city of god essays

city of god essays In the introductory scene, there is a chicken running through narrow hallways in a Brazilian slum called City of God. Chasing the chicken, there are dozens of thugs waving and shooting guns trying to kill it. At that point, the hero of the movie, Rocket, is presented as what seems to be just another young man that is going to be bullied, or probably killed by the gang members if he doesnt catch the chicken. From there on, director Fernando Meirelles relocates the story a decade before, allowing the public to witness the changes on the slum that conducted to introduction of the movie, and to show that Rocket is a courageous man that is able to face his worst fears. The film is a coming of age story that uses bold cinematography and narrative to powerfully convey its message. The story is a documentary-like film that explains the evolution of violence in that poor city while telling the coming of age story of two kids that moved in opposite directions. On the one hand, there is a kid named Rocket who decided that he didnt want to be a criminal and opposed the violence happening around him. He tries to be a correct man. He falls in love with a pretty girl while working his way to become a photographer. When he sees his first camera, he knows what he wants to do with his life(Oppenheimer). However, after working on dead end jobs and realizing that the girl dumped him for a gang member, Rocket decides to try being a thief, but he finds out that he is not that type of person. Instead, he gradually grows to be a man with aspirations and the will to improve and move out of City of God. On the other hand, there is a boy named Li'l Z who admires his brother and his thug friends that live robbing people in order to buy drugs and to have fun. Li'l Z ends up surpassing the original gang members of the City of God and become ruthless murderer that is not afraid of anything and that craves total contr...

Geophagy (Eating Dirt) - A Traditional Practice

Geophagy (Eating Dirt) - A Traditional Practice People around the world eat clay, dirt or other pieces of the lithosphere for a variety of reasons. Commonly, it is a traditional cultural activity which takes place during pregnancy, religious ceremonies, or as a remedy for disease. Most people who eat dirt live in Central Africa and the Southern United States. While it is a cultural practice, it also fills a physiological need for nutrients. African Geophagy In Africa, pregnant and lactating women are able to satisfy the very different nutritional needs of their bodies by eating clay. Often, the clay comes from favored clay pits and it is sold at market in a variety of sizes and with differing content of minerals. After purchase, the clays are stored in a belt-like cloth around the waist and eaten as desired and often without water. The cravings in pregnancy for a varied nutritional intake (during pregnancy, the body requires 20% more nutrients and 50% more during lactation) are solved by geophagy. The clay commonly ingested in Africa contains important nutrients such as  phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, copper, zinc, manganese, and iron. Spread to the U.S. The tradition of geophagy spread from Africa to the United States with slavery. A 1942 survey in Mississippi showed that at least 25 percent of the schoolchildren habitually ate earth. Adults, although not systematically surveyed, also consumed earth. A number of reasons were given: earth is good for you; it helps pregnant women; it tastes good; it is sour like a lemon; it tastes better if smoked in the chimney, and so on.* Unfortunately, many African-Americans who practice geophagy (or quasi-geophagy) are eating unhealthy material such as laundry starch, ashes, chalk and lead-paint chips because of psychological need. These materials have no nutritional benefits and can lead to intestinal problems and disease. The eating of inappropriate objects and material is known as pica. There are good sites for nutritional clay in the southern United States and sometimes family and friends will send care packages of good earth to expectant mothers in the north. Other Americans, such as the indigenous Pomo of Northern California used dirt in their diet they mixed it with ground acorn which neutralized the acid. * Hunter, John M. Geophagy in Africa and in the United States: A Culture-Nutrition Hypothesis. Geographical Review April 1973: 170-195. (Page 192)