Abstract This paper explains that, although J.D. Salinger's novel "The Catcher in the Rye" was one of the most widely censored books for its alleged demoralization and its obscene language, this coming of age novel aptly portrays a teenager's struggle to leave behind his authentic childhood to enter a superficial and, at times, morally debased adult world of the 1950s. The paper first describes the life of J.D. Salinger and the sociogenic atmosphere of the period in which he lived. Subsequently, the paper analyzes the part that protagonist Holden Caulfield plays in the novel in his representation of the distraught youth of the 1950s who felt alienated by the growing generation gap.
From the Paper "Holden's loneliness and alienation from his peers is represented by the unique hunting cap that he buys in New York City after he lost the fencing teams foils. The red hunting cap, which Holden usually wears when he is most insecure, is a continuing symbol throughout the book of his feeling that he is different, does not fit in his environment, and, what's more, does not want to fit in. The eccentric hat also was a symbol of the protagonist's search for his own unique identity in an American social milieu that was largely homogeneous."
Tags:censoredeccentric, societal restrictions, conformity, generation gap
Abstract It focuses on Mill's ideas on eccentricity, and the dangers he saw in custom and the status quo. Mill believed that a society which encouraged individual liberty was ideal, in that it encouraged both driven individuals and those satisfied with the status quo (they inevitably exist, no matter what the nature of a given society is), to reach their maximum level of happiness. Mill's fundamental idea is that eccentricity among individuals is a key ingredient of genius. Society should not reign in an individual with different interests and passions to conform to mainstream principles. As for whether Mill would say this today, this paper will argue that there is still inherent value in Mill's thoughts on individualism and eccentricity. But it must be noted that our society is more individual-centered than ever, arguably to the detriment of the whole. His key phrase regarding the limitations of self-interest is, as long as it doesn't harm others. Who defines harm? Does individuality lead inevitably to selfishness - a condition in which one no longer respects harm done to others? We need only observe the media to observe murders, robberies and other terrorist groups to drive home this point.
Abstract This paper explains that poet and writer Edgar Allan Poe gave birth to the genre of mystery and detective story-telling, popularized through his character Auguste Dupin, who is considered the first detective character to demonstrate the disciplines of deduction and logical thinking in solving the mysteries and crimes that plague society; Conan Doyle's fictional detective character, the well-known Sherlock Holmes, exhibited similar characteristics. The author compares Poe and Doyle's literary works based on their use of stereotyping and pattern-formation (logos), ethos and establishment of pathos as rhetorical techniques in which they solve mystery cases. This paper relates that Dupin's character was portrayed in the most eccentric light as possible by Poe, perhaps giving him a single commonality with the readers through his poverty; in proving Holmes credible to solve the mysteries of English society, Doyle also utilized the character of eccentricity as the most salient points of Holmes' character.
From the Paper "Dupin's solution to the murders at the Rue Morgue was based on a stereotype and pattern found in the facts available about the case. Pattern formation was apparent in his analysis of the witnesses' accounts of the events before, during, and after the murder. His discovery that each witness's testimony reflected the fact that "[e]ach likens it (the voice heard)-not to the voice of an individual of any nation...but the converse," a point that led him to conclude that the murderer was of an 'alien' nature, someone who does not speak the language of any of the nationalities of the witnesses."
Abstract The paper looks at the movie "A Beautiful Mind" by Russell Crowe that portrays John Nash, a brilliant but eccentric graduate student of mathematics at Princeton University. The paper describes how in spite of Nash's eccentricities, he manages to fall in love, marry, have a child and become a tenured professor. In spite of these accomplishments, the paper shows how paranoid schizophrenia gradually takes hold of him and dominates his life. The paper examines his diagnosis and treatment and explores the condition of schizophrenia in general.
Outline:
The Subject: John Nash
Diagnosis
Treatment
From the Paper "In spite of Nash's obvious social awkwardness, he possesses a fair amount of charm. He tells his imaginary roommate that he is "quite well balanced" -- he has an equally heavy chip on both shoulders. However, he already believes himself to be special, too gifted to waste his time attending lectures and reading textbooks. In the opening scene, a professor tells the class that it was mathematicians who broke the Japanese code during World War II, and mathematicians who designed the atomic bomb, linking fine mathematical minds to national security. In the movie, his meeting with the Army when they hire him as a secret code-breaker is quite elaborate."
Abstract This paper examines the thesis that the government is playing a wild card in its attempt to censor the Internet. It discusses several laws and examines how public libraries who do not censor the Internet can suffer funding losses.
From the Paper "In Antigone, Sophocles wrote, "There is nothing in the world so demoralizing as money." Today's society revolves around money. Without money, no person, organization, corporation, or entity can function. It is well known that in the hands of the government, when push comes to shove, money pushes, money shoves, and, more often than not, money prevails. In other words, if the government wants something done, money is the wild card. The issue of Internet censorship is no different. For years, the United States government has pushed to place censors on the Internet. After having censorship legislation stuck down by the Supreme Court, the government turned its attention to censorship of the Internet in public libraries and public schools. In recent months, the issue of censorship of the Internet in public libraries and public schools has reached a boiling point. When closely studied, it is obvious that the government has chosen to pursue censorship within libraries and public schools because all other censorship avenues have been blocked. Furthermore, it is also obvious that the government is playing their wild card in their attempt to censor, essentially backing libraries into a comer with legislation that denies public libraries and schools significant amounts of governmental funding if Internet censorship guidelines are not followed. Because the issue of Internet censorship centers on the First Amendment, it is important to understand exactly what the freedom of speech guarantees United States citizens. Since its inception, the First Amendment's guarantee of the freedom of speech has plagued all forms of."
Abstract The author of this paper presents the argument for censorship on the internet, with a definite lean towards the negative side of the argument. The writer believes that those who try to censor the internet have in fact aimed their weapons at the wrong enemy. The paper explains the difference between the internet and the world wide web, with the internet being an older larger infrastructure and the www simply being a small part of its functionality. The writer therefore concludes that in fact it is not the internet which needs censoring but the aspects which belong on the web.
From the Paper "The sides are divided unequally in the continuing debate over "should we, or shouldn"t we?? And the choice of these two authors to argue against was based not because of the weakness of their arguments, or the irrationality of their defenses, but simply because they proved to be the least offensive of the readings offered in the particular section of the textbook."
Tags: technology, hitech, world, wide, web, pornography, communication
Abstract This paper explores the issue of Internet pornography and the attempt to censor it. Specifically, this paper looks at whether the media, television, newspapers, etc., have had any effect on censoring Internet pornography.
From the Paper "The Internet is basically a complex network of computers informally linked using tcp/ip, (transmission control protocol/internet protocol), networking technology for the purpose of transmitting and receiving information. The Internet network has undergone huge growth over the last 10 years. The number of linked computers in the United States has grown from less then 300 in 1981 to over 25 million today. (Jesdanun, 2002) World wide it is estimated by Global Reach, a marketing company specializing in Internet marketing that in 2004 the world wide number of people connected to the Internet will reach 994 million people."
Abstract This paper discusses the government's attempt to censor pornographic material on the internet which the writer feels would infringe on the freedom of expression. This paper also includes a brief but detailed history of the internet. This paper examines the various bills the U.S. government is trying to pass to prevent misuse of the Net. The writer of this paper also discusses the installation of censoring software as an alternative solution to government censorship.
From the Paper "The Internet can also be compared to a church. In many ways the Internet is like a church: it has its council of elders, every member has an opinion about how things should work, and they can either take part or not. It's the choice of the user. The Internet has no president, chief operating officer, or Pope. The constituent networks may have presidents and CEO's, but that's a different issue; there is no single authority figure for the Internet as a whole."
Abstract This paper relates that, while the censoring of articles appearing in a high school newspaper is, no doubt, intended to protect the readers from the gruesome details of reality, whether this protection actually works when these gruesome details are all over television, radio and the Internet, is debatable. The paper acknowledges that the censorship is aimed to reduce the negative impact the cruel reality might have on teenagers, by making them focus on the scholarly features presented in the high school newspaper, but then questions whether this objective is actually achieved. Specifically, the writer of the paper argues that, in fact, censoring articles in the high school newspaper does not protect students and, instead, narrows the minds of both readers and writers by enclosing them in a world free of crime.
From the Paper "Nobody doubts the good intentions of high school principals who desire to read in the school newspaper about pleasant events and achievements of students. But when the world around abounds in criminality, the protection through censorship is rather unlikely to have the desired outcome. And even considering that there are teenagers who do not watch television, or which by some miraculous event are unaware of the cruelties going on in the world, reading more pleasant articles in the high school newspaper will serve them no good. For they will one day realize the multitude of negative aspects in the world and will be shocked at their sight. As a result of this line of thoughts, one could mention that by censoring the school newspaper, the high school fails to accomplish its mission of ensuring the transition from childhood to adulthood. "
Abstract This paper examines how the concept of moral relativism is extremely troubling for many and how the human animal is desperately in need of a certain ?moral order,? or an intense longing to have life's issues, events, and decisions neatly classified into realms of "good" and ?bad,? "right" and "wrong". It looks at how, in her work "Moral Beliefs", Philippa Foot gives her take on this issue, namely, in her response to the viability of systems of belief that allow moral eccentrism, the foundation on which moral relativism is built, and her belief in the untenability of the non-cognitivist position.
From the Paper "In addition to the established meaning derived from their commonly understood use, Foot also explains that all of these words have an internal judgment placed on them, or an assessment of their "value" good or bad, based on their internal relationship to an ?object.? Further, it is the connection between the value, the object, and the logical reason that allow one to make the correct (and not relative) judgment concerning that value. Foot specifically makes the leap from the more mundane life value judgments represented by fear, danger, pride, etc, to ?those attitudes or beliefs which are the moral philosopher's study.?(91) In specific, she writes, "Now we must consider whether those attitudes or beliefs"are similar, or whether such things as "evaluation" and "thinking something good" and "commendation" could logically be found in combination with any object whatsoever.?"
Abstract This paper explains that, by almost all accounts, Edgar Allan Poe was an eccentric character during his life, and his legend has become even larger since his death. The author points out that Poe's short story, "The Murders in the Rue Morgue" (1841), is considered to be the first modern detective story, and his reviews of Nathaniel Hawthorne made him the first significant theorist of the modern short story. The author believes that Poe's poetry is good, but his stories of terror are true genius and rank among the most influential in modern literature.
From the Paper "One of Poe's many biographers reports that Edgar Allan Poe was born at 33 Hollis Street, Boston, Massachusetts, on January 19, 1809, the son of impoverished actors, David, and Elizabeth (nee Arnold) Poe. Poe's early life was a reflection of the harshest conditions these times had to offer, particularly in view of the unstable life of show business in which the Poes were involved. The Poes were so poor that they were not able to properly care for their firstborn son, William Henry, who was being raised by his paternal grandparents in Baltimore, Maryland. At the time of Edgar's birth, his mother, Elizabeth, may have already contracted tuberculosis and his father, David, was in the throes of acute alcoholism. Thus, David and Elizabeth, both with debilitating chronic diseases, dirt-poor with little or no prospects, unable to care for themselves or their first son, make the wise decision to have another baby."
Tags: parents, eccentric, short, detective, terror
Abstract This is a persuasive paper that analyzes the proponents of censorship. In recent years, the American entertainment industry has undergone vast changes in aspects such as music, television and Internet, and what began as innocent entertainment is no longer. Censorship is emerging into the limelight once again, as children are immensely affected by what they see, and their intentions of repeating what they see makes censorship ever more important today. The amount of violence in all forms of entertainment must somehow be regulated or censored in some way to protect the innocent youth of today.
From the Paper "Please note the following: ?Where Them Ho's At;? ?Tits;? and ?Simple Instructions for Assembling a Bomb with Household Materials.? The title of a song, a word used in a TV drama, and something easily accessible from the Internet. What might these three things have in common? They are all salient factors in the corruption of today's youth. These are not the types of programs and songs our country's future leaders should have access to. "Entertainment" such as this has been proven to cause aggression in young children, causing them to be more prone to use violence to settle disputes. It also exposes children to adult situations they are not yet suited to understand, which in turn confuses them. More stringent laws must be passed for the sake of our nation's impressionable, innocent young children."
Abstract This paper deals with laws in place on Internet censorship and why they are unjust. The author discusses why the American government should not attempt to censor the Internet with emphasis on children's' rights.
From the Paper "The United States Constitution guarantees each American the right to free speech and a free press. Does the government then have the right to tell you that something isn"t appropriate to be said or published" No. Through control, regulation and censorship, it seems as if the only free place to publish is on the Internet. However, the government now wants to pass legislation concerning Internet content. Government officials should not regulate what can or cannot be found on the Internet."
Abstract This paper explores the issue of censorship by the U.S. government. The paper begins with a look at the first amendment and its significance for playwrights, directors and actors. Using specific plays that have aroused controversy, the writer shows what the opposition was and how the companies handled it. Finally the writer presents the debate on the responsibility of theaters, companies, sponsors and parents to know what they are viewing.
From the Paper "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceable to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. (Cornel Law School) This is the first amendment of the United States of America; the first passage in the Bill of Rights. "Congress shall make no law...abridging the freedom of speech" (Cornell Law School). That one little passage guarantees the right of any one to say what they think; to express themselves in any creative form. But in a world and country of so many different backgrounds, beliefs, morals, and thoughts what is decent and appropriate to one person is not to another, so how do we decide what can be said and shown on stage?"
