The Decade Of Realizations Amercian Youth During The Last Century Ess

The Decade Of Realizations: Amercian Youth During The Last Century Of all the 1980's films, that can be described as ?Eighties Teen Movies? (Thorburn, 1998) or ?High School Movies? (Messner, 1998), those written and (with the exception of ?Pretty In Pink? (1986) and ?Some Kind of Wonderful?(1987)) directed by John Hughes were often seen to define the genre, even leading to the tag ?John Hughes rites de passage movies? as a genre definition used in 1990s popular culture (such as in ?Wayne's World 2? (1994 dir. Stephen Surjik)). This term refers to the half dozen films made between 1984 and 1987; chronologically, ?Sixteen Candles? (1984), ?The Breakfast Club? (1985), ?Weird Science? (1985), ?Ferris Bueller's Day Off? (1986), ?Pretty In Pink? (1986) and ?Some Kind Of Wonderful? (1987) (the latter two being directed by Howard Deutch). For the purpose of this study, ?Weird Science? and ?Some Kind of Wonderful? shall be excluded; ?Weird Science? since, unlike the other films, it is grounded in science fiction rather than reality and ?Some Kind of Wonderfu l? as its characters are fractionally older and have lost the ?innocence? key to the previous movies: as Bernstein states ?the youthful naivete was missing and the diamond earring motif [a significant gift within the film] was no substitute? (Bernstein, 1997, p.89). Bernstein suggests that the decadent 1980s were like the 1950s, ?an AIDS-free adventure playground with the promise of prosperity around every corner ? our last age of innocence? (Bernstein, 1997, p.1). The films were very much a product of the time in terms of their production (?suddenly adolescent spending power dictated that Hollywood direct all its energies to fleshing out the fantasies of our friend, Mr. Dumb Horny 14 Year Old? Bernstein, 1997, p.4), their repetition (with the growth of video cassette recorders, cable and satellite with time to fill, and also the likes of MTV promoting the film's soundtracks) and their ideologies. The capitalist ideas so prominent in the Reagan / Thatcher era are as clearly instilled in the youth of the 1980s films as their, usually middle class, screen parents. Only ?Pretty In Pink? (and indirectly, ?The Breakfast Club?) actually confronts class differences; in the other films, the middle class way of life is accepted as default. Almost every John Hughes film is set in affluent suburbia with the repetition of certain imagery (the big house, gardens and tree-lined quiet streets, and often a wood-paneled station wagon) with a certain population (rich, white families), which is reflected in the body of the attended, well-equipped schools. Such a sheltered existence has led the youthful characters of ?Ferris Bueller's Day Off? and ?Sixteen Candles? in particular to unquestionably adopted their parents' ideologies. In ?Sixteen Candles?, the central character, Samantha Baker (Molly Ringwald) hopes, realistically, for a ?trans-am? car for her forgotten 16th birthday whereas Ferris B ueller (Matthew Broderick)'s birthday gift of a computer rather than a car is a constantly referred to concern in ?Ferris Bueller's Day Off?; although it was obviously an expensive gift, he is not satisfied as it is not the expensive gift he wanted as it is not an obvious sign of wealth. Ferris Bueller's materialism reflects the centering of the individual's wants over the community's needs as was common in 1980s affluent society. It is taken for granted (by them and their parents) that each of the characters in ?Ferris Bueller's Day Off? will go to university and that this will lead to financial success and therefore, an increase in class status through accumulated material signifiers. In a quote at the beginning, Bueller sums this up ?I have to take it [a test], I want to go a good college so I can have fruitful life?. This is what his parents want to hear (which is obviously why he is saying it) but it is what he would want too; anything less would disappoint him in comparison to the life he is accustomed to. ?Ferris Bueller's Day Off? offers a representation of America that it is almost purely middle class whilst ?The Breakfast Club? contrasts the middle class way of life with the abusive family of working class ?criminal? John Bender (Judd Nelson). Bender seems almost resentful and jealous of the family life and material

Changes and Continuities in Commerce in the Indian Ocean Region from 650 to 1750 C.E. Essay Example

Changes and Continuities in Commerce in the Indian Ocean Region from 650 to 1750 C.E. Essay Example Changes and Continuities in Commerce in the Indian Ocean Region from 650 to 1750 C.E. Paper Changes and Continuities in Commerce in the Indian Ocean Region from 650 to 1750 C.E. Paper Changes and continuities in commerce in the Indian ocean region from 650 to 1750 C. E. In the period between 650 C. E. and 1750 C. E. , the Indian Ocean region endured both change and continuity. One continuity is simply trade, for this 1,100 years the Indian ocean was an important trading zone. One change in Indian ocean trade over those years was which country dominated trade their. Over those years the Indian ocean was controlled by the Indians, the Arabs, the Chinese, and last but not least the Europeans. Their was continuity and change in trade in the Indian ocean over the aforementioned years. In the Indian ocean from 650 C. E. and 1750 C. E. there have been many continuities in commerce. One such continuity was the goods traded. For instance, spices from India and Indonesia such as black pepper were traded constantly to other countries throughout this period. Luxury products such as ebony, silk and fine textiles were also commonly traded in the Indian ocean. / Another example of continuity would be that although no one country always dominated trade in the Indian ocean the Indians and Indonesians were involved with trade to varying degrees throughout this entire time period. Weather it be threw their products being traded, receiving goods from other countries, or doing the trading themselves, they were always involved in trade. / One more example of continuity was how Indian ocean trade stayed so important over the years. Almost all major world powers did trading in the Indian ocean, Europe for instance went to great lengths to find a better trade root between the Atlantic and Indian ocean. The desire to trade in the Indian ocean region is actually what caused Europeans to discover the Americas. The Europeans were looking for a sea rout to get to Asia without going all the way around Africa, so they tried to go around the world, not knowing yet of the Americas existence. Their desire to trade urged them to explore new frontiers. There are many examples of continuity in Indian ocean commerce between 650 and 1750 C. E. In the Indian ocean from 650 C. E. and 1750 C. E. there have been many changes in commerce. One change in commerce over the years was who dominated Trade in The Indian Ocean. Over the course of this time period the Indian ocean trade was dominated by the Indians, the Chinese the Arabs and even the istant European powers. Their were also changes in what goods were traded. Some trade goods like the exotic animals taken from Africa to China that weren’t traded for longer then a few decades. The reason Ming China had imported animals was because they were in an age of exploration at the time and wanted to have some animals for their exotic royal zoo. Also sen ding great explorers like Zheng He showed their ability to travel to distant lands and take what they please. Another change was how things were traded. Over the course of the 1,100 years described many changes occurred in the world of sailing. China had many of these inventions with in it’s walls before this time period. China was so Ethnocentric . that they did not spread their inventions till generations after they were made, and even then it was often by accident The compass were great improvements on how sailors navigated to their destinations. The ships them selves also changed throughout this period. The Chinese Junks were incredible ships, vastly larger then the ones Columbus used, They were equipped with cannons to defend them selves from pirates and were, in their time the most impressive ships on the water. There are changes in commerce in the Indian ocean between 650 and 1750 C. E. Many changes and continuities and in commerce in the Indian ocean occurred between 650 and 1750 C. E. Indian ocean trade can even be related to the discovery of America. Some examples of continuities are; who was involved in trade, what was traded, who dominated trade. Examples of change are; how things were traded, the importance of trade, and what was traded. There were many changes and continuities in commerce in the Indian ocean.