Irony in Guy de Maupassant’s “The Jewelry”” Essay

Introduction â€Å"Expect the unexpected,† is something that I heard many times. We should follow this rule while reading different genres of writing, because writers use irony to keep readers’ attention, and make their works more interesting. This research paper deals with one of Guy de Maupassant’s short story â€Å"The Jewelry† and with his virtuous ability to use irony in it. It is sometimes said that we live in an age of irony. Because nowadays even politicians in their speeches use ironical device, in order to catch attention of society. Barry Brummet (expert in Techniques of Close Reading) in one of his speech mentioned that â€Å"Irony is a kind of winking at each other, as we all understand the game of meaning reversal that is being played.† The story was first published in Maupassant’s short-story collection â€Å"Contes du jour et de la nuit† in 1885. Since that time people have been reading it, and it won popularity among them. So it has a lot of interesting opinions and analysis which were made by famous critics and writers like Leo Tolstoy. Maupassant is considered one of the finest short story writers of all time and a champion of the realist approach to writing. â€Å"The Jewelry† is interesting to read because it contains irony. Irony has always been fascinating object to study, and it is widely known and popular  to use in modern time as in literature so in speech. It is splendid story; despite of being short it has deep sense and contains interesting topics to discuss. In â€Å"The Jewelry† reader can see what ironical games life can play with us and to what conclusion it can lead us. Chapter I Irony The Greek etymology of the word irony, ÃŽ µÃŽ ¯Ã Ãâ€°ÃŽ ½ÃŽ µÃŽ ¯ÃŽ ± (eironeia), means feigned ignorance (a technique often used by the Greek philosopher Socrates), and from ÃŽ µÃŽ ¯Ã Ãâ€°ÃŽ ½ (eiron), the one who makes a question pretending to be naive, and ÃŽ µÃŽ ¯Ã ÃŽ µÃŽ ¹ÃŽ ½ is also a verb radical of the Greek â€Å"to speak†. The verb ÃŽ µÃŽ ¯Ã ÃŽ µÃŽ ¹ÃŽ ½ (eirein) itself is probably from the Proto-Indo-European root *wer- say. Irony is a stylistic device in which the contextual evaluative meaning of a word is directly opposite to its dictionary meaning. There are very many cases which we regard as irony, intuitively feeling the alteration of the evaluation, but unable to put our finger on the exact word in whose meaning we can see the contradiction between what is said and what is implied. The effect of irony in such cases is created by a number of statements, by the whole text. Many examples of irony are supplied by D. Defoe, J. Swift and many others. Types of irony There are 3 main types of irony: 1. Verbal Irony: This occurs when a character says one thing but suggests or intends the opposite. For instance in Julius Caesar, Mark Antony says â€Å"and Brutus is an honorable man,† when he really means that Brutus is dishonorable because he has betrayed Caesar. It is very similar to sarcasm, although sarcasm is rough and direct while verbal irony is implied. 2. Dramatic Irony: This is the contrast between what the character thinks to be true and what the readers know to be true. Dramatic irony occurs when the meaning intended by a character’s words or actions is opposite of the true situation. Further, the character cannot see or understand the contrast, but the audience can. For example, in Othello, dramatic irony occurs when Othello refers to Iago as â€Å"honest Iago.† Unknown to Othello, Iago is a villain who deceives him into thinking that his wife has been unfaithful. For this, Othello unjustly kills his wife, believing the whole time in Iago’s honesty. Note the difference in examples for verbal and dramatic  irony: Antony calls Brutus â€Å"honorable† and knows he is not honorable, while Othello calls Iago â€Å"honest† and does not know of Iago’s deception. 3. Situational Irony: It is the contrast between what happens and what was expected or what would seem to be more appropriate to happen. This type of irony appears from the events and circumstances of a story. When we see situational irony, we might think circumstances are unfair or unfortunate – for example, if a greedy millionaire buys a lottery ticket and wins additional millions. Irony in literature Here I wanted to list several examples from literature, by means of which, we could understand what irony is more clearly. Firs examples are from â€Å"Romeo and Juliet† by William Shakespeare. I have chosen them, because this story is widely known across the globe. â€Å"Two households, both alike in dignity†¦Ã¢â‚¬  The opening line of Shakespeare’s play leads the reader to believe that both Capulet and Montague families are worthy of respect that they are given in Verona. As the story progresses, we realize that neither household is dignified. In fact, several of their actions are unworthy of their place in society. Another irony in Romeo and Juliet is that the reader remains aware of the fact that Juliet takes a sleeping portion to simulate death, and at the end of the day, when Romeo kills himself after thinking that Juliet is dead, the reader is astonished by the tragic irony. Next examples come from short stories, which I was supposed to read on my first years in university. The Casque of Amontillado, Edgar Allan Poe: In this story, the reader is conscious from the very beginning that Montressor is planning the murder of Fortunato, but Fortunato remains unaware of this and he considers Montressor his friend. It is very ironic how foolish people could be. Fortunato forgot about his past relationship with Montressor, and it led him to fatality. The Necklace, Guy de Maupassant: The protagonist Madame Loise, in order to look good, borrows jewelry from a prosperous friend and then loses it. With her husband she replaces the  jewels but the replacement effects on their financial conditions. Years later, when she meets the same friend again, she learns that the jewels she replaced with real gemstones was mere imitation jewelry. Conclusion to the Chapter I Generally, Irony is the difference between what someone does or says in relation to what is understood about what is done or said. Often there is a bit of confusion over what is ironic and what is simply accidental. The two ideas can be easily confused, but there is however, a very distinct difference between what is ironic and what is simply good or bad luck. Irony has several different types and it appears not only in literature, but in ordinary life also. It is a contradiction between appearance and reality. Irony is a widely known method of explaining something, and is popular to use as in writing and in everyday life so in media. It points on how many different people don’t pay attention to what is happening around them, and how many ironic games our fate can play with us. It is not only when we don’t mention, but it can happen every day and any time with anyone. Chapter II. â€Å"The Jewelry† by Guy de Maupassant Plot summary The story of â€Å"The Jewelry† takes place in Paris. It tells us about Monsieur Lantin, who worked as a chief clerk at the office of Minister of Interior. Story begins with M. Lantin’s falling in love with young virtuous girl(whose name will never be told) and their marriage. The story tells how they happily lived together during several years of their marriage. We can see that Lantins’ wife enjoys going to theatres and loves fake jewelry. She was the best housewife man can ever imagine, and she provided her home with everything. One cold winter evening she came back home from opera freezing and coughing, and after 8 days she died because of inflammation of the lungs. Mr. Lantin loved her very much, so he saved things staying as they were while she was alive. His life completely changed, he couldn’t rule his accounts and soon got into depts. One day he decided to cell one of his wife’s fake jewelries in order to have some money for food. When he went to the jeweler he learned that his wife’s jewelry wasn’t fake. Mr. Lantin was shocked, while she was alive, they didn’t have so much money to buy such  kind of expensive jewelries, so, she had deceived him with somebody. After learning that all of her â€Å"fake† jewelries were not fake, he decide to sell them, after that he decides that he is reach enough and quits his job. He was very happy and pleased with it, so he visits expensive restaurants, orders expensive meals, and boasts to everybody that he is rich, but, he is telling different amounts of money to everybody. After that he marries another girl. They didn’t live happy and loving life together as with the first wife. ii.ii Analysis of the story This story takes place in Paris, which is in France. As it is the general place of setting, there are also specific ones. For instance, in the beginning M. Lantin meets his future wife at a reception at the house of the second head of his department. After we see places like their house, theater, jeweler shops and so on. However, setting doesn’t play major role in â€Å"The Jewelry†, so author doesn’t pay much attention on displaying it. Two main characters of â€Å"The Jewelry† are Monsieur Lantin and his first wife. These two characters are very important for this story, because all of actions in it are connected with them. M. Lantin is a middle class man, who desperately loves his wife, and thinks that she loves him too, because they had very warm relations. Think like unfaithfulness of his wife wouldn’t even come to his mind, and when he learns this fact, he understands that everything is not as it seems to be. In my opinion Lantin is boastful person, and he likes to exaggerate. Maybe because of this characteristic feature, he looked to his family life as if it was ideal. His wife, whose name remains unknown to reader, is professional liar, who is arrogant and narcissistic, even though we don’t see it with unaided eye. I came to this conclusion because in the story it is said that â€Å"Happy the man who wins her love! He could not find a better wife.† Everybody thought that she was a perfect woman, who was able to make happy her man. In fact she could, but, because of hearing these words she became proud of herself, and inside she came to conclusion that she might deserve better man or better life. We don’t know what type of man she was dating with, but it is obvious that she could hide her feelings easily, so, she had two faces. One was how she was acting during staying at home with her husband, and the second is outside of  it. While she was near her husband, she was the most caring wife, tender and kid. She was also very smart, because she ruled household perfectly, but, with the help of her lover’s finances. I can say that her place was on the stage of the theater, because wife of M. Lantin was a perfect actress! The theme of â€Å"The Jewelry† by Guy de Maupassant is that life can be full of irony. Each of the ironies shown in â€Å"The Jewelry† reveal how people keep secrets from one another or themselves, and reveals how they ignore a situation that upsets them if they are com pensated enough. That compensation in this story is money. In this story, Guy de Maupassant as a main literary form of writing uses ironical style. â€Å"The Jewelry† is full of irony from the beginning. It awaked several feeling in me. First, I felt happy, that M. Lantin got married and was living pretty good life, but, I wondered why didn’t he also took a part in house holding or even look in what sphere and what amount of money was spent by his wife. I wasn’t surprised when it turned out that Lantins’ wife had a lover, because he wasn’t paying much attention on her, go out and have fun. It is possible that because of these reasons she was tired of that routine and wanted to try something new. Her lover may have paid more attention to het or shown his love more clearly. ii.iii Irony in â€Å"The Jewelry† The plot of â€Å"The Jewelry† moved from one irony to another. The first couple of paragraphs show how respectable M. Lantin’s wife was supposed to be. But even this early in the story, the author states that â€Å"The young girl seemed to be the very ideal of that pure good woman to whom every young man dreams of entrusting his future.† That â€Å"†¦seemed to be†¦Ã¢â‚¬  lets the reader know that the young girl was not chased woman as everybody took her for. This indicates that the girl was hiding something, although what that something was we didn’t find out until she died. The second irony which we come across in this story, is the fact that they â€Å"†¦seemed to live in luxury†, but in fact they didn’t just simply seem they really did. Unknown to M. Lantin, his wages were being supplemented by his wife’s lovers. They were paying for his good food, fine wine and luxuriously furnished house. I suppose if he had open ed his eyes, and looked through the household expenditures, he would  have learned that the money was coming from somewhere other than his salary. At that point M. Lantin was being fooled by his own self as well as by his wife. But anyway, during that time he was happy! After that comes our third irony. If M. Lantin hadn’t stopped going to the theatre with his wife, then probably another man wouldn’t have had an opportunity to flirt with her, and become her lover. Her attention would have been on her husband or on the stage, not on another man. In every other way, other than the theatre and her jewelry, M. Lantin’s wife devoted herself to him. We can understand it in lines â€Å"It would be impossible to conceive of any attention, tenderness, playful caress which she did not lavish upon her husband†¦Ã¢â‚¬  I think she loved her husband. And then of course, there is irony of the jewelry itself: the fact that the jewelry was real, while she had been acting like it was imitation of it. Even so far as to let the light catch the crystal, and say, â€Å"Now, look at them – see how well the work was done. You would swear it was real jewelry.†, when he would revile her for wearing the fake jewelry instead of being â€Å"adorned with one’s natural beauty and grace.† At that time she might have been mocking at her husband, thinking how stupid he was. After her death, M. Lantin found out that his wife’s entire jewelry was real. The jewelry that the wife’s lovers gave her paid for their luxurious life. After he realized he could get rich by selling all â€Å"fake† jewelry, M. Lantin forgot all about his wife’s affairs, and deceived himself that everything will be okay as long as he became rich. Six months after his wife’s death, he married again to a good virtuous woman which made his life miserable. Conclusion to Chapter II In conclusion, the story emphasized that looks can be deceiving and that sometimes we are blind to what really is going on. We can question if being happy by dishonest values is worth the financial gains or if the unhappiness from honest values is worth the pain. As we see â€Å"The Jewelry† is a little complicated story, and everybody has its own point of view on it. As it is ironical story, and there are people who may not understand it. In fact, I even feel sorry for M. Lantin, because even after his wife’s death, he deceives himself as if he were happy. Nowadays many people may face this problem, and no one is insured from this. Conclusion During writing of this research paper, I learned more about irony, its types and its usage in language. There are very many cases, though, which we regard as irony, intuitively feeling the reversal of the evaluation, but unable to put our finger on the exact word in whose meaning we can trace the contradiction between the said and the implied. The effect of irony in such cases is created by a number of statements, by the whole of the text. Ironies are easy to find in our daily activities; whether in statement, situation, or unexpected event. The simplest irony of our lives is that we feel happier having fun and not worrying about what we are doing or who we are doing it with. At that time ironical situations might occur. Guy de Maupassant was a great French short-story writer. He became famous around the world by the help of his great works. In other words, we can call him â€Å"father of modern short-story writers†. As I read responses of people about his works, they admired him, because his stories contain the face of our everyday life and problems. He points to our negligent treatment for our lives. Maupassant’s stories was popular nowadays is they were in 19th century. The story, which is discussed in this research paper, â€Å"The Jewelry†, points out how unaware we can be of things that happen around us. So we can call it realistic story. I think it would be suitable to finish my research paper by this quote: â€Å"The simplest of women are wonderful liars who can extricate themselves from the most difficult dilemmas with a skill bordering on genius† Guy de Maupassant Bibliography 1.Edgar Allan Poe, â€Å"The Casque of Amontillado†, The Norton Introduction to Literature 8th edition 2.Guy de Maupassant, â€Å"Original short stories†, translated by Albert M. C. McMASTER and others, Plymouth edition, South Australia 5005 3.Guy De Maupassant, â€Å"The Jewelry.† The Norton Introduction to Literature. 9th edition 4.Short Story Criticism, Gale Cengage, 2004 5.William Shakespeare, â€Å"Romeo and Juliet†, Foreign Language Publishing House, Moscow, 1951 6.William Shakespeare, â€Å"The tragedy of Othello†, Foreign Language Publishing House, Moscow 1963 7.http://article.ranez.ru 8.http://en.wikipedia.org 9.http://schoolworkhelper.net 10.http://www.slideshare.net

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Do you believe your drug use and alcohol use affects your singing agenda? . Do you feel another reaction or approach could be used In reacting to rules you do to like? Case Workbook (From Corcoran, J. & Walsh, J. (2009). Mental health In social work (Appendix). Part 1, Multi-Axial Diagnosis: Given the case Information and your responses to the questions after the case, prepare the following: a multi-axial diagnosis, the rationale for the diagnosis and GAFF score, and additional Information you would have wanted to know In order to make a more accurate diagnosis.Multi-Axial Diagnosis AXIS I: 318. 82 Conduct disorder/childhood-onset type, severe 309. 0 Adjustment disorder 305. 60 Cocaine Abuse AXIS II: WI . 09 NO Diagnosis 1. Acting out 2. Dental 3. Rationalization Axis Ill: hypothyroidism, takes a thyroid hormone medication, labyrinthine, used paper clips on carving into herself this got her into a psychiatric hospital. Denies suicide, went home got in fight with her mother and drank kit cleaner Axis IV: Axis V: Multiple arrests for running away.Educational deficits due to truancy Non flexible discipline by Step Father Adjustment issues and conflict with stepfather Processing information of biological Father molesting sister Processing Mothers Illness with Cancer Expulsion from home Few positive friends GAFF=40 (Past 6 Months) Rationale and Differential Diagnosis Maladaptive espouse to a psychosocial stresses, Part of a pattern or antisocial behavior Additional Information Needed Shows little remorse for actions and effects on her family and herself Part II, Biophysically Risk and Resilience Assessment: Formulate a risk and resilience assessment, for the onset of the disorder and the course of the disorder.Biological raised by ineffective, and sometimes abusive parents, parents with substance abuse issues A stable an balance household Communication in the household Psychological lack of guilt or empathy, emotional expression owe harm avoidance, preference for no vel and dangerous activities high rate of family problems and lack of emotional regulation Communication in the household, other than yelling and control issues Social Unemployment in the family poor environment intense emotional conflict unstable interpersonal relationships Sexual abuse within the family deviant peer relationships Healthy peer set Participation in organization events that promote better peers.TABLE 2 Biophysically Risk and Resilience Assessment for the Course of the Influence from a parent suffering drug abuse Low parent issues in the household Parents getting counseling and training in their issues Continued use of drugs and alcohol Participation in illicit sexual acts And participation in Drug abuse counseling Continuous exposure to bad atmosphere In detention facility Placement in positive group treatment facility with children positively progressing with treatment Join in activities What techniques would you use to elicit additional strengths in this client? Ge t the client involved in singing activities and people in the field Challenge the client with questions of where would you like to be, what can we do to get there. 0 2008. Grand Canyon University. All Rights Reserved.

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Game Theory - Research Paper Example Game theory is mainly applied in areas such as psychology, logic, biology, economics, and political science. This is a report on game theory with particular focus given to its applications, benefits and limitations, and other aspects. Game Theory Game theory or alternatively interactive decision theory is based on the fundamental concept of zero-sum games, where gains of an individual are exactly to the net losses of other participants. The game theory can be applicable to a range of behavioral relations. According to the game theory, a game must specify four essential elements such as players of the game, information and actions (which are available for decision making), and payoffs for each outcome (Game Theory). The two main branches of game theory include cooperative and non-cooperative game theory. When the non-cooperative games are illustrated in the extensive and normal forms, characteristic function form is used to present most cooperative games. According to Fudenberg and Ti role, in the extensive form, games are played using trees (see figure 1) and each node (vertex) indicates a player’s point of choice. Each player is clearly specified with a number represented by the vertex (67). The player’s possible action is indicated by the lines out of the vertex whereas the payoffs are presented at the bottom of the tree. The extensive form can be regarded as â€Å"a multi-player generalizations of a decision tree† (Fudenberg and Tirole 67). This is illustrated in the figure 1. Figure 1 The figure is taken from Ross, Don, "Game Theory",  The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy  (Winter 2012 Edition), In contrast to the extensive form, a matrix indicating players, strategies and payoffs are used to represent the normal form or strategic form. As Jian et al point out, in general any function which is associated with a payoff for each player with all combination of actions can be used to represent the normal form. When the normal form is used to define a game, it is assumed that each player acts without actually knowing the actions of others. If the players are aware of the action of other players, the game is usually illustrated using the extensive form. The origin of the characteristic function form is found in the book written by John von Neumann and Oskar Morgenstern. The authors guessed that when a union C emerges, it functions against the fraction (N/C) as if a normal game is played by two individuals. Here, the balanced payoff of C is identified as the basic function. Examples of Game Theory One of the most commonly cited examples of game theory is the prisoner’s dilemma. Suppose that two brokers, Robinson and Thomas, have been accused of fraudulent trading activities and arrested. Both of them are being questioned separately and hence they do not know what the other is going to say. Robinson and Thomas want to minimize the term of imprisonment and there are four different situations. 1. If Robinson pl eads that he is not guilty of the crime accused and Thomas confesses, Robinson will be jailed for a maximum term of five years and Thomas will be sentenced for a minimum of one year imprisonment. 2. If nobody confesses, then both of them will be jailed for a minimum of two years. 3. If both pleads that they are guilty of the crime accused and tries to implicate their partner, then both of the

Legal Issues Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words - 1

Legal Issues - Essay Example Very recently, an international incident happened to precisely involves a competition between two equally-important values: free speech and religious freedom. Last year, the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten published a series of cartoons – twelve in all – about Islam and the Prophet Mohammad that was deemed offensive by the Islamic community at large. To illustrate, one cartoon showed Mohammad with a turban in the shape of a bomb. The issue generated international controversy. Some newspapers outside Denmark reprinted the cartoons in support of the concept of free speech. Flemming Rose, the culture editor of the newspaper, stated: The cartoonists treated Islam the same way they treat Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism and other religions. And by treating Muslims in Denmark as equals they made a point: We are integrating you into the Danish tradition of satire because you are part of our society, not strangers. The cartoons are including, rather than excluding, Muslims. On the other hand, the Islamic community demonstrated their outrage at the cartoons through worldwide protests and calls of boycotts. They condemned the drawings as a form of hate speech and decried what they consider to be the offensive depiction of the Prophet Mohammad as well as the not-so-subtle link made between Islam and terrorism. This whole controversy makes a very interesting case for examining the role of the law in settling disputes that involve competing legal concepts reflective of competing values. There is a clear diversity issue at stake, it is not difficult to give credence to the arguments of Muslims all over the world that such depiction of their leader will foment even further inter-religious conflict, will marginalize Muslims and will be a setback for the cause of diversity and pluralism. On the other hand, there is no dispelling the argument as well that free speech is a right that should be cherished and protected. It protects not

Personality and Intelligence in a Distance Learning Environment Essay Example for Free

Personality and Intelligence in a Distance Learning Environment Essay Individuals tend to be different, to a degree, from one another especially in terms of personality and intelligence. As one may expect, such distinctions may also have an effect upon the task of selecting the most suitable study technique in a distance learning environment. Personally, after completing the personality assessment, I found out that I am best considered as a thinker. Those mainly categorized as such, characteristically approach challenges and tasks through a validity-based approach always emphasizing the need to determine whether a method to be followed is logically plausible or not (Cater, Bishop, Kravits, 2007). In agreement with this, the result of the intelligence evaluation highlighted the fact that I have advanced logical-mathematical skills while being least familiar with being naturalistic. Thus, it would be best to reflect upon the possible implications of such information in the context of the distance learning environment. As being independent in accomplishing tasks is one of the suggested study techniques for thinkers (Carter, Bishop, Kravits, 2007), doing so would not be difficult in distance learning. Since most of the time I am able to complete requirements at my own pace, it also becomes possible for me to comprehend and internalize lessons without intrusion at an efficient rate bringing forth positive results. The suggested study techniques for those with proficient logical-mathematical intelligence, such as analytically designing a solution based on trends in data (Carter, Bishop, Kravits, 2007), are similar to those given for individuals with a thinker type personality; hence, studying a task in advance in order to logically establish possible approaches and solutions would also be beneficial in the pursuit of achieving an optimal performance throughout the distance learning process. Improving upon ones less established aspects is without doubt an essential endeavor as well. In this sense, trying study techniques better suited to other intelligence or personality types may be the ideal approach to consider. Particularly, as mostly a thinker and least an adventurer, it would be best to try and merge problem solving approaches with more unconventional ideas from time to time. For example, since one of the study techniques for adventurers is to think outside the box (Carter, Bishop, Kravits, 2007), doing so when there seems to be a lack of proven approaches for task might result in appreciable results. As for the attempt to become more naturalistic, it seems that the only possible way to develop such intelligence would be to frequently reflect upon the connections between the lesson being tackled and the environment as a whole. Learning my strengths as well as weak points, in addition to knowing such details about my classmates, is essential in establishing an optimal learning environment; through such, it would be possible for learners to complement one another and further develop simultaneously. When faced with the need to accomplish a collaborative work despite having to do so online, knowing each other’s strengths and limitations would allow for a more efficient process of completing the task; distributing responsibilities for example would be done in a more suitable manner. Knowing when to provide proper support to fellow learners in parts of the task which they may not be highly capable in, such as the need to design and comprehend diagrams for those who are not adept in visual thinking, would be significantly easier. Therefore, identifying the personality and intelligence types of ones self as well as those of other individuals is indeed a practical and advantageous pursuit especially in distance learning.                  Reference Carter, C., Bishop, J., Kravits, S.L. (2007). Keys to College Studying: Becoming an Active   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Thinker (2nd ed.). Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.

Histological Features of Skeletal Muscle

Histological Features of Skeletal Muscle Objectives The aim of this report is to describe the basic histological features of a skeletal muscle and the differences between type I and type II skeletal muscle fibres. I will also describe the motor neuron unit and explain Hennemans size principle of recruiting motor units. Observations The basic features of skeletal muscle General Structure   Ã‚   The main function of skeletal muscle is to provide support, maintain posture and provide movement. Skeletal muscles comprise of densely packed groups of elongated cells which are known as muscle fibres, which are held together by fibrous connective tissue. Many capillaries penetrate this tissue to enable muscles to be supplied with oxygen and glucose needed for muscle contraction. Skeletal muscle is comprised of bundles of long striated fibres; the striated appearance is caused by the repeated structure of the fibres inside the muscle cell (Page, 2001). Individual muscle cells are called myocytes and muscles are made up of bundles of individual muscle cells. These bundles are called fascicles. Each muscle cell is surrounded by a connective tissue cover called the endomysium, and each bundle is surrounded by a connective tissue covering called the perimysium. Fascicles form muscle which is surrounded by a connective tissue called the epimysium. Skeletal muscles are made up of three types of fibres. Type I (red/ slow fibres), type IIa (red/ fast fibres) and type IIb (white/ fast fibres). Type I fibres are slow-contracting muscle fibres and they have a very dense capillary network, because these fibres have a high capacity for ATP production and a low myosin ATPase activity compared to type II fibres; the main pathway for ATP production is aerobic cellular respiration. Type IIa fibres have a higher myosin ATPase activity than type I fibres, a high capacity for ATP production and a dense capillary network; because of this the main pathway for ATP production is aerobic cellular respiration. Type IIa also has high levels of intracellular myoglobin. Type IIb fibres have a higher myosin ATPase activity than type I fibres but a lower capacity for ATP production and a lighter capillary network; this means that the main pathway for ATP production is anaerobic glycosis, which is fast but not sustainable for as long as aerobic respirat ion which means muscle fatigue happens sooner. There is no intracellular myoglobin unlike type I and IIa, which means that it is white in colour (Types of skeletal muscle Fibres, 2016). The structure of the sarcomere The plasma membrane of the skeletal muscle fibre is the sarcolemma and contains cylindrical structures called myofibrils. The myofibrils practically fill the cells and push the nuclei to the edges of the cell. Each myofibril have light and dark bands and are aligned with each other so that the light and dark bands are next to each other; this gives the cells their striated appearance. The light bands are called I bandsand the dark bands are called A bands. In the middle of the I bands there is a line which is called the Z line and in the middle of the A bands there is a light zone called the H zone. In the middle of the H zone there is another line called the M line. The sarcomere consists of several individual protein elements and some of these proteins are thread-like proteins called myofilaments. There are two main types of myofilaments. The thick myofilaments which are made up of proteins molecules called myosin. The myosin molecules are shaped like golf clubs with long shafts. Myosin forms the thick myofilaments by forming bundles in which the heads of the golf clubs stick out at either end of the filament and the shafts form a bare zone in the middle of the filaments. The heads of the thick myofilaments form attachments with the other type of myofilaments, the thin actin myofilaments and these attachments are called cross bridges.The heads are the areas on the thick myofilaments that use the energy in the ATP molecule to power the muscle contraction. The second type are the thin myofilaments, which are made of the protein actin. They have binding sites to which the heads of the thick myofilaments attach (Hwang, 2015). The triad A triad is a structure that is formed from a T-tubule with a sarcoplasmic reticulum known as the terminal cisternae on either side. Each skeletal muscle fibre has many thousands of triads, visible in muscle fibres that have been sectioned longitudinally (Al-Qusairi Laporte, 2011). Table 1; Comparison of the different types of skeletal muscle fibres (Bushell, 2013) The structure of a motor unit A motor unit is made from a motor neuron and the skeletal muscle fibres innervated by that motor neurons axonal terminals (Purves, et al., 2001). A group of motor units is called a motor pool and the number of fibres in each unit can differ within muscles. This impacts precision and force generation. Differential initiation of single or multiple motor units with a motor pool can therefore control precision and force of movement. Hennemans size principle of motor unit recruitment Hennemans size principle states that; motor units are recruited from smallest to largest and as more force is needed, motor units are recruited in a certain order per the extent of their force output. This means that the smaller units are recruited first which means that it reduces the amount of fatigue an organism experiences by only using fatigue resistant muscle fibres, unless a higher force is needed and then fatigable fibres are used. This means that slow twitch, low-force, and fatigue resistance muscle fibres are activated before fast twitch, high-force, less fatigue resistant muscle fibres (Bawa, Jones, Stein, 2014). The motor unit and the Hennemans size principle of motor unit recruitment The structure of the motor unit A motor unit is constructed from a motor neuron and skeletal muscle fibres, they innervated by the axonal terminals (Purves, et al., 2001). The motor neuron and its muscle unit are inseparable in function, this is because the action potetial in the neurons activates the fibres of the muscle unit (Karpati, 2010). A group of motor unit are gathered in columnar, spinal nuclei and this is called motor neuron pools. The number of fibres in each unit can differ from another and this then affects the force generation and the precision of the movement (Present, 1997). The Hennemans size principle of recruiting motor unit The Hennemans size principle expresses that motor units that are recruited from the smallest to the largest, this is because if more force is needed, then are recruited in a certain order due to the extent of their force output. Therefore, this means that the smallest motor units are employed first and this reduces the amount of fatigue that an organism experiences, by only using fatigue resistant muscle fibres, unless a higher force is needed, then fatigable fibres are used (Bawa, Jones, Stein, 2014). References Al-Qusairi, L., Laporte, J. (2011). T-tubule biogenesis and triad formation in skeletal muscle and implication in human diseases. Skeletal Muscle, 1(1). doi:10.1186/2044-5040-1-26 Bawa, P., Jones, K., Stein, R. (2014). Assessment of size ordered recruitment. 8. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4112781/ Bushell, D. (2013). Muscle-specific hypertrophy: Chest, Triceps and shoulders. Retrieved from TheGymLifestyle: http://blog.thegymlifestyle.com/muscle-specific-hypertrophy-chest-triceps-shoulders/ Hwang, P. (2015). Targeting the sarcomere to correct muscle function. Nature Reviews Drug Discovery, 14(5). doi:10.1038/nrd4554 Page, M. (2001). Human body: An illustrated guide to every part of the human body and how it works. (A. Baggaley, Ed.) London: Dorling Kindersley Publishers. Purves, D., Augustine, G., Fitzpatrick, D., Katz, L., LaMantia, A.-S., McNamara, J., Williams, M. (2001). The Motor Unit. Sinauer Associates. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK10874/ Types of skeletal muscle Fibres. (2016). Retrieved from Ivy Roses: http://www.ivyroses.com/HumanBody/Muscles/types-of-skeletal-muscle-fibers.php

The Collape of Animal Farm Essay -- Animal Farm George Orwell Essays

The Collape of Animal Farm In today’s world, people have always strived to create a utopian society. In the novel ANIMAL FARM written by George Orwell, the animals strive to create their own utopian society based on equality and prosperity. Animalism was created to, as like the Ten Commandments, Animalism’s Seven Commandments were rules for the animals to live by. However, similar to God’s rules, Animalism was a difficult concept for all the animals to follow and live by. Secondly, the collapse of Animal Farm was due to the animal’s own intelligence and their ability to fully understand how the farm was being run. Finally, the failure of Animal Farm was due to in large part by the pigs power over the other animals and the greed and desires that the pigs wanted to achieve. Therefore, the collapse of Animal Farm had to do with Animalism itself, the animals, and the corruption of the pigs. Animalism had a great effect on Animal Farm. In the beginning of the novel, all the animals cared only for one thing. The defeat of Mr. Jones, and the equality of each animal. After Mr. Jones was finally defeated, and the animals were on their own, the Seven Commandments, (similar to the Ten Commandments) were established. The Seven Commandments were to be the principles of Animalism, an unalterable law by which all animals must live by. The pigs, Snowball and Napoleon along with the other animals, decided to inscribe the commandments on the wall, in large white lettering, so that they never be forgotten. These commandments were established for the good of each animal, to maintain order and a peaceful life on the farm. Old Major, the prized middle white boar, taught Animalism and the commandments. He was the leader of the animal’s rebellion. Old Major was the one who led the way for the animals, and taught them exactly what Animalism meant. He clearly states this in the speech he gave, a few days before his death. â€Å"Among us animals let there be perfect unity, perfect comradeship in the struggle. All men are enemies. All animals are comrades.† In the beginning, the animals lived each day the way Old Major taught them to. However, throughout the novel, Animalism slowly began to break away. Men were becoming comrades to the pigs, and the other animals were played as fools. The farm was collapsing little by little. Due to the animal’s low understanding and intelligence, th... ... read what was written there. But it appears to me that that wall looks different. Are the Seven Commandments the same as they used to be Benjamin?† It was true, the wall was different. All the commandments were gone, except for one single commandment which read, â€Å"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.† The pig’s power had taken over Animal Farm. They had completely ravaged everything they once believed in. Even the name was changed back to Manor Farm. Napoleon was no longer an animal, nor the leader of the animals. He was a human, and an inspiration to other humans. Everything was gone, and Animal Farm, was no more. Consequently, Animal Farm was beyond repair. Due to animalism itself, the animals, and the corruption of the pigs, Animal Farm was collapsed. Everything the animals did to overcome humans, to gain equality and prosperity was done for nothing. Without a doubt, the collapse of Animal Farm was never engaged to happen, the pigs always did want power. Their power destroyed everything that Old Major asked of them. Animals for centuries to come, will never have the equality they deserve, due to a few rules which were not able to be attained.

A Concert Performance to Remember Essay -- Journalistic Descriptive

Teacher Comment: As a part of the requirement for this course, each student must attend two live performances and submit a concert report on each. The reports should demonstrate â€Å"Active Listening† and not be merely reviews or critiques. I am interested in the student’s experience at this particular performance. There is no obligation to use fancy terminology. Just tell me what happened, how it affected you, how this experience will influence your plans for future concert attendance? I am particularly moved by a report that helps me to relive the concert or one that makes me sorry that I missed it. This essay does just that. The University Symphony Orchestra conducted by I. M. Conductor and featuring Young Virtuoso on piano performed in Freeborn Hall on December 3, 2004. Included in the program were works by the German twentieth-century composer Paul Hindemith and the German romantic composer Johannes Brahms. Although both pieces were quite long, the audience, comprised mainly of students (the concert was free), seemed dazzled by Holoman’s masterful command and Boriskin’s virtuosic display on the keyboard. The first piece performed, Hindemith’s Symphony: Mathis der Maler, called for the entire orchestra featuring an enormous string and brass section as well as a percussion section complete with glockenspiel and triangle. After a brief intermission, Michael Boriskin appeared on stage with the orchestra for a splendid performance of Brahms’s Concerto No. 2 in B-flat Major for Piano and Orchestra, opus 83. Since both pieces were quite long, this discussion will be devoted to the work by Brahms. The first movement, Allegro non troppo, opened with a lone French horn stating the theme, which was then emulated ... ...ement seems the perfect release from the various passions of the first three.† The piano and strings seemed to be blended more in the fourth movement. Often the two would play the thematic rhythmic pattern in unison, heavily accenting and separating the notes. A rapid run up the keys of the piano and a final swell in the strings brought Allegretto grazioso to an abrupt end. Prior to attending this concert, I had never seen a performance involving piano and orchestra, and quite frankly, I wasn’t sure if it would work. I thought that the piano might overpower the orchestra, or vice versa, or that the combination would be too busy. I found that with a proper balance in the arrangement between piano and orchestra, and a skillful conductor such as D. Kern Holoman collaborating with a virtuoso such as Michael Boriskin, the genre can be most satisfying.

At the Crossroads :: Free Essays Online

At the Crossroads In November of 1974, a red headed Bostonian, who looked like she was straight out of Southie, was elected to the Massachusetts House of Representatives. With fifty-nine percent of the vote, Elaine Noble’s victory signified a remarkable emergence, for she was the first openly gay politician to win election to a statewide office (Perry 37-65). Noble’s election was the catalyst for a dramatic series of events, not only for the residents of the Fenway district in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, but for the entire country as well. Since that historic afternoon, Massachusetts has typically had ten openly gay politicians on its ballot. On a national level, there are more than one hundred and sixty openly gay politicians, with an average of one hundred additional gays seeking office. It is necessary to establish that Elaine Noble and her many followers all come from a viewpoint that recognizes the inherent discrimination and oppression of gays. From this position, a pursuance of change through reform of the status quo is a top priority. Another standpoint, called liberationist, seeks to restructure an inherently oppressing system. Both systems are political means for achieving change- politicians themselves are usually reformers, while political organizations and individuals can function under either realm. The liberationist movement is often critical of the reformers like Noble, accusing them of wanting to be just like the (straight) white male. Reformers see themselves more as multiculturalists- that a number of distinct groups exist, and their differences should be celebrated. Liberationists contradict that assumption with the reasoning that gays are an oppressed minority, and as an oppressed minority, cannot function within the structures created by the large r majority. These assumptions are part of the minority thesis, which in a sense forms the systemic differences of each group. Using the unique geographical space of Washington, DC, I plan to challenge the stereotypical assumption that gay identity is prerequisite to the election of an openly gay politician. When I say "gay identity", I am specifically referring to the sense of community, pride, and progress. The distinct minority theses will be used to convey the implications of identity in the political structure, and in turn the formation of a gay identity in the District of Columbia. Though Elaine Noble was the first successful gay candidate to win elected office, she was by no means the first openly gay politician. Frank Kameny, an activist who had previously lost his federal job because of his sexual orientation, was the first openly gay person to seek national office.

The Analysis of the Main Character †the Grandmother in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find” Essay

In the story â€Å"A Good Man Is Hard to Find† written by Flannery O’Connor, the grandmother is the central character who grows and changes with the story develops, she is a round and dynamic character. At first, she seems to be an unpleasant, contemptible and selfish old lady who is skeptical about her religion. But in the end, when â€Å"her head cleared for an instant,† the grandmother becomes a real believer of God. And she is heading straight to heaven for her final Christ-like act of love the moment before she dies. That is, she moves from spiritual blindness to grace. And that is the method that the author uses to relate her to the theme of the story. Grandmother before the moment of grace First of all, she is selfish and unpleasant. When her family prepares to go on vacation in Florida, she persuades them to go to east Tennessee, where she has relatives. Unable to convince them, she uses the news that a psychopathic killer who calls himself The Misfit is heading toward Florida as an excuse to change her son Bailey’s mind. The grandmother is so self-centered that she just imposes her wish on those people around her. Also, her vanity and old belief make her an unpleasant character. She always claims to be a lady and thinks much of wealth and social status. When they set out to Florida, she dresses in her best clothes and an ostentatious hat lest no one can recognize her as a refined lady if she dies in an accident along the road. â€Å"The grandmother had on a navy blue straw sailor hat with a bunch of white violets on the brim and a navy blue dress with a small white dot in the print. Her collars and cuffs were white organdy trimmed with lace and at her necklin e she had pinned a purple spray of cloth violets containing a sachet.† From her perspective of identity, I can see that she defines people externally, by clothing. And she tells her grandchildren, John Wesley and June Star, that â€Å"she would have done well to marry Mr. Teagarden because he was a gentle man and had bought Coca-Cola stock when it first came out and that he had died only a few years ago, a very wealthy man.† At this point, the grandmother appears to be the woman of old South who holds the outdated idea of hierarchy. She thinks only a gentleman who is rich can march with a lady, which is a stereotypically southern aristocratic prejudice. What’s more, she is a racist and opinionated. â€Å"Oh, look at the  cute little pickaninny!† she said†¦ â€Å"Wouldn’t he make a picture now?† â€Å"He didn’t have any britches on,† June Star said. â€Å"He probably didn’t have any,† the grandmother explained. â€Å"Little niggers in the country don’t have things like we do.â €  Her affection for the South and the days of slavery are still influencing her. According to her understanding, black people, especially kids are supposed to be poor. They belong to the lower class of the society so that they are inferior to her, who is a lady from the upper class. She considers herself morally superior to others by the virtue of her being a â€Å"lady†, and she freely and frequently makes judgment on others. At lunchtime, they stop at Red Sammy’s, a barbecue eatery, where the grandmother laments that â€Å"people are certainly not nice like they used to be†. During the conversation with Red Sammy, the grandmother, narrow-minded and opinionated, repeatedly assures herself that she is a lady, a good Christian, and a good judge of character. She maintains that Red Sammy, a bossy loudmouth, is a â€Å"good man† and that Europe â€Å"was entirely to blame for the way things were now.† The part that grandmother is selfish, vain, arrogant and judgmental only makes her unpleasant for me, but when she gets her family h urt, she turns out to be contemptible. After they leave the roadhouse, her obstinacy about going to Tennessee blinds her sense of direction, she manipulates her son into making a detour to see an old plantation she once visited as a girl. First, she arouses the kids’ interest to find a house with secret panel, and then she depicts the tour to the plantation â€Å"would be very educational for them†. She is well aware that any father would not reject something labeled â€Å"educational†, so she manipulates them to get what she wants. And this leads them to a very dangerous tour, which they have an accident later because the cat Pitty Sing she selfishly sneaks out leaps onto Bailey and he loses control of the car on the dirt road. In such awful situation, all that she cares about is to avoid the responsibility, so she pretends to be injured. Although she is an old lady, this behavior is really out of line. No one should put their family at risk and find themselves an excuse to escape from the responsibi lity. Her selfishness is more evident when the whole family are confronting with the Misfit, a serial killer. Technically, it is the grandmother recognizing the identity of the Misfit that gets all her family killed. However, she never beg the Misfit to spare her family, she just pleads for her own life. In her  conversation with the Misfit, she tells him, â€Å"If you would pray†¦Jesus would help you.† She calls on â€Å"Jesus† a number of times, but I am not sure if she means â€Å"Jesus will help you† or â€Å"she might be cursing† as she begs the Misfit â€Å"not to shoot a lady.† Plus, for one moment just before she dies, the old lady doubts Jesus, or at least feels abandoned: â€Å"Maybe he didn’t raise the dead†. It is an understandable reaction, after the colossal shock she has undergone: she knows that her family has been massacred. Here, her faith has been tested here. Therefore, I can only assume that the grandmother is a superficial Christian who scepticizes her belief sometimes. Grandmother’s change However, in the end, when â€Å"her head cleared for an instant,† the grandmother has a moment of insight. The moment she reaches out to the Misfit and declares â€Å"You’re one of my own children†, she reveals and offers to the Misfit her compassionate love, she experiences what O’Connor refers to as her â€Å"moment of grace,† a time when she recognizes that she shares some trait with the Misfit despite their obvious differences. She knows she is far from a good person, she is flawed just as the Misfit. She abandons the moral high ground she had held and accepts the common humanity. Here is her religious epiphany. By embracing the moment of grace, she turns into a devout Christian, she believing in Jesus and is ready to â€Å"thow away everything and follow Him†. The link between the grandmother and the theme The link between the grandmother and the theme lies in the moment she embraces the moment of grace. The grandmother travels from the recognition only of her own selfish desires to self-recognition of herself in other through suffering. That is, she moves from spiritual blindness to grace. O’Connor suggests that the grandmother has received grace since Jesus â€Å"thrown everything off balance† by dying on a cross Himself. Thus, suffering is an essential part of receiving grace, and with the help of the Misfit, the grandmother has made this journey of suffering, a journey from spiritual blindness and selfishness to suffering, and finally grace. This passage witnesses the change of a selfish, arrogant old woman. Even though she has all these weaknesses at the beginning, she becomes the â€Å"good man† when she embracing the moment of grace. Violence and suffering are the necessary  ingredients to help her change. In fact, both the experience of the grandmother re veals that good â€Å"is hard to find†. References: 1 A Good Man Is Hard to Find (short story), from Wikipedia 2 SparkNotes: A good man is hard to find, Analysis of Major Characters 3 é «ËœÃ¦  ©Ã¦â„¢ ®Ã§Å¡â€žÃ¦â€" ¥Ã¥ ¿â€"ï ¼Å'è ¯ »Ã¤ ¹ ¦Ã§ ¬â€Ã¨ ® °-A good man is hard to findï ¼Å'æ  ¥Ã¨â€¡ ªÃ¤ º ºÃ¤ º ºÃ§ ½â€˜ 4 è“ Ã¨â€° ²Ã¨ ½ »Ã©â€º ¨Ã¦ ° ´Ã¥  °Ã¯ ¼Å'PPT – A good man is hard to findï ¼Å'æ  ¥Ã¨â€¡ ªÃ§â„¢ ¾Ã¥ º ¦Ã¦â€"‡å ºâ€œ

Assess the Sociological Explanations of the Role of Culture

Assess the sociological explanations of the role of culture in contemporary society Culture is the behaviour, beliefs and characteristics of a particular group of people. Age groups, ethnic groups and social groups etc†¦ are all examples of groups of people that possess their own unique culture. The people within a culture are expected to follow the norms and values that are passed down through generation to generation. Over the past 30 years, different cultures have gradually intermingled due to an increasing number people immigrating to different countries, which each bring their own cultures, be it religious or pop culture etc†¦ This is particular visible in many western countries such as Britain, Canada and the United States, as there is a much higher level of ethnic diversity. The amalgamation of different cultures has also shaped people’s views on things like sexuality, gender roles and age roles etc†¦ Functionalists believe that culture benefits the whole of society. They believe that if everyone in society shares the same beliefs and ideas, i. e. a value consensus is reached, and then society as a whole can be kept in a civilised manner. They also believe that socialisation is a key factor, to shaping culture and society.Primary socialisation is taught by parents who teach children what they expect of them. It also develops their own personal characteristics, beliefs and values, which are largely influenced by their parents and family. Secondary socialisation is taught mainly by teachers in schools. Teenagers and young adults learn what is expected of them in larger society, outside of their home (e. g. what is acceptable and not acceptable based on age or gender etc†¦). Tertiary socialization occurs when individuals are integrated into the world and being to gain new ideas and values of socialization.Emile Durkheim, a French sociologist during the late 19th century and early 20th century, believed that culture is collectively formed and only exists collectively, meaning that culture can only be developed by a group of people and not by an individual. He believed that culture has many relationships with society, including a logical relationship (the idea that power over individuals belongs to certain cultural categories, and beliefs such as God), a functional relationship (the idea that culture creates common beliefs amongst individuals in society, strengthening social order). However, the unctionalist explanations are based on a more traditional society. They are outdated as some ideas do fit todays multi-cultural society. The classical Marxist theory culture as a way of expressing a ruling class ideology. This is where the bourgeoisie control the superstructure of society, the proletariats (working class) creating a false class consciousness, which further creates a false description of reality and the relationships between them and the proletariats. They also believe that culture reinforces the class structure. This means that culture is a way of maintaining the ideas of what each class can achieve.For example, the classical Marxist theory believes that in society, the rich population will always achieve higher than the poorer population, as they can afford to carry on their education to the highest level, whilst the poorer population are sifted out of the educational system at the earliest possible stage. The classical Marxist theory does not take into account the times when the working class rejects their control under the ruling class. This can be in the form of riots, strikes or even a group of people, who are in their own subculture who share the same beliefs about the relationship between the working class and the ruling class (e. . skin heads, punks). Neo-Marxist believes that the working class are being distracted from revolting against the ruling class. One of the most widely adopted forms of neo Marxism is the Frankfurt school. Two of its key members, Theodor Adorno an d Max Horkheimer, came up with the theory of â€Å"the culture industry†. This is the idea that popular culture is like a factory that produces standardized cultural goods (e. g. film, radio, magazines) that are used to manipulate mass society into being content, no matter how poor the quality of their lives are.They believe that mass culture encourages the working class to buy things that are false needs, which leads to a commodity fetishism. This is when capitalism affects the way people interact with each other based on the economic class the belong to. For example, under capitalism, everything that can be exchanged becomes a commodity. Things like labour can become a commodity, by selling your labour to an employer you are commoditizing yourself, and that defines the kind of relationship you and your employer will have.Overall, the neo Marxist theory sees that the population are passive victims of mass culture, who are distracted from the realisation of the quality of the ir lives. Neo-Marxists at the Birmingham University adopted Gramsci’s idea of cultural hegemony. This was an idea thought up by the Italian Marxist Antonia Gramsci, that capitalism would have to face and tolerate oppositional cultures. These are usually sub cultures, particularly within youth culture, that stand against capitalist values.Stuart hall gave the example of the skinhead as an oppositional culture, as he argued that they do not follow the norms and values set in place by capitalism, and resist capitalist views. This theory however is highly theoretical and lacks primary data. Feminists believe that culture is dominated by male ideas. They believe that men control women to serve their own interests, and that women are seen as â€Å"second class citizens†. The idea that females from an early age, are brought up being brainwashed by culture and society into thinking that women cannot strive to achieve high goals like men can.This is visible in the mass media. F or example, in many soap operas and sitcoms, women are portrayed as home makers, cleaners or secretaries, whilst men a portrayed as having high powered jobs. In the 1950’s, all advertisements for thing like kitchen appliances or cleaning products where women orientated, and many T. V commercials for these often saw the male as the breadwinner, returning home from work to his wife. However, this theory is becoming outdated as women in contemporary society are given the same opportunities as men.For example, women now have equal job opportunities as mean, as many of them are entering previously male dominated occupations. The interpretive, interactionist approach or the action theory as it’s more commonly known, is the idea that culture is made up of every bodies individual actions in society. It believes that people’s views and explanations of culture are moulded by the social groups in which they belong to. These interpretations of culture by individuals in soci ety come together to form what is known as the actionist theory. This theory however does not take into account shared beliefs or a value consensus.It also conflicts with the idea that culture cannot be formed by an individual, and can only be formed when there is a group of people. Semiotic culture attempts to define culture as types of symbolic human activity, creation of signs and a way of giving meaning to everything around. In this idea, culture is understood as a system of meaningful symbols, signs words and images. This approach can be adopted by any theorist (e. g. Marxist, feminist) no matter where they stand on the sociological spectrum. Post modernists theories of culture are based around the idea that society is adopting new cultures all the time.This is what is known as cultural diversity. Post-modernists believe that individuals are free to choose and design their own culture and identities. They also may pick up a hybrid culture, which is a mixture of different cultur es that is usually found in countries where there is a large culture diversity. Overall, I think that most of the theories have valid plausibility and evidence, especially Horkeimer’s and Adorno’s neo_marxist theory. However, Theory I find most plausible is the functionalist theory. I find that it has the most supportive evidence out of all the theories.

Modern Elements in Pinero’s “The Second Mrs. Tanqueray” Essay

The Modern Elements in Arthur Pinero’s â€Å"The Second Mrs. Tanqueray† As a modern writer, Arthur Pinero has presented a great amount of modern elements in his work. For instance, his tragedy â€Å"The Second Mrs. Tanqueray† has a marvelous collection of these elements. Stage direction, Defamiliarization, mystery, metatheatrical technique, Surrealism, impressionistic monologue, psycho patient concept, violating the unity of time, and cubism can all be found in this play, but one never knows the exact depth of words and the different worlds they hide. In fact, at the beginning of each act, a stage direction is found to guide the actors about where to stand and how to react. It, also, presents a description of their facial expressions and gestures , along with their tones of voice. Moreover, a stage direction gives some details about the characters’ social class. For instance, the stage direction at the beginning of Act I introduces Aubrey Tanqueray as a member of the upper-class, for his chambers have, â€Å"A richly and tastefully decorat ed room, elegantly and luxuriously furnished.† Furthermore, Pinero manipulates another modern element called Defamiliarization. In the 19th century, the Russian Formalist Critic Victor Shklovsky says that the modern writers should come up with something new as means of experimentation. In â€Å"The Second Mrs. Tanqueray,† Pinero inserts few French words in his English text for the sake of defamiliarization. For example, he says â€Å"Mesalliance† instead of â€Å"Unmatchable marriage,† â€Å"Vin ordinare† instead of â€Å"Ordinary wine† and â€Å"L’age critique† instead of â€Å"The critical age† in Act I. The modern audience is supposed to be cultured, so he/she is expected to understand the text. Since ambiguity and mystery are praised in modern drama, Pinero has employed these elements in his play as well. This matter is clearly seen in the first act, in which Aubrey tells his friends Jayne and Misquith that their friendship must come into an end, now, because he will rem arry. He insists that they will not remain friends when they know the second Mrs. Tanqueray. Aubrey, here, is ambiguous. He hides the identity of his new wife keeping his friends in suspense. Most importantly, at the end of Act III, Paula insists on telling Aubrey the truth about her previous relation with Hugh Ardale, who has come to marry  Ellean. This mystery has different interpretations, one of which is that, Hugh was the first man in her life who broke her virginity, betrayed her, and refused to marry her. Hence, this matter has led her to the path of prostitution. Another interpretation for the matter is that, Paula is trying to show herself as a good mother to Ellean. She does not want her daughter, as she thinks of Ellean, to marry such an indecent man like Hugh. Furthermore, according to Christianity, Ellean cannot marry a man who has slept with her stepmother; for if Hugh marries Ellean, it will be an incest. Lastly, this mysterious insist on telling Aubrey can be seen as Paula’s jealousy. She is jealous of Ellean, and how her relation with Hugh is better than her previous relation with him. Although she has lived with him, Hugh does not see Paula as his wife, for he, like everyone, is attracted to her physically not spiritually. Hence, he chooses Ellean as his wife describing her, † as good as my own mother.† In addition to the previous elements, Pinero, also, manipulates the Metatheatrical technique, which is found in Act I. Close to the end of that act, Aubrey converses with his friend Cayley Drummle after Jayne and Misquith has left, and reveals the identity of his new wife. Knowing that it is Paula, the prostitute, Drummle understands and admires Aubrey for being tolerant. He, then, tells him that, â€Å"I’m merely a spectator in life; nothing more than a man in a play†¦, I love to see certain characters happy and comfortable at the finish.† Drummle, here, is trying to remind the audience that he is actually an actor in a play, so what they watch is not reality. Using this method, Pinero has violated Aristotle’s Dramatic Illusion, which states that the audience must believe what they see as reality. Furthermore, Pinero employs another modern element called Surrealistic technique in the play. Surrealism is, in fact, an anti-realistic technique that was coined at the beginning of the 20th century. It is used in drama to make an oppressed character fight for her freedom against a totalitarian force. The fight is like a nightmare in the play. Andre Breton says that violence should be confined to the language only, and this is true as far as Paula’s quarrels are concerned. However, the other Surrealistic leader Antonin Artaud believes that violence should be shown in both language and action. It is worth mentioning, that the Surrealistic fight, though painful, is humorous, and includes grotesquery. A sample of this technique is seen in Act II, in which Paula quarrels with  Aubrey about Ellean’s trip with Mrs. Cortelyon. She becomes extremely angry at Aubrey, for she understands that he aims at isolating Ellean from her bad influence. She knows that Aubrey still sees her as a fallen woman like everyone, as she states, † I can’t be so useful to your daughter as such people as this; and so I’m to be given the go-by for any town friend of yours.† In order to annoy him, Paula decides to invite her friend Mabel, a prostitute who has married George Orreyed, as a revenge for her dignity. In fact, Pinero’s aim of using the Surrealistic technique is to incarnate Paula’s verbal fight with Aubrey and Ellean. In fact, Paula’s fight with Ellean, in Act II, presents two modern elements, the psycho patient concept and the impressionistic monologue. In that act, Paula inquires about the reason that makes Ellean behave coldly with her. Elle an tells her that her mother has appeared in her dream, before, telling her to love her father, but she has not told her to love Paula yet. Paula, then, tells Ellean, † Dreams are only a hash-up of one’s day-thoughts, I suppose you know. Think intently of anything, and it’s bound to come back to you at night.† Then, she plays the role of a Psychoanalyst by telling Ellean that she has got a complex after her mother’s death, which is the reason for seeing her in her dreams. Because Paula is vulgar, Ellean does not accept that. Here, Paula is echoing the Austrian Psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud’s theory of Psychoanalysis. According to Freud, a psychoanalyst treats a psycho patient by listening to him and allowing him to verbalize his thoughts, past conflicts, fantasies and dreams. In his book â€Å"The Interpretation of Dream†, Freud says that dreams are symbolic of what a person is unconsciously think of, similar to what Paula has stated. Freud says, that an analyst interprets to his patient his thoughts, fantasies and dreams, the, relates them to his present life; creating an insight for resolution of the problems. The analyst honestly clarifies the patient’s life wishes and guilt, then, confronts him with his complexes to undo them; and that what Paula has applied on Ellean. Since Ellean gets angry, Paula tries to justify her aggression. She tries to draw Ellean’s sympathy and love by telling her that she has been through several tragedies in her life that turn her to be like this. She tells her, â€Å"I’ve talked to you as I’ve never talked to a woman in my life.† Paula wants Ellean to love her and asks her, † Kiss me!† Instead of sympathizing with Paula, Ellean turns her back coldly, a matter that pushes Paula to become  extremely angry and start yelling at Ellean. This part presents an impressionistic monologue. This kind of monologue is along speech said by a char acter to another one who listens to her/him. This character expresses her/his inner conflicts. The impressionistic monologue reflects psychological realism and depth in characterization. What Paula has said previously represents her psychological depth and introduces her as a psycho patient, as well. Pinero, also, violates the unity of time at the same act. When Mrs. Cortelyon offers to take Ellean with her to Paris then London, she states, † I’m going to Paris tomorrow for a week or two before settling down in Chester Square.† She , also, asks Aubrey to let Ellean stays with her in town â€Å"during the season.† Here, Mrs. Cortelyon tends to take Ellean for about 2 months, a matter that reflects the modern sense of violating time. Last but not least, Pinero has , also, experimented with Cubism in his play. In fact, Cubist writers at the early 20th century used to hide some parts from the text. They believe that matters overlap one another in reality because no one can see an item from all sides at the same time. This idea of missing parts or incomplete text is attributed later to the postmodern writers who dismantle the text then reassemble it to look incomplete and ambiguous. Ambiguity, in fact, is praised in modern drama since it stimulates the audience to contemplate and think of what is missed in the text. Similarly, Pinero, in â€Å"The Second Mrs. Tanqueray,† skips some details expecting the cultured audience to think and guess of what has happened in the missing part. For instance, It can be imagined that after Paula has left Highercoombe in a rage at the end of Act II, Aubrey makes it up with her when she returns. Actually, Act III opens with the Orreyeds enjoying themselves at Highercoombe, a matter which indicates that Aubrey accepts the Orreyeds’ visit and welcomes them to please Paula. To conclude, despite the fact that he is described as a traditional writer, Pinero has presented himself as a real modern writer. He has experimented with several modern techniques that have not been coined yet as his time. Briefly, his new techniques have aided â€Å"The Second Mrs. Tanqueray† to survive until the 21st century.

Sense and Descriptive Essay

Your second portfolio will be a descriptive essay about your favorite location. You will not be focused on building characters or telling a story in this paper – Your paper will purely describe. Remember that your descriptions should use imagery and sensory details, meaning that it should appeal to the five senses. While reading your paper, I should be able to picture your location.Your favorite room of your house Your favorite location in nature An event you have attended that was particularly fun, such as: A school field trip A youth retreat A summer camp A tourist destination Think about the following questions to help you brainstorm ideas for your description:– What places in nature, such as the ocean or mountains, do you especially enjoy visiting? Think about places you have visited with friends or family.– What unusual plants or animals in nature would lend themselves to being described in an interesting way?– What is an object or place that you see often without really thinking much about it—for instance, your backyard? Try observing it more closely.Observe and Record Details (Prewriting)A descriptive essay is most effective if it is packed with details that vividly portray the object or place being described. Set aside some time to observe your subject closely and write down the details you notice using the Sensory Chart Prewriting Activity Sheet (attached). Record sensory details (sights, sounds, scents, flavors, and textures) that you can include in your descriptive essay.As you record sensory details, it helps to pretend that your reader has never seen the object or scene you are describing. Even if some details seem obvious, write them down! Remember that your reader can’t see what you’re seeing, so you want to record as much detail as possible in order to paint a mental picture of your object/scene for your readerWhen you record what you see, record things like colors, textures, lighting, and movemen ts. When you record what you feel, describe textures & temperatures (bumpy, smooth, rough, soft, fluffy, warm, cold). Use similes to make comparisons between what you feel when you touch the object or objects in your scene to familiar things Example – The tree’s bark is rough like coarse sandpaper. When you record what you hear, smell, and taste (if applicable), close your eyes! This helps you to hone in on these senses.It is best to observe your subject directly if possible. However, if you are not able to do so—for instance, if you are writing about a faraway vacation spot you visited last summer—you can still take time to brainstorm details. Use photographs, letters, or conversations to jog your memory. Then write down the sensory impressions you recall.Your paper should consist of the following:1. Introduction: Begin with a memorable image or idea that sets the tone for your essay. Try to convey an overall impression about the place you are describing . For instance, a beach scene could come across as tranquil and idyllic or stormy and foreboding, depending on the details chosen.2. At least 3 body paragraphs: The details presented in the body of your description should present a vivid  portrait of your scene. This is where you need to load up on that sensory detail from your observations. 1st body paragraph – Explain one reason why you like your location & use at least one sense to illustrate that reason. 2nd body paragraph- Explain a second reason why you like your location & use at least one sense to illustrate that reason. 3rd body paragraph- Explain a third reason why you like your location & use at least one sense to illustrate that reason.3. Conclusion Sum up why this place is important to you and end with a memorable final image.General Guidelines: 2 pages in length At least 5 paragraphs (intro, 3 body, conclusion) Double space 12 point, Times New Roman font Heading in upper left hand corner with your name, date, and name of assignment (Descriptive Portfolio) Title for your essay, centered. Proofread for spelling, grammar, and punctuation.Descriptive Essay RubricCriteria Expectations Points Up for Grabs Focus -The essay is tightly focused on a single location/scene. -The importance of the scene is explained in detail to the audience. – Ideas and details in the essay are consistently relevant to the topic. Final – 20Content – Essay consists of an introduction, at least three body paragraphs, and a conclusion. – Essay consistently develops the description effectively with vivid details (including sensory images) and specific examples and explanations. Final – 20Organization – The essay is consistently well- organized and follows a clear pattern of organization. – Transitions are used consistently and effectively within and between paragraphs. Final – 20Style, Voice & Language– Vivid and specific details and explanations used. †“ Precise word choice and varied sentences used. – The voice of the essay reflects the writer’s feelings and personality and is appropriate to the subject and audience. Final – 20Conventions – Correct use of spelling, punctuation, grammar. – Heading included (name, date, title of assignment) – Double Spaced – 12 point, Times New Roman font Final – 20

Zoot Suit Riots Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Zoot Suit Riots - Research Paper Example The Latino living in other cities of United States like San Diego, New York and Chicago were also badly affected from these riots because gradually the riots were swept in these cities as well (Eduardo: 223: 2000). The essay aims to discuss the historical background of the Zoot suit riots and intends to analyse its causes and effects upon the socio-political situation of the time. The essay presents concise chronology of the events and incidents occurred during the riots to illustrate their importance and impact upon the political history of the United States. Zoot Suit Riots – Historical Background The Zoot Suit Riots were basically outcome of the racial discrimination and tension prevailing between the Mexicans and the White Americans. Mexicans migrated and settled in different cities of United States during the twentieth century. The white Americans widely disfavoured the presence of Mexicans in different walks of life because they believe that Mexican Americans were badly affecting their social and economic conditions by occupying the resources and job positions (Eduardo: 43: 2003). During the Great Depression the demand of the Whites Americans to remove the Mexicans from the American land became very strong because they were not willing to see the Mexicans availing the employment opportunities and other resources in their country. This thinking resulted in intense racial hatred between the Mexican and White Americans (Castillo and Griswold: 367: 2000). As a result of the demands and racial threats of the White, thousands of the Mexican descents were deported from America in the early 1930s. Despite this major extraction there were still 3 million Mexicans left in United States and the highest concentration of the Mexicans was found in Los Angeles (Mazon: 132: 2002). The Mexicans in Los Angeles were limited to the oldest and most run down housing area of the city and they were also forced to work only at low level and low wages jobs. Consequently, th e lifestyles and living standard of the Mexican Americans dropped to the lowest level and most of them started living below the poverty line (Rule: 102: 1989). The print media also started spreading racial hatred against the Mexicans through inflammatory propaganda and worked for instigating social and economic discrimination against the Mexicans on racial grounds. The media also used to derogate the Mexican Americans by calling them with the name Chicanos. All of these incidents created a highly tensed social and political environment and the Mexican Americans realized the need of conducting organized efforts for the recognition of their rights in the American society. They decided to stand against the racial discrimination and created youth culture for their own and came up with the ideas of maintaining their identity through their culture and selected particular dress code as a symbol of their community (Kevin: 93: 2005). Latino Culture and Zoot Suit The Mexican Americans adopted their own music, language and dress that became famous with the name of Zoot suit. They designed a flamboyant long coat with a baggy pegged pant for the male Mexicans. In addition, they also started taking a pork pie hat along with a key chain and shoes with thick soles. They attempted to create distinct identity for their community to let people know about their unity and strength. The Latino widely started dressing up in the Zoot Suit and they selected the name Pachucos for their selves. Through this particular dressing style they attempted to make their distinguished identity in front of the masses and bring unity

Describe functionalism and critiqued it with Feminism inrelation to Essay

Describe functionalism and critiqued it with Feminism inrelation to family - Essay Example It is this approach towards interpreting the society that it was criticized by Marxists and later on by Feminists to the extent that by the1970s, it became antique. This paper will describe Functionalism and offer a Feminist critique especially its approach towards the role of the family. An attempt will also be made to relate social work to functionalism. When Europe was going through a period of tumult in the nineteenth century basically in the event of the emerging industrial society which brought with it social issues like poverty, poor working conditions, high crime rate and most importantly heightened political awareness which posed a threat to the social fabric woven around essentially Christian moral values, there emerged a need to safeguard the society. But as argued by Davis (1959), â€Å"†¦historically, the rise of functionalism represented a revolt against reductionist theories, anti-theoretical empiricism and moralistic or ideological views under the name of sociology or social anthropology.† The French Revolution preceded by renaissance challenged the status quo of the erstwhile industrialised Europe thus questioning the role of the ruling classes. Radical ideas like equality, individual rights, free will and contentment stimulated the revolution which also changed the social consciousness. These conditions w ere naturally a matter of concern for the rulers and the conservative intelligentsia, and in order to counter the growing radicalism they came up with a new social paradigm based on the theory that every institution in the society had a function, that all social structures and processes strove to maintain a social order and had a tendency to integrate the society which was essentially to be studied as an integral whole. Proponents of Functionalism further propounded that all societies had functional

Book review of Hiroshima by Ronald Takaki Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Book review of Hiroshima by Ronald Takaki - Essay Example He seeks to prove that the American desire to end the war was just one of the many factors that lead to the final decision to drop the bomb. The story around Takakis argument is the little known reasoning behind the decision to drop the atomic bomb. Instead of simply focusing on the most accepted reason, to end the war, he explores other factors other than the obvious. His study of Harry Trumans letters to his wife, sister, mother, and his secret Potsdam Diary to open a "way to a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of the reasons for the atomic attack" (Takaki 5). By analyzing the feelings of the President he succeeds in bringing together the many factors that led to the end decision. He proves to the reader the overwhelming postwar concern that Truman and other leaders felt and their urgency to exert their world power and dominance towards Stalin and Soviet expansion. As Robert Griffith reveals in his article for The American Historical Review Dwight D Eisenhower was aware of these postwar concerns writing, â€Å"Eisenhower struggled to strike a balance among the competing claims of the services and his lette rs are filled with angry denunciations of military self interest† (Griffith 96). Takaki reveals that in the beginning the atomic bomb was intended to target Germany, not Japan and that it was later determined that Germany did not have any atomic capabilities therefore diminishing the threat. Takaki then questions why the bomb was then dropped on Japan, a country we also knew did not have any atomic capabilities. He says, "The reason for this acceleration was not the possibility of Japanese atomic threat. Japan lacked the resources and technical knowledge to become a nuclear power" (Takaki 20). As Andrew Rotter confirms in his book review for the Journal of American History, â€Å"Japans nascent bomb project was