Personal Experience Essay

Life is brimming with undertakings and encounters. The way to living great is making these encounters as significant as could reasonably be expected. I experienced a critical encounter, which was in reality to a greater degree a hazard, around two years prior. I was 15 years of age and I needed to choose whether I would remain in my old neighborhood or move to Monterrey, Mexico. As in each quandary confronted, there are upsides and downsides that will attempt to influence you. Time wouldn’t stop and the day of my choice was drawing nearer and closer; the less time I needed to choose, the more confounded and uncertain I became. Everything I could do was envision myself living the future in my old neighborhood or in Monterrey. Be that as it may, for what reason would i say i was placed into this circumstance? Would it be a good idea for me to have stayed where I was conceived and where I’d carried on with as long as I can remember or would the best thing be to move to a t otally new city? My family once comprised of my mother, my father, two more established siblings, and me. Tragically, my father died in December of 2007 when I was twelve years of age. Monterrey is a city portrayed by having numerous remote understudies in light of the profoundly perceived college, Tec de Monterrey (ITESM). Both of my siblings chose to concentrate there. This went out with just a bereft mother and a high school young lady. That was the second I understood we expected to accomplish something, having me settle on a mind-blowing choice with the weight of time. I was brought up in Matamoros, Mexico, which is a bordertown with Brownsville, Texas. Having my understudy visa, I concentrated there as long as I can remember. I had numerous companions living in both Matamoros and Brownsville. This was a main consideration on my choice since I didn’t need to leave them and, in Monterrey, I didn’t know anybody. The thing was that in Matamoros, each side of my home, each road, and all aspects of the city would just help me to remember my father who was at that point in Heaven. To me, this was a sort of torment. I needed to either leave my companions and start another life, or remain there with everyone’s support, except continually managing the enduring of not having the option to relinquish my father in light of my environmental factors. I knew moving to Monterrey was a generally excellent thought, yet like everything, it had its negative perspectives too. It would be something to be thankful for to move in light of the fact that my mother and I would now live with my siblings and we would all be joined like we were previously. This fresh start would assist us with conquering the demise of my father. The terrible part was that, as I was going to enter secondary school, moving to Monterrey without realizing anybody would be exceptionally troublesome. I had consistently concentrated in the USA, so going to a school in Mexico would most likely lower my evaluations and make things increasingly entangled. It was tied in with facing the challenge. Choice time was close. After I broke down everything, I comprehended that the best thing I could was to move to Monterrey with my mother. This was a huge encounter since it truly affected me. The principal semester was hard as I felt in solitude. When I started making companions, anyway I understood I couldn’t have settled on a superior choice. Individuals in Monterrey are extremely modest and mindful. They showed me numerous things, empowering me to improve as an individual with better sentiments. These companions were the ones who pulled me closer to God when I most required Him. There was no preferred inclination over returning home and seeing my siblings living with me once more. My family was by and by joined together, and I am exceptionally thankful for the entirety of this. View as multi-pages

Internation Systems Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Internation Systems - Essay Example kkel Vedby Rasmussen in the work ‘The West, considerate society, and the development of peace’ calls attention to that: â€Å"According to the hypothesis, vote based system is the appearance of the reasons for harmony as it were. Law based states are the implies that understand the compelling motivation of harmony: liberal society.† (Rasmussen, 2003, p.29) DPT represents majority rule government, which is the outflow of the realities identified with harmony. In this way, the vote based states are the best model for DPT, in light of the fact that a popular government prompts a liberal society where harmony exists. The possibility that a universe of majority rule governments would be increasingly quiet spot is so noteworthy in light of the fact that practically all carnage identified with war were not among just nations. As vote based system prompts stable governments which speak to the yearning of the individuals, there is high possibility for it to help further la w based considerations. In the long run, the spread of law based idea prompts world harmony. In any case, it is vital that majority rule government is certainly not a solitary framework and there are a few frameworks of government under popular government. The general thought is same, for example the administration which speak to the individuals. Majority rules system shows colossal regard towards private property and gives lawful correspondence among residents. As the popularity based government is chosen by the individuals, there is less possibility for boundless government authority over the mass. Yet, the general meaning of majority rules system isn't same and it prompts distortion of exactly the same thought. For example, the middle class republics, tyrannies and so on are deduced as majority rules systems. Because of political weight, in certain nations, individuals are compelled to choose despots as their pioneer. In any case, this doesn't demonstrate that this specific nation is law based. In this way, it is essential to have an all around acknowledged definition for majority rule government. From another view point, the nations with taught populace demonstrate the propensity to grasp vote based system since it bolsters the unrestrained choice of the individuals. Plus, to make an environment of world harmony, it is significant for the

How to Do a Chain Analysis for Problem Behaviors

How to Do a Chain Analysis for Problem Behaviors PTSD Coping Print How to Do a Chain Analysis to Change Problem Behaviors By Matthew Tull, PhD twitter Matthew Tull, PhD is a professor of psychology at the University of Toledo, specializing in post-traumatic stress disorder. Learn about our editorial policy Matthew Tull, PhD Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Daniel B. Block, MD on November 25, 2019 twitter linkedin Daniel B. Block, MD, is an award-winning, board-certified psychiatrist who operates a private practice in Pennsylvania. Learn about our Medical Review Board Daniel B. Block, MD on November 25, 2019 Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Overview Symptoms & Diagnosis Causes & Risk Factors Treatment Living With In Children Kris Ubach and Quim Roser / Getty Images It can be important for a person with PTSD to learn how to do a chain analysis. People with PTSD  can develop a number of problem behaviors. However it is important to recognize that these problem behaviors develop for a reason. They are serving some kind of function, oftentimes helping someone avoid or escape distress. What Is Chain Analysis? Also known as functional analysis, a  chain analysis is a technique designed to help a person understand the function of a particular behavior.?? During a chain analysis of a particular problem behavior (for example,  deliberate self-harm),?? a person tries to uncover all the factors that led up to that behavior. In other words, a person tries to discover all the links in the chain that ultimately resulted in problem behavior. Therefore a chain analysis  will help you figure out all the things that can contribute to problem behavior. In doing so, a chain analysis can give you insight into how to change such behavior. For example, a person may identify the situation he was in, the thoughts he was experiencing, or the feelings he was having just prior to engaging in that behavior. In doing so, a person can increase his awareness of all the factors that may put him at risk for problem behavior. This way a person has better ability to intervene early on to prevent that behavior in the future. Identify What You Want to Change The first step is to identify the behavior you want to change. For example, do you want to stop engaging in self-medication through alcohol? Binge eating? Try to identify a behavior that is causing problems for you in your life. Next, think about what happened prior to you engaging in the problem behavior. What were you doing? What was going on around you? Were you in an argument? Did you have a memory of your traumatic event triggered? Basically, you want to identify the event or situation that served as the starting point for your problem behavior. 4 Steps to Shift Perspective and Change Everything Pay Attention to Thought Patterns and Feelings Now, identify what kinds of thoughts were brought up by the situation or event that led to the problem behavior. How did you evaluate the situation or yourself in that situation? Did you engage in catastrophic or all-or-none thinking? Think about what emotions you were having as a result of that situation. Try your best to list as many emotions as you possibly can, such as fear, sadness, anger, shame, guilt, embarrassment, or dread. Pay attention to what you felt in your body. Try to recognize and label all the sensations that came up. For example, did you experience shortness of breath? Muscle tension? An increased heart rate? Think about how your body reacted to the situation. Next, list off what your thoughts, emotions and bodily sensations made you want to do. That is, did they make you want to escape the situation or do something to make those feelings stop? Did you feel a need to engage in your problem behavior? Finally, think about the consequences of engaging in your problem behavior. Did you feel better afterward? Did you feel disappointed in yourself? Ashamed? Try to list as many consequences (both positive and negative) as you can. Using Self-Monitoring for PTSD to Bring Awareness of Your Emotions Tips It can be helpful to go through a chain analysis soon after you engage in problem behavior. This way, your experience is fresh in your mind and you will likely be able to remember more information about the factors that led up to your problem behavior. It might also be helpful to identify what things might have made you more susceptible to responding to the situation as you did. For example, when people do not eat well or do not get enough sleep, they may be more susceptible to experiencing negative moods or having more reactive emotional experiences. Behaviors can serve multiple functions. Therefore, go through a chain analysis for a number of different situations that led to a problem behavior and try to identify all the functions a problem behavior serves for you. After you go through the chain analysis, come up with different coping strategies you could use at each stage. In addition to identifying the function a problem behavior serves, it is also incredibly important to figure out how to break the chain through the use of healthier coping strategies.?? PTSD: Coping, Support, and Living Well

Essay Kirby Dicks Film The Invisible War - 699 Words

Sixty-five years after President Truman signs the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act more than 200,000 women are serving in the military. These women are engaged in real combat and experience the physical, mental, and emotional exhaustion like every soldier out there. But what’s more is that in the first three quarters of the fiscal year of 2013 3,553 sexual assault complaints were reported to the Defense Department. Of these, only one hundred and seventy-five of the alleged attackers were criminally charged. All of these numbers have been complied and given meaning through Kirby Dicks’ film The Invisible War. As a director Dick has been nominated for both the Academy and Emmy Awards for best documentary director. Like most of his†¦show more content†¦She left the service two months before her completed two years of service and is now unable to claim disability from the Department of Veteran Affairs office. Her story ends just like the other personal testimonies; barely anyone helped or sought justice. In each case the victim was ostracized and made out to be a liar after speaking out about the rape. According to the film only 2% of rape accusations are criminally prosecuted and brought to light. Slated against the backdrop of personal experiences, the director adds an element of statistics. Dick pulls from an interview between himself and Dr. Kaye Whitley, the Director of Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office. In doing so he illustrates just how uneducated the military is about sexual assault. Dr. Whitely is unable to answer questions about the attacker instead she makes it clear that her data is only about what the victim can do better to â€Å"prevent† sexual assault. A recent court ruling over the case that Cioca and four other victims were involved called rape an â€Å"occupational hazard.† Meaning that rape is just a risk you run if you are a women entering the military. Around this point in the docu mentary the discussions that occur in the classroom about rape culture echoed in my ears. These actions are being swept under the rug and covered for by citing that sexual assault is just a part of the job. We live in a society where rape victims are often blamed and rapists are excused for

The Community Of The Lgbtq Community - 1593 Words

In the twenty-four hours following the election, a surge in calls to suicide hotlines primarily from those belonging to the LGBTQ community. Trumps victory had caused thousands to suddenly fear their own futures in this country and questioned which of their rights they were going to lose in the next four years. This lead to many calling suicide hotlines for confirmation that life was worth living for and that their was always hope. Crisis lines dedicated to the LGBTQ community were specifically the ones that were most effected. The numbers of calls they were receiving were in the thousands, over doubling the average number of calls received and reaching unprecedented levels. An additional concern is that this may be causing a sudden influx trans-suicides, potentially up to ten. However, none of these cases have as of yet been confirmed, so there is a possibility that no suicides in relation to the election have occurred. Transpeople within America have a particularly precariou s state in this country and the election seems likely to remove their rights in the upcoming years. Regardless, the election has increased the anxieties of countless in this country. This recent development was quite important to me as someone who is part of the LGBTQ community. Although the election was seen as high stakes for both Democrats and Republicans, Trump’s policies will most likely have a negative impact disproportionately on minorities, immigrants, and those who have marginalizedShow MoreRelatedOverview Of The LGBTQ Community914 Words   |  4 PagesIntroduction LGBTQ elders, regardless of their sexual orientation, face a number of unique health related challenges as they age. Amongst those challenges are increased isolation, stigma, and loss of cognitive functioning (Hoy-Ellis, Ator, Kerr Milford, 2016). In this essay I have chosen to write on this topic and conducted a literature search on EBSCOhost using the search terms ‘LGBTQ’ and ‘aging.’ The following is based on the article, â€Å"Innovative approaches addressing aging and mental healthRead MoreThe Struggle Of The Lgbtq Community Essay1859 Words   |  8 PagesThe struggle of the LGBTQ community was captured by the documentary, Before Stonewall. Before Stonewall follows captures what life was like for members of the LGBTQ community before the Stonewall Inn riots and subsequently the â€Å"Gay Rights Movement†, through each decade, interviewing members of the community who lived before the â€Å"Gay Rights Movement†. The documentary splits the struggles of the LGBTQ people by decades. It started with LGBTQ people living in isolation and secrecy in the 1920s and slowlyRead MoreThe Reality Of The Lgbtq Community1404 Words   |  6 Pagesexperiences of lesbian motherhood. They appear progressive at face value, even queer at times, yet, they ultimately uphold assimilationist politics and dodge the potential for queerness or advocacy. This is obscures and distorts the reality of the LGBTQ+ community and reaffirms the social boundaries which constrain lesbian parents to narrow standards. H1: Summary From this analysis, it is apparent that The Kids Are All Right and The Fosters strategically attempt to gain respectability for lesbian parentsRead MoreThe Rights Of The Lgbtq Community1217 Words   |  5 PagesThe LGBTQ community has been denied certain rights because of their sexual preference. Because there is not a natural born man and woman standing at the aisle, many states deny them the right to marriage. Many protest the rights the LGBTQ community should be able to have. The Catholic Church has condemned the LGBTQ community since the beginning of time. While some states have changed their views and laws on LGBTQ rights and privileges, there is still much improvement that needs to be done. Who givesRead MoreThe Rights Of The Lgbtq Community Essay1176 Words   |  5 Pageshe status of the LGBTQ community in each decade, starting in the early 1900s, held many key leaders, organizations, and events that were pivotal in the Gay Rights Movement. The documentary begins speaking about homosexuality in the 1900s. No one really talked about sexuality. It was a just common knowledge, however if you were thought to be living a lesbian or gay life, it was grounds for being locked up in a mental institution. Many gay men however could recognize each other through either smallRead MoreA Misconception Of The Lgbtq Community1959 Words   |  8 PagesThere seems to be a misconception that the LGBTQ community is immune to poverty when in actuality, a large majority of them are living in poor conditions. When most people think of gay men specifically, they think of rich, white men living in suburban areas, wearing designer clothes, constantly accessorized, and shop at expensive boutiques. But that is simply not the case. In fact, most LGBTQ people are poor or working-class, female, and people of color who struggle with obtaining or keeping a jobRead MoreDiscrimination Towards The Lgbtq Community1483 Words   |  6 PagesCarolyn Kasper Mrs. Gallos English 3 6 April 2017 Discrimination Towards the LGBTQ Community We as a society are not doing enough to end the discrimination in the LGBTQ ( Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer) community . There is no reason to discriminate someone for what they do behind closed doors and they should keep their negative words and actions to themselves. No one no matter what they believe in should be discriminated against. Just because someone who is attracted to the sameRead MoreAmerican Laws And The Lgbtq Community1407 Words   |  6 PagesAmerican Laws and the LGBTQ+ Community â€Å"Discrimination [dih-skrim-uh-ney-shuh n]: treatment or consideration of, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit.† Right from the dictionary, the definition is clear. Look back 95 years to 1920, where women across America raised their voices and fought back for the right to vote. Now take a look back 48 years ago when in 1967Read MoreLgbtq Youth And Its Impact On The Community Essay1696 Words   |  7 Pagesthat LGBTQ youth are not able to get the help in school which causes them to have low self-esteem, not show up to school, and even engage in risky behavior. School psychologists must provide services for their entire student body and that includes youth apart of the LGBTQ community. Regardless of what their beliefs are it’s important that they give LGBTQ youth the support that they need and also help them work towards a positi ve identity while going the process of coming out. To assist LGBTQ youthRead MoreConversion Therapy And Its Effects On The Lgbtq Community1218 Words   |  5 Pagesbelieves in such treatment. That alone is a huge threat to people of the LGBTQ+ community. Conversion therapy is affecting the LGBTQ+ community greatly. Conversion therapy can be defined as â€Å"psychological interventions, from behavioral methods to psychoanalytic approaches† to change a person’s sexuality or gender identity (Hadelman, pg. 202, 2002). This treatment has been proven to not work as well as having harmful implications to LGBTQ+ people. In 1960, the conversion therapy movement began in the

Wildlife Conservation Free Essays

Do you remember going to the zoo as a child? The excitement of seeing something exotic, the terror of hearing a lion roar, the amazement of seeing a giraffe’s long neck. Everyone has a favourite animal. It could be a tiger, an elephant or a hippo. We will write a custom essay sample on Wildlife Conservation or any similar topic only for you Order Now Now think of your favourite animal, an animal that in some way or another defined you, dying in the next hour. It is predicted 3 unique species die out every hour. That’s 72 unique species every day. That’s 23,208 unique species every year. 26,208. Any animal lover understands the extent of the problem we now face. We are leading ourselves into a cataclysmic hole and in the very near future, the it will threaten the entire destiny of mankind. Over the last 30 years, over 30,000 species have died. This figure begs belief. Just the thought of there being 30,000 species that will go undocumented by mankind and not seen ever again is a horrific thought. Some plants are economically and medically very important to humanity. Nearly all drugs have some connection with plants and there is every possibility that an undiscovered plant could cure all diseases around the world. Plants are the root(if you pardon the pun) and cornerstone of the ecologies around the world, and not to mention if plants die out so do we. It’s as simple as that. If the last few years are to go by , our fortune isn’t looking too good. Carbon emissions have gone up by threefold and 1.5 acres of rainforest are lost every second with tragic consequences for both developing and industrial countries. 129,600 acres of rainforest is lost every day. That’s the equivalent of losing an area of the size of Greece every day. Now some people may argue that this is just rubbish and the world is not dying, that there is no element of truth in this information at all. All facts used in this leaflet are true. The judgement has to be left to you. Do you think the world is dying? For those who think the world is dying there is still some hope. As far as I can see , the only way we can save endangered species is by wildlife conservation. To prevent the extinction of beloved species, there are many things you can do. You can start of by doing small steps such as researching about wildlife preservation or by making the problem more widely known. But if you want to make a bigger change to the way how the world is run you should join wildlife conservation societies such as The Nature Conservancy or the World Wildlife Fund. If we change our ways we can save the world. If we change our ways we can secure the future. If we change our ways your children will be able to live. But we have to change our habits now. How to cite Wildlife Conservation, Essays Wildlife Conservation Free Essays Wildlife Conservation is essential to the protection of endangered species and potentially saving humans and the ecosystem because scientists don’t know all of the affects that the extinction of certain species may have on the ecosystem and people. There is an ongoing battle between people who think that they are helpful and people that think that they aren’t doing anything. As the population of humans grows we have to expand so that we can all live comfortably. We will write a custom essay sample on Wildlife Conservation or any similar topic only for you Order Now Unfortunately a lot of people believe that we as humans have the upper hand because we are the â€Å"dominant† species; this may not be true however. Scientific studies haven’t quite figured out how the loss of one particular species could affect the ecosystem or humans for that reason. It’s not entirely known what affect, if any, animals have on humans or our natural resources. This has sparked a great debate among people. The non-consequentialist side argues that animals have just as much right to live as we do and because we don’t know what the consequences would be we should save them. While the consequentialist side argues that the human population needs to do what is best for them no matter what that means for the animals. Animal species serve as an indicator of the health of the ecosystem. â€Å"We need to study species and their roles within ecosystems to understand their interdependencies and to predict the impacts of our actions on the environment. Species offer clues to understanding natural history and thus have historical value as records of past processes† (Paterson, 2006). This proves that animals have value to us because they help us better understand the environment. It could be said that without them we wouldn’t know as much as we do about the environment and history. That’s just one way that animals can benefit us. Some animal species provide people with food. â€Å"It can be said that the quality of life will decline substantially with the loss of species diversity. In many developing countries, game viewing and trophy hunting generate considerable sums of money, and the aesthetic value of wildlife can thus be directly linked to an economic value† (Paterson, 2006). If the animals they were hunting became extinct, they would no longer benefit from it. However that doesn’t stop them because they need to make money and they need to provide for themselves and their families. People depend on animals that live around them for food; without the animals the people would either die off or be forced to find a different way to survive. â€Å"Many species, including endangered ones, are expected to have agricultural, industrial, and medical benefits† (Paterson, 2006). Scientists don’t know exactly what each animal does for the ecosystem so they can’t tell us which ones would or wouldn’t benefit us if they were gone. Some animals do have known roles in the ecosystem, take the grizzly bear for example. Grizzlies keep other predators, such as cougars, coyotes and foxes at bay. Grizzlies eat berries, flowers, grasses, sedges, herbs, tubers, and nuts of all kinds. If they did become extinct the vegetation in an area would become over populated. Because grizzlies eat vegetation they help mix the soil and help increase the nutrients. With that being said, if they were to become extinct, a lot of the areas that Grizzlies occupy wouldn’t get â€Å"farmed† and would therefore not grow as well. This could cause other animals to not be able to occupy the land either or worse it could cause other animals that were normally not there to occupy the land. So the extinction of one species of animal could result in the endangerment or extinction or another species. Humans are actually the main cause of the endangerments of a lot of species. People hunt animals for food, their skin and tusks, and also their fat. Many species of animals are hunted in such large groups so fast that it doesn’t give them time to repopulate. This causes them to slowly become extinct and why is this? Simply because people are more concerned about the wellbeing of themselves and no one else. The human pollution has caused pollution to animal food causing a lot of these animals to migrate to find food. This causes them to leave their homes and venture out to places that are unfamiliar to them; places where they might not be able to survive. Industrializing, and urban development have destroyed forests and habitats for animals causing them to leave and find another place to live. As humans grow and develop, we need to expand and make room for new industries and buildings so we can continue to grow and prosper. But by doing this it has caused many species of animals to become almost extinct. This is where Wildlife Conservations come into play, there are more than 1,000 animal species endangered worldwide, luckily there are more than 3,500 protected areas in existence worldwide that protect these endangered species (Kurpis, 2002). Wildlife Conservations are a place where animals can live and not worry about people killing them or losing their homes. They can live in the â€Å"wild† like they did before people came around and started destroying everything around them. From a non-consequentialist side, Wildlife Conservations are a great way to save the animals. Wildlife Conservations help endangered animals attempt to repopulate and changed their endangered species status. By keeping the animals from being hunted for food, fur, tusks , or whatever else people may need them for, animals can reproduce and start to grow in number again. This can potentially help the endangered species get off of the endangered species list. A non-consequentialist would say that every animal has a job to carry out in our ecosystem. Every animal weather it’s big or small has a job to carry out and if we stop caring about the animals who knows what will happen to us in time. From a consequentialist point of view, they’d argue that they need to expand industries and housing developments so that they can grow. They don’t care that they are destroying the homes of hundreds and thousands of animals. â€Å"The primary reasons for the depletion of wildlife are the loss of habitats, poaching and indiscriminative hunting and fishing, rapid contamination of the food and water resources. There has, at large been an expansion of the human habitation into the forest areas and other wildlife habitats that have resulted in the destruction of wildlife† (Wildlife Conservation Facts, 2012). Every time we cut down trees or every time we clear out a forest, animals are made homeless and have no where else to go. Non-consequentialists would argue that it is our duty to see that the well being of everyone is taken into consideration before we go and destroy forests and cut down trees. They would say that the animals have every right that we do to live and that we shouldn’t do anything to them that we ouldn’t want done to us. We as people should look at the big picture and see that by doing whatever we want right now we could actually affect us later. We could potentially save the lives of hundreds and thousands of animals and maybe even ourselves. Because who knows what killing off grizzlies, polar bears, wolves, or even bunnies will do to us. They may be th e reason that we are still alive and they may be the reason that our ecosystem is still thriving. If we save them we may be doing ourselves a favor as well as doing them a favor. Reference Page Paterson, B (2006). Ethics for Wildlife Conservation: Overcoming the Human-Nature Dualism. Retrieved October 23, 2012 from http://www. redorbit. com/news/science/410448/ethics_for_wildlife_conservation_overcoming_the_humannature_dualism/ Kurpis, L (2002). Facts About Endangered Species. Retrieved October 23, 2012 from http://www. endangeredspecie. com/Interesting_Facts. htm Environmentbasics. 2012. Wildlife Conservation Facts. Retrieved October 24, 2012, from http://www. environmentbasics. com/environment-articles/wildlife-conservation. html How to cite Wildlife Conservation, Essay examples

With reference to characterisation and film techniques, how does the director Tim Robbins Depict the death penalty in his film Dead Man Walking Essay Example

With reference to characterisation and film techniques, how does the director Tim Robbins Depict the death penalty in his film Dead Man Walking? Essay The first laws sanctioning the death penalty were established in the 18th century BC. At that time, the death penalty was used all over the world. However in 1846, Michigan became the first state in the U.S. to abolish the death penalty for all crimes except treason. By 1917, nine states had completely abolished the death penalty for all crimes or strictly limited it. The use of cyanide gas as a means of execution was introduced in 1924. Many thought this method was brutal and inhumane. A Gallup Poll conducted in 1966 showed support for the death penalty at an all time low and finally, in June 1972, the Supreme Court suspended the death penalty. It was reinstated shortly after in 1976. The lethal injection was seen as the most humane and painless method of execution. Oklahoma became the first state to adopt the lethal injection in 1977. Charles Brookes became the first person to be executed by this method five years later. In April 1999, the UN Human Rights Commission Resolution bega n to support a world-wide moratorium on executions. To this day, the death penalty is still used as a form of punishment in around 30 of the 52 states in North America. The film Dead Man Walking was directed by Tim Robbins and was released in 1995. I believe that Robbins completely unbiased about the issue of the death penalty throughout the whole film. He is neither against nor supportive of Poncelot. Film reviewer Ben Stephens, explains what Robbins was hoping to achieve with the film: With an issue as sensitive and fraught with potential pitfalls as this, director, Tim Robbins, manages to present a remarkably unbiased film, with all the usual arguments for and against the death penalty given more or less equal weight. This quote describes the difference between Dead Man Walking and the usual death row films such as The Green Mile. Dead Man Walking shows the criminals point of view so we can see and possibly understand what he is going through. We will write a custom essay sample on With reference to characterisation and film techniques, how does the director Tim Robbins Depict the death penalty in his film Dead Man Walking? specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on With reference to characterisation and film techniques, how does the director Tim Robbins Depict the death penalty in his film Dead Man Walking? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on With reference to characterisation and film techniques, how does the director Tim Robbins Depict the death penalty in his film Dead Man Walking? specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Dead Man Walking is set in Louisiana, North America during the 1990s. The film focuses on a convicted murderer and rapist Matthew Poncelot, (Sean With reference to characterisation and film techniques, how does the director Tim Robbins Depict the death penalty in his film Dead Man Walking? Johir Islam Penn) and a well-educated nun, Sister Helen Prejean, (Susan Sarandon). Poncelot is sentenced to death and as he is unable to afford a decent lawyer, he has to defend himself until Prejean steps in voluntarily to help him lodge an appeal against his sentence. The narrative is non-linear and it draws in the audience. At this time, there was a nation wide campaign to cut down on crime and increase the number of convicted criminals executed. Poncelots appeal is denied, with the full support of the campaign and the murdered victims families. The audience reacts by asking a rhetorical question: Why would anyone want to help a monster like Poncelot? Prejean explains this by believing in second chances. However, many people, like the victims families would like to see Poncelot dead. Poncelot is portrayed as a racist. He is arrogant, ignorant, uneducated and considers himself as a red neck or hick. However that may just be a stereotype that we fail to see. He is sentenced to death for the murder of a seventeen year old and murdering and raping his seventeen year old girlfriend. On the other hand, Prejean is portrayed as kind, liberal and forgiving. She has given up everything to become a nun. She believes in mercy, forgiveness and in second chances: Im just trying to follow the example of Jesus, who said that every person is worth their worst act. Prejean is very independent. She visits the prison chaplain and is asked about her nuns habit, which she is not wearing. She does not need the clothes of a nun to behave and think like one. This also shows that she is liberal. At the start of the film, we are shown some old home movies of Prejeans past which creates a contrast between her past and present. This tells the audience about her background and privileged, sup portive family. Her dream since childhood was to become a nun. She had always wanted to help the community and the people. She wanted to help race relations and tension between the coloured and white community. The prison chaplain thinks differently. He is cynical and contemptuous about Prejeans involvement with helping a convicted criminal. He is traditional, strict and doesnt believe in second chances. The only time we feel sympathy for Poncelot is at the end when he is dying. We realise during this scene that he has truly learned his lesson but knows With reference to characterisation and film techniques, how does the director Tim Robbins Depict the death penalty in his film Dead Man Walking? Johir Islam it is too late. Before leaving the world and heading for the after life, Poncelot realises that an apology is necessary for his monstrous deed, and he succeeds in winning some forgiveness. Poncelot says: I think killing is wrong whether I do it or yall, which emphasises that he has learnt the value of life. All of this is used ingeniously by Robbins to establish a conflict between white people of the same religion-which means we focus on the issue of the death penalty and not on race relations or religious differences. The most effective cinematography techniques are found in the scene in which Poncelot is in the process of being executed and is dying slowly. As he is slowly fading away, the camera cross cuts to flashbacks of the scene of the murder. Poncelot remembers the attack vividly. The flashbacks are in colour so it is very clear and are from Poncelots perspective so we finally see what really happened. This juxtaposition of the victims violent, undignified death and Poncelots own death reveals Robbins intention to present an unbiased view of the death penalty. Cross cutting is used effectively between Poncelots dying body and the murder. Cross cutting is also used between shots of the body of Poncelot and the poison filled syringes. This makes a comparison and helps the audience to see everything going on. Parallel shots are also used to link the teenage victims to Poncelot suggesting that they are all victims. As Poncelot is asking for forgiveness to the families of the victims, he is put in a Christ-like position, which suggests that his death will rid some sins. At the beginning of the film, we are shown an extreme close up of Prejean when she is driving to the prison, which reveals her character and facial expression. Shes thoughtful, calm and concentrating. As she is driving, we find an example of non-diegetic sound when we hear Poncelots voice reading out his letters. We hear him before we see him, which creates an atmosphere of tension. The letters are an insight to his character. We are given a tracking shot of Prejean as she walks up to Hope House, which establishes Prejeans job and her close-knit relationship with children. With reference to characterisation and film techniques, how does the director Tim Robbins Depict the death penalty in his film Dead Man Walking? Johir Islam We are later shown tension building close up shots of Prejean and Poncelot when they are talking in the prison. Poncelot is always shown behind the wire screen emphasising that he is imprisoned and trapped. Louisiana is a southern state, which means the audience should expect vast amounts of racism and inequality. Louisiana also strongly supports the death penalty. Many people are uneducated thus are ignorant leading to racism. Economic segregation is also a cause of ignorance and racism-there are many places where only whites are permitted to live. In addition, a lot of the taxpayers money is spent on criminals and prisoners, so many welcomed the execution of the convicted. The characters accents give away the location of the film. They have southern accents and use dialect, for example Poncelot exclaims momma which instantly establishes the region. The audience will have certain preconceptions of the south which are to except racism, segregation, and high levels of crime, unemployment and lack of education. The prison is depicted as a harsh, unforgiving, merciless house of death. The lighting is very dim and dark. Doors are slammed violently and the echoing screams on inmates can be heard which all highlight the harsh nature of the prison. Poncelot is not given an honourable or dignified death. Prison wardens shave one of his legs and tag him like an animal. He is executed in his prison uniform emphasising that he will die a prisoner. A pair of fluffy white slippers also gives us a similar message. Dissolved shots from the execution room to outside of a church gives the closing sequence a calm atmosphere. We have just witnessed the execution of a convicted murderer and rapist and we are now given a shot of a beautiful building on a tranquil, sunny day. The director has chosen to end the film calmly to again remind us that his film is completely unbiased. Most of the time when the characters are locked in a conversation, silence is used to create tension. Non-diegetic sound is used when Poncelot is about to be injected. We hear a requiem to make us feel sympathetic towards Poncelot. With reference to characterisation and film techniques, how does the director Tim Robbins Depict the death penalty in his film Dead Man Walking? Johir Islam The requiem also suggests that Poncelot will be going to heaven because he confessed to his sins. We hear calm, soothing music at the closing scene with the shot of the church, which helps create a soothing, calm ending to the film. In conclusion, I believe Ben Stephens statement about Robbins and his film Dead Man Walking is correct-it does have the usual arguments for and against the death penalty but the film is remarkably unbiased. Robbins wanted his film to be unbiased and thats what it is-the film is on neither side, for or against. It makes you come to your own conclusions. I am ambivalent about the death penalty. Id agree to the death penalty if my family were the victim because it is an emotional issue. I dont think there is a possibility of forgiveness for the murderer as I strongly believe in the saying an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. That way the whole world would be blind and toothless. However, we must remember that killing someone doesnt solve anything. Two wrongs do not make a right. However if I were in Poncelots situation, or if a family member or close friend was, I would obviously be against the death penalty. It all depends on the given situation. I have learned that life is unfair but to succeed in life we must learn to deal with the ups and downs of life.