An analysis of the facts presented in the film "JFK", by filmmaker Oliver Stone, regarding the autopsy of President John F. Kennedy after his assassination.
Abstract This paper explains that, in the political docudrama "JFK", Oliver Stone asserts that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone, that the F.B.I. had a vested interest in hiding important information from the public and that the C.I.A. had an active role in the assassination in hopes of fueling the military industrial complex of the United States. The paper further explains that, in the film, Stone attempts to make viewers conscience of the possible tampering of evidence and lack of investigation into the murder of the president. The author stresses that Oliver Stone does not want his viewers to accept all of the events portrayed in the film. Rather, Stone directed this film to act as a "counter-myth" in reaction to the "myth" he believes the Warren Commission Report fed the public. The paper stresses that Stone's accusation that the Archives somehow lost the brain, which it did not, affects the viewer's understanding of what actually happened.
From the Paper "Perhaps the most shocking claim that Oliver Stone makes in his film in relation to the autopsy is that John F. Kennedy's brain has been lost by the National Archives. This particular claim arose in 1972 when pathologist Cyril Wecht was allowed to examine the Kennedy autopsy records at the National Archives. Wecht tried to open the footlocker where the stainless steel container and microscopic tissue slides were held, only to notice that they were gone. Wecht then blames the Archives for losing an important piece of physical evidence due to negligence and carelessness."
Abstract In this article, the writer notes that prostitutes who worked on the streets have historically been controlled and regulated by law. The writer discusses that prior to World War I, under English or American law, however, even though prostitution did not constitute a legal offense in either English or American common law, prostitution was routinely regulated as vagrancy. The writer points out that some people who do not understand how prostitution works may consider prostitution to be a "victim-less crime" and note a minute percentage who may prostitute themselves by choice. The writer concludes that for most, however, their involvement is tragic.
Paper includes approximately 20 additional pages of researched information.
Table of Contents:
The World's Oldest Profession
A Victim-less crime?
Sex for Sale around the World
Myths, Misconceptions and Fallacies
CounteringMyths and Fallacies with Facts
Costs of Prostitution
Mutual Indifference between Partners
A Multibillion Dollar Industry
Bibliography
From the Paper "In China, prostitution has survived more than 2,000 years in Chinese society, despite social and economic systems' changes, laws, and societal stances about marriage, women and sex. Official sanctions regarding prostitution, as well as, the definition of prostitution have changed, reflecting different dynasty's contexts. During the 1950s, the Communist government exterminated the "sex-for-sale" business in China by implementing strong sanctions against prostitution rings' kingpins and pimps. At the same time, vigorous efforts were made to rehabilitate former prostitutes and vices such as prostitution were not visible in China from the 1950s to the 1970s. During the 1980s, however, prostitution surfaced again."
Abstract The paper looks at people who consider themselves members of the counter-culture; those disaffected with the world today. It takes an in-depth look at the clothes that they wear to identify themselves and discusses the meaning behind this choice.
From the Paper "As the world shrinks with the growing access to communication media and globalization, the signs of the counter-culture increase. Fighting against the corporate take over of the world, devastation of the environment, and unjust labour practices; people who identify themselves as members of the counter-culture have devised their own unique codes of meaning through the use of clothing. The actual articles are pieces that can be readily seen by others, appropriately framed to look hap-hazard and often layered to demonstrate a flexible range of meanings. The main pieces include exterior clothing,..."
Abstract The paper explains that Freud's approach to myth was one of many scholarly approaches of the 20th century that saw in myth timeless patterns and structures for human behaviour (Edelstein 399). This structuralist approach viewed myth in terms of binaries; good, evil, beautiful and ugly with the focus of myth being the resolution of these oppositions (Harris and Platzner 49). In the context of these approaches to myth, this essay evaluates Ovid's story of "Myrrha" from his Metamorphoses in structuralist terms.
From the Paper "In the early 20th century the psychoanalytic pioneer Sigmund Freud developed a range of theoretical explanations that identified the origins of human behaviour and particularly abnormal mental states, as lying in the repression of emotions that persist in the unconscious. For one of the most famous of these theories, Freud turned to the ancient Greek myth of Oedipus - the tragic Greek king who killed his father and married his mother - as an explanatory model of infantile sexuality."
This paper addresses the key issues regarding the myths about sex. It has a "Myth: Fact:" format and has numerous issues, which are discussed with relevant factual information.
Abstract This paper addresses the main myths that are spread regarding sex. It addresses each myth and discusses it in detail, considering the reality and the facts that deny or prove that myth.
From the Paper "Youngsters face enormous confusions throughout their early years with regards to sexual knowledge. Their questions and queries either fall on deaf ears or they are to shy to discuss this. This results in a lot of confusion and therefore gives rise to rumors and stories which they hear from peers and class mates."
Abstract There is no doubt that hockey in Canada is a rich field for the exploration of the most pervasive myths of Canadian culture. Specifically, the poems in John B. Lee's "The Hockey Player Sonnets: Overtime Edition" evoke some of these myths. However, there are significant differences between the myths that are reflected in Lee's poems, and the myths that are alluded to in Richard Gruneau's and David Whitson's "Hockey Night in Canada" and Elizabeth Etue's and Megan K. Williams's "On the Edge". These differences are explored in this essay.
Abstract Richard Wagner, the monumental composer, dramatist, philosopher, and poet of nineteenth century Germany transformed the tradition of German music and art through the unique genius of his work. Wagner believed that art, in order to be powerful and fundamental to a nation, must be founded upon a myth that is shared by all those that encounter the art. Dissatisfied with the already developed tradition of Greek myth from Homer and onward, Wagner believed that somewhere in history, the myth fundamental to the distinct German spirit could be found and developed.
Abstract This paper is an examination of the ancient Mesopotamian creation and flood myth in the story of Atrahasis. Comparisons are briefly made to other Indo-European tales and myths, including Ulysses, Prometheus and Noah from the Judeo-Christian bible. The paper primarily looks at evidence of daily life in the myth of Atrahasis itself with only some comparison to outside tales.
From the Paper "Archaeology has recovered numerous myths from ancient Mesopotamia in the form of stone steles, wall carvings, and especially clay tablets. Most of these stories were written in Akkadian, the general term for a few of the languages of the ancient Sumerians. The stories were originally passed down in an oral cultural history for many hundreds or even possibly thousands of years before they were written in cuneiform. From the Atrahasis and Creation myths of ancient Sumeria and Mesopotamia one can learn a great deal about the beliefs and daily lives of the people that told and wrote them down."
Abstract This essay introduces the topic of African sexual myths and stereotypes. The paper provides a discussion of the white response to the perceived threats presented by blacks, with an examination of how miscegenation impacted interracial marriages. The paper makes reference to a number of these myths and stereotypes and explains their origins.
From the Paper "Many people think that the Civil Rights Movement in the United States is over and that the black people won. Civil rights advocates point to the major strides made in recent decades in desegregating schools, in enacting appropriate legislation to ensure that the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments were followed, and a host of other actions which indeed point to progress in the civil rights area. Legislation which outlawed miscegenation were wiped from the books and blacks and whites freely marry throughout the country today. However, the ugly face of racism continues to haunt the United States in many ways and its effects seem to ebb and flow from one American generation to the next."
Abstract Myths often speak of archetypes in terms of prototypes. Rather, we inherit it to the extent we inherit our humanity; we inherit it through the form...the archetypical beginnings described in creation myths are absolute and essential. Rather, it is the search for the Archetypes - the metaphorical origins. Archetypes and their attendant metaphors are the initial points. Archetypes contain 'essences' or inherent qualities. Sproul's discussion engages in these qualities which are essential, 'at the core' and 'deep within'. Archetypes are timeless. Archetypes are developmentally simple.
Abstract This essay explores the similarities and differences between the creation myths of three cosmological systems from Heliopolis, Hermopolis and Memphis.The paper discusses the close approximation of the Egyptians cities and their location along the Nile and the way in which this facilitated communication and the spread of knowledge in addition to the migration of people and the way in which individual cities would have also developed their own unique myths.
From the Paper "Creation myths from Heliopolis, Hermopolis, and Memphis In ancient Egypt: the Three Cosmological Systems In the studying of ancient creation myths of Egypt it is important to note that many are both contradictory yet were apparently accepted at the time ("Egyptian Religion" para. 1). Gods and goddesses across the religions have been identifies as being fairly identical and having had existed side by side ("Egyptian Religion" para. 1) This phenomena likely has a number of explanations, not the least of which is that in ancient times, there was no collective questioning of the duplication and overlap of myths and gods, no established theological or ruling order that prevented this ("Egyptian Religion" para 4)."
Abstract This paper discusses the message in Naomi Wolf's book, "The Beauty Myth", explaining that Wolf puts forward the provocative argument that the ideal of beauty in modern culture is nothing but the latest method of keeping women in a subservient role within the patriarchy. She sees the ubiquitous images of female beauty that pervade our culture as being part of a vicious backlash against the successes of feminism, arguing that this beauty myth functions to keep women convinced that they are worth less than men, and thus maintains the current economic system.
This paper looks at "Shattering the Myth: Islam Beyond Violence", in which author Bruce Lawrence has written a very compelling book that discusses the concept that Islam is a violent religion and that violence is an integral part of what it has to offer.
Abstract The paper shows how the author raises the argument that it is actually the violent non-Muslim press that has developed the myth that Islam is violent and has passed it on to the rest of the world. The author presents Islam as a very complex religion and way of life, and argues that in order to report accurately on happenings in the Muslim world, it is necessary to understand those complexities.
From the Paper "Lawrence first gives the reader an overview of some of the ways that events involving Islamic people or principles have been misreported so as to create an illusion of violence. By giving very specific and well-documented examples, he is able to show that there is a significant discrepancy between the standard media report and what really occurred. He explains that one of the reasons this happens is because the non-Muslim reporters, television announcers, or writers don"t understand the background of what they are seeing. There is also the possibility of deliberate distortion, but he doesn"t focus on or emphasize this possibility."
Abstract The writer argues that "The Power of Myth" by Joseph Campbell is an interesting book and that there are many exciting ideas, which are expressed understandably and thoroughly due to Campbell's lifetime of research in the field of mythology.
From the Paper "Myths are not a thing of the past. Rather, they are found in the everyday happenings that take place in our normal lives. Originally, myths were meant to do two things: first, to link man to the society that he is a part of, kind of a reassurance that you are not just a man: you are a member of a group. Values and traditions of your group are what bind you to your society, and the myths are what make you a piece of it. This initially was meant for tribes of nomadic people, for as the scenery around you always changes, your group, your society, is your centre and you are an element in it. And it is easy to see in today's hustle and bustle of life how the affirmation that you have a centre to your life is vital. Secondly, myths relate man to nature and the natural world. Man is not meant to control nature; he is to "...put [himself] in accord with it (29)." Unfortunately, biblical movements in the 19th century taught people to condemn nature, this spread worldwide with the European settlers in the Americas, and the traveling missionaries, and this mindset continues to this day."
Abstract The paper discusses how mothers who desire to have a child in China are guided by a plethora of Chinese myths that affect the process of giving birth in the modern era. These practices have evolved through Chinese ancestry and are considered essential elements of the pregnancy, delivery and after-birth process. The paper explains that women who follow these rituals are believed to be destined to have healthy babies.
From the Paper "The BBC reports on two specific myths that affect a woman's after-birth and the health of her child. These myths are detailed in the narrative by Kate Saunders. Saunders contends that women often practice the ritual of the burial of the placenta and "lying-in" ("Chinese Baby Rites"). Ancient Chinese believed that if the placenta were "buried in an auspicious location" that child would be destined to have good fortune ("Chinese Baby Rites")."
