Alexander Popes The Rape Of The Lock Essays - Parodies,

Alexander Pope's The Rape Of The Lock The Rape of the Lock: Serious Stuff Alexander Pope's mock heroic epic The Rape of the Lock appears to be a light subject addressed with a satiric tone and structure. Pope often regards the unwanted cutting of a woman's hair as a trivial thing, but the fashionable world takes it seriously. Upon closer examination Pope has, perhaps unwittingly, broached issues worthy of earnest consideration. The Rape of the Lock at first glance is a commentary on human vanity and the ritual of courtship. The poem also discusses the relationship between men and women, which is the more substantial matter in particular. Pope examines the oppressed position of women. Infringement on a woman's personal space, her person and her pride by an aggressive male (the Baron) are certainly problems not to be taken lightly. In today's society, these things translate to sexual harassment. Pope also raises the issue of conflicting love, the opposition between spiritual and secular love. The poem portrays men and women as more concerned with social stat us, material values, and physical beauty than the development of the spirit or of the character. Pope suggests that the former is the morally wrong path, and criticizes (through satire) his characters for their vanity and lack of morality. The significance of a woman's outward beauty (specifically Belinda's) has direct consequence for her role in society. The place of woman... is shaped by social [and] economic... forces. Women are routinely subordinate... in the 'public' sphere, partly because of their confinement to roles associated with being wives.1 Belinda is an unmarried upper class woman. Maintaining her position in high society will depend on marriage; though not one necessarily of her choosing. Her marriage will not ultimately depend on her intelligence, or her personality, as women were not valued as objects of individuality but as beautiful objects to possess: The adventurous Baron the bright locks admired,/He saw, he wished, and to the prize aspired. (II, 29-30) Therefore, Belinda's power lies within her outward beauty. Belinda's strength is her physical appearance. Pope mocks the importance placed on appearance as he compares a hero's donning of armour to Belinda's being made up at her dressing table; Here files of pins extend their shining rows, Puffs, powders, patches, Bibles, billet doux. Now awful Beauty puts on all its arms... (I, 137-39) We see a woman ready to go into the battle of the sexes whom the Baron (her opponent) already regards as a threat. Specifically, her beauty is a threat in that it empowers Belinda and means he may have to compete with other men for her affection. The idea of a woman holding power of any sort over a man attacks the male ego or at least threatens the Baron's ego. He is Resolved to win, or by fraud betray; For when success a lover's toil attends, Few ask if fraud or force attained his ends. (II, 31-33) The Baron will either have the lock, or destroy any power she possesses with it. The war Pope illustrates between men and women continues with the playing of the card game. Instead of fighting on the traditional battlefield Belinda plays cards against the Baron, eager to meet him on his own terms: Belinda now, whom thirst of fame invites, Burns to encounter two adventurous knights, At ombre singly to decide their doom, And swells her breast with conquests yet to come. (III, 25-28) The playing of the game and the use of the word conquest could also represent the idea that Belinda is fighting for survival in her societal circle. She could view the playing of the game as a battle to win suitors, knights. Regardless, Belinda wins the card game and offends the Baron's pride. Out to take his revenge, to reclaim his dignity and steal hers, the Baron cuts Belinda's prized lock of hair: Let wreaths of triumph now my temples twine, The victor cried, the glorious prize is mine! ... So long my honour, name, and praise shall live! (III, 161-170) The Baron has taken away Belinda's power. He cuts from her a symbol of her beauty, stealing what she regards as her honour. This disempowerment is not unlike an actual rape. Chastity is regarded as honour for many men and women, yet Belinda values her

A Growing Problem essays

A Growing Problem essays The escalating divorce rate is a growing problem in American culture and will not get better unless drastic steps are taken. Divorce rates have steadily increased in the United States since the early 1920s. In 1920 there was approximately 13.4 divorces per 100 marriages. In the 1988 it jumped to 32.8 divorces per 100 marriages and at present it is close to 50 divorces per 100 marriages and climbing (divorce rates chart). Researchers say that the fastest growing marital status category in America is divorced people. I believe something needs to be done to preserve the once sacred institution of marriage and family values in the United States. Divorce has a profound impact on children. Children of divorce are 3 to 4 times more likely to have psychological problems, juvenile delinquencies and suicide among other detrimental problems. A child of divorce is more likely grow up and be in a marriage that ends in divorce. The child is more inclined to view divorce as an easy way out of a situation instead of working on their marital problems. They feel divorce is an acceptable option as they have seen their parents divorce. Here are few of the important factors that I believe contribute to the ever-escalating divorce rates in the United States. First, lawmakers enacted the no-fault divorce law in the 1970s. Researchers believe that the new law caused an explosion of divorces. A no-fault divorce is one in which neither spouse blames the other for the breakdown of their marriage. Both spouses agree that irreconcilable differences have arisen and that their marriage is irreparable (no-fault divorce). A no-fault divorce does not require proof in a court of law by the divorcing party. Essentially a no-fault divorce makes it much easier and much faster to get a divorce. Currently, divorce laws in nearly every state give greater legal rights to spouses who want to end the marriage than ...

How are the ideas of legitimacy and identity used in politics and Essay - 1

How are the ideas of legitimacy and identity used in politics and social movements - Essay Example They seemingly claim to fight for minority rights, equity, or fairness but on the sidelines, they advocate for external interests like cessation, revenge, exploitation of foreign resources, political supremacy, or independence. One of such groups may include the whites in the world. Indeed, the Whiteman is arguably the most powerful ethnic group in the world and is physically set apart from other groups. Actually, the whites enjoy many privileges in the world as compared to other groups though they constantly deny that (McIntosh Web). We have seen in various occasions, the whites receiving favors in accessing resources like education, health care, and even employment. At the same time, they hold a certain identity from their language, color, and way of doing things, and quest to remain powerful, and most innovative (McIntosh Web). Indeed, when the whites went to Africa and other nations during the colonial period, they had the pretense of spreading Christianity and discovering new things yet it is logical that they sought to expand their dominance in the world, exploit resources in those countries, acquire free labor, spread their western culture, and influence the political direction in those countries. M ost recently, the whites in America will always seek to have their say in the politics and public debates of the most powerful nation on the world. Indeed, when Obama was seeking presidency questions of whether he is white or black took center stage. Additionally, the white in America influences world politics in the name of advocating for democracy. Indeed, most Arab countries that experienced the Arab Spring equally encountered the white influence where the whites called for and aided the removal of political leaders in those countries. In doing this, the whites presumably occupied a strategic position to benefit from the woes of such nations. Actually, the whites claim to fight for and hold the world democracy yet they only assent to laws that

Physical Training In The Workplace Research Paper

Physical Training In The Workplace - Research Paper Example This proposal describes the issues that ABC Corporation is facing regarding its employees health conditions, because of which a number of malfunctions are noticed in the operational capacity of the business. Moreover, ABC Corporation is paying a significant amount of its revenues to the insurance company, in the form of premium for its employees’ health insurance. Employees are also complaining about the boredom they are experiencing at the workplace. The proposal consists of background of the problem defining the issues that lead to adoption of a suitable employee wellness program, the theoretical evidences for the proposed program and a set of recommendations regarding program design and how to implement it so that the desired objectives can be achieved efficiently. Contents Executive Summary 2 1.Background 4 2.Theoretical Grounds 6 3.Introduction to the Organization 7 4.Identifying the Issue 8 Memo 9 Reference List 12 1. Background â€Å"The doctor of the future will give no medicines, but will interest his patients in the care of the human frame, in diet, and in the causes and prevention of disease† (Adison, 1900) Providing a remedy to a disease with the help of medicines is easy but costly, at the same time, leaves medicine’s harmful effects on the human body. For this reason, rectifying the physical lacking and deficiencies from an individual’s health condition with the help of physical activities is beneficial as compare to the usage of medicines (DeVries, 2010). Any activity introduced by organizations’ managers and owner to improve the health conditions of the employees is known as Workplace Wellness Program. Business in the modern world design and implement policies and regulations that compel workers of that organization to adopt healthy behaviors at their designated work station, which consequently results in higher productivity level. Organizational and industrial experts suggest that organizations should implemen t processes within its functional capacities that enable the employees to get hold of and maintain control over their health conditions. For this reason, business implement a number of physical exercise activities in the name of â€Å"Corporate Wellbeing† such as Behavior Change Communication to Improve Health landscape, health related events and seminars, medical scrutiny of the employees on time to time basis, physical training, weight reduction programs, health notices or fitness facilities within the premises of the business (DeVries, 2010). Workplace Wellness programs introduced by an organization would include giving flexible timing to the employees for physical exercise, providing employees with healthy food menu and help them to develop healthy eating habits, conducting â€Å"walk and talk† meetings with the employees and offering a number of financial incentives and aide to the employees so as to motivate them to participate in wellness programs. With the emer gence of globalization on the business horizon, organizations now need to engage employees into physical activities on a more rigorous scale, to maintain their health conditions. This activity results in keeping employees physically fit and increase their ability to counter the new challenges emerging every other day (DeVries, 2010).

Choose a good tittle Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Choose a good tittle - Essay Example Here, the â€Å"Neo† means new form of liberalism where the defenders of liberalism have much to argue. It is an arguable fact, that the public have shown enthusiasm regarding neoliberalism and neoliberal reforms since decades. The reason for this is the enhancement or prosperity it has brought to the capitalist and the downgrading it has brought upon poor and working class men. The appraisal might have been coming from the rich business group whereas the contradiction can come from the working class people and social thinkers and activists. The thinking of people on neoliberalism or the enthusiasm people have on it should be tempered considering its negative impact on the society. Since neo liberalism is affected by many economic and political factors, a deep analysis by considering this will give an understanding as to whether the economical critique or political critique is right. Economic enthusiasm which neoliberalism arises in the minds of men is agreeable as this leads to capitalism and privatization of trade. It is extremely favorable for business world in accumulating wealth and power. Neoliberalism has led to the opening of national borders in order to allow free trade which has been tempting to the commercial world that is engaging in liberal trade with minimum restriction from government. The power and authority which it gives to the capitalist is enormous and this needs to be tempered in order to give liberal values to working class and poor people. Neoliberalism excites people due to its liberalization of economic trade which brings in prosperity to the corporates and the business lobbyist of global world. However, the income inequality it showers on the poor has awakened the public to fight towards it. In Political sense, the enthusiasm on neoliberalism needs to be tempered for the reason that it steals away privileges from the society. The neoliberalism

Relationship between the mind and the brain

Relationship between the mind and the brain For centuries, philosophers and scientist have been trying to solve the problem of the mind-body (brain). The most prolific of the minds has wandered sleeplessly, trying to solve the mind-brain problem, yet, the mysteries behind our skulls remain hidden. This paper is an attempt to address the causality problem of the mind and the brain. Firstly, an overview over the philosophical theories will be done. Subsequently, evaluation of certain scientific findings which may hold the answer will be carried out. Finally, the essay will end with a conclusion about these findings. Part of the problem is whether one, (the mind or the brain), could plausible exist given the existence of the other. If this is the case, how are they associated? Does a relationship exist or are they two distinct realms. Many philosophers and scientists have made an attempt to explain and resolve the mind-brain problem. Two major philosophical theories have been proposed as a solution; dualism and monism. Followers of the dualistic theory argue that there are two fundamental entities mind and brain. The mind and the brain functions separately, without interchange. Conversely, monistic advocates, instead, argue that there is only one reality and the mind and the brain are formed from, or reducible to, the same ultimate substance or principle of being. The former, however, is hard to contradict and/or support scientifically and therefore is not popular amongst scientists and psychologists (Valentine, 1992). However, in recent years, a third explanation, pluralism, has emerged. Plural ism is a mix of both monism and dualism. It argues that there is one fundamental reality but it may display different aspect of the reality. In order to evaluate whether a relationship exists between the mind and the brain in the first place, we need to know if what the mind is. One explanation of the concept of mind is (1) conscious experience and (2) the system or program that governs behaviour (Valentine, 1992, pp. 21). For the simplicity, we will consider consciousness as the definition of the mind. However, we need to first explain what consciousness is. In psychology, consciousness is defined as our relative awareness of ourselves and our environments. Additionally, it is subjective for an individual, has changeable intensity and we have a sense of ourselves and our consciousness (Passer Smith, 2007). Consciousness has been studied using modern tools such as fMRI or PET. These studies have showed activation in several brain areas for a stimulus that is normally associated with a certain brain area (Dehaene Naccache 2001; Haier et al., 1992). Global workspace theory suggests that the otherwise independent brain reg ions functions as network enabled by the consciousness (Baars, 2002; Baars, 1997). Additionally, observational studies have indicated that certain brain injuries (blindsight, visual agnosia) have resulted in the loss of aspects of consciousness (Goodale, 2000; Kentridge et al., 2004; Weiskrantz, 2002). If we then assume that the mind is conscious experience, does the mind control the brain or is the mind a result of neural activity? Libet, Gleason, Wright and Pearl (1983) found that neural activity precedes conscious experience of indenting to act (the so-called readiness potential, RP). In a replication of this study by Haggard and Eimer (1999), awareness of movement followed a later module of the RP, the lateralized readiness potential (LRP). LRP represents the neural activity over the motor cortex in the hemisphere that controls the opposite side of the body. Haggard and Eimer (1999) suggested that awareness of movement may arise from neural processes linked to the selection of a n action to follow a certain goal. Additionally, part of the medial frontal cortex has been identifies as being responsible for intentional actions. Conversely, Haggard Libet (2001) note that the delay of conscious experience to the actual experience itself may be due to the P-centre phenomenon (Morton et al., 1976 c.f. Haggard Libet, 2001)., which originally refers to that the perceived onset of a acoustic words delays its actual onset, and seems to be drawn by the centre of the word. It is argued that this can be equally applied to internal events as intentions might also be extended in time. Haggard Libet (2001, pp. 7), argue that the earliest stages of that process could perhaps precede the LRP onset. However, new findings on cellular memory may oppose the notion consciousness being located only in the brain. A Japanese research group showed that an amoeba learned the patterns of a series of shocks at regular intervals and accordingly changed its behaviour in anticipation of the next one to come. Remarkably, the memory stayed for hours, even then the shocks stopped. A single renewed shock after a silent period left the plasmodia expecting another to follow in the same rhythm it learned earlier (Saigusa, Tero, Nakagaki Kuramoto, 2008). Additionally, these amoebas could also negotiate mazes and solve simple puzzles (Nakagaki, Yamada, TÃ ³th, 2000). The implications of these studies could go so far that it could be argued that consciousness may arise from some cellular or sub-cellular level of organization rather than nerve circuitry. There have been cases where organ receivers have unexplainably inherited traits which were not there prior to the transplantations. Although these cases are arbitrary and vague and there may be several other plausible explanations, the stories are interesting and may lead to some serious scientific investigation at some point in the future. On the other hand, conscious experience alone can not account for the mind as a majority of our behaviour also occur unconsciously. Jaynes (1986) listed several things such as, size, brightness, etc. that is preserved by our nervous system under widely varying environmental changes of light, distance etc. Additionally, consciousness is not necessary for learning. Conditioning, for example, is often subtly induced by some stimuli without our awareness. In fact, being conscious during conditioning hinders the effect of it once we are aware of the eventuality (Razran, 1971 c.f. Jaynes, 1986). If we, instead, discuss the concept of mind in terms of a system or program that governs behaviour (Valentine, 1993, chapter 3, pp. 20), the mind can be attributed a totally different role. It is established that the frontal lobes has a major role in our personality. The prefrontal cortex has a superior role in the neuropsychological system. It has access to a vast amount of information that is sto red and is processing in the brain. Additionally, it is able to directly and indirectly control activation of the cerebral resources. In particular, the dorsolateral region of the prefrontal cortex has been identified as being responsible for coordination, psychological control and executive functions. The motor and sensory network is closely weaved together with the area, which enables it to have full access to information about the condition of the own body and the surrounding world as well as having the opportunity to integrate with the environment. It has also a close relationship to the orbital cortex, which is associated with our thoughts, decision-making and behaviour influenced by emotional and social values of situations as it has a high number of interconnections with the limbic system. Damage to the dorsolateral region is characterized by loss of the ability to take initiative, psychological independence and integrity. The patient becomes passive, impulsive and aimless. S he is not able to mobilize and orient attention or thoughts in an organized manner. However, as prefrontal cortex is highly complicated, it has been difficult to closely investigate exactly what sort of psychological work that bark area executes, which has made this part of the brain a riddle to be solved (Eriksson, 2001). Considering these facts and the fact that the dorsolateral cortex is highly situated in the hierarchy of the brain, it could be argued that the area is the place where the mind resides. In this sense, the mind is an extension and the superior of the brain. Evolutionary speaking, this would make sense. According to Paul MacLean, three distinct brains emerged successively in the course of evolution and co-inhabit the human skull. These are, in evolutionary-time order, reptile brain, limbic brain and the neo-cortex (Holden, 1979). These three parts do not operate independently of one another; rather, they have established numerous interconnections through which they influence another (Passer Smith, 2007). In a similar way, the mind might somehow evolved in parallel with the neo-cortex. Nevertheless, in brain surgeries on monkeys showed bluntness in all of aspects of their emotion. Myers (c.f. Eriksson, 2001) noted the animals loss of noises, facial expressions and, general, all forms of communication. The animal, generally, suffers from hyperactivity, mutism and behaves like an automat. However, the idea that the prefrontal cortex is the seat of the mind lacks any real scientific support or research as it would be very difficult to determine how it is possible as the mind is a non-physical substance. Yet, future minds, with the assistance of perhaps new and more advanced technology may find a way to tackle this issue. In sum, we have first used consciousness as the definition of the mind and tried to address the relationship of consciousness to the brain. Scientific evidence has supported the notion of brain activity causing consciousness. However, these studies have had some methodological issues which need to be dealt with. Additionally, we have established that consciousness alone may not account for the mind as many of our processes also occur outside awareness. Instead, we have identified the prefrontal cortex as the seat of the mind. However, this is hard to prove and explain at present time. In conclusion, the sort of a problem the mind and brain is makes it difficult to construe and study scientifically as it is hard to conduct decent experiments on. For now, science needs to mature further in order to answer whether a relationship exists between the mind and the brain along with the direction of the relationship.

DNA Report :: Biology

Many people have heard about this mysterious DNA molecule but don’t know much about it (what it is, where it’s located, what it does, etc.) In this report it will state the basics and investigate this mysterious molecule: deoxyribonucleic acid. DNA is a thin chainlike molecule found in almost every cell (Rubenstein, 2006), and is used in developing and functioning all known living organisms (â€Å"Wikipedia†, 2009). DNA is a Hereditary Material in a human body, (â€Å"U.S. National†, 2009), genomes determine hereditary (Rubenstein, 2006). The main goal for DNA is long-term storing of information (â€Å"Wikipedia†, 2009). Basically DNA is biological information exchanged from adult to child through reproduction (â€Å"National Human†, 2008). DNA is formed in the nucleus of a cell (â€Å"National Human†, 2008). Most DNA is found in the nucleus and a small amount is found in the Mitochondria. When DNA is found in the nucleus it is considered to be Nuclear DNA and when DNA is found in the Mitochondria it is considered Mitochondrial DNA (â€Å"U.S. National†, 2009). Humans always get 50% of DNA from your mom and 50% of DNA from your dad through reproduction; although only Mitochondrial DNA is from your mom because during fertilization egg cells only keep Mitochondria (â€Å"National Human† 2008). Sometimes DNA can be found in bacterial cells and in viruses (Rubenstein, 2006). DNA is made of many different resources found in a human body; chemicals, bases, and more. Deoxyribonucleic acid is made of three basic chemical building blocks; a Phosphate group, a Sugar group, and 1 of 4 nitrogen bases. DNA is made of 3 billon bases (National Human, 2008), 99% of these bases are the same in all humans (â€Å"U.S. National†, 2009), and the order and amount of the bases determines that humans unique self (Rubenstein, 2006). Bases are connected by hydrogen bonds, base pairing is very specific; Adenine only with Thymine and Cytosine only with Guanine (â€Å"Comptons†, 2008). Each DNA that contains instructions, that makes protein, is considered a gene; gene size varies from 1 thousand bases to 1 million bases (â€Å"National Human†, 2008). A gene carries genetic information during reproduction (â€Å"Wikipedia†,2009). DNA consists of thousands of chemical units called nucleotides (Rubenstein, 2006). Nucleotides are linked together by covalent bonds; linking phosphate of one to sugar of the next (â€Å"Comptons†, 2008). Like genes the exact amount and order of Nucleotides varies, making the person only themselves (Rubenstein, 2006).

Analyzing, Interpreting, and Assessing Visual Art Essay

The Great Wave off Kanagawa is the most well-known Japanese woodblock art ever created in the history of Japan (Sayre, 2010). The masterpiece was created by Hokusai Katsushika, known to be the honorable Japanese printmakers of the 19th century. The Great Wave off Kanagawa set precedent for the first of 36 views of Mount Fuji, 1823-29 (Sayre, 2010). I will discuss the six elements of visual design, go in detail of the elements that was present in The Great Wave off Kanagawa, and evaluate the quality. The Great Wave off Kanagawa has several elements in this masterpiece. For example, how vessel ships lines up with the waves making the vessels appear to be flowing with the high tide waves. The painting â€Å"The Great Wave of Kanagawa† is a great example of line. This painting has very bold, emphasized lines that help to define the water from the sky. As well within the water, the line helps to determine the different part of the water, the foam, or the curves of the waves. Hokusa i makes it very easy for one’s eyes to follow the moving of the water. Also, how Mt. Fuji in the distance looks like it could be part of the wave too. This was very clever of the artist to give the impression that all the triangular shapes appear to be the waves themselves. In order for the artist to make this impression, he used light blues along with dark blues for the waves depicted in the drawing. The light blues represent a higher tide and the dark blue the sea. The artist simplified the waves to an array of flat patterns with a black outlining for more intensity. The drawing depicts vessels that are probably carrying food and supplies this was especially relevant back in the 1800s. It is hard to tell what time of day that the drawing possibly could have been created, but I am going to assume during the day giving the light blue hues and how one can see Mt. Fuji in the far distance. When analyzing the work in terms of five principles, the central theme here is not the wave but the Mount Fuji;  however at first glance, it almost reads as another cap of foam. But precisely, it is its consistency with the lines and colors of th e piece, as well as the construction of the picture around it which achieve the unity of the composition. Indeed, the Mount is placed in the right central part of the composition, which has to be read from the right to the left (instead of reading from the left to the right, as occidentals use to). Furthermore, it is painted with the two main colors of the picture. The message uniting this piece is conveyed through the contrast between the distant, quiet, and unchanging mount in the background and the violent and ephemeral foreground scene. While evaluating the artwork of the artist, Hokusai, it appears all the attention wasn’t just about the waves. He was able to balance the drawing by adding the people in the cargo ships. A person can see as the wave intensifies the situation of the sailors. The great wave commands the picture plane, dramatically overshadowing the distant peak of Mount Fuji. Reconciling the essential contradictions between the movement of the water and the stillness of the mountain, this print captures and fixes the wave so that it paradoxically becomes a static, elegant, and poised structure rather than something fluid and ephemeral. While the wave’s sheer scale and claw like extensions are threatening, the potential for violence is undermined by the aesthetic artifice of making the small wave in front of it a visual double for Mount Fuji. The viewer’s gaze is deflected; the subject is distanced and generalized, but here the curling wave in the foreground swallowing up the boats drawing any viewer into its orbit, creating an extraordinary immediacy of experience. The disturbingly low, water-level viewpoint gives the illusion that we are seeing the wave from within its vortex. After carefully reviewing the picture â€Å"The Great Wave off Kanagawa† I would say that this art holds cultural value to it. This painting is one of the most famous works of art in the world, but debatably the most iconic work of Japanese art. There have been thousands of copies of this painting produced and sold cheaply. Despite the fact that it was created at a time when Japanese trade was heavily restricted, Hokusai’s print displays the influence of Dutch art, and proved to be inspirational for many artists working in Europe later in the nineteenth century. The flattening of space, an interest in atmospheric conditions, and the impermanence of life; all visible in Hokusai’s prints and both reaffirmed their own artistic interests  and inspired many future works of art. It does not on the other hand hold historic value because it does not depict anything in history that has occurred. Reference Sayre, H. M. (2010). A World of Art Chapters 4-8 (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson Education.

Americas Tv Role Model Essays - Television, Series, Entertainment

Americas Tv Role Model Essays - Television, Series, Entertainment Americas Tv Role Model Americas TV Role Model What America needs is a family like The Waltons, not families like The Simpsons - at least according to President George Bush. A strange remark, given that one does not normally expect the President of the United States to pass judgments on television dramas like The Waltons, let along cartoon shows like The Simpsons. The producers of The Simpsons were quick to respond, by making Bart Simpson remark that the Simpson family was really just like the Waltons family - waiting for the end of the depression. The Waltons were an imaginary rural family waiting for the 30s depression to end, while The Simpsons are a postmodern family of today. Both belong to the curious history of the American TV family. A history so central to the past, present and future of American culture that no one - not even Presidential candidates, can afford to ignore it. Before radio and television, the family home was a space that could function in relative seclusion from public life. In the advice manuals of Victorian times, the ideal middle class home was one that sheltered women and children from the evil influences of the public sphere. The virtues of thrift and self-improvement - the sort of values Bush associates with the Waltons - were a 19th century notion of the good life. In this vision of the family, men worked in the outside world and had the final say at home; women were to be protected from the outside world but managed the day-to-day business of the home and the raising of the children. Of course, things were not like that for many people, but this was the ideal that the home manuals proscribed. Every good middle class Victorian home aspired to have a piano, and women were supposed to learn to play it teach the children to play it also. The piano was a civilizing influence, supposedly. With the rise of consumerism, however, all this began to change. The phonograph, the radio and finally the television replaced the piano. The virtues of thrift and self-improvement gave way to consumerism and the pursuit of leisure for its own sake. Conservatives have always decried these changes and called for a return to the old ways, but modern capitalism depends on its consumers to keep going. Without this shift in family life from thrift to spending and from self-improvement to consumption, the industrial age might never have kept going. Indeed, the collapse of the economy that produced the return to thrift and discipline exemplified by The Waltons TV family happened in part because consumerism didn't quite take off in the 20s. It was only after the massive expansion of manufacturing that took place during the war and the deliberate efforts to turn war production into consumer production that the conditions were set for the kind of TV family we know today. The 50s saw a tremendous boom in housing construction. Young couples who had put their lives on hold during the war got into home making with a vengeance. The period of suburban ecstasy had begun. One of the new consumer technologies that filled the new suburban homes was the television. By 1955 about 65% of American homes had one. Like all new media technologies, it began by reproducing the popular fare of the media it replaced. Just as the early gramophone records were reproductions of popular music hall tunes; early television reproduced popular radio shows. This is the first phase of any new media - when it borrows and adapts the formats of the old media. Not all of the popular radio programs successfully made the transition to television. Father Knows Best, a well-known TV situation comedy of the fifties, was one program that did survive the transition from radio to television. Interestingly, the 'ethnic' radio sitcoms like Amos'n'Andy and Life with Luigi did not. The general public would listen to, but not watch, minorities on television. Father Knows Best is typical of early American TV families. Its name sums it up, really, and sums up how different it was from The Simpsons. Homer Simpson usually hasn't a clue what is best for his family or even for himself. He is a figure

feminist theory of freedom essays

feminist theory of freedom essays Sperber, Murray, Shake Down the Thunder: The Creation of Notre Dame Football. Henry Holt and Company. New York, 1993, pp634. This book is excellent. The author not only cheers the team on but also shows that the Fighting Irish can be a team that many want to lose. He is very partisan in the fact that he wishes for the reader to get the whole story of the creation of a team that would be a major factor in the history of football. It is all about Americas ability to love the team but also to hate it. Sperber went to the University of Notre Dame to conduct all of his research. He was warned that he would not be welcomed at the school, but when he arrived he saw the truth to be the exact opposite. They allowed him to dig deep into the history of the game and how he Fighting Irish fit into that game. He bases most of his writing on papers that have been held in the library written on the ups and downs of the many years of football and Notre Dame. The game of football became a major outlet for Catholic pride, but with this was brought much American scorn. In this book the author tells of how the game became the sport it is, the conflict between administrators and athletes, the school, alumni, and dealing with the outside world. The press, sports public, and other schools were very hard on Notre Dame; the school had to learn a suitable way to deal with the temperament of the public and the image that they held for the Catholic school. Notre Dame not only had the problem of finding and educating good players, but to keep the image of the high esteemed school in check. Kunte Rockne was the head coach of the Fighting Irish, and he became a star in his own right. He was a great coach and leader, but suffered an untimely death in a plane crash in 1931. He built winning teams on step at a time, and often used ruthless tactics to get a winning season. He was not afraid of breaking the rules, but for some reason this ma...

Chapter Coursework Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Chapter - Coursework Example Therefore, based on this rule it is clear evidence that Daddy was guilty of doing an illegal thing to Alison and Meredith (Friedland, Bergman, & Taslitz, 2015). Student 2: As a defence Attorney, my arguments against allegations made by Alison to my client, Daddy, do not hold substantial ground for accusation. Alison does not have any prove to show that Daddy was guilty. Daddy was silent because he did not want to create an embarrassing scene in the presence of the visitors by arguing with his son, Alison. Student 3: As a judge my ruling on this case is that under Rule 104.The accused has the burden of proving innocent. If he/she remains silent, it is an indication that one is guilty. The burden consists of the following elements namely; the accused must hear the statement and understand it. The statement must be within the party’s personal knowledge. Finally, the accused party must deny the allegations if they are not true. In this case, Daddy was guilty because he violated all the above burden of proof (Friedland, Bergman, & Taslitz, 2015). The facts as presented are that Paul is a prosecution witness in a robbery charge against his friend John whom together with George and Ringo, typically played a game of poker together. It is during one of the poker game sessions that Paul teased John on a rumor that was circulated that he had engaged in a bank robbery incident. Paul requests for a share of the loot, but John is mute about it. The prosecutor seeks to rely on John’s silence as proof of guilt. The accused is cross-examined by both counsels (Friedland, Bergman, & Taslitz, 2015). Student 1: As the defense attorney, the other foundational I would seek to establish are whether in teasing each other while playing the soccer games do the guys put more emphasis on the truth of every allegation? If the answer is to the negative is there normally an intention to spoil one another’s reputation as a friend? What is the reputation of John in the

The physics of Sonography Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The physics of Sonography - Essay Example In the study of waves, under physics, discoveries were made of some waves that were invisible to the human eye, but that would be extremely useful in imagery. Sonography depends on ultrasound waves, which are used to generate images coming from an object from which reflection occurred (Abu-Zidan, Ashraf and Peter 501). The physics, which is involved in the studies, address the properties of the waves as well as how the waves relate with other environmental elements. The physicians have to analyze the effect and results obtained by propelling the ultrasound waves onto the human body. In addition, doing this establish whether the technology is safe as well as useful to the field. By conducting experiments on the ultrasound wave properties, the physicians can identify the elements, which pose a challenge to the technology, and possibly device ways in which they can be eliminated. In sonography, elements such as shadows (Abu-Zidan, Ashraf and Peter 502) may cause wrongful data collection thereby drawing the need to have a means by which the shadow effect is reduced. Physics in this case focuses on perfecting the sonography operation by ensuring that the data obtained by use of the ultrasounds is accurate and free of errors. Data interpretation is another element of physics that is of great use in sonography. By using sonographic technology, the aim of the experience is to obtain data from the body without having to put the patient through vigorous methods. Different conditions, persona and deformations in the human body are bound to produce different result results under sonographic study (Abu-Zidan, Ashraf and Peter 508). It is important to engage physics in the studies since by the use of physics the densities, volume, texture, color and activity of the specimen under investigation can be determined. It is essential in the case of sonography since the medical practice cannot allow trial and error techniques that