“On the Waterfront” and the Music of Leonard Bernstein

Addam Farmer MUS 468I Written Project Professor Perry La Marca 3/19/2012 â€Å"On the Waterfront† and the Music of Leonard Bernstein (1954) â€Å"On the Waterfront† is a masterpiece film about a union man (Terry Malloy) whom makes an attempt to stand up to the corrupt mob bosses leading the Longshoremen’s Union. Just as important as the plot of the film is the music; the original score by Leonard Bernstein greatly influenced how other composers would approach film scoring.Bernstein combined the â€Å"American† characteristics of Aaron Copland’s music (disjunct melodies, wide intervals, small but colorful ensembles) with the dark and somewhat disturbing elements of modernism. Bernstein did not shy away from dissonance, and he also incorporated jazz elements (such as brass and rhythmic syncopation) into the equation. During the opening credits, we can hear a solo French horn followed by a small music ensemble. This is expected of the modernist techniq ue – to start off with one instrument followed by others mirroring the opening melody and/or providing contrapuntal contrast.What is amazing about â€Å"On the Waterfront† is not just the music itself –rather, it is the way in which Bernstein employs his music. The movie score is not wall-to-wall; there are long periods of silence in the film (other than sound effects and dialog. ) Strategic musical entrances and long periods of silence are carefully placed to help with the storytelling of the film. For instance, when the â€Å"non-corrupt† members of the Longshoremen’s Union meet in the Church to discuss their problems, there is no music.Suddenly, thrilling â€Å"danger† music begins to play, followed by the mobsters’ attempt to break up the union meeting. The corrupted mobsters begin to beat up the union members, showering them with intimidation. The placement of the music plays a vital role in this scene as the absence of the music symbolizes the absence of conflict. Another way Bernstein helped the film is through his utilization of various themes. The â€Å"Waterfront† theme serves as the frame of the musical score.Parts of the theme can be heard throughout the film, but the â€Å"Waterfront† theme is only heard in the complete form at the beginning and end of the film. There is also a love theme that acts as the catalyst for the portrayal of Edie and Terry’s chemistry. Lastly, the dominant theme in the film is the â€Å"Violence† theme, which is first heard in the second scene with the death of Joey. These themes help to distinguish the films elements: the love story between Edie and Terry, the violent nature of the corrupt union bosses, and the overall message of the film.The greatest point in the music occurs at the climax of the film, when Terry gets severely bruised and beaten by the union boss’s men. At this point, Bernstein utilizes the â€Å"Violence† theme surrounded by dissonance and jazz-style syncopated rhythms. Then, when we see Terry’s bloodied face, a plainer version of the â€Å"Violence† theme is heard in the woodwinds. The opening â€Å"Waterfront† theme is then heard by a solo horn after Terry asks the others to â€Å"Put me on my feet. † The horn is joined by an orchestra.The proceeding music follows the nationalistic, proud, â€Å"American† music style of Aaron Copland – Bernstein again shows the listeners where his own compositional influences come from. The grand performance of the theme suggests the unity of the union members standing up to the mob bosses. The theme also can suggest the courage held by the longshoremen as working citizens of American society. Leonard Bernstein was a musical genius in many different aspects. It is kind of a shame that â€Å"On the Waterfront† was his only original film score – even â€Å"West Side Story† was later adapted for film.His intelligent use of various themes coupled with his great sense for rests in the score create a mood that sucks the viewer into the world of Terry Malloy. His careful decisions concerning where to place the silences also help to surprise the viewers in a way that is conducive to the film; the viewer can’t help but wonder what will happen next. It is no wonder that Bernstein’s scoring for â€Å"On the Waterfront† was held in high esteem by the very composers that inspired him.

Jeep and Social Media Essay

In recent years, social media has become an incredibly important tool with which people communicate. Young and old people alike use Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and blogs to relay messages and connect with one another. However, these platforms are no longer used by individuals solely. More and more companies have begun to use social media to reach out to current and future customers and to advertise themselves. It is not uncommon for company Facebook pages and Twitter feeds to have a large number of subscribers or followers nowadays. One company that uses social media quite effectively is Jeep. The company uses outlets like Facebook, MySpace, and YouTube to reach out to their customers and try to capture new ones. Jeep uses social media to target a different type of audience than most companies. Whereas many firms would be trying to capture new customers, Jeep is more devoted to engaging existing customers and connecting Jeep owners. In doing this, Jeep’s target audience consists mainly men and women who are of driving age. There are a few other qualifications though. One of the attractions of a Jeep is the ruggedness and outdoorsy image that it embodies. Therefore, the target audience that Jeep tries to reach through it’s social media usage would most likely include those that are interested in a number of outdoor activities. In addition, though the Jeeps are sold to customers of any age, it seems that most users of social media are in the younger generations. While this is currently beginning to change, it is reasonable to believe that Jeep’s social media is targeted more towards younger Jeep owners – most likely those customers whose age lies in the range of the early teens to the late thirties. As already mentioned, Jeep’s focus is not really to attract new customers but to provide existing owners with a number of different ways to connect with eachother and with the company itself. Establishing these connections is where the interactivity of Jeep’s social media platforms comes into play. The main parts of Jeep’s social media are the Jeep Facebook page, the Jeep MySpace page, the Jeep Twitter feed, the official Flickr group, the Jeep YouTube account, and an online community titled â€Å"Come Together†. All of these places are used as exchanges where Jeep owners and enthusiasts can interact with one another. These interactions consist of uploading and viewing photos and videos to the Flickr and YouTube accounts, commenting on interesting segments on the â€Å"Come Together† community site, or talking to each other on the Facebook and MySpace pages. While there are not many contests or downloads that Jeep tries to push on visitors to their sites, visitors are strongly encouraged to post photos and comments relating to their personal experiences with the company. I have personally worked in a company that makes and sells aftermarket Jeep accessories and have seen firsthand how proud and involved Jeep owners can be over their Jeeps. Therefore, it is not surprising that these sites and social media platforms are often very successful in getting viewers to post photos, videos, and comments about their Jeeps and any others they see on the sites. There is no real advertising for products taking place on these social media sites. Instead, the sites act merely as an exchange of ideas and opinions between customers and the company. However, this is an example of a very good product marketing strategy. When site visitors view pictures of other Jeep owners’ vehicles, they may often see products on the other vehicles that they like and become interested in purchasing. This will often lead to sales of Jeep accessories without any real advertising expenses incurred by the company. Reviews, photos, and videos from actual customers serve to enhance the products in other people’s minds and indirectly lead to visitors purchasing goods. Traditional advertising is also integrated in all of these social media sites. All of Jeep’s current regular television commercials are posted on both the YouTube and MySpace pages. Print ads can also be found on the MySpace page. However, while traditional advertising can be found in many places on Jeep’s social media sites, it is not the focus. Jeep uses these sites more to promote connectivity between the customers. It seems as though they want visitors to forget that all these sites are part of a corporate marketing strategy; instead they want to promote the idea that the sites are merely a way for owners to exchange photos and stories about their experiences with the Jeeps they have bought. The company is not trying to push new products down the customers’ throats but rather is interested in hearing about the likes and dislikes that the customers have. I believe that this dedication to engaging the customer is part of what makes Jeep owners so devoted to the company. Therefore, Jeep’s social media platform is very effective at doing what the company sets out to do.

Corporate Social Responsibility That is Practising in Self Regulation Research Paper

Corporate Social Responsibility That is Practising in Self Regulation - Research Paper Example In general, the focus is usually to improve the public’s standards of living. The communal interests are incorporated into the business decision making process. â€Å"Corporations are now expected to deliver the good, not just the goods; to pursue values, not just value, and to help make the world a better place† (Bakan, 2004). However, critics of CSR argue that the ultimate goal of companies is to make profits from their capital outlay. It would be wrong to assume that a company can be established with the mission of helping the public to overcome the problems that they face in their day to day lives. This paper defines various concepts associated with corporate social responsibility. It identifies relevant issues, analyzes recent developments as well as an evaluation of arguments and finally, it presents and explains a personal opinion concerning CSR. CSR is faced with various issues concerned with the manner in which organizations operate to accomplish business strategies aimed at boosting profitability while on the other hand maintaining ethical principles for the sake of the public. In essence, every business venture is usually intended to make a profit, and as William (2010) argues, the business strategies are developed to help an organization to counter the factors that might hinder its profitability. The reaction of the public to the externalities emanating from the business operations is one factor that may hamper the realization of organizational objectives. Engaging in CSR is one of the tools applied by companies to ensure that its own externalities are viewed positively by the public. For example, large petroleum industries are the major contributors of the greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere, which contributes to the degradation of the ozone layer and eventually global warming.

Icons in the past and in the modern world Essay

Icons in the past and in the modern world - Essay Example bject that is easily identifiable by many. It may also mean a symbol that is used by different cultures to for purposes of historical value or having a known significance to such community or groups of communities. In the modern times however, icons of places are mostly represented by beautiful architectural buildings. Though past icons such as monuments, statues and historical buildings are still recognized as icons of different places, there is a rapid change in the way icons are perceived and this has been brought about by the construction of amazing pieces of architecture. This paradigm shift has been driven by the demand for popularity and instant fame as well as for business purposes. Different regions are now in competition with one another in the construction of stunning architectural buildings. This paper aims to detail and discuss the meaning and use of icons in the past and modern in the United Kingdom and give a comparison of the same. This will be done via researching th e major icons in the UK and detailing their use. The paper will also make a general conclusion of the history of the icons. Most specifically, the paper will focus on the bulky-Scottish Castle, the St. Pauls Cathedral, the Nelson Monument, and the small retail liver building. Background Information In the medieval times, icons were mostly represented by historical monuments and buildings. It also included paintings and carvings that were done on stones and caves by hunters or artists in the community. Such icons represented a particular history or symbol of power in the community. A good example of icons that represented symbols of power included palaces of the royal family in the kingdom. Buckingham palace in Great Britain is an example of such palace that was and still is home to the royal family. Religious shrines and buildings were also known icons in the past due to their revered status. Rome for example was a society that was deeply engulfed in religious practices and as such had several places of worship within the region (Lynch, 1960). Such places were known icons within and beyond the boundaries of Rome since they were not only revered by many, but also had influence on the political administration at that time. Great emphasis was also placed on the erection and curving of monuments and statues by several communities in the past. This was done to honour individuals for their great contribution to the society and as such, places where these monuments and statues were erected become known icons within the region both in the medieval times and up to date. From the twin towers in Malaysia to the Five Star hotel, Burj Al Arab in Dubai, the emphasis has been placed on tall and aesthetical pleasing building designs. Two dimensional form of art such as

American global supremacy Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

American global supremacy - Essay Example Walters, whom I interviewed for this project. I chose to interview him, my uncle who is going to be 75 in December, because he is a very knowledgeable and shrewd man. He was with the army as a doctor for his entire career until retirement. During his many appointments, he was posted in various countries all over the world and thus was an ideal candidate to elucidate on this topic. I took notes as we had a casual conversation. When I asked him whether he thought America was a ‘superpower’ right now, he explained to me what a superpower is. He said: The superpower is the nation that has a say in the world events and decisions the most. There cannot be a superpower without there being nations who give it that status, just like there cannot be a leader without having followers who want him to lead†¦ Before the 20th century, Great Britain provided tutelage to the world, as it had colonies and followers all over†¦ Look up history, you know, books and biographies and you will see the superpowers the world has seen, rule and then disintegrate. Soviet Union happened just a couple decades ago. However, the world has never been as global as it is now. America was building up to take this position when there was want of hope and optimism in the 17th, 18th centuries. It gained that position, and the acceptance from other nations in the 20th century. When I asked him how America came to be a superpower, he said it was through invention, progress and trade. Americans have always been very open, adventurous and have opted to set up work sites (Steingart) and joint ventures in countries all over the world. American language, food and culture have precipitated world over. From McDonalds to Apple, email to ‘F.R.I.E.N.D.S’, American items have penetrated all the cultures of the world in some form. Another very important factor that established the position of the US in the global arena is the US dollar. It has become the global currency for trade in the

Internet and related web technologies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Internet and related web technologies - Essay Example Basically, the Internet refers to a huge network of networks in which millions of computers and devices are connected to each other via cables or some other medium. Hence, the internet is surely a huge hardware mixture of millions of business, personal and governmental devices and computers, in which all linked like highways and roads. At the present, the internet has turned out to be a significant part of people’s lives. In addition, the Internet is not the ownership of a single person and even there is not a single organization or government that runs it. However, they can pose some technical rules and hardware/software standards regarding how people plug into the Internet. As compared to the Internet, the World Wide Web is the huge collection of digital pages. In other words, this huge and significant software component of the Internet is responsible for distributing data, information and content in the form of HTML pages. In addition, these web pages and information are ac cessed and viewed by using free software known as web browsers (Gil, 2013). The DNS and Directories As discussed above, the data and information on the Internet can be accessed through web sites and these web sites use proper names, which are known as domain. In addition, on the internet each domain name is identified as IP (internet protocol) address. In view of the fact that these IP addresses are difficult to remember so they can be replaced with some of the well-known and user friendly terms such as www.google.com, on the other hand the IP address of this domain could be different in the database such as 32.34.43.23. Basically, the Domain Name System (DNS) is an Internet directory service that is used by the Internet to convert or translate user-friendly web site names into the mathematical format such as IP addresses which are used by the computers for communication over the Internet. In this scenario, a large number of systems (computers and other devices) on the Internet get together to offer this directory service. Moreover, these directories allow people to connect to computers by making use of names instead of numbers. Furthermore, DNS also allows computers and other devices to web addresses and handle email (Shelly, Cashman, Vermaat, Cashman, & Vermaat, 2004; UCAR, 2009). Navigational Tools and Search Engines Basically, the navigational tools are software applications that are used to navigate a web site. In this scenario, there are a large number of navigational tools which allow us to access data and information from the Internet. For instance, Microsoft Internet Explorer and Google Chrome are two of the well-known navigational tools. On the other hand, a web search engine is a software system that is developed with the purpose of searching for the desired data, information (videos or any content) on the World Wide Web. In this scenario, the results that appear in response to a search query are normally provided in a line of results which are know n as search engine results pages (SERPs). In addition, the results of a search query can contain anything such as information, pictures and other types of files. Some of the well-known search engines are Google, MSN, and Yahoo (Wikipedia, 2013). Intranets and Extranets The intranet is a kind of network that can be used within an organization. This network cannot be accessed by the people outside of the

Detroit and municipal bankruptcy Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Detroit and municipal bankruptcy - Research Paper Example This essay seeks to elaborate on why Detroit should pursue bankruptcy. Detroit filling of bankruptcy can follow the city’s current existing population record. According to the census record taken in 2012, Detroit hosts a population of around 700,000 residents. This number stipulates that the city stand among the highest populated cities in the state of Michigan (Rattner 15). The high population implies that the city requires relatively higher resources compared to other cities to sustain the residents within the area. Filling for bankruptcy suffices as a good course because it enables the city to maximize on the available resources from tax exemption policies within the enacted act’s provision. The unemployment rate in Detroit has elevated to significantly alarming records. Since the year 2000, the unemployment rates have changed tremendously. The high unemployment rate is evident around the metropolitan areas where it has risen by over 10% of the national average. Unemployment rate factor is directly inversed to other factors like the homicide rates within the city considering that Detroit has the highest homicide rate and is among the most dangerous cities in the United States of America. The judicial state within the city raises the significance of filing for bankruptcy. In the year 2014, only 8.5% of cases commenced were solved. This number compared to the 30.5% of the cases solved nationwide indicating that the judicial system requires redress. The security system in Detroit also begs for the filling of bankruptcy. In Detroit city, the response to the police calls averages 56 minutes compared to the 11 minutes nationwide. The faulty security and policing system in Detroit are attributive to the lack of resources. The fire trucks and police trucks conditions neglect is evident in that they are old and cannot work efficiently. Nevertheless, just like other