Stealing by Carol Ann Duffy Essay Example

Stealing by Carol Ann Duffy Essay Stealing by Carol Ann Duffy is written in first person narration. The speaker indicates directly to the reader that the most unusual thing he ever stole was a snowman. The speaker describes how he did so and how thrilling it was to learn that the children would cry in the morning as a result of the theft. He also informs the readers about other things he stole, which were frequently of no use to him. He rebutted why he was acting in such a way because he was bored and sick of the world. At the end of the poem, he suggests that the reader cannot understand his outlook. This poem is basically an informal and casual speech, in which the speaker communicates directly with the reader. As revealed from the last sentence, You dont understand a word Im saying, do you? , the speaker is addressing to the reader and requesting them to respond and be involved. Sometimes, we can even hear the real-life voice of the speaker through the use of onomatopoeia. For instance, I sigh like this-Aah, which appeals to the readers sense of hearing, making the sigh more impressive and forms9 a strong impression in the mind of the reader. The application of pauses, further demonstrates that the speaker is interacting with the reader, as in a speech, we will not be able to complete our speech in one breath, there must be pauses. Furthermore, although the poem is written in five equal stanzas, there is no regularity in the lines. We will write a custom essay sample on Stealing by Carol Ann Duffy specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Stealing by Carol Ann Duffy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Stealing by Carol Ann Duffy specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Sometimes, the end of one line runs into the next line or the line may stop in the middle of the sentence. This special arrangement not only indicates the casual tone of the speaker but also points out that the behavior of the speaker was very strange and irregular. The speaker in the poem is pessimistic and regards himself as a failure, as he assumes he might learn how to play a guitar after he stole one. We can sense that the speaker longs for a glamorous life, as he desires to be able to play a guitar and be as genius as Shakespeare. Though the speaker has the motivation to life an upright life, he lacks the determination and courage to turn his thoughts into action. Instead he ruins his life by committing theft, which reflects his negative view towards life. He even stole things that were of no use to him to idle his time away. For the snowman, he didnt look the same and is left with its lumps of snow at the end, this is a metaphor to reveal the uselessness of his action to steal the snowman. Furthermore, the speaker is also a loner and yearns for companionship. He claims I wanted, him, a mate with a mind as cold as the slice of ice within my own brain. No matter how miserable the children will be because of his inconsiderate action, he doesnt care, for he is in need of a mate. Moreover, the poem is mysterious and contains many factors of unknown. The identity of the thief is not exposed. His or her age, appearance, position in society are never mentioned in details. Mysteriousness is further built-up through the setting. The venue of the occurrence of the theft was left unknown, the readers only know that the atmosphere was creepy as it was midnight with the winter moon. Special literacy techniques are used throughout the poem. Metaphor is used in line 13, Im a mucky ghost, as in the eyes of the children, the victims, the speaker is a mucky ghost which is even worse than human beings and is disliked by others. Repetition of the word again, emphasizes that the speaker is kicking the snowman repeatedly and is trying hard to destroy it, neglecting the feelings of the children. The use of full stops also helps the reader to picture him getting his breath back between each kick. As for the camera, there is a symbolic meaning behind. He pinched it because all his memories are recorded in it. As we learn from the poem, his life is a piece of boredom so there are no events worth remembering. Therefore, he wanted to pinch a camera. Lastly, in the last two stanzas, run-on-lines were used to state that the thiefs life drags on and on and seems endless, monotonous and purposeless.

Free Essays on Reaction To “Marrying Medicine“

In preparing for this assignment, I found myself interested in all of the four essays. This may seem trivial, or even predictable, if it weren’t for the fact that I honestly can’t remember the last time a read something that wasn’t directly related to passing a medical exam. I was moved by the awkwardness and passion in Tell Me, Tell Me; disturbed by the disclosures in Invasions; and intrigued by the conflict in Case Study: Please Don’t Tell! However, it was Marrying Medicine that really hit closest to home. Obviously the paper addresses an issue that concerns most female physicians and medical students. As the traditional â€Å"caregiver,† I think many of us tend to feel the need to care fully for our patients as well as care for our families. This creates a major source of conflict when time constraints prevent us from doing both. Furthermore, a legal obligation to provide care for the patients often tips the scales away from the people we would probably prefer to care for. As someone who is very close to and reliant on my family and very involved in personal relationships, it terrifies me to think my career choice may prevent me from creating the kind of home atmosphere I’m accustom to. Reading the essay again, I found another issue that was not quite as apparent, but that echoes a sentiment I’ve often felt. On one hand, Dr. Bannerjee knows what a competent, caring physician she is, and how she is desirable enough to have turned down many suitors. On the other hand, she has serious doubts about why her husband is with her. It’s almost as if she has two distinct personalities: one that is secure, confident, and in control and another that is insecure, doubtful, and fearful. While she is obviously more intelligent and attractive than most women, she still grapples with the insecurities that plague the rest of her gender. On top of it, she has to deal with another duality of her personality: her ambitious, h... Free Essays on Reaction To â€Å"Marrying Medicineâ€Å" Free Essays on Reaction To â€Å"Marrying Medicineâ€Å" In preparing for this assignment, I found myself interested in all of the four essays. This may seem trivial, or even predictable, if it weren’t for the fact that I honestly can’t remember the last time a read something that wasn’t directly related to passing a medical exam. I was moved by the awkwardness and passion in Tell Me, Tell Me; disturbed by the disclosures in Invasions; and intrigued by the conflict in Case Study: Please Don’t Tell! However, it was Marrying Medicine that really hit closest to home. Obviously the paper addresses an issue that concerns most female physicians and medical students. As the traditional â€Å"caregiver,† I think many of us tend to feel the need to care fully for our patients as well as care for our families. This creates a major source of conflict when time constraints prevent us from doing both. Furthermore, a legal obligation to provide care for the patients often tips the scales away from the people we would probably prefer to care for. As someone who is very close to and reliant on my family and very involved in personal relationships, it terrifies me to think my career choice may prevent me from creating the kind of home atmosphere I’m accustom to. Reading the essay again, I found another issue that was not quite as apparent, but that echoes a sentiment I’ve often felt. On one hand, Dr. Bannerjee knows what a competent, caring physician she is, and how she is desirable enough to have turned down many suitors. On the other hand, she has serious doubts about why her husband is with her. It’s almost as if she has two distinct personalities: one that is secure, confident, and in control and another that is insecure, doubtful, and fearful. While she is obviously more intelligent and attractive than most women, she still grapples with the insecurities that plague the rest of her gender. On top of it, she has to deal with another duality of her personality: her ambitious, h...

Study Skills Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Study Skills - Assignment Example A few years ago AIDS and Cancer were the only concerns of mankind when it came to incurable epidemics. Recently new more terrible diseases like ‘Bird Flu’ and ‘Swine Flu’ have threatened human existence with their accelerated growth. More than half of earths total population productivity has already been diverted towards human use (Brown, 2004; Green, 1992). This population continues to grow at an alarming pace. Only in the last fifty years human population had doubled from 2.5 billion to 6.1 billion. Will our earth be able to support a population of 12.2 billion in 2050 (currently 76 million people are added to our population each year)? This is the question that needs to be asked. The Earth’s productive capacity will not be enough to sustain such a pace in population growth. Most of this population increase is fueled by developing nations with lack of health care facilities. This contribution cannot be controlled by increasing awareness only because ‘most of the increase is by population momentum (49%), followed by unwanted pregnancies (33%)’. Moreover if we expand our focus to the entire world almost 80 million out of a total 210 million is contributed by unwanted pregnancies. This is a cl ear target for mankind, healthcare facilities and birth control can help reduce the alarming rate of population growth. For this purpose financial help is needed to provide low cost and preferably free contraceptives to underdeveloped nations. ‘This would almost need approximately around $54.8 billion dollars’. The continuous increase in population is placing an intense pressure of natural resources. According to the world back currently approximately 2 billion people in the world are malnourished. This is more than thirty percent of total world population. This situation is expected to get worse as population grows and productivity of crops

The Hands of Poverty Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Hands of Poverty - Essay Example While it is true that the economy has improved the lives of many people, poverty still exists. Many networks attempts to provide the basic needs of the poor – clothing, food, shelter – but the number of people who needs assistance is still higher compared to those who are being serviced. This paper critically analyzes the essay written by Jane Addams entitled â€Å"The Hands of Poverty†. Written in 1910, during the height of industrialization, the essay provides valuable insights on the lamentable situation of many citizens of East London. In this essay, Addams talks about her first experience in East London when she became eyewitness to the poverty afflicting Londoners. Here, she describes how everyone had to fend for themselves: how the â€Å"submerged tenth† (Addams 258) were forced to eat decaying fruits and vegetables while auctioneers had to endure the suffering of their countrymen in order to bring food to their own tables. Addams is making a point about how poverty serves to diminish humanity, because it makes people act more like animals than men. Addams’ essay had a referential purpose. Written objectively, Addams talks about the two faces of East London, one which is seen by tourists like herself, and the other one which is experienced by the city’s residents. ... The secondary purpose for this essay was expressive. The writer hoped to show how much the scene has affected her. Perhaps, it was also a way for her to explain why she did what she did in later life. Addams went on to become a social activist (Knight) and has often referred back to this experience in her other works (Bettis). Addams went on to describe her experience in the city and how it created an impact on her life. Her use of first person pronouns made the essay more personal. This essay was also used an evaluation pattern. She related her own judgement of the scene she wrote about. Though she did not explicitly say that she â€Å"hated† what she saw, she used words like â€Å"wretchedness of East London† to depict her disdain at the scene unfolding before her. This pattern combined with the secondary pattern described below gave information to the reader, and at the same time allowed the reader to experience the same emotions and convictions as the writer. Moreov er, the essay also had descriptive pattern because of her choices for words she used the word â€Å"clamoring† to describe how these bidders were shouting just to get their hands on a cheap piece of vegetable or fruit which is the only thing they could purchase with the money they had. To show how hungry these people were she described a winner of a bid who â€Å"tore [the cabbage] with his teeth, and hastily devoured it, unwashed and uncooked† (Addams 257). Addams used strong words to describe the scene, and in effect, she transported the reader to the same instant that she witnessed, giving the reader the same feeling of contempt for the prevailing system of poverty and hunger. In the latter part of

Autism Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Autism - Research Paper Example Autism is not one specific condition, but refers to a group of disorders with disparate underlying etiologies (Corbier, 2005). Hence, treatment for autism is multidimensional, including behavioral management, individualized education plan, medical treatment, psychoanalytic therapy, and rehabilitative therapeutic strategies, together with patience, faith and belief. Integrated treatment plans focus on preparing people with autism to live in their home community in the least restrictive environment (Hardman et al, 2007). Thesis Statement: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the current treatments for children with autism, and determine their effectiveness. Behavioral Management as a Treatment Intervention in Autism Behavioral interventions aim to improve specific appropriate behaviors, or to lessen inappropriate behavior (Hardman et al, 2007). This approach is commonly considered to be the most effective in treating autism in children. A research study was conducted by Sallows and Graupner (2005) on twenty-four children with autism, aged between 24 to 42 months at the beginning of the study. They were randomly assigned to early intensive behavioral treatment, and to treatment involving intensive hours but less supervision by equally qualified supervisors. The results were similar for both groups, after four years of multidimensional treatment including cognitive, language, adaptive, social and academic measures. This indicates that supervision by trained staff is not an essential criterion for improved behavioral outcomes, when the same intensive treatment is given to both the study sample and the control group. By combining the two groups, it was found that the results were optimized, and by age seven the children could adapt themselves to mainstream classrooms. However, pretreatment skills played a significant part in determining the success of the interventions, particularly verbal imitation ability, language and social responsiveness. Lovaas (1993) di scovered that early identification of the environmental variables that controlled the extent of treatment gains, was essential. Effective treatment for severe behavioral disorders requires early intervention which is conducted throughout the child’s waking hours, while taking all significant behaviors in all the child’s environments into consideration, by all significant persons caring for the child, and for many years. Research on early intensive behavioral treatment for children with autism was conducted by Cohen et al (2006) in the community setting, to replicate earlier studies which had shown favorable results. The three-year prospective outcome study using a quasi-experimental design consisted of the sample group of 21 children which received early intensive behavioral therapy (EIBT) from a community agency, and the other control group of 21 children who of equal age and IQ as compared to the first group, and belonging to special education classes at local public schools. The results showed marked improvement in language, nonverbal skill, and adaptive behavior; hence early intensive behavioral therapy can be successfully undertaken in the community setting. Individualized Education Plan and Educational Interventions â€Å"Early intervention and a highly structured education program are currently regarded as the best treatment for chi

Mainstream Media Is The Mouthpiece Media Essay

Mainstream Media Is The Mouthpiece Media Essay There is no doubt that mainstream media and social networking websites have ballooned over the past few years to encourage the acceptance of 1Malaysia Concept to citizens. The 1Malaysia Concept was initiated by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak on 16 September 2010, as a platform to build upon the unique strength of the diversity of multiracial Malaysia. It is the Prime Ministers fervent belief that the preservation and enhancement of this unity in diversity will remain the countrys best hope for the future. So promoting the realization and greater understanding of the 1Malaysia Concept by Malaysians is extremely important for the mainstream media to cover by reaching citizens. This 1Malaysia program consists of 1Malaysia Shop, 1Malaysia Clinic, 1Malaysia Menu, 1Malaysia Peoples Housing (PR1MA), to help the middle income group to have better access to house ownership and 1Malaysia Peoples Taxi (TR1MA) aimed at improving the countrys public transport services and so on t hat provides many benefits and services that citizens can enjoy and save money. According to The Star Online News (Understanding 1Malaysia, Joshua Foong, 2010), various strategies, programs and activities have been implemented through the ministries various departments and agencies to promote the 1Malaysia Concept. In order to take stock on the effectiveness of the 1Malaysia promotional initiatives, the ministry undertook a random survey on the extent of the peoples public awareness, understanding and acceptance of the 1Malaysia Concept as part of the ministrys KPI (MKPI). According to figures by the ministry, a total of 12,212 respondents participated with 82% from the number saying they were aware of 1Malaysia and while a further 69% understood the concept. The ministry targets on having at least 50% of the total population of 27mil in accepting the 1Malaysia concept this year. A statement released by the ministry said continuous dissemination of key messages on the 1Malaysia Concept will be a pivotal factor towards inculcating better understanding and accepta nce of the concept by Malaysians in time to come. From here, we know that media plays an important role to deliver the government policies or information to citizens. We have employed various channels to spearhead the promotion. They include the electronic media (TV and radio), print media (newspapers, booklets, leaflets and posters), new media (websites, blogs, Facebook), face-to-face communication (talks, briefings, seminars) as well as cultural activities (acting, singing and dance performances), said by Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim. Such dedicated programs and activities all over the country have received positive response, strong support and participation from all sectors of the community, heralding much promise for the future. (Understanding 1Malaysia, Joshua Foong, 2010). Despite the traditional mainstream media, new social media technologies such as facebook and blogs are being used by the government to promote and encourage citizens to accept this information, resulted the 1Malaysia Concept are getting popular. While in (Najib Urges Media to Help Promote Mederation, 2010) our Prime Minister urged the media to play the role as a promoter of moderation to take back the centre and reclaim the agenda for peace and pragmatism. He said the movement of the moderates could marginalize the extremists, and that the media had a significant role to play in this quest. While according to The News Straits Time (1Malaysia concept a great vision,2012), the 1Malaysia Concept is a great vision in promoting unity not only to the Malaysian people but also to the region, United Nations secretary-general Ban Ki-moon said today. He said the concept could help in raising tolerance towards the different religions, cultures and traditions as Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, religious and cultural country.    Another article from The Star Online News (Najib: Translate 1Malaysia concept to benefit people, 2012), Najib said the Barisan Nasional government had introduced various 1Malaysia services and products to assist the people, such as 1Malaysia Peoples Aid (BR1M), which was warmly received. 1He said the 1Malaysia Concept should be translated into something tangible and benefits the people and not just remains political rhetoric. He emphasized that more 1Malaysia services and products were needed to help ease the rise in the cost of living. For example, specially-composed 1Malaysia songs and the 1Malaysia advertisement are aired daily via various TV and radio stations run by RTM. In Ai FM radio station, we can hear that the radio station everyday aired the information about 1Malaysia Concept in attempts to encourage citizen to accept the 1Malaysia Concept. For the private networks as well, they are tends to promote this concept and resulted the 1Malaysia Concept have been well-received a nd getting popular. Additionally, according to The Star Online News (Understanding 1Malaysia, Joshua Foong, 2010), showed that, around 18,070 lectures have been conducted by the information department this year in 139 districts involving about 550,000 people. Booklets and leaflets on 1Malaysia have been distributed as well at the state and district levels to be used as handy reference. The ministry has also been working towards disseminating the 1Malaysia concept to all participants undergoing National Service training (PLKN). From the articles above, we can see that various channels or mainstream media are being used by the governments to disseminate the 1Malaysia Concept that brings a lot of benefits to the citizens. Many channels have been covering this policies information to reach different levels of the citizens, and keep emphasize and re-emphasize the idea of 1Malaysia Concept is to harmonize citizens of different races in this country. As we can see that, the ways the mainstream media in order to cover 1Malaysia Concept is very neutral but had successfully shape the citizens mind gained the attention and the acceptance of citizens. More and more citizens can understand the concept for a better tomorrow. However, in today advanced social networking era, we can see that more and more people are using social media sites to get news and share the information, such as Facebook, Youtube, Twitter and so on. Facebook is the top media site in Malaysia and there are 90% of Malaysian uses Facebook as their prime social media network. In order to attract more citizens get to know about 1Malaysia Concept, or even to convenience the citizens to get more information, it is found that there were a homepage of 1Malaysia existing in Facebook that citizens can get the information and share it among their friends around the world. Other than that, the government also created a website of 1Malaysia The Personal Website of Dato Sri Najib Razak that intended to provide a free and open forum to discuss the things that matter deeply to us as a Nation. The website provides a chance to express and explore the many perspectives of citizens. Citizens can download the booklet as well from the website to get mor e detail about what kind of benefits that as a Malaysian can enjoy. In terms of today commercial culture, advertisements exist at anywhere and anytime. People are highly exposed with the advertisement indirectly. The 1Malaysia advertisement can be found in local newspaper, TV or radio advertisement as well as social network, shopping malls, billboards along the road and so on to make the advertisement intangible in order to reach everyone and their target audiences. We can see the logo of 1Malaysia Concept at anywhere especially in government webpage, government office, government clinic and hospital, banners of PROTONS flyer and even can be found in the products of goods which is made from Malaysia. TV and radio are the most effective ways to make the citizens to accept the 1Malaysia Concept because the 1Malaysia Concept. According to mass society theory, media were seen as only one of many disruptive forces, cancerous force within society and have to be purged or totally restructured. Media have the power to reach out and directly influence the min ds of average people. Once the peoples minds are corrupted by media, all sorts of bad, long-term consequences result bringing not only ruin to individual lives but also creating social problems on a vast scale. As it is say that, people are vulnerable to media because they have been cut off and isolated from traditional social institutions that previously protected them from manipulation. But in propaganda theories, media became the focus of attention. One of the common propaganda techniques is intended to make many people respond to the information overload situation pressured by processing the messages as quickly as possible, therefore by making mental short cuts. In addition, propaganda theory also is the no-hold-barred use of communication to propagate specific beliefs and expectations. For example, the slogan of 1Malaysia Concept in recent and past few year which in year For example, the slogan of 1Malaysia Concept in recent and past few year which in year 2009 People First, Performance Now (Rakyat Didahulukan, Pencapaian Diutamakan), in year 2010 Generating Transformation  (Menjana Transformasi), in year 2011 Transformation Successful, People Prosperous (Transformasi Berjaya, Rakyat Sejahtera), and in year 2012 Promises Fulfilled (Janji Diterpati). It is can say that the used of the slogans in 1Malaysia Concept is to make the citizens believe in, seek to g ain the support and acceptance from the citizen as well as other expectations. In other words, the uses of propaganda attempt to change the way of people act and influence their perceptions. The social chaos initiated by media will inevitably be resolved by establishment of a totalitarian social order. In other word, mass media should debase higher forms of culture, bringing about a general decline in civilization. While in modern propaganda theory, the argument of this modern propaganda theory is that powerful elites are so thoroughly control the mass media and their content that they have little trouble imposing their truth on the culture. The theory is facilitated by three factors i.e. an audience, the use of sophisticated polling and survey procedures, and the incorporation of media companies into mega conglomerates. These factors combine to put untold power in the hand of powerful business and governmental elites without the publics awareness whether the information is true or not. In conclusion, in nation all over the world, the media has to adapt to the political system in which they are operating. How much freedom that the media can enjoys is indicative by the political system that they operate in. In a democracy country, media and politics will always have close ties. Mainstream media is the mouthpiece of the government in nation to disseminating the information on government policies, programs and messages to the citizen. But because of the mainstream media is often heavily influenced by the governments and corporate stockholders, the news it reports on is often kept as neutral as possible or typically of general interest, to avoid losing members and the audience, therefore, they avoid reporting on controversial or sensitive topics especially topics about cultures and religions. For this reason, some people speak disparagingly about the mainstream media, arguing that issues of importance often do not reach the general public. No private-owned newspaper or radio and TV stations are allowed to discriminate the government openly and thus no dissident voice is heard. The government decides what kind of information the citizens should know and the government tends to control or regulate the media by laws but allowed a certain degree of freedom, as long as the media operates within the prescribed perimeter, it will not be harassed. Mainstream media is often associated with reliability and integrity, enforced by firm journalistic standards and the presence of supervisors and review boards who are supposed to ensure that the news is accurately reported. However, the mainstream media is also accused by some individuals of being extremely biased. The political leanings of major media companies may come out in the type of coverage it has, for example, and the choice to refrain from publicizing controversial stories may be viewed as a lapse of integrity. Social justice issues often receive scant coverage in the mainstream media, to the frustrati on of people who want to alert people to such issues. Because of this, more and more people are moving forward to look for other sources that allowed them to know the truth, whether the 1Malaysia Concept is really beneficial as a citizens of Malaysia. The internet has held hope for many Malaysians who are seeking wider democratic space, to enhance freedom of expression and democracy in Malaysia.

Rebellious to Responsible in John Updikes A&P Essay -- Literacy Analy

The lives we live today encompass many moral aspects that would not have been socially acceptable fifty or more years ago. John Updike’s short story, A&P, addresses these issues of societal changes through a 1960’s teenager point of view. This teenager, Sammy, spends a great deal of his time working at a local supermarket, observing customers, and imagining where his life adventures will take him. Through symbolism and setting, Updike establishes the characters and conflicts; these, in turn, evolve Sammy from an observational, ignorant teenager, promoting opposition to changing social rules, into an adult who must face reality. This short story, first published in 1961, stirs up controversy and still continues to be debated today. Although Updike intends for his writing to be simple and enjoyable, he also includes literary and cultural knowledge of the time period for readers to analyze more deeply (Saldivar N. pag.). As with A&P, Updike injects religious faith, which few Non-Catholic writers attempted during this time, in a seemingly effortless way. The supermarket A&P, the main setting of the story, was positioned â€Å"right in the middle of town† (Updike 983); a prime position accessible to all, although, generally this position was reserved for the town’s place of worship. In a way, Updike implanted this detail to be ironic. The supermarket in his story represented a â€Å"temple of modern consumerism† and was replacing a temple of worship (Wells N. pag.). To create a story that was relevant to the 1960’s, yet still encompasses issues society currently faces, demonstrates U pdike’s genius ability to engage in the enthralling world around him. The story begins through Sammy, the narrator, working at the local A&P supermarket. He not... ..., 1994. Literature Resource Center. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. †¢ Porter, M. Gilbert. "John Updike's 'A & P': The Establishment and an Emersonian Cashier." English Journal 61 (Nov. 1972): 1155-1158. Rpt. in Short Story Criticism. Ed. Anna J. Sheets. Vol. 27. Detroit: Gale Research, 1998. Literature Resource Center. Web. 15 Apr. 2012. †¢ Saldivar, Toni. "The Art Of John Updike's "A & P." Studies In Short Fiction 34.2 (1997): 215. Academic Search Premier. Web. 14 Apr. 2012. †¢ Thompson, Corey Evan. "Updike's A & P." Explicator 59.4 (2001): 215. Academic Search Premier. Web. 14 Apr. 2012. †¢ Updike, John. "A&P." Thinking and Writing About Literature. Ed. Michael Meyer. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2001. 981-86. Print. †¢ Wells, Walter. "John Updike's `A&P': A Return To Araby." Studies In Short Fiction 30.2 (1993): 127. Academic Search Premier. Web. 14 Apr. 2012.

“Devil in a Blue Dress” By Walter Mosley Essay

When will it end? Racial stereotypes have been around since the 19th century and its presence is the United States is still felt; this ideology has been portrayed in all types of mediums where semiotics influence a person’s thought process. The influence of racial stereotyping has molded how a person judges another person by the basis of their race. Walter Mosley, the author of Devil in a Blue Dress, takes advantage of existing racial stereotypes to inform his readers of the enormous issue still facing society today. Mosley has incorporated the issues of ethnic discrimination noticed in media and advertisements in Western Culture while mass advertisements from the media has led the battle for racial stereotyping. A common stereotype portrays all African-Americans to speak â€Å"ghetto† also known as Ebonics. The Hip-Hop and media industry are two of the main mediums that has effectively influenced popular culture. M.T.V (Music Television) liberally broadcasts programs to its viewers African Americans people speaking words such as â€Å"y’all and n’ah mean† are just the tip of the iceberg for this dialect of English. The effect of portraying all black people in television talking â€Å"ghetto† significantly demeans their image of knowledge and their ability to communicate proficiently with society. If one just watched M.T.V all of their life, he or she they would assume all African-Americans people speak another dialect of English. The effect of the Ebonic stereotype has carried over into English literature. Walter Mosley incorporates the stereotype of African-Americans speaking Ebonics to give his readers a sense of why black people talk in â€Å"ghetto†. Easy, one of the main characters in Devil in a Blue Dress, states â€Å"I always tried to speak proper English in my life, the kind of English they taught in school, but I found over the years that I could only truly express myself in the natural, â€Å"uneducated† dialect of my upbringing.† The significance of this passage demonstrates black people who use Ebonics know how to speak proper English but they choose not to because they ultimately decide to speak in Ebonics to express their ideas more accurately. It is human nature for one to do an action or develop a habit that makes them feel comfortable. Although people are misled to think that black people are not literate enough to speak proper English maybe they just do not want to. However, Black people haven’t only been the target of racial stereotyping. White people have been portrayed by media, advertisements, and magazines to be rich and successful. For example, a Caucasian person is usually featured on the cover of Forbes magazine. To be featured on the cover of the business magazine one must be successful and witty in their business endeavors. There are people from every race that have been successful in the business world, but it is white people who are represented the most. How come Forbes magazine do not like to feature other ethnicities more often or why not add Ebonics to the cover of the magazine? Television ads such as the Cingular commercial boasting their national coverage depicts two white male business partners communicating with each other from far distances. These usages of media to convey racial stereotyping are effective. The mass stereotyping in the media has caused society to develop messages of white people being the â€Å"supreme’ being and the most intelligent opposed to African Americans who are port rayed to be illiterate and unable to speak English properly. The history between white and black people has created a grudge filled with pain and guilt that kept both of them intolerable of each other’s values. A large void characterized by the pride and ego of both races has made it difficult for society to integrate a healthy relationship between the two ethnicthicies. According to Demoit, solving the problem of their relationship would mean we as an individual would have to â€Å"scrub off the dirt of ill will.† Although the media can depict the two ethnicities living happy ever after, the goal of reaching a agreement between the two races will be very difficult For instance, the explicit show Southpark features only one African American child among a Caucasian dominated population. Token, the name of the child, suggests that he is the token black friend among his group of white friends. Therefore, television is emanating wide void between black and white relationships. Mosley incorporates the stereotyping of the â€Å"supreme† white male in Devil in A Blue Dress. Dewitt Albright, a rich businessman, symbolizes as the epitome of the successful white male who has many connections that the ordinary person would not have. From the beginning to the end of the novel Mosley explicitly describes Albright to be well dressed in a white suit  complemented with white silk socks. One of the passages in the novel after an unknown person knocks out Easy has a concerned Primo trying to figure out the situation. Primo states, â€Å"What happened, Amigo? You have a fight with your friends?† a delusional Easy asks â€Å"What friends?† Primo replies â€Å"Joppy and the white man in the white suit.† The white man in the white suit Primo describes is Dewitt Albright. The significance of Dewitt Albright wearing this white suit throughout the entire novel creates an image of an individual radiating success from his body. Albright, one of the more notable characters in the novel, is not the only white character in the novel; Mosley explicitly describes all the white characters in the novel to wear fashionable clothing while the black character’s appearance depict a less affluent individual. The psychological effect of mass advertisements has helped develop racial stereotypes. Mass consumerism has given rise to mass advertisements, which has the power to influence large portions of society (Twitchell 204). Since large portions of the populations in the United States have televisions in their household society is constantly fed information from the media. The images of sex, alcohol, and racism have a profound effect on society that is non-promiscuous to its viewers. Works Cited: Demott, Benajamin. â€Å"Put on a Happy Face: Masking the Differences Between Blacks and Whites.† Signs of Life: in the United States 5 (2006): 1-805. Mosley, Walter. Devil in a Blue Dress. New York: Washington Square P, 2002. 1-261. Twitchell, James B. â€Å"What We are to Advertisers.† Signs of Life: in the United States 5 (2006): 203-207.

Profile on Woman Writer Marge Piercy

Profile on Woman Writer Marge Piercy Marge Piercy (born March 31, 1936) is a feminist writer of fiction, poetry, and memoir. She is known for examining women, relationships, and emotions in new and provocative ways. Her cyberpunk novel He, She and It (known outside the U.S. as Body of Glass) won the Arthur C. Clarke Award, which honors the best science fiction, in 1993. Fast Facts: Marge Piercy Known For: Feminist authorBorn: March 31, 1936 in Detroit Family Background Piercy was born and  grew up in Detroit. Like many U.S. families of the 1930s, hers was influenced by the Great Depression. Her father,  Robert Piercy, was sometimes out of work. She also knew the â€Å"outsider† struggle of being a Jew, as she was raised by her Jewish mother and non-practicing Presbyterian father. Her neighborhood was a working-class neighborhood, segregated block by block.  She went through some years of sickness after early health, first struck by German measles and then rheumatic fever. Reading helped her through that period. Marge Piercy cites her maternal grandmother, who had previously lived on a shtetl  in Lithuania, as an influence on her upbringing. She remembers her grandmother as a storyteller and her mother as a voracious reader who encouraged observation of the world around her. She had a troubled relationship with her mother, Bert Bunnin Piercy.  Her mother encouraged her to read and be curious, but also was highly emotional, and not very tolerant of her daughters growing independence. Education and Early Adulthood Marge Piercy began writing poetry and fiction as a teenager. She graduated from Mackenzie High School. She attended the University of Michigan, where she co-edited the literary magazine and became a published writer for the first time. She earned scholarships and awards, including a fellowship to Northwestern to pursue her master’s degree. Marge Piercy felt like an outsider in 1950s U.S. higher education, in part because of what she calls dominant Freudian values. Her sexuality and goals did not conform to expected behavior. The themes of women’s sexuality and women’s roles would later be prominent in her writing. She published  Breaking Camp,  a book of her poetry, in 1968. Marriage and Relationships Marge Piercy married young, but left her first husband by age 23. He was a physicist and a Jew from France, active in anti-war activities during Frances war with Algeria.  They lived in France.  She was frustrated by her husbands expectation of conventional sex roles, including not taking her writing seriously. After she left that marriage and divorced, she lived in Chicago, working at various part-time jobs to make a living while she wrote poetry and took part in the civil rights movement. With her second husband, a computer scientist, Marge Piercy lived in Cambridge, San Francisco, Boston, and New York. The marriage was an open relationship, and others sometimes lived with them. She worked long hours as a feminist and anti-war activist, but eventually left New York after the movements began to splinter and fall apart.  Ã‚   Marge Piercy and her husband moved to Cape Cod, where she began writing Small Changes, published in 1973. That novel explores a variety of relationships with men and women, in marriage and in communal living. Her second marriage ended later that decade. Marge Piercy married Ira Wood in 1982. They have written several books together, including the play Last White Class, the novel Storm Tide, and a non-fiction book about the craft of writing. Together they started the Leapfrog Press, which publishes midlist fiction, poetry, and non-fiction. They sold the publishing company to new owners in 2008. Writing and Exploration Marge Piercy says her writing and poetry changed after she moved to Cape Cod. She sees herself as part of a connected universe. She bought land and became interested in gardening. In addition to writing, she remained active working in the women’s movement and teaching at a Jewish retreat center. Marge Piercy often visited the places where she sets her novels, even if she had been there before, to see them through her characters’ eyes. She describes writing fiction as inhabiting another world for a few years. It allows her to explore choices she didn’t make and imagine what would have happened. Famous Works Marge Piercy’s is the author of over 15 novels, including Woman on the Edge of Time (1976), Vida (1979), Fly Away Home (1984), and Gone to Soldiers (1987). Some novels are considered science fiction, including Body of Glass, awarded the Arthur C. Clarke Award.  Her many poetry books include  The Moon Is Always Female (1980),  What Are Big Girls Made Of? (1987), and Blessing the Day (1999). Her memoir, Sleeping With Cats, was published in 2002.

Free Essays on Columbus

which they grasped by the blades, and cut themselves through ignorance†¦. But they seemed on the whole to me, to be a very poor people. They all go completely naked, even the women,†¦ I was very attentive to them, and strove to learn if they had any gold. Seeing some of them with little bits of this metal hanging at their noses† As you can see it was very easy for Columbus to take them over and treat them badly because they had no protection. That is a good example to show how cruel Columbus could act toward people he knew couldn’t fight back. This is one proof of Christopher Columbus being a conqueror. In the movie we watched in class, it told us how Columbus was just out to get gold, and riches. He ordered the natives to proclaim him governor of the lands. Since he was governor he made a law that said the natives had to bring him one bag of gold dust every three months. If they did not give him this gold(simply because their wasn’t that much gold... Free Essays on Columbus Free Essays on Columbus Christopher Columbus is the most well known explorer by most school age children. When children are young, teachers tell them that Columbus was a very good person, a hero even. To be politically correct though, Christopher Columbus brought death and destruction with him to the Americas. He stole , killed, and tortured the natives. Christopher Columbus was not a true explorer, but he was a conqueror of people. When Christopher Columbus set out on his voyage(August 3rd, 1492) to find a new route to the Indies there was no way that he could know that it would turn out the way it did. When he landed at the Caribbean Islands(October 12th, 1492), the people there were scared, but still friendly toward him. This next quote is from Columbus’ journal: â€Å"As I saw that they were very friendly to us, and perceived that they could be much more easily converted to our holy faith by gentle means than by force,†¦ Weapons they have none, nor are acquainted with them, for I showed them swords which they grasped by the blades, and cut themselves through ignorance†¦. But they seemed on the whole to me, to be a very poor people. They all go completely naked, even the women,†¦ I was very attentive to them, and strove to learn if they had any gold. Seeing some of them with little bits of this metal hanging at their noses† As you can see it was very easy for Columbus to take them over and treat them badly bec! ause they had no protection. That is a good example to show how cruel Columbus could act toward people he knew couldn’t fight back. This is one proof of Christopher Columbus being a conqueror. In the movie we watched in class, it told us how Columbus was just out to get gold, and riches. He ordered the natives to proclaim him governor of the lands. Since he was governor he made a law that said the natives had to bring him one bag of gold dust every three months. If they did not give him this gold(simply because their wasn’t that much g... Free Essays on Columbus Christopher Columbus is the most well known explorer by most school age children. When children are young, teachers tell them that Columbus was a very good person, a hero even. To be politically correct though, Christopher Columbus brought death and destruction with him to the Americas. He stole , killed, and tortured the natives. Christopher Columbus was not a true explorer, but he was a conqueror of people. When Christopher Columbus set out on his voyage(August 3rd, 1492) to find a new route to the Indies there was no way that he could know that it would turn out the way it did. When he landed at the Caribbean Islands(October 12th, 1492), the people there were scared, but still friendly toward him. This next quote is from Columbus’ journal: â€Å"As I saw that they were very friendly to us, and perceived that they could be much more easily converted to our holy faith by gentle means than by force,†¦ Weapons they have none, nor are acquainted with them, for I showed them swords which they grasped by the blades, and cut themselves through ignorance†¦. But they seemed on the whole to me, to be a very poor people. They all go completely naked, even the women,†¦ I was very attentive to them, and strove to learn if they had any gold. Seeing some of them with little bits of this metal hanging at their noses† As you can see it was very easy for Columbus to take them over and treat them badly because they had no protection. That is a good example to show how cruel Columbus could act toward people he knew couldn’t fight back. This is one proof of Christopher Columbus being a conqueror. In the movie we watched in class, it told us how Columbus was just out to get gold, and riches. He ordered the natives to proclaim him governor of the lands. Since he was governor he made a law that said the natives had to bring him one bag of gold dust every three months. If they did not give him this gold(simply because their wasn’t that much gold... Free Essays on Columbus Columbus and the Indians Christopher Columbus is easily one of the most famous and most well known men in the world. Although people learn about Columbus in school, they don’t learn enough about him to realize that he wasn’t such a hero. He wasn’t that great, brave, kind man that people picture when they hear his name; he was a slave driver and a murderer. In this paper, I am going to talk about why Columbus killed so many innocent people, and why he acted the way he did towards the people who could have helped him. All Columbus was looking for was power. Wherever he went, and who ever he saw, he would picture them as slaves, and try to imagine how they could make his life better. In Columbus’s journey to the Bahamas he wrote: â€Å"They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. The have no iron. Their spears are made of cane†¦.They would make fine servants†¦.With fifty men, we could subjugate them all and make them do whatever we want.† Columbus wrote this when he first met the Arawak Indians. Later, he wrote: â€Å"As soon as I arrived in the Indies, on the first island which I found, I took some of the natives by force in order that they might learn and might give me some information of whatever there is in these parts.† Columbus’s journals have told us many things about him. They have told us that he believes in slavery, and that he is a very hostile man. However, his journals make you wonder one thing; what was Columbus looking for? Columbus was looking for gold. He was sent on a mission by the king and queen of Spain. His mission was to find gold. Columbus didn’t know how to do this, so he used his great power, against little, harmless tribes, in an attempt to get information. When the tribes wouldn’t help him either because they didn’t speak the right language, or because they didn’t know, Columbus would kill...

Role of IT in generating competitive advantage Coursework

Role of IT in generating competitive advantage - Coursework Example They serve as symbol towards achieving excellence and besides the symbol they are practical tool towards the tasks accomplishment. However yielding the best out of I.T setup requires thorough mechanism establishment that ensures maximum profits. This can be done through implementation of management strategies in alignment with information technology. The advantage served by information technology is the fact that activities that were done manually are being carried out with the help of this infrastructure which exists in the name of computer, internet and the field of information technology as a whole. Achieving competitive means surpassing the rivals, living up to the needs of modern day challenges and satisfying the customers’ needs. Companies strive hard for achieving this status and would invest in anything and everything to be competitively stronger than their rivals in the industry. In last two to three decades the use of information systems and relevant technology has b ecome one of the most essential tool towards achieving competitive advantage. ... Similarly people can fly between the continents in no time. The continents, oceans, mountains, and other barriers of past are no more obstacle to communication. This all has been made possible through technology and computer and information technology are the two major gifts of technology in it. with every individual possessing a cell phone or other form of digital device, the operations on non digital mode can hardly be imagined. Keeping up with the challenges and requirements of modern day, embracing the information technology is a must. It serves as that particular pre requisite that must be fulfilled in order to maximize the profits, gains, advantages and minimize the threats and losses(Schlemmer & Webb, 2008). No organization or government can think of living without the use and application of information technology. In fact it has equally penetrated into individual lives, even they cannot imagine life without cell phones, computers, and other digital devices which are part of o ur surroundings and have made our life far more comfortable than it was to the earlier generations. The slow pace of past generations and the modern day fast pace is the salient difference between the two and only one variable stands out in such cases and that is the information technology and computer dominance. Computer has dominated the world’s proceedings in every way. The competitive advantage can be in form of reducing the costs that would be otherwise incurred in the practices and completion of processes, increasing the company rating with reference to market standing, improving the company reputation through the eye of customers, improving the

Rag time (movie) Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Rag time (movie) - Essay Example the height of success and sophistication (Forman, n.p.).Walker Coalhouse has walked up the ladder of the social class courtesy of his talent in music, where he plays the piano in a successful Jazz band, allowing him to become successful both in fame and fortune (Canby, n.p.). Under the current social stratification of the community in which Coalhouse lives, he belongs to the bottom layer of the social class; the blacks, and thus some of the white people volunteering at a firehouse in New York cannot stand to see a black man riding in such an expensive and state-of-the-art car. This makes the fire chief, Conklin to rally the volunteers to blockade the way and stop him from passing with his car, and later leads them in wrecking Coalhouse’s Model-T (Forman, n.p.). The attempt by Coalhouse to seek justice for the racial mistreatment that he received fails completely, because the justice system is dedicated to racism, thus it cannot offer a black man any justice (Forman, n.p.). Starting with the search for a lawyer to represent him in the case to petitioning the police to address his case by having the fire chief charged for the injustice he committed against him, the whole system refuses to work in his favor not because Coalhouse is on the wrong or because he cannot afford to pay the requisite legal fees, but simply because he s black (Canby, n.p.). Therefore, the theme of racism has featured in the entire film, building up from one episode to the other until the film ends without a clear solution to the problem of racism having been devised. The motif of the film is presented through fantasy and illusion, where the film has mixed up real life characters and events with other imaginary and unreal narratives that create a sense of confusion and lack of comprehension of the film. The historical events in the film are so mixed up, while there lacks the focus on one-sided historical narration (Canby, n.p.). Contrary, the film presents a multiplicity view of the