John Ford's The Searchers
A critical theory by Robin Wood posits that the filmic genres popularized by the Hollywood system are not "discrete", but represent "different strategies for dealing with the same ideological tensions." (478) Wood claims that conventional theories fail to address this ideological phenomenon, and proposes a search for the myths and contradictions, produced by American capitalism, which fuel disparate filmic genres. Wood's attempt to discuss this ideology lists the "components" of a definition of "American capitalist ideology." (476) One component is the character of "the ideal male", the potent hero of the American way. (477) As the films produced out of capitalism tend to uphold the system's ideology, the hero produced by the film tends to represent the values of this ideology. Thus, through its hero, the classic Western naturalizes and justifies the "taming" of the land and the consequent subjugation of its "libidinous" native people in order to build "civilization." (476)
However, genre films are only potent because of the potentially subversive "intervention of a clearly defined artistic personality in an ideological-generic structure." (479) In The Searchers, John Ford manipulates the traditional relationship between hero, text, and ideology to challenge the dominant values of American society. The viewer initially identifies with the conventional character of Ethan Edwards, but is gradually forced to reject this "hero" and his values, and to regard Martin Pawley, a representative of more liberal beliefs, as the new-order "ideal male." Martin is both an indicator of how the audience should react to Ethan's extremist tendencies, and an alternative to them. Through the rejection of Ethan, in fav...
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..., even as a victim of the psychological reach of the expansionist credo. Clearly, revealing the damage done by the capitalist ideology, whether individual or social, in the frontier society of 1868, or in the "separate but equal" context of 1956, was important to the director. Fortunately, Wood's theory, examining the new meaning created by the juxtaposition of the thesis of a preexistent text with the antithetical views of the auteur, reaffirms Ford's success, and the potence of the genre film.
Works Cited
Warshow, Robert. "Movie Chronicle: The Westerner." Film Theory and Criticism.
Ed. Braudy, Leo, Marshall Cohen and Gerald Mast. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. (453-466)
Wood, Robin. "Ideology, Genre, Auteur." Film Theory and Criticism.
Ed. Braudy, Leo, Marshall Cohen and Gerald Mast. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992. (453-466)
In “The Thematic Paradigm,” University of Florida professor of film studies, Robert Ray, defines two types of heroes pervading American films, the outlaw hero and the official hero. Often the two types are merged in a reconciliatory pattern, he argues. In fact, this
In the article “The Thematic Paradigm” exerted from his book, A Certain Tendency of the Hollywood Cinema, Robert Ray provides a description of the two types of heroes depicted in American film: the outlaw hero and the official hero. Although the outlaw hero is more risky and lonely, he cherishes liberty and sovereignty. The official hero on the other hand, generally poses the role of an average ordinary person, claiming an image of a “civilized person.” While the outlaw hero creates an image of a rough-cut person likely to commit a crime, the official hero has a legend perception. In this essay, I will reflect on Ray’s work, along with demonstrating where I observe ideologies and themes.
Heinrichs, Jay. Thank You for Arguing. 1st ed. revised. Three Rivers Press: New York, New
... Book 2002. 2002 edition. Volume 11. Chicago, IL: World book inc., 2002. Page344. Print.
Ed. Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1985. McQuade, Donald, ed., pp. 113-117.
...g. Ed. X. J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 12th ed. New York: Pearson, 2013. 549-51. Print.
56, No. 3 (1989), pp. 543-569. The Johns Hopkins University Press. JSTOR. Web. 24 April 2014.
Ruymbeke, Bertrand Van. From New Babylon to Eden: The Huguenots and Their Migration to Colonial South Carolina. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 2006.
A couple decades later, in the 1640’s, the reign of Louis XIV took over the French leadership. Louis XIV took the persecution and pressure on the Protestant population to a whole new level. Louis XIV aggressively opposed the Protestant followers and did numerous things to force them to convert back to the Catholicism and denounce their loyalty to the Protestants. Initially, Louis XIV sent out simple missionaries into Protestant areas and told them that if there could be significant financial gain to be made if Protestants would convert to becoming Catholics once again. This method was no welcomed with a lot of success and so in response to that King Louis XIV led a much more consequential method in an effort to convert more Huguenots to the Catholic Church. He began to impose certain penalties around the Protestant population if they would not recommit their faith away from the reformation that they had committed themselves to. In addition to this Louis ordered the closing of Huguenot schools and establishments that the Protestant people had built to support their society. Throughout all these methods that Louis XIV instituted, he grew increasingly frustrated and agitated with the Huguenots and it was only a matter of time until he resorted to increasingly aggressive methods in forcing the Protestant followers to convert. He ordered military troops to invade and loot numerous establishments and homes that were owned by Protestant followers. He did this in an effort to forcibly convert them back to believing and placing loyalty back in the Catholic Church. Louis XIV continued this aggressive persecution of the Huguenots when he did away with the Edict of Nantes. He signed a document formally named the Edict of Fountainebleau which, as mentioned, revoked the previous Edict of Nantes that supported the Protestants and even went so far to even make
Graves’ disease is considered an auto immune disorder. It is also a hyperthyroid disorder that leads to the over activity of the thyroid gland. Graves’ disease is a condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy tissue. Many people suffer from symptoms. This paper will talk about the causes of the disease, research that has been conducted and how it can be treated.
In 1990, obese adults made up less than 15 percent of the population in most U.S. states. By 2010, 36 states had obesity rates of 25 percent or higher, and 12 of those had obesity rates of 30 percent or higher. (CDC) Today, nationwide, roughly two out of three U.S. ...
Meneghetti, Michael. “Review: Ellis Cashmore (2009) Martin Scorsese’s America.” Film Philosophy 14.2 (2010). 161-168. Web. 6 Apr. 2014
16(41), pp. 3. Retrieved on November 12, 2003 from EBSCO database (Masterfile) on the World Wide Web: http://www.ebsco.com.
Obesity is on the rise, and it is becoming more and more of a national health concern. It effects more than 1/3 of the population, and an additional 1/3 is overweight. With obesity becoming more and more of a problem each year, the American population is going to suffer from a catastrophic health emergency.
Over the course of the last few decades, the U.S. has seen a drastic rise in the spread of obesity. Through the rise of large-scale fast food corporations, the blame has shifted toward the mass consumerism of these global industries. It is, however, due to poor lifestyle choices that the U.S. population has seen a significant increase in the percentage of people afflicted with obesity. In 1990 the percentage of obese people in the United States was approximated at around 15%. In 2010, however, it is said that “36 states had obesity rates of 25 percent or higher”(Millar). These rates have stayed consistent since 2003. The obesity problem in America is