Friday, August 21, 2020

You will confront yourself and describe who you are by creating a Essay

You will stand up to yourself and depict what your identity is by making an individual comparison, for this situation it needs to water - Essay Example Similarly as new water is constrained in the outside of earth, I additionally have my own constraints on the grounds that nobody is great and the main method to change this is by acknowledgment. I am in this manner like water as I am required by everybody and worshiped by all. Water is utilized for cooking, drinking, flooding land, developing harvests, making different substances and beverages, cleaning, showering and washing among different employments. I can give a perpetual rundown of the ceaseless employments of water. It is because of these ceaseless reasons that water is supposed to be life and individuals in any event, biting the dust for absence of it in some piece of the world. These numerous utilizations guarantee that individuals can't leave without it and would do anything conceivable to have it. Much the same as the water has boundless utilizations and significance for everybody, I likewise have boundless significance any place I am and consequently end up being an incredible resource any place I am. It is therefore that I generally need to chip in my administrations and helpfulness to all around I can without separation or preference. With this non-unfair disposition, I can work in any condition and with everyone without grumbling yet with persistence, difficult work, steadiness and resilience and in the finishes achievement is consistently close by. Water is stunning as it can change its physical nature to different structures relying upon the coercion to various components. In its characteristic structure, water is fluid. In any case, when exposed to amazingly low temperatures, it gathers and afterward becomes ice which is hard and extremely strong. Extraordinary coercion to high temperatures divert it from fluid to fume and escapes noticeable all around except if caught which at that point makes it to consolidate and turn around to fluid however which is increasingly unadulterated. I additionally change my mentality and energies relying upon the earth I am in or that I am exposed to simply like water. On the off chance that my condition expects me to place in extra working hours or more classes so as to succeed, at that point I quickly change my

Saturday, July 11, 2020

Using College Essay Examples For Writing Your Best Essay

Using College Essay Examples For Writing Your Best EssayWhen writing a college essay, you will need many different essay examples to help you along the way. If you're like most students and you're trying to get your grades up, you may be overwhelmed by all of the different essay examples that are available for you to read.First of all, before you go to a book store or on the Internet to look for college essay examples, it is important that you stop and really think about why you want to use these examples in the first place. If you are just trying to figure out how to get your grades up, you may only have one example, and your grade depends entirely on the words that are included in that example. But if you are looking for essay examples that will help you write the perfect essay, you may want to find a variety of examples so that you can use them in various ways.One thing that you should do when you begin looking for essay examples is to write down the main points that you want to m ake. You should look at these points and make sure that they are all related to the topic that you are writing about. Then, take some time to read as many examples as you can find so that you can look at each of them in a different light. Some examples will make specific points while others are more general, but it is good to take advantage of all of the different types of examples that are available to you.The first category of college essay examples that you should find is the essay that is just designed to teach you how to write an essay. These are usually the easiest to understand and there are usually very little structure involved. These examples are also good if you are writing an essay to give you some advice about what kind of essay you should write, and what you should avoid doing. One great example of this type of essay would be something like 'Write Your Dissertation Paper As A Novel.'The next category of example is called 'How to Write a Dead Simple Essay.' This is a ve ry good example because it is simple and easy to follow. You should be able to learn a lot from this type of example. You should also notice that there is not much structure involved in this type of example because there is no set format that the writer follows.A good example of this would be 'What Do You Want to Say in Your Essay?' This is another good example because it has some structure involved in it. You should be able to follow along and get a better idea of what the author is trying to say. It is also an example that you will be able to use for many different types of essays.Another example of this type of example would be something like 'The Best Things in Life Are Free.' It is also very good for helping you to understand what the author is trying to say. And it has some structure in it. Again, you should be able to follow along and get a better idea of what the author is trying to say.Finally, you should look for examples that are specifically written for writing short par agraphs. This is a great example because you will get to learn some tips about how to write shorter paragraphs and yet still be able to express the same information. This type of example should be easy to understand and write. You should also see that there is little structure involved in this type of example because the writer will simply be going through the points that he wants to make in the paragraph.

Wednesday, May 20, 2020

Disaster of Bangladesh Essay - 709 Words

Bangladeshi disaster: What price those  £10 chinos now? Head Line: Primark, Bonmarchà © and Western consumers must take a share of the responsibility for the deaths in the Bangladeshi clothing factory. By: David Blair Published By: The Telegraph Date: 25 Apr 2013 Summary: This article is about the distressing incident which took place in Bangladesh where 228 people died in the fall down of eight storey’s Rana Plaza. Rana Plaza had shops, offices and factories crowded with many people. But due to its substandard construction building got collapsed and fell down killing many people. While many of them got trapped and seriously wounded and the Bangladeshi government confirmed a day of national grief. Rana Plaza contained four†¦show more content†¦On the other hand the Governments of big retailers have to impose certain statutory regulations which will protect their manufacturers/suppliers in countries like Bangladesh. Lastly consumers have to play their role by using the purchasing power to force big retailers to follow a book of rule. I would like to add similar incidents which happened in the factories, commercial and residential buildings of Pakistan. Garment factories in the Pakistani cities of Karachi and Lahore caught fire on 11 September 2012. The fires occurred in a textile factory in the western part of Karachi and in a shoemaking factory in Lahore. The fires are considered to be the most deadly and worst industrial factory fires in Pakistans history, killing 257 people and seriously injuring more than 600. The garment factory Ali Enterprises, which is located in Plot 67, Hub Road, Baldia Town, Karachi, used to export its garments to Europe and the United, and had employed between 1,200 and 1,500 workers. Ali Enterprises manufactured denim, knitted garments, and hosiery, and had capital of between $10 million and $50 million. Workers at Ali Enterprises said they earned between 5,000 and 10,000 rupees ($52 to $104) a month for their labour. Margalla Towers Islamabad, Pakistan got collapsed in year 2005. All of these incidents usually take place in developing countries due to the negligence of building owners, lack of constructionShow MoreRelatedNatural Disasters and Political Issues in Bangladesh577 Words   |  2 Pages Natural disasters and political issues in Bangladesh during the 1940s and subsequent decades provided the block for the development of what is today one of the world’s largest nongovernment organization (NGO) sectors. Famine took more than 3 million lives in 1943, and Typhoon killed more than 500,000 in 1970. Ranada Prasad Shaha is a coal trading business man who built the Kumudini Hospital to provided free medical care and treatment to people from different communities by that he fulfilledRead MoreBusiness Ethics : Bangladesh Textile Industry Disaster2546 Words   |  11 PagesRESEARCH PAPER ON BUSINESS ETHICS BANGLADESH TEXTILE INDUSTRY DISASTER Business Ethics: Business ethics also commonly known as corporate ethics is group of ethical values that are to be applied in business. It applies to all aspects of business conduct and is relevant to the conduct of individuals and entire organizations. There are certain codes of ethics that must be followed by construction industrialists and the list follows as - †¢ Client Service. The clients should be served with honestyRead MoreHow Has The Media Affected The Politics Of The Bangladesh Factory Disaster?1292 Words   |  6 PagesHow has the media affected the politics surrounding the Bangladesh factory disaster? One of the most deadliest working disasters in recent histpry, the Rana Plaza in Bangladesh collapsed leaving an estimated 1,300 dead and 2,500 injured. Before collapsing in April 2013, the eight story building was used mainly by western commercial businesses such as Walmart and Primark. Workers in Bangladesh are repeatedly pushed by fast production times, to meet the demands of changing western fashion, leavingRead MoreDisaster in Bangladesh: The Collapse of the Rana Plaza Building915 Words   |  4 Pagesï » ¿Case 27 1. From an economic perspective, was the shift to a free trade regime in the textile industry good for Bangladesh? Employment and economic growth in Bangladesh depends upon exports of textile products which were allowed through a preferential quota system for textile market export from poor markets to rich markets. As soon as the shift to a free trade regime appeared along with the competition with countries such as China and Indonesia the quick collapse of Bangladesh’s textile industryRead MoreIndigenous Coping Mechanism For Combating Disaster Essay1478 Words   |  6 PagesIndigenous Coping Mechanism for Combating Disaster in Bangladesh Abstract: The study has been conducted based on broad objective of exploring indigenous coping mechanisms for combating disaster at Koyra upazila of Khulna and Patharghata upazila of Barguna district in Bangladesh. For attaining broad objective the study focuses some important objectives that include revealing indigenous perception about disaster, exploring indigenous coping mechanisms, revealing Governmental and NGOs mechanisms andRead MoreThe Ministry Of Disaster Management Program1383 Words   |  6 PagesThe Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief (MoDMR) of the Government of Bangladesh is responsible for coordinating national disaster management efforts throughout all agencies. The Disaster Management Bureau (DMB) under MoDMR, is responsible for creating public awareness about the risks associated with natural and human-induced hazards, and to formulate programs and projects that will better prepare at-risk communities and public officials to mitigate the consequences of dis asters. The DirectorateRead MoreEvaluating The Effectiveness Of Foreign Aid And The Millennium Development Goals978 Words   |  4 PagesDevelopment Goals (MDGs) project in Bangladesh and Nepal Research Question: How does Foreign Aid impact Gender Inequality in Bangladesh and Nepal? Proposal: The impact of gender inequality in Bangladesh and Nepal is often influenced by the lack of good governance in impoverished countries such as these. Without good governance, it is likely that only a fraction of that aid will go towards rebuilding the lives of survivors from a natural disaster. Natural disasters can also be a strong indicator asRead MoreThe Structural Failure Of The Rana Plaza Collapse Essay1622 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction: Bangladesh is one of the world s most densely populated countries, with its people crammed into a delta of rivers that empties into the Bay of Bengal (BBC, 2015). Poverty is widespread, where many people suffer from malnutrition, especially in the rural areas. The structural failure of the Rana Plaza collapse, an eight-story commercial building, occurred on 24 April 2013 in the Savar Upazila of Dhaka, Bangladesh. This resulted in 1,137 confirmed dead at Rana Plaza, and over a yearRead MoreCurrent Prioritization Of Early Warning1490 Words   |  6 Pagesresponse to the preparedness and mitigation approach in disaster management discourse of Bangladesh. And the government is trying to focus on some cost effective actions as well as to avoid the issue of risk transference and new risk issues they experienced in building polders. Government’s wish was also reflected in the comprehensive disaster management theme of Climate change strategy and action plan. In 2009 Govt. formulate d Bangladesh Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BCCSAP) which rightlyRead MoreThe Problem Of Global Warming1482 Words   |  6 Pagesthat indeed most of the affected nations are the ones that have not even contributed immensely to pollution of the globe. Climate change presents an environmental challenge, economic challenge and social challenge to the country that it affects. Bangladesh is a standout amongst the most defenseless nations to climate change because of geographic exposure, low salary and more prominent dependence on climate sensitive sectors, especially agriculture. People, exposed to the most extreme climate-related

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser - 957 Words

Fast Food Nation Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser was overall an alarmingly convincing tale. Schlosser’s ability to subtly drop facts regarding the negative aspects of the fast food industry that so profoundly swayed the reader wa extremely effective. Schlosser did not come out and state his opinion bluntly at any time throughout the novel. Instead, he would incorporate the right facts here and there to persuade the reader to feel the same way about the fast food industry that he felt: negatively. The reader is first introduced to Schlosser’s opinion about the fast food industry in the early pages of the book. At no point does Schlosser deny how widespread the fast food industry has become: â€Å"Fast food and its consequences have become†¦show more content†¦The most prominent concern of the takeover of fast food restaurants is the toll it will take on American’s health. Schlosser mentions: â€Å"The obesity epidemic that began in the United States during the late 1970s is now spreading to the rest of the world, with fast food as one of its vectors.† Obesity is only the beginning to a long line of health problems, including diabetes, many different types of cancer, and arthritis. One of the main sellers of Schlosser’s argument was the fact that a high intake of fast food will result in a multitude of health issues. His facts and figures regarding health issues related to fast food was one of his tactics used to get readers to believe his ideal that a â€Å"fast food nation† is a bad thing. Also, Schlosser spends a good deal of time discussing the nature of the products sold at fast food restaurants. Not only did he discuss slaughterhouses and the way the fast food products are cultivated. he discusses the way they are handled by the employees at the fast food restaurants. Schlosser goes into detail about the unethical way that slaughterhouses are operated. He notes that illegal immigrants are often used as the clean up crew during the night hours and that, on several accounts, women working in the slaughterhouse have been harassed or even raped. Schlosser notes: â€Å"Sex, drugs, and slaughterhouses may seem an unlikelyShow MoreRelatedFast Food Nation By Eric Schlosser1678 Words   |  7 Pagestougher food safety laws, it should protect American workers from serious harm, it should fight against dangerous concentrations of economic power (Schlosser). People must wonder how is it that a fast food company has so much customers. Advertising is the answer. The power advertisers have to be able to influence so many people s decisions and affect people’s lives especially the lives of young children is incredible. Advertisers know just who to target and they research how too. In Eric Schlosser’sRead MoreFast Food Nation By Eric Schlosser865 Words   |  4 Pagesspent on food to support a family. In the book Fast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser he talks about how fast food af fects American Society. He talks about how much money is spent on fast food, which is $110 billion dollars. Eric Schlosser says that many Americans spend more money on fast food then they do on cars and education. He mentions many food companies such as McDonalds, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and how it can be â€Å"the world’s largest provider of death care services†.(Schlosser 5) In Fast Food NationRead MoreFast Food Nation By Eric Schlosser1253 Words   |  6 Pagesand shipping ports. Cattle and other livestock arrived by railroad. After the animals were slaughtered, they would be shipped to meat counters around the country and overseas. In his book Fast Food Nation, Eric Schlosser writes about the changes in the meatpacking industry. Among those changes, Schlosser explains, Iowa Beef Packers (IBP) changed the entire meatpacking industry by turning the business of slaughtering animals into an assembly line. Meatpacking no longer requires skilled workersRead MoreFast F ood Nation By Eric Schlosser1596 Words   |  7 Pagesconsumerism and big business. Companies selling cheap food and cheap goods are scattered across the nation in every state and town. This is Eric Schlosser’s main topic in his novel Fast Food Nation. From telling the start of the first fast food restaurants in America, to explaining how the food is made, Schlosser s covers the whole history of the world wide food phenomenon. Eric Schlosser is an American journalist and Author of Fast Food Nation. He was born in Manhattan, New York, but grew up inRead MoreFast Food Nation By Eric Schlosser848 Words   |  4 PagesLAST THREE DECADES, fast food has infiltrated every nook and cranny of American society†, Schlosser writes. Fast Food Nation, written by Eric Schlosser, includes topics about fast food chains impact on the community, jobs relating to fast food, and health issues. Fast Food Nation uses logic to appeal to the aspects of fast food chains by giving relatable examples from the devastating effects on the communities to the millions of jobs offered for our country. Moreover, fast food chains have contributedRead MoreFast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser Essay1928 Words   |  8 Pagesmost shocking books of the generation is Eric Schlosser’s Fast Food Nation. The novel includes two sections, The American Way and Meat and Potatoes,† that aid him in describing the history and people wh o have helped shape up the basics of the â€Å"McWorld.† Fast Food Nation jumps into action at the beginning of the novel with a discussion of Carl N. Karcher and the McDonald’s brothers. He explores their roles as â€Å"Gods† of the fast-food industry. Schlosser then visits Colorado Springs and investigatesRead MoreFast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser Essay1205 Words   |  5 Pagesmake then at first glance. Eric Schlosser’s book Fast Food Nation delves deep into the intricate workings of the fast food industry to expose mistreatment and cruelty towards workers in the business, just as Upton Sinclair had done in the early 1900’s regarding the meat packing industry. Schlosser is able to bring light to the darkness behind the All-American meal through extensive research and personal confrontations of which he has high regards for. Fast Food Nation is a good literary nonfictionRead MoreAnalysis of Eric Schlosser ´s Fast Food Nation811 Words   |  3 PagesEric Schlosser’s novel Fast Food Nation provides a deep insight into the systematic and unified world of the fast food industry. From the title alone, readers develop a clear sense of the author’s intention for writing this book. Schlosser’s purpose for writing the novel is to raise awareness about the impact and consequences of fast food industries on society. The purpose of the novel is achieved by the author’s use of personal stories, and by relating fast food to various aspects of society. Read MoreThe Slaughterhouse By Upton Sinclair And Fast Food Nation By Eric Schlosser1015 Words   |  5 PagesHowever, not all industries have had significant advancements in today s modern world. For example, the food industry has been lacking in the basic necessities needed to sustain a safe, humane work environment, especially in the meat industry. Excerpts from The Jungle by Upton Sinclair and Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser elaborately explain the horrible environments inside the factory. Schlosser mainly addresses how unfit the conditions are for the workers, while Sinclair informs the reader of howRead MoreReview Of Stephen King And Fast Food Nation By Eric Schlosser1334 Words   |  6 Pagesreading included On Writing by Stephen King and Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser, both of these novels were very different and taught us different things.   One Writing gave us tips on how to be a good writer and different techniques King uses in his works while also being fun to read and really well written. Fast Food Nation was a very interesting, thought provoking book that spoke about the relevant and controversial topic of meat production in fast food restaurants. Both works are very relevant in

Catch 22 Essay Example For Students

Catch 22 Essay Catch-22Satire is often used by writers to express their discontent towards a subject in a humorous way. Joseph Hellers novel, Catch-22, satirizes war and its implications on society and man himself. Heller reveals the dehumanizing aspect of war, not the glory of it. He makes a social comment on the corruptive, self-fulfilling, irrational side of war that is often disregarded or dismissed. As he sheds light upon the darker part of war the universal qualities of mankind are revealed. In the novel Catch-22, the universal qualities of failure, corruption and irrationality are expressed in a satirical manner. The protagonist Yossarian is an antihero as he is unsuccessful in changing his situation. Yossarian is a lead bombardier pilot in World War II and becomes consumed with the fact that people he has not even met keep trying to kill him. He is convinced to remain alive forever or die in the attempt (Heller, 89). The more combat missions Yossarian flies the more intense his struggle wit h life becomes. Yossarian is constantly frustrated with his situation. One of his frustrations is the small crawlway leading out of the plane used in the event of an emergency. He believes it is an obstacle put there by providence as part of the plot that would destroy him (Heller, 57). Also during one of Yossarians flight he goes over the treacherous city Bologna against his will, but fulfilling the mission requirements. Suddenly black smoke is seen surrounding the plane and at any moment the plane could explode. Yossarian knew there was nothing he could do but sit there like an idiot and watch the ugly black puffs smashing up to kill him (Heller, 156). Yossarian is considered an antihero due to his lack of intelligence at improving his situation. Furthermore, his profound fear of dying in action clutters his mind and any room for quick, decisive, critical thought becomes lost. His theory that the entire world is plotting a conspiracy to kill him is a disillusioned one. Although, Y ossarian fails to realize that there was too many dangers for Yossarian to keep track of. There was Hitler, Mussolini and Tojo for example, and they were all out to kill him (Heller, 181). The only plan Yossarian conjures up is to pretend he has a liver condition allowing him temporary absences from his duties as a bombardier. He then gets admitted into the hospital and then, ironically, watches other soldiers and lieutenants wounded in combat and die. Yossarian ran right into the hospital, determined to remain there forever rather than fly one mission more (Heller, 175). Yossarian is a soldier lost in a world plotting for his annihilation. His inability to fight life for his life and lack of adequate planning deems him a failure. Milo Minderbinder, an avid entrepreneur in charge of running the syndicate alludes to the corruptive, materialistic tendencies mankind possesses. At the young age of twenty-seven Milo has accomplished every stockbrokers dream on Wallstreet, wealth and power are at his fingertips. His syndicate has expanded globally at an exponential rate increasing trade routes and net profits. Due to such prosperity and fame, Milo becomes greatly loved; he is awarded the Assistant Governor-General (Heller, 247) in Malta and his name engraved on a lustrous gold plaque. It read Major Sir Milo Minderbinder (Heller, 247). He is also the Caliph of Baghdad, the Imam of Damascus, and the Shiek of Araby (Heller, 248). Everywhere he goes, he is placed on a pedestal and treated like a God. The secret behind M and M enterprises immense success is its policy. The syndicate benefits and makes profits; therefore, everyone benefits which is ideally similar to democracy. All the people within a nation is what the g overnment is comprised of and each member has a voice. It sounds beautiful. When Milo boasts about his perfect syndicate saying, the syndicate benefits when I benefit, because everybody has a share (Heller, 242), how could anyone possibly see anything negative. Milos intentions are good in that his marketing strategies are used to benefit every shareholder in the syndicate yet, the idea of business expansion and soaring profits drive Milo to the brink of stupidity and his plans go sour. Eventually, business boomed on every battlefront (Heller, 263). Milo does business with both the Americans and the Germans. Milo contracted with the American military authorities to bomb the German-held highway bridge at Orvieto and with the German military authorities to defend the highway bridge at Orvieto with anti-aircraft fire against his own attack (Heller, 265)Milo emphasized the fact that profits greatly rose and it did not matter whether hundreds of people died or which side won since it rep resented an important victory for private enterprise. This reflects the values of many prestigious corporate owners who will take any measures necessary to enhance profits and take out the competition. At this point Milo realized a fantastic profit from both halves of his project (Heller, 265). He then made another contract with the Germans, but this time to bomb his own squadron. The true horror and devastation of Milo alleged business venture become apparent. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY IN THE WORLD OF BUSINESS EssayFrom now on, I dont want anyone to come in to see me while Im here. Is that clear?Yes sir†¦does that include me?YesI see†¦ will that be all?YesWhat shall I say to people who do come to see you while youre here?Tell them Im in and ask them to waitYes sir. For how long?Until Ive leftAnd then what shall I do with them?I dont careMay I send in to see you after youve left?Yes (Heller,286). Major Major Majors days of torment are over as nobody will ever laugh at his striking resemblance to Henry Fonda again. Also, given his circumstances, he will have no further problems relating to others. Joseph Heller puts an interesting twist to his crazy characters and almost persuades his readers into believing that they are in fact sane. Through this original use of rationale we are more prone to examine our own irrational natures. Failure, corruption, and irrationality are the universal qualities satirized in the novel Catch-22. Yossarian repeatedly fails at improving his pathetic existence and his future appears to be that of a downward spiral. Milo Minderbinder becomes brainwashed with the thought of profit, which resembles people own greed and selfishness. Moreover, Major, Major, Majors inability to relate to others therefore becoming a hermit like figure and General Peckems obsession with tight bomb patterns serves as a window, allowing us to peer into our own irrational existence.

Thursday, April 23, 2020

With close reference to the text explore Shakespeares presentation of Romeo through reference to at least three key scenes Essay Example For Students

With close reference to the text explore Shakespeares presentation of Romeo through reference to at least three key scenes Essay William Shakespeares Romeo and Juliet is an Elizabethan tragedy play, written in the sixteenth century. This is an important aspect to the play because terms like courtly lover would have been initially understood by an audience of that time, whereas, at present, it is virtually unknown. The phrase courtly lover was a way to describe Romeo in the beginning of the play. If a person was a courtly lover, they were usually in a false love with an older woman. In Romeos case, Rosaline, an unobtainable Capulet woman. A courtly lover was a person who felt that they were in love, but was simply infatuated with a person who was beyond their reach. This immature description could be contrasted as Romeo develops throughout the play. We will write a custom essay on With close reference to the text explore Shakespeares presentation of Romeo through reference to at least three key scenes specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now From the beginning of the play Shakespeare shows Romeo to be rather immature and adolescent. His short-lived infatuation with Rosaline could be contrasted with a more genuine love for Juliet. Shakespeare makes it clear to his audience that the character of Romeo is shallow and disingenuous. He does this by depicting Romeo to be reveling in his own misery and despair. Shakespeare uses dramatic devices in the form of riddles and contrived rhyme to show Romeos confusion. An example of this is in a conversation between Romeo and his cousin Benvolio in Act 1, Scene 1. Romeo uses a series of oxymora like loving hate and heavy lightness. Shakespeare shows through the forced poetic language that Romeo is seeking attention and enjoying the company of his misery. Shakespeare also makes it clear to his audience that a person truly in love would not speak in this manner. Although Shakespeare spends a lot of time in the beginning showing Romeos lack of maturity and false poetic language, after meeting Juliet for the first time, Romeos language is no longer false, and is more sincere. Although his words are still poetic, they are not false, but rather more natural. At the party at the Capulet household in Act 1, Scene 5, Romeo first meets Juliet. Although Shakespeare creates the idea that Romeo has fallen in love with Juliet, and that this love is also felt by Juliet, it is also questionable that Romeos new love is merely another adolescent infatuation, except this time, it is reciprocated by Juliet. Shakespeare uses a sonnet between Romeo and Juliet, indicating that their love is unforced and spontaneous. The sonnet indicates that Romeo and Juliets conversation is natural and flowing, as opposed to forced and contrived. Also, contrary to Elizabethan customs, the sonnet between Romeo and Juliet is shared, as opposed to the usual courtly lover manner of the man speaking the verse, not the woman. The language that Romeo and Juliet use is a total contrast to the noise of the party, and to the language of hate throughout the play, for example, Then move not, while my prayers effect I take could be contrasted with Patience perforce with willful choler meeting. It is also a contrast with the entire violent background of the story, being about hatred between two families, with a pair of star-crossd lovers between it. Shakespeare shows Romeo to be devastated when he finds out that Juliet belongs to the Capulet family, as is Juliet when she finds out Romeo is a Montague. My only love sprung from my only hate, Juliet says, showing the deep contrast of love over hate in the play. Although Romeo is deeply saddened to find that Juliet is a forbidden love, he proves that he is serious about his love by showing determination to see Juliet again, which results in the balcony scene. Shakespeare shows Romeo using a lot of imagery, particularly of light, for example The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars. In this part of the play, Shakespeare leaves it up to the audience to make their decision as to whether Romeo has grown up, or is still a boy. Romeo is still using rhetoric and rhyme similar to his earlier scenes, for example, But soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. but it is questionable as to whether this is different and more genuine than bef ore. By the end of this scene, Romeo and Juliet have agreed to marry. This is a way of Shakespeare showing that Romeo is willing to take responsibility for his feelings, as opposed to when his misery was simply about appearance. .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580 , .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580 .postImageUrl , .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580 , .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580:hover , .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580:visited , .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580:active { border:0!important; } .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580:active , .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580 .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ua6b6e9822d6eb20ad73bb10d6df4f580:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: The Darkness Out EssayIn Act 3, Scene 1, after Romeo and Juliet have been married by Friar Lawrence, Tybalt, Juliets cousin, is looking to fight Romeo. Shakespeare shows Romeos new found maturity in his will not to fight Tybalt. Romeo explains to him that he loves him, yet cannot say why, therefore he doesnt want to fight. Although Shakespeare shows Romeos considerable change of character and new level of maturity, he also shows that Romeo can be erratic and spontaneous as he was before. Shakespeare does this through Romeos killing of Tybalt for murdering Mercutio, a very close friend of Romeos. Romeos punishment for the murder of Tybalt was banishment, and at this point in the play, the audience may question whether Romeo has gone back to his immature self. Romeos reaction to being banished from Verona is devastation. He implies in: Be merciful, say death, that he would rather die than be without Verona or Juliet. He says There is no world beyond Verona walls, again saying that death would be a better solution. Romeos mood, however, is quickly restored when he hears of Friar Lawrences arrangement for Romeo and Juliet to spend a night together. This is clear when Romeo says How well my comfort is revived by this. Upon meeting with Juliet again, Romeos mood is changed considerably, as is his will to seek a practical solution to his problems. Romeo is clearly more mature as he is more cautious about his actions so as not to get caught with Juliet. Romeo says I must be gone and live, or stay and die, indicating he knows what he has to do, and is again, taking responsibility. Act 5, Scene 3 shows Romeo visiting Juliet at her tomb, where as far as he knows, she lies dead. Shakespeare makes it clear to his audience that Romeos love for Juliet is genuine and deep. Romeo cannot bare to live without Juliet, and his plan is to kill himself and be with her. Romeos final speech is clearly shown by Shakespeare to be sincere and without self-pity, as some of his previous speech had been. Shakespeare is able to show the audience that Romeos death was a decision made consciously and in a controlled way. He does this mainly through Romeos final speech. In previous parts of the play, Romeos language was contrived and self-deceiving. At this point, however, his language is clearly deep and sincere. It is possible here to think that Romeos decision to kill himself was erratic and immature, as if he was looking for an easy way out. However, I believe that it is clear to see that the decision made by Romeo to take his own life was made sensibly and in a non-self-pitying wa y. He was thinking clearly and it was what he truly wanted, and showed his love for Juliet to be deep and meaningful. In his final speech, Romeo speaks of a desperate pilot, meaning that his body is being steered towards this fate of death with Juliet. Romeos last words, Thus with a kiss I die, show that in his last living moments her was thinking not of himself, but of Juliet. The death of Romeo and Juliet eventually ended the colossal feud between the Montague and Capulet households. I think this was a device used by Shakespeare to show the power of love over war. Throughout the play Shakespeare used many methods and techniques to present the character of Romeo. In the first part of the play, before meeting Juliet, Romeos language was very poetic, far too poetic for someone genuinely in love. It is made clear by Shakespeare that Romeos language is extremely forced and that he is seeking the attention of those around him, by dwelling in his misery. Shakespeare satirized the form of a courtly lover, showing that Romeos feelings are full of artifice. .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f , .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f .postImageUrl , .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f , .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f:hover , .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f:visited , .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f:active { border:0!important; } .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f:active , .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .u351cd34a6de55b80fb13893326a7e25f:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Explore Shakespeare's presentation of Shylock EssayThrough a lot of the play I noticed that Shakespeares descriptions of Romeo are very ambivalent. This gives me the impression that Shakespeare wants his audience to draw their own conclusions from Romeos behaviour. I drew the conclusion that through meeting Juliet, the character of Romeo quickly matured. He started to think of others rather than crave their attention. I realise that it is possible to come to the conclusion that Romeo is in another false love, but I noticed many differences in Romeos character as the play progressed. For example, the rhyme Romeo uses in Act 1, Scene 1, like smoke made with the fume of sighs ; and a fire sparkling in lovers eyes, were all extremely forced. Romeo was looking for attention, but as the play progressed, I noticed that Romeo thought little in the way of attention for his feelings, but more about dealing with the problems he faced. Romeos selfless final speech made me realise that he was thinking of Juliet, and doing what he truly thought was right, rather than trying to appear depressed, which shows, to me, that Romeo did change through meeting Juliet. Shakespeares many devices clearly depicted Romeos thoughts and feelings throughout the play, and the variety of each type of device showed Shakespeares ability to convey a character through many different perspectives.

Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Facts about Spain essays

Facts about Spain essays The Iberian people from North Africa were one of the first to arrive in Spain in about 1000 BC. They were followed by the Celts from the north and the Phoenicians from the Mediterranean. The Romans came in the 3rd century BC, and became the dominant power over the next few centuries. The Romans had a great impact on Spain as their laws, languages and customs were adopted by the Spanish people. In 409 AD, Roman Spain was invaded by Germanic tribes who established a Visigothic kingdom in the country. They ruled until 711, when the Muslims from North Africa (known as Moors) conquered most of Spain. The Muslim rule lasted in Spain for the next 800 years during which arts and sciences flourished. The next phase in Spanish history started with the re-conquest of the country by the Christians. In the 15th century the Muslims were defeated by the Catholic Christian Monarchs and expelled from the country. This was the start of the Golden Period' in Spanish history during which Columbus discovered America in 1492 and Spain became a major colonial power The Spanish empire began to weaken in the 18th and 19th centuries after a series of expensive wars with France, Britain and the USA. Its decisive defeat in the American-Spanish war of 1898 signaled the end of the Another significant episode in Spain's history is the Civil War of 1936-39 between the Nationalists supported by the Nazis, and the Republicans supported by the Soviets and foreign idealists. The defeat of the Republicans led to a 35-year fascist rule by General Franco. Spain is now a democratic country, member of the European Union (EU) and a famous ...

Saturday, February 29, 2020

300 Movie

The film I chose to evaluate is the fantasy action film, â€Å"300. † 300 is a fictional retelling of the Battle of Thermopylae, in which the Greeks tried to hold off an invasion of the Persian Empire. The author’s message, from a leadership perspective, shows what a group of soldier would do for their king and how they inspire a country. A number of scenes from the film will depict that King Leonidas is a great leader with great conviction for what he believes in. Leonidas has many great leadership traits. Leonidas has all the traits a good leader needs. He has intelligence, self-confidence, determination, integrity, and sociability. Even though Leonidas has assigned leadership, he also has emergent leadership. He is appointed king only after he has been tested by the rigorous traditional Spartan initiations into adulthood. After being inspected at birth to see if he was worthy of being a Sparta, Leonidas was thrown into the wild at the age of 7 and left to survive. Leonidas came back alive to prove to his father, and his people that he is capable to be their king. As king, Leonidas command legitimate, coercive, and reward power like his counterpart, Xerxes of Persia. But Leonidas also has referent power that Xerxes does not. Leonidas’ soldiers liked him and would die for him. Xerces’ army was made up of slaves and beasts that fear for their lives. They are forced to fight, and when they fail, Xerxes becomes enraged and beheads them. Leonidas’ leadership style is both directive and supportive. He gave specific instructions on how to battle against the overwhelming Persian Army and he also engages in combat with his army. After a victory he praises his soldier for their bravery and courage. He respects and acknowledges each soldier’s effort in the battles. Leonidas has high task and high relationship behavior with his army. Leonidas faced many challenges throughout the movie. One example was in the beginning, when the Persian messenger came to Leonidas and gave him Xerxes’ ultimatum. He had a difficult decision to make. His decision would impact the whole nation. Should he give in to the Persian army or should he declare war? As he ponders his answer, he looked at his people, their children, and his wife. He thought about his Spartan heritage and values. Spartans don’t surrender or fear anything. Acting according to authentic leadership defined, he lead by kicking the Persian messenger into the well. His actions show his people that he would not let anyone invade the empire, no matter the opposition. He showed them that his leadership is genuine and he would not coward even if he is greatly outmatched. Leonidas is a perfect leader for the situations in the film. In battle, a leader must have authoritative powers. He must have loyalty and attraction of his soldiers. He must also have highly structured strategic plans for his soldiers. The phalanx formation the Spartans use requires the soldiers to fight as one to be strong. The contingency theory of leadership would define Leonidas as being in a very favorable situation. In a favorable situation, the leader and followers will be effective. As seen through most of the film, Leonidas and his soldiers were victorious in all their battles until they were out flanked by the Persians at the end. Leonidas has good dyadic relationships with his men. He and his Captain, Artemis fought alongside each other when they were young. He also develops mutual trust and respect from Artemis and his soldiers, how could he of convince the 300 men to fight the whole Persian army. He knows that each man is a soldier and that they have heirs at home. They are also proud to fight alongside Leonidas. He doesn’t enlist them and take them to war. It is evident when he met up with the Arcadians. When the Arcadian General, Daxos ridicule Leonidas about how few men he brought to the war front, Leonidas asked three Arcadians for their profession. They responded with Potter, Sculptor, and Blacksmith. Leonidas then turns to his soldiers and asked them. They responded with supporting and confident grunts of courage for their leader. According to the Leader-Member Exchange Theory, leadership is a process that is centered on interactions between the leader and his followers. By having high-quality leader-member exchanges with his men, Leonidas is able to have positive performances and commitment from his men and be victorious in the battles. Leonidas was also able to lead through transformational leadership. Transformational leadership brings about positive change to the leader and to those who follow. Leonidas headed into an unfavorable war courageously so that his people may remain free. After multiple attacks on the Spartans had fail, Xerxes call for an audience with Leonidas. He offered Leonidas royalties if he put down his arms and be Xerxes’ general. But Leonidas thought of his people and his kingdom. His people would have to serve the Persians and if he surrendered, how could he answer to his ancestors. By surrendering he would not be a true Spartan. Leonidas kept his honor and brushed off Xerxes. He thought about his followers before himself. By doing this, even in death Leonidas was able to inspire and stimulate the Greek country to collaborate and fend off the Persian Invasion. In conclusion, Leonidas is a good leader as depicted in the film. He has a broad range of leadership skills and traits, but I believe Leonidas is best at leading with transformational leadership. His charisma strongly warrants him to lead through transformational leadership and given the situations of the film, Leonidas is best to use transformational leadership. Also, the message the film entitles is that one great man or nation can inspire a whole country to stand as one and unite towards a common goal.

Thursday, February 13, 2020

Design in Contemporary Contexts Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Design in Contemporary Contexts - Essay Example So the 1850’s and onwards the term Realism was used by artists and designers. Romanticism was subjective and Realism was objective. The current historicism has been opposed by modernism with a series of ideas that included Romanticism itself. But a painting school originating in France called Impressionism had a particular impact on modernism. Initially it was work done in air not in the studios as they believed that human beings did not see objects but what they see is the light. With time, the studies of the school became a great influence. When the century was turning, there were three concepts that were in conflict. Firstly, machines as being a part of beauty were considered important. Secondly, the subjective experience was important. Lastly, there was a necessity that a system replaces the concept of objective reality. The first fifteen years of twentieth century of modernism were marked by famous artists such as Matisse, the abstract paintings of Wassily Kandinsky and m any others. To this point, modernism enjoyed subjective experience and the idea of a simplified structure. Cinemas were introduced during this period and the idea of moving pictures gave modernism a unique art form. The art of photography also affected modernism. Modernism began to merge with consumer culture during the 1960’s after World War II. Along with modernist art, modernist design entered the popular cultures. This amalgamation transformed the meaning of modernism itself. This kind of modernism suggested the rejection of tradition which itself became a tradition. It also suggested that there was a difference between the elite modernist and mass consumerist culture and this difference had lost its precision. This marked the start of the Post Modernism era. (Museum Quality, 2007). Two Modernist Artists/Designers Marcel Duchamp was one of the modernist artist who had become famous from the year 1916 when he had installed ready-made objects such as hat stands, bottle stan ds in the art gallery. In 1917, the Fountain which was a ready made object had entered the art history as an iconic object. (Meecham and Sheldon, 2005, p.17).One of his famous quotes are: â€Å"The creative act is not performed by the artist alone; the spectator brings the work in contact with the external world by deciphering and interpreting its inner qualifications and thus adds his contribution to the creative act.† The above quote stated by Duchamp suggests that modernism can be understood in terms of objectivism through observation of the real world entities and incorporating those observations in art. This shows that he followed the Dadaist and Surrealist Movements. Edward Johnston was another famous modernist artist who became famous in the 1919 when he came up with his iconic object called the London Underground which was a modified form of an existing logo and became greatly popular and liked. He was among the early artists who brought corporate taste in artistic pi ece. (MobileReference). One of the famous quotes by Johnston is: â€Å"A man who don’t know history, he don’t know anything.† Hence, this shows that Johnston believed historicism in art. Marcel Duchamp Marcel Duchamp was a French artist who supported the Dadaist and Surrealist movements. His artwork influenced the Western art’s development after the World War I. He influenced many other famous artists with his

Saturday, February 1, 2020

The airing of V for Vendetta on Chinese state television- its positive Essay

The airing of V for Vendetta on Chinese state television- its positive and negative effects on the Chinese people, media and cen - Essay Example Now with the media event in China, the movie has become bone of contention among the common Chinese people and Beijing elite groups alike, and it is likely to cause notable impacts on the Chinese media and population as a whole. The Hugo Weaving and Natalie Portman starred film is set in a fictional English community, and exposes a daring, charming freedom fighter known as ‘V’ (Vigilante), who initiates a revolution against a futuristic authoritarian regime. The James McTeigue directed movie is based on the 1982 comic book V for Vendetta written by Alan Moore and David Lloyd. It depicts a futuristic situation in Britain where V has to use radical tactics to fight the oppressive fascist state to regain the state’s freedom. Another main character of the story is Evey, a young woman who is rescued by V from a crucial life-and death condition. As the story progresses, she also identifies her role in the mission carried out by V and voluntarily joins him. V wears the m ask of Guy Fawkes and invites all the people to join him to blow up the parliament and thereby regain freedom and justice. Although V’s activities are genuine and reasonable, the corrupt Chancellor deems them as acts of terrorism. The movie begins reminding the event when Guy Fawkes plotted to destroy the parliament and the king in order to regain catholic sovereignty in England. The movie really intends to criticise the traditional tactics (fear and the voice of God) used by the government to create a feeling that the wrath of God will soon avenge who went against the regime. (Source: The Hollywood Reporter). In this context, the airing of the movie V for Vendetta raises numerous questions with regard to the Chinese censorship laws and entertainment policies. The Chinese government has been very much concerned about preserving its political authority and hence maintained a tight rein on traditional and new media so as to prevent any potential threats from their part. The gov ernment has very often entailed strict media controls which involved but not limited to using monitoring systems, shutting down publications or websites, jailing etc. As Bennet (2013) points out, China's censorship of its media has been getting attention recently when  Southern Weekly, a liberal-leaning paper based in Guangzhou, staged an extensive confrontation with the government. Google's battle with the Chinese government over Internet censorship in China is another example. However, as many thinkers believe, the airing of the controversial film indicates China’s attempt to balance its media controlling power with the growing need for information. In other words, it seems that China is badly in need of press freedom while at the same time worried about the impacts the liberalisation would bring upon the economy. The airing of the V for Vendetta would be counted as a remarkable event in the history of Chinese media. The event got wide media coverage and multiple response s around the globe. As The Guardian reported dated 20th December 2012, ‘after the telecast, China's internet crackled with quotes of a famous catchline from the movie: â€Å"People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people"’. The reports indicate that people at the helm of affairs were not very much

Friday, January 24, 2020

Dehumanization in Night Essay -- The Holocaust Experience, Elie Wiese

Many themes exist in Night, Elie Wiesel’s nightmarish story of his Holocaust experience. From normal life in a small town to physical abuse in concentration camps, Night chronicles the journey of Wiesel’s teenage years. Neither Wiesel nor any of the Jews in Sighet could have imagined the horrors that would befall them as their lived changed under the Nazi regime. The Jews all lived peaceful, civilized lives before German occupation. Eliezer Wiesel was concerned with mysticism and his father was â€Å"more involved with the welfare of others than with that of his own kin† (4). This would change in the coming weeks, as Jews are segregated, sent to camps, and both physically and emotionally abused. These changes and abuse would dehumanize men and cause them to revert to basic instincts. Wiesel and his peers devolve from civilized human beings to savage animals during the course of Night. Segregation from the rest of society begins the dehumanization of Sighet Jews. The first measure taken by the Hungarian Police against Jews is to label them with yellow stars. Early in Night, while life is still normal despite German occupation of their town, Wiesel explains: â€Å"Three days later, a new decree: every Jew had to wear the yellow star† (11). This decree is demoralizing to Jews because it labels them and sets them apart from the rest of Sighet’s population. Like trees marked for logging or dogs marked with owner tags, many people in Sighet are marked with yellow stars, to reveal their Jewish faith. Avni describes Wiesel and the Jews as being â€Å"propelled out of himself, out of humanity, out of the world as he knew it† (Avni 140). The Jews are taken out of the normal lives they have led for years and are beginning to follow new rules... ...ely so, since they are so close to death. Their lives are only about death. Through segregation, loss of identity, and abuse, Wiesel and the prisoners around him devolve from civilized human beings into savage animals. The yellow stars begin separation from society, followed by ghettos and transports. Nakedness and haircuts, then new names, remove each prisoner’s identity, and physical abuse in the form of malnourishment, night marches, and physical beatings wear down prisoners. By the end of Night, the prisoners are ferocious from the experiences under German rule and, as Avni puts it, â€Å"a living dead, unfit for life† (Avni 129). The prisoners not only revert to animal instincts, but experience such mental trauma that normal life with other people may be years away. Night dramatically illustrates the severe dehumanization that occurred under Hitler’s rule.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

Creative Writing – The Bliss Of Acceptance

The plane's contact with the ground woke me from my semi-conscious state and I looked around anxiously, to see where I was. We had finally landed, and I felt life flow back into my limbs as I stretched in my seat. A gentle murmur rose as the plane slowed down, and the reassuring sound of the pilot echoed through the plane. â€Å"Ladies and gentlemen, we have now arrived in Delhi, the temperature is a pleasant forty three degrees with cloudless skies, and local time is four fifteen PM†. Stewardesses strutted up and down isles collecting litter, and passengers began to abscond from the plane. As I lifted myself to my feet, still in a half alert state from jetlag-induced fatigue, I stumbled into the sunshine outside. The blue sky dazzled my agitated eyes, and I grumbled to myself in irritation. The scorching hot sun was already upon me, burning my unconditioned skin in a similar way to a magnifying glass burning an ant. Hours followed as we collected bags; showed passports and performed countless other tasks that made me want to curl up on the floor and lapse into hibernation. Whether I was in Delhi or London, I was still exhausted and cantankerous. Finally we managed to obtain our car, and, as I had suspected, a long trip hundreds of miles upwards to Northern India followed. On our journey, my irritation began to crumble. The first village we stopped at, where I could appreciate the scenery, was near the Punjab, in a rural area. The village itself looked primitive and simplistic, with buildings partially finished, abandoned with no roofs or waterproofing, like an unwanted animal abandoned on the street. Poverty reigned rampant, and incoherent languages flood towards me. We drew nearer to the village market, passing by unsavoury looking beggars and lone children. An old man peered at me through a half developed cataract, before falling into a coughing fit. The world around me seemed dismal. In a split moment, my impression changed. Just as the flood washes dirt from its path, so my notions about India changed. We turned the corner into the market square, and were met with a blissful scene; a crowded square full of laughing, shouting and commotion; stall owners bellowing at the top of their voices to advertise their goods, and amidst the joyful chaos young children scuttled around like playful insects. A rich variety of vivid colours met my eye in the form of scarlet apples, striking yellow bananas and earthy brown yams. Countless fruits held my gaze, which I had never known before. The poor no longer seemed menacing; a half smile on their face was noticeable, as if they were simply satisfied by the atmosphere. Everyone around me seemed happy; and the first question that I asked myself was, why? Back in London for a moment, the answer arrived. A grey sky enveloped the city, and people trudged in their various directions, minding their own businesses and keeping themselves to themselves. After living in my home for ten years, there were still people on my street I didn't know. However, the main question I was posed, which was how could people with little money, health care, and a low standard of living be happier than those living in a modernised world with excessive amounts of money and a high standard of living? The sad answer was, that we appear to have forgotten how to obtain happiness. Epicurus, a Greek philosopher living around 300 BC, spent much of his life finding out what was required to obtain true happiness. A well-known phrase of his is: The human soul is as material and mortal as the human body. To live a good life, is to exercise prudence and to enjoy life through stimulating the senses, subjecting oneself to tranquillity and scientific study. † Later, however, he concluded that to obtain true happiness one must have a number of things. Friends, a frugal lifestyle, time and thought were all considered prerequisites for happiness. Visualising the crowded metropolis of London in my mind, trying to ignore the shouting of the stall keepers intent on making me buy their spinach, I felt that we had all these. What was it that these people had that we did not? This question remained on my mind throughout my trip in India; through the bustle of the city in Jalundar; the peaceful tranquillity in the village; the faint sounds of gunshots near Kashmir; even during the humorous incident of seeing a man squat in the middle of a field only feet away from a road. Sitting back at home in London listening to the gentle drumming of the rain, I contemplated why it was so hard for the Western man to gain happiness. Like the correct document finally being found in a stack of papers, I finally produced the answer. A Ch'an (Zen) Buddhist once said: â€Å"Humans are afflicted with all external forms of life: we are subject to life and death, pleasure and pain, love and fear, good and evil, beautiful and ugly. We tend to sway, or strive towards one side, and reject its opposite. There is no real escape of one or the other, yet we somehow believe that sooner or later, we will be able to conquer the other side if we stay focused long enough. † The reason the average man in the West could not find happiness lies in acceptance. Driven relentlessly by the Capitalist machine, we are constantly told we must improve, do better, get promoted, find a better job, or save for the latest electronic gadget. The real obstacle in the way of happiness was an excess of opportunity in the West, which in turn sows the seeds in men's mind that they can achieve better all the time, leaving only a handful of people who achieve their goal, and reject the rest of the spoiled harvest of the population who are scarred with depression and left with an 'empty feeling' in life: that they have achieved nothing. It could be said that pain is essential for pleasure, if pleasure is to be known as pleasure. If we did not know of evil in the world, then how would we be able to distinguish good? Denial of one of these extremes is similar to denying the existence of both. If we believe that evil cannot exist, or that we can block it from our lives, then good cannot exist, because then there is nothing to measure it against. However, if we accept that both good and evil exist in our lives, it can allow us to feel more at home in the world, perhaps obtaining happiness. Looking back to India as evidence for this, I remembered an encounter with a family of peasants. The husband of the family was a peasant, working for the richer men as a farmer, constantly toiling at the fields every day with no hope of extra pay or advancement in his job. The wife of the family took care of their four children, all destined for the same lifestyle, in what many would call an endless, and pointless cycle. However, far from pitying them, I envied them. They were contented with their lives; they earned enough money to live under a roof with adequate food and drink. The end result of this was that they were happy; they had no ambitions to gain wealth, and were satisfied with their lot. To be truly happy we must not linger in the past, or hypothesise about the future, but live life for the moment, and enjoy its small pleasures. By losing the foresight of the future, or hindsight in the past, we open up that world of acceptance. Some people will steal because they see that they have something more in their future. Some people will perform good deeds because they desire to feel better about themselves. In this society, we can never truly be completely happy. From our first few years of life we have ambitions: to decide what we will be when we grow up, and how we will choose to live our lives. Without these ambitions society would, unfortunately, not function correctly; no one would have any motivation to do well at their jobs and get promoted, as the idea of a Marxist/Communist society shows. It seems to me the human population has dug itself into a pit where the light of true happiness is growing more and more remote as we dig further and further down. There will always be, even in the mind of a Buddhist monk or Christian nun, a growing desire to gain something else, no matter what it may be. This, I conclude, makes it impossible for anyone in the modern 21st Century to gain the status of ‘Buddha', or ‘The Enlightened, or Blissful One'.

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Analysis Of Claude Levi Strauss s Black As Slacker...

Claude LÃ ©vi-Strauss was a French anthropologist who believed that the myths created and told by a society could be a window into the beliefs and conflicts of that society. As a Structuralist, LÃ ©vi-Strauss saw stories as language and sought to understand their underlying grammar. This he believed centered on pairs of opposite ideas, held by the culture, but creating tension within it — the raw and the cooked, the sacred and the profane, and so on. School of Rock, a 2003 film starring Jack Black as slacker Dewey Finn, shows the tension between a truly American pair of opposites: laziness vs. hard work. While in other mythologies it is a trickster character who mediates between these opposites, the nature of this American pair, and the surrounding culture, make it necessary that the trickster not remain so; he has to join one side or the other. Claude LÃ ©vi-Strauss sought a scientific approach to the interpretation of the meaning of myths. To perform an analysis, he would first collect every version and variant of a myth possible. Each version would be broken down into its individual plot elements, and these elements were then plotted on a chart to show how they fit together. The charts would be compared across variants, and eventually the true meaning of the myth would emerge. Any scientist knows that a large data pool is indispensable for getting good results. Unfortunately, there is only one School of Rock. Though I cannot be so thorough as he would have liked, the