Abstract
In this article, the writer argues that the "beauty pageant" is a culturally significant object of study given how it represents a site of conflicting readings of power, gender and race where cultural meaning is produced, resisted, and consumed. The writer discusses that, with particular reference to the Miss America pageant, from an anthropological perspective the cultural practice of the beauty pageant is revealing of important elements of the construction of gender, sexuality and race in our mass culture.

From the Paper
"The cultural practice known as the "beauty pageant" or "beauty contest" - originally an American concept - spread across the world during the twentieth century to become a global phenomenon. However, despite its global scope, this practice has been comparatively undocumented and largely dismissed as a serious subject of study by scholars. This essay will argue, however, that the "beauty pageant" is a ..."

Tags:art, meaning, culture

Abstract
This paper provides a critical analysis of Alfie Kohn's "No Contest: The Case Against Competition" including key concepts, critical analysis and implications for Total Quality Management (TQM) environments.

From the Paper
"Competition is an integral part of daily life in the United States; indeed it is so commonplace that most of us do not consider how pervasive competition has become ..."

Tags:No contest, case against competition, competition, TQM, total quality management, Kohn, Alfie Kohn, book review

Abstract
The paper asserts that the prize offered by the online site, Mobility Today, focuses on a more minor facet of the product base of Mobility Today and the way in which the winner was 'honored' was not an effective way of generating traffic and revenue for the site. The paper explains that contests are really a form of promotional communication between buyers and advertisers and are not merely a way of giving a nice, extra bonus to consumers. The paper then discusses why McDonald's Monopoly games contest was an effective contest.

From the Paper
"The online site Mobility Today sells mobile technology, and other forms of high-tech gear that is highly desirable to teens and twentysomethings who want the next new thing in computer printers, keyboards, GPS navigation devices and other high-tech accessories and gadgets. The online site must function in a highly online competitive environment where consumers have ample opportunities to shop for products from other vendors and to compare prices of the same product. To generate user interest and traffic Mobility Today recently hosted a 'Slingbox' Giveaway contest offering a Slingbox to the winner. A Slingbox is a device that enables a user to watch his or her home, cable television channels from his or her computer anywhere in the world."

Tags:revenue, advertising, promotion

Abstract
In this paper, the writer discusses that Marie is a prime candidate for winning this vehicle because of her work ethic, her family values, and of her never ending commitment to succeed in America. The writer points out that this great country afforded her the means to work hard and build a life for her children-all at her own self sacrifice and refusal to let her family down. Now, with her brothers and sisters needing help, she has even given up her home to help out.

Tags:car, contest, sample

Abstract
This paper analyzes "Contested Identities: The Study of Buddhism in the Postmodern World" by Malcolm Eckel, "Post-Modern and Colonial Structural Comparisons" by Wendy Doniger, and "Methodology, Comparisons, and Truth" by Huston Smith, which are essays that attempt to dissect and explain religious theories. The paper delves into the hypotheses contained in each essay, as they relate to various modern religions. Finally, the author surmises that each essay imparts knowledge that assists in understanding the subject of comparative religion as a whole.

From the Paper
"The three essays discussed in this paper all deal with different concerns plaguing the study of religion. In the first essay, "Contested Identities," author Malcolm Eckel discusses post-modernism and its effects on the study of Buddhism. He begins the essay by comparing Charles Jenck's story of the demolition of a modern building to the destruction of modern religious study. Both religion and architecture, by society's standards, now need to be designed to fit into the 'post-modern' world in which we live. Early in the essay, Eckel poses the question "what has reduced the great tradition of comparative classification to such a ruined state" (56)? The author blames the awareness and respect of difference as the primary reason of ruination. An example of this awareness is cited when Eckel discusses Jonathan Z. Smith's argument that instead of studying Judaism as a whole, the religion should be broken down in to multiple Judaisms and studied independently (56). Smith also argues that by using similarities and generalizations, the process of comparative study becomes more problematic. His logic is this: eventually, everything will become so similar that difference will cease to exist; that being the case why bother with a comparison? A similarity, to me, is a relative term, because I don't believe it is possible to find similarities without the researcher inserting his or her own bias."

Tags:religion, bias, Eckel, Doniger, Huston

Abstract
The paper discusses the exclusion of women from the symbolic representation of the Australian national identity conveyed by a typically masculine drinking culture. The paper also discusses how women were always present as workers in the pub, which seemed representative of their exploitation, but this work also provided women with a form of economic independence and feminine empowerment. The paper then describes how women had to fight for their presence in the pub as customers. The paper shows how far from being a space in which women were absent, the pub presents itself as a site of contested gender relations where gender codes were constantly negotiated across the century.

From the Paper
"Throughout the twentieth century emerged a typically Australian drinking culture shaped by the licensing laws implemented during the early years of the century. The powerful temperance movement's and religious leaders' reaction against modernity led them to focus on campaigns against public drinking (Kirkby and Luckins 2006, p.78). The Housewives Associations and the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, in particular, concentrated on the issue of prohibition (Smart 1998, p. 215). During the Great War, wartime patriotism added to the general mood of temperance and resulted in introducing the 'six o'clock' or 'early closing' of pubs and hotels in all states except Western Australia and Queensland (Luckins 2007, p.08.2). It was considered a temporary measure, to be tolerated until the end of the war; however it became permanent in 1919 (Luckins 2008, p.297). The general impression was that it was the 'wowsers' (Dunstan 1968), or even women - who were prominent in temperance organisations - who caused the emergence of a new, 'uncivilised' mode of drinking: the 'six o'clock swill' (Luckins 2007, p.08.2). Indeed, although patrons and publicans resisted the new regulations through after hours trading and sly-grogging (Luckins 2008, p.296), for the law-abiding, drinking in pubs became something to do on the way home from work - at the time of the day when women were preparing dinner and bathing children. This resulted in the emergence of the 'six o'clock swill', when men rushed into the public bar to gulp down as many beers as possible before closing, marking the cessation of the pub as a place for entertainment and its emergence as 'a segregated place for drinking, in both the popular imagination and in actuality' (Kirkby and Luckins 2006, p.79). The major consequence of early closing was to turn 'the public bar, where men drank with other men during the rush period between five and six pm, into the focus of the pub business and consequent representations of Australian public drinking culture' (Kirkby and Luckins 2006, p.78). By the time early closing came to an end - between 1955 and 1967 depending on the state - 'six o'clock swill' had become in popular imaginary a 'crude characterisation of an Australian way of drinking' (Luckins 2007, p.08.12) - from which women were excluded."

Tags:feminism, empowerment, masculinity, alcohol, drinking, workers, customers

Abstract
The paper discusses the importance of the cultural practice of the beauty pageant, in particular the Miss America beauty contest. The paper discusses how although there has been scholarly aversion to studying the phenomenon, it is clear that this apparently frivolous cultural practice is enormously significant in shaping how sexuality, gender and race are shaped within the broader fabric of power relationships in our society. The paper also demonstrates how this cultural practice has spread across the world during the twentieth century to become a global phenomenon.

From the Paper
"The topic of "beauty" and, in particular, "beauty pageants" is a highly controversial one in contemporary academia. In the wake of late twentieth century feminism, scholars in the fields of sociology and anthropology "often see beauty contests as somehow trivial, frivolous, or vulgar" (Cohen 5). In large measure, this scholarly response reflects the widespread controversy over addressing the cultural construction of "beauty" in the modern context. While feminist critics have led the debate over the scholarly analysis of the construction of beauty, scholars in other fields have tended to avoid discussion of the issue and the cultural practice of beauty contests. As one critic observes of this scholarly aversion: "The failure to grant beauty pageants serious attention may reflect a reluctance to deal with beauty itself as a serious matter" (Cohen 6)."

Tags:culture, power, gender, race, feminism, male, domination

Abstract
This paper explains that the post-colonial culture of India, rampant with the demonstration of historical superiority of the British culture, includes the representation of the ancient history of the Indian region as dominated by a fictitious Aryan race that overthrew the Indus Valley people. The author points out that this myth is a clear demonstration of the attempt to bolster the idea of superiority, and therefore, permit the dominance over the Indian population during the colonial occupation. The paper relates that the myth itself can be recounted through "legitimate" literature of the early and mid 20th century, the Sanhita ("collection") of the "Rig-Veda", a purely lyrical assortment of songs, which the Hindus brought with them from their ancient homes on the banks of the Indus.

From the Paper
"The results of such a rethinking and rewriting of history are, as of yet, unknown; but the cultural identity of the Indian people will clearly be redefined by the new view of the events of the disappearance of the Indus Valley people. One of the most prominent British historians of the colonial and early post colonial period demonstrates the idea that there is little evidence of a real Aryan conquest. "Of the effects of the Aryan settlements in India itself in the earliest period, we have no real evidence beyond certain scattered allusions in Vedic literature, and some faint local traditions." "

Tags:ethnocentric, govindarajan, colonial, british, indus

Abstract
The paper discusses that the nature of the representation of identity in visual culture is, it may be argued, dependent upon the characteristics of the media culture within which the identity is being represented. For example, the representation of identity within a medium that is integrated within the saturated mass media culture of our contemporary globalized world necessarily implies not simply the reflection of an identity but, in effect, its construction on a culture-wide scale. The paper explains that in other words, the range and penetrative depth of a visual medium within a culture impacts - to an extraordinary degree - the construction of an identity within that culture."

Tags:gender, women, art

Abstract
This paper describes the unfair contract terms the "American Idol" participants enter into when joining the show. It argues that the production company exploits its contestants and persuades prospective players not to enter such television programs.

From the Paper
"There is no doubt that "American Idol" has attracted the interest of viewers. The viewing figures for the final episode confirm the popularity of the show. The show is also based on viewer interaction, with viewers deciding the winner. It is important then, for viewers to understand what they are really voting for. If the winner is being unfairly exploited, as the article argues, then this should be known by the public. This information could allow for public opinion to alter the terms of the contract so that the contestants are treated fairly. If conflict of interest is also a problem, as the article claims, then action could be taken to prevent this occurring. Finally, with the popularity of the program, it is likely there will be future versions. It is important that future prospective contestants are aware of what they are entering into."

Tags:tv, fame, famous, contestant, show, entertainment, viewer, interaction