A discussion of how the works of Charlotte Bronte, Charles Dickens, and Thomas Hardy demonstrate that conventionality is not morality and self-righteousness is not religion.
Abstract This paper examines how the literary works "Jane Eyre" by Charlotte Bronte, "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens and "Tess of the D"Ubervilles" by Thomas Hardy show that conventionality is not morality and self-righteousness is not religion. It shows how the dichotomy between religion and righteousness is a central theme of "Jane Eyre", how "Great Expectations" explores morality through its main characters, especially the narrator and protagonist, Pip and how "Tess of the D"Ubervilles" presents the conflict between conventionality and morality through its main characters. It discusses how through the actions and sentiments of the main characters, Bronte, Dickens, and Hardy demonstrate that true morality and spirituality are based on personal conviction, friendship, loyalty and love and how the conventions of society, especially in relation to social class, can be obstacles to a true moral code and genuine spiritual growth.
From the Paper "Jane's moral code is conventional, but it is not rigid. She does not approve of Rochester's lustful past or his marriage to Bertha, but she does not completely cut him out of her life. Jane Eyre is able to transcend conventional female roles as well, by acknowledging her simultaneous needs for love, companionship, marriage, and independence. In the Victorian era in which Jane Eyre was written, women conformed to certain standards of behavior. Jane does not shun conventional morality, but she manages to question the oppression of both her gender and her social class. As she does so, Jane exhibits a mature sense of morality and spirituality. Jane must also contend with the religious views of both Helen Burns and St. John. In Helen Burns she sees the pitfalls of a strict morality, which she ultimately rejects in favor of a balance between earthly passions and spirituality."
Abstract This paper discusses the music conventionalizing cycle. The writer looks at how rock and roll fits into this model. The paper shows how it started out as a sub-category of blues and then became its own genre when it was first rejected and then institutionalized.
From the Paper "The nature of popular music is one of the most important questions in music studies. In "Towards an Aesthetic of Popular Music" Simon Frith states, "The sociologist of contemporary popular music is faced with a body of songs, records, stars and styles which exist because of a series of decisions, made by both producers and consumers, about what is a successful sound." (Firth 134). This may explain why the idea of conventionalizing is so contentious in the study of music. If music is one part aesthetic and one part business there is inevitably going to be a great deal of concern when this balance shifts."
Abstract This paper discusses Sherwood Anderson's novel entitled ?Winesburg, Ohio", a collection of short stories depicting an individual's life in Ohio and how this character confronts the issue that he or she encounters. It looks at how one particular story that reflects and demonstrates effectively the author's depiction of rural life is in ?Loneliness,? the story of Enoch Robinson and how he lived in his life in total "loneliness" from childhood until his later life. It analyzes the three sub-themes within the theme of loneliness that can be found in "Loneliness", the conflict between modernism and traditionalism, the thin line between reality and imagination in the thoughts and behavior of the main character and the conflict between conformity/conventionalism and non-conformity/conventionalism. It relates these conflicts into the primary theme of loneliness in the story and to incorporate these themes in accordance to the author's depiction of the theme of "Loneliness" in ?Winesburg, Ohio.?
From the Paper "The first theme that is evident in "Loneliness" is the difference and conflict between modernism and traditionalism, which happens when Enoch seeks to educate himself in the modern city of New York as he plans to be a popular and acclaimed artist. Traditionalism is shown in his life in Ohio, wherein Enoch is described as a quiet but intelligent boy who is too preoccupied with his studies that it sometimes leads him to personal trouble. Traditional life in "Loneliness" is illustrated as follows: ?Enoch lived in the house with his mother in those days and when he was a young boy went to school at the Winesburg High School. Old citizens remembered him as a quiet, smiling youth inclined to silence. He walked in the middle of the road when he came into town and sometimes read a book.? "
Abstract This paper examines how moral relativism is the view that moral standards are grounded only in social custom, an ethical judgement and how moral relativists believe that absolute moral laws do not exist but, that society deems whether an action to be right or wrong. It also looks at how the position taken by moral relativism can in my opinion be classified into two branches, subjectivism and conventionalism.
From the Paper "First of all, we might dispute whether there really is as much cultural variation of beliefs concerning morality as moral relativists offer. Within western culture there are without doubt a set of morals that governs, there are diversities however, they are dwarfed by the similarities. How many moral issues are different between the cultures of England and France? Many moral relativists would argue against this by saying that England and France are part of the same culture. In my opinion, they are different culture with similar if not the same moral values. This destroys the position of the moral relativists. Moral relativists tend to ignore the similarities between differing cultures and focus too heavily on the diversity."
Abstract The paper defines today's society as "a society of passing," a transitional society with much confusion and mixed beliefs regarding old traditions versus the broken cultural conventions and shattered stereotypes that exist, especially in the areas of sex and gender. The paper sees the characters of the movie "Chasing Amy" as representative of the different viewpoints of today's young generation, and through an examination of the movie tries to generalize about interpersonal communication in today's society.
From the Paper "Society, along with its resultant culture, has undergone an especially massive upheaval and reconstruction during the last half of the twentieth century. During the 1960s and 1970s, conventional societal molds regarding race and gender were broken and subsequently recast as both the Civil Rights and Women's Rights Movements swept across the globe. In the latter decades of the century, the Gay Rights Movement further reshaped traditional sexual roles and identities, culminating in society as it is known today, a society that has been described as an environment of 'passing.'"
Abstract An examination of the very different characters of these two women in Hardy's novel. The paper shows how both characters are brought into the plot with a very concise profile of the kind of person they are - two different stereotypes: the simple, innocent and passive woman, represented by Elizabeth-Jane; and the self- focused and ?conventionality- transgressor? , represented by Lucetta. The paper examines the great contrast between Lucetta's characteristics and Elizabeth-Jane's strict adherence to the moral codes which can be visible throughout the novel.
From the Paper "The novel "The Major of Casterbridge" written by Thomas Hardy presents us with two important and very different female characters, Elizabeth-Jane and Lucetta. The first one, who is supposedly Henchard's daughter with Susan is presented as a kind, simple and uneducated girl. Lucetta, on the other hand, is presented as a fashionable and self-seeking character who is known in the novel for having an affair with Michael Henchard."
Abstract This paper explores the central theme of "History of God" by Karen Armstrong, that the definition of God is subject to conventionality. The paper does this by highlighting the influences that led Armstrong to embark on this quest for illumination as well as by providing a summary of the book. The writer illustrates Armstrong's belief that Man's definition of God is continuously being modified, abandoned, revived and reiterated in accordance with Man's realistic and pragmatic challenges, as opposed to philosophical reverie.
From the Paper "Before providing an analysis of the book's core theme, it is necessary to study the influences that drove Armstrong to write this book. Armstrong's interest in religion was cultivated at an early age, manifesting in her entering the religious order at the age of 17. For 7 years, Armstrong lived the life of a Roman Catholic nun (Powell, 1998, 1). Her monastic life afforded her exposure to the 3 Abrahamic religions. She obtained a BA in literature at Oxford University. However, she experienced great difficulty in conforming to the restrictive realities of her convent life and decided to leave the convent on amicable terms."
Abstract This paper examines the argument whether ethical objectivism or ethical relativism is the better view in relation to judging human beliefs and behavior. It puts forward the views of the eminent anthropologist Ruth Benedict who believes that human beliefs and actions vary because different cultures are exposed to numerous environments and have various histories and how a type of ethical relativism known as conventionalism, asserts moral decisions dependent upon the society one lives in. It also presents the argument for ethical objectivism as proclaimed by the philosopher Louis Pojman. In conclusion, the writer chooses which side of the debate he agrees with and describes why.
From the Paper "The eminent anthropologist Ruth Benedict believes human beliefs and actions vary because different cultures are exposed to numerous environments and have various histories. She endorses a type of ethical relativism known as conventionalism, which asserts moral decisions are dependent upon the society one lives in. In other words most people living in society are like plastic in that they can be shaped according to the fashion of a particular culture. In short, normality is culturally defined. The best examples to illustrate how normality is social constructed are cultures where an abnormality of our culture is the cornerstone of another society's culture."
Abstract This paper discusses that even though Equus and Hedda Gabler seem to be different in so many ways, it much more important for readers to note that they are similar in significant ways. On the surface similarities between the plays seem scarce. The paper goes on to discuss how glaring differences between the two pieces are obvious particularly the era and the style of each play. Equus is written in the seventies, the frank tone conventionalized words of that era and the references to sexuality and curse terms indicate that the play is relatively recent.
Abstract This paper emphasizes that the style of China's national theater called the Beijing opera is importance to its culture. The author points out that the use of male actors to portray female characters and females portraying male actors are truly ancient in China, although the practice did not become primarily exclusive until the early 19th century. The paper relates that, although Beijing opera has been heavily influenced by royal prerogative in the past and the desires of the Chinese people more recently, the reverse gender playing the role in traditional Chinese drama has no restriction on the sex and age of its performers.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Review and Discussion
Background and Overview.
Historic Influences on the Use of Male Actors for Female Roles in Beijing Opera
Contemporary Influences on the Use of Male Actors for Female Roles in Beijing Opera
Conclusion
From the Paper "Likewise, the distinctive Beijing opera walking styles of the dan (female roles) and sheng are clearly recognizable in other traditional forms, just as are the stylized hand and eye movements of the huadan. Although some localized forms of theater have not include certain role types (the jing being the role type most frequently excluded), the walk, posture, and gestures techniques used for every other role type traditionally included in each form and can be recognized by modern Chinese audiences without fail as belonging to that role type throughout the various forms of traditional Chinese theater."
Tags: dan, national, jingpai, conventionalized, actors
Abstract This paper examines the philosophical implications regarding place made in David Malouf's poems "An Ordinary Evening at Hamilton", "Sheer Edge", "Elegy: The Absences", "At the Ferry", "At my Grandmother's" and "Poetry Makes Nothing Happen". The paper also focuses on Malouf's depiction of Australia as a land of genesis. It concludes that Malouf succeeds in stepping back from conventionalities on the philosophy of place to create a world in flux and constant rebirth, where absences are voids to be filled through language and the poem.
Outline:
Philosophy of Place
The Australian Experience of Place
From the Paper "Malouf does make a distinction between inner and outer place, (Indyk 22) however, in G, where the concept of familiarity ('my grandmother's') and images of comfort ('afternoon late summer') are juxtaposed with nightmarish imagery ('grey wings', 'ghosts of children') to illustrate how a new place or world may be created from an existing one by projecting thoughts on to it. Thus the concepts of "inner" and "outer" places: places that exist inside a person, which may be projected outwards, and what might be called "brick and mortar" places. This sense of separation is emphasized by the 'shuttered room', and the idea of being in an 'underwater world', but is completely broken in OEH where the 'garden shifts indoors' and the world seems to dissolve into a single consciousness."
