From the Paper "Marijuana has been around since the beginning of time and has been used safely by people of all cultures. Since the 1930s, it has been illegal to cultivate or possess in the United States due to a perceived danger when used. However marijuana is less dangerous than many legal drugs such as tobacco or alcohol and should be legalized because in actuality marijuana has few inherent risks and the cost of incarcerating marijuana offenders is outright ridiculous."
This paper is a critical review of H.G. Bissinger in "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and A Dream", which discusses the impact of high school football on socioeconomically deprived Odessa, Texas.
1,125 words (approx. 4.5 pages), 1 source, 1994, $ 39.95
From the Paper "H.G. Bissinger, in "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and A Dream", uses high school football as a window through which we can study the soul of a Texas town. It is clear that Bissinger's study is meant to shine a light on the problems of American society in general, because the social and economic troubles of Odessa, Texas, are the troubles of the country as a whole. The book must be seen as a pessimistic one, because the problems of the town are not faced honestly and courageously, but are instead buried in the town's obsession with football, just as an addict would bury his troubles in his obsession with drugs.
The book might be seen as an academic, judgmental indictment from on high, the product of a writer from the big city who comes to the little town to study the inhabitants like a scientist studying rats. But it is clear that that is not what Bissinger ... "
Abstract This paper reviews Christopher R. Browning's "Ordinary Men," and its analysis of Nazi soldiers that murdered innocent civilians in the holocaust. The paper shows the methods used by the soldiers to rationalize their actions even though many of them were morally opposed to what they were ordered to do.
From the paper:
"It is understandably commonplace to refer to Hitler as a monster, as inhuman. It is also, by extension, equally commonplace to refer to the Nazis who obeyed him as monsters as well. Yet before the implementation of the madness that was the "Final Solution" in Germany and Eastern Europe, these Nazi soldiers were human beings like ourselves, individuals who lived in a world only a half-century or so before ours. They made ethical decisions on a day-to-day basis. They were ordinary men, according to Christopher R. Browning, who committed acts of extraordinary cruelty. The thesis of his book, appropriately titled 'Ordinary Men,' provides a less comforting view of the foot soldiers of the Holocaust than is tempting to take. But it is ultimately more ethically illuminating?these men were not monsters, Browning suggests, they were ordinary men who provide an example for us all how low we can sink if we are not vigilant in resisting the evil that exists around us."
Abstract This paper examines Elijah Anderson's "The Code of the Streets" which introduces the idea that violence, aggression, stealing and other socially deviant behaviors are not perceived as infractions of rules, but rather conforming to a different standard, a different set of rules. Anderson does an adequate job of setting forth his ideas, along with providing sufficient evidence to support them. It criticizes Anderson's perspective of street families and decent families when he describes inner city life and his portrayal of abusive mothers who beat their children and let them run riot.
From the Paper "The contrasts between street families, and decent families are not always easily observed. As Anderson points out, most street families appear on the surface to be decent families. (Anderson, p. 157) The appearance of having "calm, respectful children" is often what the mother wants most, more than happy children. (Anderson, p. 157) Her desire for such a family is often so strong that she is "quick to beat her children"if they defy her law.? (Anderson, p. 157) Anderson concludes that this abusive behavior is often perceived as acceptable behavior within the inner city the disapproval from the wider society as a whole. (Anderson, p. 157)"
Abstract The paper asserts that the main theme of the novel is cross-cultural barriers and problems faced by immigrants in America. The paper discusses the psychological causes underlying the difficulties that immigrants, especially from Eastern countries, experience in integrating into a new society. The paper explains that while Western immigrants accept their new culture and assimilate relatively easily, Eastern immigrants resist assimilation. The paper summarizes the book and analyzes the cross-cultural miscommunication demonstrated by the family disagreeing with the established medical community as to the true nature of their child's illness and its causes.
From the Paper ""The Spirit Catches you and you fall down" is an extraordinary piece of writing in which various issues have been woven together in the style of investigative journalism by the editor of the "American Scholar", Anne Fadiman. The story revolves around issues of cross-cultural medical practices and miscommunication that often leads to tragic circumstances."
Abstract This paper examines the book "Who Moved My Cheese" by Spencer Johnson, which uses the metaphor of mice in a maze to discuss ways of handling change. The author writes that the book focuses on how people can get where and what they want simply by changing their perspective and their approach. The paper explains that the books teaches self-actualization and is critical of the simplicity of the metaphor of mice and cheese to demonstrate how to handle the struggle with change in our society.
From the Paper "The story revolves around two mice, Sniff and Scurry, and two littlepeople, Hem and Haw. They live in a maze and spend their time running around, looking for, finding, and eating Cheese. Cheese, as is stated in the foreword by Kenneth Blanchard, is "a metaphor for what we want to have in life ", such as a job, a relationship, money, a big house, or an insulting yet best selling business book. Within the 94 pages of this self-help book is found an approximate 45-minute serving of information aimed at helping us to insert change in our lives."
A comparison between Homer's epic novel the 'Odyssey' and the adapted screenplay version of the epic film,"O Brother Where Art Thou?", directed and produced by Joel and Ethan Coen .
Abstract The following paper draws parallels between Homer's "Odyssey" and the Coen Brother's "O Brother Where Art Thou?". In the year 2000, the inventive and provocative filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen reworked the Odyssey in a liberal way, changing scenes, settings and characters. The writer compares the original epic and the original screenplay and discusses dozens of small but meaningful comparisons. For instance, Odysseus and his men descend into Hades where they encounter several ghosts from Odysseus's past; in the film the boys meet a fellow inmate who they thought was dead. Odysseus from the original epic and Ulysses from the film (played by George Clooney) both have to prove to their wives that they are true: Ulysses must bring Penny the ring to redeem himself. In the Odyssey, Book 23, Penelope declares that ?there are tokens with which we two alone are acquainted,? (Butler trans.). Although it was written millennia ago in ancient Greece, the parables of the Odyssey remain extant for a reason: Its themes are universal and accessible and adaptable for all time. The Coen brothers' movie "O Brother Where Art Thou?" exemplifies Homer's timelessness, as well as their own versatility.
From the Paper "Homer's Odyssey is more than an epic tale of a man ?who wandered far and wide,? across the sea; it is an archetypal journey with universal and enduring import. It is not difficult to find parallels between Odysseus's adventures and modern ones, for ultimately the Odyssey transcends its details. Homer erected a narrative structure that lends itself to adaptation and reconstruction. Most notable to modern reinterpretations of Homer's Odyssey is James Joyce's Ulysses, which focuses on and develops the relationship between father (Odysseus/Leopold Bloom) and son (Telemachus/Stephen Dedalus). In the year 2000, the inventive and provocative filmmakers Joel and Ethan Coen reworked the Odyssey in an equally liberal way, changing scenes, settings, and characters. But whereas Joyce's version of the Odyssey is microcosmic, its journey more psychological than physical, the Coen brothers? O Brother Where Art Thou? rambles through a decidedly physical and farcical tale. At first glance the film resembles Homer's epic little: only certain elements are obvious like George Clooney's character's name (Ulysses) and the three sirens by the river. A deeper investigation of the film and the original text reveals numerous, if more subtle, references."
Abstract This paper takes a look at a slave uprising as documented in Stephen Oat's book Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion. It analyzes the main character of the book, Nat Turner and how his seemingly small scale revolution set the wheels in motion for the eventual abolishment of slavery.
From the paper:
"Stephen Oates, in his book Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion, crafts a compelling story. The story of this slave rebellion is indeed so compelling a one that it would be hard to imagine a telling of it that was not fascinating. But in the end Oates, despite his credentials, does a disservice both to Turner and to the larger forces at work in the decades before the Civil War. In order to assess Oates's treatment of Turner, it would be useful to examine what is generally known and agreed to about Turner. He was born on a plantation in Southampton County, Virginia, in 1800 and was from a very early age a popular religious leader among his fellow slaves. In part due no doubt to whatever had motivated him to become interested in preaching and in part because he was so popular with other slaves who came to listen to him talk about God, Turner became convinced that he had been chosen by God to lead his people to freedom."
Abstract The topic of this essay is a book on the Vietnam War which specifically deals with American involvement in the war. It provides a history of the events of Vietnam beginning from the end of World War II, continuing through to the Vietnam War itself. The Indochina War and the second Indochina War are also covered in detail. This is followed up by a discussion about the impact of the Vietnam War up to the present time.
From the Paper "The book attempts to offer a full and unbiased view of the history of the Vietnam War. This includes discussing the environment that led to American involvement in the war. The political aims and the contribution that politics made are also covered in detail. As well as this the social and economic environment that led to the war are also discussed in detail.
The book has an American viewpoint but does not argue that the decisions made by America were right. Instead it provides enough information that the decisions made can be understood. It is not an argument for America, but does allow the reader to understand how the decisions were made. It attempts to describe all the parties involve and put all the decisions and actions in context."
Abstract This paper looks at the rise of the modern department store as depicted in Emile Zola's novel, "The Ladies Paradise." Zola uses the story to comment on the stereotyping of women. He demonstrates that stereotyping just leads to more of the same. The author comments on women's position in society in 19th century France, in order to illustrate how money cannot buy love and to show how shopping was one of the few ways that women could express their own individuality.
From the Paper "We should remember that this book ? with its concluding message that while money can?t buy love true love itself does remain a possibility. Zola's analysis of how women (and we must assume to some extent men) are drawn into a consumer culture that will in many ways steal their souls) by the very same marketing and merchandizing techniques that remain popular today, including product placement, loss leaders, incentives for impulse buying. Zola also demonstrates to us how these selling techniques are more and more tightly bound to stereotypical definitions of femininity that the store owner has collected in the previous volume of the series ? stereotypes that produce stereotypical behavior that produce stronger stereotypes that produce more stereotypical behavior, etc."
Abstract In Gwendolyn Brooks? poem, "The Mother", the narrator expresses a reluctant regret and a desire for the children to which she did not give birth as a result of abortion. The paper analyzes the poem and its use of tone, diction, and imagery. It finds that the speaker is alternately regretful, self-recriminating, and motherly in her reactions to her unborn children. Taken together, Brooks? powerful shifts in tone, diction, and imagery all serve to highlight the narrator's longing, and tentative regrets over children that were never born.
From the Paper "Taken together, the changing tone throughout "The Mother" helps to expresses the narrator's reluctant regret over abortion, and a desire for the children she did not give birth to. It is her very changes in tone and emotion throughout the poem that help to highlight her confusion and regret. She is by turns apologetic, regretful, reproachful and frustrated in her attempts to explain herself."
Abstract This paper examines how the short story, "A & P" by John Updike, chronicles contemporary American society and how it treats issues of social stratification among members of the society. It looks at how, written in the 1960s, "A & P" provides an insightful look at the dynamics of gender and socio-economic differences of people in American society. It also explores how it discusses issues on social stratification from the viewpoint of Sammy, a young man who works at the store, "A & P". In particular, it shows how Sammy's character is an interesting and essential factor for the issue of social stratification because he serves as Updike's "commentator" on sensitive issues, such as gender discrimination on women and the snobbish and oppressive nature of the elite class in the society.
From the Paper "The first theme discussed in the short story is the issue of gender discrimination among women. In the story, Sammy serves as the "male chauvinist" character, providing an explicit description of the three young women he encounters in the convenience store. Initially, audiences would react at the seemingly sexist comments of Sammy, wherein he looks at the young women's physical attributes only and making unpleasant remarks at them (through his narration to the reader)."
Abstract A discussion of the book "Founding Brothers" by Joseph J. Ellis in which the American Revolution is seen through the points of view of six different prominent figures (Jefferson, Washington, Adams, Madison, Hamilton and Franklin). The paper analyzes each chapter (which looks at a different event from the eyes of different personality) in turn.
From the Paper "The fifth chapter and the sixth chapter take a look at the entwined lives of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams. This book shows Jefferson as a scheming politician who believed in the theory that the ends justify the means. Therefore he wore a mask at all the times. He was a two faced man who on the face of John Adams professed deep friendship, but on the back he had no qualms in giving a stab. This chapter is a rude awakening to the fans of Thomas Jefferson as Ellis shows him to be a man more involved in showing off a character which will be revered for ages but at the same time being involved in backstabbing of the unassuming, and therefore inadequate, Adams."
Abstract This paper discusses several of the themes presented in Leslie Silk's novel, "Ceremony." This paper looks at the main character, Tayo's journey to self-acceptance of his roots through a journey he takes through the world of the white man and its many vices. The paper uses different examples from the story that follow the journey through to its conclusion. These include Tayo's contact with the white doctor, his feelings of invisibility and his search for spirituality. The paper continues this theme through Tayo's use of alcohol and how it serves as a symbol for both his thirst of learning about his culture and his continued abuse by the white man. It is through this journey that Tayo eventually returns to the medicine man and eventually inner peace and acceptance.
From the Paper "Tayo insists that he is invisible in the onset of the novel. He cannot speak because an invisible man has no tongue. The white doctor forces Tayo to feel. The doctor's voice lures Tao into the doctor's sense of reality. Tayo feels that he is part of the fog and "like brittle red clay, slipping away with the wind, a little more each day" (Silko, 27). Consequently, Tayo felt hallow internally. He didn't fit in mentally and wished to ease his internal pain by physically escaping into nothingness. Tao's desire for non-existence is symbolic in the novel's theme of self-discovery."
Abstract The paper shows that the central research question addressed by Lila Abu-Lughod in her book "Veiled Sentiments" is how women and young men may express certain personal feelings that otherwise violate their moral code, the code conveyed to them by their social group. The paper discusses how the Bedouin society she studies is one where people often sang or used short poems to express their feelings and how the author notes that the question that arises concerns the relationship between the Bedouin poetic discourse and the discourse of ordinary social life.
From the Paper "The world depicted by Abu-Lughod is a society based on blood ties above all, both linking people to the past and to one another in the present. In approaching this society, Abu-Lughod first had to divest herself of certain romantic notions of Bedouin life. She believed that the people were tied to the sea, but she found that the sea played little or no part in their social life and that it was the desert which was central in their thinking. She was also surprised to find that the people lived in houses instead of tents, though they did pitch their tents next to the houses and spent most of their time in the tents."
