The period following the Renaissance is called the Baroque. "Music of any period reflects, in its own way, some of the same influences, tendencies, and generative impulses, that are found in the other arts of that time. Thus the word "baroque," usually used despairingly by eighteenth-century art critics to describe the art and architecture of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, came to be applied also to the music of the seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries." "The term has in the past, and to some extent in the present, carried implications of absurdity, grotesqueness, or abnormality. But as applied to the music of the period of 1600-1750 the term "baroque" has no such pejorative connotations, for much of the music of this time is of the finest quality." The Baroque style is easiest seen in the Baroque churches in Europe. It is obvious in the ceiling and altar paintings, the ornate carvings and metal work, and in the highly expressive sculpture. In music, aspects of the Baroque can are flamboyance, spectacle, and emotionalism in Italian Operas. Also, the use of dramatic in religious music and the massing together of large groups of voices and instruments. Some baroque was seen before 1600 and was seen after 1750 and the early baroque was first seen in the works of Montebverdi and in the Venetian School. The major-minor tonality actually emerged from this period and composers began to note the key within the titles of their music. Also pertinent to Baroque style of music, â€Å"a regular persistent rhythmic pattern was frequently used throughout a movement of an instrumental piece in order to constantly maintain a single basic mood.† The main texture of the Baroque was a similar rhythm in all of the parts with the horizontal motion mostly existing in the bass and soprano. There was also an emphasis on...

Indonesian Music - Gamelan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Indonesian Music - Gamelan - Essay Example Ethnomusicologists trained in the West have always shown interest in Javanese and Balinese orchestral traditions because these types of music were always easily available in the US. Therefore, researchers and students have always remained focused on these varieties though the music from other islands like Borneo, Sulawesi and Sumatra also form integral parts of Indonesian music. In order to understand the music tradition of a country it is necessary that one should have some background information about its geography, religion, culture and traditions. Indonesia is a diverse cultural composite of 13,667 islands and it is a home for over a hundred different ethnic groups speaking more than 300 languages. The population is a mix of several major religions like Islam, Hindu, Buddhism and Christianity. Therefore, these catalytic factors have a great influence in shaping the art form of Indonesia, especially in music. Local beliefs and traditions known as adat – a native term for cu stoms – play a significant role in forming the Indonesians’ religious practices. The adat ceremonies are marked by events like ritual sacrifices, communal feasts etc. The natives harbor a notion that the spirits of departed ancestors still remain somewhere near the community. Hence they pay offerings to the departed souls in hopes that the spirits will accept what they earnestly submit.

Imformative Speech Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Imformative Speech - Essay Example It is not recognized as a separate breed by the American Kennel Club. Since APBTs are popular for their agility, people make them competitors for dog fighting games. These prove to be very stubborn and persistent players, and show strict obedience to their masters. However, APBTs need training for play and socialization; otherwise, they can prove to be a little tricky to handle due to their strength, stubbornness, and agility. APBTs prove to be very playful with children. That is why people also allow them in their homes. Appropriate training makes them very polite with the children. They waggle their tails to show joy when guests arrive. They are also very loyal to their masters. They can give their lives to save their masters’. To conclude, APBTs are very obedient, playful, gentle, and persistent in nature. Their agility makes people make them participate in games. Their gentleness is a reason why people allow them with their children. Thus, they are a very popular breed among American

Movie Box Essay Example for Free

Movie Box Essay Movie Box is a well known small business, which is situated in Small Heath, Birmingham. Mr. Nazim Hussain currently owns the entertainment store, where he rents out movies and DVDs. Mr. Nazim has one assistant working for him, who records all the details manually. The assistant also answers phone calls about movies and DVD inquiries. Mr. Nazim charges his customers 1. 00 for Bollywood films and 1. 50 for Hollywood films. He also charges an extra fee of 1. 00 for everyday the movie or DVD is over due. The customers have to come to the business if they want to take a movie or a DVD out. For a customer to rent out a movie he/she needs a membership number, without this number the customer cant rent out movies. Statement of Problem Mr. Nazim and his assistant were interviewed, to find out what are the problems with current system and the changes they would like to the new system. Mr. Nazim said that Movie Box is currently dealing with about twenty people per day. All these rentals are taken manually in a register. The business has a thick file and a lot of paper work is lying around the business, which wastes a lot of space. Keeping history files takes too much space and sometimes it is hard to search for particular customers history. As well as this because everything is done manually it takes Mr. Nazim and his assistant a lot of time to locate a particular movie or DVD, because they dont know weather it is out or still in the shop. It is also difficult for Mr. Nazim to calculate the weekly income as it is done manually and a lot of errors could be made easily.

My Star- Lesbian Relationship :: Personal Narrative Relationships Papers

My Star I sat on the edge of her bed, with my head in my hands, crying. My heart was pounding and adrenaline rushed through my veins, making me feel sick to my stomach. I couldn't make myself calm down. I couldn't even take a breath. My hands trembled as I wiped the hair out of my eyes. I glanced through my tears at Star, huddled in the corner of her bright yellow room. She was curled up in a ball with her head on her knees, shaking. I stared, wondering what she was thinking, and what I should do. I wanted so badly to go comfort her as we both cried, but I felt as though I could never touch her again. I felt dirty, even evil. I began to question every belief I'd ever had, even who I was. I looked back down to the ground, and watched everything fade away as more tears formed in my eyes. I wanted to just disappear, to leave my body behind, and not have to deal with what was about to happen. My roommate Star and I had decided to go to Tampa to visit her family for the weekend. She stood over my bed one Friday morning, watching me sleep. I opened my eyes and smiled expecting her to crawl in like she did every morning after her first class, but instead she asked " You wanna come to Tampa with me?" She had a huge, fake smile on her face, as if she was saying please. I didn't hesitate. "Sure," I said as I made room for her next to me. How could I say no to Star, especially when she smiled at me like that? I didn't care where we were going, but I knew I didn't want to spend a weekend with out her. Star was the only child of two extremely religious parents, and attended Catholic school her whole life. She was very sheltered, and modest, whereas I am a very open-minded, liberal person, who is anything but modest. She was Hispanic, and had dark brown, short, curly hair, that she always hid with a bandana. Her eyes were almost black, and were so mysterious and deep that I could stare into them and get lost. She wore pointy, black glasses that I called her "sassy librarian glasses." She dressed how my friends would describe as "dykey.

Promoting Indigenous Family Health Essay

It is a known fact that Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander populations don’t live as long as their western counterparts as shown by AMA Health Report Card (2011). ‘Closing the Gap’ (Calma 2008) is a campaign aimed at a national attempt to support and bring equity in health to our Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander communities. In order to be successful in this we must identify the key issues causing this inequity and through public awareness and government campaigns such as ‘closing the gap’, we become closer to our goal of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders reaching a full and greater life expectancy. Health reform initiatives are used to promote health care within their communities and encourage Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders to be educated about their own health. As a nurse, in order to assist in this process, an understanding of family centred health care and the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander concept of family must be utilized. With these two nursing skills, the local health initiatives and government campaign’s, we are providing the best opportunity and support for Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander communities to take control of their health and ultimately ‘close the gap’. Key issues contributing to the ‘gap’ in health and life expectancy, as identified by AMA (2011), include; low income, limited education, low levels of employment, poor housing, affordability of health care, geographical access to health care and the acceptability of the health care practice to Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander communities. Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service (2013) is a local health reform initiative for Aboriginals and Torres straight Islanders that provides a culturally secure environment where they can access health care due to it’s geographical location, affordability and mostly acceptability. Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Service (IAMS 2013) has two centers within the Illawarra making it geographically accessible. The center is entirely aimed towards the better health of Aboriginals and Torres Straight Islanders, ensuring all health care is affordable and providing as much assistance and support where it may be needed to help these communities improve their health. The main key issue identified by AMA (2011) that is addressed within the IAMS (2013), is the acceptability. The two medical centers are entirely based on the care given to the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander communities, making them specialized and aware of cultural beliefs, customs and the correct communication techniques. The Illawarra Aboriginal Medical Services also employ Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander members of the community as their staff providing a culturally secure environment and a greater concept of family centred care and the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander concept of family within their approach. The AMA (2011) states that Indigenous health workers are significant in facilitating the journey of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders to better health. This also provides opportunities to the Indigenous communities to gain employment, contributing to the resolution for issues of low income and low levels of employment, as identified in the AMA Report Card (2011). Centers such as these provide Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander families a culturally secure, accessible and affordable method to be treated for their health issues in a more comfortable surrounding. On a larger scale the Department of Health and Ageing run by the Australian Government have many programs and health reform initiates in place to assist in ‘closing the gap’ as identified by Calma (2008). Element three of the Indigenous Early Childhood Development National Partnership Annual Report (2011) have a goal of increasing the provision of maternal and child health services of Indigenous children and their mothers. To achieve this, the Child and Maternal Health Services component of their program includes $90. 3million to be used for New Directions Mothers and Babies Services (Department of Health and Ageing 2011). This initiative increases access for Indigenous mothers and their children to; antenatal and postnatal care, education and assistance with breastfeeding, nutrition and parenting, monitoring of immunization status and infections, health checks and referrals for Indigenous children before starting school and monitoring developmental milestones. This initiative provides Indigenous communities with access to health care that promotes better health in the new generation of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Australians, designed to assist with ‘closing the gap’ by raising a new generation with fewer health issues. With this, we are able to address key issues identified by AMA (2011). The main key issue addressed by this initiative is access. Consultations are held with Aboriginal Health Forums to assist in the identification of priority areas for child and maternal health services. In their annual report, the Department of health and Ageing (2011) state that this ensures that access is given those most in need considering, geographic location, affordability and acceptance. The second key issue identified in the AMA Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Health Report Card (2011) addressed by this initiative is education. The funding provided builds a solid base for providing much needed education to mothers about their babies and already existing children. In order for a program such as this to be successful, health professionals allocated to educating Aboriginals and Torres Straight islanders must be equipped and prepared to deal with the problems faced by cultural barriers as well as being experienced in a family centred care approach (Taylor & Guerin 2010). Family centred nursing care is an important factor in the health outcome of any given patient (Bamm & Rosenbaum 2008). They also claim that there is no exact definition of family, instead, the meaning of family and their level of involvement in care provided, is determined by the patient themselves. The core concepts of successful family centred care are; respect and dignity, information sharing, participation, and collaboration (IFPCC 2013). These principles are the main constituents of effective family centred health care, and ultimately better health outcomes for the patient themselves (Mitchell, Chaboyer & Foster 2007). These concepts can be utilized, with a correct nursing approach, regardless of age, gender or cultural differences. To provide the best family centred care to Indigenous Australians, nurses must utilize the main concepts above, but also have an understanding of the Indigenous concept of family. The Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander population have strong family values, however, it differs from the usual nuclear concept of family in common ‘western’ society. Their family has an extended structure, and in order to provide adequate family centred care, this concept must be understood by health professionals on all levels, including nurses (NSW Department of Community Services 2009). This concept of extended family and their Indigenous ‘community’ as their family means that children are not only the concern of their biological parents, but the entire community. Care of the children in indigenous communities is the responsibility of everyone. Family members can be blood-related, through marriage or through their community, such as elders. It is normal for a combination of mothers, fathers, uncles, aunties, cousins, brothers, sisters or elders to be involved into the care of the individual and these figures must be treated as their direct family even if not directly blood-related (NSW Department of Community Servies 2009). In order to provide family centred care, to not only Indigenous but also all patients, a therapeutic relationship and foundation of trust should be developed (Baas 2012). The principles of family centred care should also be incorporated, especially respect of the Indigenous culture and maintaining their dignity. Respect and dignity, combined with trust and a therapeutic relationship within the Indigenous community, information sharing, participation and collaboration should follow once enough trust has been developed. To gain the trust of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander patient’s and their family, firstly an understanding of their culture should be pertained. When needed, to be aware of such customs as ‘Men’s and Women’s business’, and to respect these practices within your care (Tantiprasut and Crawford 2003). This shows the patient and their family members, you respect them and their culture. Introducing yourself in a friendly and polite manner, including all family members present and always respecting cultural values is key to receiving respect back and developing trust. Acknowledge and actively listen to the needs of the Indigenous people and also their community in a culturally appropriate manner. As described in the practice resource for working with Indigenous communities published by DOCS (2009) showing respect for their elders and community leaders and involving them in important decision making processes will also show that you respect them, their culture and that they can trust you and eventually your advice regarding health issues. In order to successfully be accepted by the community, communication techniques need to be specialized to avoid offending any members of the family or misinterpreting their language. Gaining a basic knowledge of their community will assist in understanding the dominant family groups, language groups and preferred names. This ensures you don’t step out of your boundaries and remain respectful in your approach to their care. Including or consulting with Aboriginal health care workers regarding communication and Aboriginal-English would be beneficial to adequately understand their method of communication. Understanding non-verbal methods of communication and being aware of your own non-verbal communication is highly appropriate when consulting with Indigenous communities. Always speaking with respect, clearly, and avoiding jargon will deliver the best results when building a relationship within the tribes (NSW Department of Community Services 2009). Remaining open minded when consulting with Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander communities in aspects of communication and family relations will avoid incorrect assumptions. It is also high important to play an active role within the community and their events. According to NSW Department of Community Services (2009) within Indigenous communities’ word of mouth is a powerful tool, once an outsider is known as someone who listens actively and can be trusted, the community will be eager to work collaboratively and participate in your health approach (NSW Department of Community Services 2009). When the principles of family centred care; trust, dignity, collaboration and participation, have all been achieved and a therapeutic relationship within the community has developed, the community will listen to your health advice. When introducing a health concept to the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander families it is important to engage them actively into your care (NSW Department of Community Services 2008). Using appropriate communication techniques to explain health issues and the reasons they need to be addressed provides them with education and knowledge regarding why interventions need to be implemented. Allowing them to discuss their options and decide as a community is also important, forcing them to uptake medical help could be seen as disrespectful. Allowing time to answer all questions and concerns from various members of the family in a manner they can understand identifies that you are actively listening and honestly concerned for their health. Demaio and Dysdale 2012 show that continuity of involvement in their community, and providing a continuous support network will only further build their trust in your advice. The ‘gap’ in health and life expectancy between Indigenous Australians and ‘westernised’ Australians is a concerning issue within the country (Calma 2008). Health reform initiatives are funded by the government and local organisations to provide accessible, affordable and culturally safe health care to our Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander communities. These initiatives are designed to address the key issues identified in the AMA Report Card (2011) regarding barriers to health care. Approaching Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander family communities utilizing the family health care principles and with a knowledge of their concept of community family and understanding of their culture increases positive outcomes in their health education and furthermore assisting to ‘close the gap’.