Free Billy Budd Essays: A Structuralist Reading :: Billy Budd Essays

A Structuralist Reading of Billy Budd . . . truth is revealed only when formal order is destroyed. - Dryden, p. 209 Not on your life, says Edgar A. Dryden (though not in so many words, of course) to the above in his splendid Melville's Thematics of Form. His argument is essentially to show that while most readers (erroneously) assume that Captain Vere is the story's tragic hero, the fact of the matter is that a "better" reading will reveal him as Melville's target, if you want to know the "truth." I want to emphasize at the outset is that EVERYTHING DRYDEN SAYS IS SUPPORTED BY THE TEXT he is analyzing. In other words, he cannot be accused of reading-into! Well, how does Dryden denormalize (as it were) the reading above? Rather simply even if rather spectacularly. Here's as brief a version of Dryden's argument as I can possibly give you: Captain Vere's argument is very formally ordered and highly symmetrical. Furthermore, it is in keeping with this compassionate and wise man's philosophy according to which (as Melville's text tells us) "with mankind forms, . . . measured forms are everything" (84). Interestingly enough, Dryden points out, the published report concerning the whole Budd affair at the end of the story, which is taken from a "naval chronicle of the time," and which thus represents an "authorized" version of the whole affair (85), is also formally ordered and highly symmetrical. The trouble is that this "authorized" account is totally false. According to this versi on Billy Budd was evil while John Claggart was good, etc. Perhaps, Dryden argues, we may find something in Melville's text that would confirm a suspicion we may already be entertaining - namely, that formally ordered and highly symmetrical arguments may themselves be suspicious. Dryden finds the text in question very close to the one where Captain Vere makes his claim about "measured forms." It reads as follows: "The symmetry of form attainable in pure fiction cannot so readily be achieved in a narration essentially having less to do with fable than with fact. TRUTH UNCOMPROMISINGLY TOLD WILL ALWAYS HAVE ITS RAGGED EDGES" (84; capitals mine). In contradistinction to Captain Vere's argument or the naval chronicle's "authorized" version, then, Dryden asks us to examine Melville's own way of telling his story. Is it formally ordered and highly symmetrical? Free Billy Budd Essays: A Structuralist Reading :: Billy Budd Essays A Structuralist Reading of Billy Budd . . . truth is revealed only when formal order is destroyed. - Dryden, p. 209 Not on your life, says Edgar A. Dryden (though not in so many words, of course) to the above in his splendid Melville's Thematics of Form. His argument is essentially to show that while most readers (erroneously) assume that Captain Vere is the story's tragic hero, the fact of the matter is that a "better" reading will reveal him as Melville's target, if you want to know the "truth." I want to emphasize at the outset is that EVERYTHING DRYDEN SAYS IS SUPPORTED BY THE TEXT he is analyzing. In other words, he cannot be accused of reading-into! Well, how does Dryden denormalize (as it were) the reading above? Rather simply even if rather spectacularly. Here's as brief a version of Dryden's argument as I can possibly give you: Captain Vere's argument is very formally ordered and highly symmetrical. Furthermore, it is in keeping with this compassionate and wise man's philosophy according to which (as Melville's text tells us) "with mankind forms, . . . measured forms are everything" (84). Interestingly enough, Dryden points out, the published report concerning the whole Budd affair at the end of the story, which is taken from a "naval chronicle of the time," and which thus represents an "authorized" version of the whole affair (85), is also formally ordered and highly symmetrical. The trouble is that this "authorized" account is totally false. According to this versi on Billy Budd was evil while John Claggart was good, etc. Perhaps, Dryden argues, we may find something in Melville's text that would confirm a suspicion we may already be entertaining - namely, that formally ordered and highly symmetrical arguments may themselves be suspicious. Dryden finds the text in question very close to the one where Captain Vere makes his claim about "measured forms." It reads as follows: "The symmetry of form attainable in pure fiction cannot so readily be achieved in a narration essentially having less to do with fable than with fact. TRUTH UNCOMPROMISINGLY TOLD WILL ALWAYS HAVE ITS RAGGED EDGES" (84; capitals mine). In contradistinction to Captain Vere's argument or the naval chronicle's "authorized" version, then, Dryden asks us to examine Melville's own way of telling his story. Is it formally ordered and highly symmetrical?

Competition Energy Drinks Essay

The beverage industry, like most food service industries in these economic times, faces many challenges. Not one company is excluded from the challenges of economic conditions, demographics, social and global forces, and regulatory, political, and legal factors. The global economic conditions affect the energy drink industry in many ways. This industry depends highly on the disposable income of its customers. People are very cautious with their money these days and if additional income does not exist to purchase these items, then the companies suffer. In recent projections, however, this does not seem to be the case. The global industry factors show a projected growth of $20 trillion in sales between 2009 and 2014, and demand for these alternative beverages is expected to increase globally as customer purchasing power increases. Social factors play an important part in the industry’s strategy, as well. With customers concerned with healthy lifestyles and exercise, the alternative beverage industry has increased sales in the last decade. Customers demanding low calorie, energy & vitamin-enhancing drinks turn to these types of beverages for their needs instead of carbonated soft drinks. Alternative drinks are consumed by a slim demographic. These products are generally used by young adults, college and high school students, athletes and exercise aficionados. Another branch of these drinks are the energy â€Å"shots,† which have become very popular in the last decade. With new legislation and changing regulations, it is very important for companies to stay abreast of all changes. There has been an increase in negative reports on what affects energy drinks have on people that use them, from high blood pressure to arrhythmia, which as forced some companies to include warning labels on their packaging. There is also a concern with the consumption of these drinks contributing to the obesity issue, many of these drinks contain high fructose corn syrup, and many additives that can contribute to weight gain if consumption is not limited. Competition is fierce in this industry; not only between the two biggest competitors, Coca-Cola Company and PepsiCo Inc., but also Red Bull GmbH, Hansen Natural Corporation and privately owned regional brands. The two major companies, Pepsi and Coca Cola, are strong competitors within the alternative beverage market and use both the introduction of new products as well as the introduction of existing products in new markets to increase sales. Pepsi has introduced several new products – Charge, Rebuild, and Defend – three new brands available to consumers interested in vitamin-enhanced drink alternatives. Pepsi has also recently agreed to distribute the â€Å"Rockstar† brand drinks in Canada and the United States. Coca-Cola Company’s strategy is to distribute their existing brands in the new markets of Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and other Asia/Pacific countries. In order to compete with these two major companies, Red Bull relies on sponsorships and promotion as well as celebrity endorsements. By using advertising in this manner, Red Bull is able to use its slogans and logos in a variety of ways to get their name out into the public. Hansen Natural Corporation utilizes a different approach to boost sales. This company increased their package size and still maintained a competitive price compared to Red Bull. Like Red Bull, Hansen also uses celebrity promotion and sponsorship as a marketing tool. This is not to say that PepsiCo Inc. and Coca-Cola Company do not utilize this method of advertising, as they both spend billions on advertising promotions, celebrity, and sporting endorsements. The competitive edge in this case lies with PepsiCo Inc. , whose sales of energy and alternative beverages have surpassed its competitors in the past few years. New entrants are not a strong competitive pressure for this industry. The dominating companies are unsurpassed in their strong brand names and great distribution channels. The industry is fully saturated. These factors make it difficult for new companies to compete against them. Any new company wanting to get into this industry would face high capital start-up expenditures and would surely fail due to the high cost. Substitution of products is also an area where the competitive force is low. With brand loyalty, the market for substitution is very low. Consumers want the brands they are used and won’t accept substitution. Suppliers for the industry do not hold much competitive pressure either. Suppliers to this industry are bottling equipment manufactures and secondary packaging suppliers. The suppliers have little bargaining power, as the two major brands own their own bottling centers. As discussed earlier, changes in this industry’s long-term growth rate is a positive one. Growth is high in this market and is expected to continue to grow. One of the reasons for this is the increasing globalization. Coke is expanding its operations to be more global as are some of its competitors. The changing spectrum of the customer base is not really a factor here. Most of the demographic has not changed much since the introduction of these alternative beverages. Marketing and innovation has to continue to grow so that the company can grow. Regulatory influences and government policy changes are a huge factor in this industry. As the customers call for increased legislation and regulation of the ingredients, the companies have to make adjustments to their drink formulas, and this could prove costly if not monitored closely. Society is constantly changing and this industry needs to transition with these changes. By the introduction of new products and the re-tooling of existing products, all of the competitors can be successful. This industry has several success factors, product marketing, product differentiation, brand name, a strong distribution network and the ability to adapt to change. PepsiCo Inc. and Coca-Cola Company have strong aspects of all of these factors which is what has made both of them so successful. PepsiCo Inc.has branched into the food market as well as remaining in the soft drink and alternative beverage markets. Coke has had a similar strategy and relies heavily on their brand name and product recognition. All of the companies have unique and successful marketing techniques such as sponsorships, promotions, and celebrity endorsements. In order to achieve a successful strategic plan, a company needs to establish a group of people to discuss the goals and objectives of their company, sometimes called a task force. The task force should then decide what the company’s goals and objectives are. By drafting Mission and Vision statements, this task force can begin to convey their goals and objectives. Strategic planning is an on-going task for every company. When a plan is established the implementation and monitoring phases begin. To be successful a company should be constantly monitoring its goals and objectives and changing them when the need arises. With competition so high in this industry, a strong strategic plan is critical. In viewing these companies one can see that their plans are very strong. In order to continue to grow and compete in this market all companies need to look forward at the changing times, attitudes and cultures. All of the companies in this market, as with any market, need to maintain their competitive advantage and find new and different ways to achieve it. A comprehensive action plan needs to be put into place and reviewed often. By doing this all companies have a better chance at keeping their competitive advantage and enjoying better profits for their shareholders.

Jane Austen s Pride And Prejudice - 1702 Words

It is undoubtedly incredible that Pride and Prejudice, a novel written and published in 1813, continues to have an impressive degree of relevance in the modern world. In the 19th century society that serves as the backdrop for Pride and Prejudice, perhaps the most important societal norm is getting married. Women are preoccupied with finding suitable husbands so that they can live a comfortable life, while reciprocally, men are hoping to find a wife for a potential financial benefit or property gain. Unfortunately, love is simply considered to be a bonus and Austen is horrified by this lack of consideration of people being unable to find their true loves because they are so focused on material circumstances. In Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen illuminates the literary theme of marriage by contrasting extrinsic motivation with romantic connections through the relationships between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet, Charlotte Lucas and Mr. Collins, as well as Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet are the quintessential example of a couple that was motivated to marry as a result of superficial factors such as fortune and attractiveness. From the very beginning of the novel, readers realize that there is a lack of love as well as a deeper emotional, romantic connection between the Bennet parents. Of Mr. Bennet’s motivation to marry Mrs. Bennet, Austen wrties, â€Å"[Mr. Bennet], captivated by youth and beauty [†¦] had married a woman whose weak understanding and illiberal mind hadShow MoreRelatedJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1231 Words   |  5 Pagesfinancial stability. In the novel Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen states that the desire for better social connections interferes with the workings of love through the relationship between Darcy and Elizabeth to criticize the social class structure of the 19th century. Anxieties about social connections or the desire for better social connections, interfere with the workings of love. Darcy and Elizabeth s realization of a mutual and tender love seems to imply that Jane Austen views love as something independentRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1294 Words   |  6 PagesJane Austen s exceptional novel Pride and Prejudice has been depicted as a classic that is as much a social study on class, marriage and gender as it is a romantic tale. It is an amusing representation of the social atmosphere of the late eighteenth and mid nineteenth century England, and it is primarily required with courtship rituals of the English high class. The novel is more than a romantic tale, however through Austen s subtle, and ironic style, it addresses gender, class, and marriageRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice992 Words   |  4 Pages It is unfortunate that many people tend to dismiss Jane Austen’s novel, Pride and Prejudice, as simply a roman tic love story, even labeling it a â€Å"chick flick.† Upon a shallow reading, it may appear to be such, but a closer look at the novel reveals so much more embedded in the story. In addition to describing the entertaining relationship between Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, the novel serves to forward Austen s personal values and ideas. Furthermore, there is one issue of her era that she particularlyRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1138 Words   |  5 PagesPride and Prejudice is a novel about the superficiality of marriage during the late 19th and early 20th century, which largely influenced the decisions made by individuals, based on connections and social rankings. The novel takes its characters through various changes influenced by their decision to or rather not to marry certain individuals. It begins not by a man desiring to marry for love, but by a mother who desires nothing more than to marry her daughters well. As the novel develops, Jane AustenRead MoreJane A usten s Pride And Prejudice1211 Words   |  5 PagesJane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was greatly influenced by the time period in which it was written, This novel follows the story of Elizabeth Bennet and her sisters as they are faced with marriage proposals. The marriage and roles of women in this time period are shown throughout this story. During the time Austen was writing this novel, a woman’s role for her family changed. Daughters started to become a way for their family to achieve more money. Because their family depended on this financialRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1675 Words   |  7 PagesIn Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, she has specific criteria that her characters follow when choosing their mates. In today’s society, most couples still follow these criteria and more when choosing their ideal mate. What are these important criteria that Austen’s characters consider when choosing a mate? For Austen, the important cr iteria that she has for choosing a mate are that couples are personally compatible, they are in love with each other, and they must have a good moral character. Read MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1678 Words   |  7 PagesAfter reading Jane Austen’s most popular piece of work, the effects of the high societal expectations can be acknowledged through viewing the lives of the Bennet family and friends and noting such effects. Through the examination of the characters in Pride and Prejudice it is easily deciphered between marriages based upon true love and marriage based upon the expectations of society. Society’s main goal for woman in the Victorian era was marriage. As seen many in Pride and Prejudice, marriage wasRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1434 Words   |  6 PagesJane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice was considered a radical novel back in 1813 when she wrote and published the piece. It is a social commentary on the treatment and societal standards of women, as well marriage expectations at the turn of the 19th century. Austen criticizes the patriarchal society, materialism, double standards of men and women by centering the book around Elizabeth Bennett, a young woman of decent means who does not understand the reason for the pressure to find a suitable husbandRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1468 Words   |  6 Pagesestablished over time. In Jane Austen s novel, Pride and Prejudice Elizabeth Bennet is the main character who is a lady in the Regency Era. Elizabeth lives in Longbourn with her parents, Mr and Mrs Bennet and her four sisters. In the beginning of the novel, Elizabeth s prejudice mindset and strong opinion blinds her from realizations happening around her. Soon, Elizabeth s prejudice disappears allowing her to open up and fall in love. Throughout Jane Austen s novel, Pride and Prejudice, Elizabeth growsRead MoreJane Austen s Pride And Prejudice1649 Words   |  7 PagesIn her novel, Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen is pre-occupied with the theme of marriage. Marriage is a central issue of a woman’s life but it was even more crucial for the women of her society where women were largely dependent on the men in their lives. As a result, women pursued socio-economic stability through marriage. However, it is clear through the novel that Austen did not agree with this part of her society. In Pride and Prejudice, she gives preference to a marriage which is based on love

Is Pop Star A Perfect Body Is Increasing - 953 Words

The pressure to have a perfect body is increasing. This means, more and more people are going to extreme lengths to achieve that thinner-more defined-fit-magazine-cover body. But that â€Å"perfect† body may not be all that it looks. That pop star may be Photoshopped or even had some â€Å"work† done. Even though, not all plastic surgeries involve silicone or saline implants, as they can be reconstructive, it is exactly what it sounds like: surgery. Some celebrities stand against plastic surgery and, the same goes for Photoshop. With plastic surgery and Photoshop comes scrutiny. The scrutiny isn’t just coming from health experts, but from Average Joe’s and Jane’s. The worst part is that it is being directed towards everyone. Celebrities are the face of a nation, the media is the pedestal, and the rest of the populations are the victims of ideal perfection. Ever hear of looks can be deceiving? Just look at Barbie. She’s about a twenty-nine centimeter doll with a bust measurement of thirteen and a half centimeters, waist measurement of eight and a half centimeters, and hip measurement of twelve and a half centimeters. Even though that frame looks cute, perky, and â€Å"ideal,† life-size Barbie isn’t so â€Å"ideal.† If she were an actual person, she would suffer from an eating disorder and would undergo many plastic surgeries. Mainly because she would be five foot, nine inches tall, her bust would be thirty-six inches, waist would be eighteen inches, and hips would be thirty-three inches. Not toShow MoreRelatedVisual Media s Influence On Society1661 Words   |  7 Pages video games and use of computers consume an hour for each (Media, Body Image, and Eating Disorders). Even though there are many contributing factors, visual mass media has a negative influence on American society. The increasing amount of mass media have contributed to the growing rate of difference in influence throughout time. Women and young girls desire to have that â€Å"perfect† body image. However, what exactly is perfect by definition? The way one may see themselves may be different thanRead MoreLook Good, Feel Good: Going to Drastic Lengths for Beauty763 Words   |  4 PagesRivers. Now a day’s people feel this way about plastic surgery. They would go under knives, hours of surgery and thousands of complication just to look pretty. Every year millions of people go through complicated plastic surgery, and this number is increasing every year. The major reason of this increscent is people want to change their physic to look pretty. Fake beauty or plastic surgery is an obsession this generation in spite of knowing the side effect to bring variation. People are obsessed withRead MoreHigh End And Low End Essay935 Words   |  4 Pageshigher class citizens. From the suburbs to the ghetto, the kids ask for them and the adults collect them. They act as a bridge joining together the haves and the have-nots. A pop culture necessity, sneakers have the capability of strategizing equality through image and awareness of differences. The Converse All-Stars hug onto the star of such equality. They disturb the code presented onto the the world’s standards by acting as a buffer for simplicity and elegance. A strange elegance through zero technologicalRead MoreMiley Cyrus s Influence On Society1306 Words   |  6 PagesWhat Miley Cyrus Really Stands For In today’s popular culture a big topic of discussion is pop singer, Miley Cyrus. She was a former star on Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana and now we have all seen her transformation from a girl to a woman. To avoid fading away like many other celebrity teen stars as they aged, Miley decided to reinvent herself as an adult musician by pushing the limits. Many people only see Miley Cyrus for her unadulterated VMA Performances and her frowned upon behavior, whichRead MoreFashion Clothing On The Body1890 Words   |  8 PagesIntroduction Fashion is more than clothing on the body. It is the self-expression, empowerment, and comfort that a garment brings. The willingness to be trendy with the latest fashion is up to the consumer. But, the trends during the 1980s are hard not to follow. The fashion motto of the 1980s is big everything. Big hair, big accessories, big shoulder pads. Self-expression was encouraged and embraced with bright colors and styles so diverse that everyone seemed to fit in. Everything from spandexRead MoreThe Korean Wave1765 Words   |  8 Pagesindividuals, have their face and body â€Å"fix† as presents and gifts (â€Å"More Korean teens having plastic surgery,† 2011). According to Maliankay (2006), the wave gained true momentum after the export of Winter Sonata. It also launched the career of Bae Yong Joon. Bae’s character was pictured as a perfect lover, and captivating facial features. Because of this, fans arrived in a common notion that all Korean men are alike. This was quoted by Kim Ok Hyun, a director of â€Å"Star M† in Faiola’s article (2006)Read MoreWomens Music Essay2123 Words   |  9 Pagesmedia format), examples of increasing objectification of female bodies are everywhere. In order to best illustrate this point I have selected sixteen music videos to dissect and study. These videos vary both in their genre and era. In an attempt to cover all bases, I have selected several videos from pop and rock as well as rap (hip-hop). Pop music is named as such because it is what is considered the most popular musical genre. Because of the large potential audience for pop music, I will deal withRead MoreAnalysis Of Andy Warhol s An American Pop Artist Born1878 Words   |  8 PagesProfessor Tauber April 7th 2016 Between The Lines Andrew Warhola better known to the public, as Andy Warhol was an American Pop artist born in 1928 in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. As a child he took classes at the Carnegie Museum of Art, and he won several awards for drawings he produced in high school. He is known as a leading figure in the visual arts movement known as Pop Art. Warhol graduated from Carnegie Institute of Technology in 1949 getting a Bachelor in Fine Arts in pictorial design, he thenRead MoreThe Animal Kingdom, Animals Find A Mate For Procreation On The Basis Of Natural Selection2182 Words   |  9 Pageshas made it a norm which American men feel forced to become, thus resulting in poor body image for those who cannot ascribe to such a standard as well as health detriments to those who try and or reject such a standard . Society dictates what is deemed normal especially in the realm of aesthetics. The idea of normalcy is explored in the sense of beauty, in the sense of fitting the qualifications needed for increasing one’s chance of survival or procreation. This search for finding the ideal mate toRead MoreWhat Impact Does The Media Have On Females? Todays Society?2102 Words   |  9 Pagesthe world and the ‘perfect’ female is depicted through magazines, TV, music, internet, billboards, toys, movies, commercials etc. on a daily basis, impacting women and girls on how to perceive their own bodies, how to look and how to behave. The ‘perfect’ image is of an unrealistic appearance – a slender figure, tall, a large bust, caucasian and light coloured hair. Advertisement and marketing within the beauty industry is extremely powerful and influential. The ‘ideal’ female body images are airbrushed

Child Abuse And Its Effects On Children - 830 Words

It seems like every other day there is another story on the news about a child who was found tied up in a yard, or locked in the closet, or killed by their parent. These abused children are then being placed in the foster care system with other children who were given up by their parents, with no guarantee that they will ever be placed with a family again. Why is it that our society continues to allow children to be born to unfit parents? Why do the current laws in place in America not protect our children until after something bad happens to them? Action must be taken to protect these children as early as possible, even before they are conceived. Parents should be required to obtain a parenting license prior to conception to ensure that children are conceived by competent parents who want them, which will lead to fewer instances of child abuse and adoption, both of which are damaging to developing children. Each year thousands of children are neglected and physically abused, in some cases, this abuse results in the death of that child. On May 4th, 2015 in the state of Arizona a 4-month old boy was shaken to death, suffering bilateral retinal hemorrhages and an anoxic brain injury, while in the care of his parents(Arizona Department of Child Safety). In 2014, the state of Virginia Social Services Department found that of the 102 child deaths investigated by Virginia s Child Fatality Review Teams 74.5% were probably preventable (Virginia Department of Social Services). InShow MoreRelatedThe Effects Of Child Abuse On Children935 Words   |  4 PagesChild abuse has been an issue in America since the beginning of time, but lately there has gradually been an increase in reported incidents of abuse. There are several types of child abuse that are present in today’s society. The different types of abuse include physical, emotional and sexual abuse. Of the different maltreatment types, four-fifths (78.3%) of unique victims were neglected, 17.6 percent were phy sically abused, 9.2 percent were sexually abused, 8.1 percent were psychologically maltreatedRead MoreChild Abuse And Its Effects On Children Essay1489 Words   |  6 Pagesindividuals corrected. However, there are cases that have not been solved or not stopped by the law. Child abuse is common. Child abuse can be caused by a variety of reasons. Scientist have been studying and they have some ideas on what prompt people to harm children (Ian Hacking). They are trying to end child abuse, but there is so much they can do. Many children abuse incidents are not reported. Child abuse may have many causes as in way the abuser does it. One specific factor is the background of theRead MoreChild Abuse And Its Effects On Children913 Words   |  4 Pagesseveral types of abuse, there’s physical, emotional, verbal and several others abuses. But the abuse I would like to focus on is child abuse. Domestic violence towards children is important because there is a way to prevent it from h appening. Typical parents and caregivers do not intend to abuse their children. Abuse is mainly directed toward the behaviors that are given off towards one another. Author David Gil defines child abuse as an occurrence where a caretaker injures a child, not by accidentRead MoreChild Abuse Is An Effect On Children1657 Words   |  7 PagesIn 2010 according to the census bureau there were 74,100,000 U.S children between the ages of 0-17 being abused and 3.3 million referrals. This effected on average 1-10 U.S families and children, there were more than 32,200,000 U.S families with children under the age of 18 according to the 2010 census bureau. From the 3.3 million hotline calls in 2010 there were less than 475,000 sustained cases (2010 NCANDS: 436,321 sustained +24,976 indicated = 461,297 total) resulting in about 15% of hotlineRead MoreChild Abuse And Its Effects On Children1317 Words   |  6 PagesChild abuse has long been an ongoing social problem; this abuse has been one of the repeatedly difficult accusations to prove in our criminal justice system. Child abuse causes many years of suffering for victims. Children abused suffer from chemical imbalances, behavioral issues and are at high risk for becoming abusers or being abused in adult relationships. This cycle of learned behavior and suffering will be a hopeless reoccurring problem unless the criminal justice system and protocols for abusersRead MoreChild Abuse And Its Effects On Children1488 Words   |  6 Pages â€Æ' In addressing child abuse we are confronted with a series of problems. On the one hand, there is a lack of the true extent of the phenomenon because no data are available and that the issue, often refers to the most intimate spaces of family life. Furthermore, cultural and historical traditions affect the way each society faces this problem. Finally, there are varying opinions as to its definition and classification, as well as the consequences of child abuse may have and its subsequent therapeuticRead MoreChild Abuse And Its Effects On Children1263 Words   |  6 Pages Child Abuse Child abuse is any behavior which, by action or omission, produces physical or psychological damage to a person less than 18 years, affecting the development of his personality. In homes, it is believed that the most effective way to educate children is using the abuse. This form of punishment it used as an instrument of correction and moral training strategy as it is the first and most persistent justification of damage and maltreated mothers parents inflict on their children. SocietyRead MoreChild Abuse And Its Effects On Children1160 Words   |  5 PagesMost parents and other caregivers do not intend to hurt their children, but abuse is defined by the effect on the child, not the motivation of the parents or caregiver. Tens of thousands of children each year are traumatized by physical, sexual, and emotional abusers or by caregivers who neglect them, making child abuse as common as it is shocking. Most of us can’t imagine what would make an adult use violence against a child, and the worse the behavior is, the more unimaginable it seems. ButRead MoreChild Abuse And Its Effects On Children1227 Words   |  5 Pagesreports of child abuse are made involving more than 6 million children. The United States has one of the worst records of child abuse losing 4-7 children a day to the abuse. Abuse is when any behavior or action that is used to scare, harm, threaten, control or intimidate another person. Child abuse is a behavior outside the norms of conduct and entails substantial risk of causing physical or emotional harm. There are four main types of child abuse; physical abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, andRead MoreChild Abuse And Its Effects On Children1132 Words   |  5 PagesIntroduction Child abuse takes many different forms. Including physical, sexual, emotional, or neglect of a children by parents, guardians, or others responsible for a child s welfare. Regardless of the type of abuse, the child’s devolvement is greatly impacted. The child’s risk for emotional, behavioral, academic, social, and physical problems in life increase. According to the Child Maltreatment Report by the Children’s Bureau (1999) the most common form of child abuse in the United States is

The Frontier Thesis Free Essays

string(29) " even been forced upon them\." The emergence of western history as an important field of scholarship started with Frederick Jackson Turner’s (1861-1932) famous essay â€Å"The Significance of the Frontier in American history. †[1] This thesis shaped both popular and scholarly views of the West for the next two generations. In his thesis, Turner argued that the West had to be taken seriously. We will write a custom essay sample on The Frontier Thesis or any similar topic only for you Order Now He felt that up to his time there had not been enough research of what he in his essay call â€Å"the fundamental, dominating fact in the U. S. istory†: the territorial expansion from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast. The frontier past was, according to Turner, the best way to describe the distinctive American history and character. To this day, Turner’s thesis remains one of the most widely discussed interpretations of the American past and it still continues to influence historians. Even though many scholars have questioned the thesis as an acceptable theory of explaining American history and culture, the thesis has its strengths. Turner explained what made America unique. America as a unique nation was already a belief when the first colonies were established on the East coast. And the notion that America was exceptional would continue to be re-created again and again on the frontier. The frontier was closely related to the myth that sustained the American faith, the ideals and images that represent the American Dream as well as America as an exceptional nation. The purpose of this paper is to look at the essence of Turner’s argument in his essay, as well as discuss his strongest and weakest arguments. The paper will end with a look at the West as a myth. The essence of Turner’s thesis In Turner’s mind, the settlement of the West by white people –â€Å"the existence of an area of free land, its continuous recession, and the advance of American settlement westward† was the most important part of American history. [2] This is the major theme in Turner’s essay and the heart of the frontier thesis. Turner did not define the West as a geographical place or region but as a process, which defined what he looked upon as uniquely American. According to Turner, the westward expansion had transformed the savage and wild land into a modern civilization. This westward expansion could explain the American development, the national character as well as its democracy. Turner believed that this settling of a wild area of â€Å"free land† was an important factor in shaping the American character. American characteristics like individualism, democracy and a strong work ethnic, which Turner looked upon as typical American qualities had all been developed when newcomers settled the wilderness. These special qualities would later influence the whole nation. Other historians and philosophers such as Tocqueville and Hegel have also talked about the impact of the frontier on the American experience, but the Turner thesis was the first to be accepted by other historians. Turner insisted upon the frontier as the number one â€Å"explanation† of American history. But it is difficult to understand what he really meant by â€Å"explanation†. As argued by Joshua Derman, it is almost impossible for the reader of Turner’s work to deduce whether he intended the â€Å"frontier to be the ‘prime mover’ in American political history, the single best explanation for why American cultural and political institutions developed the way they did, or a dogmatic rule for interpreting all events in American history. †[3] The notion that democracy arose because of the frontier is also weak. For example, both Russia and China have vaster frontiers than America, but they lack democracy. And in his essay, Turner has not showed what made the American frontier experience different from other countries with considerable frontiers. To say that the frontier shaped American democratic institutions is vague and hard to prove. It is clear that the new land and communities in the wilderness demanded greater participation in political activities (than in Europe) and because of this ordinary people had to step in and contribute. 4] This notion that the ‘common man’ should contribute in civil life became an important part of American society. [5] It was not only American democracy that Turner thought had developed out of the unique frontier experience. There were also several other values that owed the frontier its striking characteristics, for example the complex nationality (later termed the melting pot), individualism and economic mobility (the American Dream). â€Å" The result†, Turner concluded, was â€Å"that to the frontier the American intellect owe[d] its striking characteristics†(100). Individualism was one of the most important and distinctive qualities created by the frontier, as stated in the essay: That coarseness and strength combined with acuteness and acquisitiveness; that practical inventive turn of mind, quick to find expedients; that masterful grasp of material things†¦. the restless, nervous energy; that dominant individualism, working for good and evil, and withal the buoyancy and exuberance which comes with freedom – these are traits of the frontier, or traits called out elsewhere because of the existence of the frontier. (100) As we can see from these lines, frontier individualism did not only promote positive things, it had negative traits as well. On the frontier, newcomers had to rely on themselves. This feeling created the traditional, individualistic feeling. Since life was so hard on the frontier one could not carry one’s ancestry into the wilderness. As a consequence, Turner thought, social life became more informal †¦ than in the older and more settled communities. According to the frontier thesis, all the resources on the frontier as well as its lack of an established socio-political structure provided opportunities for the settlers. They could now pursue their dreams â€Å"of limitless wealth and self-betterment. †[6] Cheap or free land meant more opportunities for the self-made man, and provided a ‘safety valve’ for the ‘newcomers’: Since the day when the fleet of Columbus sailed into the waters of the New World, America has been another name for opportunity, and the people of the United States have taken their tone from the incessant expansion which has not only been open but has even been forced upon them. You read "The Frontier Thesis" in category "Papers" (100) Free land led to new opportunities, and it was up to each individual and their desire to work hard and climb the economic and social ladder: â€Å"†¦each frontier did indeed furnish a new field of opportunity, a gate of escape from the bondage of the past; and freshness, and confidence, and scorn of older society†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (Turner, 100). Everything was open to the man who knew how to seize the opportunity. The self-made man became the ideal of the West, and eventually every man in the U. S. A. should be like him. It was the work ethic of the frontier, not of the South or East, Turner thought, that had contributed the most to the American character. The frontier culture concentrated on the dollar and it became important to make something out of your life. People were constantly moving in search of larger acreage and new opportunities. The large amount of unclaimed western land offered huge opportunities for those who were willing to take a risk. It could, if they worked hard, give them even more wealth and money. This â€Å"gospel of wealth† has continued to be a part of American society. The idea of the â€Å"American Dream† was already a part of the Puritan faith, but it gained even more strength as a modern conception of the frontier. The frontier became the American Dream. To some extent, Turner is right when he talks about the opportunities on the frontier. Newcomers came to the U. S. A. because of new opportunities, and America letters described all the opportunities the frontier offered those who were willing to take a risk. [7] Whereas genealogy divided classes in the Old World, money from hard work divided classes on the American frontier. This became uniquely American. And this myth of America as a place of opportunity and optimism is still a part of the American character. Also, the American tradition of competition and self-betterment was born on the frontier and continues in America even today. But a weakness of the frontier thesis is that Turner ignored the fact that many Americans have never or would never live on the frontier. The West was not a place of opportunity and freedom for everyone, as it seems in Turners essay. For example, to many women and minorities and of course the Indians, the West was no promised land. Life was hard. It was not as romantic and idealistic as Turner made it seem in his essay. And not all men benefited from the frontier. For example, the cost of starting a farm in West was high and few poor urban workers of the East could afford to get a second chance in the West. Also, the largest migration was actually to the city and not to the farm. [8] Historians have concluded that the American West was not â€Å"some rough-hewn egalitarian democracy, where every man had a piece of land and the promise for prosperity, but a world quickly dominated by big money and big government. †[9] Despite shortcomings in Turner’s essay, the frontier myth meant social and economic mobility. As argued by Degler, â€Å"precisely because it [the frontier] was believed to be a safety valve, regardless of what it was in fact, the western frontier worked an influence upon the attitudes of Americans. It left its mark in the optimism, the belief in progress, the promise of the future and the second chance – all of which have been deeply embedded in the American character† (142). Turner also ignored the fact that the land was not ‘free’ (which is illustrated by all the Indian wars). And the essay does not say much about the violence and lawlessness of western expansion. Clearly, opportunities aided the development of democratic ideals in America. But the availability of opportunities should not be confused with the origination of democratic ideas (Degler, 137). The idea of ‘starting over’ is closely connected with opportunity and an important part of the frontier thesis. As stated in the thesis: â€Å"American social development has been continually beginning over again on the frontier. This perennial rebirth, this fluidity of American life, this expansion westward with its new opportunities, its continuous touch with the simplicity of primitive society, furnished the forces dominating American character† (Turner, 88). The wilderness overwhelmed the newcomers and reduced them to a sort of â€Å"primitiveness. † It is a reversed evolution of civilization Turner explains in his thesis. But this step backwards was overshadowed by the hope for a new and better society. Euro-Americans turned the wilderness into civilization, and in doing so they themselves were transformed. In the ‘contest’ between nature and the colonists emerged a unique American character and a distinctive political culture – individualism and democracy. [10] Turner addressed all these new opportunities the frontier created as a â€Å"social rebirth†. America became a sign of a new start to many. People were willing to lie their past behind in search of new opportunities. Turner also set the stage for what would later become known as the â€Å"melting pot†. He looked upon the frontier as a crucible where people with different backgrounds came together and formed a distinct American character: â€Å"In the crucible of the frontier the immigrants were Americanized, liberated and fused into a mixed race, English in neither nationality nor characteristics. † The result was †the formation of a composite nationality for the American people† (94-95). But Turner as well as many others were wrong since the West was not a homogeneous as they thought. Many thought the newcomers would be Americanized, but the reality was that many newcomers kept their traditions and Americanization happened much more gradually than Turner believed. For example, Germans and English colonists differed in farming methods, crops and labor systems even though they lived on the same frontier. And many ethic groups settled in areas dominated by their own people and showed resistance to change. Another central aspect of Turner’s frontier thesis was that the frontier had made the United States different from Europe. According to Turner, the frontier remade the Europeans who entered it: â€Å"The frontier is the line of most rapid and effective Americanization. † The frontier â€Å"finds him [the settler] a European in dress, industries, tools, modes of travel and thought †¦ little by little he [the settler] transforms the wilderness, but the outcome is not the old European, not simply the development of Germanic germs†¦[but] a new product that is American (89). The only uniquely â€Å"American† part of American history is the history of the frontier regions, since the other regions are too influenced by European institutions, Turner thought. He broke away from the notion that America was an extension of European culture and the so-called †Germ Theory† of American historical development, which stated that American institutions had their roots in ancient Teutonic forests (European roots of American institutions). [11] Turner looked upon the frontier as a powerful force. It shaped European settlers into something different from the European character. [12] The settling of the New World, especially the American frontier, had shaped an exceptional country, different from the Old World. The United States was something new and unique, something independent of European experience. As argued before, America as exceptional was a part of the American republic from the beginning and the frontier thesis carried this view even further. [13] The American frontier became something different and made a sharp contrast to the shadows of urban Europe. America became â€Å"the land of European dreams. † And this is not all, the frontier actually influenced not only America, but Europe as well: â€Å"Steadily the frontier settlement advanced and carried with it individualism, democracy and nationalism, and powerfully affected the East and the Old World† (Turner, 99). One weakness in Turner’s essay is that he puts too much emphasis on the effect on the frontier and because of this fails to mention other important features that have formed both the West and America as a whole. The frontier clearly contributed, but other factors are important as well, like slavery, immigration, agriculture, violence, industrialization, urbanization as well as women and ethnic minorities. For example, Indians received far too little attention. Turner considered Native Americans to be of little significance. They were part of that wild frontier environment and posed â€Å"a common danger and served as â€Å"a consolidating agent in our history,† faceless obstacles to be overcome and subdued in the process of westernizing† (Milner, 213). Turner’s estimated effect of the frontier on American politics and institutions was also exaggerated. As Turner puts it: â€Å"The legislation which most developed the powers of the national government, and played the largest part in its activity, was conditioned on the frontier† (Turner, 95). But actually, the frontier state was not that different from eastern models in state government and legislation. For example, the constitution of both Tennessee and Kentucky were modeled after the Pennsylvania constitution of 1790. Just some clauses had actually originated in the West (Degler, 136). In fact, regarding property qualifications for suffrage and the structure of state legislature, the western states modeled their government and legislation after older eastern States. The western states were also more reluctant than eastern states to permit black suffrage and even to allow them to enter their states both before and after the Emancipation. 14] Benjamin F. Wright, Jr. , argues that democracy had emerged in the Old World and had generally moved from east to west, rather than visa versa. Turner has also been criticized when he defines the frontier. To him, the frontier means different things. Sometimes it is an area where the civilization and wilderness meets, and other times the western part of the United States. It can even refer to a process – a way of life for those participa ting the settling of the land or a place full of natural resources. Critics have argued that if the frontier is the edge of civilization, it cannot also be the western part of the USA at a stage of social evolution (Degler, 135). The Western myth The frontier has become essential to Americans’ becoming who they are as a people. As argued by Faragher, †the belief that ‘westernizing’ defines our unique national heritage, and that it amounted to the purest expression of American idealism, has been what historian Warren Susman called â€Å"the official American ideology†(Faragher, 230). Henry Nash Smith and other specialists in American studies demonstrated that reality did not always rule in thinking about the West and that myths, symbols, images and stereotypes developed in response to the conditions of a particular time, could become a part of American culture and be transmitted to subsequent generations (Milner, 12). It was on the western frontier that America formed its own independent identity. Americans have located their nation-building myths and heroes out west, and the west has connected America’s to a national culture through a common story. The frontier thesis had, and continues to have, a powerful hold on popular and scholarly imagination. It reinforced the American sense of uniqueness and accomplishment, and strengthen the American nationalism (Milner, 21). The frontier played a role in endowing the people of the United States with distinguished character traits. Conclusion With his frontier thesis, Turner wanted to get away from the notion that America was just an extension of Europe. Instead, he emphasized the importance of the frontier as the promotion of distinctive American characteristics. It was on the western frontier you could trace the uniquely American character traits like, for example, individualism, opportunity and democracy. The West would be known as a place for opportunity and success for millions of Americans throughout the frontier, eastern cities and soon rest of the world. America became the â€Å"New Eden† and the land of opportunity. The affluence in America made Americans unique to Europe and also the rest of the world. The frontier’s work ethic and individualism spread across the country because it spoke to all Americans. And American frontier values like individualism continue to be important even today. No other country in the world would use the word frontier as Americans do: it convey so many different things to them. Most of all it means optimism. It is not strange that people were encouraged to go West for example during the depression of 1857, where they were promised more opportunities. [15] Despite shortcomings and weaknesses in Turner’s essay, the frontier thesis has a lasting appeal and the frontier idea keeps turning up in new forms, for example in everything from western movies, commercials and politics. The frontier has become an important part of American consciousness. There is something of substantial merit at the core of Turner’s views. The characteristics we think about when we hear the name America, even if it’s true or just a myth is qualities Turner described in his thesis. The frontier has become a symbolic repository of American values and characteristics. Turner articulated the American ‘myth’ that people already thought was true and what many thought was a distinctive American characteristic. The West became an image of a mythmaker and a preserver of distinctive American values. Clearly, the West continues to live one, and it is a distinctive American characteristic. How to cite The Frontier Thesis, Papers

History and Philosophy on Natural Medicine - MyAssignmenthelp

Question: Discuss about theHistory and Philosophy on Natural Medicine. Answer: Chiropractic medicine is a form of medicine that is used in the diagnosis and the treatment of spinal disorders that leads to a negative effect on the nervous system of the body and normal health of an individual (Stephenson,2015). It is a type of natural health care that involves the use of spinal adjustments in order to help the body to heal in a normal manner by correcting the misalignments in the spinal cord and restoring of normal functioning of the nervous system.It is also known as the science of treatment without the use of any drugs or surgery. The first chiropractic treatment occurred in 1895 by Daniel David Palmer and was given to Harvey Lillard (Waters, 2014). Daniel David Palmer believed that treatment of the spine plays an important role in curing all the diseases in the human body. This essay deals with the philosophy, principles and clinical implications of chiropractic medicine that helps the patients to get relieved from back pain or in the treatment of sciatica. The philosophy of chiropractic treatment includes both vitalistic and holistic. The holistic approach deals with promoting health, helps in preventing illness and promotes healing based on social, personal , environmental and familial factors. The philosophy of Chiropractic treatment is based on the fact that nervous system plays an important role in the normal functioning of the body. It controls all the parts of the body through various nerves and signals. A chiropractor recognizes various factors that affect the health of an individual that includes hereditary factors, heat and ice therapy, environmental factors, hydrotherapy, nutrition and sleep intake and exercise (Davis et al., 2015) .Chiropractor improve circulation of blood by providing massage to the soft tissues. This also helps in reducing the inflammation and swelling related to back pain and helps in healing at a faster rate. Various therapies are used in the treatment process by the chiropractors. These include ultrasou nd, diathermy, hydrotherapy, and electrical muscle stimulation,. Ultrasound helps in reducing the back pain, stiffness and increase the flow of the blood in the body that ultimately helps in healing at a faster rate. Ultrasound involves therapy including sound waves and heat is applied to the joints and the soft tissues to reduce the pain. Diathermy is form of wave that is short and it passes to the tissues that are soft and helps in relaxing the muscles and the connective tissues. Hydrotherapy is performed by using water and its temperature and pressure is varied using hot baths and saunas. It is used to improve the blood flow , accelerate the healing process and decrease the sensitivity of pain in the back. Electrical muscle stimulation involves the use of electrodes that are kept in the skin and electrical impulses are send to all the parts of the body. It is used to relieve the back pain and decrease the inflammation (Coulter, Goertz Walters, 2014).Hence, a chiropractor helps i n the diagnosis of problems in the nervous of the body and helps it to heal in a natural manner and not by focusing only on the symptoms of any disease. When a patient visits the doctor for the treatment, he or she is evaluated on the basis of case history and is examined physically. They are also examined using laboratory treatments and X-Ray analysis and special attention is given to the spinal cord. Chiropractors can use various techniques during the treatment such as massage, ultrasound, and adjustment in the spine manually or muscular stimulation using electrical signals (Penney et al., 2016). There is no involvement of surgery or any drugs during the treatment as it is natural method of treatment and improves the communication system of the body to function in an effective manner by initiating, controlling and coordinating various functions of all the cells and the organs in the body. The most common problem that the patients visit the chiropractor is for the treatment of back pain but this treatment can be used for other problems as well such as headache, acute and chronic issues, pain in the neck, and problems in the nervous system and sciatica that may have occurred due to injury during sport activities, accidents or heredity (Vernon et al., 2015). According to researchers, chiropractic treatment can be used to cure the lower back pain or pelvic pain in pregnant women and it was observed that the patients felt improvement after the treatment (Peterson, Mhlemann Humphreys, 2014). It is reported that chiropractic treatment can be used to cure ear infections in young children and the children reported that they had no ear pain or fever after the treatment with the chiropractor (Center et al.,2013). It was also found that chiropractic care played an important role in the treatment of back pain in older population. Chiropractic treatment is reported to benefit females who were infertile and suffered from polycystic ovarian syndrome and helped them to attain pregnancy. It can be concluded that chiropractic treatment plays an important role in diagnosis and prevention of various disorders related to the musculoskeletal system that is the spinal cord. Chiropractors use a technique known as spinal manipulation that helps the spine to heal in a natural manner without being dependant on drugs and surgeries. It is a safe process and widely used in Australia to improve the functioning of nervous system by the patients. It is also reported that patients who suffer from osteoporosis, arthritis, compression in the spinal cord and people who take medicines to thin their blood are not advised to undergo manipulation in the spine. There are various disadvantages of chiropractic treatment such as some patients may experience side effects after the treatment such as increased pain, stroke and problems in the bowel movement ( Bryans et al., 2014). It can also take a long time in some patients in getting cured and can be an expensive treatment depending on the time spent by the chiropractor. References Bryans, R., Decina, P., Descarreaux, M., Duranleau, M., Marcoux, H., Potter, B., ... White, E. (2014). Evidence-based guidelines for the chiropractic treatment of adults with neck pain.Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics,37(1), 42-63. Center, N. P., Bontrager, D., Bennett, M., Zurawicki, T. (2013). Ear infection: a retrospective study examining improvement from chiropractic care and analyzing for influencing factors.Spine,38(8). Coulter, I., Goertz, C., Walters, J. (2014).Assessment of Chiropractic Treatment for Low Back Pain, Military Readiness and Smoking Cessation in Military Active Duty Personnel. RAND CORP SANTA MONICA CA. Davis, M. A., Yakusheva, O., Gottlieb, D. J., Bynum, J. P. (2015). Regional supply of chiropractic care and visits to primary care physicians for back and neck pain.The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine,28(4), 481-490. Penney, L. S., Ritenbaugh, C., Elder, C., Schneider, J., Deyo, R. A., DeBar, L. L. (2016). Primary care physicians, acupuncture and chiropractic clinicians, and chronic pain patients: a qualitative analysis of communication and care coordination patterns.BMC complementary and alternative medicine,16(1), 30. Peterson, C. K., Mhlemann, D., Humphreys, B. K. (2014). Outcomes of pregnant patients with low back pain undergoing chiropractic treatment: a prospective cohort study with short term, medium term and 1 year follow-up.Chiropractic manual therapies,22(1), 15. Stephenson, R. W. (2015).Chiropractic text book. Ravenio Books. Vernon, H., Borody, C., Harris, G., Muir, B., Goldin, J., Dinulos, M. (2015). A Randomized Pragmatic Clinical Trial of Chiropractic Care for Headaches With and Without a Self-Acupressure Pillow.Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics,38(9), 637-643. Waters, T. R. (2014). Mabel Palmer on Thin Ice: A History of Chiropractic That Almost Wasn't.Chiropractic History,34(1).