Depiction of Cold War in Rocky IV

Depiction of Cold War in Rocky IV The Cold War was an ideological or Propaganda War between the two Super Powers, The Soviet Union and the United States of America. The War was not only political but also social and cultural, to the extent of which it’s presence was felt not only in the mass media of the day, but also in the entertainment industry. It was especially during the 70’s and 80’s that optimum effort was put into the entertainment media to portray pro-capitalist and anti-communist ideas to the public. American values and ideals were exalted in movies, music, television, art and literature. Hollywood played a significant role in bringing the Cole War propaganda to the big screen through motion pictures and documentaries that were made and produced. The animated movie: Make Mine Freedom, Meet King Joe, Red Nightmare and the Rambo Saga are some examples of movies with the Cold War in the background. They successfully depicted the idea of the American Dream and idealized the capitalist and Democratic society of America as the epitome of political state rule. The Rocky Series, written and directed by the famous actor, director Sylvester Stallone is an action packed and exiting series of six movies. It depicts the life and crisis of a boxer, Rocky Balboa played by Sylvester Stallone himself. The films are:  Rocky  (1976),  Rocky II(1979),  Rocky III(1982),  Rocky IV  (1985),  Rocky V  (1990) and  Rocky Balboa(2006). The boxing blockbuster saga was well received by the audience and the critics. The movies became a huge rage all over America and also in other countries of the world. The movies at first glance come across as a typically action oriented sports melodrama, but on closer analysis many different themes and areas have been depicted and explained in them. Rocky IV the fourth installment of the Rocky Series that released in 1985, is a movie that showcases not only good drama that satisfies the audiences expectation of action and adventure, but also subtly depicts the Cold War and the idea of the â€Å"Us against Them†, that is, the United States against the U.S.S.R. The movie is well recognized as one that propagates the Cold War agenda that it is popularly known as: Rocky IV â€Å"the one with the Russian†. The story continues from the third movie where Rocky wins the title from Clubber Lang. He decides to spend some time with his family but soon destiny brings him back to the ring. A new fighter from the Soviet, Ivan Drago comes to America and fights with Apollo Creed. In the course of the match Apollo is severely injured and dies a cold death in his friends arm. To avenge his comrades death Rocky challenges the ruthless Drago to a rematch to be held in Moscow on Christmas Day. Both parties train vigorously, Drago using top notch technology and Rocky takes natures help to train. Finally, in the boxing ring Rocky fights his nemesis initially facing the worst beating of his life. He soon recovers and at last achieves victory over Drago. When analyzing the film in its quality of content, it is instantly identified as a movie with Cold War depiction. The relationship between the two main characters in the movie, Rocky characterized as the hero and Drago the villain is a well developed metaphor that communicates the political scenario of the Cold War. Rocky (Sylvester Stallone) represents America and Drago (Dolph Lundgren) represents the Soviet Union. Their enmity symbolizes the cold War situation between the two Super powers. The movie is an American film, thus it revels in the idea of America while condemning the communist Soviet. It is commendable how the film in a short span of ninety one minutes summarizes all the main incidents and themes of the Cold War. The defeat of Drago in the end is a perfect metaphor of the fall of the Soviet just a few years after the movie was released. The first incident is the fight between Drago and Apollo, where Apollo is killed by the cold Drago. This in terms can be seen as the Second World War where America got directly involved in the end. The period of the Cold War is the training session filled with tension and apprehension before the fight between Rocky and Drago. Although during the Cold War there was no actual battle between the two superpowers the fights in the boxing ring are metaphorical. They depict the ideological clash between the two superpowers. Rocky’s decision to face Drago in the ring is severely criticized by his wife who wanted peace. This is similar to the criticism President Reagan faced when he took adverse steps to bring an end to the Cold War. Rocky like President Reagan adopts the philosophy of â€Å"peace through strength and challenges Drago to a fight. And just as Reagan was praised for his efforts after the end of the War, similarly Rocky achieves victory and the faith of his wife in the movie after he gains victory over Drago. In this movie there is one notable difference in the portrayal of the villain. Here the villain is not black like in the former movies. The villain is a white man; this portrays the change of focus from the stereotype of the angry, colored man to the pressing political scenario. The white villain is a conscious attempt of portrayal of the enemy, the threat (the Soviet Union) in terms of the Cold War. During the era of the Cold War the media was used as a political weapon to arouse nationalistic feeling among the citizens of America. America saw the growing technology of the Soviets as a threat to their existence as a superpower. Keeping this in mind the movie resourcefully brings out the idea of the American dream, that is, success follows those who work hard. Rocky during his training for the rematch in Moscow is shown doing rigorous exercise by means of cutting wood, climbing mountains and pulling sleighs. He is and individualist who has achieved success through great labor. On his own he rises from the streets of Philadelphia and achieves fame in the boxing ring. In sharp contrast the mechanical Drago is surrounded by a team of professionals who help him train with the beast machines and technology. He builds up his strength through the aid of steroids. Finally it is Rocky who wins the match. His victory over Drago is the individual’s victory over the collective. Thus very cleverly the American idea of individual and self work is propagated against the Soviets idea of Communism. The Cold War for America was all about Anti-Communistic feeling which is very suitably shown in the film. The cold nature of the Soviet is depicted through the cinematography. The landscape of Russia is shown as course and snow covered. But even the harsh climate does not stop Rocky from continuing his training for the upcoming match. This reveals the American zeal and determination to attain success and aim high. As the end of the movie approaches, the Soviet regime of communism is mocked at as the Russians in the movie start supporting Rocky and condemning Drago, with chants of Rocky! Rocky! Rocky! Rocky!† This symbolizes the conversion of the Soviet into a capitalist nation sooner or later. It establishes the superior authority of the American idea of individualism and capitalism as opposed to Soviet Communism. The continuous chant of â€Å"rocky† establishes America as the only superpower that would exist in the world after the fall of the Soviet regime. It’s a celebration of the American nation. Rocky’s final speech is pro America and holds great appeal to pacifists and supporters of the Cold War. In his final words he appeals to the Russians to bring change. He says If I can change, and you can change, everybody can change. In turn echoing the thoughts of all Americans, that of putting an end to the Cold War. He declares that it is finally time to change. This change would establish America as the only superpower. With the fall of the Soviet some years later Rocky’s final words echo in the minds of the American people. This movie is the last of the great Rocky movies that is worth a mention. The fifth and sixth movies are no match in quality and content to the first three. Rocky IV stacked a great deal of money and popularity and has heavily contributed to the one billion dollars that the six movies have made. Rocky IV has a perfect alchemy of drama, action, and patriotism which makes it a fulfilling watch. It is very interesting how the contrast between the two Superpowers is shown in the characterization of the two main actors. The movie inspires nationalistic feelings among the American citizens and glorifies the ideology of the nation to the best effect. It is one of the few films that portray the Cold War scenario so appropriately in terms of metaphorical depiction.

Recollecting Childhood Memories

I went through my childhood with more happy memories than sad ones. Unfortunately, the dramatic and sad experiences stand out more in my memory bank. However among my childhood  memories  I remember a certain experience. back in my native place when I was a child of about six years age. My dad had promised me that if I finish my homework early for the day, he would take me to the exhibition. Back at that time exhibitions were rare in our city, and it only happened once or twice in a year.So, I was really excited and pumped up to go. After I did all of my work, I waited patiently for my dad to come home from work. Minutes felt like hours and finally he arrived from work. By seeing the excitement in my face, he knew that I have done everything that he wanted me to do. My dad kept his word and took me to the exhibition. Because our city was pretty small, exhibition was a huge event for the people of our city.People from near and outside of the city come here to enjoy and have a grea t time. It was my first time to the naval exhibition or rather to any exhibition and I was really happy that my parents were with me. At that time, there was a large crowd at the place. Even though the exhibition happens only once or twice, I never expected such a large gathering. I being a six year old had never seen such a large gathering at one place. In fact before getting into the exhibition my dad said to me, I love you.

Script For Presentation

Script for presentation Introduce yourself and say what you are going to talk about How long the presentation will last and when questions can be asked Why this product? The new product I have designed for Catbird is called Caramel Bites. The reason have decided to create this product is because†¦ The results to my questionnaire showed that most people prefer Caramel as their chocolate filling which means that they are most likely going to buy the product.They also preferred milk chocolate over white or dark which is why the product is milk chocolate, this way the product is most likely going to make more sales if t is up to the customers liking. Most people preferred not to have more than one filling. They preferred just caramel Packaging Bite size, in a packet- people preferred them in a packet because they can be eaten bit by bit and last longer.Branding- It will be branded by Catbird as a confectionery snack Competitors Competitors are Galaxy and Mars. The reason for this is †¦ Galaxy have their product Minstrels and Mars and Maltese They are similar because they are both bite sized and in a small packet The product itself is different because they are a bite sized caramel snack which no other product has. Pricing app a packet Reasons for this price because.. Competitive price with similar products. E. G.Maltese Special offers- 2 for a pound which would introduce customers to the product Evidence of primary and secondary research primary- Questionnaires, asking people what they prefer Secondary- collecting data from the internet to see where the product fits in with its competitors in terms of Price and Brand. How does the price link to the target market? Target market is used to paying this price- it is the expected price place Where will the product be available? College shops and local stores, because according to my questionnaire..Most people purchase their chocolates from their local stores and shops inside college Primary research- Used when collected the information from my questionnaire. Secondary research- Going on the internet and finding out where my target audience purchases their chocolates from. Distribution channel The distribution channel used will be selling through retailers. (Producer- Retailer- Consumer) Where will the product be located? Front of the store: It is more convenient for new products to be at the front of the store Helps to promote it and they are more likely to catch the customers eye. How it fits the target market?Product is being sold where the target market shops for their chocolates. Promotion Where the product is promoted? Television, Magazines, Radio, Social Network. What sales promotions? Guy 1 get 1 free (BEFOG), Multi buy (3 for a pound). Primary research showed that the target audience will buy products from app-E, so if it was on promotion they would go for the offer. Secondary research is shown in other stores when promotional offers are on, therefore the consumer will buy them. H ow does it fit with target market? If a product is on promotion, e. G. Multi buy, the customer will go for the promotion because it is cheaper.Advertising the product Will be advertised on TV, Magazines, Social Network, Billboards, Transport (Buses) etc. Another form of advertising is word of mouth. When will you advertise? Drive times- morning (when people are driving to work, school etc) Evening- coming home from work. During popular n. † show breaks. Conclusion Product- Caramel Bites in a packet because most people preferred caramel filling and chocolates in packets. Price- app because it makes it competitive with other products that are already on the market. Place- Local store and college shops because this is where the target audience purchases their housecoats.Promotion- Buy 1 get 1 free and multi buys to increase interest in the new product. Why will it succeed? The product has been priced competitively Marketed/promoted properly to the right audience Sold in the most profitable places (local stores and college shops) It tastes good, so people will spread it from word of mouth. How would you grow the products market share? Expand the target audience (make it appropriate for other consumers). Such as- expanding the packaging (treat bag size and fun size) That's the end of my presentation, thank you for listening. If there are any questions please feel free to ask.

History of the Jewish Religion Essay examples - 3601 Words

History of the Jewish Religion The Jewish religion has also undergone many transformations over the years. It started off in its earliest years as being animistic, with Hebrews worshipping forces of nature. As a result this religion had a number of practices that concerned magic and animal sacrifices. The Hebrew religion also became polytheistic which involves several gods. Hebrew religion eventually became anthropomorphic, in which God or gods became human individuals and had human characteristics. Eventually most Hebrews concentrated on one main God who they referred to as Yahweh. Yahweh is a mysterious term used in Hebrew that reads YHWY (in biblical Hebrew there were no vowels), and that still to this day its pronunciation†¦show more content†¦At this crucial point in history, the Hebrews adopted Yahweh as their national and primary God and officially became a monotheistic religion. Organization of this religion inspired new intellectual leadership of prophets and prophetic writers. These new ideas were a culture shock for a society that still practiced polytheism and resulted in turmoil between Hebrews that believed in Yahweh as their one and only God and Hebrews that believed in Yahweh as their most important of many gods. It is at this point in Hebrew history when the Jewish people created a new form of religion where new ideas of Yahweh were taught, and the Torah became the most important and pure law for the Hebrews. (http://www.us-israel.org). Aside from conflicting religions, Jewish people also encountered other problems with the monarchy. Hebrews believed that Yahweh was their king and his laws were their laws. In the monarchy, the tribes of Israel appointed a human king and obeyed his laws instead of divine law. This created conflict between the Hebrews that followed the laws of the king, and the Jewish that followed Yahweh and the law of the Torah. The Children of Israel that settled in Palestine between 1250 and 1050 BC found themselves amidst a corrupt m onarchy. The monarchy thrived on arbitrary power, large divisions in the economical gap, vast poverty, heavy taxation, slavery, bribery andShow MoreRelatedThe Transformation Of Hebrews During Ancient Jewish900 Words   |  4 PagesThe Transformation of Hebrews during Ancient Jewish Throughout modern history, Judaism has been recognized as one of the most influential religions in Western Civilization. However, to reach the complexity and structure that Judaism has today, the Hebrews had to endure several periods and turning points in history. During the 1500 years after 1200 BCE, â€Å"numerous vast empires rose and fall around and over them (Hebrews)†, as they made their transformation into Jews (Pavlac, 45). During these phasesRead MoreUnderstanding the Relation Between Judaism and Christianity844 Words   |  4 Pagesfollowed were mostly Jewish traditions. However, over the time, both religions grew up to the animosity towards each other. Observing the animosity, there has been many incidents where Jews and Christians have not tolerated each other. Therefore, understanding Judaism is essential to learn the holistic nature and history of the Christianity. First of all, historically, the early Christians were the Jewish people who believed in the teaching of the Jesus Christ. They lived with the Jewish people simultaneouslyRead MoreEssay on Jewish History1631 Words   |  7 PagesJewish History Throughout the history of the world, the Jewish people have been persecuted and oppressed because of their religious beliefs and faith. Many groups of people have made Jews their scapegoat. Jews have suffered from years of intolerance because people have not understood what the religion really means. They do not understand where and why the religion began, nor the customs of its people. For one to understand the great hardships, triumphs, and history of the Jewish people oneRead MoreThe Falling of the Second Temple: A Pivotal Point in Jewish History 1363 Words   |  6 PagesAlthough the exact age of the Jewish faith is debatable, one thing is certain, it is a faith with an extensive, and at times tumultuous, history. Throughout the history of Judaism, Jewish people have faced ongoing persecution and discrimination. Despite these conflicts, the faith is alive, strong, and growing. Like many religions faced with adversity, Judaism has had to accommodate the ever-changing world to maintain their faith. One significant moment of change, the falling of the Second TempleRead MoreA Complex Relationship Between Jews And Christians926 Words   |  4 PagesChristianity. The displacement of the Jews throughout their history has not dampened the maintenance of their exceptional identity. They keep their individuality by adherence to the way of the Torah (Lecture 2, 2014). Christianity and Judaism share a common ground in that they are both ancient religions, much of the Jewish and Christian laws have had to be revitalized to fit the changing times. Much like the Pope of the Catholic religion, in the Jewish faith the Pharisees have been the effective leadersRead MoreEssay about Early Modern Jewish History1399 Words   |  6 PagesEarly modern Jewish history is filled with depth and knowledge that captivated and cultivated the religion into what it would become. An important part of the history were the ideologies and philosophies of Moses Mendelssohn. Considered t he first modern Jewish philosopher and a shaper of Judaism, Mendelssohn was the start of what would become the Jewish Enlightenment. Being the first person to translate the Bible from Hebrew to German, he opened up the door for Jews to rediscover and enhance theirRead MoreThe Destruction Of The Second Temple1558 Words   |  7 Pagestransformation of Judaism: (a) the Babylonian Exile; or (b) the destruction of the second temple in 70CE? Introduction Judaism as one of the oldest religions in the world has been through various historical changes. Started with the practice and belief of ancient Israeli people, through the conquering and changing of different kingdoms and empires, Judaism and Jewish people changed and adapted to maintain their identity, belief and existence. Judaism that we know nowadays is a result of its historical changesRead MoreModern Political History of Israel and Iran1435 Words   |  6 Pages Since World War II, religion has played a significant role in the modern political history of Israel and Iran. Both countries are self-defined theological states (Israel as a Jewish state, Iran as an Islamic state). Although the impact of religion changes across time and context, religion has largely defined political identity for both Israel and Iran. Yet, modern states are host to many paradoxes. Religion is important in defining these states, however the workings of each country are not alwaysRead MoreReligion : A Matter Of Belief1321 Words   |  6 Pagesmay just depend on the individual and the religion he/she follows. Beliefs are what make the foundation of world religions such as Yoruba and Judaism. They play a huge role in the lives of the religions’ followers. Practitioners of the Yoruba religion have faith in the supreme, self-existing deity – Olodumare. Judaism followers have faith in Yahweh, and some Jewish individuals do not believe in a G-d (supreme-being). Beliefs are important to each religion in its own unique way. The traditions provideRead MoreThe Evolution Of Judaism. Over Thousands Of Years, The1509 Words   |  7 Pagesyears, the religion of Judaism has evolved. With years of suffering, persecution, and dispersion the Jews’ religion stays constant. When researching the religion, the history is extremely strong, and the doctrine of the religion dates back thousands of years. With such a vast history, one might want to examine the change into modern s ociety. â€Å"It has been estimated that one-third of our western civilization bears the marks of its Jewish ancestry.†- Hudson Smith, The World’s Religions. Judaism began