A Day in the Shoes of a SIPA Student COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog

A Day in the Shoes of a SIPA Student COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY - SIPA Admissions Blog What is a typical day like for a SIPA student?   Carrie Dorn offers her perspective . . . _____________________ When I first informed my friends about my acceptance to SIPA, they gave me a lot of unsolicited advice and some of it turned out to be very useful.  I was advised to pack in all of the rest and relaxation that I could get before the school year started by catching up with acquaintances and family members, organizing my house, reading some non-fiction, seeing the newest movies, and taking a vacation. Being the type of person who has always had a busy schedule, I didn’t imagine that the life of a student would be much different from my work life. But, now that I am at SIPA, I pass this wisdom on to you.   Life at SIPA is busier and more exhilarating than you can anticipate.   Between classes there are lectures attend, cover letters to write, and networking to be done.   At night there are socials to go to, documentaries to watch, research to gather, and group presentations to practice.   The days of a student are long, the homework never-ending, and always learning opportunities not to be missed. Here is a snapshot of what my day looked like on a fairly typical Tuesday in mid-November . . . Wake up at 6 am and brew some coffee.   Feeling awake! Read and respond to emails and proofread a paper proposal to be handed in tomorrow.   Running late! Power walk to my 9 am class, Advanced Generalist Practice and Programming at the School of Social Work.   Today’s topic is integrating qualitative and quantitative data for comprehensive asset-needs assessments.   Meet with my group after class to discuss interviews and edits for our project, determining the strengths and needs of individuals reentering the East Harlem community after incarceration.   So much to be done! Report to SIPA’s Office of Admissions and Financial Aid for work at 11:15 am.   Talk to prospective students on the phone and in person about the impressive work that they’re doing and their future career goals.   Extraordinary applicants! At 2 pm, meet with a fellow student and plan for our upcoming conversations with administrators about the inter-school coordination of dual degree programs.   Advocating for improved processes! Stop by the Office of Career Services to schedule an appointment to review my resume with a counselor.   Find out the dates and times of upcoming New York City Career Panel sessions.   Filling up my planner! Report back to the Office of Admissions for the afternoon hours to assist in filing and answering questions about the admissions process by email. Go to the 6th floor computer lab to print out materials for tomorrow’s classes and chat with friends. At 8pm go to the Brazil Trip information session to find out about SIPA’s Spring Break Trip to São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.   Pizza dinner provided! Get home around 9:30 pm, finish up homework and plan for tomorrow.   Jump into my comfy bed at midnight and fall asleep.   Dream until the alarm goes off tomorrow morning!

The History of the Labor Movement up to the Present

Research the history of the Labor Movement up to the present. Labor Unions were made to help the worker. The first know labor union was in New York in 1768 when New York Journeymen protested wage agreements (History.com Staff). Then later in 1794 a bunch of journeymen otherwise known as shoemakers formed together to form what was the first known Union (History.com Staff). Labor Unions actually started with skilled workers. Not many factory workers were part of a union. One of the most famous Labor Unions is known as the Knight of Unions and is also when the national labor union was formed in 1866 (history.com Staff). In 1825 the first all-women’s Union was created (Unions-news.org).In 1999 almost 75,000 works were unionized in Los†¦show more content†¦What are the disadvantages of a union at management stand point? There are a lot of disadvantages from a management point of view. The main disadvantage is the higher wages. When Employees form a union they are doing it for a specific reason I think one of those reasons may be to raise their wages. This can cause some economic problems with the company. Also, strikes could be a disadvantage if a union is not happy or satisfied they may go on strike causing a shutdown in the company; which could cause lack of money. More lawsuits are another disadvantage because say the company breaks a rule that has been made in an agreement with the union that employee can issue a lawsuit with the union behind them (Edmunds). Northwestern University athletes now have the right to form a union. How did this come about and why was it necessary? Northwestern University wants to have a union because there are some demands in which they feel the NCAA deserves to give them. All of these demands are reasonable. The demands are they want full tuition scholarships and they want the right to their name, and likeliness. They also want health and education benefits. They want some regulation on if someone were to get hurt and not be able to play they want that athlete to still be able to receive the scholarship to attend school. They want the NCAA to pay for their injuries and cost of injury. They want moreShow MoreRelated class struggles Essay693 Words   |  3 Pagesvery beginning â€Å"The History of all hitherto societies has been the history of class struggles† (50). Focusing on the development and eventual destruction of the bourgeoisie, which was the dominant class of his day, and the rise of the worki ng class, that of the Proletarians. nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;I do understand that in some cases the system has a stain upon it and Marx was out to find the solution. Unfortunately he thought that by making a radical socialistic movement, and changing the aRead MoreThe Marx And Marx s Views On History And Society, By Robert C. Tucker Essay1368 Words   |  6 PagesThe Marx-Engels Reader By Robert C. Tucker is an anthology containing essential writings of German philosophers Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels. Major writing selections are to understand Marx perspective about history and society, such as The German Ideology. Marx introduces his historical materialism philosophy in the German Ideology: Part 1 of this book, where he proposes communism. Although I agree with a few points Marx gives, I can not accept his overall conclusion that communism is the onlyRead More Why Do Labor Unions Matter? Essay1600 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction The labor union movement over the years has shaped the way individuals work and live for both the nicest and unpleasant. Some would think the unions influence has created a power struggle between management and union leaders. In today’s time, some citizens insist the existence of unions are a must to aid in employee freedom, while others view the labor unions as just another problem in the line of progress. The purpose of labor unions was for employed workers to come together andRead MoreAmerican Historian And Labor Organizer, By Barbara Mayer Wertheimer881 Words   |  4 Pagesstatement made by numerous labor union groups. They resented women in the unions, they felt it was a man’s place, they believed women belonged at home taking care of the children. It was this belief that made it difficult, although not impossible for women to break through the glass ceiling and make statements regarding conditions and treatment in the workplace. While they faced opposition cons tantly, they refused to give up. Barbara Mayer Wertheimer is an American historian and labor organizer; she specializesRead MoreOrigins Of The Mormon Pioneers901 Words   |  4 Pagesarriving in Utah, they wanted to further their Utopian movement. Mormons consecrated their talents and meager funds all together, to begin construction of the Salt Lake City temple (Scott). The Utopian society of Mormon’s believed that the legacy, authority, and influence of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for their perfect world, stems from the highest â€Å"reality† that the Church s beginning was celestial: in other words, the Mormon history is not that of man s reorganization but of GodRead MoreThe Strike Of Foodservice Workers At Unc Chapel Hill1587 Words   |  7 PagesChapel Hill was a labor dispute involving lunch ladies, less than 20 women of color, working in a college cafeteria serving the large student population. This unlikely group of women and their labor dispute had a much more important effect on the larger perspective of not only work conditions and wages for women and African Americans, but the macro level of civil rights on college campuses in the south during the civil rights movement. The efforts of the women and Black Student Movement to fight for fairRead MoreGender History : Women And Women1602 Words   |  7 Pa gesGender history focuses on the fundamental idea of what it means to be defined as a man or woman in history. Gender historians are concerned with the different changes that occur within a society, during a particular period of time in regards to the perceived differences between women and men. Also, they are concerned with the impact of gender on various historically important events. Gender history developed because traditional historiography excluded women from ‘universal’ and ‘general’ history. FeminismRead MoreWomen in the Workforce: From World War II To Present1080 Words   |  4 PagesWomen in the Workforce: From World War II to Present Undeniably, the outlook of women in the workforce changed following the advent of World War II. Traditionally, the role of caretaker of the house and home was assigned to the woman. Society and institutions facilitated, accepted and supported this way of thinking and way of life. Working outside the home was considered a mans job. A woman expressing an interest in being anything other than a homemaker and wife was frowned upon. Accepted wasRead MoreHistory of Guidance Movement1355 Words   |  6 PagesHistory of Guidance Movement INTRODUCTION: The history of school counseling around the world varies greatly based on how different countries and local communities have chosen to provide academic, career, college readiness, and personal/social skills and competencies to K-12 children and their families based on economic and social capital resources and public versus private educational settings in what is now called a school counseling program. In the United States, the school counseling professionRead MoreWomen s Rights Of Women1587 Words   |  7 Pagesinvolved in the movement in the 1830s prior to slavery. The movement became interested in the women’s rights for many reasons. The national women party took the lead in the late 1940s and 1950s as the center of a structured women’s rights movement. A wide variety of groups and individuals contributed to the opinions and beliefs that change in the status of the women. The women rights movement came to a small group of organizations that saw themselves as the suffrage movement. There are groups

The Life of Robert E Lee - 701 Words

In life we all want to see things as black and white, cut and dry, and easy to understand. This is not the case with Robert E. Lee. He was smart, loyal and above all, complicated. We like to make him out as some old general guy who fought for the South in the Civil War. Eventually lost at Gettysburg and because it was the turning point of the Civil War; he became famous for losing. He is a lot more than just that. He was an actual person who, from his birth up to his death, dealt with real life situations. On January 19, 1807, Robert E. Lee was born in Stratford, Virginia to Henry and Anne Lee. His father was a Revolutionary War hero, nicknamed Light-Horse Harry†, also being a Major General. Being born in a military family, Robert seemed likely to follow in his father’s footsteps. When he was 18, he enrolled into West Point Military Academy where he graduated second in his class in 1829. In 1831, he met and married his wife Mary Anna Randolph Custis, the great granddaughter of George Washington and Martha Washington. They later had seven children: four daughters and three sons. Instead of doing anything combat related he served in the Corps of Engineers, looking over the construction of the United States’ coastal defenses. However, his service in the Mexican-American war in 1846 changed that. Being a member of General Winfield, he made himself stand out, earning three brevets for gallantry and gaining the rank of colonel from the war. After that,Show MoreRelatedEssay on The Life of Robert E. Lee667 Words   |  3 PagesThe Life of Robert E. Lee Robert Edward Lee was born on January 19th, 1807 in Stratford, Virginia. Roberts father was thrown in debtors jail many times for not paying on time. He was introduced to war early in his life; his brother Sydney had shown him a cannon ball and told him about the revolution. Mrs. Lees stepson was old enough to claim the mansion where they lived that his dead mother had given to him in his will. The Lees left to live in Alexandria. Lee was brought up in a ChristianRead MoreRobert E. Lee s Life1237 Words   |  5 Pagesdiffering views on Robert E. Lee, which may be the reason so many historians find him intriguing, however, he still remains very much something of a mystery. Many earlier works, beginning in the late 19th and until the mid-20th century, Lee has often been portrayed as nearly saint-like, nearly clairvoyant with his defensive actions. Modern historiographies of Lee vary from the earlier works written as they seem to look more into the man, rather than the legend. Earlier biographies of Lee interpret himRead MoreRobert E Lee s Life1366 Words   |  6 Pages As Robert E. Lee said, â€Å"You cannot be a true man until you learn to obey.† This quote fits his life well as he worked his way up the chain to be the man and wonderful military leader he was. Robert started on the bottom and work his way all the way up to General. One of the bloodiest battles he was in was at Antietam as he was trying to gain Northern soil. Robert E Lee was born on January 19, 1807, in Stratford Hall, Virginia. He was born to Henry â€Å"Light Horse Larry† Lee and Anne HillRead MoreRobert E. Lee s Life2092 Words   |  9 PagesRobert E. Lee is considered by many as one of the greatest generals in the history of the United States. Even though Lee turned on his country, he is still loved by many. He is an influential figure in the eye of the public, especially in the south. The impact that Robert E. Lee had on the United States is enormous and cannot be measured. On January 19th, 1807, Robert Edward Lee was born in Stratford Hall, Virginia. He was the son of Henry â€Å"Light Horse Harry† Lee III, a general in the RevolutionaryRead MoreRobert E. Lee s Life3560 Words   |  15 Pagesdiffering views on Robert E. Lee, which may be the reason so many historians find him intriguing, however, he still remains very much something of a mystery. Many earlier works, beginning in the late 19th and until the mid-20th century, Lee has often been portrayed as nearly saint-like, nearly clairvoyant with his defensive actions. Modern historiographies of Lee vary from the earlier works written as they seem to look more into the man, rather than the legend. Earlier biographies of Lee interpret himRead MoreRobert E. Lee s Life2475 Words   |  10 Pages Robert E. Lee was a general for the Confederates during the American Civil War, who led the Army of Northern Virginia from June 1862, till the end of the war. Robert is a descended from the first famili es to set foot on Virginia soil. Robert E. Lee was a successful general even before the American Civil War. One of the best at the time in United States Army. Robert E. Lee was born in Virginia in Westmoreland County. He was the youngest in his family. His father was Henry Lee III and Ann Hill CarterRead MoreThe Life and Career of Robert E. Lee1072 Words   |  4 PagesRobert E. Lee Robert Edward Lee was born on January 19, 1807 in Stratford, Virginia. When he joined West Point, he graduated second in his class and had a demerit free record (Pryor). After he graduated from West Point, he enrolled into the Army in the Mexican American War. Once the Civil War came across America, Lee took the position as a general for the Confederacy. He proved to be a worthy general by winning the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, the Seven Days BattleRead MoreRobert E. Lee s Life During The Civil War1265 Words   |  6 Pagescontributed to the rise of anxiety and stress related medical disorders. Robert E. Lee, a brilliant Confederate general and skilled tactician, was such a case. General Lee s health during his pre-Civil War years was without blemish. However, with the beginning of the Civil War, Lee s health experienced noticeable decline. Later in his life, doctors diagnosed Lee with pericarditis, but more modern clinical evaluations of Robert E Lee s sy mptoms conclude that his condition was more likely attributed toRead MoreNew York : Three Rivers Press1608 Words   |  7 PagesH. W. Crocker III, Robert E. Lee on Leadership, in character, courage, and vision. New York: Three Rivers press, 2000. Ppx + 231. Bibliography and index. $14.95 (Paper). In this book Crocker attempts to layout valuable business lessons for today’s modern CEO through his historical story telling of Robert E Lee’s Life from his mid 30th until his death. This book â€Å"executive lessons in character, courage, and Vision† Covers 231 pages plus the index. Crocker starts off by explaining that heRead MoreRobert E Lee: A True American Hero Essay1638 Words   |  7 PagesAmerican History; Robert Edward Lee. Robert Edward Lee was a general in the American Civil War. He led his men and stood with them in each and every they were in and got many of them out safely. Robert E. Lee was born on January 19, 1807 at Stratford in Westmoreland County, Virginia. He was the youngest son of Major-General Henry â€Å"Light Horse Harry† Lee and his second wife, Ann Hill (Carter) Lee. His siblings from his father’s first wife are Philip Ludwell Lee, Lucy Grymes Lee, Henry Lee, and Nathaniel

A Midsummer Night’s Dream the Confusion of Dreams Free Essays

Kelly Johnson ENGL 3000-006 Remien March 5, 2010 Paper 1 The Confusion of Dreams You are falling faster and faster through the pale blue sky with no parachute and nothing to grab on to. The shards of rock below seem to get sharper and sharper as a wave of terror and hopelessness takes over. You are just moments away from certain death when all of the sudden you wake up and realize it was all a dream. We will write a custom essay sample on A Midsummer Night’s Dream: the Confusion of Dreams or any similar topic only for you Order Now In William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, he uses the power of dreams to construct the possibility of an alternate reality. A Midsummer Night’s Dream has many crude elements, which may have been offensive to many members of the audience, possibly causing the removal of his play. In order to combat this potential problem, Shakespeare adds Puck’s final speech to serve as an apology. Instead of using a simple apology though, Shakespeare attempts to convince the audience members they too were in a dream by linking the audience to the characters of the play, powerful discourse and imagery. All of these elements allow the reader or viewer to feel at ease instead of resentment as the play commences. The final speech of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at first seems out of place. As this play is a comedy, Oberon’s final speech appears to be the perfect ending. However, the last words go to Puck, the fairy responsible for all of the mischief seen throughout the play, as he tries to fill the audience with a sense of peace by playing with the idea of dreams. In concurrence with the title, dreams are a dominant element throughout the play. Instead of the lovers questioning anything that previously happened, they just accept they all had the same dream, which allows them to happily continue with their lives as all peace was restored. This speech offers an extension of the possibility that it was all a dream to the audience. Puck calls on the audience to think, â€Å"That you have but slumbered here/ While these visions did appear† (5. 1. 417-418). Puck and the other fairies were able to mend all of the problems between the lovers and this speech should do just the same for the audience. If everything previously witnessed is only a dream, then there is no need for outrage and â€Å"all is mended† (5. 1. 416). By creating a dream-like environment, the focus turns from the drama that unfolded throughout the play to the mystical and humorous occurrences. This enables the audience to feel sense of closure. In addition to relating the audience to the characters, the use of discourse aids to the dream-like sense. Throughout A Midsummer Night’s Dream, the way language is used plays an important role in the message Shakespeare is portraying and the final speech is no different, with the language used mirroring the language throughout the play. The final lines of the play extend upon the use of binary opposites. Throughout this speech, Puck offers conflicting ideas that cause further confusion for the audience, similar to the way dreams are viewed as perplexing upon waking up. Puck insists â€Å"And, as I am an honest Puck, If we have enearned luck Now to scape the serpent’s tongue, We will make amends ere long; Else the Puck a liar call. † (5. 1. 415-420) The contraction between â€Å"honest† and â€Å"liar† is blatant and it is impossible to be both. Additionally, while this is an apology as Puck attempts to gain the audience’s trust, this speech is filled with dangerous images, such as â€Å"serpent’s tongue;† adding a sense of doubt and unease. This confusion further adds to the dream-like sense Shakespeare is trying to create. In addition to the binary opposites that are used, this speech is spoken in such a way that it has a feeling of a lullaby. After suggesting the fact everything previously witnessed may have been a dream, Puck utters the lines â€Å"And this weak and idle theme, No more yielding but a dream, Gentles, do not reprehend, If you pardon, we will mend. † (5. 1. 419-422) While throughout the play, various other characters spoke lyrically, these lyrically spoken lines sound like something out of a lullaby, as if Puck wants the audience to once again fall asleep and dream as to possibly forget everything that had just transpired. Unlike the supernatural magic that was used on the characters throughout the play, Puck is attempting to use the magic of words to get the audience to do and think as he pleases. Using the words â€Å"weak and idle,† â€Å"yielding† and â€Å"Gentles† make the audience feel at peace and willing to do what Puck is asking of them. In addition to the form used, Shakespeare uses the images of shadows in this complex apology. The use of imagery throughout A Midsummer Night’s Dream, including the final speech, plays a powerful role in the underlying meaning of the play. In the first lines of his short monologue, Puck states â€Å"If we shadows have offended, Think but this, and all is mended- That you have but slumbered here While these visions did appear. † (5. 1. 415-418) Instead of referring to the actors as a people, he calls them â€Å"shadows. † The fairies, whose presence has often been mysterious and murky, throughout the play have directed the course of events that transpired. Therefore, it would make sense to the audience to want to follow what Puck is saying, as in the moment, it is the most natural thing to do. Similar to many of the other aspects of this speech, this proposes that what had just happened was simply the work of each person’s imagination. In this sense, Puck is therefore leaving it up to the audience to decide if what they have just witnessed is good or bad. The â€Å"shadows† simply exist; it is up to the audience to give them meaning that relates to each of their lives, just as the characters in the play did. The final speech of A Midsummer Night’s Dream wants to make the audience feel as though they were dreaming, which is accomplished by linking the audience to the characters, discourse and imagery. Puck’s final monologue of A Midsummer Night’s Dream is more than just a simple apology. Even with the darker images and contradictions of the speech, it provides closure for the audience. Just as the characters in the play were able to think everything happened was simply a dream and continue to go about with their lives, Shakespeare is attempting to instill the same belief in the audience and hoping they enjoy the happy ending. Works Cited Shakespeare, William, and Russ McDonald. A Midsummer Night’s Dream. New York, N. Y. : Penguin, 2000. Print. How to cite A Midsummer Night’s Dream: the Confusion of Dreams, Papers

Welcome to The City of God Rethinking the Movie Experience

Whenever there is a major feature film interpretation of a painfully topical issue, the audience takes the on-coming film with a grain of salt, which is quite understandable – there is practically no way in which the movie director can handle the complex issue; as a matter of fact, a movie adaptation is often not about how good the directors’ interpretation is, but how much the movie twists the original idea.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Welcome to The City of God: Rethinking the Movie Experience specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More However, much to the audience’s surprise, The City of God turned out not as much palatable as the source material, i.e., the numerous criminal reports on the Rio de Janeiro suburbs, but also quite unique and different from the original in its own way. With the help of elaborate planning and the use of various technical approaches, as well as the casting choices and other essential elements that make a bulk of a good movie, The City of God manages to convey a number of messages concerning essential social issues in the Latin countries, as well as stet the existing problems within a typical Latin society. The first and the foremost planning element to speak about are the actors. The cast defines the movie, shaping it and giving it additional shades. In the given case, the cast was truly brilliant. Taking into account that the movie was shot as a crime drama, it was crucial to pick the cast who would not overact yet add drama to the movie, and Alexandre Rodriguez handled this task perfectly well. He obviously knows what to say and when to: â€Å"The sun is for everyone, the beach is for those who deserve it† (The City of God), yet he does not have the answer to every question, which makes him a believable character. The rest of the cast leaves rather vague impression, yet there is also nothing terrible about their performance. Like any cr ime movie, this one is packed with all sorts of stunts and smooth movements. However, the tricks in The City of God concern not the artists, but the movie itself, or, to be more exact, the way in which different eras are switched. The transition between the epochs is rather smooth, which is achieved with the help of rather unusual means. For instance, I one of the transitions, the gap between the two epochs is marked near a car passing by (The City of God). In addition, it is still questionable whether the level of the stunt performers matches the existing standards. The given edits make one think of the gaps between different social groups, which are as hard to cross as the time boundaries. Speaking of the way in which the movie floats between two time periods, the visuals of the two worlds are quite stunning, too. Meirelles managed to capture the striking reality of both eras in a bottle. The Rio de Janeiro suburbs are your typical Rio de Janeiro suburbs, the way an average strang er would think of them, yet the stylization of the background does not stretch to the point where an average Rio de Janeiro dweller will consider it offensive.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 In regard to the settings, the color cast of the movie is to be mentioned as well. It is rather peculiar that the color balance is shifted in the movie in such a way so that every single detail in it looks extremely sharp. The given shift is especially obvious in the scene where one of the kids during the conversation asks another one, â€Å"Shall I shoot you in the hand or in the foot?† (The City of God). Adding much to the atmosphere in general, the sharpness of the colors allows to stress the tension within the society and the anger that has been brewing there for the last few decades. The sound effects and the sounds in the background are not to be forgotten, either. It is essenti al that the movie uses the traditional Latin American music for the background in most of the scenes; adding the unforgettable genuine effect, it helps create the atmosphere and allows to plunge into the Latin world completely. Finally, the story comes as the most important element of the movie planning. Helping to reveal even more ideas which the director and the author of the book wanted to convey, the plot must be on par with the visuals, i.e., the most important detail of the entire movie. It is quite impressive that the reference to the book by St. Augustine of Hippo is there in the movie, which makes the latter all the stronger. On the other hand, the comparison of the modern movie about the gangs of Rio de Janeiro to the book written centuries ago with a completely different idea in mind and for completely different purposes might seem inappropriate, there is still a common thread in the two. Both convey the idea of justice as it should be. The only difference is that Augusti ne’s work conveys the message of ideal state showing what the perfect order must look like (St. Augustine), while The City of God, the movie states its moral grounds by showing the audience the lowest of the low. Hence, the idea of what the City of God must not be, is shaped. Indeed, the negative imagery can be as impressive as the positive one; sometimes, the effect of the former can be even stronger, since it does not possess the loathsome taste of moralizing. Moreover, when referring to Augustine’s work, it is necessary to keep in mind that Meirelles did not go with taking all the ideas from the book by Augustine – on the contrary, Meirelles created a modern story only slightly seasoned with the moral concerns which have been voiced in St. Augustine’s book. Hence, Meirelles managed to locate the movie in the present-day reality and add a couple of modern features to it, keeping the key characteristics of the genre intact.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Welcome to The City of God: Rethinking the Movie Experience specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Hence, it is obvious that the specifics of the movie planning, especially the ones concerning the visual elements, contribute to the effect that the movie makes considerably. With the help of a careful, well-developed planning, the movie conveys such social issues as the reasons for high criminal rates in Rio de Janeiro, as well as explains the specifics of the city development, touching upon its history. Therefore, the background for a number of current social issues which are extremely topical for the present-day Brazil is being set as the plot of the movie unwraps. Unmasking the social and political flaws of the existing system, the movie sets a number of moral dilemmas for the audience, leaving the latter to guess whether the leading characters have chosen the right track. Works Cited The City of God. Ex. Prod. Fer nando Meirelles. New York City, NY: Miramax Films. 2003. DVD. St. Augustine. The City of God. Edinburgh: TT Clark, 1871. Print. This essay on Welcome to The City of God: Rethinking the Movie Experience was written and submitted by user Dalia O. 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.

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)