Abstract This paper discusses the life and work of E.E. Cummings. The major theme in his poetry is romantic love, he was not a rebel of modern poetry; he was a conformist.
Abstract This paper examines two great works, "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens and "A Clockwork Orange" by Anthony Burgess, as novels that fall under the Bildungsroman genre, which is a genre of novel that deals with the growth of the protagonist. The paper explains that the Bildungsroman novel chronicles the life of the hero from childhood to adulthood and the conflict that he meets and resolves on his way to wisdom. The paper then points out that some novels come under the umbrella of Bildungsroman but may contain few deviations such as Burgess' "A Clockwork Orange" and Dickens' "Great Expectations". The paper also looks at how compared to "A Clockwork Orange", "Great Expectations" is certainly a more conformist form of Bildungsroman but the one place where it deviates from tradition is the choice of narrator. The paper analyzes each novel in relation to Bildungsroman, and concludes that both novels are masterpieces in their own right, but Dickens's work is a better example of a true English Bildungsroman than Burgess' work.
From the Paper "Dickens has used an adult voice to narrate the experiences of a child which is starkly different from other examples of the genre where narrator is either a third person or is the protagonist himself who grows with the novel. Buckley, in his book, Seasons of Youth explains the origin of Bildungsroman and its three distinct categories. He further adds that English Bildungsroman tradition was different from that of German's since the former was "in its broadest sense . . . a convenient synonym for the novel of youth or apprenticeship" (13). Buckley's intensive research indicates that English bildungsroman was not always completely autobiographical."
Abstract The following discussion evaluates the various behaviors related to two distinct age groups in the context of conformist actions. It is expected that the youth age group tends to engage in a greater number of conformist behaviors than those in the elderly group, and this is actively demonstrated by the strong examples provided in the group study.
From the Paper "The psychological differences of human beings are quite diverse, and they are largely dependent upon the genetic makeup of each individual, which predisposes highly specific behaviors and psychological tendencies. It is anticipated that changes based upon age are evident throughout society, as maturity levels are unique for each person, and age group serves as a basis for these differences. In the context of conformity, it is anticipated that members of younger populations are more likely to engage in conformist behaviors rather than those in adult-aged groups, such as elderly persons. The following discussion evaluates the level of conformist behaviors for two specific age groups, young people between the ages of 10-13, and elderly persons between the ages of 80-83."
Abstract This paper is a discussion and critique of the famous Frost poem, "The Road Not Taken". The author includes quotes from the poem when discussing imagery, tone and the use of symbolism. She also evaluates Frost's awareness of nature in his work as a whole and this poem in general.
From the Paper "Frost's flare for using nature and man's interaction to relate powerful philosophical messages is expressed in his renowned poem, "The Road Not Taken". "The Road Not Taken", by Robert Frost is a very powerful poem with one basic philosophical theme: one should not make a decision because it reflects popular opinion, one should make sound choices because of their benefits to the individual because choosing a unique alternative could make all the difference."
A discussion of Medieval spirituality and imagination that guided Medieval people's belief system and differentiated between conformer and non-conformer.
5,055 words (approx. 20.2 pages), 7 sources, 2001, $ 127.95
Abstract A look at the Medieval imagination. The author discusses the idea of spirituality of the Medieval people that considered outsiders as non-conformists, or people that were viewed as sub-human (people with abnormalities etc.) and used the imagination to differentiate between the real and the spiritual world.
From the Paper "The idea of an outsider is present in all medieval works, this is a society of conformists and those non-conformists were all looked upon as outsiders; but what about the idea of outsiders that come not from the community but from another invisible world altogether. The idea of monsters have existed from ancient times, and even to the modern day with bogey men, but in the middle ages we find a plethora of monsters of all shapes and sizes. One need only look in the elaborately illuminated bestiaries of the medieval period to discover creatures from every realm of the imagination, from the saintly unicorn to the demonic dragon. These creatures, widely influenced by pagan mythology but with their own Christian twists, served an important part of the concept of the medieval persons concept of otherness. If the limit of otherness was not defined by only the human spectrum there was no limit to the amount of difference that a medieval person could differentiate between themselves and those seen as sub-human, such as Jews, heretics, and lepers."
Abstract "The character of George Babbitt in the novel Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis is the author's image of the middle-American businessman of the age, a man constantly struggling with his identity in society and always eager to live up to the image he believes society sees as most superior.
From the Paper "The character of George Babbitt in the novel Babbitt by Sinclair Lewis is the author's image of the middle-American businessman of the age, a man constantly struggling with his identity in society and always eager to live up to the image he believes society sees as most superior. This image is based on the developing consumer culture, and Babbitt is a man who seeks to buy all the goods possible and to display them as trophies in his home in order to show the world that he is a success. What Babbitt wants is to be accepted in the terms he believes society has set, in terms of business ability, the accumulation of money, the right social image, and certain core American values. In truth, Babbitt never achieves the happiness and satisfaction he desires, and instead is constantly disappointed in the things he buys to make himself happy. His business dealings are part of..."
Abstract This paper discusses that the Puritans were a highly restrictive people; they believed that their religion was the only correct one. The paper reveals that most of Puritan society revolved around religion, although there is no actual "Puritan religion" of which to speak; mostly, Puritan society came about because many people arrived in America with non-conformist views toward the Anglican Church. The author states that the concept of Manifest Destiny was important to the Puritans and was reflected in American history because many people believed that it was their God-given right and destiny to expand out toward the West Coast and conquer the lands that they found there.
From the Paper "As for the religious leaders and holy men of Puritan society, they believed that they were far superior to everyone else. This did not include only the people in the Puritan society, but people of other races, nationalities, and religions as well. Often, the Puritan holy men were very rich, but they felt threatened and frightened by individuals of other religions who shared the same duties over their flocks as the Puritan leaders had over theirs. Puritan holy men were believed to be devoid of original sin, and they taught the Puritan society to believe that anyone who preached another religion was an instrument of the devil. They encouraged this not only because they felt threatened by other religious leaders, but also because many of the other religions were more open and accessible to the general public, and the Puritan holy men wished to continue to control society through religion."
Abstract Based on the film "Isadora", this paper describes the life and dancing tradition promoted by Isadora Duncan. The paper highlights her non-conformist position in art and life.
Abstract This paper looks at both works and how they are concerned with the problem of individualism, of maintaining an individual identity while living in a strictly conformist society. Both works associate the potential for becoming a true individual with men, while women are characterized as unable to assume such an identity mainly because of their failure to overcome their physical nature. .
Abstract This paper takes a critical and evaluative look at the use of computers in public junior high schools in one of the world's most high-tech countries, Japan. It shows that, as the new millennium dawns, Japan is slowly but surely beginning to harness the technologies now available to help give its younger population a competitive advantage in what is set to become the "information age". The paper uses the case study of a British English language teacher, Lyle De Souza, who pioneered the use of advanced technologies to help learning in general and the teaching of English as a foreign language (TEFL), in particular.
From the Paper "A recent development in computing has been that of speech recognition software. This software recognizes speech and can even be programmed to perform actions accordingly. Typical uses include dictation or navigation within operating systems. For a word to be recognized correctly the user must speak as closely to "standardized English" as possible. The system is designed to cater to different types of English but correct pronunciation is all-important. At Shiun JHS, De Souza used IBM's Simply Speaking Gold that claims 99% recognition rate if used correctly. This software is invaluable in the training of speech contest students. It is a change for the students from the pressure of continuously practicing with teachers and also frees up some time for teachers."
Abstract This paper examines how the German philosopher, Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche, created a social theory claiming that mankind has the ability to reject the conformist views of the mob-based society that has been the destructive force behind the decline of creativity and originality in our greater humanity. It provides an illustrative analysis of Nietzsche's 'superman theory', along with its overall failure in society. It also gives a brief biography of the life of Nietzsche and the influences of his writings and works.
From the Paper "It was apparent that Nietzsche also recognized the fact that man-kind's intellectuals are still far from the free-willed ?bermensch of an ideal world: ?Everybody wants the same, everybody is the same: whoever feels different goes voluntarily into a madhouse. 'Formerly, all the world was mad,' say the most refined, and they blink...? (Nietzsche, 1885). The notion that a non-conformist was the equal, in every way, to an insane defect, of his or her own mainstream society, was not over exaggerated by Nietzsche quote. Christianity, in particular, had been one of the leading forces behind the traditionalism that plagued the late 1800s. The religion had systematically convinced nations of churchgoers that God, himself, demanded the unity of his followers."
Abstract This paper explains that, in Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye", the narrator, a teenage boy named Holden Caulfield who comes from a rich family, seems to be a normal teenage boy; however, as the reader gets deeper into the story, he displays certain self-destructive and pathological qualities that separate him from the norm. The author points out that the beginning of the story is very interesting, as Holden points out that he does not want this story to be his life story; he simply wants the reader to understand how he ended up where he did: in psychiatric care. The paper concludes that Holden is said to suffer from psychological problems because of his self-destructive behavior and his nonconformist attitudes. The "cure", as implied in the novel, would be for Holden to stop resisting material gain and his adoration for nonjudgmental, genuine, human interaction.
From the Paper "Holden goes back to his dormitory and encounters Robert Ackley, a rude outcast with an acne-ridden face and a poor attitude, and Holden's roommate, an arrogant man-about-campus who Holden despises. As Stradlater gets ready for a date with Jane Gallagher, an old friend of Holden?s, he asks Holden to write an essay for him, as Holden is a talented writer. Holden leaves with Ackley and another student to see a movie in New York City, but writes the paper when he returns. At this point, we catch a glimpse of the root of Holden's troubles. He writes the essay about his late brother Allie's favorite baseball glove. He pours his heart out in the story, describing how Allie died of leukemia and how he broke all of the windows in his garage in a rage the night that Allie died."
Abstract This paper examines Mary Shelley's "Frankenstein" and, in particular, it looks at how has come to be regarded as connecting important, but widely disparate, elements of 19th century culture in Victorian England. It discusses how, with many apparently conflicting themes such as the domestic ideology of the bourgeoisie family and parenting, on the one hand, and fear of pregnancy, childbirth, and forbidden emotions ranging from the desire to play God and incest on the other, Shelley's "Frankenstein" is often seen as a complex mosaic, which lends itself to varying interpretations. It also explores whether the adoption of such a contextual framework helps to clarify the divisions in Shelley's work between conformist and challenging views of gender- balanced roles both in society and within the make-up of the individual personality.
From the Paper "The existence of a patriarchal culture during Mary Shelley's lifetime has been well established in a wide body of work in the fields of sociology, cultural studies, and literature. The study of such works helps understand the historical antecedents of a patriarchal culture and the forces in operation during the time of Shelley's writing Frankenstein. Masculinity and femininity has, over generations, been defined and shaped by men through the medium of patriarchal culture. Further, the beginning of the nineteenth century and the Industrial Revolution accelerated the masculinization of culture due to the exponential increase in the production of knowledge by men and the multiplication of cultural codes and languages written in male script (Aker & Morrow, p. 25)."
Abstract This paper explains that, during the 1940s, the period of the Pachucos, Mexican-Americans were considered second-class citizens, suffering similar segregation and oppression as African-Americans of this time. The author stresses that the Pachucos and Chicanos are excellent examples of both the alienation and estrangement of the Mexican-Americans. The paper relates that a major problem of gangs is the loss of parental guidance.
From the Paper "Chicanos have adopted a unique style of dress. Much like the Pachucos, this fashion style is immediately recognizable by the public. Long-sleeved flannel shirts buttoned at the neck only over a t-shirt and baggy long pants, no matter how hot it is outside begins the ensemble. A bandana, of typically significant colors dependent on the gang they associate with, around the forehead or worn as a skullcap completes the outfit. A ball cap is optional; of course if worn, it will have the logo of the gang's adopted sports team. All in an overt attempt to let everyone know without question to which gang they belong. This outfit is so important to them, that it is not uncommon to see a gang member dressed in this more appropriate for winter garb, out on the sunny beach of Southern California in the middle of July."
Abstract This paper explains that Princess Diana was very much a feminist in that she set out to be her own person, acknowledged her own weaknesses and those of society's and worked to overcome them both, dared to be an individual in spite of a societal structure that wanted her to be conformist and a stereotype, and understood that others weren't yet afforded the opportunities that she was and worked to overcome those imbalances in society. The author points out that Princess Diana was stereotypically feminine during the early time of her life when she dropped out from school at age 16, but had a particular talent for music as an accomplished pianist, dancing, and domestic science at school. The paper states that, unlike a typical wife in a conservative country, Diana was not an object who could be easily manipulated; failing to receive love from her husband, she openly admitted to committing adultery herself.
From the Paper "In the traditional Kingdom of Great Britain, Lady Diana was a Princess through marriage to the future king Prince Charles. She gained her glamorous prefix, Her Royal Highness, but she had no real power in hand. Even though she would possibly become the Queen of the Wales when her husband was succeeded to the throne as King, she would not have the power to rule. But it did not stop her from making a change in the world. Princess Diana actively participated in numerous kinds of charity work throughout the world. "During her marriage, the Princess was president or patron of over 100 charities. The Princess did much to publicize work on behalf of homeless and also disabled people, children and people with HIV/Aids.""
