Wednesday, December 25, 2019

Socially Acceptable Sexually Explicit Material - 2283 Words

Alexandria Merriman Judy Hatcher WRIT 3307 22 October 2014 Socially Acceptable: Sexually Explicit Material in America In today’s culture, sex is worshipped. From the television shows we watch to the billboards we pass on the freeway, sexually explicit material permeates itself into our world whether it is conscious or not. Research shows that this type of material has the greatest effect on women, children, and marriages. Women and children are the most obvious choice among those assuming the affect this material has on our society, but what many forget is the affect it has on marriage. The women shown in commercials, ads, and movies are far from an ordinary woman. They are perfect. What men, and women, see is an unrealistic expectation of what women today should look like. Another harmful product of today’s sexually acceptable material is pornography. Men and women alike find completely unrealistic sexual scenarios in which they let deeply affect their sexuality. When conducting research, school psychologist and Master of Educ ation Julienne Colbow concludes that this type of material may or may not bother women or â€Å"change their attitudes†. She even goes to state that the data is â€Å"inconclusive† as to whether or not women really care about the affect this material has on them. Regardless of the way women feel about this type of material in general, I plan to argue the point that this material is detrimental to women, children, and marriages. Sexually explicit material andShow MoreRelatedPornography Research Paper1128 Words   |  5 Pagesauthors state that pornography is defined as printed or visual material containing the explicit description or display of sexual organs or activity, intended to simulate erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings. This can be shown through videos, photograph, drawings and writings. This is a very large mass media industry that exists world to exploit women, men, children, and animals. People that view these types of materials can be harmed because of what they view. Many suffer from psychologicalRead MoreEssay about Gender Role In Social Construction1180 Words   |  5 Pagespurely female professions in our society. This is social constructionist thought on what role a male/female should play in today’s society. These may not be the professions of choice for the individuals, but what the individual believes is socially acceptable. â€Å"Most of the behavior associated with gender is learned rather than innate†(Chandler 5). People begin to learn what is right and wrong (according to the community) from the earliest of ages. The media contributes to social construction, asRead MoreHow Gender Can Make A Visual Statement And Representation Of Ones Identity1730 Words   |  7 Pagesperson’s gender identity can be different from their biological sex†. In relation to fashion, gender identity can come out of the norm, the stereotype of what a woman or a male should wear and what is socially accep table, although this has changed over time .For example it is now more socially acceptable for a female to wear trousers where as in the earlier days it was seen as unfeminine. Going back to gender there is an identity that is referred to as gender fluid. Gender fluidity is an identity thatRead MoreThe Effects Of Internet On The Internet2010 Words   |  9 Pagesharmful forms of speech such as pornography, hate speech. The internet has actually created special problems for censoring and posting materials online. In this paper I will discuss the most feasible way of regulating online content, when to draw the line between what is simply offensive or what is harmful and hateful, who should be responsible for censoring these materials, and the modes of regulation. The internet has created problems that we’ve never had to face before. The internet has made accessRead MoreEssay on Use of Sex in Advertising1512 Words   |  7 PagesAnd although these women are performing some kind of energy using activity, it is there sex drive that attracts men to these products and what makes them so popular. Like Taflinger says, men consider her beautiful because, to a man, beautiful and sexually attractive are virtually synonymous. Therefore, it is easy for advertisers to get a man?s attention by using women?s bodies and associate getting the woman with buying the product. The advertiser is playing on his instinctive rather than intellectualRead MoreEffects of Media on Women and Children2408 Words   |  10 Pagesportrayals of female sexuality, sexual health, and shows unnecessary female sexuality and nudity on an immense level. The average woman is misrepresented in the media; this is unhealthy for many women and girls. Studies show viewing sex ually objectifying material contributes to eating disorders, low self-esteem, depression and body dissatisfaction. In a 1992 study of female students at Stanford University, 70% of women reported feeling worse about themselves and their bodies after looking at magazinesRead MorePornography is it right? Essay2384 Words   |  10 Pagesthat play important roles for example culture. My goal for this paper was to provide you with an in-depth look at what pornography is, how the Utilitarian, Divine Command Theory, and Kantian theories affect how our society portrays pornographic material. Furthermore how we, as individuals believe whether this topic is ethically right or wrong. After analyzing this report, and the background information provided, I came to a personal conclusion that society is too general on this topic. It ultimatelyRead MoreHow Has Sexualization Affected Family? Essay3105 Words   |  13 Pagesdemoralizes women using names such as hoes or bitches. This type of media is designed for a specific target audience that is considered in trend with today’s society. That target audience is of younger generation people, where they are able to make explicit puns about porn or sexuality for a younger humor (K. M. Scott, 2008). Sexual puns such as these are used because in the media because it brings in both males and females. Sex sells, women want to be them and men want to be with them. The sexualizationRead MoreEffects Of The Objectification Of Women3623 Words   |  15 Pagesconvey culture both verbally and visually, essentially serving as a type of educational and priming tool. Artists, however, tend to (almost popularly) integrate controversial lyrics into their songs that many argue send young, impressionable viewers socially unacceptable messages ranging from desensitization to violence against women to Satanism (McIntosh Pavlik, 2004, p. 94). Research shows that between 40 and 75 percent of music videos contain sexual references. Although these references are generallyRead MoreTechnology And Social Media And Technology Essay2403 Words   |  10 Pages4 billion users and this number was projected to climb around 2.13 billion users in 2016 (â€Å"Number of social network users worldwide from 2010 to 2018†). The use of technology have been increasing because the world is in the era where science and socially is a dvancing. People, especially teenagers, are craving for newer and better technology like smartphones, laptops, but is craving for technology good for the future of society? Technology and social media have improved the world by allowing people

Tuesday, December 17, 2019

Campaign Fresh Vegetables, Inc. - 1539 Words

Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. was incorporated in 1983 and is located in Monterey, California. Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. was previously known as Castle Cooke Fresh Vegetables, Inc. and changed its name to Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. in January 1990. The company produces and markets fresh fruits, vegetables, and flowers. It also provides packaged foods such as salads and frozen fruits. Dole Fresh vegetables company converted all of its harvesting equipment in Salinas, California and in Yuma, Arizona over to B20 Bio-diesel fuel in 2008. Dole Fresh Vegetables, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Dole Food Company Inc. Dole Food is one of the world s largest producers and marketers of high-quality fresh fruit and fresh vegetables. The company procures fresh fruits and vegetables from more than 25 countries and distributes nearly 200 products in more than 100 countries. Dole is an industry leader in many of the products it sells, as well as in nutrition education and research. This business is involved in the production and marketing of vegetables and fruits. The company operates across North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East and Africa. There is the headquarters in Westlake Village, California and employed approximately 74,800 employees, of whom 40,000 were full-time seasonal or temporary employees, as of December 2012. The company recorded revenues of $4,246.7 million in the financial year ended December 2012 (â€Å"Dole†, 2013). Dole is involved in theShow MoreRelatedWhole Foods Market Inc.1657 Words   |  7 PagesShanice Scott-Thurston November 30, 2015 Professor Jonathan Reiter Intermediate Acct 1 Whole Foods Market Inc. Whole Foods Market Inc. is an American supermarket chain specializing in organic food that opened on Sept. 20, 1980, in Austin, Texas, its current headquarters. Whole Foods Market Inc. has 431 supermarkets among the United States, Canada, District of Columbia, and the United Kingdom. Whole Foods Market has sales revenue of 15.39 billion, total assets of 5.74 billion, and a netRead MoreThe Complicated Story of Food1222 Words   |  5 Pagesthrough advertising and campaign. I also argued that food companies violate animal rights. And I finally held the food industry responsible because they produce labels consumers rely upon, suggesting that the responsibility to provide accurate information and healthy food then should be the industrys. I am still in more or less in agreement with these arguments. For example, I believe it is unethical of food companies to target children and adolescents in their advertising campaigns, exploiting the inabilityRead MoreColes Key Issues on Commercial F ood Production1089 Words   |  4 Pagesfounded in 1914.This chain store has 742 stores which are all over australia.Coles employee more than 100000 employees and has huge share on australian retail supermarket. Introduction Australia is famous for fresh food supermarkets and here in australia two retails giants (woolworths and coles)is big in doing retail business on local level.This article surveys Coles key issues on commercial food production and retail sectors and also will look on how in currentRead MoreThe Quad Cities Area Adult Population1445 Words   |  6 Pagesguideline of consuming at least five servings of fruits and vegetables per day, with only 35.7% reporting meeting these guidelines (Professional Research Consultants, 2015). This policy analysis will review current community efforts within the Quad Cities area that are concentrating on improving fruit and vegetable consumption of area adults. Additional policy options to help increase access, knowledge and skills regarding fruit and vegetable consumption will also be reviewed in terms of strengths,Read MoreCompetitive Analysis Of Mcdonalds1620 Words   |  7 PagesCompetitive Review and Analysis (Zhikang Wu) Nowadays, McDonald’s current competitors of fast restaurants are Yum Brands, Inc., Subway, Wendy’s, and Burger King (Downie, 2015, para. 1). The competitors of fast - casual restaurants are Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. and Panera (Downie, 2015, para. 1). In addition, Starbucks is a special competitor of McDonald’s which is with offering overlapping with McDonald’s (Downie, 2015, para. 1). Moreover, the takeout and casual dining restaurants of fragmentedRead MoreTropical Hut Case Study1240 Words   |  5 PagesSupermarket was launched with the introduction of Tropical Hut Hamburger. Tagline of Tropical Hut Their tagline â€Å"Sarap na Babalik-balikan† have been a tagline for the past four decades. They also described their burgers, as â€Å"Its big it’s hot. It’s fresh†. Target Market * Individuals: people that dine in by themselves, especially peoples who have works who finds less effort when eating in a fast-food restaurant. * Families: a group of people, either friends or a group of nuclear relativesRead MoreHappy Mushroom Marketing Plan2236 Words   |  9 PagesMARKETING PLAN I. BACKGROUND A. MARKET SITUATION Freshly packed mushroom products, Happy Mushroom comes with two varieties -- the fresh mushroom and dried mushroom, specifically oyster, shitake, straw and button mushroom, carefully packed every morning. The revolutionary Mushroom contains about 80 to 90 % water and is very low in calories. It is also an excellent source of potassium and somehow reduces breast cancer and prostate cancer. And its re-sealable and biodegradable packaging makesRead MoreMarketing Plan For Subway Marketing1516 Words   |  7 Pagesmonitoring and controlling. Marketing Audit Subway is an American sandwich chain, operated and owned by Doctor’s Associates, Inc. Subway uses a franchise model, with over 40,043 outlets operating in 102 countries worldwide, with more than 1,650 Subway outlets in the UK and Ireland. Marketing Audit Subway is an American sandwich chain, operated and owned by Doctor’s Associates, Inc. Subway uses a franchise model, with over 40,043 outlets operating in 102 countries worldwide, with more than 1,650 SubwayRead MoreMarketing Campaign : Top Juice1879 Words   |  8 PagesMarketing Campaign Client: Top Juice Executive Summary Top Juice is well known family run business for the fresh fruit juice and salad since 1990 in Sydney and Melbourne. Top Juice proudly introduces the new line of fruit juice and salad for the new year. Aloe Vera is the most popular plant among the women, which helps to enhance the beauty. Meanwhile Top Juice has come up with new fruit juice and salad which is the healthy and delicious combination of fresh fruit, vegetables and Aloe Vera. TheseRead MoreEssay about CMA LIvoria Sandwiches1115 Words   |  5 Pagesï » ¿To: Paul and Sam Livoria From: Dev Das, CMA Subject: Business Case Analysis on Livoria Sandwiches Date: September 30, 2013 Introduction Livoria Sandwiches Inc. provides exceptional quality sandwiches at a great price. Livoria has been able to maintain profitability since inception and has continued to grow its business and revenues. Recent unforeseen external events have caused significant cash flow issues and shook the family business. Livoria is hoping to see annual net income of $1.1

Monday, December 9, 2019

Analysis of “the Mark on the Wall” by Virginia Woolf Essay Sample free essay sample

As a modernist author. Virginia Woolf isn’t interested on depicting the world as it truly is. but she wants to favor the imaginativeness and the autonomy of creative activity. In her short narrative â€Å"The Mark on the Wall† . a simple component like a grade on the wall is responsible to the narrator’s deeply contemplation about life and stimulates the imaginativeness of the reader. Although. there are many elements in this short narrative that are capable of being discussed. this analysis merely points out some of them. The first point that can be considered really of import is the symbolism of the grade on the wall. During all the narrative. the storyteller imagines what that grade could be. but he/she is neer certain about it: â€Å"But for that grade. I’m non certain about it ; I don’t believe it was made by a nail after all ; it’s excessively large. We will write a custom essay sample on Analysis of â€Å"the Mark on the Wall† by Virginia Woolf Essay Sample or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page excessively circular. for that. I might acquire up. but if I got up and looked at it. ten to one I shouldn’t be able to state for certain ; because once a thing’s done. no 1 of all time knows how it happened. † This confusion about the individuality of the grade on the wall can be interpreted as the confusion that people have in relation to the significance of life. As in the short narrative that merely in the concluding the storyteller discovers the true individuality of the grade. the human existences will likely cognize what life is merely in its terminal. Other of import component of this short novel is the unfavorable judgment to those people that don’t develop their ain thoughts. although they follow somebody’s thought: â€Å"Everybody follows person. such is the doctrine of Whitaker† . However the tougher unfavorable judgment is taken to the realists that wanted to depict the world and the human being as they are in fact. This literary form was really discussed by the modernists. because they defend that the world and the adult male are altering all the clip and it would be impossible to turn out or cognize something in its entirety. Even for a person. it is hard to cognize himself/herself profoundly. for the ground that anyone has the certain about his/her attitude in forepart of a large job. for illustration. This point of position of the modernists can be verified in some parts of this narrative. such as the minute that the storyteller inquiries the world and even himself/herself: â€Å"No. no nil is proved. nil is known† . â€Å" Where was I? What has it all been about? A tree? A river? The Downs? Whitaker’s Almanack? The Fieldss of a asphodel? I can?t retrieve a thing. Everthing’s traveling. falling. stealing. vanishing†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Finally. the last of import facet of this short narrative that will be discussed is the unfavorable judgment to the faith. that ever imposes its tenet and people have to follow it. without oppugning. This use of thoughts is profoundly criticized by modernists. because it contradicts the autonomy and the power of creative activity. In fact non merely the faith is censured by the modernism. but as it was said before. every individual that doesn’t have his/her ain thoughts and accept sentiments and discourses pre-constructed by pe rson else.

Sunday, December 1, 2019

Nike Advertising Essays - Financial Ratios, Business, Economy

Nike Advertising Nike Financial Analysis Investing in a company has certainly changed over the years. Financial information is literally at one?s fingertips via the internet. In today?s fast paced corporate environment companies are under tremendous scrutiny to maintain their edge. The company I am evaluating is NIKE. This Financial analysis will consist of the following: Ratios from the Income Statement, Statement of Owner?s Equity, and Balance Sheet. This information is designed to assist a potential investor. Nike?s mission is complex. Listed below is a copy of Nike?s company philosophy. Company Philosophy: WE ARE ABOUT DREAMS. Nike was, is, and will always be a company driven by certain key philosophies. What are they? First and foremost, we are a company dedicated to innovation and the passion to create great product. From Bowerman's Waffle Trainer to the Tour Accuracy golf ball, we make every effort to take consumers where they want to go before they realize they want to go there. WE ARE ABOUT THE CONSUMER. The consumer rules the roost. They make the important decisions. I answer to them, as we all do. The opinions of Wall Street analysts and media pundits are really just derivatives of our relationship with our consumers. When the young at heart seek out our products, when they respond to our messages and believe in what we stand for, when our relationship with consumers is healthy, that's when we grow. Even so, gaining true understanding of our consumers, and thereby being able to deliver meaningful innovation to them, is a huge challenge. It's not the demographics that change; it's the deliverables. Ours is a constantly moving target. Technology continues to increase the pace and volume of options in all of our lives. WE ARE ABOUT IRREVERENCE. We are about irreverence. The great thing about Nike is that we have the ability to laugh at ourselves, to ind the humor in what we are doing, to compete aggressively but also to have fun. It shows in our best advertising, from M ars Blackmon to Andre Agassi. Irreverence has always been a core part of our culture. It is, for us, the balance between our attempt at greatness and the risk of arrogance. We mix confidence and strength with the humility to look at ourselves in the mirror and say, we can do better. WE ARE ABOUT WINNING AND COMPETING HARD. We invent markets and new ways to compete. We have withstood every challenge that has come our way. Winning starts with taking care of business at home and then looking for new challenges. We are doing both. WE ARE ABOUT CHANGE. Over the past twenty-five years we have had to reinvent ourselves many times. The first surge was with the Waffle Trainer and the running craze. When that slowed, we thought we ran out of market. We had another surge with basketball behind Michael Jordan, and cross-training with Bo Jackson. Then again, we Thought our growth was dead. Another surge came in 1995, when Nike became fashionable and athletic urban wear became king. But,that too ended in early 1998, as did the health of the Asian economy. There we were, with an over-extended brand. Each time we reinvented our company. In 1995, when we reached $3 billion in sales, we said $5 billion was the absolute limit. Three years later we were closing in on $10 billion. Each time we did succeed it was due, in part, to our fear of failure, which drove us harder and faster. Each time, however, it has gotten harder. We have covered more of the market, and now the targets seem smaller and more numerous. We have stretched our Nike brand quite far. Some say too far. Others say it still has more reach to go. What is clear to me now is that the market has changed. We have new competitors and, as before, we need to adjust. We need to expand our connection to new categories and toward new consumers. WE ARE ABOUT SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. You have all read the press and seen the media regarding Nike's labor practices. The reality is, we have set the highest standards of conduct and p ractices in the industry. We have the responsibility to let the

Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Chance As A Concept Throughout Literature †English Essay

Chance As A Concept Throughout Literature – English Essay Free Online Research Papers Chance As A Concept Throughout Literature English Essay Chance (or coincidence) has an ambiguous role in the outcome of different situations; it can work in or against one’s favour. As in real life, chance in literature has considerable influence on the circumstances of the characters and where those circumstances lead. In two particular literary works, Roman Fever and A Small, Good Thing, chance happenings have grave results on the lives of the characters concerned. In Roman Fever, old friends meet by chance and reveal disturbing secrets about the past; while in A Small, Good Thing a boy is injured on his birthday placing his parents in a desperate situation. Although chance generally seems to go unnoticed- a spontaneous purchase of candles, followed by a power failure- the impact it makes is often not so subtle. Edith Wharton, author of Roman Fever, depicts two upper class women friends; one, Mrs. Slade, fiercely jealous of the other and the other, Mrs. Ansley, pitiful of her childhood friend. The depiction is real in that it epitomizes the American upper class wife- responsibilities include making the husband happy and entertaining his guests; a typical day may consists of shopping, lunch and the exchange of rumours with the other wives of other rich husbands; in essence, they waste away the time until the rich husband arrives home from work or until he makes a request. Mrs. Slade, in reflection, felt â€Å"a certain conjugal pride† about being such a wife (Wharton, 84). The most prominent aspect of such individuals presented by Wharton is the limit in which they will endeavour to undermine even a supposed friend to achieve an end, generally the richest husband. And, of course, with such rules of play, one needs all the luck the stars can afford. Mrs. Grace Ansley and Mrs. Alida Slade, both widowed, who had met as young girls in Rome, were now, in the very spot they had met as girls, lunching together. The two old friends had not seen each other in years, but met again in a hotel in Rome where they were both vacationing with their respective daughters. Naturally, it seems, the two daughters develop a friendship. Such occurrences would otherwise be unfathomable if it was not for the precise meaning of chance; the unpredictable element in happenings that cannot be assigned a cause (Hougton Mifflin, 2000). Chance provides an understanding, not an explanation, and, hence, an acceptance of such occurrences. The chance meeting of these two old friends sets the stage for the revelation of secrets that were also influenced by the unexpected. Knowing that Grace had romantic interest in her then fiancà ©, Mr. Delphin Slade, Alida writes a letter posing as Delphin inviting Grace to meet him after dark in the Coloseum. Alida had simply intended for her dear friend Grace to catch the roman fever and disappear for a few weeks until â€Å"[she] was sure of [Delphin],† (Wharton, 91). However, it was also revealed that the unexpected happened and Grace replied to the letter saying she would be there. Thus, Delphin arranged for the meeting to take place. Whether irony or bad luck, Mrs. Slade had blindly provided her fiancà © with the opportunity to have an affair, one he gratefully accepted. If Grace had not replied to the letter, if, in fact, Alida had considered the possibility of her friend replying to the letter, then the meeting would never have happened, and, as was revealed, Mrs. Ansley would not have given birth to her present daughter because it was Mr. Slade who impregnated her, not Mr. Ansley. Still, it i s difficult to place all this on one single factor, as it is in all cases of chance. It could also be argued that perhaps if Mrs. Slade was not so fiercely guarded against her friend then she would not have been driven to compose such a letter. Chance simply plays too big a role to be quantified. Nonetheless, even the setting in which the friends presently find themselves is coincidental: both share fond memories of the same event that occurred in the Colosseum, but each memory is of an entirely different genre. While Mrs. Ansley looks back at it fondly as the place she courted the man she loved, Mrs. Slade looks at it laughably; seeing her friend waiting out in the cold for a love that never arrived. Both these views are unexpectedly shattered by the revelations the characters make: Mrs. Ansley discovers that the one true memory she held of her love does not exist and, so, she does not know if he truly loved her, for it was not Delphin who wrote the letter; Mrs. Slade discovers that the satisfaction she’s felt in winning Mr. Slade and finally beating Grace was all but a fantasy, for not only did her fiancà © meet her friend that night, he also gave her a beautiful daughter, Barbara (Wharton, 93). Further to this, the terrace where they stand reminiscing also happened to be the place where the two met as young girls. As Mrs. Slade commented, â€Å"It’s a view they’ve both been familiar with for a good many years† (Wharton, 82). Thus, it seemed a mutual setting for the two to not only to clear their consciences, but to see each other in the way they should have so many years before. So, in this way the ending seems just. For perhaps if they had really known each other as young girls there never would have been an attempt at friendship, thus, it would have ended right then and there. Instead, here the two were years after, ending it where it started and where it should have ended long ago. Indeed, chance cannot be quantified. In another effect of chance, Raymond Carver, author of A Small, Good Thing, details the dramatic turn of two very different lives when an eight year old boy, Scotty, is hit by a car on his way to school on his birthday. One life affected, of course, is that of the parents, but the other is that of a baker, generally unaffected by the goings and comings of his customers, but in this instance, he was chosen to bake the cake for Scotty. And so it began. While in the hospital waiting for their son to awake, it is decided that Howard will go home to shower and rest. While at home Howard receives a phone call regarding a cake that was not picked up, â€Å"A sixteen-dollar cake† to be precise (Carver, 307). Confused, Howard hangs up the phone. Later, after his return to the hospital, he tells Ann about the call (Ann had been the one who ordered the cake), but he neglected to mention that the caller had asked about a cake, instead he told her it was just someone with nothing else better to do (Carver, 307). It is this chance miscommunication that leads to the subsequent phone calls from, what appeared to be, someone evil. Had Howard mentioned that the caller asked about a cake, Ann would have most likely realized that it was the old baker. Thus, avoiding the future disturbing phone calls and the angry visit they made to see the baker. After being reassured by Dr. Francis- a stereotypical rich, handsome doctor- that there was still hope and that all the tests were negative, Ann decided to go home. On her way out, she is unable to find the elevator and encounters a family in the waiting room. The father explained that his son, Franklin, had been stabbed and was in surgery and Ann explained her son had been hit by a car. The accidental encounter with this family allowed Ann to see that she was neither alone in circumstance or in pain. Short thereafter, the death of Franklin enabled her to infer and prepare for the possibilities with her own son. Fittingly, after returning to her child, Scotty awakes briefly and then dies. What he dies of Dr. Francis called a â€Å"hidden occlusion†¦a one in-a-million circumstance† (Carver, 319). Perhaps it was hatched by the hit-and-run driver to seek out and run down a boy named Scotty on his eighth birthday and inflict the rare circumstance of a hidden occlusion, whereby he would die only after both his parents were at his side. Otherwise, chance can be credited. But, what of the seemingly dispassionate baker only concerned with collecting his sixteen dollars. Of all the bakers in town, Ann chooses this one. Surely if she had any indication of this man’s nature she would have sought out another. But, this decision, though haunting at first, turns out to be a beneficial one. From this seemingly evil man they receive the honest compassion they sought in Dr. Francis. Dr. Francis had continued with his false reassurances almost up to the very moment of Scotty’s death, creating false hope in Howard and Ann. But, the baker did not create any kind of faà §ade; he admitted his mistake after learning of their loss, apologized emphatically, and then gave them something to eat. Ann’s chance selection not only benefited her and Howard in the end, it also advantaged the baker; an otherwise lonely man was given the opportunity to disclose his story. Essentially, the baker and the parents were able to fulfill each other’s longing for understanding and comfort. Thus, had Howard mentioned to Ann from the first phone call that the man was talking about a cake, this opportunity may have been missed. Yet, it is perhaps chance insincerity that has the most influence on the lives of the characters. Ultimately, it provided the parents and the baker the opportunity to speak. After all, if the baker was in fact sociably mannered, he would not have conducted himself in such a way on the phone; in other words, he may have been able to communicate himself effectively without upsetting the parents. But, had that happened, the visit from the parents would not have been necessary. Similarly, had the driver of the car stopped after hitting the boy or had he called an ambulance, Scotty’s life may have been saved. This is particularly noteworthy because normal protocols in such a severe situation were ignored by the driver. Further to that, had the doctor been more straightforward with the parents, the trauma may have been lessoned or more might have been undertaken to save Scotty. All in all, the deviation from standard courtesy contributed to the state of Ann’s and Howar d’s life, as well as to the lonely baker’s. The outcome in each of the above stories is one that begins with a chance occurrence. Chance seems to create a kind of chain reaction that slowly winds its way to a conclusion which leads to another conclusion; whether good or bad depends heavily on luck. In the case of Roman Fever, it seemed to have played an equally destructive role in the lives of Mrs. Ansley and Mrs. Slade. But in A Small, Good Thing, while its effects were tragic; it also had a few positive implications. However, the same aspect of chance holds true in both cases: though its effects rarely go unnoticed, its role in events almost always do. If it were at all anticipatory Alida would have pondered the possibility of Grace responding to the letter and Ann would have dropped her son at school that day. Indeed, if chance were predictable it would loose its very nature; its swaying force would be futile and life would go on otherwise unruffled. Carver, Raymond. â€Å"A Small, Good Thing.† A Pocket Anthology: Third Ed. R.S. Gwynn. New York: Longman, 2002. 304-326. â€Å"Chance.† The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Ed. Houghton Mifflin Company, 2000. www.atomica.com. Wharton, Edith. â€Å"Roman Fever.† A Pocket Anthology: Third Ed. 81-93. Research Papers on Chance As A Concept Throughout Literature - English EssayStandardized TestingMind TravelHip-Hop is ArtHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionThe Fifth HorsemanLifes What IfsComparison: Letter from Birmingham and CritoPersonal Experience with Teen PregnancyCapital PunishmentWhere Wild and West Meet

Saturday, November 23, 2019

The Many Feminist Themes in Black Swan

The Many Feminist Themes in 'Black Swan' To call Darren Aronofskys Black Swan a chick flick might be a misnomer, but  the film  confronts nearly every significant issue facing girls and women today in a way that few mainstream films dare. The storys simplicity (an up-and-coming ballet dancer earns the coveted main role of White Swan/Black Swan in a production of Swan Lake) belies whats really going on: an internal/external struggle that touches on the duality of womens lives and asks what were willing to sacrifice to achieve success. Plot Summary Nina Sayres (Natalie Portman) is a 20-something ballerina in a famous New York City company. She displays tremendous skill but almost none of the fiery passion that could elevate her from the corps de ballet to a featured dancer role. As the audience soon learns, she is controlled to a disturbing degree. Despite the glamor of her profession, she does little more than shuttle back and forth between home and work. Home is an apartment shared with her mother Erica (Barbara Hershey). The warren-like environment, with its dark halls and various closed doors, suggests repression, hidden secrets, and sealed-off emotions. Her bedroom is little-girl pink and chock full of stuffed animals. This speaks to her arrested development better than any narrative could, and her wardrobe of white, cream, pink, and other pale shades emphasizes her passive, unassuming personality. An opportunity to break out of the pack and become a principal dancer arises when the company decides to perform Swan Lake. The leading role of the White Swan/Black Swan is a part Nina - like every other ballet dancer before her - has dreamed of performing all her life. Although its clear she has the skill and grace to play the innocent, virginal, and pure White Swan, its doubtful she can embody the dark deception and commanding sexuality of the Black Swan - or so the companys demanding artistic director Thomas (Vincent Cassel) believes until a heretofore unforeseen act on the part of Nina abruptly changes his mind. When newcomer Lily (Mila Kunis) barges into the dance studio and interrupts Ninas audition for Thomas at a crucial point, a triangle is established between the three that involves lust, passion, competition, manipulation, seduction, and possibly murder. Adding to the drama, Thomas turns the introduction of Nina as the new principal dancer into an opportunity to kick Beth (Winona Ryder), the companys aging star, out the door by announcing her retirement. Characters and Relationships Its a perfect setup for director Aronofsky to weave various themes into the film, including the nature of female friendship and competition, the mother/daughter relationship, sexual harassment, lesbian relationships, the transition from girlhood to womanhood, the pursuit of perfection, aging and women, and female self-hatred. Each relationship Nina is engaged in - with her mother, with Lily, with Thomas, and with Beth - mines these themes at several levels and twists the perspectives so completely its not clear whats real and whats imagined. In Erica, we see a mother who appears supportive but later reveals her animosity toward her daughter. Erica alternately cheers on Nina and attempts to sabotage her. She lives vicariously through Nina while resenting her achievements. She pushes Nina forward, even as she continually infantilizes her now-adult child. In Lily, we see a friendship thats both liberating and destructive and an attraction that may be purely platonic or steeped in sexual overtones. Is Nina attracted to Lily because she admires the other dancers wild child lifestyle and passion over perfection? Or is she afraid that Lily will supplant Nina in the company as Nina has supplanted Beth? Does Nina want to be Lily? Or does Lily represent what Nina would be like if she embraced both light and dark aspects of herself? In Thomas, we see various facets: the positive mentor who believes Nina can outshine even Beth in the role, the ruthless artistic director bent on breaking Nina and molding her into what he wants, the sexual predator who harasses and seduces women to dominate and emotionally control them, and the manipulative boss who sees what his subordinates are up to - yet turns a blind eye. In Beth, we see Ninas fascination with the companys fading female star played out against the backdrop of societys disdain for aging females. Eager to emulate Beth and feel what its like to be in her shoes, Nina steals her lipstick, an act which foreshadows Nina stealing her role and her power. Ninas guilt over assuming the mantle of female power in the company and her constant feelings of inadequacy build until they erupt in an unnerving hospital scene that is rife with self-loathing and self-hatred. But is  it Beths actions or Ninas deep-seated feelings we witness on screen? Good Girl/Bad Girl Themes in Black Swan Underlying these themes is the idea of perfection at any cost and the good girl/bad girl tug-of-war. Its a seesaw of wills that knocks Nina off-balance mentally, if not physically. The audience sees Nina physically mutilate herself, a cinematic echo of the real-world issue of cutting. This is a self-destructive behavior many females turn to in order to release feelings of pain, fear, and emptiness. The simple donning of a black camisole - the apotheosis of the transition from innocent to worldly - initiates Nina into a world where drinking, drugging, and hooking up with either sex is no big deal. And when Nina literally has to fight herself to play the Black Swan with conviction and passion, we see how great a sacrifice one woman is willing to make to achieve perfection. Black Swan or White Swan? The films trailer makes no bones about the fact that Nina goes mad as she immerses herself in the role of a lifetime. Its a dark Gothic tale of suppression, betrayal, desire, guilt, and achievement. But at some level, it also addresses how women fear their own power and abilities, believing that if they fully exercise both, they risk obliterating and destroying those around them - including themselves. Can women still be good and kind and be successful, or must women always morph into those despised and hated Black Swans when they fiercely go after what they want? And can women live - or live with themselves - after that pinnacle is achieved?

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Art black market (Iraq war missing art work) Term Paper

Art black market (Iraq war missing art work) - Term Paper Example however, this was later found. There was also an Assyrian headboard in the 900 BC which was specifically ivory headboard and was later recovered by the Jordanian officials in the custom department when it was stolen from the museum into the black market. The existence of the art work of in the museum of Iraq lead into more loses. Some additional missing artwork in Iraq was Bassetki statue. This statue was for a sitting nude male figure created in the period of 2300 BC.1 This sculpture was an artistic work which could be used by the Iranians to enhance the skills of art work. It was majorly suspected by the officials that these artifacts were taken out by foreigners who came into Iraq. Another lost art work in the museum was Sacred Vase of Warka. It existed from 3200 BC. The lost art work was very significant in the prehistoric artistic nature of the Iraq. Investigations by both Iraq and US investigators ensured that they brought back the lost art work in the Museum.2 With respect to the events, it facilitated siphoning of the art works outside Iraq. There are several art works that are still missing to date in the black market. One of the most prominent art works was Lagash statue, a headless limestone inscribed statue of Fanatum in the years dating to 2450 BC. The war facilitated stealing of many artistic works in nature because of the confusion during the time hence there was search for these items later after the war as hatched by the Iraq government. In 800 BC, there was also Nimrud lioness made up of ivory that was taken away from the museum.3 This was one of the pre historical art works in Iraq that had been taken away during the war by the soldiers and other foreigners. In the Babylonian empires, there were cuneiform bricks which were the nine royal bricks for inscription that originated from Sumerian. The bricks were beautifully made and they reflected the most artistic work of the Iraq. They were stolen during the war but later they