This paper compares and contrasts two articles that try to explain the underlying causes of teen violence: "Missing the Mark" by Jackson Katz and Sur Jhally and "Stop Blaming Kids and TV" by Mike Males.
Abstract This paper discusses how Katz and Jhally argue that teen violence is a male-centric occurrence caused by socialization that promotes violent masculinity. Males provide a gender-neutral view of teen violence that he believes is caused by parents who engage in domestic violence. It shows how both articles deal with the subject of teenage violence and avoid placing blame on teens for their troubled behavior. Instead, these articles present the idea of imitation as a cause of teen violence, but they differ on who the kids are imitating.
From the Paper "Males presents his theory of teen violence in a gender-neutral presentation. He focuses on violence in general and omits cases of shootings and mass murder carried out by male teams such as the infamous Columbine High School event. Males points to differences in occurrences of violence between different races and classes as proof that images in mass media aren?t as important as family circumstances to contributing to the violence. According to Males, "In practical terms, media-violence theories are not about kids, but about race and class. If TV accounts for any meaningful fraction of murder levels amid poorer, nonwhite youth, why doesn"t it have the same effect on white kids?? Unlike Males, Katz and Jhally, believe that trying to view teen violence in a gender-neutral fashion will blind us from understanding and resolving the youth violence problem. They point to school shootings such as Columbine, murder, assault and rape as being predominately a male phenomenon. They also argue that girls are growing up in the same environment as males, but are not responding to their situation in the same violent ways as males are."
Abstract In this essay, the writer discusses the issues of guilt and blame in the deaths of Romeo and Juliet in Shakespeare's tragic romance. Further, the writer examines how Friar Laurence's actions helped cause the tragedy.
From the Paper "William Shakespeare's tragic romance 'Romeo and Juliet' tells the story of two young lovers who take their own lives and whose deaths are the final act in the feuding between the families of Montague and Capulet. Any number of individuals in this play could be considered responsible or blameworthy with regard to the deaths of Romeo and Juliet. Certainly the young couple must accept responsibility for their own deaths. The parents who fight for honor and power are responsible as ... "
Tags: Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare, drama
A summary and analysis of Ola Rotimi's "The Gods are not to Blame". a postcolonial interpretation of the canonic works of the Western culture, Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex".
Abstract This paper discusses Ola Rotimi's "The Gods are not to Blame", a postcolonial interpretation of the canonic works of the Western culture, Sophocles' "Oedipus Rex". The paper specifically discusses how Rotimi interprets Sophocles' story within the context of African culture, infusing his text with elements that are specific to the African tradition. In addition, the paper discusses how Rotimi's work is also a challenge to to the Greek classic belief in the invincible force of the destiny and in the absolute power of the will of gods, as well as a revival of traditional court culture in terms of structure.
From the Paper "The same pattern follows as Odewale grows up and is also informed about his tragic destiny by an oracle. He too hastens to prevent the terrible destiny and flees the village in which he grew up, believing he was living with his real parents. On the road, destiny takes up and he kills his own father in a conflict and then marries the widow queen, his mother without knowing it. The play concludes with the desperate Odewale punishing himself by self mutilation for his crimes and fleeing the village. While the story in Rotimi's play is the same as the classical myth in its major points, the overall interpretation of the theme is somewhat different."
Abstract Discusses the concept of blame for the death of the main characters. It claims that the blame for the deaths of Romeo and Juliet ultimately rests with Friar Lawrence. It discusses to what extent this interpretation effects the plays tragic ending.
From the Paper "Friar Lawrence did indeed play a part in the tragic demise of Romeo and Juliet. There are many things the Friar did throughout the play that could be linked directly to their death. The first of these things is actually agreeing to marry Romeo and Juliet in the first place. (Act two, Scene 4). Although he did this with good intentions (he thought it might help the feuding families settle their differences ? "for this alliance may so happy prove to turn your households rancour to pure love") who is to say that if the were not married there love would dim? He then proceeds to give Juliet the vial of sleeping draught, "take thou this vial" (Act 4, Scene 1) without which she would never have been discovered "dead", Romeo would not have killed himself etc. Then he entrusts a note which is a matter of life and death to a novice, ?I"ll send a friar" (Act 4, Scene 1) instead of taking the care to see it was given to Romeo personally. The last thing he does is he leaves Juliet alone in the vault, weeping over Romeo's body to kill herself, "I dare no longer stay" (Act 5, Scene 3) all these events played some part in Romeo and Juliet's deaths. Therefore, in part, the Friar is to blame."
Abstract This paper examines how the 2004 to 2005 hockey season never happened, due a stalemate between National Hockey League (NHL) team owners and players over the salaries of the players. Hockey fans were deprived of games to watch, and were naturally very upset. Strong feelings were generated. It looks at how the NHL team owners blamed this unfortunate situation on the greed of the players and argues that the owners have no one to blame but themselves. This situation was created by the greed of the owners, not the greed of the players.
Abstract The paper discusses the April 20th, 1999 violence, when two young men went on a killing spree at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, killing twelve classmates and a teacher. The paper questions who and/or what is to blame for this out-of-control situation. The paper points to the influence of parents, the American attitude towards firearms, and the bullying that happens throughout schools in America. The paper relates that in this case, parenting is the most important cause, although the American desire to bear arms and the young people who enjoy humiliating and taunting others are also to blame.
From the Paper "On April 20th, 1999 two young men went on a killing spree at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado, killing twelve classmates and a teacher. In response to this horrific act, President Clinton hosted a White House conference on youth violence. When young people commit violent acts, such as the Columbine massacre, there are many elements that can be responsible for their actions. We can be sure that these actions don't depend on just one specific reason, but a collection of events that shape the character of the young men or women who get involved in acts of violence such as the Columbine shootings."
Abstract This report and debate was written as an English project. It focuses on why, as consumers, we place the blame for cigarette smoking solely on the distributors. This paper is meant as a defense for the Tobacco Industry. If you feel it would be helpful to learn more statistical information on smoking as well as a comparison between the arguments, it is provided in this report. Links are also provided so that you may find additional information directly from the organizations.
Abstract This paper compares the mind of the misguided monarch in the play "Oedipus the King", with the mind of a substance abuser. Similarities are drawn between the two issues. Among the topics discussed are victimization, paranoia and its companion, "blame-throwing", denial of responsibility and the search for sympathy.
From the Paper "The psychologies of substance abuse and of royalty may seem on one level to be worlds apart. One is, after all, literally on top of things by law, decree, and birth?the other only gets "to the top" in an illusory world created by reliance on the drug of choice. But upon closer examination, especially in the play Oedipus the King, the mindset of the substance abuser and that of a misguided monarch turn out to be similar in an almost uncanny number of ways."
Abstract The paper argues that the United States, rather than the Soviet Union, was to blame for causing the Cold War. Several reasons cited for this opinion include America's capitalist and expansionist goals, the determination of the U.S to maintain its preponderant position in the world, as well as the widespread misconception of the Soviet Union's desire and ability to wage war.
From the Paper "The 14th Century Spanish writer Don Juan Manuel first used the term 'Cold War' to analyze the conflict between Christendom and Islam. However, it was the journalist Walter Lippmann who popularized this term in 1947 in his critique of U.S. policy towards the USSR. A cold war is one which brings neither honor nor peace to those who wage it, as opposed to a hot war, which ends in either death or peace. Contrary to physical war and fighting, a cold war is more commonly considered a period of tension and breath holding . During the Soviet-American Cold War, a period of covert antagonism between Moscow and Washington dominating world affairs from 1945 until the 1990's, the two superpowers engaged in an armaments race, armed and aided their allies and client states, intervened in civil wars by supporting different factions, built rival alliance systems, and developed exclusionist economic programs."
Abstract The problems of society are usually blamed on the media, however most of the problems result from other ills of society, not just the media. The paper shows that violence in the media is unavoidable - whether it is on the news or on a child's televison show, it is always accessible to anyone who wants to view it. The paper argues that since there are no available soulutions to this, the only option is for parents to talk to their children and for people to realize that this is just another form of entertainment.
From the Paper "Children will see 100,000 acts of simulated violence by the end of elementary school" (Day 65). The media has become a pivotal part of the average person's life. There are so many different forms of media to become involved in; a person cannot live without television, radio, newspapers, magazines, books and films. The average person is exposed to the media about 20 percent of the time he is awake on a typical day (Berger 30). Violence has become a problem in society as well, and a good scapegoat for this problem is media violence (Manson 23). Some believe that the violence in media affects children and causes these children to commit crimes. Meanwhile, others believe there is no problem with portraying violence; Jib Fowles said, ?"this whole episode of studying television violence is going to be seen by history as a travesty. It's going to be used in classes as an example of how social science can just go totally awry" (Rhodes 57). Some still believe that the images of violence shown or described by media create the violence in society (Berger 18).
This paper looks at the crisis of car tires blowing out while drivers are on the road and how the company Bridgestone/Firestone were accused of this crime. This paper shows the company's unwillingness to accept blame for road deaths.
Abstract This paper looks at Bridgestone/Firestone's flat out refusal to accept blame for their part in any road deaths. The writer shows how corporate America feels more affianced to its internal stakeholders than to the consumer public. It follows with an example of a high profile trial where they consistently denied they had any responsibility for any damages. The writer concludes by showing that their policies and crisis management strategies not only cost the company its reputation but also result in permanent loss of consumer loyalty.
From the Paper "Firestone doesn?t know a thing about good crisis management. Its policy of denying its obvious faults has decreased consumer's trust in the company or its products for that matter. It is important nowadays to understand that consumers are not interested in big names only, they also want to be assured that the company indeed cares about all the stakeholders involved. Firestone's employees have suffered tremendously from the recall and from its various errors as jobs were slashed in the United States and stock prices tumbled. The community and society on the whole suffered because one firm refused to own up and thus delayed tire recall."
A literary and historical analysis of the appropriate levels of blame that should be affixed to Dido and Aeneas, two of the primary characters in Virgil's epic Latin poem "The Aeneid."
Abstract An analysis of the joint culpability of Dido and Aeneas, both of whom are responsible for their illicit relationship and yet who are also both victims of the forces of fate. This essay examines, by means of a close analysis of literary devices, Virgil's biased presentation of the story of Dido and Aeneas and offers an alternative reading that is nevertheless grounded in the text of "The Aeneid." Includes quotations from the Latin text (as well as English translations of these quotations) in support.
From the Paper "One of the most powerful natural human tendencies in reaction to any great trouble or tragedy is to attempt to assign blame. In searching for the causes of problems in life, we often try to blame the faults or shortcomings of others in order to absolve ourselves of guilt and set our minds and our consciences at ease. Even when considering tragedies or problems with which we have no personal connection, we feel an overwhelming urge to simplify, explain, and resolve the situation by affixing culpability. However, in doing so we frequently overlook extenuating circumstances and allow ourselves to succumb to narrow, biased interpretations of these circumstances. We simply cannot seem to accept the fundamental truth that in some of the greatest tragedies of life, everyone and yet no one is truly to blame. The story of Dido and Aeneas in Virgil's Aeneid epitomizes this truth; Dido and Aeneas are both equally to blame, and yet neither is truly deserving of blame because both were victims of fate and forces beyond their control."
Discusses school shootings and the way the media is quick to blame rap singers such as Eminem, as well as other forms of media, for violence among teenagers.
Abstract Using a quote from rap singer, Eminem's multi-platinum selling CD "The Marshall Mathers LP", this paper discusses the Columbine High School shootings in which 15 students and a teacher were killed. The paper argues that instead of blaming rap singers such as Eminem and Marilyn Madison, the media should concentrate on pointing a finger at the parents and the community. It also argues against the double standard that the media continues to perpetrate that violence is only an inner-city problem.
From the Paper "It was widely reported that after Columbine, the parents of Eric Harris turned over their son's suicide note which contained this phrase "Do not blame others for our actions; this is the way that we wanted to go out" (Anatomy of a massacre). With that, it seems that he was saying that he and Klebold were taking responsibility for what they did, but the media didn?t want to hear that. It was easier for them to state that music and other media evils ?made them do it.?"
Abstract Reviews a play by a contemporary Nigerian playwright, Ola Rotimi, that sets Sophocles' Oedipus Rex in a Yoruba village during a time of tribal conflict. Biographical information about the author, summary of the play, and analysis are included.
Abstract This paper discusses how the mass media distracts us from the problems of inequality, poverty and hunger. In this way, there is "victim-blaming" process occurring because the victims themselves are held to be responsible for their own victimization, when in fact it is the structural models of the society that have caused these injustices. The system creates an ideology which it disseminates through the mass media. That ideology entertains its audience in such a way as to make the suffering of victims invisible. 7 pgs. Bibliography lists 5 sources.
