Coach Carter Review

Coach Carter Review Coach Carter is a 2005 film directed by Thomas Carter. It is based on a true story, after the Richmond High School basketball coach Ken Carter portrayed by (Samuel L. Jackson) made headlines in for benching his undefeated team the Richmond Oilers due to poor academic results. In this essay I will be explaining how the film Coach Carter presents one or more key characters in a positive light. Many of the characters are seen in a negative light at the beginning of the film however as the film progresses many of the characters change and are seen in a positive light. I have analysed the character of Timo Cruz. I have done this by focusing on film codes and conventions such as Camera Angles and lighting. The character of Timo Cruz is portrayed in the film by Rick Gonzalez .His character is portrayed in a negative light at the beginning of the film. He is very rude to many of his fellow players and Coach Carter. He is very stubborn and short temped. A good example of his attitude would be on coach carters first day. After five minutes of Ken Carter being coach he gets in a fight with him. He verbally abuses the Coach and even attempts to hurt him. The coach responds by getting him in a headlock and slamming him against wall and asks him to leave his gym one more time. Timo angrily walks out of the gym screaming This Aint Over! and vows never to return back to basketball. He goes back on the street trafficking and selling drugs with his cousin Renny. Film codes and conventions help the audience to gain an understanding of Timo Cruz. The Film director has used the film codes and conventions such as Camera Angles and lighting. In the beginning of the film the director has used intense lighting. Intense lighting creates both harsh light and harsh shadow. It is used to create a harsh mood, to conceal someones face or emotions or to indicate that something or someone is bad. Whenever Timo is in shot Timos Face is usually half hidden and not always showing making him making him look dark and hidden. The producer has used this to show his dark and hidden personality from view. This type of lighting gives an idea to the audience that there is more to Timo then meets the eye and it might not be all that nice. Also during the beginning of the film the director has used the low angle is a camera angle that looks up at a character. This is the opposite of a high angle and makes a character look more powerful. Timo Cruz likes to believe that is he scared of nobody and he is the most valued player in the basket ball team he believes he is powerful and strong and everyone is afraid of him. That is why the producer as used that shot to show that Timo believes that he is strong and powerful. This can make the audience feel vulnerable and small by looking up at the character giving him the impression that he is intimidating person. The character of Timo Cruz begins to change during the film. In the beginning of the film Timo left the team because of a dispute between the coach and himself. However as the film progresses Timo becomes aware of what he has done and asks to join back on the team. The coach is firm on his Decision however the coach gives in and gives Cruz a chance to come back on the team. Carter challenges him with the impossible task of 1000 suicides and 2500 pushups to be completed in less than a week. Cruz tortures himself to do it, and with the help of his teammates also doing suicides and pushups, he is able to complete them and Coach Carter allows him back on the team. This shows that instead of Cruz just quitting he pushes himself to do it. This is a major character change not to give up and do things to your best ability.When Coach Carter stops basketball practice because of the teams bad academic performance, Cruz Quits the team for a second time, eventually going back to work for Renny. L ate one night, Renny (Timos Cousin) is shot and killed on the sidewalk while Cruz is walking back to him after greeting his friends from the team. Cruz ends up at Carters house that night, apologizing for his behaviour and begging him to allow him back on the team. So Carter lets Cruz back on the team, saving him from a future like his cousins. The actions Timo has done shows that he now realises that his Actions can heavily result on his future and this is a major sign of change. Film codes and conventions again help the audience to gain an understanding of Timo Cruz as he changes during the course of the film. Firstly the main film code that has changed to show Timo in a positive light is that there is a bit more lighting. Whenever Timo is in shot we can now see a bit more of his face. Showing his expressions and feelings towards Coach Carter and his team mates, the director has done this to show that Timo is beginning to show himself and his real personality. Also now whenever Timo Cruz is with Coach Carter there are high shots of Timo Cruz. High shots are used to make the subject of the shot small and un-powerful. This is a huge change from the low shots from the beginning of the film. The director has used this shot to show the audience that Timo is now beginning to realise that he is no-longer in power and Coach Carter is. He is no-longer the mean intimidating person he once was .He now looks venerable to Coach Carter and his school and teammates. By the end of the film the character of Timo Cruz is now shown in a positive light. As Coach Carter Leaves to team Timo decides to tell him what his deepest fear is (throughout the film the Coach has been asking Timo what is his deepest fear) Timo Cruz replies: Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people dont feel insecure around most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the you. We are all meant to shine as children do. Its not just in some of us; its in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others. Sir I just wanna say thank youyou saved my life. This quote means that his own fear is to not fulfil his true potential quoting Marianne Williamson in her book, R eturn to Love. From Timo calling everyone Niger to resighting poetry is a huge positive jump .Since returning on the team he has left the drugs trade for good. At the end of the movie it states he was successful of getting a scholarship. He now attends Humboldt State University where he plays basketball as a starting guard The Final film codes and conventions help the audience to gain an understanding of Timo Cruz and how he is now successful and is shown in a positive light. Firstly Timo can be fully seen in every shot there is no more intense lighting to show that he is a bad person, but the audience can completely see him in every shot. When can see all the expressions on his face, also there are no longer any high or low shots to make him look powerful or venerable there is only one shot the medium shot. This shot shows all of Timos expressions on his face. The director has used this shot to show that he is very happy and feels successful. It may be argued that the character of Timo Cruz motivates viewers .This is because despite Timos low odds of becoming successful or in case going to college he comes from the bad side of Richmond; He doesnt have a loving and supporting family, He goes to a school which has horrible academic standards and low morale, he with his cousin Renny are in the drug trafficking business. So with all of his problems stacked against him he still manages to become successful at the end of the movie it states Timo now attends Humboldt State University where he is a starting guard and also studding subjects. This motivates People including me that anyone with the attitude to can be successful no matter where youre from or who you are you can shine. Overall I have analysed how the character of Timo Cruz has succeeded despite adversity. I have shown how The director Thomas Carter has cleverly used film codes to show how Timo Cruz has been portrayed in both a negative and positive lights through lighting and Camera Shots. To show that however you are raised or where ever you are that anyone can succeeded and be successful.

Hope Leslie Essay

In the novel, Hope Leslie, Catherine Maria Sedgwick uses personal analysis as well as historical information to create an uncannily realistic tale of romance, racial prejudice and religion. Throughout the book, Sedgwick emphasizes relations between the Native American peoples and the European Americans living in Massachusetts in the 1640’s. She is able to do this specifically with the characters of Magawisca, the Native American slave with the will of a lioness, Everell Fletcher, the handsome much wanted white male protagonist, Hope Leslie, a strong headed young woman who symbolizes modernism in the piece and Esther Downing, Hope Leslie’s literary foil. Through the relationships between Everell and each of the three female protagonists, Magawisca, Esther and Hope, Sedgwick stresses that the relations between Native Americans and Americans will never be fully amiable due to religious, societal, natural influences. The first relationship of the three relationships that are mentioned in the writing is that of Everell and Magawisca. Sedgwick uses the mother, Mrs. Fletcher, to introduce this young love between the white boy and his Native American acquaintance in a letter to Mr. Everell while he is away from their home at Bethel. â€Å"The boy doth greatly affect the company of the Pequod girl, Magawisca†, she writes,† He hath taught her how to read† (32). This action between the two children shows Magawisca gradually assimilating into the American society and thus, becoming more Americanized and less â€Å"savage† as literacy is considered a civilized ability. As Magawisca dismisses the basic principles of Puritanism, however, it is clear that there is a definitive divide between the Native American and her new family’s beliefs. As religious tenets are defining features of a person and his or her background, Magawisca can never completely assume the American ways without acknowledging the religion. Thus, the relations between her and Everell will not be able to last due to their difference in. Thus, religious differences create adversities in the relationship and ultimately attribute its failure. Mrs. Fletcher directly highlights the fact that the relationship will inevitably fail when she compares the two adolescents to plants: â€Å"Two young plants that have sprung up in close neighborhood, may be separated while young; but if disjoined after their fibers are all intertwined, one, or perchance both, may perish† (33). This statement implies that nature will undoubtedly separate the Everell and Magawisca in the future and the longer they stay together, the more difficult it will be for each of them to survive when they are torn apart. The emphasis on the fact that nature will tear the Native American and the white boy apart is particularly interesting because towards the end of the book Sedgwick brings up the relation between nature and love when speaking about Everell and Hope. In the later case, however, Sedgwick writes, â€Å"Nature will rejoice in reciprocated love, under whatever adversities it comes† (351). This contradictory statement brings to light the idea that reciprocal love between and American and Native Indian will never last no matter how strong the connection is, yet reciprocal love between two Americans will last no matter how many hardships the couple face. Based on Sedgwick’s blatant double-standards, it is clear that relations between the same races are favored, creating yet another issue between Native American and White relations. As the novel progresses, Everell encounters another relationship except this time with Esther Downing. Though this kinship does not directly involve a Native American counterpart, the future diminishment of this bond is directly based on Native American-white relations specifically concerning Magawisca. When Magawisca is apprehended after meeting with Hope Leslie, she is captured on the grounds that she is â€Å"suspected of being an active agent in brewing the conspiracy forming against [the white people] among the Indian tribes†(245). Therefore she is solely arrested on the basis of suspicion, not proof, and only because of her racial affiliations and the skepticism surrounding the Native American peoples at the time. It is this imprisonment of Magawisca that proceeds to highlight the differences between Everell and Esther and future accentuates the fact that relations between the two races will never be completely peaceful. The reactions both Everell and Esther have towards the situation seem to be the same, however the way each of them handle it show that no matter how much the Americans want to have loyal relations with the Natives it will not work. Once Magawisca is imprisoned Everell tried to enlist the help of Esther to free her however, Esther believes that they â€Å"had not scripture warrant for interfering between the prisoner and the magistrates† (292) implying, that she was too morally and religiously strict to free Magawisca without consent to do so. It wasn’t that Esther disliked Magawisca, in fact, she plainly stated that â€Å"those who love [Everell] need no know this maiden to feel that they would save her life at the expense of their own, if they might do it† (293). The restriction on the loyal and amicable friendship both Esther and Magawisca could share was not hindered by distaste for one another, but instead because of strict religious views and moral conduct. This dissent between Everell’s wishes and Esther’s duty brings about the notion â€Å"that there was a painful discord between them† (293) and they are evidently not compatible. The final relationship, between Everell and Hope, shed a positive light the fact that white relations with Native Americans could in fact be successful. Magawisca’s freedom gave both Everell and Hope a mutual cause to fight for and finally allowed them to express the feelings they had suppressed for so long. She pushed both parties to reveal their true love for each other. â€Å"Ask you own heart, Hope Leslie, if any charm could win your affections from Everell Fletcher? † (350). These lines not only instigated a relationship between two soul mates but also affirmed a very close relationship between Hope and Magawisca. This gesture paralleled what Hope did to Esther when she let Esther have a relationship with Everell even though she loved him. It is evident that Magawisca still has feelings for Everell by her reactions to seeing him: â€Å"An involuntary exclamation burst from her lips; and then shuddering at this exposure of her feelings, she hastily gathered together the moccasins that were strewn over the floor, dropped a pair at Hope’s feet, and darted away† (193). Her burst of emotions and flustered actions prove she had feelings for Everell and by sacrificing those feelings for Hope’s happiness, she is delineating that she is in fact, just as good of a friend to Hope as Hope is to Esther. Thus, the relations between Indians and Americans can in fact occur with the upmost loyalty and respect. Though Hope and Everell’s relationship does indicate that the two races can coexist in harmony, Magawisca still makes it clear that thought the individuals may be on good terms, their society as a whole is not by dutifully stating â€Å"the law of vengeance is written on our hearts†¦ the Indian and the white man can no more mingle, and become one, than day and night† (349). The revengeful nature the Native Americans still associate with the white peoples of Massachusetts still trumps any possible platonic or affable relations between the two races. Thus, societal influence once again hinders harmony. Through each of the three relationships it is evident that good relations between the Indians and the Americans may only exist if the mindset of all parties involved is modernist and accepting of all races. In addition, Sedgwick also determines, with the relationship of Faith, Hope’s sister, and Oneco, Magawisca’s brother, that if one of the lovers in the relationship completely assimilates into the culture of the other, a healthy, loving kinship may blossom. Though Sedgwick does portray Native American people in relatively positive light throughout the novel, through her delineation of forbidden and accepted love, she makes it evident that the cultural and ideological barriers between Americans and the American Indians cannot ever be completely lifted.

Science Biology in Psychology - 607 Words

When learning the fundermantals of psychology, biology is often introduced. The origin of psychology is from philosophy and physiology. Thus it is often assumed that the study of biology is nesscasry for the study of psychology. This essay will discuss if the study of biology is essentisal for the study of psychology. Phychological stress is a type of body reaction which alerts the body and mind to react to an enviroment which is psycically or mentally demanding. When a person experiences a stress stimulus from the enviroment, a hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activates the â€Å"fight-or-flight† response. Cortisol, a primary stress hormone released by adrenal gland, speeds up the body and mental functions to cope with the stress. Once the stress has been resolved, it will work together with dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) to bring the body back to a normal state. However, if the stress is prolonged and cortisol is spiked up to uncontrollable levels, cortisol dyregulat ion will occur. As a result, body system will be weakened . By understanding the biology mechinisism decribled above, Psychologist are able to measure the patients mental condition, prompting the suitable treatment according to the stress level. An example of high level stress is Post Tramantic Stress disorder (PTSD). Studies conducted by (Yehuda and colleagues) showed that patients with PTSD has lower cortisol levels to cope with their stress. People with lower cortisol levels has a higher level ofShow MoreRelatedReflecting On Psychology As A Science912 Words   |  4 Pages Reflecting on Psychology as a Science Before I had ever begun to ponder cognitive abilities, or understand the connections between Dopamine and schizophrenia, my concepts of psychology were shaped by the perverse world of popular culture. Prime time psychologists tend to come in two forms. 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Mythology Retold Through Entertainment Outlets Essay

Mythology Retold Through Entertainment Outlets The world of Art and Architecture has continually provided the tools to communicate many differing concepts or ideas such as political ideologies like socialism to simple folk-tales or intricate narratives. The elements of Greek Art and Architecture and its direct connection to mythology is the main focus of this essay. I will present the comparison of a new representation of a Greek Temple used in the set design of, The Clash of the Titans; to the original where its influence is traced to the classic of all Greek Temples, the Parthenon. By illustrating this comparison of new to original, I hope to communicate the idea of how contemporary society has attempted to retell mythology†¦show more content†¦Argos, located upon the eastern coast of Peloponnese ( a region of Macedonia ) is considered the western area of Greece from where the Doric order originated from. The Doric order is represented through this sensationalized work of film through the columns of the architecture de stroyed by one of natures elements. It is through this romanticized version of mythology in film, that Greek mythology as well as history has reached a wider audience. The influence for which the set design of The Clash of the Titans was based upon the High Classical period, where the differing orders were clearly represented. The original I have chosen is one of the most well known Greek Temples, the Parthenon; it is the most influential of the architectural monuments as well as one of the most admired. The Parthenon was built as a temple to honor the Goddess of War, Wisdom, City and Civilization, Athena; she was deemed the protector of Athens, where the temple is located. The construction of this temple at the Acropolis began around 490 BCE and ended in 438 BCE. The Parthenon itself was a composite of both Doric and Ionic orders as it was located in between the eastern and western regions of Greece. The Doric order of the Parthenon is what will be stressed for its significance, as it related to the Temple located in Argos. The Parthenon as a well known architectural icon has had major influence upon all other reconstruction of Greek