Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Act One of Bruce Norriss Play Clybourne Park

Act One of Bruce Norris's Play Clybourne Park The play Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris is set in a modest three-bedroom bungalow in central Chicago. Clybourne Park is a fictional neighborhood, first mentioned in Lorraine Hansberrys A Raisin in the Sun.   At the end of A Raisin in the Sun, a white man named Mr. Lindner tries to convince  a black couple not to move into Clybourne Park. He even offers them a substantial sum to purchase back the new home so that the white, working-class community can maintain its status quo. It isnt mandatory to know the story of A Raisin in the Sun to appreciate Clybourne Park, but it certainly enriches the experience. You can read a detailed, scene by scene summary of A Raisin in the Sun to enhance your comprehension of this play. Setting the Stage Act One of Clybourne Park takes place in 1959, in the home of Bev and Russ, a middle-aged couple who are preparing to move to a new neighborhood. They bicker (sometimes playfully, sometimes with underlying hostility) about various national capitals and the  origin of Neapolitan ice cream. Tensions mount when Jim, the local minister, stops by for a chat. Jim hopes for a chance to discuss Russ feelings. We learn that their adult son committed suicide after returning from the Korean War. Other people arrive, including Albert (husband of Francine, Bevs maid) and Karl and Betsy Lindner. Albert arrives to take his wife home, but the couple becomes involved in the conversation and the packing process, despite Francines attempts to leave. During the conversation, Karl drops the bombshell: the family that plans to move into Bev and Russ home is colored. Karl Doesnt Want Change Karl tries to convince the others that the arrival of a black family will negatively affect the neighborhood. He claims that housing prices will go down, neighbors will move away, and non-white, lower-income families will move in. He even tries to obtain the approval and understanding of Albert and Francine, asking them if they would want to live in a neighborhood like Clybourne Park. (They decline to comment  and do their best to stay out of the conversation.) Bev, on the other hand, believes that the new family could be wonderful people, no matter the color of their skin. Karl is the most overtly racist character in the play. He makes several outrageous statements, and yet in his mind, he is presenting logical arguments. For example, while trying to illustrate a point about racial preferences, he recounts his observations on a ski vacation: KARL: I can tell you, in all the time Ive been there, I have not once seen a colored family on those slopes. Now, what accounts for that? Certainly not any deficit in ability, so what I have to conclude is that for some reason, there is just something about the pastime of skiing that doesnt appeal to the Negro community. And feel free to prove me wrong†¦ But youll have to show me where to find the skiing Negroes. Despite such small-minded sentiments, Karl believes himself to be progressive. After all, he supports the Jewish-owned grocery store in the neighborhood. Not to mention, his wife, Betsy, is deaf - and yet despite her differences, and despite the opinions of others, he married her. Unfortunately, his core motivation is economic. He believes that when non-white families move into an all-white neighborhood, the financial value decreases, and investments are ruined. Russ Gets Mad As Act One continues, tempers boil. Russ doesnt care who is moving into the house. He is extremely disappointed and angry at his community. After being discharged because of disgraceful conduct (it is implied that he killed civilians during the Korean War), Russ son could not find work. The neighborhood shunned him. Russ and Bev received no sympathy or compassion from the community. They felt abandoned by their neighbors. And so, Russ turns his back on Karl and the others. After Russ caustic monologue in which he claims I dont care if a hundred Ubangi tribesman with a bone through the nose overrun this goddamn place (Norris 92), Jim the minister responds by saying Maybe we should bow our heads for a second (Norris 92). Russ snaps and wants to punch Jim in the face. To calm things down, Albert places his hand on Russ shoulder. Russ whirls toward Albert and says: Putting your hands on me? No sir. Not in my house you dont (Norris 93). Before this moment, Russ seems apathetic about the issue of race. In the scene mentioned above, however, it seems Russ reveals his prejudice. Is he so upset because someone is touching his shoulder? Or is he outraged that a black man has dared to put hands on Russ, a white man? Bev Is Sad Act One ends after everyone (except Bev and Russ) leaves the house, all with various feelings of disappointment. Bev tries to give away a chafing dish to Albert and Francine, but Albert firmly yet politely explains, Maam, we dont want your things. Please. We got our own things. Once Bev and Russ are alone, their conversation feebly returns to small talk. Now that her son is dead and she will be leaving behind her old neighborhood, Bev wonders what she will do with all of the empty time. Russ suggests that she fill the time up with projects. The lights go down, and Act One reaches its somber conclusion.

Saturday, November 23, 2019

How To Do the Gallium Beating Heart Demonstration

How To Do the Gallium Beating Heart Demonstration The gallium beating heart is a chemistry demonstration in which a drop of gallium is made to pulsate, like a beating heart. The gallium beating heart is similar to the mercury beating heart, but gallium is much less toxic, so this demonstration may be preferable. Gallium Beating Heart Materials Drop of gallium metal, liquefied (apply heat, as from your gloved hand)Dilute sulfuric acid (e.g., battery acid)Potassium dichromateWatch glass or petri dish Perform the Gallium Beating Heart Demo Place a drop of liquid gallium in a shallow dish.Cover the gallium with dilute sulfuric acid. The drop will round into a ball as gallium sulfate forms on the surface of the drop.Add a small amount of potassium dichromate. The gallium will relax somewhat as the sulfate layer is removed and the surface tension of the drop changes. If the proportion of dichromate with respect to the sulfuric acid is just right, the drop will alternate between round and relaxed, like a beating heart. Unlike the mercury beating heart, no iron is required to perform this demo, though the gallium heart beats more slowly. It can be tricky to get the correct amount of dichromate to get the gallium to pulsate, so start with a small amount of the chemical and add more as needed.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Lab report Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words - 2

Lab Report Example Some of the samples were obtained near the river in a hilly place with ample cover of various types trees (Easton p38). While others were obtained away from the river, the main goal being to expose the students to experience field work, and environmental science Hypothesis that we formulated included, most soils found in wabashiki river are clay soils, the nearer the soil is on the river the higher smoother the texture, texture of soils depicts its components, the soil pH is mostly constant Every group having the relevant materials embarked into obtaining the samples for use and documentation. Each and every person within the group was expected to come up with his own samples each. Some from near the river and further away from the river; the sampling site was obtained after the purpose of the study was established thus no major sampling technique was put in place (Easton p135). The study was to take place along the river at different coordinates. The analysis of a soil sample to det ermine its nutrients and the contents contaminated and also other characteristics like the ph. Level. There were various soils testing strategies put in place some were to be done in the field so that one could obtain results as soon, as the soil was from its natural flora, and fauna to avoid defects due to transport handling and storage. Some of the testing done on the field includes crushing, feeling the texture acidity porosity trough exposure to water. The soils were obtained from flat grassy ground, and also from a hilly part near the river the following was observed, Both soils had the same average period of time, i.e. 10yrs though thee color varied as the soils obtained from the grassy flat area had a less color value than those obtained from near the river that had a higher color value. Although the two ended up having the color Chroma values of two each, the soil that was obtained from the grassy flat area was established as a sandy loam soil after cross examination. While the soil obtained from near the river was established as silty clay loam soil. Each collected sample was labeled accordingly comprising the following; group name, student initials, GPS coordinates, section number, date and sample number. Members of the group were to meet and carryout various tests within the laboratory this is where the tests for nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium were done. The samples were to be divided, and parts of them were dried for the purpose of carrying out tests in total more 10 samples were collected in my group five from near the river, and the other five away from the river this was executed such that each sample came from different coordinates so as to obtain well distributed samples (Easton p 220). After the tests were conducted the following was observed, the soils extracted from near the river had low contents of phosphorous while those obtained from near the river had relatively high quantities of phosphorus. All the samples tested had very low qu antities of nitrogen in them whether they were obtained from further away or near the river. The ph. of all the samples obtained was neutral at 7 points this showed that despite the fact that the samples were obtained from different places none, showed any basic or acidic characteristic. From the results, it was also noted that the all the samples obtained from the two areas, had very high contents of potassium. The tests conducted were fundamental in depicting the various characteristics of each and every sample obtained. The soil texture of the samples obtained varied. z sandy loam soil color sheet 10 color value 3 color chroma 2 ph 7 The soil texture is known as the relative composition of various soil particles size fractions in soil.

Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Strategic perpectives - THIS HAS TO BE IN REPORT FORM AND NOT ESSAY

Strategic perpectives - THIS HAS TO BE IN REPORT FORM AND NOT FORM - Essay Example The capabilities of individuals are enhanced through learning which requires assessment of the information gathered (Bolton, 2010). Confucius one of the most renowned Chinese thinker quoted that wisdom can be acquired through three methods. One is by assessment and reflection which is noble, second through imitation which is easy and convenient and lastly by experience which is the most toughest and bitter of them all. I consider that self-assessment and reflection are the most effective ways using which the barriers can be reduced. There are different road blocks which come in light through assessment. Through this, the things are tackled, and appropriate solutions are structured. The seminar in particular and the entire teachings of the Strategic Perspectives have helped me assess the things which are holding me back. The seminar on Mega Learning from October- December 2013 has not only enhanced the learning, but it has also enhanced the experience. Some experiences have been positive, and some have also been negative. However, to conclude both the experiences had some sort of value associated with them. The learning acquired through the seminar will surely benefit me with my career in the future. This will make accomplishing the common goals and encountering the challenges easier. In this assessment, the learning acquired as an individual along with the challenges faced as a group will also be discussed. This will be done by providing three critical incidents which arose during the training and the experience acquired as an individual and by the whole group. The assessment and review will assist in analyzing each of the situations independently. Through this, the actions taken, and their suitability in the particular situation can also be discussed. Discovering the realities and finding the core potential and standings of the individuals in the markets are the true forms through which the assessment can be done. In the self-reflection

Sunday, November 17, 2019

Stone Cold Authors Craft Essay Example for Free

Stone Cold Authors Craft Essay Write an analytical response to the opening chapters of Robert Swindells Stone Cold, with specific reference to the authors craft. Every novel needs an effective opening. If it wasnt any good, we probably wouldnt read the novel! How do authors try and make the opening paragraphs of their books effective? Writers try to hook the reader into reading their book, by making a strong narrative pull; they try to make the reader want to know whats going to happen next? so that they read on. They do this with the aid of the authors craft. The authors craft is like a writers secret code of story telling. Its their nifty gizmo, and they call it their craft. Its basically their way of writing, and it is made up of two main parts; narrative elements and literary devices. Every author has a craft, but they all use it in different ways and in this essay I aim to show how Robert Swindells has used it, in the opening paragraphs of his book, Stone cold. Literary devices, as can be worked out from its name are the tools and techniques that authors use to make their work more meaningful and significant. Narrative Elements set out the story and its structure in different aspects, for instance its plot, characters and setting. Swindells has mastered the use of characterization in the opening paragraphs of his novel, and even in his first sentence, he characterizes his main character: You can call me Link. Links tone and wording makes him seem friendly -so the reader knows what sort of personality Link is of- and eager to talk to the reader directly, via the pronoun you. And by putting the words you and me in one sentence Swindells also makes the first sentence emotion as Link is connecting to the reader directly. The opening sentence in a way welcomes the readers into the book. It also seems a bit random, because we dont know at all whats going on. So this makes the reader eager to know why the character would want to be called by an alias, so would therefore read on to find out. In the same way, in the next paragraph another character is shown. The way he talks is very different to how the previous character did, so it is evidently clear he isnt the same person. By starting of with just Shelter and the often repetition of the word, it shows this character is quite full of himself. Unlike Link, this character doesnt at all use the word you, so is clearly not talking to the reader, but rather to himself. Swindells uses the technique of foreshadowing here. Here it is shown in advance that Shelter is a bit crazy, hence he is talking to himself. This is consequently proved later on in the novel, when the deeply disturbed Shelter, stores his murdered victims corpses under his floor boards, after making them presentable with clothing and haircuts. He seemed to care for the victims he despised in life, undoubtedly making him a lunatic. In the opening sentences Swindells uses a metaphor, to make the reader want to read on and question: Im invisible, see? One of the invisible people. Swindells does this to make the reader question as to why Link would say that, whats going on in his life to make him feel neglected? This makes the reader nosy and want to read on. Its also emotional, because Links manner of saying this kind of touch the heart. He says it as if no one cares about him, and he shows he is upset about it. Once again this makes the reader want to read on to find out why he feels like that, but the answer is revealed truly in the end of the book, when another character called Gail betrays him. Swindells does this so that the reader has to finish the book. In the last sentence of Links paragraph, Swindells expertly uses irony. Link says: Ill tell you the story of my fascinating life. It is obvious here that Link is being sarcastic as he seems depressed and hurt, and the reader does not expect Link to say this due to his negative attitude, even though to a normal person it probably would be fascinating. All this emphasizes on the fact that Link is the main character and the book is about his fascinating life. This makes the reader once again want to read on. As can be seen, most literary devices are aimed to make the novel more exiting to make the reader carry on reading. Throughout the second paragraph the technique of parallel structure is used. All the sentences are short and snappy: Its what theyre all seeking. The street people. What they crave. This creates a rhythm to what Shelter says and makes it confusing but satisfying; this makes the reader think about what is being said. The short sentences also grab the attention of the reader and make the reader think and wonder whether possibly the reason Link was sitting in the doorway was possibly because he was one of the street people, so may possibly be homeless. Furthermore the thing Link wanted from the passer-bys was money. In the same way the reader might jump to other conclusions, so carry on reading to find out if he was right and if not what else it could be. In the end of the second paragraph of the novel, Allusion is used. Well get fell in my lucky lads. Here Shelter is referring back to the army, when soldiers fall into line. This also gives a sense of foreshadowing because later on in the novel, the reader discovers that Shelter was actually from the army, and he creates a little a little army of his self with the homeless people or as he call them his lucky lads. From the opening chapters of Stone Cold, it is clear that even in a little extract of a novel authors use the authors craft quite a lot, and very complexly. The opening of this particular book is very effective and really does make the reader want to read on further in the book. People say that you cant judge a book by its cover and I agree with that. They should judge it by its opening paragraphs. If an author cant write the most important paragraph of a book properly, why would the rest of the novel be any different? Robert Swindells has written a successful novel here, and a lot of that goes onto the fact that he had a great opening paragraph.

Thursday, November 14, 2019

The Battle of King Philip II Augustus of France Essay -- Ancient Hist

King Philip II Augustus of France wasn’t by any means a physically strong individual, but his strengths lay in his grasp of both political and military strategy. He was almost constantly involved in wars from 1180 to 1215. He was fighting his vassals, other kings, both of them together, it didn’t matter; Philip would use political treachery and military tactics to defeat his opponents. When one looks at Philip’s life they notice almost instantly that Philip was constantly fighting someone from the day he became King, to the day he died. Philip was born in Gonesse on August 21st of 1165, his father Louis was determined to have Philip succeed him on the throne; as such Philip was raised with all the training necessary to become a king, he was taught in the ways of politics and war (Smedley 52). All was going to plan until Philip turned thirteen, on a royal hunt; he was separated from his companions and became lost in a forest. He spent hours attempting to find a way out, until he was exhausted by the cold and hunger. Eventually a peasant found him; but this event had caused him to become extremely ill, he contracted a dangerously high fever. His father Louis VII distraught by his son’s illness undertook a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Thomas Becket, in order to pray for his son’s recovery (Smedley 55). He was told that his son had finally recovered, and began his journey back to Paris. On the return journey he suffered a terrible stroke; this began the decline of his health, and eventually leads to hi s death (Smedley 55). Knowing that his health was declining and that he would not be able to lead for much longer, he understood that if he wanted to have Philip succeed him he must act quickly as there were parties at play that w... ...cture, but to anticipate future moves. He deviated from the traditional methods of viewing war as a game of chess, but understood that more elements could be utilized. Through his military history we see wonderful examples of him using rebellions and political means to destabilize military operations of his opponents. He was truly a master of psychological, political, and traditional warfare, and quite possible one of the finest political and military strategists of the Middle Ages. Works Cited The New Encyclopaedia Britannica. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2007. Print. Rees, Simon. "King Richard I of England Versus King Philip II Augustus." Military History Magazine Sept. 2006: 1-5. Print. Smedley, Edward. The History of France, from the Final Partition of the Empire of Charlemagne to the Peace of Cambray. London: Baldwin and Cradock, 1836. Print. The Battle of King Philip II Augustus of France Essay -- Ancient Hist King Philip II Augustus of France wasn’t by any means a physically strong individual, but his strengths lay in his grasp of both political and military strategy. He was almost constantly involved in wars from 1180 to 1215. He was fighting his vassals, other kings, both of them together, it didn’t matter; Philip would use political treachery and military tactics to defeat his opponents. When one looks at Philip’s life they notice almost instantly that Philip was constantly fighting someone from the day he became King, to the day he died. Philip was born in Gonesse on August 21st of 1165, his father Louis was determined to have Philip succeed him on the throne; as such Philip was raised with all the training necessary to become a king, he was taught in the ways of politics and war (Smedley 52). All was going to plan until Philip turned thirteen, on a royal hunt; he was separated from his companions and became lost in a forest. He spent hours attempting to find a way out, until he was exhausted by the cold and hunger. Eventually a peasant found him; but this event had caused him to become extremely ill, he contracted a dangerously high fever. His father Louis VII distraught by his son’s illness undertook a pilgrimage to the Shrine of Thomas Becket, in order to pray for his son’s recovery (Smedley 55). He was told that his son had finally recovered, and began his journey back to Paris. On the return journey he suffered a terrible stroke; this began the decline of his health, and eventually leads to hi s death (Smedley 55). Knowing that his health was declining and that he would not be able to lead for much longer, he understood that if he wanted to have Philip succeed him he must act quickly as there were parties at play that w... ...cture, but to anticipate future moves. He deviated from the traditional methods of viewing war as a game of chess, but understood that more elements could be utilized. Through his military history we see wonderful examples of him using rebellions and political means to destabilize military operations of his opponents. He was truly a master of psychological, political, and traditional warfare, and quite possible one of the finest political and military strategists of the Middle Ages. Works Cited The New Encyclopaedia Britannica. Chicago: Encyclopaedia Britannica, 2007. Print. Rees, Simon. "King Richard I of England Versus King Philip II Augustus." Military History Magazine Sept. 2006: 1-5. Print. Smedley, Edward. The History of France, from the Final Partition of the Empire of Charlemagne to the Peace of Cambray. London: Baldwin and Cradock, 1836. Print.

Tuesday, November 12, 2019

Intercultural Communications Essay Comparing New York, California and Italy

New York City Suburbs, Middle Class Orange County, And Italy: Explored There are many definitions for â€Å"culture. † The best definition and the definition that we use is â€Å"Culture is a learned set of shared interpretations about beliefs, values, norms and social practices which affect the behaviors of a relatively large group of people. † Culture is often times taken for granted because we aren’t constantly reminded of our culture. It is not until we leave our culture and our everyday norms that we start to realize our own culture and the variances in cultures.This experience will help to expand our knowledge of other cultures, as well as allowing us to understand our own culture better. The first culture that we look at is Zach’s culture. When looking at my own culture, it is difficult to identify which culture that I belong to the best. I think I best associate myself with the culture of my hometown. In a small town just outside of New York City, a variety of different ethnicities occupy this town. Although this is the case, the vast majority of the inhabitants are Italian-Americans, and everyone lives quite a similar lifestyle.As a young adult in this culture, you either start working or go to school. It is expected of both men and women to do one of the two options. Considering the fact that everyone does one of the two, or both, it is unusual and frowned upon to being doing absolutely nothing. The individual in my culture is very important. Everyone is expected to be the best they could be. So, if school isn’t their forte, then getting into the workforce is the path they should take. Whether you go to school or go straight to work does not determine whether you are a success or a failure.Being successful just means that you are doing something that you want to do and making a substantial amount of money to live. People in my culture are glorified more when they have white-collar jobs. Being just outside of New York City, many families have someone that works there. The idea of taking the train to work is something that many adolescences strive before because that is what they believe is what it means to be successful at the time. Young adults in my culture all partake in similar activities and ways of life. There are minor differences in some areas, but for the most part we are quite comparable.In my culture, young adults are always keeping busy. Activities include: from working out, playing sports, going to movies, attending ball games, going out to bars and relaxing at a friend’s house. It is very common in my culture to have a very large friends group, especially guys. A typical day off for anyone could include any of those activities. The day in a life of any person in my culture is busy and stressful. Work and school take up the majority of the day and then other activities, like attending the gym or being part of team, occur post work and school.Dinner is the only time of day tha t everyone has a little bit of time to relax and enjoy family time. During dinner, families converse about events that took place during the day and about upcoming events. Family is very important in my culture. Family always comes first. Whenever a family gathering is taking place, it is more common to attend that event than it is to do some other activity. Pride is something that is in full affect in my culture and any culture in my area. Although everyone associates himself or herself with our local culture, they are still very proud to be a New Yorker.Often times we are thought of as overly confident or cocky. This is probably because we have this mentality that we are the only people on the earth and everything else revolves around us. My culture accurately defines me. I lived in my hometown and with my culture my whole life and I have been surrounded with the norms and beliefs of my community. I am a part of a friends group that partakes in every activity that is common in my culture. We love sports and fitness, as well as going to the movies or a ball game. Although I take pride in having such a strong friends group, I don’t forget where I come from.I love spending time with my family and always dedicate adequate time to seeing them. For example, every weekend I go out to dinner with my parents and my sister. I look forward to events where I can hang out with my extended family because I don’t get to see them often due to how far they live from me. I like to think I have a successful future ahead of me because I am attending a university and have plans of working and living the American dream. Conclusively, my life and personality coincide greatly with my culture and community.Next we take a look at Troy’s culture. In my culture, I have noticed that making a connection with someone, even if they are a stranger you may never see again, is extremely prevalent. Common â€Å"small talk† like asking how their day’s going is highly valued in my culture and to me personally. I have taken small acts of politeness for granted growing up in Orange County and did not notice them until entering other cultures around the world. For example, I find it rude to not hold the door open for someone behind you even if they are ten feet away from entering.Basically everyone does it in my culture but this is not the same everywhere else. For example, I noticed that it is common for people from the East coast to not even realize this small aspect of everyday life. One thing I have begun to miss is the absence of eye contact and smiling at random strangers during everyday activities in public. It personally brightens my day when someone I don’t know passing by gives you a genuine smile without a specific reason. Here in Italy, I have noticed that it is common for Italians to avoid eye contact if possible and it is rare to randomly smile at a passerby.At first I viewed it as they were cold or in a bad mood, but no w I understand that it simply is a cultural difference between our countries. One of my best friends from elementary school through high school is a perfect example of an Orange County middle-class male. His name is Robbie Jepson and he possesses a majority of the qualities of a young male from Southern California. He has long beach blonde hair and tan skin all year round. He loves to skateboard, snowboard, and surf depending on the season. He listens to alternative rock while recognizing the popular Top 40 music.He is unbelievably genuine and extremely close with all our group of friends. Plus, his family is not just his family; they are his best and closest friends. He was always very popular with everyone at our high school, which is why he won Prom King our senior year. He works at Active Ride Shop, which is a well-known skateboarding company, and is training to become a Real Estate Agent. He attended a junior college for two years and then transferred to a university, which is extremely common for students in Orange County trying to save money.He is religious and values meeting people who are equally as genuine as him. He enjoys volunteering in his free time and will always hold the door open for you no matter what mood he is in. All of these aspects I just previously mentioned are extremely common for males in my culture. Over the years, I have viewed him as a role model and try and imitate some of his qualities to become a â€Å"better† person. A typical day for a middle class male in Orange County must be adventurous. I feel that we share a common desire for some sort of adrenaline rush no matter what it involves.We consistently go to the beach, mountains, or desert depending on the time of year. For example, in my life, I have been skydiving, bungee jumping, zip lining, and parasailing which all result in an adrenaline rush. However, there are aspects of my culture that I tend to differ with. For example, country music is unbelievably popular w ith my culture but I cannot stand listening to this genre of music. There are country concerts that basically everyone goes to during spring break every year called Stagecoach, which I never plan on attending even if it was free.I cannot explain exactly why I dislike country music; I just cannot stand when I hear some play it. Another aspect I differ from my culture is the popularity of eating â€Å"fast food† like Taco Bell, Carl’s Jr, McDonalds, etc. I use to eat at these places as a child but I have now realized how unhealthy they are for my body so I choose not to anymore. The only â€Å"fast food† places I will eat at now are Subway and Chipotle and these are not unhealthy like the places I mentioned already. I enjoy cooking at home and would rather save my money to spend on something else.Overall, I have enjoyed being a part of my culture growing up and learning the values and ethics that are apart of being from Orange County. There are still aspects of ou r culture that can be improved upon when comparing to others but that can be said for every culture no matter where you are in the world. This course has broadened my understanding of my culture in a positive way because I had never put much thought into it before because I have grown up in it so it is difficult to question why things work the way they do.Before, I looked at our culture with the mindset of â€Å"it’s just the way it is† which correlates with the story of a fish knowing if it’s wet or not. After reflecting on our own cultures, we interviewed Italians and read articles and books to take a deeper look at the Italian culture. The Italian culture is a fascinating entity. Their norms, beliefs and values are remarkable. The three most highly valued aspects of Italian culture are: religion, food and family. Religion is very important to the Italian culture. The Catholic Church is something that â€Å"present in every community† (Solly 54).The Pop e is highly recognized amongst Italians. The Catholic Church is preferred to tangible and visual, hence pictures of Madonna, the Pope, local saints, and football stars are posted everywhere† (Solly 55). This goes to show the importance of religion and the big part that it plays in the household. Sunday is a day where everyone gathers at the local parrish for Sunday Mass. This is another way of bringing the family together, all dressed in their â€Å"Sunday Best. † As Lisa Anna Izzo describes in an interview regarding Italian culture, â€Å"the fact that Italians are usually always together and eating says a lot! This is nothing short of the truth. Food is so important to Italy and a conversation about Italians and Italian culture cannot end without the talks of food. Pasta is a staple of an Italian meal. It is also one of three course of the Italian lunch. This three-course meal includes a lot of food, like pasta, meat and vegetables. As Lisa Anna says â€Å"You will never go hungry in an Italian household. † Lunch is the meal during the day where the family gathers. Over this three-course meal, they enjoy each other’s company and talk about all different topics, including politics, religion, and calcio.Giuseppe D’Aloisio comments on the importance of family in an interview regarding his idea of the Italian culture by saying â€Å"the town that I am from is very small, therefore everyone is extremely close to each other and sometimes we consider people who truly aren’t family as family. † This is a very interesting quote because in the United States and in my culture it isn’t that common to have such a small town where everyone is that close. But, it just goes to show how important family is for the Italians.For one of my classes, I had the opportunity to go on a field trip to the Grevi hat factory and interview the owners and a few of the employees. Bepe Grevi, the main owner today, talked a good amount about the family company, which was started in 1875. The fact that the company has been in the same family expresses the Italian’s high-context culture. This exemplifies their strong interpersonal bonds, their high commitment, and their closeness between families. In the United States, family businesses do not exist for as long because children often do not want to follow in their parent’s footsteps.They would prefer to branch out and create their own legacy and encourage their children to do the same. It is intriguing to see a day in the life of a young adult in the Italian culture. Football is very prominent in the Italian culture. Most kids and young adults are always kicking a football around with each other. Lisa Anna states, â€Å"kids usually go to the football field and play and everyone goes to hang out and watch them. † Even the people that do not play football are still involved with it because it becomes a retreat for all the youngsters to gather.It is extremely common for friends and family to get together on Sundays to eat a big meal with each other and watch their local football team on TV during the afternoon according to Solly’s Xenophobe’s Guide to the Italians. Spending time with friends is a common practice my young adults. Giuseppe talks of â€Å"riding around on vespas with friends until everyone has to go home for dinner. † Other regular routines included relaxing in the piazza or going to a bar or discotecca at night. Drinking is something that occurs amongst teens and young adults in Italy.There is no drinking age in Italy allowing for teens to start drinking a lot earlier than in the States. In Italy, however, teens and adults, alike, are consuming alcohol in a different manor. They are casual drinkers. For example, it is very common for teens in Italy to have a glass or two of wine with dinner and their families. They are not going out and binge drinking, like teens and young adults often do in America. When comparing the United States and Italian cultures, Italians are much more high context than Americans. Small aspects of their everyday life will provide evidence to back up this statement.For example, when looking at Hall’s taxonomy, Italians tend to use more indirect messages than Americans who rely on direct messages, especially in the classroom. My classes abroad have been much less structured than back home and give far fewer directions for assignments. By no means is this is a negative aspect because it allows students to be more creative with their projects and essays. Another aspect of Hall’s taxonomy is the Italian culture’s orientation to time. It is far more loose and flexible when compared to the American’s orientation to time.An example of this would be the commonality for an Italian to be late to lunch with you because they saw one of their friends on the way and talked to them for twenty minutes because of the combination of their strong interpersonal bonds and their flexible and open time schedule. Whereas, an American would be offended if you showed up late to lunch because they view it as wasting their time. The well-known concept of â€Å"time is money† could explain the difference of cultures more effectively. Americans always have to be on the go and productive or else they feel like they are wasting money in a sense.Whereas Italians are comfortable going through the day â€Å"wasting† their time talking to someone because they enjoy making strong personal connections with friends and family, which I strongly prefer over the hectic American way of life. In our interviews, we unfortunately did not ask anyone about superstition, but it is something we have noticed since coming to Italy. Even as baseball players while growing up, which is a game that involves a great amount of superstitious habits, we have realized that Italians are even more superstitious just by observing them over a couple month span.One example is when talking about their local football team, Fiorentina. They do not like to seem overconfident or say anything before it happens because they do not want to â€Å"jinx† their team. There are other aspects of life that they are superstitious but this is what we felt was strongest and most prevalent when coming to superstition. The Italian culture has a lot of captivating aspects to it. The prevalence of religion, family and food are great intriguing. These three highly valued aspects of their life all work together.The family is a huge staple in Italian culture. Lunch is an important three-course meal that brings together the family with a large quantity of food. The Catholic Church is highly recognized and has great power in the Italian culture. Sundays are dedicated to relaxation and attending Sunday Mass, where again the family is brought together. Italy has a much different view of time, as it is much more lackadaisical than back in the U nited States. Superstitions are widespread in the Italian culture, especially with soccer.Soccer in the Italian culture is a way of life and many youngsters could be seen playing at the field or in the streets or piazza. Conclusively, by looking at the Italian culture and its different aspects has allowed us to strengthen our intercultural competence and overall knowledge of a different culture than our own. After looking at these three different cultures, we came to realize the differences that occur between each. The high importance of friends and friendship is a common ground between all three cultures. A difference amongst the three is the meaning of food and the different types of food.New York City suburbs and Orange County both have their many fast food businesses as well as local restaurants. Food in the Italian culture is all about quality and appearance. Their famous three-course meal supplies an abundance of food for families to gather and feast. In conclusion, by explori ng the social norms, beliefs and values of these three cultures we are now have a stronger sense of intercultural competence and have a better understanding of not only our own culture, but the Italian culture and a different culture within our own country.

Sunday, November 10, 2019

Love, Death and Fascist Iconography Essay

To the fascist artist, his or her own art is merely a vessel that encapsulates his or her own socially-motivated beliefs. The works of Yukio Mishima and Leni Riefenstahl, for instance, embody the essence of their individual nationalities at the height of their individual careers—nationalities that might transcend origin and geography, yet extol   culture, tradition, ritual and society.   Mishima and Riefenstahl exhibit incredible parallelism in their works. Mishima, in his short story Patriotism, describe the human form with such detail and meticulousness reminiscent of Riefenstahl’s style in her 1930’s films. Much like Riefenstahl’s The Last of the Nuba, the naked body is depicted as a means of fascist iconography—the body, perfect and pure in its own way, merges with a bigger community of bodies of like characteristics (Evans 31). Susan Sontag’s treatise on the works of Riefenstahl, Fascinating Fascism, breaks down the latter’s appreciation and fascination of the strong and beautiful Nuba figure as examples of Nazi ideology corresponding to the idea of aesthetics for fascists. Sontag writes, â€Å"Riefenstahl’s portrait of them evokes some of the larger themes of Nazi ideology: the contrast between the clean and the impure, the incorruptible and the defiled, the physical and the mental, the joyful and the critical (par. 27).† This description is echoed in Mishima’s Patriotism, when the lead character Takeyama decides to commit seppuku—ritual suicide by disembowelment—as an act of redemption from the dishonor incurred when his comrades formed alliances with the mutineers.   Mishima’s imagery of Takeyama and his wife Reiko’s preparations for the ritual, as well as the metaphors he uses in describing the couple’s physical forms conveys a fascination for perfection and beauty a la Riefenstahl—remarkable symbols of fascist iconography, as Sontag would consider. In its own effect, Takeyama, Reiko and the Nuba become examples of the â€Å"master race†, where everyone is beautiful, strong, and does not age (Trimborn & McCown 256). Mishima and Riefenstahl’s works are also parallel in such that their depictions of death are detailed, beautiful and almost enthralling.     In Patriotism, death in is portrayed as a reward, a happy and celebrated ceremony that requires the utmost preparation. In the Nuba culture, death is a central event, along with fighting. In the Japanese culture, as evidenced by Mishima’s paramount detail in describing Takeyama’s death, death is a way for one to demonstrate his or her enduring loyalty and nationalism to the Imperial system. Death in both Mishima and Riefenstahl’s works surpass life’s merriest events—birth, marriage, love—at times besting even life itself. Mishima writes, â€Å"All around, vastly and untidily, stretched the country for which he grieved. He was to give his life for it. But would that great country, which he was prepared to remonstrate to the extent of destroying himself take the slightest heed of his death? He did not know; and not matter (par. 63).† Takeyama’s examination of self not only mirrors the authors suggestions of his own death wish, it also echoes the sentiments of those under the spell of a fascist ideology—their so-called patriotism—that converts their idea of nationhood as something not only territorial, but equally and incredibly spiritual. The young lieutenant and his bride chose their own death by seppuku, which may be seen as either an honorable and extremely devout approach, or as a self-destructive and deadly consequence of their fanaticism. Mishima unintentionally diverts the reader’s attention from this concept with his alluring illustrations of fascist ideals and concepts, again reminiscent of Riefenstahl’s imagery in her Nazi films. Sontag would consider it an absolute expression of fascist art, in the sense that it â€Å"glorifies surrender, exalts mindlessness, and glamorizes death (par. 36).† Above everything, Mishima verifies in his work and own life the burden that comes with the duty to abide by cultural tradition—duty can be all in one beautiful or ugly, life or death. Works Cited Evans, Mark. Movement Training for the Modern Actor. London, UK: Taylor and Francis,   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   2008. Mishima, Yushio. â€Å"Patriotism.† Trans. Geoffrey W. Sargent. Mutantfrog Travelogue. 27   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   June 2009. Sontag, Susan. â€Å"Fascinating Fascism. â€Å" University of California Santa Barbara. 27 June 2009.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   Trimborn, Jurgen & McCown, Edna. Leni Riefenstahl: A Life. New York: MacMillan, 2007.

Thursday, November 7, 2019

ABORTIONS essays

ABORTIONS essays What would you do if you were a 15 year old girl who got pregnant? Would you keep the baby or would you have an abortion? These are all questions that go through most girls minds, pregnant or not. Abortion is killing a human, even though it isn't born, and it should be illegal in the United States. Even though it is a fetus, it is still living. It has every right to live. People say that just because it isn't born it doesn't matter, when really it does. The fetus is still alive and growing. If you kill it, then you sex willingly then you know you have a chance of getting pregnant. There is no way of preventing pregnancy 100%. The only way is to hold off on sex. So if you are scared of getting pregnant and not wanting the baby then don't have sex. You have a responsibility. If you take the responsibility of having sex and you get pregnant then you have the responsibility of raising your child. If you can't hold off on sex and you get pregnant then you have to live with your mistakes, and there shouldn't be any way out of it. Ok what if your mother had decided to have an abortion, then you wouldnt be here either. Abortion is wrong and it should be considered a crime. I know that it is wrong to but you or a baby in that situation that you cant handle but like I said if you are going to have sex at any age you should expect the unexpected. Girls have babies all the time even if they are not prepared physically , mentally or finically. There are a lot of way to get help, there is family, government, ect. So if you are thinking about abortion, explore you options first, see what you can do before you have to kill your baby ...

Tuesday, November 5, 2019

Fascinating Stories About the Greek God Cronos

Fascinating Stories About the Greek God Cronos The Greek deities Cronos and his wife, Rhea, ruled the world during mankinds Golden Age.   Cronos (also spelled Kronos or Kronus) was the youngest of the first-generation Titans. More significantly, he sired the gods and goddesses of Mount Olympus. The first-generation Titans were children of Mother Earth and Father Sky. Earth was known as Gaia and Sky as Ouranos or Uranus. The Titans werent the only children of Gaia and Ouranos. There were also the 100-handers (the Hecatoncheires) and the Cyclops. Ouranos imprisoned these creatures, who were Cronos brothers, in the underworld, specifically in the place of torment known as Tartarus (Tartaros). Cronos Rises to Power Gaia was not happy that so many of her children had been locked up in Tartaros, so she asked the 12 Titans for a volunteer to help her out. Only Cronos was brave enough. Gaia gave him an adamantine sickle with which to castrate his father. Cronos obliged. Once castrated, Ouranos was no longer fit to rule, so the Titans awarded ruling power to Cronos, who then freed his siblings the Hecatoncheires and the Cyclops. But soon he re-imprisoned them. Cronos and Rhea The Titan brothers and sisters married one another. The two humanoid Titans, Rhea and Cronos, married, producing the gods and goddesses of Mt. Olympus. Cronos was told that he would be deposed by his son, just as he had deposed his father. Cronos, determined to prevent this, used extreme preventive measures. He devoured the children to whom Rhea gave birth. When Zeus was about to be born, Rhea gave her husband a stone wrapped in swaddling to swallow instead. Rhea, clearly about to give birth, raced to Crete before her husband could tell she had deceived him. She raised Zeus there safely. As with most myths, there are variations. One has Gaia giving Cronos a horse to swallow in place of the sea and horse god Poseidon, so Poseidon, like Zeus, was able to grow up safely. Cronos Dethroned Somehow Cronos was induced to take an emetic (exactly how is debated), after which he vomited out the children he had swallowed. The regurgitated gods and goddesses got together with the gods who hadnt been swallowed- like Zeus- to fight the Titans. The battle between the gods and Titans was called the Titanomachy. It lasted a long time, with neither side having an advantage until Zeus re-freed his uncles, the Hecatoncheires and  the Cyclopes, from Tartarus. When Zeus and company won, he shackled and imprisoned the Titans in Tartarus. Zeus released Cronos from Tartarus to make him the ruler of the underworld area called the Islands of the Blest. Cronos and the Golden Age Before Zeus came to power, mankind had lived blissfully in the Golden Age under Cronos rule. There was no pain, death, disease, hunger, or any other evil. Mankind was happy and children were born autochthonously, meaning they were actually born out of the soil. When Zeus came to power, he put an end to mankinds happiness. Cronos Attributes Despite his being fooled by the stone in swaddling clothes, Cronos is regularly described as wily, like Odysseus. Cronos is associated with agriculture in Greek mythology and honored at a harvest festival. He is described as having a wide beard. Cronos and Saturn The Romans had an agricultural god named Saturn, who was in many ways the same as the Greek god Cronos. Saturn married Ops, who is associated with the Greek goddess (Titan) Rhea. Ops was the patroness of wealth. The festival known as the Saturnalia honors Saturn.

Sunday, November 3, 2019

Local ecology and environment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Local ecology and environment - Essay Example The special factor that distinguishes my local ecology from environment is that in former living organism are depended on each other while elements in environment survive on its own. Moreover local ecology is completely natural while environment consist of both natural and unnatural elements. My local ecological system is consistently hampered by the unwanted encroachment of human beings. The pond beyond me is getting cleared which can cease the existence of various tiny living organism, insects, fishes and birds. Apart from this, if the monkeys visit the back yard for food they are scared off by humans in one way or another. I can feel that the local ecology is highly getting disturbed and diminished by the interference of human activities. Previous days I was witnessing how the construction of a house is becoming an obstacle for the life of living organisms in the nearby water body. Global warming is another frightening issue the local ecology has to face in the coming days. I can feel the temperature of the atmosphere is rising high and this causing hindrance to the survival of birds and animals in the locality .I can envision that the, balance of the local ecology is in tantrums and each living being including man is struggling to live in a pollution free environment . It is rainy season in my hometown and the rain is arriving later than ever. This has led to drought in some region and the water body behind my house is also drying up. Apart from fish, the water body is also a reservoir of drinking water for monkeys and other tiny creatures. When I compare the global warming effect on other local ecosystem and mine I see that my surrounding is less affected by it. My surrounding environment and local ecological system still depicts a less polluted arena. The main pollution in the environment is the residue left by the vehicle which runs along the road