Rocky Horror Picture Show Analysis Essay Example

Rocky Horror Picture Show Analysis Essay Andrew Gonzalez 10/30/10 Theater Arts 7B The Rocky Horror Picture Show For many movies, a tagline can simply sum up what a movie is all about in a few words, along with leaving an impression on whoever is reading the tagline. Sometimes this impression could be distasteful, funny, or possibly thought-provoking. In the case of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the tagline is certainly one you have to read twice. â€Å"A different set of jaws† is the tag line found on the poster of The Rocky Horror Picture Show, and from the first time I read it I was intrigued. If one were to take into account that the film was released the same year as the film Jaws, it makes sense that the tag line is poking fun at the commercial box office hit, but there is much more to it than meets the eye. The poster alone suggests that this is not a musical like any other, and the now iconic pair of lips symbolize the mystery behind the film. The Rocky Horror Picture Show was released in 1975 as an adaptation of the British musical The Rocky Horror Show, which was written by Richard O’Brien. It was directed by Jim Sharman and co-written with O’Brien. We will write a custom essay sample on Rocky Horror Picture Show Analysis specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Rocky Horror Picture Show Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Rocky Horror Picture Show Analysis specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer The premiere of Rocky Horror was held at the Westwood Theater in Los Angeles, in late September of 1975. Despite being released in a handful of theaters, the film was deemed as a failure which in turn kept the film from receiving a wide release. It was not until April Fools Day of 1976 that the film was picked up again for another chance at the box office by Tim Deegan, a young advertising executive at 20th Century Fox. Deegan’s plan was to persuade Bill Quigley of the Walter Reade Organization to reconsider the film and have it advertised at their midnight show at the Waverly Theater in New York. At the time, the Waverly had already built a reputation for being the heart of midnight movies, along with having great success from showing El Topo and Night of the Living Dead. From that day on, The Rocky Horror Picture Show was â€Å"born† and the immense cult following it was beginning to assemble. As time progressed, the popular idea of â€Å"audience participation† also arose and became one of the main attractions when viewing the film at a local midnight movie theater. This idea basically consists of the audience talking back to the movie and acting out pivotal scenes in the film. For example, in the very beginning there is a wedding scene, and at that moment in time the audience would throw rice at each other. To begin, The Rocky Horror Picture Show tells the story of a newly engaged couple, Brad Majors and Janet Weiss (played by Barry Bostwick and Susan Surandon) who stumble upon a mysterious castle on a cold and rainy November night after driving from a fellow classmate’s wedding. The story is narrated by the Criminologist (played by Charles Gray), and after entering the castle they meet Riff Raff (a handyman played by Richard O’Brien) and Magenta (a domestic played by Patricia Quinn), Columbia (a groupie played by Little Nell), Eddie (an ex-delivery boy played by Meatloaf), and last but not least Dr. Frank N. Furter, an eccentric and cross-dressing scientist (played by Tim Curry) who has found the secret to creating life. From that point on, Brad and Janet enter the ride of their lives as they try to survive the madness of Dr. Frank N. Furter. Along the way, they witness the creation of Rocky (played by Peter Hinwood) and find their old high school science teacher Dr. Everett Scott (a rival scientist played by Jonathan Adams) who is working for the government in search of alien life forms. 1)After viewing the film multiple times, it is evident that the theme presented is the innocence lost among teenagers when making the transition into adulthood, along with being exposed to the explicit reality of it all and the inherent repressed sexual nature in all of us. The film also sheds light on the idea of self discovery and taking to heart Dr. Frank N. Furter’s maxim â€Å"don’t dream it, be it† which he sings towards the end of the film. There are many instances in the musical numbers that address the two major themes of the film. One example of Brad and Janet being exposed to the explicit nature of adulthood could be found in the song â€Å"Sweet Transvestite† sung by Dr. Frank N. Furter where he exclaims that â€Å"Im not much of a man by the light of day, but by night Im one hell of a lover. Im just a sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania. † From this encounter, Brad and Janet are not quite sure what to expect, but they are aware that if they are going to survive the madness of Dr. Frank N. Furter, they might as well embrace the hedonistic lifestyle that he proposes throughout the film. As for the theme of being one’s self, the song â€Å"Sweet Transvestite† can be used again as an example, along with the classic tune â€Å"Time Warp† which is all about having a good time and letting go of the image that one tries to project to others. )When Richard O’Brien wrote the music and story, his whole concept was to make a fun show that would appeal to all walks of life and represent the culture of the 70’s. O’Brien’s main idea behind Rocky Horror was to pay homage to the timeless science fiction and B-movies that inspired the film’s music and story. From listening to the introductory song â€Å"Science F iction / Double Feature† one can hear the names of many famous sci-fi movies being referenced such as Flash Gordon, Forbidden Planet, and It Came From Outer Space just to name a few. The iconic red lips of Patricia Quinn lip-syncing to O’Brien’s voice are seen in the opening credits of the film where it is just them singing with a black back drop. This sequence was not like any other ever used to introduce a film, and it was a unique way of emulating the mysterious nature of the film. As mentioned earlier, Rocky Horror is narrated by the Criminologist who tells the story of Brad and Janet in a linear manner. Every so often, the Criminologist will interject at certain points of the film providing information on the main character’s back stories. As for the actors who portray the character of the story, they bring a quality of genuineness to the film. For example, Brad and Janet are dynamic characters that change drastically over time within the story. In the scene where Janet sings â€Å"Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch-a, Touch Me,† we as the viewers see her transform from an innocent school girl to that of a sexually frustrated woman seducing Rocky for her own pleasure after being influenced by Dr. Frank N. Furter’s hedonistic lifestyle. The music of Rocky Horror is also something special when taken into account that it is the main device that tells the story behind the film. The music also intertwines with the way the photography and lighting are presented. The quality of the photography is reminiscent of B-movies from the 70’s, which to some may not seem to be the highest quality, but in reality it adds to the effect of paying homage to those timeless movies. The pace and tempo was at a steady pace throughout, in addition to implementing transitions that did not deter the audience from the main attraction. There were some camera shots that stood out though, which included the scene where Dr. Frank N. Furter sings â€Å"Sweet Transvestite† walking down a red carpet. In this shot, the camera is at level with Tim Curry’s head as he walks towards the audience while he struts his stuff. Another shot that caught my eye was that of Tim Curry swimming in a pool for the tune â€Å"Don’t Dream It, Be It,† which featured the camera looking down on him from a ceiling evoking a dream-like state as he sings â€Å"don’t dream it, be it† over and over while spinning in the pool. Behind the pool lied a huge cut out backdrop of the RKO Pictures radio tower and a stage made for large productions, and in this case, it was used during the final scene of the film. The quality of the props and costumes were also magnificent to watch being used to better enhance the experience of The Rocky Horror Picture Show overall, and extenuate the realness of the characters’ time period. 3)The opening credits of â€Å"Science Fiction / Double Feature† and the â€Å"Time Warp† scene would probably be the best examples of the director’s style. Jim Sharman’s style would be best described as experimental, a style that does not exactly follow the norms of cinematography. From watching the â€Å"Time Warp† scene countless times, it’s clear that Sharman wanted to have the audience feel awkward at first after being exposed to strange people called Transylvanians dancing around in outlandish outfits. After awhile, however, the audience would later feel right at home due to the even more extravagant scenes that come after the â€Å"Time Warp† scene which in comparison are not that as extreme in nature. For example, the â€Å"Sweet Transvestite† scene is one of the most memorable scenes to come out of the 70’s because it is the first to openly express gay and transsexual themes with a brilliant performance by Tim Curry. )This film is not just like any other musical that came out of the 70’s, but it is one that defined a decade and influenced a movement that defined a generation to be who they wanted to be without criticism. In reality, society would look down upon such extreme forms of self-expression, but that is why Rocky Horror exists, for those who are looking for a temporary escape from reality. Personally, I could relate a little with each character that starred in the film, and it’s highly probably that anyone slightly interested in seeing this film can find someone relatable to them in some way or another. The ideal environment to fully enjoy this film, however, is not in your living room but in a live setting with a large audience who have the same mindset of having a good time and participating with a live cast. Singing along with people you’ve never met in your life before is an experience that I will never forget, mainly because it did not matter what one looked like or where they came from who participated in the film. Everyone was welcome to The Rocky Horror Picture Show. As long as one had the intention to have fun and be apart of this communal event, everything from there was smooth sailing.

Responding to a Racist Joke

Responding to a Racist Joke Comedians from Chris Rock to Margaret Cho to Jeff Foxworthy have carved out niches by making jokes about people who share their cultural heritage, but just because they play up cultural differences in their stand-up routines doesnt mean the average Joe should follow suit with racist jokes. Unfortunately, people try their hand at racial humor all the time and fail. Unlike the aforementioned comics, these people arent making humorous statements about race and culture. Instead, theyre dredging up racist stereotypes in the name of comedy. So how do you respond if a friend, family member, or colleague makes a racist joke? The goal is to make your point and exit the encounter with your integrity intact. Dont Laugh Say youre at a meeting and your boss makes a crack about an ethnic group being bad drivers. Your boss doesnt know it, but your husband is a member of that ethnic group. You sit in the room simmering with indignation. Youd like to let your boss have it, but you need your job and cant risk alienating him. The best response is to do and say nothing. Dont laugh. Dont tell off your boss. Your silence will let your supervisor know that you dont find his racially-tinged humor funny. If your boss doesnt take the hint and makes another racist joke later, give him the silent treatment again.   The next time he makes a non-racist joke, however, be sure to laugh heartily. Positive reinforcement might teach him the kinds of jokes appropriate to tell. Leave Before the Punch Line Sometimes you can sense a racist joke coming. Perhaps you and your in-laws are watching television. The news features a segment about an ethnic minority. I dont get those people, your father-in-law says. Hey, did you hear the one about the†¦ That is your cue to leave the room. This is arguably the most nonconfrontational move you can make. Youre refusing to be a party to racism, but why take the passive approach? Perhaps youre certain that your father-in-law is prejudiced against certain groups and has no intention of changing, so youd rather not fight with him over the issue. Or perhaps your relationship with your in-law is already tense, and youve decided that this battle is not one worth fighting. Question the Joke-Teller Youre lunching with an old friend when she launches into a joke about a priest, a rabbi, and a black guy entering a bar. You listen to the joke but dont laugh because it played on racial stereotypes, and you dont find such generalizations funny. You care for your friend dearly, though. Rather than make her feel judged, you want her to see why her joke was offensive. Consider this a teachable moment. Do you really think that all black guys are like that? you might ask. Well, a lot of them are, she answers. Really? you say. Actually, thats a stereotype. I read a study that said black guys arent any more likely to do that than others. Remain calm and clear-headed. Keep questioning your friend and offering facts until she sees that the generalization in the joke isnt valid. At the end of the conversation, she might rethink telling that joke again. Turn the Tables Your run into your neighbor at the supermarket. She spots a woman from a certain ethnic group with several children. Your neighbor jokes about how birth control is a dirty word for those people. You dont laugh. Instead, you repeat a stereotypical joke youve heard about your neighbors ethnic group. As soon as you finish, explain that you dont buy into the stereotype; you wanted her to understand what it feels like to be the butt of a racist joke. This is a risky move. The goal is to give the joke-teller a crash course in empathy, but you might end up alienating her if she doubts that your motive was to show her stereotypes hurt. Moreover, this isnt the nicest way to make your point. Try this only with thicker-skinned people you believe will respond well to having the tables turned. For others, youll likely need to be more direct. Confrontation If you have nothing to lose from a direct confrontation, go for it. The next time an acquaintance tells a racist joke, say that you dont find such jokes funny and request that he not repeat them around you. Expect the joke-teller to tell you to lighten up or accuse you of being too PC. Explain to your acquaintance that you think such jokes are beneath him. Break down why the stereotypes used in the joke arent true. Remind him that prejudice hurts. Tell him that a mutual friend who belongs to the group being stereotyped wouldnt appreciate the joke. If the joke-teller still doesnt see why this type of humor isnt appropriate, agree to disagree but make it clear that you wont listen to such jokes in the future. Create a boundary.

Ethical, Moral and Social Issues in Forensic Computing-(Identity Essay

Ethical, Moral and Social Issues in Forensic Computing-(Identity cards) - Essay Example The forensic investigative procedure is explained with the help of a case study. Then, social, ethical and moral issues regarding identity theft have been discussed both from the user’s and the investigator’s side. The report is summarized in a concluding paragraph. APA referencing has been used properly. Before going into the niceties of ethical, moral and social issues vis-à  -vis identity theft in forensic computing, let’s first get introduced to what forensic computing actually is and what is identity theft. Computer forensics or cyber forensics is a very imperative topic in information systems and networks management. Forensics is the structured procedure of gathering, examining and showing facts and evidences to the court of law, and thus, forensic computing is defined as â€Å"the discipline that combines elements of law and computer science to collect and analyze data from computer systems, networks, wireless communications, and storage devices in a way that is admissible as evidence in a court of law† (US-CERT 2008). This involves the seeking, locating and securing the electronic data so as to provide evidence. This electronic or magnetically encoded data may include text messages, databases, pictures, e-mail, websites, spyware, malware, and so on. The evidence collected is strong and indisputable as compared to any other branch of forensic science because a copy that is made of the collected data is identical to the actual data and there is no room left for dispute. The who le concept revolves around the idea that a structured investigation is carried out to find out what exactly happened to the computer, when it happened, how it happened, and who did it. This is just like solving a murder case and performing postmortem. The operator does not know that the evidence information is transparently being created and stored by the computer’s operating system which can only be extracted through computer forensics software tools and