Self-Portrait Essay

Self-Portrait Essay My understanding of the society I live in changes from day to day. When Obama was elected, I had great hopes for this country and that racial equality would finally balance out and that old prejudices would disappear Black people would get better jobs, everyone would be equal, and the Democrats would take care of us and see to it that my parents and their parents get a fair deal here in America. I had unrealistic expectations, like most young people. I did not realize that the economy would go down so quickly. But I have the encouragement of my family and church, to forge ahead and attain my goals. We are native Suirnamese people, South American, and my descendants are Indian. My parents brought me to America when I was four years old. I am nineteen years of age. Since I am fully Americanized and have grown up in America, I have never experienced immigrant prejudice; my skin is light and I have no accent. I would have to label myself in the American society as a young female adult. I see myself in society as a young female trying to keep up with other females who are judged on their ability to look good, wear the right hair styles that are contemporary, display stylish accessories and clothing on a daily basis, and keep the figure because fat people are discriminated against, openly, no matter what age they are. This society is health conscious, weight conscious, clothes conscious, designed brand conscious, body pamper conscious, sex conscious, and materialistic. I see myself as having to keep up with other females my age; if not, I am excluded from social events and activities that enjoy prominence in my community. If I dont have the right clothes for church benefits and extra-curricular activities in my social network, I am not accepted into the group and it is a zero tolerance situation as far as young females are concerned. With regard to what is expected of me by other females, and how I see my own self-image, it is easier to go along with my peers and sta y competitive with them, then it is to drop out of the social network, become an outsider and not be accepted by my age group. In order to stay popular, well-liked and trusted by my peers, I have to maintain the correct appearance so that I remain status quo with the other young female adults who aspire to become educated, successful and financially secure. Theres no way to deny the importance of high beauty standards in this country, today. One cannot turn away from billboards, television ads, magazine pages, newspaper clips, or even video games that perpetuate the slender, perfect body with perfect long fingernails glamorous hair and make-up and sexy clothes that are clingy and revealing. Theres no way to get away from the broadcasts about fat Americans and European dislike for fat Americans; and everywhere you turn, there is someone behind you that looks like Madonna or any one of thousands of perfect role models flashing in the media. They are cultural heroes and their femininity is no longer denied. I guess that in order to rule the world, a woman has to be a Barbie doll so that she will gain attention from men even if she doesnt have the brains to go with it. Perhaps that is the message that women and advertisers are communicating in the 21st century. Furthermore, since society is so set on stressing the importance of a thin bod y and a gorgeous face, it is not a surprise that eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia to overcome the female fear of becoming fat are on the rise today (Medias Effect on Girls, 2009, 1-4). They are what they consume, and it is killing them. Coming to America when I was four years old was a tremendous culture shock for my parents, but not for me. My mother never realized that female beauty could be so concentrated in exacted guidelines and standardized measurements as it is here in America. It is most puzzling how American women can subject themselves to such a biased standard of configuration. In my country of origin, Suriname, women are valued for their individuality and natural charm and beauty. We dont have a standard look of fashion beauty nor do we feel obligated or condemned to a life of copying what we see in magazines. Although we do have fads, as all countries do, our maturity lends to individual styles which are socially acceptable and respected. There is no need for false imaging to gain social acceptance. However, this was the country my parents, grandparents and descendants grew up in. Over the years as I was growing up, my parents realized that they had to furnish me with everything my classmates had; just to keep me from being bullied by classmates. Apparently, the influence of advertising in America is so persuasive that women cannot relate to themselves unless they emulate their stage stars and media stereotypes. Female appearance is central in America, and according to Dr. Smith, professor of Marketing at the University of Wisconsin, ads with female models are usually for appearance-related products, and by the time girls reach adolescence, they redefine their image and envision their futures (Advertising Images of Girls, 1997, 2). Thus, advertising and media supports send messages that could limit their aspirations, undermine their self worth and endanger their health. Example: body-pampering with soaps and shampoos that show lady (thin lady) in the shower, with long beautiful hair, perfect dimensions and perfect everything. Then she steps into a sexy little dress that she could not wear until she joined Jenny Craig and lost 25 pounds of unwanted weight. Now she is perfect, acceptable, and the dress she is wearing can be bou ght at a Wal-Mart and the thin body can be purchased at Jenny Craig Diet Center, and the shampoo and soap can be purchased from any local discount store. So the advertisers are happy, the actors are rich, and the female viewer is frowning because she cant wear the skinny little dress because she hasnt lost enough weight to fit into a size 5. The emphasis on female appearance tells American females that they are under pressure to be thin. On the other hand, this tells boys and men that women are supposed to be, above everything else, a pretty and perfect package and something to behold, but not necessarily to respect (Advertising Images of Girls, 1997, 2). All I can hope to accomplish as a young female adult is to fit in, get a good education and career, not rely on marriage to fulfill my identity, and keep a close affiliation with my church and community. Bibliography Advertising Images of Girls and Women. (Fall 1997). A Report from Children Now. 1-5 Available on http://www.childrennow.org/media/medianow/mnfall1997.html Medias Effect on Girls: Body Image and Gender Identity. (03 April 2009) 1-4. Available on http://www.medianfamily.org/facts/facts_mediaeffect.shtml

Much Ado About Nothing Notes

Much Ado About Nothing—Romantic Comedy * Much Ado about Nothing * Love and War; Love as War—starts with soldiers coming back from war and wanting love; love becomes a battlefield * Young Lovers: Claudio and Hero * â€Å"Not(h)ing† Messina: Confusions of Appearance and Reality * Love and War; Love as War * 1. 1: World waiting for the return of youth and love * Learn of soldiers even before they enter scene: * Youthful Claudio, ll. 12-16 Benedick (older man) introduced by Beatrice, ll. 28-9—he is being introduced by mockery; Beatrice makes the joke and marks her different from the other women in the play—she is loud, jokes about men, able to fight with words, witty, and Benedick is the same way * Beatrice and Benedick’s â€Å"merry war,† ll. 56-9 * Martial world replaced by â€Å"merry† one * What happens when skills necessary for success on the field of battle enter domestic world? * Romantic Couples * Potential Lovers: Claudio a nd Hero (make up the main plot, but some of the least interesting characters in the play—relatively quiet) * Beatrice and Benedick (subplot—more mature, more worldly, and they are much more talkative/interesting) * Claudio and Hero: * Claudio’s first line in play introduces interest in Hero, l. l. 154-70; â€Å"Note†: * To take notice of; to consider or study carefully; to pay attention to; to mark (OED 5. a) * To become aware of; to notice or perceive mentally; to be struck by (OED 5. b) * Claudio and Hero * Nature of Claudio’s love? ll. 278-289 Contrast between affections prior to and post military action * Hesitancy to use the word â€Å"love† * Don Pedro’s plan (ll. 300-312): * Disguise (Pedro says he will disguise as Claudio for the ball and approach Hero) * seduction as military action * World of the Play: Messina * Place of propriety and hospitality: * Disguise, deceit runs rampant through play * Inability to distinguish betwee n appearance and reality predominant feature of life in the world of play 1) â€Å"Not(h)ing† Messina: Confusion of Appearance and Reality 2) Educating Young Lovers: From Appearances to Faith ) Merry Warriors: Beatrice and Benedick * World of the Play: Messina * Gossip—Overhearing, mishearing, and eavesdropping—central to play * â€Å"Nothing† and â€Å"noting†: to take notice of; to consider or study carefully; to pay attention; to mark (OED 5. a) * Pedro’s plan to woo for Claudio sets off chain reaction of misapprehensions: * 1. 2: Antonio tells Leonato that Pedro plans to woo Hero for himself (when in reality, Claudio is trying to woo her) * 1. 3: Borachio overhears Pedro and Claudio discussing plan, tells Don John the Bastard (Don John gets the story right! * 2. 1: Wooing by proxy * Masquerade/Disguise (dance to welcome back the soldiers) * Deceiving Claudio: Don John and Borachio, ll. 155-63 (they pretend he is Benedick) * Claudioâ€⠄¢s soliloquy ll. 164-74 * Does not question what he has been told: â€Å"Tis certain so. † (The prince woos for himself) * Love as impediment to friendship * â€Å"Eye as lover (synecdoche: â€Å"A figure by which a more comprehensive term is used for a less comprehensive or vice versa; as whole for part or part for whole, genus for species or species for genus, etc. (OED)) * Goes simply by what he sees Valediction (or rejection) to Hero * Leonato (Hero’s father) gives Claudio Hero’s hand, ll. 285-299 * Couple silent, must be prompted to speak * Beatrice cues them to speak * Hero is silent: sense of youthful embarrassment or confusion * they are overwhelmed and ignorant * Educating Young Lovers: From Appearances to Faith * â€Å"False† Hero, Take Two: Don John’s spectacle of infidelity * Claudio’s problem with trust, 3. 2. 111-3 * Shame Hero publicly: In plain view of all * 4. 1: Broken Marriage Ceremony * Claudio returns bride to father ll. 29-41: The blush: sign of innocence or experience? * Innocence: â€Å"How could you say these things? † * Experience: â€Å"Busted! † * â€Å"[E]xterior shows† of virtue (39) * He takes it as guilt, not as innocence * He is completely wrong. She is innocent. * Claudio’s second valediction to Hero, ll. 99-107 * speaks to his youthfulness that he is so easily swayed by only outward appearances * Re-educating Claudio * 5. 1: Realization of mis-noting (He is wrong. Learns of Don John’s lies) * 5. 3: Mourning ceremony (spends night at tomb of Hero) * Agrees to marry Hero’s cousin without seeing or knowing her. Claudio publicly retracts slander ll. 3-10 * In death, shame transformed into fame (Hero has become a hero through death) * Night gives way to dawn (shifts from grieving to hope; cover of darkness or confusion to a wrapping up of the play) * 5. 4: Hero’s â€Å"Resurrection† * Scene re-works and reverses 2. 1 (masked ball): women’s identities concealed by masks * Ceremony corrects Claudio’s initial error, in which he identified and valued Hero by outward signs * Merry Warriors: Beatrice and Benedick * Beatrice: â€Å"I pray you, is Signor Montanto returned from the wars of no? (1. 1. 28-9) * Opening exchange between host and guests takes bawdy turn, ll. 90-106 * Joking suggests male suspicion of female sexual inconstancy * Doubting Women’s Constancy * â€Å"A woman’s gentle heart, but no acquainted / With shifting change, as is false women’s fashion† (Sonnet 20, 3-4) * Cuckold, ry: â€Å"A derisive name for the husband of an unfaithful wife† (OED 1) * Idea that deceived husband would grow horns which would reveal him to his community as a dupe of his wife and her lover * Fear of Being Cuckolded Horns (bovine rather than antlers) associated with visibility: make things seen * Cuckold is emasculated, not merely by having his place taken by another, but i n being rendered vulnerable to representation * Husband becomes spectacle of ignorance to all around him * Verbal Energy of Warring Words * Public protestations against love: * Benedick vows to live as bachelor 1. 1. 227-256 * Beatrice against falling in love 2. 1. 5-17, 40-60 * Shared sentiments (and wit) mark Beatrice and Benedick as suited for one another * Gender and Speech Claudio on match with Hero 1. 1. 278-80 * Marriage as alliance * Economic concerns bind women * Parental (patriarchal—seems like there are only dads in Shakespeare’s plays) desires seem to govern women’s speech * Gulling the Reluctant Lovers * to pass the time prior to the wedding of Hero and Claudio, Don Pedro Proposes another theatrical interlude (trick) 2. 1. 342-366 * Tricking couple involves making them a spectacle, a form of comedic entertainment without their awareness * Matching Beatrice and Benedick involves form of structural cuckolding * 2. : Men â€Å"Hunt† Benedick * T ricksters pretend to speak truth, while Benedick â€Å"notes† their conversation (so he can listen in on their conversation) * Men describe Beatrice’s suffering from unrequited love, ll. 87-119 * to gull: to make a gull of ; to dupe, cheat, befool, â€Å"take in:, deceive (v. 3, def. 1) * Leonato’s authority and Hero’s virtue convince Benedick of â€Å"truth† * Benedick transformed, ll. 210-33 * Enumeration of Beatrice’s virtues contrasts Claudio’s interest in appearance * Converted into lover: â€Å"for I will be horribly in love with her† (l. 23) * 3. 1: Women Snare Beatrice * Actresses follow Don Pedro’s script (? —are they actually following the script) * Silent Hero? ll. 34-36, 47-56, 60-70, 72-80 * Focus on Beatrice’s faults rather than Benedick’s virtues * Beatrice to temper her voice to Benedick’s wishes, ll. 107017) * New Alliances: Repudiation scene (4. 1) * All doubt Hero but witty lovers (Beatrice and Benedick) * Beatrice tests Benedick’s love, ll. 262-289 * â€Å"Kill Claudio† (288)

The Violation Of Fourth Amendment - 844 Words

In this case there are a few issues on appeal raised by Sitz. One of the issues was did the checkpoint violate the Fourth Amendment and did it forbid the balancing test. Another issue was that did it actually fail the effectiveness part of the Brown test. Furthermore, the issue of did the sobriety checkpoint which is permitted by the United States Constitution, violate the Michigan State Constitution (supreme.justia.com n.d). There was also issues of did the sobriety checkpoint have a very high or low arrest result or rates because there were questionable deterrent value. Therefore, the lack of this information brought forward question on does the sobriety checkpoints serve a purpose and do they really stop or just simply curb drunk driving. Although, there was the issue of the violation of Fourth Amendment, there was also an issue of did it also violate the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution as well because even though Michigan Constitution affords its citizens g reater rights than those provided by the federal constitution (supreme.justia.com n.d). The appellate court heard all of the issues dealing with this case and decided that there were in fact some violations of the Michigan Constitution and the Fourth Amendment. It was stated that the sobriety checkpoint violated the Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution as well as the Michigan Constitution because it offers the same protection as the federal constitution. They also foundShow MoreRelatedThe Violation Of The Fourth Amendment3158 Words   |  13 Pagesrun this country as well as secure protection rights of all citizens. Since then, there have been many incidents that question the violation of citizens’ rights under the Constitution, such as the violation of the fourth amendment which protects citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures especially in the school system and on college campuses. The fourth amendment states, â€Å"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects against unreasonable searches and seizu resRead MoreIs Government Surveillance a Violation of the Fourth Amendment1245 Words   |  5 Pages arguably, the key technology to preventing terrorist plots (Eijkman 1). Government surveillance is a rising global controversy; and, although minimal coverage could possibly result in safer communities, too much surveillance will result in the violation of citizen’s privacy. Undeniably, there is reasoning behind a watchful government. 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First Issue of concern: Warrantless GPS Devices a violation of the Fourth Amendment Summary of Facts Despite not obtaining a warrant or following instructions from the Sheriff to hold off, Officer Renegade placedRead MoreThe Fourth Amendment : Historical Conception, Key Elements, Legalities, And Violations1221 Words   |  5 PagesAbstract The Fourth Amendment has two basic premises. One focuses on the reasonableness of a search and seizure, and the other on warrants. One view is that the two are distinct, while another view is that the second helps explain the first. However, which interpretation is correct is unclear. In addition, law enforcement today differs sharply from the period in which the Constitution s framers lived. During that period, no organized police forces existed that were even remotely like those of todayRead Morevirginia v morre Essay1248 Words   |  5 Pagesdriving on a suspended license. This violation could have lead to chubbs serving a 1-year in jail and a $25,000 fine, according to Va Code Ann 18.2-11. The officers then searched the vehicle in which chubbs was driving. During the search of the vehicle the officers found 16 grams of crack cocaine and $516 in cash. The state law of Virginia states that the officers should have offered Moore a summons rather than arresting him. The statutes of the Fourth Amendment give the officers the right to searchRead MoreEssay about The Exclusionary Rule620 Words   |  3 Pagesenforceable remedies imposed on the government for violations of those rights. In 1914, the U.S. Supreme Court, in the landmark case of Weeks v. United States,2 introduced the exclusionary rule as a remedy for violations of the Fourth Amendment.3 The Weeks Court felt that the only effective way to enforce the Fourth Amendment right to be secure from unreasonable searches and seizures was to adopt a rule that evidence seized in violation of the Fourth Amendment could not be used by the government againstRead MoreThe Fourth Amendment Of The Constitution1107 Words   |  5 PagesThe Fourth Amendment of the Constitution was ratified in 1791 and is an important amendment in the Bill of Rights. The Fourth Amendment is â€Å"the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized† (Charles Wetterer). The issueRead MoreThe Transportation security Administration (TSA) is Violating the Fourth Amendment536 Words   |  3 Pages The Fourth Amendment is rather specific in its wording:    â€Å"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized† (www.law.cornell.edu).    The importance of this amendment is for all citizens to be able to protect their

Essay on Effects of Music on the Mind - 3499 Words

Effects Of Music On The Mind Are people typically geniuses? Statistically, people probably are not. In fact, most people probably arent even intellectually gifted at all. Most people are likely to be pretty much average, maybe a little bit above average, or a little below, but very average none the less. It is universally understood that people strive to learn to become wiser and more informed about the world around them. The more people learn, the more powerful they can become. It is the speed at which people learn that separates the geniuses from the average people and from the learning disabled. Geniuses dont run into problems while learning, because they learn very fast. It is everyone else that could really use help. One solid way†¦show more content†¦The term given to this type of reasoning and thought that goes into putting pieces of a puzzle together is called abstract reasoning. By teaching music, people exercise the same abstract reasoning skills that they use for doing math or some other exer cise in which the people have to visualize in their head. An eight month study was conducted by Frances H. Rauscher of the University of California at Irvine. In this study, nineteen preschoolers, ranging in age from three to five, received weekly keyboard and daily singing lessons while another fivteen preschoolers received no musical training at all (Bower 143). At the begining, middle and end of the study, the subjects were tested on five spatial reasoning tasks (143). After only four months, scores on the test to assemble a puzzle to form a picture improved dramatically for the group with the musical training, while the control group didnt, even though both groups started out with the same scores (143). It can be stated that this kind of improvement may not be substantial enough to alter the way people are fundamentally taught, but its results cannot be ignored. Rauscher explains, quot;Music instruction can improve a childs spatial intelligence for a long time, perhaps permanent lyquot; (qtd. in Bower 143). Implementing such changes and improvements into a young childs learning could have great effects on them in the future when dealing with the same spatial reasoning skills. With its resultingShow MoreRelatedEffects of Music on the Mind1350 Words   |  6 PagesEffects of Music on the Mind The study of how music affects the mind has been a subject of interest for many. The interconnection between music and the physical and mental health of human beings has been researched on since long. Research has concluded that music does have positive effects on our mind. It has the power of healing certain ailments. Indian classical music has been found to have the strongest healing powers. Music has a calming effect on the mind. It is known to speed the recoveryRead MoreThe Effects Of Music On The Body And Mind1684 Words   |  7 PagesThe Effect of Music on the Body and Mind â€Å"Without music, life would be a mistake.† -Friedrich Nietzsche Music has a bigger impact on the mind than what most people think. It can affect our personalities, emotions, and even the brain. Some people consider music to be just a form of entertainment, but it is considerably more than that. Music affects the brain in many ways. The personality of a person can be predicted by what song genre they choose to listen to. Different genres of music and theirRead MoreThe Effect Of Music On The Mind Of Life1035 Words   |  5 Pages The Effect of Music Music is the artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner through rhythm, melody, and harmony. To many people, music is a way of life. It has become a big factor in most cultures and in society. 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Currently, the use of music has been incorporatedRead MoreThe Fascination Effects Of Music On The Human Mind1941 Words   |  8 PagesThe Fascination Effects of Music on the Human Mind; Framing Intuition and Perception From ancient times, music has held great importance to cultures all over the world. Music remains one language that is ever evolving; it refuses to die away. From that day almost 40,000 years ago, one of the first musicians picked up a vulture’s bone and decided to make a flute out of it, till this day, music has held a power that no other language will ever hold. The importance of music has indeed waxed greaterRead MoreEffect of Different Music Genres on the Mind6676 Words   |  27 PagesIndividual Research Project FIRST-HAND INVESTIGATION BIOLOGY The Effect of Different Music Genres on the Human Mind: * Concentration * Spatial Reasoning * Short-Term Memory * Reaction Time Timothy Yee Joy TABLE OF CONTENTS Why I chose this topic ............................................................................3 Summary of Prior Research......................................................................4 Appendix of Research and Assessment of Reliability ........Read MoreEssay about Negative Effects of Music on the Mind1093 Words   |  5 PagesToday many people believe that violent music has aggressive and hostile reactions in children, because those who listen to aggressive music often act aggressively too. Brad Bushman, Professor of Psychology and Communication Studies at the University of Michigan, in his article Media violence and the American public in American Psychologist for 2001 says, that measuring such correlation (between agressive music and its consequences in real life) in laboratory studies would clearly be unethical,Read MoreThe Effects of Larry Browns Facing the Music on the Mind of the Reader741 Words   |  3 PagesFacing the Music by Larry Brown (1988) Larry Brown is a writer from Mississippi and his writings are more or less influenced by one the renowned writers William Faulkner. But in this paper we are not going to elaborate on the styles of narration, the comparison and contrast, of the two writers, but that we are going to analyze the idea behind Brown’s first literary achievement facing the Music (1988). This book is a collection of ten short stories. These ten short stories are nevertheless, shortRead MoreMusic: the Medicine of the Mind784 Words   |  4 PagesMusic can have effects on the human brain that are hard to exaggerate. For instance, a mere snippet of song can trigger one’s memories so vividly. A tune can induce emotions ranging from unabashed joy to deep sorrow and can drive listeners into states of patriotic fervour or religious frenzy--to say nothing of its legendary ability to soothe the savage beast. The study of how music affects the mind and the interconnection between music and the physical and mental health of human beings has been aRead MoreMusic : Music And Mindfulness951 Words   |  4 PagesMusic and Mindfulness Music is vitally important to humans, and has played a role in society since the beginning of time. From the way that the wind whistles, or birds chirp, to the many new different types of music that exist in modern society. Music has a great impact on people’s minds and can impact the way they interact with one another. Mindfulness can be characterized as the state or quality of being aware of your surroundings. Music can help bring about vast mood changes and help people express