Identity Crisis in Canadian Film Essay - 5812 Words

Identity Crisis in Canadian Film Much has been written about the ways in which Canadas state as a nation is, as Peter Harcourt writes, described and hence, imagined (Harcourt, The Canadian Nation -- An Unfinished Text, 6) through the cultural products that it produces. Harcourts terms are justifiably elusive. The familiar concept of Canadian culture, and hence Canadian cinema, within critical terminology is essentially based on the principle that the ideology of a national identity, supposedly limited by such tangible parameters as lines on a map, emerges from a common geographical and mythological experience among its people. The concept that cultural products produced in Canada will be somehow innately Canadian in form†¦show more content†¦Suffice it to say that art and national identity are assumed to be interrelated in critical practice, and the principles by which this is normally assessed are at times troubling. Many of the problems inherent in criticism that locates the Canadian psyche in Canadian cinema have to do with the large scope of many investigations of the English Canadian cinema. Our criticism of national cinema or, more generally, cultural production is usually sandwiched between two dominant, yet opposing, approaches to text: Marshall McLuhans concept where the medium is the message on the one hand, and Margaret Atwoods thematic criticism, in her book Survival, on the other. Although both approaches are valid, they require vast investigations of Canadian cultural production in order to ascertain supposed commonalities. These distinctions or shared traits among Canadian cultural products are presumed to be ties that bind us culturally as a nation. By being broad in our investigations, however, we are merely reduced to reiterating plot summaries and making generalizations about films as they relate to history vis a vis an already established critical rhetoric. The tendency is ofte n not to analyse individual films extensively,Show MoreRelatedAnalysis Of The Movie The Master Of Disguise 1589 Words   |  7 Pagespublished in Wired magazine in 2007. The movie is filmed upon the story of escape of six American diplomats, who were captured during the seizure of American embassy in Tehran, Iran in 1979. The whole project was named as Canadian Caper after the joint venture of rescue by the Canadian government and Central Intelligence Agency. Production: The ARGO movie project was based in 2007 by three producers named George Clooney, Grant Heslov and David Klawans. After that in 2011 Affleck also joined the productionRead MoreThe World War One Of The United States1692 Words   |  7 PagesThrough these times of hardship and glory Canada has succeeded in finding its autonomous identity in the world, as a â€Å"middle power†. Throughout the time periods of 1914-1945, 1950-1970, and 1971- 1990 Canada has been involved in many wars that have displayed its independence and strength as a country. The World War One battle of Vimy Ridge, in 1917, was the first grand victory of Canadian forces. The Canadian Corps, under Lieutenant-General Julian Byng, had trained and independently overcome theRead MoreThe Role Of Women During Post War Period1508 Words   |  7 PagesThe threat of nuclear warfare was the influencing factor in women having to become the homemakers. By being at home women were able to fulfill the health and welfare roles put upon them to keep their husbands and children safe, healthy and calm in a crisis. By having to be the savour in the family they have a lot more responsibilities, including having to take part in a neighbourhood watch, firefighting and nursing. Another role put on the women of the household was to maintain a clean house, whichRead MoreImpact Of Pierre Trudeau1321 Words   |  6 PagesVery few Canadians have made the same impacts on Canadian quality of life as Pierre Trudeau did as his time as a politician. During his time as a prime minister, he brought forth many changes that greatly improved the quality of all Canadians living in the country. He made the diverse population of Canada feel safe and included. Pierre trudeau has caused a significant increase on Canadians’ quality of life by helping introduce legislation such as the Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the OfficialRead MoreWere the 20s in Canada Really Roaring?1664 Words   |  7 Pageseconomic, social and political changes really made the 1920s in Canada â€Å"roar†. First of all, Canada was very roaring economically in the 20s because of strong economic growth and prosperity. With the introduction of the assembly line by Henry Ford, Canadian industries flourished. Manufacturing processes were a lot faster, because of the improved work flow and better distribution of labour. These drastically changes sharply improved the productivity in the manufacturing sector, thus companies were ableRead MoreConflict between Canada and the First Nations Essay1139 Words   |  5 Pagesand use of its bountiful resources. In order to make things fair, the Canadian government issues treaties, which were meant to initiate the regulations of the land and its resources whatever they may be, and to verify the rights, obligations, and ownership of the land; But sometimes these treaties are broken. A well-known example of aboriginal injustice happened in the year 1990 from July 11th – September 26th. The Oka Crisis, as it was called, was a 78 day confrontation o ver the Mohawk burial groundsRead More Dilemma of Immigrants in America Essay1391 Words   |  6 Pagesimmigrants nowadays. Because of her families religious tradition, Mukherjee is confined by her permanent identity in her own culture, â€Å"a Hindu Indian’s last name announced his or her forefathers’ caste and place of origin†¦a Mukherjee could only be Brahmin from Bengal†¦my identity was viscerally connected with ancestral soil and genealogy† (Mukherjee 1). From her attitude towards her identity, Mukherjee does not want to confine by the Hindu tradition. She is rebellious against her own culture evenRead MoreThe Child That Lives From Within1681 Words   |  7 Pagesthat Norman’s character reinforces. Despite the age of the theories and film, the question concerning if Norman Bates’ mental state is innate or a gradual creation provides an understanding of current coalitions between parent-child bonds and psychopathy. The accurate d epiction of how Norman is nurtured into being a killer shows viewers that although he is a fictional character, he represents psychopaths outside of the film world. To be familiar with the extent of vacant family relations emphasizesRead MoreThe Problem Of Living Without A Home972 Words   |  4 PagesLiving without a home is the result of many unfortunate circumstances coming together at one time. In other words, home is not only a physical space but a place that sometimes defines a person s identity. The lack of housing is sometimes an identity crisis for the homeless, which leads to more unnecessary misery. Homeless by definition is an individual that survives without a permanent shelter. They might be provided with temporary living like homeless shelters. However, these shelters are usuallyRead MoreThe Battle Of Vimy Ridge1927 Words   |  8 Pagesautonomous identity in the world, as a middle power. Throughout the time periods of 1914-1945, 1950-1970, and 1971- 1990 Canada was involved in many wars that displayed her independence and strength as a country. The World War One battle of Vimy Ridge, in 1917, was the first grand victory of Canadian forces. The Canadian Corps, under Lieutenant-General Julian Byng, independently overcame the Germans. It was clear that, â€Å"[the battle of Vimy Ridge] was a stunning victory. The Canadians had gained