American Beauty: Micro Features Analysis

American Beauty: Micro Features Analysis The film I have specifically chosen for my micro-features analysis essay is Sam Mendess Academy Award winning motion picture American Beauty winning numerous Oscars and praise from critics. The narrative follows the miserable and mundane lives of the Burnham family consisting of Lester, a middle aged man who is facing a severe mid-life crisis and is extremely depressed, married to Carolyn who is an independent business women and housewife and their naive daughter Jane. The films promotional tagline look closer subconsciously implies that the appropriate suburban lifestyle depicted within the narrative is not as ideal as initially perceived, therefore exploring the corrupt and dysfunctional Burnham family fuelled entirely by materialism. The brief sequence chosen for microanalysis is the exposition, otherwise known as the opening which establishes themes, characters, inner and outer presence and the world they inhabit. Sam Mendes, the director must specifically use a contribution of a ll micro-elements including sound, mise en scene, cinematography and editing in order to grasp the viewers conscious attention and propel the narrative forward efficiently, however the two micro-aspects I have chose for analysis consist of mise en scene and cinematography which create meaning and evoke responses from the audience. American Beauty immediately commences with Jane Burnham being recorded by an anonymous character, the conversation between the two is extremely personal based on her ultimate intention to kill her father. The uncomfortable atmosphere compliments the compelling dialogue as it the amateur recording technique is specifically used in order to create realism which grasps the viewer into a submissive position due to the nature of the camera shot shifting into an intimidating low angle shot which consists of Jane dominating the frame with direct eye contacts creating an overwhelmingly intense atmosphere. The lighting within the room is severely limited thus being partially illuminated which creates a room filled with sinister shadows creating an ominous mood which emphasises her monotone clothing creating a mysterious persona that is unconventional for her age, more specifically sixteen therefore contradicting the typical cheerleader stereotype. Janes eye line match within the camera shot d etonates determination, zooming at a subtle pace whilst staring in a sinister way into the camera engages the viewer based on the cameraman refusing to allow her to escape voyeurism. Carolyn Burnham is seen doing traditional female associated activities based on her natural characteristics hence her growing and maintaining the flowers within her garden, more specifically the roses are often associated with love and romance which is reflective of her provocative image possibly fuelled by her intentions to find another sexual partner regardless of her husbands consent however one could consider gardening mentally satisfies Carolyn which inevitably reduces her need for sex, although as an audience we seriously doubt Lester cares due to his lacklustre body language. Lester perhaps outcasts himself from which unfortunately makes him invisible and unnoticeable, captured significantly during the scene where he is seen eavesdropping on the conversation between Carolyn and the homosexual next door neighbour. The intentional use of a cut in shot shows his lack of presence and participation within his wifes life, master shot initially establishes the conversation which is p redictably followed by shot-reverse-shot, the focus ruthlessly shifts between the dialogue where the previously distorted and blurred figure is seen in the window thus representing his fragmenting relationship with his wife and overall exclusion from society. Lesters perspective shows his helplessness to achieve acceptance hence his much more laid back approach to life, rather than a mundane lifestyle adopted by the majority suburban population, possibly aspiring to occupy a more hectic lifestyle however according to his established motivational issues in the exposition this seems highly unlikely. The outside of the house is illuminated entirely by natural light thus being much more glamorous therefore more appealing however he still holds distain towards it, in contrast the interior of the house is fuelled by minimal lighting which is significantly more realistic. In addition the interior of the house is also impractically dark which coincides with Lesters tone during the voice ove r narration thus displaying two conflicting worlds; unfortunately he occupies the miserable one alone. Lester comments on the coincidental matching of Carolyns attire and gardening apparatus, handle on those pruning shears matches her gardening clogs, stating it is not an accident which can be applied to the significance of the door and its colour, more specifically being an intense shade of red which distinctly different from majority of white therefore standing out with exceptional prominence which denotes violence which is depicted ruthlessly within the exposition and can be considered an important theme within the narrative. Lester has already foreshadowed his imminent death via voice over thus establishing the climax, building constant anticipation which makes the viewer become emotionally attached to the protagonist thus evoking empathy towards him and his circumstance. The explicit performance of Lester during the masturbation scene in the shower reflects the realistic approach to the film, the initial shock of this scene can be uncomfortable for less mature audiences, and however it entices the viewer into the realistic world of Lester which is uncountable to the majority of the population who indulge in similar activities. The claustrophobic experience within a shower cubicle can metaphorically represent a prison cell thus being imprisoned into a mundane suburban lifestyle. His body language during this scene is noticeably drained, the angle of his head on his own shoulders displays his lack of stability and main intention to sexually satisfy himself by his own means during the current moment regardless of anyones opinion, especially Carolyn thus referring to it as the highlight of his day without sarcasm. Lesters pleasured body language is due to the masturbation; however it could potentially be exaggerated based on the thrill of doing something against the norms of society hence the use of highlight. Undoubtedly the severe lack of intimacy and chemistry with his wife could possibly be the reason for the masturbation rather than traditional sex, perhaps he is probably bored with sex like the majority of other things due to his refusal to abide by social norms to maintain a stable relationship on order to satisfy one anothers needs. Whilst the Carolyn and Jane are waiting impatiently for Lester to proceed towards the noticeably expensive yet convention middle class car, basic processes such as making sure the suitcase is shut correctly emphasises his severe lack of motivation and commitment to life. Lester is seen casually collecting his work from a high angle perspective, kneeling down in an inferior position to his wife puts significant emphasis in his subordinate role within the dysfunctional family, thus switching gender roles with his wife, which in the current society is acceptable although not predominantly for the traditional male ego especially for dignity and pride; however the behaviour displayed by him implies that his couldnt care less. Carolyns performance such as the raising of the eyebrows displays utter disappointment since she is married to an individual who is such a useless contribution to society thus making him obsolete or otherwise redundant, as he is expendable. Her formal makes her seem significantly more financially independent, reinforced by the low angle perspective of Lester, making her seem significantly more intimidating and authoritative thus not requiring his assistance, potentially holding her back economically. The camera cuts to the family motionless within the car, unresponsive to one another with a significant lack of acknowledgement reinforced the extent of the families communicational breakdown, Lester is seen sitting on the back seat of the car slumped, possibly even asleep whilst his wife and daughter sit in the front eager to get on with their social life, whether it is work or school. Lester positioned between the two within the medium shot, displays his prominence however his physical existence is lacking, possibly lost during the recent years which he has been entirely consumed by the capitalist society. The clothing worn by Lester is representative of his social class; social indicators including his house, car and clothing coincide with the typical middle class individual. Natural light is present within the scene but is obscured by the tinted windows, thus being restricted to reach its full potential, therefore subconsciously representing his constraints metaphorically hence t he muted tones emphasising the lifeless atmosphere. In conclusion the micro-features within the exposition of American Beauty establishes key themes within the narrative, consisting of love, sexuality, identity, etc become more and more prominent as the narrative eventually progresses conveying numerous meaning during this brief sequence therefore dictating the characters personality and determining the choices they will make.

Ease Of Using Search Engines :: essays research papers fc

â€Å"It is easy for all users to find specific information on the World Wide Web†. Because the web is relatively new in terms of reaching a large percentage of a country’s population, users’ experience, understanding and expertise varies widely. Technically-minded people will arguably have been familiar with the World Wide Web for longer, and therefore be able to find specific information more efficiently, if not more quickly than less experienced users. Defining ‘easy’ in terms of using the World Wide Web is interesting. In terms of searching for a specific item, it could be defined as ‘the ability to satisfactorily fulfil a task within a short period of time’. The increasingly plentiful selection of search engines and reference sites on the Internet means that some users will experiment with different engines, whilst others will find one they are satisfied with and make it their first stop when wishing to find information. Users who experiment with a variety of search engines will take longer to familiarise themselves with each individual engine, this can take more time than a user who knows their way around their favourite engine. A user who is loyal to one or two search engines would therefore find it ‘easy’ to retrieve information, provided their choice of search engine successfully provided the required data. If, however, the chosen search engine were not successful, the user would then have the option of either altering their selection of words, or try again on a completely different engine, one that may be uncharted territory for the user. I have been loyal to a small number of search engines, because on the whole they have provided the information I require, albeit after attempting a small number of alternative input words or phrases. This loyalty has stemmed from both my becoming more familiar with these engines, and my acceptance that if my chosen search engines or reference sites cannot find the desired information, then it is unlikely I will have any greater success on entirely different ones. Moreover, having become used to a few search engines, namely ProFusion (Intelliseek) and AltaVista seems to lessen the attraction to try those unfamiliar to me, such as HotBot or GoZilla. The level of experience a person has with both computers and the World Wide Web can help determine what type of user they are. Sutcliffe suggests four categories detailed below,  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Naà ¯ve  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Novice  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Skilled (or ‘Experienced’)  ·Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Expert The first of these – Naà ¯ve – refers to someone who has either never used computers before, or who uses them only very occasionally.

Discuss The Relationship Between Stress, Anxiety, Habits And Phobias

In this paper I aim to define what stress and anxiety are and outline the differences between them. These topics form a larger part of the essay as Stress and Anxiety underpin most cases presented to a therapist. I will move onto how phobias and habits are formed. Finally covering off options available to the therapist in order to research all these issues for a given client, understand any hidden agendas, history, treatment strategies and most importantly understand where NOT to treat. Stress ‘a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or demanding circumstances’ (Oxford English Dictionary)This definition shows a specific circumstance; the individual involved is experiencing stress due to an event; be it in the past, current or future tense. Whilst stress can have a negative connotation in the English language, in fact most stress is positive. It is there to protect us. The feeling of ‘stress’ is a reaction which ensures we perf orm appropriately at the right moments. It is a natural reaction to a number of given situations, causing our innate animal instincts to activate and is activated by the hormone Cortizol naturally produced in all mammals.These are commonly known as Flight, Fight, and the lesser remembered, Freeze responses. As such, our sub-conscious will protect us through releasing chemicals in order that we can perform appropriately to deal with the situation. However distressed a client may be, one thing you can use to help them understand is that it is triggered in order to protect us from a threat. Stress becomes an issue when it is inappropriate to the situation. That is not to say that what the client/patient experiences is not real. It may be that the individual has experienced one or more episodes of stress that may not be representative of the subject at hand.It may also be that they are experiencing a consistent level of stress, such as workload, a particular home situation or the need t o consistently to overachieve in all parts of his/her life in a manner that is unsustainable. Avoiding the stressful situation can also be further damaging as this re-affirms the messaging in the brain around the given situation. Types of stress experienced vary and have many labels depending on how they manifest: Acute StressMost common: immediate threat(s), anticipated demand(s) or pressure(s). Episodic Acute StressRecurring: Overabundance of tasks, tends to become habitual to individual.Chronic StressPerpetual: Unable to see resolution, due to its constant nature it can go unnoticed by sufferer. HyperstressOverwhelmed: Workload, beyond limits of tasks achievable. HypostressThe ‘Bored’ Stress: Unmotivated, unchallenged. Lacks enthusiasm to innovate, start new challenges. Eustress‘Good’ Stress: Positive events or emotions, motivational, largely ignored. I have separated Traumatic Stress and Post Traumatic Stress as these sit under the title of Anxiety in t he next section. Individuals will experience physical responses to a stressful situation or ongoing stress; some common, some more specific to the individual.These include: sweating, shakes, fast heart rate, dry mouth, upset stomach, acid reflux, releasing of stools, muscles tensing, headaches, other aches, lack of sleep, fatigue, loss of self esteem. Anxiety ‘a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease about something with an uncertain outcome’ (Oxford English Dictionary) This definition shows that instead of the specific circumstance seen in stress, anxiety is in comparison ill-defined. Sustained stress or specific traumatic event(s) can lead to anxiety. These may be rational or irrational; however, they manifest as very real to the sufferer.It may even be that the sufferer understands that their anxiety is irrational, but is unable to control it. It is important for a hypnotherapist to understand where they can and cannot treat in relation to Anxiety. The therapist sh ould discuss any anxiety cases with their supervisor, it may be that the case requires GP approval. In certain cases such as PTSD the therapist may need to refer to a multi-disciplinary team (or be part of). One way or another, the key here is caution, ask advice and make sure you are cleared to move on with treatment. There are many types of Anxiety Disorders, here are some:General AnxietyMost common: Constantly nervous, anxiousness where Disorder (GAD)there is no specific cause is obvious. GP/Supervisor Panic AttacksTriggered with no apparent cause: Response to sustained stress/anxiety. GP/Supervisor PhobiasBroad Subject: From Feathers to Flying, Social, Crowds, Spiders. Can be anything and is very real to the sufferer. Traumatic StressReactive Anxiety, similar to PST. Response to a traumatic event. THIS MUST NOT BE TREATED. GP/MULTI-DISCIPLINARY TEAM. Post Traumatic StressReactive Anxiety Disorder, response to severe traumatic (PTSD)event.THIS MUST NOT BE TREATED. GP/MULTI-DISCIP LINARY TEAM. Obsessive-CompulsiveObsessive thoughts, released through the compulsion Disorder (OCD)to act on thoughts. Comes in many forms. As with stress there are many physical responses, which include, all those mentioned in the stress section. There are specific symptoms for specific types of anxiety, for example in a Panic Attack, the sufferer truly believes they may die and feel entirely helpless. Anxiety suffers release strong emotions at certain times such as anger or they may cry or want to run from the situation.Due to the perpetual nature of anxiety issues, nausea, extreme exhaustion, restlessness and obsessive focus on negatives are common. Essentially it shows a loss of control. Treatment of Stress and Anxiety Whilst you may have three clients showing the same symptoms the underlying the reasons will be different for each. It’s key to spend time understanding the background to the issue, to ascertain whether the client remembers the trigger and for the therapist to spend time understanding the reason they are feeling this way, when it occurs, how it occurs and the symptoms.It may be that the initial reason they believe the stress or anxiety situation occurs is a red herring and perhaps they are unaware of another reason. Regression may be required to fully understand the history, especially if it’s clear that the issue has its roots back in childhood, this may also provide positive imagery that can be re-used in a script. For example, a bad flyer may have roots in childhood experience, but similarly remember a good experience flying that may be re-used during a script.‘Problematic imagery is reported by clients with almost all anxiety disorders, with the specific content of the images relating to the clients’ main fears that are central to the clinical disorder’ (Hirsh and Holmes 2007: 161). ’ I like the suggestion of asking the client about their dreams as well as using their interests and using this image ry to work through a script appropriate to the situation. There seems to be a lot of evidence to show that there is a direct correlation between how vivid imagery is for an individual and how powerful the feeling is towards the negative situation.That’s not to say those with different modalities suffer less, but it’s a consideration. So for someone who can easily envisage the worst scenario their stress levels may considerably increase. On the flip side this also means a therapist can use this to their advantage and treat using strong visual tendencies. If the therapist can focus on a positive image from the clients key interests or dream subjects. Outside of the specific script to the given situation, helping the client learn to relax through a relaxation script (and take-home recording) is key to working through stress issues.I also like the approach of the ego-strengthening scripts for those who are experiencing stress due to self-belief, it’s a good basis to build on during treatment sessions before the therapist can move onto specific reframing or programming of a perception. Having also read a number of ‘rehearsal’ scripts I find these a very positive approach to dealing with stressful situations, although again it would be prudent to ensure you are not trying to ‘fix’ an issue up front without understanding the underlying history and cause.Also looking to take  the negative thoughts, feelings and/or images and find a way of disposing of them in some way using appropriate modality. I think this is a key action to take within a script as those suffering stress or anxiety will primarily focus on the main negative, it will consume thoughts and feelings. In ‘purging’ them, the client can symbolically get rid of those before moving onto a more positive view of their given experience. Anxiety issues require special consideration. OCD for example, requires specific training. PTSD, a specialist team w ould need to be involved. Key focus areas would be things like GAD and Phobias.Phobias will be described later in the paper. GAD still requires GP approval to treat using Hypnotherapy. Without wishing to go into too much depth it is key to mention two methods for use with PTSD; Eye Movement Desentisation Reward (EMDR) and Visual Kinesthetic Reward (VKR). Phobias A fear or phobia may root from a number of given sources. It’s possible the client knows when it occurred originally. It’s equally possible that they do not (even if they say they do). So as described above it’s key to discuss the issue and clearly understand the history, the manifestation and perhaps regression may be required.The phobia may have been caused by several sources. It may also be that whilst the individual may say they are phobic of a particular situation or object, this could be masking the real fear (hidden agenda). So whilst you have a treatment plan, keeping an open mind is key. Reasons for Phobias Occurring: Severe Stress relating to a particular object/event/location. The mind associates that with that. It could be that the object of fear is not the real issue. For example; fear of red doors. Perhaps an individual had to walk through a red door every time they went to the solicitors to meet with the estranged spouse.This issue is potentially the pain of the divorce, loss of children rather than the door, but the mind’s association is with the door. Specific Experience or Number of Experiences. Fear created through a negative experience that frightened the individual. Perhaps getting stuck in a lift once for a long period would be enough of a severe trauma to create a phobia of lifts or a number of bad experiences in lifts (feeling squashed/delays in the lift moving/jolting action) create a phobia over time. Learned Fear.Something we associate with animals, demonstrating good stress in practise in a natural environment. It can be learned from a mother or o ther significant person. So perhaps the mother has a fear of the sea and transmits it to her children. Treatment is similar to the approach for stress. The key is to understanding why/how/history. Its important to look at the root cause and in particular if there are any hidden agendas. Whilst its possible to do things like a rehearsal script and important to build in confidence building/ego-strengthening, these may only temporarily help the situation.Ultimately, indentifying and tailoring a solution based around the original cause is key to a successful treatment plan. The use of a signal from the client allows them to indicate if the therapy is moving too quickly (given they may be experiencing stressful moments in trance) or they have arrived at a certain point. This allows the therapist to ensure the pacing is correct for the client and that they gain the most from the session. Habits Similar to stress this can appear to have a negative connotation but of course we have many goo d habits in our lives.We can all develop bad habits, these may be learnt or absorbed from others. It’s also possible these have occurred over a period of time as a coping strategy for another issue. Again, in this situation its key to understand why the habit is in place and look at a reasonable alternative coping strategy. Two ways to address a habit: Client seeing themselves living without the habit, using their motivations and drivers (such as how they look, feel, etc) Detrimental effects of continuing, so the client will associate the negative affects or perhaps even a negative view (like a cigarette being a charcoal stick)

The Sultans of the Ottoman Empire 1300 to 1924