***A school assignment but the topic is a current one that concerns me. As always feel free to comment here on on my facebook.***
The 33 Chilean trapped miners who were rescued on October 12 is a story that has been covered quiet extensively across the world. I wanted to know why. What was it about this article that made it so significant? What was it about this event that made so many people feel involved? Let’s examine an article written by Emily Brown and Kate Patterson for USA Today that gives a brief description about what happened and those involved. The article Titled “Thrilling Chilean Miners Rescue was made For TV” begins by giving an account of the rescue that is comparable to that of the moon landing, reporting that it had viewers transfixed at the rolling climax of happy reunions. It seems considering the made –for- cable TV stories of today that this was on another level. Rich Hanley, a journalism professor at Quinnipiac University, is quoted as saying “you didn’t need to speak English or Spanish to understand what you were seeing.” The article continues on describing the waiting families, the passionate nation and it resourceful team; all fueling the anxiety of the event and concern for the miners. The article comes to a closing examining the aspects of the event that led to such a sensational news story: The great story line of a genuine human struggle, suspense of the unknown and a cast of vibrant characters. The article end with describing how the Chilean miners have been transformed from victims to heroes and that the transition will not only affect them but their families as well.
So, I’ll be the first to admit that it’s a compelling human interest news story about amazing effort and very sweet success. 33 miners, who managed to stay alive and in good relations for close to 70 days is an epic feat. It reminds humans that we are able to coexist peacefully even in the most desolate conditions. A tale of struggle, hope and triumph over the most undefeatable odds. But truth does not only rest on the surface, if you peel at it layers like an onion begin to come apart and reveal a buried truth. One truth being that in any non 1st world country, working conditions for miners are often disregarded to help save cost. In fact in as recent as 2006 a mine in Chile collapsed after an explosion that left 70 men trapped, 2 would die. Even in the case of a global power such as China who also has the highest fatality rate for miners of any country, conditions are not safe as we would like to believe. Also in 2006, US mining deaths doubled. But the truth doesn’t end with being buried alive. Beyond this terrible way to die, long term side effects are still present within the mining community especially that of the black lung within the coal mining industry. China reports that there is an average of 10,000 new cases of black lung or chronic lung cases related to mining occurring every year. These all are facts as well. Facts about preventable injuries and deaths that are caused by humans and not by falling debris or acts of nature. However, they will more than likely not receive anywhere near the dramatic light as that of the rescue of the miners. This mining issue should not be taken lightly and not as a story of overnight celberitism due to human struggle. But, more that an avoidable tragedy occurred due to low rate working conditions, almost costing the lives of 33 innocent men. Beyond this, millions Chilean pesos have been spent, families shaken, and the possible arrival of long terms physiological and physiological effects of the miners. The article reinforces this backwards ideology reporting that the Chilean media decided not to focus on any of the negative aspects of this tragic event, but to stay focused only on the positive features of the unraveling events. This approach to media coverage does nothing, but undermines the Chilean people. Further this disposition of contorting tragic events as a form of entertainment rather than informative news story only helps to create a culture that is ignorant to political and industrial crimes and malpractices.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
This is an assignment from school we had to use the theory of "regeneration through chaos" and apply it to something. I choose the movie "Ferris Buellers Day Off"...i know kinda of corny but it works really well...especially if you focus on Cameron...Cameron is my favorite character, maybe because i relate to some of his characteristics more than anyone else. This essay gives a good examination of who Cameron really is...also i posted a link to a youtube video clip of the movie...i think its very important to watch it before reading any further.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPu7ZDDLB54&feature=related
Save Cameron:
The process of human progression, whether it is, mentally, physically, or spiritually, is one that man has struggled with since the first thought. Years and generations of men later, we have developed a sense of direction that has left us with constitutions, commandments and unalienable rights. Yet, no struggle compares to that which each of us battle internally. The struggle of self progression is one that cannot be controlled by any external law, but rather is directed by our own conscience. Here, this process is sparked and motivated by our own decisions, but sometimes external events can force us to jump start the progressive process. In many cases the process is called regeneration through chaos, in which a traumatic event triggers a form of mental conflict that allows people to reevaluate themselves and choose to behave differently. To help explain this theory the essay will examine a pop culture movie titled ”Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, which displays a very simple version of how a person might travel through the progressive states and become regenerated on their own account. Cameron, the character that will be focused on, goes through three stages that encompass the regeneration through chaos process: realization, metaphorical “death”, and regeneration.
The movie begins as any normal suburban family with teenagers morning would begin; Ferris the main character is trying to trick his parents into believing he is too ill to attend school. With little effort and some great over acting he is successful and begins to plot his day with his best friend. Cameron, who plays a supporting role is coerced by Ferris into spending the day with him. To understand how Cameron goes through the regeneration process one has to examine how he has come to his subconscious “breaking point”. Cameron’s character, if examined is very different from Ferris‘s, immediately into the introduction of the character we are informed of the family lifestyle and how his house is, as Ferris refers to it, “like a museum”. The audience is led to believe that Cameron has led an unhappy childhood and is the product of family that was not as caring or affectionate as Ferris’s. In fact, during the phone conversation, while still in bed, Cameron is heard muttering “I’m Dying”. This further leads us to believe that he is unsatisfied with his place and role in life. The irony of this line is that it represents, not only a sarcastic remark of how he feels at the moment; but also that he is aware that something terrible will happen if his life doesn’t change. The culmination of Cameron “realization” however happens during a trip to the museum. Cameron is shown staring into a painting that shows a woman and a small child, perhaps her daughter holding hands in a park. The films cuts from close up to close up of Cameron and the girl in the painting each cut getting closer and closer to its subject. Here the director is showing the relation between Cameron and the girl in the picture. The closer the audience and Cameron get to the painting the less we are able to see of the little girl. By the last shot, she is nothing more than some random colors. This reflects on Cameron, in that the closer we get to understanding him the less of him we see. Cameron realizes it here that he is not his own person but rather a series of parts made up of other peoples decisions. The result of his life up to this point is made up of choices that were made out of fear, fear that any effort that concluded in an action set outside the boundaries of norms, society mandates on teenagers, would result in failure. This stage and scene is one of the most critical for the development of Cameron. Though he has been aware of his controlling environment set up by his parents he has not realized how severe it has impacted his life until this moment.
As the film continues we see Ferris and Cameron now also joined by Ferris’s girlfriend, Sloan all in Cameron’s father’s car. This leads to the second stage of the regeneration process, metaphorical death. Cameron has come to realize what he has become, but chooses not to behave differently. It is the chaos that he must go through to push him over the edge so his false sense of self can “die”, and he can begin to develop his own personal characteristics. The chaos comes in the form of one of his most terrible fears. Early when trying to convince Ferris not to take the car he tells Ferris just how much his father cares for the car saying that “the car is his love, his passion…he loves this car more than life itself”. Cameron’s ultimate fear is his father and his father’s ultimate love is the car. So when Cameron allows Ferris to take the car out he risk facing his ultimate fear. The orderliness and sense of safety it brings is now out of Cameron’s hands, and in the care of his best friend. Cameron is aware of this, but chooses to gamble the risk of “having fun” for a day against the possibility of wrecking his sense of mundane security. When the point comes that he realizes that he has, or the garage attendants rather, put a substantial amount of miles on the car, he reaches the beginning of his metaphorical “death”. In his case he is paralyzed by what has happened and goes into a shock. Cameron’s false identity then begins to peel away at this moment and we see Cameron literally break down. Here he begins to reflect upon the choice that he has made and how he has lost the wager of immediate satisfaction over insecurities. Later in the film we see Cameron throw himself into a pool and sink to the bottom not wanting to rise or swim. At this moment Cameron’s false self has now been totally wiped clear. Almost similar to being baptized he has been washed clean and born again to a new self. His new self and outlook becomes evident right away. After Ferris pulls him out of the pool, Cameron calmly jokes about almost drowning and begins to laugh. The boy who would welcome death on the phone hours before, has now come to terms that death is a joke compared to the life he now see’s in front of him. This Chaos was necessary for Cameron’s transformation, and ignites a new life and sense of living within him.
The Process of regeneration through chaos is not over however and neither is the film. Cameron’s journey continues on to have his new life tested and legitimized. Towards the end of the film the threesome are now at Cameron’s house trying to eliminate any evidence of the joyride. Propping the rear tires up and running the car in reverse is not one of Ferris greatest ideas, but it does well to fool the other two. Upon Realization that the mileage is not reversing as well they begin to panic. Cameron’s anxiety begins to develop into anger and resentment for what the car represents. In this anger he begins to kick the car purposely to damage it. This action solidifies the fact that there is no turning back, that the confrontation of his fears is what will happen. The day’s events, taking his father’s car, fooling people in the city and having a good time all have reversed his mode of thinking. This adventure has helped Cameron deal with his insecurities and shown him that he can become a new person. In a line of dialogue after the cars fall out of the garage he exclaims his new way of thinking: “I am not going to sit on my ass as the events that affect me unfold to determine the course of my life. I’m going to take a stand. I’m going to defend it. Right or wrong. I’m going to defend it.” This one line confirms that Cameron has now been regenerated into a new person.
When this theory is examined through a pop culture film it is easier to understand and can be related to on many different levels. What makes this film a good example is the use of teenage angst as a relational tool for teaching life lessons, such as the consequences of allowing others to direct our lives. Like Cameron we all have frustration and feel sometimes that we are not who we see ourselves as, but through external events sometimes we are able to sharpen the view of our goals. In many ways this film is able to tap into the very core human feelings, displaying insecurities, heroism and even internal conflicts. Having an understanding that theses feeling and emotions are all forms of chaos that can help our conscience regenerate and more acutely guide us to self perfection no longer becomes helpful but essential.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zPu7ZDDLB54&feature=related
Save Cameron:
The process of human progression, whether it is, mentally, physically, or spiritually, is one that man has struggled with since the first thought. Years and generations of men later, we have developed a sense of direction that has left us with constitutions, commandments and unalienable rights. Yet, no struggle compares to that which each of us battle internally. The struggle of self progression is one that cannot be controlled by any external law, but rather is directed by our own conscience. Here, this process is sparked and motivated by our own decisions, but sometimes external events can force us to jump start the progressive process. In many cases the process is called regeneration through chaos, in which a traumatic event triggers a form of mental conflict that allows people to reevaluate themselves and choose to behave differently. To help explain this theory the essay will examine a pop culture movie titled ”Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”, which displays a very simple version of how a person might travel through the progressive states and become regenerated on their own account. Cameron, the character that will be focused on, goes through three stages that encompass the regeneration through chaos process: realization, metaphorical “death”, and regeneration.
The movie begins as any normal suburban family with teenagers morning would begin; Ferris the main character is trying to trick his parents into believing he is too ill to attend school. With little effort and some great over acting he is successful and begins to plot his day with his best friend. Cameron, who plays a supporting role is coerced by Ferris into spending the day with him. To understand how Cameron goes through the regeneration process one has to examine how he has come to his subconscious “breaking point”. Cameron’s character, if examined is very different from Ferris‘s, immediately into the introduction of the character we are informed of the family lifestyle and how his house is, as Ferris refers to it, “like a museum”. The audience is led to believe that Cameron has led an unhappy childhood and is the product of family that was not as caring or affectionate as Ferris’s. In fact, during the phone conversation, while still in bed, Cameron is heard muttering “I’m Dying”. This further leads us to believe that he is unsatisfied with his place and role in life. The irony of this line is that it represents, not only a sarcastic remark of how he feels at the moment; but also that he is aware that something terrible will happen if his life doesn’t change. The culmination of Cameron “realization” however happens during a trip to the museum. Cameron is shown staring into a painting that shows a woman and a small child, perhaps her daughter holding hands in a park. The films cuts from close up to close up of Cameron and the girl in the painting each cut getting closer and closer to its subject. Here the director is showing the relation between Cameron and the girl in the picture. The closer the audience and Cameron get to the painting the less we are able to see of the little girl. By the last shot, she is nothing more than some random colors. This reflects on Cameron, in that the closer we get to understanding him the less of him we see. Cameron realizes it here that he is not his own person but rather a series of parts made up of other peoples decisions. The result of his life up to this point is made up of choices that were made out of fear, fear that any effort that concluded in an action set outside the boundaries of norms, society mandates on teenagers, would result in failure. This stage and scene is one of the most critical for the development of Cameron. Though he has been aware of his controlling environment set up by his parents he has not realized how severe it has impacted his life until this moment.
As the film continues we see Ferris and Cameron now also joined by Ferris’s girlfriend, Sloan all in Cameron’s father’s car. This leads to the second stage of the regeneration process, metaphorical death. Cameron has come to realize what he has become, but chooses not to behave differently. It is the chaos that he must go through to push him over the edge so his false sense of self can “die”, and he can begin to develop his own personal characteristics. The chaos comes in the form of one of his most terrible fears. Early when trying to convince Ferris not to take the car he tells Ferris just how much his father cares for the car saying that “the car is his love, his passion…he loves this car more than life itself”. Cameron’s ultimate fear is his father and his father’s ultimate love is the car. So when Cameron allows Ferris to take the car out he risk facing his ultimate fear. The orderliness and sense of safety it brings is now out of Cameron’s hands, and in the care of his best friend. Cameron is aware of this, but chooses to gamble the risk of “having fun” for a day against the possibility of wrecking his sense of mundane security. When the point comes that he realizes that he has, or the garage attendants rather, put a substantial amount of miles on the car, he reaches the beginning of his metaphorical “death”. In his case he is paralyzed by what has happened and goes into a shock. Cameron’s false identity then begins to peel away at this moment and we see Cameron literally break down. Here he begins to reflect upon the choice that he has made and how he has lost the wager of immediate satisfaction over insecurities. Later in the film we see Cameron throw himself into a pool and sink to the bottom not wanting to rise or swim. At this moment Cameron’s false self has now been totally wiped clear. Almost similar to being baptized he has been washed clean and born again to a new self. His new self and outlook becomes evident right away. After Ferris pulls him out of the pool, Cameron calmly jokes about almost drowning and begins to laugh. The boy who would welcome death on the phone hours before, has now come to terms that death is a joke compared to the life he now see’s in front of him. This Chaos was necessary for Cameron’s transformation, and ignites a new life and sense of living within him.
The Process of regeneration through chaos is not over however and neither is the film. Cameron’s journey continues on to have his new life tested and legitimized. Towards the end of the film the threesome are now at Cameron’s house trying to eliminate any evidence of the joyride. Propping the rear tires up and running the car in reverse is not one of Ferris greatest ideas, but it does well to fool the other two. Upon Realization that the mileage is not reversing as well they begin to panic. Cameron’s anxiety begins to develop into anger and resentment for what the car represents. In this anger he begins to kick the car purposely to damage it. This action solidifies the fact that there is no turning back, that the confrontation of his fears is what will happen. The day’s events, taking his father’s car, fooling people in the city and having a good time all have reversed his mode of thinking. This adventure has helped Cameron deal with his insecurities and shown him that he can become a new person. In a line of dialogue after the cars fall out of the garage he exclaims his new way of thinking: “I am not going to sit on my ass as the events that affect me unfold to determine the course of my life. I’m going to take a stand. I’m going to defend it. Right or wrong. I’m going to defend it.” This one line confirms that Cameron has now been regenerated into a new person.
When this theory is examined through a pop culture film it is easier to understand and can be related to on many different levels. What makes this film a good example is the use of teenage angst as a relational tool for teaching life lessons, such as the consequences of allowing others to direct our lives. Like Cameron we all have frustration and feel sometimes that we are not who we see ourselves as, but through external events sometimes we are able to sharpen the view of our goals. In many ways this film is able to tap into the very core human feelings, displaying insecurities, heroism and even internal conflicts. Having an understanding that theses feeling and emotions are all forms of chaos that can help our conscience regenerate and more acutely guide us to self perfection no longer becomes helpful but essential.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
uuuggghhhhhh
i had some good stuff from school i kept because they were well researced and had good arguments... thought they might be interesting to read...but i seem to have forgotten my drive..ill post as soon as i can
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