AMCS 200
9/14/12
Trading Places
The ideas of agency and structure are seen in everyday American culture, and the movie Trading Places shows this very well. The movie does show some standards of being independent, but I think the film tends to favor more of the structure side. Randolph and Mortimer Duke have entirely different views on the debate of nature vs. nurture. Randolph believes genetics really makes a good businessman, while Mortimer thinks that it is a person’s surroundings, the environment that causes success.
The beginning of the movie features the contrast between rich and poor in America. The characters are introduced in individual parts. Billy Ray Valentine a con man who lives on the streets has been taken in by the police for bumping into Louis Winthorpe, who assumes he is being robbed and gives Valentine his briefcase. Valentine is arrested, but according to Randolph, Valentine can be changed into a man of morals in ethics when put in a higher social and economic position. Louis Winthorpe lives a successful life as the manager of the Dukes investment company. Mortimer believes Winthorpe is where he is in life because of his upbringing. The Dukes Brothers develop a plan to swap these men’s lives by using the help of an undercover employee and several corrupt cops to frame Winthorpe. Winthorpe goes to jail, fired from their firm and also loses his extra benefits. Valentine becomes an executive consultant with the firm returning abandoned wallets and living his life with honesty. Winthorpe is befriended by the notorious hooker Ophelia. When Winthorpe realizes that Valentine has his old job, he turns to crime, trying to frame him for drugs and get his life back to normal.
The Essay on Planet Of Life: Apes To Man
I.Introduction Planet of Life: Apes to Man is narrated by Stacy Keach and it was originally produced and presented by the Discovery Channel. This series shows us about the history of evolution on this planet and each episode has a separate chapter in the biography of the world. This series also shows us that one group of primates moved onto plains where they evolved the ability to stand upright. ...
As for the movie goes, structure is based on whoever lived in poverty had solid ties to the people in their lives and weren’t just crazy for the material things in life. Many examples shown are how the Dukes Brothers had their money and valuable perks. At first Valentine loved the material lifestyle by inviting everyone at the bar back to his place for a party. He allowed Coleman to enjoy a drink with him and was much more appreciative of Coleman than Winthorpe ever was. In the beginning of the movie outside of the firm when Winthorpe and Valentine bumped into each other, Winthorpe thought that Valentine was trying to rob him because he was a bum and African American. When Winthorpe was homeless with no money Ophelia took him into her house even though she lived in a non-valuable lifestyle. She took care of him when he was ill with an extremely high fever. She clothed him and didn’t expect much in return. While walking up to the apartment Ophelia, being a hooker, was friendly with men on the street which Winthorpe thought was absolutely ridiculous because he would never even give them the time of day. When Winthorpe was released from jail and his fiancé Penelope only saw that Winthorpe was dressed in dirty clothes she lost all respect towards Winthorpe.
When Winthorpe went back to the Heritage Club to ask his old friends for a loan they only saw his cheap plaid suit and said they couldn’t lend him money because of the drugs, even though they were longtime friends. The Dukes Brothers mention to Valentine that it doesn’t matter if their investors lose money in the market because no matter what they make money. This just shows that the brothers don’t care which of their clients lose money as long as they see a profit. In the end when the Dukes Brothers lose their money they claim that they can’t lose their firm because it has been in their family name since it opened which gave them a sense of entitlement , even though they made a bad investment and broke their contract.
The Essay on Can Money Make A Man Happy?
“Money never made a man happy yet, nor will it,” is a quote that inventor and statesmen Benjamin Franklin said. Like many quotes and opinions there is always two sides to it. Some believe money can never buy happiness but others believe that money is a key necessity in life to be happy. I personally believe that money can buy happiness depending on how you use it for reasons like generally making ...
In America I feel that the opportunity is there for anyone to succeed no matter where you come from or what your background is. I think that agency and structure is important because it does benefit if you’re from a good environment, but if you as a person have the talents to succeed, the chances of failure no matter where you are from are very limited. Agency vs. Structure is a tough debate when people today will still stereotype individuals based on their background.
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