Saturday, November 30, 2019
Roe V Wade Essays - Sexual Revolution, United States Law
Roe V Wade Daniel DellaCroce Law and the Legal System Roe v. Wade 410 U.S. 113 The case of Roe v. Wade started back in the state of Texas. This was where a single pregnant woman brought a class action challenging the constitutionality of the Texas abortion laws. This is where in Texas it is a criminal offense to have an abortion. The case got to the Supreme Court by way of the district court by the state of Texas appealing to the Supreme Court to over turn the ruling of the district court. The district court found that Roe did have grounds to file the suit against the state of Texas. This was on the grounds that the abortion laws in Texas infringed on the ninth and fourteenth amendments of the constitution. The case was brought to the Supreme Court based on a woman who had sought to get an abortion in the state of Texas. She sought out a doctor named Hallford, who had done many other abortions in other states. Hallford subsequently at the time of the trial was pending two other abortion prosecutions against him. The main theory that Roe argued before the Supreme Court was the fact that outlawing abortion was infringing on a woman's right to privacy. These rights are covered under the ninth and fourteenth amendments of the constitution. Roe questioned on whether or not the state of Texas could pass a law that infringed on these rights, if abortion was covered under these rights at all. Texas had stated that an abortion was only legal when the mother's life was threatened. The case was brought before the Supreme Court because it handled a law that could be unconstitutional. The mail issue before the Supreme Court was on whether or not a woman's right to an abortion was covered under the constitution. Does the Constitution embrace the right of a woman to obtain an abortion, nullifying the Texas prohibition? If it were covered under the ninth and fourteenth amendments then it would be affecting the whole country. The Supreme Court in a decision five to four held that abortion was covered under the ninth and fourteenth amendments. The Supreme Court held that a woman's right to an abortion fell within the right to privacy (recognized in Griswold v. Connecticut) protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. The decision gave a woman a right to abortion during the entirety of the pregnancy and defined different levels of state interest for regulating abortion in the second and third trimesters.
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Orientalism and its Effects on Todayââ¬â¢s Society essay part 2Essay Writing Service
Orientalism and its Effects on Todayââ¬â¢s Society essay part 2Essay Writing Service Orientalism and its Effects on Todayââ¬â¢s Society essay part 2 Orientalism and its Effects on Todayââ¬â¢s Society essay part 2Orientalism and its Effects on Todayââ¬â¢s Society essay partà 1In addition, in the United States, the major focus for the development of criticism of colonist representations in art was India. Actually, this criticism reflected the influences of Orientalism on human minds (Burke Prochaska 22). As the United States was focused on cultural, economic and political domination, the ambitions of many Americans were captured by the Orientalist views. According to researchers, ââ¬Å"as the United States expanded its sphere of influence into the Pacific Rim, motivated strongly by Manifest Destiny, American Orientalism also expanded and shifted, reflecting the Unites Statesââ¬â¢ increasing global influence as well as its increasing interactions with Asia and the Pacific Rimâ⬠à (Leong 8).Undoubtedly, the development of Orientalist views depended on a number of factors, including the growth of industrialization, the growth of population and the growth of prosperity of the nation.à In the late 19-th century ââ¬â early 20-th century, the Gilded Age in America contributed not only to considerable social changes, but also to the formation of progressive ideas in different spheres of human activity (Leong 8). American Orientalism was based on the reflection of the key aspects of American ideology, including the ideology of race, gender and class (Rotter 1205). American progressivism influenced the formation of American Orientalism through adoption of new progressive idea aimed at converting Asian people to American lifestyle. Manifest Destiny was the major cause of the spread of American identity to promote American Orientalism based on special virtues, beliefs and attitudes of the American people. Americaââ¬â¢s mission was based on the idea of remaking the West through expansion (Leong 8).The Effects of American Orientalism on Art, Literature and MusicAmerican Orientalism has a stron g impact on art, literature, music, theatre, cinema, and photography. Many researchers define American Orientalism as a national cultural dialogue, which influences various aspects of American culture (Gersdorf à 102).The intense interest of Americans in the Orient, especially the Oriental culture and traditions contributed to the American Orientalist thinking (Gersdorf 102). For example, the increased widespread popularity of the Arabian Nights among Americans influenced the development of tourism to the Orient.à According to Catrin Gersdorf, ââ¬Å"America entered the Oriental landscape during 1850-1860s by way of the literary and visual faculties in some of the nationââ¬â¢s most popular writers and paintersâ⬠(103). Among the most popular writers was Mark Twain. In his The Innocents Abroad (1869), he placed emphasis on the new development associated with Orientalism (Gersdorf 103).Actually, the significance of the Oriental culture was found in aesthetic and ethical di scourse in America. The Oriental images were found in the representation of Oriental landscapes. Sanford Robinson Gifford, a well-known American landscape painter was impressed by the Oriental landscapes (Gersdorf 108).à His paintings The Desert at Assouan (1869), Long Branch Beach (1867) and other works exemplify Oriental approaches to landscape painting (Gersdorf 108). According to researchers, the works of many American painters show that ââ¬Å"the discourse of Orientalism was highly instrumental in gauging the significance of the desert for the cultural and historical imaginary of the United States (Gersdorf 113).Besides, Orientalist views were reflected in American music. Many composers produced Oriental music in response to the growing rate of Asian immigrants. Researchers state that American popular music revealed various patterns of Orientalism, including ââ¬Å"de- masculinization, exoticism and dehumanizationâ⬠(Garrett 127). Due to musical representation of Asian immigrants, Americans could establish and assess the difference between the East and the West. The Orient emerged in American music as a fantasy projected by the civilized society (Garrett 127). For example, ââ¬Å"Jerome and Schwartzââ¬â¢s song, which portrays local Chinatowns as foreign entities within the U.S. borders, participated in an American brand of internal Orientalismâ⬠(Garrett 127). In general, music industry reflected American Orientalism and contributed to the construction of national identity.The Effect of American Orientalism on Cinema and Film ProductionAmerican Orientalism influenced film production through the representation of Asian culture in films, documentaries and television shows produced in the United States. According to researchers, there were ââ¬Å"four major stereotypes of Asians and Asian Americans emerged from the imagination of primarily white cultural producers in Hollywood: Yellow Peril, Dragon Lady, Charlie Chan and Lotus Blossom (Shah 1). The images of Asians and Asian Americans could be interpreted as the so-called ââ¬Å"controlling imagesâ⬠because of the effects of negative and positive stereotypes developed in American society. In fact, these negative stereotypes provide justifications for the necessity of social control, while positive stereotypes provide justifications for the development of normative models for Orientalist thought (Shah 4). At the same time, researchers place emphasis on the role of resistance to the development of these images, which was found in the late 1960s. The development of à ââ¬Å"triangular cinemaâ⬠by Asian American filmmakers was focused on the political strategy aimed at promoting Asian American community, developing political mobilization, and the establishment of the so-called ââ¬Å"Asian American film aestheticâ⬠(Shah 4). Many films that were produced in the context of triangular cinema are considered to be ââ¬Å"liberating imagesâ⬠that ââ¬Å"st ake out a position for independence and autonomy for Asian American communitiesâ⬠(Shah 4).à à à à à à à à à à à The Effect of American Orientalism on Political Decision Makingà à à à à à à à à à à Many recent works are focused on analysis of the U.S and Middle East relations which helps to understand the real effect of Orientalist discourse on politics in general and political decision making in particular (Halabi 375). The effects of the ââ¬Å"War on Terrorâ⬠can be found in the domestic perception of people from Middle East, Islam and Arabic World in the United States. American Orientalists describe Muslims as people with anti-Western ideology (Halabi 375). Because of the increased role of political Islam in Iran, Algeria, Sudan and other countries, the West has no ability to influence the development of political trends in the Middle East, as well as to control oil market in a proper way (Halabi 375).à In addition, the f ormer president Regan linked the growth of terrorism with Muslim movements. In general, American Orientalism influences political decision making for a number of reasons. First, the West is interested in participating in the establishment of political trends in the Middle East, ââ¬Å"which contains 60% of world oil reservesâ⬠(Halabi 376). Second, the United States is involved in the developing methods to promote security of Israel (Halabi 376). The third reason is that ââ¬Å"the geographical proximity of the Middle East to Europe makes the latter vulnerable to the influx of legal and illegal immigrantsâ⬠(Halabi 376). American Orientalists believe that Islam is the major enemy of the West, and that the political decision making should not promote democracy in Islamic states because democracy will contribute to the growing power of Islamic fundamentalists (Halabi 377).As a matter of fact, the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon that occurred on 1 1 September 2001 (the events of 9/11) have led to complete destabilization of the U.S. philosophy of morale and sense of self. As a result, American identity required considerable restatement of ideological views regarding gender and race. These changes influenced political decision making. According to Meghana Nayaka, ââ¬Å"this identity draws upon hyper-masculinity, a religious code of ethics and the constitutive differences between Self/Other necessitating the persistent and forceful coding, interpretation and targeting of particular actors and politics as Islamic fundamentalistâ⬠(42). à Thus, the events of 9/11 created negative attitudes toward the Orient and the representatives of the Orient in the United States. The U.S. participation in an orientalist project was a necessity as it could help to ââ¬Å"institutionalize gendered and racialized violence through the infantilization, demonization, dehumanization and sexual commodification of the Otherâ⬠(Nayaka 42). The U.S. was involved in the project in order to protect national identity from the negative effects of Orientalist views, linking religious matters, American ideology and conflict (Nayaka 42). In general, American Orientalismââ¬â¢s logic developed in recent years affects the new identity formation.The Effect of American Orientalism on Gender PoliticsThe gender politics that involves the representation of Afghani and Iraqi people in American society created a new concept of Orientalism, namely Gendered Orientalism. Besides, after the events of 9/11, the images of the Middle Eastern, or the so-called Muslim ââ¬ËOtherââ¬â¢, have been criticized in the Western world. Although Edward Saidââ¬â¢s book Orientalism provides much important information regarding the criticism of Orientalist views, todayââ¬â¢s criticism of the Orient is connected with examination of the Muslim imagesââ¬â¢ functioning in ââ¬ËWar on Terrorââ¬â¢ discourses (Khalid 15). Special attention is paid to the role of gendered representations of people in the so-called ââ¬ËWar on Terrorâ⬠discourse. In this case, Orientalism can be viewed as an effective tool of critical interpretation of events (Khalid 15). Researchers use the concept of ââ¬Ëgendered orientalismââ¬â¢ in their analysis of current events. They effectively apply this concept to the images taken from the War on Terror. American Orientalists are focused on the construction of masculinities and femininities based on race, ââ¬Å"manipulating and deploying representations of the ââ¬ËOtherââ¬â¢ to justify military involvement in Afghanistan and Iraqâ⬠(Khalid 15)Conclusionà à à à à à à à à à à Thus, it is necessary to conclude that Orientalism as the concept that influences various aspects of human society highlights the role of the Orient in the life of the West. à The study of the Orient helps to better understand people, places and civilizations through the Wester nersââ¬â¢ views regarding the Arab and Islamic world. Orientalism refers not only to the study of ancient traditions and customs and artistic representation of the Orient in Western world, but also it influences political decisions and gender politics in the United States. This paper relates to the discussions in the conference threads and the textbook assigned for this course because it provides much important information on the effects of Orientalism on todayââ¬â¢s society. In other words, the continuing effects that Orientalism has on todayââ¬â¢s American society include the effects on attitudes, image and knowledge reflected not only in art, literature and music, but also in political decisions and gender politics.
Friday, November 22, 2019
Amos Is Identified As The Prophet Amos Religion Essay
Amos Is Identified As The Prophet Amos Religion Essay Introduction: The author of the Book of Amos is identified as the prophet Amos. Amos was the first prophet in the Bible whose message was recorded at length. Although he came from a town in Judah, he preached to the people of the northern kingdom of Israel, about the middle of the eighth century B.C. The Book was likely written between 760 and 753 B.C. As a shepherd and a fruit picker from the Judean village of Tekoa, he was called by God, even though he lacks an education or a priestly background. His mission is directed to his neighbour to the north, Israel. It was a time of great prosperity, notable religious piety, and apparent security. But Amos saw that prosperity was limited to the wealthy, and that it fed on injustice and on oppression of the poor. Amosââ¬â¢ ministry takes place while Jeroboam II reign over Israel, and Uzziah reigns over Judah. Amos can see beneath Israelââ¬â¢s external prosperity and power; internally the nation is corrupt to the core. In short, they had forgotten what it meant to follow God. Amos took his uncompromising message straight to the religious authorities of his day, instead of listening to him, they threw him out. In the same way that Amos challenged the Israelites to reconsider their priorities, he challenges us in the climax to his book, and reminds us of what God wants (Amos 5:24). In this essay, I wish to write an introduction on the Book of Amos. Background and Meaning of Amos: The Book of Amos is set in a time when the people of Israel have reached a low point in their devotion to God. The people have become greedy and have stopped following and adhering to their values. The people in Amosââ¬â¢ time expected the ââ¬Ëday of the Lordââ¬â¢ to be a picnic; but Amos pointed a different picture of inescapable terror. Scholars have understood Amosââ¬â¢ image of Yahweh passing through the midst of the people of Israel as an allusion; to his passing through Egypt. They make reference in this regard to (Exodu s 12:12). ââ¬ËFor I will pass through the midst of you; says Yahweh.ââ¬â¢ According to Amos, Israel is guilty of injustice toward the innocent, poor and young women. As punishment Yahwehââ¬â¢s vengeance would be directed against Israel, and the prophet warns his audience; ââ¬ËIs not the day of the Lord darkness in it'(Amos 5:20). The ââ¬Ëday of the Lordââ¬â¢ was widely celebrated and highly anticipated by the followers of God. Amos came to tell the people that the ââ¬Ëday of the Lordââ¬â¢ was coming soon and that it meant divine judgement and justice for their iniquities. Structure and Theme: The nine chapters of the Book of Amos emphasize one central theme. The people o the nation of Israel has broken their covenant with God, and his judgement against their sin will be severe. In the first major section of the book, Amos begins with biting words of judgement against the six nations surrounding the lands of Judah and Israel.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
What are the global implications of the internationalization of news Essay
What are the global implications of the internationalization of news - Essay Example This then implies that the history of news can be dated back to the first empires such as in Egypt and Ancient Rome. In Egypt, ââ¬Å"pharaohs spread word of their decreesâ⬠that were written and spread by messengers back in 2400BC (Stephens, 2007, p.57). In Ancient Rome, news were conveyed by Julius Cesar who made government announcements that were curved on metal or stone tablets. However, this efficiency can be attributed to the already established oral spread of news established long before beginning of written communication. As years advanced agencies dealing mainly in conveying news through newspapers, audio media and later televised media, were established. These agencies have over the years evolved and spread their role across the borders amid competition to be the first to give new information. Internationalizing news has further been fueled by the need to give a wide variety of news thereby commanding greater audience. However, internationalization of news has promoted imperialism due to content control and use of media to advance selfish gains especially by media agencies from developed counties (Shah and Tajima 2012, p. 26). The internationalization of the news has led to the deterioration of news on a global scale. News outlets in different countries are focusing on gathering the most audience rather than focusing on reporting the news, as it should. The main implication this has is that people will become less interested in hard news stories that influence politics, economy, and public
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Partial paralysis from the age of one Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words
Partial paralysis from the age of one - Essay Example As we proceed we will be seeing how the patient with the help of psychotherapy and the help of the Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) will be trying to live her life, making it at least a little less hindrance to both herself and her family. I would first like to say that permission has been sought from the family and their attorney authorizes me to discuss this case. However the names and some of the details have been changed to maintain and preserve confidentiality in conformity with NMC Code of Conduct (2004). Meena was born as the first child to Mr. and Mrs. Pandey, who lived in a remote village in the State of Bihar in India. She was a hale and hearty child until one unfortunate day when the doctors confirmed that she had contracted meningitis. Meena was just a year old. Subsequently for treatment her Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) was removed by lumbar puncture and analysed. But it was too late. Soon it became evident that Meena had become paralysed. She could just about move her limbs. Movement was slightly better in the upper limbs. She was now in a near vegetative state. The child was just two years old then. Today Meena is a 35 year old woman. She is intelligent but cannot speak properly. Most of the time she behaves like a child. She is demanding, self-centred, and uncompromising. Yet at times, she seems to perceive the grief of the family, her own state and somewhat reluctantly tries to listen to what she is told. She tries to adjust and mend her ways. It is this childlike quality, this innocence which had prompted me to select Meena as the patient. Body- Observation and Diagnosis Meena has been cared for, for all these years by her mother. Her mother today is no more. It had been a moral and emotional issue for Meena's mother to take care of her. But today, she is in the care of her brother and sister-in-law. They want Meena to be able to accept her circumstances and live life to the best of her ability. Moreover, Meena has also set into a mental development and needs help to overcome that. RATIONALE FOR PATIENT CHOICE: Friendly and innocent Intelligent Helpless First to assess properly the Aspect of Care we must understand that the patient is not mature enough to understand that she is dependent on others for everything. She thinks it is normal to depend on her family members and demand their time. Emotionally she requires constant care and reminders that she is loved. Knowingly she
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Economics Questions Essay Example for Free
Economics Questions Essay 1. Housing Prices 1.1 Fundamental and Non-fundamental Factors Pricing of a product depends on many factors such as demands for the product and how excessive the product exists in the market (supply). Housing price is influenced by `fundamental` and `non-fundamental` factors. The fundamental factor inn housing price is about supply and demand (Himmelberg, Christopher, and Sinai, 2005). 1.2 Market Bubbles and Fundamental Factors The question is whether market bubbles emerge from fundamental factors or what evidence that leads to a bubble in house prices. The fundamental factor inn housing price is about supply and demand (Himmelberg, Christopher, and Sinai, 2005). However, people know the theory of supply and demand are only the first steps towards understanding how setting up the market prices of a product. Furthermore, the theory also helps people to understand the way in which these prices help shape production and consumption decisions. It means that the law of supply and demand will explain any situation that might exist if the market price is too high and vice versa. At any given moment, where the market price is too high, we might expect that consumers will leave sellers since they are already have other options having the same characteristics, size, and the tastes with lower price. The supply-and-demand theory revolves around the proposition that a free, competitive market does in fact successfully generate a powerful tendency toward the market-clearing price. Without any conscious managing control, a market spontaneously generates a tendency toward the dovetailing of independently made decisions of buyers and sellers to ensure that each of their decisions fits with the decisions made by the other market participants. Were this tendency to be carried to the limit, no buyer (seller) would be misled that it wastes time attempting to buy (sell) at a price below (above) the market-clearing price (Kirzner, 2004) Since housing market attracts many investors to put their money for hope that it will raise significantly over times, the housing prices may reach a bubble period. The raise in house prices is influenced by fundamental factors, the supply and demand. This makes sense since the demand for having houses may be exploded when the bubble exist. By definition, bubble situation occurs when housing price is high because buyers/investors predict that the selling price of houses will rise dramatically in the future (Himmelberg, Christopher, and Sinai, 2005). 1.3 Current Housing Prices and the Bubble The housing prices continue to rising today. There are many underlying factor behind the uplifting housing prices. According to McCarthy and Peach (2004), one of the cause behind the rising housing price is because the existence of a speculative bubble in this asset market. This condition present potential threats as the asset market could experience a collapse that further harm the U.S. economy. Another reason of the uplifting housing prices is that the some home buyers Have the willingness and intention to buy the rising housing prices for hope that the houses will rise significantly in the future (McCarthy and Peach (2004). 2. Urban Land Theory Given the case that the town of Valley stream, Long Island is 20 miles by car from midtown Manhattan and in 2000, the median home value was $199,800. The town of Dix Hills, Long Island is 36 miles from Midtown Manhattan and the median home value in 2000 was $386,100. Explain why these facts do or do not disprove the standard `urban land theory` as formulated by economists such as Kain and Alonso. The case does not comply with the urban land theory since the price of housing does not merely relate to distance from a city center or any places of interests. Many factors or preferences have great impacts towards customersââ¬â¢ decision on buying housing that further influences the price as following: a) A Change in Buyersââ¬â¢ Incomes and Wealth According to Howard Community College, ââ¬Å"the demand for most products will go up of buyersââ¬â¢ real incomes or real wealth, i.e., their purchasing power rises.â⬠In the case of housing, if a buyers of the housing manage to earn $25,000 next year instead of $10,000 this year (and assuming there is no increase in the price level), it means that the costumerââ¬â¢s real income increases. This situation will affect the customerââ¬â¢s spending such as their preferences to buy houses that are more expensive. b) Buyersââ¬â¢ Tastes and Preferences Another factor that influences the demand for a product is buyersââ¬â¢ tastes and preferences. In case of housing, the existence of emotional benefits such as good neighborhood or areas where there are celebrities will raise the price of housing in the areas. In addition, the availability of transportation to distance location may increase the housing prices. Another theory says that fundamental factors, the supply and demand, may have influence towards the pricing of cities. Third, changes in underlying fundamentals can affect cities where in locations where housing supply is inelastic, prices tend to be higher relative to rents (McCarthy and Peach, 2004) c) The Prices of Related Products or Services In the housing case of Valley stream, Long Island and Dix Hills, Long Island, the difference of pricing may happen if in the areas there are many housing or other substitutes like apartment, condominiums, and townhouses. Therefore, it does not matter a housing is located hundreds miles away from the downtown, as long as there are value added that customers will obtain when purchasing the houses in the are, the price could be much higher than that near to a city center. The situation explains why Valley stream, Long Island that is 20 miles by car from midtown Manhattan and in 2000, the median home value was $199,800 is priced lower than town of Dix Hills, Long Island is 36 miles from Midtown Manhattan and the median home value in 2000 was $386,100. d) Buyersââ¬â¢ Expectation of the Productââ¬â¢s Future Price This factor will play a role when, for instance, Dix Hills, Long Island announces that the price of their houses will increase next month or year since there will be a shopping centers of any place of interests that located near to the housing. This situation will drive consumers to buy the houses in Dix Hills, Long Island quicker. Therefore, this kind of determinants will increase current demand for the housing in Dix Hills, Long Island and shift the demand curve to the right. 3. Feds and booms and busts in the housing market In the New York Times column of May 27, 2005 economist Paul Krugman wrote: After all, the Feds ability to manage the economy managing comes from its ability to create booms and busts in the housing market In 2004, inflation had picked up and had raised questions in the minds of some people about whether it might be on a rising trend that poses a risk to price stability. Total consumer price inflation as measured by the chain price index for personal consumption expenditures (PCE) has risen from 1.4 percent over the twelve months of last year to an annual rate of 3.0 percent over the first four months of 2004. Donald L. Kohn, a Governor of the Federal Reserve, says that price stability is Fedââ¬â¢s responsibility since it allow businesses and households to plan and operate without worrying about increases in the general price level over the long run is how we contribute best to fostering economic efficiency and rising standards of living (ââ¬Å"Remarksâ⬠). Inflation has closed relationship with interest rates. In the situation where retail prices experience a significant increase, people might expect that interest rate will rise as well. The reason is that government try to control the amount of money exist in the market. According BBC News (2005), the increase of oil price and Katrina storm have caused investors in Wall Street to think of Federal Reserve that will likely to push up interest rates rapidly to control inflation. In the United States, the Treasury yield curve is the first indicator of all domestic interest rates and it influence global rates setting. Therefore, in the U.S., interest rates on all other domestic bond categories rise and fall with Treasuries yield. Below is the figure explaining the impact of inflation and interest rates on the Yield.
Thursday, November 14, 2019
Shadow Of A Doubt Essay examples -- essays research papers
Shadow of a Doubt Shadow of a Doubt is an Alfred Hitchcock film that was shot on location in the 1940's town of Santa Rosa, California. The town itself is representative of the ideal of American society. However, hidden within this picturesque community dark corruption threatens to engulf a family. The tale revolves around Uncle Charlie, a psychotic killer whose namesake niece, a teenager girl named Charlie, is emotionally thrilled by her Uncles arrival. However her opinion slowly changes as she probes into her mysterious uncle. In the film, director/producer Alfred Hitchcock blends conventions of film noir with those of a small town domestic comedy as a means of commenting on the contradictions in American values. In the beginning the film is immediately set up in the film noir style. Under the opening credits a shadowy backround image is shown kaleidoscopically. Couples dressed in elegant ballroom gowns and suits waltz together dizzyingly as the "Merry Widow Waltz" plays. The scene has nothing to do with the drama to follow (until Charlie's crimes are revealed.) The titles dissolve in to a panoramic view of a bridge, further dissolves take us first to junkyard and then to a scene of children playing in the street. The city is shown as a dirty, dark place. We are taken to a Philadelphia rooming house (shown with a number 13 on the door.) Inside we are introduced to "Uncle Charlie" (Joseph Cotten). He is reclining stiffly in bed during the day in a seedy room. . He plays with the phallic cigar that he is smoking, seemingly bitter and cynical. On the bedside table next to seemingly indifferent and fatigued man is and an open billfold with a carelessly strewn pile of bill s on top (some of the bills have fallen to the floor and lie strewn around). The overweight, middle-aged landlady knocks on the door and enters, identifying him as Mr. Spencer and informing him that two men have been asking for him. As per his instructions to not disturb him, she didn't let them in, however, they have not left, instead they retreated to the street corner to stake out the boarding house. Noticing that he looks exhausted and depressed (he passively remains on his bed during their entire conversation), she suggests that he should get some rest. Then she notices his money cluttered all about and hurries forward to straighten it ... ...of all responsibility (for, of course, there is no way that a normal person could ever kill.) In keeping with this principle the film attempts to absolve Young Charlie from all responsibility in her Uncle's death, for it is seen as an accident that occurred when Young Charlie was fighting her Uncle in self-defence. In the final stages of the film we are brought back to the small town introduced to us in the beginning, this time, however, it is in morning for a beloved son. Charlie's death has brought Graham back to Young Charlie. We can see the good side has won the battle for her. As in early situational Charlie has learned her moral lesson and the episode may end. This paper has attempted to investigate the ways in which Alfred Hitchcock blended conventions of film noir with those of a small town domestic comedy. It first looked at the opening scenes of the film in which the two conventions were introdruced. It then went on to analyse the film with the aid of Robin Wood's article Ideology, Genre, Auteur. From these two forms we can see that film noir and small town comedy were used as a means of commenting on the contradictions in American values.
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