Rhetoric Is The Medium Essays - Marshall McLuhan, Media Studies

Rhetoric Is The Medium Marshall McLuhan was a Canadian communications theorist and educator. He taught in Canada and the U.S. He gained fame in the 1960s with his proposal that the electric media had a greater influence on the people than the information itself. This man who examined the electronic media, and the emergence of a Global village, was also the man who spent most of his life studying the power of rhetoric in relation to those ideas. Herbert Marshall McLuhan was born on July 21, 1911. He is a figure in twentieth century history that has influenced the minds of many. His work included the idea of the world creating a global village where we are going back to our tribal senses, the ones that the printing press abridged us from. Marshall McLuhan's studies included his classifications of the media into hot and cool divisions, where the medium of communication has different type of interactions with its audience. He implied that the medium of communication had a negative effect on society, and said that we must be careful with the new technologies that the world has come up with. Our lives have came from tribal societies, and then transformed into societies where sight was more important than verbal abilities. We are, however, gradually going back tribal ideals with the invention of new media. McLuhan has defined existence into four eras. His first era, the Pre-Literate Tribal Society was a face-to-face (lecture 4/14) medium of communication. There was a greater balance of the senses, and because there was no phonetic alphabet, an emphasis was put on hearing and speech. This society required more local forms of communication, which were spontaneous and inconstant. This was because the medium of those forms of communication had nothing written down. There was no keeping a consistent form of interpretation if the medium was always changing. McLuhan believed this tribal state of life to be the normal human condition With the development of the phonetic alphabet and written down manuals, McLuhan developed a new stage for the world, the Manuscript era. According to McLuhan only a few had access to manuscripts, but more and more people were learning the alphabet, and the medium of communication was changing from ear to eye. As one sense gains supremacy, the other is de-emphasized. The development of the printing press lead the world into a new era. This era, The Gutenberg Galaxy was the time where the eye basically cut all the other senses off. McLuhan states, ?the Western world has become devoted to a visual orientation of reality. (Marchand 155.) Principles of rhetoric were de-emphasized in this era. Rhetoric relies on speech and hearing to get its point across. As those senses disappear, so does the value of rhetoric, and McLuhan was deeply concerned with this. McLuhan describes his concern in his, A McLuhan Mosaic, as an ?upheaval [that] generates great pain and identity loss, which can be ameliorated only through a conscious awareness of its dynamics. If we understand the revolutionary transformation caused by new media, we can anticipate and control them; but if we continue in our self-inducing subliminal trance, we will be their slaves. (Sanderson and Macdonald 1). McLuhan developed his Masters thesis about the study of rhetoric and was intrigued with the subject. Although the majority of his life was spent trying to convince the world of the changing media of society, he was also fascinated with this affect on rhetoric. The emergence of the Gutenberg Galaxy emphasized a group system because the printing press had untied the people, logic was a result of this. He says that because people now had the ability to read at leisure, and scanning lines of print affected thought processes. People don't actually read newspapers. They step into them every morning like a hot bath. (http://www.mcluhanmedia.com/index.html). McLuhan also believed that nations could not exist until this era. Print adapted a sense of uniformity and individualism. Individualism because books gave feelings of privacy and emotion that helped form a sense a self. Uniformity because nations could get ideas across to its citizens, print allowed everyone to have access to materials of world and national issues. The Electronic Era changed this world system completely. The actual message of idea

buy custom Archeology and the Public essay

buy custom Archeology and the Public essay The Meaning of the Past: The archeology and Identity Artifacts of the past often serve as a basis for the national emblems; such a circumstance sometimes leads to conflicts. The use of the name and symbol of golden casket by the officials of the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia caused tension between the Macedonians and Greeks. Ideology often interferes with the interpretation of the past: for instance, the Chinese government represents the cultural relics as a reflection of the class struggle. The Politics of Destruction In December 1992, Hindu extremists destroyed the Babri Masjid built in the 16th century AD in northern India. In March 2001 in Afghanistan, the Talibans ruined the tallest statues of Buddha in the world along with many objects in the National Museum in Kabul. Archeological Ethics There is a popular belief that human experience should be the subject of an archeological study. The opposite principle has led to the reburial of human remains without further study out of respect to the dead ancestors. Popular Archeology versus Pseudoarcheology The discovery of the Piltdown Man in the early 1990s and the publication of the book Atlantis, the Antediluvian World by Ignatius Donnelly in 1882 are examples of alternatve interpretation of the past. In 2000, the Japanese archeologist Shinichi Fujimura admitted having faked excavated artifacts at 42 sites. For the further thriving of archeology, the skillful popularization is required in the forms of exhibits, books, mass media and the Internet: for instance, Japan provides immediate presentation of the findings. Who Owns the Past? Greece demands the return of the marble sculptures from the Parthenon displayed in the British Museum. The museums from other states, such as Germany, France and the USA, received the petitions about returning the relics to the countries of their origin. Religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians and Chinese, Greeks, Etruscans and Romans prohibited the disturbance of the dead. The adoption of the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act in 1990 provided the legal grounds for protecting the artifacts from excavation. In 2002, the Army Corps of Engineers lost the legal battle and failed to hand the remains of Kennewick Man to the Native American Umatilla Tribe. The Australian Archeological Association decided to return over 800 skeleton remains and the burials from Kow Swamp to the Aborigines for reburial. The Responsibility of Collectors and Museums The Italian robber, Luigi Perticaraari, published his memoirs in 1986 and admitted having robbed 4,000 Etruscan tombs in 30 years. The Peruvian archeologist, Walter Alva, made a significant contribution to the rescue of the tombs of the Moche civilization, which were excavated in Northwest Peru in the late 1980s. In 1973, the Mimbres Foundation decided to purchase some surviving sites and conserve them in order to save them from looting. The Metropolitan Museum of Art exhibited the collection of Shelby White and Leon Levy of unknown origin in 1990. In 1994, the Getty Museum displayed the works of Barbara and Lawrence Fleischman that included illegally acquired antiquities. The Metropolitan Museum of Art had to return the antique masterpiece, the Euphronios Vase, to the Italian government due to the absence of information about its provenience. The United Kingdom Parliament declared dealing in the illegally excavated artifacts as a criminal offence by approving the Dealing in Cultural Objects (Offences) Act in 2003. In June 2003, the U. S. Court of Appeals convicted the antiquities dealer Frederick Shultz for selling the stolen Egyptian relics to the U. S. museums. Other cases of illicitly obtained artifacts include the Weary Heracles, the Sevso Treasure, the Getty Affair, the Salisbury Hoard, and the UCL Aramaic Incantation Bowls. Buy custom Archeology and the Public essay

Effects Of Violence And Disease On The Kenyan Economy Research Paper

Effects Of Violence And Disease On The Kenyan Economy - Research Paper Example There is the element of that aspect of ethnic violence that is due to numerous disputes over land and the distribution of power and wealth, stemming from disputes that first arose during the time of the colonial masters, and taking deeper root from the time of independence in 1963 moving forward. The Rift Valley and Nairobi slums have been targeted as the areas with the most profound violence in the country, even as violence is not isolated in that region, but spread over along ethnic lines. The Kikuyu tribe, making up about 20 percent of the population, and politically and economically influential, has had clashes with competing for ethnic groups such as the Luo, among the most prominent of which is the violence that erupted in 2008, tied to the elections. It is hard to quantify the economic impacts of such violence, and the number of casualties seems to pale in comparison to the dead in such places as Rwanda, but the consensus is that violence in some form or other has had some imp act on the development of the Kenyan economy through the years. The effects of disease and poor health on the economy, in particular, are dire, pervasive, and chronic, affecting longevity and workforce numbers and quality, and affecting the ability of the Kenyan economy to fund growth and other drivers of long-term economic wellness, such as education, and threatening to pull the country into a vicious cycle where the continued deterioration of the health of the Kenyan population translates to poorer and poorer economic outcomes.... face a growing list of persistent and chronic health crises that crippled the country's ability to adequately address all of these health problems and grow the economy. It is a chicken and egg affair. As more Kenyans meet with devastating health afflictions, such as tuberculosis malaria, and AIDS, the greater their burden on the nation's coffers, which in turn caused the country to suffer reversals versus its economic goals. Moreover, the impaired health and longevity of its citizens translated to a less capable workforce, which also had the effect of stunting overall economic growth. Indeed, at present, about half of the Kenyan population lives in poverty, while the longevity rates have gone down from a peak of 62 years in the late 1980's to just 53 years twenty years hence (Center for Strategic & International Studies). Data from UNICEF largely corroborate the steep plunge in expected longevity rates for the country, dropping to just 44 years according to UNICEF largely due to the outbreak and chronically high levels of the incidence of AIDS/HIV in the country (UNICEF). The numbers relating to the incidence of crippling diseases, including malaria, AIDS, other infectious illnesses, and tuberculosis, have remained at chronic high levels since that time. To add to this, recent trends are that the country is facing an epidemic of other chronic ailments, including heart disease, diabetes, and different kinds of cancers, further adding to the national burden, increasing the financial requirements to meet health care needs, and further stressing the national economy. The health care burden is huge relative to the capacity of the Kenyan national government's ability to meet it financially, and is the starting point of a vicious circle that threatens to keep the Kenyan

Paradise lost Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Paradise lost - Essay Example Knowledge is compared to food and needs no less (Milton, 1905, p. 45). Wisdom to folly, as nourishment to wind. The influence of wind by tossing or creating turbulence in mind is a metaphor used to direct state the mind. The use of virginity to illustrate originality and innocence is revealed in the several lines of the poem. The use of â€Å"her Virgin Fancies pouring forth more sweet (v 291-97). Though Eve is revealed as a Matron latter on, the original status calls her a virgin because she does not know evil and she is an innocent nature spirit. In modern language, literary use is occasional, with the main approach being on the use of metaphor. Several issues in the society are addressed by the use of metaphor such as pass away to illustrate death. The current literature books address almost all the literary devices that can be used to evaluate the different contemporary literature (Milton, 1905, p. 67). Compared to paradise lost, the current literature such as water for elephant employs the use of metaphor in defining the life of the young man Jacob Jankowski. The young man’s life is depicted clearly through the use of metaphor and the other stylistic devices such as irony (Gruen, 2011, p. 34). Suspense and metaphor use in the book illustrates the power of literary devices. The use of styles that facilitate the development of interest to read the book. The exposition of Jacobs’s depression illustrates the beauty of the story with continued use of illustrative language and the development of understanding of t he overall plot of the novel. The behavior of the characters is explained by use of metaphor and epic similes making modern literature similar to the traditional literature such as paradise lost. In response to the different plots, the use of literary device is changed, by the authors, to suit the style of writing. The novel Paradise Lost has employed the use of metaphor significantly, with the statements being used,

Crime Mapping and Crime Pattern in Modern Police Work Essay

Crime Mapping and Crime Pattern in Modern Police Work - Essay Example Therefore, the future f policing will continue to change however, as the future f policing changes so does the issues which can arise for individual police officers, police management and issues relating to the community. Terrorism is the issue on everyone's mind these days. Terrorism is a global disorder which American's have been fighting, and probably will be fighting for many years to come. Terrorism can be hard to define because throughout history the definition people use to define terrorism has changed as terrorism has changed. One may think terrorism has come to an end however, just when terrorism stop's being a focal point terrorism will return. Terrorism is something most people are going to be combating for many years to come. As soon as people feel the chances f a terrorist attack are over most people become comfortable and let down on terrorist defence. Americans have been lucky with few terrorist attacks on U.S. soil. However, other countries such as Iraq have not been so fortunate. Therefore, Americans should feel a sense f freedom and pride in knowing terrorism has not been a continuous problem for the United States. Future policing rely mainly on the type f society being policed-the social, economic and political realities and in more-developed countries, the technological sophistication f the populace.(Stephens, 2005) The key to policing in the future is to be able to work with the communities hand in hand. As an individual police officer, it would benefit the officer and the department as a whole if neighbourhoods and businesses would join in the efforts to monitor their communities. What is an individual police officer's role in the future f policing and terrorism The job f a police officer is complex along with demanding and dangerous. Police officer's may handle situations ranging from a routine traffic stop to a pursuit where an individual is armed and dangerous, a police officer relies on current technology and equipment which is an essential tool f his or her trade. In the twentieth century the advancement f technology proved to be effective in both control and perpetration f crime due to the rapid acceleration. Police officers are provided with technology that is constantly being defended by the offensive creations and implementations by the criminal element in society. To protect the communities every body is going to have to participate in keeping our homeland safe. There are several advances in today's technology, which likely will cause issues that causes an affect with policing. Technology is also going to be a key factor in policing against terrorism. With the internet reaching across the globe and a person's ability to access almost any information, the internet may be deemed as one f the biggest threats in aiding terrorism. Police officers are going to have to receive precise training to be able to keep up with the terrorists Police management is an essential part f a well-working counter- terrorism strategy. In the future terrorist attacks could tear the United States apart. Good police management is one way to ensure terrorist attacks will not escalate out f control. If a police department is not well-managed and prepared for a terrorist attack the police could lose control f

Information And Communication Technology On Democracy Media Essay

Information And Communication Technology On Democracy Media Essay The development of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has changed the world. The centrality of information in our society has resulted in many declaring that we have entered into a new stage of human existence, often referred to as the Information Age. The easy access to ICT provides new opportunities for individuals and non-institutionalized organizations to unite and coordinate in order to publish their message across international boundaries. There have been movements that have adopted ICT as a tool of democracy but the real question is whether or not ICT can function as a tool in assisting democratic movements and political parties to raise national or international awareness of their cause. E-democracy and electronic government can drastically alter the relationship between government and citizens and the way they communicate (Darin, 2005). Furthermore, ICT-usage could be developed significantly as a tool for publicizing information. Democratic movements have much to gain in adopting better media skills and a greater understanding of the dynamics of the contemporary media system and the internet. The Information Ages altered media sphere can entail new and positive opportunities for political groups and grass roots movements if they learn to master the information technology media logic. Technology has produced an altered definition of democracy. The concepts we know are based on the citizens rights and the competition of power but that definition has drastically changed. For instance, Benjamin R. Barber notes that digital technology is well-suited to enhancing democracy (Benjamin, 1998) therefore democracy itself needs to be given a new definition to adapt to how technology is influencing the term. On one hand, e-democracy is the use of technical tools particularly the Internet to allow citizens access to information; to take part in petitions, consultations, deliberation, referenda and elections; and communicate with each other to form e-communities and movements, and take part in e-campaigning and e-activism (Edemocracy, 2008). On the other hand, democracy is a political system that protects the people, a system that allows the replacement of political leaders, one that promotes the active participation of citizens in their countries political affairs. With the Information Age new ways of doing things have emerged; now there is digital democracy, E-government and E-governance concepts, all of which are dramatically changing the political environment. Power too has been impacted as a consequence of ICT. Political power is no longer in the hands of two or three but grass roots movements have become involved in politics creating a more balanced and more evenly distributed political power system. The interest in using technology to develop an electronic type of democratic system is more North American in origin than any from any other part. Declining rates of political participation in North America has called for the introduction of new innovative ways of getting citizens to participate in politics electronically. As a consequence of the origin of electronic democracy any future world electronic political advancement will depend on the North American political culture. Europe and other developing nations such as Chile are also implementing the electronic democratic system which will balance any Americanization that might have suffered world politics. ICT gives political parties better ways to target and reach voters. Website has been used as a tool giving parties the ability to become their own news reporters (Stephen, 12) and better inform their target audience. President Barack Obamas previous campaign is a symbol that using the media and internet can yield great results to a political candidate. The internet for instance, has been used for fundraising, as a social medium for reaching voters and as a way to promote their political ideologies targeting specific segments of the population. Technology makes democracy more accessible and has eased the process of participating in ones government. For example, in developed and developing countries the internet is everywhere (Andrew and Christopher, 271). Every department has its own website and the same is true for political parties. Moreover, social media channels such as Facebook, Youtube and Myspace has allowed the government and parties to interact with citizens and voters in a way never seen before. Therefore information technology makes democracy more affordable and accessible for anyone, regardless of income or social status and further allows government and parties to use technology as a tool of democracy. Access is perhaps the most notable impact that ICT has had on democracy. Having the ability to say what we think when we want has increased political participation in the last few years, at least electronically. For example, on Youtube there are countless videos of grass roots, individuals and non-governmental organizations talking and protesting about certain issues; without technology that would never have been possible. Moreover, as a consequence of technologys involvement in political affairs new political culture and ideologies will emerge which may further complicate the association between democracy and ICT. To conclude, this essay has highlighted some of the ways in which technology is creating positive impacts to democracy, be it through fundraising or its social media usage to reach targeted segments of the society. It has also given a definition of democracy and of e-democracy and finally, it shows how ICT makes it easier for one to voice ones opinions and participate in governance affairs which is the main principle on which democracy is based. Therefore, ICT does have a positive impact on all individuals, political parties, non-governmental institutions and grass roots movements if they learn how to use the new media and information technology to be more effective and proactive.

Impact of Pulp Magazines on American Culture Essay -- Expository Essay

Impact of Pulp Magazines on American Culture â€Å"The story is worth more than the paper it is printed on.† Frank Munsey’s words symbolized the history of the pulp magazine. Frank Munsey started the pulp magazine craze with his first magazine, the Argosy, in 1896. The Argosy was a revamping of his children’s magazine, the Golden Argosy, shifting its focus from children to adults. The Argosy offered large amounts of fiction for a low price, because these stories would be printed on cheap pulpwood scraps, thus gaining the name ‘pulp magazine’. The pulp magazine has been a part of American history for well over a hundred years. During the late 1890’s, there was a period of high immigration. These immigrants and other working poor had no source of inexpensive literature, and this led to the development of the pulp magazine. Pulp magazines held a collection of stories in every issue, serialized so that in the following issue the next chapter of the story would appear. Since the first pulp ma gazine’s success, the Argosy, other magazines spawned, such as All-Story and Weird Story, and sinc...

Biography of Kate Chopin Essay

Kate Chopin was an American author of short stories and novels. Considered as one of the earliest feminist authors of the 20th century, she was one of the most-celebrated female writers of her time. She wrote several short stories including The Story of an Hour (1894), Euphrase (1850), Mrs. Mobry’s Reason (1891), A Shameful Affair (1893), and many others. Her literature usually described her own life, reflecting the time she lived in and the life she led. When readers look into her literature, they do not only read what is on the text but also try to understand the context. When you look through her fiction, you might notice that the contexts include the life of the author, the time it was written and the social condition during the time it was set, among others. One of her short stories, The Story of an Hour, depicts a woman’s reactions to the news of her husband’s death, upon reading which I found connections between her life and the life of the main character of the short story. Background and early life After Kate Chopin’s father was killed in a train accident, she moved into a household of women in St. Louis. As a girl she was mentored mainly by women – her mother, her grandmother, and her great grandmother. She also had deep bonds with her family members, the sisters who taught her at school, and with her life-long friend Kitty Garasche. A lot of the fiction Kate wrote was hugely influenced by the women she grew up with, especially regarding her views about feminism, and women. In 1870, at the age of 20, she settled in New Orleans. Oscar, her husband, bought a general store in Cloutierville, but in 1882 he died of malaria and left Kate with $12,000 in debt (approximately $229,360 in 2005 dollars). Kate Chopin was widowed at 32. She attempted to run the plantation and store alone but with no success. Two years later, she sold her Louisiana business. Her mother wanted her to move back to St. Louis. The following year, her mother died. After the loss of both her husband and the mother, Kate Chopin found herself drifting into the realms of depression. Her doctor felt that writing would be a good way for her to heal this developing depression. Her doctor understood that writing could serve as a focus for her energy as well as a source of income. She thus indulged herself and became successful, and found many of her work getting published. However, some of her writings were far too ahead of their times and she faced lack of acceptance for almost 12 years. Literary works with examples Kate Chopin commented on the importance of describing â€Å"human existence in its subtle, complex, true meaning, stripped of the veil with which ethical and conventional standards have draped it† (1894). An interview on the PBS website for Kate Chopin says, â€Å"I think she was much more interested in the excitement, the civilization that came in her circle of intellectual friends. That was freedom, the freedom to explore ideas† (PBS, 1999). Kate was neither a feminist nor a suffragist, she said so. She was nonetheless a woman who took women extremely seriously. She never doubted the woman’s ability to be strong. She came from a long line of strong women whom she loved and respected, owing to the affiliation with her great-grandmother, grandmother, and mother. She had strong intellectual women friends. Her lack of interest in feminism and suffrage did not have anything to do with a lack of confidence in women, nor did it have a lot to do with a lack of desire for freedom. She simply had a different understanding of freedom. She saw freedom as much more a matter of spirit, soul, and character than anything else, of living your life within the constraints that the world makes [or] your God offers you, because all of us do live within constraints. There is no indication that â€Å"she regretted her marriage, or regretted being a mother† (PBS, 1999). Early 1970s was the period thriving with women’s rights movements, and Kate Chopin was one leading contributor to the said phenomenon. She contributed a lot through her writings about women, daytime dramas, the feminine mystique, women’s liberation, Mars vs. Venus, self-help and commentary on open marriages. You can see how Kate Chopin’s life event (train accident, A Widow, and Freedom for Women) influenced her fictions through The Story of an Hour. One of the main events in the story is a man’s loss, namely Mrs. Mallard’s husband. Josephine, Mrs. Mallard’s sister, brought the sad message that there was a railroad disaster and of those listed as killed included Brently Mallard, who was Mrs. Mallard’s husband. In Kate’s life, there had been a similar loss. That someone was her father who passed away in a railroad accident in 1855. Furthermore, Mrs. Mallard is in due course assumed to be a widow, but readers will soon find out that Mr. Mallard is alive. In Kate’s life, her father had widowed her mother. Both had experienced what it’s like to be a widow but of course, the response to the loss may entirely be different. In the end, before she learnt of Brently’s return from the accident, Louise died of heart disease – of joy that kills. This could suggest that she had a moment of monstrous joy, which consumed her and overwhelmed her to death. Perhaps Chopin would just let Louise die instead of seeing Brently again, causing her to remain imprisoned and be confined to her husband’s hands. Lastly, in The Story of An Hour, Chopin made no suggestion to the readers that Mrs. Mallard was sorry for her husband’s loss. Instead, she uttered under her breath, â€Å"free, free, and free! † which suggests how happy Mrs. Mallard was to have lost her husband, because she now has freedom of herself. The joy she feels after regaining her freedom is something which consumes her. In Kate’s life, a lot of her work mentioned the rise in the rights of women. She experienced a period where there was a decline in those rights and women were deprived of public needs like education, the right to vote, the right to property and their children. Those events drove her to write the kind of feminist text she did instead of dedicating herself to other themes. As observed, literature can bring us to the world of the author. Literary works reflect the time, state of mind, and the life of the author. By understanding the connection between Kate Chopin and Mrs. Mallard in the short story, The Story of an Hour, it can be confirmed that the novel portrayed a reference to Kate Chopin’s life since most of the events (train accident, A Widow, and Freedom for Women) in Louise’s life are similar to, or at least greatly influenced by her own. References Chopin, K. (1894). One Story. PBS (Director). (1999). Kate Chopin: A Re-Awakening [Motion Picture].

Act 2 of Reasons to Be Pretty

Act 2 of Reasons to Be Pretty Reasons to Be Pretty is a hard-edged comedy written by Neil LaBute. It is the third and final installment of a trilogy. The trio of plays (which also include The Shape of Things and Fat Pig) are connected not by characters or plot but by the recurring theme of body image within American society. Reasons to Be Pretty premiered on Broadway in 2008. It was nominated for three Tony Awards (Best Play, Best Leading Actress, and Best Leading Actor). The following is a summary and analysis of the events in Act Two. Read the synopsis and character outline of Act One. Scene One - After the Break Up Act Two of Reasons to Be Pretty begins in the lobby of a restaurant. Steph and Greg unexpectedly encounter each other. Steph is on a date, and the former couple awkwardly make small talk, attempting to be pleasant. The conversation segues to nostalgia for their good times together, which then transitions into the familiar argument about body image and their break up. She smacks him, then just as suddenly tries to apologize. However, Greg has had enough. He tells her that her date will eventually hurt her feelings too, and that he wont be there to help her. Somehow, they cool down and wish each other well on their lives without one another. Scene Two Carly visits Greg (who is yet again reading some classic literature). He comments that has not seen Kent lately. After trying to flatter him, Carly then wants to ask him an important question about Kent. Before the question, Carly reveals that she is three months pregnant. She suspects that Kent is cheating on her. At first, Greg contends that he does not believe that Kent is unfaithful. Carly continues to pressure him, asking Greg to look her in the eye and say he doesnt know anything. She asks if Greg was out with Kent and girls, but Greg lies and says that it was just guys from work. This relieves Carly for the time being. She tells him: I dont know why God made it so hard for us to trust you guys but he did, and it sucks. Scene Three Greg and Kent prepare for work-related softball game. Kent says that he expects Carly to hit the gym the day after the baby is born. He thanks Greg for covering up his affair, and begins to recount his recent sexual exploits with Crystal, the hot girl from the office. Greg tries to explain that he no longer lie about Kents affair. This irks Kent, who feels that Greg is being judgmental. He repeatedly calls Greg a pussy. Greg tries to get the upper hand, hinting that he might tell Carly the truth, but Kent believes that he is bluffing. He claims that Greg would never tell because he is afraid of people disliking him. Kent bullies him, wrestles him to the ground, and then calls his ex-girlfriend ugly. Greg finally stands up to Kent, not just because he is obnoxious, not just because he is an adulterer, and not just because of his comments about Steph. Before he beats Kent up, Greg explains that he is doing it Because you need it, okay? For who you are and what you have done, and for all the sh*t you will no doubt perpetrate for the rest of your life. After over-powering his ex-friend, Greg leaves Kent, who fumes in rage. Scene Four Carly and Greg are hanging out in the break room. She chats about her pregnancy. In hopes of showing Carly the truth about her husband, Greg strongly suggests that she takes the evening off and go home to her husband. She follows his advice. Although we never see the confrontation between Carly and Kent, it is implied that Carly will discover the truth about her husbands affair, and will move onto a new chapter in her life. Immediately after Carly leaves, Stephanie stops by to share the news: she is engaged to be married. Steph has become a manager at her hair salon. Greg has plans to go to college, realizing that he doesnt want to work at a warehouse for the rest of his life. Steph admits that she cannot stop thinking about Greg, yet at the same time believes that she will be much happier with her soon-to-be husband. Greg apologizes and is very understanding. He emphasizes that she has a pretty face, making her feel better. He also admits that he is simply drifting, and that their four years together may never have turned into marriage. She leaves, but not before kissing him good bye one last time. Although they do not rekindle the relationship, the characters in Reasons to Be Pretty represent a rather optimistic view on relationships and young, middle class Americans. In comparison to the protagonist in Fat Pig, Greg exhibits both courage and selflessness by the end of the play.

Free Essays on Homelessness Cause And Effect

Homelessness has taken a toll in many peoples lives in this world. Whether you’re a child or an adult you may experience these gruesome situations. Homelessness is having no home or haven or people without homes considered as a group (Webster 1). Homelessness is no permanent address. There are many causes to homelessness, some extremely sad, others just being selfish then ending up in awful situations which are serious problems. Such things as a missed paycheck, a health crisis, or an unpaid bill push the poor over the edge into homelessness. Homeless population is diverse. Here is a breakdown of homelessness 25%-40% is work, 37% are families with children, 25% are children, 25%-30% are mentally disabled, 30% are veterans and 40% are drug or alcohol dependent. These homeless people live in abandoned buildings, areas under bridges, bus stations, cheap hotels, emergency shelters, subways, and the streets. There are 100 million people homeless worldwide. Some people start on the street and are stranded for a short time. Others are permanently out there for the rest of their life. Sometimes people that go out on the street do get homes but end up back on the street. They say homelessness persists because the growing economy and low unemployment. These reasons include stagnant or falling incomes and less secure jobs which offer fewer benefits. Over the past fifteen to twenty years’ homelessness has risen largely. The reasons for the rise are a growing shortage of affordable rental housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty. Poor people are often unable to pay for housing, food, childcare, and education. Many people have to make difficult choices when they have limited resources and have to cover some necessities. The first thing they choose is housing which absorbs a high proportion of income, which must be dropped. Being poor is the next step of an illness, an accident, or a paycheck away from living on ... Free Essays on Homelessness Cause And Effect Free Essays on Homelessness Cause And Effect Homelessness has taken a toll in many peoples lives in this world. Whether you’re a child or an adult you may experience these gruesome situations. Homelessness is having no home or haven or people without homes considered as a group (Webster 1). Homelessness is no permanent address. There are many causes to homelessness, some extremely sad, others just being selfish then ending up in awful situations which are serious problems. Such things as a missed paycheck, a health crisis, or an unpaid bill push the poor over the edge into homelessness. Homeless population is diverse. Here is a breakdown of homelessness 25%-40% is work, 37% are families with children, 25% are children, 25%-30% are mentally disabled, 30% are veterans and 40% are drug or alcohol dependent. These homeless people live in abandoned buildings, areas under bridges, bus stations, cheap hotels, emergency shelters, subways, and the streets. There are 100 million people homeless worldwide. Some people start on the street and are stranded for a short time. Others are permanently out there for the rest of their life. Sometimes people that go out on the street do get homes but end up back on the street. They say homelessness persists because the growing economy and low unemployment. These reasons include stagnant or falling incomes and less secure jobs which offer fewer benefits. Over the past fifteen to twenty years’ homelessness has risen largely. The reasons for the rise are a growing shortage of affordable rental housing and a simultaneous increase in poverty. Poor people are often unable to pay for housing, food, childcare, and education. Many people have to make difficult choices when they have limited resources and have to cover some necessities. The first thing they choose is housing which absorbs a high proportion of income, which must be dropped. Being poor is the next step of an illness, an accident, or a paycheck away from living on ...

The Life Of Frederick Douglas Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

The Life Of Frederick Douglas - Essay Example It was only when he got to be about six or seven that he was brought onto the plantation to work. Even though it was rumored that Douglass had a white father, perhaps even his master, he was treated as a slave since the moment of his birth. He was separated from his mother, Harriet Bailey, before he was a year old. This custom, as Douglass explains, was derived from the notion that â€Å"to hinder the development of the child’s affection towards its mother, and to blunt and destroy the natural affection of the mother for the child† (Douglass 17). He felt no loss when he was told his Mother had died. The only family he was close to was his Grandmother, until he was brought to the plantation. It was here, during the moment of their separation, that Douglass discovered he was a ‘slave’, and what it meant to be a slave. Similarly, Harriett Jacobs did not know she was a slave until roughly the age of six, upon her Mother’s death. â€Å"I was so fondly shielded that I never dreamed I was a piece of merchandise† (Jacobs 7). Jacobs’ knowledge of the cruel treatment of slaves came when she was twelve years old, after her kind mistress passed away and Jacobs was handed over to her mistress’ sister and family. Unlike Douglass, Jacobs’ family was kept together during her childhood. She lived in a cabin with her parents and younger brother, Willie. Her Father was a carpenter, and he was able to earn these allowances by working as such and turning part of his earnings over to his mistress (Jacobs 7). Where Jacobs had been treated as family, Douglass was made certain that he was nothing more than a slave. Children on Captain Anthony’s plantation would eat out of a trough, like pigs. There were no beds or blankets provided to the slaves, and â€Å"children from seven to ten years old, of both sexes, almost naked, might be seen at all seasons of the year† (Douglass 22). Where Jacobs was proud

Major Assignment 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Major Assignment 1 - Essay Example Yes, â€Å"if you fail to tip the person getting you that coffee, you may be directing and even substantially affecting that persons income (Lewis),† but the state sets a minimum wage requirement that the employer must adhere by. If tips and wages do not meet the minimum wage requirement, then the employer must compensate the employee for the difference. Yes, â€Å"they know that if someone shoots up his school, he will become a celebrity (Ellis),† but they also know that jail time will be in their future. Usually a school shoot up has nothing to do with fame but is a psychological reaction to bulling inside or outside the school or home. Yes, â€Å"61 percent of the programs examined last year contained some violence (Ellis),† but television program does not put the firearm in the hands of the adolescent. Parents with firearms have the responsibility to keep them locked up tight and safe from children. Yes, â€Å"the violence depicted on television and movies escalates with each passing year, as audiences grow inured to â€Å"routine violence (Ellis),† but many people watch violence without committing violent acts. Parents should monitor children’s viewing habits and watch violent programming with the child to explain what is happing and that it is wrong to do what they see in real life. In The Case against Tipping by Michael Lewis, Lewis had a point when he said, â€Å"people who serve you are more likely to do it well and promptly if they will be rewarded.† I felt this concern had merit in that servers do expect the tip and know that if they perform great service then they will be tipped generously. Servers also provide mediocre service if the patron is not spending much money at the establishment because they know the tip is based on a percentage of about 15%. A patron spending $2 on coffee will only be required to pay a 30-cent tip and that is hardly worth any effort. The expected tip should not influence the amount of service the patron receives but