A State of Mind

A State of Mind A State of Mind is a 2003 documentary film intended for adult audiences. It was written and produced by Daniel Gordon. The film which has won various awards across the world focuses on the day to day life of North Koreans as dictated by the prevailing political regime.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on A State of Mind specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The film brings to focus issues of totalitarianism, oppression, suppression and a subject’s admissibility to such subjective leadership. It gives the concept emphasis through a critical look at the ordinary lives of two little girls. It offers to the reader a political aspect of a country and its influence on other perspectives such as family and social life of subjects. North Korea is a nation that adheres to communist ideals even in these contemporary times. Under the leadership of Kim Jong Il, this nation is in the process of gradual growth towards becoming a sup erpower. It is separated from the rest of the world and has very little links with China and Russia, her immediate neighbors. It is also completely separated from South Korea. Daniel Gordon films the activities of a national event, the Pyongyang Mass Games. This is an annual event in North Korea whereby gymnasts, dancers, athletes and musician come together and stage a spectacular performance. The major theme of this event revolves around the portrayal of the ideals of socialism and patriotism by the citizens. It is dedicated in honor of Kim Jong Il’s father and former leader, Kim II Sung as well as to North Korea’s glorious revolution as indicated by Jeon; â€Å"Pyongyang’s †¦ lack political ambitions and give blind support and unconditional loyalty to their leader† (Jeon 761). The film discusses on the daily lifestyles of two young girls and that of the people around them, a livelihood quite unknown to the rest of the world especially those from th e west. This movie can be termed as one revealing the political aspect of North Korea in an unusual way, sports. It is not only an ambiguous story with regard to Korean culture, but also an ambivalent display of the country’s political regime. One notes that the movie is brought out in such a mild humanistic perspective with little or no exaggerations of religion, language, war or pleasures of the world such as smoking or sex.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The graceful dancers and performers display the beauty and pomp of the North Korean woman. This makes the movie attractive to a large audience whereby criticism based on the above becomes negligible. Children who watch this movie can only be entertained by the graceful display of art and artistic movement but may not be in a position to understand the historical or political aspects of North Korea as they are the intentions of the Producer (French 35-36). With prior knowledge of how closed a country North Korea is; one wonders how Daniel Gordon and his team got the permission to film this documentary movie. Perhaps it is because the film does not draw any conclusion or judgment. Just as in other movies touching on the Soviet socialist states, it is aimed at presenting a leader’s ideal of totalitarianism to his subjects. However, the ambiguity of the film is seen in the way that the characters are brought out. The opinion of the state of affairs may vary from one viewer to the other. While some will be of the opinion that the girls are happy during these routines, others may interpret this as oppression and repression. This is supported by Koh’s statement that the people of North Korea are expected to be committed and willing to work hard at all times â€Å"no matter how arduous and frustrating it may be† (Koh 146). The two girls together with many others practice on a daily basis for this great event. One of the girls comes from a working class family. This is evidenced by the fact that her father operates heavy machinery. The other girl’s father is an intellectual specializing in physics. The youngsters’ notion of zeal and commitment is seen in this practice session whereby their intentions are solely on pleasing the Great leader. Even though most part of the movie is silent, the creativity is spectacular with choreographers’ efforts being very conspicuous. Some of the groups do not make it to the final list (French 31-32).Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on A State of Mind specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The movie takes another perspective where it interviews families of those involved in the practice. It is a revelation of the high esteem that they hold their leader with and the hatred they have for what they call the United States Imperialism. For instan ce, flashbacks of the Korean War and the subsequent economist discussion reveal that the war was the resultant of communism. However, most of the Koreans blame it on imperialism of the west. The leader upholds communist ideals and perspectives which are basically non-spiritual. However, a little alteration from these ideals is seen when he sets aside a holy mountain for annual prayers and visitation. (Koh 145-147). Totalitarianism is seen in this event in many ways. As the performers entertain the crowd, they give all they are to please humanity. They are not supposed to show any aspect of individualism. It is the leader who is supposed to be celebrated as a leader, idol and an individual. Even though he does not show up for the event, his idiosyncrasies must be met; he must be celebrated in absentia. However, the feelings of the Koreans towards this act of hero worship are not revealed. They adore their Great leader in extreme ways that almost everything is named after him. Looking at it from a western perspective, it would be a sort of brainwashing that results into ill-treatment and misleading of the citizens by their leader. But there are thoughts that run through one’s mind; who would not sublime the individual and work to perfection for the sake of his own country? But are the Koreans celebrating the nation or the leader? But from the beginning, the â€Å"Koreans have been socialized to obey and defer to authority figures† thus it is a norm to them (Koh148). Degradation and oppression of humanity is seen with regard to who gets to perform at the all-important event. The two girls in the story come from the higher class of society and are accorded respect.Advertising Looking for essay on art and design? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Additionally, they are spared from suffering in the concentration camps. The lower class citizens are not that lucky; they are forced to live in concentration camps and are starved to death. They constitute the poor and the peasants (Kim 285). What is portrayed in A State of Mind is a society whose lifestyle, social and political inclination is different from what westerners view as a liberal state. It is a portrayal of a country where the concept of the good of the whole supersedes the needs of the individual. The organization and color in this documentary serves to display the commitment and efforts of the citizens to please their leader. When one observes how happy and excited the citizens are doing, it makes one wonder whether they do not see the odds of this socialist ideal. This film is basically understood with regard to one’s political perspective. If watched by a liberal, then it serves to show that if one chooses to be happy and contented, s/he can be regardless of the political regime prevailing in their country. For the communists, it reveals the subordination of an individual just for the sake of the nation. It is a great documentary which can be enjoyed by both sports and political enthusiasts. French, Paul. North Korea: The Paranoid Peninsulaa Modern History. Zed Books, 2007. Print. Jeon, Jei Guk. North Korean Leadership: Kim Jong IIs Balancing Act in the Ruling Circle. Third World Quarterly (2000): 761-779. Print. Kim, Samuel. Research on Korean Communism: Promise Versus Performance. World Politics (1980): 281-310. Print. Koh, Byung Chul. Political leadership in North Korea: Toward a conceptual understanding of Kim II Sungs leadership behavior. Korean Studies (1978): 139-157. Print.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Free Online Research Papers Jane Eyre, a novel about an English woman’s fights told through the writing of Charlotte Brontà «, has filled its audience with thoughts of hope, love, and deception for many years. These thoughts surround people, not just women, everyday, as if an endless cycle from birth to death. As men and women fall further into this spiral of life they begin to find their true beings along with the qualities of others. This spiral then turns into a web of conflicts as the passenger of life proceeds and often these conflicts are caused by those sought out to be guides through the journey of life but merely are spiders building a magnificent web to catch its prey. In Jane Eyre, Brontà « uses the literary elements of plot and character to convey the theme that a person often falls in love with a manipulator because she has little experiences of other forms of love and as a result she has to establish her own integrity. Brontà « uses the character element of opinions to show how some people often form conclusions about others and express them in their thoughts as either cruel or friendly. Since Brontà « bases Jane Eyre as story told through a young lady the reader is allowed to experience her thoughts and reactions to those around her who make her very personality. As Jane is in her youth she develops these notions about her own family yelling at her cousin John saying, â€Å"You are like a murdereryou are like a slave-driver- you are like the Roman Emperors.† (p. 8) Not only showing that Jane has the intellectual maturity much greater than that of a normal ten-year-old but also that she finds John cruel and sees him becoming a bad man when he grows up. Due to Mrs. Reed’s lack of discipline John did grow as his cousin perceived causing his own demise and the relief of Jane for her cousin no longer could torment those lesser than himself. â€Å"Mr. Rochester continued blind for the f irst two years of our union: perhaps it was that circumstance that drew us so very near – that knit us so very close: for I was then his vision, as I am still his right hand. Literally, I was the apple of his eye.† (p.578) Jane expresses her grief over Rochester’s injuries but emphasizes her constant love as everything that he has lost. Rochester appears completely opposite from the first time they met; he’s helpless just as Jane was when they first met and it is her influence which provokes him to her. All of Jane’s, along with the other characters, opinions cause changes in positions from being blind to walking for the blind, or from being led to doing the leading. Brontà « uses the character element of appearance to show that corrupting people often influence others by their mere charismatic look. This is shown through the description of Edward Rochester as he first meets Jane and begins his moral capture of Jane. â€Å"He had a dark face, with stern features and a heavy brow; his eyes and gathered eyebrows looked ireful and thwarted, just now; he was past youth’ but had not reached middle age; perhaps he might be thirty-five. I felt no fear of him and but little shyness.† (p.142) These words spoken by Jane clearly show that by a slight glance, without even knowing a person, a conclusion is made; Jane’s decision here is that Rochester is her protection, her scapegoat out of her life of solitude. She also mentions how she doesn’t fear him, allowing the audience to sense his commanding aura as if it were a protective wall giving this young shy lady the ability to comfort herself in this strange new acquaintance. Jane continues by saying, â€Å"Had he been a handsome, heroic-looking young gentleman, I should not have dared to stand thus questioning him against his will and offering my services unwillingly.† (p.142) This is an example of the theory that women choose to be with men that they feel will ensure them with protection and strong healthy children. Every woman has her vision of that prince charming that will ride in on his steed and woe her off her feet and give her that magical kiss to free her from all previous burdens that she may have had. Jane seems to take notice to Rochester’s age but in change is intrigued by his masculinity, which she experienced in short at Lowood School with Mr. Brocklehurst. All it took was an accidental meeting between Jane and her employer to begin the cycle of love that would eventually overtake then empower a meek woman inexperienced in the art for which she has been a pawn of. Brontà « uses the stylistic character element of speech to induce a thought that the words of some admirable people often influence others and sometimes can even be heard from them. Through the mentoring of Rochester and St. John does the reader see two different men, both in some way bringing them closer to Jane turning her into what they have both become. â€Å"Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s authorial strategy is to balance one kind of temptation with its obverse: if Rochester is all romantic passion, urging her to succumb to emotional excess, St. John Rivers is all Christian ambition, urging her to attempt a spiritual asceticism of which she knows herself incapable.† (Joyce Carol Oates) Oates relates these men to their backgrounds and how they both tempt Jane with their own strategies of moral tactics. Because Jane was raised in a strict boarding school it becomes apparent why she can be attracted to St. John and his Christian-like ways, but her inexperience with love due to Lowood al ways causes her to be attracted to Rochester. Rochester ask Jane, â€Å"am I cruel in my love† (p.365) This question provokes Jane to decide whether she truly knows love or not. A young woman from a boarding school having to resolve her love for this man causes a type of confusion in Jane and she is left with the mere thought that she must love this man. Rochester furthermore entangles Jane when he tells her, â€Å"Be not far from me, for trouble is near: there is none to help.†(p.377) Rochester gives her assurance that he is her protection and that she has somewhere to go when trouble rises. This is better for Rochester because he knows that this is the first and only secure place that she has known of and if trouble arises she will come to him for help as her guide and mentor. Men realize that they can input their vibes into young woman and often do this in order to either please their own lustful wants or fulfill their needs. Brontà « uses the plot element of general events to show that as corrupters advance with those easily manipulated they change, not only themselves, but also those they try to manipulate. Jane initially meets Mr. Rochester as a governess to Ad?le, but their conversations lead to mysterious times of revealing each others past so Rochester decided to dress as a fortune-teller. Fortune-tellers are seen as mysterious and able to unlock truths, which apparently Rochester attempts to do; find the truths about Jane’s emotions, especially anything about him. When Rochester reveals his identity Jane realizes the traps she’s fallen in and the entrapment that Rochester causes for his own wants to know about Jane. As Rochester remain handicapped before their marriage he ask Jane if she would marry a, â€Å"crippled man, twenty years older than [her], whom [she] will have to wait on.† (p.570) This particular event is Jane’s deciding moment where she picks to stay with the man that she supposedly loves or to go out and adventure like the one she somewhat had love for in St. John. Jane chooses to stay with Rochester and start a beautiful life together as she had always planned to do. As she is married to Rochester Jane sends Ad?le off to school in order to get rid of her French heritage. This is exactly what Jane didn’t want to happen when Blanche Ingram was supposedly going to marry Rochester. The reader can find this her ultimate change from an innocent woman to the one manipulating others in place of her crippled husband. When Jane finally ends as a manipulator the reader sees that corruption can be passed and characters undergo changes due the actions of those around them. Brontà « uses the plot element of a specific event to reveal that some people have dark past which cause them to seem mysterious and sometimes very intriguing, this is seen in the discussion between Jane and Rochester for the fir time in the house. Rochester begins his insightful conversation by telling Mrs. Fairfax that Jane is the reason for his sprained ankle. The reader immediately catches this as distaste for Jane and sees Rochester as a resentful man full of hatred. The men Jane had known in her life were all full of hate; from little John Reed to the schoolmaster, Mr. Brocklehurst. Rochester then brought up her former schoolmaster, asking about conditions at Lowood and what all she had the privilege to learn while attending. Rochester becomes more involved asking these type questions and allows Jane to find her security in him for he is her employer and must know her background if she wishes to teach his Ad?le. The thought of Lowood has significance because of the low, which symbolizes her lowest point of existence and if she is able to just talk about it he will know where it is that haunts her most. They end with comments on Jane’s artwork and how imaginative it is. This partially is due to her over-imaginative youth with books and troubling family. Rochester hit every point of the childhood Jane wanted to forget so that he would know a little about the new lady sleeping in his home. In order for someone to come accustomed to their surroundings they must make peace with their past; Rochester guides Jane into accepting her past. Brontà « uses the plot element of digression to express that individual questioning and talking between two people can provoke one, such as Jane when she gets her fortune told, to express all their feelings and find themselves in the process. Rochester, imposing as a gypsy, begins by asking Jane about now she is feeling and why she’s not nervous. This type of introduction gives Jane a sense of self-determination knowing that she feels fine and controls her own destiny no matter what the fortune-teller may say. This type of confidence is found through self-examination and allows its seekers the will to continue no matter what the outcome may be. Though Jane replied to the fortune-teller as being fine the fortune-teller told her â€Å"You are cold, because you are alone; no contact strikes the fire from you that is in you. You are sick, because the best of feelings, the highest and the sweetest given to man, keeps far away from you. You are silly, because, suffer as you may, y ou will not beckon it to approach, nor will you stir one step to meet it where it waits for you.† (p.248) Rochester notices her fault and clearly points them out to her. Allowing a person to hear their own faults causes them to examine whether or not these accusations are true or not. In Jane’s case Rochester pinned out Jane’s faults and he’s doing his part to help her become more like him instead of being a shy, little, shrewd Quaker. The fortune-teller finally mentions Jane’s love for Rochester, but unknown to Jane the fortune-teller is Edward Fairfax Rochester. Jane hints toward this love but has clearly been manipulated by Rochester into his entanglement of love, which Blanche was thought to be in the center of. The main point of Rochester’s deception is to encourage Jane to except her love and express is to someone other than Rochester and to feel love for the first time if at all possible. As Brontà «Ã¢â‚¬â„¢s novel is read over through the generations, the theme that a person can be manipulated into love and often times has to find her own integrity is passed on. By using many different elements of plot and characters she creates a novel forever found to be part of American Literature and English History. Research Papers on Jane Eyre by Charlotte BronteHonest Iagos Truth through DeceptionWhere Wild and West MeetHip-Hop is ArtComparison: Letter from Birmingham and Crito19 Century Society: A Deeply Divided EraRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andThree Concepts of PsychodynamicThe Fifth HorsemanThe Spring and AutumnThe Hockey Game

The American epidemic of obesity Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

The American epidemic of obesity - Essay Example This essay "The American epidemic of obesity" outlines the danger of obesity, its consequences and recommendations how to prevent it. The absence of supportive policies in key sectors such as health, agriculture, transport, urban planning, environment, food processing and distribution, marketing and education is also a cause of this change. For a friend who is overweight, I would advise that they change their lifestyle. They should cut down their intake of regular soda as it is high in sugar and hence calories. Diet soda, alternative most health- conscious soda consumers opt for is also reported to contain some artificial sweeteners that have been linked to health issues such as cancer and should, therefore, be avoided. I would advocate that they take fresh fruit juices as they are much lower in calories and have no additives. They should also reduce their intake of fast foods as fast foods are high in calories and fat hence contributing to overweight and obesity. Intake of greens and fruits as well as legumes, whole grains and nuts should be increased as they are low in calories and fat. It would be important for the friend to improve her physical activity and make her diet healthier in order to ensure that her health is not at risk. This is because obesity and overweight lead to cardiovascular problems such as heart d isease and stroke. When there's too much fat in the body, it may clog blood vessels leading to a rise above normal in blood pressure and may result in a stroke.

Goals of Hinduism Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Goals of Hinduism - Essay Example The Vedic texts of Hinduism, also known as the Vedas, are the oldest scriptures of Hinduism and are essential to the practicing of Hinduism. The Vedic texts make up the four Saá ¹Æ'hitÄ s: the Rigveda contains hymns and songs that are meant to be recited by a designated priest; the Yajurveda has various formulas that are also to be recited by a specific priest; the Samaveda also contains formulas, but instead of being recited, these are to be sung by the designated priest; the fourth and final text is the Atharvaveda, which is a collection of spells, incantations, charms, and hymns. In the songs and hymns, each individual verse is also known as a mantra, which can be recited for certain needs or occasions, much as a prayer would be recited in other religions. These various texts are said to have been passed down from numerous gods and goddesses, as it is believed that humans had no part in their creation. Furthermore, they did not originate as texts, but as words that were heard and then written down. Many practitioners of Hinduism preferred, and still do, to memorize the Vedic texts rather than write them down or keep them as a book because they believe there is an importance of remembering sacred words as opposed to looking them up when they are needed. Since there are no direct origins of the texts, there are many branches of Hinduism that do not trust them, and therefore do not use them in their practices. In orthodox branches of Hinduism, the Vedic texts are regarded as their main spiritual authority. ... Ritual is a very important part of Tantra, and is often seen in the form of yoga, which is a sacred practice in Hinduism. The implementing of ritual in the practices of Hinduism allow practitioners to become closer with their gods and goddesses, bringing them closer through a spiritual exercise. By using the divine power, which is also known as prana, that can be found in the Earth and in the bodies of human beings, Hindus are able to use the energy to achieve certain spiritual or physical goals. During these rituals to access the divine energy, it is common for practitioners to use yoga, as previously mentioned, as well as visualizations of specific deities and mantras. All of these tools are used to help center and focus the attention of the practitioner on the goal that they wish to achieve. The sole purpose of tantric exercises and worship is to help a person attain complete control over themselves, as well as every force of nature, to become one with the divine rulers. Tantric exercises must be taught to followers of Hinduism, and their training usually begins with being taught how to meditate, which is often taught and overseen by a guru. Meditation will teach the practitioners how to control their breathing, their thoughts, and the ability to shut themselves off from their surroundings, allowing them to completely focus. After learning how to meditate, practitioners are taught yoga, which teaches how to exercise will over one’s body. From there, the practitioner is able to implement everything into a tantric worship ritual, bringing forth the energy from the Earth and their own body.

Live Scan Term Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Live Scan - Term Paper Example These services are generally required by the police department to keep records and track criminals. This service has also been used in airports throughout to quickly get the details of passengers and immigrants. This service is however also utilized by universities and other departments for checking employee records before employments. This information to these departments is usually available through Department of Justice (DOJ). Live scan uses the advanced digital photography methods to capture the images of fingerprints. For this the person needs to press his or her fingers on a screen or scanner. The image is scanned, captured and stored in electronic form on computer databases. Thus the whole process is somewhat similar to the scanning of documents in a scanner and storing the captured images on the computer in the form of a file. Scanning fingerprints however needs some special type of scanners. As these scans are stored in computers, it becomes easy to analyze the fingerprints without much hassle. These can be then shared with any departments around the world as it is easy to send the files through computer networks. "Live scan instruments must be able to collect fingerprints from a wide cross section of people-including those with very fine, worn, scarred or cracked fingerprint ridges and varying degrees of skin moisture content." (Cross Match Technologies, 2007). Most of the instruments provide scans for well ridged fingerprints giving very low quality scans for people with dry skin and other problems. This makes it very difficult to identify such fingerprints. Younger people are well suited for live scan fingerprints as they generally have healthy skin with no such problems to hinder the fingerprinting process. For people with too dry or too moist skin there is a problem in capturing the scans. For this purpose silicone membranes have been developed which are in the form of transparent sheets. These sheets are kept on the screen of the instrument and fingers are pressed against the sheet. This membrane helps in enhancing ridges of the fingers thereby providing well defined scans for people wi th varied moisture content in their skin. There is another problem faced by these instruments and that is of very high volume scans due to which the fingerprints often get mixed up. This problem is also addressed by these silicone membranes. The membranes last for very long and when they need replacement it is very easy to peel them off and place a new one without taking any time. Other advantages include the protection of the capturing screen of the instrument as the membrane is placed on it. Another it is very easy to clean the membrane once it gets dirty. There is no need of application of any liquid or special cloth to clean it. It is done simply by placing a tape on it so that the dirt or any oils, etc. stick to it and get away making the membrane ready to be used again. Although most of the instruments use optical scanning technique in live scan systems, there have been recent developments in this field prompting the use of ultrasonic technique for the same. The fingerprints using ultrasonic systems have been seen to be of better quality than the optical ones. The ultrasonic technique again addresses the same problems of varied moisture c

The Stranger, Albert Camus | Themes of Existentialism

The Stranger, Albert Camus | Themes of Existentialism Existentialism is often defined as a philosophical movement or tendency, emphasizing individual existence, freedom and choice. As a result of the diversity of positions associated with this term it is impossible to define precisely. As is evident through the root of the word, exist, there is a stress on definite individual existence and freedom of choice. Certain aspects of existentialism are witnessed in The Stranger. Existentialists attempt to direct our attention to ourselves as individuals. They force us to think about our relation to such topics as the existence and nature of God, what it is to be Christian, the nature of values, and the fact of ones own death. Man is the only known being, according to the philosophers, that defines itself merely through the act of living. In other words, first you exist, and then the individual emerges as life decisions are made. Many existentialists believe the greatest victory of the individual is to realize the absurdity of life and to accept it. Existentialism is liberating for those of us who do not rely on fate, God, or chance to guide us through the path of life. One aspect that is questionable is our ability to continuously reinvent ourselves through our actions. While this is possible, the majorities of people stick to old ways of doing things, or follow others blindly. Despite encompassing a staggering range of philosophical, religious, and political ideologies, the underlying concepts of existentialism are simple. Mankind has free will. Life is a series of choices. Few decisions are without any negative consequences. Some things are irrational or absurd, without explanation. If one makes a decision, he or she must follow through. The decisions you make are whom you are, so decide accordingly. In The Stranger Meursault embodies all of the six existential themes. The first existential theme is freedo m. Freedom means that whatever happened prior to now do not influence what your next choice in life will be, we are free to make any choice we want. Meursault displays Freedom by just doing as he wishes to do. In part one of the novel Maman dies so he attends the funeral, nothing out of the ordinary. While attending his mothers funeral, Meursault decides to smoke cigarettes, drink a cup of coffee, and he fails to show emotion. This just shows how Meursault is displaying his free will; he does not let the influence of his mother dying effect what he wants to do. The second and the third themes Meursault displays together. These themes are existence which is the awareness of our choices, and passion which are psychological feelings that we understand before thinking kicks in. Meursault displays both of these themes at the end of the novel. Meursault wants his life to be here and now, he is not concerned with the hereafter. Meursault wants the remembrance of his life. Through this thinking Meursault displays Existence and Passion. The fourth theme is contingency. It basically says that life is unpredictable, prone to chance happenin gs, also to the unexpected. Meursault displays this theme at the very end of part one of the novel. Meursault is so content with walking back down to the spring unaware that he is going to end up destroying his happiness by shooting the Arab. This is a very unpredictable event because Meursault is just so happy and content with the sun shining on him, then all of a sudden something unexpected happens and his happiness is gone. I knew that I had shattered the harmony of the day, the exceptional silence of a beach where Id been happy. The fifth theme is individuality. An individual is a single unique member of a collectivity. Meursault lives out his individuality. The strongest display of individuality is at the very end of the novel when Meursault wants a large crowd of people to witness his death, and he also wants them to greet him with cries, but those of hate. I had only wished that there be a large crowd of spectators the day of my execution and that they greet me with cries of hate. By being hated Meursault retains his individuality. If Meursault goes out there begging for forgiveness he would just become a member of a collectivity. The final theme is reflection. It refers to the capacity to bring that which we are unaware of into awareness. Meursault leads a pre-reflective life. He goes through his daily events and is so absorbed in each moment that he never reflects on them. Meursault does this until he looks at a reflection of himself for the first time in prison. Meursault looking at himself shows his transition from pre-reflective to reflective. He begins to become aware of what he was unaware of. The main theme in The Stranger is that life is absurd. Reason is incapable of explaining human nature. Meursaults absurd beliefs are that life is meaningless and without purpose. The meaninglessness implies absence of any obvious meaning to our life. This cannot be explained, because no one can explain someone elses sense of meaning or meaninglessness towards life . Camus The Stranger presents the character of Meursault who, after killing an Arab, is sentenced to death. This conflict portrays the stark contrast between the morals of society and Meursaults evident lack of them; he is condemned to death, less for the Arabs murder, than for refusing to conform to societys standards. The discussion of Meursaults responsibility takes place at the end of the novel. Meursaults execution symbolically brings forth emotion, as Meursault confronts his nothingness and the impossibility of justifying the immoral choices he has made, he realizes the pure contingency of his life, and that he has voided, in essence, his own existence by failing to accept the risk and responsibility that the personal freedom of an existentialist reality entails. Meursault never really takes responsibility for his actions, all Meursault does is wish that his life could go back to the way it used to be. Meursault is an anomaly in society; he cannot relate directly to others bec ause he does not live as they do. He cannot abide by the same moral confines as the rest of the world because he does not grasp them; he is largely indifferent to events occurring around him. Meursaults entire being is unemotional. He derives a certain level of pleasure from eating and drinking, smoking cigarettes, sitting on his balcony. Yet all these things are tactile; Meursault derives physical satisfaction from them, but there is no emotion attached. This is in direct contrast to society, whose strict guidelines focusing on right and wrong depend on an individuals sense of these concepts. Meursault is perfectly capable of analyzing the situation, but not of responding to it as society wishes him to. Life or death, and anything in between, makes no difference to him. Meursault sees the outcome as inevitable. He cannot perceive any right or wrong in killing the Arab. The action in itself was not out of deep hatred for the man but, as he reveals at the trial, because of the sun. The sun at the beach, similar to the sun at his mothers funeral, was beating down on him. The sun represents Meursault emotions, which he cannot deal with. Likewise, he cannot deal with the intense heat, the light reflected off the Arabs knife which seems to stab at him. Meursaults senses are being overwhelmed, and the only way to handle the situation is to end it so he fires the gun. The death of the Arab in itself is not crucial to Meursaults fate. Meursaults true undoing comes from his lack of emotion. At the beginning of the novel, Meursault sits at his mothers funeral, quietly analyzing det ails of the scene. The onlookers present do not understand him; in fact, they are afraid of him. The prosecutor says, I look into a mans face and all I see is a monster. What Meursault has realized, by the end of the book, is that any meaning he finds in life he must create. Meursault is the absurdist, explaining the philosophy of existentialism: Mans isolation among an indifferent universe. There is no inherent meaning in life its entire value lies in living itself. Meursault feels he has been happy, and longs to live. When he must die, he wants a crowd to greet him with cries of hate; they are screaming because they want life and the world to have meaning; they need this because that is what their entire existence is built upon. As the magistrate asked of Meursault, Do you want my life to be meaningless? Meursault understands how estranged the individual truly is from society. Until the conclusion, he was a stranger to himself as well as to the rest of the world. In the end, he o pens himself to the gentle indifference of the world, and finding it so much like myself, he feels he has been happy, and is again. Society finds this unacceptable, and by refusing to conform to its face-value standards, Meursault must die. Albert Camus believed that to be a true existentialist you had to remove yourself from society as much as possible since a belief in the foundation of government was to conform. Conforming to society norms is considered bad, it doesnt allow the individual to progress and reach his own decisions Camus realized, however, that restricting himself from all social conformity was impossible. Camus depicts a man with very little emotion. Once in a while he shows a bit of heart, but for the most part, he gives a robotic appearance. The character expresses no feeling about anything except that light is a sign of evil or annoyance, while the dark becomes a place of calm and seriousness. In society, the common idea is that light is good and evil grows in the darkest of places, but in Albert Camus novel, evil is good and the light is bad. In The Stranger, Albert Camus uses Mersault and his experiences to convey the philosophy that man is full of anxiety and despair with no meaning in his life ex cept for simple existence. The concept of existentialism is reflected through Mersaults experiences with his mothers death, his relationship with Marie, the killing of the Arab, and his own trial and execution. Camus uses the death of Mersaults mother to convey his existentialistic philosophy. He seems more concerned about the time of death, and not the fact that he just lost a loved one. It also conveys the existentialist idea that reason is powerless to the idea with the depths of human life. Furthermore, Mersault shows no compassion at his mothers funeral either. He does not cry or behave the way that society expects him to. This leaves the impression that Mersault is insensitive, or that he did not love his mother. As an existentialist, he accepts life as it is without seeking deeper meaning. Mersaults murder of the Arab is another example of existentialism. The absurdity of the murder is what makes it a good portrayal of the concept of existentialism. This part of the novel sho ws how Mersault is not only a stranger to his experiences in life, but also to nature. For the first time, the sun and his sensual pleasures begin to act against him, and cause him to lose control. Most of Mersaults actions have no true conscious motives. Mersault shoots the Arab because of his physical discomfort with his surroundings, but in any case he consciously makes the decision to shoot the Arab. When he is taken into police custody and is asked if he would need an attorney, he is genuinely confused. It is simple to him: he murdered a man and is now ready to face the consequences. The second half of the book begins after Meursault is put in jail and is awaiting his trial. Rather than being on trial for the crime, he is on trial for his values, like the lack of grievance of his mothers death. Meursault is found guilty and he is convicted and sentenced because of his lack of moral feeling. While awaiting his execution, he thinks about how his life has no meaning besides just living and how death does not scare him. He realizes that life is meaningless and the world is irrational. This suddenly makes him happy and he accepts his death. There are numerous meanings to the title, The Stranger, one is that if you live a life different than what society accepts, then you are a stranger; an outcast, and will be punished by the rest of society. In other words, the title means that Meursault is a stranger to society. Nothing discussed in the trial had anything to do with the murder. It was all about the way he acted and how different he was. This was used to prove that p eople who are different are judged by their character over their actions. Also, most of the society was Christian in the book and held Christian values. They believed in an afterlife and a heaven while Meursault did not, since he was an atheist. Since society does not understand him, they cannot know him and therefore hes a stranger. Another meaning of the title is that he is also a stranger to himself. He did not make any personal connections to the things he has done, only indifferent observations. He seemed unaffected by his mothers death, the killing of the Arab, and his trial. Being a stranger to himself leads to the final meaning, which is a stranger to life. At the end of the novel Meursault is able to understand the meaning of life. He was able to do so because he was approaching death, which is an existentialist principle; death is the one certainty of life. Before, when his mother died or when he killed the Arab, he did not have any feelings. When he thought about his own life and that he was about to die, he accepted it. He realizes that one can truly enjoy their lives when they approach and accept death. The understanding of this allowed Meursault to be at peace with himself. Albert Camuss philosophy in the novel can be related to the philosophy of existentialism, which stresses that the individual is solely responsible for the choices they make, there is no predetermination and there is no supreme being who decides morality. This philosophy is extended with the philosophy of the absurd, which states that human beings live an essential isolation in a meaningless and irrational world and people being able to accept that everything cannot be controlled in your environment, which is how Meursault live his life. In existentialism, you believe that there are some things that cannot be rationally explained and just happen out of your control. The Stranger was an unusually good book, which made me think. A majority of the book made me feel like the rest o f society, which was not accepting Meursaults behavior. However, the ending changed all of that and further analyzing gave me the real reasons for his actions. When I started reading the book for the first time I jumped in right away and didnt want to close it because I never read anything like it. I had to go back a few times to re-read it to understand it better and every time I re-read it, I got a different message. Meursault was an interesting character to read about. His ideas and beliefs seem wrong but are very right. I was able to understand what Albert Camus was trying to say with his philosophy. In fact, I have never heard of existentialism or absurd philosophy until I researched the author to see what he wanted to tell us. Meursault is able to accept the fact that everyone dies and realizing this allows you to live a better life. He lives a life that he controls and accepts all his actions that he does. I cant say that I understand everything about him, like how he uses Marie for sexual reasons even if she tells him her love and commitment to him. Nonetheless, this character had the most interesting conflicts that kept me reading. I do feel, however, that the second part dragged on and got a bit dull. The first half of the book was filled with action and there were no direct reasons given for certain actions. In the second half, it is mainly of his self-realization about society and life, which I feel, could have been approached another way by the author, like being shortened. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys thinking after reading a book or even coming to his or her own realization like Meursault. Work Cited Andrew Irvine, Basic Themes of existentialism, http://people.bu.edu/wwildman/WeirdWildWeb/courses/wphil/lectures/wphil_theme20.htm Crowell, Steven, Existentialism, The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Winter 2010 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = http://plato.stanford.edu/archives/win2010/entries/existentialism/ Existentialism Philosophy: Discussion of Existentialist Quotes, Jean Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir, Albert Camus http://www.spaceandmotion.com/Philosophy-Existentialism.htm/ New World Encyclopedia, Existentialism http://HYPERLINK http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Existentialism/www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/HYPERLINK http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Existentialism/Existentialism/ Solomon, Robert C. Wyatt, C. S. (1999). Existentialists: a primer to existentialism http://www.tameri.com/csw/exist/exist.html

Pride And Prejudice: Five Married Couples Essay -- essays research pap

Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice presents five married couples. No two are alike. From the pure love which was experienced through Elizabeth and Darcy. To the love and attraction shared by Jane and Bingley. The convenience of marriage was portrayed through Charlotte and Mr Collins while Lydia and Wickham’s marriage was based on their desire, attractions and financial status. Mr and Mrs Bennet’s marriage was for their necessity. Austen reveals many messages through her characters on her major theme, being marriage. Elizabeth and Darcy share common interests that help reflect their love and marriage. During Elizabeth’s stay in Pemberly while Jane is ill, Austen reveals to the readers, that Elizabeth and Darcy share a common interest. For example, Miss Bingley states that ‘Miss Eliza Bennet†¦ is a great reader†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ p34. While in a conversation between Darcy and Miss Bingley, it is stated, ‘What a delightful library you have at Pemberly,†¦Ã¢â‚¬â„¢ p34. This illustrates to the readers that the two share the same interest of reading. Having the interest reading portrayed to the readers as an interest, reveals that Elizabeth and Darcy may be suitable match for one another. It clearly shows how common interests can increase the chance of marriage as it makes the bond for one another stronger. Thereby demonstrating that the love between Elizabeth and Darcy reflects on their interest shared by each other. The marriage of Elizabeth and Darcy was also pure love for one another. Though this is not established until the end of the novel. Darcy’s love for Elizabeth is expressed from his heart. Austen illustrates this when he states to Elizabeth, ‘You must allow me to tell you†¦ I admire and love you,’ p157. Austen portrays Darcy’s character as being very proud, so they way he expresses his love for Elizabeth seems pure and genuine. A proud man would find hard to express such feelings in that manner. Thus it proves his love for Elizabeth is clear. Elizabeth also shows her love towards Darcy. Mr Bennet calls Elizabeth into the library after his proposal. In a conversation between the two Elizabeth states, ‘†¦I do like him,†¦ I love him.’ P303. She is aware that her feelings towards Darcy haven’t always been this positive, but she believes that he is able to make her happy. Elizabeth believes happiness is the first sign to a good m arriage. Therefore, this reflects Elizabeth and D... ...n a man of large fortune should be in want of a wife. Though Mr Bennet was not a man of large fortune, he did however, need a wife so that in the event of his death, he had a heir to pass of family fortune to. Mrs Bennet married Mr Bennet simply because women wish to get married. It seemed a perfect match, Mr Bennet had to marry someone to pass on family heritage whilst Mr Bennet married for her own needs. Those being, for connections and fortune of another man. This reflects how marriage between Mr and Mrs Bennet is conveyed to the readers as entirely different reasons. Thus showing how Mr and Mrs Bennet married for necessity. Five married couples are married together for different reasons Austen’s major theme discussed during the text is marriage. Many messages are put forward to readers as to what an ideal reason for marriage is like. For instance, Elizabeth and Darcy marry for love and interests. Jane and Bingley marry for love and attractions. Charlotte and Mr Collins marry for convenience. Lydia and Wickham marry for their desire, attractions and financial reasons, while Mr and Mrs Bennet marry for necessity . This is established in Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice.

Discussion questions about India and Afghanistan

1)How have geographical features influence the political social and cultural development of India?The Himalayan mountains in the north of India act as a natural buffer from China. This is important, because China to the North has been a powerful country in history. The natural break has caused both nations to be separate and free from war. The Ganges river is one of the longest in the world and has been used to cultivate crops. The Ganges is the 7th longest in the world. The Ganges river becomes all the most important, because India is also home to huge stretches of deserts. The Thar is also the 7th largest desert in the world. Another important point is that India is not landlocked. So, it has had good contact with other people groups and developed a fishing industry. India also have some good natural resources – oil, metals and natural gasses.2) What factors made it possible for the Mauryan and Gupta empires to unite substantial parts of the subcontinent?One factor that made it possible for the Mauryan and Gupta Empires to unite the substantial parts of the subcontinent was that the Mauryan Empire were a highly centralized and hierarchical government with a large staff, which regulated tax. They both blossomed under the control of their rulers. They both had a large army to take over. And lastly, they both fell under the army of invaders. Both of the army used lots of war elephants and advance weapons. Gupta India (320 B.C.E-550 C.E.) and Imperial Rome (31 B.C.E.-476 C.E.) both had very distinctive methods of political control based on everything from cultural reasons to geographic limitations.3) What do the textbook authors mean by theater state?Historians' term for a state that acquires prestige and power by developing attractive cultural forms and staging elaborate public ceremonies (as well as redistributing valuable resources) to attract and bind subjects to the center.4) What are the origins of varna and jati, and why has the varna-jati system of social organization lasted so long ?What social needs did try serve, and how are these social functions addressed in out culture?Two of the most important parts that make the constitution last so long are guaranteed freedoms and ability to be adaptable. The varna system of Hindu society is described in the various Puranas and Smritis, among others. Manusmriti, is one of many Dharmashastra texts reflecting the laws and society of Maurya period India and being a reference work for the Brahmins of Bengal especially.5) What are the similarities and what are the Difference Between Jainism, Buddhism, & Hinduism?HInduism is considered the oldest religion, and encompasses all strata of society. Jainism is based upon 24 principle beliefs of hinduism and was set up as a scholarly hierarchy. Buddhism is a Philosophy of Wisdom, based or derived from the scriptures of Hinduism sans Deity worship, considered superfluous to the intellectual pursuit and application of the tenets. Buddhism is by fa r superior in its substance of followers of the three with advocates all over the world.6) What factors might explain srivijaya ability to organise a number of ecological zones into a single kingdom?Naval military forces, Srivijaya's maritime was constantly managing their trade network and always wary of potential rival ports of neighboring kingdoms. 12 months ago. Srivijaya or Sriwijaya was a powerful ancient Malay empire based on the island of Sumatra, modern day Indonesia, which influenced much of Southeast Asia. The earliest solid proof of its existence dates from the 7th century.

How to Write and Format a Business Case Study

How to Write and Format a Business Case Study Business case studies are teaching tools that are used by many business schools, colleges, universities, and corporate training programs. This method of teaching is known as the case method. Most business case studies are written by educators, executives or heavily educated business consultants. However, there are times when students are asked to conduct and write their own business case studies. For example, students may be asked to create a case study as a final assignment or group project. Student-created case studies may even be used as a teaching tool or a basis for class discussion. Writing a Business Case Study When you write a case study, you must write with the reader in mind. The case study should be set up so that the reader is forced to analyze situations, draw conclusions, and make recommendations based on their predictions. If you arent overly familiar with case studies, you may be wondering how to best organize your writing. To help you get started, lets take a look at the most common ways to structure and format a business case study.   Case Study Structure and Format Although every business case study is a little different, there are a few elements that every case study has in common. Every case study has an original title. Titles vary but usually include the name of the company as well as a little info about the case scenario in ten words or less. Examples of real case study titles include Design Thinking and Innovation at Apple and Starbucks: Delivering Customer Service. All cases are written with a learning objective in mind. The objective might be designed to impart knowledge, build a skill, challenge the learner, or develop an ability. After reading and analyzing the case, the student should know about something or be able to do something. An example objective might look like this: After analyzing the case study, the student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of approaches to marketing segmentation, differentiate between potential core customer bases and recommend a brand positioning strategy for XYZs newest product. Most case studies assume a story-like format. They often have a protagonist with an important goal or decision to make. The narrative is usually weaved throughout the study, which also includes sufficient background information about the company, situation, and essential people or elements. There should be enough detail to allow the reader to form an educated assumption and make an informed decision about the questions (usually two to five questions) presented in the case. The Case Study Protagonist Case studies should have a protagonist that needs to make a decision. This forces the case reader to assume the role of the protagonist and make choices from a particular perspective. An example of a case study protagonist is a branding manager who has two months to decide on a positioning strategy for a new product that could financially make or break the company. When writing the case, it is important to ensure that your protagonist is  developed and compelling enough to engage the reader.   The Case Study Narrative/Situation The narrative of a case study starts with an introduction to the protagonist, her role and responsibilities, and the situation/scenario that she is facing. Information is provided on the decisions the protagonist needs to make. Details include challenges and constraints related to the decision (such as a deadline) as well as any biases the protagonist might have. The next section offers up background information on the company and its business model, industry and competitors. The case study then covers challenges and issues faced by the protagonist as well as the consequences associated with the decision that the protagonist needs to make. Exhibits and extra documents, like financial statements, might be included in the case study to help students reach a decision about the best course of action.   The Deciding Point The conclusion of a case study returns to the main question or problem that must be analyzed and solved by the protagonist. Case study readers are expected to step into the role of the protagonist and answer the question or questions presented in the case studies. In most cases, there are multiple ways to answer the case question, which allows for classroom discussion and debate.

Jack and Ralph Lord of the Flies Essays

Jack and Ralph Lord of the Flies Essays Jack and Ralph Lord of the Flies Essay Jack and Ralph Lord of the Flies Essay Essay Topic: Lord Of the Flies In the novel The Lord of the Flies, Jack and Ralph represent two separate entities that increasingly butt heads with each other as the novel progresses. These two characters have completely different viewpoints on what should be happening while they are in the situation that currently has a grasp on them. Ralph tries to lean towards a more civilized route on the way things should be and what everyone should do to get out of the situation they are in on the island that could easily mean life or death. Jack isn’t as focused on getting things organized and sorted out for a chance of rescue off the island. He leans towards a savagery and barbaric like way of things as he is presented with different situations that he could be civilized about but instead acts with an opposing force to Ralph and his way of how things should be. With these two characters being so different from one another it is hard for everyone else because they must make a choice on who to follow and take orders f rom. How do these two entities represent human nature and what defects it may really have? Ralph represents leadership, the properly socialized and civilized young man. This is the presumably good and just side of humans that most attribute to as good and well-behaved. Normally you’d see these types of people curing diseases and creating things that before were said to not be able to be created. These traits make for a good leader who will usually take up a task that someone else would never even want to be presented with. Even though these traits and qualities seem great and almost perfect, there is a side to these kinds of people that might make you second guess on your current thoughts about the â€Å"properly socialized and civilized man. This side is what I callsurvival. The survival trait among humans is hereditary to all as it is what we were forced to reside to always in the ancient times. But this trait for this type of man can be harmful as it has the

2full page reflection paper Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

2full page reflection paper - Essay Example long to Western countries, among others); the manner of selecting art works; and whose points of views should be emphasized as focal points for conveying the meaning of these works of art; to name a few. On the other hand, Heartney’s article argued that the works of art selected for the exhibit seemed to exemplify the skills and talents of non-Western artists as bordering between traditional local and Western culture. This has also be the subject of discussion in the interview by Buchloh with Martin (Buchloh). Upon absorbing the main thrusts of the authors’ contentions, one was able to appreciate viewing the varied works of arts which were included in the exhibit. The diversity within which these art works were chosen reflect the objective of the proponents in showcasing talents of artists from all over the world. It was therefore commendable that through publishing these articles, art enthusiasts who did not have the resources to attend the exhibit at that time, and even in contemporary times, could marvel at diverse art forms in the artists’ personal interpretation of cultural underpinnings. One could affirm that the selection for the exhibit was indeed representative of different cultures from a global sphere. Much the same assertion noted by Heartney was the revelation that â€Å"the most interesting works in the show were produced by non-Western artists conversant with the subtleties of Western art and culture and interested in the interplay between these traditions and their own† (94). One strongly believes that contemporary artists, even from non-Western countries, or those identified to be cultural margins, could have been influenced by Western culture. Specifically, due to the evolving technological and communication applications, at the time that the exhibit was organized, archaic practices, as opposed to ‘primitive’ became a crucial criteria for inclusion. Therefore, emphasizing that viewers would expect diversity and unconventional art forms

Mao Zedong Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Mao Zedong - Essay Example He used the communist ideology as a rallying point for the Chinese people and prevailed against Chiang Kai-Shek in the Chinese Civil War. Although China became more insular in the early years, it was able under Mao's leadership to gain a greater degree of political and economic independence. It would never again become a colony of foreign powers, it would decide its own internal affairs, and it would begin the political process of reclaiming lost territories such as Macau and Hong Kong. It is hard to argue that Mao's unification of China, and his role in reestablishing sovereignty and political independence, were not beneficial for China and the Chinese people. Despite these superficial achievements, however, the methods employed by Mao to achieve certain goals have been heavily criticized. From 1958-1960, for example, Mao spearheaded a national economic campaign designed to transform a predominantly agrarian Chinese economy into a more modernized industrial economy. He called this the Great Leap Forward and it has been judged an utter failure by historians.