Change As A Result Of Conflict example essay topic

1,770 words
Conflict Creates change In almost every case, conflict, whether internal, between two individuals or an individual and minority group, causes change. The change, or changes are able to occur whether the conflict in question is resolved or not. Either option will still result in a different outcome, causing a change, in those who are involved, current situation. Conflict can create changes in people such as, how they think, what they value and want, and, how they view their world. The changes are not always positive changes, as people's differentiating views sometimes cause conflicting situation that are unable to be resolved. As well as in everyday life, there are a variety of texts that demonstrate change as a result of conflict.

Some of these texts include films, such as Chocolat (Lasse Hallstrom 2000), Theatrical plays like Romeo and Juliet (William Shakespeare), and many song lyrics, Down with the Sickness (Disturbed 2000). Although the texts have a base story line involving conflict, the change created is also strongly portrayed through visual and written techniques that allow emphasis on the actual change. These techniques could include simply color or lighting, music, camera angles and shots, and oral techniques, whether actually the written words or how the words are expressed. The film Chocolat directed by Lasses Hallstrom in 2000, is an appropriate text for demonstrating ideas about conflict, including change, whilst expressing these ideas through the use of techniques upon the base storyline. Chocolat is a film about a mother - daughter pair, who travel with the north wind to the town of Lansquenet, bringing with them their alternate lifestyle and views, very much to the dislike of the townspeople.

Vianne and Anouk, the traveling pair, over time cause change in the town, although the concept of change arriving, is established in the opening scene. In this scene we are introduced to the town via an aerial shot that slowly floats over the dull colored, seemingly calm, picturesque town. It is against this soft colored yet tranquil backdrop, that the audience is introduced to Vianne and Anouk, firstly appearing quite small, although draped in capes of splendid red, creating an enormous contrast to the peacefulness of the town. This visual technique of this color contrast allows a suggestion to the audience that these characters are not like any others in the film, they are very different, even threatening to the little town.

Another technique used in this film, is not a visual technique, but an audio technique. The music used in this film is an extraordinary technique that again, allows the establishment of the town and the genre of the film. The accompanying music at the beginning of the film is one of the most effective throughout the movie. The peaceful tone of the piano / flute instrumental duet, in this scene, allows the audience to relate the calm, serene feeling, with the town shown at the same time. The instrumental piece, although presenting this serene feeling, subtly contains a sense of mystery between its floating notes. The slight alteration of the tone of the piece, occurs upon the audience's first viewing of Vianne and Anouk, suggesting that these nomads bring with them mystery, perhaps change.

This technique is effective as the suggestions of mystery and uncertainty, later in the film, proves to be correct. The point that conflict creates change is also evident in music. The song Down with the sickness (Disturbed 2000), uses both the actual lyrics as well as vocal style techniques to suggest conflict and the change it creates. Down with the sickness is a song about the abuse, inflicted by his mother, an individual has suffered and lived with his entire life. This song delves into effects the abuse has had on him, how he has changed, his feelings and his struggle.

Eventually all the pain he has held on to is released and, in a violent, emotional and vocal outrage, he takes out his anger on his mother. The lyrics in this song are an extremely important technique as the words themselves show the change in the individual as a result of the conflict. In the beginning on the song "Drowning deep in your sea of loathing, broken your servant I kneel, it seem what's left of my human side, is slowly changing in me, looking at my own reflection, when suddenly it changes, violently it changes, there is no turning back now that you " ve woken up the demon in me... ". is the first verse and begins the audience on the journey of change in this individual. It demonstrates how this person's hate is continually building up inside of him, causing internal conflict that alters him as a person. He begins changing from a "servant" and victim to the abuse of his mother, to the point where he can barely recognize his own reflection as he changes before his own eyes, viewing himself even, as a demon. Later throughout the song however, is the full outburst of anger, which shows how he relates the abuse that he had suffered as a child to the reason he has become as he has.

"No mommy, don't do it again, ill be a good boy, I promise, why do you have to hit me like that mommy, don't do it your hurting me, why do you have to be a such a bitch, why do you just fuck up and die, why cant you just leave me here and die, never stick your hand in my face again bitch, fuck you, I don't need this shit, you stupid sadistic abusive fucking whore, how would you like to see how it feel mommy, here it comes get ready to die. ". , is the part of the song that shows the violence and hatred the person has towards his mother. It demonstrates that the pain caused in the past has changed him dramatically as a person and the tables become turned as he abuses and kills his mother. This song is sung in a style that also demonstrates change as a result of conflict. The main verses of the song although sung reasonably loud are still a large contrast to the last verse (the angry outburst).

In relation to the lyrics and the rest of the song, the main verses are performed in a strained, reasonably loud and edgy voice. This vocal style does also relate to the lyrics of the particular verse. As the final verse is reached the vocal style converts to a full screaming / yelling voice, which is substantially louder than the rest of the song. At the end of each line there is a continual high-pitched yelp sound that demonstrate the pureness of the hatred and anger, unable to be controlled. This technique of vocal style is able to fully alter the mood of the song and in relation to the lyrics, clearly emphasises the conflict experienced. The play Romeo and Juliet (William Shakespeare) is another example of another material that demonstrates the change caused by conflict...

Again the base storyline, like the other materials, is about conflict, being physical, emotional and internal conflict between individuals within two feuding families. The change in this story revolves around the love of two people from opposing families, how they change, alter their lives, their values, while finding ways to keep their love secret as Juliet (the female lover), is already arranged to marry to her fathers choosing. It is this conflict exactly, which becomes the cause of Romeo and Juliet's death. The conflict between the families causes each lover to experience harsh internal conflict resulting in the end, both of their deaths. In this play, each lover's internal struggle can be emphasized and expressed to the audience through the use of rhetorical questions, expressing the change in each character.

In Romeo and Juliet, after the slaying of her cousin by her husband Romeo and Romeo's banishment, Juliet is left with an extraordinary internal struggle, as she is to be unwillingly married the next day to Paris. It is this oncoming event that leads Juliet to wish her own death, rather then live a life based around a false love, and she goes to consult with the priest, Friar Lawrence. Juliet here explains that without her true love, Romeo, she would rather die, as her life would be filled with nothing but unhappiness. Here Friar Lawrence offers her a 24-hour potion to make her seem dead and during her time of death, he would contact Romeo, so upon her awakening they could escape and live together in love. The following soliloquy allows an in depth emotional view of Juliet and he internal struggle and, whilst containing many rhetorical questions allows a view of her doubts and fears and thoughts. The most noticeable change in both Romeo and Juliet throughout this story is the mental and emotional transformation from child / teen to an adult.

This change is noticed in Juliet's soliloquy as she questions to herself about the adult situation she is in, whether to take her own life, or fake it. "What if it be a poison which the friar, subtly hath ministered to have me dead, lest in this marriage he should be dishonored, because he married me before Romeo? ... How if when I am laid in the tomb, I awake before the time that Romeo come to redeem me?" (act four, scene 3) are two rhetorical questions within this soliloquy that allow an insight to Juliet's emotions and show the audience her transition in thought and character. This is an effective technique to display the conflict and allow the change to be emphasized slightly, whilst also initiating a strong connection with the audience. Conflict is used as a base climax in almost every material to thought.

Through the use of conflict as a storyline, the audience is more susceptible to relating with the character /'s experiencing the conflict, creating amore successful story. The techniques used while composing, performing or acting the material, however, are able to add extra emphasis upon the main points of conflict within the story. Such techniques often make the play, movie, song etc. more realistic and interesting while subconsciously affecting the audiences view to suit the desired response.