Monday, September 30, 2019

How Has Globalization Shaped Your Community Essay

The term â€Å"globalization† is a complex concept to define in a single, precise statement as one might find in a dictionary. Although the phenomenon has many facets, it is generally described as the trend whereby countries, on a global scale join socially, politically and economically. This process is facilitated in many ways, like through public and private sector decisions, education and by the ever increasing rate of information transfer via the Internet and social media, which has been a major catalyst in contemporary politics. An example of this would be the ways in which the social media has facilitated the Arab Spring revolutions, as individuals see themselves increasingly as part of the larger picture; as citizens in the global scheme. Globalization is said to bring people of all nations closer together, especially through a common medium like the Internet, and through the common mechanism of economics. Growing up in one of Brooklyn’s most iconic religious communities, I have experienced the many changes to its population and commercialism as it has â€Å"evolved† due to globalization. I have seen the resistance to this change as well, which may be typical of areas where the majority are conservative, religious men and women. However, as all communities eventually yield somewhat to the changing political and social landscape, I have noticed the ways in which Crown Heights Brooklyn has also gave way to the phenomenon of globalization. From a lifelong perspective on my particular block, I have see the changes in the ways my neighbors and I shop, how we interact, and the effects of this change on the community. In particular, I’ve notice mass merchants opening up around my neighborhood. Neighborhoods comprised of a dominant ethnicity or religious majority tend to favor the â€Å"mom and pop† version of food markets, pharmacies, as well as locally owned day cares, schools, banks and other institutions. It is therefore interesting to watch the process of globalization gradually change my community in similar ways it has changed other secular neighborhood. Particularly notable is how the the local hardware store (where we went to buy our batteries and Walkmans) was replaced by a home depot, and the Jewish operated kosher markets give way to (still Kosher) super-centers. Additionally, in the generation of my youth prior to the technological revolution, the idea of a cell phone for every able bodied adult a nd teen was as foreign as the notion of a flying car, Let alone the use of the Internet for recurrent ordering of good and service. Before everyone was on board with â€Å"America Online† and learning the ins-and-outs of the Internet in the 1900’s, the community of Crown Heights had almost blatantly-defined boundaries, and consumers rarely, if ever traversed these invisible lines for their consumer needs- they had no need for Kosher food, or religious materials or traditional Jewish food. In one article, Mele makes an analogy using the Lower east side of New York City to describe the visceral effects of globalization on the urban life (5), explaining the ways big business has reinvented and marginalized the â€Å"local character† of these neighborhoods. When big companies seek to get bigger by opening chains in small religious neighborhoods, the negatives are the same as when they open in secular locales, such as the Lower East side of the New York City- the negatives are blatant. The anti-globalization arguments are also the same region to region; that is, the fear of mistreatment to workers and low wages for them to bring home (Clawson 1) among other things. With respect to my neighborhood, I can recall discussions by a few Rabbi’s about ways to slow or ameliorate such ills of the global market sprawl. But the sprawling of global living is inevitable, and as conservative a community may be, we should look for ways to live with the effects of globalization. We should strive to maximize the advantages while minimizing the harms. I will not claim that this trend in my neighborhood has lacked any appeal or advantage. Price and convenience of products are changing for the better, as we are able to obtain goods and services from the far reaches of the world by a click of a button, a phone call or a trip to your mass retailer. These large businesses offer delivery, savings selection and convenience often not affordable to the mom and pop store. The local butcher, local grocers and authentic, traditional bakeries in my neighborhood were replaced by large supermarkets promoting deep discounts and convenience of â€Å"one stop shopping.† According to recent research, Zhu, Singh and Dukes argue that some stores located near these larger enterprises performed better than those located miles away or more (3). Still, one can not ignore that In a society which is fast paced, local community economies are suffering greatly. The availability of goods and services may be more prolific than ever, but the quality leaves much to be remembered, as I do from the time of my childhood. The citizens of Crown Heights have learned to adapt to change, yet they may be powerless after all. Globalization means you aren’t just competing against the store across the street, but rather someone in another town or other nation, one quite possibly with a lower labor rate, cheaper raw materials and cheaper overhead. In a world like this, how can the small guys survive? Actually, there have been many suggestions for local sustainability put forth by both the merchants and the consumer culture. The government has attempted tariffs and legislations to promote local industry, and there are myriad anti-globalization organizations such as environmental groups like Greenpeace, and international groups like Oxfam (â€Å"Globalization† 1) However, experience from my community suggests that it is not government agenda, but community action that will bring forth the best long term changes. Studies often result in competing and/or mixed results and conclusions, but it is clear that Crown heights has changed for the worse in many ways due to globalization. For that reason it is logical to site academic studies to explain the causes and cures to this downside of global markets. Conventional wisdom and research may suggest that when large â€Å"Wall-Mart’s† open in a community, local businesses suffer for it. This model may also explain what is going on in Crown Heights- the total drawbacks of globalization outweigh any benefits. The negative impacts of the giant Wall-Mart is often used (perhaps correctly) to generalize the ills of the globalization. One recent study analyzed them once again, making use of national data, finding that the opening of a Wall-Mart reduces local-level (county) retail employment by 150 jobs. Because Wal-Mart stores employ an average of 360 workers, this suggests that for every new retail job created by Wal-Mart, 1.4 jobs are lost as existing businesses downsize or close. The study also found that the arrival of a Wall-Mart store reduces total county-wide retail payroll by an average of about $1.2 million (Flandez 1) So it would seem that local ownership is vital to the livelihood of a community, as well as the survival of the community’s traditions and to prevent global homogenization of consumer products and services. The obvious question for a member of a local community, concerns how to take back the consumer market. Perhaps local supermarkets can offer more comprehensive and effective promotional material or increase the scope of product being sold. A community member can do his or her part by buying from the local Farmers Market. This action has been proven to help local economies, and it is also currently trendy to be a devout â€Å"locavore† in certain places in New York City. The fact that farmers are selling direct to the most proximal residents means revenue stays within the community. Even if every need cannot be fulfilled from a local market, each local purchase has an incremental impact; and, when applied by the masses, grows exponentially. By supporting local food, Tierney (1) points out some benefits to the local community: one does not support shopping malls, chains, and the roads and infrastructure needed to nourish them. Instead, one supports farms, and the natural habitat that comes with them. This is a positive from a conservationist perspective. Lastly, but by far of least importance, is that locally grown food is fresher, and more flavorful. If the model of the farmer’s market can be applied to any other commercial product, it should; and other forms of push-back by consumer behavior modification such as this should be used to enhance the benefits of local markets on their respective communities. The fact that these markets are growing independent of government influence is a sign that people do value their small community enterprises. Every aspiring entrepreneur has big dreams. Many have small budgets, though, and globalization processes have led to the suppression and elimination of these entrepreneurial types to actualize their dreams and help the communities and maintain the cultures they were born into. Globalization has changed the look and feel of my community, as well as the very physical and social definition and boundaries of my community. A visitor in Crown Heights today, taking a stroll down the street intent on some consumer purchase, may have come from much further away compared to decades past. Hopefully, this consumer will consider the affect of his or her dollar on the local economy and chose wisely about where to spend it. Many times one will find that buying a product which is â€Å"grown locally† won’t cost you more than the alternative; and even if it it does, your purchase helps future generations of your community. Even in the slow-changing conservative religious community of my youth, commercial globalization takes a toll on the local economy and eventually effects traditional values, yet we still have choice as a community about where we shop. It is my hope that the small budget entrepreneur of today’s market will make a comeback in my neighborhood! Sources Clawson, Julie. â€Å"Globalization and Consumerism.† Onehandclapping: incantations at the edge of uncertainty. Julie Clawson, 20 Nov 2008. Web. Web. 28 Feb 2013. Flandez, Raymund. â€Å"What Can You Do to Fight Wall-Mart.† Wall Street Journal. 20 Mar 2009: n. page. Web. 30 Jan. 2013. Marco Lauteri, et al. â€Å"Combining Demographic And Land-Use Dynamics With Local Communities perceptions For Analyzing Socio-Ecological Systems: A Case Study In A Mountain Area Of Italy.† Iforest – Biogeosciences & Forestry 5.3 (2012): 1-8. Academic Search Complete. Web. 23 Jan. 2013. Tierney, John. â€Å"Fresh and Direct From the Garden an Ocean Away.† New York Times. 30 Aug 2011: n. page. Web. 30 Jan. 2013. Zhu, Ting, Vishal Singh, and Anthony Dukes. â€Å"Local Competition, Entry, And Agglomeration.† Quantitative Marketing & Economics 9.2 (2011): 129-154. Business Source Complete. Web. 29 Jan. 2013.

Sunday, September 29, 2019

Diagnostic Urinalysis Lab Essay

Introduction/Background Today’s lab exercise is about diagnostic Urinalysis. Urine reflects the many chemical components found in blood. This test is a good measure of health of endocrine system, kidneys, and urinary tract. Artificial urine samples are used for today’s lab thank goodness. The test that this lab is mostly focused on is called â€Å"dipstick† urinalysis test where students will analyze the chemical composition of urine by dipping the chemical indicator stick or â€Å"dispstick† into a sample of urine. The chemicals in the pad of the indicator stick will react with various biochemicals, ions and salts found in urine and indicate the presence of hemoglobin, glucose, ketones, protein and specific gravity. The change in color indicates the quantity and presence of particular urine component. High level of glucose indicates the endocrine system’s inability to regulate sugar concentration. Dilute urine indicates the adrenal gland defect that prevents kidney from r egulating water and salt levels. Urine containing blood and protein indicates damage to a Kidney’s blood filtering system. Hypothesis: No hypothesis is necessary as this lab is an observational lab Objectives: The objective of today’s lab is to learn and understand diagnostic urinalysis. The focus of today’s lab is geared more towards dipstick analysis. Students are to complete the chart, answer all associated questions, and include references. Students will learn the importance of urine and the various diseases/problems that can be diagnosed using it. Students will diagnose the unknown samples of â€Å"Jane and John†. Materials: 1. Acetoacetic acid 2. Creatinine 3. Urine test strips – multisticks that can measure blood, glucose, ketones, pH and protein are required and should be also able to measure specific gravity – are needed. Brand recommended is Clinistick TM . 4. Five test tubes per group Procedure 1 (Calibration) Calibration This is to ensure that the data collected from the patient is accurate. You will be provided with the positive and negative standard solution. The Positive Standard determines whether the indicator determines the correct response to presence of chemicals in the urine. A false positive when using water will indicate that the â€Å"stick† is detecting substances that are not there. A false negative indicates that the stick is unable to detect the presence of substances that are present in the sample. 1. Obtain the negative and positive standard bottles. Note the color on the indicator stick prior to start of experiment. 2. Collect 2 tubes and label as â€Å"neg† and â€Å"pos† for negative and positive standard solution. 3. Pour  ¾ full of the tube with â€Å"neg† solutions in the tube labeled â€Å"neg.† 4. Pour  ¾ full of the tube with â€Å"pos† solutions in the tube labeled â€Å"pos.† 5. Insert the indicator stick in the tube la beled â€Å"neg.† Observe the color and odor of the solution. 6. Insert the indicator stick in the tube labeled â€Å"pos.† Observe the color and odor of the solution. 7. Record your data in the table as â€Å"+† or â€Å" –â€Å" to indicate positive or negative result. Procedure 2 (analysis of samples) Obtain a set of the urine samples to analyze. 1. Collect and label three tubes as normal (N), John , and Jane. 2. Pour Normal urine sample  ¾ full of the tube labeled N 3. Pour John’s urine sample  ¾ full of the tube labeled John 4. Pour Jane’s urine sample  ¾ full of the tube labeled Jane 5. Insert the indicator stick in the tube labeled N. Observe the color and odor of the solution. 6. Record the data 7. Perform the same test on the samples labeled John and Jane using new sticks and record your observation in the table provided above. Please refer to the attachment for interpretation of Urinalysis results. If not provided please ask your Instructor for the same. Discussion: This lab discussed urinalysis. Urinalysis is a diagnostic test that evaluates health of endocrine system, kidneys, and urinary tract. Urine can be visually examined sample for color (clear to dark yellow or red), and clarity (clear to cloudy), and odor. A complete diagnostic urinalysis includes a dipstick evaluation and a microscopic analysis. Dipstick evaluation includes parameters such as glucose, ketones, pH, protein, blood, bilirubin, etc. The microscopic visualization allows for detection of bacteria (UTI), RBCs, crystals (metabolic derangements), renal tubular cells (toxicity or severe renal disease), or transitional cells (from bladder). Acid urine and alkaline urine have crystals that form different from that of normal urine. Some terms that the students learned were glycosuria-excess glucose levels, hematuria-RBCs present in urine, hemaglobinuria-hemoglobin pigment is present in urine, ketonuria-high levels of ketones, myoglobinuria-high levels of myglobin (pigments that are released when muscles breakdown), and pH-measure acidity or alkalinity of urine. In order to be certain that values are correct, known negative and positive standards are used to compare with the clinical sample. This process is called calibration. Calibration should be done for all diagnostic tests and the equipment used to make these determinations. Calibration is necessary to avoid false negative and false positives. A false positive when using water will indicate that the â€Å"stick† is detecting substances that are not there. A  false negative indicates that the stick is unable to detect the presence of substances that are present in the sample. Conclusion: In conclusion, students successfully performed a urinalysis dipstick test. The lab had students test the negative and positive tests, and then the James and Jane urine samples were tested. John’s urine was clear and tested negative for protein, which indicated it was normal. The pee was slightly turbid. The urine had a strong odor and a specific gravity of 1.005, which is lower than normal urine. The pH of John’s pee is 5 and the glucose was extremely high with 1000mg, tested with small (+) amounts of ketones and also showed trace amounts of blood. Jane’s urine was a very light yellow with a very faint odor, tested negative for ketones, tested negative for proteins, had a pH of 6, and had a specific gravity of 1.015. The glucose was extremely high with 1000mg. Jane also showed About 250 Ery/nanoliters of blood in her urine. The protein portion of the dipstick tested for 100 (++) in Jane’s urine sample. Students learned different types of disease that could be associated with the test results that were discovered with the dipstick. Lab Questions: 1. What are the possible causes of John’s test results? John’s urine was clear and tested negative for protein, which indicated it was normal. The pee was slightly turbid which could be caused by Lipiduria, hyperoxaluria, chyluria, pyuria, excess phosphate crystals precipitating in alkaline urine, hyperuricosuria, or contamination with vaginal mucus or epithelial cells. The urine had a strong odor which could indicate alkaline fermentation, diabetic ketoacidosis, cysteine decomposition, gastrointestinal-bladder fistulae, or could be caused by medications or diet. John’s urine was observed to have a specific gravity of 1.005, which is lower than normal urine. Decreased specific gravity is seen in excessive fluid intake, renal failure, pyelonephritis, and central and nephrogenic diabetes insipidus. False low readings of specific gravity are associated with alkaline urine (a high-citrate diet). The pH of John’s pee is 5, which is considered to be within the normal range, but it is on the lower end which could be caused by diet and uric acid calculi. The glucose was extremely high with 1000mg, which is extremely strange due to that fact that  nearly all glucose filtered by the glomeruli is reabsorbed in the proximal tubules and only undetectable amounts appear in urine in healthy patients. False positive results are seen when high levels of ketones are present and also in patient taking levodopa. Something to remember about dipstick tests is that reagent strip tests are specific for glucose. John’s sample tested with small (+) amounts of ketones. A positive test, since ketones are not normally found in urine, is associated with uncontrolled diabetes, pregnancy without diabetes, carbohydrate-free diets, and starvation. False trace results may be seen in highly pigmented urine and in patiens taking levodopa. John’s urine also showed trace amounts of blood. 2. Of the diseases mentioned, what disease might John have? Of the diseases mentioned, it is believed that John might have either diabetes mellitus or a renal impairment. 3. How did you come to this conclusion about John’s condition? The conclusion was made that John might have diabetes mellitus, due to the high levels of glucose, slightly lower pH, and traces of ketones. The decreased level of specific gravity, and traces of blood lead to the belief that John may have a renal impairment. 4. What are the possible causes of Jane’s test results? Jane’s urine was a very light yellow with a very faint odor, tested negative for ketones, tested negative for proteins, had a pH of 6, and had a specific gravity of 1.015. All of these characteristics do not indicate abnormalities with Jane’s pee. The glucose was extremely high with 1000mg. False positive results are seen when high levels of ketones are present and also in patient taking levodopa. Something to remember about dipstick tests is that reagent strip tests are specific for glucose. Jane also showed About 250 Ery/nanoliters of blood in her urine. This could indicate lower urinary tract bleeding and inflammation/infection, acute glomerulonephritis, or lupus nephritis. The protein portion of the dipstick tested for 100 (++) in Jane’s urine sample. Proteinuria is indicative of renal disease, and small amounts accompany hematuria and acute urinary tract infection. 5. Of the diseases mentioned, what disease might Jane have? Of the diseases mentioned, Jane might have an acute urinary tract  infection/inflammation, or renal disease. 6. How did you come to this conclusion about Jane’s condition? The conclusion about renal disease is because proteinuria is indicative of renal disease. Jane might instead have an acute urinary tract infection/inflammation due to not only the protein in her urine but also the blood in the urine. 7. Why is Urine useful as an indicator of the endocrine and kidney disease? Urine is as an indicator of the endocrine and kidney disease because through its protein, pH, glucose, ketones, specific gravity, and blood that can possibly be found, physicians can diagnose disease. Urine indicates diseases with the kidney because the kidney is what filters out the body fluids that become the urine. 8. What is the laboratory procedure that can be used to test the presence of certain specific biochemicals in urine? The laboratory procedures that can be used to test the presence of certain specific biochemical in urine could be microscopic analysis, or even a urine electrophoresis test 9. Which blood chemical will be found in high levels in patients diagnosed with untreated diabetes mellitus? The chemical that will be found in high levels in the blood of patients diagnosed with untreated diabetes mellitus would be glucose. 10. How does odor help in diagnosis of disease? Odor of urine helps in diagnosing disease by merely alerting the patient that something is wrong. Because urine doesn’t have a very strong smell, if a whiff of something is particularly pungent when peeing, it may indicate that the patient could have an infection or urinary stones, which can create an ammonia-like odor. Diabetics might notice that their urine smells sweet because of excess sugar. Alkaline fermentation causes an ammoniacal smell, and patients with diabetic ketoacidosis produce a urine that may have a sweet or fruity odour. Other causes of abnormal odours are cystine decomposition (a sulphuric smell), gastrointestinal-bladder fistulae (a faecal smell), medications (eg, vitamin B6), and diet (eg, asparagus). 11. Define the following terms associated with urinalysis: Glycosuria: Glucose normally is filtered by the glomerulus, but it is almost completely reabsorbed in the proximal tubule. Glycosuria occurs when the filtered load of glucose exceeds the ability of the tubule to reabsorb it (i.e., 180 to 200 mg per dL). Etiologies include diabetes mellitus,  Cushing’s syndrome, liver and pancreatic disease, and Fanconi’s syndrome. Ketonuria: Ketones, products of body fat metabolism, normally are not found in urine. Dipstick reagents detect acetic acid through a reaction with sodium nitroprusside or nitro-ferricyanide and glycine. Ketonuria most commonly is associated with uncontrolled diabetes, but it also can occur during pregnancy, carbohydrate-free diets, and starvation. Hematuria: Hematuria can be glomerular, renal, urologic, and exercise-induced. Urologic causes of hematuria include tumors, calculi, and infections. Urologic hematuria is distinguished from other etiologies by the absence of proteinuria, dysmorphic RBCs, and erythr ocyte casts. Even significant hematuria will not elevate the protein concentration to the 2+ to 3+ range on the dipstick test. (23) Up to 20 percent of patients with gross hematuria have urinary tract malignancy; a full work-up with cystoscopy and upper-tract imaging is indicated in patients with this condition. (24) In patients with asymptomatic microscopic hematuria (without proteinuria or pyuria), 5 to 22 percent have serious urologic disease, and 0.5 to 5 percent have a genitourinary malignancy. pH: Urinary pH can range from 4.5 to 8 but normally is slightly acidic (i.e., 5.5 to 6.5) because of metabolic activity. Ingestion of proteins and acidic fruits (e.g., cranberries) can cause acidic urine, and diets high in citrate can cause alkaline urine. (15-17) Urinary pH generally reflects the serum pH, except in patients with renal tubular acidosis (RTA). The inability to acidify urine to a pH of less than 5.5 despite an overnight fast and administration of an acid load is the hallmark of RTA. In type I (distal) RTA, the serum is acidic but the urine is alkaline, secondary to an inability to secrete protons into the urine. Type II (proximal) RTA is characterized by an inability to reabsorb bicarbonate. This situation initially results in alkaline urine, but as the filtered load of bicarbonate decreases, the urine becomes more acidic. Determination of urinary pH is useful in the diagnosis and management of UTIs and calculi. Alkaline urine in a patient with a UTI suggests the presence of a urea-splitting organism, which may be associated with magnesium-ammonium phosphate crystals and can form staghorn calculi. Uric acid calculi are associated with acidic urine. Hemoglobin: The presence of free hemoglobin in the urine, an abnormal finding, that may make the urine look dark. Hemoglobin in the urine is termed hemoglobinuria. Hemoglobin is  the protein in the red blood cells which carries oxygen from the lungs to the tissues of the body and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs. The iron contained in hemoglobin gives red blood cells their characteristic color. Red blood cells are normally taken out of circulation after approximately 4 months; they are trapped and disassembled in the spleen, bone marrow, and liver. If, however, red cells hemolyze (break down) within the vascular system, the components are set free in the blood stream. Free hemoglobin is bound by haptoglobin (another protein) and reprocessed. But if the level of hemoglobin in the blood rises above the ability of haptoglobin to reclaim it, hemoglobin begins to appear in the urine — there is hemoglobinuria. Hemoglobinuria is a sign of a number of conditions including: acute nephritis, burns, kidney cancer, malaria, sickle cell anemia, a transfusion reaction, tuberculosis of the urinary tract, and many other conditions. References: Benejam R, Narayana AS. Urinalysis: the physician’s responsibility. Am Fam Physician 1985;31:103-11. Brendler, CB. Evaluation of the urologic patient: history, physical exami-nation and urinalysis. In: Campbell MF, Walsh PC. Campbell’s Urology. 7th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders, 1998:144-56. Fogazzi GB, Garigali G. The clinical art and science of urine microscopy. Curr Opin Nephrol Hypertens 2003;12:625- 32. Hanno PM, Wein AJ, Malkowicz SB. Clinical manual of urology. 3d ed. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2001. Kiel DP, Moskowitz MA. The urinalysis: a critical appraisal. Med Clin North Am 1987;71:607-24. Laboratory manual for physiology, 2005. Leman P. Validity of urinalysis and microscopy for detecting urinary tract infection in the emergency department. Eur J Emerg Med 2002;9:141-7. Rabinovitch A. Urinalysis and collection, transportation, and preservation of urine specimens: approved guideline. 2d ed. Wayne, Pa.: National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards, 2001. NCCLS document GP16-A2. Sheets C, Lyman JL. Urinalysis. Emerg Med Clin North Am 1986;4: 263-80. Van Nostrand JD, Junkins AD, Bartholdi RK. Poor predictive ability of urinalysis and microscopic examination to detect urinary tract infection. Am J Clin Pathol 2000;113:709-13.

Saturday, September 28, 2019

Bassanio and Portia in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice

When I met for the first time with Welliam Shakespeare's Venezian merchant Bassanio and Portia Bassanio, he asked his best friend Antonio for money. We learned that Antonio previously borrowed money from Bassanio and that his life was wasted beyond his ability. Bassanio told Antonio: Probably to some extent, Bassanio is using Antonio's money; it is unreasonable for him to seek any further before repaying his previous debt. Portia may be the smartest character on William Shakespeare's Venice Merchant. She gave Bassanio a ring to express their love and told him not to lose it or give up in any circumstances. After that, Possia served as a lawyer and defended friend Bartonnan Antonio. As a payment, Portia (still disguised) asked Bassanio to get a ring. Bassanio gave up. Portia knows what happened, but because Bassanio does not know, this is a dramatic ironic example; Posia accused him not to love her enough later. Love story of William Shakespeare Merchant of Venice The merchant of Veni ce is a game of love and hatred. Since we were introduced to the hero of the drama, the love plot began to develop in Acts 1 and 2. Bassanio is a friend of Antonio, Antonio is a champion of the show. Bassanio is a young man who introduced a childish personality at the beginning of the game. - The beginning of the story is to understand what the earth's life will be like in the next century. The first picture is that a mouse lies on the mountain trash mountain, so eating that person's rotten leg. Then a man decided he had decided to cut his leg to save himself When William Shakespeare wrote a merchant in Venice, he included a female character that influenced the drama. In most Shakespeare plays women have little power and wisdom. But in Venetian merchants Portia is a woman who saves men's life with wisdom and wisdom. Another woman created by Shakespeare has the same quality as Persia, Beutrice of Nothing about from Much Ado. Two women joined the theme of the drama because they were a ble to have love using their wisdom and witty remarks. Since Portia seems to be placed on a pedestal that rarely reaches, women have many similarities and many differences seem inevitable. Bassanio and Portia in William Shakespeares The Merchant of Venice William Shakespeare's Bassanio and Posia's Venetian merchant store In this article I write an article about Bassanio if he thinks he deserves a beautiful, intelligent and skilled Bosnian. Throughout the game, Portia is clearly the most capable and intelligent person ever, she always has a long time in the game. It was quite obvious that when she pretended to act as the judge of the fifth act, it made him remove the very big mess that Antonio made for himself when stupid. It is the same in the game. Portia may be the smartest character on William Shakespeare's Venice Merchant. She gave Bassanio a ring to express their love and told him not to lose it or give up in any circumstances. After that, Possia served as a lawyer and defended friend Bartonnan Antonio. As a payment, Portia (still disguised) asked Bassanio to get a ring. Bassanio gave up. Portia knows what happened, but because Bassanio does not know, this is a dramatic ironic example; Posia accused him not to love her enough lat er. Love story of William Shakespeare Merchant of Venice The merchant of Venice is a game of love and hatred. Since we were introduced to the hero of the drama, the love plot began to develop in Acts 1 and 2. Bassanio is a friend of Antonio, Antonio is a champion of the show. Bassanio is a young man who introduced a childish personality at the beginning of the game. - The beginning of the story is to understand what the earth's life will be like in the next century. The first picture is that a mouse lies on the mountain trash mountain, so eating that person's rotten leg. Then a man decided he had decided to cut his leg to save himself When William Shakespeare wrote a merchant in Venice, he included a female character that influenced the drama. In most Shakespeare plays women have little power and wisdom. But in Venetian merchants Portia is a woman who saves men's life with wisdom and wisdom. Another woman created by Shakespeare has the same quality as Persia, Beutrice of Nothing abo ut from Much Ado. Two women joined the theme of the drama because they were able to have love using their wisdom and witty remarks. Since Portia seems to be placed on a pedestal that rarely reaches, women have many similarities and many differences seem inevitable.

Friday, September 27, 2019

Cleveland Clinic Case Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

Cleveland Clinic Case - Essay Example Such case demands the clinic to improve its hospital-physician relationships. A good hospital-relationship would increase the market share because the physicians are often the source of patient referrals. In addition, physicians have proved their worth in increasing the hospital quality. The physicians are the ones offering the clinic’s services; hence, a good relationship with the clinic would be a quality improvement strategy (Lee, 2013). Beyond improving the clinic’s quality, a good hospital-physician relationship would improve the clinic’s population health management methods. The physicians would offer the insights about the areas of need in the population. In the long run, the image of the clinic would improve, and Cleveland would grow significantly. The clinic has proved its love for technology. Investing in technology has made it easier for Cleveland’s management to connect easily with physicians and the community. Furthermore, the technology would enable the management to seek the necessary data that would improve service delivery. A good technology in healthcare systems is crucial in capturing the correct metrics used in medicine and track the growth progress. Finally, the clinic would grow bigger if it merges with other hospitals and healthcare systems. Mergers and acquisition have been successful in the healthcare system. It would enable Cleveland and other clinics to share their

Thursday, September 26, 2019

Freedom Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 2

Freedom - Essay Example Freedom allows a person to undertake any activity or action that he or she wishes as long as it does not limit or interfere with the freedom of another person. Self-determination is supposed to impact on the decisions that affect only the individual and not others. For example, one has the freedom to swing hand, however, this does not mean crushing another person’s nose in the guise of swinging own hands. In order to utilize freedom effectively, people should be bound by the principles such as self-control. This implies that the person can know the extent and limits of freedom. Overemphasis on freedom can be detrimental to the individual, community or the country at large. Freedom is thus regulated by law since it is sometimes used as justification for illegal activities. There are several types of freedom. Freedom of worship is guaranteed in many countries practicing democracy. This allows individuals to proclaim their religion without fear (Osho 2013). Economic freedom allows people to determine how to do business and who to associate with in business. However, this type of freedom is constrained by geographical locations and political factors. Example, transactions that threaten the security cannot be termed as economic freedom. Political freedom is the liberty to determine individual political affiliation without any coercion. Brett (2008) asserts that an individual can only change his or her political position based on persuasion. Political freedom further implies that a person cannot be punished for his or her political choices.

Critically evaluate the statement that understanding organizational Essay

Critically evaluate the statement that understanding organizational behavior is important to organizational success - Essay Example Indeed, this confirms that there is a link between organizational behavior and the performance and success of an organization, only that its workforce can differentiate the organization. This paper presents a thoughtful discussion to certify the fact that the understanding of organisational behaviour is important to organisational success. Arguably, studying and understanding organizational behavior is very important to be able to analyze the growth and success of any organization. Understanding organizational behavior involves knowing about individuals and human nature. More so, it is necessary to understand organizational behavior since the organizations themselves have members and the factors that affect the organizations have an impact on the people involved also. Actually, the organizational behavior enables individuals to perform tasks assigned to them effectively starting with the management to the employees in order achieve high productivity and success in an organization. Or ganizational behavior is actually one of the approaches of management (Fayyaz et al. 2008, p. 5). Moreover, understanding organizational behavior is valuable to the organization especially if the organization has effectively implemented organizational behaviors (Phillips & Gully, 2012, p. 6). ... 200). The key employees’ behaviours that are given attention in an organization include productivity, turnover and absenteeism. The absence or presence of employees determines their productivity and that of the organization since the management is concerned with quality of work done by the employees. Job satisfaction is a very important factor that has to be considered by the managers since it has been noted that there is a relationship between job satisfaction and productivity. Satisfaction also explains employees’ absenteeism and turnover as well as their motivation to perform their duties effectively. Apart from employees’ attitude and perception, productivity is influenced by job satisfaction, ethical optimism, and the kind of relationship between the employer and employee (Gilliland, Steiner & Skarlicki, 2007, p. 200). Managers are expected to handle their job effectively and efficiently and they can achieve this by having adequate knowledge to deal with a n ew workforce, and complications of the new working environment. Organizational behavior enables the organization perform well in that, paying attention to employees, and recognizing their performance form part of tasks a manager needs to focus on, in order to be successful (Phillips & Gully, 2012, p. 6). Accordingly, understanding organizational behaviour is very important in organizational success as it helps in examining interactions within small groups either formal or informal where individuals merge their efforts towards achieving organizational goals (Fayyaz et al., 2008, p. 4). Arguably, the goals of organizational behaviour include understanding why people behave the way they do, analyse how individuals behave under

Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Leadeship in Clinical Practice Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1500 words

Leadeship in Clinical Practice - Essay Example Nurse-doctor communication results in safe and effective care of patient. Similar to that nurse-supporting staff relation also affects the patients because they are the one who are responsible for taking care of patient in relation to medicines, food, clothing, cleanliness etc. So these two factors play a key role in managing a clinic performance. This relation can be made efficient only on the basis of effective leadership and communication skills (Armstrong, 2005, Chiarella, 2002). 1.2 Theories of communication Communication can be understood in various ways, as human nature also differs depending on one’s personality and nature. There is diversity in it because it is a broader concept of discipline. There are many theories of leadership and communication such as CBS model, situational theory, contingency theory etc. In accordance to the situation of the discussion paper two communication theories will support the present condition of staff members who assist nurses. They ar e situational and contingency theories (Woodward J, 1965). Situational leadership theory This theory believes that there is not a one single best style of leadership. In fact, leading will be effective only if it is related to specific tasks. It is the style of maturity. It will not only help in the accomplishment of tasks and jobs, but will also influence the group performing the job (Hersey P, 1969). This theory is related to various clinical areas, mostly towards the relationship of nurse-supporting staff because the followers are less skilled. They need full guidance and supervision. This can be done by assigning them task in groups on the basis of specific situations. Each group will be given task on the basis of his or maturity level. The result of which will be increased knowledge and experience through mutual coordination in a group. It will help to motivate the task as well as relationship behavior of the followers. Contingency theory This theory believes that leadership ef fectiveness is mainly based on two factors i.e. situational control and leadership style. It emphasize on the fact that there is not a single way of leading, similar to that of situational theory. It believes that an organization success depends on both internal as well as external factors. In a clinic perspective, business will be successful only if it’s both, the external factors such as clients, image etc., and internal factors such as doctors, nurses, supporting staff etc., are considered and dealt efficiently. Organization should focus more on organizational structures and management styles (Lawrence P, 1967). Managers should make the organizational structure friendly in order to educate its supporting staff. Management styles should be less formal because they are fresh graduate’s one need to be at their level to promote efficiency. Clinics should have open systems in order to satisfy their internal needs of supporting staff and make them prepare to deal with cha llenging situations (Turner C, 2002). There is not a single way of organizing things. All depends on the nature of task provided to the working staff. Nursing managers should clearly explain the task or jobs to the staff. They should find a good fit among staff and jobs. This means that jobs should be assigned on the basis of capability of a person. Different techniques should be used in various departments of a clinic (Fred Lutans, 2011). 1.3 Communication in clinical areas

Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Animal Rights Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words - 2

Animal Rights - Research Paper Example Studies suggest that, in the last century or so, almost every medical breakthrough that is relevant to both the animal and human world has had significant contributions from animal research. Such breakthroughs range from antibiotics, chemotherapy, blood transfusions, and organ transplants among others (Jessen). These experiments have contributed significantly towards the quality and length of human life by handling some of the most difficult moments in human life known as disease and health conditions and complications. The above is due to the potential use of animal research in treating heart diseases and cancer, where it has contributed by bringing chemotherapy as an option in controlling and getting rid of cancer in humans and some animals. Due to animal testing and research, there are numerous lives saved from pain and loss since the research conducted provides an avenue to clear any anguish caused by disease. In addition, research on animals allows humans to come up with new vaccines or means of preventing diseases and some conditions that cannot be handled through any other means. This is especially so for the military, where animal research allows them to protect themselves from infection with malaria, Japanese encephalitis and Ross River fever (McGregor). The use of animal research, therefore, implies that without animal research, it would be virtually impossible beat the spread of some of these diseases or even receive treatment for them. In addition to health, animal research has allowed humans to wipe out some of the suffering that humans face across the world. This is following the use of animals in experiments, where humans are not used to find cures for painful diseases and conditions such as arthritis. This ensures that humans do not have to go through the same pain when suffering from the condition. As such, animal research

Monday, September 23, 2019

INFO101 assigment Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

INFO101 assigment - Assignment Example The content of these reports may vary depending on the situations and the needs of the manager requesting the report. Third and last, is exception report. Exception reports are those that deal with data outside ranges considered normal. They exhibit statistics of data beyond the normal range. The report consolidates the unusual conditions such as cost overruns or production down time and reports them differently. Timely reporting of unusual cases enables appropriate action to be taken by the management. Different types of reports cover different issues. Moreover, various circumstances in the business demand appropriate actions, which vary from one scenario to another. As such, it is important to distinguish between the three basic MIS reports so that each can be tailored to the informational need of its users. Clear distinction between the reports also enables the management to take timely actions on issues that require urgent attention. Summary reports are used when managers require quick overview of information on particular area. On the other hand, detailed reports are used for specific activities so as to gage their performances while exception reports are sued to report unusual occurrences in an organization, which need urgent solutions. Decision Support System (DSS) has three fundamental components. These include: data, models as well as user interface. Data is basically the information that is required for decision making. Data is usually kept in a database. Models refer to the models that are utilized in data analysis and the forecasting of outcomes of any particular decision. It also includes software that helps in managing models in DSS. User interface refers to the manner in which the users can use the DSS to facilitate their decision making processes, even if they are not technology experts. In most scenarios, a

Saturday, September 21, 2019

Children Penalties Essay Example for Free

Children Penalties Essay All through America it seems that juvenile children are committing extremely severe crimes. Fellow classmates and teachers are being murdered by juveniles as young as eleven and thirteen. As a result of this, a major issue has been raised, should children who commit a serious crime face the penalties as and adult? Do these kids know what they are doing? And more importantly do they know the consequences of their actions. The points that Im going to be outlining are children dont know/ know the consequences of their actions, harsh punishment has little effect, youths are more mature so they know the consequences of their actions, the notion of justice, children may not have been given adequate role modals, youths should be given harsh punishments so others will not copy them, children grow up with guns and its the shooters responsibility not the weapon used. Those who believe that juveniles should receive adult penalties for serious crimes often claim that the young children are not fully aware of the crime they commit and destruction that will affect the victims of the crime. For example in a shooting at Jonesboro, where an eleven and thirteen year old shot dead four school girls and a teacher, critics distinguished that the attack wasnt committed at the spur of the moment or under the immediate influence of strong emotion. Instead they claim that the killings were highly planned and vigilantly carried out. The two juvenile killers were noted to supplied themselves with a gate away vehicle, wore camouflage clothing, selected a high vantage point form which to shoot, lured their innocent victims out by trigging a fire alarm and waited for the school doors to automatically lock before opening fire. (Mclnerney, J, 1994: page 2) The opposing view is that children in their opinion are unable to grasp the consequences of their actions. A child who kills very probably doesnt realize the finality of death and so does not fully understand what he/she has done when they take someones life. Correspondingly, it is claimed that children are unlikely to be deterred for a crime because they are terrified of a cruel punishment. According to this line of disagreement most children are impulsive and have a naive idea in  their own immortality. This means that children are unlikely to think about possible punishments prior to committing a serious crime and are unlikely to be able to even envision penalties like life in jail being applied to them. This point was made by child psychiatrist William Licamele, who claimed, At age 11 or 12 kid are normally self-absorbed, self centered, magical, they dont think anything can happen to them, there is going to be no retribution (Mclnerney, J, 1994: page 4) This meaning that the threat of harsh punishment will not prevent them from committing a crime. Thus, it has been argued that applying adult penalties to children who commit serious crimes will have little to no deterrent effect. On the other hand, juveniles should receive adult punishments; fully premeditated murders (like the Jonesboro have been said to be) are no different just because juveniles have committed them. This point questions weather or not the young offenders are adequately aware of the cost of their actions to be held legally liable for them. Mr. Gerard Henderson, executive director of Sydney institute, has summed up this point of arrangement. He claims, I certainly know what I was doing when I was 13 and 11. I suspect that Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Golden (shooters at Jonesboro) also know what they were doing (Mclnerney, J, 1994: page 2) Mr. Gerard Henderson also claims, Those days it is increasingly accepted that most children mature relatively early and that, in an intellectual and recreational sense. Most are relatively independent by 16 (Mclnerney, J, 1994: page 2) This indicates that youth are more mature and so its argued that they are more capable of appreciating the consequences of their actions than children in the past years. Focusing on the punishment of these so called more mature youths is shortsighted, as the cause of the crime committed is probably outside the control of the children. According to this line argument, the general public is more likely to be able to prevent these crimes from occurring if they can  discover why they are happening, rather than focusing on the punishment of the individual offender. This suggests that children who commit serious crimes are most likely victims of developments of society or inside their own families that they are not responsible for. E.g. same authorities have suggested that martial breakdown, the disintegration of extended family and families were both parents work may all be factors contributing to child crime. (Mclnerney, J, 1994: page 4) Many people say that it doesnt matter that a child committed the crime, but that the damaged he/she caused to the victim is the same no matter the age of the perpetrator. Mitchell Weight, whose wife was one of the five killed at Jonesboro claimed, It doesnt matter that those were boys. Their age has nothing to do with the fact that they murdered my wife and four others (Mclnerney, J, 1994: page 3) Those who say that the crime and the damage should remain the same despite the age of the offender seem to mean that the punishment should be that same. This argument is based on the notion of justice. Those who affect serious harm to others should be given a proportionately serve penalty for their crimes. Children may have committed a crime that has caused serious harm due to having had luck of guidance and emotional support. The child may suffer from feelings of desertion, alienation and damaged self-esteem. Which can encourage them to lush out at others. Such children may not have been given adequate role modals to help them cope with whatever hardship they will encounter in their lives. Children who lush out at others and become juvenile offenders should receive comparable penalties to adult crimes so that other young people will not copy them. This point was put by Mr. Gerard Henderson, he argued and said that, The Jonesboro shooting was but the most recent in a wave of schoolyard murders where boys or young men have murdered students and teachers. Who is to say the soft treatment of one young murderer will not encourage another? (Mclnerney, J, 1994: page 3) Societies such as the United States where guns are broadly accepted and where  even young children are trained in the use of guns, are giving young offenders a mean of turning their teenage anger and resentment into homicide. If guns were not so widely available then most of the school shootings would have never happened, the child with the sense of grievance would have expressed it in a form such as fighting, truancy or disobedience in class. It has been claimed that children trained from an early age in the use of guns may be desensitized to potentially grave consequences. Children introduced to guns at an early age may simple regard guns as one more toy. Although guns are widely available that opposing view is that you cant blame the availability of weapons for any crime committed using them. A local in Jonesboro stated, You lay a gun on the table and a hundred years from now the gun will still be there, unless someone touches it (Mclnerney, J, 1994: page 4) This argument is saying that the responsibility for the shooting rests with the shooter, not the weapon. I personally believe that it depends on the offender, weather it was committed from a strong emotion or a planned slaughter. Either way they should first go into a program to help them. But if it was a planned slaughter, at the same time of being in a program they should get punished as an adult so they know that they cant get away with it and no one else hopefully will not copy what they have done. The issues that I have covered in this essay are that children dont know/know what they have done, harsh punishment doesnt work well, youths have grown up a lot more quickly, if they harm someone the offender should get the equal amount of punishment, they have has no good role modals, soft treatment will make other youths copy the offenders crime, guns are part if the youths life from a young age and its not the weapons responsibility of the crime that they have committed. Bibliography: Mclnerney, J, 1994 www.echoed.com.au/protected/outlines1/issues.htm Echo Education Services

Friday, September 20, 2019

Theories in Nationalism

Theories in Nationalism Introduction Nationalism, a term which has been defined in various ways and still continues to nurture the debate around it, is one of the strongest forces in the world as we know it today. Despite its strong influence during the last centuries, it has remained long neglected by academia (Hutchinson Smith 1994: 3). One of the first scholars to address this academic shortcoming was Elie Kedourie, a British scholar of the Middle East, who offered a conservative challenging theory against nationalism in his thought-provoking book entitled Nationalism. In this sense, it is safe to say that most scholars concerned with this field of study have been influenced, to some extent, by the work of Kedourie and have taken issue with it. Kedourie has dealt with nationalism in a number of books, presenting his passionate dissent against the spread of nationalism as an ideology in Europe. His book Nationalism identifies nationalism as a doctrine invented in Europe at the beginning of the nineteenth century (1960: 9) that divides humanity into separate and distinct nations (1960: 73). As a scholar who spent a large proportion of his life teaching, Kedourie emphasized the importance of understanding the philosophy of history and the value of its practice, and criticized academics for meddling with political affairs (Kedourie, 1998a: 51; Minogue, 2008). A fervent advocate of strong, long-lasting empires, he argued, that nationalism as an ideology had caused global wars, destruction, and great misery (Sieff 2006). The objective of this paper is to critically assess Kedouries contribution to the study of nationalism. For this purpose, this essay is structured as follows; firstly, it sets the context by briefly introducing the life and works of Elie Kedourie. This is important as, growing up an Iraqi Jew, Kedourie personally experienced the negative impacts of Arab nationalism which caused him as most other Jews to flee his home country. Kedourie blamed British policy for the rise of nationalism in the Middle East, a policy he later criticized in his works. The essay then proceeds to identify and explain his concept of, and arguments against nationalism; next, it explores Elie Kedouries dialogue with three theorists who were influenced by and developed Kedouries ideas; and finally, it presents a critique of his theory and concepts. In summary, this paper demonstrates Kedouries unique attitude towards and his innovative theory of nationalism, but also the flaws in his theory based on which led ma ny of his followers and critics to charge him with intellectual determinism (Lawrence 2005: 132). Kedourie and His Works Kedourie was undoubtedly a man of great achievement. An Iraqi-Jew, he was born in Baghdad on January 25, 1926, but migrated to Great Britain as part of the post-1948 Jewish mass departure from the Arab world (Minogue 2008). In his doctoral thesis, England and the Middle East (1956), which he wrote at Oxford University, he, for the first time, systematically criticized the British foreign policy and its inter-war role in Iraq (Kramer 1999). Accordingly, his controversial thesis was not only much debated, but Kedourie was asked to change it. However, Kedourie felt so strongly about his writings that rather than modify it, he withdrew it! Throughout his life, Kedourie offered a seminal analysis that expounded the state of world affairs and exposed the evil of nationalism. Although he published his most important book entitled Nationalism decades ago, Kedouries ideas still resonate today and are being studied by a number of critics and theorists of nationalism. Kedourie was brought back into academia by his colleague Michael Oakeshott, and consequently held a chair in Politics at the London School of Economic for 40 years. He was an expert on Middle Eastern history, founder and editor of the journal Middle Eastern Studies (1964), and the author and editor of many outstanding books, especially on the Middle East. In contrast to many other scholars of and on the Middle East, Kedourie was able to see it in a wider world context (Mango 1993: 375). This interest led him from Arab nationalism to his study of nationalism as a universal phenomenon. The significance of this, was that it changed the traditional thinking of nationalism and brought to awareness its disastrous influence and its major potential in threatening world order. Besides the book Nationalism, his published works also include Afghani and Abduh: An Essay on Religious Unbelief and Political Activism in Islam (1966), the famous The Chatham House Version (1970), Nationalism in Asia and Africa (1970), and Arabic Political Memoirs and Other Studies (1974). Among his later books are In the Anglo-Arab Labyrinth (1980), The Crossman Confessions (1984), Politics in the Middle East (1992), and Hegel and Marx: Introductory Lectures, his posthumous book published in 1995. Kedourie impressed with his sharp intellect and his rather eloquent, clear and coherent writing style. Although English was his third language, his works were written in an excellent English style worthy of one of the greatest orientalists and scholars of our time (Moreh 1998: 2). Especially in his book Nationalism, he manages to draw a clear and red line from the sometimes very abstract explorations of the foundations, on which he then builds his theory, to the explanation of his approac h itself. In addition, Kedouries personality stood out in academia. As opposed to many academics, Kedourie neither locked himself in the so-called academic ivory tower, nor did he fall into the circle of self-adoration. Kedourie, more than anything else, was a mentor and father figure to his students (Salibi 1994)! Although he was sometimes referred to as idealistic, most of his students and scholars alike remember Kedourie as humble, dignified, kind, and a generous scholar with quiet and gentle courtesy which one could always count on (Salibi 1994). Kedouries Concept and Critique of Nationalism After the two World Wars, a grouping of independent states created the United Nations and other international bodies, such as the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) or theEuropean Economic Community (EEC), and forged multilateral treaties (for example Treaty of Paris, NATO, Warsaw Pact) to sustain peace and worldwide cooperation in the hope of preventing another global conflict. Kedourie believed that many calamitous global events, such as war, destruction, poverty, famine and genocide, were caused by a doctrine of nationalism, which justified the division of nations. Kedourie (1993b: xiii) viewed nationalism as an ideology and believed that it had been made a contrived religion by governments to justify their actions and to maintain their so-called right to national self-determination (Kelidar 1993: 5-6). Kedourie laid out his controversial theory against the nationalism doctrine in his book Nationalism. In the first chapter, Politics in a New Style, he explains his pessimism about ideological and constitutional politics, which presupposes nationalism as an effective force to strengthen and preserve the identity and authority of a nation (Spencer Wollman 2002: 49). In the following chapters, he tackled the concept of self-determination, which the intellectuals, particularly Immanuel Kant, brandished as the supreme political good (Kedourie 1993a: 22); the relation of state and individual, wherein he criticized the influence of Kant on modern thinkers and the effects of dangerous political ideas on individuals; diversity, which spread the world over as a result of the propagation of nationalism; and national self-determination, which has caused the division of states into nations, disorders and wars. In the last two chapters, he addressed the relationship between nationalism and politi cs and its negative consequences. Kedourie was the first theorist who addressed nationalism systematically and identified it as (an historically erroneous) doctrine. His path-breaking theory introduced new standards to the traditional studies of the phenomenon which saw in granting self-determination the only acceptable way to deal with nationalism. Kedourie relied on historical accounts of global events and on this basis identified three strong arguments against nationalism. Firstly, he claimed that nationalism as a political ideology was impotent and had no significance to reality. Secondly, he asserted that the divisive character of nationalism caused and will continue to cause wars and man-made catastrophes. Finally, he saw nationalism as being about the enshrinement of the concept of sovereignty or self-determination as the fundamental force of global order (Kedourie 1993b: xvi). With regards to his first argument, nationalism was seen as being a political ideology due to its extensive relation to politics. He observed that the doctrine was first conceived and then propagated in Europe in the last century (Deol, 2000: 12). It was an era when nationalism was systematically turned into kind of religion to inspire the people and make them believe that they had a duty and responsibility to serve their homeland. According to Kedourie, the purpose of ideological politics was to impose political culture, legal principles and moral standards on people by means of force (1986: 47-48). When a government seeks to establish an ideology, it can only do so through the use of force and arbitrary powers. He identified the platonic character of this strategy, which posits that a state or society has to eliminate the ideology of the people so as to impose its own political culture or ideology (Kedourie 1993b: xiv). Kedouries argument is clear: ideological politics in the last century has caused many horrific events because of the ideologists attempt to change the status quo and to enforce their own ideology on the masses. As an example he mentioned the case of Yugoslavia. Following its creation after the First World War, Yugoslavia sought to attain unity in order to establish an independent state, but such a national ambition was waylaid when the Yugoslavs fell into the oppressive hands of the Hungarians, Austrians and Ottomans. Another argument he made against ideological politics was that a state that espoused nationalism caused the division of its individual subjects and separation between the government and the governed. Kedourie asserted that a society that adopted certain kinds of principles deprived the people of their rights. A group of people treated as mere ciphers by their rulers would be led to treat their fellow men in the same way. Turning to his second argument nationalism will lead to war and manmade disasters- Kedourie explained that nationalism supports the division of humanity into a number of states and thus also supports the division of men in terms of race, tradition, religion, and political ideology (1986: 71-73). Since nations are divided into many categories, Kedourie argues that wars and disasters are inevitable. He argued that conflicts and chaos ravaged the whole of Europe between 1848 and the end of World War II because of the concept of nationalism (Kedourie 1993b: xvi). However, he rejected the argument that poverty is somehow linked to nationalism. Since most poor countries have prevalent nationalist ideology, he believed that poor economic conditions might bring about social displeasure, which may lead to the propagation of nationalism (Kedourie 1974c: 19). However, he claimed that the rise of nationalism in Czechoslovakia and Italy was not due to evident poverty. Furthermore, Kedourie believed that the development of nationalism in Asia and Africa was basically a reaction to invasion and foreign occupation (1974: 21). Lastly, he criticized socialism as an ideological obsession that caused great destruction in the last century. He states (1993b: xvii) that socialism has produced not happiness or spiritual fulfilment, or even material prosperity, but, on the contrary, unparalleled oppression and misery, and it has sunk by the weight of its own misconceived ideals. Moreover, he suggested that the collapse of Soviet Russia in 1991 had led to a precarious disproportion of power among its former constituents and their neighbours. Hence, he warned that this power vacuum could lead to war. He concluded that nationalist ideology did not evidently ensure economic success or honest and responsible government. Kedouries condemnation of nationalism and by extension his path-breaking theory, was seen by many theorists on nationalism that followed as a milestone in the evolution of the theoretical debate (Ozkirimli 2000: 32). As a consequence, the vast majority of these theorists took issue with his theory in one way or another. Kedouries Influence on other Theorists of Nationalism Kedouries passionate arguments against nationalism gained both the admiration and support of a coterie of loyal followers but also drew some harsh criticism. Undoubtedly, he contributed enormously to the great debate about the origins and nature of nationalism. As a man of exceptional intellectual reputation with exacting standards in his thinking and scholarship, Kedourie was immensely influential on many modern scholars and his students alike (Salibi 1994: 4) and thus, achieved to transform and revolutionize the understanding of nationalism (Minogue 2008; Kelidar 1993: 5-6). Three distinguished theorists of nationalism who admired Kedourie, but took issue with his ideas are Ernest Gellner, Anthony Smith, and Benedict Anderson. All of these theorists built on the works of Kedourie, and this made for a great contribution to the debate about the nature and roots of nationalism that dominated the European community in the nineteenth century (Gellner 1996: xix). Smith openly elaborated on the intellectual depth of Kedouries seminal arguments against the concept of nationalism, saying that the latters works continue to exert a wide influence on modern thinkers like him (2007: 213). Similarly, Gellner credited Kedouries work but also attributed a lot of critique to Kedouries ideas (Gray 2004). This paper will now examine in more depth some of these issues in order to provide a critical evaluation of the strengths as well as limits of Kedouries arguments. Anthony D. Smith For his part, Smith agreed with Kedouries concept of nationalism as an ideological crusade that seeks the achievement and maintenance of national sovereignty, harmony, and distinctiveness, on behalf of a particular group of inhabitants (2007: 214). Smith reiterated Kedouries argument that although nationalism was sparked by the myth of the French Revolution, this ideological movement was inspired by Kant, which then in turn influenced Johann Gottlieb Fichte. Smith claimed that the main proponent of nationalism was Fichte, a Kantian, who, in his Addresses to the German Nation (1808), established an agenda for the creation of a German national education (Choueiri 2000: 6). Smith concurred with Kedourie that this secular ideological movement was inspired by the declaration of independence, which states that sovereignty resides exclusively in the state. Smith (2007a: 217) also regarded nationalism as a secular form of religion, and concluded that traditional religions like Judaism preserve their character and that they contribute to the propagation of nationalism by serving as agents of collective sentiments. Smith thus supported Kedouries statement that Judaism is a religion that accentuates the value of land and language and national feeling (1993b: 76) and suggested that there are cultural similarities between modern nationalism and biblical Israel and its covenant. This being said, in his Theories of Nationalism, Smith criticized Kedourie for selecting only the extreme features of nationalism, thus overlooking the civilizing and empowering influence of the doctrine (Jinadu 1972: 646). Benedict Anderson In his Imagined Communities: Reflection on the Origins and Spread of Nationalism, Benedict Anderson, a modernist theorist like Kedourie, identifies the rise of capitalism at the beginning of industrialization era as the main reason for the emergence of nationalism: peoples literacy level increased due to the emergence of printing press capitalism. No longer were they dependent on the church for getting information. As a result, member of various communities became aware of each other and hence it helped them imagine the nation and the feeling of being a nation (Capmack 2005). In complete contrast to Kedouries hostility to the idea of nationalism, Anderson posits that nationalism contributes to a better society and encourages good behaviour: You follow the laws because they are your laws (2005). However, he agrees with Kedourie on the importance of history, arguing that such doctrines as nationalism or nationality are like cultural relics that can only be understood by tracing their historical roots, nature and motivations (1991: 4). He thus stated that eighteenth century Europe was not simply marked by the beginning of nationalism but by the end of religious forms of thought. Changes in the religious community, according to Anderson, gave rise to the belief that nationalism was a secular solution to the question of continuity that had been answered previously by religious faith. He wrote: What I am proposing is that nationalism has to be understood by aligning it, not with self-consciously-held political ideologies, but with the large cultural systems that preceded it- out of which, as well as against which- it came into being (1991: 11). Hence, in many ways, Anderson simply complements the arguments raised by Smith and Kedourie that the form of nationalism that dominates the world today is a combination of traditional religions and of secular political ideologies based on national self-determination. Another similarity arises by looking at their views on nationalism and language. Anderson suggested that language could be used as a cohesive force to nurture peoples love of their country. For example, songs, poetry, and national anthems are used as effective agents of nationalism (1991: 145). Accordingly, the use of language is a significant reason for the emergence of independent, divided states and the proliferation of print-word (Mar-Molinero Smith 1996: 70). Similarly, though more pessimistic and with almost sad undertones, Kedourie elaborates that language is a strong expression of ones individuality and thus the most important criterion for a nation to be recognized and to exist (1986: 64). The emphasis on language with regards to nations, and by extension of states, has had many negative side-effects among which language has been transformed into a political issue for which men are ready to kill and exterminate each other (1985: 71). Ernest Gellner Gellners Nations and Nationalism was a direct response to Elie Kedouries theory, which Gellner believed lacked any real comprehension of the reality of nationalism, as a result of its overly intellectual focus (Gellner 1983). He dissented on the idealist argument of Kedourie that nationalism was the consequence of a historical anomaly and intellectual blunders, and suggested that it was rather an unavoidable by-product of economic and technical progress (Gray 2004). Moreover, Gellner rejected the premise that the concept of nationalism was based on the philosophy of Kant, and then spread by inept philosophers and intellectuals. He defended Kant, maintaining that there is no relationship, other than a verbal one, between individual self-determination and national self-determination, and that Kant was a very model for that allegedly bloodless, cosmopolitan, emaciated ethic of the Enlightenment which romantic nationalists detested (OLeary 1997: 198). Similar to Kedouries pessimistic view, Gellner perceived nationalism as the strongest principle of political legitimacy in the modem world and stated that nations should be collectively and freely institutionally expressed, and ruled by its co-nationals.Nationalism invents nations where they do not exist. (1964: 168). Apart from nationalism, Gellner (1985: 1) believed that reformism and industrialization were the two enormous forces that were changing the world. This was his main departure from the concept suggested by Kedourie. Gellners derisive arguments against nationalism perturbed secular rationalists, socialists, and conservatives. He agreed with Kedourie that nationalism presupposes that such important concepts as social justice, material progress, utility and reason, rational principles and law are merely consequential doctrines in supporting and imposing an established and justifiable socio-political order, thus inciting unrelenting denunciation from socialists and liberals for about two centuries (OLeary 1997: 192) Although it appears that Gellner presented similar views to those expressed by Kedourie, he did, however, criticize Kedourie for omitting the sociological analysis in his study of nationalism. Gellner believed that nationalism became a sociological necessity in the modern world, whereas Kedourie rejected any sociological explanation as a form of reductionist economism (Kramer 1999: 637-638), and maintained that history has no depths to be plumbed or main lines to be traced out, and that history does not need explanatory principles, but only words to tell how things were (Kramer 1993). I believe that the differences between Gellner and Kedourie are rather of an epistemological nature than of a fundamental one. Although they dissent on origins of nationalism and on the type of their analysis, the basic concepts of their theories, however, do have significant similarities. For instance, they both recognize nationalism as a modern doctrine. Moreover, they both share a pessimistic view of nationalism and point out its dangerous consequences. Perhaps the similar nature between Gellners and Kedouries theories might be attributed to the significant influence that Kedourie had on Gellner. Lawrence (2005: 132) supports this idea when he writes: his focus on the links between nationalism and modernization certainly inspired later theorists such as Gellner and Hobsbawm. Critique / Conclusion Kedouries basic contention was one of enormous skepticism and suspicion especially vis-Ã  -vis third world nationalism, which he perceived as a reaction to European nationalism (1974: 1-153). It appears that his personal experiences greatly influenced his pessimism towards nationalism in general, and more specifically his rather hostile attitude toward a nations self-determination, leading to one of the main flaws in Kedouries theory. He was certain that the idea of national self-determination was not only absurd, but also destructive, immoral and could only lead to violence and discord in domestic politics (Minogue, 2008). Kedourie further postulated that the origins of self-determination were the Age of Enlightenment, which led men to discover the law of nature and rational principles, and its philosophical corollary-the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen. This declaration states that a nation must exercise autonomy and that no man or group of men can go beyond the ambit of the law. Kedourie (1993: xiv) wrote: The law was universal, but this did not mean that there were no differences between men; it meant rather that there was something common to them all which was more important than any differences. While taking this rather skeptical stance, Kedourie failed to really develop his arguments on this particular issue any further, and thus left himself open to criticism based on philosophical and historical concerns. He successfully presented a path-breaking theory against the perils of nationalism. Historical events tell us that extreme nationalism has caused global disasters, wars, and massive poverty in the past. He was right in arguing that both conservative and socialist governments subscribed to the ideology of nationalism to achieve their national goals. Kedourie and other nationalist critics exposed nationalism as a dangerous political ideology that must be rejected. Smith, Anderson, and Gellner developed Kedouries theory by presenting the causes, historical origins, and consequences of nationalism. Furthermore, today one might argue that some collectivist countries like North Korea, China, Cuba, among others have made nationalism a secular religion. However, Kedouries theory was not flawless as the section above has to some extent already shown. Kedourie may have raised valid arguments against nationalism; however, as Smith pointed out, the relationship between ideology and nationalism is not always a negative one. In fact, for example, in the case of the periphery countries of the former Soviet Union, history has shown that a nationalist ideology enabled and mobilized people to free themselves from factors which enslaved them. Kedouries somewhat one-sided and hostile portrait of nationalism ignores its constructive aspects and its vital role in creating, as well as controlling, social and political change. Another major flaw in his work is of epistemological nature. Throughout his book one question repeatedly comes to mind: How does he know that? For instance, looking at the question of origin, he connects nationalism with the French revolution as mentioned above. However, why, accordingly to Kedourie, was there no nationalism before the modern era? He does not take issue with this and thus fails to give sufficient evidence for his argument and against more primordial views on nationalism. Moreover, Kedourie perceives nationalism as a (secular) form of religion and thus he suggests that it may substitute the traditional religions. According to him, the religious origins of nationalism are used merely for political purposes. However, he neglects the relationship between religion and pre-modern ethnic identities in many areas of the world and then overlooks religious and secular roots of modern nationalism and, thus over-simplifies the relation between religion and modern nationalism (Hutchinson Smith 1994: 70). Finally, it appears that his views on ideology and nationalism were heavily influenced by his personal experiences, as well as the British academic attitudes of that time, which were fundamentally skeptical of any ideology per se (personal conversation with lecturer). For instance, Michael Oakeshott, a mentor and colleague of Kedourie, doubted the political action and questioned the assertions made in defence of political ideology (Kedourie 1998a: 111). Kedourie was exposed to the teachings of early British scholars like Oakeshott who dismissed the notion of a science of politics. This is one of the reasons behind his pessimistic view on ideology and his scorn of the academics interference in politics. In the final analysis, however, I agree with Kedouries skeptical contention as, looking at the world today and how nationalism as portrayed by Kedourie has infected and affected many countries towards the negative, his warning proved to be valid. Bibliography Anderson, B.R 1991 Imagined Communities: Reflections on the Origin and Spread of Nationalism, London: Verso Anderson, B.R 2005, I Like Nationalisms Utopian Elements Interview with Lorenz Khazaleh, CULCOM,[Online], Dec. 15, Available at: http://www.culcom.uio.no/english/news/2005/anderson.html [Accessed 19 November 2009] Choueiri, Y.M 2000 Arab Nationalism: Nation and State in the Arab World, New York: Wiley-Blackwell Deol, H 2000, Religion and Nationalism in India: The Case of Punjab, London: Routledge Gellner, E 1985, Islamic Dillemas: Reformers, Nationalists, and Industrialization, Berlin: Walter De Gruyter Gellner, E 1964, Thought and Change, London: Weidenfeld and Nickolson Gray, J 2004, Book Review, [Online], Available at: http://www.lse.ac.uk/collections/gellner/Gray.html [Accessed 18 November 2009] Hearn, J I 2009,Discussion on Kedourie and nationalism, [Conversation] (Personal communication, 1 December 2009) Hutchinson, J. Smith,D.A. 1994, Nationalism, Oxford: Oxford University Press Jinadu, L.A 1972, Book Review, The Journal of Modern African Studies, [Online], Dec., 10(4), pp. 645-648, Kedouri, S 1998a, Elie Kedouri CBA, FBA, 1926-1992: History, Philosophy, Politics, New York: Routledge . 1993b, Nationalism, Fourth, Expanded Edition. London: Wiley . 1974c, Nationalism in Asia and Africa. London: Routledge . (1960d) Nationalism. First Edition. London: Hutchinson . (1984e) The Crossman Confessions and Other Essays in Politics, History, and Religion. London: Mansell Publishing Kedourie, E., Gammer, M., Kostner, J., and Shemesh, M 2003 Political Thought and Political History: Studies in Memory of Elie Kedourie, London: Routledge Kelidar, A 1993, Elie Kedourie: An Appreciation, Journal of Contemporary History, 28(1), pp. 5-6 Kramer, M 1993, Arab Nationalism: Mistaken Identity, Daedalus, [Online], Summer 1993, pp. 171-206, Available at: http://sandbox.blog-city.com/arab_nationalism_mistaken_identity.htm [Accessed 17 November 2009] . (1999) Elie Kedourie,Encyclopedia of Historians and Historical Writing, [Online], 1, pp. 637-638, Available at: http://sandbox.blog-city.com/elie_kedourie.htm [Accessed 17 November 2009] Lawrence, P 2005, Nationalism: history and theory, Harlow: Pearson Mango, A 1993, Elie Kedourie: An Appreciation, Middle Eastern Studies, [Online], Jul., 29(3), pp. 373-376, Mar-Molinero, C., Smith, A 1996, Nationalism and the Nation in the Iberian Peninsula, Basingstoke: Berg Publishing Minogue, K, 2008, Elie Kedourie, Standpoint, [Online], Aug., Available at: http://www.standpointmag.co.uk/node/291/full [Accessed 16 November 2009] Moreh, S 1998, A Tribute to Elie Kedourie, In Kedourie S. eds. ELIE KEDOURIE, CBE., FBA 1926-1992, [Online], London, Portland-Oregon: Frank Cass Publishers , p. 132 Available at: http://www.dangoor.com/74006.html [Accessed 18 November 2009] OLeary, B 1997, On the Nature of Nationalism: An Appraisal of Ernest Gellners Writings on Nationalism, British Journal of Political Science, [Online], Apr., 27(2), pp. 191-222, Ozkirimli, U 2000, Theories of Nationalism: A Critical Introduction, Palgrave Macmillan Salibi, K 1994, Edie Kedourie: A Tribute, Middle Eastern Studies, 30, Thirty Volume Index 1964-1994, pp. 1-5 Sieff, M 2006, Isaiah Berin and Elie Kedourie: Recollections of Two Giants, Covenant, [internet], Nov., 1(1), Available at: http://www.covenant.idc.ac.il/en/vol1/issue1/sieff.html [Accessed 16 November 2009] Smith, D.A 2007a, Nation and Covenant: The Contribution of Ancient Israel to Modern Nationalism, Proceedings of the British Academy, 151, pp. 213-255 Smith, D.A 1971b, Theories of Nationalism, Michigan: Duckworth Spencer, P. Wollman, H 2002, Nationalism: A Critical Introduction, California: SAGE Publishing

Thursday, September 19, 2019

A Comparison of Illusion in The Cherry Orchard and A Dolls House Essay

Dangers of Illusion in The Cherry Orchard and A Doll's House   Ã‚  Ã‚   In the plays, The Cherry Orchard, by Anton Chekhov, A Doll's House, by Henrik Ibsen, and Galileo, by Bertolt Brecht, the protagonists' beliefs are a combination of reality and illusion that shape the plot of the respective stories.   The ability of the characters to reject or accept an illusion, along with the foolish pride that motivated their decision, leads to their personal downfall.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In The Cherry Orchard Gayev and Miss Ranevsky, along with the majority of their family, refuse to believe that their estate is close to bankruptcy.   Instead of accepting the reality of their problem, they continue to live their lives under the illusion that they are doing well financially.   The family continues with its frivolous ways until there is no money left (the final night they have in the house before it is auctioned, they throw an extravagant party, laughing in the face of impending financial ruin.) Even when Lopakhin attempts to rescue the family with ideas that could lead to some of the estate being retained, they dismiss his ideas under the illusion that the situation is not so desperate that they need to compromise any of their dignity. Lopakhin: As you know, your cherry orchards are being sold to pay your debts.   The auction is on the twenty second of August.   But there’s no need to worry, my dear.   You can sleep soundly.   There’s a way out.   Here’s my plan.   Listen carefully, please.   Your estate is only about twelve miles from town, and the railway is not very far away.   Now all you have to do is break up your cherry orchard and the land along the river into building plots and lease them out for country cottages.   You ¹ll then have an income ... ... 2.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   You have a good thesis statement that introduces a complex discussion.   3.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Your organization of the paper is also well developed.   However, you seem to begin new paragraphs too frequently. For example, in your discussion of A Doll’s House, you used several paragraphs to discuss the faults of Nora and her husband and then another paragraph for her growth.   All of the paragraphs discussing their faults could be condensed into one paragraph. 4.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When citing a quote, you do not need to actually write the word â€Å"page† it is understood that the numbers are page numbers. 5.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Also when quoting, the punctuation of the last sentence should come after the parentheses of the citation and not before. 6.  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Be careful with verb tenses.   If you begin your sentence using the past tense the rest of your sentence should remain in the past tense.

Rates of Reaction Investigation :: Papers

Rates of Reaction Investigation You are to plan obtained evidence, correctly presented and use it to draw conclusions and evaluate your work. You are to study the effect of concentration on the reaction of hydrochloric acid and sodium Thiosulphate. This reaction produces a white solid witch clouds the mixture. (The scientific word for this is precipitate.) The gas sulphur dioxide is produced. Prediction: I predict that as the water dilutes the volume of the thiosulphate, it will take longer for it to change into a cloudy mixture. Explanation: The reason why a fink this is because, the lower the concentration the less particles there are to collide with each other. Therefore the rate will be slower in a given time. The reason for this is because the particles are more spaced out throughout the solvent. Equipment: 1 Stop clock 2 Conical flask 3 Sodium Thiosulphate 4 Hydrochloric acid 5 Black ‘X’ on a piece of paper 6 Water 7 Thermometer 8 Measuring cylinders x3 9 Glass beakers x2 To make this a fair test I will keep the hydrochloric acid the same throughout. Method: 1 Collect the equipment and label the beakers ect. So they don’t get mixed up and ruin the test. 2 Get a piece of paper mark and ’X’ and make it look bold so it stands out. Then put the conical flask over it. 3 For the first experiment put 50 ml3 of thiosulphate 10 ml3 of hydrochloric acid and 10 ml3 of water into the conical flask. Repeat the experiment like shown on the results table. 4 Start stopwatch, and mix the contents of the conical flask 10 times in an anticlockwise direction. 5 When the solution turns cloudy, so that you can’t see the ‘X’ stop the stopwatch and record the time. 6 Check and control the temperature to make a fair test. Risk Assessment =============== The first thing I am going to do is look up all the possible dangers

Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Lady Audleys Secret Essay -- essays research papers

The Style and Genre of Lady Audley’s Secret   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Lady Audley’s Secret, by Mary Elizabeth Braddon, is a novel of many elements. It has been placed in many different style or genre categories since its publication. I feel that it best fits under the melodrama or sensational genre, and under the subgenre of mystery. It contains significant elements of both types of writing, so I feel it is best to recognize both, keeping in mind that melodrama is its main device and mystery is a type of Victorian melodrama. In order to understand how the story fits into these categories, it is necessary to explore the Victorian characteristics of each, and apply them to the text. In addition to establishing the genres, it is important to explain why and how these genres fit into Victorian culture.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The term melodrama has come to be applied to any play with romantic plot in which an author manipulates events to act on the emotions of the audience without regard for character development or logic (Microsoft Encarta). In order to classify as a Victorian melodrama, several key techniques must be used, including proximity and familiarity to the audience, deceit rather than vindictive malice, lack of character development and especially the role of social status. The sensational novel is usually a tale of our own times. Proximity is indeed one great element of sensation. A tale which aims to electrify the nerves of the reader is never thoroughly effective unless the scene be laid out in our own days and among the people we are in the habit of meeting. In keeping with mid-Victorian themes, Lady Audley’s Secret is closely connected to the street literature and newspaper accounts of real crimes. The crimes in Braddon’s novel are concealed and secret. Like the crimes committed by respected doctors and trusted ladies, the crimes in Lady Audley’s Secret shock because of their unexpectedness. Crime in the melodrama of the fifties and sixties is chilling, because of the implication that dishonesty and violence surround innocent people. A veneer of virtue coats ambitious conniving at respectability. Lady Audley’s Secret concludes with a triumph of good over evil, but at the same time suggests unsettlingly that this victory occu rs so satisfyingly only in melodramas (Kalikoff, 9... ...r with seemingly no real purpose in the novel turns out to be the key to unlocking the whole plot. This technique was very popular in Victorian mystery. By using the elements of both melodrama and mystery fiction, Mary Elizabeth Braddon was able to create her most famous work of her long lasted career, Lady Audley’s Secret. Her ability to construe a mystery and keep the reader involved in her work shows the talent she had for writing. Mary Braddon would not have been a popular Victorian novelist if she had not engaged in a certain amount of sentimentality (melodrama) in her fiction (Peterson, 165-166). Her choice of the mystery made her famous and revered by many of her colleagues. Robert Louis Stevenson wrote to her once that he wished his “days to be bound each to each by Miss Braddon’s novels';, and Tennyson declared that he was “simply steeped in Miss Braddon'; (Peterson, 161). By exploring the elements of both melodrama and mystery, it becomes clear that Lady Audley’s Secret fits into both. Using these genres, Braddon was able to create a successful novel of her time that incorporated both reader em otion and Victorian culture.

Tuesday, September 17, 2019

Rock and elaborate spectacle

â€Å"Editors of Rolling Stone later summarized, ‘Rock ‘n' roll has always been a frank and sometimes vulgar music, with plenty of things for its critics not to like.' † (Fore 1999:96). There is no doubt about it. Rock and elaborate spectacle were meant to be together; Like chocolate and red roses on Valentine's Day†¦ only more dysfunctional (where the roses are tattoos and the chocolate gets to be licked off someone). From Elvis' swiveling hips to Jimi Hendrix making love to and then â€Å"sacrificing† his guitar (to whatever) by setting it on fire and smashing the hell out of it to KISS and their incredible costumes and make-up to Prince and his ass-cheeks-cut-out pants to etc. All part of the random theatrics enthralled fans expect from the rock show. The more attention you can get, the better your chances of becoming a rock star. Welcome to the world of glam rock. â€Å"We just get out there and rock. If your amp blows or your guitar packs it in, smash it up and pick up another one. And that's how it always was with us. We can't even stop and tune up. Those kids are all wound up. A second or two is too much for them. They've gotta have it.† -AC/DC guitarist Angus Young (Friedlander 1996:232) The simplest, most recognizable used form of rock spectacle is, of course, the destruction of thousands of dollars worth of instruments and sound equipment for the pure sake of breaking or blowing â€Å"shit up† (although in some instances, as in the case of Jimi Hendrix, it is a sign of respect). No one is really sure who first started this phenomenon (actually no one can agree) but rock fans have seen this act about a million times over, still remaining shocked and amused by the simplicity and perverse beauty of it. In fact, many people believe that you have not truly earned the title â€Å"Rock Star† until you have broken some piece of equipment in front of a live audience elevating the act to not only a way to satisfy the spectators' craving for damage but also to initiate yourself into a select few. And why not bang the hell out of a five thousand dollar guitar or nail all the furniture in your hotel room to the ceiling? You can afford it! Furthermore, as a rock star you are expected to be wild and do the things the average fan could only dream of doing. However, breaking guitars was only the beginning of rock's more aggressive attempts to shock the audience. While the act is still pretty cool to witness, by the 70's, rockers were ready to shock the hell out of you instead of just make you jump. Which leads us into make-up, hair, costume and the adoption of an outer-worldly persona. â€Å"Absent were the flower children and euphoria of psychoactive enlightenment, replaced by personal narratives of heroin addiction, ghetto drug connections, and sexual perversity. These shocking explorations of self-destructive behavior tested society's cultural sensibilities; they also didn't have much of an impact on the rock/pop mainstream.† (Friedlander 1996:250) The first band to come to mind when 70's rock, make-up, and costumes collaborate are the Knight's In Satan's Service, or more commonly known by their abbreviation: KISS. KISS, like many glam rockers, performed to huge stadium audiences. They had to be larger than life to get the attention of all the people in the middle and back rows as well as the front. Furthermore, their personas were highly marketable (From t-shirts to comic books to action figures, etc.). Despite their name and appearance though, their songs such as â€Å"Rock an' Roll All Night†, â€Å"Detroit Rock City†, â€Å"Calling Dr. Love†, were tame compared to the likes of Iggy Pop or David Bowie. â€Å"David Bowie's The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust (1972) carries advice on the back cover: TO BE PLAYED AT MAXIMUM VOLUME.† (Gracyk 1996:100). The epitome of androgyny, Ziggy Stardust was Bowie's first persona, an intergalactic rock star, with orange hair, make-up, and futuristic costumes, trying to save the world but doomed to fail (Campbell 1999:196). As with all his personas, the music on the album served to complete his mysterious character. Fans could probably guess that Gene, Paul, Ace, Peter, Eric, and Vinnie of KISS did not walk around all day in their outfits but Bowie could play his part so well that it was hard to tell whether or not he was only trying to be the most outrageous or if he was like that in the real world too. † ‘As we approach the ‘8o's, the country is literally laughing, dancing, jogging and dressing up again. We have entered The Glitter Era.' † -John Davidson (Calder 1992:274) Androgyny became a trend in 70's rock that held over into 80's rock. It was the ultimate way to shock your audience and make a statement. In the 70's there was of course, Bowie, Marc Bolan, Freddy Mercury, and the immensely popular Rocky Horror Picture Show featuring everyone's favorite transvestite from the planet Transexual in the galaxy of Transylvania, Dr. Frank N. Furter. The 80's brought in Prince, Boy George, Grace Jones, and sometimes Madonna. All challenging society's set gender roles. Why androgyny though? Many say that rock music itself, while still predominantly performed by males, is an androgynous form of music because it combines all other forms of music considered â€Å"male† or â€Å"female†. Others maintain that the trend was in response to the sexual revolution. Though these rock shockers succeed in getting the attention they so adamantly strive for, the most successful rock stars had always been presented as â€Å"real people.† The illusion that we could know the real Elvis, McCartney, or even the real Monkees was fostered by such superficial means as fan magazine interviews or facts on the back of bubble-gum cards, but it was also implicit in Elvis's insistence on his own style of recording the songs of others, and explicit in those performers who wrote their own songs. (Shumway 1992:131) Still, the diversity and color that glam rockers add to the spectrum is not something to discourage. Many fans strive on the fact that their heroes are super heroes, gods and goddesses with fantastical powers who they can fantasize about being. Who wants to be a â€Å"real† person all the time anyway? We get to be that everyday.