Abstract This paper discusses Samuel Barber as an important composer of works for piano. It examines one of his most lush works for the piano, Piano Sonata Op. 20 ("Excursions"). It looks at how this work, like his other compositions, was essentially neo-romantic in form, affect and idiom. The paper focuses on two of the Sonata's four movements.
From the Paper "Although Samuel Barber is best known for his Adagio for Strings which he wrote as the slow movement of a string quartet, he was also an important composer of works for piano. This paper examines one of his most lush works for piano, "Piano Sonata Op Excursions".
This paper discusses Benjamin Barber's views on "thin democracy" and "strong democracy" as expresses in his book "Strong Democracy: Participatory Politics for a New Age".
Abstract This paper explains that Benjamin Barber in his book "Strong Democracy: Participatory Politics for a New Age" defines 'thin democracy" as a democracy in which leaders are elected but they are left to their own devices concerning the majority of issues; people have the powers, which democracy provides, but the demonstration of these powers is primarily manifested in the form of elections. The author points out that Barber is convincing in making his point that "thin democracy" has a tendency to strip citizens of their sense of purpose as manifested by the voter participation rate stagnating in the U.S. at about half of those eligible. The paper stress that Barber loves the thought of a "strong democracy" in which it is not the leaders who make a democracy great but rather an active, informed citizenry.
From the Paper ""Thin democracy" takes the stance that average citizens are not interested in political matters and are not capable or adequate enough to directly participate in the political process themselves, beyond electing officials. Benjamin Barber feels that the United States democracy is thin and poorly represents the entire population at large. Significant portions of citizens are unable to vote due to restrictions or simply choose to be complacent and abstain from voting. Citizens under the age of eighteen are restricted from voting, as are prisoners, and persons living within the borders who are not nationalized. Citizens who are active in a thin democracy mainly participate in it by electing persons and then monitoring their political decisions (if they choose to do so), allowing the elected (those seen by the majority to have the most expertise and capability to discern what best represents the will of the majority) to do the actual work."
Abstract In the aftermath of the World War I, there was a global economic depression, which influenced music, especially in Europe. The music styles that evolved thus represented the social conditions of that era. This paper, therefore concentrates on the composer Samuel Barber who belonged to the post-World War I era. His style is discussed within the context of the background.
Abstract This paper analyzes Flannery O' Connors 'The Barber'. The writer describes and upholds the thesis that the barbershop represents the need to maintain a status quo regardless of the consequence within the South. The paper also explores the needless conflict between the past and present as the world develops and the society therein refuses to let go of the traditional stereotypes.
Abstract This paper summarizes the history of vampires as presented in Barber's book "Vampires, Burial, and Death". The paper highlights the most important topics in the book, including what types of people typically became vampires, how vampire characteristics differed from culture to culture, and methods used for discerning vampires.
From the Paper "After reading the book "Vampires, Burial, and Death" by Paul Barber, it was shocking to learn about the first documented cases of vampires, and how they did not come remotely close to most of the vampire stories that one hears in modern times. It would appear that the modern world is living under a misconception of what a vampire is, or was considered to be. Vampires did not have long canine teeth that they used to puncture the neck of their victims. It did not take an actual bite from another vampire for a dead person to become one as well. An interesting quote from the novel is: ?from the point of view of our informants, the factors that bring revenants into existence fall into the following broad categories: (1) predisposition; (2) predestination; (3) events: things that are done to people, things that are done to people, things that they do, things that happen to them; and (4) nonevents: things that are left undone.? This is a fascinating statement that leads one to believe that no one is safe from becoming a vampire when they die. It would appear that almost any scenario in the world could fall into one of these categories, which would make it easy to place the blame for small mishaps and large ones on dead people who could not respond to deny these transgressions. The methods of making sure one does not become a vampire are almost as ludicrous as the reasons that one might become a vampire."
Abstract This annotation comments on and summarizes Barber's "An Aristocracy of Everyone" in the same order that the concepts are presented in the text. The paper talks about Barber's suggestion that education should be the equalizer in that it should bring everybody up, instead of playing to the lowest common denominator, while recognizing that equal does not mean identical. Also discussed in this paper are how Barber explores our society's tendency to promote the self instead of the community, issues of diversity versus unity, and how Barber explores our tendency to rewrite history. Finally, the paper touches on Barber's proposal that we teach democracy and include community service in education.
From the Paper ""An Aristocracy of Everyone" explores an important purpose of public education: the preparation of Americans as functioning citizens. In order to have a successful democracy, our citizens must be able to participate. Otherwise we must choose between a country run by ignorant citizens or instead having a system ran by the elite. The reality of our democracy actually being a representative-based system does not come into play, and it does not undermine the message being presented. Barber is trying to show that education is the great equalizer, or at least it should be, and can lead to an aristocracy of everyone."
Abstract This paper briefly describes the archaeological find of Elizabeth Wayland Barber and her team of fellow archaeologists along the rim of the Tarim Basin, also known as the 'Silk Road'. The paper then critically reviews Barber's book about the find, "The Mummies of Urmuchai" and the conclusions Barber drew, based on the evidence she gathered, about the geographical origins and practices of the mummies of Urmachai.
From the Paper "The Chinese archeologists who uncovered the gravesite at Cherchen were at first unaware of what they had found. These graves contained extremely tall, apparently Caucasian bodies that were later dated as over 3,500 years old, despite the fact that they were so well preserved. This preservation was not entirely by design, although the corpses were painted with yellow lines that were intended to have preservative qualities. The extraordinary preservation was also accomplished by luck and happenstance-the graves had been cut into a salt bed that speeded the process of desiccation, or preservation by packing in salt."
Abstract The paper applies Benjamin Barber's theory to current affairs, including Sept. 11, and the Palestinian uprising. Barber claims that McWorld vs. Jihad is essentially globalism vs. nationalism, both extremes of which are far from democracy. The paper concludes that only through acceptance of the different values and dialogue of the different parties can peace be accomplished. Through an examination of those central values pushing Jihad and McWorld into a grand scale global conflict, and subsequently applying them to the international practices contributing to the planet as it is now, it may be possible to mete out more amenable roles for both parties.
From the Paper "The world, it seems, is destined to realign itself every few generations, if not by diplomacy and evolution, by virtue of sheer force. At the end of World War II, new perspective on the unspeakable horrors perpetrated by all sides therein and greater appreciation for the devastating magnitude of the struggle presaged an inevitable restructuring of world affairs. Principled opposites proposed their contrasting solutions for the illness of mankind and the Cold War was born of this friction. Today it's hazy to determine if America is in a Post-September 11th world or if this is, more significantly, the prelude to WWII's long-awaited sequel. Canonized principle as a solution to the dilemma of humanity remains a dominant player in the promotion of conflict as terminal traditionalists and ruthless modernists wage war on each other at all conceivable cultural fronts in the name of the future. Benjamin Barber's McWorld Vs. Jihad proposal captures the rudimentary nature of this bloody conflagration by characterizing the ideological footholds that motivate both sides."
Abstract This paper reviewd Barber's theory of civil society. The author concludes that the nation-state is not in such grave danger as Barber thinks because it will always be a useful tool for corporations or nationalist movements, if not for civil society.
Abstract This paper considers the thesis of Benjamin R. Barber in the book 'Jihad vs. McWorld', in which the author offers a way of viewing the current clash between the West and Islam. The paper discusses the book's subtitle 'How Globalism and Tribalism Are Reshaping the World', offering another way of making the comparison between the globalism of the West and the tribalism of much of the rest of the world. According to the paper, Barber's basic thesis is that the capitalist West is breaking down trade barriers and removing the importance of borders as far as trade is concerned so that the world becomes one large consumer market.
Abstract This essay applies the theories contained in Barber's book Presidential Character, to George W. Bush and investigates which personality profile he fits into. The author analyzes whether he is active, positive, passive or negative. Includes an in-depth look into the Bush's formative years.
From the Paper "In his book Presidential Character, James Barber outlines certain characteristics, traits and life experiences which he feels produce particular types of presidents. Depending on these characteristics, traits and experiences, he then provides the reader with four possible categories within which to place the candidate. By ascertaining which category a contender falls into, Barber maintains that society can and should judge their suitability for presidential office. A major element in ascertaining a candidate's category is the study of their personality. Barber feels that personality is "patterned", meaning that character, worldview and style all work together in its creation. Once one has an in-depth knowledge of a candidate's personality, one is able to analyze how they would react and interact with current world forces, events and issues. Barber also stresses the importance of researching the president's childhood and the environment in which their personality was shaped, through to the initial important decisions made in adult life."
Abstract This paper analyzes the conflicts between the new economic world and the traditional cultures. "Jihad" refers to the cultures that focus more on traditional values. It does not simply refer to the Islamic notion of the word, but includes anyone who is opposed to the new modern west. Jihad is slow, personal, and stagnant. "McWorld" is the over-all notion of the consumerist west. McWorld is fast-paced, information-based and ever changing. Members within McWorld are in favor of individual rights and personal advancement over the culture as a whole. The paper concludes that Jihad and McWorld must learn to work together all over the world.
From the Paper "In his book, 'Jihad vs. McWorld', Benjamin Barber takes a view of the new economic world as it relates to those cultures that are hanging on to traditional values. There is a basic conflict between these two ideologies: tribal control vs. technological and economic upward mobility. Barber describes each these two schools of thought, and how they work for and against each other."
Abstract The two most prominent American political theorists, John Dewey and Benjamin Barber, argue that technology and economics have eliminated the role of individual and cooperative efforts to being about commonly desired consequences. This paper examines these two scholars views on American democracy and asks if this political practice is not self-destructive.
From the Paper "American political democracy had its roots and evolved from small closely-knit communities. The Town meetings were the means of securing communal ends. The much debated electoral college in the last Presidential election and the local school system are reminders that the "public" once operated primarily in highly localized and manageable situations. People had real power, as it is the essence of democracy, they could meet to discuses and resolve issues effecting the entire community. But the technological advancement, the industry and economics forces have broadened human associations beyond local community boundary lines. The new technologies of communications and travel has brought people closer in a way, which has gone beyond the normal community interactions and are more complicated."
Abstract This essay examines the book "Jihad Vs. McWorld: How Globalism and Tribalism are Reshaping the World" by Benjamin Barber and demonstrates through examples from the Balkans, Northern Ireland and the Middle East how globalization and factionalism have affected regions and cultures.
Abstract This paper contains a report on the book, including the author's thesis, evidence she uses to prove her thesis, and how convincing a case she makes. It explains how the author analyzes how ancient civilizations of Asia and Europe expanded from common places of origin. It also questions where these Caucasians came from. It explains that Elizabeth Wayland Barber, an archaeologist at Occidental College, asks herself those questions and begins a fascinating journey along the Silk Road into prehistoric time.
From the Paper "Barber's book chronicles the mummies found in and around the Urumchi area of Eurasia. The mummies are quite interesting for several reasons, including the vivid and beautiful clothing they wore, and the fact that they appeared to be distinctly Caucasian, rather than Asian or Mongoloid, which one would expect from the area they were found. Early in the book she raises many questions about these fascinating mummies, including where they came from, why they were entombed where they were, and even speculatively, what language they may have spoken. While Barber's archeological specialty is textiles, which she does cover extensively, she takes the study of the mummies much further in this book, as one reviewer noted. "In the process, she takes us through the entire process of modern archeology -- comparative linguistics, tracking down ancient original sources, studying the climate of the time, carbon dating, following artifacts as they move through different cultures..." (St. Philip). Clearly, Barber hopes to solve the mystery of these tantalizing mummies, and take the reader along with her as she makes her own voyage of discovery. What she finds is both fascinating and amazing."
Tags: prehistoric, archeologist, mummy, civilization, caucasian, europe, asia
