Literary Conventions Flashcard

Literary Conventions

Italys economic struggles essays

Italys economic struggles essays In the time period between 1700 to 1900 Italys economic situation was greatly effected by its disunity and its distribution among the many countries of Europe. Previous to 1860, Italy was not united, it was divided into separate city-states, or controlled by a foreign power. One of these being Spain, who had undergone a disastrous decline in its economy, leading to a decrease in Italys as well. In 1815, with the Congress of Vienna, Italy was reorganized and the disunity and separation became more severe. It was because of this disunity that Italy experienced a financial failure. With out territorial unity, Italy could not construct economic stability. Distracted by the hope and dream of a unified Italy, Italians focused on their political position rather than their economic situation . Although the Industrial Revolution began in the late 1700s Italy remained predominately agricultural and unindustrialized up into the late 1800s. This greatly affected Italy because agriculture encount ered a fall in prices among foreign markets. In 1878 with the abolition of the Free Trade System and the introduction of tariffs, Italy was able to expand its industry largely (8% a year). But even with the close of the nineteenth century, a century since the start of the Industrial Revolution, three out of four Italians depended on the production of cereal, olives, vines, fruit, sheep or some other means of agriculture to survive. While the majority of the rest of Europe was controlled by its industry, Italy remained under the poverty of farming. With economic hardship rising a vast amount of Italians (19%), essentially being from the small land owning classes, migrated to other countries with economic stability and prosperity. With the separation of Italy also came a separation in the regions of Northern and Southern Italy. The North, having been under the rule o ...

Organizational Technology Plan Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Organizational Technology Plan - Essay Example Other important applications include informing the details of the company to the sales personnel, suppliers and others so that they become aware of company's goals and achievements. Feasibility study is an important phase in the software development process. It enables the developer to have an assessment of the product being developed. It refers to the feasibility study of the product in terms of outcomes of the product, operational use and technical support required for implementing it. Economic Feasibility: It refers to the benefits or outcomes. We are deriving from the product as compared to the total cost we are spending for developing the product. If the benefits are more or less the same as the older system, then it is not feasible to develop the product. Operational Feasibility: It refers to the feasibility of the product to be operational. Some products may work very well at design and implementation but may fall in the real time environment. It includes the study of additional human resources required and their technical expertise. Technical Feasibility: It refers to whether the product that is available in the market fully supports the present application. It studies the pros and cons of using particular product for the development and it's feasibility.

Woodrow Wilson & World War I Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Woodrow Wilson & World War I - Essay Example Yes the US was ready by 1917 dues to the mobilization of the military to be increased by enlisting men from the age of 18 years, getting money from businessmen to finance the war and even getting naval support. The strength however was not as great as it was by the time the war was ending. Yes it was initially when America was preparing to go into war but with the sinking of the US boat, it soon became abandoned as people decided to assist in any way they could to prepare the army go into war simply for revenge against the Germans. People were hostile towards military service and hence did not adopt the idea of being enlisted or having their kin enlisted in the military service. This came when the administration wanted to increase the military as a preparedness method to enter into war and this hostility as the reason US started with fewer soldiers. The Americans did not agree with the call for peace after the war took away over 50, 000 of their military troop. The treaty of Versailles points were emphasizing something that the Americans were not ready to accept

International Relations Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

International Relations - Essay Example Each of these actors behaves in a certain way when they participate in international politics both individually and together. International relations comprises of the study of the behaviour of these actors (Mingst, 2010). There have been many key issues in the last 25 years that have been very significant with respect to international relations. This paper discuses two main issues, namely, armed conflicts and human rights. The paper describes why these issues have been very significant when it comes to international relations. It also identifies the major sub-issues, developments, controversies and problems regarding the issue. The paper also points out how the two issues have been linked to each other in international relations and then proposes possible solutions or resolutions to the issues. Armed Conflicts Armed conflicts across the globe have been one of the most significant issues that have affected the whole world. It has been the most important issue when it comes to Internat ional Relations. ... t of the armed conflicts in the recent times, mainly in the Middle East, have been internal conflicts which have been triggered due to issues of religion, ethnicity, identity and possession (competition) of resources. Mineral and oil wealth has been one of the main reasons for armed conflicts. On the international front, global terrorism has lead to major armed conflicts. One of the most prolonged armed conflicts has been the Israel-Palestine conflict. It will be discussed in detail later. An armed conflict leads to numerous sub-issues and problems. It has a profound effect on the population of the region. It becomes a major hindrance to the development of the region. The resources that could have been invested in the developmental activities such as education, business development, tourism, etc are diverted towards developing armaments. The direct and most immediate impact of armed conflicts are the disruption of food supplies, loss of human life, psychological distress, gender-base d violence, physical injuries, health hazards, etc. The effect that armed conflict has on children is very damaging as it influences their emotional, physical and mental development. These issues and problems become an interest of international politics. Global powers and organizations such as UN are required to resolve the issues and restore world peace. Global economic relations are also affected by armed conflicts as they affect trade, tourism, etc. International relations of numerous countries are affected by armed conflicts as questions of support and interests are raised. An example of this is the troubled alliance between US and Pakistan as a result of differences on support to Afghanistan and Taliban. Hence, armed conflicts anywhere in the world are very sensitive and gas an effect

Eyes Wide Shut: Adaptation Of Dream Story

Eyes Wide Shut: Adaptation Of Dream Story This essay is a critical analysis on the adaptation of Dream Story as Eyes Wide Shut. The analysis is organised around the key points identified within the argument such as ideology, point of view and the gendering of representation in narrative cinema. Stanley Kubrick masterful film Eyes Wide Shut (1999) is a faithful adaptation of Arthur Schnitzlers novella Dream Story (Traumnovelle, published in 1926 for the first time). In terms of genre Eyes Wide Shut combines a drama, a thriller, a neo-noir conspiracy mystery, a road story, erotic and melodrama. Both Kubrick and his co-screenwriter Frederic Raphael created a very faithful script, with only few alterations that were made because of the artistic narration that is very difficult to put on screen. Kubrick merged in his film the boundaries between different types of adaptation making the film both a transposition and a commentary on Dream Story. According to credits Eyes Wide Shut was inspired by Traumnovelle. The book was originally published as Traumnovelle and its literal translation Dream Story loses the word trauma, which was one of Sigmund Freuds areas of research. The novel represent the period of time of Vienna during the decadent 20th century when Freuds theories were extremely popular, and Arthur Schnitzler, being his devoted follower, attempted to describe his characters emotions and real motives. Freud famously joked that he did not want to meet the writer, and that was based on the belief that one could die upon meeting his double. In his adaptation Kubrick has transposed Schnitzlers Vienna to contemporary Manhattan and has altered the main characters names with Fridolin becoming Bill and Albertine becoming Alice. His fidelity to Schnitzlers story is remarkable and only few scenes are invented for the movie. The plot is following the relationship between Fridolin/Bill (Tom Cruise) and Albertine/Alice (Nicole Kidman) and their erotic fantasies. Their marriage was stable until Albertine has shattered Bills faith in her fidelity by confessing that during holidays in Denmark, she had a sexual fantasy about naval officer and at some point she was ready to abandon her husband and daughter in pursuit of forbidden attraction. This revelation generates despair in Bill and propels his sexual odyssey. He sets out on a two days quest for sexual thrills that entails: admission of love from deceased patients daughter, almost sleeping with prostitute, a masked orgy with amazing women at a ball. Returning home he tells Albertine about his adventures and from that point on the couple begins to patch up their marriage. In terms of non-linguistic sound codes, as Randy Rassmusen wrote, Dmitri Shostakovichs Jazz Suite Waltz No. 2 begins with the opening credits and that light music helps to reinforce our impression of a happy (on a surface) marriage with a hint of cynical flavour, but also moves us back to Viennese waltzes played in ballrooms. After all turbulences the marriage has to go through the same waltz returns during the final credits, suggesting a return to daily marital boredom (Rassmusen: 356). According to Raphael Schnitzler was aware of the disintegration of individual citizens within Austrian society, which has a clear expression in Dream Story, in where a happy marriage is dissected into perverse impulses of murderous madness and carefree sensuality, of mutual attraction and revulsion. Schnitzler said that: Feelings und understanding may sleep under the same roof, but they run completely separate households in the human souls (Schnitzler: xvi). It is the institution of a perfect marriage that Kubrick thoroughly examined in his film. According to Peter Bogdanowich Most sources state that Kubrick was introduced to the novel itself by his Austrian-born second wife Ruth Sobotka, whom he divorced in 1961. What struck Kubrick so much about Traumnovelle was that it would allow him to examine his own dark side, and one can speculate that he also saw it as a way to expiate his guilt suggests Kubricks biographer, John Baxter, referring to Subotka suicide in 1968. (Peter Bogdanowich: 243). Dream Story focuses solely on the male half of the marriage. This is also a case with Eyes Wide Shut, but Kubrick, unlike Schnitzler, gives his female lead moments of psychological independence from her partner. In Dream Story, Albertine is never given a moment away from Fridolin, but in Eyes Wide Shot Alice is given several without Bill, such as when she dances with a Hungarian millionaire at Victor Zieglers ball. In most cases though she is either stoned or drunk or has just woken up. Nicole Kidman didnt mind this and said in the interview: If my characters got one line, one word, Ill play Alice () We (Kidman and Cruise) want to dedicate our lives to making this film (Bogdanovich: 245) In terms of narrative organisation Mario Falsetto argues that the main patterns established in film are repetition and variation of narrative incident as key structuring devices (Falsetto: 16). In addition to this Eyes Wide Shut is full of allusions, symbolism and dream logic. Although Dream Story was responsible for most of the plot, according to Falsetto, Kubrick added many structural elements to his adaptation, that are not to be traced to the novel and which helps to allude scenes with each other such as Zieglers Christmas ball at the beginning of the movie that later echoed masked ball. The most apparent series of repetitions around which much of the films narrative trajectory is propelled is the series of subjective shots of Bill imagining Alice and the naval officer having sex (Falsetto: 17). These fantasy shots repeat couple of times thorough the film and they help adjust the story to Bills point of view and his consciousness. Falsetto argues that: The conception and articula tion of Bills subjective universe is often expressed through a deliberate use of perceptual point-of-view shots to create an emotional, as well as spatial, relationships to his world (Falsetto: 131) Seymour Chatman in Coming to Terms suggest, according to his dictionary, two senses of point of view: a point from which things are viewed and a mental position of viewpoint. The basic distinction is between a physical place from which something is seen (a vista and a lookout), and a viewers mental attitude or posture. At the beginning of the film Kubrick added the scene of Alice undressing in front of the mirror. That scene is missing from the book, as nudity in literature was rather bold during Schnitzlers life. This moment suggest that Alice is being watched though the doorway from the next room, and therefore, the audience assume the point of view is her husbands. His point of view is never really stated too obviously though and we are constantly made to wonder what exactly we are watching: a reality, a nightmare or a lucid dream? Dream Storys plot follows though Eyes Wide Shut with particular respect to magic word fidelity. Audience is left to wonder if the password to masked ball Fidelio (Denmark in the novel) refers to Beethovens famous opera, fidelity with original story, fidelity in marriage or fidelity to hidden underworld where sex magic are not just a fantasy? Randy Rasmussen argues that in Kubricks last film: () chance, coincidence, and misperception play in the fortunes of its characters. Just like Bill Hartford, we are constantly given an impression only to have it challenged or overturned. An in the final analysis, there are some things about which we can draw no definitive conclusions. In short, real life can be as difficult to figure out as a dream. (Rasmussen: 333). In that sense Kubrick may be trying to open peoples eyes. The first attempt to make public see takes place during the Christmas ball where Bill is called by Ziegler to resuscitate a call girl that had overdose. Bill says to her Can you open your eyes for me? Mandy, can you do that? Let me see you open your eyes. There you go, come on. Come on, look at me. Look at me (screenplay). The aim of making audience see was at the heart of Kubrick cinematography and that can be explained by the change of title from Dream Story to oxymoron Eyes Wide Shut which suggests a confused perception between reality and dream. As Brian McFarlane argues in Novel to Film: Commentators in the field are fond of quoting Joseph Conrads famous statement of his novelistic intention: My task which I am trying to achieve is, by the powers of the written word, to make you, before all, to make you see. This remark of 1897 is echoed, consciously or otherwise, 16 years later by D. W. Griffith, whose cinematic intentions is recorded as: The task I am trying to achieve is above all to make you see. McFarlane continues: Whereas Griffith used his images to tell a story, as means to understanding, Conrad wanted the reader to see in and through and finally past his language and his narrative concept to the hard, clear bedrock of images. (McFarlane: 3) Kubrick in Eyes Wide Shut wanted public to see with the use of image: cinematography, lightning, costumes and colour (lots of blue and red used as contrast). As Falsetto points out: They reinforce the reading that much of the film is a poetic rendering of Bills consciousness and often stands in for his emotions (Falsetto: 138). In Eyes Wide Shut Kubricks choice of image symbolism over dialogue in communicating his ideas is especially helpful because of third person and subjective narration of Dream Story that is extremely difficult to film. Falsetto argues that: One brief illustration is a shot that frames Bill stalker standing beside a STOP sign intercut with Bill holding a copy of the New York Post that carries the headline Lucky to Be Alive. (Falsetto: 138-139). That shot is accompanied by The Musica Ricercata II that was earlier heard in the orgy scene and it comes back later when Bill is reading the news about call girls death. The use of conspiracy thematic allusion seems to be more convincing and striking than mere words. In terms of gendering representation, around which the film is constructed, in the opening shot Alice, seen from behind, tosses her black dress out, revealing her naked body to the unseen male character. Undressing before the Zieglers party she asks: How do I look? Her body in that scene is revealed as an object of contemplation in a form of too-be-look-at-ness (Mulvey: 19). According to Mulvey, the womans body is an object of pure erotic observation, while the man, who is an active subject of gender representation, controls the direction of the gaze onto a female body. It was Kubricks choice to organise gender representation around the male visual pleasure. While Fridolin is a regular 19th century General Practitioner, Bills specialisation is plastic surgery which strengthens the connection with female bodies displayed in cinema as an erotic object, according to Mulvey. The determining male gaze projects its fantasy onto the female figure, which is styled accordingly. (Mulvey: 19). The ritual prostitutes, masked but naked mannequins, are the ultimate symbol of patriarchal visuality. Mulvey argues that women are excluded from cultural or governmental participation, their image has been stolen and their bodies exploited. (Mulvey: 112). Henry Kissinger famously said: Power is the ultimate aphrodisiac and sadly most women are excluded from sharing its pleasures as according to the dolly bird culture women are told how to behave and look and are commodified by men. Besides gender politics Kubrick attempted to depict the naked wealth of USA and the destructive effect it has on the society in general. The movie starts with a Christmas ball at the Zieglers mansion, which Kubrick invented for the purpose of his story as he was more concerned about social divisions than Schnitzler in his novel where Fridolin was not wealthy, but simply middle-class. Bill has reached the top of the social ladder only to discover that far above him there is another one to climb. Ziegler invited his to his party full of millionaires, where Bill didnt know a soul but no matter high he climbs the social ladder, the secret underworld he trespassed at the Black Mass will always be out of reach. In the end he is just a doctor. Originally Bill shows off his social status and wealth and because of that many doors are being open for him (in Schnitzlers original story his profession is not of such importance). Randy Rasmussen in his book Stanley Kubrick Seven Films Analysed says that Dr. Bill Hartford deceptively employs his identity as a physician to access information and material which advance his personal desires. And so, in their own ways, do the hospital staff member, amorous hotel clerk and balding costume shot proprietor upon whom he works his professional magic (Rasmussen: 330). However Bills exploitation of his professional status sometimes has benevolent consequences, as when he (and similarly Fridolin) tries to help a prostitute that offered to redeem him during the underworld masked orgy when he was told to take off his mask. He leaves the ball humiliated and is being warned that if he reveals the upper-crust secrets there will be the most serious consequences for him and his family. (screenplay) Kubrick changed the scene in which Fridolin is confronted by a band of members of Alemannic club (being in film confronted by average teenage yobs), which echoed the fact that Jews during Schnitzlers lifetime were banned from such fraternities and the apprehension of Jews facing Gentile provocation (Schnitzler: Xiii). Kubrick came back with issue of Alemannic clubs in his orgy scene in which he depicted black mass of secret society. In film, as well as book, the lead character is being threatened twice but is in both cases is lucky enough to get away unharmed. The sex-death connection continuous repeatedly through the film. Kubricks second wife Christine said of Eyes Wide Shut It had nothing to do with sex and everything to do with fear (Falsetto: 243). Those two opposite instincts always walk hand in hand during Bills nocturnal odyssey. Victor Ziegler sexual encounter at the beginning of the film almost ends with death from overdose of the call girl (scene invented by Kubrick); Alice suggests that terminally ill breast cancer patients may be actually sexually aroused in his presence (invented by Kubrick); Marion Nathanson reveals her feelings towards Bill in front of her father who has just died (same as in novel); Bill finds out that a prostitute who recently offered him her services is HIV positive (invented). Bills sexual desires can never be fulfilled in the same way like our dreams can hardly be controlled. Freud in Interpretation of Dreams (Part 4) argued that in each human being, as the primary cause of dream formation, two psychic forces (streams, systems), of which one constitutes the wish expressed by the dream, while the other acts as a censor upon this dream wish, and by means of this censoring forces a distortion of its expression. Bill is continuously being placed in dubious and dangerous situations which metaphorically act like coitus interruptus to his sexual adventures. Conclusion As Falsetto pointed out (Falsetto: 75) Eyes Wide Shot is a typically Freudian film, as it explores the psychological areas that drive sexual desires and death instincts. It replays gender conventions constructed within social and symbolic relations patterned within mainstream cinema. But what differentiate Eyes Wide Shut from the typical Hollywood pattern is the scene in which Bill subjectivity is threatened during the masked ball when he is asked to remove his mask and clothes. This time he is the one to be watched by hundred of hidden eyes and his anxiety reaches crucial point. Ironically, a gazing male becomes gazed at. To Freud this is a typical anxiety dream that symbolizes impotence and insecurity. It seems like to Kubrick it was his trademark as a filmmaker to question established and seemingly flawless patterns within basically patriarchal society and Hollywood gender representation. What is also made differently from typical gendering of representation is the first scene in which Alice is looking into a mirror, resembling Alices journey Through the Looking-Glass. Thanks to that metaphor Kubrick provides the female lead with a fantasy world and subjectivity which Albertine lacks. They are both housewives, dependant on their husbands, with Alice a previous owner of failed art gallery but, unlike Albertine, she is given several moment of privacy from her partner. Schnitzler and Freud believed that women have unhealthy desire for sex. For that reason Albertine fantasized about Fridolin being tortured and crucified but Kubrick got rid of those misogynist and archaic ideas altogether and in his film Alice fantasized healthily about the naval officer and is not scolded for it. Schnitzlers characters taking part in Black Mass orgy are all dressed as nun and priests but Kubrick, being aware that some of Freuds ideas were out of date, removed all references to religious symbolism. In summary EWS attempts to provide women with subjectivity and with fantasies and it also depicts the alienation of female sexuality within gendering representation of patriarchal social and political pattern. Kubrick reveals the deceit of mans claim to power and domination, which seems to come from selected Freuds critical ideas of religion and his analysis of family conflicts, sexual desires, guilt and the death instincts.

Things Fall Apart - By Chinua Achebe (diverse Cultures Essay) :: essays research papers

"Things Fall Apart" by Chinua Achebe a) Describe in detail your impression of Okonkwo's character having read part one of the novel. b) What is Okonkwo's response to the arrival of the white man, and how does he cope with the changes that come about under the influence of a different culture. c) Describe your own reaction to Okonkwo's actions at the close of the novel. a) Okonkwo is a senior member of the Ibo tribe in Nigeria at the end of the last century. He is an extremely complex character, and in my opinion has two very different sides to his personality. On one hand, Okonkwo is seen as a powerful, respected man, who is well known throughout his home village of Umuofia and beyond. He is a brave fearless warrior, who as a young man had brought great honour to his village by beating Amalinze, and who for seven years had not been beaten "from Umuofia to Mbaino". He is not a man to shy away from conflict or confrontation. He is not a particularly intelligent man, but a man of action, who is more likely to settle an argument through violence than negotiation. He has an impulsive, explosive nature which can often land him in trouble. By nature, he is energetic and hardworking, and has no patience with men that are idle. He is a pillar of the community, and is looked up to by the majority of his clan members for his success and prosperity in life. However, beyond this manly display of strength and fortitude lies a man whose life is dominated by fear, a fear of being considered a failure. The main contribution to this fear is his father Unoka. When talking about Okonkwo, it is hard for Unoka's name not to come up, as he has been such a great influence and contribution to his personality, and the way in which he chooses to live his life. Throughout his life, Unoka had been a lazy, incompetent man, who was regarded as a failure by the majority of his fellow clan members. Unlike Okonkwo, he was a very peaceful, merry man who disliked war and violence. He was also a very emotional man, with a sensitive and reflective nature. When he died, he died having taken no title, and was heavily in debt. Therefore, Okonkwo strives to stamp out any character traits that he sees in himself that remind him of his father.

The Straight-Edge and the Scene

Straight-Edge and the Scene For some youth it’s all about the scene. What is the scene? The scene is a general reference to the music venues in which these youth participate. The straight-edge subculture is one that many may not be familiar with. Why is this? Probably because the straight-edge lifestyle is one of the few countercultures in which the youth that is involved tries to steer clear of drugs and overindulgence. It is closely related to the hardcore/punk music scene. The straight-edge lifestyle refers to people who are involved with the hardcore/punk lifestyle but they refrain from drinking alcohol, using drugs, smoking cigarettes, and promiscuous sex. This subculture was created as a social movement against authority, drug abuse, and any type of overindulgence associated with punk rock (Kirchner, 2009). Background: the 1970’s to the Present Individuals who are straight edge take a pledge to live a drug, promiscuous, alcohol, and cruelty free lifestyle. Sometimes, this even extends into vegetarianism and veganism and Hare Krishna, a belief based on Hindu scripture (Kirchner, 2009). The basic philosophy of the straight-edge lifestyle centers around self control and regaining as much of one’s personal control over their lives as possible, by getting rid of the negative influences (Kirchner, 2009). Straight-edger’s, a common nickname, usually are involved with the environment, animal rights and pride their counterculture on keeping their focus on higher learning and a positive outlook (Wood, 2006). The straight-edge subculture emerged in the late 1970’s (Wood, 2006). The term straight-edge was coined by musician Ian MacKaye in a song called â€Å"Straight Edge† which he wrote for his band, Minor Threat. Their music was fast and powerful with angry and thoughtful lyrics, which is how straight-edge seemed to be viewed as at first. With further understanding, it was found that the straight-edge lifestyle was the opposite. In the 1970’s only a slew of prominent artists rejected drugs and alcohol and influenced the straight-edge ideology (Wood, 2006). After the term straight-edge was thrown out into the music community, many people picked up on it and many other bands for decades to come centered their music and lifestyle on the straight-edge, drug free lifestyle. Minor Threat was the first band to use the term straight edge and adopt the letter X as a representation of being straight-edge and living the lifestyle. The X symbol was believed to originate from the use of the letter on people who were underage (under 21) to symbolize that they were too young to drink at the shows and became the symbol for straight-edge by being used on album covers, as body art, and other paraphernalia (Kirchner, 2009). In the 1980’s the influence of music on the straight-edge seemed to be at an all-time high. Many bands seemed to be using the straight-edge lifestyle as a stepping stone and inspiration for their songs. During the mid-1980’s many of the vegetarianism and veganism ideas stemmed out and gripped straight-edge community members (Cogan, 2008). This propelled a trend towards animal rights and vegetarianism that would reach its peak in the 1990’s. Straight-edger’s want to be directly involved with both the music community in which they support, by either playing in a band or writing a webzine or article for the music and their regular community by helping with any aspect of it. Straight-edger’s use this subculture to move away from the stigma of destruction that hardcore and punk music seems to have veiled over the industry. Militant straight-edger’s were first identified in the early 1990’s. These individuals were characterized by less tolerance for those who were not straight-edge, more outspokenness, and more willingness to resort to violence in order to promote clean living and fight against homosexuality and abortion (Woods, 2006). This willingness to resort to violence led to some parts of the United States paying close attention to the straight-edge subculture and the subculture being treated as a gang by law officials. However, â€Å"a study done in 2006 suggests that a small minority of individuals who identify with the straight-edge subculture are violent. † (Woods, 2006: 38). In the 2000’s the straight-edge movement has become less violent and more about promoting a positive lifestyle. Straight-edge has moved out into different genres of music instead of staying specific to the punk/metal scene. The decline of aggressive behavior has been linked to the lack of a well known band leading the straight-edge movement (Irwin, 1999). The amount of tolerance from people who are straight-edge to non-straight edge participants has grown as well (Irwin, 1999). Deviant Theories Applied: Straight-Edge and Theories First, we have to ask why the straight-edge subculture is deviant. The straight-edge culture embraces moral inclination in a positive way. This subculture does not fit the â€Å"norms† of society. By abstaining from substances, sex, and other negative things, it makes this subculture stick out. If, in society, something about a group or person sticks out, they become deviant, which is departing from anything that is socially accepted or â€Å"usual† (Clinard, Meier, 2011). In the early 1990’s violence that was related to the straight-edge movement was high. Some militant actors used violence against random people and other straight-edge members who were drinking, smoking, or doing drugs in order to try and spread their substance free message. This violence was brought on because of their direct relation with the straight-edge culture. Functionalism can be used to describe this time period for the straight-edge activists. Functionalism describes how different social occurrences uphold and disturb social stability. It also claims that society needs crime to be functional and for various other reasons such as attaining group unity, innovation, and setting and preserving moral limitations. The straight-edge subculture has many moral limitations. They have a strict set of requirements that they have to follow in order to be considered straight-edge. The violence that took place by the straight-edge subculture was due to the fact that many who committed the violence, to random people or other straight-edge members, was for the preservation of their morals. Any type of substance abuse, promiscuity, and meat eating is an implicit sin for members of the straight-edge community. The disregard of these rules by both participants and non-participants in the straight-edge subculture alike were reason for some members in this group to become violent (Woods, 2006). Militant straight-edger’s used violence to try and force a straight-edge lifestyle onto others because they viewed, and for those who still use violence today, still view their lifestyle as the most morally right. The straight-edge lifestyle also indirectly calls for unity by forcing its members to follow the straight-edge lifestyle’s specific guidelines, such as not drinking. When members conflict with this or associate themselves with people who drink, smoke, or indulge in anything morally incorrect violence usually followed. In this subculture the deviance mainly applies to the push against abusing drugs, alcohol, and overindulging in any way. Why do individuals in the straight-edge community take this approach? The social learning theory may be able to explain this. The social learning theory asks how people become deviant and whether it is learned (Clinard, Meier, 2011). With this particular subculture it can be said that the majority of the straight-edge lifestyle is learned from music and peers. Many individuals who are involved in the straight-edge lifestyle found out about this lifestyle from the music scene or their friends. Others, driven to take part in the music scene, joined and others who wanted to be a part of a positive influence on their society because of music joined the straight-edge subculture (Woods, 2006). Many members of the straight-edge community became a part of it because it represented a break away from the increasing sexuality of rock music and the sexual revolution. The sexual revolution offered youth freedom and an alternative to the dating script and the straight-edge counterculture did the same (Kirchner, 2009). The straight-edge understanding embodied freedom as well. The freedoms between the two are quite different as one gave the freedom to indulge in one’s inclinations while the latter gives the freedom to make an intentional habit out of their choices to refrain from overindulgence. In society, sexual behavior is socially learned. What is acceptable and unacceptable sexually is made clear through social informative (Clinard, Meier, 2011). The straight-edge subculture tries to take sexuality back into a time where hooking-up was not the social norm. Being sexually promiscuous is frowned upon in society as well as in the straight-edge subculture. In society heterosexual deviance is an ongoing topic. The straight-edge society wants to be known for exactly the opposite of this. In society, sexual deviance is generally negative. Sometimes, women are objectified and men are a number of different things, which is why the straight-edge community rejects these ideas in order to show society that they have exerted control over their life by abstaining and â€Å"saving† their bodies (Woods, 2006). In the straight-edge society, the double tandard holds true as well because a lot of the time men who proclaim to be straight-edge may be being promiscuous at the time but can still claim the straight-edge lifestyle. A woman doing the same would no longer be looked at as straight-edge (Woods, 2006). Conclusion The straight-edge counterculture is one most interesting, yet unheard of subcultures. The reason why this subculture is so fascina ting is because of the values it represents. Although this group is vague and there are fewer members than before, the preservation of values is one of the many reasons to continue and study this fascinating unconventional group. Overindulgence is something that is common in this day and age. Drug addictions, sexual promiscuity, alcohol abuse, and other substance abuse are not shocking to hear about. These are daily occurrences that the straight-edge culture is trying to remove from their lives. From the 1970’s until now this culture has been constantly changing and rearranging itself to match the attitudes and music of the time. The straight-edge counterculture has been excellent in integrating modern ideas in with more traditional values, all while supporting the music scene. References Clinard, Marshall B. and Robert F. Meier. 2011. Sociology of Deviant Behavior. Belmont, California: Wadsworth. Cogan, Brain. 2008. The Encyclopedia of Punk. New York: Sterling. Kirchner, Michael. 2009. Edge: Perspectives on Drug Free Culture. DVD. California: Halo 8. Irwin, Darrell D. 1999. â€Å"The Straight-Edge Subculture: Examining the Youths’ the Drug Free Way. † Journal of Drug Issues. 20(2): 365 – 380. Wood, Robert T. 2006. Straightedge Youth: Complexity and Contradictions of Subculture. New York: Syracuse University Press.

Most Liberal U.S.Supreme Court Justices in History

Most Liberal U.S.Supreme Court Justices in History Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has long been a thorn in the side of American conservatives. Shes been pilloried in the right-wing press by a range of so-called political experts, including college drop-out and shock jock Lars Larson, who publicly declared that Justice Ginsburg is anti-American. Her stinging dissent in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby, which recently granted corporations certain exceptions to the Affordable Care Act with regard to birth control coverage, has once again loosed the gates of extreme conservative rhetoric. One columnist in The Washington Times even crowned her liberal bully of the week  even though hers was the dissenting, not majority, opinion. These critics act as if a liberal judge on the Supreme Court is a brand new development, but its the work of previous liberal judges that protects their right to come pretty close to slandering Justice Ginsburg in their published work. The Most Liberal U.S. Supreme Court Justices Also unfortunate for her critics is the fact that its unlikely that Justice Ginsburg will go down in history as the most liberal justice. Just take a look at her competition. While they sometimes sided with their conservative colleagues (often in tragic ways, such as in Korematsu v. United States, which upheld the constitutionality of the Japanese-American internment camps during World War II), these justices are generally considered to be among the most liberal of all time: Louis Brandeis (term: 1916-1939) was the first Jewish member of the Supreme Court and brought a sociological view to his interpretation of law. He is justly famous for establishing the precedent that the right to privacy is, in his words, the right to be let alone (something right-wing extremists, libertarians, and anti-government activists seem to think they invented).William J. Brennan (1956-1990) helped expand civil rights and liberties for all Americans. He supported abortion rights, opposed the death penalty, and provided new protections for freedom of the press. For example, in New York Times v. Sullivan (1964), Brennan established the actual malice standard, in which news outlets were protected from charges of libel as long as what they wrote was not deliberately false.William O. Douglas (1939-1975) was the longest-serving justice on the Court, and was described by Time Magazine as the most doctrinaire and committed civil libertarian ever to sit on the court. He fought against any regulation of speech and famously faced impeachment after he issued a stay of execution for convicted spies Julius and Ethel Rosenberg. He is probably most well-known for arguing that citizens are guaranteed a right to privacy due to the penumbras (shadows) cast by the Bill of Rights in Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), which established the right of citizens to have access to birth control information and devices. John Marshall Harlan (1877-1911) was the first to argue that the Fourteenth Amendment incorporated the Bill of Rights. However, hes more famous for earning the nickname The Great Dissenter because he went against his colleagues in significant civil rights cases. In his dissent from Plessy v. Ferguson (1896), the decision that opened the door to legal segregation, he affirmed some basic liberal principles: In view of the constitution, in the eye of the law, there is in this country no superior, dominant, ruling class of citizens...Our constitution is color-blind...In respect of civil rights, all citizens are equal before the law.Thurgood Marshall (1967-1991) was the first African-American justice and is often cited as having the most liberal voting record of all. As an attorney for the NAACP, he famously won Brown v. Board of Education (1954), which outlawed school segregation. It should not be surprising, then, that when he became a Supreme Court justice he continued to argue on beha lf of individual rights, most notably as a strong opponent of the death penalty. Frank Murphy (1940-1949) fought against discrimination in many forms. He was the first justice to include the word racism in an opinion, in his vehement dissent in Korematsu v. United States (1944). In Falbo v. United States (1944), he wrote, The law knows no finer hour than when it cuts through formal concepts and transitory emotions to protect unpopular citizens against discrimination and persecution.Earl Warren (1953-1969) is one of the most influential Chief Justices of all time. He forcefully pushed for the unanimous Brown v. Board of Education (1954) decision and presided over decisions that further expanded civil rights and liberties, including those that mandated publicly-funded representation for indigent defendants in Gideon v. Wainright (1963), and required police to inform criminal suspects of their rights, in Miranda v. Arizona (1966). Certainly other justices, including Hugo Black, Abe Fortas, Arthur J. Goldberg, and Wiley Blount Rutledge, Jr. made decisions that protected individual rights and created greater equality in the United States, but the judges listed above demonstrate that Ruth Bader Ginsburg is just the most recent participant in the strong liberal tradition of the Supreme Court and you cant accuse someone of radicalism if theyre part of a long-standing tradition.

Macro-economics Essays - Macroeconomics, Economy, Economics

Macro-economics Essays - Macroeconomics, Economy, Economics Macro-economics Macro-economics GDP measure Expenditure approach Weakness of using GDP to measure wellbeing CPI Measure and its problem Unemployment Definition friction, structural and cyclical unemployment Inflation In the long run, the increase in MS leads to inflation Cost: Shoe leather cost, menu cost and tax distortion AD-AS Shape of AD and AS curves Monetary policy Open market operation Contractionary and expansionary monetary policy Draw graph to explain how monetary policy helps with inflation recession Fiscal policy Definition Instruments graphing Multiplier effect and crowding-out effect For graphing question, please draw graph clearly and label properly, and give brief explanation Graphing, labeling and explanations all carry marks. Graphing to illustrate monetary policy (expansionary and contractionary) Chinas central banktightened monetary policy by raising the interest rates it charges in open-market operations and on funds lent via its Standing Lending Facility. What type of monetary policy did Chinas central bank implement (expansionary or contractionary monetary policy)? What will be the impact on the economy, all else being equal? Use graph to illustrate. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-02-03/china-s-pboc-increases-interest-rates-in-open-market-operations MS2 Money supply, MS A D2 Y1 Y2 P2 Money demand at price level P AD1 Quantity of money 0 Interest rate r2 r1 (a) The money market (b) The aggregate-demand curve Quantity of output 0 Price level 3. ... which decreases the quantity of goods and services demanded at a given price level. 2. ... the equilibrium interest rate Increases... 1. When the RBA Decrease the money supply ... P1style.visibilitystyle.visibilitystyle.visibilitystyle.visibilitystyle.visibilitystyle.visibilitystyle.visibilitystyle.visibilitystyle.visibilitystyle.visibilitystyle.visibilitystyle.visibilitystyle.visibilitystyle.visibilitystyle.visibility Graphing to illustrate fiscal policy The above-mentioned moves underscore the leaderships determination to push up funding costs of short-term tenors to rein in leverage andswitchto the combination of less monetary stimulus and more fiscal support, after earlier easing fueled bubbles in bonds and the property market. What types of fiscal support can the government give? Use graph to illustrate its impact. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-02-03/china-s-pboc-increases-interest-rates-in-open-market-operations Quantity of output Price level 0 Aggregate demand, AD1 Increase government purchase or reduce tax rate AD2 7style.visibilitystyle.visibilitystyle.visibility Short answer question examples Explain shoe leather cost. It refers to the cost of converting between cash and other assets during high inflation. Explain interest rate effect that is used to explain the downward sloping curve of AD A lower price level reduces the interest rate, which encourages greater spending on investment goods. This increase in investment spending means a larger quantity of goods and services demanded. Explain sticky wage theory Nominal wages are slow to adjust, or are sticky in the short run. Wages do not adjust immediately to a fall in the price level. A lower price level makes employment and production less profitable. This induces firms to reduce the quantity of goods and services supplied. Is unemployment rate a perfect measure for unemployment? Justify your answer. It is not perfect measure because at least two groups of people cannot be accurately classified. Some people may claim to be unemployed in order to receive financial assistance, even though they arent truly looking for jobs. They are mistakenly classified as unemployed. Discouraged workers, people who would like to work but have given up looking for jobs after unsuccessful search, dont show up in unemployment statistics.

Module 7 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Module 7 - Essay Example The biggest similarity between the three religions is that they are all monotheistic, but all other practices and beliefs are either entirely different or only bear minimal similarities. The paper discusses the similarities and differences among Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Judaism, Christianity and Islam, fall under the classification of monotheistic religions, meaning that they believe in one God. Muslims and Jews mostly emphasize the unity and oneness of God. The acclaim is at times misunderstood, as Christians go ahead to state that God is triune. However, this does not indicate that the religions are in denial of monotheism. Instead, it is only an affirmation of the intricacy of God. The three religions believe that God created and made everything in the world. They believe that God cares about the world and every creature that He created and desired that they all have a good life. According to the three religions, God is just and he instituted ground rules for the guidance of man so that humans can be righteous and good (Volf 8). In addition to that, the three religions believe that God is merciful and offers strength to people to do different things. Judaism, Islam, and Christianity believe that humans are supreme creatures on earth. Humans are the descendants of Abraham, who God blessed and gave the promise that his descendants would be great. The three religions also hold the perception that God created humans full of mystery, which implies that humans have the potential for perpetual growth, both as individuals and as a species. Humans are capable of being both good and evil. When humans grow in righteousness, goodness, and love, they become more like what their creator intended them to be. On the other hand, when they abuse their freedom and do evil things, they go against Gods will (Volf 9). Judaism, Christianity, and Islam religions hold almost similar views regarding the future. Although the past has

Phase 4 Discussion Board Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Phase 4 Discussion Board - Essay Example Yes, I would switch to the Visa Student Card. This is because the interest charged using the Visa Student Card of $270 is lower compared to the interest charged using my existing credit card of $412.50. Most important, I would switch to any credit card that offers lower interest rate on my purchases after six months taking in account that the credit cards offers an interest rate of 0% on all purchases and balance transfers for six months. In case of Open-End Credit, a borrower can continue to borrow (purchase) and pay in various amounts. In case of Closed-End Credit, the lender tells the borrower how much they can borrow and a fee schedule is set up, which the borrower pays until the debt is paid off. In general, Open-End Credit is for small purchases and Closed-End Credit is for bigger purchase. Credit card purchases are an example of Open-End Credit and a Car loan taken is an example of Closed-End Credit. Many large appliance stores offer simple interest loans to their customers. For example, suppose a customer is interested in purchasing a $1,400.00 refrigerator at Myer Appliances. The customer is unable to pay the total amount at the time of purchase, so Myer’s lets the customer make a down payment of $140 and then 12 monthly payments of $120.75.   Suppose that you are unable to pay the total amount for your appliance at the time of purchase, so you take out a simple interest loan. The store will let you make a 10% down payment and then make 12 equal monthly payments for the remaining balance at a simple interest rate of