The End Of Easy Everything - 1052 Words

One of the major issues in global affairs today consists of the supply of energy and other minerals and commodities. Michael Klare in â€Å"The End of Easy Everything† argues that the transformation from an effortless to a more resilient resource period will be financially, environmentally, socially, and politically costly. Looking at the state of the supply of energy oil and natural gas today, I tend to agree with the findings as presented by Michael Klare. Klare explores contentious issues in which easily obtained supplies are terminating. Particularly, companies that deal in such resources must turn to the more difficult methods to extract sources of oil, natural gas, and various minerals. This has led to controversial methods such as deep-water oil wells, hydrofracking for natural gas and other energy sources. Also, the acid fracking for copper: which some environmentalists maintain that these methods cause environmental damage and should not be permitted. Klare argues that discovery of a natural resource, for instance, oil, result in producers seeking and exploiting the most desirable, best quality and those closest to markets. Over time, these â€Å"easy† resources become scarce, of poorer quality, harder to extract and extend into areas further away from the market. This subsequent need to extract â€Å"tougher† resources has catalyzed an age of discovery that energy experts call the â€Å"shale revolution.† Daniel Yergin, an author and energy optimist describes the â€Å"natural gasShow MoreRelatedThe End Of Easy Everything1024 Words   |  5 PagesBernard C. Hilton GLBAFF 301 OL Bernard Hilton Robert Weiner February 20, 2016 UMS ID: 00762747 The End of Easy Everything One of the major issues in global affairs today consists of the supply of energy and other minerals and commodities. Michael Klare in â€Å"The End of Easy Everything† argues that the transformation from an effortless to a more resilient resource period will be expensive. Looking at the state of the supply of energy oil and natural gas today, I tend to agree with the findings asRead MoreGraduation Speech : Becoming A College Student862 Words   |  4 Pagesthe support of my family boosting up my self-esteem helped me make it through my freshman year of college. Life is like a rollercoaster you experience many ups and downs but in the end it’s worth the ride. Becoming a college student has been a different experience than what I had in mind, you learn how to do everything on your own and putting your part into it. If you don’t do your best it’s going to be a waste of money and semester. Money is a big important thing in college, back then you didn’tRead MoreFriendship and Enmity736 Words   |  3 Pageslines I was angry with my friend , I told my wrath my wrath did end which means that and shows that it is very easy to end your problems with your friends and it is very easy to say sorry and tolerate each other and everything returns again as it was. 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Although he is faced withRead MoreEnglish Should Be Ficial Language Of The United States1303 Words   |  6 Pages(Grovum). The majority of the states have agreed to this law meaning most people in the states know English or are learning it immediately if they are immigrants coming in. Immigrants in other states don’t necessarily have to learn the language so many end up not learning it keeping the nation divided. Although these states have made the law official some states just see it as symbolic and do not fully follow the law (Grovum). With the laws not being followed immigrants are encouraged to learn EnglishRead MoreEnglish Should Be Ficial Language Of The United States1303 Words   |  6 Pages(Grovum). The majority of the states have agreed to this law meaning most people in the states know english or are learning it immediately if they are immigrants coming in. Immigrants in other states don’t necessarily have to learn the language so many end up not learning it keeping the nation divided. Although these states have made the law official some states just see it as symbolic and do not fully foll ow the law (Grovum). With the laws not being followed immigrants are encouraged to learn englishRead MoreEvolution Of Jerome By Jerome. Jerome1615 Words   |  7 Pagesreally get connected to Jerome. Despite obviously being the main character as well, he was in the background so much that it was easy to get caught up in Vincent’s character. As the story line progresses Jerome’s role becomes much more important, undeterred by many of his actions still being behind the scenes. As the story becomes increasingly focuses on Jerome it is very easy to sympathize; viewers start to notice him more because as tragic as his life has become, but he still chooses to take selflessRead MoreTime Management From The Inside Out1677 Words   |  7 Pagesdoing in the future, because things may come up and cannot deal with it. Some people usually miss their deadline and go insane because of that. From that angry, they put it to their daily lives and cannot control in any situation. At th e end, they lose everything that they have built for a long time and cannot bring them back on track. That’s why this book â€Å"Time Management from the Inside Out† by Julie Morgenstern has become a handy, because it shows you the way to manage time and how to deal with

Spirit Bound Chapter Three Free Essays

string(65) " driven off that I could bring myself to respond to her comment\." THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS were strange. The other novices and I might have had the flashiest graduation, but we weren’t the only ones finishing our education at St. Vladimir’s. We will write a custom essay sample on Spirit Bound Chapter Three or any similar topic only for you Order Now The Moroi had their own commencement ceremony, and campus grew packed with visitors. Then, almost as quickly as they came, parents disappeared–taking their sons and daughters with them. Royal Moroi left to spend their summers with their parents at luxury estates–many in the Southern Hemisphere, where the days were shorter this time of year. â€Å"Ordinary† Moroi left with their parents too, off to more modest homes, possibly getting summer jobs before college. And of course, with school wrapping up for the summer, all the other students left too. Some with no family to go home to, usually dhampirs, stayed year-round, taking special electives, but they were the minority. Campus grew emptier each day as my classmates and I waited for the day when we’d be taken to the Royal Court. We made our farewells to others, Moroi moving on or younger dhampirs who’d soon be following in our footsteps. One person I was sad to part with was Jill. I happened to catch her as I was walking toward Lissa’s dorm the day before my Court trip. There was a woman with Jill, presumably her mother, and both were carrying boxes. Jill’s face lit up when she saw me. â€Å"Hey Rose! I said goodbye to everyone else but couldn’t find you,† she said excitedly. I smiled. â€Å"Well, I’m glad you caught me.† I couldn’t tell her that I’d been saying goodbye too. I’d spent my last day at St. Vladimir’s walking all the familiar sites, starting with the elementary campus where Lissa and I had first met in kindergarten. I’d explored the halls and corners of my dorms, walked past favorite classrooms, and even visited the chapel. I’d also passed a lot of time in areas filled with bittersweet memories, like the training areas where I’d first gotten to know Dimitri. The track where he used to make me run laps. The cabin where we’d finally given in to each other. It had been one of the most amazing nights of my life, and thinking about it always brought me both joy and pain. Jill didn’t need to be burdened with any of that, though. I turned toward her mother and started to offer my hand until I realized she couldn’t shake it while maneuvering the box. â€Å"I’m Rose Hathaway. Here, let me carry that.† I took it before she could protest because I was certain she would. â€Å"Thank you,† she said, pleasantly surprised. I fell in step with them as they began walking again. â€Å"I’m Emily Mastrano. Jill’s told me a lot about you.† â€Å"Oh yeah?† I asked, giving Jill a teasing smile. â€Å"Not that much. Just how I hang out with you sometimes.† There was a slight warning in Jill’s green eyes, and it occurred to me that Emily probably didn’t know her daughter practiced forbidden forms of Strigoi-killing magic in her free time. â€Å"We like having Jill around,† I said, not blowing her cover. â€Å"And one of these days, we’re going to teach her to tame that hair.† Emily laughed. â€Å"I’ve been trying for almost fifteen years. Good luck.† Jill’s mother was stunning. The two didn’t resemble each other much, at least not superficially. Emily’s lustrous hair was straight and black, her eyes deep blue and long-lashed. She moved with a willowy grace, very different from Jill’s always self-conscious walk. Yet, I could see the shared genes here and there, the heart-shaped faces and lip shapes. Jill was still young, and as she grew into her features, she’d likely be a heartbreaker herself someday–something she was probably oblivious to right now. Hopefully her self-confidence would grow. â€Å"Where’s home for you guys?† I asked. â€Å"Detroit,† said Jill, making a face. â€Å"It’s not that bad,† laughed her mom. â€Å"There are no mountains. Just highways.† â€Å"I’m part of a ballet company there,† Emily explained. â€Å"So we stay where we can pay the bills.† I think I was more surprised that people went to the ballet in Detroit than that Emily was a ballerina. It made sense, watching her, and really, with their tall and slim builds, Moroi were ideal dancers as far as humans were concerned. â€Å"Hey, it’s a big city,† I told Jill. â€Å"Enjoy the excitement while you can before you come back to the boring middle of nowhere.† Of course, illicit combat training and Strigoi attacks were hardly boring, but I wanted to make Jill feel better. â€Å"And it won’t be that long.† Moroi summer vacations were barely two months. Parents were eager to return their children to the safety of the Academy. â€Å"I guess,† said Jill, not sounding convinced. We reached their car, and I loaded the boxes into the trunk. â€Å"I’ll e-mail you when I can,† I promised. â€Å"And I bet Christian will too. Maybe I can even talk Adrian into it.† Jill brightened, and I was happy to see her return to her normal overexcited self. â€Å"Really? That would be great. I want to hear everything that goes on at Court. You’ll probably get to do all sorts of cool things with Lissa and Adrian, and I bet Christian will find out all sorts of things†¦ about things.† Emily didn’t seem to notice Jill’s lame editing attempt and instead fixed me with a pretty smile. â€Å"Thanks for your help, Rose. It was great to meet you.† â€Å"You too–umph!† Jill had thrown herself into me with a hug. â€Å"Good luck with everything,† she said. â€Å"You’re so lucky–you’re going to have such a great life now!† I returned the hug, unable to explain how jealous of her I was. Her life was still safe and innocent. She might resent spending a summer in Detroit, but the stay would be brief, and soon she’d be back in the familiar and easy world of St. Vladimir’s. She wouldn’t be setting out into the unknown and its dangers. It was only after she and her mother had driven off that I could bring myself to respond to her comment. You read "Spirit Bound Chapter Three" in category "Essay examples" â€Å"I hope so,† I murmured, thinking about what was to come. â€Å"I hope so.† My classmates and select Moroi flew out early the next day, leaving the rocky mountains of Montana behind for the rolling hills of Pennsylvania. The Royal Court was a lot like I remembered, with the same imposing, ancient feel that St. Vladimir’s tried to impart with its towering buildings and intricate stone architecture. But the school also seemed to want to show off a wise, studious air, whereas the Court was more ostentatious. It was like the buildings themselves tried to make sure we all knew that this was the seat of power and royalty among the Moroi. The Royal Court wanted us to be amazed and maybe a little cowed. And even though I’d been here before, I was still impressed. The doors and windows of the tan stone buildings were embossed and framed in pristine golden decorations. They were a far cry from the brightness I’d seen in Russia, but I realized now that the Court’s designers had modeled these buildings off the old European ones–the fortresses and palaces of Saint Petersburg. St. Vladimir’s had benches and paths in the quads and courtyards, but the Court went a step further. Fountains and elaborate statues of past rulers adorned the lawns, exquisite marble works that had previously been hidden in snow. Now, in the full throes of summer, they were bright and on display. And everywhere, everywhere were flowers on trees, bushes, paths–it was dazzling. It made sense that new grads would visit the guardians’ central administration, but it occurred to me that there was another reason they brought new guardians here in the summer. They wanted my classmates and me to see all of this, to be overwhelmed and appreciative of the glory for which we were fighting. Looking at the faces of the new graduates, I knew the tactic was working. Most had never been here before. Lissa and Adrian had been on my flight, and the three of us clustered together as we walked with the group. It was as warm as it had been in Montana, but the humidity here was much thicker. I was sweating after only a little light walking. â€Å"You did bring a dress this time, right?† asked Adrian. â€Å"Of course,† I said. â€Å"They’ve got some fancy things they want us to go to, aside from the main reception. Although, they might give me my black-and-white for that.† He shook his head, and I noticed his hand start to move toward his pocket before hesitating and pulling back. He might have been making progress in quitting smoking, but I was pretty sure the subconscious urge to automatically reach for a pack when outdoors was hard to get rid of so quickly. â€Å"I mean for tonight. For dinner.† I glanced questioningly at Lissa. Her schedule at Court always had assorted functions thrown into it that â€Å"average people† didn’t attend. With my new and uncertain status, I wasn’t sure if I’d be going with her. I sensed her puzzlement through the bond and could tell that she didn’t have a clue about any special dinner plans. â€Å"What dinner?† I asked. â€Å"The one I set up with my family.† â€Å"The one you–† I came to an abrupt halt and stared wide-eyed, not liking the smirk on his face one bit. â€Å"Adrian!† A few of the new grads gave me curious looks and continued walking around us. â€Å"Come on, we’ve been going out a couple months. Meeting parents is part of the dating ritual. I’ve met your mom. I even met your scary-ass dad. Now it’s your turn. I guarantee none of my family’s gonna make the kind of suggestions your dad did.† I’d actually kind of met Adrian’s dad before. Or, well, I’d seen him at a party. I doubted he had any idea who I was–my crazy reputation aside. I knew almost nothing about Adrian’s mother. He actually spoke very little about his family members–well, most of them. â€Å"Just your parents?† I asked warily. â€Å"Any other family I should know about?† â€Å"Well†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Adrian’s hand twitched again. I think this time he wanted a cigarette as some sort of protection from the warning note in my voice. Lissa, I observed, seemed highly amused by all of this. â€Å"My favorite great-aunt might stop by.† â€Å"Tatiana?† I exclaimed. For the hundredth time, I wondered how I had lucked out with a guy related to the leader of the entire Moroi world. â€Å"She hates me! You know what happened the last time we talked.† Her Royal Majesty had laid into me, yelling about how I was too trashy to hook up with her nephew and how she had great â€Å"plans† for him and Lissa. â€Å"I think she’s come around.† â€Å"Oh, come on.† â€Å"No, really.† He almost looked like he was telling the truth. â€Å"I talked to my mom the other day, and†¦ I don’t know. Aunt Tatiana doesn’t seem to hate you as much.† I frowned, and the three of us began to walk again. â€Å"Maybe she admires your recent vigilante work,† mused Lissa. â€Å"Maybe,† I said. But I didn’t really believe it. If anything, me going rogue should have made me more despicable in the queen’s eyes. I felt kind of betrayed that Adrian had sprung this dinner on me, but there was nothing to be done about it now. The only bright side was that I had the impression he was teasing me about his aunt stopping by. I told him I’d go, and my decision put him in a good enough mood that he didn’t ask too many questions when Lissa and I said we were going to do â€Å"our own thing† that afternoon. My classmates were all getting a tour of the Court and its grounds as part of their indoctrination, but I’d seen it all before and was able to wiggle out of it. Lissa and I dropped our belongings off in our rooms and then set out to the far side of the Court, where the not-so-royal people lived. â€Å"Are you going to tell me yet what this other part of your plan is?† asked Lissa. Ever since Abe had explained about Victor’s prison, I’d been making another mental list of the problems we’d have breaking into it. Mainly, there were two, which was one less than I’d initially had since talking to Abe. Not that things were really much easier. First, we had no clue where in Alaska this place was. Second, we didn’t know what the prison’s defenses and layout were like. We had no idea what we had to bust through. Yet, something told me all of these answers could be found in one source, which meant I really only had one immediate problem: how to reach that source. Fortunately, I knew someone who might be able to help get us there. â€Å"We’re going to see Mia,† I told her. Mia Rinaldi was a former Moroi classmate of ours–a former enemy, actually. She was also the poster child for total personality makeovers. She’d gone from a scheming bitch who was willing to crush–and sleep with–anyone in her quest for popularity to a down-to-earth, confident girl eager to learn to defend herself and others from Strigoi. She lived here at Court with her father. â€Å"You think Mia knows how to break into a prison?† â€Å"Mia’s good, but I don’t think she’s that good. She can probably help us get intel, though.† Lissa groaned. â€Å"I can’t believe you just used the word intel. This really is turning into a spy movie.† She spoke flippantly, but I could feel the worry within her. The light tone was masking her fear, the unease she still felt about freeing Victor, despite her promise to me. Those non-royals who worked and did ordinary things at Court lived in apartments far from the queen’s quarters and receiving hall. I’d gotten Mia’s address in advance, and we set out across the perfectly manicured grounds, grumbling to each other along the way about the hot day. We found her at home, casually dressed in jeans and a T-shirt with a Popsicle in her hand. Her eyes widened when she saw us outside her door. â€Å"Well, I’ll be damned,† she said. I laughed. It was the kind of response I’d give. â€Å"Nice to see you too. Can we come in?† â€Å"Of course.† She stepped aside. â€Å"You want a Popsicle?† Did I ever. I took a grape one and sat with her and Lissa in the small living room. The place was a far cry from the opulence of royal guest housing, but it was cozy and clean and undoubtedly well loved by Mia and her father. â€Å"I knew the grads were coming,† Mia said, brushing blond curls out of her face. â€Å"But I wasn’t sure if you were with them or not. Did you even graduate?† â€Å"I did,† I said. â€Å"Got the promise mark and everything.† I lifted my hair so she could see the bandage. â€Å"I’m surprised they let you back in after you took off on your killing spree. Or did you get extra credit for that?† Apparently, Mia had heard the same tall tale about my adventures that everyone else had. That was fine with me. I didn’t want to talk about the truth. I didn’t want to talk about Dimitri. â€Å"Do you think anyone could stop Rose from doing what she wants?† asked Lissa with a smile. She was trying to keep us from getting into too much detail about my past whereabouts, for which I was grateful. Mia laughed and crunched on a big chunk of lime ice. It was a wonder she didn’t get brain freeze. â€Å"True.† Her smile faded as she swallowed the bite. Her blue eyes, always shrewd, studied me in silence for a few moments. â€Å"And Rose wants something now.† â€Å"Hey, we’re just happy to see you,† I said. â€Å"I believe you. But I also believe you’ve got an ulterior motive.† Lissa’s smile grew. She was amused by me being caught in my spy game. â€Å"What makes you say that? Can you read Rose that well or do you just always assume she’s got an ulterior motive?† Now Mia smiled again. â€Å"Both.† She scooted forward on the couch, fixing me with a serious look. When had she grown so perceptive? â€Å"Okay. No point in wasting time. What do you need my help with?† I sighed, busted. â€Å"I need to get inside the guardians’ main security office.† Beside me, Lissa made a sort of strangled noise. I felt kind of bad for her. While she could conceal her thoughts from me on occasion, there wasn’t much she did or said that came as a true surprise. Me? I continually blindsided her. She had no clue what was coming half the time, but honestly, if we were planning on springing a renowned criminal out of prison, then breaking into a security office shouldn’t have been that big of a shock. â€Å"Wow,† said Mia. â€Å"You don’t waste time with the little stuff.† Her grin twitched a bit. â€Å"Of course, you wouldn’t come to me with little stuff. You could do that yourself.† â€Å"Can you get me–us–in there?† I asked. â€Å"You’re friendly with some of the guardians here†¦ and your dad has access to a lot of places†¦.† I didn’t know Mr. Rinaldi’s exact job, but I thought it was maintenance-related. â€Å"What are you looking for?† she asked. She held up a hand when I opened my mouth to protest. â€Å"No, no. I don’t need details. Just a general idea so I can figure this out. I know you’re not going there just to tour the place.† â€Å"I need some records,† I explained. Her eyebrows rose. â€Å"Personnel? Trying to get yourself a job?† â€Å"I–no.† Huh. That wasn’t a bad idea, considering my precarious position with being assigned to Lissa. But no. One issue at a time. â€Å"I need some records about outside security at other places–schools, royal homes, prisons.† I tried to keep my expression casual as I mentioned that last one. Mia was on board with some crazy things, but even she had her limits. â€Å"I figured they must keep that stuff there?† â€Å"They do,† she said. â€Å"But most of it’s electronic. And no offense, but that might even be beyond your abilities. Even if we could get to one of their computers, everything’s password protected. And if they walk away, they lock the computers. I’m guessing you haven’t become a hacker since the last time I saw you.† No, certainly not. And unlike the heroes of those spy movies Lissa teased me about, I had no tech-savvy friends who could even come close to breaking that kind of encryption and security. Damn. I stared glumly at my feet, wondering if I had any chance at all of getting more information out of Abe. â€Å"But,† said Mia, â€Å"if the information you need isn’t too current, they might still have paper copies.† I jerked my head up. â€Å"Where?† â€Å"They’ve got mass storage rooms, tucked away in one of the basements. Files and files. Still under lock and key–but probably easier to get to than fighting the computers. Again, depends on what you need. How old it is.† Abe had given me the impression that Tarasov Prison had been around for a while. Surely there was a record of it in these archives. I didn’t doubt the guardians had gone digital a while ago, which meant we might not find up-to-the-minute details on the place’s security, but I’d settle for a blueprint. â€Å"It might be what we need. Can you get us in?† Mia was quiet for several seconds, and I could see her mind whirring. â€Å"Possibly.† She glanced at Lissa. â€Å"Can you still compel people into being your slaves?† Lissa grimaced. â€Å"I don’t like to think of it like that, but yeah, I can.† It was another of spirit’s perks. Mia considered a few moments more and then gave a quick nod. â€Å"Okay. Come back around two, and we’ll see what we can do.† Two in the afternoon for the rest of the world meant the middle of the night for Moroi, who ran on a nocturnal schedule. Being out in broad daylight didn’t feel particularly sneaky, but I had to figure Mia’s planning here was based on the fact that there would also be fewer people around that time of day. I was trying to decide if we should socialize more or head out when a knock interrupted my thoughts. Mia flinched and suddenly looked uncomfortable. She rose to get the door, and a familiar voice drifted down the hall toward us. â€Å"Sorry I’m early, but I–â€Å" Christian stepped into the living room. He abruptly shut up when he saw Lissa and me. Everyone seemed frozen, so it looked like it was up to me to pretend like this wasn’t a horribly awkward situation. â€Å"Hey, Christian,† I said cheerfully. â€Å"How’s it going?† His eyes were on Lissa, and it took him a moment to drag them to me. â€Å"Fine.† He glanced at Mia. â€Å"I can come back†¦. â€Å" Lissa hastily stood up. â€Å"No,† she said, voice cool and princesslike. â€Å"Rose and I have to go anyway.† â€Å"Yeah,† I agreed, following her lead. â€Å"We have†¦ stuff†¦ to do. And we don’t want to interrupt your†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Hell, I had no idea what they were going to do. Wasn’t sure I wanted to. Mia had found her voice. â€Å"Christian wanted to see some of the moves I’ve been practicing with the campus guardians.† â€Å"Cool.† I kept the smile on my face as Lissa and I moved toward the door. She stepped as far around Christian as she could. â€Å"Jill will be jealous.† And not just Jill. After another round of goodbyes, Lissa and I left and set back off across the grounds. I could feel the anger and jealousy radiating through her bond. â€Å"It’s only their fight club, Liss,† I said, having no need for her side of the conversation. â€Å"Nothing’s going on. They’re going to talk punches and kicking and other boring stuff.† Well, actually that stuff was pretty sweet, but I wasn’t about to glorify Christian and Mia hanging out. â€Å"Maybe now nothing’s going on,† she growled, staring stonily ahead. â€Å"But who knows what could happen? They spend time together, practice some physical moves, one thing leads to another–â€Å" â€Å"That’s ridiculous,† I said. â€Å"That kind of stuff isn’t romantic at all.† Another lie, seeing as that was exactly how my relationship with Dimitri had begun. Again, best not to mention that. â€Å"Besides, Christian can’t be involved with every girl he hangs out with. Mia, Jill–no offense, but he’s not really that much of a ladies’ man.† â€Å"He’s really good-looking,† she argued, those dark feelings still seething within her. â€Å"Yeah,† I conceded, keeping my eyes carefully on the pathway. â€Å"But it takes more than that. And besides, I thought you didn’t care what he did.† â€Å"I don’t,† she agreed, not even convincing herself, let alone me. â€Å"Not at all.† My attempts to distract her proved pretty useless for the rest of the day. Tasha’s words came back to me: Why haven’t you fixed this? Because Lissa and Christian were being too damned unreasonable, both caught up in their own pissed-off feelings–which were kind of pissing me off in return. Christian would have been pretty helpful in my illicit escapades, but I had to keep my distance for Lissa’s sake. I finally left her to her bad mood when dinner came around. Compared to her romantic situation, my relationship with a semi-spoiled royal playboy from a disapproving family seemed downright optimistic. What a sad and scary world this was becoming. I assured Lissa I’d head straight back after dinner and that we’d go see Mia together. The mention of Mia didn’t make Lissa happy, but the thought of a potential break-in did distract her momentarily from Christian. The dress I had for dinner was maroon, made of light, gauzy material that was great for summer weather. The neckline was decent, and little cap sleeves gave it a classy edge. With my hair in a low ponytail that did a decent job of hiding the healing tattoo, I almost looked like a respectable girlfriend–which only went to show how deceptive appearances were, seeing as I was part of a crazy scheme to bring my last boyfriend back from the dead. Adrian surveyed me from head to toe when I arrived at his parents’ town house. They kept a permanent residence here at the Court. The small smile on his face told me he liked what he saw. â€Å"You approve?† I asked, spinning around. He slipped an arm around my waist. â€Å"Unfortunately, yes. I was hoping you’d show up in something a lot sluttier. Something that would scandalize my parents.† â€Å"Sometimes it’s like you don’t even care about me as a person,† I observed as we walked inside. â€Å"It’s like you’re just using me for shock value.† â€Å"It’s both, little dhampir. I care about you, and I’m using you for shock value.† I hid a smile as the Ivashkovs’ housekeeper led us toward the dining room. The Court actually had restaurants and cafes tucked away within its buildings, but royals like Adrian’s parents would consider it classier to have a fancy dinner in their home. Me, I would have preferred being out in public. More escape options. â€Å"You must be Rose.† My assessment of the exits was interrupted when a very tall, very elegant Moroi woman came into the room. She wore a long, dark green satin dress that immediately made me feel out of place and that perfectly matched the color of her–and Adrian’s–eyes. Her dark hair was pulled into a bun, and she smiled down at me with genuine warmth as she took my hand. â€Å"I’m Daniella Ivashkov,† she said. â€Å"It’s very nice to meet you at last.† Was it really? My hand automatically shook hers in return. â€Å"Nice to meet you too, Lady Ivashkov.† â€Å"Call me Daniella, please.† She turned to Adrian and tsked as she straightened the collar of his button-up shirt. â€Å"Honestly, darling,† she said. â€Å"Do you even look in a mirror before you walk out the door? Your hair’s a mess.† He dodged her as she reached toward his head. â€Å"Are you kidding? I spent hours in front of the mirror to make it look this way.† She gave a tormented sigh. â€Å"Some days I can’t decide if I’m lucky or not to have no other children.† Behind her, quiet servants were setting food out on the table. Steam rose up from the platters, and my stomach rumbled. I hoped no one else heard. Daniella glanced off down the hall beyond her. â€Å"Nathan, will you hurry up? The food’s getting cold.† A few moments later, heavy footsteps sounded on the ornate wood floor, and Nathan Ivashkov swept into the room. Like his wife, he was dressed formally, the blue satin of his tie gleaming next to the starkness of his heavy black suit coat. I was glad they had air-conditioning in here, or he’d have been melting in that heavy fabric. The feature on him that stood out the most was what I remembered from before: a distinctly silver head of hair and mustache. I wondered if Adrian’s hair would look like that when he was older. Nah, I’d never find out. Adrian would probably dye his hair at the first sign of gray–or silver. Adrian’s father might be exactly as I remembered, but it was clear he had no clue who I was. In fact, he seemed genuinely startled to see me. â€Å"This is Adrian’s, ah, friend, Rose Hathaway,† said Daniella gently. â€Å"You remember–he said he’d bring her tonight.† â€Å"It’s nice to meet you, Lord Ivashkov.† Unlike his wife, he didn’t offer to put us on a first-name basis, which relieved me a little. The Strigoi who had forcefully turned Dimitri had been named Nathan too, and it wasn’t a name I wanted to speak aloud. Adrian’s father looked me over, but it wasn’t with the appreciation Adrian had shown earlier. It was more like I was an oddity. â€Å"Oh. The dhampir girl.† He wasn’t rude exactly, just disinterested. I mean, it wasn’t like he called me a blood whore or anything. We all sat down to eat, and although Adrian kept his typical devil-may-care smile on his face, I again got the vibe that he really, really wanted a cigarette. Probably hard liquor, too. Being around his parents was not something he enjoyed. When one of the servants poured us all wine, Adrian looked immensely relieved and didn’t hold back. I shot him a cautioning look that he ignored. Nathan managed to rapidly devour his balsamic-glazed pork medallions while still looking elegant and proper. â€Å"So,† he said, attention focused on Adrian, â€Å"now that Vasilisa’s graduated, what are you going to do with yourself? You aren’t going to keep slumming with high school students, are you? There’s no point in you being there anymore.† â€Å"I don’t know,† said Adrian lazily. He shook his head, further tousling his carefully mussed hair. â€Å"I kind of like hanging out with them. They think I’m funnier than I really am.† â€Å"Unsurprising,† his father replied. â€Å"You aren’t funny at all. It’s time you do something productive. If you aren’t going to go back to college, you should at least start sitting in on some of the family business meetings. Tatiana spoils you, but you could learn a lot from Rufus.† I knew enough about royal politics to recognize the name. The oldest member of each family was usually its â€Å"prince† or â€Å"princess† and held a Royal Council position–and was eligible to become king or queen. When Tatiana had taken the crown, Rufus had become prince of the Ivashkov family since he was the next oldest. â€Å"True,† said Adrian deadpan. He wasn’t eating so much as pushing his food around. â€Å"I’d really like to know how he keeps his two mistresses a secret from his wife.† â€Å"Adrian!† snapped Daniella, a flush spilling over her pale cheeks. â€Å"Don’t say things like that at our dinner table–and certainly not in front of a guest.† Nathan seemed to notice me again and gave a dismissive shrug. â€Å"She doesn’t matter.† I bit my lip on that, repressing the urge to see if I could throw my china plate Frisbee style and hit him in the head. I decided against it. Not only would it ruin dinner, but the plate probably wouldn’t get the lift I needed. Nathan turned his scowl back to Adrian. â€Å"But you do. I’m not going to have you sitting around doing nothing–and using our money to fund it.† Something told me I should stay out of this, but I couldn’t stand to see Adrian dressed down by his annoying father. Adrian did sit around and waste money, but Nathan didn’t have the right to make fun of him for it. I mean, sure, I did all the time. But that was different. â€Å"Maybe you could go to Lehigh with Lissa,† I offered. â€Å"Keep studying spirit with her and then†¦ do whatever else you were doing the last time you were in college†¦.† â€Å"Drinking and skipping classes,† said Nathan. â€Å"Art,† said Daniella. â€Å"Adrian took art classes.† â€Å"Really?† I asked, turning to him in surprise. Somehow, I could imagine him as an artistic type. It fit his erratic personality. â€Å"Then this would be perfect. You could pick it up again.† He shrugged and finished his second glass of wine. â€Å"I don’t know. This college would probably have the same problem the last one did.† I frowned. â€Å"What’s that?† â€Å"Homework.† â€Å"Adrian,† growled his father. â€Å"It’s okay,† said Adrian breezily. He rested his arm casually on the table. â€Å"I don’t really need a job or extra money. After Rose and I get married, the kids and I’ll just live off of her guardian paycheck.† We all froze, even me. I knew perfectly well that he was joking. I mean, even if he harbored fantasies of marriage and kids (and I was pretty sure he didn’t), the meager salary a guardian made would never be enough to keep him in the luxurious life he required. Adrian’s father, however, clearly did not think he was joking. Daniella seemed undecided. Me, I was just uncomfortable. It was a very, very bad topic to bring up at a dinner like this, and I couldn’t believe Adrian had gone there. I didn’t even think the wine was to blame. Adrian just liked tormenting his father that much. The awful silence grew thicker and thicker. My gut instinct to fill conversation voids was raging, but something told me to stay quiet. The tension increased. When the doorbell rang, all four of us nearly jumped out of our chairs. The housekeeper, Torrie, scurried off to answer it, and I breathed a mental sigh of relief. An unexpected visitor would help ease the tension. Or maybe not. Torrie cleared her throat when she returned, clearly flustered as she looked from Daniella to Nathan. â€Å"Her Royal Majesty Queen Tatiana is here.† No. Way. All three Ivashkovs stood up abruptly, and a half second later, I joined them. I hadn’t believed Adrian earlier when he said Tatiana might come. From his face, he seemed pretty surprised now too. But sure enough, there she was. She swept into the room, elegant in what must have been business casual for her: tailored black slacks and jacket with a red silk and lace blouse underneath. Little jeweled barrettes gleamed in her dark hair, and those imperious eyes peered down at us all as we offered hasty bows. Even her own family followed formalities. â€Å"Aunt Tatiana,† said Nathan, forcing what looked like a smile onto his face. I don’t think he did it very often. â€Å"Won’t you join us for dinner?† She waved a hand dismissively. â€Å"No, no. I can’t stay. I’m on my way to meet with Priscilla but thought I’d stop by when I heard Adrian had returned.† Her gaze fell on him. â€Å"I can’t believe you’ve been here all day and didn’t come visit.† Her voice was cool, but I swear there was an amused twinkle in her eyes. It was scary. She wasn’t someone I thought of as warm and fuzzy. The whole experience of seeing her outside of one of her ceremonial rooms was totally unreal. Adrian grinned at her. He was clearly the most comfortable person in the room right now. For reasons I never understood, Tatiana loved and spoiled Adrian. That wasn’t to say that she didn’t love her other family members; it was just clear that he was her favorite. It had always surprised me, considering what a scoundrel he was sometimes. â€Å"Aw, I figured you had more important things to do than see me,† he told her. â€Å"Besides, I quit smoking, so now we won’t be able to go sneak cigarettes out behind the throne room together.† â€Å"Adrian!† chastised Nathan, turning bright red. It occurred to me then that I could have based a drinking game around how many times he exclaimed his son’s name disapprovingly. â€Å"Auntie, I’m sor–â€Å" Tatiana held up a hand again. â€Å"Oh, be silent, Nathan. No one wants to hear it.† I almost choked. Being in the same room with the queen was horrid, but it was almost worth it to see her verbally bitch-slap Lord Ivashkov. She turned back to Adrian, face thawing. â€Å"You’ve finally quit? It’s about time. I suppose this is your doing?† It took me a moment to realize she was speaking to me. Until that point, I’d kind of hoped she might not have even noticed me. It seemed the only explanation for her not screaming at them to remove the rebellious little blood whore. It was shocking. Her voice wasn’t accusatory, either. It was†¦ impressed. â€Å"W-well, it wasn’t me, Your Majesty,† I said. My meekness was a far cry from my behavior at our last meeting. â€Å"Adrian was the one who had the, uh, determination to do it.† So help me, Tatiana chuckled. â€Å"Very diplomatic. They should assign you to a politician.† Nathan didn’t like the attention on me. I wasn’t sure I did either, semi-pleasant or not. â€Å"Are you and Priscilla doing business tonight? Or just having a friendly dinner?† Tatiana dragged her gaze from me. â€Å"Both. There’s been some inter-family squabbling going on. Not publicly, but it’s getting out. People are making noise about security. Some are ready to start training up right now. Others are wondering if guardians can go without sleep.† She rolled her eyes. â€Å"And those are the tamest of the suggestions.† No question about it. This visit had gotten a lot more interesting. â€Å"I hope you’re going to shut those would-be militants up,† growled Nathan. â€Å"Us fighting alongside guardians is absurd.† â€Å"What’s absurd,† said Tatiana, â€Å"is having strife among the royal classes. That’s what I want to ‘shut up.'† Her tone grew lofty, very queenlike. â€Å"We’re the leaders among the Moroi. We have to set an example. We need to be unified to survive.† I studied her curiously. What did that mean? She hadn’t agreed or disagreed with Nathan’s stance on Moroi fighting. She’d only mentioned establishing peace among her people. But how? Was her method to encourage the new motion or squash it? Security was a huge concern for everyone after the attack, and it fell on her to figure it out. â€Å"Sounds pretty hard to me,† said Adrian, playing oblivious to the seriousness of the matter. â€Å"If you still want a cigarette afterward, I’ll make an exception.† â€Å"I’ll settle for you coming to make a proper visit tomorrow,† she said dryly. â€Å"Leave the cigarettes at home.† She glanced at his empty wineglass. â€Å"And other things.† A flash of steely resolve crossed her gaze, and even though it melted as quickly as it had come, I felt almost relieved. There was the icy Tatiana I knew. He saluted. â€Å"Noted.† Tatiana gave the rest of us brief glances. â€Å"Have a good evening,† was her only farewell. We bowed again, and then she headed back toward the front door. As she did, I heard scuffling and murmured voices. She’d been traveling with a retinue, I realized, and had left them all in the foyer while she came to say hello to Adrian. Dinner was quiet after that. Tatiana’s visit had kind of left us all astonished. At least it meant I didn’t have to hear Adrian and his father bicker anymore. Daniella mostly maintained what little conversation there was, attempting to inquire about my interests, and I realized she hadn’t said a word during Tatiana’s brief visit. Daniella had married into the Ivashkovs, and I wondered if she found the queen intimidating. When the time came for us to leave, Daniella was all smiles while Nathan retired to his study. â€Å"You need to come by more often,† she told Adrian, smoothing his hair in spite of his protests. â€Å"And you’re welcome anytime, Rose.† â€Å"Thank you,† I said, dumbfounded. I kept studying her face to see if she was lying, but I didn’t think she was. It made no sense. Moroi didn’t approve of long-term relationships with dhampirs. Royal Moroi especially didn’t. And royal Moroi related to the queen especially didn’t, at least if past experience was any indication. Adrian sighed. â€Å"Maybe if he’s not around. Oh, damn. That reminds me. I left my coat here last time–I wanted to get out too fast.† â€Å"You’ve got, like, fifty coats,† I remarked. â€Å"Ask Torrie,† said Daniella. â€Å"She’ll know where it is.† Adrian went off to find the housekeeper, leaving me with his mother. I should have made polite, inconsequential small talk, but my curiosity was getting the better of me. â€Å"Dinner was really great,† I told her honestly. â€Å"And I hope you won’t take this the wrong way†¦ but I mean†¦ well, you seem okay with Adrian and me dating.† She nodded serenely. â€Å"I am.† â€Å"And†¦Ã¢â‚¬  Well, it had to be said. â€Å"Tat–Queen Tatiana kind of seemed okay with it too.† â€Å"She is.† I made sure my jaw didn’t drop to the floor. â€Å"But†¦ I mean, the last time I talked to her, she was really mad. She kept telling me over and over how she’d never allow us to be together in the future or get married or anything like that.† I cringed, recalling Adrian’s joke. â€Å"I figured you’d feel the same. Lord Ivashkov does. You can’t really want your son to be with a dhampir forever.† Daniella’s smile was kind but wry. â€Å"Do you plan on being with him forever? Do you plan on marrying him and settling down?† The question totally caught me off guard. â€Å"I†¦ no†¦ I mean, no offense to Adrian. I just never–â€Å" â€Å"Planned on settling down at all?† She nodded wisely. â€Å"That’s what I thought. Believe me, I know Adrian wasn’t serious earlier. Everyone’s jumping to conclusions that haven’t even happened. I’ve heard of you, Rose–everyone has. And I admire you. And based on what I’ve learned, I’m guessing you aren’t the type who would quit being a guardian to be a housewife.† â€Å"You’re right,† I admitted. â€Å"Then I don’t see the problem. You’re both young. You’re entitled to have fun and do what you want now, but I–you and I–know that even if you see Adrian off and on for the rest of your life, you aren’t going to get married or settle down. And it has nothing to do with what Nathan or anyone says. It’s the way of the world. It’s the kind of person you are. I can see it in your eyes. Tatiana’s realized it too, and that’s why she eased up. You need to be out there fighting, and that’s what you’ll do. At least if you truly intend to be a guardian.† â€Å"I do.† I was staring at her in wonder. Her attitude was amazing. She was the first royal I’d met who hadn’t immediately freaked out and gone crazy over the idea of a Moroi and dhampir match. If other people shared her view, it would make a lot of others’ lives easier. And she was right. It didn’t matter what Nathan thought. It wouldn’t have even mattered if Dimitri had been around. The bottom line was that Adrian and I wouldn’t be together for the rest of our lives because I’d always be on guardian duty, not lounging around like he did. Realizing that freed things up†¦ yet it made me a little sad too. Behind her, I could see Adrian approaching down the hall. Daniella leaned forward, pitching her voice low for me. There was a wistful note to her words when she spoke, the tone of a concerned mother. â€Å"But Rose? While I’m fine with you two dating and being happy, please try not to break his heart too much when the time comes.† How to cite Spirit Bound Chapter Three, Essay examples

Current Research and Emerging Questions free essay sample

Current Research and Emerging Questions S. Craig Watkins, Associate Professor of Sociology and Radii)-Television-Film, The University of Texas at Austin Introduction Young African Americans have not participated as long as their white counterparts in the media culture industry (Nightingale 1993). In truth, it is difficult to discern a substantive relationship between black youth and the mass media prior to the sass.The Initial exclusion of blacks from popular media culture Is attributable to two main factors: 1) a lack of discretionary income on the part of black outs and their families and, 2) racial exclusionary practices on the part of the culture Industries. Important economic and educational advances since the sass have sharply increased black household and discretionary income (Farley and Allen 1987) and also help to establish a viable African American consumer culture.By the late sass and early sass the film (Gruyere 1993; Watkins 1998) and television industries (Gray 1995) began responding to the shifting sensibilities of black youth culture by creating products that specifically targeted black youth. We will write a custom essay sample on Current Research and Emerging Questions or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page It was also during his time that the wider distribution of television occurred, thus exposing black youth to American consumer culture in ways unknown to previous generations (Nightingale 1993). A primary aim of this paper is to outline some of the important research fledglings and emergent issues that examine the changing relationship between black American youth and the mass media industry.Black Youth, and Media Stereotyping: The Media Effects Paradigm The widespread distribution and consumption of mass media continues to generate Intense debate concerning the extent to which products eke film, television, and music video affect youth behavior and social development. A primary aim of the effects paradigm has been to explore how media socializes youth Into behavior that Impairs their ability to mature Into socially responsible and productive citizens. As black youth have experienced greater access to the products and services manufactured by the mass media industry, additional ques tions have emerged. One specific site of Inquiry Involves the effects of mass media stereotyping on the self-esteem and cognitive development of black youth. For most of its history he mass media industry has produced images that distort and misrepresent the complexities of the African American experience. Contemporary media representations of African Americans can be best described as paradoxical: blacks are simultaneously underrepresented and overrepresented in American media culture. For example. Lacks appear more frequently in both television (Khan 1990; Alicia and Basis 1993) and magazine advertisements (Taylor 1995). But blacks are also more likely to appear in minor or background roles (Wilkes and Valiance 1989) or during black oriented programs (Alicia and Basis 1993). Analysis of the television industry confirms that executives, writers, and directors tend not to place African Americans in dramatic story-plots and programs (Gray 1995). Blacks are most likely to appear in genre formats (I. E. Situation comedies, variety shows) that are ungenerous, light-hearted, and non-threatening. Moreover, a study of local television news programs from twenty-nine cities found that African Americans tend not to appear as necromancer news sources, reporters, or be included in news stories about non-racial issues (I. E. , the economy) thus leading to a pervasive form of normalization (Campbell 1995). Whereas blacks are underrepresented in many areas of mass media they are overrepresented in television sports broadcasts and crime and violence related portrayals. Ironically, Sharpe and Curry (1996) argue that while images of blacks in magazines has increased, this may actually be a counterproductive trend because blacks are predominantly portrayed in athletic roles. Similarly, Bowen and Schmidt (1997) found that while images of blacks in mainstream magazines has increased there is little role or occupational variation. In this study, blacks were more likely to appear as athletes or musicians. Hofmann (1997) maintains that the Italianization of the black image reproduces and popularizes long-standing myths about biological and intellectual differences between blacks and whites.Furthermore, studies demonstrate that when African Americans are portrayed in television news it is generally in aggressive, violent, or criminal roles (Piffle et al. 1996). Analysis of reality-based television programs produced two important findings: 1) violent crime was overrepresented and, 2) blacks and Latino are disproportionately depicted as criminals (Oliver 1994 ). In one of the cost extensive studies of television news, Reeves and Campbell (1994) found that coverage of cocaine use and violent-related behavior during the sass typically treated young black males and females as pathological threats to society.Also, a recent analysis of the film industry asserts that blacks tend to be restricted to low budget features that focus disproportionately on crime, violence, and youth delinquency (Watkins 1998). How does the current image landscape affect the self- esteem and cognitive development of African American youth? Tan and Tan (1979) examined the effects of the limited portrayal of blacks in high-status occupations. These researchers tentatively conclude that heavy exposure to white-aimed television programming causes lower self-esteem among blacks.Similarly, in his ethnographic study of poor black youth, Nightingale (1993) argues that their relationship to mass media culture leads to serious social and psychological problems. He argues that, wh ile black youth live in a world of unprecedented material abundance, conspicuous consumption, and media advertising, their poverty stricken status severely limits their ability to participate in a rapidly expanding consumer culture, thus leading to personal frustration, social stigma, and alienation. Lee and Brown (1995) contend that black youth may be especially influenced by television advertisements featuring black athletes. They found that parents and teenagers frequently disagree and argue over purchase decisions of consumer products. Poor youth pursue possession of compensatory status symbols (I. E. , expensive sneakers, clothes, Jewelry) in order to help them negotiate social stigma and economic normalization (Nightingale 1993). Conversely, some media scholars contend black youth may not be negatively influenced by media culture because of the higher social status and professional concludes that blacks were heavy viewers of black television shows and generally rated black television characters more positively than did non-blacks.Thus, she asserts that television does not have a negative influence on the self-esteem of black television viewers. Strongman (1986) examined cognitive development of black children in relation to their television viewing habits and concludes that black children display a very positive attitude toward blacks who appear in high status roles. Strongman (1991) maintains that television both negatively and positively affects the social and cognitive development of black children and adolescents.Rather than generalize the presumed negative effects of television, Strongman believes the medium can provide youth with important knowledge about the world that is unavailable to them in their immediate environment. She acknowledges, however, that the extent to which television can be a means to enhance the self-concept of black children depends greatly on the intervention of parents, educators, and industry personnel guiding youth toward more educational oriented programming.Black Youth: Media Colonization and Quality of Life Issues Television viewers among black youth is higher than their white counterparts (Pinpointed and Strongman 1981). Social and economic factors explain this trend (Greenberg and Dominick 1969). For example, high levels of television viewers tend to correspond with low economic status. Because poor and workin g class children are less likely to have access to non-school related extra- curricular activities, they may spend more time at home, thus increasing their viewers of television. Also, because black children are more likely to be reared in single parent households, they may not receive the same degree of parental supervision as white children. Consequently, black youth may be more likely to use television for companionship (Surliness and Dominick 1970-71). Because of its accessibility and penetration of American domestic life, many researchers regard television as the most powerful form of media colonization. Insofar as television is a powerful agent of colonization, its effects are likely to be most pronounced on populations that view it most.High levels of television viewers have important quality of life implications for youth. Three of the most important quality of life indices include educational development, sexual behavior, and goals, aspirations or reception of life chances. First, high amounts of television viewers among youth can contribute to lower levels of literacy. The time devoted to television reduces the amount of time youth have available to further develop and enhance their reading skills (Gaudy 1986; Strongman 1991). Second, television viewers may also influence youth sexual behavior.In a survey questionnaire of 391 adolescents, Brown and Newcomer (1991) found a relationship between their sexual behavior and viewing of sexual content on television. While causal direction was not clear from the data (I. E. , id exposure to sexual content increase likelihood of sexual intercourse or vice versa? ), the authors suggest the need for increase portrayal of the use of contraception on television. The findings have potentially grave quality of life implications (I. E. , teen pregnancy and sexually transmitted disease) for black youth. Fife chances youth envision for themselves. The repetitious depictions of blacks in athletic roles creates a limited range of adult and professional role models for young black males and may even contribute to low levels of educational attainment (Gaston 1986; Iberian 1990). Faced with few media images of successful African American men, young black males are especially vulnerable to the widespread marketing and communication of black athletes. In general, the study of media effects on the social, cognitive, and behavioral development of black youth produces inconclusive claims at best.Measuring the effects of media on human behavior is a difficult enterprise. Researchers generally acknowledge that the cognitive development and behavior of youth are influenced by a wide range of institutions (I. E. , schools, religious), social relationships (I. E. , parents, ere groups), and economic factors (I. E. , poverty). Black Youth and Media Culture: the Cultural Studies Paradigm One of the most significant breakthroughs in media research in recent years has been the flourishing of cultural studies.In contrast to the effects paradigm, the cultural studies approach is primarily interested in examining the ideological and political work media performs in the reproduction of social, economic, and political hierarchies (Hall 1977). Proponents of the cultural studies model contend that the sphere of media culture is marked by constant instability, ideological struggle, and cultural resistance. This perspective has been especially adept at examining the complex ways black youth intervene in the production of popular media culture.Gray (1995) contends that media culture is an essential location to think and theorize about African American culture, representation, and politics. One particular site receiving increased attention from practitioners of cultural studies is hip hop culture. The formation of hip hop culture illustrates how dramatically the relationship between black youth and the media culture industry has changed. This particular formation of youth culture developed in he context of profound social, economic, demographic, and spatial transformation (Rose 1994; Watkins 1998).The hip hop movement has developed into a fertile reservoir of youth culture and media production. Rap music is the most prominent expression of hip hop culture. I would like to briefly identify three notable research issues related to the production of rap music: 1) the role of technology; 2) the political aspects of the youth culture; and, 3) communication. Black Youth and Media Technology Some analysts argue that rap music is the product of a rapidly evolving media and technological landscape.Whereas early critics of mass media (Adorn and Herkimer 1989) argued that technology would stifle artistic creativity and lead to the ratification of recorded music, new technologies appear to be having the opposite effect; new sound mixing devices and video appear to be enabling new regimes of popular music production to emerge (R ose 1994). Black Youth, Media and Cultural Resistance Youth actively select from a varied field of media products and services in order to fashion their own distinct cultures and generational identities. Youth cultures commonly come into conflict with the presumed values, beliefs, and raciest of mainstream society, thus they can mobile distinct forms of cultural 5 Many analysts argue that rap music enables black youth to cultivate a complex body of ideas, worldviews, and representations that generate poignant expressions of social critique (Stapleton 1998). Indeed, rap music is a multi-layered terrain of youth and media culture defined by various styles and sub-genres: neo-black nationalist rap (Decker 1994); gangs (Kelley 1994); and feminist (Rose 1994).Rap music has also been criticized as excessively violent, nihilistic, and misogynistic (Aryans and Matthews 1993). The Communication of Black Youth Culture Finally, the widespread distribution and popularization of rap music has generated questions regarding the effects of communication on hip hop culture. Some critics view the global merchandising of hip hop culture as a form of social control and containment. The communication of black youth culture, in truth, is a complex phenomena.While it is clear that the scope and direction of hip hop has been altered by the marketplace, it has also exerted a powerful influence on the global contours of youth culture (Stapleton 1998). An additional area that needs further exploration is the extent to which black youth have been intimately involved in the communication of rap music and use it as a vehicle to create alternative niches of entrepreneurship and employment. Conclusion In short, the relationship between black American youth and the mass media industry has changed significantly over the last thirty years.

My Beliefs Essays - Capital Punishment, Law, Penology, Social Policy

My Beliefs The idea of putting another human being to death is hard to completely imagine. I think the emotions involved in carrying out a death sentence on another person, regardless of how much they deserve it, is beyong my own understanding. I know it must be painful and sickening. However, this act is sometimes necessary and it is our responsability as a society to see that it is done. There are many reasons why I am in favor of the death penalty. It prevents the murderer from ever murdering again, it removes the burden from taxpayers, it is an efficient way to lower crime in this country, and it is also a good punishment because people in this country deserve to feel safe. I feel strongly toward using the death penalty as punishment for unspeakable crimes. I feel that it is an obstacle for criminal activity because of its severity and it will never allow a murderer to kill again and destroy another family. I do, however, feel that restrictions should be put on its uses. Not all crimes deserve the death penalty. Let the punishment fit the crime. If a criminal performs an intentional cruel murder he should be put to death. It is that simple. If the convicted offender shows no remorse for his actions, then the decision should be even easier. Repeat offenders and people who enjoy killing do not deserve to walk on our streets. The death penalty is the only method that completely separates murderers from our society. Supporters of the death penalty ask themselves the same question, "why should I have to pay to support a murderer for the rest of his life? Why not execute them and save our society the cost of their keep?" I don't think it is fair for us to pay so they can have all the luxuries they have in prison. Shouldn't they be miserable and have to work for the bare necessities, just like the working class has to? Crime in today's world has become more gruesome with the times. With the crimes comes jail, so more jails are being built for the prisoners. More criminals are being sent to jail and getting the death penalty. Some feel that the death penalty is also a gruesome act of murder, but people who commit crimes should get what they deserve and if that's the death penalty then they should get it, mostly because they are taking up our space, time, and our money. We all live in a society with the same basic rights. We have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness with equal opportunities. When someone intentionally and outregously attacks the basis of our society by murdering another human being, robbing them of all they are, and all they will ever be, then I think that person can no longer be a part of this society.

Reached Back Like A Pimp

Reached Back Like A Pimp Free Online Research Papers When four teenagers drive to the movies on a Friday night with the music blaring and â€Å"Boyz N the Hood† comes onto the radio, it does not matter whether the young adults in the car are black, white, male or female, when it arrives at the line â€Å"reached back like a pimp slapped the ho† everyone joins in. Why? Because it is catchy, popular, and as ridiculous as the world has become, the song is cool. No one notices that the singer has become abusive because his girlfriend has said something to annoy him. No one realizes at the time that the singer is intoxicated, because it does not matter. The song is fun, the lyrics well known. Countless young Americans memorize the lyrics to this song and many others because of the constant exposure through popular media, wit the average listening to two hours a day (Martino 430). For some, it is simply music, aural enjoyment while involved in other activities. Others wish to emulate the actions they hear about. Dr. Steven Martino, one of Yale’s most acclaimed professors of psychiatry, contends that speeding up sexual behavior is a result of exposure to exploitive and suggestive lyrics. He also explains that leaving questionable musical content unchallenged allows the idea of sex to become distorted (RAND). Regardless, when music becomes incredibly popular, the concepts within the music also become popular. Current popular music idealizes the exploitation of women by demoralizing them, provides justification and acceptance of dysfunctional relationships, and motivates young listeners to partake in dangerous relations and/or situations. As a disclaimer, not just current music conveys the message of misogyny. The Rolling Stones have been preaching the message since their earliest songs. In a 1965 song â€Å"She Said Yeah† Mick Jagger sang â€Å"Come on baby I want to make love to you† and â€Å"Try a little bit to make my mouth dribble†. Both of these quotes made the message clear of what the song and its singer wanted from women. This issue is not a new one. Society long ago set this standard; Radocy and Boyle, two well-known music psychologists, acknowledge: †¦social influence affects all music preference. Musical preferences are more than an interaction of inherent musical characteristics and individual psychological and social variables. Societal pressures influence preferences. A person making a musical choice considers opinions of other who are significant in his or her life, as well as cultural messages in and about the music (qtd. in Droe 27). Society sets the standard for these types of popular culture. Dr. Janice Killian, a distinguished music professor and researcher from Texas Tech, also examines this tangent when she explains the relation between imitation and perception: The specific characteristics of a model appear to affect an observer’s tendency to imitate that model. Observers who believe they are similar to the model are more likely to model that behavior (Bandura Walters, 1963); indeed, observer perception of any subject/model similarity can lead the subject to adopt other characteristics of that model (Burnstein, Stotland, Zander, 1961; Stotland, Zander, Natsoulas, 1961). Race and sex are two salient model characteristics that affect observer tendency toward imitation. Imitation of same-sex and same-race models has been noted across such diverse behaviors as infants’ responses to strangers (Feiring, Lewis Starr, 1984) (116). This would explain why certain races and/or genders are disproportionately affected by this degrading popular culture. Nonetheless, it is still relevant and is bringing about several negative impacts that are being largely ignored by all races. In much of the popular music, women and their appeal are a common theme. Despite their presence, the ideal that the music expresses portrays them in a less than favorable light. Buckcherry’s â€Å"Crazy Bitch† uses offensive lyrics; women are described as only able to ahead by taking off their clothes and keeping their mouths shut. Such behavior was typical before the feminist movement but in modern times can be considered highly offensive. However, the song was ranked number three on U.S. Mainstream Rock Tracks. Songs of this subject matter demoralize women and uphold the patriarch by placing them as lower than men. It is exploitive for women to be viewed as sex objects, created solely for the purpose of male pleasure. As offensive as the lyrics may be, the video certainly drives the message home. Located in a Los Angeles club that has been made to look like a strip club, women are scantily clad, dancing, and expressing bisexual tendencies. The popularity of such music and the common person’s favorable reaction to seeing these types of videos encourages women to act this way and men to ask them to do so. Musicians do not just express their lower opinions of women in music and videos. For some, it is a way of life. When popular rap artist Snoop Dogg attended the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs), clothing and jewelry were not his only accessories. In each hand he held a leash, and attached to the collars were two young women. Collars and leashes are meant as restraining devices for pets or a way for an owner to control property, one can only assume that Snoop Dogg intended for these two young women accompanying him to be viewed the same way. The VMAs are broadcasted nationally with an enormous audience. Women are exploited by popular music through way of lyrics, videos and the general lifestyle of musicians. As preciously discussed, in the song â€Å"Boyz N the Hood† lyrics include a man hitting his girlfriend and then throwing her across the room. The provocation of this was something she had said, making it easy to believe that this was not the first occurrence of abuse. Other popular artists have also discussed physical abuse between women and men. Eminem, a popular rap artist, discussed leaving handprints on a woman in one of his songs. Abuse in relationships is not healthy for anyone involved. However, would a person realize that from popular music? No. Very simply speaking, when a musician speaks of beating their significant other and one never hears about there being negative consequences, its sending a message of approval for that sort of action. Steven Martino offers his valuable experience about teen imitation: This theory would predict that listening to musicians sing about having sex with no unfavorable consequences would lead teens to perceive this behavior as appropriate and desirable, thereby increasing the likelihood that they will imitate the behavior. The likelihood of imitation increases when the model is perceived as attractive or similar to the self. Highly popular music artists can, therefore, serve as especially potent role models for teens (431). Not only does it make it appear to be okay for males to abuse females, but it also makes females feel like its okay for them to be abused. Popular music is now guilty of â€Å"triggering assaults, rapes and homicides all over the place and detonating a national barrage of criticism and controversy† (Bennett 1). If it is what is popular and okay in music, listeners will be lead to believe that it is okay in their own lives. The RAND Corporation found explicit lyrics often advance sexual conduct. It is common for those who are less wealthy and less famous to want to be like the famous celebrities. If people cannot have the property and publicity of the stars then it is not unusual to think that they might attempt to act like them. Bennett explains how the blurring of reality and fantasy is an inevitable product of this exposure (2). The dysfunctional relationships of celebrities are recreated in the dysfunctional relationships of their fans. Dysfunctional relationships are unknowingly encouraged by society today, and even humored. Millions of Americans are exposed to the ideas of countless affairs, and annulled marriages in a matter of hours. This same audience gazes on while the common person is abused; abuse can be physical, verbal, or mental. A Harris Poll from earlier this summer gives staggering numbers that have left many stunned. Over 33 million or 15 percent of U.S. adults (which would be anyone over the age of eighteen) admit that they were a victim of domestic violence; even more shocking is the six in ten that admit they know someone who has also personally experienced domestic violence. These statistics prove the seriousness of today’s issue of domestic violence, and only a realization of these problems will allow society finally to make a change for the better. It is important to remember that the definition of dysfunctional relationships is not limited to physical abuse. Celebrities are infamous for their short relationships, their even shorter marriages, and their promiscuity. Pop princess, Britney Spears is infamous for hers fleeting loves: her first marriage to childhood sweetheart lasted just 55 hours. K-Fed and Spears have two young children who will now be subjected to the uncomfortable heat of the spotlight. These actions also have an effect on the mass public. Once more, when someone wishes to be the celebrity, he or she has no problem simulating his or her actions. The influence of music does not just degrade women or legitimize dysfunctional relationships. The ideas and morals conveyed through popular music leads to physically dangerous consequences as well. Sex and violence are the subject of the majority of popular songs. Casual sex is looked upon with much enjoyment and violence seen as a necessary means to an end. When these activities are practiced in real life, the consequences last much longer than the three minutes a song lasts. Martino’s theory also predicts that a lessening of the exposure to this content could prevent an early onset of sexual misconduct (431). In a Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention study, over five hundred females from the same background were studied over a six-month period. Recording the viewing lengths of rap videos, the participants were surveyed to discover if there was a difference between those with more exposure, and those with less (#). The RAND Corporation has found a direct correlation between music containing questionable content with earlier sexual progression. Females with more exposure were less likely to have their partners wear condoms and were more likely to have gained a new STD. â€Å"Talking with their children about musics sexual content can also give parents a chance to express their own views about sex, and may prompt teens to think more deeply about the ways in which sex is portrayed – and perhaps distorted – in the music they listen to,† Dr. Martino conveyed. Other negative impacts include dangerous behaviors such as the glorification of drugs, an increase in violence and arrests, and a higher rate of pregnancy (Wingood 437). The negative effects are not just dealing with psychological matters. Young adults have pliable minds, and as Martino describes they invent solutions to their problems from societal pressure: Some have argued that, because popular music is such a large part of adolescents’ everyday experience, youth cannot be understood without a serious consideration of how music fits into their lives. From music, adolescents gain information about society, social and gender roles, and expected behavior, and they use music to facilitate friendships and social interactions and to help them create a personal identity. It is reasonable to expect, therefore, that the messages conveyed in popular music have significant implications or adolescent socialization and behavior. (431) The ties between music and health risks cannot be easily ignored because of the great effect they have on their listeners. Martino agrees with the assumption that repeated exposure to such gender roles makes them internalized. When four young people are driving to the movies on Friday night, there is no way to prevent them from singing along with the lyrics of the songs on the radio. Perhaps, a better route is to let musicians know that the message they are sending is not appropriate for anyone, of any age. The lyrics they sing should represent a culture that harms no one. Dr. Bell says we should stop creating the negativity that surrounds our children and ourselves. We have to stop glorifying and praising based on music that enslaves and mystifies and destroys. The consequences of common lyrics cannot be compared to that extra thousand records sold. One’s choice in music should not lead to them being exploited, abused, or diseased. Music is meant for enjoyment, and just enjoyment. Bennett, Lerone Jr.. Sex Music Has It Gone Too Far: Backlash over Lyrics, Violence and Threat to Young Women grows.† Ebony Oct 2002: Droe, Kevin. Music Preference and Music Education: A Review of Literature.† UPDATE: Applications of Research in Music Education 24.2(2006): 23-32. Harris Interactive. â€Å"Over Thirty Million Adults Claim to be Victims of Domestic Violence.† 06/16/06. . Killian, Janice N.. Effect of Model Characteristics on Musical Preference of Junior High Students.† Journal of Research in Music Education 38.2 (1990): 115-123. Martino, Steven C., et al. Exposure to Degrading Versus Nondegrading Music Lyrics and Sexual Behavior Among Youth.† Pediatrics. 118.2 (2006): e430-e441. Martino, Steven C., Personal Interview. 20 Nov. 2006. Radocy, Rudolf E., and J. David Boyle. Psychological foundations of musical behavior. 3rd ed. Springfield, Ill.: Charles C Thomas Pub Ltd, 1979. RAND Corporation. â€Å"RAND Study Finds Adolescents who listen to a great deal of music with degrading sexual lyrics have sex sooner.† 11/07/06. . Wingood, G.M., et al. â€Å"A prospective study of exposure to rap music videos and African American female adolescents’ health.† American Journal of Public Health 93.3 (2006): 437-439 Research Papers on Reached Back Like A PimpHip-Hop is ArtWhere Wild and West MeetEffects of Television Violence on ChildrenRelationship between Media Coverage and Social andResearch Process Part OneIncorporating Risk and Uncertainty Factor in CapitalThree Concepts of PsychodynamicThe Relationship Between Delinquency and Drug UseAssess the importance of Nationalism 1815-1850 EuropeBringing Democracy to Africa

Charles Law Example Problem

Charles Law Example Problem Charles law is a special case of the ideal gas law in which the pressure of a gas is constant. Charles law states that volume is proportional to the absolute temperature of a gas at constant pressure. Doubling the temperature of gas doubles its volume, so long as the pressure and quantity of the gas are unchanged.  This example problem shows how to use Charles law to solve a gas law problem. Charles Law Example Problem A 600 mL sample of nitrogen is heated from 27  °C to 77  °C at constant pressure. What is the final volume?Solution: The first step to solving gas law problems should be converting all temperatures to absolute temperatures. In other words, if the temperature is given in Celsius or Fahrenheit, convert it to Kelvin. This is the most common place mistakes are made in this type of homework problem.T K 273  °CTi initial temperature 27  °CTi K 273 27Ti K 300 KTf final temperature 77  °CTf K 273 77Tf K 350 KThe next step is to use Charles law to find the final volume. Charles law is expressed as:Vi/Ti Vf/TfwhereVi and Ti is the initial volume and temperatureVf and Tf is the final volume and temperatureSolve the equation for Vf:Vf ViTf/TiEnter the known values and solve for Vf.Vf (600 mL)(350 K)/(300 K)Vf 700 mLAnswer:The final volume after heating will be 700 mL. More Examples of Charles Law If Charles Law seems irrelevant to real life situations, think again! Here are several examples of situations in which Charles Law is at play. By understanding the basics of the law, youll know what to expect in a variety of real-world situations. By knowing how to solve a problem using Charles Law, you can make predictions and even start to plan new inventions. If you take a basketball outside on a cold day, the ball shrinks a bit as the temperature is decreased. This is also the case with any inflated object and explains why its a good idea to check the pressure in your car tires when the temperature drops.If you over-inflate a pool float on a hot day, it can swell in the sun and burst.Pop-up turkey thermometers work based on Charles law. As the turkey cooks, the gas inside the thermometer expands until it can pop the plunger. Examples of Other Gas Laws Charles law is only one of the special cases of the ideal gas law that you may encounter. Each of the laws is named for the person who formulated it. Its good to be able to tell the gas laws apart and cite examples of each one. As automobile tires heat up during driving, their pressure increases. (Amontons Law: Doubling temperature doubles pressure at constant volume and mass.)When you blow bubbles underwater, they expand as they rise to the surface. (Boyles Law: Doubling pressure halves volume, at constant temperature and mass.)Inhaling fills the lungs with air and expands their volume. (Avogadros Law: Doubling the mass or number of moles of a gas doubles the volume at constant temperature and pressure.)

Water shadow Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4000 words

Water shadow - Essay Example is structured into diverse parts that include the formation of water wave shadows, factors that contribute to their formation, how water waves move, and the strength of water wave vibration when an object is placed in a water tank. The structures promote the understanding of how water waves movement influence life on atmospheric of the building. The key observations or propositions evident are that, the used of the physical theories and case studies to understand the theoretical framework, test ideas and evaluate the potential for an architecture and design project that highlights awareness of the metaphysical. The paper also covers the role of reflection in enabling individuals to notice the shadows and water waves. As hypothesized, water waves shadow is outlined to how effective atmosphere can be created in architecture through invisible media? The invisible waves also show the interaction that exists between water, audience, and light. This highlights the importance of the atmosph ere and human beings in the development of architectural designs building. Water waves are beams that cause immense ripple effect as the intensity of light from a particular source increases. The waves also promote cultural practices in various communities as they enable individuals to formulate viable ideas and shape perceptions on the nature of atmosphere including how people interact. Notably, water waves are a unique type of waves as compared to light and sound waves since they show up in various substances. There interaction within the space is also imperative in promoting effective design of buildings. Effective interaction enlightens individuals knowledge on the kind of design that is necessary towards the realization of harmony, peace, and wellbeing in the atmosphere. In most cases, the shadows are evident in liquid substances especially on the underneath part of tanks where they show up. The shadows are characterized with high wavelength capacity, lack of clarity underneath

Easy Shop Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Easy Shop - Essay Example This trend has been all the more marked with the emergence of new urban centres that are more or less sub-urban in nature. With the creation of new urban centres and with the rapid expansion in the Indian middle class there is good reason to believe that retail businesses would do well in a country like India. This reasoning has led to the development of new shopping centres and retail businesses throughout India. This report will look into the survivability of Argos’s Easy Shop concept located in a suburb of New Delhi, India’s capital. The nature of the city and the nature of the retailer will be looked into to see the suitability of business. Furthermore, the cash flow statement of the retailer will be presented in order to discern if the retailer would be able to survive the current market conditions. The basic approach will be to contrast earnings from sales and the incurred costs. A worst case scenario or a pessimistic business picture has also been developed in or der to assess the survivability of the business if faced with overwhelming odds in the first year. The major expense areas have been identified realistically along with the local taxation scheme in order to present as realistic a picture as possible. 2. GURGAON CITY’S DEVELOPING ECONOMIC PROWESS 2. Gurgaon City’s Developing Economic Prowess Gurgaon has emerged as the second largest urban centre in the Indian state of Haryana becoming its chief most industrial and financial hub. The urban centre can also be looked at from the perspective of New Delhi’s suburb given that it is only a 30 kilometres ride from New Delhi. As such Gurgaon is considered as one of the four major satellite cities that surround New Delhi (Sustainable Cities Collective, 2011). The city also hosts the third highest per capita income in India (Behl, 2009) making it a particularly attractive place for launching a retail business. Most of the city’s workers are employed by Fortune 500 companies as well as local businesses in and around Gurgaon (Taleja, 2009). This ensures that the local population have high levels of disposable incomes which are essential to the survival of any retailing business. Disposable incomes are particularly higher in the younger generation so there is no dange r of sustainability in terms of business. Also the chances for disposable income to increase are on the rise given that Gurgaon is fast becoming one of India’s largest outsourcing hubs (Government of Gurgaon, 2010). Instead there are chances that operating a retail business in a financial and industrial hub such as Gurgaon would lead to expansion in upcoming years. This fact can also be gauged from the presence of over forty five different malls around Gurgaon that are only set to increase further in upcoming times. 3. Background to Argos Argos is one the largest catalogue merchants being based in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Within the geographic domains of the United Kingdom, Argos is the largest retail brand with over 800 stores around the United Kingdom. Argos is owned and operated along with its sister concern Homebase by the Home Retail Group. Argos relies on catalogue retailing and so offers a wide range of brands that it owns and operates thereby adding greater val ue to both the consumer’s purchase and the business. The more notable brands being operated under Argos include Elizabeth Duke, Chad Valley, Sun Pearl, Challenge, Alba, Schreiber and Bush as well as a number of other brands (Intellectual Property Office, 2012). Argos is now looking to expand into the Indian market using the Easy Shop concept which would serve as a retail outlet for the Indian market. The first retail store is planned for Gurgaon in order to enter the Indian

Definition of Groupthink. Retrieved from Essay Example for Free

Definition of Groupthink. Retrieved from Essay I have always had a different idea of what groupthink really means, to me I thought of it as a bad idea from someone amongst a group of people that had not been voiced seemingly because the person having this thought lacks confidence or backing. More like trying to proof to your business partners that an idea of using an outdated tactic to target a young crowd is not the best idea In its own definition Wikipedia(2013) describes groupthink as a psychological phenomenon that occurs within a group of people, in which the desire for harmony or conformity in the group results in an incorrect or deviant decision- making outcome, whereas it can also be viewed as the practice of thinking or making decisions as a group in a way that discourages creativity or individual responsibility. All different versions of what it is but also giving a detailed well round idea and description. Good examples of groupthink situations as studied by Janis in the book â€Å"fiascoes† are such as the United States government failure to anticipate the Pearl Harbor attacks, the Bay of Pigs invasion, the escalation of Vietnam War, and the ill-fated hostage rescue in Iran (Janis,1972) Some recent past examples of groupthink would be in the hastened decision making of the Bush administration and Congress to pursue an invasion of Iraq based on a policy of â€Å"preemptive use of military force against terrorists and rogue nations.† It is definitely an undeniable fact that groupthink has been a large part of decision making in the United States government for a long time. As we speak, arguably the best current example of groupthink that the American government is facing is the Obama Care. This is so because some might see it as a majority of democrat leaders refusing to see or identify with different ideas that are outside theirs, thus leading to what psychologist consider as a mental deficiency commonly known as groupthink. â€Å"Groups affected by groupthink ignore alternatives and tend to take irrational actions that dehumanize other groups† (Janis, 1972). I found it rather interesting reading the article by the net advisor to bring out reasons as to why the Obama care was created under the influence of groupthink. The net advisor article reads â€Å"the patient protection and affordable care act or â€Å"Obama Care† was passed by majority of the then Democratic House. The house leadership under Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) refused to allow the US senate of any party to even consider debating, let alone voting on Obama care. The house by passed the entire U.S. senate by using a controversial self-executing rule or â€Å"deem and pass† procedure then quickly sent it to president Obama to sign†(Net advisor). This brings out the question, what if the Democratic Party had not made such an irrational decision to pass the Obama Care, would it have made any difference in the case of the government shutdown. Since the main reason that led to most of the republican members to oppose raising the debt ceiling that would have prevented the government from shutting down was primarily a disagreement in the Obama care. This is arguable in both sides since the republican party might also have made a groupthink decision to prevent the Obama care under any circumstances, leading to a government shutdown that has dented the government debt even more, ironically an issue that they (republican party) are trying to avoid with the Obama care. The united states is established in two well defined parties and many are the times that the conflicting views from each party, makes it harder to make any decisions or view the others opinion. Hopefully in the future the decisions from our leaders can be viewed in a more universal dimension, thus the administrators of our president can challenge each other to eliminate groupthink. References Janis, I (1972, Victims of groupthink (1st edition ed) retrieved from http:// leadership theory 3450.blogspot.com Obama care is an example of Groupthink gone wrong. Retrieved from http://netadvisor.org/2013/09/26. Definition of Groupthink. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groupthink

Edna Pontellier’s Sin in Kate Chopins The Awakening Essay examples --

Nora's Sin in The Awakening      Ã‚   In writing this paper, I believe, God has given me wings, strong wings, to help me fly above common literary convention. The prophet Isaiah said, "[T]hose who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles. . ."(Isaiah 40:31). Because I believe the Bible is the complete word of God, I must conclude that that "The Awakening," by Kate Chopin, is "not a healthy book"(Culley 146). The truths presented in the Bible that lead me to this conclusion are the following. "The Awakening" has a central message that is contrary to Biblical Christianity, denying the headship of Christ and making it seem that people are basically animals and should be able to do whatever they want. It would be possible to argue that Kate Chopin is simply projecting that man is an animal lacking moral obligations without bringing Christianity into the picture, but Kate Chopin made several attacks on Christianity in her fable, and her seeming obsession with tearing down Christ ianity opens her up to Biblical criticism.    On two occasions, Chopin uses terms probably from the King James Version of the Bible, including the term for Christians as "the salt of the earth" and the "Holy Ghost." According to Chopin, Edna, lulled by the sea into deep self contemplation, "received [from herself] perhaps more wisdom than the Holy Ghost is usually pleased to vouchsafe to any woman"(Chopin 32). Why did Chopin have to bring the Holy Ghost into this? The Holy Ghost, termed Holy Spirit in modern translation, is acknowledged as being equal and one with God. She is using her own twisted irony to imply that Edna's awakening is a step superior to Christianity. The moral or ideal being projected to the read... ...iliar world that it had never known"(Chopin 136). This rebirth, very much different from the Christian rebirth or salvation, is an assertion that life isn't worth living when you are just an animal. This is the awakening that is being glorified by Kate Chopin, and it is not healthy.    Works Cited: Chopin, Kate. Walker, Nancy A. ed. The Awakening Boston, NY Bedford Books of St. Martin's Press. (c) 1993. Crowley, Aleister. The Book of the Law. Access via the world wide web.   URL: http://www.crl.com/~thelema/crowley.html Culley, Margaret. Ed. The Awakening: An Authoritative Text, Contexts, Criticism NY WW Norton, 1976. Nine Satanic Statements, The. Access via the world wide web.   URL: http://www.marshall.edu/~allen12/cosstate.html The King James Version of the Bible as set forth in 1611.   Bible Truth Publishers, Addison, Illinois. 1983.