Abstract This paper examines how with all the pressure from the media to conform in today's society, it comes as no surprise that along with society's preconceived notions of how African-American males should behave, comes the pressure for black males to feed into this negativity. It looks at some of the negative connotations attached to the black man, historical perspectives, criticisms and ideas from influential people.
From the Paper "The media is so quick to point out the negative attributes of a Black man. No matter the level of success he may have reached, to the outside eye, he is still simply a Black man. A twenty-eight year old New York lawyer said that when he walks in a store, the salespeople don't see his Ivy League university degrees, his status as an associate in his law firm - they seem him only as a Black man. Their response to his blackness strips him of his credentials and achievements (Williams). Any time a Black male is represented in a television show or even a news report, for that matter, it is widely known that the media is going to focus on his misdeeds. However, if a Black male accomplishes something of merit, most often the deed will be overlooked completely. "
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses what exactly justice means and how it applies to a criminal justice professional. The writer explains that justice, as such, refers to a sense of fairness and impartiality, an even-handedness, righteousness, and also objectivity and independence in making up one's opinions. Further, the writer notes that justice is the concept which must predominate when laws are being made, and for a layman, justice would mean that he would be safe and secure in the knowledge that he would be protected adequately by the law, and by the sense of justice that the law must uphold, no matter what. The writer concludes that although justice may have several different connotations, the bottom line is that the criminal has to be punished, and the victim awarded respite and retribution for the crime that he has suffered.
From the Paper "When one wished to search for the true meaning to justice, one must first decide the method that he wished to use to search for it, because this would provide a rational answer to the problem. The meaning of justice can perhaps be taken therefore, from its use in legal theory, and thereafter, combining it with a concept of ethics. For a criminal justice professional, he would study social control, penal law, criminal procedures, social law, evidence, criminology, victimology, and various other components of the justice system. Each area of study is equally important, and unless all the areas are given equal justice, the professional would not be able to practice law in all fairness. He must be able to implement as many types of justice as are humanly possible in this world, and concentrate on being fair and just in all his judgments of criminal and social behavior."
Abstract The paper examines "The Wasteland" written in 1922 by T.S. Eliot, which is a representational poem of life after World War I in Europe. The paper focuses on the titles of the poem's five sections and highlights their negative connotations. The paper also shows how the poem's pessimistic attitude overrides its optimistic tones.
From the Paper "The first section of the poem is entitled "The Burial of the Dead". The title of this section alone depicts a negative image, like a funeral setting. The opening line, "April is the cruelest month", shows the first signs of Eliot's pessimism (474). This line "reflects a sensibility that contends against the regenerating forces of spring" ("T.S. Eliot"). He opens with the idea of springtime being a negative time of the year, when, in fact, it is the most beautiful time of the year. Everything is fresh, new and bright, compared to the bleakness and darkness of the winter."
Abstract This paper discusses American music and compares and contrasts it with Asian music. The writer discusses her own understanding of American music and her cultural experiences as an Asian person. The paper considers the history and cultural connotations of both types of music. It then looks at some artists from both music paradigms and how they integrate.
Table of Contents:
Chinese Pop
The American Influence
Environmental Influences
Cantopop and Mandopop
American Music
International Influence
A New Culture
From the Paper "In conclusion, Chinese and American music share a variety of factors: contemporary forms emerge from existing traditional forms rather than rebelling against them; both of heavily influenced by cultural and political factors. Chinese music is influenced by the country's civil war and the cultural perception of what is acceptable in musical taste, while the American is influenced by the many changes and challenges faced by the new country. In contrast, America has many different musical forms based upon its many different cultures, while Asian music is not as influenced by immigration as it is by internal cultural factors. Whichever music one finds more appealing, expanding one's horizons can be a surprising and interesting adventure."
Abstract This paper discusses how Richard Wright's novel, "Native Son", is a slice of American history. It looks at how Wright makes several statements about the African-American experience through dynamic characters and situations. The paper relates that by employing the techniques of realistic details and connotative diction, Wright successfully demonstrates what life might have been like for blacks in America, specifically in the city of Chicago, during the 1930s. The paper analyzes how it reveals the hopelessness of the inner city life as well as describes the plight of one man who becomes a victim of that kind of life. The paper also explains how Wright exposes the fear, flight and fate of Bigger Thomas through racial tensions and an increased black consciousness and how through connotative diction and specific attention to detail, Wright is able to paint a picture of a young man who never really has an honest chance to compete or survive.
From the Paper "As a result of the Depression, the government offered public assistance commonly referred to as "relief" to those in need. Native Son also illustrates the existence of the relief, through which Bigger found his job. Relief is not shown in a very positive light, as Bigger was not so thrilled about the job relief found for him. In fact, he confesses to jack that he "would rather go to jail than take that damn relief job" (Wright 32). This is further illustrated after Bigger gets the job and his family is curious about it and he would rather not talk about it at all. (98-99) Bigger's negative reaction toward the job and the system itself can be seen as another way the white man kept the black man down. By having some of the characters in Native Son view the relief program as a positive thing and Bigger see it as a negative thing, Wright is, however, injecting mixed feelings on the subject."
Abstract This paper analyzes the poem "Those Winter Sundays" by Robert Hayden. According to the paper, the poem depicts the poetic speaker's father during the father's characteristic Sunday winter routine in the morning.
Outline:
Is the Poem Lyric, Narrative, or Dramatic? How Do You Know?
Denotations and Connotations Denotations of Unfamiliar Words: (Literal Meanings)
Connotations of Familiar and Unfamiliar Significant Words in the Poem
What is The Tone of The Poem? Irony?
Who is Speaking in This Poem?
Sense Experience
Figures of Speech
Sound
Interpretation
From the Paper "The narrator of the poem is speaking about his perceptions as an adult of his father's labor. He looks back upon himself as a child, remembering how he felt as a child, moving slowly and fearfully in his own home, apparently wishing his father were different than the cold and angry man his father seemed. The narrator wishes that his childhood self was more accepting of his father's love--but also wishes that his father was easier to love, so that their relationship could have been closer."
Abstract This paper analyzes an advertisement with actress Gwyneth Paltrow against a dark and featureless background, with the words "I am African" appearing prominently on the bottom of the picture. The author vividly describes the advertisement and gives a connotative account of the Western and African symbols used in the advertisement. The paper analyzes the use of make-up and jewelry in the advertisement and examines the symbolism of gender in the Western and African context. The paper also discusses the ideology of the advertisement, that there is no difference between the races, no real barriers, between human beings of different ethnicities and genders.
Outline:
A Denotative Description
A Connotative Description
An Ideological Description
From the Paper "The advertisement presents a gendered image of a typical, fashionable Western White woman. Gender is noted in particular by the long and full blond hair; the carefully made-up lips and the thick bands of eye shadow. But for the overly heavy application of the eye shadow, Paltrow is the picture of Western fashion - the kind of woman one might see modeling in a popular, upscale magazine, or in a television commercial for designer clothing or similarly trendy goods. Yet, the actress is also an African, just as the text informs us. The bands of face paint are of a style that would easily be recognized by the typical Western viewer as "native," if not necessarily African."
Abstract This essay examines Stoker's gothic classic, "Dracula", as a novel about the perversion of the Christian myth. It describes several passages in the novel that seem to mimic the bible, not only in intonation, but in connotation. The essay exposes obvious as well as often overlooked parallels between Christian dogma and the "Dracula" novel.
From the Paper "Bram Stoker's late nineteenth-century effort, Dracula, has achieved a mythical literary fame not enjoyed by many other novels. Since its first publishing over a hundred years ago, Dracula has never been out of print, and has spawned literally thousands of movies and modern novels concerning a vampire lore and tradition that Stoker single-handedly forged. What is amazing about this novel is that it not only contains the elements of excellent gothic horror, but social class commentaries, an interpretation of women's roles in society ? particularly with regards to female sexuality and sensuality ? and an ironic perversion of the Christian mythology."
Tags: british, de, fin, gothic, harker, helsing, jonathan, literature, religion, siecle, tepes, vampire, van, vlad
Abstract Elaborates on the question of sin in Nathaniel Hawthorne's "The Scarlet Letter". The author reveals that what is viewed as sinful throughout the book has underlying connotations and meanings. The author discusses this with reference to the two main characters of the book.
From the Paper "Hawthorne seems to intimate throughout the Scarlet Letter that what Hester Prynne and Arthur Dimmesdale shared wasn?t quite as sinful as is supposed. Many passages in the book tend to substantiate this premise. In short, I wish to reiterate some of these passages and rationalize using them in support of this paper's overall theme."
Tags: adultery, hawthorne, prynne, dimmesdale, hester, chillingworth, love
Abstract The whole idea of assisted suicide was started in the thirties and forties when Hitler went on his genocidal rampage. This fact alone gives the term "euthanasia" a negative connotation. This paper looks at the positive aspects of assisted suicide. With examples throughout.
From the Paper "According to Webster's Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, euthanasia is that act or practice of killing or permitting the death of hopelessly sick or injured individuals (persons or domestic animals) in a relatively painless way for reasons of mercy. How can anyone disagree with this concept? Euthanasia is acceptable when the person involved, or the family if the individual is incapable, makes a conscious decision while suffering from an incurable disease."
Abstract This paper discusses the Comet jet airplane accidents of the early 1950?s, and the profound effects they had on certain aspects of our society. The author examines the various effects a technological disaster has on our lives and the world around us, as well as how our views towards the technology may be altered after a technological disaster.
From the Paper:
"By examining the jet aircraft industry, but in particular the British jet aircraft industry after the accidents, we are able to gain insight into what people's conceptions were, and why certain events unfolded as they did. With any technological disaster, trust in the product is often lost very quickly, and various actions are often taken to try and restore this trust. By examining these actions we can better understand how many people felt about the technology after the disasters. Lastly, not all technological disasters have purely negative connotations. Much can be learned from technological accidents that eventually lead to important improvements in the technology. By examining one major technological failure and its various effects we can gain a better understanding of how we are affected by technology as well as how our views towards the technology may be altered."
Tags: airplane, disaster, effects, history, social, technology, aircraft, industry
Abstract This paper begs the question of "all men being created equal". It argues that as much as society would like to think of itself of democratic and supportive of equality, most people in society are oppressed in one way or another due to a physical, cultural, social or religious "handicap".
From the paper:
"The term equality has innumerable connotations. It may denote being exactly alike or of comparable value. Equality is usually associated with advantages and discussed when there is a situation wherein a subject is being deprived of a prerogative.
The phrase "equality for all" has a nice ring to it but what exactly does it entail. It forms an image of the ultimate utopia, filled with peace, brotherhood, and justice but "What are we aiming to be equal in"? and more to the point "Whom do we want to be equal to"?"
Abstract This paper first gives an analytical summary of the poem "London" by William Blake. The paper analyzes the meaning of the poem, focusing on the topic and theme. The paper progresses to support the stated topic and theme of the poem with specific examples of various literary elements.
From the Paper "Wlliam Blake wrote this poem to reflect upon the corruption of London society during the late 1700s. The topic of this poem is undoubtedly the corruption of London society during the late 18th century. The topicof the poem can first be noted simply by its title, ?London.? Within the general topic of London, Blake includes references that illustrate many of the putrid occurrences characteristic of this time period. The inclusion of chimney-sweepers (within the ninth line), prostitution (within the fourteenth line), and feelings of weakness and woe (within the fourth line) reflect the corruption of London during the late 18th century."
Tags: 18th, blake, century, connotation, hyperbole, imagery, london, poetry, theme, tone, william
An examination of Herman Melville's use of the color white to convey negative thoughts and emotions: antithetical to common cultural connotations which associate white with such positive concepts as purity and holiness.
Abstract This paper analyzes Melville's innovative manipulation of the color white. The primary concerns include the unsettling effect of a monster "wearing white" and what may have been Melville's attack on racism. Careful attention to syntax, diction and literary style serve as the intellectual support for these ideas.
From the Paper "From a very young age, popular media teaches us that we can spot the good guys from a mile away, based solely on their entirely white costumes. This small piece of conventional wisdom presents a serious problem for Moby Dick's readers, as Herman Melville shrouds his title character, the vicious, homicidal whale in the color traditionally reserved for heroes. Without a close reading of the text, the simple fact that the whale is associated with white might be enough to convince the reader that he is in fact the hero of the story. However, this is not the case, as close reading of the text suggests only Moby Dick's fundamental "naturalness" as well as the whale's ability to serve as a metaphor for the color, and, in turn all of those things for which the color itself serves as a metaphor. The effects of Melville's decision to employ the whale in such a way are numerous, spanning from the simple, unnerving juxtaposition of the color's purity with the whale's monstrosity, to a complex, subtle condemnation of racism."
Abstract This paper explores the origins of evil symbols including the pentagram, the eye (the evil eye, the third eye), the horns, the cross, the ankh, the number "6" and the snake. It investigates the reason why these common symbols have become associated with evil in today's society. The paper includes many high quality images of the symbols.
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
The History of Evil Symbols
The Eye, The Evil Eye, The Third Eye
Horns
The Cross
666
The Snake, The Serpent
From the Paper "There are many symbols commonly found in art, architecture, and literature which are associated with evil. These symbols have come to denote evil or are used to add evil meaning to otherwise ordinary things, yet the true origin of such symbols is historically not linked to evil at all."
