Thursday, September 3, 2020

The Southern Pride Of The Civil War English Literature Essay

The Southern Pride Of The Civil War English Literature Essay The Civil War was from 1861-1865. The result of the war and the war itself affected the individuals of that time, yet additionally American writing. Creators mixed the methods of the northern and southern individuals into their works like a dough puncher collapsing food shading into player to make a heavenly confetti cake. For instance, in A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner, Faulkner composes and now miss Emily had gone to join the represtatives of those august names where they lay in the cedar-bunds burial ground among the positioned and unknown graves of the association and confederate fighters who fell at the clash of Jefferson.(89). In Faulkners short story the fallout of the chronicled occasion, the common war, is found in the imagery he utilizes all through the short story, his character Emily, and his perspective on the south. In A Rose for Emily imagery is utilized to show the impacts of the common war on the south and to lay a more profound importance in the short story. Toward the start of this story the house is old, worn out, and unpopular. It is depicted to have once been white, enriched with domes and towers and looked over overhangs in the lightsome style ofâ the seventies.(Faulkner 89). The house can represent the fall of the old south and the aftermath of southern customs since the common war. The house likewise represents the separate of miss Emily genuinely and truly throughout the years. A while ago when Emilys father passed on the house was still in acceptable condition and stayed aware of, Emily additionally stayed aware of herself. She was youthful and thought about a legitimate southern beauty. At the point when miss Emily bites the dust she is old and her hair has turned dark. Similarly as Emily is obstinate so is the house. She would not acknowledge the cutting edge thoughts, when the t own got free postal conveyance miss Emily alone wouldn't let them secure the metal numbers over her entryway and append a letter drop to it.(Faulkner 93), as it appears the house dismissed refreshing with the new advances. Several images to tell that time was passing are Miss Emilys pocket watch and her hair. The pocket watch is just referenced once in the story. It was the point at which the Board of Aldermen went to her home to gather charges. They were in the family room and after the board was finished talking, at that point through could hear the undetectable watch ticking toward the finish of the gold chain.(Faulkner 90). The ticking is an indication that time never stops and that southern standards are evolving. Emilys hair turned dark throughout the years, when we next observed muss Emily, she had developed hatband her hair was turning dim. During the following hardly any years it developed grayer and grayer until it wrinkled turning.(Faulkner 93). This indicated time cruisi ng by. Homer Barron in this short story represents a rodent and the north. Homer represents a rodent to Emily when she discovered he was not a wedding man(Faulkner 92). He no doubt wouldnt have kept a guarantee to wed her so to Emily arsenic was a decent decision of toxic substance to slaughter him with. The pharmacist composed a note of the crate of arsenic For rats!'(Faulkner 92). Homer additionally represents the north since he is from the north and has northern standards. He depicts the northern standards moving into the south. A rose from the title a rose for Emily represents protection. Homer is the rose when Emily executes him and keeps him in her room. The room has valance blinds of blurred rose shading, upon the rose-concealed lights(Faulkner 94), which is the ideal spot to save a body. Emily protected him like a rose to make him last. The rose is protection of southern goals also. Additionally the rose is a recognition of death. A great deal of death happened all through t his short story. The rose could likewise represent quietness. With homer speaking to the north and a rose as quietness, homers passing is a way that Emily hushed the north or change in her life. Miss Emily represents the old south. Emilys father raised her on the southern ways, alive, miss Emily had been a custom, an obligation, and a card; such a heredity commitment upon the town, dating from that day in 1894(Faulkner 90). She was customary, as in not making good on charges, as most southern individuals are. Demise represents Emilys life. She was alive however not so much carrying on with the existence she had. In a manner she is demise as in the soul harvester. Her dad bites the dust in her quality and she executes homer Barron. Emily herself kicks the bucket in this short story, hence representing the demise of the old south. Faulkner utilizes imagery in a rose fir Emily to help depict what sort of character Emily is. Faulkners character Emily is influenced by the common wars result. Emilys father settled in Jefferson, Mississippi after the war. Her dad ingrained solid southern convictions into Emily. An impact of this is Emily is difficult and reluctant to change. Her refusal to pay charges makes her something other than an obstinate town eccentric.(Smith 3). Miss Emily wouldn't fit in with the standards of the town when she wouldnt let the individuals put numbers on her home. Confirmation of Emily having southern convictions is that her hireling is dark, a couple of the women had the nerve to call, however were not gotten, and the main indication of life about the spot was the Negro man - a youngster then-going in and out with a market basket.(Faulkner 91). The dark hireling alludes back to when slaves where permitted in the south. Miss Emilys father had stifled Emily from suitors,Mr. Grierson was a severe man who requested exclusive requirements from covered up daughter.(Black 4). The absences of cooperation with individuals lead her to have, the failure to feel or exhibit fitting effect, or feeling, that is harmonious to a specific situation.(Smith 2). Continually being under her dads control drives her to deny her dads passing. With her recently discovered opportunity she remove her hair as an indication of splitting endlessly from her dads control.(Fatima 3). Homer Barron began as an excursion; at that point turned into a fixation for Emily. The male nearness was required for her to work appropriately; homer was simply filling a vacancy(Bernardo 1). Emilys fixation on him made her never need to release him. The way that homer wasnt the wedding type drove Emily to the brink to execute him, so she wouldnt ever need to release him and keep him everlastingly in her essence. Miss Emilys father presses southern goals into Emily, which badly affected her. Faulkner communicates the common war influences through Emily. Emily is likewise a decent articulation on his perspectives on the south. Faulkners vision of the south is seen through imagery, the character of Emily and the occasions that happen in the short story. Homer speaks to the north. The north is welcoming itself into the south and driving endlessly conventions that have been carried on for quite a long time with the force the common war has given it. At the point when homer was supposively seeking with miss Emily the town was dismayed, from the start we were happy that miss Emily would have an intrigue, on the grounds that the women all stated, obviously a Grierson would not think intensely about a Northerner, a day worker. (Faulkner 92). Supposedly on the south, spoke to by Emily, wins the fight. This is the point at which she harmed homer in dread of him leaving her. The town feels that Emily has ran homer off, however rather she has slaughtered him so she can save him for herself. Emily quieted homer, in this manner safeguarding the trustworthiness of the old southern ways. Faulkner has given the south a su ccess in his short story since in the common war the south lost toward the north. As the story unwinds, in time so does Emily and the house. The two of them develop old and endured. The southern beliefs are decreasing ceaselessly additionally over the long haul. Despite the fact that the greater part of the south has overlooked Emily hasnt. She is the rose of conservation for southern goals, conventions, and method of living. When Emily passes on it implies that all memory of the old south is obliged her. In William Faulkners A Rose for Emily, Faulkner composed, à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã¢ ¦-some in their brushed Confederate regalia à ¢Ã¢â€š ¬Ã‚ ¦(Faulkner 94). This was depicting a few veterans at Emilys burial service. IN this short story imagery, the character Emily, and the perspective on the south show the outcomes of the north winning in the Civil War. In American writing the Civil War molded crafted by numerous writers around that time. Bernardo, Karen. William Faulkners A Rose for Emily'. 5/5/2010. Clear, Amanda. Short Story Reviews: A Rose for Emily, by William Faulkner. 5/5/2010. . Fatima. A Rose for Emily. 5/5/2010. Faulkner, William. A Rose for Emily. Trans. Thomas Gould. Writing: An Introduction to Reading and Writing. Ed. Edgar Roberts. New York: Longman, 2009. Print. Smith, Nicole. Mental Character Analysis of Emily in A Rose for Emily by William Faulkner. 5/52010.

Saturday, August 22, 2020

Running Speed in Dinosaurs

Running Speed in Dinosaurs Acquaintance Dinosaurs allude with a wide arrangement of creatures that commanded vertebrates living ashore for more than one hundred and sixty years since the finish of Triassic period to the late Cretaceous time. The types of dinosaur started vanishing in the third episode of shellfish eradication occasion. As indicated by reports from the fossils, avian created from a gathering of dinosaurs called theropod in the Jurassic period (Paul 14). A couple of the winged animals avoided this period including their relatives. Never the less, winged creatures in certain occurrences have been delegated dinosaurs.Advertising We will compose a custom research paper test on Running Speed in Dinosaurs explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More These are a lot of creatures comprising of in excess of 9,000 avian and perciform fish. A few sorts of avian dinosaurs have been distinguished, running from those that fly to those that don't fly. Fossil remains having a place with dinosaurs hav e been unearthed in all pieces of the world. A couple of the dinosaurs were savage while others were herbivorous. Moreover, a few dinosaurs have been having two pedals, others with four pedals. Dinosaurs having two pedals accept the most elevated extreme speed in running instead of those with four appendages. Never the less, a few dinosaurs strolling on fours run at a quick rate rather than their bipedal counterpartss. An a valid example is the avian relatives which have quick moving muscles of the upper arm which have developed by time to shape wings and can impel the dinosaur at exceptionally zapping speeds particularly under pressure or when pursuing a prey. The vast majority of the current day creatures have their familial roots among the dinosaurs’ .The world’s primary vertebrates that fly are the fowls. Likewise, a large portion of the dinosaurs have been decreased in sizes and are said to make homes remembering laying eggs for the homes just as flying at extreme ly high speeds. The main fossils were found in the nineteenth century. Since the revelation, the remaining parts have been protected in different memorable destinations, for example, the historical centers. Each uncovered remain has followed a similar suite making historical centers rich of dinosaur remains. Dinosaurs have showed up in top of the line articles just as movies using their quick moving attributes. New revelations of the equivalent have been circulated by media on standard premise. All the more in this way, the dissolving dinosaur picture as old beast has pulled in the utilization of ‘dinosaur’ into picking up passage into vernacular by portraying whatever is old, enormous, tending towards termination and eases back moving. Present day definition According to Phylogenic grouping, dinosaurs allude to current flying creatures (Neortnithes), their ongoing ancestors’. Avian species have been portrayed by nearness of ostriches; these definitions include t heropods, sauropodomorphs, ankylosaurians, stegosaurians, ceratopsians, and ornithopods (Paul 67). General depiction Dinosaurs can be characterized as land based archosaurian reptiles comprising of appendages raised underneath the body that existed during the end ofs Triassic and the finish of Cretaceous periods. A large portion of antediluvian creatures are implied to be dinosaurs (Paul 76). Dinosaurs established a huge bit of creatures living ashore and which took after warm blooded creatures very closely.Advertising Looking for research paper on science? How about we check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Other arrangements of creatures were little and constrained to the size of a rat or feline. Nonetheless, Repenomamus giganticus benefited from baby dinosaurs. Since 2008, different dinosaur species have been distinguished. One of the Dinosaurs was seen as living in ethereal or marine conditions in spite of the way that a few theropods with quills could fly. This just implies a portion of the spinosaurids established of fleeting sea-going attributes. Physiology Most individuals contemplating the cause and advancement forms among dinosaurs have offered various thoughts in regards to warm guideline which intently entwines with speed in a given creature. At first a hot conversation guaranteed as for the mammoths capacity to control the internal heat levels. As of now examines have bolstered the way that these dissolving species existed in areas of low temperatures henceforth a large portion of them had warm administrative components to counter the cooler climatic conditions. Consequently, the contention agrees with the individuals who stated that the dinosaur’s extreme speed during running was low; henceforth they were moderate moving animals. A case of this fossil is that of the polar bears found in Antarctica area. Revelation of avian fossils have likewise bolstered the warm guideline idea among Neortnithes. The investigation of blood course among a lot of avian dinosaurs is a genuine portrayal of every endothermic animal. Theropods showed a functioning way of life blood circulatory framework that is normal for endothermic creatures. Warm-bloodedness among numerous creatures can result from different systems. For instance, Mammals and avian whose body sizes are normal have been contrasted and endothermic dinosaurs. These winged creatures utilize their energies to expand their internal heat levels over that of the encompassing. Little estimated avian have protectors as far as nearness of quills and fat which helps in warm guideline. Immense well evolved creatures like elephants, notwithstanding, have brief surface region contrasted with its volume which is in concurrence with Halden’s standard. This element improves warm guideline which coming about because of the cooling of the internal heat levels during hot seasons by means of fluttering of the ears. This trademark is significant particularly during pursuing a chase. Dinosaurs speed The legs of people are up directly with knees that are straight because of their vertical bodies that put the C.O .G (focal point of gravity) in arrangement with the attachment of the hip. Since both the body and the leader of the bipedal dinosaurs were kept level just as in front of the hips in spite of the long tail which countered the equalization, the femur inclined in front so as to keep up the feet underneath COG.Advertising We will compose a custom research paper test on Running Speed in Dinosaurs explicitly for you for just $16.05 $11/page Learn More This association is anyway incredibly spoken to in winged creatures with short tails whose femoral bones are near the even line on strolling in order to keep up the feet and knees an inaccessible enough in front, consequently during running, feathered creatures femur will in general emphatically swing towards the back instead of the front (Martin 57). Two arrangements of dino saurs specifically the sauropods and the stegosaurs created massive one-sided towards straighter-jointed columnar appendages. The knee structure was revamped in that it kept up completely verbalized upstanding. All the more along these lines, the portability of the lower leg was decreased while the rear appendages were kept short. This adjustment controlled the body from being pushed in to genuine running independent of the size. For example, youthful elephants consistently run at a more slow pace instead of their folks in that at any rate one foot is consistently stack to the ground during rapid running. Dinosaurs with straight appendages ought to have been much more slow in running than elephants whose speed is equivalent to or under 15 meters for each moment or 25kilometres every hour (Paul 245). Nor, is it an issue to find out that medium and little dinosaurs bearing long, slim flexed rear appendages would run at comparable speed to dashing vertebrates and earthbound winged crea tures whose speed is between forty to sixty kilometers for each hour. Difficulties have been knowledgeable about endeavors to discover the most noteworthy speed in which substantial weight dinosaurs can achieve. Some electronic advancements have asserted that tyrannosauras dinosaurs could achieve a most noteworthy speed of roughly forty kilometers for each hour equivalent to elephants of a similar size which is the people running velocity. Since huge tyrannosaurus would be advised to running adjustments rather than elephants, there comes up short on a probability of this sort of animals having been moderate, moreover, a few people shows that colossal theropods ability to run was twice that of comparative measured elephants and that this speed was proportional to that of the non-careful reproduced ponies and rhinos. Till date, the electronic examination of dinosaurs velocity forms notwithstanding capacity of vitality in the effectively extended ligaments of the appendages and springi ng reverberation impact of the tail and middle. Not one or the other, has it happened that the ability of the projects utilized in discovering the speed could effectively determine extraordinary animals’ execution just as gauge the modalities on which outrageous dinosaurs which incorporate the supersaurapods had the option to keep up an upstanding stance with insignificant developments independent of their enormous bodies.Advertising Searching for research project on science? How about we check whether we can support you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Find out More This is imperative to note, be that as it may, this inquiry has needed responses for a long time (Lockley 12). It is much all the more discouraging to consider this secret since track-ways show that the huge surapods were earthbound never the less, their appearance looks unpredictable and their weight can't offer help to elephants whose speed is low and which bears a little body size. The supersaurapods required super muscles and capacity to stumble into Mesozoic terrains. They likewise required lovely adjustments like all around fabricated fiber muscles just as ligaments that have just been strained to experience advancement in order to upgrade development. In the event that their muscles were pre-strained, at that point clearly the colossal dinosaurs may have exceptionally high running velocity rather than PC investigation results. General Anatomy and Speed The leaders of the dinosaurs extended from sensitive structures to very much shaped structures. The sinuses or nasal entries w ere well build

Friday, August 21, 2020

How Souls Move Bodies Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

How Souls Move Bodies - Essay Example Elisabeth requests that Descartes explain the association issue. The issue comprises dualism as a main issue of debate. The way that something, which doesn't have the physical property, communicates causally with physical articles is the focal topic of contention. Elisabeth asks why contemplations in the brain can cause activity in the physical body. She contends that anything that influences the physical body should likewise be physical and have augmentation and mass. In reacting to Elisabeth, he ascribes the current disarray to the utilization of ideas that separate the brain and the body to clarify the cooperation between the two perspectives. He utilizes a relationship of a person who thinks about weight as a real thing that makes an article fall. From this similarity, Descartes infers his decision that individuals are a twisting idea. In the subsequent answer, he says that Elisabeth should don't hesitate to credit expansion and matter to the spirit. He keeps on argueing that s he will consider the association of the body and the psyche on the off chance that she does as such. In synopsis, he abstains from offering an exact response to the prompt. Descartes’ answer is unacceptable. It leaves a greater number of prompts than answers. Without the expansion of the spirit, in what capacity will people’s impression of it in that setting clarify the issue of connection? Also, if individuals are to think about the association of the spirit and body, it will imply that we see some causal association. In this manner, it is more diligently to imagine it as educated by Descartes.

Monday, June 8, 2020

Tragedy And Horror Of Rwandan Genocide - Free Essay Example

  The Rwandan Genocide was a tragic event that happened in April 1994 to July 1994. The genocide took place in the Rwandan Civil War, a conflict beginning in 1990 between the Hutu and the Tutsis people. The genocide made many problems for the world, it has many lasting effects on the world and Rwanda. The Rwandan genocide was as devastating as the Holocaust and were both left with a bad reputation.    â€Å"After the genocide, Rwanda was on the brink of total collapse.† â€Å"Of the survivors, women took over 70 percent of the population, entire villages were destroyed, and social cohesion was in utter disrepair (History channel).† The genocide was between the Hutu and the Tutsis. They fought for 100 days killing thousands of people a day. The cause of the genocide was a conflict beginning in 1990 between the Hutu-led government and the Rwandan Patriotic Front (RPF). â€Å"The latter was made up largely of Tutsi refugees whose families had fled to Uganda after the 1959 Hutu revolt against colonial rule (Florence).† â€Å"Approximately 800,000 Tutsis and Hutu moderates were slaughtered in a carefully organized program of genocide over 100 days, †¦Ã¢â‚¬ (United To End Genocide).   If you calculate that it would mean 8,000 people were killed a day. The people being targeted in this genocide were the Tutsis people, and they were being targeted by the Hutu people. The Tutsis were being killed by machetes and other objects such as these. The Tutsis people fled to neighboring countries seeking refuge during this time. I did not see anything that said they defended themselves. As far as I know they fled because they were frightened.   This genocide ended by the doing of the RPF(Rwandan Patriotic Front) and the Uganda Army. They slowly took land in Rwanda until they finally took Kigali, which is the capital of Rwanda. During the genocide, France set up safe zones for the Tutsis, but the Rwandan people accused them of not doing enough to stop the slaughtering in the areas of these safe zones. The people that took action in the genocide or allowed it fled in fear that there would be any revenge attacks against them. After the genocide there were a couple things that people did to prevent another devastating genocide in Rwanda. One thing that they did to prevent another genocide was they started eliminating reference to race in their identification documents, so they were all considered Rwandans. â€Å"The government in Kigali is also counting on economic progress to help the country achieve lasting reconciliation†¦ Rwanda had reduced its poverty rate by 12 percent within 5 years. It now stood at 45%, Beckma nn said, adding that in comparison to other African countries that was an extremely good result† (Touze-Schmitz). The genocide left people without homes and their village ruined. More than 25 years later the ones that did survive the genocide made homegoods for global sales—a sign of healing in Rwanda. Women produced baskets, handbags, and jewelry in the small, central African nation of Rwanda. â€Å"This small African country of 12 million inhabitants, encompassing a geographic area roughly the size of Maryland, has made a remarkable economic turnaround over the course of the past two decades†(Shank,   Rugaragu.). â€Å"The country now boasts intra-regional trade and service delivery, urban design innovation, and efficient transport links†(Holder).   One way the Rwandan Genocide and the Holocaust are similar is that they both affected almost every family in these countries and left both countries with a bad reputation. Another thing that makes them similar is that both people participated in the killing. â€Å"hundreds of thousands of ordinary people were part of this attempted genocide†(BBC IWONDER). Some even killed their own friends and family. Sometimes it was directly and sometimes it wasn’t. One last thing that they had in common is that both sets of people that were put in charge both claimed to be brainwashed and that it wasn’t their fault for what they did. The Rwandan Genocide was an event that will forever stay in our minds as one of the worst killing sprees that has ever taken place. Although, this horrible thing happened here, now the country is changing and growing to build itself back up to be a very unified country.

Sunday, May 17, 2020

The Rising Costs Of Higher Education - 1187 Words

There is no doubt that pricing of higher education has increased, changing the number and groups of people that are able to receive it, often being those with a high socioeconomic status. The rising costs of many colleges cause many people to wonder whether or not a pricier education really results in a better life (including better/more job opportunities in the area studied). As a result, many prospective American students are examining alternatives in hopes of reducing their debt load. One of the ways in which they are attempting to do so is by pursuing a degree from an institution in another country. The trends within education has changed a lot, increasing prices, and increasing demand. There is much controversy over whether or not students seeking further education should increase their debt load from a tens of thousands of dollars, to hundreds, for a well-known college name and degree. Post-World War II, schools in America during the 1950s were suffering with teacher and buil ding shortages due to increased enrollment. With increasing demand, that also meant that there were more things that could be influenced, especially by the government. In the 1960s, the shortage continued, including a lot of desegregation with both K-12 schools, and colleges. The call for more schools resulted in the opening of community colleges; institutions that are primarily focused on students from a particular area, often associated with a lower price-tag than Ivy Leagues or otherShow MoreRelatedRising Cost Of Higher Education1345 Words   |  6 PagesI have selected to write about the rising cost of higher education in the United States. In mass media we see discussions of how expensive it is for students to afford admission to a four-year college, student debt being higher than it ever has in previous years, and how these consequences make it difficult for graduating students to attain social mobility. As a student, it is within my best interest to discover the social facto rs that influence the cost of attaining a college degree. Many of myRead MoreThe Rising Cost Of Higher Education2468 Words   |  10 PagesThe rising cost of higher education is a topic of large concern today. As tuition prices continue to grow at a quicker pace than housing prices, consumer prices and average hourly wages, it is becoming harder and harder for the average American family to afford going to college. What factors have been driving this large rise in tuition prices? This thesis aims to set up a supply and demand framework to analyze the various forces that may be driving the price of higher education to rise above theRead MoreThe Rising Cost of Higher Education Essay1209 Words   |  5 Pagesprestigious Yale University will cost an average of $38,300 (collegeboard.com). Many students who deserve to go to this school may miss out because of the cost and lack of financial aid. The rising cost of college may put higher education out of reach for the average American. T his paper will look into the reasons behind the steady rise in prices, the legitimacy of a college education, and why recent graduates are struggling to find jobs in this tough economy. A college education is now as necessary forRead MoreImportance of Higher Education1525 Words   |  6 PagesHigher education is the foundation for growth within our global economy. Students who properly utilized the system to its fullest extent, garner life altering skills and abilities. These skills, which are often transferable from industry to industry further, enhance the quality of life for society. Many of the worlds brightest students help create, lead, and establish many of the worlds dominant organizations. These organizations, in turn, create goods and services that provide a compelling valueRead MoreWhat are the Problems of Rising Cost in College Tuition?1323 Words   |  6 PagesWhat are the Problems of Rising Cost in College Tuition? College fee is the main factor that depends on which institution of higher learning that a student is likely to join unless awarded a scholarship. It directly depends on one’s financial capability. The poor afford the cheap and less desirable intuitions that they can be able to afford while the rich can get access to high class type of education. Policies exist that govern the ability of institutions increasing their fees and at the sameRead MoreThe Effects Of Rising Tuition On Students Choice Of Future Career Field1308 Words   |  6 Pages The Effects of Rising Tuition Costs on Ferrum Students’ choice of future career field Christin C Hyslop Ferrum College Fall 2014 The Effects of Rising Tuition Costs on Ferrum Students’ choice of future career field Introduction Do rising tuition costs affect Ferrum College students’ choice of major? Descriptive research will be done to determine if there is a relationship between rising tuition costs and Ferrum College students’ choice in major. A sample set of students attendingRead MoreCost Of Higher Learning At College1491 Words   |  6 PagesCost of Higher Learning In order to have a better life and a better job today, a high school degree is usually not enough. Many people dream about having a college degree, but the costs of education being too high, could turn those dreams into a nightmare. It is no secret that a college education is expensive, and in the past few years, it has hit an all-time high with no signs of slowing down. The average college tuition cost in America universities and colleges continues to rise yearly. Many studentsRead MoreDriving The Cost Of Higher Education1063 Words   |  5 PagesDriving the Cost of Higher Education It seems as though the correct step for young people to follow after high school is college. We are constantly told that if we wish to be successful, then we must get a degree. However, with the rising costs, it’s seeming like fewer people are willing or able to take the next step into higher education. Cries about the sheer insanity of the rising costs blur into a cacophony of anger and frustration. The discussion of whether it’s even worth the cost have alsoRead MoreShould College Be A College Education?1614 Words   |  7 Pagesmine is access to higher education. College is an incredibly integral step into adult-hood, and while there have been those that have seen large amounts of success without a college education, statistically speaking, you’ll be hard pressed to find a position in the field of work you prefer. Ironically, in today’s economy, you’ll be hard to pressed to find a job in your desired profession even with a college education. Ov er the years, college has seen unending rising tuition costs, largely in partRead MoreThe Cost Of A College Education1265 Words   |  6 PagesIt is obvious to anyone who looks that the cost of a college education is rising at an alarming rate. Increased tuitions, decreased government funding, and increased institutional debt contribute to a $1 trillion student debt crises. These factors, along with critical mismanagement of funds on the part of Universities create an environment where education has risen at more than twice the rate of inflation. By examining educational institutions finances, we can begin to understand the problem, and

Wednesday, May 6, 2020

Domestic Violence Against Women in Canada Essay - 2257 Words

Introduction Intimate partner violence has been a significant issue for centuries in all countries. Since 1974, nearly 2,600 spousal homicides have been recorded in Canada (Bunge, 2002). Of these homicides, more than three-quarters have been against women. Although through feminism and the womens liberation movement, there has been a slight improvement in the incidences of violence against women, there has also been a drastic change in the perception of the issue by society. After reviewing the most recent literature on violence against women and victimization through intimate partners, it has become prevalent that there are now two crucial stances that are taken. The first position is that of the women being victimized as the†¦show more content†¦For example, changing nature of intimate relationships, increasing gender equality, legislative changes, policy and procedural changes, etc.(Bunge, 2002). Between 1974 and 2000, the homicide rate for women decreased by 62% an d the homicide rate for men dropped by more than half -55% (Bunge, 2002) which demonstrates the drastic decline in intimate partner violence including homicides. Secondly, one of the general concepts behind the literature examined would be the idea that intimate partner violence is now going through a process of normalization. For instance, popular womens magazines frame domestic violence in a way that normalizes the victimss responsibility while ignoring the role of the abuser and society (Berns, 2001). Individuals construct their own conceptions of what is normal and acceptable. These conceptions, what Cicourel (1968) calls background expectancies govern all social interaction (Berns, 2001). With the norms that society creates being the main control of interaction amongst society, it is clear that by allowing the perspective of intimate partner violence as normal will create unawareness about the issue and may perpetuate further issues. Women who have respect and power outside the home through community activities, including participation in microcredit schemes, are less likely to be abused than those who do not (Jewkes, 2002).Show MoreRelatedThe Women s Rights Movement Essay1561 Words   |  7 Pagestowards the elimination of violence against women under the United Nations Crime Prevention and Justice Program. As it pertains to Canada, Lakeman (2006) affords that The Vancouver Rape Relief Center shelters over 100 rape domestic abuse victims each year. However, in spite of the great, motivating, and inspiring strides that have over the years been made towards the realization of gender parity and women’s empowerment (Human Rights Watch, 2006), a large number of women around the world are traffickedRead MoreDomestic Violence Against Immigrant And Refugee Women1050 Words   |  5 Pages4. How can Canada protect and welcome refugees and newcomers? How can domestic violence against immigrant and refugee women be prevented? Some of the ways Canada can protect and welcome and protect refugees by; Making the status in Canada secure- This means that Canada should make permanent residency open to all including migrant workers. They should not restrict the Permanent Residency to only those coming for high wage jobs. There should be a legislation and enforcement to protect them effectivelyRead MoreThe Relationship Between Gender and Domestic Violence1010 Words   |  5 PagesRelationship Between Gender and Domestic Violence Summary: This article discusses the relationship between gender and domestic violence. For many reasons, people commonly believe that domestic violence is more likely equal to wife abuse or woman abuse. But this prejudice is erroneous. On the one hand, because of the definition of domestic violence including dating or cohabitation and modern research finds that husbands as well as wives may be victims, domestic violence is not more likely equal to wifeRead MoreDomestic Abuse1347 Words   |  6 PagesDomestic violence has been an ongoing issue among couples in society. This violence is not something that is new; it has been around for a long time. Domestic violence, can range from physical, mental, and emotional. When a couple is in an intimate relationship or married, one of the individuals in the relationship tries to dominate the other partner by trying to control them. This is commonly called domestic violence. A vast majority of domestic violence cases go unreported each year. T his couldRead MoreThe Effects of Violence on Women Essay1662 Words   |  7 PagesThe Effects of Violence on Women Violence affects the lives of millions of women worldwide, in developing, as well as in developed countries. It cuts across cultural and religious barriers, restricting women from fully participating in society. Violence against women has many forms in which it comes in, from domestic abuse and rape to child marriages and female circumcision. All are violations of the most fundamentalRead MoreDomestic Violence And Sexual Violence859 Words   |  4 PagesDomestic violence occurs in all economic, ethnic, and social backgrounds of every society of the world. 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The authors are trying to answer this question giving some statistics, how the women are abused from their partner , such as the violence reported when the relationship is ended, and is some other case the violence starts after the separation. Furth more the authors mention another key answer that I think could be a question, is what are the effects of domestic violence? Alaggia, Regehr

Glocalisation of Hip-Hop free essay sample

This essay will address both the homogeneous and hybrid aspects of hip-hop, arguing that true hip-hop must contain an element of localization. As authenticity underpins the very notion of hip-hop. II: Homogeneities v. S. Habitations Homogeneities in the context of hip-hop refers to artists around the globe subscribing to a global popular culture in their music, names and dress fashion in a process sometimes termed Americanization (Omni, 2006).Thus, In this Interpretation of hip-hop It Is not regarded as unique, but rather as simply producing American culture In other parts of the world, and furthermore an example of cultural imperialism (Dennis, 2006). In contrast, Habitations refers to the creative adaptation and strategic innovation (Dennis, 2006, p. 271) of traditional hip-hop, to better reflect and preserve aspects of a particular culture. This upholds the idea that hip-hop is a life-style rather than simply a musical genre (Omni, 2006, p. 03), meaning that hip-hop reflects local concerns and values rather than being globally uniform. We will write a custom essay sample on Glocalisation of Hip-Hop or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page In essence, hyperinflation In the context of hip-hop Involves he melding of the global trends (such as the fashion and aspects of the music), with local issues so as to speak to the people (Motley Henderson, 2008). Ill: Hip- hop: origins Hip-hops origins are believed to date back to the late sasss, where the music was used as a form of self-expression by those in deprived New York neighborhoods (Anthropomorphous School, 2003).Since then the genre has grown substantially, with more than 50 million hip-hop fans In the united States and 100 million people worldwide consuming some form of hip-hop (Motley amp: Henderson. 2008). Thus, his rapid expansion has put into question the uniqueness of hip-hop, with some unsure about whether the genre is truly inventive or just another form of Americanization (Moony, 2006). V: Americanization Within society, there is a growing concern with the Idea of Americanization as more and more of the worlds youth turn to hip-hop (Dennis, 2006). The rampant proliferation of U. S. IP-hop and rap, and Its subsequent acceptance and appropriation as cultural forms of expression in Colombia, signal an increase in mass-mediated, transnational cultural contact in great part due to new technological advances in communication systems that facilitate the exportation of U. S. Popular culture (Dennis, 2006, p. 279). Thus, these technological advances could be in reference to not only the expansion of music over the radio, but perhaps more Although MET is probably considered by most western youth as of concern only to those of the western world, in Africa alone MET has at least 100 channels (Omni, 2006).This effectively highlights the significant influence of American music over the world. A further issue to explore in relation to homogeneities is the widespread lobar use of American English (Anthropomorphous School, 2003). An example of American English is effectively exemplified by U. S. Negro artist Snoop Dog in his song For all my Inning Bitched. Here, Snoop utilizes words such as Amiga, motherhoods, bitched and sit whilst describing gangster life which appears to encompass sex, violence, drug use and male supremacy. This kind of American English is not unique to the U. S. Being furthermore found in European rap. More than 60 percent of German, French and Italian songs studied have English elements and draw on U. S. IP-hop slang by including words such as pitch, blunt Anoint), and sit in their lyrics (Anthropomorphous School, 2003, p. 473). This was also observed by Clarke Hassock (2009) as they studied a white Canadian rap group called Gazebo Unit.Findings indicated that there was a general absence of vernacular local linguistic features; instead favoring American-like pronunciations whilst also referring to drug use, sex and violence against women. V: Habitations: same, same But different Whilst it is noted that there are honeymooning aspects and examples of hip-hop cross the globe, true hip-hop must contain an element of localization as authenticity underpins the very notion of the genre (Motley Henderson, 2008). While the core essence and elements of hip-hop are shared by all members of the hip-hop culture, the aesthetic is adapted to suit multiple national cultures, localized conditions and grievances (Motley Henderson, 2008, p. 248). Anthropomorphous School (2003) outline how the formation of new cultural territory involves undergoing three main phases. The starting point is De-territorialitys, which is the extraction of cultural pattern from its original social context (p. 467).The middle phase involves cultural melding and mediation through three cultural interactions: transfiguration, Habitations, and indigestion. Transfiguration is described as a process in which cultural forms literally move through time and space where they interact with other cultural forms, influence each other, and produce new forms (Industriously ; School, 2003, p. 467). Habitations follows, whereby new and familiar cultural forms mix together; finally resulting in indigested music. Thus, the final endpoint is re-territorialitys as there is an integration of this new cultural pattern into society.Thus, Mitchell (2003) article titled Doing damage in my native language addresses this issue of De-territorialitys, describing how marginalia groups of a population utilize resistance vernaculars in order to express their situation. Mitchell draws on Potters affirmation that African-American rappers deform the language of the dominant class and look more towards the language and consciousness of the ghetto in search of a more authentically black identity (Mitchell, 2003, p. 3). Hence, hip-hop can be understood as giving a voice to the voiceless and is predominantly utilizes by marginals groups (Motley ; Henderson, 2008).This idea can be noted in the music of Maori group Upper Hut Posse, as they draw on the global elements of hip-hop and effectively combine them Dean Happen (D word) affirms this, stating although I love and respect hip-hop, being Maori I only take from it what doesnt compromise my own culture. But in spite of this I have found them both very compatible (Mitchell, 2003, p. 13). Thus, the group imbibe the use of the traditional Maori instruments, raga inclinations, funk bass rhythms and hardcore-giants-style rapping to create their music (Mitchell, 2003).One of the focal concerns of their music is the inequality that the Maori people experience, having a strong musical, political and cultural resonance in Tearoom (New Zealand). Upper Hut Posse are an excellent example of the Habitations of hip-hop as they are truly unique, with the misogynistic, derogatory aspects of hip-hop completely absent from their music as the well as the fact that they also rap in their dative language (as well as English) (Mitchell, 2003).A further example that effectively illustrates how hip-hop is thoroughly hybridism is from white Australian group Hilltop Hoods. The group raps about personal struggles and frustrations, such as dropping out of school, coming from a low socio-economic status and do mestic abuse. 1. 1 . Extract: The Hard road by Hilltop Hoods I spent my youth like life was cheap, The only change that I wanted was enough to buy a drink, Was on a path to nowhere, the harder the road, The more broken baggage we carry the larger the load,This school drop-out got knocked out, chased by the cops out, Got clout, dumped by my girlfriend and locked out, Been broke and beaten, even chocked at being, A dope ms but never lost hope in dreaming, We used to thrash boosted cars till the engine would fail, If I never had bailed maybe Id be dead or in Jail, And man I got no one else to blame, I thank my family and music for keeping me sane, But thats the breaks right? Started working late nights, Never seeing daylight, getting paid like a slave might, And Vive done too many years to miss this for my missus, To have to tell my son he nearly never existed.A key point to make when observing this group is that whilst hip-hop origins are with African-Americans, white people may still express their inequality through hip-hop. Once again, the derogatory aspects of hip-hop are absent from this group and the vernacular follows Australian rather than American English. Thus, these examples effectively illustrate that although artists are influenced and inspired by African American origins, hip-hop is extremely malleable and is adapted to speak to people from multiple national cultures and localized socioeconomic and political conditions Motley ; Henderson, 2008).

Monday, April 20, 2020

Media Analysis Paper Toddlers and Tiaras Essay Example

Media Analysis Paper Toddlers and Tiaras Essay TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION 1. 1 PURPOSE 1. 2 DATA DESCRIPTION 2. BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO CHILD BEAUTY PAGEANTS AND TODDLERS TIARAS 3. TELEVISION AND REALITY TV AS A MEDIUM 4. REALITY TV RESEARCH 4. 1 MEDIA SPECTACLES 4. 2 OBSCENITY OF TODDLERS AND TIARAS 4. 3 USES AND GRATIFICATIONS THEORY 4. 4 STUART HALL’S ENCODING-DECODING MODEL 5. METHOD 6. FINDINGS 7. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS 7. 1 LIMITATIONS 8. CONCLUSION 2 2 2 3 4 5 5 7 9 10 11 13 29 31 31 33 ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. ERROR! BOOKMARK NOT DEFINED. 9. REFERENCES 10. APPENDIX 10. 1 PAPER DIVISION 10. 2 INTERVIEW QUESTIONS 10. 3 INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS 1. Introduction Ever since the advent of reality TV at the end of 1990’s, television producers started to look for controversial subjects, which would capture the viewer, and make this new format a hit. This was also the case with the child beauty pageants industry, which has been a frequently discussed topic in the United States for decades. Nevertheless, after the emergence of the Reality TV (RTV) show, Toddlers and Tiaras, produced by the American broadcaster TLC, the controversy about this particular industry and children on television has increased rapidly. Toddlers and Tiaras is a show which might seem strange to people who do not know and have never heard of child beauty pageants. Especially the emphasis on making a girl look older, than her actual age, is hard to understand for many people. However, these shocking scenes that often cause certain emotions among the audience, is exactly how RTV producers are trying to capture and interest its audience. We will write a custom essay sample on Media Analysis Paper Toddlers and Tiaras specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Media Analysis Paper Toddlers and Tiaras specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Media Analysis Paper Toddlers and Tiaras specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer Toddlers and Tiaras might be a show that is judged rapidly due to the controversial nature of child beauty pageants, however the ratings of TLC prove that it is also a program which people enjoy watching and like to talk about. 1. 1 Purpose The purpose of this research paper is to investigate what people think about a show that features little girls who are turned into beauty queens, how they perceive the characters as well as child beauty pageants in general. Furthermore, due to the fact that this phenomenon clearly reflects the American society, it is interesting to find out what Europeans actually think of this concept. . 2 Data description Most of the data collected in this research comes from academic articles used in the course, and books from the SDU library. Furthermore, online desk research played a major role, including research papers from the scholar. google search engine. Since Toddlers and Tiaras is a show that has only been broadcasted since a few years and has just en tered the European market it seems to be a very current topic. This helped us in our research to find up-to-date information about the Reality TV show, as well as the child beauty pageant industry. Moreover, ten in-depth interviews served as a qualitative research method and added highly valuable information to our research. 2 2. Brief introduction to child beauty Pageants and Toddlers Tiaras Only in a climate of denial could hysteria over satanic rituals at daycare centers coexist with a failure to grasp the full extent of child abuse. (More than 8. 5 million women and men are survivors. ) Only in a culture that represses the evidence of the senses could child pageantry grow into a $5 billion dollar industry without anyone noticing. Only in a nation of promiscuous puritans could it be a good career move to equip a six-year-old with bedroom eyes (Richard Goldstein, 1997). Child beauty pageants have in the past few decades grown into a multi-billion dollar industry, sponsored by multinationals such as Proctor and Gamble and Hawaiian Tropics. In the United States approximately, five thousand child pageants are held every year, with a subscription fee between $250 to $800 dollars, especially when competing on a national level (Giroux, 1998: 39). Pageants are held both on a local and national level. Whereas the local level is mainly meant for working class families, the national competitions are dominated by the middle-and upper class, who have the resources to afford expensive clothes, pageant coaches, dance lessons, travel expenses and etc (Giroux, 1998: 39/40). The popularity growth of child beauty pageants did not go unnoticed and after the rising interest for pageant magazines such Pageantry, The Learning Channel (TLC) decided to launch the reality-based docudrama ‘’Toddlers and Tiaras’’ in February 2009. Now four years later, due to high audience ratings TLC has recently premiered its 5th season. The protagonists of Toddlers and Tiaras are children as young as two years old and their mothers, competing in beauty pageants. The show follows the little beauty queens and their families in their homes and backstage in order to document the preparation the girls have to go through to get the required ‘Barbie-look’ for the contests. Pageants are a lucrative business, not only for the promoters who are making approximately $100,000 per event but also for the contestants who are able to win high money prices as well as holidays and cars (Giroux 1998: 40). Nevertheless, besides the fact that a lot of money can be earned, the costs of competing in child beauty pageants add up quickly. Those high amounts of money indicate that the participation at such beauty contests demands much commitment and a high level of professionalism from the little girls. Hours of training for a flawless dance routine to impress the judges, as well as a healthy diet to be thin for the upcoming pageants are the rule (Sheridan, 2011). 3 Furthermore, there are two different categories of pageants, the Glitz pageants and the natural pageants. Especially the Glitz pageants have led to extreme discussions and outrage in the US. From fake eye lashes to fake spray tan, from provocative outfits to overlays for teeth (the so-called ‘flippers’ to hide the little girl’s tooth gaps, and give them a million-dollar smile), the TV show Toddlers and Tiaras documents every single step of the pageant preparation, and has increased the controversy about the sexualization of children on television (Sheridan, 2011). Another controversial point of the TV show, are the mothers of the little beauty queens, who are faced with the accusation of using their children to make their own dreams come true. According to what you see on the show, they push their little girls to practice several hours a day, and use beauty treatments, like spray tanning to increase their chances of winning (Heltsley Calhoun, 2003: 82). According to experts, the consequences these competitions can have on little girls are extremely negative. Indeed, â€Å"it can be harmful to girls, teaching them that their self-worth is measured by how pretty they are† (Schultz Murphy, 2012). Moreover, as a result of the pageants, the girls can develop lifetime problems, including depression, perfectionism, eating disorders, and body shame (Sheridan, 2011). 3. Television and Reality TV as a Medium If our culture in the second half of the twentieth century is influenced by one medium, then it is television. Via TV, people were for the first time able to witness the horrors of warfare. However, the TV also brought new forms of amusement, music, cabaret and the glitter and glamour of big show programs. In other words, television caused that awareness, grief and appiness have become public issues (Hermes Reesink 2003: 2). Furthermore, even though in recent years the Internet has started to take over television as the most penetrating medium, television is still often seen as one of the most intrusive one, due to the fact that it uses both visual and auditory stimuli. Moreover, media is used by different people for different reasons. Whereas one person would use the medium te levision or another medium in general, to gather information, others will turn on the television pure for entertainment (Asseldonk 2005: 10). One trend which can be described as pure entertainment is RTV, which can be referred to as a ‘’catch-all category that includes a wide range of entertainment programs about real people’’. This form of entertainment has become a firm part of the daily television programing since the 1999s/2000s worldwide. Reality TV nowadays portrays everything and anything, from dating to weight loss, from healthcare to children beauty pageants (Hill, 2005: 2). Moreover, reality TV can be funny, dramatic, exciting and even 4 educating. A reality TV show does not tell its audience how they have to feel about what they see, which is why the opinions about popular programs, such as Big Brother or Toddlers and Tiaras, differ widely. The very first reality TV shows were totally different from what we see today. In fact, the shows followed mainly policemen, firefighters or ambulance drivers and did not invade the private space of a person (J. Bignell, p. 28). According to Hermes Reesink (2003) RTV can be divided into three different forms; emotional-TV, real life soaps and docusoaps. Toddlers and Tiaras can be referred to as a docusoap, meaning that a fixed group of people and their daily activities are being recorded at school, work and etc. The emphasis of these formats is mainly based on the recognition and identification of the people and events portrayed on the show (Mast, 2003). Furthermore, the paper will continue to concentrate on the medium within the medium reality television or more specifically the RTV show Toddlers and Tiaras. Hereby the next chapter will take a closer look at both Media spectacles, the Use and Gratification theory and the encoding-decoding model n relation to child beauty pageants portrayed on the show. 4. Reality TV Research The following chapter focusses on four different theories related to television including; Media Spectacles, Obscenity, Hall’s Encoding and Decoding model and Uses and Gratification theory. 4. 1 Media spectacles Today’s society can be described as ‘society of the spectacle’. In fact; â€Å"Spectacles are those phenomena of media culture which embody contemporary societys basic values, serve to enculturate individuals into its way of life, and dramatize its controversies and struggles, as well as its modes of conflict resolution. They include media extravaganzas, sports events, political happenings, and those attention-grabbing occurrences that we call news a phenomena that itself has been subjected to the logic of spectacle and tabloidization in the era of the media sensationalism, political scandal and contestation, seemingly unending cultural war† (Kellner, 2003: 27). Sports, such as the Super Bowl or the Olympics are important media spectacles (p. 5). Moreover, the entertainment industry is providing major spectacles itself, such as the Oscars or popular film spectacles like the Harry Potter series (p. ). Furthermore, politics also play a major role in the media, and the attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001, with the following war against terrorism, has clearly been the mega 5 spectacle of the 21st century (p20). Besides, those serious topics, reality TV has become part of this phenomenon as well. Starting with hit-series like Big Brother, Survivor, and the Bachelor, RTV soon turned into a maj or spectacle, with a constantly growing fan crowd. In addition, RTV reached a ew stage, when MTV started to broadcast the faux-reality series about the rocker Ozzy Osbourne and his family, which documented their somewhat ordinary family life. However, this new kind of ‘realitainment’ was a huge success, and fascinated massive television audiences around the world (p. 19). â€Å"Thus, the new millennium is marked by a diversity of spectacles in the field of politics, culture, entertainment, and every realm of social life† (Kellner, 2003: 27) Andy Warhol said in 1968: â€Å"In the future everyone will be famous for fifteen minutes† (phrasefinder). Nowadays, the world has many celebrities, such as actors, writers or singers. However, it seems that more and more people want to be part of the rich and beautiful, and decide to turn their lives into televisual spectacles to achieve those 15 minutes of fame. The participants of Toddlers and Tiaras often say during the show that they would like their children to become a celebrity when they grow up. The most common wishes are to turn the girls into a future a Miss America, singers or actresses, with idols such as Selena Gomez, who both started their careers at a very young age (Hollywoodlife, 2011). Clearly Toddlers and Tiaras is a special kind of spectacle that draws a lot of attention and discussions. The show has been debated on big TV channels, such as CNN, ABC and CW, who have invited various mothers and daughters portrayed on the show, in order to discuss the repeated accusations of child abuse (Canning Behrendt, 2012: 1). Nevertheless, the first time (Glitz) beauty pageants attracted national attention was after the alleged sexual abuse and murder of the six-year-old beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey in 1996. The public was shocked, and saw a clear connection between the murder and the pageants, saying the perpetrator had used the children beauty pageant competition to choose his victim (Giroux, 1998: 2). Paul Peterson, a member of ‘A minor Consideration’ that tries to change the children entertainment industry said about the pageants: â€Å"This is feeding the sex industry. There is a tremendous trade within juvenile modeling† (ABCnews, 2011). However, at the time of JonBenet’s murder, no TV show had been documented about the children beauty pageant circus yet. JonBenet who was competing in various beauty pageants, was found abused and murdered in her basement. Not only the public but also the media blamed the beauty pageants for attracting pedophiles and accused JonBenet’s parents of violating their parental duties by dressing JonBenet too sexy and letting her 6 participate in those contests. The murder of JonBenet turned into a mega spectacle with the parents and beauty pageants at the center of national news reports. Nights in a row all major networks showed the public, video’s in which JonBenet was seen wearing sexy adult clothing, red lipstick, curled and bleached hair giving the audience a seductive look in order to impress the judges (Giroux, 1998: 37). According to Giroux, this case presented the American viewer ‘’a spectacle in which it became both a voyeur and a witness to its refusal to address the broader conditions that contribute to the sexualiation and commodification of kids in the larger culture’’ (Giroux, 1998: 37). The case did not only caught the attention of the major networks but also of important American television figures such as Oprah Winfrey, who showed the public that child abuse frequently occurs at home and that the idea people have about that a child molester is most often an outsider is not so credible. The Ramsey case clearly showed this phenomenon of a ‘’unsafe home’’, not necessarily in the way of physical abuse but more looking at the fact that JonBenet parents forced their dreams and fantasies on their little girl, which resulted in the fact that they denied her a personality appropriate for a six-year old. Despite this terrible event and the enormous controversy towards child beauty pageants, TLC decided to broadcast a program dedicated to exactly this. Even though the controversy remains, the program has high audience rates and has turned into yet another reality television spectacle. 4. 2 Obscenity of Toddlers and Tiaras According to the Cambridge dictionary, obscenity or when someone or something is obscene is also referred to as ‘’an offensive and shocking situation or event’’ (Cambridge dictionary online). The commercialization of major broadcasters has according to several theorists led to negative changes in what kind of media content is offered nowadays (De Bens, 1994; Dovey, 2000). De Bens calls the tendency towards First Person Media also tabloidization, due to the fact that the media nowadays offers more and more entertainment that makes the public dumber (Jansen, 2011: 17). Especially in RTV programs the cameras have started to intrude in people’s private lives, in order to satisfy the viewer’s desire towards sensation and spectacles. It is often said that viewer’s currently, have gotten an increasingly narrowminded and stereotype image of what kind of problems are going on in society (Mast, 2003). The stories and images portrayed in the media, of individuals sharing their intimacies is getting crazier every time. The public has gotten used to the fact that the public domain has turned into a freak show. 7 When the first Big-Brother came out and the contestants were having sex on life TV, people started to wonder where the limit is. According to Hermes Reesink (2003), fear arose that RTV would continue to stretch its limits and would become more and more inappropriate and revolting (p. 229). When looking at the RTV program Toddlers and Tiaras and the Cambridge definition of obscenity, the program is often seen as both offensive and shocking. Ever since Toddlers and Tiaras debuted on TLC in 2009, it has been a show that caused much controversy in the US (realitytvworld, 2009). Children beauty pageants were nothing new in the US at that time, since the very first pageants already took place in the 1960s; however this new RTV show documented very closely to what extremes the mothers go to make their daughters win (Huffingtonpost, 2011). The mothers participating in Toddlers and Tiaras have earned the nickname ‘pageant-moms’ in the US, and there is even an overall term to define their often shocking behavior, namely the ‘pageant mom’ phenomenon (ABCnews, 2012: 3). By definition, ‘Pageant moms’ aggressively market their daughters in beauty contests. Those mothers often function as managers and might have a less positive and stable relationship with their children, than mothers that separate business from family. Toddlers and Tiaras heated up the discussions about the ‘pageant mom’ phenomenon, and uses the overly competitive mothers very successfully, to increase the interest in the program. Some of the show’s protagonists achieved a very questionable fame in the US and are highly criticized for their behavior. For most critics, the main problem is not even the actual beauty pageant, but the preparation that comes with it. TLC concentrates greatly on filming the beauty treatments, such as spray tanning or heavy make-up, since those are the moments when the children most often defend themselves against their mother’s treatment. The complaints made by these crying little girls often hits a nerve of the public and generated more than once a fundamental discussion about child abuse (McKay, 2010). Moreover, the debate about sexualizing children on television has increased extremely since Toddlers and Tiaras started broadcasting. This is, due to the fact that many mothers select provocative costumes to attract attention, and to improve the winning chances of their daughters. However, together with the heavy make-up and professional hairdos, the little girls look extremely mature. This is where the problem for many starts, as a children psychologist shares: â€Å"When you have them looking older, for a lot of people that means looking sexier†¦If you’re telling a 6-year-old to act like a 16-year-old, you’re telling her to be seductive and to be sexy† (Schultz Murphey, 2012: 2). In fact one pageant mom on Toddles and Tiaras has gone as far as to dress her 3-year-old in the same costume that Julia Roberts’ prostitute character wore in the movie ‘Pretty Women’ (Thompson, 2011: 1). This performance was followed by much public out8 rage and a complaint, which was filed by the Parents Television Council against TLC’s Toddlers and Tiaras saying: â€Å"We have a serious problem when The Learning Channel features a toddler, who probably hasnt even learned to read, dressed as a prostitute showing off her sexy strut† (Thompson, 2011: 1). However, exactly those provocations and shocking scenes has made Toddlers and Tiaras one of the most successful Reality TV shows featuring children. Moreover, the pageant moms get much attention in the hit-series Toddlers and Tiaras and sometimes become even more popular than their own daughters. Many critics say that the mothers push the girls to participate in pageants and on Toddlers and Tiaras only to be in the spotlight themselves. However, not every pageant mom can automatically be accused to be a bad mother. In short, Toddlers and Tiaras create a lot of shocking and controversial moments and discussions. During the in-depth interviews the research will continue to concentrate what the opinions of the participants are and whether according to them this program can be seen as obscenity. 4. 3 Uses and gratifications theory Within the uses and gratifications theory the central idea is that it is necessary to know how and why people use media in order to see what kind of force that certain medium has on people (Vettehen, 1998: 6). Media use is linked to the needs people want to satisfy and the gratification they think they will get from it. The uses and gratifications approach, studies the social, psychological and cultural origin of the needs media users have. People generally use media because it fulfills and satisfies these needs (Vettehen, 1998: 6). The uses and gratification approach is in research frequently used to trace the functions of people’s media use. When applying uses and gratifications on RTV, it helps to understand the watcher’s motives and preferences. This is done by placing RTV on the greater spectrum of communication channels which are somewhat accessible to audiences, with the understanding that people are often, but not constantly, actively involved in the selection of media content (Papacharissi Mendelson, 2007: 356). According to A. Rubin (1983) nine different motives for watching television could be identified including; ‘’relaxation, companionship, entertainment, social interaction, information, habit, pass time, arousal and escape’’ (Papacharissi Mendelson, 2007: 359). Moreover, three additional otives were added, including parasocial interaction of watching the news and ‘’surveillance and voyeurism for certain program types’’ (359). Furthermore, according to Papacharissi Mendelson quantitative research, RTV is mainly watched for entertainment, to pass time or because it has become a habit. In contrast to these three main 9 objectives of watching RTV, voyeurism seem s the least mentioned motive. According to Crew’s study (2006), this has several reasons. First of all, people are nowadays, used to the concept of watching RTV programs. Secondly, social desirability may also play a role in this, due to the fact that people rather not admit that they like to spy on other people. People however, seem to be very interested in the game element and the group dynamic of a program, due to the fact that this often gives excitement to the program (Crew, 2006: 71). Furthermore, despite the fact that according to De Kloet Chow (2000), it is impossible for a RTV participant to completely be themselves, the viewer often does not see it that way. Therefore, besides entertainment, the authenticity of the personages as well as their emotions also plays an important role. By using RTV programs as a means of identification a higher degree of involvement finds place. In different studies about watching reality television, divergent motives are being mentioned as the most important motive to watch this genre. The question however, is which of these motives apply to Toddlers and Tiaras. Even though, a wide variety of the viewers of Toddlers Tiaras cannot directly identify themselves with these little girls or their mothers, the program does strongly play into the emotions of the viewer as well as concentrating on the game factor of which child will win this episodes pageant. During the qualitative interviews the research paper will focus on finding out which of the 12 earlier mentioned motives, according to the 12 respondents are most relevant to Toddlers Tiaras. 4. 4 Stuart Hall’s Encoding-decoding model Hall’s encoding and decoding model focuses on the interpretation of media messages, a process that finds place when the media messages are being received. An individual gives meaning to messages by looking, reading and or listening, through which the person can feel emotionally involved or has the feeling that he or she can identify him or herself with the personage portrayed (De Boer Brennecke, 2003: 114). Furthermore, Hall’s model states that there are two central processes who decide which meaning a media product has. Encoding refers to the producer’s role who formulates a media message within its own abilities and restrictions. Social background, gender, age, education and organizational structure all play an important role in this. Decoding on the other hand, refers to the public who receives a message and depending on its own knowledge and common sense interprets the message in its own way (Jansen, 2011: 32). Both daily life experiences as well as what the public sees and hears in the media are of importance when giving meaning to a message (Fiske Hartley, 2003: 81). This means that both on the encoding and decoding side, different meanings of media-messages arise due to the fact that people generally differ widely from each other (Hermes Reesink, 2003: 33). 10 According to Hall there are three different ways to read a media text such as for instance a television program, including; dominant (or ‘hegemonic’), negotiated and oppositional (‘counter-hegemonic’) reading. The dominant reading exists of the message the producer meant to send to the public. Negotiated reading means that the viewer understands the producer’s message but partly also gives its own interpretation which fits the situation better. Lastly, with oppositional reading the viewer rejects the message. In addition studies of signification start when the medium and public meet. The origin of these studies all come from Hall’s encoding and decoding model. Hereby it is assumed that different people, possibly all give a different meaning to a specific media message. Two common perspectives of these studies in terms of RTV are; identification and disapproval. Identification finds place when people can relate the story line to their own life, whereas disapproval finds place when people are distant towards what they see and find it unrealistic (Liebes Katz, 1990). Both theorists and viewers describe reality television in a different manner. According to research on the signification of RTV it appears that the viewer realizes that the images they see are copied-pasted by the producer’s as well as that conversations are often manipulated in a way that it changes the context (Jansen, 2011: 33). For the viewer it is especially important to identify themselves with the different personages, in which authenticity plays an important role (Hautakangas, 2010: 237). Besides, identification, emotional empathy as well as using the program as a reference framework are ways to give meaning to a RTV program. In the case of Toddlers and Tiaras, the viewer might feel empathy when seeing how the eyebrows or legs of 4-6 year olds are being plugged and waxed. These kinds of images are often supported by voice overs in the form of interviews or dialogues with either the mum or the children themselves. Due to these dialogues and interviews, the viewer is enabled to empathize with what the personages are feeling (Hermes Reesink, 2003: 224). In which way the viewers of Toddlers and Tiaras give meaning to the program will become clearer during the in-depth interviews. 5. Method As mentioned in the introduction the purpose of this research is to find out, what people think about the show Toddlers and Tiaras, how they perceive the characters as well as child beauty pageants in general. Furthermore, due to the fact that this phenomenon clearly reflects the American society, it is interesting to find out what Europeans actually think of this concept. The variety of data used for this research and the 11 diverse number of sources from which they were collected made both the use of qualitative and quantitative research methods of collecting data suitable or this research. We therefore, decided to mix these two methods of data collection. Qualitative research is often used ‘’to study things in their natural settings, attempting to make sense of, or to interpret, phenomena in terms of meanings people bring to them’’ (Denzin Lincoln, 2002: 3). Furthermore, qualitative research questions are often ‘’how and what’â€℠¢ questions trying to find out information about the respondents experiences, strategies, feelings, behavior, perceptions and motivations (Evers de Boer, 2007: 18). This research paper makes use of the qualitative research method; interviewing, which according to Evers de Boer (2007) is the most common data collection strategy. Qualitative interviewing exists of various types, including individual interviews and group interviews. For this paper we have chosen to focus on individual in-depth interviewing. An important reason why we have chosen for this is due to the fact that it has a more personal setting and in this way we can get more honest and extensive responds from the participants than when for instance distributing a quantitative research survey. In addition, the interviews were held in an informal setting often on the couch of either one of the interviewers or of the respondents, to give the participants a relaxed feeling so that they would feel open towards the questions asked. Before the interview, the participants were also asked to watch a 42 minute episode of Toddlers and Tiaras at home so that in case they had never seen the program before, they had a clearer overview of what it is about. Right before the interview, the participants were shown another short 2 minute video clip about a famous Toddlers and Tiaras participant who is well known in the United States for drinking the so called ‘’go-go Juice’’, which is a mix of two different caffeine drinks. Furthermore, the in-depth interviews were held on the basis of the theoretical framework of chapter four, focusing on the following topics; uses and gratifications, obscenity, signification/encoding and decoding and child beauty pageants in general. For this research, a total of 10 international master students (five men and five women) from the University of Southern Denmark were interviewed about their viewing of the American RTV program Toddlers and Tiaras. The interviews existing of 16 different open questions took between approximately, 11 and 21 minutes, depending on how much the respondent knew about the program. The fact that the sample included both 5 female and 5 male respondents was done purposely, in order to be able to examine whether gender plays a role in how people perceive the program.

Sunday, March 15, 2020

JFK assassination conspiracy essays

JFK assassination conspiracy essays Adolph Hitler, the former dictator of Germany, once said, The bigger the lie, the more people will believe it. con-spir-a-cy (k n-spir -s ) n. Law. An agreement between two or more persons to commit a crime or to accomplish a legal purpose through illegal action. On November 22, 1963, in Dallas, Texas, the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy, was driving in an open, minimally protected limousine with his wife and Governor John Connally. The route was originally scheduled to go straight down Main Street, but a last second route change sent the limousine past the book depository, diagonally down Elm Street (Garrison, On the Trail of the Assassins). Gunshots rang out, erupting chaos in the Dallas streets. The President was rendered fatally wounded and Governor Connally had been injured. Shortly thereafter, Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested at a local cinema on charges of murder of the President. He pleaded and publicly voiced his innocence and his only role of being a mere patsy, though he was believed to be a psychotic Marxist who was the perfect candidate for the assassin for the President. A few days later, Oswald was gunned down by Jack Ruby, who also was later believed to have association with clandestine, anti-Communist ope rations. Since the murder of Kennedy and the Warren Commissions investigation, many theories have developed pertaining to the murderer(s) and underlying conspiracies. Many subscribe to the Magic Bullet and single shooter theory, but evidence to vindicate this theory is very diminutive and incredulous. The Warren Commission blatantly omitted great details that could have led to theories other than the single-shooter theory that many pro-government individuals place their belief in. A few years after the assassination, New Orleans District Attorney, Jim Garrison, conducted an investigation in an attempt to both discard the bogus solution put out ...

Friday, February 28, 2020

Family Business Transitions Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Family Business Transitions - Essay Example This activity generates a significant proportion of the economy in many countries, whereby the enterprises are approaching the point where business owners' are making serious decisions regarding their long term future, this decision impacts, individual businesses, business sector and the whole society. This move results into a widespread interest in various business succession planning. Though this business operates within personal relationships which affect and influence the business concern. When these relationships are central to the operations of the business, then there must be a focus upon the relationship in a successful negotiation of a business transition process. It is not normally easy to have a successful family business transition, since there are many problems associated in this generation to generation transition. This family business includes relationship involving individuals and those involving the business itself. The individual relationship has an impact on transition whereby, the quality of the relationship is vital, whether they are involved directly or indirectly. Most problems occur in this individual relationships where we find the small generation has no desire to take over the family business, this may not be... ion transition process, this includes: Poor communication this can lead to negative emotions evolving during the transition process , there is also a psychological factor under which the perception of the key family stake holders especially those of the highest generation and the lower generation has a crucial influence considering their roles, intentions and attitudes of others within the transition process. Therefore when the low generation is not psychologically prepared to take control over the transition then this makes this process unsuccessful and also when the transition process is not successful then the successor is not psychologically ready to prosper. This makes the incumbents and the successor's mental status very important in judging when the transition should be taken and what requirements are needed for the process to be successful. 2 Also family values influence the business heavily, whereby there happens to be a higher risk for poor long term business performance, this normally occurs when the subject of the business relies on the family needs. Under this case of psychology we find tat during the transition process, the psychological process results into conflicts between individuals, that is between the incumbent and the successor, there is therefore a contradiction arising at the succession, whereby, the successor desires to imitate the incumbent in order to supersede him while seeking independence, this causes an internal conflict for the successor on how to behave, in such a situation , both the incumbent and the successor desire to be a leader thus reinforcing a leader role causing a spiral of conflicts, confusion and confrontation. 3 Many family business issues derive from the different experiences of each family member presenting the

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

Hitler's Germany Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Hitler's Germany - Essay Example This essay will assess whether Hitler’s ability to appeal to the German people was the source of his power or whether his personality traits and psychological abnormalities were more significant. Hitler’s ability to appeal to the German people lay in his skills at oratory. With his words, Hitler was able to mould public opinion in his favour. As a member of the lower class strata, Hitler had the added advantage of winning over the masses who felt themselves wronged by the German authorities. He claimed himself to be one of them which created an aura of trust and respect for the man who had risen from amongst the lower class. His style appealed greatly to the working class of Germany who felt understood by this leader. Hitler’s speeches were outspoken which helped create an image of courage and bravado to his personality. The Germans needed someone to blame for their disastrous defeat and this was provided to them by Hitler. Hitler’s singular appeal through his skills as an orator also lay in the message he conveyed. He was able to define a scapegoat upon which the German people could vent their wrath for the shame they felt at their defeat in the First World War and the terms of the Versailles Treaty – namely, the Jews. Waite contends that the Fuhrer was himself a man who suffered from deep rooted feelings of inferiority and guilt; he felt that Hitler could have been suffering from a fear that his own blood was impure and that his sexuality was warped. This led him to try and over compensate by directing those feelings outwards on to other elements of society – the Jews and Communists (Mitchell, 1973:41). His views were derived from H.S. Chamberlian whose interpretation of history stated that of the three major strains that comprised mankind, two of them had been Aryan, namely the Greeks and the Aryans who created culture, while the third strain, i.e., the Semetic one, was culture destroying.

Friday, January 31, 2020

Dementia in UK Essay Example for Free

Dementia in UK Essay There are currently 800,000 people withdementia in the UK. There are over 17,000 younger people with dementia in the UK. There are over 25,000 people with dementia from black and minority ethnic groupsin the UK. There will be over a million people with dementia by 2021. Two thirds of people with dementia are women. The proportion of people with dementia doubles for every 5 year age group. One third of people over 95 have dementia. 60,000 deaths a year are directly attributable to dementia. Delaying the onset of dementia by 5 years would reduce deaths directly attributable to dementia by 30,000 a year. The financial cost of dementia to the UK will be over ? 23 billion in 2012. There are 670,000 carers of people with dementia in the UK Family carers of people with dementia save the UK over ? 8 billion a year. 80% of people living in care homes have a form of dementia or severe memory problems. Two thirds of people with dementia live in the community while one third live in a care home. Only 44% of people with dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland receive a diagnosis UK dementia statistics Affects 820,000 people in the UK Financial cost is over ? 23bn pa, that is twice that of cancer, three times the impact of heart disease and four times that of stroke Two thirds (425,000) of people live in the community, one third (244,000) in a care home Two thirds of people with dementia are women (446k) and one third men (223,000) Affects 1 in 100 people aged 65-69, 1 in 25 aged 70-79 and 1 in 6 people aged over 80 Key risks from assessment are falls and walking about (60% experience walking about) 25 million people, or 42% of the UK population, are affected by dementia through knowing a close friend or family member with the condition. (Source: Alzheimers Research Trust / YouGov poll, 2008) 163,000 new cases of dementia occur in England and Wales each year one every 3. 2 minutes The number of people in UK with dementia is expected to double in the next 40 years to 1. 7million people Statistics courtesy Alzheimers Research Trust and www. alzheimers. org. uk Government Policy The National Dementia Strategy The objectives of the project are to develop a national dementia strategy and implementation plan for publication in October 2008. The strategy will address three key themes raising awareness, early diagnosis and intervention and improving the quality of care. For more information: visit National Dementia Strategy Dementia affects 820,000 people in the UK. 25 million of the UK population have a close friend orfamily member with dementia. As well as the huge personal cost, dementia costs the UK economy ? 23 billion a year, more than cancer and heart disease combined. Despite these figures, dementia researchis desperately underfunded. Impact of dementia in the UK There are over 820,000 people living with dementia in the UK today, a number forecast to rise rapidly as the population ages. Just 2. 5% of the government’s medical research budget is spent on dementia research, while a quarter is spent on cancer research. One in three people aged over 65 will die with a form of dementia. Dementia costs the UK economy ? 23 billion per year. That is twice that of cancer, three times the impact of heart disease and four times that of stroke. Combined government and charitable investment in dementia research is 12 times lower than spending on cancer research. ?590 million is spent on cancer research each year, while just ? 50 million is invested in dementia research. Heart disease receives ? 169 million per year and stroke research ? 23 million. 1. What is dementia? The term ‘dementia’ is used to describe a collection of symptoms, including a decline in memory, reasoning and communication skills, and a gradual loss of skills needed to carry out daily activities. These symptoms are caused by structural and chemical changes in the brain as a result of physical diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Dementia can affect people of any age, but is most common in older people. One in ? ve people over 80 has a form of dementia and one in 20 people over 65 has a form of dementia. Researchers are still working to ? nd out more about the different types of dementia, and whether any have a genetic link. It is thought that many factors, including age, genetic background, medical history and lifestyle, can combine to lead to the onset of dementia. Dementia is a progressive condition. This means that the symptoms become more severe over time. Understanding how this progression happens can be useful in helping someone with dementia anticipate and plan for change. The way each person experiences dementia, and the rate of their decline, will depend on many factors – not just on which type of dementia they have, but also on their physical make-up, their emotional resilience and the support that is available to them. Typically symptoms will include: †¢ Loss of memory – for example, forgetting the way home from the shops, or being unable to remember names and places. †¢ Mood changes – these happen particularly when the parts of the brain which control emotion are affected by disease. People with dementia may feel sad, angry or frightened as a result. †¢ Communication problems – a decline in the ability to talk, read and write. There are different types of dementia caused by different diseases of the brain. Because these diseases affect the brain in different ways, they produce different symptoms. Some of the most common forms of dementia are listed below: 1. 2 Who is affected and how? Dementia can affect anyone regardless of gender, ethnicity, socio-economic situation and residential status. Nearly two-thirds of people with the disorder live in the community, while the other third reside in a residential home. A small number of people with dementia are from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups. This is due to the current younger age profile in London’s BME communities. As this population ages, with a higher prevalence of physical conditions which may contribute to dementia, the rate of dementia is expected to increase. A detailed analysis of the London population segments affected by dementia is available in appendix 1. This highlights that most cases of dementia are late-onset and therefore affect people aged 65 and over. Approximately one in 40 cases is early-onset dementia and occurs before the age of 65. Many factors, including age, genetic background, medical history and lifestyle can combine to lead to the onset of the disorder. Key points to emerge from recent studies and consultations with people with dementia and their carers showed: †¢ Dementia is poorly understood, it remains a stigmatised condition and those affected often experience social exclusion and discrimination. †¢ Seeking help is frustrating; access to services typically includes contact with the NHS, local councils and the third sector; sometimes being referred elsewhere and often duplicating activities. †¢ Current services do not meet the needs of people with dementia. †¢ Services are fragmented and lack robust integration and strong partnership working. †¢ There are gaps in provision and the quality of specialist services remains inconsistent. †¢ Reliability and continuity of services are compromised because many staff lack the requisite knowledge and skills to respond appropriately to those affected. †¢ Most health and social care services are not delivering the outcomes that are important to people with dementia: early diagnosis and treatment, easily accessible services, information and advice and high quality support. 8 Healthcare for London IntroductionDementia services guide 9 3 Source: Based on Dementia UK prevalence rates applied to GLA populations Introduction THE DIFFICULTY OF DIAGNOSING ALZHEIMERS Most diagnoses of Alzheimers are delayed until more than two years after symptoms first appear because patients and families ignore, deny, or dont recognize common signs of early Alzheimers, according to a 2006 Alzheimers Foundation of America survey. Fifty-seven percent of caregivers who answered the poll said they put off seeking diagnosis for symptoms of memory loss, confusion, and language difficulties because they — or the person they cared for — were in denial about having the disease, or because they feared the social stigma associated with AD. Another 40 percent didnt seek a diagnosis because they knew little about Alzheimers or its symptoms, they said. 38 percent of those surveyed said it was the patient who resisted going to see a doctor; 19 percent of caregivers admitted they themselves didnt want to face the possibility that something was wrong. Spouses were three times less likely than children of people with Alzheimers to delay seeking diagnosis, the survey found. What Is Dementia? by Maureen Dezell with Carrie Hill, Ph. D. Dementia itself is not a disease but a term that describes different brain disorders that cause memory loss and other symptoms of cognitive decline. While various kinds of dementia are more common the longer we live, none is a part of normal aging. Dementia specialists recommend you see a doctor to evaluate any of these problems or symptoms, which may point to dementia: Problems retaining recent memories and learning new information, losing and misplacing objects, regularly forgetting appointments or recent conversations, or asking the same question over and over. Problems handling complex tasks; trouble balancing a checkbook, following a recipe, or performing routine tasks that involve a complextrain of thought. Trouble reasoning. Difficulty dealing with everyday problems, such as a flat tire. Uncharacteristic rash behavior, including poor financial or social judgment. Difficulty with spatial ability and orientation. Driving and navigating familiar surroundings becomes difficult; trouble recognizing local landmarks. Difficulty with language. Problems speaking, listening, and following or participating in conversations. Behavioral or personality changes. An active, engaged person seems listless and unresponsive. Trusting people become suspicious. What Is Dementia? by Maureen Dezell with Carrie Hill, Ph. D. . While various kinds of dementia are more common the longer we live, none is a part of normal aging. Dementia specialists recommend you see a doctor to evaluate any of these problems or symptoms, which may point to dementia: Problems retaining recent memories and learning new information, losing and misplacing objects, regularly forgetting appointments or recent conversations, or asking the same question over and over. Problems handling complex tasks; trouble balancing a checkbook, following a recipe, or performing routine tasks that involve a complextrain of thought. Trouble reasoning. Difficulty dealing with everyday problems, such as a flat tire. Uncharacteristic rash behavior, including poor financial or social judgment. Difficulty with spatial ability and orientation. Driving and navigating familiar surroundings becomes difficult; trouble recognizing local landmarks. Difficulty with language. Problems speaking, listening, and following or participating in conversations. Behavioral or personality changes. An active, engaged person seems listless and unresponsive. Trusting people become suspicious. Who gets dementia? . Rarely, dementia affects younger people. Dementia is said to be early-onset (or young-onset) if it comes on before the age of 65. There are some groups of people who are known to have a higher risk of developing dementia. These include people with: Downs syndrome or other learning disabilities. People with Downs syndrome are more likely to develop Alzheimers disease. Parkinsons disease. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease (angina, heart attack, stroke and peripheral vascular disease). The risk factors for cardiovascular disease (high blood pressure, smoking, high cholesterol level, lack of exercise, etc) are risk factors for all types of dementia, not just vascular dementia. Severe psychiatric problems such as schizophrenia or severe depression. It is not clear why this is the case. Lower intelligence. Some studies have shown that people with a lower IQ and also people who do not have very high educational achievement are more likely to develop dementia. A limited social support network. Low physical activity levels. A lack of physical activity can increase your risk of dementia. (See separate leaflet called Physical Activity for Health for more details. ) Dementia also seems to run in some families so there may be some genetic factors that can make someone more likely to develop dementia. We do know that a few of the more rare causes of dementia can be inherited (can be passed on through genes in your family). Can medication help people with dementia? There is no cure for dementia and no medicine that will reverse dementia. However, there are some medicines that may be used to help in some causes of dementia. Medication is generally used for two different reasons. Firstly, as treatment to help with symptoms that affect thinking and memory (cognitive symptoms). Secondly, as treatment to help with symptoms that affect mood and how someone behaves (non-cognitive symptoms). With improved nursing care and more widespread use of antibiotics to treat intercurrent infections, individuals now commonly survive 10 years or longer with dementia. This was not always the case – in the 1950s, the pioneering geriatric psychiatrist Sir Martin Roth and colleagues used distinctions in duration of illness to show that dementia differed from other severe psychiatric syndromes, notably depression, in the elderly. At that time, most elderly people hospitalized with dementia in the UK survived for approximately 2 years; Sex. All prevalence studies show that women are more often affected by dementia than are men. Typically, health services treat twice as many women as men with dementia. This contrast is explained only partly by the longer life expectancy of women because, even when this is taken into account, a slight excess of incidence is still evident in women. 2009 Health Press Ltd. Fast Facts:Dementia Lawrence J Whalley and John CS Breitner SOCIAL MODEL OF DEMENTIA While the clinical model of dementia presented above describes the changes occurring within the brain, the way that dementia affects a person in day-to-day life will vary from one individual to the next. For many years, people with dementia were written off as incapable, regarded as little more than ‘vegetables’ and often hidden from society at large. During the 1980s and 1990s, there was a move away from regarding people with dementia as incapable and excluding them from society, and towards a ‘new culture of dementia care’, which encouraged looking for the person behind the dementia (Gilleard, 1984; Kitwood ; Benson, 1995; Kitwood,1997). People with dementia could now be treated as individuals with a unique identity and biography and cared for with greater understanding. Building on this work, others (notably Marshall, 2004) have advocated that dementia should be regarded as a disability and framed within a social model. The social model, as developed in relation to disability, understands disability not as an intrinsic characteristic of the individual, but as an outcome produced by social processes of exclusion. Thus, disability is not something that exists purely at the level of individual psychology, but is a condition created by a combination of social and material factors including income and financial support, employment, housing, transport and the built environment (Barnes et al. , 1999). From the perspective of the social model, people with dementia may have an impairment (perhaps of cognitive function) but their disability results from the way they are treated by, or excluded from, society. For people with dementia, this model carries important implications, for example: ? the condition is not the ‘fault’ of the individual ? the focus is on the skills and capacities the person retains rather than loses ? the individual can be fully understood (his or her history, likes/dislikes, and so on) ? the influence is recognised of an enabling or supportive environment ? the key value is endorsed of appropriate communication ? opportunities should be taken for rehabilitation or re-enablement ? the responsibility to reach out to people with dementia lies with people who do not (yet) have dementia (Gilliard et al. , 2005). The social model of care seeks to understand the emotions and behaviours of the person with dementia by placing him or her within the context of his or her social circumstances and biography. By learning about each person with dementia as an individual, with his or her own history and background, care and support can be designed to be more appropriate to individual needs. If, for example, it is known that a man with dementia was once a prisoner of war, it can be understood why he becomes very distressed when admitted to a locked ward. If care providers have learned that a person with dementia has a strong dislike for a certain food, it can be understood why the person might spit it out. Without this background knowledge and understanding, the man who rattles the door may be labelled a ‘wanderer’ because he tries to escape and cowers when approached, or the person who spits out food is labelled as ‘antisocial’. Moreover, a variety of aspects of care may affect a person as the dementia progresses. Some extrinsic factors in the care environment can be modified, for instance noise levels can be highly irritating but are controllable. Other intrinsic factors, such as the cultural or ethnic identity of the person with dementia, may also have a bearing on how needs are assessed and care is delivered. Some aspects will be more important or relevant to one person than to another. The social model of care asserts that dementia is more than, but inclusive of, the clinical damage to the brain. ), and while we do not know what precise forms of training are effective, it is reported to lead to better identification of abuse (a random controlled trial by Richardson and colleagues (2002) provides good evidence of this). Agreed multi-agency policy and practice guidance is available at local level and identifies the approaches to be taken when abuse or neglect are suspected. A national recording system for referrals of adult abuse has been piloted (Department of Health, 2005b), which found that older people with mental health problems were among those referred to local authorities’ adult protection systems; a variety of interventions were adopted, although information on the outcomes is not available. Recommendations from a series of high-profile inquiries into care settings in hospitals (for example, Rowan Ward, Department of Health/Care Services Improvement Partnership, 2005) are relevant to commissioners, regulatory bodies and practitioners in seeking to lower the risk of abuse. The law in this area is developing and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 introduces a new criminal offence of ill treatment or neglect of a person who lacks capacity. DISCLOSURE/STIGMA Assessment and reaching a conclusion about the diagnosis leads to a point where this information should be shared with the person with dementia. This is especially challenging in dementia for a number of reasons: ? the difficulty of accurate diagnosis ? the challenge of imparting ‘bad news’ ? uncertainty about whether or not the person will understand what is being said ? uncertainty about whether or not the person will retain what is said ? lack of follow-up support. Studies, in which people with dementia have been invited to tell the story of how they reached a memory assessment service and what the assessment process felt like, indicate that this is not an easy journey for them (Keady ; Gilliard, 2002). Often, they have been aware of their memory difficulties for some time before sharing this information with others (usually, but not always, their close family). This awareness may occur in quite private activities, like doing crossword puzzles. In the meantime, those who are closest to the person may also have been aware of the difficulties but have fought shy of sharing their concerns. Disclosing their concerns to each other is often what triggers a visit to the GP and referral to a memory assessment service (Keady ; Gilliard, 2002). People have reported that their visits to the memory assessment service can also be quite an ordeal (Keady ; Gilliard, 2002). This is often like no other outpatient clinic. The doctor may speak to the carer separately from the person being assessed, leading to suspicion about what is being said. The assessment process itself may prove embarrassing, even humiliating. People report that they are aware that some of the questions are simple and feel foolish that they are unable to answer. They may establish strategies for managing this (Keady ; Gilliard, 2002). Whilst recognising that most people are seeking to make sense of what is happening to them, it is important to acknowledge that some will find it hard to listen to their diagnosis and there will be some who will not want to be told at all. They know they have a problem with their memory and that they are not able to function as they once did or as their peers do. They want to know what is wrong with them, and they need the clinician to be honest with them. Telling someone that he or she has a memory problem is only telling him or her what he or she already knows. People should be told their diagnosis as clearly and honestly as possible. The moment of sharing the diagnosis may not be comfortable for any of those concerned – neither the clinician, nor the person with dementia, nor his or her carer (Friel McGowan, 1993). Without this knowledge, people cannot begin to make sense of what is happening, nor can they plan effectively for their future. They should be given a choice of treatments and need information about practical support and entitlements, like Lasting Powers of Attorney and advance decisions to refuse treatment (more information can be found in Section 4. 9. 4 and in the Mental Capacity Act 2005 [The Stationery Office, 2005]). They will want to make decisions about how they spend their time before life becomes more difficult for them (for example, visiting family abroad). Following the disclosure of the diagnosis, people with dementia and their families may want further support and opportunities for talking. Pre- and post-assessment counselling services should be part of the specialist memory assessment service. Recent work (Cheston et al. , 2003a) has shown the value of psychotherapeutic support groups for people with dementia, allowing them space to share their feelings with others. Joint interventions with the person with dementia and family carers, such as family therapy, recognise the fact that the diagnosis does not impact on just one person but on a whole family system (Gilleard, 1996). Other services have used volunteer ‘befrienders’ to maintain contact with people who are newly diagnosed and who can offer both practical support and information together with a ‘listening ear’. People with early dementia are also taking responsibility for their own support by forming groups, which may meet regularly or may be virtual networks using the internet (see, for example, www. dasninternational. org). Sensitivity is required in ensuring that information about the diagnosis is given in a way that is easily understood by the person concerned and acceptable to the family. Gentle questioning at an early stage will help to ascertain what people can, and want, to be told. There is much we can learn from earlier work on sharing the diagnosis with people with cancer (for example, Buckman, 1996). It is especially important to be aware of different cultural sensitivities and the stigma that dementia holds for many people. This can range from subjective feelings of shame to a real exclusion from community and family life. Age and ethnicity are both factors in the sense of stigma associated with a diagnosis of dementia (Patel et al. , 1998). 4. 9 BASIC LEGAL AND ETHICAL CONCEPTS IN CONNECTION WITH DEMENTIA CARE 4. 9. 1 Introduction The ethical problems that arise in the context of dementia mainly relate to autonomy, which is compromised in dementia to varying degrees. Respect for autonomy is recognised as a key principle in health and social care (Beauchamp ; Childress, 2001). Many of the ethical tensions that arise in looking after people with dementia do so because of, on the one hand, the requirement that autonomy ought to be respected and, on the other, the reality of increasing dependency, where this entails a loss of personal freedom. Person-centred care is a means of respecting personal autonomy wherever it is threatened (Kitwood, 1997). As Agich has stated, ‘Autonomy fundamentally importantly involves the way individuals live their daily lives; it is found in the nooks and crannies of everyday experience’ (Agich, 2003). Hence, respecting the person’s autonomy will involve day-to-day interactions and will be achieved if the person with dementia is not positioned in such a way as to impede his or her remaining abilities. Such ‘malignant positioning’ can be the result of inappropriate psychosocial structures. The fundamental way to combat this tendency, which undermines the person’s selfhood, is to encourage good-quality communication (Kitwood, 1997; Sabat, 2001). Another way in which selfhood might be undermined is through structural or procedural barriers to good-quality care, and service providers should take an active role in promoting the individual’s autonomy and his or her legal and human rights. Furthermore, services may discriminate against people with dementia if eligibility criteria are drawn up in such a way as to exclude them or because of an assumption that people with dementia cannot benefit from a service because staff lack confidence and skills in working with this group. Discrimination may also occur if a service does not offer people with dementia the support they may need in order for them to be able to make use of the service. The Disability Discrimination Acts (1995 and 2005), which include dementia within the definition of disability, aim to end the discrimination that many disabled people face in their everyday lives by making direct or indirect discrimination against disabled people unlawful in a range of areas including access to facilities and services and buying or renting property. The discussion that follows will briefly focus on human rights, consent, capacity and confidentiality. 4. 9. 2 Human rights Human rights are enshrined, as far as the United Kingdom is concerned, in the Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Council of Europe, 2003). The relevant UK legislation is the Human Rights Act 1998, which came into force in 2000. The principle of respect for autonomy is implicit throughout the Convention. A number of the articles of the Convention are potentially relevant to people with dementia. For example, Article 2 asserts that everyone has a right to life, Article 3 prohibits torture, but also â€Å"inhuman or degrading treatment†, and Article 8 concerns the right to respect for the person’s private and family life. Article 5 asserts the right of people to liberty and security. It states that â€Å"No one should be deprived of his liberty†, except in very specific circumstances. It also asserts that if someone is deprived of his or her liberty, there should be recourse to a court. Article 5 was central to the ‘Bournewood’ case. The European Court declared, amongst other things, that the man concerned (who had a learning disability) had been deprived of his liberty, in contravention of Article 5 (see Department of Health, 2004, for further information). The crucial distinction to emerge from the case was that between deprivation of liberty and restriction of liberty. Whilst the former is illegal, except insofar as there are legal safeguards of the sort provided by the Mental Health Act 1983 (HMSO, 1983), the latter may be permissible under the sort of circumstances envisaged by Section 6 of the Mental Capacity Act 2005 (TSO, 2005). This discusses using restraint as a proportionate response to the possibility of the person suffering harm. Guidance on the distinction between ‘restriction’ and ‘deprivation’ of liberty has been provided by the Department of Health and the National Assembly for Wales (Department of Health, 2004). 4. 9. 3 Consent In brief, for consent to be valid it must be: ? informed ? competent ? uncoerced ? continuing. Each of these concepts requires interpretation and judgement, as none of them is entirely unproblematic (Department of Health, 2001a). For instance, people can be more or less informed. The ‘Sidaway’ case (1984) established that the legal standard as regards informing a patient was the same as for negligence (see the ‘Bolam case’, 1957). In other words, the person should be given as much information as a ‘responsible body’ of medical opinion would deem appropriate. However, since then, there has been a shift away from a professional-centred standard towards a patient-centred standard. In the ‘Pearce’ case (1998), one of the Law Lords declared that information should be given where there exists ‘a significant risk which would affect the judgement of a reasonable patient’. Department of Health guidelines (Department of Health, 2001c) have pointed out that, although informing patients about the nature and purpose of procedures may be enough to avoid a claim of battery, it may not be sufficient to fulfill the legal duty of care. There may be other pieces of information relevant to the individual patient that it would be negligent not to mention. Hence the General Medical Council (GMC)’s insistence that doctors should do their best ‘to find out about patients’ individual needs and priorities’ (GMC, 1998). The GMC guidance goes on to say: ‘You should not make assumptions about patients’ views’. These points are very relevant when it comes to consent in the context of dementia. It should be kept in mind that consent is not solely an issue as regards medical procedures. The ‘nooks and crannies of everyday experience’ (Agich, 2003) – what to wear or to eat, whether to go out or participate in an activity and whether to accept extra home or respite care – are all aspects of life to which the person with dementia may or may not wish to consent. If the person has capacity with respect to the particular decision, but does not wish to consent, he or she should be supported in making an autonomous decision. 4. 9. 4 Decision-making capacity In England and Wales, a lack of capacity has been defined thus: ‘. . . a person lacks capacity in relation to a matter if at the material time he is unable to make a decision for himself in relation to the matter because of an impairment of, or a disturbance in the functioning of, the mind or brain’ (Mental Capacity Act 2005 [TSO, 2005, Section 2]). A person is further defined as unable to make a decision if he or she is unable: ‘(a) to understand the information relevant to the decision, (b) to retain this information, (c) to use or weigh that information as part of the process of making the decision, or (d) to communicate his decision (whether by talking, using sign language or any other means)’ (Mental Capacity Act 2005 [TSO, 2005, Section 3(1)]). The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (TSO, 2005), which will apply in England and Wales31, sets out a framework for making decisions for people who are unable to make decisions for themselves. Its detailed provisions, along with its Code of Practice (currently in draft form [DCA, 2005]), should be referred to by all those involved in such decision making. In outline, the main provisions of the Act: ? offer a definition of lack of capacity (Sections 2–3) ? outline a process for the determination of a person’s best interests (Section 4) ? create Lasting Powers of Attorney, which allow a person to appoint a donee to make decisions about his or her health and welfare (Sections 9–14) ? establish the Court of Protection in a new form, with powers to make declarations and appoint deputies in difficult cases or where there are disputes concerning decisions about a person’s health and welfare (Sections 15–23) ? bring under statute and clarify the law regarding advance decisions to refuse treatment (Sections 24–26) ? set out safeguards co