Friday, November 29, 2019
ABBA design Essay Example
ABBA design Essay Example ABBA design Paper ABBA design Paper Based on Treismans attention theory and his attenuator experiment which claims that all messages reach the selective filter where one message is selected to pay attention to. Treisman, a colleague of Broadbent thought that all other messages which reach the selected filter are not blocked out but are instead turned down, known as attenuated.à Within my experiment I hoped to find out whether it takes longer to complete a card sorting task with distracting noise than in silence. I predicted that in accordance with Treisman that it would take longer for the cart sorting task to take place with AC/DCs Highway to Hell playing in the background than it would in silence.à I decided to use an experiment as my research method and within this used a counterbalancing method (ABBA) to help control the order effects.à My participants were chosen using opportunity sampling; who was available to me at the time of the experiment and I had 6 participants aged from 16-45 from the Portglenone area in my sample. I used averages to show how the participants performed as a group. I decided to use the mean and the median to represent this and I found that my results did match the hypothesis of my experiment that participants did take a longer time period to complete their task when there was a distracting noise that had to be attenuated.à From this we have shown that Treismans Attenuator model does in fact explain the effect of distractions on a persons attention span. Introductionà The aim of this experiment is to determine whether it takes longer to complete a card sorting task into piles of odd and even numbers with a distracting noise than it is in silence.à There are several theories that could explain this and these are known as Selective Attention Models.à Broadbent developed a Filter Theory which claimed that information enters the human brain through the senses. This information is then processed by the Central Processor which can only deal with a limited amount of information at any one time which can often exceed the capacity of the Central Processor. Broadbent dealt with this problem by adding a filter to his model. This was a selective filter which selects one channel of information to be processed by the Central Processor and blocks out all the other channels. However, Broadbents theory is limited in that according to him; all non-attended messages are completely blocked out. This can be disproved in our everyday lives where we are often distracted by something we werent paying attention to. Another theorist called Treisman who was a colleague of Broadbent developed the Attenuator model. This model claimed that all incoming messages reached the selective filter but that the selective filter picks one message and that the other messages are not completely blocked out but instead are attenuated which means they are turned down.à I think that in accordance with Treismans Attenuator model that it will take participants longer to complete the card sorting task with the distracting noise than it will be for them to complete it in silence.à Methodà The independent variable within this experiment is whether there is a distracting noise playing. The Conditions are:à a) No distracting noise in the backgroundà b) A distracting noise in the backgroundà The dependant variable within this experiment is the time taken in seconds for each participant to complete their card sorting task. There are different ways of organising experiments to try to control extraneous variables. We decided to use the repeated measures design. This meant that one group of participants were tested two (or more) times under each condition of the independent variable. This is an advantage as it controls individual differences in ability and motivation as examples of extraneous variables. This repeated measures method however doesnt take into account that participants may perform worse the second time they complete each task due to tiredness or boredom. These are the order effects. On the other hand participants may perform better the second time due to the effects of practice. There are ways to help control these order effects that I have outlined above. It is possible to leave a gap between the two conditions e.g. different days which would prove very time consuming due to the number of participants we used. Another method of trying to control these order effects is known as counter balancing. This is when the conditions are not always done in order e.g. half the group completes condition A followed by condition B. Another method is known as ABBA design. This is where all is known complete task A, then task B, then repeats the experiment doing task B and then finally task A. I have decided to use the ABBA design as my control method. Participants My participants were drawn from my target population of friends and family aged 16-45 from Portglenone. This group is deemed to be representative of the whole population and I decided to use 6 participants.à Sampling Methodà I decided to use opportunity sampling within my experiment who was available to me at the time of my experiment.à I chose this method as it was quick and convenient especially as I had limited time to conduct my experiment.à Within my sample I had 6 participants; 3 female and 3 male. These participants were readily available to me as they were present in my house at the time of the experiment. Materials and Apparatusà In this experiment we used a stop clock to count the time it took for each participant to complete their tasks. A CD player and a CD of AC/DC (Rock Music) were also used along with1 standard pack of playing cards.à The face cards within the standard pack of cards (Jack, Queen and King) were removed. I also defined that an ace card would be defined as 1 for the processing task. Also; it was decided that if a participant places a card into the wrong pile he/she should correct this. Each participant would be supervised when completing their tasks to help point out any mistakes. Another important rule we decided upon was that all participants must hold the cards face up, and we felt this would give a true representation of the time taken to complete the task instead of having to turn the card before it could be seen which would use up more time. Ethical Issuesà There a number of ethical issues which need to be considered when completing this experiment. Participants were approached and were given a copy of a briefing. The purpose of a briefing is to provide participants with the experiment details. The briefing should cover the ethical issues of:à 1. Informed Consentà Participants were given a full explanation in the form of a briefing included in the appendix detailing what the experiment involves. After reading the briefing, participants were then able to decide whether they wanted to participate in the experiment. As all those in my target population were of consenting age (16) I avoided any ethical issue that arises from vulnerable members of society; children, psychiatric patients etc. 2. The Right to Withdrawà Participants will also be made aware in the briefing that they have the right to withdraw from the experiment at any time, even if they have previously given consent. This will also mean that if they have conducted the experiment and wish to withdraw that their results will be withdrawn from the written report. 3. Protection from Harmà Participants should be protected from short term distress and long term harm. Within my experiment I ensured that this issue was covered by certifying that my chosen music didnt include any offensive lyrics or that the music wasnt played too loud so that it could be potentially damaging.à 4. Confidentialityà Participants will also be reassured that their identity will remain anonymous. I will ensure that this is adhered to by not including any of the participants names in the experiment.
Monday, November 25, 2019
Free Essays on Compare
Georgia - Seventy-one year old golfing misogynist, William "Hootie" Johnson, Chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club, has undergone major heart surgery. Unfortunately, he is expected to make a complete recovery. Augusta National hosts the Masters golf tournament and Johnson runs the club and the tournament with an iron fist. When the National Council of Women's Organizations sent a letter to Johnson in June to urge him to admit women to the club, Johnson provoked a storm by publicly declaring that he would not be bullied into admitting women. He then released the sponsors for the television broadcast of the 2003 event, in order to spare them from being pressured on the issue, thereby giving up $3 million in advertising revenue. A Club spokesman said the surgery involved a coronary artery bypass, aortic aneurysm repair and aortic valve replacement. "We're surprised that the doctors found he had a heart," said a spokeswoman for the Council. Augusta National is a private club, and legally can be a men-only institution. No one was paying any attention to the Council's position until Hootie issued a lengthy and emotional response. But while the club is private, the Masters tournament is the most watched sporting event of the year, and is thus arguably a public event. Why don't they admit some women, hold a second Masters tournament for women golfers, and make twice the advertising revenue? Augusta National's biggest PR problem may be that its Chairman is named Hootie. Proving yet again his audacity, former skirt-chasing President, Bill Clinton, is seeking young interns to work under, over or alongside him at his private foundation, according to a classified ad recently placed in New York University's student newspaper. EVERYTHING, we've been told over and over since the horror of September 11, is CHANGED. Not completely. True, the collective fear and anger generated by that atrocity has completed the right-wing takeover of Am... Free Essays on Compare Free Essays on Compare Georgia - Seventy-one year old golfing misogynist, William "Hootie" Johnson, Chairman of the Augusta National Golf Club, has undergone major heart surgery. Unfortunately, he is expected to make a complete recovery. Augusta National hosts the Masters golf tournament and Johnson runs the club and the tournament with an iron fist. When the National Council of Women's Organizations sent a letter to Johnson in June to urge him to admit women to the club, Johnson provoked a storm by publicly declaring that he would not be bullied into admitting women. He then released the sponsors for the television broadcast of the 2003 event, in order to spare them from being pressured on the issue, thereby giving up $3 million in advertising revenue. A Club spokesman said the surgery involved a coronary artery bypass, aortic aneurysm repair and aortic valve replacement. "We're surprised that the doctors found he had a heart," said a spokeswoman for the Council. Augusta National is a private club, and legally can be a men-only institution. No one was paying any attention to the Council's position until Hootie issued a lengthy and emotional response. But while the club is private, the Masters tournament is the most watched sporting event of the year, and is thus arguably a public event. Why don't they admit some women, hold a second Masters tournament for women golfers, and make twice the advertising revenue? Augusta National's biggest PR problem may be that its Chairman is named Hootie. Proving yet again his audacity, former skirt-chasing President, Bill Clinton, is seeking young interns to work under, over or alongside him at his private foundation, according to a classified ad recently placed in New York University's student newspaper. EVERYTHING, we've been told over and over since the horror of September 11, is CHANGED. Not completely. True, the collective fear and anger generated by that atrocity has completed the right-wing takeover of Am...
Friday, November 22, 2019
How Did the 1960's Change America Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
How Did the 1960's Change America - Term Paper Example In the years between 1955 and 1968, Martin Luther King took certain steps that changed the status of the blacks. He said, ââ¬Å"Faith is taking the first step, even when you donââ¬â¢t see the whole staircaseâ⬠(King cited in ââ¬Å"Martin Luther Kingâ⬠). Martin Luther Kingââ¬â¢s efforts came to a stop in the year 1968 because he was murdered in this year during a protest in Tennessee. However, his dreams did not die with him. Another very important revolutionary political factor of the 1960s was John F Kennedyââ¬â¢s presidential term. He said, ââ¬Å"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do or your countryâ⬠(Kennedy cited in ââ¬Å"Ask not whatâ⬠). This quote served as a potential drive for the youngsters to join the armed forces. John F Kennedy was among the four presidents in the history of the USA who were murdered. However, it was not until the assassination of John F Kennedy that the American presidents were provided with a pol ice force specifically for their protection. John F Kennedy participated in three events of huge significance in the history of the USA, which include the crisis of the Cuban Missile, the American Civil Rights Movement, and the construction of the Berlin Wall. Much of the USAââ¬â¢s status today can be attributed to the presidential term of John F Kennedy. Vietnam War, which is one of the most important wars in the history of the USA also took place during the 1960s. ... Regarding the Vietnam War, it was said, ââ¬Å"Our resistance will be long and painful, but whatever the sacrifices, however long the struggle, we shall fight to the end, until Vietnam is fully independent and reunifiedâ⬠(Minh cited in Patrick). 1960s were very important for a change in the entertainment industry in the USA. Barbie Doll was the first toy that became available to the children in 1960. This inculcated an urge in the boys to have some toys of their own as there were some for the girls as well. This laid the basis of the creation of such other toys as the trolls as GI Joe. The development of these toys led to the creation of a whole range of toys that have today become the insignia of the American entertainment industry. Toys created then are still in use by children not only in the USA, but also elsewhere in the world. The social status of the USA has been greatly influenced by the culture of the Hippies that prevailed in the 1960s. Hippies were recognized as peop le who wanted the spread of love and peace. Their agenda was to create peace in the society as hundreds of thousands of people were losing their lives in the Vietnam War. Another important reason for this cause was the racism that had started to surface as a result of the changed social status of the blacks in the USA. Racism against the blacks was another very important social change of that time. Malcolm X and Martin Luther King Jr. were among the people who have fought a lot against racism. Concluding, there were a number of political and social factors that emerged in the 1960s that changed the USA and made it what she is today. The American society experienced a big change since the 1960s with the Dream
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Performance Management System Griffith University Assignment
Performance Management System Griffith University - Assignment Example Griffith University is an Australian University that was founded in 1971 and it is a public university. The Dawkins revolution of 1988 acted as a major catalyst for the growth of the university. A series of successful mergers with other colleges like Queensland Art College and Gold Coast College of Advanced Education to name a few had greatly enhanced the size of Griffith University/After forty years from its establishment, the University had grown from a small university that had a singular campus to one of the largest universities in Australia with multiple campuses across the continent.Presently, the university employs professors and academic staff from more than 130 countries. It has greatly increased the number of courses that are offered in it and has strategically positioned it among the top 5% research universities.The University has strategic goals of influencing communities through teaching and scholarly programs, valuing diversity and creating an environmentally sustainabl e society to name a few. It also strives to promote individual rights and ethical standards. The Human Resource (HR) management of Griffith University is an organized one which integrates the long-term strategic planning of the organization with the human resource planning. The HR staff service center of the university is responsible for providing assistance and support for activities like recruitment and selection, staff benefits, payroll measures and training and development programs.
Monday, November 18, 2019
Strategic Management Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words - 1
Strategic Management - Essay Example A birdââ¬â¢s eye view on the Australian wine industry, at this juncture, would be appreciable. Wines in Australia though are 200 years old, the industry was sluggish in its initial years. They have now caught pace in New-world countries that they are considered the ââ¬ËHot Trendsââ¬â¢ in the market. Thomas Hardy & Sons wine company, known for its quality wines, was established in Australia in 1853 and was most respected for its culture and polite values. Berri Renmano Ltd. (BRL), a co-operative and merged entity was known for aggressiveness and commercial success. Hardy group had to incur huge losses after acquiring some French, Tuscan and Italian old wineries. At the same time, BRL was also facing financial hardship, but nevertheless proposed and merged with Hardy which according to the industry analysts was not a great arrangement. Owing to the financial strength of the BRL team, BRL Hardy had more of BRLââ¬â¢s executives at the top notch in the merged entity while the Hardyââ¬â¢s executives were a bit suppressed. Irrespective of all these happenings, the group was an initial success. After the initial success, there were differences regarding the marketing and distribution of some key brands of the company between Stephen Davies, the Group Marketing and Export Manager based at the head office at Reynella, Australia and the Managing Director of U.K. management team ââ¬â Christopher Carson. For instance, while Davies was planning to launch a global brand, Carson tried to develop a low price wine brand Dââ¬â¢instinto. This attemp t was criticised by Davies citing examples of Carsonââ¬â¢s failure in renewal of distribution agreement of Caliterra (wine brand) and disappointing launch of brand Mapocho with a Chilean sourcing. Nevertheless, Steve Millar, the Managing Director of the BRL Hardy Company as a whole understood these delicate issues and tactically dealt with both of them. Similarly, the head office was planning to launch Banrock station, a product which was a
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Role of Media in Politics
Role of Media in Politics Media is a means on which people of today rely to be informed of social, economic and political aspects in their country and other countries around the world. It is therefore critical for media, in any form, to be as accurate and edifying as possible in order for the people of a nation to use the information given to make educated choices. In South Africa, specifically, media is to a great extent an essential tenet in safeguarding our democracy because it allows accurate political, social and economic information to be brought to the masses. The media has great freedom in being able to verify this information and convey the truth to the public through newspapers, radio and television due to the freedom and rights that the South African Constitution allows the media. These freedoms and rights include its protection, the ability to criticize the government and access to state-held information, as long as no rights are violated in the process. There is great interaction between media and politics. This is evident as it is way in which citizens are made of aware of the decisions and policies the government is making and implementing, and are reflection of events that occur as a result of these decisions and policies. Prior to 1994 mass media was largely controlled by the government and held no legitimacy to the majority of the population. The media during Apartheid was not free to inform the people of inefficiencies in the government and would depict black revolutionaries as an enormous threat to the state. It is evident how important the media is and how it ensures that our democracy is never destroyed because it reflects our constitution. During that time what was considered to be the truth according to a newspaper report was not necessarily an accurate account of what happened. If you wanted to tell the truth, things such as banning, security police visits in the middle of the night, detention without trial and censorship could become you occupational hazards. access to government was impossible.à [1]à The media is greatly influenced by the system of governance over a country therefore a totalitarian system fully recognizes the power over the media and ensures that information published would not cause social and political unrest or a contest to the governing body. Post-1994 the media has transformed from being biased and limited to receiving new freedoms and rights that ensure that the public, especially those whom are underprivileged, receive access to a media that promotes equality, truthful information and alerts to threats in opposition to our democracy. A democracy requires this transition as the people hold the power in a democracy. The individuals are unable to select people to run the government properly if they are unaware of the circumstances in the country. This would lead to people making uneducated votes about who should be in the government and who has the best leadership qualities to be our president. The media has the ability to uncover corruption and errors made in the government, according to the rights set out in the Bill of Rights, which can be discovered through state-held information and any information that one requires from another person for the protection of the state.à [2]à In this way the public can make informed decisions when electing a new government. These decisions would be based on being informed about current affairs such as xenophobic attacks, strikes, inefficiency in government, corruption, human rights issues (Zapiro cases), the Information Bill and the way in which our leaders resolve these issues. The Information Bill has caused much debate within South Africa and is a current challenge facing South African media. Many view the bill as clear and present danger to open democracy in general- Nic Dawes. The Information Bill is essentially a movement to be able to classify information that is considered to be in the national interest (a democratic and appropriate way to deal with sensitive issues). This is a laudable intention, and the ANCs point of view is that the media has too much freedom, more than anyone else. à ¢Ã¢â ¬Ã ¦our impressions are that the media has more freedom than all the freedoms that all of us enjoy. Media freedom supersedes all other freedoms.à [3]à However, the rest of the proposed intentions have claimed to be to vague and that it à ¢Ã¢â ¬Ã ¦effectively criminalises investigative journalismà ¢Ã¢â ¬Ã ¦Ã [4]à In this way the government can with hold information that has the potential to end corruption and prosecute people such as Jacki Selebi and Schabir Shaik, in turn opening the ability to abuse the law. The media will therefore not be able to inform the people as they intend, because of their lack of substantial evidence supplied by the state. The media can no longer be an essential precept in the safeguarding of our democracy and power would be in the hands of government, as they will have the ability to classify files. In the event that the information Bill is passed, the South African constitution will lose credibility as the two documents have contradictory elements. It restricts everyone to access of information and the ability to make decisions based upon all information concerning the government as a citizen. Further more parliamentarians and elected officials will be undermined in their ability to hold the state liable. As a result the democracy will be threatened, as free media is a key aspect of a true democracy. A concern linked to the Information Bill is that surrounding the Broadcasting Amendment Bill 2008 which looked to amend the Broadcasting Act 1999 so as to include the removal and resignation of board members. The SABC (South African Broadcasting Corporation) attracts 40% of South Africas radio listeners and 70% of its television watchers. Jacob Zuma won the majority in Parliament and the Broadcasting Amendment Bill successfully passed. He therefore had the power to replace the entire SABC board and replace them with new people some being Zuma appointees. This was the first move in Jacob Zumas plan to co-opt the SABC. Phil Molefe was unilaterally appointed Head of News by the Chairperson of the new SABC Board, Dr. Ben Ngubane (a Zuma appointee), instead of by the chairperson of the SABC Board as a whole. Again, this was a violation of the law.à [5]à The media is yet again under threat, as power in media by the government is not constituted in democracy. Power of the government in the media is not constituted in a democracy. It is important to keep the media power and the power of the government separate in order to have fair media that is unbiased. One can deduce from this that media does play a great role in protecting democracy as it allows the people to keep the power, instead of government. Jonathan Shapiro (Zapiro), a well-known satirist in South Africa, could be argued as someone within the media whom does not, to a minor extent, protect our democracy. Zapiro has been in two major legal cases in the past two years. In both these cases Zapiros freedom of expression has been contested against the rights of others. It is on these grounds that one may argue that Zapiro is perhaps being un-democratic in his drawings because he has offended many people in the cartoons he draws. One could argue that he is aware that his cartoons are not keeping the peace in society as they call for character judgements (Jacob Zuma vs. Zapiro) and religious divide (Zapiros depiction of the prophet Muhammed) which ultimately go against democratic principles in that it unintentionally segregates people. There are Muslim people who were deeply offended about the cartoon Zapiro drew of Muhammed. As a media driving force, Zapiro should be concentrating on bigger powers that threat democracy rather than depicting Muhammed in response to South Park being restricted to do so, which is against Muslim faith. The Muslim societys right to demand that Zapiro refrain from drawing Muhammed is set against Zapiros right convey his own ideas. However, those whom have a problem with the cartoon do not necessarily want Zapiros freedom of expression to be taken away, For I as a South African Muslim, I regard freedom of speech as sacrosanct, even if it means I have to defend the right of Zapiro to depict the Prophetà [6]à Lady Justice is seen to be lying on the floor about to be raped by Jacob Zuma with the help of his political allies. (Addendum A) Zuma launched a lawsuit against Zapiro on the account that his individual rights are being violated. One could view the cartoon as a misjudgement of character or slander as it suggests that our president is morally corrupt. It further insulted women as they saw it as gender inequality. Conversely Zapiro has not offended the rights of the people he depicts in his cartoons according to the constitution. He has merely used his freedom of expression to be able to satirise current events. The Lady Justice satire was widely misconceived. It was neither referring to womens injustices nor was it implying that Zuma raped someone. It was satirical in that Zuma was presently being accused of rape but the case was dismissed and Zapiro created the metaphor of the actual justice system being in a sense raped. Essentially it is a metaphor as the Lady Justice is a symbolic figure. It can therefore not be said that Zapiro is accusing Zuma of rape. Zapiro aims to encourage public debate and knocking politicians off their pedestals. This is important as it brings reality to the fact that the people have power over the government and not the other way around. The media are not always perfect however enforcing stricter self-regulatory systems are the best way in which to make sure human rights and freedoms are never violated. The media needed to be watched by independent watch dogs, but giving power over the media to the government does not assist in media being protectors of our democracy. People within the media such as Jonathon Shapiro, although sometimes causing uproar, contribute to our democracy in initiating debates, opinions and free thinkers. No single person, no body of opinion, no political or religious doctrine, no political party or government can claim to have monopoly on truth it has therefore always been our contention that laws, mores, practices and prejudices that place constraint on freedom of expression are a disservice to societyà [7]à The role of the media today is to inform the people, especially the under-privileged. From this people can make informed choices that concern the running of our country. The different media sectors each provide information that is accurate and does not violate the Constitution of South Africa in order for us to make such choices. There are many challenges that face different media figures and the media in general, but the medias freedom is what drives our democratic system. With media not being monopolised or restricted, the people can ultimately hold the power over the government which is the concept of democracy. It can therefore be said that the media in South Africa post-1994 have an enormous role to play in society and is to a great extent safeguarding our democracy. Addendum A: Lady Justice cartoon by Zapiro: Cartoon in response to draw Muhammad day by Zapiro:
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
Comparison of Shakespeares Tempest and Forbidden Planet :: comparison compare contrast essays
Comparison of Shakespeare's Tempest and Forbidden Planet à à à à à On first glance, Forbidden Planet can easily be seen to parallel many other works relating to technology, nature, or both.à One of the most obvious parallels is, of course, to Shakespeare's The Tempest,à the story of a man stranded on an island which he has single-handedly brought under his control through the use of magic.à Indeed, the characters, plot, and lesson of Forbidden Planet mirror almost exactly those of The Tempest, with the exception that where The Tempest employs magic,à Forbidden Planet utilizes technology.à At this point, it is useful to recall one of Arthur C. Clarke's more famous ideas, which is that any technology, when sufficiently advanced, is indistinguishable from magic. Indeed, the technology presented in Forbidden Planet is not meant to be understood by the audience, but rather is, for all intents and purposes, magic. This is undoubtedly in part because the technology doesn't exist and therefore cannot be explained to us.à What is more important, however, is that how the technology works is irrelevant for the purpose of the movie, which is to entertain and to teach us a lesson about man's control over the elements and over his own technological creations. à à à à à à à à At this point a brief synopsis of the movie would seem to be in order, with special attention as to how it relates to The Tempest. à à à à à à à à In The Tempest, a man named Prospero and his daughter Miranda have been exiled to a remote island which is completely uninhabited, save for an evil monster and her son Caliban, and which is in a state of primal chaos.à Using the magical powers he has cultivated all his life, Prospero gradually brings the forces of nature on the island under his control, and manages to somehow enslave Caliban, whose mother has died in the interim.à (Some of these details are fuzzy because I am familiar with The Tempest only through Marx).à A group of sailors is shipwrecked on the island, one of whom falls in love with Miranda, the lovely daughter of Prospero.à Eventually, Caliban and other servants plot to overthrow Prospero, but are thwarted and taken back into servitude, thankful to get off that easily. à à à à à à à à Having summarized The Tempest, it is easy to summarize Forbidden Planet. A man named Dr. Morbius and his daughter Altaira are stranded on a distant planet when a government ship lands there, whose commander falls in love with the beautiful Altaira.à The only significant difference in the two works, other then setting, is the conclusion of each.à Before we look at the differences Comparison of Shakespeare's Tempest and Forbidden Planet :: comparison compare contrast essays Comparison of Shakespeare's Tempest and Forbidden Planet à à à à à On first glance, Forbidden Planet can easily be seen to parallel many other works relating to technology, nature, or both.à One of the most obvious parallels is, of course, to Shakespeare's The Tempest,à the story of a man stranded on an island which he has single-handedly brought under his control through the use of magic.à Indeed, the characters, plot, and lesson of Forbidden Planet mirror almost exactly those of The Tempest, with the exception that where The Tempest employs magic,à Forbidden Planet utilizes technology.à At this point, it is useful to recall one of Arthur C. Clarke's more famous ideas, which is that any technology, when sufficiently advanced, is indistinguishable from magic. Indeed, the technology presented in Forbidden Planet is not meant to be understood by the audience, but rather is, for all intents and purposes, magic. This is undoubtedly in part because the technology doesn't exist and therefore cannot be explained to us.à What is more important, however, is that how the technology works is irrelevant for the purpose of the movie, which is to entertain and to teach us a lesson about man's control over the elements and over his own technological creations. à à à à à à à à At this point a brief synopsis of the movie would seem to be in order, with special attention as to how it relates to The Tempest. à à à à à à à à In The Tempest, a man named Prospero and his daughter Miranda have been exiled to a remote island which is completely uninhabited, save for an evil monster and her son Caliban, and which is in a state of primal chaos.à Using the magical powers he has cultivated all his life, Prospero gradually brings the forces of nature on the island under his control, and manages to somehow enslave Caliban, whose mother has died in the interim.à (Some of these details are fuzzy because I am familiar with The Tempest only through Marx).à A group of sailors is shipwrecked on the island, one of whom falls in love with Miranda, the lovely daughter of Prospero.à Eventually, Caliban and other servants plot to overthrow Prospero, but are thwarted and taken back into servitude, thankful to get off that easily. à à à à à à à à Having summarized The Tempest, it is easy to summarize Forbidden Planet. A man named Dr. Morbius and his daughter Altaira are stranded on a distant planet when a government ship lands there, whose commander falls in love with the beautiful Altaira.à The only significant difference in the two works, other then setting, is the conclusion of each.à Before we look at the differences
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