Hoop Dreams - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 4 Words: 1153 Downloads: 8 Date added: 2017/09/11 Category Advertising Essay Did you like this example? Hoop Dreams Many authors/film makers realize that sometimes, in order to make a point, an idea is best conveyed through a stirring of the audience’s pathos, or feelings. An audience whose emotions have been affected is more likely to remember a message and take it into consideration. Hoop Dreams, a documentary by Steve James, is an apt example that employs heavy use of pathos in order to present its theme. The documentary follows two boys through their high school years in Chicago as they pursue their life dreams of becoming two players in the NBA. It is hard not to become engaged in the film as the boys must overcome many hurdles in order to work towards their dream. The filmmakers strive to stir the emotions of the audience by giving much attention to the boys’ families, by focusing on the many hardships the two boys and their families must endure, and by using juxtaposition throughout the film, all of which are facilitated by relying on key elements of narrative. Focusing on the families of the two boys allows the audience to sense how these â€Å"hoop dreams† have become family affair, which makes them that much more important. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "Hoop Dreams" essay for you Create order These dreams are no longer your typical children’s dreams. Instead, they are goals that are full heartedly supported by the two boys’ families, which each household rooting for, and in some cases, depending on, the two boys to achieve their dream. For example: there are two persons introduced to the audience in the film that depend on the boys reaching the NBA in order for them to see part of their past dreams reached. Curtis Gates, William’s brother, and Bo Agee, Arthur’s father, both hope to see the boys â€Å"make it big† in the NBA, as both of them were skilled basketball players in their younger years. However, due to Curtis’ stubborn demeanor and Bo’s having two children, neither of them were able to pursue their dream. Also, the two families depend on the young boys career in order to move their life forward out of the current despair they live in. The audience really becomes acquainted with the families, which is done easily through the use of first witness accounts in the narrative. The filmmakers decision to tell the narrative primarily through first person accounts in stead of voice over narrative allows the audience to have a greater feeling of empathy for the family. The filmmakers also give much attention to the physical, mental, and financial struggles the boys and their families must work through. William has a good first two years on the basketball court at St. Joseph’s, but things go downhill after he injures his leg. Also, Arthur must travel three hours a day in order to reach school on time, a burden that surely stands out to the audience. The fact that a fourteen year old boy is willing to travel three hours a day in order to go to a school that may or may not be the key to his success, the key to elevate his family out of the financial hole they are in, is certainly admirable. But the two boys must also endure mental and emotion problems. William begins to stress over basketball, and he makes the comment that he never plays basketball for fun anymore; it has become a job instead, which may be the crux of the entire film. The boys, as well as their families, must come to the realization that they are seen as objects, merchandise, or tickets to success, which can be seen from the very beginning when Earl Smith scouts out the two boys. Arthur’s family realizes this after Arthur is dismissed from St. Joseph’s due to the lack of finances to pay for this tuition. William is recognized for his talent and is supported by Patricia Weir, the president of Brittanica Encyclopedia. However, Arthur did not exhibit as much talent his first year in basketball, and his tuition was not paid for entirely. But that was not the only source of the boys’ problems. Arthur had to deal with his father, who became addicted to cocaine, leaving, which forced his mother to take care of a large family. There is one very touching moment in the film when Arthur’s mother finally receives her nurse accreditation from the community college. It is a heart wrenching scene in which she breaks down and cries and becomes so thankful for what she has achieved. Also worth mentioning is the fact that all of these events are being narrated chronologically. The audience literally watches the boys grow up and confront these problems, which increases the familiarity between the audience and the protagonists of the film. As a result, the audience is much more empathetic to the troubles the boys must endure. Juxtaposition is a tool used frequently in the narrative of Hoop Dreams, and its use is very effective in affecting the audience’s pathos. Juxtaposition can be seen in the very beginning of the film as images of the dilapidated town the boys live in are displayed next to grand images of NBA stars, representing the current status of the boys and the dream they hope to reach. This is the first impression the audience receives of the boys’ social status. Also, the two boys themselves seem to be juxtaposed throughout the film. They both attend St. Joseph’s in the beginning with the same hopes and desires, but from that point onward the boys are contrasted. William excels in academics, while Arthur does not. William excels in basketball during his freshman and sophomore years, while Arthur fails to stand out. William is allowed to remain at St. Joseph’s, while Arthur is forced to leave. All of these juxtapositions allow the audience to see how two boys that begin with practically the same goals can end up in two totally different positions, which forces the audience to think. It begs the question: â€Å"Would Arthur have been allowed to stay at St. Joseph’s had he displayed more talent in basketball, and if so, would his grades have improved, allowing him to get into a good college? If used correctly, narrative can be very successful at appealing to an audience’s pathos. By employing different narrative tactics such as first witness accounts, juxtaposition, and order of series of events, James creates a film that is full of emotion and bound to resound with audiences. By the end of the film the viewer feels like he/she knows the family well and has a good idea of wh at the family has gone through, as well as the boys. The audience is rooting for the two boys in the film because they realize that the protagonists are real people with real problems, and they deserve to achieve their dream just as much as anyone else.

The War Of The Vietnam War Essay - 1158 Words

â€Å"The war in vietnam is but a symptom of a far deeper malady within the American spirit.† Martin Luther King, Jr. once said. The Vietnam War was considered one of America’s greatest defeats of all time. Not only did the US failed to stop the spread of communism, but they also embarrassed this country as a whole with the outcome of this war. The overall outcome from this war will be remembered for years to come. In this essay, I will be talking about how the United States would have won the Vietnam war if the home front was for the war, if the the US was more familiar with the land, and the U.S.’s goal was not successful. Right after World War II, Vietnam was under the control of the French. The North Vietnamese were not satisfied about the French control and later was influenced by the communist China. Communism eventually spread throughout the entire northern part of Vietnam. North Vietnam citizens, led by Ho Chi Minh, then started rebelling against the French and later won. This caused Vietnam to be divided into two parts; North Vietnam and South Vietnam. After that, the U.S. was fearing that communism would spread into the south which caused them to go into war against the north. Presidents during this time reinstated the draft which would bring young men from America into the war. During the war, the media brought a lot of action to the home front which eventually was lost due to tragedies like the Tet Offensive and the My Lai Massacre. The lack of home front’s supportShow MoreRelatedThe War Of Vietnam And The Vietnam War1525 Words   |  7 PagesThe war in Vietnam is The United States and other capitalist bloc countries supported South Vietnam (Republic of Vietnam) against the support by the Soviet Union and other socialist bloc countries of North Vietnam (Democratic Republic of Vietnam) and the Vietcong of war. Which occurred during the Cold War of Vietnam (main battlefield), Laos, and Cambodia. This is the biggest and longtime war in American history during the 1960s (Best 2008). It is also the most significant war after World War IIRead MoreThe War Of The Vietnam War1475 Words   |  6 Pageson one such event, the Vietnam War, came from entertainment-based programs and the play Miss Saigon. Despite heavy coverage in such well-known comedic films as Forrest Gump and Good Morning Vietnam, the true events were anything but a laugh for those involved. In spite of the relative recentness of the events in Vie tnam, many of today’s youths know little about the topic. The events in Vietnam raise the ever-present question on the ethics of third party involvement in a war otherwise unrelated toRead MoreThe War Of The Vietnam War1729 Words   |  7 Pagesspread of communism all around the world. This is what lead to the gruesome war that lasted over a decade in Vietnam. A great deal of social changed happened all over the world, but particularly in America as the Vietnam War dragged on. As people became more aware of the atrocities going on in Southeast Asia, the endless domestic support turned into widespread explosive protest. During the first few years of the Vietnam conflict, Americans full heartedly supported the United States and its governmentRead MoreThe War Of The Vietnam War1379 Words   |  6 Pagestensions over the Vietnam war caused many americans to become divided on the actions taken by the government across seas. Americans questioned whether the government could be trusted. The feeling of betrayal and government secrecy created the â€Å"Credibility Gap,† in which many americans believed that the government no longer was for the people, but for anything else that would benefit the government. The Vietnam War exacerbated the gap between the pro-war traditionalists and anti-war liberals along withRead MoreThe War Of The Vietnam War1430 Words   |  6 Pagesended in 1989, the Vietnam war is still being fought, but on a different battlefield, one of public opinion. Some call this war an atrocity, a war the United States should never have joined. Others call it a crime, committed by the power hungry politicians of the U.S. Now that new information from both sides of the war has surfaced and the wounds of battle have had more time to heal there is yet another opinion emerging. The Vietnam War was in fact only one of many proxy wars fought under the umbrellaRead MoreThe War Of The Vietnam War1155 Words   |  5 PagesThe Vietnam War cost many Americans their lives in the 60s and 70s. Many were drafted into the war by choice and others selectively chosen to join to help America. The contributions made had a major impact on the American side of the Vietnam War. Though many contributions were made none stand out any more than others. It is sometimes said there is always a hero in the war who helped the victory. Wars, however, do not have war heroes because a hero is making an undeniable contribution to the war andRead MoreThe War Of The Vietnam War1592 Words   |  7 PagesThe Vietnam War was said to be one of the most significant wars in the twentieth century. This w ar took place from November 1, 1955 to April 30, 1975. It was at the time, the longest war in American history. Much of the conflict was centered in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. During that time, approximately 58,219 US troops were killed in action. The reason America got involved in the Vietnam War was to stop the spread of communism in South East Asia and beyond. â€Å"America’s involvement in Vietnam derivedRead MoreThe War Of The Vietnam War1204 Words   |  5 Pagesus†¦ When that is the way you are, how do you conduct your life?† The Vietnam War killed over fifty eight thousand Americans and over 61% of the men killed were 21 years or younger. Most Americans are conflicted with the fact whether the Anti War Movement played a factor in prolonging the Vietnamese War. â€Å"In every story there are two sides and in between lies the truth.† Anonymous The United States become involved in Vietnam after the French withdrew when the Republican President Dwight EisenhowerRead MoreThe War Of The Vietnam War877 Words   |  4 PagesAnother big difference in this war was that the Vietnam War was had more disapproval and was more expressive within the American public, unlike the Korean War. The ANITWAR MOVEMENT started in the 1960s this group was never enacted until this era. There was not a group like this in Vietnam, but there were many groups that opposed the war. The main object of these revolts was the American military presence in Indochina. The ANITWAR MOVEMENT caused an influence not only socially, but also in the realmRead MoreThe War Of The Vietnam War1421 Words   |  6 PagesIn July and August of 1972, Jane Fonda made radio broadcasts from Hanoi that changed the way Americans thought of the Vietnam war and of her. To this day, many people view her as a traitor and criticise her actions in Vietnam; however, some people we re truly inspired by her words and what she had to say. Despite people s personal opinions, Fonda was a powerful speaker and knew how to convey her message to her audience. She tried to convince people that the American government and military were the

Letter to the Director of Student Committee-Samples for Students

Question: Write a Letter to the Director of Student Committee appealing for readmission. Answer: To The Director of Student Administrative Unit, The University Appeals Committee, Central Queensland University, Australia Date: 14th March 2018 Subject: Exclusion from the poor performance by giving chance for readmission Respected Sir/Madam, This is to bring to your notice that I am a student of technology department in your esteemed university. I proudly consider myself as a person from the alternative community. I could not expect my gender identity or my sexual orientation can be a reason to judge me. Therefore, being a transgender has been one of the greatest challenges for me in terms of my academic performance. When I first came for admission, I encountered rejection from all of the departments just because Im a queer. However, I found at least one sensible professor with a human approach. He throughout helped me in my admission. I was very excited on getting admission in one of the prestigious colleges in the world. However, little did I know that this was the start of complexities. When I entered the classroom, the students start mocking me. It was just the beginning. However, I ignored it and eagerly waited for the professor to come. At last, I restored faith when the professor, who helped me in my admission, ca me to take the first class. Whenever, I asked questions to the professors, the classmates roared in laughter. I consider these acts not an insult to me only but to the entire queer community. However, I started turning a deaf ear to all the moral polices as the mocking and taunts became common issue. Being a transgender student it was a sheer shock to find that the staffs were also involved in this practice. This made me more concerned regarding approaching the administrative personnel for help. This can be mentioned that the place gets changed but the experiences remain same. Even in my residence, I every single day find difficulty to live as a transgender person. Every single day comes with a new trouble. I find myself helpless. I can feel the chaos within my body and mind since my childhood. My society, my locality and my university lead me to more turmoil. I find peace nowhere. Every now and then, the landlady comes and insults me. I fail to concentrate on my studies, which has adversely affected my academic performance because of this situations and circumstances. I am very ashamed to say that I have failed for more than three years. I am surprised at the approach of personnel of ragging committee. I have complained several times by filling up many forms. Then also, they have ignored my issue probably because they consider myself as a transgender but not as a human being. They may not ready to take my issues seriously. As the taunts and mocking hover in my mind all the time, my health has not been good for the last few days. I can highlight one incident. Once I went to a doctor for check-up. There, I met with one of my classmates. I greeted her, but she mocked me by saying There is no need for you to consult a doctor as you are a deformed human being. I was so shocked, that I at once left the place without consulting the doctor. This aggravated my health complexities, compelling me to perform poorly in academics. I am very passionate towards studies; however, I am not getting the proper platform where I can enhance my preconceived skills, expertise and knowledge. My gender identity comes before anything and everything. However, Im a normal person and a studious student. I also have dreams. I also want to do hard work to make my dreams true. All I need a little human cooperation from you. I can confidently tell you that circumstances are the main agent for my failure and not my lack of interest towards studies. If I am provided with a positive learning environment, I assure that I would expose better performance. I, therefore, request you to provide me re-admission into the course, so that I can prove my capability. I assure you that I would work hard, overcoming all the difficulties. I will be highly obliged if you look into the matter with due consideration. Thanking You, Yours Sincerely XYZ Student ID: _____________