The Portable Thoreau Personal Statement Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words

The Portable Thoreau - Personal Statement Example Drifting purposelessly seems an utter waste of the wonderful faculties that man is endowed with, and the stick itself may be symbolic of a man’s life that has to be shaped with the loving care and devotion that an artist gives to his creation. To me the story seems to be a parable espousing the virtues of single minded purpose in going about what one has set out to achieve. It tells of how everything else takes second place to the one goal one has set out for one’s self. It is a tale of devotion to the task in hand, completely disregarding everything else, without which perfection is not possible. If the intentions are right and the devotion to achieving them exists then the result must be great success. As Thoreau himself points out what he learned as the result of his experiment at Walden â€Å"if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.† (Thoreau, Walden) I agree with this theory. I think if one can identify one’s goal and pursue it without being distracted by other issues, the only outcome will be success. This has been proven by many great people in different fields whether they were scientists or sportsmen, freedom fighters or people born with physical disabilities, such people have overcome mighty odds by the strength of their determination.

Impact of the Computer and Internet Essay Example for Free

Impact of the Computer and Internet Essay Computers first made there debut and have been around since in the 1940s and the Internet since in the 1970s. Computer were large single room unit that have changed into hand held devices and microchips. The Internet was a blog where people from all over the world could post questions and get answers and now the Internet has become a global search engine. In the future, computers and the Internet will not only continue to evolve; they will be every day aspect to living in this society. Computers will be the new tools for communication and also play a big part in our every day life. In the future, our days tasks will be checked using a personal robotic butler, the misplaced car keys will be located by entering the word keys into a cellphone and getting a call back saying bedroom. Our cars will be self driven and would be able to park themselves. After work, there may be ads on the shopping mall wall reconfigure to suit each person passing by, so when there is a sign for a concert, you buy a ticket by waving your cellphone over the billboard. This next wave of computers will be so small they hardly seem like computers at all. The screen of billboards will be able to broadcast different ad depending on the time of day or the person walking past. People will be able take a picture of the ad using their camera phones and use it as a coupon for the product being advertised. They may also be able to project imagies of family member which you talk to them on telephone call. In the future, the number one major issue will be privacy. We are currently leaving a digital footprints and it will only grow larger in the future. Tracking someone can be iillgal and has raised troubling privacy issues but in recents years people are giving up this information free. Websites like Twiter, Myspace and Facebook give people the ablity to post and check into area all around the world. People are also allowing strangors to know if they are on vaction and even some people are allowing their address and information to be put on these sites. The social inpact of allowing computer to expand will be huge. Police and government surveillance could go beyond wiretapping to body-tapping. Big business could track a persons spending and shopping habits. On the criminal front, the sensors could enable better stalking, kidnapping, and theft now that our every location is broadcast to the world. The only way were going to be able to have privacy in the future is to have it legislated. People want our data and will do anything to get it. We need to be able to protect ourselves and the only was to do it in the future is to not allow computer to tap into our lives. The internet brings as wide an audience together as possible. With the importance of accessibility getting the recognition it deserves lately. Rather than reading and clicking, the people will be able to tell a browser where they want to go with spoken commands. People now read newspapers watch television and listen to the radio via the Internet and soon all of our communications phones, TV, and the Web will be delivered over a high-speed broadband connection. People are also creating their own media including blog posts, music and videos and sharing them with huge audiences without needing permission from the gatekeepers. The Internet is changing the way most everyone experiences media. According to Free Press. com â€Å"It could become the central nervous system of a healthy democracy the greatest engine for free speech, civic engagement and economic growth ever known†. It may be our last, best hope to make an end-run around the traditional media gatekeepers. There is a similar threat to society because of the open Internet today, and the stakes couldnt be higher. High-speed Internet access is fast becoming a basic public necessity, just like water or electricity. To protect free-flowing Internet access for everyone, people need to get involved. It has gone from lifeless and robotic to something a lot more palatable in the last few years, and seems to continue to improve. Another issue could be keeping some users away because that the Internet can be a vast and scary place. Audio surfing could be perfect for the commuters, children learning to read, step-by-step tutorials as well as the casual multitasking user. In the future, web surfing could be available on any device. It seems the technology industry is eager to integrate the Internet into every device. People will start by adding touch-screens to fridges and other appliances might create new opportunities and challenges for interfacing. Touch screen technology is only scratching the surface on intuitive pproaches to interfacing. More widespread Internet delivery will mean reaching a wider audience. The major weakness to the increase of connected devices comes in the same flavor as the raging net neutrality issues being discussed today. If the Internet is tied into content devices like televisions, broadcasting companies might start pulling more of their annoying control-freak shenanigans in an attempt to capture a greater audience. This will be temporary; the battle of old-media vs. the Internet has only one ending for years, the Internet has been about serving the singular user. With the growing need and importance of online community, multiple-user experiences seem like the next logical step. The social impact of the internet will be negative at the rate the internet is going. As people use the internet more, they will be able to keeping up with people more, spending less time talking with their families, and feeling more lonely and depressed due to the lack of human interaction. These results can change interpersonal communication was their most important reason for using the Internet. Online platforms, for instance, have reduced the costs of communicating and minimized the impact of barriers like time and geography. In conclusion, computers and the Internet will not only continue to evolve; they will be every day aspect to living in this society. Computers will be the new tools for communication and also play a big part in our everyday life. The internet will bring us wider audiences and accessibility to people all over the world. Both will have negative and positive aspect in society but may bring the world as we know it closer.

Greatest Speeches of All Time - Franklin Roosevelts Speech Essay Example for Free

Greatest Speeches of All Time Franklin Roosevelts Speech Essay In his first paragraph, Roosevelt states that he is certain that his fellow Americans expect he will address them with honesty and a decision which the people will push forward. He also states that this is the distinguished time to speak the truth. That Americans should not shrink from honestly facing conditions in their country today. America will endure as it has endured and will revive and flourish. So first of all, he will support his firm belief that the only thing they have to fear is fear itself- unjustified terror which stops needed efforts to transform retreat into advance. He makes a point about how values have shrunken dramatically as taxes have risen, ability to pay has fallen, the government is faced by diminishment of income, exchange means are frozen in trade, the industrial enterprise is falling (â€Å"withered leaves†), farmers cannot sell produce, savings of families are gone and there are going to be more unemployed citizens. He speaks about how America doesn’t have the problems they once had with loss of produce and how â€Å"our forefathers conquered† and that American’s should appreciate it. He says that the country has many resources and shouldn’t waste them, like leaders have wasted resources before, whether it was because they stubborn or just plain dumb, they have passed on these habits to their future rulers. He acknowledges that they have tried, but their efforts were in vain. They have only ever proposed the lending of money. People before him have not had the choice to lure people to follow him by using money promises; they resorted to persuading the people through â€Å"pleading tearfully for restored confidence. These people had no vision and only knew the rules of a generation of self-seekers, and with this vision people perish. He acknowledges that social values are more important than money values and that is where the restoration should begin. He also acknowledges that money doesn’t bring you happiness but the joy of achievement does. He also acknowledges that the joy and moral side of work no longer need to be forgotten in the chase of diminishing profits. He also states that recognition of material wealth being the standard of success being a false idea going hand in hand with the â€Å"abandonment of the false belief that public office and political position are to be valued only by the standards of pride of place and personal profit†, also that there must be an end to the wrong doing to the citizens who trust in banking and in business. If the nation is to be restored both ethics must be changed and action must be taken. He recognises action needs to be taken so that more people are in the workforce and are able to get into the workforce. He states that we must recognise that most of the population lives in the city and that the land should be put to better use. This can be achieved by raising the value of agricultural products and with this power to purchase the output of cities. It can be helped by preventing the tragedy of the growing loss of small homes and farms. It also helped by insistence that the federal, state and local governments act on demand to have their costs reduced. If national planning for supervision of all forms of transportation and communication were in place it would also help. He states that it cannot merely be helped by talking about it and actions must be put in place quickly. He states that to return to the safeguard of work there must be strict supervision of all banking and credits and investment, there must be end to speculation with other people’s money and there must be provision for an adequate but sound currency. He goes on to explain how he will fill his duties in a fulfilling way. The event the speech addresses: The event the speech addresses was Inauguration Day, 1933. This marked the commencement of a four year term. On this day there was a swearing in ceremony which consisted of Roosevelt taking an oath of office and delivering a speech. This speech outlined that Roosevelt understood that the American Constitution had proved itself as an enduring modern political mechanism and how Roosevelt planned to ease the effects of the Great Depression. Profile of Franklin Roosevelt: Franklin Delano Roosevelt was born in 1882 at Hyde Park, New York. Hyde Park (New York) is most famous for being the hometown of Roosevelt and his grandfathers’ home is located near the Riverview Circle of the Hudson River. He was born as the only child of James Roosevelt and Sara Ann Delano Roosevelt. He was born into a family of riches and the sense of self importance. He was educated by tutors and governesses and his upbringing was far different from the common people. In 1896 he attended Groton school for boys where he found it hard to fit in as most of the boys excelled at athletics while he did not. After graduating in 1900, Roosevelt attended Harvard University and Columbia Law School but in 1907 he passed the bar exam yet didn’t receive a degree. In 1905, on St. Patrick’s Day he married Eleanor Roosevelt, his fifth cousin, niece of Theodore Roosevelt, also his fifth cousin. Theodore Roosevelt was Franklin Roosevelt’s idol and Roosevelt aimed to follow in his footsteps. Theodore Roosevelt became commander-in-chief in 1901 after William McKinley was assassinated and president in 1904 after winning second term. Roosevelt won a seat in the New York senate in 1901. He was stricken with Polio in 1921, but not many people knew exactly how paralysed he was as he was never seen in a wheelchair. He fought to regain the use of his legs though hydrotherapy. Franklin Roosevelt was the only president to be elected four times. Roosevelt had become the 32nd President of the United States in 1933. In 1935 many members of the public were against Roosevelt’s New Deal program even though the Nation had received some measure of recovery as national product went up and unemployment went down. The New Deal program was a series of domestic programs enacted in the United States between 1933 and 1936. Roosevelt was re-elected in 1936 by a huge margin. Roosevelt had pledged the United States to the good neighbour policy, when France fell and England came under siege in 1940, he began to send Great Britain all possible aid short of actual military involvement. Hopes of keeping America out of the war ended on December 7, 1941 when Japan attacked Pearl Harbour. Roosevelt helped in the area of advising military personnel and did this successfully in 1942 in an invasion on South Africa, in 1943 in both Italy and Sicily and followed by the D-Day invasion in Europe in 1944. During this time Roosevelt also promoted the formation of the United Nations (UN). Also in 1944 Roosevelt had been tested and diagnosed with many problems but despite this he ran for president with his running mate Harry S. Truman who he nominated as his senator and won 36 of 48 states, yet again becoming president. In February, 1945, Roosevelt attended the Yalta Conference which was held to discuss after-war reorganisation with British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet General Secretary Joseph Stalin. Roosevelt died on the afternoon of April 12th in 1945, as the World War II came to a close from a cerebral haemorrhage. His passing shocked America even though people knew he looked exhausted in photographs and news reels, no one was prepared for his passing. Historical Analysis: Roosevelt’s presidency had forever changed the United States and the way it was run. He led a country through the Great Depression, as well as the greatest war in human history, and his social programs during the Great Depression have redefined the role of government in Americans’ lives. He established the United States leadership on the world stage through his role in World War II. The 12 years he spent in the White House had redefined liberalism and set a precedent for the expansion of presidential power for future generations.

What is intellectuality? how and to what effect is it used in the media?

What is intellectuality? how and to what effect is it used in the media? What is intertextuality? How and to what effect is it used in the media? Intertextuality can be discussed on many different levels. However, I have discovered that when thinking of intertextuality in contemporary media, my mind recalls those who founded intertextuality and are now an inspiration from their various approaches to this topic. Indeed, intertextuality mirrors its ever-present service as a way of formalizing a vast number of different techniques and effects in literature and in the media. Speaking in the light of this, I shall discuss the various concepts many linguistics reveal which revolve around the relationships between various interconnected texts in media studies. I also aim to explore intertextuality as a literary term, while I hope to illustrate the elements which reinforce intertextuality as an effective device used widely in the media today. Firstly, however, I would like to discuss the term ‘intertextuality. Intertextuality can be described as the shaping of texts meaning to other texts. This idea portrays the meaning of a text belonging exclusively to its authors intentions, as the former text to a readers referencing of one text in reading another. Intertextuality is the word coined by Julia Kristeva, a French linguist who has written much on this topic. She proposed the idea that a text should not be interpreted merely by its words, but also studied based on other works it has adapted. Kristeva referred to texts in terms of two axes: â€Å"horizontal axis (subject-addressee) and vertical axis (text-context) coincide, bringing to light an important factor: each word (text) is an intersection of word (texts) where at least one other word (text) can be read.† (Kristeva, 1980) Bonding these two axes can be meant they are shared codes; which leaves every text and every reading depending on prior signs or symb ols. Kristeva declared that â€Å"every text is from the outset under the jurisdiction of other discourses which impose a universe on it† (Kristeva, 1980). In Mikhail Bakhtins work, these two axes, which he calls â€Å"dialogue and ambivalence† (Bakhtin: cited in Kristeva, 1980), are not clearly separated. He argues that â€Å"any text is constructed as a mosaic of quotation; any text is the absorption and transformation of another. The notion of intertextuality replaces that of intersubjectivity, and poetic language is read as at least double.† (Bakhtin: cited in Kristeva, 1980) This debate between Kristeva and Bakhtin shows that there are conflicting views surrounding this topic concerning various terms applied; which open further discussion on the meaning of intertextuality as a literary term. Kristeva follows to argue that any text, as a ‘concept allows one to think about how language is arranged in ways which undercut its communicative purposes, meanwhile exposing the codes that classify the creation of linguistic messages. â€Å"The text provides one with the conceptual means by which to theorize and thus analyze the formation and deformation of the human being that takes place in the circuits of symbolic exchange.† (Kristeva, 1980) On the other hand, Roland Barthes (1977) introduces his concept and definition to intertextuality as â€Å"woven entirely with citations, references, echoes, cultural language which cut across in through and through in a vast stereophony. The intertextual in which every text is held, it itself being the text-between of another text, is not to be confused with some origin of the text† rather â€Å"the citation which go to make up a text anonymous†. (Barthes, 1977: cited in Graham Allen, 2003) However, Barthes declar es that the concept of text is that related to the concept of intertextuality by explaining that â€Å"a text is a multidimensional space in which a variety of writings, none of them original, blend and clash. The text is a tissue of quotations The writer can only imitate a gesture that is always anterior, never original; his only power is to mix writings, to counter the ones with the others, in such a way as never to rest on any one of them† (Barthes, 1977: cited in Allen, 2003). This shows that Barthes believes that text convey a meaning imparted to it by its author and is keen to avoid the misinterpretation of his defintion and relationship between ‘text and ‘intertextuality, different from all linguistics. Conversely, it can be said that all the above arguments show the concept of intertextuality launched in order to identify a fundamental dialogue of discourses and texts. Perhaps intertextuality â€Å"as a phenomenon presents certain difficulties precisely because it is so widespread. A particularly important problem has to do with the fact that the concept of intertextuality appears to be infinitely expandable† (Allen, 2003). This problem is complicated when applied in literary studies. However, Jonathan Culler (1998) found a way much easier to explain; a way in which intertextuality can be a simpler term to understand. He applied â€Å"the linguistic concept of presupposition to the way a text produces a ‘pre-text or draws attention to its own conventions.†(Culler 1998) Intertextuality through Cullers quote can be explained, for instance; if a reader picks up a book and reads its introduction or the blurb (pre-text) and engages with it, and then later decides to buy the book in order to discover the ‘full story. Notably, texts do dialogues but â€Å"it could be difficult to imagine dialogues without some notion of the author† (Anker Gemzoe, 1997). In other words, Gemzoe explains that although work can be seen as part of an authors belonging, it is usually difficult to read or analyse any text without some concept of the work. â€Å"These objections do not invalidate the idea of intertextuality in literary studies, but they make it clear that it should be handled with care† (Gemzoe, 1997). Furthermore, Norman Fairclough (1992) and John Fiske (1991) comment on the concept of intertextuality to expose an awareness of both its â€Å"promise and limitations†. (Fairclough and Fiske: cited in Allen 2003) Fairclough thought to introduce a systematic approach to intertextuality in order to involve various â€Å"categories and types designed to make the basic concept† (Fairclough, 1992) easier to apply. Accordingly, he points to a useful division between â€Å"‘manifest intertextuality and ‘interdiscursivity† (Fairclough, 1992). Manifest intertextuality is implied to be subdivided into the following categories: â€Å"Discourse representation, presupposition, negation, metadiscourse and irony† (Fairclough 1992). Interdiscursivity is more complicated because it â€Å"construes the categories in question as genres and styles† (Fairclough 1992). The idea of genre here, embraces the others as it sets the rules for styles and discourses. Culler states in his study of interdiscursivity that it â€Å"depends on several presuppositions† (Culler, 1998). However, Gemzoe draws particular attention to some significant theoretical suggestions involved in Kristevas earlier coining of the term ‘intertextuality. In Gemzoes opinion â€Å"Kristevas gesture involved a critical confrontation with the subject, representation, narrative and the work as an autonomous entity† (Gemzoe, 1997). The subject and the idea of representation are changed by a written structure with its own structures of reference. Two of these four suggestions â€Å"could make any use of the concept of intertextuality ambiguous in a literary context, even if the concept is acknowledged as somehow indispensable† (Gemzoe, 1997). Generally, intertextuality is seen to be used widely in the media. We interact with media everyday during our daily routines. Wither we read newspapers before going to work, or listen to the radio while driving our cars, or watch the television or a film in our free time or even read an advertisement displayed on a wall; we are all part of this media world or society in which we live in. However, from all the above arguments and definitions, it has been clearly recognized that intertextuality is present in literary studies. However, in media studies, intertextuality is obvious in some types of media than others. Fiske (1987) identifies intertextuality as a main supplier to the ways in which media texts make meaning culturally. He argues that â€Å"text relate to other text both similar, and different, and in doing so make meaning for audiences†. In the light of this, I shall start identifying examples of intertextuality used in a newspaper article, television soap, and music v ideos and in films. Not all newspapers contain intertextuality. The reason for this relates back to the type of paper. For examples, tabloids are known for their conversational and simple language which is written in favour for all age groups. Intertextuality is therefore most obvious in tabloids than in the ‘quality paper. For instance, in the Daily Mail Online, there is an article on Rita Simon from EastEnders revealing: â€Å"I hate the muffin tops Ive developed since having children†. This example of hating ‘muffin tops is the way she expresses her feelings towards the un-likeliness to her round like shape of her bust and later claims she would like â€Å"perkier boobs†. This example of intertextuality was not seen as a directly clear and profound one; rather it was hidden through the phrases used to portray another image. This technique is used effectively in newspapers and in this example, to focus on a particular subject to overlap the significance of another subject. Speaking of EastEnders, it can be said that the title of this soap itself, displays a clear heading of intertextuality in television. As known, EastEnders is set in the traditional working class area in the London Borough of Walford, in the ‘East End of London. The word ‘enders can be suggested to be the plural of the individual who lives in the east end, and thus this represents the lifestyle of the east in London. Fiske states that â€Å"discourse about television is itself a social force. It is a major site of the meditation of television meanings, a site where television meanings fuse with other meanings into a new text to form a major interface†, (Fiske, 1987). In examining a films intertextuality, therefore, it is best to look at the prior texts that influenced the film which that film takes up and makes into something new. Even if the film is mostly similar to its previous version, intertextuality can still be identified. For example, when discussing the film‘The Matrix, as this film is an example of intertextuality. It draws upon texts of Christian, Buddhist, and Hindu religions. Also, the film‘Slumdog Millionaire is another film name which draws our attention to the original name of the international, most famous program ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? The films name derives from this well known program but is used to portray the life of a Mumbai teenage boy who grows up in the slums, becomes a contestant on the Indian version of â€Å"Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?† Following to this, music videos is a genre which is seen to rely heavily on the use of intertextuality to achieve a particular effect. Often this borrowing of a text to link it to a second one is stylistic. This means that a text will mimic or copy certain stylistic features of another text. Usually this is done in order to create a particular impact, although there may be instances where this borrowing may seem simply a matter of convenience to give a music video, for example, a particular look. For example, Christina Aguilera in her music video ‘Hurt dyed her hair blonde and cut it short, used red lipstick and took on a Marilyn Monroe look; many of her fans believed she is one of the main proponents in bringing back the 1920s and 1940s.   This, however, has always been the image of Marilyn in everybodys mind; therefore Christinas transformation had helped leave an impact on the viewers to sell her single quicker making it number one in the charts in 2005. For the viewers he re, the power of the image of the original text (Marilyn Monroe) is likely to be carried through into the new text (Christina Aguilera). In this study, I have interpreted the multiple meanings of intertextuality by many academics as a literary term and followed to examine how effective it is through examples I showed in the media. In conclusion to intertextuality in the media, it can be said that it acts as a ‘communicative occurrence; meaning that its presence helps analyse many genres, texts, media discourses etc. Without intertextuality, I believe it is partly difficult to understand where an original piece of text came from and how it developed into becoming a ‘new version of that original. Although I did not study all the media type in order to finalize my opinion on intertextuality in the media, however I believe that with the continuous revolutionized techniques the media uses to portray any sort of text or image; intertextuality will need to keep up with this development and thus catch up with the what is so-called ‘internet era in which we live in today.

War Changes Henry in Stephen Cranes The Red Badge of Courage :: Red Badge Courage Essays

War Changes Henry in Stephen Crane's The Red Badge of Courage There have been many great war stories; one is The Red Badge of Courage (1895) written by Stephen Crane. This book is circled around Henry Fleming, a young man who wants to join the Union Army during the Civil War. The Civil War has been a great subject for many books, as it was a great changing point in American History that lasted for 4 years. The story is written about Henry Fleming, who wanted to join the Union Army for a long time, but his mother didn't want him to. The story lasts over a period of a few days, probably two. He grew up on a farm, in a rural area, where he was secluded from large areas, like many other soldiers who fought in the Civil War. He is usually a good farmer boy, who follows what his mother says. With no mention of his father in the story, he is most likely dead or he ran away. This makes Stephen Crane's writing look like many families today, where there is only one parent to care for them. He eventually signs up with the Union Army, without his mother's full support. On his way there, he is greeted by many others who say how he is so great for joining the army. He gets to the Army camp eventually, and everyone there is waiting in anxiety for a battle. Here he meets other soldiers, such as the "Loud soldier," and the "Tall Soldier." They talk about battles, and soldiers who run from war, comparing them to children and anything but men. This makes him think if he, if the battle gets too violent, will run. Eventually the first battle comes, and the first rush with it. He defends his position, and doesn't run away. But the second wave of attacks came, and he ran away as fast as he could. He meets up with a group of injured soldiers, when he remembers that he ran from battle. This made him ashamed of himself, even more when he has to lie about being injured. This shows how the writer likes to use emotions on the character effect the reader, some people might be mad he ran a way, others might be disappointed in him for it. Overtime, Henry has many bad experiences since he ran from the battle. He was injured when a bullet grazes the backside of his head, and he also suffers from extreme dehydration, but is saved by a military camp he came to.

Animals Deserve Rights Essay -- Argumentative Persuasive Argument Essa

Animals Deserve Rights It is the notion of our time that non-human animals exist for the advancement of the human species. In whatever field -- cookery, fashion, blood-sports -- it is held that we can only be concerned with animals as far as human interests exist. There may be some sympathy for those animals, as to limit practices which cause excruciating suffering, but those may only be limited if they are brought to public light, and if legislators receive enough pressure from the public to change. However, it is the purpose of this essay to convince the reader otherwise. The question at hand is: do animals deserve rights? It must certainly be true. Humans deserve rights and this claim is made on numerous appeals. Of one of the pertinent pleas is made on the claim that humans can feel emotions. More importantly, that humans are capable of suffering, and that to inflict such pain is unethical. Those who observe the tortures of the Nazi Concentration Camp are instilled with a humane creed held for all humans. But if there is no significant gulf between humans, that is to say there is no gulf based on skin color, creed, or gender that will make one human more or less valuable than any other, then by what right can a gulf be drawn out between humans and our fellow creatures? The suffering of humans is why we sympathize with each other. Since animals suffer, they deserve our sympathy. There is no real gulf separating the species. We all can feel suffering in the same manner. A racist's reasoning is flawed because he claims that one race is undeserving of sympathy, despite that it may be capable of suffering. Similarly, to claim that an animal deserves no rights or sympathy is faulty on the same reasoning. It creates a gu... ..., economics, and humaneness prefer otherwise. Therefore, Vegetarianism is the first logical step in Animal Rights. If we continue to kill and eat them, then what real recognition of their rights has there been? Another area where their rights are disregarded is in blood-sports, where creatures are hunted and killed for some sake of pleasure -- that terror in the hearts of animals brings warmth to the hearts of men. Vivisection, or experimental torture, is another area. To advance knowledge, they will sacrifice the lives of millions, to die in brutal and heartless tortures. The advancement of humaneness will come with abolition of these cruel and vicious practices. Those of us who work for the progression of the rights of animals and for truly equal rights of conscious beings are bold and ardent in our efforts. For the betterment of our fellow creatures is our cause.

Bowling For Columbine as a Carnivelsque Essay -- essays research paper

To what extent can BFC be viewed as drawing on key elements of Bakhtin’s notion of carnivalesque? Bowling for Columbine is a post-structural film produced by Mike Moore. It leaves a message about America and its people. Today, the world is not a safe place. However, the world is made unsafe by the people who don’t believe it is safe. This is what the film is based on: fear and guns. Bowling For Columbine is a carnivalesque to an extent as it contains many elements of a carnivalesque. These elements are shown through repetition, polyphony of voices and the creation of another world. Many responders would believe that this movie is a misleading act based on Mike Moore’s self-promotion. When looking beneath the surface however, we can see that the film is trying to say something about America, even though there is no clear answer to the question being asked. This is why the film is a post-structural text. There is more than one answer and texts are interpreted depending on the responder’s context. It is not a documentary however because a documentary is a discussion based on evidence for and against. Although Bowling for Columbine provides facts, it is biased. Mike Moore presents a film that is dialogical in nature. He arranges questions and scenes in the film to get the answer or response that he wants. Also, the camera used is analogous to Moore’s own gun. He targets certain people and appears on the scene so as to make himself seem bigger. His camera is also used to ‘shoot’ people with questions that he already knows the answer to. This happens to people such as the bank employees and youths Bent and BJ and this is why responders may think the film is a reason for self-promotion. There is no clear cut answer to the question that is constantly being asked throughout the film. This is why Bowling For Columbine’s narrative is polyphonic. Polyphony allows multiple voices to be expressed. As there are too many different people in the world that have different contexts such as age and cultural background, one clear answer can not be stated in the film. This silence is important because it shows that what is important is missing, the answer to why so many people are killed each year. Polyphony also makes it possible for anything to be said as there are no dominant voices. It does not matter what ranking in society you are or where you come from, all people ca... ...l and maybe The Ramones version of â€Å"What a wonderful world† would be more appropriate. People in the movie itself also make fear and guns seem insignificant and funny such as the news reporter who is only interested in how his hair is instead of the shooting of a primary student. All these ideas shows the unserious attitude used so that people can survive in this harsh world. These elements all show how Bowling For Columbine is a carnivalesque. A polyphonic narrative allows for everyone to speak their opinion so that an idealogy that tries to have the last word on the subject is destroyed. Repitition of the same idea and random images presents many ideas and shows that the question is never answered. The creation of another world and humour helps deal with the harsh world in which we live in. The world can not be peaceful when fear is so easy to be bought through guns. It seems that the question, why are there so many killings in America, is never answered in the film and until there is an answer there can not be a solution on which everyone will agree on. Analysing Bowling For Columbine as a carnivalesque shows what kind of world we are living in; not exactly a wonderful world.