Film Essay - Cultural Turmoil in Francis Ford Coppola’s...

Cultural Turmoil in Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now The era of the 1960’s was one of change, just like so many of the enduring songs say. With words like revolution and freedom being used to promote movements that changed our society forever. The most important being the Civil Rights movement, and arguably the most influential: the sexual revolution. While great new ideas and beliefs were starting to take root, morals and social constructs that had been established were endangered of being lost in the mix. The moral code that had endured for so long was suddenly overlooked, or overpowered by a generation that was not interesting in listening to the older, conventional generations. The pressure to find new ways of thinking†¦show more content†¦(Brantlinger, 262). The soldiers in the movie may have been an exaggeration of true life, but Coppola’s interpretation reflects one who personally experienced the cultural reaction. The images on television, the political demonstrations, the movements, even the arrival of p sychedelic drugs, all escalated the nation in a way that was unprecedented. Coppola brought that heightened sense of awareness to the cinematic experience. The film starts with a song â€Å"The End† by the Doors. The lyrics of the song, written by the infamous Jim Morrison, describe a story like Oedipus: â€Å"I’ll never look into your eyes†¦again†, â€Å"Father, yes son, I want to kill you†. Some have speculated this to be parallel to the plot, and also correlates back to Heart of Darkness. â€Å"Also as in Heart of Darkness, Coppola’s frame creates an appropriate bridge between the bizarre tale about to unfold and the wider context of modern cultural experience.†(Greiff). It is a significant symbol of the time. Jim Morrison was well known as a drug user, poet, and an all around menace to a lawful society. His rebellious persona was not uncommon for his time, he was a voice for a generation that believed â€Å"the time to hesitate is through.† The song plays with scenes of a burning jungle: Coppola’s uncomfortable tone is set. Willard is first introduced in a hotel room where he is losing his mind. He doesn’t speak

Knowledge Management and Organization Behaviour - 8403 Words

Aravali Institute of Management Knowledge Management Term Paper Topic: Knowledge Management and Organization Behaviour (Tracing the interrelationship) Submitted To Mr. Prithwi T. Banerjee Faculty, AIM Submitted by Group No. 4 Harshad Vyas Om Prakash Suthar Bhawani SinghRathore Amit Mathur Gourav Rathi Abstract Organizations are collections of interacting and inter related human and non-human resources working toward a common goal or set of goals within the framework of structured relationships. Organizational behaviour is concerned with all aspects of how organizations influence the behaviour of individuals and how individuals in turn influence organizations. Organizational behaviour is an inter-disciplinary field that draws freely†¦show more content†¦Especially the focus on actor characteristics and as a result the actor/agent taxonomy being combined in a multi-actor system with various coordination mechanisms, makes it a better framework for an easy and smooth inclusion of and integration with (software) agents. More Details†¦ In many situations, the term â€Å"organizational knowledge† is very useful as a short description of what organizations know. â€Å"Organizational knowledge† is also the basis for â€Å"organizational learning† (OL). One can only learn if one knows already something. In this article, we argue that this organizational perspective can only be studied fruitfully if two basic requirements are fulfilled: (1) a determination of what knowledge is and is about and which carriers of knowledge should be taken into account and (2) a determination of the mechanisms that provide the interaction between actors and possibly software agents. We first state that the term â€Å"organizational knowledge† is a metaphor, a way of speaking. Organizations literally do not have knowledge. Human individuals, or to be more precise, the brains/minds of humans have knowledge. With this knowledge, humans work with each other and with other kinds of actors (software agents), such as (advanced) information systems. For reasons of clarity, we prefer to use the term actor for humans and theShow MoreRelatedOrganizational Behaviour1633 Words   |  7 PagesINTRODUCTION Organization Defined Organizations are complex systems which rely on people, structures and technology to achieve their goals and objectives. They are created to serve the needs of the societies or communities in which they operate and are influenced by both their internal environment (culture) and their external environment. As defined by Robins â€Å"an organization is a continuously co-ordinated social unit of two or more people that functions on a relatively continuous basis toRead MoreSafety Climate And Safety Behaviour1488 Words   |  6 PagesIn this article; Safety Climate and Safety Behaviour, written by Andrew Neal and Mark Griffin (2002), these authors provide research to exemplify the importance of a safety climate. A safety climate is required to obtain proper safety behaviours in an organization’s workers. These authors developed a model based on a five year study to convey the importance of a safety-first climate (Neal and Griffin, 2002). Components are utilized to link the rel ationship of a safety-first climate in the workplaceRead MoreStudy of Organizational Behavior and the Effective Management of People948 Words   |  4 PagesOrganizational Behavior and the effective management of people in organizations is absolutely direct. It is impossible to manage people in organization effectively without knowledge about OB, organizational structure, communicational skills, empoyees’ satisfaction, motivation, change process, etc. It is impossible to solve any problem or conflict in the organization without understanding of the rules of Organizational Behavior. Whenever people interact in organizations, many factors come into play. ModernRead MoreThe Need for An Adequate Evaluation of Organization Behavior 1596 Words   |  7 PagesAs organizations truly affect almost every aspect of our daily lives, it is vital for us to understand the what, how and why of organizations (Buchanan Huczynski, 2010) . That is why an adequate evaluation of organizational behaviour is needed. This essay is going to analyse the application of a critical model of thinking to studying organizational behaviour. It is going to do so by first setting clear definitions of key terms, describing generally Taylorism, Fordism and Post-Fordism and then proceedingRead MoreOrganizational Behaviour Essay1091 Words   |  5 PagesOrganizational Behaviour Organizational Behaviour Organizations have been described as groups of people who work interdependently toward some purpose. This definition clearly indicates that organizations are not buildings or pieces of machinery. Organizations are, indeed, people who interact to accomplish shared objectives. The study of organizational behaviour (OB) and its affiliated subjects helps us understand what people think, feel and do in organizational settingsRead MoreThe practices in managing cultures have changed in the post bureaucratic era1270 Words   |  6 Pagesera. Furthermore I describe the cultural influences especially in organizations and how the importance of those influences changed over the time. In the first section I am going to explain the content of managing organization culture to get a first insight in the topic and to express the knowledge about the influences of the culture in an organization. In the next chapter I separate between two perspectives of the cultural organizations and explain which of the both are relevant for the assignment questionRead MoreThe Factors That Influence Academics Behavior Toward Knowledge Sharing1689 Words   |  7 Pagesinfluence academics’ behaviour toward knowledge sharing in Universities ?â€Æ' Introduction These days, large organizations are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of knowledge for efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness by establishing appropriate knowledge management systems. Knowledge sharing has been considered a significant component of success in Knowledge Management (KM). The main activities in Knowledge sharing are acquiring, sharing, and storing the knowledge. Knowledge sharing is essentialRead MoreThe Problem Of Project Management731 Words   |  3 Pagesargument that the failure of project may be caused by the lack of project management while other belief that it is because â€Å"an organization did not focus sufficiently on the people aspects of the project† (Change first, 2009). In fact, the project management is the application of processes, methods, knowledge, skills and experience to achieve the project objectives (APM), coupled with the definition by MSP, â€Å"the programme management provides a framework that integrates and reconc iles competing demandsRead MoreCultural Behavior And Its Effect On A Business s Performance840 Words   |  4 Pagesa direct link between failing operations of an organization and the cultural cause in need of rectifying. Nevertheless, there is supportive evidence to suggest certain aspects of cultural behaviour can negatively influence a business’s performance (e.g. Kottler, 1992, p.11)(Riley 2005), which can help to identify the aspects of culture that trigger potential failures. This paper will look at the key causes of failure initiated by cultural behaviour and how operations can develop cultural values inRead MoreThe Leadership Skills And Behaviours For Successful Implementation Of Human Resource Management Plan1737 Words   |  7 Pagesto discuss and evaluate the leadership skills behaviours for successful implementation of human resource management plan in a special case study of Offshore Gas Project (CSOGP). Identification of Leadership behaviours categories that are relevant and meaningful for all leaders is subject to controversy. For this essay discussion three main leadership categories have been considered as follows : 1) Task Oriented Leadership (TOL) which is a behaviour that organizes work activities to improve efficiency

Ernest Hemingway Research Paper free essay sample

His writing builds upon the masterful usage of â€Å"short, simple words and short, simple sentences† (Wagner, 3) to create clear and easy to understand pieces of art, so that even the simple everyday reader can enjoy his art. One may even say that â€Å"no other novelist †¦ [has] had an equivalent influence on the prose† of today’s modern writing (Young, 39). Naturally, while supporters exist, so do the debunkers. They say that Hemingway’s prose â€Å"is too limited †¦ [making his] characters mute, insensitive, uncomplicated men (Weeks, 1)† in society. The simplicity of his writing strips away the information that a reader may interpret, which fuels the debate that Hemingway utilizes no creativity in his writings; everything simply presents itself as it truly represents. From the very first time Hemingway embarked on his historic writing journey, he exhibits through his written works and actions how a â€Å"hero† should conduct himself/herself. Hemingway often partook in hunting, fishing, and could be seen attending Spanish bullfights. Hemingway uses these experiences, and the ones he gained from World War II to enhance his already superb writing. Admirers often praise Hemingway for how he believes a man should live his life, and how he also emulates this belief in his characters by â€Å"tying the life of the hero to [Hemingway himself]† (Young, 41). These lauders praise Hemingway on his code hero â€Å"a man who lives correctly, following the ideals of honor, courage and endurance in a world Wang 3 that is sometimes chaotic, often stressful, and always painful†(Weeks, 62). However, there are of course many people who criticize Hemingway. The infamous Zelda Fitzgerald once called Hemingway â€Å"a large phony† (Lynn, 9) in the way he portrays himself to the world. This led the way for further criticism coming from all paths of the literary world. People claim that â€Å"[Hemingway’s] work was shallow and without genuine feeling† (Lynn. 9) and lacks honesty. Hemingway’s female critics deem his portrayal of woman as sexist. Although a few notable exceptions exist, for the most part, Hemingway portrays woman as either manhood-destroying fiends or objects of sexual desire. Detractors of Hemingway will also say that Hemingway’s success comes from fortuitous circumstances, not from his literary genius. Hemingway wrote a good portion of his short stories and novels during the most prosperous years of America, 1924- 1929, where people had the money to buy luxuries such as books. In addition, Hemingway also wrote and published in Paris, where many influential avant garde critics and analysts gave him favorable reviews. Furthermore, Hemingway’s critics would debunk Hemingway’s code hero. They accuse Hemingway of portraying his code heroes as stoic and brave, only as an attempt to show something about him that did not exist, his manhood. Despite these critics though, Hemingway’s code hero proudly resonates today. People today still point out Hemingway’s hero as the correct way to live one’s life. However, it should be noted that attaining this high Wang 4 standard of moral living does not simply happen over night, but rather, over long periods of struggle. Hemingway writes about some characters born innate with the code hero principle, and some who must struggle to achieve it. The characters all appear wounded, not only physically, but mentally as well. They have inner conflicts in themselves that they must defeat; whether that involves insecurity, caitiffness, or hallucinogens, the character suffers honorably to defeat these obstacles. Most importantly, Hemingway’s â€Å"heroes are not defeated except upon their own terms† (Warren, 55); what matters to them â€Å"is the stoic endurance, †¦ the stiff upper lip† (Warren, 55) which represents victory in their own ways. Hemingway then masterfully shows how these principles affect the character’s lives in a positive light. Santiago, the protagonist of The Old Man and The Sea, shows how the code hero principles help him gain peace despite his failure to catch the large fish. The struggle may also be arduous and testing, as shown in The Nick Adams Stories. We the audience see Nick Adams, the protagonist and code hero, evolve from a naive child in the beginning of the story, all the way to a fully realized code hero at the end. Hemingway maps Adam’s journey as one with both blessings and hardships; however, in the end, these learned principles give Adams peace and understanding with his life. These heroes all face different forms of defeat or death; however in the end, they â€Å"all manage to salvage something† (Warren, 35) out of these excruciating circumstances. Ernest Hemingway utilizes Santiago from The Old Man and the Sea as a fully developed code hero and Nick Adams Wang 5 from The Nick Adams Stories as a developing code hero to show that following the code hero principles will lead to a honorable life, with a fruitful outcome. Santiago from The Old Man and the Sea lives his life with honor, which leads to a fruitful gain. Before beginning, we first must understand what â€Å"honorable† truly means. Even before Santiago’s epic battle with the fish, he holds honor as an esteemed principle. Santiago has not caught a fish in 87 days, leaving him with no food or an income to purchase food; however, he still refuses to plead. For â€Å"first [one] borrows, then [one] begs† (Hemingway, 18) which brings shame onto his name. This shows how Santiago would rather suffer the pains of hunger than to beg, for demoralizing oneself just for pleasure certainly does not count as a code hero trait. Santiago also has much respect for the nature and other animals living in it. When Santiago combats the fish for superiority, he lets the fish know that he â€Å"loves [the fish] and respects [the fish] very much; [however,] he will kill [the fish at] the end of the day† (Hemingway, 43), unless defeated by circumstances not under his control. Hemingway uses the love and admiration that Santiago has for the fish to show how even though the fish at that point represents Santiago’s enemy, he still respects the fish for being strong. In the end, the epic battle’s climax reaches the point where â€Å"the fish is [Santiago’s] friend too [because of] his behavior and his great dignity† (Hemingway, 50) that the fish shows. Respect of the opponent remains a strong core of the Hemingway traits. Wang 6 One can argue that two Code Heroes exist here. Even though Hemingway intends for Santiago to be the main Code Hero, Hemingway also describes the fish in such a way that the reader admires the fish’s honor as well. The two counter parts ferociously battle for multiple days and nights; each faction refuses â€Å"to change his course† (Hemingway 46) and admit defeat. The connection between the two actually grows so strong that in the end, neither â€Å"can do nothing with [the either]† (Hemingway 47). This truly represents the Hemingway hero code in that the hero refuses â€Å"to be defeated except upon [his] terms† (Weeks, 55); they will literally fight until the death, which occurs here when Santiago manages to kill the fish after the fish commits the mistake of jumping out of the water. Overall, all these displayed honorable aspects benefit Santiago in the end. While Santiago does not physically catch the fish, per say, he did however catch, or rather hold onto something of greater a value; this being his undeniable honor. Furthermore, one must remember the process of which Santiago captures the fish. Santiago does not cheat nor do anything that would give him a competitive advantage over the fish. He respects nature, and the fairness one should have while combating it. Specifically, Santiago respects his opponent, the fish, by staying true to the code. Here, only toughness and courage matter in their fight: no elaborate fishing equipment, no outside help from the boy, no interference from another fish. While the assembly of sharks ripe away at Santiago’s hard caught friend, Santiago relentlessly fights back to protect his brother; even though, Santiago Wang 7 knows eventually the sharks will have their way and eat the flesh of the â€Å"strong unseen fish† (Hemingway, 48). Although Santiago’s hands have numerous cuts digging deep into his flesh, he still defends the fish, as the honor in him would not have him do anything differently. When Santiago arrives back on the shore, the other fisherman marvel at the size of carcass of the fish, â€Å"for it is the largest fish they have every seen† (Hemingway 91) in their lives. Santiago still takes the time and effort to drag back the bones, even though it can bring him no monetary value, as the fish no longer has flesh. The fisherman in the very end still gain much respect for Santiago, despite his failure to completely preserve the fish; however, the carcass itself represents the honor of Santiago, and the way he believes one should conduct themselves and persevere through even chaotic, painful, and stressful situations. Furthermore, Santiago shows great courage, which also benefits him in the end of the novel. Santiago’s self-confidence fuels his courage. Santiago knows â€Å"that [he] could beat anyone if [he] wanted to badly enough† (Hemingway45), he simply chooses whether he wishes to or not. His 24 plus hour arm wrestling match proves this as he, the underdog, defeated the heavily favored dark man, in which no one afterwards would want to arm wrestle Santiago anymore. This same self-confidence and toughness present itself throughout his entire battle with the fish, Santiago deals with multiple pains and injuries. His â€Å"blood ran down his cheek† (Hemingway, 52) onto â€Å"the cramped hand† (Hemingway 58) which he steadfastly holds onto the fish. Despite all these difficult physical unconformities, Santiago continues to fight the good Wang 8 fight; he ignores all these pains and continues to fish, displaying great courage on his part. Ernest Hemingway strictly believes that â€Å"pain does not matter to a man† (Hemingway 84) and he shows this through the actions of Santiago. The reader here winces at all the scars that Santiago has, however keep in mind that these scars carry little importance or play much of a factor in Santiago’s battle; they do however, serve as reminders to Santiago of his past victories. The arm-wrestling matches, the past successful expenditures for fishing, these prior experiences drive on and help motivate Santiago, not his scars and pains. Even though Santiago never manages to bring in the fish in its full glory, â€Å"what counts is how [Santiago] conduct[s] [himself] while †¦ being destroyed† (Young, 45) by the process of catching the fish. Santiago’s brave conduct portrays itself in a true hero, Santiago, will â€Å"never accepts a compromise† (DeFalco, 60) under any circumstance despite the pain. In the end though, Santiago can rest in peace knowing that his courage prevails throughout the entire journey. When Santiago finally returns home to the shores of Cuba, he sleeps for many hours, even having dreams about his prized catch. After Santiago awakens from this dream, he has no regrets about the loss of his fish to the sharks, for he immediately tells the boy to prepare the sails again. If Santiago did not show the courage he did when battling the sharks and while hunting the fish, one may safely assume he would have never caught the fish, which thus means he would not have been content with his journey. Wang 9 Santiago also displays unmatched endurance, which helps him capture the fish and bring contentment. In the beginning, Hemingway tells us that Santiago â€Å"was salao, which is the worst from of unlucky† (Hemingway, 9) since he went through a drought of 87 days without capturing the fish. Despite his â€Å"salaoness†, Santiago still goes out everyday to fish, displaying his determination and his will for not giving up despite the depressing circumstances. Santiago â€Å"has a turtles heart †¦ [which] will beat for hours after he has been cut up and hutched† (Hemingway, 37), enduring many physical abuses. The reader must remember that Santiago imposes this pain upon himself! He can freely release the fish net whenever he wants to, yet he chooses to hold on for the long hours: Santiago eats his semi-rotten fish with the net in his hand, sleeps with the net in his hand, resulting in cramped one filled with bloody scars. Santiago knows â€Å"[he] can do [the fishing] as long as he† (Hemingway, 53) wants to; these physical limitations do not affect him. Santiago successfully shows â€Å"what a man can do and what a man endures† (Hemingway, 66) will lead to contentment. In the end, after his strong showing of endurance, Santiago returns home tired, but safe. Endurance teaches Santiago to never give up, despite setbacks. Santiago encounters many set backs on his journey. The lack of fresh food, the cut hands, the sleep deprivation, all these factors attempt to derail Santiago from capturing the fish, in the end though, they all fail as Santiago’s endurance prevails. Wang 10 In contrast with Santiago, Nick Adams represents a character that develops gradually into a code hero. We may think of Nick as the â€Å"quintessential Hemingway Hero† (Schafer, 12), for Nick changes greatly from the first short to the last short story. Hemingway actually utilizes Nick to represent his own life; the plot and the sequence of the stories parallel Hemingway’s experiences. Hemingway uses his experiences from a broken relationship, the war, and the outdoors life to help create Nick Adams. Just like Hemingway, Nick also takes time to develop into a code hero; in order to properly understand Nick Adams, we first must understand why he starts out so undeveloped. One day Nick’s father, a doctor, took him on a trip to a nearby Indian camp to help a woman give birth. Nick watches his father do â€Å"a Caesarian with a jackknife and sewing it up with a nine-foot, tapper gut leaders† (Indian Camp 19). Naturally, being a young child, Nick â€Å"did not want to watch see what his father was doing †¦ for his curiosity had left him† (Indian Camp, 19) half way through the Caesarian. Furthermore, moments later, Nick witnesses the suicide of the woman’s husband â€Å"who couldn’t stand things† (Indian Camp, 19), mainly the loud painful screams of his wife. While Hemingway writes these two gruesome passages, he places more of an emphasis on young innocent Nick’s reaction, rather than the actual surgery or suicide. Hemingway â€Å"is more interested in their effect on a little boy who witnessed them† (Young, 40-41) for they turn Nick â€Å"later on [into] a badly scarred and nervous young man† (Young, 41); most certainly not a Code Hero. On the way home after these two Wang 11 tragedies, Nick â€Å"felt quite sure that he would never die† (Indian Camp, 21), nor does he want to. These experiences harm Nick so much that he no longer wishes to see death because of the gruesome consequences. Nick can no longer accept or endure pain without behaving in a non-code hero manner. A code hero must always handle the stresses that may occur spontaneously or prearranged in life, not react in a fearful or cowardly manner. Nick now spends the rest of his life learning the principles of the code hero. In Now I Lay Me, the reader can see the fear, which stems from the childhood trauma. Lying in a heavily maligned battle zone, Nick attempts to try and sleep, despite all the warfare going around him. However, â€Å"he did not want to sleep† (Now I Lay Me, 144) for fear of death. Nick believes â€Å"that if [he] ever shut [his] eyes in the dark†¦ and let [himself] go, [his] soul would go out of [his] body (Now I Lay Me, 144) and perish. A trait of a code hero states that one must handle the daily stresses of life, which certainly involves the possibility of death in a warfare zone. His experiences as a child temper with his courage, an important Hemingway trait. Nick Adams lacks courage in the beginning of the novel, however later on learns the meaning of this important Hemingway hero trait. As a young child, Nick did not have the trait of courage, as evident when â€Å"Nick did not watch† (Hemingway 19) the Caesarian operation. This also extends later on in his life when he attempts to deal with his broken relationship with Marjorie. Nick thought that â€Å"love was Wang 12 frightening† (Hemingway 218) so he ends the relationship with Marjorie, not because their relationship was wrong or ill fitted, but rather because Nick was scared of relationships. He â€Å"escape[s] society rule’s about sexual behavior† (Comely 70), in favor of his own rules which hold much more simplicity. Nick seeks â€Å"a pristine boyhood paradise free from the responsibility of adult, heterosexual relationships† (Strychacz) that everyone must eventually encounter. Even Nick himself does not have a clear logical reason on the breakup. He tells Bill that â€Å"[he] does not know why it was†¦ [He] couldn’t help it† (Hemingway 214), thus he ends the relationship. Nick essentially does not want to deal with the letdowns, the commitment, the sacrifices that a relationship requires. However, one may also argue that while ending his relationship with Marjorie shows a lack of courage, it also symbolizes a sign of developing honor. Nick realizes he cannot spend a proper amount of time for Marjorie; he realizes his lack of affection for Marjorie cheats her out of a life she dreams. Marjorie can now go elsewhere and seek a relationship, start a family, and have a happier life; rather then, dealing with the lackluster relationship that Nick offers. Nick struggles in â€Å"the midst of massive fears and uncertainties† (Gajdusek 37) that breakups bring; however, since Nick grows as a code hero, he manages to effectively handle the breakup and not lament over the sadness. Wang 13 Nick Adams also lacks honor in the beginning of the novel, but later on learns the meaning of this important Hemingway trait. Nick begins his development of honor early on in his childhood. A few months after Nick witnesses the Caesarian operation, we see â€Å"Nick sitting with his back against a tree reading a book† (Hemingway 27). Here Nick begins his development of honor; he begins to expand his knowledge about the world and thus in the process gains wisdom and honor. Later on in his life, Nick encounters a former boxing champion. When the Boxer, Ad Francis, challenges Nick to a fight, Nick politely tells him he â€Å"does not want to fight [him]† (The Battler, 48) for Nick can see the scars and abnormities that the Boxer has. The boxer’s â€Å"nose was shrunken, his eyes were slits, he had queer-shaped lips†¦ he only had one ear†¦ and [his] face was queerly formed and mutilated† (The Battler, 49-50). Nick can clearly see that the man does not have a clear stable mind; so fighting him can only end poorly for both of them. This sign of maturity shows Nick’s honor, for no honor certainly exists in fighting a handicapped and mentally unstable man. Nick Adams exemplifies a well-developed trait of endurance as the novel progresses. When Nick embarks on a fishing trip, he traverses through a lot of debris and wildlife to reach his destination. The â€Å"trip was hard†¦ he was very tired†¦ and had not eaten since a cup of coffee† (Hemingway 185) in the morning. This small, but yet important description, shows the Wang 14 entire calamity that Nick goes through just to enjoy nature. Normally, one would not sacrifice so much just to enjoy nature and fishing; however, through the knowledge that Nick gained when he still read under his tree, he realizes the importance of nature. Nick displays great endurance just to enjoy nature. In the last short story, Fathers and Sons, all the traits of a Hemingway hero simply seem to tie up for Nick as he finds contentment and peace with his life. Now with his own son quietly sleeping on his nap, Nick thinks back on his relationship with his father. Thinking back on the positives such as fishing and hunting, Nick also remembers the negative advice that his father gave him. His repulsive way of describing sex stuns Nick and the readers to the point where Nick believes that his father â€Å"died in a trap that he had helped set† (Hemingway 370) by himself through his foolish ways. Nick also remembers when his father cruelly punishes him by locking himself in a shed for a long period of time. Nick’s son suddenly wakes up and asks Nick unexpectantly about Dr. Adams, his grandfather, and why they have never visited his grave. After a long period of no response, Nick responds that â€Å"[they’ll] have to go† (Fathers and Sons, 377). This final act of forgiveness tells us that Nick has finally developed into the code hero. After years of animosity towards his father, Nick finds it within himself to forgive his father for the sake of his son, which shows the honor that all code heroes have. Nick also displays courage Wang 15 to finally go visit his father again at his grave, this time brining his son. The ability to finally face his father again tells us that Nick has forgiven, and that he can finally find contentment and peace with the rest of his life. Nick now can utilize his own experiences to help his son grow and mature, so that he may one day also have these important code hero traits. In conclusion, Ernest Hemingway utilizes Santiago from The Old Man and the Sea as a fully developed code hero and Nick Adams from The Nick Adams Stories as a developing code hero to show that following the code hero principles will lead to a honorable life, with a fruitful outcome. While each character certainly deals with different and varied obstacles, in the end, both characters manage to find peace within them. Santiago prepares for another fishing trip, while Nick finally shows his father’s grave to his son. Both characters not only manage to conquer their worldly enemies, but also the enemies they have in themselves. Santiago pushes aside the fact that the boy, his trusted aid, could not help him with the fish, and he must do so by his own power; Nick must push aside his childhood fears that affect him whenever he faces a trialing circumstance. Even today, Hemingway’s code hero still serves as a model example of a proper way to live one’s life. For me personally, I know that Hemingway’s code hero principles would enhance my life. With the everyday stresses that occur today such as SATs, getting into good college, and track, I feel like some times I fail to manage theses in a way that Hemingway would approve of. Often times, I fail at keeping my composure, letting my emotions overcome me so that I react in a negative manner. However, looking at Santiago and Nick Adams Wang 16 specifically, I can see the benefits that acting in a code hero like manner would bring. Reading these books and writing this paper has taught me all that can available to me if I â€Å"live correctly, following the ideals of honor, courage and endurance in a world that is sometimes chaotic, often stressful, and always painful (Hemingway).

Confucius free essay sample

A lot of people in the world ask this question. The answer to that question is that Confucianism is a religion based in Asia that was made before Christs birth. Confucianism is a religion that teaches you how you should live your life. All of the information was found on religioustolerance. org, and was written by B. A. Robinson. This essay will tell you all about Confucianism. The roots and history of Confucianism are based in a time very long ago. The religion of Confucianism started in the mid- 500s before Christs birth. The religion started in the Asian city of China by a man named Kung Fu Tzu, also known as Confucius. This religion is very closely related to the religion of Taoist in its social ethics and moral teachings. There are about six million Confucians living in the world. Around twenty-six thousand live in North America. We will write a custom essay sample on Confucius or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Most of the rest of the six million live in China and the rest of Asia. The founder of this particular religion is named Confucius, which was stated earlier. This man was born in five hundred fifty one B. C. in the the state of Lu which is modern day Shantung Province. He lived during the Chou dynasty. As he grew older, he traveled through China and gave advice on how to live to rulers and many people. The last few years of Confucius life was spent in Lu where he taught students. He taught them of individual morality and ethics, and the proper exercise of political power by the rulers. Confucius finally died in 479 B. C. which was was found on calendarmine. com. There are six schools of Confucianism. These schools consist of Han Confucianism, Neo- Confucianism, Contemporary Neo-Confucianism, Korean Confucianism, Japanese Confucianism, and Singapore Confucianism. There are many rituals and rites of Confucianism. One of the many is that during birth, a special procedure is taken and is followed when the placenta is disposed of. Another ritual is of marriage which is done in six parts. In proposal, the couple exchanges the eight characters: the year, month, day, and hour of each of their births. If any events occur with the family that seem that the marriage is unlikely, the woman is believed to have rejected the proposal. The next part of marriage is the engagement. After the wedding day is chosen, the bride announces the wedding with invitations and a gift of cookies made in the shape of the moon. The third part is dowry. This is carried to the grooms house in a serious procession. The money is then sent to the bride by the grooms parents. Gifts by the groom to the bride, equal in value to the dowry, are sent to her. The fourth part is the procession. In this part, the groom visits the brides home and brings her back to his place, with a lot of commotion. The fifth part is of marriage and reception. In this, the couple recites their vows, toast each other with wine, and take center stage at a banquet. The last part of marriage is of the morning after. During this period, the bride serves breakfast to the grooms parents. There are many celebrations and ceremonies celebrated in Confucianism. A lot of these ceremonies and celebrations consist of life passages. One of the ceremonies of these life passages is of reaching maturity. This life passage is no longer celebrated, except in traditional families. It takes the form of a group meal in which the young adult is served chicken. One other ceremony that takes place in Confucianism is during death. During this sad time, families mourn to let their neighbors know that they have lost someone special. The basic beliefs of Confucianism are based on six parts. Li, includes ritual, propriety, etiquette, and more. Hsiao, which consists of love within the family, Yi, which is righteousness, Xin which is honesty and trustworthiness, Chung, which is loyalty to the state, and Jen which is kindness and compassion towards others. Jen is the highest Confucian virtue. In the religion of Confucianism, there are no gods. The writings and scriptures on which the religion is based on is the sacred texts. The sacred texts consist of the Si Shu or Four Books and Wu Jing or Five Classics. The Shi Shu contains the books of Lun Yu, which is Analects of Confucius made by Confuciuss students, Chung Yung, the doctrine of the mean, Ta Hsueh, the great learning, and Meng Tzu, the writings of Meng Tzu. Meng Tzu was a philosopher who was comparable to Confucius in the way of how he traveled from state to state talking about the religion to rulers. The Wu Jing consisted of Shu Ching, Shih Ching, I Ching, Chun Chiu, and Li Ching. Shu Ching is the classic of history which is the writings and speeches from ancient Chinese rulers. Shih Ching is the Classic of Odes which is three hundred poems and songs. I Ching is the Classic of Changes which is the description of a divinatory system. Chun Chiu is the Spring and Autumn Annals. Li Ching is the Classic of Rites.

Add Essays - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Attention

Add Attention Deficit Disorder For centuries children have been grounded, beaten, or even killed for ignoring the rules or not listening to what theyre told. In the past it was thought these bad kids were the products of bad parenting, bad environment, or simply being stubborn, however it is now known that many of these children may have had Attention Deficit Disorder, or A. D. D., and couldve been helped. A. D. D. is a syndrome that affects millions of children and adults in the United States and is a very frustrating and confusing syndrome that often goes undiagnosed. While there is no clear-cut definition of A. D. D., its known that its a genetic disorder that affects males more often than females, in a 3:1 ratio, and is marked by a classic triad of symptoms, which are impulsivity, distractibility, and hyperactivity (Hallowell 6). There are two general types of A. D. D., the stereotypical, high-energy, hyperactive group, and the less known underactive ones that often daydream and are never mentally present anywhere. Typically, people with A. D. D. are very likable and are usually very emphatic, intuitive, and compassionate, however they have very unstable moods that can range from an extreme high to an extreme low instantly, for no apparent reason. Usually, they procrastinate often and have trouble finishing projects, while conversely, they can hyperfocus at times and accomplish tasks more quickly and efficiently than a normal person could. Often they have short tempers and lack the impulse to stop themselves from blowing up over minor details (H allowell 10). Although A. D. D. has just recently been discovered and there is still relatively little known about it, it has an interesting history. In 1902, George Frederic Still first thought that the dilemma of problem children was a biological defect inherited from an injury at birth and not the result of bad parenting. In the 1930s and 40s stimulant drugs were first used to successfully treat many behavior problems due partly to Stills hypothesis. In 1960, Stella Chess further boosted research in the field by writing about the hyperactive child syndrome. She stated that the behavior problems werent a product of injury at birth, but instead were inherited genetically. Finally, in 1980, the syndrome was named A. D. D., due in large part to Virginia Douglas work to find accurate ways to diagnose it (Hallowell 12). Formally, A. D. D. comes in two types: A. D. D. with hyperactivity and A. D. D. without hyperactivity (Hallowell 9). However there are several other subtypes that are used to diagnose the syndrome and arent formally recognized. The six most interesting, though not necessarily most prevalent, are A. D. D. without hyperactivity, A. D. D. with agitation or mania, A. D. D. with substance abuse, A. D. D. in the creative person, high-stim A. D. D., and pseudo-A. D. D. The first subtype, A. D. D. without hyperactivity, is the most frequently seen subtype. A common misconception about A. D. D. is that its only present in hyperactive people, while in this subtype the people are underactive, even languid. These people are the daydreamers that drift off to their own world during class or during conversations. This type is most common in females and the core symptom is distractibility. This, while being the most frequent, is also the hardest to diagnose because it seems that the people simply need to apply themselves or get their act together (Hallowell 153). The second type, A. D. D. with mania or agitation, can often be mistaken for manic-depression due to the high energy levels involved in both and the rapid changes in mood. However, on can distinguish between the two by their response to medication. People without a favorable response to lithium, the drug prescribed to manic-depressives, quite likely have A. D. D. A difficult twist to diagnosis is that the two may coexist. This occurs when the person cycles between mania and A. D. D. (Hallowell 169). The third subtype is A. D. D. with substance abuse. Substance abuse is one of A. D. D.s hardest masks to see through because the abuse itself can produce A. D. D.-like symptoms. Often when a person with A. D. D. has substance abuse problems they unknowingly

Kants Thoughts On Human Dignity †Philosophy Essay

Kants Thoughts On Human Dignity – Philosophy Essay Free Online Research Papers Kant’s Thoughts On Human Dignity Philosophy Essay Determinism is a philosophical concept relating to human freedom. This concept declares that every action (including human behavior) is believed to have a cause. Every situation is therefore the outcome of a preceding situation. Determinism can be further defined as hard or soft based on causality and action. On the other hand belief in free will is one’s ability to make rationale choices based ones motivation and desire. These actions are not determined by external causes. Philosophers of hard determinism declare that there is no such thing as free will. They assert that every event has a cause and that there is a chain of causality that extends back to ones birth or even before one was born. It is believed that each link of the chain determines what will happen with the next link. Therefore, human beings actions are based on a chain of event that cause them to react in a particular way. This is because there is no free will and individuals’ behaviors are predetermined. Everything that happens to an individual is based on the effect of some set cause. A person’s thoughts, actions and beliefs are all determined by preceding events. Therefore, the choices that individuals make in life are predictable and cannot be avoided. So, individuals should not be held accountable for their actions since, they are not acts of free will. The action to make choices is determined by an individual wants, wishes, desires, feelings and motivations. So, unive rsal causality is incompatible with human freedom. Soft determinism supports the idea that every action has a cause, but every action is not compelled or forced. Therefore, actions that are voluntary are considered to be of free will. Subsequently, individuals should be accountable for these actions and their consequences. Philosophers of soft determinism redefined freedom as been both positive and negative. The positive connotation of soft determinism suggested that if an individual is the cause of their actions then they are thought to be acting freely and are therefore responsible for their behavior and its consequences. In addition, if an individual acted voluntarily to fulfill ones desire then that individual is believed to have free will. Secondly, the negative connotation suggest that if individuals are forced, coerced, or compelled to function in a manner that they normally would not do, the individual is not free or have human freedom. Such individuals has no control over their behaviors and therefore have no act of free w ill. Soft determinism believes that universal causation is compatible with freedom Belief in free will is the idea that human behaviors is not just based on external causes but is the result of the individuals ability to make choices bases on their motive, and intensions, which is not determined by external causes. To have free will is been able to make alternative choices. Therefore, ones actions are not predetermined. One is free to make choices based on what is most appropriate to him or her without being influenced by external stimulus. Human beings having free will are the cause of some of their own actions based on the choices that they make. All three philosophical concepts, hard determinism, soft determinism and belief in free will share differences on the idea of freedom. Hard determinism argues that if all events in someone’s life are dependent on prior events then there is no such thing as free will. They believe that human actions are predictable and predetermined. As a result an individual could not possibly do anything other than what he would have always done, so individuals do not have any control over their actions. Philosophers of soft determinism support the concept of hard determinism in that every action has a cause. However, they believe that some actions are of free will, while others are forced. They do not believe that all behaviors are predetermined. Soft determinist believes individuals have free will to make choices voluntary. These choices are based on their prior exposures. Research Papers on Kant’s Thoughts On Human Dignity - Philosophy EssayEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseCapital PunishmentThree Concepts of PsychodynamicComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoInfluences of Socio-Economic Status of Married MalesHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionBook Review on The Autobiography of Malcolm XUnreasonable Searches and SeizuresAnalysis Of A Cosmetics Advertisement

Reccession of 2008 and Great depression Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Reccession of 2008 and Great depression - Essay Example HSBC which is the global largest bank wrote down its holdings of subprime mortgage backed securities by $ 10.5 billion while more than other 100 mortgages companies were either shut down or suspended their operations.US and European Banks lost more than $ 1 trillion on toxic assets during the financial crisis. Northern Rock which was a British bank, was highly leveraged could not obtain credit in the financial markets. Bear Stearns collapsed in March 2008. Other financial institutions made bad losses and were subject to government take over. Lehman Brothers, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and AIG made a lot of losses during the crisis (Halm-Addo 4). Various limits to arbitrage can help explain why assets were selling below their fundamental level at the height of the financial crisis. Constrains to short selling does not account for the assets selling below their fundamental prices. Short selling was evident since investors made speculative short sale bets against the financial assets which made the prices to decline. For instance, short selling led to drop in the value of Lehman Brothers stocks. US Securities and Exchange Commission imposed at temporary ban on short selling since it this method of trading reduced the market confidence and the stability of financial assets (Halm-Addo 40). The â€Å"too big to fail† notion led to moral hazards, bail outs and increased the Fed’s balance sheet. Adverse selection was not caused by the notion of â€Å"too big to fail†. The notion created moral hazard since the financial institutions engaged in predatory lending like Countrywide Financial which advertised low interest rate loans for home refinancing. The notion made banks to borrow short term in liquid markets and purchase long term illiquid assets which were risky. The notion led to the bail out where $ 700 billion Troubled Assets Relief Program was created to rescue the

Accounting Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 9

Accounting - Essay Example According to Bierman 24 besides building power plants, buying and selling of natural gas and electricity; the company also developed new markets like internet bandwidths, weather futures, pulp and paper business, water plants and oddball products which provided broadcast time for marketers which rocketed its financial incomes. Between the periods of 1995 to 2000, its revenues rose from $9 billion to an impressive $100 billion. The company won America’s most innovative company by Fortunes Most Admired Companies Survey for six years straight which added to its successful reputation. The accounting system required that the company’s future profits were to be estimated at present value based on the signing of its long term contracts. The system was introduced by the joining CEO Jeffery Skilling, who ordered the company’s reporting system to be changed from its actual sales and supply of its natural gas to the new system. The mark to market accounting estimations were in reference to the future net value of the cash flows which were often difficult to predict. This included estimated Enron’s projects’ incomes that were irrespective of whether they were received or not and if changes were made like additional losses or incomes, they would be incorporated in subsequent periods. Enron Incorporation was the first non financial company to be given approval by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) use the system. Due to the numerous discrepancies in matching their cash and profits; the shareholders were given false reports. Therefore, a strategy to appease the investors was created (Bierman 45). Based on Bierman 55 the company executed pressure on its traders in order to forecast low discount rates and high future cash-flows on long-term contracts with the company. In essence, the difference margin between the original paid value and the present calculated net value was the company’s profit. Contrarily, the estimated net

How far Does Lenin's Theory of Capitalist Imperialism Explain the Essay

How far Does Lenin's Theory of Capitalist Imperialism Explain the Scramble for Africa - Essay Example The development of a specific concept, the capitalist imperialism is reviewed in this paper. Reference is made specifically to the potential use of this concept for explaining the Scramble for Africa, a process developed between the years 1880 and 1900 and which resulted to the colonization of the major part of the particular continent. The above process was initiated mainly by European states, which tried to secure their economies by locating and acquiring important economic resources. Different approaches have been used for describing the content and the use of capitalist imperialism. In the specific study emphasis is given on the Lenin’s theory of capitalist imperialism, as this theory can be applied on the case under examination, the Scramble for Africa. It is proved that Lenin has highlighted the key characteristics of capitalist imperialism, explaining effectively the concept’s creation, as a result of the transformation of capitalism to an advanced social and eco nomic system (Lenin 1999, p.91). Moreover, it seems that the view of Lenin on capitalist imperialism can offer appropriate explanations on the involvement of this concept in the Scramble of Africa, at least in regard to the key aspects of the specific social and political process. 2. Lenin's theory of capitalist imperialism The theory of Lenin on capitalist imperialism is based on the following view: ‘capitalism is imperialism’ (Willoughby 2002, p.7). Moreover, capitalism is an indispensable part of modern societies. Therefore, the development of imperialism worldwide cannot be controlled. The above view of Lenin in regard to the relationship between capitalism and imperialism can be used for explaining the development of capitalist imperialism worldwide taking into consideration the following facts: issues of domination and conflicts among nations may not be clearly explained through the above theory; however, the theory of Lenin on capitalist imperialism explains the use of capitalism in the expansion of imperialism from the beginning of the 20th century onwards. From another point of view, Hall (1986) notes that the theory of Lenin on capitalist imperialism reveals the relationship between the conflicts related to capitalism and the increase of imperialism. Indeed, in accordance with Lenin, when contradictions referring to capitalism are developed within a state, then it is expected that the efforts of this state ‘to be involved in the rest of the world is unavoidable, almost necessary’ (Hall 1986, p.223). In the above case, ‘the imperial possessions are necessary as markets for excess goods’ (Hall 1986, p.223), although it is not made clear whether these possessions, meaning the foreign countries, are considered to be just destinations of goods or resources of important goods, as for example in the case of countries with important energy sources (oil, gas), or valuable assets (gemstones). It is assumed that the involv ement of a state in other states worldwide can have one or both of the above forms, aiming to support the development of capitalism within the particular state. In other words, imperialism, as described by Lenin, is used for securing the development of capitalism, therefore the above two frameworks cannot exist separately. On the other hand, it should be made clear that the

Impacts of Technology on Art

Impacts of Technology on Art Many modern artists use high technology equipment in their works. Whereas traditionally artists used a pencil or brush to make beautiful works of art, artists in the early twenty-first century are now using sound, video or computer generated images. Digital art developed from simple patterns and shapes made using computer programs to finished works of art which can look as realistic as a watercolour or oil painting. Modern art exhibitions often include more videos and installations than traditional painting or drawings. Even artists which use traditional techniques increasingly use modern technology such as the internet to display their works and communicate with other artists. Modern technology provides a means for artists to create works faster with more tools than ever before. I will be discussing the impact of some of these technologies in relation to the art of some modern artists. I will argue that modern technology such as the computer and video is another tool for an artist t o use in their work. I will especially focus on the video artwork of Tracey Moffat and the computer artwork of Lillian Schwartz as but two examples of artists today who use modern techniques. Moffat is an Australian contemporary artist who uses film extensively as an art-form, and many of her works are based on and reflect the modern technology of Hollywood movies and television. Schwartz is an artist who has a long history of using computer technology to experiment ways of creating and manipulating works of art. She has also written extensively about the topic of computer influence in art, and about art produced by computers. Modern technology is having a huge impact on recent art. Modern artists are using new materials and techniques to produce their artworks. Whereas in the past painting and drawing were the main mediums used by artists in their work, now in the 21st century installations, sound, video and computers are becoming more widely used and popular. Artists today are continually experimenting with new technology in different ways, finding new ways to use old mediums and finding new mediums as well. In modern art displays such as the various Biennales held around the world, video plays a dominant role, as well as installation art and increasingly, digital art. There are even exhibitions that solely focus on digital art, such as Ars Electronica held annually in Linz, Austria. The internet is becoming used more with many contemporary artists using it to display their works with online galleries, talk to other artists and sell their works. Internet sites such as deviantart.com or yessy.com offer ar tists an opportunity to sell and display their works and communicate with people throughout the world. Computer programs such as Photoshop and Painter allow artists to easily manipulate photographs and paint pictures using custom artists tools which can create the effects in a few minutes of what previously would have taken months to paint. Many artists today are involved in using digital art technology to produce websites, computer games or online art exhibitions. The conceptart.org website is one example of a site which mostly displays digital art, that has over 100,000 posts by many different people. Digital art is increasingly being displayed in contemporary art exhibitions as well as being online, becoming more popular towards the end of the 20th century. Digital art made its official entry into the art world only in the late 1990s, when museums and galleries began increasingly to incorporate the art form into their shows and dedicate entire exhibitions to it. (Paul 2003: 23) T he impact that these technologies is having on contemporary art is sometimes hard to pin down at one time since they are moving so fast that they are constantly changing and being updated. However, while modern technology provides artists with many opportunities and ways to produce art, it still functions similar to any other artists tool of the past. Films are being produced for art galleries just as paintings were made for exhibiting by the impressionists, such as the films made by Tracey Moffat. Tracey Moffat is inspired by images which come from television and movies to make her own films. These films show that she is not only using new technology to display art, but her ideas for the films are based on the technology itself. In one of her recent films, Artist, Moffat shows a collection of clips from movies and television programs which show how Hollywood and contemporary society depicts artists. By showing popular television shows slant on what the idea of an artist means to modern society, this reflects the view of the ordinary person, who can sometimes misunderstand contemporary art. This film reflects the sometimes uninformed, sometimes humorous view of society towards artists today. She shows a clip from the Agony and the Ecstasy with Michelangelo destroying his first painting in the Sistine Chapel, a comic scene from the movie Batman with Rembrandts and Degas paintings being vandalised by the Joker and a scene from the television show Absolutely Fabulous, as well as o ther scenes from art movies such as Surviving Picasso. This clever 10 minute documentary gives an excellent insight in the way artists are perceived in modern society, how five decades of mainstream media have perceived the creative process and creators themselves (http://www.wmm.com/Catalog/_makers/fm253.htm), especially given that the word artist now more often than not in popular usage such as on television and on the radio, refers to a musician rather than a visual artist, with many people today sometimes confused by a postmodernist style of visual art where anything is allowed and considered art. In another of her short films, Lip, Moffat shows clips put together of black servants in Hollywood movies talking back to their bosses, in what she is trying to show is the discrimination which is often evident in films towards minorities, and reveals the narrow margin Hollywood has allowed black actresses to shine in (http://www.wmm.com/Catalog/_makers/fm253.htm) While watching the fi lms the racism in the movie may be subtle, but when she appropriates many images from different films and puts them together it is much more apparent. In many of her films and images Tracey Moffat has used a style which is close to an appropriation similar to that done by other postmodern artists. In the series of photographs called GUAPA (Good Looking) (Fig.4) she shows photographs of people from different races roller-skating in a rink as though it were a contest with a referee, the image borrowed from similar television images. She uses a soft magenta colour effect in the images, which contrasts with the action which is taking place. The people in the film are dressed in unusual outfits, which gives an impression possibly of a futuristic sport. In one of Moffats films, Heaven (Fig.2), she shows footage of men getting changed in a car park near a beach, and she takes the position with the camera of someone watching who possibly is not supposed to, or whom the people in the film are uncomfortable with having there. She is someone watching the surfers who is not supposed to, shamelessly plays voyeur to a succession of surfers chang ing into their wetsuits in parking lots (http://www.renaissancesociety.org/ show/moffat/index.html) Once again, Moffat is responding to the programs shown on television and in the movies, and by making art on this theme it shows that television and movies are influencing the art which is being displayed in contemporary art galleries. This film makes art out of a seemingly ordinary activity, includes shots of a car as seen from the inside and outside, as well as surfers wearing ordinary clothes and jewellery. She appropriates these symbols of modern life such as the cars and modern clothing and uses them in an artistic way to express the voyeur theme which she is trying to get across. In her film, Bedevil (Fig.3) which is composed of three separate films, Moffat appropriates images from modern life such as the American soldier in the first story Mister Chuck, the railway tracks in the second Choo Choo Choo Choo and the landlord and eviction in the third Lovin the Spin Im in. The imag es from these films have been partly inspired by memories from her early life. Tracey Moffat uses for inspiration in many of her films the movies and television programs she remembers from her childhood. Modern technology in this way is having an impact on the art produced by artists such as Moffat, who bases her ideas directly upon ideas coming from these things. In her films, she uses imagery which comes from popular culture, from television programs and movies that she has seen including from sources which are not often seen as part of the art world, such as B-grade television programs and television advertisements. She makes use of the stylistic resources of advertising and even so-called trash-TV' (Reinhardt 1999: 7) She grew up in Brisbane in the 1960s, and during this time experienced much of popular culture through different types of modern culture on the new technological tools of television and cinema, from melodramas to deeply surreal film noir (Sever 2001: 12) She also uses modern music in her films such as with cuts showing Jimmie Little singing in the film Night Cries (Fig.1). This film shows a woman caring for her dying mother, as well as showing many years before the woman as a young child at the beach with her mother who is much younger then. Moffat has used the film to create an effect similar to that of Frederick McCubbins The Pioneer which shows a dying person on one side and the same person much younger on the other. This gives the audience a feeling of sadness as they think about all the events which the person went through in their lifetime. The audience would see the way the woman would feel bound to care for her mother in the same way that her mother cared for her when she was a child. Moffat also has considered using computers in manipulating photographic images, because the number of things she can do is greatly increased with many computing tools available for the artist. Photography is always a wonderful challenge Of course now with computer manipulations the possibilities make you exhausted even thinking about it. (Tracey Moffat, quoted in Hentschel 1998: 23) American artist Lillian Schwartz made many experiments with computer art during her long career. Computers are being used by recent artists as tools with which to analyse and create works of art. Schwartz was one of the first artists to experiment with computer images and computer effects on art. She worked closely with scientists in the 1970s in the early stages of computer development, and developed one of the first rock music videos. She also made one of the first digitised films to be shown as a work of art, her video Pixillation showing diagonal red squares and other shapes such as cones, pyramids on black on white backgrounds. This video is regarded as one of the most important early works of computer film art which with her other work is now considered seminal works of computer artcomposed of programmed abstract images. (Rush 1999: 172) She worked in the early stages of her career with scientists as Bell Laboratories developing mixtures of sound, video and art. Later on, durin g the 1980s, Schwartz made many experiments with artworks manipulating images using computer technology and creating some artworks of her own. Schwartz extensively used the works of Leonardo Da Vinci in experiments with computers. These experiments showed some of the ways in which computers can be used to change and develop images. These images expand the audiences perception of artworks which they already know. She used a 3D computer generated model to show that the lines on the Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan match the perspective lines of Leonardos fresco painting of the Last Supper, showing that his painting may have been designed to appear as an extension to the room from where the monks would have been sitting to observe it. Thus technology has given a new dimension to the painting by allowing viewers to better understand why it possibly had been made. Similarly, in Schwartzs most famous work, the Mona Leo (Fig.5), she spliced the left side of the Mona Lisa (Fig.6) with a flipped left side of the red chalk portrait of Leonardo (Fig.7), arguing that the Mona Lisa is a self-portrait by Leonardo. She shows that the Leo nardo self portrait and the Mona Lisa line up perfectly, as when the two images noses were aligned the rest of the face lined up exactly. Using lines drawn on the image, she shows the bottom of the eye, eyebrow, nose and chin all line up together. She also removes the grey tones in the Leonardo self portrait and superimposes the Mona Lisa eye over it in further experiments to show how the images are closely related. Without the aid of a computer, these experiments would take a much longer amount of time, for instance if she was to paint the Mona Leo by hand. Her new works each function as separate works of art in themselves with all the characteristics of a work of art, so the computer is a tool which creates art just as a paintbrush does. This can be considered an art of appropriation, as where an artist has borrowed the images of another artist to create a new work. Schwartz uses computers to manipulate many other images which relate to art and art history, creating new works of art. Schwartzs experiments with computers to manipulate images were done decades before digital art became popular in the late 1990s. She used shapes generated by a computer to make images on the computer screen, such as using trapezium shapes to create an object recognisable as a cat (Fig. 8), as well as triangle shapes to represent a human head. (Fig. 9) She also experimented with ways to superimpose multiple images onto another recognisable image in an effect of a collage, as with Statue of Liberty (Fig.10) and Homage to Van Gogh (Fig.11) Computers applied in such ways can create collages and images faster than possible by hand. These images function not only as experiments with computer work, but also as works of art in themselves. Statue of Liberty is composed of different elements which have been put together using a computer, similar to Cubist collages and Dadaist photomontages of the early 20th century. She warped images of faces of Rembrandt into a photo of Einstein, showing similarities in the facial features (Fig. 12), a task which would be almost impossible to do by hand, but only take a few seconds with the aid of a computer. She similarly combined images of works of art in a poster for the Museum of Modern Art in New York in her poster Big MoMA (Fig. 13), an also near impossible task by hand, but relatively easy with computers, and still creating a legitimate award winning work of art. The role of computers to be used by the artist has been addressed by Schwartz. Computers can today perform many functions for the artist, from creating artworks through altering photography or by flipping shapes, changing colours, adding tones and a seemingly infinite amount of other uses. Computer artists can create interactive images, robot installations, digitalised and/or 3 dimensional images. Many of the ways which this latest technology is used to create art makes art into a genre becoming close to being a video game or a movie. In her research on computers, Schwartz discusses whether art produced wholly by computers can be considered as art, the question is asked as to what a work of art means, Is it the final piece of art (or output) by which creativity is judged, or is creativity independent of the art. (Schwartz 1992: 256) She asks whether it means that something must be produced creatively, or are people impressed with the craftsmanship and effort that has gone into a work such as a Michelangelo or Titian when they think of it as art. For if it is only the craftsmanship which makes a work of art then computers can surely produce artworks since they have the ability to work faster than humans in many ways. Paint and brushes can be regarded as technology of sorts because they are implements which are made for the artist to use in his painting, just as a painting computer program is there for an artist to create his works on. The Renaissance artists had assistants to mix paints, prepare canvases, or in the case of Rubens even finish off the painting. The computer can be regarded as assistant which allows the artist greater time to put into creative ideas, and less into repetitive tasks which can easily handled by a computer. The computer is very much like an apprentice Since the master (the programmer or artist) does not have to be present for many of these operations, it seems as if the computer is acting in place of the artist. We have again found our scientist-artist, and it is the computer itself. (Schwartz 1992: 233) Video and computers are having a huge influence on modern art. Modern art exhibitions are increasingly incorporating the use of both video and computers, as well as other technologies. In addition, artists such as Moffat are using ideas obtained from new media such as television and Hollywood movies which are being displayed in art galleries. Schwartz uses computers to manipulate images and create new works of art. Art is continuing to change with the introduction of new technologies. Artists are effectively using these technologies in their works, and will almost certainly continue to do so in the future. Moffats use of film and Schwartzs use of computers shows that these new media can and are often used in art, and are every bit as valid a medium as a paintbrush or pencil. Reference List Books Cooke, Lynne and Kelly, Karen 1998, Tracey Moffat: Free-Falling. Dia Center for the Arts, New York, USA Duckrey, Timothy 1999, Ars Electronica: Facing the Future. A Survey of Two Decades, Massachusetts institute of Technology, USA Goodman, Cynthia 1987, Digital Visions. Computers and Art. Harry N. Abrams inc. publishers, New York, USA Hentschel, Martin 1998, Tracey Moffat, Wurttembergischer Kunstverein, Stuttgart, Germany Hertz, Richard and Klein, Norman 1990, Twentieth Century Art Theory. Urbanism, Politics and Mass Culture, Prentice-Hall Inc., New Jersey, USA. Lucie-Smith, Edward 1995, Movements in art since 1945. Issues and concepts, Thames and Hudson, London, UK Paul, Christiane 2003, Digital Art, Thames Hudson, London, UK Popper, Frank 1997, Art of the Electronic Age, Thames Hudson, London, UK Reinhardt, Brigitte 1999, Tracey Moffatt. Laudanum, Hatje Cantz Publishers, Ostfildern, Germany Rush, Michael 1999, New Media in Late 20th Century Art. Thames Hudson, London, UK Schwartz, Lillian F. 1992, The Computer Artists Handbook. Concepts, Techniques and Applications. WW Norton Co. Inc, New York, USA Sever, Nancy 2001, Tracey Moffat. Invocations, ANU Drill Hall Gallery, Australia

The Impact of the Automobile on the United States Essay -- Automobiles

The Impact of the Automobile on the United States The automobile has had a profound impact on the United States. It has brought us superhighways, paved bridges, motels, vacations, suburbia, and the economic growth which accompanied them. Today, the automotive industry and nearly one million related industries employ about twenty percent of all American workers. The US produces more automobiles than every other nation combined. This product has become a symbol of the American way of life. The US is sometimes referred to as â€Å"a nation on wheels.† Considering these facts, one must wonder what the United States was like before the revolutionary innovation of the automobile. The first automobile was invented by a French artillery officer, Nicholas Joseph Cugnot. His self-propelled vehicle was powered by steam. Other models of steam-powered automobiles were created by different innovators, but these models were eventually made obsolete by the internal-combustion powered car invented by Jean Joseph Etienne Lenior. This technology reached the United States when Charles and Frank Duryea made the first successful American gasoline automobile. Ransom Eli Olds had the earliest assembly line for automobiles and began mass production. Later, Henry Ford’s Model T dominated the car industry and remained the most popular automobile for nearly twenty years. In the early days of the automobile, there was not a real automotive industry. Only a few hundred cars were made in the early years of automobile manufacturing. They were very seldom seen and only could be afforded by the wealthy. The car was such an unfamiliar spectacle, it was sometimes featured in circuses. Eventually, the car began to increase in popularity. During the 1920s, the US economy was on the rise and one of the main reasons was the automobile. Assembly lines were becoming more efficient, thus, admitting cars to be made more cheaply and allowing prices of cars to drop. From 1909 to 1925, the price of a Ford Model T dropped from $950 to $290. This allowed more people to be able to afford them. Millions were sold. The automobile, once a rare luxury, was becoming a part of American life. It had a ripple effect on US industries. With the increase in automobiles, came an increase in related products. Large quantities of glass, rubber and steel were needed t... ...nvolved with the safety of Americans. Many actions by the government such as the seatbelt requirement and the establishment of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have made the automobile safer for the general public. The automobile has had many different effects on the United States, both good and bad. In the future it will continue to shape our culture, commerce and surroundings. Works Cited 1Thomas DiBacco, Lorna Mason, Christian Appy, History of the United States, vol. 2 (Evanston: McDougal Littell Inc.), p. 324. 2John Rae, The American Automobile Industry, (Boston: G.K. Hall & Company), p. 89-92. 3John Rae, The American Automobile Industry, (Boston: G.K. Hall & Company), p. 96. 4John Rae, The American Automobile Industry, (Boston: G.K. Hall & Company), p. 188. 5John Rae, The American Automobile Industry, (Boston: G.K. Hall & Company), p. 89-90. 6American Lung Association of California, , 13 April 2001. 7National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, , 14 April 2001.

Mankind’s Ability to Survive in Elie Wiesel’s Night Essay

In Elie Wiesel’s Night, he tells of how his family went from being just a regular family in a small town called Sighet, Romania to being thrown into a concentration camp and split apart and then how he and his father were treated and how he got out. Through the novel, Wiesel and his family go from living like regular people living in their home to being in the â€Å"ghetto†, then transported on cramped train cars to Auschwitz, a Nazi death camp for Jewish people. He tells us of what he and his father went through and also tells us of his getting out of the camp. The novel starts out in Sighet, Romania. The small town where Elie Wiesel grew up as a young boy. He grew up with two older sisters and a younger sister. There is an old beggar there that people call Moishe the Beadle. Wiesel spent a lot of time with this man as he had faith and wanted to someone to help him in his Kabbalah studies. When Wiesel asked his father his father asked him why and said no. No one listened to Moishe the Beadle when he had to get deported and then came back with news about what was to come. Everyone thought he was crazy. When people from other places started coming and changing things in the town around for example making â€Å"ghetto† areas, the people started to believe. People were given a certain amount of rations for their family and different families were called for deportation every week. This could also be known as selection. In the ghetto of Sighet, they made up their own government system, police force, social assistance office, labor committee, and hygiene department. In May 1944, the government system was told that their ghettos will be closed immediately and the residents will be deported. The people are not told where they will go, but only that they may take a few of their personal items with them. The voyage to the death camp Auschwitz was long, depriving and harsh. One woman that was in the train car with them named Madame Schachter kept screaming hysterically that she could see flames until beaten to silence by others that wanted her to be quiet. When they got closer and saw the chimneys for themselves is when they came to reality and knew what was happening Upon getting to the camp they are separated by gender, men on the left and women on the right. Wiesel’s mother and younger sister go straight to the gas chambers. Wiesel and his father make it past the first selection in the camp. They do this by lying about their ages; Elie claimed he was 18 and his father in his early 30s. Elie stayed with his father, doing everything he could to make sure he stayed that way. The struggle to survive for Elie and his father was filled with pain, hunger and torture. Some ways that they used to survive were sharing rations with each other and other people, steal rations from others and make sure they were strong enough not to get put in the selection to go to the gas chambers. In August 1944, Wiesel and his father were transferred from Birkenau to Auschwitz III, where their lives changed to avoiding violence and constant search for food, this camp was a work camp. In January 1945, the Germans made all the â€Å"inmates† in the camp march to camps in Germany. Wiesel and his father made it Gleiwitz and were put on a freight train to Buchenwald, 350 miles from Auschwitz. They survived this by doing their best not to fall behind or on the ground; if they fell behind they were shot and trampled on. Wiesel was with his father the whole time. The prisoners were allowed to take a hot bath. They go to the barracks, Wiesel left his father behind. He found his father in a block for the sick and weak. The other men in his father’s bunk beat him to get his food. The men eventually beat him to death and another sick man was in his bunk the next time Wiesel went to see him. His father was brought to the crematorium before dawn by the Kapos. Wiesel was transferred to the children’s block. On April 5, 1945, the â€Å"inmates† were told that their camp is to be liquidated and they are going to be moved. On April 11, a Jewish resistance movement attacked the remaining SS officers and took control. The first American tank arrived at the front gates at six in the evening. The camp was liberated and Wiesel was freed. Everything that Wiesel and his family went through, throughout the novel, tells of how he survived going from death camp to work camp and again to another death camp. He did a lot of things that he didn’t mean, but in doing so he was just trying to survive himself and do what he could to help his father survive as long as he did.

Proper Use of Entrez-vous in French

Proper Use of Entrez-vous in French The comic strip Non Sequitur  by Wiley Miller held a  Great Non-Sequitur Sign-Off Contest, where readers were invited to send in suggestions for the sign in front of the Au Naturel Deli, behind the door of which lurked a bear with a cleaver. The winning entry, from Mary Cameron of Leander, Texas, had text scrawled on the sign outside that read Entrà ©e:  Vous. Most people might apply a double-entendre to the phrase in this context, which might be translated as Todays Entrà ©e: You.  This is a very cute and clever realization of the comic!  Ã¢â‚¬â€¹ Confusion of Entrà ©e and Entrez But to understand the double-meaning of this suggested comic, the reader would need to understand the  homophonous entrez vous, which is often used by non-native French speakers to mean Come in. So the sign in this comic would be read with a homonymic understanding as both Come in and Todays Main Dish: You.   Language Use Differences The problem is that entrez  vous  in French doesnt quite mean what non-native French speakers use as its literal translation.  When the phrase is broken down, the French verb  entrer is not reflexive; the correct way to say Come in is simply entrez  in the formal and plural you conjugation of the verb. So if the sign in this comic were to indicate that a passerby should enter the shop, itd simply read Entrez, and as a result lose its comedic nature. Neither of these words should be confused with  entre which translates to in or between in English and doesnt have the same pronunciation because the e at the end is essentially silent.  An example of the use of this word might be ...à §a reste entre nous,  meaning this stays between us, perhaps implicative of a confidential conversation.   When to Use Entrez-Vous For non-native French speakers, this begs the question if there is ever an appropriate use of  the phrase entrez vous  in the French language. The only time you might use entrez vous in French would be in the case of a question. Saying Entrez-vous? is similar to asking Are you coming in?  or even What about coming in? and is more casual and conversational in nature.   If youre thinking of using entrà ©e vous or entrez-vous  interchangeably, even for humor, bear in mind that it will likely not be understood by native French speakers as very humorous. Rather, its typically seen as a grammatical error.

Gender Roles Throughout History Essays

Gender Roles Throughout History Essays Gender Roles Throughout History Essay Gender Roles Throughout History Essay Part one Gender roles of diverse cultures have differed immensely throughout history. The evolution of gender roles first began in the Paleolithic Age and then began to transform with the transformation of the Paleolithic Age to the Neolithic Age. Women in Mesopotamia, India, Greece, China, and Rome were not treated as equals and viewed as inferior to men. Cultures like Egypt and Persia had similar laws for women and treated them with more respect out of any of the other cultures. The Paleolithic Age was responsible for the introductions of many vital aspects of our world today such as, technology, agriculture, and gender roles. The Paleolithic culture was based on a hunter and gatherer society, which had a great influence on the gender roles of males and females. For the most part, the men were responsible for the hunting, mainly due to their physical build. Genetically speaking, men are normally larger in size, stronger, and more aggressive in comparison to women. Despite the large size and strength differences, both males and females were treated with equality. Women contributed to the Paleolithic society by being responsible for the gathering of edible plants and berries. Although gathering plants and berries is considered to be less dangerous and fairly easy when being compared to hunting, gathering was considered to be one of the most important contributions to Paleolithic society. When men went off to hunt, there was no guarantee that they would always be able to bring back enough meat, if any, to feed the community. The plants and berries gathered by the women were responsible for feeding the community daily, especially when the men were unsuccessful in their hunting trip. : Without the roles of both the women and men, the community would not have been able to survive. The Neolithic Age was the transformation and progression from the Paleolithic Age lifestyle. The transition of the different era’s influenced the gender roles of men and women, changing them based on the development of their new lifestyle. The main gender role difference between the Paleolithic Age and the Neolithic Age was male domination. Although men became much more dominant of the two genders, women were still treated with respect. Because of the size and strength advantage men had over women, men were responsible for most of the hard manual labor, while women were given roles more suited for their weaker and nurturing nature. Men started to realize that instead of hunting and killing animals, they should capture, domesticate, and breed the animals because it would be more beneficial to the community in the long run and provide a more stable lifestyle. The women also realized the importance of stability and collected seeds for an assortment of plants and fruits so they could invest their time in farming plants instead of gathering them. Because of the gathering role and responsibility women played in the past in the Paleolithic Age, women were very familiar with plants. Women understood how plants grew and the factors and environment needed in order to be successful in growing them, which is why women were responsible for the start of plant farming. Since communities did not have to relocate so often based on animal migration, and men and women did not have to spend several tiring hours searching for animals to hunt or food to gather, people had more time on their hands. This extra time allowed women to concentrate more on looking after their families and children, cooking, cleaning, and sewing. This led to men virtually being responsible for all the difficult labor. Unlike in the Paleolithic Age where men and women were equal and relied on each other for survival, men no longer needed to depend on women as much. Most of the responsibility for survival was placed on the men which is what ultimately led to their dominance. The religions and laws developed in Mesopotamia prevented women from asserting control in society. Elite classes such as priests and warriors manipulated religious beliefs to say male Gods were more valuable and dominant in comparison to female Gods. This led to justifying male domination over females in the Mesopotamian society. Men were in control and held the power, allowing them to abuse their wives, sell them into slavery to pay off debts, and partake in consensual sexual relations even if married, while women were drowned to death as punishment for committing adultery. In Mesopotamia, women were mostly responsible for tending to the children and household. Women did not have the power to make life decisions for themselves and instead, relied on the men in their family to make those decisions for them. In Egypt, although men were the dominant gender in society, women were treated with great respect, which led to a very stable and successful society. The Egyptians believed that the goal of life was happiness and viewed home and family life as the main source of it. Egyptian law basically treated women as equals for the most part. Women were allowed to hold positions of power, own property, own slaves, receive an education, and even borrow money. Although Pharaohs were normally men, certain circumstances allowed for women to hold the same title. The Egyptians believed that marriage and family were very important aspects in life. They believed that unconditional love and kindness were vital in a marriage and thought that husband and wife should always treat each other with respect. In regards to family, unlike many cultures that viewed children as another mouth to feed or another worker, Egyptians truly enjoyed their children and experienced much joy in their families. In India, public figures and important positions were given to men. Although women did not have any public authority or receive any formal education, they were still considered to be important to society by having much influence when it came to family life and were supposed to be treated with respect from their family and husband. Sometimes it was difficult for women to take of the household due to their young age. Beginning as a child, women were taught that they were supposed to devote their lives to men. Very young child brides were quite common in India but ceremonies would not take place until the child had gone through puberty. Also, according to the Laws of Manu, women were allowed to inherit property. Women could â€Å"influence affairs within their families but enjoyed no public authority† (Meridians, page 98). The Laws of Manu state, â€Å"deities delight in places where women are revered, but where women are not revered all rites are fruitless,† (Meridians, pg 78). The Code of Hammurabi does not give a lot of freedom to women. Also, the Code is very strict when it comes to marriage. The Code allowes fathers and brothers to arrange marriages and punishes cheating wives by sentencing them to death. Different from the Code of Hammurabi, the Laws of Manu stresses the importance of husbands revering their wives and keeping them happy (Meridians, P. 78). China was a patriarchal society where men were considered to be the leader of the household. Although women were not normally seen as public figures, women were considered to be very valuable in the home and family. In the beginning, women were actually considered to be extremely important because the female side passed power and the line of succession. However, there was one woman, Fu Hao, who stood out from all the rest during Shang times. Hao was in charge of her own estate and oversaw the sacrificial ceremonies that most men oversaw (Bentley Ziegler, pg 124). In Perisa, family and clans were considered to be very important. The Persian culture was considered much more laid back in comparison to many others because classes were free and people were given the freedom to practice any religion, pursue any profession, and even borrow money to start their own business. Unlike most cultures, women were able to enjoy social and legal freedoms and were a very active part of society. Women were treated with equality and respect. Females were permitted to take part in religious ceremonies and occasionally even serve as the priest. Their were no restrictions on relationships or marriage- young people in relationships were told to practice honesty and loyalty, and to always be faithful and share each others happiness (Notes on Iran, P. 1) . When selecting a husband, women were instructed to be wise but free to choose who to marry on their own (Notes on Iran, P. 1). Many women took on jobs of weaving textiles and were given portions of grain, wine, beer, and occasionally meat from the imperial and temple workshops who employed them (Traditions Encounters, P. 170). If the King passed away and the price was too young to rule, the kings wife was allowed to take the throne. Pourandokht was the first Persian Queen and was thought of throughout history as kind hearted and wise (Notes on Iran, P. 1). Persians tended to have a close knit family and parents were encouraged to teach their children right and wrong and the importance of equality. In Athens, Greece, women were seen as inferior to men, not very intelligent, and thought of to have strong emotions. Women had guardians who were their closet male relative or husband. The guardian system was set up because Athenian philosophers, other than Plato, thought that women needed to be protected from themselves and society so they could not cause any damage to themselves or others (Women in the Ancient World, P. 2). Women were not allowed to own any property other than clothing, jewelry, and slaves, and we only allowed to purchase inexpensive items. In order for a woman to gain citizenship, she had to marry a male citizen. Fathers were responsible for arranging marriages between their young daughters and older men who were normally in their twenties. Like Indian culture, the girls married after they went through puberty. The job of a wife was to have children and take care of their house. Wives were never supposed to leave their homes unless to attend special events or funerals. If a married woman was seen outside of her home without it being any of the above occasions, people considered her to be a prostitute, slave, or so poor that she had no choice but to work (Women in the Ancient World, P. 2). Women from Sparta were different from much of Greece because they were able to own and inherit land. Spartan women were known to be bold and run the household, but were not supposed to be seen as too dominant over their husbands in public. The main purpose of marriage for people of Greece was not for love, but for the purpose of breeding (Women in the Ancient World, P. ). In Rome, women were constantly under the authority of men. Roman law insisted that women had to obey their fathers until they married, then in which case, had to obey their husbands. Even if a woman was widowed, she was still supposed to have some kind of male supervision of her finances (Women in the Ancient World, Rome). Roman men greatly valued marriage and treated their wives with great respe ct. Although women were never allowed to hold office, several men listened to the advice of their wives when not in public. Women did not enjoy working and only did so if they were lower class and had to (Women in the Ancient World-Rome). The Paleolithic and Neolithic differed in gender roles due to the change in their lifestyles. In the Paleolithic Age, women and men were considered equals because they had to rely on each other equally in order to survive. The transition to the Neolithic Age caused men to dominant women since most of the responsibility for survival was placed on the shoulders of the men. Men no longer needed to rely on females as much as they had to in the Paleolithic Age. Mesopotamian culture treated women with very little respect. Men were allowed to abuse their wives, sell them into slavery, and even commit adultery. If a Mesopotamian woman ever committed adultery, she would be sentenced to death. The Egyptian culture and Persian culture are most comparable to one another in the sense that they embraced family, love and marriage and treated women with immense respect and equality. In India, ever since women were children, they were always taught that they were supposed to devote their lives to their husbands. Indian women had arranged marriages and married after they went through puberty, much like the Athens in Greece. In China, although women were normally not seen as public figures, they were considered to be very important in home and family life. Women of Athens, Greece, led very strict lives and were considered to be very weak minded and unintelligent. Like the Indian culture, they had arranged marriages and married mainly to breed offspring. Spartan women different from Athenian women in the sense they Spartan women were very as very bold and not weak minded at all. In Rome, women were under the constant authority of men. However, despite this, Roman men took the advice of their wives when given in private, and were dominant when in the public eye. Barry. Role of Women in Ancient Persia. Notes on Iran. Web. 21 Oct. 2009. Bentley J. H. Ziegler H. F. (2008). Traditions Encounters: A global perspective on the past . New York:McGraw-Hill[pic] Meridians: Sources in World History. (2009). Pearson Custom Publishing[pic] Thompson, James C. Women in the Ancient World. Women in the Ancient World. Nov. 2005. Web. 22 Oct. 2009.

The Great Depression Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Great Depression - Term Paper Example After the stock market crash, the most of the securities have depreciated sharply, and much of the loans have become irrecoverable, while there was a sharp reduction in banks resource base as a result of massive withdrawals of deposits of population, declining balances enterprises. As a result of the bankruptcy of banks took massive character. At the end of 1930 bank depositors began a run that led to a wave of bank failures. As a result, in the United States began absolute monetary contraction. Second banking panic occurs in the spring of 1931. All these months, the authorities did not respond to the increasing pace of economic tsunami. GDP in 1930-1931 years falls respectively by 9.4 and 8.5% and the unemployment rate rises from 3.2 % at the beginning of 1930 to 15.9 % by the end of 1931. The unemployment rate in 1932 increased to 23.6 %. A little over three years since the crisis have lost their jobs for more than 13 million Americans. Industrial stocks have lost 80 % of their value since 1930, while livestock prices have fallen by 53% since 1929. For three years went bankrupt two out of every five banks and their depositors lost $ 2 billion in deposits. Money supply in 1929 was reduced by 31% on face value. Because of the reduction in effective demand, prices for agricultural products fell by 40-60%. Also the Great Depression in the United States was marked by tremendous growth in unemployment, it started under a Republican administration of President 31st American President Herbert Hoover, who promised during the election campaign "prosperity" for people. The situation was aggravated by the fact that the Hoover administration was not a federal program to combat unemployment. Hoover believed that the problems of the unemployed must address to state governments and urban municipalities. However, almost all industrial cities have become bankrupt, so left without