The Sound of Music
In 1965 Robert Wise presented the world with his smashing box office hit film, The Sound of Music. Over time it has become known as one of the most loved and well-known musicals of all time. Shortly after its release it won many Academy awards: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Sound, Best Adapted Score, Best Film Editing, Best Film-Musical, Best Color Cinematography, and Best Costume design (Freiden par3). The movie is based upon the true story of the VonTrapp family and allows its audience to relive their family experience as well as their flight from Nazism just before the outbreak of World War Two.
So why is it that even today, The Sound of Music is still the "most popular movie-musical ever made?" (20th Century Fox). The musical film presented a sound that "inspired a generation," giving them romance, longing and love. (20th Century Fox). However, there is certainly more than meets the eye to this 1965 American production of Austria's VonTrapp family. By taking a closer look at the movie we find that, not only did this smashing box office hit present us with a classic tale of romance and adventure, but it also inadvertently challenged us to wonder if The Sound of Music was Austria’s chance to exonerate itself from its past involvement in Nazism.
In order to question whether or not this movie is an opportunity for Austria to exonerate itself, we first need to understand how the movie creates an Americanized image of Austria's role in Nazism. An American audience will most certainly be affected by this movie in a different way than will a German or Austrian audience who have been personally involved in will. Because most Americans are not personally attached to ...
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Starkman, Ruth A. “American Imperialism or Local Protectionism? The Sound of Music (1965) Fails in Germany and Austria.” Historical Journal of Film, Radio and Television 20 (1997): 63. MAS ULTRA- School Edition. Palni SiteSearch. Goshen College Good Library. 30 October 2001.
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2oth Century Fox. The Sound of Music. 1965. 9 November 2001.
To fully understand the relationship between a filmmaker and a composer, it is helpful to take a closer look at the filmmaker’s position towards music in film in general; these can of course differ substantially from one director to another. It seems, one must think, that the complete narrative and emotive potential of film music is not yet fully recognized and appreciated in many film produc...
Wright, David, Heather LaRocca, and Grant DeJongh. "Global Problems." The Amazonian Rainforest: Forest to Farmland? The University of Michigan, 2007. Web. 14 Mar. 2014.
German Cinema since Unification. Edited by David Clarke. Continuum, in association with University of Birmingham Press. 2006
George Orwell's 1984 and The Lego Movie, are two texts which develop the theme that if one desires to obtain control one feels the need to alter feelings, capabilities and even the world seen in reality, which can result in a artificial society lacking the presence of human nature. In 1984 the Party of Oceania and the antagonist, President Business in The Lego Movie portray similar characteristics and goals which connect to the theme. In 1984 the ideology of thoughtcrime and the cotton swab in The Lego Movie portrays similar meanings which connect to the theme. In both the pieces of literature, there are totalitarian controlled communities. They are both controlled by hierarchies who's only determination is perfection and complete control over their society. In 1984, the Big Brother and the Party have total control over their society by asking the citizens to perfect the ideology of thought crime. They have the perfect vision of a society where people only love and worship the Party. In the Lego Movie, President Business wants to have a perfect society who only follows the rules given to them by him; if what he wills is not fulfilled he uses a cotton swab to perfect the blemish which would make his society perfect. In this society there are TVs everywhere displaying propaganda and there is also a 24/7 surveillance system. The two hierarchies illusion of a perfect society to obtain control, requires the loss of human nature and human creativity. This consequently involves the sacrifice of freedom of thought, speech and the expression of emotions .
Oliver Cromwell came from humble beginnings. Although he ended up briefly ruling England, he was not born a noble. He was born on April 25, 1599, to Robert and Elizabeth Cromwell in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. He frequently visited his grandfather, who hosted parties that nobles and other important figures often attended. It is thought that these connections might have been what first landed Cromwell a spot in Parliament. He attended Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, which was very Puritan, but did not finish studying there as a result of the death of his father in 1617. He married a woman named Elisabeth Bourchier, with whom he had nine children.
By explaining the sad, yet undeniably true facts about the concentration camp Treblinka, Wiesel spoke of how far the Nazis were willing to go in order to exterminate the Jewish people. During the year 1942, under the orders of “Operation: Reinhard”, Treblinka opened it doors to the thousands of Jewish masses being crammed inside, su...
Kaplan, Jon. "Dumped!: Famous and Not-So-Famous Rejected Film Music." Film Score Monthly 8.9 (2003): 24-31. IIMP. Web. 6 Dec. 2010.
The Amazon Rain Forest Is in Danger of Being Destroyed" by Devadas Vittal. Rain Forests. HaiSong Harvey, Ed. At Issue Series. Greenhaven Press, 2002. Reprinted from Devadas Vittal, Introduction: What Is the Amazon Rainforest? Internet: http://www.homepages.go.com/homepages/d/v/i/dvittal/amazon/intro.html, November 1999, by permission of the author. http://ic.galegroup.com/ic/ovic/ViewpointsDetailsPage/ViewpointsDetailsWindow?displayGroupName=Viewpoints&disableHighlighting=false&prodId=OVIC&action=e&windowstate=normal&catId=&documentId=GALE%7CEJ3010021212&mode=view
Music can decipher a narrative event by indicating a perspective. To unify a set of diverse images and provide rhythmic and formal continuity and momentum, a film’s structure is more often than not, directly articulated by a musical structure. Music can assist the dialogue and visuals of film and often is inaudible (e.g. music is meant to be heard unconsciously, not consciously). Music has been used by directors to reinforce or strengthen certain weak scenes in film and then on the other hand when music is not needed to reinforce a scene
In 1878, Gilbert and Sullivan’s HMS Pinafore premiered in the United States. Their arrival sparked an overwhelming response from the people, the craze that was, was known as “Pinafore-Mania”. The songs that were sung in the show became the language of the people, and became part of everyday conversation. Even though it seemed all was good, some were not pleased and happy with the two “invaders”. “In the century since Gilbert and Sullivan, people on both sides of the Atlantic have bitched about “invasions” coming from the other side. America and Britain have continually sent each other their best shows for over a hundred years. If the balance tilts a bit every now and then, no matter: it will shift again (musical 101.com)”. With the growth of the American cities and with the Industrial Revolution going on, the theater-fans were becoming more sophisticated. With this, the homegrown musical entertainment, due to the success of Gilbert and Sullivan, looked second rate.
In our culture, technology serves as an instrumental aspect of our lives. Regardless of where you turn, you are constantly surrounded by technology. Whether it is our cellphones that spend their entire lives within an arm’s reach of us, our computers, or the newest wave of technology that is moving us towards tablets, much of our life is lived in front of screens. With these advancements comes the notion that there is an application that can solve every life problem we may have. Thanks to technological advancements like text messaging or social media networks, there are plenty of ways a relationship can be sustained for a significant period without personal contact. Unfortunately, most people have a misconstrued belief that these resources are a great substitute for personal time in relationships that have periods of long distance separation. Scientists and relationship experts debate the usefulness of technology in relationships and many do not share the above mentioned belief. They debate if technology helps sustain relationship or helps ruin relationships. Just as social media can be a great way of keeping up with others while they are away, it can also be used to spy on others and assume an intimate connection between anyone who posts on your significant other’s wall often.
The Sound of Music is a timeless classic that has captivated the attention of many ages. Based off the beginning events of Maria von Trapp’s book The Story of the Von Trapp Family Singers, the overall view of the Von Trapp family in the film is kept intact. Maria Augusta Kutschera joined the family in 1926 as a tutor to the children and later married their father, former Navy officer, Georg von Trapp. As World War II progressed, the family became more well known for their musical talent, which was the focus of The Sound of Music. However, the film includes only a part of the story of the Von Trapp family. After the family left Austria during the Nazi invasion in 1938, the Von Trapp Family Singers continued to tour throughout Europe and the United States.
Stafford, Laura, and Andy J. Merolla. "Idealization, Reunions, and Stability in Long-distance Dating Relationships." Sage Journals. University of Nevada: Reno -- Library, n.d. Web. 26 Feb. 2014.
It was not until the mid 1930s that the brutish dictator truly recognized the potential power of media, where in 1935 a special funding was given to the production of Italian films which was used to open up film institutions like the ‘Centro Sperimenale di Cinematografia’ (CSC) film school, and ‘Cinecitta’ (Cinema City) studios in 1937 (Ruberto and Wilson, 2007). The development of these institutions sparked the appearance of early sound cinema, specializing in genres such as comedies, melodramas, musicals and historical films, but were all categorized as ‘propaganda’ and ‘white telephone’ films by many critics due...
In 2005, approximately 3.6 million Americans were in a long distance relationship and the numbering are surprisingly increasing. People believe that long distance relationships are almost impossible to maintain. People usually prefer short distance relationships because there are less challenges and therefore, less effort require. Americans believe that a perfect marriage or relationship is one where both persons are together. However, there has been reasons such as school, work, and military, that forces couples to separate. Geographical distance tests both partners’ love, commitment, and faith. Although people prefer short distance relationships, the advantages and disadvantages that com with being geographically apart strengthens the relationship, which ultimately make it successful.