Thursday, November 28, 2019
Hospice áare in the United States
Table of Contents Introduction Hospice care Conclusion References Introduction Hospice care is a type of care that focuses on provision of humane and compassionate care for people who have life-limiting illnesses that no longer responds to treatments.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Hospice à ¡are in the United States specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More This type of care is given to them so that they might live the last phases of their lives as comfortable as possible. Hospice care is a philosophy care that takes the viewpoint that accepts death as a lifeââ¬â¢s final stage.Practicing hospice care has a specific goal in helping patients in leading pain-free lives of their last days as possible. Hospice care is a family-centered since the family members of the patient are involved in making decisions throughout the process. Hospice care gives patients palliative care, which is a type of treatment that only rel ieves a patient off the symptoms of the disease with main purpose being improving the patientââ¬â¢s quality of life (Hospice Foundation of America, 2011). Hospice care The United States is a good example of a country where hospice care is well developed. Establishment of Hospice care in the United States was in the year 1974 and its development was in New Haven. Today hospice programs in the United States have grown to a huge number of about 4,700 programs. The hospice programs in the United States majorly aims at making patients last days comfortable and dignified. A team of specially trained professionals, family members and volunteers does provision of hospice care. Hospice care generally deals with emotional, spiritual and social impact of the patientââ¬â¢s disease. Lastly, hospice care in the United States provides a variety of counseling and bereavement services to the family members. This is applicable before and after the death of a patient.Apart from the United States practicing hospice care, two other countries, which utilize hospice care, are Thailand and Australia (Hospice Foundation of America, 2011). Hospice care in Thailand began in the 1980s. Previously, patients had to be cared for in hospitals or private residences. In comparison, Hospice care in Thailand consists of inpatient hospice services and outpatient homecare services. In giving hospice care, it is notable that most of the care of about 90% given to patients happens at home.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More The difference that is there in Thailand is that provision of hospice care at home and hospice centers are different in that services at the hospice centers are inpatient. In Thailand, hospice services do not cover bereavement services as in the case of the United States where the service lasts for about 6 months or up to 1-year period. Hospice and homecare services in Thailand are twoseparate entities (Yaowarat Aud,2009). In Australia, Hospice care establishment started in 1990. The hospice care in Australia differs slightly with the one provided in the United States and Thailand. The main difference being that, hospice care offered in Australia caters for the patientââ¬â¢s grief needs and the needs of the family members of the patient (Palliative Care Australia, 2011). The similarities that exist between the countries mentioned above that provide hospice care services are that hospice care in all the countries is collaborated by a team of professionals. The team comprises of staff or volunteers who undergo training in specialized knowledge of medical care that is inclusive of pain management. Secondly, the main goal of hospice care in all of the countries is the alleviation or control of pain and symptoms of the disease. Thirdly, hospice care in all the countries mainly focuses on how to deal with the emotional, social and spiritual impacts the patients disease. Conclusion As the patchwork of hospice careservices continues to grow, developments of imaginative models are vital meeting the needs of localpeople worldwide. In many instances, establishment of these services is through prompting ofvisionary individuals and like-minded pioneers,sometimes with meager resources, yet united bythe common aim of providing better care for dyingpeople. However, much morework needs to be done to ensure that the numberof people who have access to hospice careincreases(Hospice Foundation of America, 2011). References Hospice Foundation of America. (2011) End-of-life care resources for professionals, patients and families. Retrieved from https://hospicefoundation.org/ Palliative Care Australia. (2011). About Palliative Care Australia. Retrieved from https://palliativecare.org.au/about-pcaAdvertising We will write a custom essay sample on Hospice à ¡are in the United States specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Yaowarat, M. Aud, M. (2009). Hospice Care: A Cross-cultural Comparison between the United States and Thailand.Journal of Hospice and Palliative Nursing, 11, 262 ââ¬â 268. Retrieved from https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/330570-hospice-in-thailand/ This essay on Hospice à ¡are in the United States was written and submitted by user Mira E. to help you with your own studies. You are free to use it for research and reference purposes in order to write your own paper; however, you must cite it accordingly. You can donate your paper here.
Sunday, November 24, 2019
Spirituality in the Workplace
Spirituality in the Workplace Introduction General Overview The interest in organizational spirituality partially derives from the necessity to balance organizational performance and to improve the codes of ethics within an organization. Specifically, a growing attention to the workplace spirituality allows people to construct and sustain fundamental values at work and facilitate various management operations and practices.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Spirituality in the Workplace specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Appeared in 1990s, this domain of organizational ethics has captured the attention of the leading theorist examining management and workplace environment (Giacalone and Jurkiewicz, 2010, p. 27). In particular, contemporary researchers are primarily dedicated to the analysis of spirituality with regard to organizational performance and relationships between the employers and their employees. One way or another, this theoretical framew orks provide promising perspectives for successful development and advancement of companyââ¬â¢s philosophies and values allowing to adjust to social and cultural changes. In this regard, there is a growing necessity to study various dimensions of workplace spirituality to define how they influence organizational performance, ethical behavior, and overall atmosphere within an organization. Defining Spirituality in the Workplace So far, spirituality was not considered in relation to work and business and organizational workplace could be compared with oxymoron. However, since 1990 and several decades after, a dramatic interest in the examination of this term as an inherent component in understanding organizations and management provide a solid ground for providing a new definition of spirituality. Manz and Neal (2005) provide the following explanation: ââ¬Å"Spirituality in the workplace is about people seeing their work as a spiritual path, as an opportunity to grow personally an d to contribute to society in a meaningful way. It is about learning to be more caring and compassionate with fellow employees, with bosses, with subordinates and customers. It is about integrity, being true to oneself, and telling the truth to others. Spirituality in the workplace can refer to an individualââ¬â¢s attempts to live his or her values more fully in the workplace.â⬠(p. 121)Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Analyzing this meaning, organizational spirituality touches upon various dimensions of employed environment such as organizational ethics, organizational performance, integrity, cultural diversity, and psychological factors in relations between managers and their subordinates. Literature Synthesis: Elements of Organizational Spirituality Spirituality and organizational performance The introduction of spirituality and virtuous approaches to bu siness management is largely predetermined by the necessity to increase organizational performance, productivity, and revenues. In this regard, a wide range of researches and reports are dedicated to the analysis of these relations. Cavanagh and Bandsuch (2002) question, ââ¬Å"how does [spirituality] maximize the benefits and minimize the problem of spirituality in the workplaceâ⬠or ââ¬Å"how does one best judge whether a particular spirituality is ââ¬Ëappropriateââ¬â¢ for the workplaceâ⬠(p. 109). In this regard, the scholars pay attention to the fact that spirituality contributes greatly to improving cooperation and motivation. More importantly, they believe that spirituality positively affects organizational performance and productivity thus dictating a person-oriented approach to human resource management. The same position is held by Collins (2010) who also believes that spirituality in the workplace is the main condition for achieving impressive financial per formance and productivity and for striking the balance between companyââ¬â¢s goals and ethical and spiritual behaviors within an organization. In particular, the scholar provides an original approach for proving that ethics and ethical codes, ethical decision making, and diversity training are closely correlated with performance analysis. More importantly, the research carried by Collins (2010) provides evidence that proper management of organizational spirituality will lead to the improvement of quality of goods and services and facilitates spiritual development and growth. Examinations of relation of spirituality to organizational efficiency and performance have also been proved by Karakas (2010). Specifically, the researcher has managed to successfully outline the main factors affecting high productivity and organizationââ¬â¢s prosperity.Advertising We will write a custom essay sample on Spirituality in the Workplace specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The researcher believes that a successful performance is based on three factors: employeeââ¬â¢s welfare and living standard, employeesââ¬â¢ motivation and incentives, and employeesââ¬â¢ interaction with community. All these factors are effectively enhanced by spirituality. Kolodinsky et al. (2008) have proved the research question provided by Karakas (2010). However, the researcher are more focused on the structuring the main elements of spirituality believing that it should be views through the prism of individual, organizational and interactive aspects. Milliman et al. (1999) agree with this idea that the introduction of the organizational spirituality triggers the increase of companyââ¬â¢s profits and provides new incentives and motivation for employees to work harder and more efficiently. With regard to the considerations presented above, it should be stressed that all the researchers have provided completely different positions toward the c onnection between spirituality and organizational performance. Nevertheless, all of them emphasize the importance of spirituality penetration to the workplace. Spirituality and organizational ethics The fact that spirituality and ethics are closely interconnected is undeniable. This is obvious when it concerns the world of business and organizational management, which is another dimension of social world. Therefore, there are plethora of researchers and explorations that provide exhaustive information about codes of ethics, organizational ethics, personal development and how they are connected with spirituality in the work place. Sheep (2006) sufficiently explains two important factors ââ¬â spirituality in the workplace and ethical dilemmas ââ¬â with regard to the overall atmosphere within an organization. In particular, the researcher believes that harmonic co-existence of several ethical climates will not provide serious problems, but they can trigger ethical misconception s within differently oriented working teams. In order to eliminate and to prevent such dilemmas, the researcher pays attention to ââ¬Å"quiet desperationâ⬠and the problem of instrumentality (Sheep, 2006, p. 538). What is more important, Sheep (2006) suggests a comprehensive approach to solving the problems.Advertising Looking for essay on business economics? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Specifically, he refers to instrumentality, societal good, and individual fulfillment as the main pillars for striking the balance between ethical issues and organizational spirituality. The same view is held by Manz and Neal (2008) who believe that ââ¬Å"[w]hile virues offer a blueprint for ideal ethical and moral workplace conduct, the realities of the market are often largely in opposition to these lofty intentionsâ⬠(p. 131). The researchers also suggest that performance can often encounter the problems of spirituality and virtue formation because such aspects as compassion and integrity can conflict with high productivity. In contrast to Sheepââ¬â¢s suggestions, Pawar (2009b) provides a completely different view on the consideration of spirituality and ethical issues. Unlike previous statements, the researcher does not refer to spirituality in the workplace as to the cornerstone for constructing and adapting ethical codes, but as to the basics of organizational ethics. Like Kolodinsky et al. (2008), Pawar (2009b) offers a three dimensional approach to the evaluation of various techniques for facilitating spirituality in the workplace. These dimensions touch upon personal, group, and organizational viewpoints on the connection between spirituality and ethics. Judging from the above assumptions and evidence, the connection of spirituality and ethics in relation to organizational performance is quite controversial. Therefore, this concept should be carefully considered before introduced in the working environment. Spirituality, religion, and social interaction in the business world The contradictions derived from considering organization spirituality are largely connected with wrong understanding of this definition. The problem is that religion and spirituality are closely interconnected because religion can be considered as the main source of spirituality (Manz and Neal, 2008, p. 121). However, this is only one of the basic components included in t his definition which are not properly revealed and explained. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the differences between those terms because there are people are spiritual enough, but do not belong to any of the known religions. Some researchers believe that spirituality in the workplace does not presuppose religion as its main component (Pavlovich and Corner, 2009). The scholars insist on the idea that organizational spirituality identifies various techniques for consolidating and connecting employees. More importantly, Pavlovich and Corner (2009) provide comprehensive models for analyzing environmental and social issues and connect spirituality management with ecological levels. In the studies provides by Pawar (2009a), there is no mentioning about religion as the basic precursor of workplace spirituality. Instead, the scholar provides that this phenomenon is constructed on the basis of self-interest transcendence, organizational behavior, transformational leadership, proce dural justice, and organizational support. Being the main concepts of organizational behavior, spirituality, thus, is presented as a component of organizational ethics where religion cannot be considered, or should be presented apart from business ethics. In order to separate religion from spirituality it is necessary to consider several dimensions these two aspects encounter. According to Hill and Smith (2003), religion is more community focused while spirituality tend to be more individualistic; religion is more observable, measurable, and objective while spirituality is less visible and quantifiable and more objectiveâ⬠¦.religion tend to be behavior-oriented with an emphasis on outward practices while spirituality tend to be more emotionally oriented and inwardly directed;â⬠¦and religion is more oriented toward doctrine, especially that which distinguishes good from evil while spirituality stresses harmony and unity and is less concerned with doctrine (p. 233). With regar d to these distinctions, it is possible to conclude that spirituality and religion create a two-polar opposition where the coincident point can be observed in case emotional and inward states of an individual are based on religious concerns only. Alternatively, considering spirituality and religious are homogenous terms can lead disorganization and misconception of the established theories and approaches. In particular, according to Hicks (2003) spirituality should be presented in the opposition to religion; otherwise, it can create negative connotations in the employed environment. Therefore, spirituality should be set prior to religions to avoid frictions and conflicts in the workplace. Summing up the presented evidence, spirituality in the workplace is based on numerous aspects and influences among which are organizational behavior, leadership, organizational ethics, self-interest transcendence, and religion. It should be emphasized that the latter provokes numerous controversies because it is often confused with the spirituality in the workplace. Hence, the analysis of differences and peculiarities has revealed that religion may serve as a component of organizational spirituality, but it does not provide fundamental conceptions for constructing business ethics. Discussion and Findings An in-depth examination and assessment of the presented sources have infused several valuable assumptions and findings concerning different dimensions of spirituality in the work place. This specifically relates to the ethical dilemmas in the business environment, strategies for handling an organizational behavior, factors affecting an organizational performance and productivity, and the main elements of spirituality. In addition, the definition and explanation of the term has also been identified. To begin with, the literature analysis has provided several discoveries concerning organizational spirituality and performance. Specifically, it has been found that the majority of the researchers (Cavanagh and Bandsuch, 2002; Collins, 2010; Karakas, 2010; Kolodinsky et al., 2008; Milliman, 1999) agree with the assumption that this aspect positively influences companyââ¬â¢s performance and employeesââ¬â¢ performance because meeting workersââ¬â¢ spiritual and ethical requirements provides more incentives and more solid motivations for working harder. Second, there are some difficulties in defining the relations between spirituality and ethical issues due to some reasons. Hence, it has been found that such controversy is predetermined by various theoretical orientations of both terms with regard to organizational management. Hence, spirituality is more individual oriented, it provides subjective outlooks and positions that should be tackled carefully by organization (Sheep, 2006; Manz and Neal, 2009; Pawar, 2009). More importantly, it is more connected with cultural and emotional diversities that are sometimes difficult to adjust because they may contr adict some established conceptions within an organization. In contrast, organizational ethics is more concerned with inventing some integral and universal concepts that could contribute to establishing favorable working environment and to meeting high levels of performance and productivity. Third, religion and spirituality are not identical notions, specifically with regard to organizational ethics and behavior. Certainly, both spirituality and religions have similarities if considering them apart from the business world. But within it, spirituality prevails where religion may be included only as one of the components along with leadership, organizational behavior, self-interest transcendence (Hill and Smith 2003; Hicks, 2003). At the same time, businesses should treat religion carefully cultivating tolerance and respect being the basic of cultural considerations. All it can be seen spirituality involves a plethora of complicated issues and dilemmas that are carefully studied and co nsidered at interdisciplinary level. This also implies that organizational spirituality is, indeed, crucial for constructing efficient strategies in the field of human resource management and organizational ethics. Limitations to the Presented Literature The majority of the selected scholarly works provides positive perspectives and connotations for introducing organization spirituality. However, little research has been done to analyze the reasons and negative outcomes of implementing spirituality in the workplace. Mostly all reviewed works relate to the analysis of spirituality from the viewpoint of organizational ethics. Specifically, the point is that this notion is not considered as a separate concept, but inherently affiliated to ethical and cultural considerations. Another explicit gap presented in the researches is absence of sufficient models for implementing spirituality in the workplace with regard to psychological factors and professional growth issue. Rather, the introd uction is primarily aimed at improving organizational productivity and performance. Consequently, there is a great distinction between spirituality in the workplace and that presented in the community. The latter is closely associated with individualsââ¬â¢ religious concerns rather with inward emotional state. Finally, there are no accurate studies dedicated to the measurement of spirituality with regard to different organizations. In particular, irrelevant identification of spiritual goals and approaches can lead to theories ethical conflicts. Therefore, it is necessary to expand the meaning of organizational spirituality to keep pace with recent cultural, social, and political changes. This can serve as serious reasons for further researchers in this field. Conclusion The spirituality in the workplace is connected with a wide range of disciplines and studies. Specifically, this notion concerns such areas as human resource management, business ethics, and organizational behavior , and conflict management. The examination and assessment of presented theories and models for treating organizational spirituality provides great perspectives for further exploration and encouragement for building companyââ¬â¢s values and codes of ethics and allows to establish a more favorable ground for adapting to cultural and social shifts. The analysis and review of presented scholarly sources has proved numerous hypotheses and provides a solid ground for further explorations. More importantly, the review has also presented the most urgent problem connected with organizational ethics and establishing spirituality in the work place. The concerns are specifically connected with failure to correctly define the essence of spirituality which is often confused with religion. Numerous findings have proved that these concepts belong to completely different dimensions and studies, especially when they are considered in relation to business and management. Another problem occurs when searching place for spirituality within the ethical frameworks. Ethics and spirituality can also be subjected to a two-polar confrontation because sometime organizational ethics is not congruent with moral and spiritual concerns of individuals. In this respect, there are still many issues and aspect that are worth further examination and discussion to provide more accurate explanations for the place of spiritual issues in the employed environment. Reference List Cavanagh, G. F., and Bandsuch, M. R. (2002). Virtue as a Benchmark for Spirituality in Business. Journal of Business Ethics. 38(1/2), pp. 109-117. Collins, D. (2010). Designing ethical organizations for spiritual growth and superior performance: an organization systems approach, Journal of Management, Spirituality Religion, 7(2), pp. 95-117. Giacalone, R. A., and Jurkiewicz, C. L (2010). Handbook of Workplace Spirituality and Organizational Performance. US: M. E. Sharpe SharpeLtd. Hicks, D. A. (2003). Religion and the work place: pluralism, spirituality, leadership. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Hill, P. C. and Smith, G. S. (2003) Coming to Terms with Spirituality and Religion in the Workplace. In R. A. Giacalone and C. L. Jurkiewicz. Handbook of Workplace Spirituality and Organizational Performance. US: M. E. Sharpe SharpeLtd. Karakas, F. (2010). Spirituality and performance in organizations: A literature review. Journal of Business Ethics, 94, pp. 89-106. Kolodinsky, R. W., Giacalone, R. A., and Jurkiewicz, C. L. (2008). Workplace Values and Outcomes: Exploring Personal, Organizational, and Interactive Workplace Spirituality. Journal of Business Ethics. 81(1), pp. 465-480. Manz. C. C., and Neal, J. (2008). The virtuous organization: insights from some of the worldââ¬â¢s leading management thinkers. US: World Scientific. Milliman J., Ferguson J., Trickett D., Condemi B. (1999). Spirit and community at Southwest Airlines: An investigation of a spiritual values-based model. Journal of Organ izational Change Management, 12 (3), pp. 221-233. Pavlovich, K. and Corner, P. (2009). Spiritual Organizations and Inter-Connectedness: The Living Nature Experience. Journal of Management, Spirituality and Religion, 6 (3), pp. 209-229. Pawar, B. S. (2009a). Some of the Recent Organizational Behavior Concepts as Precursors to Workplace Spirituality. Journal of Business Ethics. 88(2), pp. 245-261. Pawar, B. S. (2009b). Workplace spirituality facilitation: A comprehensive model. Journal of Business Ethics 90, pp. 375ââ¬â386. Sheep, M. L. (2006). Nurturing the Whole Person: The Ethics of Workplace Spirituality in a Society of Organizations. Journal of Business Ethics. 66(4), pp. 357-375.
Thursday, November 21, 2019
Personal statement Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 17
Personal statement - Essay Example The vibrant and energetic environment, a learning environment that is very conducive, state of art facilities, research, and innovation in the institution provides a perfect gateway to success of the student. As a student at Iowa University, I have been able to learn and contribute in diverse areas outside the academic world. My leadership skills surpassed expectations when I was elected the vice president of Chinese Union in the University. This position required exceptional leadership skills, organization, and dedication. Holding such a senior position made me realize that focus and diligence are the keys to success in any endeavor. University of Miami is a multicultural center and therefore will be the most opportune place to further my interest in intercultural activities. I have realized that a student life must be enriched by participation outside the academic world. Therefore, I successfully initiated a band named ââ¬Å"NO IDEAâ⬠that seeks and promotes musical talents through composing and performing songs. Certainly, I will be best placed in University of Miami as a music enthusiast through various talent exposition programs offered by the university. Additionally, Miami is located in an environment that is similar to my hometown and this will be a great advantage when adapting to the new environment. I have profound teamwork skills, which I gained as a volleyball captain. Indeed, I was able to train and improve the performance of the team up to national standards. Currently, I am the proprietress of the university photography club, which nurtures and promotes skills in photography among the student community. I believe these teamwork and interpersonal skills will enable me integrate with the culturally diverse community in Miami University. It will be a great opportunity to grow intellectually, personally, and culturally. However, I believe that my diverse
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Medical Marijuana Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words
Medical Marijuana - Essay Example No scientific study has been done to support this. Cigarette smokers are said to be heavier addicts than the marijuana users. Sufficient medical research has been carried out it has proven that marijuana can be used for various medical purposes. It is known to relieve nausea and several types of pain. On the hand, medics still believe that better alternatives still exist than using marijuana. Such medicines contain chemicals with the capability to relieve similar pains and symptoms. They therefore, know that such medicines are better compared to the ââ¬Å"dangerousâ⬠marijuana (Haerens 2013). Marijuana under medical supervision has been proven to relieve pain and stress among the ill. Other officials still believe on the fact that smoked marijuana damages internal body organs and systems. It initiates cancer related illnesses. Little evidence supports that smoked marijuana poses risks to human health. Beliefs on the marijuana-cancer relationship are misplaced. Smoked marijuana however, damages and infects most of the respiratory organs (Gieringer& Cartel 2008). Different physicians have come up with different arguments concerning marijuana use. Although most of the civilian population believes in healing powers of marijuana, physicians partly agree on that. They support themselves on this by lack of positive consistent results on marijuana. They therefore, term it as dangerous. It is known to cause damage to the brain, hearts, immune system and the lungs. It is scientifically proven to contain cancer related causing compounds. Marijuana further compromises the ability to learn by interfering with the memory. Based on such grounds, some government officials have maintained their say that it is dangerous and illegal. Cigarettes of tobacco cause a lot of damage to the bronchial mucosa. Samples of such twenty tobacco cigarettes pose the same health threat as four cigarettes of marijuana. This appears to be quite dangerous than
Monday, November 18, 2019
All projects are expected to realise a certain Value Essay
All projects are expected to realise a certain Value - Essay Example Taking care of the elderly on an individual or family perspective can be a daunting task hence predisposing the elderly to lower quality of care. The LA project is therefore expected to generate value to the stakeholders such as the construction workers, the government, the families of the elderly, and the general population well-being in general. The family is one of the greatest beneficiaries that tap the benefit of having the elderly among them be taken care of. The challenge of caregiving among the elderly is demonstrated by the costs, energy, and the time taken with the elderly. These three important components can be used in other activities when there is a specialized care that is centralized by the LA. In essence, the elderly gets to have quality care while the family is less involved in the care. This means that they are able to tap insurmountable value from the establishment. The value in the family is also enhanced by the view that little effort is required in looking at the interest of the elderly among them. The LA home environment also adds value to the elderly by making them interact with others and hence have their view of life from the elderly perspective. The chances of the elderly being mistreated will be expected to be minimized since they are kept way from the family members and other caregivers that can easily mistreat them. In addition, the services that is provided in some home settings are poor or inadequate for the wellbeing of the elderly. This means that the elderly get to get quality care from the LA facility. The establishment of the LA project generates value to the constructors that tap a number of related benefits. Though indirectly related to caregiving for the elderly, the construction of the project will require contractors that will be paid in order to develop the project, these will further require suppliers and employees. All these stakeholders among
Friday, November 15, 2019
Scope Of Study And Limitations English Language Essay
Scope Of Study And Limitations English Language Essay At the mention of the term chick lit, it is unavoidable to assume that it is a colloquial form of chick literature or something more elaborate. Campbell (2006) puts it aptly when she says that we should acknowledge that the very term is demeaning and probably peppered with a tinge of sexism. Chick is a derogatory term for the presumably empty-headed girls or young women who are both the characters and the readers; lit is an ironic reference to the assumed lack of quality writing in the form (p. 487). Most definitions of chick lit outline its characteristics; highlight the general plot, the illustrations on the cover and its target audience which do not quite explain the genre as a whole or do it any justice. This study therefore will use the definition describing the genre as heroine-centred narratives written by women that focus on the trials and tribulations of their individual protagonists, to appeal to other women (Kent, 2007 Smith, 2008). Chick lit has been at the brunt of a lot of criticism. According to Razdan (2004), it is wildly successful and that is where the problem lies. Most critics cannot seem to get past the covers in pink or fluorescent green, highlighted with flirty, fashionable accessories like purses or high heels (Ferriss Young, 2006b). However, it does not end there. The major attack is due to it reflecting postfeminist values through its protagonists, themes and plots. The characters in chick lit are young women with newly found independence dealing with careers and the demands of urban pop culture (Campbell, 2006). Ferris Young (2006b) describe them as women who commit errors at the workplace, drink excessively at times, are hopeless when it comes to cooking, or are attracted to unsuitable men quite unlike the flawless women of romance fiction. In short, these characters generally embrace or portray postfeminist values, acknowledging that feminism has taken place and won them equality but all the same, they do not want to be called feminists because of the indulgences feminism has rejected in the past like romance. When it comes to the themes, despite their timelessness and universality, they seem to be rubbing people the wrong way probably because the lifestyle choices this novels centre around are seen as a betrayal of feminism and its call for equality (Davis-Kahl, 2008). Unfortunately for those who hold this view, the themes addressed in chick lit are claimed to be the representation of sociological truths about womens lives today (Knowles, 2004). Although this might seem unsettling, Ferriss and Young (2006b) put forward that chick lit focuses on the issues dear to cultural critics heart. It appears that some just refuse to acknowledge that times are a changing. Looking at the plot, Knowles (2004) claims that many variations can be found in the genre itself but the fundamental structure of the main character looking for satisfaction in a romance-consumer-comedic vein usually characterizes writing in these texts. The inevitable fact for this genre is its broader focus on relationships (Davis-Kahl, 2008, p. 5). Almost every novel has a protagonist pining for a man, dealing with issues like weight, self-image, career burnout and other things along the way once again reflecting these post-feminist values. In her paper, Glasburgh (2006) puts forward five postfeminist characteristics defined by Faludi (1991): 1) negative reaction to second wave feminism, 2) focus on the individual instead of a collective sisterhood, 3) desire for more traditional femininity through domesticity, consumerism, romance, and motherhood, 4) female identity crisis causing fears of a man shortage, a loudly ticking biological clock, and career burnout, and 5) feelings of anxiety over ability to make the correct future decisions. Based on content analysis on ten chick lit books, she concluded that the protagonists generally did reflect characteristics of postfeminism (Glasburgh, 2006, p. 76). These postfeminist characteristics are what critics are debating about. Some feel that chick lit should be taken seriously because it is about the current generation of women while others feel chick lit is force-feeding the current generation with postfeminist values. This study attempts to explore students perspectives on this matter. 1.2 Statement of Problem Even before the existence of chick lit, womens writing has suffered a long history of scoffing (Davis-Kahl, 2008). They have been described as frothy, prosy, pious, pedantic (Eliot, 1856, p. 35) and women writers have been referred to as a damned mob of scribbling women (Ticknor, 1913, p. 141). On the 23rd of August, Beryl Bainbridge, then Booker Prize favourite, called Bridget Joness Diary a froth sort of thing (Davies, 2001), echoing George Elliots words two centuries before. At that point, chick lit had become the new form of womens writing which was under attack. This intentional sidelining of womens fiction has been said to stem from sexism. Both men and women place value on different things such as men on sports and women on fashion and as a result, all things associated with men have been viewed as important while women pursuits have been considered trivial, transcending even into the value placed on books (Woolf, 1929). Chick lit has now been subject to bashing by critics for more than a decade. The most popular claim is that chick lit is force-feeding society with postfeminism values while supporters of the genre claim that chick lit is merely reflecting todays culture. Whether or not chick lit has been affecting culture or the other way round is yet to be seen as not much research has been done in that area. Most certainly, chick lit is a force to be reckoned with based on its soaring popularity. One thing that must be noted in light of this situation is that there has been very little research on the area of chick lit in the academic field. Even in the small number of researches that have been conducted, the majority of it focuses on content analysis from romance, feminist and postfeminist perspectives. This study will focus on the students perspectives towards chick lit from a postfeminist approach as opposed to stand alone text analysis. In their courses on classic womens fiction and chick lit, Ferris and Young (2006b) have concluded that students were certain that despite the fascinating cultural issues raised by chick lit novels, they could not quite contend with the work of Jane Austen, the Brontà «s, Virginia Woolf and Zora Neale Hurston but were unable to state why. This study attempts to go a step further in trying to uncover the issues in which students can relate to and understand the reasons behind it. 1.3 Purpose of Study This study aims to:- Find out the perspectives of students towards chick lit in relation to post-feminism. Uncover the reasons behind these perspectives. 1.4 Research Questions 1. What are the perspectives of students towards chick lit in relation to post-feminism? 2. What are the reasons behind these perspectives? 1.5 Significance of Study The results of this study will reflect the reception of undergraduate students towards chick lit from a postfeminist point of view. It will also explore the reasons behind these perspectives. These results will help to determine whether chick lit should be incorporated into the syllabus to be considered as part of a genre of literature like classic womens fiction. If the reception towards chick lit in light of postfeminism is found to be good, even on a micro-level, it opens up a very viable premise for chick lit to be used as a foundation for teaching literature. Allowing students to utilize materials which they can relate to as a basis of their exploration and providing them with the ability to clarify the plus points as well as shortcomings of a book or a genre is powerful (Davis-Kahl, 2008). Characteristics of postfeminism have been found to be present in chick lit novels to a certain extent. Therefore, chick lit has been claimed to be the document of a new generation quite unlike the era in which writers like Jane Austen and the Bronte sisters lived in. While it is important to note that cultural, social and geographical factors counts for something, the ability of students to relate to a piece of work does a lot to help discuss its literary value. In fact, these novels have the potential to be used in the classroom to explore the generational differences in feminism, uncover the reasons why classic fiction stand the test of time, and to develop an appreciation for the intricate plots, subtle characterizations, memorable language of such works (Ferriss Young, 2006b). Chick lit can be used as a basis for discussions as to the reasons for the significance of womens writing, the changes it has undergone, and the opinions of women in fiction, be it popular or literary. This evolution that fiction in general and womens fiction has gone through is an area worthy of study especially due to its popularity, ease of access and representation of issues that modern women face (Davis-Kahl, 2008, p. 8). Furthermore, chick lit will be viewed as an important representation of modern womens writing, doing this new area of popular womens writing some justice (Ferriss Young, 2006b). This establishment of chick lit as a learning tool or viable area of study in the academic sphere will eventually lead to it being readily available in academic libraries allowing students with interest to gain access to them. 1.6 Scope of Study and Limitations Participants involved in this research are Year 3 Trimester 2 Bachelor of Arts (Hons) English Language students selected through purposive sampling. This study has a number of limitations. First, the sample may not accurately reflect the opinions of students in general towards chick lit. Secondly, the sample does not contain an equal mix of genders to accurately reflect views towards chick lit. Thirdly, some participants may be unfamiliar with the genre itself and therefore incapable of providing their perspectives towards it. However, a brief set of definitions are provided in the questionnaire to help respondents to familiarize themselves with the subject area. 1.7 Definition of Key Terms Chick lit : heroine-centred narratives written by women that focus on the trials and tribulations of their individual protagonists, to appeal to other women (Kent, 2007 Smith, 2008). Feminism: à ¢Ã¢â ¬Ã ¦the belief in the social, political, and economical equality of the sexes (Rowe-Finkbeiner, 2004) Post-feminism : A shift away from the feminist idea of needing to right the wrongs of a patriarchal society with regard to women (Faludi, 1991). Post-feminist Backlash Theory: The claim that popular culture has been the direct cause of a backlash on feminism, understood as postfeminism, by attempting to blame it for the supposed misery of women today and calling for a return to a more traditional femininity (Faludi, 1991). 1.8 Organization of the Thesis This study consists of a total of five chapters; Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, Findings Analysis, and Discussion Conclusion. The first chapter which is the Introduction addresses the background of study, statement of problem, purpose of study, research questions, significance of study, scope of study and limitations, the definition of key terms and the organization of the thesis. The second chapter, Literature Review will outline the history of chick lit, the history of post-feminism, address the five post-feminist characteristics used in this study as well as discuss past researchers study. The third chapter, Methodology will explain the research design, sampling, instruments used for data gathering, the pilot study, procedures as well as the data analysis. The fourth and fifth chapter will present the findings and discuss its significance in relation to the study as well as provide recommendations for further research respectively.
Wednesday, November 13, 2019
The Eightfold Path is a treatment :: essays research papers
The Eightfold Path is a treatment, a treatment by training (smith 104). Buddha taught that man is a slave to his ego (smith 108). That man wishes happiness, security, success, long life, and many other things for himself and his loved ones. However, pain, frustration, sickness and death are all impossible to avoid and the only way to eliminate these evils is to overcome desire. In Buddhism, the Eightfold Path is meant as a guideline, to be considered, to be contemplated, and to be taken on when, and only when each step is fully accepted as part of the life you seek. Buddhism never asks for blind faith, it seeks to promote learning and a process of self-discovery. The First step of the Eightfold Path is Right View. This is a significant step on the path as it relates to seeing the world and everything in it as it really is, not as we believe it to be or want it to be. Knowing reality is of very little value if we donââ¬â¢t put it to personal use in our lives. The second step on th e Eightfold Path is Right Intent. This is the step where you become committed to the path. Right Views shows us what life really is and what lifeââ¬â¢s problems are composed of. Right Intent must come from the heart and involves recognizing the equality of all life and compassion for all that life, beginning with you. Right Speech is the next step of the Path. Our speech reflects our character. We must avoid speaking falsely, obscene, slanderous, and belittling words. Right Conduct recognizes the need to take the ethical approach in life, to consider others and the world we live in. This includes not taking what is not given to us, and having respect for the agreements we make both in our private and business lives. Right Conduct also encompasses the five precepts, which were given by the Buddha, not to kill, steal, and lie, to avoid sexual misconduct, and not to take drugs or other intoxicants (smith 107-108). The next on the Eightfold Path follows on from Right Conduct, and thi s is Right Livelihood. If your work has a lack of respect for life, then it will be a barrier to progress on the spiritual path. Buddhism promotes the principle of equality of all living beings and respect for all life. Certain types of work were discouraged by the Buddha, in particular those where you deal in harmful drugs and intoxicants, those dealing in weapons, and those harmful to animal or human life.
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Modernity and Literature Essay
Modernity by itself is a very abstract concept which can be associated with all new experiences in history. It is largely temporal because what is modern today is the old or obsolete tomorrow. Modernity is said to be a logic of negation because it tends to give importance to the present over the past, and at the same time also frowns over the present with respect to the future. From a purely historical perspective however, the society which evolved in Europe after the French Revolution of 1789 can be termed as modern in so much so that there is a marked difference or break in the way of thinking, living and enterprise between the societies after and before the French Revolution. The evolution of the modern society was not a process that happened overnight. The roots of the modern society and its gradual evolution can be traced back to the beginning of the eighteenth century. In fact the period from that point in history to the French Revolution is termed as the period of intellectual Enlightenment when there was a radical change in philosophy, science, politics, arts and culture. It was on these new forms of knowledge that the foundation of the modern society or modernity was based. Defining the Traditional Many scholars have tried to analyze the basic or instinctive nature of human beings in attempts to track back how modernity could have affected the core individual. In his book Leviathan, Hobbes deduced that in an environment uninfluenced by artificial systems or in a ââ¬Ëstate of natureââ¬â¢ human beings would be war like and violent, and their lives would consequently be solitary, poor, brutish and short. Rousseau however contradicts Hobbes. He claims that humans are essentially benevolent by nature. He believed in the ââ¬Ënoble savageââ¬â¢ or the concept that devoid of civilization human beings are essentially peaceful and egalitarian and live in harmony with the environment ââ¬â an idea associated with Romanticism. Human beings have however lived in communities and formed societies since the very early ages. In what is now known as the ancient world or the world of classical pagan antiquity typical of the societies of Greece and Rome, the concept of the ââ¬Ënewââ¬â¢ or ââ¬Ëchangeââ¬â¢ was absent. Time, like the seasons, was supposed to move in cyclical order, repeating itself with regularity cycle after cycle with nothing new or changed to break away from the established order. The people were steeped in more superstitious and religious beliefs which ruled almost every aspect of their lives. Christianity brought about changes in the belief systems of the ancient world. Christianity postulated that time was linear, that it began from the birth of Jesus Christ and would end with the apocalypse and the second coming of Jesus. This was a linear concept of time that moved in a straight line and not in a cycle that kept coming back to the same point. The Foundations of Modernity It was during the Enlightenment period that the Christian concepts of time and history were secularized to give way to the modern approach to change and progress. There were many other basic changes during the Enlightenment. The key ideas which formed the basis of the enlightenment period were autonomy and emancipation, progress and the improvement of history and universalism. The development of scientific knowledge gave rise to religious skepticism. People were no longer willing to submit blindly to the dictates of ordained religion. In other words they attained emancipation from the shackles of religion that had governed almost all aspects of their lives. This emancipation led to autonomy of the individual. Individuals began to decide for themselves instead submitting to an external authority such as religion. The people now decided by themselves what kind of authority, rules and regulation would be good for them, and such authority must be natural and not supernatural. Enlightenment encouraged criticism. Enlightenment thinkers did not hold anything sacred and freely criticized, questioned, examined and challenged all dogmas and institutions in their search for betterment or progress. Thinkers such as Voltaire defended reason and rationalism against institutionalized superstition and tyranny. The belief that there could and should be a change for the better came to be a prominent characteristic of modernity. The critical attitude of enlightenment thinker to contemporary social and political institutions paved the way for scientific studies of political and social studies and subsequent evolution of better forms of such institutions. The scientific revolution during the period, culminating in the work of Isaac Newton, presented a very practical and objective view of the natural world to people at large, and science came to be regarded very highly. Scientific inquiry was gradually extended to cover new social, political and cultural areas. Such studies were oriented around the cause-and-effect approach of naturalism. Control of prejudice was also deemed to be essential to make them value free. Enlightenment thinking emphasized the importance of reason and rationality in organization and development of knowledge. The gradual development of the scientific temperament with a paradigm change from the qualitative to the quantitative is also very evident in Europe of the time. People came to believe that they could better their own lot through a more scientific and rational approach to everything. The concept of universalism which advocated that reason and science were applicable to all fields of study and that science laws, in particular, were universal, also grew roots during the period. People began to believe in change, development and progress ââ¬â all basic tenets of modernity as we know it today. Autonomy to decide for their own good, gave the people the right to choose the form of authority that could lead them as a society or community towards a better future and progress. This opened the doors to the emergence of states with separate and legally defined spheres of jurisdiction. Thus we find that modernity represents a transformation ââ¬â philosophical, scientific, social, political and cultural ââ¬â at a definite time in history at a definite spatial location. This transformation also represents a continuum up to the present in so much so that its basic principles are inherent in the societies and nations of today. The period of enlightenment can be seen as one of transition from the ââ¬Ëtraditionalââ¬â¢ to the ââ¬Ëmodernââ¬â¢ forms of society, from an age of blind beliefs to a new age of reason and rational. Different Perspectives on development of Modernity Different political and philosophical thinkers have however developed different, and sometimes contradicting, theories of the development of modernity. Friedrich Hegel and Karl Marx are two of the leading thinkers whose theories run counter to each other. For Hegel, the development of modernity was a dialectical process which was governed by the increasing self-consciousness of what he termed as the collective human ââ¬Ëmindââ¬â¢ or ââ¬Ëspiritââ¬â¢. According to Hegel, the dialectic process of development of the mind comprised three stages, with two initially contradicting positions synthesizing into a third reconciled position. Human beings live what Hegel called an ââ¬ËEthical Lifeââ¬â¢ or in a social environment shaped by customs and traditions. This ethical life has three stages: the first is the family, which is dissolved in due course, the second is the ââ¬Ëcivil societyââ¬â¢ that a person builds up as a result of his social interactions beyond the family and greater relations, and finally the third stage of the ââ¬Ëstateââ¬â¢ which Hegel defines as the highest form of social reason. For Hegel therefore, the formation of the modern state is the mark of modernity when human beings achieve the ultimate stage of social existence. Hegel believed as individuals or families, human beings are too selfish and self-centered co-exist in harmony and work for development. It is the state that is able to integrate the contradictions of different individuals, and not market forces. Since the state by itself is composed of political institutions, Hegelââ¬â¢s theory equates the development of the modern state or modern political institutions with modernity. Marx took a completely opposing view, when he asserted that material forces drive history. For him the state by itself is not an ideal entity for the integration of human beings into a cohesive whole for their development as a nation or a society. According to him it is the material forces comprising social and economic forces that drive history towards modernity. People engage in production for their means of subsistence, they bind together and form states for the sake of production. Different forms of productions create different class relations. It is to maximize production and gain the maximum benefits and advantages that people bond together in different classes in the form of the modern state. The different ways in which production is organized give rise to complex forms of social organization because a particular mode of production is an entire way of life for the people who are involved in it. For Marx social existence is not consciously determined by human beings, rather, it is the other way round: their social existence determines their consciousness. When there are contradictions between productive forces and the social relationships of production, class conflict arises. For Marx, therefore, modernity is defined by the state of social existence. Marx acknowledges that ââ¬Ëcapitalism has been the most productive mode of production, and it contains the most potential for the realization of human freedomââ¬â¢. This very dynamic characteristic of capitalism is born out of its destructiveness for all traditional social constraints such as religion, nation, family, sex, etc. But it is the same destructiveness and creativeness that creates the experience of modernity in Capitalism. This vital association between capitalism and modernity from none less that Marx himself establishes that the capitalism that evolved after the period of enlightenment in Europe has been acknowledged as the modern era of the period of modernity by Marx. Marx however states that capitalism is exploitative, and because it is exploitative, its full potential cannot be harnessed for the benefit of all. He therefore advocates communism which is a system of planned and conscious production by men and women of their won free will. This brings us to the question whether humanity has already passed through a stage of history that has been termed as modernity, and has moved on to the postmodern era (Mitchell, 2009). Another important point is regarding the placing of modernity. Modernity is understood to be a process that began and ended in Europe, and was later exported to other parts of the world. Thinkers like Marx tend to differ. He saw Capitalism emerge as a ââ¬Ërosy dawnââ¬â¢ not in England or the Netherlands but in the production trade and finance of the colonial system (Marx, 1967). Therefore, though the concept of modernity can be defined in various ways, it definitely refers to the process of evolution of the human mind and the society to a point where people were able to come together for their own advantage and benefit and work for unceasing development under a collectively formalized authority such as the nation state. It can also be state with a certain degree of assertiveness that the period from the beginning of the Eighteenth Century to the French Revolution in 1789 actually marked the period of active development of modernity in Europe. The concepts that were nurtured during the period bore fruit immediately afterwards in Europe and the West and later spread to the rest of the world. The world has continued since on very much the same basic principles but with far more advanced technologies and superior social, economic and political approaches. Influence of Modernity on Literature Modernity had a profound influence on literature. As people began to think differently, they also began to write differently. The modernist ideas of religious emancipation, autonomy, reliance on reason, rationality and science, and on development and progress began to find expression in the literature that developed even during the period of enlightenment and thereafter. This new form of literature came to be known as the Modernist Literature. Modernist literature tended to vent expression to the tendencies of modernity. Modernist literature, as also modernist art, took up cudgels against the old system of blind beliefs. Centering around the idea of individualism or the individual mind, modernist literature displayed mistrust of established institutions such as conventional forms of autocratic government and religion. It also tended not to believe in any absolute truths. Simmel (1903) gives an overview of the thematic concerns of Modernist Literature when he states that, ââ¬Å"The deepest problems of modern life derive from the claim of the individual to preserve the autonomy and individuality of his existence in the face of overwhelming social forces, of historical heritage, of external culture, and of the technique of life. â⬠Examples from two Greats A few examples of Modernist literature will serve to make its characteristics more clear. Rene Descartes (1596 ââ¬â 1650) is considered to be one of the early enlightenment thinkers whose literary works opened the avenues to the modern era. Known as the founder of modern philosophy and the father of modern mathematics, Descartes was a French philosopher, mathematician and scientist whose influence has served to shape the beginnings of Modernist literature. In his famous work, The Discourse on Method, he presents the equally famous quotation ââ¬Ëcogito ergo sumââ¬â¢ or ââ¬ËI think, therefore I amââ¬â¢, which about sums up the very principle of the basis of the modern era. ââ¬Å"I observed that, whilst I thus wished to think that all was false, it was absolutely necessary that I, who thus thought, should be somewhat; and as I observed that this truth, I think, therefore I am (COGITO ERGO SUM), was so certain and of such evidence that no ground of doubt, however extravagant, could be alleged by the sceptics capable of shaking it, I concluded that I might, without scruple, accept it as the first principle of the philosophy of which I was in searchâ⬠(Descartes, 1637). In this work, Descartes drew on ancients such as Sextus Emiricus to revive the idea of skepticism, and reached a truth that he found to be undeniable. ââ¬Å"Descartes started his line of reasoning by doubting everything, so as to assess the world from a fresh perspective, clear of any preconceived notions. In other words, he rejected manââ¬â¢s reliance on Godââ¬â¢s revealed word, placing his own intellect on a higher plainâ⬠(McCarter, 2006). David Hume (1711 ââ¬â 1776) was a philosopher, economist and historian from Scotland, and was considered a notable personality both in western philosophy and of the Scottish Enlightenment movement. In his works, he had a way of projecting the errors of scepticism and naturalism, thus carving out a way for secular humanism. In his most famous work, ââ¬ËAn Enquiry concerning Human Understandingââ¬â¢, Hume asserts that all human knowledge is imbibed through our senses. He argues that unless the source from which the impression of a certain entity is conveyed to our senses is identified, that entity cannot exist. The logic would nullify the existence of God, a soul or a self. ââ¬Å"By the term impression, then, I mean all our more lively perceptions, when we hear, or see, or feel, or love, or hate, or desire, or will. And impressions are distinguished from ideas, which are the less lively perceptions, of which we are conscious, when we reflect on any of those sensations or movements above mentioned â⬠¦It seems a proposition, which will not admit of much dispute, that all our ideas are nothing but copies of our impressions, or, in other words, that it is impossible for us to think of anything, which we have not antecedently felt, either by our external or internal sensesâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (Dover Philosophical Classics, 2004) In the same work Hume also postulates two kinds of human reasoning ââ¬â Relation of Ideas and Matters of Fact. The former involves abstract concepts such as of mathematics where deductive faculty is required, and the later is about empirical experiences which are inductive in nature. This postulate has come to be known as Humeââ¬â¢s Fork. Hume, along with his contemporaries of the Scottish Enlightenment, also proposed that the basis for principles of morals is to be sought in the utility that they tend to serve. This shows the questioning nature of modernist literature not only of religious but also of moral and social norms and values. A very visible influence of modernity is therefore seen in the works of Hume. Present-day Modernist Literature If modernity influenced literature, it also used literature to shift from a philosophical and theoretical domain into the practical lives of people. Modernity could infiltrate into the lives of people through literary works that defined and reiterated the legitimate new modes of classification. Old literary forms with traditional meanings attached to them were reworked, allowing readers to modify or contravene the older meanings. ââ¬Å"This opening-up process allowed readers to glean new meanings that modified or contravened the older ones. In the course of these changes, words, forms, and institutions altered their meaning in British life: they, and the practices they comprised, referred differentlyâ⬠¦. modifying ââ¬Ëreference potentialââ¬â¢ in literature fed back into how readers responded to changes in lifeâ⬠¦Ã¢â¬ (Rothstein, 2007) In art and literature, many critics view ââ¬Ëmodernismââ¬â¢ as a new trend in the field of art and literature, defined basically by stylistic and structural variations. They would not accept the fact that ââ¬Ëmodernismââ¬â¢, it is basic approach, was the principles of modernity rendered plausible in literature and art. Modernity has always tried to hold up the world in new perspectives. Similarly, modernist literature opens up the world in all its forms ââ¬â theoretical, philosophical, aesthetical and political ââ¬â for fresh scrutiny. Even in its present form, modernist literature attempts to break the objective world of the realist. ââ¬Å"Modernist writing â⬠¦ takes the reader into a world of unfamiliarity, a deep introspection, a cognitive thought-provoking experience, skepticism of religion, and openness to culture, technology, and innovationâ⬠(Melton, 2010). Modernist literature exhibits a fascination with the workings of the mind, and how reality is reflected by the mind. The questioning of life, with or without the presence of God, is another trademark of the philosophical and theoretical moorings of modernist literature. Charles Darwinââ¬â¢s work challenges God as the Creator and presents the process of natural selection in the survival of life. This led to modernist literature of time travel, of questioning the existence of individuals and the purpose of the universe. Modernism brought about a new openness in the areas of feminism, bisexuality, the family, and the mind. In the world of today, modernist literature still display much of the characteristics of the times in which it first took shape. A very important theme of modernist literature today is a feeling of being alone in the world ââ¬â a feeling stemming from estrangement or alienation. Characters are often presented as being depressed or angry. A second common trait is that of being in doubt. ââ¬Å"It may be disbelief in religion, in happiness, or simply a lack of purpose and doubt in the value of human life. Finally, a third theme that is prevalent is a search for the truthâ⬠(Foster, 2010). Then there is a third theme in which the alienated character is always in the search for truth and seeks answers to a plethora of questions relating to human subjectivity. In all these characteristics are to be found the same questioning nature, the same denouncement of blind beliefs and the same dependence on reason and rationality that the Eighteenth Century enlightenment thinkers had pursued. The character is alienated and estranged because he or she questions all that is deemed not right by his or her own mind; the character questions the beliefs of religion and other institutions which are not based on reasoning; and finally the character seeks answers and the truth. ââ¬Å"Modernist literature encompasses the thematic fingerprints of a rebellious, questioning, disbelieving, meditative, and confident type of form, which was conceived out of a change in the belief of humanity, the mind, a God, and the self brought on by the shift from capitalism to an ever-increasing society of revolutionary changesâ⬠(Melton, 2010). References Descartes, R. , 1637, The Discourse on Methods. Dover Philosophical Classics, 2004, David Hume, An Enquiry concerning Human Understanding, Dover Publications Inc. Foster, J. , 2010, Modernism in Literature and History, Available: http://www. helium. com/items/743749-modernism-in-literature-and-history Karl Marx, 1967, Capital: A Critique of Political Economy, 3 vols. , New York: International Publishers, 1:703. McCarter, J. , P. , 2006, Literature of the Modern Era, The Puritansââ¬â¢ Home School Curriculum. Melton, L. , 2010, Modernism in Literature and History, Available: http://www. helium. com/items/809291-modernism-in-literature-and-history Mitchell, T. , 2000, The Stage of Modernity, Available: http://www. ram-wan. net/restrepo/modernidad/the%20stage%20of%20modernity-mitchell. pdf Rothstein, E. , 2007, Gleaning Modernity, Earlier Eighteenth Century Literature and the Modernizing Process, Rosemont Publishing and Printing Corp. , Associated University Presses. Simmel, G. , 1093, The Metropolis and Mental Life.
Friday, November 8, 2019
Free Essays on Contemplation
Have you ever had a relationship where you have been with the person so long that you donââ¬â¢t know what to get them for a gift anymore? I was in that situation at Christmas and never though it would cause me to have an eye opening moment. ââ¬Å"Mike hurry up weââ¬â¢re going to be lateâ⬠, we were going to a Leafs game. I got him tickets for Christmas, which was the only thing I could think of and very difficult to get, so I was pretty excited. We got on the train finally and I found myself looking for other people who were going to the game. There were all sorts of people. There was a mother and her daughter the little girl had her face painted with a blue maple leaf. There were three businessmen, I could hear them talking about the game. An old man was holding his ticket so hard it looked like he thought someone was going to take it from him. It was a nice train ride that built up anticipation for the game. Time flew by as I asked Mike all the questions I could think of about the Leafs. In no time we were off the train and heading to the ACC. We gave the person at the gate our tickets and headed to find our seats. I again found myself looking at people this time because certain things caught my ey e. There was a man already drunk, swaying on his feet, a group of girls wearing ... I think it was clothes, a group of businessmen were eating sushi, I hate sushi. Then I saw what I thought was a typical group of hockey fans wearing jeans and jerseys. All of these different people were very interesting to me, so as we sat down I was still analyzing them while Mike watched the warm up. At first, I noticed how empty the arena was and wondered why there were not more people here to watch their home team warm up. So I asked Mike, ââ¬Å"Most of the people who come and watch these games are people who do not care about hockey. Itââ¬â¢s just that they have seasonââ¬â¢s tickets.â⬠He said. I thought that was ridiculous. I donââ¬â¢t like hoc... Free Essays on Contemplation Free Essays on Contemplation Have you ever had a relationship where you have been with the person so long that you donââ¬â¢t know what to get them for a gift anymore? I was in that situation at Christmas and never though it would cause me to have an eye opening moment. ââ¬Å"Mike hurry up weââ¬â¢re going to be lateâ⬠, we were going to a Leafs game. I got him tickets for Christmas, which was the only thing I could think of and very difficult to get, so I was pretty excited. We got on the train finally and I found myself looking for other people who were going to the game. There were all sorts of people. There was a mother and her daughter the little girl had her face painted with a blue maple leaf. There were three businessmen, I could hear them talking about the game. An old man was holding his ticket so hard it looked like he thought someone was going to take it from him. It was a nice train ride that built up anticipation for the game. Time flew by as I asked Mike all the questions I could think of about the Leafs. In no time we were off the train and heading to the ACC. We gave the person at the gate our tickets and headed to find our seats. I again found myself looking at people this time because certain things caught my ey e. There was a man already drunk, swaying on his feet, a group of girls wearing ... I think it was clothes, a group of businessmen were eating sushi, I hate sushi. Then I saw what I thought was a typical group of hockey fans wearing jeans and jerseys. All of these different people were very interesting to me, so as we sat down I was still analyzing them while Mike watched the warm up. At first, I noticed how empty the arena was and wondered why there were not more people here to watch their home team warm up. So I asked Mike, ââ¬Å"Most of the people who come and watch these games are people who do not care about hockey. Itââ¬â¢s just that they have seasonââ¬â¢s tickets.â⬠He said. I thought that was ridiculous. I donââ¬â¢t like hoc...
Wednesday, November 6, 2019
Discussion Worm and Wormwheel Essay Example
Discussion Worm and Wormwheel Essay Example Discussion Worm and Wormwheel Paper Discussion Worm and Wormwheel Paper Essay Topic: Discussion The worm and worm wheel is a very important mechanism in the field of Mechanical engineering. It has the ability to lift heavy loads with very little effort and keep the load raised and locked in a desired vertical position without any effort. The main objective of this experiment was to investigate the behavior of the worm and worm wheel gear set. Unfortunately, all the objectives of this experiment werent fulfilled in this session due to the following factors: The experiment was done only using a single starter worm The experiment was done by using only one gear which had 40 teeth. The apparatus was recently repaired and consequently, it affected the experiment results to a certain extent. However, the experiment was fully conducted for a single started worm in mesh with a 40 teeth gear set. To start the experiment, the effort pulley and the load drum were loaded with appropriate weights and wound. After the weights were loaded, a small downward pull was given to the effort hanger in order to overcome the static friction. It was advised that this manual downward pull should be given by the same person and the Orca should be the same throughout the whole experiment since it could affect the experiment results adversely if done otherwise. And it was also advised that when releasing the effort, the effort hanger should be released from the same vertical height. Although the reason for this is not fully explainable, it can be assumed that this was either because the surface nature of the effort cord was not uniform or due to the number of rotations of the effort cord on the effort pulley that caused a slight difference in the friction between the cord segments. After the experiment, readings for Applied load and Actual effort were obtained and tabulated. The tabulated data was then plotted to obtain a graph after further calculations. The graph was drawn for Actual effort (EAI) vs.. Applied load (F) to find the Law of the machine. During the experiment, there were few conflicts in opinions. Instances for such discrepancies were when at some attempts, the effort was able to lift the load with a mass very low than expected. The reason for this phenomenon is also not completely explainable since physical concepts such s static and dynamic friction are still not quite clearly understood. But it could be assumed that this was due to human error because the initial downward pull was applied manually and there was a chance that the pull was not uniform in all instances of the experiment. In this worm and worm wheel gear set, the machine may not provide a continuous efficiency for all loads since there is a limit to its efficiency. The limiting efficiency for this apparatus can be termed as the reciprocal of the product of the velocity ratio and the slope of the graph drawn for the Law of the machine.
Monday, November 4, 2019
Mgmt3010 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words
Mgmt3010 - Essay Example 2. Staffing strategy is a term used to denote the long-term plan which provides direction to the organization regarding the staffing issue; the strategy focuses on the supply and demand of the staffing issue with the objective of ensuring that the organization is able to meet the demands of the required workforce. While staffing strategy is created for the longer run, staffing plans are created for the short run and these plans address staffing issues in the short run, the issues addressed are the shortage and surplus of staff members in the short run (Bechet 17). 3. There are two staffing levels, the deficit level, in which the number of staff members required and the kind of skills and abilities required by a company are not available to the company, the second level is staffing surplus when the number of required staff members is higher than the required number and the skills and abilities required are even in compliance with the desired skills and abilities required by the organization (Bechet 79). Staffing level can be determined in a quantitative manner in which emphasis is on the head count and the qualitative manner in which the emphasis is on desired skills and abilities. An organization achieves right staffing levels when their staff members have the desired skills and abilities and the headcount is equal or more than the desired amount of staff members. 4. Uncontrollable actions that arise while an organization develops its staffing model include voluntary turnover, retirement and losses caused as a result of employees taking planned leaves (Bechet 50). Voluntary turnover takes place when employees leave the organization out of their own will, retirements take place when employees reach a certain age and the organization no longer needs them and losses arise because the employee takes leave from the organization due
Friday, November 1, 2019
An essay about the book - The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao
An about the book - The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao - Essay Example His protagonist, Oscar Wao is a rejected boy moving in the society who lacks the physical appearance as well as the exposure to do and say the right things at the right time. It is a true portrayal of what goes on in life every day, but Diaz has managed to add the spark of fiction as well as humor to make this book even more interesting to read. Junot addressââ¬â¢s the problem of existing in this world, harsh? Yes, True? Extremely! This book highlights the problem of men being suffocated in the fantasy of fiction and women are expected to do more than they can. Itââ¬â¢s a tale of how Oscarââ¬â¢s life is affected by his dysfunctional family and how much his inner dreams are crushed regularly. Oscar Wao is the worst possible nightmare of any person who has gone through groveling social experiences in high school, college or even work. Oscar Wao is an extremely oversized boy who is known for his dorky outlook and lack of judgment with girls. He is from a typical Dominican family with a frustrated mother who works hard all day long and treats her kids with anything but love. Now, Oscar is a pity young character who has no father to support and guidance to lead him into the ââ¬Å"manlyâ⬠zone of life. In Chapter one Oscarââ¬â¢s sister comes to his support when Beli, his mother is hurling at him for crying because of girl trouble: ââ¬Å"It wasnââ¬â¢t just that he didnââ¬â¢t have no kind of father to show him the masculine ropes, he simply lacked all aggressive and martial tendencies.â⬠(Page 8) His problem was not the fact that he had no male guidance in his life; his uncle La Inca lived with them but was a drug addict. Naturally, Oscar was just not the m an of aggression and violence. This initial part of the story clearly paves the path of what is to come in the book. How the lack of macho-ism caused problems for the protagonist. What can be worse than the fact that you are beaten up by
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