Persuasive writing - the drinking age

The Drinking age should be raised to 21

The drinking age in New Zealand should not be raised to twenty-one. Raising the drinking age will not result in the outcomes the government hopes for, on contrary in will result in a raise in the number of people who are underage buying alcohol and increasing the age will not reduce the amount of drunk drivers. The alcohol laws in New Zealand do not need to be changed, just enforced. However, increasing the legal age for buying alcohol may reduce the amount of teenage binge drinkers.

Raising the drinking age to twenty-one will not achieve the advantages that the government would desire, being less underage drinkers and less minors buying alcohol. Raising the drinking age will have the outcome of more underage people buying alcohol, especially from those eighteen and over that could buy it previously. Increasing the age will not decrease the amount of underage drinkers as many twenty-one-year-olds will buy alcohol for their friends who are twenty or even younger. Fake identification will also be an issue as shop owners will have trouble identifying those who are nineteen or twenty apart from those who are twenty-one, where as it is more simple to identify a sixteen-year-old to an eighteen-year-old.

Under age drinking is a major problem in New Zealand presently, however, changing the law will not resolve this problem. The majority of teenagers are aware of the many dangers of drinking but choose to consume it anyway as it is at many of the events they attend out of school, therefore raising the drinking age will result in more underage drinkers. To help to resolve this problem the laws need to be enforced and students need to be made more aware of them. If the drinking laws were enforced at school along side the dangers of drinking teens may be more aware of the consequences they will face if caught consuming alcohol. Not only do students need to learn the law, liquor store workers should have stricter security and harsher consequences if they sell alcohol to minors.

The government would hope that raising the drinking age will result in less drunk drivers however this is not the case. Raising the drinking age is unlikely to result in less underage drunk drivers as teenagers would still find a way of obtaining alcohol therefore it is unlikely that a change in law will result in a change of attitude towards drink driving. Raising the drinking age will not be able to decrease the large amount of people over twenty -one who drink and drive therefore by changing this law  it is unlikely there will a dramatic change in the amount of drink drivers.

 

Binge drinking has become popular with many teenagers today and therefore has become an issue in New Zealand society. Binge drinking is a serious issue among New Zealand teens that often leads to undesirable outcomes such as alcohol poisoning, liver failure and actions that will later be regretted. If raising the drinking age would effect this issue it would result in many positive outcomes for these teenagers and those in society who are affected because of their actions. However, it will be difficult to resolve this issue through raising the drinking age, as teenagers will still be able to find a way of acquiring alcohol whether it is through fake identification or elder friends buying it for them.

Raising the legal age to drink to twenty-one does not achieve any outcomes that will help New Zealand now and in years to come. The drinking age should not be raised as it will result in more minors buying alcohol and the amount of drunk drivers will not be depleted from this law, enforcing the law we have currently will help to solve some of the major alcohol issues in New Zealand. Raising the legal age may diminish the amount of teenage binge drinkers however these teens will still find a way of getting alcohol.

Connection Between Beginning And End In 'Mean Creek'

Describe how the beginning and end are connected.

In the film ‘Mean Creek’ directed by Jason Aaron Estes many important features are included that link the beginning of the film to the end. These features include lighting and props. The viewer sees this through two important scenes in the film where the characters are in Sam and Rocky’s bedroom before George’s death and after the death.

The lighting in ‘Mean Creek’ changes dramatically from the beginning of the film to the end. At the beginning of the film the lighting is constantly bright, this conveying that all characters are in a happy environment. When four of the main characters Rocky, Marty, Clyde and Sam are planing the boat trip the lighting is bright and emphasises the excitement. The bright lighting also depicts their youth and livelihood. This lighting technique is linked to the ending scenes; the lighting in the ending scenes is used to create the opposite affect of what it did in the first scenes. After George’s death the lighting changes dramatically, the viewer sees a drastic switch from bright lighting to dim lighting. This change depicts the change in the storyline and the characters mood. On of the last scenes in ‘Mean Creek’ mirrors the scene when hey are planning the boat trip, the characters are in the same setting however they are now facing grief, guilt and their youthfulness is gone, replaced with a problem most teenagers will never have to face.

 

Props are used in ‘Mean Creek’ to emphasise the way in which the characters change from the start of the movie to the end. Through the use of props Jason Aaron Estes highlights the characters youth and how they are carefree, the viewer sees this when Rocky, Marty, Clyde and Sam are planing the boat trip. While Rocky is on the phone to George he is constantly playing with his hat and basketball while Sam is playing with drumsticks, this shows their energy and happy-go-lucky attitude to life. After George’s death the viewer sees all characters once again in Sam and Rocky’s room, in this scene the characters are without props. Without props there is a clear change in attitude from each character. The lack in movement sets a sombre mood and how the characters have lost all playfulness.

 

Through the use of camera angles and transition of camera Jason Aaron Estes links the beginning of the film to the end. At the beginning of the film the characters are portrayed as being happy and youthful. When the characters are planning the boat trip a hand-held camera follows the characters, these unsteady movements symbolise their youth and energy. The viewer can understand the characters emotions more easily through this technique and become more sensitive to a change in emotion. After George’s death, when the characters are in Sam and Rocky’s room there are only two different angles of camera. This transition emphasises the loss of fun and the harsh consequences they now have to deal with.

Through the important techniques of lighting props and camera Jason Aaron Estes links the beginning scene to an ending scene successfully. 

Mean Creek essay - Revenge and it's Consequences

Describe an important idea in the text. Explain ho verbal and or visual features of the text help you to understand. 

An important idea in the film "mean Creek' directed by Jason Aaron Estes is revenge and it's consequences. This theme is conveyed through the verbal feature of silence and the visual features of camera work and lighting. Through the use of these techniques we are able to understand the idea much more easily.

The theme of revenge and it’s consequences is shown throughout ‘Mean Creek’, this theme fuels the storyline and gives the viewer insight on the six main characters and the different ways they cope with George’s death. The idea of revenge is highlighted when five of the main characters; Marty, Rocky, Clyde, Sam and Millie invite George to go out on a boat with them pretending it is for Sam’s birthday. They invited George on the boat with them with the plan to make him swim home naked as revenge for hurting Sam. The consequences of revenge are shown through George drowning and the five who invited him on the boat trip dealing with this tragedy which is the consequence of them getting revenge on George.

 

The director of ‘Mean Creek’, Jason Aaron Estes uses the verbal technique of silence, effectively displaying the theme of revenge and its consequences and making the view understand this theme more easily. Silence is used frequently used to evoke the viewers’ feelings and reflects what the characters are feeling. The technique of silence is used to highlight the realisation of George’s death. The viewer sees all characters sitting separately with George's dead body at the centre, there are only digetic sounds of the surroundings and the pebbles Millie is throwing, silence replaces the once raucous teens. This silence conveys the characters guilt and emphasises realisation the consequences they now have to face. Here, the silence also shows the characters different ways of dealing with George’s death and sets a melancholy mood making the viewer experience what the characters are feeling.

 

The camera work in ‘Mean Creek’ switches from a normal camera to the views seeing through George’s hand-held camera. Through this transition of camera the viewer is able to experience the emotions of the group as a whole and understand the way that George’s mind works. This helps the viewer to understand the characters feelings as they deal with the consequences of the revenge they planned. At the beginning of the film the view sees the credits from under the water, under a boat, this scene is linked to the scene George is pushed off the boat. The viewer sees George through his hand-held camera struggling to stay afloat then hitting his head and drowning. Though George’s camera he is able to explain the way his mind works. The camera transitions in ‘Mean Creek’ helps the viewer to understand the theme more easily as they see the result of revenge, which is George drowning through the had – held camera and the consequences of revenge the group have to deal with through the normal camera.

Jason Aaron Estes uses lighting to good effect in ‘Mean Creek’. The lighting throughout the movie highlights the theme helping the viewer to recognise it. The lighting in this film is symbolic of the theme and represents the characters emotions when the five characters; Rocky, Marty, Clyde, Sam and Millie are going home after Georges death they are rowing into the sunset. This scene symbolises the consequences of revenge, as the beautiful scenery can’t be enjoyed due to the death. Sunset is used ironically as usually it would symbolise the end to a beautiful day the opposite of what the characters have experiences. When the last four characters approach George’s house a security light comes on, this symbolises who in the group is coming out of the darkness and shedding light on what truly happened. These two scenes in particular highlight revenge and it’s consequences.

 

Through the visual and verbal techniques of lighting. Camera work and silence the theme of revenge and its consequences are conveyed more clearly.