Essay --

I blinked. The pencil drummed on the table erratically as my hand twitched, my knuckles feeling the trembling broken lead beneath my anxious thumb. The incessant tapping fell dull on my ears, but I earned more than one icy glance from classmates. The paper stared back at me, white and unyielding. My eyes were locked on its blankness, but I didn’t see. The faint blue lines blurred, and fabricated shadows danced before my unfocused eyes. My mind whirred; I could almost hear the gears struggling fruitlessly to turn without oil. I felt my heart stretch with the effort of keeping all the unsatisfied energy within. My fingers laced up through my hair and I pulled on the long curls, as if the prickling pain would help me think. A frustrated growl threatened to escape my throat, but I pushed it back down with a silent reminder that everyone was already irritated with me. The vague babbling from behind served as an ignored cue that a friend was trying vainly to communicate with me. From experience I knew that after a moment, she would mutter, â€Å"You can’t hear anything I’m saying, can you?† and give up on trying to reach me. That was fine by me. The whole of the world was a distraction; I couldn’t afford any individual pulls from my work. As it was, a song hummed distantly in my mind, begging me to draw it closer. My pencil adopted the beat and I frowned. I studied my hands, the tendons tense beneath the surface, knuckles jutting out sharply, and scratches splitting pale skin. Instinctively, I drew one up to my mouth and began to gnaw on an abused and ragged fingernail, feeling my braces click, metal on metal. I noticed my habit, but did nothing to stop. A thousand thousand thoughts sauntered across the surface of my sanity, mocking... ...ped a bucket of cold water over my sleeping chimera. The sound of my pencil’s knocking bounced off the walls of my consciousness and echoed back into my ears. Words of description flashed before my eyes, leading me on towards the light. My paper’s utter blankness ceased mocking me, and held promise instead of contempt. I felt the words there, written in ink only I could see, waiting, waiting for me. I felt a smile push the corners of my mouth up and my pencil began to fly across the paper, soft whispering noises floating up to me like a song, the gentle proof that I had broken down the walls around my creativity. â€Å"The pencil drummed on the table erratically as my hand twitched†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I almost laughed aloud. I couldn’t stop now if I wanted to. â€Å"I’ve got it,† I called over my shoulder. â€Å"Yeah? What?† my friend leaned forward absently. I smiled. â€Å"Writer’s block.†

Detailed semiotic analysis of a music video

The video that I am analysing is Simian mobile disco VS Justice – We Are Your Friends. The video belongs to the music genre of Electro / Psychedelic / Alternative. This genre's broad characteristics include DJ sets with crowds and bizarre storylines. The relationship between the lyrics and the visuals creates an idea of irony. For example the lyrics state We Are Your Friends, whilst simultaneously we view an individual experiencing a practical joke as a cat gets thrown at him whilst asleep. The relationship between the visuals and the music allows the cuts to be in time with the beat. There are no solo instrumental sections as the video is all-visual around the concept. The video also changes pace with the music; for example, through the build up there are less cuts and longer shots. This happens during the section 1:00 minute to 1:32 minutes. The use of the extraordinary concept of the video helps to sell this track, as it is recognisable and extravagant. Also the combination of the two artists justice and simian mobile disco combining, will have a considerable effect on the size of the audience. Throughout the video there is no appearance from the actual artists. However the audience can create an image of the artist after having watched the video. As the artists are combined they have not released any previous music videos together. The videos of simian mobile disco are however eccentric and unusual for example â€Å"Its The Beat† roughly matches the style of â€Å"We Are Your Friends†. There are no specific motifs followed on from other videos, as it is just a spontaneous video that is unrelated to any other work done by either Justice or Simian Mobile Disco. Even though I would not say that this brands them as achieving a new image, it can although be categorised with some previous work. As the artist does not appear in the video they cannot have been put on sexual display. Considering the other actors within the video there is also no use of sexual display by male or female individuals. There are no other factors within the video linking to the use of sexual display. This music video is approximately 90% concept based and 10% narrative based. This is because there is no performance and the whole video is shots of foolish tricks performed to recovering individuals. The narrative section is small and consists of the link between all the performers having being drunk the night before.

The Success Of A Revolution - 1150 Words

Over the course of history different revolutions have come and gone, bringing along promises of social, economic, and political change. However, the price of change isn t always smooth and effortless. Revolution doesn t bring change at the blink of an eye, it takes time for the achievements of a revolution to come to full fruition. It is almost inevitable that a revolution will have its failures along the way, but these failures don t overshadow the success of a revolution. It is not until the common good is met that a revolution is deemed successful. When I talk about the common good, I mean that which benefits society as a whole rather than an individual or a minority. The waves of revolution and presidents in Mexico from 1910 to 1946 aimed at achieving the common good, and some presidents succeeded more than others. This can be anything from social services such as free health care and education, to freedom of speech and free elections. When it comes to quantifying the success of a revolution, one must keep in mind the larger scope, not whether a revolution brings immediate change but rather change felt down the road. The most important outcome of a revolution is identifying whether or not it brings forth change. Did the waves of revolution bring change to Mexico or was this change just a mere illusion? Looking at the Mexican Revolution from the point of view of a historian, there is no doubt that the revolutionShow MoreRelatedThe Success Of A Revolution1073 Words   |  5 Pagescourse of history different revolutions have come and gone, bringing along promises of social, economic, and political change. However, the price of change isn t always smooth and effortless. Revolution doesn t bring change at the blink of an eye, it takes time for the achievements of a revolution to come to full fruition. It is almost inevitable that a revolution will have its failures along the way, but these failures don t overshadow the success of a revolution. It is not until t he common goodRead MoreSuccess Of The French Revolution1235 Words   |  5 Pageshe French Revolution of 1789-1799 was neither a failure or a success because it only completed some of its objectives. Even the successes were achieved at a great cost. The French Revolution was brought on by the Third Estate’s elite, the bourgeoisie. These men set out to end the French monarchy, gain more power and freedom for the Third Estate, and create a constitution. Before the Revolution, the Third Estate had little to no power even though it consisted of the majority of France. The ThirdRead MoreThe Unprecedented Success Of Revolution1594 Words   |  7 PagesWorld Civilization HU-103 May 7, 2017 The Unprecedented Success of Revolution No one has ever changed the world by doing what the world has told them to do. In fact, many of our recent inventions, rights, political systems, and comforts have come into existence through the sweats and tears of revolution, an often chaotic and transformative event that attempts to change a nation, society, or world. And though it can be argued that revolution results in the bloodshed of masses, it is imperative toRead MoreThe Success Of The American Revolution1304 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican Revolution not only created freedom but also created technological geniuses. The American Revolution was a time period of warfare, for independence between Britain and the thirteen colonies, but it was also the breakthrough for technological advancements that would change American’s life forever. After every war, the development of a country increases. As for the American Revolution, Benjamin Franklin influenced and created a huge contribution in his politics, scientifical research , andRead MoreThe Success Of The American Revolution1633 Words   |  7 PagesVolumes of scholastic literature, circulated history books, and an array of multiple sources acknowledge Frances’ contributory role in the success of the American Revolution. Prior to discussing their role in the American Revolution, it is important to mention their historical past in the colonies in order to understand why they intervened on behalf of the continentals. Frances’ historical past in the 13 colonies is filled with humiliation and resentment due to their defeat against Great BritainRead MoreThe Success of the Hatian Revolution1004 Words   |  4 PagesRevolution is a forced end to a social system or government in order to have a new system. The revolution occurred due to inequalities, unsatisfactory social conditions and political management. Many revolts occurred during the time of slavery but the Haitian revolution was the most prosperous revolution to occur. It took place in the French colony of Saint Domingue which is the colonial name of Haiti. It resulted in the removal of slavery and the establishment of the Republic of Haiti. Haiti wasRead MoreSuccess of the Haitian Revolution1897 Words   |  8 Pagesï » ¿The Success of the Haitian Revolution The Haitian Revolution was the result of a long struggle on the part of the slaves in the French colony of St. Domingue, but was also propelled by the free Mulattoes who had long faced the trials of being denoted as semi-citizens. This revolt was not unique, as there were several rebellions of its kind against the institution of plantation slavery in the Caribbean, but the Haitian Revolution the most successful. This had a great deal to do withRead MoreThe Success Of The American Revolution881 Words   |  4 Pagesforced to follow its laws. Thomas Jefferson, the head of the committee to later drafted America’s demand for freedom, went so far as to call England an â€Å"absolute tyranny.† Americans knew their break from England would lead to a war—the American Revolution—but continued to up rise. This lead to many revolts and finally concluded with the creation of The Declaration of Independence in 1776. Likewise, in France, the citizens were also being subjugated by the French government. The French people hadRead MoreThe Success Of The American Revolution1328 Words   |  6 Pagespossible to create a new kind of government without a king. In the democracy envisioned by the country s earliest leaders, Americans would govern themselves based on certain principles or ideals. Few people at the time thought that the American Revolution would succeed and the Americans could win a war against the world s greatest empire. At the beginning of the war, there was no regular American army, just a militia made up of civilians-and most of them were farmers. Naturally, they were not usedRead MoreThe Success Of The American Revolution1140 Words   |  5 PagesFrom the beginning of time all organisms have been completing and it has been survival of the fittest. From the founding of Jamestown, Britain was evolving to survive as an empire by establishing colonies that were abused. This lead to The American Revolution which was inevitably arisen from three major problems: power, glory, and greed. These problems were express through many methods such as taxation, war and laws. Since 1660 British Parliament had controlled continental trade and taxes in imports