Victor Meldrew Essay Example for Free

Victor Meldrew Essay How realistic do you find the character of Victor Meldrew in One Foot in the Grave, base your answer on an analysis of In Luton Airport No-One Can Hear You Scream Victor Meldrew is the main character in a TV programme named One Foot in the Grave which is a BBC made sitcom. The word sitcom is short for situation comedy. Sitcoms were founded in America, with the first one I Love Lucy being a great success all over the world. It was shown on I. T. V, with almost every one enthralled week in and week out. This meant the BBC needed to create a sitcom of their own to try and justify the television licence, and One Foot in the Grave was one of those sitcoms. Sitcoms are a very popular genre of TV because they contain many subliminal messages. Sitcom productions such as One Foot in the Grave have many conventions which are there are few main characters, the episodes are episodic (each episode is separate) so you dont have to follow the story lines, most sitcoms have inexpensive sets, props and costumes or anything that can easily be carried on or off stage. Most sitcoms last for about 30 minutes and are based on everyday experiences so the audience can relate to them. All of these conventions are there to attract attention to Meldrew. For example having few main characters focuss all our attention on Meldrew and what he is doing. Having inexpensive props (properties), sets and costumes again draws our attention to Meldrew because our attention isnt focused on props or the surroundings and so that the audience can relate to it because stereotypical old men dont tend to wear brand names so Meldrew is merely following trend. The majority of the time main characters in sitcoms are stereotypes for example Kevin and Perry are stereotypical teenagers and Victor Meldrew is a great example of a stereotypical old man. Stereo types are used in sitcoms because there is not enough time to develop complex characters so when using a stereo type they are instantly recognised. With Meldrew being stereotyped as an old man we recognise him as being grumpy and stubborn constantly. This is always amusing to watch because we can all relate to it. At the start of the programme we hear the theme tune to One Foot in the Grave which shows a tortoise walking painfully slow which indicates a old person because people think of tortoises as old and slow. There are many quotes in the theme tune which are meant to explain old men, such as Wrinkly, Crinkly and Past my sell by date One Foot in the Grave is made up of many different types of humour as are many sitcoms. Meldrews humour tends to be visual, sarcastic and slapstick. In sitcoms the contrast between normal everyday experiences and ridiculous situations can differ in sitcoms. For example during the episode In Luton Airport No-One Can Hear You Scream Meldrew came home to find his house to be nothing more than rubble. This is not really an everyday experience which the audience can relate to its more of a ridiculous situation which makes the audience laugh. During sitcoms the audience may wonder whether the programme they are watching is realistic in any way. They may think this when for example when Meldrew is in his back garden sun bathing with his buttocks showing. This is not normal behaviour for an elderly man to do in his back garden. Another example of unrealistic behaviour is when Meldrew turns up at Luton Airport dressed like the Cisco kid. This is not realistic because this is not an outfit you would wear on your way back to Britain. The Still images show us how much effort has been put into making the episode because it shows us a great deal about the body language, the lighting and the types of camera angles used. The first still shot is when Meldrew is in the airport cafi and he has just been told about his house being burnt down, the still for this scene shows us there are lots of cheap props such as plastic plants, sombrero and a orange and pink shirt. The lighting is very bright and the camera angle is a medium shot. The body language of Melldrew after throwing the beer in his face shows him with a semi-open mouth to symbolise disbelief. Still 2 is the still from outside Meldrews house where he is arguing with a neighbour who is leaning out of his window from across the street. The props are again inexpensive because they are only stones and bricks. The camera angle is a high shot facing down on Melldrew to show us the power which his neighbour has over him because he is in a warm house and is above Meldrew. Still 3 is of Meldrew unpacking in a forensic suit, holding only a sock which was the only item found from his suitcase which was lost on his way back to Britain. The props used are packing cases and boxes. The lighting is very bright to show us that Meldrew is agitated. The camera shot is a medium shot, and his body language tells us that he is disgusted. Still 4 is of Meldrew sunbathing in his back garden in his trunks with his buttocks showing. The props used are a towel and some sunglasses. The sun provides all the sun for this shot, the camera angle used is a low shot to show us that Melldrew is helpless. His body language used shows us that he is shocked as his neighbour stumbles across him sun bathing. The conclusion to this is that Meldrew is not a realistic character he is merely a stereotype designed to make us laugh. If Meldrew was realistic most people would not find it funny and therefore not watch the programme. The idea of a sitcom is to make us laugh so if they had masses of characters or a complex setting it would take all the fun out of the programme and defy the whole point of a sitcom.

Comparing the Narrative Voice in The Storm and Hands Essays -- compari

The Narrative Voice in The Storm and Hands      Ã‚  Ã‚   The application of narrative voice as a devise by which the author influences or manipulates the reader’s response is an ancient method of inducement that is still employed today. Kate Chopin tactfully utilizes narrative voice in the short story, The Storm, to create an empathic reader’s response for a socially unacceptable behavior. Sherwood Anderson, the author of Hands, appropriates a similar technique to manipulate the reader’s response to accept or sympathize with a serious controversial issue that long has plagued humankind from early Biblical times until this present generation. Narrative voice is still employed today and has not lost its persuasive, influential, and manipulative effect over the centuries. Kate Chopin cleverly employs an omniscient narrative approach in relating The Storm, so the facts presented impact and shape the reader’s response to the couples’ adulterous affair. The narrator focuses on the romantic relationship that existed between Alcee and Calixta before her five-year marriage to her husband. The narrator recalls that "in Assumption Alcee had kissed Calixta and kissed her until his senses would well nigh fail, and to save her he would resort to a desperate flight" (Chopin 363). The narrator consciously constructs in the mind of the reader the idea that Alcee and Calixta were not immoral fornicators during their youthful romantic connection, but on the contrary, their moral value and practice more than parallel that of society’s and had been far above reproach. The narrator further validates that "Calixta was an immaculate dove in those days, and she was still inviolate; a passionate creature whose very defenselessness had made her defense, ... ...pathy for Mr. Bibblebaum’s atypical tendency by focusing on his hands, his nervous emotional state, and the abuse he receives from society. Both authors successfully employ narrative voice in generating empathy and some possible modification in the reader’s response for two issues that cut across popular opinion and moral value. The tactics utilized by both narrators will continue to influence and manipulate reader’s response for centuries to come and has the potential to break down well constructed social barriers.    Work cited Anderson, Sherwood. "Hands." Literature Across Culture. Eds. Sheena Gillepsi, Terzinha Fonseca, Carol A Sanger 3rd ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2001: 885-889. Chopin, Kate. "The Storm." Literature Across Cultures. Eds. Sheena Gillepie, Terzinha Fonseca, Carol A. Sanger 3rd ed. Boston: Allyn and Bacon, 2001: 885-889.   

Coca-Cola Financial Analysis Paper

Coca-Cola was originally invented by a pharmacist named John Pemberton in 1886. He had tried making several new kinds of drugs but all of them had failed. So that was when he decided to get into the world of soft drinks. Pemberton hired Frank Robinson to help advertise his new product but, Coca-Cola wasn’t very successful in their first year of business. Shortly, after that first year John Pemberton passed away in August 1888.In 1891, Asa Griggs Candler became the new sole-proprietor of Coca-Cola and began to give free samples, coupons and advertised everywhere for his new product. At first it was sold as a medicine to help prevent fatigue and headaches but, after the Spanish-American War congress passed a tax that would be applied to all medicines Coke would no longer be sold as a drug. (Cantwell) From there on Coca-Cola had grown bigger and bigger with the unique shaped bottle to help make them stand out and the idea of selling beverages in six packs were born.Our idea of Sa nta Clause was influenced by their advertisements. Even when Pepsi, one of Coca-Cola’s major competitors, was invented in the 1950’s Coke decided to make different sizes of bottles so they had a better variety for their customers. Things were good for Coke for many years until they decided to try to make a new Coca-Cola formula in the 1980’s in fear that their customers were sick of the original taste.This idea back fired, Coke received several thousands of complaints from their customer and decided to go back to the Classic Coke taste. (Cantwell) Today Coca-Cola has several varieties of flavors in soft drinks and is the world’s largest manufacturer, distributor, and marketer of non-alcoholic drinks and syrups. Coke has mastered the ability to adapt to the changes throughout history and has created a happy, patriotic and traditional feel for their product. This would explain how they are still so successful today. (Giebelhaus)

Why Is Obesity a Growing Problem Essay - 1114 Words

Over 60% of the people in the U.S are obese, obesity ranks second among preventable causes of death. What you eat is what you are. More and more people are becoming obese which is not healthy. People who suffer from obesity are going to face severe chronic illness or stress. A person who is obese is not necessarily overweight but has too much body fat. Many experts use BMI index for an accurate measurement for a body fat. BMI is calculated by a formula that includes a person’s height and weight. One important cause of insulin is obesity. Insulin is supposed to transport blood sugar into the cells of the muscle and fat. Since the year 1980 the obesity rate in the U.S. has changed. In 2000 the obesity rate was 30% percent but in 2013 it†¦show more content†¦Some people that buy from fast food restaurants are too busy to eat healthier meals while others are too lazy to cook. So these people dont look at nutrient facts and say as long as it taste good and it’s chea p it’s good. Fast food restaurants have high calorie food and they dont have that many healthy meals. Lack of sleeping is another thing that can make you overweight and maybe obese. Lack of sleep can make you hungry by increasing the calories you eat and reduces energy expenditure which means more calories in and fewer calories out. When people stay awake all night they eat snacks that gives them high calorie. Professor Wright said: â€Å"Just getting less sleep by itself is not going to lead to weight gain. But when people get insufficient sleep it leads them to eat more than they actually need† (Wright, 2013). Alcohol is another thing that can lead you to obesity. Alcohol has high calories in them and when you drink alcohol your body will be in a relaxed mode. It is easier for them to eat unhealthy snacks like nacho cheeses, Cheetos puffs, chocolate chip cookies and others. Alcohol dehydrates your body instead of being hydrated and building muscles and burning fat. The more you drink alcohol the more you careless about what you are eating. â€Å"The risk is even higher if in those who drink heavily and are obese; the combined risk here is super additive.† saidShow MoreRelated Critiquing Internet Sources The author is keen in analyzing the issue of excessive consumption of800 Words   |  4 Pagescommon problem among college and university students and wants to explore why such students indulge in such a risky behavior. The author uses a reliable number of students when looking at the drinking problem and chooses the correct age, which is students below 21 years (Dodd et al, 2010). The results of the author’s research are reliable and logical where participants relate the behavior to peer pressure and other negative social consequences such as embarrassment and relationship problems. In essenceRead MoreShould We Assign Personal Responsibility For Obesity Epidemic?1649 Words   |  7 PagesShould we assign personal responsibility for obesity epidemic? 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When asked to present a problem and a solution, what bigger a problem and easier a solution than the underrated concern of childhood obesity in the United States. Childhood obesity is a serious, life threatening and growing medical concern in the U.S. today which can be prevented by educating parents, and implementing healthy eating habits as well as physical activity in schools. Childhood obesity is a growing health concern in the United States today. Obesity is defined asRead MoreChildhood Obesity And The United States1286 Words   |  6 PagesChildhood Obesity in America Since 1980 the rates of child obesity have more than tripled which has caused a growing pandemic of childhood obesity in the United States. Out of all the young children and adolescents within the age group of two through nineteen about 12.7 million are obese. That is the equivalent of about 17% of America’s population that is suffering from childhood obesity. 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Because Childhood obesity continuous increase at an alarming rate in America, Pediatric Nurses must work with mainstream society to promote healthy eating, help implement a free class for parent’s to teach their kids on healthier lifestyles, and increase physical activity. Childhood obesity is a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a childs health