The Person You Admire the Most free essay sample

We might have met up with a lot of people throughout our life, yet people leave and life still goes on as what it used to be. The person that I admire the most is none other than my mother. I admire her the most as she possesses most of the qualities that we should have in order to success in our life.I think one of the most endearing qualities she possesses is genuineness. When you meet a genuine person, they tend to look you directly in the eye and many times they touch you in order to connect. That’s how she communicates with others. She doesn’t have the average walls up that many people have in life. She seems to touch everyone in a way where one can immediately connect with her and for sure she has no false pretenses. She crosses all barriers and has the ability to connect with others and radiates great empathy to others. We will write a custom essay sample on The Person You Admire the Most or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It’s almost like she has an additional sense. She never pretended to be perfect or know all the answers but one thing is for sure anything she tells you is coming straight from the heart.She has been very patient with me and supports me in everything I do. She has done a lot to boost my self-confidence and self-esteem. She does not scold whenever I fail in something, instead she will console me and make me feel better by telling me stories about her own failures and achievements throughout life. She also makes all kinds of sacrifices, big and small for the sake of her children. She has always been my source of inspiration and pillar of strength. My mom is the one that is always there, the person I can count on, the one that will never turn her back on me. The one that supports, helps, hug, kisses, gives me confidence, comforts, listens, makes me laugh, cheers me up and wipes my tears. She will definitely be the one that I always admire and love the most.

Gun Control Essays (1517 words) - Gun Politics In The United States

Gun Control Essays (1517 words) - Gun Politics In The United States Gun Control One of the most controversial issues of today is the topic of gun control. It is not only a popular debate, but has now become one of the key reasons people vote for a particular candidate. But is gun control the only answer to help stop crime, or is there another solution? I believe that if we as a society cannot even control ourselves to become responsible for our own actions then we are lost. Gun control isnt the answer, instead we should concentrate on training and controlling the people who are using these firearms. A quote from Charlton Heston, president of the NRA, We teach our children not to play with a hot stove, to look both ways before crossing the street and to avoid the dangers of drugs and other harmful substances. And we should certainly teach our young children how to avoid tragic accidents with firearms. With such groups as the NRA, ACLU, and the MRC many agree that their has to be another solution. The NRA alone has over four million people supporting them. The NRA also supports many programs to better increase the knowledge about firearms and the safety of the people using them. For example they agree with the proposition to have mandatory background checks for anyone purchasing a firearm at a gun show. They also agree with and help to fund school education programs for gun safety including their award winning Eddie Eagle GunSafe Programs, which since 1988 has been viewed by over 12 million school children in every state in the country. But the controversy doesnt arise in these programs because almost everyone would agree that a more informed and educated society isnt a bad thing. The problem lays within the issue of banning guns, and registering guns. Should all guns be registered in a national database? The NRA says no. Another quote from Charlton Heston. In every jurisdiction where registration has been imposed, government confiscation and destruction has occurred. Yet, that is exactly the goal of anti-gun lobbyists. This was taken from a debate between NRA president Charlton Heston and Handgun Control Inc. chair Sarah Brady. Heston continues on to say Sarah Brady, chair of Handgun Control Inc., told the New York Times on August 15, 1993 that her ultimate goal is a need based licensing system, with all guns and gun transfers registered with the federal government. In her ideal world, an honest citizen would have to prove to government bureaucrats his or her need to own a firearm. Think about that for a moment. Can you satisfy Mrs. Bradys requirement that you need your shotgun? Or the handgun you keep for protection in your home? This raises an interesting point. If this system were to pass, how would you judge a persons need for a firearm, especially for protection purposes? Another possible precaution that is being proposed by presidential candidate Al Gore, is the fingerprinting and photographing of every gun owner for an identification card. What criminal is going to stand in line and give his fingerprints and photograph away to the federal government? So how would this help reduce gun-related crimes? Simply put, it wouldnt, but Al Gore is still pushing for it, much like the systems that were already introduced to such countries as Australia, England, and Canada. Shortly after these countries began confiscating and destroying privately owned guns. Now Im not saying that I believe the federal government is trying to overturn our country by taking away our firearms, but it is a little suspicious when compared to the previous history of other countries. So what does Sarah Brady and the Handgun Control Inc. think about national registration of firearms? Handgun registration is: a way of ensuring that the police can track any gun that is used in a crime, do a better job of proving that a crime gun was indeed purchased by the criminal and convict those criminals and send them to jail. Though they believe in handgun registration, they dont believe in registering rifles or shotguns since they are rarely used in crimes. I agree that justice must be served and that any possible way of finding these criminals and upholding the law should be taken, but choosing between confiscation and registration is a tough choice. Id rather have the right to own a gun. Also if the possibility of confiscation arose think how much easier it would be for the federal government to track you down and steal your firearm. Although it seems far fetched that this could ever happen Id rather not take any chances. Another huge controversy of today is between the two possible presidential candidates Al

Brainstorming Sources Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Brainstorming Sources - Research Paper Example The opposing side of this debate has indicated that in a past research carried out by the University of Michigan proved that if the government wanted to reduce the consumption of alcohol, they should increase the age limit. This reduced the consumption of alcohol amongst the seniors by 13.3% (Johnston, O’Malley, Bachman and Schulenberg, 2011). They also noted that there was a drop of 58% of alcohol related to motor accidents, this information is from secondary data from books, and handwritten manuscripts. It is to their argument that reducing the age will increase the consumption of alcohol and make the youth addicts at a very young age. The proposers argue that reducing the legal drinking age will allow the youths to learn to drink responsibly. On the other hand, the opposing side claims that reducing the age will lead to the youths suffering from alcohol related diseases. The argument is based on the youth’s irresponsible behaviors. This report will mainly affect the government, parents, and the youths at hand. Johnston LD, O’Malley PM, Bachman JG and Schulenberg JE. Monitoring the Future national results on adolescent drug use: Overview of key findings. Ann Arbor, MI: Institute for Social Research, The University of Michigan,

Critical thinking and application paper Ethics Case Study

Critical thinking and application paper Ethics - Case Study Example The rule which has the best overall consequences is regarded as the best rule. This article is very pertinent to Gary Briar's issue since it also covers the pervasive corruption in foregin governments. The citizens of Afghanistan are afraid to report instances of corruption because they are afraid that they will be killed by government forces. The continuing corruption done by government officials constitutes a serious malady affecting the government. This article is related to the situation of Danny Briar as it features the strong dilemma of a Turkish government official pertaining to corruption being committed by other government officials. This article refers to the Turkish Interior Minister Saadettin Tantan, the leader of Turkey's anti-corruption drive, who has accused elements of the party of trying to slow his investigations. The move of Tantan was to resign from government office. Hence, Turkey has lost a key government official who could have stemmed the tide of corruption. This article is pertinent to the situation of Danny Briar as it attempts to take a proactive stance in dealing with corrupt officials. The article emphasizes the importance of putting out incentives to make officials forego corruption activities. This article features the private efforts of a Sudanese cellphone billionaire, Mo Ibrahim, who will give an annual prize worth more than US $5 million dollars to an African head of state who was freely elected, turned over power to a freely elected successor and governed well while in office. This prize can help all African leaders to govern well and avoid the temptation of robbing their country of natural resources. d.) "Border Agents, Lured by the Other Side" Randal Archibold and Andrew Becker. New York Times online. Mqy 27, 2008. Available at URL: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/27/us/27border.html This article is pertinent to the case study since it als deals with how government agents, border patrol agents are lured by money officers. The article features two Villarreal brothers who were former Border Patrol agents, who were suspected of helping to smuggle an untold number of illegal immigrants from Mexico and Brazil across the border. The Villarreal investigation were among the corruption cases that have alarmed officials in the Homeland Security Department. e.) "China Confirms Poison Was on Toy Beads" New York Times Online. By KEITH BRADSHER. Published: November 11, 2007. This article is similar to that of Danny Briar as it also features the case of poison found in Chinese toy beads, Acqua Dots. The Chinese government had confirmed the presence of poison on toy beads exported around the world. The brightly colored toy

Companies Go Global, But Many Managers Just Don't Travel Well Article

Companies Go Global, But Many Managers Just Don't Travel Well - Article Example The article looks at the sentiments of managers from other countries and their opinions of the American manager. What comes out clearly is that the American manger is perceived to be extremely successful. This is as a result of the combinations of various factors. They are in many instances deemed as nonglobal people. This means that they do not take time to understand the culture, language or mannerisms of the people that they are conducting business. The American managers have engrossed themselves in a culture of â€Å"they know it best†. They have an attitude of things being done their way or no way at all. Despite all this, they are ranked as the most powerful managers running powerful, and extremely sophisticated organizations. The author of the article states simply that the American manager could do much for the organization that he or she represents. This is through adherence to a strict global outlook that makes the entire globe eager to conduct business with the Amer icans. Any American manager wanting to break ground in the new territory should understand the region has its own climate. This means that they have policies, rules, regulations, language, religion, mode of expression and a strict sense of a culture that units them. They should understand that they have a unique business acumen that represents them as a globe or country. The way to succeed in such a country is by adhering to the people’s way of life at all times. The act of management should encompass what the employees of that region expect of their manager. This means that if an American country wants to appeal to clients in an Islamic nation, it has to adhere to certain basic Islamic concepts. The employees should have a separate area where they can hold their prayer sessions as per Islam Laws.

Rape in American Slavery System During the Antebellum

Rape in American Slavery System During the Antebellum Introduction The first African slaves arrived in Virginia, North America in 1619. As the plantations of the antebellum south flourished, the African slave trade gained momentum. (Slavery in the ante-bellum South). Between the 16 and 19th centuries, America had an estimated 12 million African slaves (Slavery in the United States). Enslavement of the African Americans formally commenced in the 1630s and 1640s. By 1740, colonial America had a fully developed slavery system in place, granting slave owners an absolute and tyrannical life-and-death authority over their slaves or chattels and their children. (Slavery in the United States) Stripped of any identity or rights, enslaved black slaves were considered legal non-persons, except in the event of a crime committed (Slavery in the ante-bellum South). Documents and research on the slave era in the antebellum south are awash with horror stories of the brutal and inhuman treatment of slaves, particularly women. ( David Brion Davis and Eugene Genovese,- Slavery in the United States-Treatment). Considered properties by their masters, enslaved black women endured continual physical and emotional abuse, sexual violations, torture, and sometimes even death. (Susanne Scholz ) This research paper takes up the issue of how rape in the American slavery system during the antebellum south affected the African American society, and attempts to answer the following questions: How sexual violence affected slave family life and their behavior? By the 1800s, slavery had percolated down mainly to the antebellum south (Africans in America). Whilst a majority of these slaves were designated as field servants performing duties outside the house, a smaller percentage, particularly women were employed as domestics or house servants, mammies and surrogate mothers. Owners generally enforced their status as property owners by callous methods (Africans in America). Many first person accounts (Harriet A Jacobs) and other data available, underscore the rampant sexual exploitation of African women slaves. In the absence of any safeguards, with laws granting owners sweeping powers over their slaves, these women in bondage were habitually ravished, harassed, sexually stalked and used as long term concubines not only by their masters, but by the owners families and friends as well. Slave men, for their part, were rendered powerless to challenge or intervene, as to do so would mean sure death or sale to distant plantations (Africans in America). Progeny or mulattos resulting from such rapes were also considered slaves, unless freed by the owner. (Historian Eugene Genovese -Slavery in the United States). As masters applied their stamp to the domestic life of the slave quarter, slaves struggled to maintain the integrity of their families. Slaveholders had no legal obligation to respect the sanctity of the slaves marriage bed, and slave women- married or single had no formal protection against their owners sexual advances. Without legal protection and subject to the masters whim, the slave family was always at risk.(slavery in the united states treatment rapes of females ) However, in quite a few documented cases, enslaved black women worked as devoted loyal servants, as mammies and surrogate mothers for white children demonstrating the absence of oppression and bonds of affection that actually united the two races. Blassingame,* underlines the fact that slave parents tried to shield their young from the brutal realities of the plantation. They often dissuaded angry urges among the children, which generally arose after their first whipping, from seeking revenge or running away. Children often internalized the two contradictory behavior responses of their parents; one submissive in front of the owner, the other castigating their owners action in private. They understood that submissiveness was a way to avoid punishment, but the true behavior model emulated was the one they witnessed in private. The family was an important survival mechanism, for no matter how often the family was broken, it enabled the slave to survive on the plantation without becoming totally submissive to or dependent on the master. Slaves often retaliated, subtly or overtly, to their inhuman treatment. They resorted to destroying crops or disabling machinery, slowing down work. Many stole food, livestock and valuables. Some committed suicide or mutilated themselves to reduce their property value and some even murdered their masters, by the use of weapons or poison (Africans in America). Furthermore, slave parents were also concerned about the owners interference in their private lives. Southern law defined slaves as moveable property or chattel. Often buying, selling and trading slaves, owners habitually split families, frequently taking children from their mothers. Slaves were often blackmailed with such treatment if they refused to work or if the women repulsed the advances of their masters (organization of American historians -Family life in the slave quarters survival strategies- Marie jenkin Scwartz) How were the masters able to wield significant control and power, over their black mistress A Virginia law declared slaves to be chattel personal in the hands of their owners and possessors for all intents, construction, and purpose whatsoever (African American History by Henry Drewry). It affirmed their total ownership and right over their slaves particularly the womenfolk. As absolute property of their owners, enslaved black women were thus uprooted their homes and families and to comply with every physical and sexual whim of the master. They had to learn to be totally submissive to the master, in mind and body. Sexual abuse could be in the form of sexual coercion to forced breeding for profit. Refusal of sexual overtures met with physical and emotional abuse and often the sale of a family member to distant farms, never to be seen again. She had no safeguard or refuge as the law regarded rape as a mere trespassing of property. Developing relations with fellow slaves, men and women, proved difficult as she or her friends could be deported or sold to another property at any given time. Any challenges by the male slaves to such sexual exploitation could mean an end to their own lives (Life of a woman on a plantation- an essay Berkin). First person accounts of two slave girls, Harriet A Jacobs and Cecil (Harriett a Jacobs An autobiography Incidents in the life of a slave girl 1861) (Essay on Slavery Celia a slave) substantiate this claim. Both female slaves of African descent articulated the pain and suffering caused by the repeated sexual violation of their bodies and how they were held captive by their masters till they decided to take matters into their hands and escape their captors. Compelled to live under the same roof with a man forty years her senior, he daily violated her. Her misery seemed inescapable, for there was no law to protect her from the constant insults, violence or even death. She finally managed to escape and went into hiding for seven years, before she could flee to another place. Though reluctant mistresses, these enslaved African women were often labeled as jezebels, innately promiscuous or even predatory by the white women. They were perceived to enjoy higher status and privileges than other slave women, but these privileges were tainted by the fact that they were forced into sexual submission (Africans in America). However, research based data indicates that quite a few of these formed short term liaisons with their white owners for vested interests (Southern Mulattos Population) and, yet others willingly maintained long-term relationships with their masters, begetting them children. Contemporary sociologist K Sue Jewell in her book à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦describes Jezebel as a tragic mulatto indicating they formed the bulk of black women sold into prostitution. In a system termed placage, many such freeborn light-skinned women were willing mistresses to wealthy white southerners. (3)How did southern plantation owners use their powers not only to control their mistress but their children and even male slaves under their control? Slaves were at an utter disadvantage and powerless as they were designated legal properties of their owners. Authorized to use punitive measures, slave owners and their families deployed severe methods on the least pretext to ensure slave obedience (Slavery in the United States). A variety of objects and contraptions such as the more commonly used whip, shackles, chains, metal collars, knives, guns, field tools, forced walking on the treadmill and even hanging were used to quell any disobedience or rebellion. Reasons for punishments ranged from breaking a law like leaving the plantation without permission, running away, not following orders or slow work, often punishing them in front of others to make an example of them (Slavery in the United States). In fact, the law required slave owners to mandatorily discipline recaptured runaway slaves or face fines. Owners also constantly blackmailed slaves with the threat of sale of their family members to distant plantations, never to be seen again. Enslaved blacks continued to be sexual pawns in the hands of their owners. Children that ensued from these actions were also treated as slaves as they took on the status of their mothers. (Slavery in the United States) Slave marriages were considered illegal and couples were frequently separated through sale. (The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South is a book written by American Historian John W. Blassingame). It was unsafe for a slave couple to be residing on the same plantation. Nothing demonstrated the utter powerlessness of the husband as he watch the brutal whipping and rape of his wife and the sale of his children. He had no alternative but to comply with the demands of his master. However, Blassingame also indicates that owners understood the need to encourage monogamous relationships a black man, they reasoned, who loved his wife and his children was less likely to be rebellious or to run away than would a single slave(The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South is a book written by American Historian John W. Blassingame). Whilst some masters were compassionate, most slaves knew that any error or crisis would take them to the auction block. Slave owners were also uncomfortable with the fact that slave children might question their authority and the legitimacy of the order, as they were reared to respect other authority figures like their parents (Organization of American historians -Family life in the slave quarters survival strategies- Marie Jenkin Scwartz). To subvert this, owners established rules and planned activities aimed at minimizing the importance of slave family life and emphasizing his position as the master. Many went to the extent of referring to their slaves as family members which gave them the right to interfere in their slaves private lives. To this end, they kept a keen watch on their slaves activities night and day, including such mundane matters as to what they ate, how they dressed and when they slept. They would often bribe the slave children or reward bad behavior with toys or gifts (Slavery in the United States) How did slavery laws and southern politic support the rights of slave owners to abuse their slaves Enslavement of the African Americans formally commenced in the 1630s and 1640s (Slavery in the Civil war Era). Colonial courts and legislatures clearly affirmed that Africansunlike their counterpart white indentured servants-would serve their masters for life and their slave status would be inherited by their children. A 1667 A Virginia act declared that Baptisme doth not alter the condition of the person as to his bondage or freedome. And By 1740 colonial America had a fully developed slavery system in place (Slavery in the Civil War Era). In fact in Virginia, after 1807, slaves were considered the chief cash crop of their owners. Such legislation gave owners ultimate power over their slaves (Slavery in the United States). A law on partus in 1662 in Virginia indicated that children of an enslaved mother would automatically be slaves, even if the father was a freeborn white. This further institutionalized the power relationships and freed the white men from any legal responsibility of either acknowledging or supporting their children, confining the scandal of illegitimate, mixed-race children to the slave quarters. In the 1860s, elite families, who formed a bulk of the shareholding families, influenced and shaped the political scenario of the land. Foremost amongst their common concerns was controlling and ensuring an adequate supply of slave labor (Slavery in the civil war era) Legislation in the south was so designed as to protect the owners rights to their human chattels. Slave codes incorporated in these laws admitted, if grudgingly so, that slaves were human beings and not property like animals. However, these codes instituted many clauses to minimize the possibility of slave rebellion. The codes made it illegal for slaves to (a) educate themselves to read and write (b) to attend church services without a white person, or (c) to testify in court against a white. Also, leaving their home plantation without a masters written pass was forbidden. Additional laws sought to restrict the possibility of manumission (the freeing of ones slaves). Between 1810 and 1860, legislation in all Southern states restricted the right of slave owners to free their slaves, even in a will, as free blacks might inspire other slaves to rebel. As a consequence, most Southern states required that any such freed slave leave the state within thirty days (Slavery in the Civil War Era). Authorities established slave patrols to enforce these codes. Locally organized bands of young white men, both slave owners and yeomen farmers patrolled the night checking that slaves were in indeed their quarters. These patrols shared a common desire to keep the black population in check (Slavery in the civil War Era) How the isolation of Plantation life in the south factor into the percentage of numbers of rape of black slaves. Although slavery was widespread throughout antebellum America, the 1830s saw a greater demand and concentration of African American slaves in the flourishing plantations of the antebellum south (Slavery in the civil war Era). Legislation of slavery in the southern states, unlike the north where there were free slaves, indicated that all slaves to be chattel personal in the hands of their owners and possessors for all intents, construction, and purpose whatsoever. (African American History). A black man could be whipped for no reason. He could be beaten, stripped or tortured for the entertainment of his master. A black woman could be sexually harassed, assaulted, beaten or raped at anytime without question.(Life of women in the plantation slavery essay) As bonded laborers and property of their owners, slaves were confined to live and work on the plantations. Permission to go outside the premises was only by written consent from the master and severely punishable if disobeyed (Slavery in the Civil War Era). It served the owners dual purpose of labor exploitation and race control. Children and women were used as domestic help so as to not waste capable labor (Berkin Life of women slaves on the plantation- an essay Berkin, p. 62). Slave codes incorporated in the legal system restricted their movements and growth. They were not permitted an education, could not testify against a white or attend church services without one (Slavery in the United States). Authorities established slave patrols to enforce these codes. .( Slavery in the United States) In the absence of any safeguards and laws to protect them, enslaved African women were the worst victims of a system that designated and treated them as sole property of the owners. Of the data available and horrific first person accounts of two slave African Americans, women suffered the worst possible sexual violence and abuse (Berkin Life of women slaves on the plantation- an essay Berkin, p. 62). Her non-compliance resulted in severe physical and emotional punitive measures for herself and her spouse or the selling of a family member a child, spouse, parent or near relative to a distant land never to be seen again. Any rebuttals to such sexual exploitation by the male slaves could result in death (Berkin Life of women slaves on the plantation- an essay Berkin, p. 62)). Conclusion The antebellum era in America is strife with the slavery epoch which went contrary to the principles of the War of Independence. It is ironical that the very state, Virginia in which the American Declaration of Independence was signed, would be the first to legitimize slavery. African slaves first set foot in Virginia, America in 1619 with the arrival of captives sold by a Dutch to settlers in Jamestown. Considering their economic worth, particularly in the plantations in the antebellum south, their demand grew and spiraled over time up to the 1800s.(African American History). Colonial courts and legislatures had racialized slavery (Slavery in the United States)The first arm of legalization in 1662 stated that such Africans would be servants for life, and later in a 1667 another act declared that Baptisme doth not alter the condition of the person as to his bondage or freedome. By 1740 a concrete legal slavery system in colonial America was in place. A Virginia law gave owners absolu te right over their property stating that slaves were chattel personal in the hands of their owners and possessors for all intents, construction, and purpose whatsoever. (African American History). Legitimizing slavery gave owners sweeping powers of life and death over their slaves, particularly, the enslaved black women ((Berkin Life of women slaves on the plantation- an essay Berkin, p. 62). Slaves were brutally penalized and sometimes even murdered. Rape and sexual violence against enslaved black women was rampant and not considered a crime except for the fact that it represented trespassing on anothers property. Owners often resorted to severe punishment, physical and emotional, to reinforce submissive behavior, particularly against black slave women. Designated as property to their white owners, they lived with the constant reality of rape as is witnessed in the first person accounts of Harriet a Jacobs and Celia ((Berkin Life of women slaves on the plantation- an essay Berkin, p. 62). Habitually, raped, harassed, sexually stalked and used as long term concubines not only by their masters, but by the owners families and friends, these enslaved women lived in constant fear of punishment either physically or emotional blackmail through separation when their loved ones and family members were sold to distant plantations, never to be seen again. (Africans in America) Laws accommodated the owners actions, classifying the resultant progeny as children of the mothers only, absolving the white father of any responsibility, unless they were freed by the owner.( Historian Eugene Genovese -Slavery in the United States) Though Black women were reluctant mistresses, they were termed as seducers called, Jezebels However, there is evidence to suggest that some enslaved black mistresses had devised a way to use her sexuality as a means of avoiding exploitation by her master and for other vested interests (Southern Mulatto Population). Slave men for their part were powerless to intervene as they faced the threat of death. (Africans in America). A slave couple residing on the same plantation were unsafe. Nothing demonstrated the husbands powerlessness more than the brutal whipping and rape of his wife and sale of his children. (The Slave Community: Plantation Life in the Antebellum South is a book written by American Historian John W. Blassingame). However, owners also understood the importance and need of allowing monogamous relationships, as this was less likely to create run-away slaves. Slaves struggled to maintain the integrity of their family and culture, even as masters applied their stamp to the domestic life of the slave quarter. Fearing that slave children might question their authority, slave owners established rules and planned activities aimed at affirming his position as master. (Organization of American historians -Family life in the slave quarters survival strategies- Marie Jenkin Scwartz). The fact that the slaves in the antebellum south were legalized and property of the owners afforded them no rights or freedom. Their isolation from the north, where free slaves resided, further detracted from any hope of freedom or better quality of life than at the hands of their tyrannical owners. ((Berkin Life of women slaves on the plantation- an essay Berkin, p. 62)

Baz luhrmann’s interpretation of Romeo and Juliet Essay

Shakespeare uses a prologue at the start of his play for a number of reasons. Firstly, it acts as an introduction to the story. We learn about the rivalry between the two families, †Ancient Grudge† it also makes clear that it is a tragic story of two †star – cross’d lovers † who are destined to die because of their families hatred. The prologue is like the opening to a film because both need to grab your attention. The setting of Baz Luhrmann’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ is in the west coast of America, in a setting, which he calls Verona Beach. However this is not true as the beach’s real name is Venice Beach but the reason why he uses this is because it reminds everyone where William Shakespeare actually set the play, he set the play in Verona so by changing the name he has made quite a remarkable thing by making sure everyone knows where it is set. The other reasons why he filmed ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in the west coast of America is because Los Angeles is a big city just like Verona and because there is also a lot of violence and gangs in Los Angeles just like Verona. The types of film Baz Luhrmann used in the prologue are TV news style footage showing you how much of their fighting is causing their city to be more violent, as well as this they are trying to say that what is happening between the Montague’s and the Capulet’s has an effect on the rest of the city. By doing the prologue, as TV news footage is a clever thing to do, as it is an original idea and by doing it in this way it will keep the audience hooked to the rest of the movie. Another reason why Baz Luhrmann used TV news footage is because it shows the violence in Verona. When the camera shakes, the jumpy effect makes you think the violence is real and also is very dangerous. This makes the audience hooked to the movie. The director uses a voice over to read out the prologue. The actor reading the prologue played the priest. The priest Friar Lawrence is appropriate because he knows both sides of the story. His voice is deep, sorrowful and sad. His tone of voice is meant to be serious so everyone will be influenced by what he says about the circumstances surrounding the storyline and take him seriously. Also by making the priest read the prologue it shows that he is aware of the situation surrounding both the families and the effect it has on the rest of the city and the seriousness of the situation. Not only did they use a voice over, they used captions with bold letters and people shouting to grab our attention. This keeps us hooked and willing to watch the rest of the movie. He says this in a deep American accent, although as we know, he is not really an American but an Englishman. Luhrmann uses some interesting shots in the opening sequences, such as close-ups, because it is important as it shows their facial expression and the body language used, making it more realistic and interesting, thereby attaining the interest of the audience. He also uses long shots (establishing shots) to show the whole city from the helicopter as it gives an overall view of what is happening in the city as a whole, focusing your attention to different parts of the city. He uses medium shots because it is ideal for introducing characters as it concentrates on how they appear on first sight and the impact they have on the audience. He uses high angle shots so that you can see what is going on like a birds eye view, showing a character in proportion and comparison to the rest of the city. He also zooms into the statue of Christ and the two buildings to show how important they are and to make them stand out from the rest of the city, by attracting the attention of the audience and thereby making them focus on the zoomed objects, giving them the utmost importance. He also uses fades and cuts. Fades are when the scene goes black. Fades are to close the scene and go on to another part of the story. Cuts are used to show what may be happening in another part of the story, maybe at the same time of the scene that has just been showed. He also uses freeze frames. One example of a freeze frame was in the scene of the Montague boys, when the characters are still for some time. He also uses wipes to speed up the scenes from the film. The reasons he used these effects could be because they make the story faster and more intense, and tries to show how different the atmosphere in certain scenes are. Baz Luhrmann used operatic and church music as well as dramatic and religious music, because they all tie in with ideas of fate etc. This music is ancient like the families and the story. When the Montague boys come they have different music. They use rap style music to show that they are young and modern and part of a gang. Luhrmann uses different sound effects like gunshots, fires, helicopters, brakes and loud music when they show the Montague boys. The reason why he uses these is because this is meant to be a tense city with a lot of violence and by showing it like this he is to make the audience feel like it still happens in modern times. The director uses images and symbols to focus on emphasizing peace and religion. He uses a statue of Christ because it shows everyone what it represents. The statue represents peace and refers to the Catholic religion. By doing this, they are trying to make the viewer think that Verona needs peace. He also emphasizes on the two towers, because they show the rivalry between Montague and Capulet and the wealth of the families. It also represents both families having a say about what happens in the city. He also uses fire as a symbol, as fire represents danger, death and hell. Everything that is happening in Verona is due to the families. He also uses passion as a symbol, because as we know, passion is the theme of the story throughout as both ‘Romeo and Juliet’ are madly in love. In conclusion, it is clear to see that the director is trying to open the play up to a more modern audience such as teenagers. He has made it appealing to the young target audience by hiring young attractive actors to play Romeo and Juliet. He also uses flashy equipment such as guns and cars to make the story appear more modern and to try to attract the young audience. He also uses different music to show the personality, e. g. when the Montague boys come, the music changes to rap music, as they are young and modern. Lurhmann also uses different styles like exciting visual tricks to attract their attention.