Abstract This paper briefly describes how "Reservation Blues" represents a motivating piece of literature because it demonstrates how Native Americans were not afraid to confront the difficulties of life to accomplish their greatest desires and to succeed. Focus is placed on the relationship between the two main characters in the novel, Chess and Checkers, and how they were influenced by white culture.
From the Paper "Alexie brings the subject of a love-hate relationship to the so called "whites" that Chess and Checkers portray early on in his novel. They all seem to face the same problem of trying to live in a white mans society while facing the stereotypes such as alcoholism, drugs, and a poor education. His use of stereotypes in different areas, makes it seem as if he is discriminating against Native Americans and making the Whites a bigger power. Alexie also uses mental, spiritual, and emotional struggles to show how the love-hate relationship that Chess and Checkers have toward the White Americans have been very influential on them. In Chapter 2, early on in the story, Alexie brings in the two white girls, Betty and Veronica, that join the band then leave because of issues with the Indian girls, Chess and Checkers, who are then turned into singers for the band. "Two white women, Betty and Veronica, had somehow found their way onto the reservation and showed up at every rehearsal"(Reservation Blues, pg 41)."
Abstract This paper examines the checkered and violent life life of Marilyn Manson, the hard rocking singing star from his childhood, as an outcast and rebel to his development as a singer. It also examines how the events in his life, as discussed in the book, are reflected in his music.
From the paper:
"Marilyn Manson's book, The Long Hard Road out of Hell, tells the dramatic story of one man's metamorphoses from an innocent, sensitive child to a hardened, fame splattered rock star whose name was synonymous for millions of people with evil itself. If it were written differently, it might be a book to make one cry: the pathetic story of an outcast boy who can never quite seem to be good enough, and finally embraces an illusion of evil in order to make himself powerful. However, the pathos is rather directly thwarted by the immense humor and strength of the central character and narrator. Marilyn is not sitting about feeling sorry for himself, any more than the any winged insect which has gone through metamorphosis sits about bemoaning all its time spent writhing about in the dirt. He faces the dirty aspects of his childhood with a gentle mix of contempt and sympathy for the snot-nosed brat he was. One might also find pitiable the struggle of the grown man to overcome the coldness within him, yet at the same time there is a sense of Becomingness within that coldness, of a winter that is already naturally breaking itself into spring."
Tags: Entertainment, biography, rock, singer, hard, rock, numerology, anti-Christ, Satanism
Abstract It is the purpose of this paper to examine how the efforts of early black rock musicians led to the breaking down of racial barriers and to the overall success of the black music industry. The Rock Music industry introduced African Americans to the boardrooms of major American companies. The fact is that African Americans make up a significant portion of the business culture in American popular music, past and present. Artists like Chuck Berry, Chubby Checker, B.B. King, and Little Richard, have all brought significant influences into the American Music scene.
Abstract This paper discusses soul music, focusing on its sound, its history, some of its composers and artists, and its cultural background. Soul music has become the anthem of African-Americans, and it is a unique and satisfying blend of blues, gospel, and rhythm and blues, that has become an important part of American music and culture. The paper shows that soul music is no longer simply a "black" thing; it is an American style of music that has become popular all over the world and has influenced many other types of music. The paper argues, however, that true soul still faces prejudice and an uphill battle for acceptance in white popular music.
From the Paper "Some music critics believe soul branched into two areas ? soul for blacks, and rock and roll for whites, but this theory is only one of several regarding soul. Soul music remains a bit mysterious because it is a black phenomenon, and so, many other races either do not relate to the music, or do not care to. However, soul jumped the boundaries of race, and became popular in white circles as well as black because of the entertainers, the lyrics, and the driving and catching beat of soul music. Soul was (and is) played on white radio stations, and soul artists appeared on the classic television show "American Bandstand" regularly, which also helped bring the music into the mainstream. One of the reasons that Bandstand featured so many soul artists is because the city where it originated, Philadelphia, was a hotbed of soul artists."
Abstract This paper studies the Sophocles play "Antigone" from 442 BCE. The author explores the play's dialogue, which is checkered with metaphors, similes and analogies, as was common for many works of Greek literature and mythology. In particular, the paper looks beyond the play's main storyline to its universal messages about life, people, beliefs and fate.
From the Paper "In the early part of the play, Antigone and her sister, Ismene, are discussing a burial for their brother Polyneices. During this discussion Ismene is astounded that Antigone would even consider defying Creon's edict and performing burial rites for Polyneices. To her sister's refusal to be involved in such a deed, Antigone responds by declaring she will obey the gods before she will obey the earthly rule of Creon. The gods have allowed for a respectful burial of the dead regardless of earthly mandates, and by burying the dead you honor the gods."
Abstract This paper traces the history and development of artificial intelligence, explaining where it has been successful, to what extent it has been successful, its limitations and how the scientific community has attempted to overcome those limitations. The paper also addresses the question as to why we bother to create AI and the implications for mankind of AI technology as it evolves and advances.
From the Paper "Over the past several decades, computer technology has made incredible strides. Moreover, there can be little doubt that in years to come, there will be further advances in speed, design, capacity, and memory. There is something almost frightening about the pace of development. Already computers are capable of performing a wide gamut of tasks previously excluded to the province of human thinking. However, the question of whether a mechanical device could ever be said to think "o perhaps even possess emotions "o is not really a new one. Yet it has delivered a new impetus to the world, a sense of urgency, by the advent of the modern computer. The question touches upon philosophical issues. What does it mean to think or feel? How does the mind work?"
Abstract This paper relates that, despite a checkered past with foreign affairs stratagems, the Bush White House has offered a hard-line approach to exercising its own public diplomacy. The author points out that the United Nations has developed parallel competencies in its main organs so that each arm might pick up the slack dropped by another office of the administration. The paper concludes that the concept of American Democracy demands a citizen to stand aware of the world around him and educate himself on the issues before making any conclusions about policy, leadership and the American place in the world.
Table of Contents
Introduction
Background
Evaluation
Conclusion
Recommendations
From the Paper "Public diplomacy in the United States is comparable to the American view of Al-Jazeera; while Americans see the Arab press group as biased proliferators of terrorist videotaping, ideology, and violent action, the American press groups are locked in a system of permissive oversight, corporate monopoly, and pervasive negligence to fact as it is spawned out of the press room of the white house directly through the office public diplomacy. The cost is not financial, although with great skill, the DOD has secured a flexible budgeting schedule for the office of public diplomacy, which has more than 17 budget earmarks plus separate appropriations for broadcasting, including the taped press releases running the fine line between fact and spin."
Tags: arabs, un, bush, alliances, nineteenth-century
Abstract This paper uses the example of a fictional man, Alfred, to illustrate how the Internet has led to a do-it-yourself (DIY) society. The paper describes how Alfred consults the Internet for answers in lieu of consulting with actual persons, demonstrating that the Internet can be consulted on topics ranging from healthcare to courtship. The paper concludes that the information superhighway has matured into a one-way avenue protracting from the domain of bewilderment. Alfred is a modern man plagued by life's unceasing enigmas. The World Wide Web is a modern innovation endowed with all the answers.
From the Paper "Likewise, the expansion of the World Wide Web has evoked a surprising response from America's drug culture. Let's suppose Alfred befriends a disreputable crowd; he begins to venture down the wrong path. Alfred sets sail into a sea of shady substances. After a brief period of time, Alfred's conduct transmogrifies into that of a cold hard criminal. He performs late night expeditions to consummate illegal drug transactions; he begins to struggle with his finances; and when propelled into financial destitution, he pawns off his aunt Claudia's antique lamp collection for $175."
