Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Cry the Beloved Country dialectical journal Essay
ââ¬Å"Kumalo climbed into the carriage for non-Europeans, already full of the humbler people of his raceâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (43) How thereââ¬â¢s a carriage exclusively for non-Europeans is understandable at the time period that this novel is set in, but people who read this in the 21st century might think that this is odd how Europeans couldnââ¬â¢t stand to ride in the same carriage as non-Europeans. ââ¬Å"Black and white it says, black and white, though it is red and green. It is too much to understand.â⬠(47) The order it goes, black and white then red and green. It shows you that the whites are more superior because they are the sign to go, and the blacks have to stop and wait. The whites always get first word on things and blacks have to settle with that the whites left them. ââ¬Å"They talked of young criminal children and older and more dangerous criminals, of how white Johannesburg was afraid of black crime.â⬠(52) How it says ââ¬Å"black crimeâ⬠is just wrong. There is such thing as white crime too, but apparently the white people donââ¬â¢t think that white crime is just as dangerous as black crime. It shows how scared they were of people of different races and think that just because of your color you are prone to do more dangerous things. ââ¬Å"That is a pity, says Msimsngu. I am not a man for segregation, but it is a pity that we are not apart. They run trams from the centre of the city, and part is for Europeans and part for us. But we are often thrown off the trams by young hooligans. And our hooligans are ready for trouble too.â⬠(58) Itââ¬â¢s sort of sad how this is a person who doesnââ¬â¢t believe in segregation, but feels the need to be apart from the other race. When someone is being hostile towards you itââ¬â¢s not a good feeling, so of course you wouldnââ¬â¢t want to be near that individual. I think in this setting and time itââ¬â¢s understandable that someone would feel this way about being separated. Kumaloââ¬â¢s face wore the smile, the strange smile not known in other countries, of a black man when he sees one of his people helped in public by a white man, for such a thing is not lightly done. (81) It bothers me that this smile is for a deed that should be done anyway. I mean, I know itââ¬â¢s set in a time where thereââ¬â¢s segregation betweenà the different races, but seeing how I was born and raised in an era where it isnââ¬â¢t customary to ignore someone solely because of their race. Cry, the Beloved Country Dialectical Journals Theme: Fear Quote Response The small child opened the door, carefully like one who was afraid to open carelessly, the door of so important a house, and stepped timidly in.â⬠(35) Just how the girlââ¬â¢s movement is describes makes me feel scared. The words ââ¬Å"timidlyâ⬠and ââ¬Å"carelesslyâ⬠really add on to how you could picture her moving. Being a small child and going into a house that is owned by such an important person would be terrifying because if you were to accidentally break something or slip up then itââ¬â¢d be very bad. ââ¬Å"They go to Johannesburg, and there they are lost, an no one hears of them at all.â⬠(39) It sounds like Johannesburg is sucking them up and not letting them free. People might never hear from people that have gone to Johannesburg because their life was getting worse by living in Johannesburg. I would be kind of scared to go to Johannesburg because no one hears from you again. ââ¬Å"He goes carefully that he may not bump anybody, holding tightly on to his bag.â⬠(47) Heââ¬â¢s afraid that someone might try to snatch his bag. Being in an unknown place is hard for a lot of people. They hear rumors and then they get scared. Itââ¬â¢s not bad to always be careful, but it wasnââ¬â¢t just careful he was being. The young man took the pound and walked a short distance to the corner. As the turned it. Kumalo was afraid. The line moved forward and he with it, clutching his bag. And again forward, and again forward, and soon he must enter a bus, but still he had no ticket. As through the has suddenly thought of something he left he line, and walked the corner, but there was no sign of the young man.(48-49) Trusting strangers with your money isnââ¬â¢t an easy thing to do. And being in a foreign place makes it even more confusing on if you should trust anyone or not. When youââ¬â¢re poor like Kumalo was, money was very precious to you. He was taking m oney that was going to be used for clothes. Seeing someone run off with your money is something that makes you lose faith in the human race. Cry, the Beloved Country Dialectical Journals Theme: Economic Prosperity v. Loss of Values Quote Response ââ¬Å"She came here to look for her husband who was recruited for the minesâ⬠¦ She lives in Claremont, not far from here. It is one of the worst places in Johannesburgâ⬠¦ â⬠¦ that is her work, she makes and sells itâ⬠¦ These women sleep with any man for their priceâ⬠¦ She has been in prison, more than once.â⬠(53) Kumaloââ¬â¢s sister went to the big city to find her husband and it turns out that she never did. At least thatââ¬â¢s what it seems like itââ¬â¢s trying to hint at. It seems like as soon as she entered a place to be rumored as a better economic area, she lost all morals and values. This is sad really, for both Kumalo and his sister. (55) Cry, the Beloved Country Dialectical Journals Theme: Poverty Quote Response ââ¬Å"How can I use it? he said. This money was to send Absalom to St. Chadââ¬â¢sâ⬠¦ This money we have saved for that purpose will never be used for it.â⬠(38-39) Stephen feels if he were to use the money they saved for his son it wouldnââ¬â¢t be right. He also knows that if he doesnââ¬â¢t use it, it might never be used for anything at all. He doesnââ¬â¢t know where his son is because he hasnââ¬â¢t tried to contact ever since he left. ââ¬Å"Take it all, Stephen. There may be doctors, hospital, other troubles. Take it all. And take the Post Office Bookââ¬âââ¬âthere is ten pounds in itââ¬âââ¬âyou must take that also. ââ¬â I have been saving that for your stove, He said ââ¬â That cannot be helped, she said. And that other money, though we saved it for St. Chadââ¬â¢s, I had meant it for your new black clothes, and a new black hat, and new white collarsâ⬠(40) I think how Stephenââ¬â¢s wife tells him to take all the money is something that shows how much she cares about his wellà being. How they were saving it for a stove for his wife and new clothes for Stephen but his wife wanted him to take the money for their needs before their wants. Stephen needs to have enough money for anything and everything that might be thrown in his path in this journey he is about to embark on. ââ¬Å"This is a long way to go, and a lot of money to pay. And if he has to bring her back, what will that cost too?â⬠(42) Heââ¬â¢s going to this unknown city where they donââ¬â¢t know how much things are. And if his sister is gravely ill, then what? Heââ¬â¢s not going to leave her there, sheââ¬â¢s family and family always comes first. ââ¬Å"Is it wrong to ask more money? John Kumalo asks. We get little enough. It is only our share that we ask, enough to our wives and families from starvation. For we do not get enough. The Lansdown Commission said that we do not get enough. The Smit Commission said that we do not get enough.â⬠(218) Everyone is saying that John Kumalo is poor because he isnââ¬â¢t getting enough money. Heââ¬â¢s wondering if asking for money is something that is socially acceptable, even if you need it to not starve. I think that this is sort of sad because when you think about it there are people in this time of day that would ask the same question to themselves but never ask. Cry, the Beloved Country Dialectical Journals Theme: Religion Quote Response (37) I lied. This doesnââ¬â¢t work. (43) Ha. This one doesnââ¬â¢t work either >.< (51) Oh and this? FAIL. ââ¬Å"They went into a room where a table was laid, and there he met many priests, both white and black, and they sat down after grace and ate together.â⬠(51) At a time of social and political unrest, the two different races could sit together without being appalled by each otherââ¬â¢s races. I think that speaks for itself in the fact that religion is uniting the (187) Ha not this one. this one is evil. jk Cry, the Beloved Country Dialectical Journals Theme: Forgiveness Quote Response ââ¬Å"They knelt down, and he prayed, quietly so that the neighbors might not hear, and she punctuated his petitions with Amens. And when he had finished, she burst into a torrent of prayer, of self-denunciation, and urgent petition. And thus reconciled, they sat hand in hand.â⬠(61) ââ¬Å"â⬠¦ And he said to her, will you now take a fourth husband? And desperately she said, no, no, I want no husband anymore.â⬠(146) ââ¬Å" And so he laughed again, and let go her hands, and took up his hat. I shall come for you when everything is ready for the marriage. Have you clothes?â⬠(148) ââ¬Å"-I have heard you, he said. I understand what I did not understand. There is no anger in me.â⬠(214)
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Happy Feet Movie Quotes
'Happy Feet' Movie Quotes Live your life to the fullest. Dont be afraid to be yourself, no matter who you are. These are the heart-warming lessons you learn through the song-and-dance animated movie Happy Feet. The movie takes place in Antarctica in the home of the emperor penguins. Each penguin sings a heartsong to attract a mate, but young Mumble is a terrible singer. Mumble can tap dance though, and he eventually wins over his heartthrob with his clever footwork. George Miller, the writer-director of Happy Feet, used sophisticated computer animation to create this visual treat. The voice-overs by Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Robin Williams and Elijah Wood are part of why Happy Feet won the 2006 Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. For Penguin lovers, here is a collection of memorable Happy Feet quotes. Ramon Just a moment... I hear people wanting something... ME! We gotà personalityà with a capital Y. Why? Because were hot! I like big tails and I cant deny! Oh, hes leaving! Oh, no! That was his face! I dont care where you come from, that has got to hurt! STOP! Lemme tell something toà joo... I know size can be daunting... but dont be afraid... I love you! Yeah, I saw an animal do that once and then they rolled him over and he was dead. You did everythingà penguinlyà possible. Dont feel so bad, my father also called me a pitiful loser, look how I turned out. Seymour Dont push me cause I am close to the edge. Im trying not to lose my head. Gloria, I adori ya, Id like to see more o ya! Its like a jungle sometimes, it makes me wonder how I keep from goin under! Remember stranger danger... Watch out for leopard seals and them killer whales! Lovelace Ladies, please avert your eyes, cause Ive been known to hypnotize. Enraged by their indifference, he followed them long after they had gone from his sight. He swam further than any of us had before, past all hope of return. Swept up by the currents, he was carried endlessly, across vast oceans, to worlds unknown. Hear me! Theres not enough love in the world. Turn to the penguin next to you, put your flippers up, fluff him up a little bit and give him a great big hug! Go forth and multiply! I must retire now to my couch of perpetual indulgence.à Baby Gloria Is it empty? Can I have it? [to Mumbles unhatched egg]à Mumble Let me tell something to joo! When I find out whats happening to the fish, Ill be back! Its just like ... singing, with your body. Im speaking plain penguin! Leopard Seal Come here, sausage. I take you with ketchup! Remember, dumplings, I know where you live ...
Monday, October 21, 2019
Vicarious Leisure Class Essays
Vicarious Leisure Class Essays Vicarious Leisure Class Paper Vicarious Leisure Class Paper Living the Lifestyle of a Celebrity: Conspicuous Consumption within the Leisure Class In Thorstein Veblenââ¬â¢s, The Theory of the Leisure Class which was first published in 1899, Veblen identifies a problem in our society for which many did not see. Veblen described society as a division of classes, one of these classes as he described as the ââ¬Å"leisure classâ⬠or what we know today as the wealthier, upper class. In this book, Veblen describes society, and the economy, through the leisure class and analyzes their lifestyle through his time. The leisure class is a predatory culture and harmful to society, he explains, a leisure class has emerged from a ââ¬Å"peaceable to a consistently warlike habit of lifeâ⬠(Veblen 7). Through this predatory class, Veblen describes various terms associated with the lifestyle of the leisure class, conspicuous consumption, vicarious leisure, and conspicuous leisure are only few terms he uses. These terms and the study of different lifestyles in different stages of development are described throughout this book, to explain the competitiveness and harm for which the upper class has brought to our society. In this paper, I will describe and discuss Veblenââ¬â¢s terms and lifestyles of the leisure class, how it relates to Karl Marx and his theories in society, and also similarities in which Veblenââ¬â¢s description of the leisure class is seen today. According to Veblen, the leisure class developed during the barbarian era, more specifically during the transition from savagery to barbarism, which also brought a more warlike community. Veblen argued that these warlike characteristics emerged through the leisure class; the members of this class were mostly men. During this time, hunting and gathering was the primary labor work, which was mostly employed by men of the leisure class. Veblen explains that even though this type of work provided food, farming and other work was more productive than hunting and gathering. The leisure class took over these warfare positions and prevented individuals of the lower class from learning to fight or owning weapons, this is when the leisure class started to gain their power and other classes started to rely and depend on the leisure class. In the predatory culture, this time of employment becomes only a form welcome to the upper class, this is what Veblen describes as conspicuous leisure, these individuals are wealthy enough to avoid work and engage in a type of lifestyle for which no other class can live. Individuals of conspicuous leisure donââ¬â¢t necessarily have to work because they already have the money. Veblen explains the individualââ¬â¢s time is ââ¬Å"consumed non-productively (1) from a sense of the unworthiness of productive work, and (2) as an evidence of pecuniary ability to afford a life of idlenessâ⬠(Veblen 23). During this time the leisure class started to emerge and the divisions of classââ¬â¢s were becoming more known to society. Similar to Veblen, Karl Marx also believed society was made up of class divisions. He explained his theory of class division through ââ¬Å"proletariatsâ⬠(have nots) and ââ¬Å"bourgeoisieâ⬠(haves). The proletariats were those of the poorer class, which had nothing and the bourgeoisie were the wealthier class that had everything; these individuals would be considered the leisure class. Like the bourgeoisie, Veblen explained that individuals of the leisure class were expected to have almost everything, from servants to luxuries goods, this type of conspicuous consumption defined their status within the leisure class. These individuals of the leisure class can afford servants however the ââ¬Å"realâ⬠leisure class, or the individuals at the top of the leisure class, can afford servants and also servants who do nothing. Marx believed that ââ¬Å"class exploitation takes place when the labor power of one man is the property of another (Romero et al. . Marx theory is shown through servants of the leisure class. ââ¬Å"Class Exploitationâ⬠is seen in the leisure class when the labor of servants is the property of those of the leisure class, ââ¬Å"there supervenes a division of labour among the servants or dependents whose life is spent in maintaining the honour of the gentleman of leisureâ⬠(Veblen 63). Servants are only one factor that shows the wealth of the leisure class. According to Veblen, a member of the leisure class is known to show off his/her earnings. This type of behavior goes all the way back to the barbarian era when men showed off trophies, weapons, and other ideal possessions, ââ¬Å"the last evidence of productive labour is its material product- commonly some article of consumptionâ⬠(Veblen 44). The leisure class must have certain goods or items to gain fulfillment. This is similar to Karl Marxââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"false consciousnessâ⬠which is described as a ââ¬Å"sense of common identification with members of the same classâ⬠(Romero et al. ). False consciousnessâ⬠is seen in the leisure class, regarding Veblenââ¬â¢s conspicuous consumption, the leisure class must consume certain items to be ââ¬Å"happyâ⬠this is not necessarily known and explained however within every member of the leisure class they must have certain things to live happily in the upper class. Veblen defined this behavior within the leisure class in Chapter 6, ââ¬Å"Pecuniary Canons of Tasteâ⬠, ââ¬Å"as it is a desire to live up to the conventional standard of decency in the amount and grade of goods consumedâ⬠(Veblen 102). He explains that the standard of living is keeping up with the others of oneââ¬â¢s personal class. For example, if a neighbor buys a new car, you may go buy a new car just to keep up. ââ¬Å"Each class envies and emulates the class next above it in the social scale, while it rarely compares itself with those below or with those who are considerably in advancedâ⬠(Veblen 104). Veblen defines the divisions of labor and that one whom competes with a higher class, through material may not be able to afford some materials of the higher class, and competing with a lower class is not striving for increasing achievement, so individuals stay within their class and compete with those whom are a little bit higher than them in the social structure. Marx defines this theory of ââ¬Å"false consciousnessâ⬠as something for which the individual does not necessarily notice, however it occurs. Like Marx, Veblen describes this standard of living as a habit, itââ¬â¢s something an individual is immune to and becomes a lifestyle, to which the individual does not realize they are constantly competing to keep up with the same lifestyles as others. ââ¬Å"A standard of living is of the nature of habit. It is a habitual scale and method of responding to given stimuliâ⬠(Veblen 106). The longer the habit, the harder it is to let go, so one is constantly trying to keep up with class, society, and the standard of living. To keep up with the standard of living, individuals, mostly of the leisure class, will constantly continue to consume luxuries items and even though they are constantly consuming new items, the individual never seeks satisfaction; this refers to what Veblen describes as ââ¬Å"chronic dissatisfactionâ⬠. This term is defined as always wanting more, one is never satisfied with what they have so they are constantly needing more (Veblen 31). Chronic dissatisfaction is a continuous cycle once one earns or receives something they just strive for the next thing. Chad Ochocinco is a NFL football player, who is constantly striving for more. He pursued modeling, then acting, and now has his second television series, and a video game. Ochocinco is an example of chronic dissatisfaction, although he has money and a career he wants more, after receiving a television series, he continued to strive for another one and added on a video game (ââ¬Å"Wiki:Ochocincoâ⬠). Like Ochocinco, many individuals of the leisure class, continue to need more, this includes luxuries and other items. This type of consumption leads to another one of Veblenââ¬â¢s arguments of conspicuous consumption, which is when one consumes various goods, the best of food, and luxuries to show off oneââ¬â¢s earnings. Conspicuous consumption is seen in our society today, this type of behavior does not just exist within the leisure class, however throughout every class and individual in our society. The want to consume is nothing new, we work and live to consume, we are what we consume. As seen with celebrities today, they consume the best cars, the best clothes, the biggest houses. Veblen explains a man of wealth ââ¬Å"consumes freely and of the best, in food, drink, narcotics, shelter, services, ornaments, apparel, weapons, and accoutrements, amusements, amulets, and idols or divinities (Veblen 73). This type of consumption is what Veblen describes as ââ¬Å"conspicuous wasteâ⬠, the manner in which people dress is always seen and noticed, especially when celebrities are displaying them. With conspicuous consumption, the consumption and wealth must be displayed and noticed. As seen on the television show ââ¬Å" Mtv Cribsâ⬠many celebrities, who are members of the leisure class, show off their homes, cars, clothes, and other items. Veblen argues this is harmful to our society, these luxuries and types of consumption are only for the leisure class, and one is expected to live this certain lifestyle in order to keep their standing in the leisure class. A man of the leisure class must consume certain goods and give away certain types of rewards or gifts to with hold his position within the leisure class. One example of conspicuous consumption he gives, which is seen today, is the consumption of ââ¬Å"intoxicating beverages or narcoticsâ⬠, which members of the leisure class are known to consume (Veblen 70). Like Grey Goose and Jose Cuervo, many celebrities only drink the top self alcohol. Also, many celebrities are getting involved in alcohol or drug related crimes, however we still honor them. For example, Lil Wayne, Michael Vick, Lindsay Lohan, and Paris Hilton are only a few celebrities who were convicted of criminal charges, yet are still in the lime light today. Paris Hilton was convicted of driving under the influence (DUI) in 2006, and charge in 2007. In 2007, Hilton was sentenced to 45 days in jail for violating her probation, ââ¬Å"according to prosecutors, she fail to enroll in an alcohol education course by mid-April 2007, and was stopped for two more traffic violations, including driving with a suspended licenseâ⬠(ââ¬Å"Wiki:Paris Hiltonâ⬠). After these incidents took place, Paris Hilton continued to live vicariously through the leisure class, from initially earning her fortune from her great-grandfatherââ¬â¢s wealth, (Conrad Hilton, founder of Hilton Hotels) she continues to be a social icon, with her own hit television show, ââ¬Å"Parisââ¬â¢s BFFâ⬠, as well as, her role as an actor in several movies, singer, model, and author (ââ¬Å"Wiki: Paris Hiltonâ⬠). Like Paris Hilton, many members of the leisure class are still honored and have status after criminal offenses, or drug/alcohol related mistakes. These celebrities are idols and influence our society, this is another reason Veblen argues the leisure class can be harmful to our society, ââ¬Å"drunkness and the other pathological consequences of the free use of stimulants therefore tend in their turn to become honorificâ⬠(Veblen 70). The ââ¬Å"emergence of the leisure class coincides with the beginning of ownershipâ⬠(Veblen 22). During the barbarian stages, women became a form of ownership. Women were seen as a status symbol, a trophy wife, for which men of the leisure class could own and show off. When we own people, we own material or production, so by owning something one can exploit his earnings. Like ownership, most women of the leisure class are considered ââ¬Å"vicarious leisureâ⬠. Veblenââ¬â¢s ââ¬Å"vicarious leisureâ⬠is defined as people who live the life as though they are a member of the leisure class however donââ¬â¢t get all the material that comes with it because they are living through the wealthy. Throughout the barbarian stages, men were considered the breadwinner and worked while the women stayed at home while women were considered to live through their spouses. The women of the household were not suppose to work and were expected to be more ââ¬Å"showyâ⬠about their leisure than men, they were expected to be beautiful and represent the householdââ¬â¢s wealth. Like women, Veblen claims many individuals of the leisure class receive their wealth from their ancestors and get wealth without even working for it, ââ¬Å"wealth acquired passively by transmission from ancestors or other antecedents presently becomes even more honorific than wealth acquired by the possessorââ¬â¢s own effortâ⬠(Veblen 29). Like mentioned earlier, celebrity Paris Hilton received her wealth through her great grandfather, Conrad Hilton whom was the founder of Hilton hotels. Through his wealth, Paris Hilton had a very wealthy childhood. She was born in New York, and moved to several different homes, including the homes in Manhattan, Beverly Hills, and the Hamptons, which are all very upper class locations (ââ¬Å"Wiki: Paris Hiltonâ⬠). Hilton had all the references to succeed and was not obligated to work. Like Hilton, Veblen describes these types of individuals within the leisure class, he refers to the leisure class as ââ¬Å"wasteâ⬠, meaning the leisure class does not contribute to society or the world as a whole, ââ¬Å"does not serve human life or human well-being on the wholeâ⬠(Veblen 97). Hilton pursued her career in modeling, eventually getting signed with Donald Trumpââ¬â¢s model agency and appearing in various magazines (ââ¬Å"Wiki: Paris Hiltonâ⬠). Hiltonââ¬â¢s career as a model, is an example of Veblenââ¬â¢s view on waste in the leisure class, pictures of Hilton in various magazines has no specific benefit to our society however only benefits her and her status, and wealth within the leisure class. According to Wikipedia, in September 2009, Hiltonââ¬â¢s quote in one of her books, ââ¬Å"Dress cute wherever you go, life is too short to blend inâ⬠was added to The Oxford Dictionary of Quotations. Similar to Hilton, many celebrities and women care a lot about what they wear and how they dress. In Veblenââ¬â¢s chapter, ââ¬Å"Dress as an Expression of the Pecuniary Cultureâ⬠he describes how dress is an example of conspicuous waste, and how most women express their leisure through clothing. Like many celebrities and individuals of the leisure class the point of having nice clothes is to show them off, ââ¬Å"our dress, therefore, in order to serve its purpose effectually, should not only be expensive, but it should also make plain to all observers that the wearer is not engaged in any kind of productive labourâ⬠(Veblen 170). This type of clothing is not used for protection or comfort yet its primary purpose is for show. Many women of the leisure class wear heels to work, especially women who are considered celebrities are constantly wearing heels wherever they go. Veblen explains that for a women to wear heels to work is unnecessary and ââ¬Å"even the simplest and most necessary work extremely difficultâ⬠(Veblen 171). Today, dressing and fashion of the leisure class is very evident and is expected, however this is nothing new, this expensive and uncomfortable clothing for women goes very far back. The corset is, in economic theory, substantially a mutilation, undergone for the purpose of lowering the subjectââ¬â¢s vitality and rendering her permanently and obviously unfit for workâ⬠(Veblen 172). The corset is only one example that Veblen gives, however this piece of clothing is the most constricting, and is only worn for show, ignoring the discomfort of the clothing. Veblen also continues to argue that the fashion and clothing styles change with the seasons and also are different in various areas. Itââ¬â¢s amazing for one to see that this was the case during Veblenââ¬â¢s time because this is very true today. With winter, comes scarfââ¬â¢s, boots, and sweaters while summer women tend to wear shorts, cut off shirts, ect. Veblen also explains that the urban areas are more involved in fashion changes than the rural areas, meaning the wealthier communities have greater amounts of conspicuous waste in their clothing. New York City is one example of Veblenââ¬â¢s argument, this city is known for fashion and most women in New York City are examples of dress as a conspicuous waste. Sex in the Cityâ⬠was a huge television series and movie, about four women who lived in New York City and engaged in the fashion world. Through these four women, one can see the effects of an urban area on the style of dress needed to fit into the city. In the first ââ¬Å"Sex and the Cityâ⬠movie, Carrie after a breaking it off with her boyfriend and buying very expensive shoes she expl ains, ââ¬Å"Itââ¬â¢s really hard to walk in a single womanââ¬â¢s shoes- thatââ¬â¢s why you sometimes need really special shoesâ⬠. As in Veblenââ¬â¢s time, society is still using dress as a conspicuous consumption, which is more evident in women than men. If an individual is wearing cheap clothing, this can be considered unworthy by some, and those who wear expensive clothing are seen to be of the wealthier class. Dress as a conspicuous waste is seen as a spiritual need. For example church, when a family is getting dressed for church they tend to dress up in formal clothing. Veblen describes the need for this type of dress for spiritual reasoning is ââ¬Å"not wholly, nor even chiefly, a naive propensity for display of expenditureâ⬠(Veblen 168). Veblenââ¬â¢s theory of leisure class is still in existence today and has a huge influence on our society as a whole. Today, the leisure class is taking over the media and is the idols and the people for which society looks up to, they are considered the successful individuals of society, the wealthy. Before reading Veblenââ¬â¢s book, I never thought the upper class, or now as I call it the leisure class, as harmful to society, however now it seems as though this standard of living and conspicuous leisure and consumption is harming our communities and the way individuals of our society live their lives. Conspicuous consumption is seen in every division of class, not just the leisure class. Each class is striving among themselves to be better than the other. One example Veblen uses in the book, is the use of silver spoons, explaining that many individuals of the leisure class use articles of gold, even though there are spoons for which are made from machines which are cheaper, and in most cases are more useful and better. However, the beauty and price of these expensive items are the reasoning behind this conspicuous consumption. Like Veblenââ¬â¢s example, this is seen in our society today, from decorations in a personââ¬â¢s home, to their cars, to their style of clothing, ect. Our society has grown to constantly be involved in conspicuous consumption and compete with others of the same class. Veblen was definitely correct with his ââ¬ËTheory of the Leisure Classââ¬â¢ and his theory is still very present today. I was surprised to see how present the leisure class was in pre-historic times and how similar the behavior of the leisure class is to the leisure class today. However, without the leisure class, and competitive society, Iââ¬â¢m not sure if our society would be as successful as it is today. Many individuals strive for success because of the competitive drive and competition within our society. So maybe the leisure class and the competitive factors within the division of classes is good for the society, or maybe Veblenââ¬â¢s theory is right and the leisure class is actually harmful to our society and world as a whole. Veblen, Thorstein. The Theory of the Leisure Class. NewYork: Peguin, 1899. Print David Ashley, David Michael Orenstein. Sociology Theory: Classical Theory. Boston: Pearson, 2005. Print Romero, Rachel. Sociology 230: Classical Theory. Texas Aamp;M University. College Station, TX: August-November, 2010. Lecture Wikipedia: Paris Hiltion. Wikimedia Foundation Inc. Web. 21 November 2010. http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Paris_Hilton. E2. 80. 9306:_As_an_author Wikipedia: Chad Ochocinco. Wikimedia Foundation Inc. Web. 20 November 2010 http://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Chad_Ochocinco Paris Hiltonââ¬â¢s DUI Charges. Find Law. Web. 2010 http://news. findlaw. com/cnn/docs/ent/cahilton92606cmp. html Bushnell, Candace. Sex and the City. Part One. New York, 2008. Movie Thorstein Veblen. Academic Search Complete (ESBCO). Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th Edition. July 1, 2010. Print.
Sunday, October 20, 2019
Crime Myths and Facts Essay Example
Crime Myths and Facts Essay Example Crime Myths and Facts Paper Crime Myths and Facts Paper One problem that has been plaguing societies throughout history is crime. The following essay will provide discussion on the topic and contrast crime myths and Even contemporary society Is struggling to come to fair terms about effects of crime on society and Individuals, fair and effective law enforcement and Judiciary systems, educative corrections system and proactive and effective crime prevention. This assignment will focus on comparison and contrast between crime myths and crime facts, as an example using myths about crime and youth gangs and crime and mentally ill. Starting point for discussion is to examine the definitions of relevant terms. Crime and Justice: A Guide to Criminology defines crime in two ways, dictionary definition as 1. An act committed or an omission of duty, injurious to the public welfare, for which punishment is prescribed by law, imposed in a Judicial proceedings usually brought in the name of state 2. Serious violation of human law: steeped In crime 3. Any offence, esp. on of grave character 4. Serious wrongdoing; sin 5. Lolls a foolish or senseless act: a crime to work that or a legal definition as intentional violation of the criminal law committed thou excuse and penalized by 2006, p. 5) Media has played an important role in portrayal of crime and crime like activities in society. Ericson, Barrage and Chain (1987, p. 50) have noted that one of historic obligations of the media is to entertain. This obligation is directly related to the need to fulfill the demands of audiences, which in turn are used to increase markets and expand revenues from advertising. Crime, deviance and control items have served these commercial needs of the news media. Rawlins (1998, p. 346) argued that In the less accessible areas of society, these media representations become an imperative and often only enter?f?Owe to reality of which few of the general public have immediate knowledge. Through sensationalist crime reporting in media, crime myths were embedded in main frame society (Rawlins 1998, p. 346). One of wide spread myths is the term As mentioned by Polk (1995, p. 0) media have popularized the idea of youth gang violence in Melbourne, one report quoting forensic specialist as being concerned that Victoria was towards becoming a state of warring She states that in Australia, stories appear in the press of attacks on the elderly by teenage offender. However, the empirical data paints quite deferent picture. In relation to youth gang activity the Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence (ABACI 1991 ) research confirmed the unjustifiable nature of media generalizations In relation to youth gangs. Furthermore, the most significant ABACI finding was that vast proportion AT crime committee Is AT opportunistic In nature, ratter tan mainly organized. A study conducted by Impair and Warren (1994, p. 43) went even further declaring that there is?C,-1?0 a distinct absence of internal structure and criminal purpose among most groups of male The most important empirical evidence in contrast to popular youth gang myth is the Standing Committee on Social Issues (1995) research which found no evidence of highly structured gang existence in Australia and indeed was disputing relevance of the term to Australian youth activity. Another myth in general community is relation between youth and violence. We can see from police arrest data for Victoria (Victoria Police 1993) for 1991-1992 year that there were some crimes where youth played a significant role. As we can see from Table 1, these tend to be property crimes, theft and vehicle theft. These findings re reinforced by ABACI (1991) findings which found that youth illegal activities revolved around anti-social behavior and low-level property crime. When it comes to crimes of violence, however, the picture is quite different where 21 per cent of robbery offenders, 11 per cent of minor assaults offenders, 12 per cent of rape offenders, 10 per cent of serious assaults offenders and Just 5 per cent of homicide offenders were Juvenile. The general conclusion that we can draw from these figures is that violent crime is most likely to involve persons aged 18 and over. Table 1 Percentage of Offenders Under the Age of 17 Proceeded Against by Offence, 1991-92, Victoria Offence Homicide Serious Assault Percentage Young Offenders Minor Assault Robbery Burglary Theft Motor Vehicle Theft Fraudulent Offences 5 10 11 21 29 28 4 Source: Victoria Police 1993. If we pose the question whether there is a growing tide of youth crime, again, contrary to popular opinion, answer is negative. Police arrest data from Victoria over the ten-year period from 1982 to 1992 clearly shows there is no increase in the proportion of offences made up of Juveniles. This has been present at least since the time of the ancient Greeks and across a wide range of cultures. In recent times, this belief has been influenced by he media and television programmed, which, it is estimated, link mental illness to violence between 62-86% of the time. High-profile killings by people with a serious mental illness are given wide coverage in the press, creating an impression that the general pubic is at danger from unsupervised violent mentally ill persons living in the community. Although homicide perpetrated by someone suffering from a serious mental illness is rare compared with the total number of people with mental illness living ordinary lives, such tragedies attract intense media and public scrutiny. Public once Is raises Day a construction AT mental Illness as dangerous In ten meal portrayals. However, whether it is true that the rate of homicide committed by people with serious mental illness is increasing, either in absolute terms or as a proportion of total homicide in the community, is unclear (Simpson, 2003). One of the most important research projects in this area has been conducted by Taylor and Gun (1999) in which they examined data on homicides committed in England and Wales between 1957-1995 and concluded that there was little fluctuation in numbers of people with a mental illness committing criminal homicide ever the 38 years studied, and a 3% annual decline in their contribution to the official statistics and that the general public were at lower risk from offenders with mental illness than from non-mentally ill offenders. In relation to people with in the community, they conclude that is no evidence that it is anything but assisting to claim that their living in the community is a dangerous experiment that should be (Taylor and Gun, 1999). When people generally think of crime, it is usually about offences such as murder, robbery or burglary. If they are asked to describe the criminal, many would provide ascription of untrustworthy, shifty demeanor, maybe uneducated or unemployed person. However, many theorists would argue that mainstream criminologists are wrong when they are mainly focusing on conventional street crime or youth offending. According to the Sutton and Haines (2006, up. 155-170), white-collar crimes are far more devastating than those normally associated with criminal violations. White-collar crimes are certainly punishable by law; however, they are generally regarded by the courts and by sections of the general public as much less reprehensible than crimes usually punished by the courts.
Saturday, October 19, 2019
Culture Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 8
Culture - Essay Example ricans maintain extended families that are not just limited to the blood relatives, but also extend beyond them to include distant relatives and friends whether or not they are blood related. ââ¬Å"Family is the most important value that unifies the Latino communityâ⬠(old.diocesephoenix.org, n.d., p. 6). The Hispanic American families include sponsors and godparents that love the children like their own even when they are actually not. The Hispanic American families believe in male supremacy. Men earn bread for the family while women are expected to stay at home and look after the children and the husband. Women are expected to submit themselves to their men. Men prefer not to let the women work, though the trend is changing and many Hispanic American women have entered the workforce, which has challenged the machismo of men and is the fundamental cause of distress in many families. The Hispanic American families give a lot of importance to the individualistic rights of each family member. Every individual is deemed worthy and important. Elders in the Hispanic American families are respected by the younger ones. The young seek advice from the elders. Every family member is given the right to have individualized close personal relationships. Communication in the Hispanic American families is governed by the concept of respecto. During communication, men and elders are prioritized over women and children. There are well-defined rules for members of both genders which they follow during communication. Hispanic Americans do not accept anger and aggression while communicating with one another. They deem it disrespectful to disagree over matters. It becomes problematic for them to agree over certain issues that they disagree with, but still they do not express negative emotions. Before this assignment, there were certain stereotypes about the Hispanic American culture in my mind that have changed now. For example, I did not know that the Hispanic Americans believe in
Friday, October 18, 2019
Poverty in developed Countries Research Proposal
Poverty in developed Countries - Research Proposal Example Poverty is a worldwide problem that is faced by not only developing but also developed states of the world. Poverty is a condition that is problematic. It is related to inability of fulfilment of necessities such as food, shelter, clothing, education, health security and employment. Poverty is linked to many other problems such as death, diseases, inequality, over population and many other problems. Developed countries are those countries that are considered financially stable and sound. The developed countries are regarded as able to control the problem of poverty of their countries but this is not true as poverty is quite prominent there. This paper contains a description related to the poverty in developed countries. Initially poverty is defined. Afterwards, developed countries are described and then, there is a detailed account of poverty in developed countries and lastly, the topic is concluded. Poverty can be defined as a condition when people are unable to meet their day to day needs and are also unable to get the basic necessities of life such as food, shelter and clothing (Smeeding, et, al., 1990). Poverty also incorporates the capacity of obtainment of suitable employment, suitable education and equal rights. Poverty is considered as a condition, in which people can not avail the necessities of life. Good and healthy food, pure water, good clothes and a secure house to live, are the basic requirements of each and every human being (Rector and Johnson, 2004). Many people are unable to fulfil their requirements on the basis of their being poor. The poor people are unable to gather a good income with the help of which, they can buy or get the necessities of their life. Their children are unable to get good education. They along with their children are unable to get the required medical facilities because of the lack of income (Smeeding, et, al., 1990). They try to live in conditions that are unsafe for them and their children because they
SUH stage 3 project Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
SUH stage 3 project - Essay Example Moreover, SUH Company manages a very large amount of data. As discussed in previous stages, taking backups of this data is essential. In such complex working arrangement there is a need for a more reliable solution that can be used to take backups of data. So in case of any disaster, it will be easy for SUH Company to secure and recover its precious data. Through the application of proposed backup and recovery solution SUH Company will be able to ensure information systems security in a much better way. SUH Company requires an efficient solution for data backup and recovery that has the potential to secure business operations through much better business management approach. The basic aim of implementing this solution is to achieve following goals: For SUH Company and its two subsidiaries CarbonTech and MyRentals we need a canalized business backup and recovery solution. The proposed system will offer a lot of benefits and capabilities for secure and protect business data and information in all areas of business. The solution that is proposed in scenario of SUH Company is Symantec Backup and Recovery System, Recovery 2010 Business Server Edition. This application offers cost-effective and simple recovery and business data and information server backup solutions. They can be used at Microsoft Windows based Business Servers. In addition, Symantec Backup and Recovery System reduces downtime and avoids disaster with server backup software that simply improves individual data files/folders or the entire Windows systems in minutes, as compared to virtual environments, hardware or remote locations (Symantec Corporation, 2012). For its business structure, SUH Company can also choose Windows based Backup and Recovery System. This system is simple, free and easy to manage. However, this solution is not much effective in ensuring corporate business transaction security and
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