Biography of Diego de Almagro, Spanish Conquistador

Biography of Diego de Almagro, Spanish Conquistador Diego de Almagro (1475–July 8, 1538) was a Spanish soldier and conquistador, famous for his role in the defeat of the Inca Empire in Peru and Ecuador and his later participation in a bloody civil war among the victorious conquistadors. He rose from humble beginnings in Spain to a position of wealth and power in the New World, only to be defeated by his former friend and ally Francisco Pizarro. His name is often associated with Chile: He led an expedition of exploration and conquest there in the 1530s, although he found the land and its people too harsh and tough. Fast Facts: Diego de Almagro Known For: Helped conquer the Inca EmpireBorn: 1475 in Almagro, Castile (now Spain)Parents: Juan de Montenegro, Elvira Gutià ©rrezDied: July 8, 1538 in Cuzco, PeruSpouse: Ana Martinez  Children: Diego de  Almagro el Mozo Early Life Diego de Almagro was born illegitimately in Almagro, in present-day Spain, which explains why his name is based on his place of birth rather than his parents, Juan de Montenegro and Elvira Gutià ©rrez. According to most accounts, his father shunned him; when he was very young he was raised by his mother or a servant of his mother. At any rate, his parents were of little help to him as he grew up. Later, he was raised by his maternal uncle Hernn Gutià ©rrez, but he is believed to have struck out on his own around age 15. At some point, he is thought to have served in the Spanish navy. By 1514 he was in the New World- possibly after killing a man in a fight- having arrived with the fleet of Pedrarà ­as Dvila, a colonial administrator. A tough, determined, ruthless soldier, Almagro quickly rose through the ranks of the adventurers who were conquering the New World. He was older than most, approaching 40 by the time of his arrival in Panama. He eventually took a common-law wife, Ana Martinez, and they had a son, Diego de Almagro el Mozo. The latter part of the sons name is variously translated as the younger or the lad. Panama Gov. Dvilas first mainland outpost was created in the isthmus of Panama. The spot that Dvila picked for the settlement was humid and buggy, and the settlement struggled to survive. The highlight of this period was without a doubt Vasco Nà ºÃƒ ±ez de Balboas overland voyage that discovered the Pacific Ocean. Three of the hardened soldiers of the Panama expedition were Almagro, Francisco Pizarro, and the priest Hernando de Luque. Almagro and Pizarro were important officers and soldiers, having participated by this time in various expeditions. Exploring the South Almagro and Pizarro remained in Panama for a few years before receiving news of Hernn Cortà ©s’ stunning conquest of the Aztec Empire. Together with Luque, the two men put together a proposal to the Spanish king to outfit and direct an expedition of a conquest to the south. The Inca Empire was as yet unknown to the Spanish: they had no idea who or what they would find down south. The king accepted the proposal, and Pizarro set forth with about 200 men. Almagro remained in Panama to send men and supplies to Pizarro. Conquest of the Inca In 1532, Almagro heard that Pizarro and 170 men had captured the Inca Emperor Atahualpa and were ransoming him for a treasure unlike any the world had ever seen. Almagro hurriedly gathered reinforcements and departed for present-day Peru, catching up with his old partner in April 1533. His 150 well-armed Spaniards were a welcome sight to Pizarro. Soon the conquistadors began hearing rumors of the approach of an Inca army under Gen. Rumià ±ahui. In a panic, they decided to execute Atahualpa. The Spanish somehow managed to hold onto the Empire. Troubles with Pizarro Once the Inca Empire was pacified, Almagro and Pizarro began having troubles. The crown’s division of Peru was vague: The wealthy city of Cuzco fell under Almagro’s jurisdiction, but the powerful Pizarro and his brothers held it. Almagro went north and participated in the conquest of Quito, but the north was not as rich. Almagro seethed at what he saw as Pizarros schemes to cut him out of the New World loot. He met with Pizarro and it was decided in 1534 that Almagro would take a large force south into present-day Chile, following rumors of vast wealth. His issues with Pizarro were left unsettled. Chile The rumors turned out to be false, and the journey was arduous. The conquistadors had to cross the treacherous, mighty Andes, which took the lives of several Spaniards and countless African slaves and native allies. Once they arrived, they found Chile to be a harsh land, full of tough-as-nails Mapuche natives who fought Almagro and his men on several occasions. After two years of exploring and finding no rich empires like the Aztecs or Incas, Almagro’s men prevailed upon him to return to Peru and claim Cuzco as his own. Civil War Almagro returned to Peru in 1537 to find Manco Inca, an Inca prince who had been a puppet ruler of the Inca Empire, in open revolt against Pizarros forces, who were on the defensive in the highlands and the city of Lima. Almagros army was weary and tattered but still formidable, and he was able to drive off Manco. Almagro saw the revolt as an opportunity to seize Cuzco and quickly engaged the Spaniards who were loyal to Pizarro. He had the upper hand at first, but Pizarro sent another force up from Lima in early 1538. They soundly defeated Almagro and his men at the battle of Las Salinas. Death Almagro fled to Cuzco, but men loyal to the Pizarro brothers pursued and captured him there. Almagro was sentenced to death, a move that stunned most of the Spanish in Peru, as he had been elevated to a nobleman by the Spanish king some years before. He was executed by garrote, an iron collar slowly tightened around the neck, on July 8, 1538, and his body was put on public display. Legacy The unexpected execution of Almagro had far-reaching consequences for the Pizarro brothers, turning many against them in the New World as well as in Spain. The civil wars did not end. In 1542 Almagro’s son, then 22, led a revolt that resulted in the murder of Francisco Pizarro. Almagro the Younger was quickly caught and executed, ending Almagro’s direct line. Today, Almagro is remembered chiefly in Chile, where he is considered an important pioneer even though he left no real lasting legacy there other than having explored some of it. Pedro de Valdivia, one of Pizarro’s lieutenants, finally conquered and settled Chile. Sources Hemming, John. The Conquest of the Inca. Pan Books, 2004.Herring, Hubert. A History of Latin America From the Beginnings to the Present. Alfred A. Knopf, 1962.Diego de Almagro. Euston.Diego de Almagro. Encyclopedia.com.Diego de Almagro: Spanish Conquistador. Encyclopedia Brittanica.

Calydonian Boar Hunt

Calydonian Boar Hunt What Is the Calydonian Boar Hunt The Calydonian Boar Hunt is a story from Greek mythology chronologically following the voyage the Argonaut heroes took to capture the Golden Fleece for Jason. A group of heroic hunters chased after a boar sent by the irate goddess Artemis to ravage the Calydonian countryside. This is the most famous of the Greek hunts in art and literature. Representations of the Calydonian Boar Hunt The earliest literary representation of the Calydonian boar hunt comes from Book IX (9.529-99) of the Iliad. This version doesnt mention Atalanta. The boar hunt is clearly shown in art work, architecture, and sarcophagi. Artistic depictions run from the 6th century B.C. through the Roman period. Principal Characters in the Calydonian Boar Hunt Meleager - Hunt organizer and killer of the boarOineus (Oeneus) - King of Calydon, in Aetolia, who failed to sacrifice to Artemis (hubris)Calydonian Boar - the fierce animal who ravaged the countryside as Artemis sent him to do.Artemis - virgin goddess of the hunt who sent the boar and may have trained Atalanta.Atalanta - Female, Amazon-type, a  devotee of Artemis, who draws first blood.Althaea (Althaia) - daughter of Thestius, wife of Oineus and mother of Meleager who causes her sons death when he kills her brothers.Uncles - Meleager kills at least one of his uncles and is then killed himself. Apollodorus 1.8 on Heroes of the Calydonian Boar Hunt Meleager, son of Oeneus, from CalydonDryas, son of Ares, from CalydonIdas and Lynceus, sons of Aphareus, from MesseneCastor and Pollux, sons of Zeus and Leda, from Lacedaemon Theseus, son of Aegeus, from AthensAdmetus, son of Pheres, from PheraeAncaeus and Cepheus, sons of Lycurgus, from ArcadiaJason, son of Aeson, from IolcusIphicles, son of Amphitryon, from Thebes [Sometimes the name Iphicles is given an uncle of Meleager]Pirithous, son of Ixion, from LarissaPeleus, son of Aeacus, from PhthiaTelamon, son of Aeacus, from SalamisEurytion, son of Actor, from PhthiaAtalanta, daughter of Schoeneus, from ArcadiaAmphiaraus, son of Oicles, from Argossons of Thestius. Basic Story of the Calydonian Boar Hunt King Oineus neglects to sacrifice annual first fruits to Artemis (only). To punish his hubris she sends a boar to ravage Calydon. Oineus son Meleager organizes a band of heroes to hunt the boar. Included in the band are his uncles and, in some versions, Atalanta. When the boar is killed, Meleager and his uncles fight over the trophy. Meleager wants it to go to Atalanta for drawing first blood. Meleager kills his uncle(s). Either a fight ensues between Meleagers fathers people and his mothers, or his mother knowingly and deliberately burns a firebrand that magically ends Meleagers life. Homer and Meleager In the ninth book of the Iliad, Phoenix tries to persuade Achilles to fight. In the process, he tells the story of Meleager in a version sans Atalanta. In the Odyssey, Odysseus is recognized by an odd scar caused by a boar tusk. In Judith M. Barringer ties the two hunts together. She says they are both rites of passage with maternal uncles serving as witnesses. Odysseus, of course, survives his hunt, but Meleager isnt so fortunate, although he survives the boar. Death of Meleager Although Atalanta draws first blood, Meleager kills the boar. The hide, head, and tusks should be his, but he is enamored of Atalanta and offers her the prize on the controversial claim of first blood. A hunt is a heroic event reserved for the aristocrats. It was hard enough to get them to participate in Atalantas company, let alone give her the principle honor, and so the uncles grow angry. Even if Meleager doesnt want the prize, it is his familys to have. His uncles will take it. Meleager, young leader of the group, has made up his mind. He slays an uncle or two. Back at the palace, Althaea hears of the death of her brother(s) at the hands of her son. In revenge, she takes out a brand the Moirae (fates) had told her would mark the death of Meleager when it was burned completely. She sticks the wood in the hearth fire until it is consumed. Her son Meleager dies simultaneously. Thats one version full of magic and a very non-maternal mother. There is another that is easier to stomach. Apollodorus on Version 2 of the Death of Meleager But some say that Meleager did not die in that way, but that when the sons of Thestius claimed the skin on the ground that Iphiclus had been the first to hit the boar, war broke out between the Curetes and the Calydonians; and when Meleager had sallied out134 and slain some of the sons of Thestius, Althaea cursed him, and he in a rage remained at home; however, when the enemy approached the walls, and the citizens supplicated him to come to the rescue, he yielded reluctantly to his wife and sallied forth, and having killed the rest of the sons of Thestius, he himself fell fighting. See #1 on Thursdays -cide words to learn

Marketing Strategy for Hair Extensions and Beauty Products Research Paper

Marketing Strategy for Hair Extensions and Beauty Products - Research Paper Example Behavioral segmentation involves observing how customers use products and media, purchasing behavior and ownership. Psychological segmentation involves using the lifestyles of customers, the types of benefits sought by customers and customers’ attitudes and perceptions. We shall use all different attributes from each of the three segmentation bases to help us identify possible target markets. Our approach for doing this will be the breakdown approach which considers the market as consisting of customers that are essentially the same, thus our job would be to identify groups sharing particular differences. Our core products are hair extensions and beauty products. The hair extension products shall be targeted at women whereas the beauty products shall have products targeting both men and women. Targeting both men and women in our beauty products will enable us to use complementarity of our products between the sexes to create a market positioning. The economic environment for o ur targeted customer, in North America and Europe, is still in recovery mode, thus many consumers have low discretionary income. The level of discretionary income affects our products because they do not fall under the essential products category. For this reason we shall target midlife independents (35–54 year olds who are not married and do not live with relations) and unconstrained couples (35–54 year olds who are married but do not live with son/daughter). These two life-stage groups are likely to have a job (in the current low jobs market) and have higher discretionary income because of fewer life-obligations such as not living with relatives, living single or married with two sources of income. Lastly, we cannot ignore the importance of geographic variables on our products. People in different continents tend to have different skin care concerns based on their skin pigmentation and climatic conditions. For example, women leaving in coastal regions will need skin care products with lower moisture content in comparison to their counterparts living in dry, inland areas. Competitors Two of direct competitors are NIVEA by Beiersdorf AG for beauty products and SHE by SO.CAP for hair extensions. NIVEA has a broad and deep product range for both men and women beauty products. It is also a strong and global brand. NIVEA’s product positioning strategy is a mix of both functional and expressive positioning. In its functional positioning strategy NIVEA focuses on use, for example, its sun care range highlights different products that match different needs such as sensitive skin or after the sun. In its expressive positioning strategy NIVEA speaks of its heritage as a symbol of knowledge and experience e.g. on its UK website it says â€Å"NIVEA: 100 years feeling closer†(NIVEA, 2012). NIVEA’s current positioning is delivering a heritage in beauty products in an extensive range of products. SHE by SO.CAP USA, on the other hand, is a subsidiary of the 40 year old Italian Company, SO.CAP. s.r.l (SO.CAP, 2012). SHE is a functionally positioned brand that focuses on the features. For example, it emphasizes the fact that their hair extensions are hand selected and 100% European-type human hair that is pre-bonded with 100% Keratin (SO.CAP, 2012). However, it is not as globally-recognized brand as NIVEA. It promises to deliver to the customer the largest selection of hair types and hair color. According to a research conducted by

Performance Management at Lincoln Electric Company and Southwest Case Study

Performance Management at Lincoln Electric Company and Southwest - Case Study Example A common denominator that has been linked to their success is their concern for employees that trumps their concern for their shareholders (Schuler, 2012, p.572). These companies assert that if employees are well taken care of, they will do their jobs better, and doing so benefits customers and shareholders. Lincoln Electric is the top company that designs, develops, and makes arc-welding products, robotic arc-welding equipments, and plasma and oxyfuel cutting tools. It also leads in the brazing and soldering alloys industries. Lincoln owns 40% of the U.S. market share. Moreover, it provides its employees with a well-known Lincoln Incentive Management Plan, which results to above-industry-average productivity (Schuler, 2012, p.559). In 1995, the company attained $1 billion revenues, while at present, sales reached $2 billion (Schuler, 2012, p.559). Employee morale and productivity are good; while turnover is almost zero (Schuler, 2012, p.559). A similar company with strong employee f ocus is Southwest Airlines. It has led the low-cost airline industry by focusing on being the cheapest and most efficient operator in domestic regional markets (Jackson, Schuler, & Werner, 2012, p.578). Despite being a low-cost airliner, Southwest is known for on-time travels, excellent customer service, and safety (Jackson et al., 2012, p.578). In 2012, the company bought AirTran Airways for $1.4 billion. The acquisition is believed to increase revenue and capacity by almost 25%, although its direct impact on Southwest’s success remains to be seen (Schuler, 2012, p.580). Like Lincoln Electric, employee morale and productivity are high in Southwest through the joint efforts of its employee-based committees. This paper compares, contrasts, and evaluates the human resource management practices of Lincoln Electric and Southwest. Recruiting and Selection Recruitment and selection are attuned to the organizational needs and cultures of Southwest and Lincoln Electric. Recruitment i s restricted to internal recruitment for most jobs in Lincoln Electric. Only entry-level positions are open to external recruitment (Schuler, 2012, p.561). Selection is performed by HR, which also happens in Southwest. In Southwest, however, selection is more refined due to specific employee attitudes that it looks for. This can be explained by the fact that Southwest operates in a service industry, while Lincoln Electric works in the manufacturing industry. Southwest has a stringent selection policy, where it spends more time, energy, and money in recruiting people who can fit the fun and collaborative culture of the company (Jackson et al., 2012, p.584). It has a People Department that performs the decisive function of recruiting and selecting personnel (Jackson et al., 2012, p.584). Personality tests and interviews support the rigorous selection process (Jackson et al., 2012, p.584). Hence, though both companies ensure that their employees fit company goals and culture through th eir recruitment and selection practices, Southwest shows extra dedication and uses more resources in recruiting people with the right attitudes. Performance Management Management Styles Both Lincoln Electric and Southwest have charismatic founders, whom employees find be empathic of their employees’ welfare, although Southwest has a â€Å"wackier† attitude to managing employees. In an employee interview, Trahan remarked that James Lincoln â€Å"

Species-area Relationship of Herpetofaunas in West Indies

Species-area Relationship of Herpetofaunas in West Indies De Gao 1. Introduction 1.1. Biodiversity and crisis on West Indies Oceanic islands, due to their discrete geographic isolation, differ distinctly from terrestrial  ecosystem, offer great opportunities for species conservation, and are regarded as the natural  laboratory for the study of biogeography and evolutionary ecology (Adsersen, 1995; Crawford  and Stuessy, 1997; Ricklefs and Bermingham, 2008). Island habitat heterogeneity and the gene  flow barrier between the island and its neighboring islands or land are the most important driving  forces leading to new species differentiation and formation (Cherry et al. 2002). The colonized  species from continents or nearby islands are then subjected to unique evolutionary processes,  for example, geographic isolation, character displacement, and adaptive radiation. The  accumulated mutations gradually and ultimately make colonized species into new indigenous  species that are genetically different from the original one. One of the most distinctive features of  the biota on oceanic is lands is the large number of endemics occurring in small areas (Francisco-Ortega et al. 2000). West Indies was identified as a biodiversity hotspot by Myers et al. (2000). A significant  percentage of the Earth’s known terrestrial biota is distributed on islands of the West Indies,  many of these species are endemic to the region, to individual islands, and even to isolated areas  within some islands (Hedges, 2001). But a large majority of the vast complex of islands in West  Indies is changing rapidly, resulting in dramatic alterations of habitats, and nearly all of them are  mediated by human activities (Powell and Henderson, 2012). Small population size, gene drift,  isolated gene flow, and the complexity of island environment have already made the endemic  herpetofaunal species easy to be endangered or extinct, human disturbances undoubtedly worsen  the situation. Therefore, critical conservation concerns in West Indian region are increasingly  important and required. 1.2. Species-area relationship (SAR) The species-area relationship is one of the most fundamental patterns in macroecology and an  important tool in assessing species diversity, extinction rates and species hotspots (Tjà ¸rve, 2009). According to the equilibrium theory (MacArthur and Wilson, 1967), the relationship between  immigration and the extinction of species to island depends on the island size and its distance to  mainland. MacArthur-Wilson’s theory provided impetus for numerous studies on species-area  relationships (SARs) that have provided biological interpretations for several taxa and have  suggested factors and mechanisms that can determine species richness (Simaiakis et al. 2012). And the theory has an enormous influence on perspectives of species conservation and nature  reserves design. The main objective of this chapter is to discuss SARs for herpetofaunas in West Indies regions,  with the aim of discover which factors may determine their distribution over the whole range of  island sizes. We choose to fit some candidate models including the power model and some  sigmoid models to see whether a J-shaped part exists at the lower end of the curve. Small-island  effect (SIE) holds that, on islands smaller than a certain critical minimum area, one cannot  observe an increase in species number with increasing area (Simaiakis et al. 2012). We choose to  fit candidate models including the power model and some sigmoid models to see whether a J-shaped part exists at the lower end of the curve. If the best fitted model has a sigmoid shape, a J-shaped part will exist at the lower end, and then we accept SIE. If the best fitted model has a  convex shape, a J-shaped part will not exist at the lower end, and then we deny SIE. There are  also other reasons why it is so important to know the shape of species-area curve. Based on the  curve shape, we could estimate total species diversity from limited numbers of samples, or  estimate species extinction as a result of habitat loss and fragmentation (Tjà ¸rve, 2003). Candidate species-area models are proposed from two sources. The first source is species-area  literature which has traditionally fit data with power or exponential models, the second source  involves a broader search of the literature for models that increased monotonically to an  asymptote (Flather, 1996). Although the shape of the curve has been extensively debated over the years, power and  exponential curves are the most commonly applied and best known ones, lately, an increasing  number of authors have argued some SARs are perhaps best represented by functions that are  sigmoid in arithmetic space and there are also a number of recent studies where sigmoid models  have been fitted to empirical data (Tjà ¸rve, 2003). Some sigmoid models behave similar with  others, for instance, the Extreme value function behaves quite similar to the Logistic and  Gompertz models; The Cumulative beta-P distribution behaves similarly to the Weibull  distribution (Tjà ¸rve, 2003). 2. Aims In this study, we are trying to solve 3 questions: Question 1: What is the species-area relationship (SAR) for herpetofaunas in West Indies? Is the  SAR same for native and invasive species? And is it the same among each animal group  classification under amphibian and reptile? Question 2: Due to human’s help, invasive species are supposed to have a higher dispersal  ability as compared to the native. So, in the linear form of the power model (LogS/LogA) is there  a higher z-value for the invasive species than the native species? Question 3: What geographic factors may determine species richness over the whole range of  island sizes? Are these factors also applicable to other group of islands that located in similar  latitude areas to determine their species richness? 3. Material and Methods Data on species occurrences originate from Powell and Henderson (2012). Multiple basemaps in  ArcMap 10 and ArcGlobe 10 will be used to digitize islands map. We use different scales to  digitize islands with various areas. Fractal Analysis will be used to estimate the perimeters at a  uniform scale (Farina, 2007). For comparisons of the fit of different models, the Akaike’s  information criterion (AIC) was applied (Burnham and Anderson, 2002). Model selection  analyses will run using â€Å"mmSAR† package (Guilhaumon et al. 2010) for the R statistical and  programming environment (R Development Core Team, 2011). Aim 1: Model selection we use the 8 most general models composed in â€Å"mmSAR† package (Guilhaumon et al. 2010) to  fit the data, which include 5 convex models (Power, Exponential, Negative exponential, Monod,  Rational function) and 3 sigmoid models (Logistic, Lomolino, Cumulative Weibull). Aim 2: LogS/LogA linear regression We analyze the linear function of the LogS/LogA and compare parameter values with vertebrates  from global oceanic islands (Triantis et al. 2012). Aim 3: Find out the geographic factors affect species richness/Steps Initially selected variables are X1 Distance to mainland X2 Latitude of island centroid X3 Longitude of island centroid X4 Island No. within 0.1km X5 Island No. within 0.1-1km X6 Island No. within 1-5km X7 Island No. within 5-10km X8 Islands Area within 0.1km X9 Islands Area within 0.1-1km X10 Islands Area within 1-5km X11 Islands Area within 5-10km X12 Area of the island X13 Perimeter of the island X14 Perimeter/Area X15 Percentage of vegetation X16 Percentage of human area X17 Rivers within the island X18 Invasive spp. within the island X19 Percentage of invasive spp. X1 and X3 are used to examine species dispersal from mainland; X2 is used to examine the  nearness to equator; X4, X5, X6, X7 are used to examine stepping stones in each loop circle; X8,  X9, X10, X11 are used to examine total area of stepping stones in each loop circle; X12 is used to examine area effect; X13 and X14 are used to examine shape (irregularity) of island; X15,  X17 are used to examine habitat quality; X16, X18, X19 are used to examine human disturbance  and invasive species. Principal Component Analysis and Hierarchical Partitioning Analysis will be made based on the  residuals distribution of LogS/LogA linear regression to examine which geographic factors are  the significant contributions of species richness in West Indies.

Drive

In the film Drive directed by Nicolas Winding Refn a sudden act of violence by protagonist, Driver, is an interesting surprise. The build-up, kiss, bashing and exit involved in the scene of the incident help us to understand the character of Driver. The visual and oral features of camera shots, dialogue and lighting are used to create a surrealist incident. The Driver’s romantic love affair with Irene and his care for her young child sets the film as a romance and a drama, as the love he experiences for the two, both Platonic and Eros, ultimately leads him to unleash his true beast though he attempts so hard to hide it in everyday life.The lifestyle he has chosen for himself prior to Irene inevitably arises once the mafia he crosses paths with leads to violence of the most cinematic type while invoking elements of suspense within each beat. In the film we see four key elevator scenes that display the development of the bond between Driver (Ryan Gosling) and Irene (Carey Mullig an), his innocent looking neighbour. The build-up to the incident is where Irene slaps Driver after his pathetic attempt to communicate. They then both enter the elevator where a man in a tan suit stands.Frequently used in this scene are over the shoulder shots and close ups. Very rarely are there cuts to mid-shots which would break continuity. When Irene slaps Driver; the camera cuts to a mid-shot to show the momentum of the action. The second time this happens is when the man in the tan suit is introduced into the scene. The mid-shot reveals the character to the audience and states his importance. Once in the elevator, low angle shots are used. These create a claustrophobic atmosphere for the audience.It also allows the suspicion Driver has towards the man in the tan suit to be built up. Close ups are used to show the raw emotion between the two characters as well as creating tension when Driver notices the gun the man is carrying, hidden under his jacket. This is a cinematic tech nique where props are exaggerated by the shot type. When Irene steps into the elevator, Driver first left to stare at the man in the tan suit. This makes the audience feel uncomfortable as the empty space is awkward and implies something bad is going to happen.The immediate suspicion Driver has towards the man in the suit leads him to be wary over him. Driver’s ability to place this suspicion we can assume has most likely stemmed from his past which is unknown to the audience as nothing about Driver’s past is revealed. However, we can assume that this The build-up to the entrance of the elevator is then followed by the kiss between Driver and Irene. While the elevator descends, Driver notices the gun in the jacket pocket of the man in the tan suit.All sound ceases as Driver reaches his hand behind him to where Irene stands and pushes her back. As he does the lights dim and focus between Driver’s face and Irene’s face. The dark and light shading on their h eads is reminiscent of French poetic-realism and is used to show the audience that Driver has both a good and bad side. This scene is also shot in slow motion which not only adds a sense of surrealism to the scene but also shows how both characters savour the kiss.Both the pacing and the lighting shift gears as Driver realizes the potential danger her and Irene are in. The average elevator lighting changes to a dark-lit environment which spotlights Driver and Irene specifically, isolating them almost completely from the rest of reality. The sound is back and we're in the midst of some raucous violence: a pair of hollow, crashing sounds as Driver smashes the hit man’s head into the elevator walls; then more clunking as he falls to the ground and Driver starts stomping on his head, once, twice, three times, with his boot.The sound of leather on skin shifts as the assault goes on toward a blend of moisture and crunch. At the 12th stomp, it's clear from the audio that bones are b reaking, and by the end of the sequence, after 15 seconds and 17 stomps, the dry and featureless thud has been transformed into a deathly squish. The elevator doors slide open again, with the same faint squeak they did before—Bender calls this a â€Å"sonic signature†Ã¢â‚¬â€and Irene flees into the garage. The incident ends with a close-up of Driver’s jacket with the gold scorpion on the back.A scorpion is seen as dangerous and deadly. However, in the same way that a scorpion in the wild remains hidden from view and only attacks when threatened, the same can be said for Driver. Driver worked in a garage, lived alone in a small, dingy apartment, but attacked violently when he felt himself or those he cared for were threatened. The twist to this is that it is in fact the man in the tan suit is killed in a brutal way by Driver. This shock factor makes the audience question their sympathy towards our protagonist.The next semiotic we see is the elevator door shuttin g on Driver separating him from Irene. This representation shows the closure of their relationship indicating that there is no going back, the rupture between the two of them is final. We realise that the kiss between Driver and Irene had taken place as more of a goodbye kiss. This is because Driver is aware of the harm he could potentially bring to Irene and Benicio if her were to stay with them. His ability to suddenly act with rage and violence proves that he is uncontrollable and unstable. ConclusionIn conclusion the surprising incident in the elevator helps us learn more about the character Driver. The build-up, kiss, bashing and exit scenes of the incident result in the audience being able to see into the real Driver. The two elements of sound and colour work coherently with each other in exhibiting a scene which imitates a heaven-like landscape turned dark alley way. The approach of not only the lighting, but also the spatial distance between non-diegetic sound and diegetic s ound as the latter starts to take prominence after Driver shows his romantic side.

The Electric Lighting Industry ( Behr 40 ) - 1158 Words

Stationary on the sidewalk we listen to nothing but silence of cars driving past. Is this the future of New York or even North America for that matter? 100 years ago Thomas Edison founded the electric lighting industry (Behr 40). During this time the gas lighting and electric lighting industry were fighting to be the most successful. The electric lighting industry had won and beat the gas lighting industry. Looking at how electric cars have influenced people to stop driving gas powered cars. This point was being foreshadowed over 100 years ago.Are these electric car companies looking for the same type of consumer rate? Electric vehicles many years ago accelerated up to approximately 48 km/h (30 mph) in 8.9 seconds (Behr 41). Reaching a top speed of approximately 96 km/h (60mph). These swift cars could drive 2 passengers 120 kilometers (75 miles) before recharging. Although the more passengers in the car the more energy the car would need. That meaning that if there were 4 passengers it would only be able to travel for 80 kilometers (50 miles)(Behr 41). The value of these cars, the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and the higher capabilities of the electric cars will increase the consumption of electric cars on our roads. The more electric cars that go out on the road the more impact it will have on people s’ lives becoming a happier, healthier, cheaper and less toxic type of environment all around the world. Electric cars do come with a big price tag..Show MoreRelatedThe Automotive Cluster in Baden-Wà ¼rttemberg, Germany9150 Words   |  37 PagesProfile of Baden-Wà ¼rttemberg Automotive industry in Germany Baden-Wà ¼rttembergs automotive cluster Factor conditions Demand conditions Summary and future scenarios Bibliography This report is available in electronic format only Wyattville Road, Loughlinstown, Dublin 18, Ireland. - Tel: (+353 1) 204 31 00 - Fax: 282 42 09 / 282 64 56 email: postmaster@eurofound.eu.int - website: www.eurofound.eu.int Introduction This report looks at the automotive industry cluster in the German federal stateRead More103340399 TATA Nano Target Costing9564 Words   |  39 Pagescycle.  Ã‚  Management utilizes this pricing technique to meet both the demands of its customers as well as company profit goals.   Target costing is particularly popular among Japanese firms such as Toyota, Nissan, Toshiba and Daihatsu Motor in various industries such as automobile manufacturing, electronics, machine tooling, and precision machine manufacturing.  Ã‚  As Japanese tastes became more diverse, assembly-oriented production grew in popularity.  Ã‚  This growing demand for a diverse range of products shortened