Friday, May 12, 2017

English Lesson 150 Essay

"To what extent was I pulled into each movie as a participant rather than as an observer?"


In the Heat of the Night was by far much more engaging than To Kill a Mockingbird. It had an intense and fascinating appeal to it, with an intricate and complex storyline. One had the sense that they were an eye witness to the events taking place behind the screen. It was a controversial film, that dealt with social issues of racism and the Civil Rights Movement. The actors, Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger, each did a splendid and superb job of portraying their characters. The emotion and passion of their performances was undeniable. The movie weaves a fine web of a story, with diverse people and strange circumstances. It promoted the comradeship of the police badge between men, regardless of the color of their skin. Virgil Tibbs and Bill Gillespie disagreed on the methods for solving the murder of manufacturer, Phillip Colbert. Yet they were both determined to solve the mystery, and resolve the plot once and for all. Once they finally got over their initial pride, they were able to successfully decode the matter. Their joint efforts were used for good, in order to rid the town of lawlessness. Tibb's clever, able mind was keen on picking up details that police Chief Gillespie missed, in his carelessness. His strong,steady demeanor and reassuring presence were key 

Tuesday, May 9, 2017

Lesson 150 Week 30 Review

1. Who was John Wycliffe?
John Wycliff had many titles: philosopher, theologian, Bible translator, reformer, and Oxford seminary professor. He challenged the established role of the church, by rejection of indulgences. (Indulgences were a way to lessen the intensity of punishment due for sins). He also was a believer in predestination. Basically,this is the theory that God has decided ahead of time whether one will go to heaven or hell. It's not something that we can control, by making good or bad decisions in life. Regardless of what choices we make, ultimately the power is in the creator's hands. Iconoclasm was another hypothesis concocted by John Wycliff, and closely followed by his supporters. At the core, it's the concept that spiritual icons should be destroyed. Portraits or physical depictions of holy forms were unlawful, and fallacious. This was completely contrary to the Catholic's long-held system, of reverence and worship for such monuments. The Virgin Mary, for instance, has traditionally been portrayed as a goddess, to be esteemed among the highest. Statues and artistic renderings of her are classics and central to the Catholic faith. John, however shunned this notion, and was disliked as a result. Wycliff had many strange beliefs, that caused the Catholic church to be apprehensive and wary of the English priest.He regarded the clergy as stuck-up and conceited, and the parish ceremonies as extravagant. He paid no attention to the high position they held, but detested their cocky attitude and air. It was only natural then that they were wary of him. His viewpoints ran contrary to ancient tradition, and created conflict between himself and the church.
3.What was the Great Western Schism? and how it was resolved?
The Great Western Schism was a split or divorce occurring within the papality. Pope Gregory had died in 1378, and a new pope had to be chosen.There was a Roman mob that insisted on only having an Italian or Roman pope. They were adamant about their desires, and were appalled at the thought of a French pope overseeing matters. For the past ten years, there had been a pattern of French popes. The people were tired of this, and banged on the doors with axes to get their way. The college of cardinals noted the commotion the people were making, with great distress. The cardinals at last relented to the pressure and elected Bartolomeo Pregnano. It was the very least they could manage, to satisfy the demands of the riot. Bartolomeo may not have been Roman, but as an Italian would have to suffice. He adopted the name of Urban VI, and was recognized for his calm mentality. Alas, he would soon change and be subject to brutal, unexpected mood swings.  Bartolomeo boycotted the church officials in his service, and even abused one by hitting him. The cardinals were curious and worried about what was taking place, behind closed doors. Once they discovered his incapabilities, they brought together a new conclave. They then elected a new pope, a Frenchmen dubbed Clement VIII. Urban only persisted in being a nuisance, when he wouldn't relinquish his hold. Clement had to dwell in Avignon as a make-shift home, while the situation was resolved. This turning point marked the start of the Great Western Schism. Soon countries in Europe began taking sides, some standing with Urban and others siding with Clement. The two popes tried to end the breach, by excommunicating each other. So great was the turmoil, that the bishops even added a new prayer to the mass. It asked that provision and grace be granted for "whoever was the pope"!

In 1409, the ecumenical council of Pisa was called. No conclusion was reached, because neither of the men would cede! The cardinals voted in yet a third pope, who Clement and Urban both reviled. The second council of Constance took place in 1414, when Pope Martin V was selected. At last, one of the popes left their position, while the other two ceased to appear.
The Great Western Schism highly impaired the integrity of the church, leaving it in shambles and disarray.

Monday, May 1, 2017

English, Week 145 Essay

"Compare and contrast the attitude of each movie regarding guns"

Shane portrays guns in a somewhat neutral light. The little boy, Joey finds them fascinating and is eager to master them. When a talented shooter begins work for his father, Joey is enthralled by him. His mother, Marian resents Shane's endeavors to teach the youngster his skills. She doesn't want her son to be influenced by what she considers evil. Joey's father, Jo Starrett, only uses his rifle for protection, if he absolutely has to. It's a matter of self-defense for him, not a necessity.Shane, however, always keeps his trusty pistol by his side. He understands Marian's concern, but also believes guns can be used for good. It depends on the character of the person using them.He demonstrates his talent by shooting a rock many feet away from him. The scene is a startling and mesmerizing part of the film, that sends chills up your spine. A combination of a deafening, ear-splitting sound, and the hazy smoke create a perfect effect. It ingrains a fear in viewers, reminding them how deadly and lethal guns are. They are certainly not a toy to be played with, or taken for granted by the inexperienced.Fatal injuries can occur if one isn't careful. Rikker, the notorious and hated cattle lord, Eventually Shane will protect Joey's father, by taking on Rikker himself. The threat to the settlers is ended, and they no longer have to worry about being driven from their land. Yet this couldn't have been accomplished without employing a gun. So, in this way, Shane uses his pistol not to harm, but to save lives.

High Noon shows a similar approach to the classic revolvers of the west. Marshall Will Kane's wife, Amy is strongly opposed to them. The energetic, promising couple has only just wed, and Will had sworn to quit the business. This is before an old criminal he'd convicted decided to return, and cause havoc.Amy is a committed Quaker and a peacemaker and believes killing isn't the answer to Will's problem. She is intent on convincing her husband guns aren't indispensable. She has witnessed first-hand the negative effects of guns, after  It baffles her that he would stay to defend the cowardly people of their town, when he could easily flee. Cooper considers it to be his duty, to stay and face his old foe Frank Miller. If he must confront him alone, he will not cower into the shadows with fear. He will employ his gun if necessary to end the ordeal once and for all. The bravery of Kane is admirable, since he is not afraid of dying in the attempt. Even at the risk of losing his wife, he still prevails in pursuing the villain. Eventually Amy regrets her decision, and returns to her courageous husband. She decides to let go of her convictions, and remain by her partner's side. Amy is even bold enough to rescue him, by shooting the felon in the back! Her arrival is right in the nick of time, because Will is nearly killed. This is an astounding end and completely unexpected. High Noon concludes with a positive note, concerning guns as moral weapons.





Friday, April 28, 2017

1. What was the significance of the conflict between Phillip IV and Boniface VIII?
The dissension between Phillip and Boniface was important, as it signified a large decrease in the apostolic influence. The controversy between the two began when Phillip unlawfully taxed the clergy, in order to reap credit for war with England. According to tradition, it wasn't permissible for the king to do so, without the compliance of the pope.Phillip completely ignored this conventional guideline,plunging ahead on his own accord.Boniface was quick to counter this outrageous act with Clericis Laicos, a document instating the consequences. It read that kings who followed such actions would be excommunicated, their kingdoms  under interdict. Bishops who paid the tax were also to be punished, by demotion from office. Phillip dealt with this, by simply halting the French church's money supply to Rome. Pope Boniface was astounded and at a loss now, because he relied on these assets. In desperation, he pretended to have changed his mind regarding the clergy's taxation.
He told the bishops instead to proceed with disbursing the tax. This was clearly only because he was afraid of losing Phillip's monetary support. For a short while, the fiery strife between them cooled down. However it was only temporary, as the king went on to cause more drama.The French monarch confined the Bishop of Pamiers. He also cut him off from his entitlement to an ecclesiastical council. When the honorable pope discovered this, he was adamant for the bishop's release.
Regrettably, these kinds of disputes would only continue and grow progressively worse with time. Each man competed furiously for authority over the other. In spite of Boniface's attempts, the sovereign Phillip came out triumphant in every incident. At one point, he ordered troops to come and abuse the helpless pontiff. So bantered was Boniface by the event, that he succumbed thirty days later.
His dynasty was especially exclusive in the history of papistic rulers.In the past, the pope had far more control and could independently order a whole crusade. The intervention of the king was in no way required  to perform such actions. If the emperor was expelled, the whole dominion would be in an uproar. Said emperor wouldn't have a choice but to ask remittal for his violations. Otherwise, he was disrupting everything orderly in the country. He was entirely at the mercy of the pope and had little say. All of this was reciprocated, due to the burgeoning endowment of the crown.

3.  Based on the video and on your reading, what were the effects on Europe of the Black Death?
The Black Death was a devastating blow to the entire continent of Europe. It swept over each country like a gloomy cloud bringing despair and destruction in it's wake. It caused the demise of a third the population of Europe, affecting millions of men, women and children. The epidemic was a convergence of two plagues, the Bubonic and Pneuonmic. The Bubonic plague was passed from fleas infesting rats brought on Italian trade ships. The pneumonic plague was conveyed by coughing and sneezing. The deadliness of these sicknesses was incomparable, as up to 90% of people contracting it died within three to twelve days!
It's not hard to envision how incredibly horrible and disturbing this must have been for the residents. People tended to jump to either one extreme or the other, in order to cope with the profusion of suffering and sorrow.  Some resorted to indulging in excessive bodily pleasures, knowing they would soon die anyhow. Others went to the opposite end of the spectrum, imposing more discomfort upon themselves. They undertook grave self-mortification, anticipating mercy from God. A perfect case of this is the "flagellants", who would thrash themselves in public.

Naturally, as a result of the copious deaths, the number of workers dropped sharply. The people who were fit and healthy enough requested higher pay. The employers looked to the government for reinforcement in instating wage controls.






Friday, April 21, 2017

Western Civ, Week 28

Based on the video lessons and your reading, what were the reasons behind the conflicts between the emperors and the popes during this period?


The emperors were desperate and thirsty for control, as evidenced by the numerous approaches they took to achieve it. Ultimately, domination was all they cared about, and they stopped at nothing for success. Whether they were annexing cash or increasing their empire, this was their constant obsession. They wanted to administer the Holy Roman Empire like monarchs did in primeval times. Naturally, this created problems with the papacy, who desired autonomy in their church. It was irritating to them, when the compulsive, power-hungry rulers interfered with papal affairs. A classic illustration of this can be found in the case of Frederick Barbarossa.  His regime took place during the feudal( or primitive) era, a season of political fragmentation. Lords had equal or even more freedom for oversight than the king. Frederick didn't approve of such a system, and struggled to find a way to change it. 

He endeavored to attain supremacy of the Italian cities of Lombardy. to compete with the wealthy lords. But this plan was ineffective, as Lombardy's citizens coveted sovereignty. They conspired with Pope Alexander III, to construct the Lombard League. Frederick Barbarossa was furious and went on a rampage, setting fire to the cities of Milan. He had the backing of those who were inclined to listen to him, the anti-popes. They hadn't been elected properly, that is by the Church of Cardinals. (So, therefore they weren't really legitimate pontiffs.) But they had pledged to fulfill Frederick's wishes. 

He was very violent and threatening in his pursuits, when it came to the eminent removal of Alexander II. Terror was the potent technique he used. Any inhabitant who wouldn't reject Alexander's authority was instantly deported and their belongings impounded! Alas, it would be a trying, bitter fight, before the Lombard League prevailed. Only then did the stubborn, obstinate Frederick give up and admit to the pope's command.

The contending that occurred between the papacy and the monarchy was actually a good thing,however. They balanced each other out, by creating borderlines to stifle the others supremacy. 







Thursday, April 20, 2017

English Lesson 140 Essay

Is it easier for skilled authors to manipulate movie viewers or book readers? Why or why not?"


My opinion is that movies are a more effective tool, in achieving the creator's purpose. Today in the modern world, they are a powerful means of communication. A large portion of the population attends the cinema, or watches television at home or on online. Consumers are constantly being influenced by film, in the form of movie trailers, ads, and billboards. These portals to entertainment have enormous potential to create change. Dramatic scenes that evoke emotion and feeling in spectators are one way to grab one's attention. Talented actors make it difficult to discern reality from fantasy, as they excel at playing their roles. They bring the characters within books to life, letting us gaze into a vast, diverse world of endless possibilities. There is no confines to imagination, or boundaries directors can't cross. Book-lovers wildest dreams come true, as they are transported to a land of proverbial bliss. Meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, their minds and hearts  are being impacted by views expressed in the picture. 

Directors drop subtle hints throughout the course of the 1-2 hours we spend watching a movie. They don't spread their opinions in an obvious or conspicuous manner. Instead, they employ clever tactics to express their hypothesis on a particular subject. An observant person will easily pick up on exactly what they are attempting to convey. For example, in Casablanca, an anti-German perspective is advocated. Elsa and her husband, Victor Lazlo, are trying desperately to escape to America, where he will be safe from the Nazis reach. Eventually, Elsa's ex-lover, Rick agrees to assist them in obtaining visas for travel. 

He also is persuaded to join in Laslo's Czech defiance movement. Elsa's prospect is similar to most of the refugees who traveled to Morocco's grand city. They were all hoping to journey to the USA, where freedom and neutrality were abundant. Germany was seen as a ever-growing threat, whose occupation would soon span all of Europe. It's shocking the incredible difficulties the fugitives in Casablanca encountered, whilst striving to vacate. Unfortunately, many of them were forced to stay in Morocco for years, waiting for acceptance. If they were poor and penniless, this only decreased their chances of success. It took a great deal of cash to buy passports for passage and transportation to the grand United States of America. 
Casablanca strongly pushes a negative view of the Germans, as a cruel and heartless race of human beings. 









Thursday, April 13, 2017

English 135 Essay

"Do you see any characteristic features of Stewart and Wayne in these films that rocketed them to permanent stardom? If not, why did this happen?"


John Wayne and James Stewart both had striking attributes to them, that I believe were conducive to their enormous success. Jimmy Stewart possessed a very warm-hearted, gentle persona and a good sense of humor. His served tirelessly in the U.S. army and the U.S. air force, eventually attaining the high position of brigadier general. He was a exceptionally talented and accomplished man, who had professional expertise in many different areas. Jimmy was a World War II and Vietnam War Veteran, and also earned an architecture degree from Princeton University. He excelled academically while attending, composing an excellent thesis on airport design.Due to his outstanding achievements, his professors presented him a scholarship for graduate studies.He also was proficient in his military pursuits, with 27 years of service. His commitment to his country did not go unnoticed, as he was awarded numerous metals throughout his career. 

On top of all this, Stewart had incredible, astute acting abilities, with a knack for passionate, dramatic performances. He played the legendary George Bailey, in the timeless classic It's A Wonderful Life. 
This film, although originally a failure, would one day be ranked as one of the 100 best movies of all time. It is now synonymous with Christmas, beloved by many families as a part of their holiday tradition. Stewart's fine portrayal of Bailey is one of his most prominent roles. This beautiful tale of redemption and family miracles was a milestone in Stewart's metier. Another of his fine performances was in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. This film made a tremendous impact and generated many positive reviews, winning an Academy Award for Original Story. I personally found this movie to be both moving and inspirational, one of  the most extraordinary ones I ever viewed.

It was a fabulous and flawless defense of democracy, of one man's relentless determination to change the world. Mr. Smith was a character that only Jimmy Stewart could do best, and his acting skills were suburb. One can't help but be affected by the young senator's unfailing persistence to expose corruption and to see his bill passed. He pushes himself to the brink of exhaustion, refusing to abandon his objective. These features were just exhibitions of Jimmy's incredible filmography.

John Wayne made a legendary impression in Hollywood, starring in over 150 pictures over the course of 50  years! His iconic face has been interchangeable with westerns for decades, as he flaunted the archetypal cowboy hat and gun. Long before he reached the golden shores of Hollywood, Wayne was a promising student and football player at USC. He was pursing a degree in prelaw, when he was forced to leave the university. This was due unfortunately to a collar-bone injury, that caused him to forfeit his education. He had no money to continue his schooling, and had to seek out a new future. He first gained experience in the acting sphere, by working at local film studios.

This was only the inception of a lengthy and prosperous lifetime in the film industry for Mr. Wayne.It would only be a matter of time, before he developed into a rising star. John Wayne had an overpowering air to him, one evoking manfulness and courage. His tall, strong demeanor and calming voice were a few qualities that made him very attractive. The fact that he always prevailed for justice only bettered his appeal. Even as an older man, he still had a timeless charm about him, impossible for women to deny.