Influences of Visual Media Paper Essay

There are many forms of visual entertainment readily accessible to us; it has become the primary source of entertainment. Visual entertainment only has not helped shape American culture but also its values. Visual entertainment comes in many forms; whether it is reading a newspaper, magazines, or just watching television. Visual media has many numerous advantages as well as some disadvantages. Advisements are used to target individuals that find their product appealing. This compels viewers to buy the latest technology gadget or to wear the latest fashion clothes. Media has also changed the way we communicate and this has improved our culture in many ways. For example, in the recent years it has been possible to connect on real time with someone across the world through a computer. Now we are able to connect with people through a simple device like the IPhone 4S. The IPhone 4S lets a person talk through face time and allows them to see each other. Visual media has also made a huge impact on young children and teenagers. With all the new artists coming out changing the music and media culture the younger generation is looking up to them more each day. The younger generations view these artists as role models and want to be exactly like them. The music industry has changed media forever. Artists have introduced us to many different cultures and their music as well. Artist like Lady gaga have paved the road for young adults not to be afraid to speak up or reach high for their dreams. Beyoncà © has also paved the road for woman all over the world to feel empowered by their femininity and stand strong. Centuries ago women could not freely express themselves the way they do now. In addition, this has helped shaped a new lifestyle for many of us. The media provides full coverage of the lavish life styles of the many celebrities we have in this generation. People have lost the value of simple things in life and try grasp for the lavish life. In Addition, visual media also informs us of the news around the world. The news teaches us about the different cultures and that has impacted our culture tremendously. Visual media  continues to change every day; there is always something new and updated coming out. Visual entertainment has had many positive and negative social influences. One way that visual media influenced our culture in a negative way is by blind imitation. The media portrays an image for the viewers on how a rich and glamorous life is the way to live. Several people are so blinded by this that they try their best to live lavishing lives without having means to. For example, Heidi Montag is a celebrity who became popular after completing her first real life show called Laguna Hills. She became caught up in glamorous life that she eventually wanted more fame. She then decided she wanted to look like Barbie and had 10 plastic surgeries in just one day! Fox news wrote an article about Heidi Montag and what appeared to be her addiction to plastic surgery. In an Internet video, Fox News (2010) states that â€Å"When reality TV show star Heidi Montag announced last week that she had undergone 10 plastic surgeries, all in one day, the news was met with some (naturally) raised eyebrows. But she’s not alone in her obsession to look perfect by enduring multiple cosmetic enhancements, a phenomenon that has the makings of an addiction, or at least a binge behavior, experts say.† The media often sends messages to their viewers that skinny, resembling a celebrity, and living a luxurious lifestyle is the way to live. The media also promotes unhealthy lifestyles such changing you’re eating habits to become thinner. Another negative social influence caused by social media is media addiction. Several people become addicted to visual media. Many people are now glued to their television, reading celebrity gossip, or just surfing for hours. This influences especially teenagers who might come across information that they are not able to understand in that age. Visual media also overwhelms its viewers with information that might now possibly be truthful. Not too many people spend the necessary time to find out if that information is authentic. This is how many of us become influence by visual media. We believe everything that is shown on television or put on the Internet. However, visual media does have its positive social influences. Mass media can help you reach many people across the world. We are now able to face time chat online with a family member in New York while  you are in California. Visual media keeps us informed of global news as well as local news. Visual media has also made it possible for some individuals to work from home. For example, people that work from home are now able to have conference face time calls online. Visual media has also made it possible for people like me to go to school online and obtain a degree. In conclusion, visual media reflects and influences social behavior and attitudes. People become influenced by what the media’s message is and it influences their behavior and attitudes. Visual media sometimes influence violence as well as kindness. We see on television many tragic stories that broadcast uncensored for the viewers to see. However, the media also broadcasts the help people volunteer when there is a tragedy. The media influences people behaviors and attitudes by portraying different images. For example, if you are watching a love story on television you will automatically think that people do act like that in real life. Whether it is Twilight or True blood the media gathers people watching these series and that influences people’s behaviors at that moment. Visual media has helped us understand the various cultures as well as religions around the world. This helps us understand and respect others, we are all not the same, but we are equal. Reference Fox News (2010). Heidi Montag’s Plastic Surgery: Obsession or Addiction? [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,583626,00.html

Othello’s Role in the Murder of Desdemona

Othello played the most important role in the murder of Desdemona due to his flaws in his character. His personality flaws ultimately lead him to killing his wife, making it an important factor in the play. Two of his most vivid flaws include his jealousy and his reason versus passion. Iago may have set up the death of Desdemona, but Othello has the most important role of her death due his flaws acting upon him and making himself kill his wife. His inability to comprehend his reason verses passion is mainly represented in Act 3 scene 3.While his dramatic jealousy can be seen in Act 4 scene 1. All of which lead to his eventual downfall and the death of Desdemona. Othello’s reason versus passion is undeniably a contributing factor that leads to Desdemona’s death. Othello cannot comprehend his reason versus passion and this ultimately leads to the tragedy and destruction in the play. Iago ignites the chaos in the play but without Othello the play would not have ended in th is dramatic fashion and the Death of Desdemona would not have occurred. Act 3 scene 3 is a turning point in the play between his reason and passion.Interestingly enough Othello says â€Å"But I do love thee, and when I love thee not, / Chaos is come again† in Act 3 scene 3. This foreshadows the Chaos of Othello not loving Desdemona later in the play. It represents himself understanding his own reason verses passion as he knows that if he stops loving Desdemona then his passion will overwhelm his reason, thus causing chaos. Also in this scene Othello says, â€Å"For she has eyes and chose me. † This represents his reason, which doesn’t last long and his reasoning fades as the play goes on.Again in the same act Othello says â€Å"Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow hell! † A metaphor is used to represent Othello calling his own vengeance to come from him self. In saying this, Othello is now full of anger and vengeance that is brought on upon by his pass ion and he now has no reason left in his conscience. â€Å"Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her, damn her! † is said by Othello later in the scene. Once again Othello’s passion is engulfing his reason and he is coming to dramatic conclusions.The repetition of ‘damn her’, and naming her ‘lewd minx’ emphasises his passionate hate for her. Act 3 scene 3 is a perfect example of him having self conflict between his reason vs. passion, where his passion takes control of his reasoning. Thus, this flaw of his inability to have balanced reason and passion is a major contributor to Desdemona’s death. Jealousy is yet another important theme throughout the play of Othello, and it has consumed the mind of Othello, ultimately leading him to killing Desdemona.Evident in Act 4 scene 1, Iago easily manipulates Othello with profound jealousy and it overwhelms him throughout. Iago says ‘Or to be naked with her in bed / An hour of more, not meaning any h arm? ’ This imagery is not only placed in the minds of the audience, but set into Othello’s mind. Othello replies ‘Naked in bed, Iago, and not mean harm? ’ Othello obviously shows jealous nature by asking this rhetorical question, where he thinks that anyone in bed naked with his wife means harm.Othello is also Jealous of Cassio and it is evident in the line ‘Look how he laughs already! ’ said by Othello. Othello is jealous, as he cannot bare Cassio in being happy, thus he points out the obvious of Cassio laughing. Immediately after Cassio exists in this scene Othello says ‘How shall I murder him, Iago? ’ His jealousy has consumed his mind and now he is resorting to killing Cassio. The high modality ‘How’ emphasises his hate towards him because he is pondering the different ways he can kill Iago, also creating imagery for the audience.Later in the scene before Othello slaps Desdemona he yells ‘Devil’. Thi s is a metaphor as the devil has consumed his mind into a phase of dramatic jealousy, where the Devil inside of him has resulted to killing Desdemona. Jealousy consumes the mind of Othello, and is it is emphasised in the play, it is a catalyst for the killing of Desdemona. In the play Othello there are many people who play a role in the death of Desdemona. Iago may be an important role as he persuades Othello into an erratic thunderous state, as well as persuading him to kill Desdemona.Although, Iago could have attempted to persuade anyone else into killing someone, but with out flaws like Othello had, it would not be possible. Therefor Othello had the most important role in the death of Desdemona through his flaws of Jealousy and Reason versus Passion. We can get an understanding that jealousy has consumed the mind of Othello. Even though Iago ignites this flaw, without Othello having this flaw Iago would not be able to manipulate him into killing Desdemona, thus making Othello the most important role towards her death.

Nature in Literature

Nature plays a huge role in many pieces of literature, but especially Basho’s Narrow Road to the Deep North and Voltaire’s Candide. There is a major difference between the two forms of literature and how nature is incorporated into each. This Japanese form of literature has a much lighter tone than that of the European style of literature. You can see a calmer, more relaxed intention into the nature that is in Basho’s Narrow Road to the Deep North.On page 413 in Basho’s piece, it says â€Å"As the year gradually came to an end and spring arrived, filling the sky with mist, I longed to cross the Shirakawa Barrier, the most revered of poetic places. † From this section, you can see that Basho gets his inspiration for his literature and poetry from the places that he travels, and this resulted in his linked-verse sequence. Even though Basho had a long, tough journey of travels; the nature takes his breath away. On page 416 of Narrow Road to the Deep No rth, it says â€Å"my body and spirit were tired from the pain of the long journey; my heart overwhelmed by the landscape. †This statement shows that regardless of the struggles, he could find a poetic sense in everything he went through. In Narrow Road to the Deep North, Basho also found religion to accompany the bright nature in his literature of his travels. On page 418, Basho writes, â€Å"the green of pine is dark and dense, the branches and leaves bent by the salty breeze—as if they were deliberately twisted.

Interview Report 1 Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Interview Report 1 - Essay Example He had migrated to the USA with an intention to seek higher education and employment. Mr. X was encouraged by his parents to go abroad and make his life there as he would be able to find more opportunities of academic and professional development. Coming from a poor family, he had to earn to fund his studies. He joined the college but couldn’t continue as the job consumed most of his time. He eventually decided to leave the studies and continue with his job. However, he did do a diploma in hotel management and has completed about two short courses on hotel management as well which led him to becoming a hotel manager from a caterer that was how he was hired in his first job. Mr. X has been serving as a hotel manager for over ten years. He is between 35 and 44 years of age. The four words or phrases said by Mr. X that describe the word â€Å"freedom† for him are â€Å"decision making power†, â€Å"work-life balance†, â€Å"money† and â€Å"peace of m ind.† Of the four, Mr. X considers work-life balance and money the most important depicters of an individual’s freedom. Mr. X has been living away from his family ever since he moved to the USA. He does not think that he is free because for all these years, he has not been able to balance his work with his social life. At one point in the interview, Mr. X said, â€Å"My life is all about work. ... In fact, his desire to make money fundamentally came from the urge to break free of the kind of lifestyle his father had spent. When asked what made him think of decision making power as a measure of freedom, Mr. X narrated the following lines of a poem: â€Å"Freedom is about blank, white paper Writing what you want to write, where you want to write Saying the things you would never normally say out loud† (Quiterio, 2002). Analysis Freedom is very difficult to define. â€Å"Freedom cannot be defined, except through an analysis of the restrictions on human action† (Cooray, 2011). Two themes in the definition of freedom narrated by Mr. X that I find most interesting are â€Å"decision making power† and â€Å"work-life balance†. To me, freedom does not mean lack of slavery. If an individual is not enslaved, he/she is not necessarily free. To be free in the real sense means to be able to make the important decisions of life. When an individual is free, he is able to adjust his work according to his wish, rather than adjusting his wishes according to his work. There are two kinds of freedom; social freedom and professional freedom. Social freedom provides an individual with the opportunity to do whatever he wants. People who have a large degree of social freedom are generally very rich. They have more than enough money to satisfy their needs. They may do a job, but job is not really their need. Many people with a high degree of social freedom do job to kill time rather than to earn money. People who have professional freedom have high position and authority. They are leaders or managers. While they make others do very hard work, their own work life is quite balanced with their social life. Mr. X talked a lot about the lack of work-life balance in his life.

War Propaganda Produced by Democracies and Totalitarian Regimes Essay

War Propaganda Produced by Democracies and Totalitarian Regimes - Essay Example In this respect, democracies and totalitarian regimes have emerged to serve diverse and dynamic purposes across the globe. War involving states or countries within and across national borders has been a common concept since time immemorial. Countries and continents have engaged other countries and continents in war. The first and second world wars serve as critical examples in this respect. Both democracies and totalitarian regimes have been involved in wars, the only difference being the way they conduct their business in every aspect of the war they engage in (Sondrol, 2009, p.157). War propaganda has and still is specifically notable in both democracies and totalitarian regimes. However, differences emerge in respect to the war propaganda produced by democracies and that produced by totalitarian regimes. To understand the principles of war propaganda in both democracies and totalitarian regimes, it is vital to consider the basis upon which democracies and totalitarian regimes oper ate and function within power and authority of governance and leadership. Governing the people entails critical decision making on behalf of the people (Clark, 1997, p.259). To aid this process, different political systems are adopted, with each system depicting aspects of democracy or totalitarianism. For example, different countries around the world exhibit aspects of socialism, capitalism, or communism. Democracy in governance and leadership embraces the difference between all persons involved. The power and authority of governance rests in the people. In other words, the people are treated as equals by the law, and their fundamental rights and freedoms that pertain to voicing their opinions in legislative processes are observed. In democracies, constitutions are vital in ensuring a smooth flow of governance and leadership without oppression by the tyranny of the majority players in the political system (Welch, 2001, p.105). Britain, for example, is governed under monarchism, wit h its constitution being unwritten. However, the country is a democracy, just like the United States among others. The constitution is the supreme law that guides leadership and governance in democracies. Any decisions that intend to affect people’s lives must significantly involve the people before they are upheld. People practice their freedom of speech within the provisions of their democratic rights. Democracy also encompasses press freedom by allowing press autonomy. Freedom of speech and freedom of the press provides for support or critique of the current regime in democracies, allowing the people to have a given level of control over their lives (Kershaw, 2004, p.14). On the other hand, totalitarian regimes are the complete opposite of democracies. The United Kingdom today cannot compare to the Hitler regime that oppressed the people. The power and authority of a totalitarian regime is not limited, and the personal and private life of the people is controlled by the to talitarian regime in every aspect. People governed within totalitarian regimes have little or no say to any decisions made regarding their lives. Propaganda in totalitarian regimes is a critical concept due to the fact that the popularity and the public favour those totalitarian regimes seek rests in propaganda. This is the primary basis of retaining power and authority in totalitarian regimes. In order to critically capture the difference be

Physical Characteristics Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1250 words

Physical Characteristics - Essay Example All scientists do not unanimously accept the latest IAU launched definition of a planet that changed the status of Pluto. They continue to view Pluto as the ninth planet. (Spinrad, 2004), (Stern, 2007) Kuiper Belt is an unexplored region of the solar system that extends from just outside the orbit of Neptune to quite a distance from the orbit of Pluto. It is similar to the asteroid belt in that it consists chiefly of small bodies and one known dwarf planet, Pluto. But while the asteroid belt is made up of metal and hard rock, the Kuiper Belt is composed mainly of frozen objects made up of dust and ice, called KBO's. They vary in size from small clumps of ice and dust to large bodies like the Pluto. It is the revolution of these objects that determines the disc-shaped structure of the Kuiper Belt. If their orbits are interrupted in order to bring them into the inner solar system, they can be seen as comets which turn into gas and dust when they get too near to the sun. (Stern, 2007) During the year 1905, an American astronomer named Percival Lowell, observed that some kind of gravitational force seemed to be disturbing the revolutions of Uranus and Neptune. In 1915, he postulated the existence of another planet beyond Neptune and started his research from his Arizona observatory. Unfortunately, he found his death in 1916 before he could discover Pluto. But his works were carried on by the Lowell Observatory staff, and in 1929, Clyde W. Tombaugh, an assistant at the observatory, took pictures of the part of the sky that was in question with a very powerful wide-angled telescope. The next year he discovered Pluto on three of the photographs. (Spinrad, 2004) However, the newly discovered planet seemed to be quite small to cause interruptions in the orbits of Uranus and Neptune. So, the calculations of Percival Lowell were rechecked by the later astronomers, and were found to be inaccurate confirming no disturbances in the orbits of Uranus and Neptune. Hence, discovery of Pluto was just luck through hard work. Later, in 1978, the U.S naval observatory at Flagstaff observed discovered a moon orbiting Pluto very closely, and named it Charon. (Stern, 2007) In 1951, Gerard Kuiper, a renowned Dutch American astronomer, predicted the presence of the Kuiper Belt. He and his colleagues expected that a belt composed of frozen volatile material might exist beyond the orbit of Neptune, just like the rocky asteroid belt lying between mars and Jupiter. Although the first few searches were unsuccessful, introduction of the charge-coupled device (CCD) in the late 1980's opened up a new gateway to space research. These devices were a lot more efficient in absorbing light than the obsolete photographic technology, allowing them to capture extremely dim objects. Thence in 1992, two astronomers, Jane Luu and David Jewitt, discovered the first Kuiper Belt Object, 1992QB1. (Stern, 2007) Physical Characteristics: Size and Orbit Pluto is approximately 39 times as far from the sun as the earth that is a distance of about 5.9 billion kilometers. It has an approximate diameter of 1,400 miles, which is about two-thirds the size of earth's moon and less than a fifth of the earth itself. (Spinrad, 2004) It takes about 248 earth years to complete a full revolution around the sun, while it takes 6 earth days for a full rotation around its axis. As its orbit is elliptical in shape as

Sex and Religion Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Sex and Religion - Essay Example The materials provide substantial opportunity to consider the Bible as a great source of authority in maintaining the value or quality of human life. It speaks absolutely of the truth that if everyone and everything would have the foundation of God’s love, the world would suppose to live in perfect unity and harmony. In response to the materials I have read, I can say that to be objective with Biblical interpretation, which is an act that should have a high level of divine guidance, humans should have significant discerning of things around them that would ultimately guide them towards the right and necessary actions to do in life. Applying this principle in working with clients in the area of sexuality or sexual diversity would show us a remarkable advantage due to the following reasons that I believe essential or vital in ensuring a good working relationship. First, the use of the Bible as objective source of authority in dealing with clients in the area of sexuality or sexu al diversity provides wisdom that has proven to provide the appropriate act to ensure good moral values. The Bible and the words written in it could provide the appropriate standard on what to do, which the bottom line is to maximise the presence of love and its power to change lives. For this matter, I believe that when counseling couples for instance, who have been having troubles in ensuring to make their relationship stand amidst troubles and perfect misunderstandings, the Biblical contexts and principles would make a good opportunity to guarantee support for harmony, respect and love. The Bible connects itself to the current issues of the human life, not only in the past, it also continues at present and in the future. Reading the materials, provides me a considerable thought that every issue of the human life is demonstrated in the Bible for us to learn in advance of many things about life. Thus, this convinces me that the Bible should be the human’s ultimate source or guide for daily living. Issues like homosexuality, marriage and any related topics like these are discussed in the Bible. However, it is also important that there is divine guidance from the ultimate source of absolutely right and correct wisdom, God, who is capable us providing us the right interpretation of the Biblical text. Thus, the idea of holiness is I belief would make sense concerning this point. Truly, I believe that there should be absolute standard of what is universally correct or right, even if we are living in diversity because we are all human beings, having the same ability to feel the same and react to our environment in the same pattern or trend. This convinces me that the idea of Jesus for the good of the humanity is applicable to all people coming from different nations and tribes because its main point is for the good of everyone, not to harm. That is why the idea of Jack Roger to consider Jesus Christ as the center of the Scripture would make sense, implying f urther that the Bible and Christ teachings and He Himself should be one. This therefore would allow us to place higher authority in the Scripture, allowing us to use it in all occupations, particularly in the prevailing diversity in the area of sexuality. Second, based on my first point of view, I noticed that religion using the Bible with perfect and great authority has important implication in every lifestyle, because based on the articles; the Scripture is capable of instructing us concerning the varying views and experiences of life. Religious doctrines according to the article of Thomas Armiger provide essential connection to the human faith. It is